Saturday, November 03, 2007

How To Fight Corruption -The Sufi Way

Hmmm....too much to write about this days.Name it you find interesting topic for discussion particularly during this festive period,'THE OPEN HOUSE'conversation,
the onlv one made in Malaysia social event.
Name the topic from Child Abuse to Corruption plus our super nation on the merge of super corridor,something to turn our soil fertile again so that as citizens could eat decently and healthy.
Wishfull thinking on the brain of the politician

Corruption the topic of the day..hmmmm...

A a student asked me about the topic sometimes ago 'how to combat it effectively.
I was blank for an answer,couldn't find a decent answer,like any ministers I suppose jes' rambling about the topic which I find it frustrating.
Luckly,my ladyluck was on my side,a lazer sharp answer I could give was..
'asked Parliament to pass a bill to make an offence to both husband and wife.
If one accept and never reported to ACA.
Husband take bribes wife report,if wife take bribes husband report.
Hmmmm..if it unreported both goes to jail.


I asked a budding Datuk,his opinion on the subject matter,
his bold answer I kind of like it,
'let them vommit SHIT'..
So as a lay person all I would or rather could see is 'SHIT VOMITTING' every where.

Thank god,lillah, I have a clean tummy.
The clip will teach us some eating manners.Enjoy it while it last

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Protect Our Child Ya Haqq.......

Each day I repent and reaffirm my faith.Each year I revow to protect my children.
Ya Haqq..ya Hayuu Yayum...Ya Daim..Ya Subhan...Ya Sultan...Ya Aman...Ya Salam in this bless nite of the 18th Ramadan help us to protect our children.
But do you think human being will repent ie.Taubat yang hakiki?
Have a peep on the wacking on one of the beast.Any remorse?

Al Fatihah Nurin Jazlin.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Gemilangnya Merah Putih Ku

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After post mortem of our 50th.anniversary of Independence recently celebrated,
some puzzle question,which till now I still do not know the exect answers.
My Flag is still waving in front of my home porch,even though its past the Malaysia Day ,last 15th.September.
Perhaps,Prof.Khoo Kay Kim our prominant historian could clarified it.
It is not the flag but the history and the historical content of the flag which is important for generation to come.
It has great significant toward nation building and nation character.

Here's my story on nation's flag comparision.

Indonesian Proclamation of independence was declared on the 17th.August 1945 by Sukarno-Hatta.The pride of the nation'Bendera Merah-Putih'was flown officially then from the Istana President.
According to Indonesian history and it remain confirm,the first Bendera Merah-Putih was hand sown by Ibu Hatta from the cheapest cotton meterial of that particular era.
The original Bendera Merah Putih which was flown during the proclamation on the 17th.August 1945 was kept and preserve till now as a simbol of the Indonesian struggle against the aggression of the Dutch colonisation and it is flown only once a year during the official Flag rising at the Istana Bapak President.
The celebration is modest but meaningful.
No extra pomps-pomps but has historical significant and meaningful.
Any proud Indonesian of every generation could stand tall among any league of Nation pointing:
'that is our original flag hand sown by Ibu Hatta and Ibu Fathamawati, though it is from the cheapest cotton material but the struggle and the agony over the struggle remains intact with all Indonesian generation till now'.

Via recorded history the simbolic gesture of flying the original Flag is envidence enough to determine how strong the foundation of an Independent Nation.
The pride of the Nation, is the 'Flag' though its history.

How I wonder, what is the actual history of our flag?
Till now,I am not able to find the answer.
Perhaps of my own ignorance.
Who design the original flag flown on the 31st August 1957?
Where it is now? Arkib Negara??
Is the flag flown each year the original?
Some answers pleased?

Our historical roots has to be precisly recorded in our history books for future references.
That is my flag.As 'Robert Redford's words in his film 'The Last Castle'
and I will protect it.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

That's My Cucu.....Cucu Ku Dunia Ku


He come to visit every alternate Sunday
The joy of the year.Its his first birthday celeberation last month.
I promise a game of rugbby once his able to run,a pair of Timberland boots and a Kuda Kepang.
That's my cucu Ahmad Adam.

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Mengejar suatu Kemerdekaan Hakiki

Gugurnya seorang com-patriot Allahyarham Srd.Annuar Johari-AlFatiha.
Dek,
Kami dilahirkan didalam fitrah
anugerah maha azali
Kami serba kekurangan tanpa bantuan kecanggihan,
Tanpa 'online' untuk menambahkan pengetahuan am.

Dek,
Kami dilahirkan tanpa ucapan singkatan abdja membolehkan
semua tawa riang
duka ditagih
simpati diraih
hanya untuk pasarana manja

Kami hanya diam
memperbetulkan permainan pistol-pistolan kayu kami yang usang
pelepah-pelepah nipah menjadi sorotan
roda-roda rim berputaran
Kami terhibur
Kami menhibur Kami bertempur
Kami akur pada waktu-waktu pilihan

Dek,
Berita kami terima hanya dari sumber yang satu
Lagu didendeng dari corong-corong mono usang
Teriakan azan hanya dari rumah-rumah azali usang
tanpa ulaman-ulaman keserian
tanpa sejadah tebal hingga menenggelamkan kaki-kaki hitam
tapi kami masih menyerah dalam redza

Dek,
Mimpi yang dikejar diselit oleh kata-kata fatwa dari hati yang pasrah
keakrapan kawan bukan diselitkan dengan piti jutaan
kekaguman jati diri sesama insan,kami pelajari sesama sendiri,
supaya dapat memperbetulkan langkah-langkah kami yang sumbang
melalui indra kami yang serba sederhana.

Kami masih boleh mendabik dada mesti pun
kami letih....
kami perih....
kami tidak secanggih tapi terus menabur benih-benih putih
untuk kalian menikmati keindahan dengan nyaman tanpa gangguan
berserta ketulan-ketulan rebutan
supaya kalian dibekalkan tanpa bebanan.

Dek,
Jangan kau leka
hanya alpa dengan Iswara
Jangan kau tawa kecacatan kami yang ada,
semasa kami cuba sedaya
semasa menyediakan pasarana yang ada
....nah Menara Angkasa
....nah Putrajaya
....nah Cyberjaya
....nah Mercu Tanda
....nah Kahzanah Bangsa atas nama yang terukir.

Eeeeiiii.....yaaaa,
keringat kami cuma setitis
tapi masih ada peninggalan kami untuk mu bukan?

Dek,
Teruruskah engkau?
Menguruskah engkau?
Terbagikah engkau?
Membagikah engkau?
segala-galanya?

Usah dicari erti negeri
sekiranya hati kau masih sangsi
Sekiranya mata kau belum suci
Hanya Maha Azali
pembuka diri melalui pintu-pintunya yang suci.

Merdeka Yang Hakiki.

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Viva Mas Iwan...ayuh Mas kita tua sama-sama...


Do you still remember your first ever social revolutionary artis.Probably yours is Bob Dylan.Remember the words of 'Like a Rolling Stone', yes its a song full with melody and witty phrase.
But mine was the ledgendary Indonesian folk singer and song-writer Bapak Iwan Fals.
I listen and learn from Iwan Fals first before Bob Dylan or Grateful Dead.
My Uda in Jakarta used to sent me his tape during my student days,that was back in the 80's.

Man..this mestro really have something to say.As an honor to his contribution his article was written front page cover of The TIMES
His lyric is so punchy and able to transpose your senses on the social issues of the day.
His song and social message,remain his strongest element,provided by talented natural musician like Sawong Jabo and Bapak Setiawan Djodi.
A perfect combination.

'Dimana kah PermainanKu,
pelepah-pelepah dari kulit pisang as compare to kids nowday his coment was.
"cuba lihat permainan ini,
terbuat dari plastik ataupun besi,semuanya mahal dan tersedia.
Mereka menjadi cenggeng dan manja.
Kejernihan otak pun mulai pudar.
Mana permainan ku yang dulu."

The lirik is so down to earth and honest to god.
Its a song of the divesity between kids our days and our kids now.
I am not complaining about the gen.gap.
The new gen.group like 'Ungu' is awesome too.
But still consider him a mestro on his own right.
The musical combination between him and Bapak Setiawan Djodi,Bapak Ian Antionio has open and contribute a new chapter in Indonesia Rock Music.

Any way 'Old hippy never die they only turn grey'
I wish Mas Edwin Gutawan would compiled his memorial hits and conduct it in a Philharmonic Orkestra, like the one he did on 'Tribute to Koes Plus'.
Which is off course a 5 star rating.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Dairy Bola


My sister Ade Junaidah in Jakarta email me an intresting dairy entry of an Indonesian couple dated 19/07/2007.

I shared with you all,her witty observation on the dairy content:
BUKU HARIAN ISTERI19/07/07
Rabu Malam.Dia bertingkah aneh. Sebelumnya kami berjanji bertemu di Cafe. Aku shopping seharian dg teman-teman, sehingga mungkin dia kesal karena aku agak telat sampai di Cafe, tapi dia tak berkomentar. Ngobrolnya nggak nyambung, jadi aku usul kita pergi ketempat yang agak sepi supaya ngobrolnya lebih enak, dia setuju tapi tetap diam dan berjarak. Aku tanyakan apa yang salah - dia jawab, "Tak ada". Aku tanyakan apakah kesalahan ku yang membuatnya kesal. Dia bilang hal ini tak ada kaitannya dengan ku dan minta aku nggak usah khawatir.

Dalam perjalanan pulang, ku bilang aku mencintainya, dia cuma tersenyum tipis dan tetap menyetir. Aku tak bisa menjelaskan perangainya sore itu. Aku tak habis pikir kenapa dia tak menjawab, "aku cinta kamu juga". Sesampainya dirumah, aku merasa kehilangan dia, dan seolah-olah dia tak menghendaki ku lagi. Dia hanya duduk dan nonton depan TV; dia terlihat jauh dan menghilang.....

Akhirnya aku putuskan untuk tidur. Sekitar 10 menit kemudian, dia menyusul ke kamar. Aku nggak tahan lagi, kuputuskan untuk menghadapinya dan menanyakan soal sebenarnya, tapi dia langsung tertidur. Aku mulai menangis sampai tertidur. Aku tak tahu apa yang harus ku lakukan. Hidupku terasa kiamat...

BUKU HARIAN SUAMI19/07/07
Semalam INDONESIA kalah. SIALAAANN!!! Asuuu !!!

Compare to an entry made by a Malaysian couple.
Dairy Isteri 19/07/2007.
Tadi malam aku tanyakan padanya,
'Bang....boleh Bang....!dia tak menjawab.
Dia menarik selimut terus lalok.....
Dairy Suami 19/07/2007
Boleh.......MALAYSIA BOLEH KALAH TERUS.........!

Thursday, June 28, 2007

When 'Botak' came To Town - He's our New Kid In Town


Another witty observation by our Prof.Azmi San.Dankesen Prof.I bust out loud to myself at the library today reading about it.

Intellegent and sharp observation and a good read too.

How I wish I still have the bold head photos taken when I was still in my greens.

How reversed the situation now as compare to before.


Here's my story,back then either one is into the John Lennon camp or the John Denver clan.

Either way,the schools disciplinary board would have a say on your look.

Any thing goes below collar by an inch, one firstly would land a good whacking 3 either from Mr.Kumaradass or Mr.Teja Singh,makes no diffrent,later a good imprompto hair cut at the pleasure His Honorable Displinary Master.

That's the end of your weekend dating with the MGHS gals.Reasons is 'Malu Nak Keluar'.

However,mine was vice versa.

I was naught but not to the highest level of blood sucking devil.

On the whole,got beating here and there which is part of school boys diaries, I suppose.

There was one year where I decided to go serious on my studies.
The crucial year of public examination LCE.

Thus, approx.6 months before the exam I decided to bold my head,hoping that I could stay put on my study tables and concentrate on the exam totally.

Hopefully with LCE's flying colors I would be selected to one of the prestige colleges ie.RMC,wow what a wishful thinking that particular point in time.


However,I did not realised there was a student protest on the Elective Student Council General Meeting,at the very same day when I decided to have my new look.

We were the lower sec.thus only the upper Sec. was entittle to the democratic process of electing new Student Council.That was I first experience of true democratic in Malaysia.

From what info I gathered,there was these two rival groups persuing their nominated members to the council.The meeting ends up with bad mouth bashing as usual and chairs rocking and stink bombing.


The defeating team supporters as far I could remember was the Grand Funk Rail Roads guys.Being losers they decided to protest for the conduct and the irregularity of the ballot which took place.

The whole troops of boys decided to bald their head as sign of protest.


All I could remember,the next following morning,I was march together with the uppers Sec.guys labels as the 'Botak Gang' gets the best 3 in the assembly and being accused of being memebrs of the 'Lrg.Panjang notorious Gangs togethers with some of the seniors whom I don't even know their names till now.

Me the only lower sec.guy with bold head was charge for being the recruiter for would be future gang members.


Poor me,wrong timing trying be smart.
Who says there is Justice in this world?

Its whole truth noting but the truth

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Good Bye Aimi Ku Sayang...God Be with You Insyallah


It's nice to see a child turn to be a pretty young lady.

Aimi left for Melbourne,Australia today at 9.30pm MAS flight.She's a daughter to me though I am only an uncle to her.

I am sought of bouncer to her and Nana her younger sister.

Guarding and motivating since they were a child.I could say they were our pride and joy.


Did pretty well during last SPM exam with 7 A1 and 2 A2's.The result if it were during my time would be a definate on any JPA'S overseas scholarship's list but sad to say now,with the overboard straight A's it's impossible even to apply for one.


I for one have nothing against straight A's,but a little overboard of ossession of A's is a bit worrying coz' it has multiple effect on child phsyco enviroment.

Aimi will definately get a place at any local Matriculation course of her choise if she decides to do local but she has set her mind to go overseas.

Me since I myself study abroad encourage it,firstly it was overseas which broaden our horizen and 2nly.self development and self confidence in leading a life in the future.

Paper qualification are ample any where, but one's out look in life are rather differs if we are sheltered at home.

Those are the essential element in fighting sprites in life.


We were at first sceptical of any sponsorship offer,knowing fully well the competition is,but one good samaritan offers a full fledge sponsorship right till graduation.I would call it golden opportunities of the life time.
Allah bless the golden heart.Allah gives what he wishes to anyone deserve.

Aimi's deserve to be among the bright young generation of scholars.

Be well my 'mon petit la'per (French).God protects you and our love to you remains the same.

We are proud of you Dato and Datin,May Allah bestows rightoues to you and family.Amin

Monday, June 04, 2007

Apa Seterusnya...........

Sinopsis

**Article ini ditulis oleh penulis sebelum terputusnya keputusan dibuat oleh Mahkamah Persekutuan terhadap kes yang terbabit.
Ianya merupakan suatu kertas kerja bagi programme Dip.Shariah dan Legal Practices IIUM bagi sessi 2006/07.
Ianya hanya suatu cetusan dan pengembaraan minda akedemik penulis
.

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Sejarah kemasokan ugama Islam ke Tanah Melayu dapat dikesan melalui Kitab Sejarah Melayu karya Tun Sri Lanang.Ketaksufan bangsa Melayu terhadap Sulatn-Sultan mereka dapat di kesan melalui keberlebihan “glorifikasi’ pengislaman Sultan Muzaffar Shah oleh pengarang-pengarang terdahulu.
Fables mengenai keislaman Sultan Muzaffar Shah yang dikatakan memelok agama Islam setelah menemui Rasullulah s.a.w. di dalam mimpi baginda merupakan andaian dan dapat kita rumuskan betapa tingginya pandangan masyarakat feudal terhadap kedaulatan dan keberkatan sultan –sultan Melayu terdahulu.

Fakta sejarah secara jelas membuktikan Islam dibawa masuk ke Melaka di awal kurun ke 12 melalui pedagang-pedagang daripada Gujerat dan Hardat Maut. Pedagang pedagang tersebut bukan sahaja berdagang ke Melaka tetapi penerimaa mereka dikalangan orang-orang istana adalah berasaskan kepada cara pedagang pedagang tersebut bergaul secara beradap dan bertata-susila berteraskan ajaran AlQuran dan Sunnah Rasullulah s.a.w Tarikan kepada Islam yang dibawa oleh pedagang-pedagang Islam kepada masyarakat tempatan adalahlah berasaskan contoh dan tauladan Muhammad s.a.w.Perkembangan akhlak yang mulia dan pengujudan suatu sistem keadilan berteraskan sepenohnya kepada ajaran AlQuran.

Harus diingat,masyarakat Melayu feudal sebelum kedatangan Islam ke Nusantara berpaut kepada animisma dan Hindu.
Kerajaan Islam dan tamaddun Islam di awal abad ke12 adalah dibawah naungan kerajaan bani Abbasiyah,dimana keunggulan Islam amat tersohor didalam sejarah Islam .Ramai cendikawan Islam lahir di zaman tersebut. Keunggulan Islam di zaman tersebut menjadikan pihak gereja di Europa cemburu dengan kemajuan yang dicapai oleh Kerajaan Bani Abbasiyah sehingga empire terakhir iaitu Kerajaan Islam Ottaman Turki.

