Say What? Ketuanan Rakyat? - Aktivis Reformasi

What seems to have escaped the MB is that it also gives the impression of a government wanting to make wanton use of constitutional amendments to cover up its own leadership shortcomings and incompetence. How different then is a Pakatan Rakyat government from any other ruling party in its blase attitude towards the sanctity of the constitution?

by Aktivis Reformasi at AktivisReformasi.net

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It has indeed been a strange and surreal one month in Selangor. You have the spectacle of a state government grappling with the problem of having as its top civil servant a person who is not to its liking. And all the time while doing this, it had neither the courage nor the honesty to admit what the real problem is. Thus, it is like trying to untie a bothersome knot without knowing where the ends of the rope are. You'll just end up looking like a fool.

The real problem that the Menteri Besar of Selangor has to contend with is not Mohd Khusrin Munawi, per se, but rather the poor relations that the MB has with the palace. Had the palace decided that it would agree with the advice of the MB to change the recent appointment of the state secretary after the slip-up caused by the MB's own tardiness in responding to the Public Service Commission's request for the state's list of nominees, the impasse would have been broken or wouldn't have arisen in the first place.

So because he didn't have the courage or the honesty to admit to his failings, the MB went about to untie the knot without knowing where the ends of the rope are. Muddle-headedness and blunders inevitably ensued.

The first was to succumb and dance to the opportunistic tune of his political detractors that anything which smacks of being critical of the palace constitutes sedition or derhaka (treachery). This is a total misreading of public sentiment on the matter. The MB seems to have forgotten that when Mahathir Mohamad pushed through the 1993 constitutional amendments on the role of the monarchy, cheered on by his ever so willing deputy Anwar Ibrahim, support for the amendments was enormous from both sides of the political divide. No one accused anyone of being treacherous. The public did and probably still do want the monarchy's role to be limited and better defined constitutionally.

In the present state secretary impasse, however, his detractors' opportunistic pro-royalty stance was vociferous enough to cow the MB into deciding that it was politically unpalatable for his party to even let out a whimper calling for the palace to stick to constitutional forms and conventions. From then on, everything that happened was in the realm of charades with all sides involved assiduously ignoring the elephant in the room; which was the deviation from constitutional conventions.

The second blunder was to personalize the impasse into the person of Mohd Khusrin. Despite its past disdain for his actions when he was the head of the state religious department, the state government should have had the discipline and clarity of thought to maintain that the issue at hand was not about the personality appointed but the manner by which the appointment was made. That is to say, had the best civil servant in the country been appointed as state secretary in the same said manner, the state government would still have objected because constitutional norms and conventions had not been abided with. But to take such a principled stand, sadly, seems to be a notion so very alien to a government which purports to be the champion of Reformasi and Ketuanan Rakyat.

The third blunder was to resort to amending the state constitution to grant more powers to the palace in the appointment of the top three civil service posts on the state. By what strange logic such a move would solve the MB's problematic relationship with the palace, no one could fathom. That the attempt would fail must certainly had been anticipated by the state government. So the exercise of a special sitting to amend the state's constitution could be put down as a feeble attempt in political point-scoring and to 'democratize' the impasse by trapping the state assemblymen from the opposition to declare whether they are 'pro-rakyat' or otherwise, in accordance to the MB's perverted sense of logic. That's putting it kindly.

What seems to have escaped the MB is that it also gives the impression of a government wanting to make wanton use of constitutional amendments to cover up its own leadership shortcomings and incompetence. How different then is a Pakatan Rakyat government from any other ruling party in its blase attitude towards the sanctity of the constitution?

After all have been said and done, the state government is back at square one and nowhere near solving the impasse. Astonishingly, the MB now appears amenable to having Mohd Khusrin as the state secretary. So what was the previous one month all about? One can only assume that he's finally realised that he has been trying to untie a knot without knowing where the ends of the rope are – and has only managed to look like a fool in the process.

If there is one lesson from all these, it is that if we want Ketuanan Rakyat and genuine Reformasi, we won't get it from spineless and gormless political leaders, such as the ones you have in the Selangor state government. My sympathies go out to all those honest folk who really thought those same politicians had the courage and competence to achieve those goals. God permitting, the truth about these pretenders to the throne will be revealed sooner rather than later.



AKTIVIS REFORMASI

Tindakan Anwar Merendah-Rendahkan Saifuddin Dikesali - Abdul Aziz Anon

Tindakan Ketua Umum mengubah keputusan sewenang-wenangnya berdasarkan gerak hati beliau adalah dua kali lebih melampau. Beliau bukan sahaja merendahkan keputusan Setiausaha Agung parti, malahan beliau juga mempersendakan semua orang dengan mengeluarkan kenyataan secara sesuka hati kepada umum untuk mengubah keputusan yang telah dibuat.

oleh Abdul Aziz Anon melalui e-mel

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Krisis dalaman Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) bergolak lagi. Ketika PAS sedang berjuang dan berperang di kubu terkuat Umno, PKR menyajikan isu-isu negatif kepada kepada umum. Ketika DAP kelihatan berjaya membawa sokongan orang Cina kepada Pakatan Rakyat (PR), PKR terus dilanda krisis buruk yang menjejaskan rentak kecemerlangan PR.

