Alkisah Politik

Berlatarbelakangkan situasi politik dalam negara kini, saya terkenangkan masa lalu ketika saya masih kecil dan mentah untuk memahami tentang banyak perkara. Ketika itu saya dalam darjah 1. Dekat-dekat hendak pilihanraya. Meriah sungguh. Ada sekali tu saya balik sekolah, sepanjang jalan saya tengok bendera dacing berwarna biru digantung merentangi jalan tiang ke tiang. Sesekali diselang-seli dengan bendera hijau dengan bulatan putih di tengahnya. Yang menampal poster dan bendera pun banyak juga. Habis bertampal gudang padi Tok Wan saya. Beranda rumah kampung saya pun penuh bertampal dengan poster YAB Perdana Menteri masa itu, Dr. Mahathir Mohammad. Itu merupakan pilihanraya pertamanya semenjak menjadi Perdana Menteri.

Tahun demi tahun berlalu. Kemenangan demi kemenangan diraih oleh Kerajaan Barisan Nasional. Saya kira keluarga saya, datuk nenek saya , semuanya menyokong Barisan. Tapi kehidupan kami macam itu juga, maksud saya, tak adalah dapat jalan tar pun depan rumah. Malahan saya masih belajar di bawah cahaya pelita minyak tanah ketika dalam darjah 3. Kami masih mandi air telaga. Ayah masih mengangkut air paip bertong-tong menggunakan basikal tuanya. Tak ada dapat habuan tanah sekangkang kucing sekalipun. Jadi, saya pasti keluarga saya tidak punya apa-apa motif menyokong kerajaan selain daripada keinginan untuk melihat keamanan dan kesejahteraan negara.

Emak saya agak bersemangat bila bercakap hal-hal perpaduan bangsa. Memandangkan tiada wang ringgit yang boleh disumbangkan, emak memberikan kudrat yang ada untuk masuk kampung berkempen. Kesian emak, bukan sekali dua kena kejar dengan parang oleh penyokong parti lawan. Setahu saya emak cuma bermodalkan air liur. Tak ada pula dia bawa kain batik atau kain pelikat. Seringgit dua ringgit pun dia tak mampu hendak hulur. Emak yang penat, bukannya ada dapat duit apa-apa pun. Tak ada rasuah. Tak ada kena basuh otak. Masa itu saya selalu tertanya-tanya kenapa penyokong parti bulan itu sangat berbeza. Saya pelik kerana mereka enggan hadiri majlis kenduri yang orang kami buat. Kalau kematian pun macam itu. Cuma yang hairannya, meskipun tentangan mereka ketara, mereka tetap beroleh manfaat. Kalau jalan kami berlubang-lubang, jalan mereka sudah beberapa kali berturap. Paip air boleh tarik masuk sampai depan tangga. Tiang lampu pun sama. Buat apapun mereka tetap begitu juga, yang ada dalam kepala hanyalah bulan yang mengambang penuh.

Tahun demi tahun saya membesar. Dunia saya berkembang. Saya mendapat banyak input-input dan maklumbalas dari banyak sumber. Sempadan semakin kecil. Segalanya semakin mudah diperolehi. Maklumat demi maklumat. Hanya tinggal betul atau tidak sahaja. Namun, ketika itu, adalah lebih mudah mengiakan apa yang orang kata. Siapa-siapa yang mampu tampil dengan keyakinan tinggi, dialah yang menyerlah. Terasa betul. Terasa yang lain-lain salah belaka.

Era pemberontakan. Diam-diam saya rasa segala apa yang ada masih belum mencukupi. Saya mula merasakan ada benda yang tidak betul. Lalu saya melawan dalam diam. Kemuncaknya saya pernah ikut kawan-kawan di kampus menyatakan perasaan. Itu cerita tahun 1997-1998 rasanya. Entah kenapa. Nasib baiklah saya tidak begitu berani orangnya...nak berani apa...makan minum pun kerajaan tanggungkan? Nanti kalau kena apa-apa...siapa hendak bertanggungjawab? Tahu pulak fikir macam tu. Walaupun darah muda, saya memilih untuk melakukan perkara yang kurang mudarat kepada keluarga. Kalau tak buat orang kata saya dikira berdosa kerana tidak menegakkan hukum Allah. Jadi, saya tidak mahu berdosa. Walaupun mungkin saya berdosa kerana melawan cakap emak yang mempertahankan pendiriannya.

Undian pertama saya...kesian Emak, berbuih-buih mulut menekankan kepada pentingnya perpaduan dan kesepaduan ummah. Saya buat pekak badak. Saya faham apa yang Emak mahukan. Saya juga faham apa yang memotivasikan Emak untuk berpegang teguh kepada pendiriannya. Saya pula tak sudah-sudah mencetak cerita-cerita tentang orang itu tak betul, orang ini gila kuasa, orang itu buat jahat sebagai bukti yang dengannya kita perlu lakukan perubahan menolak kemungkaran. Padahal entah betul atau tidak. Saya pun bukan kenal siapa orang itu...orang yang kita kenal pun belum tentu kita tahu semuanya. Aduhai...saya jadi penyebar fitnah pula gara-gara terlalu bersemangat hendakkan perubahan cepat.

Ternyata segala hingar-bingar itu hanyalah demi kelangsungan perjuangan politik sahaja. Bak kata perpatah, gajah sama gajah berjuang pelanduk mati di tengah.

