Saturday, 26 April 2014
Violence against Pakistan minorities rising alarmingly: rights group
Islamabad: Sectarian killings rose by more than a fifth in Pakistan
last year, a leading rights group said Thursday, warning of an alarming
increase in violence against religious minorities.The independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said 687 people were killed in more than 200 sectarian attacks last year, a rise of 22 percent on 2012.
Indian Mujahideen planned fidayeen attack on gathering of Bollywood stars
The
outfit under the leadership of Yasin Bhatkal had planned suicide
mission to
target Bollywood stars as they believed that the film
industry was corrupting the youth.
NEW DELHI: Indian Mujahideen leader Tehsin Akhtar alias Monu, who was allegedly handling its affairs since Yasin Bhatkal's arrest last year, has made a startling revelation during interrogation that the terror outfit had planned to launch a fidayeen attack on a gathering of Bollywood stars.
The outfit under the leadership of Yasin Bhatkal had planned suicide mission to target a huge gathering of Bollywood stars as they believed that the film industry was corrupting the youth by showing nudity and other things, sources said. The idea was to cause maximum damage to the entertainment industry by attacking a host of stars in one strike.
While Bollywood stars have in the past received individual threats from the underworld mafia and gangsters, it is for the first time that a terror outfit is said to have been planning a full-fledged attack. The revelation has shocked the investigators as IM's targets so far have been foreigners, tourist places, religious places, government establishments and crowded places like markets.
Without giving the exact dates, Tehsin told his interrogators, "One day, Yasin, Haddi (Assadullah Akhtar), Waqas (Zia-Ur-Rehman) and I discussed about the possibility of conducting fidayeen attacks. Yasin was interested in carrying out fidayeen attacks on film stars."
Tehsin said, "The logic given by Yasin was that the film industry was misguiding people by showing nudity and other things which was corrupting the youth. The idea was to target a possible gathering of stars so that maximum casualty could be inflicted."
"While Yasin very much wanted this kind of attack, he was also aware that it was premature for the outfit to carry out a fidayeen strike since it was yet equipped to do so. Yasin felt that idea of fidayeen attack was premature as IM's membership was too meagre (sic) to create any meaningful impact," Tehsin told his interrogators, as quoted by an intelligence officer.
Sources said Tehsin didn't remember the date of planning, but told the sleuths that it was sometime in 2011 around the time a crackdown was launched on IM members in Delhi and Bihar.
Tehsin, who was arrested near Indo-Nepal border last month, is presently in the custody of Delhi Police's Special Cell alongwith Waqas and other members of Rajasthan module. Cops plan to confront him with Yasin and Assadullah Akhtar alias Haddi in a few days. Both Haddi and Yasin, arrested on August 27 last year from Nepal, are lodged in Tihar jail.
A security expert said although all the important IM members have been arrested in the last few months including, including Haddi, Tehsin and Waqas, there are chances that Yasin may have discussed his plans with Riyaz Bhatkal and other absconding members. "Yasin was very secretive about his plans and actions with every module. During interrogation, Tehsin said he didn't know if anybody else also knew about these deadly plans," said the officer.
Tehsin is suspected to have revived IM's relations with SIMI and also helped the suspects in Patna serial blasts and Bodh Gaya blasts last year. He was said to be in regular touch with Riyaz Bhatkal through chats and planned a major strike in Delhi, Jodhpur, Agra and other places along with Waqas and Rajasthan module. He was arrested on March 24 from Indo-Nepal border.
Obama to meet Putrajaya’s critics during weekend visit, say activists
US President Barack Obama will meet representatives of a range of civil-society groups – including
US President Barack Obama will meet representatives of a range of
civil-society groups – including some which have harshly criticised
Malaysia's government – when he visits the country this weekend,
activists told AFP today. – Reuters pic, April 25, 2014.some which have harshly criticised Malaysia's government – when he visits the country this weekend, activists said.
Obama aims to strengthen ties with Muslim-majority Malaysia when he arrives tomorrow for a two-night stay, the first visit by a serving US president since 1966.
But he also will meet briefly on Sunday with nine leading activists and a Christian leader, said Farouk Musa, head of a moderate Muslim group and one of the invitees.
The activists will include representatives of the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections, or Bersih , an election reform movement whose supporters have clashed with authorities in huge recent protests.
The US has offered praise for Malaysia as a moderate Muslim, multi-faith country. But Human Rights Watch today urged Obama to "speak loudly" on rights in Malaysia, whose 57-year-old Muslim-dominated ruling coalition is accused by critics of clamping down on opponents and presiding over worsening religious intolerance.
"President Obama needs to take up concerns that basic rights are under threat, and that civil society is squeezed between restrictive laws and abusive government implementation," said John Sifton, the group's Asia advocacy director.
Bersih has brought tens of thousands to the streets, most recently in April 2012, in a series of demonstrations in recent years to protest an electoral system which it says is rigged to keep the coalition in power.
Each of the three Bersih demonstrations resulted in violent clashes with police.
In elections last year, the opposition led by Anwar Ibrahim won the majority of the popular vote for the first time ever but still failed to secure a parliamentary majority.
The US embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the meeting.
Activists said Obama will also meet representatives of organisations including the Malaysian Human Rights Commission, the Council of Churches and a leading moderate Muslim group, among others.
Sifton called on Obama to meet Anwar, who faces five years in jail for a March sodomy conviction widely considered politically motivated.
US officials have said Obama will not meet Anwar, who is free on appeal, but that National Security Advisor Susan Rice would do so. – AFP, April 25, 2014.
US President Barack Obama will meet representatives of a range of
civil-society groups – including some which have harshly criticised
Malaysia's government – when he visits the country this weekend,
activists told AFP today. – Reuters pic, April 25, 2014.some which have harshly criticised Malaysia's government – when he visits the country this weekend, activists said.Obama aims to strengthen ties with Muslim-majority Malaysia when he arrives tomorrow for a two-night stay, the first visit by a serving US president since 1966.
But he also will meet briefly on Sunday with nine leading activists and a Christian leader, said Farouk Musa, head of a moderate Muslim group and one of the invitees.
The activists will include representatives of the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections, or Bersih , an election reform movement whose supporters have clashed with authorities in huge recent protests.
The US has offered praise for Malaysia as a moderate Muslim, multi-faith country. But Human Rights Watch today urged Obama to "speak loudly" on rights in Malaysia, whose 57-year-old Muslim-dominated ruling coalition is accused by critics of clamping down on opponents and presiding over worsening religious intolerance.
"President Obama needs to take up concerns that basic rights are under threat, and that civil society is squeezed between restrictive laws and abusive government implementation," said John Sifton, the group's Asia advocacy director.
Bersih has brought tens of thousands to the streets, most recently in April 2012, in a series of demonstrations in recent years to protest an electoral system which it says is rigged to keep the coalition in power.
Each of the three Bersih demonstrations resulted in violent clashes with police.
In elections last year, the opposition led by Anwar Ibrahim won the majority of the popular vote for the first time ever but still failed to secure a parliamentary majority.
The US embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the meeting.
Activists said Obama will also meet representatives of organisations including the Malaysian Human Rights Commission, the Council of Churches and a leading moderate Muslim group, among others.
Sifton called on Obama to meet Anwar, who faces five years in jail for a March sodomy conviction widely considered politically motivated.
US officials have said Obama will not meet Anwar, who is free on appeal, but that National Security Advisor Susan Rice would do so. – AFP, April 25, 2014.
‘Why dilly-dally on temple issue?’
Any delay will only open doors for more people to discriminate against the disabled, says wheelchair-bound activist Anthony Thanasayan.
PETALING JAYA: Former PJ councillor Anthony Thanasayan lashed out at Bukit Gasing state assemblyman, Rajiv Rishyakaran, for his inaction against a temple that victimised the disabled.
The Hindu temple, located on Bukit Gasing, had barred wheelchair-bound devotees from entering the temple proper to offer their prayers.
Anthony said he was disappointed with the DAP state assemblyman for skirting the issue.
He said was important for the state assemblyman to take action as the delay will only “open doors for people to discriminate against the disabled”.
“I voted for him in the last general election. Rest assured I would not be voting for him again,” he said.
Rajiv, on his Facebook page today, said he did not intend to wash his hands off the matter, adding that he had spoken to the temple chairman and has scheduled a meeting with the temple committee.
“I fully understand and feel for the disabled community. They have already been dealt a tough hand, and should not be penalised or excluded for their disabilities. It is beyond horrible,” he said.
Wheelchairs a necessity to some
Anthony, however, said that Rajiv or the authorities did not have to wait for the committee to decide on the matter.
“Why wait to take action on this issue when he can make statements on other issues? He should just come out and say that he will not tolerate such discrimination.
“If he goes to the church and people discriminate him based on his looks, how would he feel?” asked Anthony, and lamented that Rajiv could never ‘fully understand’ unless he himself used a wheelchair.
“Rajiv says that it is beyond horrible, so why isn’t he condemning and naming the temple?”
Rajiv said the incident had made him realise how organised religions have practised discrimination but Anthony was quick to add it was not a religious issue as other temples allow the use of wheelchairs.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Animal Welfare Society president, Shenaaz Khan, said the temple committee should severely be dealt with and reminded that wheelchairs are not a luxury but a necessity to some.
She added that for the temple to cite space and cleanliness as justification for denying the disabled entry was blatant discrimination and “reflects the indifference borne by the committee members”.
“While we celebrate the late Karpal Singh, those in a similar are being discriminated against by this temple. I cannot imagine a gurdwara refusing him entry or any wheelchair-bound individual,” she said.
The temple in question had put up a signboard detailing the rules devotees need to adhere to during visits there.
One of the rules of on temple’s notice board explicitly says: “Wheelchairs are not permitted within temple premises as with the general rule of shoes and slippers.”
The Hindu temple, located on Bukit Gasing, had barred wheelchair-bound devotees from entering the temple proper to offer their prayers.
Anthony said he was disappointed with the DAP state assemblyman for skirting the issue.
He said was important for the state assemblyman to take action as the delay will only “open doors for people to discriminate against the disabled”.
“I voted for him in the last general election. Rest assured I would not be voting for him again,” he said.
Rajiv, on his Facebook page today, said he did not intend to wash his hands off the matter, adding that he had spoken to the temple chairman and has scheduled a meeting with the temple committee.
“I fully understand and feel for the disabled community. They have already been dealt a tough hand, and should not be penalised or excluded for their disabilities. It is beyond horrible,” he said.
Wheelchairs a necessity to some
Anthony, however, said that Rajiv or the authorities did not have to wait for the committee to decide on the matter.
“Why wait to take action on this issue when he can make statements on other issues? He should just come out and say that he will not tolerate such discrimination.
“If he goes to the church and people discriminate him based on his looks, how would he feel?” asked Anthony, and lamented that Rajiv could never ‘fully understand’ unless he himself used a wheelchair.
“Rajiv says that it is beyond horrible, so why isn’t he condemning and naming the temple?”
Rajiv said the incident had made him realise how organised religions have practised discrimination but Anthony was quick to add it was not a religious issue as other temples allow the use of wheelchairs.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Animal Welfare Society president, Shenaaz Khan, said the temple committee should severely be dealt with and reminded that wheelchairs are not a luxury but a necessity to some.
She added that for the temple to cite space and cleanliness as justification for denying the disabled entry was blatant discrimination and “reflects the indifference borne by the committee members”.
“While we celebrate the late Karpal Singh, those in a similar are being discriminated against by this temple. I cannot imagine a gurdwara refusing him entry or any wheelchair-bound individual,” she said.
The temple in question had put up a signboard detailing the rules devotees need to adhere to during visits there.
One of the rules of on temple’s notice board explicitly says: “Wheelchairs are not permitted within temple premises as with the general rule of shoes and slippers.”
DAP cabar PAS: Keluar Pakatan kalau mahu hudud
Tindakan persendirian PAS untuk melaksanakan hudud mencabul perjanjian dasar bersama Pakatan Rakyat, Buku Jingga.
PETALING JAYA: Ahli Parlimen Seremban Anthony Loke mahu PAS berundur dari Pakatan Rakyat sekiranya ia tetap berdegil untuk melaksanakan hukuman hudud di Kelantan.
“Sekiranya PAS bertegas untuk membuat sebarang keputusan dan tindakan tanpa mencapai keputusan bersama dalam Pakatan Rakyat, maka langkah paling terhormat dan sewajarnya untuk PAS ialah berundur dari Pakatan,” kata Loke dalam satu nota yang ditulis beliau menerusi laman sesawang Facebook.
