"I say the wiser non-Muslim
stance would be to hold that
if syariah is what Kelantan Muslims want
and if we are given a cast-iron guarantee
that it will not be
implemented on us,
we would not object to Muslims wanting it,”
-Bishop Paul Tan
*******************************************
In response to my post commending Bishop Paul Tan on his comments wrt Hudud, I got a comment, as follows:-
" The implication for ALL MALAYSIANS is grave and disastrous. It's the initial inroad into "instituting a creeping, historically regressive and anti-democratic clericalism" which will eventually affect us all regardless of creed. The Bishop is at best naive if he thinks that it will only apply to Muslims."
First of all- let's see this debate/rhetoric for what it truly is ...
PAS is UMNO's greatest adversary- not PKR or DAP.
For PAS, "Islam" is at the same time, their strength and their Achilles Heel - unfortunately, PAS doesn't see the latter.
This is a conflict which Mahathir manufactured, to play the "politics of fear" (much like the old "May13" rhetoric) on the electorate & split the vote bank to UMNO's benefit and PAS's loss.
It is also a potent diversion from all that ails the Najib administration.
Sadly- the PAS Ulamas in their usual defensive political naivete/ stupidity, has fallen for it (and yes- OMG .. yet again!!)- hook, line & sinker!!
It really reveals the lack of political sophistication in PAS, thus revealing their weakness- and not "strength", as these PAS stalwarts believe- in their chest-thumping bravado!!
One wonders at times if they're that stupid ... while they seek to champion Islam.
They really need to brush up ...
Now wrt Paul Tan's comment-
He is I presume, well aware of the repercussions of Hudud, just as he is of being perceived as an opponent/enemy of Islam. If you noticed, he never discussed the "wisdom" of Hudud.
He's responding to the rhetoric in the best possible way to "douse the embers", lest they flare up- which could be what some "grand ol' man's" "politics of fear", to distract the people from the issues of the day and benefit Umno at the coming polls.
He makes it quite clear that while they (Non-muslims) are
entitled to their opinions, it is vital that non-Muslims are not to be seen to be "interfering" in Islamic affairs, lest they're accused of being "enemies of Islam" by some myopic individuals (who are into pixelated armpits or obnoxious kafirs on television).
The "no-objection" he expressed, came with a caveat - "if we're given cast-iron guarantees that it will not be implemented on us"- and that is the most important part, which many would tend to overlook.
He merely said that the Muslims are entitled to what they want.
It is a debate to be had among the Muslims- on the nature of Islam.
So now, the Muslims have to decide for
themselves, on what the nature of the religion they practice is.
Is it one of brutal retribution for "sins"?
Or is is one of compassion and respect for the sanctity of life?
Is it virtuous to deprive a man of of the free will which God himself has given? Does it really address the "evils" they presume is perpetuated by other systems, or does it actually make things go "underground"?
Would we be seeing greater frustrations and violent actions from the people exposed to violent actions in public?
These are probably questions the two schools of thought Paul Tan mentions, might consider - and makes quite clear
his hopes in “I pray the Mutazilites win the debate....", - meaning that hopes that
TGNA sees the facts of the matter with "reason", as "this is not a
question that is going to go away but it is not a question that will
continue to be framed in the same terms as it is today in Malaysia”.
As for me personally, I agree- in that Hudud isn't going to do us (Muslims & Non-Muslims alike, any good. I think these guys who talk about wanting Hudud, have lost the big
picture, and are mind-bogglingly naive to actually want it for
themselves
However, if Muslims insist on such brutal punishment on their own brothers is the most virtuous thing they can do as Muslims, who am I to say otherwise. Who knows - maybe Malaysia can one day be a hub for Plastic Surgery, Orthopaedic Hand/foot surgery.
Maybe we can even capitalize on it in our Tourism Malaysia calendar ... for fetishists as a blood sport and put public humiliation/ stoning high on the list................
Yup- the implications are "grave & disastrous".
********************************** If you think of yourselves as helpless and ineffectual, it is certain that you will create a despotic government to be your master. The wise despot, therefore, maintains among his subjects a popular sense that they are helpless and ineffectual." - Frank Herbert
*****************************
P.S I've written about this issue long ago .... and many times too.
While I may not have addressed this issue too directly in many cases, they're there if you read through it carefully.
You may find some of what I wrote, if you were to click the "Religion" label on the sidebar. You may also read what I wrote replying to RPK back in 2008, in "Ignorance + Freedom = Chaos" to get the gist of what I try to say .....
(He once mentioned at an anti-ISA gathering at MBPJ (at the height of the "Free RPK" movement, that he hopes that the new complex being built in Kamunting for "Hotel Kamunting" will have a gym ......)
Dr Azmi Sharom will speak this evening (Sat, Oct 30) at this month's SABM Dinner Lecture, an event that is sold out. A couple of months earlier, we met the man in his office at Universiti Malaya in the hope of uncovering what makes this soul tick Candid: A scowl begins to escape when Azmi talks about racism.
YOU know him as the law academic with the semi-tochang hairstyle, those piercing eyes framed in black plastic; eyes that can burn a bigot in a flash. You probably remember his bold pieces in Brave New World, his fortnightly column in The Star (The Real Social Contract, We must never allow the mob to rule, Under Threat? What Threat?).
One of academia's few good men, many say. He's a brave one, echo others.
The man rolls his eyes. "What's so extreme about what I do anyway? Look, the stuff that matter to me - human rights, equality, fundamental liberties - these are values of a human being. I'm just being human. Being human! I don't carry a bomb, I'm not plotting a coup, I don't come anywhere near being a threat to national security."
Welcome to the world of Azmi Sharom, where in crisp humour-laced lines, it's a given that a spade is called a spade. The main question is what are you going to do about it.
"All too often we hear racists stepping up to make announcements - tuntutan ni, tuntutan tu - and we get all flustered," he observes in a frown. "We can't let these types dictate how we feel. If some bigot says 'Go back to where you belong', a whole bunch of us end up moping in one corner and feel all hurt.
