Teks Ucapan Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin

TEKS UCAPAN TIMBALAN PRESIDEN UMNO YAB TAN SRI DATO’ HJ MUHYIDDIN BIN HJ MOHD YASSIN DI MAJLIS PERASMIAN SERENTAK PERSIDANGAN PERWAKILAN WANITA, PEMUDA DAN PUTERI UMNO 2011 PADA NOVEMBER 29HB.

MENUNJANGI SURVIVAL BANGSA: SUATU JIHAD

1. Marilah kita dahului dengan sembah tahmid ke hadrat Allah S.W.T. dan selawat serta salam ke atas junjungan Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. Bersyukur kita ke hadrat Allah S.W.T. kerana dengan limpah kurnia dan izin-Nya dapat kita bersama-sama berhimpun pada malam yang bersejarah ini untuk menyempurnakan Majlis Perasmian Serentak Persidangan Perwakilan Wanita, Pemuda dan Puteri Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu (UMNO) bagi tahun 2011.

2. Perhimpunan tiga sayap penting parti UMNO ini adalah kemuncak manifestasi suara akar umbi umat Melayu yang mahu melihat perjuangan bangsa diperkasa, kesucian agama dibela, kedaulatan pertiwi dipertahan dan keutuhan parti UMNO sebagai gerakan pembela umat Melayu yang tiada galang-ganti ini diperkukuh dan diperteguhkan. Inilah perhimpunan terbesar umat Melayu yang mengangkat suara keramat rakyat dari segenap ceruk desa dan kota, dari segenap lapisan warga, untuk dijadikan suluhan, panduan dan sempadan dalam melayari bahtera di samudera perjuangan meninggikan agama, memartabatkan bangsa, mendaulatkan nusa dan menobatkan siasah parti UMNO yang tercinta.

Kesatuan kita ini ibarat kata pepatah Melayu:

Bulat Air kerana Pembetung
Bulat Manusia kerana Muafakat
Kata seia kata sepakat
Setuju sependirian setuju sependapat
Kata dibulati kata bertepati
Janji termeteri, kejayaan dinikmati

3. Maka dalam semangat Maal Hijrah, marilah kita perkukuhkan kesatuan hati sesama kita, marilah kita semarakkan muafakat yang membawa berkat, supaya terpancar darinya sinar azimat yang menyuluh lorong-lorong perjuangan kita. Demikianlah ajaran junjungan besar kita Rasulullah s.a.w. yang membentuk kesatuan Ansar dan Muhajirin, yang mendamaikan permusuhan ‘Auz dan Khazraj.

4. Sesungguhnya, harapan umat Melayu terhadap UMNO tinggi menggunung. Sebagai parti yang tertubuh atas semangat kental perjuangan, UMNO memikul amanah besar untuk terus membela kesucian agama, menjulang maruah bangsa dan mempertahankan kedaulatan negara. Di atas jemala UMNO, terhimpun sejuta harapan dan cita-cita umat Melayu yang mahu melihat bangsa Melayu menjadi bangsa yang bermaruah, bermartabat dan merdeka jiwanya.

Kuasa Politik Melayu Goyah, Fitnah Terhadap UMNO

Saudara dan Saudari Sekalian,

5. Langit tidak selalunya cerah, laut tidak selalunya tenang. Tsunami politik yang melanda ketika Pilihanraya Umum 2008 dilihat oleh banyak pihak sebagai titik mula perubahan lanskap politik yang ketara di negara kita. Barisan Nasional kehilangan majoriti dua per tiga di Parlimen. Kedudukan UMNO dan parti-parti komponen BN tidak sekuat dahulu. Kuasa politik Melayu semakin goyah.

6. Tidak semena-mena timbul persepsi bahawa UMNO tidak lagi mampu untuk membela nasib orang Melayu. Malah, pelbagai tuduhan liar dilempar kepada UMNO. Ada yang kata UMNO tidak berbuat apa-apa untuk orang Melayu selama 54 tahun memerintah; UMNO parti rasis; UMNO pemuflis negara; UMNO anti-demokrasi; malah ada yang mengatakan UMNO adalah ibu segala kejahatan. Na’uzubillahi min zalik.

7. Segala fitnah terhadap UMNO ini ibarat api yang memamah setiap helaian jasa dan bakti UMNO. Malah, dalam zaman fitnah yang menggila ini, pemimpin nombor satu kita tidak terkecuali daripada menerima percikan api fitnah. Hinggakan keheningan mengerjakan ibadah haji pun diganggu oleh kilang-kilang fitnah yang bekerja lebih masa. Kepada YAB Presiden, usah resah, usah gelisah, usah gundah, usah gulana. Teruskan perjuangan. Ke gunung sama didaki, ke lurah sama dituruni, ke lautan sama direnangi. La takhaf wa la tahzan innallāha ma’ana.

8. Sesungguhnya, percikan api fitnah mereka menyambar dan merebak ke segenap sudut kehidupan, menyemarak sentimen kebencian. Matlamat penyebar fitnah jahat ini amat jelas – hilangkan keyakinan rakyat terhadap pemimpin utama UMNO dan meruntuhkan harapan orang Melayu terhadap parti keramat ini. Tujuan mereka tidak lain hanya mahu merampas kuasa politik.

Tembelang Pembangkang

9. Pada masa yang sama, parti-parti pembangkang mengambil kesempatan atas hakisan sokongan rakyat kepada Barisan Nasional dalam Pilihanraya Umum 2008 untuk menunjukkan tembelang mereka yang sebenar. Parti DAP tanpa segan silu membuat kenyataan demi kenyataan menghina Islam dan orang Melayu. Daripada soal kedudukan Raja-raja Melayu, hak istimewa orang Melayu, kedudukan Islam sebagai Agama Persekutuan, segala-galanya cuba dipertikai dan dirobek satu demi satu oleh parti DAP.

10. Kemenangan DAP di Pulau Pinang dan kejayaannya mendominasi kerajaan pembangkang di Selangor, dan sebelum itu di Perak, seolah-olah memberikan lesen paling besar kepada parti paling rasis ini untuk menyerlahkan sikap cauvinis melampau. Mereka langsung tidak menghormati institusi Raja-raja Melayu, menghina pegawai-pegawai kerajaan yang majoritinya berbangsa Melayu, mencerca pasukan keselamatan dengan penghinaan yang keterlaluan, mempertikai institusi penguatkuasaan, menjatuhkan wibawa institusi kehakiman dan memperkuda sekalangan orang Melayu dengan tujuan mendapatkan kuasa bagi diri mereka sendiri.

11. Tembelang DAP untuk menubuhkan sebuah negara republik dengan mengetepikan nilai, sejarah dan jati diri Malaysia sebagai sebuah negara bangsa yang berpaksikan kedaulatan Raja-raja Melayu dan Islam sebagai Agama Persekutuan semakin jelas kelihatan. Masakan tidak, mereka berani mencadangkan supaya jawatan Perdana Menteri dipilih secara langsung dalam pilihanraya tanpa perlu dilantik oleh Yang Di-Pertuan Agong. Apa maknanya ini? Maknanya, sistem Demokrasi Berparlimen dan Raja Berperlembangaan yang kita amalkan selama ini sudah tidak sesuai lagi dengan tembolok mereka untuk melahap kuasa.

12. Ketika umat Islam bangkit bersatu mempertahankan akidah umat daripada diruntuhkan oleh kumpulan yang berniat jahat, DAP dan konco-konconya, bertubi-tubi mempersenda umat Islam. Semakin nyaring suara umat Islam membela kesucian agama, semakin ghairah mereka menjalankan dakyah jahat ke atas umat Islam atas nama kebebasan beragama. Agenda mereka yang sebenar ialah ingin melihat perpecahan di kalangan umat Islam dan melaga-lagakan umat Islam dengan bukan Islam.

13. Parti DAP ini tidak pernah melihat apa-apa kebaikan yang ada pada orang Melayu dan Islam. Bagi DAP, walaupun ia mendakwa ia parti demokratik pelbagai kaum, ironinya dari dahulu hingga sekarang DAP hanya dipimpin oleh kelompok tertentu daripada satu kaum sahaja. Atau lebih tepat lagi, dari keluarga tertentu dalam kelompok tertentu dari kaum tertentu sahaja. Namun kita yakin dan percaya DAP tidak mewakili keseluruhan suara kaum itu.

