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Tuesday, 26 January 2010

India apologizes for ad gaffe

New Delhi, India (CNN) -- India apologized to its citizens for a government advertisement, aimed at promoting female children, that showed a former Pakistani air force chief.

The office of the Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, ordered a probe into what it called a lapse, but television statements branded a faux pas.

"While an internal inquiry has been instituted, the PMO (prime minister's office) apologizes to the public for this lapse," an official statement read.

The full-page newspaper advertisement in the Sunday Times of India was put out by India's woman and child development ministry to mark National Girl-Child Day. The day is aimed at promoting and protecting female children and raising awareness of female feticide -- sex-selective abortions blamed for a skewed ratio of males to females in India.

The ad showed several well-known Indian citizens -- cricketer Virender Sehwag, former cricket captain Kapil Dev and musician Amjad Ali Khan with his two sons playing the sarod, a stringed instrument -- along with the former air force chief, identified by the Times of India as Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed.

"Where would you be if your mother was not allowed to be born?" the ad says.

Relations between India and Pakistan have been tense for decades, and the two nations have fought three wars.

"While an internal inquiry has been instituted, the PMO (prime minister's office) apologizes to the public for this lapse"
--Office of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

Krishna Tirath, minister for women and child development, told the Times of India that the "message is more important than the image. The photograph is only symbolic. The message for the girl child is more important. She should be protected."

In a quick statement after the media outcry, the Indian government said it regretted that the ad showed a "foreign national."

The same paper also had another government advertisement featuring NASA astronaut Sunita Williams. Although born and raised in the United States, Williams was welcomed to India as a symbol of national pride when she visited the home of her father's side of the family in 2007.

India froze a fragile peace dialogue with Pakistan after the 2008 terror attacks on its financial capital of Mumbai. Indian authorities blamed Pakistan-based militants for the assault.

In their latest row, the two South Asian archrivals exchanged diplomatic barbs after club owners of the Indian Premier League cricket tournament shunned all Pakistani players in a multi-million dollar auction in Mumbai on Tuesday.

30/1/2010: HINDRAF MAKKAL SAKTHI THAIPUSAM CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL

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HINDRAF MAKKAL SAKTHI THAIPUSAM CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL

IN IPOH, PERAK

HINDRAF Makkal Sakthi will be organizing “A Special Candle Light Vigil Procession ” accompanied with 18 pots of milk offerings (PAAL KUDAM) to Lord Muruga in conjunction with the auspicious Thaipusam Festival together with the fulfillment of the HINDRAF Makkal Sakthi 18 points demands and for the save return of HINDRAF- Makkal Sakthi’s Chairman,

Mr.P. Waythamoorthy to Malaysia .

Starting Venue : Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthaanam Buntong, Ipoh

Ending Venue : Kallumalai Sri Subramaniar Devasthaanam, Ipoh.

Date : 30th January 2010

Time : 6.00 pm

In accordance to this special festival, we invite all devotees to join us hand in hand . We encourage devotees to wear dhoti (vesthi) with safron/orange colour shirt (Kaavi colour).

Lets all pray together “ VALGA HINDRAF MAKKAL SAKTHI”


For more details, please s contact:

P.Ramesh : 019-5235528

N.Subra : 012-4826957

S.Siva : 016-5347834

P.Bala : 016-2109545

D.Nagen : 012-2065424

Mr Mohan : 016-5548426

“RIGHTS NOT PRIVILEGES - THE NEO DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION BEGINS”

Please forward to all.

This will be the 3rd consecutive year HINDRAF – MAKKAL SAKTHI is having such a candle light vigil in Ipoh

We need volunteers or individuals who are keen to do their part for our community. We can team up and make a big change for the sake of our community. We should not neglect our own community. Our community

is our responsibility.

Please come forward to make the changes. The famous quote,

“When you want to see changes you must be part of that changes”

~ Mahatma Ghandi.

Thank you,

P.RAMESH

HINDRAF Makkal Sakthi

Perak Chief

p51700451

P.Uthayakumar: Forum Masalah Kritikal Semasa Masyarakat India di Malaysia.

Tarikh: 6/2/2010 (Sabtu)

Masa: 7.30pm (Malam)

Tempat: Tan Kongsi Hall, Jalan Simpang,

Taiping, Perak.

Untuk maklumat lanjut sila hubungi:-

S.Siva (Taiping) 016 534 7834

S.Karuna (Taiping) 016 567 8413

N.Subra (Setiawan) 012 482 6957

P.Ramesh (Ketua Perak) 019 523 5528

Sila sebarkan kepada rakan-rakan untuk hadir bersama.

Terima Kasih.

S.JAYATHAS

Ketua Penerangan Pusat

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Forum: Malaysian Indians excluded from National Mainstream Development of Malaysia.

Date: 7/2/2010

Time: 5.30pm

Venue: Setiawan Recreation Club (SRC),

Setiawan, Perak.

For more information please contact:

Mr.Subra (Setiawan)- 012 482 6957

Mr.Siva (Taiping) - 016 534 7834

Mr.Ramesh (Perak Cheif)- 019 523 5528

Please forward this to friends.

Thank you,

S.JAYATHAS

HRP Information Cheif

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The battle for Malay fence-sitters

On a whirlwind tour to rally support.

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been criss-crossing the country and speaking at rallies almost every other night, in an effort Pakatan Rakyat officials say is to win over Malay fence-sitters but which Umno rivals claim is a sign he is feeling trapped by his upcoming Sodomy II trial.

The de facto PKR leader has stepped up his public appearances as his trial draws nearer, pre-empting the salacious details expected to surface in court by attacking the prosecution and the government, and framing the charge as a political conspiracy.

Former Selangor mentri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo from Umno claimed in remarks made yesterday to The Malaysian Insider that Anwar’s campaign was a sign that he was feeling trapped.

“Voters may have believed that Anwar was innocent when he was charged for sodomy back then (in 1998) but this is the second time he is being charged for a similar offence,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

Dr Mohd Khir also suggested that Anwar could no longer work the magic like he once did. The Umno man claimed that Anwar could only attract hundreds to his rallies now, when he once drew tens of thousands of supporters.

However, observers note that the opposition leader has been drawing thousands to his ceramahs in Perak, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

Dr Mohd Khir also said he believed that many voters had started to doubt Anwar because he was facing a second sodomy prosecution, pointing out that Umno was not involved in the matter at all.

“We don’t want to be involved. We’ve learned this from the first trial. He tried to blame it on us when we went around to prove he’s guilty. If we do it this time, when the court decides against him, he’ll say it’s our fault,” said Dr Mohd Khir.

“If Anwar is really innocent, why the need to explain?”

“What we want to do is leave it to the courts... if Anwar is really innocent, [then] why the need to go all out to explain he’s innocent? I’m sure the voters already believe him,” he said sarcastically.

PKR secretary-general Saifudin Nasution said public response from the rallies has been encouraging. He believed the rallies had been helpful in convincing Malay fence-sitters in particular.

The battle to convince the Malays who have yet to make up their minds on Anwar’s innocence is the most crucial ahead of the next general elections, said Saifudin.

It is estimated that with Malay votes split between Umno and the two Malay-based PR parties of PAS and PKR, the fence-sitters could end up being the deciding votes.

Estimates put these fence-sitters as between eight to ten per cent of the total Malay electorate.

“I would say this issue is an issue that concerns the Malay electorate. It’s an issue about morality, religion and culture, so what we have done is to go down to the ground to explain to the Malays in the 31 parliamentary constituencies we control on the issue.

“And from my observation, the reception to our campaign has been overwhelmingly good,” Saifudin told The Malaysian Insider.

The charges levelled against Anwar pose a threat to his Islamic credentials and may ruin his credibility as a Muslim leader capable of leading the country, should the opposition pact he leads assume control of the federal administration.

Anwar will soon go on trial for allegedly sodomising his former aide, Saiful Bukhari Azlan, at a condominium in Bukit Damansara in June 2008.

Zulkifli: Little pharoahs calling for my head

By G. Manimaran - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 — Zulkifli Noordin, who will likely face a PKR disciplinary board hearing, claims he has already been “sentenced” even before proceedings have begun over his lodging of a police report against fellow parliamentarian, Khalid Samad, for alleged sedition.

The Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP claims that, among others, his issue was discussed in the ongoing PKR political bureau meeting.

“From the press reports, it’s obvious that I have already been sentenced although no proceedings have been brought against me yet.

“The little pharaohs are barking all over for my head!” he wrote in his blog today.

De facto party leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is also attending the political bureau meeting and is expected to hold a press conference at 2pm today.

Zulkifli had yesterday written to Anwar regarding the police report against the Shah Alam MP.

“My sin: Only to have defended the holy term ‘Allah’ from being trivialised and contaminated by those who idolise politics.

“Politics legitimises any means even if it comes to selling their wives and children, politics is god even if it means stepping on ‘Allah’,” according to him.

The lawyer added that since he is fighting for Islam, he is prepared for any consequences.

“From the first I knew Islam as a true and beautiful following, I have been prepared to accept my fate, to accept the challenges and obstacles.

“The more the challenges, the more I thank Allah. If the beloved Prophet went through such great trials, what is a mere mortal such as myself?” he wrote.

