I oppose any “muzakarah” with UMNO
It goes without question that as a life member of PAS, I oppose any idea or suggestion for a muzakarah (roundtable agreement) with the secularists of UMNO. I do not think that there will be any benefit into initiating such moves, as past experiences have shown. Also, these secularists sure have a bad track record when it comes to “cooperating” with Muslims who struggle for the cause of Islam. Take the Palestinian experience for example. Remember the so-called Hamas-Fatah “unity government”? Turns out that those secularists in Fatah have an axe to grind and nearly succeeded in their coup to oust Hamas from government in Gaza. Fortunately the Hamas leadership are not stupid donkeys which Fatah thought them to be.
In the Malaysian context, the previous PAS experience of being part of government in BN during the 1970s should be sufficient warning to all who think that PAS should cooperate with UMNO. If I see an UMNO member and a snake, it won’t be the snake that I will shoot first.
MENJ is 28/m/BTHO. Pursuing a Masters programme at APIIT, he is currently a full-time ProBlogger and Web Directory Owner. He is also a Muslim Internet activist and student of Comparative Religion, dedicated to combating misinformation about Islam. 
I come accross your site for the first time when I look for ‘muzakarah PAS-UMNO’. I become skeptical when you introduce yourself as someone dedicated to combat misinformation about Islam.
First and foremost, you describe UMNO as secularist. When you describe another Muslim as secular, you must be very sure as to what is ’secular’, or else you are committing great sin. A secular person is someone who seperate worldly life from that of the hereafter. An average UMNO member perform solat, pay zakat, perform Haj, fast in Ramadhan and belives in all rukun iman. Thus, an UMNO member is a Muslim. And one of UMNO’s stated mission is to uphold, defend and spread Islam. On this basis alone, your perception about UMNO is already WRONG.
[MENJ: Yes it is secularist and no one knows it better than me since I was in UMNO before I rejected secularism and the secularist mindset. Apparently you would need to read more about secularism since it is obvious you do not seem to know that a secularist can claim to be a Muslim and vice-versa and that does not mean that they are not contradictory.
And I challenge you to show me where is this so-called "stated mission" of UMNO that you claim? Do not think that you can fool me because as an ex-UMNO supporter, that is far from what UMNO is upholding!]
When you talk about HAMAS ang Gaza, you are sending another worrying message. Rasulullah saw used to say, ‘when two muslims draw up swords against each other, both who slay or get slain will be sent to hell’. The narrow-mindedness of Muslims in Palestine is splitting them into small groupings. No wonder they have been bullied by the Israelist for decades.
[MENJ: Here you show your profound ignorance of the situation in Palestine and I do not think you are qualified to speak about our brothers in Hamas. And when I say "our", I was not including you.]
My brother, you have to stop talking about Islamist, secularist, or any other terms. A muslim is a muslim. A kafir is a kafir. When you consider someone a muslim, he is your brother and deserve all benefits as your brother in Islam. In one sahih hadith, Rasulullah saw said, ‘When someone say kalimah syahadah, he will go to heaven’. Can you be sure that you will go to heaven when you start questioning the ‘Islamicity’ of 3 million UMNO members who believe in Allah swt as their ONLY God, and Muhammad saw as His final messenger?
[MENJ: A Muslim is a Muslim when he upholds the sanctity of Islam vis-a-vis the Qur'an and the Sunnah and swears to uphold the supremacy of the Shariah and struggle for its cause. None of this virtues are existent in UMNO, who only pays lip-service to Islam and are lost in the quagmire of their secularism. It does not make them a kafir, but it does make them munafiqun.]
Comment by abudina — July 24, 2008 @ 5:42 am
You do not agree with Muzakarah PAS-UMNO and you cited that you are a lifetime PAS member. May I ask you, what about PAS’s president Hj Abdul Hadi Awang, deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa, former Ketua Dewan Ulama Harun Taib and former vice-president Mustafa Ali. These are the people who have struggled to bring PAS to their present level.
[MENJ: Who are you to question about my loyalties to PAS, you UMNO secularist?]
Please tell me WHO should make decisions for PAS, Mursyidul Am or President? This question reminds me of Palestinian Authority. Who makes decision, President Mahmud Abbas or Prime Minister Ismail Hanieh?
[MENJ: I am not answerable to you at all, so I am not obliged to respond to your rhetoric.]
