Racist: YB Tajuddin, UMNO MP, part II 29 November 2008

Forgive my words, but I must say this; I think Mr. Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, the UMNO MP from Pasir Salak, is a bona fide b*st*rd.

He is the epitome of what is wrong with UMNO and Barisan Nasional. For every good BN MP out there (not many, but there are some), there are stinkers like Mr. Tajuddin.

A few months ago, he did an ‘Ahmad Ismail’ by saying that non-Malays are descendent from immigrants. However, his remarks did not get much publicity.

Earlier in the month, he called Ipoh Barat MP Mr. Kulasegaran a ‘bloody bastard’, when the DAP man claimed that Indians in Pasir Salak hate him. After some recent comments of his, I’m starting to believe Mr. Kulasegaran.

This week, he called Gombak MP Mr. Azmin Ali ‘biol‘ (idiot) and made sexual innuendos when PAS MP Mr. Mujahid Yusof Rawa was debating Serdang MP Ms. Teo Nie Ching’s motion.

But the worse of his actions are when he uttered racially offensive remarks on Mr. Kulasegaran.

The above transcript was taken from here.You can read a commentary on Mr. Tajuddin’s antics here and here.

What’s even more frustrating is that Mr. Tajuddin is getting away with his actions, without nary a slap on the wrist. Yes, the Parliamentary speakers are from the ruling coalition and it is understandable if they are not able to be fully independent, but their refusal to punish Mr. Tajuddin is a blatant example of double-standards.

How long can we tolerate people like Mr. Tajuddin? How long can Malaysians ‘turn a blind eye’ to blatantly racist people like him?

Sometimes, I grow tired of condemning such actions. I sometimes think that these people are too arrogant to realize, regardless of the public backlash they might face. I wonder, are they merely trying to win some points with their supporters or are Malaysians so culturally insensitive that we cannot realize when we have stepped over the boundaries.

Last time it was the Perak assemblywoman. Then it was Mr. Ahmad Ismail. Now it’s Mr. Tajuddin.

When will it end?

Perhimpunan POWER oleh wira Melayu! 26 November 2008

Berita dari the Star ini telah terlepas dari pandangan saya:

KUALA LUMPUR: Representatives from an umbrella body of Malay and Muslim non-governmental organisations lodged five police reports Sunday over several issues which they claimed endangered Muslim and Malay unity.

The Heritage Associations, Malay Cultural Organisations and Related Bodies Cooperation Network (Pewaris) urged the Government to act against groups which are asking for the abolition of the Internal Security Act (ISA).

They also lodged reports against the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), Gerakan Wanita chief Datuk Tan Lian Hoe and Sisters in Islam, the last for their remarks on the National Fatwa Council’s edict against pengkid or tomboys.

They urged Tan to apologise to the Malays for her remarks, which they claimed had insulted their race.

Pewaris spokesman Datuk Dr Maa’mor Osman told reporters that the 30 NGOs had agreed to form a coalition called Majlis Permuafakatan Ummah to counter criticism made against Malays and Islam.

He said the Malay NGOs felt that it was crucial for them to voice their concerns against the action of other parties which allegedly tried to belittle the Malays, Islam as the official religion of the Federation, and bumiputra rights.

“We will hold several roadshows nationwide, starting in Selangor, to explain the issues that are affecting the Malays and to remind them of the importance of maintaining unity.

“Those who question the rights of the Malays as enshrined in the Constitution should be taught about how these rights and privileges had been agreed upon by the country’s leaders during Independence.

“We hope to reach a consensus by the end of the year, which will be detailed in a memorandum that we will send to the Prime Minister and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” he told reporters after attending a closed-door talk with other Malay-based groups here on Sunday.

On the ISA, Dr Maa’mor said the group agreed that the Act was needed to prevent the outbreak of problems that might hamper national security.

Later, about 500 of the coalition’s members held a peaceful gathering outside their meeting place at Wisma Sejarah before going to the Jalan Tun Razak police station to lodge their reports.

During the gathering, a woman who was standing at an overhead pedestrian bridge shouted obscenities at the group.

