Days of Hesitant Writings: Ku Sangka [kit] Siang.. Rupanya Malam

Days of Hesitant Writings: Ku Sangka [kit] Siang.. Rupanya Malam(see initial report on www.malaysiakini.com) and Malaysia Today.

suddenly i recall that old Kathy Ibrahim song.. I was shocked when I read Malaysiakini, thinking it may have been just misreading LKS, I went to LKS' blog... aiyah LKSiang... so soon dah malam?

please LKS, you may just see at a glance, on the surface, that DAP garnered most seats. Look again, count again.. if not for the Malays voting for DAP in those areas, get real, were there enough Chinese in those areas voting DAP, even if 100% Chinese voted DAP (which was not the case!) could DAP had won??? You do the recount!

In an earlier post, one UMNO member lamented how painful it was to have had to vote for the opposition. cepatnya kena tipu... and there it was.. the many thousands of Malays in Perak now feel cheated. I pleaded before in this post (see below) and I plead again.. please, lets us all be under one flag.. there should not be any argument - PAS, PKR or DAP.

LKS, guess the idiom rings true.. if something sounds too good to be true... it isn't...

United, Under One Flag

The elections are over. Malaysians have decided.

Many voted, not caring who they voted for, as long as it wasn't BN. Those who never voted any other party before too, those who used to be BN voters too, voted for whatever party available on the ballot paper, aside from BN. Malays voted for DAP, Chinese and Indians voted for PAS. No colour or race was seen or considered, only hopes of many Malaysians.

Well... DAP, PKR and PAS have all paraded their party flags.

Now... it's time for all Malaysians to celebrate our solidarity.

We should all now raise this one flag. For all Malaysians. it is not about any single party. it has all been about us standing as Malaysians.

Yesterday, we were PKR, DAP, PAS and disgruntled Malaysians who before voted for BN as one.

So now, Raise, carry, and parade, only one flag.

Our one flag, our show of unity. Our national flag, our Jalur Gemilang...

It is a time for Merdeka. Malaysians are no longer afraid! Free..

Kembalikan UMNO Kami!!!!

This is an open letter to the people of UMNO.

Initially this was meant for submission to Malaysiakini.com, but as the server was overwhelmed yesterday, it is instead directed here.

Wahai Pemimpin UMNO sedia ada,

Jangan anda menuduh kaum Cina dan India yang menyebabkan kekalahan anda.Jangan berada dalam keadaan “denial”. Tak cukupkah lagi dibuai mimpi?

Anda hairan kenapa peratusan undi di Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor merosot? Apa yang perlu dihairankan?

Anda menuduh mereka yang tidak keluar mengundi tu, tidak mengundi kerana mengandaikan BN akan menang maka tidak memerlukan undi mereka.

Anda salah. Anda tersasar. Jauh.

Ya. Yang tidak keluar mengundi, kebanyakannya, orang Melayu. Mengapa? Bukan kerana mereka yakin BN menang, tidak. Jauh sama sekali.Mereka tidak keluar mengundi, kerana mereka tidak lagi mahu mengundi UMNO. Namun, mereka, yang terlalu sayangkan UMNO, tidak sampai hati memangkah DAP/PKR. Tetapi mereka tahu, tanpa undi mereka, DAP/PKR malah PAS akan menang, kerana UMNO/BN tiada lagi mendapat undi mereka yang selama ini telah memastikan kemenangan UMNO/BN.

Mengapa?Kerana pimpinan UMNO kini, telah mengecewakan mereka. Suara mereka tak dipedulikan dalam UMNO. Maka mengapa perlu mereka bersuara, mengundi orang yang selama 3 tahun kebelakangan ini, memperkecil-kecilkan suara dan harapan mereka?

Itu lah hakikat.Yang keluar mengundi, ribuan, jika tidak ratusan ribu, telah mengundi dengan hati yang sayu. Mereka terpaksa memangkah pembangkang. Mereka tiada pilihan. Tidak kiralah, DAP/PKR/PAS, malah parti unta pun akan dipangkah, itulah realiti. Asalkan bukan BN.

