Monday, December 31, 2007

Auld Lang Syne 2007 - Happy New Year 2008


Auld Lang Syne means "old long since" and is adapted from a traditional Scottish folk tune. The basic words date to at least 1711, though some scholars say it was mentioned as early as 1677. Scottish poet Robert Burns is credited with first publishing it, in the mid-1790s, and, researchers say, smoothing out some of the verses and changing the melody.

Chorus
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
The song recalls the days gone by and says we will always remember them. "Should auld acquaintance be forgot?" it asks. No, the chorus replies: "For auld lang syne (for times gone by), we'll tak (drink) a cup o' kindness yet."

And surely ye'll be your pint stoop
And surely I'll be mine
And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
As for the other lyrics, Verse 2 refers to friends at separate places (or pubs), drinking to each other.

We twa hae run about the braes
And pou'd the gowans fine
But we've wander'd mony a weary foot
Sin' auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl'd i' the burn
Frae mornin' sun till dine
But seas between us braid hae roared
Sin' auld lang syne.
Verses 3 and 4 talk about a long journey to find that friend, running "about the braes" (hillsides), and "pou'd the gowans fine" (pulled the pretty daisies), and getting tired doing so ("wander'd mony a weary fit" or "a weary foot" depending on the version). It continues with wading streams ("paidl'd in the burn"), from dusk until dinnertime, but even then, broad ("braid") seas roar between them.

And here's a hand, my trusty fiere
And gi'e's a hand o' thine
And we'll tak a right good willy waught
For auld lang syne.
But finally, in the last verse, the friends find each other. And they "tak a right guid-willie waught" ("drink a goodwill drink") for times gone by.

It wasn't Burns, however, who turned this misty-eyed tune into a New Year's tradition. That would be Guy Lombardo, who first heard the song in his youth from Scottish immigrants in his hometown of London, Ontario.

Mr. Traher, who organizes the Royal Canadian Big Band Music Festival and tribute to Lombardo every year in London, says the song stuck in the musician's head. When Lombardo formed an orchestra with his brother in 1919, they arranged the piece and made it part of their repetoire.

"It seemed appropriate for New Year's -- a time to look back," Mr. Traher says. So when the Lombardo brothers got the chance to headline a New Year's Eve party in New York in 1929, they played Auld Lang Syne near midnight, then counted down.

For nearly 50 years after that, Guy Lombardo and his orchestra played New Year's Eve radio, and later, television specials from the Waldorf Astoria.

"Prior to Dick Clark, there was Guy Lombardo," Mr. Traher says, and though Lombardo died in 1977, Auld Lang Syne became a staple.

Now there are pop versions of the song, disco remixes -- even a controversial British single of the Lord's Prayer sung to the tune of Auld Lang Syne topping the charts in the United Kingdom this month. George Reynoso, an independent music retailer in El Paso, Texas, sells a CD through his Web site (http://www.newyearseve-song.com/) that includes country, polka and dance versions of the standard.

"The Lombardo version is sleepy, dreamy, it definitely needed an update," Mr. Reynoso says. (Taken from The Augusta Chronicle)

This rock Auld Lang Syne by Jimi Hendrix Live at the Filmore East 1969-70 here should awaken anyone from their dreamy sleep. A jazzy one (by Kenny G here), soul one (by Aretha Franklin and Billy Preston here) and a folk one by (by Gairin, Silver Strings and David Bugli here) will liven ones spirit.

It won't be the "Same Old Lang Syne" without the "Leader of the Band", Dan Folberg (1951 - 2007) ...



Here is a beautiful rendition of Auld Lang Syne by Barbra Streisand ...



As we sing the common Auld Lang Syne of today, ...



... we end annus horribilis 2007 and usher in 2008.

Happy New Year to all of you out there!

Monday, December 24, 2007

Have a 'Love Actually' and Merry Christmas ...

Something different to the usual posting of wishes, picture messages and even song lyric.

A light romantic comedy video from the movie Love Actually with a montage of ...

A down and out come back singer with his Manager ...
A man, his wife and secretary...
A kid and his first crush of love ...
An unconsumated love ...
A lusty young fascination ...
An 'actor' and an 'actress' on set ...
The Prime Minister and the tealady ...
The writer and his Portugese maid. ... and
A guy's crush with his best friend's new bride.



My favourite for whatever reason and again a montage video of scenes between the Prime Minister and the tea lady ...



A happy ending where all fall into place...



Have a Love Actually and Merry Christmas to all.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Just News: TDM At Book Launch And On ISA and Judiciary

Saturday was Tun Dr Mahathir's (TDM) first public function at the Perdana Leadership Foundation.


He launched a book by Tunku Dr Sofiah Jewa entitled "The Third World & International Law". She is a member of the Board of Trustee of The Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Crminalise War. She is quite an authority in International Law and the very few non-Western writer on this subject. This niece of Tunku Abdul Rahman is currently a partner in a boutique law firm in Kuala Lumpur.

Tunku Dr Sofiah's impressive resume begins with her calling to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1970 and Malaysia the following year. Subsequently, she pursued her Master and Doctorate from the University of Miami in 1973 and 1976, respectively in Public International Law, Law of Sea and International Relations. She has done large volume books entitled 'Public International Law - A Malaysian Perspective', 'Malaysian Election Law', and many legal periodicals.


Dato Seri Rais Yatim, Minister for Culture, Arts and Heritage (KEKWA) in introducing her said described public international law as power law in disguise. Cases of Bosnia, Palestine, and etc are few examples of failure in International law and international power politics at play.

He said the third world position in international affair is a difficult one. Their interest are usually steamrolled and capitulated. Their voices are seldom muted out of need to survive. Colonisation was a historical experiance of non European land capitulated by European. A white man's claimed burden to bring civilisation to the new world is essentially their pursuit for wealth and power.

It is understood that KEKWA contributed to the writing of the book and the pomp and pageantry of the event. TDM's first official public presence attracted a hall-packed crowd. Noticably present are Tengku Razaleigh, members of the legal fraternity, politician-bloggers and socio-political bloggers, and press.





The day was also TDM's 'official' 82nd Birthday.


Soon after, there was a Press Conference, TDM's first after the recent open heart surgery. He was asked on the controversial VK Lingam tape (that implicated him), ISA crackdown on Hindraf and public demonstration.


On the VK Lingam tape, he said, "I don't know whether Lingam said it or not. I did not see the tape. What I saw was on TV3, that's all. So I don't know about it."

He told of the visits and interview of three ACA officers yesterday for an hour. When asked if he will be asked to testify to the Royal Commission, he obligingly replied "If I am required to testify, I can't say no."

Interesting commentaries in Rocky Bru's here. What documents?


Earlier he was asked of the recent ISA crackdown on Hindraf leaders. His answer was a classic, "We are a democratic country. If you elect people who believe in the ISA, the ISA will be there. If you don't like the ISA, don't vote people who believe in the ISA."

It left open to interpretations. Ronnie Liew of DAP, who was present, had his take. Big Dog had his. Whats your take?

On claims of ethnic cleansing here as alleged by Hindraf, Mahathir said, "I read a lot about ethnic cleansing in Bosnia. I have yet to see a lot of Indians being killed here. Malays killing Indians and all that….I think that’s a bit absurd.”

On public demnstrations, this is what he has to say, “They are entitled to raise (the issues), but there are other ways of raising it. If they have no other choice, of course, they may resort to demonstrations. But if they have a choice, they have their own leaders, they can meet (and) they can explain their problems, I think that would be the first choice.”

Hmmm ... did Pak Lah gave them Bersih and Hindraf avenue to speak to him personally?

For a Bernama report, read here. Picture from and more at Jinggo's Foropage.

Sheikh Imran N. Hosein To Talk On Global Current Event


A Special Talk

by Sheikh Imran N. Hosein entitled
Dajjal the false Messiah or Anti-Christ and its relation with Gog and Magog
with Q&A session

Time:
11.30am - 1.00pm

Date:
Sunday, 23rd December 2007

Venue:
Islamic Information & Services Foundation (IIS)
1-5-2, Level 5, Wisma Prima Peninsula, Taman Setiawangsa, 54200 Kuala Lumpur
(above SABA bookshop)

Direction:
Click here for Map

For More Information Please Contact:
IIS: +603 - 4260 4160 or SABA at +603 - 4251 0498

FREE Entrance, All are welcome but place is LIMITED



Wikipedia described Sheikh Imran Nazar Hosein as "a leading International Islamic Philosopher, Scholar and author, specialising in world politics, economy, eschatology, modern socio-economic/political issues and expert on international affairs."

His latest biography from his website is below:

"He was born in the Caribbean island of Trinidad in 1942 from parents whose ancestors had migrated from India as indentured labourers. He studied Islam, Philosophy and International Relations at several universities and institutions of higher learning. Among them are al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, the Institute of International Relations of the University of the West Indies in Trinidad, the University of Karachi in Pakistan, the Aleemiyah Institute of Islamic Studies in Karachi, Pakistan, and the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.

He worked for several years as a Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.

He lived in New York for ten years during which time he served as the Director of Islamic Studies for the Joint Committee of Muslim Organizations of Greater New York. He lectured on Islam in several American and Canadian universities, colleges, churches, synagogues, prisons, community halls, etc. He also participated in many inter-faith dialogues with Christian and Jewish scholars while representing Islam in USA. He was the Imam, for sometime, at Masjid Dar al-Qur'an in Long Island, New York. He also led the weekly Juma'ah prayers and delivered the sermon at the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan once a month for ten years continuously.

He is a former Principal of the Aleemiyah Institute of Islamic Studies in Karachi, Pakistan, Director of Research of the World Muslim Congress in Karachi, Pakistan, Director of the Islamic Institute for Education and Research in Miami, Florida, and Director of D'awah for Tanzeem-e-Islami of North America.

He has traveled continuously and extensively around the world on Islamic lecture-tours since graduating from the Aleemiyah Institute of Islamic Studies in 1971 at age 29. And he has also written more than a dozen books on Islam that have invariably been received with public respect. Indeed, 'Jerusalem in the Qur'an - An Islamic View of the Destiny of Jerusalem' has become a best seller and has been translated and published in several languages."

Sheikh Imran is not an unfamiliar face in Malaysia and oftenly visit to give talks for almost the past 10 years, particularly after the 9-11 incident.

His unique education and experiance in Islamic theology and International Relation provides for interesting perspective on current affair, particularly affecting the Muslim world. He has written and spoken extensively on Islamic theological and international relation perspective on the event leading to the 'end of the world'. 'Jerusalem in the Quran' provided interesting interpretation of the Quran and Hadith with international relation perspective on trend in current affairs and forecast of upcoming event.

Sheikh Imran is a proponent for the revival of the Khalifah, riba-free economy, establishment of insulated rural Islamic 'commune', etc. to face up to the threat of globalisation on Islam. Sheikh Imran is not without his critique. For opposing view to Shiekh Imran, read blogger Aizuddin Danian and Muslim Village Forum.

Nevertheless, his view and foresight in the prediction of world event is not only unique but have been proven right. Will Iran be invaded by the US? What is the emergene of India and China as new upcoming economic power have on world politics? Off course, does all these trend have its theological justification?

Come tomorrow ....

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Eid-ul Adha Greetings

Muslims in Malaysia will be celebrating Eid-ul Adha. I would like to wish all Muslims Selamat Hari Raya Haji or Korban.

Hari Raya Haji is a syariah-ed Islamic festivity celebrated the whole world to mark the end of the Haj season in Mekah. The Haj is the fifth of the tenet of Islam meant for those affordable and capable.

The distinguishing difference with the Eid-ul Fitri lies in the practise to sacrifice livestock for distribution to the poor. It marks the significance of Eid-ul Adha and Tasyrik Day and could be performed within four days from after the Eid-ul Adha sermon till sunset on 13th Zulhijjah. The animals slaughtered for the ibadah of Korban are usually cow, goat, lamb and camel. The meat is distributed to the public particularly the poor and needy.

From the language perspective, Korban means near. Whilst, the term means to obey the religion or loyal to Allah’s command to be near to Allah. The ibadah of Korban replicates and commemorate the incident in which Allah commanded upon Prophet Ibraham to sacrifice his son, Prophet Ismail. His son, Ismail was patient and willing to be sacrificed to abide to Allah’s command.

With a heavy heart, Ibrahim was ready to perform the sacrifice till God commanded him to switch Ismail with a goat. It was a great test of obedience and loyalty on Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail. (Update 21 December / 11 Zulhijjah: Watch the following video Your Gift to Allah on Eidul ad-Adha to follow)



Perhaps, it is a worthy question for us Muslims to ponder: What extent are we Muslims ready to abide and defend Allah’s commandments? Are we ready to sacrifice ourself and family and be done with this temporal world for the cause of Allah?

No answer required and no sermon necessary. Tepuk dada tanya selera. Embody these claims ...

Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!



Hari Raya Korban falls on the 10th of Zulhijjah, the last month of the Hijrah Muslim calendar. It holds another significance as the day Prophet Adam was reunited with his wife, Hawa after being brought to to the world from heaven. The place of location is in the Field of Arafah, located outside Mekah.


During the performance of Haj, the Field of Arafah holds a special significance for it is here that all pilgrims gathered at the same time to perform the wukuf. It is believed to be a replication of the gathering at the Field of Mahsyar prior to judgement on the Day of Judgment. Some Islamic scholars believed it is a momentous determinant for our after life.

After the wukuf at the Field of Arafah, pilgrims perform the symbolic stoning of the devil. The stone pebbles are picked at Muzdalifah along the route of Mina and are thrown at the three Jamrah headstone.

Beyond this symbolism, lets not forget that the biggest "devil" is within ourself.


The Haj is completed after pilgrims perform the circumbulation or tawaf around the Kaabah on their return to Mekah.


For Muslim, Haj is a compulsory trip that constitute one of the six tenets in the practise of Islam. To many Muslim, it is once in a lifetime journey. Lets exclaim a victorious Takbir.

Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!

Monday, December 17, 2007

What Basis To Detain Bloggers Under ISA?


I am gazing at my PC pondering over another SMS alerting of possibile arrest of several Bloggers under ISA codenamed as Ops Padam sometime this week. This rumour had surfaced the week before and was first posted on Kuda Kepang blog on December 8th mentioning 5 bloggers, 10 opposition members and Hindraf organisers.

I am not ready to believe rumours these days, especially after receiving some malicous SMSes last week of some gathering at Kg Baru on December 16th, that thankfully, did not materialised. There was than talk of venue change to Puchong. I agree with the IGP to go after rumour mongers.

Thus far, only the Hindraf 5; namely R Kengadharan, P Uthayakumar, K Vasantha Kumar, V Ganabatirau and M Manoharan (their pictures below from left to right) have been held.


Unless he is able to secure political asylum abroad, another Hindraf orgamiser, Waytha Moorthy is expected to be held also under ISA upon his return from the United Kingdom. He managed to leave for United Kingdom after getting the first Sedition charge strike out on technicality. Waytha was the claimant for the ₤3 trillion (approx. RM13 trillion) class action against the British Government.

In the past practise of dealing with Communist, Al Maunah and other security threats, the initial procedure is for maximum of 60 days detention under Section 73 of the ISA for investigation and 'rehabilitation'. This detention comes under the authority of the IGP.

Subsequently, the detainess can continue to be held further till 2 years under Section 8(1) ISA upon approval by the Minister of Internal Security under advise from police. The police may upon consultation with the Attorney General decide to charge the ISA detainee under existing law. For more, read Sang Kelembai's latest posting on ISA.

The move to detain the Hindraf organisers is expected and in fact over due. There is no justifiable cause to support Hindraf, except support for their right to assembly by the more liberal quarters of society. However, the manner to detain under Section 8(1) without going through Section 73 process is not quite normal, even back in the Communist Insurgency era.

Why was the ISA applied when some of them are already going through the due course of the law? Why was it not applied before Waytha Moorthy left for the UK after being discharge from lock-up from the technical foul-up by the Prosecutor for the first Sedition charge?

Prior to the gathering, why did police not announce Hindraf will be rejected due to their unregistered status? Why was no warning or action taken against Hindraf that had made a 4,000 people gathering at Putrajaya in July this year and many other racially charged gatherings?