Oddly enough, according to Zulkifli, he has yet to receive notice requiring his attendance at any disciplinary proceedings or the political bureau being convened today to decide on what action to take on him.

“While the pharaohs are already in the process of mincing me up in the media, even at this point I have not been summoned to explain or defend myself.

“All I have been told is that Datuk Seri Anwar is giving a special briefing on his upcoming Sodomy II case for all the representatives and supreme leaders of PKR.

“And I have already informed them I would not be able to attend due to a prior engagement,” said Zulkifil.

Zulkifli further maintains that he will not give an inch on the matter and was prepared for any outcome.

PKR meets to decide Zul Noordin's fate - Malaysiakini

The PKR political bureau will meet today to decide the fate of Kulim MP Zulkifli Noordin, who has come under fire for lodging a police report against opposition colleague Khalid Samad.

The powerful political bureau meeting will commence this afternoon after the conclusion of a special briefing for the party's elected representatives.

This is believed to be the first time the party is seriously mulling disciplinary action against Zulkifli, who has thus far received no more than a slap on the wrists for his various transgressions.

Zulkifli infamy grew when he, and a few others, barged into the Bar Council's forum on religious conversions back in August 2008. The forum was eventually cut short.

In November last year, Zulkifli made headlines by challenging PKR vice-president R Sivarasa to quit after being criticised by the latter for constantly going against the party line.

PKR defector sees PAS, PKR losing Perak seats

Jamaluddin expects a repeat of the Perak fiasco will not be necessary. — file pic

By G. Manimaran - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 — PAS and PKR will find it difficult to retain some of their 13 Perak state seats in the next general elections as long as Umno’s resurgence is sustained, predicts one of the three former Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state assemblymen whose defections triggered the fall of the state government a year ago.

Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, who is now a Barisan Nasional- (BN) friendly independent, told The Malaysian Insider that if Umno just “works hard,” he expects the two PR parties to lose half the seats they won in Election 2008.

He pointed out, however, that he expects DAP — PKR and PAS’ partner in PR — to regain all of its 18 seats.

In Election 2008, Umno won 27 of the 34 seats it contested. Its BN partner MCA took one seat, resulting in the coalition winning just 28, three short of needed for a simple majority in the Perak legislature.

The rest of the BN parties sustained heavy losses.

“The results of the 2008 general elections show there were areas where BN lost by small margins to Pakatan.

“So, if BN does some good work, especially if Umno doubles its effort, [then] Umno can win in all of the 34 seats it contested in 2008. If that happens, what will the situation be for PAS and PKR? [But] I am confident DAP will win in all the seats it contested in 2008, which are mostly in the Kinta Valley,” he said.

Among the state seats which PR won by small margins is Lubok Merbau. PAS candidate Mohd Zainudin Mohd Yusof defeated BN-Umno’s Jamal Nasir Rasdi by just 72 votes.

However, there are also seats which BN won by small margins, such as Pengkalan Baharu where Hamdi Abu Bakar defeated PAS’ Abu Bakar Hussain by only 14 votes.

Jamaluddin, who was the deputy PKR state chairman before his defection, estimates that if Umno can win all of its 34 seats, then PKR and PAS will be left to share the remaining seven.

“If this happens what, then, will be the strength of PKR and PAS in the 13th general elections?

“The public voted opposition in 2008 not because they did not like BN. Pakatan won not because of its own strength but because of BN’s weaknesses... with their arrogant leaders... this caused the public to be angry,” he said.

He further said BN stood a good chance at the next polls — even including candidates from MCA, MIC and Gerakan — as long as their leaders were not arrogant.

Besides Jamaluddin, Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu of Changkat Jering and Hee Yit Foong from DAP also defected to be BN-friendly independents.

Asked whether they were considering joining any BN party, Jamaluddin said that they had not considered the matter.

In Election 2008, DAP won all 18 seats it contested. PKR took seven while PAS won six.

The Perak state assembly consists of 59 seats.

PAS lawmaker Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin became Perak Mentri Besar after the March 2008 polls.

Last week, Nizar also acknowledged that Malay support had fallen for DAP, PKR and PAS, especially in rural areas.

He contended, however, that he still expects PR to win the state if elections were held now.

Nizar also repeated his stand that the political crisis in the state could only be resolved if BN’s Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir requests for a dissolution of the state assembly from the Sultan.

The Federal Court will make its decision on the appeal by Nizar to be declared the rightful Mentri Besar on Feb 9.

MACC raids MIED office in RM4m CBT probe

By Baradan Kuppusamy - The Malaysian Insider

Samy Vellu is expected to have his statement taken eventually. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) raided the MIC’s MIED office here yesterday and today, in a probe on how RM4 million of the institute’s funds ended up in the accounts of two companies owned by a former senior MIED employee and her husband.

A MACC team seized files, records, plus other materials and questioned staff at the MIED office, on the second floor of the MIC headquarters in Jalan Rahmat.

Sources said the officers spent about two hours at the MIED office yesterday and had returned today to continue their investigation, which also involves getting statements from the former senior employee, and two senior MIC leaders who were until recently an MIED trustee and director.

Sources said the MACC would also eventually take a statement from party president, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu who is also MIED chairman, to “round up” the probe.

They said the case involves alleged CBT, in which advances made by MIED to MIED Capital Sdn Bhd were later reimbursed by MIED Capital although the money ended up in two other companies.

The MACC is probing the paper trail and the authority structure to ascertain who authorised the issuance of the cheques to the private companies instead of into the MIED account.

According to a senior MIC official aware of the situation, it seems to be an “open and shut” case of simple CBT.

Former MIED CEO and financial officer Chitrakalla Vasu had lodged several reports with the MACC and police over alleged mismanagement and fraud in MIED last year.

MIED, in return, also lodged police reports against her over alleged “missing” money and abuse in MIED.

The fallout between the Chitrakala and Samy Vellu was the talk of MIC circles last year, with each accusing the other of fraud and taking the MIED for a ride.

The MIED is the MIC’s education arm and had received millions in donations from MIC members, the Indian community, and the government to support the MIC’s education ventures.

MIED owns the RM1 billion Aimst University in Kedah where construction cost has ballooned, by one account, from RM150 million to RM500 million.

The government had given RM300 million in grants for its construction but MIED still owes Bank Pembangunan approximately RM230 million in loans.

Former MIED founder member Datuk S. Subramaniam also alleged last month that the MIED is “supposed to hold” in trust about RM2 million in Tenaga Nasional shares and that if these shares are disposed-off, the MIED is entitled to 50 per cent of the proceeds.

“I don’t know what is the status of the Tenaga shares,” he had said.

Pendirian Kalimah ‘Allah’ Ulama PAS– satu wajah dua sisi?

Oleh Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, AJK PAS Pusat

(Atas permintaan, saya dapatkan kepakaran rakan saya Syed Putra untuk menterjemahkan makalah asal -PAS’ Ulama ‘Disunited Stance’ dan hanya mengeditnya bagi mempastikan terjemahan seperti saya maksudkan asalnya).

Saya telah diminta untuk menjelaskan dan memberi rasional kenapa tampak seperti ada dua sudut pandang dan pendirian yang berlawanan di kalangan tokoh-tokoh ulama utama PAS dalam isu penggunaan kalimah Allah oleh orang bukan-Islam. Ia bukanlah sesuatu yang mudah dan saya pula berasa amat tidak selesa dengan tugasan ini.

Mursyidul Am PAS, Tok Guru Dato’ Nik Abd Aziz (TGNA) dan Presidennya, DS Hj Abd Hadi Awang (DSHA) mewakili pandangan yang menyatakan bahawa penggunaan kalimah Allah oleh pengikut agama-agama lain itu ‘yajuz’ atau ‘harus’, khususnya agama-agama warisan Nabi Ibrahim (Kristian dan Yahudi), sementara Timbalan Mursyidul Am Majlis Syura Ulama PAS, Dato’ Dr Haron Din (DDHA) (dan juga beberapa buah NGO Islam dan sebilangan ahli akademik) mengambil pendirian berlawanan, iaitu tidak membenarkan penggunaan kalimah itu oleh orang lain.

Saya memang mahu menulis artikel ini lebih awal, tetapi telah mengambil sikap bersabar sedikit untuk membaca tulisan-tulisan yang lain terlebih dahulu, terutamanya yang ditulis oleh para ulama. Justeru ketika tidak mendapati analisis ini, saya menulis juga artikel ini selepas diminta berbuat demikian.

Supaya tidak terlalu panjang dan bagi manfaat orang awam, juga penganut agama-agama lain, saya akan cuba memudahkan wacana teologi yang agak rumit ini. Namun begitu, saya tidak pula dapat mengelak daripada menggunakan beberapa terminologi atau perkataan Arab. Barangkali ia adalah pendedahan yang juga ada kebaikannya untuk sesetengah pembaca.

Secara mudah, kedua-dua pendirian yang berlawanan ini terhasil kerana kedua-duanya melihat subjek ini daripada pendekatan metodotogi yang berbeza, yang bersandarkan dua perspektif yang juga berbeza. Oleh itu, tidaklah memeranjatkan sekirannya ia menghasilkan rumusan yang berlawanan juga.

