Loyar Bodoh Pandai!

Hantu Laut

There is a limit to free speech. You can't go around insulting other religion or other race and thereafter claimed immunity under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution on the basis of free speech.

With advice like this who needs a lawyer.
This half-past-six lawyer should stop calling herself a lawyer.

Free speech does not allow you to insult other religion. Propagating hate or insulting others on the basis of race, colour and religion is a crime. Hate crime can lead to violence and death.

Though, I do not agree with the severity of the punishment, appropriate action must be taken against the couple as deterrent to others. 

Not taking action can open the floodgate of racial and religious slurs. 

Just read the many nasty racist comments on blogs and social media, one can assume that this country is not short of racists and bigots out there waiting to unleash their torrent of racial abuses.

Read here.

This Is Not About, Dare I Say It, Pigs !

WE all know that Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee did with the "bak kut teh" invite and all. So I'm not going to drag everybody through all that nonsense  again. And we all know the anger they triggered among Muslims and non-Muslims. So I'm not going to repeat the angry words and the calls for them to be "lynched".

Instead let's take a look at Mohamad Hanipa Madin, the lawyer-cum-PAS MP for Sepang. Rather what he said recently about the couple via a statement carried by The Malaysian Insider. 

To Hanipa, the couple should be given a chance to "redeem"  for their mistakes. "Any act of insulting religion, any faith for that matter, is despicable," said Hanipa. But in this case both have apologised and should be given a chance and not repeat what they had done.

Islam, said Hanipa, is a about compassion and also "agama rahmah" or religion of mercy. "So I feel there's nothing wrong for Muslims to accept their apology."

He is suggesting a "soft and delicate" approach be used so that negative thoughts the couple have towards the religion can be removed. He cited a case of a non-Muslim poet in the days of Prophet Muhamad.  

The poet, said Hanipa, would often insult the prophet until one of the prophet's companion, Umar al Khatab, could not take it anymore that he wanted to pull off the teeth of the poet.

"The prophet prevented Umar from doing so. Finally the poet embraced Islam and put his skills to good use in propagating the religion," said Hanipa, quoting Islamic history.

"Islam will not be weakened by the insulting act of the couple and Islam will not be strengthened by our loud call for action to be taken against them using draconian laws such as the Sedition Act," Hanipa was quoted as saying.

Anyway, reaction to Hanipa statement was missed as expected. And he had his share of angry words. 

Hanipa, and to an extent PAS, were told to "stop playing politics as GE is over". Also, he (and PAS of course) stand accused of "encouraging act of insulting islam in the holy month of Ramadan".

By sheer coincidence or not, on the same day Hanipa made his statement, the AFP news agency ran a report from Australia. According  to the report, Australian police have began investigations after the remains of two pigs including their heads and entrails were dumped at a Muslim cemetery in a memorial park near Perth. The incident comes during the month of Ramadan.

Iqbal Samnakay, chairman of Perth Muslim social and sports association, said the desecration of any burial site, Muslim or not, was offensive.

Read more:http://www.fz.com/content/not-about-dare-i-say-it-pigs#ixzz2ZZOsV1nl

Alvivi: Has The AG Gone Overboard ?

Hantu Laut

I disagree with this. 

I think the AG (Attorney-General) has gone overboard. Looking at the picture and the message I really don't see the justification for such severe punishment. Though, in my earlier posting I said they should face the music, I would have thought a fine would suffice.

Young people, sometimes, make mistake out of foolishness and we must draw a balance between an actual crime or a joke that has gone sour because it touched raw nerves, the sensitivity of some people. A prank that had blown unto itself.

I guess Alvin and Vivian thought they were being clever when they posted the photo and caption that draw the ire of Muslims in the country. 

Maybe, not all Muslims, some may have taken it lightheartedly and consider it a joke.

I suppose, different strokes for different folks.

Well, if we Muslims can accept beef bacon and turkey ham, how come halal bak kut teh can spook us? 

Almost all major hotels in the country serve halal bacon and ham.

We have halal bak kut teh in Sabah. 

It just a name, like beef bacon and turkey ham.

I still think the couple should not get away with what they did, but does the crime justify the punishment?

Even rape, a heinous crime is bailable.


Related topic: One can’t insult Islam, it’s simply not possible