When Good Democracy Will Be Poor Governance In Perak

I like analogies involving football. In football, the running criticism of club owners has been on the poor habit of sacking team managers too quickly, sometimes, mere months from taking over the job. The argument for keeping a manager in place for a long period, for good or bad in the short term, but ultimately for long term gain, is backed by the long tenure of many successful managers, such as Alex Ferguson, David Moyes and Arsene Wenger.

The idea of retaining managers for a longer period for long term gain whilst forgiving early hiccups is not unique to football. In major corporations, whilst managers are under pressure to deliver from the moment they enter their new offices, there is some tolerance for error, as one understands the learning curves these managers have to climb. In fact, a more recent trend has been to retain managers longer so they may face the long-term consequences of their actions.

It has also been variously touted since trade began that 'stability of government', a country's 'manager' so to speak, is essential for the nation's economic growth. This is continuously emphasised on development of 'third world' countries. In the 70s and 80s, the stability of government, was seen as a key differentiator between Asian economies and that of Latin America. Why? Well simply put, if the government is unstable, it'll be excessively distracted by survival issues!

With history and the knowledge above in the minds of 'intellectuals' such as Khoo Kay Peng and Wong Chin Huat, one would expect them to consider the stability of government, whether it be BN or Pakatan, to be in the best interest of the Rakyat of Perak. One would expect them to undertstand that it doesn't matter that 70% of those polled by the Merdeka Centre wants fresh polls, as in the end, the more populist 'democratic' choice may be the poorer one here.

Perak needs stability after more than a year of political upheaval in the state. It is not true that without a further demostration of 'democracy' through fresh polls that investors will not find Perak attractive. Democracy in of itself does not attract investors; compare Communist China against Democratic India and you will soon conclude that 'Democracy' is quite irrelevant to investors! If anything, it is the political stability that Democracy usually brings that is the key.

With the courts deciding that the BN Perak Government is legitimately in power, the best thing for the Rakyat would be for DS Dr Zambry and his team to get on with their job. Ironically, if Pakatan is truly Rakyat-friendly, the best way for them to demonstrate this is now is by stopping all their efforts to further destabilise the situation in Perak. With the resultant stability from all parties respecting the court ruling, investors will assess Perak in a more positive light.

I understand that intellectuals have politic leanings too. Sometimes, the leanings are not political but intellectual, and unfortunately just as dogmatic! However, intellectuals should not allow their own opinions, such as that Democracy is the bearer of all things good, get the better of them. Just like any other good thing, like sunlight, medicine or satay, too much of a good thing can be bad. Certainly, too much more Democracy in place of Stability will be bad for Perak now.

With that in mind, DS Dr Zambry should be confident in ignoring the Merdeka Centre poll beyond what it is, a sample of the state of mind of the populace at the time. The Perak government should then just proceed to govern as Democracy and the courts have mandated them to. Then they could focus on what truly matters to the Rakyat... Good Governance. That is what will lead to re-election, not populism...

Hijack Atau SABOTAGE?!

Sejak semalam lagi, ada ura-ura yang usaha mengumpulkan rakyat bagi menyerahkan memorandum membantah tindakan 50 Ahli Parlimen Australia yang menyibuk mendesak pembatalan perbicaraan kes jenayah rogol homoseks DS Anwar Ibrahim akan bakal di 'hijack'! Yang menibulkan kebingungan kepada ramai dari kami adalah:

1. Siapakah yang mungkin ingin meng'hijack' usaha menunjuk perasaan secara aman ini, memandangkan pakar 'hijack' tunjuk perasaan seumpamanya, yakni DS Anwar Ibrahim, tak mungkin bersetuju isi memorandum tersebut! (Kalau tak, memang DS Anwar pakar yang telah berjaya meng'hijack' tunjuk perasaan dari tahun 70'an lagi, termasuklah 'gelombang kuning' anti-Pak Lah usaha pemimpin UMNO yang rapat dengan istana beberapa tahun lalu!)


2. Kenapakah usaha untuk meng'hijack' tunjuk perasaan ini kelihatan begitu lembap sekali, sehinggakan para pengelola asalnya dapat mengesan akan usaha ini sebegitu awal dan pemantauan serta tindak-balas kini sempat dilaksanakan? Kumpulan politik manakah yang berupaya menunjukkan kelembapan tindak-tanduk sebegini rupa, seakan-akan budak-budak membuat kerja orang tua!

Awal pagi tadi, saya menerima sms yang mengesahkan serta menjawab segala persoalan di atas. Rupa-rupanya, yang ingin meng'hijack' usaha tunjuk perasaan dan penghantaran memorandum ini adalah tidak lain dari YB Hj Khairy Jamaluddin! Patutlah nampak lembap sekali usaha ini terlaksana, dan sememangnya adalah lojiknya yang YB KJ tergerak hati untuk mencontohi idolanya DS Anwar. Malangnya, bakat KJ memang dari dahulu tak kesampaian...

Masalah bagi penganjur asal tunjuk perasaan dan penghantaran memorandum bantahan kepada Pesuruhjaya Tinggi Australia pula adalah, takut bila orang nampak sms baru jemputan KJ untuk tunjuk perasaan bersama-sama, nanti orang naik berbulu dan tak pergi! Faham-fahamlah, mana ada makhluk yang mahu dilihat bergaul dengan idola korupsi seperti KJ sekarang! Maka adalah yang tertanya-tanya, KJ ni, nak 'hijack' acara ini kah atau berusaha men'sabotaj'?!!!

Wallahualam...

Woi KJ, dari sibuk nak 'hijack' perahan peluh orang lain, kenapa tak menjuarai Bakri sahaja oi! Bukan kerja engkau ke nak memperjuangkan nasib anak muda Melayu?! Ke ADUN Sekinchan tu pun kawan akrab kau juga?! Dia pun 'black crow' ke, sebab dilanggarnya Bakri dengan 4WD juga?!

MP Malaysia: (Pendatang) Australia Patut Menjadi Manusia Dahulu Sebelum Mengkritik Orang Lain

Dipetik dan dialih-bahasa beredit dari blog Marahku.

Ribuan MP (Manusia Penduduk) Malaysia mendesak Australia menghentikan penindasan terhadap golongan aborigin, menuntut pampasan ke atas segala jenayah keji terhadap masyarakat aborigin, menggesa pemberhentian diskriminasi terhadap pelarian baragama Islam dan secara amnya menjadi Orang atau Manusia dahulu.

Semata-mata kerana mereka baru sahaja meminda undang-undang melarang liwat tidak menjadikan mereka lebih 'bertamadun', is cuma bermakna masyarakat Australia tak kisah kalau seorang lelaki meliwat lelaki lain! Apakah ini petanda ber'tamadun'... Kalau berlandaskan ide ke'tamadun'an ini, adakah 'hak' seorang penagih dadah menghancurkan hidupnya atau 'hak' seorang anak berumur 12 tahun melakukan kegiatan seks patut diterima? (TIDAK!)

Keputusan Australia melupuskan undang-undang yang melarang liwat dan perilaku homoseks paling-paling adalah tindakan rambang dan menurut kelaziman terkini masyarakat Barat.

Sekiranya Australia kini merasakan dirinya berperibadi tinggi, ia seharusnya membayar ribuan juta sebagai pampasan kepada aborigin kerana menggangu kehidupan aman dan harmoni masyarakat tersebut malah menindas dengan begitu kejam sekali penduduk asal negara mereka tanpa berperi-kemanusiaan. Berikan pampasan dahulu kepada 'generasi yang hilang' dan juga keturunan mereka yang dibunuh secara suka-suka oleh peneroka awal berkulit putih berketurunan banduan dari Britain.

LUNASKAN DAHULU TANGGUNGJAWAB TERHADAP MASYARAKAT ABORIGIN SETELAH MEREKA MENGALAMI PENINDASAN BERATUS TAHUN LAMANYA DAN PENIDAKKAN HAK-HAK ASASI MANUSIA SEPERTI PENDIDIKAN, PEMBANGUNAN EKONOMI DAN KEMUDAHAN AM SECARA TERSUSUN OLEH KERAJAAN AUSTRALIA!

JADILAH MANUSIA DAHULU, BARULAH BOLEH SIBUK NYURUH ORANG LAIN BUAT ITU DAN INI!

Sehingga menjadi orang... nikmatilah hak kamu untuk meliwat satu sama lain dengan diam... wahai Australia...

Di Manakah Juara Rakyat Di Selangor?

