Abide by the Federal Constitution; Focus on achieving harmony and unity — Bar Council Malaysia

Christopher Leong

President

Malaysian Bar

The Malay Mail Online

January 3, 2014

Jan 3 — The Malaysian Bar is concerned by reports that Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (“JAIS”, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department) had on 2 January 2014 conducted a raid on the office of the Bible Society of Malaysia (“BSM”), confiscated more than 300 copies of the Alkitab (Bahasa Malaysia bible) and Bup Kudus (Iban bible), and arrested the President and the Office Manager of BSM.  It is also reported that the President and the Office Manager have been required to present themselves to JAIS officers on 10 January 2014.

It is alarming that the religious body or enforcement agency of one religion would purport to have jurisdiction or purview over other religions. This is not what is envisaged under the Federal Constitution. The actions of JAIS are purported to have been carried out pursuant to the Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Amongst Muslims) Enactment No 1 of 1988 of Selangor (“said Selangor Enactment”), in particular sections 9 to 13 thereof.

The said Selangor Enactment is stated in its preamble to have been enacted pursuant to Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution, which provides that State law may control or restrict the propagation of any religious doctrine or belief among persons professing the religion of Islam. The purpose of the said Selangor Enactment is therefore an enactment against the propagation of other religions to Muslims or the proselytisation of Muslims.

However, section 9(1) of the said Selangor Enactment provides that a person commits an offence if he in any published writing, or public or broadcast speech or statement uses any of the words listed in Part I of the Schedule “pertaining to any non-Islamic religion”. Similarly, section 9(2) provides that a person who is not a Muslim commits an offence if he uses any of the expressions listed in Part II of the Schedule. Part I lists 25 Arabic words and Part II lists 10 Arabic phrases.

It is immediately apparent that the provisions of sections 9(1) and (2) are general in nature and ambit, and are not confined to the purpose stated in the preamble of the said Selangor Enactment and to the limits proscribed in Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution. These provisions purport to make it an offence to merely use the listed words or phrases. They purport to be general blanket prohibitions and offences, irrespective of whether the words or phrases are used in the course, or for the purpose, of propagation of a non-Islamic religion to Muslims.

In such circumstances, resort to sections 9(1) and (2) would be ultra vires the said Selangor Enactment itself, as they go beyond the purpose and ambit of the said Selangor enactment as set out in its preamble, and as self-evident in its title. The impugned provisions are also unconstitutional, inasmuch as they are unsupported by Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution.

Further, Article 11(3) of the Federal Constitution effectively provides for each religion to be self-regulatory. This is to facilitate inter-religious harmony. It is therefore unconstitutional for JAIS, an Islamic body or enforcement agency, to have jurisdiction, powers and ambit over other religions or persons professing other religions. This encroachment is in any event against the spirit of the Federal Constitution.

Thus, any authorisation pursuant to section 10 of the said Selangor Enactment, or any notification or gazette purporting to vest JAIS with such jurisdiction or powers, would be repugnant to the Federal Constitution.

Accordingly, the raid, seizure and arrest by JAIS were unconstitutional and illegal. At a time when we should be exerting our energies and resources towards national reconciliation and harmony, the actions by JAIS are unnecessarily provocative and unwise.

We urge all Malaysians to act rationally and calmly, and continue to focus on achieving harmony and unity.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 3 January 2014, 11:22 pm and is filed under
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Najib must act immediately to guarantee a stop to any further illegal and unconstitutional raids by Islamic authorities on other religions or his assurances whether in Christmas or  New Year messages mean nothing and lose all credibility

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, must act immediately to guarantee a stop to any further illegal and unconstitutional raids by Islamic authorities on other religions or his  assurances, whether in Christmas or  New Year messages,  mean nothing and lose all credibility.

Less than ten days after Najib’s two  Christmas Speeches, one at the Federation of Malaysia’s Christmas Hi-Tea  in Kuala Lumpur and the other at the national-level Christmas Open House in Penang, his message of moderation, harmony and co-existence have been thrown to the winds  in  the unprecedented and unconstitutional raid by the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) and the police at the premises of the Bible Society of Malaysia and the seizure of about 350 copies of Malay and Iban Bibles.

Najib had said that rather than choosing the path of fighting over their differences, it is better for Muslims and Christians to find a common ground “to preserve the peace, harmony and stability of the country”, urging both groups to understand the sensitivities of each other’s religions so as not to offend another.

Najib said: “Muslims should not hurt the feelings of Christians and likewise, Christians should not hurt the feelings of Muslims.”

But this was the sentiment that was trampled upon in the illegal and unconstitutional raid by Jais at the Bible Society of Malaysia yesterday.

Najib had said in his Christmas speeches that a moderate and rational approach was needed to keep Malaysia peaceful and harmonious, that “differences in religious faith is not a weakening factor in our society, but rather a strong element in nation building for it serves as a constant reminder that we have so much to share in common, the values which are universally accepted like patriotism, peace, love, kindness, helping the poor and needy, social justice and so on”.

Najib also said: “We may differ in our faiths, but we are not divided”.

Again this message was completely lost in the illegal and unconstitutional raid yesterday.

Najib had targeted politicians he accused of stirring controversy for political gain and without regard for peace and harmony when he said:

“Time and again, these have tested our resolve to remain a tolerant and peaceful nation. Like all tests that have come before, we have been exercising restraint in our responses yet resolute in defending our moderate and harmonious way of life.

“Irresponsible politicians who only seek short-term fame at the expense of harmony, will constantly evoke the sensitivities and fault lines to portray oneself as a hero for political mileage.

“I have always frowned upon such irresponsible conduct and I trust all citizens will view this conduct nothing but a folly.”

The illegal and unconstitutional raid by Jais at the premises of Bible Society of Malaysia and seizure of Malay and Iban versions of Bible is the worst example of such “irresponsible conduct” and “folly” which calls for immediate action by the  the Prime Minister. He must do more than just “frown”.

In his New Year message, Najib took note of the need to be active in the pursuit of unity as a result of the worsening of racial and religious relations in the past year.

He said: “Our responsibility – and my priority – is to secure the continued peace, stability and progress on which Malaysia’s future rests. Rebuilding our national unity, and encouraging public debate based on respect, is a great part of that. As the new year unfolds, you will hear more from my government about how we will do so.”

Surely, the illegal and unconstitutional raid by Islamic authorities on other religions is not what Najib has in mind about what he promised Malaysians as to how the Barisan Nasional government will rebuild national unity as the “new year unfolds” – in fact, he needs to give assurance that such illegal and unconstitutional developments are exactly events which will not be permitted to happen as they will exacerbate disunity and division  rather than rebuild national unity.

                                               Lim Kit Siang

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                This entry was posted on Friday, 3 January 2014, 9:38 am and is filed under
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Of mad mullahs and mangled muftis

by azly rahman

Malaysiakini

Jan 3, 2014

When will we ever see people respecting each other for what they believe in and to pray by whichever way they feel safe, at peace, and connected as what “religion” derived from the Latin “religio” means, i.e. “connectedness” (to a higher and greater consciousness)?

Why can’t the Shiites and Sunnis stop fighting? Why can’t we focus on larger issues such as the future of our children through the fixing of our education system, or to make sure that our streets are safe, to bring back local elections so that our democracy will be stronger, or to ensure that our leaders are doing what they are supposed to be doing since they are servants to the people they begged votes from?

But what do we still have? Pathos, thanatos, and the loss of eros. Of hubris and hamartia. Of poetic injustices year after year. That’s what we have. Another year of diabolical doings left undone.

Malaysians are ushering into a new year not with renewed hope to make things better for intercultural, inter-religious relations, nor to make it a time of reflection and reconciliation but to read more of the ridiculousness of ethnocentrism and religious bigotry renewed with bigger dose of insanity, threatening to make 2014 another Malaysian year of living dangerously.

Why do we see Christians being persecuted more and more these days, in regard to the recent threats to arrest those who give their sermons using the word “Allah” to refer to the Almighty those of the monotheistic faith share in reverie?

Why must we read about the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) threatening to raid churches that still want to use the word “Allah” in the prayers they had been using even before the country gained independence?

And why must we read about the raid in the Bible Society of Malaysia and the confiscation of the holy books that will help Malaysians too become less and less violent, corrupt, and living a life of immorality, having “Allah” too as a guide to the “siratul mustaqim” or the path of righteousness of the followers of the teachings of Isa/Jesus?

Utterly ridiculous raid is it not? Or because it is Malaysia, that anything ridiculous can happen in this half-baked modernised society?

Is there a secret plan to drive the Christians underground so that they may then pray to the same god only in secret? I hope there is none – because there will still be sane Muslims who will protect the rights of the Christians from being trampled by insane Muslims.

Why must we read about Umno Youth’s plan to protest in all churches that are suspected of using the holy word to designate God; words used by Christians in the Arab land, even before Muhammad declared Islam as a renew religion and use the word “Allah” too, to unify the Muslims and to craft a campaign of empire-building the world over?

‘What a way to start the new year’

And more ridiculous, as recent as yesterday, why are we reading yet another reiteration of a fatwa by this mufti from Perak who has nothing better to do than vomit nonsensical declaration that those who protested against the ridiculous price hikes can be called traitors and should be waged war against in the form of “jihad fisabilillah” (holy war in the name of Allah).

The protesters were not armed with bombs strapped on their waist, were they? The protesters weren’t running around amuck-latah carrying machetes, parang panjang, kapak siam or machine guns, were they?

Weren’t they armed with anything dangerous except the call for the government not to further trample them with more hardships so that few in power can enjoy celebrating New Year with more champagne worth thousands of dollars to blow just that one night?

Isn’t jihad supposed to be about speaking truth to power and wishing for a peaceful change through such a peaceful and legal gathering as what was demonstrated on the night the rakyat came down – to “turun and turn” so that everything, prices and people intoxicated with power will bow down to the will of the rakyat?

Isn’t that what Islam and all religions promoting the peaceful middle path call for?

What a mufti Perak has and what a way to force him to resign before he does any damage to Muslims too. But what will it take to force him to do that?

