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BN Only Talks, But PAS Transforms
Malaysia in the Era of Globalization #68
Negara Berkebajikan bukan agenda baru PAS
Pimpinan baru PAS menggerunkan Umno
‘Self-correcting’ PAS is Umno’s worst nightmare
Trim the excesses and wastage

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 11:28 PM PDT

By Kee Thuan Chye, Malaysian Digest

PAS has never been so appealing to non-Malays as it is right now. Its just concluded muktamar (general assembly) has seen the rise of the progressives, and PAS president Hadi Awang has redefined the party's goal of setting up an Islamic state to that of a welfare state. In essence, they mean almost the same thing, and Hadi himself has acknowledged that the difference is merely semantic, but "welfare state" has a friendlier ring to it to non-Muslims, and even some Muslims. It also connotes concern with earthly matters, which in these days of rising prices and inflation are more pressingly relevant to most Malaysians, especially those whose income is low.

This change of emphasis bodes well for PAS as it shows the party's sensitivity to the times. Its delegates exhibited awareness of political realities by voting in more of the progressives and diluting the influence of the conservative ulamas. It should cheer non-Malays to see the return of Husam Musa as vice-president and also to see among the Central Committee names like Khalid Samad, who has gained the respect of many non-Malays for his intelligent and inclusive stance, Mohd Hatta Ramli, Kamaruddin Jaffar, Mujahid Yusof Rawa, Dzulkefly Ahmad. I know of a Chinese person who can listen to Dzulfekly discourse on religion for hours!

PAS' biggest step towards change is probably the election of Mohamad Sabu as its new deputy president, making this the first time a non-ulama has taken that position since the party adopted the Kepimpinan Ulama (Leadership by the Ulama) policy in 1985. Mat Sabu is well-regarded by the non-Malays. He is a powerful orator and he is expected to be an effective counter to Umno's attempts at brainwashing the Malays with irresponsible propagandizing. His inclusion in PAS' top leadership will be an asset to Pakatan Rakyat as the coalition braces for the next general election.

To be sure, the general election could have been a factor influencing the muktamar voting outcome as PAS would need to consolidate itself as a party that can gain support. Party members know that if it is to present itself as an alternative to Umno, it will need votes not only from the Malays but also the non-Malays. But such an agenda does not detract from affirming the party's other attributes and the course it has set for itself.

Hadi has announced that PAS will remain with Pakatan, which is a boost to the coalition and a blow to Barisan Nasional (BN), particularly Umno. Despite the recent overtures that have been made by Umno to PAS to join BN and form a "unity government", PAS has rejected them outright. Its spiritual adviser Nik Aziz Nik Mat disclosed last month that Umno offered PAS three ministerial posts to cross over. At the muktamar, Hadi said in no uncertain terms that a merger with Umno would lead to narrow communalism whereas Islam recognizes the existence of plural societies.

On the whole, he spoke out strongly against Umno, excoriating it for practicing "corruption, money politics, slander, racism, lying and every other filthy act that pollutes young minds". He accused Umno of having "created a flock of Malays and Muslims who are blind as a result of money politics and excessive entertainment that has made them weak and consigned them to a state of stupor".

Apart from all that, PAS' rejection of the offer achieves a dual purpose – it proves itself to be morally superior to Umno, and it shows that it stands by its partners. This confirms the perception the public already has of PAS – that it is a party with integrity, a party whose faith is unshakable and whose commitment is solid. Even if you don't like it or agree with it, you have to respect it.

That its party elections were free of money politics already speaks well for it and its members; that the party has now clearly told Umno off gives a feel-good twist to current politics. This is something truly welcome when so much that has transpired in recent weeks has been so ugly, sordid and plain dirty.

What automatically springs to mind in this regard is the sex video antic pulled by the Datuk T trio to implicate Pakatan leader Anwar Ibrahim in a compromising position. Although the underhanded attempt by the trio has actually turned against Umno – now publicly perceived, rightly or wrongly, to have been involved in one way or another – it has nonetheless tainted Malaysian politics and given the country a negative image.

To its credit, the PAS Ulama Council has now come out to call the use of sex videos for political slander "a sin". It also berated the BN government for allowing the sex video to be aired on television and excerpts to be published in the print media. "We condemn the silent stance taken by the official government ulama," it declared. This move has further put Umno on the defensive.

Apart from providing the feel-good factor, PAS also shows it is rising to the need for better governance, social justice and national healing. Its welfare state idea has been around for some years already, but now seems the right time to promote it.

As Husam spells it out, the welfare state is about following the rule of law, establishing a fair system, sustaining strong finance, and providing equality to all the races in the country. "One of the components of a welfare state is saving the country's revenue, which can only be achieved with good governance. The country's extra revenue can then be returned to the people," he explains.

Hadi reinforces this by referring to the current Government practice of going into business through government-linked companies (GLCs) and dividing the profits among its cronies while burdening the losses on the people by way of taxes. "PAS must remove the culture of obtaining revenue by way of burdening the people, which is the hallmark of the Umno-BN government," he advocates.

Of course, PAS needs to explain in greater detail to the people its vision of the welfare state. And it needs to do so before the next general election rolls around. But for now, it seems a better deal than what the BN Government is dishing out – rising prices of essential goods due to higher costs of fuel and electricity, and the prospect of a goods and services tax (GST).

