Call to resolve problems related to conversion in and out of Islam immediately

PRESS STATEMENT

Illegal for Government to subject non-Muslims to be tried by the Syariah Court. Call on the Government to resolve the problems related to the conversion in and out of Islam immediately and to implement a quick and easy way to determine the religious status of a person

政府把非回教徒交给回教法院审判是非法的。呼吁政府立即解决有关改变信仰，皈依回教和脱离回教的问题。并采取快速与简便的方法，来确定一个人的宗教地位。

The clarification by Minster in the Prime Minister’s Department, Mejar Jeneral (B) Datuk Jamil Khir Bin Baharom that the 135 applicants who managed to renounce Islam were actually non-Muslims who were mistakenly registered as Muslims by the National Registration Department (NRD) because of their names and these victims have to apply to the Syariah Court to change their religious status shows that something is very wrong with the Government administration.

首相署部长，Mejar Jeneral (B) Datuk Jamil Khir Bin Baharom 澄清：135人申请者脱离回教，实际上是国家登记处（NRD），因为这些非回教徒的名字，误登记他们为回教徒。这些受害者必须向回教法院改变其宗教地位，|这显示政府的行政，出现非常错误的施政。

Firstly, if it is a mistake made by the NRD why can’t the NRD rectify it?

首先，如果是NRD犯了错误，为什么NRD不能纠正它呢？

Secondly, the Syariah Curt has no jurisdiction over non-muslims. The Syariah Court Judges should reject such application due to lack of jurisdiction and asked that the matter be resolved by the NRD. Any decision by the Syariah court over a non Muslim is illegal.

其次，回教法院没有权力对非回教徒作出审判。回教法院的法官，由于缺乏司法权力，应拒绝有关的申请，并要求该事项交由NRD解决。任何由回教法庭对非回教徒作出的审判都是非法的。

Thirdly, courts are constituted to settle disputes not for confirming the religious status of a person. Articles II of the Federal Constitution guarantees the freedom of religion of every Malaysian and therefore, the religious status of a person is determined by the person concern. A statutory declaration made by the person should suffice. Muslims are complaining that there is huge back log of cases in the Syariah Courts. Therefore, Syariah Courts should spend their time giving priority clearing the cases rather than getting themselves involved with matters which they do not have jurisdiction.

第三，法院是用于解决纠纷的，不是为了证实一个人的宗教地位。联邦宪法第二章条文保障每一个马来西亚公民信仰宗教的自由，一个人的宗教地位是由个人的决定。一个人作出的法定声明已经足够。回教徒抱怨说有在回教法庭有很多累积的案件等待处理。因此，回教法院应该花时间优先清理自己的案件，而不是参与自己没有司法权力的事务。

Subjecting non-Muslims to the Syariah Court is oppressive as these non-Muslims have to go through ‘counselling not to leave the Islamic faith’ which may take months, some cases years and in many other cases never approved.

非回教徒遭受回教法院的压迫是因为这些非回教徒要经过“不要离开回教信仰的辅导”，这可能需要几个月，在某些情况下需要多年的时间。甚至有许多其他案件从来没有获得批准。

A person after becoming a Muslim registers himself/herself with the respective State Islamic Council. Depositing a statutory declaration declaring that he/she has left the Islamic faith with the same Islamic Council should suffice to confirm that he/she has left the Islamic faith.

一个人成为回教徒后将会到各自的州回教理事会进行注册。在相同的回教理事会里，法定声明宣布他/她脱离回教信仰，应足以确认他/她已经脱离回教信仰。

Conversion to Islam has been abused by many. Some have converted to Islam to escape their legal duty to provide maintenance for their wives and children. Others converted to Islam to get custody of the children as the Syariah Courts will grant them the custody of the children. The civil courts regretfully now hold the view that they have no jurisdiction to interfere. Islam promotes justice but it has now been used to perpetuate injustice.

皈依回教已被许多人滥用了。有些人皈依回教，为维护他们的妻子和孩子，以逃避法律责任。其他人皈依回教，是为了得到子女抚养权。因为回教法院会把子女抚养权给予他们。现在民事法庭遗憾的认为，他们无权干涉。回教提倡正义，但它现在已经被用来延续不公平不公正。

I know of people who do not profess the Islamic faith, never seen or read the Koran before and have never entered a mosque but due to various circumstances have a muslim sounding names. They want to be non-Muslims and get married to non-Muslims. Since there is no avenue for them to get married, they stay together out of wedlock and give birth to offsprings who will then be victim of circumstances like their parents. By refusing them an avenue to get married and have a normal family, we become a cruel society and by our cruelty we breed further social problems.