Bukan kerana bencikan UMNO, parti yang banyak berjasa kepada orang Melayu, tetapi kerana kecewa dengan kepimpinan UMNO sedia ada. Yang terlalu bongkak, terlalu riak.Kami orang Islam. Orang Melayu yang mendokong adat, budaya, dan kesusilaaan. Orang Islam, orang Melayu yang dididik membenci sikap-sikap angkuh, bongkak dan riak.Ini terbukti, di Kedah, Perak dan Selangor. Malah di Johor, keramat UMNO, dan Negeri Sembilan.

Ya. Anda, pemimpin UMNO sedia ada, yang masih riak mengatakan, kami penderhaka. Yang menuduh, kami berpaling tadah. Kerana anda masih sebal, tebal dan tepu dengan kebongkakan anda.

Kerana anda sekalian, UMNO, parti yang selama ini memartabatkan negara bersama BN, menjadi parti yang paling dibenci semua. Parti yang melahirkan pemimpin negara seperti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak, Tun Hussein Onn, yang menjadi kebanggaan rakyat jelata, menjadi parti dihina, dikeji.Kerana kamu, UMNO dihina!!!! Kerana kamu, rakyat hilang patriotisme, kecintaan, penyatuan.Walhal, yang merosakkan, seorang dua. Orang Melayu yang tidak bersalah, dibenci oleh kaum lain. Hanya kerana kamu.

Insaflah. Taubatlah.Kami sayangkan UMNO. Tapi kami tidak dapat kembali selagi pucuk pimpinan masih sebegini. Pergilah kamu yang beberapa itu. Biarlah kami kembali kepada UMNO. Kami sayangkan parti. Kalau anda sayangkan UMNo, pergilah.Usah tunggu pilihanraya UMNO, undurlah secara baik.

Kami orang Melayu, kami mengangkat adat budaya. Kami tidak kurang ajar. Kami meminta secara baik dan ikhlas. Kami bukan macam anda, menghina orang yang telah berjasa kepada negara. Kamu bersalah besar, kerana kami nama-nama pemimpin kemerdekaan, pejuang negara terdahulu turut terpalit. Parti menjadi mangsa.

Kembalikan UMNO kepada kami. Secara baik. Secara berbudi bahasa. Itupun kalau kamu masih ingat lagi, masih mengerti apa maknanya semua itu.

Kami telah menyentak anda sekali ini. Jangan nanti terkena pukulan kedua kami.

Yang benar,

Pencinta Negara Merdeka

Fools will Always Fight Over Religion

According to Steve Oh, in his letter to Malaysiakini, "We are fools who fight over religion" (Dec 28, 07 8:47pm}.

True, so true. But fools who fight over religion are not exclusive to Malaysia, as the following news (as printed below) from BBC has shown.

Before we get to that, lets get this straight. Allah is is not exclusive to anyone. Anyone who wants to worship Allah should just go on and worship Allah. If anyone believes in Allah, and wants to pray to Allah, by all means. And as people believe that Allah is the Creator of the Universe, Allah cannot then be exclusive to anyone, otherwise, the earth, air, water and all Allah's creations on Earth can only be enjoyed by a select few.

Thus, as Allah has allowed everyone to breathe in the air, drink the water and live on this Earth that He has created, everyone, good or bad, is free to give thanks to Allah. No exclusivity there! Everyone is and should be free to seek His Forgiveness and seek His love. He never made Himself exclusive to anyone, it's only that some choose to accept and some don't.

Even to those who don't, Allah won't make Himself exclusive and deny them of the opportunity to turn to Him. It's just up to any individual to do so.

As for fools who fight over religion, the following piece is from BBCNews. In gist, Christians have set fire to Hindu homes, in retaliation after 19 churches were destroyed by Hindus on Christmas Eve.

Members of the hardline Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) said Christians sparked the violence by attacking one of their leaders, Swami Laxamananda Saraswati, on Monday.

Yes, fools will kill and fight over religion. Last night's events in India clearly shows it.


- Source BBC News.com
Friday, 28 December 2007, 13:12

Indian police shoot three dead

Hindus say Christians attacked one of their leaders.

Police in the eastern Indian state of Orissa shot and killed at least three people on Thursday in continuing communal violence, officials say. Police opened fire on a large crowd of Hindus after a village police station was set on fire.

The crowd had been complaining about a lack of protection after Christians set fire to several Hindu homes.

