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/  )

Permatang Pasir

Rohaizat's offence a personal misconduct, Ragunath says

Written by Regina William

The Edge, Monday, 17 August 2009 15:38

PERMATANG PAUH: The offence for which Permatang Pasir Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Rohaizat Othman was struck off the Malaysia Bar Council's list involves the individual lawyer.

Bar Council president Ragunath Kesavan told The Edge Malaysia that the proceedings under Section 103D of the Legal Profession Act 1976 involved misconduct of the individual lawyer.

"The offence was for personal liability and does not involve any other persons as Rohaizat was named by the complainant, and not his partner.

"Rohaizat was disbarred on March 7 last year and he appealed against the Bar Council decision to the High Court, which also dismissed his appeal on Aug 12 this year," he added.

Ragunath said the offence committed by Rohaizat involved stakeholders' money from Koperasi Pekebun Getah and there was no account for it.

"When the board looked into this matter and the order was made, there was no reimbursement to the stakeholders involving the sum of RM140,000.

"Even if you pay, the offence has been committed and it is a serious offence as this involves dealing with client's money.

"If you are an innocent party, you would not be found guilty by the disciplinary committee and the charge leveled under Section 103D is tantamount to criminal misconduct," he added.

Ragunath said the other partners only would be penalised if it involved negligence of the law firm concerned, but the offence committed under Section 103D was for personal misconduct.

On Sunday, Penang Umno chief Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told a press conference that it was Rohaizat's partner who was involved in the scandal which resulted in Rohaizat being struck off.

Meanwhile at the nomination centre, when asked whether Rohaizat's credibility would come into question following the revelation of him being disbarred, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said: "There is no controversy with regards to his candidacy as we have done our homework.

"As far as the law is concerned, he has been declared eligible to contest and we believe the voters will understand when we explain to them what actually happened.

"We have our ways of explaining to the voters, the opposition can do whatever character assassinations they want.

"We will expose all their lies and the rakyat can judge for themselves," he added.

When pigs fly

When pigs fly

A well known English idiom.

It will happen "when pigs fly". Pigs do not fly, so it will never happen. Usually it means it will be prevented from happening, that it is politically impossible, at least for many decades. (usingenglish.com)

People used to say this before PRU-12, the March 2008 elections, "when pigs fly" meaning a PAS-DAP pact or cooperation will never ever happen.

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Closure Of Abattoir, A Relief For Residents

ALOR SETAR, July 3 (Bernama) --

Residents in Kampung Berjaya here have requested all quarters not to politicise the closure of a pig abattoir in the village because they want it so. Trader Azizan Ahmad, 50, said residents staying within the vicinity of the abattoir, which had been operating for more than 30 years, had long wanted it to be closed as they could not stand the stench."The matter should not be politicised or made an excuse by Kedah DAP to pull out of the state Pakatan Rakyat government," he told Bernama here Friday.

Basharudin Said, 65, said the action by DAP reflected that the party did not care about the needs of the local residents who wanted the abattoir to be closed."Everybody agrees that the abattoir be closed because of the stench...food operators nearby also complain of poor business because not many people go to their shops," he added.

A mechanic, Tan Khien Hin, 48, regarded DAP's action as a futile move because majority of the residents supported the closure of the abattoir."It is apt that the abattoir be closed because it has been there for a long time, not suitable anymore. Furthermore, there are other places to slaughter (pigs)," he added.

Last Wednesday, Kedah DAP chairman Thomas Su Keong Siong announced that DAP was pulling out of the state Pakatan Rakyat government because of the party's dissatisfaction over several issues, especially the demolition of the pig abattoir in Kampung Berjaya.Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak, when asked to comment on the matter, said it was up to DAP whether or not to remain in the state Pakatan Rakyat government as the state government had done its best accommodate their demands.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 (Malaysian Insider excerpts)–

Kedah DAP has applied more pressure on the PAS-led state government in a move that seems to be fueled by the public backing of DAP supremos, Its sole state assemblyman Lee Guan Aik made clear today. While acknowledging that the illegal pig abattoir has been a problem for decades since Barisan Nasional (BN) were in charge, he said that the people voted for a new government “because they want to see a change for the better.”

Kedah DAP has claimed that six sites had been suggested for a relocation but all were shot down while Azizan insists that a site in Pendang near a Chinese village had already been earmarked.
Lee today also said that the 28 butchers at the abattoir “were made to believe that the government was looking for a new site.”

However, PKR Kedah chief Ahmad Kassim said that while the mentri besar promised to facilitate the application process for the new site, the operator had only submitted his application last week.His deputy Tan Show Kang also pointed out that the operator has also been asked to relocate by the BN state government more than 10 years ago but this was not executed.

