The Terrorists' Script ....

An interesting script was layed out in Haris's blog - The People's Parliament. It is about how the terrorists' events are manufactured & the "May 13" script plays out in a our country, and the perpetrators are always innocent.
Sadly, many Malaysians fall for the script again and again and again - being the all peaceful people who don't want any trouble, even if it mean selling out their own children's future.
So here goes the long, but interesting script ....

We do not countenance your ways

and we do not fear you, UMNO

January 28, 2010

Moderator’s note : Seorang pembaca blog ini bernama Peter, dengan menggunakan kemudahan yang disediakan oleh Google, telah menterjemahkan posting ini ke dalam Bahasa Malaysia. Terjemahan tersebut, walaupun bukan begitu tepat, boleh dibaca di SINI.

Tahniah, Peter.

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I was too young to fully understand all that was happening when the May 13 tragedy struck.

I have since had the benefit of reading up on this dark passage of our nation’s history from every possible literature I could lay my hands on, including Dr. Kua’s “May 13″.

Until an earnest attempt to lay bare the truth about the riots of 1969 is made through a mechanism akin to that of a truth and reconciliation commission, we may never really ever know what brought about the violence and mayhem which , as we now know, made all talk thereafter of nation-building, as envisaged by our founding fathers, rhetoric and little else.

At the same time, the race-based ‘divide and rule’ blueprint laid out by the Malay nationalists of the day and carried forward by their progeny to this day has, over the years, been allowed to take root and firmly grip this nation by, again and again, playing out to a fearful people, the spectre of race and religion-based violence erupting to disrupt a peaceful existence sustained, not through genuine respect, acceptance and understanding, but the absence of dissent through fear.

Again and again, the people are reminded of the dark history of May 13.

Take the script of May 13. Tweak it a little.

New actors.

Present-day props.

The stage is set.

Act One : Racial posturing by one group

Act Two : Retaliation by another group

Act Three : Media reports of volatile racial tension

Act Four : Police threat to take the necessary action to restore calm

Act Five : Pre-emptive strike by the powers that be to arrest the ‘trouble makers’ and detain the same under preventive detention laws ( read this as ISA ). Strangely, the actors in Act 1 and Act 2 escape the net that has been cast far and wide

No need for real bloodshed. Creating public fear of the same would have the same desired effect.

Take the Najib-Lee Kim Sai sandiwara of 1987, that was the prelude to Ops Lalang.

Racial posturing, leading to racial tension, and then mass arrests.

The net cast wide, so that the real targets of detention are not immediately discernible, in the context of media-reported racial tension, in the hope that a fearful people will not retaliate to these arrests.

The main players?

Scot-free. Job well done.

Glean through the history of this nation and one will find that every time the Malay nationalists in UMNO have found themselves politically weak and up against the wall, they have resorted to the script of May 13.

Times have changed, though.

The mainstream media no longer has a monopoly over the dissemination of information to the people.

We are a better informed people now.

Post the Hindraf rally of 25th November, 2007, the ultras in UMNO planned a rally on 19th December.

It was called off.

They were advised that the components of that planned rally would be largely mercenary Mat Rempit and Perkida. Should there be a retaliatory gathering on the same day by those marginalised Malaysians who had protested earlier on 25th November, and should these two groups clash, there would be a bloodbath. Within minutes, sms’s would carry news of the same throughout the country.

The nation would be in flames.

That the ultras in UMNO then called off the rally tells us that they too, then, could not afford a nation in flames.

The economy would be in ruins. There would be no riches to pilfer in the guise of governance.

What they then did was, through the mainstream media, to contrive fear of racial tension.

Every other day, in that December of 2007, the IGP was quoted asking people not to be influenced by e-mails and sms’s warning of trouble looming in the country.

That was enough.

It worked.

Every other day that month, I received sms’s asking me to take care as I travelled in the course of my work, social activism or otherwise.

Looking back now, it would seem that that ploy was too little, too late.

The results of the 12th GE bears testimony to this.

The rakyat were not taken in to vote for stability. Half of those voting voted for change.

Has UMNO since abandoned the script of May 13?

No.

Since Najib launched his 1Malaysia, it’s become difficult for UMNO to openly play the race / religious ‘divide and rule’ card.

Not that they don’t anymore, but it has become difficult.

It’s a credibility issue, so the PR boys have advised.

Play the race and religion card by all means, so the advise goes, but distance UMNO from this.

Do it surreptitiously.

Enter the many NGOs that leave a trail leading back to UMNO, that have sprung up to do the dirty work of stirring alarmist race and religious sentiments amongst our Malay / Muslim brothers and sisters.

Read this to include PERKASA, PEWARIS and Pekida and any other NGO in any way howsoever connected to Ibrahim Ali or Dr M.

Add to this the vile and dangerous rantings of the likes of Zul Nordin and Hassan Ali.

These are the new actors to the drama, founded on the script of May 13, that we see being played out today.

Aided and abetted by the mainstream media and the numerous blogs and websites that serve the racist agenda of UMNO.

Utusan, Berita Harian, NST, The Star, and all the state and UMNO-owned TV and radio stations.

Must I name the bloggers?

We all know who they are.

The history books of this nation may some day record their names, and their deeds, for posterity. Time will tell.

So the script of the new drama unfolding before us and carried out to the Malay heartland by the media is largely the same.

The May 13 script, tweaked to suit present circumstances and needs.

The actors are new.

What of the props and the modus?

Remember the cow-head incident in Shah Alam in August, last year?

How the perpetrators of that shameful act claimed to be PAS members and finally, most, if not all, turned out to be UMNO members or UMNO-connected?

Things, however, didn’t go as they had hoped.

Why?

Our Hindu brothers and sisters did not fall into the trap of the evil perpetrators of that most ugly deed by reacting with any retaliatory move, thereby unwittingly setting the stage for Acts 3, 4 and 5.

Back to the drawing board.

