By Guan Sin

This post is just about two simple facts.

First, as reported on The Malaysian Insider, the de facto law minister Nazri Aziz admitted that the government has awarded a contract totalling RM28 million to APCO Worldwide:

… Umno is a member of the Barisan Nasional who employs APCO and is paying APCO RM28 million…

Second, according to the official document from the Companies Commission of Malaysia (Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia), APCO Worldwide Sdn Bhd, formerly known as Mind Teams Sdn Bhd and the local agent for APCO Worldwide based in Washington DC, is a RM2 company (total issued ordinary shares).

So we now have the bigger picture: Malaysian government awarded RM28 million worth of contract to a RM2 company. In case you are not aware, with RM2 as its issued ordinary shares, the maximum exposure or liability the company has in its business dealings, including the RM28 million contract with Malaysian government, is … RM2.

Worse, the two sole shareholders are fishy too. Hasniza Bt Wazer seems to be only 30 years of age, according to her IC number. Whereas, Rohani Bt Mat Yatim is 46 years old. Interestingly, none of them sits on the board of directors of the company. Six other ladies and gentlemen are the directors: Yiap Tiew Kuang, Tan Poh Oon, Larry Erle Snoddon, Paul Geoffrey Stadlen, Denise Marie Teeling, and Margery Klaus. The “sins” of some of these people and APCO Worldwide are already well covered by Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim (here, here, here and here) and jelas.info (here and here)

Both Hasniza and Rohani do not have any semblance of businesswomen/investors at all, because, according to some other official records, Hasniza stays in some “perumahan awam” (public housing) at Setapak Jaya whereas Rohani stays in a Sentul Park Apartment. At least their residential addresses do not match the type of business APCO Worldwide is in. So they are most likely two proxy shareholders.

(Incidentally, the pair of “Haniza Wazer + Rohani Mat Yatim” has appeared in quite a few dubious business transactions, many of them involving RM2 companies. [Google] [Yahoo] For instance, Cepat Wawasan Group Bhd acquired Magnum Kapital, another RM2 company, from the pair. They seem like ‘professional proxy shareholders’. According to a lawyer friend familiar with commercial matters, such practice of using proxy shareholders is not uncommon, but usually happens in cases of ’something to hide’ and may potentially step into gray area of business legality.)

Why do you want to have two proxy shareholders? Even the retarded will think that there is something to hide by the actual shareholders. For the Malaysian public, the question naturally comes to mind is, “Who actually owns APCO Worldwide Sdn Bhd and therefore are benefiting from the huge government contract?”

It is no doubt that APCO Worldwide (the global consulting group) is a serious business and therefore no one will dispute the enormous price-tag of RM28 million, not that we agree with the fact that the government should spend the huge amount of money on cosmetic packaging to make the BN government looks good. But the RM28 million certainly goes into the coffer of APCO Worldwide Sdn Bhd first, before eventually reaching the APCO HQ in Washington DC. The actual owner(s) of APCO Worldwide Sdn Bhd will certainly take a ‘cut’, and we do not know who takes that cut and how much it will be.

A RM2 company and a multi-million dollar contract? It suddenly rings a bell, doesn’t it? Was it not Zahrain Hashim, the MP who quit PKR to become ‘independent’, also allegedly eyeing such a contract from Penang state government for his own RM2 company? But it went sour (he didn’t get it after intervention by Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng), ‘forcing’ Zahrain to turn ‘katak’ (read: BN friendly).

But in the case of APCO Worldwide, it is much worse. Not only do we have potential compromise to Malaysia’s national security, we have absolute absence of transparency (at least we knew Zahrain was behind his own RM2 company). Prime minister Najib has been emphasising transparency in his proposed New Economic Model, and yet he himself does not practise what he preaches – by awarding a RM28 million contract to APCO Worldwide Sdn Bhd, a RM2 company with dubious proxy shareholders.

