Malaysia to monitor Internet for 'harmful' blogs

Inch by inch, step by step, modern, moderate Malaysia continues down the path of Islamic totalitarianism. Like all repressive regimes, control of communication ranks high on the list of population control.

I hope that this little blog is blocked, that way I know I'm doing something right.  Lock and Load has been blocked in China for years.  
FROM GOOGLE.COM:

Malaysia to monitor Internet for 'harmful' blogs

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia has formed a task force to scour the Internet for blog postings deemed harmful to national unity, authorities said on Friday in the latest of a series of actions against new media.

Home ministry deputy secretary general for security Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi said the unit would involve the police, Internet regulators, the information ministry and the attorney general's chambers.

"It is a mechanism that will coordinate these various agencies to help monitor what is being said in cyberspace and to take action against those that are trying to stoke racial tensions and disunity," he told AFP.

Abdul Rahim said the group would also monitor alternative and mainstream media for similar content.

"There is a disturbing trend now appearing on the Internet where some people are inciting racial unrest and causing confusion and this will damage the peace we have in the country," he added.

Abdul Rahim cited the recent case of a Facebook page that insulted Muslim Malays. They make up the majority of Malaysia's multicultural population, alongside large ethnic Chinese and Indian communities.

Police are also investigating ethnic Chinese rapper Wee Meng Chee for sedition, after he posted a three-minute rap on YouTube criticising a Malay headmistress accused of making racial slurs against minority students.

The government has ordered a probe into the case which caused anger among Malaysia's minorities, who complain their rights are being eroded as the country becomes increasingly "Islamised".

In another case, Malaysian journalist Irwan Abdul Rahman was charged this week over a satirical blog which made fun of the state power firm Tenaga, and faces a year's jail if convicted.

The prosecution caused a stir because unlike the mainstream press, the web and online media in Malaysia have remained relatively free, despite occasional raids, bans and government criticism.

Major newspapers and broadcasters are closely linked with the ruling coalition, so the Internet has become a lively forum for dissent and debate.

The government in 1996 pledged not to censor online content as part of a campaign to promote its information technology sector.

Stay Away From Book On Muslim Women, Muslims Advised

Another example of Muslim tolerance and understanding. 

FROM BERNAMA.COM:

Stay Away From Book On Muslim Women, Muslims Advised

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- The book "Muslim Women and The Challenge of Islamic Extremism" can create doubt and disharmony among the people in the country, according to the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM).

Its director general, Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz Wan Mohamad said the contents of the book contravened the Islamic Publication Materials Censorship Guidelines issued by Jakim in 1996.

"Several obvious errors were found (in the book)," he said in a statement Tuesday.

He said among others the book stated that Islamic family laws and Syariah criminal laws were promoting prejudice and discrimination against women.

The book also questioned the Fatwa institution and the ban on non-Islamic scholars from discussing Islamic issues, besides promoting re-interpretation of the verses in the Quran, especially on gender bias, he said.

Wan Mohamad said the book had been scrutinised, checked and referred to the Islamic Publication Materials Censorship Committee chaired by the Mufti of Perak, Tan Sri Dr Harussani Zakaria.

"Hence, Muslims in the country are advised to be wary of reading materials which contravene Islamic teachings. If in doubt, refer to the guidelines issued by Jakim," he said.

Wan Mohamad said Jakim also respected the High Court's decision on Monday to lift the ban on the book, but felt that it was its responsibility to explain to the public on the errors found in any Islamic book in the market.

Rabid, radical Islam is spreading throughout the Muslim world at an alarming rate. First Malaysia and now Indonesian religious leaders continue to impose more and more draconian fatwa's on those trapped in Islam.

And this is the core of the situation: "And for Muslims, it is not possible to vote for candidates who are not faithful to Islam or members of Islamic parties."

In other words, Muslims MUST ALWAYS side with the Umma over any other consideration. Which is why it is imperative that Muslims not be allowed to hold political office, or sensitive government positions because in the end 99.99% will turn on their host society when the Jihad hits the street.

FROM ASIANEWS.IT:

Indonesian Muslims against yoga, smoking, abstention from voting
A fatwa against those who practice yoga, because this "weakens faith in Islam." In the crosshairs of the ulemas are also cigarettes - although there is not unanimous agreement on this - and those who abstain from voting. And candidates faithful to Islam should be elected.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Practicing yoga, smoking in public places, and abstaining from voting are "activities contrary to the precepts of Islam." This is the announcement today from the Indonesian ulemas council, during a plenary assembly in Padang Panjang, a city in the province of West Sumatra, attended by 700 religious figures and experts on Islamic law in the country.

