12 Reasons Why I Oppose the Implementation of Hudud Law in Malaysia.Fazrin Jamal

Every year, malaysians will argue over hudud. I'm tired of this debate. When will people realise that it is not suitable to be implemented here? Below I listed 12 reasons why I don't support implementation of hudud law in Malaysia.

1. First off, Malaysia is a secular country. Tunku Abdul Rahman on February 1983 clearly stated that, ''The country has multi-racial population with various beliefs. Malaysia must continue as a secular state with Islam as the official religion.'' Tun Hussein Onn, our Bapa Perpaduan agreed with Tunku and said, ''The nation can still be functional as a secular state with islam as the official religion.''.

2. Many muslims argue, "Jika hudud dilaksanakan maka kes jenayah akan berkurangan. Malaysia pun akan jadi aman." This, of course, is untrue. According to the 2013 Global Peace Index, whose indicators, inter alia are number of jailed persons per 100,000 people, level of violent crime, terrorist activity, political instability, number of deaths from organised conflict (external and internal), level of perceived criminality in society and Political Terror Scale, only 1 out of the top 20 countries in the index is a muslim-majority country - Qatar. And for your information, Qatar does not strictly enforcing Sharia. On top of that, Bahrain is the only muslim-majority country in the list of top 10 countries with the lowest recorded crime rate. So, I've a question to all fundamentalist muslims out there : if hudud is really effective in combating crime then why Saudi Arabia, Iran, Yemen and Somalia were not in the top 30?

3. Sex between two consenting adults is not a crime. The legal definition for 'crime' is "a violation of a law in which there is injury to the public or a member of the public...". Fornicators are not harming anyone and what they are doing is none of our business. Sure, it is a sin and a crime in islam but as I said before Malaysia is a secular country. Please respect that fact. Besides, if God really hates what those adults had committed then let He punishes them Himself.

4. Apostasy too is not a crime. Article 18 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights reads, "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.". This declaration is not binding on Malaysia, yes, but I believe everyone should respect it. Most adults are capable of making decision, differentiate right and wrong and think for themselves. We must respect an individual's decision to change his religion even though some of us believe it is a big mistake. Think it over : what would muslims feel if a a hindu father threatened to kill his son simply because his son converted to islam. Surely, muslims will get angry and say things like, "Moga ayahnya menghormati keputusan anaknya", "Anak tu dah besar. Suka hati dia la apa dia nak buat" and "Semoga anak itu diselamatkan Allah,". But when these very same muslims hear about conversion of a muslim to different religion they say things like, "Kalau aku jumpa mamat ni memang aku sembelih", "Dah jatuh hukum bunuh kafir lahanat ni" and "Masuk syurga siapa yang berjaya sembelih dia". Why the double standard? They may argue that this is a muslim-majority country but hey, that does not give them a licence to bully non-muslims. Besides, contrary to popular belief, not all islamic jurists consider apostasy a hudud offence. So, I failed to understand why some muslims are so eager to kill another human being. Do not do unto others what you do not want others do unto you. It is as simple as that.

5. Most, if not all muslim conservatives say, "Aku sokong hudud sebab kalau ada hudud nanti tak ada la asyik dengar berita orang kena bunuh". This is an ignorant statement and is not a good reason to support hudud. There are 6 offences that fall under hudud. They are theft (Sariqa), highway robbery (Qat' al-Tariq), illegal sexual intercourse (Zina), False accusation of zina (Qadhaf), drinking alcohol (Shurb al-Khamr,) and apostasy (Irtidād or Ridda) which includes blasphemy. Murder does not falls under hudud; it falls under Qisas. When I heard somebody said the above ignorant statement I said to myself, "Macam mana dia boleh sokong sesuatu yang dia sendiri tak faham? Dan macam mana pula orange yang jahil seperti dia dengan bangganya mengatakan aku sesat sedangkan aku sekurang - kurangnya faham undang syariah?". Then, I realised, to most muslims, the quran is like a software license. Only few muslims actually read and understand it. Most of them just scroll to the bottom and click "I agree."

6. I saw many FB comments of non-muslims saying that they fully support hudud because, "...bila ada hudud nanti najib jadi kudung, rosmah jadi kudung dan taib mahmud jadi kudung. Baguslah tu". What these non-muslims failed to understand was that corruption, bribery and embezzlement do not fall under hudud; they fall under Takzir which means that if any politician is found guilty for using taxpayer's money for his personal use then he will be imprisoned. His hand won't be chopped off.

7. Conservatives say, "Hudud ni hanya untuk orang islam. Yang bukan islam tak payah risau". Actually, many muslim scholars believe that hudud is for all, not exclusively for muslims. If i'm not mistaken, in Saudi Arabia and Iran, Syariah is applicable to all muslims and non-muslims. This means that any non-muslim who is found guilty for adultery or drinking alcohol will be stoned to death or flogged 40 times. Earlier this year a Catholic woman was convicted guilty for khalwat. On top of that, a report by Malay Mail Online on June 5 2014 "Hudud should apply to all Malaysians, Jakim paper suggests" proved that there's an attempt to subject non-muslims to islamic law. Now, how will the government convince me that the 40% non-muslims won't be affected after they implement the hudud?

8. In my opinion, drinking of alcohol is not a crime. It is a crime against god, yes, but it is none of our business. If you don't like it then don't drink it. Please don't shove your belief down everybody's throat. Respect them no matter how sinful their action is to you. Besides, I don't think it is okay to flog somebody 40 times merely because he drank alcohol. Have you ever seen a mormon being punished for drinking coffee (which FYI, forbidden in mormonism)? Have you ever seen a yazidi being imprisoned for eating lettuce? Have you ever seen a jain being killed because he ate animal meat? Have you ever seen a jew being flogged for eating pork? No right? Then why muslim conservatives are so excited to flog another muslim? They do not have anything better to do, huh?

9. Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland have secular laws and guess what, number of cases and rate of murder, theft, robbery, rape and other crimes in those countries are lower than in countries that implemented hudud such as Pakistan, Iran and Nigeria. In Netherlands, a staggering 19 prisons were scheduled to be closed due to lack of criminals. In Liechtenstein, according to an International Special Reports study, the average Liechtenstein resident doesn't even lock their door. Why? Because the low number of crimes committed in that country. In fact, as of 2007, the last murder taking place in Liechtenstein was 10 years ago. Now, answer my question - why do you want our government to implement hudud law which has been proven to be ineffective in combating crime? Shouldn't we take Norway, Netherlands and Finland as example and legislate similar law like theirs?

10. Conservatives always tell me, "Jangan persoalkan hukum Allah. Berdosa besar!" Excuse me, I was born with a brain for a reason. You may think you are a good muslim and will be sent to heaven because you blindly accept everything. Me, on the other hand, will use all knowledge I've learnt all these years to make my own stand. I don't need you or anyone else to think for me. In the words of Thomas Jefferson, "Question with boldness even the existence of a god because if there be one He must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear." God, according to you, is an omniscient creator. I don't think an omniscient god would hate me and send me to hell simply because I question His Law. I think He would be proud of me and those who dare to question, think critically and make up their own stand.

11. They say, "Hudud will prevent muslims from committing sin." Well, i'm secular and liberal but I've never drink alcohol, commit zina, slander innocent woman of committing zina, steal and gamble. Why? Because I have empathy, education and I can determine right from wrong. I don't steal because I would hate it if someone steal my things. I don't drink alcohol because I know the negative effects of drinking. I don't slander innocent woman of committing zina because it's morally wrong. Seriously, I don't need a threat of strict punishment to be a good person. Instead of implementing hudud to prevent muslims from committing sin why don't you educate them what's right and what's wrong?

12. They say, "Hudud ini tujuannya mendidik bukannya menghukum." Oh really? How exactly you educate adulterers that have been stoned to death? How exactly you educate apostates whose heads have been separated from their bodies?

I'm not insulting islam or anyone here. I just don't understand why you guys think hudud is suitable to be implemented here. Do not try to change the topic by saying i'm islamophobic. That tactic is so lapuk. Anyway, it's okay to disagree with me but please don't use The God Excuse because it is the last refuge of a man with no answers and no argument. And instead of cursing me with bad words please state facts, statistics and peer-reviewed research which prove you're right.

A step closer to barbarism BY MARINA MAHATHIR

Regardless of whether we can actually implement amputations, floggings and stoning, the mentality is already implanted.

A STAPLE of the news these days is the many barbaric acts of the group known as the Islamic State or IS in Syria.

Every day we are treated to news of their threats as well as actual acts of murder and mayhem against every person or group they don’t like.

They particularly specialise in the most gruesome ways of killing people, such as by beheading or burning them to death alive. And those are the lucky ones. Those left alive, especially women, are forced to endure the lifelong stigma of rape and abuse.

Over here, we widen our eyes in horror at such atrocities. Our officials are at pains to point out that these acts of barbarism are unIslamic and they have had significant success in arresting various people on their way to Syria to join IS.

Sermons are written to impress on us that we should not participate in this violence because of the very real fear that some people may get such a taste for it over there that they may want to do the same back home.

But we seem to be missing something here. Nobody needs to actually go to the Middle East in order to become barbaric.

Here at home we have moved one step closer to becoming very IS-like already. Regardless of whether we can actually implement any of these measures – amputations, floggings, stoning – the mentality is already implanted. All in the most official and “democratic” way too.

If anyone has the temerity to protest any of it, why, out come the daggers!

Thousands of fingers eagerly tap their keyboards to issue death or rape threats to anyone who has the courage to point out that the “laws” we want so much to implement should be the least of our priorities.

How can we have laws that require amputations for thieves when so many are in poverty? Why do we want to punish people in unQuranic ways?

If IS does not exist in physical form in our country, it sure exists in the heads and fingers of so many of our people.

Despite being followers of a religion that does not allow killing or any kind of injustice towards our fellow humankind, they think they are doing their “religious” duty by doing exactly the opposite. Baying like a pack of hounds for blood, the mob descends on anyone who speaks out, especially if they are female and Muslim.

To them, to think differently and to actually voice concerns is to de­­viate from the programme. We have to be like them, programmed to be obedient. And bloodthirsty.

If our authorities cannot see the connection between these acts of aggression towards those with different opinions and their futile attempts to stop people from joining IS, then they are either unintelligent or purposely blind. If IS is the nadir of a civilised society, then we are heading there, make no mistake.

Where are the voices to condemn IS? Instead we have so much illogical and ignorant thinking that one wonders if we should preserve those brains to be studied somewhere in the future when we hopefully regain our sanity.

One person says we should look to Nigeria for the “successful” implementation of hudud. I suppose that’s why Nigeria is such a successful country that their citizens are all over the world trying to make money.

Another person suggests that we must be on the right track because we are neither IS nor “liberal” so we must be nicely middling and moderate.

Sermons blare this warped definition of moderate every Friday. If you’re not with us, you’re either a liberal or an IS bandit. I would rather be a liberal who cares when people receive death threats than a “moderate” who keeps silent when citizens are faced with such violence. A truly moderate government protects its citizens from violence, rather than encouraging it by saying nothing.

I would like to ask our Prime Minister one question: are some of us Malaysians worth less to him than others? If so, may we know which ones and why? Should the “worthless” ones wear stars on their foreheads so that everyone knows who they are and can do what they want to them? If this differentiation is legal in the law, will our law enforcement officers stand by mute when something bad happens?

