Award for excellent use of lure and bait

Opposition via its minions such as news portals, activists and the opportunity of using intellectual discourse and networking events have been making in roads into winning in the game of perception and buy in of the minds of the more younger, ICT savvy, educated, professional and urbanites segment of the populous. The most recent is the World Blogger and Social Media Network Summit in Sunway Resort the past two days.

The Opposition news portal and mouth piece Malaysiakini’s story on the the award they bagged for the extensive use of soecial media:

Malaysiakini bags Social Media 2014 award

Malaysiakini‘s extensive use of social media has been hailed at the World Bloggers and Social Media Awards 2014 in Kuala Lumpur last night.The independent news portal won the Social Media Excellence prize for the online media category, an award which is based on public voting – 80 percent weightage – and a panel of judges.

According toMalaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan, the ground-breaking website plans to further enhance its social media outreach with a full-time social media curator.”We have almost one million Facebook fans.”But I believe we can do even better,” said Gan, who received the award from Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid has had a few run-ins with Malaysiakini where he had previously lambasted the news portal for being bias.As Gan walked up to receive the award, he quipped, “You’re not going to point your finger at me, are you?”Ahmad Zahid smiled and said: “Truce.”

In his speech to the 300-strong crowd at the awards gala dinner, Ahmad Zahid urged social media users to be truthful in their postings.

“Today, the entire pattern and mind shift of people are geared towards getting a collaborative effort to resolve issues,” he said.”I hope this healthy trend of being connected continues and people can blog freely, knowing what to express at the right place and time.”

Predominantly younger readersGan said increasingly news and opinions are delivered through the various social media platforms and to predominantly younger readers.Malaysiakini actively promotes its content on Facebook and Twitter across three languages – English, Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese.

Content ranges from links to articles in Malaysiakini, news flashes, infographics, photo galleries, videos and occasional live reports on key events.

Malaysiakini’s three Facebook pages currently have 970,000 followers combined, while there are over 227,000 followers for the website’s three Twitter accounts.

The awards, held in conjunction with the Malaysian Social Media Week 2014, is organised by Malaysia Social Media Chambers, a body aimed at sharing best social media practices and encouraging social media use.

Over the past two years, the organisation has been handing awards to bloggers specialising in various topics.

This year is the first time that the event gave awards to the corporate sector for its social media use.

Among the companies that bagged awards are Honda, Maybank, Tune Talk, Nestle, IJM, Sogo, Pavilion, RHB and Digi.

AirAsia group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes won the Social Media Celebrity of the Year.

The event is supported by the Communications and Multimedia Ministry and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.

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The Malaysiakini story itself is a lie. The news portal was never “Independent”. It was created by activists who wanted to take Anwar Ibrahim’s REFORMASI struggle online, back in 1999.

It is obvious there are hidden hands between the organisers and personalities behind Malaysiakini, to lure Home Minister Dato’ Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi into attending the awards dinner event as the VIP guest of hounour and hand over the prizes to the winners.

It was said that Zahid wasn’t even aware of the winners’ list which include Malaysiakini until he was already on stage, ready to dispense all of these awards which were prepared by the organisers.

It is a perfect ‘photo-opp’ for Zahid as a senior Cabinet Minister and UMNO Vice President to the photographed handing an award to Malaysiakini Supremo Steven Gan.

That picture which tells a thousand words where Director General of Information Dato’ Ibrahim Abdul Rahman is standing next to the Home Minister, is a psychological apparatus to ‘blind’ the perception and probably used to manipulate that the endorsement for Malaysiakini’s reporting.

The Home Minister previously barred Malaysiakini from attending his media conferences because in the past the news portal which was formed by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s minions to promote the struggle of the man who was the most important asset in demonising the  Federal Government and Barisan Nasional, then under Fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

It is pointless for Zahid to remind social media, which include Malaysiakini “To be truthful in their reporting” because the truth often does not serve their political agenda and aspirations. Their strategic objective to realise power via ‘Politics of Hatred’ can only be achieve by the avenue of demonisation of authority, manipulation of information and history and perpetuating lies.

The fact still remain that pro-Opposition news portals would not change their ways, especially when it is clear it is with the intent of malice. These entitities, coupled with purposely created NGOs  would still continue to be important apparatus in the Opposition’s strategy imposing the aspiration and will of the minority against the majority via the ‘Politics of Hatred’ strategy.

It is refreshing that Federal Government agencies under Information. Communication and Multimedia Minister Dato’ Sri Ahmad Shabery Cheek is opening up to be participative in industry initiated events to promote the progress utility of blogs and social media network, in the age where information dissemination is very efficient and seamless.

However, each departments must be mindful that they are not used as lures and baits for the conniving use of Opposition minions to get ‘endorsement’ from a Minister representing the Federal Government at the juncture where Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak is up at arms against Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s continuous lies after another.

Prime Minister Najib even reminded the Malaysian Foreign Ministry Mission Heads to be vigilant in the use of social media.

The Star story:

Published: Tuesday February 25, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Tuesday February 25, 2014 MYT 4:59:36 PM

Be wary of what you say, diplomats warned

BY MARTIN CARVALHO

Bolstering ties: Najib mingling with the participants of the Eighth Conference of Heads of Mission in Kuala Lumpur. — BernamaBolstering ties: Najib mingling with the participants of the Eighth Conference of Heads of Mission in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian diplomats must be wary of what they say – even behind closed doors – as they embrace technological and social changes, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“It is more than just coping with social media as it must be practised and a prerequisite. However, beware because anything you say, even behind closed doors, can be found on the Internet in real time,” he said at the opening of the Eighth Conference of Heads of Mission yesterday.

Addressing 105 ambassadors, high commissioners and consul-generals, Najib said this was crucial in light of the changes to society brought about by technology.

“Running throughout these geopolitical developments and changes are deeper currents of technological and social change, such as increasing access to information, new forms of citizen activism, higher expectations and greater accountability in an age of information,” he said.

Diplomats, said Najib, should respond and adapt to the changes aimed at securing a safer and more sustainable future for the nation.

“We must react to the transformations around us with a transformation of our own and with a foreign policy which will see Malaysia through to 2020, a developed nation and beyond,” he said.

Earlier, Najib said traditional hierarchies and relationships between major superpowers had undergone changes in the last century, of which Malaysia should emerge as the region’s “Middle Power”.

“We must embrace our position as one of the region’s Middle Power of states that rarely act alone but which have a significant systematic impact in a small group or international institutions,” he said.

In this respect, there would be greater expectations from the Mal­aysian public and international community for the country to play a more leading role in Asia and globally, pointed out Najib.

He also said that the nation would be impacted by the ongoing instability in West Asia, particularly religious and ethnic conflicts between differing groups.

“Underpinning the tension and conflicts (in West Asia) is the Sunni and Syiah conflict.

“This state of uncertainty and instability is a challenge for us as our close cultural, religious and economic ties to the region mean that developments there would resonate with the Malaysian public,” he said.

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Here we have something very close to home. What transpired here at the Sunway Resort event was an indirect form of ‘breach of security’ for Federal Government.

Agencies are lured into being supporters and sponsors of an intellectual discourse event which is actually camouflaged to lure into the ‘entrapment’ of a more prized catch for pro-Opposition minions’ strategic agenda of ‘Politics of Hatred’.

The fact that the Chairman of the World Bloggers and Social Media 2014 Shahul Hameed referred Ministry of Information, Communication and Multimedia as “Santa Claus” in his opening address is a clear demonstration that funds are being utilised to realise the objectives of certain quarters. Unfortunately, it was taken advantage of for the strategic benefit of entities like Malaysiakini.

Let us not forget Ibrahim and Prime Minister Najib’s own foolhardy who arranged for Malaysiakini reporters to get Pingat Kedaulatan Negara, when all they was did gross dis-service in manipulating information, rubbishing the ‘Ops Sulu’ and ‘Ops Daulat’ and extended the doubt of the ATM and PDRM capabilities to resolve the Lahad Datu tragedy.

*Updated 1100hrs

Published in: on February 28, 2014 at 09:30  Comments (12)  

Commies’ failed attempt to stop Sarawak’s new governor

The Chinese Chauvinist DAP commies failed to use the High Court to stop Fourth Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud from being appointed and ascending the position and role of the new Sarawak Governor tomorrow.

Riong Kali dot com story:

DAP assemblyman fails in bid to stop Taib from becoming Sarawak governor

BY DESMOND DAVIDSON
FEBRUARY 27, 2014
LATEST UPDATE: FEBRUARY 27, 2014 05:50 PM

DAP’s last-ditch effort to stop outgoing Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud (pic) from being appointed as the next head of state failed, after the Kuching High Court today ruled that it had no jurisdiction over the appointment.

Judge Chew Soo Ho dismissed DAP Padungan state assemblyman Wong Kin Wei’s application for an ex parte injunction, saying that the appointment is at the sole discretion of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong and the court had no jurisdiction to interfere with the prerogative.

Taib is scheduled to have an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Shah Mu’adzam tomorrow afternoon.

In his writ of summons, Wong stated that Taib would be violating Article 2 (2) of the State constitution should he accept the post of head of state.

In his application, Wong claimed Taib was and is, at all material times, actively engaged in commercial enterprise.

Article 2 (2) of the Sarawak constitution states the governor C, as the position was known when the constitution was drawn up, “shall not hold any office of profit and shall not actively engage in any commercial enterprise.”.

DAP had earlier said their research showed “there was ample” evidence that Taib was engaged in illegal business activities, both in Malaysia and overseas.

The opposition said Taib was listed as a director and major shareholder of a Malaysian investment holding company called Mesti Bersatu Sdn Bhd.

Justice Chew, in his hearing in chambers (but held in a courtroom because his chambers was to small to accommodate all the legal counsel), ruled that it was premature to assume that Taib would violate the constitution since he has yet to be appointed.

Wong later told reporters that it was the court’s view that Taib could declare his business interests and relinquish them before he assumes office.

On Wong’s claim that the appointment would affect and prejudice his constitutional rights and that of the citizens of Sarawak, the court ruled that Wong would suffer no special damage and therefore he did not have the proper basis to come to court.

The court also ruled that if a decision was made to bar Taib from assuming office, there would be a La Cuna – a Latin term meaning “to intentionally and permanently give up, surrender or leave”.

It said without a head of state, there would be no executive authority and this would create a vacuum in the administration of the state.

The court said therefore, public interest and national interest would override Wong’s personal interest.

Wong apologised to fellow Sarawakians for his failure and said he would not appeal the court decision.

The court ordered no costs, even though Wong in his application sought it, as well as further interim orders and reliefs that the court deems just and necessary pending the disposal of the application.

Taib, meanwhile, will vacate his Balingian state assembly seat tomorrow.

In a news conference at the state legislative assembly building, Speaker Datuk Amar Mohammad Asfia Awang Nassar said he received a letter from Taib yesterday stating that he was vacating the seat tomorrow.

Asfia said he notified the Election Commission in writing today of the impending vacancy.

Taib’s vacating the seat would trigger a by-election.

The EC will to convene a meeting at its headquarters in Putrajaya on March 6 to discuss the seat. – February 27, 2014.

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The Kuching High Court Judge is very clear. Taib would receive the instruments for him to be alleviated as the TuanYang Terutama Negeri Sarawak tomorrow from His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong XIV Tuanku Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badli Shah.

As the TYT Negeri Sarawak, Taib would be the Constitutional Head as per Article 70 (1) & (2) of the Federation of Malaysia Constitution. Article 71 is the Federal Government guarantee for the TYT Negeri Sarawak to exercise his duty as the Constitutional Head as per the Sarawak Constitution.

