| How Dare Najib Discredit Mandela Posted: 08 Dec 2013 12:02 PM PST 
Kee Thuan Chye Umno President Najib Razak diminished the stature of a great man when he said last Saturday at his party's general assembly that Umno fought for the "same cause" as Nelson Mandela, who had died two days before. What same cause? Mandela fought against racial discrimination whereas Umno institutionalised racial discrimination a few decades ago and still upholds it. Mandela never advocated black supremacy, whereas Umno promotes Ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy). After he became president of South Africa, Mandela proposed reconciliation and sought to bring the races in his country together, whereas in Malaysia, Umno divides the races in order to keep itself in power. Even at its general assembly, Umno's delegates lobbied for the ethnocentric '1Melayu' to replace the more inclusive '1Malaysia', bashed the Chinese for not supporting the party at the last general election, and demanded a bigger stake in the economy, totally ignoring the reality that most of the country's economic development is now already in Malay hands. Furthermore, no less an Umno leader than Awang Adek Hussin, who is also the country's deputy finance minister, proposed that private companies should declare how they support the Bumiputera agenda in their annual reports. He also insisted that, because Malays now make up almost 70 per cent of the population, the hiring policy of private companies should reflect the country's racial composition at every level. This is effectively saying that CEOs of private companies should also be Malay, and that their staff should be 70 per cent Malay. Indeed. Apa lagi Umno mahu? (What more does Umno want?) On the other hand, does the civil service reflect the country's racial composition? Are there 30 per cent non-Malay heads of department? In our public universities, are 30 per cent of vice-chancellors non-Malay? Mandela did not take away the businesses of the whites in the name of affirmative action for the black South Africans. He allowed the whites to continue to control the economy and as a result of its being in experienced hands, South Africa's economy grew at a steady, robust rate. Mandela also believed in inclusiveness, in humanity and human rights. But Umno abhors lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals (LGBTs) although they are no less human beings. One delegate denigrated them by saying at the assembly that LGBTs exist so that "orang jahat (bad people) can be purged, leaving behind only the good people to inherit the earth". How simplistically stupid, or stupidly simplistic. Read more at: http://my.news.yahoo.com/blogs/bull-bashing/dare-najib-discredit-mandela-115949593.html |
| The big hue and cry over Selangor assemblymen/women pay hike Posted: 08 Dec 2013 11:56 AM PST 
My basis of argument is not to present whether the pay hike is right or wrong but to show how at times we can be penny wise pound foolish. Richard Loh
Let us look at the three main arguments, 'Excessive', 'now is not the right time' and 'to raise gradually'. I have no answer to Najib's hypocrite argument, I leave it to the readers to interpret what it meant.
1) Excessive - How do you quantified excessive? A company usually has salary scale for all levels of its employees including the annual percentage salary increase so when an employee suddenly received a three bar jump in his increment, 'excessive' will call into question. Is there any salary scale for state assemblymen or guidelines for any increment? If there are then they should follow the scale or guidelines, if not how can we judged that it is excessive, just because the figures look big?
2) Now is not the right time - I ask you, so when is the right time? Yes, the economy is not good (contrary to what the federal government said), rakyat is suffering with price increases in almost every consumer goods, they have to tighten their belts and living by the day. Rakayat must understand that at least 50% of state activities and policies especially the economy are still under the Federal government influence. Whether the economy is good or bad primarily depends on the Federal government performances. Our economy is in bad state for years now and will continue to be so if not worst. Can we used the overall bad economy that affected the whole nation to stop the pay hike and not base on the individual state performances? You will get to understand more further down this article.
3) Raise it gradually - here I ask, how gradual and at what quantum? These state assemblymen/women are elected to serve a five year term, so, should their pay hike be carried out on a yearly basis and at what quantum? If the quantum is an insignificant small amount might as well not raise at all. Moreover, no matter how much is raised there would be angry people not happy with the raise and the state assemblymen/women will have to suffer the brick-bat thrown at them over the raise five times during their term in office.
To those who are against the pay hike your reasoning's are not totally wrong but you have to look at the different perspective as well. Some who are against the pay hike, especially gerakan and its youth chief Tan Keng Liang are just playing politics, trying to score political points.
My basis of argument is not to present whether the pay hike is right or wrong but to show how at times we can be penny wise pound foolish. I am comparing this state assemblymen/women pay hike to the 'secretive' payment of RM7.2 billions to foreign consultants.
a) State: The whole process to approve the pay hike to all the state assemblymen/women salary were carried out during the assembly. Everything is open and transparent to show each individual assemblyman/woman how much is his/her increment.
Federal: Nobody knows who are the foreign consultants, is it 1, 5, 10 or none at all. How much was paid to each of them and the best part is we get to know only after they were already being paid. Read more at: http://ousel.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-big-hue-and-cry-over-selangor.html |
| Zahid Hamidi stands firm on "PAS number two" Syiah statement Posted: 08 Dec 2013 11:34 AM PST 
(The Star) - Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will not budge from his statement that a "PAS number two" leader is a follower of the Syiah branch of Islam considered deviant in Malaysia. Dr Ahmad Zahid said he has evidence of this and promised to reveal all at a press conference to be called by the ministry soon.
This was despite PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu's threat to sue Dr Ahmad Zahid over the statement, as the former has maintained that he was not a Syiah follower.
"In Islam, we cannot have another mazhab (sect) because it will cause disunity among the Muslim community.
"I am looking at this from the security point of view.
"I do not want what has happened (civil war) in other countries to occur in Malaysia," Dr Ahmad Zahid said in a press conference after attending the ministry's monthly gathering here on Monday.
During his winding-up speech at the Umno General Assembly 2013. Dr Ahmad Zahid told the Malaysia Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) to take immediate action against a "PAS No. 2 leader", allegedly for being a Syiah follower. |
| We are not Arabs Posted: 08 Dec 2013 11:29 AM PST 
There is this worrying Arabisation trend in Malaysia. People want to talk, dress and behave like Arabs. Schools, for instance, have become places where students are indoctrinated with what is Arabic and what is not. Worse is when they associate Arabic culture with Islam which cannot be further away from the truth. Kamal Azman, The Malay Mail It is stupid trying to legislate and license religion.
Wasting public funds aside, we are talking about personal choices.