Comment by abudina — July 24, 2008 @ 5:57 am
Brother has raised a very interesting question. If UMNO has hidden agenda thenI am prepared to leave UMNO and join PAS. I knw that as good muslims we have to uphold Islam in its purest form even if it means others will call us names and insult us and brand us as intolerant and terrorist. We have to strive to uphold syariah laws wherever possible. Islam should be made the official and only acceptable religion for the State of Mayalsia and apsotasy from Islam should be punished in the appropriate manner as prescribed in al sunnah.
thank you bro MENJ for openeing up my eyes. I have been blind all these years.
Mushtaq,
A soon-to-be PAS member
Comment by UMNO supporter — July 24, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
Hai MENJ, I really sympathise with you over a few things. You may have had some bad experience with a few UMNO members, that you have developed a very negative perception about UMNO. The same case with people in the west who develope negative perception about Islam, just because they have not experience the true Islam. They only know negative aspects about Islam - sexual discrimination in certain Muslim countries, suicide bombers, corrupt practices etc. If people can have wrong perception about Islam, I’m not surprised if you have developed wrong perception about UMNO.
[MENJ: Bad experience? I never had any bad experience with UMNO or any UMNO member. But I left the party because I developed strong ideological differences after being influenced by Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas and almarhum Dr. Ismail Raji' al-Faruqi. It has nothing to do with negative perception, I was in their shit and I experienced enough of UMNO to know more about it than the average PAS member.]
With regards to stated missions of UMNO, I would recommend that you try to find a copy of UMNO Constitution, where you can find all the answer.
[MENJ: Nowhere does the party constitution say that it will uphold the Shariah. I challenge you to find and show me this exact phrase.]
On secularism, I have studied the subject quite a bit, enough to correct you if you get it wrong. Lets not complicate the understanding of secularism. We all know it started in christian Europe, derived from the christian teaching,’Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s’. In simple term, a person, an organisation or a government, can be regarded as secular if their persuits are devoid of religious considerations.
[MENJ: And what UMNO is doing is not secular? Certainly I have not seen any effort by the current UMNO leadership to take a proactive stand against apostasy, to address the current social problems that are plaguing the Muslim society, and of course lets not forget the business contracts and cronies that UMNO is so well-known for that it has become its worst-kept secret. Do not for one second believe that I do not know anything why people join UMNO is because of wanting to secure business contracts and form cronies with top division leadership. My family is from Johor and has a long UMNO tradition but I am the first of the mold to break away from the UMNO mentality and turn to PAS for my inspiration.]
UMNO certainly is not a secular party. I would like to repeat that one of its stated mission is to uphold, protect ang spread Islam. How UMNO achieve these? UMNO implements these through instruments of the Government. Hence the existence of JAKIM, Syariah Courts, Tabung Haji, UIAM, Islamic dimension in education system etc.
[MENJ: You can repeat that until the cows go home but lets not forget about LINA JOY, NOR AISAH BUKHARI, BOHSIA, BUANG BAYI, MAT REMPIT, JENAYAH BERAT, KHALWAT and all those negative influences brought about by UMNO due to their lackadaisical attitude about the situation. Why did UMNO rejected the Murtad Bill proposed by Tuan Guru Haji Hadi in 1999? Why are UMNO rejecting Hudud as part of our legal system?
UMNO is a secular party and nothing you say or do will change my mind, because I was in UMNO and I know it for what it is. You may be able to lie to someone else who was not in UMNO before but not to me, sorry.]
Comment by tanahmelayukita — July 25, 2008 @ 8:34 am
Salam,
May i suggest that the idea of muzakarah is good. Provided if the main firm stand is to find the way to put Deenul-Islam where it supposed to.
We have to be cristal clear our prime motives as a moslem. Allah and Rasullulah s.a.w. Not for UMNO, malay or PAS.
As for UMNO supporter:
The facts is that all these years UMNO proven did not effectively imposed Deenul-Islam as the main objectives.
Yes, we did see the results in Bank Islam , Takaful, TABUNG HAJI and Syariah law. However,
Islam itu adalah cara hidup yang Allah redhai untuk manusia mentaati segala perintah dan menjauhi segala larangannya.
Anda masih jauh dari pemahaman sahih jika melihat mentaati Allah hanya dengan cerita Bank Islam, memakai tudung, dinar emas, nilai islam dalam pentadbiran. Ini hanya sebahagian dari pematuhan syariat Allah.