Some members of the group responded with shouts while others chased her before they were stopped by policemen.

The group lodged another report against the woman at the police station.

Maka oleh kerana rapuhnya Melayu dan Islam di Malaysia, sebuah organisasi yang kononnya mewakili NGO Melayu telah buat meeting, eh ‘perjumpaan’ di Wisma Sejarah. Gambar dari meeting tersebut boleh didapati di sini.

Dari gambar-gambar tersebut, nampak ‘panas’ jugalah perjumpaan tersebut. Banyak sungguh pendekar-pendekar, wira-wira, laksamana-laksamana, pahlawan-pahlawan, kesatria-kesatria, jaguh-jaguh dan pembela-pembela yang hadir. Seperti biasa, untuk tunjuk ke-terror-an seseorang Melayu, kenalah ada yang cium keris, junjung keris. Yang mereka yang sipi-sipi sahaja Melayu, kenalah pakai tanjak nak tunjuk mereka Melayu. So bergegarlah dewan itu, saya fikir, dengan ucapan-ucapan yang panas-panas belaka. Semua nak tunjuk bahawa merekalah pahlawan Melayu yang hebat sehebat-hebatnya.

Kemudian, lepas habis meeeting, mereka buat demonstrasi ‘aman’. Polis kata aman. Diletaklah kain rentang yang juga berbunyi ala-ala ‘panas’ belaka. Oh, sila jangan salah faham, bila saya cakap pasal ‘panas’, saya bermaksud ‘garang’ dan ‘berapi’. Bukan ‘panas’ dari segi seksual. Kain rentang cakap “Teresa Kok kurang ajar, biadap dan celupar”. Bukan “Teresa Kok seksi dan masih available”. Walupun saya rasa ada di antara pendemonstrasi yang sebenarnya rasa Teresa Kok itu hot. Sebab itu mereka asyik cerita pasal YB tu.

Nak tunjuk bahawa mereka memang ‘panas’ dan mereka memang hebat, mereka pergi hambat seorang wanita yang marah pada diorang. Wahai dunia, lihatlah betapa POWERnya mereka. Terserlahnya kePOWERan mereka dengan segerombolan lelaki bermain kejar-kejar dengan seorang wanita.

Lepas insiden POWER tersebut, wira-wira tersebut pergilah ke balai polis membuat laporan polis. Laporan apa? Laporan terhadap ‘mereka yang mendesak untuk menghapuskan ISA’.

POWER! PANAS! HIDUP MELAYU!

Rasuah berleluasa? Tak apa.

Gejala sosial meningkat? Tak apa.

Jenayah menular? Tak apa.

Sumbang muhrim paling ramai di kalangan Melayu? Tak apa.

Graduan Melayu tak cukup kompetitif? Tak apa.

Sistem pendidikan negara lemah? Tak apa.

Yang penting, ISA masih kekal.

Oh ya, untuk makluman, pada hari yang sama, satu protes anti-ISA juga diadakan oleh geng-geng pembangkang. Sembilan orang telah ditangkap.

Diorang tak kejar perempuan pun!

Yoga, yoga, yoga, yoga, yoga… 26 November 2008

Looks like this yoga issue is still hotly debated in the country.

It would seem that the Malay rulers are not too happy about the edict. HRH the Sultan of Selangor, and HRH Raja Nazrin the Regent of Perak has been especially vocal about the issue. And they have all the right to do so, as matters pertaining to Islam falls under the purview of the Malay rulers.

And when it relates to sensitive matters like this, its best to let the rulers voice their opinion. Politicians will shy away from such ‘hot potato’ subjects, for fear of alieanating support in one form or the other. UMNO politicians will not want to comment on it, they don’t want to be seen as ‘going against’ the Fatwa Council, even though I’m quite sure a lot of their wives are grumbling with discontent now that they can’t do yoga at their respective gyms. Pakatan leaders will also not want to talk about it much, because talking too much might end up the wrong side of their own coalition partners. So politicians, by and large, will keep mum on the issue.

