Malaysia’s regime crisis, race politics and the kalimah Allah issue*

By Tengku Razaleigh

The centre of gravity of global economic activity has been moving eastwards towards Asia for quite some time now. The present global financial crisis has accelerated that process.

Asian economies, led by China, seek to spur domestic demand and increase intra-regional trade. As the global appetite for treasuries and US equities decreases, it is likely that large flows of risk capital will start moving to emerging markets again over the next six months. The main destinations will be India and China, but the countries of Southeast Asia are also set to benefit from these flows of global capital to the extent that they have an economic story to tell. The two top performers are going to be Indonesia and Vietnam. Indonesia, the new “i” in BRIIC, has a market-size, natural resources and liberalisation story while Vietnam has a large and industrious labour force that is skilling upwards rapidly. The Philippines and Thailand, despite political worries, remain relevant for their large domestic markets while Singapore, as the financial hub of the region, benefits from any increase in regional economic activity. This year also sees the full implementation of AFTA and the signing of more regional FTAs. We can be cautiously optimistic about the basis for growth in trade and investment.

I mentioned the major Asean countries but not Malaysia in my list of investment destinations. That is because Malaysia has fallen off the map for much foreign investment. With neither the cost and scale advantages of Vietnam and Indonesia nor the advanced capabilities of Singapore, Malaysia is firmly caught in a middle-income trap and appears to have fallen off the radar screen of foreign investors. It might seem puzzling that this country, sitting at the heart of Southeast Asia, blessed with extraordinary natural, cultural and human capital, and once a beacon in the developing world, has become irrelevant.

I want to discuss how this happened, and reflect on what this story might teach about larger issues of common concern. Other members of Asean might be concerned that a country that was once at the forefront in spearheading regional initiatives is at a crossroads over its own future.

The general election of March 2008 was a watershed in Malaysian politics. The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition lost its accustomed two-thirds majority in the Parliament, and lost five states to the opposition, including the economic backbone states of Selangor, Perak and Penang. Compared to the ebb and flow of power in other parliamentary democracies, you might not find this a remarkable development. Against the backdrop of Malaysia’s political history, however, the entire political landscape had changed overnight. Gone was the invincibility of Umno, the Malay-based party that has dominated Malaysian politics since independence. The political credibility of Umno/BN had been more than just a set of racially-based political parties. Over its decades of ascendancy, history had been re-written, mythology created, and the party abolished and reinvented to reinforce the necessity and inevitability of a government led by Umno.

The formula of communal power-sharing that the Barisan Nasional and its predecessor were built on had started life as a political accommodation, a nation-building compromise, a way-station on the road to a fuller union of our citizens. Fifty years later it had ossified into the appearance of an eternal racial contract, a model replicated at every level of national life. The election results plunged this model, and the regime built upon it, into crisis.

The people are often ahead of their government. They are interested in more things than identity politics. Unable to respond to the reality that the BN formula is broken and the people want more than ethno-religious politics, the ruling party appears to be reacting by digging itself deeper into narrow racial causes with no future in them. This desperate response is self-defeating in a cumulative way. As Umno is rejected by the voters, party members pursue racial issues more stridently. They think this will shore up their “base”. They are mistaken about the nature of that base. As they do so, they become more extreme and out of touch with ordinary voters of every race and religion whose major concerns are not racial or religious identity but matters such as corruption, security, the economy and education.

Umno’s position in the present controversy over the use of the term “Allah” by non-Muslims is an example. In a milestone moment, PAS, the Islamic party, is holding onto the more plural and moderate position while Umno is digging itself into an intolerant hardline position that has no parallel that I know of in the Muslim world. Umno is fanning communal sentiment, and the government it leads is taking up policy lines based on “sensitivities” rather than principle. The issue appears to be more about racial sentiment than religious, let alone constitutional principles.

In a complex multiracial society a party and a government whose primary response to a public issue is sunk in the elastic goo of “sensitivities” rather than founded on principle, drawn from sentiment rather than from the Constitution, is already short of leadership and moral fibre. Public life is about behaving and choosing on principle rather than sentiment. Islam, in particular, demands that our actions be guided by an absolute commitment to justice for all rather than by looking inward at vague “sensitivities” of particular groups, however politically significant. It is about doing what is right rather than protecting arbitrary feelings. If feelings diverge from what is right and just, then it’s time to show some leadership.

“Sensitivities” is the favoured resort of the gutter politician. With it he raises a mob, fans its resentment and helps it discover a growing list of other sensitivities. This is a road to ruin. A nation is made up of citizens bound by a shared conception of justice and not of mobs extracting satisfaction for politicised emotional states.

As a mark of our decline, at some point in our recent history the government itself began to speak the language of sensitivities. In the controversy over whether Christians are allowed to use the term “Allah” the government talks about managing sentiment when it should be talking about what is the right thing to do. This is what government sounds like when a political system and its leadership have come unstuck from the rule of law. It goes from issue to issue, hostage to the brinksmanship of sensitivities. Small matters threaten to erupt into racial conflict. The government of a multiracial society that cannot rise above sentiment is clearly too weak or too self-interested to hold the country together. It has lost credibility and legitimacy. The regime is in crisis.

The deterioration of our political order did not happen overnight or in isolation. It is part of a more general pattern of the decline of democracy and the rule of law in many newer democracies. Many post-colonial societies that began with democratic institutions saw democracy collapse afterwards into dictatorship. I can think of Nigeria, Pakistan and Kenya, for example. What has not been said is that underneath the appearance of continuity, and over two decades, Malaysia has quietly undergone the same process. There has been, beneath the surface, a decisive rupture with the federal, constitutional and democratic system upon which we were founded, and which alone confers legitimacy. What replaced it was an authoritarianism based on personality. Policy was set according to personal whims of the leader, which is to say that in areas such as the economy and foreign affairs, the country was run according to the personal enthusiasms and pet peeves of individual leaders.

Power was consolidated and constitutional government turned back. The result was a recession to authoritarianism and the centralisation of power, abetted by the corruption of the ruling party. The ideology of the ruling party, which had combined Malay nationalism with an overriding national concern, was vulgarised into an easily manipulated politics of group resentment.

Umno started in 1946 as a grassroots-based party that commanded the idealism of my generation. After 1987 it was transformed into a top-down patronage machine. Party membership became a ticket to personal gain. The party attracted opportunists and ne’er do wells while good people stayed away in droves. For any organisation this is a death spiral.

The challenge of Umno and of Malaysia today is not simply reform but restoration, not simply democratisation but re-democratisation. This is because we are not building from scratch but trying to recover from the decline of once-excellent core institutions.

There are regional implications to Malaysia’s crisis. The formation of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963 precipitated a regional conflict to which, in part, the formation of Asean in 1967 was meant to be a solution. Now in a clear sign of the erosion of the rule of law, agreements that structured state-federal relations over matters such as the distribution of the petroleum revenue are casually ignored. Malaysia is a federation of sovereign entities, but one of the consequences of authoritarianism has been that it has come to be run habitually as a unitary state. We have to learn again how to be a federation.

Let me try to draw some conclusions:

Shortcuts in governance may appear to work for awhile, but they wreak long-term havoc on the institutional capability of a nation. Short-term boosts to the economy are difficult to evaluate when 40 per cent of the national budget come from a single source which does not report financial details either to the public or to Parliament.

What is clear is that there is no secure basis for long-term growth without a return to strong institutions, transparency and good government. The challenges of economic development, nation-building and institutional integrity are linked, more so in a complex country like Malaysia.

The success of Asean collaborative measures depends on the core countries taking a lead, and it is in everyone’s interest that these countries have strong democratic institutions and the rule of law. When countries lack good governance and transparency, domestic economies falter, domestic politics goes from crisis to crisis, and the country turns inwards and away from engaging constructively with the real world and with their neighbours.

The economic success of Asean economies up to the Nineties was based in part on the superiority of their institutional frameworks to those of Eastern Europe and South America. In the early days, Malaysia and Singapore played leading roles in Asean. Of late, Malaysia’s role has diminished, while that of Indonesia has grown. It is no accident that this is the result of successful reform and democratisation in Indonesia and the failure so far of any such process in Malaysia. Over the longer term, reform and democratisation must go hand in hand for there to be sustained economic development.

The present Prime Minister has made some helpful gestures towards liberalising the economy and pursuing more multiracial policies. These initiatives, however, must do more than skim the surface of what must be done. Malaysia is in need of fundamental reform. The reforms we need include, at minimum:

a. An overhaul of the party system which rules out racially exclusive parties from facing directly contesting elections. This will inaugurate a new era of post-racial politics.

b. The restoration of the independence of the judiciary and the freedom of the media.

c. An all-out war on corruption, the root of all the evils in nation-building and economic development.