Banyak sekali teman-teman sudah mula menerbitkan kegusaran terhadap situasi PKR. Krisis demi krisis yang belum lagi berkesudahan sejak pemilihan Parti merakamkan sejarah insiden pergaduhan dan penipuan undi. Akibatnya, sungguh mahal harga yang perlu dibayar oleh semua anggota Parti dan pendokong Reformasi kesan dari sikap ambil mudah pemimpin parti dalam membuat keputusan dan menentukan halatuju terbaik perjuangan politik parti.

Saya terpanggil untuk memberi pandangan terhadap tindakan Setiausaha Agung parti, YB Saifuddin Nasution yang menghantar surat tunjuk sebab terhadap Mustaffa Kamil Ayub atas dakwaan telah melakukan kesalahan yang melanggar disiplin parti. Amat di luar jangkaan cara dan kandungan surat tersebut yang datangnya dari Saifuddin Nasution. Surat tersebut ditulis dengan nada yang sangat keras, berbaur ugutan dan penuh dendam kesumat.

Kita boleh memahami sebab YB Saifuddin dikritik hebat semasa pemilihan parti 3 bulan lalu. Imejnya sebagai tokoh politik muda yang dihormati rakan serta lawan kini tercalar teruk, malahan sekarang dituduh pula sebagai arkitek penting dalam projek memahkotakan Anwar dan Azmin menjadi dewa dan dewi baru PKR. Namun begitu kritikan yang beliau terima tidak boleh dijadikan alasan untuk beliau bertindak secara beremosi atas kuasa Setiausaha Agung. Amat tidak wajar Saifuddin yang sebelum ini mencampuri keputusan-keputusan Jawatankuasa Pemilihan Parti (JPP) kini seolah-olah menggunakan Lembaga Disiplin parti untuk melunaskan dendam kesumat beliau terhadap mana-mana pihak yang mengkritik beliau sebagai Setiausaha Agung atas kelemahan JPP dan Ibu Pejabat PKR.

Kenyataan beliau seperti yang dilaporkan portal The Malaysian Insider bahawa beliau tidak ingat samada ada menandatangani surat tunjuk sebab terhadap Mustaffa Kamil kerana beratus-ratus surat telah beliau tandatangani adalah jelas kenyataan yang mempersendakan Mustaffa Kamil Ayub. Adalah tidak masuk akal isu perlanggaran disiplin oleh Sdr. Mustaffa Kamil, calon jawatan Timbalan Presiden, bekas Naib Presiden parti dan bekas Setiausaha Agung parti tidak berada dalam perhatian Setiausaha Agung PKR. Kalau benar memang beliau tidak ingat, ini jelas menunjukkan sikap ambil mudah atau sambil lewa beliau dalam menjalankan tugas Setiausaha Agung parti. Justeru, tidak peliklah kenyataan beliau dalam Kongres Tahunan Parti bahawa semua aduan pemilihan PKR akan diselesaikan dalam tempoh dua minggu tetapi sehingga sekarang, selepas tiga bulan aduan-aduan tersebut masih belum lagi selesai.

Saya terpanggil untuk mengkritik Setiausaha Agung secara ikhlas kerana saya berpandangan banyak kenyataan serta tindakan sambil lewa YB Saifuddin Nasution membawa kepada kemarahan anggota parti dan memberi peluang kepada musuh untuk menyerang parti.

Untuk berlaku adil kepada YB Saifuddin, tindakan Ketua Umum yang mengeluarkan kenyataan bahawa surat tunjuk sebab terhadap Mustaffa Kamil Ayub yang dikeluarkan oleh Setiausaha Agung atas saranan Lembaga Disiplin itu tidak efektif dan akan dibincangkan semula oleh Biro Politik juga wajar diambil perhatian. Tindakan Ketua Umum mengubah keputusan sewenang-wenangnya berdasarkan gerak hati beliau adalah dua kali lebih melampau. Beliau bukan sahaja merendahkan keputusan Setiausaha Agung parti, malahan beliau juga mempersendakan semua orang dengan mengeluarkan kenyataan secara sesuka hati kepada umum untuk mengubah keputusan yang telah dibuat.



ABDUL AZIZ ANON

Hak PAS untuk Bertanding di PRK Merlimau - Wan Nasuha

Umum juga tahu yang Shamsul Iskandar menyandang jawatan Ketua AMK kerana pengundian untuk jawatan tersebut di Sabah dan Sarawak telah disusun oleh Anwar Ibrahim. Di Semenanjung, CheGu Bard telah mengalahkan Shamsul Iskandar dengan teruk.

oleh Wan Nasuha Wan Hassan melalui e-mel

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Hari penamaan calon untuk pilihan raya kecil DUN Merlimau dijangka diadakan pada 19 Februari dan pengundian diadakan pada 27 Februari. PRK ini diadakan setelah kematian ADUN BN Datuk Mohamad Hidhir Abu Hassan pada 20 Januari yang lepas.

