Friday, February 20, 2009

Euro-Muslim World : Intensive role should be set up for the future

Dear readers,

I was attracted to an article on how the Pope's had addressed his vision to welcome Muslim in Europe to give and involve in constructing the new and strong bulding for the comming civilization in the west.(the article has written by Dr.H.A. Hellyer, Associate Fellow of the Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations at the University of Warwick).He accepted (the Pope) as a matter of fact, materialism and secularism had changed European people a lot. Thus the value of humanity was constructed as vague in concepts and practices. There are no more so called the absolute values instead of believing in ralativity crux of creeds and values in humanity.Even, if Muslim try to influence Islamic values or universal values would be considered as breaking the harmonious of western life. He advised Muslim to get involve into developing the Western Society integratedly, not in partial conditions or circumtances, due to their existence of absolute values which restored in the Islamic religion and has an ablity to deal with the modern-contemporary events. In short, Muslims have their strengt and western societies either. So, Why don't we push ourselves to keep helping each other for harmonious in the future generation to come.

Yet from my point of view, that the Pope's idea is very excellent, but is must be promotted to the European societies to be accepted that ISLAM IS NOT THEIR ENEMY. The "terrorist" is isolatedly been emerged in many societies of multi-national and less-religious committed nations and not just the Muslims. The facts that imballances in infra-structures, the collapes of monetory system and financial institutions, unstable in economic sectors and injustice treatment in US foreign policies upon Middle-eastern regions had lead into many havocs in socio-politico-economy for many parties in the world. - Abu Muhammad el-Merbawiy, Dungun, MALAYSIA.
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"In reality, this is the element in the Vatican's present policy that will cause ripples for decades to come, as will similar policies in European states. Multi-culturalism is being questioned by the European mainstream on the suspicion of being too relativistic. In the course of their negative response to the lack of an absolute in multiculturalism, many Europeans have decided that they must arrive at a rigid and narrow definition of a moral absolute on which to base their culture. In this mindset, the Muslim presence in Europe is problematic since, as an essentially foreign ingredient, it interrupts the reinforcement of the fabric of European identity. Inclusiveness is no longer a priority; the inclusion of many communities that do not fit into that pre-conceived mythical fabric is easily sacrificed."

....to be continued

"As Europe comes to the next phase of its history, there is certainly a discussion that must ensue as to the formation of its future. Europeans have accepted that respect for diversity and inclusion of difference is important (it took us long enough), and they are now at the stage of deciding how much respect and inclusion into what exactly.

If we are truthful about our history, then we will recognize that Islam and Muslims, amongst other elements, have played key roles in our development in the past: not only as limited external challenges as "Other", but also as integral positive ingredients as "Us". A European story based on a lie does not make for a good basis for the renewal of European civilization, and will be rejected by communities that do want to be a part of it."
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Now the article in full.Have a nice reading. Thank you.

The Future of Europe in Islam
Page 1 of 2

Does the Pope's vision of the future of Europe include the full participation of the Muslim communities? And how far should Muslims go in helping realize that vision?

by H.A. HELLYER

'The Future of Europe In Islam': that was the title of the panel discussion that the Muslim Youth Helpline hosted almost a year ago in London. The controversial nature of the title was likely the point; in the year preceding it, most of the conferences relating to the Muslim community were incredibly depressing, and usually reactionary.

Not that one, where for once the problems regarding integration, radicalism and so forth were not the sole emphasis when discussing Europe and its Muslim communities. More positive attitudes emerged, with speakers indicating they had high hopes. High hopes for Muslim communities in Europe and high hopes for the contribution of Muslim Europeans to Islam, just as Muslim Arabs, Muslim Africans and Muslim Asians had contributed to Islam in the past.

But there was a clearly articulated thread that evening: they also had high hopes for Europe as a whole, as integral parts of it. They did not have any interest in building a Europe that they were not integral parts of.

I use the word "integralization" to describe a process by which communities do not "integrate", "assimilate" or "segregate" into/from their societies, but go beyond those paradigms. The basic premise is that an integral community is not a separate, distinct community from the mainstream, but is identifiable on the basis of its core principles. It is not so much the "melting pot" principle, but something a little different; instead of becoming another piece of lettuce in the salad bowl of society, the integral community is a vinegar that seasons and invigorates the whole salad in a subtle, yet deeply felt manner.

On Monday 24th September last year, (2008), the Pope met with a delegation of leaders from Muslim countries to discuss his recent comments in Germany that caused a huge uproar when he repeated the words of a medieval Byzantine Emperor that described the Prophet as violent. That saga is now thankfully no longer front-page news; the Pope went to Turkey in November, and essentially "buried the hatchet" with many Muslims by his great deference to the Muslim community during that visit.

Yet, the account of the reactions to the Pope's speech was surprising in that most did not realize that the most relevant long-term issue to Muslim communities was not this citation. Were the Pope intent on insulting Muslims, he would have chosen another forum to do so, and he certainly would not have retracted such comments. On the contrary, he could have made a harsher statement, and stuck to it, and likely receiving enough support from the European mainstream to make it bearable. (In this sense, Muslims responding with violence in some areas merely proved that they agreed with the violent image they were supposedly protesting about.)

The Pope certainly has a perspective on Islam and Muslims, which is based on five main points, as follows.

* In the Vatican's public policy Islam is not so much a violent threat, as it is an external non-European reality that Europe must engage with. Sometimes that engagement is positive. The Pope's political stances on the Muslim world are often in its favor: he opposed the war on Iraq; he opposed the Danish cartoons; and supported the people of Lebanon in its recent conflict with Israel. It does not appear he is aligning the Vatican with any existing negative political agenda elsewhere although, like much of the world, he fears radical violent tendencies.

* The Pope has decided to focus more on ecumenical activity within Christian groups (Orthodox, in particular) and less on dialogue with Islam than his predecessor; this is clear from his internal restructuring of the Vatican and its staff in this area. Most poignantly, in February of this year, he reassigned the Vatican's top experts on Islam from his position as the head of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue to representing the Vatican to Egypt and the Arab League. This was a move seen by many to be a demotion, and his name was conspicuously missing from the list of appointments to the College of Cardinals revealed a few days before his reassignment. That Council was also merged with the Pontifical Council for Culture, instead of having its own distinct realm of responsibility.

* This Pope is a traditionalist who supported the reforms of Vatican II: i.e., he does not consider modernity to be completely beneficial, but accepts that the Church has to update itself in order to properly engage modernity. He may recognize Islam as a possible ally in that engagement, but at present, he separates that from the future of European civilisation.

* That qualified recognition is not unconditional; the Pope is cautious about the prospects of Islam being an ally against modernity without it engaging in some sort of re-interpretation process. At a private meeting earlier this year between the Pope and some of his consultants on Islam, he viewed the reconciliation between Islam and modernity to be possible, but difficult. It does not appear the Catholic Church favours a "Reformation", for itself or Islam. Yet, just as the Church underwent Vatican II in the 1960s, it may positively envisage some sort of internal Muslim "Re-evaluation".

Page 2 of 2

* Beyond Europe, it is clear that the Catholic Church has realised that Muslims provide a serious alternative in Central and West Africa. Catholicism remains a missionary religion, and its sophistication does not (and need not) preclude its competing with Islam for converts.

None of this constitutes a "crusade" against Islam. Even while a re-evaluation idea could easily become quite dangerous, for even while it is clear modernity has wrought changes in the world that have yet to be comprehensively engaged with from within the Muslim world, what is modern-day radical extremism but a re-evaluation of Islam?

No, this very deeply European Pope is waging another crusade, and it is about Europe and Europe's soul. He has identified Europe as suffering from an internal crisis of identity: on what moral basis does Europe exist? His record, such as those collected in the discourse between him and the President of the Italian Senate in 'Without Roots: The West, Relativism, Christianity and Islam', indicates he is anxious regarding the moral compass of Europe, for without it, European civilization is unsustainable. In particular, he identifies an ethical void in a continent where moral relativism has taken root, and which should be filled by an emphasis on the Christian roots of European ethical culture. In a continent where so many are struggling with the concept of what a cohesive, healthy society means in the absence of a common meta-narrative, this is a discussion that is slowly gaining support. It has traditionally been the domain of the far right (which explains its success lately), but it is fast becoming an issue of concern for the whole political spectrum.

The Pope's speech must be read in this light. He wants to save Europe from a moral void that cuts out what European values are based on. Muslim communities, as communities based on absolute moral codes, are appropriate partners in that endeavour. In that sense, his concern about moral relativism is not about Islam.

But actually, it is about Islam. Because in his speech, the Pope makes an implicit argument, which is explicit elsewhere: Islam has not been an integral part of past European civilization except as an external negative element, and the future is not going to be much different. Muslims can and should exist in peace and harmony, but their religion and their community are not indigenous and not an integral, positive part of the European story, past or present.

Somehow, most Muslim commentators inside and outside of Europe missed this, although one or two notable exceptions, such as Tariq Ramadan in the UK, and Habib 'Ali al-Jifri in the Emirates, alluded to this.

In reality, this is the element in the Vatican's present policy that will cause ripples for decades to come, as will similar policies in European states. Multi-culturalism is being questioned by the European mainstream on the suspicion of being too relativistic. In the course of their negative response to the lack of an absolute in multiculturalism, many Europeans have decided that they must arrive at a rigid and narrow definition of a moral absolute on which to base their culture. In this mindset, the Muslim presence in Europe is problematic since, as an essentially foreign ingredient, it interrupts the reinforcement of the fabric of European identity. Inclusiveness is no longer a priority; the inclusion of many communities that do not fit into that pre-conceived mythical fabric is easily sacrificed.

Nor is historical accuracy; the rejection of the Muslim component in the building of European culture and heritage over 1400 years is left by the wayside in this discussion.

As Europe comes to the next phase of its history, there is certainly a discussion that must ensue as to the formation of its future. Europeans have accepted that respect for diversity and inclusion of difference is important (it took us long enough), and they are now at the stage of deciding how much respect and inclusion into what exactly.

