Malam itu aku bercadang untuk membawa kereta ke car wash yang berdekatan. Sudah tiga minggu aku tidak basuh kerata. Mataku sakit melihat tompok-tompok kotor di badan keretaku. Aku menelefon S (bukan nama sebenar) dan mengajaknya menemani aku sambil menunggu keretaku dibasuh. Malang bagiku, car wash yang ingin aku kunjungi sudahpun tutup. Aku membuat keputusan untuk singgah di restoran daun pisang bersebelahan dengan car wash tersebut. S tiba tidak lama kemudian. Aku memesan teh-o dengan pelayan restoran dan S pula segelas ais kosong.
Retro post: 21 August 2007– “Bickering Before Merdeka” 30 August 2009
We all know that in a few days time, we will be celebrating our 50th year of independence. In view of that, I’d like to say a few words to my fellow Malaysians. Be warned that I will use some very strong language, and for that I apologize beforehand, but I feel that I really need to get these issues of my chest.
Bila UMNO bantah kuil… 19 August 2009
Apabila saya membaca berita ini, saya hanya boleh geleng kepala.
Saya tak faham mengapakah penempatan semula sebuah kuil boleh dijadikan isu.
Apa sudah jadi dengan negara kita?
Lebih-lebih lagi dengan kehadiran mereka yang suka menangguk di air keruh seperti Datuk Noh Omar dan UMNO Selangor-nya, yang begitu gah ingin menfailkan injunksi menghalang kuil tersebut.
Laporan Berita Harian:
UMNO Selangor mohon injunksi ketepi bina kuil di Shah Alam
SHAH ALAM: Umno Selangor akan mengemukakan permohonan mahkamah untuk mendapatkan perintah injunksi bagi mengetepikan keputusan kerajaan negeri membina kuil di kawasan majoriti Islam di Seksyen 23, di sini.
Timbalan Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Umno negeri, Datuk Noh Omar, berkata tindakan itu wajar dan berasaskan alasan yang kukuh kerana bertentangan dengan konsep 1Malaysia dan Perlembagaan Persekutuan.
Katanya, Artikel 11 menyatakan rakyat Malaysia bebas beragama tetapi perlu dilaksanakan secara harmoni tanpa membabitkan pencabulan serta menyentuh sensitiviti kaum dan agama lain.
“Kita percaya apabila sesuatu rumah ibadat hendak dibina, kerajaan negeri perlu mengambil kira sensitiviti kaum dan agama yang tinggal di sesuatu kawasan itu.
“Dalam soal pembinaan kuil di Seksyen 23 ini, penduduk Islam mewakili 70 peratus daripada jumlah keseluruhan penduduk yang mana sensitiviti mereka perlu diambil kira.
“Kita akan bantu penduduk dan membawa bantahan mereka ke mahkamah untuk mendapatkan perintah injunksi bagi mengenepikan keputusan kerajaan negeri untuk membina kuil di kawasan ini.
“Keputusan kerajaan negeri boleh menimbulkan suasana tidak harmoni serta tidak menepati dasar yang termaktub dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan,” katanya kepada media selepas mengadakan lawatan ke tapak kuil itu, semalam.
Menteri Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani itu berkata, beliau akan merujuk kepada Pengerusi Perhubungan Umno negeri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak bagi mendapatkan pandangan serta merangka persediaan yang perlu sebelum memulakan tindakan sedemikian berdasarkan bantahan yang dibuat kira-kira 500 penduduk Islam di kawasan itu.
Hentikanlah mengapi-apikan sentimen perkauman dan agama. Kami sudah muak.
Tak payah lah berkata-kata tentang Perlembagaan Persekutuan jika tidak memahami apa yang terkandung di dalamnya. Tidak ada mana-mana peruntukkan di dalam Perlembagaan yang menyatakan bahawa kuil tidak boleh dibina di tempat majoritinya Islam.
Bukankah rakyat agama lain juga punya hak?
*untuk penjelasan lanjut tentang isu ini, sila pergi ke laman blog YB Khalid Samad, ahli Parlimen Shah Alam.