"But why should we care?" he asks incredulously, his head slightly cocked.
"It should be 'We're born here. We belong here, equally as much as you. Equal, geddit?' That's how it oughta be. There's just not enough of standing up to these people. Take charge of your lives, folks.
"Sure it's not easy - there're two tiers where racism is perpetuated. One, it's in the institutions - it's embedded in government policies; you've read all about them especially in the alternative news. I needn't elaborate on that; it's boring. Two, personal attitude. This one's insidious. It lurks inside so many of us. The very same people who cry out against racism bear racist tendencies themselves. You just need to listen to conversations to know what I mean.
"We can fight both, and we should. We need to take possession of our lives again. And mean what we say, for crying out loud." Inspiration for a good fight: Bruce Lee memorabilia tells quite a bit about the man:).
Azmi's office in the Law Faculty of University Malaya reveals an organised person - books and folders have their place yet they sit in spontaneous fashion, not ordered like soldiers. Looking about, you also catch the man's sense of humour and his life's pace - there's a South Park 60's-style alarm clock that shows 11:36 and 46 sec. It's stopped. On the wall above the door hangs another clock. It's stopped too. And Azmi doesn't wear a watch. Time has ceased being a linear arrow, it seems; what's to hurriedly measure about time anyway?
"These changes we seek, they're not going to happen overnight. But as more and more citizens get informed about human rights and equality, we will see that ethnicity doesn't matter any more.
"In my own case, it took me years to burn that away," says the Environmental Law specialist. "Today I don't give a hoot about it anymore. But it took time. I grew up in Penang. My parents are apolitical - there was no politics on the dinner table - but, you know, ethnicity is everywhere. It's always at the back of the mind, a bothersome bug.
"Of course, the good thing about growing up in Penang is you cannot date if you're a racist. I mean, Chinese girls were everywhere," his mischievous side shows. Just souvenirs: "Hey, they are wrongful only if I use them. Nothing wrong in owning them. You got to know your rights."
The dare-to-think side of Azmi we know today was forged on foreign soil.
"My dad sent me to the UK to do my 6th Form - his personal funds by the way. Two key lessons I learned. I remember the teachers being openly critical of government policies. We were in Economics class, and the teacher was rationally ripping apart Thatcher's tax policies. I learned that there was nothing wrong with being critical. When rational it is, in fact, constructive.
"The second was getting engaged in honest conversations with other Malaysians of different background. A friend, half-Indian ethnicity, basically told me this: 'We just want to be equal'."
Sheffield University, where Azmi would go on to read Law, was also a plough to the young man's newly-tilled mind. "Sheffield was left-wing. There was a lot of discussion about fundamental justice and human rights issues. I was very exposed to different 'right' views with regards to the law. Generally, the premise was there has to be a strong sense of Justice. This I try to apply in my own teaching."
More than an education, Azmi also borrowed other aspects of Sheffield U's bohemian lifestyle. ("Guys, you got to have a life.") He jams in a band. Loyal buddy: The guitar sits close by his desk, and there's no dust on it too.
"Please, to begin with, I don't have a band. Rather, my friends tolerate me in the group. But yes, music is a good outlet. I still play futsal too," says the man who tried one year of law practice and hated it. "I make space for recreation. Maybe it's easier for me as an academician to find the time, but hey, the lawyers have faster cars. They can get to places faster."
And as an academic in a public institution, might there be boundaries where he's prevented from venturing? "Honestly, I haven't been in a situation where I have to hold back. Of course, you need to know your rights. And your parameters. You need to stay informed."
And a parting advice for the concerned citizen: "Internalise. Really internalise the good stuff. All those questions about equality, they can only be answered by someone who truly lives by it. It's as simple as this, 'If I am a human being, how can I be treated otherwise? Equally so, how can I treat others otherwise?'."
And you realise there's really nothing extreme in what Azmi Sharom is saying. It's all fundamental.
Anwar’s blog carries a post entitled ‘Ansari bawa harapan rakyat Batu Sapi’.
I’m hearing differently from my sources in Sabah.
I’m hearing that on the ground, Ansari is perceived as handpicked to serve, not the people of Batu Sapi, but Azmin’s agenda in Sabah.
What’s that agenda?
“Let Azmin come and tell Sabahans what his plans are for Sabah when he campaign in Batu Sapi, if he dares to. Many PKR members are going to use this by-election to let PKR HQ know what we think of Azmin. Let him come”, I was told over the phone.
What does Anwar think he's doing? Does he think he can walk into Sabah and put whomsoever he pleases, wherever he pleases to pusue the PR agenda- when Sabahans don't give a fig about him? More so, after his actions upon entry of UMNO into Sabah & "Project M"?
Maybe what Zaid said has some truth in it- Anwar seems to be thinking that this whole anti-BN sentiment is about him .... he seems to think that people willrally around him at every turn!! PKR is fielding Ansari from Tuaran in Batu Sapi, hoping that Sabahans would clamour for his leadership. To say that Sabahans are disappointed would be an understatement. Maybe they're just dumbfounded with the stupidity shown by PKR in Sabah. They seem to be no different from Umno in their early days in Sabah, pushing their weight wherever possible..... and he hopes that people take him in with open arms. WTH- If he was so hard up for a Bumiputra Muslim to contest in that seat, the least he could've done was field Thamrin ....
This time around, I don't think BN needs to do much "buying"- they'll win hands down in both Batu Sapi & Galas (thanks to the destruction of the Orang Asal church).
RPK mooted the idea of a third force- well maybe not exactly, but he has been pushing for it hard lately. Earlier, I thought it may not be a good idea, as it could pull the rug from under the PR agenda to "March to PutraJaya" to displace UMNO. While I used to be sceptical about the need for a "Third Force" in the past, looking at the way PKR is destabilizing the PR "electoral pact"- I now think that it is imperative that we have this "third force". If DAP cannot sort out the mess in their own house, if PAS cannot be more consciences in dealing with those who aren't Muslims (more so, the poor Orang Asal), if PKR cannot get rid of their old UMNO ways- let let Anwar's agenda be damned (barring the issue about Saifool's ass), let PKR's agenda be damned, let PR be damned let Malaysians be damned ..... - it wouldn't make a difference anyways!!