If we are truthful about our history, then we will recognize that Islam and Muslims, amongst other elements, have played key roles in our development in the past: not only as limited external challenges as "Other", but also as integral positive ingredients as "Us". A European story based on a lie does not make for a good basis for the renewal of European civilization, and will be rejected by communities that do want to be a part of it.

Out of all those communities, it is the Muslim community who has the most to lose if it does not take the challenge of rejuvenating Europe from within seriously. If demographic projections are to be believed, the Muslim population in Europe will continue to be highly significant numerically, and if European society develops in a way that they are perpetually regarded as "the Other" from within, the results could be disastrous. This was, after all, the first phase in the long dehumanization process that led to the Holocaust, and to the destruction of Muslim communities in Spain centuries before.

If we are serious about rejuvenating Europe, we cannot entertain a superficial and shallow definition of what it means to be a European, relativizing it to the point of meaninglessness-it will not work. We also cannot allow ourselves to be cowed into accepting too narrow a demarcation that goes beyond restoring an ethical core.


Otherwise, we risk rejecting our real partners in building a better Europe for all Europeans, for tomorrow, and for the world.


Civilizations have always had to balance themselves in finding a mean. The Pope knows this well; that is, after all, his main argument. Where his argument becomes narrower is how that mean is arrived at. The historian Arnold Toynbee argued that the growth of every civilisation had two elements: a challenge, and a "creative minority" that could respond to that challenge. Who that "creative minority" will be in Europe is certainly not a foregone conclusion. All communities would do well to remember that.
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Dr. H.A. HELLYER is a Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington D.C. He is also an Associate Fellow of the Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations at the University of Warwick (UK). His new book on European Muslim communities is due to be published by Edinburgh University Press in 2007. For more information, visit www.hahellyer.com

Reference:
http://www.islamicamagazine.com/Issue-20/The-Future-of-Europe-in-Islam/Page-2.html

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Joanna Francis wrote to Muslim Women

Why did we discredit Islam and the pratices of the religion arround us?. How nice if this woman Joanna Francis had a great appreciation on Muslim women due to their stand point towards the religion in veil, proud to be mothers to many children, beloved by man who is called the responsible and loyal husband, restored the human dignity upon the society, to be responsible to society, state, nation and international relationship regarding to Muslims as whole.She hoped that Muslim women strightly be firmed with the Islamic practices, because western society had facing age of decay in human civilization. Yes of course, when ever such nation had ceased out of ethics and excellent characteristics, thus it is the time to dissolve and facing disapearance from the existence. - Abu Muhammad el-Merbawiy, Dungun, MALAYSIA.
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To My Muslim Sisters *

By
Joanna Francis, A Writer, Journalist - USA

Between the Israeli assault on Lebanon and the Zionist "war on terror," the Muslimworld is now center stage in every American home. I see the carnage, death and destruction that have befallen Lebanon, but I also see something else: I see you. I can't help but notice that almost every woman I see is carrying a baby or has children around her. I see that though they are dressed modestly, their beauty still shines through. But it's not just outer beauty that I notice. I also notice that I feel something strange inside me: I feel envy. I feel terrible for the horrible experiences and war crimes that the Lebanese people have suffered, being targeted by our common enemy. But I can't help but admire your strength, your beauty, your modesty, and most of all, your happiness. Yes, it's strange, but it occurred to me that even under constant bombardment, you still seemed happier than we are, because you were still living the natural lives of women. The way women have always lived since the beginning of time. It used to be that way in the West until the 1960s, when we were bombarded by the same enemy. Only we were not bombarded with actual munitions, but with subtle trickery and moral corruption.

Through Temptation

They bombarded us Americans from Hollywood, instead of from fighter jets or with our own American-made tanks. They would like to bomb you in this way too, after they've finished bombing the infrastructure of your countries. I do not want this to happen to you. You will feel degraded, just like we do. You can avoid this kind of bombing if you will kindly listen to those of us who have already suffered serious casualties from their evil influence. Because everything you see coming out of Hollywood is a pack of lies, a distortion of reality, smoke and mirrors. They present casual sex as harmless recreation because they aim to destroy the moral fabric of the societies into which they beam their poisonous programming. I beg you not to drink their poison. There is no antidote for it once you have consumed it. You may recover partially, but you will never be the same. Better to avoid the poison altogether than to try to heal from the damage it causes.

They will try to tempt you with their titillating movies and music videos, falsely portraying us American women as happy and satisfied, proud of dressing like prostitutes, and content without families. Most of us are not happy, trust me. Millions of us are on anti-depressant medication, hate our jobs, and cry at night over the men who told us they loved us, then greedily used us and walked away. They would like to destroy your families and convince you to have fewer children. They do this by presenting marriage as a form of slavery, motherhood as a curse, and being modest and pure as old-fashioned. They want you to cheapen yourself and lose your faith. They are like the Serpent tempting Eve with the apple. Don't bite.

Self-Value

I see you as precious gems, pure gold, or the "pearl of great value" spoken of in the Bible (Matthew 13: 45). All women are pearls of great value, but some of us have been deceived into doubting the value of our purity. Jesus said: "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you" (Matthew 7: 6). Our pearls are priceless, but they convince us that they're cheap. But trust me; there is no substitute for being able to look in the mirror and seeing purity, innocence and self-respect staring back at you. The fashions coming out of the Western sewer are designed to make you believe that your most valuable asset is your sexuality. But your beautiful dresses and veils are actually sexier than any Western fashion, because they cloak you in mystery and show self-respect and confidence. A woman's sexuality should be guarded from unworthy eyes, since it should be your gift to the man who loves and respects you enough to marry you. And since your men are still manly warriors, they deserve no less than your best. Our men don't even want purity anymore. They don't recognize the pearl of great value, opting for the flashy rhinestone instead. Only to leave her too!

Your most valuable assets are your inner beauty, your innocence, and everything that makes you who you are. But I notice that some Muslim women push the limit and try to be as Western as possible, even while wearing a veil (with some of their hair showing). Why imitate women who already regret, or will soon regret, their lost virtue? There is no compensation for that loss. You are flawless diamonds. Don't let them trick you into becoming rhinestones. Because everything you see in the fashion magazines and on Western television is a lie. It is Satan's trap. It is fool's gold.

A Woman's Heart

I'll let you in on a little secret, just in case you're curious: pre-marital sex is not even that great. We gave our bodies to the men we were in love with, believing that that was the way to make them love us and want to marry us, just as we had seen on television growing up. But without the security of marriage and the sure knowledge that he will always stay with us, it's not even enjoyable! That's the irony. It was just a waste. It leaves you in tears. Speaking as one woman to another, I believe that you understand that already. Because only a woman can truly understand what's in another woman's heart. We really are all alike. Our race, religion or nationalities do not matter. A woman's heart is the same everywhere. We love. That's what we do best. We nurture our families and give comfort and strength to the men we love. But we American women have been fooled into believing that we are happiest having careers, our own homes in which to live alone, and freedom to give our love away to whomever we choose. That is not freedom. And that is not love. Only in the safe haven of marriage can a woman's body and heart be safe to love. Don't settle for anything less. It's not worth it. You won't even like it and you'll like yourself even less afterwards. Then he'll leave you.

Self-Denial

Sin never pays. It always cheats you. Even though I have reclaimed my honor, there's still no substitute for having never been dishonored in the first place. We Western women have been brainwashed into thinking that you Muslim women are oppressed. But truly, we are the ones who are oppressed; slaves to fashions that degrade us, obsessed with our weight, begging for love from men who do not want to grow up. Deep down inside, we know that we have been cheated. We secretly admire and envy you, although some of us will not admit it. Please do not look down on us or think that we like things the way they are. It's not our fault. Most of us did not have fathers to protect us when we were young because our families have been destroyed. You know who is behind this plot. Don't be fooled, my sisters. Don't let them get you too. Stay innocent and pure. We Christian women need to see what life is really supposed to be like for women. We need you to set the example for us, because we are lost. Hold onto your purity. Remember: you can't put the toothpaste back in the tube. So guard your "toothpaste" carefully!

I hope you receive this advice in the spirit in which it is intended: the spirit of friendship, respect, and admiration. From your Christian sister – with love…

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* This article is republished with the kind permission of the author. The original can be found onCrescent and the Cross.Joanna Francis is a writer and journalist. She manages her ownblog.


Reference:
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1164545989052&pagename=Zone-English-Family%2FFYELayout

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Isu Penderhakaan Melayu: Muhasabah UMNO

Umno: Dulu menderhaka, kini taat setia?
Oleh:
Ahmad Tajdid
Tue | Feb 10, 09 | 10:38:44 am MYT

Malaysiakini melaporkan hampir seribu orang ahli pemuda Umno dan pertubuhan bukan kerajaan berkumpul di Padang Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh di Jalan Sultan Abdul Jalil dalam apa yang didakwa sebagai perhimpunan menyokong Sultan Perak.

Utusan Malaysia yang dimiliki Umno dan Bernama yang diterajui Dato' Seri Anuar Zaini yang diketahui peranannya dalam pergolakan politik Perak) mendakwa perhimpunan itu dihadiri lebih 5,000 rakyat pelbagai kaum.

'Perhimpunan haram' yang berlangsung selama satu setengah jam itu tidak diganggu polis. Malah demonstrasi jalanan itu diadakan hanya beberapa hari selepas beberapa pemimpin Umno mendakwa BN tidak akan menggunakan kaedah 'demonstrasi jalanan' bagi menyelesaikan krisis politik yang berlaku di Perak.

Seperti biasa, orang yang menjadi hero kepada bantahan anjuran gabungan pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) pro-Umno negeri ini bersama BN Perak ialah Naib Ketua Pemuda Umno, Khairy Jamaluddin. Khairy disertai Ketua Pemuda Umno Perak, Zainol Padzi Paharuddin dan Ketua Pemuda MIC, G. Shamugavelu.

Pemimpin Umno dan BN yang berucap pada 'perhimpunan haram' itu mendesak supaya tindakan diambil terhadap Pengerusi DAP Karpal Singh yang dilaporkan menyatakan hasratnya menyaman Sultan Azlan Shah.

