I Would Rather Keep The Devil I Know

Hantu Laut

When I first read Robert Louis Stevenson's "A Strange Case of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde" I was still in my early teens.The book characterised a man with split personality or "multiple personality disorder". The leading character Dr Jackall from being the nicest person could transformed into the worse case of misanthropy with murderous tendencies.Knowing it was a work of fiction and being young and ignorant then I didn't believe that human beings could have such multiple personality.Later in my adult life I learned it is a mental disorder called psychopathology.In the worst case scenario they become serial killers.

The recent disruption of the Bar Council's public forum on 'Conversion to Islam" by protesters openly participated by some PKR and PAS leaders was a shocking revelation of human behaviour, how one can hide one true character.

Many Malaysians were euphoric and dreamt of utopia when Pakatan Rakyat , a loose coalition of PKR,PAS and DAP grabbed considerable number of seats from the BN (Barisan National) and brought the biggest upset in the nation elections history.The de facto leader of the oppositions Anwar Ibrahim was seen as a hero and a saviour to form an alternative government, one that promised to be fair to all Malaysians irrespective of race, colour and creed.

Is Islam really in danger if there were open discussions on inter-faith problems that have affected certain community in this multi-religious society or would the government rather allow it to be swept under the carpet and let it become the Indian disease, the intolerance of Hindu extremists toward other religions? Why weren't the protesters arrested for illegal assembly? Why did our leaders openly show support to the protesters and condemned the Bar Council?

The statements made by the Deputy Prime Minister and other ministers lending support instead of condemning the aggressive actions and uncalled for behaviour of the protesters storming the forum are most regrettable.Even more regrettable were the actions of the police by allowing the protesters to carry out their action, abhorrent to any civilised society.The use of racial slurs by some of the protesters shouldn't have been tolerated by the police. They should have been arrested for causing public nuisance.

This disgusting display of intolerance could have turned ugly if not for the sensibility of the organisers to cut short the forum. Even worse some Molotov cocktails were found in the vicinity of the Bar Council building and one was thrown at the former house of the Bar Council President which is now occupied by ex-UMNO Minister Sharizat Abdul Jalil.

Can you blame non-Muslims that labelled Islam as a violent religion? It is not the religion to be blamed, it is those idiotic Muslims who are ignorant of their own religion and try to impose their will on others.

The active participation of YB Zulkifli Nordin of PKR and YB Salehudin Ayob of PAS shows they are no different from the government that many Malaysians wanted to change.We may be jumping from the frying pan into the fire if the same mental conditions prevail in Pakatan Rakyat.

The hypocrites in PAS have shown their true colour by protesting against the show by Indonesian artiste Inul Daratiste and cited eroticism as the reason.The authorities eventually gave in and cancelled the show.They have made many similar protests in the past on both foreign and some local artistes.Lately, they protested against allowing Avril Lavigne to perform in the country and cited that it would be an insult to our Merdeka freedom fighters, whatever that meant.Didn't know we have freedom fighters to fight for our merdeka.I thought we gained independence through negotiation.

This bunch of hypocrites would continue to hassle the government and sad to say the government, to please them, would succumb to their demands and the country would eventually go to the dogs. What do you think would happen if they were part of the government?

In their discussions with UMNO to strengten Malay unity Nik Aziz was against it but insisted that should there be corporation than both UMNO and PAS be dissolved and a new party to be formed based on Islamic sharia and hudud laws.While that may be an ideal situation for Malay unity it also shows the insincerity of PAS leaders who find it quite alright to sleep in the same bed as DAP and PKR without asking for dissolution of those parties.On which Islamic principles they stand on?

DAP will not be able to control the hypocrites and extremists in PAS and PKR.Anwar Ibrahim will submit to their whim and fancy to keep the coalition together and himself as prime minister. Without PAS his government will collapse.

I would rather keep the devil I know than the one that would become my worst nightmare.

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Below is Anwar Ibrahim's pledge:

08 AUGUST 2008, PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA

[read online] [watch video]

I promise that under a Pakatan Rakyat government Malaysians will never again be subjected to such gross abuse of executive power as we are again witnessing today. Arbitrary arrest and detention, frivolous investigation and malicious prosecutions shall be a thing of the past. Police officers and prosecutors who launch conspiracies to defame and humiliate the innocent will be severely punished. The use of police powers as well the office of the Attorney General to persecute political opponents will be criminalized so as to ensure a healthy and vibrant democracy where dissent is not only tolerated but nurtured.

In this regard every Malaysian’s fundamental liberties will be treated as sacrosanct and safeguarded by a truly independent judiciary guided by principles of utmost integrity and an adherence to the spirit of the federal constitution.

The politically motivated trial launched against me will, Insha’Allah, be the last of its kind. No Malaysian will suffer from this cruel injustice ever again.

Yesterday’s events confirm my innocence from the charges that recently surfaced. The medical report and statutory declaration by Dr. Osman Abdul Hamid of the Pusrawi Hospital that surfaced on Thursday shatter lingering doubts as to whether the alleged act ever took place. Dr. Osman’s statement also confirms what we have already stated regarding deplorable actions by the police to fabricate evidence in a manner identical to the manipulation of my case in 1998. Anything short of a thorough investigation into the mishandling of this investigation would further tarnish the credibility of the police.

The doctor’s personal safety is a matter of deep concern to us. Material witnesses in high-profile cases in Malaysia have gone missing in the past such as the PI Balasubramanian. I applaud those brave individuals who have demonstrated their commitment to freedom and justice by coming forward with important evidence, and call upon the authorities to ensure their protection.

Yesterday in court we learned that the prosecution’s case has, in a manner similar to the botched trials of 1998, shape-shifted from a charge of assault to one of a consensual act. The conspiracy launched against me in the final week of June 2008 is falling apart. There is a hasty attempt by some to patch up glaring holes in the complainant’s testimony. This will certainly fail given the preponderance of evidence confirming my innocence.

The Prime Minister has actively involved himself in this matter in an attempt to derail the process of transformational change in Malaysia and stave off his own political demise. But in soiling his hands with this sordid matter he has deepened the crisis within his own administration. His most ardent supporters among the Malays have also expressed their disgust with the matter. Furthermore Prime Minister Badawi now faces investigation by the Anti Corruption Agency for his involvement in corruption and money politics.

The shadow of corruption and mismanagement of the economy darkens the legacy of his Premiership. Prime Minister Badawi has still offered no convincing explanation over the huge profits reaped by his family in the Oil For Food scandal at the expense of dying Iraqis.

I advise those around him to leave the sinking ship of his leadership while there is still a chance to do so.

Pakatan Rakyat’s reform agenda is firmly back on track and the New Dawn for Malaysia is well within reach. We will mount a unified campaign to win in Permatang Pauh with a solid majority encompassing that constituency’s diverse population. I look forward to entering Parliament on August 27th with the support of my friends in the coalition.

ANWAR IBRAHIM