Procedural abnormality could only arouse suspicion. However, it is beyond common citizens, without access to security information, to investigate the true reasons. We are left with hope and good faith that the professionalism of the Royal Malaysian Police will not betray us. It appears Hindraf has got all their questionable demands documented thus, providing justifiable and indisputable basis that needs no 60 days investigation.

The gleeful remark made by Dato Johari Baharum (see the news report on the right as extracted from Cakap Tak Serupa Bikin blog) may have renewed the speculation on Bloggers.

Actually, Jo B is in no position to make such remark. As this Blogger understands it, only certain section of the Police force that deals with internal security have prior knowledge. The Minister and current IGP would have knowledge prior to arrest to endorse and sign.

The likelihood is Jo B's remark refers to the clear cut case of Waytha Moorthy. The quote from Dec 17th Bernama report below confirms:
The Government will soon invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) on several other people who orchestrated or took part in illegal assemblies in the capital, said Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum.

He said
all of them were involved in masterminding the unlawful gatherings with racial undertones.

If there are five Bloggers said to be arrested, it would likely be the Socio-Political Bloggers or SoPo Bloggers. They have been a threat to the power-at-be with their criticism, expose and commentary on the current leadership. That is not a security threat and a crime.

Other than Politician-Bloggers, SoPo Bloggers are mostly individuals expressing their views. As it is, there are laws from cyber law, to defamation laws, and various other laws to deal with wayward Bloggers. ISA could not be the basis, even how critical or influential the Blogger is, unless they are genuine threat to national security and have stretch themselves beyond the cyber world to participate in organising the mentioned racially undertoned illegal rally.

It has always been the believe of this Blogger that to deal with Bloggers is to gentlemenly engage them intellectually rather than being adversarial. The intellectual encounter to win the mind and heart than will be more effective than a battle with brute force. Such underhanded approach to deal with Bloggers will only make mytyr of them and proliferate more Bloggers. Off course, it is expected to be a onerous affair for the current leadership with their poor, battered and tattered record.

If the authorities had been more positive and patiance in their attitude, Bloggers particularly those with active commentaries are beneficial to their work. They provide useful feedback and source of information and new development.

This Blogger believe that some expose written by Bloggers (gentlemen or anonymous) are useful leads for further investigation and verification by the security personnel. Bloggers are even capable of giving expose into scope of area beyond their normal scope of monitoring. The SOPO Sentral Directory, that this Blogger created, but of late have been quite lagged in updating, serves the Blogging community, and browsers of Malaysian SoPo blogs. It wouldn't be a surprise it is used for security monitoring.

Internet is a useful avenue for information dissemination. Hindaf use their website, www.policewatch.com to disseminate information to their sympathsiers and supporters. It also reached others and enable independent mind to for an opinion.

However, free flow of information on the Internet has its own double edge sword. Transparency backfired on them as a clear majority of informed bloggers formed a negative opinion of Hindraf. In the cyberworld where the bulk of it's participants are of reasonable intellect, truth and reason will surface and find its true level.

Notwithstanding the already stated exception, Bloggers will only be apprehended under ISA if there is abuse for selfish personal political reasons. That is not likely to happen, at least for now. I will maintain good faith with our police to not allow allow such insiduous hands pervade. Nevertheless, I would not discount the possibility that the arm of the law will not reach anonymous Blogger like yours truly. If it does, I have some concurrence with these words of Zaharin Yassin below:
Saya konsisten dengan pendirian saya semenjak dahulu untuk menyokong Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri dan akan mempertahankan keperluan Akta itu demi keselamatan negara. Akta ini penting dalam memastikan keteraturan kita dalam menghadapi masalah yang mampu mengugat keselamatan dalam negara khususnya yang mencabar keharmonian dalam negara ini. Itu sebab bila ada ura-ura bahawa saya di katakan bakal akan dikenakan ISA, saya tidak menunjukkan reaksi takut dan bimbang kerana saya penuh kepercayaan bahawa pihak Polis khas pegawai-pegawai Cawangan Khas yang arif dalam soal keselamatan tidak akan bertindak seperti Polis yang berada dalam Cawangan Jenayah. Itu sebab isu penangkapan aktivis perkauman (itu ayat yang sebenarnya kepada pemimpin Hindraf) di bawah akta ISA sudah lama di nantikan tetapi kerana ada permainan politik untuk kepentingan tertentu, akhir tidak terelak Akta tersebut terpaksa digunakan.
He further elaborated:

Sudah sekian kali, saya mengatakan kepada semua kawan-kawan dan menasihatkan mereka supaya mengelak dari menulis soal dan isu yang menyentuh perkara-perkara yang ditegah seperti soal ugama, soal perkauman, soal menghasut rakyat untuk memberontak atau penderhakaan kepada yang Di Pertuan Agong.

Dengan tidak adanya elemen itu, tidak ada sebab pihak Polis dengan sewenang hendak menggunakan ISA dan mencadangkan penahanan kebebasan rakyat
. Sebilangan besar anggota Polis adalah orang Melayu tentu dan pasti seorang Islam dan setiap perbuatan kezaliman seorang yang zalim tidak mengikut ajaran Islam berdasarkan Al Quran, sunnah dan hadis akan dipertanggungjawabkan dan ada hukuman di tangan Allah.

Maka saya akan terus menulis dan mengkritik kepimpinan Imam Besar Islam Hadhari- Abdullah Hj Ahmad dalam kerajaan tiga beranaknya,
jika ditakdirkan akhirnya saya juga terpaksa menerima ISA, saya menerima sebagai qada dan qadar Allah kepada umat yang kecil ini.
My fellow Bloggers, have faith in God's will. Savour this beautiful song by Dire Straits, Why Worry:



Baby I see this world has made you sad
Some people can be bad
The things they do, the things they say
But baby I'll wipe away those bitter tears
I'll chase away those restless fears
That turn your blue skies into grey
Why worry, there should be laughter after the pain
There should be sunshine after rain
These things have always been the same
So why worry now
Baby when I get down I turn to you
And you make sense of what I do
I know it isn't hard to say
But baby just when this world seems mean and cold
Our love comes shining red and gold
And all the rest is by the way
Why worry, there should be laughter after pain
There should be sunsh ine after rain
These things have always been the same
So why worry now


I give my trust to the police and it is beyond me now to worry. Que sera sera.


** Redited 18/12/2007 8:30 a.m.

Friday, December 14, 2007

Musical Interlude: Won't Get Fooled Again



We'll be fighting in the streets
With our children at our feet
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgement of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again

The change, it had to come
We knew it all along
We were liberated from the foe, that' all
And the world looks just the same
And history ain't changed
'Cause the banners, they all flown in the last war

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
No, no!

I'll move myself and my family aside
If we happen to be left half alive
I'll get all my papers and smile at the sky
For I know that the hypnotized never lie

Do ya?

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

There's nothing in the street
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Is now the parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again
No, no!

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss

-- The Who

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Ancaman Malayan Union III?


Bulan November dan Desimber kini menyaksikan suasana yang boleh dianggap kurang aman dan damai. Satu demi satu tunjuk perasaan diadakan oleh pelbagai pihak yang memperlihatkan pembabitan parti-parti politik, dan NGO hingga rakyat biasa yang berpelbagai pendirian pun turut serta.

Reaksi media perdana dan acara Damai Malaysia baru-baru ini mungkin suatu imbasan respons dari pihak pencadang. Pihak UMNO kini boleh dilihat menyerupai adegan wayang koboi, dimana koboi-koboi yang sentiasa dalam keadaan syak wasangka sesama mereka menghimpun pedati-pedati wagon dalam bulatan untuk menghadapi ancaman serangan Red Indian.

Adakah lebih banyak lagi demonstrasi akan timbul atau tindakan-tindakan pihak berkuasa akan dapat meredakan keadaan? Sama-sama kita saksi dan harap jauhkan yang kurang baik.

Namun, perkembangan terbaru ini mempunyai puncanya kepada tindakan-tindakan Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yang selama menjadi Perdana Menteri telah, sedikit demi sedikit, tidak diyakini dan dianggap menjadi ancaman kepada keamanan dan kesejahteraan negara. Beliau sendiri seolah-olah lalai hingga membiarkan rancangan Korridor Ekonominya, khususnya Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar (WPI) yang mempunyai implikasi terhadap kedaulatan negara.

