Dr Azman Janggut

You-rob-me, I-rob-you, Malaysian-style

2012-02-14T22:30:00.000-08:00

You-rob-me, I-rob-you, Malaysian-style
J. D. Lovrenciear,
13 February 2012
The Consumer Association of Penang has highlighted the acrimonious cost of drinking water. It is said that a 0.0006 sen cost for a glass of drinking water is being sold at a price of over 80,000 per cent profit margin.Walk into a restaurant and you get colored tea. Order a roti canai and you get hardly a teaspoon of floor doled out into a ringgit over wafer thin roti bloated with baking soda. Take mee goreng and it is filled with vegetables that are fit for the ducks.You do not like this then go into the spanking up-market outlets and pay like a duke mate. A cup of coffee is now hovering at ten ringgit, just to start with mind you. It was only half that price hardly two years ago.How about our wet markets? You can buy cheap fish if it is near rotting. And even that is at a price you would have paid for the cheaper fresh variety two years ago.If you think the wet markets are ripping you off, try the pasar malams. It would not be hard to find them as you can smell the rot a hundred yards away. It is okay if you do not buy them as the ever present foreign workers are the steady customers.You want to get to work, go get a car. But pay the high taxes mate even if it is a home-made version. You want comfort and reliability? Yes you can have any car as long as you can pay for it – including the hefty duties that are almost the price of the car pegged by the exporter.Okay lah, why not take the public transport? Has anyone not said anything about the most elusive, sardine-packed trains and buses? And have these companies also not kept up-ing their ticket prices endlessly?And even if you have to pay the fare, let us not forget the escalating parking fees imposed silently. And if you do not want to pay the high parking rate, go park elsewhere and be sure to find the car clammed, towed away or with a summon ticket.Ah, then there is another degree of robber-nation. As a minister just announced, ‘return back the money you used to purchase some property illegitimately, overseas, and all things will return to normalcy’. Wow, that is even far better than tribal-justice in the Amazon. So tomorrow, all we have to do is just use the rakyat’s money first and then return it on the quiet and there will be no issue.Back to the rakyat’s life. Take a taxi and be prepared for a short-change if you are not vigilant. Take a weekend walk in the malls and be prepared to be overwhelmed by the perennial ‘mega’ and ‘jumbo’ sales and discounts.From 50% to 70% discounts the banners scream. But after all the discount, the price of a shoe or dress would still end up being more expensive than what you would have paid for last year.In a nutshell, are Malaysians so numbed by the lack of values and insatiable desire to make more money that they have no more qualms about price hikes and cheating and robbing?Are leaders so blinded and drugged with the mantra of have-power-through-more-money that they have ended up being so numbed to the point that everything is being turned out to be mercenary deals?School woes, and many moreTake education mate. You want free schooling, ok no problem. You have it. But do not forget that you must pay for the school books that keep changing every year, not forgetting the uncountable versions of workbooks that are a must for every subject.Then of course since schooling is free, you must pay through your nose to put your children through private tuition. No tuition, no pass exam lah. Right or wrong?What about the building industry? Remember the saga of the Highland Towers? Or how about the leaking parliament despite millions spent on repairs and maintenance?And so in Malaysia today everyone is out to make more money – even at the expense of their own fellow citizens. Is this too farfetched a point made?If not, how come citizens in neighboring countries are not clamoring and crying for pay hikes and eating near rotting fish? Food prices do not even need any policing. Buyers do not even haggle over prices at the wet market. You do not pay for drinking water and you have a whole jug to yourself.Pity. Pity the untraveled Malaysians. They are drowning in their own mantra of ‘you-rob-me, i-rob-you’ while the politicians continue to dispense a justice philosophy that even the Amazon tribes would find it hard to assimilate.Wonder where we would all be if this country was not blessed with petroluem, tin, rubber and bell weather? For despite all the blessings we are robbing each other to make ends meet.

* J. D. Lovrenciear is a Harakahdaily reader.

to ponder upon....

2012-02-12T20:52:00.000-08:00

It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.

- Mohandas K. Gandhi

Note:

On the contrary we don't! we think we are the wisest, we think we are the strongest! we make decision on the assumptions that we are the wisest.....

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor
Tel: +60136668334

to ponder upon...

2012-02-09T23:41:00.000-08:00

A stupid person should keep silent. But if he knew this, he would not be a stupid person.

- Muslih-ud-Din Saadi

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor
Tel: +60136668334

to ponder upon......

2012-02-01T17:54:00.000-08:00

You do not lead by hitting people over the head - that's assault, not leadership.

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

Note:

But that is what I am seeing all around me, we are hitting the people on their head to ask them to follow us; and we dare says that we are leaders!

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor
Tel: +60136668334

IMG00186-20101207-1302.jpg

2012-01-31T20:24:00.001-08:00

Pua calls govt's bluff over 'skyrocketing' sugar price

2012-01-30T23:18:00.000-08:00

Harakahdaily,
31 January 2012

The claim that the government's subsidy for sugar increased has been questioned by a member of parliament who said global sugar price was tumbling.In response to Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s claim that sugar subsidies were increased due to skyrocketing global sugar price, Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua (right) pointed out that world sugar price had significantly dropped.Sugar price was increased by 20 sen in May 2011 to RM2.30 per kilogramme. Since January 2010 when its price stood at RM1.45/kg, there has been a 58.6 percent increase within just 18 months as part of the government’s subsidy removal exercise."What is extremely intriguing, however, was that global sugar prices over the past 6 months since the last price hike in May 2011 had in fact declined significantly, and not the purported ‘skyrocket’,” said Pua in a statement made available to Harakahdaily.Ismail earlier claimed that the government had to pump in extra 34 sen per kilogramme in subsidies for sugar to maintain the price at RM2.30 per kg due to pricier sugar price.“World prices have increased but we have decided not to raise the price here. We are doing what we can to reduce the people's burden,” said Ismail (left).Furnishing details, Pua said sugar price dropped 20.5 percent after hitting a peak of US$29.47 per hundred pounds in July 2011.Taking into account the 7 percent depreciation of the ringgit against the dollar over the past six month, Pua said the global sugar price would still have declined by 13.5 percent based on ringgit terms.Based on the calculation, Pua said the government's subsidy would also drop.“What is more perplexing is the fact that our subsidy had to increase by 170 percent to cope with the non-existent 'skyrocketing' global price of sugar,” he chided.According to Pua, 99 percent of Malaysia’s raw sugar requirements were imported and the local market was monopolised by only two refineries, the Malayan Sugar Manufacturing Holdings (MSM Holdings) and Tradewinds Corporation Bhd, which also acts as importers. These companies, revealed Pua, were linked to Felda with MSM Holdings a 71 percent subsidiary of FELDA-related entities while Tradewinds being controlled 43 percent by tycoon Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary, with another 20 percent owned by FELDA Global Ventures Holdings Sdn Bhd.“The question then is - whether the 170 percent increase in sugar subsidy or approximately RM198 million a year payable to MSM Holdings and Tradewinds, is in fact a thinly disguised attempt to fatten the profits of these two politically-connected companies,” he said.

2012-01-30T22:13:00.000-08:00

to ponder upon....

2012-01-30T20:22:00.000-08:00

Persecution is the first law of society because it is always easier to suppress criticism than to meet it.

- Howard Mumford Jones

Note:

Why do we still practice this first law?

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor
Tel: +60136668334

to ponder upon.....

2012-01-29T20:57:00.000-08:00

The notion that a radical is one who hates his country is naïve and usually idiotic. He is, more likely, one who likes his country more than the rest of us, and is thus more disturbed than the rest of us when he sees it debauched. He is not a bad citizen turning to crime; he is a good citizen driven to despair.

- H. L. Mencken

Note:

I am maybe radical, but I love my country and I am disturbed to ses it debauched!

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor
Tel: +60136668334

to ponder upon.....

2012-01-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

Between the optimist and the pessimist, the difference is droll.
The optimist sees the doughnut; the pessimist the hole!

- Oscar Wilde

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor
Tel: +60136668334

to ponder upon.....

2012-01-24T22:27:00.000-08:00

To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.

- Elbert Hubbard

Note: If you do nothing, say nothing, be nothing; what’s the purpose of your existence?

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor
Tel: +60136668334

Cut the crap about our failed public transportation

2012-01-18T18:47:00.000-08:00

J. D. Lovrenciear

The decades have rolled the traffic chaos and pathetic public transport into a monstrous gangrene that is eating away the Malaysians. And for this failure, the BN government must take the responsibility.

Yes the BN-led government has paraded loudly and relentlessly - its billboard claims “Satu Lagi Projek Oleh Barisan Nasional” for every mega-project that crowds the Malaysian landscape.

Our tourist brochures colorfully announce superstructures, high-speed ERL, spanking mega-size KLIA, and a host of ‘attractions’ that beacon foreigners to come spend their time and money here. Nothing wrong with that really.

But when all these trappings and attractions are built with the resources of this land and on borrowed funds, only to leave the ten million working rakyat – not to mention the tens of thousands of school going children and senior citizens - in a daily fix when it comes to commuting to and from home and work, then there is something seriously wrong with the decision makers.

Why are our ministers so helpless and hopeless when it comes to providing a very basic infrastructure especially transportation for its citizenry despite being in power for five decades with all the resources at their disposal virtually?

All kinds of promises have been made. All kinds of studies have been commissioned. All varieties of modes of public transport systems have been contracted out to cronies. Numerous roads have been built and or upgraded and getting the public to pay the toll.

Do our lording politicians know that we are suffocating with increasing intensity with each passing year from the following:
Every morning and every evening our roads are choking with bumper-to-bumper crawls. And the length of these crawls keeps increasing by kilometres. Today, on the average, motorists are crawling at least five to ten kilometers daily to and from home and work.

Cars and motorbikes keep increasing with each household having at least three to four vehicles. Not born out of luxury but plain necessity as there is no other sane way to get to work or school.
Car parks at KTM Komuter stations are already full even before sunrise. The same is true for the other rail services available. And lest we forget, do our ministers know what it costs to park in these lots these days?

The bee-line of commuters in every rail station is a sight to reckon. Sardine-packing is one problem; but what about the numerous times that the trains get delayed? Have anyone of the politicians tried standing for one hour after a hard days work in the office?
Forget about the stage buses. They are all stuck in the crawling traffic jams too.

Do our ministers actually know how much of national productivity time the people have been forced to waste on the roads? Do they in the first place actually know how big a hole is being burnt in the rakyat’s pocket burning rubber and fuel and paying for the parking and the increasing ticket prices?

Do our ministers actually understand how early households are leaving their homes to get to work daily these days?

Do they know that school children are out on the road as early as five in the morning?

Do our policy masters know that millions of rakyat are only able to get back home way past eight at night daily, when work actually finishes around five?

And what is the standard answers we are dished out with?
“We are conducting a new infrastructure traffic dispersion study that will take three more years to complete”.

Or, how about this: “There is no country in the world without traffic problems!”.

Please ministers, cut the crap, take ownership and face the fact. Even Bangkok, touted for its numerous expressways, flyovers, underpass and what not, is managing its traffic beautifully. Maybe our ministers should drive in and out of Bangkok, for a learning experience.

The public impression here in Malaysia is that the BN led government in order to keep an almost failed national car project alive by creating overdrive local consumption for its cars, has crippled the public transport system. Now, can we blame the rakyat for holding such an opinion?

What is all that development and super structures and mega projects all about if the citizens cannot enjoy their basic rights vis-à-vis cheap, affordable, convenient and time saving hassle free transport in their daily lives?

What is all that screaming about being “Malaysia Boleh” and becoming a seemingly “developed” nation all about when the citizens cannot even save on quality time and ensure even its disadvantaged citizens' needs are protected on equal terms?

The answers to these thoughts and questions will determine whether the BN led government has succeeded or failed to deliver on its primary roles and fundamental responsibilities to its citizenry. No? Then what?

