This is what constitutes “religion”, according to Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar:
“If you are to write on religion, then you are supposed to touch on matters pertaining to:
- questions on rituals,
- adherence to God,
- followers and
- anything related to your divine mission.”
It is interesting that the first thing that comes to his mind when thinking of religion is “rituals” – and not deeper spiritual values such as justice and concern for the poor.
Question for Syed Hamid:
Do God and “religion” have nothing to say about justice, human rights, social justice, corruption, and honesty in public life?
What if we see these issues as related to the religion’s “divine mission”? What if God is a God of justice who demands justice and compassion in all areas of life?
This report from theSun:
Syed Hamid on the responsibilities of a publisher
by Husna Yusopnewsdesk@thesundaily.com
PUTRAJAYA ( Aug 14, 2008) : Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar today reminded publishers that they must know the terms and conditions of their printing permit, and make sure they do not breach them.
“One of the most important thing that one should always remember is whatever you do must be within the terms and conditions of the law upon which you are licensed.
“If you know the conditions of your licence and it stipulates very clearly, then if you go beyond it, definitely you have breached the law,” he said.
“If you have breached the law, there is no question that should be asked. Instead you should ask me whether we are going to take action or not. But, I am not aware of the instruction,” he said after launching his ministry’s Seminar on Vital Targets (Sasaran Penting) 2008 today.
Syed Hamid was responding to questions from reporters on the issue of Catholic newsletter Herald being given a show-cause letter for writing on politics in the weekly publication.
In its latest issue, which has yet to hit the streets, it will carry an editorial on Permatang Pauh.
A Ministry official had said that they will decide in a week or two whether to suspend or revoke Herald’s publication permit.
Syed Hamid said he was not aware of the instructions said to have been issued to Herald.
When suggested that politics and by-election are a part of people’s daily life, therefore it is not against the law to write about Permatang Pauh as Herald’s permit allowed it to write about religion and daily life, Syed Hamid said:
“If you start to interpret, everything can be broadened. It is a relative and subjective situation.
“If you are to write on religion, then you are supposed to touch on matters pertaining to questions on rituals, adherence to God, followers and anything related to your divine mission.
“If you go beyond that, definitely you have committed some breaches.”
Asked whether he is concerned that Herald was writing on by-election, he said: “Whatever it is, the most important condition for everybody is to be responsible citizens. You must add value to forging unity and cohesion within our society.
“If you apply for a licence to write about religion, we expect you to do that. If you go beyond, we have to look whether you have breached or not because everyone can argue this is a matter of interest, therefore it affects our religion. But I think if you mix religion with politics, then you can create a lot of misunderstandings.”
Herald editor Father Lawrence Andrew had maintained that the articles published in its weekly are in line with basic rights guaranteed under Article 11(3) of the Federal Constitution.
“I am puzzled by the Home Ministry’s show-cause letters received since March 10,” he had said.
Herald is circulated to some 12,000 Catholics nationwide.
Related posts:
I also puzzle as usual.
The warlords MSM can publish anything – not ban.
The warlords are very consistent in flip flop the MSM readers.
The also managed to buy someone previously from Aliran to flip flop.
rajraman.Should ban the warlords from spreading lies together with their sidekick.
I am posing this one question to Syed Albar: CAN ISLAM DO WITHOUT POLITICS?
Home Minister is just another silly moron from BN UMNO who sure will be deserted by voter when come next general election for all his stupidity and wrongdoings…
Shame on him and a disgrace to our country…
“Do what I say, not what I do!” sounds only too familiar
By the same ‘logic’ politicians should stay out of religion
Yet we all know far too well that there are too many liars
Trying to define clearly what are the religion’s ‘safe’ regions
(C) Samuel Goh Kim Eng – 150808
http://MotivationInMotion.blogspot.com
Fri. 15th Aug. 2008.
Dear Anil and Friends
Sorry for digressing.
I’ve taken the liberty of posting this message on the upcoming
Permatang Pauh by-election:
I’m a sociologist and I have taught political science in the past. This “Anwar must win by a bigger majority or he has actually lost” stuff is BN propagandistic crap. It is a strategy by the loser to claim victory in the face of impending defeat. So what if Anwar wins by a smaller majority? He has still defeated the BN candidate.
My advice to PKR and the PR is this: ignore this BN propagandistic crap; do not be complacent; hit BN on the inflation rate, the cancer-like corruption, the gross mismanagement of the economy, the abuse of the law; get as many voters out as possibe to the polling booths; have faith that the voters will make the right choice!
