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...

Kepimpinan Melayu Menjelang Maal Hijrah

Tahun ini saya menyambut Maal Hijrah di Langkawi. Bukannya dengan perarakan anjuran UMNO, Belia atau mana-mana kumpulan masjid. Tetapi sambil membawa keluarga bercuti, menziarah tempat-tempat istimewa bagi saya sewaktu muda, seperti Lubuk Semilang yang masih dingin air terjunnya dan Hj Ramli, tak ubah lewat dihidang juadah lazatnya!

Dalam tempoh 10 hari sejak saya terakhir memblog, nampak gaya isu hangat yang berapung di jaring maya amnya masih sama, soal Kepimpinan Melayu. Pembaca mungkin bingung membaca hal ini, tetapi kepada saya jelas bahawa Kepimpinan Melayu merupakan isu lazim terapung malah tenggelamnya terlalu sekejap sebelum timbul semula sepanjang beberapa tahun sudah lamanya.

Kepimpinan Melayu lain dari Ketuanan Melayu. Ketuanan Melayu adalah retorik. Ia retorik yang ditimbulkan oleh golongan penulis dan pendidik nasionalis Melayu untuk menaikkan semangat bangsa Melayu. Ia tidak pernah diutarakan untuk diterima oleh segenap lapisan masyarakat Malaysia, hanya khusus untuk orang Melayu menghayati sejarah sebagai tuan tanah bumi Tanah Melayu.

Terkadang pada suatu masa dahulu, Ketuanan Melayu tersisip sebagai retorik pembawa makna di dalam kursus-kursus Biro TataNegara (BTN). Mungkin dari sinilah sekalian dengan pembacaan penulisan retorik Melayu oleh bangsa-bangsa lain di Malaysia, Ketuanan Melayu mula dikelirukan dengan asas kepimpinan Malaysia sejak Merdekanya Malaya, yakni Kepimpinan Melayu.

Kepimpinan Melayu adalah ide bahawasanya sebagai kaum asal dan amnya teramai jumlahnya di Tanah Melayu, bangsa Melayu tidak boleh lari dari tanggungjawab memimpin di Malaysia. Asalnya Melayu memberikannya hak sejarah untuk memimpin manakala keramaian bangsa memberikan hak demokrasi yang mengutamakan suara teramai diikuti kehendaknya dahulu.

Kepimpinan Melayu mungkin terlihat jelas haknya untuk terus diterima di Malaysia, tetapi anggapan ini salah jika pemimpin Melayu hanya berpaut kepada hak sejarah mahupun ramainya Melayu semata-mata. Sebabnya adalah kerana Malaysia negara yang mempunyai golongan minoriti yang besar mahupun berpengaruh, terutama sekali dari segi ekonomi.

Islam sendiri mengajar yang hak sejarah mahupun majoriti sesuatu kaum tidak dengan sendiri menjadi asas kepimpinan sesuatu negara. Di Madinah, Rasulullah s.a.w. memerintah walaupun kaum Yahudi di situ dapat memberikan jalinan sejarah lebih lama bertapak di situ dan ramainya mereka sehingga boleh berpecah kepada 3 puak! Namun Rasulullah s.a.w. dan golongan Arab-Islam memerintah...

Pengajaran Rasulullah s.a.w. dan masanya memerintah di Madinah menunjukkan bahawa golongan minoriti boleh memerintah asalkan:

1. Minoriti bersatu-padu sementara Majoriti berpecah-belah.
2. Minoriti menunjukkan kebolehan memerintah lebih handal dari Majoriti.

Alhamdulillah, mungkin berdasarkan pengajaran inilah, UMNO pernah berjaya memimpin Perikatan kemudian Barisan Nasional sekaligus Malaysia sejak merdekanya; kerana pemimpin Melayu tidak leka atas dasar hak sejarah mahupun ramainya kita semata-mata. Jelas juga yang bergoncangnya Kepimpinan Melayu sekarang adalah kerana bangsa berpecah-belah politiknya dan kelemahan bersemarak apabila pentadbiran Pak Lah gagal mentadbir di mata rakyat.

DS Najib kini terlihat sedang berhati-hati mengukir jalan mengembalikan keyakinan rakyat kepada Kepimpinan Melayu. Usahanya mungkin sudah mula berjaya dan bukti tidak langsungnya adalah serangan terkini Pakatan terhadap institusi-institusi yang mengutuhkan Kepimpinan Melayu seperti BTN. Tetapi pada hemah saya, yang paling membahayakan usaha DS Najib dan pemimpin lain untuk menyuburkan kembali Kepimpinan Melayu bukanlah komplot Pakatan ...

