Asri: Rather go secular if politics exploits religion

Former Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said the concept of a secular state was better if religion was going to be exploited for political gains.

"Politics and religion should combine because religion guides politics. But when religion becomes a political tool, then I'm more willing (to accept) a secular state.

"I prefer a country that separates religion and politics because if religion is being exploited for politics then at least the religion is safe and only politicians face flak.

Singapore’s success should be a wake up call to Malaysia

By Daniel John Jambun
KOTA KINABALU : The latest report which says that Singapore is the wealthiest nation in the world by GDP per capita, beating out Norway, the U.S., Hong Kong and Switzerland, has further embarrassed our own country, Malaysia, which is Singapore’s closest neighbour and economic rival.

This report is especially painful for Malaysia because we know Singapore started off as an island of fishing villages with no natural resources.

5 Indonesian citizens killed by PDRM

Fadli of The Jakarta Post, Batam

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) expects to conduct a joint investigation with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, or Suhakam, to look into the killing of five Indonesian citizens by members of the Royal Malaysian Police.

The Indonesian government has been criticized for its seemingly lax response to the issue, amid already low levels of public approval of its efforts to protect Indonesian citizens overseas.

The Malaysian Insider: For young Malay couples, an increasingly high price to getting wed

Berikut adalah satu artikel dari Malaysian Insider mengenai duit hantaran (dowry) dan mas kahwin yang semakin tinggi dibayar oleh lelaki Muslim di Malaysia kepada ibubapa perempuan dan Jabatan Agama.

Mengikut Quran dan hadith, hantaran (dowry) sepatutnya diberi kepada perempuan yang berkahwin, bukan ibubapa mereka. Dan ini bukan sebagai "bayaran" tapi sebagai hadiah dan membantu mereka mendirikan sebuah rumahtangga. Saya pun tak faham kenapa kena beri RM500-700 sebagai mas kahwin kepada Jabatan Agama sebab Jabatan Agama sudah ada banyak duit dan bukan Jabatan Agama yang nak kahwin.

Greece and illicit money flows

The Greek economy lost 261 billion US$ to crime, corruption and tax evasion from 2003 to 2011.

Greece also experienced massive inflows of illicit money in 2010 and 2011.

This means at least two things, according to Global Financial Integrity:

1. If it were not for tax havens, Greece would never have needed a bail-out.
2. The Greek (shadow) economy continues to grow at an increasing rate.

For workers and self-employed people at the bottom of the social hierarchy, these data must come as a shock. Or maybe people will say: we knew that already. But for anyone who still believes in the need and the possibility of social justice, these data are just unacceptable.