Power to the People!
I have read issue the concerned last night. And my conclusion is some parties are even afraid of their own shadows and we are merely the last straws they are clinging to fight their political/money/fame whatever causes. (certainly not divine cause)
It doesn’t take an idiot to wonder…if some religions are allowed to set up political parties and those parties can use religion as their shield/sword, why can’t people of other faiths be given the freedom to read a freaking PRIVATE circulation newsletter?
Having said that, I have great faith in our Divine Being.
Why do we ever bother to listen to this ignorant Umno … always talking nonsense. … If a writer is restricted in his/her writings what good is there…we simply get impure materials that only fit for Umno clowns to read. Syed Hamid, has he got a religion …? Follow the rules, my foot! Double standards that is all about.
When you are a Minister of this and that in Bolehland, what you said has to be quoted in the MSM. But who cares? When fools open their mouths, the wise just walk away.
Well, some Christian cults, ok sects, might be in agreement with his lordship.
1. There’s the time when Jesus advises to give the Romans what is due to them. Translation: don’t question them.
2. Jesus said that the poor will always be among you, but he will be only for a short time. Translation: Never mind the poor, just worship me.
I find more of a connection with the teachings of Buddhism as I get older, though you get Mercedes monks as well.
Anil what can you expect from pea sized brained politicions.
Zaid Hamidi “Islam ada Melayu dan Melayu ada lah islam”
Is he claiming that only the malays are muslims?What about other races?They can be muslim as well as Christians, Hindus, Buddhist etc..
Can the 20 million Chinese muslims migrate to Malaysia and be considered melayu???
God and His instructions cannot be separated from the state as is the norm nowadays. As far as Hinduism is concerned, it cannot be separated. For the state must be governed according to His laws and ideas. God created the world. Politicians come and go. The land created by God remains.
Humankind must realize that the land do not belong to any country but only to the Lord [sarva loka maheswaram says Sri Krishna in Bhagavad Gita 5.29]. If this consciousness is prevalent all over the world, we will not have wars because of greedy people wanting to possess more land.
prayer for permatang pauh (warning from home ministry to herald)…
from anil netto’s blog:
The Herald, a Catholic weekly published in Malaysia, is under further pressure from the Home Ministry, which will be scrutinising its forthcoming editorial on the Permatang Pauh by-election. The edition will reach the chur…
the home minister ought to be sacked!! look at the recent bar council forum issue and now this (and much more earlier!).
i have the complete editorial on permatang pauh from the herald up in my blog here.
Anil, the current trend for some people, is that only the external manifestation of religions and beliefs are important and of primary concern. None is worried about the human values, especially those related to justice for poor people. Justice is only for the rich and powerful, that’s their interpretation. They forgot that spirituality crosses the boundary of rites and religions. We just have to be sorry for such a low mentality approach towards bigger issues in life.
Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, is just a barking … He barks all the time. He does not think…. The most dumbest minister the UMNO could produce. He is a laughing stock in the international arena. No one takes him seriously. Just a joker who shoots his mouth of without thinking….
As far as I am concerned my religion tells me that I must love one another as my God loves me. In order to do that I need to be concerned about my brother. That means I need to care about what is happening around me and not just perform my rituals. Performing rituals is only a tiny part of of my religion. Yes spiritual values, social justice and concern for the poor and disadvanged are some of the teachings of my religion and I believe all other religions too. I think the “Hon” Minister is obviously talking through his …
But i think what he said also make sense. Because sometimes is to avoid other people to take advantage from those article if to released. Because people’s mind are not the same. They think differently according to their environment and what resource of knowledge they obtain from. So that’s the right part of his statement. But the bad part is what like you guys mentioned above, sometimes the way he thought and digest the article released by ‘the herald’ is not getting to the point that the they wanted to say. So, perhaps more wise and open minded people would think differently and could accept with the contents of the article compared to him.
Our is one of the few countries in the Universe where failed Ministers can have 2,3 or even 4 bites at the cherry.
Jessica Alba, who failed to deliver to us Mick Jaggers’ wife Bianca, is now an expert in religion and censorship and rituals and voodoo politics.Would that USA, China,India etc had such versatile MP’s.
What a pathetic State and state of affair.
http://donplaypuks.blogspot.com
refer my post ‘Beijing Olympics Rocked by Scandal One.’
