From the Kajang by-election to the bigger picture, Anwar tells all

by Sheridan Mahavera and Mohd Farhan Darwis

The Malaysian Insider

February 04, 2014

PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is no stranger to controversy. This time, it concerns his party’s attempts to get him elected as a state lawmaker in Selangor by triggering a by-election in the Kajang state seat. Anwar sat down with The Malaysian Insider to reply to criticisms the plan has generated and to tell the public why PKR feels it is justified, despite spending public funds on another electoral exercise.

Q:
 Let’s start with the background on the Kajang by-election. What was the motif behind this? It was a big surprise to your allies in Pakatan, even people in PKR did not know about it. Is it worth all this negative publicity?

A:
 It has been brewing for some time and we have to take into consideration the importance of Selangor, despite the fact that it was well managed and it was given a good and impressive mandate in the last general election.

As a major strategic consideration, we see that Selangor is under tremendous pressure and incessant attack by Umno and BN, including exploiting race and religious sentiments. We therefore feel, together with economic management, that there needs to be political leadership that is effective enough to mobilise and stop these excesses on behalf of the Malays and non-Malays in the state. Enough is enough.

This requires additional force and political clout, and a very strong message. To us it’s consistent with our statement on the national consensus that we cannot allow a small minority to hijack the national agenda and carry out threats to any citizen or group in the name of religion and race.

They are not nationalists; they don’t protect the interest of poor Malays, who are the vast majority of Malays, just the rich cronies. Or portray Islamic ethics well. Look at the manner it is played up and the character of those who profess to have religious leanings. No consideration of basic ethics or morality in the manner they display their arrogance and high handedness in dealing with issues.

We have a major problem in Selangor. This issue of race and religion shows the abdication of the Prime Minister and the government. They are either ignoring this or dismissing this or passing the buck to the state.

Second, economic problems. Inflation and spiralling prices are having a major impact and ramification to the state. It is close to Kuala Lumpur. Folks face hardship.

I think it is time we move to make Selangor a model and convey this strong message of how you govern politically and economically, and this will play when we wrest control of Putrajaya.

Q:
 You mention these incessant attacks. Over the past five years there have been even more attacks by Umno to take over from Pakatan during the first term, and that was adequately dealt with by the Selangor administration at that time. Why do you think you feel that you have to step in?

A:
 I don’t worry about normal political battles. For elections you have campaigns and programmes and ceramahs and handouts. That we can deal with. But here it has transgressed beyond that. They are using the race card and the religious card, even subtle threats. And we see this as something that must be dealt with all firmness to say that Selangor as a state will not accept all these threats and these ultimatums.

Q:
 So you feel that the current Pakatan state administration and its political structure are unable to deal with these threats adequately?

A:
 They have been able to contain these threats for more than six years and that is commendable. But we anticipate and see that this is a trend, and at the behest of the national (BN) leadership (and so) has to be handled likewise by the Pakatan leadership.

Q:
 In a way the “Kajang move” seems to be a very PKR-driven initiative and within your allies in Pakatan there was wide divergence on whether they agree with it. You have DAP agreeing with you, but PAS only agreeing  to the extent of the by-election and some have even criticised it.

A:
 I would not comment on the discipline of each party. They were informed but on hindsight more elaborate discussions should have taken place.

But in any by-election, if it is a PAS seat, it is PAS who decides; if it is DAP, it is DAP who decides. It is only at final stage where you inform the leadership who the candidate is. That has always been the practice.

I concede that when it happens to be Anwar they would want to know what next. Publicly I should have personally informed (DAP secretary-general) Lim Guan Eng and (DAP parliamentary leader) Lim Kit Siang, and (PAS president Datuk Seri) Abdul Hadi Awang. Under normal circumstances it would suffice, but I have a personal working relationship with Guan Eng and I think that he would have expected me to inform him as a friend and as a close colleague.

Q:
 There is this feeling that Anwar is not satisfied with just wanting to be a state lawmaker. There must be something else to this.

A:
 Most of them know the large agenda but I think there are two issues.

First, the focus should be the by-elections, we have to cross that bridge.

Then, in any talk of the change of leadership, you must also know the constitution, the sensitivities, and the need for consensus. And when you accept the role of a constitutional monarch, it is not just a constitutional or legal interpretation. It is a deference, and respect is due to the sultan.

Which means you should not prejudge him as some have done or put it as fait acompli. Even in the event there is a consensus to submit one’s name, then submitting a name for the consideration and assent of his highness is not to be dictated upon but to give him in that space, because that is deference as a Malaysian who understands the role of the monarch.

Probably legal experts will give their constitutional view.  But I am seeing this both in the legal and constitutional aspects, and also in the cultural context of deference. Because the sultan comes with the institution and paraphernalia and trappings of power of a royal institution.

Q:
 Have you made contact with the royal palace?

A:
 Again this is of course not something we share with the public out of deference and respect. There are things you cannot discuss in public. People say you must be transparent but I have discussed this with (PKR president Datuk Seri) Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and I do not necessarily have to share it.

Q:
 When you do win the by-election, are you going to replace Khalid or work with him?

A:
 We will deal with it after the election. Khalid’s role is critical and important based on his track record in economic management, whether in the same position or a different position we’ll see at that point in time.

But I certainly share the view that he must continue to play one role or another to assist the state.

Q:
  If it is Umno you are afraid of, whether it is Selangor or national Umno, you as a federal opposition leader would be better to fight off Umno. Then you can fight Umno in Selangor and in Penang. In Penang, Umno’s racial incitement is even more than in Selangor.

A:
 Not necessarily more but it is there because the Chief Minister is Chinese so they are using that (race) card. In Selangor, it is more a religious issue, like we are not defending the position of Islam. So the Selangor leadership, other than economic management, must do everything possible to ensure that Islam is the religion of the state that the propagation of Islam must be enhanced that we must give all the support necessary.

At the same time, we must also protect the right of non-Muslims to practice their religion and should in no way convey a signal that we are intolerant or discourage their activities. This must be done.

Q:
 So how do you see the Bible raid then? That has made it seem that Pakatan or the Selangor government is not going to go out there and protect the way non-Muslims worship?

A:
 It is more complicated than that. Because we find Najib after abandoning responsibility is putting the blame on Selangor, insisting that Selangor take the necessary position or measure.

I would say that the position and Pakatan Rakyat has not changed on the ‘Allah’ issue. We tabled a statement by Hadi Awang that there was some concerns on words and phrases. But I appealed to non-Muslims in PKR and DAP to go along with the PAS position as Pakatan allows the word ‘Allah’ to be used with some concerns.

Our position has not changed. I think that while promoting Islam we must not convey the message to be seen to be trying to frustrate activities of other religions. This Bible issue is very specific.

Q:
 How would you deal with it then? When you come into the Selangor government.

A:
 I would say that firstly the menteri besar and state government must be fully appraised prior to any case that has religious ramifications. Number two, if this is under the discretion of the sultan, then it is the responsibility of the state to advise and keep the ruler fully appraised of the situation.

The bottom line is that we must not allow action that could be interpreted as something done to sow dissension among communities and religious groups.

I strongly believe that you do not need to distribute the BM version of the bible to Muslim students. You must impose conditions that you must not proselytise, but you must also not give an impression that you do not tolerate their activities. This seems to be the perception and this needs to be rejected.

Q:
 So what should Pakatan Rakyat do with enactments such as Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988, which seems to be the core problem in this issue?

A:
 The enactment has an attachment and the problem is with that. The enactment is for the protection of Muslims from efforts to proselytise but the attachment in terms of the words is generally excessive. I was in Penang speaking to religious scholars when I told them how do you explain a resident on Jalan Masjid who uses Jalan Masjid on his or her address?

So they immediately know the problem. I think this must be addressed. Unlike immediately responding to demands of non-Muslims groups, you must also know about the incessant propaganda among Muslims that has led to some of them to believe that they are under siege.

So we have to address this. Like I told the religious scholars, they say the law is to protect Muslims, but you put there ‘masjid’ for a resident on Jalan Masjid. What is he supposed to do about it? Of course he can’t imagine the government taking action against him. Having said that the law is very clear and you cannot use, you cannot use.

Q:
Like in the Selangor case, the Selangor state anthem has the word ‘Allah’… so does that mean that non-Muslims should not sing the anthem?

A:
 That is what has been raised. The point taken or the position of the Selangor religious department that is the law as it stands. But then the appendix to the law and manner of action is missing. So you have to see whether you should prosecute a person who puts down his address as Jalan Masjid. So far that has not happened. But that is the flaw in the legislation.

Q:
 Since we are on the issue of state leadership how would you respond to the perception that this whole move is to solve a feud between Selangor PKR chief Azmin Ali and Abdul Khalid?

 A:
 All parties have their own problems. Like Umno also has problems in its own party with (former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahatir Mohamad) Mahathir and (Former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin) Daim lashing out at Najib and two ex-umno editors.

We know that but it is not highlighted because the media is controlled by them. But here, yes, there is a problem but they are working together. I get full briefings about the election machinery led by Azmin, and Abdul Khalid is keen to be involved in the election, to be part of the process.

Which means that thisby itself proves that the dissension is exaggerated, but that cannot be a pretext to going in because going in has a larger agenda – making Selangor as bastion of Pakatan Rakyat in its campaign for Putrajaya.

Q:
 The thing about this ‘larger bastion’ argument is that in the past five years, Azmin and Khalid have weathered so many attacks from Umno such as water shortages and the cow’s head protest and pigs heads being thrown into suraus. If the past six years they can handle all this, why can’t they handle it now?

A:
 The question is would you allow this protracted battle to continue or should we just respond, or should we give a strong message that this is wrong. Whether it is against the Muslims, the Hindus and the Christians, we will not tolerate and we will give strong sounding call to end this.

Otherwise you always have problems every few weeks. Even the negotiations over the state water industry is going on for so long it is not resolved. Then you have the cow incident, then the Molotov cocktails and now the bible. This is a major distraction from the work we are doing. We have a strategy to say look we are not going to respond or held captive by this sort of insane propaganda.

