http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/article/what-is-patriotism-anyway/
JAN 15 — We may have only just begun the new year, but some things remain the same. Take the report on last week's Friday khutbah regarding street rallies.
Now, whilst I appreciate the fact that demonstrations and rallies invariably cause disruption to our everyday lives, I don't for one moment think that such activities are inherently bad. In fact, I would argue that demonstrations and rallies are fundamental to a healthy democracy: citizens should have the right to peaceful assembly without interference from the authorities. I would go so far as to state that the authorities are duty-bound to facilitate the staging of such events by ensuring people's safety and good traffic management.
What I found most interesting about the khutbah, however, was equating patriotism to loyalty towards one's country and its rulers. Loyalty to the country, yes. Loyalty to a country's rulers? Err, no.
What some of our fellow citizens don't seem to understand is that the government (that is, our rulers, since the role of our Sultans and the Agung is largely ceremonial) is there to serve us, the rakyat. The government rules in our name. The current government was given the mandate to to rule during the last general election. Though BN has won this mandate since Independence, it does not necessarily follow that BN will always be granted this right.
If therefore the rakyat thinks that the government is not doing a good job and a better alternative exists, then it is perfectly within our rights to vote in the party or parties that we feel would do a better job. Actually, I think it's our duty to vote for the people who we think will do the best job of governing our country. After all, governing a country and representing its people is a big job. Why should your vote go to someone just because their father was a leader, or because they are the same race as you?
That being the case, why should the rakyat feel any loyalty to a country's rulers? If anything, it should be the other way around — surely a patriotic leader is one who always strives to do what is best for the people, not what is best for himself, his family or his party.
Besides, if a leader has blatantly abused his or her power, then should we, the rakyat, blindly continue to support them to prove our patriotism?
Then there is the case of the overseas six. What, I ask, is more patriotic than demanding the right to vote even if one is no longer residing in Malaysia? As a citizen residing overseas, I would do my civic duty, but once again I and others like me are defeated by process and procedure. I ask you: who is more patriotic in this instance, the overseas six and people who want to vote but can't, or bodies like the High Court which dismissed the application and the Election Commission which continually cites logistics as one of the reasons why certain overseas Malaysians are disenfranchised?
Personally, I think there are many ways to show that you are a patriot. Simply leading a productive life, for instance. Supporting unfashionable causes because you think they are good for the country. Supporting the people who you think will be the best at governing the country, whether they are BN or PKR or PAS or DAP.
The fact of the matter is, what is best for the country is subjective. If you are a Perkasa-type, then it's probably likely that you see everything that the DAP does as being dangerous to the country.
What's depressing however, is the way that the authorities — be they Jakim, the police, or the government — automatically assume that their thinking is right. It's 2012 already. It's quite likely that we're in an election year. I know there are still plenty of conservative Malaysians, but surely the authorities know by now that there are also a number of Malaysians who just don't buy the same old arguments any more.
As I've said before, many Malaysians no longer unquestioningly accept everything that we're told. We are no longer deferential towards our leaders. We no longer hold fast to the old certainties.
Like the government, organisations like the Election Commission, the police, religious bodies and others are there to serve us. To some extent they represent our society; isn't it time such organisations acknowledged that Malaysians now hold a variety of outlooks, and started reaching out to all Malaysians instead of peddling the usual lines?
Wouldn't that be the patriotic thing to do, instead of lecturing the rakyat about what we need to do in order to be patriots?
* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.
Steve Oh • Nov 23, 11 8:16
The road to democracy let alone the 'world's best democracy' is a road far less travelled when it is peppered with potholes of corruption and the authorities are selective who they prosecute.
The unfailing flow of public corruption scandals involving government politicians has reached a crisis. The government cannot afford to brush them aside in the face of compelling evidence of improper , even culpable conduct, and risk eroding its credibility further.
They say the devil is in the details and the Auditor-General has provided the smoking guns of financial misfiring that should provide the leads to successful prosecutions.
