Related article:
Excerpts:Read HERE and Here on Mahaguru58 Blog on updates and photos on the protest against the Bar Council:
Blogger Mahaguru 58 wrote he was updated that "....YB Zul(PKR MP Zulkifli Noordin) was with PAS members at Tg.Karang together with PAS Deputy President Ustaz Nasharudin Mat Isa last night BEFORE this incident..."
(Note:Read here role of Ustaz Nasharudin Mat Isa in the secret meetings between PAS and UMNO- Malaysian Unplug)
Parti Keadilan Rakyat has condemned the wild protest action against the Bar Council forum yesterday.
The party also expressed regret that the "fiercest" among them was someone known to be a lawyer and Member of Parliament who pretentiously claimed to represent all Muslims.It was a thinly-veiled reference to PKR's own Kulim Bandar Baharu MP Zulkifli Noordin who led the protest and the storming of the forum hall here which prompted the police to ask the organiser Bar Council to call of the session only an hour after it started.
PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali said the party took a serious view of the rough action taken by a small band of the demonstrators who shouted rude and uncivilized language against some of the organisers and participants of the forum.
He said PKR also regretted that the police who failed to control the situation but instead appeared to collaborate with some of the demonstrators who wanted to force their way into the hall to stop the forum.
"This incident reminds us of what happened during the APCET conference on East Timor that was held a few years ago, when members of Umno-Barisan Nasional forced their way in to sabotage the seminar," he said in a statement.
A mob of Umno Youth members led by its then secretary Saifuddin Nasution Ismail attacked an international conference on East Timor in 1996 which was also attended by Syed Husin who was then Parti Rakyat Malaysia president. Saifuddin who was sacked from Umno for supporting Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in 1998 had apologised publicly to participants of the conference in 2001.
Syed Husin said PKR opposed the small minority group of Umno leaders who threatened the organiser of the Bar Council forum with actions including the use of the detention-without-trial Internal Security Act.
"Obviously, some of them were trying to trigger ethnic and religious tension and conflict which could be manipulated to serve the interests of UMNO and the government it leads," he said.
Syed Husin also said PKR stood by its de facto leader Anwar's stand that the Bar Council forum should be organised behind closed doors, in view of the sensitive reactions and wrong perception among a section of the Malay-Muslim population.
"We are in full support of holding inter-religious dialogues that promote understanding rather than unilateral events that could create ethnic and religious dissension," he added.
COMMENTARY
Disappointing Protest led by PKR MP Zulkifli Noordin Against Bar Council
Read here article by Tony Pua in Philosophy Politics Economics Blog
Excerpts
I must express my deepest disappointment at the protest led by (PKR) Kulim-Bandar Baharu Member of Parliament, (Zulkifli Noordin) on the forum held by the Bar Council to discuss the issue of Article 121 (1A) of the Federal Constitution.
It has been reported that the protesters, many of whom are from Muslim welfare organsation Perkida and Islamic party PAS .... carrying placards saying “Jangan cabar Islam” (Don’t challenge Islam) and “Bar Council, Don’t play with fire”.
The protest is not only misguided, it was also immature and unconstructive.
I had issued the press statement to emphasize that ....if the Bar Council is not allowed to hold open discussions in relation to our constitution and its laws, then it makes a complete mockery of our legal system.
When the organisers agreed to end the forum early and "when those who attended the forum made their way out of the building, they were greeted with loud boos, obscenities and vulgar words".
This type of behaviour certainly makes a mockery of the very religious principles which they claim to want to uphold.
When Malaysiakini (asked) why should the protesters not participate via dialogue and engagement in the forum instead, PKR MP for Kulim-Bandar Baharu Zulkifli said the Bar Council’s intention was to provoke Muslims. “For us, this forum is merely (for) Islam-bashing.”
Well, for me, the statement is absolutely uncalled for, totally unjustified and provocative and completely brainless.
If discussing our constitution and our laws is equivalent to "Islam-bashing", then he (Zulkifli Noordin) needs to have his head inspected.
"Leaders" like him fails to understand simple principles who misleads others into thinking that the whole world is against them.
The group had earlier threatened "many times to storm into the building if the forum was not stopped." In addition, the police had allegedly "found two bottles of alcohol by the building that were believed to be unlit Molotov cocktails."