Saya dipohon teman-teman blogger untuk mewar-warkan rancangan membantah tindakan anggota parlimen Australia yang menghalalkan tindakan DS Anwar merogol Saiful sebelum selesai perbicaraan untuk menentukan salah-betulnya menurut undang-undang Malaysia. Walaupun tertarik dengan isu ini, saya rasa ada baiknya ia dibiar terwar-war melalui blog-blog yang sudah pun aktif melakukannya supaya boleh blog ini boleh menumpu kepada isu lain.

Ingin saya persoalkan di sini, DI MANAKAH JUARA UNTUK RAKYAT SELANGOR YANG TERGAMBAR DI SINI?

Bila buat pelancaran program Juara Rakyat, berkoyan-koyan orang turun. Saya yang tak minat pun siap ditalipon member yang bertanya kenapa saya tak turun! Soalnya, nak jadi Juara Rakyat, bukan dengan pelancaran majlis sahaja! Juara Rakyat akan jelas apabila Rakyat yang teraniaya orang berkuasa, seperti sdr Bakri ini, yang dilanggar semasa bermotosikal oleh seorang ADUN MABUK, tak kiralah ADUN DAP ke, PAS ke, BN ke, budak Melayu, India atau Kadazan ka, KENAPA BELUM ADA YANG MENJUARAINYA!

Nak tunggu buat majlis ka? Tak payahlah nak ajak orang turun ramai-ramai lagi dah kalau Juara Rakyat tu setakat slogan, retorik dan wayang semata-mata. Bukan 1Malaysia tu, Rakyat tak nampak diutamakan kalau begitu. Tak ubah macam hipokrit lembap Pakatan Rakyat Selangorlah jadinya... Dahlah Ketua Pemuda bila gereja dibakar, tak sabar-sabar sibuk nak jaga hati orang Kristian konon, tapi ini anak muda Melayu sampai dah masuk koma pun tak peduli ka!

Pakatan Perak Schizophrenic?

I have been following and occassionally commenting on the situation in Perak without having a clear description sussed out for the Pakatan leadership which used to rule the state. However, recent pronouncements by DS Nizar, the former DAP-puppet MB of the state, has me convinced that, whilst Pakatan Selangor is Incompetent and Pakatan Penang is led by Hypocrites, Pakatan Perak appears to be Schizophrenic!

Consider these points:

1. After blatantly ignoring the views of not just state BN legislators, but even BN sympathisers among community leaders when they were in power, now that the courts have decided for BN's DS Dr Zambry's state government, Nizar and co have gone back to their pre-PRU12 claims of wanting to 'work with' BN?


2. Whilst they are willing to 'work with' the Perak BN government, DS Nizar laid down 'conditions' if BN 'wants' their cooperation! Wah, as if Pakatan Perak will be doing the BN government a favour by 'working with' DS Dr Zambry's team. Why, DS Nizar wants to claim joint credit is it when BN Perak successfully runs the state? Why, Ngeh and Nga just advised Nizar that DS Dr Zambry have FDI coming into the state soon, despite Pakatan's lies is it?


3. Whilst Pakatan Perak wants to 'work with' DS Dr Zambry, DS Nizar also states that,"...but we (Pakatan Rakyat) are not conceding." So, which is it, is Pakatan happy to accept the court ruling by 'working with' BN in Perak, or are they rejecting the court ruling? The two scenarios are mutually exclusive! In the meantime, DS Nizar and an Ipoh MP from the DAP is clearly opposed to the court's position, but in doing so, may have bitten off too much to chew:



4. We saw symptoms of this Pakatan Perak schizophrenia even when they were in power. They had in the past accused BN of abuse of power and corruption, then when they were in power, timber concessions were given to Pakatan leaders in the state, even those who knew nothing about the business. So ignorant were they that they turned to BN members from the business to develop the timber concessions! Schizo!

Actually, I don't really know if being Schizo is necessarily that bad for a politician. Certainly it isn't as bad as being Incompetent or a Hypocrite. At least Pakatan Perak have a better excuse for not fulfilling their promises or for not behaving in a civilised manner... THEY"RE NUTS! But of course, in the end, it is up to the people of Perak to truly judge them for what they are...

Kepimpinan Baru PKR Pasca Malapnya Era DS Anwar Ibrahim... Hasil Musibah Dari Allah...

Tidak boleh dinafikan yang DS Anwar Ibrahim bijak dalam memilih dan mengasah bakat kepimpinan muda. Di UMNO sendiri, terlalu ramai pemimpin generasi DS Najib ke bawah yang bertunas bakat kepimpinan organisasinya di bawah didikan DS Anwar. Ini termasuklah mereka yang kini berada dalam barisan kabinet, seperti Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi, Datuk Shabery Cheek dan DS Ahmad Zahid Hamidi mahupun Menteri Besar seperti DS Dr Zambry Kadir.

Malah, adalah menarik dilihat yang pemimpin bawahan DS Anwar yang berkualiti dan celik mata seperti disebut tidak menurutnya keluar dari UMNO apabila beliau dipecat dahulu. Pemimpin seperti ini berpegang kepada prinsip perjuangan lebih dari setiakawan, maka apabila timbul percanggahan pendapat tentang halatuju agama, bangsa dan negara, tak hairanlah apabila mereka berpecah barisan dengan DS Anwar memandangkan beliau mula berlaku terlalu liberal dan populis.

Kemudian dilihat, DS Anwar mampu mengumpulkan barisan baru yang berbakat, lebih muda serta cukup bertenaga untuk menggerakkan agenda Reformasinya pada suatu masa dahulu. Namun, tulang belakang barisan tersebut, seperti para pemimpin ABIM veteran seperti Dr Siddiq Fadzil dan Dr Mohd Noor Manuti serta anak-anak buah mereka, mahupun pemimpin politik muda seperti YB Zulkifli Nordin, kini tidak kelihatan di sisi Anwar menghadapi Sodomi II. Kenapa?

Hilangnya sokongan terhadap DS Anwar pada hemah saya adalah kerana pendirian beliau yang kalimah 'Allah' boleh dikongsi oleh umat Islam di Malaysia dengan para penganut agama lain. Malah, DS Anwar memberi hujah bertubi-tubi, menyatakan pendapat yang memesongkan hujah dari para ulama terkemuka atau lebih buruk lagi, seolah-olah bersekongkol dengan Islam Liberal Indonesia pimpinan Nurcholish Majid yang tiada kredibiliti di kalangan umat Islam Malaysia.

Pada masa yang sama, kepimpinan PKR yang benar-benar membawa nilai yang disokong oleh rakyat kebanyakkan, seperti YB Tan Tee Beng, YB DS Zahrain Mohd Hashim, YB Wee Choo Keong, YB S. Manickavasagam dan juga YB Zulkifli Noordin semakin menjauhkan diri dari kepincangan kepimpinan DS Anwar yang merugikan PKR. Ia semakin menjadi-jadi apabila Ketua Menteri DAP, Lim Guan Eng, tertuduh sebagai 'diktator bersifat perkauman' di negeri DS Anwar sendiri, Pulau Pinang.

Sekiranya YB Saifuddin Nasution terbuka hatinya untuk berpaling tadah, maka tak mungkin mereka yang mencengkam kuasa semata-mata kerana kasih DS Anwar, seperti YB Azmin Ali, Tian Chua, Sivarasa Rasiah, mahupun Syed Husin Ali, dapat kekal ditampuk kuasa parti, apatah lagi menyelamatkan PKR untuk Anwar. Menarik sekali, PKR mungkin kemudian akan ada masa depan sebagai sebuah parti politik berdasarkan prinsip, bukan sebagai pentas peribadi DS Anwar!

Lebih menarik lagi, mungkin sudah ada pun pengganti kepada DS Anwar sebagai pemimpin ulung yang diakui walau di peringkat antarabangsa ... YBM Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (KuLi)! Dan DS Anwar juga yang tak semena-mena membuka jalan untuk KuLi dengan menjemputnya untuk memimpin 'kaukus' royalti minyak!

Menarik...

Asking The Wrong Questions To The Right Man...

Questions have been asked of Raja Petra Kamaruddin (RPK), specifically about who may be his 'backers'. These are interesting questions, now asked by senior politicians. However, I am not sure whether these are the rights questions for politicians, who also ostensibly have backers to be asking RPK, unless of course if these questions are rhetorical... what am I saying, of course it's rhetoric!

But politicians should be careful in asking these questions, they may be asked to reveal their own backers, and some may find themselves unable to answer!

As the innocence or guilt of DS Anwar Ibrahim is a matter of far greater public interest at this present time, I would suggest politicians ask a more pertinent question, specifically, WHY DID RPK VIA MALAYSIA TODAY PUBLISH THE FAKE PUSRAWI REPORT BY DR OSMAN ABDUL HAMID THAT DID NOT EXAMINE SAIFUL FOR SODOMY?