It is this failure to bring those culpable to court that makes the Auditor-General's reports appear like a serial horror show as similar irregularities recur year after year.
Malaysians no longer are fooled by the dangling carrots of jaw-dropping projects and pie-in-the-sky promises that are pure spin and as unreal as an mirage in an Arabian desert mirage. They believe in concrete results.
Even the devil can tempt and make false promises.
Malaysians have to stop short-changing themselves because the corrupt politicians won't desist from cheating them.
I qualify 'the corrupt politicians' because not all politicians can be tarred with the same broad brush. Not all politicians or law-enforcers are corrupt.
They should know bad company corrupts good character unless they purge the corrupt whoever they are from their midst.
Those who are exposed for their wrongdoings but tell fibs to intelligent Malaysians or those who cover up for them are not very clever or honest.
I am reminded of the noble Malay man who dobbed his son's illegal activities to the police. He was a simple villager but believed in the age old adage that 'honesty is the best policy.'
We need more honest politicians and more honest law enforcers.
The police and MACC can start enforcing this ethos among their troops and go after the big fish and we will believe they are sincere in seeking public feedback.
The public will stand behind them. Otherwise they will be accused of false pretences and passing the buck to the public or desperately running out of ideas when they have refused the Royal Commission's sound recommendations.
Not long ago Idris Jala warned of the country's impending bankruptcy only to tell Malaysians today that the country will now not go broke.
Maybe we should export this 'miracle cure' to Europe. Jesus can change water into wine but can a country change imminent bankruptcy into a high-income country overnight? Perhaps the government can for the select few.
Politicians say too many contradictory things and confuse the people.
They should just stick to the truth even if it is a bitter pill because truth never hurt a good cause. Malaysians love the truth but the politicians keep telling them lies.
You can't say 'we will abolish the ISA' and then jail some people without trial and damn them as 'terrorists.' The late Colonel Gaddafi said 'everybody loves me' and called his people 'rats' but instead of leading at the front he died like a rat.
Doing the opposite of what you say is too much like the the lying and delusional dictator.
The Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011 is yet another anomaly for a country on its way to being the 'world's best democracy.'
If it sounds like the usual hyperbole the facts back it. Delusion, deception, hallucination, they all belong to the category of lies because they are far from the reality.
The moral and political awakening taking shape in the country may not be enough to see structural and regime change unless those that prop up the leaning tower of a dishonest demagogy seen in practice, within a democracy promulgated in theory, realize that what awaits is not the Promised Land for every citizen but a plundered nation misappropriated by the thieves that you put into power.
Sadly I am preaching to the converted but I can vote.
And no one distorts everything as well as the man history will record as the Father of Lost and Stolen Opportunities besides other ignoble epithets, who continues to poison his country with his venom despite having done it for longer than any leader, from the dark shadows of his vain, wasted and tainted existence.
It is like a Shakespearan tragedy. The country lay at his feet to make great but instead he trod on it and still parades like the Emperor with no clothes and no scruples.
When the elections are drawn along the battle lines of truth, justice and morality, in the light of the exposes of corruption and abuses of power, it should not be hard for conscientious voters to realize who has the antidote and who has been making them drink from the poisoned chalice.
Make your vote count, fellow Malaysians.
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Antara disiplin sosiologi mengenai tatacara perhubungan manusia dan politik, ada beberapa adab dan MANTIQ mudah yang perlu kita benar-benar kuasai dalam menyampaikan dakwah kepada circle of concerns and influences kita. Antaranya ialah berHIKMAH.
Apabila membicarakan soal pendekatan HIKMAH, ramai yang mempunyai tanggapan umum bahawa ianya tidak lebih daripada sekadar pada perkataan dan bahasa yang lemah lembut sahaja, umpama memijak semut pun pasti tidak akan mati.
Sebagai contoh, pihak polis yang menangkap seorang pencuri, apakah mereka akan berbicara dengan lemah lembut?