Quoting Syed Hamid Albar ” …if you mix religion with politics, then you can create a lot of misunderstndings.” Not too long ago our country was declared as an Islamic state instead of being secular. No wonder we have created so much misunderstandings amongst the rakyat. Rituals are a part and parcel of any religion but I hope that religious teachings of love and compassion for another fellow human being and all creations of God take precedence over religious rituals.
UMNO and Badawi is definitely bakrupt of ideas and definitely of quality politicians. Syed Hamid AllBlurr and his Predecessor Nazri are a bloody disgrace to the legal profession. Pure s***/crap … come out of their mouths everytime the open their mouth to speak. If they and the UMNO cannot understand that a Forum (Hullo, Bodoh, a forum is a discussion among inteligent people lah – you don’t fit the bill) on anything be it Politics,race or religion is aimed at getting the general public to understand each other better. The way, you netwits are going gila over such a simple thing as a friendly discourse, UMNO and UMNO Malaysia might as well stop putting up a front to the world at large by declaring that Malaysia is a multi racial, multicultural society where the people live peacefully together. THE fact OF THE MATTER IS THAT THE umno ELITE ARE USING RACE AND RELIGION TO BETTER THEIR OWN SELVES. You guys do not care a damn if the people fight because any problems between the people and between the races (could) just provides you guys the opportunity and the excuse to bring in Emergency rule to prolong your shaky position. Anything to deny the opposition the opportunity to kick your butts out of Putra Jaya is acceptable to you.
Think again, Bodoh, it is definitely advisable that you start packing your bags and prepare to join your former TaiKor, Mahathir to fly away as soon as Anwar gains his rightful place in the Parliament. There will be no safe haven for (many of) you (who) will be spending your time counting your sins/crooked deals in the various Govt Hotels in Kajang, Sungai Buloh, Taiping and Penang. There will be too much overcrowding then but thats quite all right as that will give you all a lot of free time to play sodomite and sodomeee.
anil,
Since you covering Permatang Pauh whats your opinion from grass roots level.
Maybe i a bit wrong,people change,so Anwar is a change man by goes throu hell after the warlords fix him up.
Their sidekick also wont leave Anwar alone.
Give Anwar more coverage in your blog.Take the chances,if ANWAR is a change man – will benefits most to Malaysian – NO MORE JIHAD BY WARLORDS.
rajraman.Had to change for the sake of our country.
Clearly shows and proves his zero understanding of his own religion. No wonder people like him holding position of ministership keep making mockery of religion, human value, way of life and wisdom. It is very clear in our mind for once we have been communicating with an illiterate in human values.
That’s the reason I believe a Pak Chik who dwells in one corner of kampung is much more literate than any of this herd of ministers. I’m losing my faith for a prosperous Malaysia, anyway.
Albar, A better solution is to remove political patronage and protection from Islam; let it compete in the free market place on its own merits like all other religions and then educate the Malays to think critically. Why are you people so afraid to free up the Malay mind? Do you not have any confidence in your religion?
Friday, August 15, 2008
Hadi Awang – more Malay than Muslim?
I wasn’t at all surprised when I read Malaysiakini news article Hadi non-committal on
Anwar’s PM bid, because Pak Haji would have stabbed Pakatan in the back long ago if not for
Pak Haji Nik Aziz.
Despite Hadi Awang’s avowed Islamic affiliation he’s basically another of those ketuanan
Melayu person, where being Malay would be far more important than being Muslim.
He was the head of the faction that wanted to do a secret deal with UMNO to seize power in
Perak and Selangor, probably with some incentives of PAS MPs joining the federal cabinet –
forming a Pan-Melayu alliance despite what PAS had said of UMNO during the years and
especially in the pre-election campaign.
Following exposure of his hanky panky footsie rubba rubba with UMNO under the Pakatan table,
he was asked whether he had threatened to pull PAS out of Pakatan. Though he denied that,
note how he qualified his answer that PAS wants to be part of a Pakatan government which is
rooted by Malay-Muslims.
Then using the BN as a reference, as if the BN has been/is an exemplary model, where its
leader has always been a Malay (I use the term ‘Malay’ only because ‘Malay-Muslim’ would be
tautological as there is no such person as a non-Muslim Malay in Malaysia), Hadi Awang said:
“This is accepted by all parties, including Barisan Nasional component parties, which
accepts a Malay as their leader. If there is a change (in the federal government) this would
be accepted by all parties including the DAP and other Pakatan members. The core has to be
Malay-Muslims.”