Ada 10,471 pengundi di DUN Merlimau dengan 64% pengundi Melayu, 21% pengundi Cina dan 14% pengundi India.

Pada PRU 12 2008, Hidhir telah mengalahkan calon PAS Jasme Tompang dengan majoriti 2,154 undi. Pada PRU 11 2004, Hidhir telah menewaskan calon PKR S. Jayantas dengan majoriti 5,087 undi.

Berikutan ura-ura yang PKR akan meletakkan calon mereka, Shamsul Iskandar Amin, Ketua AMK untuk pilihan raya kecil tersebut, Ketua Pemuda PAS Pusat, Ustaz Nasrudin bin Hassan at-Tantawi telah mengeluarkan kenyataan bahawa hak PAS untuk bertanding dikekalkan dan dihormati rakan dalam Pakatan Rakyat.

Saya menyokong penuh pendirian Ustaz Nasrudin. Peluang calon PAS untuk memenangi pilihan raya kecil ini adalah jauh lebih baik dari calon PKR.

Hujah yang menyatakan bahawa ini giliran untuk PKR bertanding adalah amat dangkal sekali. PAS hanya mengekalkan hak mereka untuk bertanding pada PRU 12. PRK ini adalah berikutan kematian ADUN yang dipilih pada PRU 12.

Peluang PKR untuk menang pilihan raya kecil ini amat tipis sekali. Kredibiliti Anwar Ibrahim telah merudum di kalangan pengundi Melayu. Tambah lagi, PKR dianggap sebagai sebuah parti politik yang penuh dengan carca-marba.

Umum juga tahu yang Shamsul Iskandar menyandang jawatan Ketua AMK kerana pengundian untuk jawatan tersebut di Sabah dan Sarawak telah disusun oleh Anwar Ibrahim. Di Semenanjung, CheGu Bard telah mengalahkan Shamsul Iskandar dengan teruk.

Diharap dengan kemenangan calon PAS di pilihan raya kecil DUN Tenang, Insya Allah, akan mendorong pengundi-pengundi di DUN Merlimau untuk memilih calon PAS.

Sekian. Wasallam.

WAN NASUHA BT. WAN HASSAN

PKR brought violent political culture to Sabah - Free Malaysia Today

“With the entry of PKR and its violent culture of politics into Sabah, it is a most disturbing and worrisome phenomenon to see that many individuals nowadays resort to acts of slandering others in the name of freedom of expression. I find it very difficult to understand why so many well-educated people nowadays cannot behave decently. They chose instead to indulge in character assassination. Would their next course of action be to commit murder?”

at Free Malaysia Today

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PKR’s entry into Sabah has changed the political culture in the state from being passive to one of violence and disdain for good manners and values, said PBS vice-president Herbert Lagadan.

“With the entry of PKR and its violent culture of politics into Sabah, it is a most disturbing and worrisome phenomenon to see that many individuals nowadays resort to acts of slandering others in the name of freedom of expression.

“I find it very difficult to understand why so many well-educated people nowadays cannot behave decently.

“They chose instead to indulge in character assassination. Would their next course of action be to commit murder?”

Lagadan, who is Kadamaian assemblyman, was commenting on a sketch posted by local hip-hop artist Atama Katama on Facebook.

The sketch allegedly defamed PBS president Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Chief Minister Musa Aman and Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun.

Last Friday, PBS Youth had lodged a police report against Atama, whose real name is Andrew Ambrose Mudi, claiming that his sketch was in “bad taste”.

Ambrose in response said that he had lifted the sketch from an online public domain and was merely reflecting his creativity and imagination.

Said Lagadan: “I am confused as to why Ambrose had to resort to slandering his own paramount leader, the Huguan Siou (Pairin)?

“Does Ambrose think that he is more perfect than Pairin or Musa or Masidi?”

Lagadan, who is also Assistant Community Service and Consumer Affairs Minister, said that a civilised person should respect another’s right to have different opinion “without having to resort to slandering”.

Belajar Mengaji - Mat Saman Kati

Dua hari selepas berjumpa Appu, Tok Sami Kuil Sri Muneswarar, aku memulakan pengajian Bahasa Nabi Sulaiman. I’ve no idea. Macam bahasa Sanskrit ka, bahasa Urdu ka, atau Hebrew. Tapi kalau betul-betul dapat belajar bahasa binatang, aku mungkin jadi lebih terror dari Ayah Pin. Sekurang-kurangnya, aku boleh cerita kat orang, aku diutuskan oleh Tuhan untuk menyelamatkan binatang. Kalau setakat untuk menyelamatkan rakyat Malaysia, tak payah pun tak apa. Anwar dah ada.

Sampai di rumah Appu pukul 4 petang, Appu sudah sedia menunggu aku dengan uniform kuilnya. Tak ada beza dengan orang pakai ihram. Lepas tu dia bakar setanggi. Baunya macam bau Jalang Kedah. Kemudian dia bawa satu rehal besar.

“Lu pergi basuh muka, basuh tangan dan basuh kaki dulu.” kata Appu.