14. Hari ini kita dengar DAP sedang giat memancing orang Melayu untuk menyertai parti itu. Mereka ditawarkan jawatan dalam parti dan dijanjikan menjadi calon dalam pilihan raya. Jika menang, mereka berpeluang dilantik sebagai ahli Exco atau Menteri Besar di negeri-negeri tertentu. Ganjarannya tampak sungguh lumayan.

15. Namun, orang Melayu mesti berwaspada. Jangan sampai terpedaya dengan muslihat jahat DAP. Tujuan sebenar parti paling rasis ini bukanlah untuk memberi kuasa kepada orang Melayu, jauh sekali menyerahkan kepimpinan parti itu kepada orang Melayu. DAP hanya mahukan si Melayu yang malang ini menjadi kuda tunggangan yang kerjanya sekadar menjaga kepentingan cauvinis DAP. Orang Melayu yang bersekongkol dengan DAP adalah pengkhianat bangsa. Janganlah jadi pembelot seperti Si Kitol. Janganlah jadi seperti tikus membaiki labu. Janganlah jadi seperti Pak Kaduk, menang sorak, kampung tergadai. Janganlah sudah terhantuk, baru terngadah. Jangan sampai nasi menjadi bubur. Menyesal dahulu pendapatan, menyesal kemudian tiada gunanya. DAP sudah pasti bukanlah parti untuk orang Melayu dan Bumiputera.

16. Begitulah juga dengan Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). PKR ini ketandusan agenda untuk orang Melayu dan Islam. PKR sebuah parti ultraliberal yang tiada asas moral dalam perjuangannya. Jika tidak, masakan orang yang sedang dibelenggu krisis kredibiliti yang serius terus diangkat memimpin parti itu secara tidak demokratik. Mana mungkin kedudukan agama, bangsa dan negara boleh dijaga oleh PKR jika yang diangkat menjadi pemimpin pun bergelumang dengan masalah kredibiliti.

17. Ringkasnya, PKR sebuah parti yang amat tenat. Hampir kesemua pengasas parti ini telah meninggalkan parti dan menyokong UMNO. Sudahlah tiada matlamat perjuangan yang jelas, retak dalam parti itu juga sedang menunggu belah. Masing-masing sedang menilik nasib Ketua Umum mereka. Untung sabut timbul, untung batu tenggelam. Yang mahu terus timbul, mereka menggunakan pelbagai cara untuk menyucikan Ketua Umum mereka. Yang petah berceramah menggunakan pentas Islam untuk menjaja pelbagai konsep fikah – daripada fiqh maqasid kepada qazaf – semata-mata untuk membela Ketua Umum mereka. Bagi yang berfikiran ultraliberal, mereka mengambil kesempatan atas kemelut moral yang berlaku untuk mewajarkan pelbagai amalan yang bertentangan dengan budaya masyarakat Timur atas nama kebebasan. Mutakhir ini, pemikiran pluralisme agama yang amat mengelirukan umat Islam juga cuba dimurnikan oleh golongan ini semata-mata untuk mewajarkan pemikiran Ketua Umum mereka yang semakin bercelaru.

18. Walaupun satu pihak dalam PKR menggunakan hujah agama manakala satu pihak lagi menggunakan hujah ultraliberal melampau, matlamat mereka cuma satu, iaitu mempertahankan Ketua Umum mereka. Dari satu segi, PKR dulu, kini dan selamanya tidak pernah berganjak daripada tujuan penubuhannya, iaitu mempertahankan seorang individu. Untuk itu syabas kita ucapkan kepada PKR, walaupun sebenarnya:

Hisap rokok dalam kelambu,
Terbit asap menjadi abu
PKR umpama golok kayu
Tetak tak lut gadai pun tak laku.

19. Lain pula halnya dengan PAS. Suatu ketika dahulu, PAS begitu komited dengan agenda mendirikan negara Islam. Bagi mereka, Islam adalah ghayah atau matlamat dan PAS adalah wasilah atau alat untuk mencapai matlamat. Mereka begitu komited sehinggakan sanggup menuduh sesiapa sahaja yang tidak menyokong perjuangan parti itu sebagai kafir. Malah, UMNO dikatakan parti taghut kerana tidak menyokong agenda negara Islam acuan PAS. Akibatnya, umat Islam berpecah dan berbalah sesama sendiri lantaran fatwa songsang PAS.

Saudara dan Saudari Sekalian,

20. Mutakhir ini, tak semena-mena PAS sudah tidak lagi memperkatakan tentang matlamat menubuhkan negara Islam. Tatkala sekali-sekala terpacul perkataan negara Islam dari mulut pemimpin PAS, berpakat-pakat pemimpin PKR dan DAP mengecam PAS. Bagi mereka, negara Islam bukanlah matlamat pakatan politik yang mereka bentuk.

21. Anehnya, PAS tidak pula mengatakan PKR dan DAP sebagai parti taghut. Jauh panggang dari api, PAS sebaliknya mengangkat kedua-dua parti itu sebagai rakan sekongkol dan sekedudukan mereka. Negara Islam sudah tidak ada lagi dalam kamus politik PAS. Ternyata, tsunami politik yang melanda dalam pilihan raya umum lalu telah menghanyutkan istilah negara Islam dari kamus politik PAS. Bagi PAS, dalam menghadapi lanskap politik baharu ini, sokongan DAP dan PKR lebih penting berbanding mempertahankan prinsip perjuangannya sendiri.

22. Nampaknya, apa yang berlaku hari ini bukan PAS Ganti UMNO seperti yang dicanang oleh mereka. PAS takkan boleh menggantikan UMNO kerana UMNO tiada galang-ganti. Yang sebenarnya berlaku ialah DAP Ganti PAS. DAP bercakap mengenai Islam, PAS mengiyakan sahaja. Pemimpin DAP menyebut dua tiga patah ayat al-Qur’an walaupun salah, PAS mempertahankan. Pemimpin DAP menggelar dirinya Khalifah Umar Abdul Aziz, PAS memberi pengiktirafan. Pemimpin DAP berceramah, penyokong PAS bertakbir. Tetapi apabila PAS menyebut tentang Negara Islam, pemimpin DAP lah yang pertama sekali mengecam PAS. Dan apabila dikecam, PAS diam seribu bahasa. Apa maknanya ini? Maknanya, DAP lah yang memberi definisi kepada Islam yang dianuti oleh PAS. DAP lah yang menjadi penentu arah aliran Islam yang dibawa oleh Pakatan Pembangkang. Bukankah ini maknanya DAP menggantikan PAS?

23. Untuk menutup kegagalan mereka mempertahankan kesucian Islam, PAS mengemukakan agenda Negara Berkebajikan. Kini, mereka mengatakan konsep Negara Islam tidak disebut dalam al-Quran, yang ada hanyalah Negara Berkebajikan. Malang bagi PAS kerana setelah puluhan tahun memperjuangkan negara Islam, tetapi akhirnya mengatakan konsep negara Islam tiada dalam al-Quran. Maknanya, selama ini PAS membohongi umat Islam dengan perjuangan palsu mereka.

24. Walau apa pun, kita hendak bertanya kepada PAS. Negara Berkebajikan bagaimana yang mereka ingin wujudkan? Yang kita tahu, bekalan air bersih pun tidak mampu mereka sediakan kepada rakyat Kelantan. Bukankah air adalah keperluan rakyat paling asas yang mesti dipenuhi oleh mana-mana kerajaan. Justeru, kita nak katakan kepada PAS, kalau bekalan air bersih pun tak dapat disediakan, janganlah simpan angan-angan hendak wujudkan Negara Berkebajikan. Selesaikan dahulu masalah air di Kelantan, kemudian barulah bercakap soal Negara Berkebajikan.

25. Sebenarnya PAS bukanlah beriya-iya benar hendak mewujudkan Negara Berkebajikan. Mereka sendiri pun tak faham apa maksud Negara Berkebajikan. Slogan Negara Berkebajikan hanyalah helah politik PAS untuk menutup kelemahan sendiri kerana tergadainya matlamat untuk mendirikan negara Islam. Apa yang penting bagi PAS, slogan Negara Berkebajikan boleh diterima oleh DAP.

