Its not about just morality...

There's no argument over whether Pak Lah is better than Anwar.

There is no contest where personal morality is concerned. Yet, these are times that need forward thinking and action to ward off the problems resulting from a sinking US economy.

Leadership is a function rather than a person, therefore it's about time the team in the cabinet set aside mere rhetoric and partisan politics to press on full steaming ahead towards tackling looming economic disaster.

The kind of problems we are facing today requires a good team (or several teams) to lead the country out of the impending crisis. We live but in a a global economic village. What affects a giant like the US affects everyone else.

K’jaan Selangor akui roboh kuil

Kerajaan Selangor pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat hari ini mengakui Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ) telah merobohkan sebuah kuil di Ampang awal bulan ini walaupun dinafikan sebelum ini.

Dalam satu kenyataan media hari ini, Exco Kerajaan Negeri Selangor, Dr. A. Xavier Jayakumar berkata, pihaknya juga kesal dengan tindakan MPAJ merobohkan Kuil Sri Mahakaliamman di Kampung Tasik itu tanpa kebenaran kerajaan negeri.

Kenyataan ini bertentangan dengan kenyataan Ahli Parlimen Ampang, Zuraida Kamaruddin dua hari lalu bahawa kuil berkenaan dirobohkan bagi kerja-kerja pengubahsuaian bangunan dan dokumentasi.

Ramadan bererti negara selamat?

Berikutan penahanan Raja Petra Kamaruddin, RPK, selama dua tahun di bawah ISA, ramai blogger yang menyuarakan bantahan.

Ada yang jelas meluahkan hati secara picisan tanpa memikir sedalam-dalamnya rentetan peristiwa, perlakuan dan keengganan bertindak di pihak RPK sendiri sebelum ditahan.

Ada juga blogger yang mencelah mengatakan tindakan ke atas RPK sesuatu yang zalim dan tidak sepaptutnya berlaku di bulan Ramadan. Tidak boleh? Mengapa? Alasannya kerana ini bulan yang keramat dan mulia.

Memang betul ini bulan keramat, mulia dan penuh dengan segala keberkatan, tetapi apa pula jika manusia tidak mempedulikan hakikat ini dan terus melakukan pelbagai perbuatan yang berpotensi menggugat kestabilan masyarakat?

Ramadan bulan mulia yang sentiasa tiba tepat pada waktunya setiap tahun.

RPK menghadapi tindakan dipertengahan Ramadan, tetapi apa pula cerita dengan perlakuannya pada awal Ramadan?

Pada bulan Rejab, antara lain, RPK juga pernah menulis dan menyiarkan artikel dan 'pendedahan' yang mengundang pelbagai komen pembaca. Segala komen-komen itu jelas menyakitkan hati masyarakat Melayu selain cuba memalukan agama Islam.

Pada saya persoalannya bukan apa yang didakwa dilakukan oleh RPK, tetapi apa yang TIDAK dilakukan oleh RPK.

Malaysia-Today yang dikendalikan oleh RPK berupa satu portal online yang memapar dan mengupas dakwaan terhadap pelbagai pihak, termasuk kerajaan, orang Melayu dan agama Islam.

Paparan segala artikel dan analisis yang begitu berat sebelah hanya satu aspek ketidakmatangan dan kebiadaban pihak 'sidang pengarang'. Di penjuru lain pula yang lebih buruk ialah kerana RPK membiarkan para penyumbang memberi komen kepada artikel dan analisis yang tersiar tanpa penapisan.

Komen-komen yang dikemukakan hampir kesemuanya berunsur 'ganas' dan tidak berlapik hinggakan kebanyakannya begitu berani mempersendakan agama Islam dan sensitiviti orang Melayu.

Di sinilah letaknya kesalahan RPK. Apa yang tidak dilakukannya boleh diertikan sebagai satu 'omission' yang menyumbang terus kepada interpretasi ancaman kestabilan masyarakat dan seterusnya, negara.

Ini tidak boleh dinafikan kerana ia begitu ketara. Layarilah Malaysia-Today dan lihat segala komen yang tersiar. Jika sebahagian besar masyarakat Melayu di luar bandar mampu membaca dan memahami segala kandungan jijik mengenai agama Islam dan orang Melayu dalam laman itu, entahlah apa yang boleh berlaku...

