No News Is Bad News
Taliban-like Malaysia if …
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24, 2023: Finance Twitter has reporterd that the Taliban-like PAS is likely to end multi-racial Malaysia with its prime minister in the next general election which must be held in 2027.
And it realistically reported that no matter how Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim huffed and puffed to swing the Malay votes, a majority of them voted for Opposition Perikatan Nasional (PN), led by Muhyiddin “I Am Malay First” Yassin, .which is dominated by PAS.
No News Is Bad News opines that if Anwar continues to just “huff and puff” until 2027, without taking any drastic action against the racial and religious bigots, Malaysians are set to suffer gravely, socio-economicqlly with investors fleeing the country.
That will be the grave consequences if Anwar’s Madani Government (UG) does not act immediately to stop the use of race and religion (read Islam) as political tools to influence the gullible Malays.
And the Sept 9 by-elections in the parliamentary seat of Pulai and the state seat of Simpang Jeram in Johor will be an indicator of what is likely to happen in the 16th General Election in 2027.
Johor is Umno’s bation as it is the state where Umno, Malaysia’s largest and oldest political party, was founded in pre-Merdeka (Independence) 1957.
Although the two seats are contested by Pakatan Harapan (PH)-Amanah, Umno must help ensure both seats are retained on Sept 9 to remain relevant in Malay politics.
Read on what Finance Twitter reported and past postings related to the issue:
MOVE ASIDE MUHYIDDIN & BERSATU – THE NEXT PM WILL COME FROM PAS – IT WILL BE HADI AWANG OR ONE OF HIS TOP GUNS INCLUDING SANUSI OR SAMSURI
Business, Politics | August 23, 2023 9:42 pm by | 0 Comments
Get Your Popcorn, Enjoy The Show – Malays Oppressing Malays As Power-Crazy PAS Gives Crumb To Partner Bersatu
Data after the recent six state elections showed a jaw-dropping 99% non-Malays had given their votes to the Anwar-led unity government, an alliance between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and former rival Barisan Nasional (BN). However, no matter how Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim huffed and puffed to swing the Malay votes, a majority of them voted for opposition Perikatan Nasional (PN).
In Kedah, Perikatan Nasional easily captured 83% Malay votes, whilst in both Penang and Selangor the radical and extremist opposition managed to convince 73% Malay votes. Even in Negeri Sembilan, it grabbed 58% of conservative Malay vote bank. It’s not rocket science that UMNO, the dominant party of BN for over 60 years, has failed to stop its voters from defecting to rival PN.
In fact, United Malays National Organization (UMNO) – the big brother of Barisan Nasional – was so pathetic that it won just 19 out of 108 seats contested, a success rate of only 17.6%. Once the most powerful and dominant political party in Malaysia, the Malay nationalist party was practically wiped out in Kedah and Terengganu, winning only 1 seat in Kelantan and did poorly in Penang and Selangor.
One man’s gain is another man’s loss. In the zero-sum game, Bersatu or Malaysian United Indigenous Party increases its seats in Kelantan (6 seats) and Terengganu (5 seats) at the expense of UMNO. In Kedah, the PH-BN combo lost a staggering 13 seats, allowing Bersatu to increase its seat by 7 to 10 seats – UMNO was wiped out whilst Anwar’s People’s Justice Party lost 5 seats.
UMNO was slaughtered left, right and centre. The hyenas – Bersatu and PAS – happily and vigorously feast on UMNO in the six state elections. However, the opposition parties were not strong enough to capture Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan. So, the burning question is whether the Malay’s support for Perikatan Nasional has reached its “peak”.
It appears Opposition PN, deriving its votes purely from conservative Malays, most likely has reached its climax. Unless the current unity government disintegrates before the next 16th General Election in 2027 due to a sudden UMNO betrayal, it would be a challenge for Bersatu and Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) to form a Malay-Muslim government on their own.
Unlike minority Chinese voters, who have no choice but to stay united thanks to the constant spewing of racial and religious hatred by Bersatu and PAS, the majority ethnic Malays are divided into moderate and radical Muslims. Therefore, it’s quite impossible for Perikatan Nasional to get 90% support from Malays nationwide. At most, they might get up to 85%.
But a week is a long time in politics, let alone four years. Can Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang still see eye to eye in the next 4 years? Even if both power-hungry leaders can pretend to tolerate each other, which they can’t, can their respective minions hold themselves from going after each other’s throat?
Interestingly, Bersatu has expressed its displeasure and dissatisfaction over how the spoils of war were being divided in Kedah. Despite winning more seats, jumping from 7 to 10, the party has been allocated only 3 state executive councillors (EXCO) – a drop of five previously. PAS, which won 22 seats, grabbed the lion’s share of 7 EXCOs in the 10-member state government.
The best part was not only PAS gets most of the spoils of war, but its notorious Kedah Chief Minister Sanusi Nor greedily holds a jaw-dropping 8 portfolios – including finance, land, development, mineral and geosciences, state planning, state-linked companies, external relations and State Economic Action Council. Instead of sharing, the Islamist party selfishly keeps most of the treasure for itself.
It was a slap in the face of the former backdoor PM Muhyiddin. How could PAS humiliate the Perikatan Nasional chairman in such manner? That’s because PAS knew that there isn’t anything Bersatu could do even if it’s as clear as daylight that Bersatu is being bullied and oppressed. Muhyiddin’s party won all its seats largely due to PAS’ grassroots and machinery.
On its own, Bersatu is merely an empty vessel with limited support from the people. It is at the mercy of PAS to deliver votes. While Bersatu cannot survive without PAS, the same cannot be said about the Islamist party. PAS can form Kedah state government on its own. Its 22 seats in the 36-seat state assembly mean the Islamist party has two-thirds majority.
Yes, like a hyena which gladly eats clan member alive, the PAS Islamist party is behaving in the same way after winning big in the recent six state elections. It has gotten arrogant and greedy, feeding poor Bersatu with crumb. In other words, Hadi bets Muhyiddin does not have the balls to make any complaints, let alone threatens to quit the Perikatan Nasional.
In fact, PAS knew Bersatu can go nowhere, hence was rewarded with only “one exco post” in Kelantan and Terengganu. It was an insult and disrespect of the highest order. Trapped, Muhyiddin can only ask how high when Hadi tells him to jump. And that’s how PAS-Malays mistreat fellow Bersatu-Malays. But for how long can Bersatu leaders keep quiet after being oppressed?
Hadi Awang cleverly uses Bersatu to project a dubious moderate Islam image instead of spooking the Malays – even the conservative Malays – with a Taliban state. That’s why PAS only talks about Malay-Muslim government, but refused to aggressively talk about the ancient Hudud Law or to promote the formation of an Islamic state, which is closely linked to terrorist groups Al-Qaeda and ISIS.
Like it or not, Bersatu is just a junior partner in Perikatan Nasional. Even though Muhyiddin is the chairman, the Bersatu president does not call the shot. It’s both hilarious and pathetic that he could only keep his silent – pretending nothing had happened – after Bersatu Kedah complained about being short-changed when both Bersatu and PAS should be equal partners.
In truth, it doesn’t matter if UMNO defects and joins Bersatu-PAS to form yet another backdoor Malay-Muslim government again. Once in power, they will start plotting, conspiring, backstabbing and betraying each other for the sake of power and position. Muhyiddin was betrayed when UMNO faction led by Zahid Hamidi and Najib Razak had withdrawn their support for the backdoor premier.
Likewise, PAS had betrayed now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat when Hadi was allegedly bribed RM90 million by ex-PM Najib to quit the opposition alliance. A national cooperation between UMNO and PAS, glorified as “Muafakat Nasional” under the pretext of Malay-unity, was then formed after the 2018 General Election, which saw UMNO lost power for the first time in history.
After betraying friends and allies in Pakatan Rakyat, PAS then betrayed UMNO when it abandoned Muafakat Nasional, choosing Bersatu’s Perikatan Nasional instead. Now, the same Islamist party is set to betray Bersatu by treating it like a pariah. As the biggest political party in the country, “Big Brother” Hadi wanted to taste the ultimate power he has been dreaming – the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
FINANCE TWITTER
Wednesday, 23 August 2023
Biadap (rude) racial, religious bigots even to Malay monarchs
No News Is Bad News
Malaysia’s current monarchs.
Biadap (rude) racial, religious bigots even to Malay monarchs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK4EDaZWaJU (Selangor Sultan: People are tired of politics, I'm also tired of listening about it)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgpdA4-wSes (Sudahlah, Sultan Johor ‘tegur’ gerakan gugat kestabilan kerajaan)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebqUG2SCSJg (Refer 3R issues to me, Sultan Nazrin tells Perak chiefs)
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23, 2023: It is quit clear that the 15th General Election and state elections are not over, as far as the racial and religious bigots are concerned.
The Taliban-like PAS which dominated Perikatan Nasional (PN) led by Muhyiddin “I Am Malay First” Yassin continues to use race and religion to try and topple Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Unity Government (UG).
Emboldened by their successful political influence over the Malays with their spewing of sensitive rhetoric, they have even ignored and insult the advice of the Malay Royalty, the symbol of Malay Supremacy.
This has forced the Malay Royalty to come up in the open to defend democracy and the Federal Constitution, defend national unity and harmony, and multi-racial Malaysia against the bigots.
View the above three video clips to see what the Malay Royalty is saying.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below previous postings related to the issues:
Saturday, 19 August 2023
Stop the politicking, focus on socio-economic progress
No News Is Bad News
For image info, go to https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Academy-of-Sciences-Malaysias-Progressive-Malaysia-2050-Source-Adapted-from-8_fig1_334097709
Stop politicking, focus on socio-economic progress
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19, 2023:
Editorial
NO NEWS IS BAD NEWS says:
MALAYSIANS are getting tired, weary and fed-up with the continuopus politicking even though the 15th General Election (GE) and state elections have conmcluded on Aug 12, 2023.