How can you monitor who watches and reads what on the Internet? How are you going to stop people from preaching their faith?
Keeping tabs on your citizens, trying to work out their faith, then persecuting and prosecuting them is unlawful and unconstitutional.
It is better for the government to remove religion from public spheres.
There is this worrying Arabisation trend in Malaysia. People want to talk, dress and behave like Arabs. Schools, for instance, have become places where students are indoctrinated with what is Arabic and what is not. Worse is when they associate Arabic culture with Islam which cannot be further away from the truth.
Putrajaya's attempt at making Sunni the legal sect in Malaysia is therefore a bad move. The state has no business trying to dictate a citizen's beliefs and faith.
It is enough that Islam is Malaysia's official religion without having to specify which sect. We should not try to become another Arab state and choose sides.
At the end of the day, we should not judge people by the religion they follow. Be it Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, there will be those who are good and those who are not. We must judge them by their deeds and not their skin colour, certainly not what they believe in.
It is time our leaders get back to work instead of coming up with ridiculous and fund wasting ideas like these.
This "us" versus "them" attitude must stop if we want to continue down the path of moderation.
|
| The Malay proletariat Posted: 08 Dec 2013 11:20 AM PST 
To come back to the present, this is why the recent demonisation of communism and socialism as represented by Parti Sosialis Malaysia is not so much about their basic arguments towards a fairer society, but because of them ignoring the racial angle so dear to the current dispensation. Kapil Sethi, The Malay Mail For a country where communism, and socialism to a lesser degree, are pretty much equal to the word terrorism, it is not surprising that the head of police feels compelled to threaten a columnist with seditious tendencies for an article that infers that there are double standards in who gets into trouble for being a follower of communism.
But something strange is at work here. To illustrate, take this as a layman's definition of why communism or socialism came about. Society is unjust because the rich will never willingly help the poor, therefore we need to find a way to force the rich to help the poor. Or, in the words of Malcolm X: "You show me a capitalist, and I'll show you a bloodsucker".
Now substitute "rich" and "capitalist" with Chinese, and "poor" with Malay, and you have the whole rationale of official government policy in Malaysia. So, Society is unjust because the Chinese will never willingly help the Malays, therefore we need to find a way to force the Chinese to help the Malays. Or, "You show me a Chinese, and I'll show you a bloodsucker".
In one stroke redistributive justice between economic classes as the cornerstone of socialism is turned into redistributive justice between races as the cornerstone of Malaysian policy. It also justifies affirmative action for the majority by equating the class notion of poor into a racial notion of poor. Poor people are Malays and the rich Chinese, changing what was essentially a definition of economic class into one sweeping racial generalisation.
Half a century ago, there were merits to this argument. By casting the argument in these terms, it allowed the powers that be to disavow the nasty elements of communist dogma such as revolution and the overthrow of religion as a part of the political construct. It also co-opted the basic redistributive aims of socialism into a Malaysianised racial construct under the ambit of official policy allowing for capitalism and a market economy to become the sole preferred option for the country. It allowed the government to go after the communists, appease the capitalist classes and reassure the largely poor Malays to believe that their emancipation would come through a government formulating policy that would be primarily concerned with their uplift.
To come back to the present, this is why the recent demonisation of communism and socialism as represented by Parti Sosialis Malaysia is not so much about their basic arguments towards a fairer society, but because of them ignoring the racial angle so dear to the current dispensation.
Especially after the results of the last general election, there is a marked shift away from 1 Malaysia to a Ketuanan Melayu stance. Even the normally inclusive Youth minister was quoted as asking for the private sector to appoint more Malay CEOs, in the wake of Malay Petronas contractors, Malay advertising agency chiefs and the ever willing Perkasa's calls for all kinds of props for the Malays.
The anachronism is not so much in that these overtly racial preferences are gaining currency among the ruling coalition, but that they are being propagated by and largely for the Malay elites. As always, it is the proletariat or working classes of all races that will have to deal with the post-election round of fuel, electricity and sales tax increases.
In the face of an increasingly complex globalised world, the challenge is not so much as to which race gets what, but whether the economic cake in the future will be big enough for the poor to get any help at all. The current state of the education system and the obsession with quotas of all kinds offers a vision of society that is hell bent on squabbling over the present with scant regard for an increasingly difficult future.
Market Socialism as exemplified by the Chinese experiment in theory offers an elegant combination of redistributive justice in a capitalist context that is worthy of analysis. That going down the path of race-based redistribution has not worked for Malaysia is evident to all but the most ardent Umno supporters. Malays are still the majority of the poor and the least exposed to world-class education, offering an even dimmer picture for their future.
The struggle to becoming an egalitarian developed country living in social harmony can only begin if the focus shifts from racial preferences to breaking down the disparities between economic classes by lowering the GINI co-efficient.
Helping the poor to uplift themselves just because they are poor and not because of their race is not the equivalent of a communist revolution. It is still the majority race that will benefit the most. The greater good needs to be redefined from the Malay good to the good of the economically disadvantaged. A more cohesive society will be the result of an inclusive approach to the welfare of the poor, not because of the formation of a token council on national unity.
Socialism is not the problem defining Malaysia today, official racism is. |
| Sudden ‘Sunni’ fixation likely a political ploy, Pak Samad says Posted: 08 Dec 2013 11:15 AM PST 
(MM) - Putrajaya's proposal to place a legal shackle on the spread of non-Sunni Islamic ideologies here has irked Malay literary icon Datuk A. Samad Said who believes the move is not for religious reasons but is politically motivated. The white-bearded poet, a pious Muslim himself, said the government's motives were suspect as the plan to redefine Islam as "Sunni" in the Federal Constitution had come so suddenly after years without any fuss over the issue.
"As far as I'm concerned, people are very unsure what is happening now exactly, why out of the blue, this thing has to be introduced, that's the thing," the 81-year-old national laureate told The Malay Mail Online when met yesterday.
"They do it also because they want to attack the Syiah as it has been proven... Mat Sabu has already been attacked before you have any evidence, and this is not nice.
"If you want to do something, do it not because of this, you do it because you believe it, not because of politics," he continued.
Samad, more fondly known by his moniker "Pak Samad", was referring to PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu who was over the weekend accused by an Umno minister of being a Syiah follower, an Islamic sect deemed deviant in Malaysia.
