Monday, February 23, 2009

UMNO begging QC’s help in London – a Mistake Coup?

Ever since the federal government (or rather UMNO) forcefully taken over one of opposition’s states of Perak the de-factor opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim couldn’t afford to smile as much as he used to be. Just like the stock market Anwar was charging like a bull as if the market was experiencing Super Bull-Run after his party PKR together with team-mates of PAS and DAP unexpectedly captured 5 states. For a moment he felt immortal and the reach to the Putrajaya was within sight. However unlike the outgoing Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, the PM-in-waiting Najib Razak did not waste much time wrestling Perak state from Anwar. It was not many months ago that Najib via another UMNO warlord Muhyddin Yassin successfully forced Abdullah to agree to resign in Mar 2009.


Now it seems the hunter becomes the hunted and vice-versa. And just like the stock market Anwar feels vulnerable and is crawling like a bear while Najib becomes the bull charging like there’s no tomorrow. Suddenly the view of Putrajaya becomes so far away to Anwar while Najib’s wife, Rosmah, began to taste the power of those who walk in the corridors of power. She must have enjoyed herself to the fullest in her appearance in the government-controlled media during the campaign asking for donations for the Gaza. Like her husband Rosmah can smells the aroma of the number-1 seat currently held by Jeanne Abdullah. The clock is ticking and the vision of her being installed as the most powerful woman come this Mar is enough to make her climax, who wouldn’t right?


Unlike PR (Pakatan Rakyat) who managed to win over Perak state through peoples’ vote, BN (Barisan Nasional) used the back-door (intimidation, bribery and threat) in bringing down the Perak government. The last thing on federal government BN’s menu is a state-level snap election not because BN will fail miserably but because the scale of embarrassment could influence the state of Sarawak to deliver important State and Parliament seats to opposition PR coalition. Hence BN would rather play dirty to win battles than to fight like gentlemen. In fact the current dirty politics adopted by BN makes even the former Prime Minister Mahathir disgusted. When a former dictator felt irritated with the dirtiness it goes to show that the current situation is so pathetic that besides skin-color the future leader is comparable to Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe *scary huh?*.


Shafee Patail Augustine

But make no mistake about the current low-standard of leaders who resort to intimidation, barbarian way of take-this-bullet-you-sucker threat, paying top dollars to peeping-tom for nude photos and bribe anyone possible. The PM-in-waiting still has former dictator Mahathir as political-strategy adviser and former Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin as economy-strategy adviser as his left and right hand men. Despite the hiccup in Perak where the powerful Speaker role was forgotten during the coup by BN, it appears the advices from PM-in-waiting’s advisers were to continue with the assault to weaken the Selangor (the most developed state captured by opposition) government.


This time the silver bullets were Selangor chief minister’s “Cows and Car” accusation. And the main actor used is none other than Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Ahmad Said Hamdan who went beyond his job scope as the head of an independent body by “declaring” that there was strong evidence that Selangor chief minister misused his powers over the maintenance of his personal car and the distribution of 46 cows worth RM110,400 for slaughter during Aidil Adha celebrations in his parliamentary constituency of Bandar Tun Razak last December. If you do not know Ahmad Said he’s the person whose son, Ahmad Shauqi bin Ahmad Said, a former pilot with Malaysia Airline System (KLSE: MAS, stock-code 3786) who was caught importing child pornography when he arrived at Adelaide Airport early last year.


UMNO to London QC help

Boy! It was really one big messy battle – short of army’s tanks and submarine BN is basically mobilizing all resources ranging from the police force, judges, sultan, print and electronic media, supposedly independent anti-corruption commission and election commission, nation’s coffer, jobless Mat Rempits and peeping Tom in their effort to cripple the opposition from taking over the federal government possibly by next general election. Its’ do or die kind of war in this country of less than 30 million population. Amazingly the once proud and arrogant UMNO is now panic and has sent its senior lawyer together with several politicians to London seeking Queen’ Counsel helps to combat the latest constitutional crisis. Huh? still couldn't get enough of colonialism? One wonders what happens to the brightest team of lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Attorney General Gani Patail, Justice S. Augustine Paul and other have-money-will-sell-souls top-brains.