Christians had retaliated after 19 churches were destroyed in violence that began on Christmas Eve.

The disorder in the remote tribal area has continued despite a curfew and the deployment of a large number of state and federal police.

Reinforcements
The state government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the violence, which has disrupted telephone lines and other communications.

An additional 200-strong paramilitary force is being deployed to the area after Orissa's chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, called for more federal help to quell the violence.

Members of the hardline Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) said Christians sparked the violence by attacking one of their leaders, Swami Laxamananda Saraswati, on Monday.

Hindu groups also accuse Christian missionaries of forcing tribal people and low-caste Hindus to convert to Christianity.

But Christians deny the claims and accuse the Hindus of objecting to them celebrating Christmas.

The BBC's Tinku Ray in Delhi says the issue of conversions is very sensitive in India, where several states have laws that forbid or make it difficult to convert.

Orissa has seen some of the worst attacks on the minority Christian community.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7162787.stm

I'm confused. Were We to Fight it Out?

Another letter from Malaysiakini.

Posted by Truth Seeker.

A message to our Christian leaders Truth-Seeker Dec 24, 07 5:04pm
It is with great sadness I learn that Christian leaders are continuing their “business as usual” attitude despite the terrible injustices happening in our country. The Christian Federation of Malaysia will be holding its Christmas high-tea reception at the Rumah Uskup Agung in Kuala Lumpur on Christmas day. It will be hosted by the Roman Catholic Church’s archbishop of Kuala Lumpur and his guests of honour are Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his wife.

so..let me get this. Because of the current situation, the Christian Federation shouldn't have invited the Prime Minister to their do? What? The way to solving this is to shun each other? Christians now cannot celebrate Christmas with non-Christians?

Look, despite my comments/views here, one thing that I wouldn't lose sight of, like it or not, is the fact that the man is still the Prime Minister of the country, well, until Malaysians decide otherwise. So, I think the Christian Federation is perhaps, showing a gesture that despite differences, what matters most is to preserve some sense of unity amongst Malaysians, and the Prime Minister is representing all Malaysians here. (as I said, like it or not...) :) So you're saying they shouldn't have invited him?

I think to get your message across, it is best to remain in contact than shun each other!

The letter further went on :

The mainstream media never gave the Hindraf lawyers arrested under the Internal Security Act or any opposition leaders the opportunity to tell their side of the story. Why is it that we Malaysians never ever hear Bersih, Hindraf or opposition leaders speak, not even during election campaigns? What little opportunities these people have to speak are disturbed by raids because police permits were not granted for the occasion. Yet there is no shortage of permits available for BN leaders’ gatherings.

I am all for free for freedom of speech. AND I am not happy with the fact that the the same right to assemble is not given to all Malaysians. But.. rights for Hindraf or Bersih to speak during election campaigns? Err.. have the election campaigns begun? Did I miss the announcement of the same? And even if it has begun and I missed the start, I thought only political parties can campaign under the election regulations? And during the last elections, there was no Hindraf or Bersih.

Truth Seeker further said :
Christian leaders should question why newspapers downplay or neglect to report important news such as the recent amendment to the Federal Constitution to extend the term of Election Commission chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman. Amending the Federal Constitution is a very serious matter. Here, it is being amended for one man and extends beyond a single general election. That in itself begs the question of the next general election’s fairness.

Knowingly or unknowingly, Christian leaders are proliferating this belief that they should speak up against injustices only when it concerns their faith and religion. As a Christian, I know this is not the message preached by Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus accused such people as hypocrites and “white-washed tombs” that are beautiful on the outside but filled with dead bones inside.

Look. Non-Muslim Malaysians have always at large, shunned the idea of, and get agitated whenever PAS or UMNO talks about the Constitution, laws etc from the Islamic perspective. Or when they raise any issue based on Islamic views. Not too long ago there were even rallies against the announcement that Malaysia is an Islamic state. Now you want Christian leaders to champion causes? Not in the name of Malaysians, but in the name of Christianity? hmmm.

I can agree to that. But fair's fair. We should also then, as Malaysians, allow the ulamaks of Islam to also get into gear and do the same, challenging anything that they think is not right, whilst bearing the Islamic banner. And the Hindu religious leaders too. And the Sikhs. The list goes on.

