Norman Finkelstein on revolution, counter-revolution and Israel-Palestine

Norman Finkelstein, an American political scientist who specializes in the Holocaust and the Israel-Palestine conflict, is in Egypt for the first time today for a lecture at the American University in Cairo.

Finkelstein’s political and scholarly commitment to the Palestinian issue started with the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, and continued through the first Intifada in 1987, which he experienced first hand.

However, his personal commitment was born earlier. His parents, both Jewish Holocaust survivors, taught him not to be silent in the face of atrocities committed by Israel against Palestinians, which are in essence, they said, a repetition of the atrocities committed by the Nazis against the Jews. It is a lesson he frequently mentions.

After visiting Tahrir Square, and before attending a protest in front of the Israeli Embassy to Cairo, Finkelstein sat with Al-Masry Al-Youm to discuss how the Egyptian revolution and the changing Middle East might affect the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Al-Masry Al-Youm: What are your fears and expectations about the future of Egypt?

Norman Finkelstein: Obviously, everybody is hopeful about what’s happened, but I think everybody understands that a lot more needs to be done. I guess the main concern is that the counter-revolution has a clear idea of what it wants. It wants to keep the essentials of the old system and make just superficial changes. There does not seem to be a consensus among those who managed to get rid of Mubarak of what they want next. That to me is the most worrying.

Al-Masry: How do you analyze the current situation in the Middle East and its impact on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

Finkelstein: The first revolts – because I am not really convinced with the term "revolution" – went pretty quickly in Tunisia and Egypt, but now the counter-revolution is pretty well organized. In my opinion, the big disaster was Libya, because it raised the threshold dramatically and it gave to Western media an excuse not to look at what was going on in places like Bahrain and elsewhere. Before, death counted. Now that it turned into an armed struggle, life has become much more cheap, and that made non-violent struggle more difficult.

The good thing is that now Egypt is playing an active role in trying to resolve the [Israeli-Palestinian] conflict. I was heartened when I read the statement last week by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry that [Egypt] does not want to talk about the "peace process" anymore; it wants to talk about peace. That seems to be transmitting the message that the Egyptians do not want to talk anymore – they want action.

The Turks have pretty much the same attitude, as well as Europe – which wants the end of the conflict – and other movements in South America. So I think there is reason to be hopeful. If Egypt applies pressure now, maybe something will happen.

Al-Masry: Some segments of the population considered the demonstrations in support of Palestine a dangerous distraction from the internal situation and the need to achieve stability.

Finkelstein: I kind of feel that a little, too. The focus has to be internal. The gains have to be consolidated, and there is a danger, because the other side is looking to reverse those gains. And there has to be a little care not to invest the whole thing in the Palestine issue.

But of course, some people are telling me that there are Egyptians who say this was their revolution, it was not Arab revolution. There is an element of chauvinism by some Egyptians in this desire to separate themselves out, which is very silly, because it is quite obviously an Arab revolution. Revolutions have been confined to the Arab world and not spilled over into Pakistan.

Certainly, the spirit of the revolution was unity. Young people do not want to have anything to do with these sectarian divisions between Copts and Muslims. My guess is that there are some sectarian elements – some but not as significant – and there are a lot of people who are stirring up a lot of troubles. Israelis are stirring up troubles.

If someone asks me if they are behind one of the church bombings, I would say that I believe that. Israel has a history of that. Think about the Lavon affair in 1954. That wouldn’t surprise me. I think Israelis are part of the internal counter-revolution because they are very upset about what is happening in Egypt. They were so close with Mubarak that for sure they have connections with the internal security and with the main counter-revolutionary elements.

Al-Masry: What is the role of Egypt in the Egypt-brokered reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah?

Finkelstein: I think this is very significant, because I do not think they would invest their energy in that unless they wanted there to be results. It could be decisive. If both Turkey and Egypt strongly come out for a settlement of the conflict, it could make a big difference. The other big factor is if the Palestinians would simply do what was done in Egypt, get together in millions and force the Israelis out. I am not optimistic about that, but if that happens it would be over for Israel, then they would have to withdraw. They could not get away with shooting a large number of Palestinians because they would look too much like Syria and Libya.

Al-Masry: How do you see the future relations between Egypt, Israel and Palestine?

Finkelstein: Egypt does not want to go to war with Israel. It wants its basic rights, as does Turkey. Both want to be treated with respect and not to be taken for granted and to be walked over. Egypt will defend its own regional interests, which are not the same as Israel’s interests. Now Egyptians and Turks want Israel to make room for other powers in the region. I do not think Egypt wants more than that.