Well, it appears that this type of thuggish and loutish behaviour is unfortunately NOT only limited to UMNO Youth.
PRESS STATEMENT FROM MIC YOUTH
Read here on MIC Youth Website
CONVERSION TO ISLAM - MIC YOUTH's STAND
T. MOHAN
NATIONAL MIC YOUTH COORDINATOR
THE MIC YOUTH STRONGLY CONDEMNS THE TACTICS OF IRRESPONSIBLE GROUPS IN DISRUPTING THE BAR COUNCIL FORUM ON CONVERSION TO ISLAM IN KUALA LUMPUR TODAY.
THEIR ACTIONS IS A STEP BACKWARD TOWARDS THE UNITY AND RELIGIOUS HARMONY AMONGST THE VARIOUS RACES IN MALAYSIA ENVISIONED UNDER VISION 2020.
WE ARE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE GROUPS FOR FAILING TO ALLOW THE DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUES OF INTER-FAITH IN A MATURE AND RESPONSIBLE MANNER.
THE BAR COUNCIL HAS REITERATED THAT THE FORUM ON RELIGIOUS CONVERSION WAS NOT TO QUESTION THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 121 (A)OF THE CONSTITUTION BUT TO ADDRESS THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS FACING FAMILIES CAUGHT BETWEEN THE SEPARATE JURISDICTIONS OF CIVIL AND SYARIAH LAWS.
THE MIC YOUTH REALISE THE NECESSITY OF THE ABOVE FORUM AS IT WILL CLARIFY CONFUSION OF THE CONCERNED GROUP AND WILL BE A BASE FOR GUIDELINE FOR THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING TO CONVERT TO THEIR ORIGINAL RELIGION DUE TO THEIR PERSONAL JUDGEMENT.
WE BELIEVE OPEN DISCUSSIONS AND DIALOGUES ON THE PROBLEMS ARISING OUT OF THE SYARIAH AND CIVIL COURTS SEPARATE JURISDICTIONS AND OTHER ISSUES TO RELIGIOUS CONVERSIONS ARE IMPERATIVE TO FIND SOLUTIONS.
THERE ARE SO MANY CASES WHERE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WERE AFFECTED BECAUSE OF THE CONVERSION IN AND OUT OF ISLAM. MANY WHO HAD CONVERTED WERE ALSO IN A DILEMMA AS THEY WERE UNABLE TO REVERT TO THEIR FORMER RELIGION.
WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THESE GROUPS SHOULD HAVE USED THE FORUM TO COME AND GIVE THEIR VIEWS INSTEAD OF ACTING HIGH-HANDEDLY AND FORCING THE CANCELLATION OF THE FORUM.WE ARE DISAPPOINTED THAT THE POLICE HAD ALSO FAILED TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST THESE GROUPS FOR STAGING DEMONSTRATIONS AND HAD INSTEAD ASKED BAR COUNCIL TO CANCEL THE FORUM.
THE MIC YOUTH IS ALSO CONCERNED WITH THE STATEMENTS MADE BY CERTAIN LEADERS WHO HAD STRONGLY OPPOSED THE FORUM AS IT HAS CAUSED RESENTMENT AMONGST THE NON MUSLIMS .THEY SEEM TO HAVE IGNORED THE FACT THAT THE BAR COUNCIL HAS ALREADY CLARIFIED THAT THE FORUM WAS TO ADDRESS THE CONFLICTS OF LAW.
THEY SHOULD HAVE COME OUT WITH THEIR PROPOSALS IN ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF NON-MUSLIM HUSBANDS WHO ABANDON THEIR SPOUSES AND THEIR FAMILIES AND CONVERT INTO ISLAM RATHER THAN TO STOP A LEGITIMATE FORUM.
THE MIC YOUTH ALSO CALL ON HINDRAF TO PUBLICLY STATE THEIR STAND AS THE GROUP WHO OPPOSED THE FORUM WAS LED BY A PARTI KEADILAI RAKYAT MP. IS THIS WHAT HINDRAF GETS FOR SUPPORTING PKR IN THE GENERAL ELECTION?
T.MOHAN
NATIONAL MIC YOUTH COORDINATOR
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