Malays hugging dogs, wearing crosses! What next?

All this shows, stressed Jahara, that they no longer subscribe to Islamic beliefs. “They are more taken up by liberalism.”

FMT

GEORGETOWN: Penang Opposition Leader Jahara Hamid isn’t surprised if the picture of a young Muslim girl in tudung, and carrying a dog, turns out to be authentic. The picture has since gone viral in social media.

“This is nothing new, in fact it’s getting worse” said Jahara who is also Teluk Air Tawar assemblywoman. “The young Muslims think that this is a fashion, a trend. There are others sporting the cross around their necks.”

All this shows, she stressed, that they no longer subscribe to Islamic beliefs. “They are more taken up by liberalism.”

She urged the Majlis Agama Islam Negeri Pulau Pinang (MAINPP) to get out from their slumber and take appropriate action against those openly indicating that there’s nothing wrong with liberalism. “This involves issues of faith,” said Jahara.

The picture of the young Muslim girl carrying a small dog at a function, “Out to Adopt” sponsored by a private college at a shopping complex, was reportedly taken by a male individual using a mobile phone, and appears in the Facebook pages of Penang Kini and Penang Times Square.

Mohamed Hafiz Mohamed Nordin, who heads the Badan Bertindak Jaringan Muslimin Pulau Pinang (JMPP), urged the Jabatan Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Pulau Pinang (JAIPP) to take appropriate action against the young girl seen in the picture.

“Out to Adopt”, a four-day programme which ended yesterday, organised by diploma level students of the college concerned, was reportedly designed to expose the general community to the idea of taking in strays as pets.

Allah izinkan gadis Melayu dipeluk artis K-Pop, kata wanita

Tiga gadis Melayu yang berada di atas pentas dan berpeluk dengan artis K-pop B1A4 dari Korea Selatan tidak akan mendapat peluang sedemikian jika tidak kerana ketentuan Allah, kata seorang pengguna media sosial.

Wanita 20-an yang menyiarkan pendapatnya melalui video berdurasi 5:42 minit itu mendapat perhatian ramai pengguna media sosial lain yang turut berkongsi di Facebook dan YouTube.

Wanita tersebut ketika mengulas insiden yang kini menjadi viral dan mendapat perhatian meluas sehingga pemimpin negara dan badan agama berkata, gadis terbabit berada di atas pentas dengan keizinan Allah.

Katanya, mereka membuat pilihan untuk pergi ke konsert di KL Live Centre dan ia diizinkan Allah.

"Mereka memilih untuk berada atas pentas dan Allah izinkan mereka untuk berada atas pentas," katanya dalam video tersebut.

Kata-kata wanita terbabit bagaimanapun mengundang reaksi negatif pengguna laman sosial yang menyifatkan seolah-olah dakwaannya cuba menyalahkan tuhan kerana membiarkan perkara itu terjadi.

Seorang pengguna Facebook, Zax Baharudin berkata: "Yang baik datang dari Allah, yang tidak baik datang dari kita sendiri, Allah beri kita akal untuk berfikir dan buat pilihan, baik dan buruk adalah pilihan kita sendiri. Nafsu untuk beli tiket mahal dan naik ke pentas adalah pilihan sendiri."

Wanita terbabit pada masa sama menganggap insiden itu sebagai ujian Allah kepada masyarakat terutamanya "keyboard warrior" Melayu yang bertelagah dan mengeluarkan kata-kata kesat terhadap sesama sendiri.

Katanya, di sebalik tindakan negatif, masyarakat sepatutnya memberi sokongan kepada gadis terbabit dan bukan hanya menghukum sehingga menjejaskan kehidupan mereka.

"Jadi kalau anda rasa tak mahu ajak mereka kepada kebaikan jangan sesekali jadi punca kepada mereka jauhi kebaikan" katanya.

Pemilik akaun YouTube, FitrihadiTV yang turut memuat naik video itu semalam mengulas, walaupun kebanyakan hujah yang diberikannya agak baik, tetapi mengaitkan insiden itu dengan "keizinan Allah" tidak dapat diterima orang ramai.

"Kebanyakan poinnya agak baik. Namun pada awalnya, beliau mengatakan semua aksi yang berlaku tersebut adalah dengan izin Allah. Ramai yang tidak bersetuju dengan pendapat tersebut," katanya.

Pengguna akaun Facebook Dewi's Zakaria berkata: "Jangan bermain dengan perkataan 'dengan izin Allah' sebaiknya dalami ilmu sebelum berkata sesuatu. Allah tidak pernah mengizinkn sesuatu perkara yang menuju ke arah laranganNya. Kita manusia diberikan ilmu dan akal bagaimana nak memilih jalan yang lurus atau bengkok".

Ada juga beberapa pengguna Facebook yang mempertahankan kenyataan wanita tersebut, antaranya Zul Helmi Baharom yang berkata: "Moral dalam viral perempuan ini adalah untuk menghentikan cemuhan dan melebihkan doa kepada wanita yg berpeluk agar mereka kembali ke jalan yang benar dan bukan memaki hamun. Perempuan itu juga sudah dapat balasan dan pengajaran. Nabi pun berdakwah dengan cara yang baik, maka tegurlah dengan cara yang baik."

Konsert artis kumpulan dari Korea Selatan itu mula mencetuskan kontroversi ‎di laman sosial sejak hujung minggu lalu, dengan memaparkan adegan peluk dan cium di dahi oleh tiga ahli kumpulan itu bersama tiga gadis Melayu.

Tindakan itu menimbulkan kemarahan daripada masyarakat Islam terutama badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang melabelkan hiburan K-Pop merosakkan akidah remaja Islam dan ada kaitan dengan agenda Kristianisasi.

Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (Jawi) dilaporkan akan memohon waran tangkap sekir‎anya gadis Melayu yang didakwa "dicabul" artis K-Pop masih tidak menyerahkan diri secara sukarela bagi membantu siasatan.

Pengarah Jawi Paimuzi Yahya berkata, kes itu akan dibawa ke mahkamah dan sekiranya dapati bersalah, gadis Melayu itu perlu menghadiri sesi kaunseling bersama Jawi.

Beliau memberikan tempoh seminggu kepada gadis terbabit untuk menyerahkan diri atau waran tangkap dikeluarkan.

