Kuala Terengganu by-election: Raja Petra has gone overboard disrespecting Article 11 and Article 10

We are disturbed with the latest article “Does MCA support hudud?” by Raja Petra Kamarudin in Malaysia Today.

We have supported Raja Petra for his fearless opinions as freedom of expression is a right provided for under Article 10 and Article 11 of the Federal Constitution. (Article 10: Freedom of speech, assembly and association. Article 11: Freedom of religion)

However this time, we feel Raja Petra has gone overboard the provision of law as in his article he has trampled on rights of citizens on freedom of association and religion.

The below particular paragraph extract from Raja Petra’s article is particularly alarming,  highly intimidating, intruding and disrepecting the personal sphere of non-Muslim:

MCA, do you or don’t you support Hudud?
Speak up now or forever hold your tongue.
Are you pro-Islam or anti-Islam?
Please tell us now and make it very clear. Tomorrow we are going to Terengganu to campaign for PAS and we want to know what to tell the Kuala Terengganu voters.
And it will either be “MCA is anti-Islam” or “MCA is pro-Hudud”.

As law abiding citizens and voters, we are greatly disturbed and strongly object the method deployed in above article of Raja Petra which trampled on personal rights provided in the Federal Constitution.

Raja Petra’s shameful attempt of crass politicking by issuing above ultimatum to Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) to support hudud is a highly mischievous attempt to bully their non-Muslim community.

A question for MCA members… thru Malaysiakini

We believe in governance and a good government made up of good people with strong principles of life.

As we have received many queries from members concerned about the upcoming MCA party election, we would like to throw these questions to you to assist members to make the best decisions this October.

It is worrying that the female MCA members do not seem to regard this as a big question of concern for the party or think of its impact on the Confucian family values which the women wing claim to represent.

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Questions to ponder for MCA’s future and the 13th General Election. And we would love to hear input from readers of Malaysiakini also:

• What sort of persons would you want to be leading the party and represent your voice?
• Do you want your candidates to tell you about their principles in life?
• Since they would like to represent the community, would you want them to possess some moral standing?
• Would you be contented to just let them be what they naturally are?
• And they, being what they are, can they just simply represent you and your community to interface with the global world?

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A penny for your thoughts: See below * a concern from a commentator (we think he/she is an MCA member):

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When you were caught you resigned immediately cause you said you don’t want to bring trouble to BN and MCA. I truly respected your act at that time. However, now you say you want to come back? What responsibility you were talking about? Is this what politician all about? Don’t you think you bring the mud back to BN and MCA?

I think many people don’t want to talk about your video story and people already forgive you when you had resigned. Why must you still want to show your existance all the time? Why don’t you let MCA members be proud to have a leader who dare to take up the responsibilities and walked out?

I do not know what is your agenda and what unfinish plan you have. Or you just want to make a revenge on certain group in MCA regardless you would tainted MCA image again.

Dr., I strongly believe MCA can do without you at top leadership. There are still many ways to contribute. Please don’t bring disgrace back to MCA. This will definitely will be a burden to BN and MCA at next general election if you won in MCA election.

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* Extracted from Malaysia Today’s article ‘Datuk Chua Soi Lek -Ahli Politik‘

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Training required for this MP

Got this extracted from an article from Malaysiakini yesterday:

No need for non-Muslim affairs dept

Meanwhile, Abdullah yesterday said it was not necessary to set up a non-muslim affairs department because an effective special committee is already in place.

He said this after Indian non-governmental organisations requested the government to set up the department to handle the affairs of non-Muslims in the country. The premier explained that the existing committee in the PM’s Department comprised of Minister in the PM’s Department Bernard Dompok (handling Christian matters), Works Minister S Samy Vellu (Hindu) and Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Ting (Buddhism).

Abdullah also said that the National Unity Department has a similar committee with a minister (Dr Maximus Ongkili) entrusted with matters pertaining to solidarity, religions and beliefs.

Dear MP for Kepala Batas,

Please ask your assistant to look up the Hansard. For the sake of justice, now is the turn of the Executive to execute the necessary administration, not to make excuses.

P/S:

The last time these named ministers came to you with a memo on religious issues, they received sharp rebukes from your government. How can they be effective when they have been publicly failed by you in the eyes of your voters?