“PAS tidak boleh terus bertindak bertentangan dengan dasar bersama Pakatan Rakyat tetapi pada masa yang sama tetap bersandar kepada Pakatan Rakyat,” tambahnya.
Menurut Loke yang juga adalah setiausaha organisasi kebangsaan DAP, penegasan persendirian pimpinan kerajaan Kelantan tanpa mencapai kata sepakat bersamaan dengan mencabul permuafakatan Pakatan Rakyat.
Beliau berkata demikian sambil merujuk kepada usaha PAS untuk mengemukakan rang undang-undang persendirian menerusi ahli parlimen PAS Kelantan di Dewan Rakyat dalam bulan Jun.
Beliau turut menjelaskan bahawa penentangan DAP terhadap hukum hudud bukan kerana parti beliau bersifat anti-Islam.
“DAP tidak pernah mempersendakan hukum Islam untuk menimbulkan ketakutan dalam kalangan masyarakat bukan Islam terhadap agama Islam sebagaimana yang dilakukan oleh para pemimpin MCA,” jelasnya.
Beliau turut menyatakan kesediaan DAP untuk mengikis ketakutan masyarakat bukan Islam terhadap PAS dan Islam agar parti Islam tersebut diterima oleh seluruh masyarakat Malaysia.
Di samping itu Loke turut mengingatkan PAS mengenai dasar bersama Pakatan Rakyat iaitu Buku Jingga yang dipersetujui oleh DAP, PAS dan PKR semasa konvensyen Pakatan Rakyat pertama dalam tahun 2009.
Kelantan telahpun meluluskan enakmen Kanun Jenayah Syariah (Hudud dan Qisas) pada tahun 1993 dan di Terengganu pada tahun 2002.
Loke menambah penentangan DAP terhadap hudud adalah berasaskan perlembagaan. Perlembagaan persekutuan menytakan bahawa pelaksanaan undang-undang jenayah terletak di bawah bidang kuasa kerajaan persekutuan.
“Sekiranya PAS bertegas untuk membuat sebarang keputusan dan tindakan tanpa mencapai keputusan bersama dalam Pakatan Rakyat, maka langkah paling terhormat dan sewajarnya untuk PAS ialah berundur dari Pakatan,” kata Loke dalam satu nota yang ditulis beliau menerusi laman sesawang Facebook.
“PAS tidak boleh terus bertindak bertentangan dengan dasar bersama Pakatan Rakyat tetapi pada masa yang sama tetap bersandar kepada Pakatan Rakyat,” tambahnya.
Menurut Loke yang juga adalah setiausaha organisasi kebangsaan DAP, penegasan persendirian pimpinan kerajaan Kelantan tanpa mencapai kata sepakat bersamaan dengan mencabul permuafakatan Pakatan Rakyat.
Beliau berkata demikian sambil merujuk kepada usaha PAS untuk mengemukakan rang undang-undang persendirian menerusi ahli parlimen PAS Kelantan di Dewan Rakyat dalam bulan Jun.
Beliau turut menjelaskan bahawa penentangan DAP terhadap hukum hudud bukan kerana parti beliau bersifat anti-Islam.
“DAP tidak pernah mempersendakan hukum Islam untuk menimbulkan ketakutan dalam kalangan masyarakat bukan Islam terhadap agama Islam sebagaimana yang dilakukan oleh para pemimpin MCA,” jelasnya.
Beliau turut menyatakan kesediaan DAP untuk mengikis ketakutan masyarakat bukan Islam terhadap PAS dan Islam agar parti Islam tersebut diterima oleh seluruh masyarakat Malaysia.
Di samping itu Loke turut mengingatkan PAS mengenai dasar bersama Pakatan Rakyat iaitu Buku Jingga yang dipersetujui oleh DAP, PAS dan PKR semasa konvensyen Pakatan Rakyat pertama dalam tahun 2009.
Kelantan telahpun meluluskan enakmen Kanun Jenayah Syariah (Hudud dan Qisas) pada tahun 1993 dan di Terengganu pada tahun 2002.
Loke menambah penentangan DAP terhadap hudud adalah berasaskan perlembagaan. Perlembagaan persekutuan menytakan bahawa pelaksanaan undang-undang jenayah terletak di bawah bidang kuasa kerajaan persekutuan.
‘Even without hudud, non-Muslims are affected’
Only a simple majority is needed to amend the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code to include Islamic criminal laws.
GEORGE TOWN: Syariah family laws are already affecting non-Muslims as can been seen in several court cases now, and the Kelantan Hudud Bill, if passed, will affect all Malaysians, said Gerakan national legal and human rights bureau chairman Baljit Singh.
Baljit said only a simple majority was needed to amend the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) to include Islamic criminal laws and this could also affect other states not just Kelantan.
“It can be implemented across the country by simple majority amendments to the country’s existing criminal laws such as Penal Code and CPC.
“Non-Muslims should not think that hudud will not affect them because we Malaysians live side by side,” he said.
He said Muslims MPs from Umno, PKR, Sabah and Sarawak would be put in a spot to vote for the Hudud Bill or in support of any amendment to federal statutes – Penal Code and CPC to implement Islamic criminal laws.
He called on all BN MPs to put aside party interests and vote against the Hudud Bill to safeguard national interests.
“Voting against hudud is not an un-Islamic act,” said Baljit told a press conference at Penang Club today.
He said the country would be further polarised along racial and religious lines if PAS had its way to pass its Private Member’s Bill to implement hudud law.
He agreed with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak that the country was not ready for hudud.
He said DAP had even convinced non-Muslims to vote for PAS by claiming only corrupted politicians, thieves and rapists should be worried about hudud.
Since DAP convinced non-Muslims to vote for PAS in the last general election, Baljit said the party owed a public duty to stop the bill from being tabled and avoid an imminent political crisis.
Baljit said only a simple majority was needed to amend the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) to include Islamic criminal laws and this could also affect other states not just Kelantan.
“It can be implemented across the country by simple majority amendments to the country’s existing criminal laws such as Penal Code and CPC.
“Non-Muslims should not think that hudud will not affect them because we Malaysians live side by side,” he said.
He said Muslims MPs from Umno, PKR, Sabah and Sarawak would be put in a spot to vote for the Hudud Bill or in support of any amendment to federal statutes – Penal Code and CPC to implement Islamic criminal laws.
He called on all BN MPs to put aside party interests and vote against the Hudud Bill to safeguard national interests.
“Voting against hudud is not an un-Islamic act,” said Baljit told a press conference at Penang Club today.
He said the country would be further polarised along racial and religious lines if PAS had its way to pass its Private Member’s Bill to implement hudud law.
He agreed with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak that the country was not ready for hudud.
He said DAP had even convinced non-Muslims to vote for PAS by claiming only corrupted politicians, thieves and rapists should be worried about hudud.
Since DAP convinced non-Muslims to vote for PAS in the last general election, Baljit said the party owed a public duty to stop the bill from being tabled and avoid an imminent political crisis.
Suhakam seeks PSC on human rights
It'll be a first step towards full parliamentary debate, says chief commissioner Hasmy Agam.
KUALA LUMPUR: Suhakam has proposed that Parliament set up a select committee (PSC) on human rights as an interim measure towards full parliamentary debate on the issue.
Chief commissioner Hasmy Agam said today that he hoped one of the ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department would push the Cabinet to agree to the tabling of the proposal in Parliament.
He said some ministers in the PM’s Department had been supportive of the notion so far.
“Paul Low is in full support, Nancy Shukri accepts in principle,” he said. “But it’s not a foregone conclusion.”
The minister in charge of parliamentary affairs is Shahidan Kassim.
Hasmy said that the formation of a permanent PSC is a first step towards a full debate session.
“I have attended a PSC on another matter and the members are very non-partisan and are able to speak on sensitive issues,” he said.
He also said that debating national human rights institutions’ reports in parliament is a norm.
“We are one of the few who do not debate them,” said Hasmy.
Orang Asli land rights
Meanwhile on another issue, he hoped that the government’s special task force on Orang Asli land rights would support implementing Suhakam’s national inquiry report on the matter.
“The deadline is coming to an end soon. We are expecting the report to be out end of this month.
“If they accept a small number of our recommendations, we’ll start a campaign…I don’t think all the recommendations are accepted,” he said.
The government formed a national task force in August last year to study Suhakam’s 18 recommendations on Orang Asli land rights. Suhakam wanted to table its report in parliament but subsequently agreed to submit it to the government.
The task force is led by Integrity Institute of Malaysia chairman Mohd Tap Salleh and made up of government and NGO representatives from East and West Malaysia.
Ratify human rights conventions
Hasmy also reminded the government to ratify the four international human rights conventions for which the government had committed to look into.
The four are International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, International Covenant on Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Convention against Torture
“In a few years’ time we will attain a developed nation status. How would the rest of the world perceive us if we do not even ratify them?
“We are members of the United Nations. It is a norm though not legally binding to accept the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the conventions.
He added that the failure to accept the conventions would lead to pressure from the international community.
Hasmy added that Malaysia received a total of 232 recommendations during the Universal Periodic Review session in Geneva last month.
“We only accepted 113 fully without reservations, 37 partially and 22 in principle.”
Other recommendations were rejected totally.
Chief commissioner Hasmy Agam said today that he hoped one of the ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department would push the Cabinet to agree to the tabling of the proposal in Parliament.
He said some ministers in the PM’s Department had been supportive of the notion so far.
“Paul Low is in full support, Nancy Shukri accepts in principle,” he said. “But it’s not a foregone conclusion.”
The minister in charge of parliamentary affairs is Shahidan Kassim.
Hasmy said that the formation of a permanent PSC is a first step towards a full debate session.
“I have attended a PSC on another matter and the members are very non-partisan and are able to speak on sensitive issues,” he said.
He also said that debating national human rights institutions’ reports in parliament is a norm.
“We are one of the few who do not debate them,” said Hasmy.
Orang Asli land rights
Meanwhile on another issue, he hoped that the government’s special task force on Orang Asli land rights would support implementing Suhakam’s national inquiry report on the matter.
“The deadline is coming to an end soon. We are expecting the report to be out end of this month.
“If they accept a small number of our recommendations, we’ll start a campaign…I don’t think all the recommendations are accepted,” he said.
The government formed a national task force in August last year to study Suhakam’s 18 recommendations on Orang Asli land rights. Suhakam wanted to table its report in parliament but subsequently agreed to submit it to the government.
The task force is led by Integrity Institute of Malaysia chairman Mohd Tap Salleh and made up of government and NGO representatives from East and West Malaysia.
Ratify human rights conventions
Hasmy also reminded the government to ratify the four international human rights conventions for which the government had committed to look into.
The four are International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, International Covenant on Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Convention against Torture
“In a few years’ time we will attain a developed nation status. How would the rest of the world perceive us if we do not even ratify them?
“We are members of the United Nations. It is a norm though not legally binding to accept the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the conventions.
He added that the failure to accept the conventions would lead to pressure from the international community.
Hasmy added that Malaysia received a total of 232 recommendations during the Universal Periodic Review session in Geneva last month.
“We only accepted 113 fully without reservations, 37 partially and 22 in principle.”
Other recommendations were rejected totally.
Umat Islam tidak digalak ucap ‘Rest in Peace’
Ucapan tersebut mempunyai implikasi dari sudut akidah sekiranya tidak difahami secara jelas.
KUALA LUMPUR: Individu beragama Islam amat tidak digalakkan untuk mengucapkan ‘Rest in Peace’ (RIP) kepada seorang yang bukan Islam apabila berlaku kematian.
Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) Datuk Othman Mustapha berkata ucapan tersebut mempunyai implikasi dari sudut akidah sekiranya tidak difahami secara jelas kerana ia merupakan amalan keagamaan orang bukan Islam yang sepatutnya tidak diikuti oleh orang Islam.
“Dalam konteks ucapan Rest in Peace, ia adalah bentuk ucapan doa yang biasa diucapkan dalam agama Kristian terutama dalam mazhab Katolik sejak abad ke-18.
Ia juga biasanya diukir di batu nisan mereka yang telah meninggal dunia dalam kalangan masyarakat Kristian.
“Versi penuh ucapan tersebut yang berasal daripada bahasa Latin adalah ‘May his soul and the souls of all the departed faithful by God’s mercy rest in peace’. Ia juga mengandaikan orang bukan Islam tersebut akan mendapat rahmat daripada Tuhan sebagaimana doa asal yang disebut dalam bahasa Latin,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan di sini hari ini.
Beliau berkata demikian bagi menjelaskan Fatwa Malaysia dalam laman Facebooknya 17 April lalu berkenaan isu ucapan tersebut yang menimbulkan rasa tidak puas hati sesetengah pihak.
