Day: December 25, 2015

Archbishop urges action on religious, racial polarisation

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Source: The Malaysian Insider

Ties among Malaysia's different communities have reached an alarming level, says Anglican Archbishop of South East Asia, Datuk Ng Moon Hing. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, December 25, 2015.

Ties among Malaysia’s different communities have reached an alarming level, says Anglican Archbishop of South East Asia, Datuk Ng Moon Hing. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, December 25, 2015.

The Anglican archbishop of South East Asia today warned that religious and racial polarisation had reached a critical stage in Malaysia, and urged authorities to take action before it got out of control.

Speaking at a Christmas hi-tea organised by the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) in Petaling Jaya today, Right Reverend Datuk Ng Moon Hing said the government must make it a priority to address the problem. Read more →

30 civil societies urge Malaysia to protest against Brunei’s Xmas ban

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Source: The Malaysian Insider

Brunei has banned Christmas celebrations over fears of proselytisation. Malaysian civil societies have called the ban an ‘unwarranted religious repression’. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, December 25, 2015.

Thirty Malaysian civil societies of different faiths have called on Putrajaya to voice its opposition and concern to the Brunei government for criminalising public Christmas celebrations.

The societies, which include Christian as well as Muslim groups, said Brunei’s ban on public celebrations of Christmas violated Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

They said the ban also affected Malaysian citizens in Brunei, and went against Islamic principles of tolerance and respect for religious freedom.

“We urge the federal government of Malaysia and the state governments of Sabah and Sarawak to register their strongest protest and grave concern to the Brunei government,” the civil societies said in a statement yesterday. Read more →

Beri peluang kami sumbang ekonomi, kata 3 generasi Rohingya

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Sumber: The Malaysian Insider

Pelarian Rohingya, Banu Hassan, (dua dari kanan) bersama anak perempuannya, Rokiah Mohd Ali (kiri) dan cucu, Zahida Mohd Ismail (kanan). Mereka berharap kerajaan Malaysia memberi peluang mendapatkan pendidikan dan mencari nafkah yang sah. – Gambar The Malaysian Insider oleh Afif Abd Halim, 25 Disember, 2015.

Pada ketika Malaysia memberikan layanan istimewa kepada pelarian Syria, sebuah keluarga besar Rohingya di negara ini berkata, mereka berada di sini selama 3 generasi tetapi masih lagi dinafikan hak bagi sebuah kehidupan bermaruah.

Kesemua 6 anak Banu Hassan, 60, dilahirkan di Malaysia dan beliau mempunyai 4 orang cucu. Tetapi tiada seorang pun daripada mereka bertaraf penduduk tetap, jauh sekali warganegara.

Apa yang mereka mahukan hanyalah hak untuk menamatkan persekolahan, mencari nafkah yang sah, kebebasan daripada gangguan dan peluang menyumbang kepada ekonomi Malaysia. Read more →