Anwar Ibrahim’s self victimisation

Update 8 February 2010: As predicted, Anwar asked postponement for the trial just to disqualify the judge. As written before,

“He reckons that the conspirators are using the old tactics to ensure that he will be ostracized in the court of law. I am guessing that on the first day of trial itself, his legal team will further ask for postponement over the lamest of issues. I bet that they will not be satisfied with the sitting judge, citing the judge as unfit to conduct the trial. And technicality issues will continue to bog down the court’s proceedings.”

Original article:

And so, The Federal Court had ruled out Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s appeal and with this, the trial which came about from the police report made by his alleged victim, Saiful Bukhari will commence on February 2nd, 2010.

After more than 1 and a half years of wild goose chase, we can finally see the beginning of the proceedings to determine his innocence or the magnitude of his crime.

Anwar Ibrahim is charged by law for performing a lewd act of sodomy on another human being in June 2008.

He is charged under the penal code of 372B.

As his trial drew nearer, he had set his troops to start the nationwide campaign to show that he is a ‘victim’ of a conspiracy. A conspiracy, he deemed as reminiscent to his earlier sodomy trials in 1998.

He reckons that the conspirators are using the old tactics to ensure that he will be ostracized in the court of law. I am guessing that on the first day of trial itself, his legal team will further ask for postponement over the lamest of issues. I bet that they will not be satisfied with the sitting judge, citing the judge as unfit to conduct the trial. And technicality issues will continue to bog down the court’s proceedings.

Basically, on the day of the trial, instead of pushing for speedier trial process that may free him (should he is innocent), he will prolong the initial hearing on the basis of some minor technicality imperfections.

Afterall, didn’t we often hear from Wan Azizah that he has an iron clad alibi?

Knowing Anwar’s modus operandi for the past decade, his lackeys will make announcements, ad nauseam during this trial that Anwar Ibrahim is a victim of a highest conspiracy in Malaysia. Never mind the fact that this sodomy charges came solely from his own ex-employee.

We always know that Anwar is a knee-jerk, reactionary kind of politician. He often acts without thinking. That is why we always find him doing ridiculous decisions and making ludicrous attempts to gain public sympathy.

His foray into the Turkish Embassy (under the pretext that his life is in danger via death threats) was one that we always remember. It exposed him as someone so terrified with his own guilt that he would want to hide in a foreign embassy so that police will find it hard to catch him.

In the end, after noticing that the police report made by Saiful will take a few weeks for the police to investigate, he came out from hiding saying that he hid in the Turkish Embassy because he was afraid of an assassination plot.

Later, it took him more than a week to make a police statement after he came out from the Embassy smelling like a coward (to some, he smelled like roses). Since he thinks he is above the law, he felt that he should not be called upon to make any statement.

Kudos to the chameleon. He is the role model we all should emulate – law breaker, trouble maker, narcissistic megalomaniac and an overconfident liar.

One must not forget what he is. And certainly one must not forget the verdict of the Federal Court that had acquitted him on technical grounds.

The verdict, which Lim Kit Siang hailed as something that “can restore national and international confidence with  a truly independent judiciary and a just rule of law” is so damning to Anwar Ibrahim that he forever be labeled as a sodomite.

Going back to the verdict of the Federal Court judges, how did they come to this conclusion? -

“even though reading the appeal record, we find evidence to confirm that the appellants were involved in homosexual activities and we are more inclined to believe that the alleged incident at Tivoli Villa did happen”

The judges got this from the testimonies of two people:

“The testimonies of one Dr. Mohd Fadzil and one Tun Haniff and the conduct of the first Appellant (ie Anwar) confirmed the appellants’ involvement in homosexual activities.

We all know who Tun Haniff Omar is. But who is Dr Mohd Fadzil?

Dr Mohd Fadzil Bin Man was the psychiatrist that treated Sukma Darmawan Sasmitaat Madja back in 1994 for the latter’s acute depression.

Not many people realise this tiny but very significant portion of the trial. This is because, this part of the trial was blackout from the media due to the request from Anwar’s legal team at that time.

But the fact remains, this is one of the those items that had convicted Anwar. Many argued that Sukma’s confession was coerced by the police. That may be so. And this form of extracting confession became the basis of that 2004 Federal Court judgment which had technically released Anwar from prison.

All 3 Federal judges stated that they did not rule out sodomy because there were evidences that Anwar did it. Anwar was released because the judges were suspicious that the manner of getting the confession might be inadmissible under the legal process. The key sentence here is – sodomy was not ruled out.

Now, what damned Anwar to prison in the first place was the prior confession of Sukma back in 1994. This confession took place years before the 1999 trials. Sukma confessed being sodomised by Anwar to this psychiatrist in November 1994 as he was suffering from acute depression. He confessed everything to this doctor. This doctor eventually became the 2nd witness in the 1999 sodomy trial.

Note that Karpal Singh vehemently wanted to rule out Mohd Fadzil’s statements during the trials. His reason? Because Mohd Fadzil will violate the Hippocrates Oath should he disclose his patient’s confessions.

The Court decided otherwise saying the matter of seeking the truth is much greater than any Hippocrates Oath. To me, Karpal’s lame excuse made Anwar looked even more guilty.

Furthermore, Christopher Fernando, in exasperation, claimed that the doctor’s statements may cause ruin to Anwar’s case!

Very interesting indeed.

Excerpts from this part of the trial can be read here.

Now, with regards Tun Haniff Omar. We all know the infamous line uttered by Anwar after he was confronted by the then IGP at his home.

“Are you going to blackmail me?”.

Which Tun Haniff Omar replied, “We are not in the blackmailing business”.

Now, if I really did not sodomise anybody, I would have been really angry towards Tun Haniff Omar’s allegations and asked him to leave my house or even ask for proof.

But Anwar did not. Instead, sounding like a guilty person that he is, he asked, “ARE YOU GOING TO BLACKMAIL ME?”.

Incredible.

Anwar never denied this claim either.

The only way out is to show people that he is a victim.

But we know better now.

Wise words?

A political leader once said this in his speech in 4th September, 2004.

The interests of a few must not stand in the way of the welfare of the overwhelming majority of the people and the nation.

That leader was Lim Kit Siang.

A question for The Herald

I have a question for The Herald.

If it is widely known now that the name of God in Christianity is Elah/Elohim/Yahweh, then is it not incumbent for The Herald to rectify the mistakes made in the translation of an English bible to Malay?

We do know that nowhere in the original bible mentioned the word ‘Allah’ in any of its verses.

In other words, isn’t it important for The Herald to make this corrective measure so that their followers in East Malaysia will not be further confused and deviated from the original Christian name for God (which is not Allah)?

Afterall, before Christianity came into existence in East Malaysia, the natives there such as the Bidayuhs and Ibans called their God as “Tampa” and “Petara” respectively.

Hence, I guess it should be the responsibility of The Herald to clear the air pertaining the religious rites of their followers. Shouldn’t they?

I bet “Allah Ta’ala” usage in Christian rites won’t be as soothing to the ears of a devout Christian as compared with the usage of Elah/Elohim/Yahweh. What do you think?

That is why, The Herald should in all its efforts, propagate the use of the correct name of God in their Malay bible, according to the Christian beliefs.

Which is more important to The Herald?

The correct name of their God needs to be put in the Malay bible, thus upholding the sanctity of Christianity?

Or,

To remain stubborn and hold steadfast over the mistranlations of the conniving early colonialists and the gullible Malay translators?

So how Tan Sri?

Just asking.

Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam (The Herald)

Is your personal information safe? Maybe not.

Usually, database of customers are guarded like gold by any company. Information on customers is jealously guarded by businesses as it is vital to have the upperhand from anybody who wants to venture into the same type of business as you do. Try getting your rival company’s information about their clients. It is nearly impossible.

Hence, people can make money out of it. Because, information is valuable. Information equals money.

But the storage of these information costs too much money. Some company branched out into other means of storing information. Some who had relied on huge warehouses, had resorted to data imaging. The initial outlay may be high but it uses less space.

Some may outsource entirely their document storage to third party. This will decrease storage cost but ultimately, security risks could be higher.

Permodalan Nasional Berhad once wanted to outsource its data imaging process to PERNEC back in 2004 but quickly discarded the idea when they realised that millions of its customers (all the ASB, ASD, ASN, ASW unitholders), or to be precise, the confidential records of its unitholders will be kept by a third party.

Now, they keep their records in their own facility they set up in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.

They deemed it a threat to the financial security of its unitholders if the data is lost to irresponsible parties. People will pay a lot of money to mine data (data mining)  from anyone who is willing to sell it.

As they always say, information is power.

Why suddenly I write about this?

Because I was alarmed to know that our Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri, Kumpulan Simpanan Pekerja, Kementerian Kewangan, Bank Simpanan Nasional, Sime Darby etc, has been outsourcing their document management process to a privately owned company.

That means, all my income tax data and my EPF data are all in the hands of a third party. Certainly, when I engage the LHDN and EPF, I never made any agreement that all my information can be viewed upon by other parties.

Imagine all my tax details and my retirement funds being scrutinised by a third party which LHDN and EPF has no control of. How certain are these two database giants in knowing that their data bank will not be sold or viewed upon by interested people?

And this is just me.

I am sure the data of more influential people may fall into the wrong hands. We may have a serious national security breach here.

Imaging knowing the self worth, detailed addresses and next of kins’ detailed information of the Panglima Angkatan Tentera, the Inspector General of Police, the Chief Justice, or even Lim Kit Siang’s! This would be a security threat indeed!

Some random people might know where your loved ones are residing!

I am concern to note, after reading a few blogs that have highlighted this issue here and here, that the company that was given the contract might exposed itself to unscrupulous groups of people.

From the blogs linked above, it is allegedly being told that VPI International Sdn Bhd received nearly RM1 billion worth of contract from LHDN through the Ministry of Finance. Payments were made twice to the sum of RM400 million and RM500 million respectively.

That is a huge sum of money just to outsource data from LHDN.  Is it not?

If this is true, no surprises there. Because the company that was awarded the contract belonged to people closely associated with the former 2nd Finance Minister, Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.

Corporate information of VPI International's parent company - Efficient E-Solutions Berhad

Obviously, money is of no concern to some people. If the alleged amount of RM1 billion is true then I am sure the contracts were overinflated as it does not make sense to award such high sum of money to a newly established group such as the one you see below (refer organisation chart below). Almost all of the companies in the group were established sometime around 2004 onwards.

Which in the end, each person who has an account in LHDN and EPF have to ask this question; How confident are you with this group of companies in keeping your records? Do you trust these companies that have no track records whatsoever to hold your vital information?

Therefore, I urge the government or at least the Auditor General to review the processes involved when awarding the contracts to the companies above and importantly, the operational processes of these companies when managing our records.

The security risks must first be sought out and mitigated immediately.

Khutbah Jumaat untuk anda yang kononnya liberal

Update 19 January 2010: IKIM made their views HERE.

Update 12 January 2010: Please read two articles here and here. And cross reference with the article here which states why The Herald vehemently and arrogantly wanted to pursue this attempt.  Thank  you.

Original article: Khutbah Jumaat Masjid Negara pada 8 Januari 2010 dibaca oleh Imam Besar Masjid Negara. Beribu-ribu umat Islam berjemaah pada petang tersebut memahami akan intipati khutbah ini. Mengapa tidak kamu?

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Para Jemaah dan Umat Islam Yang dirahmati Allah,

Subhanallah, Maha Suci Allah, pada hari Jumaat yang penuh berkat dan dalam masjid yang suci ini, marilah kita bersama-sama tingkatkan ketaqwaan kepada Allah SWT  dengan bersungguh-sungguh melaksanakan segala perintah dan menjauhi segala larangan-Nya. Sesungguhnya orang yang paling baik di sisi tuhan ialah orang yang paling bertaqwa. Tajuk khutbah kita pada hari ini ialah “Akidah Benteng Kekuatan Ummah”.