The poet-turned-political activist also told Umno that it was "too late" for the party to add "Sunni" to define Islam in its own internal constitution as it should have been done a long time ago.
"Why is it now? If you believe in something, it should be done earlier, this move is very political, that has been proven now," he said.
Pak Samad did not elaborate on his suspicions but pointed to how Mat Sabu, a known PAS progressive with a large following, had been singled out as an alleged Shiite.
"The first attack is on Mat Sabu, and then it can go against others," he warned.
On Saturday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi issued an order on local religious authorities to take action against Mohamad Sabu for his alleged links to the Shiites.
Addressing a packed auditorium on the last day of Umno's 67th General Assembly, Ahmad Zahid said his ministry would no longer tolerate any elements seen as a threat to national security.
"PAS, set aside political interest. This is about akidah (faith) and national security... I am surprised how their party elections installed a Syiah as the number two leader in PAS," he said in his winding up speech, in a clear reference to Mohamad Sabu.
"We are done lying low. Jamil Khir, KDN gives you the power to take action against (that) PAS leader," he said to thunderous applause from the over 2,000 delegates.
Ahmad Zahid was referring to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, who is in charge of Islamic affairs.
In response, Mat Sabu denied the accusation, and claimed instead that he follows the accepted Sunni school of jurisprudence.
"I am a member of the Sunnah Wal Jamaah, a Muslim that follows the teachings of Sunnah Wal Jamaah members," he told Astro Awani briefly in his journey to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Saturday.
On Friday, Ahmad Zahid had said a proposal to redefine Islam as "Sunni" in the Federal Constitution would be brought before the government for discussion in a bid to prevent the spread of other Islamic ideologies, including the Syiah sect, in Malaysia.
National newswire Bernama quoted the minister as saying that by inserting the words "Sunnah wal Jamaah" in the definition of Islam in the Federal Constitution, it would ensure that Muslims who follow other ideologies are prohibited from spreading their teachings.
It is widely accepted that "Sunnah wal Jamaah" is the de-facto ideology adopted by the majority of Muslims in Malaysia, though religious authorities have long grappled with pockets of different sects that have taken root across the country.
The home minister said the spread of the Syiah ideology is an "issue of faith and national security", and has been determined by the National Fatwa Council in 1996 that it is a deviant movement that goes against the tenets of Sunnah wal Jamaah, the dominant Islamic ideology in Malaysia. |
| Hamas leader meets Najib, Anwar to take a second crack at national reconciliation Posted: 08 Dec 2013 09:08 AM PST 
The PKR official is confident that the reconciliation talks this time around will not fail, unlike the "unity government" talks between Umno and PAS during the administration of former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Amin Iskandar, TMI On the sidelines of last week's Umno general assembly, a senior Palestinian leader got Umno and Parti Keadilan Rakyat to meet secretly to revive reconciliation talks that started after the 13th General Election, The Malaysian Insider has learnt. It was the second reconciliation talks after the May 5 polls since former Indonesian vice-president Jusuf Kalla, who are close to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, acted as an intermediary between both leaders. A senior PKR leader told The Malaysian Insider that this time, that role was taken over by leader of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, who was in Kuala Lumpur to attend the 2013 Umno International Forum. "Khaled met Najib and Anwar separately. After his meeting with Anwar, Khaled had dinner with Najib before returning home," said the senior PKR leader. The source, who also spoke to Meshaal, said the Hamas leader advised both Najib and Anwar that if they were indeed serious about reconciliation, they should forget past wrongs. Najib met the Hamas leader for the first time when he visited Gaza in January this year, while Anwar met Meshaal early last year in Doha, Qatar. Meshaal was instrumental in negotiating peace talks between his party and Fatah, a faction of Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Liberation Organisation which retains control of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. The senior PKR leader told The Malaysian Insider that he was contacted by a senior Umno official soon after Khaled left Kuala Lumpur. "In my discussion with the senior Umno official, I told him that if Umno was serious in holding reconciliation talks, then all attacks against Anwar at the general assembly must stop," said the PKR leader, referring to Najib's attacks on Anwar during the Umno president's policy speech. "I received his assurance that there will be no more attacks against Anwar and they kept their word." The PKR official is confident that the reconciliation talks this time around will not fail, unlike the "unity government" talks between Umno and PAS during the administration of former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. "During that time, the discussions were behind closed doors with both sides clamouring for positions in the Government. "Anwar knows that PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat will not accept secret discussions and that is why he has, on two occasions, called for a dialogue with Barisan Nasional." READ MORE HERE |
| Sultan of Selangor firm in defending rights of the Malays, Bumiputeras and Islam Posted: 08 Dec 2013 09:02 AM PST 
(MM) - Firm action by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, in defending the rights of the Malays, bumiputeras and the sanctity of Islam is eagerly awaited by the people. Former inspector-general of police Tun Mohammed Haniff Omar said this is evident in his speeches and shows the royal institutions is still strong in defending the rights of the Malays, position of the Malay rulers and Islam.
The three matters enshrined in the federal constitution should not be raised as the Malays had contributed so much to the development of this country.
"During the formation of Malaysia, the Chinese and the Indians accepted that the Malay rulers and the Malays had given invaluable contribution.
"However, there are leaders and a handful of people who mock and challenge them and don't care about the feelings of the Malays.
"Its like a grand design that if left uncontrolled, can destroy this country.
"The Sultan's firm action in dealing with this issue is eagerly awaited by the people," he said at the royal tea reception with government retirees to mark the 68th birthday celebration of the Sultan of Selangor at Istana Alam Shah, here today.
Sultan Sharafuddin was pleased to attend the function with government retireees for the third consecutive year. |
| Umno to be more Malay-centric Posted: 08 Dec 2013 08:54 AM PST 
Call it the Chinese tsunami or whatever, the fact remains that rural Malays are still with Umno while the urban Malays have swung to the opposition — PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). (MM) - Umno concluded its annual general assembly on Saturday on a high note, pledging to transform itself into a political party that is fair to all Malaysians but with priority to empowering the economy of the Malays and Bumiputeras who form over 67 per cent of the population. The emphasis will be to ensure economic parity so that no race will feel left out of the economic development of the country.
The party pledged other races would not be sidelined and that Umno would continue its fair and just policies for all Malaysians.