Maybe something positive may rise out of the ashes left behind, after UMNO has sapu-bersih this country!!
"Anwar, ......... Don't you get it? The East Malaysians do not trust us West Malaysians (seriously, can anyone blame them when we have been ripping them off since 1963?) Let the Sabahans fight their own battle. Let them keep their own state. "
Posted by Simon Templar On Monday, October 25, 2010
We rakyat are real suckers.
At least that's what most of our Malaysian politicians seem to think.
The entire Barisan Nasional politicians think that we are idiots who cannot think. (Ok... Truth is I actually know quite a few people out there who can't think. But... Some other time...)
Then we have our not-so-beloved-anymore PKR who thinks that we enjoy watching their year-round circus acts. Yup, definitely not so loved anymore. And I don't think I am an isolated case. We shall leave DAP and PAS out for now as they are not the subject of discussion here. But mind you, they have their own shit-load pile of dung too.
Now what's with the Batu Sapi fight? Isn't PKR the one who first brought DAP and PAS to the table to discuss how to prevent a 3-corner (or more) fight. Isn't the objective of the entire 'opposition' coalition that to fight the single common enemy i.e. BN? So what is PKR now blardie doing in the Batu Sapi fight?
Some of you may say that why can't SAPP not fight and let PKR field their candidate?
Or some of you may say that well SAPP is not part of the coalition, so why should PR even need to talk to them in the first place.
That will be to miss the whole point of the rakyat's fight. The rakyat is not fighting for Anwar (please imprint this in your mind, Anwar). The rakyat is not fighting for PKR or DAP or PAS. You will be dammed if you think that we really love you. What we want is CHANGE. And you political parties are nothing but our tool to get BN out of power. Well that's how things are. You guys are using us to get to power. So don't complain or call us ungrateful.
It doesn't matter to us if SAPP is fighting BN or PKR is fighting BN. As long as someone is there to fight BN, then we'll be on your side. But if you have PKR, SAPP and BN in the fight, what do you want us to do? To choose who we love more between SAPP and PKR? What are you guys trying to do? Eh wankers... The common enemy is BN. Let's keep it that simple.
Now that we have establish that line of thought, PKR or SAPP for Batu Sapi? SAPP la. Look at the name - Sabah Progressive Party. Sabah dei, Sabah... Let the Sabahans fight their fight. This is why East Malaysians do not like West Malaysians. The West Malaysians are always thinking that they are better and more superior than the East Malaysians. What on earth is PKR trying to do fighting the Sabahan fight? You don't see UMNO (Penang based) Gerakan fielding their candidate in Sabah or Sarawak do you?
Seriously, I cannot understand PKR's objective in the Sabah fight. Do you see Ford aggressively selling cars in Japan? No, they do not. They acquire Mazda and let Mazda do the fighting. The profits still ultimately land on their laps.
Anwar, similarly, you do not need to penetrate Sabah via PKR. Neither will the Sabahans accept that. Don't you get it? The East Malaysians do not trust us West Malaysians (seriously, can anyone blame them when we have been ripping them off since 1963?) Let the Sabahans fight their own battle. Let them keep their own state. But while at that, get them to work together with us to form the ultimate central government. I mean, can you imagine PBS recruiting a Wan Kelantan and field him as a candidate in Galas? Ridiculous isn't it. That's exactly what PKR is doing right now at Batu Sapi.
"Today, Malay racists held a massive rally to oppose UMNO's language policy and critics government's for belittling the status of Bahasa Malaysia. How should Hishammuddin respond to it?"-A Dubious Political Issue, By TAY TIAN YAN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily
=============================================
This is in response to the above article from Sin Chew.
When Dong Zhong demands teaching in Mandarin - they aren't racists. But when Malay Literary laureates demand the same out of concern for the future relevance of our National Language, they are "racists"!! That's so convenient isn't it? It is my opinion that those who demonstrated weren't racists - not by a long shot, for they had very valid arguments to their case, against the proponents of English only science & Maths (S & M ) education.
Someone in the online discussions said they/we are preparing the future generation to compete "globally" - that's plain hogwash - especially when our standard of English is so bad, and you cannot learn English from Science and Maths. Let's get real here - just how many percent of our students will actually be competing globally? 5-10% max? And so the 90% have to be faced with a learning (and teaching) impediment, due to their poor command of English?
English can only be learnt through increased utilization - yes - but you learn it through listening, reading, writing and speaking the "English" of Queen's English, and not the "English" of S&M (more so, when these teachers can hardly string a proper English sentence). And once your language is proficient, you can easily transcend the linguistic barrier, when necessary, so as to acquire further knowledge in these subjects - that too, only should the need arise.
Firstly, nobody said that English cannot be used to teach S&M - but there is no reason why teaching of these subjects in Malay or Mandarin should be abolished. The option to learn in vernacular languages should be kept open. Meanwhile efforts should have been made to train sufficient manpower to teach S&M in English to willing students. this could have been expanded gradually over time, without really imposing it upon the "unwilling" students. It is fine to be teaching in English to all those will be exposed to English in their daily activities or in their society - but to the man who may be "academically challenged" and doesn't plan to go beyond the confines of his "comfort zone", is this "linguistic punishment" warranted? I certainly don't think so.
The national Identity depends a great deal on Language and the Arts. The progress & complexity of a language and the arts also define "culture"and "sophistication" or "simplicity" of a people. In the long run, the viability of a language is determined by by it's commercial viability - how would one feel for one's country, should somebody say that "Your National Language is nothing but Redundant!"? So now - what exactly does the Ministry of Education under Hishamuddin hope to achieve by abolishing Malay/ Mandarin as mediums of instruction?
It doesn't augur well for the morale & image of the nation, and for national cohesion/ identity, if no effort is made toward the preservation and progress of the National Language (in this case - Malay), as a viable commercial language. For this reason alone, all those who held the demonstration the other day have my moral support.