Pemuda UMNO bertindak berang terhadap DAP dan PAS di Melaka

MELAKA, July 3 (Malaysiakini excerpts)

Pemuda Umno Bukit Katil mengaku ahlinya telah bertindak memecahkan sebuah meja dalam kekecohan dengan DAP dan PAS di pasar malam Taman Melaka Baru, malam tadi.Selain seorang wakil rakyat DAP didakwa mengalami luka-luka, seorang ahli Umno ditahan di balai polis Batu Berendam selama enam jam sejak 9 malam bagi membantu siasatan.

Setiausahanya Safrie Abdullah berkata, kejadian tersebut berlaku selepas pertikaman lidah antara kira-kira 40 ahli dan penyokong Pemuda Umno dengan kumpulan seangkatannya dalam DAP dan PAS.

Pemuda Umno Bukit Katil, Melaka didakwa bertindak liar dengan memecah peralatan milik PAS dan DAP dan menimbulkan kekecohan sehingga tercedera seorang ADUN pembangkang, malam tadi.Sewaktu kejadian, dua parti Pakatan Rakyat itu - yang sedang mengalami konflik besar di Kedah - sedang berkempen menggalakkan orang ramai mendaftar sebagai pemilih baru di sebuah pasar malam.

Naib Ketua Pemuda Umno bahagian Jailani Khamis "dengan bongkak dan sombong memaki hamun pemimpin DAP dan PAS" yang membuka kaunter pendaftaran di Taman Melaka Baru, kata ketua penerangan PAS Melaka, Sofi Wahab hari ini.

PAS’s self inflicted wound

PAS’s self inflicted wound

It seems PAS has been entranced by UMNO’s crafty use of the keris, thereby inflicted by UMNO’s realpolitik.. In old Malay lore, folks say that the best form of silat or martial arts is by defeating the enemy using its own strength. Once again UMNO’s political shrewdness has made the better of PAS.

I met a member of PKR's supreme council once at the LCCT during the first revelations of secret UMNO-PAS talks. He commented light heartedly that there were two trains travelling to Putrajaya but one had already arrived. So you can either climb up the one that is still on its way or be there at the destination.

Power is tempting, offers of being in the highest echelons of national governance is ever luring. Justifications of national interest, Malay-Muslim unity and opportunities for Islamisation shore up these political ambitions. Dread and fears of further religious liberalisation add to the fuel.

During the secret talks between Pak Lah and Pas's president and his deputy, even the matter of Anwar's pending regurgitated charges were brought up. In fact, they even tried to convince PAS leaders that they had a valid case against Anwar. It was leverage as well as further justification, however diabolical. Meeting prominent national leaders up close tend to cloud one's vision.

The only difference in this PAS-UMNO unity idea is that UMNO shall remain as it is, in fact may even boost its image in leading Malay fervour for reconciliation. In the meantime, PAS shall definitely split up, losing its young base support, professionals and mistrust from the non-Muslims. This shall undauntedly happen even if the unity idea fails.

In time PAS shall be jettisoned like they suffered in 1978 as UMNO regains its strength and its ability to survive due to its dominance in realpolitik. UMNO's base support remains. PAS shall remain as provincial politicians and may never reach the national stage ever again.

PAS ought to gauge and review why they lost Trengganu when others won even in Perak and Selangor. PAS ought to be honest and should they really discount Anwar's contribution in bringing them to the mainstream in Malaysian politics after years of being in the political wilderness.

Notes: Realpolitik (German: real “realistic”, “practical” or “actual”; and Politik “politics”) refers to politics or diplomacy based primarily on practical considerations, rather than ideological notions. The term realpolitik is often used pejoratively to imply politics that are coercive, amoral, or Machiavellian. Realpolitik is a theory of politics that focuses on considerations of power, not ideals, morals, or principles. (source: wikipedia)

Islam Memimpin Perubahan

Menyedari iklim politik persada kini menuntut perubahan dan pembaharuan, Presiden PAS memilih tajuk “Islam Memimpin Perubahan”.Berikut adalah di antara intisari dan perkara-perkara yang diutarakan dalam ucapan dasar presiden, Tuan Guru Haji Abdul Hadi Awang:-

Perubahan yang dianjurkan PAS perlu kerana berlakunya kegagalan sistem politik dan ekonomi. Hasil dari ketidakadilan dan kegagalan pelbagai sistem, menyaksikan semakin bertambahnya politik peras ugut dan perkauman di Malaysia.

Dengan pendekatan Politik Li Ta’arafu – politik saling menghormati, bagi negara-bangsa ini yang majmuk, maka PAS perlu menyerlahkan sifat keadilan Islam yang mampumeraikan kepelbagaian. PAS acknowledges and recognises diversity and plurality.

PAS menampilkan model penyelesaian untuk membangunkan masyarakat dan negara abad ini. PAS bersedia menawar diri untuk memimpin perubahan dan memikul amanah kepimpinan negara yang majmuk.

PAS masih menjadi parti yang selamat daripada banjir politik wang manakala parti yang mendokong kuasa melalui rasuah berhadapan dengan gelombang penolakan rakyat.

