Restoring shine to the Cabinet
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi has ordered all cabinet ministers and deputy ministers to publicly declare their assets twice every five years. He has enlisted the help of the ACA to draw up the procedures for the cabinet members to execute the process - one of the several measures he is taking to make the cabinet accountable to the public and to stem corruption among the ministers. He said corruption must be avoided completely and that he was "dead serious" in his war against corruption and also reminded the elected reps to "behave" so that the people will respect them.
Ever since Datuk Badawi became the PM, he has continuously promised to fight corruption in the system. However, the corruption battle has failed miserably because of the PM’s apparent lack of action.
Let us not give up praying for the PM. Pray that, this time around, he will be even more resolved in his commitment as he continues with his efforts to fight corruption. Pray for God’s fear to be upon each and every cabinet minister.
Khalwat proposal for non-Muslims
A seminar on Syariah Law review has proposed, among other things, to sentence non-Muslims found committing khalwat (close proximity) with Muslims. The proposal was made at the two-day seminar organised by the Islamic Institute of Understanding Malaysia (Ikim) and the Syariah Judiciary Department Malaysia.
Syariah Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Mohd Asri Abdullah said the seminar had proposed that the non-Muslim offenders would be sentenced in the civil courts and the Muslim offenders in the syariah court so as to be fair to both parties.
However, Ikim DG Dr Syed Ali Tawfik Al-Attas has refuted there was such a proposal. He said that non-Muslims cannot fundamentally be charged under any provision in Islamic law by virtue of the fact that they do not profess the religion of Islam.
Although this matter has been put to rest, continue to pray against any attenpts by Islamic extremist to impose Islamise ways on non-Muslims. Pray for more Muslim leaders who have nation-building mindset to speak up.
Mainstream media malady
The mainstream media’s (MSM) biased reporting during the election campaign period was so glaring that many were put off by the daily pro-BN news. This continued even after election and distressed over the unfair, inaccurate reports and apparent attempts by the MSM to cast the opposition parties in a negative light, some NGOs have called for a boycott of certain newspapers.
An example of an unfair report is a March 16 report in The Star saying that PAS was confident of setting up an Islamic form of government at the federal level soon. The alarming report was immediately shot down the next day by PAS Vice-President Datuk Husam Musa who said, "I mentioned that we are hopeful of taking 30 more parliamentary seats to win power and not about forming an Islamic Government."
The majority of the MSM are owned by BN or have BN-related interests. Their publication permits are renewable every year and as such, they often have to toe the government line or risk losing their permit. This requirement has been effective in silencing critical voices and controlling any attempt for editorial independence.
The Government seems to have realised that arm-twisting the MSM no longer works in its favour as the public has become more mature and more discerning. Pray for the MSM to realise this too and take courage to publish balanced and factual reports.
Pray that they will be responsible and fair to both the ruling and opposition parties, and not attempt to discredit any party. Pray too that the MSM will play its role in nation-building, helping to foster unity rather than inciting communal disharmony and civil unrest.
Religious freedom pledge
At the swearing-in of the Selangor executive committee, Selangor Sultan
Sharafuddin Idris Shah pledged he would uphold freedom of religion for all Selangor citizens. Although he is the head of Islam in the state, he said he realised that Selangor was multiracial and multi-religious and, therefore, he would maintain religious freedom.
He also reminded Muslims to respect other religions. "People of different races are under my rule and I will be an umbrella to protect them and for them to take shelter," he said. Praise God for such a ruler and we pray that he the other states’ rulers will emulate him.
Meanwhile, Perak Mentri Besar Mohammade Nizar Jamaluddin has publicly stated that he stood for religious freedom (The Star, 4 April). "The very basic teaching that was instilled in me is that there is no compulsion in religion, religious beliefs and in everyday life including the way one eats, the way one dresses and the way one has his own family."
Trying to allay fears, the Perak PAS secretary added, "For Muslims, they must adhere to the teachings of Islam...But those who don’t accept the Islamic teachings have the complete freedom as allowed by their own religion."