Jelas dari fakta, sejarah Islam dan bangsa Melayu amat sinonim Ianya tidak dapat dipisahkan. Jika dikupas dari sejarah,proses pemmurtadan bangsa Melayu dapat dikesan semenjak kedatangan Portugis ke Melaka pada sekitar 1500.Bukan sekadar di Tanah Melayu malah, Portugis juga meninggalkan kesan yang mendalam keatas masyarakat tempatan di Goa,India yang menjadi benteng penempatan utama pedagang Portugis.Pengkristianan masyarakat Goa di India adalah berasaskan slogan pedagang Portugis iaitu ‘Gold,Glory and God’
Perkahwinan atau pergaulan bebas antara askar-askar Portugis dengan gadis-gadis Melayu yang kurang didikan agama yang gitu, terbukti, sehingga kini melahir suatu nasab ie.keturunan bagi lingua-lingo orang-orang tempatan sebagai ‘Graggo’(tidak diketahui asal usul perkataan tersebut) ,iaitu kacukan Portugis-Melayu dimana terlahirnya satu kumpulan anak-anak Melayu yang tersisir daripada satu kumpulan Melayu yang berbudaya, beradat resam dan beragamakan Islam.

Secara sedar atau tidak proses asimilisasi masyarakat tersebut telah berjaya mengenepikan hukum syarak akan nasab keturunan ketidak kesahan taraf anak kepada sah dengan penerimaan undang-undang sivil yang di bawa oleh kuasa asing dan diterima pakai olah mahkamah sehingga terpindanya Per.121(1A). Dari perspektif hukum syarak, ketidak kesahan anak diluar nikah akan kekal dan tidak boleh di perbetulkan dari segi status tersebut. Maka secara total nasab keturunan ketidak kesahan akan kekal didalam masyarakat tersebut selama-lamanya.
Untuk mengambil jalan yang mudah proses mengkristiankan bangsa Melayu bermula dengan kedatangan kuasa asing berbeza dengan pedagang-pedagang Islam yang membawa akidah keislaman yang syumul.

Issue murtad atau riddah merupakan suatu issue yang amat hangat di perdebatkan masa kini oleh setiap lapisan masyarakat Malaysia..Bermula dengan issue habeas corpus kes Kementerian Dalam Negeri v Jamaluddin Othman @ Jesus Jamaluddin (1) dimana melalui fakta dan alasan tahanan yang di keluarkan oleh pihak KDN ialah:

Alasan-Alasan Untuk Perintah Tahanan
Bahawa kamu, Jamaluddin bin Othman alias Yeshua Jamaluddin, sejak tahun
1985 hingga ditangkap pada 27 Oktober 1987, telah melibatkan diri dalam
satu rancangan untuk menyebarkan agama Kristian di kalangan orang-orang
Melayu. Kegiatan kamu itu boleh mendorong kepada timbulnya suasana
ketengangan dan permusuhan di antara masyarakat Islam dengan masyarakat
Kristian di negara ini dan boleh memudharatkan keselamatan negara.’(2)

Mahkamah Federal melalui keputusan bersama yang dibuat oleh YAA-YAA Abd.Hamid,Hashim Yeop Sani dan Ajib Singh,telah menolak rayauan yang dikemukan oleh pihak Peguam Negara bahawa walaupun pihak Kerajaan mempunyai alasan yang kukoh untuk menyabitkan tertudoh dibawah Akta Keselamatan dalam negeri dan menteri melalui peruntukan yang di beri melalui Sek.8(1) Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri(2)),tetapi Menteri tidak mempunyai kuasa untuk menyekat seseorang individu daripada mengamal dan menganut agama yang dipercayai saperti yang terkandung di dalam Per.11 Perlembagaan Persekutuan dan seseorang menteri tidak mempunyai kuasa untuk menyekat mana-mana individu daripada menghadari mana-mana mesyurat atau ‘pubic seminar’ bagi tujuan keagamaan walaupun ianya adalah bertujuan menarik orang-orang Melayu keagama lain selain daripada Islam.

Dalam erti yang ringkas dapat dirumuskan bahawa hak-hak kebebasan seseorang rakyat untuk menganut dan mengamal ajaran agamanya tanpa sebarang gangguan di jamin sepenohnya saperti terkandung di Per.11 Perlembagaan Persekutuan oleh pihak judiciary.
Harus diingatkan kes tersebut sebelum terpindanya Per.121(1A) Perlembagaan Persekutuan dan Akta Kesalahan Jenayah Shariah masih lagi di peringkat pengubalan.Maka dengan tersendirinya kes tersebut diikuti sebagai ‘a binding precedent’bagi kes-kes’seterusnya sehingga termenterinya pindaan Per.121(1A) dan termenterinya Akta Kesalahan Jenayah Sharia (Wilayah-Wilayah Persekutuan) 1997(Akta559)

Ditto dengan kes Jamaluddin,dan termenterinya pindaan Per121(1A) dan Akta Kesalahan Jenayah Shariah (WP)1997,masyarakat khasnya bangsa Melayu yang beragama Islam semacam tergamam dengan bermacam-macam kes permohonan untuk keluar daripada agama Islam oleh orang-orang Melayu itu sendiri.Ia seolah olah cuba mencabar kewibawaan serta kemantapan bangsa Melayu. yang berbajukan Melayu dan yang disarongkan dengan akidah keislaman semenjak ratusan tahun.
Alasan dan bantahan yang dikemukakan oleh pihak yang ingin memurtadkan diri mereka dari segi procedur ialah pembelaan hujah berpandukan Per.11 Perlembagaan Persekutuan, yang menyebut:

11(1) Tiap-tiap orang adalah berhak menganuti dan mengamalkan ugamanya dan tertakluk kepada Fasal(4),memgembangkan ugamanya.

Harus diingatkan juga tertera di Fasal (4)

11(4) Undang-undang Negeri dan mengenai Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur,Putra Jaya dan Labuan,undang-undang persekutuan BOLEH mengawal atau MENYEKAT pengembangan apa-apa iktikad atau kepercayaan ugama antara orang-orang yang menganuti ugama Islam

11(5) Perkara ini tidaklah membenarkan apa-apa perbuatan yang berlawanan dengan undang-undang am mengenai KETENTERAMAN AWAM,kesihatan awam atau AKHLAK(4)

Persoalannya:

a) Adakah benar,pembikinan Islamic Malaysia tercabar dan sengaja diprovokasi dan di sensasikan oleh pihak pihak tertentu yang cuba untuk mengkafirkan negara ini melalui procedur mahkamah.?

b)Adakah benar,bangsa Melayu yang sudah sinonim dengan Islam sudah mulai utuh akan process globanisasi?

c)Adakah benar,Islam yang di fahami oleh sebilang besar Melayu yang berugama Islam diMalaysia menggangap Islam itu hanya untuk upacara rasmi sahaja?

d)Adakah revilitasi and rehibilitasi akidah Islamiah yang di asaskan pada sekitar 1970’an gagal mencapai wawasannya dengan berita pengmurtadaan bangsa Melayu secara beramai-ramai?

e)Apakah sebenarnay fungsi kerajaan ,mahkamah dan pihak berkuasa Shariah sebagai pemangkin kepada visi Islamic Malaysia,apa yang dikatakan kerajaan yang berteraskan Islam dalam menangani masallah tersebut?

f)Bolehkah secara amnya dan masyarakat Melayu khasnya kompromi dalam issue ugama?
Kertas ini cuba mengupas bidang kuasa Mahkamah Shari’ah melalui peruntukan di Per.121 (1A) Pelembagaan Persekutuan. Dalam menangani massalah murtad terhadap kes-kes Lina Joy (5) dan Moorty (6).Dua kes contoh dimana masallah vital yang dihadapi oleh masyarakat Melayu khasnya dan Islam itu sendiri.Pertindihan bidang kuasa yang di beri melalui Per.121.(1A) dan bidang kuasa Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan yang di beri melalui Akta Pentadbiran Undang-Undang Islam(Wilayah-Wilayah Persekutuan) 1993 (Akta 505)

1.Apakah yang membuat perlunya suatu pindaan yang drastic terhadap Per.121 sebelumnya?

2.Mampukah bangsa Melayu melawan arus gelombang globanisasi dan arus penyerapan gelombang pergerakan anti agama melalui pakatan antarabangsa?

3.Adakah perlunya satu tafsiran baru terhadap Bangsa Melayu?

4.Bolehkah bangsa Melayu secara kolektif menerima definasi bangsa Melayu sebagai suatu rumpun bangsa tetapi berlainan agama?

5.Bolehkah agama Islam dan bangsa Melayu itu dipisahkan?

6.Adakah Per.11 Pelembagaan Persekutuaan menjadi ‘batu penghalang’ dalam pembinaan Islam Hakiki ?

7. Adakah process pengislaman negara Malaysia gagal?


Diakhiri dengan perbandingan antara Hukum Kanum Melaka dan Akta Pentadbiran UndangUndang Islam (Wilayah Persekutuan) 1993 (Akta 505) dan Perlembagaan Persekutuan Per.8,11 dan 121(1A)
Keberkesanannya dan kesinambungan dan relevant nya kini demi survival Ugama,Bangsa dan Negara.

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Bismillah Hir Rahman Nir Rahim

Process perundangan di Malaysia boleh dikatakan bermula semenjak tertubuhnya kerajaan Kesultanan Melayu Melaka,dengan pengislaman dan pengmasyhoraan Sultan Muzaffar Shah 1446-1456.(1)
Struktur pentadbiran Melayu Melaka berlandaskan undang-undang Islam yang dikodifikasikan di dalam Hukum Kanun Melaka.Malah pihak pentadbiran Kerajaan Inggeris mengakui akan keujudan and pemakaian sebahagian daripada Undang-Undang Islam di Tanah Melayu melalui keputusan didalam kes pembicaraan Re:The Goods of Abdullah (2) dan didalam kes Fatimah v Logan (3),walau bagaimanapun mahkamah melalui penghujahan Hakim Hacket , merumuskan di dalam kes Fatimah v Logan bahawa,walaupun Undang-Undang Islam diiktiraf dan diguna pakai sebelum kedatangan Inggeris keTanah Melayu tetapi, menurut pandangan nya :

“…bilamana pedagang Inggeris berpengkalan di sesebuah negeri yang diduduki atau disesebuah negeri yang tidak bertamadun bukan sahaja pedagang Inggeris tersebut membawa bersama mereka undang-undang mereka dari Tanah Besar ke Tanah Jajahan Baru,malah undang-undang Inggeris yang dibawa oleh mereka terpakai keatas penduduk dan penghuni tanah jajahan baru tersebut.” (4)

Tidak dapat dinafikan kedatangan Inggeris membawa bersama mereka undang-undang Inggeris khususnya ‘the common law of England’ dan ‘the rules of equity’.
Ianya dibawa masuk melalui Charter,melalui peguam-peguam dan hakim-hakim yang terlatih di England dan kemudiannya melalui undang-undang bertulis saperti ordinan,enakment,kanun,kaedah dan peraturan,dan juga tidak dapat dinafikan bahawa kekukuhan penggunaan undang-undang Inggeris dapat dilihat sehingga kini setelah 49 tahun merdeka,malah mahkamah masih lagi terikat dengan pengtakrifan Sek.3 dan Sek. 5 Civil Law Act 1956 dimana penggunaan ‘common law’ Inggeris dan ‘rules of equity’ terpakai bilamana terdapat lacuna didalam undang-undang yang diluluskan oleh Parlimen Malaysia.

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Saperti mana-mana kolonist-kolonist lain,kolonisma membawa impak yang amat mendalam keatas sesebuah masyarakat yang berbudaya,socio-lingua and peradapan yang berbeza dengan penjajah yang mentadbir tanah jajahannya.Pemakaian sistem pemerintahan yang berkiblatkan kearah Westminister merupakan titik bermulanya penjajahan minda terhadap anak-anak tempatan.Maka dengan sengaja atau tak sengaja keberkesanan ‘sistem pecah dan perintah’ Inggeris berjaya menujudkan sebuah kelas menegah Melayu-Inggeris didalam sistem pentadbiran mereka.Impak yang amat ketara ialah pengujudan sistem pentadbiran Malayan Civil Service (MCS), dimana anak-anak tempatan yang berkelayakan dilantik menjadi pentadbir sebagai pemangkin pentadbiran Inggeris.Anak-anak tempatan yang dilantik dan diasah,menjadikan socio budaya Inggeris sebagai amalan kehidupan harian mereka,maka, bilamana terujudnya sistem kelas menegah Melayu pentadbir yang berkiblatkan keTanah Jajahan maka secara otomatik terujudnya golongan yang akan menolak secara mutlak adap budaya tempatan sebagai teras and tunggak perundangan yang sedia ada didalam sistem perundangan Negara.

Ini dapat dilihat pada jarak masa yang diambil oleh Parliamen untuk meminda Perkara 121 (1A) Perlembagaan Persekutuan.(5) yang memperuntukkan:

‘Mahkamah-mahkamah yang disebutkan dalam Fasal(1) tidaklah boleh mempunyai bidang kuasa berkenaan dengan apa-apa perkara dalam bidang kuasa mahkamah SHARIAH.
Secara otomatis dengan pindaan Per.121(1A) terujudlah dua sistem penghakiman iaitu Mahkamah Sivil yang menguna pakai sistem perundangan sivil yang diasaskan oleh penjajah Inggeris dan sistem penghakiman Shariah dimana secara jelas mengariskan sistem penghakiman Syariah selaras dengan kehendak peruntukan Per. 3(1) Perlembagaan Persekutuan dimana secara jelas Pelembagaan mengariskan

‘Ugama Islam ialah ugama Persekutuan,tetapi ugama-ugama lain boleh diamalkan dengan aman dan damai dimana-mana bahagian Persekutuan’.(6)

Pemakaian dan penerimaa mahkamah terhadap pindaan 121(1A) terhadap warganegara yang berugama Islam dengan jelas dapat dilihat dari penghujaan dan keputusan Mahkamah Persekutuan oleh YAA Tan Sri Harun Hashim (ayh) didalam kes Mohammad Habibullah v Faridah bte Dato Talib (7).YAA Tan Sri Harun Hashim merumuskan:

‘…tujuan Parliamen dengan adanya Perkara 121(1A) ialah untuk menyingkirkan
bidangkuasa Mahkamah –Mahkamah Tinggi di dalam mana-mana perkara
yang termasuk di dalam bidang kuasa Mahkamah Shariah’(8)
Dengan ertikata lain secara dasarnya pindaan itu dilakukan adalah untuk memindahkan kuasa Mahkamah Sivil ke Mahkamah Shariah bagi mengadili kes-kes yang bersangkutan dengan warganegara yang berugama Islam dan secara mutlaknya mahkamah sivil tidak lagi mempunyai kuasa untuk mendengar kes-kes yang bersangkutan dengan warganegara yang berugama Islam.

YAA Tun Mohammad Azmi (ayh) didalam kes yang sama,melalui penggulungan hujahnya berpendapat ;

‘adalah HAKIKAT yang terdapat di Malaysia bahawa rakyat yang menganut dan mengamalkan ugama selain daripada ugama Islam adalah dijamin dibawah Perlembagaan Persekutuan akan ketenteraman mereka mengamal dan menganut ugama mereka.Ini juga bereti bahawa orang-orang Islam di Malaysia diberi jaminan bahawa mereka boleh menganut dan mengamalkan ugama mereka iaitu Islam dengan aman dan tenteram KERANA Islam di Malaysia mempunyai kedudukan yang amat istimewa.’(9)

Penghujahan didalam kes Habibullah v Faridah Dato Talib merupakan ‘test kes’ terhadap penerimaan pakai tafsiran Per.121(1A) kepada kes-kes yang seterusnya.Prinsip ikutan dan ianya mengikat mahkamah bawahan seterusnya menerima pakai tafisiran yang telah digariskan oleh Mahkamah Persekutuan.
Ini dapat di ikuti kepada kes-kes yang dikendali selepas kes Habibullah.
Didalam keputusan,Md.Hakim Lee v Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan(10)dan Soon Singh v PERKIM Kedah (11) Mahkamah Persekutuan memutuskan bahawa seseorang itu masih lagi seorang berugama Islam walaupun ianya melalui suatu prosess yang sah melalui ‘poll deeds’sehingga Mahkamah Shariah memutuskan bahawa ianya bukan lagi beragama Islam.

Didalam Lim Chan Seng v Jabatan Agama Islam Pulau Pinang (12),dimana persoalan yang timbul ialah adakah Mahkamah Tinggi masih mempunyai kuasa mendengar terhadap orang yang memelok ugama Islam tetapi melalui ‘pool deeds’telah mengistiharkan dirinya terkeluar daripada ugama Islam?
YA Abd.Hamid,mengakui bahawa Mahkamah Tinggi masih mempunyai kuasa mendengar kes tersebut kerana berdasarkan terdapat ‘lacuna’didalam undang-undang Pentadbiran Jabatan Ugama Islam Pulau Pinang kerana tidak terdapat apa-apa peruntukan didalam Enakmen Pentadbiran Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Negeri Pulau Pinang 1993 mengenai prosedur untuk keluar dari agama Islam.
Harus diingatkan hal ehwal yang bersangkutan dengan agama Islam dan Adat Istiadat orang Melayu jatuh di dalam bidang kuasa Kerajaan negeri saperti terkandung di dalam Jadual KeSembilan,Senarai Negeri(13)Kecuali bagi Wilayah-Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur,Labuan dan Putrajaya.