Kalau kaki kencing manis, tidak potong merugikan

2012-01-18T18:13:00.000-08:00

Subky Abdul Latif,

16 Jan 2012

Pofesor. Madya Atorry Hussein kata, PAS telah rugi kerana memecat Datuk Hasan Ali.

Saya kata, memang tokoh akademik itu telah berkata betul seperti yang dirakamkan dalam surah al-Asri yang bermaksud, sesungguhnya manusia itu sentiasa dalam kerugian.

Ketika dia dipecat, dia adalah ADUN PAS Gombak Setia. Apabila dia dipecat dari parti, maka PAS sudah tidak ada wakil rakyat di situ.

Siapa pun yang hendak menjaga kepentingan rakyat dan kawasan itu sesuai dengan kepentingan politik PAS di situ? Benar Hasan masih wakil rakyat di situ. Jika dia menjalankan tugasnya, maka dia sudah tentu tidak menjalankannya mengikut kepentingan PAS.

Seorang wakil rakyat PAS telah ditetapkan oleh PAS di zaman Dr. Burhanuddin al-Hilmy dulu mesti mendermakan 20 peratus dari elaunnya kepada parti. Bagi Anggota Parlimen kepada PAS Pusat dan bagi ADUN kepada PAS negeri. Apabila mereka pencen, maka caruman itu tinggal lima peratus saja.

Begitu juga kalau dia Menteri Besar atau Exco. Maka setiap bulan PAS dapat wang masuk 20 peratus dari elaun mereka dan lima peratus setelah pencen hinggalah mereka mati. Jika mereka dipecat peruntukan itu tentu hilang. Tidakkah rugi namanya?

Maka sebagai parti politik, PAS tidak sunyi dari kerugian. Ia juga rugi bila wakil rakyatnya kalah. Kalau ia menang, potongan elaun itu 20 peratus, tetapi bila kalah, PAS dapat lima peratus saja. Rugi juga.

Setelah Ustaz Hassan Shukri tidak jadi senator, dia bagi elaun pencennya setiap enam bulan sekali. Sebelum dia meninggal dia beri elaun untuk enam bulan yang akan datang. Didahulukannya pemberiannya itu. Bila dia mati, PAS tidak lagi dapat duit. Tidakkah PAS juga rugi?

Demikian apabila sekalian bekas wakil rakyat dan bekas senatornya mati. Banyak kerugian yang ditanggung oleh PAS?

Manusia itu begitu. Universiti melabor banyak terhadap profesornya untuk kepentingan kampusnya. Cukup kalau profesor itu lari ke universiti lain atau berhenti. Tidak rugikah universiti. Seperti Atorry Hussein, katakan tiba-tiba mati belum bersara. Tidak rugikah universiti? Tentulah rugi.

Kerajaan mengeluarkan beratus ribu belanja untuk menanggung seorang pelajar perubatan. Setelah tamat tempoh kontreknya berkhidmat dengan kerajaan dia letak jawatan bagi membuka klinik sendiri. Kerajaan telah kerugian dan terpaksa menanggung pelajar perubatan yang baru bagi mengganti doktor yang pergi itu.

Logiknya semua profesor itu diperlukan khidmatnya oleh universiti. Tetapi setengah profesor yang baik itu cenderung pula pada politik. Mereka pun berpolitik bersama pembangkang. Mereka sudah melanggar akta universiti. Universiti terpaksa buang mereka. Tentulah universiti rugi. Walau pun rugi tetapi universiti terpaksa buang juga mereka. Mengapa?

Antara profesor itu amat sayang pada isterinya. Tetapi isterinya sakit tenat. Menderita lama di hospital. Harapan pulih tidak ada. Dari menderita begitu, maka profesor redha, mati adalah lebih baik baginya. Profesor sayang padanya, apabila mati profesor kehilangan orang yang dikasihi. Rugi isteri mati, tetapi di sebaliknya memungkin profesor beristeri lain pula.

Semua manusia sayang akan kakinya. Tetapi apabila dia terkena sakit kencing manis, kakinya terpaksa dipotong. Apabila dipotong rugilah kakinya. Dia juga rugi kerana sudah tidak berkaki. Dia sayang pada kakinya. Tetapi kalau tidak dipotong kaki itu, dia pula akan mati cepat.

Oleh itu biarlah dia tidak berkaki asal dapat meneruskan hidup dalam keadaan cacat tetapi dapat lagi beribadat. Sesayang mana pun dia pada kakinya, tetapi dia terpaksa menerima hakikat membuang kakinya yang sudah tidak berguna dan memudaratkan jiwanya lebih baik.

Membuang kaki yang begitu lebih baik dari berkaki yang tidak berguna lagi.

Bukan PAS tidak sayang pada Hasan Ali. Tetapi politik itu, kata Tok Guru Haji Abdul Hadi dalam ucapan dasarnya di muktamar lalu, ada fiqahnya. Mufti Perak mahir fiqah lain tetapi tidak mahir fiqah politik.

Yang PAS bertindak terhadap Hasan itu adalah mengikut kehendak fiqah politik. Kalau kaki kencing manis terpaksa dipotong, tidak memotongnya lebih merugikan.

to ponder upon.....

2012-01-18T18:09:00.000-08:00

Men in authority will always think that criticism of their policies is dangerous. They will always equate their policies with patriotism, and find criticism subversive.

- Henry Steele Commager

Note:

If I were to say (mind the word ‘IF’): “Since I was small, I’ve look at the world map there has never been 2 Malaysia or 3Malaysia or 4Malaysia, there has only been 1Malaysia. So what’s the hype about 1Malaysia” Am I to be considered Unpatriotic? Am I an agent of Subversive?......???

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor
Tel: +60136668334

to ponder.....

2012-01-18T00:03:00.000-08:00

Analyses of others are actually expressions of our own needs and values.

Marshall Rosenberg

Note: Criticism of others is because our own needs and values is not being met?

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor
Tel: +60136668334

Terima kasih Kadir dedah rasuah ‘bom’ Umno

2012-01-17T22:50:00.000-08:00

KUALA LUMPUR, 18 Jan: Dewan Pemuda PAS Wilayah Persekutuan (DPPWP) mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Tan Sri Datuk Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir (gambar), mantan menteri yang juga bekas Ahli Majlis Tertinggi Umno yang mendedahkan kegiatan rasuah Umno ketika pilihan raya yang lalu.

Selama ini Umno menafikan yang mereka mengamalkan rasuah atau membeli undi dengan memberikan wang ringgit dan barangan ketika pilihanraya.

Abdul Kadir yang dipetik oleh The Malaysian Insider menegaskan bahawa perkara itu memang berlaku dan disebut sebagai taktik “bom”.

“Ternyata Umno belum insaf dan baru-baru ini presiden dan seluruh pemimpin Umno turun ke serata negeri bagi mengagihkan dana 'bom' RM100 untuk pelajar sekolah, RM500 untuk isi rumah berpendapatan rendah dan RM200 untuk pelajar universiti,” kata Ketua DPPWP, Kamaruzaman Mohamad.

Katanya, agihan yang sepatutnya dibuat atas nama Kerajaan Malaysia dibuat atas kapasiti Umno BN bagi memastikan rakyat mengundi mereka dalam PRU13.

Tambahnya, DPPWP juga kesal kerana Kementerian Penerangan, Felda, Felcra, Unit Cawangan Khas (SB) dan agensi lain yang tidak disebut Abdul Kadir secara jelas dipergunakan oleh Umno bagi memenangkan Umno dalam pilihan raya.

Katanya, kenyataan Abd Kadir itu jelas menyokong pendedahan Tan Sri Abdul Rashid, mantan Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya (SPR) sebelum ini yang mendedahkan bahawa ada pihak berkepentingan yang menghalang mereka melaksanakan penggunaan dakwat dalam PRU12 yang lalu bagi memastikan kemenangan Umno BN.

Beliau berkata, campur tangan Umno dalam urusan pentadbiran kerajaan begitu kuat, sebab itulah Pakatan Rakyat sebelum ini mencadangkan supaya ada caretaker goverment selepas parlimen dibubarkan yang bukan kalangan ahli politik yang bertanding dalam pilihan raya.

Ujarnya lagi, DPPWP setuju dengan Abdul Kadir "Umno tidak perlu takut untuk kalah sekiranya ikhlas dalam perjuangan. Jika anda (Umno) kalah, terimanya; rakyat ubah kerajaan banyak kali di USA dan Australia”.

“Rakyat harus buka mata, seorang demi seorang yang pernah bekerja untuk Umno kini sudah tampil membuat pengakuan.

“Begitu liciknya politik Umno BN bagi memastikan mereka terus berkuasa, walaupun hingga terpaksa mengunakan cara yang keji dan tidak bermaruah,” ujarnya lagi.

Demi tembolok kekuasaan mereka, apa pun sanggup mereka lakukan, katanya. Hakikatnya, kata beliau segala duit yang diberikan adalah dari dana awam, milik rakyat bukan duit Umno, bak kata Mursyidul Am PAS, Tuan Guru Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz bin Nik Mat, "Umno bagi duit ambil, tapi undi, bagi kat PAS".

Harakahdaily,

18 Jan 2012

to ponder.....

2012-01-16T23:03:00.000-08:00

Every criticism, judgment, diagnosis, and expression of anger is the tragic expression of an unmet need.

- Marshall Rosenberg

Note: Lets look at UPSI s' Adam Adli expression of anger and criticism, what need has not been met?

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor
Tel: +60136668334

to ponder.....

2012-01-15T19:53:00.000-08:00

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

- Leo Buscaglia

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor
Tel: +60136668334

to ponder.....

2012-01-12T20:50:00.000-08:00

It is not change that causes anxiety; it is the feeling that we are without defenses in the presence of what we see as danger that causes anxiety.

from Immunity to Change

Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor
Tel: +60136668334

Hold The Accolades!

2012-01-11T21:47:00.000-08:00

January 11th, 2012

Hold The Accolades!
M. Bakri Musa

Now that Judge Mohamad Zabidin Diah has acquitted Anwar Ibrahim on his “Sodomy II” charge, there is no end of praise heaped upon the judge specifically and the system of justice generally. Prime Minister Najib was quick with his smug assertion that “neither politics nor politicians have any influence over the dispensation of justice.” Foreign governments too have been effusive with their praises. Some now brazenly call for Anwar Ibrahim to apologize for his earlier criticisms of the system.

Hold the accolades! This sordid trial reveals everything that is rotten with the Malaysian system of justice. This case should never have been prosecuted in the first place. That it was reflected the level or more precisely lack of professionalism on the part of these career prosecutors. As for the trial, there were many instances where the judge could have thrown the case out, as when the physical evidence was introduced. Now the learned judge used that as the reason for acquittal.

As for Anwar Ibrahim, he and his family are rightfully grateful for the verdict, but hold on to your apology. Forgiveness, yes, as he said recently; that is always praiseworthy. He rightly cautioned that one court decision does not a judicial spring make. Besides, there is still the monumental task ahead to clear up the mess, and not just in the system of justice. Najib’s much-ballyhooed “transformation” is a charade concocted by his exorbitantly-paid consultants.

Doing Away With Anwar

The decision to do away with Anwar was made a long time ago. In opting for this particular route, they had hoped that whatever the outcome Anwar would be irreparably damaged by the smear. How they misjudged! The public remains convinced that the charge was politically motivated, and crassly at that, right from the very beginning.

The tragedy here, apart from the agony and humiliation Anwar and his family had endured, is that a delayed-adolescent college flunkey desperate for his 15 minutes of fame was being exploited. They used the poor boy as a battering rod, pardon my metaphor, to do in Anwar.

There is only one possible redeeming value to Judge Zabidin continuing this trial in its squalid entirety, and that is to expose the pathetic lack of professionalism of not just the prosecuting team but also the other professionals involved. This included the police officers and crime investigators to the forensic scientists tasked with the crucial DNA analysis and the senior specialists who examined Anwar’s accuser.