Hujan kritikan terhadap kelemahan pentadbiran dan peribadi Abdullah telah membuka ruang untuk pelbagai pihak menangguk di air yang keruh. Kini beliau menghadapi akibat dari perbuatan membuka kotak Pandora tetapi tidak berupaya menanganinya kerana terkongkong dengan janji slogannya. Dengan penangkapan-penangkapan terbaru, prestasi beliau di muka masyarakat antarabangsa kini menjunam dengan lebih deras.

Gelombang Globalisasi

Globalisasi telah lama dikatakan sebagai suatu fenomena yang penuh misteri. Disebalik kebaikan dalam memecahkan cara pemikiran kepompong lama, ia membawa bersama bahaya bisa yang boleh memporak perandakan suasana equilibria dan sejahtera.

Gelombang ini berupaya memaksa perubahan kepada struktur sosio-politik, ekonomi dan budaya mana-mana masyarakat negara yang kekal dalam status quo dan tidak memenuhi tuntutannya. Globalisasi menuntut semua perlu serupa dan samarata, tidak kira miskin atau kaya, kuat atau lemah, dan upaya atau tidak.

Melalui globalisasi, kuasa-kuasa kolonial lama telah menemui jalan yang lebih mudah, tanpa banyak mangsa perang kepada tentera penakluk, untuk menjajah semula anak-anak jajah mereka. Ramai pemikir menyatakan globalisasi adalah Neo-Kolonialisma abad 21.

Semasa bermula kuatnya gelombang globalisasi circa tahun-tahun akhir 80an ke awal 90an, Malaysia sedang di dalam era membina keupayaan dan kapasiti sosio-ekonomi acuan sendiri berasaskan jalur semangat Nasionalisma Melayu yang disokong dengan Patriotisma Malaysia. Zaman Tun Dr Mahathir mengemakan slogan keyakinan “Malaysia Boleh” yang membangkitkan keinginan mahu teroka dan mahu cuba buat.

Baru empat tahun Abdullah memerintah tetapi gelombang globalisasi telah menghancurkan 46 tahun usaha membangunkan negara. Padahal di dalam ajaran ugama Islam dan semangat Nasionalisma Melayu sudah tersusun elemen-elemen pertahanan dalam menghadapi ombak globalisasi yang membawa bersama pengaruh-pengaruh hedonisma dan anarki.

Ancaman Malayan Union

Nasionalisma dan Patriotisma yang menjadi teras pembinaan negara berkembang deras dari peristiwa sejarah Kesatuan Malaya (Malayan Union). Pada tahun 1946 selepas Perang Dunia Kedua, British mengunjurkan Kesatuan Malaya atas alasan kononnya pendekatan pemusatan (centralisation) perlu bagi memudahkan dan mempertingkatkan urusan pentadbiran.

Malah ada rakyat-rakyat tempatan yang membuat usul-usul yang membantu memperkuatkan alasan pihak British untuk mengimplimentasi wadah Kesatuan Malaya. Antara mereka adalah Tan Cheng Lok, Tunku Mahmud Mahyudeen, dan lain-lain. (Rujukan: Buku 13 May 1969 karangan Leon Combe (1983)).

Disebaliknya, Kesatuan Malaya akan mengakibatkan lenyapnya locus standi orang Melayu ke atas tanahairnya melalui pelupusan kedaulatan Raja-Raja Melayu dan keseragaman hak untuk semua, penduduk asal dan pendatang.

Perjanjian Kesatuan Malaya memperolehi tandatangan Raja-Raja Melayu menggunakan alasan kerjasama bersama penakluk Jepun sebagai ugutan treason (belot). Perjanjian itu bertentangan dengan semangat Perjanjian-Perjanjian lain yang sudah ditandatangani oleh Raja-Raja Melayu sebagai mewakili kerajaan dan rakyat negeri denga pihak British dari Perjanjian Pangkor tahun 1784. Suatu tindakan salah force majeure memindahkan hak kedaulatan dari Raja-Raja Melayu kepada Mahkota British.

Ekoran bantahan keras orang Melayu (termasuk sokongan beberapa pegawai-pegawai kerajaan British yang bersara), kerajaan British akhirnya akur untuk mengubah ide pemusatan kepada ide penyatuan. Selain tentangan dari UMNO, bekas suruhanjaya-suruhanjaya tinggi dan pegawai-pegawai kerajaan British seperti Sir Frank Swettenham, Sir Cecil Clementi, Sir George Maxwell, dan Sir Richard Winstedt memberi sokongan. Maka, Persekutuan Tanah Melayu atau Malaya ditubuhkan untuk menggantikan Kesatuan Malaya.

Perjanjian Persekutuan Tanah Melayu ditandatangani pada 1948 oleh semua Raja-Raja Melayu dari kesemua negeri-negeri di Semanjung Tanah Melayu. Ia menjadi asas kepada penubuhan Persekutuan Malaysia yang memasukkan Sabah, Sarawak dan Singapura pada 1963. Singapura dikeluarkan pada tahun 1965.

Ide pemusatan mempunyai hubung kait dengan ide keseragaman hak tanpa kira kaum. Dan, ide ini bukan ide baru yang timbul semasa Kesatuan Malaya. Kononnya keseragaman itu adil. Adakah implementasi dan impaknya akan benar-benar saksama, terutama kepada kaum asal yang telah secara sistematik dipinggirkan penjajah British?

Pada tahun-tahun 1930an, Tan Cheng Lok (kemudiannya bergelar Tun) sudah mewar-warkan slogan “Malaya for Malayan”. Namun, ianya gagal kerana tidak ada legitimasi. Sokongan ide itu hanya datang dari kaum bukan Melayu yang belum warganegara.

Setelah Merdeka dan kemasukkan Singapura dalam Malaysia, ide ini diberi nafas baru melalui slogan “Malaysian Malaysia”. Ini adalah ancaman kepada legitimasi orang Melayu untuk kesinambungan warisan kemerdekaan Melayu di tanah tumpah darahnya dan bercanggah perkara-perkara quid pro quo dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan..

Ruhanie Haji Ahmad di dalam bukunya, Patriotisme Malaysia (2005) menganggap “Malaysian Malaysia” sebagai Malayan Union ke II.

Korridor WPI

Mutakhir ini kerajaan sedang memperkenalkan konsep pembangunan Korridor Ekonomi. Korridor pertamanya adalah Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar (WPI) di Johor Selatan. Perdana Menteri, Dato Seri Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi mengumumkan “Ini adalah ide saya” sesampainya di Lapangan Terbang Senai untuk menghadiri suatu Majlis anjuran UMNO Bahagian Kulai pada pertengahan tahun 2006.

Kebenaran jauh dari kenyataan.

Difahamkan kepada penulis, ide ini mula tercetus dan dibincangkan pada awal 1990an di dalam Majlis perbincangan antara Institiut Perancang Malaysia dan Jabatan Perancangan Malaysia. Tujuan murninya adalah untuk menyebarkan pembangunan ke luar dari tumpuan Lembah Klang. Berikutan itu, ide ini mula dibincangkan dengan lebih terbuka pada awal 2000an dan mendapat publisiti dalam satu Majlis anjuran Permodalam Nasional Berhad.

WPI mendapat banyak tentangan kerana bahang kemarahan orang Johor terhadap pembatalan projek Jambatan Johor pada bulan April 2006 masih belum reda. Abdullah membatalkan terus rancangan Jambatan Johor dua bulan selepas menghidupkan pembinaan yang tergendala kerana dia sendiri arah menghentikan. Semasa menyambung kembali pembinaan, Abdullah mengatakan “Tidak membina jambatan ini bukanlah satu pilihan.”

Kemarahan ini menular hingga ke Istana Besar Bukit Serene. Tuanku Sultan Iskandar, yang menghadiahkan sebidang tanah untuk tujuan Jambatan Indah Johor, masih menegaskan perlunya Tambak Johor diroboh semasa melancarkan perasmian WPI.

WPI mempunyai pelbagai kecacatan - perancangan yang tidak jelas hala tuju, isi kandung yang tidak jelas, dan unjuran ekonomi dan jumlah pelaburan yang tidak realistik. Walaupun begitu kuat penentangan, Abdullah masih berkeras dan penerangan dari pihak yang terlibat agak samar-samar. Dengan persekongkolan media perdana untuk mendiamkan pembentangan Akta di Parlimen dari diketahui orang ramai, Akta WPI 664 dapat diluluskan dengan bergegas pada bulan Desimber 2006.