GE16 is in 2027, that is some four years away but Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Unmity Government (UG) continues to tolerate and allow politicians to continue with the use of racial and religious rhetoric for polical mileage.
Is this conmtinuing into 2027 when the UG should be focusing all its energy, time and resources to heal the country’s economy which is saddled with a RM1.5 trillion national debt - no thanks to previous federal government and their leaders.
The UG’s priority should be to create a conducive socio-economic environment to attract investments from boith domestic and foreign investors.
And that is to ensure political stability, national unity and harmony are not undermined or threatened.
Is it so difficult for all to understand that all these unecessary distration from racial and religiopus bigots is the cause of Malaysia’s continuous woes.
Muster the political will to act swiftly, without fear or favour against the bigots, stop the sensitive and national-unity shattering rhetoric, and the Opposition will have nothing politically.
The Taliban-like PAS, which dominates the Muhyiddin “I Am Malay First” Yassin Perikatan Nasional (PN), will be politically crippled after they are denied the use of racial and religious rhetoric to stir sentiments for political mileage.
By GE16, they will not be a political force that they are today.
PAS has no good governance and development management record to show since Merdeka (Independence) 1957. Just racial and religious bigotry to brainwash rural Malays, and now even some urban Malays.
Just look at Kedah and, Kelantan especially, and compare the two PAS-rulked states with others.
Look at Singapore. Why are they a super-rich and a 1st World country?
Do they dwell and waste their precious time in racial and religious rhetoric? Singaporeans are proud to be Singaporeans and they spend all their time and energy on socio-economic development.
They strive for management excellence in all fields.
Can we say the same for Malaysians and Malaysia?
The road to social-economic growth for Malaysia is clear. Dump the racial and religious rhetoric and focus all energy and resources entirely on socio-economic management excellence .
Then, there is no way Malaysia cannot catch up with Singapore with all its natrural resources at its disposal.
Stop the unproductive and time-wasting politicking until GE16.
Saturday, 19 August 2023
Islamophobia: Anwar, UG still blur or …
No News Is Bad News
This image was found on Facebook … a reflection of the rakyat (people)’s views?
Islamophobia: Anwar, UG still blur or …
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20, 2023: It sure looks like Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is no different from all the past Umno prime ministers, save for Bapa Malaysia (Father of Malaysia) Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Their common folly, as far as nurturing national unity and harmony is concerned, is their fear for the racial and religious bigots, especially those from the Taliban-like PAS.
One really wonders why is that so.
Anwar acknowledges Islamophobia is a national woe. So, he has pleged to allocate suffiient vfunds to combat Islamophobia. That is well and good, to help all Malaysians, especially those who had been brainwashed by PAS with their skered intertpretation of Islam.
PAS and PN decide who goes to heaven, who goes to hell? Such rubbish and untruths are allowed in political campaigns in Malaysia!
But, what or who caused Islamophobia, and now the Unity Government (UG)needs to spend precious fund to combat the threat of Islamophobia?
It is the racial and religious bigots and they need to be stopped without fear or favour with enforcement within the laws or justice. They are the causes of Islamophobia by using and exploiting and abusing race and religion for political mileage.
Do you get that, Anwar and UG? Or, you get it but have no courage and political will to act against the bigots, who can come from either side of the political divide, but more from the “Malaysian Talibans”.
And, look at Sabah and Sarawak. Why are the two states relatively free from the threat of Islamophobia? Because there are no “PAS Talibans” to cause political instability or threaten communal unity and harmony.
Do you get it clear now, Anwar and UG?
Read the articles below if you are still blur:
PM pledges sufficient funds to combat Islamophobia
Anwar Ibrahim says Muslims must gain a better understanding of the religion in order to explain Islam to other Malaysians.
FMT Reporters - 19 Aug 2023, 11:47pm
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the opening of the international Quran recital assembly in Kuala Lumpur tonight. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: The federal government has guaranteed that sufficient funds would be provided to combat Islamophobia by ensuring a better understanding of the religion, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said tonight.
Anwar said it had been proven that Islamophobia had led to imperialism which was aimed at arresting the progress of Islam, Utusan Malaysia reported.
Political will can break ‘green wave’ at eastern shores
All Putrajaya needs to do is give Sabah and Sarawak a one-third share of parliamentary seats.
Letter to the Editor - 20 Aug 2023, 7:00am
From Clement Stanley
The elections in six states have come and gone. I could not help but see the similarities between the PAS successes and the advance of Nazi Germany across western Europe in the Second World War.
Country after country fell until the Germans occupied France. However, they did not or could not cross the English Channel to Great Britain.
Just as the English Channel kept the Germans at bay, so too will the South China Sea keep PAS away from Sabah and Sarawak.
PAS has been moving towards central Malaya and southwards with its brand of politics based on race and religion and nothing else and even has a foothold in Penang, a feat hitherto seemingly impossible to achieve.
In Sabah, PAS has a token nominated assemblyman who is merely a benchwarmer after no more than a kind gesture as PAS candidates end up losing their deposits in any Sabah state assembly election.
Even worse for PAS, its politicians from West Malaysia are kept out of the state by the very bold and brave Sarawak government.
I wrote about Sabah and Sarawak as the last line of defence against the “green tsunami” in December last year, and called for more seats for Sabah and Sarawak in March.
Sabah and Sarawak do not practice the politics of race and religion. We never will. We do not resort to such divisive and dubious practices.
The unity government of Anwar Ibrahim has the power to give us what we are entitled, in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
If East Malaysians have one-third of all parliamentary seats, we can be the last line of defence for concerned Malaysians. Anyone wanting to form the federal government will need the support of 73 MPs from Sabah and Sarawak instead of the current 56.
It can be done because the unity government now has a safe two-thirds majority.
This article might again fall on deaf ears in Putrajaya. Lest you forget, fortune favours the brave.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT
MALAYSIA
Labelling political opponents as ‘kafir’ sparks worry
Religious minister warns such gestures not just dangerous, but against religious principles
Updated 1 week ago · Published on 06 Aug 2023 10:45AM
Religious affairs minister Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar says any matter in religious affairs, especially in the field of faith and shariah, should be referred to the state Islamic religious authorities and experts who have certified knowledge in the field. – Bernama pic, August 6, 2023
BY The Vibes Team
KUALA LUMPUR – Do not conveniently label other parties as “kafir” (infidel) just because they harbour political ideologies different from yours.
This is the call by religious affairs minister Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, who warned that such a gesture is not only dangerous, but also against religious principles.
“I call on all parties to be more responsible and not arbitrarily accuse a Muslim of being an infidel just because of differences in political beliefs and the like.
“Any matter in religious affairs, especially in the field of faith and shariah, should be referred to the state Islamic religious authorities and experts who have certified knowledge in the field,” he said late last night.
His comments were reported by Getaran, the Malay-language sister portal of The Vibes.
He said this in commenting on the spread of a viral video which showed the reception towards an Umno election campaigner representing Barisan Nasional for the six-state elections on August 12.
The incident is believed to have happened in Kelantan based on the dialect used.
In the video, the BN campaigner involved was not only not welcomed by an elderly woman, but she was also told that her party was confirmed as a kafir by the PAS leadership.
The clip was also shared by Datuk Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid, an executive councillor in Umno’s women’s wing, who later faced criticism from netizens for allegedly not looking up about the true scenario first.
Some netizens claimed that the elderly woman’s mental condition was no longer perfect because she was in a state of senility, causing her to fail to think sanely.
It was claimed that the neighbouring villagers had clarified about the condition of the elderly woman involved.
PAS told to change members’ perceptions
Meanwhile, Umno secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki took the PAS leadership to task over the matter and urged the party to rectify such views of its grassroots supporters who are led to believe Umno members to be infidels.
He said that it is important to correct that impression so that there is no conflict between Muslims in the country.
“I call and hope that the PAS leadership can issue a statement to clarify to the members that one does not descend into becoming an infidel or break one’s faith when voting for any party in this election.
He said it is crucial to avoid disputes and arguments that lead to a heretic blame-game and breaking the kinship among Muslims.
He stressed in a statement that the difference between political parties is only in terms of political approach, and should not reflect on differences in their creed and religious beliefs
Asyraf Wajdi added that the incident shown in the video gives a deep sense of sadness.
“This is because there are still grassroots members of PAS who are so fanatical about the leadership that had previously planted the ideology that anyone voting for Umno becomes an infidel and goes to hell,” he said.
According to him, every Muslim needs to distinguish between religion and party.
“Islam is a religion, PAS is a political party. It’s a different thing. Not joining PAS, not voting for PAS does not make us heretical. Nor does voting for Umno demote our faith.” – The Vibes, August 6, 2023
Kafir Harbi: Killing the confusion
In a world where Islam has taken centrestage for reasons both good and bad, conscientious Muslims must rise to separate the former from the latter.
FMT - 23 Jul 2016, 7:39am
By Dr Daniel Iqram Abd Halim
The Arabic term “kafir” (plural: “kuffar”) shares roots with the word “kafara”, which means “to have obscured”. In a technical context, this is the term accorded to one to whom the undistorted message of Islam has been conveyed, yet he rejects it unconditionally.
The word “harbi” is a descriptor form of the word “harb”, which means “war”. In classical Islamic texts, the amalgamation of these two terms is “kafir harbi”, which refers to a non-Muslim with whom war can be waged, albeit only under clear indications and during which strict ethics are to be observed.
Such were the hues and colors which painted the landscape of classical Islamic texts. The nature of knowledge, though, is that it evolves. And this evolution process, in turn, is induced by discussion, presentation of evidence supportive of one’s argument, and rationalisation of thought.
Old isn’t always gold; if we were to insist that every established principle in any sort of field to hold true till the end, then we would still accept the earth as being flat and the centre of the universe.