The greater economic collaboration we aspire to in Asean requires that we pay attention to the internal conditions in each country that make it possible. We need to place the promotion of governance and institutional reform on the Asean agenda. I hope this is a matter you see fit to take up.

*Speech delivered by at the ISEAS Regional Outlook Forum 2010 at the Shangri-la Hotel, Singapore on Jan 7.

THE ROYAL COMMISSION

1. The Government has announced that it will not set up a Royal Commission to investigate my losing 100 billion Ringgit of Government money and what happened to the RM270 billion received by the previous Government from Petronas.

2. Now I cannot clear my name nor can Abdullah clear his name. Barry Wain must be very happy. He can go on libelling everyone he likes and nothing will happen to him.

3. Yet when I repeated to the Press the judgement made by the court on Anwar's case I got sued by Anwar for 100 million Ringgit. It is now more than three years and the case is still not settled.

4. Up till now the Government has not released Barry Wain's book. I have read a proof copy and I think it is good for the public to read it. In fact it should be translated into Malay. It would be good to know what he thinks of Malaysia, the Malays, UMNO and of course the great dictator i.e. me.

5. There is no country more rotten, no race more racist, no party more corrupt than Malaysia, the Malays and UMNO. And of course there is no PM more abusive of his authority than the PM of Malaysia of 22 years. Really Malaysia should revert to being a British colony again.

“Qur’an: Muslims and Christians worship same God”

By Ding Jo-Ann
thenutgraph.com

(Pic by Lorna / Dreamstime) PETALING JAYA, 6 Jan 2010: An American-based Islamic society has commended the 31 Dec 2009 High Court judgement that lifted the ban on the use of "Allah" by Catholic paper Herald.

The Islamic Society of North America (Isna) said the Qur'an was explicit that Muslims worshipped the same God as Christians.

"The Qur'an commands Muslims to declare that the God they worship and the one worshipped by the followers of revealed books, including Christians, is one," Isna said in a 4 Jan statement.

It cited the Qur'an (29:46): "... and say [to the followers of the Abrahamic faiths]: 'We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you, and our God and your God is One, and to Him do we submit.'"

"We urge Muslim non-governmental organisations to respect Islamic teachings and long-held Islamic traditions, and to withdraw their opposition to the use of the word 'Allah' by their Christian compatriots," Isna said.

Isna disagreed with the argument that non-Muslim Malaysians usually translate God as "Tuhan" in Bahasa Malaysia, not "Allah". "This argument is contrary to both Islamic understanding and practice," said Isna.

"Christian Arabs have been using the word 'Allah' to refer to God in their religious sources since the inception of Islam, and have never been challenged by private Muslims or Muslim governments on this ground," it added.

It said Islamic law was clear that Christians have the right to practise their religion according to their own religious teachings.

Isna is an association of Muslim organisations and individuals that has been operating in the US and Canada for more than 40 years.

Today, the High Court granted a stay of its decision pending the Home Ministry's appeal of the lifting of the ban.

In the meantime, protests are reportedly being organised after Friday prayers on 8 Jan by Malaysian Muslim organisations to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the High Court ruling.

Malay-language newspapers have also been criticising the High Court ruling while Malaysian cabinet members, notably Muslim ministers from Umno, have been appealing for "calm", saying the matter was "sensitive".

Kenyataan Akhbar Pimpinan Tertinggi Pakatan Rakyat

–8 JANUARI 2010–

Kami mengutuk tindakan pihak tertentu yang menyerang 3 gereja di sekitar Lembah Klang awal pagi tadi. Serangan tersebut adalah satu perbuatan yang dikecam semua agama dan peradaban.

Perbuatan seperti itu tiada tempat dalam mana-mana negara pun di atas dunia ini. Kami percaya ianya berpunca dari politik amarah yang sempit, ditambah dengan unsur provokasi jahat yang semakin menular dan runtuhnya rasa saling hormat menghormati dalam negara kita yang tercinta ini. Setiap rakyat dalam negara ini, tanpa mengira agama, kaum, keturunan dan etnik seharusnya dapat menikmati keamanan spiritual dan fizikal mereka. Seharusnya sebarang perbezaan pendapat dan pandangan tidak terus dilebarkan. Kami yakin sebarang perselisihan dapat diselesaikan dengan menumpukan usaha untuk membawa semua pihak ke meja rundingan.

Oleh yang demikian, seluruh kepimpinan Pakatan Rakyat dengan tegas meminta supaya individu atau mana-mana kumpulan yang menyebarkan api kebencian dan kekerasan sebegini agar dihukum dengan setimpalnya.

YB DATO SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM
Ketua Pembangkang Parlimen Malaysia
Ketua Umum PKR

YAB LIM GUAN ENG
Setiausaha Agung DAP

YB DATO’ SERI TUAN GURU HAJI ABDUL HADI AWANG
Presiden PAS

Press Release: Malaysian Bar deplores violence against places of worship

The Malaysian Bar unequivocally denounces all displays of violence and bigotry against any faith, including its believers and places of worship. The reported attacks against at least three churches is deplorable and, along with other assaults in recent times that exhibit intolerance, demonstrate an very negative and worrying trend towards extreme disrespect and prejudice.

Such behaviour is shocking and offensive. Right-minded Malaysians must condemn it as indecent and unacceptable.

We remain firm in our view that the most effective and progressive way of resolving disputes is to promote dialogue and an understanding of dissenting views amongst all the parties involved, regardless of how complex the issue is. Any reactionary behaviour that encourages any form of disorder must be censured in the strongest terms.

We call on the law enforcement agencies to take immediate steps to investigate these incidents thoroughly and to prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law.

As we enter another new year, let us learn to grapple with challenging issues together, and not sow seeds of discord and divisiveness amongst ourselves.


Ragunath Kesavan
President
Malaysian Bar

8 January 2010

The “Allah” protest: The 2Faces of 1Malaysia

Loyar Burok
By Amer Hamzah Arshad

This post is reproduced from here.

8 January, 2010

The Prime Minister and Home Minister are taken to task for their blatant, shameless political opportunism in allowing Muslim groups to protest at the Kampung Baru mosque over the High Court?s ruling of the usage of the word ‘Allah’ without applying for a police permit.

If we looked up the definition of ‘hypocrisy’ in the ‘1Malaysia Dictionary’, one will undoubtedly find references to UMNO, in particular the statement by the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein over a public demonstration planned by Muslim groups on Friday, 8 October 2010 at the Kampung Baru mosque over the High Court’s ruling of the usage of the word ‘Allah’ by non-muslims (’the High Court decision’).

According to Bernama and Malaysian Insider on 6 January 2010, the Home Minister announced that the Home Ministry will allow the said public demonstration to proceed. On 7 January 2010, the Home Minister backtracked and said it was up to police to handle the matter. This raises the question of whether this Minister knows what he is talking about, but let’s just pretend he does for the time being. We’re all doing it already anyway.

Then it was reported in Malaysiakini on 7 January 2010 that the Malaysians saviour a.k.a. the Prime Minister, Najib Abdul Razak said that the government cannot stop people from gathering at mosques on 8 January 2010 to protest against the High Court decision. The saviour then banked on hope, instead of his battalion of FRU trucks, police and special branch officers that used to regularly provoke, break up and brutally put down all those other non-BN gatherings, that there would be “minimal” protests tomorrow by the Islamist protesters so that tensions in the country do not escalate. The saviour has expressed a desire that the matter be ‘resolved’ through the courts, whatever that is supposed to mean.

‘Resolution’ by the saviour’s definition seems to mean an illusory win in the High Court (which will always be stayed by a Court; hence ‘illusory’) before its decision is ‘rectified’ by the Court of Appeal and then confirmed by the Federal Court. As someone who believes in human rights, freedom of assembly and free speech, I would ordinary agree with such a demonstration though I may disagree with their views. So long as the demonstration is peaceful and no animals are harmed in the process, it should be allowed to proceed even though there is no permit issued by the police for such a gathering pursuant to section 27(5) of the Police Act 1984.