Solution : If the good people of this nation will not retaliate to staged provocation, stage the retaliation as well.

If the Hindus will not retaliate to cow-head stomping and the Christians will not react to church-torching by desecrating Muslim places of worship, do it on their behalf.

And then let the UMNO-subservient media do their work to get word of this staged retaliation to the unsuspecting Malays in the heartlands who have no access to alternative news.

Consider the seeming tit-for-tat church burnings and desecration of mosques and surau that we are witnessing.

The intended demonstrations on 8th January after Friday prayers against the the High Court decision in the “Allah” issue fizzled out.

The church burnings of the same day drew outright condemnation from civil society, Muslim and non-Muslim alike.

And little else.

What of the desecration of surau and mosques that followed?

I have no doubt in my mind that these, like the church burnings and the attack on the gurdwara, were staged by UMNO and their thugs.

In the midst of all this comes the announcement of the use of the ISA to detain those alleged to be involved with international terrorism.

Is Act five looming?

Let’s wait and see.

Let’s also say it like it is.

The two biggest enemies of peace, justice and equality in this our nation, are UMNO and their controlled media.

Both are dying a slow death.

If in December of 2007, UMNO appeared to still want to avert any real bloodbath, increasingly now, they do not seem to care.

Or it may be that UMNO now is so fractured and like the days of Pak Lah, the leadership today is unable to reign in the warlords.

Whichever, UMNO has unleashed its agenda of terror.

What of the rest of the nation?

More than ever before, we need to be united to face these enemies from within.

We must not backslide and lose the little ground we have gained over the last few years.

We must all do what we can to neutralise the impact and effect of the lies being spun by the UMNO-subservient media on those who do not have access to the alternative news.

And should mass detention ala Ops Lalang come to pass, we must be ready to step forward to offer leadership in place of those who may be taken in.

What we must not do is to react and give them the stage that their desperate plan requires.

We must counter the message of hate being churned out by UMNO and its media with acts of love, kindness and understanding.

This is our collective responsibility.

If we respond to our enemies agenda with calm and cunning, by God’s Will, we shall soon bury them.

What is the message that we must send to UMNO?

DO NOT MISCONSTRUE OR ACTS OF LOVE, KINDNESS AND UNDERSTANDING TO BE BORNE OUT OF FEAR.

WE DO NOT COUNTENANCE YOUR WAYS AND WE DO NOT FEAR YOU, UMNO.

What's with article 3?

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Obituarising the Sultan of Johor

The following is from TNG:-

28 Jan 10 : 8.00AM

By Ding Jo-Ann
dingjoann@thenutgraph.com

The late Sultan of Johor (© Masami Takakuwa | Wiki Commons)

SULTAN Iskandar ibni Almarhum Sultan Ismail, one of Malaysia's most controversial rulers, passed away on 22 Jan 2010 at the age of 77. The late Johor Sultan will be remembered for many things, one of which would be when he got off his podium during a Merdeka Day parade in the 1980s to take a spin on a participant's superbike.

In reporting on the late sultan, the traditional press wrote of his "closeness" to his subjects, his "care and generosity", and his love for sports and sports cars. Unlike the international media however, Malaysian newspapers glaringly omitted any mention of the "Gomez incident" where the sultan allegedly assaulted a Johor hockey coach at his palace. Indeed, this incident was widely reported in the media when it occurred in 1992 and is recorded in Constitutional Landmarks in Malaysia: The First 50 Years, published by LexisNexis. Among others, the Asia Sentinel also reported about the charge against the sultan for culpable homicide not amounting to murder in 1971 and his subsequent pardon after his father intervened.

So who was the late Sultan of Johor? The man portrayed in the Malaysian traditional media or in the international media? The defender of Pulau Batu Puteh and Malaysian rights or an unpredictable man who had reports of violence lodged against him? And more importantly, why did our Malaysian media fail to ask these questions when reporting on the death of a Malaysian personality, one whose royal house and functions are funded by Malaysian tax payers?

The lion and the coward

Writing obituaries has become an art in journalism. The best obituaries are the ones which capture the essence of the deceased while detailing their main contributions and life's milestones.

(for more, click HERE)

PS
Apparently somebody was hauled up for a voiced over clip of the Sultan giving a speech at the launch of very airy corridor down south called "Iskandar". That version can be viewed here, if you want to have a laugh ......
Anyway, here's the original video clip found of the beloved Sultan on You Tube wherein he didn't seem to understand why it was named after him:

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ANWAR: GET RID OF THIS SCUMBAG - OR ELSE ...

Now do you understand the word turncoat?

Wednesday, 27 January 2010 Super Admin

Is Anwar that naive or stupid that he cannot see the false façade that Zul is wearing on his face? I think Anwar may need to spend a second term in the Sungai Buloh Prison to wake him up to the reality of what is going on in the real world.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Neither Umno nor PAS will touch this mongrel with a 10 foot pole. Nobody trusts him - except you - since he spent some time under ISA (apparently for you!!). But then again, so did Ezam with his 10 boxes of secrets. You gotta be a real shithead not to see what Zul is up to .... the umpteenth time round.
Meanwhile, Anwar pussyfoots around this mongrel as he subverts the party and Pakatan Rakyat!!
His option will be the likes of PERKASA - he'll find his bigoted & racist friends there!!!

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He's giving YOU & the PR his middle finger!!
"Gag order" - my sweet laddus, Anwar!!
KICK HIM OUT- NOW!!!

Religious persecution: Who's the threat to National Security?

Of late, there has been much anxiety among Malaysians from all walks of life, on the state of the "nation" - there is a very clear & present danger of chaos & terror reigning in this country. Signs towards that happening abound all around us.
Politicians from a certain party (Ummm... No - I won't say who they are) play the "judas goat" and lead the unsuspecting sheep to the slaughterhouse. They say that this & that are "sensitive", and dictate terms to those who hold different convictions- oblivious to the Freedoms enshrined in our Federal Constitution (which is the One and ONLY Social Contract that we have).