Bila UMNO bantah bir, bahagian II 16 August 2009
Maka pecahlah bumi mendengar dentuman-dentuman garang oleh pahlawan-pahlawan 1Malaysia dari Pemuda UMNO.
Maka dilabelkan Anwar Ibrahim itu sebagai pengkhianat Melayu.
Maka dikatakan DAP itu sebagai penghina Islam dan pencabar hak Melayu.
Maka dituduh PAS itu sebagai parti bacul menjadi pak turut telunjuk si pengkhianat dan si penghina Islam.
Mengikut laporan the Malaysian Insider:
“PAS used to fight for Islam but now they have become liberal,” Umno Youth exco member Lokman Adam told the crowd.
The founding member of PKR also questioned why the Shah Alam Municipal Council (MBSA) now controlled by PR did not revoke the license for Carlsberg brewery to operate in the district.
“When PAS wanted to ban alcohol, they did not refer to the Quran or the Sunnah, but they referred the matter to DAP,” said Lokman.
Maka dipersoalkan mengapa kilang minuman keras tidak ditutup apabila PAS mengambil-alih kerajaan bersama Pakatan Rakyat.
Adakah mereka lupa bahawa mereka memerintah negeri ini sehingga tahun lepas?
Jika begitu pentingkan isu bir, mengapa tidak berbuat apa-apa dahulu?
Maka jelas tampak cetek pemikiran mereka yang begitu lantang bersuara.
Bila UMNO bantah bir… 9 August 2009
Semalam, Utusan Malaysia melaporkan bahawa beberapa orang ahli UMNO telah membuat himpunan demonstrasi untuk membantah tindakan EXCO Selangor Ronnie Liu dalam isu bir di Shah Alam.
Laporan tersebut:
Ahli UMNO berhimpun menyokong tindakan MBSA
SHAH ALAM 7 Ogos – Hampir 200 ahli UMNO berhimpun di hadapan pejabat Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam (MBSA) bagi menyatakan sokongan terhadap tindakan pihak berkuasa tempatan itu merampas minuman keras di sebuah kedai serbaneka di Seksyen 8 di sini pada 29 Julai lalu.
Mereka menyifatkan tindakan pihak berkuasa tempatan (PBT) itu berlandaskan undang-undang termasuklah menghalang penjualan minuman keras ke atas umat Islam yang merupakan majoriti penduduk di kawasan itu.
Dalam perhimpunan yang bermula pukul 3 petang itu, kesemua mereka turut mengutuk tindakan Exco Selangor, Ronnie Liu yang mengarahkan MBSA memulangkan semula 70 tin dan botol minuman keras kepada kedai serbaneka terbabit serta membenarkan penjualan minuman tersebut kepada penduduk di situ yang majoritinya adalah penganut Islam.
Menurut Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO bahagian Shah Alam, Azhari Shaari, pihaknya menyifatkan MBSA telah menjalankan tanggungjawab menguatkuasakan larangan penjualan minuman keras berlandaskan undang-undang yang diputuskan dalam Mesyuarat Majlis MBSA 4/2009.
“Kami menyokong penuh tindakan MBSA ini. MBSA telah lakukan perkara yang betul merampas minuman keras berkenaan.
“Malah kami mengutuk tindakan Ronnie menghalang dan memaksa MBSA memulangkan semula arak berkenaan selain mengatakan bir bukan minuman keras adalah satu kenyataan yang dangkal, bodoh serta tidak bertanggungjawab,” katanya selepas menyerahkan memorandum sokongan kepada Datuk Bandar Shah Alam, Mazalan Md. Nor.
Tambah Azhari, kenyataan Ronnie itu juga satu bentuk penghinaan kepada umat Islam kerana arak tidak kira berapa kandungan alkoholnya adalah haram dan ia dinyatakan dengan jelas di dalam al-Quran serta difatwakan oleh Majlis Fatwa Selangor dan Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan.