Q:
 So what can you bring, what difference can you make here?

A:
 With the huge resources and a track record, we move to enhance the capability, particularly in ensuring a cohesive political force in Pakatan Rakyat, where we are able to mobilise the people of Selangor.

Q:
 Specifically are you going to have more interfaith meetings?

A:
  I won’t go into the details. The focus is on Kajang by-election. But what I mean is that we must move aggressively in this field.

Q:
 Speaking of the by election, BN has said they are going to attack you personally and the sodomy cases will be an issue.

 A:
 It is nothing different since 1998. Has anything changed?

Q:
 Is this going to affect you?

A:
 In 1999, in 2004, in every by-election, whether by DAP or PAS or PKR, or whether I contest or do not contest, the same faces will appear on TV3, probably now with additional allowance. So should we be intimidated by them? This game of politics? I mean where are the Islamic ethics? Where are the Umno ustads or the muftis who have been pronounced in their call for ethics?

They say they are going to deflect from the court cases since when have I entertained this? We must remain focused, what is it to the people? It is economic hardship. It is the abuse of power and corruption. I have refrained in going on personal vendetta. I am focused on the policy issues, on the election commission, on the issue of price, monopoly, GST.

But you have Umno ministers and Umno leaders who are doing this.

Q:
 What about them using PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar’s problems as an issue?

A:
 Is this something new? Of course, for it is quite settled and resolved. It is between her and her husband. But no one is asking is divorce among the Prime Minister or leaders new or odd? Is it something to be debated?

I will not be tempted to be dragged into this… People are not that ignorant. People know. If they open this up, they are opening their books. I will not want to win the Kajang by-election by talking about juicy details of private lives of leaders.

I will focus on development, economic problems, the wastage and welfare of the Kajang people and what the future entails for Selangor. And our commitment to wrest control of Putrajaya.

Q:
 Because you will have all these extra responsibilities as MB, what will happen to your role as Pakatan Rakyat leader?

A:
 I am surprised at this question. Najib is Pekan MP, chairman of BN, president of Umno, chairman of Umno Selangor… why is that not a problem? He can manage all that, if he does. I am sure I can.

Q:
 But he is not a menteri besar at the same time.

A:
 But he is prime minister and chairman of Umno Selangor and president of Umno and MP for Pekan. Why when it comes to Anwar, the Anwar equation is treated differently. Like I put on a Selangor jersey it becomes a problem. You put on a Manchester United jersey or Chelsea one, must you be from Manchester?

Q:
 When you become Menteri Besar, many of your programmes will be concentrated in Selangor… so how are you going to get votes for Pakatan from Johor, Sabah and Sarawak?

A:
 of course I will go to Johor. I am MP for Permatang Pauh and opposition leader… I travel. Yes I have an added responsibility, It is how you can effectively delegate your responsibility and manage your affairs efficiently. We have a team of young capable leaders at the state and within Pakatan and the national level.

Q:
 So this is where Khalid will come in to be part of your team?

A:
 Khalid and also some other younger leaders. We have to prepare the state with PKR, PAS and DAP. Naturally I chair press conferences but many don’t realisze there are secretary-generals of parties, director of elections, strategy team. All delegated to work and some of the campaigns are delegated to them.

Q:
 How you are going to deal with different views like Selangor PAS who wants their own MB?

A:
 It is ok. We are not Umno that millstone of greatness. I am sure there are different views but I say ok, so long as we reach a consensus. But there were some statements here and there. But in the by-election we are all committed and gung-ho.

I was in Kajang on Friday with Khalid and Azmin and the entire machinery of PAS was there at the mosque contrary to all media concerns I was pleasantly surprised the entire PKR and PAS machinery was there. They said the DAP was not there but this was inside the mosque during prayers.

Q:
 So if we see this cohesive team with Khalid and Azmin, is this a reflection  of the team that is going to lead Selangor – Azmin, Khalid and Anwar?

A:
 We cross this bridge first. In that team, Anwar has to win first and you know me. My experience in politics is I do not take chances. I do not think take things for granted. I am going to work hard to appeal to the people of Kajang. I am just a humble servant and I need their help and support.

And I say, if you read Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian or watch TV3 , then I am in dire straits.

Rajmohan Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Ghandi, once told me that Indian politics is quite dirty. But when he saw Malaysian politics he was sorry to say that it is dirtier. Because of what the Malaysian media portrays. In India the media does not operate that way. They still have some ethical standards because there the media is free. Here there is control, there are instructions.

So although Najib responded to the national consensus, there were instructions to demonise and attack my character.

Q:
 Does being an MB, in your opinion, help train you and position you in that path towards becoming prime minister?

A:
 It is not personal.  It is about making Selangor evolve as a moderate state and to put a stop to these excessive attacks by Umno and ready to mobilise Selangor and its hinterlands. After all they call it the Klang valley, it is not the Kuala Lumpur valley.

Q:
 That is what people are saying if you want to make Putrajaya a base, then you need votes from Johor, Sabah and Sarawak. All the votes in Selangor are basically in Pakatan’s hands.

A:
 It is not just the votes of Selangor. But by delivering and getting people to see that livelihoods, transportation, education and to put a check that it is not a state that you can bully. – February 4, 2014.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 4 February 2014, 10:39 am and is filed under
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Najib  should invite Teresa Kok to screen her “Onederful Malaysia CNY 2014” and  give proper translation of the Cantonese-Mandarin dialogue and background at the Cabinet meeting tomorrow before more UMNO Ministers make fools of themselves

Another UMNO Minister has jumped into the fray over DAP MP for Seputeh Teresa Kok’s 11-minute video “Onderful Malaysia CNY 2014”, another UMNO leader to make a fool of himself as if he understands Cantonese and Mandarin, the languages used in the video dialogue.

He is none other than the Minister for Communications and Multimedia Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, who weighed in on the subject today, denouncing Teresa’s satirical Chinese New Year video “unbecoming of a leader” and deploying a string of derogatory ephithets for the video: “annoying”, “more nauseating”, “more disgusting”.

How does Ahmad Shabery know? Has he suddenly understood Mandarin and Cantonese, or was it based on hearsay, and biased and prejudiced hearsay by MCA or Gerakan leaders?

The first UMNO leader who tried to get political mileage from Teresa’s video is  the Minister for Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal who accused Teresa’s video of lampooning the Malaysian security forces and the Lahad Datuk intrusion tragedy which saw the loss of lives among soliders and policemen.

Shafie succeeded in getting the police to swing into immediate action within hours with the Police Internal Security and Public Order director Datuk Seri Salleh Mat Rashid declaring that Teresa’s video clip would be investigated for sedition and defamation.

In actual fact, Teresa’s video did not lampoon the security forces as it did not make any mention of the security forces or the  Lahad Datuk incursion tragedy.

This is a simple, open-and-shut case.

This is why I invited Shafie yesterday  to a public get-together with Teresa and he could come with his experts and advisers so that his team could publicly point out where the security forces or the Lahad Datu intrusion tragedy had been the subject of ridicule by the video satire.

I am not surprised that Shafie has kept his silence because he had been caught red-handed making a fool of himself saying something he knows nothing about – unless he knows Mandarin and Cantonese to understand the video dialogue, which would make him even more culpable as deliberately telling a lie.

At present, we can only say that Shafie was foolish enough to be misled and misinformed about something he does not know as to make baseless allegations about Teresa’s video.

Who had misinformed Shafie?  Was it MCA or Gerakan leaders in the BN?  Is he prepared to reveal their identities.

Now another UMNO Minister, Ahmad Shabery has jumped into the morass with his eyes closed – as he could not have understood Mandarin or Cantonese.

Before more UMNO Ministers make fools of themselves, I seriously suggest that  the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak   should invite Teresa Kok to screen her 11-minute video “Onederful Malaysia CNY 2014” and to give proper translation of the Cantonese-Mandarin dialogue and background at the Cabinet meeting tomorrow so that UMNO Ministers will not be so easily misled whether by MCA or  Gerakan on the issue.

May be Parliament when it reconvenes on March 10 next month should have a full screening of Teresa’s 11-minute video “Onederful Malaysia CNY 2014” with Teresa providing the correct translation of the Chinese-Mandarin dialogue and background.

Teresa should be congratulated instead of being criticized for her creative video which is heading for a  million hits on YouTube – getting more hits than the most popular That Effing Show on YouTube, “Let Them Eat Kangkung” which scored  182,634 hits in two weeks as compared to Teresa’s video which received 187,334 hits in six days.

Not everybody like the “Onederful Malaysia” video, which is controversial and which is why it has collected 2,631 likes to 1,619 dislikes on YouTube.

But this does not make it seditious or criminal defamation as to be subject of police investigation.

As Bar Council President Christoper Leong has rightly said in his interview with Free Malaysia Today yesterday, action cannot be taken against Teresa on her Chinese New Year video as it was not seditious.

Leong said there was nothing seditious about the video as far as the law and the Sedition Act is  concerned, regardless whether some may find the video entertaining or otherwise.

He pointed out how there were various ways to highlight serious issues or expound issues of concern.

Leong said: “Being grim-faced with frown lines when doing so is one way, but that is not necessarily the only way.

“One may convey concerns or express an opinion on issues through numerous mediums like oratory, debate, written articles, cartoons, theatrical plays, satire and poems.”

As such, it is all about getting a message across in a peaceful way.

Leong said: “There does not appear to be any element of incitement in the video. The fact that some people are taking offence to it and may excite or incite themselves, does not mean that the video and its contents are unlawful.”

He  added that in order to move forward, people should not interpret laws to pander to the lowest denominator.

“Education must be the key, not outmoded draconian laws,” said Leong.

Umno Minister should not be guilty of interpreting laws to pander to the lowest denominator.

