1 Selangor : PR under the spotlight...

If the scale is tipping against BN's favour with the numerous exposures on mismanagements involving millions and billions of ringgit in projects such as that of Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ), elevated highway MRR2, stadium Sultan Mizan, things are not much brighter for Pakatan Rakyat too.

In Selangor, there are allegations that the present state government is dispensing the waste management contracts on a 40-30-30 ratio of PKR-DAP-PAS. The allegation first surfaced out when Petaling Jaya councillor highlights the dubious dealings involving Alam Flora and the state government. The councillor streamlined the claim when he said that 70 % of Alam Flora contracts are handled by contractors picked by the state government.

Responding to the allegation, MB Khalid Ibrahim said an audit committee will be set up to ensure that alam flora's contracts are awarded to "genuine operators".

So what does this allegation revealed? Simply put, the allegation shows that the rakyat is still being played out by the politicians. And this time by Pakatan Rakyat coalition of PKR, DAP and PAS. Whether the allegation is true or not is immaterial. The allegation is made by Pakatan Rakyat's appointed councillor. In fact he is a registered member of one of the Pakatan's parties. If this allegation is made by state opposition, then we can rubbish it down, as they can be made with bad intentions.

The question now is why the need for the formation of audit committee? Are we creating a watchdog to look after another watchdog? Is Khalid acknowledging that there is some dubious dealings going on in Alam Flora? If Pakatan Rakyat is practising dubious dealings, then who can the rakyat turn too? If the allegations are true, then the rakyats are sandwiched between hungry wolves and crocodiles. What makes it worse is Pakatan Rakyat swept into power because they promised clean, fair and transparent government. Maybe they are sticking to their slogans but apparently there are those in Pakatan Rakyat who relies on legally correct manouvres without giving a hoot on moral rights. If this is true, then there is no difference between Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional. Both with bad apples in their bushels. It is a matter of which bushels has more bad apples.

Another question is, if this can happen in Selangor, what guarantees do we as the rakyat has that the same is not happening in Kedah, Penang, Perak, Kelantan? Pakatan Rakyat has more than enough ample time to address issues. It has been more than 1 year since March 2008. This is time for delivery and Pakatan Rakyat better start delivering now. Pakatan Rakyat has no more excuses. Before, Pakatan Rakyat claimes that they are not in power to govern the states so they could not do much and promise heaven and earth. Now that Pakatan Rakyat is in power in those 5 states, they have no more excuses.

If Pakatan Rakyat can generate into dubious dealings barely a year after gaining control of Selangor, imagine what they will do if they are given the chance to govern the state for the next 50 years. I shudder at the thoughts...

However, we still need more courageous souls as that of the councillors to come forward and expose Pakatan's misdeeds. It is not because we hate Pakatan but because we care for the rakyat. We have placed our trust to Pakatan to run the state and Pakatan must return out trust with good governance, not by talks only but by actions and deeds.

Anwar may be still smiling as he managed to bag prize catch Zaid Ibrahim, but smiles alone will not last long and will not go far. Anwar must steer Pakatan to deliver, deliver and deliver...Can he do that or will he be court tied in fighting his sodomy trial which is coming up for hearing in July 2009.

Pakatan may still be governing Selangor but the excess baggage has started to pile up. Pakatan Rakyat needs to dispense and rid the baggage now...Can they? would they?

Till then...G'nite M'sia...wherever u are... Read More

1T : UMNO is bickering, MACC acts...

Terengganu is back in the news. Still construction related but not the infamous roof collapse of Sultan Mizan stadium. So which one now? That of MRR2 highway...that of hairline cracks detected on several supporting tiers of the elevated highway.

1.7 km of the elevated highway was first closed in 2004 and after repairing 31 out of 33 affected tiers in 2006, the section was opened to public before one of the ramps was closed down in Aug 2008 when some panels fell down from one of the pillars.

STAR, in their news datelined 11th June 2009 reported that Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested 3 directors of a company involved in the project on 5th June 2009. To date, the directors have not been charged in court. UMNO secretary has indicated that due actions will be taken on the 2 of the directors who happened to be UMNO members after they were formally charged in court.

