Najib Says Memo By Ministers Improper And Against Cabinet System - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Friday the action by nine non-Muslim Cabinet ministers in submitting a memorandum to the Prime Minister calling for a review of laws that affect the rights of non-Muslims was "improper" and "not nice".

"It is against the Cabinet system and unprecedented," he told reporters at the Malaysian-French Chamber of Commerce annual dinner here Friday night.

The memorandum, signed by nine of the 10 non-Muslim ministers, was handed to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Thursday.

The ministers were Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting (Housing and Local Government), Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy (Transport), Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn (Human Resources), Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek (Health), Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu (Works), Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik (Energy, Water and Communications), Datuk Peter Chin (Plantation Industries and Commodities), Tan Sri Bernard Dompok and Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili (Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department).

The exception was Tourism Minister Datuk Dr Leo Michael Toyad who was abroad.

Najib said he hoped everyone would let the Prime Minister make a correct and just decision after considering all views and without any pressure.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=176707]

No Need To Amend Article 121 (1a), Says Abdullah - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- Article 121 (1a) of the Federal Constitution governing the powers of the civil and syariah courts need not be amended, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Friday.

"Only laws that can create problems and misinterpretations should be studied whether they should be amended to make them clearer," he told reporters after launching a book entitled Antologi Puisi Sasterawan Negara A. Samad Said.

Abdullah was asked to comment on the matter following a joint memorandum submitted by 10 non-Muslim cabinet ministers to him yesterday, urging him to review laws related to conversion of religion.

The memorandum, among others, was signed by Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.

Article 121 (1a) states that the Civil Court has no jurisdiction on matters under the purview of the Syariah Court.

The religion conversion issue surfaced following the death of Mount Everest climber Sgt M. Moorthy or Muhammad Abdullah when his widow S. Kaliammal and the Federal Territories Religious Department (Jawi) were involved in a dispute over his burial.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=176688]