June 24, 2012
JAWI is a Big Bully
by P.Ramakrishnan@http://www.malaysiakini.com
The Barisan Nasional government for reasons known only to itself banned the book ‘Allah, Liberty and Love’ by the Canadian author Irshad Manji. The book was apparently banned on May 29, 2012 and this was made public 16 days later on June 14, 2012.
But before the book was officially banned, JAWI officials raided the Borders bookshop at The Gardens Mall in Mid-Valley City on May 23, 2012 and seized copies of the book that were on sale. This raid took place six days before the book in question was officially banned.
In other words at the time of the raid there was no ban and no announcement that these books should not be sold. There was no justification for the raid. There was no fatwa issued by JAWI prohibiting the sale of these books. There were, therefore, no grounds for JAWI to act. Under the circumstances, the only conclusion that could logically prevail is that it was legitimate to sell these books on May 23, 2012.
The day following the raid, JAWI officials came again to the shop accompanied by members of the media and questioned another female Muslim employee of Borders. When she informed them that the books had been removed from the shelf as directed by JAWI the previous day, she was unjustly accused of lying.
On what basis they refused to believe this Muslim woman is beyond comprehension. The JAWI officials searched the premises thoroughly but found no evidence or trace of the book. They did not apologise to the Muslim woman for not believing her version of the truth. That would have been the decent thing to do.
On June 19, 2012, strangely the manager of the bookshop, Nik Raina Nik Abdul Aziz, was charged by JAWI in the Kuala Lumpur Syariah Court under Section 13(1) of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997 with distributing Irshad Manji’s book, which was deemed to be against Islamic law. If convicted, Nik Raina faces a RM3,000 fine or a maximum of two years’ jail or both.
No such books distributed after May 23
But the fact was no such books were distributed or sold after May 23, 2012. This episode exposes the officials of JAWI as not living up to justice and fairness – the core value in the Islamic faith.
They were not just and fair in their conduct in this instance:
- It was not just and fair to charge Nik Raina simply because the book in question was not banned on May 23. Under the law, Borders bookshop was justified in selling the books on that day. It was a legitimate transaction of a registered entity.
- It was not just and fair that the female Muslim employee was accused of lying without any proof. In fact, the search that was conducted in the bookshop produced no trace of the book in the premises.
- It was not just and fair that on May 30, 2012, when Nik Raina – together with two other colleagues and accompanied by a Borders-appointed lawyer – turned up to attend an investigation by JAWI, they were treated roughly and issued with an arrest warrant. They had turned up in compliance with the directives issued by JAWI. There was no justification for this conduct.
- It was not just and fair that Nik Raina was denied legal representation. This is a serious violation of her human right to legal counsel.
- It was not just and fair that both the Home Minister, Hishammuddin Hussein and the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Islamic Affairs, Senator Jamil Khir Baharom, did not respond to Berjaya Books Sdn Bhd, which had sought their assistance and intervention on June 5 with regard to JAWI’s action.
Berjaya has rightly applied to the High Court on 18 June for a judicial review. It is our sincere hope that the High Court would rule on the side of justice and fairness.
But what is disturbing is that the prime minister has not uttered a word in an issue that is glaringly unjust and unfair. Keeping a not-so-elegant silence may be construed as concurring with the unjust action of Jawi.
Our former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who seems never lost for words in commenting on issues and who finds it difficult to hold his peace, has not uttered a word on this glaring violation of fundamental rights.
P RAMAKRISHNAN is an executive committee member of Aliran.
I wonder what this Prime Minister is doing about this? He is just keeping quiet for politics. It is time we throw him out of office because he is weak and lack convictions.
What branch of Islam do these maggots and faggots profess to protect and observe, when they behave in such a barbarous manner to the staff of Borders who are not only Muslims but are also ladies and have done nothing wrong?
While we are on this subject, have we not heard of those self-proclaimed saints planning to let loose an army of voyeurs to spy on couples courting in dark places? Have we not heard of the same self-proclaimed saints raiding budget hotels and arresting couples? But have we ever heard of them raiding 5-star hotels, where some of the BN politicians seem to have conducted their trysts with their sex objects? Have we ever heard of them speaking out on corruption and other felonious practices of the BN politicians? These people are Maggots and faggots.
Here is my answer Mr. Ramakrishan on Mahathir’s silence on this matter. The ex Prime Miinister. anak Mohamad Iskandar Kutty, cannot say anything because to support JAWI, he will have to go against his Vincent Tan, who owns Borders. To support Borders in this case, he will go against PERKASA, of which he is the patron. Don’ t be surprised that he might just say that he does not have a clear memory about the whole affair….Mamak Kutty is a disgrace to Kedah. Many people here are beginning to realise that he is a nuisance and a trouble maker.
Yes the silence is deafening. The silence is evidence that when we are silent about wrong doings, oppression ,we are condone the wrong doings.
Every one is interconnected arent they at the ‘top level’ , sop the public servants do nothing to stop this outrage, this injusitce. Only the people can keep them honest. Only the people can change this. Life is too short to allow injustices against those who are earning a living. Against the vulnerable especially.
What is selling a book compared to buying french handbags that you can ill afford on a public servants salary?
“These people are Maggots and faggots.” Cockdiang
Take it easy on the “faggots”. Or have you been sodomised when you were little??
Those who are sufficiently well read would know that Jawi is the modern-day version of the infamous Inquisition (Roman, Medieval, etc), and its officials have the same mentality as that of the Inquisitors’. And don’t expect the real PM and the pseudo-PM to comment on the issue; the former approves of acts such as that executed by Jawi, while the latter is interested only in copulation and money—lots of it.
One can only hope and pray that such happenings will cease to take place after the GE 13.