Dalam perhimpunan yang berakhir pada pukul 4 petang itu, kesemua penyokong termasuk penduduk kawasan Seksyen 8, turut membawa beberapa sepanduk yang antaranya tertulis ‘Ajar Ronnie dengan ISA’; ‘Pakatan Rakyat Halalkan Arak’ dan ‘Pas Dulu Takbir, Sekarang Take Beer (ambil arak)’.
Bagaimanapun, tiada seorang pun pemimpin atau penyokong daripada Pas menyertai perhimpunan tersebut walaupun parti itu lantang bersuara menentang tindakan Ronnie sebelum ini.
Dalam perkembangan lain, Azhari turut menyatakan bahawa UMNO bahagian itu termasuk bahagian lain di negeri itu memberikan sokongan penuh terhadap Timbalan Presiden UMNO, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yang melabelkan Penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) sebagai ‘Pengkhianat Melayu’.
“Kita akan tetap berdiri di belakang Timbalan Presiden (Muhyiddin). Kita akan menyokong beliau dan yakin bahawa apa yang dinyatakan beliau terhadap Anwar itu adalah benar, tidak perlu minta maaf,” ujarnya.
Nampak lantang sungguh ahli-ahli UMNO tersebut ‘mempertahankan’ Islam. Siap dengan sepanduk-sepanduk yang ‘pedas’ terhadap PAS dan DAP. UMNO nampaknya begitu prihatin terhadap isu bir ini.
Tetapi hati kecil saya tertanya, jika beriya-iya benar UMNO begitu mementingkan isu bir ini dan begitu marah terhadap tindakan Ronnie Liu sehingga berhimpun (bukankah UMNO kata berhimpun itu salah?), mengapa sejak berdekad-dekad UMNO-BN memerintah Selangor tidakpun dibuat apa-apa tentang isu ini?
Orang UMNO sendiri tentu bersetuju dengan saya jika dikatakan bahawa tingkahlaku mereka ini tampak begitu hipokrit. Atau dalam Islam, dipanggil ‘munafik’.
PAS’ hudud dreams 12 January 2009
On Saturday, journalist Mr. Baradan Kuppusamy wrote in the Star an ‘analysis‘ that:
A vote for Barisan Nasional in the upcoming Kuala Terengganu by-election is a vote for a secular and multi-ethnic Malaysia ruled by the Federal Constitution.
His article is in line with the mainstream media’s blitzkrieg of scaring non-Malays and non-Muslims on the issue of hudud laws. First it was magnifying the disagreements between Pakatan Rakyat on the issue. Closer to the crucial Kuala Terengganu by election, ‘commentators’ like Mr. Baradan are openly claiming that ‘a vote for PAS is a vote for hudud’. A call eerily similar to MCA campaigners in the Chinese majority areas of Kuala Terengganu.
Indeed, even the more respectable Mr. Hafiz Noor wrote in the Malaysian Insider:
I would like both Pas and PKR to be punished for their position on hudud.
…
If the answer is no, then Pas must lose in Kuala Terengganu. It is regrettable that the implication is victory for BN, especially when it is becoming clear that BN has learned nothing from March 8.
Nevertheless, I am unwilling to sacrifice my ideals for too much political expediency. There is such a thing as a limit and this whole issue on hudud, and especially the argument brought forward by Pas and supported by PKR, has gone over and beyond mine.
Mr. Hafiz seems to be caught up with Barisan’s propaganda on the issue of hudud, both the hair of Samson and the heel of Achilles to PAS at the same time. Hudud has once again entered the realm of public opinion in our fair country.
The problem with the public discourse on hudud is that people know very little of what it actually entails. When people talk of hudud, the first thing that comes to mind is the punitive aspects, such as amputation and stoning. This may be due to Barisan’s age-old strategy to counter PAS, especially against non-Muslims: the fear of hudud and the so-called Islamic state.
But what exactly is hudud?
How do we establish an Islamic state?
Is one the pre-requisite of another, as Mr. Karpal Singh claims?
