Thursday, July 16, 2009

Khairy Jamaluddin's Un-Islamic Al-Islam

Hantu Laut

They say ignorance is bliss.Is this a mixture of ignorance, stupidity and religious bigotry.I hope the police arrest those involved and deal with them severely.What they have done is dangerous and can cause religious upheaval for spreading falsehood.The government should take a serious view of this case and not be seen as taking it lightly and the magazine should be reprimanded or given a show cause.All right thinking Muslims should condemn this sort of behaviour.While we respect our own religion, we should also respect other religions.

These ignorant narrow-minded bigots either pretended not to know or are truly ignorant and stupid not to know that there are many East Malaysians who look Malays but of the Christian faith and some even have Muslim names but are Christians and sermons in churches in Sabah and Sarawak are usually conducted in Bahasa Melayu for those who can't speak English.

I will not write anymore on the subject as Khairy Jamaluddin has said enough in his article below.


Un-Islamic Al-Islam?
The actions of a journalist from Al-Islam magazine
of going undercover to two Catholic Churches
during Sunday mass, consuming and spitting
the Holy Communion wafer - what Catholics
believe to be the flesh of Christ himself - out of
his mouth before photographing it, can only be
described as appalling and offensive. As Leader
of Barisan Nasional and UMNO Youth and as a
Muslim, I have no reservations whatsoever in
condemning this instance of unethical j
ournalism, grounded in both disrespect and
ignorance.

Needless to say, these actions are contrary to the goal
of an empathetic society that I have been promoting
as a way for Malaysians to progress as a people
from diverse backgrounds. Empathy requires
sound appreciation of one another's unique
cultures and sensitivities - it calls for us to
consider the perspectives of others before acting
in ways that may affect them.

It also violates the Islamic injuction for empathy,
plurality and respect, something made clear in
the Holy Quran Surah Al-Hujarat, verse 13:
"O Mankind! We created you from a single pair
of a male and a female, and made you into
nations and tribes so that you may know one
another".

The Islamic virtues of empathy, respect and
tolerance were obviously absent in both the
journalist and the magazine's editorial
team that sanctioned the publishing of the article
and the methods employed to gather information
over supposed cases of Muslims
converting to Catholicism/Christianity.

Everyone involved in the researching,
writing and publishing this article should have
considered the fact that Muslims already find it
offensive when non-Muslims do not
observe basic courtesies expected when in a
mosque, like taking off shoes and covering
heads. They should further imagine their own
reactions if someone went undercover in
their local mosques, pretend to worship as a
Muslim and made a mockery of congregation
prayer. I suspect Al-Islam failed to consider
the fact that the gravity of their own actions
were similar to this hypothetical situation
where the sanctity of the Muslim place and act
of worship are violated. And this is at the
heart of the problems we face as a
multi-cultural and multi-religious society - people
simply do not stop to think about another
community's legitimate interests and
sensitivities by positioning themselves from
another's perspective before acting. Read more...

Here's a joke of being ignorant or being stupid.

RELIGIOUS BOYFRIEND
A young man goes into a pharmacy and says to the pharmacist,

"Hello,
could you give me condom. I'm going to my girlfriends

for dinner and I
think I may be in with a chance!"

The pharmacist gives him the condom and as the young man is going out;
he returns and says, "Give me another condom because my girlfriend's
sister is very cute too. She always crosses her legs in a provocative
manner when she sees me and I think I might strike it lucky there too.
" The pharmacist gives him a second condom and as the boy is leaving he
turns back and says, "Go on, give me one more condom because my
girlfriend's mum is still pretty cute and when she sees me she always
makes eyes, and since she invited me for dinner, I think she is
expecting me to make a move!


During dinner, the young man is sitting with his girlfriend on his left,
the sister on his right and the mum facing him.
When the dad gets there, the boy lowers his head and starts praying,
"Dear Lord, bless this dinner and Thank you for all you give us."
A minute later the boy is still praying; "Thank you Lord for your
kindness."


Ten minutes go by and the boy is still praying, keeping his head down.
The others look at each other surprised and his girlfriend is even more
surprised than the others.

