CoFfEE witH PUNithAN

Penang MIC Youth wing blasted PAS Youth for planning a mass protest this Friday against the recent cabinet ruling that banned conversion of minors without mutual consent of both parents in case of strained conjugal relationship.

The MIC Youth chief M Suresh also slammed Indian members in the PAS non-Muslim club for being "sitting ducks and not being able to raise a finger" against their Muslim colleagues for not protecting non-Muslim rights.

He said the protest planned by PAS Youth after this week’s Friday prayers clearly demonstrated that the party was not for all as propagated by its leaders.

PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar has also slammed last month’s cabinet ruling that children of divorced parents should be raised in the religion at the time of their marriage should one of them convert to another religion.

Suresh was critical that PAS’ brand of politics and religious zeal failed to uphold natural justice and universal concept of human rights.

He accused PAS non-Muslim club members for failing to voice their opinions in favour of the cabinet decision and against the religious fervour of their fanatical party colleagues.

"The Indian supporters of PAS should openly disagree with the stance taken by their Muslim colleagues. They should defend and protect their Hindu dignity and integrity.

"Otherwise, they should repent and seek alternative parties, such as MIC," he said.

He criticised PAS Indian supporters for blindly campaigning for the Islamist party during the general election in March last year.

'PAS is a sectarian party'

Suresh said the protest against the cabinet decision and Mahfuz’s criticism clearly exposed the PAS lie that the party represent all Malaysians regardless of their religious and ethnic backgrounds.

"It’s obvious now that PAS is a sectarian party hell bent to protect only one particular ethnic group while forsaking others," he told Malaysiakini today.

The cabinet ruling apparently was a move to alleviate the frustration of affected parents when their children had been converted to another religion without their knowledge and consent.

The latest high-profile incident happened in Ipoh last month when a Muslim convert Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah converted his three underage children to Islam without the knowledge of his estranged Hindu wife M Indira Gandhi.

Last week, the Ipoh High Court granted Indira custody of all her three children pending the full custody hearing on May 12. The older children - Tevi Darsiny, 12, and Karan Dinesh, 11, - were in the care of their mother from the beginning.

The court also ordered that the youngest child, Prasana Diksa, who is in her father's care to be returned to the mother.

The cabinet decision, however, is set to be tested by the highest court of the land if the current laws and enactments are not amended to provide clear interpretation on matters related to such conversion cases, according to those in the legal circles.

A judicial test on the cabinet ruling is already on the cards as Muslim convert Mohd Ridzuan has challenged its decision in court.

"This (cabinet) ruling contradicts the federal constitution, it is illegal and not applicable on Muslims, including myself and my children," the Muslim convert said in a court document filed on April 28 opposing the cabinet order.

The Government has taken the first step towards reviewing the Internal Security Act (ISA) with the formation of a Law Reform Com­mittee.

This is in keeping with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s promise when he took over the helm of the nation that he would initiate a comprehensive review of the ISA.

Among the laws to be considered for review include the Civil Law Act (CLA), Criminal Procedure Code, Penal Code and state laws that are in conflict with the Federal Constitution.

“The ISA is a law that is close to the hearts of many and we will work together with the Home Ministry to amend the relevant parts,” said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong, who heads the committee.

He said the first step would be a briefing session on Wednesday and Thursday involving the Legal Affairs Department and the Legal Aid Bureau.

He said that subsequently the committee – which was formed on April 29 – would engage the Malaysian Bar and other legal associations in the country, as well as the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and Suhakam.

Liew said existing laws which were confusing or obsolete would b

Four to five more by-elections have been lined up by Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim before the country goes to the next polls, said a political analyst.

The reshuffling of the PKR leadership, which was announced last Monday, was seen by International Islamic University Malaysia political and international studies dean Prof Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak as a party strategy in preparation for the series of by-elections.

He said Anwar, who is also PKR leader, had shaped a new leadership, which would act as the party’s prime mover to face each of the by-elections he had planned.

“Anwar has decided on the by-elections. He has decided where these should be held, his battle plans and the effects of the by-elections.

“I foresee that before the 13th general election, there will be four to five more by-elections that have already been planned by Anwar.

“Looking at the list of the new party leadership, these are the PKR stars that Anwar will use to ensure the success of his strategy,” Dr Mustafa told mStar Online, The Star’s Bahasa Malaysia news portal.

In the leadership reshuffle, PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail would act as party spokesman while vice-president Azmin Ali is head of a task force, comprising other vice-presidents and the Youth and Wanita chiefs.

Saifuddin Nasution, the new election campaign director, relinquished his old position as strategic director to Tian Chua.

Dr Mustafa added that Anwar only planned the by-elections in constituencies where he was confident of winning by more than 70%.

Other observers viewed the reshuffle differently, saying this was to overcome internal problems and strengthen the party.

Universiti Sains Malaysia political science lecturer Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Faruq said the restructuring was necessary for the party to overcome internal problems.

Penang PAS is insisting that a PAS candidate be fielded in the coming Penanti by-election.

Its deputy commissioner Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa, who said this at a press conference here on Sunday, also appealed to its national leaders to review the allocation of seats among members of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition made during the last general election.

“We strongly feel that we should be allowed to contest in Penanti to restore the image of Pakatan Rakyat, which was tarnished following the resignation of Mohamed Fairus Khairuddin as Penanti state assemblyman,” he said.

He said Mohamed Fairus’ resignation, which he claimed was done without any basis, had caused disappointment among grassroots supporters and members.

“We feel that the sudden resignation of Fairus is deemed as an act of betrayal to the trust given by the people.

“The people are also disappointed over Fairus’ resignation as Deputy Chief Minister 1 which they claim was done without due consideration for the importance of the position and carried out according to his own whim and fancy,” he said.

Dr Mujahid said they feared that the trend of resigning without valid reasons would become an unhealthy political culture.

He said Penang PAS would forward its views to its national leaders for consideration when they meet tomorrow, adding that they would abide by any decision on the issue.

He added that PAS would support PKR candidate Mansor Osman who was named to stand in the by-election, should the party decide not to contest in it.

The Perak Barisan Nasional has nominated former Sungkai assemblyman Datuk R. Ganesan to replace Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar.

Writing in his blog speakforperak.blogspot.com, Sivakumar said the motion to nominate Ganesan, 57, was received by the office of the assembly’s secretary on Thursday morning.

The motion, dated April 29, was proposed by Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and seconded by senior executive council member Datuk Hamidah Osman, he said.

He added that an acceptance letter from Ganesan, who agreed to be nominated, was also attached with the motion.

A lawyer by training, Ganesan, who is also Perak MIC secretary, was a two-term assemblyman.

He was dropped as a candidate in the 2008 general election.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting attended by Perak Pakatan Rakyat leadership on Thursday evening, Sivakumar had said he had yet to decide whether to reject the motion to remove him, as proposed by Dr Zambry.

It has been reported that Dr Zambry would move a motion to remove Sivakumar on May 7 after the opening of the state assembly’s next meeting by Sultan Azlan Shah.

Notice of the motion to remove Sivakumar was delivered to all elected representatives last week by state assembly secretary Abdullah Antong Sabri.

According to the notice, if the motion is passed, the next agenda would be to appoint a new Speaker.

All assemblymen were also told to propose a candidate’s name and submit it to Abdullah Antong.