Pray that the MB will honour his promises to his rakyat to uphold religious freedom. Continue to pray for our king, sultans and all in authority to not only have this mindset, but to have the courage to exercise fairness and concern for all their subjects. As we pray, believe that "The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." (Proverb 21:1)
Pray too for the PM who has said in one of his post-election statements that ensuring a fair number of places of worship for Malaysians of all religions was one of his main priorities. Pray that he would be strong to keep to his pledge to be fair and he would not be cowed by external pressure to act otherwise.
Help for the poor
The Government has pledged to alleviate the burdens faced by the lower-income group. The PM has announced several measures to help the needy, and among them are:
Mitigating the impact of rising world prices on lower-income house-holds, and limiting wastage and losses caused by subsidies;
Reviewing the implementation of economic plans to ensure the benefits touch the lives of those who needed them the most; and
Continuing to work towards reducing income gaps between and within ethnic groups while ensuring fairness for all Malaysians.
Pray about the implementation of the policies, as often the policies are good but the execution process is flawed by inept and corrupt officials.
Return Power to Judges
Former Lord president Tun Salleh Abas has called for a return of judicial authority to the courts. He noted that in 1988, Article 121 of the Federal Constitution had been amended so that this power, originally vested in the high courts, is now restricted to "such jurisdiction and powers as may be conferred by or under federal law".
He added that ouster clauses in legislation such as the Printing Presses and Publications Act and the Police Act provide that "any decision of the minister shall be final and cannot be questioned by the court".
Tun Salleh’s recommendation is of great significance as it is critical to the check and balance mechanism between the executive and the judiciary. He also called for a restoration of judicial powers and asked that the appointment and promotion of judges be made more transparent.
It cannot be denied that the reputation of our judges is at its lowest point. Chief Justice Datuk Abdul Hamid Mohamad has pleaded passionately with his colleagues to "resurrect the honour of the judiciary".
Continue to labour in prayer against the judicial rot in the country. Pray for the judges to be courageous to stand up for the oath they pledged when they took office, and for a renewed and transformed mindset within the judicial community. Pray that the people, through the NGOs and social activist groups, will continue to press the Government to make the necessary changes to restore the integrity of the judiciary.
Police Reform for Safer Streets
Change is also taking place within the police force which is ready for the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) Bill should it be passed in Parliament. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said the police was waiting for the Parliament to discuss the matter.
The police force is also undergoing a re-branding exercise. Musa remarked however, that things would only change if the officers changed their mindset. They need to be more committed to their work and draw closer to the public.
The serious crime rate, especially in the urban areas, has caused sleepless nights for the public. Women and children are the ones who have suffered most. And with the erosion of neighbourliness, it is much easier for criminals to do their rounds.
Tan Sri Musa believed that to reduce the crime rate, the public and the police must cooperate closely, apart from the police visibly increasing their presence. He pledged to continue to work hard with the public to carry out community-based crime-prevention projects.
Praise God for the police’s willingness to submit to the much-debated IPCMC, should it be passed by the Parliament. Pray for the IGP and our police as they make serious effort to improve. May God grant them strength.
Parliament Poser
 As the ultimate legislative body in Malaysia, the Parliament is responsible for passing, amending and repealing acts of law. Members of parliament represent their constituents and are permitted to speak on any subject without fear of censure outside. In reality, they are not allowed to represent the voters who put them in office. Past experiences have shown that whenever any ruling party MP votes with his or her conscience and appears to side with the opposition on certain issues, disciplinary action is taken against him/her. For example, when debating on the controversial Islamic Family Law in 2006, the then de facto Law Minister Datuk Nazri Aziz reminded BN MPs and government-appointed senators that it is their obligation to vote according to the wishes of their party. Blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin cheekily commented once, "The Malay term for Members of Parliament and State Assemblymen is Wakil Rakyat (Peoples’ Representative). In reality they are Wakil Parti.
Pray for our 222 members of parliament that have the interest of the entire nation at heart. May they learn from the experience of this election to not take things for granted and serve their constituents selflessly. Pray too for any corrupt self-seeking MP to be exposed. |