It's ironic that for all the Government's talk about transformation, including political transformation, it is PAS that has transformed, while Umno and its BN partners remain dinosaurs, plugging outdated racial politics. They continue to play on Malay insecurity and to threaten the Chinese with no representation in government if they don't support the MCA. They are still dominated by warlords, and their members continue to hanker after projects.

In view of all this, when the reckoning comes at the next general election, which side should the voters stake their future on?

Malaysia in the Era of Globalization #68

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 09:21 PM PDT

Many Malays blithely take on many wives on the stupid pretext that because our prophet had multiple wives, Muslims too should do likewise. Why, of all the many sterling qualities of our holy prophet (pbuh), present day Malays choose to imitate this particular trait?

By M. Bakri Musa

Chapter 8: Culture, Institutions, and Leadership

The Blight of Broken Families

I am appalled and saddened at the statistics on the family, especially among Malays. The number of teenage marriages is truly obscene. These young girls are not ready for motherhood. Think of the potential for personal growth thwarted by such early marriages. Malaysia must enact a minimum age of at least 18 for marriage. The divorce rates too are horrifying. These are actual divorces and do not include such cases of de facto divorces, that is, when Malay husbands simply abandon their wives or take on multiple wives. When one examines the structure and dynamics of such abandoned families, they are no different from divorced households. The children of families of multiple wives are just as neglected as if the father had divorced their mother.

I am baffled and horrified that these Malays think that they can take care of their many children in absentia. There was a case in Johore where a man sired literally dozens of children through multiple wives. How can he be an effective father to his brood? Muhyiddin Yassin, a current federal cabinet minister and an UMNO senior vice president, has 48 siblings! His father, a respected ulama, had four wives. What kind of an example was he trying to set? If he wanted to emulate our holy prophet, why did he choose this particular trait? How could he have bonded with his multitude of children? The notorious terrorist Osama bin Ladin came from a family of 54 children! His father had numerous wives. No telling how many more children his old man would have had he lived to a ripe old age! Totally irresponsible! He made a mockery of the institution of marriage and family. I doubt he could even remember his children's names, much less their birthdays and favorite toys. It is no surprise that Osama, like his father, also has multiple wives, an anecdotal affirmation of my earlier statement.

A rapidly emerging and pernicious influence on the Malaysian family scene is the widespread practice of delegating child rearing to maids. Every year the country imports thousands of illiterate women from poor neighboring countries to be domestic help. The dangers here are twofold. One, young Malaysians are fast turning into spoiled brats with their whims taken care of immediately by these maids. Two, these maids may unconsciously impart an alien value system on the young. It is one thing to have maids do the household chores so mothers could have some quality time to spend with their children, it is quite another to leave child rearing to foreigners.

If Malaysia were to import foreign workers, I would prefer them to be skillful programmers, creative musicians, and talented scientists. At least they would then impart their special talents onto locals. All these unskilled maids do is to make Malaysians feel smugly superior. It seems that the new status symbol in Malaysia is the number of household maids. The Australians have a per capita income considerably higher than Malaysians, yet they do not feel the need to import maids. The Australians have a totally different cultural value on child rearing.

I have only three children yet my wife and I had a tough time coping with their homework plus all the problems of growing up. Many Malays blithely take on many wives on the stupid pretext that because our prophet had multiple wives, Muslims too should do likewise. Why, of all the many sterling qualities of our holy prophet (pbuh), present day Malays choose to imitate this particular trait? They forgot that when Mohammad (pbuh) had multiple wives it was an expression of his charity, to take care of widows and orphans during times of social stress as in war, a far cry from the priapic propensities of today's Malays.

The Chinese culture too has its own version of broken families: the habit of taking on concubines. With modern laws recognizing the children of such unions as legitimate heirs, such practices are now declining. The only redeeming aspect of communism in China is that it got rid of the concubinage.

Malaysia should emulate Turkey and Tunisia and ban polygamy, or if that raises the ire of fundamentalist Muslims, place strong disincentives. I suggest that before anyone takes on another wife, he must have a trust fund of RM 100,000 for the benefit of each child he already has. There are just too many irresponsible fathers even among the educated class. And divorced fathers must pay child support. In America, through court order, the paychecks of errant fathers are garnished to benefit their abandoned children.

Sadly, the Shari'a court system that has jurisdiction over family affairs of Muslims is a misogynist institution. Its record in protecting children and abandoned wives is abominable. One solution would be to give Muslim couples and families the option of choosing the civil court system if any one party requests it. Were this to happen, the monopoly of the Shari'a would be broken and then we would know how much faith people have in it. That would also serve as a stimulus for much-needed reforms of the system.

One critical area in need of great reform is divorce laws. The era when Muslim husbands could abandon their wives by simply declaring, "I divorce thee" three times (talak), makes a mockery of the sanctity of marriage. It takes a lot to get married in the first place, and divorce should not be undertaken lightly. Even more degrading to the institution of the family is the acceptance by the Shari'a of divorce pronouncements made by husbands on their cellular phones! The divorce provisions of the Shari'a must be reformed to reflect present day norms of gender equality.

Strengthen the family. This is not a women's issue; it concerns everyone. Besides, it is the right thing to do. A stable family is the foundation of a strong society. Malaysia spends billions in trying to correct its myriad social pathologies, and is losing much more because of the lost potential of her blighted citizens. More resources must be diverted to strengthening the institution of the family. I am truly gratified that many Malaysian leaders beginning with Tun Razak had exemplary family lives. Both Mahathir and his present chosen successor, Abdullah Badawi, have not only carried on this fine tradition but they are also one of the few Malays who choose not to have multiple wives or large families.