As has already been done in Malaysia, the Indonesian ulemas are also prohibiting the practice of yoga for Muslims, because it contains elements characteristic of the Hindu tradition. The Islamic religious authorities reject the "recitation of mantras," and stress that continuing the practice means "committing a sin" and "weakening faith in Islam." The decision has already raised criticisms among Indonesian Muslims: yoga is one of the favorite activities among citizens and businessmen to get rid of stress and recover mental and physical balance.
READ IT ALL:

Malaysian city reminds Muslim women to avoid bright lipstick, high heels

I guess Osama's niece would have a problem in Maylasia.

FROM JPOST.COM:

Malaysian city reminds Muslim women to avoid bright lipstick, high heels

Authorities in a northern Malaysian city are calling on Muslim women not to wear bright lipstick and noisy high-heel shoes if they want to follow the "Islamic way," an official said Tuesday.
The municipal council in Kota Baru, run by a conservative Islamic party, is distributing pamphlets that recommend women refrain from wearing heavy makeup, including bright lipstick, and loud high-heel shoes to work, council spokesman Azman Mohamad Daham said.
"We just distribute pamphlets. Our minimum guideline is they must wear headscarves," he said. "The rest is up to them. If they want to follow the 100 percent Islamic way, it's up to them."
He said the suggestions aim to prevent rape and protect women's dignity and morals. The campaign started in 2006, but new pamphlets are circulated each year, he said.
Kota Baru is the capital of Kelantan state, which is ruled by the conservative opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party.

Leader annoyed over sexes mixing

Muslim annoyance number 55, 759: Men and women standing in the same checkout line. The horror of it. I wonder how far apart the lines have to be in order to not to bring offense?
FROM AFP.GOOGLE.COM:


Leader annoyed over sexes mixing: report
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — The chief of Malaysia's only Islamic-run state has ordered stricter enforcement of laws requiring men and women to queue at separate counters in shops, a report said Tuesday.
Kelantan state chief minister Nik Aziz Nik Mat said the laws were required to curb social ills like public kissing between young couples, and to protect women from being groped while queuing up.
The New Straits Times quoted him as lamenting that the rules, which have been in place since 1996, are not being enforced by department stores, and ordered the local council to fine offenders.
"I see many regulations that we had introduced but are not being observed, like the separate counters and the sale of porn VCDs and DVDs which are still gong on secretly," he said.
"We want to nip the problem in the bud. Other shoppers are hesitant to step in and tell these people off for fear of being reprimanded."
Nik Aziz is also the spiritual leader of the Pan-Malaysia Islamic party (PAS), which aims to turn Malaysia into a theocratic state under Islamic rule.
The party has made headlines for initiatives like introducing fines for women wearing skimpy clothes, but in recent years has begun introducing reforms designed to tone down its hardline reputation and woo young voters.

Christian children’s books seized for showing pictures of Muhammad

Malaysia, that far East enclave of Muslim tolerance and moderation is now allowing the suppression of children's books that have a picture of Mohammed in them. And oh yeah, non-Muslims cant utter the word Allah.
FROM ASIANEWS.IT:

Christian children’s books seized for showing pictures of Muhammad
Internal Security Ministry issues the order on the grounds the images of the prophet offend Islam. The incriminating texts are currently being examined by the authorities. Controversy over the use of the word ‘Allah’ by non Muslims continues. Christian leaders slam the government for overstepping every bound.

Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Malaysian authorities have confiscated some Christian children’s books from bookstores because they contained images of Muhammad. The Malysiakini news agency reported that the order came from the Internal Security Ministry headed by Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi. The reason: illustrations of the prophet offend the religious feelings of the Muslim majority.
According to the local press, the Publications and Al-Quran Texts Control Department in the Internal Security Ministry had already seized such books from three bookstores in Johor Bahru, Senawang and Ipoh in mid-December.
The books are now at the Department’s headquarters in Putrajaya for investigation, but despite the seizure the books have not yet been officially banned from sale.
Leaders in the Christian community have reacted angrily. In a press release, Hermen Shastri, general-secretary of the Council of Churches Malaysia, slammed the decision.
Shastri said government officials “have no right [to seize the books] and have overstepped their bounds by confiscating Christian literature.”
He urged the prime minister and the government to take immediate action to put a stop to such seizures and to “amend administrative rules and regulations especially in the Internal Security Ministry that give a free hand to enforcement officials to act at their whim and fancies.”
At the same time, the debate over whether non-Muslims can use the word “Allah” in publications and religious practice continues.
Badawi’ Internal Security Ministry has reportedly confiscated a total of 163 publications across the country.
Deputy Internal Ministry Minister Johari Baharum said that the ministry did not target Christian books per se, but he did reiterate that not only Allah (Arabic for God) is exclusive to Islam but so are baitullah (mosque in Makkah), solat (prayer) and kaabah (Islamic shrine in Makkah).
At the start of January the Herald, a catholic weekly, was told it could not use the word ‘Allah’ to refer to the God of the Christians.