Ex CID Chief: Evidence fabricated against Anwar Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 — A former senior police officer today claimed that Tan Sri Musa Hassan and Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail had fabricated evidence against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, leading to his sacking from government by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1998.

Former city criminal investigation chief Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim claimed in an open letter to the Inspector-General of Police today that Musa, who was then Bukit Aman’s assistant criminal investigation chief, had stolen Anwar’s DNA to ensure that the sacked deputy prime minister would be convicted of sodomy.

“I believe this happened because Tun was given information or a briefing that was manipulated and misleading,” said the policeman who led the 1998 probe into the black eye inflicted on Anwar by then police chief Tan Sri Rahim Noor.

Mat Zain based his claim on “documentary evidence and statements that I have and are within my knowledge” as well as Dr Mahathir’s memoirs that were released earlier this year.

The former prime minister had said that although he doubted claims that Anwar had committed sodomy, Rahim and Musa, who was the investigating officer, had told him that they had evidence and confessions from those involved.

But Mat Zain noted that according to testimony by Hospital Kuala Lumpur doctor Dr Zahari Noor, Musa, who later rose through the ranks to become Inspector-General of Police, had “stolen” Anwar’s blood samples on October 15, 1998.

“But at that point, Anwar was already charged in court and waiting for a hearing date. The process of gathering evidence should have been completed by then.

“Musa owes the public an explanation as to what he briefed Tun Mahathir on, to the point the former prime minister was convinced that Anwar was involved in adultery and homosexuality,” he wrote.

Mat Zain also pointed out that as current Attorney-General Abdul Gani was the prosecuting officer in the sodomy case, Musa’s actions “were under the orders and/or supervision of Gani Patail.”

He also accused Musa and Abdul Gani of fabricating the case for their joint benefit but insisted that Dr Mahathir himself was not involved as he had repeatedly told the police, including Mat Zain during his investigations into the black eye incident, that there should be no cover up.

The former police officer has repeatedly attacked Abdul Gani in recent months, calling on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to sack the A-G for failing to initiate charges in high-profile cases such as the death of DAP aide Teoh Beng Hock while being held by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

He has also called for a royal panel to investigate Abdul Gani’s role in destroying public confidence in the police.

(Source:  Shannon Teoh, Malaysian Insider)

The Omega and the Ring

Once there was a tale not so long ago of a ring, a most precious stone, of value out of all proportions, said to be gracing the finger of the land's foremost lady. A legendary ring whispered to have been bought from the West that would bind them all to bring disrepute to such a chic fashionable madam and slander the country's first family edging closer into political ruin. Being silent and keeping quiet about it did not help for the evil ones kept murmuring in the darkness of the web. Denying it only made the spiteful stories become more open spreading the telltale news throughout the lands. All of the ruler's media and all of the state's spin masters could not keep the saga of the ring away from the people's gossips and rumours still abound about this strange gem. The much fabled ring had a sinister life of its own and its yarn set to devour all that came into its path. Nasty foul mouthed invisible tongues lashed out like demented trolls through contraptions called blogs kept on haunting the premier family.

Then there was the tale of the time keeper, a clock given the name Omega. An evil trinity cast a spell on the time piece and accused a person of illicit immorality. The trinity of wicked old men conjured up a vision in an utter display of lurid content and smut in a grand mansion up on a hill. The staged apparition was flaunted to a host of mean spin masters who in turn paraded and assailed the mass public through their prints, their reverberations, their mantra and their spectre screens. The evil lewdness of the state's story tellers and irresponsible lawlessness of authority was much to the chagrin of religious and moral people. The chronograph called the Omega was said to have disappeared and has ever since been cynically and maliciously sought to prove the innocence of the one slandered. The trinity of old men of vice invoked the powers of the divine by swearing in a holy and sacred place, placing their oaths on the holy book, seeking to be damned if ever they lied, challenging those who reject or deny them to do the same. These depraved and perverted old men had their iniquitous way and were not stricken by flashes of lightning or blasted by bolts of thunder. They thought that they had their day and shall forever after be that way.

In Malaysia, you are guilty until you can prove your innocence. This is how the system works in Malaysia. This epithet comes from fugitive controversial blogger Raja Petra himself.

So keep away from fitnah and slander, it does not do anyone any good but harms all in its way. This public service announcement is brought to you for the sake of a wonderful Malaysia.

Time for Change

If the problem and malaise affecting BN is merely that of public perception, then they are quite delusional and are caught up in their own self serving propaganda. BN as a government is in decline and is performing badly relative to the days in the past. They are losing economic competitiveness, their keen sense of development strategies which are losing lots of public money, revelations of rampant corruption and they have not been able to transform unlike whatever grand pronouncements made in that direction. They cannot even reconcile between national unity and Malay rights. Their media machines gun after each and everyone's racial phobia. Worse is that they have been caught time and again to be lying through their teeth.  So this is beyond public relations and APCO like perception insights or piecemeal "make people fear or make people feel good" solutions. It needs a major revamp and that denial syndrome or that "even if we are not performing we are still the best for you" attitude and condescendence has to go.

Why is it supposed to be a proposed reconciliation only between BN and PAS? Why be so dismissive of Anwar as if he is not significant politically whether in terms of national unity or Malay interests? If it is thought that  Anwar has lost it and cannot garner public support across the races and throughout the country then let us remind ourselves of what the embattled Pak Lah, a former PM said back then. He said Anwar is someone forgotten before setting out to lead one of BN's most disastrous elections ever. It is a fact that Anwar has been in government administration and has so far been able to transcend across diverse political parties and backgrounds. It is still a fledgling political process but now we almost have a viable two party system for vibrant democratic check and balances.

The ones out to cripple Anwar are the same Malay-Muslims with an outrageous destructive agenda turning everything onto weapons to assail and destroy him. It has gone beyond mere character assassination. Some insane drive has them fanatically devoted to vanquish him.  If God forbid, they somehow manage to be able to terminate him, it shall come together with demolishing and bringing down the whole nation's justice system. Does PAS really want to have anything to do with such wayward terminator like politicians?

We have to ponder this Sufi anecdote of the past. One day, Mulla Nasruddin a famous Sufi was seen kneeling on his lawn outside his house looking for something. His trusted pupil saw him and went to him kneeling beside him to help. The pupil asked, "What are you looking for, Mulla?". Mulla answered, "I'm looking for my keys." The pupil then asked, "Where did you lose it, Mulla?". Mulla replied, "In the house." The pupil wondered, "Why don't you look for it in the house, Mulla?". Mulla replied nonchalantly , "It is brighter outside."

Applied to Anwar, crippling attacks and character assassination shall not stop until realpolitik objectives are not achieved no matter what even if it goes against religious, moral, legal universal or human considerations. Applied to BN-PAS reconciliation, they maybe barking up the wrong tree.

Anwar's detractors seem to be overly infatuated to the point of chronic alarm with his aspirations to be the nation's leader. If we were to ask him, Anwar says he wants to be able to conduct islah - reform the nation for the better. So, please brush aside those intolerable hearsay innuendos - just tell him and us what is so wrong with his ideas and politics so that we are free to choose democratically.

It is a mistake to  simply categorise and stereotype people like Tuan Guru Nik Aziz as if PAS is  similar to UMNO's "follow the  leader right or wrong mentality". We have to give PAS their due credit in managing their own political transformation which out surpasses UMNO's illusions of change anytime. PAS is a party with a future and of the future. UMNO is still relishing and languishing in the past.

UMNO's foe is not Anwar, they are greatly mistaken for Anwar is part of their own history for them to judge. UMNO's bane is the party itself which desperately needs major reform and moral resuscitation even before they can think of reconciling with and partnering any other party with a better semblance of moral principles and practice.