Having said all these, it is my opinion that the Govt has made no serious effort at promoting real knowledge through the Malay language or any other - it has simply been used as a political instrument to hoodwink the masses thru the mind-numbing "Ketuanan Melayu" rhetoric. Thanks to them, the academic/literary achievements of our many "NEP products" linguists from our "universities" is a testament to this fact.
This hasty decision to IMPOSE English upon the masses, stinks of a cheap political gimmick in the name of "progress", to preserve one man's legacy. One that belongs to a megalomaniac with ulterior motives. Incidentally, he thought we learn English in Science and Maths classes, and that linguists and academicians (and everybody else, actually) are nutcases.
This half-baked and divisive idea was his, and a great many unthinking Malaysians who would demand a "Bangsa Malaysia" without a doubt, have bought it!
$$$$$$$$$$$$ “It took me six months to be nice, to bribe each and every individuals to get back into their good books before our files were attended to” -Allegedly "misinterpreted" words CJ Zaki, now head of the JAC.
When Alan Paton wrote ‘Cry The Beloved Country’ he was lamenting over the inhumanity of man over man, of how the whites can devise, construct and implement race- and colour-based social and economic injustices over the blacks in apartheid-era South Africa.
The whole world had condemned this practice; we were among the loudest screaming against it.
South Africa has moved on since then, and today it is one shining example of an emancipated, open and progressive country, enjoying a respectable place in the community of nations. It has thrown apartheid into the bins of its history.
Here in Malaysia, yes we condemn apartheid, and quite rightly so. But in the same breath we were and are still its major proponent our version of apartheid.
We do not call it apartheid; of course not. We call it instead ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ under the guise of ‘championing Malay rights,’ and implementing it under the New Economic Policy. It’s smart, right? In none of them does the word ‘apartheid’ appear!
Yes, we are smart. We do not blatantly call it apartheid, we merely perfected the process of social separation. First of all we ensure the great majority of civil servants, the police, and the military are manned by Malays (the target benefactors). We give them good salaries, good perks and assured employment. We then devise rules and regulations, and even laws, to ensure the NEP’s easy implementation.
We then brainwash our Malay brethren with the notion ‘untuk agama bangsa dan negara’ that there is a higher ideal beyond performing a duty with professionalism and dedication, and that is doing things in the name of religion and race.
We devise rules and regulations, and even laws, to ensure the NEP’s easy implementation.
Then we design and implement social and economic policies like channeling lucrative government contracts, separate education streams, housing rebates, banking and financial support, in favour of, you guessed it, the Malays.
It does not stop there. We devise measures to prevent the people from raising too much objections to all these by introducing or continuing legislation and religiously implementing them.
The Sedition Act for example stops people from talking too much about language and religion. The Official Secrets Act prevents people from gaining access to government files.
Students and lecturers are not allowed to discuss and make public any subject that would appear to be critical to government (yes, government, not political) policies and philosophies.
All publications must, first of all, get operating licences. Newspapers must not only get a licence before publishing but it must be renewed every year.
Sacrifices conveniently forgotten
The king of all of the suppressive and oppressive laws is the Internal Security Act, when a citizen can be put under detention without the benefit of any charge!
All said and done, we sacrifice the rule of law in favour of rule by private individuals. To show that we are really smart, we pooh pooh the loyalty and patriotism of the non-Malay segment of the population.
We call them pendatang or immigrants bearing the stigma that they are social discard from their original country, similar to rogues, rascals, refugees, mercenaries and scoundrels. We just ignore their proven talent and ability in wealth creation and economic productivity, as well as to their demonstrated loyalty and patriotism.
Many of such pendatangs have made the ultimate sacrifices as military personnel defending its security, during the Emergency, the Confrontation period with Indonesia and as policemen while policing the social environment.
They have contributed and are continuing to, in sport and the arts. Their record as loyal and patriotic Malaysians is quite impeccable. But we do not really care.
The perplexing thing is that despite these attributes and positive records of the non-Malays, we are still going about championing and implement apartheid principles. In this new year, perhaps we can do with a little reflection: why are we doing all this?
We do this apparently to recover our lost soul. We perceive that we have been victims of colonisation when the Portuguese, Dutch and British colonisers all but butchered the Malay entity, psychology and culture. In the process we perceive that we have lost our Malay identity.
With independence, we thought we could recapture the lost glory of Malay suzerainty by
becoming masters of all facets of a nation, especially its commerce, and economy. We found out that the Chinese community had beaten us to it.
We felt the Chinese had capitalised on our weakness and captured the economic initiatives (and wealth) as well as the social characteristics of the country. We lost ‘face’.
Now we want to regain the mertabat or dignity and pride of the Malay race!
Yes, we feel that we have to recover our soul and it is here that we are reminded of Paton’s book title, but in this case suitably paraphrased to – cry my beloved Malay soul.
Our Malay soul needs to cry for doing the right thing for the wrong reason or the wrong thing for the right reason; even for the wrong thing for the wrong reason, but not for the right thing for the right reason.
To start with colonisation is really not an excuse for our psychological malaise and ineptitude.
Colonisation has been a feature of human history and felt all over the world. There are very few countries that have not been colonised in the world.
It is thus a neutral concept in human social and economic development. It is certainly not an impediment to social or economic progress as we are wont to portray it. We should dump this notion that we hold dear into the bin of history.
Rethinking our way of thinking
Just look at the records. The Koreans were once colonised by the Japanese, but today Korea is an industrial power house. Singapore was once colonised by the British and was indeed a part of us, and today we see this tiny country being a solid financial, trading and industrial entity.
Most pointedly of all, the US was once a British colony and today it is the mightiest nation in the world. Our second grouse - that the Chinese have cornered the economic sector of the country also needs re-looking into, on two counts.
First, the Chinese did not become successful based on any conscious and concerted economic programme to economically marginalise us.
We did this self-inflicted wound ourselves. As proof, we have to note that most of the Chinese came to our shores with only their feet, hands, guts and brains and perhaps a bundle of clothes, nothing more.