Paimuzi pada Isnin dilaporkan berkata, bahagian penguatkuasaan Jawi sudah membuka kertas siasatan kes mengikut Seksyen 29 Kesalahan Jenayah Syariah (Wilayah-Wilayah Persekutuan) 1977 (Akta 559) Perbuatan Tidak Sopan Di Tempat Awam.

Jika disabit kesalahan, mereka boleh didenda tidak melebihi RM1,000 atau penjara tidak melebihi enam bulan atau kedua-duanya.

Tekanan turut diberikan NGO kepada peganjur konsert yang mendesak pihak berkuasa mengambil tindakan kepada TGM Events.

TGM Events dalam kenyataan rasmi melalui laman sosial Facebook kemudian meminta maaf atas insiden itu dan berjanji akan lebih berhati-hati dalam perkara membabitkan soal budaya dan agama ketika interaksi antara peminat dan artis pada masa akan datang.

Penganjur bagimanapun memberi jaminan tidak akan mendedahkan maklumat peminat yang terlibat dan melindungi privasi mereka termasuk aspek fizikal dan psikologi.

"Sebagai syarikat yang sebahagian besarnya diusahakan oleh wanita, kami tidak sekali-kali membenarkan perlakuan cabul atau gangguan seksual seperti yang digembar-gemburkan media," katanya. – 15 Januari, 2015.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/bahasa/article/allah-izinkan-gadis-melayu-dipeluk-artis-k-pop-kata-wanita#sthash.xncSk1nS.dpuf

'Malays begging Chinese in economy as well?'

 

Setting aside the issue of Malays imploring the Chinese for votes, a former top editor wonders if the same roles are being played out in the economic sector as well.

Despite the New Economic Policy (NEP) and its successor policies, A Kadir Jasin said the Malays still lagged behind the Chinese and Indians.

"The game of catching up that the NEP intended to achieve had not succeeded.

"Bulk of the expenditure spent to eradicate poverty irrespective of race and to restructure society went to the Chinese long before the bumiputera felt their effects.

"Maybe the Malays are not begging the Chinese as clearly in the economic sphere as they are in politics.

"But we cannot also deny the intricate interdependence between the Chinese and the Malays in the economy," he added in his latest blog posting.

Kadir, who once spearheaded the government mouthpiece the New Straits Times, said the Malays are producers and consumers whereas the Chinese are middlemen and traders.

"The Malays are not consummate consumers. As such whatever is recommended to them by Chinese traders they will buy even at the risk borrowing at exorbitant interest rates.

"Remember the stories of Malay rubber smallholders buying refrigerators during the Korean War rubber boom in the early 1950s even though they had no electricity at home? They apparently used the refrigerators as cupboards.

"They are still buying refrigerators and many more electrical goods from the Chinese at exorbitant interest rates.

"But they are also buying those big noisy exhaust pipes and strobe lights to fix to their ageing Proton Saga because the Chinese workshop operators say these accessories are good and make their cars run faster. In short, the Chinese sell, the Malays buy," he added.

Kadir said while the NEP had enlarged the Malay professional class, they are limited to the government sector.

Without government contracts and employment, he added, few can hope to make the grade.

Umno begs, Najib stabbed

As for the political sphere, Kadir said it is Umno that appears to be begging for Chinese votes.

And like all those associated with Dr Mahathir Mohamad, he blamed Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for Umno being in the same mendicant predicament at present.

"Being used to enjoying the support of the non-Malays for so long, BN is the one that is more desperate.

If it continues to lose non-Malay support and younger Malays continue to lean towards Pakatan Rakyat, he said, BN could find itself on the opposite side of the House in the coming general election.

Kadir was responding to Mahathir's latest vitriolic spewing about Malay parties being forced to beg the Chinese for votes.

By the look of things, the newsman said, the one that is really begging for Chinese and Indian votes is Umno.

In taking the customary swipe at Najib, he added that despite fashioning himself as the prime minister for all and "buttering the Chinese with gifts of money and entertainment", the Umno leader was rejected in the polls.

"This is also one of the reasons putting Najib at odd with members and supporters of his own party. He is portraying himself as being desperate for non-Malay support, especially Chinese, at the expense of the Malays.

"But all his strategies in this direction had not produced results," he added.

In the present situation, Kadir said Malays are neither here nor there and the three-way split has forced all Malay-based parties to appeal to the Chinese to stay in power or to take over power.

He also questioned if the Malays still controlled politics.

"As I have argued repeatedly for decades, the power of the Malays rests with their number. Being in the majority and united, they controlled politics.

"Political control is important to the Malays because they are not on control of the economy. I am speaking in past tense because I am not anymore sure if the Malays still control politics," he said.

Going by the number of Malay elected representatives in Parliament and state legislative assemblies, Kadir said the Malays still dominated by way of arithmetic.

"But do they lead the debate and set the agenda? I am not sure," he added.

Are Malays starting to leave the country?

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 18 — The South China Morning Post has suggested that Muslim Malays are starting to leave Malaysia as the country’s lurch towards authoritarianism and fundamentalism starts to bite.

A report in the weekend edition of the Hong Kong paper, titled: “Malay Muslims fleeing country as fundamentalism takes hold” painted a grim picture and suggested an exodus of members of the majority race but gave no numbers or hard data.

It cited a female researcher so disgusted with the state of affairs after her shared accommodation with other women was searched for the presence of a man by Islamic authorities on a morality raid that she has resolved to leave the country in two years.

“An anonymous phone call to the religious department alleging a man was seen entering her flat was all it took for the religious officials to descend on her home,” the paper said, adding that six or seven men from the Selangor State Islamic Department (Jais) had entered her flat.

Unaccompanied by any woman, the men were said to have searched all the bedrooms, closets and even under the bed.

"I don't feel safe in this country anymore," the researcher was quoted as saying. "It's like you are guilty until proven innocent. Anyone can make a phone call to accuse another person out of malice or vengeance and, without proof or investigation, the religious authorities will come to your place."

Figures hard to pin down

But apart from anecdotal accounts, evidence is on just how many Malays have left Malaysia is hard to come by. Most existing data has not been broken down by ethnic composition.

According to a World Bank report in 2011, an estimated one million Malaysians are residing overseas.

More than two million Malaysians have emigrated since Merdeka.

Last year, a total 308,834 high-skilled Malaysians moved overseas, with 47.2 per cent going to Singapore, 18.2 per cent to Australia, 12.2 per cent to US and the rest to other countries like UK and Canada.