Hukum dan nasihat
Othman berkata penjelasan Fatwa Malaysia dalam laman sosial itu merupakan penjelasan hukum dan nasihat yang diberikan oleh Felo Fatwa berdasarkan kemusykilan dan persoalan yang dikemukakan masyarakat umum, dan ia bukan fatwa yang dikeluarkan Muzakarah Jawatankuasa Fatwa Kebangsaan.
Katanya, Islam melarang umatnya mendoakan untuk keampunan bagi orang bukan Islam seperti yang dijelaskan dalam al-Quran, Surah Taubah, ayat 113 dan dinyatakan juga oleh Imam an-Nawawi dalam Kitab al-Majmu.
Bagaimanapun, dalam masyarakat berbilang kaum dan agama seperti Malaysia, Islam tidak melarang umatnya mengucapkan rasa simpati terhadap keluarga orang bukan Islam yng meninggal dunia dengan ucapan yang tidak memberi implikasi keagamaan seperti ‘saya bersimpati dengan apa yang berlaku kepada anda’, katanya.
“Panduan hukum yang diberikan mengenai ‘Rest in Peace’ ini bukan merupakan fatwa, tetapi ia perlu dijadikan panduan oleh umat Islam kerana panduan ini berdasarkan nas-nas yang jelas selaras dengan hukum syarak,” katanya.
Othman juga menasihatkan semua pihak agar tidak mempolemikkan isu itu kerana pandangan hukum yang dikeluarkan adalah sebagai panduan dan nasihat khusus kepada umat Islam dan sama sekali tiada kaitan dengan unsur-unsur penghinaan atau menidakkan hak kehormatan dan kemanusiaan mana-mana pihak atau individu.
Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) Datuk Othman Mustapha berkata ucapan tersebut mempunyai implikasi dari sudut akidah sekiranya tidak difahami secara jelas kerana ia merupakan amalan keagamaan orang bukan Islam yang sepatutnya tidak diikuti oleh orang Islam.
“Dalam konteks ucapan Rest in Peace, ia adalah bentuk ucapan doa yang biasa diucapkan dalam agama Kristian terutama dalam mazhab Katolik sejak abad ke-18.
Ia juga biasanya diukir di batu nisan mereka yang telah meninggal dunia dalam kalangan masyarakat Kristian.
“Versi penuh ucapan tersebut yang berasal daripada bahasa Latin adalah ‘May his soul and the souls of all the departed faithful by God’s mercy rest in peace’. Ia juga mengandaikan orang bukan Islam tersebut akan mendapat rahmat daripada Tuhan sebagaimana doa asal yang disebut dalam bahasa Latin,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan di sini hari ini.
Beliau berkata demikian bagi menjelaskan Fatwa Malaysia dalam laman Facebooknya 17 April lalu berkenaan isu ucapan tersebut yang menimbulkan rasa tidak puas hati sesetengah pihak.
Hukum dan nasihat
Othman berkata penjelasan Fatwa Malaysia dalam laman sosial itu merupakan penjelasan hukum dan nasihat yang diberikan oleh Felo Fatwa berdasarkan kemusykilan dan persoalan yang dikemukakan masyarakat umum, dan ia bukan fatwa yang dikeluarkan Muzakarah Jawatankuasa Fatwa Kebangsaan.
Katanya, Islam melarang umatnya mendoakan untuk keampunan bagi orang bukan Islam seperti yang dijelaskan dalam al-Quran, Surah Taubah, ayat 113 dan dinyatakan juga oleh Imam an-Nawawi dalam Kitab al-Majmu.
Bagaimanapun, dalam masyarakat berbilang kaum dan agama seperti Malaysia, Islam tidak melarang umatnya mengucapkan rasa simpati terhadap keluarga orang bukan Islam yng meninggal dunia dengan ucapan yang tidak memberi implikasi keagamaan seperti ‘saya bersimpati dengan apa yang berlaku kepada anda’, katanya.
“Panduan hukum yang diberikan mengenai ‘Rest in Peace’ ini bukan merupakan fatwa, tetapi ia perlu dijadikan panduan oleh umat Islam kerana panduan ini berdasarkan nas-nas yang jelas selaras dengan hukum syarak,” katanya.
Othman juga menasihatkan semua pihak agar tidak mempolemikkan isu itu kerana pandangan hukum yang dikeluarkan adalah sebagai panduan dan nasihat khusus kepada umat Islam dan sama sekali tiada kaitan dengan unsur-unsur penghinaan atau menidakkan hak kehormatan dan kemanusiaan mana-mana pihak atau individu.
Bibles now, non-Muslim weddings next?
MAIP raiding hotel rooms of non-Muslim guests to search for non-Muslim holy books and paraphernalia is scary.
PETALING JAYA: Non-Muslims book hotels in Pahang for weddings and prayer sessions and it is wrong to ban the bible or other holy scriptures at such premises, which is also against civil law, the MCA said today.
Kuantan MCA division chairman and central committee member Ti Lian Ker said the Pahang Islamic and Malay Customs Council’s (MAIP) directive to ban non-Muslim scriptures in hotels was another attempt by the Islamic authorities to infringe on the rights of others.
Ti said the thought of MAIP raiding the rooms of non-Muslim guests to search the luggage or handbags for non-Muslim holy books and paraphernalia was scary.
“We are concerned that MAIP may become overzealous and target non-Muslim hotel guests or staff who may don pendants with religious symbols on bangles or bracelets,” said Ti, who is also MCA’s Religious Harmony Bureau chairman.
On March 6, MAIP issued letters to 147 hotels in the state prohibiting hotel operators from placing holy books of any religion other than Islam.
The letters were issued under the Control and Restriction of the Propagation of Non-Islamic Religions Among Muslims Enactment 1989.
MAIP deputy president Wan Abdul Wahid Wan Hassan was reported saying that placing non-Muslim scriptures in hotel rooms could be regarded as an act of spreading other religious beliefs to Muslims.
Ti said hotels were registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia and MAIP’s order could be perceived as encroaching into civil law.
“We are also worried that the directive may trigger a backlash from the business community, which may affect tourism and foreign direct investment to the state,” said Ti.
MCA publicity bureau deputy chairman Marco Yap said Muslims and non-Muslims would sometimes use hotel convention centres to conduct prayer sessions or weddings.
“Is MAIP going to ban priests and monks from blessing newly-married couples holding their wedding reception at the hotel banquet hall?” he asked.
Stop unilateral decisions
Council of Churches general secretary Hermen Shastri said such matters should be tabled in the Pahang state assembly instead of being decided by one department.
“Our elected representatives are there in the state assembly. We cannot have one department making a unilateral decision,” he said.
Herald editor Andrew Lawrence said the concern of one’s religion should be the orphans and the poor, not where holy books were being placed.
“The light of all religions should shine from that reality,” he said.
Kuantan MCA division chairman and central committee member Ti Lian Ker said the Pahang Islamic and Malay Customs Council’s (MAIP) directive to ban non-Muslim scriptures in hotels was another attempt by the Islamic authorities to infringe on the rights of others.
Ti said the thought of MAIP raiding the rooms of non-Muslim guests to search the luggage or handbags for non-Muslim holy books and paraphernalia was scary.
“We are concerned that MAIP may become overzealous and target non-Muslim hotel guests or staff who may don pendants with religious symbols on bangles or bracelets,” said Ti, who is also MCA’s Religious Harmony Bureau chairman.
On March 6, MAIP issued letters to 147 hotels in the state prohibiting hotel operators from placing holy books of any religion other than Islam.
The letters were issued under the Control and Restriction of the Propagation of Non-Islamic Religions Among Muslims Enactment 1989.
MAIP deputy president Wan Abdul Wahid Wan Hassan was reported saying that placing non-Muslim scriptures in hotel rooms could be regarded as an act of spreading other religious beliefs to Muslims.
Ti said hotels were registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia and MAIP’s order could be perceived as encroaching into civil law.
“We are also worried that the directive may trigger a backlash from the business community, which may affect tourism and foreign direct investment to the state,” said Ti.
MCA publicity bureau deputy chairman Marco Yap said Muslims and non-Muslims would sometimes use hotel convention centres to conduct prayer sessions or weddings.
“Is MAIP going to ban priests and monks from blessing newly-married couples holding their wedding reception at the hotel banquet hall?” he asked.
Stop unilateral decisions
Council of Churches general secretary Hermen Shastri said such matters should be tabled in the Pahang state assembly instead of being decided by one department.
“Our elected representatives are there in the state assembly. We cannot have one department making a unilateral decision,” he said.
Herald editor Andrew Lawrence said the concern of one’s religion should be the orphans and the poor, not where holy books were being placed.
“The light of all religions should shine from that reality,” he said.
Reject hudud before it destroys our lives
In Malaysia religious and controversial topics like the Islamic penal code elicit six responses, all of them imperfect.
COMMENT
How often have Muslim clerics, the National Fatwa Council or the Islamic institutions spoken against corrupt and immoral leaders? How often have they highlighted the injustices, in particular the deaths in custody or the murders of people who are linked to the echelons of power? When did they last criticise people who openly abuse power?
Those of us who oppose hudud do so not because we are anti-Islam but because we do not trust the people who will implement hudud. In Malaysia religious and controversial topics like hudud elicit six responses, all of them unsatisfactory.
First: Those who hate Umno Baru will say, “Bring it on! We want to see hudud being used on Umno Baru ministers and politicians. Let us see how they will cope without limbs!”
This is just wishful thinking. Thinking without any rationality does not help the debate on hudud. No-one in the Umno-Baru elite has been punished for the thousands of injustices perpetrated today, from rapes of maids to “rasuah”, or theft of taxpayers’ money to the taking of lives by powerful people.
Criminals escape punishment not because we have insufficient laws, but because the laws are not enforced and our judiciary is corrupt to the core. Umno-Baru ministers have always escaped punishment. Who honestly thinks that hudud will escape manipulation?
Second: Those who propose the implementation of hudud claim that hudud will result in a crime-free (or relatively low crime) state. Wrong! Which nation under hudud has a low crime rate, negligible rape and no corruption? PAS Kelantan cannot perform miracles.
Corrupt leaders and institutions thrive because the systems to check them, have failed. They fail because the people who should be enforcing them are not trustworthy or have a secret agenda. Once we start to administer laws without fear or favour, crime rates may drop.
Third: If you are a Muslim and you oppose hudud, it means that you are going against Islam. Nothing could be more insulting to any decent God-fearing Muslim. Islam encourages the acquisition of knowledge and encourages debate, but Malay Muslims appear reluctant to engage in intelligent discourse. Why?
In Malaysia, Malay Muslims accept archaic laws or traditional thinking and beliefs without question. Last month a retired judge criticised the presence of large statues at the entrance to the Batu Caves and in Penang. In Egypt, the land of 95% Muslims, few worry about the presence of the Sphinxes.
Kartika Dewi Sukarno was charged with drinking beer in a public place. She was treated like someone who had committed a heinous crime, like murder. The Muslim clergy wanted to make a showcase of her, by punishing her with whipping even though civil laws prevent women from being whipped, in Malaysia.
Soon after, three women were whipped in secret, for having extramarital sex. No details are known of the men. The government was afraid of a backlash like the Kartika case. The three women and Kartika were punished, whereas well-connected people who drink freely, and fornicate in five-star hotels and exclusive clubs in Kuala Lumpur escape scot free.
Selfish agendas
Fourth: If you are a non-Muslim and you made your views known about hudud as any responsible Malaysian would, some Muslims will attack you and say, “You have no right to comment. You are not even Muslim.”
Another response might be, “You have nothing to fear as you are not Muslim. Hudud will not affect you.” Wrong again! A woman was charged in Penang under syariah law even though she was not a Muslim.
In a recent child conversion case, the father kidnapped his son, even though his former wife, a Hindu, had been given custody of their child. There have been other miscarriages of justice when bodies have been snatched and taken for “Muslim” burial.
Who says that non-Muslims will not be affected by Muslim laws? Hudud will creep into your lives, sooner or later.
Fifth: Some Muslims will say that it is God’s law and Muslims must abide by it. As we have seen, civil or syariah laws have been manipulated by evil, unscrupulous and corrupt men, to suit their own selfish agendas.
One girl I know, was forced into marriage because her neighbour, whose advances she had rejected, accused her of having sex with her boyfriend. She is now a sad divorcee with children, and she freely admits, “We were forced into marriage to avoid humiliation for both our families. We married to avoid a prison sentence, but still had to pay a fine.