There is in America today a growing appreciation that the failure of many minority groups to advance, despite affirmative actions and civil rights legislations, is attributable to the decline of the family in that subculture. Today, a Black child born into an intact family, that is one with a father and mother, is a definite rarity. Unfortunately there is no respite from this tragic trend. This sad reality is finally dawning on enlightened Black leaders. They are now desperately trying to reverse this trend by strengthening the family. Lest anyone would ascribe ugly racial undertones to these observations, this same negative trend is also seen among Whites. And as so wisely pointed out by Moynihan, at the turn of the 19th Century the same social pathologies seen in Blacks and Hispanics today were also seen among Irish immigrants. At that time it was the abrupt transition from country to city life compressed within a generation that was so immensely disruptive. Such a social milieu gave rise to the wild Irish slums of Boston and New York with their drunkenness, corruption, family disorganization, juvenile delinquency, truancy, and other social pathologies.

Malays today are undergoing a similar disrupting transition from a tranquil rural kampong life to a hectic urban one; all compressed within a generation. Such rapid changes take their toll on traditional institutions like the family. Thus it should not be a surprise that Malays are experiencing such social turmoil as reflected by the alarming rates of truancy, school dropouts, and divorce rates.

Despite a generation of affirmative actions and other special set-aside programs in America, Blacks and other minorities still lag behind. Well meaning legislations cannot undo or reverse the damage done by the disintegration of the family. Similarly in Malaysia, after more than a generation of ever increasing and more generous special privileges, Malays are still lagging. Sadly, many Malay leaders are falling back on the same old stereotype and clichés to explain this failure. I suggest that Malays still lag despite preferential treatment because the institution of the Malay family is being severely stressed and threatened. Unless the institution of the family is strengthened, no amount of special programs will help. There is simply no substitute for a strong, stable, and intact family.

Next: Leadership

Negara Berkebajikan bukan agenda baru PAS

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 05:44 PM PDT

Sebab itu tidak menghairankan sekiranya pemimpin Umno menyifatkan tindakan PAS mengutarakan matlamat 'Membangun Negara Berkebajikan' itu sebagai menggugurkan misi perjuangan menubuhkan Negara Islam.

Mohd Nasir Awang, Harakahdaily

Nampak sangat masih ramai yang tidak faham konsep Negara Islam. Justeru, tidak pelik mengapa setiap kali kalimah itu disebut, dapat kita dengar dan baca komen dan reaksi negatif serta tidak munasabah dari khalayak umum.

Amat mendukacitakan apabila tanggapan serong terhadap Negara Islam bukan hanya datang daripada orang bukan Islam. Ia bahkan turut terpacul dari mulut orang-orang Islam sendiri.

Oleh kerana pihak paling akrab kepada kalimah itu ialah PAS, maka pihak paling gemar mempertikai dan mempersendakan konsep Negara Islam setiap kali ia dibual bicarakan ialah para pemimpin dan penjuak Umno.

Mereka terlalu angkuh di tampuk kuasa sehingga sanggup menganggap konsep pemerintahan berteraskan agama suci murni itu suatu ancaman kepada hegemoni kuasa Barisan Nasional (BN).

Sentimen politik kepartian yang terlalu menebal di kalangan mereka pula menjadi tembok penghalang untuk mereka sekurang-kurangnya membuka sedikit minda dan memberi ruang untuk penjelasan pihak lain mengenai kewajaran menjadikan hukum dan peraturan Tuhan sebagai dasar pemerintahan.

Mereka terlalu angkuh untuk memahami susur galur perjuangan PAS, jauh sekali untuk diharapkan menghayati bual bicara para pemimpin parti Islam ini sejak sekian lama.

Sebab itu apabila Presiden PAS, Datuk Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang memilih ungkapan 'Membangun Negara Berkebajikan' sebagai tema ucapan dasarnya tahun ini, banyak pihak yang seakan hilang punca lalu mengulasnya secara sembrono dan tidak ketahuan hala.

Mereka seolah-olah baru pertama kali mendengar ungkapan tersebut dari mulut para pemimpin PAS. Justeru ada yang secara boros terus menyimpulkan kononnya PAS telah berubah haluan perjuangan.

PAS dikatakan tidak lagi berhasrat menubuhkan Negara Islam, sebaliknya menukar matlamat perjuangannya kepada sebuah Negara Berkebajikan pula.

"Saya melihat penolakan konsep Negara Islam satu isyarat jelas kepada rakyat bahawa PAS sanggup menggadai prinsip demi meraih kemenangan politik," ujar Ketua Pemuda Umno, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar.

PAS dikatakan sudah lari dari prinsip perjuangan asal dan dikatakan hilang pedoman. Bahkan ada yang menuduh PAS menjual agama semata-mata kerana mahu mendapatkan pengaruh dan kuasa.

"PAS sudah terpengaruh dengan DAP menyebabkan mereka sanggup menjual agama demi mencapai matlamat untuk mendapatkan pengaruh dan kuasa, dan kalau soal Negara Kebajikan, BN sudah lama buat," ulas Ahli Majlis Tertinggi Umno, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam.