Suatu ketika, mantan Perdana Menteri menjenguk kampus kami. Walaupun macam-macam orang kata dia, kuku besilah, gila kuasa dan sebagainya...sebetulnya saya secara peribadi sangat suka kepadanya. Saya suka cara dia bercakap. Saya kagumi buah fikirannya. Itu menjadikan saya rasa panas punggung hendak juga tengok dia. Bila saya tahu dia nak singgah di Mall, saya terus ke sana. Cuma nak tengok, kata hati saya. Bukannya hendak sambut dengan bunga pun...nak tengok saja...pujuk hati kecil saya. Ramainya orang. Bersesak-sesak. Saya tahu hajat saya bakal tak kesampaian. Ketika saya memutuskan untuk beredar, bas yang membawanya kebetulan lalu. Dan kebetulan juga dia berdiri di tangga. Melambai-lambai. Saya tengok dia. Dia tengok saya. Saya lupa yang saya melambai-lambai balik macam budak kecil dapat coklat. Saya balik berjalan kaki dengan senyum puas. Biarlah apa orang hendak kata, saya memang suka dia. So, what???

Perkara yang betul harus dilakukan dengan jalan yang betul juga. Ketika saya membetulkan pendirian saya, saya tidak berpegang kepada cakap-cakap orang. Cakap-cakap ini banyak yang tak betul daripada betul. Lebih baik diam dan lihat. Saya tanyakan diri saya, kalaulah saya berkuasa dalam satu-satu jawatan...apakah saya tidak akan utamakan kaum kerabat saya? Saya gelak sorang-sorang. Dengan pastinya saya akan lantik suami saya jadi CEO. Juga akan lantik adik kakak saya pegang jawatan-jawatan penting. Saya kira itu lumrah manusia. Kita mahu dikelilingi dengan orang-orang yang kita percayai. (Moralnya, jangan pegang kuasa...kalau tak pandai hendak jaga dengan amanah).

Makan rasuah. Kaki perempuan. Gila judi.

Siapalah kita untuk membuka aib orang. Baik pihak yang mana-mana sekalipun. Memang mual membaca akhbar sekarang. Macam-macam cerita ada. Semua pakat-pakat nak londeh. Semua pakat-pakat menelanjangkan satu sama lain. Dan akhirnya...kita semua hanya menang sorak. Hanya puas hati. Yang lain-lain akan ketawakan kita. Mereka gelak-gelak tengok kebodohan kita. Sedih kerana dengan melibatkan diri sebegitu, kita telah tidak mencerminkan pegangan agama suci yang kita anuti. Sudahnya siapa akan percaya yang Islam itu adalah agama yang benar kerana perbuatan kotor dan busuk yang kita paparkan itu.

Demi kebaikan bersama, lupakanlah persengketaan ini. Fikirkanlah kebaikan ummah. Janganlah begitu pentingkan diri sendiri. Lihat yang mana lebih memudaratkan. Tak apalah kalau kita tak dapat kuasa pun, janji ummah terbela. Yang melanggar hukum Allah itu, biarlah Allah yang menghukumnya. Selagi kita tidak lihat dengan mata kepala kita sendiri, janganlah hanyut dibuai budaya fitnah-menfitnah. Sukakah kita makan daging saudara sendiri???

Ada seorang menulis di ruangan forum bertanyakan, "Kejam sangatkah Malaysia?". Betul, saya setuju. Kejam terhadap siapa? Kejam yang bagaimana? Menyamakan situasi kita dengan Syria adalah salah. Mengikut cerita ustaz yang belajar di Syria, kebangkitan di sana bermula apabila sekumpulan anak-anak kecil yang suka-suka menconteng dinding dengan tulisan yang mereka selalu nampak di tv (kebangkitan di negara-negara Arab terdahulu)...malang sekali saya tak ingat frasa itu...ditangkap dan diseksa. Budak sekolah rendah rasanya. Kuku mereka dicabut. Kulit mereka disiat. Mereka dibunuh. Mulanya hanya anggota keluarga yang datang menuntut keadilan. Namun tidak diendahkan. Lama kelamaan, jiran-jiran pula datang menyokong lalu semakin lama gerakan ini semakin menular. Perlu diingat yang Syria diperintah secara kuku besi. Ulama dibunuh dan dihapuskan. Mereka memang tidak pandai melawan. Malahan sejak kecil lagi diajar supaya cintakan pemimpin. Anak kawan ustaz saya yang belajar di tadika (lebih kurang) di sana, bila nampak muka Bashar Al Assad di tv, terus dia peluk tv tu dan kata..."abi...abi...". Bayangkan...dahsyat tak dahsyatnya cara mereka kawal rakyat. Itu kat sana. Yang kat sini tiba-tiba claim ada persamaan tu apa hal? Jangan main sedap ikut-ikut je...

Saya juga sedih melihat Fatwa diperlekehkan. Saya faham sudut pandangan itu. Mungkin ada elemen politik, mungkin juga tidak. Namun, kalau kita pun tak tahu...janganlah suka-suka meletak hukum.Jangan hanya suka-suka memetik kata orang itu, orang ini kalau kita tak faham konteks. Kalau kita yang Islam ini mempersendakannya , letak di FB dan biar kawan-kawan bukan Islam lain sama-sama 'naik syeh' mengetawakan kita...di mana maruah kita sebagai penganut Islam?

Saya tahu saya tidak pandai berpolitik. Saya juga tidak pernah membayangkan hendak memperkatakan perkara seperti ini. Berat. Saya doakan semoga umat Islam akan bersatu walau apapun kepercayaan politik mereka.

Mungkin perubahan yang dingini itu tidak akan berlaku serta-merta. Tapi yang pasti, kalau sesuatu itu mahu diubah, kita sendiri harus terlebih dahulu berubah. Kalau mahukan kerajaan yang adil, jadilah rakyat yang adil juga. (Walaupun hatiku sakit dengan banyaknya potongan cukai itu...namun tak menjadi sebab untuk tidak melihat kepada perkara-perkara baik lain). Jadilah manusia yang bersyukur kerana apapun yang sedang dinikmati ini adalah dengan izin Allah.