Those that have been following Saiful Bukhari Azlan's testimony at DS Anwar's sodomy trial in the papers would know that it is in conflict with the claims of Dr Osman, suspected of having links to DS Anwar, that Saiful was not sodomised. Saiful's account, conveyed properly, via legal channels as evidence in a sodomy or homosexual rape case should be, clearly states the same Dr Osman advised Saiful that he cannot be examined for sodomy at Pusrawi, a private hospital!

So, will YB Karpal Singh in all his glory choose to introduce Dr Osman as a rebuttal witness with this revelation? Clearly, Saiful's testimony has been very convincing, judging from Karpal rushing to request that testimony on how DS Anwar sodomised his victim be 'in camera', or restricted from public view. So much for the 'open government' that DAP espouse! Will Dr Osman be as convincing as Saiful, or will he wilt when his lie is laid bare?

Going back to our politicans, they should certainly ask questions of RPK, but their questions should be aimed at why he is involved in this sodomy case in such a way? How involved was RPK in fabricating the evidence from Dr Osman? And ultimately, if it is proven true that he fabricated evidence simply to protect the rape of a young man by his powerful friend, what other 'truths' have RPK and Malaysia Today been fabricating over these many years?

Malaysia The Racist-Phobic State...

I have been reading the news of the resignation of Datuk Nasir Safar with much regret at the hypocricy as well as the twisted values Malaysian leaders and opinion-makers seem to proudly hold. What do I regret? Datuk Nasir's alleged words that seemed to have offended those who attended a 1Malaysia forum? No! I can't quite regret that seeing as the words weren't mine. However, I DO REGRET DATUK NASIR SAFAR HAS RESIGNED SO SWIFTLY! Why?

1. There was much talk of his allegedly causing offence. However, nowhere was it explicitly reported what it was that he actually said. Could it be that he was foolhardy in the words used rather than going out of the way to offend? It doesn't make sense for him to say these 'alleged' things at a 1Malaysia forum, does it? Furthermore, one must know Datuk Nasir to realise this was likely an innocent gaffe... more on who he is after this...


2. If causing offence by hurting the feelings of other races should result in the loss of a government job, why are racist senior members of government still walking around the corricors of power in the Najib era? For instance, why has no action been taken on Datuk Tan Lien Hoe since she insulted Malays by calling us pendatangs? In fact, on recent news, it seems we have replaced one racist Chief Minister with another in Penang.


3. Is being an alleged racist in government worse than being corrupt? It certainly seems so when "icons of corruption", those found to be among the most corrupt but allowed to remain in the corridors of power, are seen frowning at Datuk Nasir Safar's alleged racist remarks! So, if corrupt can stick around, but if racist, have to go! Is 1Malaysia open to corruption as long as it isn't racist corruption?


4. My recent writings on the Allah issue has had me being called a racist too. However, I found a wonderful context of this being shown when chit-chatting with a bunch of friends on the fringes of a wedding. A Malaysian Chinese friend declared,"You're a racist Akhram, but I still support you! At least you're not a hypocrite!". Another then followed up with,"Besides, Malaysia is a Multi-Racist state!". We all laughed... we were not 'racist-phobic'.

Many who now declare Datuk Nasir a racist don't even know him, and have judged him from some 'alleged' remarks. I admit that I know not what words were said, but this man I certainly know of. I know of Datuk Nasir Safar, the nationalist, who rose first as a leader in a multi-racial youth organisation, MAYC, before joining politics. Datuk Nasir who was deployed repeatedly to speak to the Indian community, such as when I bumped into him at the Bukit Gantang by-election.

I know of Datuk Nasir Safar who has not the slightest smear of corruption against his name. A Najib loyalist who curtailed his rise through the ranks of UMNO Youth in Johor by being the first to suggest DS Najib be DS Anwar Ibrahim's successor to UMNO Youth leadership many years ago. Datuk Nasir, who is approachable and still carries a casual air, despite having had an office on the Fourth Floor.

This is the Datuk Nasir Safar I know. Could he have said the things being so 'alleged' against him? Perhaps. Does this make him a racist? No more than the average Malaysian I would wager. Should he have been reprimanded? Sure, why not? But resign? Sorry mate, I think that would be going too far! I'd rather have the allegedly corrupt Datuk Shafie Abdullah resign first! Unfortunately for Datuk Nasir, Malaysia seems to be racist-phobic, but not corrupt-phobic...

Final thought... knowing who Datuk Nasir is, a clean, capable and loyal aide to DS Najib, why is it then we have icons of corruption helping to push him out of the Prime Minister's Office? If DS Najib was to accept Datuk Nasir's resignation, would this be based on wisdom or populism...?

Sayunya Pabila Adab Melayu Pudar Di Alam Maya...

Difikirkan episod hilang peradaban Melayu dengan penghinaan Al-Marhum DYMM Tuanku Iskandar Syah, Sultan Johor, yang mangkat pada 22/1/2010, berakhir dengan penangkapan blogger Aduka Teruna. Namun, diperlihatkan oleh teman-teman blogger bahawa fenomena hilang adab di kalangan warga web Melayu memang menjadi-jadi. Tak kiralah penghinaan tersebut terhadap Sultan mahupun arwah Presiden negara jiran yang juga beragama Islam, semua ini tak beradab!

Bila difikirkan lagi, hilangnya adab terhadap Sultan Johor merupakan kemuncak penghakisan adab para penulis blog, terutama sekali blog politik, dalam sepak-terajang di alam maya. Mungkinkah ada baiknya kita semua merenung penulisan sendiri. Kiranya penghakisan adab ini juga sudah tertera di laman blog sendiri, mungki kita juga telah menyumbang kepada hilangnya adab Melayu sehinggakan Sultan yang mangkat boleh dicerca begitu rupa.

Ini menyalahi adab Melayu, mahupun Akhlak Islam melarang kata-kata buruk terhadap arwah, tak kiralah Sultan yang disemadi beristiadat mahupun si papa yang mayatnya berhari terbujur kaku di kaki lima.

Walaupun peribadi sudah membenci, mungkin cara meluahkan perasaan harus berpada-pada, diiringi fakta semata-mata. Contohnya, pembaca lazim blog ini mengetahui yang saya 'kurang setuju' dengan 'kepimpinan' Khairy Jamaluddin sebagai Ketua Pemuda UMNO. Namun, dari saya menghetamnya seperti dahulu sejurus setelah beliau dilawan exconya sendiri, lebih baik saya menyatakan yang dia sudah tidak relevan lagi dan beredar ke topik lain.

Kembali ke topik pokok yakni adab Melayu di alam maya yang kelihatan terhakis; marilah kita bertekad yang apabila sudah arwah seseorang, maka haruslah dikenang dengan hormat, baik dan penuh teladan, tak mengira kawan atau lawan. Kalau ada yang ingin mempelajari dengan bercontoh, sudilah membaca warkah mengenang Al-Marhum Sultan Iskandar nukilan seorang rakyat dan sahabat Baginda.

Say NO To Nazri's Cop-Out Idea To Appease Allah-Grabbing Catholic Herald! There Are Better Ideas...

I was appalled by the cop-out statement of appeasement by DS Nazri Aziz as published by the NST today. According to DS Nazri, Non-Muslims in three states and the Federal Territories are allowed to use the word 'Allah'! He also said restrictions on the use of 'Allah',"... is under the state law. But in Federal Territories, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak, there is no such law to stop them."

What!!!?

So now, instead of having to accept the historical situation in Sabah and Sarawak only, which DS Nazri himself seems to mistakenly limit to,"...Iban and Kadazan families, there are Christians and Muslims in one family...", forgetting that even Melanaus have the same, Malays in the Peninsular have to accept multi-use of the word 'Allah' in Penang and the Malaysian Capital Cities of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya too?!!

Why the cop-out DS Nazri? Afraid of the swing of Catholic votes? Do you think Catholics are as shallow as the leaders of their church? Do you not care about the feelings and sentiments of Malays in Penang and the Federal Territories? Don't you remember that BN lost in 5+1 states at PRU12 in part due to RETURNING MALAY VOTES FROM THE FEDERAL TERRITORIES AND PENANG? have you forgotten that BN LOST MALAY VOTES IN PENANG AND KUALA LUMPUR?

Does DS Nazri not realise the majority of Malays passionately think of this issue as illustrated below?

Some may be appalled that I talking about votes as being DS Nazri's motive. Well, I'm doing so as I cannot fathom why else he would be copping out like this! It cannot be because he is behaving as Malay leader... OK it is consistent with many other weak Malay leadership actions I have seen on this issue, but this is probably the weakest yet! As a Malay leader, he should be adopting the majority view, affirmed by DS Zahid Hamidi in Parliament which is illustrated here:

It can't be as the so-called law minister either, as it is inconsistent with the more proper legal line of awaiting the results of the court of appeal (which is by the way, MAYC's stated stand to date... our pro-tem President's a lawyer after all!). Nazri's stand is hence also inconsistent with the Malaysian Government stand AGAINST Catholic use of the word Allah, as TS Muhyiddin has reaffirmed that the government's appeal against Judge Lau Bee Lan's decision is proceeding.

