Undilah: A baffle to minds

It is too late to write about this. But it is never too late to convey the positive message brought by a campaign through Youtube recently. I could not grasp the fuss with the Government for banning the video. Is it because the sometimes-stupid Namawee was in the project? Well, I could accept that and many of us cannot because to some, he said the 'real thing' although what the 'real thing' hit them right them (the supporters) in the nose.

However, banning the video on mainstream media would be a much stupid political act, I would say. We are not even trying to go down the streets to protest (in which I don't support either), but this is a simple act of calling others to do the 'Must-do-thing' for the nation. We should give credits to those who have worked hard to make the campaign. 

The video tries to convey the message to encourage as many voters to do their right as a citizen of this country. And yet, the Government banned the video. I know this campaign came at the right time since my close friends are all not registered although qualified to become one. Hence, to put it simple why does the Government 'curbed' this movement of doing the right thing to Malaysia. Not everyone can become Nicol David to become the world's No.1 player but still they want to contribute to the nation. One of the ways is to encourage others to Vote. How was that wrong still baffled my mind. 

Do not say that the Government already has campaign on their mind since what they are doing with the 'Mari Mengundi' ads made by Jabatan Perfileman Negara was one of the campaign programs that made some of us say 'euww'. The ads should go to the list of the worst ads ever. I do not know how to make the Jabatan or any Government's Jabatans to change with today's 'changes' except with that kind of harsh criticisms as previous constructive criticisms were like going down the drains.

One thing that we are sure of is that even Ku Li was present in the video and that was significance in encouraging Malaysians to cast their vote especially the young ones. Do not say that what am I saying is illegal as I am still a student. How about the rights of me as a Voter? Don't you think that it is a kind of contradicting when they want us to register as voters at the age of 21 but asked us to stay away from politics. You shut up, just register! Woo..

Instead, the Undilah.com website is actually a good ground for the short-message Twitter generation. Here are some of the contents (in which the video was banned!):

Who shall I vote for?

In a democracy, you are entitled to your personal political preference. We don't care who you vote for as long as you do vote.

What do I need to do to vote?

You need to be a Malaysian citizen over the age of 21. You also need to be a registered voter.

How do I register myself as a voter?

There are many voluntary organizations, NGOs and political parties who regularly promote voter registration in public places and events. You may register through them. You may also register at any post office. Just bring you identity card and ask at the counter. It is very easy and takes about 10 minutes.

When should I register?

You may register at anytime. However, if you intend to vote in the coming general election, please register yourself as soon as possible. The Election Commission imposes a voter registration cut-off period counting back 3 months from the date of the election. In other words, you are only eligible to vote if you had registered at least 3 months before the date of the general election.

My friends, you know you have responsibilities to your nation. I have registered myself as a Voter. How about you? It is hypocritical to talk politics when you are not registered as a voter when you are legally qualified to become one. Undilah!-The Chukai Insider

Be Islamic, be critical

When people put a final dot on someone, as in the person is supporting this and that, I wonder what will happen to the world when the person put the wrongs as rights and the rights as wrongs. How can we see black and white? Grey?

Is it a common thing for you to see when someone 'seemed' inclined to a political party, he or she will be forced and fed with the dogma that all of the things done by the so-called 'inclined party' are supported by him or her. 

Then, where is the room for critical thinking and judgements on your side?

Why is the divisive acts continue to exist in our daily conversations? Why do we believe that once the leaders of any organisations made a statement, the lower groups of people ARE surely in parallel believes with the leader?

We are all striving for a better Malaysian. And yet we choose different inclinations of doing things. With our own ways. And hence, different 'inclined support to a political party'.

But at the same time, it does not mean we fully agree to every detailed actions and efforts made by the party. That is why critical thinking is first and foremost important! Think people, think! Don't jump to conclusions straight away otherwise you will place yourselves with the same level as today's politicians whom I have little credit to give for and hence, much less respects.

My word is- you may choose sides. Part of the reasons is because of the way you were brought up, as my friend suggested. But all of us want a better Malaysia. 