Ketika serbuan dilakukan ke atas pusat-pusat hiburan/arak yang melibatkan orang Melayu/Islam..masih lembut jugakah arahan yang dikeluarkan ketika itu?
Bila difikirkan secara mendalam, adakah di situ letaknya kedudukan hikmah?
Ketika Saidina Umar yang terkenal dengan perwatakan dan peribadinya yang begitu keras dan tegas pada sifatnya. Beliau pernah memberikan cadangan agar dibunuh sahaja pemimpin kafir yang ditawan semasa peperangan Badar.
Apakah Saidina Umar tidak berhikmah jika kualiti "lembut" itu menjadi asas kepada hikmah?
Jika begitulah asasnya, mengapa pula dalam Islam kita dibolehkan untuk merotan anak yang tidak mahu sembahyang apabila sampai usianya 10 tahun? Tidakkah itu bertentangan dengan konsep Hikmah di atas?
Makanya, hikmah itu tidak semestinya bersyaratkan approach yang lembut. Adakalanya ia memerlukan keTEGASan dan kekerasan kerana yang paling utama adalah mencegah KEZALIMAN. Apatah lagi dalam isu menegur pemerintah atas kezaliman dan penyalahgunaan kuasa, perlu ada ketegasan kerana yang lebih menjadi keutamaan ialah menegah kezaliman yang akibat dan kesannya lebih besar adalah kepada rakyat, serta mengundang keMUDARATan yang lebih hebat. Maka perlu difahami maqasid dan tujuan pencegahan.
Jika mahu potong pokok besar guna kapak,
Jika mahu potong pokok kecik guna gunting.
Kesimpulannya, ada ketika masa kena KERAS, dan ada masa kena LEMBUT. Ada yang main peranan tegur secara KERAS dan TEGAS, ada yang main peranan tegur secara LEMBUT. Perlu sesuaikan dengan tempat dan keadaan.
Allahualam
Teo Nie Ching • Dec 23, 11 3:36
All concerned parties should evaluate with objectivity, the action of lowering a flag bearing Prime Minister Najib Razak's portrait by Legasi Mahasiswa Progresif (LMP) during its march for academic freedom, and call for the abolition of UUCA and not counter it with threats of intimidation and violence.
When Adam Adli, the undergraduate who took down the flag, went to Bukit Aman police station to lodge a police report in the company of coalition members after receiving death threats suspected to have originated from a political party, he was attacked outside the police station. Such an incident should not have occurred but what was utterly shocking was that the police took no action to stop the attacker.
According to news reports, Umno Youth members could be involved in issuing those threats. However, if Umno feels that the undergraduates' action of lowering a flag bearing Najib's portrait as inappropriate and insulting, then the Chief Minister of Penang Lim Guan Eng should also be accorded the same respect from Umno as previously, Umno's hired guns have insulted him by burning and stomping all over his portrait.
In July this year, during the protest from Jalan Kaki Kelapa to Komtar, not only did the protestors trample on, tear up and burn copies of Lim Guan Eng's portrait, they also assaulted the reporters who were covering the event.
In fact, not only did Umno members vent their anger at Lim Guan Eng, Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon's portrait was subject to the same treatment by Umno members in September 2008.
In allowing its party members to deface Lim Guan Eng and Koh Tsu Koon's portraits, and issuing such a vile and extreme rebuke to the undergraduates, Umno has exposed itself as a hypocrite and practises double standards.
Even Deputy Minister of Higher Education Ministry, Saifuddin Abdullah, who was on hand to receive the memorandum from the graduates became a target of crude and vile insults by Umno bloggers, who demanded for him to resign from his ministerial post.
The intimidation by Umno bloggers is a clear attack by the ultra/conservative elements on the reformists within Umno. Saifuddin should not be asked to resign from his post, as he is after all one of the few rare, progressive and open-minded deputy ministers in Barisan Nasional and I hope he will continue to be the bridge between the government and undergraduates.