Berdasarkan Rukun Islam yang pertama umat Islam wajib melafazkan perakuan keimanan mereka kepada Allah SWT dan Nabi Muhammad SAW secara tepat dan betul. Lafaz Lailahaillaah dan Muhammadur Rasulullah menunjukkan bahawa Allah SWT adalah tuhan dan Nabi Muhammad SAW adalah Nabi kita. Penggunaan lafaz Lailahaillaah adalah suatu bentuk perakuan kewujudan tuhan yang dinamakan Allah dan menafikan tuhan-tuhan selain-Nya.

Dalam sejarah perjuangan Rasulullah SAW dasar utama perjuangan baginda adalah menguatkan akidah yang mengambil masa selama 13 tahun di Makkah. Perjuangan menegakkan akidah yang berasaskan tiada tuhan melainkan Allah ini, bukan perkara mudah. Baginda terpaksa menjelaskan kepada masyarakat Musyrikin tentang konsep tuhan Yang Maha Esa itu. Persoalan besar timbul di sini ialah siapakah tuhan Yang Maha Esa itu.?

Firman Allah SWT dalam surah al-Ikhlas ayat 1-4:

Maksudnya: “Katakanlah wahai Muhammad, tuhanku ialah Allah Yang maha Esa, Allah Yang menjadi tumpuan sekalian makhluk untuk memohon sebarang hajat, ia tidak beranak, dan ia pula tidak diperanakkan, dan tidak ada sesiapa pun yang setara dengan-Nya”.

Berdasarkan penjelasan surah al-Ikhlas ini maka mimbar ingin mengulangi sebagai orang Islam kita mesti yakin bahawa Allah mempunyai sifat-sifat Yang Maha Esa, Dia tidak beranak dan juga tidak pula diperanakkan serta tidak ada sesiapa pun yang setara dengan-Nya. Dengan itu, umat Islam wajib menolak segala bentuk atau konsep tuhan yang lain daripada Allah SWT. Ini merupakan syarat mutlak sahnya kepercayaan kita terhadap adanya tuhan dalam Islam.

Namun sejarah membuktikan bahawa manusia pada asalnya mentauhidkan Allah SWT tetapi terdapat di kalangan manusia telah terpesong menjadi sesat kerana terpengaruh dia’yah yang sentiasa dibayangi musuh Allah yakni syaitan dan hawa nafsu bahkan mereka mencipta pula pelbagai ajaran sehinggalah muncul agama yang pelbagai. Mereka terpesong sehingga menukar sifat Allah Yang Maha Esa itu sesuka hati mereka seperti mewujudkan tuhan yang pelbagai jantina, pokok besar sebagai tuhan, tuhan boleh makan dan minum dan manusia juga boleh menjadi tuhan. Malah mereka menyempitkan bidangkuasa tuhan itu. Berdasarkan identiti tuhan boleh bertukar ganti, maka konsep Allah Yang Maha Esa inilah yang membezakan akidah Islam dengan agama yang lain.

Ajaran Nabi dan Rasul misalnya sejak Nabi Adam, Nabi Nuh, Nabi Ibrahim, Nabi Musa, Nabi Isa ’alaihimussalam dan Nabi Muhammad SAW telah berusaha meluruskan akidah manusia agar berterusan menyembah Allah Yang Maha Esa. Islam melalui pesuruh-Nya Nabi Muhammad SAW hadir untuk meluruskan kembali kesesatan agar kembali meng-esakan Allah SWT.

Firman Allah SWT dalam surah an-Nisaa’ ayat 171:

Maksudnya: “Wahai Ahli Kitab! Janganlah kamu melampui batas dalam perkara agama kamu, dan janganlah kamu mengatakan sesuatu terhadap Allah melainkan yang benar; sesungguhnya al-Masih Isa ibni Maryam itu hanya Pesuruh Allah, dan Kalimah Allah yang telah disampaikan-Nya kepada Maryam, dan roh daripada-Nya. Maka berimanlah kamu kepada Allah dan Rasul-rasul-Nya, dan janganlah kamu mengatakan: (Tuhan itu) tiga. Berhentilah, supaya menjadi kebaikan bagi kamu. Hanyasanya Allah ialah Tuhan Yang Maha Esa, Maha Suci Allah daripada mempunyai anak. Bagi Allah jualah segala yang ada di langit dan yang ada di bumi. Dan cukuplah Allah menjadi Pengawal (Yang Mentadbirkan sekalian makhlukNya).”

Mimbar mengakui bahawa terdapat kalimah Allah di dalam kitab suci yang diterjemah ke bahasa Arab. Kalimah ini wujud kerana sesetengah penganut samawi termasuk Kristian Arab seperti di Lubnan, Mesir dan lain-lain yang muncul sebelum kedatangan Islam meyakini konsep keesaan Allah. Ia berbeza sama sekali dengan konsep tiga dalam satu (iaitu tiga tuhan dalam satu) seperti mana pegangan doktrin kebanyakan penganut pada hari ini.

Oleh itu, mimbar mengingatkan jemaah dan umat Islam sekalian bahawa kita perlu melihat apa yang berlaku di sebalik penggunaan lafaz Allah yang diperjuangkan oleh pihak tertentu. Jika kita melihat dengan teliti isu ini ternyata terdapat perkaitan kuat dengan isu pluralisme iaitu konsep perjuangan semua agama adalah sama. Malah segelintir umat Islam menyokong perjuangan ini yang menubuhkan fahaman Islam Liberal. Para pendi’ayah Islam Liberal berusaha kuat untuk memperlekehkan dan melonggarkan nama-nama khas Islam atau istilah-istilah yang menjadi tunjang kekuatan Islam agar  akidah umat Islam mudah goyah dan rapuh.

Selain itu, dalam usaha mengelirukan umat Islam, mereka menterjemahkan Kitab Bible sebagai al-Kitab, al-Quran diterjemahkan sebagai Bacaan dan mencipta Qur’an baru Furqaanul Haq yang diterbitkan di Amerika Syarikat. Semuanya ini adalah agenda pendi’ayah-pendi’ayah dalam usaha mengelirukan dan melupuskan akidah umat Islam di dunia.

Jemaah dan Umat Islam Yang Dirahmati Allah,

Islam agama yang suci mempunyai standard piawaian hukum hakam atau peraturan tertentu dalam menjaga kesucian nama Allah dan kitab sucinya. Orang-orang Islam sendiri pun tertakluk kepada standard piawaian penjagaan kesucian nama Allah dan al-Quran. Kita amat bimbang pihak lain menyalahgunakan kalimah suci itu. Kita pernah mendengar dan membaca dalam laporan media cetak dan media elektronik bagaimana pihak–pihak tertentu memijak-mijak al-Quran, helaian al-Quran dimasukkan dalam lubang tandas, helaian al-Quran menjadi kertas pembungkus, dan nama-nama Allah ditulis di alas-alas selipar dan kasut serta dipijak-pijak.

Mimbar amat bimbang jika pihak–pihak terlibat menyalahgunakan penggunaan lafaz Allah dan mengambil kesempatan menghina agama lain,  maka dikhuatiri akan menimbulkan pertikaian agama dan mengancam keselamatan negara. Bagi mewujudkan suasana aman dan kehidupan harmoni yang telah wujud di negara ini, maka mimbar menyeru umat Islam dan rakyat di negara ini supaya mengelak daripada menimbulkan isu-isu sensitif dan kemarahan sesuatu agama dan kaum. Apatah lagi, penggunaan lafaz Allah telah ribuan dan beratus-ratus tahun telah digunakan oleh masyarakat Islam akar umbi di negara ini.

Dalam usaha memartabatkan Islam di negara ini, umat Islam hendaklah berpendirian selari dengan keputusan Muzakarah Jawatankuasa Fatwa Kebangsaan kali ke-82 yang telah bersidang pada 5 hingga 7 Mei 2008. Kandungan keputusan itu yang berbunyi:

“Muzakarah bersetuju memutuskan bahawa lafaz Allah merupakan kalimah suci yang khusus bagi agama dan umat Islam dan tidak boleh digunakan atau disamakan dengan agama-agama bukan Islam yang lain. Oleh itu, wajib bagi umat Islam menjaganya dengan cara yang terbaik dan sekiranya terdapat unusr-unsur penghinaan atau penyalahgunaan terhadap kalimah tersebut, maka ia perlu disekat mengikut peruntukan undang-undang yang telah termaktub dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan”.

Sehubungan itu, mimbar ingin menasihatkan semua pihak di negara ini agar dapat bertenang berhubung perkara ini dan memberi peluang perkara ini diselesaikan melalui proses perundangan.

Sidang jemaah dan umat Islam harus sedar bahawa cabaran yang dihadapi bukan sahaja penggunaan lafaz Allah, mungkin selepas ini akan timbul banyak lagi cabaran yang berniat mengugat kekuatan dan kesucian Islam di negara ini. Dalam usaha menghadapi cabaran yang mengugat akidah ini, maka mimbar menyeru umat Islam agar mendalami dan memperkuatkan akidah dalam keluarga sendiri agar dapat mengenalpasti siapakah Allah dan sifat-sifat sebenar Allah Yang Maha Esa. Oleh itu para penegak Islam dan ibu bapa perlu lebih peka, lebih perihatin dan lebih berusaha menanamkan ilmu tauhid dan akidah kepada anak-anak dan masyarakat Islam agar tidak terjebak dengan di’ayah sesat dalam pemahaman tentang Allah SWT.

Jemaah dan Umat Islam Yang Dirahmati Allah,

Keimpulannya, akidah menjadi benteng kekuatan ummah. Oleh itu, mimbar ingin menarik perhatian sidang jemaah sekalian berhubung dengan konsep ketuhanan dalam Islam iaitu:

Pertama: kalimah tauhid atau kalimah syahadah adalah ikrar peng-esaan tuhan yang maha Esa, tidak memadai dengan hanya menyatakan perakuan tetapi kita mesti membuktikan perbuatan dan tindak tanduk seharian selari dengan hukum Allah. Kadangkala kita marah pihak lain menghina Islam tetapi terdapat di kalangan kita pun tidak beramal dengan akidah dan syariat Islam.

Kedua: kalimah syahadah yang dijadikan asas akidah adalah kalimah paling selamat untuk mengelakkan dan memelihara kita terlibat dengan syirik.

Ketiga: al-Qur’an dan as-Sunnah dijadikan bahan rujukan mutlak untuk mengetahui dan memahami akan sifat-sifat Allah kerana maklumat-maklumatnya yang lebih lengkap, lebih konsisten dalam mempertahankan ciri-ciri kesejagatan Allah itu, dan

Keempat: mempertahankan konsep ketuhanan bermaksud mempertahankan pengertian mengesakan Allah yang sebenar oleh mereka yang mengaku beriman kepada Allah SWT.

Maksudnya: “Katakanlah: Wahai Ahli Kitab, marilah kepada satu kalimah yang sama antara kami dengan kamu, iaitu kita tidak menyembah melainkan Allah, dan kita tidak sekutukan dengan-Nya sesuatupun; dan jangan sebahagian dari kita mengambil sebahagian yang lain sebagai tuhan selain dari Allah. Kemudian jika mereka berpaling, maka katakanlah kepada mereka: Saksikanlah bahawa kami adalah orang Islam.”

( Surah Ali Imran:64)

TAMAT.