“The neighbour was wrong to accuse us and call the moral police. He wrecked our lives. Eventually, we had children and I had to stay at home to look after them. I regret ending my studies and I think my boyfriend resented me. We were both young, but we were wronged.”
Another woman was set up by her husband. He wrongly accused his first wife of infidelity so that he could marry a younger woman. He beat his first wife and she left him. He refused to grant her a divorce, and he will not help with the upkeep of the children. He married in southern Thailand and simply paid a nominal fine, when he returned to Malaysia, for failing to register the marriage and for not seeking the permission of his first wife.
Syariah failed both these women and one doubts if hudud would reduce the discrimination against women, the poor and the marginalised. Several homosexual Muslim men and women lead secret lives in Malaysia or have emigrated. What would happen to them under hudud? Aren’t they God’s creatures, too?
The sixth response is apathy. Yours! The Allah case has divided this nation, because a few men held their tongues. They were afraid to go against one man who had a personal agenda against another party. Speak out now, before hudud destroys our lives.
Mariam Mokhtar is a FMT columnist
COMMENT
Those of us who oppose hudud do so not because we are anti-Islam but because we do not trust the people who will implement hudud. In Malaysia religious and controversial topics like hudud elicit six responses, all of them unsatisfactory.
First: Those who hate Umno Baru will say, “Bring it on! We want to see hudud being used on Umno Baru ministers and politicians. Let us see how they will cope without limbs!”
This is just wishful thinking. Thinking without any rationality does not help the debate on hudud. No-one in the Umno-Baru elite has been punished for the thousands of injustices perpetrated today, from rapes of maids to “rasuah”, or theft of taxpayers’ money to the taking of lives by powerful people.
Criminals escape punishment not because we have insufficient laws, but because the laws are not enforced and our judiciary is corrupt to the core. Umno-Baru ministers have always escaped punishment. Who honestly thinks that hudud will escape manipulation?
Second: Those who propose the implementation of hudud claim that hudud will result in a crime-free (or relatively low crime) state. Wrong! Which nation under hudud has a low crime rate, negligible rape and no corruption? PAS Kelantan cannot perform miracles.
Corrupt leaders and institutions thrive because the systems to check them, have failed. They fail because the people who should be enforcing them are not trustworthy or have a secret agenda. Once we start to administer laws without fear or favour, crime rates may drop.
Third: If you are a Muslim and you oppose hudud, it means that you are going against Islam. Nothing could be more insulting to any decent God-fearing Muslim. Islam encourages the acquisition of knowledge and encourages debate, but Malay Muslims appear reluctant to engage in intelligent discourse. Why?
In Malaysia, Malay Muslims accept archaic laws or traditional thinking and beliefs without question. Last month a retired judge criticised the presence of large statues at the entrance to the Batu Caves and in Penang. In Egypt, the land of 95% Muslims, few worry about the presence of the Sphinxes.
Kartika Dewi Sukarno was charged with drinking beer in a public place. She was treated like someone who had committed a heinous crime, like murder. The Muslim clergy wanted to make a showcase of her, by punishing her with whipping even though civil laws prevent women from being whipped, in Malaysia.
Soon after, three women were whipped in secret, for having extramarital sex. No details are known of the men. The government was afraid of a backlash like the Kartika case. The three women and Kartika were punished, whereas well-connected people who drink freely, and fornicate in five-star hotels and exclusive clubs in Kuala Lumpur escape scot free.
Selfish agendas
Fourth: If you are a non-Muslim and you made your views known about hudud as any responsible Malaysian would, some Muslims will attack you and say, “You have no right to comment. You are not even Muslim.”
Another response might be, “You have nothing to fear as you are not Muslim. Hudud will not affect you.” Wrong again! A woman was charged in Penang under syariah law even though she was not a Muslim.
In a recent child conversion case, the father kidnapped his son, even though his former wife, a Hindu, had been given custody of their child. There have been other miscarriages of justice when bodies have been snatched and taken for “Muslim” burial.
Who says that non-Muslims will not be affected by Muslim laws? Hudud will creep into your lives, sooner or later.
Fifth: Some Muslims will say that it is God’s law and Muslims must abide by it. As we have seen, civil or syariah laws have been manipulated by evil, unscrupulous and corrupt men, to suit their own selfish agendas.
One girl I know, was forced into marriage because her neighbour, whose advances she had rejected, accused her of having sex with her boyfriend. She is now a sad divorcee with children, and she freely admits, “We were forced into marriage to avoid humiliation for both our families. We married to avoid a prison sentence, but still had to pay a fine.
“The neighbour was wrong to accuse us and call the moral police. He wrecked our lives. Eventually, we had children and I had to stay at home to look after them. I regret ending my studies and I think my boyfriend resented me. We were both young, but we were wronged.”
Another woman was set up by her husband. He wrongly accused his first wife of infidelity so that he could marry a younger woman. He beat his first wife and she left him. He refused to grant her a divorce, and he will not help with the upkeep of the children. He married in southern Thailand and simply paid a nominal fine, when he returned to Malaysia, for failing to register the marriage and for not seeking the permission of his first wife.
Syariah failed both these women and one doubts if hudud would reduce the discrimination against women, the poor and the marginalised. Several homosexual Muslim men and women lead secret lives in Malaysia or have emigrated. What would happen to them under hudud? Aren’t they God’s creatures, too?
The sixth response is apathy. Yours! The Allah case has divided this nation, because a few men held their tongues. They were afraid to go against one man who had a personal agenda against another party. Speak out now, before hudud destroys our lives.
Mariam Mokhtar is a FMT columnist
Agenda Melayu
Di kala dunia pesat berkembang, isu Melayu masih sama – kemiskinan.
Biarpun sudah hampir 60 tahun merdeka, orang Melayu tetap ketinggalan.
Dahulu, boleh disalahkan penjajah yang sengaja melemahkan kuasa politik
dan ekonomi Melayu bagi mengaut kekayaan negara. Sekarang, alasan yang
sama tidak boleh diterima.
Kemiskinan Melayu kini bertambah parah disebabkan kegawatan ekonomi yang melanda negara. Hidup orang Melayu yang sudah sememangnya susah, disusahkan lagi dengan kenaikkan kos sara hidup dan inflasi. Hendak bekerja di negara sendiri pun sukar. Sektor buruh telah didominasi warga asing. Kini, bidang profesional seperti teknologi maklumat, kejeruteraan dan perubatan, mula ditembusi mereka.
Orang Melayu harus kembali sedar akan hakikat kemunduran bangsanya. Pernah satu ketika, iaitu menjelang dan beberapa dekat selepas merdeka, orang Melayu amat peka dengan agenda memajukan bangsa. Tumpuan kepimpinan Melayu ketika itu, di segenap lapisan – politik, perniagaan, ekonomi, pendidikan dan sebagainya – adalah survival dan masa depan bangsa. Kepimpinan Melayu sekarang sudah tidak seperti itu. Mereka mementingkan kesenangan peribadi dan populariti.
Malangnya, agenda Melayu dikaitkan dengan rasisme. Orang Melayu yang membicarakan tentang nasib dan masa depan bangsanya akan dilabel rasis. Ianya taboo, terlarang, seakan haram. Ini adalah persepsi yang salah.
Punca utama persepsi negatif tersebut adalah organisasi Melayu sendiri, terutamanya UMNO dan sekutunya seperti Perkasa. Daripada merancang dan berusaha memajukan orang Melayu, mereka menyerang dan menyalahkan bangsa lain. Gelaran seperti ‘pendatang’ dan saranan supaya kaum lain balik ke negara asal – amat biadap. Tingkah laku rasis beginilah yang mencemarkan imej Melayu.
Kaum yang banyak menentang usaha meningkatkan kedudukan sosio-ekonomi
bumiputera adalah kaum Cina. Ketidakpuasan hati mereka berpunca dari
mentaliti ‘zero-sum’ - iaitu ‘jika orang Melayu untung, kami
rugi’ - hasil hasutan pemimpin-pemimpin Cina yang chauvinis. Korupsi
pemikiran ini menghalang orang Cina bersikap terbuka kepada usaha-usaha
menyama-ratakan kedudukan sosio-ekonomi masyarakat.
Hubungan sosio-ekonomi antara kaum dalam masyarakat berbilang bangsa seperti Malaysia, amatlah berkait. Apabila kedudukan sosio-ekonomi masyarakat tidak seimbang, akan timbul ketegangan. Ketakseimbangan sosio-ekonomi antara kaum (tinggalan penjajah) cuba diperbetulkan oleh pentadbiran Tun Razak melalui Dasar Ekonomi Baru – dengan tujuan membasmi kemiskinan dan menyusun semula masyarakat Malaysia. Malangnya, masyarakat kita gagal melihat kebijaksanaan Tun Razak. Pemimpin Melayu selepas beliau menyalah-guna peluang ekonomi yang disediakan sebagai lubuk mengayakan diri, bukannya untuk memajukan bangsa. Orang cina pula, biar pun mengawal sebahagian besar ekonomi negara, tidak mahu berkompromi disebabkan mentaliti ‘zero sum’ yang tebal. Akhirnya, iklim sosio-ekonomi masyarakat kita kekal tidak seimbang, hingga ke hari ini.
Seterusnya, dakyah agenda Melayu tidak Islamik juga terhasil daripada
politiking parti PAS. Dalam usaha mempengaruhi orang Melayu, PAS
mengambil pendekatan menonjolkan diri sebagai lebih Islamik dari UMNO.
Tindakan-tindakan kerajaan BN, terutamanya yang terpesong dari tuntutan
syariah akan dikritik habis-habisan. Untuk melemahkan kredibiliti UMNO,
agenda Melayu yang menjadi ‘cogan’ UMNO, digembar-gemburkan sebagai
tidak Islamik. Propaganda tersebut disokong pula dengan ayat-ayat
Al-Quran dan Hadis (tertentu). Pemikiran superfisial meng’haram’kan
bulat-bulat agenda kebangsaan menakutkan orang Melayu, lebih-lebih lagi
kepada yang beragama. Secara langsung, golongan Islamis termasuk PAS-lah
yang menjauhkan orang Melayu daripada usaha memajukan bangsanya.
Pemikiran dogmatik begini membuatkan umat Islam di Malaysia cepat melenting, hilang punca dan mudah diperkotak katikkan. Lihat bagaimana kerajaan BN, (melalui proksi-proksinya) membangkitkan isu-isu agama, seperti isu kafir-mengkafir, kalimah Allah, isu anjing, Syiah, Kassim Ahmad, dan baru-baru ini isu Hudud. Orang Melayu kebanyakkan, hingga ke Mufti menjadi reaktif dan hilang pertimbangan. Semua bertegas dengan ‘fatwa’ masing-masing. Tidak kurang yang menyokong hujah dengan kata-kata kesat. Ini adalah strategi mudah dan pasti berjaya bagi mengaburi perhatian rakyat terhadap kelemahan pentadbiran negara. Maka, tiada siapa yang menyoal mengapa ekonomi negara kian meleset, mengapa rasuah dan salah guna kuasa pemimpin negara tiada akauntibiliti dan mengapa kes jenayah berat menjadi-jadi? Tidak hairanlah bila MH370 hilang, Kassim Ahmad dan isu hudud yang telah lama dilupakan, diketengahkan semula.
Bagi penulis, agenda Melayu tidak bertentangan dengan syariah. Malah, ia adalah tuntutan syariah. Islam menekankan soal muamalat,
iaitu urusan sesama manusia. Selagi agenda Melayu itu adil dan tidak
menzalimi kaum lain, konsepnya selari dengan prinsip kebajikan yang
disokong oleh agama. Cuma, pelan dan perlaksanaannya perlu reformasi.
Dari sudut bantuan kerajaan, peluang-peluang pendidikan dan perniagaan
hendaklah diberi dengan saksama – iaitu kepada mereka yang berhak
(golongan susah yang berpotensi), bukan kepada kroni-kroni yang sudah
pun kaya raya. Kaum-kaum lain juga wajib dibantu. Peluang-peluang
ekonomi hendaklah disalurkan kepada mereka yang susah, bukannya kepada
tauke-tauke yang bersekongkol menggondol kekayaan negara.