However, old sometimes can still be gold, and this was the question Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia (Ikram) sought to explore on Saturday, July 16, during a forum held on the relevance of the term “kafir harbi” in modern times.
The forum saw five stalwarts of Islamic thought in Malaysia representing various streams of opinion, with respective followers of said streams packing the hall to the brim.
The raison d’etre for the occurrence was a remark made by Pahang Mufti Abdul Rahman Osman, stating that those who oppose Islam are deserving of the title “kafir harbi”.
Content aside, the fact that the forum came to fruition itself was a landmark event in the discourse process of Islamic thinking, converging different angles of view and leaving the audience to decide which carried the most substance: classical or contemporary, a modern-day Inquisition versus Galileo.
Act One: One day long past
In olden times, long before the territorial borders of today’s countries were formed, Islamic scholars divided nation-states generally into “Darul Salam” (“Land of Peace/Islam”) and “Darul Harb” (“Land of War”).
This binary, politically-driven classification by scholars such as al-Mawardi and asy-Syaibani came about at a nascent age for Islam, when it was striving to make its mark on the world among the civilisations that existed and when the waging of war was much more the order of the day than in modern times.
In addition to this rudimentary categorisation of territories, supplementary definitions concerning non-Muslims were formed.
They were further divided into “dhimmi” (those under Muslim protection in exchange for a special tax), “mu’ahad” (those from kuffar lands which had a truce with Muslim lands), and “musta’man” (those coming to Muslim lands seeking protection).
This process is dynamic, as a “kafir musta’man” can subsequently become “kafir dhimmi” if he were to pay the “jizya”, the aforementioned special tax.
By opening on the abundance of mosques in Western countries today as a reality which was practically inconceivable by the scholars of yesteryear, Dr Maszlee Malik (of the International Islamic University of Malaysia) attempted to demonstrate how the prior mentality of creed-based territorial segregation has little place in the 21st century.
To support his points, Dr Maszlee quoted the contemporary Egyptian scholar Muhammad Abu Zuhrah.
In post-colonial times, the migration of minority Western populations to the East and vice versa has created a global situation where the intermingling of ethnicities, cultures, and religious groups leaves little room for rigid outlooks on faith-based citizenship.
Thus, according to Abu Zuhrah, the polities of today should be seen in the light of wataniah (nationality as defined in a legal context) rather than choice of faith. This would apply even more close to home, where the Chinese and Indians of today are the descendants of the diaspora brought by the British to the Malay Peninsula decades ago to work in tin mines and in rubber estates.
Recognising the right of Malaysian minority groups to good treatment, panelist Ustaz Hasanuddin Yunus (of the political party Amanah) did well to slip in a quote by psychologist Carl Rogers to reinforce to the panel and audience that the discussion was to revolve around the “here and now”.
A slightly harsher (but still very moderate) view brought forth for the deliberation of the eagerly-listening audience was that of Dr Yusuf al-Qaradhawi, a scholar of contemporary Islamic jurisprudence par excellence.
Dr Yusuf said that the only real “Darul Harb” today is Israel, which has been systemically and persistently driving out Palestinian Arabs from their historical homeland for the past seven or so decades. In more recent times, though, this may or may not extrapolate to other nations where Muslims are persecuted and purged from their rightful homes.
He said this is in line with verse 8 of Chapter 60 of the Quran, where God decrees that Muslims have no case for enmity with non-Muslims who do not oppose them out of religious differences and who do not expel them from their abodes.
A case for war?
Ustaz Engku Ahmad Fadzil’s (of the Malaysian Institute for Islamic Strategic Research, or Iksim) view on the matter was in contradiction to Dr Maszlee and Ustaz Hasanuddin’s, although not in total.
Taking verses from the Quran, he argued that the default stance for Muslims to take against non-Muslims is one of vigilance, discretion, and restrained animosity. To build his case, he extracted from the Quran evidences such as verse 191 of Chapter 2, which explicitly orders Muslims to slay their non-Muslim foes.
Although Ustaz Engku agreed that this cannot be translated literally to mean that Muslims have a licence to kill whimsically, he seemed to insist that it gives the impression of the natural prejudice Muslims should have against people of other religions.
However, after voicing a rather strong stance, he also pointed out that in spite of verses of staunch enmity against the kuffar, for thousands of years after the flourishing of Islam and the establishment of the Caliphate, there had been no documented rampage of senseless violence by Muslims against non-Muslims.
Ustaz Zamihan Mat Zin (of the Malaysian Sunni Society, or Aswaja) advocated leaving the business of declaring others as “kafir harbi” to the Mufti, supporting him in his actions which took place two weeks prior to the forum.
Concurring with the Mufti, he went on to give a view similar to that of Ustaz Engku, implicating that the term “harbi” actually has varying degrees; there are supposedly “harbi” who are only opposed and whose lives cannot actually be taken.
Accompanying this stance, he took from the Quran verse 279 of Chapter 2 – a well-known “declaration of war” from God and His Messenger against those who commit usury that doesn’t implicate a ruling of actual, physical warfare.
Of comprehensiveness, foresight and wisdom
In any field of study, it is imperative that one trains oneself to look at things in a holistic manner and with depth, for this is the way one gains wisdom in a said field.
Countering Ustaz Engku and Zamihan’s viewpoints, Dr Maszlee showed that the content of the Quran cannot be looked at from a skyscraper; one must be willing to examine the conditions and context in which they were sent down.
The verse which asks Muslims to “slay (the kuffar) wherever they may find them” (2:191) were conveyed at a time when the Muslims of Madinah were under constant threat from their enemies in Makkah.
In addition, this particular verse follows and is followed by other verses which dictate conditions of war. The surrounding verses speak of how Islam prohibits excessive violence in warfare and of how Muslims are to reciprocate if the enemy ceases attack. Therefore, it would be out of place to quote the verse by itself.
Personally, I find it quite ironic that a scholar vehemently against religious liberals would read this verse on the surface and in isolation to justify an abrasive stance when he reproaches those same individuals who cite it superficially in attempts to depict senseless violence in Islam.
And from yet another angle, this is dangerously close to the methodology of Isis (the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), who have made themselves a household name when it comes to terror and violence under the (false) pretext of Islam.
This is something which Dr Maszlee can vouch for, as he was recently appointed to provide counselling to inmates who were caught by Malaysian police for being involved in Isis-related activities.
As had been prophesied 14 centuries ago by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the Messenger of God, there will arise a people who “read the Quran, but it will not reach past their throats”, meaning that the Quran will be interpreted literally and not fully comprehended.
If this is the modus operandi of certain, supposedly learned scholars, then how much different are they from Isis? The pot calling the kettle black, much?
There was also the question of whether the Pahang Mufti had actually said what was reported, and if he did, what had he meant by it.
Admittedly, Dr Fathul Bari (the last panelist, from Umno) did well to enquire from the Pahang Mufti himself prior to the forum on what he meant when he uttered such seemingly vehement words.
This process of tabayyun is enshrined in the Quran (49:6). But then again, there wasn’t much else that he contributed to the dialogue, including when he mentioned that the right to declare war belongs only to the imam (leader) of the Muslims in a territory, as that was a principle already established by Dr Maszlee at the start of the forum.
I wouldn’t exactly laud him for his apparent rationality as have others, because ambiguity and playing safe are easy ways to appear reasonable and decent.
Anyway, from Dr Fathul Bari’s practical non-presence, we discovered that yes, the Mufti really had expressed himself as was widely reported. But he was only responding to the “provocations of certain individuals of certain political factions (thought by many to mean the DAP)” and that there was no intent to declare holy war on anyone.
I actually spoke to a notable expert, who had no political affiliations, on ahadeeth (prophetic narrations) the day after the forum just to get another, much more qualified outsider’s perspective.
He said designating a side “harbi” yet attempting to accord the consequences of the title varying degrees is a contradictory and odd affair, for it has all-or-none repercussions.
You can’t be declaring war on someone and simultaneously decree that the man is only to be opposed in ideology and not to be killed altogether. On this academic basis alone, this angle (which was embraced by both Ustaz Engku and Ustaz Zamihan) could have well been deemed null and void.
And equally bewildering was that Ustaz Zamihan professed himself the president of an organisation of Muslims who practice the teachings of Imam as-Shafi’e, who was an early scholarly giant who himself wrote that one deemed a “kafir harbi” is deserving of his life and possessions to be taken. So what, then, was he going on about?
Such a milestone occasion in the history of religious discourse in this nation would not have been complete without a look at the repercussions of justifying that non-Muslims be labelled “kafir harbi” nowadays, for the answer to some questions are found by looking from a retrograde point of view, i.e., from back-to-front.
Malaysia is known the world over for being one of the most diverse countries (if not the most diverse country) on earth. This diversity entails not only different ethnic groups and cultures, but cuts across religious groups as well.
There is no argument over the terms “kafir” and “kuffar”, but Ustaz Engku and Ustaz Zamihan were harping on their presence in the Quran throughout, leaving me puzzled as to whether the focus of the forum had flown over their collective heads.
Islam makes no compromise on creed, but the benefits of just and fair Islamic rule are for all.
Were non-Muslims here to be regarded “kuffar harbi” (including those in Sabah and Sarawak), this would open the floodgates to violence and bloodshed, as was suggested on social media by Dr Maszlee shortly after the Pahang Mufti made headlines.
And in other nations, not least of which is our southern neighbour Singapore, the Muslim minority itself would feel the backlash if they were to declare their rulers “kuffar harbi”.
This is the wisdom of the principle in jurisprudence known as “saddu zharai”, whose meaning runs along the lines of preventing the undesirable.
The way forward
Building a civil society is no easy task. No one ever said it was. But one thing is for sure: unjustified presumptions and lack of tolerance will never go a long way in making it a reality.