DAP ADUN for Pandungan Wong Kin Wei

DAP ADUN for Pandungan Wong Kin Wei

DAP ADUN for Pandungan Wong Kin Mei attempted to stop the process of His Majesty SPB YDP Agong to exercise his right to appoint Taib as the TYT Negeri Sarawak and thus denying the State of Sarawak to function, as per guaranteed by the Federation of Malaysia Constitution and Sarawak State Constitution.

That should be deemed as sabotaging the State of Sarawak or going against the wishes and authority of His Majesty SPB YDP Agong.

Chinese Chauvinist DAP leaders are getting more blatant in their attitude and actions, to demonstrate their frame of mind. It is very disturning for a first term State Assemblyman and such a young politician, to demonstrate his blatant kurang ajar against His Majesty SPB YDP Agong and the Federal Constitution.

ADUN DAP blatantly stood on the bench and was yelling  despite HRH Regent of PerakDYTM Pemangku Raja Perak was still present in the DUN Perak chambers

DAP ADUN  for Kepayang Loke Chee Yan blatantly stood on the bench and was yelling despite HRH Regent of Perak DYTM Pemangku Raja Perak was still present in the DUN Perak chambers, 7 May 2009

Then again, it is typical for Chinese Chauvinist DAP leaders to demonstrate their anti-Constitutional tendency, exactly as per what the attitude and behaviour of Min Yuens and their support for the Communist rebels.

Very recently, Kuala Lumpur High Court found DAP Chairman Karpal Singh of uttering seditious words against HRH Paduka Seri Sultan Perak for exercising the constitutional authority to dismiss DAP-puppet MB Ir Mohamed Nizar Jamaluddin and his Exco five years ago.

Instead, HRH Paduka Seri Sultan Perak appointed ADUN Pangkor Dato’ Dr Zambry abdul Kadir as the 10th Menteri Besar of Perak and invited him to form the Perak State Government. That ended the 11 month DAP-puppet PAS led Perak State Government.

Published in: on February 27, 2014 at 23:59  Comments (1)  

Unfair Game

Yesterday, a three man bench Court of Appeal overturned the High Court decision of a suit against TV3 by DAP-puppet MB of Perak (2008-9) Mohamed Nizar Jamaluddin for slandering HRH Sultan of Johor in the tendering episode of ‘WWW 1″ almost two years ago.

Published: Tuesday February 25, 2014 MYT 5:33:00 PM
Updated: Tuesday February 25, 2014 MYT 5:34:55 PM

Court of Appeal finds TV3 guilty of defaming Nizar

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal here on Tuesday ruled that TV3 was liable for defaming former Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin over his tweets on the WWW1 vehicle registration number which was successfully bid for by the Sultan of Johor.

A three-member panel chaired by Justice Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof unanimously allowed Mohammad Nizar’s appeal to set aside the decision of the High Court, which had dismissed his RM50mil defamation suit against TV3.

Justice Ariff subsequently remitted the case back to the High Court for assessment of damages.

In his ruling, Justice Ariff said TV3 had failed to establish the defence of justification.

He said there was malice in the report by the TV station, adding that TV3 also failed to prove that its report was true or partially true.

“The Court is of the view that the High Court’s decision cannot be sustained and is hereby set aside,” said Justice Ariff, who presided on the panel with Justices Datuk David Wong Dak Wah and Datuk Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim.

He also ordered TV3 to pay RM30,000 in legal costs to Mohammad Nizar for the court proceedings in the Court of Appeal.

Mohammad Nizar was appealing against the April 12, 2013 decision of the Kuala Lumpur High Court in dismissing a defamation suit brought by him against TV3 and the producer of Buletin Utama, Rohani Ngah, over his comments on the vehicle registration number, which was bid successfully for by the Sultan of Johor in May 2012 for RM520,000.

In his statement of claim, Mohammad Nizar stated that he had issued a statement through his Twitter account on May 28, 2012, concerning the vehicle number plate.

He claimed that on May 30 2012, TV3 carried news on his Twitter statement over its 8pm Bulletin Utama news slot.

Lawyer Liew Teck Huat representing TV3, when met by lawyers, said he would study the grounds of judgment before deciding on whether to bring the matter up to the Federal Court.

Mohammad Nizar was represented by lawyer Mohd Fitri Asmuni. – Bernama

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There arise serious doubts of the impartiality of Justice Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof who presided the three-man-bench.

This is because Justice Ariff is a PAS man and believed still to be a staunch supporter of the political party. In 11GE, he stood as the PAS candidate for Kota Damansara but lost to UMNO man Dato’ Mokhtar Dhahlan.

Ariff was also the Legal Cousel for PAS in an election petition in Perlis.

If Ariff still had the strong inclination towards PAS especially Nizar, then he should have recused himself from hearing the appeal case. When Nizar wsa dismissed as MB Perak and HRH Paduka Seri Sultan Perak appointed Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir as the 10th Menteri Besar, Nizar took Dr Zambry to court.

On 25 February 2009, then Judicial Commissioner Ariff recused himself from hearing the suit.

The Star report:

                 Published: Wednesday February 18, 2009 MYT 1:10:00 PM
Updated: Wednesday February 18, 2009 MYT 7:58:52 PM

Nizar vs Zambry: Judge offers to recuse himself (Updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: In an unexpected twist High Court Judicial Commissioner Mohamad Arif Md Yusof offered to recuse himself from hearing the lawsuit filed by former Perak mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin against his successor Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

The suit was filed after the Pakatan Rakyat government lost the state to Barisan Nasional with the resignation of three assemblymen from their parties, and the defection of a fourth.

Nizar wants the court, by way of judicial review, to declare him the legitimate mentri besar and for an injunction to stop Dr Zambry or his agents from carrying out the duties and functions of the mentri besar.

At the onset of the proceedings Wednesday, Mohamad Arif said he has been a legal advisor and counsel for PAS on a number of election petition cases. Nizar is a member of PAS, which together with PKR and DAP, makes up the Pakatan alliance.

“I have also been involved in PAS legal matters from time to time, and have advised PKR on legal issues,” Mohamad Arif said.

“I have also acted for Barisan in an election petition in Sarawak,” he added.

“I tend to think that to preserve justice and the integrity of the institution, perhaps I should recuse myself from hearing this matter,” he said.

He set Feb 23 for counsel from both sides to brief him on whether they had any objection to him hearing the matter, as well as on two other issues:

First, whether the matter should be referred to the Federal Court over the question of law for determination and finality, over intepretation of Article 16(6) of the Perak Constitution.

Second, on the standing of Perak’s state legal advisor Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid acting as counsel for the respondent since Dr Zambry is being sued in his personal capacity.

The five-page suit, filed last Friday, also asks for “punitive, aggravated and exemplary” damages to be awarded to Nizar.

Earlier, Mohamad Arif said that he allowed for the matter to be called in the open court because 14 lawyers turned up for the case and that he wanted all to know his position.

Besides, he said, the parties may want to refer the matter to the Federal Court over question of law on the interpretation of Article 16(6) of the Perak Constitution for finality.

(Article 16 (6) states that if the Mentri Besar ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly, then unless at his request His Royal Highness dissolve the legislative assembly he shall tender the resignation of executive council).

On hearing this, Perak Legal Advisor Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid, who appeared for Zambry, said he had received instructions to apply for his recusal from hearing the case.

However, lead counsel Sulaiman Abdullah, who represented Nizar with seven lawyers, argued that the JC was capable of hearing the case without any danger of bias.

Among others, he said, the JC could recuse himself if he had a personal relationship with any of the parties, or applied for land in Perak through them and had briefed the two on the legal steps before they held Mentri Besar post.

“You have appeared for PKR, PAS for the election petition and for Barisan in Sarawak, it is in your capacity as an advocate and soliticor. That is your area of practice and you have no choice not to accept it,” he said.

The JC then said that he was no longer involved in any political party and that he was more concerned about the public perception.

Sulaiman then argued that it was the judge’s inherent function to educate and inform on the law and public issues.

In submitting his points further, Sulaiman said the judge would be failing in carrying out his judicial duty and interest of justice if he was considering the “wrong perception of public”.

At the outset, Sulaiman objected to Ahmad Kamal representing the respondent saying that it was a conflict of interest.

Ahmad Kamal said he had a right to represent the respondent and that the application by the counsel was premature. He said he had yet to receive an affidavit to support of the application.

He also applied to the JC to transfer the case back to Ipoh High Court.

“It is because both parties are staying in Ipoh and involved in the state government of Perak and the people of Perak. Therefore, the proper forum is to be tried at Ipoh High Court,” he said.

Sulaiman argued that Ahmad Kamal should also be disqualified from appearing for Zambry because of “all party sentiments”.

“It should be (tried) in neutral territory and in specialised court,” he said. The case is filed at High Court (Appellate and Special Powers division).

Sulaiman said there was no question of witnesses involved in the case and that all would be in the form of affidavits as it was a pure question of law to be decided.

SFC See Mee Chun, who appeared for Attorney-General Chambers, said she had to seek instructions over the matter.

Justice Mohamad Ariff asked the parties to file proper applications and set Monday for mention over the issues of the recusal, referring the matter to apex court and the acting of the Perak Legal Advisor as counsel for the respondent since Zambry was being sued in his personal capacity

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This is very serious since Justice Ariff is believed to have political inclination. That would probably means that he is biased in the case and as he presided the three-man-bench, he would probably be influencing the other judges too.

TV3 should act on this.

Published in: on February 26, 2014 at 13:30  Comments (8)  

Taib: UMNO is not racist

“UMNO is a racial party. But it is not racist. It is most effective way to set representation of the Malays”, said Outgoing Sarawak Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud when asked in Kuching yesterday.

This was what pro-Opposition news portal Riong Kali dot com reported:

Keep Umno’s brand of racial politics out of Sarawak, Taib tells state BN leaders

BY DESMOND DAVIDSON
FEBRUARY 10, 2014

Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud (left) with Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu. – The Malaysian Insider pic, February 10, 2014.Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud (left) with Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu. – The Malaysian Insider pic, February 10, 2014.

Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud is leaving his post as chief minister with one advice to his successor – that whoever succeeds him must strive to keep Umno and its brand of racially divisive politics out of the state.

Taib’s remarks to the Barisan Nasional (BN) supreme council meeting yesterday made it clear that his successor “should stand tough and be unflinching” when dealing with Putrajaya on issues concerning Sarawak’s interests.

Sarawak BN secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi said Taib told yesterday’s meeting that his successor has to vigorously protect the state’s rights as spelled out in the Malaysia Agreement of 1963.

“We must stick to the Malaysia Agreement in protecting the rights of the state,” he said of Taib’s message at the state BN supreme council meeting in Kuching which gave the chief minister the prerogative to choose his successor.

Rundi said standing up to Putrajaya included stopping Umno from coming to the state, which is widely seen as undermining the 20-point agreement which protects the interests and rights of Sabah and its people when the territory agreed to form Malaysia with Malaya, Sarawak and Singapore. Sabah has a 20-point agreement while Sarawak has a 18-point agreement for the formation of Malaysia.

He said there is no reason for Umno to spread its wings to Sarawak as Taib’s Parti Pesaka Bumiputera (PBB) was already doing a good job managing the state and protecting Sarawak’s rights as envisaged in the 18-point agreement.

Rundi also said the state’s socio-ethnic situation differed from the peninsula’s and therefore handling it should best be left to Sarawakians who understand it best.

Taib had over the weekend announced his intention to leave as chief minister and had spent Saturday and Sunday discussing his imminent retirement with his PBB party men and the BN supreme council.

Accusations already abound in the social media with netizens accusing Putrajaya of eroding much of Sarawak and Sabah’s rights in the agreements that paved the way for the formation of Malaysia.