Al-Masry: Will the current international position toward Israel remain the same after the presidential elections?

Finkelstein: It depends on who will be elected. Personally, I think the best candidate for Egypt is ElBaradei, even though there are a lot of problems. But he has to work with the makers of the revolution. He has the wisdom and the expertise, but he needs a popular base, which he does not have.

Al-Masry: He is often accused of being a foreigner.

Finkelstein: ElBaradei is a proud Egyptian and he wants to restore Egypt to its rightful place in the region, so I do not consider him to be a foreigner. The bigger problem is that he comes from the elite and he does not feel comfortable being among the people. But the youth has the energy and it is not afraid of being among the people. They do not really have the knowledge when they are maneuvering with the big powers, therefore they need someone who knows what is going on and who feels confident. ElBaradei has that confidence.

So there has to be a partnership, and each has to be humble.Young people cannot work for him but with him, and he has to understand that.

When I kept asking the youth what’s next, they told me there are too many distractions. That is what worries me about the Palestinian issue. If you say there are too many distractions, do not create another distraction.

Behind the closed doors, the whole Clinton administration is working with all the remnants of the Mubarak administration and intelligence forces, along with the Israelis, on how to freeze this. It makes me a little nervous that the revolution does not know how to proceed now.

Al-Masry: How is the "third Intifada", called on 15 May, related to the ongoing uprisings in the Middle Eastern countries?

Finkelstein: First of all, you cannot call for an Intifada, as you cannot call for a revolution. People do not like to be given orders. It has to be something spontaneous, even if, of course, you need people to organize the energy once it has been released.

My impression with Palestinians is that the spirit is still not there yet. The only place where there was a pro-Mubarak demonstration, organized by the Palestinian Authority, was the West Bank. Palestinians became quite cynical about politics. For now they watched what happened in Egypt, but they did not do anything.

Al-Masry: How is the counter-revolution preventing real change and democratic transition in Egypt, and to what extent is this related to the key position Egypt has in the area?

Finkelstein: Egypt is a strange place, because you can never tell whether they are naïve or hopeful. There seems to be a lot of faith in the army, but I am not sure where that comes from. Is it naïve or are they just hoping they will not have to enter into a conflict with the army to achieve their goals? The Egyptians seem to have forgotten what the American role was during the revolution. The US was completely against it until they could not do anything anymore.

Reference:
http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/439292

Syeikh Abdol Munem's Desicion Might be Problematic

Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh, an Islamist presidential candidate and reformist member of the Muslim Brotherhood, dropped a bombshell Sunday by stressing freedom of belief and unequivocally condoning conversion between Islam and Christianity.

“Nobody should interfere if a Christian decides to convert to Islam or a Muslim decides to leave Islam and become Christian,” Aboul Fotouh said in an interview with a widely-viewed nightly talk show broadcast on a private satellite channel. “Forcing people to adopt a particular faith will lead to the rise of hypocrites.”

By acknowledging the right to convert from Islam to another religion, Aboul Fotouh sets himself at odds with most Islamists and Muslim jurists, who hold that ridda, or apostasy, is punishable by death.

“Freedom of belief should be guaranteed and invoking the capital punishment for apostasy is irrelevant. This punishment is not a penalty for converting from Islam,” he said.

Aboul Fotouh hinted at arguments advanced by some Muslim reformers that studied the historical context of such an injunction and came up with the conclusion that apostates were killed during the early years of Islam not because they quit the religion but because they carried arms against Muslims upon conversion. To Abouel Fotouh, in contemporary times, this particular injunction can be applied to those who commit “high treason” against their state or societies.

Abouel Fotouh broached this incendiary issue after he was asked to comment on sectarian clashes that erupted last week in the Cairo neighborhood of Imbaba after fundamentalist Salafis Muslims allegedly attempted to break into a local church under the pretext of rescuing a woman rumored to be held captive after converting from Christianity to Islam. At least 15 people were killed, more than 200 injured, and a local church was set on fire.

Women who allegedly convert from Christianity to Islam have been at the heart of most sectarian incidents in recent years. In most cases, radical Islamists took it upon themselves to protect new Muslims against the church, which they say “forces” them to return to their original faith.

“What happened has reasons and it could be cured if freedom [is respected],” said Abouel Fotouh. “The state should be responsible for protecting freedom of belief and neither the church, Al-Azhar, Islamic groups, the Muslim Brotherhood nor Salafis should be in charge of that.”

