SIS in Trouble - Not Islamic at All

Even though I am not in active local politics, I believe the article belows worth to be read as a good sample how muslim in Malaysia should take coordinated action and act to right the wrongdoings..

Thursday June 11, 2009
Zulkifli takes a dig at SIS
By IZATUN SHARI


PETALING JAYA: PKR MP Zulkifli Noordin wants the Companies Commission to stop Sisters in Islam (SIS) from using the word “Islam” in its title.

The Kulim-Bandar Baru MP has instead proposed in his blog that SIS change its name to Ikatan Wanita Kosmopolitan (Cosmopolitan Wo-men’s Alliance) – IWK being a reference to the sewerage treatment company – as “most of its members do not wear the tudung” and “are unmarried”.

Zulkifli said the word “Islam” in SIS also gave the perception that the group was speaking on behalf of or representing the voice of Islam.

“How are they going to talk about women’s rights and Muslim marriages when they themselves do not adhere to and practise the basic Islamic rule?” asked Zulkifli, who last year had aggressively tried to storm a Bar Council forum on religious conversion.

Although the PKR subsequently issued him a show-cause letter, he refused to apologise and the matter was resolved internally with no action taken against him.

Zulkifli claimed that SIS had confused the public because it was misusing the word “Islam” when it had not registered itself as such.

“This group is not a non-governmental organisation registered under the Societies Act. It is registered as Sis Forum Sdn Bhd under the Companies Act, which is not related to Islam, but it promotes itself worldwide as Sisters in Islam,” he said.

However, Zulkifli, who is a lawyer, said banning SIS would only evoke sympathy and be exploited by narrow-minded people to ridicule Islam.

He also urged the authorities to probe the group, adding that the National Fatwa Council should organise a muzakarah (discussion) on SIS and demand an explanation if it was deemed to be deviating.

Meanwhile, DAP chairman Karpal Singh said PAS’ open attack on SIS would not endear itself to its supporters in the next general election.

“Neither does PAS’ insistence at its assembly recently that female journalists covering the event be properly dressed,” he said.

“Then again, the insistence by PAS leaders for Malaysia to be turned into an Islamic state should it come to power is a flagrant and outrageous affront to the Federal Constitution, which specifically proclaims the country as a secular state, with Islam as the official religion.”