Artikel Asal: malaysia-today.net

KENAPA ISTERI ROSMAH JATUH CINTA DENGAN APCO

Laman web APCO sendiri menunjukkan siapa sebenarnya yang terlibat dengan syarikat ini yang dibayar RM 23 million duit rakyat oleh Perdana Menteri Najib Razak untuk mengendalikan “strategi komunikasi” dan “membina imej” negara.

Ahli lembaga APCO termasuk dua bekas duta Israel – Shimon Stein (bekas duta kepada Jerman), dan Itamar Rabinovich (bekas duta kepada Amerika Syarikat) – serta Doron Bergerbest-Eilon, bekas ketua keselamatan Agensi Keselamatan Israel (Israeli Security Agency, ISA) yang lebih dikenali sebagai Shabak atau Shin Bet. Jawatan ini adalah bersamaan dengan pangkat Mejar Jeneral dalam tentera Israel.

Shin Bet bertanggungjawab menjaga keselamatan dalam negeri Israel, termasuk menghadapi intifada Palestin. Semasa intifada al-Aqsa, Shin Bet memainkan peranan untuk mengenalpasti identiti dan lokasi pemimpin-pemimpin Palestin yang dijadikan mangsa pembunuhan oleh serangan udara tentera Israel.

Shin Bet turut terkenal dengan kaedah-kaedah menyeksa tahanan mereka semasa soal-siasat. Seorang wartawan Palestin, Mohammed Omer, mendakwa beliau ditahan oleh Shin Bet pada tahun 2008 dan dibogelkan, dibelasah oleh lapan pegawai Shin Bet yang bersenjata – mengakibatkan beliau terpaksa dirawat seminggu di hospital. Makhamah Tertinggi Israel sendiri memutuskan bahawa kaedah-kaedah soalsiasat Shin Bet berketerlaluan, melanggar hak asasi manusia, dan bersifat menyeksa.

Penglibatan Shin Bet dengan APCO tidak terhad kepada satu individu. ASERO merupakan sebuah syarikat adik-beradik kepada APCO yang berkait rapat secara terbuka dengan APCO dan mempunyai pengkhususan dalam hal-hal keselamatan dalaman negara. Selain Doron Bergerbest-Elion, tiga lagi pemimpin utama ASERO adalah bekas pegawai berpangkat tinggi Shin Bet – David Harel, Oded Raz, dan Gadi Kalai.

Selain itu, Naib Presiden ASERO Carl Truscott, dan penasihat ASERO, Don Riegle Jr, adalah bekas ahli kerajaan Amerika Syarikat yang didapati bersalah menyalahgunakan kuasa mereka semasa berkhidmat.

APCO dan ASERO seumpama satu keluarga, dengan pemimpin-pemimpin yang sama. Doron Bergerbest-Eilon adalah presiden ASERO, manakala Mara Hedgecoth – anak kepada Margery Kraus, Presiden APCO – merupakan Naib Presiden di kedua-dua APCO dan ASERO. Denise Teeling pula, adalah Ketua Kewangan (CFO) bagi kedua-dua APCO dan ASERO juga. Menurut laporan Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia, Denise Teeling dan Margery Kraus adalah direktor APCO Worldwide Sdn Bhd, yang ditubuhkan di Malaysia.

Mengapakah sebuah syarikat dengan kaitan yang amat rapat dengan elemen-elemen Zionis dan dipimpin oleh individu yang terlibat dengan organisasi yang terkenal kerana menyeksa orang Palestin diberi peluang membentuk dasar-dasar sensitif Malaysia?

Dengan pengupahan APCO, pengaruh Zionis, penyeksa serta mereka yang handal menyalahgunakan kuasa kerajaan kini telah dibenarkan menentukan hala tuju negara, serta kini mempunyai akses kepada semua peringkat kerajaan – termasuk maklumat yang berpotensi menjejaskan keselamatan dan kepentingan negara. Tidak membimbangkan ke, Ketua Kewangan ASERO, Denise Teeling, yang bekerja untuk bekas pegawai Shin Bet, terlibat secara terus dengan operasi APCO di Malaysia?

