Where is the Spirit of Merdeka?

[In anticipation of "Merdeka" Day, I'd like to rehash one of my earliest articles- first published here on 23/01/2007 (see archives) - long before the formation of Pakatan Rakyat.
The question of a PAS vote and an Islamic state was also being hotly debated in MT back then.
This was also published in Malaysia Today, and the title was actually given by RPK. It has been edited a little (in Arial font at the end) so as to be a little more relevant in today's context.]

It is common knowledge that the Utopian Malaysia does not and will never exist.

The best that we can do is to be aware, voice out where we can be heard, and hope that whatever that is mentioned is worth something towards development of new ideas in nation building. The Malaysia as we know it today, isn't what was envisioned by the those who hoped for nationhood during “Merdeka”.

The spirit of Merdeka has been subverted by racists and the religious zealots over the years, and has been replaced by chauvinism – racial and religious. It all somehow points to the political “coup” that was engineered during the events that led to the May 13, 1969.

So we had a much publicized "social contract", wherein the people themselves didn't know the cancer that was prescribed as a medicine, which was to cure all the ills within. Unfortunately, we are a society so paralyzed by symptomatic solutions one has to wonder whether we will learn anything from this mindless atrocity.
What we have now is an idea that has been entrenched so deep in the psyche - that to remove this “cancer” called the New Economic Policy would be, akin to killing the “goose that lays the golden eggs” for the beneficiaries. The beneficiary has become a hideously obese and grotesque, addict of a monster, who cannot live without his crutch and his regular “fix”. If he doesn't get his fix he would gnaw on his fingers till he bleeds, rave and rant, and wave his little weapon with threats against all those who try to help.

He does not see or understand reason.
His perception and values have become so twisted , that he does not recognize himself when he looks in the mirror. He chooses to destroy his reflection by destroying the mirror , as he says that it is only an illusion – “it isn't and will never be real”. The only good that sees, are ways to satisfy his gluttony and cravings. To justify him, the audience of unthinking little monsters applaud. All who choose to disagree, are said to be “biting the hand that fed them”.

The very hideous cancer that is destroying the nation as a whole, has become a symbol of pride and arrogance, for a political agenda so consumed by itself. To abide by the contract, to the advocates, mean defeat and shame - not honour. They have failed so miserably to even convince themselves that they are on the right track, that they look for scapegoats all around them.

Having failed in its shortcut to an economic miracle, the advocates of the system (clamouring for issues and a new agenda to perpetuate their greed and envy) now choose to preach intolerance, “arabization”, and religiosity in the name of God, to further isolate, and “drug into a stupor” a beautiful people that was once open to change.
Even if we aren't too accurate in our assessment, much of what that has been passed off for Islamization by the govt was nothing more than frothy God-talk - mindless, thoughtless, and in its exploitation of people, heartless.
The “one-upmanship” practiced by the various institutions that espouse religious chauvinism, is in fact a pathetic display of their failures and insecurities.

They need to feel that they are “winning” and wish to gloat about their “success” in being the defenders of their misplaced priorities - while hiding the enemies within, behind a cloak (turban or beard, too) of religiosity.

Then again there are those who see the folly of race/ religion politics, but intend to oppose the system by simply voting for an opposition who are themselves part of this system of apartheid, by virtue of the racial make-up of their membership. They, the people, vote because they think it makes difference, when in fact, these votes are only perpetuating the system by lending it legitimacy.

All political parties in Malaysia are race based. Most hide behind the façade of a non racist constitution. At least the original members of the Alliance aren't hiding and make no apologies about that fact ..... in fact, they don't apologize for anything when flaunting their agenda of greed and robbery.

Dear Sir- lets call a spade, a spade.
Malaysia is a one party state. UMNO.
PAS is out of the equation by virtue of its religious/political convictions.
DAP is glaringly Chinese. PKR - no agenda or alternative “formula”.
All are Lame ducks.

The rest (read component parties of BN) are in it for their share/spoils in the grand scheme of things, and to bow before the almighty powers. There can only be one kind of a viable opposition – one that is truly multi-racial in its membership. One that espouses universal values. One that is led by a Malay majority. In the Malaysian political landscape, these criteria are sorely lacking.

Politicians today, seek convenient excuses to perpetuate the status quo of racist politics - they blame the people for this, when it is they who have created this predicament. They forget that they as leaders, should be playing the music which the people dance to. They choose ignore the fact that it is their job to lead, and not be led by the mindless mob, in a siege-mindset.
Although the ruling party is actually aware of this, faced with the "ideological frankensteins" it has nurtured for 50 years, it is powerless to reinvent itself - and find itself being led by unthinking extremists bent on creating a fascist state. PAS on the opposition front is faced with the same predicament where its conservatives (under the Hadi-Nasha leadership) - who seek refuge in religious orthodoxy - are concerned. They both appear to advocate a confrontational approach in dealing with those outside their fold - and so, breed much resentment and uncertainty among the rakyat.

As such, Malaysia today is a nation that has lost its conscience.
Lets hope that the soul still lives.

cruzinthots.blogspot.com

Anwar promises proof of BN blackmail

By Lee Wei Lian

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 — Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says he will expose how threats and inducements are used against Pakatan Rakyat state assemblymen and members of parliament in his speech in parliament tomorrow.

“I am going to show proof of blackmail in my parliament speech tomorrow,” the federal representative for Permatang Pauh told reporters today.

Pakatan Rakyat leaders have been under ferocious pressure with talk of defections rife ever since three Perak state representatives switched their support from the fledging coalition earlier this month giving BN a lead in the state assembly and causing the ouster of Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaludin.

It is speculated that the proof that Anwar plans to present tomorrow will be related to the resignation of PKR’s Bukit Selambau state assemblyman V Arumugam on February 8. The resignation was allegedly due to pressure exerted by BN on Arumugam to defect.

Arumugam had lodged a police report on various threats he received but claims no police action was taken.

Apart from Kedah, BN is also rumoured to be on the prowl in Selangor where a PKR led Pakatan government holds an eight seat advantage over BN.

Last week, PKR’s Port Klang assemblyman Badrul Hashim Abdullah had to deny allegations that khalwat charges are being used against him in order to force a defection to BN.

Most recently, naked photographs of PKR’s Bukit Lanjan state representative Elizabeth Wong have been leaked to the media and Pakatan Rakyat has been quick to label the photos as BN’s attempt at gutter politics aimed at discrediting the Selangor state government with which Wong was a state executive councillor.

In a possibly related incident, a man named Ramlan Haji Abu Bakar who claims to be president of Gerakan Reformasi Rakyat Malaysia (Reformis) met with reporters in Parliament today and told them that he was issuing PKR vice president Azmin Ali with an ultimatum to meet him within five days or he would expose what he claims would be damaging secrets of the Selangor government.

In response, Azmin told reporters that he had been away performing his umrah in Mecca and then preoccupied with the political crisis in Perak which was the reason why he was not able to get in touch with the president of Reformis.

Azmin also told reporters that he installed a CCTV system in his house two days ago due to security concerns as his house was broken into four times within a year and both brake hoses in his car were recently cut. “When my house was broken into, it was not an ordinary burglary,” he says. “They wanted to put something into the house.”

On a separate topic, Azmin said that PKR would continue to defend embattled state representative Wong, and that all PKR members of parliament and state representatives would be meeting tonight to discuss the issue.

DEWAN DISPATCHES: Karpal Singh is King of the 'Damn'

By : Azmi Anshar

DEWAN RAKYAT, Feb 26, 2009:

CAN anyone recall the last time the damn word “celaka” was uttered torrentially in the House during a full-blown debate, hurled in the august hall like the worst acid rain beating down on an unsuspecting parched earth? Thank Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) for having the brass and the crass to wax lyrical on such a taboo word and for reminding us that “celaka” can now be applied as part of a viable political lexicon.

That Karpal was possessed to disgorge the word in such unconstrained panache is understandable: he had been on the receiving end of a vile, violent threat to his life. Two bullets sent to anonymously to him would have triggered a maddening reaction from anyone but for the Tiger of Jelutong, it was an extreme warning against his earnestness to file for legal action against the Sultan of Perak for controversially instructing Nizar Jamaluddin to vacate the Perak Menteri Besar’s post and appointing Dr Zambry Kadir, thus reinstating the toppled BN State Government.

That and the temerity of Umno Youth members to demonstrate in the proximity of his Penang law firm and home, and the deluge of police reports lodged against him for his allegedly “treasonous” insouciance, treason being the operative word pounded unrestrainedly by his enemies.

It was as if Karpal had deliberately set himself up as a sitting duck, an easy to sight moving target that even the most insignificant Barisan Nasional politician can aim and fire at will, and still hit the target. But the difference between Karpal and these political pass-by shooters is that he had never shorn his ageless Teflon body armour that casually deflects bombs, bullets, arrows, knives and the occasional stabs in the back.