I don't know about you.. but I think if everyone wants to fight their causes using each own's religious convictions, well.. just picture things ahead. Christians, Muslims, Hindus, wow.. all championing their causes and views on the Constitution, politics etc. When it comes to religion, everyone will get all passionate and fight with conviction, even more flaringly so then with their polictical understandings. Imagine the outcome!

I think we already have enough with politicians disrupting our lives!

Bring back Malaysia as it was.. where people enjoy visiting each other's homes during festive seasons, regardless of race and religion.

P/S : I've always looked forward to my mandarin oranges, ang pows, Kueh Bulan, rendang, muruku, turkeys etc. And attending the various weddings, be it Malay, Hindu, Sikh, Christian weddings. Whatever the celebration, I get an invite, I go. Don't put a stop to that!

Do Malaysian Christians Really Pray To Allah?

This is a letter I wrote to Malaysiakini. I don't know if it will be published, if it is, fine, if it isn't, then.. the following :


Dear Editor,

I read with interest the letter from Look.Observe "No one can order me how to call my God".

When I wrote in my blog on the matter, I chided Johari only because he said the word "Allah" is exclusive to Muslims. The exclusivity bit, was wrong. That, as we all know, is not the case, as the Arab Christians use the same. That was all to it. A correction of his statement.

But Johari's, and the Muslims' concerns, on the use of "Allah" in the Herald, are another. It was raised that the use of the word "Allah" here, that is in Malaysia, would cause confusion.

We all agree, Arab Christians, Arab-speaking Christians, have no other word for God but Allah. Because they only speak Arabic. God in Arabic is after all, Allah. No brainer. Maybe if they spoke Indonesian, they'd call God "Tuhan" or "Dewa". They, are, however, the exception. Ask any not well-read, never been out of the country American and he'd say, "Allah? Muslim God, ain't it?"

But here, in Malaysia, moreover in Malay, whenever "Allah" is spoken of, mentioned, and written about, it is synonymous with God as revered by the Muslims. I don't think that many Christians would ever think it is Jesus being spoken of when Allah is mentioned, or would pray or begin their prayers with "In the name of Allah.."

So, are there that many Malaysian Christians who speak Arabic? If that were the case, just highlight that fact then, to the Malaysians at large. The Malaysian Muslims truly didn't know before this that Malaysian Christians pray to Allah. They've always thought Malaysian Christians, referred to, and called their God, "Our Lord", "Our Lord Jesus" or "Christ".

It is only now, I dare say, that the Malaysian Muslims are aware that in churches across Malaysia, that Malaysian Christians pray to Allah. If that is indeed the case, then just confirm the fact. The Muslims can be taught to accept that. If indeed, that is the case.

After all, Muslims accept that Prophet Isa a.s. is one of their prophets, and accept that the Christians call him Jesus and pray in his name. No confusion or arguments there. They never said Jesus cannot be prayed to, or "Nabi Isa" cannot be used as a translation to Jesus. Muslims just want to avoid any confusion when "Allah" is used in the Malay section of the Herald.

In other Christian literature, "Jesus" is translated as "Isa", "Lord" has always been translated as, "Tuhan". So, now it's Allah. Even for many other non-Muslims in Malaysia, never mind the Muslims, that would definitely raise eye-brows! Do Malaysian Christians, in all honesty, when they speak about Christianity in Malay, actually call or refer to god, as "Allah"?

The writer, Look.Observe wrote, amongst others, that "..no one has the right to tell me how to address my God because my relationship with God is between me and God."

Well, nobody is ordering you how to addres your God. If you call your God, Allah, so be it. Nobody is stopping you. The people just need some clarification.

In fact, the word "Allah" is used ever so commonly across the world, in all languages, English, Malay, even Swahili. So, it could have been used in the English section of the Herald too, couldn't it? No need to translate it in either the English or Malay section. Just use it in both sections. And kids can happily be taught that Muslims and Christians alike, pray to Allah. That okay?

My question is, to Look.Observe, to all those who rave and rant about wanting the right to use Allah as the Christian God's name, and the people behind the Herald, did you really mean it when you said you call God, Allah? Honestly?