Sedang MENTAATI ALLAH itu sangat luas termasuklah berjihad menegakkan Islam secara menyeluruh. Tanpa ada beza kepentingan dunia atau akhirat.
Jangan mendabik dada merasa kita sudah cukup mukmin dengan 5 ibadah asas itu. Sedang kita sembrono melanggar perintah Allah (mencegah dari melakukan larangan Allah adalah tuntutan keimanan).
Sedang permulaan mentaati Allah itu ialah bermula dengan mengimani islam secara menyeluruh. Di buktikan dengan perlakasanaan syariatnya. Dan puncak hasilnya (THE EXPECTING RESULT) manusia beriman yang bertakwa( takut, cinta dan mengharap pada Allah swt. dan mencontohi sunnah Rasullulah(akhlak).
Jadi, mukmin yg waras boleh renungkan apakah maknanya jika Islam sekadar berlegar dalam hal Bank Islam, Pusat Zakat, Tabung Haji, ada angkasawan muslim melayu ke angkasa (yg tak jelas kesudahan matlamatnya) sedang akhlak runtuh seruntuhnya (zina, khianat, rasuah) menjadi budaya orang Islam.
Sedang sudah jelas amaran Allah dalam Al-Quran betapa bersilih umat dihancurkan dari dahulu sehingga kini kerana (ISU AKHLAK) umat yg melampaui batas.
Dan melampaui batas inilah produk akhir UMNO. Ketidak tegasan menegak hak Allah dalam hukum inilah produk UMNO. Semangat Asobiyah perkauman yang dilaknat Allah ini yang dijunjung melayu. (Takkan Melayu hilang di dunia !) Sedarlah, bersepah kaum dah pupus sebab angkuh pada amanah Allah. Yahudi itu sendiri adalah mereka yg pernah dimartabatkan Allah dengan amanah dan akhirnya terlaknat kerana akhlak dan adab yang buruk pada Allah.
Belajar lah dari sejarah. Bukan sekadar dari sejarah 1957 atau dari sejak kejatuhan Melaka atau sejarah kota Madinah. Tapi belajar dari seawal sejarah kejadian manusia itu sendiri. Tujuan Allah jadikan manusia. Inilah asas islam-menyembah dan mentaati Allah dan mencontohi rasulnya. Bukan taat sembrono kepada Rukun Negara, Perdana Menteri, General Order, Ulama, Pendapat majoriti awam, Perlembagaan Parti dan segala sampah minda yang sesat.
Ini nyata lagi terang bahawa UMNO hanya menjadikan ISLAM sekadar adat resam untuk dipertahankan bukan menjunjung Allah di tempat sepatutnya dengan meletakkan Islam teratas segala perundangan…(masih ada syirik kepada ancaman musuh islam)
..Jangan bagi alasan konon secara berhikmah sedang anda sendiri tidak faham fekah keutamaan dan asas hikmah.
As for PAS supporter:
Perjuangan PAS adalah Islam. Islam itu adalah asas mentaati Allah dan Rasulnya. Jadi janganlah terperangkap dalam sindrom ” SEMANGAT ISLAM” . Ini satu perangkap dimana rasa sentimen dan taksub membuat kita lupa objektif utama adalah Allah dan Rasul. Bukan sekadar Islam atau Parti yang perjuangkan Islam.
Maka, hendaklah bertenang dengan melihat asas semula iaitu memartabatkan Islam kerana Allah semata-mata.
Dan bukan kerana selain dari itu seperti:
kerana aku benci UMNO atau kerana aku suka semangat Islam atau kerana Tok guru aku dalam PAS.
Mari kita bersabar berlapang dada…muhasabah kekurangan masing-masing dan cari persefahaman sesama muslim.
Saya sokong PAS bukan kerana PAS, tapi kerana Allah. Kalau UMNO sudi berubah menegakkan amanah Allah, saya akan bersama UMNO.Begitu juga jika PAS gagal menegakkan hak Allah, tidak ada kesal sedikit pun untuk tidak menyokonnya sekalipun tok-tok guru saya menyokongnya.
Paling baik…kedua-dua bersama menegakkan hak Allah. BUKAN KETUANAN (KESAMPAHAN) MELAYU.