Fikir-fikirkanlah. 

Perak Idol

In the just recently concluded American Idol 8, the 'underdog' contestant from Arkansas - Kris Allen was crowned as the latest Idol. Allen himself was stunned at the announcement made by the host, Seacrest. His first comment was, "This is crazy!"

And the much awaited decision for 'Perak Idol' came with not so much surprise, at least for me. I don't think the reinstated MB would shout at the top of his lung, "This is crazy!" (though he might consider blurted out the phrase if the underdog won).

And what is there left for us Perakian to 'shout' about???

"This is really, really,really crazy!!!"

Look like the current format used does not really work. Seriously! We should consider adopting the voting format of AI. Let's give the 100% responsibility to the audience to choose their Idol.

Mencari Noktah Sebuah Kisah

Teruk betullah kepekaan Aku akan isu-isu politik semasa kebelakangan ini. Malas nak ambil tahu dah. Lagi seronok tengok kartun Tom & Jerry pasal dah memang sohih kartun.

Jadi bila dapat call dari Abang sekejap tadi, Aku tak sangka pulak ini yang menjadi penyebab dia call.

Abang : "Eh! Betul ke dah keluar keputusan siapa menang jadi MB Perak tu?"
Aku : "Haa...??? (Amenda ni? Macam tak masuk dalam kepala)
Abang : "Kawan-kawan opis Abang cakap, Nizar menang".
Aku : "Oh, ye ke? Errr...tak tau pulak. Jap ek, Ira check".

Lalu Aku pun masuk NST online. Sekitar 15 minit yang lalu tajuk, "Nizar declared Perak MB" telah dipaparkan. Aku pun terlopong sama. Dan sempat pulak menjaja berita kat kawan-kawan lain.

Teruja juga dengan perkembangan terbaru ini. Bukan nak menyebelahi mana-mana pihak lagi dah, yang pentingnya kekalutan dalam pentadbiran negeri mesti segera ditamatkan. Kesian kami rakyat Perak, dok jadi bahan ketawa dan lawak jenaka aje. Sensitif tau!!!

Antara KL dan DC

Maka terciptalah sejarah politik di Amerika Syarikat apabila seorang Senator African-American, Barack Obama berjaya memecah dominasi kepimpinan White House dengan menjadi Presiden kulit hitam pertama negara itu. Dengan keputusan 297 berbanding 138 yang diperolehi oleh lawannya, Senator John McCain, ternyata Obama telah mencatatkan kemenangan yang bergaya. Satu dunia riuh rendah dibuatnya membicarakan hal ehwal pilihanraya negara itu. Masing-masing sibuk membuat andaian dan jangkaan, tak kurang juga yang menyatakan sokongan. Macamlah ada apa-apa yang boleh diharapkan dari perubahan kepimpinan negara yang kata John McCain dalam ucapannya sewaktu mengumumkan kekalahannya itu, "the greatest nation on earth". Apapun yang berlaku di sana, rasanya parti-parti politik di negara Malaysia ini sepatutnya buka mata dan belajar macamana mahu menjadi pemimpin yang berkredibiliti.

Memang kalau dilihat, sudah sepatutnya perjalanan sejarah yang panjang negara itu dapat sedikit sebanyak memaparkan tahap kematangan yang tinggi dalam menangani pengundian dan aktiviti berkempen. Bahkan dari segi pemikiran rakyat yang mengambil bahagian mengundi juga rata-ratanya dilihat begitu prihatin untuk menjalankan tanggungjawab membuat pemilihan. Mereka mengatakan yang mereka mengambil kira kedua-dua manifesto parti Democrat dan Republican...dan kemudiannya menggunakan kebijaksanaan sendiri untuk menilai siapakah yang lebih layak. Begitulah sepatutnya, kan? Jangan dengar satu pihak atau satu sumber sahaja, di zaman informasi ini kita sepatutnya mampu memperolehi cukup maklumat untuk membuat keputusan...he..he..

Dan yang paling menarik sekali yang Aku rasa Malaysia patut belajar ialah cara-cara menerima kekalahan yakni kalah dengan bermaruah. Walaupun tewas setelah puas berhempas-pulas berkempen, Senator John McCain dalam ucapannya telah meminta semua penyokong-penyokongnya agar memberikan sokongan kepada Presiden baru supaya Presiden ini dapat dibantu menjalankan tugas-tugasnya dengan lebih berkesan demi kebaikan negara. Perg!!! Kiranya, jangan duduk buat masa asyik menghentam mencari kesalahan la tu...yang penting pandang ke depan sebab yang paling penting sekali ialah usaha untuk membolehkan negara menjadi negara yang cemerlang, gemilang dan terbilang...errr...saja la aku tambah sikit bagi lebih bersemangat...ka...ka..ka...

Baguskan? Dah tahu rakyat telah membuat pilihan, kenalah hormat dan terima. Buatlah kajian dan mana-mana yang tak betul...betulkanlah. Kena terima hakikat dulu, lepas tu barulah berusaha apa yang patut untuk meraih kembali kepercayaan rakyat. Ini tidak, asal kalah aje semua kata dia kena sabotaj la, ada orang dengki kat dia la, taktik kotor lawan la, habis cerita luar dalam kain keluar. Kalau sekejap tu tak apalah jugak...ini dah berbulan-bulan sampai menjejaskan produktiviti negara. Yelah, memangpun belum kalah betul...sepatutnya bersyukur sebab tak tersungkur terus. Kiranya masih ada harapan cerah untuk memperbaiki keadaan. Sayangnya diaorang ni selalu sahaja bermimpi di siang hari. Mahu yang elok-elok sahaja untuk diri sendiri tapi tak mahu ambil tahu apa yang berlaku di luar kepompong kehidupan mereka. Jadilah mereka takbur dan riak..penuh dengan kesombongan. Menyangkakan yang bulat akan terus datang bergolek dan yang pipih akan terus datang melayang.

