Happy Merdeka - Are you truly merdeka???

Without the slightest of doubt, we are certainly happy that we have been freed from British rule. This means that we are now free to decide the future of our own Nation and how to distribute the Nation's resources.

We are also free to decide how we want the Nation to be developed and how we, as citizens want to be developed into human beings.

But....

Who is the "we" that is free to decide on the future of this Nation? Is it you and me, the common folks in the country or is it merely the elitist class together with the capitalists?

What is the point of being free from the bondage of British rule only to be enslaved by the elitists, the capitalists and the elite religious class?

Is that the kind of freedom or merdeka that your forefathers imagined for you?

That, at the end of the day, you life should be confined to the dictates of the capitalists who will decide how and where you live? AT the mercy of the "economy" designed by the wealthy elitists which makes you a slave to the banks, to the mega supermarkets (that determine how and what you eat) and so on?

That at the end of the day, if you are fated to belong to the low income group, that you shall be housed in pigeon holes called low cost flats and that too crowded in one area?

That at the end of the day, even how you want to relate to your own creator will be decided, not by your own conscience, but by salaried religious officers? And often times under pain of punishment by the law for not confirming to the State's definition of what your religion should be and how it should be?

Can you be truly merdeka when you cannot even decide what's good for your own soul?

I am happy that this Nation is free from British rule.

I only wish we can be free to be human beings.

Peace and Happy Merdeka.

Salam Aidil Fitri !

Lovely voice and so cute - Lego House Cover

Stephen Doss Chats With Rapera

RaPeRa chats with Mr Stephen Doss, the President of the International Social Media Chambers about the emergence of two party system in Malaysia.


You can watch it at the link here  http://www.mobtv.my/talkshow-1724.html

Tun Dr Mahathir Chats with Rapera

Tun Dr Mahathir's take on the liberalisation policies, debate culture, election prospects and other interesting issues.

Click here to view the interview http://www.mobtv.my/talkshow-1643.html

You are only FREE to the extent of information MADE AVAILABLE to you !!!

Citizens live their lives unaware they are constantly short changed by those in power - both the political masters and the religious gurus.

Lets take a look at the political masters. They control the entire "infrastructure and the environment" under which you are allowed to live. They do this by the policies and the laws that they make, mostly without the knowledge of the majority, within the corridors of the select elite few. You only get to hear and most of the time, experience the policies and laws when you become aware that they are affecting you.

Whatever laws and policies that are announced are announced concisely enough so that not much information on the long term consequences are divulged to you. Much information is hidden from you so that you are not free enough to evaluate the policies and the laws passed.

Look at the mainstream news. Read the pronouncements of those in power. Do they divulge information that is useful to the well being of the Nation and the People?

Every piece of news is selected, edited and crafted to give you just the information that is required to shape the perception that they want you to have. Can you imagine what amount of information you have to form conclusions on important issues affecting the Nation through the main stream media.

The more information you have, the more freedom you have to decide on the fate of this Nation. The more information the People have, the less powerful the political masters become.

Freedom of information is power to the People and this is something no politician will like!

The internet has given much power to the People because to a very large extent, it still allows expression of facts and ideas without much control. But be warned - this may not be for long. It hurts the power of the political masters because it allows ideas and facts alternative to theirs.

Lets now look at the religious gurus or masters. Directly and indirectly this group has always presented themselves as the most knowledgeable and therefore most qualified to speak in God's name. They also present themselves as armed with the most authentic, unquestioning and accurate divine information. They equally uphold their understanding of the scriptures as the only possible understanding and infallible at that.

Once upon a time, the dissemination of religious information was by way of mouth and once again, through the mainstream media. Hence, the ordinary people only get the mainstream information as approved and agreed upon by a select elitist mainstream few. Any views opposing these views will never get the opportunity to be published.

Hence, the general public never knows that an equally plausible alternative understanding of the scripture is possible. Hence, the general public does not really have freedom of understanding their faith due to control of information available.

This monopoly over "religious information" is largely broken down by the internet. Again, internet poses a major obstacle to those who want to hoard information.

Study the history of human civilisation and you will find that mainstream politicians and mainstream religious gurus work hand in glove. It is the political and religious elite who decide what can be believed and what cannot. They decide what information can be made available and what cannot. During the course of time, the unthinking public assumes that the "norm" is the only and right thing to believe.

Guard your access to information or it will cost you your life !

Peace !!!

Rapera chats with the Father of Environmentalists

http://www.mobtv.my/talkshow-1569.html

Imagine the People Really Controlling the Political Leaders !!!

Interesting video? Interesting idea?

That is why the internet is frightening to those in power - religious or political !!!

Peace !