I fear for my country. We have so many good people in this land; kind, courteous and compassionate people. Unfortunately we have poor leaders, self-serving ones who care for nothing except for power, and who care for no one except themselves. I wonder how long before the mob realises that their so-called “heroes” don’t care about them either.

Meanwhile, all they’ve succeeded in doing is to divide people with hate. Lovely.

> Marina Mahathir is a human rights activist who works on women, children and HIV/AIDS issues.

Asking question about GST will land you in jail.

106 Soalan yang ditujukan kepada pihak Kastam dan Kerajaan pada hari ini.

1. Kerajaan telah menyusun dan mengumumkan senarai barangan dimana harga runcit akan berkurang dengan adanya implimentasi GST disebabkan perubahan dari SST kepada GST, bilakah kita boleh menjangkakan ia akan berlaku?

2. Adakah 10% SST akan dihapuskan selepas GST 6% dilaksanakan bermula 1 April ini?

3. Bagi syarikat-syarikat yang memperoleh pulangan mencecah RM500K tahun lepas tetapi tidak dijangka untuk mencapai jumlah tersebut pada tahun ini, adakah mereka harus mendaftar dan mengutip GST?

4. Sama juga mengenai syarikat-syarikat yang berada pada garis sempadan, apa yang patut mereka lakukan dan bagaimana kerajaan bercadang untuk menangani isu ini supaya ia adil kepada mereka dan pengguna? Adalah difahamkan bahawa kes-kes yang berada pada garis sempadan digalakkan untuk mendaftar dan mengutip GST jika pulangan mereka tidak mencecah RM500k, kemudian bagaimana?

5. Mengapa kerajaan mengurangkan peratusan cukai korporat daripada 25% kepada 24% kerana itulah hasil penting bagi kerajaan dan mencaj GST 6%?

6. Adakah gaji minimum akan dikaji semula dan dinaikkan kepada gaji yang mencukupi untuk kelangsungan hidup, sebelum melaksanakan GST? Berapakah kenaikan itu?

7. Mengapa tidak kekalkan senarai barangan and perkhidmatan yang dikenakan SST sama dengan GST? Mengapa ia perlu diluaskan kepada barangan dan perkhidmatan yang tiada cukai sebelum ini?

8. Apakah mekanisma yang akan diambil kerajaan untuk mengekangkan kenaikan harga akibat GST?

9. Mengapa barangan harian seperti tin sardin dikenakan GST 6%, manakala udang galah dikecualikan GST?

10. Bagaimana hasil daripada GST akan digunakan untuk orang awam? Sila nyatakan.

11. Bank Dunia mengatakan bahawa cukai pengguna seperti GST adalah regresif dan memberi kesan paling teruk kepada yang miskin. Dalam keadaan sedemikian, mengapa kerajaan mahu melaksanakan GST?

12. Masih terdapat 17000 firma yang menunggu untuk didaftarkan untuk GST, ini adalah jumlah yang besar untuk berurusan dalam masa dua minggu sebelum pelaksanaan GST ini. Bagaimanakah anda kerajaan dapat menyelesaikan perkara ini?

13. Tidakkah anda terfikir, jika kerajaan menghukum dan mendenda perniagaan yang tidak berdaftar di bawah GS,T akan berpindah ke negara lain untuk melabur?

14. Perniagaan di Malaysia adalah baik dan membuat keuntungan besar jadi mengapa kadar cukai korporat mereka sedang dikurangkan?

15. Menurut laporan juruaudit agung tahunan ini, kerajaan kehilangan wang setiap tahun kerana ketirisan. Apakah jaminan bahawa hasil GST tidak akan dikendalikan mengikut nasib yang sama?

16. Adakah kaum kerabat seperti sultan / raja dan keluarga mereka membayar cukai?

17. Sebelum pelaksanaan GST, rakyat akan mempunyai kecenderungan untuk menyimpan barang-barang yang boleh menyebabkan kekurangan makanan atau barang keperluan bekalan. Apakah tindakan kerajaan untuk mencegah kejadian ini?

18. Adakah kerajaan akan menubuhkan satu jawatankuasa untuk mengawasi dan mengawal pengurusan GST untuk mengelakkan pembaziran seperti projek KLIA2 yang bermula dengan RM1.5 bilion dan berakhir dengan RM4.5 bilion?

19. Polisi Kesihatan Kebangsaan Malaysia 2006 menyatakan semua jenis ubat perlu dikecualikan cukai untuk memastikan pesakit mempunyai akses kepada ubat-ubatan. Ini bercanggah dengan keadaan semasa di mana GST dikenakan. Bagaimana pula sekarang cukai GST akan dikenakan pada ubat-ubatan?

20. Adakah pembelian rumah akan dikenakan Cukai GST? Bagaimana dengan rumah kos rendah?

21. Adakah penggunaan kad kredit akan dikenakan Cukai GST ?

22. Adakah ini bermaksud, pengguna perlu bayar Cukai GST 6% bagi apa-apa barangan yang dibeli menggunakan kad kredit dan selepas itu bila hendak membayar bil kad kredit , 6% lagi Cukai GST perlu dibayar kerana menggunakan kad kredit ?

22. Adakah pengeluaran wang di ATM akan dikenakan Cukai GST ? Bagaimana 6% akan dikira ?

23. Adakah pertrol dan diesel akan dikenakan Cukai GST ?

24. Adakah LPG ( natural gas) akan dikenakan Cukai GST ?

25. Adakah penggunaan khidmat pajak gadai dikenakan Cukai GST ?

26. Adakah Cukai GST akan dikenakan apabila kita buat pinjaman perumahan atau sewa -beli kenderaan ?

27. Adakah kita boleh mengandaikan yang barangan yang tidak dinyatakan dalam buku panduan GST , kerajaan tidak akan dikenakan Cukai GST ?