Of course, muftis have no such limitations. That’s why Perlis mufti Dr. Asri Zainul Abidin has no qualms about giving his two cents worth on the issue. Which to me, made a lot of sense.

Retired politicians also do not have to worry about ‘losing support’. That’s why Tun Mahathir also saw fit to comment on the issue. He said that the fatwa thing should not be turned into a religious issue.

That’s why I disagree with Hindu Sangam commenting on the issue. It may merely be expressing its concern, but utmost care must be exercised regarding this issue. There are people waiting to capitalize on any inter-religious tensions.

Similarly, non-Muslim leaders should refrain from commenting on the issue. I read that Mr. Kayveas, PPP President, has commented on the issue in today’s Sinar Harian. He shouldn’t, for the same reason that Hindu Sangam shouldn’t. It causes unnecessary tensions.

No, I’m not saying that because this is an ‘Islam issue’, only Muslim should comment.  Muslims comment about other religions all the time, so we shouldn’t be arrogant in saying that other people can’t talk about ours. I’m just saying that its better for non-Muslims to refrain from commenting on it, at least for now. Go and pour your hearts out in private, in coffee shops or at the office. Just don’t issue an official statement on it.

But this issue really needs to be sorted out. Again, I do not feel that I can legitimately question the fatwa, but something needs to be done to sort out this mess. I suggest that the Fatwa Council make representations to the Council of Rulers (Majlis Raja-Raja), who will deliberate on the matter and issue a decree on the matter or something.

Meanwhile, I wonder if anyone told Micheal (Mikail?) Jackson that plastic surgery is a big no-no in Islam?

The diversity of Malay-ness 25 November 2008

I have a confession: I find it highly amusing when some people talk of ketuanan Melayu.

Case in point: UMNO Deputy Youth Chief aspirant, Datuk Reezal Merican Naina Merican is always in the forefront when ‘defending’ Malay rights. He is the president of the Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS), an unashamedly UMNO-supporting outfit. He constantly talks about ketuanan Melayu and telling non-Malays not to cabar orang Melayu.

However, Datuk Reezal is a Malay who is ethnnically not Malay (or my short form: “MENM”).

The term Melayu or Malays in Malaysia differs from the anthropological understanding of what constitutes an ethnic Malay. This has been largely due to Article 160(2) of the Federal Constitution, which defines a Malay as someone who:

professes the religion of Islam, habitually speaks the Malay language, conforms to Malay custom and -

(a) was before Merdeka Day born in the Federation or in Singapore or born of parents one of whom was born in the Federation or in Singapore, or is on that day domiciled in the Federation or in Singapore; or

(b) is the issue of such a person;

This definition is wide enough to cover people from many different ethnic backgrounds, not merely people who would ‘traditionally’ be an ‘ethnic Malay’.

Thus, even though ethnically Datuk Reezal is a MENM, Article 160 of the Constitution defines him as Malay.

Of course, Datuk Reezal is not alone in this. There are many who MENMs who qualify as Malays by virtue of the Constitution. Malaysian Malays hail their ancestries from all over the world.

There are Malays, like Datuk Reezal, with Indian ethnicity. There are those with Pakistani blood, those tracing their lineage to Arabia, those who are ethnically Javanese, Cham, Chinese, Minangkabau, Bugis and many others.

Of course, these days, Malays of various ancestries are beginning to share a common culture, in line with the ethno-religious identity created by the Constitution. This has been helped by the fact that Malay culture has always been very open and very inclusive: it allows for the seamless assimilation of non-Malay elements. Similarly, the Malays themselves do not find it a problem to embrace non-Malays as one of their own. I have seen this most prominently in the case of Chinese-Muslim converts, who most of the time will start to adopt Malay culture and soon accepted as a Malay. So they become MENMs.

That is why it is very amusing to see people like Datuk Reezal ranting and raving about defending the Malays from ‘the others’.

Both my grandfathers were ethnic Bugis. Both my grandmothers were ethnic Malays. As such, I have  a mixed ancestry. In Indonesia, I might be considered a Bugis or a Melayu (and of course, more importantly, an Indonesian). Yet in Malaysia, I am officially a Malay. I am a Muslim, I speak bahasa Melayu (Malaysia?) and I conform to Malay custom. Thus, I am Malay.