Like all seasoned, been there, done that politicians, and that includes his compatriot Lim Kit Siang, his nemesis Dr Mahathir Mohamad, his one-time nemesis-turned-compatriot-turned dubious nemesis Anwar Ibrahim, controversy is a golden badge of honour worn with defiance, aggression and a measure of theatrics to create a wow factor. Karpal will be the first to admit this, seeing that he practically wrote the book on how to play up a glorious scene in Parliament, lap it up and earn Brownie points over the other side.
Give Karpal an inch and he will improvise: the lump is cultivated into a clump and before you know it, the inch swells into a monumental issue, chewable, biteable and serviceable to any political issues of the moment. The incredible aspect of Karpal’s extemporised design is that it steamrolls ruthlessly over friend and foe alike, as demonstrated by his flabbergasting rant against Anwar, Kit and Lim Guan Eng, whom he emphatically blamed for the collapse of the PR Perak Government.

Debating the Royal Address while garrisoning accusations that he committed treason, Karpal was in an impossibly uncompromising disposition, taking on detractors like a Jet Li character “kungfuing” his way out of a pack of snarling attackers. Inside the House, Karpal’s an old hand in verbal hand-to-hand combat, seeing it needed a posse of BN MPs to pounce on his querulous charge that an Umno Youth member was responsible for sending the live bullets to him.

"Where did the celaka (damn) Pemuda Umno fellow get the bullets?" he bellowed as Puad Zakarshi (BN-Batu Pahat), Ismail Mohamed Said (BN-Kuala Krau) and Abdul Rahman Dahlan (BN-Kota Belud) leapt from their seats to demand an instant retraction, which Karpal sidestepped momentarily by cloyingly stating that he was “not accusing anyone in particular.”

By this time Karpal had the a sizeable number of BN MPs lapping up on his stage play as more demanded that he retract the damn word. "It is unparliamentary language. He should retract it," insisted Rahman, whose riposte was justified, being the Umno Youth secretary that at that point of time had to defend the wing’s honour.

By this time, Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar had enough of Karpal’s theatrics, first appealing to the statesman in Karpal not to spew the word again but when that wasn’t effective, threw the full weight of the chair by ordering Karpal, which the MP agreed though not without a stinging parting salvo. "Okay, okay I will retract, but that does not change anything about Umno Youth."

Before that moment of unhinging came to pass, Karpal threw tempting morsels of political double-speak on his radioactive remarks that Anwar was unfit to lead Pakatan Rakyat and should step down. "I don't have any misunderstanding with him,” was Karpal’s whimsical overture. “I accept him as a leader of Pakatan.”

That won’t do, the chorus of BN backbenchers counterstroked and plangently called on Karpal to clarify his “misleading” apologia, to which he must have smiled enigmatically as a quick response but a second later, he returned to character in his huff and gruff intonation. “That is none of your business," he dismissed the pack.

Karpal’s theatrics would have the usual repercussion - indignant protests, demands for his head to roll and so forth - but never physical violence. It changed today after the DAP chairman was confronted by a mob Selangor Umno Youth members at the Parliament tower block then degenerated into a shouting match and culminated in a scuffle with the MP for Segambut Lim Lip Eng having his shirt tugged.

As soon as Karpal arrived for the afternoon session, the Umno Youth mob started heckling him over his “damn” reference to the wing. Karpal's aide immediately summoned help and several DAP members turn up and the potential for a really ugly incident was forthcoming.

Parliament security officers quickly summoned police help and Karpal was safely wheeled under heavy escort to the lobby. BN Backbenchers chief Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing quickly condemned the marauders and complained of the slack security. "This is not the way. In politics there are bound to be people who provoke. We have to accept that this part and parcel of politics," he said in Karpal’s defence.

But the attack gave Karpal even more fodder to play with: inside the House later, Karpal and several DAP members questioned how the pre-meditated way the mob confronted Karpal, beseeching Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia to act agai8nst the perpetrators. "I am disabled but not intimidated by this,” Karpal declared in his usual bravado but he being him, Karpal still made a meal out of the torrid incident. “The police were there and they just watched,” he charged.

Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin, while regretting the incident and promising to investigate, challenged Karpal to back his allegation with proof in 24 hours or be considered a liar. Mukhriz Mahathir, Khairy’s rival for the Umno Youth chief’s post in next month’s party elections, proposed that Karpal be charged with sedition for questioning the sultan besides chiding him for stating that “Singh is King”. "He does not respect our rulers," Mukhriz charged in a statement.

Karpal can be a tacky one at playing delightful mind games with this crowd, MPs and Umno Youth mob. That Anwar apologia was a 180-degree swing from his angry outburst denouncing the Opposition Leader to a pulp, done in the full light of media scrutiny. Is this his way of playing the paradoxical game?

If one is to consider the deception technique of throwing wolves off the scent, Karpal’s sudden vindication of Anwar, the ‘damn’ utterance and the pointed accusation that an Umno Youth member was the anonymous bullets’ sender may be the flimflammery needed to deflect the marauders as he buys time to plan and execute the legal action against Sultan Azlan Shah. Or maybe that too is another of his famed flimflammery?

Lack of faith disturbing? — The Malaysian Insider

FEB 19 — Sometimes the best explanations are the simplest ones. Princess Diana died because her driver was drunk and going too fast. The Twin Towers were hit by Islamic terrorists, not CIA agents. The continued success of Simon Cowell and the Osbourne family is, indeed, one of the harbingers of the apocalypse.

To this list, we can add the reason Manchester United will, in all likelihood, move five points clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table by beating Fulham.

They have a better team. Now this may come as a surprise to those still looking for clues to account for the change in the balance of power this season. In recent months, many otherwise rational people have become convinced that Liverpool have frittered away supremacy in the title race based on a combination of rogue and random factors.

Mind games played by Sir Alex Ferguson, the fractious contract negotiations of Rafael Benitez, boardroom unrest at Anfield or any number of peripheral events are believed to have inspired Manchester United to claw away at Liverpool's lead. This is good news for analysts, commentators and headline-writers, who have had, as The Flintstones theme tune puts it, a gay old time.

Without wishing to spoil the fun, however, it is more straightforward than that. Take the best Manchester United XI and the best Liverpool XI and put them together: how many of Benitez's team would get into Ferguson's? Not many. And that is why the championship is again heading for Old Trafford.

By my reckoning, maximum four, minimum two. Split the difference, call it three. Whichever way, there is nothing here to suggest that Liverpool can get the better of Manchester United this season, or next, without substantial upgrading in the summer.

Using it, Liverpool would be placed above Chelsea, although not by a huge distance. Manchester United, by contrast, would dominate Chelsea with just one player (Frank Lampard) or a generous three (Lampard plus Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole) getting into Ferguson's current team.

Assessment is made on form this season, not reputation. So while there may have been a time when Jose Reina, Liverpool's goalkeeper, would have shaded it from Edwin van der Sar, in goal for Manchester United, it is not right now when the Dutchman has beaten a long-standing British record for minutes without conceding a league goal, and is closing in on the 1,390- minute European record set by Dany Verlinden of Club Brugge in Belgium in 1990.

Javier Mascherano is another who would have walked into the holding midfield role at any club last season, but he has been a disappointment this year, perhaps as a result of his exertions for Argentina during the Olympics.

That leaves Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard as the two Liverpool players who would definitely be accommodated in the Manchester United team while, on a good day, one of Xabi Alonso or Mascherano could make the defensive midfield and an out-of-position Jamie Carragher would contend at full back.

Benitez's penchant for drama has drawn understandably negative comment as Liverpool's grip on the prize has weakened, but he cannot be held solely responsible. His squad deficiencies are being exposed just as Manchester United's strength in depth is at its most apparent.

Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, had it right. Asked about the mind games that famously denied Newcastle United the title in 1996, he replied that Newcastle's defence, not Kevin Keegan's outburst on Sky TV, determined the final placings. Logical explanations get you nowhere in the pantomime that is the Premier League, though, so instead we waste valuable time analysing pronouncements from Old Trafford, and their effect, at the expense of crediting what is arguably the finest squad of footballers assembled by an English club.

There has never been a group like the one at Manchester United. Gary Neville versus Wes Brown versus Rafael da Silva, and that is just for the right back spot. Wayne Rooney versus Dimitar Berbatov versus Carlos Tevez versus Cristiano Ronaldo. Yet we ignore this and become distracted by Rafa's rant.

There are similarities with the collapse of England's cricket team in Jamaica two weeks ago, in that several small factors might have made an impact on the cohesion of the team, but none were actually in the middle with bat in hand.

So Benitez does not get on with Rick Parry, the chief executive? Big deal.