Our undergraduates are becoming increasingly mature. Not only they are standing up for their rights but they know the appropriate time and place to table protests against oppressive and dictatorial polices that affect them.
If the response on the Facebook page advocating support for Adam Adli is anything to go by, the Barisan Nasional should just stop dreaming about curtailing freedom of thought and expression of our undergraduates, but instead take them seriously and institute real reforms in the education system.
Teo Nie Ching is DAP Assistant national publicity secretary and Serdang MP.
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Biarlah dikatakan tidak meniru sebiji-sebiji MODEL atau manhaj ikhwan atau FDP atau AKP sekalipun, selagi mana ianya masih berlandaskan Quran dan Sunnah serta masih dipayungi oleh Majlis Syura yang bukan calang-calang orangnya, yang lebih penting ialah SUBSTANCE dan MAQASIDnya masih tetap sama..
Dan siapa sangka malam tahun baru di beberapa tempat seluruh selangor bergema dengan sorakan Takbir anak muda memuji kebesaran tuhan. dan apa yang lebih penting ialah, siapa yang 'Walk the Talk'..
TAKBIR!
Jacob George • Dec 27, 11 3:33
I am not surprised that PAS has slammed the five Christmas Day church bombings carried out by Islamists in Nigeria, that killed dozens of Christians.
In fact, I was glad to learn that they have in recent times gone a great deal to hold warm cordial discussions on various issues with Malaysian Christians!
And by their statement together with the global community condemning the church attacks in the strongest terms possible PAS is clearly wining the confidence of minorities in the country, that include, the tarnished and verbally bashed Christians who have suffered great abuse in recent months after being accused of many claims and wild allegations; none of which have been proven by evidence.
With regard to that last point, it is strange that even once respected VVIPs too have instead of addressing the truth behind these lies and concoctions had instead decided it is politically more expedient to join the chorus of verbal bashing and ridicule instead of addressing what is true.
They are of political chameleons after all.
Actually this only shows the widespread hypocrisy practised by politicians, intellectuals and others professing to be untainted religious icons in international forums, heads of government meetings and even at the EU and UN.
Like Malaysia's PAS, I am certainly impressed by the Muslim Council of Britain's statement condemning the Christmas attacks.
Muslim Council of Britain secretary-general Murad Farooq said in a statement yesterday that faithful Muslims should not tolerate attacks on houses of worship, including those of Christians.
All this when Islamist militants set off bombs across Nigeria on Christmas Day targeting five churches, including one bombing that killed at least 27 people, raising fears that they are trying to ignite a sectarian civil war.
However the defining silence from the Malaysian government or its politicians on this matter is shocking.
JACOB GEORGE is president of the Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam, Selangor (Cassa).
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2. Sebagai seorang yang beragama Islam kita wajib percaya dan menyakini bukan pemimpin UMNO yang memberi kita rezeki tetapi Allah. Maka barulah di situ kita dapat membuat pertimbangan yang lebih tepat apabila berurusan dengan warga manusia. Sebagai contoh mudah kita suka/benci kelakuan seseorang itu bergantung kepada sejauh mana orang itu menurut perintah dan syariat yang ditetapkan Allah di dalam quran dan sunnah ajaran nabi.
3. Kalau pun seseorang itu telah berkhidmat dengan baik di mana2 sekalipun organisasi selama berpuluh2 tahun tapi dalam masa yang sama mencuri wang organisasi berkenaan, maka haruskah kita atau organisasi berkenaan terus mempertahankan beliau, atau atas alasan bahawa beliau juga ada berJASA?
5. Malahan ada yang orang hartanya mungkin mencapai RM100juta, tetapi pada masa yang sama hutangnya juga mencecah RM100juta, malah mungkin lebih lagi kerana mahu bermegah2 dengan kemewahan. Percutian ke eropah sentiasa memenuhi kalendar tahunan, belum termasuk dengan barangan aksesori dan pakaian yang mewah bertukar ganti. Kerja hanya setakat status pegawai kerajaan atau PTD menimbulkan tanda tanya tentang bisnes sambilan yang diusahakan beliau. Malahan hakikatnya di fikirannya mungkin sentiasa tidak tenteram memandangkan status kewangannya yang sentiasa tidak kukuh walaupun pada kaca mata masyarakat umum beliau akan kelihatan hebat dan megah.