Alamak!!! macam nak ambil air sembahyang pulak! “Nak baca kitab pun kena basuh kaki tangan semua ka?” aku tanya.

“Lu mau baca Quran tak payah ambil air sembahyang ka?” dia tanya balik.

Aku pergi ambil air sembahyang tak cukup syarat. Memang tak sah sebab tak baca niat dan kemudian duduk depan rehal besar. Appu datang membawa satu kitab lama. Tebal macam Yellow Pages, lebar boleh buat bungkus nasi lemak.

“Ini kitab aaa, saya dapat masa saya pi India. Banyak susah mau cari.” kata Appu.

“Lu pun pi universiti kat India ka?” aku tanya.

“Tarak. Aurobindo Ashrama, Pondicherry.” kata Appu. Sebelum buka kitab, Appu mengajak aku membaca mantra. Dia bagi buku mantra untuk aku baca. Masa kecik-kecik dulu, aku pernah belajar jampi mentera dengan Tok Bomoh. Tapi bila dah besar, ustaz-ustaz kata itu semua syirik, jadi aku lupakan. Sekarang aku belajar mantra dari Tok Sami Hindu pulak. apa hukumnya? Kalau la tanya kat Hasan Ali, dah tentu dia kata sesat. Mungkin kalau tanya kat Harussanasini, dia mungkin kata harus.

Ada beberapa mantra yang dia suruh baca. Mula-mula dia suruh baca mantra untuk Dewa Dattareya:

Om Guru Datta Namo Namaha ll
Om Hareem Parambraham Parmaatmane Hari Harbrahyendraya Dattatroyaye swaha ll

Dattaatreya Hare Krishna unmataananda daayaka, digambara, mune,
baala, pishaaca, jnaana saagara ll

Om namo Bhagavate Dattaatreyaaya
smarana maatra samtushtaaya ll

Mula-mula aku baca macam Alif, Ba, Ta... bila dah hafal liriknya, Appu ajar aku dengan tajwid sekali. Teringat masa kecik dulu, bila tahlil ada gear satu, gear dua, gear tiga. Bila masuk gear empat, dah boleh kira high. Tengah syok ratib... tiba-tiba Tok Imam tekan brek. Lega!!!!

Bila aku lewat belasan tahun, ada cara nak high jugak. Mula-mula slow, lepas tu naik sikit. Last-last geleng kepala kiri kanan. Sapa yang biasa pekena batang betik dengan air kelapa, diiringi dengan lagu Stairway to Heaven, dah kira khatam.

Sekarang, aku high lagi dengan mantra Dattatreya. Tapi high kali ini bukan saja-saja nak syok. Aku nak belajar tentang ilmu binatang. Omar Khayyam pun kena high dulu baru boleh tulis puisi. Budak Melayu sekarang, dah high pi merempit. Cari mati.

Bila aku dah boleh membaca dengan lancar, Appu bagi kat aku seutas tasbih. Fuiyo!! Aku ingatkan orang Islam saja pakai tasbih!!! Cuma bezanya, tasbih depa ada 108 biji. Dan aku kena baca mantra sebanyak 108 kali setiap hari, tapi tak perlu la baca sekaligus.

Lepas tu, Appu suruh aku buka kitab. Fulamak. aku tak tau sama ada tulisan tu tulisan Urdu atau Sanskrit. Macam mana aku nak baca?

“Ini kitab Veda. Dalam ini kitab, dia ada empat buku. Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sam Veda dan Atharva Veda. Lu sudah habis belajar ini Veda punya kitab, baru boleh masuk Pazu Veda.” Appu bagi tau aku.

“Aiyoooyoooo… ini macam satu tahun pun tak boleh habis punya!!!” aku kata.

“Don’t worry macha. Itu pasai saya kena ajar lu baca mantra. Bila sudah high, ini kitab lu boleh habis baca dalam dua minggu.” Appu balas balik. “Ada dua lagi mantra lu kena belajar”

Aku minta rest sekejap. Tak boleh tahan kalau tak pekena rokok.

Sambil pekena rokok, aku berfikir… betul ka apa yang aku buat? Tak salah ka dari segi syarak? Apakah aku akan dianggap murtad? Apakah aku akan dianggap sesat? Macam mana kalau ladang kambing aku nanti penuh tengan tempayan dan payung?

Kat mana aku nak lari kalau Pegawai Ugama datang nak tangkap aku? Aku bukan boleh naik ke langit macam Ayah Pin! Tak kan nak lari berlindung kat Kedutaan India kot?

Tapi… mungkin selepas khatam belajar Pazu Veda, aku boleh panggil tebuan, lebah dan kerengga untuk bantu aku!! Yahoooo.. aku buang puntung rokok. Semangat untuk belajar Pazu Veda semakin tinggi.

Bila kembali mengadap kitab, Appu membawa kepada aku sebuah lagi buku. “Saya ajar macam mana mau baca ini kitab. Ini buku, lu boleh baca terjemahannya.” Appu bagi kat aku terjemahan Veda dalam bahasa Inggeris. Aku tengok, buku tersebut di tulis oleh Sir William Jones. Sir William Jones merupakan seorang hakim dan pengasas Asiatic Society of Bengal. Buku tersebut dicetak pada tahun 1927.