Keresahan Melayu

Saudara dan Saudari Sekalian,

26. Perkembangan mutakhir ini semakin meresahkan orang Melayu. Mereka tertanya-tanya apakah nasib masa depan umat Melayu di tanah air sendiri. Terbangunkah ekonomi Melayu dan Bumiputera jika apa sahaja usaha untuk membantu mereka dianggap sebagai rasis dan berpilih kasih? Apakah orang Melayu dan Bumiputera akan mendapat bahagian yang adil dalam pengagihan kekayaan? Wujudkah peluang-peluang ekonomi untuk orang Melayu dan Bumiputera dalam dunia yang semakin kompetitif?

27. Bagaimana dengan peluang pendidikan untuk anak-anak Melayu dan Bumiputera? Masihkah boleh mereka bergantung harap kepada biasiswa daripada kerajaan? Apakah ada ruang untuk mereka membangunkan potensi diri dalam rancangan pembangunan modal insan negara? Bagaimana pula dengan peluang-peluang pekerjaan untuk mereka? Selain itu, apakah kedudukan istimewa agama Islam akan terus terjamin? Terbelakah agama Islam jika serangan bertubi-tubi kepada institusi-institusi Islam berterusan? Terpeliharakah kesucian Islam jika parti seperti DAP lebih berpengaruh mentakrifkan Islam?

28. Seterusnya, orang Melayu bertanya, akan kekalkah kuasa politik Melayu jika pembangkang terus melakukan serangan demi serangan terhadap institusi-institusi Melayu? Mampukah UMNO untuk membela nasib umat Melayu? Mampukah UMNO untuk terus bersuara mewakili mereka seperti dahulu? Mampukah UMNO untuk terus memenuhi harapan orang Melayu? Atau adakah UMNO akan terus terperangkap dalam psikologi politik pasca-tsunami 2008 yang meresahkan orang Melayu?

UMNO Adalah Jawapan Kepada Keresahan Melayu

29. Sebenarnya, jawapan kepada persoalan-persoalan ini ada pada kita semua. Sebagai ahli UMNO, sebagai pemimpin UMNO, kita semua memikul amanah besar untuk terus membela agama, bangsa dan negara yang menjadi asas dan matlamat perjuangan UMNO.

30. Hakikatnya, UMNO telah bangkit daripada rempuhan tsunami 2008. Kita tidak pernah menyerah kalah kepada tujahan kuasa politik pembangkang yang ingin merobek segenap sudut perjuangan UMNO dalam membela orang Melayu. Ketika umat Melayu resah memikirkan apakah ada pembelaan terhadap mereka dalam sektor ekonomi, kerajaan Barisan Nasional yang diterajui UMNO tanpa rasa apologetik telah menubuhkan Majlis Tertinggi Agenda Bumiputera (MTAB) yang dipengerusikan sendiri oleh YAB Presiden selaku Perdana Menteri. MTAB bertanggungjawab untuk memastikan penyertaan orang Melayu dan Bumiputera dalam sektor ekonomi terus diperkasa. Lantaran itu, Unit Peneraju Agenda Bumiputera (TERAJU) juga ditubuhkan untuk menyelaraskan penyertaan Bumiputera dalam sektor ekonomi yang semakin kompetitif.

31. Terkini, YAB Perdana Menteri telah pun melancarkan Program Transformasi Ekonomi Bumiputera dengan memberi tumpuan kepada tiga fokus strategik iaitu, (i) pengukuhan pendidikan serta pembinaan keupayaan Bumiputera; (ii) pembaharuan instrumen dasar dan rasionalisasi sistem penyampaian; dan (iii) penumpuan kepada pemerolehan, penciptaan dan pembangunan perniagaan berskala besar. Tiga fokus strategik ini diharapkan dapat melonjakkan pencapaian Bumiputera dalam bidang ekonomi. Selain itu, penyertaan Bumiputera dalam sektor ekonomi akan terus dipertingkatkan melalui pelbagai projek pemula di bawah Program Transformasi Ekonomi dan juga melalui Program Transformasi Luar Bandar. Semua ini adalah kesinambungan daripada usaha-usaha yang telah dilakukan UMNO selama ini dalam perjuangan mengangkat martabat ekonomi Bumiputera.

32. Begitu juga ketika orang Melayu resah memikirkan sama ada pendidikan anak-anak mereka akan terus terbela, pemimpin UMNO tegas mempertahankan hak pelajar Melayu dan Bumiputera yang berkelayakan untuk mendapatkan biasiswa dan lain-lain bantuan pendidikan daripada kerajaan. Terbaru, kita telah menubuhkan Yayasan Peneraju Pendidikan Bumiputera untuk membantu anak-anak Bumiputera mendapatkan pembiayaan pendidikan. Dengan dana sebanyak 500 juta ringgit, kita mensasarkan 12,000 pelajar Melayu dan Bumiputera akan menerima manfaat dalam tempoh 5 tahun akan datang. Semua ini adalah manifestasi komitmen UMNO untuk memastikan anak-anak Melayu dan Bumiputera yang cemerlang dapat melanjutkan pengajian ke peringkat lebih tinggi dan berjaya dalam kehidupan.

33. Yakinilah, sebagai parti yang bertanggungjawab, UMNO akan terus membela hak anak-anak Melayu dan Bumiputera untuk mendapatkan segala bantuan pendidikan yang layak bagi diri mereka. Pada masa yang sama, atas dasar keadilan, kita juga tidak menafikan hak anak-anak kaum-kaum lain untuk mendapat kemudahan yang sama. Inilah prinsip al-‘adl wal ihsan yang ditekankan dalam agama kita.

34. UMNO juga akan terus mempertahankan institusi-institusi agama dari terus dipersenda dan diperleceh. Kedudukan Raja sebagai Ketua Agama akan dijunjung. Kewibawaan institusi mahkamah syariah, agensi penguatkuasa agama dan undang-undang Islam akan terus dibela. Pendidikan Islam akan diperkasakan lagi. Kerajaan Pusat komited untuk membantu sekolah-sekolah agama rakyat dan sekolah agama negeri dari segi pembangunan infrastruktur, kurikulum, latihan guru dan sebagainya. Bantuan akan diberikan kepada semua sekolah agama melangkaui batas ideologi politik. Ini adalah keikhlasan UMNO untuk memastikan pendidikan Islam terus bermartabat di negara kita.

35. Fokus kepada pendidikan Islam adalah selari dengan pendekatan wasatiyyah UMNO, iaitu sederhana dan berimbang, dalam melakukan lonjakan terhadap Islam dan hubungannya dengan pembangunan dan ketamadunan. Al Quran memberikan asas tentang ummatan wasata sebagai strategi terbaik membangunkan Islam, bukannya pendekatan ekstrem yang hanya terpancar dengan retorik dan kenyataan-kenyataan yang umum sifatnya dan tidak memberi kesan kepada pembangunan institusi dan sistem.

Firman Allah s.w.t. dalam Surah Al-Baqarah ayat 143:

وَكَذَٲلِكَ جَعَلۡنَـٰكُمۡ أُمَّةً۬ وَسَطً۬ا لِّتَڪُونُواْ شُہَدَآءَ عَلَى

ٱلنَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ شَهِيدً۬ا‌ۗ‌ۗ

Yang bermaksud:

Dan demikianlah (sebagaimana Kami telah memimpin kamu ke jalan yang lurus), Kami jadikan kamu (wahai umat Muhammad) satu umat yang pilihan lagi adil, supaya kamu layak menjadi orang yang memberi keterangan kepada umat manusia (tentang yang benar dan yang salah) dan Rasulullah (Muhammad) pula akan menjadi orang yang menerangkan kebenaran perbuatan kamu.

36. Dengan pendekatan wasatiyyah ini kita seimbangkan pembangunan rohani dan pembangunan fizikal, antara tuntutan fardhu ‘ain dan fardhu kifayah. Kedua-duanya adalah dituntut oleh Islam. Dalam konteks ini, Islam harus diberi makna yang luas. Ianya bukan sahaja satu sistem kepercayaan, tetapi juga cara hidup yang mencakupi segenap segi kehidupan. Al-Quran dalam Surah Al-Asr menyebutkan إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ yang memberi maksud orang-orang yang beriman adalah orang-orang yang melakukan amal soleh. Ertinya, syi’ar Islam tidak hanya terpancar melalui amalan ritual semata-mata, tetapi juga melalui amal soleh dan pembangunan yang membawa kesejahteraan hidup manusia.