They become successful for their hard work, both physically and mentally and for the sacrifices they were prepared to make and had undertaken. They were successful for having the mental fortitude to seek opportunities, grab those that come along and worked extra hard to realise the potentials of these opportunities.
Secondly, we have been given a chance to be equal with them, both under numerous 'special privileges' enshrined in the Constitution, as well as under its NEP implementation programme.
The special privileges have always been in the constitution while the latter began in 1970. In short, we have been given the chance - the opportunity - many times over, to better our Malay polity.
Whereas the Chinese had to struggle just to find and identify the opportunities, in our case they were handed to us on a silver platter!
Thus far we have failed to capitalise adequately on them. It rather shameful we missing out on these chances specially created for us in the first place.
Either way the root cause of our weaknesses and the strength of the Chinese lies in two words - positive thinking. Our thinking is mired with so many dos and don’ts, so many musts and musn’ts, so many cans and cannots, may and may nots, plenty enough to created and internalise doubts and fears in our minds.
So much so that we have doubt over what we can and what we can’t do, what is allowed and what is not. We spend a lifetime looking for these highly complex cans and cannots, musts and must nots, that we have hardly any mental energy left to develop and self-confidence to get on and face the realities of life.
Let’s refer to this case as the ‘can’t don’t and won’t syndrome’. The Chinese by the way are not encumbered by such syndromes.
What appears to have happened is that this syndrome has affected our mental ability to conceptualise. We see things on the straight and narrow. We accept wisdoms handed down to us by our elders as the gospel truth.
Blinded by sentiment
We do not see that things can be seen and interpreted in many alternative ways. We feel we have the monopoly on truth; we therefore think that we are right all the time and other people are wrong all the time. Witness the way we see religion for example.
We think that we as Muslims are right and other people who profess other religions are wrong, all the time.
We need to cry for thinking that we can and have doctored the way the people think and do things. We have been intimidating the people with what they can read or write or think and do.
We seem to be saying "you can think anything, do anything, write anything so long as it does not criticise or condemn the government".
Soul-searching and resuscitating is not or should not be about pointing accusing fingers at some bogeys. That would be a most negative thing to do. It would be better for us to be open-minded and be able to identify our own strengths and weaknesses.
We improve upon our strengths and dump our weaknesses. Mainly we must be able to develop the awareness that we have both the strengths and weaknesses in the first place.
To illustrate, the NEP has proved many time over as a failed strategy for our socio-economic advancement. Let us be aware of this in the first place and move on seeking other ways with better chance of success.
How about secularising the Malay mind? It might make for a good start for we can see many of the don’ts, can’ts, musn’ts dissipating into the wind.
In the meantime, here we are in the early days of a new year. We should begin by realising that whatever 'smart’ moves we had undertaken all this while have not really been that smart after all.
The joke is on us. Everybody says so – the liberated Malays, the non-Malays, our neighbours and the rest of the international community. Only those of us basking in our closed mind and benefiting from the profits of the status quo say it’s alright.
Happy New Year all the same and here’s hoping this year we can get a good perspective as to what propagating a good mertabat really means. It’s long overdue.
"O liberty! how they have played with you." - Mme. Jeanne Roland de la Platiere, before death at the guillotine ***************************
For a nation to come crumbling down, there are but three kinds of people in leadership, with three different characteristics that is required, namely -
the untamed passions in a gifted man,
the wanton power in a weak man, and
the unteachable temperament in a privileged man.
How "lucky" we are, that we have all three in just one man, who I shall leave unnamed.
C.S. Lewis said, "When a ship goes out to sea, there are three things that it has to know - First is, why it is there in the first place. Then she has to how to keep from sinking, and third, how to keep from bumping into other ships".
In life, the answer to the above three lies in ethics. For us, Malaysia is that ship - sailing around in the high seas rudderless, and changing course as and when it pleases, without an idea as to where it's headed or why it is there doing what it is doing.
In "debating" the issues, we appear to have all our priorities and answers all wrong, or simply mixed up. Karpal calls for DSAI's resignation after the Perak fiasco despite the fact that it was a DAP MLA's defection that triggered this crisis. Mahathir laughs at Anwar's apparent double standards at Nasarudin's re-hopping, Hamid Albar and Khairy screams "treason", and Shad Faruqi says that anti-hopping laws should solve the problem. Of course there are many peasants among us who feel let down by the decision of a certain high office - having put them on a pedestal, after their lip service to "justice" in their high-flung speeches.
Shad Faruqi the Pakistani "constitutional expert", in his Reflecting On The Law column in The Star said, "What is worrying is that the fall-out of this crisis is sullying the reputation and credibility of many legal and constitutional institutions while the root cause – the despicable phenomenon of party hopping – remains unaddressed." (like as if they have any worthwhile reputation in the first place!)
Shad, after earlier proposing that it is the Sultan's prerogative to "Hire" and hence, by virtue of the Interpretation Act, is entitled to "fire", now makes a U-turn to suggest otherwise by saying that, "This implies that an MB cannot be dismissed except by a vote of no confidence in the assembly. If an MB who has lost confidence, and is refused dissolution, is shameless enough not to walk away, then the Sultan would be justified in dismissing him ...... The question of losing confidence was not constitutionally investigated."
He then spins to justify the extra-constitutional actions of the EC in undermining the constitutional right of the Speaker of the Assembly, by saying that - "In the light of this decision and the denial by the two defectors, the Election Commission had some basis to make up its own mind and to declare that the seats had not fallen vacant..... ". Has he forgotten the prerogatives of the Speaker and the duties of the EC? So much for "constitutional experts", I suppose.
Anyway, he is once again, grossly mistaken on the matter of party-hopping - it isn't in the least bit, "the root cause", as he claims it to be. The fact remains that party hopping is legal, and justifiable, should the reasons for it be morally valid, and it reflects the people's mandate - hence not an "issue". It is the premise upon which such an action is taken, that needs scrutiny - not the act of "hopping" in itself. It would be wrong to ban it completely - and I maintain that it is wrong for Karpal and gang to demand an anti-hopping law, or reprimand DSAI for it. I would rather suggest that certain criteria be fulfilled and procedures be adopted - so as to reflect the people's mandate, and also to restrict the exploitation that it may be subjected to by those who wield power and money.