Lebih menarik, walaupun pendirian dan rumusannya tampak berlawanan, namun kedua-duanya masih berada dalam lingkungan pandangan pemikiran Islam, dan secara umumnya ‘betul’ dalam perspektifnya masing-masing. Jika ia kedengaran mengelirukan atau pelik, mari kita gunakan analogi “satu wajah, dua sisi”. Saya akan berusaha bersikap adil dan objektif dalam hal ini.

Kedua-dua sisi wajah ini pastilah nampak berbeza, tetapi ia masih mewakili wajah yang sama seumpama satu syiling. Kita tidak perlu bertegang leher bagi menentukan sisi mana yang betul atau lebih penting. Ia bukanlah usaha untuk menentukan pendirian yang betul atau salah, sebaliknya yang lebih tepat ialah untuk menentukan pandangan atau perspektif mana yang lebih wajar diambil setelah mengambil kira konteks ruang dan realiti semasa yang tertentu.

Secara mudah, sebagai ad-Deen atau Cara Hidup, Islam berdiri di atas dua tonggak, iaitu:

1. Aqidah – perkara-perkara berkaitan teologi mengenai Kepercayaan dan Keimanan kepada Allah (dan rukun-rukun Iman yang lain seperti Kenabian, Wahyu dan sebagainya)

2. Ibadah – perkara-perkara berkaitan kepatuhan/pengabdian manusia terhadap Allah SWT.

Kedua-dua tonggak ini merupakan agenda utama Dakwah atau Risalah semua Nabi dan Rasul, termasuk Nabi Muhammad SAW. Dakwah merupakan raison de’etre atau intipati tugas semua Nabi (Wazifatul Rasul). Dakwah juga adalah sebab dijadikan seluruh semesta alam ini bagi Allah diperkenalkan kepada makhluq dengan perantaraan para anbiya’ dan mursalin melalui Syariat dan Manhaj (Metodologi) tertentu.

Jika ini telah difahami, maka kita akan beralih kepada usaha memahami kedua-dua sudut pandang di atas.

DDHD berhujah dari perspektif aqidah, sementara TGNA dan DSHA pula mengambil perspektif Dakwah (dan bidang Siyasah Syar’iah – politik dari prisme Syariah – yang lebih luas), tanpa sama-sekali menafikan kepentingan perspektif aqidah.

Dari perspektif disiplin Aqidah Islam, Allah merupakan nama khas Al-Ilah atau Tuhan (lafzul-Jalalah) yang merangkumi ketiga-tiga aspek Keesaan Ketuhanan, iaitu sebagai Pencipta dan Pemelihara (Tauhid Rububiyah), Pembuat Undang-undang (Tauhid Uluhiyah), serta Tauhid Asma’ wa Sifat yang mewakili 99 NamaNya yang terkandung dalam al-Quran (seperti al-Rahman, al-Rahim, al-Malik, al-Quddus dan lain-lain) serta 20 SifatNya (al-Wujud, al-Baqa’, al-Wahdaniyah dll).

Surah al-Ikhlas (ayat 1-4) menegaskan Ketunggalan Keesaaan Allah ini.

FirmanNya:Katakanlah (wahai Muhammad): “(Tuhanku) ialah Allah Yang Maha Esa;“Allah yang menjadi tumpuan sekalian makhluk untuk memohon sebarang hajat; Ia tiada beranak, dan Ia pula tidak diperanakkan; Dan tidak ada sesiapapun yang serupa denganNya.”

Berdasarkan huraian di atas, bolehlah disimpulkan bahawa Keesaan Allah merupakan tonggak terpenting Islam, dan bahawa tidak ada sesiapa atau apa-apa pun yang setaraf, bersekutu atau serupa denganNya. Sejak manusia sedari zaman Nabi Adam AS lagi, telah melakukan pelbagai dosa dengan menyekutukan Allah dengan pelbagai bentuk tuhan, dewa atau anak dan sebagainya, maka Allah telah mengutuskan para Nabi bagi menyucikan kepercayaan kepada Keesaan Tuhan.

Disiplin Usuludin merupakan cabang pemikiran Islam yang berperanan memelihara dan mempertahankan ketulenan dan kesucian keimanan terhadap Keesaan Allah dan rukun-rukun keimanan (Al-‘Aqaid) yang lain. Di kalangan orang Islam, pengetahuan yang mendalam tentang Usuludin dianggap penting dan utama kerana ia berperanan memelihara penganut Islam daripada amalan dan kepercayaan yang salah dan sesat.

Sehingga ke tahap ini, jelas bahawa hujah bagi menyokong penekanan terhadap pengetahuan Umat Islam dalam aspek Usuludin atas perbahasan isu ini, terutamanya pelbagai aspek Aqidahnya, termasuk Nama-nama dan Sifat-sifat Allah adalah meyakinkan dan kukuh.

Menurut metodologi ini, sayugia dijelaskan bahawa Nama Allah adalah termasuk dan dianggap sebagai sebahagian daripada ciri atau milik khusus agama Islam. Hal ini adalah kerana hanya orang Islam sahaja yang menerima dan mengimani Allah sebagai Al-Ilah atau Tuhan seperti yang dihuraikan di atas. Justeru itu maka hanya orang Islam sahaja yang berhak dan layak untuk menggunakan Nama Allah itu kerana penggunaan nama Allah oleh yang golongan agama lain, tidak menjamin maksud yang sama. Apatah lagi ia juga merupakan Lafzul-Jalalah, ia itu nama khas dan istimewa Allah, selain daripada 99 NamaNya yang disebut sebelum ini.

Permasalahan dikesani ketika melampaui peringkat ini, dimana logika pendekatan ini, penggunaanya bukan sahaja tidak dibolehkan kepada orang lain, tetapi ia kini telah turut dikanun atau diundang-undangkan sebagai satu kesalahan oleh beberapa undang-undang negeri-negeri yang sedia ada.

Oleh sebab perkataan itu ditanggappi suci atau kudus dalam Islam, maka ia tentulah tidak boleh digunakan oleh orang lain. Perkataan-perkataan lain yang termasuk ke dalam kategori ini adalah Kaabah, Mufti, Ulama dan sebagainya. Kini ia telah diharamkan dan dijadikan eksklusif bagi umat Islam di sesetengah negeri di Malaysia. Hal ini kini diperdebatkan dengan begitu sengit sekali. Bantahan terhadap pendirian sebegini tampaknya telah menjadi lebih pelik dalam zaman pencerahan maklumat dan pengetahuan sekarang.

Bersekali dengan kebimbangan terhadap salah guna dan ancaman kegiatan mubaligh Kristian di kalangan umat Islam, maka langkah mengharamkan penggunaan kalimah Allah itu ditanggapi golongan ummat Islam ini sesuatu yang tampak kena dan wajar. Penelitian terhadap fatwa Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan pada Mei 2008 menyerlahkan jalur fikiran dan garis hujah ini. Kes pengharaman edisi bahasa Melayu akhbar mingguan The Catholic Herald oleh Kementerian Dalam Negeri baru-baru kini menjadi kontroversi besar berpotensi menggegarkan negara ini.

Meneliti pendirian yang diambil oleh AJK PAS, yang juga merupakan pendirian TGNA dan DSHA, dalam isu penggunaan Nama Allah membawa kita sekaligus menelusuri konteks Dakwah Nabi Muhammad yang lebih besar – yang mengambil masa selama 13 tahun di Mekah dan 10 tahun di Madinah.

Al-Quran telah dengan begitu jelas sekali merakamkan bahawa masyarakat yang wujud semasa kemunculan Nabi terakhir, Muhammad SAW, telah turut sama menggunakan perkataan Allah. Allah SWT berfirman dalam al-Quran

Dan sesungguhnya jika engkau (wahai Muhammad) bertanya kepada mereka (yang musyrik) itu: “Siapakah yang menciptakan langit dan bumi?” Sudah tentu mereka akan menjawab: “Allah”. Ucapkanlah (wahai Muhammad): “Alhamdulillah” . (Luqman:25)

Dari segi teologi, walaupun para penyembah berhala di Mekah menerima Allah sebagai Rabb (Tuhan), namun mereka juga mengadakan berhala-berhala dan sebagainya di sisi Allah dan menganggapnya sebagai tuhan juga. Ketauhidan Allah yang sempurna tidak mereka imani. Bahkan Allah menerangkan apakah sebabnya amalan syirik itu mereka teruskan dalam Firman Allah SWT dalam surah az-Zumar, ayat 3: “Tidaklah kami menyembah mereka kecuali untuk kami dapat bertaqarrub (mendekatkan diri) dengan Allah”.

Pun begitu, kedudukan golongan Ahli Kitab. Lebih jelas lagi, bagi agama-agama warisan Nabi Ibrahim yang lain pula, perkara penggunaan perkataan Allah ini dilihat jelas dalam surah al-Haj, ayat 40.

“Dan kalaulah Allah tidak mendorong setengah manusia menentang pencerobohan setengahnya yang lain, nescaya runtuhlah tempat-tempat pertapaan serta gereja-gereja (kaum Nasrani), dan tempat-tempat sembahyang (kaum Yahudi), dan juga masjid-masjid (orang Islam) yang sentiasa disebut nama Allah banyak-banyak padanya dan sesungguhnya Allah akan menolong sesiapa yang menolong ugamaNya”.