As if the arrogance displayed by these quarters when they prevent others from practicing their faiths isn't enough, we have leaders playing the apologist for these terrorists and subversives. They neglect to lead their people by informing them on the precepts laid down in the Holy Quran, or even the Federal Constitution, for that matter.
"Leaders" claim that they are bound by the dictates of the masses, even if they were acting out of ignorance. We now have "Leaders" who follow the ignorant masses, instead of guiding them. The idea That the Federal Constitution has to be defended at all costs for the integrity of the Nation- that they have to be right when we may wrong, is lost on them. Instead, these self-proclaimed leaders go around preaching their moronic rationale to justify subversive activities in the name of "sensitivities", instead of enforcing discipline.
While they go around threatening violence on peaceful citizens (when not arresting them), these self-proclaimed "defenders of God" & zealots preach that they advocate peace - and hence need to take preemptive action!
Such hypocrisy coming from those who are supposed to be defending the Federal Constitution is at best, nauseating.

In the light of recent events, not just the non-Muslim community feel threatened by these thugs - but also the peaceful Ahmadiyyah community who also suffer persecution from the authorities. They ask - "If they are to burn churches today, what is to stop them from doing the same to us?"
Now watch the following videos and decide (if you haven't already) - who are the subversives?:-

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“I AM AN EDUCATED MALAY,,,,,"

We all have heard of Mr. YoRais aka Mr. "Change-my-Mode", and it was as stupid and hilarious as can be.
Over the years, I've come across some smug characters who deem speaking in Malay to be "below" them - they'd insist on replying in crude English (if you can call it that when they speak), so as to appear "less kampung" or superior to the man on the street. These are people who have broken out of the "kampung", but have yet to get the "kampung" out of themselves.
They have tasted wealth through the "accident of birth", and now demand rather than earn the respect and "prestige"/stature they crave.
This is the result of Mahathir's version of NEP & the Ketuanan Melayu - people who despise their own heritage, and see shame in it.
However, nothing can beat what I read today in a blog.
The following was published at the link below:

Products Of The NEP System (PONS)

“I AM AN EDUCATED MALAY. DON’T SPEAK TO ME IN MALAY. I AM NOT ORANG KAMPUNG. DON’T TREAT ME LIKE AN ORANG KAMPUNG!!!”

I was taken aback at the sudden outrage.

“I beg your pardon sir. Did I offend you in any way?”

“I AM AN EDUCATED MALAY, NOT AN ORANG KAMPUNG! DON’T TREAT ME LIKE AN ORANG KAMPUNG!”

“Excuse me encik, I’m not sure what you mean. In what way have I offended you?”

“YOU WERE ROUGH TO MY DAD, DOCTOR. IF YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, YOU CAN SPEAK TO ME IN ENGLISH. I CAME BACK FROM KL. YOU DON'T TREAT US LIKE ORANG KAMPUNG!”

My mind raced back over the last 3 minutes or so, trying to recapitulate exactly what I have done to trigger such an unwarranted verbal backlash.

I walked past, I saw a patient with heart failure in distress and I propped him up so that he can breathe a little easier and even so, with the help of one his own sons to do so.

Before long, I found myself facing a man, arms folded across his chest, shooting off irrelevant verbal diarrhea upon me.

I tried to bring the situation under control.

“I apologise sir if my actions have in any way offended you or somehow hurt your father…”

“YOU ARE ROUGH. MY FATHER IS A VERY ILL PERSON. YOU CAN’T DO THAT TO HIM. DON’T THINK I AM NOT EDUCATED. I CAN SPEAK ENGLISH, YOU CAN SPEAK ENGLISH TO ME IF YOU WANT TO DO ANYTHING. DON’T SPEAK TO ME IN MALAY.”

The angry self-proclaimed educated Malay then instigated his siblings to join in the verbal harassment, something which they gladly did.

Keeping a cool front over the next ten minutes or so, I managed to bring the raging anger of the mini mob under control and settled the whole misunderstanding amicably.

However, I walked out of the ward a changed person, or at least a person with a changed perception.

I couldn’t help but wonder to myself if the group of self-professed educated Malays were church arsonists or at the very least some recent cow-head protestors.

After all, a great part of their argument was based on irrelevant information like how they were educated and could speak English with a great emphasis on how they were not orang kampong and therefore should not be treated as such.

It took me a while to dissect and digest the message the family was trying to send to me and when I finally did understand, I was more disgusted than ever.

They were not upset that I tried to help.

Neither were they oblivious to the fact that the patient was better after an adjustment in positioning.

Rather, this family of now successful and educated Malays was perturbed that I failed to accord them a higher pedestal compared to the other patients I had attended to earlier.

I spoke to them in Malay and that’s a no-no.

In short, they were trying to impress upon me that I must recognized their exclusivity for the simple fact that they were not ‘orang kampung’, a population whom they regarded as lesser beings.

Is the Negarakuku that half a century of New Economic Policy and special Malay privileges have come to produced – a minority of holier-than-thou elitists who look down on their fellow beings with disgust and despise?

Believe me, my views are not based on a single encounter with one such family.

Posted by Product of the System at 12:28 AM

Jibby's Chennai visit heralds a renewed Cyber-war?

Remember the above words some time back?
It appears that some people are looking for the remedy across the Andaman Sea/Bay of Bengal!! Who knows - it (the visit) may have been doubling up as a pilgrimage for some people, visiting their "Guru-JI/Master-Ji ..... for talismans or the like.

Bernama came out with reports that "the people of Tamil Nadu" describe Najib as Malaysia's "New Hero" ... (click image for link)
Really?? Are they trying to insult the intelligence of Indians?
Maybe they heard of the last hero - Samy Vellu fall from grace when he hot hit with slippers ....
On the other hand, know their love for the dramatic movies - they must've heard about Altantuya, missing people, missing jet engines and missing money too.
That would probably fit Jibby into the "hero" category ....