Last week, Abouel Fotouh, a Muslim Brotherhood leader, announced that he would run for president as an independent in a clear act of defiance against his group’s decision not to field a presidential candidate. For the last few years, the relationship between the 60-year-old doctor and the nation’s oldest Islamist organization has been strained due to Aboul Fottouh’s liberal views. His acknowledgement of women’s and Copts’ right to run for president coupled with his full endorsement of a democratic, civil rule antagonized many of the group’s hawks and culminated in his exclusion from the organization’s Guidance Bureau in early 2010.

His decision to engage in the presidential contest is expected to exacerbate the tension. Many of the Muslim Brotherhood’s senior leaders have already announced that the group will not back Abouel Fotouh’s candidacy

MOHON ISTAC KEMBALI KEPADA VISI ASAL

Tahniah kerana Perdana Menteri memberi anugerah Melayu Terbilang kepada Prof Dr Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas..semoga negara memberi pengkitirafan kepada ilmuwan dan menjadikan mereka sebagai penasihat utama kerajaan dan negara bagi merealisasikan jambatan ulama-umara..wallahu a'lam..

--by Abd Mun'em Mahmad Muhtar on Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 6:35pm

PROFESSOR DR SYED MUHAMMAD NAQUIB AL-ATTAS
.by Abd Mun'em Mahmad Muhtar on Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 6:35pm.
Prof. Dr. Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas is Founder - Director, International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC). He was born in Bogor in 1931 and received his early education in Sukabumi and Johor Bahru. He later studied at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, England, at the University of Malaya, Singapore; at McGill University, Montreal, Canada; and at the University of London, London, England. He received his M.A. and PhD respectively from the McGill University, Montreal, and University of London, England, with special concentration on Islamic philosophy, theology and metaphysics.

At the National University of Malaysia, which he initially started and organized and of which he is one of the founders, he has been Head of the Department of Malay Language and Literature, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, the first holder of the Chair of Malay Language and Literature, and the first Director of the Institute of Malay Language, Literature and Cultural, which he founded in 1973. He has also been Head of the Division of Literature in the Department of Malay Studies and Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur; UNESCO expert on Islamics; Visiting Scholar and Professor of Islamics at Temple University; and at Ohio University, Distinguish Professor of Islamic Studies and the first holder of the Tun Abdul Razak Distinguished Chair of Southeast Asian Studies; at the American University, Washington, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies (1986); Life Holder Distinguished Al- Ghazali Chair of Islamic Thought, International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC), 1993.

Professor al-Attas has lectured throughout the world and written more than twenty books and many articles on Islam in the fields of Islamic philosophy, theology and metaphysics, history, literature, art and civilization, religion and education. Some of his work written in English and Malay have been translated into Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Urdu, French, German, Italian, Russian, Bosnian, Albanian, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Malayalam and Indonesian. For his outstanding contribution in the field of comparative philosophy, the Empress of Iran made him a Fellow of the Imperial Iranian Academy of Philosophy in 1975. The President of Pakistan awarded him the Iqbal Medal in 1979. Since 1974, Marquis Who’s Who in the World has listed him among individuals who demonstrated outstanding achievement in their own field of endeavor. As a scholar of Islam he has made significant contributions to the contemporary world of Islam in the domains of the Islamization of contemporary knowledge and of Muslim education.

He was responsible for the conceptualization of the Islamic University, which he initially formulated at the First World Conference on Muslim Education, Makkah (1977), as well as the establishment of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (STAC) in 1987. He designed the plan and the building of ISTAC in all its architectural details as well as the landscape and interior décor (1990-1991). For his creative and scholarly contributions to the contemporary Muslim world he is honored by being conferred for life the Distinguished Al-Ghazali Chair of Islamic Thought by ISTAC (1993). King Hussein made him a Member of the Royal Academy of Jordan (1994). The University of Khartoum conferred upon him the Degree of Honorary Doctorate of Arts (D.Litt.) in June, 1995. The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), on behalf of the Islamic World and through its subsidiary the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) conferred upon him the IRCICA Award for excellent contributions in the various field of Islamic Civilization (2000); the Russian Academy of Science honored him in a Special Presentation to the Academicians, Moscow (2001).

Prof al-Attas is Member of the Advisory Board of Al-Hikma Islamic Translation Series, Institute of Global Cultural Studies, Binghamton University, SUNY, Brigham Young University; Member of the Advisory Board of the Royal Academy for Islamic Civilization Research, Encyclopedia of Arab Islamic Civilization, Amman, Jordan.