If DS Nazri really wanted to show himself to be the best among his cabinet colleagues by resolving this issue, there would be more equitable ideas that could be mooted. For instance, SatD's been driving towards this one I believe, one could propose what the Indonesians are REALLY practicing, rather than what many have incorrectly said that Allah is of common use among Muslims and Christians there.

In Indonesia, the Christian 'Allah' is pronounced differently, it is voiced akin to 'Alah' in Malay phonetics. The double-L in the word Allah is actually denoting the phonetics of the double 'Lam' in the arabic spelling of Allah. If the Catholics crave use of the word so much, why not adopt Alah as their word for God? They pronounce it phonetically as Alah anyway as the 'Mat Salleh' Missionaries tend to be unable to pronounce Allah properly. Leave Allah to Malays.

We can even make this consistent across Malaysia! Allah for Muslims, Alah for Christians! Maybe then someone will be inspired to use Elah... etc. Thinking 'global', maybe we can then even advance this Malaysian 'Alah' solution to be adopted by Indonesia and other countries where there is dual-use! Of course, we should do this only if there are similar concerns as in Malaysia, concerns which I understand is arising among our neighbours.

Do I like the idea of the Catholics using Alah instead of Allah? Not particularly, as it feels like another cop-out, but at least it isn't as big a cop-out as DS Nazri's!

Catholic Silence... In Defiance Or Obedience? To Whom?

The last church attack was some days ago. Fortunately it was with paint and seemed more like a prank rather than being stained by the anger of the previous weeks. Perhaps this is a sign of an anger subsiding, or at least reigned in by the monarchs stepping in and with us at last having one senior UMNO man, Tan Sri Muhyiddin, sounding like a Malay leader more than a Malay apologist. More of this later.

The past week we have seen the rise of a more educated Muslim response to the debate on the use of the word Allah by Catholics in Malaysia. The opinions and arguments against the use of the word Allah by non-Muslims range from a basis of history, that of theology and stems from a lifetime of activism through to simple common sense. It is my hope that those non-Malays really interested in the issue have a glance at all these arguments...

I'm about to make another 'inflamatory' statement or observation in the body text (some would have been offended just by the title above!), so I think it worth drawing your attention to the Disclaimer at the bottom of my blog. The Disclaimer clearly states that:

This blog carries the personal views of Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi (A M Ubaidah S) and does not represent the views, principles or actions of any other company, organisation, entity or individual owned, employing or that has employed, affiliated or linked to A M Ubaidah S at any time.

Why is it important for me to draw your attention to the Disclaimer? It is because a few days ago, someone lodged a complaint with my company, suggesting that I be sacked! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! How's that for a 'violent' response!? Fortunately, my company treats its employees fairly, so I was informed of the call, assured my position was fine as the firm respects my rights to free speech and concern was expressed over my well-being!

So, if you think my next comment sucks big time, please, read the Disclaimer, and save your energy (and my busy bosses' time) from trying to get me sacked! You have a better chance getting me arrested... actually, hope not!

Anyway, I still would like to hear from the real culprits that have created this whole mess, the Catholic establishment in Malaysia. It appears as if the Catholic leaders have chosen to adopt an 'Elegant Silence' on the issue! So, when are they withdrawing their case from the courts in line with the views of the Rulers? When are they publicly declaring a return to the status-quo? Where is even the apology to all affected by their agenda, whether Muslims or the firebombed churches??

One can argue that the Catholic establishment's continued crass pursuit of spreading a Malay gospel across Peninsular Malaysia despite the disharmony it causes, may just be a reflection of the attitude of their current Pope, Benedict XVI. The same Pope has till now, still not fully addressed the slurs towards Islam when presenting the Regensberg Speech in September 2006. He even cheekily apologised for the a small part of the speech, whilst not withdrawing the slurs!

So, when the Catholic church in Malaysia stays silent following the calls for their case to be dropped, is it in defiance of the Malay Rulers? Worse still, could it even be in obedience to the Pope? So, do they have to defy the Rulers if they are to obey the Pope? What a position to be in! To be instructed by a German sitting in a palace 'in' Rome to pursue something that disrupts the harmony of the multi-religious community in Malaysia as a show of piety must be hard to bear...

... but I really can't have any sympathy for them! Rather than having a youngster charged due to a Facebook posting, the police should really be investigating the Catholic church for evidence of malicious sedition! TS Muhyiddin himself remarked to the press that his Christian friends from East Malaysia expressed regret over the Catholic Herald's poor behaviour in this matter, surely laying responsibility over the whole issue on the shoulders of the Catholic leadership!

But before I go, let me continue with some more finger pointing. Where was the Malay leadership in the midst of this issue boiling over? I am not talking about DS Najib, who very rightly maintained his dignity as the leader of all Malaysians. His intervention is best reserved for a little later. I am also not talking about TS Muhyiddin, who was abroad when the matter exploded in violence and who nevertheless succeeded in providing the first show of strong Malay leadership.

I am talking about the so-called next line of UMNO leaders onwards. Why has the language been more of appeasement and the tone been apologetic? The UMNO Youth Chief for instance was amply silent on Malay sentiments, but was quick to to seek appeasement for the resulting violence and is all too keen on the conviction of a 20+ year old nuisance on some Facebook postings! Is he saying youths on Facebook are more a threat to our nation's peace and harmony?

There has been the odd saving graces of course. For instance, DS Zahid Hamidi's performance in Parliament stands out when voicing Malay concerns in unity with the non-Erdogan PAS MPs like YB Ustaz Taib Azamuddin. On the blogs, we have Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz, an UMNO Youth Exco member who stands out for his firm focus against the Catholic pursuit of the use of Allah. Nonetheless, a vacuum persists, made worse by DS Anwar's and the Erdogans' selling-out on the issue!

Whilst I point my finger towards the weakness of Malay leadership on this matter, I nevertheless cannot excuse the Catholic establishment from the 'original sin' here. A reaction from the Malay leadership would not have been necessary if the Catholic Herald had not pursued the matter in the courts. Without that action, there would not have been any sort of reaction at all! As nothing would have been sown to be reaped...

Will The Catholic Church Now Defy The Malay Rulers?

I was elated to see the Malay Rulers intervening on the matter of the use of the word 'Allah' in the Catholic Herald magazine. As I had hoped, the message from the Rulers was that the use of the word 'Allah' should be exclusively for the God as worshiped by Muslims. Interestingly, an enactment from 1988 that forbids the use of the word Allah by other religions has since surfaced, and should assist in bringing the matter to a close.

As I had hoped, the intervention by 2 Rulers (that I am aware of so far), the Agong, His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Wathiqu Billah Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and the Sultan of Selangor, His Royal Highness Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has led to some calm. I have not heard of any further Church attacks in any case since their intervention. One hopes this will be followed up by some consideration by the courts in the next round.

Of course, a greater hope would be for the Catholic Church to now bow to the will of the Malay Rulers and concede that it was indeed unwise for them to pursue the use of the word Allah. Indeed, if they had remained satisfied with the word Allah's continued use in East Malaysia as it was, we all would have lost much less. Now, it would be more dignified for the Catholic authorities to just withdraw their case from the courts and concede... rather than defy the Malay Rulers...

In the hope that the intervention of the Rulers will bring this sordid episode of provoked violence to a close, I have to thank many here for reading my views on this matter. I also appreciate the comments, however vitriolic, that has given me some interesting insights. I am particular grateful to those who have spread my message out, from Pet, wherever you may be (London? Hahaha!), the Edge, through to KJ's Coffee Boy (still 'unspoilt' I hope!).

I found at least one foreign webservice treating my views a little more kindly. More significantly though, after all my criticism of liberal Malays, I also find it hence of greatest irony (or maybe not) that it's a liberal that got the purpose of my article that caused so much confused anger, and whom I believe understood the gist of what I was trying to convey. Good on you Anas Zubedy!

Finally, one correction worth recording here. I never sent my postings to Malaysia Today or the Malaysian Insider. They were picked up the the respective web-portals/news services themselves. So, if I am so guilty of 'propogating violence', then so must they be. Fortunately, I don't think any of us were doing anything of the sort. We were propogating truth... of a fashion... from a Malay's eyes...

To Which Christian Is 'Allah' A Norm?