Anyways - I googled and searched for Indian newspapers saying the same - zero, zilch, nada, illek, kucch nehhi!! The Najib visit was just a "footnote" .... I guessed as much - it was only hogwash. The image below came from a local daily(click image for link).
So much for Bernama's report ....

Anyways - word is that, since the Umno sponsored cybergoons are a dismal failure, the regime is now dead set on a cyberwar with the bloggers - with the pros from India/Chennai.

It means two things - firstly, it is an admission that the consistently anti-"Zionist", anti-Umno/ anti-Fascist bloggers are better, Umno is losing the battle and just cannot do it on their own & need mercenary backups.

Secondly, it means that a new, intensified battle in the Malaysian Blogosphere - we may find frequent disruptions, slowdowns, hackings, trojans/viruses etc etc etc.

Let's wait & see if this materializes ....... let's see if the "macchas", "alliyans", "mammoos" from Chennai, Kerala & Hyderabad work with our Pirates of the Constitution from UMNO.
The following letter - purportedly from Putrajaya, was published on MalaysiaToday, today.

Warning and Information (Najib' visit to India)

LETTERS/SURAT

Saturday, 23 January 2010 admin-s

I have reliable information that the recent visit to INDIA by Najib and govt delegates (UMNO/BN) is mainly to recruit IT professionals and hackers from India for a 3 year contract. It's estimated that more than 200 will be recruited at MYR300 million per annum.

By Wan (Putrajaya)

Dear MT Admin,

I have reliable information that the recent visit to INDIA by Najib and govt delegates (UMNO/BN) is mainly to recruit IT professionals and hackers from India for a 3 year contract. It's estimated that more than 200 will be recruited at MYR300 million per annum.

Their only task is to jeopardize, intercept and make blog sites and bloggers who are anti-govt handicapped. Since mass media which is govt-controlled and Internet and local blog media is out of govt's control, this time Najib and UMNO/BN out of desperation are going all out to weaken local anti-govt blog spheres and bloggers by having these IT pros and hackers to infect viruses and trojans into individual IP addresses through TMnet and Celcom Internet service providers. Najib, Hishamuddin and Rais Yatim, along with a few UMNO/BN cabinet ministers had a closed door meeting with Telekom and Celcom Top gun CEOs to discuss these matters before Najib left for India.

This is planned to affect login passwords, local publication access, slow down systems, and even to the extent of destroying data in hard disks if anyone accesses any anti-govt blog web sites and to avoid blog websites from posting anti-govt news.

This will not affect pro-govt blog sites due to the fact that the interception is based on IP and POP proxy addresses of individual sites and individual access. So, if you access pro-govt blog websites, you won't be affected. Out of desperation, Najib and the UMNO/ BN govt will ensure that Malaysians won't be able to access news from any anti-govt blog portals and these websites won't be able to publish the truth of their corrupt activities and strategies to topple the PR govt in the Internet local access.

Rais Yatim, DPM and Hishamuddin had recently touched on Blogs, Facebooks, and Twitters that can destroy our culture. Besides these they also plan to get the police and army to apply for MyKad identification cards mainly not due to petrol subsidies and other uses but for the coming GE to vote for BN. The recent Allah issue was also another plot by Najib and UMNO to gain more Malay support. Lately, the burning of 2 suraus in Muar is to anger the malays and also gain support. It's apparent that Najib and UMNO will try all means to remain in power to continue robbing the nation of its wealth for another term or longer.

The Mosques on Friday prayers and Islamic cheramahs were lately told to press on kafir issues for the years 2010 and 2011, mainly for UMNO to gain Malay Muslim support. Buying over key politicians and representatives and voters from PR govt is also part of their plan to weaken the opposition so that they can remain in power. They also have plans to increase the incomes and allowances of all royal family discreetly, to gain support to remain in power.

I'd Pick Azmi Sharom over Shad Faruqi- Anyday ....

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"However, if this sort of unintelligent and vicious behaviour goes on,
I can’t imagine a greater disservice to Islam.
The Catholic church must not back down on this matter.
It is in the right and if it gives in now, it will set the precedence
that a bunch of thugs with firebombs can dictate the type of country we live in"
-Dr. Azmi Sharom

"Emotions must be regarded.
Sometimes rights must give way ......."
-Shad Faruqi, Finding The Middle Path

Here we have a "man of law",
abandoning The Law in favour of thuggery.
Shad calls subscribing irrational emotions
and conduct of madmen who see no reason ...
- "Finding The Middle Path"!!!
-UNLESS OF COURSE YOU'RE "PEKEMBAR".....
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We must never allow the mob to rule

By Dr Azmi Sharom (The Star)

A COUPLE of churches were burnt by people who believe that non-Muslims should not use the name Allah when describing God. A very strange motivation indeed when we look at the scripture.

In Surah 22 Verse 40 of the Quran, it is said: “Had not Allah checked one set of people by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure.”

Looks pretty clear to me. There is no scriptural justification to stop non-Muslims from using Allah to describe God. In fact the opposite is true, the name Allah is praised in “monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mos-ques”.

This is not my assertion, this is a quote from the Holy Quran, and there are more in the same vein.

Right, so all these people calling for the ban surely must find their justification elsewhere. There is the law, it is said. In particular, state enactments banning the use of Allah by non-Muslims. We must obey the law they assert.

All right, let’s look at the state laws then. Space prevents me from going through each enactment, so let’s just look at the Selangor enactment of 1988.

In the preamble it says: “[This is] An enactment to control and restrict the propagation of non-Islamic religious doctrines and beliefs among persons professing the religion of Islam.

“Whereas Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution provides that State law may control or restrict the propagation of any religious doctrine or belief among persons professing the religion, and whereas it is now desired to make a law to control and restrict the propagation of non-Islamic religious doctrine and beliefs among persons professing the religion of Islam, therefore pursuant to Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution it is hereby enacted by the Legislature of the State of Selangor.”