Jimmy Greaves, in wonderfully flippant mode, summed up the inconsequence of departmental relationships on the dressing room, by recalling his time at Tottenham Hotspur. “Most of us didn't like Bill Nicholson, and Bill Nicholson didn't like us,” he said. “In fact, the only thing we all agreed on was that we couldn't stand the board of directors.”

Benitez's distance from Parry and George Gillett, one half of the partnership of American owners, may be a problem for the long-term stability of the club and could be very damaging in the summer if he leaves, but it should not be, here and now, an issue for the playing staff. Nor should Benitez's feelings about Ferguson's influence on English football have an effect.

That press conference tirade is often cited as explanation for Liverpool's reversal of fortune, but what would the fall-out be anyway? That Liverpool players rally around Benitez in the desire to stick one up United? They seem to have had that motivation for some while, judging by Mascherano's furious display at Old Trafford last season.

The idea that Benitez's claims put pressure on his players is also ridiculous; as if there were previously no pressure on a Liverpool team with an opportunity to win its first title in the modern era. Had Benitez taken a vow of silence until the end of the season, the tension at Anfield would still be oppressively thick.

The reality is that Liverpool are going up against a colossal group of players at United and no team, not even the lavishly-assembled Chelsea, can live with them right now. They have a unique multiplicity, so even the understudies of understudies would get into many good teams (as Mikael Silvestre did at Arsenal this season).

It is in many ways the perfect squad, because it also provides for the future in players such as Ben Foster, the reserve goalkeeper, and Jonny Evans, who has fitted in magnificently at centre half in the absence of Rio Ferdinand this season.

It is a sign of United's power that they could play an unconventional central midfield of Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher against Chelsea and still win comfortably. On another day it might be Michael Carrick and Anderson or Paul Scholes. If Benitez had United's squad he could rant at or fall out with who he liked: he would still win the league, as United almost certainly will.

Now combine the two teams, starting at the back. Both have good keepers, but there can be no argument that a man who has gone 1,212 minutes without conceding a league goal is among the players of the season. Van der Sar, therefore, gets the nod over Reina. He has been on a roll since emerging victorious from the penalty shoot-out at the Champions League final last season.

United have three strong right backs and the only alternative would be to overlook them all for Carragher, Benitez's defensive rock, out of position in a role he has occupied in key matches in Europe. This would be appealing because, to put it bluntly, he is not getting into this team at centre half.

Those positions are reserved for Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, an early contender for Footballer of the Year. Ferdinand's appearances through the season have been restricted by injury, but Vidic has been a constant and as a partnership they have now surpassed John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho of Chelsea.

At left back, United's Patrice Evra is the best in the country at the moment, ahead of Ashley Cole, of Chelsea.

Midfield brings another Manchester United landslide with Gerrard the only Liverpool player in a four that would comprise Ronaldo, Fletcher and Giggs. Torres would be the goalscoring spearhead, but his partner would be Rooney. Final total: Manchester United 8, Liverpool 3. And one of Liverpool's three gets in with a shoe-horn.

Despite the excellent job done by Roy Hodgson, Manchester United should beat Fulham and, at that moment, a daunting lead will open up. Liverpool still have to go to Old Trafford, so the battle is not over, but the biggest shock of the season would be if United threw it away from here.

If that were the case, there genuinely would be need for an investigation — into whether Ronaldo's heart was still in Manchester, whether Berbatov's arrival had unsettled the team, if Ferguson was correct in his treatment of Tevez.

Were Manchester United to blow it, we would all be looking behind the story for clues. It is easier to work out what has gone wrong at Liverpool, though: the answer is right there, on the teamsheet. — The Daily Mail

Was this the future of Umno? — Leslie Lau

FEB 18 — At best last night's televised debate between the three Umno Youth chief candidates confirmed what an increasing number of Malaysians think of Umno — that its leaders are out of touch, arrogant, hypocritical.

Worst still, it showed the appeal to the Umno ground of particularly racist views.

At one stage Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo appeared to be even suggesting that it was blasphemous for the government to consider non-Malays on the same standing as Malays.

Malays, he argued, had a special position under the federal constitution. Likewise Islam and as such it could not be placed on the same standing as non-Islamic religions.

Even when the moderator pointed out to Dr Khir that he was one of the leaders in Umno and Barisan Nasional that lost an entire state to the Pakatan Rakyat, he argued that it was because his party was not Islamic enough and did not champion the Malays enough.

Never once did Dr Khir acknowledge the public perception of corruption and arrogance in his government when he was Selangor menteri besar.

To their credit, the other two candidates — Khairy Jamaluddin and Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir — appeared a little uncomfortable with some of Dr Khir's remarks.

Mukhriz appeared to be way out of his league during the debate, and looked like he did not really want to be there.

From his responses — that he was very proud of his father — it was clear that what he was trying to offer Malaysians nostalgic for his father's strong leadership a return to Mahathirism.

Mukhriz offered support for Dr Khir's assertion that the government has been slow in invoking the Internal Security Act on DAP politician Karpal Singh over his threat to sue the Perak Sultan.

He also voiced support for a continuation of the policy to teach science and mathematics in English, which was one of the last major policies introduced by his father.

But among the three men it was probably only Khairy who attempted to project a more centrist view.

The current deputy Youth chief played it safe when it came to the issue of affirmative action policies — he was for such policies to continue — but he avoided the vitriolics of the other two men when it came to the use of the ISA.

He also pointed out that the upcoming power transition from his father-in-law Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to Datuk Seri Najib Razak would be meaningless without reform.

Compared to Dr Khir's conservative bordering on extremist views, Khairy's message was probably the most palatable of the three candidates (Mukhriz was almost not there).

He appeared to be saying sorry on behalf of his father-in-law when he acknowledged the failure to deliver the reforms promised in 2004 led to BN and Umno's disastrous performance in last year's general election.

But the fact that the moderator Dr Agus Yusof pointed out to some ironic applause from the audience that Khairy was also seen to be a liability which contributed to BN's results, suggests Malaysians remain quite sceptical and cynical about what the deputy Youth chief had to say.

If the audience reactions were anything to go by Dr Khir probably won the debate.

If the audience reactions are a reflection of the views of Umno members, Dr Khir will probably become the next Umno Youth chief.

And if that happens, it will probably see a more nationalist Umno emerging, and one which is opposed to reforms and changes, and one which will lead a more hardline government.

Leslie Lau is consultant editor to The Malaysian Insider.

POLITICAL TSUNAMIS,SCANDALS, MARRIGES...AND THE DIVORCES OF 2008

Oleh: Noor Hasilah Ismail

The curtains of 2008 have started to close in, marking the end of a most colourful year for Malaysians.

Not only have our celebrities filled us up with tales of marital joys and sorrows, but so have our political leaders - whom if I may say so – kept us up even more, with some unbelievably sensational events of the year.

The whole spectrum of relationships seem to have been laid out in the vast political landscape for us all to witness – 'marriages', 'divorces', even "reconciliations", in addition to scandals and incidences of "infidelity".

To top it all – a political tsunami which left many shocked, but many more delighted.

January – the first shock of the year for Malaysians – news of the involvement of a senior political figure in a sex video hit the headlines. Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek had to offer his hand of 'divorce' to MCA.

February – VK Lingam's scandalous hearing became the main news when his former secretary Jayanthi, 45, claimed she was locked in all night in 1994 with two other secretaries to type the judgement of a civil suit involving Tan Sri Vincent Tan.

March – The infamous political tsunami – when the "threesome" or "madu tiga" PR of DAP-PKR-PAS coalition rolled over five states in a single Malaysian-style tidal wave. In this 12th. General Election (PRU-12), BN's loss of Penang, Selangor, Perak, Kedah, and Kelantan, also resulted in the loss of their two-third majority in Dewan Rakyat. The former corporate figure, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim (PKR) was elected Menteri Besar Selangor, while DAP's Head Secretary Lim Guan Eng replaced Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon in Penang. As for Perak – the new Menteri Besar is now Datuk Mohamad Nizar of PAS.

April – First "divorce" of the year? Director of JAIP, Datuk Jamry Sury, was told to leave house by the new Perak Menteri Besar for allegedly not giving the necessary co-operation with the state government. Within 24 hours Datuk Jamry was asked to provide his leadership services in another 'house', among other state departments. April also saw the PM announcing the factors leading to BN's failure to maintain its two-thirds majority, and losing in Kedah and Perak. Acts of sabotage by UMNO members against candidates in 14 Parliamentary and 22 state constituencies led to the major losses.

May – PM again made the headlines – accepting former PKR Youth Head – Mohamad Ezam Mohd. Nor – into UMNO (which he left in 1999.) May also witnessed heated arguments on "Ketuanan Melayu" (Malay rights issue) between the opposition and BN MPs in Dewan Rakyat. This escalated during the wrapping up of the debate by the Minister of Unity, Culture, Arts, and Heritage, Datuk Mohd Shafie. The Deputy Speaker, Datuk Ronald Kiandee, finally was forced to postpone sitting until the following day.