Ini bererti kuasa untuk membuat undang-undang Islam berserta dengal hal ehwal pentadbiran ugama Islam secara muktlak jatuh keatas jentera pentadbiran Kerajaan negeri.Ianya berkuasa sepenohnya menggubal undang-undang syariah berpandukan hukum syarak,tetapi undang-undang yang di gubal hendaklah selari dan tidak bercanggah dengan intipati dan asparisi Pelembagaan Persekutuan,dimana sekiranya terdapat percanggahan maka Undang-undang Persekutuan mengatasinya dan undang-undang negeri tersebut adalah terbatal secara otomatis.
Ianya termaktub di dalam Per.4 (1), Perlembagaan Persekutuan;

4(1)Perlembagann ini adalah undang-undang UTAMA Persekutuan dan apa-apa undang-undang yang diluluskan selepas Merdeka dan yang berlawanan dengan Perlembagaan ini hendaklah TERBATAL setakat yang berlawanan itu

4(3)Sahnya sesuatu undang-undang yang dibuat oleh Parlimen atau Badan Perundangan Negeri tidak boleh dipersoalkan atas alasan bahawa undang-undang itu adalah membuat peruntukan mengenai apa-apa perkara yang Parlimen atau mengikut mana yang berkenaan,(14)
Persoalan yang timbul ialah,mengapakah peri pentingnya sehingga perlunya meminda Perkara 121(1A) Perlembagaan Persekutuan tersebut?
Jika di kaji sejarah ketamaadunan Melayu,tidak dapat tidak,unsur Islam amat sinonim dengan bangsa Melayu.Malah tertera diPelembagaan Persekutuan takrif bangsa Melayu terkandung diBahagian 12 Am dan Perbagai.
Perkataan Melayu itu sendiri tertera di Per.152 iaitu Bahasa Kebangsaan ialah Bahasa Melayu dan juga amat tidak ketara jika diandaikan saperti tertera di Per.153 (1)

153(1) Adalah menjadi tanggungjawab Yang diPertuan Agong memelihara kedudukan istimewa orang-orang Melayu dan bumiputra mana-mana Negeri Borneo dan kepentingan sah kaum-kaum lain mengikut peruntukan Perkara ini

Malah Pelembagaan Persekutuan itu sendiri menjamin melalui Per.89 akan hak keistimewaan Tanah Rezab orang Melayu dimana digariskan bahawa tanah rezab orang Melayu boleh terus menerus menjadi tanah rezab orang Melayu mengikut undang-undang itu sehingga selainnya diperuntukan oleh Badan Perundangan Negeri itu dengan suatu Enakmen.
Maka secara otomatis,bila sahaja disebut Bangsa Melayu,secara otomatik diandaikan bahawa Bangsa Melayu beradat resamkan Melayu dan beragama Islam.Tidak dapat tidak perkataan Islam itu dengan sendirinya amat sinonim dengan Bangsa Melayu.
Jika di kaji secara terperinci fakta sejarah Tanah Melayu,titik bermulanya penjajahan Inggeris secara langsung melalui Perjanjian Pangkor 1874,penerimaa Resident British didalam sistem pentadbiran Negeri hanya tertumpu kepada hal ehwal pentadbiran kerajaan tempatan tetapi secara jelas syarat penerimaa Penasihat British oleh Kesultanan Melayu Perak ketika itu adalah tidak melibatkan apa-apa yang bersangkutan dengan adat resam Melayu dan Agama Islam di Perak.Ini diikuti seterusnya dinegeri yang bergabung didalam Negri-Negri Melayu Bersekutu iatu Perak,Selangor,Negeri Sembilan dan Pahang(FMS) dan sehingga terujudnya Negeri-Negri Melayu Tak Bersekutu (UFMS) iatu Kelantan,Trengganu,Kedah dan Johor bahawa syarat penerimaan Penasihat British ialah tidak mencampuri hal ehwal adat resam budaya Melayu dan pentadbiran Agama Islam.Ianya sehingga kini masih dibawah kuasa mutlak Kesultanan Melayu. Saperti terkandung di Jadual Ke 9 senarai negeri.

Perlu diingat bidang kuasa mahkamah Shariah diperingkat permulaan terujudnya Negara Malaysia iatu pada 16hb.September 1963 hanya terhad kepada undang-undang keluarga Islam.Ianya hanya bersangkutan tentang hukum hakam perkahwinan dan perceraian,selain daripada mendengar pertikaian hal ehwal pentadbiran harta pusaka dan wakaf selain daripada hal ehwal pentadbiran Agama Islam saperti menentukan tarikh bermulanya berpuasa dan berhari raya.Pihak kerajaan dan masyarakat pada waktu tersebut masih dicengkam oleh minda cololonisma.Kehakiman Shariah semacam terpinggir oleh bangsa sendiri dan pengertian Islam yang terkandung didalam Per.3(1) ditafsir oleh pihak mahkamah atasan waktu itu Islam sebagai lambang upacara rasmi sahaja.Ini dapat dilihat melalui penghujaan keputusan penghakiman dalam kes Che Omar Che Soh v PP(15)
Kuasa bagi kesalahan jenayah pada asalnya terkandung didalam Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965,bidang kuasa jenayah amatlah terpencil kes-kes yang di kendalikan oleh Mahkamah Kadi dan had untuk menjatuhkan hukuman hanya memenjarakan bagi kesalahan Jenayah Shariah ialah tidak melebihi 6 bulan penjara atau denda yang tidak melebihi $1,000.Had bidang kuasa Jenayah Shariah dan bidang kuasa Hakim Mahkamah Shariah kini telah dipinda pada tahun 1988 selaras dengan pindaan Per.121 (1A) dimana definasi Jenayah Shariah di perluaskan senarai kesalahannya dan bidang kuasa Hakim Mahkamah Shariah saperti terkandung di Akta Kesalahan Jenayah Syariah (Wilayah-Wilayah Persekutuan) 1997 dan bidang kuasa hukuman setelah di pinda pada tahun 1988 kini menjadikan hukuman penjara maxima 3 tahun penjara atau denda tidak melebehi $5,000 atau sebatan tidak melebihi 6 sebatan atau kombinasi mana-mana dua hukuman tersebut.
Setengah golongan akdemik(16) berpendapat Akta Jenayah Shariah yang diluluskan pada tahun 1988 itu tidak meliputi keWilayah Persekutuan maka dengan sendirinya Akta tersebut tidak terpakai di Wilayah Persekutuan.
Walau bagaimana pun dengan termenterinya Akta Kesalahan Jenayah Shariah (Wilayah-Wilayah Persekutuan) 1997 (Akta 559),dilengkapi dengan Akta Jenayah Procedure Shariah (Wilayah-Wilayah Persekutuan) 1997 (Akta 560) dan Akta Keterangan Mahkamah Shariah(Wilayah –Wilayah Persekutuan)1997 (Akta 561) lengkaplah satu set perundangan Shariah bagi kawasan Wilayah Persekutuan,dimana suatu sistem kehakiman berpandukan Shariah dan berteraskan hukum Syarak yang comprehensive dan dinanti-nantikan oleh masyarakat Islam secara amnya.Perlu dijelaskan bidang kuasa Mahkamah Shariah terhadap kes-kes shariah tidak ada sebarang kerumitan dalam mentafsir kesalahan Shariah.In adalah kerana kesalahan jenayah Shariah adalah kesalahan yang kebanyakannya berteraskan kesalahan berlandaskan kesalahan yang di tegah oleh ugama Islam yang hakiki dan kesalahan tersebut juga merupakan kesalahan yang terkandung didalam Akta Jenayah ie.Penal Code yang dibawa bidang kuasa Federal.
Sebagai contoh kesalahan ‘Khalwat ,Liwat dan ‘Zina’ yang tergaris di bawah Sek 23 bagi Zina and Liwat di bawah Sek.25.AKJS(WP)1997 (Akta559)

Sek.27 AKJ(WP) 1997 dimana ‘liwat’digariskan sebagai (a) mana-mana orang lelaki yang didapati berada bersama dengan seorang atau lebih daripada seorang prempuan yang bukan isteri atau mahramnya atau (b) seorang prempuan yang didapati berada bersama dengan seorang atau lebih daripada seorang lelaki yang bukan suami atau mahramnya,dimana-mana tempat yang terselindung atau di dalam bilik dalam keadaan yang boleh menimbulkan syak bahawa mere sedang melakukan perbuatan yang tidak bermoral..(17)

Persoalan yang timbul apakah yang tersirat di dalam benak penggubal-penggubal Suruhanjaya Reid sewaktu mengubal Per.3(1) dan Per.8 dan 11 Perlembagaan Persekutuan pada tahun 1956?
Perdebatan akdemik mungkin berterusan dalam membincangkan adakah ianya bererti ‘penafisran literal’ iaitu agama Islam adalah agama rasmi Negara .dan juga boleh diertikan sekiranya ianya ugama rasmi juga secara mutlak bererti sistem dan susunan ketata kenegaraan bertunaskan ‘Islamic Principle’.Saperti terkandung di dalam AlQuran,

Surah Saba’ 28
‘Dan tiadalah Kami mengutusmu (wahai Muhammad) melainkan untuk umat manusia seluruhnya, sebagai Rasul pembawa berita gembira (kepada orang-orang yang beriman) dan pemberi amaran (kepada orang-orang yang ingkar); akan tetapi kebanyakan manusia tidak mengetahui (hakikat itu)’(18)


Negara Islam bererti sebuah negara yang bertunaskan prinsip-prinsip asas ketata kenegaraan negara Islam serta ciri-ciri sebuah negara Islam secara mutlak yang berpegang kepada Al Quran dan Sunnah dan ijmak ulama muqtakin sebagai panduan Negara.(19)
Ini berasaskan ayat Al Quran di dalam Surah An Nisa ayat 59

An-Nisaa’ 59

‘Wahai orang-orang yang beriman, taatlah kamu kepada Allah dan taatlah kamu kepada Rasulullah dan kepada "Ulil-Amri" (orang-orang yang berkuasa) dari kalangan kamu. Kemudian jika kamu berbantah-bantah (berselisihan) dalam sesuatu perkara, maka hendaklah kamu mengembalikannya kepada (Kitab) Allah (Al-Quran) dan (Sunnah) RasulNya jika kamu benar beriman kepada Allah dan hari akhirat. Yang demikian adalah lebih baik (bagi kamu) dan lebih elok pula kesudahannya.’(20)Penghujahaan YAA Tun Salleh Abbas didalam kes Re:Che Omar Che Soh amat-amat tidak disenangi oleh golongan pendesak yang mahukan suatu sistem pentadbiran dan Islamic political sistem di Malaysia,setelah kesan sampingan sekularisma membawa impak yang amat ketara dari segi ketidak keseimbangan pengagihan social,ekonomi dan political antara kaum.Ianya berasaskan demi ‘political survival’ bangsa Melayu dimasa hadapan

Impak yang di bawa oleh sekuralisma dan kapitalisma dipersoalkan oleh golongan crediakawan Islam yang telah diberi kesempatan menimba ilmu di Al’Azhar,Mesir serta institusi-institusi pengajian tinggi dinegara-negara Jordon,Syria,Turkey sekitar tahun tahun 1980’an.Ianya berasaskan ‘revitalise dan rehibilitasi’ process pengislaman negara yang di pelupori oleh ABIM sekitar tahun-tahun 1970’an.

Harus diingatkan pergolakan politik dunia bergolak dengan amat ketara di sekitar tahun-tahun 80’an.Dengan terjunamnya tembok pemisah antara German Timur dan Barat maka terkuburlah juga empire Komunis Soviet Rusia.
Dunia dikejutkan oleh suatu kuasa besar,yang sepanjang penubohan negara tersebut pada 1776 sehingga sekarang ianya bercirikan negara yang suka berperang.
Sebut sahaja U.S.A dunia akan mentertawakannya sebagai ‘Negara yang kalah dibenteng peperangan tapi menang strategi peperangan’(21)
Ini terbukti pada kemaluan mereka di Peperangan Vietnam 1960-1975 dengan terjatuhnya Saigon kepada ‘tentera berkaki ayam’.

Bilamana ekonomi bergantung sepenohnya kepada minyak sebagai pengerak tenaga dan sumber ekonomi utama,tidak perlu dibuktikan bahawa motif pergolakan seterusnya ialah ‘imprialisma minyak’ di bumi Arab dimana juga Islam adalah ugama hakiki dibumi tersebut.Pergolakan di bumi Arab berterusan bukan sahaja peperangan minyak tetapi tidak kelebihan jika kita andaikan bahawa peperangan tersebut ada keseimbangannya dengan ‘Perang Salib’ yang berlaku diantara tentera-tentera gabungan Kristian dan tentera Islam untuk merebut Juruselam diabad 11.(Crusade War)
Bolehkah diandaikan bahawa perang kini adalah perang penghapusan umat Islam didunia?
Adakah ianya dirancang dengan begitu teliti oleh golongan-golongan yang anti Islam semenjak diutus Muhammad s.a.w oleh Allah kebumi untuk memperbetulkan akhlak manusia?
Objektif dan misi serta matlamat utama golongan yang ingin menghapuskan Islam dimuka dunia akan menggunakan segala macam helah untuk menguasai minda dunia berpihak kepada mereka.
Mungkinkah ini yang berlaku kepada Islam dan masyarakat Melayu di Malaysia?

Bebalik kepada persoalan yang timbul dengan kes Kaliammal a/p Sinnasamy lwn Pengarah Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (JAWI) dan disingkatkan sebagai Kes Moorthu dan kes Lina Joy v Ketua Pengarah Pendaftaran ,
Kedua-dua kes tersebut pada asasnya merupakan dua kes yang berbeza dari segi bentuk dan penghujahan dan pemakaian kuasa undang-undang.
Didalam kes Moorthy ianya adalah isu pengislaman saudara baru yang terkandung di dalam Akta Pentadbiran Undang-Undang Islam(Wilayah Persekutuan)1993(Akta505).
Sek.85
memperuntukkan syarat-syarat sah Islamnya seorang yang ingin memelok agama islam.hanya dengan mengakui keesahan Allah dan menerima Muhammad s.a.w sebagai pesuroh Allah secara redha dand hakiki.Ini berlandaskan hukum syarak.
Sek.88
memperuntukkan perlunya seorang Muallaf tersebut mendaftar dengan Pendaftar,Majlis Agama Islam yang terdekat dan setelah disahkan oleh Pendaftar akan keislaman seseorang Muallaf tersebut maka dengan peruntukan Sek.90 Pendaftar akan mengeluarkan Sijil Kemasukan ke Agama Islam kepada Muallaf tersebut.
Harus diingat,ini adalah procedur yang wajib diikuti oleh seseorang yang ingin memelok agama Islam di Wilayah Persekutuan.Walau bagaimana pun APUI(WP)1993 mengariskan syarat kepada sesiapa yang ingin memelok agama Islam
Sek 95
Seseorang yang ingin memelok ugama Islam haruslah tidak gila dan mestilah mencapai umur 18 tahun dan sekiranya ia belum mencapai umur 18 tahun maka keizinan kedua ibu-bapanya sebelum memelok ugama Islam diperlukan.
Keizinan merupakan intipati utama bagi seseorang yang di bawah umor untuk memelok agama Islam.Disini perlu ditekankan Allah maha pengasih kepada setiap insan dan Allah jua mengkehendaki keadilan yang hakiki .Firman Allah disurah Maidah ayat 8:
Wahai orang-orang yang beriman, hendaklah kamu semua sentiasa menjadi orang-orang yang menegakkan keadilan kerana Allah, lagi menerangkan kebenaran dan jangan sekali-kali kebencian kamu terhadap sesuatu kaum itu mendorong kamu kepada tidak melakukan keadilan. Hendaklah kamu berlaku adil (kepada sesiapa jua) kerana sikap adil itu lebih hampir kepada takwa dan bertakwalah kepada Allah, sesungguhnya Allah Maha Mengetahui dengan mendalam akan apa yang kamu lakukan.(22)


Pengertian keadilan yang hakiki dapat di lihat melalui keputusan yang dibuat di dalam kes Sussie Teo (23),dimana Mahkamah Persekutuan ,melalui penhujahaan YAA Abd.Hamid berpendapat adalah tidak adil kepada kedua ibupbapa yang bukan berugama Islam sekiranya anak-anak mereka yang dibawah umur tidak meminta keizinan mereka untuk memelok dan berkahwin dengan pemuda yang beragama Islam.Maka perkahwinan tersebut terbatal di sisi undang-undang.
Disini kita dapati mahkamah mengambil langkah ‘soft approach’ dalam mentafsir keadilan bagi pihak kedua ibu-bapa walaupun dari sudut hukum syarak perkahwinan itu sah kerana perlu ditekankan bahawa Islam itu halus dalam pengertian dan tafsirannya didalam menterjemah apa itu Islam kepada masyarakat majmuk.
Jika dibezakan dengan kes Ng Siew Pian v Abd.Wahid bin Abu Hassan(24),Mahkamah berdepan dengan pertikaian pembubaran perkahwinan civil melalui procedur Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce)1976 (25) oleh seorang Muallaf yang telah memelok ugama Islam.
Sek.3(3) Akta tersebut mengariskan bahawa Akta tersebut tidak terpakai kepada mereka yang berugama Islam,tetapi dibawah
Sek.51 Akta tersebut memberi kelonggaran kepada pasangan yang memelok ugama Islam untuk pasangannya yang ‘Bukan Islam’ boleh mendaftar petisyen perceraian di Mahkamah civil di atas alasan yang pasangannya telah memelok ugama Islam.
Tetapi Akta tersebut tidak menberi garis panduan atau ketetapan tentang status pasangan yang telah memelok agama Islam untuk mengfailkan petisyen perceraian atas alasan “Telah Memelok Ugama Islam”.
Peruntukan yang digariskan dibawah bidang kuasa Shariah dalam hal in tertera dibawah Sek.46 Akta Undang-Undang Keluarga Islam(Wilayah Persekutuan 1984(Akta 303)
46(1) Jika salah satu pihak kepada sesuatu perkahwinan itu murtad atau memelok sesuatu kepercayaan lain daripada Islam,maka perbuatan yang demikian tidak boleh dengan sendirinya berkuatkuasa membubarkan perkahwinan itu melainkan dan sehingga disahkan oleh mahkamah.
46(2) Jika salah satu pihak kepada sesuatu perkahwinan bukan Islam memelok agama Islam,maka perbuatan yang demikian tidak boleh dengan sendirinya berkuatkuasa membubarkan perkahwinan itu melainkan dan sehingga disahkan sedemikian oleh Mahkamah.(26)