Selepas diluluskan, pelbagai perincian mengenai WPI mula diumumkan. Malah Akta menyebut dengan khusus kuasa mutlak pihak berkuasa IRDA dan Kerajaan Persekutuan yang diberi kekebalan mahkamah. Peranan kerajaan Negeri begitu jelas telah diketepikan.

Pengumuman yang paling mengegarkan adalah pembatalan polisi-polisi dari zaman DEB di dalam kawasan WPI dan penubuhan Jawatankuasa Bersama Peringkat Menteri antara Malaysia dan Singapura. Kandungan-kandungan quid pro quo dalam Perlembagaan Malaysia di nodai. Pengenepian hak orang Melayu bukan saja mengejutkan tetapi yang lebih mengejutkan, ianya di buat oleh Tun Musa Hitam, pemimpin veteran dari Johor yang selama ini dianggap nasionalis.

Apakah perlu sebuah negara asing terlibat di peringkat tertinggi dalam pembangunan kawasan dalam negara? Masa berlalu dan pengumuman demi pengumuman membongkarkan penglibatan besar Singapura dalam pembangunan WPI. Malah, ramai pemerhati-pemerhati politik menjangka Singapura terus dibenarkan mengembang rancangan-rancangan dan kepentingan-kepentingan strategik mereka ke bumi Johor dan Malaysia.

Seolah-olah ide yang baik sudah dicolek untuk kepentingan tertentu. Apa pula habuan?

Penghakisan Semangat Persekutuan dan Hak Melayu?

Untuk cuba memahami perkembangan baru ke atas negeri, perkara ini menjadi jelas dengan merujuk kepada jurnal Ethos keluaran bulan Jun 1996. Ethos adalah suara sebuah kumpulan yang bergelar Forum Antarabangsa Malaysia (International Malaysia Forum (IMF)).

Kerlip gambar untuk melihat dengan lebih jelas nama-nama yang terbabit dengan IMF

IMF yang mendapat sokongan ISIS adalah landasan yang melancarkan ramai personaliti-personaliti muda yang kini berlegar di anjung kuasa Putrajaya dan Khazanah Nasional seperti Khairy Jamaluddin, Dato Zaki Zahid, Dr Vincent Lim, Ganen Sarvananthan, Munir Abdul Aziz, dll. Secara “tidak langsung”, Ketua Pengarang jurnal Ethos adalah Khairy Jamaluddin yang kini adalah anak menantu Abdullah dan Naib Ketua Pemuda UMNO. Mereka-mereka ini yang digelar Tun Dr Mahathir sebagai “budak-budak tingkat empat.”

Keluaran Ethos itu memaparkan sebuah rencana yang mempersoalkan viabiliti mengekalkan entiti politik negeri dalam Malaysia. Artikel tersebut menganggap entiti negeri hanya releven di kalangan orang Melayu dan sebagai “garis panduan perjuangan politik” untuk generasi yang lebih tua.

Rencana itu tidak menyampaikan initipati asas kedaulatan negara (sovereign) dan kesinambungan warisan dan hak orang Melayu keatas negara ini pasca Merdeka terletak pada negeri-negeri dan Raja-Raja Melayu. Dalam membincangkan warisan dan hak orang Melayu, Perlembagaan Malaysia sudah mengambilkira dan mengimbangkan kepentingan bukan Melayu.

Di dalam tulisan, “Stay Focus, Don’t Be Swayed by Hindraf Crap!" penulis menyarankan hipotesis bahawa proses reformasi dan konsolidasi Syarikat-syarikat Kaitan Kerajaan (GLC) dan Khazanah Nasional adalah merupakan penyatuan (consolidation) kuasa ekonomi korporat di dalam satu “tangan”. Manakala, ide Korridor Ekonomi Abdullah boleh pula membawa impak konsolidasi kuasa politik.

Adakah benar Korridor Ekonomi, khususnya WPI, membawa tujuan-tujuan tersebut? Apakah perlunya konsolidasi kuasa ekonomi dan politik ini, jika Abdullah dengan bujet pembangunan yang besar amat berpengaruh dan dianggap Perdana Menteri yang paling berkuasa?

Mungkin soalan nakal yang ingin penulis tanya adalah: Untuk kepentingan siapa akhirnya kuasa ini akan diberi kepada? Mungkin sebahagian jawapan daripada persoalan yang akhir boleh dijawab dari jenaka coffeehouse yang mengatakan Korridor Ekonomi ini sebenarnya “Kerry-dor” Ekonomi.

Ancaman Malayan Union?

Yang lebih mengkagetkan adalah bisikan-bisikan yang mula menggelarkan Korridor Ekonomi, khususnya WPI sebagai Malayan Union ke III.

Jika dahulu, ancaman-ancaman Malayan Union diunjurkan oleh pihak-pihak asing, British dan Singapura, WPI nampak seolah-olah unjuran tempatan - pucuk kepimpinan UMNO.

Ada yang berpendapat pengaturan rapi ini di luar keupayaan Abdullah dan anak-anak muda tingkat empat untuk merencana. Jika pendapat itu diterimapakai, WPI bukan merupakan satu respons kepada globalisasi tetapi satu pembelotan kepada kuasa luar. Bolehkah diterima tuduhan pembelot untuk Abdullah yang sejarah politiknya tidak pernah lari dari teras Nasionalisma Melayu?

Memang diakui, WPI dan Korridor Ekonomi telah digunakan dengan bersungguh-sungguh sebagai propaganda mutakhir dalam memberi persepsi masa depan ekonomi yang baik kepada rakyat. Sebelum ini, propaganda yang diguna adalah Rancangan Malaysia ke 9. Realitinya keadaan di bawah tidak langsung meyakinkan. Bagaimana mahu diyakinkan rancangan yang hanya seolah-olah melekakan?

Mengapakah Abdullah perlu bertahan lagi, jika janji-janjinya yang lepas tidak berupaya ditunaikan, timbunan slogan-slogannya yang boleh dijadikan compost untuk dibuat baja, dan hanya tahu membina istana impian di atas awan? Pemikir-pemikir konspirasi sering bertanyakan kemungkinan ada tangan-tangan ghaib yang sedang bermati-matian menyelamatkan kedudukkan Abdullah dengan apa cara saja? Mungkinkah ada sesuatu yang berharga di luar pengetahuan kita?

Harapnya janganlah ada yang bercita-cita memfilemkan wayang ala Wag the Dog dengan skrip khayalan Dr Kua sebagai rancangan virtual reality. Prospek ini begitu seram sejuk penulis cuba fikirkan akibatnya. Na'uzubika min zalik. Muga dengan tersebutnya di sini akan mengelak berlaku kemungkinan itu.

Korridor Ekonomi tidak tepat persamaan dengan Malayan Union. Samada penerangan yang panjang atau pendik, dalang-dalangnya tidak jelas. Kaitan dengan ancaman kepada keamanan dan kedamaian terkini masih samar-samar, walaupun setiap kali timbul ancaman yang mengugat Perlembagaan ada saja kekecohan berupa uprising yang timbul. Walluhu 'alam bissawwab. Harap Allah jauhkan kekecohan sekarang dari melarat dan menggugat keamanan dan kedamaian.

Namun, jika ianya berlaku, harap timbul seorang tokoh pahlawan yang akan masuk ke gelanggang untuk menyelamatkan keadaan. Adakah lagi pendekar antara kalangan kita di zaman hedonisme "saya sokong"?

Saturday, December 08, 2007

Musical Interlude: Messin With The Kid



What's this I hear goin' all around town
Tell everybody ya got to put the kid down

Oh lord, look at what-cha' did
Call it what you wanna
I call it messin' with the kid

Well you take the kids car and ya drive around the block
Ya tell everybody Look at what you got

Hey, hey, oh lord, look at what-cha' did
Call it what you wanna

I call it messin' with the kid

Well the kid don't jive and he don't play
He say what he means and he mans what he say

Oh lord, oh lord, look at what cha' did
Call it what you wanna
I call it messin' with the kid

What's this I hear goin' all around town
Tell everybody ya got to put the kid down

-- Johnny Winter


Stop messin' around with kids' mind.