June – Malaysians were again in for another shock when the former assistant to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Mohd. Saiful Bukhari bin Azlan made a police report that he had been sodomised by Anwar, under force, several times. Anwar then issued a media statement denying the allegation.

July – Agendadaily created history when it successfully organised the Debate between the Minister of Information Datuk Shabery Cheek and Anwar Ibrahim on the petrol increase issue. This was aired live on RTM. Although he was seen to have been halted several times in this battle of professional arguments, Shabery was praised for his courage to debate against Anwar. In comparison to other BN politicians who had proven to be much braver arguing behind the scenes, Shabery had been quite "promising."

August – The June main story continued with Anwar's former Assistant Mohd. Saiful Bukhari swearing in a mosque to support his claim of having been sodomised unwillingly by Anwar. However this did not stop Anwar from winning the by-election in Permatang Pauh with 31,195 votes.

September – UMNO Supreme Council "divorced" Bukit Bendera's UMNO Division Head, Datuk Ahmad Ismail for three years for inciting controversial racial issues through a statement he had made earlier.

October – The arrest under ISA of Teresa Kok and Sin Chew journalist Tan Hoong Cheng fuelled another bomb of anger from the opposition and created a media frenzy.

November – Another political tsunami - this time among the female political leaders of UMNO. Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim announced she would be contesting for the Wanita's Head post. This led to Datuk Shahrizat Jalil deciding to contest against Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz. In the same month, a Seremban division UMNO meeting held at Tuanku Jaafar Golf Club turned violent when members started punching each other immediately after the Division Head, Datuk Ishak Ismail ended his speech. Two women were injured.

December – Another "divorce" happened in UMNO. Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, former Minister in the PM Department was sacked after several of his actions were found to have gone against party ethics. One of them was attending an opposition party gathering. UMNO Supreme Council also suspended the membership of Head of Petaling division, Datuk Zahar Hashim for three years, for making a statement criticising the party. Another UMNO Division Head, Datuk Ahmad Lebai Sudin of Pokok Sena, also had his membership suspended - for two years - by the UMNO Disciplinary Board. He was found to have sabotaged the party in the last GE in March. Another member of that same division, Halimah Hanafi also had her membership suspended for two years for having made a false report. Just last week, Datuk Zahar, who had not been satisfied with the action taken against him, took the decision to "seek the hand" of the opposition party, PKR.

In UMNO Batu Division, the crisis that had been dragging on for almost two months was finally resolved on December 29 when its new division head was appointed. A former committee member, Yahya Mat Ghani won in the selection crisis, against the then incumbent Datuk Mohd. Yusoff Hamid by a majority of 136 votes. The latter only obtained two miserable votes. What an end to a year of much political tidal waves!

OF BULLSHITTERS, GUNDUS AND DUNGUS

On the eve of 15th September 2008, 15th of Ramadan 1429, I sat alone watching the flowing stream under the feet of my house in Wadi Hussien Janda Baik, Bentong, Pahang. While observing the water glide trough the pebbles finding its own way, as it produces a soothing natural melody, suddenly I felt a surge in my thoughts, almost like the river that needs to flow. I feel very thankful to God who described heaven as a garden with a river flowing under it, and a good home in that garden. A home sweet home.

I am also reminded of a hadeeth where someone who performs the prayers 5 times a day is like a man who bathes in a river 5 times in a day, where all the dirt and impurities will be wiped off.

I also remembered Kitaro, who looks for inspiration on the sides of the streams, and Leonardo Da Vinci who also draw on the river as a source of inspiration. Well if you don’t believe me, then observe the portrait of Mona Lisa on the net, and you will notice that behind her is a bridge that cuts across a river.

The 17th of Ramadan has been reported as the night that Allah sent down the Al-Quran to prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) as he was contemplating and pondering in the cave of hira. This book was sent to people who ponder, who reflect and who thinks. Li qaumin yatafakkarun. They say it is better to be unborn than untaught, for we are thinking beings after all.

Al-quran isn’t an empty slogan, instrument for rethorics, it is not something one toys with. La yamassuhu illal mutahharun (nobody touches it save those who are pure). Al-quran is a source of energy, a power-house for spiritual strength, it is a phenomenological cure for the sickness of hearts and minds. So powerful is the spiritual source of energy that the prophet Yunus who was in the belly of a whale could survive. Yunus was a prophet who at one point gave up on his people, and as a punishment he was swallowed by the whale(nun as they would call it) . His cry ‘la illa ha ila anta subhanaka inni kun tu minaz zalimin’(there is no God but you, Glory be to you, indeed I was among the people who were unjust) rejuvenated his spirit and upon release he kept on delivering the messages of truth.

Why doesn’t the so called ulema adopt a similar attitude and realize that their task is in delivering and not forcing people to believe in them? Why not ask for forgiveness and ponder upon the miracles in the Quran? Miracles happen to those who believe in them.

As I continued to gaze on the river, looking at the swimming fish, I thought, why don’t I share the significance of the night of the revealation of the quran(Nuzul Quran) with my readers who are close to me at heart?

Revealation(Wahy) from Allah is light that causes darkness to disappear, but before-hand the frozen brain must be de-frosted, and one must not be arrogant, or remain stubborn in one’s ignorance and stupidity(Gundu’s and dungus)A reader who only memorizes the quran without pondering upon its wisdom and meaning.

It is not an easy task, but if you do it for Allah, Allah will help you when you sincerly practice ‘amar makruf nahi mungkar’. I belief it is my duty to try and change the mindset of fellow Muslims, my brother and sister, who are willing to emulate the Godly characters of Loving,Caring, Sharing, giving and forgiving.

Perhaps this change is not possible in a single writing, but I will be satisfied if this could serve as an eye-opener, for History is rich with writings that has changed millions of people all over the world. It is ideas that drive the world and improve the human condition.

In the end of times, it was said in a hadeeth that Knowledge would be lifted from the world. Today we are faced with a dire shortage of scholars who not only espouse their ideas but also live by them. I pray for the appearance of Scholars like Tok Kenali from kelantan and Sheikh said Linggi from Negri sembilan. I also pray that we will have among our young generation Students who aspire to be the 10TH Wali of the Wali Songo, Ameen.

Al-Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad trough the angel Gibreel for hearts that were guided, those who submit to the power and grace of Allah the almighty, who have a deep conviction in ‘Ilmullah’. The miracle that God endowed Musa for example, when he took a branch from a tree and made to be his walking stick, that Allah made it turn into a snake that devoured all the snakes of firaun’s sorcerers, until the court believed in his prophethood. Of course Firaun executed all his sorcerers. a king who plays god when he should be godly.

When reading a good book, one does not just read it for its presentation, but look for a moral of the story, be it in fiction or non-fiction. Applied in this scenario, are leaders today free of sorcerers? One can take it literally and look at the practices of some politicians who make use of mystics, witch doctors and practices of the paranormal craft. But beyond that, the media is today the sorcerer for the leaders, it is like magic, used to propagate their interests, and like black magic when it serve evil intentions. Writers and bloggers could either choose to be instruments of Satan and propound Half-truths and Fitna(slandering) or they could call a spade when they see one.

This phenomenon is so powerful that it can conjure up an illusion so believable that the undiscerning will take their words as Divine. The art of Political spinning is also included in this category where Instead of genuinely thinking about the fate of the people, politicians present a likeable image but behind it is a fascade to promote one’s private interests.

But because this phenomenon happens in the universe of Allah the creator, than it obeys His law, and just as Musa’s snake has eaten all the other fake snakes, than the truth will cause falsehoods to disappear. This is the era where the Internet will be the new medium for the Snake of musa to be eating up all the other snakes, its time that we produce musas’ as they would say, its sometimes not the writer, but the book he writes, but i will say that in this day and age, its sometimes not the book, but the writer,just like how A-list actors is a sure-bet for movie makers, although Time magazine predicts differently for the 21st century with the proliferation of personal media. But irregardless, when it is the voice of truth, it is the voice of God.


The Quran, trough Surah Al-ikhlas guides us on the truth of our creator.

1. Say: He is Allah, the One and Only;
2. Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
3. He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;
4. And there is none like unto Him.

–Translation by Abdullah Yusuf Ali.

Now, if we strongly believe in the power of prayer, as William james has demonstrated in his book ‘varieties of religious experience’, and if we strongly believe in God’s promise,

When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way.-Baqarah 186.

Why then do we ask from sources other than God? Why do we depend our lives on mortals? We fear the laws of men more then we fear the laws of god. It seems as if we have ‘killed’ god from our daily practices.

God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it? –The madman, by Friedrich Nietzsche.