Alangkah ruginya! (Aku, kau, dia dan kita-kita yang sayangkan negara ini...)

Bila Dah Meluat!

Pening lalat melihat gelagat dan perkembangan siasah tanahair ku ini. Bukan bertambah hormat, bertambah meluat adalah. Yang merudumnya martabat negara di mata dunia, yang sengsaranya rakyat jelata, yang susah-hatinya si pengaut harta sebab tak pasti berapa lama boleh memegang kuasa ha..ha..ha...kalau boleh dipanjangkan tempohnya lagilah afdal. Takut menimpa kaum kerabat yang sama menumpang mewah. Tapi kalau tak boleh panjang, janji tahu bila...cukuplah nak sebat mana yang masih bersisa itu. Tinggallah rakyat terkelip pok..terkelip pok...macam cicak berak kapoq!

Yang hairannya drama bersiri ini biasa sahaja plotnya. Jenis drama belanja ciput lagaknya. Pelakon pun elok sikit aje dari tunggul kayu. Tapi ratingnya tak jatuh-jatuh. Penonton ramai jugak. Sebab yang menonton tak semestinya suka. Boleh jadi menonton kerana dipaksa atau menonton sebab nak menganalisa. Tapi kesudahannya macam dah boleh jangka. Cuma antara cepat atau tidak sahaja. Payah sangatkah nak melepaskan takhta?

Kesianlah negaraku Malaysia. Elok-elok berkereta di lebuhraya tiba-tiba dipaksa berjalan kaki meredah paya. Yang dikejar tak dapat, yang dikendung berciciran. Tercapaikah hasrat negara berwawasan? Atau hanya tinggal jadi kenang-kenangan?

Hentikanlah sandiwara ini. Hentikanlah retorik perjuangan untuk kami kalau yang kau buru hanyalah kepuasan peribadimu. Tak perlu heret kami ke kancah pertempuran sia-sia ini. Bolehkah kalian duduk sebentar, gunakan akal? Ooohh...akal....entah di mana letaknya akal....hemmmmmm.......kalau masih di tempurung lutut, susahlah...:)

( susah...memang susah kalau bertindak tanpa berfikir!)

Dan Pemenangnya ialah...

Keputusan Rasmi Pilihanraya Kecil Parlimen Permatang Pauh (P44)

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (KeADILan): 31,195 undi
Hanafi Mamat (AKIM): 92 undi
Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah (BN): 15,524 undi

Jumlah mengundi: 47,258
Peratus keluar mengundi: 81 peratus
Undi rosak: 447 undi
Majoriti: 15,671 undi

Penyandang: Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail (KeADILan)
Undi diperolehi 8 Mac 2008: 30,348
Majoriti: 13,398 undi

Para pengundi di kawasan Permatang Pauh telahpun menyatakan pendirian mereka. Oleh kerana kita semua pun dah banyak membuang masa bertelagah sesama sendiri, harap-harap selepas ini bolehlah YB-YB semua duduk bersidang baik-baik dan mula bekerja demi kebajikan rakyat dan kemajuan tanahair tercinta ini. Dah lama sangat ke lauttttt....

Permatang Pauh: Nilai Sebuah Perjuangan

Esok akan berlangsunglah satu peristiwa penting buat mereka-mereka yang berkepentingan. Rakyat marhaen macam aku ini hanya mampu mengharapkan yang terbaik, untuk agama, bangsa dan negara. Pilihanraya kecil Permatang Pauh ini bakal menyaksikan pertandingan tiga penjuru antara calon BN-Datuk Arif Shah Omar, Dato' Sri Anwar Ibrahim - PKR dan calon Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia - Hanafi Mamat.

Yang jelasnya pertandingan ini mempunyai makna yang signifikan dalam menentukan hala tuju perkembangan politik Malaysia di masa hadapan. Muka depan MM semalam memetik berita dari Kongres Kebangsaan DAP ke-15 dengan Pengerusinya yang juga anggota Parlimen Bukit Gelugor, Karpal Singh membuat kenyataan berikut, " Saya percaya hanya Anwar boleh menjadi orang tengah antara Pas dan DAP". Umum mengetahui jurang bak langit dan bumi antara Pas dan DAP bilamana DAP berjuang untuk Malaysia sebagai sebuah negara sekular manakala Pas mahukan Malaysia sebagai negara Islam. Entah 'perkahwinan' yang bagaimana akan mereka tempuhi? Teringat pulak kat cerita Indon "Pernikahan Berdarah" itu...

