Manusia Merancang, Allah menentukan !!! - PRU14 Malaysia

Perdana Menteri Ke7

YAB Perdana Menteri Malaysia ke 7, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dilihat sebagai begitu cepat sekali dalam melaksanakan tugas nya. Pada hari pertama sahaja beliau sudah awal dipejabat mengalahkan orang yang lebih muda. Ini berlaku bukan kerana beliau Perdana Menteri tetapi kerana beliau adalah Mahathir. 

Kini menjadi tugas pahit saya sebagai Rakyat biasa untuk memperingati YAB Perdana Menteri bahawa Rakyat jelata mempunyai harapan yang besar terhadap Kerajaan Pakatan Harapan untuk membawa reform-reform yang amat di perlukan untuk menuju kearah Negara yang bertamadun tinggi. Saya juga berharap Kerajaan ini menjadi satu era dimana Rakyat di galak menjadi rakyat yang bukan sahaja mampu berfikir tetapi mempunyai sifat keihsanan yang tinggi.

Tanggungjawap Rakyat

Kepada Rakyat jelata, Kita wajib memperingati diri Kita semua bahawa kempen pilihanraya sudah habis dan kini mula lah tempoh kempen untuk berkerjasama bagi membangunkan kesejahteraan Negara dan maruah Negara Bangsa.  

Apa-apa keterlaluan dalam tindakan satu pihak politik terhadap pihak politik seterunya oleh penyokong masing-masing harus di maafkan. Ini adalah konsekuen proses pilihanraya dalam sistem demokrasi yang tidak pernah tekankan nilai keihsanan (compassion). Maka, kita semua bersalah kerana berlaku nya kelakuan sedemikian dan semoga Allah maafkan Kita semua. Perkara ini juga Allah telah memperingati kita bahawa Ia akan menanamkan cinta sesama Kita jika Kita rela. 

“Dan ingatlah akan kenikmatan Allah kepadamu ketika kamu dahulu bermusuh-musuhan, maka Allah mempersatukan hatimu, lalu menjadikan kamu karena nikmat Allah orang-orang yang bersaudara." (Ali Imran: 103)

Kita tidak boleh lagi terlalu gembira kerana menang atau terlalu sedih kerana kalah jika kita beriman bahawa sebenarnya manusia hanya lah merancang tetapi Allah jua lah yang menentukan.  Kita kena sentiasa insaf bahawa Allah lebih mengetahui apa yang baik untuk kita serta apa yang buruk untuk kita. 

“Kamu diwajibkan berperang (untuk menentang pencerobohan) sedang peperangan itu ialah perkara yang kamu benci; dan boleh jadi kamu benci kepada sesuatu padahal ia baik bagi kamu, dan boleh jadi kamu suka kepada sesuatu padahal ia buruk bagi kamu. Dan (ingatlah), Allah jualah Yang mengetahui (semuanya itu), sedang kamu tidak mengetahuinya”. (Surah Al Baqarah ayat 216)

Oleh yang demikian, kewajipan kita hanya lah untuk bersama-sama menuju kearah melakukan kebajikan serta amalan2 yang menguntugkan Rakyat bersama. 

Pakatan Harapan

Kini PH telah menjadi kerajaan untuk semua rakyat termasuk bagi mereka yang tidak mengundi mereka. Saya percaya Kerajaan PH yang terhasil daripada gabungan parti2 politik yang mempunyai individu2 yang bermusuhan sesama sendiri berdekad dekad akan mudah memaafkan mereka yang menentang mereka dalam proses kempen pilihanraya. Kerajaan wajib mempertahankan hak2 sistem demokrasi. 

Saya percaya mereka sedar bahawa tugas mereka kini sebagai kerajaan tidak sama seperti tugas mereka dahulu sebagai pembangkang. 

Sudah muncul secara realiti konsep sistem dua parti di Malaysia seperti yang di perjuangkan berdekad-dekad. 

Barisan Nasional

Barisan Nasional yang di anggotai oleh manusia sudah tentu tertakluk kepada perasan sedih kerana kalah dalam PRU14.  Saya dengan merendah diri menasihati supaya cepat2 keluar daripada zon kesedihan dan lihat lah ia sebagai rahmah Allah di mana mereka di beri peluang untuk mengawasi tindakan Kerajaan sebagai pembangkan bagi pihak Rakyat.  

Kekalahan ini juga akan memberi peluang pada mereka untuk melakukan post mortem, muhasabah diri, penilaian semula struktur dan kelemahan parti mereka kearah pembaikan dan keadaan yang lebih efektif pada rakyat. BN wajib jujur pada diri kerana kebenaran nya adalah seperti mana yang difirman oleh Allah:

“Apa saja nikmat yang engkau peroleh adalah dari sisi Allah. Dan apa saja bencana yang menimpamu, maka dari kesalahan dirimu sendiri," (Surah  Al-Nisâ’ [4]:  ayat 79).

Salam.

Malaysians Made Political History ! 14th General Elections 9th May 2018

Lest the people think that this was an overnight courage of the Malaysian people to change the government they have been used to for the past 60 years, let us recall briefly a few important milestones that led to this.