Of course, Allah is AL hay, He is Al-Awwal wal Akhir, HE cannot die, dying is impossible for Him. But what we can learn from this sentence is that, people has shut God out of their daily lives, they play god insted of being godly, they read the Quran as they would read the newspaper(Koran in the Indonesian language), but even worse since they don’t even try to understand it, and dont take it as a surviving miracle.

It is He that causes life, and it Is He that is powerful over death. " one does not die before the appointed time"-malay proverb

Just look at the prophets for lessons in life, yunus as we said earlier who was stuck in a whale’s belly, or Ibrahim surviving arson. All that helped them survive was their strong faith, a true beliver in god, and their living out their teachings, much different from people today who potray a religious outlook, venturing to sell words of God who are privately neither believers nor doers of what they preach.

As far as I can recall, it has been 51 years since Malaysia my country has been independent. Which means, we have celebrated the Nuzul quran for 51 times, if not more. But I have not seen a paradigm shift, at least not towards a more holistic paradigm. It is as if we are stuck in a capsule in history. One needs to ask what role has the so-called ulema and the paid intellectuals played in this ‘Nation-building’? Why is there this void in mentality and attitude?

There has been enormous progress in economy, education, and technology,we have produced sky-scrapers,a world class airport, not to mention other infrastructures worthy of awe, but where ideas are concerned are we not dwarves? We should work on producing human capital that is capable of adding value to whatever they are tasked with, where our mentalities are in tune with our facilities.

We are still at the level of the masses that Al-Ghazali has described in his Munqidh minal-dalal (deliverance from error). Rather then facing ideas and in turn improve our own conception of truth, we prefer to reject them head on, without learning valuable lessons from it. May God bless the dungus and the gundus.

Man is a special creature, blessed with the senses and a faculty of reason, with various intelligences, including the intellect, spiritual, physical emotional and socio-cultural capital. How many then actually believe that the Quran is God’s medium of communication with us?

Read the Quran as If it’s Revealed to you-Arabic proverb.

When you are unaware that the Quran is God’s way of communicating with His creation, and if you never utilise your salat to be your means of establishing this communication, you suffer a communication break-down, it is like trying to surf the net without the modem installed properly.

To read, is to learn, the religious must know the Godly knowledge, spirituality, especially concerning his identity. What is the Human heart? Who am I? What is this ‘I’? Who’s our God? Reading the Quran, without Tauhid( knowledge of His oneness) without affirming the articles of faith, just like knowing the ‘syariat’ is a wasteful act without knowing the Haqiqah and the Ma’rifah. What good is reading the Yaasin but not knowing its wealth of teachings? Among which is that Muhammad was not a sorcerer or an inventor of scripture. The Quran was a revealation, a continuation from the other holy books, the Zabur, the Torah, Injil and the Suhuf of Musa and Ibraheem. Islam is not an invented ‘new’ religion brought by Muhammad, but it follows a continuum of previous messages.

Do we know Muhammad? Muhammad(saw) whom God sent as the living Quran? Muhammad was not the son of God or His partner. His excellence lies in his conduct, which was described as Ma’sum, free from all sins. A clarifier here is that he was capable of doing wrong, but he never chose to do it. To change the mindset of the present generation, we must look at pages from history, especially the successful, and where better to begin then reading the History of our prophet?

The quran is rich with historical episodes. Take for example the lesson we can learn from surah Al-kahfi, when musa met the wise man(we refer him as Khidir), who was capable of seeing with his heart’s eye. To the masses He killed an innocent child, wrecked the ship of the poor, and labored extensively for people who wouldn’t reward them both but for those who know, then Khidir only acted trough his basirah, going beyond Good and evil, he was a superman, who lived with basirah.

Episodes like this should cause readers to think of the Miracles of the Quran, causing people to ponder principal of ethics, metaphysics and the deeper meaning of life.

The prophet Sulaiman was narrated as having the ability to detect the sounds of ants, and able to communicate with them. Perhaps one can ask questions, as per the medium of communication. Is it trough a certain wave-length or frequency, or the light of God perhaps? These questions can be very scientific. Are these not knowledge worthy of study for those interested in building a government based on the Quran as it’s principals?

In a quality prayer, we talk to god with no intermediaries, just like during the Dhikr(his remembrance) and the doa. God is not deaf, even if our earth can be thought of as ageing and sick. God knows what’s in our hearts. Does He have any need for us to use the loudspeaker with radiuses of more than miles? Don’t you know that your heart can be His throne?

If you recall, Tarzan was the one who shouts for animals to come. He calls elephants, the rhinos the monkeys and other inhabitants of the jungle with his bare voice,and even he was more successful.. Let us try and learn from the Kampong people how they manage to get their flock to get back to the coop by their own.

It would be such a waste of the tax-payers money spending millions of dollars building Gigantic mosques, if only contractors stand to profit from it. Does it fit its utility if it’s filled twice in a year for the eid prayers, or at most once a week for Friday prayers?

Be reminded that the hen that has been used to live on a tree, lay eggs and have chicks in the wild do not know the chicken hut. Who’s fault is it if the authorities fail to attract the youth to the Mosques? A river that is contaminated in the roots cannot be clear at the ends, not unless you install a filtering system anyways.

Perhaps some of my readers would think that I have gone crazy, picking on the inhabitants of the mosques. It is strange, but true, that throughout the Holy month of Ramadan, while performing the tarawikh prayer, the loudspeaker is used to annoy adherents of other faiths in almost all the mosques. I suppose this is what happens when Bidaah is introduced in ibadah(innovations in worship of god) One man started to collect everyone together behind the imam so that people pray united, and that was fine, but when these people added ‘lets’ use the loud speaker so that the neighbors who don’t go will feel guilty when they don’t. Or perhaps they want the neighbors to follow the imam in their private vicinities? Have they not heard of the hadeeth that says, in the end of times, voices will be raised in the mosques?

Wouldn’t it be nice, if people who intends on rejuvenating the mosques use a spiritual kind of attraction, and figures who are attractive in their conducts? A person with a quality of a Murshid, a daie and a murabbi. The people became attracted to the prophet because of his character, his honesty and good nature. The messenger written by Tariq ramadan is a good book on the prophets character and life. Or perhaps one should look for writers like Mutahhari and Ali-shariati as muslim intellectuals who are able to answer to the calls of our times.

The prophet Muhammad was the last prophet, but Allah still bestows karamah upon his wali, granting Ilmu laduni or foresight to whom He likes or a kind of Psychic power. Islam is not an empty religion of rituals. Some of the prophets are given the Mu’jizah, whilst the some of the aulia are given the karamah.

Adherents of Christianity, Hinduism and budhists believe in sainthood miracles that gives normal human beings supernormal powers. To the prophet Muhammad, his greatest miracle is the Quran, of which one can gain emotional and spiritual strength, among others.

It also teaches the importance of social capital, putting importance on habluminannas aside from habluminallah. Hence they must start introspecting themselves, and ask if what they are doing is supporting the Islamic principles, causing trouble and dissension among the people. Islam was sent to make life easier for people, not a religion of burden and burdensome on other people. It is a mercy to all mankind.

Those who intend to inherit and run the house of Allah, who intend to do da’wah must first begin by destroying bad traits in themselves, the mazmumah character shouldn’t be left to thicken in their hearts. This is the dilemma of muslims, when islam is such a perfect product, but the packaging and the salesmen are really not up to the job.

There are many miracles, as recounted in the Quran. Isa(Jesus) was able to bring the dead to life, to heal sicknesses, and we hear the same of Qadir jailani and Sayyid Ahmad Al-Badawi or Sidi Ahmad of egypt who are included in a study of Sainthood and it’s manifestations in world religions by University of California press.

The prophet musa parted the sea which engulfed the whole of pharaoh’s army. The spiritual aura of these spiritual masters are like the magnetic forces, the likes of the Wali songo in Indonesia, until their tombs are visited by the hundreds on a daily basis,whilst sidi Ahmad Al-badawi has millions visiting his tomb during the autumn moolid in Egypt.

Where else does this knowledge come from, if not from Allah? The knowledge of Allah is ever present in front our eyes. The tongue yells ‘Allahu akbar’, but still they fear the ‘authorities’, fear they lose their elevated position in society, they even fear if their contracts wont be renewed, but are not afraid to be liars, when the khalifah should be the master of the universe, and not satans that we should allow to be the superpowers.

To Allah belong the east and the West: Whithersoever ye turn, there is the presence of Allah. For Allah is all-Pervading, all-Knowing - Al-quran, surah Baqarah.

Observe the gecko on your ceiling, no wings, but yet able to eat flying insects, not eating carcass. But if you shut you’re hearts eye, of course you’ll be blinded of this. It is indeed a fruitless life if you dont elect to discover your third eye, the eye of the Basirah, or letting God use you as His instrument.