6. Adapun dalam masa yang sama, ada orang hartanya mungkin cuma RM20juta, namun hutangnya juga kecil jumlahnya cuma RM1juta, dan beliau cuma memandu kereta toyota camry baru walaupun beliau mampu untuk memiliki BMW 5siri yang terbaru. Dan apa yang lebih penting ialah beliau mendapatkan rezeki tersebut tanpa amalan2 yang diragui status halalnya.
7. Jikalau anda seorang pemimpin apatah lagi yang dilantik secara rasmi untuk mewakili rakyat, dalam anda menikmati kemewahan dan kehidupan yang bermegah-megah belum tentu anda boleh menyaingi kekayaan ilmu dan kebendaan kurniaan Allah.
Hakikatnya, masyarakat melayu sudah terlalu sinonim untuk cepat kaya dan mengambil kesempatan di atas kesusahan orang lain. Malahan jika boleh, harta rakyat pun sanggup dirampok demi kepentingan peribadi atau keluarga sendiri. Dan ironinya, seakan-akan perkataan rasuah sudah mengakar dalam minda kepala melayu hingga hilang rasa jelik kepada sikap dan kegiatan keji ini..
Tidakkah kita dpt belajar betapa kayanya masyarakat Cina walaupun bukan semua mereka kroni kerajaan UMNOBN.
Rakyat diutamakan? "Ptuih!", sergah si panglima perang ludah..
2. Kenyataan yang biasa digunakan untuk mengekang anak muda atau mahasiswa bersuara dengan mengingatkan JASA atau BIASISWA yang diberikan oleh kerajaan ketika belajar. Maka untuk tidak sependapat atau sealiran dengan pemberi jasa adalah a No-no..
3. Persoalannya, siapa yang patut mahasiswa ini patuh? Adakah pemberi biasiswa? atau tuan punya duit biasiswa?
4. Kenapa sebenarnya kita dapat biasiswa? Adakah sebab kerajaan yang pilih kita, ataupun kerana kita layak berdasarkan merit untuk dapat biasiswa tersebut? Dan jika kita benar dipilih berdasarkan merit dan mencapai kriteria yang kerajaan tetapkan maka, haruskah kita terhutang budi dengan kerajaan?
5. Dari manakah sumber biasiswa sebenar, kerajaan atau rakyat?
Jikalau jawapannya rakyat, maka tindakan kita mestilah serasi dengan keperluan rakyat jelata dan aspirasi umum.
6. Persoalan seterusnya, apa sebenarnya keperluan rakyat jelata?
To make it simple, masyarakat kita Malaysia sangat memerlukan generasi akan datang yang lebih bijak terutamanya dalam aspek pentadbiran dan pengurusan negara. Maka, orang yang dapat duit daripada rakyat ni, kenalah dan jatuh kewajipan kepada mereka untuk menjadi generasi yang bijak, generasi yang hebat. Malahan perlu peka dengan persepsi dan suasana, bukannya bila nampak bendera diturunkan, kita jadi bijak dan hebat kondem dan hentam sana sini, tapi pabila kes rasuah lembu, kepala lembu diusung, kek tahi dibawa ke pejabat etc2 kita terlupa perkataan adab dan sistem nilai seolah2 tidak pernah ada dalam kamus.
7. Adapun melihat daripada perspektif yang lain, jikalau kita asyik repeat paper disebabkan malas belajar ataupun selalu lambat hantar assignment ataupun buat kerja cukup2 makan sahaja tapi dalam masa yang sama boleh sibuk bercuti ke eropah dan membeli belah barangan mahal, apa layakkah kita memegang atau mendapat amanah daripada rakyat ni?