According to the same report, the number of skilled Malaysians living abroad rose 300 per cent in the last two decades, with two out of every 10 Malaysians with tertiary education opting to leave for either Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries or Singapore.

These figures have not been broken down to show ethnicity.

But in October former de facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said that more Malay-Muslims could be expected to leave the country if local religious authorities continue to pursue and prosecute those whose opinions they deem “deviant”.

Over the years, Islamic authorities have gradually become more rigid in their interpretation and application of the Shariah code in Islam.

They vilified and attacked a recent dog-petting event in which some Muslims touched dogs, which are considered unclean to people of the faith. The programme triggered such outrage that its organiser received death threats.

In October, the National Fatwa Council issued an edict banning Muslims from “celebrating” Halloween, which it categorised as a Christian celebration of the dead.

Kelantan, meanwhile, plans to enforce Hudud laws by way of state level enactments, even though its allies in Pakatan Rakyat are opposed to the idea.

An Oktoberfest-themed beer festival in Selangor also drew the ire of Muslim groups despite the promotional event being targeted at and restricted to non-Muslims.

Muslim intellectual Kassim Ahmad is also being prosecuted by Islamic authorities for allegedly suggesting that Muslims need only follow the Quran, and not the accompanying Hadith. The view differs from that which is officially approved.

Malaysia has also outlawed the Shiah denomination of Islam, which it considers deviant from the Sunni school that is officially sanctioned here.

Malaysia’s religious authorities also frequently warn against liberalism. The federal government’s Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has also stated that the National Fatwa Council had at its 74th meeting in 2006 declared liberal thinking as heretical.

Social activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir told Malay Mail Online in October she knows of several Malays who say they do not want to return to their homeland.

“It’s not for economic reasons, but simply because they feel that the environment here has become so negative and oppressive that it’s impossible to be able to live as peaceful, productive citizens anymore,” said Marina, the daughter of Tun Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’s longest serving prime minister.

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/are-malays-starting-to-leave-the-country#sthash.YSiKPuxK.dpuf

'Chinese kids do business, Malay kids shoot birds'

 

Stressing on the importance of entrepreneurship, Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan lamented on the difference between Malay and Chinese children.  

"Chinese children, even though they are not taught entrepreneurship in school, they come home and go to their parents' grocery shops to learn.

"They help their parents in grocery shops, factories, they go to their parents' companies.

"But Malay children are not like that. They shoot birds with a slingshot under the oil palm trees, bathe in waterfalls and drains. When can Malays be entrepreneurs?" he asked.

In view of this, he suggested that the government shorten the teaching time allocated for geography in secondary schools and include a subject called "entrepreneurship".

"Open the world map, show the 200 countries (in the world), done. What else is there to learn in geography?" Ahmad asked during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

However, the Umno information chief said that he has "nothing against geography".

Ahmad said he had put forth his suggestion to Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin (left) and the response was positive.

He also explained the rationale behind introducing the "entrepreneurship" subject at the secondary school level.

He said that it was an effort to create more entrepreneurs, especially among the bumiputera, and this would help Malaysia become a high-income nation.

"Perhaps only 30 percent of SPM holders pursue tertiary education, 70 percent of SPM holders, hundreds of thousands of them out there have no knowledge of entrepreneurship.

"After SPM, where do they work? Earning wages at factories and companies. They are unable to be independent and become entrepreneurs. This happens every year, we have lost hundreds of thousands in terms of human resource.

"If they had learned entrepreneurship since Form One until Form Five, they can set up a company after SPM. It can be small and medium enterprises, service companies, contractors and so on," Ahmad added.

Apart from this, he said learning from the Chinese, who are generally adept in business, is also another method to improve the entrepreneurship in Malaysia.

The deputy minister described the Chinese as "bangsa usahawan" (race of entrepreneurs), Malays as "bangsa makan gaji" (race of wage earners) and Indians as "bangsa professional" (race of professionals).

"Malays and Indians should learn from the Chinese," he said.

Who is really guilty of insulting the Malays?

Umno Baru sees the Malay mind as fertile ground for sowing the seeds of self-doubt.

Mariam Mokhtar

What else is new? Year in and year out, we have the predictably tense run-up to the Umno Baru General Assembly. And then, when they are gathered at PWTC, the various warlords wave their fists, insult the non-Malays, shout themselves hoarse and behave very much like little boys showing off their assets, telling one another, “Mine is bigger than yours.” After that, it is back to the status quo.

This year shows one small variation. Najib Abdul Razak is aware that his political career is nearing the end. He is attempting to prolong it by appeasing the extremists. His method is to use the Sedition Act.

The sedition clampdown has been sweeping the nation like the haze. It blankets the country and is toxic. It chokes us, reduces visibility and makes the vulnerable seriously ill. People are unable to go to work or enjoy themselves. It incapacitates us.

Since the 70s, the Malay mind has been a fertile ground for Umno Baru to sow the seeds of self-doubt. The ideas have been put into his head that he is weak, that his religion is ineffective, and that the Umno Baru brand of Islam is better. Umno Baru takes a departure from the message that the Father of Independence, Tunku Abdul Rahman, left us. The Tunku wanted Malaysia to be multiracial and secular, free from feudal bondage. Umno Baru is undoing all of his legacy.

The Malay mind is inundated, daily, with the emotional baggage of race, religion and royalty. With this continual pummelling, his confidence will eventually be eroded.

At the just-concluded assembly, Najib insulted the Malays and told them that without Umno Baru, they would be doomed. Where are the voices of the ordinary Malays to challenge him?

Najib is suggesting that Malays are weak and indolent. He knows that if Umno Baru were to cease to exist, the Malays would blossom. Umno Baru is aware that the only Malays who need protecting are themselves – the Umno-Baruputra Malays.

A few months ago, former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad called the Malays “stupid and lazy”. There was hardly a word of protest from the Malays, but the few Malays who dared to criticise Mahathir for his politics of divide and rule were branded ungrateful. Mahathir always gets away with insulting the Malays. Why? There are many Malays who are intelligent, hard-working and amiable. Again, they failed to force Mahathir to apologise.

Decades of affirmative action policies led to the problems afflicting our society, although at the same time they created the enormous Malay middle class. These middle-class Malays are silent about the various injustices and abuse of power because they think that to speak out may show disrespect.

