Critical Thoughts

As I see how things are playing out, I think it would just be a matter of time before Najib Razak is declared to be the Prime Minister of Malaysia, and definitely it would be before 2010. I am not sure whether I am too comfortable with the idea, though, due to the alleged murder links and there is also the issue of his religious convictions.

I certainly do not want a Hindu as my Prime Minister. But let us see how this plays out, too early to tell at the moment.

I find it an irony that such bus campaigns are allowed in — of all places! — Chicago, US of A. I doubt such a advert slapped on a RapidKL could take off here in Islam terHad pada Hari-hari tertentu Malaysia…JAKIM will probably receive all kinds of flak from the Islam Liberals and the Islamophobes combined. I can think of a few organisations that will oppose such a move here. But I will officially make it my lifelong ambition to see such an advert promoting Bismika Allahuma to appear on a RapidKL bus one day.

For those who wish to support the ICNA bus ad campaign, you may donate here.

You may have noticed the lack of updates for this blog. That’s simply because I didn’t have the time to update the blog as I was focusing on my other Internet ventures. Whatever time I could spare, I use it to update Pendapat Kritis so you can certainly head over there if you are looking for updates from me.

It has certainly been an interesting month, not just for me but also for the country, what with all the national issues that are going on.I was hoping for 16th September to become a reality but I guess I have to be realistic about it….regime change will always take time. Two out of three ISA detainees which were arrested last week have now been released and I certainly hold the position that the ISA has outlived its usefulness and should be abolished. At the very least, there should be a mechanism that would prevent the Act to be invoked at the whims and fancies of the establishment.

We live in interesting times, indeed.

Based on the various provisions written in the Federal Constitution itself (i.e., Article 3, Article 121(1A), Article 11(4) and various other provisions that favours Islam) which would not have existed were the document really a “secular” one, one can only surmise that Malaysia is certainly not a secular state. No amount of statements by former Prime Ministers will be able to change that. This has of course been stated many, many times by constitutional lawyers in the likes of Pawancheek Marican (I happen to know his son personally), Prof. Dr. Aziz Bari and many other authorities in law and constitutional law. Unfortunately, those in the secular and “Islam liberal” camp will be wont to disagree, but who cares about their opinion?

I also happen to come across this article Adakah Malaysia Sebuah Negara Sekular which sums up the issue aptly. I’ll get it translated into English soon, insha’allah. For those who want this country so badly to turn secular, why not go ahead and put out a referendum on the issue? And while you are at it, abolish the religious institutions which are empowered by Federal and state funds, lets see whether you will get the support you need to turn this country secular.

I feel at peace whenever I see this….

I wish I was there but I couldn’t make it that night because I was in Johor. Speaking of which, I found this interesting online newspaper/webzine called The Malaysian Insider. Its free from the vicious polemics associated with Malaysia Today, does not have a pro-government bias like NST or The Star and best of all, you do not have to pay to read the full news unlike Malaysiakini. Its going to be my source of news apart from Harakah Daily from now on.