Education is now still a privilege, a luxury, and we are currently enjoying it at the expense of others.
Rama Ramanathan • Dec 5, 11 5:37
I can understand members of a fringe group of Muslims promoting the use of Arabic perhaps because they believe god desires the world to speak Arabic.
I can understand religious teachers, ulama, using Arabic to expound the Koran and teach right conduct.
But what am I to make of the use of Arabic words by leaders of race-based Umno?
Do they think people will believe Umnoputeras are good Muslims because they use Arabic words? Do they forget we associate Arabic garnishing with Gaddafi, Osama and Saddam?
At the Umno general assembly last week, Najib, Muhyiddin and others used many Arabic words including redha (acceptance), qada (destiny),qadar (fate), rezeki (sustenance) and bai'ah (oath of allegiance).
I began pondering the use of Arabic words by Umno leaders when I learned about Muhyiddin leading 2,700 Umno delegates in a bai'ah (oath of allegiance) to Najib on Saturday. According to news reports, this is what he said:
"Let us stand together in the spirit of unity and solidarity, honesty and sincerity, confidence and determination in winning the solid support of the rakyat for the sake of our party's victory.
"We, the Umno people, pledge to close ranks, promote brotherhood, eliminate disputes, avoid jealousy and feeling of envy, and to place party interest above self-interest.
"We, the Umno people, pledge to be loyal to the party by giving our full trust and solid support to the president to lead us to a handsome victory in the next general election."
Isn't it odd that God's name was not included? Did Malaysiakini report accurately?
In a speech, Muhyiddin urged Umno delegates to accept "as God's will" (redha) if they or their allies are not selected as candidates in the next election: it seems they are to treat Najib and Muhyiddin as God's representatives. Is this in accord with Islam?
Muhyiddin is reported to have mentioned rezeki(reward) in the same sentence as redha.
"Everything is determined by God; if one is not selected as a candidate this time around, it is ordained. You have to accept it (redha) and should not be disappointed as being redha will be rewarded, maybe not in the form of rezeki(sustenance) this time around."
Does this constitute open acceptance (redha) that Umno delegates seek public office for the sake of material reward?
Perhaps this is why there has been talk of Umno delegates being given senior leadership positions in government linked companies (GLC)?
How does Muhyiddin think Umno is going to win "the solid support of the rakyat" if Umno folks are running for office in order to enrich themselves,ala Shahrizat?
If Najib and Muhyiddin are serious about gaining support, they should be presenting the results of their tenure in office in relation to the voice of therakyat; they should be talking about national unity, inter-racial and inter-religious harmony; they should be talking about the corrupt who have been made examples of, e.g. the big fish involved in the PKFZ scandal, (former Selangor menteri besar) Khir Toyo and his mansion, Shahrizat and NFC.
They don't because they can't. These examples don't exist. What does exist is Perkasa fanning the flames of hate. And custodial deaths - in particular of Teoh Beng Hock, grilled to death.
If Umno wants to be viewed as more than a grouping of sham Muslims, they should be talking about how they are opposing hate and attacking injustice.I cringe when American politicians display their 'Christianity,' whether by association, e.g. arranging photo opportunities with Mother Teresa, or by claiming to be 'born again.'I cringe when 'Christian politicians' in Malaysia tell us of their 'calls' and are silent about their 'stands' on account of their being 1God before they are 1Malaysia or 1Party.
I am not a Muslim, but I know faithful Muslims who put people first; who measure their own worth according to their treatment of their oppressed neighbours; not according to the wealth they accumulate through pledges of allegiance to mere humans.
I am confident there are many Muslims who will agree with me that Umno with Arabic garnishing tastes just as bad. Will reformers arise within Umno?
Will BN component parties help the reformers?
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Yin Ee Kiong • Nov 25, 11 5:54
What makes a good Islamic country? Is it one where the people dress conservatively (or even severely in the case of women), adhere strictly to the rituals of Islam, where shariah laws apply?