No! It is not disrespectful, but keeping quiet may harm more Malays and other Malaysians. Our social fabric is disentangling. Our treasury is running low on funds. We do not need to wait till things get to the point of no return.

Economic pie

The archangel Gabriel brought important messages from God, but Najib’s semi-divine message is that Islam must be protected by Umno Baru. Hundreds of years of the crusades and ethnic conflicts have not wiped Islam off the world map. If Islam in Malaysia needs to protected, it needs to be protected from Umno Baru.

One of the issues which Umno Baru uses to whip up racial distrust is to claim that Malays own a small part of the economic pie, unlike the Chinese. If Najib cared to look around him, he’d find that the top positions in the ministries, civil service, universities and GLCs are held by Malays.

Houses that are worth a million ringgit are subject to discount but low-cost housing is not and the ordinary Malay is no better off than his non-Malay counterpart. Most pieces of agricultural land held by Malays are lying idle because the government has not tried to resolve the issue of inheritance and land ownership. Syariah laws mean that a piece of land may have hundreds of owners, each at loggerheads with one another about the use of the land.

How can a farmer make a profitable and meaningful profession if he faces ruin from relatives demanding a share of the profits without contributing or putting any effort into farming?

Umno Baru killed off the aspirations of many generations of Malaysians. It pushed through affirmative action policies, not to help Malays, but to benefit the Umno-Baruputras. The leaders handsomely reward selected Malays and non-Malays whom they deem worthy of their favours.

The BN coalition might as well be disbanded. The MCA, MIC and Gerakan hardly protect the interests of the minority groups. Their role is insignificant and their presence in the coalition is mere window dressing.

If the ordinary Malay finds life in Malaysia stifling, he should realise that it will get worse. One can’t read certain books, watch certain films, eat off plates which belong to a non-Muslim, consume food prepared by a non-Muslim or drink water which has come from a bottle bearing the image of a Hindu deity.

The problem with Malaysia may be the political class, but the good news is that we are the solution.

Every five years, voters have a chance to bite back. Some of us do, and yet, after every general election, we stare in disbelief when Umno Baru gets voted again to form the government. After 13 general elections, the same racist and bigoted party remains in power.

Don’t just blame the government for the mess we are in; it is also our fault. We did not protest loud enough, we did not badger our MPs more, we did not write letters to newspapers to voice our dissatisfaction. We are happy in our comfort zone and do not consider other people’s problems an issue, until they become our own. Basically, we are selfish. Perhaps our New Year’s resolutions should reflect Malaysia’s needs.

Mariam Mokhtar is an FMT columnist.

Do Not Dispute Anymore The Rights Of The Malays, Rulers And Islam - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- The 2014 Umno general assembly ended today with a firm and clear message from the party president that the special rights and privileges of the Malays, rulers and Islam, as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, should no longer be questioned.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Malaysians should stop fighting over the matter and to focus on efforts to further develop the country.

"There is a limit to freedom. Freedom is not absolute. (One) cannot insult Islam, cannot challenge the special rights and privileges of the Malays, cannot question the monarchy system, the Royal Malay Regiment and we safeguard the interests of other races.

"Then, there will be peace. Always fighting, no work can be done. I want us to focus on developing our beloved Malaysia. We want to bring Malaysia forward," he said in his speech when winding up the assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre on Saturday.

His speech was greeted with loud applause from the more than 2,700 delegates in the Merdeka Hall.

Najib said the Sedition Act 1948 was retained based on his responsibility to maintain national peace and harmony as well as to handle the action of certain groups who disputed the federal constitution.

"People say that the Sedition Act is not democratic, the international press attack me. (Accuse) that I went back on my word, use pressure.

"I want to inform, my responsibility as the prime minister is to maintain peace and security in our country," said Najib, who announced the retention of the Sedition Act 1948 when delivering his Presidential Policy Speech on Thursday.

Recalling how Malaysia gained its independence, enjoy peace and racial harmony in the country of various races and religions, he said that the solidarity concept was the key to success.

Najib also explained that the solidarity that he had emphasised when delivering the presidential policy speech and had become the topic of debate at the Umno General Assembly this time meant: 'unite in one strong and solid force'.

Showing the audience a copy of the Sept 1, 1957 issue of The Sunday Times, Najib said the words by the country's first Prime Minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, "Look at the past with gratitude, look to the future with confidence", remained relevant until Saturday.

He said the confidence was attained from the struggle by Umno since pre-Independence until today.

However, Najib drew the delegates' attention on the need for Umno and BN to continue to win the support of other races.

He said it was not possible for the past national leaders to form the Alliance Party, which represented the three largest ethnic groups in the country, and later rebranded as BN, if it did not benefit the Malays.

"That is why it is important for us to look after BN, but not to the extent of sacrificing principles which are close to the heart of the Malays.

"People say Malays are fair, firm, then why the need for the social contract and so on? It is because we are not only concerned about the election, but also to build a nation (Malaysia) and race that is successful," he added.

Meanwhile, Najib also blasted the opposition pact which he described as "the mother of all corruption" for attempting to offer a substantial amount of money to an Umno leader to bring a BN member of parliament to join the opposition in 2008.

The prime minister criticised the practice of nepotism by the opposition which 'sacrificed' an innocent member of the party merely to make way for others to hold position.

"(The opposition) can ask their elected representative to step down (because) the wife wanted to contest. Asked an innocent menteri besar (MB) to step down because the wife wanted to become MB.

"This is the biggest nepotism. Why don't we blame him. Attack the opposition," he pointed out.

Referring to the rejuvenation issue which was hotly debated by the delegates at the general assembly this time, Najib reminded the 3.47 million party members that Umno had to draw up the best strategy to realise the party cadreship agenda.

Realising the 'coolness' between a small section of the old leaders and the new which had existed even from before, he again stressed the importance of all the generations in Umno to cooperate to move in a single direction.

"If we have to look behind us and feel that there are people wanting to attack us, then we will never achieve solidarity. But, in the meantime, where necessary (we) give a chance," said Najib.

However, he said, the opportunity would only be given to the young people who were truly qualified and fulfilled the traits of future Umno leaders that had been outlined.

Najib said what was important was that every Umno member must rejuvenate the spirit of the Umno struggle in themselves.

Is Umno the right party to help poor Bumiputera?

Umno wants more control of the nation’s economic levers to raise the income of Bumiputera to be on par with other communities.