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Di akhir zaman ini, semua orang berlumba lumba untuk menunjukkan bahawa dirinya liberal. Apa yang boleh diliberalisasikan, tidak pula mempunyai batasan.  Bukan sahaja ekonomi atau kehidupan sosial dan moral, agama pun boleh diliberalisasikan. Asalkan membawa kepada lebih banyak manfaat dan sokongan. Tapi betulkah boleh mendapat manfaat dan sokongan? Hanya Allah yang Maha Mengetahui. Kita sekadar tengok dan berdoa sahaja. Jika kita sebagai umat Islam menggalakkan umat bukan Islam menggunakan kalimah Allah untuk menyekutukan Allah, maka kita tidak berpegang kepada Surah Al Imran di atas. Terima kasih.

Sensitiviti umat Islam dipijak-pijak

UPDATE 6 Januari 2010:

A revealing article by the owner of the blog Pure Shiite. As a Muslim, I am concerned. Must be read HERE. Thank you.

Original article:

I am a Muslim,

A Malay,

A Bumiputera.

In that order of precedent and priority.

If a gun is put to my temple and I am ordered to renounce my Bumiputera status, I will gladly oblige, as I prefer to have my brain in one place rather than for it to be splattered all over.

If afterwards, the command wants me to give up my Malayness, I will also oblige without complaint, being mindful of keeping my brain intact to live another day.

Giving up being a Malay or a Bumiputera is no big deal.

As a Bumiputera, I won’t belong any longer to that privilege class of Malaysian where quotas are reserved, land is preserved and housing allocations are observed.

As a Malay, I won’t be able to eat rice with sambal belacan (hot chili with prawn paste) using my hand, clad in a sarong (loose ankle-length cloth worn on the waist) while watching a Drama Minggu Ini (Malay feature film) on TV. I will certainly miss the joy of using Bahasa Melayu, that most exquisite of languages where the word with its shades and nuances can be used in multifarious modes depending on the context and objective of the speaker.

But if the holder of the gun persists and insists that I renounce my Muslimness, I will recite the Shahadah (solemn oath taken by Muslims attesting to Allah the Almighty, and Muhammad, peace be upon him,as prophet) and play quickly the history of my life from the recesses of memory in time before he pulls the trigger: for to renounce Islam I shall not, as it is my raison de etre, my reason for being, without which I am nothing.

- from The Millennium Malay by D. Ruse

Datuk Lau Bee Lan

Minggu lepas Hakim Lau Bee Lan menjatuhkan hukuman kepada umat Islam di negara ini. Hukuman di mana kalimah Allah Yang Maha Esa, boleh digunapakai oleh orang Kristian di Malaysia di dalam Kitab Injil mereka.

Konsep Allah di dalam agama Islam adalah berlainan sekali dengan agama Kristian. Akan tetapi, dengan mudah sahaja Hakim Lau Bee Lan melabelkan Tuhan bagi kedua dua agama adalah sama.

Ini sama sekali tidak betul dan saya percaya ramai juga di kalangan penganut agama Kristian juga tidak bersetuju dengan keputusan hakim berkenaan.

Ada yang berkata bahawa perkataan ‘Allah’ sudah diguna pakai oleh kaum Arab sebelum kedatangan Islam lagi oleh itu, perkataan Allah adalah sama maksudnya dengan ‘Tuhan’ di dalam bahasa Arab. Jadi, perkataan ‘Allah’ bolehlah di pakai oleh orang Kristian di Sabah dan Sarawak kerana maksudnya sama dengan Tuhan.

Hello! Mereka di Sabah dan Sarawak ini berketurunan Arab kah?

Jika kamu Orang Malaysia, perkataan ‘God’ di dalam Bahasa Malaysia adalah ‘Tuhan’, bukannya Allah. Kamu ini, orang Malaysia atau orang Arab? Sejak bila kamu jadi orang Arab?

Jika sudah tahu kamu ini Orang Malaysia, maka gunalah istilah ‘Tuhan’.

The Herald cuba sedaya upaya untuk menukar isu bahasa ini sebagai masalah oppresi orang bukan Islam oleh orang Islam. Perkara yang begitu sensitif yang mampu membakar hati orang Islam yang juga majoriti di dalam negara Malaysia ini diheretnya ke mahkamah.

Mereka di Sabah dan Sarawak menggunakan perkataan ‘Allah’ bagi Tuhan mereka kerana mereka menggunakan Kitab Injil yang dicetak dan diimport dari Indonesia.

Jalan mudah senang sahaja, tukar sahaja bahasa di dalam Kitab Injil mereka dari Allah kepada Tuhan. Ini kerana Tuhan adalah perkataan di dalam Bahasa Malaysia. Bukankah begitu?

Ada juga kalangan mereka berkata bahawa orang Kristian di Indonesia juga menggunapakai perkataan ‘Allah’ bagi Tuhan mereka.

Itu, orang Indonesia punya pasal.

Apa sebab kena samakan hal-hal agama dan sensitiviti rakyat negara ini dengan negara Indonesia?

Berapa lama kamu duduk di Malaysia hingga tidak tahu langsung bahawa perkara ini adalah amat bahaya jika diteruskan?

Sensitiviti orang di sini semestinya tidak sama dengan orang di negara lain.

Ini tidak. Apabila Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) mengharamkan Kitab Injil  bahasa Malaysia yang menggunakan nama Allah, mereka terloncat-loncat mahu membawa perkara ini ke mahkamah.

Sensitiviti umat Islam boleh masuk tong sampah.

Penyelesaian yang mudah iaitu mengunakan perkataan ‘Tuhan’ untuk mengganti perkataan ‘Allah’ telah dikusutkan dengan kedegilan mereka. Mahkamah dijadikan alasan untuk meleraikan isu keagamaan yang pada dasarnya hanyalah satu isu penggunaan bahasa.

Saya juga tidak berapa setuju dengan pendapat sesetengah orang Islam yang mengatakan tidak apa jika orang Kristian menggunakan perkataan Allah di dalam Kitab Injil mereka.

Siapa bilang boleh?

Nama Tuhan bagi orang Kristian bukannya Allah. Tuhan mereka berkonsepkan Triniti. Kita hormat pegangan agama mereka ini.

Yang penting bagi umat Islam, jika Allah berkonsepkan Triniti digunapakai oleh orang bukan Islam, adakah kesucian nama Allah akan terpelihara? Adakah Allah yang mempunyai tiga personafikasi (Bapa, Anak dan Roh Kudus) ini sama dengan Tuhan kita bagi umat Islam?

Adalah penting bagi kita untuk mengagungkan nama Tuhan – iaitu Allah -Yang Maha Esa. Bukannya Allah Yang Maha Tiga atau yang beranak pinak.

Surah Al-Imran ayat 64 mengatakan:

“Katakanlah: “”Hai Ahli Kitab, marilah (berpegang) kepada suatu kalimat (ketetapan) yang tidak ada perselisihan antara kami dan kamu, bahwa tidak kita sembah kecuali Allah dan tidak kita persekutukan Dia dengan sesuatu pun dan tidak (pula) sebagian kita menjadikan sebagian yang lain sebagai tuhan selain Allah. Jika mereka berpaling maka katakanlah kepada mereka: “”Saksikanlah, bahwa kami adalah orang-orang yang berserah diri (kepada Allah)””.”

Say: “O People of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah. that we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah.” If then they turn back, say ye: “Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah.s Will).

Surah Al-Maidah ayat 17 mengatakan:

“Sesungguhnya telah kafirlah orang-orang yang berkata: “”Sesungguhnya Allah itu ialah Al Masih putra Maryam””. Katakanlah: “”Maka siapakah (gerangan) yang dapat menghalang-halangi kehendak Allah, jika Dia hendak membinasakan Al Masih putra Maryam itu beserta ibunya dan seluruh orang-orang yang berada di bumi semuanya?”” Kepunyaan Allah-lah kerajaan langit dan bumi dan apa yang di antara keduanya; Dia menciptakan apa yang dikehendaki-Nya. Dan Allah Maha Kuasa atas segala sesuatu.”

In blasphemy indeed are those that say that Allah is Christ the son of Mary. Say: “Who then hath the least power against Allah, if His will were to destroy Christ the son of Mary, his mother, and all every – one that is on the earth? For to Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between. He createth what He pleaseth. For Allah hath power over all things.”

Oleh itu, siapa yang patut mempertahan nama Allah dari terus disalahgunakan oleh The Herald?

Siapa? PAS? UMNO? Mahkamah? Umat Islam?

Khalid Samad

Amat malang apabila kita mendapat wakil rakyat yang bertuhankan politik seperti Khalid Samad yang sanggup membelakangkan sensitiviti orang seagamanya sendiri. Khalid Samad dengan lantang sejak beberapa bulan yang lepas menyokong The Herald di dalam kes mahkamah minggu lepas.

Bagi beliau, tidak apa perkara ini berlaku. Yang penting, dirinya harus dilihat liberal dan mendapat sokongan pengundi bukan Islam.

Tahniah Khalid Samad!

Disebabkan orang seperti andalah mereka yang di dalam The Herald sudah tidak gentar untuk memperkotak-katikkan sensitiviti umat Islam di Malaysia ini.

Kini, Khalid Samad berhadapan dengan cemuhan yang datang dari dalam kumpulan politiknya sendiri seperti Mahfuz Omar dan Zulkifli Noordin.

Saya terpanggil pula melihat gelagat orang Muslim yang membuat demonstrasi di depan mahkamah dan di depan masjid. Apa yang anda semua boleh dapat apabila menunjuk perasaan di depan masjid?

Mereka yang telah memulakan perkara ini dengan menyemarakkan dan menyelar sensitiviti orang Muslim di Malaysia  bukannya berada di dalam masjid.

Untuk mendapat impak secara menyeluruh, adalah lebih baik agar mereka semua berkumpul, berarak  dan menyerahkan memorandum mereka DI HADAPAN pejabat THE HERALD di alamat berikut:

Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre

5 Jalan Robertson

50150 Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

Jika anda sesat jalan dan tidak tahu bagaimana hendak ke sana, bolehlah menelefon mereka di 03 2026 8290 / 8291.

Tunggu, saya belum habis menulis lagi.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak semalam berkata bahawa umat Islam harus bersabar dan biar proses mahkamah berakhir:

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak akan menghadap Yang di-Pertuan Agong dan Majlis Raja-Raja dalam tempoh terdekat ini bagi menjelaskan isu berkaitan penggunaan kalimah Allah yang menimbulkan kemarahan umat Islam di negara ini. Sehubungan itu, Perdana Menteri meminta umat Islam bertenang sambil menyerahkan kepada kerajaan menyelesaikannya menerusi proses undang-undang.

Beliau juga meminta umat Islam terutama kumpulan tertentu mengurangkan aktiviti rapat umum yang boleh memanaskan isu yang amat sensitif itu bagi memastikan tiada kejadian tidak diingini berlaku.

‘Saya akan melakukan sembah maklum kepada Yang di-Pertuan Agong nanti dan jika Seri Paduka perkenan, perkara ini akan ditaklimat kepada Majlis Raja-Raja pada mesyuarat akan datang.

Hendak sembah maklum buat apa lagi DS Najib?

Bukankah senang jika pihak pentadbiran tertinggi negara dari awal sudah menghentikan perkara ini dari berlanjutan?

Umat Islam di negara ini sudah marah sejak kes ini disebut di mahkamah pada tahun lepas lagi. Mengapa dibiarkan perkara ini diseret ke mahkamah?

Kamu tidurkah? Kamu tidak sedarkah?

Apabila sudah meledak seperti ini, para pemimpin kerajaan minta umat Islam untuk bersabar lagi?

Jika pihak peguam KDN pun tidak tahu berhujah dengan cekap di hadapan Hakim Lau Bee Lan yang merupakan seorang penganut agama Kristian Katholik, mana mungkin kamu hendak menang di dalam mahkamah?