Ketua Menteri Melaka itu memang terkenal dengan sifat suka 'cakap lepas'. Sepertimana para pemimpin Umno lain, beliau juga ada tabiat suka membuat kenyataan secara boros, sembrono dan tanpa usul periksa. Sebab itu kekadang ada kenyataannya yang kedengaran lebih dungu daripada pelajar sekolah!

Para pemimpin dan penjuak Umno bukan faham sangat pun apa itu Negara Islam. Mereka malah tidak pun sempat meneliti konsep Negara Berkebajikan dibentangkan Presiden PAS itu, tetapi tetap mahu mengulas berdasarkan kejahilan mereka.

Sebab itu tidak menghairankan sekiranya pemimpin Umno menyifatkan tindakan PAS mengutarakan matlamat 'Membangun Negara Berkebajikan' itu sebagai menggugurkan misi perjuangan menubuhkan Negara Islam.

Mereka memang tidak faham dan bercakap semata-mata atas serakah dan sentimen politik yang sempit. Lalu ada yang kata PAS berbuat demikian kerana takut hilang sokongan rakan sekutu dalam Pakatan Rakyat.

"Abdul Hadi tidak sebut soal Negara Islam kerana takut kepada pemimpin DAP, Karpal Singh dan Lim Kit Siang. Presiden PAS lebih nak jaga hati DAP. Ini satu tragedi dalam sejarah di mana PAS kini tersungkur dan menyembah DAP," itu pula ulasan Presiden Perkasa, Datuk Ibrahim Ali.

Kesemua kenyataan pemimpin Umno dan polemik Negara Berkebajikan yang sengaja cuba dibentuk media arus perdana talibarut BN adalah berbekalkan fahaman yang cetek terhadap konsep Negara Islam.

Di sana turut terserlah kedangkalan mereka mengenai titih baris perjuangan PAS. Konsep itu sebenarnya sudah bersebati di kalangan pendokong parti ini sejak sekian lama. Ia bukan ungkapan baru dicipta, jauh sekali untuk dikatakan ekoran mahu menyesuaikan diri dengan kehendak rakan-rakan dalam Pakatan Rakyat, khususnya DAP.

Sesiapa yang benar-benar ikhlas mahu mengesahkan hakikat itu sebenarnya tidak perlu memusatkan sebegitu banyak pengkajian. Cukup sudah sedikit usaha meneliti kembali beberapa Ucapan Dasar Presiden PAS sebelum ini. Di sana sebenarnya sudah terakam sebagai bukti bertulis betapa konsep Negara Berkebajikan sudah pun menjadi bahan bual bicara pemimpin dan pendokong PAS sejak dulu.

Ia dijadikan dua subtopik di dalam ucapan Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi pada 2007 bertemakan "Selamatkan Demokrasi, Tegakkan Keadilan'. Konsep Negara Berkebajikan dilontarkan sebagai penyelesaian kepada peningkatan bebanan hidup rakyat dan kebobrokan pemerintahan yang ada.

Tuan Guru Presiden juga mengungkap kejayaan pemerintahan PAS di Kelantan dan sepenggal di Terengganu sebagai contoh apa yang telah mampu dilakukan parti ini dalam merealisasikan konsep Negara Berkebajikan, "mengikut bidang kuasa kerajaan negeri yang terhad".

Perlu diingat bahawa pada tahun itu belum ada gagasan Pakatan Rakyat. PAS belum bersatu secara rasmi atau terikat dengan dua lagi parti, KeADILan dan DAP. Justeru, mana mungkin untuk dikatakan kemunculan konsep 'Negara Berkebajikan' adalah kerana meraikan pendirian dua parti rakan itu?

Pembuktian konsep itu secara amali disebut sekali lagi dalam ucapan dasar bertajuk 'PAS Untuk Semua' pada 2008.

"Walau pun menerima tekanan yang sedemikian, sehingga kini kerajaan negeri Pakatan Rakyat telah dapat menunaikan sebahagian besar janji-janji pilihan raya yang bertemakan 'Negeri Berkebajikan' seperti pelaksanaan takaful kafalah di Kelantan, pembekalan air percuma di Selangor, penyerahan hak milik tanah di Perak dan cukai tanah di Kedah yang dikurangkan," baca ucapan itu.

Soalnya, apakah Negara Berkebajikan ini suatu konsep amat berbeza dengan gagasan Negara Islam? Itulah yang menuntut pemahaman yang betul dari kita semua, khususnya mereka yang gemar mempersoalkan apa juga yang dilontarkan PAS.

Sebetulnya, dua konsep ini perkara sama. Mungkin lebih tepat dikatakan bahawa Negara Berkebajikan merupakan salah satu ciri atau sifat kepada Negara Islam. Bukankah ia telah diperjelaskan para pemimpin PAS sebelum ini?

Rasanya ia antara perkara termuat di dalam Memorandum Negara Islam yang pernah dikemukakan parti sedekad lalu. Almarhum Datuk Fadzil Mohd Noor merakamkan perkara ini dalam ucapan dasarnya bertajuk 'Memantap Iltizam, Menyemarakkan Kebangkitan' pada 2002.

Beliau memperincikan tujuh perkara yang disifatkannya sebagai teras utama sebuah Negara Islam. Salah satu teras itu ialah Negara Berkebajikan yang jenuh diperkatakan kini.