Not just Muslims, but Malay-Muslims. No, not even an Indian or Chinese Muslim.
Therefore in his narrow provincial parochial perception of Islam, it’s not just a mere
Muslim that’s worthy of leading his aspired Islamic nation (perhaps unless that person is
the superior Arab, where Hadi Awang would then probably cringe before and fawn upon).
That person must be from the Malay race!
So what does that make him?
A Muslim or a race-conscious person who would not accept a Muslim as the nation’s leader
unless that Muslim is also a Malay?
But when asked whether he would accept Anwar Ibrahim, who is both a Malay and a Muslim, as
the PM of a Pakatan government, Hadi Awang remained silent ….. implying ‘NO’!
No doubt the Hadi bloke himself wants to be the PM.
Well, given his true colours showing through his words and actions, would he then be
considered as a Muslim tulin (pure, genuine) enough to head PAS, as he would when the
elderly Pak Haji Nik Aziz retires?
Or is he no more than an ordinary ambitious (perhaps even power crazy) Malay politician?
Islam has been the great equalizer of social classes, where centuries ago, many Indian
converted to Islam because as Muslims, they became equal within society without suffering
the stupid sickening stigma of such an inhuman concept as lower social caste?
Now, what did I say about those who had insulted Islam?
I cannot think of any labels to brand Syed Hamid because even the most negative of the labels like idiot, stupid, moron, brainless etc don’t exactly fit him. His category is actually … yet to be discovered.
‘Rituals’ in the context of Malaysian politics after the time of Bapa Malaysia = UMNO Malay ….plundering the rest of the malay and giving crumbs to the rest of the non malay.
After that is the part where religion comes in to support the first rule of rituals. …
I agree with Cinta Malaysia ..lets have the 20 million Chinese Moeslim come and become citizen. That way the UMNO/BN govt or PAS no longer need to insult Islam in the name of politics and leave religion as what it should be – A private and personal relationship between one person with god – no politics, no race, no economics, no anything, its him and god.
Saiful: I feel that the time is right for me to do my duty as a Muslim and Malaysian by doing what is right.”
Me: I ponder, He said he felt today was the right time to do his duty as a Muslim after 2 months by doing what is right? So, what was right thing to do? Swear on the Quran was the right thing to do? I do agree. But then, would it be taken to mean that the earlier meeting with Najib, Dr Mohamed and negotiating with a police officer and ultimately making a police report was in itself never the right thing? If he wants to do his duty he should in the first place had sworn by the Quran and thereon leave it to Allah to punish Anwar. But he is so passionate to want so much publicity and gaining compassion. By his own words, “it is between him and anwar and Allah”; if that is so, then why he wants so much publicity to proof that his **** was on the line of fire? I am puzzled and perplexed!
Saiful: “He swore in the name of Allah and in accordance to the teachings of Islam and as advised by religious scholars and teachers that I was sodomised by Anwar Ibrahim.”
Me: There seems to be a catch – did he say that he was advised by religious scholars and teachers that he was sodomized by Anwar? He was advised to swear that he was sodomized? Or he was advised that he need to swear? And he said it was done in accordance with the teaching of Islam? Tell me in which Surah gave such teachings on swearing? I have not found a phrase in the Quran pertaining to swearing as an victim; the victim was suppose to get the necessary witnesses as espoused; that’s the rule of syariah.
Saiful: “I’ve taken this oath to prove that my allegations are completely true. Allah is the only place where I can complain to.”
Me: If Allah is the ONLY place to complain, then why did he go everywhere, including to Najib to complain. Najib is not Allah! And he don’t have to take an oath to prove that his allegation is completely true. If the sodomy is true, Allah surely knows; the Quran said Allah knows everything; so you don’t need to prove to Allah that you did not lie. If you believe in Allah, you must also believed that Allah is all knowing and Allah is omnipotent and omnipresent.
Saiful: “I’ve done this for God … and I do not wish to lie to the world as he [Anwar] has done.”
Me: Ehm!!! You did this for God? Oh my God! You can’t be doing this for God; you are doing this for yourself and to convinced us human beings that you did not lie; you don’t do this swearing for God and God do not need you to do this for Him.