I have had a lot of fun raising awareness of the violence being incited by the Catholic establishment through their pursuit of the use of the word Allah in their Malaysia-wide publication, the Herald, over the last couple of days. People need to be made aware that the continued insults and denigration of Malays in Malaysia will have its repercussions, and we are at the moment fortunate that whilst the majority are angry, only a few churches have had to suffer damages.

I suppose now that I am laying blame on the Catholic establishment for inciting this anger, even more people will be angry towards me, but such is the cost of revealing truth. If there is anything I have learnt from the comments to my past 2 postings, it is that too many non-Malays don't even understand the issue as seen through Malay eyes. In fact, confusion is rampant, e.g. many think this is an 'East Malaysia issue', when the Herald, is distributed nationally, with a KL office!

Anyway, I have had to focus on work since yesterday, so I would like to refer Muslims, especially liberal ones who think it is all 'ok' to share 'Allah' with everyone (and that includes you Marina Mahathir) to this timely reminder by the astute JMD. In addition, I also publish here (uneditted other than punctuation and capitalisation) a write-up by a much wiser man that may shed further light on the issue as seen through educated and rational Malay eyes:

Which Norm?

The head of the Catholic church in Malaysia, in an article in the Herald, argued that the Catholic church has a right to use the word Allah as it predates Islam and therefore by implication is not specific to Islam. If this is so why is the name Allah not in the Torah or the Bible? These were the religions that predate Islam. Why was God called Yahweh in the Torah and Deos in the Bible and not Allah? I fail to see the reverend’s evidence for this in the religions that predates the prophet Mohamad (saw)

The reason it (Allah) is not in the Bible or the Torah was that the Torah was revealed to Moses in Hebrew and the Ingil revealed to Isa in the Aramaic and the Aramaic word for God is Elah as the prophet Isa calls him. Allah is in the Koran because it was revealed in Arabic. Is the reverend suggesting that Arabic was widely used before Islam? In my humble knowledge of the middle Eastern history the widely used language then as the equivalent of English today is Greek. That is why the first written Bible was in Greek. The universal name for God before Islam was Theos not Allah.

The word Allah is of Arabic origin. If its use predates the Koran it was confined to the Arabian peninsula, not even Syria or Iraq nor Egypt. Before Arab conquest of these land each had its own language and God is named in their respective languages. Hence it is ridiculous to suggest that Allah was widely used before Islam.

It boggles my mind that the Catholic Church would insist on using the Arabic name for God that was used by the prophet Mohamad (saw) but chooses to ignore the Aramaic name Elah as used by the prophet Isa (puh). Is the Church suggesting that the name Mohamad (saw) used is more important than that used by Isa’s in the hierarchy of God’s name?

This would be my argument to the High court had I been the lawyer that represented the Government.

The reverend further suggests based on his first premise that because the word Allah is part of the Malay language the Church has a constitutional right to use it in a Malay language publication. I would ask the reverend the same question. Was the word Allah part of the Malay language before Islam came to the Malay peninsula. Before that date Malays were either Hindus, Buddhist or just plain Animist. Where is the evidence that shows Allah was the word for God in the writings of the preislamic period in the Malay peninsula.

Allah was introduced to Malays by Arab traders and only became part of the Malay language when Malays adopted Islam as their religion. In the lexicon of Malay words Allah was specific to Islam and refers only to the God of Muslims not the God a Malay prayed to before he become a Muslim. Hence to argue that Allah is a general Malay word take no cognizance of its Arab origin and ignores its Islamic origin in the Malay lexicon. That will be my argument to the appeal court.

I have heard many arguments by both Malays and Christians that in the Arab world Allah is used by Christians as it is in Indonesia. If Arabs and Indonesians don’t object why should Malays. Allah is an Arabic word hence its general use in the Arab speaking world is understandable.

The practice of Islam in the Arab speaking world is not standard. Some are more liberal and others stricter. There are parts of the Arabian peninsula where the presence of a non-Muslim is regarded sacrilegious and a man could loose his head for saying Allah has a son. Why was that not used as a comparison.

It is certainly mischievous or pure ignorance to use the Arab speaking world as a norm. Which country would you choose? Some people accuse Malays of thinking they are more Muslims than the Arabs. Of course we are! We are stricter than the liberal ones like Egypt, and Lebanon and of course more liberal than the very strict one like Saudi.

The Arab norm used by Malays from the beginning was the practice of the Arabian peninsula where the first Muslim missionaries came from, not the larger Arab speaking world. For quite sometime in Malay history an Al Azhar graduates was not acceptable as religious teacher only a Madina or Meccan graduate would appointed for such post because of the conservative norms of the latter.

Like wise what the Indonesian norm is, is their choice to make. It is certainly not the norm used by Malays. Because the word Allah is allowable for non muslim religious service there, does not mean it should also be practiced in the Malay peninsula. If we Malays accept that argument than the next Indonesian practice that will be demanded will be of Christians marrying Muslim without converting as a constitutional right. I also have Indonesian acquitances who eat pork when they are abroad, something a malay would not do.

Should that also be the standard for Malays. If an Indonesian norm is to be compared to Malays it would be closer to Aceh than Java. Ultimately Malays have their own standards for Islamic practice and the Indonesian have theirs so let that be. Lakum dinnukum waliyadin. To you your religion to me mine.

Half A Million Ringgit Of Misplaced Generosity...

I was shocked to hear DS Najib's government saw it as appropriate to donate RM500k to the Metro Tabernacle church at Desa Melawati due to the damage it suffered through arson a few days ago. It was said that this was due to the extent of the damage the church suffered. I think this is a load of nonsense and that DS Najib was just poorly advised as to the most appropriate course of action. Giving away half a million ringgit to the church is certainly unwise as:

1. The government was not responsible for the arson attack. Of course, one could claim the government is ultimately responsible, but that is like saying the government of Kelantan should be blamed for flooding in the state!


2. On the above, paying the RM500k gives the impression that the government is taking ultimate responsibility for the arson attack!
   


3. If the government wanted to do something for the church to ease their suffering, they needn't have bothered with the RM500k as to churches in Malaysia, permits to locate churches are more valuable than money, and the Metro Tabernacle has been applying to relocate. Just expedite it for them!
   


4. The church premises would have been insured. So, what with the intentions to relocate and everything, this arson attack may have been a boon for the church insurance wise! What is then the need for the government to shore up the church's finances with public money?
   


5. The Metro Tabernacle could have just made a claim to the largest landowner on Earth for damages, the largest landowner being the Roman Catholic Church! What with the church attack being due to the Catholic Herald magazine's court case in the first place, I think they have a case!

But all the above is not as big a deal as the precedent the government pay-out to the Metro Tabernacle creates and its potential impact:

1. Does this imply that the government will pay out to all churches or other related institutions (schools, seminaries, etc) that suffer significant damage from protests over the Herald's case?


2. Does this give the Hindus the right to now claim compensation for the various temples demolished by state agencies, even if they were inappropriately sited? Again, the issue here could be resolved just by sorting out the permits for specific locations.


3. Does this not encourage arson for the sake of gaining state funds for rebuilding? Even the publicity, getting a whole bunch of ministers to suddenly appear in churches and other places of worship they would not have been to otherwise! Some would say even this has value...


4. The trend of giving assistance to the affected churches will emerge among corporate entities, and it is regrettable it began with one from a GLC being run by the PM's brother! This will further enhance the possibility of increased arson for profit of one form or another.

But going back to the source of this violence, escalating Malay anger over the robbing of the right to use of the word Allah, this act by the government:

1. Will again be seen as the government being apologetic rather than addressing issues distressing Malays.


2. Will open the door to accusations that the government is now bringing the state's treatment of other religions on par with Islam which is the only religion acknowledged by the constitution. This is extremely dangerous.


3. TS Koh Tsu Koon's idea of now having an 'interfaith dialogue', whilst sounding nice to liberal sensibilities, will just inflame matters. Malays will see no reason to dialogue as they see themselves as having given up enough already and suspicions will arise that TS Koh is reviving the IFC idea. This WILL NOT STOP THE VIOLENCE! In fact, it may make it worse!

How then could this violence cease:

1. The PM should invite the Rulers to intervene to bring the matter out of the court. The Rulers can then constitutionally put a halt to the Herald's case. This will appease Malays across many fronts, not just by dismissing the issue but also by demonstrating the presence of Malay power to address their concerns still.


2. The Herald could simply withdraw the case from the courts in the interest of the peace between all Malaysians. This would present the church not just with immediate security, but also a moral victory... whilst Malay leaders could go around placating the more dangerous elements and allowing the police to do their job catching the perpetrators without being encumbered by the risk of further attacks.

