1. Sin Chew Daily (http://www.myshinchew.com)
Not Proper To Hold Conversion To Islam Forum Openly, Says DPM, 7 August 2008
SUBANG: Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said it was not proper for Bar Council to hold the forum on "Conversion to Islam" issues openly.
He added it was not proper to hold this forum in Malaysia because it was a sensitive issue.
"If people want to discuss about this issue, it is better to talk about it behind closed doors, but not openly," Najib told reporters after launching the Vista Jet and Skypark Malaysia's Fixed Based Operation (FBO) at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, here Thursday (7 Aug).
When asked whether government would instruct Bar Council to call off the forum, Najib did not want to comment.
"I do not know the coming development. As far as I know, Bar Council has its own views," he continued.
The public forum is expected to touch, among other things, on a provision in the Federal Constitution which stipulates that the courts have no jurisdiction on matters which are within the Syariah Courts jurisdiction.
The forum is also expected to discuss on several conversion cases in the country.
Najib insisted that government did not prevent anyone from holding forums because issue discussion was a good phenomenon. However, it was better to discuss sensitive issues behind closed door.
2. Malaysiakini.com（http://www.malaysiakini.com）
(1) Gov't to act on Islamic conversion rows, 10 August 2008
The government today proposed new rules on converting to Islam, in a bid to prevent wrangles that have split families and incited racial tensions in this multicultural country.
"We are working on a law that non-Muslims who are converting to Islam must inform their spouse and family," Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said after meeting Islamic religious authorities.
"They will have to fill out a form and declare that they have informed their family of the pending conversion," he said.
The move follows a series of allegations of "body-snatching" by Islamic authorities, who have seized remains for burial according to Muslim rites, against the objections of non-Muslim family members.
The proposals are an olive branch to Malaysia's minority ethnic Chinese and Indians who are uneasy over rising "Islamisation" and have turned away from the government, which is dominated by Muslim Malays.
The coalition government's mis-handling of race issues is credited as one of the factors behind its drubbing in March 8 elections, when it lost a third of parliamentary seats and five states in its worst-ever results.
Clash between religions
Abdullah said there had been many cases where non-Muslims had converted to Islam quietly without informing their families.
"This has resulted in a clash between religions when the person dies and the Islamic authorities try to claim the body but are opposed by family members who were not informed of the conversion," he said.
"This has caused much ill-will among the various religions."
In the most recent case, an elderly ethnic Chinese man was buried as a Muslim in January after his Buddhist family lost a battle with Islamic authorities who said he had converted.
Police seized the body of Gan Eng For after his eldest son - himself a Muslim convert - said he had switched to the religion. Other family members said that was impossible because he was senile and paralysed from strokes.
In many instances the rows have been decided by Islamic syariah courts, where non-Muslim family members argue they do not get a fair hearing.
(2) PAS opposes Bar's Islam forum, 7 August 2008
by Chan Kok Leong
Islamist party PAS jumped on the bandwagon of Islamic groups against the Bar Council's forum entitled "Conversion to Islam: Article 121 (1A) of the Federal Constitution, Subashini and Sharmala Revisited" today.
In an e-mailed statement, party president Abdul Hadi Awang said PAS vehemently opposed the forum, which will be held at the Bar Council on Saturday.
"Although, PAS accepts the freedom of expression of various parties to dialogue and discuss issues of public interest, nevertheless, issues concerning Islam is something already guaranteed in the Federal Constitution.
"As such, PAS feels if the forum goes ahead, it may raise tensions between Muslims and non-Muslims. This will jeopardise the harmony of the country and will not be beneficial to anyone," said Hadi.
Any discussion pertaining Islam, said Hadi, should involve those who had sufficient knowledge and are authorities in the subject.
"PAS is of the opinion that the Bar Council's initiative, which is secular in nature, will only confuse the real understanding of Islam and cause undue tension.
"To guarantee stability between different religions and races, PAS calls for the forum to be cancelled."
Among the issues to be discussed at the forum include conversions to Islam without spouses' knowledge, conversions of children without dual parents' consent and other inheritance issues.
In Utusan Malaysia today, Muslim Lawyers Association president Abu Zahar Ujang said that any discussion pertaining Islamic matters should involve the appropriate groups and not through a public forum.
"Sensitive issues discussed in a public forum can cause anger and dissatisfaction," said Abu Zahar.
"This country has sedition laws and if the forum causes anger among other races and Muslims, the Bar Council must be held responsible.
Abu Zahar said he was disappointed with the council's leadership, which was more concerned with sensitive issues instead of the welfare of lawyers in the country.