Najib, Hishamuddin dan para pemimpin kerajaan jangan ingat bahawa umat Islam di Malaysia ini tolol-tolol belaka. Jika kamu bersikap enteng sebegini lagi, bersikap tidak acuh dan sambil lewa menangani masalah yang dihadapi, bagaimana kamu hendak memenangi hati rakyat nanti?

Kepada Khalid Samad, Hishamuddin, Najib dan ahli politik beragama Islam yang lain – lembik dan penakut seperti ini masih mahu jadi pemimpin? Kirim salam sahajalah.

Salam Ma’al Hijrah 1431 dan Selamat Tahun Baru 2010

Waktu terbang dalam sekelip mata. Tahun baru sudah menjelma. Apakah yang telah anda lakukan selama ini?

Walaupun kita terperangkap di antara hiruk-pikuk duniawi dan permasalahan diri, kita semestinya perlu berasa bersyukur kerana dapat menghembus nafas dengan aman di bumi Malaysia ini.

Salam hormat dari blog Jebat Must Die untuk para pembaca semua.

Selamat tinggal kepada 365 hari yang lepas. Selamat datang kepada 365 hari yang akan kunjung tiba!

*picture taken from Avatar Networks Sdn Bhd.

Why Royal Commission was turned down

And so in the end, the proposal by Lim Kit Siang for the government to set up the Royal Commission was shot down by Najib Tun Razak.

I must thank Mek Yam for highlighting a good article from ninitalk.wordpress.com which puts everything into perspective. I am copy pasting parts of her article here:

ROYAL COMMISSION

The call by Opposition leaders Lim Kit Siang and Dr Syed Husin Ali for a royal commission to investigate the allegations of corruption against Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Barry Wain’s book Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times is typical of the knee-jerk reaction that Malaysian politicians are well-known for. Instead of  trying to understand the substance of the issue and seeing it for what it really is, they take the easy way out by echoing each other in a politically - motivated stand.

To invoke a royal commission to substantiate the findings of  a book written by the journalist- turned- researcher at a Singapore think- tank is to instigate the whole nation into giving credence to one writer’s perception and interpretation of Malaysian political history. The assumption here is that the researcher’s credibilty is so highly respected and his allegations so expertly substantiated that they warrant a royal commission of inquiry to serve the national interest.

Writing a sensational book alone does not make one a credible researcher or writer. Defaming the leaders of both the government and the Opposition may be politically expedient in the highly-charged mood of local politics in the run-up to the next general elections. There may be groups with vested interests who churn out these character assasination slurs to influence those who are gullible and believe in rumours and loose talk. However, a larger section of the Malaysian electorate are rational and expect the validity and truth of these charges and counter charges to be proven with evidence or in a court of law.

The onus is thus on Barry Wain to provide reports and documentation of  Dr Mahathir’s alleged corruption and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of RM 100 billion as appendices in his book if he wants to be hailed as a credible researcher. Otherwise, he will remain as a sensationalist political analyst who is tempting fate by exposing himself to a string of libel charges not only by Dr Mahathir but the other individuals implicated in his book.

Please continue reading HERE.

Pakatan Rakyat clowning around over RCI

The last ditch of saving themselves from potential embarrassment and loss of credibility of Anwar Ibrahim came from Anwar’s own Deputy President of Parti Keadilan Rakyat, Dr Syed Husin Ali.

This newly appointed senator of Dewan Negara made a flimsy effort  to misdirect the people, trying to create a false impression that Dr Mahathir is challenging Najib Tun Razak to set up the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI). Please read his letter below:

Although we do not believe that former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad is serious about it, nevertheless the People’s Justice Party (KEADILAN) welcomes his challenge that the government sets up an Independent Commission to investigate the exposure by Barry Wain in his latest book that under the former Prime Minister more than RM100 billion disappeared due to corruption and wastage.

Actually, Mahathir was throwing a challenge to the Umno-Bn government led now by Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Najib should not dilly dally or give excuses but instead quickly set up the Commission. It should be given wide powers to investigate the claims by Barry Wain as well as all forms of corruption and waste linked to former PM Mahathir. Indeed if necessary and appropriate, the Commission should also investigate into all hanky panky that occurred under former PM Abdullah Badawi, as claimed and urged by Mahathir.

Consistent with the challenge by Mahathir, the Commission members should consist not only of judges or retired judges, but also respected political personalities from government and opposition as well as from among the Professionals (like the academia and members of the Bar Council). Obviously there needs to be an assurance that all recommendations of the Commission will be acted upon. It should not suffer the fate of the police commission or the commission on “Lingam’s Tape”.

Dr SYED HUSIN ALI
KEADILAN Deputy President

Clever choice of words wouldn’t you say so? But ultimately, EVERYONE agrees that the one who made the challenge was Lim Kit Siang. Anwar Ibrahim agreed to this and pasted that article in his own blog.

These two were the ones who challenged Najib to set up the RCI and challenged Mahathir whether he is up for it. And now Syed Husin is trying his best to say that the idea was originally conceived by Mahathir and now Mahathir is the one challenging Najib?

Trying to put a wedge between Mahathir and Najib now are we?

This latest politicking is laughable indeed.

For once in your life, please own up to all your actions. You guys were the one challenging Najib to set up the RCI in the first place. Now you have to substantiate your slander with proof. Therefore, own it up, stand up and face the music!

You challenged Mahathir to stand up and be judged, now you guys in Pakatan – Barry Wain included, should show us all the proof so that we can deal with all these in the Royal Commission of Inquiry. Failing which, you guys will have to face any libel suit should you guys fail to convince the RCI’s panel of judges, ‘respected personalities from government and opposition’ and professionals.

Ada berani?

I doubt it. A few days ago, the unofficial mouthpiece of the opposition, Malaysian Insider made a swipe at any RCI by claiming that it is a waste of time and money for the rakyat.

A sad state indeed when the opposition who had vehemently trying to challenge the government with gusto made a u-turn on its own suggestion. Even Lim Kit Siang let out a whimper-ish twitter and an equally lethargic reply towards Mahathir’s response. It can be read HERE.

Lim Kit Siang should be happy that Mahathir had accepted his proposal regarding the RCI. But Kit Siang apparently went on and ridicule Mahathir for wanting to further broaden the scope of the RCI!

God knows what would Kit Siang say if Mahathir did not agree to the RCI. All hell will break loose I reckon.

Now it seems to say yes pun salah!?

Everything must conform to your plan right Kit Siang? I would have thought that Kit Siang would be tremendously happy that the RCI would include Mahathir and Abdullah Badawi too.

No?

Syed Husin disagrees with Kit Siang in his letter above. He likes the idea that Pak Lah be accountable as well.

It is ironic that the opposition is in a state of disarray over their own proposal of this RCI.

What first came out as a gung-ho statement from this Mr Opposition had turned into a joke. If they want to start clowning around, quit politics and join the circus.

If RCI is a waste of time and money (as claimed by the Malaysian Insider), then why suggest it in the first place?

—————————–

Update – Barely 48 hours ago, the clowns in Pakatan Rakyat challenged the government  to set up another RCI! Read HERE.

Malaysian Insider playing the fiddle

…and the fiddlers are just a bunch of nervous editors.

I find their latest editorial piece rather perplexing to say the least. In a nutshell, they are urging Tun Dr Mahathir to sue everyone that had tarnished his image and reputation.

This is clearly a red herring. An act to cover up the idiotic gamble Barry Wain, Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang et al had played for the past 2 weeks.

And with the opposition-aligned Malaysian Insider fully on the bandwagon through this editorial piece below, we can safely be assured that Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan and Brendan Pereira are contributing their handiwork to lend some feeble ammunition for the opposition.

Now get this, the opposition, through their unofficial mouthpiece – The Malaysian Insider, DO NOT WANT the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to be set up!

Now who was the one who accused and sullied Mahathir’s name with this RM100 billion wastage?

Barry Wain.

A week ago who called for the RCI to be established?

Lim Kit Siang.

Who had agreed for the RCI to be established?

Mahathir.

Who had agreed to be judged?

Mahathir.

Who should prepare all the documentary proof of the alleged corruption?

Barry Wain.

Who will be sued all the way back to the middle ages if Barry Wain could not prepare all the documentary evidence of this accusation so that the RCI can start its investigation?

Barry Wain, Lim Kit Siang and MalaysiaKini (does Malaysian Insider want to be part of this group as well?)

Who has more guts to go along with this RCI that was suggested by Lim Kit Siang and Anwar Ibrahim?

Mahathir.

Now who are the cowards that suddenly made a u-turn on their own suggestion?

Lim Kit Siang (based on his twitter) and Malaysian Insider (based on the editorial below):

DEC 25 — All said and done, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s acerbic and impassioned defence of his administration boils down to one thing. That he should sue those who defame him for saying otherwise of his 22-years in power.

He should sue Barry Wain, the former editor of the Asian Wall Street Journal who wrote Malaysian Maverick which alleged the feisty medical doctor “burned” up to RM100 billion as prime minister.

He should sue DAP leader Lim Kit Siang, which he had reserved the right to, for claiming the same.

He should sue them for defamation if he believes he has been defamed. Dr Mahathir’s excuse that he isn’t like the litigatious Singaporean leaders does not hold water. What is he afraid of?

He should just put to rest, once and for all, all the speculation about his years in power. Not call for another Royal Commission to probe him and his successor Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Malaysia has had enough of wasting money on Royal Commissions, whose recommendations are ignored. The police management and VK Lingam video clip inquiries comes to mind.

The government of the day is already grappling with the fallout of the theft of two jet engines belonging to the RMAF’s F-5E squadron. It has to deal with an economy that is way behind its neighbours.

It shouldn’t waste time and money to assuage a vexed Dr Mahathir that his administration did not waste RM100 billion. After all, some of the current Cabinet ministers come from his and Abdullah’s time.

Would they feel different now apart from ignoring his wish for Science and Mathematics to be taught in English? Not when they still think building three iconic 100-storey buildings in Kuala Lumpur would provide a fillip for the economy. Or getting a RM628 million trade centre is worth government land that is potentially worth RM15 billion.

There is no dilemma here. Dr Mahathir has to do this alone. He has to sue to clear his name. The smirks, caustic and snide remarks in a blog isn’t enough to clean up his reputation except among his ardent admirers.

Come on, Malaysian maverick. Go sue those who sully your name. Just do it.

In the recent article, I wrote in the last paragraph:

The last thing we need to see is Kit Siang lambasting a Royal Commission of Inquiry by questioning that it ultimately won’t be impartial or lacking integrity even before it is being set up – just to save his face.

Malaysian Insider has proved that they tried to save the opposition from being labeled as cowards by lambasting the RCI even before it existed.

In the first place, the setting up of RCI is not “to assuage a vexed Dr Mahathir that his administration did not waste RM100 billion.”

It is to test Barry Wain’s and all the opposition’s claims that Mahathir was the person solely guilty of losing that RM100 billion, if there such amount anyway. The RCI was not initially suggested by Mahathir anyway. The onus is not on the  ‘vexed’ Mahathir. It is falls squarely on to the people who suggested the RCI. And who suggested it first? That’s right. The very person who is now feeling a bit jittery.

And the lamest spin of all is them saying that the previous recommendations of the VK Lingam  RCI are ignored, purportedly to the benefit of Mahathir himself. But what are these recommendations the bumbling Malaysian Insider are talking about that could cancel Lim Kit Siang’s suggestion?

Below are the recommendations:

What in high heavens would the recommendations above got to do with Mahathir in the first place? That particular RCI did not find Mahathir guilty of any sorts anyway. Therefore, whether the recommendations are executed or ignored, it will not affect Mahathir.