Mereka turut mendesak bekas Menteri Besar, Dato' Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin supaya menghentikan segala tindak-tanduk 'menderhakai' titah Sultan Perak.

Drama itu disudahi kemuncak dengan gimik kesediaan berarak ke kediaman rasmi MB Perak bagi 'menghalau' Mohammad Nizar dari situ.

Malah Khairy seperti kebiasaan beretorik kononnya pemuda Umno akan menghalang percubaan Nizar dan anggota exconya untuk ke pejabat mereka di Bangunan SUK Perak.
Khairy juga berikrar untuk kononnya mempertahankan institusi beraja hingga 'ketitisan darah yang terakhir'.

Begitulah hebatnya Khairy dan Pemuda Umno beretorik. Seperti merekalah orang yang paling layak mempertahankan Raja-raja Melayu.

Cuma kita ingin bertanya, jika keengganan Nizar untuk melepaskan jawatannya sebagai MB dianggap 'menderhaka' kepada sultan, bagaimana pula dengan keengganan pemimpin Umno Perlis dan Terengganu, Dato' Seri Shahidan Kassim dan Dato' Seri Idris Jusoh mentaati perintah Raja dan Sultan, 10 bulan lalu?

Pastinya kita masih belum lupa bagaimana Shahidan dan Idris dengan sokongan Umno Pusat khususnya Presiden Umno, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi membantah calon MB istana.

Malah perhimpunan membantah keputusan istana diadakan di dua negeri terbabit selama beberapa hari. Di Terengganu, satu sepanduk yang dibawa penyokong Idris yang juga Ketua Perhubungan Umno negeri menyifatkan istana sebagai 'natang' (binatang).

Selantang-lantang Karpal Singh tidak sampai ke peringkat menyamakan istana dengan haiwan.

Mengapakah pada waktu itu tiada istilah 'derhaka' terkeluar daripada mulut pemuda Umno, apatah lagi yang menyokong tindakan derhaka itu tidak lain tidak bukan ialah Presiden Umno yang juga bapa mentua Khairy!

Sejarah negara juga memperlihatkan bagaimana institusi istana pernah dipijak dan dihina Umno. Lihat sajalah krisis Perlembagaan yang berlaku pada 1983 apabila perhimpunan-perhimpunan besar dianjurkan Umno untuk berhadapan pihak istana.

Bagaimana pula dengan episod pindaan Perlembagaan bagi menghapuskan imuniti Raja-raja Melayu pada awal dekad 90-an. Bukankah Utusan Malaysia, akhbar yang dimiliki Umno telah menerajui kempen menghina Raja-raja Melayu pada waktu itu?

Setelah sepuluh bulan episod penderhakaan berlaku di Perlis dan Terengganu, tiada sebarang tindakan diambil oleh Umno untuk menghukum sipenderhaka. Shahidan terus kekal sebagai Ketua Perhubungan Umno negeri walaupun terlepas jawatan Menteri Besar.

Idris Jusoh diberi habuan sebagai Pengerusi MARA manakala sebahagian Adun Umno Terengganu yang bersama Adun Ajil, Rosol Wahid membantah calon MB pilihan istana, kini menjawat Exco Kerajaan Negeri.

Jelaslah bahawa Umno sebenarnya 'parti munafik' yang memperalatkan istana. Ketika kedudukan Umno dan BN kukuh, istana diinjak-injak golongan penderhaka ini. Apabila pengaruh Umno mula pudar dan orang Melayu mula meninggalkan parti yang dipenuhi kurap rasuah dan penyelewengan itu, Umno cuba berselindung di sebalik pagar istana dan berpura-pura menjadi pembela institusi Raja.

Jika para pemimpin Umno menganggap hasrat Pengerusi DAP, Karpal Singh untuk menyaman Sultan Perak sebagai 'menderhaka', apakah gelaran paling layak diberi kepada Umno yang bertanggung jawab menghapuskan imuniti Raja-raja dan membolehkan mereka disaman di mahkamah terbuka? _

Reference:
http://www.harakahdaily.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19309&Itemid=1

Saturday, February 14, 2009

UMNO Menghilangkan Tanah Rezab Melayu...

Saudara/i pembaca sekelian. Tertarik untuk menilai dan menyemak siapakah yang menghilangkan Tanah Rezab Melayu dan menghakis Ketuanan Melayu di Malaysia. Nampaknya UMNO tidak menampakkan pensejajaran hujjah Retorika Politik dan Pengaplikasian dasar Negara yang diperjuangkan. Dulu TERIMA ORANG ASING sebagai WARGA NEGARA INI, di hujungnya setelah mereka diterima, dan KEMERDEKAAN DICAPAI, HAK-HAK orang-orang Asing ini (Non-Bumi) dinafikan pula. Jika PR (Pakatan Rakyat) bantu meluruskan polisi UMNO dahulu itu,memberi hak kekal kepada tanah Kg Baru, maka kini dilihat sebagai sebagai menjual kepentingan Melayu. Sedang sebaliknya, dalam masa yang sama Tanah Rezab Melayu yang terjual dan berpindah milik kepada Asing oleh UMNO/BN dilihat sebagai TIDAK SALAH, malah menyokong pembangunan negara ke arah MENGHILANGKAN HAK-HAK TANAH REZAB MELAYU.

Persoalannya, apakah UMNO sudah Nyayuk atau "ingatan mereka berpilih-pilih" - the most selective judgemental atau Gila talak dan meroyan sekali gus?...Lihat petikan di bawah ini;
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1) Penerimaan UMNO terhadap warga Asing sebagai warga negara ini.

"Isu ini bukan hanya isu Raja-raja Melayu, tetapi isu parti-parti Melayu ketika itu juga. Malangnya, ketika orang-orang Melayu mempertahankan hak ketuanan Melayu di negara ini sebelum merdeka dahulu, siapakah yang mendesak hak sama rata diberikan kepada orang bukan Melayu? Bukankah Umno dahulu bermati-matian mahu orang bukan Melayu diterima kerakyatan mereka secara jus soli?

Dato Onn Jaafar pernah meletakkan jawatan dalam Umno apabila ada ahli Umno menolak dasar jus soli ini dan akhirnya beliau keluar Umno apabila cadangannya untuk membuka keahlian Umno kepada orang bukan Melayu ditolak. Kemudian, dalam National Convention yang dipimpin oleh Umno pada 1954, cadangan PAS tentang kerakyatan dan hak mengundi untuk orang bukan Melayu telah ditolak kerana Umno mahu orang-orang bukan Melayu diterima sebagai rakyat negara ini."

2) Fakta UMNO/BN sudah korbankan banyak Tanah Rezab Melayu TANPA GANTI.

"Tanah rezab di Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Perak, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan dan negeri-negeri lain masih banyakkah? Bukankah telah adalah peraturan supaya setiap tanah rezab yang diambil alih harus diganti tetapi mengapa ia telah berkurangan?

Lupakah Umno bahawa 139,409 hektar tanah rezab Melayu di negeri-negeri tersebut telah dibatalkan oleh kerajaan BN dahulu dan hanya 77,208 hektar sahaja yang diganti semula. Masih terdapat baki 62,201 hektar yang perlu diganti oleh kerajaan BN dan ini menunjukkan kerajaan BN gagal untuk mempertahankan tanah rezab Melayu sebagai benteng akhir kekuatan politik Melayu.

Sekarang ini pun, Umno sedang berusaha untuk menghalau orang-orang Melayu di Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur supaya mereka dapat menjadikannya Bukit Bintang kedua. Upayakah orang-orang Melayu menguasai pusat-pusat perdagangan jika ia diwujudkan di Kampung Baru?."
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3 )Lihat Hujjah Datuk Mahfudz Omar dalam urusan ini secara detail.

Sabtu 14 Februari 2009 | 18 Safar 1430 Hijrah

Melayu kehilangan tanah kerana Umno

Oleh:
Datuk Mahfuz Omar - Mon | Feb 09, 09 | 2:39:22 pm MYT

TIDAK seperti di Permatang Pauh yang kecoh dengan isu liwat, suasana di Kuala Terengganu lebih "geger" dengan isu hudud dan pemberian hak milik tanah kepada orang bukan Melayu oleh Kerajaan Perak.

Kenyataan Naib Presiden PAS, Dato' Husam Musa bahawa melaksanakan hudud adalah agenda perjuangan PAS dibesar-besar oleh media untuk menakutkan pengundi bukan Islam di bandar raya warisan pesisir air itu.

Di kalangan pengundi Melayu pula, mereka digemparkan dengan tindakan Kerajaan Perak yang dipimpin PAS memberikan hak milik tanah kepada orang-orang Cina yang dianggap merugikan orang Melayu.

Saya tidak nampak apa relevannya isu-isu perkauman seperti ini terus dibangkitkan sedangkan dalam masa yang sama kita bercakap tentang kontrak sosial yang mengiktiraf bangsa bukan Melayu sebagai warga negara.

Memang menjadi senjata politik Umno semenjak zaman pramerdeka lagi untuk menajamkan isu-isu perkauman supaya Umno terus relevan. Mereka membangkitkan isu-isu kepentingan Melayu dan mengangkat keris apabila berhadapan dengan pengundi Melayu, kemudian membesarkan isu-isu agama apabila menemui pengundi bukan Melayu. Inilah kejahatan politik Umno yang sudah ditolak oleh rakyat!

Umno mungkin berterima kasih kepada Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, Raja Muda Perak apabila baginda membangkitkan isu kampung baru ketika menutup Kongres Ekonomi Islam Ketiga baru-baru ini. Memang satu realiti bahawa Raja-raja Melayu tidak senang dengan Rancangan Briggs yang membuka kampung-kampung baru untuk menempatkan orang-orang Cina yang tinggal di pinggir hutan. Tujuannya untuk mengelakkan orang Cina dipengaruhi komunis.