Picket-line
In Alor Star, Islamic Welfare Organisation (Pekida) has threatened to hold a picket if the forum takes place on Saturday.
Pekida president Jamaludin Yusof said its 100,000 members are currently awaiting instructions to protest the forum.
The forum, said Jamaludin, openly challenges Muslims as religious issues are sensitive.
"This is as if the Bar Council wants to challenge the position of Islam as the official religion of Malaysia by discussing issues which could cause political instability in the country," said Jamaludin.
"Such discussions can cause Muslims to feel challenged," he added.
Article 121 (1A) of the Federal Constitution states that the High Court and other appellate courts in Malaysia shall have no jurisdiction in respect of any matter within the jurisdiction of the Syariah courts.
Meanwhile, Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) is due to hold its own public forum entitled "The threat of apostasy" on Aug 15.
Jakim public relations officer Najibah Abdul Mutalib said that the forum is intended to explain the issue of apostates in the country.
"Jakim, as an agency responsible for Islamic matters in the country, is taking the initiative to hold this forum so that the public can obtain more information on the issue.
"The forum also hopes to find a solution to the growing number conversion problems in the country."
(3)‘Conversion' forum goes ahead, 8 August 2008
by Fauwaz Abdul Aziz
The Bar Council's half-day forum entitled 'Conversion to Islam' will proceed tomorrow as scheduled, said council vice-president K Ragunath.
Although matters of faith and race are always sensitive and emotive, dialogues and discussions of the problems arising out of the Syariah and civil courts’ separate jurisdictions and issues “ancillary” to religious conversions are critical to their resolution, he said.
Speaking at a press conference at the council’s office in Kuala Lumpur, Ragunath said such forums are also necessary given the government’s reluctance to address the issues constructively and by including all the relevant stakeholders increase the probability of arriving at “a just and amicable solution”.
“Concerns of some quarters, including a number of cabinet ministers such as Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, (minister in charge of Islamic affairs) Ahmad Zaid Hamidi and various NGOs and PAS are noted.
“We reiterate that our concern is to address the issues of conflicts of laws facing families caught between the separate jurisdictions of civil and Syariah laws,” he added.
Address ancillary issues
Referring to strong demands lately for the forum to be cancelled in view of the sensitivity of the topics expected to be raised therein, Ragunath said such calls “troubled” the Bar Council.
Such calls - and claims that the forum will create “misunderstanding, anger and tension” - stand opposed to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s plea for more interfaith dialogues among Malaysians to promote and ensure religious harmony, he added.
Ragunath reiterated that the forum will not be questioning Article 121 (1A) of the Federal Constitution which gives Syariah courts jurisdiction over Muslims, nor diminish Article 3 which explains Islam’s position.
“The forum is not about conversion per se, as the Bar Council endorses the right of individuals to embrace Islam. Instead, the forum will address the ancillary issues that arise from such situations and will emphasis the need for laws, and a judicial system that protects everyone equally.
“The way forward to resolving any dispute or issue is to firstly promote greater understanding of the views of all the parties involved. We accept and understand that matters relating to faith and race are always sensitive and emotive.
“However, regardless of the sensitivity, we must strive to move forward to achieve a just, fair and amicable solution to the problems faced by so many individuals. The stifling of debates, talks and discussions would be counter-productive and would only fuel hate, fear and insecurity within the affected communities,” he argued.
Describing Malaysian society as “mature and responsible,” Ragunath said “it wants to, and is ready to, exchange views in public, even difficult issues, in efforts to further strengthen national unity and foster interfaith harmony.”
“Discourse on issues confronting the nation cannot take place only at official levels, behind closed doors, but must be inclusive and involve the public and those whose lives are affected by them.
“Calls to halt discussions on any issue imply that there are aspects to those issues that the public does not have a right to know about, which is counter to the principles of the open, progressive and democratic society that we have evolved into.
“We believe that the continued suppression of open and respectful discourse, not public forums, that will cause tension and jeopardise national unity,” he added.
He also called for the government to do more by way of “constructive dialogue and meaningful debate.”
Come and air your views
Explaining that the issue of separate legal jurisdictions is not unique to Malaysia, Ragunath stated whenever there are two conflicting or differing views (on a legal matter), “we need to dialogue (on it) and create awareness.”
On the part of the council, Ragunath said it was taking the necessary precautions to ensure the dialogue takes place in a “controlled and constructive measure” and invited all - supporters and critics alike - to attend the forum and to air their views.