If it is true, that after the prophet’s death, Gibreel will come down a few times, and in one of His visits, he will lift the Quran, then try and learn from it. How many read the Quran today, and yet possess not the understanding and its spiritual significance. The heart needs to be muslim, not just the outward pretences, nor just the gear.

Have you lost your belief in the unseen? You’re soul, You’re mind, you’re sight, you’re hearing are all in the domain of the unseen. You can talk about the physical brain, the physical eye, or ears, but the experience, the phenomena that your mind reads are all in the domain of the unseen. Seek Guidance from Allah, that He may grant you insights on the world of the Psyche and metaphysics.

What a waste to read the quran as a cassette player would. How unfoturnate to read it with arrogance, the orientalists benefit worldly knowledge when they found the treasures of islam in between the lines.Shouldnt it be embarassing to the muslims that rather than leading the way in scientific discoveries only claim that this theory or that theory was already written in the Quran but become lazy thinkers by themselves?

Seek and you shall find, ask and you will be given. Use your powers of thinking and imaginative faculties and the truth shall appear in your mind.

Imagination is more powerful than knowledge-Albert einstein

One must read it as a universal message. Do not start with an exclusivist attitude, causing divisions within your own religion. Because when you do, as per the doctrine of ibn taymiyah or Ibn Abdul wahhab, then you’ll start charging people with a different school of thought as following heresy.

The likes of Muhyiddin ibn Arabi, or Hamzah fansuri, who because of the ‘fundemantalists’ of their time were charged with heresy. It is not different in the Christian world, where if one reads the history of Philosophy, Baruch de Spinoza was branded a heretic by the people of his time,but today scholars in the western tradition has adopted his thinking in their understanding of the world, and spinoza is hailed as one of the most important thinkers in the modern age alongside Descartes and Leibniz.

Should Islam be limited to the rituals without knowledge of the spiritual? When one gives the seat of power to the undeserving, then one can await destruction. It is like allowing an incompetent driver with a crooked chasis for his car drive in a Formula one Grand prix. Do not choose the ulema as you would choose politicians who could buy supporters.

It should be very confusing, if the authorities in the mosques show that they no longer fear Allah, prefer to follow their own desire that is influenced by satan, always wanting to convict people and send them to hell. If that is how you behave, how can you curb the malay youth who are involved in drug addiction, the ‘mat rempit’ phenomena, or the malay youth who fall prey to social problems?

Who would dare to admit that they are pleasing Shaytan more than they worship God? Look around us, the craze for position in the house of Allah, not to mention the craze for positions within a political party and between political parties when they all call themselves muslims. Just ponder, is the Islamic spirit still present?

Minds need to be jolted if we are to escape the era of ignorance.

The beginning of knowledge is the realization that we know nothing-Socrates..

We must learn to extend our minds and not remain encapsulated in the past, following the tradition of the dungus and gundus. We must not fear to admit that we might be wrong. Learn to stare at the mirror, and realize that you normally project on your enemies what you fear and detest in yourselves.

I pity those who take pride on their outward islam, but don’t even apply basic common sense. Who don’t have a criterion to distinguish HAQ(the truth) and BATIL(falsehood), and what is permissible and forbidden. It is strange this holier than thou attitude, where the inhabitants of the mosque, fortunate enough to have an Islamic education automatically feel that they are to be the inhabitants of heaven, and people different from them are doomed to oblivion.

Are we not taught the character of the prophet who teaches us to always have good opinions of other people? Those who fear the wrath Allah will not be controlled by ria’(pride) that could virtually destroy his faith. If we take ‘wudhu’ ablution in order to cleanse ourselves before the salat, why not cleanse your heart of the Mazmumah traits? Allah’s religion is polluted with conducts that arise out of ignorance. Do not forget that Allah is angered by His servant who is Arrogant, Unjust and stingy. Godly knowledge is a prerequisite for the servant who intends to get closer to His lord.

Isn’t the lack of spiritual insight that caused the failure of Islam Hadhari that was introduced by Datuk seri Abdullah Badawi? I suppose this is a problem of giving medicine to the unwilling. Or rather as how one might say in the world of the blind the one eyed jack is king.

Unwilling to take medicine when one is sick, to seek repentance when one has sinned, refusing to learn when ignorant, refusing to educate when educated, coupled with stubbornness, and lack of civic-mindedness, driving slow on a fast lane, not giving way to people who need to get to a place on time. The picture of the driver on the Highway Street who causes a bad experience for all serves as a good example.

Remember, we are judged on our actions, our speech and not appointments or status. Today people no longer care, much less venerate titles like Dato, Tansri, Tun, Ustaz, Tuan guru or Shaykh, whose fault would this be? Who cares about you when you could not careless about the rights of others in your capacity and position?

In a time of IT, the open skies, people don’t care anymore about people who put on the Garb of Sunnah, wearing as Saudi Arabians or the yemenis would, the Kurta from Pakistan, or the songkok melayu, even if you are to wear t.shirt and jeans to the mosque, nobody cares. The best of Garb is the Garb of taqwa says the quran. Allah does not look at faces, ancestry or how you dress, Allah looks at your heart. The most noble among men are those who fear Allah.

It’s mind-boggling, do they obey god, or do they tell Him to obey them? Do they follow the deen al-islam, or do they want islam to follow their style and desires? Do they actually think that Islam is something they inherit from their fore fathers? Since when did they get the franchise? Did they sign an m.o.u with God? Do not follow islam just because your fore-fathers believed in it, it was why Quran was sent to the age of jahilliyya, a people whom, alongside Allah also worship other idols like Manna Latta and Uzza.

The ignorant of today may be smarter in the sense that they no longer pray to this physical idol, but the new idols of the day is power, money and sex who they put alongside Allah in their daily practices.

We live in a nation with different races and religions. We are not in Makkah or madina with 100% muslim citizenry. Can this injustice done by the malays in the name of religion not be brought to the conference of the rulers? Why are the advisors to the kings and the Muftis silent on this? Isnt the king the leader of traditions and religion, and guardian of the people, which should include the non muslims? Are they not tax payers and citizens of the country as well?

I hope for the day when a person like Abu nawas would emerge, and reject the seat of power and not fear his contract be terminated when he speaks on behalf of truth. Or perhaps a sultan like Omar Ibn Abdul Aziz, whom during his reign it was so peaceful that the wolves and the sheep could drink from the same watering hole. Or perhaps like Harun ar-rashid who roams his city at night to ensure justice without a need of sirens and outriders to see for themselves this phenomena of the shouting Imams.

Islam demands justice and the prophet(saw) tells us to help those who are done injustice to and the ones committing injustice. The companions asked how are we to help the unjust? And the prophet replied by stopping them from their acts.

Let us live moderately, let us not overstep our privileges. If we constantly cause anger because of our arrogance just because of the special status of Islam in this country, then don’t forget, the only thing left of the malay race is the fragmented political power that is on the verge of dissolution. The malay race is so disunited like the bubbles in a vast ocean, whereas Umno is in a very critical condition,like the sinking titanic.

If we disagree on a point we have a right to disagree, but let us not transgress the etiquettes and act as Gods. When any effort intended to bring about change and to bring about the muslims towards a more enlightened existence is accused of heresy, will there be any progress then? If we persist in doing things the same way even if we know it does not work, do you think our problems will automatically resolve themselves? History will keep on repeating until the anomaly is corrected, that is why the human kind is endowed with the intellect.

There is no compulsion in religion,

1. Say : O ye that reject Faith!

2. I worship not that which ye worship,

3. Nor will ye worship that which I worship.

4. And I will not worship that which ye have been wont to worship,

5. Nor will ye worship that which I worship.

6. To you be your Way, and to me mine. -Quran, the disbelievers.

Harshness was never the path chosen by the prophet when propagating Islam. Moral policing, enforcing your own intrepretaion of islam on people gives the religion of islam a bad name. Why should we use the ISA (Internal Security Act) if we don’t first look to ourselves? Have we practiced enjoining the good and forbidding evil? Will people than not lose respect to the Domestic Affairs Minister, Dato Syed Hamid Albar?

I am not trying to parade myself as a hero to the non-Muslims, the Chinese or the Indians, but as a Malaysian I have a right to speak out because they contribute as much as we do if not more in the building of our nation, and lets not forget that we are trying to become a democratic country, with concerns for toleration and peace..

I’m not trying to be a doctor for all the mental diseases of the society today either, I’m just trying to point out that our people are suffering a heart sickness because we are now being run by materialistic concerns a society where money take the place of god, it is high time someone should do something about it if we want to help those who have lost their soul. May God guide those who have sold their soul to the devil

Although I have charged some of the so called Ulama as not possessing even the slightest common sense, Im not trying to point fingers or blaming any individual. "Who’s eaten the hot soup is bound to suffer from the burns, so read the Bismillah, this writing is meant to be a spiritual dish".

