Followers

Monday, March 23, 2015

Farewell and Rest In Peace Mr Lee Kuan Yew

Without doubt he is a great leader. He built up Singapore when Singapore had no natural resources at all.

I have read many books on him especially the book below since I love to analyse the mind of great political leaders. I must have read the book at least 5 times since I find it the best account.


He is indeed the father of Singapore's birth as a successful Nation State. I respect his intellect, knowledge of society and history which he exhibits in his speech and writings - a quality many leaders lack. He had a vision and I believe he achieved more than his vision for Singapore.

He also had the leadership and firmness to do what is necessary for Singapore rather than what is populist.

In short, I believe his life was useful to Singapore and probably to many others. I wish him rest in peace and my condolences to his family and Singapore.

Even at time of grieve, Singapore is efficient where the Prime Minister's announcement of Mr Lee's passing away is done in three languages - beginning in the Malay language. HOw not to respect Singapore?



Peace !


Saturday, March 7, 2015

Slaves of Men in the name of God

This is nothing new. All through the history of humankind, there are many who are willing to become slaves of men in the name of God.

A belief in God is supposed to give a sense of confidence in existence, a sense of being free from the tyranny of men, a sense of gratitude for life and a sense of being good. These are some of the values and aspirations of most religions. It is equally supposed to bring inner peace to humans through the special and personal relationship with their creator/God.

In the realm of faith however, logic and rational thinking often takes a back seat as opposed to the mysterious "heart". Hence, not every conduct that is carried out in the name of religion can be explained logically. Emotions tend to be stronger than rational or scientific thought and therefore the need for proof is often dispensed with. It is almost impossible to debate with emotions.

Slavery can take many forms. One of the highest level of slavery to me is when a person gives up his thinking and his right to mould his life to someone else or a group of others.  This often happens in religion.

All forms of conduct and living which in a civilised society may be considered as primarily a private matter becomes the subject of control in a religious society . Most of these restrictions on speech, dressing, diet, thought, general behaviour and socialisation are often determined exclusively by a few men in the name of God for the vast ignorant majority. 

These few elitist men, often portrayed as knowledgable due to their attendance at certain universities or mastery of certain information and language are held in high regard almost to the level of a god when it comes to the force with which thier views are expected to be complied with. 

Often any dissent against the views of these select elitist religious groups are met with a finality of punishment including the cruel method of social and legal ostracisation.  Increasingly, due to fear of being ostracised and the unpleasant repercussions that may follow, these elitist group solidify their position as controllers of human behaviour in the name of God. People relent because they want to get on with their lives not realising that they have become slaves to a few human masters.

The position of the elitist groups as the only spokesman for all things Godly often begins with the indoctrination of children - either at home or in schools. These children are taught that there are certain "knowledgable religious persons" whose views are never to be questioned.  These children also are taught that in matters of religion, many things can be imposed or forced upon them without the need for explanation or acceptance.  

Religion hence becomes a powerful tool to control humans.

It has the power to make slaves of men to other men who speak in the name of God.

Peace !reli



Tuesday, March 3, 2015

How we destroy local businesses.

i can never understand how the minds of those in authority work.

One would think that authorities will seek out talents and skills and create an environment to enable them to prosper in the economy.  Laws will be enacted to enable the entrepreneurs to be more effective and the consumers protected while safeguarding other national interests. Good business is good for the country.

But we seem to do the exact opposite with the available technology and the desk knowledge that our "brains" in the authorities have studied in the universities.

Singapore is a financial hub and we are not. That is not a surprise.

Bank Negara and the latest Money Services Business Act seems  more to curb and diminish the efficiency of money changers rather than use them to develop a vibrant financial market. Everyone knows that money changers are experts and efficient in efficiently performing exchange transactions. Some of them are able to remit currencies faster than any bank. They have been around longer than even bank negara whose officers had to go to university to understand what curency exchange and remittance is !!!

Prior to the MSB Act, quite a number of money changers have been chatged for remittance without licence. Instead of studying how they are able to do it, we clamp down on them on the pretext of money laundering. No one is denying that there may have been instances of money laundering but the solution is not to "burn the kelambu because of the nyamuk!"

Thanks to the MSB Act and bank negara's failure to understand the  practicalities of doing business, many money changers have gone out of business because they do not know how to put on tht neck tie and use the complex online forms that BNM insists must be filled up.

The MSB Act itself is a joke to the point of being oppressive when one considers the overbearing punishments contained in it. Even efficient Sinagpore does not have punishments like RM5 million for a simple offence!

The cost of doing businessfor money changers have gone up and it can be foreseen that in the long run, the small money changers may be a distant past taken over by bigger boys - this is called progress! The fact that even thier association is controlled by BNM is another joke in a democracy.

On another note, the forceful implementation of the GST against small traders who are not IT savvy is yet another cruel joke. We are very busy with enforcement until we forget completely about assisting the traders to understand the new technology. It is a "I don't care attitude".

If this is the way forward, we are going to kill our small businesses which are the fundamentals of our economy.

Peace !




Tuesday, February 10, 2015

No Draft Hudud Bill Yet By PAS ????

I read this report in the malaymailonline with total surpirse !!!

I thought that PAS was still hanging on to its controversial 1993 Draft Bill which had received much opposition, even from Muslims.

If the Malay Mail report is true, why is PAS not letting the Muslim Public view its draft Hudud Bill which it wants to implement as "Islamic Law". It is so easy - just upload it on their website and make and announcement. Why hide? If it is already there, can someone point out the link to me?

I want to support it if it is consistent with the justice element as ordained by Allah. Otherwise, how can I determine if I am being led astray or not ???

Don't the Muslim have a Allah given right to determine whether it is consistent with the principles of the Quran and the most authentic Sunnah ???

Or is PAS expecting the ordinary Muslims to just accept everything that PAS claims to be Islamic and reject surah 17 verse 36?