The reason why all these buffoons do not want the RCI and licking back their own spit is because Mahathir had agreed for all the documentary proof to be brought in for the RCI to investigate.

This will surely make all those that had been screaming for democracy, transparency and good governance to be undressed in public as their hands are also soiled when they were in the government back then.

The best way is for Barry Wain to present his substantiated claims in the RCI. And for God’s sakes Malaysian Insider, the RCI should also investigate the period from 2004 onwards as well. Unless of course the opposition now is no longer interested in trying to unveil any corruption that they themselves had claimed very rampant from 2004 onwards.

Is this true? Those that screamed in Malaysia Today, in Malaysia Kini around 3  to 4 years ago regarding the corrupt government no longer think it is necessary to do so?

If this is not true, then transparency and good governance must prevail at all times.

Mahathir is not afraid of the RCI.

Neither should his successor or the opposition. Malaysian Insider should be asked the same question that they asked Mahathir – what are you afraid of? Feeling a tad bit vexed yourselves are you?

The opposition is caught with their pants down. Anwar Ibrahim and his horde of underlings will surely be implicated if the RCI that they suggested is eventually set up. Now, by crook or by crook, these crooks must ensure they tarnish this RCI even before it is being established.

Cowards and spineless people usually do these sort of things. And some people think cowards and spineless people can become better leaders!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Wishing a great Christmas to all readers of Jebat Must Die blog. Have a pleasant holiday and a blissful new year everyone!

This is a scheduled posting. By the time this get published, I am already off to spend the weekend somewhere in Malaysia where I am free from internet connection

Lim Kit Siang – sleepless in Tokyo

These are the words that came from Lim Kit Siang’s brains on 21st December 2009:

What is Mahathir’s stand on whether Wain’s new biography on him should be released to the Malaysian public without any more obstacles from the authorities in Malaysia?

If Mahathir thinks that he has been defamed or maligned by Wain in the new biography, he should avail himself of the legal process to clear his name and reputation and not to support any ban or censorship of the book.

What is of more pressing national interests and importance is the serious allegation by Wain that Mahathir had wasted or burned up as much as RM100 billion in his 22 years as Prime Minister on grandiose projects and corruption – working out to an average of some RM5 billion a year during the Mahathir premiership.

What Najib should do is to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate whether Mahathir had “wasted or burned up” RM100 billion on grandiose projects and corruption in his 22 years as Prime Minister, as this will also reflect on Najib’s commitment to frontline “combating corruption” as one of the seven agenda-setting key performance indicators (KPIs) and National Key Results Area (NKRA) in his Government Transformation Programme (GTP).

Mahathir should declare whether he would co-operate with such a Royal Commission of Inquiry to prove that Wain is wrong in blaming him for the legacy of “wasting or burning up” RM100 billion in his long tenure as the fourth Malaysian Prime Minister.

The above is what Lim Kit Siang had written in his opportunistic article to criticise Tun Dr Mahathir. What he did not foresee was Tun Dr Mahathir’s reply to him.

Tun Dr Mahathir, much to Lim Kit Siang’s horror, had welcomed the proposal to set up the RCI. Not only that, he will fully cooperate with the RCI and had also urged the government to release the Barry Wain’s book into the market.

Kit Siang was hoping that Tun Dr Mahathir will not adhere to his requests so that he could prolong this issue. Instead, Tun Dr Mahathir had made his stand and the ball now is thrown in Kit Siang’s, Barry Wain’s and Najib’s courts!

An excerpt of Tun’s article that had replied to Kit Siang’s bluff read:

I welcome Lim Kit Siang’s proposal for Najib to set up a royal commission on whether I burned RM100 billion on grandiose projects and corruption during my 22-year reign. I also agree with Lim Kit Siang that the investigation would reflect Najib’s commitment to “combating corruption”.

In order that the enquiry by the commission would be successful, Government must give the undertaking to give full access to the commission of all the documents and accounts of the Government over the period 1981-2009. There should be no cover-up of any kind.

Barry Wain must provide documentary proof of any sum that he alleged I had burned.

I will co-operate fully with the commission.

Depending upon the result of the commission, I reserve the right to sue Barry Wain, Lim Kit Siang and Malaysiakini.com for libel for a sum to be disclosed later.

If the Government is witholding the book: “Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times”, I would request that the book be released forthwith. I am not in need of Government protection.

In any allegations, it is up to the accuser to bring out any proof that had substantiated his claims. In this case Barry Wain must show all the evidence that made him think ‘Mahathir wasted RM100 billion in 22 years’.

If he couldn’t substantiate his claims then his writings are purely slander.

The RCI is there to investigate this evidence prepared by Barry Wain and make a decision out of it. If Tun Dr Mahathir is found innocent, I think he will then proceed in suing Barry Wain, Kit Siang (for repeating the allegation) and other people he sees fit. This is because, these two people had defamed and maligned him unceremoniously.

Please be aware that Barry Wain clearly stated Mahathir’s name in making his allegation. He did not say it’s the Government of Malaysia that lost the RM100 billion.

The ramifications of this is huge on Barry Wain’s part since we all know that all decisions were made by the cabinet. The cabinet of 1981 to 2003.

Unless the whole people that were part of that cabinet are plunged along together with this accusations in this RCI, it will be hard to find Mahathir as solely guilty of it.

And who were in the cabinet of 1981 to 2003? Tun Musa Hitam, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Najib Tun Razak as well as Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar’s peons such as Azmin Ali and Kamaruddin Jaafar will also be implicated as their names will undoubtedly appear in many dealings Anwar made during his time as Finance Minister.

Mahathir even called the government to release all the documents and accounts from 1981 onwards so that the RCI can peruse over them. Now, if the RCI is set up, Najib must declassify all these historical documents. I bet many heads will roll especially the ones running around in Pakatan Rakyat.

Again, the ball is in Barry Wain’s and Najib’s courts. Wain with the documentary proof to prove his allegations and Najib to give the green light for the RCI.

Anwar Ibrahim must get ready to be called in for this RCI with the proof that he did not authorise any transactions or contracts during those period while Kit Siang must get ready to be sued along with Wain if the slander is not true.

I see terrible times for Anwar Ibrahim. Pakatan Rakyat’s reputation as anti BTN shattered when  Anwar could not muster a good rebuttal on the BTN controversy which he was part of back when he was the Deputy President of Umno. With a sodomy trial fast approaching brought about from the police report by his own employee, coupled with the inability of Pakatan Rakyat to form an official party due to differences in ideologies, Anwar Ibrahim’s task as the opposition leader is made worse by Kit Siang’s malicious exuberance. How on earth would people treat Pakatan Rakyat seriously?

Kit Siang on the other hand, sensing his blunder could not enjoy his time properly in Tokyo. He tweeted yesterday:

1. Why Mahathir reserved right 2sue me 4stmt calling 4RCI into allegation in “Maverick Mahathir” RM100 bil wasted or burned in 22 yrs PMship?
12/23/2009 09:31 PM

2. Why his suit conditional on outcome of RCI into Barry Wain’s allegation when M will do utmost 2block RCI though claiming support publicly?
12/23/2009 09:35 PM

3. Why Mahathir don’t sue me now if I had libelled him calling for RCI into Barry Wain’s RM100 billion allegation in his book Maverick M?
12/23/2009 09:39 PM

4. Mahathir wants Wain’s book 2b released forthwith.Who really believe Mahathir? Or is Najib or Hisham culprit blocking “Maverick M”’s release?
12/23/2009 09:45 PM

I took the liberty to rearrange the twitter in chronological order. You can sense the befuddled brain trying its best to strategise a lame defense over Tun’s reply.

Let me just reply to Kit Siang with obvious answers.

1. Mahathir reserved the right to sue pending the results of the RCI which you in the first place urged the government to set up!

2. Did Mahathir say he will block the RCI? In fact, Mahathir had also urged the government to set it up. The stupidest remark from Kit Siang would be  ‘Why his suit conditional on outcome of RCI?’. This is because if the RCI did indeed find him guilty, then he does not have to sue the two of you!

3. Sigh. We have to wait for the results of the RCI which you called for in the first place! If Mahathir is declared innocent, only then Wain and yourself no longer have the position to defend against the impending suit as the RCI  has revealed that the allegations are indeed libelous and defamatory.

4. Now this is redundant. Mahathir already called for the book to be released. Kit Siang has no more concrete things to say at this juncture.

I find it very amusing when people accuse others without a shred of evidence. For politicians to simply accuse people using lame Statutory Declarations, or in Parliament (hoping to be protected by parliamentary immunity) or in the case of Tian Chua, simply saying he has the evidence that Rosmah spent RM600K in shopping spree but stop short in showing people the evidence itself doesn’t work anymore.

The rakyat now is more sophisticated than before. We demand concrete answers. We demand concrete action. Barry Wain and Lim Kit Siang and the whole gamut of the opposition must walk the talk and prepare for the consequences of your actions. Judging from his reply, Tun Mahathir is prepared to be responsible for his actions.

The last thing we need to see is Kit Siang lambasting a Royal Commission of Inquiry by questioning that it ultimately won’t be impartial or lacking integrity even before it is being set up – just to save his face. Or the very people whose leaders had been suing everyone else urging Tun Mahathir not sue anyone.

Thank you.

Pakatan Rakyat and their myths

There are several myths running around this nation for the past half decade or so. This article will highlight what those myths are. Do not worry, this will be a short article.

Myth number 5 – Tun Mahathir is a mamak disguising himself as a malay

The people from the opposition kept calling Tun Dr Mahathir as Mamak Mahathir and even criticised him as someone trying to be malay eventhough he is actually a mamak.

Now, who in the right mind would call him this? Nobody except the racist among us.

To set things straight, Tun Mahathir’s grandfather was indeed an Indian Muslim. And the indian ancestry stops there. His grandfather married a malay woman and produced Mohamad Iskandar, the first headmaster of Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid.

Mohamad Iskandar married Wan Tempawan Wan Hanapi and had Tun Mahathir as the youngest son.

In any standard, he is a malay. But many people still see him as a mamak and ostracise him for trying to be more malay than a mamak. Even if we go technical, Tun Mahathir is 75% malay, and 25% indian. Isn’t that enough justification to see that he is malay after all?

But all this is besides the point.

The point is, wasn’t the opposition who drummed the idea that racial identification is racist, people should not be recognised through race so on and so forth. They even proposed that the race identity in identity cards be abolished.

The irony is, they themselves can’t stop being racist when criticising Tun Mahathir. All this diatribe and racial abuse come from the so called ‘antiracist’ opposition! Why demonising the Tun using racial card?

Do you think all the indian muslims in this country won’t get offended? Do you think you are damn good to racially insult people?

Sometime back, I wrote this:

And I deplore when people are calling him mamak or an indian. Why do you people keep on harping his paternal lineage? His grandfather was from India. But his dad is already half Indian. His mom was pure Malay. Why do you people being all racist and kept on highlighting this fact? If you wanna get technical then yes, he is 25% Indian and 75% Malay. Through this fact, of course he can claim himself as Malay. What does this got to do with anything?

Even MB Perak (Nizar then) is half Chinese. Did any Barisan Nasional leaders raise this fact? This is why I wrote the article Pakatan Rakyat – Kill with a Borrowed Knife. It’s the PR supporters like you who are playing racial card by pronouncing the racial lines. The racial differences are more profound under the propaganda weight of PR.

In fact, Anwar Ibrahim’s grandfather was an Indian too. But have you heard Tun’s loyalists calling him mamak? Have you heard me calling Anwar Ibrahim mamak? Yes I had called him a chameleon. Yes I had called him a desperate man and power hungry megalomaniac. But I have never insulted his ancestors or his lineage. So who is the racist here now? You, of course. You just cannot help to insult Tun Mahathir in every way possible. Even to stoop this low. And yet, you have the cheek to call him racist?