Melayu tidak ada makna sedikitpun sekiranya tidak kerana ISLAM….buat renungan pendokong budaya sekular dan liberalis…
Wallahualam
Comment by RACIST HATER — July 25, 2008 @ 11:33 pm
Dear RACIST HATER, I fully agree with you that racism is despicable and should be rejected by everyone on this earth. The question is, if racism is so bad, why Allah swt, the God Almighty, created mankind of different tribes and races. Would not the world in greater peace and stability if mankind is created of one race only. Then you would not have to describe yourself as RACIST HATER.
My next question is, when someone is talking about a race, does it necessarily mean HE IS RACIST. Then how would you explain a few hadiths of Rasulullah saw regarding the supremacy of Kuraisyi tribe above other tribes among the Arabs?
Since the existence of tribes and races is part of God Almighty’s creation, we have NO OPTION but to accept the existence of tribes and races as a reality of our every day life. Natural feeling of closer affinity towards your own tribe and race is the same type of natural affinity and love towards your own family, extended family, and tribe or race. Such feeling is a gift from God Almighty as part of human survival system. For example, a Bosnian student in UIAM facing financial difficulty will naturally seek the help of fellow Bosnian student for relief. He knows so many other students of all races, but he always find his fellow Bosnians more comfortable to talk problems or just to be together. The same thing happens when a Malay pilgrim in Mecca lost his way. The first person he would like to grab for assistace is most probably another Malay pilgrim from Malaysia.
There is nothing wrong to love, care and protect your own race, just like the way you care and love your own family, AS LONG AS YOU DO NOT COMMIT INJUSTICES AGAINST OTHER RACES. Thats what UMNO is doing to the Malays. The Malay states were colonised by European powers for over 400 years before UMNO came into existence to organise the Malays to fight for their independence. Malays were illiterate and backward. UMNO brought teachers from Indonesia and other countries to educate them. Malay students were poor. UMNO through the Malaysian government provided the Malay students with scholarship to persue their studies even to overseas.
When Malays become highly educated, they can be entrusted to run universities, government depts, hospitals, banks, companies and other key services. The government does not have to depend on non-Muslims any longer. When Malays get better, Islam indirectly benefit from it.
Thats all that UMNO has done. Does UMNO deserve the RACIST LABEL?
Comment by tanahmelayukita — July 27, 2008 @ 11:06 am
Why all the hoolaboola about racial unity only now and not prior to May 8?Its because their out of political ammunition and generally PAS has rattled UMNO so badly, especially their success in relaying to the non Malays that just because someone wears a ketayap does not mean he is a terrorist!
Dr Lo’ Lo’s success is the biggest testament to this.
UMNO is merely playing politics and what they are doing is directly opposite from the tune they(BN) were singing before the election ..”PAS is evil, PAS is evil,PAS is terrorism etc”
Same with MCA.Its bad for DAP to cooperate with PAS, but they can accept BN cooperating with PAS?What bollocks!
Comment by Emmanuel — July 28, 2008 @ 12:49 pm
Salam tanahmelayukita
I assumed you are a moslem malay so i choose to continue in bahasa melayu.
Saya tidak mahu mempersoalkan pemahaman dari etimologi tentang isu istilah. Baik maksud “assobiyah” atau “racist” atau “racialist”.
Jadi penegasan, istilah “Assobiyah” ini saya maksudkan adalah ” sifat dalam adab terhadap kaum sendiri ketika memberi keutamaan”…sedikit huraian:
Tidak salah menyayangi bangsa , keluarga malah diri sendiri. Dan itulah susur galur keutamaan bagi seorang muslim dalam membuat kebajikan. Bermula dari diri sendiri, keluarga, jiran, masyarakat setempat dan bangsa sendiri secara am.
Tetapi bila anda mengutamakan kebajikan bukan mengunakan neraca kebenaran Islam(atas andaian anda seorang islam) sehingga anda berkerjasama atas sesuatu kezaliman atas sentimen keutamaan bangsa, maka inilah saya rujuk sebagai Assobiyah yg dicela..Bukan saya , tapi Allah yg mencela. Perbezaan bangsa itu adalah hikmah supaya mencari muafakat bukan untuk bersaing untuk menekan yg lain…
Dalam hal UMNO pula, kritis saya tidak sekadar dalam hal Assobiyah, tetapi dalam hal melampaui batas dan kealpaan dalam melaksanakan hak Allah.
Apa dia yg diabaikan UMNO ?