What a way to start the new year!

As in a play in a French absurd theatre ala Oriflamme’ and Metamorphosis, looks like another Kafka-esque year of sweeping dead corpses under the national carpet and shoving more skeletons in the closet of a sinking ship as we see more and more filth being revealed in the way the leaders-elected-on-a-minority-mandate try to hide their massive secrets of corrupt practices, conspicuous consumption, idiotic pride, nauseating arrogance, and sub-intelligence at a time when the rakyat is getting more and more impatient with everything they see, read, hear and feel about the way the country is governed.

Instead of Auld Lang Syne, at the stroke of midnight, we Malaysians should have chanted these verses in Dataran Merdeka:

Tahun Baru Gila

Tahun Kegilaan Baru

Crazy New Year!

Renewed Crazy Year!

Let us remain hopeful though and in our own way, work towards peaceful change. We must continue to light the candle and not curse the darkness.

DR AZLY RAHMAN, born in Singapore and grew up in Johor Baru, holds a Columbia University (New York City) doctorate in International Education Development and Masters degrees in four areas: Education, International Affairs, Peace Studies and Communication. He has taught more than 40 courses in six different departments and has written more than 350 analyses on Malaysia. His teaching experience in Malaysia and the United States spans over a wide range of subjects, from elementary to graduate education. He has edited and authored four books; Multiethnic Malaysia: Past, Present, Future (2009), Thesis on Cyberjaya: Hegemony and Utopianism in a Southeast Asian State (2012), The Allah Controversy and Other Essays on Malaysian Hypermodernity (2013), and the latest Dark Spring: Ideological Roots of Malaysia’s GE-13 (2013). He currently resides in the United States.
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                This entry was posted on Friday, 3 January 2014, 11:37 pm and is filed under
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Proposal for a meeting of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat top leaders on an agenda and blueprint for National Reconciliation to rebuild National Unity

This year is the 50th anniversary of the formation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963.

It is most unfortunate, sad and shocking that the greatest threat to the unity and solidarity of Malaysia in its 50-year history should also take place this year – the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais)’s illegal and unconstitutional raid of Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) and seizure of Malay and Iban Bibles yesterday.

It is no exaggeration to say that Jais’ illegal and unconstitutional raid of Bible Society of Malaysia and seizure of Malay and Iban Bibles is the  greatest blow and setback to the unity and  cohesion of the  50-year Malaysian nation-building process capable of causing  grave disunity, discord and even  disintegration of the nation.

I fully agree with the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) that the shocking raid and seizure of the Malay and Iban Bibles is a violation of the Christians’ constitutional right to freedom of religion and an “aggressive attack” on interfaith ties in Malaysia.

Even more serious, it is the most serious setback for Malaysian nation-building in the past five decades, undermining the very basis of the multi-religious fabric of the Malaysian nation, giving cause to grave concerns in Sabah and Sarawak whether the fundamental terms for their joining the peninsular states – the 20 Points for Sabah and 18 Points for Sarawak – to form the Malaysian federation and other solemn agreements agreed by the Putrajaya  like the 10-Point Solution to the Bible controversy would really  be honoured.

This is why the reactions by Sarawakians and Sabahans to the Jais’ illegal and unconstitutional raid of the BSM and seizure of Malay and Iban Bibles have been so strong and even ferocious, including those from Barisan Nasional camps.

For instance, Sarawak’s Land Development Minister Tan Sri Dr. James Masing did not mince words when he lambasted federal leaders as “gutless” for “tip-toeing” around the Allah issue with an “unsound policy to appease everyone”.

He said Federal Cabinet Ministers “must be brave enough to take the bull by the horns and decide once and for all which set of religious laws Malaysians must abide by”.

He said the raid was “reflection of a policy gone wrong”, declaring:

“We cannot have one nation with two sets of religious laws applicable on the same issue. It wouldn’t work. It can’t work. Malaysian leaders must decide once and for all which set of religious laws Malaysians must abide by.

“This way Malaysians will have a clear choice on what to do. The law should be applicable to all, whether they stay in Lubok Antu (in Sarawak), Pulau Penyu (Sabah) or Kuala Perlis.”

Masing said the government’s policy on the Allah issue was not based on principle, but based on appeasement and is the cause of rising religious tension in the country.

He said religious policies should not be decided based on political expediency.

“They must be based on sound religious principles tempered by centuries of divine wisdom.”

Masing reminded the federal leaders that people in Sabah and Sarawak travel.

“They go to the peninsula to work. How is it that they are allowed to use the word in one half of the country and not allowed in the other half?”

Masing raised a most relevant point when he asked why the use of the word is an issue now.

“Why is it a problem now? What makes Muslims in the peninsula have the copyright to the word?”

He asked if the religious freedom enshrined in the Federal Constitution had been dumped for “limited freedom of religion”.

“Do we have religious freedom or is it restricted now?”

In Sabah, former Cabinet Minister and Barisan Nasional component party UPKO President Tan Sri Bernard Dompok reminded the Federal Government that the raid was ultra vires the Federal Constitution and   against the spirit of the 10-Point Solution reached between the government and Christian groups, which was endorsed by the Federal Cabinet in April 2011.

Under the 10-point solution announced in 2011 by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Idris Jala, Putrajaya would allow the import of Bibles in all languages, including the Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia translation.

The deal also states that Bibles can be printed locally in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

I want to remind Najib of his promise in his  New Year Message three days ago to ensure that in the new year of 2014, Malaysians  would not be as divided and  fractious as in the general elections year of 2013.

Najib had said:

“I believe Malaysia is strong enough to survive heated debate. With time, the divisions will heal, as we see our nation continue to grow and develop, and as we realise that those we disagree with are still our neighbours, our colleagues – and our friends. But I also believe that we should reaffirm our commitment to the peaceful coexistence that defines our nation.

“We must be active in the pursuit of unity. Our stability, and our progress, depend on it. That is why I have established the National Unity Consultative Council, which will report to the Cabinet with recommendations on what we can do to bring Malaysians closer together.

“Our responsibility – and my priority – is to secure the continued peace, stability and progress on which Malaysia’s future rests. Rebuilding our national unity, and encouraging public debate based on respect, is a great part of that. As the new year unfolds, you will hear more from my government about how we will do so.”

Nobody has any high hopes that  the National Unity Consultative Council, like the long string of its predecessors, could make any significant impact, especially as in  less than 48 hours  of the Prime Minister’s  2014 New Year message, Malaysia has been  plunged into one of the  worst  times in terms of national disunity, division and dissension, raising grave questions about the sanctity of constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion and the whole gamut of human rights.

The Prime Minister is nowhere to be heard or seen, and  Malaysians do not know whether he is in the country or abroad. The Deputy Prime Minister could only pour oil on flames while all other Cabinet Ministers have run for cover.

This is not the way to run the country or to deliver Najib’s promise in his New Year message that “as the new year unfolds”, Malaysians will hear more from the government about how it  is going about to rebuild our national unity.

As the government seems to be clueless how to rebuild our national unity, let me  propose a meeting of  Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat top leaders on an agenda and blueprint for national reconciliation to rebuild national unity.

Let top leaders from the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat political coalitions meet within a week or two to discuss the agenda and blueprint  of National Reconciliation to Rebuild National Unity.

The ball is in the court of the Prime Minister and the Barisan Nasional Cabinet.

Artikel ini juga boleh didapati dalam Bahasa Malaysia di:
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                This entry was posted on Friday, 3 January 2014, 5:22 pm and is filed under
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Tolls and hikes short-circuiting Malaysian future

S RAMAKRISHNAN | 12:47PM Jan 2, 2014

Malaysiakini

COMMENT The simultaneous increase in fuel and sugar prices, electricity tariff and toll hikes have got Malaysians worried and bewildered as to how they will manage their household expenses. Compounding matters will be the Goods and Services Tax (GST) that will kick in in 2015. The already weakened ringgit and the sudden withdrawal of subsidies on essential goods will hit hard where it hurts most – the pocket.

Not unlike Marie Antoinette, the prime minister is obstinately insisting that the people can afford these massive hikes. Talk about telling the masses to eat cake, he adds insult to injury by saying these increase are not a burden!

The entire cabinet and prime minister suddenly woke up from their slumber. It dawned on them that the budget deficit, huge public and household debt have to be narrowed. What is shocking is that for 16 continuous years, the deficit and the mounting debt did not raise any alarm bells.

In fact the pro-government economists and mainstream media stoically reminded the rakyat that economic fundamentals were positive and our country is on track to become a developed nation by 2020. But all that propaganda did not convince the world. Fitch Rating Agency, in a startling report, downgraded Malaysia from stable to negative. And the game was up.

The media propaganda failed and even more frightening, instead of being developed Malaysia, by 2020, may be a bankrupt nation!

The acrimonious Fitch report had a jolting effect that aroused the Malaysian government from its deep slumber and self-delusion. It suddenly dawned upon the cabinet that the lies they had believed to be the truth, were, in fact, lies.

Shocking tolls tax rakyat to the brim

The 16 consecutive budget deficits and the huge debt suddenly had to be addressed, checked and reversed immediately. To appease the fund managers and rating agencies, the government is hurriedly moving, albeit rather clumsily, to make band-aid changes to gaping wounds. Wounds that needs massive surgery.

In good times when the government privatised essential services like electricity and water supply, highways and telecommunications, to name a few, it  was concerned about assuring the service provider’s future profits and not the people’s welfare.

The government created monopolies that were provided with easy loans to be written off later. Umno cronies and new government linked companies were created into being to acquire lucrative under-valued privatised monopolies. And the government was on hand to absorb their losses and ensure future profits.

Toll concessionaires and independent power producers signed shock-proof contracts that not only guarantee future returns, but included provisions to extend and raise duration and tariffs. They are already earning billions if not hundreds of millions and yet the government continues to raise toll rates.

It is said that the cost to maintain road is only about 6 percent of revenue. Such a cash-generating concessionaires do not need any subsidy or toll hike. Yet Plus has the right to collect toll till 2038 with right to hike toll rate every three to five years.