Can you ever have a People's Government?

If you were to discuss this with the mainstream "intelligentsia", the direction of the discussion will be quite obvious.

Of course we have a people's government, they will say. After all, we live in a democracy - government of the people, by the people for the people.You have elections every five years and the citizens are free to vote whom they want. These MPs and the State assemblymen are the PEOPLE's representative, they will say. The system of governance is democratic and we have LAWS. All these arguments, you have heard, and you will continue to hear them forever. They are repeated so often that people believe all is well and that only the "stupid" will disagree or question the system and say, "But wait a minute....what happens after they are voted in...do I have a say in the policies or do I just have to accept it". NO!! We have never been trained to think like this.

ON the other hand, our school system teaches us to GLORIFY and DEIFY our political leaders> They have sacrificed for the Nation and for the good of the people. We can see that all of them retire very poor can we not? Poor souls...so busy serving the country that they had no time to work to even save up for thier retirement. Is that why we give them retirement  - as a reward for their sacrifice. Even their children are on state scholarship and barely surviving..poor souls. What a sacrifice, while the rest of us are living a very rich and comfortable life style!!!

SO., the question remains - can we have a people's government? I like to start with the Constitution where it guarantees fundamental freedoms which cannot be taken away by politicians by enacting oppressive laws. A human being to be able to live with dignity must have fundamental rights and fundamental freedoms. Otherwise, his life is enslaved to political masters and capitalists.

We often hear that we have a people's government because we have the fundamental freedom and fundamental rights.

Do we have the right to decide for ourselves in matters which WE deem personal or any reasonable person would deem personal?

For example, do you really enjoy the freedom to earn a living by making use of your talents and ability without discrimination?

Are the resources in this country equitable distributed or controlled by an elite few? Can you set up a moral, ethical business without much difficulty or do you have to go through oppressive laws that makes making a living a nightmare?

What about your children - are the national schools of the best quality and do the political masters think it is good enough FOR THEIR OWN CHILDREN? The answer to this will determine what the leaders actually think is the worth of your children compared to theirs.

Do you even have a right to decide on your faith and how you want to practice your faith or is it subject to laws that you had no part in making? Again this will determine how free you are in deciding on your own life.

If we have a people's government, how often does the government listen to the people's plights, their problems and their woes? DO you like the public transport system? Is it good at all?

Are the streets safe for your children? Is it so difficult to make the streets safe? Or maybe your children walk around with bodyguards and a motorcade complete with sirens that it does not matter?

When was the last time you went to our local beaches which I am sure must have been maintained for you by the people's government or has it been taken over by hotels in the name of the "economy" ?

Look at the housing policy all these years - does that reflect the work of a people's government? DO you think that the best that can ever be done for the people is building low cost flats with poor facilities and socially dangerous environments? Or terrace houses stacked together with narrow roads and a small park? Would you have designed housing estates that way if YOU were the government?

Really, whether it is Pakatan or Barisan - the question is: Can we have a people's government? In my view, a truly people's government is a dream under current political thinking and system.

It will remain so until the people themselves wake up to what they are really worth.

Peace!

Is He talking about America or..Malaysia???

Citizens - Protect your Right To Express on the Internet !!!!

The ordinary citizen's voices never mattered for many, many decades in this country. Globally, the ordinary people's voices never mattered for centuries. The world was controlled and shaped by the elitists - whether political, corporate or religious.

Now that has changed. The INTERNET has given a platform to the ordinary citizen to voice his opinions, his views, his findings and his criticisms. He or she can express herself freely and present her ideas for others to share and benefit.

The Internet has also become a source of alternative news and alternative information. We are able to get the other picture and other perspectives. If once, the elitist and the politicians had the power to shape opinions and present "truths", now the "real" truth may be found on the internet. This is a big blow to the politicians and the religious elites because their power to influence has been reduced. Trust me, the politicians and the religious gurus do not take this lightly. 

They do not like this. They will find ways to restrict the common folks access to and use of the internet.

You have to guard this freedom for those in power will want to enslave you, your mind and your soul.

Peace !

Rapera on MobTV.My ! - Chat With Haris Ibrahim

Rapera on mobTV hopes to have chats with various people  who have impacted Malaysian society in some way on various issues. We do not have to agree with the views as we believe that diversity of views is good for the development of Malaysia

If you know of anyone, please email to rapera.jay@gmail.com

http://www.mobtv.my/VOD-RAPERA.html

Peace !

Civil Servants Do Not Engage, Hence The Political Government gets into trouble?

The "government administration" which is made up of the civil servants, the various agencies such as Police, Bank Negara, Elections Commissions, etc, etc goes on automatic mode irregardless of who the "political government" is. For example, even if Pakatan Rakyat was to take over the country, the same civil service wil be serving the Nation.