37. Inilah komitmen UMNO. Kita mengambil pendekatan seimbang dan bijaksana supaya umat Melayu diperkasa dan Islam dimartabat. Ini jugalah tekad politik UMNO dalam memastikan umat Melayu semakin maju dan berwibawa dalam segala bidang dan lapangan.

38. Namun sebagai parti tunjang di dalam Barisan Nasional, UMNO telah membuktikan komitmen mensejahterakan rakyat merentasi batas kaum. Dengan konsep perkongsian kuasa, UMNO telah membuktikan keikhlasannya memimpin dalam kepelbagaian bangsa dan kelainan agama. Sebagai contoh, sewaktu kita memperkenalkan Dasar Ekonomi Baru, walaupun kita dikritik hebat, hakikatnya limpahan nikmat turut sama dikongsi oleh semua kaum. UMNO tetap sedar bahawa bagi meneruskan kestabilan, keamanan dan kemakmuran negara, realiti landskap politik negara yang majmuk sifatnya mesti dipelihara. Jangan kita tanamkan kebencian kepada kaum-kaum lain. Jangan kita lemparkan kehinaan kepada agama-agama lain. Jangan kita titipkan prasangka kepada budaya-budaya lain. Kita bukan rasis seperti DAP.

Pilihanraya Umum Ke-13

Saudara dan Saudari Sekalian,

39. Saya mengambil sedikit masa untuk menyentuh tentang persoalan-persoalan yang berlegar di benak fikiran orang Melayu, tentang beberapa isu yang amat penting kepada kelangsungan mereka, supaya generasi muda dan sayap-sayap parti memahami apakah psikologi dan minda Melayu yang kita hadapi hari ini. Sesungguhnya, kita sedang berada dalam satu situasi yang amat kritikal. Pilihanraya umum ke-13 adalah ibu segala pilihanraya yang akan menentukan jatuh bangun umat Melayu. Apakah kuasa politik kekal berada di tangan kita? Atau akan terlepas ke tangan orang lain?

40. Sanggupkah saudara-saudari melihat kuasa politik terlepas dari genggaman kita? Sanggupkah kita membenarkan pembangkang menawan Putrajaya? Sanggupkah kita melihat orang Melayu hilang kuasa di bumi sendiri?Jawapannya tentu sekali tidak.

41. Ayuh, gerakkan seluruh kekuatan Wanita, Pemuda dan Puteri UMNO untuk menjadi benteng parti. Datuk Seri Shahrizat, Pergerakan Wanita adalah srikandi UMNO. Pengaruh wanita amat kuat dalam masyarakat. Setiap undi wanita amat penting kepada UMNO. Perkukuhkan gerakerja Jalinan Rakyat. Perhebatkan aktiviti Skuad Sayang dengan pendekatan yang tersusun dan teratur. Kajian sikap mesti tepat, penyelarasan dan kerjasama dengan kepimpinan bahagian mesti mantap.

42. Saudara Khairy, andalah panglima perang paling muda dalam UMNO. Gerakkan barisan pemudamu, jadilah benteng UMNO yang kukuh. Turun ke akar umbi, dekati dan selamilah aspirasi generasi seangkatan denganmu. Persiapkan hulubalang pemuda untuk bertarung dalam peperangan yang paling perit dalam sejarah parti kita. Bersedialah dengan kekuatan mental dan fizikal. Biar putih tulang, jangan putih mata!

43. Landskap politik kini adalah milik orang muda. UMNO komited untuk memberikan keyakinan, kepercayaan dan ruang kepada generasi muda. Kepada pemimpin-pemimpin UMNO, berilah laluan kepada generasi muda untuk sama-sama mencurahkan bakti kepada parti. Bimbinglah mereka. UMNO tidak akan menjadi parti yang kekal selama-lamanya tanpa dokongan orang muda.

44. Datuk Rosnah, Puteri adalah permata UMNO. Pimpinlah Puteri dengan kesatuan hati dan matlamat. Dalam kelembutan Puteri, serlahkan peranan anda untuk membawa golongan wanita muda ke pangkuan UMNO. Bingkaslah untuk menarik sokongan rakyat kepada parti. Perhebatkan program Puteri di segenap peringkat. Kembalikan kegemilangan Puteri sebagai sayap tempat bernaung remaja dan wanita muda untuk bersama-sama mencorak hala tuju Negara. Laksanakan peranan anda dengan berkesan supaya parti kita menjadi lebih kuat.

45. Atas segalanya, kitalah yang menentukan kekuatan parti kita. Jika kita bersatu hati (wahdatul qalb), bersatu minda (wahdatul fikr), bersatu amal (wahdatul amal) dan bersatu matlamat (wahdatul hadf) parti kita akan kuat. Ketepikan perbezaan dan persengketaan. Lemparkan segala sifat tercela jauh ke lautan hitam. Buang yang keruh, ambil yang jernih. Yakinlah, perjuangan ini adalah jihad untuk agama, bangsa dan negara. Jihad untuk keadilan. Jihad untuk pertahan hak. Percayalah, pilihanraya umum nanti mempunyai makna yang cukup dalam kepada kelangsungan kita. Pilihanraya ini adalah medan jihad dan saudara-saudari adalah para mujahid dan mujahidah.

46. Calon adalah senjata parti untuk menang. Berilah sepenuh keyakinan kepada pucuk pimpinan untuk menentukannya. Yang penting, calon kita mesti berkaliber, berpendidikan, berwibawa, berjiwa rakyat, bersih, jujur, amanah, tinggi moralnya dan diterima oleh rakyat. Akurlah dengan keputusan pucuk pimpinan. Berilah sokongan padu kepada setiap calon. Gerakkan jentera untuk membantu mereka.

47. Tumpahkan taat setia yang tidak berbelah bahagi kepada parti dan pemimpin. Marilah kita bersatu menjayakan agenda transformasi yang dibawa oleh YAB Presiden. Pendekatan berani YAB Presiden dalam memperkenalkan transformasi politik, dalam menunjangi perubahan, perlu disambut oleh segenap lapisan ahli-ahli UMNO.

48. Pertahankan parti dengan seluruh jiwa dan raga. Jangan lari dari medan perjuangan. Jangan mengaku kalah sebelum berjuang. Jangan kita mencalit arang ke muka parti. Jangan sabo. Jangan boikot. Jangan cah keting. Jangan peteh sama sendiri. Jangan ‘mandikan’ calon-calon kita. Jangan tutup bilik gerakan. Jangan lari ke luar negeri. Jangan tikam kawan. Jangan lakukan apa sahaja yang boleh menjejaskan peluang parti untuk menang dalam pilihanraya. Ingat, pilihanraya nanti adalah pertandingan hidup atau mati. Ingat, pilihanraya nanti bukan untuk kemenangan diri tetapi adalah untuk kemenangan parti.

49. Sebagai sebuah organisasi, UMNO tidak sunyi daripada kelemahan dan kekurangan. UMNO bukanlah malaikat. Kita insaf dan sedar. Kita sentiasa mengorak langkah melakukan perubahan dan memperbaiki kelemahan tanpa menggadai prinsip perjuangan.

50. Dalam perjuangan ini, UMNO tidak boleh bersendirian. Ajaklah, serulah, panggillah, pujuklah seluruh umat Melayu untuk bersama kita. Raih setiap sokongan dan keyakinan seluruh persatuan Melayu, gabungan Melayu, badan-badan ekonomi, sosial, pendidikan, agama, belia, budaya untuk bersama kita di bawah panji UMNO dalam mempertahankan survival umat Melayu. UMNO melihat seluruh organisasi Melayu sebagai pejuang. Mereka ada sumbangan dan peranan yang besar. Ajaklah penyokong pembangkang yang sudah hilang kepercayaan kepada perjuangan parti mereka yang sia-sia untuk bersama-sama kita. Demi kelangsungan umat Melayu, marilah kita bersatu. Allah s.w.t. berfirman dalam Surah Ali Imran Ayat 103:

وَٱعۡتَصِمُواْ بِحَبۡلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعً۬ا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُواْ‌ۚ وَٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡكُمۡ إِذۡ كُنتُمۡ أَعۡدَآءً۬ فَأَلَّفَ بَيۡنَ قُلُوبِكُمۡ فَأَصۡبَحۡتُم بِنِعۡمَتِهِۦۤ إِخۡوَٲنً۬ا وَكُنتُمۡ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفۡرَةٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنۡہَا‌ۗ كَذَٲلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَہۡتَدُونَ

Yang bermaksud:

Dan berpegang teguhlah kamu sekalian kepada tali Allah (agama Islam) dan janganlah kamu bercerai-berai dan kenanglah nikmat Allah kepada kamu ketika kamu bermusuh-musuhan (semasa jahiliah dahulu), lalu Allah menyatukan di antara hati kamu (sehingga kamu bersatu-padu dengan nikmat Islam), maka menjadilah kamu dengan nikmat Allah itu orang-orang Islam yang bersaudara dan kamu dahulu telah berada di tepi jurang Neraka (disebabkan kekufuran kamu semasa jahiliah), lalu Allah selamatkan kamu dari Neraka itu (disebabkan nikmat Islam juga). Demikianlah Allah menjelaskan kepada kamu ayat-ayat keteranganNya, supaya kamu mendapat petunjuk hidayatNya.