Walau bagaimanpun Sek.52 AUKI(WP)1984 (Akta 303) di bawah tajuk Perintah Untuk Membubarkan Perkahwinan atau untuk Faskh akta memberi garis panduan akan syarat-syarat untuk membolehkan mahkamah mengeluarkan suatu notis perceraian fasakh atau perceraian melalui perintah makamah walaupun dari segi hukum syarak ianya tidak digalakkan tetapi demi untuk menjaga keselamatan serta jaminan kesejeteraan pasangan yang mengalami polelik rumah tangga itu supaya berpisah.Tidak terdapat apa-apa peruntukan fasakh bagi suami untuk memohon kepada mahkamah untuk menceraikan isterinya.Ini mungkin disebabkan hukum syarak meletakkan kuasa untuk menceraikan isteri terletak pada suami.
Jumhur berpendapat antara sebab di bolehkan cerai faaskh ialah kerana murtad (27)
Di dalam menentukan bilakah seseorang Islam yang murtad terbubar perkahwinannya,terdapat perbezaan antara syarak dengan Enakmen Perkahwinan Islam.Dimana syarak menetapkan pembubaran perkahwinan berlaku serta-merta apabila seseorang itu murtad.Tetapi telah di gariskan di Sek.46(1) dan Sek.46(2) bahawa pembubaran tidak boleh berkuatkuasa dengan sendirinya tanpa disahkan oleh mahkamah..
Hukum syarak juga menetapkan bahawa perkawinan orang-orang islam juga sah sekiranya ianya menikahi Ahli Kitabbiyah.Ini di gariskan dibawah peruntukan Sek.10(1)dimana tiada seorang lelaki boleh berkahwin dengan seseorang bukan Islam kecuali seorang Kitabiyah.Jumhur ulama mengariskan ‘Ahli Kitabiyah’diertikan sebagai

a) seorang prempuan dari keturunan Bani Ya’qub atau
b) seorang prempuan Nasrani dari keturunan orang-orang Nasrani sebelum Nabi Muhammad s.a.w menjadi Rasul atau
c) seorang prempuan Yahudi dari keturunan orang-orang Yahudi sebelum Nabi Isa menjadi Rasul.

Persoalan yang timbul didalam kes Moorthy ialah ,diandaikan segala process pengislaman beliau itu betul mengikut procedur ketetapan yang di garis kan di bawah Sek.85 dan 89 Akta Pentadbiran Undang-Undang Islam (Wilayah Persekutuan 1993)(Akta 303) secara otomatis mendiang Moorthy tergolong dibawah bidang kuasa Mahkamah Shariah,saperti termaktub di dalam Per.121(1A) Pelembagaan Persekutuan.Ini berasaskan keputusan-keputusan yang telah dibuat didalam kes-kes

Pihak perayu mohon kepada Mahkamah sama ada Mahkamah Sivil mempunyai bidang kuasa untuk menkaji semula atau kesalahan perintah oleh mahkamah sivil yang sedia ada.Ianya adalah bertujuan untuk menegepikan perintah yang di keluarkan oleh Mahkamah Tinggi Shariah Wilayah Persekutuan pada 22hb.Disember 2005 melalui Kes No.141000990090 (28 )bahawa simati telah pun:
a) memelok agama Islam
b) simati hendaklah dikebumikan mengikut Agama Islam saperti kehendak Hukum Syarak
c) bahawa pihak Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan mengesahkan bahawa sepanjang hayat simati selepas memelok agama Islam tidak pernah memohon kepada Mahkamah Shariah Wilayah Persekutuan untuk keluar daripada agama Islam mengikut hukum syarak dan tiada sebarang perintah Mahkamah Shariah yang mengistiharkan dianya telah terkeluar daripada Islam.
YA Rauf Sharif,memutuskan bahawa berdasarkan kepada fakta procedure yang dikemukakan oleh Mahkamah Tinggi Shariah Wilayah Persekutuan pada 22hb.Disember 2005 adalah sah di sisi undang-undang saperti termaktub didalam Sek.85,86,87,88,89,90,91 dan Sek95 Akta Pentadbiran Undang-undang Islam(Wilayah-Wilayah Persekutuan) 1993(Akta 505),maka dengan sendirinya bererti perintah Mahkamah Shariah tersebut sah dan terpakai.
Jesteru itu berlandaskan kes-kes yang mengikat iaitu Habibullah v Faridah Dato Talib,Soon Singh v (Perkim) Kedah,Dalip Singh v Ketua Polis Bukit Mertajam,Mohd Hakim Lee v Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan,NurAysiah Hun Abdullah v Majlis Agama Islam Negeri Sembilan maka Mahkamah Sivil berketetapan bahawa ianya tidak mempunyai bidang kuasa untuk mendengar tuntutan pihak perayu dan tuntutan perayu ditolak.
Ini adalah berlandaskan kepada peruntukan Per.121(1A) Perlembagaan Persekutuan yang telah pun memisahkan bidang kuasa kedua-dua mahkamah Sivil dan Shariah dan itulah fakor utama dan pendorong yang menyebabkan perpisahan kedua-dua Mahkamah.Mahkamah Sivil untuk orang-orang ‘Bukan Islam’ dan Mahkamah Shariah mempunyai bidang kuasa mutlak untuk mengadili hukum-hakam bagi orang-orang yang berugama Islam.

Kisah dan tauladan daripada kes Moorthy,dapatkah kita rumuskan ianya bukanlah suatu kes yang boleh menyalahkan pihak pentadbiran dan peruntukan perundangan yang sedia ada.Tidak dapat di nafikan isu agama adalah suatu isu yang amat sensitive sehinggakan ianya boleh membawa ke medan pertempuran baik diantara para dai’,para interlectual,masyarakat awam mahupun yng berada di ambang kekuasaan Negara.
Isu agama boleh memporak-perandakan sesebuah Negara,keharmonian dan kestabilan ekonomi masyarak majmok akan terjejas.Ianya sering disensasikan oleh golongan yang terlalu fanatic terhadap bangsa,agama dan negaranya.

Firman Allah s.w.t didalam surah
Al Hujuraat ayat 14;

Orang-orang "A'raab" berkata: Kami telah beriman. Katakanlah (wahai Muhammad): Kamu belum beriman, (janganlah berkata demikian), tetapi sementara iman belum lagi meresap masuk ke dalam hati kamu berkatalah sahaja: Kami telah Islam dan (ingatlah), jika kamu taat kepada Allah RasulNya (zahir dan batin), Allah tidak akan mengurangkan sedikitpun dari pahala amal-amal kamu, kerana sesungguhnya Allah Maha Pengampun, lagi Maha Mengasihani.(29)

Seterusnya Allah berfirman di dalam Surah

Ali Imran ayat 85;

Dan sesiapa yang mencari agama selain agama Islam, maka tidak akan diterima daripadanya dan dia pada hari akhirat kelak dari orang-orang yang rugi(30)

Antara statement yang berbau perkauman dan statement yang memperlekehkan Mahkamah Shariah yang tertera di majallah Aliran(31).
Dengan izin
‘….Article 121(1A) has since created grave injustice in a string of cases.In Moorthy case,Kalimmal found herself with no legal remedy.The wife took her case to civil court,where the judge ruled that the court did not have jurisdiction.The wife’s position was simply untenable.She had no court she could turn to for justice or a remedy,mush less to present her evidence’

Statement yang mengelirukan ini menudoh seolah-olah sistem kehakiman Malaysia amnya dan sistem Kehakiman Shariah khasnya itu zalim dan menudoh seolah-olah ‘Justice Can Be Heard But Not Done’ oleh Mahkamah.Malah kesahan process pemindaan Per.121(1A) dipersoalkan diatas kesahan procedur penggubalan rang undang-undang tersebut.

‘….at the time the Bill was passed,seven DAP MP’s including some of the most vocal parliamentary such as Lim Kit Siang,Kapal Singh dan Lim Guan Eng as well as the late P.Patto and V.David were under ISA detention following Operation Lalang in October 1987’.(32)

Statement tersebut mengandaikan seolah-olah penggubalan rang undang-undang tersebut tidak mempunyai corum yang mencukupi di Dewan Parlimen dan pindaan tersebut seolah-olah tidak diperdebatkan supaya keterperincian rang undang-undang tersebut menepati intipati dan kehendak rakyat.

Isu berkenaan pihak perayu tidak mendapat keadilan di mahkamah Shariah kerana perayu bukan beragama islam amat tidak munasabah.Hukum Islam berpandukan Sharak dan sharak menepati apa-apa perintah Allah s.w.t supaya melakukan keadilan.Saperti terkandung di surah
An Nisa ayat 135

‘Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Hendaklah kamu menjadi orang-orang yang sentiasa menegakkan keadilan, lagi menjadi saksi (yang menerangkan kebenaran) kerana Allah, sekalipun terhadap diri kamu sendiri atau ibu bapa dan kaum kerabat kamu. Kalaulah orang (yang didakwa) itu kaya atau miskin (maka janganlah kamu terhalang daripada menjadi saksi yang memperkatakan kebenaran disebabkan kamu bertimbang rasa), kerana Allah lebih bertimbang rasa kepada keduanya. Oleh itu, janganlah kamu turutkan hawa nafsu supaya kamu tidak menyeleweng dari keadilan. Dan jika kamu memutar-balikkan keterangan ataupun enggan (daripada menjadi saksi), maka sesungguhnya Allah sentiasa Mengetahui dengan mendalam akan apa yang kamu lakukan.(33)

Malah dibawah peruntukan Sek.244 Akta Tatacara Mal Mahkamah Shariah(Wilayah Persekutuan)1998 (34) memperuntukan orang-orang yang bukan berugama islam boleh menuntut keadilan supaya keadilan dapat ditegakkan.Sekysen ini memperluaskan lagi bidang kuasa Hakim Mahkamah Shariah untuk menentukan keadilan diselenggarakan dengen penoh hemah dan memberikan hak yang saksama berlandaskan hukum
sharak.

Persoalan akidah dan kesalahan yang berbentuk akidah merupakan isu yang paling genting yang dihadapi oleh masyarakat Islam kini bukan sahaja di Malaysia tetapi juga terhadap masyarakat Islam di merata dunia..Perundangan Islam dan Muhammad s.a.w diutus kebumi ini ialah untuk memperbetulkan akidah umat manusia.

Surah Saba’ ayat 28

Dan tiadalah Kami mengutusmu (wahai Muhammad) melainkan untuk umat manusia seluruhnya, sebagai Rasul pembawa berita gembira (kepada orang-orang yang beriman) dan pemberi amaran (kepada orang-orang yang ingkar); akan tetapi kebanyakan manusia tidak mengetahui (hakikat itu).

Surah Al-Maaidah ayat 48

Dan Kami turunkan kepadamu (wahai Muhammad) Kitab (Al-Quran) dengan membawa kebenaran, untuk mengesahkan benarnya Kitab-kitab Suci yang telah diturunkan sebelumnya dan untuk memelihara serta mengawasinya. Maka jalankanlah hukum di antara mereka (Ahli Kitab) itu dengan apa yang telah diturunkan oleh Allah (kepadamu) dan janganlah engkau mengikut kehendak hawa nafsu mereka (dengan menyeleweng) dari apa yang telah datang kepadamu dari kebenaran. Bagi tiap-tiap umat yang ada di antara kamu, Kami jadikan (tetapkan) suatu Syariat dan jalan agama (yang wajib diikuti oleh masing-masing) dan kalau Allah menghendaki nescaya Dia menjadikan kamu satu umat (yang bersatu dalam agama yang satu), tetapi Dia hendak menguji kamu (dalam menjalankan) apa yang telah disampaikan kepada kamu. Oleh itu berlumba-lumbalah kamu membuat kebaikan (beriman dan beramal soleh). Kepada Allah jualah tempat kembali kamu semuanya, maka Dia akan memberitahu kamu apa yang kamu berselisihan padanya.


Kesalahan berbentuk akidah di perjelaskan diBahagian 11 dan Bahagian 111 Akta Kesalahan Jenayah Syariah (Wilayah Persekutuan)1997 (Akta 559).
Tetapi yang menjadi tanda tanya hingga ke hari ini mengapakah kesalahan murtad atau riddah tidak disenaraikan sebagai kesalahan jenayah shariah di dalam AKJS(WP)1997 secara terperinci.

Inilah persoalan yang menjadi tanda tanya di dalam kes Lina Joy(35)

Keputusan Mahkamah sebelumnya agak memihak kepada peruntukkan Per.121(1A).Ini dapat diperhatikan memlalui keputusan Mahkamah Persekutuan di dalam pengulonggan kes Kamariah Ali

Perayu-perayu telah membuat akuan berkanun mengisytiharkan mereka keluar daripada agama Islam pada bulan Ogos 1998. Mereka dijatuhkan hukuman penjara pada 5 Oktober 2000 atas kegagalan mematuhi perintah Mahkamah Rayuan Syariah untuk bertaubat berkaitan dengan kesalahan di bawah Undang-undang Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Istiadat Melayu Kelantan yang dilakukan oleh perayu-perayu sebelum Ogos 1998. Maka, persoalan yang timbul ialah sama ada perayu-perayu mestilah menganut agama Islam ketika hukuman-hukuman dijatuhkan ke atas mereka dalam bulan Oktober 2000.
Diputuskan, menolak rayuan perayu-perayu:

(1) Membuat akuan berkanun dan mengisytiharkan mereka bukan lagi menganut agama Islam tidak dengan sendirinya melepaskan perayu-perayu daripada pertuduhan yang ada di Mahkamah Syariah .

(2) Mengambil pendekatan maksud, didapati bahawa masa yang material untuk menentukan sama ada perayu-perayu adalah orang yang menganut agama Islam ialah masa ketika mana perayu-perayu melakukan kesalahan di bawah Undang-Undang Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Istiadat Melayu Kelantan. Oleh itu walau pun perayu-perayu telah mengisytiharkan mereka murtad pada tahun 1998, mereka selayaknya dibawa ke hadapan Mahkamah Syariah pada tahun 2000 kerana ia berkaitan suatu kesalahan yang telah dilakukan ketika perayu-perayu masih beragama Islam. (36)

Cuma perbezaan yang terdapat di dalam kes Lina Joy ialah pada asalnya ianya merupakan persoalan Undang-Undang Pentadbiran yang tiada hubung kait dengan kebebasan beragama.Kalau dilihat dari prespektif pentadbiran,persoalannya ialah
boleh kah pihak Executive dengan mengunakan kuasa budi bicaranya untuk tidak memberi keizinan kepada seseorang rakyat membubarkan perkataan Islam di dalam Identiti Pengenalanya.Apakah significant Islam itu di dalam identiti Pengenalan seseorang?Secara dasarnya tidak terdapat apa-apa peruntukan mengenai kuasa budi bicara secara mutlak diberi kepada pihak Executive untuk menjalankan tugas harian mereka.Ini bersebabkan terdapat percanggahan prinsip yang digariskan oleh Per.8** Perlembagaan Persekutuan.(37)

Berpandukan per dicta keputusan kes tersebut :


Perayu dilahirkan sebagai seorang beragama Islam dan nama asalnya adalah Azlina bte Jailani. Pada 1990 beliau mendakwa telah mempercayai sepenuhnya agama Kristian dan telah kemudiannya dibaptiskan. Beliau memohon kepada Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara ('JPN') untuk menukar namanya pertama kali kepada Lina Lelani dan kemudiannya kepada Lina Joy atas dasar pertukaran agama. Pertukaran namanya kemudiannya telah dibenarkan, tetapi perkataan 'Islam' tertera pada Kad Pengenalan ('KP') beliau. Beliau telah mengemukakan bukti berkenaan pertukaran agamanya dan memohon kepada JPN untuk memadamkan perkataan 'Islam' daripada KP beliau. Walau bagaimanapun, JPN telah meminta perayu untuk mengemukakan sijil dan/atau perintah daripada Mahkamah Syariah.
Isunya adalah sama ada JPN betul dalam menolak permohonan perayu di bawah per 14 Peraturan Pendaftaran Kebangsaan 1990 ('Peraturan 1990') untuk kenyataan agamanya sebagai 'Islam' dipadamkan daripada KP beliau dan dalam meminta sijil dan/atau perintah daripada Mahkamah Syariah.
Pihak responden bergantung kepada perenggan (cc)(xiii) per 4 yang menyatakan Ketua Pengarah adalah berhak untuk meminta maklumat tambahan daripada seseorang yang memohon untuk pertukaran nama di bawah per 14. Oleh itu, tiada apa-apa yang menyalahi undang-undang bagi Ketua Pengarah untuk meminta perayu mengemukakan sijil dan/atau perintah daripada Mahkamah Syariah.
Walau bagaimanapun, peguamcara bagi perayu menghujahkan bahawa per 4(cc)(xiii) hanya membenarkan Ketua Pengarah untuk meminta maklumat berkenaan dengan butir-butir yang telah dikemukakan oleh perayu. Oleh itu, dalam kes sekarang ini, Ketua Pengarah berhak meminta perayu untuk mengemukakan sijil pembaptisan beliau untuk menunjukkan bahawa beliau dengan sebenarnya adalah seorang beragama Kristian seperti yang dinyatakan dalam borang permohonannya. Berikutan dengan itu, permintaan bagi perintah daripada Mahkamah Syariah bukanlah merupakan permintaan yang sah di bawah per 4(cc)(xiii).
Diputuskan, dengan majoriti menolak rayuan itu:

(1) Abdul Aziz Mohamad HMR, Arifin Zakaria HMR bersetuju.
Dalam permohonan perayu kepada JPN, beliau telah menyatakan bahawa kesilapan pada kad pengenalannya adalah berkenaan dengan kenyataan agamanya sebagai 'Islam', yang mana beliau mahu dipadamkan. Ini adalah sama seperti beliau menyatakan bahawa beliau telah keluar daripada Islam. JPN oleh itu boleh meminta beliau untuk mengemukakan keterangan dokumentari untuk menyokong ketepatan kenyataan beliau bahawa beliau bukan lagi beragama Islam (lihat perenggan 31).