The one other thing that I can applaud Dr Fathul Bari that night for is citing a hadeeth where the Prophet speaks to the effect of, “the best sort of religious practice is that which does not deviate and is tolerant”.
Islam sets principles and ground rules for mankind to adhere to, but the intricacies of day-to-day living are for us to handle, with wisdom. There is a place for harshness and punishment when limits are transgressed, but preceding that is a vast space for dialogue, because dialogue is the only real way inside another’s mind.
Instead of forcing our beliefs down others’ throats, we should convince them.
And as for dialogue and discourse, they are the remedies to prejudice, misunderstanding, and hateful perceptions.
As a representative of Amanah, which together with Keadilan and DAP forms the main Opposition bloc in the country, Ustaz Hasanuddin told of how efforts had been undertaken to share Islam with the Chinese-majority DAP, including discussing with them on maqasid syariah (the objectives of Islamic law).
Strangely enough, for all the banter and ranting of Ustaz Engku on non-Muslims and Dr Fathul Bari and Ustaz Zamihan’s emphasis on tabayyun, neither Iksim, Umno, nor Aswaja had taken steps to properly converse with DAP on Islamic affairs in Malaysia. Seldom do we see other non-Malay parties receiving flak for their insensitive, ignorant comments on Islam. Cui bono (who benefits)?
As dangerous and provocative the actions of individuals like Alvin Tan and, more recently, Nga Kor Ming are, they are outliers and mustn’t be taken to represent the majority of non-Muslim conduct.
In today’s context, any non-Muslim sowing the seeds of discord should be considered criminals against a Constitution that guarantees freedom of religion for all (conditional of tolerance for others’ beliefs) and not “kafir harbi”.
Far too often, many forget to view wrongdoers objectively and that what should be opposed is the sin and not the sinner; restrict their crimes to the punishment of the state and display good conduct to them, instead of taking vigilante justice. Likewise, due penalisation must be meted out on Muslims who disrupt societal harmony and are wont to ethno-religious friction.
Where I work in the healthcare sector, I see Malays, Chinese and Indians who have previously never met in their lives, talk and communicate to each other in the most amicable manner.
I struggle to think what there actually is for us to argue over when a lot of the time, we can compromise for each other’s religious practices.
If we actually took the effort to smile and speak to each other more, we would see the walls of racism, mutual awkwardness and hate being torn down bit by bit. For prejudice exists where dialogue fails to.
As the eloquent preacher Hassan al-Banna once said, “We shall wage war against man with kindness”.
Dr Daniel Iqram Abd Halim is an FMT reader.
With a firm belief in freedom of expression and without prejudice, FMT tries its best to share reliable content from third parties. Such articles are strictly the writer’s personal opinion. FMT does not necessarily endorse the views or opinions given by any third party content provider.
Friday, 18 August 2023
DAP, take action! Don’t behave like MCA eunuchs in BN!
No News Is Bad News
Arahan penutupan dari Titah Sultan Selangor pada 2019, tapi DAP pulak yang disalahkan..
Helo, kak.. bawak mengucap kak, ambil wuduk, urusan hal ehwal islam dibawah Sultan, bukan saja diSelangor tapi disemua negeri bersultan BUKAN DAP...
Jika Sultan bertitah perlu ditutup, DAP ke PAS ke wajib ikut
DAP, take action! Don’t behave like MCA eunuchs in BN!
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18, 2023: The above image and text were found on Facebook today (Aug 17, 2023).
If that was what Nazilah Idris and w3as not misquoted, then what is Prime Minister Anwar Ibdrahim’s Unity Government (UG) doing abouut it?
And is the DAP going to take a similar stand as the MCA eunuchs who were then in the Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government?
Just because she is the Selangor Islam Federation of NGO secretariat chariman, she is free to say anythging she wants and allowed to get away with it? Is she untouchable by law?
She has also insultedf the Malay royalty.
DAP leaders, please take note of the following, lest you have forgotten:
> Slander: the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation; make false and damaging statements about (someone); and
> Defamation: Damage the good reputation of (someone) - slander or libel.
Tuesday, 15 August 2023
See how multiracial-multireligious Malaysia is collapsing by the day
No News Is Bad News
Do they really care about Malaysia’s future wellbeing?
See how multiracial-multireligious Malaysia is collapsing by the day
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15, 2023: No News Is Bad News is dumbfounded and lost for words with the two articles (see below) circulating in the internet.
We wonder how the editors in Focus Malaysia see the rubbish non-governmental organisations (BGOs) as newsworthy, not forgetting that it is plain racial and religious bigotry, and irresponsible.
Any sane editors would have spiked the story as it is unfit and not newsworthy. But, now that it has been published and circulated, what is the Madani Unity Government going to do about it?
Malaysia is heading for socio-economic doom if such racists and religious bigots are allowed to continue to spew such garbage.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below the published garbage for readers to form their own opinion and to be wary of the dangers posed to national unity and harmony in multiracial-multireligious Malaysia:
Muslim NGOs propose establishment of a Malay-Muslim gov’t without DAP
· in Featured, Mainstream, Top
A COALITTION of Muslim non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan has urged leaders of Malay Muslim political parties to be open-minded enough to accept the agenda of unifying the ummah (Muslim solidarity) for the benefit of religion, the Malay race and nation.
After all, the outcome of Saturday’s (Aug 12) six state polls reflects the people’s desire in wanting to realise the unification of Malays and Muslims in the country, according to Gerakan Pembela Ummah (UMMAH) chairman Mohd Zai Mustafa.
Towards this end, the Muslim NGOs collation has proposed to establish a Malay Muslim government without DAP.
This, according to UMMAH, is justifiable considering that Malay-Muslim state assemblymen form the majority of Saturday’s (Aug 12) state polls winners regardless of whether they are from UMNO, PAS, Bersatu, Amanah or PKR.
“That’s why political leaders, whether they are from UMNO or Perikatan Nasional (PN), need to be open minded enough (to unite) to defend the interests of religion, Malay race and nation … the issue of Malay Muslim interests must be defended regardless of political party,” Mohd Zai told a media conference in Bangi yesterday (Aug 14).
“As such, we want to propose that they determine carefully a Menteri Besar (MB) and state EXCO line-up who can defend these rights … actually a (state) government without DAP.”
According to Zai, the ummah unification agenda can be implemented without DAP because political parties with Malay leadership will certainly not sideline Islam and would want the religion to be defended at all costs.
He claimed “there have been many instances in which DAP has oppressed the Malay Muslims” in Selangor and Negri Sembilan.
More broadly, Mohd Zai stressed that this ummah unification agenda can also be implemented at the federal level because many Malay leaders at the parliamentary level are composed of Malay and Muslim representatives.
He further noted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim need not bow to DAP because “the existing strength of Malay leaders is enough to eliminate the party’.
“Actually, if the leader has the political will to love his race and religion as in the case of Anwar who is a Malay Muslim PM, why must he have so much affection for DAP? There are enough Malay Muslim MPs around (to back him),” asserted Mohd Zai.
“(Datuk Seri) Amirudin Shari (Selangor MB) can call these Malay Muslim leaders to discuss who can become MB, state EXCO and so on. Why do you love DAP so much if you are a leader with a big heart?” – Aug 15, 2023
Below is circulating in WhatsApp:
*Share as received.*
My view is that generally Muslims vote along racial and religious lines. My good friend, a well to do educated Malay whose family and friends voted for PN/PAS because of the following: - Muslims accept corruption from their Muslim politicians as long as they are fellow Muslims. They turn a blind eye as Hadi has declared corruption in Islam is halal as there is a willing giver and willing taker. No one is forced to take a bribe. This is accepted although deep down they know it is not acceptable to do so in Islam.
- they do not want to lose their privileges which is what the extremists Islamisation preach about. - they feel that all the problems of today such as high cost of living is created by PH who is seen as taking away their freebies and privileges. - Muslims generally do not trust the Chinese although the Chinese economically provide jobs for them. They feel that without PAS or PN, their rights and employment opportunities even in the private sector will be eroded and the Chinese employers will provide biased opportunities and promotions and favour their own people over others. - naively and without rational thought these same educated Muslim professionals especially the young, want and think that the economy will run effectively even with extremists running it.
- they feel that Malaysia will never go broke or be like Sri Lanka/Greece because we have so much raw materials which they say will never run out and the gravy train will continue to flow.
- they say that in Islam, they are duty bound to vote or elect even corrupt Muslim politician rather than elect a clean non-Muslim politician.
- constant preaching of this narrative continues on a regular basis in madrasahs. It's something called taqeeyah"
- Malaysia belongs to the Muslims and others should not have any rights and need to comply with the requirements of Islam as subservient second-class inhabitants.
- They fear they will go to hell if they don't vote for their own kind. They fear the criticism and being isolated and talked about if they are seen to be not aligned to the Muslims. - End of gravy train. It has become an accepted right and any talk of meritocracy and level playing field is seen as taking away their birth right. This guy who shared this in his own words of course is seen as a moderate, loves going for holidays to Western countries, enjoys a good job in a Chinese company, loves branded clothes, dines and spend times out with friends of different races. Reminds one of Hitler's Germany and the Talibanization of Afghanistan and similar. - they can accept a corrupted government as long as they are 100% Muslim as they fear that a non-Muslim will be PM and will take away their rights and gravy train.. Sekian..again it is not everyone but this is the majority..
Saturday, 12 August 2023
Taliban-like PAS dominated PN decides who goes to heaven?
No News Is Bad News
Malays believe the Perikatan Nasional coalition decides who goes to heaven! Is this Islamic or deviant teaching?
Taliban-like PAS dominated PN decides who goes to heaven?
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13, 2023: In Malaysia, people seriously believe that political parties decide who goes to heaven.
Malay politics have deteriorated in common sense and logic - simply believing the ridiculous.