1. Amal makruf nahi mungkar (terpikul atas bahu pemrintah yg berkuasa)cth yg gagal:
a) budaya tanpa integriti-rasuah dan salah guna kuasa, pembaziran
b) budaya zina dan hedeonis
c) pembangunan x seimbang antara fizikal dan rohani
2. Iltizam penyampaian ilmu Islam dalam dasar menyeluruh yg menjadi hak rakyat secara menyeluruh.( malah menyekat atas alasan politik)
Tolong semak sukatan pendidikan Islam hari ini.
3. Kerincian dalam perlaksanaan syariat dalam pembangunan ekonomi, perundangan dan sosial masyarakat.
4. Sikap hodoh mengajak umat Islam Melayu bertuhankan UMNO sehinngga malas berdikari dan hilang daya juang dan saing yg sihat. <—-tidak ikhlas dalam melaksanakan hak
(orang Islam yg taat pada Allah tidak akan mengharap dan menghina diri menjadi bangsa subsidi)
Saya takkan menuntut penegasan ini sekiranya UMNO hanyalah satu badan NGO atau sekadar pertubuhan kumpulan syok sendiri(itu yg saya nampak pun), tapi UMNO adalah parti politik yg telah diberi amanah untuk berkuasa memimpin kerajaan utama(Di beri KUASA: Mampu berbuat sesuatu. & Diberi amanah untuk berkuasa)
Maka tanggungjawab UMNO yg berjanji menegakkan Islam takkan terlepas dari dituntut. Kalau UMNO gagal, tidak mampu dan ketandusan idea untuk memartabatkan hak Allah, maka wajar menyerahkan kepada mereka yg mampu dan bersungguh melakukannnya.
Di sinilah ada perbezaan bila kita meletak fokus antara kepentingan mentaati Allah dengan mencintai selain dari Allah.. Kalau anda takut dan cintakan Allah..anda akan ketepikan rasa taksub atau sayang selain dari NYA termasuk ke atas diri sendiri.
Ini tidak bermakna anda pakat buang habis tuntutan menjaga kebajikan diri, keluarga dan bangsa anda. Hanya dalam melakukannya jangan sesekali berlaku zalim, cuai, lalai dan sembrono dalam melakukan hak Allah untuk ditaati secara mutlak.
Saya juga tidak kata kejayaan UMNO dalam membangunkan kaum melayu yg tertinggal sebagai perilaku salah. Tetapi apa yang salah ialah apa yang di fokus dan adab perlaksanaanya.
Kalau anda seorang muslim melayu anda perlu kerap bertanya….
adakah bermakna sekiranya kaedah pembangunan bangsa melayu dalam arus semasa berbaloi dibayar dengan lemahnya akhlak mereka dan jauh akidahnya dari kebenaran ??
Nyatanya, pembangunan umat melayu definisi UMNO tertumpu kepada material bukan menyeluruh sehingga kepada inti sebenar iatu spritual dan moral.
Tidak hairan bila ini menjadi fokus, segala dosa besar kelihatan kecil dan segala kebaikan dan kejayaan kecil dilihat besar.
Hakikatnya…bangsa melayu yg diperjuangkan UMNO ini masih lagi manja, di awang-awang dan masih menjenin tentang keperkasaan sedang dengan bangsa cina yang bukan Islam itupun belum dapat seiring penguasaan ekonomi(dalam ketika UMNO diberi kuasa). Kenapa ???
Berbaloikah segala kudrat sehingga mengabaikan hak Allah, melanggar habis batasan dosa pahala semata-mata menjadi satu bangsa yg menyelit kecil dalam persaingan dunia ?
Masih gagalkah mengambil iktibar bagaimana Islam mengubah bangsa Arab yg kecil menjadi bangsa yg besar ? Masih gagalkah kita mengambil iktibar bangsa Yahudi yang unggul menjadi bangsa terlaknat, dibenci dan tidak pernah aman sehingga saat ini ? Masih tak fahamkah kenapa bangsa turki yg pernah unggul menjadi bahan lucu bangsa lain ketika ini ?
Kenapa ye ??
Mungkin sebab susah sangat nak faham hakikat bahawa segala sesuatu adalah dari Allah tanpa kecuali.
Atau tak tahu fungsi utama sebagai manusia.
Atau tak paham kronologi dari mana ? ke mana? untuk apa ? buat apa ? sebab apa ? dan macam mana ?