I cannot but help notice that the Barisan Nasional political government is increasingly being put on the defensive by various events in the country. Some of this defensive position, in my view, is a choice that BN seems to make! There are many occasions where the BN government does no have to be defensive in my view. Anyway, I digress from the point I want to make in this article.

The point i want to make here is this: that the actions of the secure civil servants affects the image and the tenure of the insecure politicians in power. Let me explain.

Firstly, most of the Rakyat deal largely with civil servants and agencies and not with the political masters. The manner in which these civil servants deal and engage with the Rakyat is what really matters to the Rakyat. If these agencies exercise their powers unreasonably or do not address the Rakyat's complaints in a reasonable manner, the Rakyat gets very frustrated. If these agencies do not respond positively by having discussions with the Rakyat on specific complaints and refuse to interpret the law in a just and helpful manner, the Rakyat gets agitated. 

Frustrations and agitations lead to feelings of helplessness. Ultimate feelings of helplessness leads to collective actions against the agencies and often, these feelings are directed against the political masters. It is this fact that the political masters must understand clearly.

Hence, in my view, when the Rakyat has a legitamate complaint against a certain law or an agency, the ruling political masters must side with the Rakyat. They cannot adopt this automatic defensive position and be pro-agency because, the political masters are expected to side with the Rakyat. It is very plain and simple. This has got to be the new thinking among the politicians if they want to remain relevant at these times where the Rakyat is increasingly becoming aware of their rights. 

However, I find it almost ridiculous and self defeating that quite often, the political ruling class goes on the defensive whenever the actions or omissions of a government agency is challenged or brought into question. When this happens, the political opposition sides with the complaining Rakyat and projects itself as the champion of the oppressed Rakyat. It is almost as if the fact of continued incumbency has infected upon them the disease of defensiveness and ousted the attitude of embracing the Rakyat's complaint.  

In this regard, I have often mentioned to my friends in the ruling class that their "takut bayang2" attitude and the incapacity to embrace new political responses creates more problems for them even in situations where they are right.

It is about time that the ruling class pay serious attention to the exercise of discretion by the civil servants and the various agencies (including the state agencies, especially that which relates to religion). Whatever they do or do not do will impact on the support the ruling class gets.

The ruling political class must learn to stop being defensive. Get new advise on the new ways to respond. The whole world is changing, you should change too if you want to remain relevant.

Peace !

Aftermath of Bersih 3.0 and The Mirror

How could I not follow Bersih 3.0 when my guys and gals from MobTV.My have so bravely gone to get live coverage for the people of Malaysia? It is after all a group of NGOs – all non-partisan – trying to exercise their right of free speech and freedom of assembly as enshrined in the constitution. Dato’ Ambiga, the co-Chairperson of Bersih and the steering committee, promised a peaceful rally. 

Rapera is all for peaceful expressions of views or even dissent by thinking and responsible citizens. However, Rapera is unambiguously against violence among its citizens. 

Around about 1pm, when I had to go off from the Bersih event, I was happy to note that the event was peaceful and almost carnival like. I was pleased, at that moment that my worst fears of confrontation had been proven wrong. I was confident that the Bersih crowd will not go beyond the barricades that was erected around Dataran Merdeka (DM). 

However, as events unfolded subsequently, my fears were unfortunately proven correct – political parties and several irresponsible quarters hijacked the Bersih event and turned it into of Malaysia’s most violent and shameful exercise of freedom of assembly.  This is why I had always held  that it is not politicians that can save the Nation but savior citizens or Raperas.

You can just youtube to see the shameful behaviours by some of our citizens, whom, I would say should be prosecuted under the law for their irresponsible and violent behaviours. At the same time, the behaviours of any police officers who had been over zealous in exercising their power should also be investigated. If this does not happen, there will be these accusations: Firstly, that politicians are exempted from the law. Secondly, that there are agent provocateurs arranged by Barisan Nasional and hence they are not prosecuted. Thirdly, that there is selective cover-up.  

Many I met seem to believe that PKR has simply hijacked the event in the most irresponsible way and are contributory to the violence and rioting that ensued. This has to be verified by PKR itself. Many people I 

know already perceive PKR as a party that would do anything to wrestle political power.

 Politicians and political parties should have just stayed out and let it be an NGO event.

