1. The Malay Mail (http://www.mmail.com.my/content/83099-unhealthy-have-two-sets-criminal-laws)
Unhealthy to have two sets of criminal laws, 26 September 2011
by Pearl
THOSE who are used to Kelantan Menteri Besar Tok Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat understand him as a person who sounds tough but can be quite humane when pressured for a fair deal.
I remember when leading a Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism (MCCBCHS) delegation to Kota Baru, Kelantan, in the early 1990s, Nik Aziz was insistent for the most part of the meeting on the implementation of the hudud laws in the State.
However, he was quite cordial and respectful of our views. He kept on assuring us that the new laws would not infringe on our own respective religion and customs.
We parted most amicably with him agreeing to consider our views while, at the same time, he requested us to study his proposal.
Within a few weeks he had sent us the decision of his government not to impose the hudud laws and other syariah laws on non- Muslims.
We were also aware of the fact that the Parliament must amend the Federal Constitution before the Kelantan government can implement the law.
Our council then went on a nationwide campaign meeting all political party leaders not to support any amendment to the Constitution.
The problem we have in this country is that our non- Muslim MPs from the ruling party from Peninsular and East Malaysia voted in 1988 in favour of amendment of the Federal Constitution's Article 121(1) and (1A) severely diminishing the power of the Civil Courts.
The irony was that Nik Aziz restored the freedom of non-Muslims to build temples and churches, and the demolition of places of worship was prevented and settled by discussion.
Even the Lion dances banned before was brought back again in the 1990s in Kelantan.
As religious organisation leaders, we found it embarrassing to criticise the Kelantan government's restrictions on alcohol, gambling and vice.
However, it is my personal opinion that hudud laws and all other Islamic laws should not be implemented in Malaysia, given our multi-racial and multireligious population.
It is not healthy to have two sets of criminal laws, and for Muslims and non- Muslims to face different punishments for the same offences.
Datuk A. Vaithilingam
Former President
MCCBCHST
2. Free Malaysia (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com)
Sin Chew has deviated from its original mission, 27 September 2011
From JY and friends of Sin Chew, via e-mail
We refer to the article, ‘Hypocrisy of Sin Chew at its best’ by Josh Hong published in Malaysiakini and wish to give our five-sen worth on the issue. We fully endorse and support what Josh Hong said about Sin Chew and its boss CC Liew and senior writer Tay Tian Yan.
We have been faithful readers of both the Chinese daily and its English news portal mysinchew.com for years. The paper used to be very brave and bold in publishing news without fear or favour during the 1980s and 1990s.
However, after Sin Chew celebrated its 80th anniversary, the content of its daily paper has degenarated very much, like its English counterpart The Star, which has become a mere shopping guide with many advertisements and no real news worthy content.
We and many of us were elated when we discovered early last year in 2010 that the outspoken Malaysia Today writer Thomas Lee had started writing a weekly column in mysinchew.com.
We followed his brave and bold column, and were very impressed by his insight and interpretation of many vital issues affecting the nation and people, issues such as the “Allah” and Malay Bible controversies, the Little Napoleons, and the MCA crisis.
However, we were deeply shocked when Malaysiakini reported early this year that the courageous editor was given the boot by Sin Chew, apparently due to political pressure from the Barisan Nasional government.
Since the sacking of Thomas Lee, mysinchew.com has become a dumping site for rubbish writings such as that by Tay Tian Yan, who usually repeats what has been reported in the mainstream media and adds a little comment of his own, usually in support of the Barisan Nasional, especially the MCA. Lately, Tay has been sugar-coating MCA president Chua Soi Lek.
It is so unfortunate that a newspaper that used to be the conscience and voice of the Chinese community in Malaysia has sold out the community by abandoning its stated mission of preserving and promoting the fundamental rights of the Chinese in Malaysia.
Josh Hong is right that Sin Chew boss CC Liew has made himself very low by accepting the Tokoh Wartawan award, whose previous winners include the Mahathir loyalist Zainuddin Maidin.
Within the intellectual circle and media fratenity, such awards for journalists and editors, including civil titles like Dato, are viewed contemptuously as rewards for being loyal political lackeys.
The Star, for example, has several Dato’s who are known political lackeys of top Barisan Nasional political leaders. CC Liew had also received a Dato from Gerakan president Koh Tsu Khoon when the latter was Chief Minister of Penang.
Josh Hong is spot on when he said that Sin Chew had sold out to the Barisan Nasional, currying favour with Najib. He is also correct in questioning the dubious writing abilities of Tay and other senior writers of the newspaper.
Josh Hong said that the opinion pieces by the “so-called senior journalists” of Sin Chew are “either wishy-washy or completely ridiculous”. This is an apt observation, and we hope the Sin Chew management would not condemn Josh Hong for his honest view, but rather do something to correct the sad state of affairs in the newspaper.
And we would add that it is also a shame that mysinchew.my, which could have been used as a viable vehicle to promote the rights of the people and help in the nation-building process, is now in such a bad state, with not only poor content, but bad English to boot. My friends and I have stopped reading mysinchew.com.
There is no malice in our writing this letter, just doing our part as loyal readers of Sin Chew in wanting to see the newspaper redeeming and improving itself. We have confidence that Sin Chew can rise again as a great Chinese daily newspaper in Malaysia if it is prepared to honestly and objectively consider the critical and analytical comments by people like Josh Hong.
(End)