Lebih membahayakan lagi adalah apabila ahli kabinet DS Najib memperagakan kenakalan ataupun mungkin kegopohan berpolitik seperti dipertunjukkan Datuk Nazri Aziz tempohari. Terkini pula, terlihat kerakusan yang ditunjukkan oleh penyokong-penyokong seorang Ketua Pemuda UMNO yang hebat cita-citanya! Mengalpakan lagi apabila seorang pegawai politik DS Najib sendiri dipertikaikan kewibawaannya.

DS Najib dan barisan pemimpin terdekat dengannya, termasuklah TS Muhyiddin, haruslah peka mendengar baik suara rakyat baik dari blog mahupun laporan jalanan berganding dengan nasihat orang-orang lama seperti Tun Dr M yang sejarahnya masih menggilap obor Kepimpinan Melayu. Adalah lebih baik Kepimpinan Melayu diutuhkan dengan kisah-kisah hero tak didendang kita ataupun bahan sejarah mentadbir yang hebatnya diakui dunia...

... dari diberi muka berterusan kepada primadona penghancur warisan Kepimpinan Melayu 1Malaysia...

Selamat Menyambut Maal Hijrah!

Mari Berceramah Kepada BTN...

Tempohari, saya dijemput untuk memberi ceramah kepada pemimpin-pemimpin Biro Tata-Negara yang menjadi bahan kecaman Pakatan baru-baru ini. Topik yang di minta saya bincangkan adalah bersabit 'Cabaran Pendidikan' pada masa kini. Saya menganggap topik ini cukup bebas untuk menyentuh pelbagai perkara, termasuklah perlunya:

1. Cabaran yang timbul hasil dakyah anti-1Malaysia yang menidakkan sejarah, malah memperindahkan dusta semata-mata untuk menarik minat masyarakat muda.
2. Perlunya BTN mengemaskinikan CARA perisiannya DISAMPAIKAN kepada generasi muda bagi menyahut cabaran tersebut.
3. Menjelaskan bagaimana generasi berteknologi maklumat harus dihormati 'kelainannya' serta untung-rugi di sebalik layanan tersebut.

Sebagai seorang yang pernah dikursus mahupun memberi ceramah dalam aktiviti BTN, peluang diberi tidak saya sia-siakan dengan mempersoalkan perisian BTN. Ini terutama sekali memandangkan BTN kini dipimpin oleh seorang veteran pembina program jatidiri, Datuk Saghul Hamid dan tokoh-tokoh Belia lama seperti 'Pak Long' Wahab yang sudi hadir pada ceramah saya.

Soalan tentang 1Malaysia timbul juga pada sesi dialog saya, dan hubungan antara konsep 1Malaysia dan pengajaran Tata-Negara dahulu jelas pada saya. Pada saya, 1Malaysia merupakan usaha DS Najib untuk memperingatkan rakyat Malaysia tentang sejarah perpaduan kita sebagai sebuah negara-bangsa yang tidak mengamalkan asimilasi, tetapi menghormati kelainan dalam persekutuan pelbagai dalam 1 gagasan. Paksi sejarah ini sesuai dengan peranan BTN.

Kerana itulah saya merasa agak kecewa mendengar cerca keluar semula dari mulut DS Nazri Aziz menuduh kononnya Tun Dr Mahathir seorang bersifat perkauman atau 'racist' kerana amnya bersependapat dengan saya, bahawa BTN tidak perlu dirombak kurikulumnya, cuma sekadar diperbaiki sahaja mungkin. Kita tahu DS Nazri mungkin kepingin menelan malu dari latahnya tempohari tentamg perlunya kurikulum BTN dirombak, tetapi kenapa harus dihina Tun Dr M?

Apakah DS Nazri sudah lupa yang Tun Dr M-lah yang membuka jalan politik luas untuk beliau, semata-mata kerana mengingati kawannya, arwah Tan Sri Abdul Aziz dahulu? Atau mungkin DS Nazri masih membawa dendam lama kerana pemimpin kesayangannya Pak Lah sudah tiada lagi di tampuk kuasa? Atau mungkin juga DS Nazri malu kerana menyedari beliau salah dan sudah terjebak dalam perangkap pembangkang yang lebih licik dielak oleh Datuk Ahmad Maslan?