Firstly,  the sacking of Anwar Ibrahim in 1998 and the subsequent sodomy charges against him. This event gave birth to the Reformasi Movement which evolved over almost 18 years now. As I have written before on this blog, Anwar had contributed tremendously in igniting up the imagination of the voters, especially in the following areas; a) courage to openly and bluntly criticise  government and government officials, b) opening up the eyes of the public on the alleged excesses of politicians c) the idea and concept of “People’s sovereignty \” (Ketuanan Rakyat) - this I consider the greatest contribution of Anwar to the beginning of a Malaysian dream d) Many Malay voters began to move away from race based rhetoric and of course f) the people got used to opposition becoming government at the state levels. 

So it was one long arduous journey that began with Anwar and his families personal and political sufferings. 

Secondly, was the fact that when Pak Lah took over, civil societies movements, like Bersih, UNdiMalaysia, SABM and so many others grew and functioned on their own - it became a people’s movement. People like Haris Ibrahim, “the one man army” with his sense of uncomprising principles, Marina Mahathir, Ambiga,  Edmond Bon, and so many others played a major and unselfish role in the evolution of the Malaysian voter’s psyche.  

Thirdly was the fact that UMNO and BN were already being gradually weakened since PAk Lah took over and they encountered challenges which were completely new. However, they attempted to address these challenges using old methods which failed.  This is also evolution of the Malaysian political mindset.

All the above and other factors brought us to today _ Malaysians dared to change government. Obviously hopes are high. However, I am one person who has never been too happy or too depressed about anything.

Whether or not this change will be good in the short term is yet to be seen. The new Pakatan Harapan government must keep its promises and on top of its list should be to empower the minds of the citizens. They must be respected as human beings and we have to move away from racial and religious polarization. 

Allah has given Tun Dr Mahathir a second chance - I pray this chance brings him full circle.

Peace.

Malaysian General Elections 2018 - What can I write?

My thoughts on the Malaysian General Elections 2018

Many of my friends have been prodding me for weeks to write my predictions and views on this election. I ask them back - what difference does it make ? There are already so many experts, non-experts, great former and current leaders who are already saying a lot.  What possibly useful thing can I add to the cart load of noise out there.

The spin doctors on both sides are having a field day - it’s their moment and they only have a few more days to serve their purpose in life. 

Most people would expect me to write either pro Pakatan or pro Barisan narratives. I cannot. Even if write a criticism of Tun Mahathir, I may be accused as being pro Barisan. If I write a criticism of Federal government polices, then I may be accused of being Mahathir man.

It appears that the mentality of elections is that an ordinary Rakyat like me must either be a Mahathir man or a Najib man or an Anwar man. If so, then where is my own self esteem, my maruah as a human being and a thinking citizen?  I cannot bring myself to criticize human beings - only their actions and policies. Knowing that I am not perfect, I know therefore they are not.

And assuming that I do condemn Najib today and then tomorrow Najib and Mahathir kiss and make up just like what Mahathir and Lim Kit Siang are doing now, I am supposed to follow this action too?  I am supposed to forget all the pain that Anwar and his family for example has undergone simply because Mahathir says all is fine now? 

Hence, as a rakyat I am supposed to be the lalang of the politicians ? When they blow left, I have to go left. When they blow right, I have to blow right? Where then is my dignity ?

So what useful thing can I possibly say?

Hence, the only thing I can say is: I hope God gives the wisdom to the Rakyat to judge on the facts, past policies and behaviors of the respective candidates and come to a wise decision not based on anger, hatred, lies or pure sentiments.

Otherwise, the law of nature says: as we sow, so shall we reap.

Happy voting.

Peace !

Towards a PAS religious State after PRU14 ?

The heat seems to be on this election, especially on the social media.

There are all sorts of predictions as to who will win, how many seats and in which constituencies.

Some say that BN will win bigger and some say that Pakatan Harapan will win by a small margin. Has anyone thought of a big win by Pakatan?

If Pakatan Harapan wins, it raises many issues especially since Pakatan Harapan does not appear to have a single direction or agreement on policies to follow. What they have are general statements. There is also the concern that if Pakatan Harapan wins, there will be instability in the formation of the government,

ON the other hand, if BN only wins narrowly, then it is likely that it may form a coalition with PAS. The entry of PAS would most certainly change the political landscape into much more religious (not necessarily Islamic).  You may see greater religious control over Muslims. In the process, the non-Muslims too will be affected.

Let’s see.

END.

The Election Year

This is an election year for Malaysia.

It could be anytime between now to April.

Whichever party wins, the most important for the Rakyat to consider is: Will the Rakyat win? This is the most important consideration.

Hence, it is very important for the Rakyat to be able to seive through all the rethoric and political propaganda that every party will present to the voters.

It is important to evaluate:

!) What have the respective parties done so far?

2) What are thier current policies and how effective has it been?

3) What national agenda are they proposing if they win the election? IS the proposed agenda realistic or a sweetened promise that can never be implemented?

4) What are the contents of thier political speeches?  IS it confined only to disparaging each other, condemning each other or are they addressing real issues facing the Rakyat.

Lets rememebr never to be taken up by the circus of political campaigning!


Peace !

Menjelang Pilihanraya Kecil Kajang

Memandangkan ramai sudah menyangka bahawa Anwar ibrahim akan menang, maka apakah tidak ada sebarang isu yang perlu difikirkan oleh Rakyat yang bertanggungjawap terhadap perjalanan politik dalam tanah air ini?