However, what I find totally repulsive and unacceptable is the hypocrisy of the Prime Minister and Home Minister in giving preferential treatment to those who will be demonstrating on Friday. It is not a secret that in the past when other organizations or political parties were having peaceful demonstrations or rallies over issues which are not agreeable with the powers that be, swift and brutal action would be taken against them. Protesters would be dragged, beaten (or in some cases, ‘bitten’), kicked, humiliated and arrested in a abusive disrespectful manner before they were ‘persecuted’ in Court. In fact, often before the event the police would issue press statements that the organizers must apply for a permit failing which it would be an illegal assembly. That is why I find the hypocrisy so repulsive because the police have always stopped others from gathering; they have trucks, special branch, FRU, water cannons laced with chemicals, police officers, in short the entire machinery of state to prevent gatherings.

Let me to remind the government how they have treated Malaysians demonstrating over issues which the government found disagreeable. In 2007, we had the Bersih and Hindraf rallies. They were not given any preferential treatment. Instead, the government sent the Police Light Strike Force as the welcome party and FRU water cannons as their ‘door gift’. ‘Then, on 9 December 2007, the human rights day procession was disrupted by the usual battalion of police. Several participants (yours truly included) were arrested for merely participating in a peaceful procession to celebrate human rights and freedom of expression.

Those previous demonstrations and arrests received wide coverage. When the participants of these demonstrations were charged in Court, the ‘illustrious’ Attorney General’issimo’ a.k.a. Public ‘Persecutor’ of Malaysia himself appeared in court to proffer charges and oppose bail. We know he is a ‘small fry‘ who doesn’t have much to do but still! The whole idea was apparently to send a strong message to the public that the government of the day does not condone any form of peaceful demonstration.

Therefore, now that the Prime Minister and Home Minister now seem to give the impression that the protestors should be allowed to demonstrate, I am unable to accept the hypocrisy of the government. Just because the protest relates to Malay and/or Muslim issues, they are shameless taking advantage of this by allowing them to assemble illegally (going by the previous police reported statements) and to try and show that they identify with them on the issues. In short, blatant, shameless political opportunism.

Welcome everybody.

Welcome to 2Faced 1Malaysia.

Church arson attacks: Cooler heads must prevail

2033: We round off this dark day with a statement just released by the Aliran exco: ‘Bigotry in the name of Allah’.

The silver lining in all this is that the crowds at the various protests were not as large as many had feared, and the vast majority of Malaysians simply walked away and refused to join in. Many others issued statements and comments condemning this lapse into momentary madness. Therein lies a glimmer of hope for a better Malaysia that many of us believe is possible.

Another bright light can be seen over here, where blogger Dr Rafick, a Muslim, has initiated a donation drive to raise funds to repair the Metro Tabernacle Church.

1928: IGP Musa Hasan denied reports that a fourth church was attacked, according to the Insider. He said three demonstrations were held in Kuala Lumpur, two in Pahang, four in Selangor and one in Terengganu and they ended within 15 minutes. He urged the public not to believe rumours spread by SMS and over the Internet.

1853: Only 25 people protested at the Kampong Baru mosque this afternoon, according to one eye-witness. A Malaysian Insider twitter update put the figure at 20.

1829: St Francis Xavier’s Catholic Church in PJ will be holding an all-night vigil to pray for peace in the country. The prayers will begin at 8.00pm and go on throughout the night until the 6.15am Mass.

1805: Anwar Ibrahim, speaking on mainland Penang, has sharply criticised the Home Ministry and Umno for their poor handling of the issue. He said they should have initiated a dialogue between the Herald and Islamic groups to discuss the issue, according to a journalist.

1800: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng visited the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Penang this evening. Blog reader SamG reports from the Cathedral:

CM reiterated the key message of keeping calm and not to get carried away. Also reported that he had had a meeting with the CPO who had assured all Penangites that they will provide additional security. No demonstrations were reported in Penang as per the briefing by the Special Branch Head who was also present.

1750: Aliran’s Dr Mustafa K Anuar has issued a statement here condemning the attacks.

1650: A fourth church in Kg Subang is said to have been targeted, according to the Insider. But I am unable to obtain further confirmation/verification from church sources. Most press reports say only three churches were targeted.

1450: Najib has condemned the attacks and those reponsible because “this will destroy the harmony of the country”, reports the Insider, which also updates via Twitter:

• Kg Baru mosque protest finishes. 7 minutes ago
• National Mosque protest finishes in 15 minutes, speaker appeals to Catholics to bring matters regarding Islam to Syariah Court. 9 minutes ago
• Earlier in Kg Baru, a group of Muslims urged others not to join the protesters, called them fanatics & accused them of church arson
• A group of 300, mostly from Perkasa, gathered in front of National Mosque to shout “Allahu Akbar”. The rest have walked away.

1430: The crowd disperses as usual after Friday prayers at USM in Penang.

Over in KL, church lawyer Annou Xavier appears satisfied with police co-operation in beefing up security around key churches.

1350: The Friday sermon, heard over the USM mosque loud-speakers in Penang, questions the Herald’s use of the term Allah. A similar sermon was screened on TV1, says one viewer.

1239: Selangor Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim has asked police to be at all churches. “Police will deploy officers and are cooperating with us,” a church lawyer informs me.

Meanwhile, the FRU have been spotted in Kelana Jaya heading for the Federal Highway, according to an eye-witness.

1237: “I think (what has happened) is very, very unfortunate. This is exactly what we do not want to happen,” says Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, deputy president of Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM).

“As good religious people, we know that each religion stresses tolerance and respect for one another’s practices. We should let the court process go on but at the same time we should calm our people, Muslims and non-Muslims, to ensure we always act in the interests of all and the country.”

“I think the word ‘Allah’ is something which is mulia, to be respected by all. Allah represents God for all. In other words, the use of the phrase should be done in a tactful and respectful manner without any bad intent.”

1152: An attempted attack at the Life Chapel in Section 17. A molotov cocktail again. No real damage. “It’s the same modus operandi,” says Rev Hermen Shastri, the General Secretary of the Council of Churches of Malaysia. “There is a pattern.”

Church reps want the police to station personnel at all churches in the capital, whether Catholic or Protestant.

Selangor Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim is with a church lawyer at the Assumption Church.

1127: Some 21 police personnel along with a forensics team are at the Assumption Church along Jalan Templar to inspect the failed arson attack. They have assured church reps that there would be more police patrols around churches.

Selangor Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim is said to be on the way to visit the church.

The Metro Tabernacle Church after the arson attack - Photo via iron

1000: Woke up this morning to text messages on the fire-bombing at the Metro Tabernacle Church in Desa Melawati and the failed kerosene attack on the Assumption Church in Jalan Templar.

The world of Twitter is abuzz with messages expressing outrage.

This could be a long day. A few elements are obviously out there bent on stirring trouble. It is important for political and religious leaders from across the spectrum to condemn such attacks. Thus far, the political leadership of this country on this issue has not been inspiring, to put it mildly.

I am sure Malaysians of all spiritual faiths and those of goodwill will abhor attacks on any place of worship.

In the face of some trepidation ahead of expected protests, let’s look to the young for some hope for the future. This is an excerpt from a Malaysiakini report:

In a show of solidarity, Muslim and Christian students in Universiti Malaya (yesterday) came out with a consensus over the ‘Allah’ row.

In a statement, PMIUM (UM Association of Muslim Students) and PKVUM (UM Varsity Christian’s Association), the umbrella organisations that represent students of the respective religions, said the two groups had reached an understanding over the matter.

PMIUM president Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin and PKVUM president Benjamin Ong both signed the statement listing down the guidelines that they have agreed upon:

• That dialogue and discourse is the best and respectable way to handle the issue.

• That proper education to the adherents of the different faiths must be given in order to ensure the proper understanding of tenets of each religion.

• The legal system is not the only proper way to solve the issue, especially when it is open to manipulation by certain parties.

• Religious institutions and leaders must take the proactive step of meeting and engaging in discourse in order to promote greater understanding among the different faiths.

They reminded all parties not to manipulate the issue and condemned those who use it to provoke public sentiments.

The public must use discretion and proper education to avoid prejudice towards the followers of other religion.

Diseksa dalam tahanan polis

Isaimani membuat laporan polis

KUALA LUMPUR, 7 Januari - Ditahan untuk kesalahan yang tidak dibuat, Isaimani (27 tahun) pemandu teksi limousin telah mengalami tekanan mental setelah dipukul dan diseksa semasa berada dalam tahanan polis. Menurut Isaimani pada 6hb Disember lalu selepas seorang gadis daripada pertalian saudara dengan sengaja telah membuat aduan palsu terhadapnya. Akibat menafikan aduan yang disabitkan ke atasnya dia telah menjadi mangsa penyeksaan polis. Malah dia berkata bahawa dia telah dilapor mencuri di rumah gadis tersebut. Walaupun Isaimani telah menafikan aduannya dia tetap dipukul dan yang lebih menyedihkan lagi adalah polis telah menangkap gambarnya secara bogel. Isaimani yang telah ditangkap pada waktu pagi telah dipukul secara berturusan sampai pukul 4 petang. Dan dia yang merana kelaparan tidak diberi makanan.