It is actually no more about the continuance of Malay Muslim dominance and superiority  (right or wrong!) - we must earn it through integrity and social justice, to build respect and deliver leadership to all Malaysians. We have to shed this presumed Malay thinking of  this inherited superiority as the sole source of strength every time.

Yes, it is time for reconciliation but it  is also a time for change.

( this is written in response to   http://azrilmohdamin.com/2011/08/05/ramadhan-a-time-for-reconciliation/  )

Show a little kindness

You do not lead by hitting people over the head. That's assault, not leadership -Dwight D. Eisenhower.

When the prime minister of Malaysia went on national TV scoffing at the injuries suffered by his political nemesis Anwar Ibrahim, many were shocked. The PM's facial contortions as he mimicked his condition and made fun of the pain were ridiculous and clownish. His eager dismissiveness that it was only a "little" tear gas was gross.

This shows a clear lack of empathy and a little heartless on his part. He failed to notice and surprisingly, he was seemingly unaware that there were many others of his fellow citizens who were hit by much of the "little" tear gas and suffered the searing and nauseating consequences. It was obvious that the PM himself had never tasted being sprayed chemical laced water and suffocating CS gas. Some remarked that he should try smearing chilli pepper in his eyes and feel the pain. He seems to have a bizarre lapse in reasoning and thus engaged in ludicrous bravado for a captive audience, one which is becoming more and more out of touch with reality and the feelings of people.

He apparently overlooked another former PM's outrageous dismissal of Anwar's infamous black eye beating years ago. The strident former PM was recorded to have said that the injuries were self inflicted which made him look like a farcical comic to the whole world.

Of the recent incident, Anwar himself admitted it was only minor injuries. It would only be groundbreaking and really transformative if the PM would have dropped by and showed just a bit of concern. Of course, it goes both ways and everyone has to have a heart and be considerate to others especially in times of difficulties. Politics should be humane. It should not reach the stage of boiling heat and burning bridges as mature democracies show a sort of special relationship accorded between a ruling party leader and an opposition leader. They have to come to terms if not for themselves; it is for the people of Malaysia.

Kisah Benar

Setiap kali anak saya kembali dari kelas tuisyen, dia akan mengadu tentang guru tuisyen biologinya. Gurunya agak menebal kefahaman politiknya dan bolehlah dikategorikan sebagai seorang nasionalis totok. Masalahnya adalah pegangannya terbawa-bawa pula ke dalam kelas tuisyen itu. Ini menjadikan ramai anak muridnya berasa resah dan gusar terutama anak saya. Kadangkala, guru ini mengeluarkan pandangan-pandangannya yang kesat dan berbaur fitnah di hadapan kelasnya. Jika ada bangkangan daripada anak muridnya, dia akan tegas menempelak dengan menggunakan autoritinya dan terpaksalah anak-anak muda itu menahan telinga.

Apabila anak saya meminta pandangan saya, saya nasihatkan dia terus hormati gurunya dan saya memberitahunya hasrat saya untuk kemungkinan akan memberikan teguran secara terhormat selepas SPM nanti supaya tidak menimbulkan ketegangan antara guru - murid buat masa ini. Anak saya memahami bahawa dia terpaksa membenci perbuatan seperti itu di dalam hatinya.

Pada hari Ahad yang lepas, anak saya kembali dengan riang gembira. Dia menceritakan bahawa di kelas tuisyennya, gurunya mengambil kesempatan untuk mengutuk Tuan Guru Ustaz Abdul Hadi Awang dengan mengatakan,

"Lihat Ustaz Hadi rela menggadaikan jubahnya untuk memakai T-Shirt Bersih."

Secara spontan pula anak saya mencelah, "Tapi, Cikgu, Najib pun tak pakai jubah!"

Seluruh kelas tuisyen ketawa terbahak-bahak. Guru tuisyen tersipu-sipu dibuatnya.

Itulah sebahagian kisah benar polarisasi hubungan dan pola-pola negatif komunikasi akibat terlampau banyak berpolitik tanpa adab dan akhlak, perbahasan bukan pula pada tempatnya serta gagal menyedari bahawa anak murid pun berhak, cerdas dan bebas berfikir juga.

Daulat Tuanku

Alas, His Royal Highness comes to the rescue by issuing a decree and granting an audience to Bersih's representatives. This royal intervention is timely indeed so that the authorities can start to bring back some sanity to this whole sordid affair. The people are relieved that royal wisdom prevails.

Bersih 2.0 is just about legitimate electoral demands which are really quite reasonable in seeking free and fair elections. A strong government committed to democracy would never feel threatened by it. However, maybe the nation's top political leadership were ill advised or became callous, letting loose sledgehammer tactics by trying to stamp out anything that can be remotely connected to Bersih 2.0, activists, T-shirts, colours and symbols.

The relentless backlash was to be expected as any public relations disaster would in an open and interconnected world that we live in where thinking people cherish freedom, reason and level headedness. The mindless spree of detention and intimidation has to stop. Never again should repression and force be resorted to in a civil and peaceful protest.

Let the people go to the stadium safely, let them assemble in free association, let them wear their yellow shirts or whatever decent dress they wish proudly, release the detainees; it maybe a tiny victory but it is a Malaysian first.

Unggun-bersih

Semakin lara kita didera bara –

kita laungkan juga pesan merdeka:

Demokrasi sebenderang mentari

sehasrat hajat semurni harga diri.

Lama resah kita – demokrasi luka;

lama duka kita – demokrasi lara.

Demokrasi yang angkuh, kita cemuhi;

suara bebas yang utuh, kita idami!

Dua abad lalu Sam Adams berseru

(di Boston dijirus teh ke laut biru):

Tak diperlu gempita sorak yang gebu,

diperlu hanya unggun api yang syahdu.

Kini menyalalah unggun sakti itu;

kini merebaklah nyala unggun itu.

Sasterawan Negara A Samad Said

The Colour Yellow

The time sledgehammer tactics were used was by Pharaoh who upon advice by his trusted magicians decreed that all new born male children from the Children of Israel be killed. The Pharaoh envisioned that there shall come a time when a leader shall arise from among the enslaved people to fight and free his nation. In the end, such prophesied leader led his people to freedom and liberation leaving Pharaoh and his wicked men to drown in the Red Sea.

Several years ago the corrupt regime of Hosni Mubarak used underhanded tactics to overwhelmingly win Egyptian general elections by resorting to arresting opposition candidates just prior to polling. Egypt's feared police blockaded electoral posts where opposition supporters were strong in order to prevent them from voting. However hard they tried, Hosni and his evil men could not stop the Arab Spring from happening.

The was a time not so long ago when green was designated enemy of the state. It may look ridiculously childish but these colour-phobic fanatics got their way and pressured many authorities, designers, architects and even oil giant Petronas to acquiesce to be forced to change their colours, their logos and building facades. These changes were not cheap.

When people are threatened and arrested just for wearing certain shirts, symbols and colours without any legal gazette against them, it just goes against common sense and civility. Lessons from our own past and our cherished democracy are not learnt. Mature political reasoning and even handedness are thrown out in favour of brute force and intimidation. There is no need to overreact and reach boiling point.

When National Laureate A Samad Said is hauled up for purportedly reciting poetry, something is greatly amiss in this lovely land of ours. We can be sure by now that Pak Samad wears yellow.

The One Sen Minister

From grappling with flip flopping on the PPSMI issue, missing the challenge of education for language tussles, our overly ingenious minister has suggested the reintroduction of the one sen coin to beat inflation.

First and foremost, he is way out of his league and jurisdiction here for he is not minster for finance, consumerism nor industry. He apparently fails to grasp economics, inflation and pricing mechanisms. He seems not to understand money and the sustainability of currency and its own costs.