In facing the next general election, the party's political transformation will begin at branch level, where with immediate effect, the branches will have to follow the party constitution strictly to strengthen themselves.
Party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak said transformation begins with change in thoughts and attitudes of party members and stressed on the need for the party to be strong from the grassroots — where the 21,000 branches are.
The political reality now is Umno is the only flag-bearer of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) besides Parti Pesaka Bersatu Sarawak (PBB) in Sarawak while the component parties in the peninsula are still "searching their souls" after taking a beating in the May 5 general election.
Call it the Chinese tsunami or whatever, the fact remains that rural Malays are still with Umno while the urban Malays have swung to the opposition — PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
With Umno the only party still strong and standing upright in the winds of change after the general election, the responsibility is now on its shoulders to rally Malaysians, not just Malays, behind the BN.
At the recently-concluded general assembly, Najib, who is also Prime Minister, spoke on the need for Umno to transform into an inclusive party, struggling for the Malays and Bumiputeras, while ensuring other races were not sidelined and alienated.
In strengthening the party, efforts to ward off elements that weaken the party and its followers will have to be addressed and here is where the sanctity of Islam and the economic aspect need push and protection.
Umno concluded the party would protect the sanctity of Islam by defining clearly in the Federal Constitution that Malaysia follows the teachings of Sunnah Wal Jamaah.
The threat of Syiah is real and the claim that heads of government-linked companies (GLCs) not helping Malay and Bumiputera enterpreneurs is also real.
With Najib's commitment to see the two matters taken care of, Umno is off to a new start in transforming itself into a political party where the Malays and Bumiputeras can rest assured their support for the party all this while would not go to waste.
And Malaysians on the whole, can rest easy knowing Umno is not only a party for the Malays but for all Malaysians. |
| Saari Sungib told to walk the talk Posted: 08 Dec 2013 08:47 AM PST 
(MM) - Hulu Klang assemblyman Saari Sungib (picture) should exhaust all avenues to resolve the Ulu Kelang Recreational Club (UKRC) land issue instead of "passing the buck" to the courts. UKRC president Andrew Gopal claimed Saari had not done enough to settle the matter, which resulted in Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) seizing the land.
He said Saari was aware of the details but had refused to pursue the matter effectively despite many factual errors in the public hearing report tabled at the state assembly last year.
"The report provided the basis for the mentri besar's decision to allow MPAJ to seize the land as it was declared an open space," said Andrew.
"We are giving Saari until January 13 to rectify the report and return the land. He has the power as an elected representative.
"We call on him to honour his promise to voters and not to betray our trust."
Andrew said if the mistakes in the report were rectified, the state would have to return the land to the club.
This could also result in the case between MPAJ and UKRC on January 13 to be thrown out.
He said: "If nothing happens by January 13, we will take him to court for duping the voters.
"Saari knows UKRC had spent millions on the land over the past 56 years. We converted the land from a mining pool into the field we see today."
Some 50 individuals, comprising UKRC members and Kuala Ampang residents, protested against the assemblyman in front of Ulu Kelang Community Centre in Lembah Keramat on Friday, alleging Saari had broken promises he made before the 2008 general election.
They claimed Saari acknowledged the land ownership issue and pledged to resolve the matter five years ago but has failed to do so. |
| Nga and Ngeh come close to being ousted Posted: 08 Dec 2013 08:42 AM PST 
(MM) - Two powerful cousins who virtually controlled Perak DAP yesterday came within a whisker of being voted out of a 15-man state committee at the 16th Perak DAP convention at Bukit Merah Laketown Resort near here. Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham, who is the Beruas MP and Sitiawan assemblyman, captured the last spot with 565 votes while cousin Nga Kor Ming, who is Taiping MP and Kepayang assemblyman, came in 14th with 571 votes.
Nga, however, was elected as the new chairman.
Ngeh, who was appointed as the state DAP adviser, addressed the members saying he was not being ousted and it was a result of the transition planned over the last three years.
He said the chairmanship succession plan was proposed to the committee but members felt his service was needed in view of the 13th general election.
"I will still assist DAP in a different capacity," said Ngeh.
Nga, during the committee meeting said, the members had unanimously elected Ngeh as the chairman but he declined.
"Without Ngeh, DAP will not be what it is today with a 100 per cent winning record in the 2008 and 2013 general election," Nga said.
Twenty-six candidates had been nominated to vie for the seats but two withdrew at the last minute.
A total of 791 delegates cast their votes, with Canning assemblyman Wong Kah Wah obtaining the highest votes with 738.
Batu Gajah MP V. Sivakumar came in second with 730 votes, while Pantai Remis assemblyman Wong May Ing, contesting for the first time, took third spot with 724 votes.
Bercham assemblyman Cheong Chee Khing was the only casualty among the elected representatives.
Elected representatives contested and won 14 of the seats. The only "outsider" to win a seat was former Ipoh City Council councillor Cheah Pou Hian.
