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Monday, January 21, 2013

Whither 'kesopanan dan kesusilaan' on 'Allah' issue?

I have the honor of meeting some Malays who are so hospitable, well mannered and gentle that are real examples of the gentle and generous Malays. I admire them for that.

But Ibrahim Ali? Read below what Mohamad Tajuddin Mohammad Rasdi has to say courtesy of Malaysiakini:

Whither 'kesopanan dan kesusilaan' on 'Allah' issue?

COMMENT I wish to comment on the irresponsible statement of Ibrahim Ali (purposely NOT using any titles) on the burning of Malay language Bibles with the name Allah. I think such statements, if left unchecked by the Malaysian public, elected representatives and especially, the prime minister himself, would create a culture of extreme violence and victimize many innocent Malaysians.
I urge peace loving and sensible Malaysian of all religious faiths to come together and denounce such ‘grandstanding statements’ that clearly violate our ‘sacred’ Rukunegara tenet of ‘Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan’.
Our forefathers have worked hard to build this nation of diverse communities, race and religions and derive the principle of ‘Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan’. I am convinced, as a Malaysian, as an academic and as a Muslim, that the May 13 tragedy that saw many innocent lives lost was not due to the ignorance of ordinary Malaysians but by politicians trying to be popular by using such fiery instructions in order to incite racial hatred.
I have read the book ‘A Singapore Story’ and some other critical writings that indicate that the culprits of our racial mistrusts and clashes were in no small part due to self-serving politicians and a media which has no sense of honour whether in the Islamic spirit or in any religious spirit.
Have we Malaysians, and especially Malays, forgotten our own principle in the Rukunegara, crafted in our own Melayu Language. Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan. As good  am I with English I can’t translate properly the word ‘kesusilaan’. The word, and I am not a scholar in Lingusitics, connotes to me such softness, tact and, politeness, concern and humility. Is there a better word than this to reflect such a great culture of the Malays?
I dare say that the Prophet Muhammad, if Allah had not intended for him to be born in Arabia, would have been a Malay. Why? Because the Prophet was the softest and most humble, polite and considerate of men.
I have read through over 20,000 hadiths from the compilations of Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Daud, Tirmidhi and Ibn Madjah along with the Muwatta and the Sirah Ibn Ishaq to conjure up a man which a hadith says that the Prophet was so ‘shy’ and gentle that even a small slave girl can lead him.
This characteristic of gentleness is totally unheard off in the boisterous, rowdy and all man’s world of the Arabs. When the Prophet Muhammad stood on the fields of Ta’if with a bloodied and scarred body after being stoned by children and adults of the settlement, he still forbade the Angel Jibrail from taking any retribution and destroy the community. Why? For ‘I am sent as a Mercy to mankind’ said the Prophet.
When Aishah asked him ‘What was your greatest fear, O Rasulullah?’ He replied that he feared of giving in to his feeling of vengeance and destroying the community with a single command. The Prophet did not fear death or bodily harm. He feared giving in to his ego and vengeful feeling that all humanity possess.
Who are we Malays then?
I, therefore ask, who are we Malays then? Are we better than the Prophet? Look at our examples. The mufti and other higher authorities have INSTRUCTED, ORDERED and DECREED that non-Muslims MUST NOT use the word Allah. The PAS Syura Council that has all the so-called great Islamic scholars went round and round their wordings until settling on almost the same tone of instruction, order and decree.
Now we have the person of Ibrahim Ali calling on the burning of the Bible or the Injil. Unless I am mistaken, Allah called on all Muslims to honour the Books of Allah in the past and its PEOPLES. Yes... yes...we can argue about what book and which Bible that have been ‘tampered’ with and all that stuff but I have read the Bible in English and I, for one, found many enlightening things that Nabi Isa says that has helped me get closer to Allah The Most High.
I think I am honouring what the Qur’an says in Surah Al-Baqara to believe in the Books. I also read other books of our great religions that have given the first idea of humaneness to human civilisation.
The whole Allah issue to me was handled as badly as it can be handled. Why? It is simply an instrument of political influence. If the so called scholars and politicians of Islam were sincerely concerned about such confusion on the Malay usage of the word Allah, there should have been a courteous call for discussion with our brothers and sisters of the Christian faith. Not instruct, order and decree first... and... then call for discussion.
What discussion? It seems that the decision has already been chiselled into stone. Where in heavens name is the Rukunegara? Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan?
Ibrahim Ali has called for the burning of the Bible. What next? Let us Malays go burn a church at 4 pm next week? Oh... while we’re at it why don’t we burn a few Christians... if we have time!
What talk is this? What country is this? Have we forgotten the decency to discuss cordially. “This is an Islamic Country and I am a Malay and so you better do as I say!” Is that the line we are taking now as Malays? Perhaps that is a Malay cultural trait... I do not know. But I DO KNOW it is NOT what the Prophet would say or do. It is NOT within the Islamic Spirit as shown by the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him).
I can quote pages and pages of hadith showing the generosity and magnanimity of Muhammad Rasulullah. I can’t seem to find any of the same characteristics in Malay politicians in Malaysia.
My wife and I have raised five children and now we have a grandson. I am sure all Christian parents and Muslim parents are concerned about where this country is going and would it be safe to be a place to stay. Just because I am a Malay, with a million-strong mostly Malay civil service, and an equal number of police and military personnel of my race does not give me the right to frighten my brothers and sisters of the Christian faith... or any other faith for that matter.
So, before such volatile statement turn into regrettable actions, I call upon the last strand of decency from the politicians of the ruling party, and especially the prime minister, to denounce Ibrahim Ali and his war-mongering words. Or else, we would have to change our Rukunegara from ‘Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan’ to ‘Kekasaran dan Kegila-gilaan’.