Wilfred Nisson, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) secretary-general explained that Umno only “understands issues pertaining to the interest of Malays and Islam” while in Sarawak, parties like PBB and his party have to cater for the interests of various ethnic groups and from varying religious beliefs and denominations.

“We have to treat this multi-ethnic, multi-religious make up meticulously in order to maintain the social harmony.

“In Sarawak, we tread a very thin line as we have to feel the sensitivity of the people from the various ethnic groups. There are over 40 ethnic groups in the state.

“Therefore, nobody else can understand this situation better than Sarawakians,” he said, noting that the lynchpin BN party in Peninsular Malaysia in recent years appeared to have a difficult time managing expectations of the various races in the peninsula.

The opposition, particularly DAP, are also against Umno coming to Sarawak.

State DAP chairman, Chong Chien Jen, created a furore in the state legislative assembly at its sitting last November when he accused state Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg of being pro-Umno and could bring Umno into the state if he becomes the chief minister.

Abang Johari, the deputy president II in PBB, is one of three persons widely speculated could be picked by Taib to be the next chief minister to succeed him.

When Abang Johari demanded Chong, who is the Kota Sentosa assemblyman and Bandar Kuching MP, withdraw the accusation, Chong said he would only do it if the assembly moved a motion to ban the entry of Umno into the state.

Chong’s refusal to withdraw led to Special Functions Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem – another name speculated could be picked by Taib – to instead move a motion to have Chong suspended.

Chong is still suspended from the assembly and Speaker Datuk Amar Mohammad Asfia Awang Nassar had recently said the decision to lift Chong’s suspension would only be made when the assembly sits in May.

Chong could miss the first few meetings as Asfia said he would not make the decision outside the House.

Rundi said for Sarawak to insist full adherence and respect for the 18-point agreement does not make Sarawakians any less loyal to the federation.

“We are 100% loyal to Malaysia, we will stay with Malaysia through thick and thin.

“But Sarawak’s rights have to be protected,” he told The Malaysian Insider, adding that Umno would not be interested in doing so. – February 10, 2014.

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“UMNO was formed to satisfy the aspirations of the Malays. Therefore, the spirit of nationalism became a political party which appeals to majority of the Malays then”, describing the need to observe the reality of Malaysian politics.

“UMNO worked with other parties. First it was MCA. Later, MIC. After Malaysia was formed, (work together) with more parties. We don’t talk about the need for any race at this level. We talk about how to move Malaysia forward”.

“We have great understanding and we make policies for all Malaysians. BN is a multiracial party. We meet at the top to discuss and decide what is best for Malaysia”.

Taib also said in the 33 years tenure of Sarawak Chief Minister that span from Fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s leadership till present, he noted that all Federal Government policies and decisions have been beneficial to Sarawak and Sarawakians.

“Federal Government don’t make big blunders. All the policies and decisions are good. However, some of them needs tweaking for implementation in Sarawak. Probably some of the officers were unable to describe (to their respective HQ) well how these implementations need adjustments. Its more important to meet the objectives, rather than how its done”.

It is obvious that Riong Kali dot com manipulated statement on Sarawak BN leaders in the continuous effort to demonise the Malay-led leadership of Malaysia with the ‘Politics of Hatred’ strategy. The story is not about Sarawakians’ feeling towards UMNO but DAP’s Chinese chauvinism morbid hatred towards the majority-led Malay adminiostration and leadership of this country since Kemerdekaan.

When asked about Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak’s leadership, Taib was cordial to put this point across “He is hardworking and comes to Sarawak and go to the ground a lot”.

Pro-Opposition newsportal and cybersphere tools have been fanning anti-Federalist hatred amongst Sarawakians with the tone of Federal political leaders wanted to make Sarawak subservient to them and their benefits and rights being systematically denied.

However, the fact is that Opposition parties from Semenanjung like Chinese Chauvinist DAP is working hard to make inroads and footings in Bumi Kenyalang, with the typical Chinese chauvinism and racism being fanned and instigated amongst the pockets of Sarawak Chinese community. Mainly, in the urban area.

As such, once the state without apparent racialism-fanned politics and this formula which was one of the key ingredients of Sarawak’s success despite  complexity of vast geography, multi ethnicity and beliefs, has now been antagonised.

Published in: on February 26, 2014 at 07:00  Comments (2)  

Gentlemen’s agreement

A really witty episode from the New, Yes Prime Minister series. How shrewd political blackmail and horse trading could entwine.

Published in: on February 24, 2014 at 23:58  Comments (1)  

Kassim Ahmad: Kesilapan umat Islam ialah kerana mendewa-dewakan Nabi Muhammad

Dalam ucapan yang bertajuk “Halatuju Negara Untuk 30 Tahun Akan Datang” dalam program “Pemikiran Kassim Ahmad; Satu Penialaian” di Putrajaya minggu lepas, Mantan Tahanan ISA dan pengamal sosialis Kassim Ahmad membangkitkan kesilapan umat Islam ialah kerana “Mendewa-dewakan Nabi Muhammad” (Fasal 7(b))

(b) Mereka mendewa-dewakan Nabi Muhammad. Syahadah yang kedua itu satu bukti. [8] Juga di kebanyakan rumah orang Islam, perkataan-perkataan ‘Allah’ dan ‘Muhammad’ ditulis sama besar dan sama paras. Apabila disebut nama Muhammad, frasa ‘sa’al-Lallahu ‘alaihi wasallam’ (SAW) disebut sekali, sedangkan apabila disebut nama nabi-nabi lain, disebut ‘alihissalam’. Pada hal frasa SAW itu ditujukan juga kepada orang mukmin juga dalam Quran. [9] Juga perkataan ‘salla/yusalli’ bermakna ‘restu’, ‘bantu’ dan ‘sokong’, bukan selawat, seperti yang dibuat sekarang.

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Paragraf ini amat merbahaya kerana umat Islam meletakkan Nabi Muhammad S.A.W. sebagai Rasulullah dan pelengkap bagi agama Allah, yang diturunkan kepada sekelian manusia sehingga akhir zaman.

Surah An-Nisā’ (Ayat 59)

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْۖ فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا

Wahai orang-orang yang beriman, taatlah kamu kepada Allah dan taatlah kamu kepada Rasulullah dan kepada “Ulil-Amri” (orang-orang yang berkuasa) dari kalangan kamu. Kemudian jika kamu berbantah-bantah (berselisihan) dalam sesuatu perkara, maka hendaklah kamu mengembalikannya kepada (Kitab) Allah (Al-Quran) dan (Sunnah) RasulNya – jika kamu benar beriman kepada Allah dan hari akhirat. Yang demikian adalah lebih baik (bagi kamu), dan lebih elok pula kesudahannya.

Surah ‘Āl `Imrān (Ayat 32)

قُلْ أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ

Katakanlah (wahai Muhammad): “Taatlah kamu kepada Allah dan RasulNya. Oleh itu, jika kamu berpaling (menderhaka), maka sesungguhnya Allah tidak suka kepada orang-orang yang kafir.

Persoalan “Tiga Belas Juta Ringgit” kami ialah, bagaimana Kassim menunaikan sembahyang fardhu lima kali sehari? Ianya melibatkan pembacaan tahiyat sebanyak 11 kali.

Fahaman golongan anti Hadis dan anti Muhammad ini amat merbahaya. Sekiranya mereka tidak mengiktiraf syahadah, maknanya mereka sebenarnya bukan orang Islam. Mereka bergerak dalam keadaan seumpama umat Islam tetapi mengelirukan umat Islam dengan pendapat dan hujah mereka.

Ini maknanya mereka lebih merbahaya dari Paderi yang cuba untuk mengkristiankan orang Melayu-Islam.

JAKIM perlu menyiasat ucapan Kassim ini dan kegiatan golongan anti Hadis. Laporan siasatan perlu dikeluarkan dengan segera, agar pihak Peguam Negara boleh mengambil tindakan seperti mendakwa bawah Akta Hasutan.

JAKIM juga perlu membuat ketetapan mengenai kedudukan aqidah Kassim dan golongan ini dan sekiranya mereka telah terkeluar dari Islam kerana menolak kedudukan Nabi Muhammad S.A.W. sebagai Rasulullah, sebagaimana dalam kalimah syahadah dan tahiyat, maka tindakan perlu diambil keatas mereka. Ini termasuk Enakmen Pindaan 1988 mengenai menyebarkan ugama Bukan Islam kepada orang Islam.

Published in: on February 23, 2014 at 23:59  Comments (18)  

Kassim Ahmad: Rasulullah tidak perlu dimuliakan, tegakan revolusi dan tafsir semula Al Quran

Kassim Ahmad dan buku beliau tahun 1986 yang menjadi kontroversi dan kesedaran masyarakat Melayu-Islam mengenai golongan Anti Hadis ini

Ucapan kontroversi Kassim Ahmad dalam program “Pemikiran Kassim Ahmad: Satu Penilaian” minggu lepas, yang begitu tersasar dari kefahaman dan penerimaan mengenai asas tauhid dan Islam oleh majoriti Melayu-Islam  Malaysia sebagai Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah, termasuk hubungan mereka dengan Nabi Muhammad S.A.W..

Teks Ucapan Kassim Ahmad

‘Halatuju Negara Untuk 30 Tahun Akan Datang’

 

Pendahuluan

Hari ini hari istimewa bagi saya. Hari ini saya akan meluahkan isi hati saya tanpa sekatan, insya Allah. Hari ini hari saya akan mempertanggungjawabkan kehidupan saya di dunia. Saya ada satu dua kerja lagi yang ingin saya lakukan , tetapi selepas hari ini, saya reda kalau dipanggil Tuanku untuk diadili.

Saya tidak mendakwa saya seorang yang baik. Saya melakukan banyak kesilapan dalam kehidupan saya. Saya jangka saya bukan keseorangan. Tidak ada manusia yang sempurna. Hanya Tuhan yang sempurna. Tetapi saya boleh mengatakan saya telah cuba hidup sebagai seorang patriot bagi bangsa saya dan bagi bangsa manusia. [1]

Ketika saya seorang muda, saya bersumpah untuk berkata-kata dengan bebas. [2] Saya bersumpah saya akan mendedahkan segala kepalsuan. [3]

Semua orang tahu saya bermula sebagai seorang remaja berhaluan kiri berjuang untuk rakyat marhaen menentang parti kebangsaan Melayu, UMNO, yang pada waktu itu saya anggap reaksioner, walaupun akhirnya saya pulang ke akar ke-Melayuan saya dan memasuki UMNO.

Pada 9 September tahun lalu, saya menjengkau umur 80 tahun tanpa apa-apa perayaan. Hanya sahabat-sahabat saya di Kuala Lumpur, antara lain Dr. Chandra Muzaffar, Sasterawan Negara Dato’ Baha Zain dan Nik Aziz Hassan, telah bermuafakat untuk mera’ikan harijadi itu dengan satu majlis penilaian kritis terhadap karya-karya saya. Majlis ini dijadualkan pada 15 Februari, 2014. Dalam pada itu, saya telah merancang untuk bercakap dalam satu Konferensi Politik Nasional tentang halatuju negara kita untuk tiga puluh tahun akandatang. Ucapan ini dijadualkan pada pada hari berikutnya, iaitu 16 Februari, 2014.

Inilah latar belakang majlis harijadi saya yang ke-80.

2. Keadaan Dunia Sekarang

Negara kita Malaysia sedang melalui satu zaman yang penuh pancaroba. Sistem komunisme sudah runtuh pada akhir abad ke-20. Sistem liberalisme yang kita anuti sekarang juga sedang runtuh di depan mata kita—di Eropah dan Amerika Syarikat.

Keruntuhan sistem komunisme kerana sistem ini menafikan hak kebebasan individu. Ia melebihkan hak kolektif, yang dipergunakan oleh kepimpinan untuk melaksanakan sistem diktator! Sistem liberalisme melebihkan hak kebebasan individu dengan menafikan hak kolektif.