Saya perhatikan rata-rata perbincangan berkisar samaada BN haris bertanding atau tidak, patutkah Rakyat memboikot Pilihanraya ini kerana cara kerusi itu dikosongkan seolah-olah tanpa alasan yang munasabah. Bekas Adun tidak sakit dan sebagainya. Tanggapan umum ialah kerusi ini dikosongkan bagi membolehkan Anwar bertanding dan selepas itu menjawat KM Selangor. Jika ini benar, pihak Pakatan akan menjustifikasikannya sebagai satu langkah yang perlu bagi mendepankan matlamat politik mereka iaitu menguasai Putrajaya nanti atau sekurang-kurangnya melemahkan BN lagi.

Pihak BN pula akan berhujah bahawa tindakan sedemikian bukan sahaja mengkhianati pengundi Kajang yang telah pilih Bekas Adun tetatpi adalah tindakan memanipulasi sistem demokrasi untuk tujuan politik sempit Pakatan. Apakah ini bermakna di masa hadapan nanti Adun-Adun yang di pilih sah dalam Pilihanraya boleh disuruh berhenti oleh pucuk pimpinan parti untuk memberi laluan kepada calon lain? Dan jika ini berlaku wang Rakyat akan dibelanja untuk memenuhi kehendak parti politik yang tukar fikiran terhadap calon yang sudah pun menang? Persoalan sedemikian mempunyai kesan jangan panjang terhadap penyuburan demokrasi dalam negara.

Saya khuathir bahawa Pilihanraya ini juga akan menjadi satu lagi sandiwara politik oleh kedua-dua pihak yang akan dipentaskan kepada Rakyat tanpa sebarang faedah mahupun hiburan. Kedua-dua pihak akan berpolitik dan berdrama dengan kualiti yang amat rendah sorta menghina minda Rakyat. Blogger-blogger upahan serta media perdana akan memainkan peranan untuk majikan masing-masing  tanpa langsung menghiraukan kesejahteraan Rakyat pada jangan panjang.

Saya percayaPilihanraya ini juga tidak akan membolehkan Rakyat mendengar fakta-fakta sebenar untuk membuat keputusan yang bijak dan tepat. Pakatan akan menghentam BN dan BN akan menghentam defensif.

BN tidak akan gunakan peluang yang ada ini untuk menjelaskan dengan jelas apakah BN telah lakukan untuk Rakyat sejak menang pru13. Ada banyak sebab mengapa penjelasan yang jelas tidak akan berlaku - saya percaya mereka yang boleh berfikir boleh menekanya.

Saya juga lihat Pilihanraya Kecil ini sebagai satu strategi Pakatan yang telah mengejutkan dan "snooker" BN. Jika saya benar, ini menunjukkan kualiti pasukan pemikir politik dan startegis dalam parti BN. Kerajaan "incumbent" dihadapai dengan "snooker" Demi "snooker" oleh parti pembangkang dimedan politik !

BN dan terutamanya UMNO harus sudah boleh menanam sikap merendah diri yang dapat membolehkan nya akui kelemahannya dan nakhodanya pula perlu berani mengambil langkah-langkah perlu. Jangan lah selalu bersikap nak buang air baru nak bina tandas. Jangan juga asyik guna penasihat-penasihat politik yang satu ketika dahulu mungkin hebat tetapi peredaran masa memerlukan mereka diberikan hadiah berehat.

Saya percaya walaupun Anwar Ibrahim akan menang dan Pilihanraya ini dicetuskan oleh Pakatan, namun pandangan Rakyat adalah pada BN dan. UMNO.

Pilihanraya Kecil Kajang sebenarnya satu lagi peluang bagi UMNO untuk menenjukkan kepada Rakyat samaada is telah matang atau terperangkap dengan nostalgia lama. Malangnya, tekaan saya ialah bukan sahaja UMNO tetap dengan nostalgia lama namun is akan bawa "pembesar-pembesar" lama yang sudah ketinggalan masa untuk beekempen - sekaligus menyakinkan Rakyat bahawa BN dan UMNO tidak ada sesuatu yang baru untuk rakyat.

Salam.

Bakal Ketua Menteri Selangor YAB Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ???

Pembaca-pembaca blog ini akan sedar serta merta bahawa ini adalah kali pertama saya menyebut nama Anwar Ibrahim dalam blog ini. Saya telah mengelak daripada menyebut nama beliau atas sebab-sebab tertentu selama lapan tahun namun apabila realiti politik mendepankan beliau walaupun pelbagai halangan dilunggukkan dalam perjalanan politik beliau, kita terpaksa menghadapi keadaan ini.

Tiada keraguan langsung bahawa Anwar Ibrahim akan menang didalam pilihan raya kecil Kajang nanti. Saya akan terkejut jika beliau kalah.  Terdapat beberapa sebab yang jelas mengapa beliau akan menang dengan mudah:

1) Imej BN diseluruh Negara masih terjejas secara negatif tanpa dipengaruhi oleh apa-apa yang dilakukan olehnya.

2) BN telah tidak berjaya didalam menguruskan imej politiknya didalam Negara

3) UMNO masih berpecah dan berpuak-puak dengan adanya kumpulan-kumpulan berkuasa yang cuba untuk mendapatkan kuasa dan kawalan sebenar dalam menentukan halatuju UMNO.

4) Terlalu banyak isu-isu sensitif kebelakangan ini yang tidak ditangani dengan efisien oleh kerajaan.

5) terdapatnya tanggapan umum bahawa tidak ada kepimpinan didalam Negara – walaupun ini mungkin tidak benar namun persepsi ini tidak ditangani langsung.

