Feudal culture of subservience very much alive

By Aliran, on 22 April 2012

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Unless there is a paradigm cultural shift in how the institutions of justice operate, any changes in repressive laws will not bring about the desired change, writes Ronald Benjamin.

No to detention without trial - Photo courtesy of reformisjalanan.blogspot.com

The government should be congratulated for tabling the Security Offences Bill 2012 in Dewan rakyat on 10 April 2012. This bill has replaced the ISA, which has been abused over the years in the name of political stability and national security. A prominent Malaysian intellectual has said that the bill enhances executive accountability: the police as an executive arm will now have to conduct thorough investigations of alleged security offenders with all instruments of the law at their disposal within a specific time frame.

While such a leap is good news on paper for Malaysians in general, there is concern whether such a bill would be abused especially when the independence of the investigative, procecution and judicial institutions (the police, Attorney General’s Chambers and the Judiciary) are in question.

Some aspects of the security law may have been somewhat democratised. But seen from the perspective of the right to dissent, the culture of subservience among the institutions of state that are responsible for justice has eclipsed whatever gains that come with the new security law. The reasons are obvious.

First, over the years there have been various serious allegations on security-related issues brought about by concerned and courageous citizens against powerful personalities in politics, law enforcement and security. A few have even been implicated in the murder of a Mongolian model while a high-ranking police personnel has been linked to underground criminals; yet, there appears to be very little action taken by the authorities to bring the real culprits to book. Is it not true that a court of law has deliberately omitted the motive in the case of the murder of the Mongolian model in Malaysia?

What is the use of democracy and accountability in the Security Offences Bill when it is only related to the relationship between authority and dissidents while on the other hand covering up the wrong-doings of those who are in authority themselves? Have we replaced the ISA with the ‘Internal-Security-for-the-Authorities’ Act? Are the positions of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Inspector General of Police and Attorney General immune from the law? Is it not the case that lack of action against the powerful makes even the most democratic law useless?

Therefore it is vital for Malaysians to reflect deeply on the reforms relating to national security and human rights currently taking place in this country. While welcoming laws to improve human rights, we should not be blinded by the lack of action among the institutions mentioned above on crimes committed by the strong and the powerful.

The feudal culture of subservience is very much alive, and unless there is a paradigm cultural shift in how the institutions of justice operate, any changes in the law alone will not bring about the desired change.

Ronald Benjamin is an Aliran member based in Ipoh.

Nik Aziz issues'religious edict'-be at Bersih rally

8:46AM Apr 25, 2012

PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat has declared that it is compulsory for all Muslims to attend Bersih 3.0 sit-in at Dataran Merdeka this Saturday afternoon as it is a movement "against injustice".

"We should stand up against any parties who do things that are not according to Islamic principles," he told party organ Harakahdaily, referring to the alleged irregularities in the electoral roll.

Nik Aziz added that of Bersih's eight demands, the existence of phantom voters in the electoral roll in particular was an act against Islam.

"Suppose Pakatan Rakyat wins in the upcoming general election and administers the country as what BN is doing now, like it or not we will have to use the phantom voters in future elections," he warned.

"Certainly, Umno and BN don't want this to happen because it is sinful," he said, adding that a candidate winning a seat through such a manner is "haram" (forbidden).

Six gathering points

The police has disallowed Bersih 3.0 sit-in on grounds of safety while the Kuala Lumpur City Hall, which maintains Dataran Merdeka, has objected to the usage of the iconic location for political dissent.

The Bersih 2.0 steering committee is however adamant on assembling at Dataran Merdeka.

The committee has also listed the gathering points for would-be protesters - Masjid Negara, Masjid Jamek, Pasar Seni, Masjid India, Brickfields and Jalan Sultan - before they proceed to Dataran Merdeka.

Bersih 3.0, among others, is calling for the resignation of the Election Commission chief for his failure to clean up the electoral roll before the upcoming election, which is speculated to be held in the second quarter of this year

UTUSAN THE MESSAGE - AZIZAN RAZAK MB KEDAH UMUMKAN ENAKMEN BARU

UNDANG-UNDANG ‘FATWA’ KEDAH TIDAK IKUT PRINSIP ISLAM, MUFTI PERLIS - JUANDA

Oleh Clara Chooi

April 19, 2012

Azizan berkata fungsi institusi mufti berbeza daripada badan perhakiman.

KUALA LUMPUR, 19 April — Mufti Perlis Dr Juanda Jaya berkata enakmen terbaru digubal kerajaan negeri Kedah yang akan menghalang cabaran mahkamah terhadap aspek keagamaan (fatwa) adalah bertentangan dengan prinsip Islam.

Juanda bertanya sama ada pentadbiran negeri pimpinan PAS Kedah mahu menjadi sebuah kerajaan teokrasi atau konsep negara berkebajikan yang dijanjikan oleh Pakatan Rakyat.

“Enakmen fatwa baru menunjukkan mereka sebenarnya menuju ke arah teokrasi dan bertujuan untuk memaksa penerimaan (orang ramai),” katanya kepada The Malaysian Insider.

“Ini bertentangan dengan Islam,” katanya.

Beliau berkata Islam menerima dan menghormati perbezaan pandangan dari agama-agama lain.

Juanda berkata demikian sebagai respons mengenai Rang Undang-undang Mufti dan Fatwa (Kedah) (Pindaan) 2012 yang akan menggantikan Enakmen Mufti dan Fatwa (Kedah Darul Aman) 2008 (Enakmen 10), bagi memperjelas keahlian jawatankuasa fatwa serta menjadikan fatwa diputuskan oleh mufti atau jawatankuasa fatwa sebagai muktamad.

Pindaan itu diluluskan sebulat suara dalam Sidang Dewan Undangan Negeri Kedah semalam.

Menurut pindaan itu, “Fatwa yang diputuskan oleh mufti atau jawatankuasa fatwa, sama ada diwartakan atau tidak, tidak boleh dicabar, dirayu, disemak, dinafikan atau dipersoalkan dalam mana-mana Mahkamah Sivil atau Mahkamah Syariah.”