Kedua-dua sistem ini melanggar konsep “sempadan Allah”, atau apa yang disalah-ertikan sebagai “hukum hudud”. Konsep ini langsung tidak ada kena-mengena dengan hukuman. Ia merujuk kepada suatu undang-undang universal, iaitu dalam tiap-tiap perbuatan, manusia tidak boleh melampaui batasan undang-undang alamiah. [4] Umpamanya, dalam hal makan: mudarat kalau kita tidak makan, tetapi kalau kita makan terlalu banyak pun mudarat juga. Demikianlah bagi tiap-tiap perbuatan wujud suatu sempadan yang tidak boleh kita lampaui.

3. Masa Depan

Apa akan berlaku dalam masa 30 tahun akan datang? Apakah sistem ganti yang harus kita pilih sekarang? Mengikut kitab suci yang terakhir kepada manusia iaitu Quran, satu-satunya kitab suci yang dijamin oleh Tuhan Sendiri [5], dan yang mengesahkan dan mengatasi semua kitab suci lain,[6] hanya ada satu jalan yang lurus yang Dia restui di antara jalan-jalan yang menyeleweng. Jalan-jalan yang menyeleweng itu disebut jalan-jalan mereka yang Dia murkai, dan jalan-jalan mereka yang sesat.

Apakah jalan yang Dia murkai? Tuhan pasti murkai kumpulan-kumpulan manusia yang memberontak terhadap-Nya. Dalam zaman moden, kumpulan itu kaum marxis komunis yang menafikan Dia serta mengamalkan cara hidup yang menafikan Dia. Dengan perkataan lain, dalam kehidupan mereka, mereka menafikan dimensi-dimensi moral dan spiritual. Oleh kerana ini, cara hidup ini berlawanan dengan undang-undang alamiah, dan pasti musnah. Sistem komunisme sudah pun musnah.

Satu lagi jalan menyeleweng kita panggil sistem teokrasi, yakni kepimpinan satu kasta paderi yang melantik diri mereka sendiri serta mendakwa mentadbirkan negara atas nama Tuhan. Contohnya dari zaman pertengahan Eropah, sistem Paus. Dalam dunia moden, Eropah sudah menyingkirkan sistem Paus ini, tetapi dalam dunia Islam, negara Iran dan Arab Saudi sedang melaksanakan sistem ini.

Nyatalah sistem ini gagal menyelesaikan masalah-masalah sosio-ekonomi menghasilkan pekerjaan dan makanan untuk rakyatnya dan dengan itu gagal menyelesaikan masalah-masalah lain dalam masyarakat.

4. Negara Malaysia

Negara kita Malaysia, walaupun dikatakan negara Islam, sebenarnya mengamalkan sistem liberalisme. Mengikut kata-kata Kerajaan Pusat, ekonomi Malaysia baik dengan pengangguran sifar dan peratusan inflasi pada tahap minima. Namun demikian, Malaysia boleh dikatakan tiap-tiap hari menunjukkan ketegangan antara kaum dan agama. Apakah caranya untuk menyelesaikan perkara ini secara muktamad ?

Jalan yang lurus yang dirujuk dalam surah Al-Fatihah tadi – apakah jalan itu? Tadi telah kita nyatakan ada tiga jalan yang menyeleweng : sistem marxis komunis, sistem teokrasi dan sistem liberalisme. Seperti yang telah kita nyatakan, ketiga-tiga sistem ini telah atau sedang menuju kehancuran. Maka semestinyalah masyarakat manusia dalam abad-abad ke-21 dan mendatang mencari sistem jalan yang lurus ini. Dengan perkataan lain, inilah sistem hidup yang dirujuk dalam Quran dalam surah 3 ayat 19, yang berbunyi, “Sesungguhnya agama yang Tuhan reda itu Islam”.

5. Keadaan Orang Islam Sekarang

Orang Islam berjumlah 2.1 bilion di seluruh dunia. Bolehkah kita katakan mereka semuanya mengikut cara hidup Islam yang sebenar? Sekiranya benar, umat Islam hari ini harus berada pada kedudukan nombor 1 dalam dunia, seperti yang berlaku dalam sejarah. Sejarah mencatat dalam zaman pemerintahan Uthman Ibni Affan, khalifah Islam ke-3, setelah 60 tahun Nabi Muhammad wafat , orang Arab yang tidak terkenal itu melonjak naik menjadi kuasa nombor satu dalam dunia, mengalahkan Empayar Parsi dan sebagian besar Empayar Baizantium, dua kuasa besar dunia pada zaman itu. [7]

Tetapi umat Islam sekarang duduk di bawah daripada Britain, Perancis, Amerika Syarikat, Rusia, China dan India, semuanya negara bukan Islam.

6. Gerakan Pembaharuan Islam

Gerakan pembaharuan Islam moden, dikira dari Sheikh Muhammad Abduh (m. 1903) dan Jamaluddin Al-Afghani (m. 1897) yang diharapkan untuk membersihkan Islam dari kepercayaan-kepercayaan khurafat dan membangkitkan semula Islam sudah berusia lebih 100 tahun, sedangkan umat Islam masih di tahap bawah di belakang negara-negara yang kita sebut tadi. Dengan sendirinya, ini bermakna umat Islam hari ini di seluruh dunia tidak mengikut sistem hidup Islam seperti yang diajar oleh semua nabi dan disempurnakan oleh Nabi Muhammad, penyudah segala nabi.

7. Kesilapan-kesilapan Umat Islam

Di manakah kesilapan-kesilapan besar mereka? Saya akan senaraikan beberapa kesilapan besar itu di sini.

(1) Umat Islam pada hari ini tidak mengikut ajaran-ajaran nabi Muhammad dalam Quran. Inilah kesilapan yang besar yang telah mereka lakukan. Mereka ikut satu kasta paderi yang dipanggil ulama, seperti penganut-penganut agama Hindu dan Kristian dulu. Kasta paderi ini tidak wujud dalam zaman Nabi dan empat khalifah rasyidun. Mereka muncul kira-kira 300 tahun kemudian dan melantik diri mereka sendiri sebagai pentafsir ugama kepada umat Islam.

(2) Khususnya, kesilapan-kesilapan itu boleh saya senaraikan seperti berikut:

(a) Mereka mendewa-dewakan pemimpin ugama yang mereka anggap maksum dan yang telah memutuskan semua soalan dalam kehidupan mereka – apa yang dikatakan ‘penutupan pintu ijtihad’. Dalam puak ahli sunnah wal jamaah, empat pemimpin besar boleh dikenal pasti, iatu : Imam Shafi’e (767-820), Imam Hanafi (699-767), Imam Hanbali (780-855) dan Imam Maliki (711-795). Dalam mazhab Syiah, mereka ada imam-imam mereka pula. Imam-imam ini telah mereka dewa-dewakan berlawanan dengan perintah Tuhan melarang pendewaan seseorang pemimpin atau sarjana, dan, malah, berlawanan dengan ajaran imam-imam besar itu sendiri.

(b) Mereka mendewa-dewakan Nabi Muhammad. Syahadah yang kedua itu satu bukti. [8] Juga di kebanyakan rumah orang Islam, perkataan-perkataan ‘Allah’ dan ‘Muhammad’ ditulis sama besar dan sama paras. Apabila disebut nama Muhammad, frasa ‘sa’al-Lallahu ‘alaihi wasallam’ (SAW) disebut sekali, sedangkan apabila disebut nama nabi-nabi lain, disebut ‘alihissalam’. Pada hal frasa SAW itu ditujukan juga kepada orang mukmin juga dalam Quran. [9] Juga perkataan ‘salla/yusalli’ bermakna ‘restu’, ‘bantu’ dan ‘sokong’, bukan selawat, seperti yang dibuat sekarang.

(c) Perhatikan satu perubahan baru dalam ‘aurat wanita. Perkataan ‘aurat’ berasal dari bahasa Arab. Ertinya ‘kebogelan’. Tiga puluh tahun dulu, wanita-wanita Islam tidak memakai tudung. Mereka pakai selendang, sehelai kain yang mereka letak di bahu, atau pun di atas kepala tanpa menutup semua rambut, kerana rambut bukan ‘aurat wanita. Menutup rambut dengan bertudung bermakna udara bersih tidak dapat memasuki rambut. Dengan itu rambut menjadi busuk. Dengan lain perkataan, ia tidak sihat.

Anehnya, wanita-wanita yang bertudung menganggap diri mereka lebih suci! [10]

Sebab-sebabnya nyata mengapa umat Islam jatuh. Mereka telah mengabaikan ajaran-ajaran Tuhan yang sebenar serta mengikut ajaran-ajaran kasta paderi.

Tiap-tiap generasi diperintah oleh Tuhan mengkaji semula ajaran-ajaran pemimpin mereka yang terdahulu; yang betul diterima dan diteruskan, yang salah ditolak. Inilah yang seharusnya dilakukan oleh generasi-generasi Islam kemudian. Malangnya, penilaian semula ini tidak dapat mereka lakukan persis kerana pendewaan tadi. Maka itu apabila saya menulis buku Hadis – Satu Penilaian Semula pada tahun 1986, langit Malaysia runtuh menimpanya! Selama dua bulan, perbincangan berlaku dalam televisyen, radio, akhbar dan majalah tentang buku ini. Sesetengah menyokong saya dan sesetengah membantah. Selepas dua bulan, buku ini diharamkan oleh pihak berkuasa atas hasutan pihak yang berkepentingan.

Siapakah yang mewajibkan hadis sebagai satu sumber undang-undang sama seperti Quran dalam masyarakat Islam? Jawabnya, Imam Shafi’e (767-820). Beliaulah yang bertanggungjawab membuat doktrin baru menyatakan hadis satu sumber hukum sama seperti Quran. [11] Sebelum beliau, apa yang dikatakan hadis sudah muncul, tetapi bilangannya sedikit sekali dan tidak diwajibkan diikut oleh umat Islam. Sejarah mencatat khalifah-khalifah Abu Bakr, Omar Ibni Khattab, Uthman Ibni Affan dan Ali Abi Thalib memiliki buku-buku nota yang mereka tulis perkataan-perkataan dan perbuatan-perbuatan Nabi. Catitan-catitan ini tidak banyak dan hanya menjadi ikutan, jika sesuai, tetapi tidak diwajibkan.

Setelah doktrin baru oleh Imam Shafi’e ini diterima oleh masyarakat Islam, timbullah pengumpul-pengumpul hadis seperti Imam Bukhari (m. 870), Imam Muslim (m. 875) dan lain-lain. Imam Bukhari dilaporkan telah mengumpul 600,000 hadis dan beliau menapis hadis-hadis ini sehingga akhirnya tinggal 7,275 hadis yang beliau isytiharkan sebagai hadis sahih. [12]

ABIM (Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia) melalui setiausaha agungnya pada waktu itu, Encik ( sekarang Dr.) Sidek Baba, telah datang ke rumah saya dan meminta satu dialog tentang buku saya. Saya memberi persetujuan dengan syarat keputusan tidak diambil dalam dialog itu. Saya meletakkan syarat itu kerana pegangan umat Islam kepada hadis sangat kuat dan tidak boleh dihapuskan dalam masa sehari. Pihak ABIM bersetuju dengan syarat itu. Malangnya, apabila dialog itu diadakan di Universiti Islam Antarabangsa pada 28 Jun, 1986, saya terlupa untuk menyatakan kepada majlis dialog itu tentang syarat yang saya kenakan. Apabila dialog itu selesai, pihak ABIM telah mengeluarkan sehelai kertas dari saku ketua mereka yang mencatat bahawa buku saya menyeleweng dari ajaran Islam dan saya juga dianggap menyeleweng dari ajaran Islam sebenar!