She gets close to the boy and says in his ear, "I didn't know you were
so religious." The boy replies, ......
.........
..............
..................
......................
.........................
.............................
.................................
......................................
.............................................
....................................................
................................................................
.......................................................................

"I didn't know your dad was a pharmacist!"


The Aftermath Of Manik Urai:A Prognosis

Hantu Laut

What will be the aftermath of the Manik Urai by-election?

I expect a few things to happen that both PAS and UMNO have learned something from and would be making changes to their political strategy.

The result of the by-election must have sent shock waves within the central power in PAS.The doyen of Islamist PAS in Kelantan Nik Aziz overestimated his popularity against the preservation of Malay political power which UMNO has successfully sold to the Kelantanese in Manik Urai.The trend will continue in most Malay majority constituencies and any by-election in those areas, even if it was held by Pakatan, would be for UMNO takings.As usual Pakatan leaders, short of any better ideas to tell their supporters, accused UMNO of vote buying.Although, money might have been spent in Manik Urai, the voters change of heart might not have been for that consideration.

From now on UMNO will be taking full advantage of the new political awakening among the Malays.They will make an example of Manik Urai the benefits of going with the BN government.Despite the loss, I believe Manik Urai will get the new bridge and other developments funded by the Federal government.

It would be foolish of UMNO not to take this opportunity to prepare a long-term plan to make further inroads in Kelantan in preparation of the next general elections.Kelantan probably has the highest concentration of Malay voters.The unity talk mooted by PAS would become less important as UMNO gradually renew its influence in Malay dominated areas.

UMNO biggest problem is its other coalition partners in Peninsula Malaysia, particularly MCA, Gerakan and MIC. All three are suffering from credibility problem.Majority of Chinese have abandoned MCA and Gerakan for DAP.Gerakan was almost decimated in the March 2008 General Elections.MIC suffered the same fate when Hindraf activists took to the streets demanding equal treatment for Indians whom they claimed were discriminated and marginalised.The Indians are slowly recovering from their infatuation with Hindraf and majority are likely to return to the BN's fold in the next general elections.

Being a big minority and one that would take more time and more difficult for BN to recover would be the Chinese votes.The breakup of the Chinese votes depended on two factors, the break up of Pakatan Rakyat, which is likely to happen or the effectiveness of Najib's 1 Malaysia concept.More need to be done to convince non-Malays that 1 Malaysia is not a mere slogan but a serious and sincere attempt to correct the imbalance of the 'dacing'.

Sabah and Sarawak could be considered safe states for the BN but all depend on how Najib handles the funding for development projects in the states. The oppositions have not made much inroad here and are not likly to in the near future.In politics anything can happen.Changes can happen with the blink of the eye.

What's happening in Penang, Kedah and Selangor under Pakatan didn't go unnoticed in Sabah and Sarawak.The squabbles between the coalition partners showed the amateurishness of Pakatan administration.If they can't get their act together at state level how could they be able to administer the Federal government as effectively as the BN.The suspicion, discords and infighting among the partners could make the nation and the people suffer the consequence.

Penang which started as a model state for Pakatan is now showing a very untidy picture.The suspicion and squabbling between DAP and PKR is tearing the coalition apart.It would be a matter of time before the umbilical cord burst.

The sacking of PKR councillor by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng unilaterally got PKR Penang leaders on the boil. The handling of the Kampung Buah Pala land crisis by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng left much to be desired.All he did was keep blaming previous BN administration for the crisis.It reflects his inexperience, ineptitude and that he is not an astute problem solver.Hindraf is now championing the squatters demand of right of abode and accused the state government of neglecting its election promises and accused the CM of racial discrimination because the villagers of Kampong Puah Pala were mostly Indians. Even Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Guan Eng almost had a tiff when Anwar announced the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Fairus Khairuddin without Lim's prior knowledge.By right of protocol it should be Lim who should announce Fairus resignation as DCM.Anwar is not part of the Penang government and should have restrained himself from getting involved as far as the DCM position is concerned.

In Kedah, DAP has pulled out its sole represenatative from the PAS controlled Kedah state government over a trivial matter. The demolition of a pig abattoir.If they can fight over such trivial issue what chance have they got to resolve much bigger issue at Federal level.