Sure, AG Patail has led his team to the defeat of Pulau Batu Puteh’s sovereignty to Singapore but that was because the International Court of Justice has 16-judges. It wasn't Patail fault that the judges couldn't be "persuaded" to swing the decision in favor of Malaysia. I’m willing to bet all my fortunes that if 3-local-judges led by Augustine Paul were to hear the Perak Constitution Crisis dispute; BN should have an easy victory over the opposition. Heck, I’m sure that Speaker V.Sivakumar would be crying arguing his case when Muhammad Shafee Abdullah opens his mouth in court. We’re talking about top brains here dude so it doesn’t make any sense for the government running helter-skelter booking tickets for the trip to London. You meant those foreign Queens’s Counsel knows better than Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Gani Patail or S. Augustine Paul about the country’s constitution? Simply unbelievable that UMNO is reduced to such a pathetic situation that they’ve chickened away to London and is begging Queen’s Counsel for help!

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Does Islam Need To Be Defended?

Those who, stand either individually or in clumps, and claim that they are defending Islam do not trust in Allah and thereby blaspheme. Let us consider some of the more relevant and obvious repercussions of accepting Allah as the "The Originator of the heavens and the earth!" (Surah 6:101) which is basically this Universe, and the many billion other universes out there, all that space, and clutter in between. We, in truth, don't even make up an atom of a grain of sand in the entire scheme of things. And those are just His creations - so, in truth, we will never be able to even comprehend Allah. Whoever claims they do, makes false claims to godhood. 

Let us consider this starting point: that we are unfathomably small in His entire design. We die out just like all other living things on this earth. Our lifespan is short - a maximum of just over one hundred - with an average of about late 60s these days. We, as Homo Sapiens, only arrived on the scene relatively recently i.e. about 400,000 years ago, and our recorded history only stretches back to about 32,000 years ago with those cave paintings in Chauvet Cave of Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave, in southern France. The earth is estimated by scientists to be approximately between 4.5 - 6 billion years old. So that's how we are even compared to the earth. Nothing much. And the universe? Scientists currently estimate it to be about 13.7 billion years old. So temporally our Homo Sapien race existence compared to the universe - our significance is 0.0000029197080. Now you then divide that by all the many people, animals, etc. and you come through and we realize how insignificant any of us are in the entire scheme of the universe. Even if you had the biological abilities, you just didn't the time.

When seen in this light, that Allah was long before us and shall be for ever, so what does it matter if some of his most insignificant creations on one of His billions, if not trillions, of galaxies and planet, does not believe in Him or infringes His injunctions? What does it matter that there are these non-believers who speak ill of Him? The truth is that no one can harm Allah or his religion because we are in His realm. What is more, going by scripture, we are all answerable to him on Judgment Day, so why should we have to answer to someone lesser whilst we are alive? A comparative analogy of the relationship between Allah and mankind/His Universe would be as a computer programmer to his program. Whatever program a programmer programs into his computer can never harm him (assuming it is your usual standard desktop PC and not some robotic killer machine whose sole purpose is to annihilate any living thing) - he can manipulate it, change it, do virtually anything to it but the computer or its programs or the product of its program can never, ever harm the programmer. So when there is no threat, there cannot be a defence.

And Allah is Eternal and Creator of All - what possible threat can there be to the Supreme Being of the Universe? If even Satan himself cannot bring about such an event (because he will get his butt kicked in the End), then what more the mere sons of Adam? And what do these ants think they can do in Allah's defence? That some of his sons thinks that Allah is in need of protection is to betray what they really think of themselves and Allah. The first is that they think too highly of himself and his worth to Allah and the Universe and secondly, they think too lowly of Allah and his Creations. They do not say this explicitly, but there is no need to because actions have always spoken louder than words.

If Allah does not need defenders, neither then does Islam. So what is this Defence of Islam really about then?