 I recall reading parts of the 1993 Hudud Bill where PAS placed six offences as hudud completely contrary to even the jurists understanding of what "hudud laws" mean.

PAS categorised six as "hudud" while the juristic definition what "hudud" means only admits four.

I recall that PAS even put irrtidad or ridddah (apostasy) as a hudud offence despite the clear evidence in the Quran that there is no temporal punishment for apostasy. Also, the Quran is as clear as daylight that there is absolutely no compulsion in faith. All you have to do is study the Quran and you will know this. There are so many verses to this effect ( see also 10:99).

I recall clearly that the only character that imposes punishment for change of faith in the Quran is Firaun.

However, I stand to be corrected whether PAS has made amendments to its 1993 Bill.

I support completely Allah's will but not man made designs masquerading as Allah's will.

I am sure (hope) PAS leaders must have read the following verses:

"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 you choose?

068.039  Or have you Covenants with Us to oath, reaching to the Day of Judgement,
(providing) that you shall have whatever you shall demand?

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

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

"partners", if they are truthful!"

(Yusuf Ali translation).

So are PAS leaders giving the guarantee that they know what is Allah's will and they stand guarantee that their "Islamic Law" is Allah's will - or should I not ask that question and just accept?

Peace !

NOTE' NO ONE INCLUDING PAS LEADERS ARE EXPECTED TO AGREE WITH THE VIEWS ABOVE. I WISH NOT TO, (FOR I CANNOT) PLAY GOD ON EARTH WITH THE FAITH OF OTHERS BECAUSE THAT IS CLEARLY ALLAH'S JURISDICTION. ALSO,  PLEASE REFER TO YOUR OWN COPY OF THE QURAN TO ASCERTAIN WHAT VIEWS YOU HEAR OR READ.

Saturday, January 31, 2015

What does “protecting Islam” mean?

(This article was inspired by Kadir Jasin’s latest posting where he mentioned what is important is to “protect the future of UMNO. Malays and Islam..”  No fault of his.)

We often hear this phrase “protecting Islam”, “protecting the sanctity of Islam”, “memartabatkan kedudukan Islam”, “mempertahankan Islam” and so on. What do they exactly mean when they say that?

Firstly, I must confess that I as a Muslim do not know exactly which interpretation of “Islam” they are referring to though I know that there is no single interpretation. All the evidence is out there and in particular, globally, the Muslim world is theologically and politically divided in two major denominations - the “Sunni” and “Shia” Islam world.  The Shias and the Sunnis do not accept each other’s collection of hadiths (“saying of the Prophet”), notwithstanding the fact that each claims “authenticity” and academic verification of the same .

Even within the said denominations, there are diverse sects with their own interpretation of what constitutes “Islam”. In the Sunni world itself there are four main schools of thought namely, Maliki, Shafie, Hanbali and Hanafi equally diverse in views on many topics including those related to pure faith issues.

Fundamentally the divisions in the “Islamic” world arises due to the differences in the sources relied upon to build the structure of Islam.  While all of them claim to accept the Quran, much of the structure of Islam today is build not necessarily from the explicit injunctions of the Quran per se but mostly from the jurists or fuqahas efforts of exegesis. In simple words, derived from the reasoning and interpretation of the jurists.

In the Sunni world, it is “accepted” by their collective mainstream clergy that the sources of Islam in Islamic jurisprudence or usul al-fiqh is primarily the Quran, the Sunnah and hadith, Ijma’ (consensus of the scholars) and Qias (anology).  There are many other sources of islam that have been created to assist in addressing a particular issue such as istihsan, urf and so on.

Even the idea of maqasid al-syariah (objectives of the shariah) is a concept created by the jurists or religious scholars/clergy by way of deducing and inferring from the “accepted” sources aforementioned.

It is understandable that human beings will have to interpret, deduce, and infer from facts and evidence to arrive at a conclusion or to create a concept from which everything else is build. There is nothing unique about this process of thinking and is common to all aspects of our life. This is how values and systems of beliefs and behaviour evolve in societies.

The problem only arises when we deny our interpretative role and equate our ideas, concepts and conclusions to that of the Divine or God. Hence, criticisms and alternative interpretations become impossible and would immediately be cast as blasphemous or unthinkable.

This is what I call the confusion between the views of the Interpreter (“the clergy or anyone) and the actual intent of  the Giver of the Text (“Divine/God”).  Would not equating the views of the interpreter (clergy) absolutely with the intent of the Giver of the Text (“God”) equate the position of the clergy with the position of God?

So back to the question of “protecting Islam”, those who say this cannot and should not assume the serious reader or serious audience knows what they are talking about. They must specify which “Islam” they are talking about.  A generalisation in matters pertaining to Islam is completely unhelpful if they understand the realities of the situation and the diverse academic discussions on Islam and most importantly, the contents of the Quran itself.

Say for example, they were to say “protect the Shia Islam”, then it will be easy to make a choice whereby those who prefer the Sunni version can reject that call. And similarly if one was to say “protect the Sunni version”, then those in favour can support that call.  Even this however may pose a problem in a seemingly Sunni society because of the differences in the opinions of the four schools of thought.  

So, maybe it becomes clearer if the caller was to say “protect the Shafie views of Islam” and so on.
However, do we see this manner of calls as promoting unity among the Muslims? What then will those adhere to the Maliki or Hanafi view do? If you say accept all, then what do you do when there is a conflict of views?

Would it not be easier and more efficient for Muslims to make the call from one book which all of them do not dispute – the Quran?  And mean it too when the call is made and Muslims heed the call by adhering to the Quran. Otherwise, you will be guilty of causing further disunity among the Muslims.

Hence, be careful when you say you want to “protect Islam” for you may be doing the exact reverse by your futile call due to your ignorance of the complexities and the Quran.

Peace !