Bukti kesalahan DS Nazri Aziz menjadi jelas apabila beliau kini disokong sekaligus diperkudakan pendakyah-pendakyah yang mengapi-apikan perbalahan antara kaum di Malaysia. Seperti biasa, contoh 1-2 diketengahkan yang memutar-belitkan bisa dirasa pendakyah menindakkan sejarah apabila hadir dan dipersembahkan kebenaran beralaskan sejarah dalam kursus BTN.

Kalau hendak dikatakan BTN itu maksum dan tak pernah salah langkah pun tidak. Pada zaman BTN dikuasai oleh DS Anwar Ibrahim pada suatu masa dahulu, ia digunakan untuk menyebarkan dakyah yang beliaulah pemimpin bagaikan nabi yang akan menyelamatkan negara dari salah langkah Tun Dr M! Pak Lah juga banyak menyalah-gunakan BTN pada zaman beliau Perdana Menteri. Tetapi BTN sekarang kelihatan sudah kembali kepada tujuannya yang asal.

Mungkinkah ini merunsingkan pihak Pakatan, yang BTN kini sudah kembali ke niat asalnya dan kian berjaya membetulkan dakyah palsu pembawa perpecahan. kalau tidak, kenapakah kerajaan Pakatan Selangor dan Penang takut bebenar untuk membolehkan kakitangan dan para pelajar hadir kursus-kursus BTN? Saya rasa atas dasar ini, ada baiknya para pemimpin Pakatan sendiri dijemput menyertai program BTN!

Mungkin DS Nazri Aziz pun patut hadir ke kursus BTN itu sama...?

Nasib Korban Seorang Pejuang

Datuk saya, Junid bin Cut Li, lahir di Acheh pada zaman pergolakan ekonomi antara 2 perang dunia. Atas sebab peribadi, beliau meninggalkan Acheh dan menyertai ayahnya yang pada masa itu sedang berniaga sambil bermukim di Yan Kedah. Keluarga Junid termasuklah Nyak Gam, seorang peniaga masyhur, pejuang kemerdekaan dan sahabat Tun Dr Mahathir.

Junid telah dinikahkan kepada nenek saya Juariah binti Nyak Osman, yakni anak mandur Cut Li yang juga dari keturunan Tengku Bintang. Tengku Bintang merupakan salah seorang dari 3 Tengku bersaudara yang dikirim oleh kerajaan Acheh ke Sultan Kedah untuk membantu membenteras lanun di pesisir pantai negeri Kedah pada akhir abad ke-19.

Walaupun Junid seorang yang bertalian keluarga dengan para pemimpin masyarakat di Tanah Melayu dan beliau sendiri terlibat dalam aktiviti menentang penjajah, beliau tidak pernah diiktiraf sebagai rakyat Persekutuan Tanah Melayu. Malah, begitu aneh sekali dilihat isterinya yakni nenek saya menyertai dan aktif dalam kaum ibu UMNO padahal 'Tok Junid' seolah-olah tersisih dari memegang peranan dalam organisasi.

Ini adalah kerana Tok Junid bukan rakyat Tanah Melayu. Lebih parah lagi, kerana menentang kemasukkan Acheh ke dalam Republik Indonesia, beliau juga bukan rakyat Indonesia, tetapi tergolong dalam kumpulan tanpa kerakyatan atau 'stateless'. IC beliau pada masa itu juga bukan merah tetapi menurut Ayah, berwarna lain, mungkin hijau atau putih.

Namun, kedudukan beliau yang tanpa kerakyatan tidak mematahkan semangat juang Tok Junid untuk terus menuntut kemerdekaan Malaya, terutama sekali dengan kedudukan isteri, anak-anak serta kaum kerabatnya sebagai rakyat berdaftar.

Tok Junid meninggal dunia sebelum Merdeka, namun kalaulah hidup, beliau tidak mungkin menerima kewarganegaraan serta-merta, kerana tiada sesiapa yang memperjuangkan kerakyatan beliau seperti MCA dan MIC untuk kaum Cina dan India. Ingatlah yang kewarganegaraan Malaya hanya pasti kepada orang Melayu berkelahiran Tanah Melayu menjelang kemerdekaan dan dihadiahkan kepada mereka yang diperjuangkan MCA serta MIC di bawah prinsip Jusoli.

Kerana faktor sejarah inilah Chin Peng sehingga kini bukan rakyat Malaysia manakala Abdullah CD, Shamsiah Fakeh, Rashid Mydin dan ratusan lagi pejuang komunis sedia diterima kerakyatan mereka setamat keganasan dengan perjanjian Haadyai. Nasib Tok Junid dan Chin Peng ini juga bukanlah janggal, tetapi lazim di serata dunia. Contohnya, apabila perjanjian Helsinki ditandatangani untuk mengamankan Acheh, ramai juga pejuang GAM yang terjebak tanpa kerakyatan!