Oleh itu, penahanan RPK tidak boleh dilihat dengan sebelah mata. Ia perlu dilihat dengan pemikiran terbuka dan bukan hati yang buta semata-mata.

RPK sememangnya tahu apa yang bakal diterimanya bersabit segala yang dilakukan atau yang TIDAK dilakukan.

Anwar not confident able to takeover government

In a recent interview with Eric Pilch for Georgetown University's campus newsletter, Anwar Ibrahim expressed some uncertainty in succesfully executing his plans to take over the government.

According to the newsletter, If "Anwar does become Prime Minister, he has expressed a commitment to economic reform and the removal of affirmative action policies for ethnic Malays. Either way, his future would include Georgetown University."

"I'm certain to come back, but in what capacity I can't say," Anwar said.

Professor of International Affairs and Islamic Studies and director of Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University, John Esposito had expressed doubt that Anwar would be successful. Georgetown Professor Pamela Sodhy, an expert on Southeast Asian politics also shared this opinion.

 

Anwar tak berapa yakin merealisasikan rancangannya...

Anwar Ibrahim baru-baru ini memberitahu penulis dari akhbar Georgetown University, Eric Pilch tentang kemungkinan dia kembali ke university itu. Bagaimanapun, bila ditanya dalam peranan apa, dia tidak dapat memberi kepastian.

Anwar pernah memegang jawatan Visiting Professor di Georgetown University, Washington selama kira-kira setahun setengah selepas dibebaskan dari penjara.

Kenyataan berhubung kemungkinan kembalinya dia ke universitu itu timbul berikutan pendapat kawan baiknya, John Esposito yang tidak yakin Anwar akan berjaya dalam rancangannya untuk mengambil-alih tampuk kerajaan Malaysia. Pendapat Esposito juga dikongsi Professor Pamela Sodhy, seorang pakar mengenai politik Asia Tenggara di Georgetown University.

Kedua-dua ahli akademik itu sependapat menyuarakan ketidakmungkinan tersebut kerana mereka sedar amat payah atau mustahil bagi Anwar untuk merealisasikan hasrat untuk menghapuskan dasar memelihara keistimewaan orang Melayu, antara lain.

Ketengahkan aspirasi akar-umbi...

"Masa untuk beberapa ahli MT UMNO menengahkan aspirasi akar umbi, yang mewakili sebilangan besar rakyat Malaysia merupakan langkah bijak untuk menentukan kesinambungan keyakinan dan sokongan rakyat Malaysia kepada UMNO dan BN berterusan, walaupun ketirisan keyakinan dan sokongan makin bertambah jelas kebelakangan ini.

Bugger off, US!...

"Stop meddling in our affairs," said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim in response to Washington's protest over the ISA crackdown on Friday.

"The US likes to think of itself as the world's policeman and it has been doing this for the past decade, every time we want to enforce our public laws.

The US State Department summoned a top Malaysian envoy on Friday to complain after an ISA crackdown on Friday in which a blogger, reporter and opposition party leader were detained.

Rais said while the use of the ISA as a preventative detention law may appear to be questionable by some quarters, Malaysia's sovereignty must still be respected.

HINDRAF & THE CHAMPIONING OF HYPOCRITES!

A letter from a Malaysian Indian

Who is HINDRAF? Why HINDRAF? Do we need HINDRAF and if so what can they do or at least what have they accomplished?.....

Their struggle? Well, I believe HINDRAF initially focused only on championing Hindu Temples, hence its name - HINDRAF (Hindu Rights Action Force), which in itself sounds more like a religious group...or are they really?

So, why is HINDRAF now talking about the community?

Their struggles seem to have swayed from the temple issue to other things beyond their boundaries. This would include what they alleged as the 'marginalization' by the Government based on selective feedbacks from Malaysian Indians.

It was indeed a difficult task to grab the attention of the Indians in the past as they mostly kept to themselves. But then thanks and no thanks to HINDRAF, they have managed to overcome this by using Hindu temples. The championing of Hindu temples had generated overwhelming support from almost every Malaysian Indian...

Well, they guessed the Government managed to screw big time this time, but then again, why would the Government use all their efforts to marginalise and supress Malaysian Indians?

Every level-headed Malaysian knows that the Indian community has never been a threat to racial harmony. They are peace-loving and get along well with all the other races. So, how can this small community can even be seen as a threat to the Government, which also represents the majority racial groups?