See my point? Officially, my Bugis blood is of little relevance in Malaysia. I am most definitely a Malay because of the Constitutional definition.

Similarly MENMs legally become Malay by virtue of the Constitution. MENMs socially become Malay by virtue of the inclusiveness of the culture and the people.  MENMs become Malay when the line ’separating’ the Malays and non-Malays were widened to include them.

As such, it is simply hypocritical for people like Datuk Reezal Merican keep harping on that line of separation between ‘us’ and ‘them’.

Some fatwa suggestions… 24 November 2008

By now, I’m sure most of you have read about the fatwa of the National Fatwa Council banning Muslims from practicing yoga. You can read the fatwa here.

I don’t really want to comment much on this matter. Members of the National Fatwa Council are supposed to be the ‘best of the best’ in their field. I wouldn’t like it if someone not versed in the law to question my findings. Similarly, I do not feel that I can legitimately question the edict for the simple fact that my knowledge in this matter is very limited. That does not stop me from forming my own personal views on the matter, of course.

What I can question is the selection of issues that the Council delivers its edicts upon. Yoga is hardly the most pressing of issues plaguing Malaysia’s Muslim community.

How about delivering a fatwa on money politics? Yes, everyone knows that rasuah is haram, but what is rasuah? Is giving RM100 to ‘beli baju Melayu‘ considered rasuah and therefore haram? How about RM500 as duit minyak? Corruption is rampant amongst Muslims, yet all we have are yoga and pengkid edicts?

How about going an extra mile? How about deliberating on whether the Internal Security Act, which allows arbitrary detention without trial, is haram or not? I have actually seen our prime minister using verses from the Holy Quran to justify the use of ISA, something which I feel is very wrong. From those people well versed in Islam who actually are actually brave enough to comment on the Act, it would seem that the ISA is un-Islamic and haram. The National Fatwa Council should use its considerable expertise to decide on the issue once and for all.

In fact, why not issue a fatwa on the concept of Malay supremacy? I’m quite sure that the concept of the supremacy of one race over and above other races is un-Islamic. No such thing as racial supremacy in Islam. All are equal before the Creator.

So how about it, revered members of the Fatwa Council?

Ali Rustam talks NEP 17 November 2008

This time, it isn’t fictional.

Let’s see how Mr. Ali fares when talking about current issues.

Ali: Stop questioning NEP, now for full implementation

PENANG, Nov 17 — Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ali Rustam said all disputes on the New Economic Policy should end because now was the time to implement it in full.

He said although the policy was seen as an effort to help lift the economic status of Bumiputeras, it also benefited others.

“Presently, Bumiputera achievement is still low and they are under pressure because the NEP has yet to show its impact on the Bumiputeras.

“Now is the time to uplift the economy of the Malays and Bumiputeras and not to question the policy,” he told reporters after opening the Malay Contractors Cooperative Malaysia annual meeting here yesterday.

Ali who is Malacca Chief Minister, said many fields should also be developed and the policy did not focus on just one.

Meanwhile, he also suggested to the cooperative to set up a company which supplies bulding materials to its members. The government would not hesitate to channel aid to the company which would indirectly benefit the Bumiputeras, he said.

“It is just a suggestion. It is up to the cooperative to carry it out. On the part of the government, we can help maybe in terms of expertise in managing the company,” he said.

Mr. Ali says the NEP has yet to show its impact on the bumiputeras.

I wonder why? Maybe it’s because its been abused by certain political parties?

Oh and since it has yet to ’show its impact’, even after nearly 30 years of implementation, does that not mean that there’s something wrong with it?

But according to Mr. Ali, we shouldn’t question it.

Bloomberg interviews Ali Rustam 12 November 2008

The scene – March 2009. Datuk Seri Mohd. Ali Bin Mohd. Rustam has just won the Deputy President post in the UMNO elections. By convention, he has also been appointed to be the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. Soon after, criticism began to mount on his credentials as Deputy Prime Minister. Amongst those criticisms are that he lacks knowledge in foreign relations and the economy and also of his poor command of the English language.