Polisi dan pelan jangka panjang Tun Razak dikotak-katikkan. Objektif penubuhan syarikat-syarikat berkaitan kerajaan (GLC) – yang berorientasikan kepentingan rakyat – kini, sudah tersasar. Petronas sebagai contoh. Sumber perniagaan Petronas adalah minyak – hasil bumi, hak seluruh rakyat Malaysia. Tetapi, keuntungan yang diperoleh (hasil jualan minyak – hak rakyat) dilaburkan kepada projek-projek yang tiada kaitan dengan kebajikan rakyat. Litar lumba Sepang, Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, Universiti swasta Petronas, hospital swasta Prince-Court dan lain-lain. Kontrak-kontrak pula diberikan saban kali kepada para parasit, yakni ahli keluarga pemimpin UMNO yang sudah pun kaya raya. Bonus untuk eksekutif Petronas berbulan-bulan gaji, sedangkan pemegang kepentingan (stakeholders) sebenar iaitu rakyat, hidup kesusahan.
Keuntungan Petronas sepatutnya dilaburkan bagi memperkasa modal insan
dan kebajikan rakyat (yang majoritinya Melayu) – pemberian biasiswa,
pembinaan institusi pengajian tinggi awam, pusat-pusat perubatan awam,
lebuhraya, pengangkutan awam dan lain-lain projek penambahbaikan kualiti
hidup rakyat. Sumbangan kecil Petronas akan dihebohkan
berlebih-lebihan. Corporate Social Responsility (CSR) kata
mereka. Bagi penulis, tiada terma CSR buat Petronas, atau mana-mana GLC.
Ia sememangnya tanggungjawab mereka – noktah.
Keperluan asas rakyat dijadikan sumber mengaut untung para kroni melalui projek penswastaan. Lebuhraya ber-tol, penjanaan elektrik melalui IPP, pengangkutan awam, kolej swasta yang didokong oleh PTPTN, air, sistem kumbahan, penternakan lembu hingga saman jalan raya pun hendak dijadikan lubuk mengaut untung. Senarai penipuan dan hipokrasi pentadbiran kerajaan UMNO/ Barisan Nasional seperti tiada kesudahan.
Apabila tektik-tektik penipuan UMNO terbongkar, mereka jadi sayu dan
sentimental. Berderai air mata buaya apabila lagu-lagu kemunduran Melayu
didendangkan. Dalam kesayuan, masih sempat menyalahkan orang Melayu,
‘Melayu malas’, ‘Melayu mudah lupa’ dan sebagainya. Walhal, merekalah
yang mensabotaj pelan-pelan Tun Razak. Mereka jugalah yang menipu dan
merompak orang Melayu.
Sebenarnya, parti yang benar-benar berbilang bangsa adalah PKR – dari sudut keahlian dan prinsip perjuangan. Memandangkan majoriti umat Islam di Malaysia berbangsa Melayu, PAS secara tidak lansung adalah sebuah parti Melayu. Pendiriannya memantulkan aspirasi orang Melayu. DAP pula, secara efektifnya adalah sebuah parti Cina. Pendirian dan tingkah laku DAP berpaksikan kepentingan kaum Cina. Majoriti ahlinya juga berbangsa Cina. Walaupun DAP secara luaran cuba menonjolkan imej berbilang bangsa, namun ianya gagal kerana imejnya sinonim dengan agenda perkauman Cina. Kemasukkan seorang-dua pemimpin Melayu, tidak membuatkan ia multiracial.
Walau bagaimanapun, sebagai sebuah gagasan, Pakatan Rakyat menawarkan agenda rakyat berbilang bangsa. Pakatan Rakyat mengenengahkan konsep Ketuanan Rakyat yang merentasi sempadan perkauman. Kriteria penerimaan bantuan dan peluang-peluang ekonomi adalah – rakyat termiskin tanpa mengira bangsa. Memandangkan segmen masyarakat miskin majoritinya berbangsa Melayu dan bumiputera, merekalah yang akan mendapat bantuan terbesar. Konsep ini mudah dan straightforward.
Walaupun konsep Ketuanan Rakyat itu jelas, namun perlaksanaannya
bakal menghadapi rintangan. Cabaran terbesar adalah kesepakatan
parti-parti komponen. Ini berdasarkan kesulitan mencapai kata sepakat
pada rundingan-rundingan parti komponen Pakatan Rakyat yang lepas.
Contohnya isu Hudud dan Kalimah Allah. Ingatlah, retorik dan
perlaksanaan adalah dua unsur yang berbeza.
Kepayahan mencapai persetujuan dalam Pakatan Rakyat berpunca dari sikap tidak mahu berkompromi, terutamanya dari parti DAP dan PAS. Selama ini, PKR banyak berkompromi dalam rundingan. Sebaliknya, DAP dan PAS selalu berkeras kepala, kadang-kalanya kebudak-budakkan. Dasar Ketuanan Rakyat yang bakal menguntungkan orang Melayu (miskin), mungkin sukar diterima DAP. Dengan kelicikan UMNO membakar isu perkauman – ke peringkat perselisihan nasional – ia mampu menjadi punca perbalahan parti komponen Pakatan Rakyat – yang tidak berkesudahan. Justeru, kemampuan perlaksanaan Ketuanan Rakyat itu wajar dicurigai.
Biarpun begitu, penulis berharap satu hari nanti dapat menyaksikan perlaksanaan dasar Ketuanan Rakyat tersebut.
Pendapatan negara yang statik dan kos penyelenggaraan yang meningkat
(tidak termasuk ketirisan dan pembaziran) membuatkan pemberian bantuan
kepada orang Melayu sesuatu yang tidak ekonomi. Malah, kerajaan sudah
mula menghapuskan dana bantuan kepada orang Melayu dan rakyat umumnya,
sedikit demi sedikit. Kini, biasiswa jarang sekali ditawarkan.
Sebaliknya, kos pendidikan ditanggung oleh pelajar sendiri melalui
pinjaman PTPTN. Subsidi, termasuklah subsidi minyak dan gula ditarik
balik. Petunjuk betapa terdesaknya kerajaan dalam meningkatkan
pendapatan teserlah melalui keputusan perlaksanaan GST secara terburu-
buru, baru-baru ini.
Bukan sahaja ia tidak ekonomik, pemberian bantuan kepada kaum tertentu menyalahi prinsip demokrasi (majoriti memerintah, minoriti mempunyai hak) sesebuah kerajaan. Kerajaan wajib berlaku adil kepada semua kumpulan etnik dalam menunaikan tanggungjawab sosialnya. Dasar Ekonomi Baru turut mengakui soal ini – dengan itu, menetapkan target dan tempoh masa yang spesifik (sudah pun tamat). Namum, target equiti bumiputera masih tidak tercapai, lalu, diteruskan dasar afirmatif tersebut oleh pentadbiran berikutnya. Persoalannya, sampai bila, dan mengapa target ekuiti masih tidak tercapai?
Dasar Ekonomi Baru turut meninggalkan kesan negatif kepada bangsa Melayu. Daripada berusaha memajukan diri, orang Melayu bergantung kepada bantuan kerajaan. Daripada bersaing dalam bidang perniagaan, usahawan Melayu terus menagih kontrak dan tender. Biarpun sudah kaya dan mempunyai kapital yang besar, ahli perniagaan Melayu masih berebut kontrak kerajaan. Sudahlah menuntut kontrak, bantuan lain turut ditagih. Biaya pendidikan anak pun mahu ditanggung kerajaan (melalui biasiswa). Mentaliti subsidi ini, iaitu kebergantungan terhadap kerajaan, sudah membarahi minda dan jati diri orang Melayu keseluruhannya. Beza antara Melayu kebanyakkan dan kroni hanyalah pada jumlah subsidi yang ditagih. Melayu biasa, dana-nya kecil. Kroni, dana-nya berbillion-billion.
Peredaran masa, perubahan sosio-politik negara, serta pengaruh
globalisasi – menuntut transformasi pemikiran Melayu. Nasib dan masa
depan Melayu tidak boleh disandarkan lagi kepada kerajaan. Orang Melayu
hendaklah (kembali) peka dan berusaha menyesuaikan diri dengan peredaran
zaman, perubahan sosio-politik dan perkembangan global, untuk survive.
Pada masa ini, cabaran utama adalah mengembalikan kesedaran orang Melayu. Target utama adalah Melayu kelas atasan, golongan pertengahan dan agamawan. Merekalah yang seharusnya membela nasib saudara sebangsa yang miskin.
Kelebihan Melayu kelas atasan, yakni pemimpin dan ahli-ahli perniagaan, adalah kuasa dan kewangan. Malangnya, golongan ini dilihat lalai dan ‘hilang sentuhan realiti’. Kemewahan mengasyikkan mereka dengan aktiviti-aktiviti yang tidak mendatangkan faedah kepada bangsa, seperti berfoya-foya, membeli-belah, bermain golf dan melancong. Disebabkan corak pergaulan eksklusif, lingkaran sosial mereka kecil. Mereka tidak berinteraksi dan merasai kesusahan orang Melayu. Pendekatan yang halus harus diguna-pakai dalam menghampiri golongan elit. Bukan sahaja sukar ditemui, mereka mempunyai ego yang besar. Kaedahnya adalah dengan mendekati personaliti-personaliti yang terbuka dan bermasyarakat. Cara lain adalah dengan mendampingi orang-orang kanan mereka. Kesedaran sejumlah kecil sudah memadai kerana kuasa dan pengaruh dimiliki mampu memberi impak yang besar.
Biarpun kuasa dan pengaruh tidak sebesar golongan atasan, golongan
pertengahan berpotensi menjadi penggerak agenda Melayu yang berkesan.
Malangnya, golongan pertengahan Melayu kini sibuk menambah perolehan,
dengan cita-cita untuk menyertai kelas elit. Mereka kerja siang-malam
dan terpaksa puas dengan kenderaan dan tempat tinggal sederhana, serta
percutian sekali-sekala. Aspirasi untuk memajukan bangsa tidak ada dalam
pemikiran mereka.
Golongan pertengahan berpotensi menjadi penggerak utama agenda Melayu kerana mereka muda, bertenaga, terpelajar, kreatif dan memiliki kebolehan untuk bergerak secara teratur (organised). Lihat sahaja pergerakkan pemuda parti politik, pertubuhan bukan kerajaan, persatuan dan kelab yang digerakkan mereka – semuanya aktif dan progresif. Penulis percaya, jika golongan pertengahan Melayu sedar dan komited kepada agenda Melayu, idea dan konsep yang tidak pernah terfikir oleh generasi terdahulu mampu dilaksanakan dengan efektif.
Kedudukan golongan agamawan adalah tinggi dimata orang Melayu. Kata-kata dan nasihat mereka ditagih dan dipatuhi. Ini menempatkan mereka pada kedudukan yang ideal untuk merubah pemikiran orang Melayu. Disamping mengajar ilmu agama, para uztaz boleh membuka minda Melayu (yang juga umat Islam) tentang kedudukan dan cabaran masa depan. Seperti yang diperkatakan di awal penulisan, agenda Melayu selari dengan tuntutan agama yang menekankan soal muamalat, iaitu hubungan sesama manusia. Ya, kerendahan akhlak belia Islam disebabkan kurangnya ilmu agama. Tetapi, faktor kesempitan sosio-ekonomi juga memberi impak kepada keruntuhan moral, rempit, pergaulan bebas, perzinaan, buang bayi dan sebagainya. Bukankah kemiskinan (isu sosio-ekonomi) membawa kepada kekufuran? Maka, bagi penulis, golongan agamawan juga bertanggungjawab dalam menyedarkan orang Melayu tetang kewajipan memajukan bangsanya.
Jerih kesusahan mempengaruhi psikologi dan pemikiran golongan miskin. Bagi mereka, fokus utama ialah mengisi perut ahli keluarga yang kelaparan. Tiada apa yang lebih penting dari asas kehidupan itu. Masa depan bangsa, kedudukan politik dan persaingan global bukanlah keutamaan bagi mereka. Sebab itulah kerajaan mengekalkan Melayu dalam kemiskinan, kerana menjelang pilihan raya, undi Melayu mudah diraih melalui pemberian-pemberian picisan. Sekampit beras, payung, topi, t-shirt adalah kemewahan bagi mereka. Inikan pula wang tunai seperti BR1M. Daripada memberi wang tunai (atau topi dan tshirt), initiatif-initiatif seperti pembiayaan kos pendidikan anak-anak, modal perniagaan, latihan kemahiran, bantuan baja, jaring dan seumpamanya, dapat menjana pendapatan dan lebih bermakna.
Sebagai kesimpulan, agenda Melayu adalah perihal mental yang
bertunjangkan kesedaran dan aspirasi setiap minda Melayu untuk memajukan
bangsanya. Buat masa ini, cabaran utama adalah menyedarkan orang Melayu
yang sedang leka.