The marginalisation is well over exaggerated.

And talking about marginalization alone is not enough, since we have to first study the reasons.

If the claim is solid and real, only then we can shout anti-government slogans till the cows come home (no pun intended). However, sadly, many Indians in Malaysia fail to understand what they are fighting for. By just shouting Makkal Sakhti to rouse the sentiments and instigate the simple-minded folks from the under-privilged pockets of the community, the leaders and creme-de-la-creme of HINDRAF who mostly belong to the upper crust of the wealthier spectrum of society easily USED them to serve their selfish ends.

And so the simpletons that form the mass of their traget group would pour by the thousands into the streets to hype about that drop in the ocean, which the powers that be in HINDRAF claim to be gross injustice in Malaysia.

HINDU TEMPLE DEMOLITION :

Does the Indian community realise the number of Hindu temples in Malaysia?

In Selangor's Puchong area there are about 10 Hindu temples within a 10 km radius, and each temple is visited by at least between 10-15 devotees while on Fridays the number would be between 50-100.

Think about this: Who really run these temples? Government or the Hindu Sangam? Well maybe two or three are registered with the Hindu Sangam and sadly most of other temples perform unapproved rituals such as animal scarification regularly. For the record, such rituals divert from real Hinduism practice.

Many of the temples are run by individuals who benefit from donation alone and this is probably their motive. They use bogus priests to perform countless mind blowing rituals. Such practices tend to push Indian community backwards. It is definitely not a healthy development for sure...

I use to follow such belief but soon realised the type of regressive mentality I have developed from it. Well, I just don't believe that any human posses the power to communicate directly with God and here we have a mediator who after being possesed by what is claimed to be Divine Spirit, would talk and advise humans.

A real Hindu would never endorse such belief and I am sad that the Malaysian Hindu Sangam is not asserting itself over this matter. Consider that the act of alcohol abuse and animal sacrification are not allowed in India's temples, while here in Malaysia such things are being practiced widely. So do I really bother if such temples are torned down? Hell, not at all...

And as for temples with ethical practises? Many are not registered and even worse, they are built around properties belonging to other people. Ok, as a Hindu maybe I can allow such temple on my land but how if I'm not?

Let me put it this way, I am a Hindu and I got piece of prime land which I bought from a oil palm estate 10 years ago. There is one surau, which had been built since about 100 years ago to cater for the Malay estate workers (yes, they were lots of estate workers who were Malays). Now, since I'm just a Hindu, do I really care about the Muslim surau which is blocking my dream to build commercial buildings? How about my rights? Of course, by law, I am entitled to issue an evacuation notice, but then again...come to think of it, it is a surau.

Ok, then the Government allocates another piece of land along with funds to build another surau elsewhere. Of course I believe this is the best solution and by right why don't we thank the Government for that? And before doing so, of course it would study the ethnic population density and base on the results build one or two mosques instead of 10 small suraus scattered all over. So, what if the said surau is over 100 years old? People progress and in place of the delapidated surau the community would have a spanking new mosque to provide better unity among the faithfuls.

Based on this, it is very clear certain quarters are ripping-off the Indian community and to ensure their sustenance they have provoked such issues into racial ones and have the Government seen as the scapegoat.

INDIAN DETAINEES DEATH UNDER POLICE CUSTODY/ETHIC CLEANSING.

Many died there and we all know how they died.

Now, do we believe that the police will just drag any criminals and execute them in lock-ups or shoot them down on the streets just for fun or as vengeance against a certain race?

I don't think so. The same police never for once threatened my life . I am a Malaysian Indian and let me say this. Yes, you can shout or hurl any abusive language at me but please listen ...

Do you realise the number of Malaysian Indians killed by Malaysian Indian gangsters stand many folds higher than the death toll of Indians in police lock-ups? Yes, thats right, violent murders, brutal rapes, beatings, extortion, intimidation and other gory crimes by our very own race are statistics that warrant to be seen and believed. I strongly believe these thugs kill more Malaysian Indians every year...

A big number of Malaysian Indian families have a history of murdered or maimed relatives, who were victims of ruthless Indian thugs. And many fell victim over small and petty matters like staring at each other either accidently and such. Ok, let me ask you this. Can an Indian family with a 16 year old girl walk peacefully among 100 Indians youths during Thaipusam celebration? I am sure many went through the horrifying experience of excessive vulgar comments and even worse the girl abused physically infront her very own male family members. Yes, by our very own Indian youths.