Selain daripada Israel dan Amerika Syarikat, kepada pengaruh siapakah Malaysia kini dibukakan? Di antara pemimpin ASERO satu-satu individu yang bukan warganegara Amerika, UK atau Israel adalah Kelvin Tan Wee Peng – seorang bekas polis Singapura.

Apakah Perdana Menteri Najib sanggup menggadai masa depan dan kedaulatan negara hanya demi mereliasasikan cita-cita politiknya?

APCO tidak hanya terlibat dengan aktiviti Zionis dan pencabulan hak asasi sahaja, malah juga dengan aktivisme anti-Islam.

Jonathan Winer merupakan Naib Presiden APCO di Washington DC. Pada 2003, Winer memberi keterangan di Jawatankuasa Senat Amerika Syarikat di mana dia menuduh gerakan Ikhwan Muslimin (Muslim Brotherhood) serta beberapa badan kebajikan Islam sebagai pengganas, dan berusaha untuk menghentikan segala aktiviti kewangan badan-badan ini.

Marc Ginsberg pula, ahli lembaga APCO dan bekas duta Amerika Syarikat, memanggil tokoh pemikir Islam Sayyid Qutb (inspirasi kepada Ikhwan Muslimin dan penulis karya Ma’alim fil Tariq dan Fi Zilal al-Qur’an) seorang “musuh” dan membandingkan beliau dengan Adolf Hitler.

Siapa sebenarnya di merata dunia yang sanggup mengupah syarikat yang dipimpin oleh mereka yang berusaha menentang Islam dan menyemai kebencian?

Klien-klien dan bekas klien APCO termasuk beberapa ‘tokoh’ yang cukup terkenal. Di antaranya adalah Jeneral Sani Abacha, yang mencuri hampir RM 10 billion duit rakyatnya semasa presiden Nigeria. Jeneral Abacha turut dikenali kerana pencabulan hak asasi manusia yang cukup parah, termasuk penahanan dan pembunuhan aktivis-aktivis.

Nursultan Nazarbayev, diktator Kazakhstan yang didakwa bersama keluarganya terlibat dalam rasuah yang cukup besar serta beberapa pembunuhan, turut merupkan seorang klien APCO. Di antara strategi APCO adalah untuk “membeli” beberapa laporan dari institusi pengajian tinggi untuk mengharumkan nama Kazakhstan di Barat.

Narenda Modi pula, Ketua Menteri Gujarat di India yang dikatakan membiarkan rusuhan kaum berlaku antara rakyat Hindu dan Muslim, mengakibatkan hampir 2,000 kematian – kebanyakannya Muslim – juga pernah mengupah APCO untuk mengharumkan balik imejnya.

Beginilah senarai pemimpin yang kini disertai oleh Perdana Menteri Najib, yang seandainya tidak mengenal malu.

Adakah ini sebuah pengakuan diam bahawa Perdana Menteri mempunyai beberapa kesamaan dengan pemimpin-pemimpin yang dituduh berasuah dalam negara kaya dengan minyak, gagal menghentikan konflik perkauman, serta mengakibatkan kematian?

Keputusan Perdana Menteri untuk membuka Malaysia kepada pengaruh Zionis dan anti-Islam serta berganding bahu dengan para perasuah yang paling parah di dunia harus dipertikai oleh setiap rakyat yang cintakan Malaysia.

Sekiranya Perdana Menteri masih berdegil dengan mengekalkan kontrak APCO ini, maka tergadailah negara dan terjejas keselamatan serta maruah kita semua. Kita hanya boleh harap kita masih belum terlambat.

Artikel Asal: malaysia-today.net

Lebih penting dari polemik itu, ialah hakikat bahawa APCO kini secara jelasnya punya kaitan dengan regim Zionis-Israel yang bertanggungjawab melakukan pelbagai kezaliman dan pembunuhan secara ‘genocide’ terhadap Ummat Palestine.