Let’s look at hudud. Let’s say, hypothetically, that there are enough MPs in Parliament to pass a bill on hudud. How would such a bill be passed? Is it merely a matter of replacing the current criminal justice system? Or do we actually need a constitutional amendment, which would of course require two thirds majority. And will hudud, if implemented, apply to non-Muslims as well? PAS and Mr. Anwar says it will only apply to Muslims. Will we then have a parallel criminal justice system for Muslims and non-Muslims, as in family maters?
The truth is, no one really knows. It has never been tested before. No one, not even from PAS, has ever attempted to table a hudud bill in Parliament.
Let’s accept one thing. PAS has always had a dream to establish an Islamic state in Malaysia and to implement hudud. Regardless of how the political climate in Malaysia has changed, I believe that party will still have this as its ‘ultimate principle’. It is this underlying notion of unshaken belief in Islamic principles that gives PAS its unique strength.
But PAS is also realistic. It knows that to actually achieve this ‘dream’, it cannot do so whilst in partnership with PKR and DAP. We have of course heard many times of DAP’s objection to hudud and Islamic state, and whilst Mr. Anwar has said that PKR will not object hudud outright, I doubt that his multi-racial party will ever accept an Islamic state/hudud. Thus for PAS to achieve its dream, it can only do so by forming the Federal government on its own. Yet on its own, PAS can never form the Federal government.
Therefore, the discourse on hudud is a hypothetical one. A rhetoric.
PAS is now a member of Pakatan Rakyat, a coalition trying to present itself as a viable alternative to Barisan Nasional. As in any coalition of differing ideologies and interests, there must of course be consensus and compromise. PAS cannot and I believe will force hudud upon its partners, even if Pakatan forms the Federal government. Mr. Khalid Samad said in his blog:
More importantly, the public has also to be referred to. We cannot implement the Hudud laws or any other law which was not specified and agreed to by the people who elected us into power. That would be a breach of trust of our part. It is obvious that the PR did not win in the 5 states on the basis of the implementation of the Islamic legal system and to implement the Islamic legal system in such a circumstance would be improper. Obviously, our partners in the coalition would also not allow it.
This however does not mean that PAS therefore has no purpose or reason to be with the PR government. After all, good governance is as equally an important element of the Islamic agenda as any other aspect of the Islamic system, Hudud laws included.
(Emphasis is mine)
Thus, even if PAS cannot achieve its dream, it does not mean that it has no purpose to remain in Pakatan Rakyat. As Mr. Dzulkefly Ahmad said:
I could go into great detail in arguing and debating from a Syariah point of view — with regards to the wisdom of the Islamic Jurisprudence (Maqasid Syariah) — that being in a Political Coalition, or Tahaluf Siyasi in Arabic, with our Pakatan Rakyat partners is not only permissible but almost enjoined by the Syariah. I have no qualms in admitting this. There is an authentic prophetic tradition on this and the ‘Siyasah Syariah’ or Syariah-Driven Politics enjoins this approach. We are truly a plural politic in a plural society. There is no other way towards achieving government save through Power-Sharing (Tahaluf Siyasi) and understanding the demands of Plurality (not meaning Pluralism).
Bearing in mind the supreme purpose of Syariah is Justice (Al-‘Adaalah), and that Justice is the largest common denominator of the three parties in Pakatan Rakyat, PAS must remain focused on this noble goal. PAS must also place the principles of achieving Good Governance (Al-Istikhlaf) and Wellbeing for All (Al-Isti’mar) as critical cornerstones of a new nationhood. All these are Quranic concepts are both universal and inclusive. These principles are in consonant with the aspirations of PKR and DAP.
The above is an excerpt from an interview with Mr. Dzulkefly. It’s a good read.
Of course, from time to time, PAS will voice its opinions on the Islamic state and hudud. And almost on cue, DAP will record its strongest objections. And PKR will say ‘its up to the component party to discuss’. Does it mean that these parties cannot work together, that they’re wrecked apart by ideological differences? Of coure not. Pakatan, thus far is unlike Barisan, where ‘big brother’ UMNO dictates and the others follow. Pakatan is an experiment of political consensus-finding and compromise. In Pakatan, no party is major or minor, even if PKR has the most seats in Parliament.