Clearly, among the first persons that need to be educated about political satires are UMNO Cabinet Ministers like Shafie and Ahmad Shabery.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 4 February 2014, 5:31 pm and is filed under
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Asia’s Dangerous Strongman Nostalgia

By William Pesek

Bloomberg

Feb 4, 2014

Indonesia is growing at 6 percent, has rejoined the ranks of investment-grade nations, and after decades under the corrupt and repressive Suharto, has reaffirmed its place as the world’s third-largest democracy. Yet somehow enough Indonesians remember the Suharto years fondly that his Golkar Party has hopes of regaining power in upcoming elections.

Golkar isn’t alone in trying to exploit nostalgia for past strongmen (and -women). India’s Congress Party is trying to squeeze any remaining good feelings about the Nehru-Gandhi period (from 1947 to about 1989) to elevate lackluster heir apparent Rahul Gandhi. Even as China’s Xi Jinping pushes ahead with market reforms, he continues to pay homage to Communist icon Mao Zedong (1949-1976). Thais are destroying their economy rather than cut off support for tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra (2001-2006) and his sister Yingluck. Many Malaysians wax sentimental about the boom days of Mahathir Mohamad (1981-2003). Japanese are indulging Shinzo Abe’s dangerous stroll down memory lane.

What gives with nostalgianomics? The yearning for yesteryear speaks to our disorienting times and a dearth of visionary leadership when it’s most needed. This is an upside-down era when the unthinkable has a way of becoming reality: The U.S. is a developing nation again; Europe is hitting up “poor” China to bail out its debt markets; central banks have gone Islamic with zero-interest rates everywhere; the free trade that once raised living standards now foments poverty. Many simply want to get off this crazy ride.

That’s a problem in a dynamic global economy that is constantly reinventing itself. It’s natural to pine for a less-frenzied existence, but looking to the past for policy solutions courts economic decline. Unless nations reinvent themselves and plan ahead now, they’ll get left behind.

Across Asia, there are too many examples of populations still fixated on worldviews that no longer exist. The forces of globalization won’t slow down as nations reminisce. Neither will the biggest migration flows in history, the dizzying pace of change in technology, the need to compete with neighbors as much as cooperate, nor the deadly effects of climate change. These are simply the conditions of our new world.

Amid such upheaval, those at the helm must lead their people forward. They must innovate constantly, promote dialogue about how best to exploit global developments, and manage plural societies. When their citizens start looking to the past for inspiration, today’s leaders must take the hint and do better.

Nostalgianomics is related to the cult of gross domestic product that started with Japan. Its swift rise from the ashes of World War II set the bar high for leaders from South Korea to Indonesia. Fond memories of a Japan-like post-war boom under Park Chung Hee (1961-1979) helped propel daughter Park Geun Hye into the Korean presidency. Japanese long for a return to their boom years so much that they’re willing to turn a blind eye to Prime Minister Abe’s nationalistic ways and retrograde foreign policy.

The Mahathir schmaltz pervading Malaysia recalls the days when GDP there, too, soared. But the insular and jury-rigged system of affirmative action, national champions and fat subsidies over which Mahathir presided now holds the economy back. The Malaysian leader also had a tendency to embarrass his nation on the international stage with his nutty anti-Semitic tirades. Malaysians must find fresh inspiration by looking forward, not back to 1990.

The same holds true across the region. As Singaporeans try to balance the open immigration flows that drive growth with rising social tensions and inequality, they won’t find answers by harking back to the heady days of Lee Kuan Yew (1959-1990). They need to identify and empower a new generation of progressive leaders.

No one really worries about a revival of Mao’s disastrous economic policies in China. But not until Beijing stops pretending that the Great Helmsman remains a guiding inspiration — and removes his portrait from the Tiananmen gate in central Beijing — will it enjoy the global legitimacy it craves.

Abe’s wistfulness about a time when Japan was a military powerhouse, its pacifist constitution wasn’t an American creation, and war crimes of past leaders didn’t anger neighbors or implicate his grandfather is proving especially dangerous. At some point Japanese are going to have to ask themselves how much more leeway they’re willing to grant their prime minister in the hopes that he can revive growth — something that remains in doubt.

Asia is hardly alone, of course. In the U.S., the slow recovery under President Barack Obama has some looking back fondly to the wreckage that was the George W. Bush years. Europe’s many crises and waning competitiveness have voters in Barcelona and Milan missing the pre-euro days. And how else do you explain Vladimir Putin’s lasting presence in in Russia?

Musing over the past helps humankind avoid repeating its mistakes. But looking at yesteryear with rose-tinted glasses encourages policies and styles of leadership that are no longer relevant in a fast-changing Asia. The more voters yearn to go back, the more they may suffer in the future.

(William Pesek is a Bloomberg View columnist.)

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 5 February 2014, 6:37 pm and is filed under
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Best way for Cabinet to commemorate 111th birth anniversary of Bapa Malaysia is to revive the  Inter-Religious Council which Tunku Abdul Rahman set up in early decades to nationhood to resolve inter-religious differences and promote inter-religious harmony

This is the third day of a week-long world-wide celebration of “World Interfaith Harmony Week 2014” (Feb. 3 – 9) and Malaysia, as a microcosm of global multi-racial and multi-religious society, should be in the forefront to promote interfaith engagement where people of diverse faiths can undergo a process by which ‘tolerance’ develops into ‘understanding’ and eventually lead to unity of heart and meaningful relationships.

I want to remind the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak  that on the first day of the World Interfaith Harmony Week last year on Feb. 2, 2013, he set the pace of the observance of the global interfaith harmony week and visited  the places of worship of the nation’s five main religions in Brickfields in Kuala Lumpur, i.e. Sri Sakhti Karpaga Vinayagar temple,  the Buddhist Maha Vihara temple, the Tamil Methodist Church, the Toaist Sam Kow Tong temple and the Madrasathul Gouthiyyah Surau.

On this day last year, he spoke about the need to hold on to the three principles of moderation, respecting those of other faiths, and fairness and being considerate.

But this year, not only the Prime Minister but the Department of National Unity and Integration in the Prime Minister’s Department, which is tasked with organising this year’s World Interfaith Harmony Week celebrations in Malaysia, lacks conviction and enthusiasm – which explains why the official portal of the Department of National Unity and Integration (http://www.jpnin.gov.my/home) is a blank about national-level celebration events of the World Interfaith Harmony Week 2014 featuring the Prime Minister  when I just visited it on the third day of the world-wide week-long commemoration.

In actual fact, the government  should have gone out of its way to ensure that the events to celebrate the World Interfaith Harmony Week this year should be on a grander scale and more meaningful than last year bearing in mind that inter-faith relations, goodwill and harmony had never been so sorely tested in the nation’s history as in the past eight months – resulting in the worst racial and religious polarisation in the country as a result of the incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension by a small group of reckless and irresponsible people who seemed to enjoy immunity and impunity for their nefarious and treacherous ends to provoke racial and religious strife in the country.

The government’s  lukewarm and indifferent attitude to the World Interfaith Harmony Week 2014 as compared to a year ago raises the question about the commitment of the Cabinet’s positive response last week to the olive branch by the Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council for a Barisan Nasional/Pakatan Rakyat Leaders’ Summit  on national reconciliation to promote national unity and scuttle plans by a small group of traitors out to destabilise Malaysia by inciting racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension even to the extent of creating another May 13 riots.

But this is not the only incident which raised disturbing questions  about the commitment, conviction and political will of the Barisan Nasional leaderships for a national consensus to promote national unity and end the worst polarization of race and religion because of incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension to cause chaos and conflagration in the country.

A week after  the last Cabinet meeting which decided on a positive response to the Pakatan Rakyat’s olive branch for a national consensus on national reconciliation, the  Pakatan Rakyat parties have not yet received any official contact or approach from the Barisan Nasional on proposals for the national reconciliation talks.

Furthermore, the announcement by an UMNO leader that one of the Barisan Nasional’s main strategies in the forthcoming Kajang by-election in Selangor is to peddle sex to highlight Pakatan Rakyat candidate, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s alleged sexual issues has raised more than eye-brows, as it is not only most unethical and a most dishonourable motive, it is against the whole spirit of a national consensus on national reconciliation.

The national consensus on national reconciliation cannot make political differences among Malaysians and political coalitions disappear but it must be able to achieve an overarching national concord based on at least one  objective – a coming together of Malaysian patriots regardless of political affiliation and beliefs who are united in their resolve they will not allow traitors in the country to create racial chaos and religious conflagration through (1) the incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension and (2) the propagation of lies and falsehoods and other unethical and unprincipled forms of conduct.

The forthcoming Kajang by-election – regardless of who wins on polling day –  should  be a national showcase of  the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat coalitions becoming more mature and able to unite  for patriotic purposes despite their partisan differences, such as to conclude and oversee a new code of electoral ethics and conduct which will not condone, aid or abet  any incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension or  the politicking of lies and falsehoods.

Pakatan Rakyat parties of PKR, PAS and DAP  would have no hesitation in committing Pakatan Rakyat to such a  new code of electoral ethics and conduct – but are the Barisan Nasional parties prepared to commit themselves to such a  new code of electoral ethics and conduct?

If the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat coalition are prepared to commit themselves to a new code of electoral ethics and  conduct in the Kajang by-election as a pace-setter for all future elections, it will be a commendable earnest of what can be achieved in a Barisan Nasional-Pakatan Rakyat Leaders’ Summit on National Reconciliation when it gets underway.

Saturday will be the 111th birth anniversary of Bapa Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman. It has been rightly noted that if Bapa Malaysia is alive today, he would have been disgusted with the current state of affairs – in particular the ceaseless stoking of racial and religious fires without any check or restraint by the authorities which seemed unconcerned that they could only lead to racial chaos and religious conflagration.

The best way to commemorate the 111th birth anniversary of Bapa Malaysia is to be reminded and guided by his words of wisdom on the values and principles of moderation, tolerance, justice and fair play which are the only basis of success for Malaysian nation-building, as reflected in the following nine  Tunku quotes:

● “Among other things, it was agreed that Islam would be the official religion but that there would be freedom of worship and that everyone could live in dignity as and how they pleased. Everyone must respect these promises and the agreement arrived at. No one must assume that they were greater or could ignore these promises. If the promises are kept, I am sure Malaysia will continue to be a peaceful land…”

● “We are all Malaysians. This is the bond that unites us. Let us always remember that unity is our fundamental strength as a people and as a nation.”