Ada akal, mata, hati , iman ..maka fikirlah …kalau tidak nafsu dan syaitan akan ambil alih…makajadilah kita bebal sebebalnya. Tak kira dalam UMNO atau PAS kalau hati ada yg tak kena sama jugalah penghujungnya.
wallahualam
Comment by RACIST HATER — July 28, 2008 @ 2:03 pm
Dear Emmanuel, I believe that you have read the Malay folklore story entitled Pak Kadok. However, to assist other readers, let me summarise what the story is about.
Pak Kadok lived in a society who spent lot of time in activities we nowadays call ‘pastimes’. One of their favourite pastimes was ‘cockfighting’(not to confuse the matter, ‘cock’ refers to male bird, while ‘hen’ refers to female bird). Actually it was a form of gambling. The owners of respective cocks to be thrown to fight to death in the ‘arena’ would have to pledge something to the opposite owner if his cock is defeated. This pastimes must have been a favourite pastimes in the community, so much so, even village heads and nobelties were also involved.
Despite being a poor man, Pak Kadok was very lucky that the fighting cock he groomed had turned out to be ‘Champion’. At one point in time, his cock had defeated most other cocks in ‘duels’ that could last for hours before the winner is decided. News about the ‘invincibility’ of Pak Kadok’s fighting cock eventually reached the village chief. The Chief had a fighting cock of his own. He became anxious to get the two cocks in the ‘final’.
On the appointed day, the whole village turned out to watch the ‘fight of the century’ between cocks belonging to Pak Kadok and the village chief. Pak Kadok stepped out of his house very confident of his fighting cock ability to defeat any challenger, wearing a specially designed attire made of a type of wall paper.
Once he reached the arena, Pak Kadok sat opposite the village chief, to determine their ‘betting’ arrangement. Both sides agreed that if Pak Kadok’s cock lose the fight, Pak Kadok will have to surrender his only house to the village chief. In the event that his cock wins, the village chief would have to surrender the whole village to be ruled by Pak Kadok.
Prior to the the start of the fight, the village chief offered Pak Kadok to EXCHANGE their cocks. The Chief managed to convince Pak Kadok that the Chief’s fighting cock stand a better chance to win, adding that the poor Pak Kadok may lose the only property he owned then. Worried about losing his house, Pak Kadok agreed to accept the offer. There was no change in the betting arrangement, but Pak Kadok’s ‘invincible’ cock had then been owned by the Chief.
After hours of tenacious duel, the cock which was originally owned by Pak Kadok dealt a KO blow onto the challenger. Forgeting that the winner was no longer his, Pak Kadok jumped about in excitement that his ‘wall paper’ attire was torn into pieces, revealing all his secrets to the spectators. When someone reminded him of the EXCHANGE arrangement made prior to the fight, only Pak Kadok realized that HE WAS THE LOSER.
Mr Emmanual, why I have to re-run the tape about this timeless Malay folklore? Its worth all your time reading this because PAS and its loyal followers have become the modern day Pak Kadoks. WHY?
PAS was so overwhelmed with the support it received from non-Malay voters. They looked at each other in disbelief when HINDRAF supporters holding and waving PAS flags at poll stations. PAS believed that the help of God has finally been bestowed on them. Finally, all non-Muslim voters have agreed with PAS’s struggle to establish Malaysia as an Islamic State.
In the excitement of retaining Kelantan and taking over Kedah, besides getting the post of Menteri Besar Perak, PAS has FORGOTTEN that their political gains were PAID WITH HEAVY PRICE. Prior to the PRU12, PAS had removed the word ‘Islamic State’ from its election manifesto, and replaced by ‘Welfare State’. At a time when Pak Lah and Najib were reminding BN partners that Malaysia IS AN ISLAMIC STATE, PAS leaders were happy enough to get the endorsement and support of PKR and DAP, by stating that MALAYSIA IS NOT AN ISLAMIC STATE.
In conclusion, PAS has dropped their struggle to ESTABLISH Islamis State in Malaysia prior to PRU12. That was the actual reason for the unprecedented support they received from non-Muslim voters.
Comment by tanahmelayukita — July 28, 2008 @ 11:06 pm
Dear Tanahmelayukita,
I understand your point, but does that not bode well for all Malaysians?I have seen both PAS Muslims and UMNO Muslims.At the risk of generalizing,PAS Muslims (from those days) were much more humble,tolerant, caring people.
Speaking with experience from having been with both sides of the camp, let me just share this-
When a PAS guy offers to plate you a bihun goreng at their simple Markaz, you can see the genuine sincerity in their eyes.