This is despite the fact it has been in power for more than 50 years and has limited success in this endeavour with all its affirmative action policies.

The first part was clearly the gist of the grassroots' debate at its assembly yesterday, while the second was the part it would not admit.

For who else was responsible for the affirmative action policies that were supposed to eradicate income disparities between Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera?

Yet the irony – demanding more chances after it had wasted so many – was lost on the party’s delegates.

What was of greater concern was not just that Umno members were demanding their leaders continue policies to “improve the lot of Bumiputera” but their refusal to give up on methods and the same policies that have failed the Malays.

Party must control government

Delegates, who are essentially representing the grassroots, started debating on the Bumiputera economic agenda since Thursday.

Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin of Perlis Umno railed against a civil service policy forbidding government departments and agencies from accepting support letters from politicians.

These support letters, usually written by elected representatives, accompany applications for almost everything, from loans to contracts.

Zahidi wanted party leaders, such as the president-cum-prime minister, to cancel this policy.

“The party must control the government,” said Zahidi, who is also Padang Besar MP.

His colleague from Federal Territory Umno, Datuk Norainah Musa, seconded this in her speech, saying that support letters from Umno division leaders should also be accepted.

“What’s wrong with support letters from division leaders? Are our signatures only valuable during an election?” asked Norainah.

Another favourite demand was that Petronas and other government-linked companies must be compelled to choose Bumiputera companies as vendors.

“Even (former prime minister) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said Petronas’s responsibility is to help local companies, especially Bumiputera ones,” said Pahang Umno delegate, Datuk Maznah Abdul Hamid.

Another “prescription” is that the government encourage lower-income Bumiputera households to dabble in small businesses to earn an extra income.

This, they said, could be done through microcredit loans under Tekun Nasional and more entrepreneur skills-training programmes under Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia.

Is Umno the right one for the job?

The delegates' intention is not misplaced.

A Khazanah study on the state of households showed that there is inter-ethnic inequality even after more than 40 years of affirmative action.

The median household income for Bumiputera is RM3,282, while for Indians it is RM3,676 and Chinese, RM4,643.

Economist Azrul Azwa Ahmad Tajudin said the data justified the argument that affirmative action must continue.

The trick is how to do it without repeating past mistakes.

Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah, who listened to the delegates, said a Bumiputera-only economic agenda would not be effective.

“The Bumiputera have to accept that there are other communities, so any economic agenda must be inclusive.”

This is since the private sector, which contributes 48% to gross domestic product, was not as easily demarcated along ethnic lines, he said.

Company workers, managers, along with consumers, for instance, were made up of members of all communities who interacted in ways which are too complex for a mono-ethnic policy to work, said Ahmad Husni, who is also Second Finance Minister.

Azrul Azwa said that too much of the debate on reducing the wealth gap had focused on increasing Bumiputera corporate equity to 30%, a favourite talking point at Umno assemblies, including this one.

“More emphasis should be on what the man-on-the-street really needs to increase his income and to deal with cost of living pressure.”

Much of the approach of the past has also created a section of society dependent on subsidies and handouts, which are easily used for political gain, he said.

And then there is the emphasis on entrepreneurship, which automatically assumes every low-income household can be successful at business.

“Many people are good wage earners and workers. More focus should be given to increase their wages,” said Azrul Azwar.

The obsession with entrepreneurship then becomes a way of not dealing with a key structural problem with the Malaysian economy – that it is based on the creation of low-value products at low cost and low wages.

This structure ensures that wages for Malaysians would always be suppressed because Malaysian companies could choose foreign workers who worked for peanuts, he said.

“And the government continues to allow this to happen.” – November 29, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/is-umno-the-right-party-to-help-poor-bumiputera#sthash.MFgNPPkJ.dpuf

Haris Ibrahim challenges KJ to debate 'Malay special rights'

Rakyat Times

Activist and former lawyer Haris Ibrahim has challenged Umno Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin to a debate on the special position of the Malays under the Constitution.

In his blog, The People's Parliament, Haris contended that "the idea of 'ketuanan Melayu' violently conflicts with the final sermon of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) at Arafat".

He added, "There is, in my view, therefore, no room in Islam for any race supremacist notions. Second, that there is nothing in the Federal Constitution that supports this perennial claim by Perkasa, Isma and the likes to there being special rights thereunder for the Malays.

"Special position, under Article 153, yes, but not special rights," he stressed.

Haris also said that he was surprised when he read that the Oxford-trained Youth, Sports and Culture Minister had reportedly said that in the run-up to, and as part of the agreement that led to independence, the Malays had agreed to citizenship being conferred on non-Malays and that in return, the non-Malays "were prepared to accept the special position of the Malays, the Malay language as the national language and the sovereignty of Malay rulers".

Let's debate it

Haris then threw down the gauntlet to Khairy to debate on whether it was the 'special rights or special position' of the Malays that was at the heart of the problem.

"If we both agree that it is only the latter, we all have tea and go home," he said.

 "But if, however, we differ, then we get it on... in the most cordial, friendly and civil fashion.

"KJ, you game? Your choice of moderator, KJ. Even your new found friend, Dr M, if you wish," Haris said.

The Rakyat Times Editorial team hereby offers the potential debaters its humble premises to host the debate.

We will even throw in tea, curry puffs and some kuih for this occasion.

Media Statement By Centre For A Better Tomorrow (CENBET) Co-President, Gan Ping Sieu On The Ban On Non-Muslims Using Words Related to Islam

Cenbet

It is time the respective state authorities throughout the country review the ban on non-Muslims using words related to Islam. This comes as the Kedah government recently amended the state’s law to increase the number of words non-Muslims are prohibited from using from 24 to 55. While this latest amendment has resulted in a flurry of debate online, many state governments also have a similar list of words non-Muslims can’t use.

A blanket ban on the use of such words is counter-productive in a plural society like ours. The ban should only be restricted to curb attempts at proselytizing among Muslims or for other ill intents such as a non-Muslim calling himself a haji or referring to his place of worship as masjid. CENBET respects Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution and the respective states’ laws which bans attempts to propagate other religions to Muslims.

But a catch-all ban not only makes a mockery of our national and Arabic languages, it also serves to build more barriers among the different ethnic communities in this country at a time when we need to enhance national unity. A blanket ban will further create impediments for non-Muslims to have learning access and a better understanding of Islam.