Come to think of it a book is the most potent way to influence a person. It is just between you and the book. No one can interfere as to what you are reading and no one but you will be able to intrepret what is being said in the book. That is why throughtout history banning and burning of books has been such a popular pastime of those who want to rule with an iron fist. I wonder if anyone has notices that we have the lowest per cpapita book shops in comparision to the developed world and the cost of books are such that only 1% of the population can afford them.
“Many people here are beginning to realise that he is a nuisance and a trouble maker.” anakedaj.derga
Many more think he is God.
This action by JAWI is really regrettable and over-zealous. Although the Syariah laws can be enforced independently of the civil laws, JAWI officials, as ordinary Malaysians, are also bound by the civil laws. The book was not banned yet when the raid was executed. The raid & consequent alleged actions & non-actions by JAWI might tarnish the good image of Islam here and everywhere. Come on government leaders do something to correct the situation – apologise & drop the charges and you will be more respected by the people if you do that. I am a Muslim too.
Lowly-educated and taliban-police social police mentality… hypocrites! If you did not announce the ban how the fish do you expect the bookshop manager to know? Bodoh punya bodoh JAWI ni….
Bean’s pet monkey , Moid , seems to be all over the place these days.
Jawi needs to meet Rumi. Kathy will be delighted.
“The raid & consequent alleged actions & non-actions by JAWI might tarnish the good image of Islam here and everywhere:” hussin at 10 am
In Australia and the rest of the world the image is ALREADY tarnished. Dont have to wait for it to happen.
if we want to be citizens of a developed country, the time is right to bring about a change in government. if not our beloved country would pass the point of no return with umno-bn in power for another term.
the existence of publicly financed entities like JAWI, JAKIM is a testimony that people of Buddhist, Hindu, Taoist and Christian faiths are MATURED, CIVILISED and educated enough to behave appropriately and read what is available without deviating and insulting their religions?????
the malays have been left behind by the others!?
if so, who is responsible for this situation????? if not umno-bn who else!
stop insulting the malays!
“Although the Syariah laws can be enforced independently of the civil laws, JAWI officials, as ordinary Malaysians, are also bound by the civil laws.” Hussin
It is UMNO who, seeking to outdo and out Islamize PAS, passed the controversial amendment elevating Syariah law to the status of civil law based on the English common law. And so here we are today. They have muddied the water and the issue of which court has jurisdiction over what, has confused even the judges and put the fear of religious bigots in others. Never mind the politicians. They will do anything to get out the votes. The UMNO led government has gone on to create agencies and employment for semi-educated, semi-literate, ‘holier than thou’ who otherwise would be unemployed and unwanted men and women who would be collecting money at toll booths.
Will a government with PAS as partner do anything different? They will now seek to out do UMNO when it comes to Islamization of the country. This is the path the first three prime ministers have adamantly and consistently avoided having to travel. This is the path UMNO today have chosen to travel. It all began when a man living in a ramshackled attap house on stilts behind an ice factory, was soundly defeated at the polls in 1969 by Chinese voters who decided to give away their votes to PAS rather than waste them.
Does JAWI conformed to its power vested under the Syariah law…?? By confiscating detrimental publications deemed a ‘blasphemy’ act against the religion…?? No doubt it’s their prerogative under the Syariah law to do so… without having to wait KDN banning Order …!!
One really has to laugh at these brainless nitwit UMNOMelayus. Even a bunch of urang utans will know how to oraginse their survival in a more orederly manner. Real pea brained half human beings.
jAWI behaving like UMNOputras, no?
May I suggest that Borders (Berjaya) sue JAWI for wrongful arrest. I would,let’s see JAWI put money where their mouth is n make it a lesson for
them,a painful and expensive lesson.Evidences are so in your face.While we’re at it,let’s get RELA too,any wrongful arrest,they should be sue off their pants.Then only Padan Muka.
Religion should be the just a small portion of any cultural milieu. Over here, they beat us on the head that Islam is the last bastion of God. As if God needs Jawi, Jakim or any of those fellas with constricted blood flow to the brain! Leave God alone! Rain falls on both the good and the evil – the former it succors, the latter it drowns.
What we are shown nowadays is a very small, thoroughly ineffectual deity on earth, whose zealous followers judge with the plank before their eyes and a thumb stuck up their nether orifice. They Proact even when there is no ‘Sin’. Wonder how they define “Sin”? This sorry episode would have been thoroughly amusing if they had not arrested the poor girl and subjected her to abuse.
Political Islam is certainly as bad as any human endeavor corrupted by Machiavellian Politicians – no more, no less. It’s the disruptive convenience, not the social justice that’s wanting here.
one commentator wrote in another thread ”build a large office complex and put all these useless people inside. give them a good salary. their duty should be not to do anything. give them also internet access so they can gleefully surf for ‘you know what’ the whole day. that way, they’ll do no harm to the public.
Lok1, they won’t get justice in a country where the judiciary is biased and sometimes crooked.
pre-emptive strike is the word to describe the actions of our regime. that is effective in the prevention of crime. they’ll confiscate books before they are banned. they’ll arrest all the demonstrators before they could demonstrate. kill all the robbers before they could rob. kill all the witnesses before they can testify. yes, thats the way to save taxpayers money. what the F do we need a judiciary for, man?
CLF & reeper, its a pleasure to read you both first thing in the morning….
Pleasure on this side of yours, but excruciating pain on the other, filled with prejudices, and distorting religion for political brinkmanship….thus creating confusion between truth & evil in our everyday life.
Things in Malaysia were much better before, in the 70s and the early 80s. I was able to buy a book published by Reader’s Digest with a drawing of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in it and nobody created a hue and cry about it.