NOTE: THE AUTHOR DOES NOT REQUIRE NOR EXPECT ANYONE TO ACCEPT OR AGREE WITH HIS VIEWS STATED HEREIN. IN MATTERS OF ISLAM, THE AUTHOR WARNS THAT THE READER SHOULD CHECK WITH HIS OWN COPY OF THE QURAN AND MAKE UP HIS OWN MIND.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Ok, If I am Ok !!!

By: ASP Nik Ezanee

 1. When the topic of corruption comes up, people are quick to point
fingers and the usual suspects are the politicians and the police.

2. There are probably many good reasons why most fingers are pointed
to that few direction. Some may agree, some not. However, we can agree
that many people want this to change.

3. Have we checked in with ourselves lately? What I have notice is
that people are quick to point the mistakes of others, while condone
the very same mistake if it benefits them personally. Hence, "It is ok
if I am ok with it."

4. It is NOT ok for Officials to accept gifts. But it is OK for me to
buy the Officials the latest Iphone 5 each to maintain good rapport
with them. Dinner, overseas trips, golf? karaoke sessions?

5. It is NOT ok for Police to accept bribe. But it is OK for me to
offer it to them to save my neck. (and later brag about it to friends
and family, "they even settled for $50", "oh I paid $100, rather than
getting $300 ticket")

6. It is NOT ok for ME to take bribes, but it is OK to ask my staff to
find sponsors for golf games, company events, overseas trips, birthday
gifts for bosses. "Sponsors" ??

7. It is NOT ok to take $100 from contractors like the previous guy!!
That is Corrupt and Arrogant! But it is OK to take $60.

8. It is NOT ok to ask for $100, but it is OK to receive $100 since it
was offered and not demanded.

9. It is NOT ok to accept bribe but it is OK to add extra milage on
that claim. How about that extra hours or 'business lunch with
friends' claim? How about using company's property for personal use?
Car, helicopter, jets? Stationaries maybe?

10. It is NOT ok that politicians live lavishly but it is definitely
OK to hide some amount of my income from the IRB.

11. It is NOT ok for everyone else to do it.. But it is definitely OK
FOR ME to do it.

12. Change doesn't mean you have go out there condemning everything
about our country.

13. Change starts from you and me.

--------------------------------------------------------------------




Thursday, January 8, 2015

ApabIla bencana Berlaku


Apabila suatu bencana berlaku dia tidak memilih samada orang dan keluarga yang alaminya adalah berbangsa Melayu, CIna, India, Jepun, Indonesia, Pakistan, British atau apa-apa bangsa.

Begitu juga bencana tidak memilih agama seseorang.

Apabila bencana berlaku, mangsa-mangsa bencana mengharapkan sesiapa sahaja untuk membantunya tanpa mengira bangsa, agama mahupun keturunan.

Mangsa-mangsa bencana yang dibantu oleh manusia-manusia yang berperikemanusiaan dan yang ada kemampuan untuk membantu.

Banjir, kehilangan pesawat MH370, penembakkan MH17 dan kemalangan yang menimpa Airasia 8501 tahun lalu adalah melibatkan manusia-manusia dan bukanlah disengajakan terhadap satu bangsa atau agama yang khusus.

Semua manusia yang kehilangan adik beradik yang tersayang akan sama-sama pilu dan kehilangan kerana kita sama-sama manusia.

Kita adalah insan yang sama darah merah, sama ketakutan, sama harapan.

Saya berdoa pada tahun 2015 ini kita kembali ingatkan diri bahawa kita sama-sama insan dan tidak takkabur atau sombong dengan agama, keturunan, kedudukan atau bangsa kita.

Jangan lah kita diuji dengan lebih dahsyat lagi bagi diingati bahawa kita sama-sama insan.

Salam.

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Are Muslims Really the Best of People ???


1.      Every Muslim is taught that they are the best of peoples that has evolved for mankind. That they have the Truth with them and that they are on the “right path of God”.

2.      Every Muslim believes that “Islam” is the answer to all of human ills and sufferings and the Muslim through “God’s teachings” will be able to guide human beings to a better life here and in the herefater. Hence, many Muslim today wants to implement the “syariah law” which has been touted as “divine laws” by the Muslim clerics especially the “hudud laws” which is considered sacrosanct and deemed beyond any discussion.

Indeed the Quran does in surah 3 verse 110 state the following:

“You are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in God. If only the People of the Book had faith, it were best for them: among them are some who have faith, but most of them are perverted transgressors”.

3.      Yes, the Quran says that the Muslims are the best of peoples. But who are these Muslims and where are they? Let Muslims not forget that Allah also speaks well of the people of the Book in surah 3 verse 113 to 114:

“Not all of them are alike: Of the People of the Book are a portion that stand (For the right): They rehearse the Signs of God all night long, and they prostrate themselves in adoration”. (Q3:113)
“They believe in God and the Last Day; they enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and they hasten (in emulation) in (all) good works: They are in the ranks of the righteous”. (Q3:114)

4.      Q3:113-114 clearly says that among the people of the book (the Jews and the Christians) there are those who enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong and do good works like some Muslims do. The Quran is equally clear that in the Muslim community itself there are hypocrites (Q4;142, 63:1) who cause mischief within the community and spread false teachings in the name of Allah with their tongue and for wealth (Q2:41, 77; Q3:77-78, Q9:009)

From the discussion above, is it not a reasonable conclusion to make that a righteous Christian and Jew who forbids wrong and enjoins what is right is better than a hypocrite who pretends to be a Muslim? Q5:69 even states “any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness,- on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve”.

5.      As a matter of clarity, it is important to note that all beautiful names belong to God and “Allah” is just one name ordinarily used by Muslims to refer to God the One and Only. 

“Say: "Call upon God, or call upon Rahman: by whatever name you call upon Him, (it is well): for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. Neither speak your Prayer aloud, nor speak it in a low tone, but seek a middle course between." (Q17:110)


6.      So, back to the question – are Muslims indeed the best of peoples evolved for mankind? I sincerely believe that those Muslims who adhere to the Quran and study it as it should be studied (Q2:121) and take the best meaning/interpretation from it are indeed useful for the world (Q39:18). These are people of peace (aslama), who are able to co-exist with compassion and understanding with people who have completely different belief systems or even an atheist, are diligent, productive, self-accountable and responsible, and able to engage in any discourse in an intelligent way as best as they can. In short, the best possible of a “civilized” person.