He supports the lifting and removal of subsidies which was intended to buffer prices and control inflation. He intends to support hiking up power and electricity prices which will hit manufacturers, suppliers and consumers very hard. He shall be complicit to the removal of further subsidies which will cause costs fuel to rise. All of these efforts shall contribute directly and have compounding effects to inflation and rising prices.

He goes on to say prices were caused by changes in the global climate Then comes the shocker of an advice, Malaysians should control their expenses and learn to increase their own food supply.

The people shall be burdened with spiralling costs, things will be beyond their means as their purchasing power shall be tremendously reduced over a short period of time.

In the meantime, the Malaysian opposition leader said the “alarming” 4.9 per cent rise in food prices from January to April this year compared to the same period last year suggested that there would be a “repeat [of] the pain of 2008”, when food prices jumped 8.8 per cent following sudden fuel price hikes. He says that if this pattern persists for the remainder of the year, 2011 will register the second-highest food price increase for the people to bear since 2006. This would mean food prices have increased by 30 per cent since 2005 while average wages have only gone up 2.6 per cent during the same period, he pointed out. The former finance minister said that there was a “direct correlation” between the government’s subsidy cuts and the persistent food price increases registered so far this year. He also slammed the government for offloading the financial burden of the country’s economic mismanagement to the people.

Meanwhile, spineless consumer associations get into the fray by incredulously suggesting that the people be prepared and get used to it. This means according to one cartoonist, to spend RM 1 for 2 cakes instead of the present 3! Where have the consumer activists with the conscience of the majority in their hearts gone to? This is just like the other overly witty minister who perversely suggested that Malaysians get used to slander and incitement. Where do these people come from.

Finally and the only thing offered by our overly bright minister is a one sen rationalisation to carry in your pocketful of holes at the end of the day.

Give us back our subsidies and you can keep your one sen.

Mat Zain says Najib risks losing Muslim support over Datuk T

KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — A retired senior police cop today warned Datuk Seri Najib Razak of a severe Muslim backlash if he failed to punish the “Datuk T” trio for “ridiculing” Islam when they attended a recent sumpah laknat ceremony in a mosque wearing bulletproof vests.

Former KL CID chief Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim said Najib could fault no one if he loses the confidence of the country’s Muslims by displaying his willingness to protect his “friends” at the expense of insulting Islam.

“YAB (Yang Amat Berhormat) cannot blame anyone if the Muslims in the country, who are not few in number, have lost their confidence in YAB.

“Moreover, when there is an increase in the number of civil service, army and police retirees, many of whom are Muslims, who are beginning to feel cheated and enslaved and more doubtful of YAB’s direction and ability to lead the government…. this is not a very good development for YAB,” he wrote in his letter to the prime minister today.

Mat Zain said that it would be a clear case of power abuse if Najib (picture) chooses to protect an offender for his misdeeds simply because he considers the latter an ally.

“In Najib should refuse or deliberately find for excuses not to take lawful action against the three, then it will not only be deemed that he has abetted in the crime and conspired with the offenders, but he also appears to be fanning the fires of hatred,” he said.

Najib, he said, would also be allowing himself to be deemed a leader who has betrayed and ridiculed Islam.

“It is even more distressing that YAB has allowed a person, whom his own Cabinet regards as an individual who has not only insulted Islam but also abused power, is corrupt, a cheat and a rapist, to bring pornography and prostitution to the house of God,” he said.

Mat Zain was repeating his accusation last week that “Datuk T” — Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah, Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik and Datuk Shuib Lazim, the trio behind the recent sex video caper — had violated section 295 of the Penal Code when they attended Shazryl’s sumpah laknat ceremony at the Masjid Amru Al-As in Sentul wearing bulletproof vests.

At the time, Shazryl was swearing on the Quran that the man in the 21-minute sex video was Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Mat Zain complained that their actions had created the perception that the situation in the mosque was unsafe.

Section 295 states that “whoever defiles any place of worship, with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to consider such defilement as an insult to their religion” will be jailed for up to two years and/or fined.

Mat Zain said that if the trio were to be charged under syariah law or the Penal Code for their actions, the case would not affect police investigation on the video itself.

“The two cases are separate,” he said.

He said that even if the identity of the man featured in the video was to be revealed, it would not free the trio from blame for insulting the mosque and ridiculing Islam.

“These two matters are separate criminal offences.

“Other than that, YAB and the Attorney-General have no power or right, according to any law, to indemnify the trio and free them from any criminal liability,” he said.

Mat Zain also insisted today that Utusan Malaysia’s reported claims of a purported Christian uprising against the Muslims was “artificial” in nature.

He pointed out that it was unprecedented in the country’s history that the Christians, who represent the minority group, had risen to usurp Islam from its position as the religion of the federation.

“In my opinion, only irrational Muslims who fear their own shadows will believe and view seriously this likelihood,” he said.

Mat Zain also reminded Najib of the killing of Othman Talib at Felda Lubok Merbau, Padang Terap, Kedah, in 1985, which he said was the result of an “intense political turmoil” during the Padang Terap election campaign.

He explained that he knew the full details of the incident as he had been installed as the Padang Terap district police chief just three days before it occurred.

“As a Muslim, I was saddened to see a group of Muslims weeping and mourning the death of a fellow Muslim, while at the same time, not far off, there was another group of Muslims who cheered as if celebrating a war victory.

“Even more distressing is that there were other rogues proclaiming themselves as Muslims who took the opportunity to ignite the fires of hostility among those of the same race and religion,” he said.

Mat Zain added that he hoped the event would bring Malaysians to realise that it is not the followers of Hinduism, Buddhism or Christianity who were trying to destroy Muslims but the Muslims themselves.

“We should be ashamed of ourselves and not find a way out by issuing threats and attempting to intimidate those who are innocent,” he said.

By Clara Chooi | May 19, 2011, The Malaysian Insider

Reclaiming the higher moral ground

Pembela has to come off its high horse, restrategise and leave its perceived xenophobia. Its recent forum which was poorly attended despite huge publicity should sound a warning bell for its continued relevance. Pembela has to reclaim the higher moral ground. It cannot rely and hang on to the shrills and thrills of the bigoted and jingoistic Perkasa's inflammatory bandwagon. Perkasa's modus operandi of blowing up hot air, severe alarmism and extreme hollers achieves nothing for the community. Perkasa's agenda seems only to be scaring Malays and Muslims into becoming a besieged community ever paranoid distrusting everyone except its ever scheming and corrupted leaders. Perkasa makes it its only goal of not wanting Malays to change.

Pembela cannot be associated with lies and deception just because it believes it is fighting for a good cause. Pembela must side with justice and uphold truthfulness. If not, the Muslims it represents, the people's hope and our trust is put in bad light.

Pembela has just cause and genuine concern which Muslims cherish and support. However, it must not betray this faith by being a pliant political accomplice of an ailing and desperate ruling regime. Pembela has to remain upright, honest and true to its noble spirit without fear or favour.

Pembela should not have defended Utusan's inexcusable diatribes and irresponsible racist spins especially the latest mischievous attempt at Christian baiting. Pembela should be above such low journalistic morals and it must spurn gutter politics. Such despicable newspaper reports and followed by upsetting shoddy reactions only afford Christians a higher moral ground, gives them stronger resolve and unfortunately shows up as further evidence of their perceived persecution.

Utusan's persistent lies and slander must come to an end. Pembela should not tie its fate to such misguided purveyors of doom, mischief and disorder.

Bahaya Sang Saka Bangsa

Itulah bagi orang-orang fasik yang inginkan sangat dipanah halilintar, mereka suka sangat bersumpah dan sering mencabar susunan serta ketenteraman peradaban masyarakat. Mereka gemar memecahkan suasana aman damai dan harmoni. Mereka kata mereka hanya ingin membawa kebaikan untuk agama, bangsa dan negara. Dentuman hujan batu tidaklah menerjah bumi yang mereka pijak namun fitnah yang dijaja memberanakkan lagi fasad dan mungkar yang berjela-jela.