Selepas itu mereka telah membawanya ke Ibu Pejabat Seremban dan seorang anggota polis telah memukulnya di muka serta beberapa anggota lain yang bertugas di situ telah memukulnya. Dia telah dibawa ke mahkamah pada 7hb Disember dan telah diperintahkan supaya ditahan selama 4 hari. Lepas itu seorang anggota polis telah mengambil keterangan dan telah memberitahunya bahawa aduan yang dibuat ke atasnya adalah palsu. Jadi Isaimani dibawa ke mahkamah buat kali kedua pada 10hb dan diperintahkan supaya ditahan 6 hari lagi. Sebelum dibawa ke mahkamah polis telah memberi amaran supaya tidak beritahu apa-apa di depan Majistret.

Najib angrily denies Umno raising tension in ‘Allah’ issue

By Neville Spykerman - The Malaysian Insider

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 8 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today strongly denied Umno should be blamed for raising the mercury in the “Allah” issue which climaxed with today’s attacks on three churches.

“Don’t point the fingers at Umno or anyone else. We have always been very responsible. Don’t say this attack is motivated by Umno,” said Najib, who was clearly unhappy when asked if politicians especially from Umno should be blamed for fanning the flames.

The Metro Tabernacle church in Kuala Lumpur was firebombed at midnight and Live Chapel in Section 17, Petaling Jaya was attacked with a Molotov cocktail, causing some damage.

Another Molotov cocktail failed to explode in the Church of Assumption in Petaling Jaya at 4am.

Police have tightened security at all churches nationwide while bracing for protests by Muslim groups against the Dec 31 High Court ruling allowing Catholic weekly Herald to use “Allah” in its Bahasa Malaysia section.

Najib also disclosed that there have been two incidents and one threat reported thus far.

“I condemn the attacks and those responsible because this will destroy the harmony of the country,” the prime minister said.

He pointed out that the country's multiracial and multi-religious identity should not be threatened and the government will take all possible action to stop such attacks, adding he has directed Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan and Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to step up security around churches.

He urged the public not to take the law into their own hands and use the right channels to express their concerns.

Both Najib and Hishammuddin had over the past two days said that Muslims had a right to protest the “Allah” ruling within mosque compounds despite fears it might escalate tension in the country.

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said top political party leaders should take a common stand to condemn the spate of church attacks in the wake of the “Allah” controversy and ensure that there is no further escalation.

"What many Malaysians had feared would happen and which the Prime Minister and Home Minister had discounted with their far-from-responsible stances — the exploitation of the ‘Allah’ controversy by irresponsible and extremist elements — have unfortunately come to pass," the Ipoh Timur MP said in a statement.

He said Najib "should immediately impress on Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to take all urgent and necessary measures to protect the good name of the country or be held responsible for any undesirable consequences".

Got a great travel photo? Can it win this photo contest?

"In just nine months, Najib’s 1 Malaysia slogan is facing its most critical test as its very credibility is at stake.

"Malaysia also cannot afford further adverse international publicity over the 'Allah' controversy, which would only aggravate Malaysia’s declining international competitiveness if there is escalation of deplorable incidents by irresponsible and extremist elements like the spate of church attacks," Lim added.

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang condemned the “terrorising” fire bombings against the Metro Tabernacle Church and Church of Assumption.

Saying Islam allowed for freedom of worship, he said the actions went against its teachings and were committed by those who don’t understand their own religion.

“PAS members and supporters throughout the country and the people must always remember to be calm and not be influenced by the provocative actions of certain quarters,” Abdul Hadi said in a statement.

IGP confirms three churches hit

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 — Police are urging for calm as they secure churches nationwide, after three were attacked with firebombs in separate pre-dawn incidents in the Klang Valley, which have been linked to protests against the recent “Allah” ruling.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan confirmed the attacks, saying the first attack was by motorcyclists who threw a helmet filled with flammable liquid at the Metro Tabernacle Church in Desa Melawati, causing a fire that burned books and chairs near here, at midnight. Its administrative office was gutted in the attack.

He confirmed that they have identified one suspect who was seen by a guard at the church, which is part of the Assemblies of God.

“This is not a well-planned, coordinated attack so people should not be scared,” he told reporters at Bukit Aman here.

The second attack was at about 4am at the Church of Assumption in Petaling Jaya, where a Molotov cocktail thrown by a motorcyclist failed to break and explode. There were several Catholics attending a prayer session at the time, police added.

The third incident took place at the Life Chapel Church in Section 17, Petaling Jaya at 9am, where two Molotov cocktails, also thrown by a motorcyclist, exploded to blacken the walls of the porch and upper-storey window of the two-storey church building.

Musa also confirmed that he has a received a phone call from an undisclosed church saying there have been threats against them.

The national police chief had directed his men to be alert nationwide and all patrol teams to monitor churches since 6pm yesterday.

“I advise all the churches to make police reports if they receive any threats or they can contact me directly at 019-282-3701,” Musa said.

Musa said that the motives of the attack are still unknown. Police forensic teams and fire investigators have swung into action searching for clues in the three attacks.

The top cop also warned the demonstrators that the police will take the necessary action and every means to ensure national security including using the Internal Security Act (ISA) to dampen rising tension in the country.

"I will do whatever is needed to ensure that the country is safe," he promised.

He reiterated that the demonstrations being planned after Friday prayers today were illegal as no permits have been issued.

"I have told all of my officers to monitor all the mosques in the country, especially those that will have the demonstrations," he said.

He said that every individual, including those writing blogs including updates in the social networking website Facebook, will be investigated for sedition if they flamed sentiments and encouraged people to break the law.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein also condemned the attacks.

"I am assuring not only minorities but all Malaysians that they are safe. The issue of race and religion is always sensitive and it is not something new to Malaysia.

"We saw the signs, signals, warning after the court made its decision. We have been monitoring the situation," he said.

He added that the government has always and will engage with religious leaders in the country which is in line with the prime minister's vision of 1 Malaysia.

Hishamuddin again denied he and the PM had condoned the planned demonstrations.

"We never said that the demonstration could go on, do not put words in my mouth," he said. Hishammuddin and Najib, who are cousins, have said over the past few days that Muslim groups have a right to express their feelings about the “Allah” ruling but they should not break the law.

Hishammauddin also laughed off allegations made by Pakatan Rakyat that the Umno-led government should take responsibility for the spate of church attacks.

"If they want to blame us for the attacks, then the Pakatan Selangor government should take responsibility (because all the attacks happened in the state)," he said.

Security tightened as politicians condemn church attacks

Police and firemen outside the gutted Metro Tabernacle church.

UPDATED

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 — Police said they have stepped up security at all churches nationwide after one was firebombed and a failed attack on another church in the early hours of today amid a row over the use of the word “Allah” for the Christian God. Authorities are also bracing for nationwide protests by angry Muslim groups after Friday prayers.

The attack on the Metro Tabernacle church, part of a Pentecostal group called The Assemblies of God, gutted its administrative office on the ground floor. A Catholic church in Petaling Jaya also came under attack but the homemade device failed to explode. Police have yet to confirm reports of other churches being attacked.

"Since last night, I have instructed all patrol cars to patrol all church areas. We are monitoring all churches," Tan Sri Musa Hassan, Inspector-General of Police, told Reuters.

Former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the two attacks were very disappointing, adding the police and society must take joint responsibility to ensure the incidents do not recur and affect the stability and security of the country.

"As Malaysians, we have to protect and ensure the freedom of worship as enacted in the Federal Constitution. We must always ensure harmony and good relations between races and those of different faiths," he said in a statement.

Both Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub have condemned the attacks.

"Despicable and cowardly. This is not my Malaysia," Khairy tweeted in his Twitter account before visiting the firebombed church in the leafy Desa Melawati suburb.

In a statement issued later, Khairy said the Barisan Nasional Youth strongly condemned the arson at the Metro Tabernacle church.

"Whatever feelings anyone has over the issue of 'Allah' being used by the Herald, the act of destroying a house of worship like this one last night cannot be defended.

"If there are Muslims who are responsible for this incident, they should be ashamed and repent their action as Islam itself asks its followers to respect the freedom of religion of non-Muslims," Khairy said.

Speaking to reporters outside the Metro Tabernacle church, Khairy said the organised protest by Muslim groups will only worsen an already intense situation following the arson.