Or is a good Islamic country one that keeps to the substantive teachings of Islam, more concerned with the content rather than the form of the religion? Where fairness, justice, honesty are the cornerstones of government policies and of its citizens' daily dealings.
How is a good Muslim judged?
By the number of times he prays a day, by how assiduously he keeps to the rules? Or by how he lives the true meaning of his faith?
A study by Scheherazade S Rehman and Hossein Askari from George Washington University, published in the Global Economy Journal Vol 10 drew surprising conclusions.The study examined if policies of Muslim countries (or Muslim majority countries) were founded on Islamic principles in comparison to non-Muslim countries. 208 countries were studied.The criteria: economic opportunity, economic freedom, corruption, financial systems and human rights were used to measure the level of 'Islamicity' (based on an information website about Islam and Muslims).
The study found that most Islamic countries did not conduct themselves according to Islamic principles concerning economic, financial, political, legal, social and governance issues.This is reflected in the governments in those countries but also the practices of the citizens in their daily dealings. Even at a social level it was found that many non-Muslim countries did much better in keeping to Islamic values.
The most 'Islamic' country the study found was actually non-Muslim – New Zealand. Luxembourg came second. The top 37 countries in the study were all non-Muslim.
Imaddudin Abdulrahim, one of Indonesia's leading thinkers on Islamic monotheism claimed that Ames, a small city in Iowa, represents an exemplar of an Islamic state.Yet Islam does not play a part in the day-to-day social, economic and political life of the city. The population does not observe Islamic rules on food or dress.
Imaddudin was not interested in form; he used parameters which reflect what he considered true Islam – trust, justice, fairness, freedom. He found that people did not lock their doors when they went out and yet no one trespassed. If you returned a broken egg to the grocer he accepted that it was broken when you bought it and replaced it without question. People were honest in their dealings irrespective of the value of the transaction.The government was fair and non-discriminatory. People were accepting of ethnic or religious differences.He saw Islam beyond shariah and beyond its textual appearances. He was more concerned with the substantive elements of the religion.
Recently I enquired through a friend the possibility of getting a scholarship (from a certain university funded by a Muslim tycoon) for an Indian girl who had done very well in her exams but whose parents were poor and unable to send her to university. I was told in no uncertain terms that scholarships were only given to Muslims.How does this reflect the true values of Islam?
When I was in Sudan I visited villages where artesian water was pumped out by equipment donated by Christian charities. I saw clinics and schools built and maintained by Christian foundations. Every village involved was however 100 percent Muslim!Is there anywhere in any 'Christian' country where Muslims are forbidden to build mosques? As long as they comply with the local building codes they have every right to do so and the law will protects their rights.
Yet this is not the case in many Muslim countries. No wonder so many non-Muslim countries score higher than Muslim ones based on Islamic principles.It's no use spouting chapter and verse of the Quran if our deeds do not match the words we mouth.We can follow all the rituals – fast, do the haj, pray five times a day, abstain from non-halal food, and cover ourselves. They all count for little if our deeds do not reflect the values of the religion.
If we are corrupt, if we discriminate against others because of ethnicity or religion, if we deny freedom of worship to others or even to one's own, are we living by the true values of Islam?Are our economic policies geared to help those at the bottom of the ladder or do they benefit the top disproportionately? Is our political system fair?Do we respect human rights? Have we an untainted legal system? Is our governance transparent and accountable? Are we tolerant of other religions and not impede their practice?
By any of the above criteria Malaysia has failed to live up to Islamic principles.The authorities obstruct the building of non-Muslim places of worship – or even demolish them.Christians are persecuted on dubious grounds. Our government discriminates on race and religion.
Corruption is rife especially in high places.The poor (the majority of whom are Malays) are left behind while the rich get richer. There is no respect for human rights and the political system is skewed.On every count we fail to live up to Islamic values.