Tenaga Nasional Berhad’s 2012 year-on-year profit is RM4.6 billion and 2011 year-on-year profit is RM4.2 billion. Yet effective Jan 1, 2014, all consumers have to pay higher rates. The 38.53 sen per kWh hike will add RM1 billion ringgit to TNB coffers. Subsidy to consumers of approximately RM5 billion is to be stopped but subsidy to independent power producers (IPPs) of about RM19 billion continues.

Having an over bloated civil service, which constitutes 4.68 percent of the population is rather unimaginable given the massive inefficiencies at all levels. Compare this figure to Indonesia that has only 1.79 percent, Philippines 1.81 percent, South Korea 1.85 percent and Thailand 2.06 percent. If anything, it is a tremendous drain on the budget.

Civil servants’ emoluments will make up RM63.6 billion (30 percent) out of the country’s operating expenditures of RM217.7 billion in 2014. Having such a huge civil service, the Malaysian government still paid RM7.2 billion to private consultants since 2009.

Race to the finish…

Malaysians are carrying the burden of paying for their bloated civil servants’ incompetence, bailing out Umno cronies and funding the rising BN election campaign funds. Winning elections has become very costly for BN. Since Najib Abdul Razak took over as finance minister in 2009, the debt to GDP ratio grew from 38 percent to the present 54 percent.

Is Malaysia racing to become a developed nation or is it heading towards a catastrophically bankrupt nation come 2020? Unfortunately, the rhetoric is about being a developed nation. But the actual statistics tell another tale.

With a huge civil service which is unproductive and high debts resulting in heavy debt servicing costs, the Malaysian government will resort to privatise more essential services without subsidies. And these will add more financial burden on the people. And the vicious cycle becomes even more frequent, and faster, strangling the rakyat further. Indeed, let them eat cake… with less sugar.

____

S RAMAKRISHNAN is a former senator.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 3 January 2014, 11:58 am and is filed under
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Umno Baru’s Ten Commandments

by Mariam Mokhtar

Malaysiakini

Dec 30, 2013

Verse 2:256 in the Quran states that “there is no compulsion in religion”, but in Malaysia, which boasts the best democracy in the world, forced conversions are de rigeur and words like ‘Allah’ are copyrighted for the exclusive use of Muslims.

Malaysian Christians (and non-Muslims) are at the mercy of the country’s religious zealots but Najib Abdul Razak, the prime minister for 47 percent of the nation’s population, is too timid or too scared to smooth tensions between the different communities. He claims that what he does is in the name of peace and harmony. What would happen if he meant to create disorder and chaos?

In this Christmas period, I hope you will forgive me for adapting ‘The Ten Commandments’ to critique Umno Baru leaders and to raise awareness about the importance of tolerance. One needs respect and understanding to live harmoniously. One should be protected by the right of religious freedom, as enshrined in the constitution of Malaysia; but the reality is that most of our freedoms are being eroded.

The following Ten Commandments of Umno Baru explain the decline in spirituality of Umno Baru members.

First Commandment: Thou shalt worship Umno Baru

(Thou shalt have no other gods before me)

When Umno Baru dictates, you obey. Only Umno Baru can “protect” the Malay race, Islam and the King. Sane Malaysians ask “Protect from whom or what?” but the answers are not forthcoming.

Blind allegiance means that the more simple minded members of the rakyat will soon face their day of ill-judgement. They will discover that despite Umno Baru’s promises made at GE13, price hikes will make them feel they are living in a hell on earth.

Second Commandment:  Thou shalt idolise the leader of Umno Baru

(Thou shalt not make for yourself an idol)

In 2011, Najib Abdul Razak’s image on soft drink cans caused a drop in sales and the company responsible was forced to withdraw the cans from sale and issue a grovelling apology.

Posters of Najib adorning the pillars and sides of KTM Komuter trains allegedly caused much anger among the cleaners because they had to clear more than the normal amount of spittle. KTM officials allegedly spent several thousand ringgits replacing broken windows because bricks often missed their targets.

Student Adam Adli, who removed a flag bearing Najib’s image, was charged with alleged sedition. Why can’t divine retribution be as swift as the one received by those who oppose Umno Baru?

Third Commandment: Thou shalt be charged with sedition

(Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord God in vain)

Using the word ‘Allah’ without proper authorisation can result in a charge of sedition. Non-Malays could do one of two things to freely use ‘Allah’; Convert to Islam. Go to Sabah or Sarawak.

If you are non-Malay, don’t read the word ‘Allah’ out loud as this could be deemed seditious.

Showing dissent consumes many police man-hours. At a Suara Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) forum this May, Adam Adli expressed his disappointment over the electoral process at GE13. Five days later, 10 policemen were sent to arrest him for alleged sedition.

Be warned because any opposition to Umno Baru is viewed as a personal slight by the IGP. Umno Baru want the rakyat to stop thinking. It would help if we were all brain-dead, like most of the Umno Baru politicians.

Fourth Commandment: Thou shalt not gather to celebrate any day

(Remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy)

Joining street parties or rallies to celebrate special days, like Merdeka, Valentine’s Day or New Year’s eve, in the spirit of fun and merry-making, means that the reveller risks being charged with sedition and toppling the government.

The Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) stipulates that no one can protest within 500 metres of a fire hydrant. Has anyone noticed the proliferation of thousands of hydrants in towns and cities lately, doubtless all supplied by a crony company, at inflated prices and great cost to the taxpayer?

Fifth Commandment: Honour the Malays and Utusan, the messenger of Umno Baru

(Honour thy father and mother)

At the Umno Baru general assembly of December 2012, the Umno Baru Youth information chief, Reezal Merican Naina Merican (left), said “Umno is the party chosen by God to liberate the chosen land of Malaysia and to uplift the chosen race of the Malays… Remember, we are mukhtarin, the chosen ones.”

Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, the women’s minister who is best remembered for her fondness for cows and condominiums, is reported on the Utusan website to have said that God would be with Utusan Malaysia: “Percayalah, pada akhirnya Tuhan akan bersama Utusan”.

How did these two “Melayu Baru” manage to have direct communication with God?

Sixth Commandment: Thou shalt kill

(Thou shalt not kill)

As the Mongolian proverb states, “Least said, soonest mended”. Suffice to say, that sometimes, Umno Baru disciples think that killing is justified because the end justifies the means.

Seventh Commandment: Thou shalt commit adultery

(Thou shalt not commit adultery)

Contrary to popular belief, Umno Baru politicians believe that they work extremely hard. Consequently, they must also play hard. Their alleged choices of “playthings” range from other males, to maids, models and movie starlets. There is nothing that money cannot buy, when affection is absent.

Eighth Commandment: Thou shalt steal from the rakyat

(Thou shalt not steal)

Being in power means that one must make use of the resources available, ie taxpayers’ money. One’s role in government is to cook up new schemes to squeeze more money from the rakyat.

The BR1M scheme generates more money than the millions needed to set it up. Money-making ponzi schemes are easier and more profitable than having to save one’s pocket money from one’s teenage years. A prominent Umno Baru spouse can attest to this.

Ninth Commandment: Thou shalt lie

(Thou shalt not lie)

How else could Umno Baru convince the rakyat to do its every bidding? In a few months, the gullible 47 percent will realise their folly. By GE14, these same people will again fall for the same lies. Only a miracle may change things around.

If one had to go to court, one need not lie. Just feign forgetfulness. One Umno Baru demi-god did it and it worked.

Tenth Commandment: Thou shalt covet everything that does not belong to you

(Thou shalt not covet anything that belongs to thy neighbour, including his wife.)

Isn’t it amazing that the more the non-Malay succeeds, the more the Malays are angered and left feeling dissatisfied? The Malays retaliate by demanding more concessions or perks. Being deprived spurs those who are left with very little, to make the most out of things. It hardens them and encourages them to become stronger, to survive. At the same time, this creates a vicious cycle.

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army and president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO).

                This entry was posted on Friday, 3 January 2014, 7:42 am and is filed under
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IGP Khalid should explain why the police aided and abetted in the illegal/unconstitutional Jais raid on BSM when it is the first duty of the police to protect the constitution and uphold the law

The Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar should explain why the police aided and abetted in the illegal and unconstitutional Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) when it is the first duty of the police to protect the constitution and uphold the law.

Instead of tarnishing the police image and professionalism with “fairy tale” conspiracies like a plot to “topple the government” on New Year’s Eve in Dataran Merdeka, which has been proved to be a total pack of lies, Khalid would be doing something productive to restore public confidence in the independence, efficiency and professionalism of the police force if he could explain and convince Malaysians that the police had not aided and abetted Jais in an illegal and unconstitutional act.

There is no doubt that without police back-up, Jais’ illegal and unconstitutional raid of BSM and the seizure of over three hundred copies of Malay and Iban Bibles would not have taken place.

Didn’t the police have the proper constitutional knowledge and legal advice that it is unlawful and unconstitutional to trample on the rights of all Malaysians in the exercise of their fundamental constitutional rights with regard to freedom of religion?

Is the police ignorant and unaware that the Jais raid of the MBS and seizure of the Malay and Iban Bibles would be gross  violation of the 10-Point Solution to end the Bible controversy?

For the information of Khalid, Jais and Malaysians in general, the 10-Point Solution to the Bible controversy which was endorsed by the Cabinet in April 2011 is as follows:

1. Bibles in all languages can be imported into the country, including Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia.

2. These Bibles can also be printed locally in Peninsula Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. This is a new development which should be welcomed by the Christian groups.

3. Bibles in indigenous languages of Sabah and Sarawak such as Iban, Kadazan-Dusun and Lun Bawang can also be printed locally and imported.

4. For Sabah and Sarawak, in recognition of the large Christian community in these states, there are no conditions attached to the importation and local printing of the Bibles in all languages, including Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia and indigenous languages. There is no requirement for any stamp or serial number.

5. Taking into account the interest of the larger Muslim community for Peninsula Malaysia, Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia, imported or printed, must have the words “Christian Publication” and the cross sign printed on the front covers.

