CPI joins in the call for the rescinding of the ban on the two books and for all civil society organizations and Malaysians to speak out and stand up against the Government's continued attempts to restrict our freedom of information.
Dr. Lim Teck Ghee
INVITATION TO ATTEND SIS PRESS CONFERENCE ON 19 AUGUST 2008 (TUESDAY) at 10.30 AM*
17 August 2008
Dear Friends,
Sisters in Islam would like to invite all friends, academicians and supporters to attend our press conference. It will be a platform for you to express your views on the book banning and its effect on the freedom of information.
On 14 August 2008, Bernama and other media organisation announced that the Ministry of Home Affairs had banned two books, namely, "Pelik Tapi Benar Dalam Solat", by Ustaz Abdul Rahman Mohamed, published by Telaga Biru Sdn Bhd, and another titled as, "Muslim Women and the Challenge of Islamic Extremism" by Norani Othman and published by Sisters in Islam, Petaling Jaya dan printed by Vinlin Press Bandar Baru Seri Petaling.
It was announced by the Publications and Quranic Texts Control Division principal assistant secretary Abdul Razak Abdul Latif who said the book was banned for containing twisted facts on Islam that could undermine the faith of Muslims. It came with a prohibition order under Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and if any individuals found to be in possession, do reprints, or distribute the publications will be jailed not more than three years or fine not more than RM 20,000 or both.
Sisters in Islam is deeply concerned with the allegations made against the publications and the fact that there was no communication prior to the media announcement. SIS hopes that the press conference will help to explain to the public on the contents of the publication. As part of our commitment towards freedom of information, SIS is also taking this opportunity to announce our campaign.
The details are as follows:
Date: 19 August 2008 (Tuesday)
Time: 10.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
Venue: Amada Hotel, Petaling Jaya (nearest LRT – Asia Jaya)*
MALAYAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS' COUNCIL (MCSC) SYMPOSIUM
Theme: MISSION SCHOOLS – MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE NATION Date: Saturday, 16 August 2008 Venue: Methodist College Kuala Lumpur, Off Jalan Tun Sambanthan 4, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur
Programme
Time
8.30 – 9.00 am Registration 9.00 – 9.10 a.m. Welcome Opening Prayer by Bishop Ng Moon Hing 9.10 – 9.30 am Mission Schools – Current Status and Issues by Ms Yin Kam Yoke, Hon. Secretary, MCSC 9.30 – 10.30 am FORUM Part 1 MISSION SCHOOLS – MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE NATION Moderator: Mrs Gloriosa Rajendran Dr Lim Teck Ghee Dr Patricia Martinez Mr Goh Keat Seng 10.30 – 11.00 Tea Break 11.00 – 12.00 Forum Part 2 12.00 – 12.30 Launch of Promotional Resource "Teaching As A Vocation And Mission" 12.30 – 1.30 Lunch 1.30 – 3.00 Parallel Sessions – 7 groups 3.00 – 4.00 Plenary Chairman: Mr A.R. Peter 4.00 – 4.20 Closing Address by YB Ir Dr Wee Ka Siong, Deputy Minister of Education 4.20 – 4.30 Closing Thoughts and Prayer by Mr Yap Kok Keong, Chairman, MCSC 4.30 – 5.00 Tea
Professor Abdul Aziz BARIis lecturing at the Department of Public Law at the International Islamic University.
Tan Sri Dato’ Dr CHIN Fook Weng is a national speaker for Gerakan and a former senator and Associate Professor.
Mr Derek FERNANDES is a town planning lawyer and a member of the Petaling Jaya City Council.
Dr GOH Ban Lee is a retired USM Associate Professor interested in urban governance, housing and urban planning.
Mr Andrew KHOOis the Co-Deputy Chairperson of the Human Rights Committee, with wide interests from parliamentary reform, electoral reform to Free Trade Agreements.
Mr Edward LEEis the state assemblyperson for Bukit Gasing and the President of Resident Association Section 5 Petaling Jaya.
Mr Ronnie LIU is the state assemblyman for Pandamaran, Selangor and the Selangor Government Exco member for Local Government, Study and Research Committee.
Mr Victor OORJITHAM is the Chairman of Maxwell Towers Resident Association (local joint action committee) and former local councilor for Petaling Jaya.
Mr Sivarasa RASIAHis the member of Parliament for Subang and the Vice President of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
Moderators/Organizer Representatives:
Mr Ng Kong Pengis the current Melaka Bar Committee chairman.
Dr Lim Teck Gheeis a former UN advisor and past Director of the Centre for Public Policy Studies in ASLI. He is currently the CEO of the Centre for Policy Initiatives.
Wong Chin Huatis a founding member of Civil Society Parliamentary Initiative for Parliamentary Reform (CSI-Parliament).