MOHAMAD TAJUDDIN MOHAMAD RASDI is professor at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia's School of Architecture. An eloquent writer, he has authored over 30 books, including his latest, ‘Why Listen to the Vice-Chancellor?'

Friday, January 18, 2013

Parents don Bersih's yellow for RM100 school aid

Parents don Bersih's yellow for RM100 school aid

A group of parents at a Chinese secondary school in Seremban caught the eye of the crowd when they turned up in bright yellow Bersih T-shirts to receive the RM100 school aid from the federal government.
Photographs of the 15 parents who coloured the aid award ceremony at Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina Chan on Wednesday evening are circulating widely on social media.
NONE"I wore the Bersih T-shirt to make a point to the powers-that-be that the gift of money won't necessarily make us bow down and agree with them," one of the parents, Wong Chai Soon, told Malaysiakini yesterday.
"Instead I received the cash with great trepidation, as I worry what the nation would be like in the future."
According to Wong, the idea to wear the yellow Bersih T-shirts at the event was sparked by a friend of his and this later spread to others in the group.
"I received an SMS from my friend and forwarded it to others. I also asked my friends at my office to wear yellow."
Asked about the reaction of the teachers and other parents to their yellow initiative, he said no one seemed to take affront.
"Some looked at us, some spoke to us. Those that I knew agreed with us. The teachers, they were just normal. Maybe they were too busy attending to the many parents there."
'Bersih Mama'
The RM100 aid to parents with schooling kids - the second time in as many years - was one of the provisions of Budget 2013 tabled in Parliament by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak last year.
NONEThe campaign to wear yellow when collecting the cash aid was initiated by a group of mothers who called themselves 'Bersih Mama'.
In a statement on Wednesday, the group called on parents to make use of the occasion to reiterate poll reform movement Bersih's demand for clean and fair elections.
"Currently, what is most needed by the people in this country is not RM100, RM250 or RM500 in financial aid.
"If this country has no fair and clean election, it would not be truly democratic," it said.
Besides Wong, many other parents have heeded the call and uploaded on the Internet photographs of them wearing yellow when

Saturday, January 12, 2013

People's Uprising Rally #KL112 photos & videos

Left home early, 10am, and got a lift to the nearby LRT station on the way Pasar Seni to add to the numbers for Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat (People's Uprising Rally) also referred to as #KL112.

At this early hours. there was already a sizeable crowd. Had a photo taken at Pasar Seni:

People's Uprising Rally, crowd at Pasar Seni

On the way saw participants holding up placard that reads "Justice for "Teoh Beng Hock", hawkers selling yellow T-shirts from motorcycles, others selling mineral water and cold drinks:

People's Uprising Rally - Justice for Teoh Beng Hock

Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat, hawker selling mineral water and Ramly burger

Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat - hawker selling Yellow T-shirts from motorcycles

At 11am, the road to Stadium was already very crowded:

Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat, crowded road to Merdeka Stadium

Outside Merdeka Stadium, posed for a photo with a DAP flag bearer:


Inside the stadium at 12pm, it wasn't that crowded, but the crowd keeps flooding into the Stadium until it was very full and the rest has to stand outside to listen to the speeches:

Packed crowd on field Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat

In front of me, I can see the crowd packed like sardines (well, almost lah) with the familiar Victoria Institution where I spent 2 years for Form 6 in the background:

Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat Stadium Merdeka with VI in background

And last, participants singing Negara Ku to signal the start of the rally and later, a singer singing "Ubah Sekarang" (Change Now) (videos):








Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat - Negara Ku

The participants of Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat (People's Uprising Rally) singing Malaysia's National Anthem "Negara Ku" (Our Nation):

Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat - Ubah Sekarang

Here is a song "Ubah Sekarang" (Change Now) by a singer whose name I do not know.