8) Blogger-blogger UMNO tidak mempunyai kebolehan serta keupayaan berkesan untuk menghadapi jentera persepsi Pakatan – kemungkinan nya mereka akan turun ketahap dimana serangan politik akan berupa lucah, kurang sopan dan sombong dimana Rakyat sudah muak dengan kaedah ini.

Halangan terbesar kepada usaha menguatkan BN ialah UMNO sendiri. UMNO, walaupun banyak retorika sebaliknya, jelas tidak mahu berubah dan tidak pula menunjukkan bahawa ia telah berubah dalam cara mana ia menghadapi masalah politik. UMNO sering kali patah balik untuk memainkan isu ras dan agama dengan cara yang paling tidak sofistikated dan kebudak-budakan sehingga di tolak oleh Melayu dan Muslim sendiri. UMNO juga masih terperangkap dalam nostalgia kuasa mutlak dan keadaan Negara yang berbeza sebelum 2004.

Hakikatnya UMNO telah menjadi sangat lemah sejak 1998. Kelemahan ini diakui oleh orang-orang UMNO sendiri apabila mereka menyertai pertubuhan-pertubuhan seperti Perkasa beramai-ramai. Satu peluang yang UMNO ada pada tahun 2004 untuk memperkuatkan dirinya telah disia-siakan hanya semata-mata kerana pergaduhan politik diantara Tun Abdullah dan Tun Mahathir. Tidak ada gunanya untuk UMNO menafikan bahawa terdapatnya usaha sepakat oleh pembesar-pembesar UMNO untuk melemahkan UMNO diantara tahun 2004 sehingga 2008 semata-mata untuk menjatuhkan Tun Abdullah. Pergaduhan inilah yang menyebabkan jatuhnya lima Negeri kepada Pakatan serta melemahkan BN dinegeri-negeri lain.

Malangnya bagi UMNO, sehingga kini, tidak ada langkah-langkah radikal, fundamental dan berkesan untuk menyembuhkan UMNO daripada virus politik ini yang masih melemahkan UMNO. Kita akui bahawa ini adalah usaha yang mencabar dan bukan mudah. Namun ia harus dilakukan jika UMNO mahu kembali pada zaman kegemilangan nya.  Malangnya, langkah-langkah sedemikian tidak diambil. Oleh yang demikian, UMNO dilihat sebagai gagal dalam memberi halatuju kepada Melayu khususnya dan Rakyat Malaysia, amnya.

Apabila UMNO dijangkiti dengan virus dalaman seperti in, perlu kah Pakatan berkempen besar-besaran untuk memenangi pilihanraya kecil Kajang? Saya kira tidak.

Bayangkan keseraman yang menanti BN selepas Anwar memenangi pilihanraya kecil dengan majoriti yang mengkagumkan?

Bayangkan keseraman yang menanti BN jika Anwar menjadi Ketua Menteri Selangor?

Saya percaya tidak keterlaluan untuk mengatakan bahawa jika Anwar menjadi KM, ia mungkin akan lebih bersinar daripada PM dalam menghadapi beberapa isu-isu kerana Anwar mempunyai kebolehan politik untuk lakukan apa yang perlu.

Akhirnya, orang suka pada pemenang.

Maka, UMNO lebih baik lakukan muhasabah diri dan mengambil iktibar daripada perkembangan semasa.

Salam.

YAB Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ???

This blog's readers will immediately realise that this is the first time I am mentioning the name of Anwar Ibrahim on this blog.  I have been avoiding mentioning his name for reasons of my own for almost 8 years but when the political realities itself keep pushing him forward despite the odds stacked against him, then  we have to address that.

Without doubt, Anwar Ibrahim will win in the Kajang By-Election. I will be surprised otherwise.  The are several reasons why he will win:

1) BN image nationwide is still negatively perceived generally despite whatever it is doing
2) BN has not been successful in managing its political image in the country
3) UMNO itself is still very fragmented with powerful groups within tussling for real control and power
4) too many sensitive issues not properly addressed by the Government
5) there is a general feeling that there is no leadership in the country - though this may not be true but that is the all round perception that is left unaddressed.
6) UMNO bloggers do not have the effective  ability to confront the Pakatan perception machinery - there may even be a descend to vulgarity, profanity and arrogance which people are sick of.

BN's biggest problem in becoming strong again is none other than UMNO.  UMNO, despite all it's rhetoric appears not to want to change. In terms of how it handles it's political problem. They are trapped in the nostalgia of total control which the laws and the circumstances of the country allowed them before 2004.

UMNO has weakened considerably since 1998 and the one chance they had in 2004, they blew it in 2008 primarily because of the political fight between Tun Abdullah and Tun Mahathir.  It is no use for UMNO to deny that there was a concerted nationwide attempt and effort to weaken UMNO by UMNO big guns throughout 2004 to 2008 to oust Tun Abdullah.

Unfortunately for UMNO, there has been no radical and fundamental steps taken to cure UMNO from this internal political virus that is still plaguing UMNO.  Admittedly it is a daunting task but a task that must be undertaken if UMNO wants to regain its former glory. However, this is not done. Hence, UMNO seems directionless in giving a political direction to the Malays in particular and to the Malaysians in general.

With such a virus affecting UMNO, does Pakatan really need to embark on a major election campaign to win the by-election? I think not.

Imagine the horror that awaits BN should Anwar win the by-election with an impressive majority?