Consider those medical specialists. They failed in their duty to inform and educate the court; they owed the court their individual professional judgment, not a committee report. Unlike paid experts, those government doctors were not beholden to the accuser or accused, only to uphold the truth. If they had doubts they should so inform the court. Likewise those chemists; before they performed the DNA analyses they should be satisfied of the integrity of the specimens. If they were forced to perform tests on specimens of questionable integrity, they clearly should have informed the court of their doubts.

Those specialists were based at the General Hospital Kuala Lumpur, an apex institution in the government’s healthcare system; thus presumably they must be the best. They should also have known that this was a very high-profile case and that their performance would come under global scrutiny. It should have been an opportunity for them to showcase their talent and professionalism. Instead the judge singled out the inadequacy of the physical evidence, as reflected in their reports and testimonies, as the reason for acquittal.

The only physician who had acquitted himself well was the foreign doctor who first examined the accuser. That doctor had the conviction to document clearly his findings and impressions without first having to “discuss” it with his superiors. That he had to flee the country afterwards reveals much about our system of justice.

If in his written judgment Judge Zabidin were to comment on the quality of the prosecution’s expert witnesses and address the performance of the prosecution, in particular the alleged gross breach of professional conduct where one member was romantically linked with the accuser, then I will not only take back my criticism but would praise the learned judge profusely. Then there was considerable wisdom in his letting the trial go through its entire course – to serve as a much-needed “teaching moment” for the nation.

At its most benign the alleged prosecutorial misconduct could simply be the case of a young man and woman with raging hormones. At its most sinister, it is “witness coaching” brought to a whole new low level. When that wild allegation first surfaced, the prosecution dismissed it, only to admit later that the alleged woman was only a “junior” and thus an inconsequential member of the team. Never mind that she was a lawyer, a fellow professional.

The prosecution was led by the government’s top lawyer, the Solicitor-General. He is a career civil servant, not a political appointee and thus, at least theoretically, immune to political pressure. Nonetheless he should have known that in this day and age, the charge of sodomy is patently laughable. Major jurisdictions including the US and Canadian Supreme Courts have decriminalized the act except where it is non-consensual. Heck, even the Chinese Supreme Court has ruled similarly!

Even in Malaysia that statute has rarely been invoked. The only time it was used was in 1998, and the victim was again Anwar. That conviction was subsequently overturned on appeal, but not before he was incarcerated for six long years. If the Solicitor-General had invoked sexual harassment charges instead, that at least would have highlighted an all-too-common problem.

Even if the physical evidence had been compelling, recognizing that this was a high-profile case with all the political implications, and aware of the poor reputation of the judiciary in the eyes of the public, it would have been prudent to appoint an independent prosecutor. That would remove any suspicion of political influence. That the Solicitor-General did not again reflected the caliber of his judgment. The irony is that this case was decided soon after he submitted his early optional retirement!

The verdict not withstanding, many unanswered questions remain. Najib has yet to explain why he met this confused young man just days before he filed the complaint against Anwar. If, as Najib intimated, that they were discussing a scholarship, I can suggest a few other much more talented Malaysians now at top universities who are more deserving of such attention.

Najib and the other UMNO leaders are forever proclaiming that Malaysia is an Islamic state. In this case both the accuser and the accused are Muslims. Why not invoke the shari’a? They did not, for the obvious reason that had it been invoked, both accused and accuser would have to be charged as there was no element of force.

Far from being a turning point, this trial illustrated and highlighted how dysfunctional and ill-equipped our institutions and personnel are in the administration of justice. I predict two things: One, the judge’s written judgment would be long in coming; and two, he will not be bound for promotion any time soon.

As I suggested earlier, hold the accolades.

to ponder.....

2012-01-11T19:39:00.000-08:00

May you grow up to be righteous, may you grow up to be true. May you always know the truth and see the lights surrounding you. May you always be courageous, stand upright and be strong. May you stay forever young.

Bob Dylan

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor
Tel: +60136668334

Tweet from @OvertDictionary

2012-01-11T02:21:00.001-08:00

@OvertDictionary: Political Consciousness: something which is consciously erased by the media and replaced with thoughts of fame and wealth.

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device via Vodafone-Celcom Mobile.

to ponder......

2012-01-11T00:07:00.000-08:00

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.

Oprah

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor
Tel: +60136668334

What the 901 verdict really proved

2012-01-10T22:59:00.000-08:00

What the 901 verdict really proved
January 10, 2012

JAN 10 (TMI) — When I wrote about how “The law has truly become an ass” back in February 2010 on the battle of the two mentris besar in the Perak power grab impasse, I meant it.

I was totally disgusted and appalled by the apex court finally returning a verdict of 5-0 in favour of Zambry Abdul Kadir over Nizar Jamaluddin, and whatever little regard I had for the judiciary entirely dissipated with that decision. It has never recovered since.

The High Court’s acquittal of former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim yesterday has not changed my opinion of the judiciary either. And it’s not just about being a sceptic as the saying “a swallow doesn’t make a summer” suggests. It’s also not about the presiding judge not dismissing this frivolous case from the outset.

Lest you’re still wondering about my despondency and disdain for the judiciary, it’s all about the extreme humiliation we are subjected to as the country is being given global real-time coverage by CNN and Al-Jazeera, et al… all because of Malaysia’s obsession with someone’s anal virginity.

If Mohd Saiful Bukhari’s allegation of being sodomised eight or nine times over a period of two months by a 60-plus-old man with a bad back is to be believed, it doesn’t take a pundit to tell you that the predator must by now be whipped and jailed.

Given the firepower of the government machinery, both overt and covert, and better still for the investigating team, that it’s the second sodomy charge against Anwar, you would have thought they’d be able to prove this charge beyond the shadow of reasonable doubt! All the more if the government truly believes that this one man is Public Enemy No. 1!

But alas, by God’s grace, mercy and infinite knowledge, and to the amazement and shock of everyone present in court yesterday morning, a verdict of “acquittal and discharge” was handed down by the judge Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah in less than three minutes. I was in court and like everyone else was simply dumbfounded! Again, this former deputy PM has been exonerated.

I had been willing to accept any verdict and in fact scenario-planned all eventualities. Every scenario, best and worst case, has its upside and downside for both sides i.e. the federal government (Barisan Nasional) and the opposition (Pakatan Rakyat).

But to have the BN leaders, including the PM, unashamedly telling the rakyat that the judiciary is independent and credible because it acquitted Anwar is certainly the first darnedest thing said in 2012 in the political arena.

At the start of the new year, respected blogger Marina Mahathir called for a “End Stupid Statements” campaign. It looks like we really need one after reading and hearing some of the statements made after yesterday’s verdict.

Lest you fail to see the perverted logic of the BN leaders’ statement, let’s try a different scenario where the verdict came back as “guilty”. Is the PM and other leaders saying that if the court found Anwar guilty of sodomy, the judiciary is no longer independent and credible?

This is idiocy and lunacy of the severest degree! A judiciary that is independent and has integrity is not judged by a single verdict. It has to gain the trust and respect of the entire citizenry through doggedly delivering justice without fear or favour. Every time.

As if that statement of Anwar’s acquittal proving the judiciary is indeed independent wasn’t moronic enough to make this nation a laughing stock again in the eyes of the global legal community, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, alleged by many to be the master strategist of Sodomy1 and perhaps as claimed by some to be working in concert with the current administration in Sodomy 2, declares that the acquittal proves there is no conspiracy against Anwar.

Despite the 87 days of court hearing, 27 witnesses for the prosecution team, the judge could rule that the prosecution had not done enough to prove Anwar had committed sodomy.

It’s not that the prosecution had not done enough. There was simply not enough evidence. And for a second attempt, some might allude, failure to prosecute was indeed extremely disgraceful. To have a verdict that the DNA and oral evidence were uncorroborated didn’t speak well not of a conspiracy theory ibut of the conspirators in a Sodomy 2.0.. sigh again.

And finally, the cost of the all this legal wrangling. Who bears it? And how much exactly is the burden to tax-payers’ money? Saiful is now mulling an appeal. Sigh.

The buck stops with you, Mr PM! Let’s stop this gutter politics. Let’s all make a commitment to build this country of ours to a great and respectable nation again.

Yes, we are in a zero-sum game, but let it be on the plane of policy advocacy, performance, and political-intellectual acumen and not a destructive gutter politics of the worst order. Let us be a functional democracy and stop doing more of the same things.

This is the path to genuine reform and redemption.

If we are in denial, we do it at our peril and we will die by our own swords!

Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Executive Director,

PAS Research Centre, MP for Kuala Selangor.

to ponder......(I am back.....)

2012-01-09T21:17:00.000-08:00

Ah, world, what lessons you prepare for us, even in the leafless winter, ... I am thinking now of grief and getting past it. I feel my boots trying to leave the ground, I feel my heart pumping hard. I want to think again of dangerous and noble things. I want to be light and frolicsome. I want to be improbable beautiful and afraid of nothing, as though I had wings.

-Starlings in Winter by Mary Oliver

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor
Tel: +60136668334

Media dan pilihan raya adil

2012-01-09T21:04:00.000-08:00

Media dan pilihan raya adil

Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang,

Demokrasi adalah hak rakyat untuk menjadi hakim dalam sistem politik moden, sebagai satu proses untuk memilih kepimpinan mereka. Terminologi akar umbi “dēmokratía” yang berasal dari bahasa Greek ini memberi maksud – “rule by the people” atau “pemerintahan oleh rakyat”. Pemahaman terhadap maksud demokrasi ini yang pada pandangan Barat tidak mempunyai kaitan dengan Tuhan Yang maha Pencipta, telah diperkembangkan dan disuntik roh hubungan manusia-Tuhan menerusi pandangan para sarjana Islam dalam bentuk penulisan di sepanjang zaman kegemilangan Islam. Antaranya kitab-kitab hasil karangan para ulama Islam dalam aspek politik seperti karya tersohor Muqaddimah karangan Ibnu Khaldun (1332-1406 M), Al Mawardi (972-1058 M), Al Ghazali (1058 - 1111M), Imam Al Haramain Al Juwayni (1028 -1085M ), Ibnu Taimiyyah (1263 -1328M), Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (1292-1350M) dan lain-lainnya yang turut diterjemahkan ke dalam bahasa Eropah. Encyclopaedia Britannica (15th ed.,Vol.9, p.148) antaranya memuatkan testimoni ahli sejarah British, Arnold J.Toynbee, memperakukan bahawa karya Muqaddimah adalah “membicarakan aspek falsafah sejarah yang paling hebat pernah ditulis oleh sesiapa di sepanjang zaman”.

Sebelumnya negara-negara Eropah yang dihimpit kezaliman terpaksa melakukan revolusi berdarah yang mengorbankan raja, pemimpin dan rakyat.

Sekiranya kita mengkaji hal ini secara lebih jauh dan mendalam, Al-Quran sebenarnya telah menceritakan kisah-kisah benar perjuangan para Rasul A.S. berdakwah, umpamanya Nabi Ibrahim dan Nabi Musa AS, para nabi ini dalam masa yang sama menentang kerajaan yang zalim, menindas dan memperhambakan rakyat, serta menyalah gunakan harta negara mengikut hawa nafsu. Walau pun tamadun kebendaannya tersergam menakjubkan, seperti 138 buah binaan Piramid di Mesir, Petra di Jordan, yang kesemuanya masih menjadi kesan sejarah yang dibanggakan sehingga zaman terkini, tetapi dilupakan betapa tamadun itu dibina di atas mayat-mayat rakyat yang diperhambakan.

Semua kerajaan zalim ini dinamakan jahiliyyah, walau pun dianggap bertamadun, semuanya berakhir dengan kejatuhan yang meninggalkan nama-nama buruk yang dikutuk dalam catatan sejarah, walau pun meninggalkan bangunan dan binaan yang indah. Ramai yang tidak menyedari bahawa Allah SWT mengutuskan para Rasul memimpin rakyat menentang kerajaan-kerajaan yang sangat zalim itu.