Daripada pelbagai ayat ini, para Mufaseer berhujah bahawa nama Allah bukanlah hak eksklusif orang Islam. Imam Al-Qurtubi (1214-1273), pakar tafsir al-Quran, merumuskan bahawa dalam ayat 40 di atas, Allah bukan sahaja disebut dan dibesarkan di masjid-masjid, tetapi juga ditempat-tempat keagamaan agama-agama warisan Nabi Ibrahim yang lain, terutamanya agama Yahudi dan Kristian.

Selain itu, kita juga merujuk kepada pandangan dua tokoh ulama kontemporari di dunia Islam, iaitu Sheikh Dr Yusuf al-Qaradawi dan Sheikh Dr Wahbah al-Zuhaili, yang melawat negara kita baru-baru ini, berhubung isu ini.

Kedua-dua mereka bukan sahaja mengaggap penggunaan nama Allah oleh penganut agama samawi (langit) dibenarkan, malah juga adalah digalakkan, sebagai kaedah bagi menyatukan Persaudaraan Kemanusiaan berdasarkan Tuhan yang sama dan Esa (Tunggal). Kesatuan Ummat Islam pula dipaksikan di atas Kesatuan Tauhid. Islam dan agama secara umum wajar menyatukan, dan tidak sebaliknya memecah-belahkan manusia.

Nah, maka jelas bahawa dari sudut nas, kebenaran penggunaan nama Allah ini adalah termaktub dalam al-Quran. Nas, dalam metodologi ‘beristidlal’ seharusnya tidak boleh diatas bahkan mengatasi sumber yang disandarkan kepada sumber-sumber hukum yang lain, ijma’ atau qiyas tambah lagi kalau ianya hanyalah sekadar qawaid fiqhiyyah seperti ‘as-Sadda Zari’ah atau kaedah fiqh bagi menutp pintu-pinti kemudharatan.

Lebih penting, harus juga disedari bahawa keseluruhan al-Quran itu sendiri adalah jelmaan dan penghayatan Dakwah dan Risalah Nabi Muhammad SAW dalam tugas besar baginda menterjemahkan maksud sebenar “Islam sebagai Rahmat kepada Sekelian Alam” – Rahmatan Lil-‘Alamin.

Ternyata pendirian DDHD dan lain-lain akan hanya menatijahkan keterasingan (Disengagment) dan iklim eksklusif, sementara pandangan sebaliknya menekankan peri perlunya Islam dan umat Islam mengambil sikap ‘Inklusif’ dan ‘Keterterliban’ (Engagement) dalam agenda besar Dakwah dan Penampilan Advokasi Politik Islam. Keterlibatan, bukannya Pengasingan, seharusnya menjadi pertimbangan asas para pembuat dasar di peringkat legislatif dan para pemikir di institusi-institusi Islam lain di negeri dan peringkat Pusat.

Walaupun pendekatan Usuludin menekankan kepentingan ketulenan iman di kalangan umat Islam, namun malangnya, secara tidak sengaja, ia turut terserlah dan mengambil bentuk ‘mentaliti-terkepung’ (siege mentality) apabila berhubungan dengan golongan agama dan budaya lain.

Mahu tidak mahu ia akan menjadikan Islam dan nama Allah dan lain-lain perkataan ‘suci’ lain sebagai hak eksklusif orang Islam yang mesti di’lindungi’ dan dipertahankan daripada ‘pencerobohan’ penganut agama-agama yang lain. Kita tidak mungkin boleh berhubung dengan orang lain jika kita bersikap eksklusif. Sebaliknya, kita akan menyudutkan, malah mengasingkan orang lain dengan sikap tersebut.

Selain ia bakal menyuburkan rasa benci, ia juga akan menjadi baja kepada sikap saling tidak mempercayai di antara agama-agama, iaitu sesuatu yang berlawanan sama sekali dengan tujuan Dakwah dan Risalah. Secara umum, ini tidak boleh dipertahankan, malah kelihatan serba songsang dengan mindset ‘Dakwah’ dan “Islam yang Universal”.

Pendirian TGNA dan DSHA yang mewakili pandangan arus perdana PAS telah membuat penegasan bahawa ‘berdasarkan prinsip-prinsip al-Quran dan Islam, penggunaan kalimah Allah oleh penganut agama-agama warisan Nabi Ibrahim seperti Kristian dan Yahudi adalah dibolehkan”.

Dalam pada itu, kedua-dua tokoh ini juga telah menegaskan bahawa penggunaan kalimah Allah juga tidak boleh disalah guna atau diselewengkan kerana ia akan memberi kesan ke atas keharmonian hubungan agama dan kaum di negara ini. Pada saat yang sama, bekas Mufti Perlis, Dr Mohd Asri, turut menekankan keperluan diadakan garis panduan yang jelas bagi penggunaannya. Kata beliau, kalimah Allah hanya boleh digunakan bagi merujuk kepada Tuhan Yang Tunggal, bukannya dikaitkan dengan berhala, dewa-dewa dan sebagainya.

DSHA turut menolak percubaan untuk mempolitikkan isu ini kerana ia boleh mengancam keamanan di kalangan pelbagai golongan agama. PAS mengutuk keras perbuatan mengugut dan ganas sebagai cara untuk menakut-nakutkan rakyat supaya akur dan tunduk kepada ‘terorisme berkumpulan’ baru yang berlaku kini. Kedua-dua TGNA dan DSHA turut mencadangkan jalan keluar yang berasaskan dialog dan perbincangan atas dasar sikap saling menghormati dan persefahaman di antara agama dan budaya dalam proses pembinaan-semula bangsa kita.

Saya berani menyatakan bahawa PAS kini telah muncul sebagai sebuah parti Islam yang memahami tentang perlunya wujud politik Plural dan Majmuk (Politik Li Ta’arafu) dalam landskap demokratik baru politik nasional negara ini. ‘Pendekatan Wasatiyah’ PAS ini bakal disenangi oleh semua pihak dan mengisi tuntutan ‘ruang tengah’ politk negara, sementara Islam dan Ummat Islam akan terus dipertahankan.

Juga perlu ditegaskan bahawa pendirian ini tidak diambil semata-mata untuk memenangi hati atau lebih banyak undi di kalangan orang bukan Islam. Sebaliknya PAS mendedahkan dirinya kepada penolakan oleh para penyokong tegarnya di kawasan-kawasan majoroti Melayu. Bolehkan seteru politik PAS, iaitu Umno, mengambil sikap yang sama?

Sebagai sebuah parti Islam, kami perlu melakukan apa yang “Benar” di mata al-Quran terlebih dahulu, dan setelah itu berusaha keras untuk menyesuaikannya dengan demografi kita yang sesungguhnya majmuk dan bercampur-campur itu. Benar kami perlu mengambil jalan sederhana untuk mendapat sokongan ‘ruang tengah’. Benar, kami juga perlu memenangi hati-budi orang Islam-Melayu. Namun lebih benar lagi ialah perjuangan kami untuk mencari keredhaan Allah terlebih dahulu. Kami juga mahu mewujudkan “Keadilan Untuk Semua”.

Jika dengan berbuat demikian kami kemudiannya memperoleh kepercayaan, mandat dan sokongan pengundi, maka kami ucapkan Segala Pujian hanyalah untuk Allah, Tuhan Sekelian Alam.

Alhamdulillah! Allahu Akbar!

Rebuild? Rebrand?

In the manufacturing and advertising world, when a brand name is rottenly bad, what does the manufacturer do? Terminate that brand and start a new one; rebrand it, re-invent the ingredients. In that case, you don't have to "RE-BUILT" the reputation. You merely make a new one. Why? Because, when a brand is commonly known with a bad reputation, it will most probably be rejected by consumers. No matter how you try to re-built it, people will still have second thoughts as the record is not clean. When they use a new brand, people normally don't see what's behind the product. Unless the Manufacturer's name is equally rotten.

By avancc

Looking at that, and the development of politics in Malaysia, it is clear that the name UmmmNo - B.eNd is already tarnished; with enough damage done by their own "staff" and "Directors". And the "manufacturer" - those leaders whose images are also equally as bad. So, can they try to re-build, when many all around the country, as well as the world (note: not only in this country) knows that they have rotten agendas hidden behind? Will they still get support after everybody knows the culture and main aims of these leaders? Re-branding? Re-naming? Change the "ingredients" whatsoever, as long as it's labelled under UmmmNo-B.eNd label, and as long as it's the leadership of the same "Directors", the "product" continues to be rotten. Because - You put a rotten egg among good ones, it will speed up the rotting process of even the good ones. Especially if the rotten ones are sitting high on top.

Tapi, Demi Maruah, demi nama, and demi kuasa, they die die hold on to the posts, hold on to the party, hold on to power. They cannot admit defeat, and cannot accept change. They still feel that all these issues are not their problems, not due to themselves but due to the rakyat listening to the "wrong" party. Rosak bertambah rosak. They promise change but doing the opposite and instead, demand that the common people change to suit them. It really shows that they don't intend to change at all. However let's not conclude too soon. Everybody does mistakes, and we all should be given a chance to change, to improve. So, we wait for a while.

