"When you talk about the sensitivity of others you should have it behind closed doors and invite those of authority. You don't invite every Tom, Dick and Harry to talk about Islam.

"You can talk about Islam but you can't talk for Islam. We Muslims also have rights you know," he blasted.

Anti-Islamic Bar

He also said that it was important to respect Islam and the rights of the Muslims.
. . .

We Muslims have been tolerant enough all this while... so many years we have been forced to live under law that is not Islam.

"It is time for the Muslims to speak up and I would take the lead for the Muslims to speak up," he said.

FIRST

I thought the forum was about conversion and how to deal with it in the dual court system. So it was as much an important issue for Muslims as it was for non-Muslims. Non-Muslims didn't mind every Tom, Dick, and Harry to listen an to the forum and get a better understanding because it was Tom, Dick, and Harry that was most likely to be affected by these decisions -- not the professionals who discuss it behind closed doors. Stopping the forum was robbing us non-Muslims of our right to better understanding and more knowledge. How should we deal with it? Should we go to the streets and protest for the forum to be reconvened? Maybe we can one up those fellas by waving Chinese and Indian swords. That will sure make our point for us.

Besides, there were professionals in the field of law and religion present at the table with the hosts so that Tom, Dick, and Harry could have their questions answered or reasoning corrected. And I can't think of the Bar Council denying those NGOs, who were protesting outside that day, sending their own representatives to join at the table and enrich the understanding for us non-Muslims with regards to where we stand in this system of law.

And even if the Bar Council couldn't fit all of you in the host's table, it was an OPEN forum. You guys still could have gone in and sat down and gave in your two cents to answer the questions your own way and correct those people the way you think best.

You don't go and say "storm the building" or shout "babi", "pengkhianat", "balik Cina". What the hell? And you, Zuklkifi say you are proud to be part of this group? For whatever toes we might have unintentionally stepped on, I apologize, but why use such vile language as retribution? That is your solution for everything -- call us babi and ask us to balik Cina or India. That doesn't sound like what a PKR man would do...it sounds more like what UMNO Youth would do, maybe with a keris handy around his waist.

SECOND

You say that "We Muslims have been tolerant enough all this while... so many years we have been forced to live under law that is not Islam."

And this is the result of who? Us the non-Muslims? The Bar Council? That is why you have to take your anger out on us? That is pathetic. For 51 years the dominant party has been the party that was suppose to uphold and protect the Muslims and Malays. To say that they had a comfortable room in which to stretch their arms is an understatement. With this power they still have chosen to make you feel like you have been "forced" to do whatever you don't want, take it out on them. Not out on us normal citizens that are just trying to make clear what to us is a pile of smoke.

You should be against the UMNO. Take it up with the GPMS, not unite with them to come make us and the Bar Council the scapegoat of your frustration. How the hell are we involved in forcing you to live under un-Islamic law? As far as we are concerned, these past 51 years involved us making the best out of a crappy situation. We don't have much say on how any of our courts are managed, and just make do with what we have. Did we have a say in 1988 and what has transpired until today? Do we have a say in how non-Muslims should approach Shariah Courts? CAN WE EVEN HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO NAVIGATE THIS COBWEB?!?! HELL NO!!

So I ask you Zulkifi, why take it out on us. Why betray and shoot your own team? If you want meaningful Islamic living, go do something that matters instead of shouting babi, pengkhianat, and balik Cina.

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