Apabila Nabi Muhammad SAW berjaya menegakkan negara dengan petunjuk Al Quran dengan sempurna sehinggalah wafat meninggal dunia, Baginda SAW telah berjaya mendidik para sahabatnya. Dalam sejarah generasi awal Islam, khususnya di zaman Khulafa Rasyidin yang paling banyak menjadi teladan, setiap tokoh Khalifah yang dipilih secara musyawarah menyampaikan ucapan, bahawa ketaatan kepada pemimpin adalah tidak mutlak, dinyatakan syarat yang tegas, selagi pemimpin itu tidak zalim dan tidak menyeleweng daripada perintah Allah dan Rasul.

Para ulama tafsir Al Quran, Hadith, sehingga ilmu Tasawuf yang paling teliti mengecualikan takrif mengumpat yang dikira dosa besar, apabila mendedahkan kejahatan yang membawa fasik daripada seseorang yang bertaraf pemimpin di kalangan ulama dan umara (ketua negara), kerana kejahatan kalangan ini sangat mempengaruhi masyarakat umum. Mereka menamakan perkara Al Jarhu wa Ta’dil, sehingga menjadi istilah ilmu Asanid (untuk mensahihkan sesuatu riwayat) dalam meriwayatkan hadith dan lain-lain sumber ajaran Islam.

Para ulama Islam dengan tegas menyatakan pendedahan kejahatan dan kebaikan seseorang menjadi hukum wajib apabila menjadi saksi di mahkamah, bagi menjamin berlakunya keadilan kepada hakim yang membuat keputusan. Saksi bohong pula berdosa besar dan boleh dijatuhkan hukuman mengikut ukuran sesuatu tuduhan.

Sistem Demokrasi Moden melantik rakyat menjadi hakim bagi menentukan pemimpin atau parti yang memerintah negara. Mengikut ajaran Islam pula, urusan politik memilih pemimpin adalah amanah yang sangat besar. Maka pilihan raya adalah mahkamah rakyat dalam menunaikan amanah besar ini.

Semua negara yang maju menjadikan pilihan raya sebagai peluang untuk memilih kerajaan yang adil dan mampu memajukan negara serta membela rakyat. Setiap kelemahan dan kesilapan menyebabkan kerajaan dan pemimpin akan dihukum oleh rakyat dengan adil dan telus. Para pemimpin pula mempunyai maruah tinggi dan berjiwa besar, rela dihukum dalam pilihan raya atau meletakkan jawatan sebelum pilihan raya, kalau betul-betul bersalah atau walau pun tidak bersalah. Kalau sebab fitnah maka nilai tambahnya sangat besar, kalau pun bersalah maka peluang ini dimanafaatkan untuk bertaubat dan membaiki imej.

Dalam amalan Demokrasi adil, peranan media disemua lapangan, dikira sangat penting bagi pilihanraya yang adil, kerana mereka meletakkan media sebagai saksi kepada mahkamah rakyat untuk mejatuhkan hukuman dengan adil, kerana pengundi yang membuat keputusan adil wajib mendapat maklumat yang benar dan teliti. Adalah tidak adil bagi pengundi untuk membuat keputusan dengan kempen sebelah pihak sahaja dengan pihak satu lagi mempunyai peluang yang sangat terhad, atau peluang yang tidak sama rata, tidak saksama dan adil. Keadaan terus menerus menjadi penyakit lebih parah hingga merosakkan negara kalau berlaku politik wang rasuah bagi mengabui pemikiran rakyat.

Maka cara yang benar dan adil ialah media diberi peluang secara bebas kepada semua pihak yang terlibat dalam pilihan raya, sama ada kerajaan atau pembangkang. Sehingga bertaraf sama di sepanjang masa, supaya rakyat sentiasa melakukan muhasabah terhadap kerajaan, parti dan wakil rakyat mereka. Tuduhan yang benar terimalah hukuman dengan adil, tuduhan fitnah pula terimalah padahnya, sama ada melalui undang-undang pengawalan dan pengawasan media atau keputusan rakyat dalam pilihan raya.

Ada negara yang memberi peluang secara lebih terperinci, dibuka peluang semua pemimpin utama parti berhujah dalam media, samada secara debat atau berdailog secara lansung dan terbuka. Semua pihak bukan sahaja boleh menonton dalam kaca TV, bahkan boleh melibatkan diri dengan berbagai-bagai soalan. Seluruh rakyat boleh menilai secara langsung terhadap ketokohan dan peribadi pemimpin atau bakal pemimpin dengan lebih teliti, kerana memilih pemimpin adalah amanah yang sangat berat.

Selepas pilihan raya media tetap diberi hak sepanjang masa melakukan muhasabah bagi pihak rakyat dan negara. Pihak media yang salah laku juga boleh dihukum dengan tindakan undang-undang yang adil atau dipulau oleh rakyat.

Dalam sejarah Islam, apabila Khalifah Abu Bakar RA dipilih menjadi Khalifah selepas wafatnya Rasulullah S.A.W. beliau menyampaikan ucapan sulungnya :

“Wahai tuan-tuan !, Saya telah dipilih menjadi pemimpin kamu, pada hal saya bukanlah orang yang terbaik di kalangan kamu. Sekiranya saya berlaku baik tolonglah saya, sekiranya saya melakukan kesilapan perbetulkan saya, benar adalah amanah, bohong adalah khianat “.

Inilah contoh keterbukaan seorang pemimpin yang menjadi teladan, meminta semua pihak berlaku ikhlas dan berani, jangan mengampu sehingga berbohong, yang betul dibantu, yang salah diperbetulkan, yang silap ditegur secara beradab, kalau menjadi makhluk perosak maka diturunkan dengan cara setimpal .

Para ulama melaporkan dalam kitab-kitab karangan mereka, banyak contoh di zaman keemasan sejarah Islam, apabila penganutnya disemua peringkat, pemimpin dan rakyat bersikap terbuka memberi nasihat dan teguran menunaikan kewajipan muhasabah. Hasil penulisan yang berharga ini dipungut oleh para orientalis sehingga mempengaruhi perubahan Demokrasi Moden daripada Demokrasi purba.

Kita menyaksikan berlaku berbagai-bagai peristiwa dalam dunia terkini, sejak masa terdekat di abad yang lalu dan yang paling mutakhir, apabila negara-negara dunia yang bertanggungjawab sentiasa mengislahkan (menambah baik) amalan Demokrasi masing-masing. Demokrasi pilihanraya pula bukanlah semata-mata memangkah kertas undi, tetapi hak demokrasi berpilihan raya menjangkaui semua proses pendaftaran pengundi, peraturan yang adil, media yang bebas, pihak berkuasa yang berkecuali, sehinggalah kepada kebebasan rakyat memilih tanpa sebarang elemen rasuah yang boleh mempengaruhi mereka.

Di negara Eropah dan Amerika, mereka melaksanakan hak media menjadi saksi adil kepada rakyat, termasuklah juga di negara Asia Tenggara seperti Filipina, Indonesia dan Thailand. Rakyat menukarkan kerajaan berbagai parti silih berganti melalui pilihan raya, sehingga tidak ada parti yang boleh memerintah dalam tempoh yang terlalu lama apabila melakukan kesilapan atau mengalami kelemahan. Ada juga berlaku parti yang memerintah mengundurkan diri lebih awal, apabila dituduh dalam perkara besar, memberi peluang diadakan pilihanraya semula untuk mendapat kepercayaan rakyat seperti yang berlaku di Itali dan Greece beberapa bulan lalu.

Ada yang sekadar mendapat kepercayaan di parlimen sahaja dengan memberi hak tanpa paksaan kepada wakil rakyat termasuk daripada parti kerajaan yang memerintah. Ada juga presiden atau perdana menteri atau menteri kabinet meletakkan jawatan lebih awal. Semuanya berlaku apabila terdapat pendedahan media secara adil kepada rakyat dan semua pihak merasa bertanggungjawab menunaikan amanah.

Ada negara yang berani memberi kebenaran kepada Parti politik daripada media cetak sehinggalah memiliki stesyen TV yang boleh menyatakan dasar dan perjuangan dan perbezaannya dengan kerajaan dan Parti lain. Terpulanglah kepada rakyat untuk membuat penilaian sendiri, atau semua media ini diselia menerusi undang-undang yang mengawasinya.

Malangnya masih banyak kalangan negara membangun termasuk Malaysia, ada yang mendakwa sudah bertahap maju, pada hal tercorot, bukan sahaja tercorot dalam bidang ekonomi mengisi perut rakyat, bahkan tercorok juga dalam bidang minda kefahaman berpolitik sehingga membodohkan rakyat dengan kawalan media supaya berpihak kepada parti yang menjadi kerajaan sehingga rakyat menjadi jahil murakkab (jahil yang tidak tahu dirinya jahil dan merasa bijak). Maka berlakulah minda tertutup dan terkongkong. Mana-mana pihak yang menegur kerajaan termasuk dalam kerajaan sendiri pun tidak diberi hak yang sewajarnya untuk membuka minda yang bijak memperkasakan rakyat dan kerajaan sendiri. Maka jadilah kerajaan itu Maha Suci daripada segala sifat kekurangan, walau pun pemimpinnya adalah makhluk manusia, cuma berada di singgahsana dan kerusi memerintah negara berlagak seperti Tuhan.

Menyekat kebebasan media boleh melemahkan kerajaan sendiri kerana sentiasa syok sendiri, tanpa menyedari kesilapan dan kelemahan, atau menutup kelemahan dan kesilapan secara degil, atau sentiasa menipu diri sendiri menggunakan media, akhirnya tamat riwayat cara memalukan dan terkutuk sehingga telah mati tanpa taubat, dan berada dalam kubur terus dikutuk masyarakat yang dizaliminya.

Peranan media mengikut Islam ditempatkan dalam medan Jihad Akbar sekiranya berani menyatakan benar dan adil, menentang kezaliman, kerana pengaruhnya yang besar dalam masyarakat awam yang lemah. Banyak negara melahirkan tokoh media yang berani sehingga dibunuh dan dipenjara, seperti di negara komunis di zaman tabir dan kuku besi, negara barat dan negara Asia dan Afrika juga melahirkan tokoh Islah di kalangan media.

Bagi umat Islam kerajaan dan pemimpinnya adalah ujian dalam kehidupan dunia, sebelum dicabut nyawa dan disumbat kedalam kubur, memasuki alam akhirat. Maka menjadi hikmat besar apabila seseorang Islam disunatkan berwirid selepas solat dengan firman Allah SWT :

قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ مَالِكَ الْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِي الْمُلْكَ مَنْ تَشَاءُ وَتَنْزِعُ الْمُلْكَ مِمَّنْ تَشَاءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَنْ تَشَاءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَنْ تَشَاءُ بِيَدِكَ الْخَيْرُ إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ (26) تُولِجُ اللَّيْلَ فِي النَّهَارِ وَتُولِجُ النَّهَارَ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَتُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَتُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَتَرْزُقُ مَنْ تَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ (27 ) آل عمران .

Maksudnya : “Katakanlah: "Wahai Tuhanku yang mempunyai kerajaan, Engkau berikan kerajaan kepada sesiapa yang Engkau kehendaki dan Engkau cabut kerajaan dari sesiapa yang Engkau kehendaki. Engkau muliakan sesiapa yang Engkau kehendaki dan Engkau hinakan sesiapa yang Engkau kehendaki. di tangan Engkaulah segala kebajikan. Sesungguhnya Engkau Maha Kuasa atas segala sesuatu. Engkau masukkan malam ke dalam siang dan Engkau masukkan siang ke dalam malam. Engkau keluarkan yang hidup dari yang mati, dan Engkau keluarkan yang mati dari yang hidup dan Engkau beri rezeki kepada siapa yang Engkau kehendaki tanpa hisab (batas)".