Chin Peng seorang yang telah berjuang untuk komunisma. Perjuangan asalnya menentang penjajahan Jepun di bawah payung komunis Cina telah diubah supaya menuju sasaran Inggeris sekembalinya penjajah tersebut ke Tanah Melayu. Masalah Chin Peng dan kepimpinannya adalah beliau mentafsirkan kerjasama pemimpin Melayu dan masyarakat India serta Cina untuk mencapai kemerdekaan secara aman sebagai kegiatan 'tali-barut'.

Dari segi sejarah, mungkin pentafsiran awal Chin Peng ada asasnya, kerana apabila Inggeris berusaha menubuhkan Malayan Union, yakni berusaha menukarkan Tanah Melayu dari 'lindungan' kepada 'jajahan' para pemimpin masyarakat Cina dan India menyokong padu usaha Inggeris. Malah, sekiranya kedudukan Raja-Raja Melayu tidak terancam dan kewarganegaraan tidak dipermurahkan, mungkin pemimpin Melayu pun akan tetap lena.

Tetapi, setelah patahnya usaha Malayan Union, pemimpin masyarakat ketiga-tiga kaum ini semakin lama kian sepakat menuntut kemerdekaan. Malah, perpecahan awal UMNO dan MCA serta penubuhan MPI oleh Dato' Onn Jaafar telah membersihkan parti-parti Perikatan dari anasir-anasir pro-Inggeris yang amnya memautkan harapan mereka kepada ketokohan Dato' Onn supaya pemergian Inggeris setidak-tidaknya boleh diperlambatkan.

Kerana itulah, kecualilah Chin Peng buta sejarah, hilang ingatan, tak sampai maklumat atau kabur hubungan dengan realiti, beliau haruslah mengakui yang keganasannya merebut kuasa, walaupun setelah merdeka, bukan usaha untuk mencapai kemerdekaan semata-mata. Jika benar ia untuk merdeka, seharusnya beliau meletakkan senjata dan berganding bersama Tun HS Lee memperjuangkan kemerdekaan atau setidak-tidaknya menyerah sejurus selepas 31 Ogos 1957.

Kini beliau begitu berharap untuk kembali ke Setiawan sehingga sanggup pula diperkudakan oleh golongan yang juga ketagih kuasa versi abad ke-21. Cara golongan ini mungkin lebih halus dan aman, yakni dengan menidakkan sejarah dan menyerongkan paksi moral masyarakat muda, sehingga seorang ketua pengganas boleh ditafsirkan semula sebagai 'mangsa' kerajaan BN.

Namun dalam menidakkan sejarah Chin Peng, golongan perebut kuasa ini terlupa bahawa terlalu ramai dari kami masih segar ingatan tentang datuk-nenek mahupun ayah-ibu atau sanak-saudara yang juga merupakan mangsa komunis. Begitu manis sekali kata-kata yang Chin Peng harus 'dimaafkan' seperti komunis lain yang boleh kembali ke kampung mereka. Sebenarnya, Abdullah CD, Shamsiah Fakeh, Rashid Mydin dan lain-lain tidak dimaafkan, tetapi bernasib baik!

Tak pernah saya dengar pun teori yang komunis ini semua dimaafkan oleh rakyat Malaysia. Tetapi oleh kerana sejarah perjanjian kemerdekaan, mereka ini terpaksa diterima kembali sebagai warganegara! Yang Melayu, secara otomatik kerana lahir di Tanah Melayu, sementara bekas komunis bukan Melayu diusahakan kerakyatannya oleh MCA dan MIC atas dasar simpati, lalu diserap ke dalam masyarakat dengan bantuan NGO-NGO seperti organisasi belia MAYC.

Yang tinggal di luar hanyalah Chin Peng dan beberapa kerat yang lain. Masalah Chin Peng adalah bodoh-sombongnya - padahal apa yang perlu hanyalah untuk beliau meminta maaf kepada rakyat Malaysia dan memohon bantuan MCA untuk memperjuangkan nasibnya. Tetapi ini tidak, malah beliau sedia diperkudakan untuk menidakkan sejarah oleh golongan-golongan yang tidak bertanggungjawab!