The above are options to immediately stop the escalation of violence, but it will not address other concerns that have brought Malays too close to the Tipping Point towards it. These concerns need to be addressed by the government to bring us well away from the brink. Waving a finger and crying out "1Malaysia" is not enough. Remedial action is needed to undo 5+ years of continuous damage to the Malays' sense of pride.

I also hope that the absence or reduction of violence from Monday does not give everyone a false sense of security. The violence is probably reduced as people are at work...

Torched Churches... Reaping What Is Sown

Churches are now being torched, four at last count. I believe more churches will be torched, stoned, graffitied, sullied, picketed, etc, for as long as the use of the word 'Allah' by the Catholic church issue is not resolved to the satisfaction of Muslims in this country. Note that Muslims, in Malaysia include not just Malays, but also non-Malay Muslims, Indonesian, Bangladeshi and other foreign workers as well as an increasingly large overseas student population.

The description of Malays being comprised of all these groups in Malaysia is not a cop-out, but helps me with emphasis, as quite contrary to the view of Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, who DOES NOT understand NOR represent the majority of Malays (we don't understand or represent her either), THE MAJORITY OF MALAYS ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE MISUSE OF THE WORD ALLAH BY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH!

Unlike Datin Paduka Marina, I'm not claiming to represent the majority of Malays, but am conveying their "whispered screaming", via gossip at kenduris, from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi through to the organising of protests by Malay and Muslim NGOs that do formally represent the majority Malay view. As pro-tem VP of the Malaysian Association of Youth Clubs (MAYC), I have also been approached by other organisations to join them in protest. (We've declined... for now...)

Now, there has been calls for calm from the Malay 'leadership'. Unfortunately, Malays may choose not to listen to the same leadership that has continuously failed to defend their rights or to correct past wrongs against them. Whilst non-Malays leaders who insult Malays, calling us 'Pendatang' say, are allowed to remain in power, Malays are expected to weather escalating insults, with one mainstream newspaper recently happily questioning our very existence!

Now we see even the opposition so-called 'Islamic' party, PAS, dithering, projecting confused statements in a pathetic attempt to gain political mileage out of the issue! What Malays want is LEADERSHIP in addressing this issue, not posturing for votes! To also then have so called Malay 'thought leaders' like Marina persist with liberal drivel when the matter has past the point of her comprehension of the Malay mind and sociological history adds insult to injury.

Malay history is punctuated by incidents of violence, with the common theme leading up to such being the continued denigration of the race simply due to our good nature. No majority ruling race has happily allowed for the culture of other races to bloom other than this country ruled by Malays. Also, in no other country has everything been shared so equitably, as even in the USA, for all the hype over Obama, the political and economic leadership is still overwhelmingly white.

As any mention of past Malay physical violence in the face of our continued denigration will be labelled 'racist', let us look at recent 'non-violent' history:

When Malays exercised electoral 'violence' against their UMNO leaders during PRU-12, throwing BN leadership out of 4 states and severely weakening it in 1 other, the message sms-ed by the DAP leadership,"... don't provoke the Malays...", worked well to halt the momentum towards Malay physical violence. However, the denigration of Malays has neither ceased nor been reversed, and if anything, has continued to escalate as many began to forget...

E.g., Malays are still dissatisfied with their reduced quotas at local universities, whilst non-Malays in their quest for 'equality' remain uninterested in the reasons why Malays need them. MOST MALAY STUDENTS HAVE NO-WHERE ELSE TO GO OTHER THAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES WHILST NON-MALAYS CAN GO PRIVATE! The result is, now, many otherwise university-bound Malays are on the streets, hungry, angry and with the intelligence to organise...

And for the Catholic Church to then venture down the silly path of robbing Malays of the exclusive use of the word Allah... Malays may be lobbing molotov cocktails at all churches indiscriminately, but this is only fair. It is not just the Catholic church that is responsible for this Malay anger, but also the Protestant and Evangelical (that have no use for Allah, to them, a pagan moon-god) for not joining ranks with Malays against the Catholic stand...

Soon...

• Malays will figure out that it is not just the fault of the churches, or the Christian heirarchy for robbing us of Allah, but the fault of all Christian congregations for letting their religious leaders continue to insult us.


• Malays will figure out that now that they're in for a penny, might as well go for the pound by attacking Hindu temples for their original insults towards Malay communities by claiming the 'historical right' to build anywhere.


• Malays will believe since many non-Malays were sitting idle by the side allowing Malays to be insulted, maybe they should be reminded to that they are condoning these insults.


• Malays in organised mobs will turn on our leaders for being so limp in their defence of our rights.


• By then it would be too late, as even intelligent Malays will figure out that as we're being accused of being racists anyway by the ungrateful children of 'Pendatang' in this country, might as be racists... the worst kind of racists...

Am I advocating violence? No I am not. I am saying that Malay violence is inevitable, at least if the current trend of apologising for Malay anger rather than addressing it continues. And in this case, Christian dogma does ring true, one reaps what is sown. The seeds of discord had been sown in this country for far too long in the guise of quest for 'equality'. And so it comes to pass that the road to hell is lined with 'good' intentions, or rather, pretentious excuses.

As for me, a rational educated Malay that Marina Mahathir assumes to know all about, there is little to do but sit back and protect what I can from the violence that will come... and pray... to Allah Subhana-Wa-Ta'ala... the correct, singular and unique one...

Krisis Terbesar Era Najib: Perampasan Kalimah Allah

Isu keputusan mahkamah membenarkan penggunaan kalimah Allah oleh warkah Kristian semakin hangat diperkatakan. Jurublog ini berasa kecewa akan tabiat terlalu ramai berhujah, tanpa mengira perasaan dan isi hati golongan yang paling terguris tentang isu ini, yakni 'pemilik' atau pengguna asal kalimah tersebut. Dalam melontarkan hujah, tak kiralah baik-buruk niatnya, ia tidak bermula dengan renungan akan kesan ke atas perasaan majoriti umat Islam di Malaysia.

Semua hujah-hujah berikut langsung lari dari isu pokok, yakni sama ada majoriti umat Islam boleh menerima perkongsian kalimah Allah:

1. Ini isu Sabah dan Sarawak - pemikiran kenegerian yang sempit dalam era GLOBALISASI sekaligus tidak menghormati usaha majoriti masyarakat Malaysia untuk sehati-sejiwa tak kira negeri, bangsa, agama dan sebagainya.


2. Variasinya, di Sabah dan Sarawak OK sahaja kongsi kalimah tersebut - pemikiran yang mencari alasan, tanpa mengambil kira sejarah dan perbezaan budaya penganutan agama antara Semenanjung dengan Sabah dan tambah lagi Sarawak.


3. Islam tidak melarangkannya - sejak bila Islam membenarkan kecelaruan maksud dalam akidah? Kalau Islam Hadhari sebagai istilah pun salah menurut ramai ulama, apatah lagi penggunaan sewenang-wenangnya kalimah Allah? Bila masa isu ini dibincangkan oleh majlis ulama, baik pada peringkat negeri mahupun negara, sehingga ada orang Islam sendiri yang pandai-pandai mendalilkan halalnya?


4. Penganut agama lain tidak memandang berat isu ini - ye lah, memanglah, ini bukan kalimah milik agama lain! Ini kalimah Allah yang khusus diguna-pakai orang Islam sebelumnya! Cuba kalau mahkamah meluluskan perkataan Buddha digunakan untuk memaksudkan Jesus, atau Jesus diterima-pakai sebagai nama alternatif hero Ramayana, yakni Hanuman, putera monyet!


5. Kenapakah umat Islam tidak boleh bersabar - sabar? Nak sabar macam mana bila orang tak pedulikan isi hati kita! Dulunya, umat Islam Melayu dihinanya 'pendatang' kononnya, Melayu bersabar lebih lagi dari orang yang betul-betul kaum pendatang asal-usulnya apabila digelar yang sama! Apa, kalimah Allah nak dirompaknya pun nak kena sabar juga kah?


6. ... & ...


7. ... & ...


8. BAAANYAAAAAAAK LAGI OI!

Isu ini kian merebak seolah api dalam sekam di kalangan masyarakat Islam. Protes-protes ringan yang sudah pun dibuat oleh gabungan NGO mewakili majoriti umat Islam masih sedang berlangsung. Jumaat ini, api ini akan mula bersemarak secara terbuka, dengan tidak kurang dari 7 masjid menjadi pusat pengumpulan penunjuk perasaan... dan semuanya atas usaha penganut Islam sukarela dan pemimpin-pemimpin masyarakat.

Sejarah Islam mengajar umat Muhammad yang penyelewengan walau satu Rukun Islam oleh penganut Islam yang lain pun cukup untuk menjadi modal sebab peperangan. Apatah lagi penyelewengan Rukun Islam dan Iman yang pertama oleh orang bukan Islam! Hati Melayu pula telah terbukti lembut pada lazimnya sepanjang zaman, namun mampu mengeras sewaja besi kiranya terguris. Dan guris paling dalam pada hati Melayu terlaku apabila akidah Islam tergugat.