7.      Is that the image that Muslims portray today? I am sad to say that the general perception is completely the opposite.

8.      A general analysis of all the so-called “Muslim countries” shows backwardness in many ways – economically, politically and socially. They paint a gloomy and embarrassing picture of communities with poverty, abysmal record of human and women’s rights, constant civil wars, religious persecution often by the state itself, increasing lack of tolerance for other communities, overbearing sense of self righteousness, lack of respect for human privacy and freedom of thought, and most shockingly in this era of knowledge explosion, state sanctioned faith.

9.      Saudi Arabia for example, where the Quran was first revealed is a nation which has trapped its ordinary people in a time wrap completely excluded from the realities of the rest of the world. Many have noted that there is “so much religion and very little Islam” in that country. The reader can easily do further research to understand what I mean.

10.   Look at the “Muslim majority” countries in the African continent, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Libya, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Mali, Gambia, Kyrgyzstan and so on. Honestly, do these countries give meaning to the “best peoples evolved for mankind”?

11.  What have these “muslim majority” countries contributed to the betterment of the 7 billion over people living on earth in just the past 100 years that they deserve to be called the “best peoples evolved for mankind?”

12.  Muslims appear to be fond of blaming the whole world except themselves for whatever weaknesses, lackings, unhappiness or misery they suffer. When they cannot blame others, they break up into groups and sects and blame each other and often times ending up in bloodshed or persecution.

13.  How can we expect non-Muslims to have high regards for us when the perception globally is that we are intolerant, self-centered, unable to think for ourselves but completely dependent on the priests/clerics, over-sensitive to differing ideas and criticisms and hence lacking in self confidence, aggressive to the point of screaming Allah’s name in the streets and engaging in suicide bombings, that Islam is more politics and law rather than a spiritual guidance from the Creator and so on?

14.  It is also perceived that some of their ulamaks are of no help but only seek to put their followers further in a defensive position and angry position for what they lack in life. Not for a second are they encouraged or motivated to progress from whatever resources that have nor are they encouraged to use their creative minds to reap Allah’s mercy. You reap what you sow is a universal truth.

15.  All these extremely negative perceptions of Islam hurts me as a Muslim but I cannot simply get angry with them. This is a perception that my Muslim community has allowed to evolve. This is a perception that my Muslim community has failed to address because, I humbly believe, we have forsaken the teachings of the Quran (Q25:30) and gone on a frolic of our own following the teachings of men. We seem to have abandoned our God given common sense, thinking skills and compassion given by the Merciful and Compassionate Creator.

16.  Even in my own beloved country Malaysia, we witness some people abusing and subverting Islam to promote exclusivism, fascism and racism of the worst kind and in the process trying to create division, distrust, hatred and chaos among the peaceful people of Malaysia. Are these the “best of peoples evolved for mankind” as stated by Allah in the Quran? Surely not.

17.  I sincerely pray to Allah that in 2015, Muslims begin to sincerely indulge in their own soul searching and are courageous enough to be self critical (Q17:36, Q2:44), so that they can conclude for themselves whether they have indeed became the “best of peoples evolved for mankind” as stated by Allah in the Quran.

18.  Peace and Happy New Year.


NOTE: The above views are entirely my understanding and no one is required to agree with them. Kindly check with your own copy of the Quran and make up your own minds and thoughts. If I have erred in my facts, kindly highlight to me.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Sedar lah Wahai Rakyat !!!



Pemimpin-pemimpin politik memang tidak berhenti mendabik dada menyuarakan melalui media dan ucapan betapa sumbangan dan tenaga mereka lah yang telah meningkatkan kesejahteraan rakyat.

Bahawa usaha mereka bersama dengan penasihat2 agama mereka lah yang telah menyelamatkan akidah rakyat. Tanpa mereka, kamu semua akan sesat seolah-olah kamu sendiri tidak ada akal, nawaitu mahupun kemahuan sendiri untuk beriman kepada Pencipta semesta alam.

Benarkah kehidupan kamu telah bertambah baik kerana usaha pemimpin politik? Atau sepatutnya kah kehidupan kamu dan anak2 kamu seharusnya lebih baik jika mereka telah menjalankan tanggungjawap yang mereka sendiri rela dengan amanah dan lebih cekap?

Jika benarlah kehidupan kamu bertambah baik diatas usaha pemimpin2 politik, apakah itu kerana pengorbanan mereka ? Pengorbanan apakah namanya bila kehidupan kamu bertambah baik daripada miskin kepada tidak miskin dan kehidupan mereka dan anak2 mereka bertambah baik daripada miskin kepada jutawan dan billionare ? Apakah anak2 kamu tidak berhak kepada kemewahan yang dikecapi oleh pemimpin politik serta peluang2 yang dinikmati oleh anak2 mereka? 

Kamu menilai anak2 kamu begitu rendah sekali???

Mungkin kamu sudah bergembira dengan teriakan mereka untuk memperjuangkan “bangsa, agama dan Negara” walaupun diri mereka dan keluarga mereka yang di perjuangkan walhal kamu dan anak2 kamu dapat cebisan2?!

Buta atau rela nya kamu? Kamu langsung tidak sedar bahawa dikalangan mereka kamu dipandang sebagai hina, sebagai rakyat biasa atau alat untuk mereka hidup berkuasa dan kaya raya? Kalau kamu benar2 rasa diri kamu disayangi cuba lah kamu pergi ke rumah mereka seperti mana kamu akan ziarah rumah sanak saudara kamu !