Reference:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/abd-munem-mahmad-muhtar/professor-dr-syed-muhammad-naquib-al-attas/209921092372255?notif_t=note_reply

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Abd Mun'em Mahmad Muhtar Tahniah kerana Perdana Menteri memberi anugerah Melayu Terbilang kepada Prof Dr Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas..semoga negara memberi pengkitirafan kepada ilmuwan dan menjadikan mereka sebagai penasihat utama kerajaan dan negara bagi merealisasikan jambatan ulama-umara..wallahu a'lam..
5 hours ago · LikeUnlike · 1 personMohd Faizal likes this..

Asudi Hamdun Asudi menyokong usaha itu..cuma harapan jernih dari sanubariku adalah buktikan keseriusan pengiktirafan tersebut dengan menghidupkan semula ISTAC MENGIKUT AGENDA ASAL YG TELAH DIASASKAN OLEH YG BERBAHGAIA PROF AGAR MENJADI SEBUAH INSTITUT PENGKAJIAN DAN PENYELIDIKAN ISLAM TERUNGGUL DI RANTAU TIMUR INI. (ANDALUSIA DI TIMUR)...KITA LIHAT DAN TUNGGU...
5 hours ago · LikeUnlike.

Mohd Dani Muhamad yup...kembalikan ISTAC kepada kepimpinan asal...
5 hours ago · LikeUnlike.Ismail Zaini SMNA sewajarnya memang layak berada di singgahsana tersebut atas sifat ilmu dan intelektualnya. Beliau banyak mewarnai pemikiran aku ni dalam melihat Islam dengan welstancahaungnya itu.
4 hours ago · LikeUnlike.

Asudi Hamdun Mohd Dani dan Syeikh Ismail, kita promosikan kepada ramai kengkawan lagi agar PENGEMBALIAN INI DAN PEMBENTUKAN INSITUSI ISLAM UNGGUL INI DAPAT DIREALISAIKAN JUA SEBELUM PROF MENEUI RAFEEK AL-A'LAA..Biarkan AGENDA ISTAC INI MENJADI NYA AKHIRNYA...AMEEN.
about an hour ago · LikeUnlike.

Ismail Zaini INSYALLAH.
12 minutes ago · LikeUnlike.

Jangan Menyebarkan Fitnah Membawa Padah

Saudara pembaca yang budiman,

Kerajaan mestilah bertanggung jawab dalam masalah fitnah dan pembawa berita sensitif kepada agama dan Perlembagaan Negara ini. Meransangkan isu "Perdana Menteri Kristian" dan "Kristian Agama Resmi Malaysia" adalah suatu simbahan petrol kepada 'kerapuhan' semangat solidariti kita masyarakat Islam dan bukan Islam di Malaysia. Tambahan pula berita yang tidak sahih, lagi tidak pernah dipastikan dari sumbernya serta tidak dibuktikan dengan fakta-fakta tulisan, audio dan video dakwaan itu berlaku, hanya boleh dikategorikan sebagai "berita angin" sahaja. Maka pihak Utusan Malaysia memasukkan maklumat bertaraf "berita angin" ini secara sembarangan tanpa memikirkan risiko kepada ummah dan perkauman adalah suatu PERCUBAAN YANG SANGAT BERBAHAYA. Rakyat boleh membaca hasrat dari pendedahan ini, iaitu agar solidariti Melayu kembali menyokong UMNO/BN demi kesinambungan kekuasaan politik mereka di tanah air ini. Namun jika wahana yang digunakan sebegini keji dan tanpa memilih subjek perkara yang munasabah atau tidak, maka imej pihak-pihak tertentu; Kerajaan Malaysia, Utusan Malaysia, Blog-blog seperti Bigdog dan juga Marahku turut akan terjejas dan merudum di mata pembaca dan rakyat Malaysia.

Suatu pertanyaan dengan tersibar cerita ini dan telah meletup menjadi isu, di manakah kempem 1 Malaysia dan 1 Ummah yang diwar-warkan oleh Kerajaan Dato' Najib Tun Razak.? Dapatkah ianya direalisasikan dengan budaya politik yang tak memilih isu dan tidak menjaga sensitiviti agama dan perkauman.?