In order to dispel those criticisms, an interview was arranged with American news company Bloomberg. Here is the transcript of that interview.

Interviewer: Good evening, you’re with me, Condelezza Cruz on a special interview with Mr. Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam, the new deputy prime minister of Malaysia. We will be asking his views on a number of pertinent issues in Malaysia and the world. First of all Mr. Ali Rustam, congratulations on being elected as Deputy President of the United Malays National Organization or UMNO, a part of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

Ali Rustam: Tenkiu very much. Actuallyyyy… I want to correct you. I am actuallyyy a ‘Datuk Seri’. You know ‘Datuk Seri’? It’s a title we give in Malaysia. Like the ‘Sir’ that your Queen give you. But we got a lot of titles, got Datuk, Datuk Seri, Tan Sri and oso Tun.

Interviewer: My humblest apologies, Datuk Seri. And I believe that you are referring to the knighthood awarded by the Her Majesty the Queen of England. However, Bloomberg is an American company.

Ali Rustam: Amerika? Sorry, sorry, you all look the same. Of course, Amerika. Oh you got Obama right? Obama is good! He is negro but he become President. Goodlah like that. Amerika now good, hopefully doesn’t become setan anymore. You know setan? We Muslims believe got Setan. Devil. Setan very bad. Amerika oso very bad last time, like devil. Now maybe with Obama Amerika can become good.

Interviewer: Yes, Mr. Obama is the first African American president of the United States.

Ali Rustam: Yeah, his father is negro, right?

Interviewer: (ignoring the ‘negro’ remark) It’s interesting Datuk Seri that you brought up Mr. Obama as the first black American president. Can you ever see the same thing happening in Malaysia?

Ali Rustam: No, no, no, Malaysia don’t have negros. Indians have lah.

Interviewer: Can an ethnic Indian become the prime minister then? Or an ethnic Chinese?

Ali Rustam: No, no, no, cannot! Only Melayu can become PM. You see, the Malaysia is last time owned by the Malays Only later the Indians and Chinese come. We take them in, of course. We got this social contract between the races. They cannot become PM, of course. In Malaysia we got ketuanan Melayu, you know?  You know ketuanan Melayu?

Interviewer: Yes, I am familiar with the concept of ‘ketuanan Melayu’, or Malay supremacy.

Ali Rustam: Yes, yes, Malays are supremacy. Malaysia used to be tanah Melayu you see? Now it is Malaysia, but still belong to the Malays. You see, you must understand, Malays have our own ajenda. The Chinese and Indians must understand. They are Malaysian oso, but they cannot lebih-lebih, you see?

Interviewer: So it’s impossible to see a non-Malay PM in Malaysia?

Ali Rustam: Not impossible-lah. Nothing is impossible. But cannot lah. Like I said, Malays have got our own ajenda. The Chinese and Indians oso got thier ajenda. So we got to compromise lah. You white people won’t understand.

Interviewer: Actually Datuk Seri, I am Hispanic.

Ali Rustam: Why you panic?

Interviewer: Hispanic. It’s alright Datuk Seri. Moving on, with the world being embroiled in the global financial crisis, what steps will Malaysia take to buffer the effects?

Ali Rustam: Buffer means what?

Interviewer: To cushion the effects.

Ali Rustam: Oh, kusyen. Actuallyyyy… this ekonomi question all you don’t ask me. The Finance Minister is Datuk Najib, our PM. Or you can ask the mamak guy, what’s his name? Oh Nor Yaacop. Ekonomi is not my portfolio. I am ketua menteri Melaka. I know about tourism. You know Melaka?

Interviewer: It is a state in the Federation of Malaysia, am I correct?

Ali Rustam: Correct! Goodlah you, you know Melaka. You must already watch the Shah Rukh Khan movie One Two Ka Four right? Good movie right? You know, we give Datuk to Shah Rukh Khan? He told me he is very happy, he said he will come to Melaka always. We oso thinking of naming a street after him. Jalan Shah Rukh Khan. Probably in those DAP areas.