It's the same thing that has happened over the centuries where religion is concerned: frustrated, unthinking, unlearned, morally and ethically corrupt human beings who want to achieve some control in their livese and that of others, and do so by piggybacking on a religion to establish a high moral position and to burn with righteous anger with supposed authority from God with which he can then carry out his psychosis. This Defence of Islam strategy is an attempt to play up their victimhood (defence presupposes an attack) to try and attract sympathy from concerned or related parties. But then in banding together and claiming defence they then allow themselves the possibility of a pre-attack strike (that is a 'defence' too which America used as a justification in attacking Iraq. Anybody notice the similarity in modus operandi between Muslim fundamentalists and USA foreign policy towards hostile countries?). Ultimately, the strategy is geared towards confrontation, violence and non-resolution. 

The truth of the matter is that the Defence of Islam was, is and never will be about Allah. It is about flawed human beings. It is about the corrupt, hypocritical human beings who seek not to worship Allah in humility but to try reach His exalted status by inflating further their massive ego; and then in failing so miserably and ending up ultimately becoming a disgrace both to Allah, Islam and human beings in general. Just because someone professes to be Muslim does not necessarily mean they practise Islam (i.e. submission) and just because one is practising Islam does not necessarily mean they are actually practising Islam. In either case, those questions are for Allah to decide, not us. If there's one thing I am certain of it is this - there is no human being in existence that can equal Allah's ability in deciding whether someone is a Muslim or not (and consequentially - a good enough one for that matter). One would have thought a Muslim would be very wary of assuming such a responsibility. That some are ready to do so with such casualness and vindictiveness provokes me to think they do not take their faith seriously in the ways that are important and meaningful for their own personal self-development (which must be distinguished from self-enrichment) and that of others.

The Malaysian Crisis - Whither "kesopanan melayu"?

While “Ketuanan Melayu” is undoubtedly the battle cry for UMNO and its whole leadership, scant attention is given to the other hallmark of the Malays, namely, “Kesopanan Melayu”. The Malays are well known for their “sopan santun”, a Malay phrase of which I find difficulty in finding the exact English equivalent, mostly because that concept, like the Malay amuk, is almost alien to Westerners. Perhaps the closest English equivalent would be “courtesy”. The concept of “kesopanan” is not alien to all of us and the Malays are in fact well known for being courteous to everybody. The Rukunegara even acknowledges the importance of such element. Thus, the fifth element in the Rukunegara is “kesopanan dan kesusilaan” or loosely translated, “courtesy and morality”.


A look at the political landscape of Malaysia lately would leave everybody to wonder whether “courtesy and morality” are dead and buried, as far as our politicians are concerned. The fifth element of our Rukunegara might just as well be “hypocrisy and whetever-suits-me”.


When Jamaluddin Mat Radzi was earlier accused of having sexual intercourse with some prostitute from China, he was reported to have said that it was a “donation” (or “sedekah” in Malay) and it would not be good to refuse such “donation”. The Barisan Nasional leaders of course had made such a huge cry over that episode. As event would have it, Jamaluddin was duly charged for corruption.


The clowning glory to this episode is now complete when the Barisan Nasional led government was formed in Perak with the support of a majority consisting of, among others, Mr Jamaluddin-can’t-refuse-any-donation-Mat Radzi as supposedly an “independent assemblyman.


The irony in all these is of course the fact that prior to September 16th last year, when the heat of a Federal Government takeover was causing the Prime Minister sleepless nights, the Barisan Nasional leaders would come out in TV3 news saying that political defection and power takeover through defection is unconstitutional and undemocratic. But of course, it is undemocratic and unconstitutional if it happens to the Barisan Nasional while it is totally acceptable and morally correct if it is done by the Barisan Nasional.
Then, when Karpal Singh was screaming on top of his voice that he would sue the Sultan of Perak for what he opined as an unconstitutional act, the UMNO leaders went berserk. WE WILL DIE FOR THE SULTAN. TREASON! Blah blah blah… Demonstrators went to the street in Perak. In Kuala Lumpur, they assembled in front of Karpal’s office. Threats were made to demonstrate every day until Karpal apologise. Khairy even said Karpal should be banished. Traitors are killed, said the crowd. Like bloody wow wow…


