Susahnya politik Malaysia

* Saya percaya semua orang mempunyai pendapat sendiri dan hormatilah pendapat itu. Setiap perubahan bermula dari perubahan diri sendiri.

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'Interlok' withdrawal: A Sign of Malaysians Immaturity

The controversial Interlok has been withdrawn from national school syllabus, The Star Online reported this evening. The novel was deemed controversial as the word used is racially sensitive and derogatory in nature.

A thing to learn from this is that Malaysians are still not prepared to take sensitive discussions about their race to the main stream. Even to learn the nature of the situation in controlled medium like schools and universities are still considered unacceptable. However, I would love to point out the ongoing discussions and sometimes bashing of a race which is constitutionally placed to have 'special rights'. Well, that is a sensitive issue and very fair to say that it has offended many of the people considered to be Malay. More offensive to those who have worked hard and succeeded but seen as disabled who got lucky in this world because he or she is a Malay. But these things are discussed daily in the public life. And it is about constitution while the issue brought up in the Interlok novel is not. Well, biased? Politics.

Malaysians are still not able to discuss the lines that divide them through intellectual discourse. We cannot put the blame totally on the Government. We cannot put the blame partially on the Opposition either. This is about growing up and while some of Malaysians are already able to have intellectual discussions on these sensitive matters, there are majorities who still cannot. Education plays the most significant part. Why not the parent?

Parenting involves older people telling the young the right thing in Malaysia and most certainly not the kind of parenting that invokes and questions difference between right and wrong. It is always the case that what is deemed right to the parents must be deemed right to the children as well. That was how we were brought up. Unfortunately, the Malaysian parents fall under those who are categorised not being able to have intellectual discussions on these racial issues. That is why education in schools should be the medium to discuss about it. 

The Americans learn their literatures that portray the colour divided state of the nation. Novels like Mark Twain's The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn and The Colour Purple portray the coarse nature of the language used. However, Malaysians seem not be able to grasp the concept of discussing issues intellectually so that lessons can be learnt.

This is even more extensive in the politics. Among the politicians, I only see 1% from both the Government and Opposition that are able to confide the people with empirical and logical analysis of what they are talking about. Look at what Dr. CSL said before about Hudud and you will know what I meant. I wonder where did he get the numbers from. The other 99% of the politicians are just paid to shout and brouhaha in parliament or worse, on streets. A warning to aspiring politicians- do not become one when you really think you are not smart. It will bring the country to shame. Look at today's politicians and learn from their stupidity. Buang yang keruh, ambil yang jernih.-The Chukai Insider

I do not like my friends look stupid

*I do not like my close friends look stupid. If you are my friends and you are studying science, please read this so that you would not be blinded by facts given by politicians and of course, look stupid. Yes, it' about politics. And remember, people have different views and I respect that. I expect the same thing from you.

When it comes to Education issues, there is a group that says it should be left to the Professionals. However, when it comes to a Science (specifically a rare-earth materials issue), they are the experts in it. The Internartional Atomic and Energy Council is a no-professional to them. It is an 'old' issue but sometimes it's good to learn how stupid (or power-obsessed) a group of people are. 

This is a thing that I sometimes thinking why people still cannot see. Leave the Education to the professionals, they said. When the United Nations' International Atomic and Energy Agency (which of course made reports on Iran's nuclear programmes) published their findings, they disputed them. Wow. Leaving it to the professional, huh?

That is why I am inclined to the other side. And no, I am not the agent of the company. I was not paid to do this. Why did I say so? Because for most times, they always say that the people who are not in their sides are paid to fight against them. 

I am in no way in support one side or the other. But the scientist inside me is telling me that what is true based on experiments, theories and not just mere inferences is really true. It is not like evolutionists trying to convinve that we are from apes. They provided empirical evidences. And most importanly, the findings are verified by the international governing body. This is what each Malaysian should be taught in schools: to see things from at least two different views and analyse the situations. It is okay not to make decisions but most importantly to know which things are wrong or right. Again, the question of being right or wrong is subjective. What appears black to you may appear white to me. 

It is an issue that has been a hot one in Kuantan which is 45-minutes drive from my hometown. I did not care before because when I saw politicians began talking about science and atomic energy, I knew they don't really understand what they are saying. The politician was somehow good in her speech, but again the scientist inside me did not accept the rhetorical of hers. If Dr. Mahathir said so, I would believe in him. With backgrounds in Science and Medicine, I would believe in him much more than her. I think if you are a rational person, you would do the same thing. 

In this case, it is to choose between  a politician's facts and a science body's facts. Well, if you believe that science does not provide a more definite answer compared to a political fight, then go on to choose the side of the politician. Do not say you are boarding a plane though. Why did I say so? Well, according to facts provided by science, the radioactive emissions in flights exist while to the people of Kuantan, the radiation is zero. Well, go on listening to the politician. No, I do not think you are stupid. You're just like to pay few hundreds to get radiations on aeroplanes! That is not stupid.

I particularly like this letter published in New  Straits Times-LYNAS: I could keep thorium safely at home. The letter came from a doctor who resides in Kuantan. Even if he is not as famous as Dr. Mahathir, his credentials in Science is much better than the female politician. No? How else should I convince you? 