Sekiranya DS Najib tidak menunjukkan kepimpinannya pada saat ini, alamat meletuplah isu ini, dengan ledakan yang bakal tak terkawal jangkauannya. Wallahualam...

A Catholic Crisis Of Faith?

When I read this piece of news, about how the case where the Catholic weekly, Herald is still pursuing the right to call their God Allah, I had a sort of Tangents-esque epiphany... Could the people at the Catholic Herald magazine be having a CRISIS OF FAITH?

I mean, seriously, what's up with wanting to call their God Allah too? This seems to be in complete reverse to past attempts by some different Catholics and members of other Christian denominations of variously declaring Allah to be a 'Moon God', a God of Violence, a 'Pagan' God and many other such hurtful things (to Muslims). Now, suddenly, these Catholics want to call their God Allah?

Side-stepping all the religious and unavoidable politically charged debate about this, one should perhaps ask whether this is actually a cry for help from the people running the Herald! Could it just be that this is just their way of coping with a realisation that they now believe Allah is God?! Could it also be then that they'd rather not leave the Herald, but rather convert the magazine to propogate Allah's religion, Islam!

Maybe rather than chastising and opposing them, we should instead be asking the people at the Herald:

• Is it true? Do you believe in Allah now?
• If it is true, don't you think there is a better way to fully embrace Islam?
• If it is true, do you realise your efforts to turn Herald into an Islamic magazine is disrupting the peace, which in turn is against Islam's teachings?
• Rather than doing this, shouldn't you just convert to Islam? Then you can refer to God as Allah all the time, and no one will be upset!
• If it is the money you're concerned about, don't worry, Muslim magazines need writers and editors too!

And I'm only half joking here. If the people in the Herald are having a crisis of faith, they really should just come to the mosque and convert properly. It's easy. And we're ever-ready to welcome new Muslim brothers and sisters, even if they were previously from the Herald ...

Belia Di Ambang Peralihan Kuasa

Minggu hadapan amat bermakna bagi penggerak belia tanah-air. Pada 6-8 Januari akan berlangsung Mesyuarat Agung Majlis Belia Malaysia (MBM) yang pertama di bawah Akta Pertubuhan Belia Dan Pembangunan Belia 2007 (Akta Belia 2007). Sejak beberapa bulan yang lepas, persatuan-persatuan belia tanahair bergegas mengemaskinikan pendaftaran, keahlian lama dan baru serta barisan kepimpinan, seiring dengan keperluan pendaftar serta persedian ke Mesyuarat Agung tersebut.

Penulis juga agak terlibat dalam membangkitkan semula pergerakkan kelab-kelab gabungan Persatuan Kelab-Kelab Belia Malaysia (PKBM) atau lebih dikenali dengan singkatan Inggerisnya, MAYC (Malaysian Association of Youth Clubs).

MBM akan membawa lebih 400 wakil serta pemimpin majlis-majlis belia negeri bersama-sama dengan persatuan-persatuan belia kebangsaan, seperti MAYC, Belia 4B, HYO (Hindu Youth Organisation), Pengakap, ABIM, YMCA dan lain-lain, untuk duduk semeja, membincangkan isu-isu pembangunan belia melalui pertubuhan. Organisasi-organisasi tersebut merupakan NGO-NGO yang boleh dikatakan asal dan asas pembangunan negara sejak tahun 60-an dan 70-an lagi.

Akta Belia 2007 telah membawa perubahan besar kepada intipati serta perjalanan kelab-kelab belia di Malaysia. Pertama sekali, ia memudakan keahlian, sekaligus kepimpinan kelab-kelab tersebut. Contohnya, apabila dahulunya Presiden-Presiden kelab mungkin mencecah 60 tahun, jauh melepasi tafsiran umur belia, kini keahlian kelab-kelab tersebut sekalipun dihadkan ke belia bawah 40 tahun! Ini kini merupakan syarat dalam pendaftaran semua pertubuhan belia.

Akta Belia 2007 ini juga mewujudkan Pendaftar Belia (RoY), berasingan dari Pendaftar Pertubuhan (RoS) yang dahulunya menerima pendaftaran kelab-kelab belia sekali dengan pertubuhan-pertubuhan lain. Ini supaya RoY boleh memberi tumpuan khusus kepada pertubuhan belia dan ia menjadi sebahagian dari Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS). Akta Belia juga memperkasakan MBM sebagai saluran bantuan utama kepada persatuan-persatuan belia negara.

Kenapakah saya menceritakan hal ini berjela-jela kepada pembaca. Ini kerana perubahan kepada kelab-kelab belia tersebut memberi makna besar kepada orang-orang muda di seluruh negara. Apabila bermulanya pergerakkan NGO belia di Malaysia, memang ia majoritinya dipelopori oleh orang-orang muda. Para pemimpinnya pun dari golongan belia dan walaupun ada yang kemudian berjaya dalam perniagaan serta politik, jatidiri mereka datangnya dari aktiviti belia.

Pertubuhan-pertubuhan belia yang awal menjadi kilang-kilang yang melahirkan pemimpin negara, seperti Tun Dr Mahathir (MAYC), Tun Abdullah Badawi (GPMS), TS Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (MAYC). Pada peringkat kepimpinan nasional sekarang, para bekas pemimpin belia juga masih kelihatan memainkan peranan, termasuklah Datuk Seri Noh Omar (Belia 4B), Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (PKPIM) dan tak boleh dilupakan, DS Anwar Ibrahim (PKPIM serta ABIM).

Malangnya, pada tahun-tahun kebelakangan, kerana tiadanya had umur pada persatuan belia sebelum Akta Belia 2007 diwartakan, persatuan-persatuan belia tersebut semakin tua purata keahliannya. Lebih buruk lagi, persatuan belia bukan sekadar diiktiraf kilang, tetapi dipergunakan oleh sesetengah pemimpinnya sebagai asas kuasa politik dan ekonomi peribadi. Kepentingan peribadi begini telah kian mencemarkan kemurnian pergerakkan belia senegara.

Akta Belia 2007 telah sedikit-sebanyak memaksa pembersihan pertubuhan-pertubuhan belia dari anasir-anasir negatif tersebut. Namun, perceraian keahlian lama dengan anak-anak muda yang kini terpaksa menerajui kepimpinan secara mendadak cukupr mencabar. Para pemimpin persatuan belia kini dimudakan sebanyak 20-30 tahun dari dahulunya, dengan kepimpinan amnya berumur pertengahan ke akhir 30-an, sementara pelapis ada juga dalam lingkungan 20-an!

Namun 'peralihan kuasa' kepada generasi muda ini juga perlu kerana generasi baru amnya cukup berbeda pandangan hidup serta aspirasi berbanding golongan lebih tua. Zaman di mana aktiviti membina jatidiri mudah diperturunkan dari generasi lama ke baru kian sayup pergi, manakala era baru menunjukkan perbezaan ketara antara sudut pandang serta pendekatan yang diambil antara generasi-generasi yang kadangkala beza umurnya baru 5-10 tahun!

Oleh itu, cabaran mempermudakan program-program belia supaya lebih relevan untuk belia muda haruslah dipikul oleh abang-abang yang tidak terlalu tua dan tak banyak beza corak pandangan dan pola pemikirannya. Cabaran yang akan semakin terlihat juga adalah dalam mempersiapkan pelapis untuk menerajui persatuan dalam masa yang singkat, tanpa keselesaan terdahulu apabila pendedahan dilakukan dari kelab, kawasan, negeri ke negara tanpa tergesa-gesa.

Walau apa pun cabaran yang bakal dihadapi, peralihan kuasa persatuan-persatuan belia ini hanyalah membawa makna sekiranya bebas dari unsur-unsur negatif yang lepas. Golongan muda perlukan pendedahan kepada hidup berpersatuan dan sayang sekali sekiranya NGO-NGO kita yang begitu lama membantu masyarakat tidak terus memainkan peranan, terutama sekali sewaktu anak-anak muda kian menolak pemimpin politik sebagai idola.

Anak muda, golongan belia memerlukan panduan, halatuju. Adalah menjadi harapan penulis agar halatuju ini boleh diilhamkan, ditunaskan, diolah dan diasah sendiri oleh kepimpinan belia yang muda, bebas belenggu fikirannya, bertamadun serta berminda 1Malaysia, Merdeka, Menjejak Wawasan. Agar harapan ini mula tercapai di ambang peralihan kuasa persatuan-persatuan belia kita.

