Stupid Prank and Double Standards plus of halal pork, minions and toilet meals

7/27/2019 Stupid Prank and Double Standards plus of halal pork, minions and toilet meals

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Stupid Prank and Double Standards

By Kee Thuan Chye

msn23 July 2013

Alvin Tan Jye Yee and Vivian Lee May Ling, collectively known as Alvivi, are

now in prison, awaiting trial. The judge denied them bail after they pleaded

not guilty to three charges related to alleged sedition, causing enmity between

people of different religions, and displaying pornographic pictures on their

blog.

The charges under the Sedition Act, the Film Censorship Act and the Penal

Code are pretty serious. If found guilty, they could go to jail for some years.

Not a bright prospect for two supposedly smart people in their mid-20s.

But why were they not granted bail? What further harm could they inflict?

Whom could they harm? How severe, really, is their offence? Even people

charged with committing far worse offences, like rape, have been given bail.

Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail says Alvivi were denied bail because of

their tendency to post content on their blog that could potentially anger the

public.

I think thats being presumptuous. It is not backed up with any evidence.

Besides, potentially angering the public is a poor excuse. And since we are

engaging in making assumptions, I would hazard that its very unlikely that the

duo would still opt to arouse public anger after having faced those serious

charges. In fact, even before they were arrested, they had already

apologised.

Is it more likely that bail was denied because the authorities want to punish

the duo? And show an example to appease the conservatives? Is this the

right thing to do?

Dont get me wrong. I think Alvivi deserve to be charged for posting their

Ramadhan bak kut teh greeting. (As for the pornography charge, why only

now when they have been doing it long before?) What they allegedly did,


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even as a joke, was utterly insensitive and stupid. Not only because it put

them in jeopardy, not only because they should not show disrespect not

only to Islam but to anyone and any religion but also because their

unthinking action has put non-Muslims in a negative light and caused tension

between non-Muslims and their Muslim brethren.

Being Chinese themselves, Alvivi have also given the impression, especially

to those who are quick to generalise, that the Chinese are arrogant. And they

have given the Home Minister greater cause to justify his determination to

retain the Sedition Act.

Already, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has been quick to now say he supports Prime

Minister Najib Razaks proposed replacement, the National Harmony Act,

because the latter has promised that the spirit of the Sedition Act willremain. To all intents and purposes, we may eventually get back the same

Act but under a different name.

In fact, Zahid has added something ominous in his remark, We support the

move to strengthen the Sedition Act as even though it has a new name, its

spirit remains. He now talks of strengthening the Act. Given the present

circumstances, it may not take much for the Cabinet to agree to that. Then

what would the rakyat eventually get but stronger oppression?

In the first place, we shouldnt even continue with the Sedition Act. Especially

when it is being abused for selective prosecution.

Look at the people who have been charged with it lately. Pakatan Rakyat

politicians Husam Musa, Tian Chua and Tamrin Ghafar, activists Haris

Ibrahim and Hishamuddin Rais, student leaders Adam Adli and Safwan

Anang all opponents of the Barisan Nasional (BN)-led government.

But what has happened to the police investigations into the Umno-owned

newspaper Utusan Malaysia for its incendiary May 7 front-page article ApaLagi Cina Mahu? (What More Do the Chinese Want?)

What about pro-Umno blogger Papagomo who in the aftermath of the 13th

general election (GE13) allegedly wrote about fighting the Opposition DAP

even if it entailed bloodshed, and Shahrizad Mohd Diah who allegedly posted


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Instead, we saw a minister jump to his defence a few days ago. Urban

Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan

said what Ibrahim did was normal. It was to correct a printed error in the

Bibles, and burning was a proper way of doing that because Muslims even

burned copies of the Quran that carried misprints.

However, the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) has since pointed out

that the appearance of Allah in the Bibles was not an error.

