CLS in the News

“Somebody in authority with conscience, please release PSM-6”, that was the cry of Datuk Dr. Ambiga Sreenvasan at the candle light vigil held last night at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, which was greeted by loud cheers from the congregating crowd that included several members of the CLS.

Those gathered came in support for the release of Dr. Michael Jeyakumar, M Saraswathy, Choo Chon Kai, M Sukumaran, A Letchumanan and Sarat Babu. Read more »

The trial of Fr. Paulino Miranda and 20 others resumed on July 25, 2011. The prosecution called ASP Ravi as its witness. ASP Ravi gave evidence that he led a team of 13 arresting officers.

During cross examination he admitted that he did not personally arrest anyone nor could he specify the place of arrest of some of the accused. Read more »

Jill Ireland's application to cross-examine former Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, for issuing orders to confiscate religious CDs three years ago, has been dismissed by the Appellate and Special Powers Division of the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Justice Rohana Yusof, who made the decision in chambers today, allowed a preliminary objection by Syed Hamid and the government on the ground that the application was filed out of time. Read more »

Chief Inspector Ahmad Bin Ishak, Chief Police Officer of PJ Police Station informed the Sessions Court at Petaling Jaya that “Ops Padam” (operation erase) was the police code name for the operation carried out against those participating in the rally on November 9, 2008 at Amcorp Mall, Petaling Jaya.

Ahmad gave evidence that his duties in Ops Padam included organising the police into groups to carry out arrest, maintain peace and take photographs. Read more »

The trial of Fr. Paulino Miranda and 20 others charged for participating in an illegal assembly and for failing to adhere to an order to disperse issued by the police resumed today.

Deputy OCPD of Petaling Jaya Abdul Razak Bin Alias took the stand for the prosecution. Read more »

Are the impositions placed on Malaysian Christians, which range from the desecration of Holy Communion to the Holy Bibles being defaced, a form of modern day persecution of the Christians in Malaysia?

What is it with this government and with those Malay/Muslims who are intolerant of their Christian neighbours?

Are we (Jewish, Christians and Muslims alike) not “People of the Book”? Read more »

An open-hearted dialogue between church leaders and the Home Ministry will help resolve the issue of stamping the copies of Bahasa Malaysia Bible, said Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, who was formerly the minister in charge of national unity.

Dr Ongkili said although the ideal situation was to leave copies of the Bahasa Malaysia Bible unmarked, the content was more important. Read more »

We have heard and read biblical passages where Jesus has repeatedly extended his invitation to all with the expression ‘follow me!”

At first glance such an invitation would mean having to give up everything one possesses and follow Christ.

With such narrow thoughts, I found myself puzzled by Bishop Joseph Hii’s choice of readings for the Red Mass. Read more »

Except for the silver-plated sign at the left corner of its main gate, no one would expect that the walled building along Jalan Pemaju in Section U1/15 of the city of Shah Alam in Selangor State is actually a church.

Not a few visitors of the Glenmarie Industrial Estate during weekdays mistake the two-and-a-half-storey Roman Catholic Church of the Divine Mercy as another assembly or production plant of big-name companies such as Sony Ericsson, Yamaha, Nokia – or maybe even the central kitchen of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Read more »

A Malaysian magazine apologized Saturday for upsetting Christians after it published an article researched by two Muslims who pretended to be Roman Catholics and took Communion in a church.

The apology is likely to soothe frustrations among religious minorities who feel that overzealous government authorities and clerics are trying too hard to champion the interests of Islam and ignoring the rights of non-Muslims. Read more »