Tetapi Raja-raja Melayu melihatnya dari aspek hak tanah orang Melayu yang terjejas kerana dasar ini dilaksanakan oleh Hendry Gurney, Setiausaha Negara British di Palestin. Raja-raja Melayu takut negara ini menjadi seperti Palestin jika bangsa asing diberikan hak ke atas tanah.

Isu ini bukan hanya isu Raja-raja Melayu, tetapi isu parti-parti Melayu ketika itu juga. Malangnya, ketika orang-orang Melayu mempertahankan hak ketuanan Melayu di negara ini sebelum merdeka dahulu, siapakah yang mendesak hak sama rata diberikan kepada orang bukan Melayu? Bukankah Umno dahulu bermati-matian mahu orang bukan Melayu diterima kerakyatan mereka secara jus soli?

Dato� Onn Jaafar pernah meletakkan jawatan dalam Umno apabila ada ahli Umno menolak dasar jus soli ini dan akhirnya beliau keluar Umno apabila cadangannya untuk membuka keahlian Umno kepada orang bukan Melayu ditolak. Kemudian, dalam National Convention yang dipimpin oleh Umno pada 1954, cadangan PAS tentang kerakyatan dan hak mengundi untuk orang bukan Melayu telah ditolak kerana Umno mahu orang-orang bukan Melayu diterima sebagai rakyat negara ini.

Suasana politik pada masa itu dalam semangat kebangsaan telah membentuk kesedaran orang Melayu ke atas hak ketuanan mereka. Parti-parti kiri berjuang terus supaya hak ini dibela, tetapi dinodai oleh Umno. Raja-raja Melayu sendiri tidak berpuas hati dengan pendekatan Umno ketika itu sehingga Umno bermasalah dengan beberapa istana. Tetapi segalanya telah selesai apabila kita menerima orang bukan Melayu sebagai rakyat negara ini secara sah melalui Perlembagaan 1957.

Ini adalah 'kontrak sosial' yang memberikan kedudukan sama taraf antara orang Melayu dan bukan Melayu, walaupun dalam hal tertentu orang Melayu diberikan hak keistimewaan. Inilah realiti yang mesti dan terpaksa kita terima hari ini. Kerana Umno telah menyerahkan hak ini, maka kita perlu melayani rakyat bukan Melayu sewajarnya.

Memang senang untuk kita mempersoalkan tentang kewajaran Kerajaan Perak memberikan hak milik kekal kepada penduduk Kampung Baru di Perak yang tidak berbangsa Melayu. Soalnya, mereka adalah rakyat negara ini dan mereka berhak. Ia bukan tanah baru yang dibuka untuk mereka, tetapi tanah yang didiami berpuluh tahun sejak Rancangan Briggs diperkenalkan.

Apakah kerana mereka berbangsa Cina, maka kita merasakan orang Melayu terancam. Mengapa Umno tidak berfikiran demikian 50 tahun dahulu ketika semua orang Melayu berfikir begitu. 50 tahun dahulu Umno merasakan orang Cina dan India perlu diberikan hak kerana mereka adalah penyokong Perikatan. Tetapi ketika semua orang Melayu sudah terbuka menerima hakikat negara ini adalah Malaysia, mengapa Umno begitu kolot untuk terus mengapikan isu perkauman yang sempit? Kerana Cina bersama Pakatan Rakyat mungkin!

Jika Umno mahu mempolitikkan apa yang dititahkan oleh Raja Muda Perak itu, mereka harus mencermin diri dahulu. Sedar atau tidak kita bahawa hak ketuanan Melayu ke atas tanah telah dijamin melalui Tanah Rezab Melayu. Saya ingin bertanya kepada kerajaan BN berapakah luas tanah rezab itu sekarang berbanding 50 dahulu? Mengapakah tanah-tanah-tanah milik Melayu di Pulau Pinang sudah hampir pupus? Kerana DAP-kah? Atau kerana pengkhianatan Umno?

Tanah rezab di Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Perak, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan dan negeri-negeri lain masih banyakkah? Bukankah telah adalah peraturan supaya setiap tanah rezab yang diambil alih harus diganti tetapi mengapa ia telah berkurangan?

Lupakah Umno bahawa 139,409 hektar tanah rezab Melayu di negeri-negeri tersebut telah dibatalkan oleh kerajaan BN dahulu dan hanya 77,208 hektar sahaja yang diganti semula. Masih terdapat baki 62,201 hektar yang perlu diganti oleh kerajaan BN dan ini menunjukkan kerajaan BN gagal untuk mempertahankan tanah rezab Melayu sebagai benteng akhir kekuatan politik Melayu.

Sekarang ini pun, Umno sedang berusaha untuk menghalau orang-orang Melayu di Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur supaya mereka dapat menjadikannya Bukit Bintang kedua. Upayakah orang-orang Melayu menguasai pusat-pusat perdagangan jika ia diwujudkan di Kampung Baru?

Dulu kita pernah digemparkan oleh tindakan salah seorang calon Timbalan Presiden Umno yang dikatakan menggadai tanah-tanah orang Melayu kepada bangsa asing termasuk bukan rakyat negara ini di Johor. Kalau tanah di Johor boleh sahaja dijual kepada warga Singapura dan Hong Kong, mengapa tanah di Ipoh tidak boleh diberi hak milik kepada warga sendiri?- tajdid _

Reference:
http://www.harakahdaily.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=019300&Itemid=60

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Datuk Kamilia Vs Harun Blogspot : Krisis Kerajaan Perak

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah,

Pembaca yang dikasihi sekelian.

Saya menjemput anda pembaca blog meneliti hujahan kedua-dua pendebat dalam menjelaskan kedudukan kuasa sultan untuk melantik Menteri Besar (MB)dalam Krisis Kerajaan Negeri Perak baru-baru ini. Dengan penilitian tersebut kita sama-sama yang tidak memahami undang-undang Negeri Perak dan Perlembagaan Persekutuan akan dapat memahaminya dari dekat. SELAMAT MEMBACA.
_______________________________

Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim menjelaskan...

Rencana – Utusan Malaysia Online – 11 Februari 2009/ 15 Safar 1430H Sultan tentukan siapa MB

Oleh
KAMILIA IBRAHIM

Undang-Undang Tubuh Negeri Perak memberi kuasa mutlak Sultan sebagai penentu kuasa pemerintahan mutakhir kerajaan negeri.

Perak ditadbir di bawah sistem Raja Berperlembagaan dan Demokrasi Berparlimen. Mengikut Perlembagaan Negeri Perak, Sultan mempunyai kuasa memerintah tertakluk di bawah peruntukan Undang-Undang Tubuh Kerajaan Negeri Perak. Mengikut Perkara 7 undang-undang tersebut, Sultan memerintah mengikut undang-undang dan dikehendaki berlaku adil terhadap semua rakyat.

Perkara 10 pula menyatakan, baginda mempunyai kuasa eksekutif tertakluk kepada peruntukan undang-undang tersebut dan juga Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Perkara 11 pula menyebut, semua tindakan eksekutif yang diambil oleh kerajaan negeri Perak hendaklah disebut di atas nama Sultan.

Dalam melaksanakan pemerintahan, Sultan hendaklah melantik seorang Menteri Besar seperti yang diperuntukkan dalam Perkara 12. Baginda mempunyai kuasa mutlak menentukan siapa yang akan menerajui pucuk kepimpinan pemerintahan negerinya. Ia bermaksud, pelantikan Menteri Besar Perak akan ditentukan oleh Sultan. Ketetapan itu diperuntukkan dalam Perkara 16 (2) (a) dan perkara 18 (2) (a).

Dalam melaksanakan kuasa pelantikan di bawah Perkara 16 (2), Sultan hendaklah melantik seorang Menteri Besar daripada kalangan Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) yang pada pendapatnya akan mendapat kepercayaan sebilangan besar ADUN lain.

Beliau sudah pasti telah mendapat kepercayaan rakyat kerana menang pada pilihan raya menerusi proses demokrasi. Majoriti ADUN juga perlu menyokong dan memberi kepercayaan. Sultan juga melantiknya kerana yakin beliau akan mendapat kepercayaan tersebut.

Dalam keadaan di Perak pada 4 Februari lalu, Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin telah tidak mendapat kepercayaan sebilangan besar ADUN apabila dua ADUN-nya diminta mengosongkan kerusi. Dengan sendirinya kepercayaan terhadap beliau terhakis kerana Nizar menjadi Menteri Besar pada Mac 2008 berdasarkan kepercayaan 31 ADUN. Jumlah itu tinggal 29 dan kemudiannya merosot kepada 28.

Apabila keadaan itu berlaku, beliau mengumumkan pembubaran DUN dan kemudian memohon menghadap Sultan untuk mendapatkan persetujuan bagi membubarkan Dewan Undangan Negeri Perak itu.

Mengikut Perkara 18 (2) (b), Sultan boleh bertindak menurut budi bicaranya untuk tidak mempersetujui permintaan bagi membubarkan DUN tersebut. Seperti yang termaktub dalam Perkara 7, Undang-Undang Tubuh Negeri Perak, Sultan akan bertindak adil terhadap rakyatnya berdasarkan undang-undang.

Sultan perlu mempertimbangkan sedalam-dalamnya dan mengambil kira permohonan itu sebagai permintaan adil bukan sahaja kepada DUN tetapi juga rakyat.

Seorang Menteri Besar hanya akan memohon pembubaran DUN apabila tidak lagi mendapat kepercayaan sebilangan besar ADUN. Apabila seseorang Menteri Besar tidak lagi mendapat kepercayaan, maka ia bermakna beliau tidak lagi boleh menjadi Menteri Besar.

Secara automatik kerajaan dan jemaah exconya tidak lagi berfungsi melainkan diberi mandat baru oleh rakyat pada pilihan raya baru.

Baginda Sultan mempunyai kuasa untuk tidak mempersetujui pembubaran DUN. Apabila baginda tidak memperkenankan pembubaran itu, maka secara automatik, jawatan Menteri Besar dan jemaah exco akan digugurkan. Peraturan ini bertepatan dengan Perkara 16 (6).

Mengikut Undang-Undang Tubuh Negeri Perak, jelas Sultan mempunyai kuasa bertindak untuk melantik Menteri Besar baru dan sekali gus penubuhan kerajaan negeri yang baru. Jelas juga bahawa kuasa Menteri Besar dan Exco lama akan gugur dengan sendirinya.

Setelah Menteri Besar tidak lagi boleh berfungsi maka Sultan boleh melantik Menteri Besar baru. Dalam situasi di Perak, jumlah ADUN BN ialah 28 dan tiga lagi ADUN mengisytiharkan keluar dari barisan pembangkang berdiri atas tiket Bebas serta menyokong BN.

Apabila Sultan mendapati seorang ADUN BN boleh mendapat kepercayaan sebilangan besar ADUN lain maka baginda membuat pelantikan baru. Pelantikan Menteri Besar baru adalah sah di sisi undang-undang Perlembagaan dan juga aspek prosedur.

Maka tidak timbul persoalan Perlembagaan dan undang-undang tidak dipatuhi. Apa yang berlaku pada Mac 2008 ialah Nizar menghadap dan memberitahu Sultan bahawa beliau mendapat kepercayaan 31 ADUN. Sultan telah melantik beliau sebagai Menteri Besar dan jawatan itu dipegangnya sehingga beliau hilang kepercayaan tersebut.

Apabila BN pula mendapat kepercayaan 31 ADUN, maka Datuk Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir telah dilantik sebagai Menteri Besar mengikut kaedah dan peraturan yang sama bagi memenuhi peruntukan Undang-Undang Tubuh Negeri Perak. Malah Sultan telah berjumpa dan menemu bual semua ADUN Bebas yang secara peribadi memberi pengakuan menyokong BN untuk menerajui kerajaan Perak.

Tambahan pula Sultan telah mengambil kira keadaan politik semasa yang mana pilihan raya umum baru diadakan dan telah yakin tentang perlunya penubuhan segera kerajaan baru. Ia bertujuan untuk tidak menangguh dan melewatkan jentera kerajaan berjalan demi kestabilan dan kesejahteraan rakyat. Ini kerana Sultan berkuasa dan bertanggungjawab memastikan negeri Perak dalam aman dan sejahtera.

Dalam keadaan itu, Sultan tidak perlu membubarkan DUN walaupun Nizar mengemukakan permintaan itu. Sultan boleh menolak mengikut undang-undang Perak. Ia adalah hak dan kuasa mutlak Sultan.

Tidak perlu undi tidak percaya di DUN sebelum pelantikan Menteri Besar baru kerana Nizar sendiri telah menghadap Sultan menyatakan sudah tidak ada kepercayaan untuk dirinya terus menjadi Menteri Besar apabila beliau sendiri memohon membubarkan DUN.

Nizar tidak perlu meletak jawatan kerana perbuatan memohon pembubaran DUN itu sendiri dianggap satu peletakan jawatan kerana beliau dengan sendirinya sudah tidak ada mandat untuk berfungsi sekali gus turut menggugurkan jawatan kesemua exconya.

Namun Nizar berdegil menyatakan beliau masih Menteri Besar Perak. Sebenarnya daripada sudut undang-undang beliau tidak lagi menjadi Menteri Besar. Zambry kini sah menjadi Menteri Besar Perak. Perintah mahkamah boleh diambil terhadap Nizar kerana melanggar perintah Sultan.

Adalah malang apabila kuasa Sultan dicabar. Mengikut undang-undang Perak, Sultan mempunyai enam (6) prerogatives dalam Perkara 10 Bahagian ll yang jelas menunjukkan kuasa Sultan dalam isu penghormatan, keadilan, keampunan, agama, adat Melayu dan tanah. Kuasa Sultan jelas dan nyata serta sedia tertulis.

Satu perlembagaan bertulis adalah undang-undang yang sangat jelas dan mudah dilaksanakan berbanding perlembagaan di England yang tidak bertulis dan perlu mengikut konvensyen. Justeru, kita amat mudah untuk melaksanakan semua tindakan dan perintah Sultan.

Sebagai anak negeri Perak saya amat kesal dengan tindak-tanduk Nizar dan segelintir orang Melayu yang tidak menghormati Sultan. Ia dijelaskan dengan insiden di depan Istana Iskandariah, Jumaat lalu.

Oleh itu saya rasakan kita perlu mewujudkan satu sekretariat untuk memastikan institusi kesultanan Melayu terus dipelihara dan dipertahankan agar tidak digugat oleh pihak yang tidak bertanggungjawab.

Sekretariat ini juga akan memastikan kedaulatan serta martabat kesultanan Melayu tidak tercemar dan dipersenda. Selain itu kewibawaan institusi tersebut sebagai pemutus kata dalam hal penubuhan kerajaan serta pelantikan ketua kerajaan berasaskan demokrasi berperlembagaan terus kekal, tidak boleh disangkal dan dipersoalkan.

Penubuhan sekretariat itu juga penting untuk mempertahankan institusi kesultanan Melayu sebagai pelindung hak orang Melayu dan kepentingan semua kaum, menegakkan kesultanan Melayu sebagai penaung dan pelindung agama Islam sebagai agama rasmi negeri dan Persekutuan yang kini dipertikai serta diragui. Ia juga akan berfungsi untuk mengembalikan kepercayaan kepada institusi Sultan sebagai institusi tertinggi negara.

Apa yang nyata rakyat Perak perlu faham tentang kedudukan Sultan yang tinggi dan perintah Sultan perlu dipatuhi tanpa dipersoal atau diragui. Kita tidak boleh membawa isu institusi kesultanan ke jalanan.

DATUK KAMILIA IBRAHIM ialah PengerusiBiro Undang-Undang, Wanita UMNO Malaysia.

Reference;
http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2009&dt=0211&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Rencana&pg=re_01.htm

Saudara harunblogspot...

ARTICULATION…BLOGSPOT/FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 6, 2009

The Perak Crisis - an unsolicited legal opinion

The disagreement between the Terengganu palace and the BN's leadership over the choice of the Menteri Besar last year prompted Malik Imtiaz to write Crisis In Trengganu? What crisis? on his blog, Disquiet. I had taken a differing view than that which was taken by Imtiaz in that article. Basically I was, and still am, of the opinion that the role of the Rulers in the political arena should be approached with a degree of circumspection. I posted 2 comments to that post and it would not be out of place to reproduce a part of my comments here:

"The notion that the Rulers are a part of check and balance mechanism to the wide powers of the executives is to me, wishful at best. The reality is the Rulers are not part of the administration of the country. The check and balance mechanism embedded into our system (and every democracy with a constitutional monarch) only consists of the executive, legislative and of course, the judiciary (in some Scandinavian countries, an ombudsman is an integral part as well).....To adopt a literal approach would vest a certain level of absolute power in the Ruler where such power does not exist in the first place. Can we imagine a situation where the Ruler may decide mid-term to change an MB because he thinks that MB does not command the confidence of the majority anymore?

We are now riding the populist wave of a political reform yet unseen before. It is a result of deep rooted anger against the BN government. But lets not allow our emotion to colour our judgement by creating, or allowing to create, a dangerous precedent, a precedent which we all may live to regret later."

The looming constitutional crisis in Perak now underscores my sentiment exactly.
The Power of The Sultan to Appoint the MB


Article 16 of the Perak Constitution says that the Sultan shall appoint the Executive Council ("EC"). He must first appoint as Menteri Besar from the members of the Legislative Assembly who "in his judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Assembly." Then on the advice of the MB, the Sultan shall appoint other members of the EC.

We stop at this juncture to consider this provision. The Sultan did not have to ensure that the potential MB does command the confidence of the majority. The word "likely" in the above provision gives a certain level of subjectivity to the whole process. And quite how the Sultan was to perform that function is not spelt out.

Article 16 (6) is very important. It says:

"If the MB ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly, then, unless at his request His Royal Highness dissolves the Legislative Assembly, he shall tender the resignation of the Executive Council."

If we could now look at this provision closely. There is no subjectivity here. It does not say, for example, "if the Sultan is of the opinion that the MB ceases to command the confidence of the Assembly", or "if it is likely that the MB has ceased to command the confidence of the Assembly". It says clearly that "if the MB ceases to command". That means this provision kicks in only and only if, it could be factually proven that the MB has ceased to command the confidence of the Legislative Assembly. In other word, the Sultan is not imbued with the power to make his own subjective judgment over this fact and matter . For this provision to operate, it must be established as a fact that the MB has ceased to command the confidence of the Assembly.

How is that fact established then? In countries practising the Westminster typed democracy, this fact is established with a vote of no confidence on the floor of the Assembly.

Next to be examined is Article 16 (7). It says:

"Subject to Clause (6) a member of the Executive Council other than the MB shall hold office at His Royal Highness' pleasure, but any member of the Council may at any time resign his office."

It is of paramount importance to note that only the MB does not hold office at the pleasure of the Sultan. From a literal reading of this article, it is clear that the Sultan may therefore sack any member of the Executive Council but not the MB.

Can the Sultan Ask the MB to Resign?

With all due respect to HRH the Sultan of Perak, I don't think the Sultan has the power to ask for the resignation of the MB. It has been argued elsewhere that the provision of the Interpretation Act 1948 would give the power to the Sultan to dismiss the MB. While I concede that section 94 of that Act gives the power to dismiss in every instant where a power to appoint exists, it must be remembered that the Interpretation Act does not apply "where there is something in the subject or context inconsistent with or repugnant to the application" of the Interpretation Act.

Where is the context inconsistent with the application of the Interpretation Act here? The answer lies with Article 16 (7) above. It is clear that the MB does not hold office at the pleasure of the Sultan as opposed to the other members of the Assembly. Had it been intended that the Sultan should have the power to dismiss the MB as well as the other members of the Executive Council, Article 16 (7) would not have made such a glaring and clear exception so as to expressly preclude the MB from the operation of that Article.

Excersise of the Sultan's Powers

There are 2 broad categories of powers which the Sultan is vested with. The first type are powers which the Sultan shall act in accordance with the advice of the Executive Council. There is no discretionary power here. Whenever the Sultan is advised to exercise these powers, the Sultan has no choice but to exercise that power in accordance with the advice given.