● “The main thing which we have to remember is that we have got to make a home of this country and we have got to live happily together ever after. Let us contribute our share towards it, each and everyone of us, no matter what may be our race or creed.”

● “Let us never allow disunity to divide or disrupt us, for if we do, we fail. Let us always remember that with each passing year, we must ensure that the bonds of unity and goodwill, of tolerance and harmony, grow stronger and stronger.”

● “In such a country, what would one expect of a leader? One and all would say, the leader must be one who can mould a nation out of these characteristics into a united whole, for out of our diversities a united Malaysian people can emerge.”

● “The last thing people in this country want to see is a Malaysia divided into political extremes, for a nation divided against itself can only invite trouble.”

● “Our great aim must be to make Malaysia a haven of peace, harmony and happiness. We must strive for this with all our strength. We must be brave, we must be fair and we must be just, so that, come what may, we shall be ready as united Malaysian people to meet it. Merdeka.”

● “In our multiracial society, our Malaysian democracy, nothing is more fundamental than harmony between the many races which form the Malaysian nation. In fact, if I were asked to name one single outstanding quality to explain the success of Malaysia as a free nation, I would without hesitation say it is due to racial understanding and cooperation. Not only does this harmony express the trends of thought and feeling in this country, but it is a treasure of priceless value to each and every one of us.”

● “We must each always think first of Malaysia, of the national need and least of ourselves …Everyone must try to help and see that the people are one-minded, with loyalty and one aim, to make Malaysia – the land we love – a happy abode for all of us. If we all do this then we can guarantee liberty, security, prosperity and happiness for the future.”

There is no better way for the Cabinet and the country to commemorate the 111th birth anniversary of Bapa Malaysia than for it to  do two things:

Firstly, no more procrastination but swift and speedy holding of the Barisan Nasional-Pakatan Rakyat Leaders’ Summit on national reconciliation; and

Secondly, to revive the Inter-Religious Council which Tunku Abdul Rahman set up in early decades of nationhood to resolve inter-religious differences and to promote inter-religious amity, goodwill, understanding and harmony.

(FOURTH OPEN LETTER to the Prime Minister and Cabinet in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, 5th February 2013 at 7.30 am)

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 5 February 2014, 8:03 am and is filed under
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‘Reject Violence, Advocate Peaceful Dialogue’

By Advocates for Peaceful Dialogue

Last week a draft statement calling on leaders and rakyat of Malaysia to condemn violence and engage in peaceful dialogue to resolve current ethno-religious issues was circulated.

It is indicative of the dangerous times that Malaysians are presently living in that the draft quickly drew a strong response. More than 200 academics, thought leaders and civil society organizations from Malaysia and abroad, all of whom want to see the country thrive and fulfil its full potential, wrote in support of the statement.

The campaign reminding the country’s leaders – and in fact all citizenry – to stand firm against intimidatory acts and violence needs to be sustained.

To ensure that the campaign reaches far and wide as well as serves as a wake up call to the Government of the day to live up to its political and moral responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of all Malaysians, the petition has been made available for access and endorsement through the following links:

https://www.facebook.com/APD2014

https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/representatives-and-rakyat-of-malaysia-condemn-violence-advocate-peaceful-dialogue#

Advocates for Peaceful Dialogue (APD)

Lim Teck Ghee, Director, Center for Policy Initiatives

Gregore Pio Lopez, Visiting Fellow, Department of Political and Social Change, Australian National University

Azmi Sharom, University of Malaya

Tessa Houghton, Centre for the Study of Communications & Culture, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus

The contents of the petition are also reproduced below, as are the names of key academic signatories and civil society organizations from home and other countries of the world concerned about the future of Malaysia

“We, the undersigned, are individuals and organisations, both in Malaysia and abroad, with a deep interest in seeing the nation pursue a path of development that is based on diversity, mutual respect, and peaceful progress.

However, developments in the country, especially since the 13th general elections, are a serious cause for concern.

We are particularly concerned by the threat of violence by various irresponsible organisations and individuals in response to racial and religious issues. This threat is all the more palpable because of the failure of Prime Minister Najib Razak and his ruling coalition government to stand up to elements in society that are bullying or intimidating other Malaysians and advocating a ‘might is right’ approach to resolving societal differences.

We urge all Malaysians to condemn the use of intimidation and violence by any individual, organisation or institution as a means of resolving differences.

We urge the Najib administration, the opposition, civil society movements and organisations, and most importantly, all Malaysian citizens, to speak up against intimidatory acts and the use of violence to resolve differences.

Finally, we urge those in leadership positions – at all levels of government and society – to work together to develop new initiatives that uncompromisingly reject violence and promote peaceful dialogue.

All Malaysians and their elected representatives should take a united stance against allowing these violent elements to tear the Malaysian house asunder.”

`Tolak keganasan, syorkan dialog aman’

Satu draf kenyataan yang menyeru pemimpin dan rakyat Malaysia supaya mengecam keganasan seraya berusaha menjalankan dialog aman untuk menyelesaikan isu-isu etno-agama semasa telah diedarkan kepada awam pada minggu lepas.

Kenyataan kami itu dengan cepatnya mendapat perhatian lebih daripada 200 orang ahli akademik beserta para pemimpin beberapa badan dan pertubuhan yang mencorakkan pemikiran masyarakat. Sambutan terhadap inisiatif kami oleh orang Malaysia yang berada di dalam dan di luar negara menunjukkan keprihatinan warga dalam saat-saat genting di negara kita. Maklum balas yang memaparkan sokongan padu kepada seruan untuk menolak keganasan membayangkan bahawa rakyat Malaysia menginginkan negara kita maju dan memenuhi potensi perkembangannya.

Kempen mengingatkan pemimpin-pemimpin kita dan termasuk juga semua khalayak umum agar berdiri teguh terhadap perbuatan menggertak dan mengganas oleh anasir-anasir anti-perpaduan perlu dikekalkan momentumnya.

Bagi memastikan mesej kami akan sampai ke seluruh pelusuk ceruk rantau dan juga berfungsi sebagai peringatan kepada pihak kerajaan akan tanggungjawab politik dan moralnya untuk menjamin keselamatan dan kesejahteraan semua rakyat Malaysia, maka petisyen kami telah dimuatnaik ke laman-laman berikut supaya kalian boleh membacanya serta menyatakan sokongan anda.

Pautan-pautan ‘Tolak keganasan’:

https://www.facebook.com/APD2014

https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/representatives-and-rakyat-of-malaysia-condemn-violence-advocate-peaceful-dialogue#

Kempen oleh Advocates for Peaceful Dialogue

Lim Teck Ghee, pengarah, Centre for Policy Initiatives

Gregore Pio Lopez, felo pelawat, Jabatan Politik dan Perubahan Sosial, Universiti Kebangsaan Australia

Azmi Sharom, Universiti Malaya

Tessa Houghton, Pusat Pengajian Komunikasi & Kebudayaan, Universiti Nottingham kampus Malaysia

Turut diulangsiar di bawah ialah isi kandungan petisyen dengan nama-nama tonggak (senarai tandatangan ahli akademik orang tempatan dan asing) yang mengambil berat tentang masa depan Malaysia.

Kami, nama-nama tertera di atas, merupakan individu-individu dan organisasi dari dalam dan luar Malaysia yang ingin melihat negara ini maju dengan asas-asak yang kukuh dari segi kepelbagaian budaya, saling hormat-menghormati di antara kaum dan agama dan perpaduan yang menjadikan kita semua boleh hidup aman damai.

Namun begitu, perkembangan semasa dalam negara, khususnya selepas Pilihanraya Umum ke-13, memperlihatkan tanda-tanda yang amat membimbangkan pencinta keamanan.

Kami amat khuatir terutamanya akan ancaman keganasan oleh sesetengah organisasi dan individu tertentu ekoran kemelaratan isu kaum dan agama. Tindakan balas mereka jelas amat tidak bertanggungjawab.

Ancaman ini dirasakan lebih serius memandangkan kegagalan Perdana Menteri Najib Razak bersama barisan anggota kerajaannya yang gagal menangani kejadian membuli dan menakut-nakutkan warga Malaysia yang lain. Golongan yang segelintir ini mengambil pendekatan ‘Yang Kuat itu Benar’ (Might is Right) sebagai kaedah penyelesaian bagi mengatasi perbezaan dalam masyarakat.

Justeru itu, kami menyeru agar semua warga Malaysia mengecam pendekatan mereka-mereka yang mengancam dan mengganas terhadap ahli-ahli masyarakat lain yang tidak sehaluan.

Kami juga menggesa pentadbiran Najib Razak, pihak pembangkang, gerakan dan organisasi masyarakat madani, serta yang paling penting setiap warganegara Malaysia yang bersikap moderat untuk bersuara demi membantah tingkahlaku puak yang menganggap bahawa kerja mengancam dan mengganas adalah cara paling berkesan untuk meleraikan kekusutan.

Akhir sekali kami ingin mengajak para pemimpin di setiap peringkat dalam kerajaan dan masyarakat untuk berkerjasama dalam membangunkan inisiatif baru serta menolak segala bentuk keganasan seraya menyokong usaha dialog secara aman.

Semua warga Malaysia bersama-sama wakil rakyat yang dipilih mestilah bersatu mengambil pendirian menentang unsur-unsur keganasan yang kian merosakkan perpaduan dan keharmonian yang dicapai kita di Malaysia.