Who was the one, or rather which party was the one, who took away the immunity of the Rulers? In whose era was there not one, but two constitutional crisis involving some very belligerent attitudes towards the Rulers? In which era was the Royal assent to Parliamentary bills was deemed unnecessary before that bills become law of the country? When was that the Rulers were belittled and decried as “zalim” through various statements and repeated showing of old Malay movies which portrayed the olden Malay rulers as stupid, bad and greedy? Granted, the immunity was taken away so that the Rulers could be brought to the Courts for any wrongdoing –which is and should be the right of every aggrieved citizen to do- but the manner in which it was done was demeaning to the Royal institution. But of course, if it’s UMNO, it’s okay. And now, when Karpal wants to question the Sultan’s constitutional act in Court, that’s not okay. That’s treason. And what did we use to do to people who commit treason? So asked Khairy. The crowd said, yes, we kill them. Well, said Khairy, now we banish them. Awesome!


And so when Elizabeth Wong’s picture in the nude - taken apparently while she was sleeping and unbeknown to her – made its round in the tabloid and the government bulletins, Khir Toyo – he whose face is as fair as snow white – screamed that she should resign. Hmm…you have your naked picture taken while you are sleeping and without your consent and you should resign because you are…erm…immoral. Forget about your right to privacy. Forget about betrayal. Forget about catching the scum who did that to her. Forget. She must resign. Because she is immoral. Err dear Encik Khir, how about the guy who accepted the sexual donation in Perak who is now an independent ADUN on whose support you rely to form a majority government? Okay with you?

And then there were three. Yes. Three guys who are vying to be the UMNO Youth chief. One is the son. The other is the son in law. The last one is the fair looking guy, the keeper of the ADUN’s morality. They met and they talked. The son said he will be like his father. The son in law said we must all reform. The other one said we lost because we are not Islam enough. Well well well…what is Islam enough? Or what is enough in Islam? And what is not enough? Accepting sexual donation from prostitute from China is enough? Sex with underage girl is enough? What? Pray tell me.


Oh, we shall also maintain ISA. And why is the police not using ISA against the street demonstrators? That is not good. Excuse me Mukhriz. Your father is the biggest ISA abuser in Malaysia. Remember Operasi Lalang? And even a former DPM could be detained and given a black eye by none other than the IGP. Oh, by the way, speaking of demonstrators, which demonstrators are you talking about? The one at Karpal’s office? The one in Perak with threatening banners? The one along Jalan Tun Razak abusing a woman? The one in front of the Bar Council’s building questioning a private seminar? Or the one in Amcorp Mall lighting up candles and singing? Which one? All of them?


Sometime, being a Melayu, one must remember, is not all about being a Tuan. It is about embracing the whole Malay concept. And that includes “kesopanan dan kesusilaan”. And being hypocritical about things is just not kosher Malay.


Pure and simple.

Source : Art-Harun

Friday, February 20, 2009

I Am Mighty UMNO, Invincible & Immortal (The UMNO Mind)

My name is UMNO.


And this is my message to all you People of Malaysia who think I can be defeated by you.

Remember everyone shudders at the mere mention of my name - the Police, MACC, the Election Commission, the AG chambers, the Judiciary, the newspaper editors and even the Rulers.

I order them and they obey me. Now, how is that you people of Malaysia are so stubborn and refuse to respect me and allow me to rule this country as I please.

You think I am bothered by all your police reports against me? You think the police will investigate me. You think all your reports on my corrupt practices bother me? You think the MACC will have the guts to investigate me?

You think you can bring me to court. Which court will rule against me? You stupid people! I am the Law. I am above the Constitution. Don't you forget that.

Oh! the Rulers? When I feel like it I criticize them. When I am in need of them I cry 'Daulat Tuanku' night and day. You see, I can do different things in different situations and my stupid children,the Mat Rempits, will come out in full force with yellow ribbons tight around their heads and shout 'Daulat Tuanku'. All they need is a few ringgit and they will echo whatever I say.

These school dropouts are my obedient children. It's only you educated, internet savvy people who give me trouble.

