Sajakkini

Aman Rais

Sekarang ini musim orang bermesyuarat dan bermuktamar. Sana sini orang Umno, MCA dan MIC berhimpun. Ahli-ahli Pas juga akan berkumpul di Kota Bharu pada 1 hingga 5 Jun ini untuk memilih saf pemimpin baru.

Begitulah adanya, sebulan dua ini hingga ke Julai nanti tiada cerita lain - kisah orang berpolitik sahaja hinggakan slot berita di TV kalau hujung minggu sarat dengan cerita mesyuarat parti. Membosankan!

Mesyuarat bahagian Umno sedang rancak diadakan. Setiap minggu kita dihidangkan dengan pelbagai retorik dari para pemimpin yang merasmikan mesyuarat berkenaan. (more…)

Pity the people who have to portray others as inferior savants in order to feel good about themselves. What must that say about their sense of worth and self-esteem, we may wonder.

And this is a sword that cuts in all directions, mind you. It applies equally to the Muslims content to live under their coconut shells while swiping away at the invisible Jewish conspiracy, as it does to those white colonial types still dreaming of the glory of empire.

It applies just as much to the Malays who clutch their precious lands so tightly to their chests while railing against phantoms wanting to steal everything away from them, as it does to those Chinese who call for parity and a rescaling of the NEP even as they continue to consciously employ methods of excluding other races from gaining access to their jealously guarded distribution networks. (more…)

Sim Kwang Yang

The small band of mud-caked near-naked young boys were tearing through the lalang and the undergrowth from the direction of the river bank, shrieking and laughing as they stumbled over one another towards the foot of the staircase of this lone kampong house.

I was alarmed by their state of unusual excitement, and moved to the doorway to investigate. Gasping for breathe, they fought among themselves for the chance to report their discovery, “Uncle, a crocodile! At the river bank!” Arms were flung apart at various lengths to indicate the size of the feared reptile.

This was a matter of grave concern indeed for the Iban communities living along the placid Stutong Rive meandering around the outskirt of Kuching City. The dozen or so adults sitting in the room behind me immediately exploded into an animate discussion. (more…)

Josh Hong

If the US voters were given a chance to recast their vote, would some of them vote differently, calling for Senator John Kerry instead of re-electing the jingoistic, bellicose George W Bush?

Since none of us is granted the divine power to turn back time, those Americans who regret having given Bush a second chance can only live with a sense of remorse that may never go away. Why?

For when the US went to polls in November last year, little did the Americans realise what a surprise Bush was prepared to give them. In March this year, the Pentagon unveiled the carefully crafted, best kept National Defense Strategy of the United States of America and, lo and behold, preemptive strike is now officially a state policy, as clearly indicated in the document.

As rightly pointed out by Jim Lobe, the Bush administration appears to be willing to bypass international bodies, such as the United Nations Security Council, and regional military structures, such as Nato, in order to secure US interests around the globe. Quite clearly, the president is still haunted by the debacle of consensus within Nato, when France and Germany decided against the war on Iraq in 2003. (more…)

I have four stories for you.

I.

She was heartbroken. As she wailed her grief out loud, a long teardrop of her saliva dangled from her mouth before it snapped and dropped to the floor.

I have prayed, begged, asked from God, that after this, He would give me peace. A happier life. Is it too much to ask for? I do not ask for wealth. I do not ask for the worldly. I just want happiness. Why do the wrong, the bad have everything?

He has forgotten me. (more…)

Aman Rais

Beberapa bahagian Umno mahu parti itu menubuhkan sebuah universiti. Kononnya untuk kepentingan pendidikan dan membela masa depan orang Melayu. Kemungkinan besar cadangan dari akar umbi Umno itu akan dibawa ke perhimpunan agung parti Julai nanti.

Jika Umno memiliki sebuah pusat pengajian tinggi, ia akan seiring dengan MCA yang kini mempunyai Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar). Tetapi persoalannya sekarang, perlukan parti Melayu terbesar itu mempunyai universitinya sendiri?

Apa implikasinya nanti? Cadangan itu perlu ditimbang sehalus-halusnya kerana ia bukan semata-mata isu pendidikan, malahan akan melarat menjadi polemik politik kelak. Sebelum ini kita ada mendengar MIC mahu menaiktarafkan institusi teknikalnya di Negeri Sembilan menjadi sebuah kolej universiti, tetapi permintaanya tidak dilayan. (more…)

“Here, you guys must read this,” his message said. An e-mail I’d just got from a friend, with a Word file attached. It’s rather long, the message went on, but you really should read it. “It’s very well written and it makes a lot of sense.”