Even those intent on demonstrating tomorrow against the forum or submitting to the council a memorandum expressing their grievances with it, are welcome to do so, said Ragunath.
“If they’re sending a memorandum, we’ll accept the memorandum. If they want to demonstrate, that is their right to demonstrate - as long as it is peaceful,” he said further.
Among the speakers at the forum are director of the Institute of Islamic Understanding’s Center for Syariah Laws and Political Science Dr Wan Azhar Wan Ahmad and Syariah lawyer Mohd Haniff Khatri Abdullah.
Mohd Haniff represented the Federal Territory’s Islamic Religious Council in the case of R Subashini. K Shanmuga and Ravi Nekoo, who were counsel for Subashini and S Shamala, respectively, are also slated to speak.
The moderator will be Zarizana Abdul Aziz of the Women's Centre for Change (WCC).
Ragunath said the only person to have pulled out as a speaker is former Syariah judge and currently the Federal Territory Islamic Department’s Syariah prosecutor Dr Mohd Naim Mokhtar. About 150 people are expected to be at the forum.
(4) Protesters stop Bar's 'conversion' forum, 9 August 2008
by Andrew Ong
About 300 protesters gathered outside the Bar Council headquarters demanding that the lawyers group halt its controversial forum on ‘Conversion to Islam’ this morning.
The Bar Council today, adhering to the advice of the police - and an angry mob at its doorstep - wrapped up its half-day forum on 'Conversion to Islam' at 10am, an hour after it had started.
A leader of the protesters - PKR Kulim-Bandar Baharu parliamentarian Zulkifli Noordin - declared the abrupt end of the forum as a victory for them. By 10.40am, most of the protesters have dispersed.
The open forum on the sensitive religious issue kicked off at 9am but angry protestors have given organisers half an hour to cancel the event.
About 15 police officers and an Federal Reserve Unit truck have been deployed to the area and the road leading to the Bar Council office where the forum is held has been closed.
'Don't play with fire'
In the bid to diffuse the situation, the police have told Bar Council to wrap up its forum by 10am.
The protesters, many of whom are from Muslim welfare organsation Perkida and Islamic party PAS, shouted, “Hancur Bar Council” (Crush Bar Council), “Hidup Islam” (Long Live Islam) and “Batal forum” (Cancel the forum).
They are carrying placards saying “Jangan cabar Islam” (Don’t challenge Islam) and “Bar Council, Don’t play with fire”.
Among the protest leaders seen in the crowd are PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub and Zulkifli.
The protesters, many of whom came just before the forum began, later decided to sit down in front of the Bar Council building and vowed that they would not budge until the event had been cancelled.
Some threatened to storm the building to physically stop the forum
Among the speakers at the forum was syariah lawyer Mohd Haniff Khatri Abdulla. Mohd Haniff represented the Federal Territory’s Islamic Religious Council in the case of R Subashini. K Shanmuga and Ravi Nekoo, who were counsel for Subashini and S Shamala, respectively, also spoke.
The forum is moderated by Zarizana Abdul Aziz of the Women's Centre for Change.
Former Syariah judge and currently the Federal Territory Islamic Department’s syariah prosecutor Dr Mohd Naim Mokhtar pulled out as a panel speaker earlier.
The demonstration was generally peaceful, but several forum participants were subjected to verbal abuse and profanities when they exited the Bar Council building.
Shouts of “babi”, “pengkhianat” and “balik China” were heard as forum participants trickled out of the venue.
Speaking to reporters later, Zulkifli said that he had led a delegation of four individuals representing the protesters to state their position with Bar Council president Ambiga Sreevenasan and vice president K Ragunath.
Islam-bashing forum
“I spoke to them for 15 minutes and I urged them to stop the forum as it is a form of provocation against Muslims,” said Zulkifli, who stressed that he was representing Lawyers in Defence of Islam (Pembela) and not his party PKR.
Asked why the protesting groups choose not to participate in the forum and engage the organisers in a discussion, Zulkifli said that he was open to dialogues but the Bar Council’s intention was to provoke Muslims.
“For us, this forum is merely (for) Islam-bashing,” he said.
Dang Wangi police chief ACP Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman said the situation was “under control” and that he had advised the forum organisers to cancel the event due to security threats.
“There can be civil disorder and disturbance to the peace and we can’t ensure their safety,” he said when asked for details on the security threats.
Asked why he did not disperse the crowd in view of the security threats, Zulkarnain said that the police did not engage the crowd after assessing the situation.
“If we were to take action, nobody will be safe here,” he said, nothing that the initially passive crowd and turned more aggressive as the demonstration wore on.
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