Depan aku dah ada tiga buku. Veda, Mantra dan terjemahan Veda. “Kamasutra tarak ka, macha?” aku tanya Appu. Saja nak melawak.

“Ada!!!” kata Appu.

Wow!!!

Don't Take Cyberspace for Granted! - Masterwordsmith

The rakyat will not just accept lock, stock and barrel messages about how we need to vote for change or how Pakatan wants this or that, especially if Pakatan Rakyat cannot pakat amongst themselves.

by Masterwordsmith at masterwordsmith-unplugged

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Whilst IT has broken down geographical and cultural barriers, it has also enabled ordinary citizens like you and me to keep an eye on what is happening locally and internationally. Advances in telecommunications such as text messaging, social networking and the Internet have allowed many to share ideas, hopes and even to unite many in their political aspirations. The 2008 GE bears testimony to the power of cyberspace but alas, the times, they are a-changing and as the next GE looms round the corner, we cannot take cyberspace for granted.

In the last decade, countries such as Philippines (2001), Ukraine (2004) and Lebanon (2005) organized demonstrations via text messages/emails/twitter in their respective countries. Note that it was only in democracies that communications objectives achieved their objectives. Countries such as Columbia, Myanmar, Zimbabwe and Iran that used cell phones, Facebook and Twitter for their revolutions/protests etc. merely managed to embarrass the government but failed to remove it from power.

In other words, Opposition parties had better start cracking with regards to their strategies and election machinery and not think that cyberspace and netizens can still weave their wands for the same 2008 tsunami. Whilst they may have reaped some advantages in the last GE, one thing for sure is that cyberspace is certainly a very complicated society. One can never replace human wisdom by the digital world/space.

Since 2008, while net usage may have increased due to greater broadband penetration, we have to bear in mind that this may have changed over time. Netizens may be using cyberspace differently and for their own ambitions/appetites such as on pop culture, social networking, marketing and other reasons than that of advancing their own political philosophy which may even be absent/deficient!

The period before and after the 2008 GE saw many research studies being carried out on the impact of IT on the democratic system. In fact, I had a research proposal on the same topic but never saw it through as my father passed away just before the deadline. What I realize of late is that many may have forgotten that modern communication is a neutral place. Whilst we may have the freedom to use these avenues for our own devices, this freedom may not be promoting other forms of freedoms. It is the person who gives meaning to the message so how a message is formulated may not achieve the desired effect. Each of us interpret messages according to our frame of experience, past experiences, expectations and many other factors. Thus, for the next couple of months, the Opposition had better work hard to convey the right messages to increase voter confidence in their respective parties!

Theoretically speaking, use of the net may expose netizens to the harsh realities of the world they live in such as the increasing cases of corruption, leakages, injustice etc. and at the same time, provide avenues for them to request for change.

But is there any guarantee that all or many will react to the advantage of the Opposition after reading exposes? Granted that some may vote for change to put to an end authoritarianism or corruption but how can we guarantee that communication of messages via the net can elicit the reaction that is desired?

Exposes may create negative reactions such as anger, frustration, rationalization, hope and so on. While the messages are sent, there is the certainty that it will reach a particular target audience but the numbers can never be definite, neither can the reactions. The Net is a very mysterious place. While it may make it easier for those of us with similar political inclinations to hob nob, and to engage with others with similar beliefs, there is no guarantee that the content can persuade them to change their minds to voting a particular way for the collective good of the nation.

That is why the same government has been voted back over and over again for the past few decades even though many are aware why this should not be the case. We read outrage comments here and there about this. Such trends point at a very alarming fact.

There has to be a change in the way we reach out to the citizens of the country to elicit change. To use known and old methods is a sure way of sabotaging the journey to Putrajaya which at the moment, sounds like a pipe dream to me.

Many do not realize that the status quo is working very hard to recapture lost ground. They have at their disposal experts and consultants to boost their public image, prepare persuasive speeches, launch public relations blitz or even to manipulate the topic of discussion for the nation. They started their election campaign the minute the 2008 GE was over. The strategies, plans, blueprints were rolled into action after serious thought, discussion and debate. What about the Opposition? Complacency, disunity and to a certain extent, foolishness in the way some messages/policies were communicated. I have said it many times and am saying again - Pakatan Rakyat must really get together to plan. Enough small talk, pipe dreams and failed visions. Time to shape up and really deliver before the next GE!

The rakyat will not just accept lock, stock and barrel messages about how we need to vote for change or how Pakatan wants this or that, especially if Pakatan Rakyat cannot pakat amongst themselves.

The Opposition must realize that the internet may have changed the world - but the truth is - that was in the past. Currently, it is the world that is changing the internet. Net usage even in Malaysia, has been changing. A look at various online portals can show you that many sites are trying to present their messages differently via different templates, writing styles, focus etc. but the fact remains that responses to these have been slowly but gradually dwindling. Not a good sign at all.