Menunjukkan bahawa Allah SWT tidak mengekalkan kerajaan yang memerintah selama-lamanya, sama ada adil atau zalim, yang kekal hanya kerajaan Allah yang mencipta dan memiliki seluruh alam. Kerajaan yang silih berganti adalah ujian menunaikan amanah dalam kehidupan dunia. Kerajaan yang adil menjadi teladan, kerajaan yang zalim menjadi iktibar.

Peranan Media wajib menjadi saksi yang adil kepada rakyat, menyatakan yang benar dan meyebarkannya dan mengkritik membina dan akhirnya mendedahkan kesilapan dan kezaliman, mengambil peluang fadilat sabda Rasulullah S.A.W. : ”Jihad paling besar pahalanya ialah menyatakan yang benar kepada kerajaan yang zalim “.

Kalangan ulama soleh menegaskan;”Orang yang diam menyembunyikan yang benar adalah syaitan bisu”.

Presiden PAS

Negara Berkebajikan mengukuhkan identiti PAS

2011-12-24T16:20:00.001-08:00

http://bm.harakahdaily.net/index.php/columnist/ketua-pemuda-pas/7211-negara-berkebajikan-mengukuhkan-identiti-pas?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

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ABU+%281%29.jpg

2011-12-19T01:51:00.001-08:00

Kerajaan BN Belanja Berbilion Ringgit Untuk Jawatan-jawatan Klon at Anwar Ibrahim

2011-12-15T14:06:00.001-08:00

http://anwaribrahimblog.com/2011/12/16/kerajaan-bn-belanja-berbilion-ringgit-untuk-jawatan-jawatan-klon/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

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Tweet from @OvertDictionary

2011-12-13T15:50:00.000-08:00

@OvertDictionary: Success: it will not make you happy, it will simply make you want more success.

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Tweet from @OvertDictionary

2011-12-13T15:43:00.000-08:00

@OvertDictionary: Success: all success is imaginary, it is a mechanism sold to us by the system to keep us in a constant search for money and fame.

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National Feedlot Centre

2011-12-04T09:12:00.001-08:00

http://malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/guest-columnists/45500-national-feedlot-centre?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

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Umno: Yang boleh memerintah hanyalah AKU, yang boleh menjamin kehidupan kamu adalah AKU… semuanya AKU! « Lim Kit Siang

2011-12-03T19:12:00.001-08:00

http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2011/12/04/umno-yang-boleh-memerintah-hanyalah-aku-yang-boleh-menjamin-kehidupan-kamu-adalah-aku%E2%80%A6-semuanya-aku/?-semuanya-aku/

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A gathering of the National Organisation of Uncouth Morons « Lim Kit Siang

2011-12-02T19:41:00.001-08:00

http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2011/12/02/a-gathering-of-the-national-organisation-of-uncouth-morons/

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Kenapa saya ditahan setelah jadi baik - Bob Lokman

2011-10-11T01:37:00.000-07:00

Kenapa saya ditahan setelah jadi baik - Bob Lokman

to ponder.....

2011-10-09T23:00:00.000-07:00

If you don't see it with your own eyes,

hear with your own ears,

Don't interpret with your SMALL mind,

or spread with your BIG mouth.

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: +310634028638
www.drazman.blogspot.com

Suami dan facebook isteri

2011-09-29T07:33:00.001-07:00

http://bm.harakahdaily.net/index.php/sudut-dakwah/5686-suami-dan-facebook-isteri?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

2011-09-25T01:23:00.001-07:00

UNDILAH

2011-09-25T01:22:00.000-07:00

UNDILAH

Top Catholic bishop tells non-Muslims to support hudud in Kelantan

2011-09-23T10:48:00.000-07:00

http://www.en.harakah.net.my/index.php/headline/3557-top-catholic-bishop-tells-non-muslims-to-support-hudud-laws-in-kelantan.html

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

Umno disifatkan pembelot, pembuli bangsa Melayu

2011-09-18T05:14:00.001-07:00

http://bm.harakahdaily.net/index.php/berita-utama/5446-umno-disifatkan-pembelot-pembuli-bangsa-melayu

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

Dr. Dzul's Blog

2011-09-13T10:07:00.001-07:00

http://blog.drdzul.com/2011/09/13/stop-feigning-ignorance-over-prepaid-phone-tax-pas-tells-najib/

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

Profesor keliru, kemudian kelirukan orang - Malaysiakini

2011-09-10T16:21:00.001-07:00

Profesor keliru, kemudian kelirukan orang

Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari | 10 Sep, 11 10:26pm

ULASAN Saya fikir profesor-profesor itu keliru dan kemudian mengelirukan orang. Profesor Datuk Dr Zainal Kling orang sosiologi dan Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Khoo Kay Kim orang sejarah. Status jajahan (colony) dan negeri lindungan (protectorates or protected states) adalah konsep undang-undang antarabangsa.

Beza antara konsep-konsep itu tidak jelas pada orang biasa. Apa beza antara Melaka dan Pulau Pinang - strait settlements - dan negeri-negeri Melayu seperti Selangor dan Perak? Atau antara kita dengan India yang merupakan tanah jajahan British? Tidak nampak.

British kekalkan status raja - dan negeri mereka - sebagai protectorate kerana mereka hendak mengelakkan penentangan sebagaimana di India. Sebab itu British perkenalkan indirect rule di sini dengan meletakkan residen sebagai penasihat sultan (yang sebenarnya memaksa).

British mahu menunjukkan kepada orang Melayu bahawa negeri mereka kekal di tangan Melayu dengan mengekalkan sultan. Tetapi pemerintahan dan pentadbiran sebenar dijalankan oleh British melalui residen mereka.

Ini bermakna di atas kertas - yakni teori - memang sultan dan negeri Melayu tidak dijajah (kalau dijajah maka (kedudukan) sultan akan dihapuskan sebagaimana di India dan Burma). Tetapi praktik dan kenyataannya ialah British yang membuat keputusan.

Hatta urusan agama pun dikacau - meskipun perjanjian melarang ini. Contohnya apa yang dilakukan oleh Sir Andrew Clarke kepada Raja Muda Perak yang mengetuai majlis agama di Perak.

Sebab itu penentangan kepada pentadbiran British yang dibuat oleh orang-orang seperti Dato Maharajalela, Mat Kilau, Dato Bahaman, Tok Janggut, Abdul Rahman Limbong dan lain-lain mudah dipatahkan kerana nama sultan digunakan.

Pada hakikatnya mereka semua menentang British tetapi mereka berlindung di sebalik sultan. Kita akur bahawa sultan diberi pelbagai kemewahan dan gelaran oleh British. Mereka juga bergaduh sesama sendiri untuk menjadi raja.

Meskipun begitu British akhirnya tidak selesa dan cuba memansuhkan kedudukan raja melalui Malayan Union. Ini ditentang oleh orang Melayu.

Sekiranya Malayan Union itu dilaksanakan sempurnalah penjajahan British dari segi teori dan praktik.

Tetapi itu tidak berlaku (Zainal Kling Silap; Malayan Union tidak pernah dilaksanakan).

Sebagai contoh, undang-undang yang dibuat sebelum merdeka di sisi perlembagaan adalah undang-undang yang dibuat oleh Sultan. Ini kerana dewan adalah lantikan sultan dan undang-undang itu ditandatangani oleh sultan. Tetapi apakah itu apa sebenarnya berlaku? Tentu tidak kerana sultan hanya menurunkan tandatangan sahaja. Rang undang-undang itu dibuat oleh British. Tetapi di sisi undang-undang ia adalah buatan sultan, bukan British.

Apa pun undang-undang itu, selagi tidak dimansuhkan oleh parlimen atau DUN, sah sehingga sekarang.

Kesilapan Zainal dan Khoo ialah mereka mengitar konsep yang bukan bidang mereka. Sedangkan sejarawan sendiri mengatakan British yang mentadbir Tanah Melayu.

Lebih lucu, jika apa yang mereka dakwa itu benar, untuk apa kita sambut merdeka?

Dan lebih malang lagi Tunku Abdul Rahman kehilangan gelaran: beliau bukan lagi bapa kemerdekaan kerana kita tidak pernah dijajah....!!

Tikus baiki labu atau sokong bawa rebah.

Lucu sekali Majlis Profesor (saya tidak jadi ahli) tidak tahu apa yang mereka bebelkan. Mereka ramai-ramai keroyok Mat Sabu... lain yang dia cakap lain pula yang majlis ini tangkap...
http://m.malaysiakini.com/news/175430

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

Dr Asri kecam tindakan Jais

2011-09-07T10:47:00.001-07:00

http://bm.harakah.net.my/index.php/berita-utama/5268-dr-asri-kecam-tindakan-jais

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

Bantuan untuk asnaf, bukan menara 15 tingkat

2011-09-07T10:40:00.001-07:00

http://bm.harakah.net.my/index.php/berita-utama/5273--bantuan-untuk-asnaf-bukan-menara-15-tingkat

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

to ponder....Selamat Aidil Fitri

2011-08-29T04:31:00.000-07:00

Selamat Aidilfitri, Mohon maaf atas segala kesalahan dan kesilapan yang dilakukan.

To ponder.....

I suggest that if you know history, then you might not be so easily fooled by the government when it tells you you must go to war for this or that reason -- that history is a protective armor against being misled.

- Howard Zinn

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: +310634028638
www.drazman.blogspot.com

Reformasi institusi agama dari kongkongan

2011-08-26T07:30:00.001-07:00

http://bm.harakahdaily.net/index.php/headline/5131-reformasi-institusi-agama-dari-kongkongan?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=hdaily09

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

Aidilfitri Mesra

2011-08-26T02:57:00.000-07:00

Aidilfitri Mesra
Posted on August 26, 2011 by samadsaid

Datanglah lagi ujian – kita semakin didewasakan.
Wirid terdengar nyaring walau dalam kesenyapan.
Kita hayati hikmah antara tasbih dan solat malam,
berdamai atas sejadah, khusyuk taat depan al-Quran;
nafas kita semakin wangi oleh ranum pembacaan.

Dalam kerlip serba indah kita sambut Ramadhan mulia;
segala rindu di qalbu menghangat kasih ke Rasulullah.
Dalam lenggang waktu begitu mesra, di tengah ummah,
kita menghimpun pujian sekhusyuk untuk Baginda,
lebih-lebih lagi – dalam jujur dan takwa – kepada Allah.

Setahun lagi – kini kita diranumi musim puasa.
Aidilfitri datang bakal memahkotakan ibadah kita.

A. SAMAD SAID
16-30 September 2003

to ponder.....

2011-08-26T02:49:00.000-07:00

‘SERANGAN JAIS’ KE ATAS GEREJA: TANYA DIRI KITA DULU!
Prof Madya Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin
(sertai facebook DrMAZA.com dan twitter realDrMAZA)

Saya belum ingin mengulas tentang ‘serangan’ atau serbuan JAIS ke atas sebuah gereja di Petaling Jaya seperti yang disiarkan oleh berita beberapa hari ini di sudut tindakan ‘serangan’ itu. Cumanya, seperti mana yang kita ketahui bahawa tiada manusia yang bertamadun yang boleh menerima tindakan provokasi yang boleh mencetuskan permusuhan antara penganut agama tanpa alasan yang sah. Saya ingin menyentuh tentang orang-orang Islam yang hadir ke majlis tersebut yang dikatakan oleh pihak media hadir mereka terpengaruh dengan agama Kristian disebabkan sikap baik penganut agama berkenaan membantu mereka. Difahamkan bahawa orang-orang Islam yang hadir, terutama ibu-ibu tunggal terdiri dari kalangan mereka yang amat daif dan miskin. Mereka telah berulang kali memohon bantuan dari masyarakat Islam, tetapi gagal. Apabila ada pihak yang sudi menghulurkan bantuan dengan mudah, maka mereka rasa ‘jatuh hati’ dan‘terhutang budi’. Di sini beberapa persoalan patut ditimbulkan;

1. Ke mana perginya wang zakat kita? Ratusan juta hasil kutipan yang diumumkan saban tahun, apakah tidak mampu untuk membantu fakir miskin ini keluar dari kesusahan mereka sehingga tidak perlu meminta‘sedekah’ kepada orang lain?