He said though he personally backs the groups' right to express themselves, last night's arson attack has altered and exacerbated the situation further and pushed the “climate to the edge”.

Khairy also denied that the Barisan Nasional government was to be blamed for the current tension between Christians and Muslims while shrugging off accusations that Umno Youth was involved in the attack.

"We strongly condemn this attack," Salahuddin told The Malaysian Insider.

The Kubang Kerian MP said Islam does not allow its faithful to destroy houses of worship belonging to non-Muslims. "Even during war, those who seek sanctuary in houses of worship cannot be killed or the buildings itself destroyed."

Datuk Marina Mahathir, daughter of former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, also condemned the attacks as unIslamic.

"I think what is most important on issues like this is the need for a leadership that is strong, unequivocal in telling how Malaysians particularly Muslims on how to behave," she said.

"The way we behave and what we say reflects our religion... we are supposed to behave kindly, speak gently as Muslims, that is what are called upon to," said a visibly upset Marina.

Albeit subtly, Marina seemed to point towards the Najib administration for the rising religious tension and questioned the absence of quality leadership in tackling the issue.

Marina, a social activist, said the attacks on the churches may be a result of anger caused by the court ruling but lambasted such sentiment as a contradiction to Islamic teachings of acceptance and peace.

A court ruling last week allowing Catholic newspaper the Herald to use "Allah" for the Christian God has been appealed by the government of the mainly Muslim nation of 28 million people.

The issue has threatened relations between the majority Malay Muslim population and the minority ethnic Chinese and Indian populations who practise a range of religions including Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism. Christians — including about 800,000 Catholics — make up about 9 per cent of Malaysia's population. Malays, who account for around 60 per cent of the population, are by definition Muslims and are not allowed to convert.

Dominant Muslim groups are set to protest today against the ruling in the capital Kuala Lumpur and elsewhere in the country despite police warnings not to proceed.

"I have advised them to let this be handled by the court. I will take action against anyone who acts to jeopardise national security," said Musa.

Last night, the government's judiciary website was reportedly hacked amid growing anger over the court ruling.

Online news website The Malaysian Insider captured a screen shot of the defaced website which contained the warning "Allah only restricted to Muslim only".

Many churches in Malaysia are situated in residential or retail areas and often occupy a small lot.

"It is confirmed that Desa Melawati church was burnt, at about 12.25 in the morning. There were no fatalities. We are investigating the incident and suspect foul play," said Kuala Lumpur Chief Police Officer Mohammad Sabtu Osman.

According to 2007 statistics, there are 333 Assembly of God churches in Malaysia.

"There are witness reports two persons on a motorbike came near the entrance and hurled in something looking like a petrol bomb. Our church is 90 per cent gutted (on the first floor)," said church spokesman Kevin Ang from the Metro Tabernacle church.

It is illegal for non-Muslims to proselytise to Muslims although freedom of worship for the mainly Buddhist, Christian and Hindu religious minorities who make up 40 per cent of the population is guaranteed under the country's constitution.

Malaysia was rated as having "very high" government restrictions on religion in a recent survey by the Pew Forum, bracketing it with the likes of Iran and Egypt and it was the 9th most restrictive of 198 countries.

The use of "Allah" has been common among non-English-speaking Malaysian Christians in the Borneo island states of Sabah and Sarawak for decades and without any incident.

Meanwhile, some Catholic churches in the Klang Valley are reported to have cancelled masses today.

Pakatan wants Umno to take responsibility for church attacks

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani- The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 — Datuk Zaid Ibrahim today condemned Umno and urged the government to take full responsibility for the church attacks.

“It has to take full responsibility for the worsening of relations between people of different faiths in this country in its handling of the use of the word Allah.

"The irresponsible conduct of fanning the emotions by Umno leaders has brought about this dangerous situation. What we see today confirms that this country is being governed not by engagement consultation, sophistication or persuasion but by brute and mob force,” he said in a press statement.

Early this morning, a Protestant church was torched while homemade explosives were thrown at a Catholic church next to the Assunta Hospital.

“The Umno-led government has the penchant to use force or flexing of authority in dealing with delicate issues. Take the case of the ban imposed on the Herald. They could easily have engaged in consultation with the church in Sabah and Sarawak. They should try to understand why the need to use the word Allah without any preconceived notions or prejudice. After all, they have been using the word Allah for many years before BN government acted to ban the Herald.

"They could easily have also engaged in discussions with the various Muslim groups about their legitimate concerns on whether the church are surreptitiously converting Muslims and explore ways to address these concerns in spirit of dialogue and peaceful deliberations,” he said.

He explained that there are already laws against converting Muslims but Umno instead chose to politicise the sensitive issue.

“There is already a law against converting Muslims anyway. They could have done a lot more. But because of their lack of maturity and sophistication banning is the obvious choice.

“They want instant popularity so fanning the emotions of Muslims becomes legitimate... and when the court ruled otherwise they then fan the Muslims to oppose the ruling. The people of this country will not escape the scourge of Umno-led rule until they decide once and for all to dislodge this government in the next available opportunity.”

PAS has also reminded and warned its members not to engage in any demonstrations organised in the Kampung Baru Mosque, Shah Alam Mosque and the National Mosque after Friday prayers.

The protest is being orchestrated by several Muslim NGOs in retaliation against the High Court's ruling on Dec 31 allowing the Catholic Church to use the word "Allah" in its weekly publication the Herald.

PAS vice-president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had said that the demonstration on the use of the word “Allah” is Umno’s position and not the party’s.

"We call on all members of PAS in order not to be dragged in the same demonstration sponsored by Umno," he told party’s newspaper.

PAS backs the use of the word Allah by Catholics because it is consistent with the federal Constitution and Islamic principles.

Tuan Ibrahim instead asked the members to join the protest against the Egyptian government's unjust action that prevents entry of the Viva Palestina convoy to Gaza from the country.

The demonstration organised by PAS Youth and other NGOs are expected to protest in front of the Egyptian Embassy after Friday prayers.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has also defended his government’s decision to allow angry Muslim groups to hold a nationwide protest against the “Allah” ruling, saying they have every right to do so.

However, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan yesterday warned that action will taken against groups planning to stage protest rallies against the use of the word “Allah”.

Malaysians brace for “Allah” demo

KUALA LUMPUR: At least two churches were attacked and the judiciary website hacked as Malaysians brace for nationwide protests around noon today against a court ruling on the use of the term “Allah” by Catholic newspaper Herald.

Although police have issued warnings and several Umno leaders, who initially gave tacit approval for the protests organised by Muslim NGOs, have back tracked from their aggressive stand, many Malaysians fear the demonstrations could turn ugly.

Pakatan Rakyat leaders, including Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, have urged their supporters to stay away from the demonstrations compared to what Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein have been uttering.

Several church leaders have been calling up their media contacts to find out more details about Thursday’s attack the Metro Tabernacle Church in Desa Melawati as rumours swirled that several other churches were burned.

According to local and foreign media reports, the attack on the Tabernacle church in Kuala Lumpur and the Assumption Church in Petaling Jaya occurred this morning.

The first storey of the building housing the church was firebombed by a group of motorcyclists.

“It is confirmed that Desa Melawati church was burnt, at about 12.25 am in the morning. There were no fatalities. We are investigating the incident and suspect foul play,” said Kuala Lumpur Chief Police Officer Mohammad Sabtu Osman.

It was believed the group of youths on motorcycles rode up to the church, smashed the glass panels on the ground floor of the three-storey building and later threw some materials into the building that started a fire.

Church lay leader Rtd Major Peter Yeow, 62, said witnesses were not near enough to get a closer look at the youths who sped away after the act.

The security guard at the Tabernacle church, 65-year-old V Mariappan, said he had just walked away from the main entrance of the building to use the bathroom when the building erupted in flames.

“When I came back, there was a huge fire inside the church building. There was a few loud explosions like bombs exploding,” he said, adding he saw two motorcycle helmets lying on the road in flames.

The church that was burned was part of a group called “The Assembly of God”. Many churches in Malaysia are situated in residential or retail areas and often occupy a small lot.

The Herald editor Father Lawrence Andrew has warned of a campaign of intimidation including hacker attacks against the weekly’s website, protest plans and widespread criticism in the media over last week’s ruling.

“We believe these actions (are designed) to create a climate of fear and a perceived threat to national security so as to pressure the court in reversing its decision,” he said this week.

More than half of the Catholics in the country are from indigenous groups, most of whom live in Sabah and Sarawak and who mainly speak Bahasa Malaysia.

