Spend wisely this Christmas

Ahh….now is the time of the year where people will be spending. They would go out and buy gifts for friends, loved ones and their children. Children would be expecting something from their parents. Many parents who are wise would have saved up to buy gifts for their children. However, not all parents have the extra income for savings and would have to depend on their credit cards for extra money to spend.

I do hope that credit card holders would be wise in their spending for this Christmas season. Try to spend within your means. Sometimes it is not the expensive gifts that matters. What is important is that it comes from a sincere giver. If you do not have the means, use your creativity to come up with interesting gifts for your children. Likewise, ask them to do the same for the gifts that they need to give to you.

If however, you still need to spend using your credit card, it would be good if you could use interest free credit cards as this would lessen your burden a bit. You could also consider making full use of the balance transfers options given by credit card companies to regulate your monthly installment. At the end of the day, try not to be in debt this Christmas.

If you want to go far, go together

Depending on your strength and endurance you can only go fast for a certain time. Thereafter you will be tired and wearied. You will slows down. The tasks that lies ahead seems impossible to achieve on your own strength. Many people when they have reached this point in their life, projects, business or missions, would give up and lost the "battle". This is where you need to find other people to support and go together with you on the journey.

You need another person to be there to motivate each other. When you fall down, the other person can help you up and encourage you to continue on. If you know that the ministry would be long and far, do find someone to go together with you. Then you will go further than if you are alone.

If you want to go far, go together.

If want to go fast, go alone

There are many ways to do a certain thing or job. It is good to get as many advices from different people who have the expertise on that matter. The book of Proverbs provides many advices on the need to get many good advices before doing something. Especially if you are thinking about venturing into a new business or new job or new missions.

However, there will be times when you need to act alone. If the situations warrant immediate decision you need to act fast. You have to make that decision, alone. Or you have to be the one who spearhead the project. This is the time when you have to be the "lone ranger" making sure things are done according to your plans. You can't depend on others to do the job as that would slows down the momentum. If you want to go fast, go alone.

Get married for fun?

Watched a movie with my wife last night after we came back from shopping. I did not watched the beginning of the movie so I was not sure what is the story is all about. But the part of the movie that I watched showed a lady who is in love with another guy but that guy is married. She just want to be married even though she does not love the guy that she is supposed to marry. I wonder why would anyone do such a stupid thing.

Marriage is a sacred covenant between a man and a woman. It is to be honored and taken seriously as the vows said on the wedding day are binding on each other. I guess the media has portrayed marriage as just a licence to be together and that there is not much value in marriage. No wonder our society begins to deteriorate morally. Don't get married for fun. If you do that you will surely suffer when all the fun disappeared.

Metal cabinets

In my house there are many rooms. If it is not so, I would not tell you so. In all the rooms there are many cupboards. Most of them are made of wood. Some of the cupboards shelves are not of good quality wood and would bend due the heavy weight put on it. I wanted to buy a metal shelves but has yet to do so until now. It is alright to put metal shelves inside the room.

Would I put metal cabinets in the kitchen? The answer depends on one factor. Whether the kitchen is meant to be used as dry or wet kitchen. If it is used as wet kitchen then I would not put metal cabinets in it. I will rust easily once it got wet. It is okay to put metal cabinets in dry kitchen. In fact it would make the kitchen more presentable especially if you have the stainless steel cabinets.

Keeping quiet.

Did my Bible reading today on Proverbs 16-20. Just want to jot down the thoughts that came to mind while reading these wonderful Scriptures.

Proverbs 17:28, "Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue."

Appearance can be deceiving. It is definitely difficult to know a person's true character by just looking at his outward appearance. He may look so handsome and cool, but is actually a fool and mean in character. As another Scripture says that man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart. That's what the prophet Samuel did when he was asked to anoint the sons of Jesse.

Even in my shop the same thing would happen. When new customers come in, there is nothing much to know about them except by their outward appearances. Only when they start talking to each other or to me, then only will I have a better picture of them. Some of them will freely use bad words (mostly Chinese guys) or sarcastic sentences. The way they responded to my questions will also give me some indication of their personality.