Now, after almost 2 years of waiting, what do we see?

We have given them a chance to change. And they misused that chance and tolerance by giving us the Perak overtaking case; The Toyol mansion; the mishandling of PKFZ; missing jet engines; land issues; Kugan; B. Subra's disappearance; No further action on "Correct, correct, correct" case and above all, TBH's death. We gave them time and instead of changing themselves, we got Sodomy 2; religious issues with the burning of Churches and Suraus but inaction from the government; persistence in arresting RPK with no solid grounds; disruption of ceramahs; etc. We have given tolerance up to our limit. And are kept "rewarded" with disappointments, and more adverse effects. I don't know about others, but my tolerance limit is up ....

Now, unless there is a change of hands over the government, where most members decide to abandon the sinking ship (I hope, but I know it is difficult to happen as these leeches have gotten sooo used to the "host" that they will keep sucking even though the host is drowning) else they will continue to hang on to the name "UmmmmNo - B.eNd". So what can we do? And how do we do it legally, and rightly? We Vote Them Out.

So ... don't forget to register yourself as a voter, and know who and why you are voting. For the love of your country, for the love of your loved ones, for the love of your children, and the future of the people. For if you allow them to stay in power, you will be destroying everything. You know very well that they have not and will not change. And you know very well that it is bad for everybody. If you love your leader, and you cannot ask him/her to change, or cannot make him/her change, then the only thing you can do is to "force" that change by bringing him/her down. At least once, so that he/she wakes up and realizes his/her mistakes. Unless, of course, if you and him/her are equal - meaning you don't feel what he/she's doing is wrong. In that case, I feel sorry for you. Well, the boat is sinking. So those who continue to be holding on to the sinking boat, they will be sinking together with the tarnished name then. Tinggallah nama busuk hapuk hingga ke akhirat.

Indian Footnotes

The fact is, the speed of both China and India's growth for the past 5 years has surpassed Malaysia's for the past 20 years. Ketuanan India dan China has outstripped Ketuanan Melayu once again. Without the crutches of the British, Malaysia has gallantly managed to somehow be retro-progressive. So glaringly obvious that the UMNO regime been bent on stiffling the locals to remain in power that it completely forgot to look even as far as across the Cuaseway down south.

By John Doe

Some reflections on an Article from The Economic Times: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5496532.cms

The fact is, the speed of both China and India's growth for the past 5 years has surpassed Malaysia's for the past 20 years. Ketuanan India dan China has outstripped Ketuanan Melayu once again. Without the crutches of the British, Malaysia has gallantly managed to somehow be retro-progressive. So glaringly obvious that the UMNO regime been bent on stiffling the locals to remain in power that it completely forgot to look even as far as across the Cuaseway down south.

A former Mangrove Swampland “...no larger than the Klang Valley has somehow managed to “bungkus” a Ketuanan Country...” as one MT commentator put it; is so glaringly embarassing to the country who has supplied the Republic with water, 30% of its' Workforce, as well as sacrificially given all it's best brains to the Red Dot. And more & more are flocking down to this island by the hundreds on a daily basis to seek better treatment. One could almost imagine Prime Minister Lee saying, “Thank You for supplying us your water, and your best brains for the past 50 years. May you continue to supply us more for a very long time.”

On the larger scheme of things, the two huge Empires have suddenly sprung up again. Actually, they didn't. Both China and India have been steadily working their asses off to progress and advance themselves; while Malaysia, who has had Mr Sleeping Beauty navigate the slumber, only to suddenly awake screaming at how the neighbours suddenly went too far ahead.

“We have had our cultural and historical ties over centuries..” quips Jibby. Enter the allegedly “Great Malaccan Empire” which stood between two Goliaths. It was no more than a roadside tuck-shop, as far as the rest of the world is concerned. And even then, one which could never be compared to Pasai or Majapahit. The Malaccan River itself is too narrow to allow more than 2 bum-boats to pass. In contrast, take a look at Singapore River, and see the vast difference. For the uninitiated, Singapore's old Keppel Harbour is already 15 times larger than WestPort. Today, it's Jurong Harbour spans the entire West Coast, making it roughly 80-85 times larger than Westport. No prizes for guessing why Singapore remains the Regional Headquarters for a majority of MNC's. (Well, combined with Bangkok and HongKong accounts for circa 95%.)

So today, just like during the Malaccan Days, Malaysia continues to stand between two Goliaths. Unfortunately, there's now Singapore to replace the role of the Malaccan Port. And in the larger scheme of things, Singapore is a Free Port, while WestPort is not. Where would any logic-minded Businessman park his Vessel? So, while Jibby reminisces “Malaysia can be used as the gateway to the Asean market...” as he thought it was in the 15th century, he has completely forgotten that China can now ship direct to the United States crossing the Pacific Ocean. And it has been ever since the invention of Ocean Liners.

As if that's not bad enough, the IT sector in India has surpassed everyone else in the region so much that 80% of NASA employees are Indian. While its' Janitors, and other non-essential Personnel are the White Man. China, on the other hand, has pretty much managed to be the main magnet for every single industry in the World. Amassing extreme wealth in a twinkling of an eye. Even the multi-billionaire Kuok decided to uproot his empire from Ketuanan Land to permanently relocate to China.

Jibby should have been honest to say:

India's unstoppable growth story scares us.

China's unstoppable growth story also scares us.

Even Singapore's unstoppable growth scares us.

It is strange that UMNO is actively trying to cripple it's citizens, and even criticizes the use of the Internet for knowledge gain, “as it was created by the West”. Changing Modes, the kids of today spend far too much time chatting with strangers, and watching mindless soaps and serials on Youtube. Parents. Do your job. Don't emulate UMNO's stupidty.

So, UMNO, continue masturbating your Ketuanan. The rest of the world moves on.

The Vote is an Expression of the Community

Perhaps as a measure of the influence of western thought on our consciousness, we have come to look at the vote as an individual right. And this is all we see in spite of other contrary evidence staring us in the face. Our minds block off all other thought except those taught to us by western liberal propaganda. In this sense, we are as fanatical as the Taliban only we express ourselves as the “other” side of the coin.

By batsman

Some of that “evidence” is actually built into the language we use. For example we use the concept of “bloc votes” or “class voting patterns” frequently in our analysis. I submit that votes need to be seen more as an expression of community demands rather than of individual right.

I suppose that in order to succeed in persuading those non-registered voters to use their voting rights, it is necessary to understand their way of thinking and one of the most frequent excuses is that “nothing changes even if I vote, so what’s the use?”

To me, this shows the individual WANTS to make a difference, but sees his contribution merely as one in a sea of millions. This further shows his isolation and his self-denigration. He thinks of his right to vote only as an individual action. He completely lacks community spirit. He fails completely to see his vote as part of the expression of his community. He fails to identify himself as a part of his community. He fails to see his vote as “what my community wants and not just what I want”.

This individualist manner of thought is not only self-deprecating, it is harmful in other ways. It tears the community away from the soul. Many complain that UMNO does not treat them fairly, discriminates against them and tries to force them to emigrate. Yet, by their action of thinking in an individualist manner, they actually isolate themselves, feel more insecure than necessary become socially awkward and are thus unable to interact in a constructive manner within their own community not to mention other neighbouring communities.

The fact of the matter is that the non-Malays form 30% of the population and control 60% of the economy. This is not an insubstantial power base, yet many non-Malays see themselves only as individuals and act accordingly with no community power at all. Whenever they try to interact with others, it is awkward with no social graces and tends to be selfish and self-absorbed. They are unable to give and take and to tolerate the idiosyncrasies of others. They prefer to run away and become part of a country where they delude themselves that there is no discrimination.

This is my just observation of how my Chinese friends think and their value systems and you may disagree vehemently. I don’t claim to be an expert in these matters. I am more concerned with getting people to register and use their votes.

To do this I believe activists have to try and instill community spirit back into these people and to persuade them that their vote is not just an individual right but the expression and demands of their community and not just the useless acts of an individual.

Here, I would like to point out that events have developed to a stage where racial and religious issues must no longer be seen as things that divide the community because the community now is a community of decent people fighting for decent government. The community is not just Malays fighting for Malay rights and privileges or Chinese fighting for equal treatment or Indians fighting against genocide. The community is a community fighting for decency and survival as a nation.

The community is a community that expresses its demands that says – UMNO get out! We are tired of being manipulated through the cynical use of race and religion. We are tired of being tricked to hate each other because of the quarrel over benefits and privileges. We are tired of corruption, incompetence and sin. We are tired of violence visited upon us. We are tired of the ISA. UMNO get out!

We want proper checks and balances. We want a judiciary with integrity and professional ethics. We want a police force that protects the rakyat rather than one that victimizes the rakyat. We want a civil service that is professional and competent. We want a government that is not forever sabotaging the unity of the people through instigating quarrels over benefits and privileges or race and religion. We want an end to corruption. We want UMNO out!

“Allah” dan dakyah Kristian

thenutgraph.com


(Gambar buku oleh Ivan Petrov; gambar sembahyang oleh Adrian Van Leen / sxc.hu)

SALAH satu alasan penganut Islam yang menentang penggunaan kalimah "Allah" oleh orang bukan Islam di Malaysia ialah perbuatan ini akan mengelirukan umat Islam. Ini pula kerana kononnya terdapat konspirasi Kristian untuk menyesatkan orang Islam supaya mereka murtad dan memeluk agama Kristian.