Dewan Rakyat, secara ‘bipartisan’ atau sebulat suara melibatkan pihak Kerajaan BN dan Pembangkang Paktan Rakyat, sedikit waktu mengambil pendirian bagi menyatakan penentangan Malaysia terhadap regim Zionis-Israel khususnya dalam siri-siri serangan kejam dan pembunuhan terhadap umat Palestin di Semenanjung Gaza.

Justeru, ketika Ketua Pembangkang YB Permatang Pauh secara jelas membuktikan keterlibatan pelbagai peribadi ‘high profile’ yang terlibat dalam APCO Worldwide, samada yang berpengkalan di Tel Aviv mahupun di Malaysia dan juga penglibatan syarikat ’sister company’nya Asero dalam hal urusan perisikan dan keselamatan, maka jelas bagi kita bahawa APCO, bukanlah sekadar firma perunding perhubungan awam yang bersifat internasonal sahaja.

ASERO dikhuatiri akan mempengaruhi dasar dasar luar negara di segi urusan keselamatan dan strategik seperti yang sedang dibahaskan di parlimen hari ini yang bersangkutan dengan Rang Undang –Undang (RUU) Perdagangan Strategik 2010. RUU Perdagangan Strategik ini dilihat sebagai satu akta yang semacam meletakkan negara di bawah telunjuk Amerika Syarikat yang jelas memberikan perlindungan kepada regim Zionis-Israel.

Isyarat-isyarat awal ini sungguh menakutkan walaupun sukar untuk kita buktikan buat hari ini. Yang jelasnya ahli ahli parlimen Pakatan Rakyat keliru dan tertanya-tanya mengapa dengan tiba-tiba RUU ini dibentang dan apakah APCO ada peranan atau ASERO yang memberikan input strategik atas isu-isu besar seperti seluruh urusan kawalan dan pengurusan barang strategik termasuk senjata dan bahan yang berkaitan juga ‘Weapon of Mass Destruction’ atau Senjata Pemusnah Berskala Besar.

APCO Worldwide berpengkalan di Washington, juga mempunyai 23 pejabat di seluruh dunia termasuk Tel Aviv. Adalah diketahui umum bahawa penasihat-penasihat kanan yang terlibat dengan APCO termasuklah personaliti seperti Shimon Shein, bekas Duta Israel ke Germany dan Itamar Rabinovich, bekas Duta Israel ke Amerika Syarikat.

Nama-nama besar termasuklah Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif APCO di Tel Aviv iaitu Gad Ben-Ari, penasihat peribadi kepada mantan Perdana Menteri Israel Yishak Rabin. Juga salah seorang ahli Badan Penasihat Antarabangsa APCO ialah Doron Bergerbest-Eilon, bekas Ketua Keselamatan Kerajaan Zionis-Israel.

Khidmat cemerlang beliau kepada Perkhidmatan Risik Israel (ISS) telah melayakkan beliau dinobatkan sebagai pemegang ‘Director’s Recognition Award’ oleh Badan Perisik Amerika Syarikat.

Jelas dan tegasnya APCO tidak lagi hanya polemik Ahli-Ahli Parlimen di Dewan Rakyat. Bahkan ia sekaligus berpotensi menjejaskan aspek keselamatan negara dan juga serentak mampu menjejaskan nama baik dan kedaulatan negara disegi kaca mata dunia amnya dan negara umat Islam khususnya.

Kerjaan BN di bawah pentadbiran Najib dinasihatkan jangan terlalu ambil ringan dalam hal ini dan jangan menguji kesabaran dan tidak mengendahkan keprihatinan seluruh rakyat dalam hal hubungkait berurusan dengan pihak yang punya kaitan dengan Zionis -Israel. Sennsitiviti rakyat seluruhnya adalah amat tinggi dalam hal ini, khususnya umat Islam.

Justeru kerana keprihatinan ummat Islam khususnya dan seluruh warga negara Malaysia amnya terhadap isu kekejaman Zionis-Israel terhadap Zionis-Israel dan segala rangkaian dan kepentingannya, maka amat wajar bagi PAS, melalui MP-MPnya supaya membawa dan mengadapkan isu ini ke bawah Duli Yang DiPertuan Agung dan Majlis Raja-Raja yang sekaligus bertanggungjawab ke atas keselamatan dan kedualatan negara ini.