No groups should have monopoly over words in any language, especially the Malay, long regarded as a language for national unity. How else could non-Muslims converse in Malay without using common words like syariah, masjid, surau, ulama, Quran, Haji, and solat? What about non-Muslims whose state anthem contain the word Allah? In any case, it is doubtful if such laws can be enforced against non-Muslims.

With these in mind, the respective state authorities should immediately review the blanket ban on the use of such words. In fact, some Muslim scholars do not see any problems with non-Muslims using Assalamualaikum (another banned word). Allowing non-Muslims to use the greeting and other “banned” words for communication and reference purposes would instead enhance the sense of camaraderie among all races in the country

Najib silap mansuh ISA, bangsa lain cabar Melayu

'Malays to be Red Indians if Umno, PAS don’t unite'

 

Former chief justice Abdul Hamid Mohamad today urged PAS and Umno to unite in order to stop DAP from attaining federal power, which he said would result in Malays suffering a fate similar to ‘Red Indians’ in the United States.

“Malays’ problems are not limited to the abolishing of the Internal Security Act (ISA) or Sedition Act,” he said.

“The problem is they face the threat of becoming like Red Indians in their own land,” he added.

He said that PAS and Umno must now join hands to ensure that the rights of Malays and Muslims are not threatened by DAP.

Hamid said that PKR cannot be expected to champion the cause of Malays because the party fights for “only one Malay”, in an apparent reference to PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

“I don’t mention PKR because the party never said it is fighting for the Malays. It only fights for one Malay, that too if that person still considers himself a Malay,” he said.

He, however, said that Umno leaders must change the perception that the party is corrupted.

“Umno should continue being the dominant party for Malays and Muslims. The problem is their leaders,” he said.

“The number one factor why people hate Umno is because the perception of corruption. They have must correct this, not by talking but by actually avoiding corruption,” he added.

Najib silap mansuh ISA, bangsa lain cabar Melayu

KL Malays far behind others in terms of wealth

Tengku Adnan says statistics show Malays are far behind other races in terms of ownership rights and businesses in the capital.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: The economic divide between the Malays and non-Malays in Kuala Lumpur poses a big challenge for the former, says Federal Territory Umno liaison chairman Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

He said statistics showed the Malays were far behind other races, in terms of ownership rights and businesses in the capital.

“The question is, who do we blame? When licences are issued, it is mortgaged or sold,” he said when speaking at the Federal Territory Umno Convention launched by Umno president Najib Razak here today.

Tengku Adnan said about 200 years ago, the Malays owned almost 100 per cent of land in Kuala Lumpur, adding however, that it had dwindled to only 21.7 per cent.

This, he noted, was due to the attitude of the Malays who had either mortgaged or sold their land to other races.

Besides that, the Malays in Kuala Lumpur earned an average income of between RM2,000 and RM3,000 and contributed to the percentage of poor people in the city.

Tengku Adnan, who is also federal territories minister, said home ownership statistics also showed the Malays were lagging behind other races.

“Just imagine, the lowest price of a house in the capital is RM300,000, while the affordability level of Malays in the city is only below RM150,000.

“The statistics of individuals who apply to rent or purchase houses from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is more than 42,000, of which 90 per cent are from the Malay community.

“This is the reality which has to be faced by the Malays in Kuala Lumpur, coupled by the high cost of living, which has seen many of them ending up on the streets.

Tengku Adnan, who is also Umno secretary-general, said Umno members in the Federal Territory were playing a role to help ensure the economic divide and hardships faced by the Malays in the city could be resolved.

He said the Federal Territory Umno did not want to see anyone from the Malay race living on the streets and destitute.

“On the contrary, we have a strong determination to take the Malays out of poverty,” he added.

- BERNAMA

An Interstellar view of ‘Malay-ness’

 

Of late there have been intensifying debates on ‘Malay-ness’ and that political parties will continue to engage in this, conducted within the framework Malaysia’s ‘commanding heights’ (read Vladimir Lenin’s essay) or the economic and ideological basis of this country as a hypermodern state.

Reading some seminal work on evolutionary biology, eugenics, social Darwinism, and the ‘mitochondrial Eve’ as the first human, questions came to be demanding perspectives on what actually is ‘Malay-ness’ and whether the ‘Malay’ exists and what does it have to do with culture, consciousness, and human progress in a multicultural society such as Malaysia.

I recently wrote these on my Facebook page:

“THE TRUTH is ... THE MALAYS

are not the first race/people on planet earth
as will be soon claimed by pop-pseudo-evolutionary biologists
the Mitochondrial Eve from Mother Africa
was the first ... then here is migration and variations
Malay-ness and ‘other-raceness’ is
merely a construct
mere illusion,
mere construction,
merely an idea of social dominance
not to be taken seriously
and to write a history
or a theory of jealousy
race, ethnicity do not exist and has no scientific basis
so you politicians - stop whining
and complaining
and scheming
and fighting till we bleed
read more science and become more human
treat each other like human beings
like what Mother Afrika Mitochondria preaches - ar

Is ‘culture’ the culprit?

We continue to debate about culture and religion in our public schools. We might be debating on faulty premises. We might have to look at the issue of culture, race, and ethnicity from a radically different perspective. Let us see what this may mean based on the propositions I will be making which fundamentally begin like this - culture is in the imagination and is not real.

There is no such a concept as ‘original culture’. Cultures are systems of construction of realities that is influenced by the historical-materialistic march of technology and capital, that then develops conditions of existence and formulate human consciousness. Culture is fluid and amorphous and is a construct rather than a constant. Culture is not static. Cultural construction can be conveniently used and abused to lend legitimacy to power and its concentrated self.

It is more than just the tools we use and play but also the house that we inhabit. Its definition is problematic; the numbers of definitions are many. The words Malay, Chinese, Indian, American, Indonesian - all these are cultural constructs that are useful in some ways but useless in others.

Unfortunately it is the uselessness of culture that is often most attractive and get translated into sophisticated racist policies. As racist policies become further institutionalised and as economic interests that go with these need to be protected even more, racial tensions and consequently violence erupts. As these further mounts, we have war and ethnic cleansing - in the name of cultural superiority.

We are endowed by the Creator these variations in skin colour and appearances to have use of to solve problems of humanity; to understand what needs and wants are, and to discern what is Good and what is Evil.

Cultures can enable human thinking and it can also disable it. It can be shaped, structured, and symbolised based on the influence of class structure of the people/peoples.