Secondly there are powers which the Sultan may exercise in his discretion. These powers include:
• power to appoint the MB
• power to withhold his consent to a request for the dissolution of the Assembly.

Here lies the problem. The MB has requested the Sultan to dissolve the Assembly but the Sultan has refused to do so and had asked the MB to resign instead.

Was the Sultan Right?

A case law, decided by our Court in 1966 bears important resemblance to the crisis in Perak now. In Stephen Kalong Ningkan v. Tun Abang Haji Openg and Tawi Sli [1966] 2MLJ 187, the Governor of Sarawak received a letter signed by 21 members of the Council Negri (equivalent to the Legislative Assembly) expressing no confidence in Stephen Kalong Ningkan as the Chief Minister. The Governor then asked Stephen to resign. Stephen refused to resign. The Governor then declared that Stephen and all the members of the Supreme Council (equivalent to the Executive Council) as having ceased to hold office. A new Chief Minister was then appointed by the Governor. The case ended up in the High Court where among others, a declaration that the purported dismissal of Stephen as the Chief Minister was ultra vires the Constitution and was therefore null and void.

The Sarawak Constitution contain provisions which are almost identical to the provisions of the Perak Constitution.

Article 6 (3) provides:

"The Governor shall appoint an Chief Minister a member of the Council Negri who in his judgment in likely to command the confidence of a majority of the members of the Council Negri and shall appoint the other members in accordance with the advice of the Chief Minister from among the members of the Council Negri."

By Article 7, it is provided as follows:

"(1) If the Chief Minister ceases to command the confidence of a majority of the members of the Council Negri, then, unless at his request the Governor dissolves the Council Negri, the Chief Minister shall tender the resignation of the members of the Supreme Council.

(2) A member of the Supreme Council may at any time resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Governor, and a member of the Supreme Council other than the Chief Minister shall also vacate his office if his appointment thereto in revoked by the Governor acting in accordance with the advice of the Chief Minister.

(3) Subject to cll (1) and (2), a member of the Supreme Council other than the Chief Minister shall hold office at the Governor's pleasure."

Notice the almost identical provisions. It has to be noted that the Sarawak Constitution also provides, (as do the Perak Constitution) that the Chief Minister does not hold office at the pleasure of the Governor.

The Court held as follows:

i) for Article 7 (1) to kick in, there must be a vote of no confidence from the floor of the Assembly. Mere letters signed by the members of the Assembly expressing no confidence to the Governor was not sufficient.
ii) the Governor had no power to dismiss the Chief Minister under the Constitution.
iii) the purported dismissal of the CM was then ultra vires the Sarawak state Constitution.

What is even more important is the learned Judge's observation in respect of the exercise by the Governor of his discretionary power to appoint a CM and to withhold his consent when there is a request to dissolve the Assembly. This is what His Lordship said:

"A lot has been said about the duty and powers and discretion of the Governor. His paramount duty is to "act in accordance with the advice of the Supreme Council or of a member thereof acting under the general authority of the Council". (Article 10(1). There are two occasions when the Governor has a discretion, that is, when he can act without, or even contrary to, the advice of the Supreme Council. Those occasions are in the performance of the following functions -
(a) the appointment of a Chief Minister;
(b) the withholding of consent to a request for the dissolution of the Council Negri. (Article 10 (2) ).

As regards (a), nobody could be so foolish as to suggest that a Governor could appoint a second Chief Minister while there was still one in office. As regards (b), this probably has in mind a situation of splinter parties, as has been the case in France, when a general election could not be expected to show an overall majority for any one party. In Sarawak, it seems to me that a Chief Minister may advise a dissolution, even though he has not as yet lost the confidence of Council Negri. In such circumstances, the Governor's refusal to dissolve might be conventionally unconstitutional, although not illegal."

This is still good law as this decision has never been overturned by a higher Court.

Conclusion

With the greatest of respect to HRH the Sultan of Perak, it would appear that the above case law does not lend support to the actions which have so far been taken in Perak.

I would like to end this post by quoting R H Hickling from his excellent book, "Malaysian Law" (Professional Law Books Publishers 1988), where he said:
"The advent of constitutional government in Malaysia marked the beginning of the end for the prerogatives of the Rulers. While assiduously reserving these prerogatives by express savings in the state constitutions, the very act of defining rights and powers restrict them. With the advent of formal constitutions government in Johor in 1895, limitations on arbitrary rules set in, and the pattern was set for progress to the modern concept of constitutional government: that is to say, not merely government in accordance with the provisions of the constitution, but government in accordance with the wishes of the elected representatives of the people."

Reference:
http://art-harun.blogspot.com/2009/02/perak-crisis-unsolicited-legal-opinion.html

WAHAI MUSLIM HENTIKANLAH SAMBUTAN VALENTINE

Assalamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah.

AWASILAH PERANGKAP BUDAYA SAMBUTAN HARI VALENTINE (HARI KEKASIH)

Wahai remaja Muslimin seluruh negara dan Dunia Islam, SEDARLAH bahawa menyambut hari kekasih pada 14 Februari setiap tahun (Valentine Day) adalah BUKAN DARI AJARAN ISLAM. Ianya adalah tradisi empayer Rome dan warganya samada meraikan kejatuhan Islam atau mengingati peristiwa berkasih sayang mengikut acuan KRISTIAN BARAT. Saudara/i yang saya kasihi, hayatilah sebuah hadith Rasulillah saw yang mafhumnya:

"Nescaya kamu akan mengikuti suatu perjalanan hidup kaum sebelum kamu, sejengkal demi sejengkal, sehasta demi sehasta, sehingga jika mereka itu memasuki lubang biawak sekali pun nescaya kamu akan mengikutinya." Sahabat bertanya: Adakah mereka itu golongan Yahudi dan Nasara wahai Rasulallah? Baginda menjawab : "Siapa lagi kalau bukan mereka."
__________________________________

Bicara agama- Utusan Malaysia Online 11 Februari 2009/15 Safar 1430H - Henti sambut Hari Valentine

Oleh
Mohd. Yaakub Mohd. Yunus

Umat Islam perlu mengelak daripada turut meraikan hari kekasih kerana ia tidak dianjurkan oleh ajaran Islam. - gambar hiasan

Tarikh 14 Februari merupakan hari yang dianggap keramat oleh pasangan-pasangan yang sedang berkasih. Hari yang dikenali sebagai Valentine’s Day atau Hari Memperingati Kekasih dianggap sebagai satu masa untuk mengisytiharkan ketulusan cinta kepada pasangan masing-masing.

Maka pada 14 Februari, pasangan-pasangan kekasih ini akan memakai pakaian yang terbaik dan sebaiknya hendaklah ia berwarna merah, bertukar-tukar hadiah dan seeloknya adalah bunga ros berwarna merah.

Pasangan-pasangan ini juga akan bercanda di merata-rata tempat sehingga terjadilah adegan-adegan maksiat yang bertentangan dengan syarak demi untuk membuktikan kasih dan sayang mereka yang tidak ternilai harganya.

Saban tahun juga para ulama mengingatkan kepada umat Islam agar menghindari menyambut Hari Valentine ini namun ia seperti menuang air ke daun keladi. Hari Valentine tidak ada kena-mengena dengan umat Islam malah hukum menyambutnya adalah haram. Ia adalah sambutan yang berkaitan dengan agama Rom kuno dan juga Kristian.

Sejarah Sambutan Hari Valentine

Bila kita membicarakan tentang sejarah sambutan hari Valentine, maka kita akan dapati bahawa terdapat empat pendapat berkaitan dengannya.

1) - Pendapat pertama mengaitkannya dengan pesta sambutan kaum Rom kuno sebelum kedatangan agama Kristian yang dinamakan Lupercalia. Lupercalia merupakan upacara penyucian diri yang berlangsung dari 13 hingga 18 Februari. Dua hari pertama mereka menyembah dewi cinta bagi kaum Rom kuno yang bernama Juno Februata.

Pada hari ini para pemuda Rom memilih nama-nama gadis-gadis yang menjadi pilihan mereka lalu dimasukkan ke dalam sebuah kotak. Setiap pemuda tersebut kemudiannya akan mencabut nama tersebut dari dalam kotak itu secara rawak. Nama gadis yang tertera di dalam kertas tersebut akan menjadi pasangan yang akan menjadi objek hiburan seksnya selama setahun.

Pada 15 Februari, mereka meminta perlindungan dewa Lupercalia dari gangguan serigala. Pada hari ini mereka akan menyembelih seekor anjing dan kambing. Kemudian mereka akan memilih dua pemuda Rom yang dianggap paling gagah untuk menyapukan darah binatang tersebut ke badan mereka lalu mencucinya pula dengan susu.

Setelah itu akan di adakan perarakan besar-besaran yang diketuai dua pemuda tersebut dan mereka berdua akan memukul orang ramai yang berada di laluan mereka dengan kulit binatang dan para wanita akan berebut-rebut untuk menerima pukulan tersebut kerana mereka beranggapan ia akan menambahkan kesuburan mereka.

2) - Pendapat kedua mengaitkannya dengan kematian paderi St. Valentine ketika pemerintahan Raja Rom yang bernama Claudius II. Terdapat dua versi cerita berkaitan dengan St. Valentine ini.

Versi pertama. Pada masa pemerintahan Claudius II, kerajaan Rom yang menyembah dewa-dewi amat memusuhi penganut agama Kristian dan para mubaligh Kristian telah dipenjara serta disiksa. St. Valentine sebagai seorang yang tegar menganut agama Kristian dan aktif menyebarkan ajaran tersebut turut dipenjarakan oleh Cladius II.

Dikhabarkan St. Valentine walaupun dipenjarakan, beliau tetap mengajar dan menyebarkan agama tersebut di kalangan banduan-banduan penjara di samping membantu tawanan-tawanan penjara meloloskan diri dari penjara. Kegiatan ini telah diketahui oleh Cladius II dan beliau memerintahkan St. Valentine diseksa dan akhirnya dihukum bunuh pada 14 Februari.