So, the next question is who are the 2 UMNO members who are the directors of the company? Buletin online speculated that the 2 directors are Datuks from Terengganu. You see, the portion of the MRR2 highway with the hairline cracks were constructed by Bumi Hiway-SUKMIM Sdn Bhd-Konsortium Kontraktor Melayu Sdn Bhd (KKM). KKM is a subsidiary of Persatuan Kontraktor Melayu Malaysia (PKMM). Datuk Roslan Awang Chik is PKMM's Chairman during the project and is te current Chairman whilst Datuk Rosli was PKMM's secretary. Both are from Terengganu.

The trail did not stop there. Datuk Roslan Awang Chik is the currect Terengganu UMNO treasurer whilst Datuk Rosli is the currect secretary of UMNO Terengganu. So what will happen now? Is there any connection between MACC's action with Terengganu politics? If there is no connection, why is MACC going to haul up three former Terengganu EXCO members?

These questions need answers now :-

1. Why is MACC taking action now on PKMM's Chairman and Treasury? It has been 5 years since the MRR2 hairline cracks, why is action taken after 5 years ?
2. Why is MACC acting on PKMM only? What about other consortium members ie Bumi Hiway and Sukmim Sdn Bhd? Is MACC saying that the 2 companies are innocent and corruption free?
3. Why choose Datuk Roslan Awang Chik and Datuk Rosli? Is it anything to do with the recent Terengganu UMNO politics? Are the victims of circumstances?
4. If MACC has enough evidence, why are they not charge in court (yet)?
5. Why is MACC hauling up the 3 former EXCO members of Terengganu? Is it because they are in gang of 10 who wanted to oust Ahmad Said?
6. Why MACC did not wait for the committe findings? On what grounds are MACC investigating
7. Is this part of secret deal between Ahmad Said and gang of 10? Wjat is the action of Hishamuddein Hussein? Is he not the Terengganu UMNO chief?
8. Are Datuk Ruslan and Datuk Mustapha not in Najib's good books? Is MACC's action sanctioned by Najib?
   
9. How much money is involved?
10. Will Hishamuddein reshuffle Terengganu UMNO due to this development? Who will be dropped? Who will be promoted?
    

This may be selective prosecution by MACC and sanctioned by the corridors of power from Putrajaya. This may also reflect the changing equation in Putrajaya. Is Terengganu UMNO pulled by strings from Putrajaya puppetmasters? And if it is, who is the puppetmaster? Will it be Hishamuddein? Which faction will govern Terengganu? Idris's gang of 10 or Ahmad's musketeers?

UMNO is bickering in Terengganu and yet the battlefront is in Selangor. If UMNO Terengganu is bad, what about PR's Selangor? That, my friends, will be discussed in other postings...

Till then...G'nite M'sia...wherever u are... Read More

Of MT and the videos : Rosmah Mansor...what else?

1M PM6's tenure at the top is fast approaching 100 days. By right, most things should be in place by now. However 1 thing that seems to be out of place is still there, dangling precariously, will it fall and stab Najib or will it be there like the swinging axe of old? I am not talking about Najib personally here, it is about his other half, Rosmah Mansor, his wife.

They say that behind every successful man is a woman. Does Najib falls into that category? Some say that Najib have several women, behind and below him. We leave him at that. Since this posting is about Rosmah, let's start with her, shall we?

Malaysia today, the only blog consistently mentioning Rosmah Mansor through and through, in their latest postings about Rosmah mentioned of 2 not 1 videos on youtubes, courtesy of C4 production. After going through the videos, these are my views :-

1. The video is done in poor taste. Nothing spectacularly new is revealed except to reinforce the statements that Rosmah is a snob. Yes, she has not returned to her kampung halaman since + 20 years ago;
2. Rosmah disown her own daughter from her previous marriages (with some saying that she was twice married before hooking on Najib);
3. Rosmah bullied her own younger brother (who had previously workerd in Land Rovers);
4. Rosmah is claimed to use gangsters to follow her brother;
5. Rosmah used gangsters to disrupt her disowned daughter's wedding;
6. Rosmah is a "black magic woman", relying on black magic to charm Najib,
7. Rosmah used her husband's position and influence to get things done;
8. Rosmah's brother had left the country for his safety.

As I said earlier that Najib's tenure as PM is fast approaching the 100 day mark. It means that Rosmah's tenure as PM's official wife is also fast approaching 100 day. So far Rosmah has not reponded to the video claim. She may feel that it is too small for her to react and that is wrong. Rosmah is a public personality now and she has to face the accusation. Is she what the video make her to be? Did she really disown her own daughter? A man may disown his own children because he may suspect them as not his own and may ask for DNA testing. A woman? No way, because she carried the child for 9 months and deliver the child. Rosmah has to come out and clear her name or is she accepting the statement that she disown her own daughter?

