MALAYSIAN POSTMAN

Allah in the office: The limits of religious tolerance A FRIEND of mine, Randy, was completely irritated by an incident which took place in his office recently. His colleague, a Muslim woman blasted a sermon session from her phone while everyone was busy doing their work at the office. The sermon continued for at least an hour or so without any scrutiny from Randy’s officemates. According to Randy, everyone tolerated the sermon, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. “I just don’t get it,” said Randy. “Why are Muslims so self-centred and ignorant of others? “Why do they have to bring religion into the office? What if I blasted some Buddhist chants?” Randy’s annoyance reminded me of an incident which I had experienced myself a few months earlier. Once, in the middle of a training session, a fellow participant’s phone started blasting the azan. Immediately, the non-Muslim trainer stopped the session. “What is that sound?” he asked. “Sorry, that is the call for prayer comi...

Bar Council cancels forum to discuss judges’ appointments Council needs to concentrate its resources for the upcoming EGM, says Bar president George Varughese. PETALING JAYA: The much-awaited forum next week featuring a retired judge and a senior lawyer on the appointments of the chief justice and Court of Appeal president has been called off due to “unforeseen circumstances”. Malaysian Bar president George Varughese said the forum was too close to the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) and that all staff were involved in preparations for the gathering. “Unlike having it in a hotel, the EGM is held in a hall. We need to sort everything, including chairs, PA system, catering and parking. Our resources are stretched to their limits,” he told FMT. The EGM will be held at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall on Aug 3 at 4pm. The forum titled “Appointments of Chief Justice and President of Court of Appeal: Constitutional Issue” had been scheduled to be h...