6. In the spirit of 1Malaysia and recognising that many people travel between Sabah and Sarawak and Peninsula Malaysia, there should be no prohibitions and restrictions for people who bring along their Bibles and Christian materials on such travel.

7. A directive on the Bible has been issued by the ketua setiausaha (KSU) of the Home Ministry to ensure proper implementation of this cabinet decision. Failure to comply will subject the officers to disciplinary action under the General Orders. A comprehensive briefing by top officials, including the attorney-general (AG), will be given to all relevant civil servants to ensure good understanding and proper implementation of the directive.

8. For the impounded Bibles in Kuching, Gideon, the importer can collect all the 30,000 Bibles free of charge. We undertake to ensure the parties involved are reimbursed. The same offer remains available for the importer of the 5,100 Bibles in Port Klang, which have already been collected by the Bible Society Malaysia (BSM) last week.

9. Beyond the Bible issue, the government wishes to reiterate its commitment to work with the Christian groups and all the different religious groups in order to address inter religious issues and work towards the fulfilment of all religious aspirations in accordance with the constitution, taking into account the other relevant laws of the country. In order to bring urgency to this work, the prime minister will meet the representatives of the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) soon to discuss the way forward.

10. The Christian ministers in the cabinet will meet on a regular basis with representatives of the various Christian groups in order to discuss their issues and work with the relevant ministries and PM in order to resolve them.

As the Jais raid of BSM and the seizure of the Malay and Iban Bibles were illegal, unconstitutional and against both the word and spirit of the 10-Point Solution, will Khalid apologise for the police action in aiding and abetting Jais in the commission of illegal and unconstitutional acts as well as giving an undertaking that the police will henceforth cease to aid and abet Jais or any other Islamic authorities in the commission of illegal and unconstitutional acts openly against both the word and spirit of the 10-Point Solution?

Point 7 of the 10-Point Solution gave an undertaking that disciplinary action under the General Orders would  taken against officers for their  failure to comply with the cabinet decision and ensure its proper implementation.

How many government officers are being hauled up under the General Orders for the  violation of the 10-Point Solution in the illegal and unconstitutional Jais raid on BSM and seizure of Malay and Iban Bibles?

It was also provided that “A comprehensive briefing by top officials, including the attorney-general (AG), will be given to all relevant civil servants to ensure good understanding and proper implementation of the directive”.

Has this been done, and is this an on-going exercise, and if so, how could the illegal and unconstitutional raid by Jais, fully aided and abetted by the police, take place on the second day of 2014?

Point 10 of the 10-Point Solution committed “the  Christian ministers in the cabinet to meet on a regular basis with representatives of the various Christian groups in order to discuss their issues and work with the relevant ministries and PM in order to resolve them”.

Why had this not been done or the outrage of the illegal and unconstitutional Jais raid of BSM and seizure of Malay and Iban Bibles on 2nd January 2014 would not have taken place.

The country is still waiting for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, in particular the Christian Ministers, to speak up as to whether the 10-Point Solution is still valid or whether it has become a dead letter.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 4 January 2014, 11:43 am and is filed under
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Muhyiddin should apologise for and retract his support for Selangor UMNO’s plan to protest outside Catholic churches, which is most unbecoming of a DPM of multi-religious Malaysia

The Police is to be commended for its swift action in assuring safety to the editor of the Catholic weekly the Herald Father Lawrence Andrew following intimidation from Muslim groups intending to stage a protest outside a church in Klang.

What must be deplored by all right-thinking Malaysians is irresponsible support given by the Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, for Selangor UMNO’s plan to protest outside Catholic churches tomorrow.

Is Muhyiddin advocating and countenancing a “free for all” for protest demonstrations in Malaysia outside all places of worship, including protest demonstrations outside mosques in the country?

This is utterly unthinkable and downright irresponsible.

Instead of helping to cool off the temperature in the country, Muhyiddin is doing his incendiary best to further inflame the situation caused by a most inept and insensitive handling of a delicate issue, which had never been an issue in the first half-century of the country’s nationhood.

Muhyiddin should apologise for  and retract his support for Selangor UMNO’s plan to protest outside Catholic churches, which is most unbecoming of a Deputy Prime Minister  of multi-religious Malaysia.

Muhyiddin’s support for protests by Umno Selangor outside Catholic churches tomorrow is even more irresponsible and deplorable than his notorious statement four years ago rejecting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia policy by declaring that he was “Malay first, Malaysian second”.

I shudder to think what type of a model of a Malaysian citizen  Muhyiddin is holding forth for the over five million primary and secondary students in the country –  an Education Minister who regards himself as “Malay first,  Malaysian second” and who supports protest demonstrations by Muslims outside Catholic Churches in multi-religious Malaysia!

Right-thinking Malaysians are entitled to ask the Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional government what type of a Malaysian nation they are seeking to create in Malaysia with such a role model set by the Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister!

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 4 January 2014, 9:51 am and is filed under
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Muhyiddin should heed Najib’s New Year Message to be “responsible in government” and “doing what is right, not what is popular”

One wonders whether the Deputy Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and the Barisan Nasional/UMNO leaders read or pay any attention to the carefully-crafted speeches of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, especially those preaching responsibility, moderation, inter-racial harmony and national unity.

I wish to call on the Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to give some thought to the New Year message of the Prime Minister which is less than four-days old.

In the conclusion of his 2014 New Year Message, Najib said:

“If we are to be responsible in government, it sometimes means taking difficult decisions which are unpopular. Leadership is about looking to the long-term: about doing what is right, not what is popular..”

Muhyiddin should heed Najib’s New Year Message to be “responsible in government” and “doing what is right, not what is popular”.

If he had done so, he would not have egged on UMNO Selangor by giving it public support to its plan to hold protest demonstrations outside Catholic churches tomorrow.

But Muhyiddin chose to ignore Najib’s injunction of  “doing what is right, not what is popular” and instead of directing UMNO Selangor to act as a responsible political party and not to incite racial and religious tensions and hatred, he gave UMNO Selangor his “blessings” for the confrontational and provocative plan to hold demonstrations outside Catholic churches tomorrow – an action no political party claiming to be responsible and patriotic would ever do.

I am glad good sense and reason have finally prevailed and UMNO Selangor has cancelled its planned demonstration outside a Klang church tomorrow – but this is  “no thanks” to Muhyiddin but was the  result of legitimate and overwhelming public pressures from all right-thinking Malaysians transcending race, religion or class  who feel very strongly that what Selangor UMNO was planning to do  was completely outside the pale of acceptable civilised behaviour for any political party, NGO or citizen in a plural society like Malaysia.

Muhyiddin has failed miserably the test of “doing what is right, not what is popular”, forfeiting the  claim to be a Malaysian statesman as he remained only as an Umno opportunist.

It is most unfortunate however that although Selangor UMNO has backed off, other Muslim groups including those linked to Selangor UMNO leaders have vowed to continue with their planned demonstrations.

It is no use Selangor UMNO calling off its planned demonstration while outsourcing it to proxies – which was what Umno had been doing in their special relationship with Perkasa in the past four years.

Muhyiddin must redeem his major failure as Deputy Prime Minister of a multi-religious nation by conveying in the strongest and most convincing terms to  all groups and individuals that there should be no protest demonstrations outside places of worship, whether mosque, church or temples in a multi-religious nation like Malaysia.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 4 January 2014, 4:58 pm and is filed under
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Muslim-Christian ties deteriorate while extremists celebrate

by Sheridan Mahavera

The Malaysian Insider

January 04, 2014

What’s up with the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais)?  This seems to be the catch-all phrase when describing its raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia office on Thursday where some 300 Bahasa Malaysia and Iban Bibles were seized.

And the more some leaders and pundits struggle to come up with answers through the fog of silence that shrouds Jais, the more it looks like “politics” instead of “law” emerges as an explanation.

This latest incident also highlights (again) the persistent contradictions and problems in the ruling Barisan Nasional’s (BN) handling of the “Allah” issue.

Also, it reflects a deep gap in the understanding of Islam, not just among Muslims, but also the authorities who are supposed to be in charge with regulating its practice.

A cursory look at the case and the 1988 Selangor enactment that was used by Jais to justify the raid reveals some problems, a law expert told The Malaysian Insider.

Associate Professor Dr Azmi Sharom said that the enactment, which prohibits the use of 35 Arabic words and phrases, including “Allah” and “nabi” by non-Muslims, was to prevent proselytisation or attempts to convert Muslims.

This is evident in the title of the enactment itself: Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation among Muslims) Enactment 1988.

“Books lying in a building are not evidence of proselytisation, even if they contain the term ‘Allah’,” said Azmi of Universiti Malaya.

To prove proselytisation, there has to be an act of one person giving the Bible to another with the expressed intent to convert, he added.

But even such an act can be challenged.

“Anyone can still go into a bookstore to buy a Bible. Muslims can also read the Bible if they need to study it. So how is Jais going to make this distinction?”

Azmi also pointed out that there was no federal law banning the use of “Allah” in Christian holy books.

The October 14, 2013 decision by the Court of Appeal to affirm the home minister’s right to ban the use of the term “Allah” by Christians only applies to the Catholic weekly Herald.

As had been pointed out on numerous occasions by politicians and lawyers, Bibles of all languages, including Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia, could still be imported and used in the country.

The term “Allah” appears in Bahasa Malaysia Bibles widely used by the Christian Bumiputera communities of Sabah and Sarawak, who worship in Bahasa Malaysia.

Also, it was unclear whether Jais, as an organisation that regulated the practice of Islam, has any jurisdiction against non-Muslims, said Azmi.

“Going by the reports, Jais did not even have a warrant to conduct the raid.”

For PAS leader Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa, Jais’ contradicting behaviour in the raid further tarnished the image of Islam among non-Muslims.

“Unless Jais comes up with firm evidence that Christians were propagating to Muslims, then the whole raid was an act of stupidity and ignorance.”

And instead of promoting “true” Islam he said, the authority which was supposed to regulate the faith, risked further confusing Muslims themselves.

“When there is misunderstanding, people in the extreme right take advantage the issue,” said Mujahid, who is also Parit Buntar MP.