Interviewer: Can I just pick up on what you said. You mentioned the Democratic Action Party or DAP, part of the opposition coalition of Pakatan Rakyat, or People’s Alliance. Last year, the oppositon have made siginificant inroads during the 12th General Elections. Can you share with us your thoughts on why this occured.

Ali Rustam: Actuallyyy… these opposition they lie to the people. They say that UMNO is bad. We are not bad. We are good! We lead Malaysia for 51 years you know! You see, Malaysia now very developed! They won  a lot because they lie to people. But I think now the people understand, the people realize that only UMNO and Barisan Nasional can take care of Malaysia.

Interviewer: But you cannot deny that their influence have increased, especially under the leadership of Mr. Anwar Ibrahim.

Ali Rustam: Anwar? He is big liar. He lie to the people. he said last year September 16 he can make the government, but don’t have! We still the government! No one believes him. You know, he got big problems already. You know he has court case? I don’t want to say anything lah, but a guy said that Anwar sodomized him. I don’t want to say anything about that lah. But the guy swear on the Quran that Anwar did it. Swearing is not a small thing you know!

Interviewer: …

Ali Rustam: But like I said, I don’t want to say anything about that. Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t. I tell you what I think later, okay?

Interviewer: … Moving on, as the new deputy prime minister, what is your vision for the future of Malaysia.

Ali Rustam: Vision? Oh you mean Vision 2020. That one last time our former PM, Tun Mahathir, you know him?

Interviewer: Yes, Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohammad.

Ali Rustam: Good, you know! So last time Tun came up with vision 2020. Wawasan Dua Puluh Dua Puluh, we say in Malay. And then you know Pak Lah become PM. You know Pak Lah?

Interviewer: Yes Datuk Seri. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the former PM.

Ali Rustam: So Pak Lah came and he extended vision 2020. So now vision 2020 is in 2050.

Interviewer: So its now vision 2050?

Ali Rustam: No, no, no, you whites don’t understand. It’s still vision 2020, but in 2050. But now that Datuk Seri Najib is the PM, I dunno whether its still in 2050 or 2020. But to answer your question, yes, I have vision 2020.

Interviewer: … That is all the time we have for this interview. Once again Datuk Seri, congratulations on being the deputy UMNO President, and congratulations on being appointed as the deputy prime minister. All the best to you and your country.

Ali Rustam: Your welcome. This interview shown on Astro, right? What time?

Interviewer: … We’ll inform you later.

Note: This is a purely fictional interview, conjured up for the sake of humour. I am not implying that Mr. Ali Rustam is a bad at foreign relations, ethnic relations, the economy nor am I implying that his English is bad. Basically, I am not implying that the real Ali Rustam is an idiot. I’m sure he isn’t.

A non-Malay PM? 11 November 2008

Last week’s win by Mr. Barrack Obama, quite apart from triggering celebrations across the globe, has posed an interesting question to Malaysians: Can a non-Malay ever be the prime minister of the country?

Of course, as it stands right now, neither Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat is willing to ‘experiment’ with such a notion. And who can blame them, if the usually insignificant appointment of the general manager of state GLC PKNS is met with such intense objections, what more even the mere question of a non-Malay prime minister? In fact, I doubt that even Pakatan would toy with the idea of a non-Malay deputy prime minister, if the response to suggustions after state governments were formed in Perak and Selangor to create a deputy mentri besar post were any indication.

But I’d like to explore the issue for the sake of discussion.

We must of course start with whether it can be done, in legal terms. I’m no constitutional law expert, but I cannot find any provision in the Federal Constitution that states that the prime minister of the country must be of Malay descent. Since the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, this would mean that legally, a non-Malay PM is very much permitted by the Constitution.

However, take note Article 43(2)(a) of the Constitution:

the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall first appoint as Perdana Menteri (Prime Minister) to preside over the Cabinet a member of the House of Representatives who in his judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House

So it would seem that His Highness has some sort of say in appointing the prime minister; the said person must ‘command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House’. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, might not appoint a non-Malay as prime minister if he feels that the majority of the Dewan Rakyat (who would, most certainly, be Malay) will not support the said potential PM. Of course, if for some reason the majority of MPs do support the said potential PM, legally there should not be anything to stop him from being appointed as PM.