Bagi PAS hanya Islam yang menjadi rahsia ketahanan , dengan pengisian tarbiyah, dan bai’ah kepada setiap pemimpin dan calon pilihan raya yang dipilih. Ahli PAS diajar dosa pahala dalam amalan politik.

Ahli-ahli Parlimen PAS berprestasi dan bertindak menyuarakan pandangan-pandangan parti dengan penuh keberanian dan hikmah, memberikan gagasan-gagasan sehinggadisegani oleh kawan dan lawan.

PAS bekerjasama atas dasar Tahalluf Siyasi tanpa memaksa rakan perjuangan dan pakatan menganut Islam dalam aspek ibadah, tetapi bersatu dengan mereka yang menentang kezaliman dan PAS tidak bersama dengan orang-orang yang zalim.

Walaupun PAS sungguh terbuka untuk menerima idea-idea baru, semua yang menjadi ahli PAS perlulah ditarbiyah dengan kefahaman fiqh siyasi PAS, memahami budaya dan kaedah PAS. Institusi usrah dipelbagai peringkat pula perlulah diperkukuhkan, untuk melahirkan ahli yang faham serta istiqamah dengan perjuangan Islam.

PAS terus menerus berusaha mencari kaedah-kaedah yang bersesuaian, agresif dan berstrategik untuk memenangi kelompok undi teras pengundi luar bandar dan desa.

Peranan Dewan Ulamak adalah bagi merealisasikan konsep kepimpinan ulamak,pemahaman kepada asas sebuah gerakan Islam menerusi konsep wala dan taat, istiqamah,wehdatul fikrah, dan sebagainya.

Dewan Pemuda menyedari akan asas perjuangan yang diletakkan oleh generasi yang terdahulu memerlukan golongan ’syabab’ sebagai penerusnya. Golongan pengundi muda sangat penting kepada perjuangan PAS, kerana merekalah generasi yang akan mendominasi geopolitik negara di masa yang akan datang.Pemuda PAS perlu merangka pelan untuk mengekalkan sokongan orang-orang muda daripada pelbagai latar belakang, kaum, budaya, taraf pendidikan dengan program-program yang bersesuaian, termasuk “mengakhlakkan” aktiviti-aktiviti hiburan, sosial dan sukan yang selama ini dilihat di luar ruang lingkup PAS.

Dewan Muslimat menyedari golongan wanita adalah sangat penting dalamperjuangan PAS. Komposisi wanita melebihi 50 peratus penduduk Malaysia, memerlukan muslimat turut bersama di dalam masyarakat dengan pendekatan “Da’ie menuju mad’u”.

Umat Islam sedang memasuk alaf baru dengan penuh ujian dan cabaran. Di mata dunia antarabangsa, maruah serta nyawa umat Islam bagaikan tiada apa-apa harga dan nilai. Di Palestin, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Iraq dan terkini di Pakistan, seolah-olah harga nyawa umat Islam lebih murah dari haiwan yang hina.

Islam mengharamkan penganutnya tunduk kepada tindakan yang tidak bermaruah ini.PAS mengalu-ngalukan tindakan protes yang ditunjukkan oleh Perdana Menteri Turki Rejab Tayyeb Erdogan di Persidangan Davos dan Presiden Iran Mahmood Ahmadinejad di Geneva.

Seruan untuk terus menerus memperkasakan parti dan mempersiapkan kepimpinan PAS, bagi menangani cabaran persaingan yang semakin sengit intelektual dan mendepani permasalahan negara dalam konteks global. Pimpinan ulamak PAS perlu berani berijtihad bagi menangani polemik-polemik baru dalam urusan perundangan dan kancah politik yang serba mencabar ini

Seruan menampilkan satu imej dan citra PAS sebagai parti Islam yang sentiasa bersedia untuk berdepan dengan apa jua cabaran semasa dan mendatang dengan menampilkan satu pendekatan imej yang bersifat “Usuliy” dari segi prinsip-prinsip perjuangan, “Mu’asirah” dari segi kepimpinan dan organisasi-jentera, “Istiqbaliy”dari segi persiapan dan kesediaan untuk menggempur senario perjuangan masa depan. PAS aims to uphold the principles of the struggle, be contemporary in leadership and be ready futurisically to face whatever may behold.

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Komentar pemerhati

Ucapan masih menyebut BN dan UMNO berulang kali dan ini mungkin tidak perlu. Sekadar sindiran pun rakyat sudah memahami apatah lagi para muktamirin. Sudah tiba masanya PAS lepas bebas tanpa perlu melihat belakangnya lagi dan berpisah daripada kongkongan atau bayangan UMNO. Namun mungkin itulah mesej yang ingin disampaikan.

Prestasi pemerintahan dan kerajaan negeri penguasaan PAS dan Pakatan tidak disentuh. Adalah menarik jika muhasabah, penilaian awal dibuat ke atas kepimpinan sedemikian untuk tatapan muktamirin dan rakyat.