How else not to conclude the political mentality of the majority of Malays as such - with the Taliban-like PAS dominated Perikatan Nasional (PN) carving landslide victories in Terengganu, Kedah and Kelantan in the just-concluded elections in six states.
Although the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-Barisan Nasional (Umno) coalition in the Unity Governments (UGs) retained their right to govern Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan, there was no joy for law-abiding-peace-loving Malaysians as their future is uncertain come the 16th General Election (GE16) that must be held in 2027.
Uncertain because the results showed the PAS-dominated PN led by Muhyiddin “I Am Malay First” Yassin has made significant inroads with its racial and religious political strategy - garnering sizeable votes, denying PH-BN its two-thirds majority in the Selangor state assembly.
By GE16, if the Anwar Ibrahim’s UG fails to stop the phenomenal political growth of the racial and religious bigots of PN, then there is a real possibility of the federal government falling to PAS-PN.
However, such a scenario is unlikely as long as Sarawak and Sabah remains committed and staunchly support the UG.
So, Malaysians, especially the Malays, wake up and use your sensible judgment to reject the racial and religious bigots in Malaysia who are shattering national unity and harmony.
Will they have the political will really stop the racial and religious bigots?
So, will Anwar and the UG do anything about the racial and religious bigots?
Time will tell whether Malaysia is heading towards Taliban-like rule or not.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below its earlier posting:
Saturday, 12 August 2023
Political danger looms in Malaysia
No News Is Bad News
For image info, go to https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/493320 (Malaysia’s dangerous racial, religious trajectory)
Political danger looms in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12, 2023: Malaysians have much to worry about their and the country’s political future.
The 3-3 status quo in the six state elections has revealed an unhealthy political trend towards Malay and non-Malay safe seats.
The Malay safe seats are dominated by PAS-Perikatan Nasional (PN) while the non-Malay safe seats are dominated by DAP-Pakatan Harapan (PH).
DAP won all the seats it contested while Umno-Barisan Nasional(BN) lost some of its incumbent seats. PAS won with ease in Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan - sweeping aside Umno-BN and PH.
PN made a clean sweep of Terengganu - wiping out BN-Umno and PH-PKR. But PH-BN lost its two-thirds majority in Selangor.
There are also clear signs (garnering significant votes) that PAS and PN have also made political inroads in Penang and Negri Sembilan - with PN taking all three state seats in Penang's Permatang Pauh, a parliamentary seat Anwar, his wife and daughter Nurul held for at least five terms.
The three seats are Seberang Jaya, Permatang Pasir and Penanti (contested by PKR, Amanah and Umno)
This means Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (who is PH and Parti Keadilan Rakyat chief) and Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) president Zahid Hamidi, and PN boss Muhyiddin “I Am Malay First” Yassin clearly are in a political dilemma to steer their coalitions to win in the next general election that must be held in 2027.
However, the federal Unity Government (UG) is relatively still safe because of the Sarawak and Sabah political blocks that staunchly reject the Taliban-like PAS which has swept the Malay-majority states.
Anwar, especially, has to worry about PH’s future as it is now threatened by the racial and religious PAS bigots.
Umno only has itself to blame for allowing PAS to grow in strength politically without checking its exploitation of race and religion for political mileage for more than 60 years, since Merdeka 1957.
Anwar-Zahid must now find ways to win back the confidence of the majority of Malays for PH-BN while Muhyiddin has to find ways to win the confidence of the non-Malays to win in the mix seats to form the federal government.
Both Anwar-Zahid and Muhyiddin have a daunting political task in the run-up to the 16th General Election (GE16) in 2027, with Muhyiddin needing to win the confidence of the majority of non-Malays, Sarawak and Sabah.
The state elections also show that PN has made significant political inroads in Kedah in mixed seats - with PKR ousted in Kulim by Gerakan-PN, the only state seat the Chinese-majority party won - thanks to PAS Malay votes.
Anwar-Zahid should also not be able to sleep well as PN has lost many seats with respectful majorities while toppling PH in two seats - Selangor PN chairman Azmin Ali in Hulu Kelang and Dr Afif Bahardin in Taman Medan.
And in Gombak Setia, Selangor BN and Umno chairman (since November 2022) Megat Zulkarnain Omardin (BN) lost to PN.
It is also significant to note that the electronic social media has posted reports claiming that PN had taken the early lead in the ballot counts in seats in Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan because of the early votes cast by policemen and soldiers.
If true, that is a significant worrying factor for the UG.
Political pundits, observers and investors (both local and foreign) will, therefore, keep a real close watch on the political strategies and actions PH-BN and PN will take for political mileage in the run-up to GE16.
State polls: Perikatan takes 146 seats overall, while Pakatan settles for 99
Sunday, 13 Aug 2023
12:19 AM MYT
PETALING JAYA: Perikatan Nasional has taken 146 seats while Pakatan Harapan has won 99 seats in all six states as of midnight Saturday (Aug 12).
In Selangor, Pakatan won 34 seats while Perikatan won 22 seats,
In Penang, Pakatan won 29 seats while Perikatan won 11 seats.
In Negri Sembilan, 31 seats went to Pakatan while the remaining five went to Perikatan.
Perikatan won all 32 seats in Terengganu while in Kelantan Pakatan won two seats with the remaining 43 seats going to Perikatan. - The Star
Thursday, 10 August 2023
Proposal to clamp down on racial and religious bigots submitted to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King)
No News Is Bad News
For image info, go to https://mysinchew.sinchew.com.my/20230427/how-to-achieve-national-unity/ (How t6o achieve national unity?)
Proposal to clamp down on racial and religious bigots submitted to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King)
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11, 2023: It is heartening for law-abiding-peace-loving Malaysians to note that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his Unity Government (UG) have actioned with a proposal to clamp down on those ridicule or exploit the religion for their own agenda.
Anwar said the proposal had also been submitted to the Selangor Sultan, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who is the chairman of the national council for Islamic religious affairs.
No News Is Bad News opines that the move is certainly a step in the right direction to consolidate national unity and harmony for Malaysians.
Below is national news agency Bernama’s report on the issue:
Proposal for strict action against those who ridicule Islam submitted to Agong
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says the proposal has also been submitted to the Selangor sultan.
Bernama - 11 Aug 2023, 10:47am
Anwar Ibrahim said the proposal was submitted following discussions with his two deputy prime ministers. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says he has submitted a proposal to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, to take strict action against any party that ridicules and takes advantage of Islam for their own agenda.
Anwar said the proposal had also been submitted to the sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who is the chairman of the national council for Islamic religious affairs.
He added that he had discussed the proposal with his deputies, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Fadillah Yusof, prior to the submission.
“Wait for Aug 12, no matter what is the outcome. This is not about politics, I do not care who they support, that is their right,” he said at the Kita Selangor Grand Finale event last night.
“But if you take advantage of the religion, mock Allah’s law, judge and defame people, accuse people who do not support them as disbelievers or (claim) that they are enemies of Allah, (then) we will not tolerate this nonsense.”
Anwar said the proposal was to defend the interests of all Malaysians, not just the Malays.
“Do not insult any Malaysian from any race. Every citizen, be it the Dayaks in Kapit, the Chinese, the Indians who are Hindus… they are all our citizens and we must defend them.”
He added that people of all races in Malaysia have a right to be respected and defended.
“This is not a zero-sum game. If I support the Malays, it does not mean I will kick the Chinese. I’d like to stress that this country must be safe. This country must assist all the people,” he said.
Don't vote to be fried like chickens
No News Is Bad News
Image for illustration only. Do you get the message of the analogy? - Chickens vote KFC to be fried!
Don't vote to be fried like chickens
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11, 2023: Malaysians in six states - Penang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu - will cast their ballots tomorrow to elect their state governments.
They have only two choices - to support Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan-Umno (Barisan Nasional) Unity Government or the Taliban-like PAS which dominates Muhyiddin “I Am Malay First” Yassin’s Perikatan Nasional (PN).
With Anwar and his UG striving tirelessly to heal Malaysia’s economy which is saddled with a RM1.5 trillion national debt - no thanks to previous federal governments led by their leaders, especially Dr Mahathir Mohamad who ruled the country for a total 26 years - voters cannot risk taking the state elections lightly.
A wrong decision will plunge Malaysia’s socio-economic progress into abyss, perhaps into a road of no return akin to Afghanistan.
The world economy is struggling to grow and it if just not the right time to take any risk of electing incompetent state or federal government.
Suffice to say, governments need political stability to be able to focus fully on socio-economic growth which is also related to both domestic and foreign investors.
Investors will shun any country that is besieged by political instability, racial and religious extremism.
So, the fate and future of Malaysians and Malaysia lie in the hands of those who cast their ballots in the six states tomorrow.
Good luck Malaysians and Malaysia!!!
No News Is Bad News reproduces below a well written letter by a Kelantanese that was published by online news portal Free Malaysia Today (FMT) and Anwar’s appeal to Malaysians to remember the Opposition’s failure when they cast their ballots:
4 not-so-easy steps for voters to navigate state polls
Find your moral compass, focus on issues, filter social media and bear in mind the butterfly effect.
Letter to the Editor - 04 Aug 2023, 8:30pm
From Prof Dr Zalina Ismail
My grandson is now eligible to vote in the Kelantan state elections. He wants to know if it’s worth the time and energy to come back and vote. “Grandma, why do we vote? Is it because we want a better quality of life? Has anything really changed?”
I have lived in Kelantan for more than 33 years. My grandson is right. Nothing has changed much. The air remains clear and fresh, there are no skyscrapers, the people are friendly. There is a small-town appeal that draws people back home every Hari Raya. Yes, nothing has changed; the water in some areas is non-existent, the internet is scrappy at best, and we remain the poorest state despite numerous natural resources. So, if elections were held to bring about change, my grandson asks, why is there no change? Good questions often have no answers. After 33 years, I am stumped too.