(2) Abdul Aziz Mohamad HMR, Arifin Zakaria HMR bersetuju.
Fakta sama ada seseorang itu telah keluar daripada Islam adalah merupakan persoalan undang-undang Islam yang bukan di bawah bidangkuasa JPN dan JPN adalah tidak berkebolehan atau layak untuk memberi keputusan. Ini adalah kerana keluar Islam adalah merupakan hal ehwal undang-undang Islam yang mana JPN bukanlah pihak yang berkuasa yang membuatkannya mengamalkan polisi untuk meminta penetapan daripada pihak berkuasa agama Islam sebelum ia boleh bertindak untuk memadamkan perkataan 'Islam' daripada kad pengenalan seseorang yang beragama Islam. Polisi tersebut adalah sememangnya berpatutan

(3) Gopal Sri Ram HMR menentang.
Perintah daripada Mahkamah Syariah tidak akan memberi apa-apa kesan untuk menyokong ketepatan berkenaan butir-butir bahawa perayu adalah seorang yang beragama Kristian. Walau bagaimanapun, sijil pembaptisan bertarikh 11 Mei 1998 yang dikemukakan oleh perayu dengan secukupnya telah menyokong ketepatan butir-butir bahawa perayu beragama Kristian. Peraturan 14(2) mengehendaki seseorang pemohon untuk menyatakan dalam akuan berkanunnya sebab bagi pertukaran nama tersebut. Dalam kes perayu, beliau telah menyatakan bahawa sebab pertukaran nama adalah kerana beliau sekarang adalah seorang Kristian. Berikutan dengan itu, tiada apa-apa dalam per 4(cc)(xiii) yang menyokong tindakan Ketua Pengarah dalam kes ini.

Oleh itu arahan atau sijil daripada Mahkamah Syariah bukan merupakan dokumen yang relevan untuk memproses permohonan perayu. Ia bukanlah dokumen yang ditetapkan dalam Peraturan 1990. Ia juga bukan merupakan butir-butir yang boleh diminta oleh pegawai pendaftar sebagai butir-butir di bawah per 4(cc)(xiii) (lihat perenggan 59). Dengan meminta perintah/sijil tersebut dikemukakan, Ketua Pengarah telah mengambil kira satu pertimbangan yang tidak relevan semasa membuat keputusan untuk tidak membuat pertukaran kepada KP perayu. Ini tentunya membuatkan keputusan untuk tidak memadamkan perkataan 'Islam' daripada KP perayu tidak sah dan terbatal dan tidak mempunyai kesan.

Adalah diakui bagi pihak Ketua Pengarah bahawa sebelum 1 Oktober 1999 tiada peruntukan dalam Peraturan 1990 yang memandatkan pernyataan agama seseorang di dalam kad pengenalannya. Jadi, sekiranya Ketua Pengarah telah meluluskan permohonan perayu sepertimana yang diwajibkan oleh undang-undang ke atas beliau semasa permohonan perayu kepada JPN dibuat, masalah sekarang ini tidak akan timbul.(38)
Kes tersebut masih tertanggoh, di peringakat rayuan terakhir iaitu Mahkamah Persekutuan..Diandaikan sekiranya Mahkamah Persekutuan mendapati bahawa pihak Executive telah terkilaf dan telah melebihi kuasa yang di beri saperti yang di ajukan oleh YAA Gopal Sri Ram didalam pergulonggan hujahnya:

Adakah ianya bererti Lina Joy menpunyai hak untuk memohon supaya perkataan ‘Islam’ dipadamkan didalam Identiti Pengenalannya atau adakah dia berhak untuk hidup sebagai warganegara Malysia yang sah di sisi undang-undang dan menikmati takrifan Per.11 Perlembagaan Persekutuan?

Dimana bidang kuasa Mahkamah Shariah didalam polimik ini?

Pihak Peguam Negara dalam menentang permohonannya mengariskan bahawa memandangkan pada asalnya Lina Joy menganut ugama Islam maka dengan sendirinya Per.121(1A) terpakai dalam hal ini.Ini memandangkan sama saperti kes Moorty kuasa untuk memurtadkan seseorang haruslah mengunakan procedure Mahkamah Shariah saperti tertera di dalam Akta Pentadbiran Undang-Undang Islam (Wilayah Persekutuan)1993
Apakah itu definasi Muslim?
APUI(WP) 1993 mengariskan seorang muslim adalah

a) seseorang yang mengakui ugamanya Islam.

b) seseorang,salah seorang atau kedua-dua ibubapanya Muslim dan
dilahirkan Muslim

c) seseorang yang dibesarkan dan didik berasaskan Islam

d) seseorang yang memelok agama Islam selaras dengan syarat yang tertera di Sek.85

e)seseorang yang sering mengakui dirinya seorang Islam dan

f) seseorang yang ikrarnya di terima dan diakui betul oleh sharak

Percanggahan Per.11 dan procedur untuk memurtadkan diri seseorang itu wajiblah mengikuti procedure yang digariskan didalam APUI(WP)1993.Syarak menetapkan bahawa seseorang itu murtad secara automatis apabila tingkah laku perbuatan dan pengakuannya berulangan yang ianya bukan lagi seorang Islam.
Dari sudut syarak secara automatis ianya gugur sebagai seorang Muslim dan dari aspek perundangan Islam yang tulin maka secara automatis ianya tergulong didalam jenis Jenayah Hudud.
Dari aspek procedur Lina Joy masih lagi seorang Muslim dan masih tertakluk di dalam bidang kuasa Mahkamah Shariah.Tetapi dari aspeck akidah keislaman dan tingkah perbuatannya secara otomatis dia nya seorang KAFIRUN.
Tidak ada tolenransi dalam hal keimanan dan peribadatan

Allah berfirman didalam surah Kafirun ayat 1-6
• Katakanlah hai orang-orang kafir
• Aku tidak akan menyembah apa yang kamu sembah
• Dan kamu bukan penyembah Tuhan yang aku sembah
• Dan aku tidak pernah menjadi penyembah apa yang kamu sembah
• Dan kamu tidak pernah menjadi penyembah Tuhan yang aku sembah
• Untukmu agamamu dan untukku agamaku (39)

Apakah remedi yang diperlukan untuk menentukan survival Bangsa Melayu yang sudah amat sinonim dengan Islam sejak ratusan tahun?

Adakah perlu satu penggubalan semula Perlembagaandemi untuk mencapai,menjaga,menghormati,menentukan bumi yang di pijak ini adalah hak ALLAH s.w.t.Saperti firman Allah di dalam surah Al-An’aam ayat 38

Al-An’aam ayat 38

Dan tidak seekor pun binatang yang melata di bumi dan tidak seekor pun burung yang terbang dengan kedua sayapnya, melainkan mereka umat-umat seperti kamu. Tiada Kami tinggalkan sesuatu pun di dalam kitab Al-Quran ini; kemudian mereka semuanya akan dihimpunkan kepada Tuhan mereka (untuk dihisab dan menerima balasan.

Tidak ada jalan mudah untuk menentu keselamatan,ketamadunan Islam dan keharmonian masyarakat Islam di Malaysia terjamin dimasa hadapan.

Dari aspek perundang,bolehkah Perlembagaan itu dipinda?
Di dalam kes Pang Chin Hock v Govt of Malaysia (40),YAA Tun Sufian,dalam menggulung hujahnya ,berpendapat bahawa Palimen mempunyai kuasa untuk mengubal atau meminda Perlembagaan yang sedia ada,tetapi tertakluk kepada syarat yang wajib diteliti.Persoalanya apakah Struktur Perlembagaan itu digariskan di dalam kes Kesavananda Bharati v State of Kerala dan di adaptasikan di Mahkamah Malaysia.

Struktur asas Pelembagaan itu mesti tidak menggubah atau meminda mana-mana satu daripada lima prinsip tersebut.

(a) Perlembagaan itu merupakan Undang-Undang Tertinggi
ie.(Supremacy of the Constitution)

(b) Raja berperlembagaan @ Constitutional monarchy

(c) Islam ugama rasmi Persekutuan tetapi ugama –ugama lain boleh diamal di Malaysia

(d) Pengasingan Kuasa antara 3 component iaitu Legislatif,Executive dan badan Kehakiman; dan

(e) Ciri Federal Perlembagaan itu sendiri(42
)


YAA Raja Azlan Shah (rtd.),di dalam kes Re:Dato MenteriOthman Baginda(43) berpendapat bahawa jika sebuah Pelembagaan itu adalah undang-undang mutlak negara maka ianya hendaklah di tafsirkan secara menyeluruh, tidak rigid dan lebih boleh diubah suai mengikut peredaran masa and memahami aspirasi masyarakat semasa.

Persoalan yang timbul apakah dia trend dimasa kini?

Ada kah murtad merupakan trend dimasa kini?

Percanggahan bidang kuasa Mahkamah Shariah dan Mahkamah Sivil masih jelas.Secara perbandingan kita bezakan bentuk kanun lama dalam khazanah kita iaitu Hukum Kanun Melaka dengan Akta Kesalahan Jenayah Shariah (Wilayah Persekutuan)1997 dan hukumannya.Dimana kesilapan kita dalam mentafsir apa itu Islam yang sebenarnya.
Islam itu adalah ’ Ilm’al haq kearah haq al’yakin demi haqqul minna nas’
Kerajaan Melayu Melaka sebelum ia ditakluki oleh Portugis telah pun melaksanakan undang-undang Islam dalam bentuk yang lebih luas daripada apa yang diperuntukkan dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan.Undang-undang yang dipraktikkan pada ketika itu adalah termaktub dalam Kanun Melaka. Undang-undang Melaka merangkumi aspek jenayah, muamalah ataupun sistem ekonomi, kekeluargaan, keterangan serta acara.(44)
Dalam aspek undang-undang jenayah misalnya, ketiga-tiga bahagian penting undang-undang Jenayah Islam telahpun diperuntukkan dalam undang-undang Melaka. Bahagian-bahagian itu ialah qisas(termasuk diat), hudud dan ta'zir.

Hukum qisas adalah dipakai terhadap pembunuhan yang dilakukan oleh orang Islam terhadap orang Islam yang lain dan juga oleh orang kafir terhadap orang Islam yang mana hukuman ialah bunuh balas. Ini disebut dalam fasal 5:1, 5:3, 8:2, 8:3, 18:4, dan 39.
Walau bagaimanapun dalam kes pembunuhan tidak sengaja dan kerosakan harta benda dan binatang hukuman yang dikenakan ialah diat.43 Mengenai kecederaan diperuntukkan bahawa seorang yang melakukan kesalahan menampar seorang yang lain akan dikenakan hukuman tampar balas. (45)
Hukuman hudud pula dipakai kepada kesalahan-kesalahan berikut:
a) Zina, hukumannya ialah sebat 100 kali atau rejam sampai mati (fasal 4:2).
b) Qadhaf(menuduh orang lain berzina), hukumannya ialah disebat 80 kali (fasal 12:3).
c) Mencuri yang cukup kadarnya, hukumannya ialah dipotong tangan (fasal 11:1).
d) Minum arak, hukumannya ialah sebat 40 kali (fasal 42).
e) Murtad, hukumannya ialah bunuh setelah disuruh bertaubat tetapi enggan melakukannya (fasal 36:1).
Selain dari perkara-perkara di atas hukuman hudud juga dipakai kepada kesalahan merompak(46), menderhakai pemerintah yang adil.(47), dan meninggalkan sembahyang.(48)
Hukuman ta'zir pula dipakai terhadap kesalahan mencuri yang gugur hukum hudud(49), bercumbuan (50), menuduh kafir zimmi dan hamba melakukan zina (51), fitnah(52), berjudi (53), dan penyaksian palsu (54)
Selain daripada undang-undang jenayah, undang perekonomian, undang-undang keluarga, undang-undang keterangan dan acara juga diperuntukkan dalam undang-undang Melaka.(55)
Mengenai undang-undang komersial kaedah-kaedah asas seperti persetujuan bersama membeli dan menjual, identiti barang-barang, kebankrapan dan hutang-hutang dinyatakan juga dalam kanun Melaka.(56)
Keistimewaan Kanun Melaka ini bukan sahaja cuba menyesuaikan elemen-elemen Islam dengan elemen-elemen tempatan malahan mukaddimahnya dimulai dengan memuji Tuhan Yang Maha Pemurah lagi Maha Penyayang. Mukaddimahnya berbunyi seperti berikut:

Dengan nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah lagi Maha Penyayang. Segala puji-pujian bagi Allah Tuhan Seru Sekalian Alam dan kesejahteraan bagi mereka yang percaya kepada Allah, dan selamat serta salam bagi utusanNya Saiyidina Muhamad dan seluruh keluarganya dan sahabat-sahabatnya.(57)
Dari perbincangan di atas jelas kepada kita bahawa tidak banyak perubahan telah dibuat terhadap status dan kedudukan undang-undang Islam semenjak merdeka hingga sekarang. Bidangkuasa Mahkamah Syariah masih sama seperti mana sebelumnya. Pindaan Perlembagaan pada tahun 1988 tidak memperluaskan skop undang-undang Islam tetapi hanya memisahkan mahkamah sivil dan Mahkamah Syariah. Perluasan skop undang-undang Islam ini mungkin juga tidak begitu bermakna jika masih lagi tidak terdapat peruntukan undang-undang mengenai perkara-perkara yang mana Mahkamah Syariah mempunyai bidangkuasa. Contohnya, semua enakmen negeri-negeri tidak mempunyai peruntukan-peruntukan mengenai mualaf (58) Sekiranya dibandingkan dengan kedudukan undang-undang Islam di zaman Kerajaan Melayu Melaka, kita dapati undang-undang di dalam Kanun Melaka adalah lebih luas skopnya kerana undang-undangnya tidak terhad kepada undang-undang diri dan keluarga sahaja malahan meliputi undang-undang jenayah, ekonomi dan juga komersial.(59)
Bukan itu sahaja malahan hukuman-hukuman dalam undang-undang jenayahnya lebih menepati hukum syara' dimana hukuman-hukuman yang dikenakan berdasarkan qisas, hudud dan ta'zir.(60)
Kemasyhuran dan kegemilangan Melaka di zamannya adalah berkat dari perlaksanaan undang-undang Islam secara yang sepatutnya. Benarlah seperti kata Saiyidina Omar Al-Khattab Khalifah Islam:
Kita adalah satu umat yang mana akan ditimpa kehinaan kerana meninggalkan Islam dan akan mendapat kemuliaan kerana mengambil dan melaksanakan Islam(61)

Adakah perlunya suatu referendum?