Adakah mereka menjalankan tugas mereka sebagai pemimpin politik yang dipilih oleh rakyat dengan merendah diri? Atau adakah mereka mahu diri mereka diperlakukan sebagai Raja moden yang tangannya harus dicium, kehadiran mereka wajib di raikan dengan merendah dirikan diri rakyat yang hadir bersama?

Adakah kamu rasa diri pemimpin politik sebagai yang berkhidmat kepada kamu, wahai Rakyat, atau  diri kamu yang terpaksa mengampu mereka kerana mereka berkelakuan sebagai Raja yang berkuasa?

Adakah kamu merasakan bahawa pemimpin politik itu gembira ikhlas diatas kehadiran kamu atau kamu yang merasa bangga kerana kehadiran pemimpin politik itu? Supaya dapat bergambar dengan mereka seolah2 itu sahaja sudah pun mengurangkan cabaran hidup kamu untuk menyara keluarga keluarga kamu?

Pernah kamu fikir, mengapa kita masih di tahap dimana kita masih berada selepas berdekad tahun kita merdeka?

Tidak kah kamu sedar atau tidak mahu sedar bahaw kebebasan kamu untuk hidup sebagai seorang dewasa dan rakyat yang bermaruah semakin dikikis dengan penggunaan sentimen agama?

Mungkin kah kamu rela atau sudah biasa diperhambakan sehingga penghinaan terhadap  kamu sebagai seorang dewasa pun kamu tidak nampak? Kalau perlu dicakapkan lagi baru kamu nak faham bermakna jiwa hamba sudah sangat menebal dalam diri kamu.

Maka, jadilah hamba wahai rakyat dan keluarga kamu dengan di beri makan oleh pemimpin2 politik dan kuncu2 agama mereka!

 

Salam.

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Munafiqs and Firauns Oppressing Other Muslims is the real threat?

(Image thanks to http://www.presentermedia.com/index.php?target=closeup&maincat=clipart&id=10112)

My deep and sincere concern is this – will munafiqs in our midst try all possible ways to deny my ubudiyah (service/worship) and compel me to stray away from the path of Islam as taught by Allah? Will they deny me the right to sincerely serve my Creator?

 I am not worried about non-Muslims trying to proselytise me, or trying to “insult Islam” or "placing" Islam under a “threat”. These are things that I can handle myself easily. 

Also, for me it is impossible, under current circumstances where Muslims are the majority and have political control for any non-Muslim to place Islam under “threat”.  I also believe in the promise of Allah that it is He who will guide whom He pleases and that it He who will safeguard the teachings of the Quran.

I actually welcome non-Muslims to try to proselytise me as it would give me an opportunity to share the wisdom of the Quran and to invite them to Allah who is the Creator of everything and everyone. I will be happy to be engaged in a discussion to seek out the Way of the Creator.

As a Muslim, I will also be equally happy to peacefully disagree with the non-Muslim and welcome him back for another discussion if he so desires.  Otherwise, being consistent with what the Quran teaches, I will let Allah decide our differences on judgement day. In the meantime, I am completely prepared to share Allah’s mercy with him as Allah so graciously bestows His mercy on me.

It is the munafiqs (hypocrites) and the extremists that worry me. For one to be a munafiq in this situation, he has to smell, sound, and look like me and even pretend to “care” for me except that he wants me to think and believe EXACTLY as he does. In effect, he wants me now to accept him as my god or as another god alongside Allah or an intermediary for me to "reach" Allah.


If I do not accept his views and his teachings, he is prepared to ostracise me, humiliate me, oppress me if he has the power and make life completely miserable for me. He will even go to the extent of declaring that I am not a Muslim and hence try to deny me my right of faith simply because I do not think and believe EXACTLY like him.

He will behave like the Firaun (Pharoah) of the Quran who will cut off the legs and hands of his subjects on opposite sides if they were to follow Moses without his permission.

The real threat to the practice of Islam has always been from within - by those who want to compel by force their understanding of Islam on other Muslims. Extremist behaviours.

It is the munafiq and the Firaun who is a threat to the peaceful practice of Islam. 


Correct me if I am wrong in my views.

Peace !

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Bagaimanakah nanti Di Perhimpunan Agung UMNO? Fahamkah UMNO apa cabarannya?


Harus Memahami Persepsi2

Sudah lama kita dengar bahawa sudah lama Perhimpunan Agung Umno (PAU) tidak lagi di hiraukan oleh rakyat Malaysia, termasuk orang-orang UMNO sendiri – kecuali orang UMNO yang berkepentingan peribadi. Ada yang berkata ini berlaku kerana dibandingkan dengan zaman Tun Dr Mahathir (TDM), hari ini, pengumuman penting2 sudah pun di maklumkan sebelum PAU dan juga oleh beberapa Menteri2 dan bukan PM sahaja.

Kalau dahulu pengumuman2 penting Negara di buat di PAU, sejak zaman Tun Abdullah (Pak Lah), sudah terdapat perpisahan lebih jelas diantara kerajaan dan parti politik iaitu UMNO.  Maka, pengumuman dibuat juga oleh para Menteri diluar PAU. Samada benar atau tidak, ini adalah satu persepsi yang kuat di pegang oleh ramai orang. Pada saya, setiap PAU masih diperhatikan rakyat bagi mengetahui halatuju UMNO dan polisi UMNO sebagai parti tunggak BN.

Scenario Politik kini tidak sama dengan zaman TDM

Pandangan lain juga mengatakan bahawa UMNO masih tidak dapat “adjust” atau sesuaikan diri dengan iklim dan suasana politik yang amat berbeza berbanding dengan zaman TDM.  UMNO sudah seolah-olah biasa dengan retorika “perjuangan kaum Melayu” dan “agama” terutamanya yang di juruskan untuk menunjukkan bahawa UMNO lebih Islam daripada PAS. Ini sebabnya mungkin beberapa pemimpin yang cuba memainkan “isu Melayu” pada zaman Pak Lah sudah bertukar skrip ucapan mereka kearah yang berlainan sekali.