It is offensive and unacceptable for the honourable minister to attempt to

justify the urging by Ibrahim Ali to burn our holy scripture by saying that our

holy scripture contains errors in printing, it said. Such a suggestion is

insensitive, insulting and inflammatory.

Abdul Rahman also said that Ibrahims case could not be compared to Alvivis

because the latters deeds were aimed at attacking another religion, and

could threaten inter-faith harmony.

I doubt Alvivis silly prank was meant to be an attack on Islam. It was, as I

said, a silly prank. Not excusable, for sure, but also not sinister. Mischievous,

yes, but not malicious. They probably had no idea they would get into this

kind of trouble before they did it.

Rahman says Alvivis action could threaten inter-faith harmony. Ibrahimsdoesnt? Or does he really mean that one particular faith takes priority over

the others?

And when he was asked by the media about Zulkiflis case, he evaded it by

not commenting.

The sad thing to come out of this is, ministers will say anything regardless of

whether it is logical or not that serves the Governments cause or what it

decides is right. And then when they are rebutted, they will sometimes ignoreit. Their main concern is that their target audience gets to hear what they say.

The rest of the people can go to hell.

This is the underpinning of why the BN-led government appears to have two

sets of laws for different sets of people. From what we have seen, it is crystal-

clear which set of people Alvivi and some others belong to.


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* Kee Thuan Chye is the author of the bestselling books No More Bullshit,

Please, Were All Malaysians and Ask for No Bullshit, Get Some More!

Wellbeing minister stuns ChristiansJULY 24, 2013

Multi-award winning journalist Frankie DCruz is editor of The Malay Mail. He can be

reached at [email protected] or Twitter @frankieDcruz.

JULY 24 Foot in mouth minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan is the latest addition

to the conveyer belt of umbrage takers in the raging issue of the word Allah in the

Malay Bible.

Rahman holds that Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Alis call for the burning of the Alkitab

was justified as there were misprints. Since when did Ibrahim become the authority on

whether the Bible was correctly printed?

If it were true, shouldnt it be the duty of the Christian order to perform such revered

acts? What business has a non-Christian got to do with misprinted Al-kitab?

Poor logic, minister. Its regrettable that Rahman has left the Christian community

perturbed, incensed and stunned. Its unfortunate that the minister for wellbeing has

snarled at them.

As a lawmaker, he is setting a dangerous precedent. What has come of the oath to

enforce and manage the law fairly?

Clearly, theres a case for Rahman to be charged with sedition. Would anyone disagree

that the urban well-being, housing and local government ministers defence of Ibrahims

previous call to burn the Bible containing the word Allah is extremist?

Is someone saying failure to act against religious trouble rousers is a sign that insults

against non-Islamic religions are permitted?


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Do Rahmans non-Muslim colleagues in the Cabinet accept that insulting religions is

acceptable?

If sex bloggers Alvivi have been charged with insulting Islam and I agree they

should be why hasnt similar action been taken against those who had made

statements against other religions?

These people have ripped apart the 1Malaysia concept. IMalaysia?

Shah Alams Datuk Zulkifli Noordin was let scot-free for making anti-Hindu statements

while Perak mufti Datuk Seri Harussani Zakaria got off unscathed for sending false text

messages saying that a baptism of Muslims was taking place at the Church of Our Lady

of Lourdes in Silibin, Perak, months ago.

A mob gathered outside the church, ready to go on a rampage, when the mass was

actually 100 children receiving their first Holy Communion and not a baptism ceremony

involving Muslims.

The mufti never apologised. All he said was the sultan was happy with his explanation.

Selective prosecution and double standards do not have a place in a democracy. The

Federal Constitution provides that all Malaysians are equal before the law.

Article 11(3) emphasises that every religious group has the right to manage their own

religious affairs.

Rahman was wrong in expecting Malaysians to believe the explanation that Ibrahims

defiant remark was just a righteous attempt to correct the error of printing in the Bible.

He compromised wellbeing and came across as tasteless. The error in the Bible is the

perception of people like Ibrahim and Rahmans argument is lopsided.