Mind you, this is not a joke or made up story. I saw how a group of Indian youths whacked young girl's buttocks in front her father and brothers. And can you imagine what would happen if her father or siblings interfered? Well, I'm sure you know the answer. All this happened during the holy Thaipusam festival at Batu Caves in 2007.

Ok, let me now ask you. Can the same family walk peacefully between 100 Malay and Chinese youths? Yes, they can.

I'm not in the mood to degrade my own race but this is a fact. The majority of Indian youths lack moral values and hardly bother to respect others if they are in a big group. The real issue is their attitude.

Ok, one can always claim because of poverty and what not. But then what has all that got to do with moral values? I have seen orphans growing into good citizens and some street children having better inner values.

About Kampung Medan. I have lived among hundreds of Malays in a kampung in Masai, Johor and not for once through the years had I encountered problems with them. We lived together in the rural community as one big family. Not one funeral or wedding went by without each of us putting together our efforts. The whole kampung got together and we helped each and other. We lived in a real Malaysian spirit of neighborliness.

It boggles my mind to fathom why a race is bent on killing another in Malaysia. If this is indeed true, why are we Indians still in Malaysia? Why do Indians still freely roam around Malay kampungs and live among Malays? And also, if it is true that ethnic cleansing really occured, why should we stay among Malay communities?

Lets get real. This really is an isolated tragedy due to a prolong misunderstanding among Kg. Medan residents for years. This is what happens if minorities fail to respect majority sentiments and in this case, some Indian gangsters in Kg. Medan created unhealthy living environment with rampant criminal activities for a very long period. No one can deny, not even we Indians. Those scum-of-the-earth who were the thugs had failed to respect Malay sentiments and they went too far and pushed too far.

In the past I myself was afraid to enter Kg. Medan. The same feeling was shared by my university mate who had lived there before he moved out a year before the tradegy.

The burden is heavier if you have young girls in your family. Even Malaysian Indians were terrified of the Indian thugs in the area. I studied in UM during the time of the Kg. Medan incident and stayed in Kg. Kerinchi (almost 98% Malays). Throughout my stay, never once I felt afraid intimidated. I went about my life unimpeded and undisturbed. I regularly went for supper at the Malay stalls in the wee hours of the Kg. Medan 'tragedy.' Well, if you label this tragedy as a full scale ethnic cleansing, why am I still alive?

Why didn't the police prosecute anyone from Kg.Medan? How many Kg. Medan residents have to be prosecuted and and who can be hauled in? Will such a measure cool down the tense situation? The best government can do is to learn take a lesson from the incident and try to avoid a recurrence.

Of course poverty and bad living conditions can be attributed to the incident in some ways. And yes, we can blame the BN government but still don't you think only poverty can be blamed here? How about additude? I believe, the best is to avoid and try not to allow anything tha can lead to an incident. We learn from mistakes (I hope). We can start by strengthening national unity and of course improve our minset and fortify our moral values. Just avoid that attitude problem and I really hope Indian youths can eliminate gangsterism as their culture and way of life.

Conclusion

As Indian, try to understand ourselves and learn from our mistakes. We are not perfect and please do not blame others for what is happening around us.

There is no point demanding government aid and complaining about the lack of opportunities in education, economy and political rights through street demonstrations. Incidentally, in the same vein, if you talk only about the government, how about the Malaysian Chinese owned private companies? Do you think it is easy for a Malaysian Indian to work there?

I was employed as regional sales manager in one Malaysian Chinese dominated multinational company and I was earning half of my Malaysian Chinese counterpart. Consider: a Chinese did the same job and that i did. I handled 10 countries and he just handled five countries. I helped generate more sales than him by a few million and I was still at the lower level.

Apologies to my Chinese friends. I don't mean to condemn anyone here but this is the result of our government's policies and insufficient labour enforcement to crack down on such irresponsible act by employers.

No employer dares to advertise job vacancies indicating preference only for Chinese in United States. I am sure I will get due justice and teach my former employer a good lesson if this had happened in the US.

Now, do you think Indians should fight the government and Chinese employers for their rights too? See, the list will never end if we point fingers at others.