We fear for kids messin their body and mind with drugs, but never do we worry of kids being subjected to programming to constrict their intellectual impulse and enslave their mind.

We fear for kids striving through life void of our inherited identity, spiritual guidance, and belief, but never do we realised we are teaching them to be servants of ideology rather than producing future great thinkers and innovators.


We fear of kids becoming vagrants and accepted claimed effort of rehabilitation, but never do we realised the exploitation to soldier them.

Why did we not realise when kids are motivated and regimented into a certain sense of importance that will lead to impulsive vigilanteeism?

Why did we not realise when kids are being empowered before they are emotionally strong and have acquired wisdom and foresight from life's experiance that it will lead to chaos?

We should fear more of kids spewing and imposing with gusto inappropriate ideas of change for change sake on the establishment, when what we should common sensically do is manage change.

We should fear more of kids exubrence with confidence yet devoid of any sense of humility and respect with arrogance to the brim.

A nation is like a huge moving glasier that will slowly but persist to its journey without a pause, even if destruction lies in its path. A disruption in midst journey will only produce more destruction and costly wasted lost momentum.

However, destruction can be avoided and reduced. God willing, it could be avoided and reduced by a continual process of change.

Learn from history. Casualties from the aftermath of revolution is more than collateral damage of revolution.

Be wary of slogan of change uttered in fancy terms of reform and paradigm shift. Let the oak grow than uprooting it and planting other seeds. Change is to be managed. Let it be a seamless uninterrupted progression.

Here lies the kids and their future role. The phrase of kids as future leaders and agent of change holds forever true.

For that lets us look from afar and wisely guide them to find their appropriate niche role in life. Let them explore, see and even taste the black, white and grey of this world. Allow their intellect to flourish.

Not be worry and overprotective for there are bigger worries that have been uttered above. Have confidence with the proper grounding that was provided at home for it will be an everlasting life's moral and consceince compass capable of finding its way back to righteousness.

Not to forget, Love is the answer. But do not be afraid to use that stick when the situation calls for.

Friday, December 07, 2007

Just News: On Street Demonstration, Hindraf, and Anwar Ibrahim

Damai Malaysia, a coalition claimed to represent and supported by 395 NGOs had a closed gathering at the Dewan Kelab Sultan Sulaiman in Kampong Baru, Kuala Lumpur yesterday noon, December 6th, 2007 to make their stand against illegal street demonstration. The effort was initiated by GPMS and Mantap.

After the customary welcoming salutation and opening prayers, retired Court of Appeal judge, Dato Mohd Noor Abdullah, spoke to the fairly mixed raced crowd the quid pro quo agreement between the Malays and naturalised non Malays in the Malaysian Constitiution.

He gave a fairly lengthy explanation in the balanced protection in Malay/Bumiputera rights and non-Malay interests. This attracted an Indian audience to seek the Government to introduce Constitutional Studies in schools.

The subsequent speaker, Roslan Latif, President of Alumni Melayu Universiti-Universiti Amerika Utara (ALMA) touched on the history of Indian immigrants in Malaysia.

As a strong activist and advocate of Malay education, Roslan spoke on the educational disparity between the local and immigrants under British colonial rules. For more, read his article in Berita Harian dated November 30th, 2007 entitled Renung Sejarah Sebelum ‘Bersuara’.

The temperate controlled affair was hyped later with voices of support from the floor and ended with "Damai Malaysia! Damai Malaysia! Damai Malaysia!" roar. More in here, here, and here.


From a fairly subdued affair, it was off to a more stern tone at the Mahkamah Syariah Kuala Lumpur. Pembela and Persatuan Peguam-Peguam Islam Malaysia (PPIM) held a press conference. President of PPIM, Zainur Zakaria, acting as spoke person, delivered a strongly worded statement against the Hindraf demands as below:

MEDIA STATEMENT BY PEMBELA

6th DECEMBER 2007

PEMBELA refers to the recent street protest held on the 25th of November 2007 by a movement called Hindraf or Hindu Rights Action Force in support of their demands.

While PEMBELA acknowledges the fundamental right of every citizen to gather peacefully and their right to free speech within the ambit of the law, PEMBELA deplores the actions carried out by Hindraf in the pursuit of their demands.

Among the steps taken by Hindraf was to send a letter to the Prime Minister of the
United Kingdom.

In this letter dated the 15 th of November 2007, written by P. Uthayakumar as the legal adviser to Hindraf, Hindraf made several accusations and allegations against the Malaysian Government, and the Muslim community of committing atrocities against Malaysians of Indian origin. These accusations are not only malicious and untrue but highly inflammatory and calculated to incite racial and religious discord among Malaysians.

In the said letter Hindraf appealed to the UK Government to move an emergency resolution in the United Nations to condemn Malaysian Government for committing ethnic cleansing and genocide against Malaysian Indians with the backing of Islamic extremist and terrorist.

Such accusations by Hindraf are not only baseless and untrue but malicious and highly inflammatory with the objective of arousing racial and religious discord particularly between the Malays and Indians and also between the Muslims and the Hindus in this country.

Hindraf has also issued a veiled threat that the Indians in Malaysia may resort to armed terrorist insurrection like that being carried out in Sri Lanka if the Malaysian government do not give in to their demands, the principal one being the rejection of certain fundamental provisions of the Federal Constitution.

PEMBELA views the actions of Hindraf and especially their leaders with grave concern as their actions and threat to resort to armed revolt are not only seditious but can be regarded as acts of treason.

Hindraf now seeks to use these malicious and baseless allegations to garner international support for their cause and have despatched one P. Warya Moorthy to undertake this campaign.

Hindraf has also threatened the Malaysian Government, in particular the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, that they will relentlessly pursue such campaign unless the Malaysian government meet their leaders to discuss their demands. PEMBELA condemns such attempts at blackmail and intimidation as totally unacceptable.

The events behind HINDRAF's actions are reminiscent of the events which led to the May 13 tragedy in 1969. PEMBELA therefore condemns the highly irresponsible actions of Hindraf, especially their leaders for fanning the fires of racial and religious emotions and urges the Malaysian government to act firmly, before racial and religious sentiments become uncontrollable.

PEMBELA therefore urges the Malaysioan Government to:


1. Ban the movement called Hindraf;
2. Take firm legal action against the leaders of Hindraf; and
3. Not to entertain any demands by Hindraf for any discussion or meeting with the Malaysian Government.
PEMBELA also views with concern statements issued by other organizations echoing the threat by Hindraf that the Indians may have to resort to armed terrorist insurrection if their demands are not listened to by the Malaysian Government.

PEMBELA considers such statements as irresponsible, more so coming from organizations that demand others to act within the ambit of the law.

Zainur Zakaria
Spokesperson for PEMBELA
6th December 2007
Kuala Lumpur
Zainur went through with the press the seditous, false and threatening clauses stated in the provided copy of Waytha Moorthy lawsuit against the British Government at the High Courts of London. The copy has since been withdrawn from Hindraf's website.

One ludicrous demand made was to seek declaration for the Reid Commision Report and Malaysian Constitution as null and void. He explained that this ridiculous demand will mean the impossible cancellation of non Malays citizenship.

He highlighted the Straits Times, Singapore report dated December 4th, 2007 entitled "Man behind Indians protest stirs up mixed feelings". The report quoted from Uthamayakumar's interview with The New Paper the following:

"I think it's quite unlikely we'll head down that path towards a civil war, but there's always the possibility. Some of the uneducated may resort to violence."
Believed Rocky and Pasquale had the scoop.

He said their position is similar to Karpal Singh, DAP MP's news report and Hj Hadi Awang, PAS President in their meeting with him the day earlier.

He was asked of Anwar Ibrahim's support for India's right to fight for Indians. After qualifying himself as former defense lawyer for Anwar, Zainur strongly criticised Anwar for attempting to gain political mileage out of the situation. He cited Anwar for talking without understanding the legal implication of the legal claims. As former DPM, Anwar should have understood the his supporting words is tantamount to inviting other countries to meddle in the internal affairs of Malaysia.