28. Adalah dikatakan barangan zero rated dan barangan yang akan dikecualikan boleh dikaji semula oleh kementerian yang berkenaan bersama Kastam . Apakah kayu ukur ataupun kriteria untuk sesuatu barangan untuk dijadikan zero rated @dikecualikan cukai GST ? Bagaimanakah proses kaji semula akan dilakukan ?

29. Adakah perkhidmatan kesihatan swasta akan dikenakan Cukai GST ? Kalau ada pengecualian, aspek apa yang ada pengecualian ?

30. Adakah pendidikan swasta dikenakan Cukai GST? Kalau ada pengecualian, aspek apa yang ada pengecualian ?

31. Siapakah yang mendapat manfaat paling besar dan yang paling rugi apabila GST dilaksanakan?

32. Mengapa organisasi bukan berlandaskan keuntungan perlu dicukai dalam sistem GST walhal mereka bukanlah entiti komersial?

33. Badan amal dan agensi awam antarabangsa adalah dikecualikan cukai dan adakah mereka boleh mendapatkan pengecualian cukai selepas GST?

34. Adakah mana-mana negara yang melaksanakan GST berjaya mengurangkan jurang antara kaya-miskin?
35. Sila terangkan apakah manfaat GST pada jangka masa pendek untuk isi rumah yang berpendapatan kurang daripada RM3000 sebulan.

36. Berapa lamakah masa yang diambil oleh pembekal, pemborong dan peruncit untuk mendapatkan kembali GST yang ditanggung dalam proses input?

37. Apakah strategi kerajaan untuk memastikan harga barangan yang berpatutan sementara perniagaan memperoleh kembali GST?

38. Ekonomi dipacu oleh kuasa membeli rakyat, dengan GST kuasa membeli akan berkurangan. Adakah itu bermakna kita sedang mengalami kemeseletan ekonomi? Adakah anda mempunyai strategi untuk meningkatkan kuasa membeli?

39. Syarikat yang perniagaanya untuk satu tahun yang kurang daripada RM 500, 000 tidak perlu mendaftar kepada pihak Kastam dan membayar GST . Bagaimana pula jika suatu barangan yang sama dibekalkan oleh satu syarikat yang mempunyai jumlah bisnes melebihi RM 500k yang berdaftar dengan Kastam dan syarikat yang dikecualikan itu? Adakah barangan yang sama dari syarikat yang lain akan dikenakan cukai yang berbeza?

40. Apakah kadar inflasi sekarang dan kadar inflasi selepas 1hb.April, 2015? Adakah pihak Kerajaan sudah membuat anggaran ini ?

41. Apakah justifikasi menetapkan permulaan kadar GST pada 6%? Kenapa ianya tidak dimulakan pada kadar yang lebih rendah ?

42. Adakah pembelian yang dibuat oleh pihak Kerajaan ataupun GLC juga dikenakan GST ?

43. Untuk mematuhi kepada regim GST , semua jualan dan belian mestilah direkodkan dan penyimpanan invois dan resit adalah amat penting untuk perniagaan . Bagaimana pula jika sesuatu perniagaan dan pembeli membuat transaksi tanpa rekod demi untuk mengelakan kesukaran ini . Maka adakah GST ini akan menyebabkan pasaran gelap bermaharajalela ? Bagaimana kerajaan akan mengawal perkara ini ?

44. Statistik menunjukkan kadar pendapatan (gaji) di negara Malaysia hanya 30% daripada GDP, manakala negara lain yang telah melaksanakan GST kadar pendapatannya lebih tinggi. Statistik juga menunjukkan kadar gaji di Malaysia tidak banyak naik sejak tahun 1970an. Jadi, apakah rasionalnya untuk melaksanakan GST sekarang?

45. Adakah pengecualian GST akan diberikan kepada golongan berikut:
-OKU
-warga emas
-penganggur
-miskin tegar

46. Adakah pihak kerajaan akan menunjukkan akaun GST secara telus kepada rakyat dan jika ya, bagaimana ianya akan dilakukan?

47. Apakah jaminan yang ada untuk memastikan wang kutipan GST tidak disalahgunakan oleh pihak Kerajaaan. Jelaskan mekanisme yang akan digunakan untuk tujuan ini.

48. Pihak Kerajaan dan Bank Negara Malaysia telah mengaku bahawa akan berlaku kenaikan harga selepas perlaksanaan GST tetapi ini adalah untuk sementara sahaja. Di Malaysia harga barang yang naik tidak pernah turun (kecuali minyak baru-baru ini). Jadi, bagaimana pihak berkuasa akan bertindak untuk mengawal harga barangan dan memastikan bersifat sementara sahaja. Rekod pihak berkuasa selama ini menunjukkan ia GAGAL dalam mengawal harga barangan termasuk semasa harga minyak turun.

49. Adakah Menteri-Menteri juga akan membayar GST seperti rakyat biasa kerana banyak perbelanjaan mereka disubsidi oleh pembayar cukai?

50. Mengapakah pihak Kerajaan membeli sebuah jet baru berharga RM465juta dengan bayaran ansuran RM2.2 juta setiap (untuk 15 tahun) semasa Kerajaan mengalami masalah kewangan. Kenapa masih boros berbelanja dan rakyat dibebankan dengan GST?

50. Hanya insurans hayat sahaja dinyatakan bebas cukai GST. Bagaimana pula dengan insurance kemalangan diri, penyakit kritikal, perubatan & kesihatan -?

51. Kenapakah tambang pengangkutan awam naik sebanyak 23% - 67 % yang sepatutnya berkurangan setelah dipotong dari SST?

52. Nilai ringgit telah jatuh teruk berbanding matawang lain di negara ASEAN. Maka, harga barang import juga akan meningkat kerana Malaysia mengimport barangan makanan asas. Bagaimana rancangan kerajaan utnuk mengwal harga selepas GST yang sudah pasti akan meningkatkan kadar inflasi negara?