Akibat dari dialog ini buku saya diharamkan oleh Kerajaan. Nyatalah pengharaman buku ini satu muslihat yang sudah diatur oleh pihak yang berkepentingan.

Kembali kepada soal Islam agama Persekutuan Malaysia atau Islam sebagai agama rasmi, ingin saya menyatakan bahawa pernyataan ini dalam Perlembagaan Malaysia menyalahi ajaran Quran dan menyalahi Piagam Madinah yang digubal oleh Nabi Muhammad sendiri. Dari segi logika, sesebuah negara-bangsa tidak ada ugama. Ugama dianut oleh penduduknya, sama ada Islam, Buddhist, Hindu atau Kristian. Ajaran Quran mengisytiharkan dengan jelas tidak ada paksaan dalam agama. [13] Ini bermakna warganegara Malaysia boleh menganut apa juga agama yang mereka suka tanpa halangan undang-undang.

Dalam Piagam Madinah, agama itu urusan penganut-penganutnya secara autonomi. [14] Ini bermakna orang Muslim mentadbirkan urusan-urusan agamanya secara autonomi. Demikian juga orang Buddhist, orang Hindu dan orang Kristian, dan lain-lain. Dengan ini, tidak akan berlaku konflik atau ketegangan antara agama dan kaum. Dengan ini perpaduan dan harmoni antara kaum di Malaysia akan menjadi lebih mantap dan stabil.

Kembali kepada soal jalan yang lurus yang harus dipilih oleh rakyat Malaysia untuk dijadikan sistem hidup mereka, perkara utama tidak lain dan tidak bukan pemerintahan yang adil yang ditubuhkan melalui perundingan.[15] Sistem dwi-parti yang kita import dari Eropah tidak sesuai, pada dasarnya, dengan ajaran Islam. Kita diberikan Tuhan dua tangan: mengapa kita gunakan satu tangan untuk merosakkan kerja satu tangan lain? Tidak bolehkah kedua-dua tangan bekerjasama untuk melakukan kebaikan bagi masyarakat kita? Jelaslah teori sekat dan imbang (Ing.: cek and balance) ini satu teori yang tidak ada kebenarannya.

Sebuah pemerintahan mestilah diwujudkan di Malaysia melalui kaedah muafakat dan mentadbirkan negara-bangsa Malaysia dengan adil. Inilah perintah Tuhan dan keperluan yang utama bagi rakyat Malaysia. Dengan demikian, walaupun Malaysia dari segi sejarah, lahir dari Kesultanan Melayu Melaka dalam abad ke-15, hari ini sejak kemerdekaan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu (Malaya) pada tahun 1957, ia telah menjadi sebuah negara berbilang kaum dan agama dengan semua kaum mempunyai hak yang sama.

Tadi telah saya nyatakan penyelewengan khusus yang telah dilakukan oleh umat Islam itu memecahkan masyarakat kepada sistem agama dan sistem sekular. Ini bersalahan dengan ajaran Nabi Muhammad dalam Quran yang menggabungkan kedua-dua sistem ini secara harmonis.[16] Namun demikian, ajaran Quran juga menasihatkan umat Islam mengutamakan kediaman akhirat tanpa mengabaikan hak-hak mereka yang sah di dunia. [17]

Perkara yang akhir ini menunjukkan perbezaan antara dunia dan akhirat. Alam akhirat itu tidak lain dari alam dunia ini di peringkat yang lebih tinggi, yakni dari segi moral dan spiritual. Nyatalah satu kasta paderi telah bertindak sebagai diktator kepada masyarakat Islam tanpa membenarkan perbezaan fikiran. Perbuatan ini melanggar perintah Tuhan yang terang yang berbunyi, “Dengar semua pendapat dan ikut yang paling baik”.[18]

Harus diingat bahawa Islam yang datang ke dunia Melayu pada abad ke-15 dan 16, Islam pasca kejatuhan Baghdad, yakni Islam yang telah kalah. Walaupun ini fakta sejarah, telah dicatat oleh seorang sejarawan Melayu bahawa kota pelabuhan Melaka dalam abad ke-15 sebuah kota pelabuhan yang termasyhur di dunia, sama dengan Venice. [19]

Malah telah dinyatakan oleh penulis Portugis, Tome Peres, bahawa Melaka pada zaman itu begitu penting dan kaya ia tiada lawannya di dunia. [20] Dinyatakan oleh sejarawan Melayu tadi, 84 bahasa dipertuturkan di pelabuhan Melaka dan bahasa Melayu menjadi bahasa perantaraan atau lingua franca. Fakta ini menyalahi anggapan kita yang pertama tadi. Kemungkinan besar ada dua aliran Islam yang sampai ke Melaka dalam abad ke-14 dan 15.

Di awal tadi, telah kita petik sebuah ayat suci yang berbunyi, “ Rasul akan berkata: ‘Tuanku, umatku telah membelakangkan Quran ini. Kami juga telah mewujudkan musuh-musuh bagi rasul-rasul kami dari kalangan mereka yang berdosa. Tuan kamu cukup sebagai pembimbing dan penolong’”.[21]

Amaran yang dahsyat ini telah wujud dalam Quran selama 1400 tahun lebih. Saya tidak pernah bertemu dengan huraian yang panjang lebar atau sederhana panjang lebar tentang makna ayat-ayat yang menakutkan ini.

Apabila ayat-ayat Quran dibaca, kerap kali kaum agamawan Islam melagukan mereka dengan tajwid-majwidnya yang sungguh enak didengar. Saya teringat zaman remaja saya apabila saya sendiri terpengaruh dengan lagu-lagu Quran dibacakan. Saya telah mensifatkan perbuatan ini sebagai kaedah yang paling bijak untuk menyembunyikan Quran kepada umat Islam, yakni lagu mengatasi makna.[22]

Hari ini saya telah menjengkau umur 80 tahun. Saya berfikir inilah masanya saya mahu bercakap secara langsung kepada kepimpinan politik dan intelektual rakyat Malaysia dan umat Islam di seluruh dunia tentang penyelewengan-penyelewengan yang telah mereka lakukan serta membetulkan kesilapan-kesilapan kita supaya 30 tahun yang akan datang dan seterusnya kita boleh mencapai jalan yang lurus yang telah diperintahkan oleh Tuhan kepada kita.

Harus diingat bahawa pertama sekali Quran itu bimbingan untuk orang-orang yang bertakwa. [23] Bimbingan ini hanya diberi oleh Tuhan sahaja kepada pencari-pencari yang jujur. Jadi, rakyat Malaysia yang beragama Islam dan umat Islam di seluruh dunia mestilah bertekad untuk mencari bimbingan ini dengan jujur.

Kedua, Quran itu bukan untuk dilagukan dengan tajwid-majwidnya berdengung-dengung. Quran itu perutusan Tuhan yang terakhir kepada dunia. Ia bimbingan kepada seluruh manusia. Kita mesti ada satu kaedah yang saintifik untuk mentafsirkan ayat-ayat Quran itu supaya ia benar-benar menjadi bimbingan kepada umat Islam dan seluruh dunia. Kaedah saintifik ini pada dasarnya bermakna Quran itu menjelaskan dirinya sendiri, yakni ayat mentafsirkan ayat, bukan seperti kaedah tradisional yang mendakwa Hadis mentafsirkan Quran. [24]

Ketiga, kediktatoran kasta paderi (baca: ulama) harus disingkirkan. Kaedah saintifik dan demokratik, yakni perdebatan yang rasional dan bijaksana, mestilah diutamakan.

Keempat, Quran itu mesti ditafsirkan semula oleh generasi yang mendatang, mewarisi tafsiran yang betul dan menolak tafsiran yang silap daripada generasi yang terdahulu.

Kelima, mengikut ajaran Tuhan Sendiri, Quran itu diwariskan kepada mereka yang Tuhan pilih daripada pelbagai kalangan, bersalahan dengan pegangan tradisional bahawa pewaris Quran itu para ulama. [25]

Keenam, nyatalah sistem hidup yang dianjurkan oleh Quran itu bersifat republikan dan demokratik. Ini nyata daripada asal-usul nabi Muhammad dan empat khalifah ar-rasyidun ( Abu Bakr, Omar Ibni Khattab, Uthman Ibni Affan dan Ali Abi Talib). Apabila Muawiyah merampas kerajaan Islam dari tangan kaum republikan dan demokratik ini, bermulalah zaman feudalisme dalam sejarah Islam awal membawa kepada abad ke-20.

Umat Islam perlu kembali kepada zaman republikan dan demokratik yang telah kita sebutkan. Hanya dengan demikian, Islam yang sebenar akan kembali semula ke dalam dunia serta memimpin umat Islam dan seluruh dunia kepada alam kejayaan dan kebahagiaan, seperti yang dijanjikan oleh Tuhan kepada umat Islam. [26]

8. Langkah-langkah Yang Perlu Diambil

UMNO, parti nasionalis, yang menjadi tulang belakang pemerintahan di Malaysia sekarang berasal sebagai sebuah gerakan massa pada 1946. Namun tiap benda yang hidup akan merosot. Demikianlah UMNO telah merosot. Hanya anggota UMNO dan rakyat Malaysia seluruhnya melalui Perhimpunan Agung UMNO boleh membaiki UMNO, melalui apa yang diperintahkan oleh Tuhan

“menyerukan kebaikan dan melarang kejahatan”. Perhimpunan Agung UMNO Tahunan mestilah menjadi sekat dan imbang atau penjaga kepada sistem pemerintahan di Malaysia. Rasuah, pembaziran dan kejahatan lain mestilah dikoreksi dari dalam oleh kita yang sedar sendiri. Inilah yang harus dilakukan oleh rakyat Malaysia. Inilah juga yang harus dilakukan oleh umat Islam di seluruh dunia. Inilah juga yang harus dilakukan oleh rakyat di seluruh dunia. Tiada seorang Imam Mahdi atau Nabi Isa turun kali kedua boleh tolong mereka. Manusia tiada penolong dan pembantu kecuali diri mereka sendiri. Dengan izin Allah!

Saya telah menyatakan pada awal tadi bahawa saya akan meluahkan isi hatinya tanpa sekatan. Saya ingin menyatakan dengan rendah hati bahawa saya memohon kepada Tuhan Azza-Wajalla memberi taufik dan hidayah kepada saya dan menjauhkan diri saya daripada kesombongan dan kebanggaan.

Saya ingin menyatakan terima kasih yang tidak terhingga banyaknya kepada sahabat-sahabat saya dalam Jawatankuasa Penaja yang dipimpin oleh Sdr Nik Aziz Hassan dan juga dari pelbagai bangsa dan agama yang telah mera’ikan hari jadi saya yang ke-80 dengan seminar penilaian kritis terhadap karya-karya saya. Saya mengucap berbanyak terima kasih kepada Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad kerana sudi merasmikan upacara ini. Kami mengucapkan terima kasih kepada pihak dewan yang membenarkan kami menggunakan dewan yang permai ini

Ucapan ini tidak kena-mengena dengan peringatan harijadi saya yang ke-80. Saya fikir sudah sampai masanya kita, rakyat Malaysia dan umat Islam di seluruh dunia, berdepan dengan realiti kita secara realistik dan bijaksana untuk menentukan masa depan kita semua, bukan sahaja untuk 30 tahun akan datang, tetapi untuk selama-lamanya.

Saya bercakap ini langsung kepada elit kepimpinan politik dan intelektual dan kepada massa rakyat. Saya harap mereka ambil peduli.