An overdose of articles with political slant can be too much to bear for some. I have noted before that political fatigue is in the air. People are tired of the nonsense that filled air space in the last six months and the fact remains that Opposition leaders are still not pulling up their socks. A surfeit of hammering personalities or the same issues over and over by the same personalities can actually be an overkill working to their own disadvantage. I am not sure if some are still floating away in their ivory tower with no inkling as to how the rest of the political landscape may have changed. Surely messages can be communicated differently. But are they even attempting to do that or are they contented to replay the same overused worn-out tunes that irritate our ears?

While there may be achievements in some areas, huge cracks and chasms seem to be driving parties apart from within and even in the wider society. Apathy, indifference and silence is on the increase. This must be arrested. Something must be done.

We cannot sing the same tune. There are just far too many factors at work to confidently predict or even hope that cyberspace can help bolster the position of the Opposition in the next elections. Suffice to say that it will certainly vary according to the motivation and agenda of those who seek to use them for their own devices.

Honestly, there has been so much talk of the imminent elections. The question burning in my heart is whether or not the Opposition parties have rolled their machinery, manifesto and shortlisted their potential candidates. They must reinvent themselves and communicate differently to change minds/attitudes/behavior and empower others to moot for change.

They had better start cracking or crack when the crunch comes!

Dei MSK… apa sudah jadi? - Mat Saman Kati

Setiap kali nak buat ceramah PKR, setiap kali itulah aku jual seekor untuk derma nak cari modal ceramah. Tak mengapa... perjuangan. Bila nak pilihanraya, lingkup habis semua kena jual nak tampung kempen pilihanraya. Tak mengapa... perjuangan. Tapi sekarang semua dah lingkup. PKR tak memerlukan lagi penternak kambing macam aku. Depa dah kaya. Kontrak juta-juta. Nak cari sponsor untuk bertanding, boleh cari Gapurna. Aku menjadi liabiliti kepada parti kerana tidak dapat lagi “berkorban”.

oleh Mat Saman Kati di ureka.asia

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Kalau dikira dari tarikh terakhir aku menulis, dah lebih 50 hari aku tak menulis. Kalau perempuan beranak, dah habis pantang. Kalau semasa 44 hari dalam pantang, setiap hari makan manjakani dan kacip fatimah, sekarang dah kembali macam malam pertama. Cuma bezanya, sekarang sang bapa terpaksa berebut tetek dengan anak kecil.

Kalau tanam sayur, dah dua kali dapat hasil. Kalau bela kambing, dah dapat anak. Kalau bela lembu dah dah dapat susu. Cuma sapa yang duduk dalam PKR masih tertunggu-tunggu hasil penyiasatan penyelewengan Pemilihan 2010.

Aku bukan jenis orang yang wala’ macam Mustaffa Kamil Ayub, yang sanggup terima apa saja yang Anwar cakap. Aku juga bukan jenis macam Mat Nor Manuty yang sanggup terima jawatan melalui pintu belakang. Cukup la sampai di sini. Dari dulu pun aku dah cakap... kalau PKR pun jadi macam Umno... aku tak kan ikut. Full stop.

Mungkin sudah takdir aku jadi penternak kambing. Dan aku seronok menternak kambing sebab kambing tak pandai menipu. Kambing tak pernah berjanji apa-apa kat aku. Cukup usia, dia mendatangkan hasil kepada aku. Malah dia rela dirinya dikorbankan asalkan aku senang. Bukan meminta aku berkorban asalkan dia senang.

Dua minggu sebelum Hari Natal bulan lepas, aku pergi ke Kuil Sri Muneswarar Kuala Kangsar. Bukan nak sembahyang, tapi menghadiri perkahwinan anak kawan aku, Ramesh dan Prema.

Bila aku pakai kurta, ramai yang tak dapat membezakan sama ada aku Melayu atau India. Memang betul kata Wan Larut, kalau aku masuk KIMMA pun orang percaya. Sebabnya, kena berjemur tengah panas, menebas kebun yang dah jadi hutan. Masa mula-mula aku bela kambing dulu, kandang kambing aku jadi tumpuan. Setiap kali nak buat ceramah PKR, setiap kali itulah aku jual seekor untuk derma nak cari modal ceramah. Tak mengapa... perjuangan.

Bila nak pilihanraya, lingkup habis semua kena jual nak tampung kempen pilihanraya. Tak mengapa... perjuangan.

Tapi sekarang semua dah lingkup. PKR tak memerlukan lagi penternak kambing macam aku. Depa dah kaya. Kontrak juta-juta. Nak cari sponsor untuk bertanding, boleh cari Gapurna. Aku menjadi liabiliti kepada parti kerana tidak dapat lagi “berkorban”. Ptuih!!

Dari kandang kambing aku datang, ke kandang kambing aku kembali.

Satu perkara menarik berlaku semasa menghadiri perkahwinan anak kawan aku di Kuil Sri Muneswarar. Semasa menjalankan upacara akad nikah pasangan, aku rasa macam kenal Tok Sami yang menjalankan upacara. Aku tengok dia, dia tengok aku. Aku tak tegur, takut silap orang. Sebab orang yang aku kenal tak mungkin jadi Sami. Orang yang aku kenal dulu sama-sama curi rambutan, terjun sungai, minum todi. Tak mungkin dia jadi Sami.