2. Mengapa kerenah birokrasi begitu tinggi untuk fakir miskin mendapatkan bantuan zakat? Semua orang yang pernah berurusan dengan hal ini, akan ada pengalaman mereka sendiri. Untuk mendapatkan RM 100-200 pun, begitu banyak kerenahnya. Sedangkan pejabat zakat kelihatan mewah, gaji pegawai dan bos begitu tinggi dan peralatan urusan juga begitu canggih. Apakah belanja yang tinggi itu hanya untuk urusan mencari pembayar, tetapi tiada kesungguhan yang memadai untuk mencari penerima yang layak?

3. Tujuan zakat antaranya untuk mendekatkan hati manusia dengan Islam. Sebab itu, ada hak untuk golongan muallaf. Bagaimanakah mungkin pengurusan zakat gagal melakukan hal ini, sehingga yang sudah muslim ingin meninggalkan Islam kerana gagal mendapat bantuan dari umat Islam khususnya zakat?!

4. Bukan sesuatu yang haram untuk seseorang muslim menerima bantuan daripada bukan muslim. Apatahlagi, jika mereka dalam kesusahan yang amat. Tindakan mereka menerima bantuan tidak boleh dipersalahkan, sebaliknya perbuatan pihak muslim yang sepatutnya memberi bantuan kepada mereka tetapi tidak melakukannya itulah yang patut disalahkan.

5. Jika dibincangkan disudut bantuan, pada asasnya, kita tidak boleh menyalahkan orang lain kerana memberikan bantuan. Adalah menjadi hak setiap orang untuk memberikan bantuan kepada sesiapa yang mereka mahu. Selagi mengikut peraturan dan undang-undang, seseorang boleh memberikan bantuan kepada sesiapa sahaja tanpa terbatas dengan agama atau bangsa. Janganlah jika kita gagal membantu –sedangkan kita mampu- kita menyalahkan orang lain yang membantu.

6. Setiap orang akan terpengaruh dengan pihak yang berbuat baik kepadanya. Itu fitrah manusia. Jika dia lemah iman, mungkin agamanya juga diserahkan. Mereka yang terpengaruh dengan pihak gereja atas budi baik, itu sesuatu yang tidak pelik. Namun yang pelik, bagaimana dalam negara Islam, umat kita boleh menukar agama disebabkan layanan yang tidak memuaskan oleh masyarakat muslim? Sebaliknya mereka terpengaruh dengan sikap baik penganut agama lain. Apakah slogan-slogan agama kita selamat ini hanya kosmetik yang tidak berpijak kepada realiti kehidupan?

Maka, banyak persoalan perlu masyarakat muslim tanya diri sendiri sebelum menyalahkan orang lain. Tabiat menuding jari kepada orang lain untuk menutup kelemahan sendiri tidak akan dapat menyelesaikan masalah kita!

Prof Madya Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin

7 Ogos 2011

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: +310634028638
www.drazman.blogspot.com

to ponder....something to think about on Hari Raya

2011-08-26T02:46:00.000-07:00

MENANGISI MURTAD DAN ZAKAT
Prof Madya Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin
(sertai facebook DrMAZA.com dan twitter realDrMAZA)

Minggu lepas saya dan beberapa orang sahabat pergi menemui salah seorang dari 12 individu yang dikaitkan dengan isu murtad baru-baru ini. Dia seorang janda yang mempunyai tiga orang anak. Usianya masih muda. Latar pendidikannya saya rasa ‘amat sederhana’. Saya tidak pergi untuk mempersalahkannya kerana pergi ke gereja dan terjebak dalam usaha kristiansasi. Saya pergi untuk membolehkan dia merasakan bahawa masih ramai yang ingin mengambil berat tentangnya. Lebih penting lagi, saya pergi untuk mengetahui apakah yang membawa dia sehingga terpaksa meminta simpati dan bantuan hidup dari pihak gereja.

Sedih

Saya sedih mendengar ceritanya. Menurutnya, dirinya seorang janda yang ditinggalkan suami. Terpaksa menanggung hidup tiga orang anak. Dalam kesempitan hidup yang amat, diminta keluar dari rumah sewa dan tenat mencari sesuap nasi untuk diri dan anak-anak dia pergi merintih di pejabat zakat. Dia tidak dilayan. Bahkan pegawai bertugas dengan tegas memberitahunya peruntukan sudah habis. Rayuannya tidak diendahkan. Dia keluar berusaha lagi. Dia berjaya mendapatkan surat sokongan ahli politik. Kembali ke pejabat zakat membawa surat tersebut, terus sahaja dia mendapat peruntukan zakat. Peruntukan yang kononnya sudah habis sebelum itu, kembali ada untuknya. Dengan berbekalkan wang zakat itu dia berusaha survive. Dia juga pergi ke bahagian kebajikan masyarakat, juga tidak dilayan. Dia bekerja untuk meneruskan hidupnya yang sempit.

Di tempat kerja, melihatkan keadaannya yang susah dan miskin maka ada rakan sekerja yang beragama kristian mencadangkan untuk dia pergi ke suatu tempat yang mudah dan mesra dalam memberikan bantuan. Di situlah bermula hubungan dia dengan pihak gereja. Apa tidaknya, dia susah, kehidupan terhimpit dan anak-anak yang masih kecil memerlukan makanan dan perlindungan. Pihak gereja membantu keperluan hidupnya. Diberikan wang serta menziarahi keluarganya. Mereka tidak menjadikan dia peminta sedekah, tetapi mereka menggunakan pendekatan ‘mesra dan sayang’. Hatinya terpaut dengan kehalusan budi. Walaupun saki baki akidahnya membantah untuk dia menukar agama, tetapi dia tidak dapat menafikan perasaan sayang dan terhutang budi kepada pihak gereja yang berjasa menyelamatkannya.

Bagaimana mungkin untuk dia merasai kehebatan Islam di saat penganut yang seagama dengannya tidak memperdulikannya. Bahkan enggan membantunya. Bagaimana pula dia dapat melihat kesilapan pihak gereja secara lahiriahnya sedangkan ternyata merekalah menolongnya? Orang mungkin berfalsafah dan berceramah secara retorik, namun jiwa insani terpengaruhi dengan apa yang dia rasai. Sakit demam anak-anaknya pihak gereja yang mengambil berat. Makan-minum mereka, pihak gereja yang membiayai. Bahkan keperluan rumah juga diberikan satu persatu.

Tangkap

Menurutnya, dia tidak menukar akidahnya, tetapi dia terus ke gereja membawa anak-anaknya. Anak-anaknya diterapkan ajaran Kristian oleh pihak gereja. Diajar nyanyian keagamaan dan nilai-nilai budi tertentu. Baginya, dilakukan semua itu untuk hidup. Rupanya ramai lagi yang senasib dengannya berada di bawah bantuan pihak gereja. Sebahagian mereka memang menukar agama kerana kecewa dengan sikap masyarakat Islam dan terpengaruh dengan budi pihak gereja. Menurutnya juga, tiada paksaan dari pihak gereja. Cumanya, pendekatan mereka amat mempengaruhi.

Akhirnya, apabila pihak berkuasa agama mengetahui dia ke gereja, dia ditangkap untuk kali pertama dan beritanya disiarkan dalam akhbar. Menurutnya, sebaik sahaja ditangkap dan beritanya tersiar di media barulah pejabat zakat tergesa-gesa datang ke rumahnya. Begitu juga pihak kebajikan masyarakat. Dia memberitahu kepada pihak zakat bahawa dia ingin membuka taska. Mereka menyuruh dia mendapatkan rumah yang sesuai dan mereka akan bantu. Dia pun mendapatkan sebuah rumah yang mereka setujui yang agak besar dan sudah pasti sewanya agak tinggi.

Malangnya, selepas dia menyewa rumah tersebut, selama tujuh bulan pihak zakat tidak menghulurkan bantuan kepadanya. Terkapai-kapai ketika itu. Pihak gereja jugalah yang datang dan melangsaikan kesempitannya untuk menjelaskan sewa rumah tersebut. Sehinggalah apabila timbul isu, pegawai zakat menghubungi dan meminta agar dia memaklumkan kepada pihak yang bertanya bahawa pegawai zakat memang ada datang. Ya, selepas itu memanglah pihak zakat memberikan satu jumlah bantuan yang agak besar kepadanya dengan ‘tukaran’ yang tidak dapat saya maklumkan di sini. Semasa pihak berkuasa agama membuat penyiasatan ke atas gereja berkenaan, dia berada dalam gereja berkenaan bersama dengan sejumlah orang Islam yang lain yang senasib dengannya. Walaupun, kali kedua media menyiarkan dia termasuk dalam senarai murtad dalam peristiwa itu, hakikatnya dia tidak murtad, cumanya ada di situ bersama dengan mereka yang senasib dengannya. Namun, menurutnya memang ada yang murtad.
Alhamdulillah dia masih kekal dengan keislamannya. Semuanya itu kerana desakan hidup. Terus-terang dia sebut ‘semua untuk wang kerana saya ingin membesarkan anak-anak saya’.

Semasa saya menziarahinya –tanpa notis awal- dia baru sahaja selesai menunaikan solat terawih. Menurut dia memang ramai lagi yang terpengaruh dengan usaha kristianisasi yang dilakukan. Mereka yang banyak terlibat terdiri dari kalangan ibu tunggal yang miskin, saudara baru muslim yang tidak dipedulikan, wanita yang mengandung tanpa suami, pesakit aids dan juga muslim dari Sabah dan Sarawak yang dalam kesusahan. Apa yang hendak dipelikkan, begitulah tabiat agama yang merasakan mereka berkhidmat untuk Tuhan. Apa yang hendak pelik jika gereja mengajar ajaran Kristian kerana itu memang kerja gereja. Tak mungkin gereja hendak berdakwah kepada Islam. Namun yang pelik apabila ada negeri yang puluhan individu yang mempunyai Ph.D dan masters dalam pengajian Islam yang disahkan oleh kerajaan tetapi tidak dibenarkan mengajar Islam di masjid dan menyampaikan Islam kepada orang Islam.

Salah Siapa?

Jika kita ingin melepaskan diri, mudah sahaja, kita letakkan kesalahan ini kesemua di pihak gereja. Kita tuduh merekalah punca segalanya. Kemudian kita buat demonstrasi, kita bakar semangat orang awam untuk bangun menentang gereja yang melakukan aktiviti bantuan dan ‘dakwah’. Adapun kita yang tidak membantu dan berdakwah ini, tidak perlulah disalahkan. Begitukah kita? Supaya orang dapat melupakan kesilapan kita, kita letakkan segala dosa ke atas orang lain semata.

Cubalah bayangkan jika ada sebuah rumah yang didiami oleh satu keluarga yang besar dan kaya tiba-tiba salah seorang ahli rumah itu lari ke rumah jiran atas atasan tidak diberikan perhatian dan mendapat perlindungan serta makanan. Sementara si jiran sebelah pula menghulurkan bantuan dengan pelbagai tawaran. Apakah suatu penyelesaian yang tuntas dengan hanya kita mencadangkan agar dibakar rumah jiran, atau ditangkap si jiran atau dihukum si jiran kerana mempengaruhi ahli keluarga kita. Dalam masa yang sama kita, kita tidak persoalkan tanggungjawab kekeluargaan yang kita abaikan selama ini.