Pendekatan, ini satu seruan untuk revolusi untuk menegakkan keadilan dan kebenaran. Contoh-contohnya sudah ada dalam sejarah: revolusi yang dilancarkan oleh nabi-nabi besar Ibrahim dan Muhammad, oleh Revolusi Amerika, Revolusi Perancis dan Revolusi Komunis, kedua-dua bengis dan berperikemanu-siaan. Kita mesti pilih yang kedua.

Terima kasih.

KASSIM AHMAD

16 Februari, 2014

1504, Persiaran Kulim Golf,

Kulim Golf & Country Resort,

09000 Kulim, Kedah Darul-Aman.

012-4291152/604-40318771

Alamat e-mel <darul_hikmah33@yahoo.com.my>


[1] Lihat sajak saya, “Satu Sumpahan”, dalam Kemarau di Lembah, Saudara Sinaran Brothers, Pulau Pinang, 1967. hlm. 46.
[2] Lihat sajak “Pidato” dalam Ibid., hlm. 67
[3] Lihat Kassim Ahmad, “Pembangunan Intelektual Bangsa” dalam Koleksi Pidato Penghargaan Siswazah Kehormat Konvensyen Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Bangi: 1997) hlm. 87.
[4] Lihat risalah saya, Kontroversi Hukum Hudud, Forum Iqra’, Pulau Pinang, 2002.
[5] Lihat Quran, 15: 9.
[6] Quran, 5: 48.
[7] Sejarawan Inggeris Philip K. Hitti berkata tentang peristiwa ini, “Jika ada seseorang dalam dekad ketiga abad ketujuh berani meramalkan bahawa dalam satu dekad suatu kuasa yang tidak ditetahui dan tidak disangka dari tanah Arab yang masih dalam zaman gasar dan tidak dikenali akan muncul dan merempuh dua kuasa besar dunia pada ketika itu serta mewarisi Empayar Parsi dan merampas dari Empayar Baizantium tanah jajahannya yang elok, dia tentu akan dicop seorang gila. Namu demikian, itulah yang berlaku …” (Philip K. Hitti, History of the Arabs (Edisi ke-10: 1970: London), hlm. 142.)
[8] Lihat Quran. Surah 63, ayat satu membatalkan syahadah kedua.
[9] Rujuk Quran, 33: 43.
[10] Bahawa rambut wanita bukan ‘aurat dan kepala wanita tidak ditutup disebut dalam Quran. Pertama, apabila mengambil wuduk kita perlu menyapu kepala. Ini menunjukkan kepala wanita tidak ditutup. Kedua, ayat Quran tentang pakaian wanita berbunyi: “Beritahu kepada wanita muslim untuk menundukkan mata mereka dan memelihara kehormatan mereka. Hendaklah mereka jangan memperlihatkan mana-mana anggota badan mereka, kecuali yang mustahak. Hendaklah mereka tutup dada mereka dan jangan buka kecuali di hadapan suami mereka, bapa mereka …” (Quran, 24: 30-31). Frasa “kecuali yang mustahak” di sini bermakna muka, tangan dan kepala. Apabila kita mengambil wuduk, muka dan tangan disuruh basuh dan kepada disuruh sapu.
[11] Lihat Majid Khadduri (pent.) Islamic Jurisprudence: Shafi’I’s  Risalah, hlm 75-76.
[12] Lihat Kassim Ahmad, Hadis—Satu Penilaian Semula, Media Intelek, Petaling Jaya, 1986,  hlm. 93.
[13] Lihat Quran, 2: 225.
[14] Lihat esei penulis bertajuk “The Madinah Charter – A Short Note” dalam blog penulis
[15] Tentang menghukum dengan adil, rujuk 4: 58. Tentang membuat keputusan melalui perundingan, rujuk 42: 38.
[16] Quran, 2: 201.
[17] Quran, 28: 77.
[18] Quran, 39: 18.
[19] Lihat Muhammad Yusoff Hashim, Kesultanan Melayu Melaka, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (1990: Kuala Lumpur), hlm. 275.
[20] Lihat B. W. Andaya dan L. Y. Andaya, A History of Malaysia (London: 1982); hlm. 37.
[21] Quran, 25: 30-31.
[22]  Lihat Kassim Ahmad, Mencari Jalan Pulang, ZI Publications (2008: Petaling Jaya), hlm. 177.
[23] Quran, 2: 2.
[24] Lihat Kassim Ahmad, Hadis: Jawapan Kepada Pengkritik,Media Indah, Kuala Lumpur, 1992, Bab 7.
[25] Lihat Quran, 35: 32.
[26] Ada beberapa ayat. Satu daripadanya 9: 33.  Cara hidup Islam sebenar itu sempurna dari semua segi, material, moral dan spiritual. Ini bukan saja bermakna tiada kezaliman, tetapi kejahilan dan kemiskinan juga tidak wujud lagi.

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Mesej yang disampaikan Kassim amat jelas dan tidak lagi meragu ragukan bahawa kedudukan dan peranan Rasulullah dan Imam Shafie’e, iaitu ulama yang membuat tafsiran Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah sebagaimana diterima dan amalkan oleh majoriti umat Islam diMalaysia ini telah dihina.

Rata rata, reaksi begitu negatif keatas ucapan yang diberikan liputan media yang meluas ini. Tidak kurang pula mereka yang menyifatkan pemikiran Kassim Ahmad, penyokong dan mereka yang seangkatan dengan golongan yang cuba memperkecilkan peranan, hadis dan sunnah Rasulullah S.A.W., sebagai sesat.

Setelah ianya menjadi konstroversi, JAKIM mengeluarkan arahan untuk menyiasat majlis dan ucapan tersebut.

ARKIB : 20/02/2014

Biar pihak berkuasa selesaikan isu Kassim

Paimuzi Yahya

KUALA LUMPUR 19 Feb. – Orang ramai dinasihat memberi kepercayaan kepada pihak berkuasa untuk menangani kes melibatkan bekas aktivis politik, Kassim Ahmad yang didakwa mengeluarkan kenyataan menghina Islam dan Nabi Muhammad SAW.

Pengarah Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (Jawi), Paimuzi Yahya berkata, bahagian penguatkuasaan jabatan berkenaan telah mengambil tindakan terhadap kes itu dengan membuka kertas siasatan.

Katanya, Jawi sedang menyiasat dan mengenal pasti beberapa saksi yang menghadiri Seminar Pemikiran Kassim Ahmad: Suatu Penilaian di Putrajaya pada Sabtu dan Ahad lepas berhubung perkara tersebut.

“Orang ramai juga dinasihatkan supaya menghentikan sebarang provokasi bagi mengelakkan sebarang ketidakharmonian.

Othman Mustapha

“Mana-mana individu yang mempunyai maklumat berkaitan diminta tampil bagi membantu siasatan,” katanya dalam kenyataan di sini hari ini.

Sementara itu, Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim), Datuk Othman Mustapha dalam kenyataan berasingan berkata, pihaknya memandang serius perkara yang dibangkitkan dalam seminar anjuran Ahli Jawatankuasa Sahabat Pena Pak Kassim itu.

Beliau berkata, jabatan berkenaan membuat pendirian bahawa pemikiran dan pandangan terutama berkaitan isu-isu agama yang dikemukakan pada seminar itu adalah bercanggah dengan prinsip serta sumber hukum dalam ajaran Islam berdasarkan Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah.

Katanya, selain meminta Jawi mengambil tindakan dengan pendekatan bersesuaian, beliau juga meminta kerjasama daripada Jabatan Agama Islam di negeri-negeri agar dapat memantau dan memberi perhatian terhadap isu tersebut secara berkesan.

“Kami juga berhasrat menjemput Kassim dan pihak penganjur sebagai satu usaha pihak kami memberikan penjelasan terbaik terhadap dakwaan-dakwaan beliau yang dianggap boleh menjejaskan akidah umat Islam,” katanya.

Artikel Penuh: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Dalam_Negeri/20140220/dn_33/Biar-pihak-berkuasa-selesaikan-isu-Kassim#ixzz2u4du0BtD
© Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd

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Mufti Negeri Perak Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria

Mufti Perak Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria secara tegas meningatkan umat Islam agar menolak golongan anti Hadis.
ARKIB : 20/02/2014

Jangan terpengaruh antihadis

Oleh SYUKRI SHAARI
pengarang@utusan.com.my

IPOH 19 Feb. – Mufti Perak, Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria menyeru umat Islam supaya tidak mudah terpengaruh terhadap ideologi yang secara terang-terangan bercanggah dengan asas ajaran Islam termasuk golongan menolak hadis.

Menurutnya, umat Islam yang menolak hadis dan al-Quran hukumnya boleh murtad kerana ajaran serta undang-undang Islam berdasarkan kepada dua asas tersebut.

Katanya, hadis juga tidak boleh ditafsirkan mengikut fikiran sendiri kerana Rasulullah SAW pernah memberi amaran mengenainya, malah baginda juga tidak mentafsir sebaliknya mendapat petunjuk daripada Allah SWT.

“Al-Quran juga tidak boleh tafsir mengikut fikiran kita, ini diberikan amaran oleh Rasulullah SAW, barang siapa mentafsir al-Quran mengikut fikiran sendiri, maka sedialah tempatnya di neraka.

“Sebab itu tafsir al-Quran mesti berasaskan hadis nabi, kerana nabi diajar mengenai makna kandungan al-Quran.

“Kalau pakar-pakar bahasa Arab sendiri tidak berani memberi tafsiran berdasarkan fikiran sendiri terhadap al-Quran, bagaimana pula muncul golongan di negara ini seperti Kassim Ahmad yang tidak faham serta tidak mendalami bahasa Arab boleh membahaskannya,” katanya dalam sidang akhbar di sini hari ini.

Baru-baru ini, Kassim yang merupakan seorang karyawan dan bekas aktivis politik mencetuskan kontroversi apabila mendakwa Islam sebenar di negara ini telah diseleweng dan menyamakan sistem ulama dengan ‘kasta paderi’.

Kassim turut menyinggung perasaan umat Islam apabila mendakwa golongan itu melakukan beberapa kesalahan seperti mendewa-dewakan Nabi Muhammad SAW dengan ungkapan syahadah serta menyatakan bahawa rambut bukanlah aurat bagi wanita.

Dalam pada itu, Harussani turut melahirkan kekecewaan beliau apabila ada dalam kalangan pemimpin negara yang dihormati turut terpengaruh dengan Kassim.

Menurut beliau, tindakan mempertahankan Kassim hanya memberi ruang untuk menyegarkan semula fahaman berkenaan meskipun sebelum ini telah difatwakan sebagai pemikiran sesat serta menyeleweng daripada ajaran Islam oleh kebanyakan negeri.

“Saya menyeru supaya Kassim dan mereka yang telah terpengaruh dengan ideologinya supaya segeralah bertaubat.

“Saya juga berharap pihak berwajib supaya melaksanakan penguatkuasaan undang-undang selaras dengan fatwa yang telah dikeluarkan berhubung ideologi berkenaan dan bertepatan dengan prinsip Rukun Negara iaitu kedaulatan undang-undang,” katanya.

Artikel Penuh: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Dalam_Negeri/20140220/dn_05/Jangan-terpengaruh-antihadis#ixzz2u4ZkFwFr
© Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd

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Banyak pihak cuba mengaitkan Perdana Menteri Malaysia IV Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad sebagai terlibat dan menyokong pemikiran Kassim Ahmad dan golongan anti Hadis ini. Namun, JAKIM mengeluarkan kenyataan sebaliknya:

Laporan Berita Harian:

NASIONAL

ISU ANTIHADIS KASSIM AHMAD: ‘Dr Mahathir tiada kaitan’

]
Kuala Lumpur: Bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad tidak mempunyai kaitan dengan seminar anti- hadis Dr Kassim Ahmad yang mencetuskan kontroversi sehingga Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (JAWI) membuka kertas siasatan.Pihak berkuasa agama itu menjelaskan, tidak ada keperluan untuk memanggil Dr Mahathir dalam isu berkenaan, sebaliknya JAWI sedang berusaha untuk mengenal pasti penganjur seminar kontroversi itu.

