[Religion] Insulters get away scot-free

If it weren’t for public pressure, we would have not known that the Al-Islam journalists who insulted Christians so happily will NOT face any charges. News article from Malaysiakini.

No action against Al-Islam, say AG’s Chambers

Due to overwhelming pressure from the general public, the Dang Wangi police district headquarters revealed yesterday that charges against two Al-Islam magazine’s journalists, who entered a Catholic church in Kuala Lumpur, have been dropped.

The duo who – on the pretext of checking out a claim that Muslims were being converted to Christianity – entered a Catholic church in Ipoh and took part in the holy communion.

They were charged under Section 298A (1) of the Penal Code for causing disharmony, disunity or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will, or prejudicing the maintenance of harmony or unity, on grounds of religion.

In a letter to the complainant, senior investigating officer ASP Ananthan Rajoo stated that the Attorney-General’s Chambers had decided not to press charges against them.

“We referred this case to the deputy public prosecutor (DPP) and we received orders from them to take no further action (NFA),” stated the letter, dated Feb 12.

Wrong message

K Sudhagaran Stanley, who had lodged the police report in June last year, expressed disappointment.

“We are deeply hurt and our rights to freely worship has been violated.

“We are pressing for this charges to be placed not because of revenge, but because we want this country to be ruled by law, that people will respect the faith of others, that Malaysians will know that they cant just go and humiliate the beliefs of others and get away with it.

“This reply from the government sends a wrong signal down to Malaysians. We will see more of such cases in the future if we don’t stand up for our rights now,” he said via email.

He added that a mass peaceful protest will be organised soon to protest the decision made by the AG’s Chambers.

And some people wonder why I’m disgusted with our country. By the way, have you read what I call the Malaysian Lie yet?

Original entry as appearing at Reach Into Your Soul.

Translation: Taken from Utusan Malaysia

Just wanted to do a quick exercise of translating this Malay article into English. Considering the inflammatory language used by the original author/editor/newspaper, I’m trying to make the English version as neutral as possible.

Be wary of mixed marriages
By ZULKIFLI JALIL
email: pengarang@utusan.com.my

PUTRAJAYA 25 Feb. – Youths, including artists and celebrities were reminded to think “a thousand times or more” before entering into a mixed marriage, as studies show that the success rate of such marriages were only 3:10.

Information, Communications and Culture Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim explained that studies carried out in Malaysia between 1995 to 1998 discovered that only three out of every ten mixed marriages succeed.

According to him, the failure is higher among couples with at a Caucasian partner.

“However, in such marriages where the non-Muslim partner enters Islam, the success rate is much higher.”

“This has become common, so youths, including artists can use this as encouragement. If you’d like to know more about this study, you can get it from the civil marriages registration from the syariah records in Johor and Wilayah Persekutuan,” he said to Utusan Malaysia today.

Rais was also asked on his opinion regarding the separation between actress Maya Karin and her husband.

The beautiful actress explained the reason for her marriage’s breakdown laid on them, as they had not taken into account their cultural differences before getting married.

Rais who is also an expert on law and the Constitution, refused to comment on her marriage, saying the reality was there were a lot of hardship a mixed couple would face.

“Such marriages fail because of the many differences in lifestyle, culture, and religion each person was raised into.

“It’s just that most of these marriages are based on ‘whirlwind romances’, so after a short while, each partner falls back to the culture they were raised in.” Translator’s note: I have no idea what he’s trying to say here, actually. I understand the words, but when strung together they make no sense. Alternatives MORE than welcome for this particular section.

Legally speaking, Rais said that mixed couples face quite severe problems if their marriage faces trouble.

“It’s not easy to get a Malaysian citizenship. However, things are easier for a woman marrying a Malaysian man rather than the other way around.”

“This is because citizenship in Sections 16 and 17 of the Federal Constitution is based more on the father’s side and not the mother’s,” he said.

He continued, “It gets even worse if they have a child, as the father may “kidnap” the child back to England or Europe, so in such cases, if the mixed marriage fails, it would be better for them to not have children.”

Original under the cut:

Read the rest of this entry »

Original entry as appearing at Reach Into Your Soul.

3:10 Success Rates

Excuse me for clogging up your feeds. Sorry about that

I’ve got a few questions for Information Minister Dr Rais. According to the article I just translated here, his statements raise more questions than they do answers. First off though, I would like to tip my hat off to him, for at least not joining in the gossip about Maya Karin (though Utusan seems to want him to).

Studies carried out in Malaysia between 1995 to 1998 discovered that only three out of every ten mixed marriages succeed.
I’d like to know what is his definition of success. Some couples could be together and still have a failed marriage; they argue, fight, and cheat on each other without actually getting a divorce.

The reality was there were a lot of hardship a mixed couple would face.
Isn’t this the same no matter what the circumstances of your marriage is? No matter the culture, marriage is not a bed of roses. Ideally, this could be bad translation on my part, but reading the context, Rais seems to paint the picture that only mixed marriages have problems while it is smooth sailing for the non-mixed marriages.

Children getting kidnapped back to their home country
I find it very amusing he said this, he’s completely forgotten about this. So how, Mr Rais? Why does Indira have to raise her children as Muslims and not as Hindus? Are you going to overturn the previous and unjust sentence meted out to her children?

Also on the home country thing
Sir, did you mean international mixed marriages, or did you just mean mixed marriages in general? You see sir, I ask because I’m a child of a mixed marriage. My family’s as Malaysian as you can get. I dare say that we’re really Bangsa Malaysia, or 1Malaysia, whatever you want to call rojaks like us. Both my parents are Malaysian nationals.

Thus, while I can understand your worry about children snatching internationally, I feel you do a discredit to everyone else.

Which brings me to my last question: Sir, do you have any friends who are of mixed blood like me?

Original entry as appearing at Reach Into Your Soul.