Segala mambang dan jembalang dijelmakan dengan hantu-hantu raya lama dibela melalui akhbar-akhbar saka berbisa. Pontianak dan langsuyar diupah dan dihantar merata-rata memaki hamun dan mencarut tanpa batas dan hilang hormat diri. Maka segala macam santau dan peleset dikirim melalui utusan pena-pena penulis berpuaka yang memberitakan secara harian. Gerombolan keris mengamuk menggila. Katanya apabila bulan purnama mengambang, lagi meraung kumpulan pemuja ini.

Akibatnya jenuh jiwa dan semangat Melayu dilanyak dan diasak dengan tahyul dan mitos cerita buniyan. Orang Melayu dibuai halimunan dan ditakutkan-takutkan dengan jaruman halus dan tikaman tajam untuk mencurigai jiran, meninggalkan kawan, mengkhianati sahabat, memporak peranda agama, melanggar pantang larang muhibbah dan meninggalkan kebijaksanaan akal.

Fitnah jahat menjadi-jadi bermaharajalela sebagai mentera untuk menghapuskan musuh politik dan memperdayakan umat. Pawang dan bomoh memuntahkan lagi jampi dendam kesumat. Dukun sesat muncul di kalangan pemimpin yang sepatutnya lebih waras dan berilmiah. Alangkah bisa racun ditanam di dalam dada-dada siaran dan kaca-kaca TV. Pengacara media dan askar maya meludahkan santau dan kahak jangkitan pembohongan. Para agamawan rasmi yang mungkin kurang cermat melepaskan tangan, menyimpan diam dan membiarkan poyang dan syaman menabur upas dan menyesatkan lagi masyarakat.

Kaca, miang buluh dan jarum dicucuk sehingga menjerit kesakitan batang tubuh negara yang ingin bebas dan terlepas daripada rasukan histeria penguasa gila kuasa yang melepaskan gerombolan penyebar naba' fasik - berita jahat. Sihir gila dinamakan propaganda lebih dahsyat daripada ilmu hitam segenap nusa. Katanya ada sang penunggu tua mahawangsa di sebuah menara yang merancang dan mengatur kejahatan ini semua.

Tiada yang terselamat dari sentuhan khurafat dan usaha toyol-toyol merosakkan dan mengelabui umat dengan tuduhan kesat dan tayangan lucah. Tidak cukup dengan itu, Cina dan Nasrani pun dituduh secara merasuk dan meracau.

Maka si fasik masih bersumpah merasa senang hati tiada disambar petir dan kilat. Hanya umat merana kerana alah bisa yang tak berubat hinggalah akhir padahnya.

Siapalah yang akan menjunjung panduan kebenaran dan membawa ayat-ayat syifa bagi penawar memulihkan keruntuhan jatidiri bangsa dan menyelamatkan negara?

Tell me lies

A while back several years ago, a friend called up from Ipoh on a Sunday. He sounded very emotional and asked me why I was not there at the vicinity of a church. He said that they had gathered and surrounded it because of word that a mass conversion was about to take place. There already many people inside the church, he confided. I told him to get out of there because it was a hoax. I said that Christians pray mass on Sundays so there is nothing unusual with the many people going to church on that day. My friend simply huffed saying that he got the information of the purported conversion through people of authority. It seemed that someone with clout had gone on preaching about mass conversions or apostasy. It turned out to be untrue after all but had left an indelible mark on everyone, with some still not accepting that it was just a futile ruse.

I remember an incident in my daughter's school when she reported that she was bodily searched by teachers looking for blasphemous symbols. They were looking for crosses supposedly being worn by subjecting schoolgirls to embarrassing searches. Again, someone had spread the incredible news that some of our girls were being converted by wearing such crosses.

Then, there was the ridiculous rumour of the holy water thing. Word had it that a sprinkle of such priestly water can turn someone away from his or her faith. It had the magic powers of breaking the shahadah or the testimony of faith. Again, people became unduly worried and suspicious. Defence of the faith had become reduced to dealing with absurd threats. I asked Animah Ferrar, a Muslim scholar who was previously Catholic about such matters at a seminar and she assured us that Catholics do not associate any power or magic with such rituals. Muslims ought to know better.

A funny anecdote on conjured up threats was when a much hyped speaker introduced to his audience a hand signal in his motivational talk. This hand signal was purportedly about secret Satanic gestures for Black Metal worshippers. This infamous hand signal was becoming popular among teens loafing about in shopping malls around the country. The signal was in the form of putting up the thumb, forefinger and last finger. It looks like a devil with two horns and a tail, if you look at it that way. Luckily, a member of the audience who was familiar with working with the deaf and sign language as well as adolescent teens straightened the issue with the sign. She pointed out that in standard sign language it is the short form for the letters I, L and Y meaning I love you. So teenagers adopted this as their gestures reflecting their coming of age which may be morally questionable and problematic but definitely not Satanic!

Indeed much jive and hype had been made of the heavy or black metal thing but it seems to be a passing phase but well spun among captive Malay audience. Moral challenges facing our youth are indeed grave but solutions have to be forthright and must not be led by ignorance or deception.

Another dubious story was a tragic and moving one. It involved a apostate daughter who visited his father's shop with her fiancé resulting in humiliating her father and beating him up. The person known to infamously relate this incredulous story is one of those defecting MP's who made his name back then from regurgitating such believable myths and far fetched apostasy threats.

Hence, it is not surprising that the propaganda agenda has been raised or reduced to such incendiary reporting and Christian baiting. After all, everyday Utusan bashes the Chinese and tries its best to terminate a character called Anwar Ibrahim.

When the ruling fears lost of political support base, it begins to undergo lost of political nerves, leading to lost of morality. It then becomes unjust in its actions, spirals out of control and condones lies and deception. It has lost the spirit of Malaysia, it only retains slogans which it cannot fulfil.

The Malaysian public deserves much better. They cannot be treated as fools be they whatever race, colour or creed.

We must uphold truth and justice and disassociate ourselves from bigots, extremists, provocateurs, political opportunists and desperados who trade the future for short term ill-gotten gains.

Our own fault

Many of us are not too happy with the ruckus and pandemonium at Masjid Amr al As last Friday. However it is unfortunately the direct result of our own apathy and callousness in upholding our own religion and places of worship. We knowingly allowed it to happen.

How could an obviously malicious swearing ceremony be held on such a slanderous issue just to run Anwar Ibrahim down in the eyes of fellow Malay Muslims. Mind you, only Malay Muslims because the rest of Malaysia finds this fanfare of oath taking by self confessed irreligious people quite perplexing and very intriguing. Non-Muslims are much bewildered by the frivolous use of our holy book and holy places as well as sacred words, time and time over again just to get Anwar.

If some may expect blazing lightning to strike, they would be disappointed to see only bedlam and uproar in the masjid. Evil begets evil. What started as false accusations and slander has transformed into blasphemy in the name of Allah swt. May Allah protect us!

Swearing has made qazaf - slander - develop into an acceptable religious form by three dubious characters vowing to subject themselves to eternal damnation in the event that they lied.

How come some Muslims still condone such blasphemy in a revered masjid - the swearing is the culmination of falsehood, the open declaration of qazaf - slander, supported, publicised and protected, just to desecrate the name of Allah? This is worse than a blast of thunder which some may wish to expect to hit them. This orchestrated event can only happen in a corrupted environment and a wicked system.

Is it not a calamity when JAWI, the religious department officials and security forces are accomplices and collaborating in such a shameful event? How can such rogues be accorded status, protection and publicity? This is disastrous and tragic morally.