Pengarah JAWI, Paimuzi Yahya, berkata pihaknya kini sedang mengumpul bukti berhubung seminar berkenaan dan akan memanggil Kassim secepat mungkin bagi mendapatkan penjelasan serta menjalankan siasatan.

“Dr Mahathir tidak terbabit dalam isu ini, Yayasan Perdana bukanlah penganjur kepada seminar itu, sebaliknya kami sedang mengenal pasti penganjur kepada seminar tertutup itu.

“Oleh itu kita minta sesiapa yang ada bukti maklumat mengenai seminar berkenaan menyalurkannya kepada JAWI bagi membolehkan siasatan dan tindakan diambil,” katanya ketika dihubungi BH, semalam.

Semalam akhbar melaporkan, Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) mengarahkan JAWI mengambil tindakan terhadap Kassim kerana mempertikai hadis yang boleh membawa kekeliruan umat Islam di negara ini.

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Ianya menjadi bahan yang dibincangkan dalam mesyuarat Majlis Kerja Tertinggi UMNO semalam dan Perdana Menteri dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak mengumumkan pendirian UMNO yang menolak ideologi yang bertentangan dengan Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah.

ARKIB : 21/02/2014

Ideologi bertentangan Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah perlu ditolak – PM

KUALA LUMPUR 21 Feb. – Sebarang kefahaman atau ideologi yang menyeleweng dan bertentangan dengan akidah Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah perlu ditolak sama sekali di negara ini.

Presiden UMNO, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berkata, pendirian parti itu dalam soal berkenaan adalah jelas bahawa UMNO berpegang kepada akidah dan prinsip Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah sebagaimana disebut dalam Perhimpunan Agung UMNO lalu.

”Ini termasuk usaha memperlekeh dan meremehkan hadis Nabi Muhammad SAW yang merupakan hukum syariah kedua tertinggi selepas al-Quran,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat Majlis Tertinggi UMNO di sini hari ini.

Dalam pada itu, Najib memberitahu bahawa lima ahli UMNO dikenakan hukuman dipecat keahlian kerana mensabotaj parti semasa Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 lalu. – UTUSAN ONLINE

Artikel Penuh: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Dalam_Negeri/20140221/dn_28/Ideologi-bertentangan-Ahli-Sunnah-Wal-Jamaah-perlu-ditolak—PM#ixzz2u4fJ32T4 © Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd

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Tatkala orang Melayu-Islam menghadapi cabaran oleh anasir anasir Bukan Islam yang menjadi ancaman langsung kesucian Islam sebagai ugama Persekutuan dan setimen orang Melayu-Islam dengan secara intensif. Ianya kukuh seperti kes kes tuntutan gereja Roman Katholik untuk menggunakan kalimah “Allah” dalam penerbitan termasuk injil berbahasa Melayu dan memurtadkan orang Melayu belum lagi reda, kini golongan Anti Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah ini pula mengambil kesempatan dalam kekeliruan semasa untuk menengahkan agenda sesat mereka.

Ucapan Kassim ini membuktikan bahawa golongan anti Hadis ini mempunyai agenda politik dan secara strategiknya akan menerapkan ideologi mereka melalui saluran politik agar ianya terlaksana. Ianya sama seperti Al Arqam 20 tahun lampau.

Kassim Ahmad bersama mereka yang aktif dalam pencernaan minda golongan anti Hadis ini

Kassim Ahmad bersama mereka yang aktif dalam pencernaan minda golongan anti Hadis ini

Setelah siasatan JAKIM lengkap, maka pihak berkuasa untuk mentadbir, melaksana dan penguasa undang undang jenayah Islam terutama hal hal berkenaan aqidah, maka penganjur program, Kassim dan mereka yang terus menyokong pendapat tergelincir aqidah ini wajar didakwa dalam Mahkamah Syariah.

Pihak Peguam Negara juga wajar menyiasat perkara dibawah Akta Hasutan kerana ianya boleh mengakibatkan orang ramai marah keatas UMNO, yang menjadi tunggak pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan dan majoriti Kerajaan Negeri semenjak Kemerdekaan.

Published in: on February 22, 2014 at 23:55  Comments (21)  

Backhand slap on shameless super-dramatic salesman

Malaysia Airports strikes back at AirAsia Supremo Tony Fernandes for his outrageous twitter messages taking potshots against GLCs Malaysia Airlines and Malaysia Airports, with manipulated market-talk, gross misinformation and distortion of stories.

The Star:

Published: Friday February 21, 2014 MYT 4:47:00 PM
Updated: Friday February 21, 2014 MYT 5:31:24 PM

MAHB: AirAsia received most incentives over 10 yrs (Update)

BY JOSEPH CHIN

Responding to comments by AirAsia boss Tan Sri Tony Fernandes that Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) had to start churning profits to avoid burdening taxpayers, MAHB says it has remained profitable over the last 15 years, and points out that AirAsia itself has been a beneficiary of its strong financial performance.Responding to comments by AirAsia boss Tan Sri Tony Fernandes that Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) had to start churning profits to avoid burdening taxpayers, MAHB says it has remained profitable over the last 15 years, and points out that AirAsia itself has been a beneficiary of its strong financial performance.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), responding to comments by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes that MAS and MAHB were burdening taxpayers, said AirAsia Bhd had received the most incentives over the last 10 years, pointing out that MAHB had even introduced an incentive programme to support the low-cost carrier’s growth.

In a statement issued on Friday to clarify comments made by the AirAsia boss, it said since 2002, AirAsia has been a beneficiary of MAHB’s strong financial performance.

“It (AirAsia) has received the most incentives over the last 10 years from MAHB despite it not being the airline that contributed the highest number of passengers or revenue.

“MAHB had specifically introduced an incentive programme to support the growth of AirAsia at its infancy stage. This had facilitated AirAsia’s growth to become the successful airline that it is today,” it said.

Below is the statement issued by MAHB:

MAHB clarifies on Tony Fernandes‘s statement

SEPANG: We refer to the following statements made by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, CEO of Air Asia Group, reported in Malaysian Insider and Malaysia Kini on 19 February 2014, as well as in other media:-

1. “…… Fernandes said that MAS and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB)have to start churning profits to avoid burdening taxpayers.”

2. “Fernandes, meanwhile, criticised MAS and MAHB’s continued spending and losses.”

3. “It’s supposed to be profit-making. This just hurts decent players in the business when they’re spending like there’s no tomorrow,” said Fernandes. ”

This has resulted in several enquiries being directed to MAHB especially by the shareholders. While it is not MAHB’s policy to comment on statements made by our partners but in this case we had been advised that as a public listed company, we need to correct the information related to MAHB.

MAHB wishes to clarify that since it was incorporated 22 years ago, its financial performance has been showing consistent profits yearly.

Over the last 15 years since being public listed, MAHB has continually paid the concession fees and taxes to the government, issued dividends to shareholders, paid incentives to airlines, and remained profitable.

Since 2002, AirAsia has been a beneficiary of MAHB’s strong financial performance as it has received the most incentives over the last 10 years from MAHB, despite it not being the airline that contributed the highest number of passengers or revenue.

MAHB had specifically introduced an incentive programme to support the growth of AirAsia, at its infancy stage. This had facilitated AirAsia’s growth to become the successful airline that it is today.

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The statement by Malaysia Airports against Tony Fernandes is the most stiff, considering that he has been pasinting the picture the GLC as an ‘Evil corporate body, out to make profit from the misery of common passengers’. He even attempted to get AirAsia passengers to ‘revolt’ against Malaysia Airports, in the ‘Airport Spring’ attempt.

 Fernandes used the opportunity of these really low-blow cheap shots based on skewed stories when Malaysia Airlines announced the YE 2013 unaudited financial results three days ago. A RM1.17 billion loss was recorded for the year.

‘Airport Spring’: Fernandes’s morbid attempt for passengers ‘uprising’ against MAHB, December 2011

What the founder of the low class carrier purposely did not state is that the bulk  Malaysia Airlines’s loss is attributable to non cash big ticket items such as depreciation and forex. He also would never admit that Malaysia Airlines have better standing in the terms of net assets, cash position and borrowings over shareholders’ equity compared to his own low class carrier group.

Malaysian public must be reminded that Fernandes’s past twelve years in low class carrier business had been on series of drama, deception, failed deals and summonses by civil aviation and regulatory authorities which include Malaysia, Australia and the Philippines.

His gross over salesmanship and corporate drama which never materialised include the acquisition of Batavia Air, the failed AirAsia Japan JV with All Nippon Airways and the more recent controversies of AirAsia India. That is not withstanding the drama of “Moving operations to Jakarta”.

Bloomberg story two years ago:

AirAsia’s Fernandes to Move to Jakarta as Airline Expands

By Chong Pooi Koon and Andrea Rothman  May 25, 2012 6:45 PM GMT+0800

AirAsia (AIRA) Bhd. Chief Executive Officer Tony Fernandes, one of Malaysia’s most successful businessmen, said he’s moving to live in Jakarta to help accelerate the regional expansion of Asia’s biggest budget carrier.

Fernandes has steered AirAsia’s growth from a two-plane operation to 110 aircraft in just over a decade, overtaking Malaysian Airline Systems Bhd. (MAS) as the country’s largest carrier by market value. He’ll move to live in the Indonesian capital in about two weeks where the group is setting up a regional office, while keeping Malaysia as its headquarters.

“Part of AirAsia’s success might require him to move away from the epicenter in Malaysia so that he can see the woods instead of the tree,” said Gerald Ambrose, who oversees 5.4 billion ringgit ($1.7 billion) in assets as managing director of Aberdeen Asset Management Sdn. in Kuala Lumpur.

The carrier has grown from its Malaysian roots to establish budget spin-offs in countries includingIndonesia, Thailand and most recently the Philippines and Japan. Fernandes wants to form similar airline partnerships in South Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East.

“I get over-involved in the Malaysian operation,” Fernandes told reporters in Toulouse, southern France, where he was taking delivery of the airline’s 100th Airbus SAS A320 plane. “I should also be looking at Japan, Indonesia.”

About 20 AirAsia head office staff are moving to join him and help with regional strategy, Fernandes said.

More Planes

The group placed an order last year for 200 advanced A320neo planes to facilitate route expansion. It’s considering additional orders for Airbus single-aisle jets, he said.

AirAsia rose 4.1 percent to close at 3.60 ringgit in Kuala Lumpur today after news of its potential fleet expansion. The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index gained 0.2 percent.

The parent of AirAsia’s Thai unit is slated to list shares in Bangkok this month. The airline’s Indonesian venture is also planning an initial public offering this year, it said last year.

Fernandes’s decision to move comes as AirAsia and Malaysian Air’s biggest shareholders this month unwound a share swap following protests by the national carrier’s biggest union.

He has had a “rough ride here in the past three months in the uncertainty with Malaysian Air,” Ambrose said. “He might think he wants to stand back and focus on the business.”

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Fernandes should be reprimanded for all these. It is morally and probably legally wrong that Malaysians be hoodwinked by this shameless man, over and over again. The dishonour is overbearing.

The Sun story:

Tony Fernandes named Malaysia’s Best CEO

Posted on 5 April 2012 – 09:50pm

PETALING JAYA (April 5, 2012): AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes recently bagged the Best CEO for Malaysia award at the Second Asian Excellence Recognition Awards ceremony organised by Corporate Governance Asia in Hong Kong.