Whatever we do, we must do it with the spirit of caring for other, islam and humanity, islam and justice , islam and love are all compatible, and one must not try and divorce islam from all these qualities.

Leaders and Ulama cannot be Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde at the same time. One cannot be Both angel and demon at the same time, of course the human soul struggles between the two, but inshallah, while Islam still resides in the heart, then we are Under God’s protection. When one attains godliness, then trough his character will emanate the spirit of loving, giving, caring, sharing, and forgiving.

Today we hear the labeling of some groups of people as Quranists. Quranists are seen as the people who seek to deviate the people because the hold strongly to the quran and it’s adaptability for all times, while simultaneously rejecting any hadith that does not conform with the spirit of the Quran.

The emphasis on reason with Quran as guidance maybe dangerous to the masses, but again, why else would be endowed with the mind? Do we know what the mind is? Is it something that is existent in all graduates with Higher degrees?

1. Has there not been over Man a long period of Time, when he was nothing - (not even) mentioned?

2. Verily We created Man from a drop of mingled sperm, in order to try him: So We gave him (the gifts), of Hearing and Sight.

3. We showed him the Way: whether he be grateful or ungrateful (rests on his will). -surah Al-insan(the human), Alquran.

The endowment of the senses, and the Aql(the mind) to discern the truth and evil, and the duty to be grateful is part of being Human. How are we to be his Khalifah, if we don’t exercise this faculty of reason? Are we capable of being the master of the universe if our minds are still encapsulated in the pre-medieval age?

How are we to explain the supremacy and leadership of the malays if we are incapable of being Allah’s vicegerents?

According to Imam Ja’far as-sadiq, the mind is a makhluq, a creature that befriends the human, a creature that obeys the rule of Allah (for example you may deceive others but you cant deceive yourself, and that there are certain rules, like you cannot make 2+2 equals 5), and that it can come and go, (here for example one can occupy space in the universe whilst the mind wonders of unrealisingly).

18. Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?- Surah Arrahman.

This life is fleeting, soon we will all die, and rot and be part of the earth, so this short life must be filled with the meaningful, with contemplating our existence

Knowledge must come from teachers, from reading, but that is potential knowledge, knowledge will be realized when we digest it with our own minds. But who else can be our best teacher if not our creator? If we study geology, cosmology, and our moral constitution, then you’ll find signs of His greatness, that we as Humans can utilize in our purpose to serve Him. We need all rejuvenate our spirits, in order that we may save the fate of Humanity.

The Quran does not just serve as a moral and spiritual guide, but at the same time its actually useful even in real-time world problems. Today for example we are at the onset of the world’s financial crisis, the financial melt-down as the media would say it, the magnitude of this crises not just rivals but even supercedes the great Depression of the 1930’s. As the story of the 7 fat cows has told us in the story of yusuf, economic cycles are natural in the world. Ups and downs are inevitable, but human behaviour is something that could effect our survival. The islamic principal of sharing profits and a concern for all in the world, focusing spending on projects for the betterment of humanity as a whole should be applied here. We need to learn to use our resources responsibly, so that we could survive this crisis.

The quran is like a manual to our life, but we ourselves must be the mechanics, but to be a competent mechanic, one must find teachers capable of Helping us obtain mastery of this craft, we must therefore find a teacher that could ensure the cars can run well, and not find teachers who does not do what they say. We are in dire need and in shortage of teachers who are Muallim, Muaddib and Murabbi, but what we have to offer currently and we posess an excess of even, are the Mura’bal, the Bulshitters, the Gundus and the Dungus. May god bless us, everyone.



1. Whatever is in the heavens and on earth, let it declare the Praises and Glory of Allah. for He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

2. O ye who believe! Why say ye that which ye do not?

3. Grievously odious is it in the sight of Allah that ye say that which ye do not. –Surah Saff.

http://www.shalattas.com

Statement on the Israeli Invasion of Gaza

By

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

The Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War is shocked and angered over the Israeli invasion of Gaza since Saturday 27 December 2008. Our hearts go to the people of Gaza in this time of great distress.

We call upon the international community to immediately act in concert to call upon Israel to stop the bombing of Gaza and the slaughter of innocent lives forthwith. We support the call by the United Nations for an immediate ceasefire and an end to all military operations to facilitate relief work and delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

The Foundation also calls upon the governments of the United States, Britain and other major powers to put necessary pressure on Tel Aviv to stop the inhuman slaughter of Palestinian men, women and children in Gaza with bombs and other weapons.


DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD

Chairman

Kuala Lumpur Foundation To Criminalise War

Open Letter to Barack Hussein Obama President-elect of the United States of America

By

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

Dear Mr. President,

I did not vote for you in the Presidential Election because I am Malaysian.

But I consider myself one of your constituents because what you do or say will affect me and my country as well.

I welcome your promise to change. Certainly your country, the United States of America need a lot of changes.

That is because America and Americans have become the best hated people in the world. Even Europeans dislike your arrogance. Yet you were once admired and liked because you freed a lot of countries from conquest and subjugation.

It is the custom on New Year's day for people to make resolutions. You must have listed your good resolutions already. But may I politely suggest that you also resolve to do the following in pursuit of Change.

1) Stop killing people. The United States is too fond of killing people in order to achieve its objectives. You call it war, but today's wars are not about professional soldiers fighting and killing each other. It is about killing people, ordinary innocent people by the hundreds of thousands. Whole countries will be devastated.

War is primitive, the cavemen's way of dealing with a problem. Stop your arms build up and your planning for future wars.

2) Stop indiscriminate support of Israeli killers with your money and your weapons. The planes and the bombs killing the people of Gaza are from you.

3) Stop applying sanctions against countries which cannot do the same against you.

In Iraq your sanctions killed 500,000 children through depriving them of medicine and food. Others were born deformed.

What have you achieved with this cruelty? Nothing except the hatred of the victims and right-thinking people.

4) Stop your scientists and researchers from inventing new and more diabolical weapons to kill more people more efficiently.

5) Stop your arms manufacturers from producing them. Stop your sales of arms to the world. It is blood money that you earn. It is un-Christian.

6) Stop trying to democratize all the countries of the world. Democracy may work for the United States but it does not always work for other countries.

Don't kill people because they are not democratic. Your crusade to democratize countries has killed more people than the authoritarian Governments which you overthrew. And you have not succeeded anyway.

7) Stop the casinos which you call financial institutions. Stop hedge funds, derivatives and currency trading. Stop banks from lending non-existent money by the billions.

Regulate and supervise your banks. Jail the miscreants who made profits from abusing the system.

8) Sign the Kyoto Protocol and other international agreements.

9) Show respect for the United Nations.

I have many other resolutions for change which I think you should consider and undertake.

But I think you have enough on your plate for this 2009th year of the Christian Era.

If you can do only a few of what I suggest you will be remembered by the world as a great leader. Then the United States will again be the most admired nation. Your embassies will be able to take down the high fences and razor-wire coils that surround them.

May I wish you a Happy New Year and a great Presidency.

Yours Sincerely,

Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad

(Former Prime Minister of Malaysia)

PM pays last respects to late Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan

By : Dharshini Balan


Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi offering his condolences to the Tuanku Ampuan Negri Sembilan Tuanku Najihah Tunku Besar Burhanuddin.

KUALA PILAH: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi and his wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah yesterday paid their last respects to the late Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, Tuanku Ja'afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman, at the Istana Besar Seri Menanti here.

Abdullah, who was also accompanied by his son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin, described Tuanku Ja'afar as a sincere and friendly ruler who was loved by the people.

"Tuanku was a ruler who had the well-being of the people at heart and always gave importance to the development of the state, including federal projects."

The prime minister said Tuanku Ja'afar was an ardent sportsman and contributed immensely to sports in the country,

"Tuanku was active in sports and the people knew more about him through the various activities he was involved in.
"Tuanku displayed true sportsmanship and this was evident during our golfing days when Tuanku was the 10th Yang di-Pertuan Agong and was not particular about his status as a king and was always friendly when playing the game."

Abdullah Confident Of BN's Victory In Kuala Terengganu By-election

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is confident that Barisan Nasional will retain the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat in the by-election on Jan 17.

"We want to win, we want to win, we want to win. That is my comment," he told reporters after chairing the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council meeting here, Tuesday.

Asked why he was so confident of winning, Abdullah replied: "There must be some confidence, if not how we're going to say we want to win,".

Abdullah said among the reasons why he was confident of victory were because the seat belonged to the BN previously and the ruling coalition had strong support.

However, he said, BN must work hard to retain the seat.

The BN chairman also rejected the assumption that there would be a big swing by the voters.

"Not at the moment. You don't know how the people swing. They had the habit to swing even last minute for us or somebody else," he said.

