TRUE MALAYS?

It is reported that PM Najib has announced the formation of a High Level Committee for Bumiputra Affairs, during the tabling of the 10th Malaysia Plan this morning (June 10th). This committee will be chaired by the PM himself whose purpose is to ‘plan, co-ordinate and monitor the implementation of the Bumiputra development agenda’.

I am of the view that this committee is redundant as it will duplicate UMNO’s role as the ‘custodian and protector of the Malay rights’ which the party have so vehemently defended. Or I am to believe that because the word Bumiputra is used, this then cannot be UMNO’s role; hence the establishment of the committee.

Whatever be the stated reason for the establishment of the committee, I do not see any usefulness of the committee. It is going to be another outfit like PERKASA, who is still unable to settle itself for what they precisely intend to do. There has been so much of talk that has not seen fruition to their demands. This committee will be the same, as PM Najib already has too many things in his hand, and by adding this one, I am afraid he will not have enough sleep, and will end up like the previous PM.

Now PERKASA’s boss Ibrahim Ali has suggested that the committee should comprised of TRUE MALAYS who understand Malay and Bumiputra issues. I cannot understand what and who are the TRUE MALAYS. Is this a new race that has just popped out from the sky? At least, what Ibrahim Ali can do to ease the confusion is to define what and who is a TRUE MALAY. And to let Ibrahim Ali know early, I certainly disqualify because I am the grandson of an immigrant from Padang, Sumatra. I am therefore a Minangkabau, not a TRUE MALAY. Certainly, this race called TRUE MALAY cannot be found in our constitution.

Now, let us not create more confusion over the issue of race and religion. Just stick to the word that we are Malaysian ……..1 Malaysia as PM Najib has propagated. And let us not hear that there is also TRUE CHINESE and TRUE INDIANS.

CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

THE ‘ALLAH’ ISSUE GETS WORSE BY THE DAY

Didn’t I say that I heard the word ‘Allah’ being uttered by Christians in a church in the rural outback of Long Rusu, Sarawak in the 60s’in an earlier posting? Now, after some strong words from Bumiputra and non-Bumiputra Christians in Sabah and Sarawak, Minister in the PMs’ Department Nazri Aziz, now says that it is alright for ‘Allah’ to be used by Christians in the two East Malaysian states, but not yet for Malaysian Christians in Peninsular Malaysia.

Why the double standards? Does this decision have anything to do with the likely political backlash by East Malaysian political parties that are affiliated to the BN, if ‘Allah’ is banned in the Bahasa Melayu bible used in the two states? What makes the Bumiputra and non-Bumiputra Christians in East Malaysia so different from their non-Bumiputra Christian brethrens in Peninsular Malaysia?

And JAKIM is firm in its declaration that the ruling not to use ‘Allah’ by Christians applies throughout the whole country, and not just for Peninsular Malaysia. What then will be Nazri’s next statement? Will he defer from the declaration made by JAKIM? And I just wonder too, why is Nazri getting involved in this issue? Isn’t this a matter that should rightly be handled by the Minister in PM’s Department in-charge of Islamic Affairs? Let us hear what he has got to say about this.

Come on Nazri, I think you have to admit that you are afraid that the BN will lose the support of its partners in Sabah and Sarawak, if you have said otherwise. If they do pull out of BN over this unsettled issue, you and the rest of the BN ministers will be without a job, as the strength of BN government is buttress in the BN alliance in these two East Malaysian states.

And despite more attempts to touch churches goes unabated, and even a Sikh temples for no obvious reason), Interior Minister Hishamuddin finds it most convenient to be out of the country, supposedly in search of peace and tranquility in Saudi Arabia with his cousin, the Prime Minister. Is Hishamuddin trying to seek a ‘fatwa’ from the Saudi King over the ‘Allah’ issue that is now splitting even the Malay community?

Never have we seen a large section of the Malay community, and including PAS so vehemently in support of the Malaysian Christians over the ‘Allah’ issue that clearly has brought this country into disrepute in the eyes of the international community. Malaysian Muslims that has been well known to the world as being moderates, have now to accept a tinted image.

I would conclude by saying that this whole affair has not been handled well by the government, and this is so obvious with so many conflicting statements made by our politicians. Now with eleven churches, one mosque and one Sikh temple vandalized and still counting, let us hear what IGP Musa Hassan has to say.

CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

WHERE ARE THE LEARNED MUFTI'S ?

I was with a Chinese friend yesterday evening for a casual meeting, and obviously he wasn't in a talking mood. The first thing he uttered to me was, “Arshad, what's becoming of our country?”. At once I knew what he was referring at, and sure enough, it was all about the controversial issue on the use of the word Allah in the Catholic weekly Herald that was ruled permissible by the High Court recently.

Following th High Court ruling, dissenting voices as well voices of moderation were heard, particularly from the Malays. Clearly, there is a split among the Malays themselves with regards to the ruling, predominantly from among politicians from both the political divide. But surprisingly, the state Muftis have remained mute over the issue, which in fact, they rightly should have been the authority to make any statements or announcement regarding this issue; not politicians.

I remembered way back in the mid sixties when I was deployed in Bakalalan, Sarawak where I, out of sheer curiosity listened to the Christian priest citing his Sunday sermons to a large gathering of local villagers in a small church at Long Rusu.. I could still remember, the priest had used the word Allah in his sermons, and I wasn't at all surprised. I knew that the priest who gave his sermons in Bahasa Melayu was making reference to the same Allah that I worship as a Muslim. If I had come across Christians using the word Allah in their recitation of the Bible that was written in Bahasa Melayu back in the 60's, I see no reason why it is not allowable now.

I am not a staunchly religious person, but I do know that the word Allah is universally used by the three great religions that had its origins in Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). I am also reminded of a statement made by Kelantan Menteri Besar Ustaz Nik Aziz that the word Allah is not the privilege of the Malays; rather it is for mankind. So why this fuss by some shallow minded Malays who objects so vehemently the use of the word Allah by our Christians brothers. And if one were to read further the life and times of Prophet Muhammad pbuh, did he not assured the Christians of protection? Did he not declare all Christians as his allies and equated their ill treatment with violating God's covenant? So read my dear Malay brothers, and it is your sheer ignorance of our great religion had caused this unfortunate misunderstanding between us and the other Malaysian races.

I now would like to personally appeal to all revered Muftis to say something that can save the Malays and our religion from being hijacked by some Malay misfits who claim to be more religious than others. If only Ahmad Deedat was alive, he could put this fuss to an amicable end. .


CRSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION