Corruption and Betrayal

“In the name of Allah, I left the party not because of money, power or anything else but principles. I’ll have you know that I stood by Anwar till the day he was released from prison. I had defended him when no one else would,” said Ezam to a 100-odd people, mostly grassroots Umno supporters in Wangsa Maju. "Anwar cared so much for Azmin, almost like a second wife. Azmin is very close to Anwar, so close that they have had “moments” together,” said Ezam, hinting that Azmin’s relationship with Anwar was more than just that of colleagues. Like Ezam, Anuar Shaari also insinuated that Azmin had been “intimate” with Anwar in the past. He said that the campaign to smear Anwar and Pakatan had only just begun and they would be doubling their efforts in weeks to come with similar ceramahs.

(Malaysian Insider)

Wow, with comrades like these around, you do not really need enemies. They'll be there to stab your back anytime, over and over again. Why are they zealously offering themselves like a pack of attacking hounds on a crusade to crucify Anwar Ibrahim when he is already being engulfed viciously in fitnah 2? Have they lost every bit of human decency, honour and dignity? Will they be celebrating in the event of Anwar's demise and second imprisonment? How do they sleep nights, relishing thoughts of treachery and betrayal? Surely, is by doing what they are doing, the only thing that brings bread to their families' table? They shall inevitably atone for all of their actions whether they like it or not, or else be buried in shame forever.

In September 1998, at Anwar Ibrahim's former house in Damansara days after his inglorious sacking, just after maghrib prayers Sheikh Taha Jabir of the International Institute of Islamic Thought gave a short sermon. He delivered a tadhkirah, on the relevant verse in surah An Nur concerning the hadith al ifk, the fitnah. In it he reminded everyone that those who are accomplices to the fitnah shall have their testimony and their trust revoked forever - abada. The two men above who were Anwar's confidants staunchly supporting him then , were there but they must have forgotten. How tragic.

My Son

My son who is 15 years old asked me a question in the car recently. He asked whether Professor Yusuf Qaradawi met with our Religious Affairs Minister when he was over here. I said he must have since he was to receive the national Maal Hijrah award. My son asked whether Prof Qaradawi brought up the fitnah II issue with the minister. Again, I said he must have offered his advice and caution to the minister. My son asked what did the minister say which I replied I could only guess that he would say that he was personally not involved and it is a pending court case so let the court decide, which maybe is so more or less. My son argued that surely the minister is religiously knowledgeable and should have done the right thing. I had to say that knowledge is not everything especially if it is subdued by power and dictated by interests. Sometimes my son goes on about the muftis, why are they not doing this or that. My son has this fascination, respect and high regard for religious teachers and scholars which he should have and proudly so. But the realities are mighty challenging. We pray that our son remains steadfast to the religion and maintains his respect for knowledge and people of knowledge.

In 1999, a friend who is a senior architect somewhere in the north asked one of the members of the state fatwa committee why they did not make a stand in the first fitnah seeing that it was such a shameful and malicious episode. The scholar replied that they were not fighters but the one put in prison is the fighter. Possessing knowledge and to act upon it is a major test for everyone and there is no exception.

So it came to pass that a group of religious teachers and upright educators were intimidated by administrators for carrying on with tadhkirah which were not in the regime's favour and flavour. Suddenly these well meaning and knowledgeable people were given the test of their lives by being made to be subject to reprimand, fear and pressure. Now, everyone came to realise the true meaning of tadhkirah, it is not something shallow nor empty , meant for a docile crowd. It is something which has to face and come to terms with hostility. These incidences shape the outlook and worldview of things, material hardship and promotion chances are dangled as if the administrators know and have power over other humans in being beneficent. How far it is from the truth. Has corruption come to this lowest level that good people are being forced to succumb and surrender their will and suppress their noble knowledge in the pursuit of people in power.

We hope that our sons and daughters do not have to come to this stage where evil is upheld and truth is suppressed knowingly. If it comes to this then we have condemned our own future generation.