Wallah Waq’lam.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nota Kaki

1. KDN V JAMALUDDIN BIN OTHMAN @ Jesus Jamaluddin[1989] 1 MLJ 418

2. op.cit

3.Section 8(1),Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri 1960
(Sehingga 1hb.Ogos 2002) (Akta 82) ILBS

4. Per.11 Perlembagaan Persekutuan
(Sehingga 5hb.April 2005) ILBS

5. LINA JOY V MUIS WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN [2005] 6 MLJ 193

6. Kaliammal a/p Sinnasamy v JA Wilayah Persekutuan [2006] 1 MLJ 685

5.Perlembagaan Persekutuan (Sehingga 5hb.April 2005) ILBS

6. ibid. *dipinda pada tahun 1988

7 . Mohammad Habibullah v Faridah bte Dato Talib (1992) 2 MLJ 793

9.’Powers and Jurisdiction of Shariah Court in Malaysia’
Farid Sufian Shuaib Malayan Law Journal 2003 m.s 58


10.Md.Hakim Lee v Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (1998) 2 MLJ 681

11.Soon Singh a/l Bikar Singh v PERKIM Kedah (1999) 1 MLJ 489

12. Lim Chan Seng v Pengarah,Jabatan Agama Islam Pulau Pinang (1993) 2 MLJ 166

13.Jadual Ke-9 Senarai Negeri,Pelembagaan Persekutuan ILBS

14.Perkara 4(1) dan Per. 4(3)

15.Che Omar Che Soh v PP (1988) 2 MLJ 55
16.’ Powers and Jurisdiction of Shariah Court In Malaysia’
-Farid Sufian Shuaib MLJ 2003 ms.107

17. Sek. 27 Akta Kesalahan Jenayah Shariah (Wilayah-Wilayah Persekutuan) 1997
18. Surah As-Saba ayat 28

19.’The Islamic Law and Constitution’
-Sayyid Abul A’la Maududi Islamic Publication 10th.edition 1990 m.s332


20.Surah An-Nisa ayat 59

21.’Almanac of American’s War’ John S.Bowman Mallard Press 1990

22. Surah AL Maidah ayat 8.

23. Teoh Eng Huat v Kadi,Pasir Mas,Kelantan (1990) 2 MLJ 300

24. Ng Siew Pian v Abd.Wahid bin Abu Hassan (1992) 1 MLJ 425

25. Sek.3(3),Sek.51 Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce)Act1976

26. Sek 46(1),Sek 46(2) AUKI(WP)1984(Akta 303)

27. ‘Pembubaran Perkahwinan Mengikut Fiqh dan Undang-Undang Keluarga Islam”
-Salleh Ismail DBP 2003 m.s 101



28. [2006] 1 MLJ 685 SAMAN PEMULA NO R124102 TAHUN 2005
MAHKAMAH TINGGI (KUALA LUMPUR)

29.Surah Al Hujuraat ayat 14.

30.Surah Ali-Imran ayat 85

31. ‘ALIRAN’ Vol.25 No.11/12 ISSN 0127 – 5127, 2005

32. op.cit

33.Surah An Nisa ayat 135

34.Sek.244 Akta Tatacara Mal Mahkamah Shariah (Wilayah Persekutuan)1998

35. LINA JOY V MAJLIS AGAMA ISLAM WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN
[2005] 6 MLJ 193 CIVIL APPEAL NO W-01-29 OF 2001


36. KAMARIAH BTE ALI v KERAJAAN NEGERI KELANTAN
[2005] 1 MLJ 197 RAYUAN SIVIL NO 01-7 TAHUN 2002(D) 01-10

37.’ Admistrative Law of Malaysia and Singapore’
M.P Jain MLJ 1989 2ND.edt. m.s 338
** Per 8(1) hak ke samarataan’ semua orang adalah sama disisi undang-undang dan berhak mendapat perlindungan yang sama rata di sisi undang-undang


38. obiter dicta. (2005) 6 MLJ 193

39. Surah Kafirun ayat 1-6

40. PHANG CHIN HOCK V PUBLIC PROSECUTOR [1980] 1 MLJ 70

41. Kesavananda Bharati v State of Kerala [1973] SCR Supp 1,AIR 173 SC 1461


42. ibid. [1980] 1 MLJ 70

43. Dato Menteri Othaman Bin Baginda v Dato Ombi Syed Alwi bin Syed Idrus
[1981] 1 MLJ 29 FC
43. Liaw Yock Fang, ‘Undang-undang Melaka’, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, 1976. Perbincangan-perbincangan dari nota kaki 44 hingga 53 adalah berdasarkan makalah yang ditulis oleh Hamid Jusoh, Pemakaian Undang-undang Islam Kini dan Masa Depannya di Malaysia, Al-Ahkam Jilid I, Undang-undang Malaysia Kini, cetakan pertama, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Kuala Lumpur, 1990. m.s 63 -65.

44. Undang-undang Melaka, fasal 16.3, fasal 21.1 dan fasal 19.

45. Ibid., fasal 8:2.

46. Ibid., fasal 43:6.

47. Ibid., fasal 43:2 dan 5.

48. Ibid., fasal 36:2.

49. Ibid., fasal 11

50. Ibid., fasal 43:5

51. Ibid., fasal 41

52. Ibid., fasal 41 dan 41:5

53. Ibid., fasal 43:7

54. Ibid., fasal 36.

55.’Pemakaian Undang-undang Islam Kini dan Masa Depan nya di Malaysia’ Hamid Jusoh op.cit., m.s 65-66.

56.’The Oriental Text: with special reference to the Undang-undang Melaka and Malay Law, Malaysian Legal Essays ‘ M.B Hooker, A collection of Essays in honour of Professor Emeritus Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim, Malayan Law Journal Pte. Ltd. Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, 1986. m.s 436.

57. Ibid., m.s 442

58. Dalip Kaur w/o Gurbux Singh dan Pegawai Polis Daerah(OCPD). Bukit Mertajam & Anor. [1991] 3 CLJ 2768 m.s 2773.

59. Supra., nota-nota kaki 42-54.

60. Supra., nota-nota kaki 43-53.

61. ‘Al Farooq - Life of Umar The Great’
-Shamss-ul Ulama Allama Shibli Nu’Mani Muhammad Ashraf Pub. Vol .1 1995





Bahan Rujukan.
1. Al-Syariah Jilid3 ‘Undang-Undang Keterangan Islam ‘ DBP 2006
2. Ahmad Ibrahim,Prof. ‘Pentadbiran Undang-Undang Islam Di Malaysia’ -IKIM 1997
3. YAA Dato Abd.Hamid Hj.Mohammad ‘Sistem Kehakiman dan Perundangan di Malaysia:Saru Wawasan membincang kan kedudukan undang-undang sivil dan Mahkamah shariah di Malaysia dan kemungkinan penyatuan kedua-dua mahkamah’ (2001) 4MLJ 180
4. Hairuddin Megat Latif ‘Status dan Kedudukan Undang-Undang Islam di Malaysia Sehingga Kini’ (1992) 2 CLJ iii
5. ‘The Sultan Azlan Shah Law Lectures’ Judges On The Common Law - Editor Visu Sinnadurai Thomson Sweet and Maxwell 2004.
6. Farid Suffian Shuaib,Tajul Aris Ahmad Bustami & Mohd Hisham Mohd Kamal ‘Admistration of Islamic Law in Malaysia –Text and Material’ MLJ 2001.

7.‘Apostasy and Religious Freedom: Constitutional Issues Arising from the Lina Joy Litigation
Dr Thio Li-ann PhD (Cambridge); LLM (Harvard), BA Hons (Oxford) Barrister, (Gray's Inn, UK) Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore
[2006] 2 MLJA 1

8.’ PERTUKARAN AGAMA: HAK PENJAGAAN ANAK-
ISU DAN MASALAH ‘- Noor Aziah Haji Mohd Awal [2004] 3 MLJA 34

9.’The Concept of Islamic State With Particular Reference to Treatment of Non-Muslim Citizen’ - Muhammad Abd.Rauf,Prof. JAKIM 1988

10.’On The Political System of The Islamic State’
– Muhammad S.El-Awa,Prof American Trust Publication 1978

Comment....What Comment? Kau Nak Kena Sect.8

Tengoklah ni Lina Joyah termasok si Bong Yamin tu loyau kau tu
dan semua kuncu-kuncu kau tu.
Blow jangan tak blow.Semua orang blow.....termasuk aku pun blow

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Model Malaysia - Pre Malaya

I enjoy biography,and most of my collection remain in dust are of autobiograpies.
The last auto bio I read was 'Bandit Queen'.The real life story of cult hillanders robbers cum if I may call Robin Hood of Rajastan finally turn a Member of Parliament.

Could it be such a situation happen in Malaysia?
After all it the peoples voice and majority wins or could it be a day day when 'Mak Nyah' of Bukit Bintang or a former GRO decides later in life decides to stand for election to be a member of Parliament.

I could imagine the headline reads out load......'No to Mak Nyah' we do have an integrity system in Parliament or the news would be written bold..........
'Jangan mencemarkan kehormatan Parliament kita dengan Kebebasan berparliament ala Barat'... or let say the Mak Nyah or the GRO insist and won the local election.We do have a remedy to it,its call 'Quo Warranto' an order by the court enforce that the person sitting in Public Office be it an MP,Local Councillor or any public servant unfit to hold the job,based on pettion.

Hang on,doesn't we are subject to rule of law and rule by law too?
If the Mak Nyah wins by majority doesn't he/she qualifies to be the MP?
After all he/she is capable as any other qualified MP's or assuming he/she is above average inteligent,witty and hard working and understood the problematic areas he/she has to assign to?

Or....... if I may think of an alernative answer.."IS A NO..NO...IN MALAYSIA'

Its mind boggeling to live in space of a first class infracture but a 3 class mentality society I suppose.

I posed a question to my 14 years old daughter, Nana, the other day,are we ready to have a women Prime Minister here?

.......the answer remains blank............

Lets hope that the RMC opens it door to girls for a start.
Even West Point Militery Acedemy has open it door to Womens Cadet,why don't we open RMC to girls or start a Royal Girls Militery College to compete with TKC?
They could turn to be a good Tun Ftimah I supposed or another Dang Annum cum militery strategies.

Or lets have the first Women Mayor For Wilayah Persekutuan for a start.

Thought provoking isn't it..............?

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Good Man Rommel.



Up-Dates

Rommel Sidek passed away due to liver complication after going through major liver transplant operation at Beijing Specialist Hospital in October 2008.

May Allah have mercy on his soul.

Al-Fatiha.

==================

It was not long ago,I posted in this blog about a missing budding of mine,Rommel.As the name stand for Gen.Rommel,the German General known to historian as the charismatic General of the Northen Africa Nazi campaign.Rommel whom I know has that basic charismatic charm in him.

Rommel like me,enjoys a good laugh and life.
We both were part-time buskers at the Marble Arch Tube station.Yes,we were student but during summer hols instead of being ideal ,we rather polished our not so talented skill for the happy summer Londaners faces apart being able to purse a few quid for a 'Black Velvet' later in the day.A good guitarist Rommel is.We both enjoy occassionally jam session either at my flat at Dawson Place,Bayswater or in the Hyde Park particulary in summer.

He left for the State in 83' and has lost contact since,not until last Sunday.
I recieved a surprising SMS from Boe 'Rommel in ICU Ampang Putri'.
The whole Sunday morning I was bluesing with Bob Dylan and Neil Young tune.
Me and Boe rush to Ampang Putri ICU in the evening visiting hour.
I met a my buddy,basically grew up in London together,enjoys what London could offers us within reasons, laying in ICU fighting to live.
However,he is in a much better health now compare a few weeks ago.

Yes,Rommel was in the States all this while and doing well there and has been back since the past 6 months,after being spear-head to lead a leading techno corp.in town.

Well,all I can say,welcome home mate!
Cheers.....
Take care of your health.Go eazy man....
Keep in low and looking forward for a pool-side B-B-Q Jam session one on these fine day.
How lucky some guys are!!

Monday, April 23, 2007

My Beloved Ayah

Like everyone,ayah will always be there for me.Cool headed and suppotive what ever I do in life.I recall ayah's advised some 20 years ago afther completing my acedemic journey.
'all you have to do now is to reorganised your life all over again' and organised I did and well some swell advised from ayah.
My love for ayah will alaways be part of me.This one for you.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Anak Ku Moshen




Ayahanda mengucapkan syabas diatas kebekesanan lakunan anakanda.Adik-adik mu pulang dari pawagam tempoh hari melahirkan rasa kepuasan diatas film lakunan anakanda dan pasangan anakanda.


Bonda Yasmin arif dan kenal tentang 'MUTU' dan kearah 'Yang Bermutu'.Ayahanda mengucapkan sekalung penghargaan keatas team work anakanda.


Hanya,ayahanda ingin berpesan saperti Lokhman a.s berpesan kepada anaknya.Andaikata anakanda kelak akan mengecapi kemewahan dan punyai ramai kenalan,ayahanda hanya ingin berpesan laluil lah jalan itu dengan tenang dan melangkah dengan gagah berani,dan anakanda harus peka akan keadaan disekeliling anakanda dan berjalanlah dibumi Allah ini dengan tabah dan pasrah dengan bebola mata tajam merenung bumi yang bergelora ini.
Wassalam.

Friday, March 02, 2007

Dear Mr.K.Anandarajan (Principle of MHS 1970-1972)


Dear Sir,

Its kind of flash back to my MHS days during your tenure at MHS.Even though I was under your wings for a year.but your name appears the most appealing and the most talk about till now.How stern you were and how focus you were during your tenureship at MHS to turn us into a multi talanted students with sheer hard work,deternimation and sound discipline makes us first if not among equal in the fields of sports particularly hockey,rugby,and cricket either at state level competition and a few of us under your wings was able to carry the Nation flags with pride.Naming Razak Leman,Lim Kam Seng,Arikrisnan,Kamaruddin Temu,Dr.Mahindar Singh etc.In the track and field the Lim Chong Watt the ASEAN GAMES gold medalist was under your wings too.

You manage to put MHS in the map again after it glory days of the of the pre independence era.Our alma mater names like Tan Sri Rahman Arshad,Tan Sri Hassan Wahab,Tan Sri Talib Osman our former AG not forgeting our former Finance Minister late Tun Tan Siew Sin,late Dato Mokhtar Daud ,the dad of our Khazanah CEO Dato Azman Mokhtar,Dato Ong See Peck not forgetting hundred thousand others whom are the by product of Melod Hir Squimor.Remembering those nostalgic days and proud to be at one of the earliest education institution in Malaysia after Penang Free.
To be honest up till today I still could not understand the Latin words is!

Well sir under your wings 3 teachers was able to carve their names as Tokoh Guru Kebangsaan.All three were my teachers and they were under your wings to.
1.Cikgu Tahir -recipient of 2001(my hostel master) sure do remember the canning at Cadet Room!!!
2.Miss Alice Wee.(recipient of Tokoh guru 2003) my Class and English teacher when I was in Form I. and
3.Cikgu M.P Rangga Nathan (recipient for 2002)-my BM and English teacher both Malay and Eng.Lit'ure.
Man .....all those three deserve it well and I hands my respect to all three for true academist at heart.Not a single day pass with boredom with all the three teaching.They were our guiding light.And I assume the person they have to thank for up lifting their teaching proffession is you,sir.
My salutation to you for making our present at MHS a pleasent one.

Looking back why do I blog this.Simply becaused I feel that our education system at present is in a state of limbo.The main question asked now is Parent taking over the teachers role?In answering the question I thought it is wise for me to copy and paste a old case which involved you during your tenure at KG5,Seremban,where by your case was up held both at Federal Court and Privy Council in 1970.
The legal mind at the superior court agrees with you sir, all along in question of 'DISCIPLINE.'

Lastly,hopefully you are in the very best of your peek and God bless you soul where ever you are sir.

Extract form:


ANANDARAJAN & ORS V. MAHADEVAN
FEDERAL COURT [KUALA LUMPUR]
FC SUFFIAN A-G LP, J, GILL, FJ, ALI, FJ
[CIVIL APPEAL NO. X 95 OF 1969]
12 FEBRUARY 1971
JUDGMENT
Suffian A-G LP:
There are two judgments in this case, one by my brother Gill and the other by my brother Ali. shall ask my brother Gill to read his first and then I shall ask my brother Ali to read his next.