I am not defending Alvivi. Neither should anyone be defending Ibrahim as both have

hurt religious feelings. Rahmans remarks are just as inflammatory as Ibrahims and

challenges the Cabinet to prove its multiracial credentials.

Selective persecution predictably twists the minds of Malaysians and any attempt to

sugarcoat religious issues invites conflict in interfaith harmony.

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/opinion/frankie-dcruz/article/wellbeing-minister-stuns-christians#sthash.e8iToEx1.dpuf


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Rahman: I am not a religious bigotFMT Staff

| July 24, 2013

Kota Belud MP Abdul Rahman Dahlan denies instigating Muslims to confiscateand burn Bible

KOTA KINABALU: Urban Wellbeing,

Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan has denied supporting

calls by Perkasas Ibrahim Ali to burn Bibles containing the contentious Allah word.

I never expressed support for any call to the burning of Bibles by anyone, nor did I

instigate Muslims to confiscate Bibles from fellow Malaysian Christians and burn them.

Im not a religious bigot, he said, adding that he was well aware of polarising religious

discourses which have cropped over the years.

Abdul Rahman who is Kota Belud MP came under attack recently for allegedly backing

Ibrahims call during a press conference last week.

Kota Belud has a 45% Christian community.

In a statement issued yesterday, Abdul Rahman expressed regret over criticisms

levelled at him. He said they were all based on unfounded allegations, rumours and

unverifiable third party accounts.

I was brought up in an environment where my parents taught me to respect other

religions and I have adhered to this advice throughout my career as a politician.

Despite the many polarising controversial issues on religious discourses, which have

cropped up in the past few years, I try my best to stay true to my conviction of being fair,

honest and frank, he said.

He said he was wary of the already over-strung relationship between the Christians

and Muslims.


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I never touched on the controversial usage of Allah in any of my Parliamentary

debates, as I know it would inflame the already over-strung relationship between

Muslims and Christians in the country.

I would rather allow this issue be settled without political one-upmanships, he said

adding that he was fully supportive of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razaks 10-point solutionmooted in 2011.

Show proof of printing errors

The 10-point resolution, among others, assures the Christian population in Sabah and

Sarawak that they are free to bring in and use their Bibles in Malay as well as in

indigenous languages.

Abdul Rahman said that he will not hesitate to sue any party still bent on accusing him

of Bible burning.

I will not hesitate to take legal action against them. This issue is far too serious to be

treated as just another political strategy by the opposition. It is downright dangerous and

explosive, he said

Earlier this week, affronted Christian Sabah leaders had chastised him for backing

Ibrahims call last year and saying that there were printing errors in the Bahasa

Malaysia-versions of the Bibles.

Kepayan assemblyman Dr Edwin Bosi had challenged Rahman to prove there were

printing errors in the Bible.

While Rahman said that the Muslims burn copies of the Quran that have misprints in it, I

would like to see him coming out with the proof of misprints in the said Holy Bibles, said

Bosi.

Tamparuli assemblyman Wilfred Bumbring also censured Abdul Rahman, saying his

statement was a great dishonour to the fundamental rights of Malaysians as enshrined

in the Federal Constitution.

The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) had also reportedly chastised Abdul

Rahman

Its chairman Rev Dr Eu Hong Seng: The use of the word Allah in the Al-Kitab is not

and has never been an error of printing as claimed by the Honourable Minister.

Such a suggestion is insensitive, insulting and inflammatory.


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On the Bible issue - Abdul

Rahman DahlanJULY 23, 2013LATEST UPDATE: JULY 24, 2013 02:38 AM

Recently, several quarters have raised their concerns on the allegations that I

support the burning of bibles. Much of these concerns were unfortunately based on

unfounded allegation based on rumors and unverifiable third party accounts made

worse by constant spinning of the alternative media.