Pengorbanan yang dilakukan oleh St Valentine ini dianggap oleh penganut Kristian sebagai satu pengorbanan yang besar demi kecintaan beliau terhadap agamanya. Malah St. Valentine disamakan dengan Jesus yang dianggap oleh penganut Kristian mati kerana menebus dosa yang dilakukan oleh kaumnya.

Dikatakan juga bahawa ketika di dalam penjara, beliau telah jatuh cinta dengan anak salah seorang pegawai penjara dan di akhir hayatnya sebelum dibunuh, beliau sempat menulis sepucuk surat cinta kepada gadis tersebut yang bertandatangan From your Valentine (Daripada Valentinemu).

Maka orang-orang Kristian mengambil sempena 14 Februari itu untuk meraikan hari kasih sayang demi memperingati hari kematian paderi mereka St. Valentine.

Versi kedua. Claudius II beranggapan bahawa anggota tentera yang muda dan masih bujang adalah lebih tabah dan kuat ketika berada di medan peperangan berbanding dengan mereka yang telah berkahwin. Justeru itu Cladius II menghalang para pemuda dari berkahwin.

Namun demikian St.Valentine menentangnya dengan keras dan beliau telah melakukan upacara pernikahan terhadap para pemuda-pemuda Rom secara sulit. Aktiviti St. Valentine ini akhirnya dapat diketahui oleh Cladius II lalu beliau mengarahkan St. Valentine ditangkap dan dihukum gantung pada 14 Februari 269 M.

3) - Pendapat ketiga. Ia dirayakan sempena kejatuhan kerajaan Islam Andalusia di Sepanyol. St. Valentine merupakan individu yang memainkan peranan penting dalam usaha menjatuhkan kerajaan Islam pada masa itu. Disebabkan sumbangan beliau itu, St. Valentine dianggap sebagai kekasih rakyat. Tanggal 14 Februari 1492 merupakan tarikh kejatuhan Islam di Sepanyol dan dianggap pada hari itu hari kasih sayang kerana mereka menganggap Islam adalah agama yang zalim.

4) - Pendapat keempat. Sambutan hari Valentine ini bersempena dengan sifat burung yang musim mengawan burung yang jatuh pada 14hb Februari. Ini merupakan pendapat tradisi orang Inggeris.

Di sini kita dapat melihat dengan jelas bahawa asal-usul sambutan Hari Valentine ini tidak ada hubung-kaitnya dengan budaya serta agama bagi umat Islam.

Hukum sambut Valentine

Sebagaimana yang termaktub di dalam al-Quran dan al-Sunnah serta disepakati oleh generasi awal umat Islam hari kebesaran bagi umat Islam yang mana disyariatkan bagi kita menyambutnya hanyalah Hari Raya Aidilfitri dan Aidiladha.

Ini sebagaimana yang firman Allah SWT: Bagi tiap-tiap umat, Kami adakan satu syariat yang tertentu untuk mereka ikuti dan jalankan, maka janganlah ahli-ahli syariat yang lain membantahmu dalam urusan syariatmu; dan serulah (wahai Muhammad) umat manusia kepada agama Tuhanmu, kerana sesungguhnya engkau adalah berada di atas jalan yang lurus. (al-Hajj: 67)

Anas bin Malik r.a berkata: Nabi SAW pernah datang ke Madinah sedangkan penduduknya memiliki dua hari raya. Pada kedua-duanya mereka bermain-main (bergembira) di masa jahiliah. Lalu baginda bersabda: “Sesungguhnya Allah telah menggantikan kedua-duanya bagi kamu semua dengan dua hari yang lebih baik, iaitu hari raya Aidiladha dan Aidilfitri”. (riwayat al-Nasaai, no: 959).

Oleh itu hendaklah umat Islam membataskan diri dengan menyambut hari-hari perayaan yang diiktiraf oleh Allah dan Rasul-Nya khusus untuk umat Islam. Setelah berakhir zaman salafussoleh iaitu tiga kurun terbaik bagi umat Islam, pelbagai hari perayaan telah ditambah ke dalam kalendar umat Islam seperti Maulid al-Rasul, Israk Mikraj, Maal Hijrah, Nuzul al-Quran dan lain-lain.

Namun demikian apa yang mendukacitakan adalah umat Islam pada zaman kini telah mula merayakan hari-hari perayaan yang langsung tidak berkaitan dengan umat Islam. Malah ia berasal dari budaya serta agama golongan yang ingkar kepada perintah Allah S.W.T. seperti sambutan Tahun Baru Masihi, Hari Halloween dan juga Hari Valentine yang sedang kita perbincangkan ini. Terdapat larangan daripada baginda s.a.w. untuk meniru budaya orang bukan Islam dan bagi mereka yang meniru budaya seperti ini ditakuti mereka akan tergolong bersama dalam golongan tersebut.

Sabda baginda: ”Barang siapa menyerupai satu kaum, maka dia termasuk golongan mereka”. (riwayat Imam Abu Dawud, hadis no: 3512).

Tentang hukum menyambut Hari Valentine, Sheikh al-‘Utsaimin berkata: “Maka bila dalam merayakan Hari Valentine tersebut bermaksud untuk mengenangkan kembali St. Valentine, maka tidak diragukan bahawa orang itu telah kafir. Dan jika tidak bermaksud begitu namun sekadar ikut-ikutan kepada orang lain, maka orang itu telah melaksanakan dosa besar”.

Jawatankuasa Fatwa Majlis Kebangsaan Bagi Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Malaysia kali ke-71 yang bersidang pada 22 hingga 24 November 2005 memutuskan: “Bahawa amalan merayakan Valentine’s Day tidak pernah dianjurkan oleh Islam”.

Harus kita ingat bahawa golongan yang memusuhi Islam, akan sentiasa berusaha menanamkan benih-benih kesesatan dalam jiwa umat Islam supaya mereka jauh dari jalan yang lurus lagi diredai Allah SWT.

Firman-Nya:

“Orang-orang Yahudi dan Nasrani tidak sekali-kali akan bersetuju atau suka kepadamu (wahai Muhammad) sehingga engkau menurut agama mereka (yang telah terpesong itu). Katakanlah (kepada mereka): “Sesungguhnya petunjuk Allah (agama Islam itulah petunjuk yang benar).” (al-Baqarah, 2:120)

Reference:
http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2009&dt=0209&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Bicara_Agama&pg=ba_03.htm

Friday, February 6, 2009

Rafak Sembah Patik Rakyat Yang Setia Kepada Kebenaran dan Keadilan

AMPUN TUANKU,

SEMBAH PATIK HARAP DIAMPUN.TIADA QASAD DERHAKA, MAKA DEMI KEBENARAN DAN KEADILAN JUA KRITIKAN DIPERSEMBAHKAN.ITULAH ADAB TATA SUSILA KITA MELAYU-ISLAM.

Ada pun, selepepas daripada itu (amma bakbu..),

Wahai DYMM Paduka Sri Sultan Perak,

Hamba (patik) berasa pedih ulu-hati dan pilu perasaan dengan peristiwa pembubaran Kerajaan Perak yang lalu. Kemudian digantikan dengan Kerajaan Perak UMNO-BN, yang dengan angkara mereka, air wajah Paduka Sri Sultan tercemar. Mengapakah begitu gopoh-gapah tindakan dibuat, tanpa merujuk kitab perundangan dan prosidur resmi dan pawang-pawang serta Jawhari-Jawhari Perundangan dan Kehakiman. Terlajak perahu dapat diundur, terlajak kata putus, MARWAH di pertaruhkan...Ampun Tuanku.

Hamba Rakyat tidak derhaka Tuanku, mereka sudah terdidik lewat 51 tahun kita merdeka. Keputusan dan penilaian mereka bersama-sama dengan para pendita, para pawang dan Jawhari keilmuan dan cedikiawan dalam memutuskan sesuatu perkara dalam urusan negara dan Negeri Ini. Maka kitab ilmuan juga dirujuk, prosidur perundangan dan kehakiman jitu juga jadi panduan. Maka Timbalan Memanda Menteri telah berangkara, mengheret Tuanku Paduka Sri Sultan membuat keputusan yang tidak merujuk kepada para Jawharinya itulah menjadikan Tuanku dipandang tidak hurmat oleh para hamba Rakyat Jelata. Patik meletakkan semuanya ini di atas bahu PIMPINAN UMNO-BN agar bertanggung jawab. Rakyat tidak bersalah, Tuanku Paduka Sri Sultan.Ampunkanlah mereka.

Sekian, patik sekali lagi merafak sembah ke hadapan Duli Tuanku Paduka Sri Sultan Perak.

AMPUN TUANKU,

PATIK MENJUNJUNG KASIH DULI TUANKU.
SEMOGA TUANKU DITUNJUKKI KEBENARAN DAN KEADILAN OLEH ALLAH SWT.

WASSALAMU 'ALAIKUM WARAHMATULLAH

Ikhlas seluhur jiwa murni:

Abu 'Amrullah Muhammad ADIS el-Merbawiy
DUNGUN
TERENGGANU.

7 Februari 2009
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Artikel ini sebagai Tazkirah kepada Pemabaca Blogs sekelian:

Reformasi Kedua di Kuala Kangsar (Petikan Telaah Politik )
Sat | Feb 07, 09 | 6:16:25 am MYT

Setelah lebih sepuluh tahun reformasi berkaitan pemecatan Anwar Ibrahim, kali ini berlaku peristiwa seumpamanya berkaitan pemecatan tidak sah Nizar Jamaluddin. Iklan

Jika gelombang reformasi tahun 1998 berlaku di Kuala Lumpur kemudian merebak ke seluruh negara, reformasi kali ini berlaku di Kuala Kangsar dan bakal merebak ke seluruh Perak, malah mungkin ke seluruh negara. Sekiranya reformasi sebelum ini kerana tidak puas hati dengan Dr Mahathir Mohamad, reformasi kali ini disebabkan tidak puas hati dengan Sultan Perak dan pimpinan Umno. Yang sama, kedua-dua reformasi itu tercetus disebabkan rasa tidak puas hati rakyat yang membuak-buak terhadap ketidakadilan.