In retrospect I wonder if all these unwanted events would have occurred if the Datuk Bandar had simply not interfered with Bersih’s intention to sit-in at the Dataran. I had voiced the view before that Bersih 3.0 is unstoppable and so the most logical thing for the authorities to do would be to simply provide police protection for the sit-in and for them to facilitate the event. The moment I heard that DBKL took the position that DM was off limits for Bersih 3.0, I was concerned that this may be a catalyst for disaster.  In fact, I was of the view that even the “occupydataran” by the students should have police or DBKL protection instead of the opposition they had experienced. These are after all college kids learning to exercise their right of expression, even though they may not be correct on the issue.  Such “training” if properly “guided” may make them mature Raperas in the future.  However, old methods of exercising authority seem to die hard. My views too seem to have fallen on deaf ears or “dinosaurous” ears!

On another perspective, one must also ask why was there such a huge turnout? How and why did so many people turn up for the event? On one hand, it is heart warming to note that more and more Rakyats are beginning to learn that they cannot depend on ANY politician but on themselves.

Hence, if I am the ruling party, I would not be automatically defensive. I will embrace the Rakyat’s interest in the well being of their Nation. On the other hand, if I am the Opposition, I will not automatically gloat and think that I have the support of the people. I will be wary of the way I serve in politics. This and other such events could very well be a sign that the Rakyat seriously do not trust politicians anymore, which is a good thing. This is, in my view, taking back control of the destiny of our home, our Nation.

Freedom of expression and assembly aside, the sanctity of the law must also be protected. There is simply no excuse for any irresponsible persons to destroy or to cause to destroy or incite anyone to destroy public property which, we must remember, belongs to the Rakyat. I believe that the genuine Bersih folks are peaceful. Hence, the urgency of prosecuting the culprits who have marred the exercise of a fundamental constitutional right.

May peace always prevail among us.

NEXT: Bersih 3.0 and A Cleric (God Willing)

Future Kedah Fatwa Cannot Be Challenged.

The Star (17.4.2012) reports as such:

“Future fatwa by Kedah mufti or fatwa committee cannot be challenged in court

ALOR SETAR: Future fatwa issued by the Kedah mufti or Fatwa Committee cannot be challenged in court under an amendment to the Mufti and Fatwa (Kedah Darul Aman) Enactment 2008 passed by the Kedah State Assembly on Tuesday.

A new section - Section 22A - inserted in the enactment states that a fatwa decided by the mufti or Fatwa Committee, whether gazetted or not, cannot be challenged, appealed, reviewed, denied or questioned in any civil court or syariah court.

The insertion was among the amendments passed unanimously by the House on Tuesday.

In tabling the bill for the amendments, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak said it was to clarify the membership of the Fatwa Committee and to give conclusiveness to any fatwa decided by either the mufti or Fatwa Committee”.

(see http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/4/17/nation/20120417194848&sec=nation )

If the above report is accurate, with one stroke of the pen, the PAS Government of Kedah has made the future fatwas of the Mufti or the Majlis Fatwa absolute.  

A few men, namely the Assemblymen of Kedah has decided for all the Muslims in Kedah that the fatwas (or legal opinions) of the Mufti or a group of people in the Majlis Fatwa is absolute and cannot be challenged by anyone.

There is no questioning the opinions or the legal reasoning of those paid to be in the religious authority in Kedah.  It cannot even be reviewed.

Fatwas in this sense carries a religious connotation and hence, it now becomes part of the Syariah Law of Kedah.  Please note how the Syariah Laws expands as a result of human handiwork.

Now let me ask if the Prime Minister, the most powerful man in the country can be questioned on his actions? Every constitutional and criminal law student will tell you that in certain occasions, he can not only be questioned but be charged in court if he had acted, for example, unconstitutionally or criminally in office.

Under administrative laws, you can challenge, appeal and review the decision of any civil servant in the Courts of Law in Malaysia. This is through a process called judicial review. This process is allowed because the law recognises that civil servants, even with the best of intentions may make mistakes or err in their judgement. Some may be influenced by irrelevant factors in making a decision or arriving at an opinion (fatwa!).

But obviously, the Kedah Assemblymen are confident that neither the Mufti nor the members of the Fatwa Committee can err in their judgement or make mistakes. They are held to be infallible.

The Muslim in Kedah, therefore has no choice in the matter. He has to dispense with his conscience and his reasoning and simply follow the fatwa which now has the power of “Syariah” Law.

A Muslim who knows the Quran, may want to ask where the following verse figures in this episode:

068.036  What is the matter with you? How judge you?

068.037  Or have you a book through which you learn-

068.038  That you shall have, through it whatever ye choose?

068.039  Or have you Covenants with Us to oath, reaching to the Day of Judgment,

(providing) that you shall have whatever you shall demand?

068.040  Ask you of them, which of them will stand surety (guarantee) for that!

068.041  Or have they some "Partners" (in Godhead)? Then let them produce their

"partners", if they are truthful!

Since no Malays in Kedah have protested against the Bill, it must mean that they are happy with it.

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.

Bahagian 3: Agama mengkhayalkan manusia dalam kehidupan manakala Islam atau “The Way” mengajak manusia hidup dalam realiti sebenar dunia.

Memang motivasi atau niat masing-masing untuk melakukan sesuatu berbeza. Namun apabila motivasi atau niat ini ditafsirkan sebagai perbuatan, kesannya juga berbeza dari segi rohani dan jasmani. Kita ambil sebagai contoh 4 jenis pekerja iaitu Encik A, B, C dan D.

Keempat-empat pekerja ini dibayar gaji setiap bulan serta diberikan kemudahan-kemudahan tertentu oleh majikan mereka. Keempat-empat mereka itu menandatangani atau telah memasuki dalam satu perjanjian pekerjaan dengan majikan mereka dimana mereka berjanji untuk melaksanakan tugas-tugas mereka.  Katakan juga keempat-empat mereka ini menerima gaji yang sama dan diberikan tugasan yang sama.

Bersambung baca disini.

Salam.

Bahagian Kedua: Agama tidak menggalakkan penganutnya berfikir atau menggunakan minda

Agama memerlukan penganut yang taat pada agamanya.  Hampir semua agama menggalakkan penganutnya menerima segala sesuatu yang ditetapkan oleh ketua-ketua agama mereka atau diterima oleh masyarakat mereka sebagai kebenaran hakiki. Mereka yang menyoal dikatakan sebagai lemah keimanan atau kepercayaan. Apa yang perlu hanya lah “beriman” atau sering dikatakan dalam Bahasa Inggeris sebagai “All you need is faith”. Hakikat bahawa “keimanan” semata-mata mengenepikan peranan pengetahuan dan nas tidak dipedulikan. The fact that pure faith displaces the role of reason and knowledge is of no concern.

Boleh sambung selanjutnya disini.

Salam

A Scientist is an Ulama too !

I came across this interesting article that I wish to share with you:


"Let me start by saying that this is in no way intended to disrespect anyone. Whilst I am a scientist by profession, this is not meant to insinuate that i am an ulama.. However i do feel that there is a lot of confusion in the word ulama and how it is currently being perceived. A scientist, by definition, is also an ulama...but then again, this is an academic excercise which has no bearing on anything! So here goes nonetheless....

1) In Arabic the word Ulama is the plural form of the word Alim, which has been derived from the word Ilmu. An Arabic dictionary will show you that the meaning of Ulama and Alim are as follows:"

You can continue to read the rest of this interesting article here at To Think About It.

I am happy to note that more and more young people are referring to the Quran and making an effort to understand its contents.

Peace !

Mempertahankan Apa untuk Melayu Yang Mana? “Islam” pun perlu dipertahankan oleh manusia kerdil?

Kekadang saya tidak tahu samada saya harus  rasa kesian kepada kaum Melayu atau kepada pemimpin mereka kerana Melayu ini terlalu banyak pemimpin dalam terlalu banyak bidang. Mereka ada pemimpin politik, pemimpin perniagaan, pemimpin agama, pemimpin moral dan sebagainya. Kaum Melayu ini telah dijadikan sebagai satu kaum yang perlu dipimpin dalam segala hal dalam kehidupan mereka dari lahir sehinggalah meninggalkan dunia.

Kekadang juga saya tidak tahu samada saya harus berasa malu bagi pihak kaum Melayu atau bagi pihak pemimpin mereka.  Perasaan malu ini timbul kerana penyuaraan perjuangan konon oleh pemimpin-pemimpin Melayu yang melantik diri mereka sendiri sebagai “penyelamat kaum Melayu”  amat lapuk, namun mereka sendiri tidak sedar.  Tidak kah kita merasa malu melihat orang-orang dewasa melonjak-lonjak berbuih-buih membuat ucapan demi ucapan mengenai topik-topik yang sudah usang serta tidak lagi dipercayai oleh jenerasi Melayu yang terkemudian ini?

Walaubagaimanapun, marilah kita cuba memahami pemimpin-pemimpin Melayu ini yang tidak mahu sedar diri bahawa kaedah dan pemikiran mereka sudah dimakan masa.

Persoalan-persoalan Yang Harus diTanya

Ketua-ketua Melayu yang sering melaungkan kononnya mereka mahu mempertahankan Melayu tidak pernah bertanya beberapa persoalan berikut:-

a) Melayu mana yang mereka nak pertahankan?

b) Apa yang mereka nak mempertahankan?

c)  Adakah apa yang pemimpin-pemimpin ini hendak mempertahankan itu sesuatu yang kaum Melayu amnya mahu dipertahankan?

d) Adakah apa yang mahu dipertahankan demi kaum Melayu itu sesuatu yang baik bagi kaum Melayu itu sendiri.