It is a sorry and sad state to see religious scholars, knowledgeable persons and people of moral authority probably regarding themselves too highly to deserve such honour. Whatever has been said about preventing evil - nahy mungkar - has never been about upholding principles of justice and fighting corruption recently. It may have been a popular slogan but fails miserably in the face of authority, power and day to day realities of realpolitik. Corruption and abuse of power at the very top has never recently been challenged or rather it has been quite accommodating.

The question to ask is that is it true that combating corruption (more encompassing than bribery) is not a priority in Islamic governance and that Malay-Muslims are more tolerant and accommodating in issues of corruption.

Of course, not!

That is why we have to fight it and fight it hard.

Sumpah Seranah bencana ummah

Apabila seorang pemuda melakukan sumpah laknat dengan menggunakan nama Allah serta memegang Al-Quran di dalam masjid di ibu negara bagi meyakinkan bahawa kejadian hina terhadap dirinya memang benar berlaku, sebahagian orang Melayu/Islam menjadi kebingungan dengan sumpah laknat yang dilakukan oleh si penuduh ini.

Apa yang dikatakan permasalahan umat Islam berlegar di antara kedaifan umat dan kelesuan ulama nyata berlaku. Para ahli ulama juga menjadi mangsa keadaan berpolemik dalam memberikan pandangan samada sumpah tersebut sah atau tidak dan adakan ia mengikut tuntutan Islam. Isu pokok dan tunjang kepada keseluruhan permasalahan iaitu pemerataan fasad, penularan korupsi, fitnah jahat dan qazaf tidak ditangani dengan jelas dan tegas.

Maka cabar mencabar pun berlakulah sehingga ke hari ini oleh pelbagai manusia berkepentingan mendesak supaya Anwar bersumpah laknat bagi menafikan bahawa beliau bersalah. Namun Anwar tidak melayannya desakan-desakan tersebut dan menggunakan fatwa pengerusi ulama sedunia Dr Yusuf Al Qardawi serta para mufti tempatan bahawa tiada keperluan untuk Anwar bersumpah.

Melihat kepada komentar dada-dada akhbar mengenai isu ini, jelas menampakkan kejahilan tentang hukum syara’. Tetapi mereka tetap mengajak orang ramai mempercayai kejahilan atau yang lebih tepat digelar propaganda. Lebih malang lagi, apabila ada ulama rasmi – kecuali yang dirahmati oleh Allah swt, yang sepatutnya memimpin dan memandu para pemimpin tersebut dalam perkara agama – hanya mengesahkan sahaja.

Kebangkitan gempar Ustaz Ramlang Porigi untuk membantah secara terbuka dan mendedahkan kebatilan aksi sumpah di Masjid Wilayah satu fenomena mengkagumkan masyarakat. Dia dilaporkan telah dihentikan perkhidmatannya di Masjid berkenaan.

Padahal kita diajar untuk merenung ayat al-Quran, dalam surah al-Mujadalah, ayat 14 hingga 16, di mana Allah swt menceritakan tentang sifat kaum munafiqin yang selalu bersumpah palsu.

“Tidakkah engkau melihat (bagaimana jahatnya) orang-orang yang bersahabat karib dengan kaum yang telah dimurkai Allah (dengan sebab kekufuran dan khianatnya)? Mereka itu bukanlah dari golongan kamu dan bukan pula dari golongan kaum yang tersebut itu (kerana mereka ialah golongan munafik); dan lagi mereka selalu bersumpah dengan dusta, sedang mereka mengetahui (bahawa mereka adalah berdusta). Allah telah menyediakan bagi mereka azab seksa yang berat; sesungguhnya amatlah buruk apa yang mereka telah lakukan. Mereka menjadikan sumpahnya sebagai perisai (untuk menyelamatkan diri dan harta bendanya daripada dirampas atau dibunuh), maka dengan yang demikian dapatlah mereka menghalang (dirinya dan orang lain) dari jalan Allah; oleh itu mereka beroleh azab seksa yang menghina.”

Terjemahan Al Quran dalam Surah Al Qalam ayat 10 - 14 pula,

Dan janganlah engkau (berkisar dari pendirianmu yang benar, dan jangan) menurut kemahuan orang yang selalu bersumpah, lagi yang hina (pendapatnya dan amalannya),

Yang suka mencaci, lagi yang suka menyebarkan fitnah hasutan (untuk memecah belahkan orang ramai), -

Yang sering menghalangi amalan-amalan kebajikan, yang melanggar hukum-hukum ugama, lagi yang amat berdosa, -

Yang jahat kejam, yang selain itu tidak tentu pula bapanya.

Adakah kerana ia seorang hartawan dan ramai anak-pinaknya (maka ia mendustakan ugama Kami)?

Menurut Ustazah Fatimah Az-Zahra, kerja bersumpah ini sebenarnya kerja orang munafik. Sebab mereka tahu mereka bohong, demi untuk meyakinkan orang ramai supaya pembohongan mereka diterima, maka mereka pun beriya-iya mahu bersumpah.

Mengikut Imam Syafie, Sumpah adalah makruh berdasarkan Surah Al-Baqarah ayat 224 :- Dan janganlah kamu jadikan (nama) Allah dalam sumpah kamu sebagai penghalang untuk berbuat kebajikan, bertakwa dan mengadakan islah di antara manusia. Dan Allah Maha Mendengar lagi Maha Mengetahui.

Satu kajian terperinci oleh USIM menyatakan perlaksanaan sumpah dianggap batal sekiranya tidak menepati syarat-syarat yang telah ditetapkan oleh syarak. Tidak semua kes-kes boleh dilaksanakan sumpah. Para ulama bersepakat, tidak harus melaksanakan sumpah pada hak-hak Allah SWT semata-mata seperti zina, Qazaf dan lain-lain lagi. Para ulamak bersepakat mengenai pengharusan melaksanakan sumpah dalam kes-kes mal. (rujukan baik tentang amalan sumpah di mahkamah syariah di laman:- http://zulkiflihasan.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/konsep-sumpah-dalam-islam2.pdf

Ini telah ditegaskan oleh fatwa Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan pada 2008 bahawa sumpah hanya berlaku selepas proses perundangan dan ia hanya ditentukan oleh mahkamah syariah.

Pandangan dan nasihat mantan menteri hal ehwal Islam JPM dan penasihat agama kepada Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Othman adalah bernas, jujur dan baik diteladani:-

"Perbuatan bermubahalah (sumpah laknat) adalah bercanggah dengan ajaran Islam terutama jika ia membabitkan unsur-unsur politik."

Beliau berkata, "Sumpah adalah suatu perkara yang tidak boleh dipermain-mainkan dan hanya perlu dilakukan ketika dalam mahkamah membabitkan peruntukan undang-undang atau kanun tertentu."

''Sumpah bukan boleh dibuat sewenang-wenangnya, jika yang bersumpah itu mahu menunjukkan bahawa kalau dia benar-benar bersalah maka akan turun azab daripada Tuhan."

''Tetapi bagaimana pula keadaannya jika orang yang bersumpah itu tidak dikenakan azab (di dunia), adakah itu menunjukkan dia benar-benar tidak bersalah?"

''Sedangkan ajaran Islam hanya mempercayai bahawa azab Allah kepada umat-Nya akan dikenakan di akhirat dan bukannya di dunia," katanya.

Once again Catholic Church takes the higher moral ground

PETALING JAYA: A Catholic Church leader has slammed the showing of a snippet from the sex video purportedly involving Anwar Ibrahim on TV3.

Bishop Paul Tan, who is the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Malaysia, denounced the move as an “inexcusable outrage.”

Yesterday, the government-linked TV station had broadcasted a snippet from the so-called part two of the video allegedly depicting the opposition leader’s tryst with a sex worker.