This will translate into ‘high’, ‘low’, ‘mass’, ‘popular’, and ‘sub-culture’. With all these subdefinitions of culture comes the status symbols of the object of display, affection, work, leisure, etc, that shape and that are shaped by the economic condition.

Hence, a goblet used in a sultan’s palace might be worth a thousand goblets used by the sultan’s hamba sahayas. Or a Rolls Royce used by a royal family signifies a symbol of ‘high culture’ as opposed to a ‘[Proton] Rusa’, a symbol of ‘popular culture’ used by a family in a remote kampong.

There is a new dimension of culture emerging. There are classes of culture and culture of classes. Classes of culture are post-industrial tribes that are victims of producers whereas culture of classes are the internal logic of cultures that have been eroded by the forces of globalisation and late capitalism.

I am still thinking. I don’t have the answers. I have only more question on whether the ‘Malay’ actually exist and if one needs to defend the people, through political designs. For too long we have been dwelling upon this problematique. Many have written about it.

Maybe we have been asking the wrong question all this while and fighting the wrong battles and setting up the wrong race-based institutions, based on the wrongest premises of winner-only-crafted history. This question by the way, was inspired by a movie I watched recently - Interstellar.

What, then is the answer? Or rather- what should be the questions?

---

DR AZLY RAHMAN, born in Singapore and grew up in Johor Baru, holds a Columbia University (New York City) doctorate in International Education Development and Masters degrees in four areas: Education, International Affairs, Peace Studies and Communication. He has taught more than 40 courses in six different departments and has written more than 350 analyses on Malaysia. His teaching experience in Malaysia and the United States spans over a wide range of subjects, from elementary to graduate education. He has edited and authored six books; Multiethnic Malaysia: Past, Present, Future (2009), Thesis on Cyberjaya: Hegemony and Utopianism in a Southeast Asian State (2012), The Allah Controversy and Other Essays on Malaysian Hypermodernity (2013), a first Malay publication Kalimah Allah Milik Siapa?: Renungan dan Nukilan Tentang Malaysia di Era Pancaroba (2014), and Controlled Chaos: Essays on Mahathirism, Multimedia Super Corridor and Malaysia’s ‘New Politics’ (forthcoming 2014). He currently resides in the United States where he teaches courses in Philosophy, Cultural Studies, Political Science, and American Studies. Twitter, blog.

Harmony laws will protect royals and Malays’ special position, says A-G

New National Harmony laws may end up further tightening Putrajaya's grip on free speech on the topics of race, special privileges and the royal institution, judging from a recent speech by Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail.

The country's top prosecutor said that among the principles set down by the prime minister for the new laws, there must be nothing that "would incite hatred and contempt or disloyalty to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong or any Ruler".

All provisions regarding the different ethnic groups in Malaysia under Articles 152, 153 and 181 of the Federal Constitution would also be protected, Gani said.

"The new law would also proscribe promotion of ill will and enmity among races or different groups of peoples in Malaysia, and would prohibit the questioning of any rights, position, privileges, sovereignty and prerogatives as prescribed or protected under the provisions (of the Federal Constitution)," the text of his speech at the recent Ilkap National Law Conference 2014 said.

Gani was talking about the current debate over the Sedition Act 1948 and whether it should be repealed or amended and retained alongside National Harmony laws to regulate race relations.

The A-G likened the current debate as a "nationalistic struggle" about the future of the colonial-era law, enacted by the British and broad in its definition of what can be deemed seditious as well as loose in requiring proof of seditious intent.

"Those that advocate its wholesale repeal and substitution with a 'national harmony', 'race relations' or 'hate-crime' type legislation modeled on the laws in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and the United States of America say that (the Sedition Act) is archaic.

"However, those that fear its repeal will lead to social disorder, anarchy or compromise of the special position of the Malay Rulers, which in turn would jeopardise the Malay Rulers ability to uphold Islam and safeguard Malay/Bumiputra rights, now argue for its retention," the A-G said.

He reiterated that the government was still in talks with various groups about the new national harmony laws, and it was still undecided if there would be new legislation, or if the Sedition Act would merely be amended.

Gani said the government "refused to be hurried" despite pressure from civil society on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to uphold his promise, which was first made in July 2012, to repeal the Sedition Act.

The A-G indicated, however, that he was open to having separate laws to deal with contempt of court and criticism of the government if there was "consensus" that such criticism should no longer be treated as having seditious tendencies.

He said he was personally of the view that contempt of court should come under a separate law, but that issues related to the Malays' and Bumiputeras' special position, the Malay Rulers and the position of Islam should remain in the Sedition Act.

"I believe it would be a problem to take these out of the realm of sedition and the Sedition Act 1948. I would like to make it clear that this is because these matters are embodied in the Federal Constitution.

Therefore, they will have to be protected under the Sedition Act 1948 unless those provisions themselves are first amended.

The position of Islam and the citizenship rights of the non-Malays must also be similarly protected," Gani said.

But he also said the rights of non-Malays under Part III of the constitution on citizenship requirements, should be similarly protected as these were "part of the social contract".

The proposed National Harmony laws are being drafted by the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), a government committee under the purview of the National Unity and Integration Department.

The council, which comprises senior civil servants, academicians, civil society representatives and even an opposition MP from PAS, recently drew flak from ruling government MPs who said that it had jumped the gun in releasing its draft to the public, giving the impression that Putrajaya had endorsed the draft.

The NUCC's work appears to be in doubt, based on Gani's speech in which he said that the A-G's Chambers would be "taking up the gauntlet to prepare this new era legislation for Malaysia". – November 19, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/harmony-laws-will-protect-royals-and-malays-special-position-says-a-g#sthash.ukftHOi7.dpuf

The Malays let down their own side

The Malay is an enigma. He claims to know Islam, but when his brethren is threatened, he refuses to speak out. He fears the mob will hound him, even though neither he nor the person he would like to protect, have done anything wrong.

Mariam Mokhtar, The Ant Daily

When a preacher tells him of a shortcut to heaven, he is all ears. His morbid fascination with the afterlife makes him forget his moral obligations and his responsibilities to his fellow man, because he believes that his life on earth is to prepare him for the afterlife; but at what cost?

He would rather not use his brain to think, especially when it concerns moral issues. He would rather some other body does his thinking for him, perhaps, the ulama or the government. The gift which God gave him, his brain, lies idle because he is fixated on the afterlife more than life on earth. His siege mentality is reinforced by the Umno-Baru government, so that he feels helpless without the government to tell him what to do.