JUDGMENT
Gill FJ:
This is an appeal from a judgment of the High Court at Seremban whereby it was declared that the expulsion of the respondent, plaintiff in the action, as a pupil from King George v. School, Seremban by the first appellant, first defendant to the action, as headmaster of the said school was null and void, and an order made for his reinstatement. The second and third appellants were joined in the action as second and third defendants.
The plaintiffs case as contained in his statement of claim was that at no time was he or his father made aware of any charges or accusations or allegations of misconduct against him, that neither he nor his father was given an opportunity to answer any charges or accusations against him, that no reasons were given for his expulsion from the school and that in expelling him from the school the first defendant had acted maliciously, capriciously, wrongfully and without any lawful reasons. The defence was a denial of each and every allegation of fact contained in the statement of claim. The defendant further averred that the plaintiff and his guardian were given ample opportunities to present their appeal to the Board of Governors.
At the trial of the action there was conflicting evidence as regards the circumstances leading up to the plaintiffs expulsion. The plaintiff's evidence was that on 6 May 1968, following an announcement by the first defendant in the school hall that a pupil was to be expelled, he was called to the first defendant's office where he was informed that he was being expelled and told to go home. A leaving certificate was subsequently sent to his father. He was not asked to explain anything before he was expelled, and no reason was given to him or to his father for his expulsion. His father appealed against the first defendant's decision to the Board of Governors of the school, but the appeal was rejected and the decision of the first defendant confirmed. Under crossexamination he told a story about the headmaster calling him one day to his office and harassing him, about which he made a report to the police on 10 April 1968.
The first defendant's evidence was that the plaintiff was expelled from school because of the reports regarding the plaintiff's misbehaviour at a talentime show held in the school on 1 April 1968. These reports were made to him by the teacher in charge of the show, the head prefect and the chairman of the Interact Club. On 2 April 1968 he called the plaintiff and some other boys to his office for the purpose of enquiring into the reports. At first he questioned them together in a group but later interviewed them separately one by one. At his interview with the plaintiff, he asked the plaintiff about his alleged misbehaviour at the talentime show and on previous occasions. The plaintiff denied some of the allegations but admitted some of them. At the end of the interview he was satisfied that it was necessary and desirable to expel the plaintiff for the purpose of maintaining discipline in the school, but he decided to consult his colleagues in order to counter-check his convictions before making the order of expulsion. Having consulted his colleagues, he fully made up his mind on 10 April 1968 to expel the plaintiff, but as the school was about to close for the first term holidays and as he had to go to Johore Bahru on official business, he had no time to convey the decision to the plaintiff until the school re-opened on 6 May 1968.
The findings of fact of the learned trial judge, with which I entirely agree, are set out in his judgment as follows:-
It is clear from the evidence of DW1 that he decided to expel the plaintiff after the talentime show on 2 April 1968, being satisfied that it was necessary to expel the plaintiff for the purpose of maintaining discipline in the school.
I am satisfied that on 2 April 1968, DW1 had sufficient evidence relating to instances of the plaintiffs misconduct in his possession to justify him to commence proceedings to expel the plaintiff. I have carefully considered the evidence given by the plaintiff and head teacher and I form the impression that the plaintiff was not telling the truth to this Court when he denied the allegations. On the other hand, I accept the evidence given by DW1. I have not the slightest doubt that the allegations of the plaintiff's misconduct are well-founded. It is apparent from the evidence that the plaintiff is an intelligent pupil but it is most unfortunate that his conduct has not matched his mental qualities. The reports received by DW1 irresistibly show that the plaintiff was not only irresponsible, arrogant, spoilt and conceited, but also inconsiderate and had no respect for authority."
The power of a head teacher of any school to expel a pupil is contained in reg. 8 of the Education (School Discipline) Regulations, 1959 (LN 61/1959), which reads as follows:-
Whenever it appears to the satisfaction of the head teacher of any school -
(a) to be necessary or desirable for the purpose of maintaining discipline or order in any school that any pupil should be suspended or expelled .... he may by order expel him from such school."
With respect, the effect of reg. 8 is correctly set out by the learned trial Judge in his judgment when he says:
Regulation 8 seems to me to require that the head teacher must first be satisfied that the plaintiff's expulsion is necessary or desirable for the purpose of maintaining discipline or order in the school before he issued the order. It also implies that the head teacher is required to make a decision before issuing the order. Before taking such a decision there must be some process whereby the head teacher can satisfy himself of the pupil's misconduct justifying the expulsion."
The learned trial Judge next considered the question as to whether an order made by a head teacher under reg. 8 may be judicially reviewed. In considering that question he cited the following passage from de Smith on Judicial Review of Administrative Action, 1st Ed, at pages 61-62:
In considering the scope of judicial review, a further broad distinction must be drawn between ministerial, legislative, and executive or administrative powers, on the one hand and judicial powers, on the other. The validity of the exercise of ministerial, administrative and legislative powers affecting the legal interests of individuals is always open to challenge in the Courts, unless judicial review has been excluded, directly or indirectly, by the relevant legislation. If the exercise of the power is predicated on findings of law or fact, the correctness of those findings may be impugned directly or in any appropriate form of collateral proceedings - e.g., by resisting an action or prosecution for enforcement of the order, by bringing an action for a declaration that the order is null and void, or by suing the actor for a civil wrong."
He then referred to a dictum of RL Narasimham CJ in Sahu v. N Padhy, Principal, Khallikete College, Berhampur AIR 1959 Orissa 196 to the effect that it is indeed very difficult to decide whether a particular order is quasijudicial or administrative, and then reached the conclusion that although the word "decide" is not used in reg. 8 the effect of the language used seems to support the view that the order of the head teacher is a quasi-judicial order. He then went on to say:
The clement of 'decision' which I think is a necessary ingredient when exercising a judicial function may be implied from the language used. Furthermore, the fact that the Regulations also make provision for an appeal against the 'decision' of the head teacher (reg 10) tends to strengthen my view that it is a quasi-judicial order.
Again, with respect, I entirely agree.
It being agreed that the functions of the first defendant under reg. 8 were quasi-judicial and not merely administrative, it follows that in the making of an order under the regulation he had to observe the rules of natural justice. As to the requirements of natural justice, their Lordships of the Privy Council in University of Ceylon v. Fernando [1960] All ER 631, 637 expressed approval of the following general statement of the law by Harman J in Byrne v. Kinematograph Renters Society, Ltd: [1958] 2 All ER 579, 599
What, then, are the requirements of natural justice in a case of this kind? First, I think that the person accused should know the nature of the accusation made; secondly, that he should be given an opportunity to state his case; and, thirdly, of course, that the tribunal should act in good faith. I do not think that there really is anything more.
In Ridge v. Baldwin [1964] AC 40, 64, 65, 80 Lord Hodson said:
No one, I think, disputes that three features of natural justice stand out - (1) the right to be heard by an unbiased tribunal; (2) the right to have notice of charges of misconduct; (3) the right to be heard in answer to those charges.
Taking first the requirement of natural justice that a quasi-judicial tribunal should be unbiased and should act in good faith, it is abundantly clear that the first defendant was not actuated by any unlawful motive in making the order of expulsion against the plaintiff. In this connection I need do no more than to repeat the conclusions of the learned trial judge. This is what he said:-
It is needless for me to repeat that it is abundantly clear from the evidence that DW1 had good reasons for wanting to expel the plaintiff. In these circumstances, I find that the plaintiff's allegations that the 1st defendant had acted unlawfully, maliciously, capriciously and without valid reasons are without substance and ill-founded. To my mind, there is no shadow of a doubt as to the honesty and bona fide of the head teacher.
I need hardly add that the first and fundamental element of natural justice was therefore complied with.
As regards the requirement of natural justice that the person accused should know the nature of the accusations made, the learned Judge took the view that the question before the Court was whether the plaintiff before the expulsion order was made, acquired adequate notice of his impending expulsion and, if he did, whether an adequate opportunity to explain was accorded to him. With respect, the rules of natural justice did not require that the plaintiff should have been given adequate notice of his impending expulsion. What the rules of natural justice required was that the nature of the occupations, as opposed to the punishment which could be inflicted upon him if those accusations were proved to be true, was made known to him. And there is ample evidence to show that he was told of specific instances of misbehaviour at the talentime show on 1 April 1968 and other instances of misbehaviour on previous occasions. I do not see therefore how it can be argued that this requirement of natural justice was not complied with.
That brings me to the only other, perhaps the most important, of the requirements of natural justice, namely, that the person accused should be given an opportunity to state his case. That this requirement of natural justice postulates the holding of some sort of inquiry is beyond question, but there is no universal formula as regards the procedure to be adopted in conducting the inquiry.
The right of a person to an inquiry has been defined in varying language in a large number of cases covering a wide field. It was laid down in Board of Education v. Rice [1911] AC 179 that a tribunal holding a quasi- judicial hearing is not bound to treat the inquiry as if it were a judicial trial. That was a case in which the Board of Education was required to dispose of a question which was the subject of an appeal to it. Lord Loreburn LC said (p. 182):
In such cases the Board of Education will have to ascertain the law and also to ascertain the facts. I need not add that in doing either they must act in good faith and fairly listen to both sides, for that is a duty lying upon everyone who
decides anything. But I do not think they are bound to treat such a question as though it were a trial. They have no power to administer an oath, and need not examine witnesses. They can obtain information in any way they think best, always giving a fair opportunity to those who are parties in the controversy for correcting or contradicting any relevant statement prejudicial to their view.
The above case was cited with approval in Local Government Board v. Arlidge [1915] AC 120 in which Lord Shaw of Dunfermline said (p. 138):
The words 'natural justice' occur in arguments and sometimes in judicial pronouncements in such cases. My Lords, when a central administrative board deals with an appeal from a local authority it must do its best to act justly, and to reach just ends by just means. If a statute prescribes the means it must employ them. If it is left without express guidance it must still act honestly and by honest means. In regard to these certain ways and methods of judicial procedure may very likely be imitated; and lawyer-like methods may find especial favour from lawyers. But that the judiciary should presume to impose its own methods on administrative or executive officers is a usurpation. And the assumption that the methods of natural justice are ex necessitate those of Courts of justice is wholly unfounded. This is expressly applicable to steps of procedure or forms of pleading.
Lord Parmoor in delivering the judgment of the Privy Council in De Verteuil v. Knaggs [1918] AC 557, 560 said:
... Their Lordships are of opinion that in making such an inquiry there is, apart from special circumstances, a duty of giving to any person against whom the complaint is made a fair opportunity to make any relevant statement which he may desire to bring forward and a fair opportunity to correct or controvert any relevant statement brought forward to his prejudice. It must, however, be borne in mind that there may be special circumstances which would justify a Governor, acting in good faith, to take action even if he did not give an opportunity to the person affected to make any relevant statement, or to correct or controvert any relevant statement brought forward to his prejudice. For instance, a decision may have to be given on an emergency, when promptitude is of great importance; or there might be obstructive conduct on the part of the person affected.
Lord Atkin in the case of General Medical Council v. Spackman [1943] 2 All ER 337, 341 expressed his view on the subject in these words:-
Some analogy exists no doubt between the various procedures of this and other not strictly judicial bodies; but I cannot think that the procedure which may be very just in deciding whether to close a school or an insanitary house in necessarily right in deciding a charge of infamous conduct against a professional man.
Tucker LJ in Russell v. Duke of Norfolk [1949] 1 All ER 109, 118 said something to the same effect in the following words:-
There are, in my view, no words which are of universal application to every kind of inquiry and every kind of domestic tribunal. The requirements of natural justice must depend on the circumstances of the case, the nature of the inquiry, the rules under which the tribunal is acting, the subject-matter that is being dealt with, and so forth.
All the above cases were cited with approval by the Privy Council in University of Ceylon v. Fernando [1960] 1 All ER 631, 637 in which Lord Jenkins delivering the judgment of the Board summed up their effect as follows (p. 637):
... the question whether the requirements of natural justice have been met by the procedure adopted in any given case must depend to a great extent on the facts and circumstances of the case in point.
Lord Reid in Ridge v. Baldwin AC 40, 64, 65 80 said (p. 65):
... It appears to me that one reason why the authorities on natural justice have been found difficult to reconcile is that insufficient attention has been paid to the great difference between various kinds of cases in which it has been sought to apply the principle.
To my mind, the result of all these judgments is that a quasi-judicial body is free to adopt its own rules of procedure, provided they are fair having regard to the circumstances of the case. This is particularly so when there is no procedure laid down in the relevant provision of law under which the quasijudicial body is authorised to act.
It is clear from the evidence, as I have already said, that specific allegations of misbehaviour at the talentime show and on previous occasions were made against the plaintiff when he was called by the first defendant to the office on 2 April 1968. The first defendant stated on oath that he called the plaintiff and two other boys to his office on that day to investigate the validity of the reports which had been made to him regarding the plaintiffs misbehaviour and to decide on what course of action to take. It. cannot be denied, therefore, that the first defendant was in fact holding an inquiry into the allegations made against the plaintiff. The allegations or charges or accusations having been made known to the plaintiff, the question which arises is whether he was given an opportunity to state his case.
The right of a person to be heard before any order is made to his detriment is embodied in the maxim audi alteram partem. Speaking of what Lord Reid said in the House of Lords in Ridge v. Baldwin [1964] AC 40, 64, 65, 80 regarding the different categories of cases in which that maxim should apply, Lord Upjohn delivering the judgment of the Privy Council in Durayappah v. Fernando [1967] 2 AC 337, 349 said:
In that case no attempt was made to give an exhaustive classification of the cases where the principle audi alteram partem should be applied. In their Lordships opinion it would be wrong to do so. Outside well-known cases such as dismissal from office, deprivation of property and expulsion from clubs, there is a vast area where the principle can only be applied upon most general considerations. ... Outside the well-known classes of cases, no general rule can be laid down as to the application of the general principle in addition to the language of the provision. In their Lordships' opinion there are three matters which must always be borne in mind when considering whether the principle should be applied or not. These three matters are: first, what is the nature of the property, the office held, status enjoyed or services to be performed by the complainant of injustice. Secondly, in what circumstances or upon what occasions is the person claiming to be entitled to exercise the measure of control entitled to intervene. Thirdly, when a right to intervene is proved, what sanctions in fact is the latter entitled to impose upon the other. It is only upon a consideration of all these matters that the question of the application of the principle can properly be determined.
In R v. Senate of the University of Aston [1969] 2 All ER 964 the divisional Court was faced with applications for certiorari and mandamus by two students who had been sent down for failure in examinations and who complained that they had been given no opportunity to make representations before their fate was decided. In fact the various authorities of the university had considered and reconsidered the matter anxiously in a series of meetings, in the course of which they, fully heard the students' explanations. But in law the effective act was the initial decision of the examiners that the students be required to withdraw. This decision was taken without reference to them, and various personal and non-academic circumstances were taken into account. The divisional Court found that this amounted to a denial of natural justice. But they refused the relief sought, since the students had let over seven months pass before taking legal action, and the prerogative remedies "should not be available to those who sleep upon their rights". Donaldson J in the course of his judgment in the case said:
... Whatever may be the position elsewhere, students at Aston are members of the university and he was being deprived of his membership.
In my judgment it is not right to treat the principle of audi alteram partem as something divorced from the concept of natural justice, although it will certainly not apply in every case in which there is a right to natural justice. Where, however, it does apply, it is an integral part of natural justice and may indeed lie at its heart.
As stated in the note on the above case in the 1969 Law Quarterly Review (vol 85) at page 469, the decision that students are in principle entitled to natural justice is yet another example of the Courts' insistence that all kinds of persons in authority should respect the fundamentals of fair procedure, and it would seem clear from the authorities that where the person concerned is faced with some sort of charge the maxim audi alteram partem must apply.
As I have said, what the first defendant was required to do in the observance of the rules of natural justice was to state the charges against the plaintiff, which he clearly did. There is ample evidence to show that the plaintiff did in fact answer all the charges, which meant that he availed himself of the opportunity given to him to state his case. He admitted some of the charges and denied the others. For example, he admitted occupying a $3-seat after paying for a $2-seat and laughing and leaving the hall a few times during the show to cause interruption. The first defendant informed the plaintiff of his misbehaviour with the Prefects' Board, which the plaintiff admitted. He brought to the plaintiff's notice his attitude towards the prefects. To this charge the plaintiff had nothing to say, and he just kept quiet. He was told that when it suited him he brought a medical certificate in order to be absent from afternoon games, and yet he was found playing games other than those that he was supposed to play. He admitted running away from school activities, but added by way of explanation that it did not hurt him if he played badminton. Indeed, the only allegations which the plaintiff denied were that he shouted filthy words and flicked matches.
The first defendant stated in evidence that be expelled the plaintiff because of the cumulative effect of his behaviour including reports about his being found on two separate occasions with a girl in a closed class-room in defiance of what he was told not to do. And he went on to say that every time something had been brought up against the plaintiff in the past, he was given a chance to answer. Admittedly, he consulted with his colleagues and obtained their reports as regards the general behaviour and conduct of the plaintiff prior to his becoming the headmaster of the school on 1 January 1968, but there is not the slightest indication from the evidence that he did this in order to strengthen the case for the plaintiffs expulsion. On the other hand, his evidence was that he decided to consult his colleagues in order to countercheck his convictions. This would seem to suggest that had the reports which he received from his colleagues been favourable the plaintiff might never have been expelled. The first defendant had received all these reports by 10 April 1968 and his evidence is that mentally he expelled the plaintiff on the same day, so that the giving of his decision on 6 May 1968 amounted to nothing more than the promulgation of a decision already made.
It was contended on behalf of the plaintiff in the Court below, and this in fact is the main contention in support of the judgment appealed from, that he should have been called upon to show cause why he should not be expelled. In other words, the contention is that the first defendant, having held one inquiry on 2 April 1968 to satisfy himself of the truth or falsity of the allegations against the plaintiff on the basis of which he might make an order for the plaintiff's expulsion, should have gone on to hold another inquiry merely to enable the plaintiff to show cause why he should not be expelled. I do not agree with that contention. On the basis of the plaintiff's admission of a number of allegations against him, to which I have referred earlier in my judgment, it was open to the first defendant to hold himself satisfied that it was necessary or desirable for the purpose of maintaining discipline or order in the school to expel the plaintiff. The fact that the first defendant consulted with his colleagues before making the order did not, in my view, in itself involve any violation of the requirements of natural justice. I say this in view of the first defendant's evidence that he decided on 10 April or even earlier on 2 April that the plaintiff should be expelled, but that he executed that decision after he came back from Johore Bahru.
