What are Mat Sabu’s and PAN’s stand on this issue?

A person should not suffer bondage and be imprisoned in Islam just because of accident of birth. A person must be allowed whether to believe in God and to choose his or her religion. This is what civil liberties is all about. And it is the duty of Mat Sabu and/or PAN to address this issue to show DAP that they are different and better than PAS.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

PAS is said to be an extreme party. PAS is said to be uncompromising and wants to implement the Islamic Sharia laws of Hudud plus wants to turn Malaysia into a theological state, an Islamic State to be precise. So DAP cannot work with PAS. Instead, DAP is working with Parti Amanah Negara (PAN).

PAN is supposed to be the opposite of what PAS is. PAN is supposed to be everything that PAS is not. PAN is liberal, moderate, modern, in keeping with the times, and is a party the non-Malays and non-Muslims can accept. In fact, DAP has even suggested that Chinese join PAN to demonstrate how liberal that party is.

As President Bush said, the test of the pudding is in the eating. Malaysians are now debating whether close proximity between a male and female who are not married to one another should still be a crime. Or whether in this day and age two people, whether of the opposite sex or of the same sex, should be arrested and punished just for having a relationship.

Now, you must remember, this relationship need not be of a sexual encounter to become a crime. Even just holding hands is criminal enough. Or even if you are both ten feet apart and are not even touching but happen to be together in a secluded place such as a park, hotel room, your house, or whatever.

In fact, the man can be in one bedroom and the woman in another but as long as they are both alone in the same house or apartment that is also considered a crime of close proximity. Remember, Mat Sabu was arrested and charged for close proximity because the woman happened to be in his hotel room although they were both clothed and were standing a few feet away from one another and were not bonking at that time.

This is the opportunity for PAN to demonstrate that it is liberal, moderate, not extreme, and is the opposite of PAS. Mat Sabu and/or PAN should openly state its support for Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin. Just because two people, whether of the opposite or same sex, wish to have a relationship and wish to be alone that should not be a crime.

Mat Sabu and/or PAN should state that this is 2015 and not 615. Times have changed. Values have changed. In the spirit of civil liberties people must be allowed to believe what they want to believe and to do what they want to do as long as that act does not harm others. And this includes bonking in a hotel room during lunch if that is what these two people want to do.

And this raises an even more important issue that Mat Sabu and/or PAN have to address. Why must someone whose father happens to be a Muslim also be categorised as Muslim? That person’s father, or even mother, may be a Muslim and because of accident of birth he or she is forced to be a Muslim. If you respect that person’s civil liberties then that person should be allowed to leave Islam if that is what that person wishes.

This is a very crucial issue that Mat Sabu and/or PAN need to address. A person should not suffer bondage and be imprisoned in Islam just because of accident of birth. A person must be allowed whether to believe in God and to choose his or her religion. This is what civil liberties is all about. And it is the duty of Mat Sabu and/or PAN to address this issue to show DAP that they are different and better than PAS.

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(Free Malaysia Today) – Global Movement of Moderates (GMM) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nasharuddin Mat Isa has warned that G25, a coalition of former civil servants, was too extreme even for a democratic country like Malaysia.

Nasharuddin chastised the group and said its individuals should be more aware of Islamic law and Islam’s position in the country.

Elaborating further, he said that views espoused by G25 were dangerous and could be seen as challenging the religion’s position.

“If we look at some of the positions they have taken (on certain issues), they are extreme.”

“When it touches on the position of Islam, and challenges Islamic institutions, challenges Islamic jurisprudence, it cannot be taken lightly,” he told reporters at the Grand Seasons Hotel Thursday night.

However, the former PAS deputy president said that G25 should not be banned, and instead, suggested its members brush-up on their Islamic knowledge before issuing statements.

“They should be aware of the position of Islam, its laws and tenets. As Muslims, they should know better.”

“I don’t know if they are from another school of thought. Hopefully, it won’t come to a stage where they challenge Islam itself,” he said.

Nasharuddin was appointed CEO of GMM after his predecessor, Saifuddin Abdullah, left Umno to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat this October.

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(The Star) – A collection of 48 civil societies has expressed their support for G25 spokesperson Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin, who is now being investigated for sedition for her remarks on khalwat (close proximity).

In a statement on Friday, Plan of Action for Malaysia (PoAM) denounced the efforts to threaten and silence the group of eminent Malays, known as G25.

“We call on the parties to have a rational, reasonable and civilised discussion and state their opinions courteously.

“This would benefit the country more than calling for G25 to be banned or threatening to commit acts of violence against them,” the statement read.

PoAM stated that they believe that the public appreciated and respected the voices of reason and rationality in national issues like G25, who it said provided important feedback to the government and the public on governance issues in order to maintain the country’s democratic way of life.

“We also call on the authorities and leaders of ruling coalition to speak out and condemn threats made against G25.

“It is important for them to protect freedom of speech and all civil society organizations without distinction,” said the group.

The statement was endorsed by 48 civil society groups including All Women’s Action Society (AWAM), Bersih 2.0, Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM), National Human Rights Society (HAKAM) and Sisters in Islam (SIS).