TDM tidak berhadapan dengan begitu banyak pemuda-pemudi Melayu yang tidak berminat dengan retorik perkauman.  Masa beliau media sosial tidak begitu berkembang maka rakyat terpaksa bergantung sebahagian besar kepada media rasmi yang kebanyakkan dikuasai oleh kerajaan. Pemikiran, pola politik dunia, tahap ekonomi dan pendidikan juga amat berbeza. Maka kaedah2, perbincangan dan pemikiran politik zaman TDM memang tidak boleh di aplikasi pada zaman ini. Pergerakkan civil society di zaman Tun juga tidak sehebat kini.

Disamping itu, sejak 1998, ramai Melayu sudah mula berani mempersoalkan polisi kerajaan dan mengkritik pemimpin Melayu secara terbuka. Semakin ramai pemuda Melayu (dan juga ayah2 mereka yang di pengaruhi pemuda pemudi ini) sudah mula mendesak sikap keterbukaan atau transparensi dalam banyak hal. Golongan ini yang semakin meningkat gagal dipujuk untuk menutup mata kepada sebarang “irregularity” atas alasan ianya adalah untuk membantu Melayu.

Maka pemimpin atas UMNO yang mewarisi pemimpin-pemimpin zaman TDM “meraba-raba” mencari kaedah dan pendekatan yang sesuai dengan zaman ini.

Retorika Perkauman serta Melayu yang mana?

Namun dalam UMNO, tarikan untuk menengahkan bicara dalam bahasa perkauman masih menjadi tarikan yang kuat - walaupun isu yang sama boleh diketengahkan dengan lebih efisien dalam bahasa bukan perkauman. Mungkin ini lah antara sebabnya polisi 1Malaysia yang di bawa oleh Dato Seri Najib menjadi sesuatu yang ditentang kerana ia seolah-olah mencabar politik dan retorika perkauman yang beberapa pemimpin UMNO sudah biasa.

Ia menjadi satu kehairanan kenapa masih ada dinasor tua atau dinasor muda yang telah dilatih masih tidak faham bahawa isu “kemelayuan” yang di balut dalam retorika perkauman akan gagal kerana satu sebab yang utama – iaitu Melayu sudah ada dimana2 dan bukan sahaja di pangkuan UMNO. Sememangnya landasan politik dan civil society dipimpin dan disokong oleh Melayu dalam Negara ink.

Dalam UMNO, kebanyakkannya Melayu. DI PAS, semuanya Melayu. DI PKR, DAP dan lain-lain parti politik sudah ada banyak Melayu. Di dalam NGO2 yang bukan pro UMNO, pemimpin yang ke hadapan biasanya Melayu. Orang yang memperjuangkan “Asalkan Bukan UMNO”  adalah Melayu. Di pihak civil society atau gerakkan sibil, banyak yang Melayu. Pendekata, pemimpin2 Melayu daripada pelbagai parti politik, NGO dan individu yang berdebat, berlawan hujah dan mengutarakan pandangan yang berlawanan adalah Melayu.

Musuh ketat politik UMNO adalah PAS dan sejak kebelakangan adalah PKR yang juga dipimpin oleh Melayu. Ketiga-tiga parti ini berlumba pengaruhi undi Melayu. Jelas sekali UMNO sekali lagi terjerat dalam bicara politiknya – jika UMNO mahu memperjuangkan Melayu, maka secara logiknya ia juga memperjuangkan kebajikan ahli-ahli Melayu PAS, PKR, dan DAP yang jelas menolaknya!
PAS secara terbuka bukan sahaja menolak UMNO tetapi pernah mengisytiharkan UMNO sebagai parti sesat , parti asobiyah, serta jahil agama. PAS pernah beberapa kali mengatakan bahawa ia lebih rela berkerjasama dengan DAP yang UMNO capkan sebagai parti chauvinis Cina.

UMNO menghadapi kepayahan untuk menghadapi PAS yang juga keahliannya terdiri daripada Melayu. Ini adalah kerana UMNO tidak tahu atau tidak berani menghadapi alat politik mujarab yang digunakan oleh PAS iaitu agama. UMNO masih tidak dapat membezakan diantara Islam dan agama, diantara politik dan Islam.  Maka, ia selalu masuk kedalam perangkap PAS (dibincang lebih mendalam dibawah).

PKR pula dilihat sebagai parti yang tidak berasaskan perkauman serta parti yang memperjuangkan isu-isu Negara seperti korupsi, transparensi, dan lain-lain. Persepsi politik juga adalah bahawa PKR lah yang telah membawa masuk “kewujudan” masyarakat peribumi didalam perbicangan politik di semenanjung Malaysia. Sebelum 1998, jelas bahawa hampir kesemua ucapan politik hanya merujuk kepada “Melayu, Cina dan India” dan jarang atau tiada kita dengar “Iban, Kadazan, Murut” dan sebagai nya. UMNO lah yang sepatutnya memulakannya dahulu kerana UMNO lah dahulunya mengiktiraf mereka ini sebagai ahli UMNO.  Saya percaya perkara ini juga tidak difikirkan oleh “pemikir-pemikir” politik UMNO yang sudah ada one track mind over the years.
Dalam konteks perbincangan diatas, maka jelas monopoli UMNO terhadap minda Melayu semakin dicabar - samada dari segi politik mahupun dari segi agama.

Saya kira common sense akan menginsafkan UMNO bahawa dalam suasana sedemikian, retorika berasaskan kaum Melayu sahaja yang dibalut dalam bahasa perkauman tidak akan berjaya dalam jangka panjang. Maka mengapa masih ada dinasor-dinasor yang masih mahu berhujah sedemikian sehingga 1Malaysia Najib dilihat sudah tersasar daripada membina satu gagasan yang berpotensi?
Saya antara yang terdahulu yang menyokong polisi 1Malaysia PM Najib yang saya kira dapat dijadikan satu wawasan bagi Rakyat Malaysia. Sememangnya amat radikal wawasan ini dicetuskan oleh Presiden UMNO. Ianya dapat dijadikan dan diusahakan sebagai polisi rasmi kerajaan dengan segala kesungguhan. Kalau inilah scenarionya, maka tidak akan menjadi sesuatu yang janggal bagi Najib sebagai Presiden UMNO untuk memperjuangkan yang hak bagi Melayu yang memerlukan. Malangnya, 1Malaysia dilihat sebagai terpaksa mengambil “backseat” dan label itu telah mutate menjadi sesuatu yang lain.