After considering the legality of a non-Malay PM, let us look at whether realistically it would be possible. Of course, as I have mentioned earlier, as it stands, we are simply not ready for a non-Malay prime minister. Even the most moderate of Malays (you know, those ‘abolish NEP’ types) will find it difficult to justify a non-Malay PM at this point in time. Perhaps one day, in the future, when we have achieved ‘bangsa Malaysia’ (whatever that means), when notions like ketuanan Melayu have been resigned to the annals of history, can Malaysia accept a non-Malay PM. That Malaysia is a country that is at ease with its multi-racial makeup, a country that not merely tolarates but actually celebrates diversity.

But not now, not at this point of time. We are not ready for a non-Malay PM. Suggesting something like that will open up a big can of worms, and no political party or coalition will want to do that.

It must be noted however that there is a ’school of thought’ amongst the Malays that it ‘might be okay’ for a non-Malay Muslim to become the prime minister. The most prominent proponent of this ’school of thought’ is non other than PAS’ spiritual leader, or mursyidul am, Tuan Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat. In an interview with Harakah, he actually said that it might be better for a Chinese Muslim to become PM, because the Chinese possess many admirable qualities.

This is another dimension to the whole argument: Islam. Quite apart from Tun Mahathir’s proclaimation of the reverse, most if not all, constitutional law experts agree that Malaysia is NOT an Islamic state. It is an Islamic country, where the majority are Muslims and the official religion is Islam, but  we are not an Islamic sate. There is a difference between the two, which somehow gets lost when translated into bahasa as both Islamic state and Islamic country are translated as Negara Islam. Professor Shad Saleem Faruqi, consitutional law expert of UiTM, is of the opinion that ours is a ‘hybrid state’, semi-Islamic and semi-secular. I tend to agree with him.

Even though we are not an Islamic state (where the leader must of course be a Muslim), we are still an Islamic country. As mentioned earlier, the majority of people in the country profess the religion of Islam. It is therefore ‘inappropriate’ for some that a non-Muslim becomes the head of state. Of course, in other countries, religion and ethnicity are two different things, but in Malaysia and when it comes to the Malays, the two are intertwined. Thus, the PM is a Malay-Muslim.

Can a non-Malay Muslim become the PM? Most of the time, non-Malay Muslims become assimilated to the Malay culture because of the close proximity of religion and ethnicity when it comes to the Malays. Of course, there are still many non-Malay Muslims who hold true to their own culture (for example, the sizeable Indian Muslim community). Can the Malays accept an Indian Muslim who still practice his culture (meaning, not the Reezal Merican, Abdul Azeez ‘new Malays’ type) as the prime minister? Or a Chinese Muslim, for that matter?

Singapore’s PM, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong recently said that Singapore is not ready for a non-Chinese prime minister.

“It’s possible. It depends on how people vote, on who has the confidence of the population.”

“Will it happen soon? I don’t think so, because you have to win votes. And these sentiments — who votes for whom, and what makes him identify with that person — these are sentiments which will not disappear completely for a long time, even if people do not talk about it, even if people wish they did not feel it.”

Now my initial thought, when I read the above on front page Utusan (yes, it caught my attention enough to actually make me pick up the newspaper), was how hypocritical Singapore was. I thought, here was a country which prides itself on meritocracy and whatnot, but now its PM said a non-Chinese cannot be PM. But upon closer reading of the report in another news portal, I realized that actually what Mr. Lee said is very true and echoes the realities of Malaysia. As much as we don’t talk about it, as much as we wish that we don’t feel it, race is very much a part of Malaysiana.

We cannot emulate the U.S. in this matter, simply because of our differences. I believe that around 78% of U.S. voters are whites, while the other ethnicities make up the rest. Compare that to our 60-40 (more or less) ethnic makeup, it is clear it is more important for us to maintain the harmony between the various races. At this point in time, and in the forseeable future, the very idea of having a non-Malay PM can threaten this harmony. No need to venture into a realm fraught with perils if we’re not ready to do so.