I as a Malaysian Indian would love to see HINDRAF supporters drop their racist stance and work towards the betterment of our community.

 

ISA: Mudah menuding jari...

Kita sedar isu perkauman begitu sensitif di Malaysia, apatah lagi isu-isu berkaitan agama.

Walaupun penulis ini tidak menyokong tindakan menahan seseorang tanpa dibicarakan, namun jika dilihat dari perspektif lain apakah alternatif yang ada?Akta jenayah?Akta jenayah tidak sesuai dalam keadaan-keadaan tertentu.

Undang-undang buatan manusia seperti 'common law' dan lain-lain mudah diputar-belitkan. Seseorang yang bernasib baik mungkin akan dapat memboloskan diri dengan usaha seorang peguambela yang 'licik' menangani kes selain mencari lubang-lubang kelemahan teknikal.

Dalam keadaan ini undang-undang ISA juga boleh disalahgunakan, tetapi apakah kesan politiknya (political repercussions) jika dilakukan? Jadi tak mungkin kerajaan berfikiran sesingkat itu untuk sewenang-wenangnya menggunakan ISA.

Usaha menangani ketenteraman awam tidak boleh dilengahkan dan itu antara sebab undang-undang seperti ISA digunakan, bukan saja di Malaysia, malahan di Amerika, Britain, Singapura dan sebahagian besar negara di dunia.

Bagaimanapun, jika pembangkang dan mereka yang berfikiran ringkas mudah menuduh pihak kerajaan menggunakan ISA sebagai senjata, apakah mereka juga tidak menyedari akta tersebut juga mereka gunakan sebagai senjata untuk melawan kerajaan?

Penggunaan isu ISA sebagai senjata menentang kerajaan lebih dasyat kesannya kerana aktivis dan pembangkang sanggup menggadai maruah negara demi mendapatkan sokongan dan campur-tangan pihak luar...

Wartawan cemerlang?

Menurut akhbar The Star, pemberita Sin Chew Daily yang ditahan di bawah ISA,
Tan Hoon Cheng seorang 'wartawan' yang berpengalaman dan pernah memenangi anugerah cemerlang dalam bidangnya.

Apa yang diselit The Star itu tidak lain daripada 'subtle editorialising'. Dengan hanya seperenggan menceritakan latar-belakang sipemberita itu, akhbar tersebut telah dengan tidak secara langsung mempersoalkan perimbangan pihak berkuasa mengenakan tindakan ke atasnya. Memang tidak salah bagi akhbar sebagai 'estet keempat' mempersoalkan itu, tetapi apakah tujuan diselitkan maklumat itu dalam hal ini?

Rasionalnya, apakah seseorang yang begitu berpengalaman tidak mungkin dapat melakukan kesilapan? Tak mungkin! Dan ada pula yang mengatakan apa yang dilaporkan olehnya telah pun disemak dan disunting pihak editorial. Apa pula jika sidang pengarang juga bersekongkol?

Apa sekalipun, dia perlu bertanggung-jawab terhadap perlakuannya.

Alangkah baik jika dikemukakan bukti yang terkandung dalam buku nota pemberita, alat rakaman audio (jika ada) berhubung apa yang dilaporkan dan apa yang diterbitkan oleh Sin Chew Daily?

Apakah SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) dalam tugasan seorang pemberita?

Siapa lebih rasis?

Hanya disebabkan beberapa patah perkataan, seseorang itu boleh menjadi terkenal dalam sekelip mata.

Jika tidak kerana apa yang didakwa oleh seorang pemberita (bukan wartawan) Cina yang melaporkan untuk sebuah akhbar Cina mungkin tidak seorang pun di luar Pulau Pinang akan mengenali Ahmad Ismail, Ketua Umno Bahagian Bukit Bendera.

Kini dia umpama seorang selebriti. Tidak kiralah samada untuk sebab yang baik atau kurang baik nama Ahmad kini sudah dikenali – good publicity or bad publicity but publicity nevertheless.

Dalam keghairahan isu ini beberapa persoalan ditumbulkan...

(1) Benarkah Ahmad mengeluarkan kata-kata sepertimana yang didakwa oleh pemberita Cina itu? Mengapa tidak disiasat juga pemberita Cina itu?