Dalam reformasi tahun 1998, Dr Mahathir yang mengukir nama baiknya hampir 18 tahun sekali tersalah tindakannya, nama beliau menjadi busuk dan dibenci oleh ramai rakyat Malaysia.

Demikianlah juga Sultan Perak yang telah memerintah hampir 25 tahun sebagai Sultan yang dihormati, sekali beliau bertindak secara tidak adil rakyat Perak kiri dan kanan sudah mula mencemuh.

Dikatakan Sultan Perak dan Raja Muda begitu terkejut dengan reaksi rakyat Perak menentang tindakan baginda.

Baginda menyangka bahawa rakyat Perak akan akur dengan keputusannya, tetapi peristiwa di Kuala Kangsar ini sememangnya di luar dugaan baginda. Kedudukan baginda sama seperti kedudukan Dr Mahathir pada tahun 1998.

Baginda Raja Muda Nazrin yang menaiki takhta dengan melangkaui giliran pastinya terkejut keretanya telah dibaling batu oleh para penunjuk perasaan. Baginda yang sejak sehari dua ini bertitah dengan tulus dan mulus menyatakan peranan Raja yang mesti mendukung keadilan, dapat melihat sendiri apabila rakyat memberontak setelah dirasakan Raja tidak adil dan berpihak.

Sehari dua ini kalau baginda turun kepada rakyat, tidak mustahil peristiwa yang berlaku kepada Bush akan turut berlaku kepada baginda. Cuma rakyat Perak mungkin tidak baling kasut sebab ramai di kalangan mereka yang tidak berkasut cuma berselipar. Kalau rakyat Perak membaling selipar apalagi jenis selipar jamban, maka sudah tentu Raja Nazrin akan rasa lebih terhina.

Demikianlah juga ayahanda Baginda Sultan Azlan, baginda juga pasti terkejut apabila rakyat sudah berani mempertikaikan kewibawaan baginda. Dalam laman-laman web kutukan demi kutukan telah dilempar kepada Sultan Azlan. Malah lebih mengejutkan lagi dalam web rasmi Sultan Perak, rakyat telah mencaci nista baginda di dalam buku pelawat web tersebut.

Perkataan-perkataan yang dilempar kepada Dr Mahathir, kini dilemparkan pula kepada Sultan Azlan. Sambutan 25 tahun baginda di atas takhta telah dicemari dengan kemarahan rakyat. Sepanjang 25 tahun baginda dihormati, kali ini rakyat tidak lagi menghormati baginda malah dicaci nista oleh mereka.

Dalam artikel kami yang lalu, kami telah menyatakan kalau Sultan Perak memilih untuk untuk menerima pandangan BN, maka sejarah hitam akan terpalit dalam 25 tahun pemerintahan baginda. Rakyat sekarang bukan lagi rakyat yang tidak bijak. Mereka telah mendapat ilmu setaraf dengan baginda, malah mungkin lebih.

Rakyat hari ini telah menolak propaganda media sebagaimana yang dilakukan dalam pilihan raya umum dan dua pilihanraya kecil yang lalu. Mereka telah mendapat berita dari pelbagai sumber.

Minda politik mereka telah beranjak kepada minda politik kelas pertama seperti di negara maju. Golongan yang sebaya dengan Baginda Sultan Perak ramai yang telah kembali menemui Allah, justeru rakyat baginda sekarang benar-benar telah berubah.

Peringatan yang diberikan oleh Mursyidul Am PAS, supaya Sultan Perak meneliti keputusan baginda supaya selaras dengan kehendak rakyat seharusnya diberi perhatian. Sekiranya tidak peristiwa yang berlaku hari ini adalah natijahnya. Lebih daripada itu, sebagaimana yang disebutkan oleh Mursyidul Am PAS, kemungkinan sistem beraja di negara ini akan turut menjadi sejarah sebagaimana yang telah berlaku di negara-negara lain.

Tindakan baginda dipertikaikan oleh banyak pihak termasuk di kalangan vateran Umno sendiri seperti Dr Mahathir, Tengku Razaleigh dan Rais Yatim. Demikian juga dengan SUHAKAM, turut mempertikaikan pembentukan kerajaan BN yang tidak sah ini.

Reformasi kali kedua ini mewarisi semangat reformasi kali pertama. Rakyat bangun menyatakan bantahan atas ketidakadilan. Kali ini mereka tidak mempedulikan siapa, kerana jelas kemarahan mereka ditujukan kepada Sultan Perak selain daripada pimpinan Umno.

Biarpun media massa memainkan peranan untuk mengelirukan rakyat bahawa Nizar dan penentang keputusan Sultan ini sebagai derhaka, hari ini telah diterima umum derhaka kepada kezaliman itu sesuatu yang mulia.

Zaman feudalisme dunia dan negara ini telah lama berlalu. Sekiranya Hang Tuah dan Hang Jebat menjadi calon Menteri Besar Perak sekarang, rakyat hari ini akan memilih Hang Jebat.

Sebagaimana propaganda media memburuk Anwar dan mewajarkan tindakan Dr Mahathir semasa reformasi 1998 tidak ditelan oleh rakyat, maka dipercayai propaganda media pada kali ini juga tidak akan berkesan.

Betapa lagi kalau Pakatan Rakyat bertindak bijak sepertimana tindakan mereka tahun 1998 yang lalu. Kalaupun kerajaan haram BN tidak tumbang, nama pemimpin mereka termasuklah nama Istana Perak akan terus buruk di mata rakyat.

Hari ini bukan sekadar zaman feudal telah berlalu, tetapi zaman politik perkauman juga hampir tamat. Faktor ini akan menjadikan reformasi kali kedua ini mungkin lebih berjaya. Cuma mungkin bahangnya hanya dirasai di Perak tidak di negeri yang lain. - telaahpolitik.blogspot.com_

Reference:
http://www.harakahdaily.net/bm/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19265&Itemid=28

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Mr President - Let's Start Your CHANGE Plans for PEACE

Statement on Obama's Actions Thus Far re Gaza (LATEST UPDATE - 31/1/09)
By:
Cynthia McKinney

Saturday, 31 January 2009 10:27

"Mr. President: Give Us a Clean Break from War"

In a message to President Obama today, former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney wrote:

"It is time that the United States negotiate in good faith with Hamas, the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. It is also time that the U.S. government tell Israel to release the Hamas Parliamentarians it illegally arrested. President Obama, please say something about Gaza. You have been roundly condemned for your continued silence in the face of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel in Gaza. Silence is complicity. Not one more bomb for Israel."

Israeli action in Gaza has outraged the world. Starting with Israel's inhumane blockade of Gaza when it didn't like the 2006 election results that put Hamas officially into power. In September 2007, Israel declared Gaza an "enemy entity." Of course, Israeli efforts to isolate the Gaza Strip can be traced back to Ariel Sharon as early as 2005. In carrying out its military Operation Cast Lead, Israel not only committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, it also carried out a long-standing goal of Gaza isolation. The President's continued silence on Gaza and the Palestinian right of self-determination is unacceptable.

I would like to commend President Obama for recognizing that peace is the imperative and that the United States can play a constructive role in its attainment. However, placing a phone call to an irrelevant "leader" in an attempt to revive his political standing is not a route to peace: it is a journey down the same road that we're already on, that is massacres, genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture--all with U.S. weapons, paid for by U.S. taxpayers.

The President must call the elected representatives of the Palestinian people and that means dealing with Hamas.

President Obama has already spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. George Mitchell, the President's Middle East Envoy, is reportedly scheduled to visit the region, but is expected to meet only with Egyptian, Israeli, Saudi, and Jordanian leaders, and the West Bank's Abbas. Unfortunately, despite worldwide revulsion and United Nations outrage at Israeli actions in Gaza, Gaza has not been reported to be one of the Presidential Envoy's destinations.

Even worse, one of the first officials that Obama called on his first day in office was Palestinian Mahmood Abbas. Abbas, however, is no longer President, heading a government that has no opportunity to govern, from a state that exists only as a construct not made by the Palestinian people. For the United States to embark upon the path of peace, it must recognize and act on the fact that Mahmood Abbas is now irrelevant.

I believe that the call to Abbas occurred because of pressure on President Obama from outraged activists around the country and around the world calling for him to do something. But Abbas is irrelevant if the goal is peace.

If the goal, however, is to appear to be doing something while all the time doing nothing but allowing the violence of U.S.-sponsored military action to spread including saber rattling against Syria and Iran, then the President is on the right path.

The American people voted for change and peace. President Obama's current path will produce neither.

I have implored President Obama to say something about Gaza. He has been roundly condemned for his continued silence in the face of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel in Gaza. Silence in the face of such criminal behavior is complicity.

President Obama must urgently place a call to the elected government of the Palestinian people.

President Obama can send a strong message to the warmongers inside his own party and present them "a clean break" from war. I encourage him to do so. We will not be fooled by actions that have the appearance of putting us on a path for peace, but that are public relations projects that buy time for more war.

To activists and human rights lawyers around the world I say: “Now is not the time to let up. We must be unrelenting in our pressure for justice and recognition of the rights of all peoples embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Those rights include the right not to be occupied. And the right to resist occupation. This is the embodiment of self-determination. And the Palestinian people are holders of these rights.”

It is time that the United States negotiate in good faith with Hamas, because it is the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. It is also time that the U.S. government tell Israel to release the Hamas Parliamentarians it illegally arrested.

While the United States Government spends precious resources to imprison Palestinians in the United States who attempted to ameliorate the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, I will attempt another trip to Gaza to assess the depth of the worsened humanitarian catastrophe now there.

I have repeatedly called on the President to ask for and the Congress to vote not one more bomb, not one more dime for the Israeli war machine.

Reference:
http://www.futurefastforward.com/feature-articles/981-cynthia-mckinney

3 February 2009
7 Safar 1430H