At the end of the day, I do believe that the majority of Malaysians, Malays and non-Malays alike, are perfectly comfortable with the status quo of a Malay-Muslim PM. The PM can be a Malay forever, as long as he has the necessery qualities to lead. He may have to be a Malay-Muslim due to social realities, but he MUST be a good leader because the rakyat demand him to be so.

Now you may have noticed that throughout my post, I referred to the potential PM as ‘he’.

What about a female prime minister?

I’m not even going to try to go there.

Komen papan tanda jalan 11 November 2008

Sebenarnya, saya tidak mahu komen banyak-banyak berkenaan dengan papan tanda jalan.

Bahasa dimiliki oleh semua, tidak kira samada sesuatu bangsa itu menggunakan bahasa itu sebagai bahasa ibunda atau tidak. Bahasa tidak harus dipolitikkan.

Bantahan yang dibuat oleh pelbagai pihak terhadap keputusan kerajaan Pulau Pinang untuk meletakkan papan tanda pelbagai bahasa (di samping bahasa Melayu) seperti biasa telah dipolitikkan oleh pihak-pihak tertentu. Saya tidak ada bantahan terhadap bantahan, tetapi kadangkala perbuatan mereka yang membantah ini bagaikan ‘paku dulang, paku serpih’, yang mendedahkan betapa hipokritnya sesetengah manusia di Malaysia ini.

Lihat gambar di atas, yang diambil dari laman web MalaysianInsider.

Jelas bahawa papan tanda jalan tersebut mempunyai terjemahan Arab, bagi kemudahan pengunjung Arab di tempat tersebut, iaitu di kawasan Bukit Bintang.

Mengapakah tiada sesiapa membuat bantahan ketika papan tanda tersebut dinaikkan oleh pihak DBKL?

Setahu saya, Artikel 152 Perlembagaan Persekutuan menyatakan bahawa bahasa rasmi negara Malaysia adalah bahasa Melayu. Bukan bahasa Arab. Dan jangan sekali-kali sesiapa memberi hujah bahawa oleh kerana bahasa Arab itu bahasa yang digunakan dalam Islam, dan Islam adalah agama rasmi Malaysia, maka penggunaan bahasa Arab itu dibolehkan. Hujah seperti itu tidak layak untuk didengar, mahupun dibahaskan.

Oleh itu, saya menyeru bahawa mereka yang membantah (dan menyaman kerajaan Pulau Pinang) terhadapa papan tanda yang akan diletakkan di Pulau Pinang untuk juga membuat bantahan kepada DBKL. Dan juga membuat bantahan kepada kerajaan Malaysia kerana menggunakan bahasa Inggeris sebagai bahasa pengajaran matapelajaran Sains dan Matematik.

The Return of Ahmad Ismail 9 November 2008

When I read this the Star report, I couldn’t believe my eyes:

Warrior’s welcome for Ahmad Ismail of ‘pendatang’ infamy

GEORGE TOWN: Suspended Bukit Bendera Umno chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail was given a warrior’s welcome, complete with presentation of regalia such as a keris (traditional Malay sword), when he turned up for the division’s delegates conference.

…

Upon entering, Ahmad was adorned with a yellow tengkolok (headdress) by division adviser Azmi Merican, a yellow selempang (scarf) by Umno veteran Saakyah Mat Isa, and presented with a keris by Umno veteran Abdul Rahman Lazim.

Ahmad raised the keris briefly to his lips in reverence, then lifted it high before proceeding on stage, while the emcee ammounced that all three traditional items were presented to Ahmad as a true pahlawan Melayu (Malay warrior) of Bukit Bendera.

So now, Ahmad Ismail is a pahlawan?

For saying what he said? For refusing to apologize? For defying the prime minister and his deputy? For prompting his konco-konco to tear a harmless picture?

Seriously, if doing all the above qualifies you to be a Malay warrior, then I am simply speechless.