The hacking of the Malaysian Judiciary’s website was discovered on Thursday night and its homepage substituted with a threat to not pursue the issue of the Catholic weekly the Herald’s use of the word “Allah.”

The hacker, using the handle “Brainwash,” defaced the site with a bright-red headline saying “TakeDown by Brainwash!” and what can only be described as “creative” use of the English language.

Blazed across the page in huge letters was “Mess with the best, die like the rest.”

The hacker also wrote: “Allah only restricted to Muslim only. Dont touch us as we dont touch you. Unless ….”

It was followed by a threatening postscript at the bottom of the page “To the court, Brain know you postponed it but if you wise enough then you should drop it.”

The hacker also posted a picture of a woman, bent over suggestively, apparently “washing” a brain.

Bar Council committee member Edmund Bon has labelled the act as “unwarranted and unacceptable.”

He said hacking and defacing websites was a criminal offence under the Computer Crimes Act 1997.

The comments appear to put undue pressure on the judiciary to decide the case in a certain way and this should not be tolerated in a civil society.

“The Bar Council is all for allowing discussions and criticisms over court decisions so long as they are done in a civil manner. This threat intends to put pressure on the judiciary and it has overstepped the freedom of discussion boundaries,” he said when contacted.

The Herald website has also been hacked three times after the decision by High Court Justice Lau Bee Lan on allowing the word “Allah” to be used in the publication’s Malay-language edition.

Her decision has sparked anger and ire from various Muslim groups. Some groups have even threatened to stage gatherings on Friday to protest against the ruling.

The Home Ministry has appealed the decision and has been granted a stay of execution on Justice Lau’s ruling.

De facto law minister Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz could not be reached for comment as at press time.

"NEP must end"

By Ding Jo-Ann
thenutgraph.com

PARTI Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)'s Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has been very busy for a 27-year-old. At 26, he was the youngest candidate in the 2008 general election, defeating the Umno incumbent in the Seri Setia state seat in Selangor by almost 3,000 votes.

Nik Nazmi is now Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim's political secretary after being Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's political secretary from 2006 to 2008. Nik Nazmi's book Moving Forward: Malays for the 21st Century was recently published and released.

In this first of a two-part interview with The Nut Graph on 22 Dec 2009 in Petaling Jaya, Nik Nazmi shares his views on whether Malay Malaysians are ready to dismantle quotas under the New Economic Policy (NEP), and on how Malaysians can build trust.

TNG: Your book speaks of a gradual dismantling of the principles of the NEP. What would your response be to those who say that quotas for Malay Malaysians in education and business are part of Malay rights and Ketuanan Melayu?

Nik Nazmi: There is a difference between Malay privileges, as stated in Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, and the NEP. Article 153 allows the Yang-di-Pertuan Agong to reserve spaces in education, employment and licences for bumiputera. This was part of the independence negotiations, and I personally don't have problems with that.

The NEP came about after the 13 May riots; it is unrelated to the constitution. It was necessary at the time and has contributed to the development of a Malay [Malaysian] middle class. But if we read history closely, it's clear it was meant to be a temporary compromise — from 1970 to 1990.

Quotas don't help in the long run. It's easy to achieve 30% equity — just put in a law, which they did — but it's not organic or sustainable. Some people get shares at a discounted rate, then just sell it off for a quick buck. How does that help? We need to focus on capacity building ... then there'll be no Ali Baba businesses and all that, because people actually have the capacity to hold on to these things.

What about the argument that people are not ready?

Readiness is always an issue, but we have to look at the challenges. It's a different world today than in 1970. Malaysia is different, there's a Malay [Malaysian] middle-class now. Malaysians can and should compete.

When there is affirmative action based on race as opposed to need, any Malay [Malaysian] can get that benefit. People whom the NEP architects wanted [the policy] to benefit, like farmers and fisher[folk], are not benefiting. Instead, urban Malay [Malaysians] who have the resources benefit. Those who speak English at home, who can afford tuition — they would generally get better grades than the rural Malay [Malaysians].

We need to move away from race-based to needs-based affirmative action, as well as meritocracy. Malay [Malaysians] still make up the bulk of the poor. They would still be the majority of the people who will receive benefits. So Malay [Malaysians] wouldn't lose out. If scholarships should be given to the best, regardless of economic standing, then it should be universal, it must be for all, not for Malay [Malaysians] only.

Do you think there is a fear among Malay Malaysians that they will lose out if the NEP is dismantled?

Yes, there is. If you read Utusan Malaysia and some blogs, they tell a familiar story — that we will become like the Malay Singaporeans. It's like a bogey used to scare small children.

I met with [several Malay and Muslim organisations] and Malay Singaporeans such as The Straits Times journalist Nur Dianah Suhaimi in Singapore [in 2008]. Yes, there are challenges and discrimination. If a Malay [Singaporean] is admitted into the National University of Singapore, people might say, "Oh, the government needs a Malay poster-[person], they're actually not good enough." They may have to work twice as hard to prove themselves but they wear it like a badge of honour. They look at the Malays in Malaysia and wonder, "Why are they still stuck in this discourse? Why are they not moving on?"

I think our world view has been largely shaped by [Tun Dr] Mahathir [Mohamad]'s Malay Dilemma ... [which suggests that] Malay [Malaysians'] genes are somehow inferior compared to non-Malay [Malaysians] who were poor and had to struggle.

There's no truth to that. I don't think Malay [Malaysians] are genetically inferior. There are so many Malays competing internationally, in Dubai, with expatriates from the West, from China. It's a question of opportunities and exposure, it's nothing genetic.

Looking at the statistics, it appears the majority of Malay [Malaysian] voters support the Barisan Nasional (BN), compared with the Pakatan Rakyat. Do you think Malay Malaysian voters would accept these ideas?

When [Datuk Seri] Anwar Ibrahim said in 2006 that we need to shift away from the NEP, even his Chinese [Malaysian] friends said it's a good idea, but bad politics.

Before this, people in Umno, especially, didn't have the courage or conviction to promote this. There are Umno people who say the idea is good, but Malay [Malaysians] won't buy it. I think they won't buy it because the leaders don't have the courage to tell them the truth. Never underestimate the wisdom of the people.

We should be debating [on] how to build better schools, hospitals and public transportation, and better ways to protect the environment, rather than which race benefits or loses out. [All] communities need to play their role. We need to build trust.

How would we go about building trust between different communities?

Take for example, vernacular schools. Yes, it's constitutionally legitimate, but you can't deny there are issues and challenges.

I have advocated for a unity stream school where schoolchildren can learn their own culture, mother tongue and about each other. If these schools can produce better students and provide a space for all Malaysians to intermingle, then these [optional] schools would be attractive [and provide competition for national and vernacular schools].

We could have an anti-discrimination law. But it has to be mutual. Malay [Malaysians] shouldn't be discriminated against in small- and medium-sized industries. Similarly, there should be no discrimination against non-Malay [Malaysians] in government-linked companies and the public sector.

If you could summarise a message from your book for Malay and non-Malay Malaysians, what would it be?

We must know our history, how the NEP provided room to develop, which Malay and non-Malay [Malaysians] benefited from. As the NEP architects implemented a policy for their time, we must also have courage to [implement a new useful, equitable framework within the context of our constitution]. The NEP is not a sacred cow, it's not a divine revelation; it was meant for 20 years [only].

Meritocracy is not bad for Malay [Malaysians]. I'm asking Malay [Malaysians] to be fair ... we have to be consistent.

Non-Malay [Malaysians] need to build goodwill to allow the Malay [Malaysian] community to move on. Issues like vernacular schools, discrimination in the private sector, speaking the national language — these have to be dealt with.

Do you think race is still as big an issue as before?

Our racial identity is still very important to a lot of us. However, I think race is less of a priority now compared to other issues like having a job, staying safe, growing the economy.

People still think racially, but what politicians need to do is to have the courage of conviction and tell the truth. Let's be honest with people, let's not delude them to talk about splitting the pie when it's a shrinking pie. We should instead grow the pie.

Lebur RM 2 Juta Untuk Program ‘UMNO Juara Rakyat’

Dari Erapakatan

Oleh Roziyah Mahamad

Program ‘Umno Juara Rakyat’ menelan lebih RM2 juta bagi meyempurnakan hasrat kerajaan untuk memastikan Umno digelar sebagai juara di mata rakyat. Ini merupakan satu pembaziran yang besar dan merugikan ketika rakyat kini dibebani dengan pelbagai bebanan akibat kenaikan harga barang dan perkhidmatan.