Perhaps, being in a strongly Islamic state, democracy is an alien concept? For change to occur, perhaps we need a theocracy? The early Islamic scholar Al-Farabi said that in the absence of the prophet, he considered democracy as the closest to the ideal state. He cited the Rashidun caliphate as an example. During its existence, the empire was the most powerful economic, cultural, and military force in West Asia. Yet, he also cautioned that it was from democracy that the Ummayad and Abbasid dynasties arose. Democracy matters, and the onus is on you to come back and vote for change in the democratic way. Your voice matters.
In the early ’60s, I recall a lot of anxiety during elections. We stayed in Penang then, and your great-grandfather was a returning officer. I recall how worried my mother was. How she was hoarding rice and cans of sardines in case of a “hartal”. Now, it makes me happy that you do not even know what a “hartal” is. Yes, in many ways, things have changed, and we want a peaceful political landscape. We must never go back to the fear and anxiety that your great-grandparents experienced in the ’60s.
Right now, we are in the midst of election campaigns. There are so many green flags and green banners everywhere, one could be forgiven in thinking that all this green represents the greening of the environment, the preservation of our natural resources and an end to illegal logging. But I am wrong in one aspect. In a sense, things have changed. The mangroves are disappearing, the illegal logging has contributed to the massive floods during the monsoon and the water quality is literally “to die for”.
There are red and blue flags and banners too. There are posters, headlines, and television coverage. Social media is alight with political messages, all of which call attention to the various political parties and their views on nationalism or patriotism, reform or revolution, past glory, or future promise. Whatever the party, it certainly breaks the monotony of everyday life here in Kota Bharu.
Find your moral compass
Firstly, my grandson, it begins with you. You need to find your moral compass, your personal guide to what is right and what is wrong. Self-reflection, learning about other perspectives, your religious beliefs and talking about values with friends and family can all help you find your moral compass. What are your views on the environment? How do your values shape your ideas on corruption? What part of the education system are you most concerned about? Or is it the price of chickens that sets your political heart on fire?
I do admit that navigating these pre-election days can be a highly emotional rollercoaster ride. All politicians engage in rhetoric. All your family members, including your grandmother, seem to be highly opinionated. So how do you separate the wheat from the chaff? My advice is to listen carefully. Empty rhetoric are merely hollow promises; words uttered without any attempt to take the action necessary to back them up. They are empty promises without a proven track record. Once they have your attention and your vote, these promises will be ignored or forgotten.
On the other hand, Aristotle said that true politicians talk about possible futures and look at the past “as a guide to the future and at the future as a natural extension of the present”… These are the politicians who are true to their words. They have a track record that demonstrably backs up the rhetoric. Read their manifestos and evaluate their track record. So, listen well and read carefully and then make your decision.
Focus on issues, not the candidate
My dear grandson, when it came to politics, my parents were solidly blue. On the other hand, your grandfather’s household was solidly green. Traditionally, this is how it has always been since the first elections in 1952. Historically, Malaysians have always voted along party lines. You need to move away from this paradigm. You must be more discerning about the politicians who want your vote.
There are so many issues at stake today. They will affect your life in a very tangible way. At times, I feel guilty because our previous choices may have a negative impact on you and your future children. Let it not be true that the sins of the father will be visited on their children.
What really matters are the issues: economics, education, environment, and an end to corruption, amongst others. Cast your vote in a way that will have the most significant impact on your community. Vote for candidates with a stance on issues that matter and for their ability to follow through. Which candidate has a better understanding of the policies that will affect you? Who is better positioned to bring about the changes you wish to see? Focus on the issues, not the candidate. When you do this, you cut through all that background noise and get to the significant part. Then you can make an informed decision.
Anything less than this and you are in danger of voting into office someone whose policies may be destructive to the environment or detrimental to a particular demographic.
Filter your social media
Malaysia has a well-developed social media ecosystem. There were 33.03 million internet users in Malaysia with an internet penetration rate of 96.8% of the total population at the start of 2023. We are familiar with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok where the user demographics are skewed heavily in favour of youngsters and young adults.
My grandson, I am not wrong when I say you spend too much time on TikTok! Social media has a profound effect on elections. It amplifies and reinforces political messages and can perpetuate partisan views. You are being bombarded across the political divide by facts, figures, and misinformation as well.
Whatever political content you explore in social media, do it with care. Your role is to filter the truth from the misinformation, half-truths and lies. Fake news is nothing new. The only difference is how quickly it can be shared on a massive scale. You have a big responsibility here. As always it is back to your moral compass. Always check your sources, always verify what you view online. Develop a critical mindset with a healthy dose of scepticism.
Keep in mind the butterfly effect
In 1972, Edward Lorenz described this effect in a paper titled “Predictability: Does the Flap of a Butterfly’s Wings in Brazil Set Off a Tornado in Texas?” The butterfly effect rests on the notion that the world is deeply interconnected, such that one small occurrence can influence a much larger complex system.
Your vote is the butterfly that will determine the course we are setting for the future of Malaysia. Your choice will have global repercussions. Your vote can help create a net-zero carbon footprint in Malaysia with better air quality across the globe. Your vote can reclaim our rainforests as the green lung of the world. Your vote can eradicate poverty. According to the butterfly effect, small things can make a big impact. One vote – your vote – can make a world of difference. You can create lasting change.
Come home and choose wisely.
Prof Dr Zalina Ismail is an FMT reader.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
The kettle calling the pot black.
Remember the opposition’s failure when you vote, says Anwar
The prime minister says states governed by Perikatan Nasional cannot match the achievements of Pakatan Harapan-led states.
FMT Reporters - 08 Aug 2023, 12:56am
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim urged the people not to waste their votes on Aug 12. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has told Selangor voters to keep in mind the opposition’s failures at the federal level and state level when casting their ballots this Saturday.
In a Facebook post, Anwar told the people not to waste their votes on Aug 12.
“Use this opportunity to safeguard Selangor from being destroyed by those who don’t know how to govern a state.”
In a veiled jab at Perikatan Nasional, Anwar said voters should take note of the states administered by the “other side”.
These states, he said, could not match the achievements of states governed by Pakatan Harapan.
“We still remember the time a former prime minister spent over RM30 million just to renovate the prime minister’s official residence while the people struggled with Covid-19.”
In 2021, the former special functions minister Abdul Latiff Ahmad, confirmed that RM38.5 million for renovations at Seri Perdana had been approved. The renovation work was started when Muhyiddin Yassin was prime minister.
Latiff claimed the renovation was necessary to ensure safety and preserve the country’s image during visits by key dignitaries.
Anwar said that such actions proved that the opposition did not care about the people.
Vote based on track record of state govts, says Santiago
Charles Santiago says stories of progress by Pakatan Harapan and the failure of the opposition-run states should be dominating the campaign trail but they are not.
FMT Reporters - 10 Aug 2023, 11:28am
Charles Santiago said the people should know who is concerned about their basic rights and welfare, based on what is evident in the states that are going to the polls.
PETALING JAYA: Former Klang MP Charles Santiago has urged voters to cast their ballots on Saturday based on the track records of the six state governments.
Santiago said that while the lead-up to the polls should be used to examine how well state governments have performed over the past five years, campaigning is instead being fashioned as a referendum on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and whether he will be able to complete his mandate.
“It is almost the eve of the polls but the ceramahs and fiery speeches are still being used to position Aug 12 as a national and not local election,” the former three-term MP said in a statement.
“In doing so, we have wasted an opportunity to showcase the policies of the Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan state governments, or to highlight the huge lack of progress in the states ruled by the opposition, namely Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah.
“Stories of progress by Pakatan Harapan (PH) and the failure of the opposition-run states are what should dominate the campaign trail so that the rakyat know who is concerned about their basic rights and welfare.”
He highlighted how Selangor had successfully implemented programmes that benefit women through its medical checkups and also the wider communities through the Rakyat Dialysis Centre.
The PH-led state government is also offering up to RM50,000 in interest-free microcredit, free water, free tuition and funeral expenses for senior citizens and those with disabilities.
Santiago pointed out that Penang has increased its annual aid to senior citizens and introduced programmes such as the Single Mother Assistance Programme and Golden Housewife Programme.
He also said Negeri Sembilan unfolded an additional RM10 million aid package to assist its people during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Santiago said this was in contrast to the opposition-led states which struggled with basic necessities, such as water supply, among other things.
“To those in Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan, please look at what the state governments have implemented for you before you vote,” he said.
“And to those in the opposition-run states, vote for Anwar and his unity government if you would like to see progress on par with the rest of the country as well.”
Halim’s suit to trigger opening of Dr M’s cans of worms?
No News Is Bad News
Halim’s suit to trigger opening of Dr M’s cans of worms?
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10, 2023: Businessman Halim Saad suing Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Dr M) is no ordinary suit.
The suit is 23 years late and it is akin to triggering the opening of a can of worms on Dr M, Umno’s elites and previous federal governments.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below national news agency Bernama’s report on the suit:
MALAYSIA
Halim Saad sues Dr Mahathir, govt over Renong share losses
Businessman says Putrajaya violated constitution by failing to adequately compensate him in firm takeover
Updated 14 hours ago · Published on 09 Aug 2023 11:50PM
In his suit, businessman Tan Sri Halim Saad has named former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic), former finance minister II Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop and the government as defendants. – AFP pic, August 9, 2023
KUALA LUMPUR – Businessman Tan Sri Halim Saad has filed a suit against former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and two other parties to claim compensation for the losses he suffered following the acquisition of the shares of Renong Bhd and United Engineers Malaysia Bhd (UEM) by the government almost 23 years ago.
The suit was filed by Halim as the plaintiff through Messrs. Malik Imtiaz Sarwar at the high court here on August 2, naming Dr Mahathir, former finance minister II Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop and the government as defendants.