So I opened it. And recognised the first sentence right away. It was an article I had written, what, must be two years ago now. Posted into the ether and forgotten about, like all the others. It was like getting a postcard from the past.

Funny how things come back to bite you in the arse like that. And funny how good that can feel. Apparently, it’s been making the rounds anonymously, like so many attachments. Which has always been how it’s supposed to work. But - heh - doesn’t hurt to gloat once in a while, eh. Flattery, even when it’s unintended, does add a certain spring in your step. (more…)

Hishamuddin Rais

Kerajaan setuju tempoh tahanan ISA hanya 30 hari

Kerajaan pada dasarnya bersetuju dengan syor Suruhanjaya Diraja Penambahbaikan Perjalanan dan Pengurusan Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) supaya tempoh tahanan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) dipendekkan kepada 30 hari berbanding 60 hari pada masa ini.

Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad berkata, kerajaan merasakan tempoh itu perlu disingkatkan bagi mengurangkan kos dan kerenah birokrasi.

“Jika tahap profesionalisme polis kita tinggi untuk menjalankan siasatan dalam tempoh yang singkat, saya rasa kita tidak perlu tahan seseorang itu dalam tempoh yang terlalu lama.

“Kita sebenarnya cuba mengimbangi kehendak masyarakat yang tidak mahu seseorang itu ditahan terlalu lama selain kerajaan terpaksa berbelanja lebih terhadap tahanan itu,” katanya.

(Utusan Malaysia 18 Mei 2005) (more…)

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), in the Year 11, on the 27th day of the month of Rejab, experienced a journey of a lifetime. The journey that he took is now known as Israk Mikraj ~ The Journey by Night.

After about 10 years of dakwah (missionary work), two people that were the closest to him died. They were Abu Talib, his beloved uncle and his wife, Siti Khadijah. Muhammad (pbuh) consoled himself through prayers and supplications to God.

How the Messenger prayed was like how his former predecessors prayed. The first prayer ever was performed by the prophet Adam. When he was cast out of heaven, and landed in Sarandib (Sri Lanka), he was directed by God to walk towards Mecca, and build the Ka’abah.

When that was completed, he performed thawaf, circumvating around the Kaabah seven times and prayed two rakaat. Thawaf is the practise of the malaikats – angels – that circumvate the Baitul Makmur in the seventh layer of the sky. Each action of the prayer is an ode to God, and revelling in His creations. (more…)

KJ John

I love the new advertising campaign by Telekom Malaysia to reflect her new identity. Neither are they paying me to write this piece.

The News Straits Times (NST) reported that they are spending RM9million on this re-branding exercise through their advertising campaign. On the inside of the first pull-out cover page of their advert was the picture of many Malaysians, each with their uniqueness recognised individually, personally and some professionally and the words of the advert read, ‘You are anything but a number’ in answer to their ad’s own question ‘Are you treated like a number?’

The final promise to all the readers is … ‘Time for a change’. Their promise to the nation, of change and for change, I suppose. If not to the nation, then at least to the readers of such an advertisement. (more…)

Lee Ban Chen

Kata penulis MGG Pillai, jarang ada tokoh yang tidak terjejas kehormatan dan reputasi mereka selepas muncul dalam program Hardtalk yang umpama pisau yang mempunyai dua mata itu. Oleh itu, tokoh politik seperti Tony Blair, Perdana Menteri British, telah enggan diwawancara.

Pillai menganggap Anwar telah didominasi oleh pewawancara Hardtalk Steven Sackur dan beliau terlalu mempertahankan diri, sehingga kehilangan peluang keemasan untuk menyatakan rancangan masa depannya dan untuk membuktikan bahawa dirinya lebih cekal daripada apa yang digambarkan oleh para pengkritiknya.

Turut dikesali ialah Anwar telah menyimpang daripada pendirian yang telah ditegaskan, iaitu beliau sesungguhpun tidak dapat melupakan apa yang Dr Mahathir buat terhadapnya, beliau telahpun maafkan Dr Mahathir. (more…)

MGG Pillai

It is politics as usual. The animosity, even hatred, Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his protege-turned nemesis, Anwar Ibrahim, is unalloyed.

They punch in different directions, often viciously, but however hard they try, they end up punching each other. Each display an arrogance and overconfidence in what they consider their hour of triumph. One fell victim to it, the other about to. They hold Malaysian politics to ransom.