Dan alasan ini telahpun digunapakai oleh pemimpin politik, termasuklah ahli Parlimen Parti Keadilan Rakyat kawasan Kulim-Bandar Baru, Zulkifli Noordin. Tetapi mungkinkah isu murtad ini satu isu yang berasingan daripada hak untuk menggunakan kalimah "Allah"?

Dalam isu penggunaan "Allah" oleh orang bukan Islam, sudah terbukti bahawa ia satu fenomena yang biasa di Timur Tengah, Indonesia, malah juga di Sabah dan Sarawak. Jadi, isunya di sini ialah, adakah orang Melayu yang beragama Islam di Malaysia berhak untuk memegang hakcipta terhadap kalimah "Allah" dan melarang penganut agama lain daripada menggunakannya? Isu Kristian kononnya menyebarkan dakyah untuk menyesatkan umat Islam sebenarnya terkeluar daripada tajuk perbincangan.

Namun, ia merupakan satu topik yang nampaknya menghantui sebilangan besar umat Islam, terutamanya di Malaysia. Soalnya, adakah ketakutan umat Islam di Malaysia terhadap orang bukan Islam itu munasabah? Selanjutnya, apakah penyelesaian yang terbaik untuk meredakan ketakutan ini? Apakah dengan membendung hak warga bukan Islam untuk menggunakan kalimah "Allah", kita dapat menyelesaikan masalah ini?


Langit masjid (kiri) dan gereja (Gambar oleh ctkirklees and beriliu / sxc.hu)

Strategi pendakwah

Sesungguhnya, tidak dapat dinafikan bahawa ada di kalangan puak Kristian yang giat cuba menyebarkan agama mereka kepada golongan bukan Kristian. Malah, terdapat judul-judul khas yang diterbitkan untuk mengajar orang Kristian cara-cara yang terbaik untuk mengKristiankan pengikut Islam. Besar kemungkinan golongan seperti ini juga wujud di Malaysia.

Tetapi tidakkah para muslimin dan muslimat di Malaysia juga cuba menyebarkan agama Islam kepada orang bukan Islam? Lihatlah saja pelbagai kursus yang mengajar muda-mudi Islam untuk mengIslamkan orang bukan Muslim. Ada yang disasarkan kepada penganut Kristian, ada yang bersifat lebih umum, dan ada pula yang khusus untuk komuniti Orang Asli yang diterajui oleh pihak berkuasa dan juga parti politik seperti PAS.

Dalam hal ini, tidak pula tindakan ini menimbulkan kemarahan orang ramai. Malah, orang Islam di Malaysia sungguh bangga apabila mendapat "saudara baru" — kita menggunakan kata-kata seperti "tenang" dan "sempurna" untuk menggambarkan kehidupan orang bukan Islam yang akhirnya memeluk Islam.

Sebenarnya tidak salah apabila kita tumpang bersyukur dan berbesar hati apabila ada orang yang akhirnya memeluk sistem kepercayaan kita. Tetapi soalnya, mampukah kita menghormati bahawa penganut agama lain juga akan turut bersyukur dan berbesar hati apabila mereka mendapat "saudara baru" sendiri?

Dakwaan tidak berasas

Sekiranya benar dakwaan bahawa orang Kristian berjaya mengKristiankan orang Islam, contohnya dengan menggunakan perkataan "Allah", maka bukti yang kukuh perlu dikemukakan.


Harussani Zakari (Sumber: mufti.perak.gov.my)
Kita mesti ingat bahawa kes serangan ke atas gereja bukan satu perkara yang baru. Pada tahun 2006, sekumpulan orang Islam telah mengepung dan menyerang gereja di Jalan Silibin, Ipoh. Sebabnya? Kononnya gereja tersebut cuba mengKristiankan orang Islam. Punca maklumat? SMS yang disebarkan, termasuk oleh mufti Perak Datuk Seri Harussani Zakaria.

Yang amat menyedihkan, sebenarnya gereja tersebut mengadakan upacara penamaan untuk sekumpulan kanak-kanak Kristian. Kesimpulannya, terdapat juga penganut Islam di Malaysia yang sanggup bertindak ganas atas khabar angin tentang usaha untuk memurtadkan umat Islam. Pihak yang menyebarkan khabar angin tersebut tiba-tiba tidak mampu tampil dengan angka-angka yang dapat membuktikan kesahihan dakwaan mereka.

Malah, statistik kerajaan sendiri menunjukkan bahawa bilangan orang Islam yang murtad adalah sangat kecil dan bukan satu perkara yang patut digunakan untuk menakutkan umat Islam. Dan kemungkinan besar, jauh lebih ramai rakyat yang memeluk agama Islam berbanding agama lain di Malaysia.

Yang merumitkan keadaan ialah kadang-kadang dalam setiap agama, akan muncul segelintir penganutnya yang bukan hanya yakin dengan kepercayaan mereka sendiri, tetapi akan bertungkus-lumus untuk mematahkan kepercayaan terhadap agama-agama lain. "Kami betul, yang lain semua sesat" — itulah rumusan kepercayaan dan strategi seharian mereka.

Dan hakikat ini merentas jurang agama. Contohnya di Amerika Syarikat, seorang bekas penganut Islam yang kini menjadi pendakwah Kristian cuba merumuskan 10 perkara yang perlu diketahui tentang Islam kepada para pendakwah Kristian yang lain:

1 Allah dan Jehovah bukan Tuhan yang sama (bagaimana pula gereja Katolik di Malaysia akan menjawab dakwaan ini?).

2 Jihad (baca: peperangan) disarankan dalam Al Quran dan hadis.

3 Terdapat protokol tertentu dalam Islam (contohnya kaum wanita tidak dibenarkan berjihad).

4 Islam tidak menghormati kebebasan beragama.

5 Islam memandang kaum wanita lebih hina berbanding dengan agama Kristian.

6 Islam memandang rendah Nabi Isa (maaf, "Jesus").

7 Islam memandang rendah kitab Injil.

8 Dalam Islam, tiada jaminan untuk masuk ke syurga kerana kepercayaan Islam lebih banyak bergantung kepada amal ibadat dan muamalat.

9 Islam berpecah kepada pelbagai mazhab.

10 Semakin hari semakin ramai orang Islam memeluk agama Kristian.

Benar, sebagai seorang Muslim, saya amatlah terkilan dengan dakwaan-dakwaan seperti ini terhadap kepercayaan yang saya anggap suci. Tetapi apabila melihat 10 butir ini, saya sendiri tahu bahawa lebih daripada separuhnya tidak berasas ataupun boleh dicabar. Masalahnya sekarang, ramai juga orang Islam yang membuat tuduhan-tuduhan yang tidak berasas seperti ini terhadap kepercayaan Kristian.

Dan perbezaannya sekarang ialah bukannya penganut Kristian yang memegang kuasa di Malaysia. Malahan, institusi awam kita rata-ratanya semakin hari semakin diIslamkan.


Indira Gandhi
Di Malaysia, adakah golongan bukan Islam yang cuba memaksa M Revathi untuk memeluk Islam? Adakah golongan bukan Islam yang cuba mengIslamkan anak-anak M Indira Gandhi? Adakah golongan bukan Islam yang cuba merampas tanah komuniti Ahmadiyah? Adakah golongan bukan Islam yang beria-ia mahu mengisytiharkan mendiang Mohan Singh sebagai "saudara baru"?

Melangkah ke depan

Jadi, apakah langkah seterusnya? Bakar gereja lagi? Bakar masjid pula? Gunakan Akta Hasutan, Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri, atau undang-undang syariah? "Berdialog"?

Soalnya, apakah kita mahukan rakyat Malaysia menaruh prasangka sesama sendiri? Yang Islam menuduh yang bukan Islam melakukan itu dan ini. Yang bukan Islam menyangka bahawa agama Islam itu sendiri mengajar umatnya untuk berkasar dan tidak bertolak ansur.

Hakikatnya, ramai juga yang masih tidak bersangka buruk antara satu dengan lain. Mungkin syarat yang paling berkesan sekarang ialah supaya semua perbincangan dilakukan secara terbuka dan jujur.

Kejujuran bermaksud bahawa kita semua perlu mengaku bahawa setiap agama ada penganut yang gila kuasa, tetapi ada ramai penganut yang percaya kepada persaudaraan dan persefahaman yang merentas sempadan kepercayaan. Keterbukaan bermaksud bahawa kita semua perlu menghormati pandangan dan pengalaman masing-masing. Pihak minoriti tidak sepatutnya dipaksa akur kepada kehendak "majoriti" jika kehendak ini tidak berprinsip. Apakah jika pihak majoriti mahu memancung kepala minoriti, pihak minoriti perlu menyerah saja?

Dan akhirnya, kita tidak boleh lupa bahawa pihak kerajaan dan institusi-institusi awam sepatutnya memelihara hak-hak kita semua, sama ada untuk bersuara, merujuk kepada mahkamah, berdemonstrasi secara aman, atau menganut kepercayaan masing-masing. Apabila pihak berkuasa sendiri tidak menjalankan tanggungjawab ini, ia bukan lagi merupakan soal "dakyah" atau "kepercayaan" yang terpesong — ia menjadi isu kewarganegaraan, yakni penyalahgunaan kuasa oleh kerajaan.