And if we look into the Enactment, we do see a section which lists down words that can’t be used by non-Muslims (it includes Allah). However, the explanatory note to this section states that to do so is “an offence of distributing in a public place publications concerning non-Islamic religions to Mus-lims”.

Again, this looks very clear, the law was designed to prevent proselytising to Muslims. And the ban on the use of the name Allah by the state law is in the context of proselytising.

If used within the context of their own worship and their own religious community, this law does not apply.

And if we look at Article 11 of the Federal Constitution, the only specific limitation on the freedom of religion is that the proselytising to Muslims (even Muslim to Muslim proselytising) can be controlled.

Other than that everyone is free to practice his or her religion in peace. It is unconstitutional to stop anyone from using the word Allah in their worship if they so choose.

So, the Quran says there’s no problem with peoples of other faiths using “Allah”, the state enactments are limited in their scope, and the Constitution says that everyone can practice their religion peacefully. What other justification can be used to try to ban this word?

There are two more; firstly it is culturally unacceptable among the Malays in peninsular Malaysia to hear the name Allah on non-Muslim lips. Oh yes, this is a great argument.

It reminds me of similar arguments used in the past. For example, “it is culturally unacceptable to allow negro children to go to the same schools as white children”. Look, just because some people are bigoted does not mean we have to pander to them.

Secondly, there is also the argument that if Muslims see Allah being used by non-Muslims they will get awfully confused and in their simple-mindedness, they will become Christians. People who make this argument can’t have very high regard for Malay intelligence. Rather insulting, I think.

At the end of the day there is no scriptural or legal reason to ban the use of Allah by non-Muslims, and if the powers that be have an iota of principle in their collective bones, they would stand on principle and not cater to the small minded and ignorant.

Instead they try to be pragmatic, leading to ludicrous statements like “it’s all right to use Allah in Sabah and Sarawak but not in the peninsula”.

The Muslim community, particularly the leadership, must ask itself: Is the way Islam is taught in this country so weak that Muslims can get easily confused by just one word?

I do not believe there is any evidence of large scale conversions by Muslims to Christianity. It is illegal for Christians to try to convert Muslims anyway.

However, if this sort of unintelligent and vicious behaviour goes on, I can’t imagine a greater disservice to Islam.

The Catholic church must not back down on this matter. It is in the right and if it gives in now, it will set the precedence that a bunch of thugs with firebombs can dictate the type of country we live in.

For the good of the country as a whole, not just any specific religious or ethnic group, we must never allow the mob to rule.

> Dr Azmi Sharom is a law teacher. The views expressed here are entirely his own.

Watch the MONEY!!!

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As you appropriately observed, the crux of our separation is due to
race-based parties that needs race-based agendas to perpetuate their survival.
Having multiracial political parties is the first step forward to move beyond
the baggages of our past and embrace the future.
~ Nik Nazmi, The Race Dilemma in Malaysia: An FB message from a local university student and my reply

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Dear Ahmad,

Thank you for your e-mail.

I believe the concerns you express reflect the sentiments of many Malaysians including my own. I actually address it in my book called ‘Moving Forward: Malays for the 21st Century’. You can get it at Popular, Kinokuniya, MPH or my own website www.niknazmi.com

Essentially, I believe that Malays were lagging behind in the economy and that the New Economic Policy was justified in uplifting the economic condition of the Malays. At the same time the NEP aimed at eradicating poverty regardless of race.

But I think we need a policy that addresses the challenges of the 21st century. The success of the NEP means that there is a Malay middle class that is capable at competing not just in Malaysia but in the world. At the same time, many non-Malays want to feel included in their country. There are also many Malays and non-Malays who are left behind.

Hence, a policy that is relevant for today would provide for both meritocracy – allowing the best Malaysians to compete, and affirmative action – lending all Malaysians that deserve help a helping hand.

The issue of vernacular education is also addressed in my book. Essentially, I believe that vernacular schools provide a challenge to national integration but Malaysians do not have the confidence that national schools can be inclusive and provide high-quality education.

Rather than abolishing vernacular schools, I believe a workable way forward is to create a voluntary unitary stream to combine all the different streams and providing time for the schools to teach civic and multiracial education, to teach students about our constitution and history, as well as the different stories of the different races.

As you appropriately observed, the crux of our separation is due to race-based parties that needs race-based agendas to perpetuate their survival. Having multiracial political parties is the first step forward to move beyond the baggages of our past and embrace the future.

Regards,
Nik Nazmi

The following were my comments :-

At the end of the day, without getting rid of the Race/Religion paradigm in our socio-political environment, this country (I wouldn't call it "nation" as yet) is doomed 15-25 yrs down the line (if not sooner).

You wanna know when that will happen?
Watch the money -
where there is no virtue, where men live by "entitlement" and not industry,
where laws are meant to protect pirates rather than the vulnerable,
where the might of the gun-barrel supersedes that of the law -
money will never stay.

When is that?
It has been happening since the nineties.
It's happening right here, right now - there has been an unprecedented flight of capital since the advent of the Najib regime - RM350 Billion!! Malaysians have invested RM8 billion in foreign real estate alone over the same period. This is not taking into account the "black money" (which is believed to exceed the "white-economy"). This cuts across all racial/religious lines. Meanwhile, Perak boasts about its 11 billion investment .....

Who suffers?
It is the vulnerable - the people on the street, regardless of the God they worship, the color of their skin, or their political affiliation.
It is those who live on debts they cannot pay. They who depend on "govt contracts" to pay their debts. They who depend on pointless mega projects to fund their lavish lifestyles.
And the majority are "Malay/Bumiputera" - for they have lived a life of delusion under the pretext of "entitlement". The industrious cannot be stopped in surviving - except through death - and with racists seeking scapegoats when they fail, it may very well come to that if they don't leave.