53. Ahli pernigaaan memita supaya perlaksanaan GST ditangguhkan. Adakah kerajaan akan mengambil kira pilihan ini kerana mereka adalah pemain utama dalam ekonomi tempatan?

54. Jabatan Diraja Kastam telah dilabel sebgagai salah satu agensi kerajaan paling korup. Bagaimanakah kerajaan boleh meletakkan kepercayaan kepada pejabat kastam untuk mengutip GST?

55. Kerajaan mengumumkan bahawa RM250 juta digunakan untuk mendidik rakyat mengenai GST, berapa banyak pula wang yang telah dibelanjakan setakat ini untuk melaksanakan GST?

56. Kerajaan tidak boleh melaksanakan GST tanpa mekanisme kawalan dan audit bersedia, dan kita tidak mempunyai mekanisme tersebut ketika ini. Bayangkan jumlah penipuan dan duit kopi yang akan diperoleh oleh juru audit kerajaan sekiranya berlaku. Apakah langkah-langkah yang diambil untuk mengelakkan perkara ini?

57. Kebanyakan peruncit tidak langsung pernah merekodkan transaksi buat kali pertama. Bagaimanakah kerajaan dapat melaksanakan GST ( kecuali pada supermarket dan retailers ), kebanyakan perniagaan di Malaysia adalah dalam tunai dan tidak mengeluarkan invois dan tiada sistem data. Hanya mereka yang mempunya rekod yang tersusun akan mempunya mimpi ngeri, dan merrka yang mempunyai rekod yang baik dapat mengisi data mereka dengan baik kerana tiada kepakaran audit. Jadi mengapa perlu GST?

58. 7% dari pendapadan kerajaan Malaysia dalah dari cukai jualan. Dari menggunakan keseluruhan sistem kerajaan, cukai jualan atau GST, dengan mengambil kira overhead dan juru akaun dan penguatkuasa tambahan, bukankah lebih efisyen untuk menaikkan pendapadan lebihan 7% melalui cukai syarikat dan cukai pendapatan yang lebih tinggi?
59. Bagi satu barangan yang dikecualikan GST, pekedai telah kenakan GST. Apakah yang perlu saya lakukan? Bagaimana saya boleh mendapat kembali wang saya?

60. Berapa jumlah syarikat yang mempunyai pendapatan lebih daripada RM500,000 sebelum GST telah menutup perniagaan mereka untuk elak GST?

61. Adakah gaji ahli parlimen akan dinaikan selaras dengan 6% GST ?

62. Adakah barangan keagamaan seperti kitab suci dan barang sembahyang dikenakan GST?

63. Adakah perkhidmatan LRT and Komuter akan dikenakan cukai GST?

64. Adakah kos penyelenggaraan untuk flat kos rendah dan apartment dikecualikan GST?

65. Adakah perkhidmatan bas sekolah akan dikenakan cukai GST?

66. Bolehkah kadar 6% GST itu dinaikan bila bila masa? Apakah kriteria untuk meningkatkannya ?

67. Bagi barangan dan perkhidmatan yang akan wujud pada masa depan, adakah GST akan dikenakan dan bagaimana ia ditentukan ?

68. Adakah perkhidmatan tandas awam dikenakan cukai GST?

69. Adakah pakaian sekolah dikenakan GST ?

70. Adakah alat-alat tulis yang digunakan disekolah dikenakan GST ?

71. Dalam konteks mewujudkan masyarakat celik IT, adalah GST dikenakan bagi pembelian komputer?

72. Banyak negara yang melaksanakan GST menyediakan pendidikan percuma, sistem kesihatan percuma dan kemudahan awam efisyen lagi berpatutan seperti di negara Nordic. Adakah Malaysia mempunyai rancangan yang sama?

73. Sebelum perlaksanakan GST, orang ramai akan mengumpulkan makanan yang kemudian akan menyebabkan permintaan tinggi yang mengakibatkan inflasi. Bagaimanakah kerajaan dapat mengendalikan perkara ini?

74. BRIM merupakan kaedah yang digunakan oleh kerajaan untuk membantu golongan miskin untuk menghadapi kesan GST. Bolehkan kita membatalkan GST supaya kerajaan tidak perlu membayar BRIM?

75. Syarikat yang mempunyai auditor dalaman akan mampu untuk menanggung kos pentadbiran GST jika dibandingkan dengan syarikat kecil yang tidak mempunyai auditor dalam. Bagaimanakah kerajaan dapat membantu syarikat-syarikat kecil dengan pertambahan kos pentadbiran ini?

76. Oleh kerana barangan makanan adalah zero rated adakah ia bermakna tidak akan ada peningkatan harga barangan makanan?

78. Jika pengembalian semula GST ditangguhkan, adakah kerajaan akan membayar pampasan kepada syarikat untuk memastikan kos tidak dipindahkan kepada pengguna?

79. Pada masa ini, berapa ramaikan pegarai kastam yang bersedia untuk perlaksanaan GST, dan berapa ramai pegawai yang akan diambil kerja untuk mengawai kawalan haraga? Berapa banyakkan pertambahan dalam kos operasi?

80. Beras dikecualikan GST, namun kos pengeluaran dan kos pengangkutan akan ada GST. Bukankah ia akan meningkatkan harga beras?

81. Sistem zakat mengambil cukai dari kaya untuk menolong yang miskin. Manakan GST adalah bertentangan iaitu cukai korporat dikurangkan satu peratus, cukai jualan barangan mewah dihapuskan dan GST dikenakan kepada semua. Bukankan ini bertentangan dengan sistem zakat dan haram?

82 Adakah tol akan dikenakan GST?

83. Adakah tambah-nilai Touch N Go dikenakan GST?

84. Adakah parkir kereta akan dikenakan GST?

85. Dikatakan pendidikan dikecualikan GST, namun mengapa kelas tusyen dikenakan GST ?

86. Adakah servis kereta akan dikenakan GST ?

87. Sesetengah syarikat mengiklankan mereka akan menyerap cukai GST, adakah tindakan ini sah dan bukankah ia bertentangan dengan semangat GST?