51. Gendang perang sudah dipalu. Langkah pendekar sudah disusun. Bangunlah! Berjuanglah! Pergilah ke seluruh 222 Parlimen, 576 Dewan Undangan Negeri dan 7470 Pusat Daerah Mengundi. Jangan ada yang tertinggal, tersisih dan tercicir. Jangan ada satu pun yang terlupa. Raih setiap undi di setiap kawasan. Ingat, walaupun satu undi ianya akan menentukan kemenangan kita.

52. Beri tumpuan kepada masalah rakyat. Rasai denyut nadi mereka. Dengar rintihan dan keluhan mereka. Bantulah mereka. Kita adalah mata, telinga dan suara rakyat. Paling utama, kita mesti bertanggungjawab. Lunaskan tanggungjawab moral kita sebagai pejuang UMNO dengan membantu rakyat.

53. Membujur lalu melintang patah, jangan hanya dilaungkan tapi buktikan kita tidak rela membiarkan pembangkang terus menghina perjuangan parti kita. Kita tidak akan berganjak walau seinci daripada memastikan rakyat tidak diperdaya dan diperalatkan.

Patah sayap bertongkat paruh,
Patah paruh bertongkat siku,
Patah siku bertongkat dagu,
Patah dagu bertongkat kuku.

54. Medan perang di hadapan kita. Kita tiada banyak pilihan. Maralah ke hadapan dengan semangat kental Tariq bin Ziyad, panglima muda yang menakluki Andalusia. Ketika menyeberangi Selat Gibraltar dengan bilangan tentera yang kecil, Tariq berkata kepada tenteranya:

“Dengarlah semua! Ke mana kamu semua dapat lari? Lihat apa yang menanti kamu. Lautan di belakang dan musuh di hadapan. Pada diri kamu semua hanya tinggal keikhlasan dan kesabaran … Musuh di hadapan sedang menanti dengan pasukan tentera dan peralatan yang lengkap … Ingat, perlindungan daripada pihak musuh hanyalah pedang-pedang di tangan kamu. Sekiranya pasukan kita lambat mencapai kemenangan, peluang keemasan untuk terus hidup akan hilang. Ketakutan yang melanda pihak musuh berganti menjadi berani untuk menentang pihak kita. Oleh itu, berjuanglah bersungguh-sungguh bagi mempertahankan nyawa kamu”.

55. Ayuhlah srikandi UMNO! Ayuhlah hulubalang UMNO! Ayuhlah permata UMNO! Rapatkan saf perjuangan parti! Berdiri teguhlah di belakang YAB Presiden parti. Bangkitlah pertahankan kelangsungan umat Melayu! Bangunlah menjulang panji perjuangan! Maralah tewaskan musuhmu di hadapan. Pastikan kemenangan milik kita!

Glad to be back

And now the time is near

And now the time is near
As I pull the final curtain ....

We left Malaysia October 9th .

Today is November 22nd. It is our 44th day in Mekah and our last.

Most pilgrims from other countries had left within days after completing their Hajj. They had either left for Medinah or for those that went to Medinah before Hajj, left for Jeddah to fly home.

The saf during prayers at Masjidil Haram are not as packed as before. The streets are not as busy as it used to be. The air is beginning to chill, thus making the vacancy left behind really felt.

During the Hajj season, shopkeepers were uncompromising in their price bargain. Taxi drivers could charge at their whim and fancy to as high as triple or four times the “normal” rate. Now, it is the pilgrims’ turn to dictate price.

Malaysian pilgrims can still be seen lingering around Mekah. Without the packed crowd, it is a relief and our last opportunity to do more umrah and tawaf. We managed a few but not as much as we hope. Fatigue had set in.

In our hotel, one group of Malaysian pilgrims left for Medinah. Three groups already left for Jeddah. Today is our turn to leave Mekah.

I stayed over in Masjidil; Haram last night. But at 11 pm tonight, we will be going to the Masjidil Haram for the last time to do the tawaf wada or "goodbye tawaf."

By 3 am November 23rd the next day, we will be leaving for Jeddah for our scheduled flight home in the morning. With Jeddah airport congested daily with returning pilgrims, God only knows what time will the actual flight be.

As much as I am anxious to return to Malaysia, I will be leaving Mekah with a heavy heart. God knows, when will I be able to visit this holy place again.

When I left Mekah 20 years ago in my last umrah trip, I prayed that I will return to perform the Hajj.

Again, I will pray for the opportunity to return again to Mekah, but realistically, I know it is not the same. Having undergone a medically challenging Hajj, the next return may well be physically more challenging.

Furthermore, Tabung Haji had imposed 5 year moratorium before returning pilgrims can apply for Hajj again. Even if I had the chance again, I could be in my 70s. Who will go together to take care of me?

For all practical purposes, this could be my only and last Hajj. The tawaf wada will truly be a sad farewell.

Throughout the Hajj season, from Medinah to Mekah and in every ibadah, I have not stopped praying to seek for God’s forgiveness, guidance and protection, and well being for myself, my parents, family, and friends.

I had sought for many wishes and fulfilment of my many aspirations. I prayed for the welfare of some special loved ones. I prayed for the resolution to some of my personal affairs. And I seek blessing and guidance for my struggle and endeavours.

I prayed for the many private requests of family and friends in this holy place. Most seek to be God’s invited guest (dhuyuf ar-rahman) to do pilgrimage in Mekah.

There are those that seek blessing and success from Allah for their family. The younger members of my family and friends seek personal success in education and career. Not to mentioned, the few who are looking to meet their life partners.

A friend wants to run against a big name opposition leader in the next general election. Another friend, maybe in jest, asked to pray that he become a Minister.

On my own conscience and the request of friends, I prayed for the well being of the country.

I prayed for peace, prosperity and common sense to prevail. Not to insult the masses, but most rakyat are, either unaware or naive, of the subtle and insidious cloaks and daggers that is threatening the country.

At Arafah, we prayed Allah to give hidayah (good guidance) to the nation’s leadership so that they will be guided by Allah to carry out their duty to take care of us, the rakyat.

I prayed too that all leaders, irrespective of their political party, be given Allah’s guidance to play their role in administering the Government, providing check and balance and always giving priority to the welfare of the people.

However, I prayed that Allah deny those with intention or in co-hort with those with intention to bring destruction to the nation.

I prayed for Allah’s retribution to those willing to destroy the moral fabric of the nation and invoke issues to disrupt the peaceful co-existence of many races and religion.

O Allah! Protect Malaysia from those whose hunger for power has no limit and boundary.

And I prayed for divine justice against those that plunder from the rakyat and nation in the past, present, and future.

Not only that, I had prayed for singer Ahmad Jais who died last month and others who had contributed to the country in their own unique ways.

However, after the tawaf wada, I will only thank Allah for helping made our journey safe and pray that our journey home also be a safe one.

There nothing more I would like to ask as my last request in Baitullah (House of Allah). What I need to asked, I have asked. If anything to wrap-up my stay here, I only seek from Allah to bless and make my existence on this earth as relevant.

May Allah continue to bless this holy land.

Farewell Mekah!

Ibrahim: Revered Prophet of Islam

"Salam (peace) be upon Abraham!" God says in the Quran (37:109).

In Islam, Prophet Ibrahim is the friend of God and the father of Prophets (Ismail or Ishmael in English and Ishaq or Isaac and the grandfather of Prophet Yaqub or Jacob). He is also one of the ancestors of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

Anyone who rejects Prophet Ibrahim is not a true believer in Islam. Prophet Ibrahim plays a key role in this regard.