If she disown her own daughter, is this the Rosmah that we want to be standing beside Najib? If she can disown her own daughter, then can she represent Malaysian mothers who are known to be loving to their children? Can she represent the millions of mothers who take care of their children? Can she speak on behalf of these million over mothers? Do she has that right and priviledge to represent these women? I think not! If she did then it is the biggest mockery to the motherhood institution...

Malaysians are sentimental lots. We returned to our hometowns and birthpalces during Rayas', Chinese New Years, Thaipusms, school holidays and what nots to meet our larger families. Rosmah? If she had not returned to her hometown for the past 20 years, what is trying to prove? That she is independent? That she is a family outcast? That she is better than the rest of her family? Or is there something, a dark secret, that she is afraid of? It is her right to go wherever she wants. It is her rights too not to go anywhere she wants because this is a free country. But, in malay folklore, even Si Tanggang return to his roots. Is Rosmah worse than Si Tanggang? Is Rosmah facing amnesia problem? Has she severed her roots?

To be fair to Rosmah, it is difficult to correlate the gangster stories. For all you know, they might be there for different reasons. We are not here to speculate on the gangsters' role in Malaysian society because gangsters are multi tasked organisation. They can be peacemakers, intimidators, protectors, destroyers, friends, foes all rolled in one. And for that reason, we leave the gangsters out of this posting.

What about her brother? Or rather her only sibling? Why do she has to intimidate her own brother? What has her brother did to her? Has her brother associate himself to the powers and influence wielded by his in-law? Rosmah, if she did that to her brother ia one unlucky soul. Someone who is not grateful for what God as given her. Who is the first person that you turn to when you are in trouble? Who do we look for when , if and only if, we need kidney, spleen or anyone of those body organs donation that are only matching to our own siblings or children? All the money in the worls, the fame of husbands, the beauty of wives could not but the sacrifice of those organ donours. Maybe Rosmah did not need one now, what about the future? If Rosmah can do that to her own sibling who grew up together, then imagine what she can do to others.

Black magic? Tell me, who do not believe in the shamans? We are a society which, like it or not, are deeply entrenched and enchanted by the mystics. Malays, Indians and Chinese have their own shamans and their own approachto these mystics. Even in faraway land, Malaysians still believe in this phenomenom. But what about Rosmah? Did she use the shamans to cast away bad lucks? Did she use them to protect her family from jinns? Did she use shamans for her own gains? Rumours has it that she use an India-imported shaman to perform regular rites in her home. Surprised? Nahh...it has been known that politicians go to shamans for various reasons. One of the shaman, Mona Fandey, went to the extent of dismembering an unsuspected politician into 18 pieces. Rosmah has lots of clarifications to do. Did she or did she not engage the shaman? And for what reason?

Rosmah needs to come out from Najib's shadow. She has to prove that the accusations in the video is wrong or done with malicous intents. As 1M PM6's official wife, she could no longer claim ignorance to the video's existence because if she does that then she is making a statement that our police force is an incompetent lot. She has to take the bull by it's horns. She has to dispel the rumours and the accusations. How can she do that? Well, for starters, she can...

1. She can make a trip to her hometown and meet with the accusers face to face;
2. She can arrange for a photography session with the "disowned" daughter;
3. She can start spinning stories on how close their relations are and confirmed by the daughter;
4. She can meet with her brother and declare openly of their relationship;
5. She can meet wih her forster family and introduce them to Malaysia

Will she do that? Can she do that? The ball i now in Rosmah's court and not Najib's. Rosmah has to start somewhere and after she deals with the video accusations, she can starts foccusing on answering to persistent rumours that she is behind the model's case. No, Not manohara...but the other oversea model...

Najib's 100 days in office is coming up, Rosmah need to keep up. Will she? Can she? Time will not stand still for Rosmah and this is the time for her to prove her worth to stand next to Najib. 2 time widower, present day PM's wife...that's Rosmah. Who can unseat her? Who will unseat her?

Till then...G'nite M'sia...wherever u are... Read More

SIS : the 1 eyed organisation...

PAS passed the resolution. SIS switch on SOS. Here comes the horde, lost and confuse. Will it be the one eyed SIS leading the blind?