88. 2 orang ahli UMNO terkenal, Dr Mahathir (bekas Perdana Menteri) dan Tengku Razaleigh (bekas Menteri Kewangan) telah menyatakan rakyat akan derita jika GST dilaksanakan. Adakah kerajaan tidak mengambil berat tentang pandangan mereka ini?

89. Adakah perkhidmatan gunting rambut dikenakan GST ?

90. Mengapakah makanan yang dikategorikan sebagai makan golongan miskin seperti maggi mee dan sardie dikenakan GST?

91. Adakah kerajaan sudahpun mempunya rekod harga 1000 barangan dan servis biasa yang dibeli oleh rakyat? Bolehkan kami melihat senarai tersebut? Adakah telah sedia ada perbezaan harga di antara semenanjung Malaysia dan Sabah/Sarawak, urban dan kampung, pantai timur dan pantai barat, dan sebagainya?

92. Jika anda tidak mengetahui harga asas barangan, bagaimakah anda dapat mengawasinya?

93. Adakah pihak kastam ada melakukan pengiraan bagaimanakah harga 1000 barangan biasa selepas 1 April 2005? Untuk membatalkan sebarang SST, kurangkan harga barangan pertengahan zero rated dan kemudian tambah GST untuk mendapatkan harga barangan yang berpatutan selepas GST diperkenalkan.

94. Jadi anda boleh memberikan kami senarai harga 1000 barangan biasa untuk KL-PJ untuk semasa dan selepas GST? Jika anda menyerahkan kepada pernigaan untuk menentukannya sendiri, mereka mungkin akan melebihkannya untuk GST.

95. Adakah anda akan mengawasi 350 000 syarikat yang telah pun didaftarkan dengan GST? Bagaimana pula 1 juta syarikat kecil yang kemungkinan besar akan menggunakan GST sebagai alasan untuk menaikkan harga barang?
96. Berapakah jumlah pegawai kastam yang ada untuk mengawasi harga barangan di kesemua 1.35 juta premis perniagaan di negara ini?

97. Bagaimanakah orang awam dapat membuat aduan jika mereka mengesyaki pegawai penguatkuasa kastam menerima rasuah dari ahli perniagaan?

98. Adakah pegawai penguatkuasa akan memakan tanda nama?

99. Berapakah jumlah jam dalam seminggu yang akan diambil untuk memasukkan segala data yang diperlukan untuk memasukkan input GST di dalam sistem komputer sekiranya perniagaan hanya mempunyai pulangan sebulan RM50k?

100. Jika seseorang itu tidak celik komputer dan memerlukan perkhidmatan luar untuk melakukan kerja-kerja memasukkan data GST ini, berapah kos yang ditanggung beliau dalam seminggu?

101. Kastam seringkali menyatakan beras adalah cukai sifar. Adakah ini bermakna pesawah dapat mengutip kembali GST yang mereka bayar untuk baja dan racun serangga? Bagaimakah mereka dapat melakukannya kerana mereka adalah petani kecil dengan jumlah pendapatan yang sedikit, mereka ini tidak berdaftar dengan kastam untuk GST?

102. Jadi jika petani kecil tidak dapat menuntu kembali peningkatan harga barangan input, kemudian adakah pengilang beras akan menaikkan harga beras yang dibeli oleh mereka? Ini adalah kerana harga beras di pengilang adalah ditetapkan oleh kerajaan. Jika tida peningkatan harga beras di pengilang, maka petani kecil akan menderita penguranan jumlah pendapatan mereka. Jika terdapat kenaikan harga, adakah ia akan mengakibatkan peningkatan harga beras?

103. Bolehkah pengilang beras menuntut kembali input cukai bagi elektrik yang digunakan? Dan bagi pertukaran 'spare parts', dan pembungkusan plastik? Sekiranya beras tidak cukai sifar, adakah harga di peringkat pengilang akan naik? Tidakkah ini akan dipindhkan kepada pengguna pada akhirnya?

104. Dari kilang kepada pemborong- adakah syarikat pengangkutan akan mengenakan GST kepada pemborong? Adakah pemborong dapat menuntut kembali sebagai cukai input? Jika pemborong dapat menuntut perlepasan cukai input, bukankah itu merupakan satu kekurangan kepada syarikat pengangkutan kecil yang tidak didaftar dengan GST? Untuk syarikat ini, mereka tidak dapat memindahkan GST yang dibayar kepada pembelinya kerana mereka juga tidak boleh mengutip GST.

105. Adakah ubatan berikut cukai sifar?
- Sulperazone ( antibiotik yang digunakan untuk jangkitan yang serius).
- Simvastatin ( untuk mengurangkan kolestrol)
- ubatan anti HIV.

106. Banyak doktor persendirian menyewa ruang klinik dari hospital swasta. Adakah pihak hospital akan mengenakan cas GST untuk penyewaan ini? Bagaimana pula perkhidmatan yang 'dibeli' oleh doktor-doktor persendirian ini dari hospital. Sebagai contoh : ujian, exray, ubatan? Tidakkah semua ini dikenakan GST?l

Constitution is nothing if not secular, says Umno man

The Federal Constitution in its current form cannot be interpreted as Islamic, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said last night, amid recent bids to expand the authority of Shariah law.

The former deputy minister said it is a problem when Muslim leaders try to rewrite the country’s supreme law “through backdoor channels” in a bid to asset an Islamic interpretation of what is essentially a secular document.

“As a Muslims, I would like to say the constitution is Islamic. But how do I spin the argument to say that it is something that it is not?” he said at a public forum in conjunction with Human Rights Day 2014.