Imagine the horror that awaits BN should Anwar become the YAB Chief Minister of Selangor?

I think I will not be exaggerating to say that if Anwar becomes the CM, he may even outshine the PM on various issues because Anwar has the politically ability to do what it takes.

At the end of the day, people like winners.

So, UMNO better be forewarned.

Peace !

If You Do Not Vote For Me, You Are Ungrateful? -Apa Lagi???

This 13th General Elections in Malaysia (PRU13) is interesting for so many reasons. Clearly it shows that democracy is evolving and that incumbents cannot depend on their traditional logic for support from voters. There has been shifts in issues and shifts in mindset.

At the same time, it also presents various peculiar mindsets that I never thought is possible. One of which is the "apa lagi Cina mau" kind of mindset. I have been trying very hard to understand what it actually means and I suspect even the writer who wrote that does not know exactly what he meant. Maybe he didn't give much thought to it or maybe it was a result of past faulty thinking processes which has become a mental habit.

Let me explain why I have difficulty understanding what it really means and what it has now become to mean. If I am not mistaken, it means this "The Chinese has been given so much by the BN and now that a large percentage of them voted against BN, therefore what more do they want from BN"? I may wrong, but  I think this is what it is supposed to mean. Whether it is a "Chinese" or "Malaysian" tsunami has been researched by many and I do not intend to go into it too. The researches generally show that it is generally an urban vote and Malaysian rather than racial.

Be that as it may, I find the "apa lagi Cina mau" very hilarious and illogical.

For the first time, BN lost the popular vote. BN got approximately 48% and PR got 51% of the popular votes ( I have rounded up). The total number of voters for Parliament is 11,257,147. This means BN got about 5.4 million votes and PR got 5.7 million votes (approximately).

It is said that Chinese make up about 27% of the total voters population. SO if we give ALL of these votes to PR (which is not the case in reality), PR will end up having 4.2 million votes.

So these 4.2 million voters are Non-Chinese. These are Malays, Indians, Sabahans, Sarawakian, etc. SO by the same peculiar logic, does it not sound hilarious to ask "apa lagi Melayu, India, Sabahan, Sarawakian yang tidak undi BN mau"?

Actually, this does not sound as hilarious as I thought it will be because putting a group of Malaysians together seems okey but isolating a race does sound ridiculously funny in the context.

In any event I do not think BN government is going to punish the 52% of Malays, Indians, Chinese, Kadazans, etc, etc that did not vote for it.

So the appropriate question for BN should have been: "Apa lagi 52% yang tidak mengundi BN mau?".

And for PR would be "  "Apa lagi 48% yang tidak mengundi PR mau?".

Then we can grow up as a democracy instead of being trapped in primitive thinking.

Peace !

Vote the Right Candidate !

Tomorrow is THE day that Malaysian citizens get the one chance in every five years to decide who will be in Parliament and in the State Assemblies to REPRESENT them for the next five years.

These elected representatives will get to decide on the future development and landscape of the country. They get to decide on the KIND of Malaysia that will evolve in the next five years.

They get to decide how the budget of the Nation and the tax layers money will be used - whether it will be honestly and effectively used for the benefit of the People or to enrich themselves and their cronies.

They get to decide what KIND of laws that will be passed, what laws will be repealed, and what laws will be reviewed. This in turn will have a major impact on how we can live our lives, how ,much  freedom we have, how we are allowed to earn our living, how peaceful our country will be, whether there will be true justice or oppression by oppressive laws.

They get to decide the policies that will determine the KIND of future generation that will be shaped through the education system, youth programmes, women empowerment and protection policies and so on.

In short, these elected representatives will have tremendous power to influence our lives while we are busy with our lives for the next five years.

So we have to vote with care from the available candidates, who may or may not be the best that we have in the country.

Sometimes it is difficult to decide who to vote especially in our country where there no free flow of information and facts.  But we are able to agree that the following should probably be some of the criteria/questions that may help us to decide:

1. We don't want leaders who are corrupt, enrich their own families and amass wealth for themselves

2. Do we still want space after the elections to influence policies and leaders who will consider our views? - if so, we need humble leaders who are willing to listen to the Rakyat

3.  Do we want political leaders to control and decide what we believe and how we believe?

4. Do we want political leaders who are racists, sexists, bigotry and who keep dividing us rather than uniting us as Malaysians and humans?

5. Do we want political leaders who are difficult to see once they become Ministers or whom we have to beg or pay toll to see them but have too much of them during election campaigns?

6. Do we want political leaders who would rather toe the party line instead of championing what is right for the Rakyat and the Nation?

7. Do we want political leaders who behave like feudal lords instead of being the servant of the Nation?

8. Do we want politicians who have no vision, or ideas because they do not read or make time to think but are busy officiating functions set up to promote themselves?

9. Do we want politicians who keep insulting the general intelligence of the Rakyat with their statements?

10. Do we want politicians who are rich with slogans but poor with compassion,empathy and action?

11. Do we want politicians who manipulate the form of religion to control the masses and deny the substance from being assimilated in the hearts?

12. Do we want politicians who not only want to control the body of the Rakyat through political power but also the soul of the Rakyat through religious power?

13. Do we want politicians who cry nationalism but give their children and families everything foreign, including education, housing,etc?

14. Do we want politicians who provide bungalows for their families but 600 sq feet cubicles for the majority of the low and middle income Rakyat as homes?

