1. MSN News (http://news.malaysia.msn.com)
Malaysia’s largest interfaith group warns it’ll take lawsuits to United Nations if need be, 10 August 2013
by The Malaysian Insider
Lawyer Jagir Singh said the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism will chart a roadmap to refer religious rights issues to the UN.
In another sign of declining faith in the system, the new president of the largest council of non-Muslim religious groups in Malaysia has promised to take legal challenges all the way to the United Nations if they cannot be resolved here.
Lawyer Jagir Singh said the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism will chart a roadmap to refer religious rights issues to the UN.
He also suggested there should be more non-Malays among judges, saying a mixed-race judiciary will get rid of the perception of racial bias in court.
He was speaking to a dinner gathering of 1,000 last night to mark the 30th anniversary of the interfaith group.
A rising number of issues causing concern to non-Muslim religious groups are ending up in court, as in the case of the legal challenge to use the word Allah for non-Islam gods.
Or they are an issue based in law, for example, the recent government push for a Bill to allow the religious conversion of a minor by consent of just one parent, even if the other parents disagrees.
The attempt was abandoned by the government when its own coalition partners and some Cabinet ministers objected to the Bill.
Jagir, a practising lawyer, has often taken a leading role in speaking for the inter-faith group on such issues even before he became president last month.
Last night he told the group: “We will continue to pursue the Allah issue and conversion of minors through legal means, and if necessary will appeal to the United Nations, namely on elimination of discrimination of women through the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, known as CEDAW.”
He added that the group will also work at protecting rights and to find solutions to issues such as building of places of worship and burial grounds.
Guest-of-honour Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, who delivered his speech after Jagir, said the government has “taken a zero-tolerance approach and sometimes contentious position on religious bigotry”.
He added: "We can't allow issues that might just be a storm in a teacup to take a turn for the worse, abruptly turning it into a perfect storm, destroying what took us years and years to build."
2.Bernama (http://www.bernama.com.my)
Malaysia Should Be A Beacon Of Tolerance, Harmony, 10 August 2013
by Joseph Kurup
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 -- Malaysia should stand among nations as a beacon of tolerance, inclusion and harmony, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup.
He said there was a need for people to break down divisive walls, build bridges and achieve an even better understanding on how best to interpret various principles and values for joint action.
"We should be moving away from a zero-sum game and instead focus on capacity and confidence building measures among various religions in the country," he said when addressing the 30th anniversary of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) here Saturday night.
He called for continued efforts to build communal trust towards ensuring all races progressed with the nation.
"Trust must be continually sustained and nurtured. Together, we can make stronger efforts to build friendships and understanding across the different races and faiths," he said.
Kurup also urged moderates of all religions to be united against those who preached hate.
To this end, he said that religious and political leaders should engage with one another at the highest levels and to implement the policies and programmes of national transformation for the benefit of all.
Also present were MCCBCHST president Sardar Jagir Singh and the council's immediate past president, Tan Hoe Chieow.
-
- BERNAMA
3.The Malay Mail Online（http://www.themalaymailonline.com）
Joseph Kurup: Minister of unity or disunity?, 11 August 2013
by Ravinder Singh
AUG 11 — Speaking at the 30th anniversary dinner of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) Joseph Kurup, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of National Unity, said “We can’t allow issues that might just be a storm in a teacup take a turn for the worse, abruptly turning it into a perfect storm, destroying what took us years and years to build.” Beautiful words!
He also said the government has “taken a zero-tolerance approach and sometimes contentious position on religious bigotry”. Empty words, at least until now!
Racial and religious provocations by the likes of Ibrahim Ali (burn the Bibles), Ridhuan Tee (about Thaipusam), Zulkifli Nordin (Hindu deities), and some other Muslims have been going on not for days, but for years. Yet, not a murmur from the minister of national unity until the chest beating at the dinner.
The minister should state openly his stand on racial / religious bigotry — what does it mean to him?
Does it mean, to him, that racial bigotry by Muslims is not only acceptable, but also encouraged by not stamping it down?
Does racial/religious bigotry only mean the non-Muslims hurting the feelings (sensitivities) of the Muslims?
Does racial/religious bigotry mean intolerance by the non-Muslims of the insults thrown at them by the Muslims in the likes of those mentioned above?
Joseph Kurup owes the non-Muslims a proper explanation, case-by-case, why all the incidents of insulting their sensitivities on religious matters by the Muslims such as the above have been coolly tolerated by the government. Why are they being protected from the same laws that would be applied swiftly if any non-Muslims were to do or say similar things concerning Muslims and Islam?
The “zero-tolerance approach” is a whitewash until we see the likes of those mentioned above being charged under Chapter 15 of the Penal Code, i.e. offences relating to religion.
Instead, what we have seen is the government bending backwards all the way to defend these racial/religious bigots. Yes, Ibrahim Ali was saying the right thing for holy books with mistakes should be destroyed by burning and not by dumping in the dustbin. The bibles had a mistake as they used the word “Allah”. So said Dr Mahathir, and echoed by the rest of the government. By defending them, the government is encouraging not only them but also, other like-minded bigots, to boldly take up the mantle of driving a wedge between the Muslims and the non-Muslims.
Joseph Kurup, tell us if you dare go against Dr Mahathir, by charging Ibrahim Ali or any of the other Muslims who have brazenly insulted the non-Muslims, not once, but over and over again?
To my Muslim friends and all good Muslims, I do not mean to offend any of you. I am aware that your Holy Book does not licence Muslims to berate non-Muslims and make fun or insult their beliefs and cultures. It is those who do not follow the teachings of the Quran that cause problems.
Joseph Kurup, your name suggests you are a Christian. If so, please be reminded one of the Ten Commandments is “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour”. As a layman, what I understand from this is — be honest. Are we, the non-Muslims, not your neighbours? Don’t say you don’t tolerate racial/religious bigotry and the same time don’t take action against the likes of Ibrahm Ali.
So Joseph Kurup should be honest with his “zero tolerance approach” and throw the Penal Code at Ibrahim Ali and the like, without proffering any “explanation” as to why their actions do not come within the ambit of the law.
Or, tell us honestly, if positions were reversed, and Ibrahim Ali and his ilk were non-Muslims, and they did what they did to Muslims, would you not be quick to throw the same book at them?
What is needed is the removal of bigotry in the enforcement of laws. We not only have racial and religious bigotry, but also law-enforcement bigotry.
・ This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malay Mail Online.
(End)