At the end of the day, we have one party whose members trample upon the sensitivities of others, whose racist tendencies are becoming more prominent and widespread, who practice corruption and double standards, who supports detention without trial, who claims the supremacy of one race over the other and who uses government institutions for its own political needs.
At the other side, we have a party who doesn’t practice all the above, but has a dream, impossible as it may seem, to implement hudud on Muslims.
If both are viewed as ‘evils’ to a secular Malaysia, which one is the greater ‘evil’ that deserves to be punished?
If a vote for PAS is a vote for PAS’ hudud dreams, then what is a vote for UMNO?
Of Islam, Bahasa and the Herald 5 January 2009
Recently the Home Ministry ordered that the Herald, a local Catholic weekly, to close down its Bahasa Malaysia section pending a court decision on the word “Allah”. In case you haven’t been following the issue, the Herald is seeking a court order to challenge a ban on the use of the word “Allah” in its publication.
Mr. Khalid Samad, PAS MP for Shah Alam recently articulated his views on the matter in the Nut Graph. I agree with his views therein and I urge you to read the article here. He says:
The negative and defeatist attitude upon which these “policies” are based will lead to restrictive laws for non-Muslims, curbing their activities for fear of Muslims being influenced and converted. Unfortunately, this would then lead to an impression of Islam being restrictive and oppressive, creating a very negative impression of Islam among non-Muslims.
I’m going to put aside the issue of the use of the word “Allah” in the Herald, for the simple fact that I am not knowledgeable enough to know the Islamic position in the matter. If you are interested however, you may read the view of PAS’ powerful Central Ulama Committee (Dewan Ulamak PAS Pusat) on the matter here. Instead, I am going to focus on the government’s decision on the Bahasa Malaysia section of the Catholic publication.
I simply do not see the rationale behind the Ministry’s decision in this matter. We are trying to strengthen Bahasa Malaysia (BM) as the national language and thus should encourage its use. BM is the language of the Federation, as provided for in the Constitution. It should no longer be the language of the Malays. Banning the use of BM is contrary to the efforts to ennoble BM amongst the rakyat. In East Malaysia, where a significant number of the bumiputera population are of the Christian faith, BM is their lingua franca. Are they expected to read the Tamil or Chinese section of the Herald?
The other issue is of course by denying the use of BM, the government is arguably curtailing the freedom to practice one’s religion, as provided for by the Constitution. And the reason? For fear that Malay-Muslims will become ‘confused’ and leave Islam. Really, are Malaysian Muslims that weak? When did we have so little faith in our faith?
I agree with Mr. Khalid Samad, decisions such as this give Islam a bad name. Already it is hijacked by terrorists, already it is portrayed negatively by the Western media, we now have the Home Ministry and by extension the government of Malaysia to worsen the perception on Islam.
We are constantly being told that Malay-Muslims are abandoning the faith in droves. We lament at the supposed moral degradation of today’s Muslim youth. We shake our fists in anger at the onslaught of ‘Western’ values or budaya kuning that is supposedly transforming the ummah of today. Yet have we, the Muslims of Malaysia, ever reflected upon ourselves? That perhaps, just perhaps, we ourselves are the cause of these so-called ’social ills’?
I mean, should we not ask ourselves why Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, despite the terrorism and the negative portrayal, but in Malaysia the situation is supposedly the opposite? Doesn’t that mean that there’s something wrong with Islam in this country?
Islam in this country would not be jeopardized by the use of BM in a Catholic weekly. Or by yoga. Or the internet. Or the West. Or whatever or whoever else we tend to blame for the state of our religion.
As a Muslim, I believe that Islam is the religion of strength, justice and equality. Not the religion of fear, oppression and discrimination projected by some so-called ‘guardians’ of the faith.
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?
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?
Pentingnya PAS dalam Pakatan Rakyat 15 October 2008
Satu ketika dahulu, PAS dilihat sebagai sebuah parti ‘ekstrimis’. Parti yang kononnya berniat untuk membawa ‘era-Taliban’ ke negera ini. Satu ketika dahulu, orang Melayu sendiri takut untuk mengundi PAS, apatah lagi orang bukan Islam.