“From the start, a permissive attitude has characterised the attitude of the authorities towards this sordid episode,” said Tan, who also heads the Malacca-Johor diocese.

“Now that permissiveness has led to this outrage: the showing of material that is vile and putrid on public TV to an audience that comprises women and children.

“This is an inexcusable outrage for which the laxity of the authorities in not acting firmly to nip things in the bud is at grave fault.

“No person of conscience can fail to deplore this permissiveness, this inaction in the face of a puerile voyeurism that has now reached a nadir,” he added.

Tan urged the authorities to act swiftly and bring the culprits who procured and featured the sex video to book before “evil begets more evil.”

“This permissive attitude, this relativism in the face of evil actions is an obvious contributor to the moral turpitude we see before us.

“Guardians of law and morality cannot afford to equivocate in the face of insolent evil. They must act or society is at grave risk,” he warned.

The second installment of the sex video had come even before the dust had settled on the first part, which was released last month.

Anwar, who is also facing a sodomy charge, had dismissed the video as another attempt by his political rivals to discredit him.

His wife and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had also denied that it was her husband in the video.

(malaysiakini.com)

Video aib dan Mr Bean

Penglipur lara Sufi ada menceritakan pada suatu hari, dua orang lelaki bergegas ke rumah Mulla Nasruddin.

"Apa sudah terjadi? " bertanya Mulla Nasruddin.

"Ada kemalangan melibatkan kereta kuda melanggar orang yang serupa macam rupa kamu di pasar tadi. Kami ingatkan kamu yang dilanggar dan kami ke sini untuk menyampaikan berita itu kepada isteri kamu," mereka berkata.

"Adakah dia tinggi macam aku ?" Mulla bertanya.

"Ya," jawab mereka.

"Adakah dia mempunyai janggut macam aku?"

"Ya!"

"Apa warna bajunya?"

"Ungu"

"Ungu!" Mulla berteriak merasa lega. "Mujur bukan aku. Aku memang tak ada baju ungu."

Rupa-rupanya cerita jenaka zaman alaf dahulu semacam berulang dalam bentuk kisah benar. Apabila video mengaib Anwar muncul, satu gesaan di antara yang banyak yang aneh dan hanya boleh terbit di cereka lucu Mr Bean adalah berikut:-

Dalam keghairahan untuk mengambil kesempatan membelasah peribadi, ada pengulas yang terlalu totok (hangit kata orang utara) hingga menyoal kenapa Anwar tidak menunggu untuk melihat video aib itu sendiri samada orang di dalam video itu bukan dia sebelum menafikannya!

Seperti kata-kata generasi Facebook....ngok...hu..hu..hu

What's in a watch

A Swiss timepiece, they sometimes call it a chronometer sounding scientific, is a masterpiece of mechanics. It's only a watch but in political slander, it is enough to make it to prime time news, tainted newspapers taking it to town to run the story endlessly trying to make explicit innuendos and darn malicious accusations . It is all a farce and quite self deprecating, of course. This piece of time teller after being made out to be evidence of blazing thunder has gone out on a tiny whimper. This has belittled investigators, made our proud and much honourable police force the object of fun and ridicule and taken an ever sceptical public on a sham.

Coupled with baffling pronouncements by investigators who ought to know better on a much publicised video's genuineness, this piece of clock has run out of spinning time. The incredible story can't be spun anymore. Anyway the wristwatch was just an inanimate object which might just as well be a Petaling Street fake. The video as implied could well be smut made in Thailand, pardon the Thais for such Malaysian indulgence in lewd political overkills. Desperation has made insanity rule Malaysian media.

A watch tells the time. In the hands of normal, decent and innocent people, that is what it does. But scoundrels have other intentions and devious uses, intricate conspiracies, suggesting wicked insinuations and twisted stretched allusions. If only the Swiss masterpiece could speak up...but what's in a watch.

Vindictive "Toads"

My daughter overheard an interesting conversation while on a lift in First Avenue, a shopping mall in Penang. Three Malaysian Indians - 2 girls and a guy - were saying out loud, " What's this with all these sex videos". The guy said, " Pity the poor guy, Anwar Ibrahim". "They have been trying to get him all the time". One of the girls quipped, "Don't they know how his family feels? Don't they know how hurtful it is for them even though the whole thing is not true. All the Westerners are laughing at us now". The guy said, "We can't even do anything about it. There's one word for it - vindictive."

Malaysian mainstream news media are having a field day this time taunting Dr Wan Azizah. Even the questions fielded by reporters are getting rude and provocative but politely contained by Wan Azizah with calm but sharp ripostes. Editorials, opinion pieces and newspaper punchlines are trying to vilify and taint her reputation. Journalists have become lackeys and tools of a wicked and barmy political agenda. Cruel intentions and mala fide are obviously and lucidly portrayed in every title block, news item and even the choice of pictures used. Anything and everything is being unleashed to put down a truly good lady and a wonderful person for those who bother and care to know about the family.

Dr Wan Azizah was just a quiet doctor turned housewife to be with a husband who was once deputy prime minister. That was until her husband got sacked, dramatically arrested, beaten and pummelled in custody and then charged and harshly persecuted, imprisoned on dubious, slanderous and humiliating accusations. She had to stand in for her husband as the torch bearer of reform and that she did with excellence and beyond comprehension. At one of her earliest events in Kedah, she appeared meek and modest unable to speak impromptu even to a large and sympathetic public gathering. She has certainly improved much since then. She held the fledgling reformist political party in the worst of its moments. She stood tall although she was alone representing her party in Parliament after 2004 patiently parrying such abrasive behaviour from merciless fellow ruling party parliamentarians.

Whatever has Wan Azizah done to them?

The journalists may feel nothing wrong with all their persistent lying and deceit, twisting their tales, sensationalising circumstantial material and conjuring up any nook or cradle. Mainstream media has become heartless while seemingly forgetting that many Malaysians are not so. Their tactless and spineless editors have lost their habits of the heart. They are not listening and are not addressing to the conscience of the majority. They are not reporting real news and they are abdicating their moral responsibilities. They indulge in promoting mass ignorance and sheer foolishness. They shall leave their dirty marks on society, their writings are indelible, their TV shows are recorded and many shall curse them, in the end all of their work will be their bane.

They fit in like the toads in Parliament. First there are the political toads who jump party to party, clinging on to life and material support from the ruling party, of course. Then there the toads which are intellectuals with a grudge. These academicians sell themselves off as political hatchet men. All of them are held by a common trait as mentioned by the person in the First Avenue mall lift, "vindictiveness".

Wait se minit Minister!

Wait se minit Minister!

Hey, has the outspoken and abrasive minister done it again, flip flopping on the job! He has been too long on the job of being a political hatchet man instead of being an honest and fair representative of government. Are the tables being turned here? Suddenly they are in full reversal shying away from a commission of inquiry, rather relying on police investigations. Looks like the three stooges, oops , datuks are in for it now. However, it is still too early to tell looking at 13 years of conspiracies full of deviousness and vindictiveness.

Slander does not and will never work. Lying and deceiving to an educated and much informed Malaysian public is pretty dim witted and silly. In order to sustain such blatant lies, more incredible feats have to be created and perpetuated until the whole thing becomes bare, exposed, untenable and collapses on the liars themselves. What evil can they think of next to unleash unto Anwar and the ever wary and sceptical Malaysian.

Again, they forgot to take the late legendary artiste P Ramlee's advice in the Malay version of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, not to throw the dice thrice - trickery has its limits!

Dr Wan Azizah and family have weathered 13 years of brutal BN aggression in the form of persistent intimidation and character assassinations. Any other family would have been devastated but no, they withstood such scurrilous attacks on their husband and father that even the damning newspaper, The Star had to admit their family values were upheld high and acknowledged as a model.