Artikel Asal: malaysia-today.net

As usual, government projects typically cost a lot more then what is supposed to be. In some cases it cost 3 times more. It is usually given to or “tendered” to certain parties and usually these parties are connected politically by one way or another. What is even worse is despite the amount of money spent, the final quality of the product is far from satisfactory.

In the case of the Shah Alam 500 bedded hospital, it was given to a company owned by a Selangor Royal Family and they screwed up big time for something that is given on a silver platter. If you talk to people in the MOH who are familiar with construction of hospitals, the estimated cost varies from RM350K to RM500K per bed. The price variation is attributed to the standard of construction, the number of ancillary services that goes into the hospital and several other factors.

The people in the construction prefer to separate the building cost then the equipping of the hospitals. They would measure construction cost based on psf basis. I am not sure how much it would cost today by this method of quantification. Since I am not familiar with this method of valuation, I will use the MOH methods as a basis of discussion.

Going by MOH method, the Shah Alam hospital would have cost the Malaysian tax payer between RM175 mill and RM250 mill. In this particular case the hospital was awarded at RM 482 mill which is in excess RM230 mill and the hospital is not ready. It will cost more by the time the hospital will be ready. In the meantime, the people of Shah Alam will be denied the timely used of the healthcare facilities.

How long must this continue? Where is the accountability? When a project like this under JKR failed, shouldn’t the JKR officers be made accountable? Overall, BN is accountable. They are the government and are responsible for governance. Sadly this malady continues like a player playing a “damage record”. Nobody bothers. MACC will come in and says that there is no element of corruption. Obviously there isn’t any. Someone with authority has decided to do a direct negotiation and tender the hospital construction. From the faulty parliament roof right to faulty highway, bridges, abandoned building like MATRADE and hospitals; it boils down to the failure of governance on the part of the government.

This failure is costing tax payer and the citizen every ordinary citizen in this country. This must stop and must stop immediately. It does not matter whether it involves ordinary citizens, politicians or member of royal family. Action must be taken against those people who are involves in the decision making and execution of such failed projects.

Artikel Asal: malaysia-today.net

By Martin Jalleh

Recently, Dr Mahathir (Dr M) reminded the younger generation, who will one day lead the nation, not to be taken in by the subtle tactics of foreigners who want to bring about neo-colonialism in the country.

He said that “foreign forces would take advantage on the basis of globalisation and liberalisation to fulfil their agenda. We are now “faced with various challenges from abroad…(and) threats from blog sites”.

He was speaking at the Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad Statesman Discussion organised by the Special Affairs Department (Jasa) of the Ministry of Information Communication and Culture (Bernama, 27.03.10).

It was one amongst the many of Dr M’s anti-re-colonisation rhetoric. Once when he was in power (in reality, he still is!) he declared that the rakyat must ensure that the BN “is returned to power with a big majority in the next general election so that the nation will be ruled by a strong Government capable of standing against any attempt by foreign powers to re-colonise the country”.

Alas, Dr M forgets very easily these days. Re-colonisation had in fact taken place in 1981 when he became PM. He had donned the mantle of British supremacy and with his Executive supremacy even outdid the white colonial master in many ways during the 22 years that followed!

Dr M and his cohorts who once detested the oppressive laws of the British, brandished a gamut of harsh executive powers during his reign which were deeply and undeniably derivative of authoritarian colonialism.

Many laws left behind by the British were amended and made even more draconian to contain, cripple and crush legitimate dissent by citizens and the Opposition. There were countless examples of this.

British “propaganda” was replaced by a powerful broadcast media owned by the Government and allied companies, and regulated by the Broadcasting Act, 1987, which gives the Information Minister vast powers of control and manipulation.

The Sedition Act (1948) was a British law used to stifle Malay nationalists (especially those in UMNO, a party born two years before the Act came to be). The Act was amended and made use of by Dr for selective prosecution of political opponents and to protect UMNO.