Kesimpulan nya ialah: dalam suasana dimana Melayu akan berhadapan dengan Melayu dalam membicarakan suatu isu daripada fahaman dan pandangan yang berbeza, Melayu manakah yang UMNO dikatakan mewakili? Ini lah persoalan yang semakin timbul dan yang masih belum di jawab oleh UMNO.

Retorika “Islam” dalam politik UMNO?

Dalam aspek memperjuangkan Islam melalui politik, UMNO juga dilihat  tidak begitu berkesan dari segi kacamata politik. Didalam minda Melayu, persepsinya ialah PAS adalah pejuang Islam. Bukan kah namanya itu sendiri “Parti SeIslam Malaysia”? UMNO tidak ada Islam atau Muslim pada namanya. Nama UMNO berasaskan kepada kaum iaitu “Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu”. Maka, UMNO dilihat sebagai parti perkauman dan PAS sebagai parti agama. Perkara ini pun sering diceramahkan oleh pemimpin2 parti PAS iaitu Melayu PAS mengatakan Melayu UMNO amalkan “asobiyah” atau perkauman ! Bukan kaum lain yang cakap. Ini pun satu cabaran yang saya percaya UMNO tidak tahu bagaimana hendak hadapi.
Selanjutnya, Melayu berpendidikan hari ini sedar bahawa undang2 syariah diluluskan di Dewan Undangan Negeri dimana sekian lama ianya di monopoli oleh pemimpin2 UMNO. Baik atau buruknya undang2 yang digubal dan diluluskan sebagai "syariah" akan memberi kesan kepada kewibawaan, kebolehan dan kebertanggungjawaban adun2 UMNO.  Rakyat Muslim akan menilai. Saya percaya adun2 UMNO tidak bersedia untuk menghadapi pelbagai cabaran baru yang saya lihat akan timbul dimasa hadapan didalam hal ini. Ini adalah kerana sehingga kini pun selain daripada menyanyikan lagi konservatif yang dipinjam daripada penasihat agama mereka, pemimpin UMNO tidak fokus langsung akan hal ini.

Didalam isu berkaitan dengan “Islam”, UMNO sudah tidak dilihat sebagai satu parti politik yang memberikan fahaman atau bentuk Islam yang berbeza dengan fahaman PAS. Sejak bersaranya TDM, tidak ada perbincangan segar mengenai Islam dalam arena politik. Dalam konteks ini, masa zaman TDM, kita dapat juga kelainan fahaman dan hujah berkaitan dengan Islam oleh TDM – lain daripada PAS sehingga ada kalanya PAS diletakkan dalam keadaan defensif.

Sejak zaman Pak Lah pula, saya lihat UMNO diletakkan dalam keadaan defensif apabila PAS timbulkan isu2 agama walaupun isu2 yang amat remeh.  Sejak itu, strategi UMNO berkaitan dengan Islam, tanpa disedari oleh UMNO lebih menguntungkan PAS.  Bukan itu sahaja, UMNO seolah-olah buta atau tidak sedar bahawa permainan politik agama ini akan merosakkan perpaduan Melayu dan menggugat keselamatan Negara dijangka panjang. Di samping itu, UMNO juga tidak sedar bahawa ia akan terima “backlash” daripada penggundi nanti.

Mengapa perkara ini boleh berlaku? Pandangan peribadi saya ialah berbanding dengan TDM yang berani dan merendah diri mahu membaca dan memahami Al-Quran dan memikirkan mengenai hal2 agama, pemimpin sesudahnya sudah tidak lagi berbuat demikian. Saya mengatakan perkara ini kerana dalam kesibukan TDM sebagai PM, beliau sanggup meluangkan masa untuk berbincang mengenai isi kandungan Al-Quran. TDM juga amat rajin dalam membaca dan mengkaji buku2 yang diberikan kepada beliau dan kemudian berbincang pula mengenainya! Pengalaman peribadi saya ialah TDM mempunyai minda intellectual yang kuat dan kerendahan diri untuk mengkaji dan belajar walaupun ketika itu beliau adalah seorang PM.
 Pemimpin UMNO hari ini bergantung sepenuhnya kepada penasihat2 agama tanpa sedar bahawa penasihat2 ini keluar daripada Universiti yang sama dengan penasihat2 agama PAS! Dalam situasi seperti ini, sudah tentu PAS lah yang akan untung dari segi politik. Akhrnya, penasihat2 agama menjadi boss kepada pemimpin politik dalam hal agama !

Maka, dalam hal2 agama, pemimpin politik UMNO kini bergantung seratus peratus kepada fahaman dan tafsiran apa itu Islam daripada penasihat2 mereka tanpa berfikir secara mendalam atau mengambil kira fahaman dan tafsiran yang berlainan. Pemimpin UMNO kurang faham bahawa tafsiran penasihat mereka sendiri lebih kurang sama dengan PAS. Saya harian mengapa pemimpin-pemimpin politik ini tidak sedar bahawa mereka diperalatkan oleh beberapa penasihat2 agama mereka untuk agenda peribadi? Walaupun nasihat pemimpin agama ini kadangkala boleh merosakkan Negara atau memberi gambaran negatif kepada Islam, pemimpin politik membenarkannya kerana mereka sendiri jahil dan takut.