“Dalam keadaan ekonomi yang tidak menentu kerajaan seharusnya berjimat cermat. Program ini dikatakan bersifat nasional, namun perbelanjaan yang besar dikeluarkan untuk menjamin program ini berjaya,” tegas Ketua Cabang PKR Hulu Selangor, Mohd Nashruddin Abdul Aziz.

Menurut Nashruddin lagi, Perdana Menteri dan Timbalannya mewakili program ini bukanlah sebagai pemimpin negara tetapi sebagai pemimpin parti sahaja kerana program ini hanya untuk parti Umno sahaja. Umno menyajikan program yang berbentuk pembaziran dilancarkan ke seluruh negara.

“Hakikatnya rakyat yang berhak menjadi juara sebenar, kerana rakyat merupakan pembayar cukai dan pemangkin kepada ekonomi negara. Tanpa rakyat negara tidak akan ke mana-mana,” jelas Nashuddin.

Tambah Nashruddin , Umno melancarkan program di bulan yang sama ketika isi rumah dibebani dengan kos perbelanjaan anak-anak untuk memulakan sesi persekolahan. Selain itu rakyat juga dibebani dengan kenaikan harga gula sebanyak 20 sen.

Esok, Umno akan melancarkan program Umno Juara Rakyat yang akan dimulakan di Hulu Selangor. Terdahulu, Umno dikatakan mengadakan progam ini pada hari yang sama denagn PAS mengadakan program ‘Umno Pengkianat Rakyat’. Namun program itu telah diawalkan dan diadakan pada 8 Januari ini.

In just 9 months, Najib’s 1Malaysia slogan facing most critical test – all top political party leaders must condemn the spate of church attacks in the

What many Malaysians had feared would happen and which the Prime Minister and Home Minister had discounted with their far-from-responsible stances – the exploitation of the “Allah” controversy by irresponsible and extremist elements – have unfortunately come to pass.

All top political party leaders should take a common stand to condemn in the strongest possible terms the spate of church attacks in the wake of the “Allah” controversy and ensure that there is no further escalation.

As Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak should immediately impress on the Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to take all urgent and necessary measures to protect the good name of the country or be held responsible for any undesirable consequences.

In just nine months, Najib’s 1Malaysia slogan is facing its most critical test as its very credibility is at stake.

Malaysia also cannot afford further adverse international publicity over the “Allah” controversy, which would only aggravate Malaysia’s declining international competitiveness if there is escalation of deplorable incidents by irresponsible and extremist elements like the spate of church attacks.

Bar Council Confident "Allah" Issue Can Be Resolved

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- The Bar Council is confident that the issue over the use of the term "Allah" by a Catholic weekly publication, Herald, can be resolved.

Its president Ragunath Kesavan said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, at their meeting on Thursday, had given the assurance that the issue would be resolved.

"He understands the problem from both sides," he told reporters after the 30-minute meeting at the Finance Ministry here.

Among council leaders present were vice-president Lim Chee Wee and secretary George Varughese.

Meanwhile, he said, the council had also proposed the setting up of the National Legal Aid Foundation to help the needy get access to lawyers.

"Those who cannot afford to hire a lawyer, can seek assistance from the foundation. Based on statistics, about 80 per cent of those who were brought to the court had no lawyers to represent them. This is a high figure," he said.

Ragunath said the prime minister had given assurance that he would look into the matter.

He also said that the first phase of the project, "Perlembagaanku" (My Constitution), was launched two months ago to enhance the understanding among the people on the country's constitution.

Ragunath said they also discussed about the judiciary which, he said, had begun to win confidence among the people.

"I think it is a good start," he said, adding that the council also suggested ways to promote Malaysia as an arbitration and investment centre.

Najib Condemns Those Behind Two InciNajib Condemns Those Behind Two Incidents of Church Arsondents of Church Arson

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak here on Friday condemns those behind the irresponsible acts of two incidents of church arson and orders police to step up checks on all places of worship.

DETAILS OF THE STORY WILL FOLLOW

No true Muslim would firebomb any place of worship; Don’t fall for trap, read Nabi Muhammad’s (saw) Charter

by Nathaniel Tan

Malaysiakini:

A church has been fire-bombed in an attack that gutted its ground floor, church officials said, escalating a dispute over the use of the word ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims.

Al least four other churches are also believed to have been attacked in the last 12 hours in the Klang Valley, including the Assumption Church in Petaling Jaya.

A fire department official said all stations were on alert for more blazes at religious buildings, ahead of planned nationwide protests today by Muslim groups angry over the use of the word as a translation for ‘God’ by Christians.

Truly this is the work of hate and evil.

Once again, the issue has long departed from being one of religious differences.

This has clearly transitioned into an issue of select parties or individuals who are bent on creating chaos in the country.

No true Muslim, or any religious person, would attempt to defend his faith by such cowardly acts of violence – striking without daring to show their face.

I refuse, and I humbly feel you should too, to see this as some Muslim vs Christian or Muslim vs others conflict. To do so would be to fall for exactly the trap that they are laying out for us.

The fundamental conflict here is between peace and hate.

Who then is behind it all? I really don’t know. If Najib and gang are not responsible, then they damn well better do their part in putting an end to it.

Under such circumstances, are they still willing to give their tacit approval to today’s protest?

If so, then I believe the death knell for Najib’s 1Malaysia gimmick will have sounded.

I consider it an utter failure of BN to truly address this issue – the same way they have failed for most almost all of Malaysia’s history to wisely negotiate differences in Malaysia society, while truly recognising, celebrating and building on Malaysia’s diversity.

Want to see how Pakatan compares? See Pakatan’s Common Platform, especially sections 3A and 3B.

Hate is never the answer. Nabi Muhammad (saw) understood this so well, and I end with two quotes demonstrating his immense wisdom and statesmanship (quotes courtesy of Malaysians Unplugged and Marina Mahathir).

A) The Promise of Prophet Muhammad (pbh) to the Monastery of St. Catherine and to All Christians

“This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them.

Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by God! I hold out against anything that displeases them.

No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.

No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses.

Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.

No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them.

If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray.

Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants.

No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world).”

(B) A Letter from the Prophet Muhammad To The Assyrian Christians

“God has told me in a vision what to do, and I confirm His command by giving my solemn promise to keep this agreement.

To the followers of the Islam I say:

Carry out my command, protect and help the Nazarene nation in this country of ours in their own land.

Leave their places of worship in peace; help and assist their chief and their priests when in need of help, be it in the mountains, in the desert, on the sea, or at home.

Leave all their possessions alone, be it houses or other property, do not destroy anything of their belongings, the followers of Islam shall not harm or molest any of this nation, because the Nazarenes are my subjects, pay tribute to me and will help the Muslims.

No tribute, but what is agreed upon, shall be collected from them, their church buildings shall be left as they are, they shall not be altered, their priests shall be permitted to teach and worship in their own way-the Nazarenes have full liberty of worship in their churches and homes.

None of their churches shall be torn down, or altered into a mosque, except by the consent and free will of the Nazarenes.

If any one disobeys this command, the anger of God and His Prophet shall be upon him.

The tribute paid the Nazarenes shall be used to promote the teachings of Islam and shall be deposited at the treasury of Beth Almal.

A common man shall pay one denar (piece of money), but the merchants and people who own mines of gold and silver and are rich shall pay twelve denars. Strangers and people who have no houses or other settled property shall not have taxes levied upon them.

If a man inherits property he shall pay a settled sum to the Baitulmal treasury.

The Christians are not obliged to make war on the enemies of Islam, but if an enemy attacks the Christians, the Muslims shall not deny their help, but give them horses and weapons, if they need them, and protect them from evils from outside and keep the peace with them.

The Christians are not obliged to turn Muslims, until God’s will makes them believers.

The Muslims shall not force Christian women to accept Islam, but if they themselves wish to embrace it, the Muslims shall be kind to them.

If a Christian woman is married to a Muslim and does not want to embrace Islam, she has liberty to worship at her own church according to her own religious belief, and her husband must not treat her unkindly on account of her religion.

If any one disobeys this command, he disobeys God and his prophet and will be guilty of a great offense.

If the Nazarenes wish to build a church, their Muslim neighbors shall help them. This shall be done, because the Christians have obeyed us and have come to us and pleaded for peace and mercy.

If there be among the Christians a great and learned man the Muslims shall honor him and not be envious of his greatness.

If any one is unjust and unkind to the Christians he will be guilty of disobeying the Prophet of God.

The Christians should not shelter an enemy of Islam or give him horse, weapon or any other help.

If a Muslim is in need the Christian shall for three days and nights be his host and shelter him from his enemies.

The Christians shall, furthermore, protect the Mohammedan women and children and not deliver them up to the enemy or expose them to view.