But when an UMNO guy invites you over to his son’s grand wedding,you can see the ego and distaste in theirs.PAS treats you like a brother, despite the fact we are different, but UMNO treats you like an unwelcome race, though they are supposed to be the more tolerant ones.
Let me ask you this.Now the GE is over.How many cross party functions do you see done by BN?How many UMNO politicians are surrounded by Chinese assistants, or MCA politicians surrounded by Indians, or SAPP by Malays?
Countable numbers.But go to Pakatan functions, you will see a mixed crowd.Kopiaks,AMK bandanas and DAP baseball caps.And I notice that there are many interparty helpers around.DAP centers with PAS helpers, PAS service office with DAP interpreters.This is an amazing breaking of barriers that should be supported, as it is truly a way to be Bangsa Malaysia, and not just gather once every five years to cut pulut kuning when you win the General Election!
PAS have not given up their Islamic struggle.Some states will probably have Hudud and Qisas implemented for Muslims.Chinese are pessimistic voters.They tend to prepare for the worst.They voted PAS in despite a very real thread of having Hudud implemented.I think this is an important development-people no longer vote based on traditional clusters.
Its going to be difficult for BN to win back lost ground.Politically awakened people are not easily sedated back into naivete.
Comment by Emmanuel — July 29, 2008 @ 5:33 pm
Dear Emmanuel, I note with interest your experience mingling with PAS and DAP supporters. This is far cry from PAS prior to 1998, when PAS scholars used to decree that making the ‘kafirs’ close friend would make you INFIDELS. Whether PAS has matured, or has transgressed, only time will tell.
I just want to remind you a bit the history of colonisation. Before the US invaded Iraq, they first lent support to opposition groups within Iraq. In order to weaken the Palestinian resistance, Israel would support one of the conflicting parties, be it FATAH or HAMAS. And the British managed to colonise the Malay States by supporting contending princes fighting for the throne. That was how Penang and Singapore were lost to the British, followed by other Malay States.
Our modern day Malaysia has been standing proudly as an independent nation for over 50 years. The Constitution was based on certain SPECIAL PROVISIONS to Malays and Bumiputras, taking into considerations the regional history. The problem is the CHINESE and INDIANS are never happy with these provisions. To them, these provisions make them SECOND CLASS citizens.
The Chinese and Indians will not be happy until they can change the Constitution. Such feeling is obvious within DAP and HINDRAF. And they see UMNO as the ONLY OBSTACLES to their dream of ‘Malaysian Malaysia’. Malaysian Malaysia as envisaged by the DAP will be a Malaysia without ’special provisions’ for Malays, and Malaysia without DEB. In a capitalistic system whereby only THE FITTEST WILL SURVIVE, a DAP Malaysian Malaysia will be a Malaysia dominated by the Chinese, first in the field of economy, and later in politics.
Since UMNO is the OBSTACLES, why not find and support forces among Malays who are nor happy with UMNO. First they find the supporters of Anwar Ibrahim who formed the PKR. And through Anwar’s influence, they managed to TAME PAS.
So, my brother, I’m not surprised if the DAP volunteers can lend support to PAS. This is a typical colonialist ploy to subjugate another race or nation.
Fortunately, PAS top leaders are not as naive as YOU. 100 days of PR rule in several states was enough indications to PAS as what to expect next. Congratulation to Pak Lah and Hj Hadi for their thoughts about unity and survival of Malays in Malaysia, a PART of a region used to be known as the Malay Archipelago.
It was the Malay sultans of Malacca, Acheh, Pasai, Patani, Brunei, Sulu and others who SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF ISLAM throughout the region. Malays have long been the BEARERS of Islam. If ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ is wiped out, with the help of Malays themselves, the supremacy of Islam will be compromised. Are we happy to see these things happening right in front of our own eyes?
Comment by tanahmelayukita — July 30, 2008 @ 1:24 pm
Dear MENJ, First of all, congratulation for your engagement. I believe it will be followed by NIKAH very soon. Congratulation also to the ‘lucky lady’ chosen by you as your future life partner.
I owe an answer with regards to UMNO stated missions.
The PERLEMBAGAAN UMNO as revised and approved by PERHIMPUNBAN AGUNG KHAS in June 1994, under Fasal 3, ASAS DAN TUJUAN, among other things stated that,”Menegak, mempertahan dan mengembangkan Islam, agama rasmi negara serta menghormati prinsip kebebasan beragama.”