Betul atau tidak andaian itu, terpulang kepada masing-masing untuk menilainya. Akan tetapi, selepas kekalahan teruk yang dialami oleh parti tersebut pada pilihan raya umum yang ke-11, PAS telah melakukan pelbagai usaha untuk ‘menjenamakan’ semula imejnya di mata rakyat. Parti itu sedar bahawa sekiranya ia mahu diterima sebagai sebuah parti alternatif kepada pemerintah yang ada sekarang, ia harus diterima oleh setiap lapisan masyarakat, tak kira kaum, bangsa mahupun agama.
Maka terciptalah slogan ‘PAS untuk semua’. Ditubuhkan ‘Kelab Penyokong PAS’. Para pemimpinnya juga sedikit sebanyak diganti dengan mereka yang mempunyai ‘broad appeal’, dan pada masa yang sama, masih mempunyai teras perjuangan berasaskan Islam yang dikehendaki oleh ahli-ahlinya.
Penjenamaan semula parti tersebut terbukti berjaya, dengan kemenangan yang dikecapi ketika pilihan raya umum ke-12 yang lepas. PAS berjaya membentuk kerajaan campuran di Selangor, Perak dan Kedah dan mempunyai dua mentri besar dari kalangan mereka. Malah, di antara parti-parti Pakatan Rakyat, PAS mempunyai bilangan mentri besar yang paling banyak. Lebih menakjubkan lagi, PAS telah menang di kasawasan-kawasan ‘mixed constitutuency’, di mana komposisi pengundi di kawasan tersebut adalah terdiri dari pengundi pelbagai kaum yang sebelum ini amat sukar untuk ditembusi.
Kini tidak janggal lagi melihat anak-anak muda yang bukan beragama Islam memakai baju PAS, ataupun mengangkat bendera PAS. Di samping itu, PAS juga berjaya menarik golongan professional Melayu yang jijik dengan korupsi parti pemerintah untuk menyertainya.
Manakan tidak? Dua orang ahli Parlimen PAS mengunjungi gereja di kawasan masing-masing, perkara yang tidak pernah dilakukan oleh mana-mana pemimpin Melayu sebelum ini. Pemimpin PAS menolak serangan media dan UMNO ke atas ahli Parlimen DAP, saudari Teresa Kok. PAS konsisten dengan pendiriannya memerangi akta zalim ISA. Malahan, Presiden PAS sendiri telah mempertahankan hak penyokong HINDRAF untuk mengunjungi rumah terbuka Perdana Menteri.
Ini semua jelas konsisten dengan persepsi yang ada pada PAS sekarang, bahawa parti tersebut mahu membina Malaysia yang lebih adil dan lebih baik. Percubaan UMNO untuk mengaitkan parti tersebut dengan isu muzakarah PAS-UMNO juga tampak tidak membawa kesan yang begitu mendalam kepada persepsi umum terhadap PAS.
Terbaru, the Star melaporkan:
PAS leaders condemn UMNO over Cheras over libel suit fund
KOTA BARU: Three senior PAS leaders have condemned the Cheras Umno division for setting up a fund to help the Utusan Malaysia newspaper defend itself against multi-million libel suits, saying their intention had racial undertones.
PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa said it was unbecoming for politicians to be defending newspapers that by virtue of ethics, was an independent organisation, a watchdog acting on behalf of society.
He wondered why Cheras Umno was going after Seputeh MP Teresa Kok who was at the centre of allegations that she petitioned a mosque in Puchong to reduce the volume for azan (a call for prayers) as everyone named in the allegations, from Kok to the mosque committee, had denied this.
Yet Cheras Umno was pushing the issue without realising the sensitivities of race and religion, said Husam.
“This is unhealthy for a country with a strong multi-ethnic and multi-religious composition, it can lead to unsavoury tensions,” he said.
Husam was speaking at the Kota Baru PAS “Hari Raya Aidil Fitri” gathering at the state Chinese Chamber of Commerce where the guest of honour was Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Kota Baru MP Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah who hosted the event said most inhabitants in the country particularly the Malays were descendents of migrants either from parts of the Malay archipelago or from the Yunan province in China with some later coming from India.
PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat urged Umno to come out with a fund to salvage Malays from following the secularism form of Islam that they imposed after learning from the British.
He said it was dangerous to use racism in an age where people are fighting for justice and equality around the world.
Lim who launched his book here about experiences of prison life to the early formative days of a DAP-dominated Penang Government, urged MCA and Gerakan to leave the Umno-dominated Barisan Nasional.
Kritikan pemimpin-pemimpin PAS ini amat disambut baik. Tindakan UMNO Cheras, dengan senatornya, yang jelas ingin mendapat publisiti murahan dengan nama Islam seharusnya dikecam. Dan PAS, dengan kredibiliti yang ada pada mereka sebagai parti Islam, adalah pihak yang terbaik untuk menolak cubaan UMNO untuk mencari publisiti murahan atas nama agama.
Kehadiran PAS sebagai anggota Pakatan Rakyat amatlah penting. PAS adalah parti yang paling lama di kalangan ketiga-tiga parti Pakatan, dan mempunyai bilangan ahli akar umbi yang paling ramai. Ini terbukti ketika pilihan raya kecil di Permatang Pauh. Saya tidak fikir bahawa saudara Anwar Ibrahim akan meraih majoriti yang sebegitu besar jika ahli dan penyokong PAS tidak turun untuk berkempen untuknya.
Lebih dari itu, apa yang PAS bawa ke dalam Pakatan adalah ‘Islamic credentials‘ yang dapat menumpulkan segala serangan UMNO yang kononnya di atas nama Melayu dan Islam. Pada persepsi umum, di antara orang UMNO dan orang PAS, orang PAS lebih arif bercakap tentang isu agama berbanding dengan orang UMNO. Tidak lama dahulu, seorang ahli Parlimen UMNO-BN telah menceritakan sebuah ‘hadis’ yang kononnya menjustifikasikan penggunaan ISA. Dengan pantas, ahli-ahli Parlimen PAS membidasnya kerana menggunakan ‘hadis’ yang tidak diketahui kesahihannya dan juga menggunakan cerita tersebut untuk perkara di luar konteks.
Katakanlah kritikan terhadap UMNO Cheras itu datang dari seorang dari PKR atau DAP, sudah tentu ia akan dilabel sebagai kritikan yang datang dari seorang ‘liberal’ ataupun ‘chauvanist Cina’. Tetapi yang mengkritik adalah PAS, dan sukar untuk ditepis oleh UMNO. Begitu juga dengan isu azan yang dikaitkan dengan Teresa Kok. Mungkin ramai yang akan mempercayainya sekiranya beliau tidak dipertahankan oleh pemimpin-pemimpin PAS. Malah, ahli Parlimen Kota Raja, saudari Siti Mariah Mahmud dari PAS, telah membuat laporan polis terhadap saudara Khir Toyo yang memulakan isu tersebut. Dan di antara orang PAS dan saudara Khir Toyo, saya lebih cenderung untuk mempercayai orang PAS dari bekas mentri besar tersebut.
Begitulah pentingnya PAS kepada Pakatan Rakyat. Oleh sebab itu, ketika isu muzarakah hangat beberapa bulan yang lepas dan ada di kalangan penyokong-penyokong Pakatan Rakyat yang meragui parti tersebut, saya mempertahankan mereka. Saya dapat perhatikan bahawa ahli PAS kebanyakannya genuine dalam perjuangan mereka. Samada anda menyokong atau tidak ideologi mereka tidak menjadi isu. Apa yang penting adalah PAS setakat ini konsisten dan kelihatan berusaha untuk membina Malaysia yang lebih baik dan lebih adil, bebas dari pemikiran asobiyah dan berpuak-puak yang telah lama membelenggu politik dan pemerintahan negara. Dan mereka yang turut ingin membina ‘Malaysia baru’ ini harus menghargai usaha PAS bagi menjayakan aspirasi tersebut.