It is, in one sense, an unequal fight. Mahathir had the power and authority to sack, humiliate and jail Anwar in circumstances that precluded a fair trial. Anwar had only public support in Malaysia and overseas. (more…)

Aman Rais

Sepuluh orang lagi remaja yang ingkar menyertai Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN) akan didakwa tidak lama lagi. Seluruh negara tertanya-tanya dan ternanti-nanti siapakah mereka?

Anak siapa mereka? Apa latarbelakangnya? Apa kaum dan bangsanya? Apa sebab musabab mereka enggan menyertai program itu? Dan apa pula hukuman yang dikenakan ke atas mereka kali ini?

Selepas kontroversi hukuman ke atas pesalah PLKN yang pertama, Ahmad Harizal Ahmad Fauzie dari Kangar, Perlis, kerajaan nampaknya tidak mendapat jalan mudah dalam menangani kes ini. (more…)

So who is Sheikh Omar Bakri, anyway? He has been called a “firebrand cleric” (is there a cleric who isn’t these days, I wonder), and who has a penchant for pissing off moderate British Muslims, apparently.

The guy heads an organisation called the Al-Muhajirun (huge red flag there), and doesn’t have much good to say about the West, so it would seem.

Which makes it odd that he chose to live in London, don’t you think?

I mean, correct me if I am wrong here, but London, as every Malaysian schoolkid knows, is the capital of the United Kingdom. This London, which happens to be in Europe, is nowhere near the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, or the Islamic Republic of Iran, or the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It is about 1,500 kilometres on the wrong side of Makkah. (more…)

Elizabeth Wong : 13th Floor

Ahmad Harizal Ahmad Fauzie is an accidental hero, whether he knows it or not.

It started out as a search for the example of what would happen to youths who dared to contemplate skipping national service.

The full force of the law will come down hard on you.

You will be hunted, arrested, interrogated by the police and charged in court.

The deputy public prosecutor and the magistrate will perform according to the given script.

Resistance is futile.

So Ahmad Harizal was found guilty and emerged handcuffed from the court under the full glare of the media to serve his 14-day sentence. His family could not pay the RM 600 fine to save him from the penal colony of Kangar. (more…)

Josh Hong

“Japan did a lot of bad things in Malaysia during the Second World War. I am so deeply sorry.” Shizuko uttered her apology to me, in a tone full of shame and guilt, on a breezy summer day in 1994.

We were in Ealing, a beautiful London suburb, surrounded by the lush green trees and grass, by the River Thames. It was a fine and lazy afternoon, but she decided to raise the delicate issue nonetheless. I could see she was struggling to express the remorse that the successive governments in Tokyo had failed to demonstrate in an unequivocal manner.

Still, one thing is clear: Shizuko and I have been able to remain close friends for more than a decade because we had crossed the psychological barrier thrust upon us by a war that neither of us was involved in, yet had to confront nonetheless.

When the Sino-Japanese dispute over Tokyo’s attempt to revise its war past escalated in recent weeks, some Malaysian journalists were quick to cite The Chrysanthemum and the Sword (1), the seminal book by US anthropologist Ruth Benedict, to prove that Japan is a nation shrouded in a culture of shame, and it is therefore hard, if not impossible, for the Japanese to feel remorseful for the wrongs that their country had committed. (more…)

X is at the crossroads of her life. She has been on the Hajj twice. The last trip had her questioning the one main issue that had brought her much love and happiness, but did not coincide with her religious beliefs.

X is a lesbian. She is in a dilemma: if she chooses the right path, she knows she may find a place in paradise, but her life will be without companionship and sex. Should she decide to opt for love and a home with a woman, she can pray all she wants, flagellate herself if need be, but she’ll never touch the lowest of heavens.

“I don’t know what to do. When I went to Mecca for my Hajj, I prayed to God to take away my sexuality, make me normal, because no matter how hard I try to justify myself, the Book does not sanction homosexuality. But when I came back… imagine… it’s been years since I’ve been on a date with a woman. I go off for my second pilgrimage and wham! Women everywhere!” (more…)

Lee Ban Chen

Sejak kebelakangan ini, Presiden Gerakan Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, merangkap Menteri Tenaga, Air dan Komunikasi, rasanya tidak begitu bernasib baik. Tidak berapa lama dahulu, beliau disindir secara tidak langsung oleh timbalannya bahawa ada pemimpin yang bermati-matian tidak mahu melepaskan jawatan pucuk pimpinannya dan berhasrat untuk memupukkan pengaruh anaknya dalam parti.