Chin Peng seharusnya menerima kenyataan. Beliau salah dalam keganasannya yang dahulu sekaligus kalah dalam pertempuran senjata mahupun perebutan matahati masyarakat Malaya serta Malaysia. Beliau tidak layak diterima sebagai rakyat Malaysia menurut perjanjian pra-kemerdekaan sekiranya tidak menerima sejarah serta prinsip Jusoli dan selagi terlalu bodoh-sombong untuk memohon bantuan MCA.

Chin Peng seharusnya lebih matang dari ini. Sekiranya merasakan dirinya masih betul dalam kekalahan, beliau seharusnya menerima nasibnya, pengorbanannya sebagai seorang pejuang. Terlalu ramai pejuang dan masyarakat kita mati atas arahannya, maka seharusnya beliau bersyukur sahaja yang hidupnya masih bebas walau kalah perjuangan! Mungkin dengan cara ini, beliau akan terlihat lebih bermaruah dalam ingatan, sepertilah Tok Junid dihargai keturunannya hingga kini.

Litany Of Incompetence Continues In Selangor... But It's OK! They Have A RM 1 Economic Advisor Now!

In my hiatus, too many samples of incompetence have arisen in the state of Selangor, such that I have chosen not to dedicate individual blogs postings to them, but rather lump some together here. May the list, or at least the observations, be not too stale...

1. A Selangor Pakatan ADUN has decided that the Malaysian government is wasting money when engaging a top British coroner to witness the post-mortem of the exhumed body of Teoh Beng Hock. This is likely because the coroner, whilst previously engaged in high profile cases such as the death of Princess Diana and victims of war crimes, is not Thai, has boring coloured hair and is not in the habit of accusing the police of all sorts of nonsense.


2. Still on Teoh's case, to assist in their time of need, Pakatan has of course ensured Teoh's family is being represented by the best and most impartial lawyer they can think of... Gobind Singh Deo! Must be impartial mah, he is after all a DAP ADUN! Of course if it is true Teoh's death was related to some DAP wrong-doing, Gobind will do the 'right thing'! Of course, of course... And just look at the hair colour of the coroner Gobind picked!


3. In the meantime, even before the conclusion of Teoh's inquest, Pakatan has achieved another success in 'efforts to eradicate' corruption in Malaysia! Thanks to the hard work of DAP leaders especially, the High Court has ruled that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) can only interogate witnesses during office hours! It is believed this will surely lead to more corrupt individuals being convicted, Pakatan hopes those from BN...


4. The Selangor state has decided that their propaganda is not failing because of their own incompetence, but due to the presence of mainstream media in their press conferences. This has led to expulsions of 'pro-BN' media from Pakatan related press conferences in the state. Just to make a point though, the suspect 'pro-BN' reporters are still invited, but are then expelled from the press conferences just prior to their beginning ...


5. In the same vein, all Selangor government staff and students from Selangor state owned institutions cannot join 'BTN' courses any more. Obviously this is because Pakatan feels threatened by BTN running their 1-2 week courses, as it would leave them only 50-51 weeks in the year to correct BTN's 'propaganda', which is not enough! Many are now wondering if Selangor students will be blocked from going for National Service!


6. In the meantime, crime is still rife in the PJ area, despite the promises of Pakatan leaders that they would be able to cut crime better than BN. Perhaps this is because Pakatan have a better record of working with the police? (LOL!) Unfortunately, these promises have still not been delivered, however, never fear, at least the MPPJ have managed to crack down on all those excessive billborads that were all over the place before this!



7. In addition, Muslims in Selangor can breath easy that only 'certified' persons may give religious sermons in the state. Of course, this may put UIAM and USIM in some danger as no one really knows if their lecturers are 'certified' according to JAIS' interpretation. But don't worry, as JAIS is so confident they know what they are doing that they are already charging a former mufti for preaching without being certified...

Nevertheless, despite all their demonstrated folly, Selangor Pakatan has hope! They will soon receive invaluable guidance from the world's most high-value 'economic adviser', for RM 1 mah! Cheap, cheap! I am sure they can arrange for the adviser to be imprisoned in Selangor for 'easy consultation' if ..., and no one will complain about him being a 'highly paid' fellow. Of course, you would only pay high for good value, as it almost never comes cheap...