************************************* "He that is conscious of guilt cannot bear the innocence of others: So they will try to reduce all others to their own level. " -Fox, Charles James **********************************
The issue here is the fact that the Nizar Government is the Constitutional Government! The political coup d'etat which was perpetrated by the DPM, to install a Government in the State of Perakwas simply through purchase of "commodity"(or so it seems), is unconstitutional and illegal - whether the Sultan swore them in or not! The DPM mocks the very Constitution which Shad speaks of. This makes all documents, agreements and contracts drawn out by this government, "illegal"- and those who partake in their activities would be rendered criminals. The perpetrators of this crime are however, lauded as "heroes" in a certain party which happens to rule the Nation!!! One can only speculate the level of respect these goons have, for the Federal Constitution or the rule of law .....
The question however remains - Just what is the malady that afflicts the Malaysian leadership and the electorate, that it is so difficult for us to bring about the change we desire?
The way I look at it, it is simply a crisis of faith in our Federal Constitution (and of course, that of the states), which stems from the 600+ amendments made to it by the lawmakers of BN, starting from Tun Razak - to perpetuate the evil called the NEP. Anything done toward this end- criminal or not- is "fair game"! To make matters worse, we have "legal eagles" in high academic/ professional office, who try to play the apologist for these "criminals" in office, through various subtle spins in the MSM and brutal enforcement on the streets.
It isn't enough that there is content in the Federal Constitution, and one more amendment as Shad Faruqi/Karpal/Guan Eng recommends isn't going to make a difference. Nor would the resignation of DSAI, Hadi or Kit Siang cut it. What matters more than the content, is the conviction in its purpose, which should translate into faith in the Federal Constitution - that which is absent among politicians who disregard it. It is today nothing more than a taxi - a vehicle for the elite to ride on for a fee (or free), only for convenience - beyond which, it is simply, "toilet paper".
Until and unless we are willing to admit our faults/mistakes, we are doomed to sail rudderless - while pirates help themselves, until the day we are blasted to smithereens by that one pirate who cannot find anything to rob from us. Thus far, this is being avoided by "refilling the empty decks", so that newer pirates can still have their fill - thus the myth that we are still a prosperous ship. But we have warlord-leaders in denial like Muhyiddin who claim that the NEP "is perfect", and it is only the delivery system that is flawed. (That's like saying that Proton is a good car, and it is only the owners/customers/drivers who don't maintain them ....)
How can we cling to the cause - namely the NEP, which perpetuates wholesale piracy and daylight robbery, and wish the results away? It is a system that thrives on the evils it cultivates - the immoralities of corruption, greed, undeserved rewards, intellectual bankruptcy, idolatry, sloth, envy, covetousness and hatred - albeit, under cover of the veil of religiosity or blatant racist bigotry. Therefore, the lives of many Malaysians today is ruled by a dichotomy in which, they do what they hate, so that they can wash away their sins through repeated "acts of penance", or simply indulge in their pleasures to forget their evil deeds.
It all springs from our lack of ethics in our politics & education system - we have forgotten where ethics comes from, and hence, have unwittingly subverted our Federal Constitution in the process. As a matter of fact most of our lawmakers who scream "treason", have no idea what the word means, as they trample on the Federal Constitution. We then have an electorate with paralyzed thinking faculties, and made to believe in their powerlessness. They are given to emotional upheavals and religiosity - they'd rather scream themselves hoarse and bang their heads on the roads for an unknown Palestine, while they squander away their own rights for pittance or nothing, by subverting their own Constitution. To top it all, we have a CJ who confessed to indulging in corruption (at least that's what the media reported), and is now appointed as the head of the JAC!!
The Federal Constitution which is supposed to be the supreme entity, is no longer the living document upon which we build our nation - it is simply the toilet paper with with we wipe away the dirt we leave behind. It is simply an instrument which "modified" and "enforced" at will by politicians, to perpetuate their agenda of greed. It has been replaced by corrupt & vainglorious men who wield power (and not real leaders), who seek to rule - and they can only do so essentially, by bribing the electorate and their representatives.
This is a system which can only survive through the deprivation of civil liberties and the emasculation of thought - and hence in has to be enforced by an enslaved "security apparatus" and civil service of the state, through the primitive laws and bigotry that we are famed for. What we have is a dictatorship of oligarchs.
No wonder Frank Herbert (Dune) said, "If you think of yourselves as helpless and ineffectual, it is certain that you will create a despotic government to be your master. The wise despot, therefore, maintains among his subjects a popular sense that they are helpless and ineffectual."
And yet, we still, cling to the cause, vote for pirates and prefer to point fingers at the sideshows, so as to wish the results away .....
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"There is a kind of dictatorship that can come about through a creeping paralysis of thought, readiness to accept paternalistic measures by government, and along with those measures comes a surrender of our own responsibilities and therefore a surrender of our own thought over our own lives and our own right to exercise the vote." - Dwight Eisenhower ************************************
What happened in Perak is good. I hope it will teach Pakatan Rakyat that it has to get its act together. ...... A mere car brought the Perak government down.If this is what brought the Perak government down, then it deserves to fall. I can only say that this serves Pakatan Rakyat right. They had it coming. When personal interests and racial issues override everything else, you deserve to fall. And there are many low quality wakil rakyat still in Pakatan Rakyat .............Next time, get better candidates. Some of the Pakatan Rakyat wakil rakyat are so low standard I would not even trust them to baby-sit my dog.
- RPK
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So said RPK. PR had lost their "bearings" when they got more than they could handle in it's infancy. Well, I actually said the same (not verbatim lah) at while "Fishing", to PatLu, Segar & Viki- I actually said, "I wouldn't feel sorry for them if they lose the Perak Govt - they have forgotten what got them there!" (But I did feel sorry ...) Still, it was heartbreaking to see the Nizar Govt fall in such a manner - I wouldn't have felt as such, should Pakatan have been ousted through a "No Confidence" motion. To make matters worse, we had to put up with the smug look of Mr. Mongolia at the press conference .....