During a press conference on Thursday 18 July 2013, I was asked by a MalaysiaKini

reporter whether Ibrahim Ali should also be prosecuted for his alleged call to burnBibles.

I explained to the reporter that I was upset when I first learned of alleged call by

Ibrahim Ali to burn Bibles surfaced. I wanted an explanation of the situation from

Ibrahim Ali, as many of my constituents had expressed to me of their dissatisfaction

towards Ibrahim Ali for making such controversial statement.

As evident in the transcript of the press conference, I never expressed my support to

any call of burning Bibles by anyone, nor did I instigate Muslims to confiscate Bibles

from fellow Malaysian Christians and burn them in anger.

Let me be very clear, I am not a religious bigot.

Those who know me personally as an individual and a politician, and know the work

I've done as an MP would readily attest to that. I was brought up in an environment

where my parents taught me to respect other religions and I have carried this advice

dearly throughout my career as a politician. Despite the many polarising

controversial issues on religious discourse, which have cropped up in the past few

years, I try my best to stay true to my conviction of being fair, honest and frank.

First, I acknowledge this is one of the most contentious issue among Muslims and

Christians alike. Therefore I support the 10-point solution mooted by the Prime

Minister in 2011. I have made that very clear on my campaign trail in the recently

concluded 13th General Election.


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Second, I never touched the controversial usage of 'Allah' in any of my

Parliamentary debates, as I knew it would inflame further the already over-strung

relationship between Muslims and Christians in the country. I would rather allow this

issue be settled without political one-upmanships.

Third, I spend one third of my parliamentary annual allocation in the Christian-

dominated state assembly of Kadamaian where the allocation goes into upgrading

churches and funding Christian religious events.

And finally, as an MP, I have not only assisted in sending Muslim pilgrims for the hajj

in Makkah but I have also supported efforts to send Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem.

How can I be construed as a religious bigot, when 45 percent of my constituents in

Kota Belud are Christians?

My question is then, must DAP leaders take everything out of context and insinuate

that I am a religious bigot when in reality nothing of that sort was actually intended in

the press conference last Thursday?

Once again, let me reiterate, at no point in the press conference did I raise the issue

of burning of bibles except when I was quoting Datuk Ibrahim Ali's reply to me.

To further clarify the controversy, I have attached the original unedited transcript of

the press conference session below.

To any party still bent on accusing me of calling for bible burning, I will not hesitate

to take legal action against them. This issue is far too serious to be treated as just

another political strategy by the opposition. It is downright dangerous and explosive.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------

The Press Conference began with my briefing on the Ops-Raya and Anti-Litter

campaign by Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia and Jabatan

Pengurusan Sisa Pepejal Negara, both under the purview of my ministry. After

all questions posed to my ministry were answered, I opened the floor to any

other questions from the press. This was when the reporter from MalaysiaKini,

Ahmad Fadli KC, asked me a few questions.

The full transcript of my conversation with the MalaysiaKini reporter is

presented in verbatim below:


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MalaysiaKini Reporter (MK): Merujuk kepada pasangan blogger sex yang menghina

Islam ni, ada sebahagian masyarakat mempertikai kenapa personaliti lain yang juga

kelihatan seperti mempersenda agama lain dan menghina agama lain tidak diambil

tindakan. So what is your take on this whole issue?

Dato' Abdul Rahman Dahlan (DARD): Yang statement mana yang menghina

agama? Seperti mana?

MK: Saya kira sebahagian masyarakat mempertikai kenapa Datuk Ibrahim Ali...

DARD: What did he say? What did Ibrahim Ali say?

MK: Tentang sebelum ini gesaan beliau untuk membakar bible...

DARD: Are you sure? Are you sure Ibrahim Ali said that?

MK: Well... Its reported...

DARD: It is reported... Well I was... Do you want me to say this in English? You are

from where?

MK: MalaysiaKini

DARD: You want this in English or Malay?

MK: Its up to you Dato'.