You see, stupid People of Malaysia, when I want the Malays to unite behind me, my children will wave the Jagur Gemilang and scream 'Hidup Malaysia'. If I am threatened by you further I will get them to wave the UMNO flag, wield the keris and cry 'Hidup Melayu' and call you 'Derhaka, Derhaka'.

So you see, I can use the yellow ribbon, the Jalur Gemilang, the UMNO flag and the keris to frighten my children into believing that they will have no future in this country if I am defeated.

Oh, you want to defeat me through elections? Ha! I have postal votes, phantom voters, and damn it, even if I lose I have the money to buy the victors. I can frighten them will bullets, nude pictures, sodomy/khalwat allegations and even kidnap them and their families if they refuse my offers.

If they are still stubborn I will make them disappear or take them in under the ISA. With the police at my beck and call, how can you ever win me, you stupid people.

HOW CAN YOU DEFEAT ME!!!!. EVEN GOD CANNOT DEFEAT ME!!!!!!!!!I am immortal and I will rule this country till Judgement Day. Got it?

From : See evil, hear evil, but speak the truth

A Question Of Morality

As such, it would be wiser for Pas not to open up Pandora's box on this issue of morality at this juncture. It can only create differences within a ruling coalition which is being besieged by its external enemies.

Khalid Samad, The Malaysian Insider

I was told that Selangor Pas released a statement which, among others, requested that Elizabeth Wong be investigated for any moral wrongdoings as a result of this “scandal” of her nude photos and, if found to be guilty, she is then to be “suitably” punished. The statement also talks of the need for all PR elected representatives to be morally upright so as to be examples to be emulated by all.

Unfortunately I have to comment on this statement which I believe is very ill-advised. Before that I do have to clarify that the meeting held by Selangor Pas prior to the release of the statement was a meeting of the Dewan Harian, which is made up of the state commissioner and all other appointed office bearers. It was not the full state meeting as such.

Secondly, and this is the crux of the issue, PR is not Pas! For Pas we have a clearly defined set of right and wrong, moral and immoral and although it may have similarities with some universal values, there are some huge differences particularly in that of the “personal arena”. What Pas and Islam see as immoral may be something quite acceptable in the eyes of other cultures. Take the question of drinking wine, for example.

Similarly, there are items which Islam accepts, which to other cultures is not quite as acceptable. The easiest example here would be polygamy.

As such, it would be wiser for Pas not to open up Pandora's box on this issue of morality at this juncture. It can only create differences within a ruling coalition which is being besieged by its external enemies. We can avoid this awkward situation by identifying clear boundaries while understanding that the coalition is made up of different parties with different views and values but agreeing on the specific socio-economic and political agendas which we wish to pursue. On matters of personal discipline of party members, we leave that to the parties themselves to decide on what they wish to implement and enforce, if anything. We should avoid imposing our values and beliefs on others. This is even more relevant when we acknowledge that Elizabeth Wong is not a Muslim.

The proposal to let each party handle its members is akin to what was practiced by the Holy Prophet in his agreement with the different communities in Medina.

The call for the PR elected representatives to be models of morally upright individuals to be emulated by others is again something which many PR elected representatives may not subscribe to. I imagine some of the PR elected representatives reading the statement with complete bewilderment, shaking their heads saying, "I never knew I would have to play this role!"

Even for Pas, as an Islamic party, our message is that the Muslim youth should emulate the Prophet and his illustrious companions and not ourselves as we too are but mere followers. I cannot for the life of me, knowing my personal weaknesses, project myself as a model for anyone to follow. Maybe others can; on that I have no comment.

Then there is this issue of “suitable punishment”. (Hmmmm, wonder what they have in mind). I have no idea where this zealousness for punishment comes from. I remember Datuk Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang's lecture where he told us of a case in the time of the Prophet. A man came and admitted to the Prophet that he had committed adultery and requested that he be punished. The Holy Prophet remained silent and turned away from him. The man came in front of the Prophet and repeated his admission and request. The Holy Prophet responded in the same manner, turning away from him. The man came in front of the Prophet again and repeated the admission and request for the third time. The Prophet then asked the companions who were there witnessing this incident to take the man away and punish him as he requested.