Lantaran itu, Keng Yaik terpaksa membuat pengumuman bahawa beliau akan memimpin Gerakan untuk penggal terakhir, dan anaknya tidak akan menyandang apa-apa jawatan tinggi dalam pemilihan parti yang akan datang.

Kali ini, tersebar pula khabar angin bahawa beliau akan meletak jawatan menteri kerana tersilap cakap. Keng Yaik dilaporkan sebagai berkata, hal-hal mengenai keagamaan harus dipisahkan daripada Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) bagi membolehkan lebih ramai ibu bapa menghantar anak mereka ke sekolah tersebut. (more…)

Aman Rais

Ada satu teka-teki di kalangan orang kampung atau disebut lawak antarabangsa oleh budak-budak sekolah: Apa benda yang sentiasa turun dan sentiasa naik?

Jawabnya: Yang sentiasa turun, langsung tidak pernah naik ialah hujan. Bukan sahaja sentiasa turun, malah percuma! Yang sentiasa naik pula ialah kadar tol dan produk petroleum – diesel dan petrol. Dan satu lagi yang dalam proses untuk dinaikkan ialah gaji para menteri dan wakil rakyat! (more…)

Fathi Aris Omar : Tiada Noktah

“It is certainly wrong to regard society as a kind of deity upon whose altar the individual must constantly be sacrificed.” – Anwar Ibrahim, Asian Renaissance.

Di negara kita, di kalangan orang Melayu umumnya, individu dan individualisme sering dicurigai. Individualisme dianggap faham Barat yang bercanggah dengan tradisi Melayu, faham agama atau nilai Timur yang mengutamakan masyarakat.

Oleh kerana terlalu mengutamakan orang ramai, maka seorang pejalan kaki di negara kita, tidak terkecuali di lorong-lorong masuk ke KLCC, atau di jalan-jalan kota Jakarta, dilihat seperti seekor ‘tikus’! Semangat gotong-royong atau musyawarah kita tidak ubah ‘enau dalam belukar, melepaskan pucuk masing-masing’. (more…)

Sim Kwang Yang

The new Pope, before he was elected Pope, warned the world against the “tyranny of relativism”.

It must have been a very unpopular remark, especially in the European and North American worlds, as well as those parts of the rest of the world that have been invaded by the notions of modernity - or as is so often claimed, the notions of post-modernity.

We all know the drill. The relativist credo is that there is no absolute Truth, with a capital T. There are only small relative truths. Truths are relative to the individuals who hold them, and to the spatial-temporal-historical-cultural circumstances under which such truths are uttered and acted upon. (more…)

Hishamuddin Rais

‘Kabinet hari Rabu telah memutuskan untuk menaikkan harga runcit diesel sebanyak 20 sen seliter dan harga petrol sebanyak 10 sen seliter mulai hari Khamis 5 Mei. Pejabat Perdana Menteri, dalam satu kenyataan, akhbar menyatakan kenaikan tersebut adalah sebagai langkah untuk membendung kenaikan subsidi yang ditanggung oleh Kerajaan untuk produk petroleum’.

Bernama, 4 Mei 2005.

‘Timbalan Presiden Gabungan Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (Fomca), Haji Ahmad Othman berkata, isu kekurangan bekalan diesel sebelum ini boleh disifatkan sebagai satu strategi bagi menaikkan harga di pasaran’.

Harakah Daily, 5 Mei 2005.

‘Selepas kecoh-kecoh ketiadaan diesel, Kerajaan BN mengumumkan kenaikan minyak Petrol dan diesel sekali lagi, semalam. Kenaikan kali ini sebanyak 10 sen seliter. Kini pelbagai pihak terasa tertipu dengan isu ketiadaan diesel sebelum ini. Ia hanya justifikasi untuk menaikkan harganya selepas rakyat termakan dengan isu itu. Ia hanya perangkap untuk rakyat terbanyak’.

Harakah Daily, laporan Basiron Wahab, 5 Mei 2005.

‘Parti Keadilan Rakyat mengutuk tindakan tergesa-gesa kerajaan dalam menaikkan harga petrol dan diesel. Pengumuman semalam berkaitan dengan kenaikan 10 sen bagi petrol dan 20 sen bagi diesel adalah tidak wajar. Sepanjang seminggu lalu, terdapat kekurangan bekalan diesel dalam pasaran. Pihak Kerajaan telah menuduh para penyeludup dan mengugut untuk menggunakan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) terhadap mereka seolah-olah sengaja membiarkan situasi sedemikian bertambah buruk. Kerajaan didapati menggunakan kekurangan bekalan sebagai alasan untuk menaikkan harga minyak’.