"Pemerintahan Islam pada sifat penghayatannya menekankan aspek khidmat dan kebajikan sehingga apa yang dikatakan dengan pemerintahan Islam adalah ketika lahir di sana sebuah Negara Berkebajikan.

"Pada sudut 'worldview' dan falsafahnya, penghayatan pemerintahan Islam itu adalah bertujuan untuk memakmurkan atau mengisti'markan mukabumi ini dengan kebajikan dan makruf serta mengelakkan kerosakan, pembaziran dan kemusnahan terhadap seluruh makhluk di atas mukabumi ini termasuk alam sekitar," ucapan Almarhum dipetik.

Nah! Bukankah sudah terang lagi bersuluh bahawa apa yang sengaja cuba dipertikaikan sesetengah pihak kini sebenarnya sudah lama diperkatakan PAS?

Ia bukan suatu kompromi atau tindakan mengalah yang boleh disifatkan merugikan perjuangan PAS. Jauh sekali untuk dikatakan PAS telah menggadai prinsip perjuangan, semata-mata kerana tidak menyebutnya sebagai Negara Islam.

Ia sebenarnya suatu kebijaksanaan yang menyerlahkan sifat keanjalan dan kesyumulan Islam yang mampu disesuaikan dengan perkembangan dunia. Konsep Negara Berkebajikan didokong Pakatan Rakyat.

Ia menjadi sebahagian perkara disebut di dalam Buku Jingga yang merupakan dokumen dipersetujui bersama parti-parti pakatan pembangkang, termasuk KeADILan dan DAP. Ertinya, agenda PAS sudah disesuaikan dalam bentuk yang dapat diterima rakan-rakan tanpa ragu dan pertikaian lagi. Bukankah itu suatu keuntungan kepada perjuangan Islam?

"Kita mulakan dengan perlaksanaan Negara Berkebajikan. Ia ada dalam Islam dan al-Quran. Dalam al-Quran tidak sebut Negara Islam, ia sebut Negara Berkebajikan," kata Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi dalam sidang media selepas menyampaikan ucapan dasarnya, Jumaat lalu.

Pimpinan baru PAS menggerunkan Umno

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 05:41 PM PDT

Dengan menobatkan Mohamad Sabu, YB Salahuddin Ayub, YB Husam Musa dan YB Mahfudz Omar ke barisan kedua dan ketiga di dalam hiraki kepimpinan PAS, bermakna para perwakilan terus memperkasakan gabungan kepimpinan ulama dan profesional di dalam parti. Sekali gus, para perwakilan menghantar isyarat-isyarat berikut kepada UMNO-BN:

Dr Rosli Yaacop, Harakahdaily

Sebagai seorang ahli PAS seumur hidup, saya tidak mahu sesiapa pun memimpin PAS kecuali orang-orang yang bertaqwa. Apabila ulama ("berpendidikan aliran agama") yang dipilih perwakilan memimpjn PAS, biarlah ulama itu ulama yang bertaqwa. Apabila insan bukan ulama ("bukan dari pendidikan aliran agama") dipilih perwakilan memimpin PAS, biarlah insan itu insan yang bertaqkwa, Insha Allah.

Takdirnya, pada pemilihan pucuk pimpinan PAS kali ini, para perwakilan telah, buat kesekian kalinya, memilih insan yang bertaqwa untuk memimpin parti dalam tempoh dua tahun yang akan datang. Kali ini, insan yang bukan dari aliran pendidikan agama (tidak semestinya mereka ini bukan ulama) telah dinobatkan sebagai Timbalan Presiden dan Naib-Naib Presiden. Mereka memiliki kelebihan – dua orang dari mereka pernah melalui proses pentarbiyyahan Kem Kemunting dan kesemuanya adalah aktivis parti yang paling ketara (visible), terserlah dan berwibawa yang telah menjelajah seluruh pelusuk negara. Lebih dari itu, mereka telah menyertai pilihan raya dan menang dan mereka juga adalah jaguh demonstrasi di jalan raya. Kalau keadaan memaksa rakyat untuk turun ke jalan raya seperti mana yang telah berlaku di Tunisia, Mesir dan beberapa buah lagi Negara Arab, saya rasa inilah orangnya yang akan berada di barisan hadapan.

Mereka adalah ahli PAS yang telah melalui proses pentarbiyyahan yang panjang, lalu mereka itu kenal dengan apa itu Islam dan perjuangan Islam. Dari segi ilmu Islam dan ketaqwaan yang dimiliki, mereka sebenarnya layak dipanggil ulama. Lidah mereka sentiasa basah dengan ayat-ayat Al-Qur'an dan Hadith-hadith. Mereka kenal akan hukum hakam Islam. Di sana ada Majlis Syura Ulama yang memberi legitimasi kepada seluruh keputusan yang diambil parti. Sistem pembuatan keputusan yang wujud di dalam PAS memberi keanjalan yang luas bagi ahli-ahli memilih pemimpin. Sama ada yang dipilih itu "ulama" atau "bukan ulama," legitimasi perjuangan PAS dan segala tindak tanduknya tetap bersumber dan berpaksikan Al-Qur'an, Sunnah, Qias dan Ijma Ulama. Harus diperhatikan bahawa kebanyakan gerakan Islam di dunia hari ini – dari Negara-negara Arab, Turki dan lran hinggalah ke Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia dan Malaysia) – dipimpin oleh gabungan ulama dan profesional.