To all the racist bigots reading here, can you please look into the mirror?

Myth number 4 – “Soak the keris in chinese blood”

Those words were often highlighted by the opposition in Malaysia since 2006 in order to create racial tension among the chinese towards Najib. This will directly create animosity among the chinese community towards Umno in general. Nobody seemed to notice that there were no recordings or video evidence to substantiate this racist allegation. It became much more insidious after the 2008 general elections especially after Najib took over as Prime Minister.

In the end, it was found out that Najib did not make such statement. The matter was quickly come to a close in June 2009 after Karpal Singh, the only DAP leader which had some sense, asked Najib directly about the incident.

Those who created this slander must truly be a super racist, harping on hatred just to gain some votes.

Are you one of those people who had repeated this allegation? Have you no shame, racist?

Myth number 3 – Hang Tuah and his friends were chinese

A preposterous endeavour by some quarters in Malaysia. A hoax was created a while back in the form of an ‘excavation project’ by The Federal Association of Arc & Research of Michigan, USA. It’s task? To find the skeletons of Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Kasturi, Hang Lekiu, and Hang Lekir. They then proceeded in analysing the DNA composition from the bones and discovered that those 5 men were chinese.

The Association itself does not exist and there were no excavation project that anyone know of.

But the opposition then took the opportunity and use this unsubstantiated story to maximum effect. Poking fun at history with lies and fallacies was the order of the day. Not satisfied with this hoax, they then tried to connect Hang Tuah’s name with anything chinese; just to create a stronger version of their ‘truth’.

Anyway, it was purely coincidental that Hang Li Poh had a similar name to Hang Tuah.

This is where the racist opposition lost the plot. They reckoned, through their ‘extensive research’, that Hang Tuah and his friends were bodyguards of Hang Li Poh. They came to Melaka as part of the princess’ retinue when she married Sultan Mansor Shah.

From where they got this information?

From their own imagination. Have we seen any relevant piece of historical evidence about this so called ‘fact’? No we haven’t. Suddenly back then, the whole of Malaysia, through the racist propaganda by the racist opposition were caught up in this massive lie.

Intentionally, the Malays suddenly found out that their Malay heroes were ‘chinese’! Should they feel ashamed? Should they feel apologetic? I don’t know. But certainly they don’t feel glad.

In the first place, didn’t they know that Hang Li Poh’s surname was not in direct correlation with Hang Tuah’s name? ‘Hang’ is a Malay word and a Malay name. Can somebody prove this otherwise? I doubt it.

If the opposition had climbed down from their high horse and read the Sejarah Melayu and Hikayat Hang Tuah, they would know that Hang Tuah and his friends were born here in Kepulauan Melayu.

They were born even before Mansor Shah became a Sultan. They were here even before Hang Li Poh came to Melaka.

And these are all based on the two oldest books on our nation’s history. What kind of books were they referring to when they created this massive lie?

The chronology of this concocted, imaginary story by the racist propaganda machine of the opposition does not tally with the known facts and history of Hang Tuah and his friends. How sad. But somehow, many people believed it.

But since the Association does not exist and there were no excavation of any type ever done on those graves, the myth itself is wrong and insidious in nature.

Were you the one of those whom had declared in glee that Hang Tuah was chinese? How stupid were you?

Are you one of those who believed in this myth? How gullible are you?

Myth number 2 – Morgan Stanley report on Malaysia’s USD100 billion loss

Now, this elusive report which nobody has seen had been made referenced by the opposition time and time again. Has anyone seen this report?

Lim Guan Eng first mentioned this in Parliament back in June 2008. How did he know this figure. From a Time Magazine article. The said article was published back in 2004. Therefore, when it was first mentioned in 2008, Lim Guan Eng was 4 years late.

Now how is this a myth?

Firstly, where was this originated from? Lim Guan Eng, in his ramblings, accused the Malaysian government of losing USD100 billion only through this paragraph in the article-

On the other hand, if Abdullah wins enough to follow through on his antigraft campaign, argues Daniel Lian, an economist at Morgan Stanley in Singapore, Malaysia could garner a “significant economic benefit.” Lian figures that the country may have lost as much as $100 billion since the early 1980s to corruption.

This myth originated from an economist working in Morgan Stanley. His name is Daniel Lian.

Basically, this Daniel did not give any concrete evidence at all. He just made a guess and an estimate. The so called report which every Tom, Dick and Harry in the opposition had used apparently came from an article  glorifying Pak Lah’s premiership before the 2004 general elections. The substance of the paragraph in turn is based on a spurious report of this economist.

Through the cunning yet malicious propaganda of the opposition, many had fall for this myth. In the end, the blame was solely laid upon the ‘Malay Government’ of Malaysia.

No doubt, like in many other countries, there are bound to be mismanagement, wastage and corruption. But to accuse the government based on unproven reports is truly pathetic.

Dropping names of international investment bank like Morgan Stanley just to win you votes can get you nowhere.

Just ask Morgan Stanley.

Note that Morgan Stanley nearly went bankrupt last year. The US government bailed them out using public’s money (part of the USD700 billion package) during the subprime crisis in 2008. How did they end this way? Probably relying too much on their dodgy economists.

Myth number 1 – Tun Abdul Razak, Datuk Harun Idris and Tun Mahathir were the architects of May 13, 1969 racial riots

Of all the myths perpetuated by the racist opposition, this one has to take the cake.

It has never been mentioned anywhere prior to 2007.

But as part of the attempt to stoke racial tension among the races, Kua Kia Soong published a malicious book which had instigated the chinese and indians against the Umno leaders of yesteryears.

This evil racist approach had created massive hatred towards all things Malay. How could a so called politicialleader have the heart to use sentiments this kind of way? Only the most vile and the most bigoted would use this approach.

The book itself claimed that it used many so called evidences and facts from ’secret’ documents of the British Intelligence.

In an attempt to twist history, the opposition had managed to cover up their predecessors’ wrongdoings in that fateful day 40 years ago.

Kua Kia Soong delved on three main themes in order to satisfy the opposition’s twisted agenda. They were:

1) Tun Abdul Razak masterminded the May 13 racial riots as a form of coup d’etat from Tunku Abdul Rahman

2) Datuk Harun Idris led Umno Youths to spontaneously launched an unprovoked attack towards the chinese people

3) The racial riots were not the fault of the racist opposition or the subversive communist movement

After reading that book, and using simple logic and deduction, all the accusations above have been debunked in a series of articles that can be read here. The series received tremendous response from the readers with a total of 495 comments.

In the end, it was revealed that Tun Abdul Razak, Datuk Harun Idris and Tun Mahathir did not mastermind the riots, it was not spontaneously launched and it was indeed the fault of racist opposition and subversive communists that caused the riot to erupt.

Still feeling a tad bit racist?

Just read for yourself the series in separate form and the comments received for each articles below. It will be an enlightening journey I assure you:

1. May 13, 1969 – Part 1

2. May 13, 1969 – Part 2

3. May 13, 1969 – Part 3

4. May 13, 1969 – Part 4

Note that the opposition aligned Malaysia Today had published the first two articles but failed to publish the last two. Probably because they’re afraid of their own shadows. An excerpt from the series read:

As stated in the first part of this series, in 1969 PAS and DAP had aggressively conducted a divisive and racial politics to gain more votes from the ignorant and gullible people.

PAS, in their election campaign will accuse Umno of ’selling out Islam’ and the Malays to MCA. They accused Umno as un-Islamic and had gone astray from Islam’s way of life. They say Umno will not establish an Islamic Nation since they were in league with the MCA.  This made the Malay votes split into two and weakened Umno’s popularity.

This extremist view was frowned upon by Tunku and he labelled PAS as a bunch of wretched hypocrites in his May 13 book. Moderation had always been the main principles of the Alliance and the pillar of success in multi racial Malaysia. But PAS tried to instill hate, using religion as their weapon to split the Malay votes.

But at the same time, PAS was cooperating with the DAP (who is a polar opposite to PAS)  in an unofficial opposition coalition!

DAP meanwhile accused the MCA of selling out the rights of the non-Malays to Umno. In other words, DAP accused MCA of letting itself being bullied by Umno. DAP had used the same approach in gaining votes albeit though a reverse tactic. They accused MCA of being too soft when the National Language Policy was introduced a couple of years before. To the racist DAP, they could not recognise Bahasa Malaysia as the official language of the country.

They also pounded the idea that MCA was bullied into submission when Umno tried to pursue a more Islamic apporach in governing the nation. Hence, this very racist approach of instilling fear and hate towards the Malays and specifically Umno made the non Malays shunned MCA and the Alliance. In the end, MCA lost a lot of votes during the election.

But in actual fact, it did not make any sense for the DAP to accuse Umno of being too Islamic and bullied the MCA while in the same breath PAS accused Umno of being too liberal and un-Islamic and betrayed the Malays to MCA! What was more ridiculous, PAS and DAP worked together in their unholy alliance of opposition parties!

How on earth you people could fall for this sick and evil propaganda? Trying to attain power through racial hatred? Is this the kind of a people you want to lead this country?

As a conclusion, what is the similarity between all the 5 myths above?

All of them entirely evolve around evoking racial sentiment. That is why the Pakatan Rakyat is the propagators of racism (PR) in this country. And to think that they always accuse other people as racist. How arrogant!

Happy belated birthday!

..to YABhg Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor. Semoga panjang umur dan murah rezeki!

I would have missed it if it wasn’t because of the full page advertisement in The Star last Thursday:

I believe this is a first in history.

Will wait for the billboard advertisements to come up soon

Nazri Aziz again?

I just had to hand it to Nazri Aziz.

The weekend just ended. Joceline Tan wrote two articles about him back to back during that period. She had the cheek to insinuate Nazri as the last samurai; the last of the fearless politician.

Joceline must have been high on something that weekend.

Nazri, spurred by the samurai label, began to revel in it. Now, he is the samurai while Najib Tun Razak is the Shogun.

What a cheap stunt.

In the first place, a samurai is never reckless. Far from it.

This is how I see it.

This issue was started by Pakatan Rakyat ostracising Biro Tata Negara. Rightly or wrongly, it was a tussle between the Federal Government and the State government of Selangor.

BUT NAZRI SINGLE-HANDEDLY TURNED IT INTO AN ARGUMENT BETWEEN FACTIONS WITHIN UMNO.

What an idiot. He is certainly not a fearless politician.

The Deputy PM had made not-so-subtle hints when he defended the BTN. A clever politician would take the hint and ended the tiff there and then.

But not Nazri.

He is too dumb to comprehend this.

In the end, the PM himself had to meet him and order him to stop all this buffoonery. Why can’t he think for himself? He has to wait until the PM calls him in? Only then he would realise his antics?

How childish.

Nazri was one of the many politicians that made the rakyat loathed the Barisan Nasional leaders back in 2008.

I believe he will AGAIN be the black sheep as the next general election approaches.

With this kind of politician, we do not need the opposition. He will commit the seppuku for the entire BN. Pakatan Rakyat is smiling ear to ear because of this dumb samurai.

Nazri Aziz battling against his own intelligence (and he won)

I am quite reluctant to write this piece as it involves unnecessary childish behaviour from a senior minister of Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak’s cabinet.

The minister, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz went crazy all of a sudden after Tun Dr Mahathir gave a statement after being asked by a journalist about Biro Tata Negara course.

Lets talk what really happened.

The opposition, who often oppose just for the sake of opposing anything under the government’s sun, had criticised BTN as a propaganda machine of the federal government. This led the Pakatan Rakyat’s state government of Selangor to bar all its civil servants to attend BTN courses.