The above Scripture verse will be more apparent in meetings or discussions. A fool just want to say what is in their mind or heart, which is always said without tact. So if you don't know anything about an issue or matters that were discussed, just keep quiet. That is always the best option rather than proving that you are a fool.

High Court and Syariah Court of Malaysia - going the wrong way

Being a former lawyer and educated on the legal system of Malaysia, I find the current dichotomy of the Civil court and Syariah court a bit worrisome. In case you don't understand what is written by the press statement by Dato' Chee, let me summarize the few important points: -

1. There's seems to be a conflict of jurisdiction between the High Court (civil) and the Syariah Court (religious).

2. The High Court judges are giving unnecessary jurisdiction to the Syariah Court in matters of conversion, custody and reliefs that is related to Islam.

3. The non-Muslim seems to have no legal remedy because the Syariah law cannot be applied to them but yet they have to appear before the Syariah Court.

4. The judges seems to think that Islamic law should override the Malaysian Constitution.

5. The Malaysian PM has yet to fulfill his promise to amend the necessary laws to ensure that non-Muslim has legal rights in matters related to religious disputes.

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MAJLIS PERUNDINGAN MALAYSIA AGAMA BUDDHA, KRISTIAN, HINDU, SIKH DAN TAO

MALAYSIAN CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL OF BUDDHISM, CHRISTIANITY, HINDUISM, SIKHISM AND TAOISM

Secretariat: Buddhist Maha Vihara, 123 Jalan Berhala, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur

Fax 03 22739307 Email: mccbchst@yahoo.com

PRESS STATEMENT ON COURT OF APPEAL DECISION ON SARAVANAN v. SUBASHINI

In the wake of the majority decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of Saravanan A/L Thangathony v. Subashini A/P Rajasingam [Rayuan Sivil No. W-02-955-2006] we, the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism, are greatly disappointed that once again, the non-converting non-Muslim wife of a convert to Islam has failed to get relief from our Civil Courts. Hitherto, in the case of Shamala a/p Sathiaseelan she was told by the High Court that it had no jurisdiction to declare as unlawful her young children’s conversion into Islam without her knowledge or consent and was advised to seek the assistance of the Islamic authorities. Then the widow of Everest hero, Sgt. M. Moorthy also failed to get relief from the High Court on the ground of jurisdiction.

Following an uproar from civil society, the Right Honorable Prime Minister had declared that although Article 121(1A) of the Constitution would not be amended, laws will be amended to remedy the situation. Though it has been more than a year since then, there have been no amendments to any law as yet to clarify the jurisdiction of the Courts.

It is our duty to inform the authorities that there is growing discomfort amongst the non Muslim citizens of Malaysia, who form 45% of the population, many of whom feel that the judiciary are failing in their constitutional duty to ensure the equal protection of the law for all Malaysians.

In Subashini’s case, the husband converted to Islam and converted the eldest son, aged 3, to Islam without the wife’s knowledge or consent. The husband then applied to the Syariah Court for custody of the son, again with no notice to the wife.

The wife then presented a petition for divorce and ancillary relief and applied to the High Court for an injunction restraining the husband from (i) converting the children of the marriage to Islam and (ii) commencing or continuing with any proceedings in any Syariah Court with regard to the marriage or the children of the marriage. The High Court initially granted an injunction after hearing only the wife who at that time did not know of the substance of the Husband’s applications in the Syariah courts. This injunction was continued whilst the case was heard in the High Court. After the husband submitted his evidence, and after the High Court heard both parties, it refused to give the injunction. However, the High Court granted an interim injunction to the wife pending the hearing of an appeal to the Court of Appeal, known as an “Erinford Injunction”.