“The award recognises his achievement in being a revolutionary force in the aviation industry. He is often acknowledged for his influential actions for directly shaping the way the aviation industry has evolved,” said AirAsia in a statement yesterday.

Besides Fernandes’ personal award, budget-carrier AirAsia also bagged an award at the event for Best Investor Relations Company for Malaysia while its investor relations manager Benyamin Ismail was named the Best Investor Relations Officer for Malaysia.

“It’s truly an honour for us to be recognised, for two consecutive years, as Malaysia’s finest at the awards. 2012 is indeed a great year for us, with multiple awards in the bag and most significantly, the launch of AirAsia Philippines’ maiden flights recently to Davao and Kalibo,” said Fernandes in the statement.

“We are also looking forward to the launch of our AirAsia Japan operations, which will be our first step into the lucrative North Asia market, in line with our vision to expand throughout Asia.”

The Asian Excellence Recognition Awards recognises excellence in investor communications, business ethics, corporate social responsibility, environmental practices and financial performances.

Recognitions are awarded based on interviews conducted with investors.

The recognition award is part of Corporate Governance Asia’s mission to enhance corporate governance practices throughout Asia.

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A Malaysian CEO who is supposed to be a world class innovator and industry leader should not be of and by someone whose business strategy is to trot on other businesses based on manipulated information and context, skewed perspective and worse of all, perpetuating a lie.

The recklessness is also unbearable. Not too long ago, DCA did not renew AirAsia’s Airline Operating Certificate (AOC) believed to be failure to update and comply of flight operations manual.

Malaysia Airlines should stand up against Fernandes too. After all, it is only fair after the national carrier was slapped with a RM10 million by MyCC for Fernandes’s failed attempt to cannibalise the GLC into oblivion.

Published in: on February 21, 2014 at 23:59  Comments (14)  

Kajang is the beginning of making Malaysia a republic

ADUN DAP blatantly stood on the bench and was yelling  despite HRH Regent of PerakDYTM Pemangku Raja Perak was still present in the DUN Perak chambers

DAP ADUN  for Kepayang Loke Chee Yan blatantly stood on the bench and was yelling despite HRH Regent of Perak DYTM Pemangku Raja Perak was still present in the DUN Perak chambers, 7 May 2009

The N25 DUN Kajang by-election next month is not about PKR politicians abusing the process of democracy for internal politics per se. It is about Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim embarking on the roll out of the strategy to diminish of the power base with the Malay majority, by making Malaysia into a republic.

Demanding the Istana Bukit Kayangan to accept him as the Menteri Besar of Selangor if and when the Permatang Pauh MP wins the by-election of 23 March is not the destination of this sinister political strategy. It is just a process.

Just like the failed ‘Black 505’ series of rally between May and June, was to realise the “Malaysian Spring” which the Opposition Leaders envisaged as their ticket to topple the Barisan Nasional led Federal Government.

Anwar would start another ‘revolution’ that eventually would topple the Constitutional Monarchy system and a republic installed instead. It is the perfect democracy, just what his Neo Con Jewish minders would want from their New World Order.

It is so unfathomable for HRH Sultan of Selangor to accept Anwar as the MB of Selangor, if and when Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim could be pushed aside even by a vote of no confidence by Pakatan Rakyat. This is because Anwar is Penang born, compared to Khalid who is Selangor born.

What happens when HRH Sultan Selangor refuse to accept Anwar as the Menteri Besar of Selangor?

DAP, PKR and PAS jointly and severally would put so mush pressure by the series of the mobstreet demonstration held, very frequent to protest against the Istana’s refusal to adhere to the “Wish of the rakyat”. They would conveniently blame UMNO and other right wing Malay NGOs as the scapegoat which ‘poisoned’ the decision of “Not to accept the wish of the rakyat”.

That would instigate more hatred towards UMNO and right wing Malay NGOs. It is unequivocally part of the ‘Politics of Hatred’ strategy, which is the minority’s only hope of over-powering against the will of the majority.

After all, Opposition Leaders have proven their blatant disregard for the position and role of HRH Rulers, especially HRH Sultan Selangor, as the Constitutional Head of Islam.

Published in: on February 20, 2014 at 23:55  Comments (9)  

‘Cheating’ passengers and Government should be more shocking

FAX: Sabahans and Sarawakians short changed

AirAsia Supremo took a really low-blow pot shots against Malaysia Airlines, for the unaudited result of the Q4 of 2013 and the aggregated summary of accounts for the national carrier for YE 2013.

Tony Fernandes expresses shock over MAS’s losses, says aviation industry needs a review

BY TRINNA LEONG
FEBRUARY 19, 2014

Putrajaya needs to review aviation policies as it can’t afford to spend taxpayers’ money on loss-making Malaysia Airlines (MAS) which bled RM1.2 billion last financial year, said Tan Sri Tony Fernandes (pic).

The founder of AirAsia added that he was “shocked” at the amount of losses suffered by MAS.

“The whole aviation industry needs a relook,” he told The Malaysian Insider by phone today.

Saying that the industry’s policies and airline management need to shape up, Fernandes said that MAS and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) have to start churning profits to avoid burdening taxpayers.

“My point is that if you’re running a private company, could you afford to cut 16% of your costs and still lose RM1 billion?” he asked.

“It’s only because there’s taxpayers’ money that one can afford to do that. And this isn’t solving the issue,” he added.

Yesterday, MAS had reported its fourth straight quarterly loss for 2013 and chalked up RM1.17 billion in losses for the year – three times as much as in 2012.

The state-owned carrier has been implementing cost-cutting measures to cut its expenses such as axing several routes and introducing lower ticket fares to increase its load.

However, the airline is also awaiting government approval to purchase 100 Airbus and Boeing passenger aircraft that would amount to several billion ringgit.

A Reuters report said that the airline’s decision to spend on newer aircraft is to boost profitability and retire its older, less fuel-efficient aircraft.

Fernandes, meanwhile, criticised MAS and MAHB’s continued spending and losses.

“It’s supposed to be profit-making. This just hurts decent players in the business when they’re spending like there’s no tomorrow,” said Fernandes.

According to MAS’s website, the carrier has 88 aircraft in its fleet, including Airbus A330s and A380s, and Boeing 777-200s and 737s.

The airline’s expenditure also went up by 10% last year to RM14.9 billion year-on-year due to high fuel prices.

MAS posted its highest ever loss in history when it recorded RM2.52 billion nett loss in 2011. The company , however, managed to narrow its losses to RM433 million in 2012. – February 19, 2014

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The fact is that, Fernandes is totally unfair in his biased simplistic remark about Malaysia Airlines’ 2013 performance. Had he professionally analysed the figures in the proper perspective, it would give a totally different impression.

When Ahmad Jauhari Yahya took over as CEO and he was relieved from answering to the ‘Executive Committee’ which include Fernandes and his partner Kamaruddin Meranun, the strategy was improving on revenue and lowering cost. Since that is not much room for cost to be lowered mainly due legacy issues, AJ’s leadership managed to improve on revenue.

AJ and some of the proud employees

AJ and some of the proud employees

After two years, the results have shown. Revenue increased by 9.4% where as EBITDA improved by 36%. Another interesting point is that RM817 million from the RM 1.17 billion losses actually derived from non cash expenditure, in the form of depreciation. Forex losses (due to weakening of Ringgit) of RM194 million, is the other big ticket item.

The actual performance is actually impressive. Malaysia Airlines flew 6.42 million passengers on domestic routes and 10.785 million on international routes. Passenger per km of domestic and international routes improved to 77% and 81% respectively. Actually revenue passengers kilometres is at 47,286 million.

Game changer: Malaysia Airlines first A380-800 getting the traditional welcome at  KLIA, as it arrives from Airbus Centre 29 June 2012

Game changer: Malaysia Airlines first A380-800 getting the traditional welcome at KLIA, as it arrives from Airbus Centre 29 June 2012

Cargo business also improved. Malaysia Airlines flew load tonnage kilometres of 1,991.4 million for 2013.

The coffer is healthy. For the 12 months ended 31 December 2013, the Group’s cash balance stood at RM3.87 billion. Total assets were at RM21.86 billion, whilst net gearing remained at 1.9 times at the end of December 2013

The historical value of assets warrants the provisions made for depreciation. The net value of assets stands at RM14.4 billion. Borrowings  stands at RM10.36 billion.

Malaysia Airlines workhorse: B737-800

These are hardly key performance indicators that Fernandes’s low caste carrier could ever dream of, let alone match. The value of total assets and cash position is much lower. Even the published statistics are not as per international practice to measure any carrier operations, which is in passenger kilometres (or miles).

Aggregated net asset of Fernandes’s low caste carriers stand at RM4.8 billion. Cash position is RM2.2 billion. Borrowings is calculated at RM8.3 billion. That is only 19.9% lesser than Malaysia Airlines’ borrowings, compared to the value of net asset where the national carrier is 300% more.

Low Caste Carrier hazzard: Air Asia mishap in Kuching, 2011

Low Caste Carrier hazzard: Air Asia mishap in Kuching, 2011

The fact is that Fernandes as CEO and controlling director of the AirAsia Group should be investigated for all of the deception, false-sales-hood and hyped up business deals, on top all the cock ups and regulations crossed by any of the subsidiaries and reprimanded for. That would be morally sinful.

What was the damnest was when Fernandes took over the Rural Air Service from Malaysia Airlines in 2006, which was part of ‘Level Four Boys’ designed program endorsed by PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah Ahmad Badawi under the Airline Rationalisation Plan, he did not deliver. In fact the RM250 million subsidy was short of ’embezzled’ (abused and channeled for other purposes) except to serve the consumers of the interior of Sabah and Sarawak.

Wheelers and OKU protesting against AirAsia

Even Wheelers and OKU protesting against AirAsia, for discriminating them

Fernandes should have been made to pay for the RM10 million fine imposed by MyCC failed and reversed ‘Share Swap’ between Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia, since he was instrumental in the systemic attempt to ‘devour and kill’ Malaysia Airlines which was inked in August 2011.

Part of the legacy issues of Malaysia Airlines are due to decisions made by the Federal Government. When Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yackop endorsed the Wide Asset Unbundling (WAU) where assets where stripped and hived off as the solution, it basically subjected the national carrier to be serving the lessors (which factored profit) instead of financiers (which was just serving borrowings plus interests).

Malaysia Airlines Southern Support Zone Complex, KLIA

A good example is Malaysia Airlines is believed to pay RM75 million in rental for facilities such as the Southern Support Zone Complex and Flight Management Building at the Main Terminal Building, KLIA. Malaysia Airports build its HQ for RM200 million. It means that perpetually, Malaysia Airlines would should actually get a similar HQ complex for every three years of rental they are subjected to pay.

It is obvious that Fernandes never once blamed MD of Khazanah Holdings Bhd. Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar and then his Binafikit partner Mohamed Rashdan “Danny “Yusoff for the problems of Malaysia Airlines today derived from the WAU solution slightly over ten years ago.

A bleak nine months in Malaysia Airlines' 65 years history

A bleak nine months in Malaysia Airlines’ 65 years history

The public must realise continuous perils Fernandes had caused, which include Federal Government investment arm Khazanah Nasional Bhd. Any drama by him is actually to deflect something amiss about what he did or about to do.

The recklessness is also unbearable. The greed to make money should not be compromised with safety. Not too long ago, DCA did not renew AirAsia’s Airline Operating Certificate (AOC) believed to be failure to update and comply of flight operations manual.

Fernandes realise that when Malaysia Airlines is back on its feet as the national carrier’s operations grow bigger, more revenue is earned and the fleet are expanded and regenerated, it would reflect worse against his over-sellling-coupled-with-below-standard deteriorating service. Hence, his ‘attack is the best defense’ strategy, like expected.

Published in: on February 19, 2014 at 23:30  Comments (25)