15. Do we want politicians who manipulate the prejudices, ignorance and sentiments of the Rakyat instead of  educating them with facts and allowing an environment that will allow civilized society to evolve?

There are many more criteria and questions that you may want to ask to determine the kind of leader that you want.

Peace !

Sidang Media: Pilihanraya Bebas Keganasan

Hari ini pada pukul 3 petang team Rapera bersama dengan lebih kurang 30 NGO-NGO, peguam-peguam, dan individu-individu berkumpul untuk menyatakan hasrat mereka supaya PRU 13 ini bebas daripada keganasan.

Berikut adalah antara saranan-saranan yang dipersembahkan pada sidang media tersebut:

Disebabkan kesedaran ini serta kecintaan kita pada Negara, kami menyarankan perkara-perkara berikut:-

·        agar calon-calon lebih bertanggungjawab dan menapis ucapan mereka supaya tidak menyentuh perkara-perkara yang berbaur perkauman, agama, peribadi yang tiada kaitan untuk menjatuhkan pihak lain. Ia adalah untuk mengelakkan perselisihan dan politik keganasan berlaku akibat sikap tidak berpuas hati sesetengah pihak lain.

·        Calon-calon harus menampakkan etika dan bertanding dalam suasana sihat tanpa mewujudkan kebencian dalam diri penyokong mereka terhadap calon lain yang bertanding,  sekali gus mengelakkan unsur keganasan.

·        Calon-calon juga harus bertanggung jawab dalam memimpin dan menasihati penyokong-penyokong mereka supaya beradab dan tidak sesekali mencetuskan sebarang provokasi.

·        Kami juga menyarankan supaya dalam pilihan raya ini Islam tidak dipolitikkan sehingga boleh mencetuskan perpecahan diantara rakyat Muslim. Perpecahan dan pergaduhan diantara masyarakat Melayu adalah merbahaya untuk kestabilan negera kerana mereka merupakan populasi yang tertinggi di Negara ini. Sebarang keretakan serius dalam masyarakat Melayu akan memberi kesan buruk kepada Negara amnya.

·        Calon-calon juga diingatkan supaya tidak menghina atau membuat sesuatu yang boleh ditafsir sebagai percubaan untuk meruntuhkan institusi Rakyat yang bertanggunjawab terhadap keamanan Negara seperti Agensi Penguatkuasaan PDRM, SPR, Barisan pertahanan Negara dan lain-lain. Ini adalah penting untuk mengelak sebarang keganasan selepas keputusan pilihanraya diumumkan.

·        Kami menyeru supaya calon-calon fokus kepada isu-isu dan perkara-perkara yang dapat mendatangkan manfaat kepada Rakyat dan Negara daripada membangkitkan isu-isu yang bertujuan untuk menanam perasaan kebencian.

·        Kami difahamkan bahawa agensi penguatkuasa keselamatan negara sudah bersiap sedia untuk memantau dan melakukan segala sesuatu yang dibenarkan oleh undang-undang Negara untuk menjaga keselamatan Rakyat amnya. Kami menyokong penuh usaha pasukan keselamatan untuk menjalankan tanggungjawab mereka.

·        Kami juga menyarankan pihak penguatkuasa keselamatan mengambil langkah-langkah awal untuk menepis sebarang rancangan untuk mencetuskan kekecohan jika terdapat intelligence reports dan bertindak dengan tegas dalam lingkungan undang-undang Negara.

·        Pihak SPR juga telah mengeluarkan panduan mengenai etika berkempen dan tatacara kelakuan penyokong. Harap calon-calon baca dan amalkannya.

·        Kami menyeru supaya semua calon-calon membuat kenyataan rasmi mengutuk sebarang keganasan politik serta sebarang tingkah laku intimidasi terhadap sesiapa.

Akhir sekali, kita yang hadir disini yakin bahawa kesemua Rakyat Malaysia mahukan satu proses pilihanraya yang bebas daripada keganasan. Terima kasih juga kepada semua rapera-rapera yang telah berkerja keras dalam masa yang begitu suntuk untuk menjayakan sidang media ini.

Salam

Pilihanraya atau Silap Mata ?

Menjelang pilihan raya, pelbagai ceramah dianjurkan oleh semua pihak yang bertanding.

Pelbagai isu dibangkitkan kini.

Pelbagai taktik dan kaedah digunakan dan dipersembahan.

Adakah silap mata juga akan timbul? Ada silap mata yang boleh merugikan dan menghancurkan kesejahteraan.


Bagaimana pula peranan fakta dan track record?

Pandai-pandai lah menilai.

Salam.

DAP Deregistered After PRU ???

Politicians are at it again - manipulating facts to gain public sympathy and VOTES and probably also to prevent the Registrar of Societies to do its job in  accordance with the law, This time, the politicians who are being naughty are from the DAP.

There was a complaint against the election of the CEC members by DAP MEMBERS themselves. The ROS has to investigate as it procedurally should. Since investigations are ongoing, the status of the CEC in the future is therefore uncertain in law. A full inquiry has to be done by ROS to determine whether there is any validity in the complaint by the DAP's members. 

At this moment, TODAY, the CEC has not been declared invalid nor has DAP been deregistered. The Election Commission (SPR) has also recognised the '"rocket" symbol and has allowed tis symbol to be used in this PRU13. NO issue on symbol! Period.