In Selangor, a new problem is brewing which could also split the coalition.Again it's PKR versus DAP.A row broke out between PKR vice-president Azmin Ali and DAP Theresa Kok over his call for the state exco to be reshuffled. Azmin is unhappy with the line-up but rumours has it that Azmin is interested in Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim's job.He thinks Khalid lacked political experience and have made unforgiveable blunders in administring the state.Adding to the already tense atmosphere was another crisis with PKR assemblyman Wee Choo Keong and DAP.He alleged a state executive councillor, without naming name, of having links with the underworld.Ronnie Liu of DAP, probably feeling the heat, demanded that Wee name the person of which Wee says he will at the appropriate time.The police has begun investigation into the allegation.

There is no mutual understanding in this group but only mutual distrust for each other.It's a matter of time before a coup de grace ends this marriage of convenience.

That may not be the end of the story.After all that, UMNO and the BN is not as safe as one would like to think.The breaking up of Pakatan before the next general elections doesn't mean the BN will roam home without a hitch.

There is a serious wave of discontent among the people particularly in Peninsula Malaysia against the BN government. The corruptions, the abuses of power, the ills in the police force, leaders who indulged in self preservation more than caring for the nation, the powerful and corrupt who flaunt their ill-gotten wealth openly were major causes of discontentment among ordinary Malaysians of every race, colour and creed.

Prime Minister Najib has this opportunity to repair the damage and bring back some semblance of honesty into the administration.

Pakatan is certainly not a good alternative but if the people continue to distrust and hate the BN than Pakatan, short of a better choice, could become the accidental government.

Than Malaysians will have a taste of what real bad governance is.

Read also:

The Two-Sided Implications of Manek Urai

The other side of crap

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Pakatan Won The Battle But Losing The War


News image






PAS - 5348

UMNO- 5283
Majority:65

Hantu Laut

The 2000 majority arrogantly predicted by PAS and Pakatan is now an embarrassment of the first order. As far as PAS and Pakatan are concerned they won the battle but is losing the war.PAS barely scrape through, it won by the skin of its teeth.A 65 votes majority in its so-called impregnable stronghold was a disaster.It's a moral victory for BN and a booster for Najib's leadership.

Read this most ridiculous of statement in Malaysian Insider "Tonight’s results will help strengthen Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat’s position in the Islamist party against rival factions who are keen on working more closely with Umno" The full story here.

Instead, it should read "Tonight's results is a slap in Nik Aziz's face that the voters have shown their unhappiness against Nik Aziz's stance of the unity talk with UMNO"

Those in PAS who espoused unity talk with UMNO will have a field day.

As I have said in my earlier post, narrowing the gap, is a reflection of the growing support for Najib's leadership.

Manik Urai: Narrowing The Gap, No Bridge No Oil Royalty ?

Hantu Laut

It looks like Manik Urai will not get the bridge nor the oil royalty.PAS is set to capture the seat again.The Kelantanese were unmoved by UMNO and BN offering a new bridge for the kampung and further development if they win. If there were to be any consolation for Prime Minister Najib it would be the narrowing of the gap.

If PAS won, it is a vote for PAS not Pakatan.PAS has a stranglehold over the constituency and had only lost to UMNO once.

Most constituents eke out their living from rubber and fishing. The low education level and illiteracy among the adult population is advantageous to PAS.That's why they have no problem choosing a fishmonger as their candidate.Education takes a back seat.

To the Kelantanese PAS is Islam and Islam is PAS. In spite of PAS stance associating with secular party like DAP and PKR the people of Kelantan are probably the most parochial and insular among all Malaysians, they still accept PAS change of political doctrine.With the Kelantanese Islam and Kelantan come first and among the older generation UMNO is viewed as outsider.

UMNO only chance of making a breakthrough in Kelantan would be through cultivation of the younger generation.Those disenchanted with PAS for lack of development and job opportunities.Those politically guided not only by religion but a balance of both, religion and want of social, political and economic improvement of their existence.

BN losing Manik Urai will not change the status quo, it's back to square one for both PAS and UMNO.


Narrowing of the majority would be a positive sign for Najib's leadership.

Will Manik Urai be a turning point?