They claimed it incites hatred towards the opposition and above all, it is filled with some Ketuanan Melayu brainwash (why,what else can they say but this?)

Suddenly without any provocation, Nazri a prisoner of some ’siege’, claimed that yes, BTN do need revamping.

But his peers is stating otherwise. Ahmad Maslan, the Deputy Minister in the PM’s Department claimed that there will only be upgrades to suit the 1Malaysia concept.

Even the Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin defended BTN courses. The issue would have been resolved with Nazri Aziz being asked to keep his thoughts to himself and not poke his bald head onto other people’s affairs.

But matters became complex when an elder statesman was asked about his own opinion.

Last weekend, at a function, Tun Dr Mahathir was asked by journalists about the possible revamp/upgrade of BTN courses, and of course, explaining things from his experience and point of view, he stated that these courses should be retained.

Summarily, he said:

The former prime minister was also of the opinion that the BTN curriculum had helped foster unity as the courses conducted by the agency were attended by Malaysians of all races.

“No need to revamp…I think it is better to retain the modules,” he told reporters after opening the World Aids Day 2009 here today.

Commenting further, Dr Mahathir said he too had given talks at courses organised by the BTN and among the subjects touched on were Malaysian history.

“Sometimes, people cannot understand the underlying value of BTN courses. I do not see anything bad about it, it explains the nation’s history,” he said.

His remarks jived with the other current leaders in Barisan Nasional – Ahmad Maslan, the deputy minister directly responsible for BTN and with the Deputy Prime Minister.

Then how come, just because of this statement from Tun, Nazri barked out unprovoked and uncouth comments regarding Tun and labeled him as racist? Which part of Tun’s statement above is deemed racist?

Nazri’s tantrum sounded like this:

Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz has called Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad a “bloody racist” for defending the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) courses, and reasserted the Cabinet’s earlier decision to overhaul the programme.

Nazri pointed out to reporters in Parliament today that patriotism was not meant only for the Malays but for all Malaysians.

“You must be a Malaysian whether you’re a minister or not. You must walk your talk. Don’t just because when you were PM, you wanted everyone to support you, you’re Malaysian and the moment you’re no longer PM, that’s it, only talk about the Malays so I cannot accept his comment. When you read his blog it is bloody racist.

“I strongly feel the BTN courses must be in line with the 1 Malaysia slogan by the PM,” he said.

Again, which part of Tun’s statement about BTN earlier that made Nazri hopping mad? It was not insidious and certainly not racist in nature. Tun did not even solely talking about the Malays! And to be sure, Tun was not even ridiculing Nazri for his call to revamp BTN.

Why didn’t Nazri launch an attack to Ahmad Maslan and his number 2 boss as well?

Can they be labeled as bloody racist as well for saying that there will only be an upgrade for BTN?

Mind you, Tun was merely stating his opinion on what he knew BTN during his years in the government. Whatever the grievances people might have about BTN happens only recently.

The blogger Hantu Laut put it succinctly in his latest article.

I believe Nazri Aziz was just trying to gain some mileage in the possible cabinet reshuffle. After all, after more than 6 months down the road from the last cabinet announcement, what kind of value-add has Nazri provided to the government?

What are the things that no other people can perform better than him? Is he an asset to this Kerajaan Untuk Rakyat, or is he a liability?

In April this year, after hearing the new cabinet line-up, I wrote:

When hearing the announcement, among my first reaction was; are there no other parliamentarians more proficient in Malaysian laws than Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz? Nazri should know that he is very lucky to be reappointed into the cabinet this time around. But I guess, his service is still needed in Parliament. However, I will shudder if he still persist in being too gung-ho in his approach towards any sensitive issues in the future.

Nazri must know that being a hatchet-man to the PM will not work this time around. Najib Tun Razak does not need to defend himself against Tun Mahathir in the first place. This particular episode revealed how erratic Nazri is. The old statesman was not even taking a swipe at the government. In fact, he was defending Barisan Nasional.

Why make a mess when you don’t need one?

Noticeably, all the opposition jumped the bandwagon and glorified Nazri for his outbursts. How bizzare! Nazri, the Pakatan hero? Well maybe he is vying for a cabinet post IF Anwar Ibrahim wins the next general election. Amacam Kit Siang, can Nazri be the Home Minister then? You can have Nazri, his childish tantrums and his IQ all to yourself.

In my opinion with regards to the BTN itself, it is a matter of execution and implementation that needs to be upgraded and streamlined. Maybe there were certain cases of overzealous officials within the BTN that had used extreme approach to instil patriotism. Again, it’s a matter of execution. Not the ideology itself.

The courses need to be properly conducted so that each participant may get the same level of motivation and patriotism which is in line with the original goals of BTN. The trainers need to be more dynamic and cognizant to his audience.

Nazri himself need to attend a refresher course in BTN. I hope they will teach him some manners as well.

Thank you.

Pro ‘freedom of speech’ senator suing blogger/former editor

Datuk Zaid Ibrahim

Datuk Zaid Ibrahim is suing Datuk Kadir Jasin over a blog article written by the latter on 21st October 2009.

The said article is entitled – “Zaid, The Hurricane Hattie of PR”.

Zaid then wrote a rebuke on the same day some 12 hours later. His is entitled – “Kalau Hati Dah Busuk”.

After reading both articles, I believe Zaid had made a faux pas..

He ended his ‘Kalau Hati Dah Busuk’ article with this paragraph:

“Bagi saya, kalau PKR, PAS atau DAP yang mendakwa saya ini satu watak kartun dan seorang pengacau, maka saya perlu meneliti tuduhan tersebut. Tetapi kalau setakat penulis upahan UMNO yang membuat tuduhan, saya rasa saya masih lagi boleh tidur nyenyak. Lagi pun tak berapa syok nak melayan budak-budak upahan, terutamanya yang hati mereka dah terlalu busuk.”

I think after 5 weeks gone by, Zaid still couldn’t sleep soundly. Hence this litigation suit.  In the end, he wanted to feel ’syok melayan budak-budak upahan‘ afterall.

Datuk Kadir Jasin

Which comes to another point, Kadir Jasin is blogger upahan Umno? Meaning Najib pays him to write articles to criticise Zaid? Wow.. imagine that.. The PM, paying someone from the ‘old regime’ (Zaid’s own words) to do the writings…

Is that Zaid’s defence against any criticisms?

No wonder he couldn’t sleep soundly.

What is so wrong about the article which made him issue a writ of summon to Kadir Jasin?

Is there any element of defamation in it? Didn’t Zaid write a few allegatory statements concerning Kadir Jasin in his own rebuttal as well?

So, what is the contentious issue? All of Pakatan Rakyat supporters are supporting Zaid Ibrahim anyway. Who cares if one negative article was published in blogosphere?

You mean to say, people cannot write whatever they want? Since when?

We have been doing that since the MSC was set up some 10 years ago. And we got away with it.

This is simply the case of – “do what I say not do what I do”.

When he and all the opposition bloggers write tremendous amount of unfair accusations and uncouth articles defaming everyone else, it is fine. But when one is confronted with a ghost from the past, he became rattled and couldn’t sleep peacefully.

The irony is, he would like to be seen as liberal and the fighter of press freedom and freedom of speech.

Nevertheless, it is his right to sue people as much as it was Kadir Jasin’s right to write that article.  Unlike some people who ran away like a coward, I am sure Kadir Jasin will commence all the necessary legal actions to defend his article based on any evidence that he can produce.

Accountability is after all, a mantra all these old school editors hold on to. Too bad Zaid has no faith in his own writings. Otherwise, the accountability and the substance he tried to convey in his article could easily counter or negate whatever Kadir Jasin had originally written.

Anyway, from now on, listen up people. Nobody must criticise Datuk Zaid Ibrahim!

________________________

News update 3.40pm : Kadir Jasin is puzzled with the lawsuit.

More supporting single school system

A good letter in The Star today:

IT was reported that many race-based organisations object to the proposed single school system for fear of losing the unique identity of their own community.

They believe that when children attend national schools their cultural character will be diluted (“NGOs fear loss of unique cultural identity,” (The Star, Nov 6).

These concerns are surely unfounded and a lame excuse put forward to disagree with the proposition. Are we just interested in our own community only in a self-serving way, or do we have the interest of the nation at heart?

Are we indeed affected by some egocentric racial attitude or have some other hidden agendas? Are we sincere enough in wanting a united people regardless of race, colour and creed? Are we for an equitable civil society living in peace and harmony in this country and beyond? These are questions these NGOs and all other like-minded Malaysians should ask themselves.

Every other country in the whole world sends their young to the same schools to enable them to develop the spirit of oneness. They recognise that this is a critical period in the children’s life when they can readily inculcate the virtues of understanding, sharing and caring among themselves.

Why should we therefore reject this global­ly accepted and proven practice and act differently? How are we going to make 1Malaysia a reality if we can’t even agree on a common ground in educating future generations?

Whether the NGOs want to accept it or not, the multi-stream education system is to be blamed for the current state of racial polarisation in this country. Today we see Malaysians, especially the young, mingling only with their own kind in their daily social activities.

The same scenario can be observed at workplaces, ceremonies, gatherings and functions. We adults have ourselves to blame for this sad situation. It is we who bowed to the pressure of the chauvinists among us by sending our children to specific schools that cater for our individual race only.

To physically separate the young during their primary schools is bad enough. Ironically, now certain race-based NGOs are vehemently demanding that the Government give more emphasis to vernacular secondary schools.

If the Government were to fulfil this demand, there would subsequently be additional vernacular secondary schools. More students will then be able to continue their studies in these schools, thus limiting their opportunity to mix with children of other races.

Even now students at tertiary level are having difficulties socialising, and tend to group together and find comfort only within their own community. I can’t imagine how perilous the situation will be if these NGOs have their way. It will then be a sad day for multi-racial Malaysia!

And what about the pride and dignity of having our own national language? The longer we keep the children in vernacular schools the less exposure they will have to master the language.

What can studying three hours a week in a classroom do to make a child conversant in Bahasa Malaysia? It is imperative that we acknowledge the importance of supporting single-stream schools, especially for nation-building.

The said NGOs would do justice to their own community and the nation at large if they are able to look at the big picture. They should not view everything along narrow racial lines, but instead consider actions that can contribute significantly to the national interest.

Agreed, there are many other issues that need the attention of the authorities to encourage the people to be united, but introducing the single education system should be uppermost in the list.

ZAMRI BIN MAHMUD,
Kuala Lumpur.

As I said in the previous article; those chinese educationists who vehemently disapprove single stream education are really racists.

I wonder whether all of the chinese or indians or kadazans or ibans became less of what they are when they enrol themselves in national schools.

I have chinese and indian  friends all my life. They remain chinese and indians all their lives eventhough they went to national schools. How chinese or indian do these racist educationists want their children to be? Don’t they want their children to become Orang Malaysia?

The fact is, everyone agrees that the national schools need revamping. That is why the SSS campaign specifically suggested that our education system be reviewed comprehensively. Read their memo here. They are aware of the pitiful quality our national education system is currently operating. But at the same time, vernacular schools of other languages will not help our children to integrate with each other.

How dare the chinese chauvinists calling the SSS as racist when their brethren in Dong Zong are fighting tooth and nail to keep their children from integrating with the rest of their fellow Orang Malaysia especially from at a very young age (primary level).

If you do not want to be part of Orang Malaysia, do tell us. Studying Bahasa Malaysia just 3 times a week not only make your children unable to converse effectively in Bahasa Malaysia, it also downgrade your National Language  (that’s Bahasa Malaysia to you) to third class standard and really unimportant.

Is this your stand?