Adalah menjadi harapan penulis agar orang Melayu kembali bersatu – membela nasib dan masa depan bangsa – secara berdikari – tanpa bergantung kepada kerajaan – ataupun berlaku zalim kepada kaum-kaum lain.
Wallahu a’lam
Kemiskinan Melayu kini bertambah parah disebabkan kegawatan ekonomi yang melanda negara. Hidup orang Melayu yang sudah sememangnya susah, disusahkan lagi dengan kenaikkan kos sara hidup dan inflasi. Hendak bekerja di negara sendiri pun sukar. Sektor buruh telah didominasi warga asing. Kini, bidang profesional seperti teknologi maklumat, kejeruteraan dan perubatan, mula ditembusi mereka.
Orang Melayu harus kembali sedar akan hakikat kemunduran bangsanya. Pernah satu ketika, iaitu menjelang dan beberapa dekat selepas merdeka, orang Melayu amat peka dengan agenda memajukan bangsa. Tumpuan kepimpinan Melayu ketika itu, di segenap lapisan – politik, perniagaan, ekonomi, pendidikan dan sebagainya – adalah survival dan masa depan bangsa. Kepimpinan Melayu sekarang sudah tidak seperti itu. Mereka mementingkan kesenangan peribadi dan populariti.
Agenda Melayu rasis?
Agenda Melayu bukanlah agenda yang rasis. Aspirasi memajukan bangsa
sendiri adalah sifat semulajadi manusia. Setiap bangsa mempunyai agenda
masing-masing. Orang Cina ada agenda Cina, orang India ada agenda India,
orang kulit hitam di Amerika ada agenda kulit hitam, dan orang Yahudi
mempunyai agenda Yahudinya. Agenda kebangsaan sesuatu kaum bertukar
rasis hanya apabila ia menzalimi bangsa lain.Malangnya, agenda Melayu dikaitkan dengan rasisme. Orang Melayu yang membicarakan tentang nasib dan masa depan bangsanya akan dilabel rasis. Ianya taboo, terlarang, seakan haram. Ini adalah persepsi yang salah.
Punca utama persepsi negatif tersebut adalah organisasi Melayu sendiri, terutamanya UMNO dan sekutunya seperti Perkasa. Daripada merancang dan berusaha memajukan orang Melayu, mereka menyerang dan menyalahkan bangsa lain. Gelaran seperti ‘pendatang’ dan saranan supaya kaum lain balik ke negara asal – amat biadap. Tingkah laku rasis beginilah yang mencemarkan imej Melayu.
Pencemar imej Melayu
Hubungan sosio-ekonomi antara kaum dalam masyarakat berbilang bangsa seperti Malaysia, amatlah berkait. Apabila kedudukan sosio-ekonomi masyarakat tidak seimbang, akan timbul ketegangan. Ketakseimbangan sosio-ekonomi antara kaum (tinggalan penjajah) cuba diperbetulkan oleh pentadbiran Tun Razak melalui Dasar Ekonomi Baru – dengan tujuan membasmi kemiskinan dan menyusun semula masyarakat Malaysia. Malangnya, masyarakat kita gagal melihat kebijaksanaan Tun Razak. Pemimpin Melayu selepas beliau menyalah-guna peluang ekonomi yang disediakan sebagai lubuk mengayakan diri, bukannya untuk memajukan bangsa. Orang cina pula, biar pun mengawal sebahagian besar ekonomi negara, tidak mahu berkompromi disebabkan mentaliti ‘zero sum’ yang tebal. Akhirnya, iklim sosio-ekonomi masyarakat kita kekal tidak seimbang, hingga ke hari ini.
Agenda Melayu bertentangan dengan Islam?
Banyak pendapat yang mengatakan bahawa agenda Melayu bertentangan
dengan syariah dan haram. ‘Fatwa-fatwa’ sebegini dikeluarkan oleh mereka
yang ingin dilihat sebagai ‘Islamis’. Walaupun berpengetahuan agama,
golongan ‘Islamis’ sangat ketat dengan pendapat masig-masing. Hujah yang
lain selain dari hujah mereka adalah sesat. Pendekatan begitu
sebenarnya bertujuan untuk mengukuhkan pengaruh mazhab dan aliran
fahaman mereka supaya kelihatan lebih suci dan mulia dari aliran lain.
Hujah yang lain selain dari hujah mereka adalah sesat
Pemikiran dogmatik begini membuatkan umat Islam di Malaysia cepat melenting, hilang punca dan mudah diperkotak katikkan. Lihat bagaimana kerajaan BN, (melalui proksi-proksinya) membangkitkan isu-isu agama, seperti isu kafir-mengkafir, kalimah Allah, isu anjing, Syiah, Kassim Ahmad, dan baru-baru ini isu Hudud. Orang Melayu kebanyakkan, hingga ke Mufti menjadi reaktif dan hilang pertimbangan. Semua bertegas dengan ‘fatwa’ masing-masing. Tidak kurang yang menyokong hujah dengan kata-kata kesat. Ini adalah strategi mudah dan pasti berjaya bagi mengaburi perhatian rakyat terhadap kelemahan pentadbiran negara. Maka, tiada siapa yang menyoal mengapa ekonomi negara kian meleset, mengapa rasuah dan salah guna kuasa pemimpin negara tiada akauntibiliti dan mengapa kes jenayah berat menjadi-jadi? Tidak hairanlah bila MH370 hilang, Kassim Ahmad dan isu hudud yang telah lama dilupakan, diketengahkan semula.
Agenda Melayu selari dengan prinsip kebajikan yang disokong Agama
Kegagalan UMNO
Tidak perlu dibicarakan tentang kegagalan UMNO membela Melayu –
kerana ianya sahih – ‘terang lagi bersuluh’. Setelah hampir 60 tahun
memikul mandat, bangsa Melayu masih ketinggalan. Petunjuk kepada
kepincangan UMNO teserlah melalui harta dan gaya hidup pemimpinnya. Di
kala orang Melayu kesempitan, pemimpin UMNO bermewah-mewah, membina
mahligai di tengah kampung, makan berlebihan dan melancong sana sini.Polisi dan pelan jangka panjang Tun Razak dikotak-katikkan. Objektif penubuhan syarikat-syarikat berkaitan kerajaan (GLC) – yang berorientasikan kepentingan rakyat – kini, sudah tersasar. Petronas sebagai contoh. Sumber perniagaan Petronas adalah minyak – hasil bumi, hak seluruh rakyat Malaysia. Tetapi, keuntungan yang diperoleh (hasil jualan minyak – hak rakyat) dilaburkan kepada projek-projek yang tiada kaitan dengan kebajikan rakyat. Litar lumba Sepang, Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, Universiti swasta Petronas, hospital swasta Prince-Court dan lain-lain. Kontrak-kontrak pula diberikan saban kali kepada para parasit, yakni ahli keluarga pemimpin UMNO yang sudah pun kaya raya. Bonus untuk eksekutif Petronas berbulan-bulan gaji, sedangkan pemegang kepentingan (stakeholders) sebenar iaitu rakyat, hidup kesusahan.
Dewan Filharmonik Petronas
Keperluan asas rakyat dijadikan sumber mengaut untung para kroni melalui projek penswastaan. Lebuhraya ber-tol, penjanaan elektrik melalui IPP, pengangkutan awam, kolej swasta yang didokong oleh PTPTN, air, sistem kumbahan, penternakan lembu hingga saman jalan raya pun hendak dijadikan lubuk mengaut untung. Senarai penipuan dan hipokrasi pentadbiran kerajaan UMNO/ Barisan Nasional seperti tiada kesudahan.
Air mata buaya
Pakatan Rakyat dan Ketuanan Rakyat
Walaupun kepimpinan tertinggi PAS dan PKR adalah orang Melayu, mereka
tidak membawa agenda Melayu dalam Pakatan Rakyat. Ini kerana PAS
memperjuangkan Islam, manakala PKR memperjuangkan prinsip-prinsip
demokrasi seperti keadilan (justice), kebebasan (liberty), kesamarataan (equality)
dan sebagainya. Malah, ketiga-tiga parti komponen Pakatan Rakyat tidak
berasaskan bangsa. Maka, tidak cocoklah bagi mereka untuk mengangkat
agenda mana-mana bangsa.Sebenarnya, parti yang benar-benar berbilang bangsa adalah PKR – dari sudut keahlian dan prinsip perjuangan. Memandangkan majoriti umat Islam di Malaysia berbangsa Melayu, PAS secara tidak lansung adalah sebuah parti Melayu. Pendiriannya memantulkan aspirasi orang Melayu. DAP pula, secara efektifnya adalah sebuah parti Cina. Pendirian dan tingkah laku DAP berpaksikan kepentingan kaum Cina. Majoriti ahlinya juga berbangsa Cina. Walaupun DAP secara luaran cuba menonjolkan imej berbilang bangsa, namun ianya gagal kerana imejnya sinonim dengan agenda perkauman Cina. Kemasukkan seorang-dua pemimpin Melayu, tidak membuatkan ia multiracial.
Walau bagaimanapun, sebagai sebuah gagasan, Pakatan Rakyat menawarkan agenda rakyat berbilang bangsa. Pakatan Rakyat mengenengahkan konsep Ketuanan Rakyat yang merentasi sempadan perkauman. Kriteria penerimaan bantuan dan peluang-peluang ekonomi adalah – rakyat termiskin tanpa mengira bangsa. Memandangkan segmen masyarakat miskin majoritinya berbangsa Melayu dan bumiputera, merekalah yang akan mendapat bantuan terbesar. Konsep ini mudah dan straightforward.
Ketuanan Rakyat
Kepayahan mencapai persetujuan dalam Pakatan Rakyat berpunca dari sikap tidak mahu berkompromi, terutamanya dari parti DAP dan PAS. Selama ini, PKR banyak berkompromi dalam rundingan. Sebaliknya, DAP dan PAS selalu berkeras kepala, kadang-kalanya kebudak-budakkan. Dasar Ketuanan Rakyat yang bakal menguntungkan orang Melayu (miskin), mungkin sukar diterima DAP. Dengan kelicikan UMNO membakar isu perkauman – ke peringkat perselisihan nasional – ia mampu menjadi punca perbalahan parti komponen Pakatan Rakyat – yang tidak berkesudahan. Justeru, kemampuan perlaksanaan Ketuanan Rakyat itu wajar dicurigai.
Biarpun begitu, penulis berharap satu hari nanti dapat menyaksikan perlaksanaan dasar Ketuanan Rakyat tersebut.
Mentaliti Subsidi
Setelah sekian lama menerima bantuan kerajaan, orang Melayu merasakan
bahawa bantuan-bantuan tersebut adalah hak mereka. Biasiswa, geran,
skim usahawan, kuota, kontrak, BR1M, dan segala jenis pertolongan
kerajaan, tidak mungkin, dan tidak boleh berkekalan selama-lamanya.
BR1M
Bukan sahaja ia tidak ekonomik, pemberian bantuan kepada kaum tertentu menyalahi prinsip demokrasi (majoriti memerintah, minoriti mempunyai hak) sesebuah kerajaan. Kerajaan wajib berlaku adil kepada semua kumpulan etnik dalam menunaikan tanggungjawab sosialnya. Dasar Ekonomi Baru turut mengakui soal ini – dengan itu, menetapkan target dan tempoh masa yang spesifik (sudah pun tamat). Namum, target equiti bumiputera masih tidak tercapai, lalu, diteruskan dasar afirmatif tersebut oleh pentadbiran berikutnya. Persoalannya, sampai bila, dan mengapa target ekuiti masih tidak tercapai?
Dasar Ekonomi Baru turut meninggalkan kesan negatif kepada bangsa Melayu. Daripada berusaha memajukan diri, orang Melayu bergantung kepada bantuan kerajaan. Daripada bersaing dalam bidang perniagaan, usahawan Melayu terus menagih kontrak dan tender. Biarpun sudah kaya dan mempunyai kapital yang besar, ahli perniagaan Melayu masih berebut kontrak kerajaan. Sudahlah menuntut kontrak, bantuan lain turut ditagih. Biaya pendidikan anak pun mahu ditanggung kerajaan (melalui biasiswa). Mentaliti subsidi ini, iaitu kebergantungan terhadap kerajaan, sudah membarahi minda dan jati diri orang Melayu keseluruhannya. Beza antara Melayu kebanyakkan dan kroni hanyalah pada jumlah subsidi yang ditagih. Melayu biasa, dana-nya kecil. Kroni, dana-nya berbillion-billion.