In terms of beliefs, a Muslim must believe in all of the Prophets. This includes not just Prophet Ibrahim, but his sons Ismail, Ishaq, his grandson Yaqub and of course his descendant Prophet Muhammad.

When it comes to the five pillars of Islam, the importance of Prophet Ibrahim becomes even more evident.


The second pillar of Islam is Salah, the obligatory five daily prayers. Every Muslim who has reached the age of puberty is accountable for their prayers, be he male or be she female, whether they live in the desert of northern Arabia, a village of northern Pakistan or an urban center of North America.

During one part of each of these five prayers, Muslims must ask God to send His blessings upon Prophet Ibrahim. Now calculate this: you've got more than a few million Muslims, every day, five times a day, in virtually every time zone on this planet asking God to send His blessings on Prophet Ibrahim in the course of his/her prayer.

More importantly, the direction in which every Muslim must face when praying is towards a structure Prophet Ibrahim built with his son Ismail: the Kaba, in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

With regards to the Kaba, God says this about it: "The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka (another name for Makkah); full of blessings and guidance for all kinds of beings: in it are signs manifest, the station of Abraham-whoever enters it attains security; pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to God-those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, God stands not in need of any of His creatures"(Quran 3:96-97).

This leads to the second way in which this Prophet, described as the intimate friend of God (Quran 4:125), is revered: Hajj.

Hajj is the pilgrimage every Muslim must make to Makkah at least once in his/her lifetime. Hajj is also an obligation no Muslim is allowed to reject or ignore. It is in this rite that Prophet Ibrahim's importance becomes even more prominent.

In general, Prophet Ibrahim's centrality to this fifth pillar of Islam is indicated by the Prophet Mohammed's statement: You must adhere to the traditions and rituals (of Hajj), for these have come down to you from (your forefather) Ibrahim in heritage (Tirmidhi).

First, the Kaba is the central structure around which the Hajj takes place. No Hajj is valid without going around this structure built by Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail in counterclockwise fashion seven times.

Second, Muslims who perform the Hajj or Umra must run in the middle portion of the distance between Safa and Marwa (two hills close to the Kaba) seven times. This is a commemoration of the sacrifice of the wife of Abraham, Hajira (may God be pleased with her) for her son Prophet Ismail

Prophet Ibrahim had settled his wife and son in the valley of Makkah by God's order to pioneers a civilization. It was from this civilization that the Prophet Mohammed was born.

Finally, Prophet's Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his beloved son Ismail for the sake of God exemplifies not only his sincere devotion to God. The commemoration of this sacrifice is practiced with the sacrifice of an animal during Hajj and one of the two Islamic holy days: Eid-ul-Adha.

Both father and son willingly submitted to God's command. God substituted a ram in Ismail's place at the last moment. God talks about this incident in Quran 37:100-107.

The sacrifice that is offered by Muslims all over the world every year (at Eid-ul-Adha) is in commemoration of the supreme act and spirit of sacrifice offered by Prophet Abraham in lieu of his son Ismail.

Extract:

The Place of Prophet Ibrahim in Islam, Christianity and Judaism, Soundvision.com

Read also:

History of Hajj, Ministry of Hajj, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Hajj e-Baytullah
Islam Story - The Prophet performs Umrah & Tawaf is a Cosmic Law
Between Tawaf dan Sa'y

We completed Hajj!

Meet the new Haji and Hajah

Mecca 6:37 am Kuala Lumpur 11:37 am Monday Nov 14th, 2011

We completed our tawaf ifada and saei haji. Alhamdulillah. Allah fulfilled his calling and my 20 years of yearning.

We are now Haji and Hajah.

We still have few more days in Mekah to do whatever we need to do. The primary purpose of performing the Haj have been fulfilled.

Since last week, I have been missing Malaysia. It is strange. All my life, I've lived and travel abroad many times. Never have I missed Malaysia like this.

I love Mekah and Medinah. But perhaps, God has a mission for me back home.

I missed my family, my comrades, my friends, and Malaysians back home.

Mekah and Medinah are the holiest place in the world. Today I realised Malaysia is still the best place in the world to live.

The exchange rate maybe in our favour. But food, transport, medicine, etc are very expensive.

Oh yes ... I missed Malaysian food. Nothing really wrong with the food. I just can't consume and even smell the Maktab cafeteria food anymore. I've been taking only bread, dates and fruits.

I'm yearning for asam pedas, masak lemak, watery kacang panjang masak asam, ulam and sambal belacan, my mother's world greatest sambal ikan bilis, my mother-in-law's rendang Minang, nasi lemak Tanglin, Mee Curry at Uptown PJ, Cantonese Mee in Batu Caves, Loaves in Bangsar, .... and the list goes on.

Even nasi Arab in Hadramaut, Jalan Raja Laut and Safa, Jalan Jelatek taste better than any of the modified Arab food near Masjidil Haram or Masjid Nabawi.

What happened to the Arabs? Why are they taking lots of chicken? Where are their kambing dishes?

This must be another Arab conspiracy to deny the likes of me good food. It is a conspiracy against those with gout.

I missed peaceful, laid back, and orderly Malaysia. Unlike in Malaysia, embarrassing to say of Muslims, people here don't queue and are very impatient.

If they queue, they think product and services will be denied of them. So they have to rush and berebut.

They probably think that if they do not get it first, the Hajar Aswad, Hijar Ismail and Rawdah would disappear at their very eyes.

They say, some Malaysians, especially Malaysian Chinese mums, are kiasu. No ... they are hardly compared to the Asian sub-continentals.

After a month of heat, I missed the rain. The rain clears dust in the air and keep the atmosphere fresh and filled with negative ions. When I return, I wanna walk in the rain and sing Singing in the Rain.

For the rest of my stay in Mekah, I hope to do more umrah and tawaf. I hope I am up to it. The dhoby service can't handle the huge number of Ihram sent for cleaning.

I have about 10 juzu to go. Rather slow, but I hope to khatam here in Mekah and in Masjidil Haram.

Before leaving back, I need to visit the Saudi side of my extensive Malay-Javanese family. Insya Allah, I'll write about my grandmother's adik whose a Saudi citizen.

Angry in Ihram

Today is October 12th, 2011 equivalent to Zulhijjah 16 1432. It means we have been away from Malaysia for exactly one month.

For most of us at Maktab 93 in Hotel Luluat At Tawheed, we have got two to three days of rest since returning from the trying Hajj journey which ended with Mina or Muna, as local also called. To complete Hajj, one needs to perform the tawaf Ifada and saei Haji.

Mr and Mrs Hisham had completed their Haj with the tawaf and saei last night by slowly pacing through the extremely packed Masjidil Haram.

While celebrating the momentous occasion by sharing with his wife, an arabic portion of a pack of nasi lemak at Felda’s D Saji restaurant at the Safwah Tower, Hisham contemplates about the trial and tribulations of the journey.

Hisham was my neighbour in Mina. The tent was packed to the brim that I was sleeping at his feet.

In Mina then, we took it in stride as part of God’s trial and tribulations during the journey. Space is limited in Mina. Getting more Hajj quota for Malaysia will only translate into more squeezing accommodation in Mina.


He, another of his fellow Kelantanese from Setiawangsa and in fact all the 15 within our four post accommodation had a great sense of humour and camaraderie. It lightened the pressure of living in the tent in Mina that closely resembled a “KFC chicken fattening farm.”

Why am I calling it a “KFC chicken fattening farm”?

You see, despite the cramped living condition and insufficient toilet facility, we were given sufficient and endless food, fruits and water. The lights were kept on around the clock. So by 45 days, were should be ready for the supermarkets and KFC outlets.

A little bit of humour there.

By the time we left for the “real Haj” that began last Friday for the great assembly in Arafah, the weather and temperature should have got to most of us, health-wise. If not, the large crowd may have shocked many of us. Otherwise, the Arab temperament could stress us up.

Given the conditions, minute everyday issue can be an insurmountable problem and a test on one’s inner sanctity, especially to those with thinning patience and restrain.


We left Mekah for Arafah and Mina in ihram clothing. So we had to observe 17 don’t. Adding to the heat and crowd congestion, one can get agitated from pettiness, weakness, hunger, sickness, lethargy, and tiredness to lose one’s patience and violate ihram prohibition.