Muslims Have No Monopoly over ‘Allah’

From Wall Street journal

By Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysia has once again resurfaced in international headlines for the wrong reasons. Over the last two weeks, arsonists and vandals attacked 10 places of worship, including Christian churches and Sikh temples. Though there were no injuries and the material damage is reparable, the same cannot be said about the emotional and psychological scars left behind. After numerous conflicting statements from government officials, the underlying causes of the violence are still unaddressed. Malaysia’s reputation as a nation at peace with its ethnic and religious diversity is at stake.

Malaysia’s poor handling of religious and sectarian issues is not unique. The ill treatment of minority groups in Muslim countries is often worse than the actions Muslims decry in the West. I have called attention to the broader need in the Muslim world for leadership that demonstrates consistency and credibility in our call for justice, fairness and pluralism. These values are embedded in the Islamic tradition as the higher objectives of Shariah expounded by the 12th-century jurist al-Shatibi.

We have seen Muslims around the world protest against discriminatory laws passed in supposedly liberal and progressive countries in the West. Yet just as France and Germany have their issues with the burqa and Switzerland with its minarets, so too does Malaysia frequently fail to offer a safe and secure environment that accommodates its minority communities.

The recent arson attacks exemplify what’s wrong with the way Malaysia regards its non-Muslim citizens. The attacks were provoked by a controversy over the use of the word “Allah” by Malaysia’s Christian community, which numbers over two million, or about 10% of the population. In late 2007, the Home Ministry banned the use of the word by the Herald, a Catholic newspaper, and later confiscated 15,000 copies of Malay-language Bibles imported from Indonesia in which the word for God is translated as “Allah.” A Dec. 31, 2009 ruling by the Kuala Lumpur High Court overruled the earlier ban, asserting constitutional guarantees regarding the freedom of religion in Malaysia. Since then, an already tense situation boiled over, largely due to incitement by a few reckless politicians, the mainstream media and a handful of nongovernmental organizations linked by membership and leadership to the United Malays National Organization, the ruling party.

For example, Utusan Malaysia, the nation’s largest Malay-language daily—which is also owned by UMNO—has inflamed Muslim religious sentiments by accusing non-Muslims of desecrating the name of the “Muslim” God and alleging a Christian conspiracy to overrun this predominantly Muslim nation through conversion. I have seen these incendiary propaganda techniques used before, when politicians and demagogues exploit public sentiment to garner support by fomenting fear. Such tactics are useful diversions from embarrassing scandals ranging from controversial court decisions, to allegations of exorbitant commissions extracted from military procurements, to the theft of two jet engines from the inventory of the Royal Malaysian Air Force. This behavior has been exacerbated since the ruling party lost its two-thirds majority in parliament last year. UMNO is now desperately struggling to regain public support.

Few Muslims around the world would endorse the claim that we have a monopoly on the word “Allah.” It is accepted that the word was already in the lexicon of pre-Islamic Arabs. Arabic’s sister Semitic languages also refer to God as “Allah”: namely, “Elaha” in Aramaic, and “Elohim” in Hebrew. Historical manuscripts prove that Arabic-speaking Muslims, Christian and Jews have collectively prayed to God, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, as “Allah” for over 1,400 years. The history of Islam in Southeast Asia is known for its pluralistic and inclusive traditions, and amicable relations between Muslims and non-Muslims have been the norm for generations.

Muslim scholars outside of Malaysia thus find our “Allah” issue absurd and cannot fathom why it has sparked protest and outrage. Minority Muslim populations living in the West, particularly in the aftermath of 9/11, have diligently tried to remind the public that Muslims, Christians and Jews share common Abrahamic roots and ultimately worship the same God.

Local sensitivities have been aroused over this issue. They should be handled through dialogue and engagement. Instead of permeating a sense of insecurity or a siege mentality, Muslims must be encouraged to engage and present their concerns to the Christians in a constructive manner. The example of Muslim Spain is a moment in our history to which Malaysian Muslims should aspire. But efforts toward fostering a convivencia are not only found in the past. The ongoing “Common Word” initiative, a global effort launched in 2007 that captured the support of over 130 of the world’s most prominent Muslim scholars, has made historic progress towards building goodwill among Muslims and Christians to find ways to live in sincere peace and harmony. It is ironic that noble efforts such as these are being undone by the actions of Muslims themselves.

Malaysia’s international reputation has taken a beating since Prime Minister Najib Razak was sworn in last year. Despite his efforts to promote national unity, news about the caning of a young Muslim woman charged with drinking, the mutilation of a cow head in protest of the construction of a Hindu temple, ill treatment of Muslim converts who revert to their earlier faith and even the outlawing of the practice of yoga by Muslims have many at home and abroad wondering which direction Malaysia is headed under Mr. Najib’s leadership. There are already misgivings about governance, human rights, the rule of law and rampant corruption; Malaysia dropped 10 spots on Transparency International’s 2009 Corruption Perception Index, our worst showing in over 15 years. The vision of Malaysia as a peaceful and stable location for investment, tourism and migration is now in peril.

This matters most for Malaysians who have to contend with an increasingly polarized social and political landscape. Malaysia cannot afford to be held hostage by the vested interests of a few who manipulate faith and identity as a means to elicit fear for political and economic gain. This is old politics, and it has become clear that those who incite hatred are only doing so to prolong their monopoly on power. The majority of Malaysians reject this approach. They realize that overcoming the challenges we face—a stagnant economy, declining educational standards and rising crime—depends on our ability as a nation to internalize and make real the principles of fairness and justice to all.

Malaysia Loses a Founding Father

By Asia Sentinel
ImageGhazali Shafie, aged 87

Tan Sri Mohamad Ghazali Shafie, universally known simply as Ghaz, who died January 24 at 87 in his home in Kuala Lumpur, was one of the last surviving integral players of Malaysia's independence era. But he was neither a Malay aristocrat leader in the early days of UMNO and the independence movement nor a grassroots politician in the style of Mahathir Mohamad or Musa Hitam. Ghaz made a transition from intellectual civil servant to politician but always seemed more at home in the kind of ruthless internal politics of institutions than arousing the passions of the kampongs.

As a young man, originally educated at Raffles College in Singapore, he is believed to have played some role for the British during the Japanese occupation. After the war he got an education in the UK then joined the civil service. On independence he joined the foreign ministry and at the age of 35 became its top permanent official, a position he held until 1970, playing a particularly key role during konfrontasi and the subsequent formation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

However, his ambitions could not be contained by the civil service. He entered politics in the wake of the 1969 riots and as a protégé of Tun Razak, father of the current prime minister, became a minister and later Home Minister. Despite his lack of an UMNO grass roots base he set his hopes on becoming prime minister. During the tenure of the honest but sometimes naïve Hussein Onn he abused his position as Home Minister by arranging the jailing of senior figures associated with rivals.

Ghazali's most prominent victims were Abdullah Ahmed, Abdullah Majid and Samad Ismail, three high profile UMNO figures who were accused of promoting communism. This was at a time when, in the wake of Communist triumphs in Indochina and a revival of the Communist Party of Malaya activities in Malaysia an anti-communist drive seemed to have credibility. Although Samad and Abdullah Majid had been linked to the communists during the 1950s independence movement, the assertion 20 years on that the three were in league with the Soviet and/or China was a brazen fabrication. Ghazali even tried to implicate both Mahathir and Musa in similar subversive activities but could not produce enough evidence to convince Hussein Onn.

On the latter's death and Mahathir's succession, Ghazali was moved to the Foreign Ministry, a position of some prestige but no political power. His successor in the Home Ministry, Musa Hitam, soon released the above three persons and various others detained under the ISA as part of Ghazali's scheme to maneuver himself into the top office on the back of a supposed anti-communist drive.

His final claim to fame was surviving a helicopter crash in the jungle near his home town of Kuala Lipis which killed his copilot and aide-de-camp. The local newspapers devoted pages of coverage to his death, "Ghaz Lives!" was the memorable headline when he was walked out of the jungle.

But his political career was already on its last legs. Mahathir dispensed with his services in 1984. Thus ended the career of a highly intelligent and often charming man who contributed much to Malaysia and to regional peace. But he was also one, like too many others in UMNO, who would use trumped up charges and lengthy prison terms against rivals in his own thirst for power.

Religious Freedom, Tolerance, Peace And Fairness -- Bedrock Of The Country

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- Religious freedom, tolerance, peace and fairness -- values which Malaysians hold dear -- remain the bedrock of the country despite the recent vandalism of churches and other places of worship, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

The prime minsiter said the diversity of Malaysia's population was the true strength of the country and, across races and religions, this was the foundation upon which the government would advance 1Malaysia.

"It represents a great challenge but, together, it can be our greatest achievement," he wrote in the opinion segment of The Wall Street Journal published today.

Najib said he was convinced that the vandalism of places of worship and arson at the Metro Tabernacle Church recently, and the powerful response from everyday Malaysians "can be transformed into a moment from which we can learn".