Selesai upacara perkahwinan, aku pergi makan nasi daun pisang di pekarangan kuil. Tiba-tiba Tok Sami datang dan menepuk bahu aku. “Dei Macha!! lu hidup lagi ka?”

Cilaka Tok Sami ni! Podah pulti! Tersembur perkataan yang biasa kami sebut masa kecik dulu. Orang lain semua tengok aku. Kurang ajar punya Melayu... mencarut kat Tok Sami depa.

"Apa sudah jadi sama lu, macha?" Tok Sami tanya aku.

"Apa sudah jadi sama lu, Appu?" aku tanya dia. Kami sama-sama gelak. Dia peluk aku. Orang lain heran.

“Mari saya punya rumah, macha.” Dia pelawa aku. “Sudah lebih 25 tahun kita tarak jumpa.”

Petang tu aku pi rumah dia, dekat Klinik Uma, di Jalan Dato Sagor. Fuiyo! Rumah banglo! Tapi bila pergi belakang rumah dia, ada kandang kambing. Tak banyak, cuma ada 7 ekor.

“Ini kambing aaa... semua sembahyang punya.” Appu bagi tau aku.

“Ha ha... kambing pun sembahyang!” aku senyum perli. Appu nampak macam terasa.

“Pundek lu! Dulu betul la, kita suka tipu sama orang. Sekarang lain, macha. Kita sudah tua... lagi mau tipu orang bikin apa?” Kata Appu. Aku tak tau, sama ada dia cakap dengan ikhlas atau perli aku.

“Itu hari, masa pilihanraya, saya ada nampak sama lu bikin ceramah. Tapi itu jam lu mana ada nampak sama saya. Lu janji macam-macam... cakap banyak bagus... tapi sudah habis pilihanraya, lu punya muka pun tarak nampak.” Peergh!!

Aku senyum pahit. Tak berani nak cakap lebih-lebih sebab apa yang dia cakap memang betul. Bila pemimpin berjanji, aku tukang sampaikan. Bila pemimpin tak tunai janji atau tipu, aku pun terlibat.

“Apa lu bikin sekarang?” Appu tanya aku.

“Tarak kerja.”

“Pooorrrahh! Kucing duduk rumah pun ada kerja tangkap tikus! Anjing pun ada kerja jaga rumah. Habis... sapa kasi lu makan?” Appu tanya lagi.

“Saya punya perempuan ada kerja. Saya duduk rumah.” aku jawab.

“Cittt... pundek kalde. Lu punya standard lagi teruk dari binatang la, macha!!” Cilaka sungguh Tok Sami ni. Kutuk aku kaw-kaw. Apa punya ugama, asyik kutuk orang saja.

“Ini macam la, macha. Lu pergi repair lu punya kandang, saya kasi lu satu ekor ini kambing. Saya kasi sama lu, itu bagus punya bapak kambing.” Appu offer kat aku.

“Porrrah!! Lu kasi satu ekor mau bikin apa? kasi la sepasang.” aku jawab.

“Ni amma kudhi... saya sudah kasi bagus punya bapak... satu ekor betina pun lu tak boleh cari ka?” Appu mencarut kat aku.

Ok la. Dari bawah pokok rambutan, Appu menjerit. “Ganesh!!! wai ngge”

Aku ingatkan anak dia yang datang, tapi seekor kambing jantan keluar dari kandang dan datang ke arah kami. Nak katakan Jamnapari, janggut dia pendek macam janggut Anwar. Nak kata Boer, badan dia tak gempal macam Shamsul Iskandar. Nak kata Saanen, badan dia macam Gobala.

Appu berkata sesuatu kepada bapak kambing tersebut. Aku tak faham sebab bukan bahasa Tamil yang selalu aku dengar.

“Dia paham lu punya cakap ka, Appu?” aku tanya dia.

“Only humans talk. Animals communicate.” Appu jawab dalam English slang Ramasamy Estate. Kalau sesiapa yang pernah duduk di Tapah tahun 60-70an, mesti tau Ramasamy Estate di Jalan Pahang. Sekarang sudah jadi kem askar.

“Ini kambing aaa, bukan saja boleh dengar dan faham apa kita cakap, dia juga boleh cakap sama kita.” Appu bagi tau aku.

“Apa bahasa dia pakai?” aku tanya Appu.

“Bahasa Nabi Sulaiman.” jawab Appu.

‘Porraahh... kita orang baca Quran, tarak jumpa pun bahasa Nabi Sulaiman. Lu ugama Hindu boleh percaya Nabi Sulaiman ka?” Aku cakap kat Appu.

“Pundek lu. Lu ada baca Veda? Upanishad? Purana? Brahmana Granth?” Appu tanya aku.

Aku terkebil-kebil. Mana aku ada baca semua tu. Lagi pun kalau aku baca, takut nanti terpesong akidah pulak.