1. During the recently concluded 55th PAS muktamar, PAS has called on the relevant bodies in the government to conduct study of SIS's activities.
2. Initially, this scribe wrote, Shahrizat comes running, Mahathir fends off whilst PKR shies away...and do you think it is finish? No, it is not! SIS sends out SOS and here comes the horde, lost and confuse. But since they are from the same herd, they start stampeding...
3. In the name of Malaysian civil society, they are signing a petition for joint statement. The contents of the joint statement is not important. It is open for interpretation. But what this scribe sees is the quality of people signing the petition. For this matter, this scribe is going to omit those non-Muslims who signed the petition as their religous code differs from Muslims.
4. Heading the list are 2 former PM's daugthers, Nori and Marina. And for good measure, the SIL, KJ also signed the petition. Zaid Ibrahim and Zainah Anwar, SIS founder also signed the petition.
5. What does this say about their knowledge in Islam? I will say zilch, zero. Malay word for it? Haprak!
6. This scribe is not surprise if Ali orAminah who are not community or political leaders sign the petition because of their ignorance but this scribe will not tolerate Muslim community and political leaders who are supposed to be role models are ignorant in this matter.
7. Let's forget Shahrizat, Mahathir and Mustaffa Kamil Ayub. They have got their dose before.
8. Let's go for Nori and Marina first. Being former first daughters, they have brought shame to their parents. Whilst one father promoted Islam Hadhari, the other has already insulted Muslim when his remark of "the prophet never use gillette" were uttered years back. Maybe, it is due to lack or religous guidance, maybe it is due to their "liberal" upbringing, but both disappointedly shame their parents by signing the petition. Why? Because they did not seem to understand what PAS resolution is about and thus blinded by their hatred towards PAS, signed the petition. Have they for once refer the matter to their Ustazs? I mean, really, I heard that these rich people from the glass castles pay for Ustazs and Ustazahs to come and conduct usrah in their homes. Do they attend proper religous classes? Or are they too "modern" to listen and obey the 1400 year old teachings of Islam?
   
9. Ah, then here comes KJ. SIL, first term parliamentarian, UMNO youth head, WJ Khairy's idol. When KJ choose to sign the petition, which part of him decides? As SIL or parliamentarian or UMNO youth head or WJ Khairy's idol? whichever role that he choose to sign the petition, he is still KJ, a Muslim by name and a pratitioner by faith. Has he read PAS resolution in full? Or is he relying on MSM? If his decision is based on his reliance to MSM reports, then obviously he has much to learn. He is putting his political future in line there. Mahathir has been hit hard with his "gillette" remarks, something that Mahathir never recovers. Is KJ following Mahthir's footsteps? If his decision is based on PAS resolution that he has in his hands, then he shall be telling where did PAS demanding the ban of SIS? This scribe has said it before and will say it again, PAS resolution is asking for National Fatwa Council to study SIS activities and banned the NGO if it is against the Islamic teachings. This scribe understands that KJ has his early education overseas and may have been deprived of sekolah agama and pendidikan agama. Maybe, the ever friendly WJ Khairy can give some good books and refer KJ to some reputable ulamas to brush up his understanding of Islam. If need be, KJ can learn from Nik Aziz and I am sure PAS has no problem to accomodate KJ's request.
10. Zaid Ibrahim, top notch lawyer, probable ombudsman to monitor PR's performance. He hailed from Kelantan, Mekah's verandah. He should be more careful in signing petitions and refrain from blindingly signing just because the petition is thrusted in his path. This scribe understands that it is hard to turn down legal colleague but Zaid should stand firm...in Islam, what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong! Zaid may has his own personal shortcomings but Zaid should not let his shortcomings be his license to create another shortcoming.
11. Zainah Anwar, the founder of SIS. Extraordinary woman who thinks that she can stand as tall as ulamas because she reads law and Quran tafsir. What she failed to realise is that reading the interpretation of the Quran does not make you an Islamic expert. There are those orientalist who can even recite Quran by heart, translate the meanings but were never a professed Muslim. This is where the danger lies. Can a layman claimed that he is a qualified lawyer just because he read the law books? I am sure Zainah will say no, and if that holds true what makes Zainah an Islamic expert just because she reads Quran translation, has some hadiths books and attend few "Islamic" conference and dialogues?
    