If the Nazarenes fail to fulfil these conditions, they have forfeited their right to protection, and the agreement is null and void.

This document shall be entrusted to the Christian chief and head of their church for safe keeping.”

The peace of God be over them all!

This agreement is written by Moavijah Ben Sofian, according to the dictates of Muhammad, the Messenger of God, in the 4th year of the Hegira in the city of Medina.

Past war offers Afghanistan lessons. And it's not Vietnam (CNN)

The war ignited protests at home. American soldiers battled elusive fighters in remote jungles. The enemy used hit-and-run tactics to drain America’s will.

As President Obama begins to send more of the 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan in the new year, some critics are invoking those snapshots from history to argue that the United States can’t afford to get bogged down in another Vietnam.

But those snapshots actually come from another war: The Philippine-American War, which lasted from 1899 to 1902. The war is largely forgotten today, but it was a bloody preview of the type of warfare that the U.S. military faced in Asia and now in Afghanistan, historians say.

“It was the 19th century version of Vietnam,” said Edward Sheehy, a professor of military history at La Salle University in Pennsylvania.

There was, however, one big difference: The U.S. won. How did a far weaker U.S. military prevail in the Philippines and what lessons can Obama apply from that victory to Afghanistan today?

Historian: ‘It was a very savage war’
Obama faces the same challenge that American leaders faced at the start of the war in the Philippines: How to mobilize public support. A recent poll shows that Obama is already losing support for the war in Afghanistan.

A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released December 23, 2009, found that the majority of the U.S. public opposes the war, with 55 percent of respondents opposed and 43 percent in support of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan.

The war in the Philippines provoked skepticism among some Americans as well. For one, victory seemed implausible, said Paul Kramer, author of “The Blood of Government: Race, Empire, the United States and the Philippines.”

Kramer said the U.S. military was small at the time. Filipino forces knew the terrain and had local support. The U.S. military had also never fought a guerilla war outside the mainland. (The 19th century wars against American Indians are considered guerilla war by some military historians.)

When they first started fighting, American soldiers struggled to adjust, Kramer said. Filipino guerillas attacked them and then blended in with the civilian population.

“American soldiers really found it disturbing and traumatizing. They didn’t know who was an enemy and who was an ally,” Kramer said.

Origins of the Philippine-American War
The Philippine-American War grew out another war, the 1898 Spanish-American War. The U.S. defeated Spain, which then ceded the Philippines to America. But Filipino forces that had been fighting for self-rule against Spain didn’t want to live under another occupier.

Filipino nationalists declared their independence, ratified a constitution, and elected a president. But the United States claimed the land, seized the Philippines in February of 1899 and war erupted.

All war is brutal, but several historians and military experts say the war in the Philippines was barbaric, even by military standards.

Yet the United States won, in part, because it was willing to be brutal, some military historians say. According to an official State Department account of the war, at least 4,200 American soldiers, 20,000 Filipino combatants and as many as 200,000 Filipino civilians died from violence and famine during the war.

Filipino fighters deliberately sought to drag the war on with hit-and-run tactics that would turn the American public against the war, historians say. It was the classic guerilla strategy: Win by avoiding big, pitched battles and melt into the civilian population.

But the U.S. military responded to the guerilla strategy with a simple strategy of their own, some historians say: Kill them all.

Civilian casualties were not accidental, but intentional, says Lt. Col. Michael E. Silverman, an Iraq war veteran and a counterinsurgency training consultant for the U.S. Army.

“Victory there was achieved by a brutal strategy of near genocide. … Many of the officers and sergeants who fought the war were veterans of the Indian Wars and brought with them the idea from Gen. Philip Sheridan: ‘The only good Indians I’ve seen were dead.’’’

The U.S. military forced Filipino villagers outside of their villages into population centers where they could be separated from guerillas. They killed villagers’ livestock and torched crops, says John Hinshaw, a history professor at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania.

“They were the same tactics that worked against the Plains Indians in the 1870s and 1880s,” he says

“We killed hundreds of thousands of people in the process. A lot of it was due to disease and starvation. It was a very savage war.”

How the U.S. overcame its internal divisions
The war ignited debate in America. Critics said America was behaving as a colonial power and denying Filipinos the right to self-government.

An Anti-Imperialist League was founded to lead protests against the war. Public figures such as Mark Twain, steel magnate Andrew Carnegie and three-time Democratic Party presidential nominee William Jennings Bryan spoke out against the war.

“People like Mark Twain were pointing out the Philippines was a country that had set up a republic modeled on the American Constitution, and we were basically saying you’re not ready for it,” says Hinshaw.

After three years, part of the American public began to grow disenchanted with the war. “The Forbidden Book,” a book that explored the racial and commercial justifications for the war, cited a 1901 New York Times editorial that declared: “The American people are plainly tired of the Philippine War. … Is it the lack of troops, supplies, transportation, ammunition and artillery? Is it the lack of a competent commander? How long is this Philippine War going to last?”

Despite the protests, political leaders in the United States were able to maintain support from most of the American public by employing several strategies, historians say. They told Americans they were in the Philippines to civilize and Christianize its inhabitants, historians say.

“They ignored the fact that most of them [Filipinos] were already Roman Catholic,” says Sheehy, professor from La Salle University.

Supporters of the war also squelched the voices of opponents by dismissing them as unpatriotic and effeminate “aunties,” historians say.

America’s political leaders also correctly read the mood of the country, historians say. Ordinary Americans wanted to flex their newfound military muscle and business leaders wanted to make money in Asia. Many Americans were aware that several European countries were also trying to gain control of the Philippines, according to Sheehy.

“There was this sense that we had to take our place in the world. If we don’t, someone else might.”

The United States also won because it didn’t just rely on military might. They found strong, local allies, historians say. They did so through a tactic called the “policy of attraction,” according to a State Department account of the war. Under the policy, the United States introduced social reforms, economic development and permitted some forms of self-government. The policy won over key elites and other Filipinos, the State Department says.

The United States also found local allies on the battlefield. It created an auxiliary Filipino military force called the Philippine Scouts to take on Filipino guerilla fighters, historians say.

The Scouts allowed the United States to reduce troop levels after the war was declared over in 1902. Armed resistance by the Filipinos continued after the war was declared over but the United States simply described that résistance as “crime,” says author Kramer.

“It [the Scouts] allowed the American forces to declare war over long before the resistance was over,” Kramer says. “It frees American troops to come home. It got the war out of the American papers.”

The crucial question Americans face
History can teach but it also can mislead. Scholars and military experts concede that there are crucial differences between the Philippines and Afghanistan.

The Philippines had already been colonized by Spain before its war with the United States, while Afghanistan has resisted conquest by various nations for centuries.

The Philippines was, and still is, a majority Roman Catholic country, while Afghanistan is predominately Muslim. And the U.S. military was able to isolate the Filipino guerillas on several islands, while it’s more difficult to isolate the Taliban since Afghanistan shares a porous border with Pakistan, experts say.

Yet the U.S. still can learn several lessons from its war in the Philippines, scholars and military historians say.

One is what not to do. The U.S. military can’t employ the brutal tactics it once did against Filipinos in a world where there is a 24-hour news cycle, historians say.

“I don’t think we’re willing to do what it took back then and that’s a good thing,” says historian Hinshaw.

“Modern counterinsurgency is focused on winning the support of the population,” says Silverman, the Iraq war veteran and counterinsurgency expert. “The Philippine counterinsurgency strategy was to ‘kill them all.’ ’’

Perhaps the primary lesson from the war in the Philippines is that the United States must be willing to settle in for the long haul, said Dan Roberts, a Vietnam veteran and host of the public radio history program, “A Moment in Time.”

Though the war was declared over in 1902, American soldiers continued to die in the Philippines for 46 years - up to the onset of Word War II, Roberts says. The United States granted independence to the Philippines in 1946.

“I don’t think the U.S. wants to stay in Afghanistan for 46 years,” Roberts says. ”But that’s the way you do these things. You have to be willing to stay there and shed blood decade after decade.”

Ousted Perak MB injured in car accident - Malaysiakini

Ousted Perak Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin was slightly injured today when his car turned turtle while trying to avoid a car coming out of a road junction in Ipoh.

State traffic police chief Wan Abdullah Ishak said Mohammad Nizar was on his way from his home in Sungai Rokam to a dental clinic in Jalan Sultan Idris Shah when the incident happened at about 9.30am.

He lost control of his Toyota Camry while trying to avoid the other car.

Mohammad Nizar, who is also Bukit Gantang member of parliament, received treatment at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital for his minor injury.