Dong Zong’s reply to the one school system

I’m posting this as it appears in The Sun today:

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 17, 2009): A number of Chinese groups are against the Education Ministry’s proposal for vernacular primary schools to adopt the same syllabus used in national schools for the Bahasa Malaysia (BM) language subject, the Chinese press reported today.

Currently, the BM textbooks used in Chinese and Tamil primary schools are different from that used in national schools. So are the UPSR (Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah) BM examination papers.

Yap Sin Tian

Responding to a report in Sin Chew Daily, which broke the story on standardising the BM syllabus on Monday, Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association) president Dr Yap Sin Tian sees the move as burdening pupils from vernacular schools who have to grapple with three languages.

He pointed out that for Chinese schools, where BM is taught as a second language, to adopt the same syllabus as that used in national schools, where BM is taught as a first language, goes against the principles of the national education philosophy.

He said Chinese school pupils have to learn three languages and cannot be expected to follow the same syllabus and the same way of learning BM as their peers in national schools.

To force Chinese schools to adopt the same syllabus will also affect the character of these schools, he said.

He urged the ministry not to resort to all means to change the syllabuses in Chinese schools. National Union of Heads of School president Pang Chong Leong echoed Yap’s concern on the possibility of an added burden on Chinese schools pupils.

He was worried that Chinese schools pupils might not be able to catch up as they have one more language to learn than national school pupils.

Pang, who said he had made clear the union’s stand at a meeting with the ministry, hoped that it would think thrice on the proposal.

Pheng Yin Huah

Hua Zong (Federation of Chinese Associations in Malaysia) president Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah said instead of raising the standard of BM in vernacular schools, the move may backfire as the pupils, because of the medium of instruction in their schools, may have problems coping with syllabus of a higher standard.

He said pupils may end up with an aversion to the language, and “worse still for Chinese schools, parents seeking better environment to learn the national language may decide to send their children to national schools where Chinese language is already made a subject”.

United Chinese School Alumni Association of Malaysia said in a statement that Chinese schools cannot accept the proposal as it is a roundabout way of reducing the number of classes for subjects taught in Mandarin.

It has been reported that the ministry proposed that along with the change in syllabus, vernacular schools will have to teach BM an additional 90 minutes a week, at the expense of other subjects.

Wee Ka Siong

On Monday, Education Director-General Datuk Alimuddin Md Dom told Nanyang Siang Pau that the government is considering adopting national school BM syllabus in vernacular schools beginning with Year One in 2012.

He said if the pilot project proves successful in Year One, it would be extended to other classes.

He said the move is aimed at bring the standard of the language in vernacular schools to be on par with national schools.

However, he said it is still at the conceptual stage.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said the ministry needs in-depth studies on the proposal and has yet to make a decision.

He said he had objected to the proposal in at least three internal meetings. – The Sun

Few questions come to mind-

1) When you have to grapple with three languages, then as Orang Malaysia, which language should be the priority?

2) In this blessed nation called Malaysia, why does its national and official language be taught as the second language in  these schools? Why is Mandarin, which is the official language of another country being used as the number one language  and the main medium of instruction in these particular schools?

3) What is the character of these schools? Safe to say, it is certainly not a Malaysian character. How can the students truly become Orang Malaysia if they are taught using the characteristics of a foreign country’s education system?

4) Why would this chauvinistic group want to keep our children segregated from each other?  Don’t you want to embrace racial harmony? What is worse, they FEAR that their own children will go and mix around with other races in national schools!

5) Why is our own deputy minister of education of the majority elected government acting as a mouthpiece of a minority group? Have you gotten your priority right? Gunning for a higher post in MCA are you?

As a conclusion, the people above are extreme racist. They look down on other races because they do not want their own children to mix around with other children of different colour just because they fear that their own ‘character’ will be diluted.

As the result, the Ministry of Education together with the racist group above are the only people to be blamed when racial polarisation that begins in primary schools worsen as time goes by.

Reread the article above please. You can see the racist among us are those who support vernacular schools.

Victoria Institution contoh sekolah satu aliran

Dipetik dari sini.

GAGASAN 1Malaysia tidak mungkin terlaksana tanpa penubuhan sekolah satu aliran. Bagaimana mungkin ia terjadi jika 12 tahun kanak-kanak berada di satu tempat iaitu: 1 tahun di peringkat prasekolah, 6 tahun sekolah rendah dan kemudian 5 tahun di sekolah menengah.

Bayangkanlah betapa akrabnya hubungan antara kaum jika sejak berumur 6 tahun mereka dapat bergaul mesra sehingga tingkatan 5 ketika mereka berumur 18 tahun.

Inilah ramuan atau formula paling mujarab untuk membentuk bangsa Malaysia tanpa mengira kaum dan agama.

Pemimpin-pemimpin politik yang mewakili tiga kaum terbesar di negara ini iaitu Melayu, Cina dan India mestilah jujur dan komited mahu benar-benar melahirkan bangsa Malaysia yang bersatu padu.

Janganlah hanya mementingkan kaum masing-masing tanpa mengutamakan kepentingan negara. Kita amat kecewa apabila anak-anak pergi ke sekolah yang berbeza, ibu bapa dan guru juga terpisah mengikut kaum kerana memilih sekolah yang berbeza atas kepentingan kaum masing-masing.

Sebenarnya model Sekolah Wawasan yang pernah dicadangkan oleh mantan Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad adalah model sekolah satu aliran yang paling praktikal.

Sebenarnya orang Cina dan India pun amat berminat dengan sekolah satu aliran ini tetapi para pendidik di kalangan kaum-kaum tersebut yang mempunyai sentimen perkauman yang amat menebal yang menentang idea yang baik ini.

Lihat sahaja Sekolah Victoria Institution (sekolah VI) yang merupakan contoh terbaik Sekolah Satu Aliran di negara ini.

Lihat sahaja semua ibu bapa dari kaum Melayu, Cina dan India berlumba-lumba mahu menghantar anak-anak mereka belajar di sekolah itu.

Lihat sahaja bagaimana mesranya pelajar-pelajar dari ketiga-tiga kaum bergaul mesra dan bersaing secara sihat dalam pelajaran.

Guru-guru, staf juga mempunyai komposisi ketiga-tiga kaum ini. Begitu juga dengan Persatuan Ibu Bapa dan Guru juga diwakili oleh ketiga-tiga kaum.

Lihat sahaja betapa seronoknya pelajar bergaul mesra semasa bersukan dan apa juga kokurikulum yang lain.

Sekolah VI ini juga cemerlang dalam akademik. Mengapa semua ibu bapa dari kaum Melayu, Cina dan India amat berminat dengan sekolah VI ini sedangkan ia adalah model sekolah satu aliran?

Kerajaan terutamanya Menteri Pelajaran wajar mengkaji model sekolah VI ini dan menjadikannya sebagai asas atau model untuk membentuk sekolah satu aliran di negara ini.

Setakat ini sekolah VI amat popular dan menjadi rebutan pelajar serta ibu bapa daripada semua kaum.

Mengapa sekolah VI sebagai sekolah satu aliran begitu berjaya dan dan mendapat sokongan semua kaum ?

SEKOLAH SATU ALIRAN
Kuala Lumpur

Saya bersetuju dengan pendapat dari pembaca di atas. Mengapa kita harus menidakkan para pelajar kita untuk bergaul dengan pelbagai kaum? Saya juga berpendapat, sistem sekolah satu aliran perlu diterapkan kepada lapisan sekolah rendah dahulu. Ini penting kerana di usia begitulah mereka akan lebih mudah merasa selesa dengan kawan-kawan dari pelbagai warna kulit. Contoh sekolah rendah kebangsaan yang bermutu tinggi sewaktu ketika dahulu adalah Sekolah Rendah Sultan Hishamuddin berdekatan dengan Bank Negara dan juga Sekolah Rendah St. John di Bukit Nanas.

Untuk membentuk Orang Malaysia yang cintakan negara dan rakyatnya, mereka perlulah bergaul antara satu sama lain dahulu, lebih lebih lagi dari kecil lagi.

Kita mendengar banyak keluhan dan kritikan serta cemuhan dari mereka yang menentang sekolah satu aliran di mana mutu pendidikan yang tidak bagus menyebabkan perlu wujudnya sekolah vernakular.

Ini mudah diatasi dengan membuat kajian menyeluruh terhadap sistem pelajaran kita sebagaimana yang telah dibuat lebih 50 tahun dahulu. Laporan dari penyelidik bebas mampu membuahkan cadangan-cadangan bernas yang boleh menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi di dalam sekolah kebangsaan rendah dan menengah.

Jika mereka mengatakan bahawa mereka perlu mengekalkan budaya kaum masing-masing, hujah ini tidak masuk akal kerana kaum-kaum mereka di negara-negara lain tidak sedikit pun belajar di sekolah-sekolah vernakular malah, ada sekolah-sekolah vernakular di negara tersebut dilarang penubuhannya. Yang ada, cuma sekolah kebangsaan di negara masing-masing. Rakyat mereka belajar mengenai satu sama lain dengan lebih dekat dengan cara begini.

Ada yang menjadi negara maju kelas pertama tanpa wujudnya sekolah vernakular di negara tersebut. Oleh itu, apa sebabnya mahu diteruskan juga sekolah vernakular di negara Malaysia ini?

Mungkin juga negara ini tidak jadi maju kerana wujudnya sekolah vernakular? Manakan tidak? Apabila para pelajar tidak dapat duduk semeja dan mengenali satu sama lain, mana mungkin mereka dapat mentadbir negara ini dengan baik apabila mereka memerintah negara ini apabila dewasa kelak? Adakah kita akan menjadi maju jika ditunggangi oleh permasalahan sebegini?

Ini akan menjadi lebih kronik di dalam masa 10 tahun akan datang apabila para pelajar sekarang menjadi pemimpin muda di dalam parti politik masing-masing.

Mereka yang ingin menegakkan sekolah vernakular hanyalah mereka yang muflis idea dan masih berfikiran di tampuk lama. Ironisnya, kebanyakkan mereka yang menyokong sekolah vernakular, tidak pernah pula belajar di sekolah tersebut. Ini terjadi kerana mereka ini penyokong tegar puak pembangkang.

Hanya kerana membenci kerajaan, mereka menentang semangat harmoni yang akan terbit dari sekolah satu aliran. Orang jenis apakah ini? Ya, orang yang tiada sifat malu dan tiada pendapat bernas untuk melahirkan Orang Malaysia yang bersatu padu dan harmonis.

Mereka hanya mahu mencipta api kebencian supaya rakan-rakan mereka dapat memegang kuasa. Barulah puas hati mereka.

Yang menjadi mangsa adalah – impian untuk melihat rakyat yang mendokong ke arah Rukunegara dan Perlembagaan Malaysia.

Adalah penting agar kajian terperinci dilakukan untuk meningkatkan mutu pembelajaran di dalam sekolah kebangsaan. Ini perlu dilakukan segera.

Akta Pendidikan 1996 juga perlu digubal secepat mungkin. Jika Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein mampu menggubal semula akta yang penting seperti Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri, nescaya Timbalan Perdana Menteri yang juga Menteri Pelajaran Malaysia terlebih mampu untuk mengembleng tenaga menggubal Akta Pendidikan kita yang berkecamuk itu.

Jika Menteri Pelajaran malas untuk pening kepala mendokong aspirasi Orang Malaysia untuk melihat anak-anak mudanya bersekolah di dalam sistem satu aliran, maka serahkanlah jawatan tersebut kepada orang lain yang lebih kuat jatidirinya.

Masa untuk duduk bersimpuh, tertunduk malu seperti anak dara di dalam Kabinet sudah berakhir. Inilah masa untuk tunjukkan sifat kepimpinan yang sebenar! Terima kasih.