Satu kejayaan besar dari sistem pentarbiyyahan PAS ialah ia telah berjaya "mengulamakan" golongan profesional dan yang bukan dari aliran pendidikan Islam dan ia telah berjaya pula "memprofesionalkan" golongan ulama dan yang dari aliran pendidikan Islam. Sesungguhnya, insan yang ada nilai di sisi Allah hanyalah insan yang bertaqwa. Inilah dia intisari daripada sistem pentarbiyyahan PAS – untuk mewujudkan insan yang bertaqwa, Insha Allah. PAS adalah parti bagi orang bertaqwa yang sentiasa tunduk kepada perintah Allah SWT.

Di luar sana ramai insan yang berstatus ulama. Ada ramai ulama di dalam Biro Agama UMNO. Di Pusat Islam ada ramai ulama. Di Majlis Agama Islam negeri-negeri ada ramai ulama. Tetapi perjuangan mereka (harus ditekankan, tidak semua) itu berbeza dengan perjuangan para ulama yang berada di dalam PAS. Ulama dalam PAS, yang bertaraf pemimpin nasional mahu pun pemimpin negeri, kawasan dan cawangan atau ahli biasa, semuanya insan yang bertaqwa, Insha Allah. Kalau mereka tidak memiliki ketaqwaan yang tinggi, mana mungkin mereka berada di dalam sebuah jemaah Islamiah seperti PAS. Mana-mana jemaah yang perjuangannya bermatlamat menegakkan Al-Qur'an dan Sunnah, Qias dan Ijma Ulama sebagai perlembagaan dan undang-undang bagi ummah, maka itulah dia jemaah Islamiah dan sesiapa sahaja yang berada dan berjuang di dalam jemaah Islamiah, maka mereka adalah orang-orang bertaqwa, Insha Allah. Di dalam bahtera PAS hari ini terhimpun orang-orang bertaqwa dari setiap lapisan dan golongan masyarakat yang pada kalbu mereka sentiasa bersemarak kalimah "Lailaha Ilallah Muhammadur Rasulallah." Yang lebih menggerunkan musuh ialah sudah wujud pula golongan orang bukan Islam yang merestui perjuangan PAS dan mahu bersama-sama untuk melangsungkan perjuangan.

Umno bukan satu jemaah Islamiah. Ianya jemaah kovensional yang dasarnya "agama suku dan politik suku." Pemimpin-pemimpinya selalu melaungkan kata-kata "jangan campur-adukan agama dan politik." Pemimpin UMNO tidak pernah tahu bahawa berpolitik itu adalah cara hidup para nabi. UMNO, kerana dasarnya konvensional, cukup serasi dengan pendekatan "matalamat menghalalkan cara." UMNO menggunakan fitnah seks untuk menjatuhkan lawan. Ia memainkan isu perkauman supaya bila tercetus rusuhan kaum seperti "Peristiwa 13 Mei," maka bolehlah ia terus berkuasa. Dalam tempoh lebih daripada 50 tahun UMNO berkuasa ia telah merosakkan lembaga-lembaga utama di dalam masyarakat dan Negara seperti badan kehakiman, polis, tentera, badan pencegah rasuah, suruhanjaya pilihan raya dan sistem pendidikan Negara. UMNO gagal mengagihkan kekayaan Negara secara adil. Kebokrokan ini berlaku kerana ulama yang ada di dalam UMNO semuanya bisu. Mereka melihat kemungkaran dilakukan oleh pemimpin-pemimpin mereka tetapi mereka tidak berani melarang. Malah, mereka tergamak pula mencipta hujjah dan hukum untuk memberi legitimasi kepada kemungkaran yang dilakukan.

Revolusi rakyat yang dipimpin oleh gabungan ulama dan profesional telah berjaya menumbangkan dua orang diktator paling liat dan "notorious" dalam zaman moden ini, iaitu,El Zine Abidine Ben Ali (Tunisia) dan Hosni Mubarak (Mesir), maka dengan memperkasakan gabungan pimpinan ulama dan profesional di dalam PAS, adalah diharapkan akan tercetus pula revolusi rakyat Malaysia yang kelak berkemampuan menumbangkan kerajaan zalim UMNO-BN dalam pilihan raya ke 13 ini.
Personaliti yang dipilih memang terkenal sebagai "great mobilizer of people" (penggerak orang ramai yang berwibawa)." Mereka telah membuktikan kemampuan memobilisasikan puluhan malah ratusan ribu manusia untuk turun ke jalan raya memprotes kezaliman. Jika UMNO-BN mahu terus menodai sistem pilihan raya pada pilihan raya ke 13 ini, maka jangan dipersalahkan Mohamad Sabu, YB Salahuddin Ayub, YB Husam Musa dan YB Mahfudz Omar, jika sekiranya rakyat turun ke jalan raya memprotes pilihan raya yang tidak adil.
Dengan menambahkan golongan profesional di dalam hiraki kepimpinan PAS, pengundi bukan Melayu melihat bahawa PAS menjadi sebuah parti yang semakin mesra rakyat bukan Melayu. Pengundi-pungundi bukan Melayu, khasnya orang Cina dan India, telah lama menyuarakan bahawa mereka ingin melihat lebih ramai profesional menjadi pemimpin PAS kerana mereka berkeyakinan kejayaan pengurusan ekonomi Negara menuntut kehadiran golongan profesional yang bersih, berintegriti, bijaksana dan berilmu tinggi. Ulama memandu dan golongan profesional melaksana. Para perwakilan melihat bahawa jalan yang selesa untuk memenangi dan menambat hati orang bukan Melayu supaya bersama dengan PAS ialah dengan melakanakan apa jua perkara baik dan bermanfaat untuk semua yang mereka suarakan.