Later the companions returned and reported to the Prophet that the man, prior to being punished, had a change of heart and ran away. They chased him and meted out the punishment. The Holy Prophet looked at his companions and asked: "Why did you chase him? You should have let him go".

From the short story it is clear that there is no zealousness in the meting out of punishment. The Prophet only consented when the man showed great remorse for having sinned and wished himself to be cleansed. However, if that was no longer the case, the need was no longer there. Note also how the man was not questioned who his partner was. No thumbscrews. No witch hunt.

Actually it is this kind of zealousness which the non-Muslims fear from Pas and this is where we must emulate the spirit of the Islam more accurately. We should not become zealous moralists who wish to enforce their moral code on others. As I always say, preach, reason and argue with them in the best of ways. Never give them the impression that we wish to impose something on them irrespective of how noble the intentions. That was the way of the Prophet and that too must be our way.

Lastly, I wish to state that this is not a case where the complainant wishes to see some form of justice or goodness prevail. It is not a case of a person bringing to the kadi or judge a report of “immorality” on the part of so and so. It is on the other hand a smear campaign and should be handled as such. If the Quran teaches us to be wary of reports brought in by dubious persons, what more of cases which are clearly aimed at discrediting and maligning a person. The wickedness intended alone should suffice for everyone to reject the proposition, confiscate all the photos and ignore the issue altogether. If the Malaysian public can behave in the same manner as the people of Coventry when Lady Godiva rode through town in the nude, the problem would be easily solved.

Khalid Samad is MP for Shah Alam. He is also head of the Shah Alam Pas division and also a member of the Pas political bureau, which is the most powerful bureau in the party. His website is www.khalidsama

From : Malaysia-Today

Monday, February 9, 2009

The Monkey Handler

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Posted by admin   
Monday, 09 February 2009 01:49

A Chinese proverb has it that it takes three generations to destroy an enterprise.  The first starts it; the second builds on it; while the pampered third squanders it.  Najib Razak is determined to truncate that process.  He is set to destroy a once proud and successful organization – UMNO – which his late father was so instrumental in starting and building.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

M. Bakri Musa

imageIn the few months that he has before assuming office I would have expected Prime Minister-in-waiting Najib Razak to be focused on forming his new leadership team and formulating his major policies.  Instead there he was in Perak smirking with renegade state politicians who had crossed over to his Barisan coalition.  Najib looked like a mischievous monkey handler who had successfully enticed a couple of wily monyets from the neighbor’s coconut tree to his. 

 

            In these perilous times Najib is more a slimy backroom political operative consumed with concocting shady deals than a national leader ready to steer the nation through tough economic and other challenges.  This latest and unneeded upheaval in Perak only adds to Malaysia’s already muddled political climate, and comes at a time when the nation can ill afford this distraction.  Najib is oblivious of the evolving global economic disaster and its inevitable impact on Malaysia.

            These handlers too behave like the monkeys they keep.  After finishing his latest act in Perak, Najib stayed away.  The monkey handler’s interest, like that of the monkeys they keep, was only in creating mischief.  Once that is achieved, then he is gone so as to avoid getting entangled.

            Initially Najib had planned to join in the Chinese New Year celebration in Ipoh to soak in what he expected would be a sea of public applause to his latest monkey act.  Instead because of the unanticipated sea change in public mood, Najib wisely skipped the event.  At least he knew when and where he would no longer be welcomed.

            Najib should remember that Abdullah Badawi rode into office with the highest approval ratings, and an untainted “Mr. Clean” image to boot.  Yet today, less than five years later, Abdullah is being pushed out of office, and his legacy is anything but clean.  Najib has yet to assume office and already his approval rating is under 50 percent, and his public image severely tainted by assorted sordid scandals.  His public portraits are now being used for stomping muddy shoes.  Rest assured that these are only the beginning.

            A Chinese proverb has it that it takes three generations to destroy an enterprise.  The first starts it; the second builds on it; while the pampered third squanders it.  Najib Razak is determined to truncate that process.  He is set to destroy a once proud and successful organization – UMNO – which his late father was so instrumental in starting and building.