12. It is time for Zainah to reflect what she did. Sha head used the past 2 decades to mislead people on the teachings of Islam. Iam nit saying that what she did is wrong but what I am saying is that hat she did may not be following the proper Islamic guidelines. If she deviated from Sunal al Jamaah, then she should be indicating which mazhab she is following?
    
13. SIS must learn to understand that there is nothing wrong to call SOS. It is not wrong for the herd to turn up but to stampede? This is the case of a one eyed SIS leading the blind. Why 1 eyed? Because SIS seems to be a liberal organisation, and has eyes for the "universal concept of individual freedom" set by the international community. And that international community is not Islamic in nature. One question to SIS - can human minds match the Maker's? Are we, as puny humans, at par with the most Benevolent and most Merciful? If we as humans can't even be fair to ourselves, then what fairness do we have to translate Islam as what we deem fit? Are we, as humans, not the biggest losers because we fail to follow the Maker's way?
14. It is enough for SIS to be blinded but do not pass your ignorance to others. If SIS feels that they have been victimised, make an appointment with the National Fatwa Council to discuss. And if they know tat they are not the same standing as the National Fatwa Council, then make beeline to discuss with Muslimah PAS. Is that too hard for SIS? Or is SIS too big for muslimah PAS? Or is it SIS too selfish to check where they might go wrong? The answer to all this - is in your heart. If that piece of meat (heart) is good , then the whole body is good but if that piece of meat is bad, the whole body is bad, so sayeth prophet Muhammad pbuh...
    

Till then...G'nite M'sia...wherever u are... Read More

PAS : Resolution on SIS...anything wrong?

PAS approve the resolution in their 55th Muktamar. Khir agrees, SIS cries foul. Shahrizat comes running, Mahathir fends off, PKR shies away...

1. It started all over again during the recently concluded 55th PAS muktamar. At the end of the muktamar, the assembly passed a resolution calling for the ban of Sisters in Islam (SIS).
2. The reasons given for PAS resolution is for the National Fatwa council to conduct study on the "liberal" approach conducted by SIS which is seen to be confusing to the Islamic society and "may destroy the Islamic faith".
3. SIS came out firing painting PAS as retrogressive and anti-democratic. Shahrizat, the Women, Community and Development minister, came to the defense of SIS saying that PAS should learn to accept differing views.
   
4. PKR distanced itself by saying that different and dissenting views should be protected because it is an essence of democratic, fair and just societies.
   
5. Mahathir said that PAS is acting on a draconian manner by calling for the ban and defended SIS because he claimed that in most instances SIS cited the Quran and hadiths to support their views. Meanwhile Khir Toyo suggested SIS to drop the word "Islam" so that the organisation's comments or views would not raise concern among the Muslim community.
   
6. First and foremost, it must be pointed out that PAS's resolution is for the National Fatwa Council to conduct study on SIS's activities. It is by no way banning the NGO (yet).
   