“As it is, the constitution is secular, and it is supreme. I am not saying it cannot be amended, only the Quran cannot be amended... (but) you cannot look at the constitution and expect it to do something it is not supposed to do.

“We really need to look at the constitution in that perspective, and then debate it. Don’t go labelling people as ‘liberal’ or whatnots, that is not how adults behave,” he added.

- See more at: http://m.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/constitution-is-nothing-if-not-secular-says-umno-man#sthash.ZfcLh2wq.dpuf

Religious tension has been at a constant simmer over the past few years, with a string of cases challenging the legal limits of Islamic jurisprudence in the country.

The most recent was a landmark ruling by the Court of Appeal on November 7 that found Section 66 of the Negri Sembilan Shariah Criminal Enactment 1992, which prohibits Muslim men from cross-dressing, to be unconstitutional and void.

The case prompted the minister in charge of Islamic Affairs, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, to claim that Muslim transgenders, among others, were colluding with Islam’s enemies to put its religious institutions on trial in a secular court, and that Muslims must defend their faith from liberal ideologies “by any method”.

It also prompted Islamic authorities to confirm plans to create a Shariah equivalent of the Federal Court that would prevent the civil courts from ruling on matters concerning Islam.

Islamic authorities have also been gradually widening their enforcement beyond Muslims, and in January, Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) confiscated over 300 Malay— and Iban-language Bibles from the premises of the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM).

Though the holy books — which were bound for Sarawak — were eventually released last week, Christians in the country’s largest state were livid after discovering that the Bibles were stamped with a warning that they were not to be printed or distributed in Selangor or to Muslims.

Saifuddin last night stressed that Muslim leaders, especially those in government, must go back to the basic tenets of their faith and follow the example of Prophet Muhammad who had no issues with allowing non-Muslims to practice their faith.

“The Prophet did not go around seizing Bibles. Just be a good Muslim, and be a good Malay as outlined in Article 153 (of the Federal Constitution),” he said.

Association for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham) chairman Datuk Khutubul Zaman Bukhari noted that there is already a clear precedent in the Federal Court set by former Lord President Tun Salleh Abas, who ruled in a case that the Federal Constitution is secular and not Islamic.

“To me, Malaysia has a secular constitution, and it is not an Islamic country... and I am the chairman of the Bar Council Shariah Law Committee,” he said for emphasis.

Former Bar Council President Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said a secular constitution trumps an apex law that is based on any religion, as it guarantees protection for all regardless of creed.

She said India is the best example of this, as its secular constitution ensures the rights of minority religious groups even if the majority are Hindu, including current Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Secular is good, because it protects everybody,” she said.

- See more at: http://m.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/constitution-is-nothing-if-not-secular-says-umno-man#sthash.ZfcLh2wq.dpuf

Pas a DICTATORSHIP run by Hadi - Should DAP, PKR assist PAS in duping voters?

Kelantan Deputy MB Nik Amar Abdullah should be careful when asking DAP to leave PR.

Something seems to be wrong with him. Whilst we in DAP ask PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang to attend meetings to strengthen PR, this man accuses us of trying to push PAS out of PR. He doesn't seem to understand simple things.

If there are no useful meetings, the existence of PR itself would be illusory.

This is not a small issue. It is a very serious matter. It goes to the heart of PR itself.

Hadi has openly said he will choose when to attend PR meetings or not. He has chosen to again behave as if he is the all supreme in PR who will decide when and what, if at all, anything will be done.

This kind of attitude is a show of total and utter disrespect not only to the component parties of PR but more so to the many Malaysians who expect that leaders in PR will put their hearts and minds together to build an alternative party which is capable of leading this country in place of BN.

But instead of reassuring people, we find a repeat of what we saw of Hadi during the Selangor MB crisis.

We in DAP have said many times that if PR is to work, if it is to succeed, there must be serious efforts put into it by all component parties concerned.

Dictatorship

We are not pinning things down to Hadi personally but from what we see in the past, it is clear that PAS is governed by one man and he is Hadi. He is able to overrule anyone or any body in the party.

So, there is nothing wrong in asking for him to be present at meetings if decisions must be made over the future of PR.

There is just no point in having meetings if the main person doesn't bother attending and all discussions are on a "we will consult our leader basis" and nothing is firmed up in the end.

Gobind Singh Deo is MP for Puchong

CONVERTS EXPLOIT MALAYSIA’S SYARIAH COURT TO GET CUSTODY OF KIDS

THE separate jurisdictions of Malaysia's Islamic and civil courts are being exploited by estranged spouses to gain custody of children, a situation that poses risks to national harmony, the Attorney-General has said.

Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail was referring in particular to inter-racial marriages where one spouse converts to Islam after marriage, and when the relationship sours, gains custody of their children through the Syariah court while ignoring the civil court's ruling.

He did not cite specific cases in his speech on Nov 11 at the National Law Conference. However, there have been two high-profile cases recently in which two non-Muslim women's ex-husbands, who were Muslim converts, made away with their children after gaining custody through the Syariah court, while ignoring civil court rulings in their ex-wives' favour. Both cases are now with the Court of Appeal.

There is no data on such cases but activists say there are a handful of cases in each state annually.

Civil rights activists responded to Mr Abdul Gani's comments by urging the authorities to lay out clear policies and amend laws to clarify how custody of children from mixed marriages involving a Muslim should be decided.

Mr Abdul Gani also noted in his speech that the increasing number of such cases has led to allegations of racial discrimination by the courts and the authorities, including the police and the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC), which dent their credibility.

"The failure of the converting spouses to resolve the family arrangements prior to conversion, and in fact attempting to use the different jurisdictions of the civil and Syariah courts to their advantage, jeopardises not only family harmony but also potentially national harmony," he said.

He added that proposed amendments in 2009 to laws governing marriages under both judicial systems were still pending. These amendments would allow matters such as child custody to be decided by the court where the marriage was registered.