Pemerkasaan gabungan pimpinan ulama dan profesional di dalam PAS menghantar angin dingin ke dalam sum-sum UMNO. Ia menambahkan lagi kegerunan mereka untuk berdepan dengan Pakatan Rakyat di dalam pilihan raya ke 13 yang akan berlangsung bila-bila masa selepas Muktamar PAS ke 57 ini. Tahniah kepada semua calon yang menang. Kepada yang kalah jangan pula berbalasungkawa kerana ruang perjuangan itu amat luas.

‘Self-correcting’ PAS is Umno’s worst nightmare

Posted: 04 Jun 2011 05:08 PM PDT

In PAS, the voice of delegates and members weigh much more on the decisions taken by its party leaders, unlike in Umno.

The victory of non-ulamaks in so many party positions must be seen as what they really are – a self-correction measure undertaken by PAS adherents to moderate its image, but never its content.

Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz, Free Malaysia Today

Umno talks about transformation but PAS is the party that concerts that into action. Umno does not even dare hold its party elections fearing that the party will be more divided.

Umno hasn't got the stomach to get rid of its old blood.

If PAS does not break-up having had its party elections, then the Umno leadership will have a tough time defending postponing its party elections.

Even Umno people will go away convinced that holding back elections is really an excuse by the Umno leadership to self-perpetuate.

Hence all the cock and bull story about disunity and such.

Meanwhile the victory of the so called Erdogan faction in PAS has got Ibrahim Ali provoked.

He reacted by saying the victors are opposition coalition chief Anwar Ibrahim's voice in PAS.

Ibrahim's outbursts are likely to be dismissed as the ranting of a loony bin and the eternal busybody.

By the way, this 'Erdogan' and non-Erdogan thing is a fiction created by those who are fearful of PAS.

I don't see a change in the fundamental basis of PAS's struggle with the ascension of the less-ulamak elements in PAS.

An attempt to divide

The whole of PAS' body politics – whether ulamak or non-ulamak – remains whole and integral and is likely to reaffirm its commitment to Islamic politics.

I am sure the description of PAS as such is likely to be seen as an attempt to drive a wedge in the solidarity of PAS members.

I am more inclined to believe that such a commitment to a struggle is alien to the present generation of Umno people who have a different political culture.

Umno struggles about getting a share in the MRT project. Umno struggles to get a lion share of the UDA Pudu Jail redevelopment project. Umno fights for big businesses.

Umno fights for increasing electricity tariffs so that Independent Power Producers (IPPs) make more profit and prices of goods and services using energy get passed on to consumers.

For Ibrahim Ali, the eternal busybody and the pompous windbag, what happens inside PAS is of no relevance to him.

His comments are unsolicited and carry no weight at all.

Ibrahim, who borrowed the PAS shell in the last elections, will have no vehicle to go into elections this time.

If Umno allows Ibrahim to hitch a ride, there is something very wrong in Umno.

Don't underestimate PAS zeal

But what happens in PAS has much bearings on Umno. Umno's worse nightmares are now becoming real.

Mohamad Sabu (better known as Mat Sabu), has won the party deputy presidency with 420 votes.

He leads a group of leaders to counter conservatives who are said to prefer to link up with Umno.

I hesitate to refer them as progressives.

We can't underestimate their (PAS) zeal towards Islamic politics; they differ only in approach.

The suggestion that PAS wants to link up with Umno has always been a non-issue. PAS operates differently from Umno.

The voice of delegates and members weigh much more on the decisions taken by party leaders.

And PAS has the influence of its Dewan Ulamak.

That inference I think is a figment in the imagination of some people and probably a manifestation of hope for redemption from a more besieged party – Umno.

It is Umno that has been harping on Malay unity which when translated actually means – please save us, we want to stay in power.

No need for Umno

The reality has always been that the majority of PAS members who are Malays probably have no desire to supplant their Malay-ness by teaming up with Umno.

PAS simply does not need Umno to reaffirm and remind them that they are Malay first.

They are already Malays and can also justifiably claim, to be more Islamic in conduct and behavior.

The victory of non-ulamaks in so many party positions must be seen as what they really are – a self-correction measure undertaken by PAS adherents to moderate its image, but never its content.

What is the typical image of PAS?

It's an Islamic party portraying the image of a spiritual and other worldly organization.

It's a party filled with wide-eyed mullahs, patrolling the streets enforcing dress code, unshaved chins and mandatory use of skull caps, hijab and so forth.

Umno on the other hand projects a temporal and secular image.

So what has PAS now become? It has become a spiritual and less other-worldly.

The later description conjuring the image of an uncompromising and harsh Taliban-esque organization bent on imposing harsh laws on the populace.

Viable alternative

By correcting itself, PAS can succeed better at making itself more relevant to society.

Why would PAS need Umno?

I think the victory of the moderates in PAS who will change the character of PAS from one party with Taliban-esque inclinations to a party of rational Islam, actually strikes fear in Umno.