7. So, the question is why are SIS, PKR, Shahrizat and Mahathir getting unnecesarrily agitated? It may be possible to understand that DAP, BAR council and even Teresa Kok may not fully understand the resolution because they are non-Muslims but when those who profess Muslims becoming agitated on the call to conduct study on SIS's activities, then these Muslims need to re-examine their statements before blurting out, exposing their ignorance to the gist of the resolution.
8. SIS get it all wrong when they issue a statement indicating PAS as retrogressive and anti-democratic. Sometimes, what you see is right may be wrong and what makes it more dangerous is when those who have not undergone islamic learnings take the liberty to cite the Quranic and hadiths meaning witout proper education in Arabic language, the language of the Quran.
9. There is a mark difference between knowledge and information. Knowledge is when you learn something from qualified teachers which in Islam will be the ulamas and the ustazs and practising it. Information on the other hand is reading from books without the guidance of qualified and well versed teachers. And this is most dangerous especially when it concerns religion, which in this case is Islam. Reading and interpreting Quran and hadiths based on our secular views may brings more harm than good. More so, when as unqualified persons, we tend to interpret based on our understanding which , at most, has no bearing with Islam.
10. When this happen, the liberal thoughts tend to cloud one's mind and because of our insistence that as lawyers, doctors, engineers, bankers, we are better than the ulamas'. However, will it be necessarily true? Can our Islamic knowledge be better than the ulamas? "Ulamas are the heritance of prophets", so says the hadith and since SIS cited Quran and hadiths in their arguments, wouldn't they be accepting that particular hadith as well? If that is true, then who are we compared to the ulamas? Isn't it better if we let the ulamas' to guide us in matters relating to Islam?
11. Shahrizat is known to be very protective of women and that is her duty as the minister in charge of women's affairs. But for Shahrizat to say that PAS should learn to accept different views is totally unacceptable. Shahrizat is from UMNO and BN. She should be better off sticking to her party then to tell others what to do. PAS has been accepting different views all this while. They have engaged in numerous debates, dialogues, muktamars, muhabalah and muzakarah with different parties and have respected others from differing views. So, Shahrizat's statement is actually is a non-issue with respect to PAS resolution.
12. PKR, through it's VP, should learn one thing. To have different and dissenting views in terms of daily and political aspects is one thing. To have dissenting views, with regards to Islamic teachings, is totally different matter. Isn't it written in the Quran that if two parties have different views then they should revert to Quran, Hadiths, Ijma' and Khilaf. Isn't it also clear to the particular PKR VP that any dissenting views towards Islam, especially if the views are against Quran, Hadiths, Ijma' and Khilaf, are taken seriously? And this VP says that dissenting views (with reference to Islam) is an essence of democratic, fair and just society? He must be joking and has clouded himself to such an extent that he failed to differentiate what is social platform and what is Islamic platform. May I suggest to PKR to send this particular VP to some sekolah pondok and brushed up his Islamic knowledge!
13. For Mahathir to say that PAS is acting in a draconian manner is pure hilarious. What is Mahathir's stand on ISA? Isn't that a draconian law? Why is he not commenting on ISA where there are ISA detainees who have been lock up for the past 10 years? And how can PAS be practising in draconian manner when their resolution is calling for National Fatwa Council to study on SIS activities? PAS is not banning SIS. PAS is only requesting National Fatwa Council, which is under the purview of PM's department which happens to be under BN-led government, to study SIS activities. What is wrong with that? If Mahathir don't like it and if BN don't like it, they can just insist National Fatwa Council to issue an edict to say that SIS activities conform to Islamic teachings. Is that so hard? Or is BN afraid because they know that SIS activities contravene Islamic teachings?
14. It is understandable if our non-Muslim brothers did not understand the resolution. It is excusable because they do not profess Islam as their religion as Muslims do not interfere with other religions.
15. At least in this issue, Khir Toyo came out with a good suggestion. SIS to drop the word "Islam" so that their views may not be misconstrued as those of Muslims. What is so difficult in dropping the word? Drop the word and you can comment on whatever things you want until cows come home. Nobody will care...at least not this scribe.
16. This scribe did not see any confrontation in PAS's resolution. It is just a call for National Fatwa Council o conduct study and if SIS activities are wrong, banned the NGO. What's wrong with that? At least PAS are entitled to their opinion, don't they?
    
17. That said, it is with clear conscious that this scribe hope SIS, Shahrizat, PKR VP, Mahathir to istiqhfar. Who are we to be most knowledgeable or most perfect? We are humans and as humans we err...
    

Till then...G'nite M'sia...wherever u are... Read More

1Black Tees, 1 Black coffee and ...1 Black heart?

Serve better? Is it halal?

Theme : 1BT 1BC
Venue : Old Town White Coffee
Me : I am not attending...why?