Malaysia's dual-track legal system means that while it is governed by civil law, the Federal Constitution allows for Syariah Courts to adjudicate for Muslims who make up 60 per cent of the 30 million population.

Civil courts have largely deferred to Islamic courts even where one party is non-Muslim, such as in interfaith marriages, and the Syariah judges have consistently granted the Muslim parent custody of children so that they will remain in the faith.

Sisters in Islam, a group that promotes women's rights, referring to disputes in which children were converted to Islam by one spouse without the other's knowledge, said the majority of these cases involved spouses who were both non-Muslim when they wedded but with one of them converting during marriage.

"It's the ambiguity of the law which results in such conflicts," its programme director Suriani Kempe told The Straits Times. 

"If the A-G does not want the integrity of the police or AGC to be questioned, he should push for the 2009 amendments to be tabled in Parliament and let it debate the merits."

Lawyers for Liberty, a human rights group, said there was a lack of political will to close the legal loopholes. Executive director Eric Paulsen said: "No one wants to be seen as not prioritising Islam."

Right-wing Muslim groups have defended the unilateral conversion of children and even the abduction of a child by its Muslim parent who said it was for the child's "protection".

Religious conversion rears its ugly head again-Mariam Mokhtar

When Muslim clerics claim that Muslims are being converted in churches throughout Selangor and Perak, all hell breaks loose. When Muslims are accused of converting people of other faiths against their will, nothing happens.

On Oct 10, Sarawak DAP vice-chairman Leon Jimat Donald said that some parents had complained that their children had been enticed into converting to Islam, in their schools, in Betong. Children were allegedly prevented from bringing their Bibles to the MRSM boarding schools and boys had been forced to wear the “songkok”.

The parents’ fears were heightened after reading reports that a group had been visiting longhouses in Belaga, to convert the communities. It was alleged that the group had misused the “goodwill and welfare” programme, to entice them to become Muslims, with an offer of RM6,000 per person.

Earlier this May, another peninsular-based NGO, Himpunan Lepas Institusi Pendidikan Malaysia (Haluan) was alleged to have set up “religious camps”, under the programme called “Anak Angkat”, in schools in Kuching.

Following feedback from their children, parents had voiced their concerns to the Balai Ringin assemblyman, Snowdan Lawan. They met Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president, Tan Sri Dr James Masing to tell him about the alleged conversions. They said that some of the speakers from Haluan were religious teachers (ustaz), who lectured the children on things like how to differentiate between holy water and “Air ZamZam.” The programme was subsequently suspended prior to re-evaluation.

Of the 1.3 million Dayaks in Sarawak, 80% are Christian, but the indigenous people of Sarawak are not the only people who are the targets of religious conversion. Another vulnerable group of people is the Orang Asli (OA) community.

In 2006, it was reported that in an effort to propagate the spread of Islam, Kelantan offered Muslim preachers RM10,000 to marry OA women. Other incentives included free accommodation, a four-wheel drive vehicle and a fixed monthly allowance of RM1,000.

For the interior people of Sarawak, most of whom do not have a fixed income, RM50 is considered a blessing, RM300 a king’s ransom, and RM6,000 as heaven sent. The financial incentive to the Muslim preachers of Kelantan is morally wrong. These acts are objectionable and deceitful.

These underhand tactics, to convert non-Muslims, give Islam a bad name. A person who wishes to convert should only do so if there is a sincere desire to follow and adhere to the teachings of that particular faith.

He should not do it because of financial reward, a house, a 4WD or because he is to be married to one. We need only look at another part of the world, where the minority Kurdish Yazidis, are prepared to face death, when members of the extremist cult Islamic State (IS) warn them, that they will be executed unless they convert to Islam.

In the Kelantan case, did the state stop to consider that the financial reward would encourage bogus preachers? The idea of a marriage of convenience, because of material rewards is abhorrent.

What if the marriage breaks down and the OA woman wishes to return to her community and culture? She will find it an impossibility. Any children from the union will be subject to the same torture which is faced by Perakian Indira Gandhi, who after her divorce, found that her husband had converted to Islam, and forced all his children to convert. Despite a High Court order to return the youngest daughter to her mother, the husband has refused to comply and remains a fugitive. A very inept IGP has been unable to apprehend him.

In Malaysia, it is apparent that some Muslim NGOs and the Islamic state departments have the backing of the Umno-Baru government to play politics with religion. All of them give Islam a bad name. They forget that being a Muslim is not about scoring points or a numbers game.

Hasan Ali a Selangor politician, Harussani Zakaria, the Perak Mufti and other infamous Muslim politicians have used apostasy as a scaremongering tactic amongst Muslims, presumably to divide the Malays. Hasan said that a solar powered talking bible was used to convert Muslims. To date, not one solar powered bible has been produced.

Harussani said that a church in Ipoh, was used to convert Muslims. His irresponsible lies, nearly caused a riot. A church in Kuala Lumpur was said to be the seat of Malay conversions and two reporters infiltrated Sunday mass and desecrated the Holy Communion service. A dinner in the Methodist Church in Petaling Jaya was raided, because of reports of Muslims being proselytised.

In each of these cases, no Muslim has been produced, as evidence of their conversion to Christianity. The perpetrators have not been prosecuted for spreading seditious rumours.  No apology has been forthcoming.

Muslim preachers and politicians should leave the non-Muslims alone. Enough damage has been done to their communities. They threaten to burn their holy books. The authorities take years to approve the building of a church or temple. They grab the OA or indigenous peoples’ lands and deny them their rightful place in society. Their social and political dues are withheld, their identities removed, their culture and language downgraded, and when they die, their bodies are confiscated. 

The actions of these religious zealots, makes one ashamed to be Muslim.

Mariam Mokhtar is "a Malaysian who dares to speak the truth.”