Academics/Ahli Akademik

No

Name

Institution

1

Professor Abdul Rahman Embong

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

2

Professor Alberto Gomes

La Trobe University

3

Dr. Amanda Whiting

University of Melbourne

4

Professor Amarjit Kaur

University of New England

5

Associate Professor Andrew Aeria

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

6

Professor Andrew Harding

National University of Singapore

7

Emeritus Professor Anthony Reid

Australian National University

8

Associate Professor Ariel Heryanto

Australian National University

9

Dr. Arnold Puyok

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

10

Dr. Asma Abdullah

Universiti Putra Malaysia

11

Associate Professor Bridget Welsh

Singapore Management University

12

Emeritus Professor Dato’ Dr. C.P Ramachandran

Ex-Universiti Sains Malaysia

13

Dr. Charis Quay Huei Li

Université Paris-Sud

14

Dr. Christopher Chong

15

Charles Sullivan

University of Michigan

16

Emeritus Professor Clive Kessler

University of New South Wales

17

Dahlia Martin

18

Professor Donanld M Nonini

University of North Carolina

19

Professor Francis Loh Kok Wah

Universiti Sains Malaysia

20

Professor James Chin

Monash University (Malaysia Campus)

21

Dr Julian Hopkins

Monash University (Malaysia campus)

22

Dr Khoo Boo Teik

Institute of Developing Economies

23

Melissa Yoong

University of Nottingham (Malaysia campus)

24

Dr Rosli Omar

Ex-Universiti Malaya

25

Dr. Patricia Martinez

26

Dr. Pauline Eadie

University of Nottingham

27

Associate Professor Rueban Balasubramaniam

Carleton University and Jurist Malaysia Initiative

28

Dr Sumit Mandal

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

29

Professor Terence Gomez

University of Malaya

30

Dr. Terence Lee	National

University of Singapore

31

Associate Professor Thomas Pepinsky

Cornell University

32

Associate Professor Timothy Daniel

Hofstra University

33

Professor Wan Abdul Manan b Wan Muda

Universiti Sains Malaysia

34

Dr Yaso Nadarajah

RMIT University

35

Professor Zahrom Nain

University of Nottingham (Malaysia campus)

Civil society

No

Name

Organisation

1

Dr. Ahmad Farouk Musa

Islamic Renaissance Front

2

Ambiga Sreenevasan

4

Andrew Foong

Global Bersih

5

Anil Netto

Aliran

6

Anthony Wee

Archdiocesan Office for Human Development

7

Arlene Tan

Projek Dialog

8

Azrul Mohd Khalib

9

Bala Chelliah

Global Bersih

10

Bishop Paul Tan SJ

Catholic Church, Diocese of Melaka-Johor

11

Carmelo Felito

Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS)

12

Charis Quay

Global Bersih

13

Chong Pin Lim

Global Bersih

14

Clement Ong

Institution For Leadership and Development Studies (IDEAS)

15

Colin Rajah

Global Bersih

16

Daniel John Jambun

Common Interest Group Malaysia

17

David Teoh

Global Bersih

18

Dina Zaman

19

Ivy Josiah

Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)

20

Kanul Gindol

Borneo Rights International

21

Kean Wong

Global Bersih

22

Kevin Bathman

Global Bersih

23

KJ Abraham

Oriental Heart and Mind Study Institute

24

Dr. KJ John

Oriental Heart and Mind Study Institute

25

Lydia Chai

Global Bersih

25

Marina Mahathir

Sisters in Islam

26

Noor Amin bin Ahmad

Institute for Leadership and Development Studies  (IDEAS)

27

Praveen Nagappan

Global Bersih

28

Professor Wan Abdul Manan b Wan Muda

Malaysian Academic Movement

29

Rev Dr Herman Shastri

Council of Churches Malaysia

30

Robert Foo

Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia

31

Sharmini Darshini

Amnesty International Malaysia

32

Sivin Kit

33

Sonia Randhawa

34

SV Singam

Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia

35

Tong Soo Tim

Malaysian Bar

36

Tricia Yeoh

Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS)

37

Uthaya Shankar SB

Kumpulan Sasterawan Kayvean

38

William DeCruz

Global Bersih

39

Yoland Augustin

Global Bersih

40

Yu Ren Chung

Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 5 February 2014, 10:16 am and is filed under
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Interfaith forum blames education system, national schools for racial polarisation

by Jennifer Gomez and Shahirah Rashid

The Malaysian Insider

February 06, 2014

National schools are the breeding ground for racial polarisation and the education system is the root cause of the problem plaguing the country now, an interfaith forum was told yesterday.

Parents Action Group for Education (PAGE) chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim told an audience of about 65 at the interfaith forum titled “A dialogue for harmony”, that it was all about Malay supremacy in schools now.

PAGE was among 40 civil groups and non-governmental organisations at the forum in conjunction with World Interfaith Harmony Week, jointly organised by the Global Movement of Moderates and Promotion of Human Rights (Proham).

“The only solution is for the glory of national schools to be returned, which means we need more subjects in English in national schools, because right now, national schools are Malay schools and nothing more,” said Noor Azimah.

She said certain Muslim groups funded by Putrajaya were also the source of the problem.

Sisters in Islam executive director Ratna Osman also touched on the education system, saying her sons were told in school that they could not mix with non-Muslims.

“I was shocked when an ustazah told them they cannot be with non-Muslims because they are not like us, because we are supreme human beings.

“I am disgusted because that is not the kind of education which I received 30 years ago,” Ratna said.

She also questioned who gave these Muslim bodies the authority to speak on behalf of Muslims in the country.

“Who gave them the right to say Muslims feel hurt and threatened?”

Ratna also said she was puzzled that Muslims could feel they were under threat when they made up 60% of the population.

“There was a minister who made a statement that we cannot have interfaith dialogue with other religions because we are supreme.

“As a Muslim, I am insulted by that statement. When we have this mentality, we cannot have interfaith dialogues.”

Another participant, Dr Hamidah Marican, called for the “education system to be taken away from politicians and given to moderates”.

She also called on Putrajaya to review government policies that were discriminatory and be more inclusive.

“These policies impact us on the ground, especially on young people in universities, who are very exclusive in their ways.

“This is not what we want to see in our young people. This is where the government needs to start, forget about the 1Malaysia rhetoric.”

A housewife from Kelantan, Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid, said that she was fighting with her fellow Muslims who were extreme in their ways and having difficulty speaking to them about Islam.

Referring to Malay rights groups ISMA (Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia) and Perkasa as overzealous bigots, she said that politicians were dividing the people over race, religion and gender issues.

“We don’t need the politicians, housewives like us will do,“ she said on spreading unity.

GMM chief executive officer Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah who also spoke at the forum admitted that Muslim groups were currently not engaging the non-Muslims in inter-religious dialogue.

 He said Putrajaya should take the lead in this issue and suggested that minister in charge of Islamic affairs Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom and Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, who was in charge of non-Muslims affairs, take the lead.

Calling it the “J + J collaboration”, Saifuddin said both ministers should jointly chair a dialogue to facilitate better understanding on inter-religious issues, mainly on the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims.

Saifuddin said it was pointless for Kurup and Jamil to chair their dialogues separately.

“They should do it together, but how they do it, whether it is behind closed doors, will be up to them,” he said, adding that he will raise the suggestion at the next National Unity Consultative Council meeting on February 15.

Saifuddin said the religious conflict in Malaysia had already affected its international standing, seen in comments made by the United Nations Special Rapporteur late last year.

He was referring to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and belief, Heiner Bielefeldt, who had urged Putrajaya to reverse its decision to ban Catholic weekly Herald from using the word “Allah” to refer to God, warning that the case may have far-reaching implications for religious minorities in the country.

“That is why interfaith dialogues should be mooted. We have to show that Malaysians are capable of discussing issues in a civil manner.

 Proham secretary-general Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria agreed, while touching on the current “Allah” row.

Denison said those who were against the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims probably did not have any dialogue with Christians who prayed in Bahasa Malaysia.

“Possibly these people have not sat down with a Sabahan Christian who has been using the Malay Bible since the time of their great grandfathers,” he added.

In the 1980s, several states and their Muslim fatwa committees passed laws forbidding the use of the word “Allah” and several Arabic terms by non-Muslims.

These include the 1988 Selangor enactment and the 1986 decree by the National Fatwa Council.

However, these laws were not widely enforced until 2008 when the Home Ministry banned Herald from using the term in the Bahasa Malaysia section of the publication.

“Allah” is used by Christians who worship in Bahasa Malaysia and Iban, such as those in Sabah and Sarawak.

Two-thirds of Malaysia’s 2.9 million Christians are from Sabah and Sarawak. The Herald won a High Court decision in January 2009 that overturned the ministry’s ban.

The Court of Appeal, however, overturned that decision in 2013, saying that the word was not integral to Christianity. The church is appealing the decision. – February 6, 2014.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 6 February 2014, 8:40 am and is filed under
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Mine! Mine! Shafie is  now digging a bigger hole for himself!

Mine! Mine! Umno Vice President and Minister for Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie  Apdal seems to make himself a bigger fool and is now digging a bigger hole for himself.

I feel enormous sadness that we have Cabinet Ministers who cannot be humble and admit that they have made mistakes.

Let me tell the UMNO Ministers that there is nothing wrong with them admitting that they have made mistakes, and that in this case, Apdal had wrongly accused DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Seputeh Teresa Kok’s video “Onderful Malaysia CNY 2014” of lampooning the Malaysian security forces and the Lahad Datu intrusion tragedy.

After all, UMNO Ministers are mere mortals. Even Homer nods!

Apdal’s mistake is  all the more understandable and excusable as he did not understand Mandarin or Cantonese, the languages used in the video dialogue, and he could only have heard a garbled, inaccurate, biased and tendentious  version of the video from his colleagues in the Barisan Nasional, whether MCA, Gerakan or Liberal Democratic Party, who have political axes to grind.

Apdal’s accusation that the video lampooned security forces and the Lahad Datu incursion tragedy made me, and I am sure very many Malaysians, to visit YouTube and check the video, and I find no reference whatsoever in it which could substantiate Apdal’s allegation of lampooning the Malaysian security forces and the Lahad Datu incident.

This is why I had invited Shafie to a public get-together with Teresa and he could come with his experts and advisers so that his team could publicly point out where the security forces or the Lahad Datu incursion tragedy had been the subject of ridicule by the video satire.