[MENJ: Which turns out to be nonsensical bullshit. I *DO NOT* see any attempt by UMNO to defend or spread Islam apart from superficial means in order to outdo PAS in their Islamic struggle. The article above is VAGUE and AMBIGUOUS, it is not clear in its statement. I do not see UMNO doing anything about the apostates. I do not see UMNO trying to implement Syariah in its entirety. I do not see UMNO doing anything about the cronic social and morality problems in society.
Confer with Fasal 5 Perlembagaan PAS:
And this was the reason why I chose PAS and dumped UMNO to where it belonged...in the garbage heap.]
Comment by tanahmelayukita — July 30, 2008 @ 1:39 pm
Hi Tanahmelayukita,
Actually I think most Malaysians, Malays included would like to see more affirmative action for the poor.See, I don’t think your average non Malay would bother about the uni placement for Malays.Neither would they bother about the ASB, or Tabung Haji.Nor about the discount on new houses.Nor Tanah Rizab.Do you hear about this being protested against?
No, sir, I think what is being protested is thousands of APs given to a few UMNOputras.Or 490billion dollars in petrol revenue poured down the drain.See a Chinese saying goes, as long as the belly is full, the mind is satiated.The problem is, now, people are realizing that they are all of a sudden broke.
And they look at their rich neighbourhood UMNOputras driving around in 5 or 6 spanking new Mercedes’ and living in huge mansions.What are they supposed to think?Ketuanan Melayu at work?Most of the Malays themselves are the biggest victims of this so called Ketuanan Melayu.
As for UMNO fans like your goodself wish to see PAS merge with UMNO to ’silent’ an increasingly agitated public, well, go check out the firm “NO” given my today’s PAS meeting.Never will they merge with UMNO at any level.
And praise God for that.
Comment by Emmanuel — July 31, 2008 @ 5:50 pm
Hai MENJ, I’m very impressed by your resoluteness about PAS. You are a typical PAS supporter, very honest to the struggle you believe in. When I was small, I used to climb trees to put up PAS flags and banners. When I was overseas, I used to gather my fellow students to listen to talks by the Late Fadhil Noor in my house, and attended numerous talks by Hj Hadi, Ustaz Ab Ghani Shamsudin, Dr Siddiq Fadhil and others.
In the UK, I used to attend programs by IRC, Suara Islam and ABIM. I like to compare their thoughts and ‘manhaj’. It was there that I came accross those who started to make inroad into Malaysian politics like Khalid Samad, Dr Zulkifli Ahmad and Shaari Sungip. I know them, but they may not know me. Infact at one time, I was asked to pick up Anwar Ibrahim from a tube station and guided him to a certain place in London.
In those days, most Islamic movements resorted to confrontational approach against many governments.
I studied the manhaj of Ekhwanul Muslimin, Jamaat Islamiyy. I noticed that such organisation became ’strangers’ within their own society. Until now, Ekhwanul Muslimun is still at the fringe of main stream politics in the middle east. Jamaat Islamiyy is not doing much better in Indian sub-continent. Almost every where, Islamic activists have been humiliated, arrested, inprisoned and even murdered.
Do we really need to carry out dakwah works in confrontational manner? I used to ask Ustaz Harun Taib the rational of PAS taking part in western-styled election system. Had our beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. been sent to UK or America, would he join the Labour or Tory Party and become member of parliment in order to speak about Islam. Or, would he set up an Islamic party to contest in elections?
I think the most crucial part of Islamic dakwah work is to invite people to Islam. To invite people to Islam, we have to show love and tenderness. We have to be wise in our approach. I do not find these qualities in people who choose ‘political party’ approach to dakwah. The beauty of Islam is hidden by hatred and prejudices.
Sometimes I think we have to go back to basics in doing dakwah works. Sometimes I feel works by Jamaah Tabligh can be more effective in making people go back to Islam. PAS has stressed so much about institutional changes like legal system, some time their followers overlook the basics like brotherhood in Islam, ‘hikmah’ in ways of dakwah etc.
PAS must not forget, the very basis of dakwah is to call people to worship our Creator, Allah s.w.t. in full sincerity. Dakwah works should not be undermined by struggle for power. Power should remain the means, not the ends.
Comment by tanahmelayukita — August 1, 2008 @ 12:35 am