1. Malaysiakini posted on 8th June 2009 about the 1BlackMalaysia campaign on kopi 'O' session at various Old Town White Coffee outlets this 11th june 2009.
2. The coalition for free and fair elections (Bersih) urged all parties to respect the peoples' right to wear black and coffee 'O.
3. Actually, I have no problem with that. I have even posted on "what's wrong with black" before. Go ahead, buy all the stocks of black tees....
4. As for coffee? No problem with that either. And since kopitiams are sprouting with names like Pak Li's, Old Town White Coffee, Hai Peng, Uncle Lim etc, why is Old Town White Coffee becomes "the choice" venue? Is the organiser one of the owners? I have enjoyed coffee the old fashion way, sometimes dipping roti kaya into the cup and sometimes sipping coffee from the saucers.
5. So, if I have no problems with Black tees and Black coffees, then I should not have any problem with the occassion, right? Wrong! I have problems but let me put it at the later part of the posting...
6. I did not see any problem with the gathering. It is an open invitation to a public gathering. If the police did not barricade the area, these 1Black Tees 1Black coffee (1BT 1BC) will die a natural death. Give it 3 weeks the most. Why? Because the 1BT 1BC campaign has few venues and thus not concentrated to a focal point plus it is done on a Thursday, a working day. Further, I did not see the necessity to equate what happen to Perak as the death of democracy in Perak and Malaysia. In fact, I see what happen in Perak as the living proof that democracy is alive and abused in Malaysia.
7. Which leads me to ask this question, why do we need to mourn with 1BT 1BC? Shouldn't we be celebrating? Why celebrate? Because this is the opening for the rakyats. We have been patiently waiting for more than 50 years and finally BN has started to disintegrate. BN is imploding, BN is having mid-life crisis which should be capitalised by the rakyats. So, my question is, why mourn when we should be celebrating?
8. Which comes to 1Blackheart...and before I proceeds any further, let me declare that this is non-personal. As I have said earlier I have minor problems with the occassion. I have put it why mourn when we should be celebrating. And the second is why choose Old Town White Coffee? I have nothing personal against the franshise, in fact I am happy that they make it big. What ires me is, to my opinion, Old Town White Coffee is not sensitive to the Muslims.
   
9. The white coffee may have the "halal" certificate issued by the relevant authorities but what about the rest of the menus? There are some postings from various blogs who have openly question these "halalness" before and yet the management of Old Town White Coffee did not take any serious efforts to register their outlets as "halal" restaurants. It is their choice and they have all the rights to do that.
10. 1BT 1BC may be a good slogan but, as I say it, the venue is non-conducive for Muslims. It will not be surprising if there will be Muslims who drives up to saviour 1BT 1BC, and some may come from Bersih to support the occassion. Again, I will stress here that Old Town White Coffee is not sensitive to Muslims because some of the menus served are "non-halal". An example is Nissin noodle served in the outlets. It is non-halal. "Halal" coffee does not "halal-ise" non halal noodle. And what does that means? The outlets may be non-halal outlets!
11. With that said, are we progressing towards kicking out BN, when we have not learn to appreciate our Muslim brothers. If we are not sensitive to their needs now, what assurance do they have that we will be sensitive to their needs if and when BN is shown the exit in GE 13? 1BT 1BC is already a clear example. It demonstrate the insensitivity of some towards the rest of the community. And this happens when PR is running 5 states and denying BN the 2/3 majority. What happen if PR runs the country?
12. PAS may be worried with this trend. If they are not, I am. So, for those who are dead set in joining 1BT 1BC campaign this Thursday, go ahead. There is no stopping you. This scribe will not be there, not because I am against the 1BT 1BC campaign, but more concern on the "halal-ness" of the outlets.
13. This leads to the all important question - what assurance do we have that PR will respect others? If this simple issue is not properly addressed, then bigger issues will also be treated the same. And if that happens, what will stop the rural masses to return to BN's fold? At least BN have set up halal hubs to promote "halal" food. What has PR done?
14. One word to the organisers. When you organise campaigns in the future, please be more sensitive to the needs of others. Don't be blinded by hatred towards BN to such an extent that you forget to think on the sensitivity of others whose support is crucial.
15. I have said my part, now it's your turn...
    

Till then...G'nite M'sia...wherever u are... Read More

PAS : Which direction now...or to whose direction now?

1. The past week has been hectic for PAS. During their just concluded 55th Muktamar, PAS welcomed a new youth chief, stand by the incumbent Nasharuddin Mat Isa, voting in 2 new faces as Vice Presidents.
2. It is also noticeable that PAS in it's rebranding exercise has elected 11 reformers and 7 conservatives to the decision-making central committee.
3. In the nutshell, PAS sticks to its age old belief that the ulamas' should be holding the top 2 posts, running the day to day affairs, with Murshidul Am providing guidance to the central committee.PAS delegates had decided. Although many, including this scribe, see Husam Musa as one of the brightest star in PAS, Nasharuddin has better luck beating him for the deputy post. The same about Khalid Samad, the Shah Alam MP who failed to secure a seat in the central committee. He is another unnecessary casualty, as far as this scribe is concerned...
4. For both of them, all is not lost. PAS Central working committee will meet on 11th June to select 6 appointed positions. If PAS wants to remain polpular within the non-Muslim voters, they will appoint these 2. Why ?