Zakat

Saya tidak menafikan usaha-usaha baik pengurusan zakat yang telah pun berjaya dilakukan. Kita tahu, zakat kita banyak. Jika dihimpun seluruh negara, mungkin mencecah lebih satu billion. Itu setiap tahun. Bangunan-bangunan zakat cantik dan indah. Iklan-iklan mengutip zakat juga canggih dan mahal. Gaji-gaji yang terlibat mengurusnya jangan ditanya lagi. Cara membayar zakat juga dipermudahkan dengan pelbagai kaedah dan teknologi. Tiba-tiba si miskin kita terpaksa merintih simpati dari gereja?
Sesetengah pegawai zakat bersifat begitu meterialistik. Berwajah manis jika hadir di depannya pembayar zakat, tapi berwajah suram jika yang hadir itu pemohon zakat. Tiada semangat dakwah dan ukhuwwah Islamiyyah. Pemohonan menjadi sulit dan sukar. Apatahlagi jika mak cik tua yang uzur disuruh mengisi borang. Maka, pemohon zakat bagaikan peminta sedekah. Sebab itu barangkali ramai fakir yang tidak sanggup ke pejabat zakat.

Jika program ‘Bersamamu’ boleh menemui si fakir saban minggu, kenapa pula pihak zakat gagal mengesan mereka. Jika usaha mengutip zakat begitu hebat, alangkah baik dihebatkan juga usaha mencari mereka yang layak menerima zakat. Mencari orang miskin itu penting, bukan menunggu mereka datang. Bukan semua yang miskin sanggup atau dapat datang kepada pihak zakat. Menurut al-Quran, yang miskin tidak meminta itu lebih patut diutamakan. Firman Allah (maksudnya):

“(Pemberian sedekah itu) adalah untuk golongan fakir miskin yang telah menentukan dirinya (dengan menjalankan khidmat atau berjuang) pada jalan Allah (membela Islam), yang tidak berupaya mengembara di muka bumi (untuk berniaga dan sebagainya); orang yang jahil menyangka mereka kaya, kerana mereka menahan diri daripada meminta-minta. Engkau kenal mereka dengan (melihat) tanda-tanda mereka, mereka tidak meminta daripada orang ramai secara mendesak-desak, dan (ketahuilah), apa jua yang kamu belanjakan dari harta yang baik maka sesungguhnya Allah sentiasa mengetahuinya”.( Surah al-Baqarah ayat 273)

Berilah zakat kepada mereka, kerana itu memang hak mereka. Jangan jadikan mereka pengemis di pejabat zakat. Berilah dengan kasih dan perancangan agar mereka keluar dari daerah kemiskinan. Kata Saidina ‘Umar r.a.:

“Apabila engkau memberi zakat, kayakanlah mereka”. Kata Ibn Hazm (meninggal 456H): “Apa yang kami tahu tiada sahabah yang berbeza dalam hal ini” (Ibn Hazm, Al-Muhalla 4/280, Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘ilmiyyah).

Bahkan zakat boleh diberikan kepada bukan muslim yang miskin atas peruntukan fakir dan untuk dakwah atas peruntukan muallaf. Lihatlah perbahasan fekah yang lebih luas. Jika zakat berfungsi, bukan muslim akan tertarik dengan Islam. Jika ia tidak berfungsi, yang sudah Islam pun ingin keluar dari Islam!

Prof Madya Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin

25 Ogos 2011

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: +310634028638
www.drazman.blogspot.com

‘Serangan JAIS’ Ke Atas Gereja: Tanya Diri Kita Dulu! : Minda Tajdid

2011-08-26T00:50:00.000-07:00

http://drmaza.com/home/?p=1534#more-1534

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

Menangisi Murtad dan Zakat : Minda Tajdid

2011-08-26T00:39:00.001-07:00

http://drmaza.com/home/?p=1561#more-1561

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

Umno hipokrit isu akidah

2011-08-25T01:49:00.001-07:00

http://bm.harakah.net.my/index.php/berita-utama/5108-umno-hipokrit-isu-akidah

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

to ponder.....

2011-08-24T02:46:00.000-07:00

Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once.

- Lillian Dickson

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: +310634028638
www.drazman.blogspot.com

Pengarah Pelajaran rayu guru sokong BN?

2011-08-23T04:51:00.001-07:00

http://bm.harakahdaily.net/index.php/berita-utama/5062-pengarah-pelajaran-rayu-guru-sokong-bn

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

Menang pilihan raya cara haram

2011-08-23T04:46:00.001-07:00

http://bm.harakahdaily.net/index.php/berita-utama/5067-menang-pilihan-raya-cara-haram

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

Tweet from @asamadsaid

2011-08-23T01:52:00.000-07:00

@asamadsaid: Sesenang mencipta Warga Segera; semudah kongkali undi tentera; seenak perkuda media utama; senikmat menghirup dana negara.

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

to ponder....simplicity

2011-08-22T08:10:00.000-07:00

If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.

- Albert Einstein

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: +310634028638
www.drazman.blogspot.com

to ponder

2011-08-22T06:50:00.000-07:00

If... the machine of government... is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law.

- Henry David Thoreau

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: +310634028638
www.drazman.blogspot.com

to ponder.....

2011-08-19T03:36:00.000-07:00

The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority.

- Ralph W. Sockman

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: +310634028638
www.drazman.blogspot.com

to ponder.....

2011-08-19T03:25:00.000-07:00

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.

- Mark Twain

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: +310634028638
www.drazman.blogspot.com

to ponder.....

2011-08-18T01:36:00.000-07:00

The most extraordinary thing about a really good teacher is that he or she transcends accepted educational methods. Such methods are designed to help average teachers approximate the performance of good teachers.

- Margaret Mead

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar

The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: +310634028638
www.drazman.blogspot.com

RAKYAT MARHAEN: Video : Four more ex-soldiers admit to postal vote...

2011-08-17T04:41:00.000-07:00

RAKYAT MARHAEN: Video : Four more ex-soldiers admit to postal vote...

to ponder.....

2011-08-17T04:25:00.000-07:00

Our true wealth is the good we do in this world. None of us has faith unless we desire for our neighbors what we desire for ourselves.

-Muhamad SAW

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: +310634028638
www.drazman.blogspot.com

to ponder.....

2011-08-15T06:05:00.000-07:00

The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error.

- John Stuart Mill

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: +310634028638
www.drazman.blogspot.com

Menilai gelagat dan “nawaitu” orang politik pertahan Aqidah ummat

2011-08-13T09:55:00.001-07:00

http://bm.harakahdaily.net/index.php/columnist/dr-dzulkefly-ahmad/4898-menilai-gelagat-dan-nawaitu-orang-politik-pertahan-aqidah-ummat?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=hdaily09

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

to ponder

2011-08-12T03:43:00.000-07:00

All compromise is based on give and take, but there can be no give and take on fundamentals. Any compromise on mere fundamentals is a surrender. For it is all give and no take.

Mohandas K. Gandhi

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: +310634028638
www.drazman.blogspot.com

to ponder.....

2011-08-11T01:15:00.000-07:00

Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self control to be understanding and forgiving.

- Dale Carnegie

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: +310634028638
www.drazman.blogspot.com

to ponder....

2011-08-11T01:05:00.000-07:00

Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self control to be understanding and forgiving.

- Dale Carnegie

Umno sekat ilmu agama untuk kekal berkuasa

2011-08-11T00:58:00.000-07:00

Umno sekat ilmu agama untuk kekal berkuasa

to ponder.....election

2011-08-09T01:37:00.000-07:00

Those who vote decide nothing; those who count the votes decide everything.

- Joseph Stalin

Note: Is it happening around us?

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: +310634028638
www.drazman.blogspot.com

Asri decries 'ghosts' in Islamic institutions, 'loss' of zakat money

2011-08-07T08:16:00.001-07:00

http://en.harakah.net.my/index.php/berita-utama/1661-asri-decries-ghosts-in-islamic-institutions-loss-of-zakat-money.html

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

'Don't blame others if poor Muslims leave Islam'

2011-08-07T08:14:00.001-07:00

http://en.harakahdaily.net/index.php/headline/3284-dont-blame-others-if-poor-muslims-leave-islam.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=hdaily09

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

to ponder

2011-08-05T02:46:00.000-07:00

Without general elections, without unrestricted freedom of press and assembly, without a free struggle of opinion, life dies out in every public institution, becomes a mere semblance of life, in which only the bureaucracy remains as the active element.

- Rosa Luxemburg

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: +310634028638
www.drazman.blogspot.com

PR dapat MyKad: Komplot BN, JPN & SPR

2011-08-04T01:23:00.001-07:00

to ponder.....

2011-08-04T00:56:00.000-07:00

Education is learning what you didn't even know you didn't know.

Daniel J. Boorstin

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: +310634028638
www.drazman.blogspot.com

To ponder..

2011-08-03T02:05:00.001-07:00

The things that will destroy us are: politics without principle; pleasure without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business without morality; science without humanity; and worship without sacrifice.

- Mohandas K. Gandhi
Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

To ponder...

2011-08-03T01:59:00.001-07:00

A word to the wise ain't necessary, it's the stupid ones who need the advice.

- Bill Cosby
Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

Gadai keselamatan negara demi secebis kertas undi

2011-08-03T01:10:00.001-07:00

http://bm.harakahdaily.net/index.php/berita-utama/4691-gadai-keselamatan-negara-demi-secebis-kertas-undi

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

2011-08-02T08:33:00.000-07:00

When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.

- African proverb
Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

Pengundi baru: Pagi tadi PR, petang ini warganegara - Malaysiakini

2011-08-02T07:53:00.000-07:00

http://m.malaysiakini.com/news/171777

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

Title: Suruhanjaya perlu siasat Pagi MyPR petang MyKad?

2011-08-02T07:07:00.001-07:00

http://bm.harakahdaily.net/index.php/headline/4675-suruhanjaya-perlu-siasat-pagi-mypr-petang-mykad

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

Solat Terawih di The Hague 2011

2011-07-31T15:23:00.000-07:00

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

to ponder...

2011-07-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

Wickedness is weak, even when it seems to be victorious. In fact wickedness cannot escape the destiny of its ultimate destruction.

Dr Ahmad Azman Mohd Anuar
The Hague
Netherlands
Tel: +310634028638
www.drazman.blogspot.com

Have you got your Halal certificate yet?

2011-07-29T09:35:00.001-07:00

http://en.harakahdaily.net/index.php/berita-utama/3224-have-you-got-your-halal-certificate-yet.html

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

Warkah buat saudaraku anggota polis - Malaysiakini

2011-07-26T14:42:00.001-07:00

http://m.malaysiakini.com/news/171100

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

Kenapa saya sokong Bersih 2.0

2011-07-20T08:16:00.001-07:00

http://bm.harakahdaily.net/index.php/columnist/ketua-pemuda-pas/4468-kenapa-saya-sokong-bersih-20?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=hdaily09

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

Tidak pernah saya rasa begitu benci pada kerajaan

2011-07-18T09:33:00.001-07:00

http://bm.harakahdaily.net/index.php/berita-utama/4426-tidak-pernah-saya-rasa-begitu-benci-pada-kerajaan

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

Pak Samad : Najib Kejam.

2011-07-15T02:18:00.000-07:00

Samad Said: Najib 'memang kejamlah' - Malaysiakini

2011-07-14T04:55:00.000-07:00

Samad Said: Najib 'memang kejamlah' - Malaysiakini

Hadith, fatwas abused to justify Bersih ban, says Asri

2011-07-14T04:52:00.001-07:00

Hadith, fatwas abused to justify Bersih ban, says Asri
JULY 13, 2011
by Dr. Dzul
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
July 13, 2011

The influential Islamic scholar said today that Islam should not be used as a means to a political end by governments in the Muslim world. — file pic
KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — Influential Islamic scholar Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin today charged that hadiths and religious edicts were abused by politicians within the federal government to justify its suppression of the Bersih rally last weekend.

The government, in the two weeks leading up to last Saturday’s rally, had issued special Friday sermons in mosques throughout Kuala Lumpur condemning the rally and accusing its organisers of manipulating Islam. Hadiths were also quoted to support the hardline position.

Asri, the former Perlis Mufti, pointed out that Malaysia, like many Middle Eastern countries, had issued fatwas condemning those who wished to take part in the peaceful demonstration on July 9.

These fatwas, said Asri, were issued by “literalist” Islamic scholars — those who understand the contents of the Al-Quran but insist on only literal interpretations, without any revisions.