Mujahid has been actively going around churches to explain the “Allah” ruling on the Herald and how the decision did not reflect true Islam.

As he and other PAS leaders have consistently argued, “Allah” cannot be a term exclusive only to Muslims.

However, both he and the party agree with the Federal Constitution’s ban on preaching to Muslims.

Just as Jais has to clear the air on the raid, Christian leaders, Mujahid argued must come out strongly and state that there has been no intention of converting Muslims.

Although Jais’ motives are still unclear, their effect on Muslims and Christians are not.

Christians are livid while Muslims, such as Azmi, Mujahid and prominent preacher Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin are shaking their heads in disbelief.

The only ones elated by the whole episode were the Malay supremacists and right-wingers, said Mujahid, such as Perkasa, Isma and elements within Umno.

Though these groups have insisted that the ban on “Allah” was to protect the sanctity of the faith, Mujahid argued that it was a stand taken more out of political interest.

Mujahid’s and PAS’ position on Allah has been echoed and supported by numerous well-regarded Muslim scholars worldwide.

Christian communities in the Middle East and in Indonesia continue to use “Allah” with no prohibitions.

It is a mystery as to why officers and experts within institutions such as Jais and ministers in the BN government continue to differ with world opinion on the use of “Allah”.

After all, if Malay Muslims can still be confused by the use of “Allah” by Christians, then what have they been learning for 11 years in primary and secondary school?

Wouldn’t they have learnt something as basic as this in all those compulsory classes? So that when Malay Muslims reach adulthood, they know Islam and its relation to the other Abrahamic faiths, such as Christianity and Judaism?

And if Malay Muslims are so vulnerable to be led astray can Umno – which has been responsible for religious education for the past 50 years – claim that it has really served the interests of Malay Muslims?

“If there is true ignorance, we can explain to them (Malay Muslim authorities),” Mujahid said. “But I feel the motives (behind not solving the ‘Allah’ issue amicably) are determined by emotions and politics.” – January 4, 2014.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 4 January 2014, 7:33 am and is filed under
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Politics and religion a tinderbox of tension

Anisah Shukry |	 January 3, 2014

Free Malaysia Today

Malaysia’s leaders and Islamic scholars are just using Islam to serve their own interests, says former Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia would be better off separating religion from politics, rather than using matters of the faith as a tool to crackdown on political dissent, said former Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin.

Weighing in on Harussani Zakaria’s statement that those who protested at the New Year’s Eve anti-hike rally were bughah (traitors), Mohd Asri said he was disgusted at the blatant misuse of religion by “so-called scholars”.

“Religion has been used as a political weapon to the point that an announcement was made permitting the bloodshed of the weak. I’m not asking for separation of religion from politics, because that is not a habit of Islam.

“But at the same time, if religion is merely used as a weapon to serve political interests, it is better for the two to be separated,” the Islamic scholar wrote on his blog drmaza.com yesterday.

Harussani, who is the mufti of Perak, reportedly said yesterday that it was haram (forbidden) for Muslims to participate in the mass protest against the rising cost of living.

“…all the protestors should be arrested for being traitors to the government and accordingly in Islam, bloodshed is permitted on the bughah,” Harussani was quoted by Malay daily Berita Harian.

Similarly, Kelantan mufti Mohammad Shukri Mohamad said activities that upset the peace and security of the country were a violation of the Islamic code.

But going against the grain, Mohd Asri said that while certain quarters may disagree with the protest, it did not justify calling for innocent blood to be shed.

“They are supposedly bughah, and are allowed to be killed. When in fact, bughah is a term that has its own definition and context.

“You cannot label as bughah the people who gather without weapons. In this context, how can these people who pay taxes and follow the country’s laws be called bughah?” he asked.

Double standard

Mohd Asri noted the double standard at play in Malaysia, with Islamic scholars urging the rakyat to be grateful and not be wasteful, yet at the same time neglecting to preach the same to the people in power.

“The question is, are God’s words only aimed at the lower class? While the upper class – whether they be sultans or menteris – are immune to the laws?” he asked.

Mohd Asri said this hypocrisy was also apparent in how opponents of the anti-price hike rally had suddenly kicked up a fuss over the fact that protesters had performed their prayers while still in their shoes.

“It is not a big issue; In fact, Muslims are allowed to pray with their shoes on if their shoes are clean. However, it has become an issue because of political interests.

“How many people attend concerts in the country, and no one knows for sure if they even perform their prayers? This was never an issue for our ‘political scholars’, but now praying in shoes has become an issue.”

Mohd Asri stressed that while combining politics with Islam could have a positive impact and was ordained by Allah and Prophet Muhammad, it could also be disastrous to the religion.

“It all depends on who is in charge of combining religion and politics. His intention will determine the results of combining the two,” said Mohd Asri.

He said that combining  politics and religion to solidify one’s political position, as was the case in Malaysia, would only destroy Allah’s name and religion.

“Religion will only become a tool to serve leaders’ interests and every interpretation will have the interests of the politicians’ at heart.”

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 4 January 2014, 7:49 am and is filed under
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Hello, PM, Malaysia needs you to act now

Zaid Ibrahim

The Malaysian Insider

January 04, 2014

Dear prime minister,

If I were still a member of parliament, I would table a motion of no confidence in you.

The Speaker would probably reject it even before it could be debated and votes counted, but I would do it anyway.

Your indifferent silence and total lack leadership on the “Allah” issue is bringing this country to the brink of catastrophe, one that neither you nor the government will be able to pull us back from once it is too late. The clock is ticking.

It is not my intention to ridicule you, for you have my utmost respect, but what else can be done to move you to act and manage the dangerous situation we are in at this moment?

This cannot be allowed to continue because there are elements, real troublemakers, who will bring turmoil to our peace-loving people.

You must first recognise that this is the most difficult, volatile and dangerous issue the country has ever had to deal with.

Never before has a conflict of this gravity been allowed to fester for 30 years with no solution in sight.

The problem did not start with you, but under your charge, it has reached the stage of implosion.

The animosity between Muslims and Christians has reached fever pitch and unless it is managed promptly and with sensitivity, the outcome will be grave for the whole country.

You may think that so long as the majority of Muslims in Tanah Melayu are kept appeased, the problem will disappear. You are wrong. The problems are more serious than you think.

The whole of the Federation of Malaysia will implode Mr Prime Minister, if nothing is done.

The people expect you to do something beyond spouting rhetoric to an Umno audience.

Like I said before, convene a meeting of the Rulers’ Council. Call for a meeting of the Council of Churches. Offer them something that all good leaders do: peaceful alternatives.

Talking to one another is the way civilised communities conduct themselves. Leaders who inflame the situation must be hauled up and discipline imposed on the rabble-rousers.

That is what you must do, because that is what leaders do.

The act of confiscating Bibles by an institution of the state is not carried out anywhere else in the modern world – this surely should alert you that something has gone out of control.

You must remind the country that you are the leader and that there is no one else. You must order a stop to such actions and if Jais does not accept your orders, then you must act accordingly.

We are facing an issue of public order and national security and you, as a leader,  must recognise this and be prepared to act.

There are maybe just three million Christians in the country but believers and followers of other faiths are also watching how this situation develops.

The whole world is watching us, and it is watching how you deal with this.

You may be a moderate to David Cameron and Barack Obama, but the real test of your mettle is in your ability to find a peaceful solution to the problem in hand and not make Malaysia a news item like Central African Republic or South Sudan.

You have to act now.

This is not the time for false courage and saving face.

A century ago, Franz Ferdinand declared that the Weimar Republic would not be treated like a “second-rate power”.

Then British prime minister Lloyd George was equally vehement that Britain would not let any other power dictate the politics of Europe.

The protagonists would not back down and when Ferdinand was assassinated the bloodbath began.

Millions died and entire European civilisations were left in tatters. All because no one wanted to look second rate and no one wanted to back down. There were no leaders in Europe then, only those who wanted to save face.

In this conflict in Malaysia today, both sides are full of emotions. They need cool heads to temper their actions.

They need someone to bring them together. Here, the prime minister needs to summon all the strength he has and provide a peaceful solution to the problem.

This is what the country urgently expects from his leadership. – January 4, 2014.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 5 January 2014, 2:15 am and is filed under
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Najib should ask first Cabinet meeting of the year to endorse the 10-Point Solution as well as Summit of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat leaders on National Reconciliation to rebuild National Unity

Malaysia has never been in more dire straits in more than half-a-century of nationhood going by the avalanche of challenges and problems  confronting the the nation and people even before the first week of the new year is over.

Heralding in the 2014 New Year, the country was convulsed for two weeks by the  Inspector-General of Police’s “fairy tale” plot of a conspiracy to “topple the government” on New Year’s eve in Dataran Merdeka just because there are Malaysians who want to exercise their constitutional rights of peaceful protest against the series of price hikes which would add to the economic hardships of the people.

As a result, the police wasted over 2,000 police man-hours over some 2,000 police reports  lodged by trouble-makers all over the country who wanted to exploit the “fairy-tale” plot of a “topple government” conspiracy, when these precious 2,000 police man-hours could be more productively spent on making the Malaysians, investors and tourists safer from crime in Malaysia.

Malaysians entered the new year totally clueless about the national educational crisis of deteriorating standards, highlighted by the poor performance of Malaysians students in the 2012 PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) results, which confirmed the poor results of Malaysian students in the 2011 TIMSS (Trends in International Maths and Science Study).

As a result, the Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin spent the whole of last month avoiding comment on the poor performance of Malaysian students in the 2011 TIMSS and 2012 PISA, for they showed up the impractical and utopian objective of Malaysian students  performing multiple educational miracles so that Malaysia can catapult from the bottom-third to the top-third of  TIMSS/PISA international educational assessments when in fact Malaysian educational standards have been heading southwards in the past decade.

Also as a result, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak shied away from comment on the 2011 TIMSS  and 2012 PISA results and deteriorating educational standards in the country, and was reduced to re-tweeting Deputy Education Minister Mary Yap Kain Ching’s post on the Malaysian Education Blueprint – that the government will do all it can to ensure that initiatives under the blueprint will be fulfilled.