SO, any talk of DAP using another symbol to contest has no basis in law but purely an election tactic to garner sympathy votes and to confuse the voters. It is also aimed to politically associate ROS with BN so as to achieve various objectives - including  to pressure ROS not to act on the complaints by the DAP. I think we should stop having different sets of laws for politicians regardless of from which political party they come from.

It is shameful to use these tactics to trick the ignorant sections of the public to vote for DAP. It surely sounds like dirty politics.

Lets assume that investigations finally show that the CEC was not elected in accordance with the law. There are several possibilities. Lets assume the "worst" possibility - DAP is deregistered (which I doubt). If DAP is deregistered  will it affect the status of the DAP candidates who may have won in PRU13? 

The answer is: NO ! Recall that UMNO was once deregistered and it did not affect the status of the UMNO MPs and Aduns. They still remain as valid members of Parliament and State Assemblies. Let us not forget that independents do not stand on the platform of any political parties. There is no legal prerequisite that an election candidate must belong to a political party - any solo goreng pisang seller also can be a candidate.

Peace !

If we do not Vote carefully, we lose and only the Politicians win!

BY now, the Malaysian voters already know who will be the candidates from all sides. Any remaining doubts will be removed on 20^th of April, which is the nomination day. Polling day has already been fixed on the 5th of May 2013. Hence from the 20^th of April to the midnight of 4^th May, we will be witnessing election campaigning from the candidates.

Election campaigning is of course intended to persuade the voters who have yet to decide. It is never influences the hard core supporters of political parties. The hard core supporters owe their loyalty to the party and not to the Rakyat’s interest. There is also another specie of voters who will vote and persuade others to vote based on their narrow, selfish interests. Again, these people will not be influenced by the campaigning period.

To be able to vote wisely, it is important to have as much facts and information as possible about the political parties and the candidates. The more accurate information and facts that you have, the more able you are to make better decision objectively. Unfortunately, most of us are prone to subjectivity, sentiments and emotions – something we should be wary of when we attend election rallies and hear their fiery speeches.

For sure each side will expose the weaknesses and defects of the other side – which is good for the Rakyat to know! The voters then will have to weigh the weaknesses and the strengths to make a decision as to who deserves their vote. There will also be “spinning” and various “tactics” used to influence the voters. We must be able to identify these accurately so that we do not become a victim of misinformation.

The qualification, experience and the overall personality of the candidate is important. It is not just a simple criterion of “new or old faces”, “young or old”, “religious or otherwise”. It has got to be an overall list of items that you may want to include in your own checklist. After all, the bottom line has always been that NO political party has a system that is able to throw up the best of citizens for political leadership. So, we are left with choosing the best from who are available.

At the end of the day, make sure it is the RAKYAT and not the politician that wins.

Good luck in your voting and hope you make the right choice in the interest of our Nation.

Peace !

Elections Around the Corner?

There is a big guessing game going on when the elections will be held. This has become almost a predominant "game" with the politicians and political game. What is the Rakyat's take on this?

It goes without saying that the general political awareness among the Rakyat today is far different as it was, say 10 to 15 years ago. The access to information and facts, despite the nozzle around the mainstream media, today is available due to the availability of the new media.

Not only the urban voters but the rural voters have greater access to differing information.

Undoubtedly, the Rakyat wants to see an honest, transparent and efficient government that will put the Rakyat's interest first. Political gimmicks may not work as well as it used to work before. People want to see real reforms and real plans or programmes for the future.

Of course the incumbent parties will face greater challenges because their ability to transform thier pronouncements on reforms into realities will be judged. The Rakyat is truly fed up with being treated like fools.

The politicians' mindset does not, unfortunately change rapidly with the changes that has taken place because they are surrounded incestuously by the same advisers with the same way of perceiving and analysing information.

In short, the politicians can go on with their political games. The Rakyat knows what they want and how they will vote.

Peace.

Bersih, UMNO Youth and Perkasa - call off street demonstrations if you care for the People !!!

No citizen in their right sense of mind will object to the campaign for free and fair elections. Bersih had its aim in the 8 points that it wanted to hand over to the Yang Di Pertuan Agung through the memorandum. This memorandum could very well have been delivered to the palace by just four or five Bersih representatives. But of course Bersih wanted to create as much awareness as possible among the citizens and hence the peaceful walk thorugh the streets of Kuala Lumpur. This is understandable. They wanted to exercise the democratic right of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. All noble aims.

The situation however has changed. The events of past weeks have shown that Bersih's 8 points have received almost maximum publicity around the country. Blogs, newspapers and even the national television have publicised Bersih's objectives and much discussion have been aroused. People are aware. bersih's aim of creating awarenss have been achieved. Bersih has even succeded in getting all sorts of reactions from the public - political and apolitical. 

Bersih's constant aim was to have a peaceful march through the city of Kuala Lumpur. The emphasis being on PEACEFUL.

In reaction to Bersih, both UMNO Youth and Perkasa have announced that they too will walk through the streets to show their strength.  Both of these entities have numbers too. The Bar Council's entry into the "foray" has not helped to ease the tension but lead to further misunderstandings and "aggressive" reactions.

Somehow or other, the situation in and around Kuala Lumpur has been unnecessrily tense and worrisome these past few days and promises to become worse.

I have met and talked to almost all sides involved and to many ordinary, apolitical citizens.  I have had discussions with some of those responsible for the security of the Nation. I am convinced that the situation currently does not permit a street march. It is now too dangerous.