I do not suggest that they should leave now - on the contrary, they should stay to fight the destruction of this beautiful land in the hands of Umno.
For that to happen, the "Malays" need to open their eyes, and realize that they have much to thank the non-Malays for. For it was their industry that has helped propel this country to what it is today. For it was from their taxes that the "entitled" got their freebies.

I do not begrudge those who were deserving of affirmative actions - in fact I believe that they should be given that benefit in any caring society. However, most of these entitlements are simply a front for pirates to squander the country's resources - yes, that of bumiputeras' too. This affirmative action cannot be used to deprive those who hold different convictions or cultures. All have to be given due recognition.

The future will depend on the knowledge the Malay community is willing to embrace. It will depend on a truly bold Malay leadership which understand the meaning of "leadership", and does not capitulate and pander to sectarian/subversive "sensitivities".

You've know "Yo Mama" - Heard of #YoRais?

#yorais - is a recent Malaysian made "trending" topic on twitter..... last trending at No.5!!!!
Which means that it is among the most popular worldwide!!!
The jokes on it are absolutely hilarious, I was actually laughing my guts off .....

It is all directed at Rais Yatim - our beloved, infamous foot-in-mouth 3-in-1 Minister. He had recently alleged that Facebook or Twitter and the sorts can lead to a "culture shock" and advised people to avoid it.
It is currently trending at No. 3!!!!
Here's an earlier screencapture:-

It definitely gives new meaning to "Malaysia Boleh"!!!

This is what Perpetual Tockism had to say:-

#yorais – A Malaysian-made Twitter Trending Topic Story
So it all started when Dr Rais Yatim, Information Communication and Culture Minister of Malaysia made a statement (quoted via a Bernama piece), saying ‘Muslims must avoid being totally immersed in Facebook, Twitter’ thus exhorting Malaysians to be wary of the popular Internet services.
Now what Rais did NOT know is how he’d become a mini-celebrity in Twitter, touted as the most viral social media tool ever to be created, within a span of 4 hours from when the hastag, “#yorais”, got formed.

This is what KJ (yes- Rembau KhairyJamaluddin) had to say at his twitter account :-
"Will constantly remind myself to never, ever diss social media & its users. These guys are merciless. #yo.... "

All credit to Bongkerz!!

Whacking BN: Is it about Partisan Politics?

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"The poverty rate among the bumiputera may be
around three times the poverty rate among the Chinese,
but the poverty rate in Sabah is more than 30 times
the poverty rate in Kuala Lumpur."

-G. Lim, Debating an equitable Malaysia
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The other day on Facebook, Anas Zubedy - whom many of us look on as a "bridge-builder" had posted a short note. In it, he has asked readers to read a few articles with an "open heart, critical mind". The articles were:

1. Early signs of a civil war amongst the Malays? - M. Bakri Musa here
2. Guan Eng's call to Middle Malaysia and his own report card - here
3. Anwar's stand on the "Allah " issue here and when he was still in UMNO here
4. Wong Chun Wai's article suggesting to look at the other side here

The comments however were quite interesting. Though he may not have intended it that way, it appeared to me that he was deflecting accusations away from Umno, and putting in on the people (which "to a certain extent", is true) - while advertising the "1-Malaysia" slogan.
Among his comments were these:-
"Bro, we need to rise above putting almost all blame in UMNO...... But do not forget, we middle class Malaysians do not deserve the patrol subsidies too, but most of us seem to be quiet about it. If those UMNO blocks are undeserving , so are we when we support the petrol subsidy. check here and see if the idea is good or bad before we even comment about it...http://www.1malaysia.com.my/ and here to see if the petrol subsidy is justified for the majority of us middle class - making us just as bad as those UMNO blocks so many seems to hate ... I suggest without waiting for others to change, you and I must "Do, dont talk, take action, dont complain, practise dont preach".
(I'm not sure if it is available for all to read, but you can try clicking here to see the full discussion.)

While I would like to assert that I truly appreciate Anas Zubedy's diplomacy and earnest attempt at seeking the "middle path" (which is so very cliché, these days)- it seemed like there was a hint of denial in his reasoning. It was this "hint of denial" which wish to address here - not his attempt to "seek the middle ground".

He appeared to avoid mentioning that BN is at fault, and that their policies have failed the people - claims that we should stop playing the blame game. Maybe he's right - but in problem-solving, how do we seek a remedy, if we cannot pin-point the cause of the problem?
So has it all been about politicking and playing partisan politics? Definitely not (!!) - I believe that it is essential that we know who and what is to blame before we can even think of finding a remedy.

As opposed to what many in Umno and their minions would choose to believe, it isn't about "hating Umno" - it is indeed "bigger than Umno" (as Anas puts it). It is about knowing the cause of all the ills in society today. It's about knowing why we have so much social injustice, income disparity, abuse of power, corruption, excessive deforestation, exorbitant cost of living, urban squalor, no check and balance in government, deaths in police custody, racism, religious bigotry etc etc etc.
Without knowing and understanding the history of the mismanagement, as the saying goes - we are "doomed to repeat it".

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Images from :- Debating an equitable Malaysia Towards an alternative New National Agenda by G Lim Aliran Monthly Vol 25 (2005): Issue 8

The following was my reply to Anas in the thread I had mentioned above:-

"There appears to be a "disconnect" in your assessment of the reality on the ground, Anas. You think it is all about "partisan politics". No it isn't, Anas - as you said, it is bigger than that, but you fail to articulate it. It's also about social justice - rule of law, the economy and nationhood.

Yes - it's true that we are part of the problem when we keep quiet about the subsidies. However, the reason for it is simple - our purchasing power is pathetic - mainly due to the corruption of those in power (secondary to the racist policies). These people have kept it that way, so that the people will be enslaved by the freebies they dish out. This is no better than having a colonial govt, for gottsakes!!