Herald, did you truly have no intention to cause confusion by using "Allah" as your translation of "Jesus" or "Christ" or "Our Lord"? If so, aver to the same. If it is indeed, commonly used amongst Malaysian Christians, then I am sure there would be no more complaints.

And to "Look.Observe", I do need to ask, do you really, and truly, pray to Allah, and - would you?

Prove Johari Wrong!

I think to put an end to all the bickering, all the Herald needs to do is to put things to ease. Much has been written about this, be it on blogs, forums, like the esteemed mykmu.net  who have recently “graced” my site, Malaysiakini and the rest.

As highlighted in my previous post, we all have to agree that many other religions or faiths do use “allah” as their reference to their gods, apart from the Muslims, who are more widely known and synonymous with submitting to Allah swt as the Almighty.

But, as Malaysians, you will be much aware of the fact that when it comes to Islam, the Muslims will not tolerate any attempt to cause confusion on the same. So what with the Muslims, many of you will say, if the Muslims are sensitive, let them be. Well, taking that attitude will not get us anywhere.

And more importantly, we should not let the matter go on, and “fought” out by politicians who only have their own interests to serve. UMNO will say they are fighting for Islam, DAP will say they are fighting for the Christians and so forth. Are they all, really?

Look, in the end it will just create animosity amongst us ordinary Malaysians. As if it is not enough that the politicians have tried to play the Indians against the Malays before this, only for their own political mileage. Don’t, don’t let them cause us Malaysians to detest each other. We, the rakyats, will end up the losers. They, the politicians, thump their chests with satisfaction.

This matter can be resolved without any politician championing “the cause”. There is no cause to be championed here. There are just some concerns of misconception, that’s all. Which can easily be put at ease. I believe the Herald will have no qualms in putting a disclaimer in its Malay language section, to the effect that all information, sermon etc in its literature is strictly relating to Christianity and has nothing to do with Islam.

Everyone is free to preach their cause, and nobody would want to be accused of misleading, especially not when one is in pursuit of expanding any faith! What kind of a faith would that be, spreading on the basis of misconception? The Muslims reject in totality the concept of the Trinity. Jesus is accepted by the Muslims only as a prophet, not god. Thus, the Christians, I am sure, will agree that the Christian God, even if called “Allah” in any literature in the Malay language, is not the same “Allah swt” as understood and worshipped by the Muslims. I am sure they do not wish for the people to think that it is, and that they are worshipping the same god. Both are after all, different religions!

Hence, prove Johari wrong! The people behind the Herald should show Johari up, show that they never intended to mislead anyone, let alone the Muslims who are in receipt of their literature, into thinking that the “Allah” that they use and refer to, is the same Allah swt worshipped by the Muslims. That is after all, the case isn't it? So it is just a matter of affirming the same. It would be different if the Herald says otherwise, then well, the Muslims have the right to be concerned!

Many may argue it is a hassle, but it is a small effort, I believe, that will clear the air. A small price, if at all, to maintain the rakyats’ unity. Just a disclaimer printed. That’s all. And especially if the Herald wants to show its sincerity, and is offering a solution. It is being accused of misleading, so show that it’s not.

If the Herald does not want to offer any solution at all, it risks its permit to be revoked forever. Fine, it will for a while win the hearts, the favour of many who think the Herald has been discriminated against, and it will be in the news for a while, but what would that achieve? Its permit will remain revoked, and it can only continue its work in flout of the law. If at all. And whatever for? Especially if they never intended to mislead or confuse anyone? Not wanting to do so would only go on to prove that the Herald intended some confusion. What's there to lose? You are preaching different things, after all. Surely not another march, this time, for the Herald needs to be held?

Try it. Offer this solution, and see if the authorities will budge. If they don’t, then … well, elections are under way. We choose our lawmakers.

Let the politicians find another cause to make noise about. Don’t let them continue to dance to and sing this dangerous tune. Don’t let them risk further incitement and hate amongst us. They love issues like this to enable them to emerge as our saviors. Some savior. But that’s what they do, and do best. They want us to think they are fighting our cause, in the end, ask them to answer honestly, if they can, and the answer is, they are only fighting their own.

We have a choice, either fall for the play and we go on harping on the issue, which can go on and on, or find a solution and have things done and over with. People, lets continue to live in peace and harmony, and try to do whatever we can to maintain so.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!