Parliamentary Roundtable - reaffirm Malaysia is a secular state with Islam as the official religion and not an Islamic State

Parliamentary Roundtable - reaffirm Malaysia is a secular state with Islam as the official religion and not an Islamic State.

A Parliamentary Roundtable to reaffirm the Merdeka social contract and Malaysia Agreement that Malaysia is a secular state with Islam as the official religion and not an Islamic State will be held in Parliament on Friday, August 10, 2007 at 10 am.

All political parties, professional and civic organizations, NGOs and NGIs are invited to the parliamentary roundtable to give special meaning and significance to the 50th Merdeka anniversary celebrations.

For over four decades in the history of nation, there had been no doubt or question whatsoever, whether in Parliament, Cabinet, government or outside about the secular basis of Malaysia as spelt out by the Merdeka social contract reached by the forefathers of the major communities on the attainment of independence in 1957 and the Malaysia Agreement which brought Sabah and Sarawak into the federation in 1963.

That fundamental nation-building cornerstone of Malaysia conceived as a secular state with Islam as the official religion, is not only to be found in the constitutional documents and the highest judicial pronouncements of the land, it also represented the life-work and commitment of the first three Prime Ministers, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak and Tun Hussein.

However, in the past few years, the secular basis of Malaysian nation-building has come under repeated challenge.

On the occasion of the 50th Merdeka anniversary, the time has come for all Malaysians to reclaim their national legacy and heritage by reaffirming the Merdeka social contract and Malaysia Agreement that Malaysia is a secular state with Islam as the official religion and not an Islamic State.

Or have the fundamental basis of Malaysian nation-building suffered such a serious erosion that we cannot find sufficient Malaysians, whether NGOs or NGIs, to reaffirm the Merdeka social contract and Malaysia Agreement that Malaysia is a secular state with Islam as the official religion and not an Islamic State.

Organisations, NGOs and NGIs, interested in attending the Parliamentary Roundtable, please contact and register with Lau Weng San, 016-3231563.

This was taken from Y. B. Lim Kit Siang's blog to help spread the message. I have contacted Lau Weng San, 016-3231563 and he has given the go ahead to put the message here and also I don't need clearance from Y. B. Lim Kit Siang. Although the message was directed to NGO's etc. he said an individual with a Malaysian Identity Card can attend. You may need to register with Lau Weng San, 016-3231563.

I have contacted Mr. Lau Weng San and he says it is OK for me to put the above in this blog. I have also registered to attend. He has asked me if I want to speak, and I will need to think about it. I may have to consult somebody and also do some research before I answer him. I need to confirm that Sabah and Sarawak were given assurance that Malaysia will not become an Islamic state when they were persuaded to join Malaysia. If anyone can point me in the right direction by commenting, I will be mighty grateful.

Facing & Surviving the Internet Clampdown: Our Liabilities, Rights and Responsibilities

(Putting it here in the hope that more will be informed and do something about it)

Facing & Surviving the Internet Clampdown: Our Liabilities, Rights and Responsibilities
28/7, Sat, 3pm, KL-S'gor Chinese Assembly Hall

Posted on July 26th, 2007 by nathaniel tan

Really hope you can stop by :)

I know it's a late notice, but hopefully it can still do some good.

The discussion is outlined below, and I really hope all of you who have been concerned about what's been going on will stop by so that we can all (myself included) get a better picture as to how the law can and will affect us as internet writers and concerned citizens.

Again, there will be a little tea after the event just as a teeny thank you to all the great people who took the time, effort and risk to show support for me during my four day detention. I can never repay you, but I hope you'll take a few curry puffs as a small token of thanks :)

Really hope to see you there!!

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Facing & Surviving the Internet Clampdown:
Our Liabilities, Rights and Responsibilities

Time: 28th July, 2007 - Saturday, 3pm
Venue: KL-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall

With the authorities' upsurge of threats regarding the internet, there is a growing need for the public to know its rights, responsibilities and liabilities with regards to what they write online.

Recent cases have also shown that since even the innocent are likely to be targetted, it is also important for those working towards change in Malaysia to be prepared for all eventualities.

Being fully aware of one's legal rights and a familiarity with proper police and legal procedure could make all the difference in the case of wrongful arrest or detention.

This discussion will explore these issues with the aim of educating the public as to how to stay on the right side of the law, and what to do if the 'law' comes after you anyway.

Lawyer R. Sivarasa will briefly discuss laws that apply to internet writers as well as the legal procedures surrounding arrests and detention, activist S. Arutchelvan will talk about what the police can and cannot do to people under their custody, while blogger and journalist Soon Li Tsin will share some experiences regarding activism in the face of wrongful arrest. Recent arrestee Nathaniel Tan will moderate this discussion, which will be largely informal and be more of a dialogue in nature.

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By Hashim Ibrahim

Pak Lah's pre-2004 election promise to us.

Don't know about you, but I was taken in.

What else did he promise us in the run-up to the elections?

Space for expression : encourage environment for constructive discussion and criticism. Encourage creativity and openness, whilst being sensitive to our differences.

Mentality: encourage environment where civic consciousness and courtesy is practised. Nurture individuals with strong character and positive values.

What have we had since then?

Choice to determine the future of our nation?

How?

With Najib trying to re-write our history?

Stand up for what we believe in?

Go and tell that to Kamariah Ali, Daud Mamat, Lina Joy and Revathi!

Constructive discussion and criticism? Creativity and openness?

Is that why Nazri is now screaming ISA and OSA? Sedition?

Silence bloggers to facilitate constructive discussion and openness?

Is that why Che Din Yusof of Internal Security orders a gag on media reporting?

Is that why Malaysian Communications & Multimedia Commission ordered TV and radio stations not to give airtime to the opposition?

Civic consciousness and courtesy?

With leaking and racist MPs?

With a thuggish Youth Chief?

With a Bodoh! Bodoh! Bodoh! minister?

Nurture individuals with strong character and values?

Nat Tan and Raja Petra too strong in character for your liking?

You've lost my vote, sunshine.

Update 28 July 2007: I attended the above meeting and met Nathaniel Tan. He has given the go ahead to leave this post as it is here and also have said I am free to use stuff from his blog (haven't found his blog yet).