Dalam suratkhabar yang sama, seorang bekas sahabat mendakwa AI pernah menerima sejumlah RM60 juta daripada Magnum Corporation Berhad. Katanya lagi, pendedahan ini dibuat kerana "rasa cintakan negara dan tidak mahu pemimpin yang tidak boleh dipercayai menerajui negara ini". Manakala seorang bekas sahabat lagi juga turut menyuarakan sentimen yang sama, bahawa adalah sangat merbahaya membenarkan orang ini mengetuai kerajaan dengan memetik kenyataan AI dalam majalah Asia Inc yang menyatakan hasrat berikut :
1. Mewujudkan meritokrasi
2. Malaysian Malaysia
3. Menghapuskan keistimewaan orang Melayu
Seterusnya menjadi PM yang liberal dan diramalkan tersenarai sebagai salah seorang 100pemimpin terbilang sebagaimana yang dinyatakan oleh rakan karibnya, Paul Wolfowitz. Aku taklah bimbang sangat kalau melibatkan hal-hal dalaman saja, tapi aku paling risau kalau terbukti benar adanya campurtangan luar kerana kalau ya, apalah maknanya merdeka...tak kisahlah betul atau tidak dakwaan seterusnya yang dilontarkan oleh KJ bahawasanya AI menerima bantuan dana dari AS dan sekiranya berjaya merealisasikan impiannya perkara pertama yang akan dilakukan adalah menandatangani perjanjian FTA yang sekian lama tertangguh itu dan juga membenarkan pangkalan tentera laut Uncle Sam dibangunkan di Sabah. Yang pastinya, kalau benar ada yang sedang menangguk di air yang keruh ini...harap-harap kita tak jadi Pak Kaduk yang menang sorak, kampung tergadai.

Dalam ruangan Pena Mufti, Mufti Kerajaan Negeri Perlis, Dr. Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin memberikan reaksi ketika diajukan soalan, "Siapakah yang akan saya undi di Permatang Pauh?". Kena ingat mengundi pun ada nilai dosa dan pahalanya...Ternyata suasana politik yang semakin buruk ini meletakkan kita dalam keadaan pilihan yang semakin terhad atau tak ada pilihan langsung...Kalau dulu pengundi mengundi untuk memilih yang terbaik di kalangan yang terbaik...sekarang tidak lagi, mungkin juga pengundi terpaksa berdepan dengan dilema memilih yang kurang buruk di kalangan yang terburuk. Masyaallah!Justeru, siapakah yang layak untuk dipilih dalam situasi begini???

Kata DRMAZA, undilah pihak yang paling ringan mudaratnya dibandingkan dengan yang satu lagi. Ini sesuai dengan kaedah fekah, "Memilih kemudaratan yang kurang apabila bertembung dua kemudaratan"(al-Zarqa:Syarh al-Qawa'id al-Fiqhiyyah, Damsyik:Dar al-Qalam). Nilaikan, siapakah yang paling kurang bahaya dibandingkan yang lain untuk masa depan umat dan negara. (Kenapakah aku merasakan....benar amat terasa adanya mereka yang sanggup melakukan apa sahaja semata-mata untuk melampiaskan perjuangan peribadi? Bukankah dia boleh saja berjuang di luar maka aku akan semakin berasa kagum dan hormat. Tetapi dengan cara menyeret segala-galanya asalkan dia lepas, tetapi tidak melihat kepada natijah perbuatannya yang bakal mengundang padah kepada agama, bangsa dan negara....itukah harga sebuah perjuangan?)

Benarlah apa sahaja yang bakal terjadi berada dalam pengetahuan Dia yang Maha Kuasa lagi Maha Mengetahui. Barangkali sememangnya kita semua perlu mengharungi fasa nan mencabar ini untuk keperluan pengukuhan dan kemantapan jiwa sebagaimana rama-rama yang cantik berhempas pulas keluar dari kepompongnya.

Sedikit nasihat daripada pihak-pihak berwajib di luar sana kepada mereka-mereka yang tak ada kena mengena dengan pilihanraya esok, jauhilah diri anda dari Permatang Pauh...ataupun dalam bahasa sanskritnya, "boleh belah, jangan dok nyebok menyesakkan jalan dan suasana kat sana...ada pahammmm!!". Dan kepada yang susah nak tidoq malam dok teringat kat sana tu....terimalah serangkap pantun penutup entry hari ini,

"Hendak gugur, gugurlah nangka,
Jangan menimpa si batang pauh;
Hendak tidur, tidurlah mata,
Jangan terkenang Permatang yang jauh."

Raja Petra's Corridor of Power

I thought I am not going to talk about politic anymore after my previous few postings, but then, I could'nt resist this interesting writing by Raja Petra Kamarudin. I am not going to comment anything but merely paste the whole article here :

THE CORRIDOR OF POWER by Raja Petra Kamarudin

One of the Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) leaders -- I won't mention his name though -- said something very funny about ten years ago. “PRM has never won any election so we always prepare ourselves for defeat. God help us if we even win the elections. We will not know how to manage victory. But we have a lot of experience managing defeat. So we are very happy to be given the 'danger's seats in the 1999 general elections. If we are given 'safe' seats and we actually win we might panic because we will not know what to do if we win.”

Actually, as funny as this may have sounded ten years ago, today, this is no longer funny. In the recent general election, the opposition did prepare itself for defeat but the opposite to that happened. And now they don't know what to do. To be fair to PAS, though, they did prepare for victory. They prepared themselves for taking over Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis. They did not, however, prepare themselves for Penang, Perak and Selangor. They thought, at best, they will only be able to deny Barisan Nasional its two-thirds majority in these three states.

DAP and PKR, on the other hand, never thought that the three 'mixed' states could ever fall to the opposition. Maybe the four 'Malay heartland' states face better prospects of falling but this would merely see PAS emerge as the Taiko of these states which will not involve DAP and PKR too much other than a 'token' representation in the state governments.