            Najib will bring UMNO down with him, as prophesied by some ancient soothsayer’s “RAHMAN” theory of leadership.  The challenge is to ensure that UMNO’s inevitable implosion under Najib would not also take Malaysia down with it.
 
Our Cultural Burden

If not for his family and political pedigrees, Najib Razak would today be like thousands of other Malays with similar qualifications, nothing more than a midlevel functionary in the civil service or one of the many Government-linked companies.

He was just old enough when his father died to benefit from the generosities and tributes of a nation in need to express them in gratitude to a great patriot that was his father.  Remembering the father’s many great deeds, the nation could not do enough for his son; hence Najib meteoric rise.

            The dilemma with having your path smoothed out for you is that once you reach the top, there is no one there to grease the trail ahead.  From then on you are on your own, and you ill prepared for it.

            It is our cultural tradition that such generosities and tributes are showered almost exclusively upon the first-born son.  The assumption is that he is the carrier of the father’s traits.  This of course is not unique to Malay culture; nor is there a biological basis to that assumption.

            I wish we had not been a slave to our culture.  By all means shower our gratitude to the late Tun Razak’s family, but then let us be more prudent and choose the smartest or most promising from among his five children to groom, not necessarily only the first born.

           Tun Razak’s other sons are way head and shoulders above Najib.  The youngest, Nazir, is a banker.  Even though he is not a politician, nonetheless his public utterances reflect not only a first-rate mind but also someone very much aware of the many challenges facing our nation.  He has also put forth novel ideas on solving them.  Unfortunately, Najib is culturally constrained from taking advice from his youngest brother Nazir.

            Last year Nazir suggested granting amnesty to corrupt individuals in return for their confessions and making good their loot, prior to implementing tougher laws.  To say that it was a radical idea would be an understatement but on reflection, there is considerable merit to his suggestion.  At the very least we would get a measure of the magnitude of the problem and its infinite variations.  That could help us design better laws and ways to combat the scourge.

            Recently Nazir chastised the leadership for not going beyond orthodox fiscal stimulus and monetary measures to meet the current economic crisis.  He suggested re-examining the New Economic Policy, with particular reference to minimizing its drag on the economy.  He also called for greater collaborations with the emerging giant economies in the region, specifically China, India and the Middle East.  Most of all I like his idea of attracting foreign talents, especially into the education sector.

            These are the kinds of innovative thinking we yearn from our leaders, not their endless monkeying around with fence-hopping politicians.  In chastising the “leadership,” Nazir has shown that he is not constrained by our cultural norms; he has in effect criticized his oldest brother’s leadership.

Monkey Story

There was this story of a peddler of hats who one day fell asleep under a tree in the heat of the day.  When he woke up, his hats were all gone except for the one on his head.  On looking up he saw the monkeys in the tree with hats.  The peddler tried all manner of tricks to induce those monkeys to part with their newfound toys, but to no avail.  In disgust he threw his hat to the ground and stomped off.  In the finest “monkey see, monkey do” mode, the apes did the same, and that was how the peddler recovered his merchandise.

A generation later it was the peddler’s son who fell asleep under the same tree.  He too lost his hats to the monkeys.  Remembering the lesson imparted from his father, the young man threw his hat to the ground.  At which point the monkeys laughed at him.  “You are not getting your hats back,” they scoffed, “we learned your trick from our parents!”

When Najib enticed those monkeys of politics to Barisan, he stole a play from Anwar Ibrahim’s game book.  Anwar may rightly feel flattered by Najib’s imitating, or more correctly, aping.  However, like the hat-peddler’s son, Najib may have learned his lesson well but what he may not realize is that those political monkeys too had learned their lessons!  They are making a monkey of Najib.

When you have a bunch of monkeys and an equally mischievous as well as irresponsible handler, there is no telling what lasting damage they could inflict.  It is time to let Najib out of his monkey business and free those monyet under his keep to once again roam the jungle where they belong.  If out of habit they still hang around us waiting for their bananas and making a pest of themselves, then we should kill a rooster or two.  That would scare away those monkeys.
www.bakrimusa.com