All this made the various steps in performing the Haj - the fifth pillar of Islam - incomparably more challenging and test on one’s patience.

But Hisham and his wife had an interesting theory. To them, there were no trial and tribulation from God on the Malaysian pilgrims.

He said, “Everybody, including the authorities, especially the shopkeepers, were saying, “Malaysia bagus.” The Malaysians we can claim were model pilgrims - polite, proper and patient. It is possible that God did not put us through any direct trial and tribulations. If there had been any, it is on an individual level.”

Other than issues of aqidah (faith) and practise, one aspect of the Islamic spirituality seldom emphasied but is of importance is morality (akhlak) and manners (adab). This is the aspect of Islam well embodied by the Malay and Nusantarans.

Mrs Hisham interject, “Did you notice any adverse weather condition? Strong winds? Unexpected extreme temperature? Any lightning from heaven? Natural calamity?”

“No,” I reluctantly agreed.

Hisham continued, “So, you see God was nice to us. The trial and tribulations during our journey were man-made. It was a script put together by Tabung Haji and the local Arabs.

“Otherwise, the Malaysian pilgrims will have no “war stories” to tell their children and grandchildren back home.”

He adds, “And furthermore, Tabung Haji will be worried of being saddled with negligent pilgrims in the future that over-rely on them and take things for granted.”

My wife bought into it.

“Tabung Haji have been very good in all aspect from the moment were left the country until the transportation chaos from Arafah to Muzdalifah, then to Mina and the return from Mina.”


Mrs Hisham interjects again, “It s just not the transportation. Do you know that the place they locked us in Muzdalifah is a camel farm?”

My wife replied, “No wonder I smell dung.

“We were all badly affected there. The dusty air affected my husband who just got out of Hospital. Worse was my sister. But she insists not to put on surgical mask and pay dam. I don’t care. I wear the mask. The dam only cost 30 riyal.”

Mrs Hisham said, “Tabung Haji has a bad habit of using “dugaan” (test) to calm us when we complain. Everytime we get angry over poor and unclean hotel services, they kept saying “sabar, sabar ...dugaan, dugaan”. They are beginning to sound like P Ramlee in Pendekar Bujang Lapok. The ustazs are used to sermonise on “dugaan” and “sabar” so we don’t complain.”

Tabung Haji’s ibadah guide advised us to restrain from quarrels and arguing, not lie, avoid exorbitant spending, and encouraged to help each other in this trying period.

But Mrs Hisham thinks otherwise, “They have this “budaya fakir”. They kept using God and religion as excuse to not address issues and problems within their purview as human.”

Mrs Hisham was getting serious and heavy.

I know my wife was going to complain about her perception that Tabung Haji officials were picking on her for officially writing a long list of complains on the hotel, especially on her three days without air conditioning in her room in Mekah and including safety and emergency issues. She claimed her complain was mentioned in a tazkirah.

Before my wife could add more fire to the already hot discussion, I interjected and diverted the conversation.

“I asked the Tabung Haji officials with regard to the transport issue. They said it is beyond them. Under the Mu’assasah system established by the Saudis, the transportation, accommodation and medical aspect during the Hajj is handled by them. Tabung Haji can’t do anything.”

Hisham answered, “The system were fine. Remember the bus numbering they assigned us? The Saudis refused to adhere and implement their designed system.

“Bus 29 pilgrims were still waiting at one end. The Saudi bus handler suddenly out of the blue started an odd and even arrangement at two other gates and Bus 33 and 34 pilgrims left before the long waiting Bus 29 pilgrims.”

Mrs Hisham interjected, “I think we shouldn’t blame the Saudi only because I overheard a Tabung Haji official talking to a Saudi bus people at their office to follow the odd and even arrangement.

“In Arafah, Tabung Haji did not communicate and announced properly the transport arrangement. They had no people standby to direct the crowd. Basically, they “lepas tangan.” It’s impossible that they can’t come to an understanding with these Arab bus operators on a simple set of procedures.”


I tried to defend Tabung Haji.

“But let’s not load everything on Tabung Haji. They are earnest in carrying out their duty. Problems and situations kept happening around the clock that they hardly could get an eye shut.

“I was at their office trying to “sembang=sembang” but we couldn’t get a conversation going. One problem after another kept cropping up and people coming to report problems.”

My wife added, “Things also worsen because a lot of old folks from kampong, who are mostly first time travellers, are so kiasu and selfish. They start to queue before their turn and mostly rush in to jump queue. There are those that go in big bags and their bags blocked passenger pathway in the bus.”

I disagreed, “They are not kiasu or selfish but insecure and unfamiliar. They are too afraid to be left behind.”

Mrs Hisham had a different view, “These old folks have their own way of thinking. Some are psychologically reversing to a state of mind of a child.”

Hisham deviated the conversation, “Talking about Tabung Haji kept using “dugaan” and “sabar” as excuse to any problems we raised, something interesting happened in Mina.”

“Was there a mishap?” I asked.

“No. After you left back to Mekah, one Tabung Haji official came to our tent fuming about some pilgrims changing tent without informing. If anything untoward happened, it will be a major headache for them to trace people.”

Hisham continued, “We gave one back to them. As I rubbed and massage his stressed shoulders, I said we must be “sabar” in facing up to “dugaan” in the holy land. Haji Harun was funnier as he suggested the Tabung Haji chap to swallow some SabiRun pills.”

We all laughed.

“In that case, Tabung Haji is also tested by God. It leaves the Arab as the only one not tested and they profited enormously from the Hajj season. Then all these “dugaan” must be an Arab conspiracy,” I added to the laughter of others.

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

*This is just a satirical piece. The names and events are not necessarily real. Though there may be some sarcasm, please do not take it too seriously.

God’s trial and tribulations can come in many forms. It can come through others, ourselves, etc.

This blogger fears most God’s direct trial and tribulation for it will be unbearable.

Ridding inner desires at Jamrah

[This is a scheduled posting]

After wukuf at Arafah on Saturday, we would have moved to Mina by dawn and on the way, stopped over at Muzdalifah to collect stones.

The stones would be used for the stoning the devil ritual aimed at the three Jamrah. This is emulating the three instances the devil tried to persuade Prophet Abraham from carrying out God's order to sacrifice his son, Ishmael.

On 10th Zulhijjah or Sundays, we will begin with the stoning of Jamrat Aqaba. It is a symbolic stoning of syaitan and it's followers.

It is also the symbolic stoning of our inner desire or nafs to submit to the persuasion of syaitan.

The next three days on Zulhijjah 11-13 or called the days of Tasyrik, we will be repeating the same ritual at all three Jamrah of Ula, Wusta and Aqaba.

The following is a Saudi Arabian documentary on the development of the Jamrah complex. This was a response to the problem of congestion in performing stoning at the Jamrah that resulted in death in 1990 at Muassin tunnel.

Upon completion of stoning of the Jumrah, one will cut the minimal three strain of hair or shave ones head in the tahallul. The last rukun to complete the Hajj is the wakaf in Mekah.

The hours of Wukuf at Arafah

It is the hours of Wukuf in Arafah.

To readers wishing to embody this serene and spiritual moment, listen to this truly beautiful, thought provoking, and spiritual doa prescribed for the Day of Arafah during the Hajj pilgrimage by the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, Imam Husain.

You can download the mp3 of this beautiful recitation by Hussain Ghareeb from here: http://shiavoice.com/save-rdbda.html

Hajj commences! Leaving for Arafah ...

[This is a scheduled posting.]

At this moment, we should have completed our asr prayers and are on standby awaiting instruction and transportation from Tabung Haji to depart for Arafah.

We have been prior informed of our assigned tents at Arafah and tomorrow in Mina by Tabung Haji. The expected arrival at Arafah is maghrib.


For the old and incapable, Tabung Haji has assigned a one-on-one personal care and supervision for them and they will depart with their assigned petugas.

The medically high risk sick ones will depart late after Isya with doctors accompanying them.

I am considerd high risk but there are old men and women that is of higher priority. As "petugas" albeit "sukarelawan", I am expected to give other's the priority.

Thus begin the once in a lifetime ibadah of Haj compulsory upon all Muslims.


In a special briefing given to the petugas media last week, all system go for Tabung Haji.