The Internal Security Act (ISA) (1960), a relic of colonialism, meant to combat the then communists, was amended more than 20 times to make it more repressive than the original. Its powers were abused to protect the “security” of Umno. Known as ‘white terror’, the ISA was and is still used by Malaysians on Malaysians.

The Printing Presses and Publications Act (1984) originated from the Printing Press Act (1948). Amended in 1987 by Dr M’s regime to exclude judicial review of the Executive’s action vis-a-vis publications it served as a stranglehold on the press and opposition publications.

The Official Secrets Act (OSA) (1972) was based on the British OSA of 1911. Amended in 1986 to provide for mandatory jail sentences, Dr M used it to reinforce the cult of secrecy and to hide his many misdeeds. It resulted in self-censorship by the press.

The Police Act (1963) was amended in 1967, 1981 and 1987 to enhance the wide array of police powers, thus making the constitutional right of assembly absolutely “irrelevant”. The late Tunku Abdul Rahman died a disillusioned man on seeing his independent Malaysia reduced to, in his very own words, a “Police State” by Dr M.

Even the Special Branch was a creation of Britain in 1887. It was meant as a direct response to Irish anarchist terrorism. It was perfected by the Malaysian police to “trace”, threaten, torture and “turn over” political dissidents, an infamous fact glaringly highlighted during the first sodomy trial of Anwar Ibrahim whom Dr M was bent on getting rid of!

Every trick and treachery by Dr M during his 22 years as PM – “divide-and-rule”, purveying a “culture of fear” or creating a “siege mentality”, manipulating ethnic and religious fears, trotting out a bogey – were tools of British Colonialism. Now the supposed “Statesman” tells the young to be wary of re-colonisation!

Alas, how can UMNO “re-invent” itself when its leaders who were the once-oppressed have now become the oppressors? As it happened to the all-powerful supreme British Empire, the day will come when the sun will set on UMNO….

Artikel Asal: malaysia-today.net

By Tian Chua, MP for Batu

Next Tuesday, 30 March, Barisan Nasional parliamentarians will be gearing up to crucify Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim for his comments on APCO. The MPs might think that they are doing the BN government a favour by defending Najib and his high-flying consultancy company.

In the minds of most BN lawmakers, defending the government is equivalent of defending the country. By the same logic, people who criticize the government are simply traitors to Malaysia.

I would like to invite my friends from the other side to think harder, and look harder. In fact, it does not require a lot of effort to find out the connection between APCO and Israel.

But before I go further, I wish to make myself very clear on this; the discussion has NOTHING to do with the “Jewish Question”. There is a great difference in being Jewish and being the adherents of ideological Zionism.

Malaysians are often proud to proclaim solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people. We have also maintained an independent foreign policy and have had a long record of being fully committed to the cause and principles of the Non-Aligned Movement.

In this context, it is hard to understand how our Prime Minister could hire a public relations firm that is well known for its shady ties with international Zionism? Why should we trust a company with Zionist agenda to handle Malaysian strategic communications?

It’s not just another Jewish firm

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has raised several critical questions in Parliament on the similarities between the slogans 1-Malaysia and 1-Israel. He also challenged the government to justify spending RM23 million of taxpayers’ money on APCO.

There is also the question of why didn’t Najib and his government engage local public relations firms to undertake such communications work?

According to APCO’s own statement, its responsibilities covered a wide scope – beyond communications. “APCO’s work has included communication support for a broad range of reform initiatives undertaken by the government of Malaysia, especially in the areas of creating jobs, promoting education, and strengthening delivery of services to the people.”

Indeed, it is strange that this clarification did not come from Najib or the Prime Minister’s Office.

The reason Pakatan Rakyat raised these issues was not for political point-scoring, but because they warrant genuine concern for national security.