Mengembalikan agenda Melayu sebenar
Agenda Melayu sebenar tidak terletak pada bantuan kerajaan, tetapi ianya perihal mental (mental state),
iaitu kesedaran dan aspirasi setiap minda Melayu untuk membantu
bangsanya maju kehadapan. Dari perihal mental itulah lahir
initiatif-initiatif bersama bagi memperkasakan tahap pemikiran, sosial
dan ekonomi bangsa.
Pokok kepada agenda Melayu adalah kesedaran
Pada masa ini, cabaran utama adalah mengembalikan kesedaran orang Melayu. Target utama adalah Melayu kelas atasan, golongan pertengahan dan agamawan. Merekalah yang seharusnya membela nasib saudara sebangsa yang miskin.
Kelebihan Melayu kelas atasan, yakni pemimpin dan ahli-ahli perniagaan, adalah kuasa dan kewangan. Malangnya, golongan ini dilihat lalai dan ‘hilang sentuhan realiti’. Kemewahan mengasyikkan mereka dengan aktiviti-aktiviti yang tidak mendatangkan faedah kepada bangsa, seperti berfoya-foya, membeli-belah, bermain golf dan melancong. Disebabkan corak pergaulan eksklusif, lingkaran sosial mereka kecil. Mereka tidak berinteraksi dan merasai kesusahan orang Melayu. Pendekatan yang halus harus diguna-pakai dalam menghampiri golongan elit. Bukan sahaja sukar ditemui, mereka mempunyai ego yang besar. Kaedahnya adalah dengan mendekati personaliti-personaliti yang terbuka dan bermasyarakat. Cara lain adalah dengan mendampingi orang-orang kanan mereka. Kesedaran sejumlah kecil sudah memadai kerana kuasa dan pengaruh dimiliki mampu memberi impak yang besar.
Aspirasi agenda Melayu adalah membantu bangsanya maju
Golongan pertengahan berpotensi menjadi penggerak utama agenda Melayu kerana mereka muda, bertenaga, terpelajar, kreatif dan memiliki kebolehan untuk bergerak secara teratur (organised). Lihat sahaja pergerakkan pemuda parti politik, pertubuhan bukan kerajaan, persatuan dan kelab yang digerakkan mereka – semuanya aktif dan progresif. Penulis percaya, jika golongan pertengahan Melayu sedar dan komited kepada agenda Melayu, idea dan konsep yang tidak pernah terfikir oleh generasi terdahulu mampu dilaksanakan dengan efektif.
Kedudukan golongan agamawan adalah tinggi dimata orang Melayu. Kata-kata dan nasihat mereka ditagih dan dipatuhi. Ini menempatkan mereka pada kedudukan yang ideal untuk merubah pemikiran orang Melayu. Disamping mengajar ilmu agama, para uztaz boleh membuka minda Melayu (yang juga umat Islam) tentang kedudukan dan cabaran masa depan. Seperti yang diperkatakan di awal penulisan, agenda Melayu selari dengan tuntutan agama yang menekankan soal muamalat, iaitu hubungan sesama manusia. Ya, kerendahan akhlak belia Islam disebabkan kurangnya ilmu agama. Tetapi, faktor kesempitan sosio-ekonomi juga memberi impak kepada keruntuhan moral, rempit, pergaulan bebas, perzinaan, buang bayi dan sebagainya. Bukankah kemiskinan (isu sosio-ekonomi) membawa kepada kekufuran? Maka, bagi penulis, golongan agamawan juga bertanggungjawab dalam menyedarkan orang Melayu tetang kewajipan memajukan bangsanya.
Jerih kesusahan mempengaruhi psikologi dan pemikiran golongan miskin. Bagi mereka, fokus utama ialah mengisi perut ahli keluarga yang kelaparan. Tiada apa yang lebih penting dari asas kehidupan itu. Masa depan bangsa, kedudukan politik dan persaingan global bukanlah keutamaan bagi mereka. Sebab itulah kerajaan mengekalkan Melayu dalam kemiskinan, kerana menjelang pilihan raya, undi Melayu mudah diraih melalui pemberian-pemberian picisan. Sekampit beras, payung, topi, t-shirt adalah kemewahan bagi mereka. Inikan pula wang tunai seperti BR1M. Daripada memberi wang tunai (atau topi dan tshirt), initiatif-initiatif seperti pembiayaan kos pendidikan anak-anak, modal perniagaan, latihan kemahiran, bantuan baja, jaring dan seumpamanya, dapat menjana pendapatan dan lebih bermakna.
Agenda Melayu terhasil dari kesepakatan dan usaha kolektif orang Melayu
Adalah menjadi harapan penulis agar orang Melayu kembali bersatu – membela nasib dan masa depan bangsa – secara berdikari – tanpa bergantung kepada kerajaan – ataupun berlaku zalim kepada kaum-kaum lain.
Wallahu a’lam
Understand aspirations of M’sians, Mr Barack Obama!
An open letter from Dennis Ignatius
Dear Mr President,
It has been widely reported that you won’t be meeting Malaysia’s Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim during your visit to Malaysia that begins tomorrow.
If this is indeed true, it would be an astonishing betrayal by a country that has often portrayed itself as a world champion of democracy and human rights.
It also sends an unmistakable signal to corrupt and abusive governments everywhere that disrespect human rights. The curtailing of democratic governance will be overlooked in exchange for pro-American policies.
Mr President, you should re-read the US Declaration of Independence and remind yourself of American’s guiding principles, particularly the part about being endowed “with certain unalienable Rights… [including] Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
The inalienable rights of Malaysians are under threat today, as never before. All democratic nations should therefore be rightly be concerned.
If such rights are only for Americans, America has no right to claim moral leadership in the world, but if they be for all men, as America’s founding fathers clearly intended, you, Mr President, have a moral obligation to passionately affirm and defend them, both in word and deed, wherever you go.
It cannot be that you are unaware of what is going on in Malaysia – the corruption and abuse of power, the tainted elections, the harassment and jailing of opposition leaders, the racial and religious incitement, the intolerance of dissent and the narrowing of our democratic space.
No, one has to reach the unhappy conclusion that you have chosen to remain silent, to close your eyes, to shut your ears to what’s going on in order to maintain good relations with the Najib Abdul Razak Administration, for political and economic gains and strategic advantages.
Moderate Islamic democracy?
To provide yourself with political cover, your administration has taken to referring to Malaysia as a “moderate Islamic democracy”. That is nothing more than a chimera built on Malaysian government propaganda.
In the first place, there is no such thing as an “Islamic” democracy or a “Christian” democracy for that matter; a nation is either democratic or it is not. And increasingly, we, Malaysia, are not.
Of course, the majority of our people are Muslim and proud of it. However, that does not make us an Islamic state. If you care to study our constitution, you will find that we are, constitutionally, a secular state.
Listen to what our founding father, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, had to say when he read Malaysia’s proclamation of independence in 1957 in our name: “We will be forever a sovereign democratic and independent state founded upon the principles of liberty and justice and ever seeking the welfare and happiness of its people…”
Foreign leaders who refer to Malaysia as an Islamic state or an Islamic democracy, therefore, do enormous damage to our secular constitutional foundations.
As for moderation, Thomas Paine once remarked that “moderation in principle is always a vice”.
We don’t need moderation in the pursuit of justice or moderation in the number of people tortured and killed in our prisons ,or moderation in the fight against corruption or moderation in the harassment of racial and religious minorities.
These are not moderation, but vice. They are suffocating our democracy, destroying our freedom, undermining our institutions and looting our national wealth.
A government that exploits everything
All this to say, Mr President, is that the so-called moderate Islamic democracy that you speak of is simply non-existent. What we have is a government that cynically and opportunistically exploits both religion and the trappings of our democracy, which remain, to stay in power.
As for Anwar Ibrahim, whether it is convenient for you or not, he is the leader of the opposition. The multiracial and multi-religious coalition he leads (Pakatan Rakyat) won the majority of the popular votes cast in our last general election.
As your own State Department would no doubt have briefed you, only fraud and gerrymandering kept him from taking his rightful place as prime minister of our nation.
Anwar Ibrahim, therefore, has a greater claim to speak for Malaysia than anyone else. If you want to understand our hopes and aspirations, speak to him. Ignore him and you trample upon our long struggle to build a better and more just nation.
Whatever it is, you cannot come to our country and treat the parliamentary opposition leader in such a callous and contemptuous manner. It is like spitting on our democracy! It is like going to Myanmar and refusing to meet Aung Sang Suu Kyi.
Furthermore, given the persecution, harassment and recent sentencing of Anwar Ibrahim on trumped-up charges of sodomy in a trial that has almost universally been condemned, your refusal to meet him will be seen as an endorsement of the Najib Administration’s manipulation of the justice system to incarcerate a political opponent and stymie hopes for democratic change.
Remember what you once said, Mr President
You might as well be on hand to turn the key to Anwar’s cell and lock him up for what might be the last years of his life.
If you keep silent at this time, if you decline to meet him, you are as guilty of this travesty of justice as Malaysia’s government is.
Martin Luther King Jr., one of your own heroes, said, “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”
And, Mr President, you yourself once said: “When the United States stands up for human rights, by example at home and by effort abroad, we align ourselves with men and women around the world who struggle for the right to speak their minds, to choose their leaders, and to be treated with dignity and respect.
“We also strengthen our security and well being, because the abuse of human rights can feed many of the global dangers that we confront – from armed conflict and humanitarian crises, to corruption and the spread of ideologies that promote hatred and violence.”
During your visit, Mr President Barack Obama, you will have a historic opportunity to align yourself with the struggle for justice and democracy in Malaysia. I hope you will seize this opportunity, and walk your talk.
DENNIS IGNATIUS is a former Malaysian ambassador.
Dear Mr President,
It has been widely reported that you won’t be meeting Malaysia’s Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim during your visit to Malaysia that begins tomorrow.
If this is indeed true, it would be an astonishing betrayal by a country that has often portrayed itself as a world champion of democracy and human rights.
It also sends an unmistakable signal to corrupt and abusive governments everywhere that disrespect human rights. The curtailing of democratic governance will be overlooked in exchange for pro-American policies.
Mr President, you should re-read the US Declaration of Independence and remind yourself of American’s guiding principles, particularly the part about being endowed “with certain unalienable Rights… [including] Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
The inalienable rights of Malaysians are under threat today, as never before. All democratic nations should therefore be rightly be concerned.
If such rights are only for Americans, America has no right to claim moral leadership in the world, but if they be for all men, as America’s founding fathers clearly intended, you, Mr President, have a moral obligation to passionately affirm and defend them, both in word and deed, wherever you go.
It cannot be that you are unaware of what is going on in Malaysia – the corruption and abuse of power, the tainted elections, the harassment and jailing of opposition leaders, the racial and religious incitement, the intolerance of dissent and the narrowing of our democratic space.
No, one has to reach the unhappy conclusion that you have chosen to remain silent, to close your eyes, to shut your ears to what’s going on in order to maintain good relations with the Najib Abdul Razak Administration, for political and economic gains and strategic advantages.
Moderate Islamic democracy?
To provide yourself with political cover, your administration has taken to referring to Malaysia as a “moderate Islamic democracy”. That is nothing more than a chimera built on Malaysian government propaganda.
In the first place, there is no such thing as an “Islamic” democracy or a “Christian” democracy for that matter; a nation is either democratic or it is not. And increasingly, we, Malaysia, are not.
Of course, the majority of our people are Muslim and proud of it. However, that does not make us an Islamic state. If you care to study our constitution, you will find that we are, constitutionally, a secular state.
Listen to what our founding father, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, had to say when he read Malaysia’s proclamation of independence in 1957 in our name: “We will be forever a sovereign democratic and independent state founded upon the principles of liberty and justice and ever seeking the welfare and happiness of its people…”
Foreign leaders who refer to Malaysia as an Islamic state or an Islamic democracy, therefore, do enormous damage to our secular constitutional foundations.
As for moderation, Thomas Paine once remarked that “moderation in principle is always a vice”.
We don’t need moderation in the pursuit of justice or moderation in the number of people tortured and killed in our prisons ,or moderation in the fight against corruption or moderation in the harassment of racial and religious minorities.
These are not moderation, but vice. They are suffocating our democracy, destroying our freedom, undermining our institutions and looting our national wealth.
A government that exploits everything
All this to say, Mr President, is that the so-called moderate Islamic democracy that you speak of is simply non-existent. What we have is a government that cynically and opportunistically exploits both religion and the trappings of our democracy, which remain, to stay in power.
As for Anwar Ibrahim, whether it is convenient for you or not, he is the leader of the opposition. The multiracial and multi-religious coalition he leads (Pakatan Rakyat) won the majority of the popular votes cast in our last general election.