• Husam Musa is knowledgeable and he is well prepared in his parliamentary debates especially during the "double tracking project" during Tun M's era;
• Husam Musa is closely associated with Jeff Ooi and other DAP leaders which will make it easier to have pro-active dialogues between the parties;
• Khalid Samad has won the hearts of non-Muslim with his friendly approach;
• Khalid Samad is a firebrand in parliament, an asset for PAS;

5. 55th Muktamar highlighted other things as well. It seems that PR's bonding is still fragile. Hadi Awang's unity talk with BN is not well received by DAP, at least. Hadi has earlier explained that PAS has briefed the issue with PKR and DAP. So, the question is, which DAP and PKR did PAS briefed on the unity talk? Why the confusion? And it should be added that LKY's PAP is going to have meetings with DAP in Malaysia this week. Is that meeting sanctioned by PAS? If DAP feels that it is not subjected to queries in the upcoming meeting with PAP, then why should PAP suspicious on unity talks between PAS and UMNO? And if the unity talk is about strengthening Islam, is it wrong?

6. PKR is not doing well with PAS, either. PKR has distanced itself from PAS's call to ban NGO Sister in Islam. Here, it seems that Wan Azizah's (read Anwar's) led PKR is playing politics with akidah. Is PKR willing to forego "akidah" for political gains? At least, PKR can be more accomodating to PAS if they were to sponsor dialogue/debate between PAS and Sisters in Islam. It is good to know where PAS comes from in arriving to resolution that Sister in Islam should be banned. And likewise, the public would like to knows Sister in Islam's stance in issues concerning "akidah".

7. UMNO, as usual, has pounced on this difference to drive a deeper wedge between PAS and DAP/PKR. Khairy Jamaluddin has openly suggested for the unity talk. Whilst the majority of PAS leaders are against the unity talk, the top 2 PAS men are open to that suggestions, before.

8. And that brings us to a million dollar question - whose music is PAS dancing to now? It has been widely circulated that Nasharuddin did not see any harm in engaging in talks and dialogues with BN. If Nasharuddin, as the deputy President, sees talks and dialogues as fruitful, then why is PAS pushing for ban on Sisters in Islam? Coudn't PAS engage Sisters in talks and dialogues first? Has SIS deviated from the Islamic teachings? If yes, at which point did they deviate? Maybe others may not be interested, but I am...so enlightened me on this issue.

9. PAS needs to clearly define its directions now. Which way will PAS go? PAS has come a long way. The delegates has selected a fair balance of professionals and ulamas. It is time for PAS to prove to all their slogan of "PAS for all" is not sales gimmick.

10. At the same time, PAS has to stand firm with their resolution. If PAS calls for unity talk, then spill out the Terms and Conditions. If PAS calls for Sisters' banning, PAS needs to list out the reasons.

11. PAS must learn and accept that Malaysia is a multi-racial country where the needs may not be confined to the select few. Sisters may be wrong, but PAS needs to highlight where they go wrong. PAS must also understand that the rakyat is currently rejecting BN. It is better for PAS to let BN to sort out their own problems. It is no point for PAS to play "doctor" to revive BN. BN needs its own will power to survive. If BN is strong willed, then BN can discuss openly on unity talk. For now, BN can't even practise "unity" in their practise, as proven in PPP, MCA and Gerakan. If BN can't "unite" under its own flags, how can BN talk about "unity" for Malaysians.

12. PAS is also at the crossroad. Will they offer Husam and Khalid Samad the CWC position? Or will PAS, like UMNO, follows the "winner takes all" concept? Hadi may be the President but can he convince his party members? The delegates has rejected "unity government", will Hadi and Nasharuddin listen? Will it be another "Nakhaie" for PAS?

13. Just a word of advise. The old man Nik Aziz is still there. PAS should well learn from his wisdom then to fall to the brashness of Hadi Awang. Nik Aziz knows UMNO trappings very well but Hadi may not learn from his "fall from grace" lessons when PAS lost Terengganu. Hadi is a fiqh man whilst Nik Aziz drew strength from usuluddin. That is where they differ, from the "hard" stand of fiqh to the "logical" stand of usuluddin. Nik Aziz has proved, time and time again, that his stands are right once the statements are fully understood.

14 PAS has survived 55 years. PAS is so close to Putrajaya. This is the last 10 meters in the 4 x 100 meter relay. PAS has the speed, it has the stamina to go for it...and winning the race, together with PR partners.


Till then...G'nite M'sia...wherever u are... Read More