The people are suffering (although we may not see it while we we frequent the swanky joints) and cannot afford a decent education. Cost of living has skyrocketed, while the elite are unaffected. The income disparity is as wide as can be. Malaysia has the highest income disparity between the rich and poor in Southeast Asia, greater than that of Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia - when we were once on par or ahead of many nations who are today the envy of the world.

It isn't about "hatred towards Umno/BN or PR" as you try to paint it, Anas - it's about social justice through a reasonable economic model and rule of law. If either party provides an avenue to make that possibly a reality, they should be supported. Accordingly, whichever party impedes justice should be opposed - it's as simple as that!

It'll tell you one thing, Anas - many PR supporters today will have no problems in voting for UMNO/BN should they be reasonable and provide the platform for justice. The problem is listening and watching them is like watching "Dumb & Dumber" - they make absolute fools of themselves 90% of the time. Their actions ... better left unsaid. Res Ipsa Loquitur ....

1-Malaysia sloganeering and marketing is all fine & dandy - but what is it's purpose (if not to hoodwink), if there are different Malaysias in practice?

Marketing 1-Malaysia to keep spirits high is no better than "political masturbation" for the those who don't feel the pain on the streets.

I know you're a reasonable, polite and very diplomatic person, Anas - So let's cut the one "1-Malaysia" hogwash please ..."

UNLESS OF COURSE YOU'RE "PEKEMBAR".....

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The majority of the Christians and
the rest of the world is wrong in using "Allah"
-Yusri from ABIM on 101 East
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"Ignorantia juris non excusat" :- ignorance of the law does not excuse

"nemo censetur ignorare legem":- nobody is taught to ignore the law

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One of the first things I learned from primary school was that I didn't have to know that I did wrong, for me to be reprimanded. When I had once shared stolen food unknowingly, I was punished by Mr. Foo (my Std 1 teacher) - even though, I was unaware of the "crime" of my classmate who wanted to be my friend. It was something which stayed with me ever since - to be careful of those bearing gifts.
In high school "literature", there was a story of a thief who stole bolts from the railroad for weights and he was prosecuted - he was guilty despite his ignorance of the law. I didn't need to go to law school or have Shad Faruqi lecture me for me to know that.

The law in any state would like us to believe that, as would any government that is worth its salt.
Politicians, Law enforcers, the Judiciary and Intellectuals too wouldn't make excuses for ignorance. Where the clergy is concerned - it becomes all the more imperative that they abide by this dictum in arriving at opinions/convictions.

In Malaysia though, all it takes is a word to fuddle and muddle the minds of these so-called "pillars of society" (at least most of the time) - and it isn't "Allah", mind you .....
That's how "good" they are. This much dreaded word (an English acronym, actually) is non other than "UMNO" - the Pertubuhan Melayu Bersatu Kebangsaan [Pertubuhan Melayu Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu atau PEKEMBAR (UMNO)].

It is a malady that seems to affect most quarters who dance to the tune of Pekembar (aka UMNO). Let's forget Nazri or his racist nemesis Mahathir for now.
Let's take that Sabahan (Malakun) JP guy who asked Christians to give up their constitutional right or even Shad Faruqi the "constitutional expert" (Shad Saleem Faruqi is Emeritus Professor of Law at UiTM and Visiting Professor at USM)- they both ask Christians (and Muslims too, actually)to pander to Ignorance and cowardice, so the the federal constitution may yet again be undermined by thugs in "holy" garbs - who claim to "defend Islam".
All these, when Islam itself doesn't condone such behaviour!!

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The Herald’s new found love for Arabic words is indeed very touching
but one cannot fail to note that the import of Arabic words is rather selective.....
All in all it can be said that in relation to the Herald case,
the general Muslim reaction is too emotional and is based on lack of knowledge....
Emotions must be regarded. Sometimes rights must give way .......
-Shad Faruqi, Finding The Middle Path
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Shad takes it a step further as he asks us to abandon "reason", and cater to emotions of madmen!
He even unapologetically displays his ignorance of "The Herald’s new found love for Arabic words"! Here we have a "man of law", abandoning The Law in favour of thuggery! Yes - Shad calls subscribing irrational emotions and conduct of madmen who see no reason (drum roll please ...) - "Finding The Middle Path"!!!

While appearing to be neutral and reasonable in asking for Bibles to be allowed to be printed locally, he demolishes all the reason he speaks of with one sentence - "Emotions must be regarded. Sometimes rights must give way .......", which many may unwittingly ignore. As an academic and intellectual, instead of condemning terrorists without prejudice, he seems to defend the thuggery promoted by these mindless men!!

What Shad subscribes to despite his lengthy article under the guise of an intellectual essay on "finding the middle path" is simply one word - Ignorance. His "middle path" is the Umno path - and that cannot be denied. Maybe you can add hypocrisy, double standards and bigotry to that.
He even seems to know a lot about the Malay language - by quoting a graduate of pharmaceutical sciences (Prof Dzulkifli of USM)!! The reason why this foreigner (Pakistani, I think) now becomes apologist for irrational conduct of thugs, and has become an expert in matters "of local context and of religious sensitivities" - as he puts it - is UMNO, and nothing else.

What "Professor" Shad Faruqi does is no different from the conduct of thugs who have no regard for the Federal Constitution or even the scripture, and wish to hold the country at ransom through their ignorance and threats of violence.

"Very Impressive" conduct for a Professor of Law and a Constitutional expert!! As impressive as your earlier assertions (aka spin) that the Mentri Besar can be "fired", and that the social contract (as defined by Umno) is IN the Federal Constitution (and not that the Federal Constitution IS THE Social Contract).

Says a lot about the standards of education when mixed with Umno's politics .....
With academics & men of law advocating barbarism, is it any wonder why the country is sliding down the slippery slope of anarchy & chaos?

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"It will not do to cling to the cause and wish the result away.
Reality does not play mind games.
What is more, to anesthetize the mind in order to abort what comes to birth
when wrong ideas are conceived and borne in the womb of culture,
will only kill the very life-giving force of the nation that nurtures the idea."
- Ravi Zacharias
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Related:

• When "Reason" is Abandoned .....