我知道一些人，不信奉回教的信仰，从未见过或阅读可兰经，也从来没有去过回教堂。但由于各方面情况，拥有一个和穆斯林相似的姓名。他们希望成为非回教徒和与非回教徒结婚。由于他们没有结婚的途径，他们只能同居在一起。他们的孩子出生后就会像他们的父母的情况下，成为牺牲品。拒绝他们结婚的途径和拥有一个正常的家庭，我们成为一个残酷的社会。我们的残酷，将进一步制造社会问题。

All persons above the age of 18 should be given full liberty to choose the religion of their choice.

所有18岁以上的人士应给予充分的自由，选择他们所信仰的宗教。

I call on the Government to resolve the issues related to the conversion in and out of Islam immediately by following and respecting the provisions and the spirit of the Federal Constitution so that the untold miseries of those affected by the said issue can be put to an end.

我呼吁政府立即解决有关改变信仰，皈依回教和脱离回教的问题。根据和尊重联邦宪法的规定和精神，结束这些受影响的人士，面对这些问题，所带来数不清的痛苦。


Dated this 25th day of June 2011.

2011年6月25日

NGEH KOO HAM
Deputy Secretary of DAP Malaysia
MP for Beruas &
State Assemblyman for Sitiawan

倪可汉
民主行动党全国副秘书
木威区国会议员
实兆逺区州议员

M Kula Segaran, Where in the world has a fiction been used as a history book?

Media statement by M Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat, in Ipoh on Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Where in the world has a fiction been used as a history book?

Professor Anthony Milner, currently with the International Studies Department of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), has been reported to say that despite complaints against the Interlok novel, he felt that the author of the book national laureate Datuk Abdullah Hussain attempted to provide an idea of the lives of the Chinese and Indian community and their relationship with the Malay community.

He therefore suggested that the controversial "Interlok" novel should be used as a model for history text books as it's is quite "inclusive" in its narrative and depiction of non-Malays.

I find his suggestion most shocking and unacceptable. I wonder if he is aware of the strong and continued public objections against the novel's usage as a school text.

I wish to ask Professor Anthony Milner if he is also aware of the following:-

1) that the novel contains factual inaccuracies? That many matters written are unsubstantiated?

2) that the Government itself has set up an independent committee to review. the book's contents but 3 of the panel members have later resigned in protest?

3) that the novel can destroy the fabric of national unity in a multiracial country?

On March 30, Chinese groups have also joined the Indian community and voiced their strong objections against the continued usage of the novel.

I reproduce below an extract of media report of the stand and views taken by the groups:-

In a statement today, Chinese associations from across Malaysia said the book was not only offensive to Indians but Chinese as well, as it depicted the character Kim Lock as a "miserly opium addict and callous adulterer" and his son, Cing Huat, as "cunning, greedy, unscrupulous and someone who would happily sell his daughters".

"'Interlok' in its totality propagates the ideology of ketuanan Melayu. In our considered opinion, this novel is not only unhealthy but an insidious poison," the statement said.

 "In fact, 'Interlok' is barely a step away from the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) brainwashing that promotes racism and disunity. 'Interlok' conveys the central message that Chinese, Indian and other minorities are second-class citizens in addition to perpetuating the divisive notion of a host community (the Malays) versus foreigners ('bangsa asing' Cina dan India )."

The groups also condemned the "major thread" in the book, which depicts the Chinese "cheating and oppressing" Malays or as "nasty and immoral" communist guerrillas.

The statement was signed by the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH), LLG Cultural Development Centre, Malaysian-China Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Chinese Associations Johor, the Penang Chinese Town Hall and 40 others, including the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST), Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM) and several Indian organizations. Why is Professor Anthony unable to see all these despite his claim that he has read the novel?

Has he chosen to play politics by ignoring the truth?

Finally, I wish to also ask him where in the world a fiction has been used as a history book.

Thanks.



M.Kulasegaran
MP, Ipoh Barat
http://ipohbaratvoice.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/mkula

M.Kulasegaran "Religious tolerance the way forward to Malaysia’s stability and growth "

Speech by M.Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat held on 02/06/2011 at Dewan Leong Wan Chin, Jalan Kampar in Malaysian Kadhampa Buddhist Association event.

Religious tolerance the way forward to Malaysia’s stability and growth

I thank His Holiness the 18thDromtug Rinpoche Losang Chockye Pelden for inviting me today to witness the ongoing relic’s exhibition in Ipoh.

I visited and was briefed of the workings of the relics this morning. I must say I and my entourage were greatly informed and educated on the relics of Buddha and his disciples.

From the brief presence this morning here, I felt, the deep connection and direct benefits from the relics.

We thank the Malaysian Kadhampa Buddhist Association for arranging His Holiness‘s blessing through this event.