The majority decision of the Court of Appeal dismissed the wife’s appeal and set aside the Erinford Injunction with costs, effectively shutting the door on Subashini’s rights as a mother to prevent the Syariah court making a determination as to her marriage and as to the custody of her children. To add to her problem, the majority have ruled that Subashini, a non-Muslim, must apply to the Syariah Court, instead of applying to the High Court. Of particular concern to us is the statement by YA Dato’ Hasan Lah, JCA that the High Court and the Syariah Court must be regarded as having the same standing in this country. We are also concerned to note that in his grounds of judgment YA Datuk Suriyadi Halim Omar, JCA quoted a verse from the Quran and appeared to be elevating the role and prominence of Islamic law and the Islamic judicial system in Malaysia.

We would respectfully remind members of the Judiciary that the Federal Court, Court of Appeal and the High Courts in Malaya and in Sabah and Sarawak are all civil courts and Judges of those courts take an oath of office to uphold the Federal Constitution, which guarantees all persons, including non Muslims, the fundamental liberty of professing and practising their faiths in peace and harmony.

It is very clear and specific in the State legislative list in the 9^th Schedule of the Federal Constitution that the “Syariah Courts … shall have jurisdiction only over persons professing the religion of Islam …”. The learned Judges in the majority appear to note that requirement in their judgments, but with respect appear to contradict themselves by then requiring the non Muslim wife to go to the Syariah courts.

We express our objection to any requirement for non-Muslims to have to go to the Syariah Court for relief as such courts apply Islamic theological law. Religious laws cannot be applied to people who do not profess that religion. The Court of Appeal in this case and civil courts are expanding Article 121(1A) of the Federal Constitution. We are also concerned that Syariah Courts are usurping functions which are not theirs. Consequently, non-Muslims are unable to obtain relief when the Syariah Court makes an order which interferes with their fundamental liberties guaranteed by the Federal Constitution.

The Federal Constitution is the supreme law of Malaysia. Our highest court had declared in the case of Che Omar bin Che Soh v. P.P. (1988) 2 MLJ 55 that Article 3 of the Constitution was never intended to extend the application of Syaria to the sphere of public law.

We object to any interpretation of our Constitution or our laws that deprive any person of his fundamental liberties, and deny access to a non Muslim to the High Court applying the general civil law. We urgently call on the Government to immediately make the necessary legislative amendments to safeguard the rights of all Malaysians and to ensure non Muslims have full and proper access to justice in the civil courts.

Dato' Chee Peck Kiat,

President

23.03.2007

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Traffic lights in Malaysia

Been wanting to blog about traffic lights in Malaysia for a while but always forget about it when I faced the computer. So here goes.

As I work night shift at my shop, I would finish after 12 midnight. And by the time I closed shop and ready to go home, it is already after 1am. Driving home would be a breeze because there's not many vehicles on the road. That is good for me because I can reach home and go to bed fast. But then, there's the traffic lights at every junctions....

Imagine this....
you driving alone on the road...
no other cars except yours...
you reached the traffic light...
it just turned red as you reached the junction...
you had to stop....
no other cars from other directions as well...
you waited for 30 seconds, still it is red light...
you waited for 1 minute already, still it is red light... green light for other direction...
you waited for 1 1/2 minutes already, the only car at the traffic light, but still can't go... red light..
you waited for 2 minutes already, the only car at the traffic light, still red and u can't go...
you are tempted to just go but it is still red...
after 2 1/2 minutes then only it is green and you sighed and drove back to another traffic lights..

the same thing happened at another 2 more junctions.

if you dare to drive through the red light, you might be unfortunate if the police catch you. If you wait and wait.... it is like a fool wasting the car petrol waiting and giving way for no cars to pass by.

You might want to tell me that the waiting time at the traffic light is good for me to relax. But if you're already tired and want to sleep, reaching home is the only thing you want to do.

I was in Indonesia a few years back and there the system is more practical. After 11 or 12 midnight, all the traffic lights turned orange/yellow. The cars will slow down when approaching the traffic light and if there's no other cars approaching, they can drive on. Now that's the system that Malaysia should also follow.