I am totally baffled that being a former magistrate and lawyer, and now a lawmaker, she could not even interpret the supreme law of the land correctly, decried a reader.
On Week-long prayers for religious freedom
Nato: The recent statement made by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil that it was not a problem for non-Muslims to be made subject to the Syariah Court is beyond comprehension. For her, the bigger concern is whether one can obtain justice in the Syariah Court.
I am totally baffled that being a learned person, she (a former magistrate and lawyer, and now a lawmaker) could not even interpret the supreme law of the land correctly. The Federal Constitution and the many decisions by the Federal Court make crystal clear that the Syariah Court is only meant for Muslims. That is the law. Period.
Non-Muslims cannot seek any remedy from the Syariah Court. The question of justice should not arise at all. If justice is not the hallmark in the Syariah Court or for that matter in civil court, then it should not even exist at all.
The Court of Appeal in R Subashini's appeal had done violence to the Constitution and it was an attempt to override Federal Court decisions, which again violated the principle of stare decisi. Such violent and glaring violation does not hold water and shall be null and void. I hasten to add that the Court of Appeal decision is not binding and of no legal effect. Whether it will be overruled or otherwise, it cannot become the common law of the country.
The civil courts must not abdicate their constitutional duties to uphold and defend the Constitution without fear or favour. No personal preference or bias must exist when a judge is discharging his or her judicial duties, whose decisions must always be judicially based.
How can we have any faith in those YBs who are supposed and expected to know basic constitutional principles? Please, stop all the rhetoric and search your conscience to do the right thing as MPs.
I believe Islam teaches its followers to be just and fair in their dealings with non-Muslims. I admire MPs like Zaid Ibrahim who says things according to his conscience and true to his religion. This is what we called true parliamentarian!
Incidentally, there is a deafening silence from non-Muslim BN MPs (MCA, MIC, Gerakan, etc) except probably Bernard Dompok, who has the guts to speak his mind.
On Chinese voters fully behind BN
DAP Supporter in Machap: Najib's comments that the last Umno general assembly and the racial statements made at the meeting had no effect on Machap Chinese voters is a slap in the face of the Chinese community.
He is saying that Machap Chinese voters don't care about the racial undertones and they can continue with this racial rhetoric as they please because the BN is ever popular. It is this sort of arrogance that makes the rest of us fume, and precisely why the Chinese voters in Machap need to teach the BN party a lesson.
The Machap voters need to show that they are unhappy with the BN government and they should vote for the opposition. The MCA as part of the BN government continues to promote racial politics which many Malaysians have enough of. Racial politics is to the detriment of the Chinese community in the long run simply because the Chinese population is getting smaller. If we continue a government based on race, it will be certain that the Chinese will have less and less of a voice.
Hopeful: As Chinese represent 45 percent of the Machap electorate, I hope and pray that the Machap Chinese come out in full force and vote for change. Religion, education, business, constitutional rights are all eroding.
Remember that a keris was lifted at the Umno general assembly. So let us at least give the future generation a guaranteed happiness as Malaysians. There is no hope for the MCA to protect us so we better get the opposition to do the job.
YSM: Today's Star is proof that the mainstream newspapers are tools of the ruling coalition. The front page says 'Lai for Machap'. Lai is BN's candidate for Machap. Who is the opposition and what's his name? Certainly not front-page material unfortunately.
It will get worse all the way to the general elections. We have seen this blatant use of government machinery as propaganda tools and yet the Election Commission turns a blind eye.
On Halt this bullet train to a xenophobic state!
Pelangi: I cannot agree more with Josh Hong that "racial identity is plastic and malleable" and is a socio-political construct. In the context of Malaysia, I would add that race could also be of cultural construct.
Take the case of a Chinese baby girl who is adopted by other races. If the girl is adopted by Malays, she would be regarded as a Malay, which is not too difficult since many Chinese can pass off as Malays and vice versa.
However, if the girl is adopted by a Tamil or a Sikh family, she becomes a Tamil or a Sikh, and will officially be categorised as an Indian.
This must surely convince anyone claiming racial superiority on how ephemeral the concept of race is.