Two non-Chinese candidates — Sungkai assemblyman A. Sivanesan and Buntong assemblyman A. Sivasubramaniam — also won seats. |
| Umno’s greater agenda Posted: 08 Dec 2013 08:24 AM PST 
The question Umno needs to address is this: how many Malays are with Umno and how many against? And Umno is now looking at the Malays in PAS and PKR. CT Ali, FMT "By 2020, we would have increased our population to 29.9 million with Malays and Bumiputera making up 20.7 million (69.2%), Chinese 6.8 million (22.8%), Indians 2.1 million (7%) and others 306,000 (1%)." This was what Najib Tun Razak said in his keynote address to Umno members in conjunction with Umno's 67th general assembly last week. If you want the above to be translated into easy speak here it is: By 2020, Najib declares that Umno will have effectively neutralised any possibility that the Chinese, the Indians and "others" would, in any way, have any meaningful input into the manner by which the politics of this nation is to be decided. Only the Malays matters! Umno has the support of these Malays! He does not talk about the vision he or Umno has about how our nation will be in 2020. He does not talk about a nation united in diversity. He does not promise that our children will have a life much better than what we now have. He does not say that Malaysia will be a better place to live in by 2020. He does not mention anything about his government's ability to lower the national public debt below the RM500 billion that it is now at. He does not tell us that by 2020 our nation will be free of corruption, nepotism, arrogance and money politics! What does he tells us? This prime minister tells us that by 2020 there will be 20.7 million Malays and Umno takes credit for this because all the Malay affirmative policies of Ketuanan Melayu, the massive inflow of "Malay" pendatangs, all the massive outflow of our most talented professionals, all these Umno has made possible so that by 2020 the Malays will make up 69.2% (and counting) of Malaysia's population. And Umno no longer cares if the non-Malays label him and Umno racist. No excuses, no hidden agenda. The 2020 vision of Mahathir Mohamad is now clear for all to see. By 2020, Malaysia will be for Malays, by the Malays and of the Malays. The Pakatan union That is in 2020. What is the political reality today? Three political parties with widely diverse ideologies had come together as Pakatan Rakyat united by their hatred for Umno. What do you think will happen to our nation if this Pakatan coalition did take government? Can three political parties with three divergent ideologies converge into a government for the people? One can speculate and pontificate on that possibility but the only way to find out is to give them government. Whether Malaysians are prepared to do so in the future is still to be seen but the aftermath of the 13th general election does not auger well for Pakatan for despite winning the popular votes, Pakatan is still very much a work in progress. But for Umno what matters is if the Malays will vote for Umno. READ MORE HERE |
| Ex-NST boss to PM: Why not make Rosmah minister? Posted: 07 Dec 2013 09:33 PM PST 
(MM) - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should seriously consider making his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, a full minister in recognition of her "contributions to the country", former NST editor-in-chief Datuk A. Kadir Jasin wrote today. In an acerbic entry on his blog The Scribe, the senior newsman poked fun at Najib's speech at the close of Umno's general assembly yesterday, in which the prime minister heaped praise on his wife for helping to settle international crises involving Malaysians.
"Based on Mohd Najib's information, it would be good for him to re-evaluate the position of Foreign Minister (Datuk Seri) Anifah Aman, because clearly he is not as effective as Rosmah in settling international crises," Kadir wrote.
"The same goes for International Trade and Industry Minister, (Datuk Seri) Mustapa Mohamed, Women, Family and Community Development (Minister Datuk) Rohani Abdul Karim and Education Minister (Tan Sri) Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin, because Rosmah is also involved here and there in work that should be done by these ministers.
"This way we can drop ministers who do not perform and at the same time save on the country's expenses by reducing the number of ministries," he said.
Yesterday, in his closing speech for Umno's 64th General Assembly, Najib said his wife had quietly played an important role in helping Malaysians who were in a pinch during the 2011 civil unrest in Egypt that deposed President Hosni Mobarak.
He told the over 2,000 delegates that Rosmah had been instrumental in helping free a Malaysian student detained by Egyptian authorities on suspicion of being a spy, and also helped secure safe passage for Malaysian students out of Egypt without visas during the revolution.
Kadir today said all Najib's and his wife's supporters need to do is get her appointed as a Senator and create a new portfolio for her called "Menteri Tugas-Tugas Khas", or Special Functions Minister.
"When this is done, nobody can protest over her meddling or accuse her husband or the Cabinet of abusing their powers by allowing her to use government facilities," he said. |
| Syiah: “Momok baru” untuk kuasai Melayu Posted: 07 Dec 2013 09:03 PM PST 
Amin Iskandar, TMI
Di antara sebab mengapa penjajah dapat menguasai tanah ini selama ratusan tahun adalah kerana kebodohan penduduk setempatnya. Selepas beberapa ratus tahun dijajah, barulah timbul kesedaran untuk memperjuangkan kemerdekaan. Maka tidak hairanlah mengapa Malaysia hanya diperintah oleh parti politik sama semenjak hari pertama negara mencapai kemerdekaan. Jika dahulu komunis atau fahaman komunisme merupakan "momok" untuk menakut-nakutkan rakyat, kini muncul momok baru iaitu fahaman Syiah. Walaupun perdebatan di antara Sunni-Syiah ini sudah lama selesai di peringkat antarabangsa di kalangan ulama-ulama muktabar, di Malaysia ia umpama isu baru. Umno yang memerintah Malaya semenjak 1957 dan Malaysia semenjak 1963 amat faham dengan kepentingan momok untuk menakut-nakutkan rakyat terutama orang-orang Melayu. Kemalasan majoriti orang-orang Melayu untuk membaca dan ketidakupayaan mereka untuk menyoal apabila diajarkan sesuatu oleh ustaz-ustaz "separuh masak" memudahkan momok-momok ini untuk terus hidup. Dalam erti kata lain, Syiah merupakan talian hayat Umno untuk terus menguasai minda orang-orang Melayu bagi memastikan mereka terus berkuasa selepas pilihan raya umum ke-14 (PRU14). Dengan adanya fahaman Syiah, ahli-ahli Umno dan rakyat Malaysia akan terlupa dengan kenaikan harga petrol, gula dan elektrik yang mereka hadapi. Momok Syiah ini umpama candu mengkhayalkan. Memerangi Syiah boleh menyebabkan anda terlupa akan kelaparan dan hutang-hutang yang belum berbayar. Perhimpunan Agung Umno 2013 menyaksikan fahaman Syiah menjadi bahan belasahan daripada perwakilan Umno seluruh negara. Sehingga terdapat beberapa cadangan agar Perlembagaan Persekutuan dipinda bagi menjadikan Malaysia sebagai negara yang hanya mengiktiraf Islam Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah. Sesuatu yang tidak pernah dilakukan oleh mana-mana negara Islam di dunia, termasuk Afghanistan semasa diperintah Taliban. 
Presiden Umno Datuk Seri Najib Razak (gambar) semalam dalam ucapan penangguhannya menyahut cabaran itu apabila mengatakan perlembagaan parti itu akan dipinda menjadikan hanya Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah diiktiraf Umno. Selepas ini, umat Islam di Malaysia yang menganut mazhab selain Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah tidak boleh lagi mengundi Umno kerana parti itu tidak mengiktiraf mereka, walaupun sebagai manusia.
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| 'Isu Mat Sabu, Pas tak terlibat' Posted: 07 Dec 2013 09:02 PM PST 
(Sinar Harian) - Pas hari ini menegaskan dakwaan terhadap Timbalan Presidennya, Mohamad Sabu adalah serangan peribadi dan tidak ada kena mengena dengan parti. Setiausaha Agungnya, Datuk Mustafa Ali berkata, dakwaan yang dikeluarkan oleh Menteri Dalam Negeri Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi adalah serangan terbuka dan bersifat peribadi.