Imagine the Prime Minister having to re-tweet the Deputy Education Minister on the government’s education plans for the new year – as if the country has no Education Minister, when in fact we have two: Deputy Prime Minister who is also Education Minister as well as the second Education Minister Idris Jusoh.  A most sad and pathetic state of

governance in Malaysia.

Most shocking of all, the new year started with the illegal and unconstitutional raid by Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) of the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) and seizure of Malay and Iban Bibles – which would not have taken place if the illegal and unconstitutional trespass had not  been aided and abetted by the police.

This is why I had yesterday asked the Inspector-General of Police why the police had aided and abetted Jais in the illegal and unconstitutional act, which also violated the 10-Point Solution to resolve the Bible controversy which was endorsed by the Cabinet in April 2011 anf there has been no reply from the IGP.

The country has been moving in the wrong direction all these years under the Najib premiership, with this year the worst of all.

It is for this reason that I call on Najib to ask the first Cabinet meeting of the year  next Wednesday to endorse the 10-Point Solution as well as for a Summit of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat leaders on National Reconciliation to rebuild National Unity.

This is the time for all Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat leaders to rise above political differences and work in unision to rebuild national unity through a national reconciliation blueprint.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 5 January 2014, 9:35 am and is filed under
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Apakah Umno telah berubah daripada sebuah parti pembina negara menjadi parti pemusnah negara dengan sokongan Muhyiddin terhadap protes di luar gereja dan Noh Omar mempertahankan protes Umno Selangor terhadap Kristian?

Peristiwa-peristiwa yang berlaku pada beberapa hari pertama tahun baru 2014 membuatkan rakyat Malaysia berfikir tentang masa depan negara ini.

Salah satu persoalan meresahkan rakyat Malaysia ialah sama ada Umno telah berubah daripada sebuah parti pembina negara menjadi parti pemusnah negara dengan sokongan Muhyiddin terhadap protes di luar gereja dan Noh Omar mempertahankan protes Umno Selangor terhadap Kristian.

Pada hakikatnya, sokongan yang diberikan oleh Muhyiddin dan Noh Omar terhadap tindakan haram dan bertentangan dengan perlembagaan oleh Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (Jais) yang menyerbu Persatuan Alkitab Malaysia (BSM) dengan bantuan penuh Polis membangkitkan persoalan serius tentang keikhlasan, keseriusan, dan komitmen para pemimpin Umno terhadap jaminan asas kebebasan beragama yang diberikan oleh perlembagaan untuk semua rakyat Malaysia, selain Penyelesaian 10 Perkara yang disahkan oleh Jemaah Menteri pada April 2011 untuk mengakhiri kontroversi Alkitab.

Memandangkan tiada siapa dapat menyangkal bahawa serbuan Jais ke atas BSM dan rampasan 300 naskhah Alkitab berbahasa Bahasa Malaysia dan 10 naskhah berbahasa Iban adalah tindakan yang mencabul Penyelesaian 10 Perkara yang disepakati oleh Kerajaan Persekutuan dan masyarakat Kristian pada 2 April 2011 dan ditegaskan menerusi surat rasmi daripada Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak kepada Bishop Ng Moon Hing, pengerusi Persekutuan Kristian Malaysia, pada 11 Paril 2011, maka Muhyiddin dan Noh Omar perlu menyatakan kini sama ada mereka masih menyokong Penyelesaian 10 Perkara atau sama ada mereka tidak mahu terbabit dalam persetujuan itu!

Saya telah menyeru Najib untuk memanggil mesyuarat Jemaah Menteri buat kali pertama tahun ini pada hari Rabu nanti untuk mengesahkan Penyelesaian 10 Perkara kerana menteri seperti Muhyiddin dan Noh Omar yang telah mengesahkan persetujuan itu pada April 2011 nampaknya telah berubah fikiran – seperti yang jelas terlihat pada sokongan mereka terhadap serbuan Jais ke atas BSM dan rampasan Alkitab Melayu dan Iban yang kedua-duanya bertentangan dengan teks dan semangat Penyelesaian 10 Perkara.

Kabinet pasca Pilihanraya Umum ke-13 perlu menyatakan sokongan padu dan tidak berbelah bagi terhadap Penyelesaian 10 Perkara yang telah dipersetujui oleh Perdana Menteri dan Jemaah Menteri pada April 2011.

Muhyiddin perlu menyatakan pendirian jelas memandangkan beliau telah bertindak jauh di luar kandungan dan semangat Penyelesaian 10 Perkara dengan menyokong serbuan haram dan bertentangan perlembagaan oleh Jais dan malah menyokong protes di luar gereja.

Saya mahu menarik perhatian Muhyiddin kepada Perkara 7 dalam Penyelesaian 10 Perkara yang menyebut:

“Arahan dikeluarkan oleh Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Dalam Negeri untuk memastikan isu Injil diimplementasi dengan cara berkesan mengikut keputusan ahli Kabinet. Tindakan disiplin akan diambil terhadap pegawai yang gagal mematuhi peraturan mengikut Perintah-perintah Am. Taklimat akan diberikan oleh pegawai tertinggi kerajaan termasuk Peguam Negara (AG) kepada penjawat awam yang relevan untuk memastikan pemahaman menyeluruh dan pelaksanaan yang mengikut perintah.”

Jika tindakan tata tertib perlu diambil ke atas kakitangan kerajaan yang gagal mematuhi Penyelesaian 10 Perkara, bagaimana pula dengan Menteri yang enggan mematuhi isi penyelesaian tersebut?

Berapa banyak di kalangan Menteri sekarang yang sanggup menyatakan secara terbuka bahawa mereka menyokong sepenuhnya Penyelesaian 10 Perkara yang dicapai pada April 2011?

Patutkah Muhyiddin dibiarkan terus menjadi Timbalan Perdana Menteri dan Menteri Pendidikan apabila beliau secara terbuka bertindak berlawanan Penyelesaian 10 Perkara?

Inilah persoalan yang perlu dijawab oleh Muhyiddin dan Najib.

This article is also available in English at:
https://blog.limkitsiang.com/2014/01/06/has-umno-transformed-from-a-nation-building-to-a-nation-destroying-party-with-muhyiddin-supporting-protests-outside-churches-and-noh-omar-defending-selangor-umno-protesting-against-christians/

                This entry was posted on Monday, 6 January 2014, 5:49 pm and is filed under
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Cadangan pertemuan antara para pemimpin tertinggi Barisan Nasional dan Pakatan Rakyat untuk membincangkan agenda dan pelan induk Perpaduan Nasional bagi membina semula perpaduan

Tahun ini kita akan menyambut ulangtahun ke-50 pembentukan Malaysia yang telah berlangsung pada 16 September 1963.

Amat malang, menyedihkan, dan mengejutkan apabila ancaman terbesar terhadap perpaduan dan solidariti Malaysia sepanjang tempoh 50 tahun pembentukannya timbul pada tahun ini – serbuan haram dan bertentangan dengan perlembagaan oleh Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (Jais) ke atas Persatuan Alkitab Malaysia (BSM) serta rampasan ke atas Alkitab berbahasa Melayu dan Iban kelmarin.

Tidak keterlaluan kalau disebut bahawa serbuan haram dan bertentangan dengan perlembagaan oleh Jais serta rampasan ke atas Alkitab berbahasa Melayu dan Iban itu sebagai tamparan terhebat terhadap perpaduan dan proses pembentukan negara Malaysia yang telah berlangsung selama 50 tahun serta mampu menimbulkan perpecahan, pertelagahan dan malah menggoyangkan negara.

Saya setuju sepenuhnya dengan Persekutuan Kristian Malaysia (CFM) bahawa serbuan dan rampasan ke atas Alkitab berbahasa Melayu dan Iban itu mencabul kebebasan beragama para penganut Kristian yang dijamin oleh perlembahaan dan merupakan “serangan agresif” terhadap hubungan antara agama di Malaysia.

Lebih serius daripada itu, tindakan tersebut amat menjejaskan usaha pembangunan negara yang berlangsung sejak lima dekad yang lalu, menggoncang asas masyarakat Malaysia yang berbilang agama, dan menimbulkan pertanyaan di kalangan rakyat Sabah dan Sarawak sama ada syarat-syarat asasi yang disepakati ketika mereka bersetuju untuk menyertai negeri-negeri Semenanjung – 20 perkara untuk Sabah dan 18 perkara untuk Sarawak – bagi membentuk persekutuan Malaysia serta perjanjian-perjanjian lain yang telah dipersetujui oleh Putrajaya, misalnya Penyelesaian 10 Perkara berkenaan kontroversi Alkitab, akan dipenuhi.

Justeru itulah rakyat Sarawak dan Sabah, termasuk daripada kem Barisan Nasional, memberikan reaksi keras terhadap serbuan haram dan bertentangan dengan perlembagaan oleh Jais ke atas (BSM) serta rampasan ke atas Alkitab berbahasa Melayu dan Iban.

Sebagai contoh, Menteri Pembangunan Tanah Sarawak Tan Sri Dr. James Masing secara tidak berlapik telah mengecam sikap “penakut” dan “berhati-hati secara keterlaluan” para pemimpin kerajaan pusat dalam menangani isu kalimah Allah dengan memperkenalkan “dasar yang tidak munasabah demi memuaskan hati setiap orang.”

Menurut beliau, menteri-menteri Kabinet “seharusnya bersikap berani dalam mengambil pendirian dan memberikan kata putus peraturan keagamaan mana yang perlu dipatuhi oleh rakyat Malaysia.”

Menurut beliau, serbuan itu “menggambarkan sebuah dasar yang tersasar,” dan menegaskan”

“Tidak wajar untuk sebuah negara mengamalkan dua jenis undang-undang keagamaan untuk isu yang sama. Pendekatan ini tidak akan berhasil. Ia tidak mungkin berhasil. Para pemimpin Malaysia perlu memberikan kata putus peraturan keagamaan mana yang perlu dipatuhi rakyat Malaysia.

