YOURSAY 'Nazri, don't get me wrong, I don't condone homosexuality, but please do give us a better argument. You are the lawyer, not me.'

Nazri: Homosexuality IS unconstitutional

your say David Dass: What an extraordinary statement. Homosexuality is against Islam. Islam is the religion of the federation. Ergo, homosexuality is against the constitution. What happened to equality of all and freedom of worship?

This goes beyond homosexuality. Buddhists do not think in terms of God, heaven or hell. They believe in practising the right behaviour leading to Nirvana.

Hindus believe in reincarnation. Christians believe that Jesus was the son of God, that he died and was resurrected. They believe in the Holy Trinity, while the Jews believe in the Old Testament.

There are much in common between the various religions especially when it relates to right and wrong behaviour. But there are many differences of dogma. So it is wrong to equate the constitution with the syariah.

Not all laws have religious root. And not all religious proscriptions become law. All beliefs have to be respected and the human rights of all should be protected.

Ben-ghazi: Gambling is also against Islam, the religion of the federation, so the Genting Casino is unconstitutional. Right or not? Yet, why does the BN government not ban the casino?

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz, your argument does not hold water.

There are many things that are against Islam - like the ISA, where people are arrested and then not charged in court... the list goes on.

So, how about explaining why all these unIslamic practises are allowed in this country. Don't get me wrong, I don't condone homosexuality, but do please give us a better argument. You are the lawyer, not me.

Boon Hor Loy: What about corruption? Isn't it unconstitutional too?

Borg Kinaulu: This is yet another blatant attempt to subvert the constitution of the nation. Malaysia is a secular constitutional monarchy so the constitution is not subservient to any king or religion.

No amount of twisting and turning by any snake or worm will change that fact.

Azizi Khan: Dear Nazri, by your logic, no person who is not of Islamic religion will have constitutional rights in Malaysia because they would be looked at as being against Islam.

Islam may be the ‘official religion' it doesn't mean that Islam IS the constitution. It's like saying if Nike sponsors a sports competition, only people who wear Nike shoes will be allowed to enter.

By the same token, Nazri, Malaysia is not a signatory to any human rights charter, does this mean that Malaysia is an illegal country by United Nations standards?

Milosevic: Is the interest I am getting from my bank unconstitutional? I challenge Nazri to have the guts to declare illegal all interest payments given by Malaysian banks and ban all foreign bonds and accounts held by Malaysian banks and Bank Negara.

Tendentious and selective use of the Constitution is not one quite expects from the law minister. But this is Malaysia. Can we have ministers half the caliber of Singapore or China? We would be a great country but then again, this might be unconstitutional.

Yoong John Yen: Going by this reasoning, it basically makes almost everything being practiced by non-Muslims unconstitutional.

Eating pork is unconstitutional, anything Hindu, Buddhist or Christian (and any other religion) is unconstitutional, the existence of any house of prayer other than the mosque is unconstitutional, democracy is unconstitutional and basically, the very existence of non-Muslims is unconstitutional.

Supercession: Umno is again at work to pervert the constitution for their nefarious ends. Since when must everything, including the constitution, be read through the lens of Umno's version of Islam?

Islam's role is merely ceremonial. Islam does not supersede the secular constitution. Get it?

Pemerhati: Quote from Wikipedia: "Article 3 declares that Islam is the religion of the Federation but it then goes on to say that this does not affect the other provisions of the Constitution (Article 4(3)). Therefore, the fact that Islam is the religion of Malaysia does not by itself import Islamic principles into the Constitution."

But now it looks like ministers such as Jamil Khir Baharom and Nazri are trying to Islamise the secular constitution and turn Malaysia into a theocracy by importing Islamic rules and principles into it.

Chuath: This is yet another proof that there is something wrong with our education and political system that we would end up with someone like Nazri as our de facto law minister.

Hobbes: So now that homosexuality is unconstitutional, what are you going to do about it? Kill them? Jail them? Whip them? Put them on a deserted island?

Assuming you have a child or grandchild who is homosexual, what would be your views be then? Remember they are as human as you are.

 

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