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.
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.
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I am posing this one question to Syed Albar: CAN ISLAM DO WITHOUT POLITICS?
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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…
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“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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Anil what can you expect from pea sized brained politicions.
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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???
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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.
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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…
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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.
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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.
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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….
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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 …
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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.
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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.’
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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?
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