Anwar Ibrahim Seharusnya Memainkan Peranan Anti-Aids

Sebagai tokoh biseksual paling terampil di Malaysia, DS Anwar Ibrahim seharusnya memainkan lebih peranan dalam usaha menghalang kemajuan wabak AIDS serta jangkitan HIV pada peringkat nasional. Tambah pula, baru-baru ini, dikatakan jumlah wanita dijangkiti HIV melonjak ke tahap 30% dari keseluruhan pesakit yang dilaporkan. Adalah dikatakan bahawa terlalu ramai isteri menjangkiti HIV dari suami mereka yang berzina secara rambang!

Kehebatan ketua Pembangkang kita terserlah melihat DS Wan Azizah bebas dari jangkitan HIV walaupun DS Anwar tertuduh 'masih cerdas' sebagai peliwat. Tambah pula, rekod beliau yang bebas penyakit walaupun sudah lama berlaku 'rambang', seperti diakui ramai, termasuklah hakim-hakim yang membebaskannya, menimbulkan persoalan; ada kah ilmu yang harus diperturunkan oleh DS Anwar kepada yang sejenis dengannya?

Setidak-tidaknya, hari AIDS sedunia memberi peluang DS Anwar untuk menggunakan ketokohan beliau bagi menyedarkan masyarakat tentang bahaya jangkitan HIV, agar masyarakat menjauhkan diri dari aktiviti zina atau seks rambang di rumah-rumah urut lindungan Ronnie Liu serta seumpama dengannya. Pasti ini lebih berguna dari usaha DS Anwar untuk menjatuhkan DS Najib dan DS Hj Hadi yang sehingga kini masih belum ternampak hasilnya pun!

Wallahualam...

Mampukah Yang Taksub Menerima TG Nik Aziz Tidak Maksum?

Kabus mitos yang menyelubungi persepsi ramai penyokong PAS kini sudah lerai ditiup badai kebenaran. Jelas TG Nik Aziz tidak maksum, samalah bagaimana Pak Lah juga tidak sempurna kepimpinannya apabila menaruh terlalu banyak kepercayaan kepada menantu beliau! Maaflah kalau ada yang marah TG Nik Aziz disamakan dengan Pak Lah, tetapi hakikat ini harus diterima; Kedua-duanya orang kuat agama yang dibawa sesat oleh anak menantu tersayang...

Malah, pemimpin PAS haruslah bersyukur yang TG Nik Aziz setidak-tidaknya masih terbuka hatinya untuk menerima nasihat untuk membuang menantunya dari terus menjawat Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif PMBK. Mujurlah ia tidak dibiarkan melarat sehingga menantu tersebut mula berangan-angan untuk memegang kuasa politik pula! Cukuplah sudah ada seorang menantu pemimpin besar yang terkenal mengkecamukkan politik Melayu di tanah air kita ini.

Soalnya sekarang adalah, mampukah mereka yang taksub TG Nik Aziz ini menerima yang beliau tidak maksum? Ini sudah terbukti dengan terlalu jelas sekarang. Malah, TG Nik Aziz terpaksa menerima teguran dari Presiden dan Timbalan Majlis Ulama PAS sebelum bertindak, yakni bermaksud, kesedaran tersebut bukanlah timbul dari diri beliau sendiri mahupun ilham Ilahi baik dalam mimpi mahupun menusuk sanubari.

Saya sebenarnya begitu gawat melihat bagaimana TG Nik Aziz begitu didewa-dewakan oleh sesetengah pihak, sehinggakan riak kelihatan seolah-olah mula menular dalam tindak-tanduk mahupun kata-kata beliau. Ini tidak sihat. Pemimpin mesti selalu upaya ditegur kerana tiada yang sempurna lagi di antara kita. Itu kan antara Rukun Iman kita bersabit Kepercayaan Kepada Nabi dan Rasul? Makanya, diharap para penyokong TG Nik Aziz mengambil iktibar...

Masa Depan Anwar Semakin Cerah?

Gambar foto DS Anwar minum bersama DS Najib di Parlimen menjadi topik perbincangan pagi ini. Jelas sekali masa depan DS Anwar semakin cerah... Sejak minggu lepas, banyak berita yang pasti menggembirakan DS Anwar:

1. Serangan terbaru beliau terhadap DS Najib melalui Malaysia-Today mengingatkan kembali segelintir rakyat akan fitnah-fitnah lapuk terhadap DS Najib. Namun boleh lagi DS Anwar dilayan dengan senyum-tawa di Perlimen. DS Anwar pasti merasa sungguh kehebatannya.