Update: found from Malaysiakini that the singer is Ito from the rock group Blues Gang and the song title is ‘Ubah ini kali lah’ (Let's change this time).

Friday, January 11, 2013

Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat marches to Stadium Merdeka

Here are details of plans for 7 marches from 7 different locations to Stadium Merdeka for the Himpunan Kebankitan Rakyat (People’s Uprising Rally) courtesy of Malaysiakini:

Seven marches to Stadium Merdeka planned


4:51PM Jan 10, 2013

Organisers of the People's Uprising Rally are calling on participants to join seven processions towards Stadium Merdeka before the Saturday rally officially gets underway.
According to the latest instructions by rally organisers, the seven rally points for the procession and the respective leaders of the processions are as follows:
Universiti Malaya mosque
Nurul Izzah Anwar (PKR)
Ng Suee Lim (DAP)
Adam Adli (Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia)
Brickfields
Maria Chin Abdullah (Bersih 2.0)
S Arutchelvan (PSM)
Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque @ Zunar (cartoonist)
M Kulasegaran (DAP)
KLCC
Husam Musa (PAS)
Teo Kok Seong (DAP)
Mazlan Aliman (Anak, PAS)
Jalan Sultan
Ishak Surin (Muafakat)
Tan Kok Wai (DAP)
Wong Tack (Himpunan Hijau)
Central Market
Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (PAS)
Teresa Kok (DAP)
Elizabeth Wong (PKR)
Kelab Sultan Sulaiman, Kampung Baru
Badrul Hisham Shaharin @ Chegubard (Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia)
Masjid Negara
Azmin Ali (PKR)
Muhajid Yusof Rawa (PAS)
Khalid Samad (PAS)
According to political activist Hishamuddin Rais, who is on the organising committee, the announcement of designated procession leaders was requested by the police.

He told Malaysiakini that the organisers will also be heeding a police request not to march from Dataran Merdeka.

NONEHishamuddin (far right) also announced that organisers strongly discourage the use of private vehicles by rally participants and urged them to use public transport to reach the rally points.
He said those setting up stalls to cater for the participants are only allowed to operate at the Maharajalela monorail station, the vicinity of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall and the Hang Tuah LRT station.
Once the stadium reaches saturation point, late-comers are required to sit outside the stadium.
He also urged all participants to behave appropriately during the rally.
"This is a peaceful assembly. Please avoid all forms of provocation. Don't create chaos," he said.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

UBAH Gangnam Style English version with lyrics



UBAH Rocket Style (Malaysian Gangnam Parody) English Version

You're walking down the street
Looking right looking left
Fearing for your money, your loved ones and your life
Let's make our cities safe, more police fighting crime
Bad guys got to do prison time
Wanna buy a car
You can't find buses on the road
and you're no movie star
Cars are pricey, taxes are high, your bosses underpay
You need to buy a house to stay, to pray and also to play
But you must pay, pay, pay

No more corruption, give us transparency
Lower prices, hey, Can we lower prices, hey
End of abuse of power, need accountability
Lower prices, hey Can we lower prices hey
We can change to make things right, let's make history

Ubah Rocket Style
Rocket style
Ubah Rocket Style
Rocket style
Ubah rocket style
Eh... Malaysia
Ubah Rocket Style
Eh... Malaysia

The sheep is in the meadow
the cows are in the condo
Where's that boy who looks after the cows? He's a no cshow
MACC, AG Chambers, CCM, Malaysian Police
Please catch the culprit who stole my cheese
A sinking submarine
Commission taker, Mongolian murderer
right no where to be seen
Naval ships, APCs, helicopters, cronies' cash machine
LRT, MRT, take my way or the tolled highway
And you must pay, pay, pay

No more corruption, give us transparency
Lower prices, hey, Can we lower prices, hey
End of abuse of power, need accountability
Lower prices, hey Can we lower prices hey
We can change to make things right, let's make history

Ubah Rocket Style
Rocket style
Ubah Rocket Style
Rocket style
Ubah rocket style
Eh... Malaysia
Ubah Rocket Style
Eh... Malaysia

Oh Lynas dear
Tell us why are you here?
Please please we don't want you here, are we crystal clear?
What cyanide mining?
Nuclear power building?
Please please can you disappear
(so you know what I'm saying?)


Ubah Rocket Style
Eh.... Malaysia
Ubah Rocket style
Eh.... Malaysia
Ubah Rocket Style

Executive Producer:
Tony Pua

Directors & Videography:
Jack Wong
Ooi Leng Hang

Assistant Producers:
Teo Nie Ching
Junz Wong
Yeo Bee Yin

Lyrics & Storyboard:
Tony Pua

Recorded & Mixed by:
Oseven Production

Parodied Music by:
PSY

Editing:
Ooi Leng Hang
Jack Wong
zeon.Lim

UBAH Mascot Stars:
Henry Sim
zuoli King