101 East- Al-Jazeera

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When "Reason" is Abandoned .....

"Having failed in its shortcut to an economic miracle, ....
(clamouring for issues and a new agenda to perpetuate their greed and envy)
they now choose to preach intolerance, “arabisation”,
and religiosity in the name of God,
to further isolate, and “drug into a stupor”
a beautiful people that was once open to change."
~"Where is the Spirit of Merdeka?"

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Article 11
1.Every person has the right to profess and practice his religion and, subject to Clause (4), to propagate it.
2. No person shall be compelled to pay any tax the proceeds of which are specially allocated in whole or in part for the purposes of a religion other than his own.
3. Every religious group has the right -
(a) to manage its own religious affairs;
(b) to establish and maintain institutions for religious or charitable purposes; and
(c) to acquire and own property and hold and administer it in accordance with law.
4. State law and in respect of the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan, federal law may control or restrict the propagation of any religious doctrine or belief among persons professing the religion of Islam.
5. This Article does not authorize any act contrary to any general law relating to public order, public health or morality.

Article 153
1. It shall be the responsibility of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to safeguard the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak and the legitimate interests of other communities in accordance with the provisions of this Article.
~ The Federal Constitution of Malaysia

"the word 'Allah' has been used continuously in the printed edition of Matthew's Gospel in Malay in 1629, in the first complete Malay Bible in 1733 and in the second complete Malay Bible in 1879 until today in Perjanjian Baru and Alkitab"

~Pastor Jerry W.A Dusing @ Jerry W.Patel

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Today, Malaysian Insider reports that a Johor church ninth hit. The office of the lawyers representing The Catholic Herald has been broken into and vandalized.

The way I see it, the source of today's conflict is :- Mahathir. Recent events have "MAHATHIR" written all over it.
He was well-known for his ability to impose his "violent" will through violent and unconstitutional laws- apparently for national security & stability- so as to create a docile and mindless citizenry. Of course - it was also a way to generate a generation of incompetents and sycophants at his disposal, through his politics of fear and patronage.
It was during his time (in his efforts to emasculate the media) that the draconian Printing Presses and Publications Act 1986 was formulated- In the Gazette PU (A) 15/82 and the circular KKDN. S.59/3/6/A dated Dec 5, 1986, the use of the words “Allah”, “Baitullah”, “Solat” and “Kaabah” was exclusive to Islam.
His methods and laws had set a precedent for violence among the peaceful people of Malaysia. But of course - "The state calls its own violence- law, but that of the individual- crime"- so said Max Stirner.

We know that, "Violence is the last resort of the Incompetent" - and so it came to pass that houses of worship became targets of these incompetents - a church scorched and others (including a Gurdwara) vandalized. Any attempt at reasoning with the government was simply futile - as All Jazeera says "Malaysia still dodging the issue". Even though the government banned the use of "Allah" by non-Muslims in 1986, the churches refrained from court action for more than 20 years because of assurances from two prime ministers. But of course they claim that they would rather talk, than take it to court (after having appealed the High Court decision, that is).

After the High Court decision (which has since been stupidly appealed by the Govt - possibly to destabilize the Selangor PR govt- instead of bringing it to the negotiating table) recently, the Sultan of Selangor had joined in the fray, by saying that "Allah" is for Muslims only. It appears to be questionable that the Sultan does have such an authority- as Aziz Bari said (MalaysiaKini). He said, "the sultan can use his discretion to safeguard and protect Islam, but it is also linked to Islamic law as defined in the Quran and by the edicts of Ulamas. .... it is pretty clear that the use of Allah by Christians has some basis in the Quran."

Then of course we had a self proclaimed Christian from Sabah (who is actually an Umno lackey), who requested that the church and Christians at large to give up their rights to thugs - in the name of "harmony". This he shamelessly does, when PAS - an Islamic Party - supports the legitimate use of "Allah" in the Bible and in worship, and asks that Christians keep up the fight!! Meanwhile, Najib has gone around dishing out RM500k to the scorched church to buy their goodwill (after giving tacit support to rile up sentiments?) and express sympathy!

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To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason
is like administering medicine to the dead.
- Thomas Paine

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The voice of reason is stifled while the Federal Constitution is trampled upon, so that the mindless may rule based on "sentiments and sensitivities" - whatever that means (probably "whims and fancies", actually). Reason or Rule of Law means little to those in Umno who pretend to "defend Race & Religion" (in this case) - while probably knowing little about either.
For better or worse - since "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable", what can we expect the end result to be?

Such is the result of Mahathirism.
Today in Malaysia, we're actually talking about a revolution - a peaceful psychological revolution against the dictates of Mahathirism which has brought us to the brink of anarchy under the Umno regime. It has been a fermenting for some time now, and today, it has blown its lid.
Considering the events that have transpired over the last 30 yrs in the corridors of power, it appears that that is what certain quarters are working for - unwittingly or otherwise- in the interest of holding on to power through sectarian hegemony.

Y0u don't don't need to be a historian or a political scientist to know the direction we're headed under the Umno regime. With foreign investments faltering (we're second from bottom in Asia since Najib's administration) and the coffers drying up, they'll be looking for more "manufactured" crises and scapegoats to divert the attention of the people from the real factors that impoverish the country.
With the executive being almighty, the judiciary emasculated and the law-enforcement agencies in their pockets - nothing is going to stop them from picking on the next vulnerable target.

The shameless hypocrisy shown by the Najib administration in recent days, reminded me of the opening words to Bob Dylan's Positively 4th Street .... - some nerve he has!!

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P.S.

• Watch how the pathetic ABIM representative (Khairul Faiz Morat) mumbled his so-called "reasonings" for the events that have transpired on Al-Jazeera's Inside Story - Religious violence in Malaysia