We will be there in simple makeshift tents for tonight till tomorrow night at Arafah. There is no carpet for the Muasasah, no air-condition. Only our mats and praying mats to sit and sleep on. Luggage bag as our pillow.

It is the zohor to asr moment most seeked after for doa and repentence.

From Arafah, there will be live telecast to back home by RTM and Al Hijrah TV of the khutbah to be delivered by the Minister in charge of Religous Affair for Prime Minister's Department, Dato Jamil Khir at the makeshift surau for Malaysian pilgrims on Arafah.

Check out at around 5:00 pm tomorrow.


Prime Minister will be in the audience. He was making the frontpage of Arab News newspaper yesterday.

There onward, tomorrow night, we will all travel to Mina and stop for awhile at Muzdalifah, which remains a part of Haram soil, to pick up stones for the stoning of the devil on Sunday onward till Wednesday.


We will be staying in Mina in more organised and equipped tents, Insya allah.

After the third day of stoning ritual is over, we return to Mekah for the tawaf. We could only blog after Haj is over.

Seeking all Malaysians to pray for our safe Hajj and hopefully nothing untowards happens.

Labbaikallah humma labbaik ...

Detoured, but Journey remained

There are sayings that we, human can plan, but it is God that determine.

The plan this week was to take a rest from the more physical ibadah to recuperate the body and reserve energy for the big day of Arafah. But I ended up getting a bigger physical challenge that really humbled me.

I got myself hospitalised on Monday and only got released yesterday afternoon, just a day before we move to Arafah this evening.

Near zohor, I suddenly felt sharp muscle spasm pain everytime I coughed.

The pain was too intolerable to bear that the Maktab klinik rushed me to Tabung Haji's makeshift specialist hospital for breathing problem at Pusat Rawatan Syisyar, just 5 miles from Mina.

I've suffered years of pain from slipped disc, the pain of gout attacks, tasted pain of gastric and stones, and many kind of sports injuries. When it is intolerable, it does not mean I lack willpower and was making excuses.


As I lay on the bed in the emergency ward, the nurse awoke me to remind of asr.

The local help boy, Arab speaking Malays from Patani, came with water spray and basin offering to assist me to do wudu' (ablution). Despite the unbearable pain, I forced to clean myself for prayers.

I had missed zohor when the ambulance had to wait out the mass of human, the traffic jam and road block clear first. Although I did niat to respect the zohor prayer's time while in the ambulance, I still had to perform it. It means I have to perform two prayers.

I tried to find the best sitting position to perform prayers on bed. Then I realised I could only sit. I couldn't move my right hand and arm. Neither could I prostrate (sujud). My movement was limited and any attempt to move will be awfully painful.

Not so much for tolerating the pain, tear rolled out my eyes as I realised how awkward I was praying before God on holy land soil!

I felt humbled by my physical limitation. I felt insignificant. I could be great for whatever I had done in the past, but at that moment I wasn't able to perform prayers even with minimal compliance.

Out of it, a deep sense of realisation came to me. If I could still pray with such limitation, there is no excuse for me to have missed any prayers in the past. So flexible is the requirement to pray that even if one is totally physically handicapped, one can still pray by mere movement of one's eye lids.

One of the specialist unraveled a comprehensive and logical sounding version of my medical situation, never told by my previous doctors.

I was concerned and worried. It was not so much of being scared of dying but I was more worried of not being in Arafah, the real Haj.

I must say that in moments like this, my wife and her sister was a pillar of strength that I needed. She came to visit me despite the difficulty to travel down. Their only words were not to worry, let's pray together for your immediate recovery. We must be in Arafah together.

I was able to SMS my roommates and friends in Mekah and Kuala Lumpur to seek their prayers. I managed to email my family before my Galaxy tab ran out of power.

True, there were those double dosages, close monitoring of your bodily responses, and someone to correctly keeping time. I have not fully recuperated but I wouldn't have had the best breath in many months if it is not for those doas.

There are those close around me that would have spew their judgemental words. But those doas really mattered more because there are coming from those who loved you.

It was really moving.

These are but the many detours in my spiritual journey to perform the Haj.

Big and small detours here and there which can be seen as setbacks but only deepened my conviction of my faith, the will of God, and spirituality of Mekah.

There were moment I had to repeat several rounds of tawaf (circumbulation of the kaabah). That can be quite frustrating and tiring.

But I redo it patiently. I repeated the rounds, reread the doas (prayers), and the rituals. Then I realised that repeating the doas only brought me greater enlightenment.

There was a time I had mistakenly "overdosed" myself with my Lassix pills (diuretic pills) prescription while in ihram clothing to do the umrah. I kept going to and fro to the toilet, through the pack crowds, something like 5 times. It was a time my feet weren't strong enough and was just gaining strength.

To my surprise, I perform the tawaf and saei (going to and from the hills of Safa and Marwah) without much physical strain and came home physically fitter.

Mekah is so packed these days with millions of pilgrims all within the city of Mekah. The routine of entering and leaving the Masjid can be a physically abusive affair for the physically limited but not for me.

I could push away any attempt to cut-in or rush in. I do not rush and push others but my current physique enabled me to push aside anyone blocking the human traffic. And when I am being pushed, more often than not, I was capable of pushing back and get my way through.

At one time, I was quite pissed with the impatient and refused-to-queue Pakistanis, and Afghan men and Turkish women that I applied Newton't third law whenever they were pushing and shoving their way around. The Africans, I must acknowledged are more patient and courteous these days than they were 20 years ago when I was here.

That was until one day during a rush I was reminded, "Hey, what am I doing? Aren't they the Muslim brothers and sisters that I regularly prayed for their well being?"

From thereon, I mellowed considerably and I avoid the Masjid rush so that I do not end up trampling on my brother and sister Muslims. Knowing how much further away they stayed from the Masjidil haram, it made me appreciate their enthusiasm.

If only they had the patiance and discipline of the Malays...


Since all of us are down with cough, we tried to recuperate ourselves in our rooms. I spend much time doing prayers, fasting, zikr and reading the Quran by myself.

To my surprise, I found much comfort in the calm and silent environment but very much on Haram soil.

I was asking myself, how could that be.

How could I found more peace by myself in hotel room than in the holy Masjidil Haram where the pahala (reward) from one's ibadah is significantly multiplied?

I asked how can I find peace in the rushing crowd and with the presence of those selfish impatient lots. It is not just about Islam appreciate peace and serenity.

My mind wanders and I shared it with my fish monger and grasscutter roommate. He was more forthrightly honest with his question.

How could one fulfill one's spiritual self in those chaos?

It reminded me of Rumi's poem. His popular in the west these days.

Where is God?

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

I tried to find Him on the Christian cross, but He was not there; I went to the Temple of the Hindus and to the old pagoda, but I could not find a trace of Him anywhere.

I searched the mountains and the valleys but neither in the heights nor in the depths was I able to find Him. I went to the Kaaba in Mecca, but He was not there either.

I questioned the scholars and philosophers, but He was beyond their understanding.

I then looked into my heart and it was there where He dwelled that I saw him; He was nowhere else to be found.

Jalaluddin Rumi

Or the Nusantara version:

Hamzah Fansuri di dalam Mekah,
Mencari tuhan di Bait al Ka'bah,
Di Barus ke Qudus terlalu payah,
Akhirnya dapat di dalam rumah.

Maybe I have not understand it deep enough yet but I am beginning to appreciate the meaning better. I hope I will uncover more of those many unanswered questions and puzzles of being closer to God at Arafah.

It was on the day of Arafah and the Prophet's last Haj, Muhammad s.a.w. proclaimed on top of Jabal Rahmat that he said, "I have perfected this relgion ..."

Muslims believed that on the hill of Jabal Rahmat, near the field of Arafah, is where Adam and Hawa were rejoined on earth after being cast out of heaven for eating the forbidden fruit.

The Day of Arafah, the day on which the religion was perfected. It is the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage and the day after it is the major Islamic Holiday of Eid ul-Adha.

It is also the day on which Allah's favour was completed.

Arafah is the pinnacle spiritual moment of Haj. Some opined that it is the "dress rehearsal" to Mahsyar on Judgement Day. God promised no taubah and doa denied on the day of Arafah.

The day of Arafah, 9 Dzulhijjah 1432, November 5th, 2011. God willing, as my wife had said, we will be there together. Our Hajj journey will commence this evening.