"Gamuda" or not - this was realpolitik at play (and IMHO, plenty of "Mahathirism" stamped all over it!). Is it any wonder that Mahathir couldn't hide his glee, and as a "statesman", writing on CheDet, "Lompat masuk (perangkap) boleh tapi lompat keluar tak sah!! He, he, he!". (reminds me of how some guys write comments on MT, despite the availability of emoticons) Yes - Anwar was outwitted in his naivity, and suckered in his own game, although with a little difference in style.
Taking the Stephen Kalong Ningkan case into consideration, we all know that Nizar is still the legitimate MB of Perak, the BN style is to use extra-constitutional methods to launch a coup - always has been, and always will be. Just letters don't cut it, when one claims majority - only the assembly decides. The Constitutional Head of state simply carries out the wishes of the people as expressed by the legislature. It would therefore do well for us to disregard the Pakistani academician cum "constitutional spin doctor" - Shad Faruqi, who claims that the Sultan can Hire & Fire at his pleasure like an autocrat.
Let's hope the case will give PR at least, a moral victory - but we all know that Karpal has a recording of a judge who confessed to being advocate of corruption. So, we shall keep out fingers crossed.
There were many things that were unsatisfactory with the Pakatan electoral pact - but it was a pretty steep learning curve for them to negotiate. The attitudes of the DAP men in the past, isn't relevant as of now, (although RPK did bring it up). RPK has also resorted to whacking PR now, in frustration - menyampah (or maybe just a bad flu). Whatever his reason may be, he, just as anybody else, is entitled to it.
I share many of the sentiments expressed by RPK - yes, I concurred with RPK on the dissolution idea, and posted something asking Nizar to dissolve the Assembly ASAP in DISSOLVE THE PERAK STATE ASSEMBLY, NIZAR!!! (sometimes, I too like to be perasan lah -like as if anybody significant is gonna take me seriously!).
However, I'd look at the events that transpired in Perak in a positive light - it is a baptism of fire for Pakatan, and they better learn the taste of defeat fast - and I mean REAL fast. Or else, they will very soon bite the dust elsewhere as well. It is a price you pay, when you take power for granted - with the presence of turncoats in your midst. Actually, I'm surprised they lasted so long and it took this long for Najib to make his move ....
Recent events will make Pakatan realize that it isn't worth fighting among themselves, and that there are bigger things to fight over. Having tasted the sweetness of office/power and the bitterness of defeat, it will also make them fight harder & with more strategy in future. Things may swing in their favour, if they can keep the desire for reform & negative sentiments towards BN burning in the hearts of the electorate. In short - it may be a blessing in disguise!
While they take a step back to recoup their strategies, lets hope they do not lose sight of the other states in their grasp. Meanwhile, just get better reps in future lah - in the last elections, many seat would've been won had they even decided to field donkeys! And a last piece of (unsolicited) advice - don't let your egos neglect the "Barisan Rakyat's" opinions!!
For what it's worth - all the best Pakatan! Overall, you were "passable" in my book - The people are still with you. And to Najib, the "man of the day" - your day of reckoning is yet to come. Legitimacy doesn't seem to be a priority to you - You seek for glory within Umno, at the expense of the electorate. Hardball is what you play, hardball is what you'll get from them - Cheers to you, Najib!
It is under attack by those who feel that the ‘social contract’ must be renegotiated. Frankly, it is also undermined by judges and civil servants who apply their own interpretations of the Constitution and allow their personal allegiances to colour the practical application of the laws that govern our country.” - Shad Saleem Faruqi
(Bernama) -- The Sultan of Perak has the power to dismiss his Menteri Besar even though the latter refuses to tender his resignation after being decreed to do so, a constitutional law expert said.However, the power to do so is not within the provision of the Perak constitution but from the Interpretation Act which says the power to appoint also includes the power to remove, said Prof Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi.*
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Shad Faruqi, is just doing a "job" for his BN masters .... he's just a legal spin-doctor extraordinaire!
As much as I'd comply with His Majesty's decision, I cannot agree with it - and Shad Faruqi's interpretation is as twisted as his interpretation when he said, that the Umno/BN "social contract" is in the Federal Constitution.
This is how I think it should be interpreted ..... What I say isn't meant in any way, to belittle the office of the rulers - just an interpetation of the law, from a "layman's" perspective.
We are a "Constitutional Monarchy", which is subject to the Federal Constitution, which is a "living document" - and do not live in a medieval Absolute Monarchy which practices autocracy.
The Law is Supreme - not Man! Malaysia is a Democracy where it is the electorate that decides - the Rulers are supposed to reflect the desire of the electorate, and not vice versa. I'm sure that should be applicable where "Interpretation Act" is concerned ..... The interpretation clause cannot apply here, as the Legislature is the highest authority in deciding the MB, and not the ruler. The Legislature decides on the candidate for appointment by His Majesty, and hence the Legislature should also decide where the "firing" is concerned!! Should this not be the case, the YDPA then has the authority to fire the PM at his discretion as well, disregarding the parliament!
The Ruler's prerogative, I thought wasn't absolute - unlike in some nation in the middle-ages ... unless of course we've entered a time warp. The interpretation has to take into account the Legislature, and is subject to the approval of the Legislature.
Whatever said and done, we know that the threat of an Emergency looms, should this crisis and stand-off continue - and I believe it is a very likely prospect.
What is happening today in Perak, heralds the scenario of things to come .....
By Adib Zalkapli, Lee Wei Lian and Neville Spykerman
KUALA KANGSAR, Feb 6 — Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir was sworn-in as the new Perak menteri besar by Sultan Azlan Shah today, soon after police fired tear gas and charged at more than 5,000 Pakatan Rakyat supporters outside Istana Iskandariah here.