APCO Worldwide is based in Washington DC and has 23 offices all over the world including Tel Aviv. It is common knowledge that many of its key personalities and advisers are associated with Zionist Israel, e.g. Shimon Shein (former Israeli Ambassador to Germany), Itamar Rabinovich (former Israeli Ambassador to the US), etc.

We might say, so what?

But APCO cannot deny that its operators in Tel Aviv have close links to the Zionist regime. Its CEO in Israel, Gad Ben-Ari, was a personal adviser of the late PM Yishak Rabin. APCO in Israel undertakes various communications and strategic development work for both corporate and governmental organizations.

Also, the relationship between Israel and APCO is more than merely having an office in Tel Aviv. APCO’s activities in the Zionist state go beyond the civilian sectors. Notably one of the members of APCO’s International Advisory Council is Doron Bergerbest-Eilon, who was a former security chief for the Israeli government.

APCO and ASERO

APCO’s involvement in various intelligence and security-related projects is done through its strategic partner and sister company ASERO Worldwide. While APCO’s expertise is in the field of communications, ASERO specializes in homeland security and risk management consultancy.

APCO and ASERO have many overlapping consultants and management members. For example, Doron Bergerbest-Eilon who sits on APCO’s International Advisory Council was also founder and president of ASERO Worldwide.

Doron Bergerbest-Eilon was formerly a senior ranking security official of the Israeli Security Agency (ISA). He was the head of the protection and security division and held a position equivalent to the rank of major-general. His dedication to Israeli secret service has even earned him a prestigious Director’s Recognition Award by the U.S. Secret Service.

Mara Hedgecoth, the daughter of APCO CEO and President Margery Kraus also sits in ASERO as Vice President. At the same time, Mara Hedgecoth also serves as Vice President and Director in APCO Worldwide.

ASERO’s Senior Vice President, Carl Truscott was another tainted figure under Bush Administration. Carl Truscott was the Director of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Bureau.

But he resigned in August 2006 after a report by the Justice Department found he had wasted tens of thousands of dollars on luxuries, wasted millions on whimsical management decisions and violated ethical standards by ordering employees to help his nephew with a high school video project.

Israel’s Connections

ASERO Worldwide advises Israeli military/civilian agencies on strategic and tactical security challenges and provides assistance to both governments and corporations to prepare, mitigate and recover from threats of terrorism and other hazards, as well as to protect lives and critical assets and ensure continuity of operations.

ASERO’s staff are filled with recruits from Israel Security Agency (also known as Shabak or Shin Bet) and the infamous Mossad. As we all know, these agencies’ standard operation procedures in counter-terrorism include torturing suspects, assassinations, etc.

In 2006, APCO and ASERO introduced Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to Israel, and helped to develop Israel’s airport security system – the Suspect Detection Systems. The TSA was designed by John Magaw, another APCO leading consultant who used to serve as director of the U.S. Secret Service.

The Singapore’s links

It is no secret that Singapore and Israel covertly engage in extensive cooperation in the fields of defense and intelligence. The cooperation between the two countries can be traced back to the 1960s.

Within the high-ranking ASERO directors and managerial officers, the only non-American or non-Israeli appears to be a Singaporean.

ASERO and APCO provide consultancy service on homeland security to the Singapore Government. ASERO, in particular, assists Singapore with technical and intelligence services in aviation and aerospace security. Their services and expertise have facilitated the rapid transfer of Israeli military and security technologies to Singapore.

The two companies are also involved in promoting Israeli participation in long-term research and cooperation in strategic fields that have security or military implications. One such institution is the Singapore-Israel Industrial R&D Foundation (SIIRD) established in 1997.

In recent years, ASERO has actively participated in many counter-terrorism activities. In the quest for academic exchange, ASERO joined the Centre of Behavioral Science (CBS). The objective of CBS is to serve as a “platform for the transfer and exchange of leading-edge knowledge and ideas which contribute to the transformation of the life of individuals, organizations and society at large”.

1-Malaysia and One-Nation Sloganeering

Against this background, there are ample of reasons for patriotic Malaysians to question the wisdom of engaging APCO. There is no doubt that APCO does not share the vision and objective of our nation-building. It is not surprising that 1-Malaysia has not been resonating well in our local context.

