1. The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my)
PM: Malaysia can play role in Muslim and Western understanding , 25 November 2009
WASHINGTON: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Malaysia, with its background of multi-culturalism and tolerance, can play an effective part in promoting deeper understanding between the Muslim world and the West and other divides.
The Prime Minister said Malaysia had the ability to reach out to other nations and communities.
“The world may have its problems but things can be resolved with greater understanding of one another.
“Malaysia stands ready to play its role to make it a better world,” he told a gathering of Malaysians at its embassy here Tuesday night, organised in conjunction with his visit to Washington.
A grey and rainy American capital greeted Najib when he arrived here Tuesday afternoon from New York where he held meetings with American investors and fund managers in efforts to increase American investments in Malaysia.
In contrast, the scene at the mission was one of warmth and conviviality as Malaysians from various races mingled with each other over satay, mee goreng and other Malaysian favourites.
Playing the gracious host was Malaysian ambassador to the United States Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis.
Najib, who is also Finance Minister, reiterated his hope of achieving an economic growth of between 5% and 6% for Malaysia in 2010.
“There comes a time when you reach a plateau in the economy. So, we need to do something to reach a higher trajectory in terms of our development,” said the prime minister.
He said this was behind the recent introduction of a series of economic reforms in Malaysia.
Najib and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, will leave for Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.-Bernama
© 1995-2009 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)
2. News OK (http://www.newsok.com)
Malaysian woman tries to reverse Muslim conversion , 25 November 2009
by EILEEN NG
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A Malaysian woman is fighting to be recognized as a Hindu after being converted to Islam when she was a child, in the latest interfaith dispute to hit Muslim-majority Malaysia, her lawyer said Wednesday.
The case threatens to further anger non-Muslims who have complained that their religious rights are being sidelined, and could further erode minority support for the government.
Lawyer Gooi Hsiao Leung said Banggarma Subramaniam, 27, and her three siblings were under the care of a government orphanage in northern Penang state when she was converted to Islam by welfare officials in 1989 when she was seven years old.
"The conversion itself from the start (was) illegal. She wants to restore her Hindu faith and practice her religion freely," he told the Associated Press.
She ran away when she was 16 and got married two years later in 2001 in a traditional Hindu ceremony. When she returned to the home to collect her identity card and other documents, she was given the Muslim conversion certificate which listed her name as Siti Hasnah Vanga-rama Abdullah, said Gooi.
She has been unable to register her marriage or name her husband as the father of their two children in their birth certificates as she is listed a Muslim. Banggarma's husband must convert to Islam to legally wed her as marriage between Muslims and non-Muslims is not allowed in the country.
The welfare department claims Banggarma was converted in 1983 by her father and that she must go to the Shariah Court to verify her status.
Gooi, however, said the conversion certificate was dated 1989 and that under Penang Islamic laws, minors below 18 cannot be converted to Islam without the consent of their parents.
Malaysia has a dual court system with civil courts for non-Muslims and Shariah courts for Muslims. In interfaith disputes involving Islam, the Shariah courts typically get the last word, which has upset non-Muslims who fear they cannot get justice in such courts.
The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism reiterated calls for legislative reforms to "ensure that Islam, and Islamic law, is not forced upon people like Banggarma who do not profess themselves as Muslim."
Banggarma "should have complete freedom to choose her own religion without having to go through any procedure or counseling," it said in a statement.
If she renounces Islam, Banggarma risks being charged with apostasy, which in Malaysia — as in many Islamic nations — is regarded a crime punishable by fines and jail sentences. Offenders are often sent to prison-like rehabilitation centers.
Minorities are increasingly becoming worried that their rights have become subordinate to those of ethnic Malay Muslims, who form nearly 60 percent of Malaysia's 28 million people.
The unhappiness over racial discrimination erupted in an unprecedented street protest exactly two years ago Wednesday by tens of thousands of ethnic Indians. The demonstration emboldened the minorities into voting against the government, which returned to power with its worst performance ever in the March 2008 general elections
3. Australia Network News (http://australianetworknews.com)
Malaysia under pressure over refugees, 25 November 2009
A wooden boat, centre, carrying 260 Sri Lankan asylum seekers detained by the Indonesian Navy, sits in Cilegon harbour in Indonesia's Banten province on October 16, 2009. Malaysia is coming under pressure to stem the number asylum seekers arriving in Australia. [Reuters]
by Karen Percy, South East Asia correspondent
As Australia steps up pressure on its Asian neighbours to reduce people smuggling in the region, the Malaysian government is under pressure to demonstrate its commitment to stem the human tide.
An estimated 100,000 refugees are thought to reside in Malaysia. The vast majority of refugees are Burmese but there are also significant numbers of Sri Lankans and Afghans.
While many of the refugees, especially those who are Muslim, would like to stay in Malaysia, increasingly they are being forced out.
Malaysia does not recognise refugees, even if the United Nations High Commission for Refugees has assessed them and given them supporting documentation.
Malaysian authorities treat them as illegal immigrants or worse hand them over to trafficking rings.
An Afghani father of four, named 'John' told the ABC's Karen Percy, if he had money he would not spend one more minute in Malaysia.
With his son translating the 41 year old says he would put his family on a boat to Australia, even with the risk of perishing at sea.
He's heard other Afghani families have been allowed to settle in Australia.
But such a journey would cost him about 5,000 dollars, money he just doesn't have.
'John' flew into Kuala Lumpur with his wife and sons two years ago. He is originally from Afghanistan and his children were born in Iran.
The family has converted to Christianity and fears religious persecution if they were forced to return to Afghanistan.
'John' says they are also poorly treated in Muslim dominated Malaysia.
Tough life
Temme Lee, spokeswoman for Malaysian refugee advocacy group Suarem, says life in Malaysia is tough for refugees.
"For those who have lived here for many, from five to ten years, they start to get very desperate because they get trapped in the cycle of arrest, detention and often deportation."
"And they're subjected to a lot of abuse by local authorities and locals themselves here in Malaysia"
The family's case is currently with the UNHCR.
John's 15 year old son, 'Martin' says it's a grim life where refugees are even subjected to death threats.
"My life is like the darkness. My life in Malaysia doesn't have any life in it,"
"My wish is to be a doctor, but now I cannot...I like to study, I like to have a good life...but in Malaysia we cannot."
'Martin' used to have a job in a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur but his boss told him he had to stand during the whole 12 hours of his shift. He left rather than complain and risk being reported to the authorities.
Poor treatment
Cases like this are prevalent in Malaysia. Employers seem to have few qualms about taking advantage of the poor citizens of neighbouring countries.
Rohingyas from Burma are paid a pittance to work on the fishing boats while domestic workers from the Philippines and Indonesia are routinely abused both physically and mentally.
Refugees from Malaysia choose to go Australia in part because of proximity but more importantly, when travelling by boat there is no need for paperwork, unlike arriving by air.
They're also drawn to Australia because of the immigrant communities in the country.
'Martin' says asylum seekers have heard Australia supports refugees.
"Australia is a country that supports refugee people. And they like refugee people."
If his family is ever able to afford the trip, there are plenty of options.
According to refugee advocacy groups, smugglers and traffickers operate freely in Malaysia, assisted by corrupt immigration officials and police.
Earlier this year, the United States put Malaysia back on a blacklist of nations for its failure to address the problems of human trafficking and smuggling.
There are also some who believe the government is turning a blind eye to possible terrorists in the country
The Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd has been trying to press the point with his regional colleagues that asylum seekers are an Asia wide problem.
But until Malaysia and other nations are prepared to do more the boats will keep coming.
(End)