Menurutnya, Mohamad atau Mat Sabu wajar mengambil tindakan terhadap kementerian tersebut.
"Itu adalah serangan peribadi, Mat Sabu perlu buat sesuatu.
"Kita tak akan masuk campur. Wajar Mat Sabu bertindak dan ambil tindakan terhadap menteri itu," katanya kepada Sinar Harian Online, hari ini.
Semalam, media melaporkan Ahmad Zahid dalam ucapan pergulungan pada Perhimpunan Agung Umno 2013 telah meminta Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) mengambil tindakan ke atas orang nombor dua Pas kerana didakwa mengamalkan ajaran Syiah.
Ahmad Zahid juga memberikan 'lampu hijau' kepada Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom yang memegang portfolio agama menjalankan tugasnya.
"Kita tak faham kenapa pilih pemimpin Syiah itu jadi orang nombor dua dalam Pas.
"Datuk Seri Jamil Khir, KDN beri kuasa ambil tindakan terhadap kepimpinan kedua parti itu," katanya.
Dalam pada itu, Mustafa juga berkata, Pas di peringkat pusat tidak pernah menerima sebarang laporan mengenai ajaran Syiah yang diamalkan oleh pemimpin parti termasuk Mat Sabu.
"Kita diperingkat Pusat memang tak pernah terima apa-apa laporan," katanya.
Dalam perkembangan sama, apabila ditanya adakah selepas mendengar dakwaan terbuka Ahmad Zahid, Pas akan membuat siasatan terhadap pemimpin nombor dua parti itu, Mustafa berkata :
"Kita tak akan buat demikian, sebab tak ada laporan, itu kita serahkan kepada Mat Sabu," katanya lagi. |
| Mat Sabu denies he is a Syiah follower, threatens legal action against Zahid Hamidi Posted: 07 Dec 2013 08:59 PM PST (The Star) - Mohamad Sabu and fellow PAS leaders have criticised Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi for alleging that the former is a deviant Syiah follower. Denying the allegation, the PAS deputy president, commonly known as Mat Sabu, threatened to take legal action against Zahid. "I am not a Syiah follower," said Mohamad before boarding a flight. Kubang Rotan assemblyman Mohd Nasir Mustafa alleged Zahid was trying to show off his power in front of Umno delegates. "I have known Bang Mat (Mohamed) for many years. I have not seen him practising deviant teachings," said Mohd Nasir. He said Zahid should focus on Ops Cantas and clamp down on real threats to the society instead of wasting time hunting harmless politicians. Mohd Nasir said this in response to Zahid's green light to the Malaysia Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) during his winding-up speech at the Umno General Assembly 2013 to take action against Mohamed, allegedly for being a Syiah follower. Short of naming Mohamed, Zahid had called on Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom to take immediate action against the "No 2 PAS leader". PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali described Zahid's action as "extreme personal attack". Supporting Mohamed's plan to take legal action against Zahid, Mustafa said the party had never received any reports implicating the former in any deviant teachings. PAS information chief Datuk Mahfuz Omar accused Zahid of trying to pit Muslims against each other. |
| Can Khalid absorb the pressures to remain as MB? Posted: 07 Dec 2013 03:49 PM PST 
Since the last general election, in which Pakatan Rakyat managed to retain Selangor with an impressive two-thirds majority despite Selangorians being made to endure the tune of "Sayangi Selangor" in train coaches every morning, Khalid's future has remained unclear, according to many analysts. Lokman Mustafa, The Ant Daily A strong wind of discontent is blowing and it threatens to knock the Selangor chief executive off his perch. No, I am not talking about the monsoon that brought with it heavy downfalls, submerging most parts of Kuantan and leaving thousands of people in the east coast capital deeply in distress. Instead, I am equally alarmed by the dark clouds that hang over Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim's future as the sole Menteri Besar from PKR at the helm of the richest state in Malaysia. Since the last general election, in which Pakatan Rakyat managed to retain Selangor with an impressive two-thirds majority despite Selangorians being made to endure the tune of "Sayangi Selangor" in train coaches every morning, Khalid's future has remained unclear, according to many analysts. Since his appointment as menteri besar for a second term, Khalid has constantly been on the receiving end of criticisms, ironically from certain quarters within his own party who continue to undermine his ability to lead the state. Perhaps average Malaysians are not yet well acquainted with the political manoeuvrings in PKR, but there seems more than a hint that Khalid's time may be up soon. The fiasco surrounding the state assemblymen's pay hike seems to further lend credence to rumours regarding the impending fall from grace of one of the architects of the great Dawn Raid. As the future looks uncertain for Khalid, perhaps it is not such a bad idea to go through the list of candidates who can, or are eager to fill his shoes, in the event the Selangor menteri besar's post becomes vacant. Obviously, the name that tops the list must be that of Azmin Ali. The PKR deputy president and Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman has been Khalid's enemy numero uno since the announcement of the latter's re-appointment to the post last May. Azmin is widely viewed as an influential warlord in PKR and that perhaps may not sit well with most Selangorians who heaved a sigh of relief over the departure of previous warlords from Umno. At the same time, claims by Wanita PKR chief that Selangor is a PKR state may yet be proven wrong if both PAS and DAP, coalition parties in Pakatan, disagree with the appointment of another PKR assemblyman to head the most developed state in the country. What makes Khalid well-liked by most Selangorians was the fact that he fit the anti-hero description when he was first named as menteri besar in 2008. Though most people knew he was a shrewd corporate figure, his low-profile image seemed to bode well for residents of the state who were used to seeing high-profile "leaders" letting them down. Five years later, his most vocal critics are again highlighting the fact that Khalid is "slow" in his actions and incapable of getting the votes from Malay-majority constituencies such as Kuala Selangor, Sabak Bernam, Sungai Besar, Hulu Selangor and Tanjung Karang. READ MORE HERE |
| Mat Sabu denies Syiah links Posted: 07 Dec 2013 03:45 PM PST 
(MM) - PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu has denied Putrajaya's accusation that he has links to the banned Syiah movement, insisting instead that he follows the accepted Sunni school of jurisprudence. The PAS leader reportedly confirmed this to Astro Awani when contacted yesterday.