This is not the time to point fingers to apportion blame.

This is not the time to state who is responsible for the current security threat that we are faced with.

This is the time to understand that a street march planned for July 9 is indeed a security threat.

This is the time to act responsibly and to recognise the citizen's right to security and peace.  The right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression has to temporarily take a back seat because the security situation does not permit it.

If Bersih organisers truly believe that they had noble aims, which many quarters think so, then this is the time to be consistent and do the noble act - call off the July 9 street march in the interest of peace and security. 

UMNO Youth being part of the very Barisan Nasional Government which should be responsible for the security of the Nation should immediately announce that they will NOT be walking through the streets on July 9.

I make the same appeal to my brothers and sisters in Perkasa - demi keamanan Negara dan cinta kepada rakyat, batalkan sahaja rancangan untuk berdemo pada July 9. Biarlah menjadi NGO yang menunjukkan contoh yang baik yang mampu mengutamakan keamanan negara dan kesejahteraan Rakyat jelata.

I also appeal to all the other NGOs, including Pekida to do the right thing - do not walk the streets on July 9 in groups. I make the same appeal to all Raperas.

We should NOT be ashamed to do the right thing even if it means changing our plans, swallowing our pride or egos or even temporarily suspending one of our democratic rights.

May Peace be with you all and may God guide you all to do the wise thing.

BN wins two thirds but Opposition makes impressive inroads

The recently concluded Sarawak elections appear to be an exception to the "pendulum" pattern that Malaysian voters are known for. If the pendulum pattern was at work, the opposition should have been trashed in this election because in 2008, the voters had swung to the opposition. The fact that DAP garnered almost 80% more seats than before shows that the voters may be showing some sort of stability and considered choice in the voting. This simply means that Barisan Nasional cannot anymore consider any seats as "fixed deposits" anymore. You can view the summary of the results here.

Secondly, there also seems to be an ugly development in Malaysian politics, which I had long suspected will surface - use of religion in elections and political campaigning. If this trend is not addressed by right thinking members of the society, we are charting a dangerous course for our Nation. In fact, I would say that political parties and politicians that abuse and manipulate religious sentiments to win votes should be rejected outright by the people.

Thirdly, I would see this as a further opportunity for BN to reinvent itself and also to identify objectively why it was unable to retain its otherwise "safe seats". My concern is that there will be charlatans within the BN who will once again thump their chests unrealistically to proclaim that "the people are with us" and continue with denial mode. The people want to be listened to.

Fourthly, SNAP's complete defeat in the elections may add further credence to MCLM which publicly broke away from any possible cooperation with them in the recent elections.

Fifthly, PKR's appeal seems to be dimming and I think their lack of performance in the Sarawak State elections are indicative of what they will experience in the coming 13th General Elections if they do not do a complete overhaul and restore democracy within their party. If DAP is able to successfully evolve into a truly multi racial party and project its image as such, it will overtake PKR as the leader party in the Pakatan. PAS, with its unique theological platform using the "Islamic brand" will take a very, very long time to become a truly national party - that too if it can undergo radical changes within.

Peace !

Bagan Pinang - PAS rejected?

Of course there are a host of many reasons why PAS lost. Of course too that the group that lost may suddenly not think so well of the voters implying that they condone corrupt leaders. Some others from the camp that lost even go to the extent of accusing that the Malaysian voters like corrupt leaders. Whether that is so or not, I am sure cannot be judged by from one by-election. But the point is this - when they were winning, they acclaimed "people power". See? Politicians love double talk because what is important to them is only - to win elections. Not you or me - the People.

At least YB Lim Kit Siang was the only one it seems to suggest that Pakatan Rakyat should do some introspection.

But what I had intended to write was something else - Malays in Bagan Pinang rejected PAS. MALAYS. MUSLIMS. So, it appears that the Malay Muslim voters are not convinced of PAS's "Islamic" brand. They have said no to "pemerintahan ulama" ala PAS.

This in one sense is a good sign because it may mean that the "brand" of "Islam" cannot be easily commercialized or politicized by business and political opportunists. Malay Muslims are becoming more discerning when anyone who appears like pseudo Arab wants their attention in the name of Islam.

PAS even went alone in this by-election without PKR and DAP.In PAS language, "a purely Islamic campaign" without PKR and DAP! Itu pun kalah. So, it is clear that...tak lah wajib undi PAS! Melayu Bagan Pinang tak takut ke tak masuk syurga? Kan UMNO tu agama suku, politik suku? Seharusnya jadi macam pucuk pimpinan PAS, politik suku, thagut suku. (sahabat-sahabat saya dalam PAS, saya tidak maksudkan saudara-saudari. Kita tetap bersaudara sebagai saudara Islam dan umat manusia, Insha Allah).

Frankly, if I am in Bagan Pinang, I will reject PAS because I am a Muslim and I fear Allah swt. Kalau DAP...hmmm...boleh lah fikir-fikir sikit. Kalau PKR? Selagi ada ... tak payah lah! At least, in my view they do not distort Islam and YB Lim Guan Eng is working hard instead of showing off how religious he is.

I seriously think that we should pass laws that prohibit political parties from using religion as part of their name. Imagine, with PAS losing - Parti ISLAM seMalaysia - implies that Malay Muslims have rejected an Islamic party. Tak masuk akal langsung dan memberi gambaran yang salah terhadap Islam serta pengundi Melayu Muslim di Bagan Pinang.



Peace!