Saiful: “I’ve not been hiding but I was quietly gathering enough courage to answer all the allegations against me, especially by Anwar Ibrahim. It needs mental and spiritual strength as taking an oath is not something trivial or easy. The consequences can be very dire in the eyes of God. Nevertheless, Allah has given me the strength to take the oath today.”
Me: Why do he need mental and spiritual courage to tell God? If you believed that God is all knowing, it must mean that He already knows whether you tell Him or not. Of course the consequences of falsely swearing to God is dire in the eyes of God. But if the sodomy was a factual act committed, he never need to fear about telling this truth to God because he already knows that God knows of what had happened to his ****. I don’t need strength to tell God because I know that God is omnipotent and omnipresent irrespective whether I tell Him or not.
Saiful: “This is not a political matter, it is a private matter between me and Anwar Ibrahim.”
Me: This certainly is a private matter between 2 person and God alone. Saiful is right on this. But then he chose to go to Najib for advice; Najib was the first to know. After that, he (allegedly) then went to some specific police officer for advice at a hotel room to discuss the sodomy; thereafter, he … went to … HKL before he went to make a police report. By involving so many parties it was no more a private matter; it has become a public issue.
It must have been a great courage for him to come out now to meet the press after the swearing. The swearing was suppose to be a private matter; but he went to the press to pronounce the swearing for reasons all can imagine. To say that he has “gathered courage” after 2 months while all along he was taunting Anwar and flashing victory signs at the media camera is quite cheap and shows the stupidity of the forces who are behind him. Evil is their thought! Did it take two months for him to gather courage while all along he was blogging about anything he could imagine about his relations with Anwar and PKR? Hogwash!
Copied from somewhere. Have a good day.
“..But I think if you mix religion with politics, then you can create a lot of misunderstandings.”
Ya ya… talk about UMNO and PAS…
The joker’s definition of religion clearly reveal his knowledge of any religion.That’s the level of standard of the Malaysian government ministers.How sad.
[...] We can never be too sure about what Syed Hamid Albar has in mind when he says religious and racial. Because a Catholic newsletter, Herald, has been slapped with a warning letter because apparently, and according to Syed Albar, praying for a fair by-election in Permatang Pauh, and preaching that their followers do the same has nothing to do with religion. Read HERE. [...]
saiful r … please dont make Islams’s image any more worst than it already is in the eyes of non-moeslims. you see most of the religious followers don’t insult their own religion by swearing you did something wrong or so in your case someone did wrong to you.
in buddhism there is no provision for swearing at all, its pretty straight forward – it’s your on karma to bear if you sin and don’t blame other people for it.
in christianity – when you sin, you don’t swear. you ask forgiveness from god and ask god to give you the strength to forgive the other person that has cause you hurt. you don’t swear like you just did.
in hinduism – although i don’t know this much (perhaps a hindu can help enlightened) but i have never seen my hindu friends swear this way.
in islam – so far my understanding is what is islam is open to personal interpretation of people like you which means do as you like. but thanks for the posting by Mahmood earlier, i gues people who are true moeslim don’t actually swear to Allah on this.
so that leaves you, UMNO and those that misunderstood what islam really means to insult islam in the way that you just did by swearing.
DSAI – don’t follow this idiots to start swearing too…
Dear DSAI,
Your faith in God is yours and yours alone. It is a sacred relationship between you and your almighty.
Do not fall for these politically motivated acts in the name of religion. Have faith in your almighty and faith in your fellow Malaysians to see through the desperation of your political opponents.
Malaysians today, be they from the cities or from the kampungs are far more intelligent and exposed than the ‘ruling elite’ would have us believe in the ‘condescending’ manner they address us.
Please keep on the path of bringing real democratic changes to this country of ours without being distracted by these side-shows.
Truth will prevail eventually but you must be in parliament first before the shackles of truth can be removed once and for all from our beloved land.
Quoted you in my opening sermon for my Merdeka & Malaysia (M&M) sermon series this morning. The congregation looked like they affirmed the questions you asked our home affairs minister!
More importantly, beyond debates it’s whether we can live out and carry out the “divine mission” entrusted to each of us!
for me UMNO way of islam is really tarnishing the great image of islam.For me Islam is well respected religion, but the problem is Islam in UMNO way they use islam as their tools to get malay support,for me islam in t his country is not the target, ther is no one chalenge islam, Umno just crate a problem so that they get support.I call upon islam great scholars to punish this people who tarnish good image of the religion