CONFERENCE DETAILS
Date : Saturday, 26th July 2008
Time : 8.30am – 4.30pm
Venue : King’s Hotel, No.30, Lebuh Ayer Keroh, 75450 Melaka
REGISTRATION FEE
RM 20.00
(Registration fee includes lunch, tea and seminar materials)
PROGRAMME
8.30-8.45am
Registration
8.45-9.00am
Welcoming Speeches by the Organizers: Dr Lim TG; Mr KP Ng and Mr Wong Chin Huat
9.00-11.00am
Session 1- “Why Local Democracy????
Moderator - Mr Ng Kong Peng
Mr Derek Fernandez – “An Assessment of the Status Quo Under the Current Laws.???
Mr Edward Lee – “The role of civil society in local governance.???
Mr Victor Oorjitham – “The Earlier Experience in the 1970s.???
Question & Answer Session
11.00-11.15am
Tea Break
11.15-1.15pm
Session 2 -“Reviving Local Elections : The State Solutions???
Moderator- Dr Lim Teck Ghee
Mr Andrew Khoo – “How the State can do it.???
Mr Ronnie Liu – “Why the State has not done it.???
Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Chin Fook Weng- “Gerakan’s Position On Local Elections???
Question & Answer Session
1.15-2.00pm
Lunch
2.00-4.00pm
Session 3-“Reviving Local Elections : The Federal Solutions???
Moderator- Andrew Khoo
Professor Abdul Aziz Bari – “ Institutional Reforms and Federal-State Relations???
Mr Sivarasa Rasiah MP – “The Parliamentary Mechanism: Private Members’ Bill and Select Committee???
Dr Goh Ban Lee – “The Constitutional Mechanism: “National Council of Local Governments.???
Question & Answer Session
4.00-4.30 pm
-Closing & Tea
4.30pm onwards
a guided tour of the Historical City of Melaka (optional)
Co-organized by :-
? The Melaka Bar Committee
? Civil Society Initiative for Parliamentary Reform (CSI-Parliament)
Invitation to SIS PUBLIC Lecture by Prof. John L. Esposito
9 Aug 08, Sat, 4.30pm at Crown Princess Hotel Jalan Tun Razak KL : "The Future of Islam : Reformation or Stagnation????
SIS is pleased to invite you and your friends to our upcoming PUBLIC LECTURE by the renowned scholar Prof John Esposito of Georgetown University, Washington DC . He has written more than 35 books and his recent publication (2008) is Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think. We hope you won't miss the opportunity to attend this interesting and thought-provoking lecture and participate in the discussion, particularly on Malaysian context.
Event : *SIS PUBLIC LECTURE*
Speaker : *Prof. John L. Esposito*
Title : *The Future of Islam : Reformation or Stagnation?
Date : *9 August 2008 (Saturday)*
Time : * 4.30 – 6.30 pm *
Venue : *Crown Princess Hotel, Jalan Tun Razak KL* (nearest LRT station : Ampang Park )
Admission is *FREE*
Please confirm your kind attendance with *Ms Azareena at 03 77856121 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
*Synopsis*
In the 21st century, Islam will continue to vie with evangelical Christianity as the fastest growing of the world's religions. Religion continues to be a powerful component in Muslim politics and society, a source for spirituality and guidance, of peace and reconciliation as well as of opposition and violence. Key questions and issues remain the subject of concern, debate and fears among many Muslims and non-Muslims alike: Is the future of Islam to be one of reformation or revolution? How representative and widespread is Islamic fundamentalism? Is it a threat to Muslim societies and the West? Are Islam and modernity compatible? Is Islam compatible with modern notions of democracy, rule of law, gender equality and human rights? Can Muslim minority communities be loyal citizens in America and Europe or for that matter Thailand and the Philippines ?
*Brief Biodata : *
John L. Esposito is University Professor, Professor of Religion and International Affairs and of Islamic Studies and Founding Director of the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at the Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University . Esposito specializes in Islam, political Islam from North Africa to Southeast Asia , and Religion and International Affairs.
He is editor-in-chief of the four-volume The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World, The Oxford History of Islam, The Oxford Dictionary of Islam, The Islamic World: Past and Present, the six-volume The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World and Oxford Islamic Studies Online. His more than thirty five books include Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think (with Dalia Mogahed), Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam, The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality?, Islam and Politics, Political Islam: Radicalism, Revolution or Reform?, Islam and Democracy (with J. Voll).
His writings have been translated into more than 28 languages, including Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Bahasa Indonesia, Urdu, European languages, Japanese and Chinese.
A former president of the Middle East Studies Association of North America and the American Council for the Study of Islamic Societies, he is currently a member of the World Economic Forum's Council of 100 Leaders, the High Level Group of the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations and President of the Executive Scientific Committee for La Maison de la Mediterranee's 2005-2010 project, "The Mediterranean, Europe and Islam: Actors in Dialogue." Esposito is a recipient of the American Academy of Religion's 2005 Martin E. Marty Award for the Public Understanding of Religion and of Pakistan 's Quaid-i-Azzam Award for Outstanding Contributions in Islamic Studies. He has served as a consultant to the U.S. Department of State and to governments, corporations, universities, and the media. In 2003 he received the School of Foreign Service , Georgetown University Award for Outstanding Teaching.