Rayuan saya kepada pihak-pihak tertentu di Malaysia, berhentilah dari mensensasikan isu-isu yang bakal membakar semangat PERKAUMAN DAN KEAGAMAAN secara tidak bertanggung jawab. Jika mahu meraih sokongan parti politik, bertindaklah di dalam jalur undang-undang dan bertanggung jawab memelihara keharmonian antara kaum-kaum di Malaysia. Islam bukan satu agama yang menghuru-harakan kaum, malah ianya agama yang akan menjaga kebaikan dan kemaslahatan antara kaum jika ISLAM KEMBALI MEMERINTAH dengan wajah keadilan dan kerukunannya antara kaum yang pernah diukir di dalam lipatan sejarah dunia Islam, nescaya lebih ramai umat bukan Islam akan meyakini kewibawaan Islam sebagai DASAR BUDAYA MALAYSIA TERCINTA. Contohnya kerajaan minoriti Islam yang pernah memerintah majoriti kaum Kristian Koptik Mesir di Zaman Umar Ibnu al-Khattab melalui Gabenor belaiu 'Amru ibnu al-'As di Mesir.

___________________________________________

Kristian-Islam: Blogger ‘Bigdog’ tidak akan mohon maaf

Oleh Syed Mu’az Syed PutraMay 12, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, 12 Mei — Dengan mempertahankan tulisannya, penulis blog “Bigdog”, yang mencetuskan provokasi berhubung dakwaan wujudnya konspirasi untuk menjadikan Kristian agama rasmi negara menegaskan, dia tidak akan membuat permohonan maaf atas laporannya, yang disifatkan banyak pihak sebagai fitnah.

Selain menjadikan Kristian agama rasmi negara, penulis blog itu juga mendakwa ia akan melantik perdana menteri dalam kalangan penganut agama itu.

Ekoran pendedahan penulis blog “Bigdog” itu, Utusan Malaysia telah memetik laporan tersebut dan disiarkan pada Sabtu lalu dengan tajuk “Kristian Agama Rasmi?” yang mendapat bantahan dan dikritik banyak pihak termasuk daripada pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat dan Barisan Nasional (BN).

Laporan muka depan akhbar Utusan Malaysia itu turut disiarkan dalam beberapa blog pro-Umno.

Penulis blog tersebut yang enggan namanya didedahkan menerusi entri bertajuk “Making Christianity the official religion?” mendakwa paderi-paderi Kristian mahu perdana menteri dilantik daripada kalangan penganut agama itu.

Selain itu, nama Ahli Parlimen Jelutong Jeff Ooi dari DAP juga diheret dalam tulisan blog berkenaan kerana beliau dilaporkan hadir bersama.

“Tidak (akan minta maaf), atas alasan apa saya perlu minta maaf? Kenapa saya perlu minta maaf? Kepada siapa saya harus minta maaf?

“Saya tidak akan minta maaf, saya tidak tahu sebab apa (perlu minta maaf), mereka perlu baca balik laporan saya itu, kalau tidak faham saya boleh jelaskan,” kata penulis blog “Bigdog” kepada The Malaysian Insider.

Ditanya sama ada laporan yang ditulis itu benar atau palsu, penulis blog “Bigdog” enggan memberikan sebarang komen.

Sebaliknya hanya berkata: “Saya tidak boleh cakap, sebab ia sudah jadi kes polis, sudah ada laporan polis dibuat.

“Jadi biar polis siasat dulu,” katanya.

Selain enggan meminta maaf, penulis blog itu juga enggan menarik balik laporan yang telah ditulis itu sambil menyifatkan tiada alasan untuk dia berbuat demikian.

Sebuah lagi blog yang turut mendakwa kewujudan konspirasi itu telah memadamkan entri-entri itu.

Selain blog “Bigdog”, blog “Marahku” merupakan blog yang dipetik Utusan Malaysia yang dalam laporan itu menuduh DAP mungkin terlibat dalam konspirasi tersebut.

“Buat apa saya perlu tarik balik? Saya tidak akan . . . biarkan sahaja ia di situ,” kata penulis blog “Bigdog”.

Blog “Bigdog” juga menuduh DAP menghasut dengan cuba meminda undang-undang negara untuk menjadikan mereka yang beragama Kristian menjadi perdana menteri, dengan menunjukkan gambar berbintik-bintik yang didakwa mereka sebagai pakatan rahsia antara DAP dan pastor-pastor di sebuah hotel di Pulau Pinang minggu lalu.

Bagaimanapun pemimpin-pemimpin DAP telah menafikan perkara tersebut sambil mengulangi pendirian mempertahankan Islam sebagai agama rasmi negara ini.