Many Malaysians were always with them in their hearts albeit silent even in the darkest moments of tribulation. Malaysians of various arrays, hues, persuasions and beliefs stood with them, supporting them, wishing and praying for them. Many cried their tears in the middle of the night, unbeknown to others, while others slept, they were appealing to God to uplift themselves, save themselves but also to put in a supplication, to provide succour for Anwar and his family. All prayers and good wishes are meant for the just, the truthful, the honourable and the steadfast. No one shall wish any good to liars and deceivers. Those who make it their mission and living to hound, slander and terminate others shall have to fend for themselves here and the hereafter.

What is the lesson from all of these sometimes horrible and ever shameful experiences for the Malaysian public at large. We now know the extent of evil and who its purveyors are, who condones them, who are behind them, who collaborates, who sanctions, who does the dirty work for them; we recognise the criterion to distinguish the good and the bad. Instead of breaking us apart, Malaysians can now come together under the banner of truth and justice.

We surely know that things shall have to change.

That is why we say UBAH! UBAH! UBAH! Change Malaysia Change!

Satu kejahatan yang dibiarkan telah membuahkan kejahatan yang lain

Uskup Katolik kecam amalan moraliti selektif

Uskup Katolik (Bishop) Paul Tan Chee Ing membidas sebagai "kebejatan moral" dan "tidak dapat dipertahankan" sikap pasif pihak berkuasa sekular kerana tidak bertindak ke atas tayangan video yang didakwa mengaibkan Anwar Ibrahim dalam adegan dengan se orang wanita.

“Apabila pihak berkuasa sekular mengabaikan tanggungjawab mereka untuk bertindak ke atas orang-orang yang terlibat dengan penayangan video itu, maka kelambanan dan kegagalan mereka bertindak menghasilkan kejahatan lain,” kata ketua titular keuskupan (diocese) Malacca-Johor.

Dalam perkembangan terbaru, isteri dan anak-anak Anwar Ibrahim berkata mereka telah melihat klip selama dua minit melalui Youtube dan menegaskan secara terbuka bahawa orang yang dilihat di video terbabit bukan Anwar Ibrahim.

Mengulas tentang pengumuman ini, Bishop Tan, yang juga presiden Catholic Bishops' Conference, berkata: “Sekarang setelah orang ramai mendengar sendiri kenyataan daripada keluarga Anwar Ibrahim, adalah kewajipan pihak berkuasa untuk bertindak terhadap mereka yang menayangkan video tersebut. "

"Siapakah yang lebih mengenali diri Anwar kalau bukan isteri dan anak-anaknya?”

Bishop Tan menambah lagi: “Anda tidak boleh berdolak-dalih apabila berhadapan dengan satu kejahatan yang jelas melanggar undang-undang.”

“Adalah satu kebejatan moral untuk mereka yang diperkasakan dengan autoriti sivil untuk goyah terhuyung hayang apabila berdepan dengan kemungkaran yang nyata. "

“Kegoyahan mereka adalah tidak boleh diterima. Apabila autoriti sekular amat lemah untuk berdepan dengan kejahatan, maka adalah menjadi tugas autoriti agama untuk bersuara, kerana kalau tidak, masyarakat akan berada dalam bahaya moral akibat pencemaran dan kedurjanaan akhlak. "

“Saya telah mengatakan sebelum ini bahawa masyarakat kita dalam bahaya yang besar akibat kecuaian kita lebih lagi daripada kejahilan kita."

“Pihak berkuasa telah cuai apabila tidak mendakwa mereka yang terbabit menayangkan video ini sejak pada mulanya. Sekarang bibit-bibit babak video telah diisiarkan dalam internet. Satu kejahatan yang dibiarkan telah membuahkan kejahatan yang lain,” pemimpin katolik itu mengeluh.

Bishop Tan menegaskan video aib itu bukan isu politik.

“Pertamanya ia adalah isu moral sebelum kepada isu yang lain. Ada undang-undang yang jelas untuk menguruskannya. Tetapi mengabaikan penguatkuasaannya adalah seperti menjemput semacam kebingungan moral yang sukar untuk diselamatkan,” katanya.

Uskup Tan menyeru pihak berkuasa sivil supaya meninggalkan moraliti selektif kerana amalan ini akan menyemai dan membenihkan perangkap-perangkap etika ke atas masyarakat dan pemulihan akhlaknya akan "menelan harga" yang sangat tinggi.

disuiapadan dan diterjemahkan dari artikel Terence Netto, Malaysiakini, Apr 5, 2011

Bishop takes the higher moral ground

Bishop rails against selective morality

Catholic Bishop Paul Tan Chee Ing denounced as “morally squalid” and “indefensible” the inaction of the secular authorities over the screening of the video allegedly depicting Anwar Ibrahim in a sexual transaction with a woman.

“When the secular authorities abdicated their responsibility to deal with those responsible for the screening, their inaction beget further evil,” said the titular head of the Malacca-Johor diocese, in comments to Malaysiakini on the circulation of a two-minute clip purportedly from a video depicting the opposition leader having sex with a woman that was screened to a select audience two weeks ago.

In latest developments, the wife and children of Anwar Ibrahim said they have seen the two-minute clip and have publicly denied that the person depicted as having sex in the videotape is the PKR de facto leader.

Commenting on this, Bishop Tan, who is also president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference, said: “Now that the public has heard from the family, it is incumbent on the authorities to take action against those who screened the video.

"Who would know best if the man shown is Anwar or not except his wife and children?”

Elaborating, Tan asserted: “You cannot prevaricate in the face of an evil action that is so clear a violation of the laws.”

“It is morally squalid for people empowered with the civil authority to waffle in the face of transparent evil.

“Their dithering is indefensible. Where the secular authority is supinely weak in the face of evil, it is the duty of the religious authorities to speak up, as otherwise, society would be in mortal peril from the pollution to its morals.

“I have said before that our society is in greater danger from our negligence than from our ignorance,” he said.

“The authorities were negligent in not charging those who publicly purveyed the video in the first place. Now you have fragments from it circulating on the net. One evil leads to another,” lamented the Catholic leader.

Bishop Tan held that the sex video is not a political issue.

“It is first a moral issue before it is anything else. There are clear laws for dealing with it. To ignore the need for their enforcement is to invite the kind of moral confusion from which rescue would be difficult,” he said.

The bishop urged the civil authorities to eschew selective morality, which he said would only spawn “ethical quagmires from which society could only emerge at great cost”.

Terence Netto, Malaysiakini, Apr 5, 11 6:06pm

KENYATAAN MEDIA UNTUK SEBARAN SEGERA 5hb APRIL 2011

Semalam, video seks yang mula-mula disiarkan di Carcosa Seri Negara baru-baru ini telah ditayangkan sebahagiannya di laman web-laman web tukang sorak UMNO.

Keluarga kami telah diuji dengan pelbagai dugaan sejak 1998. Pelbagai fitnah dan tuduhan telah dilemparkan terhadap Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Setiap tuduhan tersebut adalah sendirinya terlalu berat, tetapi Datuk Seri Anwar terpaksa melalui satu demi satu tuduhan yang busuk, jelek dan jijik.

Namun jika disenaraikan semua tuduhan tersebut, nyata sekali tidak masuk akal bagaimana Datuk Seri Anwar dapat melakukan kesemuanya yang bertentangan antara satu sama lain.

Dalam kes video terbaru ini, kami sekeluarga memutuskan untuk menonton sendiri rakaman tersebut.

Video tersebut adalah bukti paling kukuh bagi sesiapa yang benar-benar mengenali Datuk Seri Anwar bahawa tuduhan terbaru ini satu lagi fitnah zalim dan palsu.