Do you think when the Other Side is ruling, the root problems will die away? No. They are embedded in the society and societies are made up of us, and so it depends on us. And so, this quote could not be further from the truth- ‎"Tegakkanlah daulah Islam di dalam hati-hati kalian, niscaya dia akan tegak di negeri kalian" (Hasan Al-Hudaibi).

A critical society would know when to know what is wrong and right because it does not mean when you are Red, the Green is wrong. And when you are Green, the Red is wrong all the time. Although we see many flaws in the Pale Blue, it does not mean they are all wrong, a little credit should go when it is right.

So, at the end of the day, we are all the same. So, don't divide yourself further from each other. Make Greens and Reds work together, and I would be much happier.

Did the Prophet Muhammad SAW denied the questions of the deniers? Did He not answer each single question with proofs and full of grace to make the other side happy and accept the Truth? Did He slammed the other side with harsh words? Did He just leave us with nothing to follow with? Simple questions like these are hard to be answered. Why? Because even these basic things are hard for us to follow.  -The Chukai Insider

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Do you know how much it costs?

I came across in Huffington about Michelle Obama's dress and how much it costs. Being the wife of the most powerful President in the world, she only wears a $29.99 GAP Dress. 

Maybe it is a symbol for Michelle to show how  we are free to wear anything we like even though we can afford more than that but it does make a good impression on her. Believe it or not, wearing the inexpensive dress has made me adore Michelle much more. It keeps my brain to keep asking this question- how much does our politician's dress cost? Don't say it is the private lives of theirs because once you are in politics, you should know that the business is about serving the rakyat and I happen to be one of the rakyats- the noisy one. Wearing a Zara makes the mak ciks, neneks, ibu tunggals and the poor in kampungs become more sad, don't you think so?

 So, the next time you buy newspapers, try to look at their photos and guess how much are the prices of politician's dress. Look at their hair too. It's something personal but you live the public lives, no matter what you are always being judged by the rakyat. Why? Because when you say you are pemimpin rakyat, the easiest thing that we can spot on you is how expensive your dress is. For example, when I look at a politician wearing an Armani suit, I feel that it creates a gap between me and him since I cannot afford to have one- so is this person a pemimpin rakyat? A normal person would be questioning if you are truly a rakyat's leader, then you should be like the rakyat. Be in the same boat, and together in ups and downs, we strive together. Berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijunjung. Hosni Mubarak, anyone?

The Prophet (saas) recommended to his followers to always dress well and to be pleasant in appearance and to look well cared for. At the same time, however, he also reminded them that those who grew proud because of the clothes they wore or the way they looked would be humiliated in this world and in the next. He told them to always be humble. Here is what he said on the subject:

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 72, Number 680

"While a man was walking, clad in a two-piece garment and proud of himself with his hair well-combed, suddenly Allah made him sink into the earth and he will go on sinking into it till the Day of Resurrection."

This little thing is actually very significant for people to believe in you. Yes, your politician's dress! If Michelle being the First Lady of the most powerful leader of the most powerful nation can just wear a simple cheap dress, we, Malaysians are much happier to see if the wives of our politicians (who keep saying they are the pemimpin rakyat) wear clothes with the same price as ours. I know it is a freedom of choice to wear anything you like, but being the wives of someone important means showing how well you have spent the rakyat's money too. I don't know if people get this or not, but it's that simple.

Personally, I have always liked the way Zeti Aziz's always-with-baju-kurung-style and Rafidah's not big-hairdo and Wan Azizah's plain simple clothes. They really show how they work for the rakyat and not the other way around. 

“Rasulullah saw. bersabda : “Pakailah pakaian putih, karena ia lebih suci dan lebih bagus. Juga kafankanlah ia pada orang yang meninggal diantara kalian.” (Diriwayatkan oleh Muhammad bin Basyar, dari Abdurrahman bin Mahdi, dari Sufyan, dari Habib bin Abi Tsabit, dari Maimun bin Abi Syabib yang bersumber dari Samur bin Jundub r.a.)

However, we have to remember that wearing dresses just to show how inexpensive they are and how close the relationship to the rakyat also is not accepted by Allah SWT. Doing it for the sake of others and not for the sake of Allah SWT is also unacceptable. If there is no sincerity, everything is nothing.- The Chukai Insider