Sememangnya NGO-NGO Belia berupaya Perkasa...

Bergunakah Serangan Politik Terhadap Tun Dr M?

Nampak gaya, walaupun sudah sebegitu lama Tun Dr M bersara, masih ramai yang tergerak hati untuk terus menyerangnya. Terkini suatu percubaan dari Barry Wain, seorang penulis yang memang kritis terhadap Tun Dr M sekian lama. Mungkin kerana geramnya terhadap Tun, terlanjur pula kali ini beliau menuduh, tanpa landasan fakta yang utuh, kononnya Tun Dr M secara peribadi merugikan negara sebanyak RM100 Ribu Juta sepanjang 22 tahun sebagai PM.

Tuduhan tanpa sandaran fakta selain ungkapan pendapat tersebut, tercetak di dalam buku,"Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times". Ada ura-ura mengatakan buku ini mungkin diharamkan, namun ini disyaki helah pembangkang sahaja untuk mempopularkan buku tersebut. Buku tersebut tidak mengancam keamanan mahupun kesejahteraan negara. Malah, intipatinya juga tidak mengancam keutuhan kerajaan sekarang.

Mungkin kerana itulah, apabila pemimpin DAP, Lim Kit Siang (LKS), cuba mempopularkan buku tersebut dengan menyarankan ditubuhkan sebuah Suruhanjaya DiRaja untuk menyiasat tuduhan Barry Wain tersebut, Tun Dr M dengan rela mengesyorkan kerajaan untuk membenarkan buku tersebut dijual. Malah Tun seolah-olah lebih seronok sekiranya laris jualan buku tersebut untuk memperkuatkan kes saman terhadap Barry Wain dan yang bersekutu dengannya.

Sebagai pemerhati, kita juga agak seronok melihat Tun Dr M dengan begitu santai menghadapi tohmahan serta serangan peribadi terhadap beliau, baik yang langsung (penulisan Barry Wain) mahupun tidak langsung (saranan LKS yang tuduhan barry disiasat). Jawapan Tun bukan sekadar menepis prasangka buruk terhadapnya, malah sekaligus menyerang kewibawaan pemimpin DAP tersebut serta kesahihan tuduhan melulu Barry Wain.

Di negara Barat, kes seperti ini mungkin tidak timbul kerana takutnya seseorang penulis akan akibat sekiranya tuduhan melulu tanpa sandaran fakta akan membawa muflis apabila disaman oleh yang terfitnah. Tetapi di Malaysia, oleh kerana khabar angin sedia diterima sebagai fakta sementara surat layang dan blog menjadi penyalur maklumat yang dipercayai, para penulis mungkin tidak berhati-hati... sehinggakan 'Barry Wain' pun boleh berjangkit sama!

Namun, kepada saya sebagai penulis, isu siapa yang dituduh, bersalah-tidaknya penulis dan gelabahnya LKS tidaklah berapa penting. Pada saya, adalah lebih penting kita bertanya sama ada bergunakah kerja menyerang Tun Dr M ini? Saya malah berasa hairan apabila LKS melatah sama! Malah, LKS siap menyarankan supaya puluhan, mungkin ratusan ribu ringgit rakyat dibelanjakan semata-mata untuk 'menyiasat' tuduhan tidak bermakna terhadap Tun!

Apakah manfaat kepada rakyat yang diharapkan dari LKS dalam menyarankan Tun Dr M terus diserang kewibawaannya? Selain kepentingan politik peribadi LKS, penulis merasakan tiada manfaat lain yang boleh dicapai. Ketelusan? Ketelusan haruslah ada makna. Maka, kalau kita berjaya 'menteluskan' suasana dengan penyiasatan tuduhan Barry Wain, apakah ia memberi manfaat selain 'pengajaran'? Bukankah pengajaran sudah terkandung dalam buku yang sama?

Adakah Suruhanjaya DiRaja yang disarankan LKS berupaya membawa hukuman ke atas tuduhan Barry Wain? Rasanya tidak. Ini bukan sahaja kerana bukti tuduhan Barry Wain tidak ada. Beliau malah hanya sekadar meminjam ungkapan pendapat kritis terhadap usaha-usaha pembangunan Tun Dr M yang kerap di kitar-semula oleh media kongkongan Yahudi. Tambah pula, kalaupun ada kesalahan urus-tadbir Tun, pengundilah yang seharusnya menghukumnya, bukan mahkamah!

Kini terlihat pengkomplot dalam tuduhan melulu tanpa asas terhadap Tun Dr M tercari-cari jalan keluar dari salah-laku mereka. Dipergunakan pula teman-teman pro-Singapura di Malaysian Insider untuk menyarankan Tun Dr M menyaman Barry Wain tanpa berlengah lagi. Ini semua kerja karut yang juga tak membawa manfaat! Ingat, saya tidak memohon aksi yang lebih beradab terhadap Tun, kerana mungkin ada yang tak faham, tetapi kupohon usaha lebih berguna!

Tun Dr M seorang negarawan ulung yang sudah bersara. Hebatnya beliau sehingga nasihatnya dipinta dari seluruh pelusuk dunia. Malah musuhnya Amerika Syarikat juga pernah memohon sedikit maklum-balas bagaimana menangani pengganas sejurus selepas pengeboman pada September 11. Gerak-kerja Tun memantau dan melindungi ekonomi negara dari merudum terus sewaktu krisis ekonomi pada akhir '90-an kini menjadi asas menangani krisis yang terbaru.

Adalah lebih berguna bagi kita rakyat Malaysia, tak kiralah dari fahaman politik mana sekalipun, melapangkan dada dan memanfaatkan masa yang masih ada bersama Tun dengan menimba ilmu, pengalaman, baikpun apa-apa pengaruh tersisa padanya di arena dunia untuk memperbaiki masa depan negara-bangsa. Kerja mencomotkan nama Tun tidak memanfaatkan, malah memincangkan kita kerana status beliau sebagai ikon yang memasyhurkan nama negara.

Malaysia tidak ada Pele atau Maradona. Jauh dari itu Tiger Woods atau Roger Federrernya. Datuk Lee Chong Wei dan Datuk Nicole David belum dapat menggoncang dunia. Kita belum lagi melahirkan saintis hebat seperti Einstein atau Nicola Tesla dan alhamdulillah Nordin Mat Top hanya dicaci-cacai di Indonesia, belum ada Usamah yang bersembunyi di celah Gua Niah. Kita tak perlu Tom Cruise atau Bono sebagai hero kita. Yang kita ada Mahathir sahaja...

Makanya bukan sekadar tiada gunanya menyerang Tun Dr M selain untuk kepentingan politik, tetapi perbuatan berterusan sebegini merugikan negara. Manfaat yang boleh diberi dari mendekatinya pasti bergunung lebih dari melemaskan imejnya di mata dunia dengan debu-debu tuduhan berbaur fitnah dan tohmah tunasan iri hati terhadap beliau. Kalau geram nak memburukkan nama seorang tokoh, bidas sahaja Lee Kuan Yew yang tiada nilai bagi kita...

Some Input On Whether KJ Is Entering The Cabinet...

Many here know I am not a big fan of Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ). However, I had chosen to just generally ignore the man for the most part as he has faded into irrelevancy, even in UMNO Youth which he supposedly leads. Much that is positive happening in UMNO Youth, if at all, is happening despite of KJ anyway, such as their new Rugby team, developed by Suffian Awang, a pro-Mukhriz exco member, with support from fellow Rugger Dato' Razali Ibrahim.

Unfortunately, KJ's cybertroopers are relentless, most recently hyping up Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi's jibe that KJ would be in the cabinet if he was Prime Minister, as if this was indicative of KJ actually entering the DS Najib's cabinet! Little thought was given to the fact that DS Zahid was probably trying to make KJ feel better at the forum, a BTN camp where attendance of UMNO Youth's Divisional leadership was compulsory... and where less than half turned up!

Whilst minding my own business nonetheless despite all this hype, I stumbled onto an interesting piece of information. As recently as 2 weeks ago, Hj Omar Mustafa Ong, the man appointed by DS Najib recently to the Petronas board, was still dissociating himself from KJ, admitting only of a close friendship with Datuk Zaki Zahid of Fourth Floor fame. This despite Hj Omar being known before as KJ's organisational mentor when together in Oxford!

Now, if KJ really was in DS Najib's good graces again, enough to be considered for a cabinet post, why is Hj Omar, a man trusted by the PM, continuing to disavow any past relationship with KJ? Hj Omar was also not talking to just anyone. He was effectively putting KJ in this negative light when making formal acquaintences with a Special Officer of a very senior UMNO Minister! Food for thought I think, especially for those so keen on KJ becoming ... whatever!

I think I will resume ignoring KJ, for the most part, again now...