Based on the statement of claim, Halim, who is the former executive chairman and director of Renong, claimed that he intended to make a general offer to privatise UEM as a subsidiary of Renong, with the implementation enabling the plaintiff to gain full control and ownership of UEM.
“However, I was instructed by Dr Mahathir and Tan Sri Nor Mohamed not to proceed with the general offer because the government wanted to take over all the shares in UEM through a designated entity, namely Khazanah Nasional Bhd (Khazanah) or a party to be nominated by Khazanah.
“I was also instructed to leave UEM and Renong as a shareholder and director including the subsidiaries of the two companies. This obliged me to hand over control of Renong and UEM to the government and further dispose of my Renong shares at a loss,” he claimed in the statement of claim.
Halim claimed that Khazanah had acquired all of UEM’s shares through its subsidiary, Danasaham Sdn Bhd, thereby gaining control over UEM, which at the time owned 32.6% of Renong’s shares.
“In this way, the government took over UEM and indirectly gained control and indirect ownership over the Renong group,” he said.
The plaintiff also claimed that the government’s plan to take over UEM and eventually privatise it would not have been achieved without his support.
“The collective and concerted actions of all the defendants caused me to lose control over Renong and indirectly, control over UEM and its highly valuable assets including the North-South Expressway Project (PLUS), Elite Expressway and the Malaysian Second Link (LINKEDUA),” he claimed, adding that he suffered financial losses as a result of the actions of all the defendants.
Therefore, among other things, Halim requested a declaration and compensation with regard to the forced acquisition of shares by the government for the period between July and October 2001.
The plaintiff also requested a declaration that he was a shareholder of Renong and claimed that the government had violated Article 8(1) or Article 13(2) of the federal constitution by failing to provide adequate compensation to him.
He also sought an order for the government to compensate him in addition to claiming general damages, exemplary or aggravated damages, interest, costs or relief as deemed appropriate by the court.
In 2013, Halim filed an RM1.8 billion lawsuit against the government, Khazanah and Nor Mohamed after claiming he was defrauded. However, the suit was rejected by the high court here and he also failed in his appeal at the Federal Court in 2015. – Bernama, August 9, 2023
Sunday, 6 August 2023
Nab those responsible for ‘slaughtering’ video clip
No News Is Bad News
Nab those responsible for ‘slaughtering’ video clip
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7, 2023: Racial and religious bigots in Malaysia have really gone too far this time around.
And the police and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission should act immediately to trace and nab those responsible for the above video clip. They should not even wait for police reports to be lodged before acting.
The video message in the video clip appears to be “Vote PAS to slaughter …” and it is being spread in e-social media.
No News Is Bad News has no idea who is/are responsible for the video clip as racial and religious bigots can come from both sides of the political divide.
The Government is urged to act swiftly to nab and bring those responsible for the video clip to face justice.
There is no room for compromising with those responsible as peace-loving Malaysians treasure national unity and harmony.
Saturday, 5 August 2023
Hundreds of billions at stake on Aug 12, don’t throw investors down the drain for 'Talibans'
No News Is Bad News
Hundreds of billions at stake on Aug 12, don’t throw investors down the drain for 'Talibans'
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5, 2023: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says key investors have pledged billions of ringgit on condition that unity govt stays.
“I told them that we will be around for at least five years. Investors and fund managers cherish political stability, something the Unity Government aspires to deliver to both the people and investors, he added.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below a news report on Anwar’s message to Malaysians:
MALAYSIA
See what political stability’s brought us: Anwar unveils investment pledges
PM says key investors have pledged billions of ringgit on condition that unity govt stays
Updated 1 hour ago · Published on 05 Aug 2023 6:54PM
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (second from left) says that to meet foreign investors’ expectations, he has welcomed the upskilling of Malaysian workers to ensure they can become top-skilled workers in the near future. – Bernama pic, August 5, 2023
BY Ian McIntyre
KEPALA BATAS – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tonight showed evidence of what political stability can bring when he unveiled various pledges by investors that were made on the condition that he can assure them the national unity government is here to stay.
“I told them that we will be around for at least five years,” the prime minister said.
Investors and fund managers cherish political stability, something the national unity government aspires to deliver to both the people and investors, he said.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, said that key investors have pledged billions of ringgit to the country, generating spillover effects and most importantly jobs.
For Kedah, despite the almost daily condemnation from a hostile caretaker menteri besar in Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, Anwar said that he secured almost RM10 billion from global semiconductor manufacturer Infineon Technologies AG with the expansion of its plant at Kulim Hi-Tech Park.
Infineon will construct the world's largest power fabrication plant as part of its expansion plans in Malaysia.
Anwar has also secured a commitment from Elon Musk to build electric cars at a Tesla research and development facility in Putrajaya.
It will be Tesla’s largest facility in the region, Anwar declared, saying the foreign direct investments are worth about RM200 million.
China carmaker Geely has pledged RM10 billion to expand the automotive city it has with national car manufacturer Proton in Tanjung Malim, Anwar said.
Saudi Arabia's Aramco, one of the largest petrochemical multinationals in the world, has now agreed to make Malaysia the hub of its regional presence in Asean.
All of this is possible because investors are convinced that Malaysia has stability, Anwar said.
He said that to meet foreign investors’ expectations, he has welcomed the upskilling of Malaysian workers to ensure they can become top-skilled workers in the near future.
“This will create more job opportunities,” said Anwar.
He said that he wants to use the Penang Skills Development Corporation as a model for re-educating the workforce in technical vocational educational training.
Job creation will lead to the birth of a new breed of entrepreneurs who can bring more value and higher salaries to their workers, said Anwar.
He said this can only be realised if the government has a civil service committed to eradicating all forms of corruption in the country.
“I do not want to be a leader of a nation riddled with corruption and abuses. I will not stand for it, and I will fight the corruptors, even the billionaires who may be banding together in a devious attempt to unseat me. I am ready to face them,” said Anwar.
Anwar said that he is determined to provide investors a country generally free of corruption and that is geared more highly to become a responsible global player.
He said this after meeting a gathering of Bumiputera entrepreneurs at Bertam Resort.
The gathering was organised by the state’s Bumiputera development council under Tan Sri Khalid Ramli, the former implementation coordination unity director-general.
Anwar is on a whirlwind visit to his birth state, where he will later visit the Matriculation College in Kepala Batas for a dialogue, and Dell Global Business Centre Sdn Bhd in Bukit Mertajam.
Tonight, he will give three ceramahs in Pengkalan Kota, Karpal Singh Drive, and Permatang Pauh before flying back to Kuala Lumpur. – The Vibes, August 5, 2023
Mr ABU (Anything But Umno) dies of lung cancer
No News Is Bad News
Mr ABU (Anything But Umno) dies of lung cancer
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5, 2023: Lawyer and social activist Haris Ibrahim passed away at noon in his brother’s Taman Tun Dr Ismail.
The 63-year-old founder of ABU (Anything But Umno) was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in April last year and was given six months to live.
Haris played a significant role in rallying Malaysians to topple Barisan Nasional (BN)’s 60-year grip on Malaysian politics in the 14th General Election.
May he rest in peace.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below a news report on his passing away and his latest views on politics:
Lawyer, social activist Haris Ibrahim passes away
Saturday, 05 Aug 2023
3:03 PM MYT
PETALING JAYA: Lawyer and social activist Haris Ibrahim passed away at noon today at his brother's home in Taman Tun Dr Ismail. He was aged 63.
Haris had moved into his brother Adam's home soon after he was diagnosed with end-stage lung cancer.
Haris' sister-in-law Firoza Burhan said he had passed away very peacefully.
"He took in a few breaths and faded away," she added.
Firoza said Haris had woken up feeling very tired in the morning just a few hours before his demise.
According to Firoza, Haris had long accepted the fact that he was terminally ill and had a limited time to live.
"He took it stoically and fought courageously and underwent all the required therapies," she added.
He was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer last April and was given six months to live.
In spite of his illness, Haris had attended the Malaysian Bar’s “Walk for judicial independence” in Kuala Lumpur last June and arrived at the venue in a wheelchair.
He leaves behind a 28-year-old son and an 18-year-old daughter.
A man of principle and an inspiration, family and friends remember Haris
The lawyer-activist died earlier today after battling lung cancer for over a year.
Elill Easwaran and Amirul Aiman - 05 Aug 2023, 8:45pm
Despite being diagnosed with lung cancer in April last year, Haris Ibrahim returned to legal practice two months later.
KUALA LUMPUR: Friends and family members paid tribute to Haris Ibrahim who died this afternoon, describing the lawyer-activist as a passionate and principled man as well as an inspiration.
David Soosay, Haris’s partner at his law firm, said the activist’s death was not just a big loss for the firm but also to the nation.
Soosay said Haris was a man of integrity who never compromised on his principles.
A passionate man, Haris loved to serve the people and had sacrificed “quite a bit”, Soosay said.
“He was a man of great stature,” he told FMT when met at the Bukit Kiara Muslim cemetery where Haris was laid to rest.
Adil Akbar hailed his uncle’s fighting spirit after Haris was diagnosed with lung cancer in April last year. Despite his illness, he returned to legal practice two months later.
“I was surprised he became involved in the campaigning during the last general election,” he said, adding that Haris had campaigned for Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh.
Like Soosay, Adil praised Haris’s unwavering principles. While Haris was a staunch Pakatan Harapan supporter, it never prevented him from disagreeing with some of the coalition’s policies when it came to power in 2018.
“But he knew nothing was perfect in this world. He had always been a man of principle.”
M Nandini said if he could describe his long-time friend in one word, it would be “integrity”.
He recalled Haris’s advice on never compromising on one’s principles as it was a slippery slope that would lead to corruption.