Rocky, who highlighted this news report earlier, posted link to the full the transcription of the interview in Anwar's blog. He felt the Indian newspaper did not do justice to Anwar. Yes Anwar is presumably a blogger. Fine, bro. After he covered all bases, whats really his stand?

Bugger opps ... blogger. To a political animal, a monkey that votes is of value. Shouldn't there be a point where politics ends and principle and interest take priority?

The Voice of Anak Malaysia


The following comment was made by comentator Anak Malaysia in the posting "Lucrative Bounty of History". It's a sincere view with treasures of hope and worthy of our ponderance.

"With malice to none and charity to all", said President Abraham Lincoln. With that in mind and with fear for none and fairness for all, let me share my personal feelings, as an Indian Tamil in general and a Malaysian in particular.

Malaysia is called swarnabhumi (heavenly land) by the ancient Indians because this land is like the United States, a land of hope and dream. The United States gave hopes to the diverse people of Europe - the English, the German, Greek, Italians, Scandinavians, and Russians, whilst, Malaysia laid the same path for the people of Asia - Malays, Indians, Chinese, Arabs and Eurasians. If only Malaysia is let to be the same the old swarnabhumi – the land of opportunity, we can continue seeking and fulfilling our dreams and hopes.

Aftermath articles that bombard our emails and our group, may differ in approach and writing but echoes one common voice; that is to give the natural citizens of this "swarnabhumi " the due respect, irrespective of color, creed and race.

This basic respect is commonly seen exchanged freely with lots of love by the common people who dwell and work together; going about with their daily affairs towards a common goal of happiness for their family and loved ones. Get in to a cab and have a quick discussion with the driver, weather they are Malay, Chinese or Indian; you will know and feel the common link.

These is the natural calling by all religious teachings of the world, be it Islam, Hindu, Christian or Buddhist. The Almighty God has laid down in the Holy Quran: "O mankind, we have created you from a male and female." In other words all human beings are brothers to one another. They all are the descendants from one father and one mother. "And we set you up as nations and tribes so that you may be able to recognize each other" (49:13). This means that the division of human beings into nations, races, groups and tribes is for the sake of distinction, so that people of one race or tribe may meet and be acquainted with the people belonging to another race or tribe and cooperate with one another.

How can I say I love my child dearly but do not feel for another child being raped and killed by a ruthless killer? That child may be a child of a Malay parent with different background. The common factor of parenthood bonds me with that child and her family, thus evoking my soul to feel the pain of a parent.

How can I say I love my own siblings and parents but do not feel for another person hit and run by a bad driver? In fact, it has personally happened to me when I gave my shoulders for support to a badly injured Muslim, a Malay wife of another. While her husband was settling issues with another motorist who happens to be the `same clan' like himself, I gave support to the greatly in pain lady. Took her to my car to be attended by my wife and I came back to put sense to the arguing husbands. After which, I took all three of them to a nearest clinic for treatment.

Was my doing unique and heroic? No, it is a common thing that any Malaysians will do and are doing on a daily basis in our lovely "swarnabhumi" home of Malaysia . What this home is lacking (sad to say) is a good and caring genuine parent. Family they say is,"Father and Mother I Love you". A good and caring family with loving family members is normally headed by a like minded loving and caring parents who are willing to sacrifice for the love of their family.

I care a damn who heads this wonderful nation. But I do care that, that head has the qualities of a loving parent who runs this family with a "love all and hurt none" attitude. I love the head to use all avenues available to protect and nurture the love amongst his children. If there is pain in anyone of his children, his heart must bleed. The Big Bad wolf who pretended to be the grandma in Little Red Riding Hood had big ears but it lacked the heart that matters most. That cost its live at the end of an axe.

What this nation needs is not a pretender as such but a true parent who works from the heart-a parent who walks his talk and really attends ("hadhiri") to all his children and grandchildren needs and woes, irrespective of their size and outlook. A head who knows that what the children coming from diverse background have a belief system entrenched in them since childhood which they cherish most. This FAITH (Fully Absorbed in Their Heart) is their very own inner personal belonging which they will treasure most. What they treasure most is their own symbol of love which they will not want another to destroy. A car whether it is a simple Proton owned by poor person or a luxurious Mercedes owned by a very rich person; both are but symbols that will be cherished and protected by them, respectively.

The same goes to a child who has been entrenched by a symbol of worship – wether it is a simple stone, a small temple, a big temple, a Church or a Masjid. This place of worship that they have FULLY ABSORBED IN THEIR HEART (FAITH) must be respected and protected by the siblings and parents of the family.

These basic rights and respect of the children of this nation from all walks of lives, color and creed must be upheld by the "parents appointed" by the children even though this parenthood maybe short lived for 5 years and not a lifetime. The duration is determined if the parent has a true loving vision (matalamat) for the children and not just for riches of the children (mata duitan).

At the end of the day, when the dust settles down, what our inner heart is longing for is a lap of a mother where we can rest our head in peace.

Always a longing child,
anak_malaysia

The Land of Oppurtunity or Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave did not live up to the rhetorics that it spew. They foresaken and oppressed the natives that willlingly share the bounty from their land to non existence. If that is not enough, the Red Indians are permanently branded as villains.

It is this similar fear that has shroud our nation. At times, the same fear reached paranoia that it numbed compassion to true human sufferings. Our common hope for the future need to surpass this insecurity from our tumultous segregated past.

This nation is already an oak with strong roots. It can grow further into a fine stronger oak, if no uprooting or growing of different new seeds depleting the nutrients in the soil. The "anak" must nurture this existing tree to grow bigger and stronger. To build that great future, the need to respect and strengthen already created commonality, and seek and create more commonality amongst us should supercede any other purpose, how noble it claims to be.

** All pictures from TV Smith LIMA 2007 photo series

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Stay Focus, Don't Be Swayed By Hindraf Crap

The real crap are Economic Corridors, stupid!

The Hindraf issue has swayed public and online attention from the true crap faced by the nation under the current administration. There is likely to be more than meets the eye. "Could it be distraction to grab the attention of the public away?", asked conspirasy theoreticians.

If there are poor Indians being given a crap deal in the estate, deal with it. For the other demands which are crap, screw them! If the claim that Indian grievances have been given crap attention by certain Government officials and politicians, every Malaysians are getting that same crap! Crap to those officials and politicians. Yes, crap the oppositions too for not properly delivering the issues in the Houses.

For that there is no any reason for Malays to lose their head over this. Let not our attention be swayed by some extremist Hindraf nutheads or Malay hotheads. Violence and vigilante-ism will only make things worse and worst.


The economic corridors launched are craps that the public should focus their attention on and it is outcry worth shouting. Much has been said in this and other blogs. There are few blog postings on the Internet that highlighted few pertinent issues and developments on the Economic Corridors. Extracts of the postings are edited and reproduced below.

Infringement Against the Federalism Spirit

The Penang Watch blog wrote an article entitled "Anti-NCER/PGCC movements a reflection of rejection of federalising powers?".

After five Economic Corridor announced and launched, some patterns can be discerned as a shift of power to the Federal Government from the State Government. State Governments relying on Federal Government for development allocation can only exchange these funds by giving up control over development.

Some of the relevant pattern of the Economic Corridors are:

1. It is based on real estate or land speculations.

2. It is run by Federal Agencies through implementation Agencies chaired by Federal Ministers or Politicians or GLCs representatives.

3. The Local Councils may lose oversight or approval power over such projects, thus making them redundant. Council rules on densities and land use are altered to suit federal needs.

4. State governments can only watch with bewilderment on what goes on in their own land, even though land is about the only things left in their hand.

5. This Federal juggernaut need to be stopped. Otherwise, they may be waiting for the day when the redundant State Government is disposed off or made into symbolic titular state reps.
These are genuine craps because the direction the Economic Corridors are heading is against the spirit of the Federation of Malaya Agreement, 1948. The basis of the Federation of Malaya is the sovereign Malay states in Semenanjung Tanah Melayu combine to become the Federation.
This Agreement replaced the historical disputed Malayan Union of 1946. UMNO was formed to struggle against this termination of the State sovereignty and the British advancing the colonialisation process.

The presence of Singapore in Malaysia in 1963 revived a 1920s "Malaya for Malayan" political slogan of Tun Tan Cheng Lok as "Malaysian Malaysia" slogan. Tun Tan had in fact made a significant contribution to the British in the Malayan Union proposal during his exile from Japanese Occupation in India.