“These people are against the formation of any society, political party, demonstration, nasyid, art and much more. If their fatwas are accepted, the Islamic world will crumble and people will not flourish.

“What is bad is that this movement is being benefited by cruel and corrupt leaders within the Islamic world. When hadiths are interpreted politically and literally, it is as if Islam gives leaders a “licence” to oppress their people while the people are tied, gagged, without any ability to object or act,” said Asri in a statement today.

What made things worse, said the academic, was that Quranic verses which are seen to be in favour of the ruling government would be read and promoted through every possible channel, while verses which warned people of the “cruelty of leaders” were ignored.

“In Malaysia, we saw this phenomenon during the heated demonstration recently … this (discussion) here is not meant to support or condemn the peaceful demonstration, but just to discuss some people’s understanding of certain hadiths,” said Asri.

Asri cited a hadith by Huzairah r.a and said that it was often used to defend the actions of leaders and to prohibit people from criticising the government, in whatever form.

The hadith quotes Huzairah as asking Prophet Muhammad S.A.W what should be done if the Prophet comes upon another leader who does not adhere to the Prophet’s teachings. Prophet Muhammad’s response was that even in such situations, loyalty and obedience to that said leader would be a priority.

The hadith in Malay is as follows: Hadis Huzaifah r.a: “Akan ada selepasku para pemimpin yang berpetunjuk bukan dengan petunjukku, bersunnah bukan dengan sunnahku, dan akan bangkit dalam kalangan mereka lelaki-lelaki yang jantung hati mereka seperti jantung hati syaitan dalam tubuh insan”. Kata Huzaifah: “Apa yang patut aku lakukan wahai Rasulullah, jika aku mendapati keadaan itu?”. Jawab baginda: “Dengar dan taat kepada ketua, sekalipun belakangmu dipukul, hartamu diambil, dengar dan taatlah” (Riwayat Muslim).

“This hadith becomes a sticking point to the extent that there are those who say ‘if leaders kill my family, I will not charge them in court.’ Imagine if all Muslims felt like that; then leaders of the Muslim world would rule without unopposed,” Asri added.

He stressed that a hadith cannot be read separately but needed to be examined and understood in its entirety, together with the relevant Quranic verses.

“If we do not do that, it will be a flawed interpretation … at a time when the world is protecting human rights, we are suddenly pulling our people back with literal interpretations. How then can the beauty of Islam be appreciated by say, a person who has just learnt about the religion?

“In some ways, leaders in Western countries are more honest and responsible towards their people compared to leaders in Muslim countries today … sometimes animals in Western countries are treated better than a Muslim who lives in a Muslim country — often beaten, ridiculed, imprisoned, or even killed without ever having the courage to speak out,” Asri said.

The academic stressed that no leader was above the law, and warned religious institutions against using Islam to defend the actions of corrupt and unjust leaders.

Bersih went ahead with Saturday’s rally despite being denied police permission, plunging parts of Kuala Lumpur into chaos and resulting in nearly 1,700 arrests, scores injured and the death of a PKR division leader’s husband.

Ada berani?

2011-07-14T04:40:00.000-07:00

Dr. Dzul's Blog

2011-07-13T11:09:00.001-07:00

http://blog.drdzul.com/2011/07/13/hadith-fatwas-abused-to-justify-bersih-ban-says-asri/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DrDzul%2FxyPA+%28Dr.+Dzul%27s+weblog+wordpresscom%29

Dr Azman
The Hague, Netherlands

Pak Samad

2011-07-12T02:43:00.000-07:00

Malaysians Passed The Test, Brilliantly!

2011-07-11T05:25:00.001-07:00

Malaysians Passed The Test, Brilliantly!
M. Bakri Musa
www.bakrimusa.com
bakrimusa@juno.com

[Due to last Saturday’s Bersih 2.0 event, for this week only, the serialization of my book, Malaysia in the Era of Globalization, is switched to Wednesday, and my weekly essay to today (Sunday). My usual pattern will resume next week.]

A remarkable thing happened this past weekend. To many, the event on Saturday was nothing more than a massive public demonstration that capped a long brewing confrontation between those advocating “fair and free elections” and those who deemed that our elections are already so.

As with any fight, the drama was played out long before the event, and by the time the actual battle took place, the participants had long forgotten the original issue. Instead, now the preoccupation is who blinked first, who outsmarted whom, and most of all, who lost and who won. These then become the new overriding divisive issues, eclipsing the original one.

The losers would return to their corner with their new resolve: “Next time!” And the battle continues; they never learn! There were plenty of losers this weekend but few winners. The winners may be few but their achievements scaled new heights.

To me, this weekend was one of those moments (much too frequent, I hasten to add!) that test our nation. This time however, Malaysians acquitted themselves well. The same cannot be said of the Najib administration.

If this was an academic exercise, I would grade the performance of Malaysians as represented in Bersih an “A,” while the Najib Administration flunked badly. So dismal was its performance that the Najib administration should have no recourse to a remedial course or supplemental test; expulsion is the only option.

Terrible Trajectory

I would have thought that after the debacle of 1997 with the grossly inept handling of the reformasi demonstrations, and again a decade later with HINDRAF, the UMNO government would have learned a thing or two on how to deal intelligently with dissent and public demonstrations, two inherent features of a democracy. My expectation is not unreasonable, if not heightened, considering that we are today dealing with essentially the same characters in the administration. Most of the ministers who were in power during the reformasi and HINDRAF (now dubbed Bersih 1) are still there in Najib’s cabinet.

Obviously they, individually and collectively, have a flat learning curve. They are incapable of learning. There is a clinical term for that, but since this is a lay article I will resort to street lingo: idiots.

Their flat learning curve is even more incomprehensible considering that the consequences to them were so severe. The 1997 reformasi mess resulted in Barisan being thrashed in the 1999 elections, with Najib nearly being kicked out of his safe seat in Pekan that his father had held for many years.

The price escalated with Bersih 1.0. The general elections of 2008 saw Barisan being humiliated with an unprecedented loss of its two-thirds parliamentary majority, along with five states, including two of the most developed: Penang and Selangor.

I will let readers plot the trajectory as to the consequences of this weekend’s mess should the next general elections be held soon, as is widely predicted.

The iconic image of the reformasi debacle was of former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar’s battered face; that of Bersih1.0 was of Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin frothing at the mouth, babbling incoherently in front of the international news media trying to justify his government’s brutal suppression of its people. It was a classic demonstration of that uniquely Malay mental malady, latah (verbal diarrhea). It was also a display of amok, another peculiarly Malay affliction, albeit in this case only of the oral variety.

The iconic image of Bersih 2.0 was refreshing; that of its leader Ambiga Sreenivasan, former Bar Council President, serenely leaving the Istana after an audience with the King. The symbolism could not be overstated, for the Najib Administration had earlier declared her organization illegal! Only those retarded would miss the message, and they are precisely the types we are dealing with here.

Winners and Losers

My award for courage and excellence in Berseh 2.0 goes to those brave Malay masses who defied their government, their imams, and the party that had long proclaimed and presumed to speak on their behalf. In taking a very active part in a movement led predominantly by non-Malays, those Malays showed that they are no longer trapped by tribalism; they had escaped the clutches of chauvinism. There is now no going back.

This significant milestone is not acknowledged, much less appreciated. However, leaders who ignore this do so at their peril. For aspiring Malay leaders, it is now no longer enough for you to display your nationalistic zeal or ethnic instincts. You have to articulate the issues that matter most to the Malay masses: fairness, honesty, and justice, in elections and on other issues. I would also add competence. Those incidentally are also the concerns of all Malaysians.

Yes, there was a time when you could garner Malay support by justifying that the victims of your corruption, injustices and unfairness were non-Malays. Those days are now long gone; get used to it! Malays now realize that while in the past those victims may be mostly non-Malays, today they are increasingly Malays too.

The comforting corollary to my observation is that those capable non-Malay leaders would be assured of Malay support, if they were to address the central issues facing the masses.

Yes, Bersih 2.0 had strong non-Malay support especially abroad. Unanswered is whether a similar movement with equally noble objectives but with predominantly Malay leadership would garner the same enthusiastic support from non-Malays. If reformasi was any indication, the answer would be a reassuring yes.

I am especially heartened by the responses of Malay NGO leaders like Marina Mahathir. When Najib, and others who took their cue from him, began demonizing Ambiga by maliciously injecting ugly racial and religious accusations, Marina unambiguously and passionately defended Ambiga. Marina was of course all smiles and gentleness, as is the traditional halus (fine) Malay way, but there was no disguising her contempt for such odious tactics and their purveyors.

The biggest loser was of course the Najib Administration, specifically Najib and his fellow UMNO ministers. Their inanity was typified by Home Minister Hishammuddin complimenting the police for keeping the peace and stability. Yes, with the streets blockaded, stores closed, and citizens bludgeoned – the ‘peace’ and ‘stability’ of a prison “lockdown.” That was KL all week leading to last Saturday.

The conspicuous silence of other Barisan leaders was noted; that reflected solidarity not out of courage but cowardice. In contrast, even UMNO Youth defied Najib in declaring that it too would stage a counter demonstration.

Despite its defiance, UMNO Youth was also the loser, together with that ultra-Malay organization led by has-been politicians and past-their-peak professors, Perkasa. Good thing that the government had banned their leaders from KL; at least they had a ready excuse for their dismal performance.

The list of losers is long; there is little merit in mentioning more except for just this one, and I do so with profound sadness. A few weeks before the event, all the mosques in Kuala Lumpur, including the National Mosque, were warning their Friday prayer congregants of the evilness of those who led Bersih 2.0 and the sin that would befall those who would participate in it.

At a time when our community is divided, as with this central issue of fair and free elections, I would expect our ulamas and religious leaders to be our healers, to bring us together, to be the balm to our collective wounds. Instead they became only too willing instruments of the state with their canned state-issued sermons demonizing those who saw merit in the objectives of Bersih 2.0.

Obviously to the thousands of Malays who took part in Bersih 2.0, including one particular old man in his jubbah who had to be helped to walk, those characters cloaked in their flowing robes standing at their mimbar every Friday noon are less pious ulamas to be revered but more propagandists for the state to be defied. They may be Imams, but to the thousands who took part in Berseh 2.0 last Saturday, they are carma imams, to borrow National Laureate Samad Said’s term. Carma is the Malay contraction of cari makan, seeking a living. Idiomatically it refers to those who prostituted their honored craft or profession.

Those GI Imams (Government-issued) have flunked their test; there is no remedial course for them either. That is one of the great casualties of last Saturday’s event. For those carma imams, there is no corner they can return to or hide in.

Walking with the people

2011-07-11T05:14:00.000-07:00

Unggun Bersih - A.Samad Said

2011-07-11T03:56:00.000-07:00

Poem by Sasterawan Negara (National Laureate) A Samad Said.

2011-07-11T03:55:00.000-07:00

Unggun-bersih
Semakin lara kita didera bara –
kita laungkan juga pesan merdeka:
Demokrasi sebenderang mentari
sehasrat hajat semurni harga diri.
Lama resah kita – demokrasi luka;
lama duka kita – demokrasi lara.
Demokrasi yang angkuh, kita cemuhi;
suara bebas yang utuh, kita idami!
Dua abad lalu Sam Adams berseru
(di Boston dijirus teh ke laut biru):
Tak diperlu gempita sorak yang gebu,
diperlu hanya unggun api yang syahdu.
Kini menyalalah unggun sakti itu;
kini merebaklah nyala unggun itu.

Video : Truth that Cannot Be Cover - Bersih 2.0 09/07/2011

2011-07-11T03:36:00.001-07:00

Video : Walking With People

2011-07-11T02:55:00.000-07:00

Mereka datang dengan bunga, mereka datang dengan gitar, yang kurang upaya datang bertongkat, mereka datang bawa belon, tua muda, miskin kaya,.... tiada ganas tiada ancaman.....tuntut keBERSIHan....