But the unexpected happened. And this is because the opposition did not listen to us, the rakyat. You can't say we did not tell them often enough. Even in my ceramahs all over the country I openly declared that Barisan Nasional will lose its two-thirds majority in Parliament, five states will fall to the opposition, and two states will see Barisan Nasional lose it two-thirds majority in the State Assemblies. Then I named the five states that will fall -- Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Perlis and Penang -- and the two states that will see Barisan Nasional lose its two-thirds majority in the State Assembly -- Perak and Selangor

The opposition leaders just laughed and asked me, “Betul ke Petra? You ni tipu pengundi.”This pissed me off and in my ceramah at Kampong Raja Uda in Port Kelang I told the voters, “Kampong Raja Uda has never fallen to the opposition since Merdeka. This time around I want you to give this kampong that carries my grandfather's name to the opposition. If you don't then I will never step foot in this place again. And if you give Kampong Raja Uda to Barisan Nasional you will be mencemar (defiling) my grandfather's name and I want you to remove my grandfather's name and change the name of this kampong to something else.”

“Aiyah, why do you say something like that?” Ronnie Liu asked me.
“Why, what's wrong with saying something like that?”
“If we don't win then you can never come back here again.”
“If we don't win then I won't want to come back here anyway. So what's the difference? But we will win. That is why I dare make that declaration.”
“Aiyoh, you are so confident lah. I am not so sure.”

That's right, the calun himself went cold when I made that open declaration because he himself was not too sure whether we had any chance of winning a seat that has always been a ruling party stronghold since 50 years of Merdeka. And we not only won Port Kelang but we won the whole state as well. Okay, so I was slightly off in my prediction. We did win five states though, but it did not include Perlis and Terengganu. Perlis and Terengganu were switched with Perak and Selangor, the two states I said we will be able to deny Barisan Nasional its two-thirds majority in the State Assembly. Nevertheless, it was still five and the five are not all in the Malay heartland as what the opposition thought would happen. Three of the five are in 'mixed' states, which means Malay votes alone can't do the trick. You need the votes of the Indians and Chinese as well. Even PAS candidates such as Dr Siti Mariah won in seats where the Malays are a minority and unless you can get overwhelming support from the non-Muslims it would be impossible to win.

And that was when the problem started, when the opposition unexpectedly won the three 'mixed' states. Thereafter, the opposition did not know what to do. It took awhile for it to sink in it that the next step would be to quickly form the government. Instead, they got sidetracked and the whole process got delayed. Fine, there were some 'real' issues -- at least to those opposition leaders although I do not see them as real enough issues -- but some were so stupid that I felt like kicking these lamebrain dodo birds in the backside.

For example, when you have an audience with the Sultan during the swearing-in ceremony, you need to be properly attired. Proper protocol needs to be observed. Certainly you cannot use jeans, T-shirts and slippers. Malays need to wear a Baju Melayu and non-Malays a suit (not a sports jacket which does not match the pants). Malay women must be in Baju Kurung and non-Malay women must be in a dress -- not wearing pants like what one DAP State Assemblywoman did recently. Malay women should wear a scarf or selendang (no need to fully cover the head) and the men must wear a songkok, preferably even non-Malays though they may be wearing a suit instead of a Baju Melayu. Even when you have an audience with the Thai King, Japanese Emperor, or the Queen of England there are dress codes to observe. But the DAP State Assemblymen refuse to wear a songkok. They argue that they refuse to 'look like a Malay'. Hey, these same people are wearing a suit. Why do they not protest for being asked to look like a 'yellow' Mat Salleh? A suit is not Chinese. It is western. You don't mind wearing a suit and start looking like a banana -- yellow outside but white inside -- but you refuse to wear a songkok because it is a Malay thing. “We are not Muslims,” they reply. Indonesians also wear songkoks and millions who do are not Muslims, they are Christians.

Teng Chang Khim of DAP wants to become the Deputy Menteri Besar of Selangor. He has organised demonstrations the last couple of days to pressure his own party into proposing his name for Deputy Menteri Besar. But he refuses to wear a songkok. Instead, he wants to become a Chinese 'hero' by boycotting the audience with the Sultan of Selangor to protest being asked to wear a songkok. He wants to become the Deputy Menteri Besar but he boycotts the Sultan. What the fuck! How the hell is he going to be sworn in as the Deputy Menteri Besar if he refuses to go meet the Sultan? Does he want the Sultan to just send him a SMS?

The formation of the Selangor state government has to face delay just because, amongst others, one DAP man wants to become a Chinese 'hero' by refusing to wear a songkok. Anyway, the Sultan has helped solve Teng's dilemma by declaring that there will be no post of Deputy Menteri Besar. Now Teng need not worry whether he should continue being a Chinese 'hero' or transform into a 'traitor to the Chinese race' by wearing a songkok. And I suggest Teng also not be appointed an EXCO Member or else he would be placed in a serious dilemma as to whether to wear a songkok or not when he has to appear before the Sultan to take his oath of office. Maybe back home you wear your shoes in your house. But when you come to my house you take off your shoes. And if you refuse to do so because you do not want to 'look like a Malay' then no need to come to my house. In my house I dictate the house rules and dress code. This is my home and I am king of my castle. You are just my guest and you must act like how a guest should act. And if I invite you for my daughter's wedding, and if I say that all guests must wear a songkok, you can decide whether to boycott my daughter's wedding or come wearing a songkok.

These DAP chaps are trying to become heroes of the Chinese race. They do not want to have anything to do with what is perceived as Islamic or Malay traditions. Malays are very happy to respect and observe Chinese traditions. If you invite us to your house for a wedding, and if you dictate the dress code, we would be very happy to comply. We will not boycott the wedding just because we do not want to do what is considered Chinese. But this does not appear to be the Chinese mentality at all. Come on DAP. What is so jijik about a songkok? There are more important things to do than fight with the Sultan over what we should place on our heads when we appear before His Highness to take our oath of office. We have Selangor, the most important state in Malaysia, to run. Do you mean to say that just because of a songkok you are prepared to let the whole state government fall?