Abdullah said Umno would nominate its candidate for the BN in the by-election very soon.

The BN also discussed who would be helping in the campaign for the Kuala Terengganu by-election.

The by-election was being held following the death of the Deputy Minister of Education, Datuk Razali Ismail, at the Institut Aminuddin Baki, Genting Highlands on Nov 28.

The Election Commission has fixed Jan 6 for nomination day while polling has been set for Jan 17.

-- BERNAMA

Alert! Alert! YB Jeyakumar of Sungai Siput arrested!

I just received this alert from JERIT campaigners. Please help them or pass this word around:

The police have arrested 4 JERIT coordinators, Ranee, Sugumaran, Karthi, Jothi plus bus full of participants detained.

YB Dr Jeyakumar, Sungai Siput MP also arrested.

Helen( another JERIT coordinator) - was sexually assaulted, breasts grabbed and punched on the face . She is bleeding now

The Kuala Kangsar police is violent and being unreasonable.

Please call the police station : 057762222 / 0175311697

Please also call Bukit Aman : 03-20319999

READ MORE HERE: http://sloone.wordpress.com/

Give up use of mother-tongue language, says Prof Khoo

Press Digest by Kong See Hoh, The Sun

ACADEMICIAN-HISTORIAN Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim says Chinese and Indians, being minority races in the country, should give up the use of mother-tongue language as the medium of instruction in their schools to be out of the racial box and stay competitive.

He said non-Malays need to compromise and relinquish the Chinese or Tamil education they are conducting in their primary schools in favour of the one school education system for peace in the country, China Press reported today.

His remark drew quick rebuttals from Chinese educationists who deemed him lacking race pride and in contempt of Chinese education.

Khoo, 71, said the current education system of having many types of schools in the country has created a batch of people who do not understand Bahasa Malaysia and English, unable to communicate with other races or compete with the outside world.

He said the United States adopted the single school system out of which born the first black president, Barrack Obama, whereas Malaysians are still arguing over race issues 50 years after Independence.

He felt that while making Chinese and Tamil the second languages in primary and secondary schools, the government should continue with the current policy of teaching Science and Mathematics in English.

When told by the daily that Singapore's national schools are using English as the medium of instruction, in response to his recent remark that Malaysia should look to Singapore in adopting a single school system, Khoo said that as Malays are the majority race in Malaysia, any proposal to use English as the medium of instruction in schools would surely meet with overwhelming objection.

Does this mean the Chinese and Indians will have to make sacrifice?
"As minority races, we have to give and take, and compromise," said Khoo.

He felt that the issue (single school system) will eventually be taken to parliament for debate and a decision. "Who will win in the end?"

He said development in Malaysia has been overtaken by Vietnam and Thailand and felt that there should not be any more delay in implementing the single school system.

He believed the system, which will propel the country's standard of education to world class, takes nine to 10 years to bear fruit.
Khoo also ticked off politicians for blowing their trumpet on such education for political mileage.

His eyebrow-raising remark drew sharp criticisms from both Dong Zong and Jiao Zong, the guardians of Chinese education.

Jiao Zong (United Chinese School Teachers Association) president Ong Chiaw Chuan said "it is purely Khoo Kay Kim's personal view", and warned that the suggestion can uproot Chinese education.

He did not agree with Khoo that parents can imbue Chinese cultural values and thinking at home, giving as an example that the third generation American Chinese no longer possess Chinese moral values and virtues.

"This shows the importance of Chinese education. If Malaysia adopts a single school system, (all) children will be exposed to Islamic teachings," he said.

Ong stressed that education not only nurtures talents, but more importantly, it also inculcates the moral values of a race.

Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association) president Dr Yap Sin Tian said Khoo's remark showed that he did not know mother-tongue education is protected under Education Act 1966, or is in touch with the reality of Chinese education in the country.

He said Khoo's view that Chinese schools produced students who lacked knowledge in Bahasa Malaysia and English did not hold water as both languages are compulsory subjects in these schools.

WANITA UMNO : THE WIND OF CHANGE IS BLOWING

BY:NOOR HASILAH ISMAIL

Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s decision to contest Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz for the Wanita UMNO top post, March next year, came as no surprise to me.

But, some quarters may wonder, why only now? Why didn’t she do it earlier? Was it because she was pushed too far?

Or was it a carefully planned strategy all along?

Before the announcement, Shahrizat were called names and some Wanita members even laughed at the possibility of her going against Rafidah, as they claimed and assumed that she just wouldn’t dare. “She doesn’t have fighting spirit. She is afraid to take risk. She is so scared of Rafidah, bla, bla, bla.”

As I see it, Shahrizat was holding to the belief that patience and perseverance will ensure success. While the public had interpreted her silence as an act of “fear”, Shahrizat was perhaps, waiting for the perfect timing. The more patient she is, the more she understands the tricks of the opponent and her supporters.

Some observers may look upon Shahrizat as the underdog, but Shahrizat is no bimbo! Hey, she was a lawyer and a magistrate! From the beginning, although Shahrizat had said she would abide the transition plan, she was already signaling her plans by allowing nominations of her for the chief post.

I believe Shahrizat knows too well not to fight fire with fire as it will usually end up with ashes.

As a former lawyer, she knows that the key to success is patience. You get chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it. Shahrizat also knows too well that anger can be a destructive. So, she lets Rafidah do that part (continuously vexing her anger publicly).

Let me borrow some quotes from Jill Devine, author of a motivational book, Timing is Everything.

“It's true that what you sow you reap but what we forget is that there's supposed to be a space between sowing and reaping: it is not an instant process. If you try to reap in the wrong season, you reap frustration. If you try to reap in the wrong season, you do NOT get what you expect and you don't reap what you sowed. It's for this reason most ancient religious texts speak of everything having an order and a season.

Don't mistake delay for denial by life. Timing is everything - for this reason, patience is a vital ingredient in success planning. Patience will give you keys to the kingdom!”

Shahrizat has been the deputy of Wanita UMNO for eight donkey years. As the saying goes – Rome was not built in a day! Do you think that all these while, Shahrizat has been spending her time knitting blouses while listening to Rafidah’s naggings and letting the old lady running things her own way?

As for Rafidah, the iron lady should know to quit while she is still at the top, and now is the right time to do so. As a minister, I can’t deny that she has done well. But as Wanita leader, what has she done to increase the representation of Wanita UMNO in the cabinet?

Rafidah has been in power since 1984, except for one term when she lost to Datuk Seri Dr. Siti Zaharah Sulaiman in 1996. She came back stronger the following term, and put an end to Zaharah’s political career. But Rafidah is 65 now, and not getting any younger. This is the era of the new millennium. Today’s women know what they want.

In The Sunday Star, dated 23 November, Rafidah were quoted as saying “She (Shahrizat) can’t even win a parliamentary seat, how can she hope to lead Wanita UMNO”.

I feel that the comment is unfair.

Shahrizat lost the parliamentary seat because the votes were decided by the people of Lembah Pantai, consisting of supporters from various parties. Her opponent, Nurul Izzah Anwar won mainly because of the Anwar factor, protest votes from the community who were angry at BN and young voters who wanted to see change. In this case, Shahrizat was a victim of circumstances.

The battle for the top post in Wanita UMNO is a different game. The votes of who will lead the party will be decided by Wanita UMNO members only, who mostly are above 40 years old. Get the drift?

In the same paper, Rafidah were also quoted as admitting that she had told Shahrizat several times that they (Rafidah & Shahrizat) will discuss together who should be appointed the administrative posts and who would be in the Exco.

Hold on! Who does Wanita UMNO belongs to? Who decide the leaders? Rafidah’s statement sounded as if the party is or has been practicing a different kind of system, which is akin to the feudal system (where a leader has control over several “excos” or delegates, etcetra, etcetra…)

Now is the time for Wanita UMNO to stop bitching. It’s the time for soul-searching and preparing the party for the future challenges. Wanita UMNO members have to ask themselves this question - Would you prefer to continue wearing the shoes that you have been wearing for ages, or would you like to try the one pair of shoes that you have bought a long time ago that you kept safely in your cupboard because it’s too nice and expensive?

Wanita UMNO should give Shahrizat a chance to show what she can do in three years. If she delivers, well, that’s good. If otherwise, they can always call back Makcik Rafidah (I am sure she will be ever so willing) or find a new leader? Well, you have tolerated Rafidah for 24 years, so, what is giving three years to Shahrizat?

As for Shahrizat, now is not the time to be nice anymore. It’s the perfect time for her to come out from Rafidah’s shadows, keeping in mind that, by challenging the iron lady, she has also angered Rafidah’s supporters. So, Shahrizat, keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.

As for Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim, who has won the number two post uncontested, she should be smart enough to influence her supporters, who they should support, for the future of Wanita UMNO, and for her own sake.