2. Beliau dilantik penasihat ekonomi dengan gaji RM 1! Saya rasa gaji tu tak penting, sudah pasti DS Anwar cukup berpengalaman untuk meraih lebih dari RM 1 gajinya dari jawatan tersebut! Tambah pula, jawatan tersebut akan memberinya 'glamer free' memandangkan banyak usaha ekonomi kroni-kroni DAP bakal diumumkan di Selangor... pasti DS Anwarlah akan dikatakan pemankinnya!


3. DUN Kota Siputeh bakal dikosongkan, dan memandangkan 'faktor Mukhriz' tidak timbul serta calon terbaik UMNO iaitu ADUN sekarang, Datuk Abu Hassan Sarif akan dipertikaikan pencalonan semulanya, ada lah peluang DS Anwar nak menebus malu di Bagan Pinang di sebuah kubu tradisi PAS.


4. PAS semakin bergoncang hasil kerja kuncu-kuncu DS Anwar, baik cyber-trooper Anwar bertopengkan PAS mahupun pemimpin PAS yang berjiwa ABIM (ramai benar ni!), IKD (Kamaruddin Jaafar, dll) atau Yayasan Anda (Husam Musam, dll). Sekarang TG Nik Aziz pun terdedah ada unsur Rasuah dan Nepotisma dalam gerak kerjanya! Seronoklah DS Anwar!


5. Anak buah kesayangannya Azmin Ali semakin gagah di PKR dan berjaya menunjukkan 'kejantanan' beliau dengan menyingkir Dato' Zaid Ibrahim dan Dato' Jeffrey Kitingan. Manalah tak bangga DS Anwar, sehingga 'fan' beliau KJ pun turut berusaha menaikkan nama Azmin dengan menyerangnya... padahal Azmin Ali tak relevan pun sebagai seorang pemimpin peringkat nasional...

Ah, gembira sungguh DS Anwar, pasti.... cuma ada kes liwat aje...

PAS Kata Bai'ah Talak Tiga Salah? Eh... Dah Tanya TG Nik Aziz Belum?

Saya tahu PAS mengamalkan bai'ah talak 3, bukan dari YB Khalid Samad, tetapi dari seorang Ahli Perlimen dari Kelantan. Semasa beliau menjelaskannya, ada pemimpin atasan PAS yang turut hadir mengangguk setuju. Maka, saya merasa agak terkejut apabila melihat 'spin' dari Datuk Mustafa Ali yang kononnya PAS tak pernah buat kerja bai'ah ini.

Sebenarnya, walaupun saya tak setuju dengan perilaku lazim PAS menjelang pilihanraya tersebut, ada hikmahnya kerana:

1. Ia menjadi suatu lagi bukti sah yang PAS mengalatkan agama untuk politik. Ia mengesyorkan jurublog ini bahawa pilihannya untuk tidak menyokong PAS kerana takut terpesong perjuangan adalah betul.


2. Ia mengesyorkan bahawa intipati perjuangan PAS sebenarnya tidaklah begitu kuat berpaut di hati walau pemimpinnya yang cukup hebat sehingga boleh menjadi calon pilihanraya sehingga memerlukan bai'ah sedemikian. Maka adalah harapan untuk kita memikat ahli PAS walau betapa tinggi jawatan pun untuk kembali ke arus asal perjuangan UMNO. (PAS kan serpihan...)


3. Ia memberi tanda kepimpinan PAS sendiri tidak yakin akan kualiti calon-calon pilihanrayanya. Kalau begitu, apakah patut mengundi menaruh kepercayaan kepada mereka? Apakah 'bai'ah' wakil rakyat PAS terhadap Rakyat lebih diperlukan.


4. Bai'ah seperti ini lambat-laun akan melalaikan PAS terhadap kesetiaan pemimpinnya, sehingga suntikan semangat perjuangan sebenar mungkin diabaikan. Contoh terbaik adalah YB Khalid Samad sendiri yang kini lebih merupakan wakil rakyat DAP dari PAS! Padahal yang berjawatanlah patut selalu diperingati...


5. Pendedahan penyelewengan fungsi deen Islam ini parti akan menggoncang persepsi rakyat, terutama sekali masyarakat Islam, walau yang makan-minum-tidur berpaksikan PAS, terhadap segala aspek parti tersebut; baik dakyah kewujudannya langsung terhadap kewibawaan pemimpinnya... Buktinya? Spin Datuk Mustafa Ali kan untuk menangani masalah ini?


6. dll


7. dll


8. dsb...