And another thing, what is it with these protest demonstrations? You are no longer the opposition. You should stop thinking like the opposition and start acting like the ruling government because that is what you are. Small things please small minds. And that is what we have voted into office, leaders with small minds. And these small minds get easily distracted by small things instead of quickly forming the government and start running the state. Until today, one week after winning the elections, the Selangor State Government has not been formed yet. Thus far only the Menteri Besar has been sworn in. The State EXCO, which is the machinery that actually runs the states, has not been set up yet or taken its oath of office.

We hope the new Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, will not repeat Khir Toyo's mistake. We just kicked Khir Toyo out and the last thing we want is to see a clone of the man we just sent packing. Khir Toyo held too many portfolios and he kept all the important portfolios to himself while the 'useless' portfolios were given to the other EXCO Members. This is exactly what Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is doing. Abdullah kept all the key Ministries for himself. And because he is holding too many Ministries, and all the important ones on top of that, his Ministries are not functioning and therefore the country is not functioning as well.Khalid must overhaul the old, failed system. He should focus on being a good Menteri Besar and not try to monopolise all the portfolios, which will just swamp him and bog him down. There are many capable people, so he should get all the others to help him the run the state. He should not treat the Selangor state government as a family sundry shop where the main man is salesman, checkout counter clerk, cashier, bookkeeper and storekeeper all in one. Sure, the Menteri Besar should also hold one or two portfolios, but he should not hog six or seven of the most important portfolios and then throw the minor ones to the others. This will just ensure failure and come the next election the voters will kick him out and will give the state back to Barisan Nasional. And it will be 30 years before the opposition can ever dream of retaking the state.

Let me say this again. You are no longer the opposition, so please stop thinking and acting like an opposition. You are now the government, so please get down to acting like a government. The voters put you in office to run the state so can we please see you running the state.All this haggling over how many EXCO seats each party should get and who should be the EXCO Members and whether to wear a songkok or not has delayed the setting up of the government and this has allowed the previous administration to shred and destroy many crucial documents. By the time you finally take over many files will no longer exist.

There is one thing you have forgotten. The Menteri Besar and EXCO Member posts do not belong to the political parties. They belong to us, the rakyat who voted for you. So can PKR, DAP and PAS please stop quarrelling. Stop demanding you want this and you want that because all these posts do not belong to you. They belong to us. By right you should have come back to ask us, the voters who put you in office, as to what you should do. It is we, the voters, who should have the final say. Now, not only do you ignore us, the voters, when you set up the government, but you squabble amongst yourselves as if all this belongs to you in the first place.

The state governments do not belong to DAP or PKR or PAS. They belong to the voters. We are only entrusting you to manage our assets. But you act as if the state and the positions in the state belong to you and you fight with each other for control over them. If you are not careful I am going to mobilise thousands of rakyat and we will march to the Menteri Besar's office to give you a hard kick on your backside. And don't test us. We will do it. We, the rakyat, give you till Monday to prove to us you have a functioning state government. If not, on Tuesday, expect a huge crowd outside your office.

The rakyat have spoken. When we said we, the voters, will deny Barisan Nasional its two-thirds majority in Parliament and will at the same time give you five states, we did just that. And if we say we will be in front of your office on Tuesday if by Monday we don't see a functioning government, you can bet your sweet ninny we will do just that as well.

In the meantime, to all voters, standby in case we need you to be part of the largest assembly of voters Selangor State has ever seen in 50 years since Merdeka. Either we see a functioning government or we are going storm the Selangor State Secretariat building just like the French stormed the Bastille.

The End of A Drama

I am just arrived at the office. At this time, there's still a lot of empty parking bay. But as usual I always choose the one along the dinding...always my favourite spot because it is almost impossible to selfish drivers to block my car. I now am a learned driver...I learnt about many useful tips to survive here...:)

Dengar berita Radio Era pagi tadi...pasal perlantikan MB baru Perlis, ADUN Bintong, Mohammad Isa Sabu. Akhirnya...untuk sebuah negeri kecil yang mana BN masih utuh di sana, isu perlantikan MB memanglah satu drama ala-ala Cerekarama TV3 la pulak. Tapi tak patutlah jadi isu...kalau orang dah tak sudi, MB yang dulu tu pandai-pandai la bawa diri. Janganlah berkeras jugak, tak pasal-pasal jasa yang 3 penggal sudah tu dilupakan orang dek buruknya perangai. Macamana kita nak bangsa lain hormat pada Kesultanan Melayu kalau orang Melayu sendiri pun menunjukkan rasa tidak hormat.

What's Next For Perak?

It's Friday the 14th of March. The STAR reported that the sworn-in ceremony for the new Perak's Menteri Besar have been postponed to a new date yet to be informed. Also there's report that PKR is not happy with the allocation of seats decided by DAP. Looks like the BA is having a problem to settle among themselves, what more to work on matters close to the rakyat's heart...is that what the mainstream media try to potray? May be there's agenda behind. To tell directly to the face of rakyat..."Padan muka!". See...because you vote for them, now you are in trouble...especially Malay, no more NEP, no more this privillage, no more that privillage...that Malay's privillage is at stake that the country is in difficult situation due to racial tension. Hemmm...