Singapore was eventually "kicked" out of the Federation. In their exuberance to campaign this similar "centralisation" idea to a fragile race relation Malaya, it had resulted in racial clashes. Their absence did not tide down the situation as racial strife continued and culminated into the tragic May 13, 1969 incident.

"Malaysian Malaysia" promotes "equality" without "fair" consideration for the economic hardship of the Bumiputera. "Malaysian Malaysia" is Malayan Union II which UMNO had fought against to preserve the sovereignty. It was Tun Abdul Razak's wisdom to reform the nation towards the proper path of racial unity.

The current Economic Corridors can hereby be summed up as an indirect attempt to dismantle the Federation. The Economic Corridors will reduce the relevance of the state and ultimately lead to the dissolution of the states. Perhaps the unitary state could be a Republic practising laisse fairre economy devoid of any social or welfare responsibility to the people. Its a "dog eat dog" free market economy with no compassion.

Many believed that the underlying reason Khazanah and its GLCs were given bigger role in the economy was to consolidate corporate economic power for the convenience of a certain "invisible hands". Whilst, the Economic Corridors are really a political power consolidation exercise disguised as centralisation of economic management. This will eventually have a wider implication to the political economy, legal and security spectre of the nation.

The scary reality of sleepy Abdullah Badawi as an incompetent yet powerful Prime Minister is that the true power lies with the advisers. It is a hypothesis widely accepted by the public that he is now at the behest of Western powers and he doesn't know it. By the time the whole power consolidation and societal restructuring exercise is completed (likely to include an explosive review of the Social Agreement), the next Prime Minister will be an extremely powerful leader.

Political pundiots have dubbed the Economic Corridors as "Kerry-dor". It implies Khairy Jamaluddin's hand in this manipulation of power to build himself into a powerful Prime Minister-by-40. In reality, it is plain jane Malayan Union III.

The sad reality the proud UMNO members have to live with is the guilt that it is the few top UMNO leaders that conjured and forced this idea on the reluctant people, particularly of Johor.

Thats Crap! Crap! Crap! When will the members have the crap to throw that nincompoop crap out?

IRDA 664 Act, Mechanism for State Suppression


WPI represents the highlight of this new incursion into the building block of our naion's sovereign existence. Hajimat of MyKMU posted an article from Malaysia Today entitled as Kenapa Melayu perlu tuntut hak di bumi sendiri? which described one aspect of the mechanism to subjugate the state authority in the IRDA 664 Act for WPI.

This is the first such Act for the Economic Corridors and was hurriedly passed in Parliament in December 2006. Kudos to Prowaris for identifying what the "blinded" Johor MP missed in Parliament!

Seperkara yang amat mengejutkan kami di halaman 44, perkara 50 Akta tersebut memperuntukkan hak keistimewaan kekebalan (imuniti) undang-undang diberikan kepada salah seorang penjawat kerajaan yang berikut:

(a) Menteri;

(b) Pihak Berkuasa;

(c) Mana-mana anggota Pihak Berkuasa, mana-mana anggota Jawatankuasa Kelulusan dan Pelaksanaan, mana-mana anggota Jawatankuasa, atau mana-mana Pegawai, Perkhidmat atau Ejen Pihak Berkuasa; atau

(d) Mana-mana orang lain yang bertindak dengan sah bagi pihak Pihak Berkuasa, berkenaan dengan apa-apa perbuatan, keabaian atau keingkaran yang dibuat atau dilakukan olehnya dengan suci hati atau apa-apa peninggalan yang ditinggalkan olehnya dengan suci hati atas sifat yang sedemikian.
Ini bermakna mereka yang memegang kuasa di atas boleh mendabik dada apabila dikecualikan daripada tindakan undang-undang atas dasar apa tidaklah diketahui agenda yang tersembunyi, tepuk dada tanyalah selera.

Kalau dahulu semasa pemerintahan Tun Dr Mahathir, beliau telah melupuskan kuasa imuniti raja-raja, kini kuasa tersebut berpindah milik dihidupkan semula dengan memberi jaminan kepada penjawat kerajaan bahawasanya kedudukan mereka tidak boleh digugat oleh undang-undang. Bak kata pepatah Inggeris, “they are above the law.’’

Dikaji secara terperinci, penjawat kerajaan bukan sahaja boleh menyalahgunakan kuasa mereka, malah kuasa tersebut boleh menghancurkan negara.
With the IRDA 664 Act passed, policies have and will continue to be indiscriminately changed to convenient Singaporeans. They will benefit from the allowances given to own properties costing RM250,000, easy smart card entry, liberal working permits for foreigners, and exclusive facilities provided. The Malay Special status have been indiscriminately removed within WPI against the quid pro quo spirit of the Constitution. All these will come at the expense of Johoreans.

Bloody crap!

Slowly But Surely The Feast Has Began

Dr Muzi of MyKMU written an article entitled "Majulah Singapura Lebih Durjana dari Hindraf" to plea the public to not be distracted "probably intentionally" by Hindraf. More disturbing development on Singaporean interest in this country has recently surfaced.
Di bawah program Majulah Singapura yang diterokai oleh kepimpinan Abdullah Hj Ahmad Badawi, Perdana Menteri Malaysia yang paling lemah dan tidak bijak bestari pernah dilahirkan, Singapura sudah dapat mengorak beberapa kemajuan seperti berikut:

1. Menguasai ruang angkasa Malaysia secara komersial dengan termeterainya perjanjian ruang angkasaraya bebas antara Malaysia dan Singapura. Singapura, melalui Tiger Airways dan selain dari Singapore Airlines, telah mampu mempunyai hak penerbangan Singapura-Kuala Lumpur. Lebih membimbangkan adalah saranan Menteri Pengangkutan untuk memberi hak kepada Tiger Airways membuat penerbangan antara Singapura dan negeri-negeri lain di Malaysia.

2. Memudahkan penguasaan aset-aset komersial di Malaysia yang amat strategik oleh anak Syarikat Temasik, Capital Land. Melalui Capital Land, Singapura telah menguasai kepentingan empat aset utama di Cyberjaya; bangunan-bangunan BMW, HSBC, DHL Satelit 1 dan 2 pada kos RM 280 juta.

Capital Land menguasai hartanah mewah di Gurney Plaza Penang, Menara Citibank di Kuala Lumpur. Anak syarikat Capital Land, United Malayan Land yang dipengerusi Tun Musa bin Hitam, telah menguasai projek pembangunan hartanah di Bandar Seri Alam Pasir Gudang Johor.

Singapura juga telah menguasai beberapa tanah perindustrian menerusi usahasama Mapletree Investment Pte Ltd (anak syarikat Temasek) dan CIMB untuk mengusai kepentingan di dalam:

a) Classic Advantage Sdn Bhd. Hartanah syarikat ini adalah Taman Teknoloji Johor yang berkeluasan 78,000 kaki persegi dan diperolehi dengan kos RM80 juta

b) Iris Technology (M) Sdn Bhd yang berhatanah seluas 30,500 kaki persegi dengan kos RM 91.5 juta
3. Wilayah Iskandar adalah suatu wilayah yang mana belum pernah mana-mana Negara Berdaulat dan Merdeka membangunkan satu Wilayah Pembangunan di kawasan mereka tetapi mempunyai Jawatakuasa Peringkat Menteri dengan Negera Jiran untuk mempercepat segala proses pelaburan negara tersebut.
F**king crap!

Call it progress or investment or what may. Ponder, what is to come if these trends are to continue and allowed into other sectors and areas unabated? Based on these few shocking revelations, is Hindraf demands really an issue we should be so worked up?

Judging by the rising temperature amongst Malays, lets wish cool head prevail and racial strife of any form avoided. If it involves Malays and Indians, what is the benefit from a clash between two economically marginalised community? Think about it! Hindraf does not have the concurrence of the significant segments of the Indian community.

The Economic Corridors is one threat that will have such debilitating effect on the structure and sovereignty of this nation. Why are all Malaysian, including Malays and Indians, not worked up over this?
Why are Malaysian seriously worried over some of the Hindraf crap demands?

** Inspired by blogger-in-sabatical The Malay Males albeit in milder form.

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