"I am a member of the Sunnah Wal Jamaah, a Muslim that follows the teachings of Sunnah Wal Jamaah members," he briefly told Astro Awani in his journey to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
The PAS leader was responding to the accusation by Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who had yesterday issued an order on local religious authorities to take action against the former for his alleged links to the Shiites.
Addressing a packed auditorium on the last day of Umno's 67th General Assembly, Ahmad Zahid ― who is also an Umno vice-president ― said his ministry will no longer tolerate any elements that are seen as a threat to national security.
"PAS, set aside political interest. This is about akidah (faith) and national security... I am surprised how their party elections installed a Syiah as the number two leader in PAS," he said in his winding up speech, in a clear reference to Mohamad Sabu.
"We are done lying low. Jamil Khir, KDN gives you the power to take action against (that) PAS leader," he said to thunderous applause from the over 2,000 delegates.
Ahmad Zahid was referring to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, who is in charge of Islamic affairs.
On Twitter, PKR Senator Syed Husin Ali acknowledged Zahid Hamidi's accusation and advised his PAS comrade to sue the minister for making such a claim without any solid proof.
"Minister Zahid Hamidi accused Mat Sabu and wants the Religious Minister to take action. Does Zahid have solid proof. If not, Mat should sue," he wrote.
On Friday, Ahmad Zahid had a proposal to redefine Islam as "Sunni" in the Federal Constitution would be brought before the government for discussion in a bid to prevent the spread of other Islamic ideologies, including the Syiah sect, in Malaysia.
National newswire Bernama quoted the minister as saying that by inserting the words "Sunnah wal Jamaah" in the definition of Islam in the Federal Constitution, it would ensure that Muslims who follow other ideologies are prohibited from spreading their teachings.
It is widely accepted that "Sunnah wal Jamaah" is the de-facto ideology adopted by the majority of Muslims in Malaysia, though religious authorities have long grappled with pockets of different sects that have taken root across the country.
The Home Minister said the spread of the Syiah ideology is an "issue of faith and national security", and has been determined by the National Fatwa Council in 1996 that it is a deviant movement that goes against the tenets of Sunnah wal Jamaah, the dominant Islamic ideology in Malaysia.
Yesterday, Umno president and prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said his party will redefine Islam as "Sunni" in its party constitution.
Ahmad Zahid said Umno's proposal to add the words "Sunnah wal Jamaah" to define Islam under the Federal Constitution was a right step in making it clear what brand of Islam is practiced in the country.
He claimed that the plan even received the endorsement of a cleric from the holy city of Mecca, and that Malaysia is arguably the first Muslim country to push for a clear stance on its religious ideology. |
| Post-Umno assembly, PKR predicts doomed Malay race Posted: 07 Dec 2013 03:42 PM PST 
(MM) - The Malays are heading towards a future that is rapidly growing dimmer under Umno's continued rule, PKR said today, citing the ruling party's alleged failure to address key national issues during its just-concluded annual assembly. PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar said the week-long assembly had only seen more chest-thumping from the ruling party's bellicose leaders to the tune of their new "1Melayu" refrain, instead of debates on the nation's dip in education standards and how to better address issues like corruption and the rise in living costs.
"The spike in living costs, an issue that has grown more burdensome on the public, appeared to be mostly ignored.
"In fact, Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razah still held on to his old rhetorical approach, saying — the people should be patient and sacrifice for the sake of the country's finances," she pointed out in a statement here.
The Lembah Pantai MP noted that international ratings agency Moody had recently upgraded its credit outlook on Malaysia to A3, on the back of improved prospects for fiscal consolidation and reforms in government spending, including measures taken to cut back on public subsidies.
"But the question the Umno assembly failed to address is this — how did Moody's downgrade Malaysia's outlook in the first place? Why didn't a single leader or delegate speak on the effect of leakages, corruption and mismanagement of the economy?" Nurul Izzah asked.
"It was because of government extravagance and leakages that the public now has to face taxes like the GST, price hikes in petrol, sugar and electricity tariffs and even assessment rates by City Hall — all to boost the country's credit ratings and raise the national debt at the hands of the select few identified for the Malay Economic Empowerment Agenda (Umno elites)," she added.
At his closing speech yesterday, Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak had told Malaysians that painful temporary subsidy cuts were necessary to boost the economy and to help Malaysia eventually achieve developed status by 2020.
The prime minister reasoned that the recent increases in fuel and sugar prices, as well as the electricity tariff hike next month, had improved Malaysia's outlook by ratings agency Moody's from stable to positive.
"We have to take some short-term pains for long-term gains," Najib said as he closed Umno's 67th general assembly here.
"It is only a little. Not very painful. By 2020, we'll be a developed nation," he added.
The electricity tariff in the peninsula will increase by 14.9 per cent, or 4.99 sen, to 38.53 sen for every kilowatt per hour (kWh), and 16.9 per cent, or 5 sen per kWh, to 34.52 sen per kWh for Sabah and Labuan, effective January 1 next year.
In April 2015, the controversial Goods and Services Tax (GST), a broad-based consumption tax, will also be implemented to help reduce the country's fiscal deficit.
"We must strengthen our economy, then we can give more assistance to the people," said Najib.
The party president, now in his second term, had led the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) pact to a bittersweet victory during the 13th general elections that was expected to spur Umno towards introspection and reform.
But observations throughout debates during the ruling party's annual meet over the week appeared to show otherwise as delegates chose instead to focus on more of the same rhetoric that is believed to have caused BN to bleed votes during the polls.
Earlier in the week, Pandan Umno delegate Datuk Mohd Haniff Koslan said government-linked companies (GLCs) should each produce one Malay millionaire every two to three years, ostensibly to prop up the position of Islam in the country.
Malacca delegate Datuk Akhbar Ali urged for the 30 per cent quota for Bumiputera equity in business to be more than doubled, since the Bumiputera community account for 67.9 per cent of the country's population of 28 million.
In proposing the economy motion on Thursday, Bachok Umno chief Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin sought for GLCs to award public contracts and procurement to more Bumiputera firms.
The former deputy finance minister also wanted state-owned firms to prefer hiring Bumiputera graduates, while demanding a public key performance index (KPI) to monitor the extent to which GLCs are supporting the Bumiputera agenda.