Today,  Shafie was very dismissive when he publicly turned down my proposal to host a get-together for Shafie to watch the video clip together with Teresa Kok.

He said:  “I have better things to do…I have a country to manage.”

Is Apdal aware that he had made a public confession that he had not even seen the video clip but he had the audacity to  pass public judgment on it?

Is this the reason why former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad had said that the present Cabinet is full of “half-past six” Ministers?

There have been allegations that Teresa’s video is anti-Malay and anti-Islam. I invite those who made these allegations to step into the open to show where in the video there are anti-Malay and anti-Islam references.

Actually Teresa must thank Apdal, the Minister for Communications and Multimedia Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, and other misinformed and/or malicious  Umno/MCA/Gerakan leaders who have brought the video to the attention of a larger audience than it would otherwise get.

In ten days, Teresa’s video on “YouTube” have exceeded 300,000 hits, with 3,825 likes and 2,159 dislikes – far exceeding the most popular That Effing Show on YouTube, “Let Them Eat Kangkung” which has scored 183,861 hits after three weeks though Teresa’s video still well behind the top “kangkung video”, the kangkung remix video by Yuri Wong which is just short of one million hits at   980,957 hits.

May be  those who create  videos in future should enlist Umno Ministers to help them publicise their works so as to get more hits on the Internet.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 6 February 2014, 2:54 pm and is filed under
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Will Kajang by-election be  the dirtiest or cleanest by-election in Malaysian history?

Will the forthcoming Kajang by-election in Selangor be the dirtiest or cleanest by-election in Malaysian history?

It has the capacity of being either depending on the role of the contending candidates, the two political coalitions of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat, and the supervising bodies like the Election Commission, the police, etc.

The Kajang by-election promises to be a by-election of many surprises.

The very holding of the Kajang by-election is itself a surprise – the first surprise.

A day after the  surprise resignation of PKR State Assemblyman for Kajang Lee Chin Cheh on Jan. 27, the Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council fully endorsed  the candidature of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the candidate in the Kajang by-election as a major political move to position Selangor as the launching pad to Putrajaya in the 14GE.

The second surprise was the prompt and unashamed reflex action of the UMNO information chief, Datuk Ahmad Maslan and Deputy Finance Minister who announced that UMNO and Barisan Nasional will pull out all the stops to launch a character-assassination campaign against Anwar, even plumbing the depths of the sexual allegations against the Parliamentary Opposition Leader in the past one-and-a-half decade.

The third surprise was the Election Commission decision to create history by having the longest delay for the holding of a by-election, a 55-day vacancy for Kajang as nomination will be on a Tuesday on March 11 and polling on Sunday, March 23 – in contrast to the Kuala Besut by-election which was held 28 days after the assemblyman Abdul Rahman Mokhtar died and the Sungai Limau by-election, 39 days after Azizan Abdul Razak died.

Nobody would believe that such “generosity” of time before the Kajang by-election is held is the result of a belated conversion of the Election Commission to the view that there should be adequate time for an election campaign to be held so that a free, fair and clean elections could be held – and not because of a clear signal from UMNO/BN to  allow maximum delay before the Kajang by-election is held to give time for differences and dissension, whether  in PKR and Pakatan Rakyat or outside, on the staging of a Kajang by-election to be fully played out to the detriment of Anwar’s candidature.

The timing of the Nomination Day on Tuesday March 11 cannot be unrelated to the official opening of the second session of the 13th  Parliament on March 10 by the Yang di Pertuan Agong, and the beginning of the debate on the Royal Address on March 11.

Isn’t the timing aimed at sabotaging Anwar’s participation as the lead Pakatan Rakyat spokesman in the parliamentary debate on the Royal Address, which would start on March 11 itself? Or is this just a coincidence?

Meanwhile, the next 45 days till polling day on March 12 will give ample time for UMNO/BN to concoct an unprecedented list of “surprises” and “hits” against Anwar,   PKR and PR – the chief objectives being to aggravate dissensions in PKR and divisiond in PR.

No one will be surprised if  the Kajang by-election ends up  as the dirtiest by-election in Malaysian history – the avalanche of money politics; the abuses of Federal government resources and machinery; the prostitution of Umno/BN-controlled media and their armies of cybertroopers; the depths of lies and falsehoods in a vicious campaign of personal attacks and character-assassination against Anwar, PKR and PR leaders; not to mention the reckless and irresponsible incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension to create fear of another May 13 in particular and racial chaos and religious conflagration in general.

But what will be the “surprise of surprises” is for the  Kajang by-election to become the cleanest by-election in Malaysian electoral history, where there will be no corruption of money politics; no  abuses of media and government machinery; no resort to personal attacks and character-assassination founded on lies and falsehoods and finally, no incitement of racial or religious hatred, conflict and disharmony with not a single raising of the spectre of May 13!

Pakatan Rakyat is fully committed to make the Kajang by-election the cleanest by-election in Malaysian electoral history.  But this is only possible if there is similar commitment and resolve by UMNO/BN, with the full support of the Election Commission and the Police.

I suggest that Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat immediately appoint representatives to a Joint Committee to Ensure Kajang By-election Cleanest in History  with the specific mandate to ensure  that the Kajang by-election will be the cleanest, and not the dirtiest, by-election in history.

Is the Umno/Barisan Nasional Chairman, Datuk Seri Najib Razak prepared to respond promptly and positively to this proposal?

The Kajang by-election will be a great test for Anwar, PKR and Pakatan Rakyat. Let Pakatan Rakyat at all levels of leadership and activists  among the three component parties of PKR, PAS and DAP  show the greatest unity and discipline in the Battle for the Kajang by-election to fight as one solid unit  – for Anwar must not only win in the Kajang by-election, but win with a bigger majority than obtained by Lee Chin Cheh in the 13GE, to pave the way for change and Putrajaya in the 14 GE.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 6 February 2014, 1:22 pm and is filed under
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24 hours later, still no police action over ‘chicken and slap protest’

by Elizabeth Zachariah

The Malaysian Insider

February 07, 2014

More than 24 hours after members of Muslim NGOs staged a protest in Kuala Lumpur at which they slaughtered chickens and offered RM1,200 to anyone who would slap Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, police have yet to pick up any suspects because reports were only lodged this morning.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Mohmad Salleh said investigations into the case would begin today after Kok, along with her supporters, lodged a total of seven reports at the Tun H.S. Lee police station.

When asked why no action had been taken earlier despite the presence of police at the protest, Mohmad stressed that a report had to be lodged before police could begin a probe.

“This is our standard operations. There is nothing biased about it. Our actions are the same no matter who lodges a report and we will look into this,” he told The Malaysian Insider, declining to comment further.

However, lawyers said the police should not wait for someone to lodge a police report before investigating the incident.

“They must be proactive under these circumstances. They must nip the escalating racial and religious problems before it gets out of control,” Datuk Baljit Sidhu told The Malaysian Insider.

Lawyer Salim Bashir said the police should also check whether the group had violated the Peaceful Assembly Act.

He said yesterday’s incident revealed that the NGO was taking the laws into its own hands when police were already investigating reports made against Kok over her Chinese New Year greeting video entitled “Onederful” Malaysia CNY 2014.

It is learnt that police have classified the case under Section 505(c) for public mischief with intent to incite anyone to commit any offence against others and Section 506 for criminal intimidation.

Earlier today, DAP leaders Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng condemned the police for practising double standards in handling yesterday’s protest.

Kit Siang, who is the party’s adviser, noted that if the protesters had called for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to be slapped, they would have been “loaded onto black marias and put behind bars even before they could gather”.

Party secretary-general Guan Eng hit out at the police for its inaction on the pro-Umno demonstrators, adding that DAP will do everything possible to ensure Kok’s safety.

Yesterday, the group, calling itself the “Council of Islamic NGOs”, slaughtered two chickens and offered a RM1,200 reward to anyone who dared to slap Kok as a sign of anger towards opposition leaders for allegedly insulting the Malay leadership, royalty and Islam.

They then smeared the blood of the slaughtered chickens on a banner featuring photographs of Kok, Guan Eng, Kit Siang and Machang Bubuk PKR assemblyman Lee Khai Loon.

“Their statements are a threat to my safety and it is also against the law,” Kok said after lodging the report this morning. – February 7, 2014.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 7 February 2014, 10:03 pm and is filed under
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Are we Turning into a State of Lawlessness?

Dato’ Mohd.Ariff Sabri bin Hj. Abdul Aziz

DAP MP for Raub

Friday, 7 February 2014

 Is this country descending into a state of lawlessness? The chief executive is acting irresponsibly by allowing mobs to place posters making offers to people at large to collect reward money if they can assault Teresa Kok, a member of parliament. What if there were posters offering reward money to people if they can spit upon Najib or Rosmah? I am sure the police will come down swooping to arrest and jail whomsoever is responsible.

The police must act responsibly by going after the authors of the various reward posters offering money to assault Tersesa Kok. Surely these are invitations to the public at large to commit physical harm on someone else.

Causing physical harm or the threat of making one isn’t the same as making a parody of the country’s leadership and its management of the country. What if RM1200 is not enough and posters are put up to invite people to do more than slap?

The people of Kajang should take note of this. The unrestrained behaviour of the mobs acting under the cloak of Muslim NGO should be condemned vehemently. They should take this as indicator of the moral health of the BN government led by an incapacitate leader. Mob action and lawlessness appear to be popular medium of expression for UMNO supporters. This can only be taken as indicative of UMNO’s depraved religious, nationalist and racial sentiments.

If some people feel the reputation of Najib and Rosmah is worth dying for, why not take it a step further- self-immolation?

Why are we so upset over the humorous depiction of what is actually going on in this country? Cost of living going up, educational standards are declining, the wealth of this country being frittered away by free spending executive and his band of merry men.

I notice the people slaughtering chickens over posters of non-Malay elected MPs are Malays. So too are the members of the Muslim NGO who put up the reward posters on Teresa Kok. It’s as though our country is descending into a cowboy state in an early stage of America where members of white supremacist groups go after non whites.