Siapa lagi yang lebih mengenali beliau dengan begitu intim kalau bukan kami, keluarga terdekat beliau, yang telah bersama beliau dalam susah dan senang, khusus dari saat beliau berada di arus perdana kepimpinan negara hinggalah ke hari-hari beliau mulai pulih dari serangan apabila beliau dibebaskan daripada penjara.

Jelas kelihatan susuk tubuh badan pelaku dalam video tersebut amat berlainan daripada susuk badan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Hal ini diperkukuh lagi memandangkan sejak lebih setahun yang lalu, anak-anak Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sering menemani beliau setiap kali beliau pergi melakukan aktiviti senaman dan fisioterapi selaku sebahagian daripada aktiviti pemuliharaan kesihatan tulang belakang.

Oleh itu, kami sekeluarga berpendirian bahawa keluarnya video ini adalah satu lagi contoh taktik politik lucah yang diangkat dan dijulang UMNO-Barisan Nasional. Kami menolak sekeras-kerasnya politik sebegini dan mengajak rakyat Malaysia dalam bersama menegakkan keadilan dan menolak politik kotor. Kembalikan agenda perjuangan menuntut reformasi menyeluruh dalam sistem politik, ekonomi dan sosial negara.

Kami ingat firman Allah s.w.t dalam surah Al-Buruj, ayat 10: “Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang memfitnah (membuat keburukan) kepada lelaki beriman dan perempuan beriman, kemudian (daripada kedurjanaan itu) mereka tidak bertaubat, maka bagi mereka azab neraka, dan bagi mereka azab yang membakar.”

Dalam menghadapi dugaan ini, kami yakin ada hikmah di sebaliknya. Pendedahan sedutan video ini dibuat pada 4 April 2011 – ulangtahun ke-12 Parti Keadilan Nasional yang lahir daripada kegawatan politik negara.

Fitnah dan tohmahan ini berpunca daripada ketamakan terhadap kuasa dan politik yang sudah hilang nilai moralnya. Kita sewajarnya berbincang secara kritis perbezaan pandangan kita, bukan dengan serangan peribadi yang kotor dan hina.

Kami berharap semua rakyat tidak terperangkap dengan permainan UMNO-Barisan Nasional ini, sebaliknya meneruskan usaha menegakkan keadilan dan memperjuangkan kebenaran.

DATUK SERI DR WAN AZIZAH WAN ISMAIL

Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat

NURUL IZZAH ANWAR

Naib Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat dan Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai

Ahli-ahli Keluarga Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim

Harussani: Saya tak membisu, saya kecam video aib Anwar

Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria menafikan tanggapan sesetengah pihak bahawa beliau hanya berdiam diri dan tidak bersuara berhubung pendedahan rakaman video yang didakwa melibatkan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Sebaliknya, Mufti Perak itu menegaskan, sejak rakaman video itu didedahkan awal minggu lalu beliau telah mengeluarkan kenyataan dengan menegaskan pendedahan itu telah mengaibkan Anwar yang juga Ketua Umum PKR kerana ia belum dibuktikan kebenarannya.

“Siapa kata saya tidak bersuara? Siapa kata saya tidak ada cakap apa? Sejak hari pertama lagi saya sudah bercakap mengenai perkara ini dan bagi saya rakaman video itu telah mengaibkan Anwar kerana tidak saksi yang boleh buktikan. “Saya ada bercakap dengan Utusan Malaysia tapi apa yang keluar sikit sahaja, mereka tidak keluarkan secara keseluruhan apa yang saya katakan... yang tertulis ia (video seks) hanya fitnah, itu sahaja... yang lain-lain tidak keluar,” katanya ketika dihubungi The Malaysian Insider.

Kata Harussani, rakaman video itu boleh dianggap sebagai fitnah dan dosa besar kerana hukuman telah dijatuhkan terlebih dahulu terhadap Anwar tanpa bukti yang sahih. “Kita buka rahsia orang ini adalah haram, benda yang tidak betul tapi didedahkan adalah satu fitnah, dosa besar dan tidak bermoral. “Rakaman video itu betulkah Anwar? Laporan juga belum dapat dipastikan lagi... ini adalah fitnah dan dosa besar,” katanya.

Awal minggu ini, Presiden PAS Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang menyifatkan pemimpin agama sebagai “syaitan bisu” kerana mengambil sikap berdiam diri dan tidak bersuara dalam isu fitnah moral terbaru yang ditujukan ke atas Anwar itu. Menurut Hadi, sikap pemimpin agama yang enggan memberikan sebarang respons terhadap pendedahan rakaman video oleh “Datuk T” awal minggu lalu amat dikesali.

Tiga Datuk T iaitu bekas ketua menteri Melaka Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik, ahli perniagaan Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah dan Bendahari Perkasa Datuk Shuib Lazim — mengakui bertanggungjawab membuat pendedahan tersebut. Ketiga-tiga individu tersebut terlebih dahulu menayangkan rakaman video itu kepada media di Carcosa Seri Negara .

Menurut Harussani, rakaman video itu tidak boleh dijadikan sebagai bukti. Ini kerana, jelas beliau, menurut perundangan Islam mana-mana jenayah yang membabitkan seks perlu mempunyai empat orang adil yang menyaksikan peristiwa itu berlaku termasuk perbuatan zina.

“Yang dilihat dalam rakaman video itu tidak boleh pakai, ia tidak boleh dijadikan bukti kerana ia boleh diubah atau dimanipulasikan. “Kalau nak jatuhkan hukuman kita kena ada empat saksi yang benar-benar lihat dengan mata sendiri peristiwa itu berlaku bukan melalui gambar atau video. Kalau bawa ke mahkamah, video itu tetap tidak boleh dijadikan bukti kerana ia hanya rakaman dan menurut hukum syarak tetap kena ada empat saksi dan kalau tidak kita tidak boleh nak jatuhkan hukuman,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Mufti Perlis Dr Juanda Jaya tetap berpendirian Anwar tidak boleh dituduh terlibat pelakuan tersebut kerana tiada saksi yang menyaksikan ia berlaku. “Dalam soal jenayah seksual Islam menetapkan saksi empat mata dan rakaman tidak boleh dijadikan bukti, di sudut Islam kena ada empat saksi yang lihat peristiwa itu berlaku.

“Tetap kena ada empat saksi hidup yang tengok ia berlaku, kalau tiada atau tidak cukup sebagai contoh hanya tiga mereka kena hukum qazaf (tuduhan zina) kerana menuduh orang lain,” katanya. Menurut beliau, rakaman video yang didakwa milik “Datuk T” tidak boleh dijadikan bahan bukti.

“Rakaman sama sekali tidak boleh dalam jenayah seksual dalam Islam, tetap perlu ada empat saksi dan orang yang jadi saksi juga perlu individu yang berkredibiliti dan tidak akan menukar pandangan mereka. “Kita tidak boleh ikut rakaman sebab itu dalam Islam hukuman jenayah seksual ini berat dan syarat untuk jatuhkan hukuman juga berat,” katanya.

Tambah Juanda, individu yang membuat pendedahan rakaman video itu sepatutnya disiasat terlebih dahulu. “Yang pertama sebarkan benda lucah orang itu yang harus disiasat dulu, tiada undang-undang atau agama yang membenarkan ia dipertontonkan kepada khalayak. “Sepatutnya bila dapat rakaman itu mereka kena serahkan kepada polis bukan dedahkan kepada umum,” katanya. Beliau juga menggesa agar semua pihak termasuk parti politik agar menghentikan tuduhan yang bersifat peribadi. “Tuduhan seperti ini baik di pihak parti politik mana pun kena elakkan tuduh dalam jenayah seksual, tuduhan seperti ini patut dihentikan,” katanya.

Malaysian Insider, KUALA LUMPUR, 31 Mac