Melayu yang Mana?

Ketua-ketua Melayu lantikan sendiri bercakap mengenai Melayu seolah-olah ada hanya satu “jenis” Melayu walhal hakikatnya ialah terdapat perlbagai “jenis” Melayu.

Fakta yang paling jelas ialah Melayu amnya pada hari ini jauh berbeza dari beberapa aspek dengan Melayu pra-Merdeka. 

Pertamanya, Melayu amnya tidaklah  miskin seperti keadaanya pra-Merdeka. Perlaksanaan DEB telah berjaya melahirkan kumpulan kelas pendapatan menengah yang besar dikalangan Melayu.   Dengan pembaikan serta peningkatan didalam tahap pendapatan, Melayu kelas menengah ini  menikmati satu tahap kebebasan kewangan dimana mereka tidak lah begitu tersepit seperti Melayu pra-Merdeka. Ekoran kebebasan kewangan ini, mereka lebih terdedah kepada pelbagai ide-ide serta pandangan hidup yang beraneka yang boleh mereka pilih. 

Disamping itu, Melayu kelas menengah ini juga mempunyai prioritas atau keutamaan yang berbeza dengan Melayu pra-Merdeka. Dimana dasar kelas Melayu menengah ini  telah menjadi besar, mereka mendapati bahawa persaingan sesama sendiri untuk memperolehi  sumber-sumber Negara serta peluang-peluang yang terhad telah menjadi lebih sengit. Jika satu ketika dahulu, mereka mungkin bersaing dengan kaum-kaum lain, hari ini hakikat membuat mereka bersaing sesama sendiri.  Maka, perjuangan untuk Melayu kelas menengah hari ini mungkin lebih cenderung kearah peningkatan tahap ekonomi, keselesaan kehidupan, pendidikan dan sebagainya dalam konteks ekonomi Negara yang berkembang. Saya percaya Melayu kelas menengah ini tidak lagi melihat perkara ini dalam konteks persaingan dengan kaum bukan Melayu sahaja. Maka, adakah ketua-ketua Melayu yang mahu memperjuangkan peluang-peluang ekonomi serta perkembangan ekonomi Negara supaya pendapatan dan tahap kehidupan Melayu boleh meningkat?

Keduanya, ekoran daripada beberapa fakta, termasuk pendedahan kepada ledakan maklumat yang dihasilkan daripada perkembangan teknoloji maklumat, Melayu hari ini telah menjadi lebih kritis terhadap ketua-ketua mereka.  Melayu tidak lagi begitu mudah untuk menerima laungan ketua-ketua mereka tanpa berfikir atau menilai. Melayu dapat melihat pembangunan ekonomi hebat yang berlaku dinegara-negara lain yang dicetuskan tanpa beroperasi dalam kerangka perkauman.  Pendedahan kepada lebih banyak maklumat dan fakta juga menyedarkan Melayu hari ini mengenai perkara-perkara berikut:-

a) Laungan slogan “memperjuangan Melayu” tidak semestinya memperbaiki kedudukan orang Melayu tetapi sering menjadi alat yang digunakan oleh ketua-ketua lantikan sendiri untuk menonjolkan diri mereka sendiri bagi tujuan kepentingan sendiri;

b) Sejak merdeka sehingga kehari ini, orang Melayu kebanyakkan melihat kelahiran Melayu-Melayu korporat yang amat kaya yang diragui asas atau sumber kekayaan mereka – yaitu, samaada kekayaan ini diperolehi daripada kebolehan berniaga atau melalui kronisme, nepotisme serta hubungan politik baik dengan pihak yang berkuasa dan berpengaruh. Keadaan ini melahirkan perasaan bahawa Melayu kebanyakkan dikhianati oleh segolongan Melayu elitis dengan memperalatkan sentimen Melayu. Melayu kebanyakkan melihat bahawa dimana anak-anak mereka sendiri terpaksa bertungkus lumus berjuang untuk hidup, anak-anak Melayu elitis mendapat segala sesuatu dengan begitu  mudah sekali.  Ini juga melahirkan rasa ketidakadilan didalam pengagihan peluang-peluang ekonomi.

c) Imej ketua-ketua Melayu yang menonjolkan diri mereka sebagai “pejuang Islam” serta  pemonopoli tafsiran Islam juga semakin terjejas. Banyak faktor yang menghasilkan keadaan ini termasuk faktor-faktor seperti pendedahan Melayu kebanyakkan kepada Al-Quran, internet, perkembangan sejak merdeka, gelagat ketua-ketua agama ini sendiri yang sering bertelingkah sesama sendiri, sikap ketua-ketua agama yang bersikap sebagai penentu mutlak hal-hal agama dengan mengenepikan hak serta tanggungjawap peribadi Muslim  terhadap Penciptanya, serta peribadi beberapa ketua-ketua agama yang bukan sahaja mempolitikkan agama namun bersikap sombong dan merendahkan kebolehan berfikir Melayu kebanyakkan. 