DARD: Ok... Insiden ini begini... Pada saya, sebenarnya...pasangan Alvin dan Vivian

ini bukan ini saja video ataupun gambar yang offensive. Kalau kita tengok dalam

Facebook dan juga channel YouTube mereka...banyak lagi perkara-perkara yang

ditonjolkan oleh pasangan ini yang betul-betul melanggar tatasusila dan adat resam

kebanyakan rakyat Malaysia.

This is not about your right, this is about maintaining harmoni kehidupan kita. Dan

fakta bahawa mereka telah meminta maaf itu menunjukkan mereka telah mengakui

mereka membuat kesilapan yang besar.

Negara kita ini, yang saya khuatirkan ialah apabila kita tidak mengambil tindakan-

tindakan tertentu, ianya akan melibatkan pergeseran agama.

Dalam sejarah manusia ini, pergeseran agamalah yang paling susah (untuk) kita

selesaikan apabila ianya bermula.


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Amat penting untuk kita melihat ini sebagai pengajaran kepada kita. Dan (dalam

kes) Alvin dan Vivian ini, konteksnya jauh lebih besar, bukan saja di sini tapi di

Singapura dahulu.

Dan kalau kita tengok channel YouTubenya, dia hanya pakai pakaian yang betul-

betul menjolok mata...menggunakan perkataan-perkataan yang betul-betul terlalu

lucah dan ini adalah sebahagian daripada reaksi rakyat kepada pasangan ini.

Dan saya setuju kejadian seperti ini tidak boleh diulangi dan pihak berkuasa mesti

mengambil tindakan yang cepat untuk menangani isu ini.

Berkenaan dengan Ibrahim Ali, soal tentang contohnya membakar kitab...

I interviewed Ibrahim Ali. I was very upset juga sebab saya mewakili ramai pengundi

yang bukan Islam di kawasan saya. Dan mereka memberitahu kepada saya

kenyataan Ibrahim Ali itu tidak betul.

Tetapi apabila saya bertanya kepada Ibrahim Ali, apa yang berlaku pada waktu itu

ialah ada kitab al-Quran yang mungkin tersalah cetak dan tersalah tulis diedarkan

ataupun yang tidak betul ditulis dan diedarkan di sekolah-sekolah.

Saya difahamkan jawapan beliau ialah cara untuk melupuskan kitab suci al-Quran

yang dianggap salah tafsiran, salah huruf, salah menulis ialah dengan membakar

kitab (tersebut)... Ataupun kitab injil, kitab-kitab suci ini...ada cara di dalam agama

Islam untuk melupuskan kitab-kitab suci termasuk kitab Bible. Dan membakarnyaitu...menjadikannya abu dan ditebarkan di air adalah sebahagian daripada cara

untuk kita melupuskan kitab-kitab suci yang kita mungkin terasa tersalah taip,

tersalah tulisan. Other than that, you throw it in the garbage! Which one is more

humane (berperikemanusiaan)? Which one is more respectful? Itu yang Ibrahim Ali

kata.

Tetapi seperti biasa, portal-portal tertentu pusing dan mengatakan itu adalah

kenyataan untuk membakar kitab injil. Its not right...

In our religion, there is a respectful way of disposing sacred books. You have achoice (either) throw it in the dustbin and it goes into the dumpsite (landfill) or you

burn it, kumpulkan ashes nya, simpan dalam plastic and then we go in the middle of

the sea, recite some special doa, and then you buang di dalam air. You see, its a

big difference you know.


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Every single issue in this country today is somehow associated with a persons race or religion.

When did we become this shallow? Why is a capable individual by law, blessed with the ability to

act and understand the nature and consequence of his act now the sole representative of his

background?