We are fortunate that right at our door step, we can have the privilege to see and observe the beauty of the relics.

The number of relics is too numerous to be counted. The most interesting part of the relics is that it is a living item and is said to be growing in size over time.

We were also shown a turtle of over 100 years old which likes to linger around the relics area.

Malaysia has a population of over 28million. Although Malaysia is a Muslim majority country, it has a very thriving non Muslim population.

According to the latest statistics, the break down as according to races is as follows:

1) Race: Malay (53.3%), Chinese (26.0%), Indigenous (11.8), Indian (7.7%), Others (1.2%).

2) Religion: Islam (60.4%), Buddhism (19.2%), Christianity (9.1%), Hinduism (6.3%), other/none (5.0%).

From the above, we can see that Malaysia has a very big Buddhist population. Thus this explains the existence of many Buddhist temples all over the country.

We are fortunate that notwithstanding that we are a Muslim majority country, we get to practice our faiths as we choose as this is enshrined in the Federal constitution which states under Article 3 Islam is the religion of the Federation but other religions may be practiced in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation.

We should be grateful to the framers of our Constitution who had the foresight and had incorporated this important protection for the people of this country.

In many of the countries around the world, thousands of people have been killed due to religious strive/misunderstanding

Many a time the religious freedom in our country has been strained but somehow due to sheer tolerance and understanding, no major incidence has happened to the extent of civil strife taking place.


Thanks.


M.Kulasegaran
Ipoh Barat, MP
http://ipohbaratvoice.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/mkula

Screening of Interlok Video in Bercham

Speech by M.Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat at the talk held in Bercham, Ipoh on June 1, 2011

We thank the management of the Sri Kaliamman Temple for inviting us to meet up with its members and the local Indian community to discuss Indian related issues. Over 200 people from all walks of life attended the talk.

Among the speakers were Lawyer N.Selvam, Sdri. Kamachee, and Sdr. Kalimuthu and myself.

We also screened the parliamentary debate on the issue of interlock at the talk. It was well received and many attendees took copies of DVD for distribution to others who could not make it to the talk. In my speech I spoke on the following issues.

“Interlok”

Inetrlok literature text being used in Zone 2 of the country is the most controversial book ever to be used, despite the wide spread criticisms against its usage by the civil society.

The contents of the book are not only misleading as the facts stated are false but the novel will destroy the fabric of the multiracial strength of our country.

Malaysia is a multiracial, multi lingual and multi religious society. Any written work or book to be used as a text book should not be offensive to any community. It must be acceptable to all the communities of the country.

All communities must be well treated and due respect must be accorded to them. But the book is just doing the opposite as the contents are poisonous and are offensive especially to the Indian community.

It is puzzling why this particular book is retained as a school text though it is so clear that it is simply unsuitable as a school text.

The Education Ministry should do what is right and substitute the novel with a suitable one.

Tamil Schools

Upon the request of the local community in Sg.Petani, I and concerned citizens recently visited the Harvard Division 2 Tamil school at Gurun, Kedah.

This school started operation in 1935. At that time there were nearly over 200 Tamil families who were employed as rubber tappers. Thus to cater for the children of the labourers the estate management built this school.

At one time it had a student population of over 200. But over the years the number of labourers started to leave and migrate to the towns.

Presently there are only less than 30 families left and the student population has dropped to 26.

We were given to understand that the head master and the teachers of this school have all been transferred to other schools. This means the school will cease to operate.

All these years the BN has always stated that no school will be closed even if there is only one student left.

Why then this particular school is being closed down? Why has the BN Government not kept its promises?

In 1957, there were 1082 Tamil schools in the country. But over the years, the migration of Indians from the estates to the urban areas has resulted in the drop of student population in estate Tamil schools.

If the closure of Harvard Division 2 school becomes a precedent, then 30% of Tamil schools all over the country will face the fate of being closed down.

We therefore need a clear statement and guarantee from the Government that it will keep this school operational.

Presently the interest to send children to Tamil schools has grown stronger. Today, over 60% of the Indians parents are sending their children to Tamil schools.

In the 80’s, there were less than 80,000 students in the Tamil schools. Now,

the enrollment has ballooned to over 120,000 and is still growing every year.But there is an acute shortage of class rooms in most of the urban SJKT.

The government must therefore allow estate schools to be relocated to urban areas and /or build new SJKT in the urban areas.

Surely MIC, the so called sole Indian representative in the BN, cannot be unaware of the serious problem of the Tamil schools. Can the MIC spell out in detail how this problem will be attended and resolved?

What is required is a clearly set out blue print on Tamil schools for the whole country.



M.Kula Segaran
Ipoh Barat

http://ipohbaratvoice.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/mkula