CLS Press Statement

Christians are ending the year 2013 with concern on reports of calls by some parties for JAIS to issue letters to the Churches in Selangor prohibiting them from using the word “Allah”.

On 14th October 2013, the Court of Appeal allowed the appeal by the Government and the Home Minister to ban the use of the word “Allah” in the Catholic publication Herald after the High Court found that the ban was unconstitutional. Read more »

The Catholic Lawyers Society, Kuala Lumpur expresses its disappointment with the Court of Appeal decision that allowed inter alia the government’s appeal to prohibit the Herald publication from using the word, ‘Allah’ in its Bahasa Malaysia edition.

Based on the summary of the decision read out by Justice Dato’ Apandi Ali, the Court of Appeal found that there is no infringement of the constitutional right claimed by the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur. Read more »

The Catholic Lawyers’ Society, Kuala Lumpur lauds the courageous decision of the High Court in Ipoh, Perak in quashing the conversion certificates of three minor children converted by their father without the consent of the mother.

Children are innocent and must be protected against harm and wrongdoing.

Parents play a vital role in ensuring that the rights of their children are not violated and trampled upon. Read more »

This year, the Kuala Lumpur Archdiocese Office of Human Development (AOHD) has embarked on a signature campaign to call on the Federal Government to abolish the Death Penalty.

Many have expressed strong views in the retention of the death penalty and of the view that those convicted deserve what they get!

However as Christians, we are led in faith by the teachings of Christ. The gospel reading for the 5th Sunday of Lent challenges us who have not sin, to cast the first stone. Read more »

Under the Federal Constitution, there is absolutely no basis nor justification for one religious group or the executive to dictate to another religious group the choice of words that the latter should use in the religious books or publications.

Especially when these religious books or publications are intended for internal use, that is to say, for members of the Church and not for Muslims or the public at large. Read more »

The Catholic Lawyers Society Kuala Lumpur applauds the Prime Minister on his move to repeal the Internal Security Act (ISA).

The move is in the right direction. In the past the use of the ISA has been abused especially to silence dissent. 

Operation Lalang in 1988 is one such example of the abusive use of the ISA. It is time that the Government did away with such a draconian law and uphold the constitutional rights of its people, namely freedom of speech and expression, to assemble peacefully and the right to form associations (Article 10 and 14 Federal Constitution). Read more »

The Catholic Lawyers’ Society, Kuala Lumpur (CLS) welcomes the news that Malaysia intends to formalise diplomatic ties with Vatican.

The recent announcement of Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s official visit to the Vatican scheduled on 18 July 2011 and the intended establishment of diplomatic ties with the Vatican is in the right direction. Read more »

Our forefathers in their great wisdom have found it fit to categorically state in no uncertain terms through Article 11(1) of the Federal Constitution that every person has the right to profess and practise his religion and propagate it. While in Article 11(2) of the Federal Constitution it expressly provides that every religious group has the right to manage its own religious affairs.

The recent acts of the Federal Government in first detaining the Bibles in Port Klang and Kuching and then placing unreasonable conditions for its release are contrary to the Federal Constitution. Read more »

The Catholic Lawyers Society Kuala Lumpur (CLS) welcomes the setting up of the special inter-faith committee. It is hope that through this committee efforts will be made to promote greater dialogue and understanding amongst the various religious communities in Malaysia.

The presence of such a committee is long overdue. The government’s effort in setting up such a committee is in the right direction towards promoting religious harmony in the country. Read more »

The Catholic Lawyers’ Society Kuala Lumpur (CLS) have today handed over to YB Datuk Abu Seman Yusof, The Honourable Deputy Minister(1), a Memorandum on the “Article in the May Issue of Al Islam entitled “Tinjuan Al Islam dalam gereja – mencari kesahihan remaja melayu murtad” (Impugned Article).

Also present at the meeting were Datuk Markiman, Special Assistant to the Minister, Datuk Micheal Chong, Advisor to the Minister cum Special Officer to the Ministry. Representatives from CLS were Mabel Sabastian, President, Joy Appukutan, Vice President, Francis Pereira, Past President and Rev. Fr. O C Lim SJ, Spiritual Advisor of the Society. Read more »