(2) Tidakkah pemberita Cina itu mempunyai konflik kepentingan semasa mensensasikan berita berkenaan? Dia masih baru dalam profesion ini dan berbangsa Cina, justru kecenderungannya mudah sangatlah dibaca...

(3) Sekiranya benar kata-kata Ahmad itu berbaur perkauman, bagaimanapula dengan serangan balas oleh Gerakan yang juga berbaur perkauman? Serangan mencelah oleh MCA dan DAP pula bagaimana? Tidakkah semua parti politik ini mempunyai kepentingan sama seperti konflik yang dialami oleh pemberita Cina itu?

(4) Kenapakah Polis tidak mengambil tindakan segera dan tegas sekiranya kata-kata Ahmad berupa hasutan atau menghina, sedangkan kita semua tahu polis sentiasa memantau setiap ceramah secara peribadi semasa sesuatu pilihanraya atau pilihanraya kecil?

(5) Mengapakah Gerakan sudah berani mengugut hendak meninggalkan Barisan Nasional hanya kerana isu ini? Sekiranya Gerakan begitu kecewa dengan tindak tanduk Ahmad termasuklah keputusan sokongan padu kesemua 13 ketua Umno bahagian di Pulau Pinang kepada Ahmad, mengapa tidak terus sahaja tinggalkan Barisan daripada bertindak macam budak-budak – putuskan hubungan dengan UMNO Bukit Bendera, kemudian putuskan hubungan dengan UMNO Pulau Pinang...apa maksud semua ini?

Sekiranya sudah kecewa mengapa tidak terus keluar meninggalkan Barisan Nasional? Sekiranya mereka seseorang yang berakal, tidak perlu mengugut, terus keluar dan persetankan....itupun kalau berupaya...

(6) Kalau benar sudah muak dengan Barisan Nasional maka mengapa masih hanya putuskan hubungan dengan UMNO Pulau Pinang sedangkan masih ingin berada di bawah naungan Barisan Nasional di peringkat pusat?

Apakah dengan meninggalkan Barisan Nasional pusat maka beberapa ahli parlimen Gerakan akan kehilangan jawatan eksekutif? Jawatan-jawatan seperti Timbalan Menteri Penerangan (kebetulan Ketua Wanita Gerakan yang mahukan Ahmad ditahan di bawah ISA) dan jawatan Timbalan Menteri Perusahaan Perladangan dan Komoditi dan beberapa lagi jawatan yang lain. Bukankah majoriti pengundi di Parlimen Gerik itu Melayu?

Mudah sangat mengambil keputusan untuk hanya berkisar di Pulau Pinang kerana sudah tiada jawatan untuk Gerakan kerana dihalau keluar oleh masyarakat Cina yang sudah muak dengan politik Gerakan.

(7) Benarkah Gerakan bukan parti perkauman Cina? Sekiranya begitu mengapakah hanya pada Ahad 7 Sept 2008 barulah muncul seorang bukan Cina (berbangsa India) dipilih sebagai Pengerusi Gerakan Selangor? Berapa sangatkah bukan Cina mendapat tempat dalam Gerakan sejak ianya ditubuhkan pada 1969?

(8) Kita pernah dengar Gerakan melaungkan Bangsa Malaysia sebelum ini. Namun apakah mereka faham maksud dan intipati ungkapan itu. Sekurang-kurangnya tunjuklah teladan yang paling baik dengan (a) membuka pintu kepada lebih ramai orang bukan Cina untuk dilantik dan dipilih dalam kepimpinan parti dan (b) mulakan gerakan memansuhkan sekolah Cina yang menjadi satu daripada sebab utama mengapa wawasan Bangsa Malaysia tidak akan berjaya.

(9) Bolehkah Gerakan, dengan tiada lagi nama-nama hebat dalam barisan perjuangannya terus hidup atau berkubur setelah meninggalkan Barisan Nasional? Apabila seorang kepala parti itu ditolak oleh rakyat di kerusi parlimen maka, bisanya sebagai seorang pemimpin boleh dikatakan sudah tumpul.

Lihat sahajalah nasib seorang bekas menteri yang berbangsa India. Apakah orang peduli apa yang keluar daripada mulutnya termasuk daripada sebangsanya?

Sekiranya Gerakan dan parti-parti lain boleh melakukan semua ini, mungkin tindakan tegas terhadap Ahmad boleh diambil kerana dikatakan dan didakwa bersifat perkauman.