"We will bring the perpetrators to justice. But this will also be a time when we stand united as one people to unequivocally denounce violence and reaffirm that we remain committed to the national drive we call '1Malaysia'," he said.

Najib said that in contrast to the impressions left by some international reporting in the hours and days after the recent vandalism of churches and other places of worship in the country, the true spirit of the nation had shone through.

"Across religions and races, Malaysians have spoken with a unified voice in condemning the despicable acts of a few, and citizens have joined as one to assert that vandalism was never an acceptable way to express diverse views or resolve differences.

"Muslim groups volunteered to safeguard churches in their towns. Muslim social activists have written petitions to oppose these senseless acts of vandalism. Muslim civic groups are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Christians, Hindus and Buddhists to ensure that all people can freeely worship as they wish."

On the other hand, he said, Christian and civic leaders had called for calm and interfaith dialogue as they were fully aware that those who perpetrated these acts did not represent the Muslim majority in Malaysia.

He said Malaysia was not the first country where a few individuals committed criminal acts under the false pretence of supporting a particular religion and the country would work together to resolve the issue.

Many Malaysians, he said, had been appalled by the irresponsible and dangerous finger-pointing of a few politicians who put personal political interest before the national interest by trying to score political points by hammering on sensitive issues.

"(But) my government chooses a different path," he said.

In this context, the government would reach out to all parts of the Malaysian society in the coming days to foster open dialogue and work to resolve sensitive issues.

Najib also said that the country must resolve to maintain a fair and open society where there was opportunity for all Malaysians to flourish.

Reforms have been undertaken, such as liberalising ownership requirements in key sectors of the economy, encouraging foreign direct investments, creating 1Malaysia clinics to provide access to health care and extending educational opportunities to all Malaysians.

However, these reforms had sometimes been politically difficult.

"But they are important because the long-term health of Malaysia's society and economy can only be built on what unites us rather that what divides us. We will not waver from the pursuit of 1Malaysia," he said of the vision he had for a strong and fair Malaysia.

Landowners still not fully secure — Shanmuga K

The Malaysian Insider

JAN 25 — The unanimous decision of the Federal Court in Tan Ying Hong vTan Sian San & 2 Ors (Federal Court Civil Appeal No. 02(f)-19-2009(C), Decided 21.01.2010) has corrected a very grave error in the law.

The position of the law is succinctly stated, and understandable to the lay person, in the concurring judgment of the Chief Justice, Tun Zaki Tun Azmi. For lawyers, the grounds of decision of the Chief Judge of Malaya, Tan Sri Ariffin Zakaria (who delivered the judgment of the Court) gives the legal background and the correct state of the law in succinct terms.

The bane that was Adorna Properties has finally been put to rest.

For a good analysis, see Roger Tan’s commentary at the Malaysian Bar Website where he points out that landowners can still be deprived of their property:

It is apposite to note that in every land scam like in Adorna Properties, there are two victims involved – the genuine landowner and the bona fide purchaser.

As everyone is either a landowner or a purchaser or both, it is indeed a balancing act when deciding whose interest requires more protection and to what extent the landowner should be protected in the entire chain of dealings.

In doing so, it must be borne in mind that if protection is given solely and wholly to the landowner, then Malaysia may not be so conducive for property investments.

In this respect, countries which practise immediate indefeasibility such as Australia, New Zealand and Singapore have an assurance fund to compensate victims of land scams.

That said, as land is a State matter here, implementation of such a fund may not be so straightforward.

Using the Chief Justice’s example, A is the registered proprietor, B the 1st purchaser and C the 2nd purchaser.

What Tan Ying Hong re-establishes is that B cannot get good title even if it is a bona fide purchaser for value without notice of the impropriety in A’s title.

However, if C is such a purchaser – one who buys or lend money on good faith and without notice of the impropriety – then C gets good title, and A who was originally the proprietor who has been swindled out of his property has no recourse.

It might be surprising to some, but when you buy a house with a bank loan, there are in fact two transactions in place. One is the sale and purchase and the other is the loan. Where there is landed property, invariably there is a Transfer document registered in the land office to put the property in the new buyer’s name.

There is also a Charge registered in the land office giving the bank a right to sell the Property if the buyer defaults on his loan. In the Charge transaction, the bank is also considered a “purchaser” of the land for the purposes of the National Land Code, and would be C in our scenario above. Hence, if B got the land in his name through a forged instrument but then signed the Charge document, C would be considered a bona fide purchaser for value without notice. The registered proprietor could still lose his land, unless he pays off the bank loan to C.

Thus, it must be remembered that although Tan Ying Hong correctly restores the balance that the drafters of the National Land Code struck, your land could still disapper. So there is still a need to be vigilant. — loyarburok.com

Umno bapak kepada segala bapak pengkhianat ?


Chegu Bard - UMNO lah Bapak Segala Pengkhianat from TVceramah on Vimeo.



Saifudin Nasution - Konspirasi Liwat II edisi 09/10 from TVceramah on Vimeo.



ucapan 24 Januari di Taman Bandar Baru Padang Lalang, Sg. Petani

France moves closer to ban on burqas

France is home to about 3.5 million Muslims -- or 6 percent of the population.
France is home to about 3.5 million
Muslims -- or 6 percent of the population.

Paris, France (CNN) -- French lawmakers could recommend Tuesday that the fiercely secular country ban the burqa, the full-body covering worn by some Muslim women.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy controversially told lawmakers in June that the traditional Muslim garment was "not welcome" in France.

"The problem of the burqa is not a religious problem. This is an issue of a woman's freedom and dignity. This is not a religious symbol. It is a sign of subservience; it is a sign of lowering. I want to say solemnly, the burqa is not welcome in France," Sarkozy said.

A day later, the French National Assembly announced the creation of an inquiry into whether women in France should be allowed to wear the covering.

A cross-party panel of 32 lawmakers has been studying whether the burqa poses a threat to France's constitutionally-mandated secularism. A ban could make it impossible for women who wear the burqa to receive any public services, from buying a bus ticket to picking up a child at school.

Some members of parliament want to go even further with a law that might make wearing a full veil subject to a $1,000 fine.

"You know, it is not only an article of clothing to hide your face," said parliamentary majority leader Jean-Francois Cope. "I am sorry, it's a choice which is not compatible with the rules of the republic."

Within days of Sarkozy's announcement, al Qaeda threatened to "take revenge" on France "by every means and wherever we can reach them," according to a statement posted on radical Islamist Web sites.

Connect the World: Is it right to ban the burqa?

"We will not tolerate such provocations and injustices, and we will take our revenge from France," said the statement, signed by Abu Musab Abdul Wadud, calling himself "commander of al Qaeda in North Africa [Islamic Maghreb]."

But more than half of French people support the ban, according to a recent opinion poll. The Ipsos poll for Le Point magazine found 57 percent of French people said it should be illegal to appear in public wearing clothes that cover the face, like the burqa.

That's despite government estimates that less than 2,000 women in the country actually wear the full Islamic veil.

France has about 3.5 million Muslims, representing about 6 percent of the population, according to research by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. The country does not collect its own statistics on religion in accordance with laws enshrining France's status as a secular state.

French lawmakers believe the burqa is a growing phenomenon beneath which lies a not-so-subtle message of fundamentalism.

Those who advocate the ban say women are often forced to wear full veils by the men around them -- husbands, fathers or brothers -- and that it is a sign of subjugation.

However, women who actually wear the veils deny that.

"You are going to isolate these women and then you can't say that it is Islam that has denied them freedom, but that the law has," said Mabrouka Boujnah, a language teacher of Tunisian origin.

Boujnah, who at 28 is about to have her first child, says she came to wearing a full veil gradually, after wearing headscarves as an teenager. She believes a law like the one being discussed will take away fundamental rights of Muslim women.

She and her friend Oumkheyr say they prefer to cover their faces out of piety.

Oumkheyr, in her 40s and unmarried, says she even has friends who wear full veils against the wishes of their husbands. Oumkheyr, who is from Algeria, would not give her last name.

The women, both French citizens, say they are only following their religious beliefs and France should respect that.

But even some Muslims here think the full veil goes too far.

There is nothing in Quran that directs women to cover their faces, said Imam Hassen Chalghoumi, who runs the Islamic center in Drancy, a Paris suburb. He said it is ridiculous to do so in France.

While French lawmakers from both left- and right-wing parties seem ready to pass at least a resolution discouraging the full veil in public places, it's a choice Boujnah and Oumkheyr say they will continue to make. They pair say they will willingly show their faces for identification purposes -- but if it comes to it, they will break any law that runs contrary to their religious beliefs..

At the very least any law directed at full veils is likely to be challenged in the courts both here and at the European level. What's more, even police find it hard to imagine how they could -- or would -- enforce such a ban.

In 2004, the French parliament passed legislation banning Muslim girls from wearing headscarves in state schools, prompting widespread Muslim protests. The law also banned other conspicuous religious symbols including Sikh turbans, large Christian crucifixes and Jewish skull caps.

In 2008, France's top court denied a Moroccan woman's naturalization request on the grounds that she wore a burqa.

France is not the only European Union country to consider banning the burqa. Dutch lawmakers voted in favor of a ban in 2005, although the government at the time left office before legislation could be passed.