And one could not fight injustice, corruption and abuse of power if the person was “not clean”, Nandini remembered Haris telling him.
Nandini had met the founder of the “Asalkan Bukan Umno” (Anything but Umno) movement in the mid-2000s.
“Haris Ibrahim would always be someone who really served as an example to us all. He was an inspiration.
“He really walked the talk and lost a lot of money because he invested in his cause.”
Haris Ibrahim is at peace with himself and prays that everyone else does, too
By Haris Ibrahim
Editor’s Note: Even if he knows that his days are numbered, Haris Ibrahim (far left pictured with Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh), the lawyer, veteran activist and crucially, founder of the “Asalkan Bukan UMNO” (ABU) or “Anything But UMNO” movement has never stopped fighting for social justice.
Even in his lame stage, the blogger of “Parlimen Rakyat” (People’s Parliament) wheel-chaired himself to lift the spirits of many lawyers who gathered at Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur on June 17, 2022 for the Malaysian Bar’s “Walk for judicial independence”.
At 63 years-old on April 4 last year, Haris Ibrahim was diagnosed with Stage Four of lungs cancer. Below is his latest Facebook post as he shed light into his ailing health which he is not giving up without a fight.
HI all. Got back from the dietetic clinic a little while ago.
Before going into my discussion with the doctor, and sharing decisions made, a quick reminder: I am a Stage Four patient.
From a scientific and medical perspective (yes, let’s leave faith and religion out of this, please), there is no cure for cancer. You can only send the disease into remission which means it can (and most often, does) come back.
Positive results from undergoing this gruelling 42-day diet and fast:
· Significant improvement in bowel movement and gut health (no more swings between constipation and diarrhoea);
· Improved blood glucose management without diabetic medication (fasting blood sugar now mostly ranging from non-diabetic to mildly pre-diabetic);
· Improved weight management (weight reduced from 86kg to 80kg while visceral fat levels down without further muscle mass loss);
· Reduced numbness in hands and feet; and
· No longer suffering the side effects of earlier chemo and immuno therapies.
However, the following evidences of a rapid escalation of the cancer disease – observed only recently – would seem to lend support to the conclusions arrived at by the oncologist in January which I have previously shared with all of you:
1. The rapid deterioration in the lung capacity in the last 21 days; and
2. The increase – in the last month – in the pain intensity and frequency of occurrence in the primary disease region.
For these reasons, after discussions with the doctor today, I have decided to no longer continue with the full rigours of this diet/fast protocol. I will spend the next few days evaluating if i should continue with a diet that is much reduced in its strictures so that I will be allowed to also enjoy the remaining days.
To those who are fighting this disease but caught it at an earlier stage – or know someone who is – I would urge that you seriously consider this diet. PM (private message) me for details if you like.
Will say again now what i said before. I have had a full life and am at peace with how things are. Please be at peace for me, too.
Love you all. – March 17, 2023
COLUMNS
COMMENT | Haris Ibrahim and the impossible dream
D Ananda
Published: Mar 29, 2023 9:30 AM
⋅
Updated: 10:29 AM
To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow…
To fight for the right
ADS
Without question or pause
To be willing to march, march into Hell
For that Heavenly cause
- The Impossible Dream from the musical “The Man from La Macha”
COMMENT | Haris Ibrahim, the lawyer, the activist and the man has a dream.
A dream where Malaysians are one, identifying themselves not by race, religion or culture. But by the fact that we are all… Bangsa Malaysia. A Malaysian by race.
An unrepentant and obstinate optimist, Haris (above) never gives up on his fellow Malaysians to do the right thing.
In an interview with this news portal last year, he said: "When push comes to shove, when Malaysians decide enough is enough and come together… we are an unstoppable force."
His NGO, ABU (Anyone But Umno), became a rallying point that played a big role in toppling the BN's sixty-year grip on Malaysian politics in the 14th general election.
Haris advocates unity in diversity, never allowing idiotic concepts like religion or race to get in the way of forging a Malaysian identity based on being… Malaysians.
To bring his message of unity to the fore, he has organised a picnic for the people where everyone brings their own delicacies and favourite dishes to share with other Malaysians.
Haris has a sharp sense of social norms and participants are reminded of the peculiarities that prohibited certain meats.
The idea is novel. People of differing cultures sit down to a Malaysian meal and interact like members of a family out at a picnic.
He is acutely aware of the dangers of initiating lawatan sambil belajar (study tours) to places of worship which can and have been exploited by fringe members of some political parties bent on dividing Malaysians further.
Lawyer Haris Ibrahim
Bangsa Malaysia
To many, forging a "Bangsa Malaysia" is an impossible dream. We have gone down too far down the rabbit hole to think and behave as one people, one country with one hope.
The hope is that everyone will have a fair go at life and not because of any tribal affiliations. If you work hard, you toil at what you do best, you will be given a shot. That's it.
And yet, the percussions of social, and racial prejudice and persecution are being drummed up by members from both sides of the political divide.
I dare say that if the late Tunku Abdul Rahman had met Haris, he would have said, "Here is the real Malaysian we all ought to be."
No obstacle is too big or too hard for him in his quest for a better Malaysia for all to navigate around and leap over.
He uses diplomacy, a kind word, and sometimes, when he has to be, a figurative bang on the head to get his universal message of love and mutual respect through.
Today, Haris is stricken with stage four cancer. It has taken cancer, not bigots, racists and fanatics to put a damper on his dream.
The fight for that dream is now ours, every right-thinking, wholesome Malaysian, who still believes in the nation, duty and a better place for the generations to come.
D ANANDA is a reader/subscriber of Malaysiakini and Bangsa Malaysia.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
Monday, 10 July 2023
Dr M - a man who denies his family tree and roots
No News Is Bad News
Dr M - a man who denies his family tree and roots
KUALA LUMPUR, July 10, 2023: Lawyer-turned social justice fighter Harris Ibrahim tore Dr Mahathir Mohamad's family roots apart, exposing the 97-year-old man as one who has forgotten his roots.
What more can one say about the integrity of a man who denies his roots and claims to be otherwise.
Haris is best known as the founder of ABU (Anything But Umno) that played a big role in in rallying Malaysians to topple the the Barisan Nasional’s 60-year grip on Malaysian politics in the 14th General Election.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below an open letter Haris penned about Dr M claiming to be a Malay:
By Haris Ibrahim
Dear Mahathir,
Malaysian Insider reports that you had "defended the social contract, the so-called unwritten agreement between the Malays and the non-Malays during independence, by affirming that without the agreement, Malaysia would not have been formed".
They quoted you: “If there was no social contract, the terms and conditions of allowing citizenship to non-Malays would have not taken place. One million outsiders were given citizenship at the time."
Now, this quote from you got me curious. Let me tell you why.
I conferred with my aunt, who confirmed that my maternal great grandfather, Eliathamby, of whom I've written previously in a posting entitled "The land that my forefathers helped build", would have left Ceylon and arrived in what is now West Malaysia, around 1870. He died well before the conclusion of that social contract that you spoke of, so my great grandfather would not have come within those 'one million outsiders' who acquired citizenship at the time of independence in 1957.
My maternal grandfather, Vellupillay T. Williams, never lived to see the formation of Malaya so he, too, did not make up the ‘one million outsiders'.
Enough of my family tree. Let's look at yours. I got this from a blog, Malaysiana: Perhaps, the most famous Malayalee to land in George Town was Iskandar Kutty, a merchant who married a Johor-Riau wife Siti Hawa Iskandar. They became the proud parents of Alor Star's top public school, Sultan Abdul Hamid College’s founder-principal and Kedah's royal educator, Datuk Mohamad Iskandar.
Mohamad was the school teacher of Tunku Abdul Rahman. He and his wife Datin Wan Tempawan Wan Hanafi from the Kedah Bendahara's (Prime Minister's) clan, were the proud parents of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia's Father of Modernisation and fourth Prime Minister.
And, this from Malaysia Today: Born in December 20, 1925, Dr Mahathir hailed from the state of Kedah, at the capital of Alor Star, whose father was a school teacher. His father was Indian who migrated from Kerala, who married a malay lady and sold banana fritters during the second world war. His early education was through a vernacular school and at the Sultan Abdul Hamid College in the city.
My question, then, Doc, firstly, is whether your father was amongst the ‘one million outsiders'?
And, when did you become a 'Malay', Doc?
When did you move from being a son of an Indian who migrated from Kerala to a Malay? Not that I care, but when?
Speaking of Malay, do you remember your "Malay Dilemma", Doc? Do you remember what you said about the problem of inbreeding amongst the Malay community, and that whole business of genes? Back then, who had heard of this thing called DNA?
Who had ever imagined that science would one day make it possible for all of us to trace our genealogy?
Guess what, Doc? It seems, based on all this new DNA scientific knowledge, that there's no such thing as a Malay race.
It would seem that you've gone from being a son of an Indian who migrated from Kerala to a 'does not exist'.
Just like that! My cyber buddy, Michael Chick, has written extensively on this matter, in a three-parter in Malaysiakini. HERE,HERE, and HERE.
See what Michael writes in his final part: “The people Malaysians call 'Malay', are actually only a tiny sub-component of the much larger Austronesian group. And, all Austronesians are the end-product of extensive inter-breeding between the Taiwanese and Dravidic Indians. All this has finally been irrefutably proven by independent DNA testings from world-class faculties".
I've never been very good at all these sciences, Doc, but if you're any better, and you think Michael's cocked-up big time in his conclusions, why don't you take him on?
Damn, I digress.
So, when and how did you become a Malay? Because of the definition of 'Malay' in the Federal Constitution, Doc? Article 160(2)? That right?
So, right up until the last moments before Tunku's declaration of independence, you were the son of an Indian who migrated from Kerala, and moments later you were magically transformed into a Malay.
An example of forked-tongue Dr M
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