To sum up, as reg. 8, which invested the first defendant with a quasi-judicial function here in question, prescribes no special form of procedure, it was for him to determine the procedure to be followed as he thought best, subject to the obvious implication that some form of inquiry was to be held, such as would enable him fairly to determine whether he should hold himself satisfied that the allegations against the plaintiff had been made out, and that he had to do his best to act justly and to reach just ends by just means. It is clear that the first defendant did hold some sort of inquiry on 2 April 1968 and that at this inquiry he gave the plaintiff every opportunity to defend himself. The plaintiff admitted some of the accusations, on the basis of which it was open to the first defendant to make the order of expulsion. For the maintenance of discipline and order in any school a head teacher cannot be expected to hold an elaborate inquiry before making an order. In my judgment, a school comes under the category of that vast area where the principle of audi alteram partem can only be applied upon most general considerations, as stated by the Privy Council in Durayappah v. Fernando. [1967] 2 AC 337, 349 I would conclude by saying that in my opinion the first defendant acted justly and reached just ends by just means in making the order of expulsion against the plaintiff.
I would allow the appeal and set aside the order made in the Court below. The appellants are to have their costs of this appeal and in the High Court.
JUDGMENT
Ali FJ:
The respondent, a minor, was expelled from his school, The King George v. School, Seremban, by the head teacher, the first appellant, exercising power conferred by reg. 8 of Education (School Discipline) Regulations 1959. The regulation provides:
8 .Whenever it appears to the satisfaction of the head teacher of any school -
(a) ) to be necessary or desirable for the purpose of maintaining discipline or order in any school that any pupil should be suspended or expelled; or
(b)that any pupil has contravened the provisions of reg. 7,
he may by order suspend such pupil from attendance at such school for such period as he may think fit, or expel him from such school.
The respondent or his father promptly but unsuccessfully appealed to the Board of Governors under reg. 10. He could have taken the matter further to the Minister but he did not do so. Instead he sued the head teacher, the Board of Governors as well as the Minister of Education for a declaration that the expulsion was null and void and of no effect. As consequential reliefs, he prayed for an order of reinstatement and also claimed damages. He succeeded in obtaining the declaration as well as an order reinstating him as a pupil of the school, but his claim for damages failed. From the written judgment the learned trial Judge seems satisfied that the respondent was not given an opportunity to be heard in his defence before he was expelled. Thereupon he concluded that there has been a breach of the principle of natural justice. If the matter had come to the Court by way of a motion for an order of certiorari the declaration made would have the effect of an order quashing the decision of the head teacher and was sufficient to enable the respondent to be re-admitted as a pupil of the school. So far as the order of reinstatement is now a ground of appeal, I shall dispose of it in a few words. I agree with the appellants that the trial Court ought not to have made the order. But on record it would appear that at the time when this appeal came for hearing before us, the respondent had virtually left the school and was only waiting to enter a university. He was able to return to the school, despite his expulsion, because of a consent order made by Yong J in July 1968. In the event the point taken by the appellants can only be of academic interest. The order of reinstatement, even if set aside, will not adversely affect the respondent.
The substantial dispute, here and below, is whether the respondent was given an opportunity to be heard in his defence before he was expelled. That seems clear from the pleadings and from the evidence at the trial. In coming to the conclusion that the respondent was not given a fair opportunity, the learned trial Judge had, presumably, considered the evidence of the respondent himself and that of the head teacher, the first appellant. The facts established, so far as these were not in dispute, are as follows:
On 6 May 1968, the head teacher informed the respondent that he was expelled from the school. He was not told of the reasons for his expulsion. His father and his solicitors wrote asking for the reasons in order to formulate their grounds of appeal to the Board of Governors. They were unsuccessful. After hearing the appeal the board informed the respondent's father by a letter on 1 June 1968 confirming the head teacher's decision. Thirteen days later he commenced the action in this appeal.
Broadly stated, the respondent's case rested on two main grounds, namely:-
(a) the head teacher had acted maliciously, capriciously, wrongfully and without any lawful reason. (See para 9 of the statement of claim - page 10 of the record).
(b) both the head teacher and the Board of Governors acted unlawfully and against the rules of natural justice. (See para 11 of the statement of claim - page 10 of the record).
The learned trial Judge rejected (a) saying:
It is needless for me to repeat that it is abundantly clear from the evidence that DW1 had good reasons for wanting to expel the plaintiff. In these circumstances, I find that the plaintiff's allegations that the 1st defendant had acted unlawfully, maliciously, capriciously and without valid reasons are without substance and ill-founded. To my mind, there is no shadow of a doubt as to the honesty and bona fide of the head teacher.
Inasmuch as there is no cross appeal by the respondent against this finding, I need say no more about it. But as regards (b), the learned trial Judge as stated earlier, found that the respondent was not given a fair opportunity to be heard. It was a finding based on the evidence and on the view taken of the law relating to natural justice. In the light of the arguments addressed to the Court, I consider it of the utmost importance that there should be a clear understanding of the written judgment. Without this it will be extremely difficult to say whether or not the learned trial Judge has applied the legal principles correctly. I have endeavoured to the best of my ability to adopt this line of approach and in so doing have come to the view that the judgment of the trial Court should be upheld as reasonable so far as it was founded on evidence and that the learned trial Judge has applied the legal principles correctly.
On the issue whether or not the respondent was given a fair opportunity to be heard, the dispute turned solely on the interview at the head teacher's office on 2 April 1968. The respondent's evidence of the interview was:
The headmaster accused me of misbehaving at the talentime show. He first accused me, then started scolding. There was no other charge or accusation levelled against me on that day. The headmaster never advised me. He only said that 'at the rate you are going on, one of these days you'll find this knife stabbed at your back.' I was scared.
Shortly put, the respondent thus clearly admitted that the report of misconduct at the talentime show was put to him in some details and that he was given a fair opportunity to explain. But as far as he was concerned no other charge of misconduct was put to him on that day. The head teacher swore to the contrary. He said besides the talentime show report he also put to the respondent various other reports of misconduct. The manner in which he put them was described in these words:
I informed the plaintiff of his misbehaviour with the Prefects' Board and plaintiff admitted. I also brought to his notice his attitude towards the prefects and he had nothing to say about it. Plaintiff just kept quiet. I also told him that when it suits him he brought a medical certificate in order to be absent from afternoon games, and yet he was found playing games other than that he was supposed to play. It was not really a medical certificate but a letter from the father saying he was ill. I told him that he was running away from school activities. He admitted but said that the pain does not hurt him if he plays badminton. I also told him that as a pupil his primary task was to develop wholesome habits in the academic and extra-curricular fields, and reports of his academic progress from his teachers were far from satisfactory. He denied it. I meant not up to the mark when I said far from satisfactory. I showed him certain remarks - remarks written by teachers in his own books which I initialled myself. The remarks were that he was far from satisfactory and a bad influence in the class.
Later on he said:-
I took into consideration all these before I came to my decision. Before I came to my decision I both discussed and explored my convictions. By that time a number of reports were made against the plaintiff.
Further in para 7 of his affidavit affirmed on 4 July 1968 he referred to the interview on 2 April stating:-
... I considered taking expulsion action against the plaintiff. With that in view I consulted my senior teachers and the form teacher who were all of the view that in view of the plaintiff's extremely bad conduct and character he should be expelled. After several discussions and receiving all verbal reports from the form teacher I decided to expel the plaintiff. This decision was taken by me on the 10 April 1968.
But to questions in cross-examination he gave a weak reply in these words:-
I did not tell the plaintiff that 'these are the charges, and unless you have a satisfactory explanation I am going to expel you'. I did say to the plaintiff that I will probably expel or take action - something to that effect.
On the evidence such as it was, the learned trial Judge concluded in these words:-
In the light of the principles laid down in the cases cited above, I am satisfied that in the circumstances of the present case a mere warning by DW1 that the plaintiff may probably be expelled fell short of the requirements of natural justice. DW1, in my opinion, omitted to provide adequate notice to the plaintiff to enable him to truly appreciate the exact nature and purpose of the proceedings when
he interviewed the plaintiff at his office on 2 April 1968. In my view, such omission had the necessary effect of depriving the plaintiff of a fair opportunity of being heard.
The appellants are now saying that this conclusion proceeded on an erroneous view of the principle of natural justice. It is not easy to discover the true basis of the complaint from the memorandum of appeal for there it is merely stated that there was sufficient compliance with the principle of natural justice. But upon reading the learned Solicitor-General's written submission, it became clear to me that certain passages from the written judgement were being criticised as expressing an erroneous view of the law. In para 3 on page 8 of the written submission the grounds of appeal were enlarged in these terms:-
The learned Judge should have held that the requirements of natural justice have been fully complied with. None of the cases on natural justice has ever gone so far as to require that the respondent must be told that he would be expelled unless he explained. Further, none of these cases has ever gone so far as to say that natural justice can only be complied with by holding an inquiry as if it is a formal trial.
This statement, I think, was largely prompted by certain passages appearing in the judgment of the learned trial judge. One passage reads:
I am satisfied that on 2 April 1968, DW1 had sufficient evidence relating to instances of the plaintiff's misconduct in his possession to justify him to commence proceedings to expel the plaintiff. I have carefully considered the evidence given by the plaintiff and head teacher and I form the impression that the plaintiff was not telling the truth to this Court when he denied the allegations. On the other hand, I accept the evidence given by DW1 I have not the slightest doubt that the allegations of the plaintiff's misconduct are well-founded. It is apparent from the evidence that the plaintiff is an intelligent pupil but it is most unfortunate that his conduct has not matched his mental qualities. The reports received by DW1 irresistibly show that the plaintiff was not only irresponsible, arrogant, spoilt and conceited, but also inconsiderate and had no respect for authority.
Another reads as follows:-
It is needless for me to repeat that it is abundantly clear from the evidence that DW1 had good reasons for wanting to expel the plaintiff. In these circumstances, I find that the plaintiff's allegations that the first defendant had acted unlawfully, maliciously, capriciously and without valid reasons are without substance and ill-founded. To my mind, there is no shadow of a doubt as to the honesty and bona fide of the head teacher.
The question before the Court is whether the plaintiff, before the expulsion order was issued, acquired adequate notice of his impending expulsion and, if he did, whether an adequate opportunity to explain was accorded him. In short, whether DW1 before arriving at a decision to expel the plaintiff did apply some form of procedure in compliance with the rules of natural justice.
Having said all these, he made the following finding of facts:-
... In any event, it is, I think, abundantly clear that at no time did DW1 give any definite intimation or warning to the plaintiff during the interview on 2 April 1968, that he was going to be expelled unless he could give an explanation. He could not in the circumstances have done so since at that time no definite action was contemplated by DW1 DW1 admitted in the affidavit on page 18 of Ex P1 that he only decided the expulsion after several discussions and receiving verbal reports from the form teacher.
I would summarise the passages thus referred to in this way. Though satisfied that there might be valid grounds for the respondent's expulsion, the learned trial Judge was not satisfied that the respondent was given a fair opportunity to exculpate himself or to prove his innocence. The reason given was that on 2 April 1968 the respondent was not told in definite terms that he was before the head teacher in an enquiry to consider his expulsion from the school. Perhaps it is true that no case on natural justice has ever gone so far as to require the head teacher to inform the respondent the purpose of the enquiry. But, as pointed out by Lord Reid in Ridge v. Baldwin & Ors [1964] 40, 64, 65, 80 cases on natural justice are not easy to reconcile inasmuch as they were concerned with different kinds of situations.
What a minister ought to do in considering objections to a scheme may be very different from what a watch committee ought to do in considering whether or not to dismiss a chief constable. Likewise, it can be said that what a police commissioner ought to do in considering the revocation of a taxi driver's licence as in the case of Regina v. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ex parte Parker [1953] 1 WLR 1150 may well be different from what a head teacher of a school ought to do in considering the expulsion of a pupil under reg. 8 of Education (School Discipline) Regulations 1959. I mention this merely to illustrate the difficulty which sometimes arises from an attempt to extend the words of a particular judgment in a decided case to the circumstances of another case. Lord Reid in Ridge v. Baldwin, supra, realised such difficulty when he said on page 64:
... The authorities on the applicability of the principles of natural justice are in some confusion, and so I find it necessary to examine this matter in some detail. The principle audi alteram partem goes back many centuries in our law and appears in a multitude of judgments of judges of the highest authority. In modern times opinions have sometimes been expressed to the effect that natural justice is so vague as to be practically meaningless. ... It appears to me that one reason why the authorities on natural justice have been found difficult to reconcile is that insufficient attention has been paid to the great difference between various kinds of cases in which it has been sought to apply the principle.
The present case is no different from those referred to by Lord Reid for the difficulty, if at all there is any, would really lie in the application of the principle audi alteram partem to the facts of this case. Fortunately, however, the dispute here raises no difficulty in understanding the issue between the parties. I have already referred to the issue. So far as the trial Court's decision on the issue was in favour of the respondent the appellants have the unenviable task of challenging it on the ground that it was unreasonable having regard to the evidence. In other words, it must be shown that the finding of fact was against the weight of evidence. In my judgment whatever view is to be taken of the evidence the inescapable conclusion would be that no proper or fair opportunity was given to the respondent to prove his innocence. If the respondent did not know that he was going to be expelled it is reasonable to infer that he could not possibly know the significance of giving any explanation to avoid expulsion. The head teacher's evidence carefully examined disclosed nothing more than a severe reprimand or a warning that the respondent would find himself in trouble if he persisted in behaving the way he was reported to have behaved in the past. The expulsion announced on 6 May 1968 surprised the respondent as, indeed, it must. If he had known earlier, positive steps would have been taken for his father and other members of his family are persons who would use every means at their disposal to fight the expulsion. As it were nothing positive was done until after 6 May For reasons already stated, I would dismiss this appeal.
I have so far avoided making detailed references to the cases cited by the learned trial Judge or by the learned Solicitor-General. The main reason, as indicated earlier, is to avoid saying anything which may cause confusion or difficulty in understanding the consideration of the principle involved. This principle so far as it seems relevant to this appeal is best expressed in the words of Lord Reid in Ridge v. Baldwin supra.
On page 80 it is stated thus:
... The body with the power to decide cannot lawfully proceed to make a decision until it has afforded to the person affected a proper opportunity to state his case.
It is also to be found in the judgment of Viscount Haldane, LC in Local Government Board v. Arlidge [1915] AC 120 on page 132 as follows:
...I agree with the view expressed in an analogous case by my noble and learned friend Lord Loreburn. In Board of Education v. Rice he laid down that, in disposing of a question which was the subject of an appeal to it, the Board of Education was under a duty to act in good faith, and to listen fairly to both sides, inasmuch as that was a duty which lay on every one who decided anything. But he went on to say that he did not think it was bound to treat such question as though it were a trial. The Board had no power to administer an oath, and need not examine witnesses. It could, he thought, obtain information in any way it thought best, always giving a fair opportunity to those who were parties in the controversy to correct or contradict any relevant statement prejudicial to their view.
The passage just quoted was also referred to by Lord Jenkins in his judgment in the University of Ceylon v. Fernando. [1960] 1 All ER 631, 637 See particularly the judgment on page 638. From these passages it would appear to me that any opportunity given to a person affected must be fair or proper opportunity as otherwise it cannot come within the rule of natural justice. It was this more than anything else which led the trial Court to conclude that there has been a violation of the principle audi alteram partem.
In the course of the arguments before us, it was also urged on behalf of the appellants that the principle audi alteram partem need not, in the circumstances of the present case, be applied. I recall this as having been said by the learned Solicitor-General more than once. I also recall as having been said that this was a new point or a novel proposition of law. Such as it was, it is not surprising that authority on the point is difficult to find. However, the arguments proceeded on the basis that unlike a university student, a pupil of a school has no right. It was said that he has no right under the Education Act. If this was a reason for the view that the principle i audi alteram partem is inapplicable, I cannot, with respect, accept it as sound. The right to be heard in one's defence is a common law right unrelated to any other rights. Since the judgment of Lord Reid in Ridge v. Baldwin, supra, there is, at least, some doubt whether the principle audi alteram partem applies only when a tribunal making a decision is performing a judicial or quasi- judicial function. In the Law Report dated 23 March 1970 Lord Denning was reported to have said in the Court of Appeal in the case of i Regina v. Gaming Board for Great Britain Ex parte Benaim and Khaida [1970] 2 WLR 1009; [1970] 2 All ER 528 this:-
At one time it was said that the principles only applied to judicial and not to administrative proceedings; but that was not accepted in i Ridge v. Baldwin. At another time they were said not to apply to the grant or refusal of licences, but speeches in the Ridge case showed that that, too, was now wrong.
In the same case Lord Denning also referred to Lord Parker in Re HK (An lnfant) [1967] 2 QB 617 as having said on page 630:-
Even if an immigration officer is not in a judicial or quasi-judicial capacity, he must at any rate give the immigrant an opportunity of satisfying him of the matters in the subsection, and for that purpose let the immigrant know what his immediate impression is so that the immigrant can disabuse him. That is not a question of acting or being required to act judicially, but of being required to act fairly."
The trend of modern decisions, as it seems to me, would negative the suggestion that as a condition precedent to its applicability it must be established that the respondent has some right before the principle audi alteram partem can be applied. In the course of his arguments the learned Solicitor-General has referred to the case of Regina v. Senate of the University of Aston, Ex Parte Roffey and Another, [1969] 2 All ER 964 apparently, in support of his proposition. As I understand the judgment in that case, Donaldson J clearly rejected a submission somewhat similar to the one before us. Admittedly in that case relief was refused but this was because the person seeking relief was found to have slept on his right far too long to justify interference; and interference is, of course, a matter within the discretionary power of the Court.
Finally, I come to the question of costs. As may be noticed, the respondent had proceeded by way of an action for a declaration. This in itself may not be objectionable. But he also claimed damages which was rightly dismissed by the trial Court. But the reason which leads me to the view that he should not get costs altogether is because he failed to exhaust the remedies open to him under the law before coming to Court. After the rejection of his appeal by the Board of Governors, he could or should have appealed further to the Minister. He had the right to do this under reg. 10. On record he did not appear to have done so and I regard this as a serious omission. Successful though he may be in this appeal, he cannot have costs here or below. There will be no order as to costs.
JUDGMENT
Suffian A-G LP:
I have had the advantage of reading in draft the two judgments that have just been delivered, and with respect I concur with the judgment of my brother Gill.
Accordingly the order of the Court is that this appeal be allowed with costs here and below.
Appeal allowed.