A Malaysian Scholar of Islam provides an alternative perspective to the scare-mongering in the mainstream media about Pas and hudud laws. Continue reading »
May 012013
Oct 152010
Why have conditions been laid down in the case of the two Malaysian women judges? Is it not sheer male prejudice against women, wonders Asghar Ali Engineer. Continue reading »
Mar 262009
Is Malaysia really lost and broken? People of goodwill must continue to strive to bring about change: we can rebuild the country into a land where we do not live in fear, but in freedom, says Zaid Ibrahim, in the concluding part of his presentation.
Apr 032008
Some participants at a seminar organised by an insitution created under the auspices of the Umno-led government want non-Muslims found committing khalwat (close proximity) with
Muslims to also be held liable. They also want heftier
penalties for
Muslims caught for khalwat, prostitution, consuming alcohol
and involvement in gambling activities.
An angry Farish Noor says this is further proof that the so-called ‘moderate and progressive’
brand of Islam that was sold to us as ‘Islam Hadari’ was little
more than another Umno propaganda device; serving to placate the
concerns of the international community while in fact serving only to
extend the power and hegemony of the state at home.
Sep 072007
Francis Loh looks at the controversy surrounding the competing civil-sharia jurisdictions in the light of the Lina Joy decision and other recent similar cases as well as the forthcoming 50th Merdeka celebrations. He argues that it is time to push for debate within our own religions and promote a wider notion of unity.
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Sep 072007
In 2006, a representative of the Attorney General’s Chambers announced in the United Nations that they were studying amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1974 (the Act). Among other issues, the amendments are to address the rights and obligations of family members following a family member’s conversion to Islam. Judgments delivered by the courts in this area have been conflicting. This creates social uncertainty, and many families are torn apart by these disputes.
The Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) attempts to clarify some of these in the following set of frequently asked questions:
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Sep 062007
In the Lina Joy decision, the express provisions of the Federal Constitution were made to give way to an interpretation of some form of implied jurisdiction of the sharia courts, observes Ambiga Sreenevasan.
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Sep 052007
The decision by the Federal Court in the Lina Joy appeal by a 2-1 majority cannot be authoritative enough for the decision to be a strong precedent from the highest court in the country. In the public interest, the panel should have been a larger one. In fact, in view of the significance of the issue involved, the full bench of the Federal Court should have sat to determine it, says Karpal Singh.
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Jul 052007
In our cover story, Francis Loh looks at the controversy surrounding the competing civil-sharia jurisdictions in the light of the Lina Joy decision and other recent similar cases as well as the forthcoming 50th Merdeka celebrations. He argues that it is time to push for debate within our own religions and promote a wider notion of unity.
Mustafa Kamal Anuar then takes a step back and reminds us of the importance of embracing humanity and building justice.
Jun 012007
There is no option for non-Muslims to seek legal remedy in the sharia courts, even if they wish to do so, says Chin Oy Sim. It is all the more alarming when the civil courts oblige them to do so as the sole means to obtain legal redress for their grievances.
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