Namun walau ada pelbagai hikmah yang melemahkan PAS dari amalan Bai'ah ini, memanglah bagus ia didedahkan sekarang, malah ahlinya haruslah berterima-kasih kepada UMNO, BN serta barisan jentera medianya kerana menegur secara bertubi-tubi agar PAS kembali ke jalan benar. Ini kan tanggungjawab sesama Islam, dan mungkin dengan cara ini, UMNO juga dapat menunjukkan kepada PAS bagaimana seteru harusnya tegur-menegur, tanpa perlunya kafir-mengkafir...

Dari segi tokoh, 'spin' Datuk Mustafa Ali juga mengesyorkan pengamat sejarah ini bahawa mungkin ada harapan beliau menyertai UMNO suatu hari nanti. Beliau sendiri mengakui kesalahan PAS dengan menidakkan bai'ah ini, maka mungkinkah Datuk Mustafa juga akan mengikut jejak langkah bekas Presiden PAS, arwah Datuk Asri Muda, yang sempat menyertai UMNO sebelum meninggalnya sebagai petanda maafnya dari dosa PAS mengkafirkan UMNO pada zaman kepimpinannya.

Eh, tapi... Datuk Mustafa dah periksakah dengan TG Nik Aziz tentang hal ini? Soalnya, kerajaan TG dah memastikan bai'ah ini 'halal', setidak-tidaknya di negeri Kelantan, melalui Enakmen Keluarga Islam Negeri Kelantan 2002. Malah, akhbar pro-Pakatan Sinar adapun mendedahkan betapa 'halal'nya bai'ah sebegini menurut Mahkamah Syariah Kelantan.

Eh, tapi ini mengelirukan... kalau mahkamah syariah TG Nik Aziz khabar bai'ah ini 'halal', kenapa Datuk Mustafa rancak sekali dengan 'spin'-nya? Janganlah sampai patah harapan TG Hj Hadi agar selesai perkara dengan timbulnya kekeliruan baru antara dua paksi PAS lagi!

Saya mengharap Datuk Mustafa dan pemimpin-pemimpin PAS lain yang insaf selamatlah dari dalang-dalang yang menusuk nista, fitnah dan benci ke telinga TG Nik Aziz sekarang. TG Nik Aziz pun anak buah ulama utama yang membawa PAS masuk BN dahulu, TG Hj Mat Nur Teliar, TG Hj Mat Nur Selising dan TG Hj Umar Daud kan? Mungkin ada pemumpin PAS yang ikhlas serta insaf mahu memperingati beliau yang ketiga-tiga ulama ini arwahnya sebagai ahli UMNO...

The 'Best' Senior Politician In Malaysia For November 2009 - Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek!

For all his weaknesses, I must say that DS Dr Chua Soi Lek is one of my favourite politicians. Notwithstanding his 'Hollier than thou' incident, having some of the bad habits of other locals senior politicians, like advancing their sons into their place (his son replaced him as MP for Labis) and other disagreements on issues, he stands out today as one of the most cunning and competent senior politicians across both sides of the political divide.

By the standards of the young, Dr Chua is rather attractive judging from the decent following of his blog - the man's blog hits are rapidly reaching millionaire status! - where his writing adds to his stature. And whilst nigh everyone publicly frowns at the 'Holier than thou' affair, many of my generation and older cannot help but chuckle when talking of Dr Chua's 'performance' and 'staying power' whilst the young tend to be more open to the idea of redemption...

Dr Chua may indeed evolve into MCA's version of Benjamin Disraeli, the 'clever rogue' with a reputation of being a womaniser in Victorian England, who became Prime Minister twice and is attributed to being founder of the modern Conservative party! Whilst Disraeli's charm and good relations with Queen Victoria may have been his assets, Dr Chua has recently demonstrated his mastery of detailm, such as in the law, and recent use of the media (!) as his.

And as with his earlier periods of media activity, DS Dr Chua has taken advantage of his position of having nothing to lose to actually increase his stature in the eyes of the Malaysian public. We all know he is playing a game when offering to 'give' the MCA Deputy President's post to DS Liow Tiong Lai, but we like the wit in the way he does it and the principle he is espousing nonetheless. Note also DS Liow is proving to be a less effective Health Minister than DS Dr Chua before!

As a Muslim though, I must share that I find the setting aside of DS Dr Chua's Holier than thou situation mildly distrubing. But we do practice leaving the choice of leaders to each's own ethnic group, and as I have not seen DS Dr Chua being any more overtly anti-Malay or anti-Islam than his colleagues, certainly not as overtly as DAP's leaders, I am honour-bound to cheer him on! I hope readers will forgive my lack of 'Holier than thou'-ness...