Satu perkara yang sering terlepas pandang oleh pemimpin UMNO ialah ini: - perbuatan, ucapan dan polisi ajensi-ajensi agama akan dianggap sebagai direstui oleh pucuk pimpinan UMNO. Jika tidak pun, apabila pucuk pimpinan UMNO berdiam diri, ianya dianggap direstui oleh mereka. Walaupun faktanya ialah ianya dibawah Negeri, namun Rakyat tahu siapa yang menguasai pentadbiran iaitu kerajaan. Oleh sebab pemimpin politik UMNO terlepas pandang, maka tidak ada sebarang pemantaun atau strategi digubal untuk menilai kesan politiknya.

Banyak isu2 agama atau isu2 yang diagamakan yang tercetus kebelakagan ini memberi kesan kepada UMNO sebagai parti utama dalam kerajaan BN. Ini adalah perkara2 yang akan diingati oleh pengundi menjelang pilihanraya. Kegagalan kerajaan membendung fahaman dan tindakan eksremis sehingga ada anak muda yang memasuki dalam ISIS juga menimbulkan tanda tanya berkaitan dengan kurikulum agama disekolah2 dan siaran agama dalam media yang rakyat anggap sebagai dibawah kawalan kerajaan.

Perkara yang anih ialah ini – UMNO sejak selepas TDM dilihat telah menjadi PAS zaman dulu dengan fahaman konservatif agamanya ! Sebaliknya dalam beberapa ketika, PAS pula dilihat sebagai semakin kembali kepada AL-Quran dan sunnah sahih. Ini adalah persepsi yang perlu dihadapi dan fahami.

Maka berlaku lah kecelaruan dikalangan Melayu dari aspek apa itu “Islam” yang semakin lama dimonopoli oleh fahaman satu kelompok dengan izin pemimpin politik yang dilihat sebagai jahil agama.  Dalam aspek ini, UMNO dilihat sebagai gagal selepas TDM. Dari segi politik pula, pengaruh PAS semakin meluas walaupun ada pelbagai spinning di laman maya yang semakin hari semakin tidak dipercayai oleh pembaca.

Semua ini akan mengurangkan kerelevanan UMNO dijangka panjang dan akan menjauhkan UMNO daripada orang Melayu dijangka pendek dari segi undi JIKA UMNO masih lagi berada dalam “comfort zone” dan kotak pemikiran kini. Adakah UMNO berani menghadapi isu-isu agama secara berilmiah dan terbuka? Saya kira tidak setakat ini.

Yang paling dikhuatiri ialah jika Melayu hanya di sogokkan dengan bicara “kemelayuan” dan fahaman “agama” sempit sahaja dalam hidup mereka, seluruh dunia akan maju dan kita akan tinggal dalam dunia syok sendiri kita yang lambat laun akan di telan oleh masa menurut Sunnah Allah.

“Tetapi jika kamu berpaling, aku telah menyampaikan kepada kamu apa yang aku diutus dengannya kepada kamu, dan Pemeliharaku akan mengantikan kamu dengan satu kaum yang selain daripada kamu, dan kamu pula tidak akan memudaratkan-Nya sedikit pun. Pemeliharaku Penjaga atas segala sesuatu." (Quran 11:57)
Salam.


Saturday, November 8, 2014

Pendekatan Berhemah dan Saintifik Menghadapi Isu Transeksual - Mufti Perlis Dato Murshid Dr Juanda Jaya




It is a complimentary boost to the image of Islam to note the compassionate and knowledge based approach taken by the Mufti of Perlis in the issue of transgenders.

I believe such an approach will bridge the widening gap between the clerics and the people..

Peace !

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Bar Council must be neutral and seen to be neutral

Bar Council- EGM Sept 2014
[ Photo thanks to The Mole ]

2005/2006 Bar Council Election 

The upcoming Bar Council Election for the 2005/2006 term is expected to be a heated affair with 23 senior and junior candidates vying for 12 council seats.

The numbers are lower than recent elections but this year’s election is widely anticipated by many groups in the legal fraternity following several controversial issues concerning the Malaysian Bar.

Almost 16,000 members of the Bar are eligible to cast their votes and are expected to start receiving their ballot papers by post from tomorrow. 

The ballots must be returned to the council’s secretariat by Dec 1 and the results are expected to be announced on Dec 2.

Among the election contenders are Datuk Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos, Datuk Sulaiman Abdullah and Syahredzan Johan.

Jahaberdeen, who has been practicing for more than 20 years, said he wants to contribute more effectively to the Bar and to do more for fresh lawyers.

“I am looking forward to assisting new lawyers to set up their practices and find solutions for their problems because this is what the Bar should do.

“It should be focused in matters concerning members and focus on protecting them and their services,” he told The Mole.

You can read more by clicking The Mole


Peace !

Friday, September 26, 2014

Justice is serious business

The reason why I have never considered becoming a Judge is because I consider it as a very heavy responsibility and that I have to be answerable direct to Allah.

I can understand that judges are human and hence prone to errors and human failings.

But a serious defect in judicial attitude is not a human failing - it is a refusal to improve oneself. Worse, if one has such a bad temperament that it affects the due administration of justice and yet the person persists in continuing to earn the salary as a judge, then it is a reflection that he/she has no honour.

A judge's position is not just another job to earn a salary.

It is not just a career for self glory.

It is a position akin almost to divine qualities where people come to seek justice and fairness.

IF judges are bad tempered, impatient, lazy or not clever, those who come before the court will suffer in their lives.

Justice must also be dispensed with compassion and the sentence must befit the crime.

Justice cannot be dispensed like producing mineral bottles from a factory. Number of files closed cannot be a KPI. Of course, justice delayed is also justice denied and hence each case must turn on its own circumstances.

We must remember that we and our families become victims or recipients of the system we ourselves create. do not ever enter into the delusion that you will be with that power forever. It will leave you and you will one day be helpless. Trust the law of nature.

It will be painful to spent the retiring years regretting the injustice that one may have caused.

Peace !

Thursday, September 25, 2014

17 year old forced into sex in the name of religion?



What if this was your daughter?

This can never be what Allah teaches.

Peace !