Sekiranya mereka tidak boleh melakukan apa yang dinyatakan di sini, maka lebih baik duduk diam sahaja. Atau cerminkan diri dan bertanya "apakah aku pun memelihara kepentingan kaum aku juga, sepertimana mereka?"...

Pendek kata, siapakah yang lebih bersifat rasis daripada yang dituduh rasis?

Oleh Zukri Valenteno

Hak Melayu bukannya sesuatu yang ‘illegal’

Hak Melayu mesti dipertahan berasaskan kesahihannya dalam perlembagaan.

Tidak salah bagi orang Melayu berjuang untuk memastikan keutuhan hak yang sememangnya sah disisi undang-undang dan perlembagaan. Ia bukannya sesuatu yang 'illegal'.

Hak Melayu jangan dikelirukan dengan kepincangan segelintir pemimpin Melayu tetapi sebagai wadah kedaulatan diaspora bangsa di Tanah Melayu.

Janganlah kerana terlalu lemah kita dipengaruhi dan dihanyutkan pelbagai dakyah di atas label liberalisme dan kesaksamaan masyarakat lantaran kita membelakangkan bangsa dan agama sendiri.

Kepincangan segelintir peimpin walaupun dalam UMNO bukan bermakna seluruh bangsa Melayu perlu diheret bersama. UMNO sama seperti perkumpulan-perkumpulan manusia lain. Ia tidak akan sepi daripada dosa dan kelemahan. Kelemahan UMNO bermuhasabah dengan diri kini menjadi punca utama parti itu dan bangsa Melayu menjadi sasaran berbagai kecaman dan cemuhan.

Dah...kini kita akur akan kelemahan kita sendiri tetapi semangat kita masih kental kerana walaupun digugat dengan begitu hebat, UMNO dan bangsa Melayu semakin menyedari dan mengenali apa yang sebenarnya mencabar kesepaduan bangsa ini.

Buku UMNO dan bangsa Melayu terbuka untuk dibaca semua. Kita berani berhadapan dengan kesilapan dan kesalahan dan kita bangga dengan kekuatan itu.

TETAPI, di sebaliknya para pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat juga hanya manusia dan bukan malaikat. Mereka juga terdedah kepada keinginan, rasuah, rasa tamak, ego, kebanggaan, kronisme dan banyak lagi.

Apa yang berlaku sejak kebelakangan ini di Selangor dan Perak membuktikan kerapuhan topeng ketokohan dan 'kemuliaan' pemimpin PR.

Mengapa Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim sebagai Menteri Besar enggan mengarahkan wakil-wakil rakyat PR di Selangor mengisytiharkan harta masing-masing? Apakah dia sengaja cuba menyembunyikan sesuatu? Dan jika benar, apakah gerangannya?

Dan sebagai penggubal dan pengurus dasar sosial dan masyarakat yang diberi mandat oleh rakyat, apakah pendirian mereka terhadap limpahan bar, pub, alkoholisme, dadah, sindiket pelacuran, kelab-kelab gay, gengsterisme dan lain-lain?

Dan juga baru kelmarin kita dikejutkan dengan satu lagi jenayah ganas di Shah Alam...apakah yang dilakukan oleh MB Selangor? Apa yang lakukan oleh Khalid Samad? Kenapa sepi belaka? Apakah PR hanya lebih cenderong bermain politik semata-mata? Apa dah jadi dengan komitmen anti-rasuah mereka?

6 negeri, termasuk Wilayah Persekutuan daripada 14 bukan bilangan yang kecil.

 

What Bangsa Malaysia?

It tickles me to hear so many of us calling for a final sprint to cap the 'Bangsa Malaysia' idea and ideals.

Wake up! What Bangsa Malaysia are we talking about when there still exist vernacular schools in the likes of the Sekolah Tamil and Sekolah Cina? And in answering this extreme we DO NOT have sekolah Melayu anymore!

The Chinese and Indians still defend their rights for their own ethnic-based schools and yet in the face of all this we hear screams and rantigs for a Bangsa Malaysia to be put in place.

Unity does not neceessarily mean that one's racial identity must be sacrificed. Unity in the Malaysian context is about peaceful co-existence, acceptance (not tolerance) of the rights of the majority as stated in the Constitution.