Penganjur program itu — Pertubuhan National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) bersama Global Day of Prayer, Marketplace Penang dan Penang Pastors Fellowship menegaskan dakwaan terhadap komuniti adalah pembohongan dan telah pun menafikan dakwaan blogger berkenaan.

The Malaysian Insider pagi semalam melaporkan sebuah blog pro-Umno mengecam pendedahan provokasi yang dibawa blogger “Bigdog”.

Blogger “Papa Gomo” menerusi entri “Negara Kristian — Tangkap Sumbat Dalam ISA (Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri) Si Bigdog Ini” mengecam tindakan yang dilakukan “Bigdog” atas alasan mengeluarkan laporan berunsur fitnah dan tidak benar.

Selain itu, penulis itu juga mahu “Bigdog” ditahan di bawah ISA jika terbukti laporan yang dikeluarkan itu berunsur fitnah.

Reference:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/bahasa/article/kristian-islam-blogger-bigdog-tidak-akan-mohon-maaf/

OH FELDA MENJADI BUDAK RAJA GULA

Felda beli kilang ‘Raja Gula’? - Harakahdaily

KUALA LUMPUR, 10 Mei: Kerajaan didesak untuk mengumumkan jumlah transaksi pembelian Malayan Sugar Manufacturing Co Sdn Bhd (MSM) yang sebelum ini dimiliki oleh Raja Gula, Tan Sri Robert Kuok, lapor Keadilan Daily.

Ahli Parlimen Indera Mahkota, Azan Ismail (gambar) mendakwa pembelian itu dilakukan menerusi anak syarikat Felda, iaitu Felda Global Ventures Holdings Sdn Bhd (FGVH).

“Felda ialah sebuah syarikat berkepentingan kerajaan. Mengapa jumlah pembelian tersebut tidak diumumkan secara terbuka?

“Agensi mana yang dilakukan untuk membuat penilaian aset dan liabiliti syarikat tersebut?” soal Azan.

Azan mendakwa, kerajaan seolah-oleh menyembunyikan perkara tersebut dari pengetahuan rakyat, sehinggalah rentetan dari siri kenaikan barangan keperluan termasuk kenaikan harga gula sebanyak 20 sen yang diumum kerajaan semalam.

Menurut laporan media, FGVH turut membeli Kilang Gula Felda Perlis Sdn Bhd, sebidang tanah seluas 5,800 hektar di Chuping, Perlis dan 20% pegangan Tradewinds (M) Bhd dengan anggaran jumlah RM1.5 billion.

Difahamkan kini, Robert Kuok, yang juga jutawan pertama di Malaysia kemudiannya membeli syarikat CSR Limited, iaitu pengeluar gula terbesar di Australia.

“Sekarang ini, jika Felda mahu mengimport gula dari Australia, agensi tersebut akan membeli dari syarikat yang dimiliki oleh Robert Kuok.

“Ini tidak memberikan makna kepada Felda kerana pada akhirnya nanti, sekiranya ada kenaikan harga gula di negara ini, maka Felda akan dipersalahkan.

“Sedangkan, keuntungan awal telah dikaut oleh orang yang sama, iaitu kroni Barisan Nasional dan pernah mendapat faedah dari monopoli gula selama puluhan tahun di negara ini.

“Felda belum tentu mendapat keuntungan, kerana gula adalah barangan kawalan. Jika ada pun, sudah tentu ia ‘disedut’ oleh pihak ketiga yang menjadikan nilai terkumpul tersebut sebagai dana pilihan raya bagi pihak Barisan Nasional,” tambah Azan.

Dalam pada itu, Azan Ismail mendakwa, kerajaan cuba mewujudkan suasana tenteram di kalangan rakyat Malaysia terutamanya orang Melayu dengan mendakwa, pembelian syarikat gula tersebut oleh Felda menunjukkan kerajaan prihatin terhadap agensi yang banyak memberikan faedah kepada orang Melayu itu.

“Orang Melayu jangan terperangkap dengan tindakan kerajaan ini. Pembelian kilang gula milik Robert Kuok oleh Felda tidak memberi jaminan bahawa nasib orang Melayu lebih terbela.

“Kita tidak tahu siapa yang berkepentingan di dalam transaksi tersebut yang akan mengaut keuntungan. Apatah lagi proses pembelian FGVH tidak diumumkan secara terbuka.

“Sebab itu, kita tuntut dokumen tersebut didedahkan kepada umum,” ujar Azan

Reference:
http://bm.harakahdaily.net/index.php/berita-utama/3212-felda-beli-kilang-raja-gula