In his letter, the doctor said these:

• Thorium-232 is the only radioactive element associated with rare earth mining and it  is  regarded as the future green nuclear fuel.
•  It is present in rocks everywhere and even in its purest form, it radiates only alpha particles. (I don't know what to say if you are still studying geology and still studying rocks and yet at the same time opposing the project.)
• Alpha particles, which consist of two protons and two neutrons, are nothing more than helium atoms without their electrons.
• These alpha particles cannot travel  more than a few centimetres  and cannot penetrate the human skin.
   As such, you can hold a lump of pure thorium-232 in your rubber-gloved hands without any danger
  
• To be  frank, I would not mind keeping a few hundred kilogrammes of pure thorium-232 in my house if someone were kind enough to give me such a valuable substance.
• What we  need to worry about is the chemical toxic waste that such plants produce.
  
  
  But,  unfortunately, all industrial plants produce toxic waste and the only way to avoid producing these waste will be for us to remain  a poor agricultural country.
  
  
  My friends, do not just accept facts without checking properly about them. It is more important to check about them if they come from politicians.- The Chukai Insider
  
  
  
  
  

  Read more: LYNAS: I could keep thorium safely at home - Letters to the Editor - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/lynas-i-could-keep-thorium-safely-at-home-1.16994#ixzz1gTfrLuIH

Lynas MalaysiaThe Facts

Where are the Islamic Studies graduates?

Do you remember a top-gun Chinese politician featured on a sex video before? Well, apparently he said something that hurts the Muslim populations in Malaysia yesterday. This is where freedom of speech and democracy failed. Democracy allows freedom of speech to anyone regardless of his or her moral standard and credibility. Freedom to speak comes with responsibility. While we are supporting Malaysia to become a more matured democracy, it does not mean you have to put negative statements on issues which are close to the hearts of the Muslims. Being responsible not to hurt the other's feeling by condemning their religion's decree is something that we Malaysians really need. However, even a top politician failed to realise the concept of 1Malaysia in which acceptance of other's religion practice.

It is understandable that he does not understand the concept of how most Malaysian Muslims want the Hudud is implemented here. We do not look for models in Arab countries in doing so. There are so many things that you do not know, Mr. I-was-in-a-sex-video! 

However, a thing that baffles my mind is where are the Islamic graduates that Malaysians produce locally and abroad to answer, rebut and then make Malaysians understand the concept. It is agreed to most Malaysian Muslims (in this context, those who do not speak out via columns in newspapers or politicians) that Hudud cannot be implemented yet since there are lots of preconditions to be met. But since this I-was-in-a-sex-video man is offending ordinary Muslims (Hudud is part of Islam, therefore offending Hudud as a decree of Allah SWT is offending Muslims, although we all know you will deny it after this), I wondered where are the Muslims have gone?

Where are the Islamic Studies graduates have gone? 

I am not saying the responsibilities of dakwah fall under the Islamic Studies graduates only, but your focus of studies should enable us the rest who are not formally educated in particular subjects (hudud, nation building etc.) to understand them. I know the responsibilities fall under each of the Muslims, but we also need some education on the issues. This is where your parts are welcomed in the society. Do not make us scared by saying this and that. Make us understand and blend with the communities in the most creative ways possible. Then, there will be Muslims unity.

When Muslims are united, it should be easier for Muslims and non-Muslims alike to progress and not being stopped by non-intellectual politicians who are just so good in manipulating people.

Government sends students to Al-Azhar University, to Jordan and we even have our own international Islamic university! Where are the thousands of scholars who can speak for the ordinary Muslims. We know it is not viable to implement it yet since even our top leader is not being tarbiyah-ed enough to fill the position as a Muslim but pulling out wrong statement and facts about Islamic Law are unacceptable.

This is the time when you should produce articles, letters and discussions so that not just this video star understands about the issue, but to all Malaysians. 

Even our Muslim artists do not understand the concept- that means we cannot implement it yet. Note the 'yet'.
These are the target groups for our own Islamic Studies graduates whom I think must have better scholarly facts
to educate the ordinary Malaysians.

Why not produce simple articles or discussion without using the jargons which are hard to understand so that we all know about it. There is no point for you to put out the Islamic terms without us understanding them.

Be creative, be bold and be close to the people. Millions of ringgit Malaysia have been spent using taxpayer's money. This is the responsibilities that you owe to ordinary Malaysian Muslims.-The Chukai Insider

* I am not a pengkhianat bangsa or whatsoever, but if the Muslim scholars can produce articles, campaigns or discussions both in English and Malay would be much better so that they can reach our target groups.

BOOK: Islam in Malaysia- Perceptions and Facts

This is the English edition of Dr. Asri’s Mengemudi Bahtera Perubahan Minda, a compilation of his articles which originally appeared in Mingguan Malaysia. 

This is the most important book to be read for each Malaysian. I cannot stress this further but the Islamic influence on the daily lives of Malaysians seems like eating chicken rice without the chicken. However, many of the concepts and what we perceive to be Islamic are not right at all. I have became a fan of Dr. Asri's ideas which are basically a new presentations of the ideas of Al-Quran and Hadiths. Mind you, it is not the ideas but the way they are presented and narrated to fit today's situations.

"Dr. Asri believes Islam in Malaysia is in dire straits and needed to be rescued yesterday. Not necessarily rescued by political leaders or religious figures though as the good doctor argues that in many cases it is those authorities who are the most responsible for pulling Islam down to where it is now in Malaysia. No, everyone who considers him or herself a Muslim (regardless of social status) must take responsibility and practise Islam as it was practised by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In order to do that, Malaysian Muslims must totally shed the (mostly racial) prejudice, the superstitions many have associated with Islam and the attitude that the ustaz knows best and he must not be questioned."-The Malaysian Reader

The Chukai Insider highly recommends this book to ALL MUSLIMS AND NON-MUSLIMS ALIKE.-The Chukai Insider

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