Now, PAS with the new leadership line up offers a very credible and viable political leadership to the Malays.

The new line up also allays fears within the non-Muslim community who can see PAS now as a realistic political party.

This strikes Umno in two areas.

PAS can now offer an alternative to Malays and therefore will further erode Umno's already dwindling monopoly over Malay votes.

Secondly, it can appeal to non-Muslims who are tired of Umno's bully tactics and its cowardly support of Perkasa's Malay agenda.

The trio who won the vice-presidential posts are well known non-conservative Islamists.

They are incumbent Salahuddin Ayub who took top spot with 753 votes.

Kelantan senior councillor Husam Musa was second with 660 votes while another incumbent Mahfuz Omar kept his post with 616 votes. Both Salahuddin and Mahfuz were incumbents.

READ MORE HERE

Trim the excesses and wastage

Posted: 04 Jun 2011 02:04 PM PDT

While ordinary Malaysians tighten their belts to bear the burden of price hikes as a result of reduction in subsidies, the Government must also do its part.

By Wong Chun Wai, The Star

WHEN Barack Obama was asked what action he was going to take after gas pump prices had shot up continuously for 35 days, the US president openly declared he had no immediate solution. It was a simple yet honest answer despite the impact it would have on his popularity ratings.

Governments all over the world are grappling with the hike in oil prices. It hasn't helped that food production has been hit since last year after weather changes caused havoc in several major food-producing countries, including China, India and Australia.

In the United States and Europe, the price of fuel for cars changes almost every day as it is not subsidised. This is something most Malaysians are unfamiliar with as we are, and have been, living on subsidies for almost every essential item, even sugar which is unheard of elsewhere.

The government's bill for subsidising petrol, diesel and gas has risen from RM8bil to RM18bil a year. Yes, it's a staggering figure and certainly we can expect the numbers to keep increasing unless there is a drop in crude oil prices.

The government can take the easy way out by keeping the prices of petrol down to remain popular, especially with a general election looming. But that would be bad governance.

If Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can reduce the price of petrol as he claims, I am sure Obama would be quite keen to hear from him. The Opposition Leader must have a magic wand. He may be able to do it but the long-term effects would be disastrous and could well bleed the nation. To put it bluntly, it could bankrupt Malaysia.

There is a cost to the subsidy – the government should be channelling the subsidy to the health, education and housing sectors. There are also many infrastructure projects that have already been announced and we wonder how many of these would be affected, even put on hold, if the subsidy bill continues to spiral upwards.

The government could save at least RM103bil over the next five years if it were to slash its subsidy bill now. This, however, can only be done gradually with enough notice served on Malaysians to explain that the government just cannot continue to bear this burden.

The government has little choice but to explain to the people the rationale behind the subsidy cuts. It's not an easy task as ordinary Malaysians have bills to pay. And against the backdrop of increasing costs of production, most employers would be hard-pressed to increase the salaries of their workers.

At the same time, we can expect industries to pass their cost to consumers even though the increase in electricity rates is only an average of 7.12%.

The Opposition has been playing the populist card, blaming the government for every price hike and promising to reduce the price of oil, which any rational person would know is not achievable. Surely, every serving government would want to keep prices down to get itself re-elected.

Economists want the government to take a more daring approach to push ahead the subsidy rationalisation exercise. But they are obviously not counting the political costs if this is not done gradually.

Their fear is that if Malaysia continues to bear the high subsidy bill, it would impact on the country's sovereign ratings as the budget deficit would stand to widen.

In simple language, the country's debt cannot be allowed to increase if its credit status is to be respected. The bottom line is: provision of subsidies is not a sustainable practice. It has to be removed eventually but at the same time, the government is well aware that any decision should not affect the consumers' standard of living. Even some government MPs have been cautious about any increase in petrol or food items.

But take the sugar subsidy as an example. When the prices of coarse and fine sugar increased by 20 sen to RM2.30 per kilo, it reduced government subsidy by RM116.6mil from RM400mil per year. The latest increase is the first this year, after last year's hikes of 20 sen in January, 25 sen in July and 20 sen in December.

It is incredulous that we would fork out so much for sugar while we ask for less of it with our teh tarik. Yet some of us will get bitter when there is a cut in subsidy for sugar.

Look at the statistics: there are 1.4 million adults suffering from diabetes as at 2006, according to a national health and morbidity survey. We can assume that the number has gone up since then, at the rate we consume sugar-laden soft drinks.

Now, according to estimates by the Health Ministry's disease control division, health promotion, management and treatment of diabetic patients take up about 15% to 17% of the ministry's total budget of RM13.7bil in 2009. That can't be sweet news to Malaysians, especially taxpayers. Moreover, that figure does not include diabetics who seek treatment in private hospitals.

But at the same time, we, too, want the government to cut down on excessiveness and wastage and review existing projects that are perceived to bring little economic returns.

We can save but the government must also play its part. It's a shared responsibility.

Malaysians, like everyone else on this planet, cannot live like they used to.

The days of cheap food will be a thing of the past. We cannot depend on fossil fuel forever. We cannot leave the fan, air-conditioner, lights and television on for no reason and, certainly, our children will pay a heavy price if we waste water as we are doing now.

This seems to be the only immediate answer if we want to sustain the planet.

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

Isnin, 6 Jun 2011

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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