Human Rights

My generation is often, with good reason, accused of not understanding the implications of history. It is not just an ignorance of the facts, but also an ignorance of the strong emotions that continue to be felt. While the government reminds us about 13 May on a regular basis, the much wider impact of the Malayan Communist Party’s campaign of terror is relegated. Yet the proposal to allow Chin Peng’s return has triggered a flood of angry responses from letters from descendants of victims and servicemen. One particularly moving letter asks: “Chin Peng, where is my father’s grave?”. My generation has no right to ignore their pain.

4 April 2009

By Tunku 'Abidin Muhriz

“Reform or Die” is an oft-employed plea for organisations on the brink of defeat or irrelevance. The imperative has been invoked in ancient kingdoms, pre-modern empires, the United Nations (numerous times), and political entities around the world. Either of the oldest political parties in the world (either the British Conservatives or the US Democrats depending on which criteria you use) – have only managed to last until today because reform, fresh leadership and policy reorientations occurred at pivotal points in history – even if the ideological underpinnings remained constant.

22 – 24 AUGUST 2008.
HOTEL RESIDENCE, SELANGOR, MALAYSIA.

Do you value the rule of law? Do you wonder if the free market is socially just? Have you ever wondered what freedom and liberty really means? Do you want strong liberal democratic institutions in your country? If so, come to the Freedom Academy series to explore some of these issues.

In Britain, the Muslim minority is demanding that they are treated as equals. Things are not much different for ethnic minorities in Malaysia. Just like minority Muslims in Britain, the minority non-Muslims in Malaysia too are asking to be treated as equals.

In Malaysia, non-Muslims are not allowed to preach religion to Muslims. Non-Muslims, like Christian missionaries, for example, who try to proselytize risk prosecution.

But it is difficult to categorically say that it is illegal for Muslims to convert. There are many cases where Muslims wanted to register their conversion to another religion but were prevented from doing so for various technical reasons.