Daily, the unifying theme was overwhelmingly "more".
Umno is comfortable with living in its cocoon or its shell and does not want to think of further ways to promote the country as a whole... but just how to further concentrate power and wealth through a range of motions and rebranding policies tailored specifically for select party members. — Nurul Izzah Anwar
Peppered among the calls for more of the carrot were also some demanding the stick for those who did not throw their support behind Umno and BN in Election 2013.
Telling Putrajaya to only "bet on sure things", Federal Territories delegate Datuk Mohd Shafei Abdullah on Thursday asked the federal government to re-examine the 1 Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) cash handouts with the view of excluding PR supporters.
Pandan Umno delegate Datuk Mohd Haniff Koslan suggested that the BN government play hard ball in federal to state dealings with the PR Selangor government, claiming the state made it harder for Malays to conduct business there.
Most controversial was Penang delegate Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir, who said Putrajaya should consider adopting "1 Melayu" in place of its all-inclusive "1 Malaysia" slogan after efforts to reach out to Chinese voters were snubbed in Election 2013.
Amid the pomp and pageantry, there was scant evidence that this was the assembly of a party whose coalition has just come off the poorest electoral result since that of the Alliance Party, which it replaced, in Election 1969.
"In conclusion, Umno is comfortable with living in its cocoon or its shell and does not want to think of further ways to promote the country as a whole... but just how to further concentrate power and wealth through a range of motions and rebranding policies tailored specifically for select party members," Nurul Izzah said.
"Clearly, the future of the Malays and Malaysia will continue to darken under Umno if it still fails to implement national reconciliation efforts that are inclusive, to create a brighter future for all," she added. |
| Ku Nan: Anti-BN Malay tsunami ‘impossible’ Posted: 07 Dec 2013 03:38 PM PST 
(MM) - Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor dismissed today an editorial by Utusan Malaysia warning of a "Malay tsunami" if Umno does not continue to be a party loved by Malays. In its "Awang Selamat" column, the Umno-owned daily said PAS and PKR will try to create a "Malay tsunami" in the next general election.
"After the shocking Chinese tsunami in GE-13 failed to overthrow the government, the strategy is now to focus on creating a Malay tsunami in GE-14.
"Beware, although Umno is strong it is not invincible.
"Strive to be the party that is loved especially by the Muslims, Malays and Bumiputera. There is no other option," it said.
Tengku Adnan, however, dismissed it as only the views of the editors at Utusan Malaysia, and not Malaysians.
"Look at what happened to Umno, we increased from 79 seats to 88 seats and after this there will be increase of more seats, believe me.
"And I believe once MIC is sorted out, after 21st MCA will be sorted out, then they will know what will happen to them," he said, referring to Barisan Nasional component parties' respective elections.
"We will gain more seats from the rakyat because they will realise that this is the party they can rely on," he said, referring to the ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional (BN).
When asked if a Malay tsunami might happen in the future, Tengku Adnan said, "impossible".
BN won 133 federal seats in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat against the 89 bagged by Pakatan Rakyat, despite the opposition winning 53 per cent of the popular vote against just 47 per cent going the way of BN.
The results also drove a wedge in racial relations, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is also the Umno president, blaming a "Chinese tsunami" for BN's poor performance.
MCA performed poorly in the last two elections, securing only 15 seats in 2008 and decreasing its share to only seven seats in the 13th general election this year. |
| Psalm 23 Posted: 07 Dec 2013 01:26 PM PST 
Nevertheless, how many Jews, Christians or Muslims would live by the ideals, standards and demands of Psalm 23? We would be lucky if we can find even 1% who do. To the rest of the 99%, Psalm 23 is merely lip service that has no place in their hearts. NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. That is actually the New International Version of Psalm 23 and there are roughly 50 different versions in all -- just for the English language alone. If other languages are added to this list then we are talking about hundreds of versions of Psalm 23. For example, some versions translate Even though I walk through the darkest valley as Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Being Sunday and all that I thought today would be the best day to talk about what Muslims would call the 'Christian Talkin' -- what you read during a funeral or burial (although Psalm 23 did not start as a Talkin but later became one). The Muslims would regard Psalm 23 as the basis of the Islamic akidah. And any Muslim who lacks akidah ceases to be a Muslim because the akidah is the foundation of the Muslim faith and hence the absence of akidah means the absence of faith. Every Muslim would declare that he or she has akidah. To do otherwise would mean you are admitting that you do not have faith and thus would not be a Muslim. There is actually very little difference in the Jewish, Christian or Muslim view regarding akidah or faith. Nevertheless, how many Jews, Christians or Muslims would live by the ideals, standards and demands of Psalm 23? We would be lucky if we can find even 1% who do. To the rest of the 99%, Psalm 23 is merely lip service that has no place in their hearts. In short, 99% of the Jews, Christians and Muslims are not true Jews, Christians and Muslims. They lack akidah and hence are not true followers of their religion. First, read what Psalm 23 says. Then try to understand the real meaning and implication of what you just read. Finally, do you really live your life according to the ideals, standards and demands of Psalm 23? Most of you will say yes. I will contradict you and say no. And if you say yes that can only mean you do not really know what you just read. I can go on and on and write ten pages of examples as to why I say most Jews, Christians and Muslims are not true Jews, Christians and Muslims. However, most of what I would say would be lost on you anyway and would be a total waste of time. If I need to explain then you are ignorant to start off with. Anyone who is true to his or her faith would understand what I mean without the need for me to explain anything. Hence if you need to ask then you are already lost. Psalm 23 is our operating system of sorts or owner's manual. It is to guide us on how we must think and do things. It is supposed to shape our heart and mind. Basically, Psalm 23 is what we are or supposed to be. But most of us are far from that. We are not what Psalm 23 says we must be. Most times we are opposite to that. Let us do just one test. 'Normal' Muslims will say Alhamdulillah (Praise to Allah) when good luck visits them. True Muslims with akidah and guided by Psalm 23 will say Alhamdulillah when bad luck visits them -- while 99% of Jews, Christians and Muslims will curse and swear when they do not get what they want or do not get what they think they deserve. That one test alone and you have failed to meet the ideals, standards and demands of Psalm 23. So you are therefore not a true Jew, Christian or Muslim. Still do not get what I am driving at? Then that is your problem, not mine. |
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