“Saya punya rumah ada satu kitab. Pazu Veda. Lu mau belajar bahasa binatang, lu boleh duduk saya punya rumah. Satu bulan punya kursus, lu boleh khatam.” kata Appu.

Olrait!!! ini sesuatu yang menarik. Aku setuju.

“Tapi, sebelum belajar, lu kena sembahyang dulu.” kata Appu.

Aiyooooo... macam nak belajar Bharata Natyam pulak. Tapi aku tak kisah. Jangan ada pegawai ugama datang hambat aku macam depa hambat Bakaq Penarik Beca dah la. Kalau Bakaq pun depa kata sesat, ini kan pulak aku yang nak belajar Pazu Veda.

bersambung...

Perhimpunan Hormati Suara Rakyat Selangor di Stadium Kelana Jaya

Kempen mendaftar pengundi baru di pintu masuk
Stadium Kelana Jaya. Ayuh ramai-ramai daftar
jadi pengundi (kalau belum daftar lagi).

Kempen 'Malaysians for Teoh Beng Hock'.
Keadilan mesti ditegakkan.

Preparing for the show!

4pm: crowd dalam 100 orang. Masih ada yang masuk.
Penganjur mengharapkan kehadiran dalam 10,000 orang.

Stage dah siap. VIP tak sampai lagi. 

Hujan sudah mulai turun di Stadium Kelana Jaya.
Yang hadir semua berpusu-pusu ke grandstand.
Sudah 4.30 ptg. Program belum mula lagi.

Tempat duduk VIP. Masih banyak kerusi kosong.

Persembahan dari Kumpulan Cempaka Drumcircle.
Musik untuk joget, tapi takda orang berjoget.
Hujan dah reda. Ramai turun ke padang.

Kereta para YB. Aktivis datang berkongsi duit petrol.

Faekah Husin, Setiausaha Politik MB Selangor
hadir menyampaikan salam Tan Sri Khalid,
yang tidak dapat hadir. Memang ada gaya MB. 

Prof. Aziz Bari beri penjelasan isu perlantikan
Setiausaha Kerajaan Selangor dari sudut undang-undang.
"Raja juga tertakluk pada undang-undang
walau berperanan pengimbang kuasa kerajaan." 

Presiden JIM & AJK Bersih 2.0,  Zaid Kamaruddin.
"Suara rakyat mesti dihormati pemerintah, parti-parti politik.
Kerana rakyat pilih kerajaan."

Hujan turun lagi. Penganjur minta crowd naik ke grandstand.
Yang tegar bukak payung. Hujan yang turun adalah lumrah alam,
tiada kena mengena dgn tulah/murka Sultan.

Kempen kumpul tandatangan untuk Teoh Beng Hock
dan pendaftaran pengundi baru giat dijalankan.

Persembahan musik oleh Sdr. Nik Jidin.

Pengerusi BERSIH, Dato' Ambiga bagi speech.
"Kita berhimpun tunjukkan hak kita sebagai rakyat."

Barisan pemimpin yang hadir.
Pemimpin, ahli Exco PKR tidak kelihatan.

Giliran Khalid Samad pula. "Dato' Ramly
(bekas SUK Selangor) khianat sebab bakar fail
untuk hilangkan bukti salahlaku UMNO".

MB Nizar berikrar akan turut bantu pertahankan hak
rakyat Selangor.  "Ampun Tuanku, sembah patik
harap diampun. Patik mohon sembah derhaka"

Haris Ibrahim: "Sultan jangan derhaka kepada rakyat".

Wakil mahasiswa berucap, lahirkan sokongan.
Program berakhir pukul 7 petang.

Ulasan langsung perhimpunan Hormati Suara Rakyat Selangor di twitter.com/salamreform

Hari Penamaan Calon Pilihan Raya Kecil DUN Tenang

Geng merah memasuki Labis.

Berita Harian percuma di Pekan Labis.
Orang Labis suka membaca.

Bendera biru memenuhi ruang pekan Labis.

Ada di kalangan pemilih membuat banner menuntut
janji yang belum ditunaikan

Penyokong BN. Calon BN, Mohd Azahar Ibrahim lebih
dikenali sebagai 'Tok Ai'. 

Nampaknya peminat BN agak ramai di pekan Labis.
Kereta, konvoi motor, bendera, orang...
semua ada logo dacing. Banyak belanja...

Penyokong BN dari IPP juga datang mencukupkan syarat.

Yang lama...

...dan yang baru pun turun. 

Nampak macam satu Johor sokong Tok Ai kita ni
(jangan konfius dengan DSAI)

Kehadiran YB Zuraidah menyerikan kem
Penyokong PAS dan Pakatan Rakyat...

Kumpul tandatangan membantah kenaikan harga barang

Borang pencalonan ditayang untuk bantahan

Kawalan polis yang baik mengelakan kekecohan besar.

Komen brader jual air kelapa:
"Tak kisahla siapa pun yang menang.
Saya tetap jual air kelapa."

Pusat kempen BN, memang meriah.

Kesesakan lalulintas di Labis akibat pelancong politik,
penyokong luar dan jentera impot untuk
membantu parti yang bertanding.