Of course, as a Malay, I do admit that having rejecting the BN (indirectly UMNO) is kind of a risky move. Do bear in mind that the changing of direction is not because of affection or confidence of BA's ability but I suspect it was purposely done so to punish UMNO and BN. That part need to be carefully analyze by UMNO and BN. It's a protest. To what? A lots of issues apparently. I hope UMNO and BN leaders stop blaming the people and put the responsibility of others...let's just sit down and think with an open mind. If you point your finger to other, all the other fingers are actually pointing at you. I'm really sick at how this matter been handle...up till now what obvious to my eyes is that the leaders are just fighting for their own interest and not thinking about how best to serve the rakyat. Look forward to the next cabinet line-up...don't expect much out of it...but still, curiosity remains.

The Wind of Change

Finally it did hit Malaysia, though for some it might have been a hurricane. Some labelled it as "political tsunami". To me, it is " a true democracy". I thought this will never come, but it did somehow. God's will, the people's prays has been answered. The silent majority has finally rebelled. They no longer can stand the way things have been handled...even to someone like me where political motives and stories seems so strange...somehow I just have this extra sense that something big is going to happen.

I've read a lot in the newspaper on how the Alternative Front defeated the incumbent Barisan National. There's lots of statistic too, but I will not touch on that. To me, it's a very significant defeat though the PM still refers it as "biasa". I hope the leaders pay attention to the signal as I find out that some merely brush it aside thinking that nothing is wrong with them, it's the people. And some still very arrogant. May be they only listen to the sweet words from their loyal aide, who only reported on good things and keep under carpet all the bad things. That is why the leaders cannot sense the dissatisfaction at the grassroots.

I am no politician. And am not so keen on politic. But I do care about my bangsa and negara. My parents are loyal supporters of BN, so does my parents-in-law. My siblings are all involved in the voting campaign. To them, it's payback time. The government has done much and therefore, it is only fair to give undivided support in return. Well, that's a true fact...at least in one spectrum...there's other spectrums of perspectives that need to be analyze. There's different issues, at different levels, different races, different places...need to strike a balance and need different strategies/approaches.

I've no issue with the perpaduan kaum, perkongsian kuasa, pembahagian ekonomi and any other related agenda...but am definitely not happy with some of the following :
1. The fact that there are so many Ministers/Deputy Ministers/MBs/State Excos (Malay especially) living in luxury while majority Malay still desperately work hard to earn money for a simple living
2. Not only them...but up to their families, friends (cronies)....
3. How come no one send their children to attend PLKN...cakap tak serupa bikin...
4. They converse daily in English...not confident to speak in Malay and still have the gut to brand themselves as pejuang bangsa....chittt!
5. Science & math in English...that's the most stupid way to learn English

Do they really care & concerns about nasib bangsa, I really doubt that...their concern is only on how to continue living their luxurious life, up to cucu cicit if possible. Can never satisfy their hungry need for power, money, money and money...

Hemmmm...how come I'm so emotional today????

Menjelang Hari Penentuan

Di luar sana hujan sedang menggila. Lebat!!! Hujan rahmat atau tanda apa ya? He...he...mesti ramai yang semakin kecut perut, almaklumlah esok hari penentuan. Yang dah beberapa hari tak cukup tidur...yang makan tak lalu, tidur tak lena...hemmm....esoklah hari menamatkan sengsara. Jerih perih berkempen. Tukang-tukang sokong pun kecut perut jugak...almaklumlah la, kalau menang bolehlah tumpang sekaki. Kalau kalah, kenalah ubah haluan cari dahan untuk berpaut.

Aku pun dalam situasi yang agak pelik juga...kenyang dalam kesejukan. Pelik , kan? Selalunya lapar dan kesejukan barulah 'jive' gitu....he...he...Office ni memanglah sejuknya mengalahkan musim sejuk kat Melbourne (pada aku dah cukup sejuk tu). Tadi tengahari makan grilled chicken foldover kat McD. Kenyangnya masih terasa...tapi jam 3 lebih tadi teringin jugak nak mengunyah, sikit demi sikit mengunyah kacang goreng....kesudahannya rasa kenyang sangat-sangat. Itu yang menepati tema kenyang dalam kesejukan tu. Macam 2,3 hari sudah, selesema masih membelenggu. Masih sangat mengganggu. Still bearable somehow...sabar...sabar....Apapun besok lusa cuti hujung minggu. Alangkah seronoknya lepak-lepak kat rumah. Minggu berikutnya pulak cuti sekolah, bolehlah lengah-lengah keluar rumah waktu pagi, sebab tahap kesesakan lalu lintas pastilah berkurangan. Paper FTA belum siap lagi nie...hu...hu...hu....(maka darjah keterujaan pun sedikit menurun...he...he...).

The 'Hot Seat' - Rembau

The 12th election campaign is getting 'serious' now. PKR presence is obviously made in Sentul with several small "pondok" being erected near junction and alongside the road. But, still, it is nothing compared to the atmosphere I was in yesterday when we travelled to my in-laws hometown in Paya Lebar, Melaka.

Actually I didn't realize that yesterday was the day for the submission of contestant. So, when we went into Rembau to pick my hubby's grandma, we were greeted with flags and banners...blue, light blue, green....Cars & motors...even some lorries, also carried flags. I thought...whoaaa...all these people really looking forward to the voting day. But then, when I saw peoples in some kind of uniform, and accessories...umbrella, hand-fan etc...then, it reminded me of the event of the day. They are supporters to the contestants...and they were there to accompany their candidate. I didn't bring my camera, so, I couldn't capture the vibrant activities there. I am going to miss that anyway, coz, I am not going to vote this time. It's too much hassle to travel back to my hometown just to cast my one vote which might not change anything. Though my parents are quite dissapointed and of the view that I should honour that very significant right of all Malaysian...my decision is final. I still can remember one of my collegue saying this, " sure win lahhhh....even if they put "tunggul" there as a candiddate, that "tunggul" will sure get the biggest majority". Hemmmm.....