As your own State Department would no doubt have briefed you, only fraud and gerrymandering kept him from taking his rightful place as prime minister of our nation.
Anwar Ibrahim, therefore, has a greater claim to speak for Malaysia than anyone else. If you want to understand our hopes and aspirations, speak to him. Ignore him and you trample upon our long struggle to build a better and more just nation.
Whatever it is, you cannot come to our country and treat the parliamentary opposition leader in such a callous and contemptuous manner. It is like spitting on our democracy! It is like going to Myanmar and refusing to meet Aung Sang Suu Kyi.
Furthermore, given the persecution, harassment and recent sentencing of Anwar Ibrahim on trumped-up charges of sodomy in a trial that has almost universally been condemned, your refusal to meet him will be seen as an endorsement of the Najib Administration’s manipulation of the justice system to incarcerate a political opponent and stymie hopes for democratic change.
Remember what you once said, Mr President
You might as well be on hand to turn the key to Anwar’s cell and lock him up for what might be the last years of his life.
If you keep silent at this time, if you decline to meet him, you are as guilty of this travesty of justice as Malaysia’s government is.
Martin Luther King Jr., one of your own heroes, said, “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”
And, Mr President, you yourself once said: “When the United States stands up for human rights, by example at home and by effort abroad, we align ourselves with men and women around the world who struggle for the right to speak their minds, to choose their leaders, and to be treated with dignity and respect.
“We also strengthen our security and well being, because the abuse of human rights can feed many of the global dangers that we confront – from armed conflict and humanitarian crises, to corruption and the spread of ideologies that promote hatred and violence.”
During your visit, Mr President Barack Obama, you will have a historic opportunity to align yourself with the struggle for justice and democracy in Malaysia. I hope you will seize this opportunity, and walk your talk.
DENNIS IGNATIUS is a former Malaysian ambassador.
Kit Siang: Let thousands of Karpals rise - Malaysiakini
After his sedition conviction, Karpal Singh had
uttered these famous words, "You knock out one Karpal, a hundred Karpal
Singhs will rise."
His
long-time friend and political colleague Lim Kit Siang recalled this
quote during the memorial service held for the late politician, who was
killed in an accident on April 17, in Kuala Lumpur last night.
However, Lim had a grander vision.
The DAP supremo wanted to see not a hundred but thousands of Karpals rising up to the fight.
"I promise to continue his fight... Karpal's dream is to uphold the rule of law, justice, good governance as well as a united and harmonious Malaysia... This will be our dream... and to make it a reality in the next general election," he added.
Lim also said millions are still grieving over Karpal's death and this reflected how great a man he was.
Nine years ago, an accident left Karpal paralysed from the waist down and he remained confined to a wheelchair until his death.
While most would break down when dealt such a cruel twist of fate, Ambiga Sreenevasan noted that the incident failed to dampen Karpal's fighting spirit.
On the contrary, the former Bar Council president and Bersih said: "He stood taller when he was in a wheelchair."
Speaking at the memorial attended by some 3,000 people, Ambiga also expressed her gratitude to his widow Gurmit Kaur and the couple's children.
"Thanks, Gurmit and family, for sharing Karpal with us, you don't know how much we depended on him.
"You have lost your Karpal, he was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. We have lost our Karpal, a good representative, friend and supporter," she added.
Anwar: Goodnight, sweet prince
Anwar Ibrahim, on the other hand, recalled his last telephone conversation with Karpal and remembered how the latter had once gently hit him in public which he (Anwar) regarded as an "affectionate slap of an elder brother on a younger sibling on the wrist".
"Now
cracks a noble heart. Good night sweet prince," the opposition leader
said, quoting Horaitio in William Shakespeare's Hamlet.
Meanwhile, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said he missed Karpal’s courage and strength.
"His constant reminder was, no matter you win or lose, it is important to fight and bounce back if defeated," he said.
PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu told the crowd that Karpal was a tame cat when he was with friends and family, but turned into tiger when fighting his cause.
He fondly described Karpal as "the lawyer of lawyers".
"Karpal had his own beliefs and principles, but he would bow to his friends and opponents if they could match his principles and beliefs in debates," he said.
Also present were special adviser of the United Nations representative for Timor Leste and wife of former actng DAP secretary-general the late Fan Yew Teng, Noeleen Heyzer, and national laureate A Samad Said.
His
long-time friend and political colleague Lim Kit Siang recalled this
quote during the memorial service held for the late politician, who was
killed in an accident on April 17, in Kuala Lumpur last night.However, Lim had a grander vision.
The DAP supremo wanted to see not a hundred but thousands of Karpals rising up to the fight.
"I promise to continue his fight... Karpal's dream is to uphold the rule of law, justice, good governance as well as a united and harmonious Malaysia... This will be our dream... and to make it a reality in the next general election," he added.
Lim also said millions are still grieving over Karpal's death and this reflected how great a man he was.
Nine years ago, an accident left Karpal paralysed from the waist down and he remained confined to a wheelchair until his death.While most would break down when dealt such a cruel twist of fate, Ambiga Sreenevasan noted that the incident failed to dampen Karpal's fighting spirit.
On the contrary, the former Bar Council president and Bersih said: "He stood taller when he was in a wheelchair."
Speaking at the memorial attended by some 3,000 people, Ambiga also expressed her gratitude to his widow Gurmit Kaur and the couple's children.
"Thanks, Gurmit and family, for sharing Karpal with us, you don't know how much we depended on him.
"You have lost your Karpal, he was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. We have lost our Karpal, a good representative, friend and supporter," she added.
Anwar: Goodnight, sweet prince
Anwar Ibrahim, on the other hand, recalled his last telephone conversation with Karpal and remembered how the latter had once gently hit him in public which he (Anwar) regarded as an "affectionate slap of an elder brother on a younger sibling on the wrist".
"Now
cracks a noble heart. Good night sweet prince," the opposition leader
said, quoting Horaitio in William Shakespeare's Hamlet.Meanwhile, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said he missed Karpal’s courage and strength.
"His constant reminder was, no matter you win or lose, it is important to fight and bounce back if defeated," he said.
PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu told the crowd that Karpal was a tame cat when he was with friends and family, but turned into tiger when fighting his cause.
He fondly described Karpal as "the lawyer of lawyers"."Karpal had his own beliefs and principles, but he would bow to his friends and opponents if they could match his principles and beliefs in debates," he said.
Also present were special adviser of the United Nations representative for Timor Leste and wife of former actng DAP secretary-general the late Fan Yew Teng, Noeleen Heyzer, and national laureate A Samad Said.
The Myth of Malaysia's Moderation
The Wall Street Journal
by Andrew Khoo
President Obama should note the rise of extremism and repression when he visits this weekend.
When U.S. President
Barack Obama visits
Malaysia this weekend, he will be the first American president to do so
since Lyndon Johnson in 1966. Kuala Lumpur will seek to take advantage
of the much-anticipated trip to showcase Malaysia as a moderate
Muslim-majority democracy, a model of interracial and interreligious
diversity heading for developed-nation status by 2020. It will present
itself as an ally in combating arms proliferation and transnational
crime, and friend of the U.S. in Asia.
President
Obama should not accept this fiction or defer to the Malaysian
government because of regional security concerns. Instead, he would do
well to note the sorry state of its human rights and call for greater
respect for civil liberties.
Since the last general election in May 2013, when Prime Minister
Najib Razak's
governing coalition was returned to power but lost the popular vote,
racial and religious extremism has been on the rise. Pro-government
extremist groups have responded to self-perceived slights and insults
against the ethnic Malay majority and Islam by declaring that they are
prepared to shed blood to defend their honor and sanctity.
These
groups have made direct references to May 13, 1969, an infamous date in
Malaysian history when race riots between Malays and Chinese led to
killings in several cities and towns, and emergency rule. A 1996 fatwa
forbidding the practice of Shia Islam has recently received renewed
attention, leading to raids on and arrests of Shia adherents. Followers
of the Ahmaddiya Islamic sect have also lately been targeted. Their
prayer sessions and religious activities have been interrupted by Muslim
religious authorities enforcing the state-sanctioned version of Islam.
A
Malaysian Court of Appeal held in October 2013 that a Roman Catholic
Church newspaper could not use the Arabic word "Allah" to refer to God.
According to the court, use of the word was exclusive to Islam and not
intrinsic to the practice of Christianity in Malaysia. Language has
become a flashpoint in Christian-Islamic tensions. One Muslim group even
suggested that using the Malay language to advertise an Easter concert
meant that Christians were attempting to convert Muslims, which is an
offense. The group openly questioned the very celebration of Easter,
calling it un-Islamic.
Freedom
of speech is also under threat. In an attempt to improve Malaysia's
human rights, a coalition of civil society groups submitted
recommendations to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights back in September 2013. In January 2014, the government
called these "haram," or sinful, and declared the coalition unlawful.
Additionally,
the government has renewed its use of the Sedition Act, a colonial-era
law that makes it unlawful to "cause disaffection" against the
government or the hereditary rulers. It has been used on everyone from
politicians to social media commentators.
Clearly
the public wants genuine reform. There was tremendous clamor for clean,
free and fair elections in 2012, when hundreds of thousands risked tear
gas, water cannons and arrest to participate in the BERSIH 3.0 peaceful
protest in Kuala Lumpur. Yet the government has hardly been receptive.
Recent
changes in legislation introduced by Prime Minister Najib Razak are the
opposite of needed reform. They include outlawing street
demonstrations, requiring a 10-day prior notification period for public
assemblies, and introducing two-year without-trial detention orders,
renewable indefinitely, for those alleged by the government to be
involved in serious criminal offenses.
Individuals
facing trial for unlawful assembly from the 2012 rally and subsequent
protest gatherings have been predominantly political opponents of the
Malaysian government. The most notable dissident is former Deputy Prime
Minister Anwar Ibrahim, recently convicted for sodomy, which many saw as
a trumped-up charge.
Prime
Minister Najib Razak has promoted Malaysia internationally as a leader
in a global movement of moderation. But these actions show the
government is anything but moderate. Mainstream newspapers, many of
which are owned by political parties within the government, brazenly
promote such double-speak. Those who dare to criticize put themselves at
risk of vituperative attacks from extremist groups, police
investigation and politically motivated prosecution.
President
Obama needs to deftly use his public appearances and statements to
demonstrate concern about what is happening in Malaysia –and to say what
many Malaysians fearfully cannot. The usual mantra of moderation can no
longer conceal the escalation of extremism and repression.
Mr. Khoo is co-chair of the Malaysian Bar Council's Human Rights Committee. He writes in his personal capacity.
MH370: Government To Release Preliminary Report Next Week - Najib
KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 (Bernama) -- The preliminary findings on the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 are likely to be released next week, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak."In the government's commitment to the unrelenting search for MH370, I have also commissioned an internal investigation experts team and the preliminary findings are likely to be released next week," he said in his Facebook account today.
Flight MH370, with 239 people on board, left the KL International Airport at 12.41am on March 8 and disappeared from radar screens about an hour later while over the South China Sea. It was to have arrived in Beijing at 6.30am on the same day.
A multinational search was mounted for the aircraft, first in the South China Sea and then, after it was learned that the plane had veered off course, along two corridors - the northern corridor stretching from the border of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to northern Thailand and the southern corridor, from Indonesia to the southern Indian Ocean.
Following an unprecedented type of analysis of satellite data, the United Kingdom satellite telecommunications company Inmarsat and the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) concluded that Flight MH370 flew along the southern corridor and that its last position was in the middle of the Indian Ocean, west of Perth, Australia.
Najib then announced on March 24 - 17 days after the disappearance of the Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, that Flight MH370 "ended in the southern Indian Ocean". The search continues there.
Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein pledged earlier this month that any data eventually recovered from the aircraft's black box would be publicly released.
On Wednesday, Department of Civil Aviation director-general Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said they had sent a preliminary report of the incident to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the United Nations body for global aviation.
Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview with CNN s aviation expert Richard Quest, Najib said there was nothing in the report that was embarrassing to Malaysia.
"I just want this team to go through it, but in the name of transparency, we will release the report next week, we will release it," he said.
Asked on what made him so convinced with the Inmarsat data, Najib said: "When I met the (search and rescue) team and mind you, these are the foremost experts in the aviation industry, they are real experts as you know.
"I asked them are you sure? I asked them again and again, are you sure and the answer was 'we are sure as we can possibly be'," he said.
Najib said the MH370 incident was very different from the Air France and the Silk Air incident.
"This is totally unprecedented. What do we have going for us? What is the evidence? The evidence simply lies with the pings, the handshakes that we have analysed. That's all we have," he said.
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