Day: January 5, 2016

Halt unsustainable bauxite mining — WWF-Malaysia

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Source: The Malay Mail Online

JANUARY 5 — WWF-Malaysia views with grave concern the unsustainable bauxite mining activity going on in Kuantan. WWF-Malaysia calls on the government to heed the voices of the local communities, scientists, stakeholders and the public and immediately halt all bauxite mining activities. Demand for bauxite and economic benefits have been cited as the reason for allowing the mining but the government cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the problems resulting from unsustainable bauxite mining — the environmental and social costs.

The long-term environmental and health costs due to this unsustainable practice may far outweigh the short-term economic benefit generated by this activity. Read more →

Indira Gandhi case: Dissenting judge explains decision, suggests Chief Justice may have solution

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Source: The Malay Mail Online

M. Indira Gandhi is pictured at the Court of Appeal, Putrajaya, December 30, 2015. ― Picture by Saw Siow Feng

M. Indira Gandhi is pictured at the Court of Appeal, Putrajaya, December 30, 2015. ― Picture by Saw Siow Feng

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 ― The contentious Article 121 (1A) in the Federal Constitution, which prohibits civil courts from interfering with the Shariah courts, does not apply to administrative decisions made by state bodies including Islamic agencies, a judge said.

Justice Datuk Dr Hamid Sultan Abu Backer ― who was the dissenting judge in the Court of Appeal bench that recently upheld the unilateral conversion of M. Indira Gandhi’s three children to Islam ― noted that the “pendaftar Muallaf” or registrar of Muslim converts who had registered the children as Muslims, fell under the purview of the Perak Islamic Religious Department (JAIPk) director.

Hence, any administrative decision made by the registrar, whose powers are set out in the Administration of the Religion of Islam (Perak) Enactment 2004, is subject to judicial review and the civil court has jurisdiction to hear the matter, he said. Read more →