There was little joy on the streets of this royal town after riot police broke up the large crowd of protesters marching towards the palace across the Perak River after Friday prayers to show their support for Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, the man whom they feel is still the legitimate menteri besar.
Riot police charged at the crowd and at one point a pitched battle was being fought between the two sides.
The police fired round after round of tear gas, injuring scores including a 10-year-old boy who fainted, as a convoy of vehicles carrying Barisan Nasional leaders, including Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak, was trying to enter the palace grounds.
Many in the crowd have now dispersed all over the picturesque Bukit Chandan, where the palace and Ubudiah mosque are located in this royal town, after riot police continued charging at them for half an hour.
The situation remains tense outside the palace as several hundred protesters remain. Many others are still inside the mosque. An unidentified state Pas representative has now joined police in asking the crowd to disperse.
**Meanwhile Netizens are having a go at websites linked to various groups - I wonder if all govt linked websites will be faced with dos attacks ....
It is under attack by those who feel that the ‘social contract’ must be renegotiated. Frankly, it is also undermined by judges and civil servants who apply their own interpretations of the Constitution and allow their personal allegiances to colour the practical application of the laws that govern our country.” - Shad Saleem Faruqi
(Bernama) -- The Sultan of Perak has the power to dismiss his Menteri Besar even though the latter refuses to tender his resignation after being decreed to do so, a constitutional law expert said.However, the power to do so is not within the provision of the Perak constitution but from the Interpretation Act which says the power to appoint also includes the power to remove, said Prof Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi.*
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Shad Faruqi, is just doing a "job" for his BN masters .... he's just a legal spin-doctor extraordinaire!
As much as I'd comply with His Majesty's decision, I cannot agree with it - and Shad Faruqi's interpretation is as twisted as his interpretation when he said, that the Umno/BN "social contract" is in the Federal Constitution.
This is how I think it should be interpreted ..... What I say isn't meant in any way, to belittle the office of the rulers - just an interpetation of the law, from a "layman's" perspective.
We are a "Constitutional Monarchy", which is subject to the Federal Constitution, which is a "living document" - and do not live in a medieval Absolute Monarchy which practices autocracy.
The Law is Supreme - not Man! Malaysia is a Democracy where it is the electorate that decides - the Rulers are supposed to reflect the desire of the electorate, and not vice versa. I'm sure that should be applicable where "Interpretation Act" is concerned ..... The interpretation clause cannot apply here, as the Legislature is the highest authority in deciding the MB, and not the ruler. The Legislature decides on the candidate for appointment by His Majesty, and hence the Legislature should also decide where the "firing" is concerned!! Should this not be the case, the YDPA then has the authority to fire the PM at his discretion as well, disregarding the parliament!
The Ruler's prerogative, I thought wasn't absolute - unlike in some nation in the middle-ages ... unless of course we've entered a time warp. The interpretation has to take into account the Legislature, and is subject to the approval of the Legislature.
Whatever said and done, we know that the threat of an Emergency looms, should this crisis and stand-off continue - and I believe it is a very likely prospect.
What is happening today in Perak, heralds the scenario of things to come .....
Maybe they should be renamed Ministry of Persecution or something like that. ... any better idea would be welcome. I was "tickled" to read a comment on MalaysiaKini (Vox Populi - below), describing the capacity of today's teachers' thinking faculties - needless to say, trained by the Ministry of "Education". It looks like they "train" teachers to be stoopid!
Can you imagine your child being arrested for "illegal assembly" at a coffee shop in school compound!!?? My God! This is mind boggling - How pathetic can our Ministry of "Education" get! With teachers-training like this, who needs schools?
Is it any surprise that the Home Ministry bans usage of BM by the Catholic Herald, while we get kids becoming Rempits, drug addicts, or saying the things as reported Star/Metro in "Tudung-clad teens who are hooked on sex"??!!
About time, some people realize that religious dogma indoctrination and outward religiosity doesn't translate into sound spiritualitycharacter or ethics.
The very 'macho' but braindead Malaysian defenders of Race/Religion
Is this the "Jaminan untuk anak-anak kita" which the keris-waving Hishamudin promises (I just heard that on the TV3 news - in KT, was it?)? Who needs a "Ministry" that peddles immorality, mediocrity, idiocy, and preaches bigotry/ hypocrisy to the kids under the guise of "education"? Words such as these (mentioned in the article linked above) coming out from kids, would never even be dreamt of in the pre-Mahathirism days!
More & more, The Ministry/ Goverment appears to be prostituting education in schools, under their "Ketuanan" policies. I wonder what role BTN plays, in inculcating such "noble " values in the current crop of imbeciles who masquerade as teachers/ principals. Whatever said and done, much "credit" has to go to the "Ministers of Education" since the inception of the NEP - especially during the time of Mahathirism vs. PAS ("Islamisation" period).
As much as I'd like to agree with Mahathir Jr. who proposed a single education system, (and disagree with DJZ on Mandarin "vernacular" education system), given the scenario in the comment below (and of course the abusive teacher - remember?), anything is better than the Sekolah Kebangsaan. No thank you Mukhriz - your dad's "education" policies belong to the gutters, and stink to the high heavens. It highlights the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of the Mahathirism/Umno/BN policies!
The kids would probably be better off left to their devices .....
Mr Yest: My friend's daughter who attends a national school organised meetings with fellow Christians in her school to understand their religion better. The principal came to know of it and made it impossible for them to continue. So they met at a coffee shop.
The principal then reported them to the police for illegal assembly! I don't know how many brownie points he gained with masters at the education ministry but this is the reality. So it is not surprising that the home ministry acted in the way it did.
I suppose if the officials had been more fair-minded, their masters may have felt that they were giving ground to their own religion's ‘enemy' and may face the wrath of God.
We all know it took nearly 30 years for a church to be approved to be built in Shah Alam and the designated place was at the edge of the forest. We all know the restrictions placed on the height of the steeple of a church.
As long as people in government do not feel confident of their own religion, such repression will persist. Compared with the US, a country the Malaysian government has never ceased to preach about religious tolerance and other high-minded matters, Malaysia is still in the Dark Ages.