Why don’t they stop to ponder- we have been shouting ketuanan Melayu for so long- but the tuans stay in hovels and squatter houses. The non-tuans who are still condemned as immigrants even though they have been here for 5-6 generations live in million Ringgit houses and posh condominiums. We shout ketuanan Melayu, but the tuans find difficulty in getting a piece of land to seek sustenance and make a living. We shout ketuanan Melayu, but the tuans remain the poorer section of the community. The tuans earn an average monthly income of RM1200; the non tuans earn RM 12,000.

Who do we blame for this state of affairs? If we cannot blame the government in power for allowing these things to happen, who else can we attach responsibility? Do we condemn the poor because they are poor? Why don’t we condemn our mothers for giving birth to us?

                This entry was posted on Friday, 7 February 2014, 1:18 pm and is filed under
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Ashamed of the un-Islamic acts of bigots

– Ravinder Singh

The Malaysian Insider

February 07, 2014

As one who went to school with Malay children, then worked and lived with and among Malays, and am still living among Malays and very much in close contact with so many of them in my daily activities, I feel ashamed of the actions of the group calling itself “Council of Islamic NGOs”.

Over the years, from my Malay friends and colleagues, and from reading of Islam, I learnt that Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance. I still firmly hold to this belief.

I am therefore disillusioned and ashamed by the acts of a few bigots calling themselves the “Council of Islamic NGOs” who held a public demonstration where they slit the throats of two chicken, smeared the blood on poster of persons in the opposition camp, then stomped on the pictures of those persons. The poster had the words in bold “13 MEI 1969 DALAM IGAUAN” (igauan can mean talking in one’s sleep). I leave it to readers to interpret that.

Are these bigots not the real threat to Islam as they bring disgrace to the Islam preached by the Prophet? Were their actions not “syirik”?

Jakim must come out to tell peace-loving Malaysians whether the actions of this small group are in accordance with the teachings of the Prophet. If yes, then an explanation is in order as to how they are so. If not, then what action is Jakim going to take to rehabilitate this small group of bigots who only bring shame to the religion.?

As for the police, have these rabble-rousers not committed any offence under the Penal Code? Do not tell us there is no evidence the words and actions of this group did not breach any provision of the law as there was no reaction to the provocations and no breach of the peace took place as a result.

No action by the police could only mean one thing – that the actions of this group were state sanctioned. Peace loving Malaysians would like to believe they were not, and this can only be proven if the police throw the book at them. Otherwise the obvious question: why are they exempted from the law? – February 7, 2014.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 7 February 2014, 12:22 pm and is filed under
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Deviant sect gives M’sia two tight slaps

Mariam Mokhtar | February 7, 2014

Free Malaysia Today

The behaviour of the protesters yesterday reminds us of religious fanatics in Afghanistan or deepest Pakistan.

COMMENT

The deviants who claim to be Muslims and who wish to preserve the dignity of Malays by offering a reward to anyone who slaps Seputeh MP Teresa Kok are deranged.

They should know that there are no winners in the escalating tensions within the country. The latest act of bloody provocation has tarnished Islam and brought further disrepute to the Muslim community.

These deviants have also insulted the memory of Bapa Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman who was born on Feb 8, 111 years ago. If he was alive today, he would have shed tears to see the country which he led to Merdeka being destroyed by men who are not worthy to be called leaders.

The men who claim to represent the Council of Islamic NGOs slaughtered four chickens and then daubed blood on the faces of opposition representatives, portrayed on a banner. They were upset by Teresa’s satirical video.

Did they feel good making that spectacle? Judging from the news reports, they acted like crazed men. Their behaviour reminds us of religious fanatics in Afghanistan or deepest Pakistan, who have just beheaded a man, and in their euphoria, celebrate by shooting their AK-47s into the air.

If these deviants are not censured, how long will it be before we descend to the point of no return and these loopy individuals bathe themselves in blood, whilst shouting “God is Great”?

If these irresponsible individuals thought they had managed to make Muslims angry then they are correct. Muslims are outraged. Sane, responsible Muslims are angry that their leaders, the police and the religious bodies which are supposed to uphold the teachings of Islam, do nothing.

The leaders appear more concerned about preserving the status-quo, to maintain their image and social standing. Malaysia is just a source of income and status to them.

If this was a civilized country, the authorities would have swooped on these deranged men and applied the full force of the law.

Moreover, there is little chance of achieving a First World status by 2020 when we have regressed into a primitive age where tit-for-tat measures and tribal wars predominate, and where dialogue and intelligent discussion are non-existent.

Dangerous ground

One of the organisers of this deviant group called Zulkifly Sharif allegedly accused four opposition politicians of using the price hikes to belittle and topple Malay leaders.

Zulkifly should spend more time talking to the man-in-the-street than converting the roadside into an abattoir.

Ministers, their spouses and Umno Baru cronies are not affected by price-hikes. It stands to reason that if Zulkifly benefits from the corrupt system, then he would naturally want the rakyat to stop complaining.

Zulkifly is wrong to say that Umno Baru leaders were “democratically elected by the people of Malaysia.”

Najib Tun Razak was not democratically elected. By his own admission, only 47% of the electorate voted for him, and that is after a lot of alleged cheating at the ballot box. If the truth be known, this amount of 47% is probably closer to 20%.

Zulkifly strayed onto dangerous ground when he urged the government to expel Chinese and Indian citizens who are not fluent in Malay.

He said, “We hope that, while the operation to flush out illegal immigrants is on-going, that the Home Ministry will also screen Malaysians, especially the Chinese and Indians who are not fluent in Malay or no longer show loyalty to the king and country to be banished.”

The rakyat knows that one man allegedly authorised the import of several hundred thousand Filipinos, in the 80s and 90s, to boost Umno Baru numbers in Sabah. This man did not show loyalty to king and country, and should head the list of those to be expelled from Malaysia.

A high-profile Malay, who was a former DAP member, but who is now pro-Umno Baru, is known to be an anglophile. When he speaks Malay, many people wince at the way he mangles and struggles with the Malay language. Should he be expelled?

Last week, four Malay children who have lived most, if not all of their lives abroad, while their parents were posted overseas, returned home. The mainstream media highlighted their lack of fluency in Malay. Should these innocent children be expelled?

Silent leaders

Zulkifly and his ilk are being used by Umno Baru leaders to create disharmony in Malaysia. Their target is you, the rakyat.

These deviants may claim they are protecting the good name of the leaders but why are they quiet when leaders are alleged to be corrupt or to have broken the law?

These deviants claim to uphold the good name of the Malay rulers but they have kept silent about the allegations that a royal member threatened to kill a member of the T-Team. This is not the first incident involving royalty.

A few years ago, similar deviants sent death threats to Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching and left a dead chicken at the entrance to her office. Teo was reaching out to her constituency, including making visits to the mosque, to find out how her constituents could be better served.

The recent spate of violence is threatening the harmony of Malaysia, its stability and its economic future.

The voices of condemnation from the ruling party, our royal institutions and our Islamic leaders are muted. The rakyat knows why they are silent.

Thursday’s group of deviants want to create chaos and to strike fear into our hearts by harping on May 13. We should not let them take control of our streets and our minds.

Ordinary Malay and Muslim voices have the power to stop this madness. If a few Malays/Muslims were able to defend a church in Shah Alam, I am confident that thousands more Malays and Muslims could march in solidarity with their non-Muslim peers, to protect the true spirit of multi-cultural Malaysia.

That would be a fitting act in memory of the Tunku.

Mariam Mokhtar is a FMT columnist.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 7 February 2014, 4:50 pm and is filed under
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Jangan mengasari wanita

 – Izmil Amri

Roketkini

February 7, 2014

NABI Muhammad S.A.W mendidik umatnya supaya menyantuni wanita. Antara hadis baginda yang termasyhur, mafhumnya; yang terbaik daripada kalangan kami adalah yang melakukan yang terbaik untuk wanitanya. Justeru Islam, sebagai agama keamanan dan mendidik akhlak, jelas sekali melarang lelaki daripada bertindak kasar terhadap wanita.

Lelaki yang mengasari wanita, bahkan yang mengancam untuk menggunakan kekasaran ke atas wanita adalah lelaki yang bacul. Ini semua orang tahu. Sesiapa pun yang mengasari perempuan pastinya akan dilihat seolah-olah syaitan bertopengkan manusia. Tidak kira apa alasan sekalipun, perempuan tidak wajar dikasari. Baik dengan tutur kata atau kerja buat serta perlakuan fizikal.

Tuhan mencipta perempuan supaya disantuni. Bukan untuk dikasari, diherdik atau dicaci maki. Tanpa perlu dipertimbangkan apa jua latar belakang keturunan, agama, pendidikan, perempuan tetap perempuan. Dia mungkin isteri seseorang atau adik, kakak dan ibu kepada seseorang.

Maka perempuan tidak boleh dikasari. Ini asas yang jelas nyata. Tidak ada lelaki yang waras akalnya suka melihat titis air mata wanita. Lelaki yang sentiasa dahaga dan giat memakan air mata wanita itu ialah lelaki yang dayus, pengecut dan punya kebarangkalian besar tidak mempunyai organ kejantanan yang mencukupi.

Justeru ketika dikhabarkan bahawa ada segerombolan lelaki beriya-iya mahu mengasari seorang wanita, saya jadi hairan. Tambah hairan kerana gerombolan lelaki ini (kalau iya pun boleh dipanggil lelaki) tidak bertindak mahu mengasari wanita ini secara sendiri. Malah ia mahu memberi upah pula kepada lelaki lain untuk mengasari wanita yang satu ini.

Saya cuma ada dua persoalan untuk gerombolan manusia ini. Pertama, adakah mereka ini semuanya biasa menempeleng isteri atau anak perempuan masing-masing dan merasakan pekerjaan mengasari wanita itu seakan-akan satu hobi? Soalan kedua, adakah kegemaran mereka mengasari isteri dan wanita dalam keluarga mereka itu turut disumberluarkan kepada pihak ketiga dengan diberikan imbuhan bayaran tunai?