The Nuanced Philosopher

There you go Malaysia, your weekly dose of social media sensation to quench the thirst of all

the closet racists, pseudo-neutrals and holier than thou army is here. I know many of you will

be jumping on the whole freedom of speech argument but woe betide us all for the day this

right was inherited, weve had to put up with more garbage thancommentaries of actual

importance. In fact, feel free to discard this article as one of the many others that will come

pouring in light of the recent issue involving the non-muslim students of SK Sri Pistana having

to eat their meals in the toilet because its significance remains firmly in the sensationalism of

the news.

Now, I am not going to go into details for much remains unclear, however, what remains clear is

that every single issue in this country today is somehow associated with a persons race or

religion. When did we become this shallow? Why is a capable individual by law, blessed with

the ability to act and understand the nature and consequence of his act now the sole

representative of his background? At every instance, one reads kafir tiada hak, melayu/islam

-insert foul word-, cina this, melayu that, India, well we dont really matter till elections but

hey, free bag of rice for everybody!


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I honestly no longer remember growing up in this country, my country, for the people were

different then. They were more forgiving and less judgmental. They were more loving and less

hateful. I stand proud knowing that I have genuine friends from all walks of life and varying

races and that the bond we cherish goes beyond that of colour and religion. I wonder then if our

children and leaders of the future will be as lucky, to simply be able to play a game of football

without looking at the other as Cina or Melayu but as a friend and a fellow Malaysian.

The fundamental problem with this generation or rather my generation is the fact that we often

look to our forefathers and predecessors in identifying where it went wrong and what they

should have done better. However,the truth is, our parents raised us pretty much alright and

our forefathers were the ones who agreed to a consensus of racial harmony thus achieving

independence. Then, who is to be blamed? The answer is simple really, look in the mirror. Yes,

you, you who claim to be a Malaysian first but fail to look out or care for another race and

especially you, who leads the cry for justice and equality for all but refuse to shoulder the

burden and effort required to see it through.

In the past month alone, weve seen two idiotic Malaysians post a Ramadan greeting with pork

and a halal logo, another exceptionally rude Malaysian customer having a go at an employee

for shortage of a toy minion and now we find ourselves getting all worked up because aMalaysian headmaster void of common sense decided to put the non-muslim students in the

toilet for mealtime for hitherto reasons unknown. Now, re-read the paragraph again and note

that the perpetrators were MALAYSIANS. Why should it matter that it was a Chinese customer

and Malay employee? What if the situation were as such where both the customer and

employee were of the same race? Do we blame China for making the minion toys? Think!


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Renungkanlah

The dichotomy of right and wrong should have no grey areas. Instead, queue the defensive

zealots who fail to see the actual problem but chose to focus only someones race. What is

morally and ethically wrong does not transcend a persons race! It matters not if a severely

unqualified headmaster void of an ounce of brain would have children eating in the bathroom

because lets face it, who cares about the children when we want blood for being another race?

The saddest part of this whole fiasco is that we are genuinely peaceful and loving people who

have allowed the views of others to blind us. The problem isnt just institutionalized racism

[http://thenuancedphilosopher.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/race-the-ordinary-malaysian/] but a

lack of understanding, respect and common sense inherent in all of us. Yes, the Federal

Constitution states that Malaysia is a secular country but does that give you the right to

disrespect another religion? Yes, the Malays are the majority of this country but would it kill you

to protect your minority countrymen, be it the Indians or Chinese from being abused and

oppressed from fanatics and fear-mongers?

The path that we are treading is a dangerous one indeed and if we cannot look past our

differences and embrace each other as brothers and sisters of one country, then a repeat of

May 13 should be the least of our worries for Malaysia will crumble. So the next time you see

someone insulting another persons action on account of their race, slap them, no seriously,

slap some common sense into them and tell them that insensitivity and stupidity knows not of

race or religion, for morons will always exist.


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The author would like to state on record that he does not condone any act of violence but

should you slap someone for being a racist in front of him, he may or may not assist you in the

act.

Stupid Prank and Double Standards plus of halal pork, minions and toilet meals

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Transcript of Stupid Prank and Double Standards plus of halal pork, minions and toilet meals