The Malay mentality is stuck in a time warp. If only his intellect and compassion could increase at the same rate, as his love for material goods, perhaps, we would not have massive problems in Malaysia, today. The Malay feels and acts like he is superior to people of other faiths and cultures. He is not. His lack of humility fails him, in the eyes of many.

The Malay depends on the government to spoon-feed him and when he does not get his fix, he gets upset. He is like a child who should have been weaned a long time ago. Democracy, human rights and rule of law mean very little to him. He wants to get ahead, and if cheating will give him an advantage, then so be it.

There is one group which is unlike the Malay. They do not want you to sell them anything, nor do they want you to give them a commission. They do not demand that you give them all of your time, they do not want your riches or your belongings. They do not expect you to give them a datukship or to betray others for them. They do not tell you how to behave or make you fearful, by invoking God’s name. All they want is companionship and for that, they will go to the ends of the earth for you. “They” are dogs, another of God’s creatures.

Read more at: http://www.theantdaily.com/Main/The-Malays-let-down-their-own-side

Malay rights intact even if Sedition Act repealed

Proham secretary-general says four sensitive aspects of special rights of Malays and Bumiputeras is protected even if act is repealed.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: The abolition of the Sedition Act 1948 will not affect the four sensitive aspects concerning the special rights of the Malays and the Bumiputera enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

As such, secretary-general of the Association for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham) Denison Jayasooria said the Malays need not worry about the plan to abolish the Act as the four aspects – the special position of the Malays and Bumiputera (Article 153), the special position of Malay Rulers (Article 181), Malay language as the National Language (Article 152) and Citizenship (Part III) would be protected and well preserved.

“In fact, any replacement of the Act, including the proposed National Harmony Act, will not touch on these four aspects,” he told reporters after moderating the Round-Table Discussion on the Sedition Act 1948 at Universiti Malaya, here today.

The discussion was attended by former Bukit Aman CID director Mohamed Zaman Khan Rahim Khan, Proham Chairman Kuthbul Zaman and Malaysian Bar Council’s Young Lawyers Committee chairman Syahredzan Johan.

Commenting on the call by the Malay Consultative Council (MPM) that the abolition or improvement of the Sedition Act be referred to the Council of Rulers, Denison said it was a non-issue because only amendment to certain matters concerning Malay rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution would need the consent of the council.- Bernama

Call for three-day extension of Parliament for a full debate on “Are Malays and Islam under threat?” as this concerns not just Malays and Muslims, but all Malaysians who want a successful Malaysia

By Lim Kit Siang Blog

With the approach of the UMNO General Assemblies 2014 from Nov. 25 to 29, there is a build-up of the rhetoric and hysteria that “Malays and Islam are under threat”.

National laureate A. Samad Said made a most pertinent point when he pointed out that despite claims of a growing threat against the Malay community, the country’s leadership has remained in the hands of Malays and is still led by a party which claims to represent the Malay community.

I agree with Pak Samad that it is most peculiar that allegations of Malays under threat are constantly being played up, which is why he advised the Malay community not to be too obsessed about claims that Malays are under threat.

Pak Samad had asked the most relevant question:

“How are Malays under threat? How can religion (Islam) and Malays be threatened when those in power have been Malay for over five decades?

“What have they (Malay leaders) been doing for five decades (if Malays can be under threat)?”

What Pak Samad prescribed is most apt, and I don’t think it could be gainsaid by anyone, that if the country’s more than five-decade-old UMNO Malay leadership cannot put the Malay community at ease, then it should surrender power to let other Malays rule.

Why should the country’s race relations be held to ransom every time UMNO hold its annual General Assemblies for UMNO leaders to hype the imaginary spectre of Malays and Islam under siege, when what could be under threat is only the continued political rule and survival of UMNO leaders – like the disgraceful paper by the former Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) vice chancellor, Ibrahim Abu Shah warning that “If Umno loses, Malays may never rule again” with the threat that the future of Malays would be “dark and unfortunate” or the insidious and pernicious racialism of the Minister for Communications and Multimedia, Ahmad Shabery Cheek, irresponsibly alleging that Malays were not welcomed in Pakatan Rakyat-run Penang.

All the six Prime Ministers from the nation’s independence in 1957 were Malays – Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak, Tun Hussein, Tun Mahathir, Tun Abdullah and currently Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Have they all, or some or one of them, betrayed the Malays as Prime Minister to cause the Malays and Islam to be still under siege 57 years after Merdeka?

Of the six Prime Ministers, Tun Mahathir had been Prime Minister for the longest period – 22 years 3 months, compared to Tunku’s 13 years; Razak’s 5 yrs 4 months; Hussein’s 5 years 6 months ; Abdullah’s 5 years 5 months ; and Najib’s more than 5 years 7 months.

Will Mahathir bear the biggest responsibility for Malays and Islam to be under siege in 2014 because of his longest premiership in the past 57 years?

Will UMNO delegates and the country be provided with a checklist as to how each of the six Malay Prime Ministers in the past 57 years had failed to uplift the Malays and Islam as to cause them to be under threat at present?

If Malays and Islam are under threat, it is not just the concern of Malays and Muslims, but the concern of all Malaysians regardless of ethnicity and faith, because we are all one people who want a successful Malaysia to rise from our diverse races and religions.

Patriotic Malaysians do not want Malays and Islam under threat, just as we do not want non-Malays in Malaysia, whether Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Ibans, Orang Asli or Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Taoism to be under threat.

If Malays and Islam are under threat, they should be the concern of all non-Malays and non-Muslims, just as any problem of Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Ibans, Orang Asli or Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Taoism under threat in Malaysia should be the concern of all Malays and Muslims in Malaysia!

I would in fact call for three-day extension of Parliament for a full debate on “Are Malays and Islam under threat?” for we must build a Malaysia where the Malays and Islam are not under threat – just as the non-Malays and non-Muslim religions are not under threat.

Otherwise, Malaysia would have failed in our constitutional compact to create a an independent and sovereign democratic State founded upon liberty and justice, where “Islam is the religion of the Federation but other religions may be practiced in peace and harmony”, ever seeking to defend and uphold peace and harmony among its people and to perpetuate peace among nations.

Bagaimana Melayu terancam jika mereka sedang berkuasa?