Rule by law, not sentiments

Friday August 7, 2009

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/8/7/nation/4472676&sec=nation

Rule by law, not sentiments

By ISABELLE LAI

PETALING JAYA: PAS cannot extend the provisions of the Syariah Enactment and impose it on non-Muslims, said MCA non-governmental organisation liaison bureau chairman and central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker.

“We are ruled by law and not sentiments based on race or religion,” he said, adding that PAS was effectively extending Syariah laws on non-Muslims under the pretext of Muslim sentiments.

He referred to recent calls by Selangor PAS exco member Datuk Dr Hassan Ali that a blanket ban be imposed on the sale of beer by convenience stores in Muslim-majority areas.

Ti also referred to Dr Hassan’s argument that non-Muslims could easily buy their beer from the many shops outside Muslim-majority areas as arrogant and non-tolerant of the rights of non-Muslims as provided for by law.

He added that Dr Hassan’s argument discarded the existence of DAP as a political partner.

“The Syariah Enactment is enforceable only on Muslims. Non-Muslims have their civil and criminal laws and it is clearly provided that non-Muslims can buy and sell beer without any restrictions or licences,” he said in a press statement yesterday.

He added that as PAS could not respect an express provision of the law, “how can we ever trust PAS to rule the nation and be fair to the non-Muslims? How can DAP falsely assure the community into voting for PAS?”

“The rule of the majority must be with due respect to the minority. The continuous insistence by PAS that the minority give in and sacrifice our rights and liberties in the name of respect to the majority is tantamount to bullying,” he said.

He added that PAS cannot rule the country based on the sentiments or emotions of a few aggressive intolerant leaders who are out to be heroes in their communities.

“What if this Muslim neighbourhood decides to chase out non-Muslims from the neighbourhood one day? What about the right, liberties and sentiments and feelings of non-Muslims?”

Ti said Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu should advise his Pakatan partners (PAS leaders) to concentrate on their dakwah activities and not impose additional restrictions or prohibitions on others.

MCA slams PAS for infringing rights of non-Muslims

MCA slams PAS for infringing rights of non-Muslims
Karen Arukesamy

PETALING JAYA (Aug 6, 2009): MCA today hit out at PAS’s outcry and use of "Muslim sentiments" on the "brewing beer conflict" in the Pakatan Rakyat-ruled Selangor and for infringing on the rights of non-Muslims.

Dr Hasan Ali

Its central committee member and non-governmental organisation liaison bureau chairman Datuk Ti Lian Ker said in a statement yesterday Selangor PAS’s proposed guidelines regulating beer sales be made in tandem with the Syariah Enactment (Selangor) 1995 is "flawed and bad in law".

In calling for a blanket ban on beer sales in Muslim-majority areas, he said: "PAS is effectively extending syariah laws onto non-Muslims on the pretext of Muslim sentiments.

"We are ruled by law and not sentiments based on race or religion. PAS cannot in effect extend the provisions of the Muslim enactment and impose it on non-Muslims," said Ti.

Referring to the civil law for non-Muslims, he said it clearly allows non-Muslims to buy and sell beer in cans and bottles without any restrictions or licence.

"If PAS cannot respect an express provision of the law, how can we ever trust PAS to rule the nation and be fair to non-Muslims? How can DAP falsely assure the community into voting for PAS?" asked Ti.

He said enforcement officers cannot act based on the sentiments of a Muslim-dominated neighbourhood.

He also slammed Selangor executive councillor Datuk Dr Hasan Ali for his statement on Tuesday asking non-Muslims to travel outside Muslim majority areas to buy beer and blamed Barisan Nasional for failure of such implementation.

An MBSA officer confisticating the beer cans and bottles in a 7Eleven outlet in Section 8, Shah Alam.

"PAS, as usual, is one up against Umno when it comes to showing their arrogance and non-tolerance in absolute disrespect of the rights of non-Muslims rights as provided by the law," said Ti.

He said Hasan’s arguments that non-Muslims have to drive further away to buy beer "is retarded and discards the existence of DAP as a political partner".

"(Selangor executive councillor) Ronnie Liu should advise Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partners, PAS leaders, to concentrate on the dakwah activities and not impose prohibitions and penalties on non-Muslims," he said.

On Tuesday, Hasan had urged Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim to impose the beer ban in Muslim-majority areas in Selangor and called for Liu’s portfolio be reviewed after accusing him of "interfering" in local council enforcements on the sale of beer .

The controversy had resulted in a gag order by Khalid on all the state excos until today when he will announce a solution for the problem.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, when contacted, said he would issue a statement later on the matter.