Suara Keadilan, 5 Mei 2005. (more…)

She was the daughter of a wealthy man, sent to Europe to learn about literature, wine, dancing, and meeting people from all over the world. She smoked Gitanes that she stole from her mother’s purse, wore Biba and Mary Quant, and read Jackie magazine and Barbara Cartland romances, while picking up European languages as a duck took to water.

He was a clerk that had worked his way up in the consulate, and arrived at his newly assigned post, bewildered and yet excited. Meeting her at one of the many parties the consulate hosted was like being hit by a tropical meteor. She was not beautiful – she wore thick spectacles and had a bad perm, but she made him laugh and feel like a prince.

He spoke little English and no Malay. She learned his language. He was Spanish. She was Malay. He was Catholic. She was Muslim. They fell in love and got married. (more…)

Lee Ban Chen

Ketua pembangkang Lim Kit Siang marahkan Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna (PDNHEP) Datuk Mohd Shafie Alpdal kerana asyik memberi statistik tetapi gagal memberi saranan penyelesaian krisis diesel baru-baru ini.

Kit Siang memang betul, statistik tidak dapat menggantikan saranan penyelesaian, tetapi ini tidak bermakna statistik tidak berguna. Umpamanya, dalam isu yang dibincangkan, statistik dapat membantu kita memahami bagaimana seriusnya permasalahan yang negara kita hadapi.

Umpamanya perbezaan harga subsidi diesel – 88 sen seliter – dengan harga industri – RM1.70 seliter – adalah punca kegiatan penyangak. Sesiapa yang sanggup membeli diesel pada harga subsidi dan menjualnya dengan harga lebih tinggi untuk kegunaan industri, akan mendapat keuntungan lumayan. (more…)

It’s one helluva bitch being an explorer these days.

The age of the dashingly romantic khaki-clad adventurer and his trusty Senoi Pra’aq trekker is well and truly dead.

Forget fear-factor thrills. Dodging the irritating sensationalist press, allegedly expert historians, and scheming bureaucrats are the latest perils. Conceited annoying academics and bumbling politicians are the new Nazis. And with the ever vigilant RSPCA (and Malay Mail) on alert, whipping galloping steeds has to be swapped for the more humane but mundane steering of a 4WD.

Add a strong dose of capricious filibustering from bruised superior egos all-around, and that pretty much sums up the current state of my quest for the Lost City of Kota Gelanggi.

Welcome to the sad World of Malaysian Discoveries. (more…)

Aman Rais

Ehem, ada orang dapat rumah baru awal bulan ini. Bukan sahaja besar, cantik dan eksklusif malah cukup dengan rumah kelab. Ada kolam renang lagi. Itulah, tuah ayam nampak di kaki tapi tuah manusia berumah banglo. Begitulah bertuahnya nasib tujuh anggota exco kerajaan negeri Selangor dan tiga orang pegawai kanan negeri.

Masing-masing dapat banglo mewah yang baru siap di seksyen 7 Shah Alam. Kunci sudah diserahkan pada 1 Mei lalu. Tidak lama lagi kawasan perumahan mewah di atas kawasan seluas 2.6 hektar itu, akan riuh rendah dengan keluarga ahli politik dan kakitangan awam itu.

Pihak akhbar telah dilarang membuat liputan majlis penyerahan kunci yang diadakan di perkarangan kawasan perumahan eksklusif itu, Ahad lalu. Entah apa yang ditakuti kita tidak tahu. Entah apa yang hendak disembunyikan atau dirahsia pun, kita kurang arif. (more…)

Do you use a Mac or a PC? Frankly, I can’t be bothered, and I am so freakin’ tired of listening to people whining about either Mac or PC. It’s just a damned computer, so choose one and shut the F up. If one doesn’t work for you then choose the other. How hard could that be?

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of people shoving prejudices at me. What really gets my goat, though - and you ought to do this when you want to piss me off - is when people ask me for my opinion about something, and then spend the next hour or so trying to convince me that I’m wrong. I mean, what’s that all about? Why you crapping your insecurities on me for, homes?

Why is it so hard for us to grow up and learn to be secure about our choices, anyway? Why the constant need for validation? What am I, your mother? (more…)