Faktor-faktor yang diketengahkan diatas menjadikan Melayu hari lebih kritis terhadap ketua-ketua yang  melaungkan agama sebagai perjuangan jika dibandingkan dengan Melayu pra-Merdeka.  Maklumat mengenai ganjaran serta bayaran yang diterima oleh ketua-ketua agama juga menjadi pengetahuan umum dan ini dirasakan mencairkan keikhlasan ketua-ketua agama ini terhadap perjuangan agama. 

Ketiganya, Melayu hari ini yang lebih terdedah kepada maklumat dan pengetahuan serta mempunyai keyakinan diri yang lebih tinggi tidak lagi mudah diheret kehulu kehilir oleh ketua-ketua agama. Kalau satu ketika dahulu ketua-ketua agama dilihat dan diperlakukan hampir sebagai “dewa-dewa” dibumi ini, keadaan sekarang telah berubah.  Melayu hari ini sedar bahawa kebebasan untuk mencorak kehidupan mereka itu boleh dicabar serta diganggu gugat oleh ketua-ketua agama yang memperalatkan agama untuk menguasai kehidupan mereka.

Hari ini terdapat lebih banyak graduan-graduan Melayu dalam pelbagai bidang seperti kedoktoran, undang-undang, kejuruteraan, sains, pendidikan dan sebagainya . Graduan-graduan ini acap kali merasakan maruah mereka tercabar atau minda mereka dihina apabila graduan-graduan kelulusan agama seolah-olah memaksa orang lain menerima pandangan dan tafisran agama mereka tanpa penilaiaan. Mereka yang telah belajar diUniversiti mengetahui bahawa kelulusan daripada universiti tidak semestinya  bermakna graduan tersebut itu mahir dalam bidang yang dipelajarinya apatah lagi ikhlas dalam memahami serta memaplikasikan ilmu yang dibelajar. Mereka melihat bahawa ada doktor-doktor, peguam-peguam, jurutera-jurutera yang pandai dan berdedikasi manakala ada juga yang sebaliknya. Begitu juga dengan mereka yang berkelulusan daripada pengajian agama.

Semakin ramai Melayu hari yang mahu kebebasan serta hak untuk menentukan pemahaman mereka sendiri terhadap agama yang dianuti oleh mereka.  Melayu ini semakin sedar bahawa diri mereka sendirilah yang akan dipertanggungjawapkan oleh Allah dan bukannya ketua-ketua agama ini. Saya melihat pertembungan diantara Melayu yang mahu pertanggungjawapan diri dengan ketua-ketua agama yang bernekad untuk memaksa fahaman mereka semakin meningkat.  Ini dapat difahamai kerana graduan-graduan agama mahu mencari ruang dan peranan untuk diri mereka sendiri seperti juga graduan-graduan daripada jurusan lain.

Keempatnya, ketua-ketua Melayu sendiri telah melahirkan kekeliruan dan ketidakkonsistensi didalam melaungkan “perpaduan Melayu” serta “perpaduan umat”. Kita melihat bahawa apabila dilaungkan “perpaduan Melayu”, ketua-ketua ini tidak menerangkan beberapa perkara seperti berikut (sehingga kita terasa bahawa mungkin ketua-ketua itu sendiri didalam kekeliruan);-

a) perpaduan apakah yang dimaksudkan – perpaduan ekonomi, politik, sosial, dan sebagainya?

b) bagaimanakah ketua-ketua ini bercadang untuk mencapai perpaduan tersebut?

c) Mengapakah ketua-ketua yang melaungkan perpaduan itu sendiri tidak dapat bersatu sesama sendiri? Sebagai contoh kita dapati  Melayu-melayu dalam pertubuhan-pertubuhan politik, sosial, agama dan perniagaan yang mempunyai objektif yang bersifat bersaing, kekadang bertentangan, kaedah-kaedah yang berlainan dan sebagainya. Keadaan seperti ini menjadikan laungan ketua-ketua Melayu supaya Melayu “bersatu” sebagai sesuatu yang ironis dan mengelirukan.