“Cara ini lebih jelas untuk rakyat Malaysia. Peraturan berkenaan harus diterapkan untuk semua, sama ada bagi yang tinggal di Lubok Antu (di Sarawak), Pulau Penyu (Sabah) atau pun Kuala Perlis.”

Menurut Masing, dasar kerajaan berkenaan isu kalimah Allah tidak berasaskan prinsip, sebaliknya dirumuskan untuk memuaskan hati semua pihak dan ia meningkatkan ketegangan keagamaan dalam negara ini.

Menurut beliau lagi, dasar keagamaan tidak seharusnya berasaskan kepentingan politik.

“Ia mesti berasaskan prinsip keagamaan yang kukuh yang telah ditempa oleh hikmah ilahiah selama berkurun-kurun.”

Masing mengingatkan para pemimpin kerajaan pusat bahawa rakyat Sabah dan Sarawak melakukan perjalanan.

“Mereka ke Semenanjung untuk bekerja. Mana mungkin mereka dibenarkan untuk menggunakan kalimah itu di satu bahagian negara dan dilarang daripada menggunakannya di satu bahagian negara yang lain?”

Masing membangkitkan perkara paling relevan apabila beliau bertanya mengapa penggunaan kalimah itu menjadi satu isu sekarang.

“Mengapa ia menjadi masalah sekarang? Mengapa Muslim di Semenanjung tiba-tiba memegang hak cipta ke atas perkataan tersebut?”

Beliau bertanya sama ada kebebasan beragama yang termaktub dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan telah diketepikan dan digantikan dengan “kebebasan beragama secara terbatas.”

“Apakah kita mempunyai kebebasan beragama atau apakah ia dibataskan kini?”

Di Sabah, bekas Menteri Kabinet dan Presiden UPKO, parti komponen Barisan Nasional, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok telah mengingatkan Kerajaan Persekutuan bahawa serbuan berkenaan bercanggah dengan Perlembagaan Persekutuan dan berlawanan dengan semangat Penyelesaian 10 Perkara yang dicapai oleh kerajaan dan kelompok Kristian serta telah disahkan oleh Kabinet pada April 2011.

Menurut Penyelesaian 10 Perkara yang diumumkan pada tahun 2011 oleh Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Idris Jala, Putrajaya membenarkan Alkitab diimport dalam semua bahasa, termasuk edisi Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia.

Penyelesaian itu juga menyebut bahawa Alkitab boleh dicetak dalam negara di Semenanjung Malaysia, Sabah dan Sarawak.

Saya ingin mengingatkan Najib tentang janjinya dalam Perutusan Tahun Baru tiga hari lalu bahawa dalam tahun baru 2014 rakyat Malaysia tidak lagi akan berpecah-belah dan berselisih seperti pada tahun pilihanraya umum 2013.

Kata Najib:

“Saya percaya Malaysia sudah cukup matang untuk mengharungi debat-debat yang getir. Perpecahan antara kita akan berakhir dengan masa, di mana kita boleh sama-sama melihat negara kita terus membangun dan jadi dewasa, kita juga akan melihat bahawa mereka yang tidak sependapat dengan kita kekal menjadijiran-jiran, rakan-rakan sekerja – dan sahabat-sahabat kita. Namun saya juga percaya bahawa kita harus memperkukuhkan komitmen kita terhadap perpaduan yang selama ini menjadi asas kukuh negara kita.

Kita harus aktif dalam usaha menggapai perpaduan. Kestabilan dan kemajuan kita bergantung kepada tampuk perpaduan ini. Di atas paksi yang sama, saya telah menubuhkan Majlis Perundingan Perpaduan Negara, yang akan melaporkan kepada Jemaah Menteri segala cadangan yang boleh kita lakukan untuk merapatkan lagi rakyat Malaysia.

Tanggungjawab kerajaan – dan keutamaan saya – adalah untuk memastikan keamanan, kestabilan dan kemajuan berterusan kerana masa depan negara bergantung kepada faktor-faktor ini. Membina semula perpaduan negara, dan menggalakkan debat umum yang berlandaskan rasa hormat menjadi sebahagian besar daripada rancangan ini. Apabila tahun baru menjelma, anda akan dapat mengetahui dengan lebih lanjut tentang bagaimana kerajaan akan melaksanakan dasar ini.”

Tiada siapa menaruh harapan tinggi pada Majlis Perundingan Perpaduan Negara untuk memberi sebarang dampak penting, khususnya apabila dalam tempoh kurang daripada 48 jam Perdana Menteri menyampaikan Perutusan Tahun Baru 2014 Malaysia terjerumus ke dalam salah satu babak perpecahan dan pertelagahan paling buruk sehingga menimbulkan persoalan tentang jaminan kebebasan beragama yang diberikan perlembagaan serta semua persoalan hak asasi yang lain.

Perdana Menteri tidak kelihatan dan suaranya tidak kita dengar. Rakyat Malaysia tidak tahu sama ada beliau berada dalam negara atau di luar. Timbalan Perdana Menteri menyimbah minyak ke dalam api, manakala menteri-menteri kabinet semua menyembunyikan diri.

Bukan ini caranya mentadbir negara atau menunaikan janji Najib dalam Perutusan Tahun Baru beliau bahawa rakyat Malaysia akan dapat mengetahui dengan lebih lanjut tentang bagaimana kerajaan akan membina semula perpaduan nasional.

Kerajaan tampaknya hilang punca untuk membina semula perpaduan nasional, maka saya mencadangkan supaya diadakan pertemuan antara pemimpin-pemimpin tertinggi Barisan Nasional dan Pakatan Rakyat untuk membincangkan agenda dan pelan induk Perpaduan Nasional bagi membina semula perpaduan nasional.

Pemimpin-pemimpin tertinggi parti-parti dalam Barisan Nasional dan Pakatan Rakyat perlu bertemu dalam tempoh seminggu dua ini untuk membincangkan agenda dan pelan induk Perpaduan Nasional bagi membina semula perpaduan nasional.

Kini terserah kepada Perdana Menteri dan Jemaah Menteri Barisan Nasional untuk mengambil langkah yang wajar.

This article is also available in English at:
https://blog.limkitsiang.com/2014/01/03/proposal-for-a-meeting-of-barisan-nasional-and-pakatan-rakyat-top-leaders-on-an-agenda-and-blueprint-for-national-reconciliation-to-rebuild-national-unity/

                This entry was posted on Monday, 6 January 2014, 6:28 pm and is filed under
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Dark clouds hovering over SEA democracy

DR BRIDGET WELSH
 | 3:22PM Dec 31, 2013

Malaysiakini

COMMENT  As 2013 draws to a close, it has not been a good year for democracy in South-East Asia. Recent news has riveted on the protests in Thailand, where those dissatisfied with the current leadership of Yingluck Shinawatra and her amnesty provisions have taken to the streets rather than opt for a solution through elections.

Throughout the year, however, there have been worrying signs that the increase of authoritarian practices, intolerance, failings in governance and discontent from the public at large have been on the rise in the region.

While the Philippines celebrated one of the fairest and non-violence legislative elections in its history in May, two of the countries in the region experienced among the worst elections in their history.

In both Malaysia and Cambodia, there were legitimate reports of foreigners voting, blackouts during counts, significant discrepancies in the results, failures to follow basic procedures to assure the professional non-biased handling of ballots and stacking of the decks through the placement of voters in constituencies on deeply problematic electoral rolls.

In both polls, protests dogged the results and even months later, large sections of the population continue to believe that the polls were illegitimate. In Cambodia, the opposition has boycotted parliament, and protests continue. The scope of the irregularities remain serious enough to question the legitimacy of both governments.

It is this very weakness and knowledge that these governments were not elected in free and fair polls that has led to further denials and resistance to reform the institutions regulating elections, the respective election commissions.

In the region, the electoral core of democracy is under threat, with this sowing the ground for extremism, anger and violence. Thailand clearly shows the impact of a loss of faith in the electoral process, which is taking root in other countries as well. The call for genuine electoral reform is more pressing than ever.

Governance deficits

The challenges for democracy are being compounded by governments that have failed to deliver on their promises. For decades, South-East Asia’s stability has rested in part on economic development, as infrastructure and incomes have improved. This process has both slowed and become more uneven since the 1997 Asian financial crisis, with widening inequalities and importantly narrowing opportunities for social mobility.

The dominant strategy has been the use of populist initiatives in cash handouts and subsidies. This practice has extended from Thailand to Indonesia in part because it is easy.

Not only has it placed strains on finances – with the Thai rice subsidy costing billions of dollars – it has failed to achieve its aim of bringing more people towards a sustainable quality livelihood. The impact of programmes, such as  the expanded affirmative action programme – the Bumiputera Economic Empowerment Programme (BEEP) for bumiputeras in Malaysia – has been increased dependence.

This is akin to drug addicts, in which the government gives the beneficiaries a temporary fix rather than fundamentally addressing the core issues of poverty, social mobility and inequality.

A striking feature of the Najib Razak administration has been the complete void in a meaningful development policy. All of these populist “fixes” are being accompanied with rising inflation as the costs of living have sharply risen which has fueled even more dependence. Sadly these populist strategies have ironically contributed to greater inequality, hurting the people that they are supposed to help the most.

As the disconnect between governance and economic empowerment of South-East Asians has evolved, there has been one consistency – corruption. Those at the top are taking from the people without remorse. The entitlement of elites in power is a rot inside the system that perpetuates inequality.

Scandals have riveted the Philippines where nearly 50 senior officials are now under arrest for syphoning funds to bogus NGOs from public development funds, namely the Congress Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). Elsewhere in the region, funds are mysteriously supporting government-linked NGOs without accountability and transparency.

There is a certain degree of numbness that has come from the steady battery of scandalous revelations, as more people across the region are disheartened with the failure of enforcement and legal bodies to impose the rule of law.

Authoritarian practices

This sense of dismay with governance has contributed to the rise of authoritarian nostalgia in the region, with people turning to the ‘good ol’ days’ of the past.