Lately radical Muslims have started to see 'Christians under the bed' – an Islamic form of the infamous McCarthyism of the fifties in the US.They imagine that Christians are out to proselytise their fellow believers. They don't believe that other Muslims can be more sophisticated than they and can make up their own minds what to believe in.
More than that, they demand Christians desist in doing whatever may remotely be a threat to them.If these people were in charge in Sudan there would have been a lot of thirsty people and a lot of people without medicine and children without schooling.
I suppose they will now pass a fatwa that no Muslims must go to Christian hospitals. The Seventh Day Adventist Hospital in Penang has been servicing the people for a long time and a lot of Muslims use the hospital.There are symbols of Christianity everywhere and there are Bible tracts for those who want to read them.Going by recent events the hospital could be charged with proselytising. If so I think they would have failed miserably - I doubt a single Muslim patient has converted.You go to a hospital because you are sick and because you think it gives good service. You send your children to a school because you think it gives your children the best education, you drink because you are thirsty, you don't care who paid for the pump that brought the water out.
Religion does not come into the reckoning for most people in this way.Conversely you provide care irrespective of that person's religion or give scholarships because the person is poor and deserving, irrespective of her skin colour or her religion.
If Malaysia lives up to the real values of Islam and not its superficiality, the country would be much better off.Radical Muslims should be careful that the Christians they imagine lurking under their beds may turn out to be better Muslims than themselves.
But then maybe that's the crux of the problem, they are being exposed for what they are, faux Muslims.
Apabila pemuda tanya 'Boleh tak saya nak naik motorsikal gendong awek".
Ustaz Azhar Idrus akan jawab "Boleh".
Kita pastinya terkejut sebab mantiq tak sampai. "Tapi ada syaratnya. Syaratnya kena letak bapa awek kat tengah".
Itu MANTIQ Ustaz Azhar Idrus.
Persoalannya kebanyakan daripada kita yang bergelar daie tidak pernah belajar daripada mantiq sebegini. Yang kita tahu semuanya tidak boleh melainkan yang boleh..kita masih gagal untuk kuasai mantiq dalam mengetengahkan dakwah..kita masih selektif, kita bersikap EKSLUSIF bila menyampaikan dakwah..kita berkira..
2. Jika dilihat pada skala yang lebih besar ialah satu petanda perubahan bahawa parti Islam PAS sudah mula menjangkaui sempadan budaya dan masyarakat sebagaimana mantiq yang digunapakai oleh Ust Azhar Idrus. Mereka sudah tidak menjadi gerakan ekslusif seperti tahun 80-90an dahulu. Tanggungjawab mereka kini sudah menjadi gerakan massa dan berjuang bersama rakyat.
Namun ada kebimbangan untuk PAS menjadi gerakan ekslusif semula jika berterusan memainkan isu-isu yang diperjuangkan secara tertumpu.
Mereka mesti explore peluang-peluang dakwah yang BARU dan bukannya terperangkap dalam permainan politik Umno. Samada orang itu bernama gay, pelacur, DAP, MCA, UMNO pelakon, peminat rock atau sesiapa sahaja, kena approach semuanya secara berhikmah. TGNA dan sahabatnya di Kelantan telah berjaya memecahkan tembok pemisah antara UMNO dan PAS sehingga PAS menang pada tahun 1990 malah masih bertahan sehingga kini.
Kita sentiasa sebut bahawa yang kita mahukan adalah ulama' yang boleh memberikan jalan keluar kepada masalah ummah, keluasan ilmu fiqh dan bukannya sekadar tahu beritahu hukum. Maka tembok PAS selaku parti jemaah Islam dengan gay, pelacur, penagih dadah, mat rempit, pelakon, ect ini mestilah dipecahkan. Dengan itu, harapan untuk melihat ulama akan terus memimpin ummah mungkin bisa tercapai.
Bagaimana? Kita boleh usahakan, dengan perancangan dan ketetapan Allah. Namun kuncinya, sunatullah mestilah seiring dengan syariatullah..
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