d) Kewujudan kekeliruan diantara kepelbagaian pendekatan politik dan agama dengan perpecahan.  Perkara ini amat jelas apabila dibandingkan dengan budaya lain dimana kepelbagaiaan tidak dianggap sebagai petanda perpecahan tetapi sebagai kekayaan pemikiran.

e) laungan “perpaduan umat” juga sering diperlekehkan dengan tindakan-tindakan susulan oleh ketua-ketua agama dan politik ini yang tidak konsisten dengan apa yang dilaungkan.  Melayu hari ini tidak jelas samada “perpaduan umat” ini bermakna semua orang Melayu terpaksa menurut fahaman dan tafsiran segolongan elitis agama dan politik? Jika inilah yang diperjuangkan, maka ia bermakna penghapusan hak orang Melayu untuk menjalankan tanggunjawapnya sebagai seorang Muslim yang meng-kaji serta memahami Al-Quran untuk berkhidmat kepada Allah. Penghapusan hak sedemikian tidak akan disokong oleh beberapa Muslim dimana kuasa mutlak untuk menentukan nasih mereka diakhirat diletakkan bulat-bulat pada tangan graduan-graduan kelulusan pengajian “Islam”.

Maka, berdasarkan analisa diatas, terdapat ramai Melayu yang tidak lagi rela dengan percubaan beberapa ketua-ketua untuk mempermainkan isu perpaduan Melayu hanya semata-mata kerana ada Melayu yang tidak setuju dengan kaedah, pandangan atau cara hidup mereka. Disamping itu, semakin ramai Melayu yang tidak rela isu perpaduan umat diapi-apikan hanya semata-mata untuk menidakkan hak Muslim itu sendiri untuk menjalani kehidupan berdasarkan fahaman ikhlasnya sendiri terhadap Al-Quran dan Al-Sunnah. Adakah ketua-ketua Melayu kini akan mempertahankan hak ini?

Kelimanya, walaupun masih terdapat budaya baru mencium tangan orang-orang kenamaan dan berpengaruh yang tidak rapat, namun, sikap feudal dikalangan Melayu hari ini semakin hilang.  Ini juga adalah ekoran pendidikan dikalangan orang Melayu serta kefahaman mengenai nilai-nilai Islam yang semakin meningkat. Melayu yang terdidik semakin memahami bahawa sikap feudal ini melahirkan perhubungan Tuan-hamba yang sebenarnya menjatuhkan martabat manusia.  Maka, Melayu hari ini tidak mudah untuk memperhambakan diri kepada mana-mana ketua lantikan sendiri kerana peningkatan yakin diri. Maka, Melayu sedemikian mahu maruah mereka sebagai seorang dewasa yang bebas mencorakkan kehidupan mereka menurut kebolehan dan kemahiran mereka dipertahankan. Adakah ketua-ketua Melayu yang mampu memperjuangkan perkara ini tanpa mengkehendaki perhubungan feudal?

Keenamnya, terdapat juga Melayu yang berpendidikan jurusan pengajian barat (yang mana sekolah-sekolah kebangsaaan kita pada amnya adalah berbentuk sedemikian) serta mereka yang belajar dipusat-pusat pengajian tinggi diNegara-Negara barat yang tidak sehaluan dengan pemikiran dan halatuju beberapa ketua-ketua Melayu. Golongan ini merasakan bahawa kaedah pemikiran ketua-ketua ini agak primitif disamping bersifat “condescending”  sehingga menghina maruah seorang dewasa yang boleh berfikir. Melayu sedemikian tidak merasakan keperluan seorang ketua sebagai jurucakap bagi mereka.  Mereka mahukan seorang ketua Melayu yang kurang berretorik atau berceramah ala debat sekolah. Mereka juga mahukan seorang ketua yang pandai, efisien serta berkebolehan didalam mengwujudkan suatu sistem atau suasana yang membolehkan Melayu ini untuk berkembang dan mencapai cita-cita peribadi mereka. Adakah ketua-ketua Melayu yang boleh mempertahankan kemahuan ini?

Pendekata, Melayu hari ini semakin matang sejak merdeka dan mereka telah memerhatikan perkembangan dari pelbagai segi yang berlaku didalam Negara. Mereka telah melihat permainan politik dan ekonomi dikalangan ketua-ketua Melayu yang melaungkan slogan “mempertahankan Melayu” dan “mempertahankan Islam” yang akhirnya tidak memberi sebarang kesan positif pada kehidupan peribadi mereka.

Oleh yang demikian, apabila ada ketua-ketua Melayu yang melaungkan mahu mempertahankan “Melayu” dan “Islam”, timbul pelbagi persoalan yang antaranya telah diketengahkan diatas.

Salam.