In Indonesia, where ongoing campaigns for the legislative assembly are in full swing, there are calls to return to the Indonesia of old with bumper stickers of Suharto (promoted by his son-in-law and controversial presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto). Prabowo is linked to serious human rights abuses in Timor L’este in 1999. Authoritarian nostalgia is often meshed with nationalistic rabble-rousing dividing the region, and in some cases, societies.

Attacking the ‘other’ has been a common authoritarian practice. Whether over sexuality, religion, race or political affiliation, there has been consistency in the targeting of minorities within countries.

Religious freedom has come centre stage, with many feeling that their right to practice their faith is under threat. This is happening in Malaysia, from Christians to the Shiites.

Similar challenges can be found across the region. Of particular concern is the hate speech by the anti-Muslim 969 movement in Myanmar, with striking parallels to the anti-Christians move in Malaysia who felt it appropriate to recently berate Christians around one of the most sacred holidays.

Governments have stood by and in some cases been involved in the targeting of minorities, especially in their government-linked presses. Intolerance has morphed into practices that lack decency and a basic appreciation of human dignity.

The targeting of minorities is a honed tool to distract attention from deficits in governance and channel the disappointment with policy failures. It sows anger and violence. Sadly, the year has been marked by a rise in violent incidents reflecting a lack of faith in government institutions and growing frustration. Be it the riot in Little India in Singapore or the bombing of the Buddhist temple in Jakarta in August. There are costs to pay for perpetuating indifference, fueling hatred and letting it continue to boil.

Moving forward

The trajectory of democracy is not a linear one. While 2013 may have been difficult for democracy, and it would appear with rising costs, unresolved political polarisation and simmering tensions, these trends are likely to continue, the new year brings the opportunity to learn and regroup.

We must have faith in one another and the shared humanity of all of us across different faiths. We must harness hope, especially among young people whose ingenuity and zeal offers us ideas and energy to address today’s challenges. Finally, we must not let despair overshadow our ability to develop innovative solutions to problem solve.

Amidst the dark clouds, there are those continuing to be pushing for light. The year has seen more ordinary people in Southeast Asia take power into their own hands to call for changes, either at the ballot box or on the streets.

Never underestimate the intelligence of ordinary people. Even in the most challenging environment, the silent majority in the region do not condone the practices of bigotry and violence.

Ironically, it is the very power of these demands for fairness and dignity that are provoking the more authoritarian responses. It is these underlying forces that offer the most promise for the year ahead.

____

DR BRIDGET WELSH is associate professor of political science at Singapore Management University. She can be reached at
[email protected]
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                This entry was posted on Monday, 6 January 2014, 4:59 pm and is filed under
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Five national crisis scorching the country should top the agenda of a National Reconciliation Summit of BN and PR leaders

For ten days between the Christmas National Open House 2013 in Penang on December 25 and the 2014 New Year monthly morning assembly of civil servants in the Prime Minister’s Department this morning, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak disappeared from the public view.

Apart from the 2014 New Year Message on New Year’s Eve, which would have been drafted by his coterie of highly-paid consultants well in advance, there was not a word from the country’s Prime Minister although the country had never swirled and whirled  with more disturbing developments and events which included:

•	The deepening economic crisis caused by a series of price hikes and looming avalanche of more price hikes in the coming weeks and months culminating in the introduction of the GST at six  per cent in April 2015;

•	Crisis of deteriorating national educational standards for the past decade, with the country heading further south with the results of TIMSS 2011 and PISA 2012, and the Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin making himself “scarce” from public to avoid having to “square the circle” of how Malaysian students can perform several educational miracles under the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025 to catapult to top-third of TIMSS and PISA international educational assessments when Malaysian students have continued to plunge in international educational standards;

•	Crisis on the corruption front,  despite the biggest budgets in past few years for the anti-corruption agency, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. In the last 19 years when Transparency International maintained its Corruption Perception Index, Malaysia achieved the dubious distinction as one of the countries which had been downgraded both in TI CPI ranking and score, as well as  losing out to several countries which had lower CPI ranking and score in 1995.

Now, we are at the risk in the near future of being overtaken by countries including China and Indonesia which had been behind Malaysia and  at the bottom of TI CPI in 1995.

•	Crisis of  security and safety for citizens, investors and tourists. The police had failed to achieve the objective and implement the recommendations of the Dzaiddin Police  Royal Commission of Inquiry eight  years ago in 2005 to transform itself into an efficient, independent and professional world-class police service committed to “democratic policing” and not just “regime-protection”, resulting in the recent waste of over 2,000 police manhours over  some 2,000 frivolous and fictitious police  reports about “fairy tale” plots of a conspiracy to “topple government” at Dataran Merdeka on New Year’s Eve.

•	Crisis of nation-building and national unity highlighted by the worst racial and religious polarisation in the nation’s history, which had been further aggravated by two events in the first few days of the new year, (i)  the illegal and unconstitutional raid by Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) of the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) and confiscation of Malay and Iban Bibles; and (ii) the insensitive, racist and unMalaysian responses of UMNO leaders like Muhyiddin who forfeit the right to be  1Malaysia  role models for Malaysians regardless of race, religion or region.

It is sad and regrettable that the Prime Minister has nothing to say on these five national crisis in the past 10 days, except for his New Year Message whose themes of tolerance, moderation and national unity were immediately repudiated  by UMNO/Barisan Nasional leaders headed by none other than DPM Muhyiddin.

Wherever Najib might have gone in the past ten days with the executive jet at his command, it is inconceivable that in this era of instant communications, he has no word of advice or directive in the past ten days to tamp down the various fires scorching the country by  these five national crisis.

It is most disappointing that despite his ten-day disappearance when the leadership and statesmanship of a Prime Minister is most needed, Najib has nothing much to say or offer in his first pronouncement today – despite the promise in his New Year Message that “as the year unfolds”, Malaysians will hear more of the government’s plans to ensure “a stronger economy and a more unified nation”.

The five national crisis affecting the economy, education, corruption, security of citizens and finally nation-building and national unity, are clearly tasks and challenges beyond the capability of the Umno/Barisan Nasional leaders to comprehend, let alone to address and resolve single-handedly.

For this reason, Najib should seek Cabinet approval on Wednesday for a National Reconciliation Summit of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat leaders where these five national crisis scorching the country are the  top items on the agenda.

Najib should respond to this overture and take the initiative to convene the National Reconciliation Summit of BN  and PR leaders to rebuild national unity and resilience in the country.

Artikel ini juga boleh didapati dalam Bahasa Malaysia di:
https://blog.limkitsiang.com/2014/01/06/apakah-umno-telah-berubah-daripada-sebuah-parti-pembina-negara-menjadi-parti-pemusnah-negara-dengan-sokongan-muhyiddin-terhadap-protes-di-luar-gereja-dan-noh-omar-mempertahankan-protes-umno-selangor-t/

                This entry was posted on Monday, 6 January 2014, 4:28 pm and is filed under
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Has UMNO transformed from a nation-building to a nation-destroying party with Muhyiddin supporting protests outside Churches and Noh Omar defending Selangor UMNO protesting against Christians?

The first few days of the 2014 New Year have provided much food for thought for Malaysians concerned about the future of the nation.

One of the question vexing Malaysians is whether UMNO has been transformed from a nation-building to a nation-destroying party with the Deputy Prime Minister and UMNO Deputy President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin supporting protests outside Churches and the Selangor Umno Chief Datuk Noh Omar defending Selangor UMNO protesting against Christians.

In fact, the support given by Muhyiddin and Noh Omar to the illegal and unconstitutional Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) fully aided and abetted by the Police raises the serious question about sincerity, seriousness and commitment of UMNO leaders’ to fundamental and constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion for all Malaysians as well as 10-Point Solution to end the Bible controversy endorsed by the Cabinet in April 2011.

As there is no dispute that the Jais raid on the BSM and the confiscation of the 300 copies of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia and another 10 in Iban is a clear transgression of the 10-Point Solution arrived at between the Federal Government and the Christian community on April 2, 2011, which was reiterated in an official letter from the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to Bishop Ng Moon Hing, chairman of the Christian Federation of Malaysia on April 11, 2011, Muhyiddin and Noh Omar (who was a Cabinet Minister in 2011) must now declare whether they still support the 10-Point Solution or whether they want to dissociate themselves from the accord!

The reason why I had called on Najib to ask the first Cabinet meeting of the year on Wednesday to endorse the 10-Point Solution is because Cabinet Ministers like Muhyiddin and Noh Omar who endorsed it in April 2011 seemed to have changed their minds – which is the only explanation if they could now support the Jais’ raid of  BMS and confiscation of the Malay and Iban Bibles which are both against the letter and spirit of the 10-Point Solution.

Let the Cabinet post-13 General Elections declare that it fully endorses unconditionally and unequivocally the 10-Point Solution adopted by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet in April 2011.

A clear-cut and unequivocal stand from Muhyiddin is also called for when he could stray so far from the letter and spirit of the 10-Point Solution as to give full support to the illegal and unconstitutional trespass by Jais and even to support protests outside  Churches.

I want to draw Muhyiddin’s attention to Point 7 of the 10-Point Solution which states:

“7. A directive on the Bible has been issued by the ketua setiausaha (KSU) of the Home Ministry to ensure proper implementation of this cabinet decision. Failure to comply will subject the officers to disciplinary action under the General Orders. A comprehensive briefing by top officials, including the attorney-general (AG), will be given to all relevant civil servants to ensure good understanding and proper implementation of the directive.”

If disciplinary action must be taken against government officers who flout the 10-Point Solution, what should be the position of Cabinet Ministers who are not prepared to abide by the terms and conditions of the 10-Point Solution?

How many of the present Cabinet Ministers are prepared to announce publicly and unequivocally that they fully endorse the 10-Point Solution of April 2011?

Can Muhyiddin continue as Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister when he acts openly in defiance of the 10-Point Solution?

This is a question for  Muhyiddin as well as Najib  to answer.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 6 January 2014, 9:51 am and is filed under
Constitution
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Muhyiddin Yassin
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Najib Razak
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Religion
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