Ya ini soal sekumpulan lelaki pertengahan usia yang berkumpul ramai-ramai menawarkan wang kepada sesiapa yang boleh pergi menampar Ahli Parlimen Seputeh, Teresa Kok Suh Sim dan merakamkan video perlakuannya.

Adakah diri sendiri tidak punya bilangan testis yang mencukupi untuk melakukan kekasaran terhadap wanita terbabit, sehingga terpaksa mengupah pihak lain pula? Sudahlah mahu diupah, jumlahnya juga tidak seberapa. Setakat RM500, BR1M jauh lebih tinggi jumlahnya. Lalu tergesa-gesalah dinaikkan jumlah imbuhan itu menjadi RM1,200.

RM1,200 untuk berlaku kasar terhadap seorang wanita. Lelaki malang manalah yang akan sanggup buat kerja terkutuk ini? Kerja mengasari seorang wanita demi habuan wang ringgit. Ini tidak banyak beza dengan pekerja seks yang sanggup buat apa sahaja asalkan kena dengan bayarannya. Malah sama sahaja seperti kaki pukul ala cumi dan ciki yang diberi upah ‘mengajar’ mana-mana perampas kekasih orang.

Apakah umat ini sudah begitu terdesak dan bankrap maruah dan harga diri sehingga sanggup mahu menjadi pecacai untuk mengasari seorang perempuan demi RM1,200.

Islam tidak mengajar perlakuan sebegini. Jadi janganlah menggunakan nama agama untuk memberi justifikasi kepada kebaculan kamu. Tambah menghina Islam ialah selepas menawarkan imbuhan wang untuk mengasari wanita, kumpulan melaungkan takbir. Eh, agama apa yang ajar kamu mengasari wanita dan melaungkan nama Tuhan ni?

Seandainya Rasulullah masih ada, pastilah kamu ditempelengnya terlebih dahulu.

Apa yang Islamiknya tentang menawarkan wang supaya seseorang mengasari wanita? Ada dalilkah yang menghalalkan perbuatan sebegini?

Apa asas yang melahirkan kemarahan yang begitu membuta tuli sampai buat kain rentang pun tak periksa ejaan. Eja ‘cauvinis’ pun salah, malah saya syak gerombolan pakcik ini yang begitu bersemangat melumur darah ayam ke kain rentang dengan gambar pemimpin DAP tidak tahu pun apa makna perkataan cauvinis.

Yang dia tahu, ‘DAP cauvinis Cina’. Tidak ia sedar bahawa dia itu cauvinis Melayu.

Ya cauvinis itu ertinya: Kepercayaan yang patriotik, berlebihan, dan membuta tuli dalam keunggulan dan keberanian nasional. Atau dalam bahasa Inggerisnya: Chauvinism, in its original meaning, is an exaggerated patriotism and a belligerent belief in national superiority and glory.

Nah sekarang siapa cauvinis?

Bagaimanapun kita seharusnya ucap terima kasih kepada mereka ini. Pekerjaan yang diperbuat oleh gerombolan ini memudahkan lagi usaha untuk menambahkan rasa benci dan meluat terhadap politik perkauman yang menjadi tunjang United Malays National Organisation. Ya, parti UMNO pastinya akan menjauh daripada segala kegilaan ini.

UMNO, sepertimana gerombolan lelaki pertengahan usia tadi memang kerjanya sub-contracting dan menyumberluar perkara yang ia tidak berani lakukan sendiri.

Tetapi malang bagi parti pemerintah ini, dunia sudah kian maju dan ini sudah masuk bulan kedua tahun 2014. Tahun 1969 itu sudah begitu jauh dan tidak lagi menjadi suatu faktor ketakutan malah sekadar memori yang mahu dilupakan. Jadi rakyat akan pastinya boleh menilai kekalutan yang melanda negara ini, siapa yang punya angkara.

Jadi terima kasihlah, mudah kerja Pakatan Rakyat nak menang pada Pilihan Raya Kecil Kajang nanti. Buatlah lagi selalu. Mudah-mudahan impian ke arah negara aman makmur dan bangsa yang berpadu itu boleh pakat dikuburkan bersama-sama sambil menyambut 2020 nanti. – Roketkini.com

                This entry was posted on Friday, 7 February 2014, 9:25 pm and is filed under
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Netizens: Good food to be had all over Penang

The Star

February 7, 2014

PETALING JAYA: With Penang cuisine capturing the interest of the world earlier this week through international accolades, netizens have come out in force to sing praises of their favourite places to dine in the state.

And from the feedback on Facebook, it would seem that half the island is cooking for the other half to eat – from
char kuey teow
and
pasembor
 from Gurney Drive to
laksa
 at Air Itam, said Jenanee Jai and Soo Lin Ong.

Jeffrey Woo recommended the Anjung Gurney hawker centre and hawkers around the Pulau Tikus area, while Abu Bakar said his places of choice were Tajudin Restaurant in Queen Street and Ramzan Restaurant in Ah Quee Street.

Indian Muslim, or
mamak
, food was also recommended by Dini Hairuddin and Azie Surip, who both recommended Line Clear’s
nasi kandar
on Penang Road, while Mohd Shairunizam recommended Penang
nasi kandar
in general.

Other netizens responding to
The Star’s
question on Facebook, like Tam Li Peng, pointed out that good food could be found all over Penang.

“Tan Jetty’s perfect
lor bak
 and prawn fritters, heart-stopping
or chien
, China House’s delicious and daring cakes,
mua chee
at Gurney Drive with toasted coconut flakes, and Red Garden, which has a decent mix of fresh seafood cooked any which way, plus yummy chicken feet at a random Thai-style store,” said Tam.

Penang food was thrust into the global spotlight this week with Lonely Planet picking the island state as the top spot for foodies in 2014, and Penang
mamak
 restaurants Mamak Malaysia and Nyonya in New York getting Michelin’s Bib Gourmand honour.

In the Lonely Planet write-up, Penang beat other top culinary spots like Victoria in Australia, north-west Spain, the deep south in United States, the Lake District in United Kingdom, Puglia in Italy, Georgia, and Oaxaca in Mexico to bag the number one spot.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 7 February 2014, 2:52 pm and is filed under
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Teresa Kok: PAS kecam provokasi melampau

Feb 07, 2014 | HARAKAHDAILY

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS kesal dengan tindakan provokasi perkauman melampau akhir-akhir ini.

“Tindakan melampau ini bukan sahaja boleh mencetuskan suasana tidak harmoni dalam negara bahkan ia akan mengundang pelbagai reaksi negatif terhadap Islam,” tegas Naib Presiden PAS, Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

Katanya, tindakan menyembelih ayam untuk upacara yang bertentangan dengan akidah Islam tidak seharusnya dibiarkan, seolah-olah ianya selaras dengan kehendak syarak.

Beliau berkata, PAS mengesahkan agar semua pihak bertindak mengikut lunas perundangan dan membawa sebarang isu yang dianggap melampau kepada pihak berkuasa.

Lebih sedih, ujar beliau apabila tindakan menggalakkan orang menampar dengan habuan wang itu disasarkan terhadap seorang wanita.

“Bagi mereka yang tidak bersetuju dengan Teresa Kok, anjurlah debat dengan beliau sambil menonton video beliau dan tunjukkan di mana yang dituduh sebagai menghina semasa debat. Jangan pula memberi alasan tiada masa,” ujarnya dalam satu kenyataan.

Justeru, beliau menasihatkan agar berhujahlah menggunakan lidah dan akal dan bukannya melakukan tindakan tidak bertamadun.

“Cukuplah bermain isu agama dan bangsa tatkala nilai wang ringgit, yang jatuh ke paras terendah RM2.624 berbanding mata wang Singapura dan ekonomi negara semakin malap,” ujarnya sinis.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 7 February 2014, 1:03 pm and is filed under
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Three things we learned from: The Teresa Kok video

The Malay Mail Online

February 7, 2014

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 — Scorching temperatures of the current lunar new year are no match for the heated tempers surrounding a seemingly innocuous Chinese New Year by DAP’s Seputeh MP, Teresa Kok.

But while the video itself was veiled in sly innuendo for the sake of plausible deniability, the responses that it triggered have laid bare three things:

1. Malaysians have lost their humour

The video is satire, that much is undeniable. Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, for one, noted that the real crime was that it was not humorous at all.

While the jury may be out on the quality of the comedy, even non-native speakers of the Mandarin and Cantonese used within will see that all it does is caricaturise personalities and events it claims not to.

Of course there is the sting to the ego if you were to find yourself the subject of ridicule, but that is life. Sometimes the world laughs with you; other times, it laughs at you.

Today, we seem only able to laugh at others and to lash out angrily when the sniggers come our way.

Beyond condemning us to never have another Tan Sri P. Ramlee in our midst, it means that too many are too eager to see offence where none may be, or to see a harmless jest as an injurious slur.

With that, expect more than the usual suspects to exercise their constitutional right to slaughter chickens in public.

2. Membership has its privileges

The police are often accused of double standards when it comes to public rallies, in which the difference between a perfectly legal and acceptable gathering to express dissatisfaction and the cusp of violent revolt to unseat a rightfully- and democratically-elected government boils down to what party card you carry in your wallet.

It is too early to start tarring the authorities with claims of bias but if clear incitement to commit physical harm coupled with implicit threats of racial violence does not send policemen knocking on the doors of those involved, just chalk it up to wearing the right colours.

3. The first step is the hardest

The last thing any right-thinking Malaysian would want is a repeat of the May 13, 1969 incident but while some struggle to put it out of their memories, others are too eager to make sure that none of us forget.

Last month, it was a banner that made reference to the bloody racial riots that was bandied about during a protest against a PKR lawmaker in Penang.

Yesterday, the ante was upped with the dramatic slaughter of live chickens and the smearing of their blood on a sign that again made reference to May 13.

Every day a little farther? Where will it end?

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                This entry was posted on Friday, 7 February 2014, 8:10 pm and is filed under
nation building
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Politics
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Teresa Kok
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