In fact historically, 1-Malaysia sounds too similar to the various “One-Nation movements” around the world. Unfortunately, the One-Nation slogan has become inevitably associated with conservative tendencies.

As we know, One-Israel was slogan of a failed attempt to forge unity in a fragmented political landscape. Then there was also One-Britain, which had been the theme of notorious UK Conservative politicians and far-right, anti-immigration groups.

In Australia, ex-prime minister John Howard formulated a One-Australia policy in 1980s. In essence, One-Australia was a reaction against multiculturalism and it insisted that Australia must retain the domination of the Anglo-Saxons.

Howards’s One-Australia theme was later picked up by racist politicians such as Pauline Hanson who founded the One-Nation Party. This party’s sole platform was based on fiery anti-migrants and anti-foreigners rhetoric and policies.

Surrendering Malaysian sovereignty

A year after launching, the concept of 1-Malaysia is still too ambiguous to the majority of Malaysians. Although the slogan has generated lots of hype, there is no substance in it.

In fact, Malaysians of all ethnicity are equally lost in this mantra-like rhetoric. The ‘feel-good’ effect cannot sufficiently cover the disappointment or disillusionment over inaction in addressing real issues affecting the nation, such as corruption, falling productivity, poverty, national unity etc.

Our concern is more than just wasting tax payers’ money on all those glitzy advertisements, billboards, songs, concerts, essay-writing competitions etc. We must address the core issue; how secure can the country be when we voluntarily expose all governmental functionaries to a private firm with a strong foreign interest?

In its work, APCO has been given access to many highly sensitive government materials which I believe even most Malaysians are denied access to. It would be absolutely naïve for us to believe that APCO will handle our state secrets ‘professionally’, especially when we run into conflict with global powers.

I hope legislators and leaders of BN would pay some attention to this serious issue. If you are truly patriotic, stand up now. Please do not surrender the fate of Malaysia into the hands of foreign powers.

http://www.tianchua.net/

Artikel Asal: malaysia-today.net

Awang naik berang kerana menurutnya, Perkasa patut di sanjung dan disokong kerana begitu lantang mempertahankan kedaulatan institusi Raja-Raja Melayu yang dikatakan sedang dihina. Yang anehnya sejak bila pula institusi Raja-Raja Melayu kita dihina? Saya belum terbaca atau mendengar mana-mana pihak yang mencabar institusi Raja. Kalau pun Karpal Singh itu dikatakan mencabarnya, bukankah kes itu belum lagi selesai? Itu pun kes perundangan. Kenapa Awang, Ibrahim Ali dan Mahathir tak sabar-sabar hinggakan perlu memanggil 10,000 orang Melayu berhimpun. Kalau setakat nak beri orang ramai makan percuma dalam dewan yang empok, 20,000 orang pun boleh dicari. Tetapi Melayu sekarang tidaklah sebodoh yang difikirkan oleh Awang. Lebih baik Awang bagi contoh-contoh siapa dan apa yang mencabar Raja-Raja kita? Saya sangka orang akhbar ini bijak dan pintar, dan kenyataan pun biasanya berasas dan ada minat ke arah mencari kebenaran. Itu sepatutnya menjadi kriteria utama wartawan cemerlang.

Awang juga mendakwa kepentingan Melayu diasak begitu hebat selepas pilihanraya umum 2008 dan hanya Perkasa yang mempertahankan hak orang Melayu. Wah! Bila UMNO dan Barisan Nasional hilang banyak kerusi, maka itu bererti menghina Melayu? Ini rupanya punca kemarahan Awang dan Utusan Malaysia. Sebenarnya, iyu bukan menghina Melayu, cuma rakyat membuat pilihan mengikut selera mereka. Takkanlah kalah sikit, sudah nak marah. Itu gila kuasa namanya. Bagaimana nak ada demokrasi macam itu. Awang perlu sedar banyak juga orang Melayu yang mengundi Pakatan Rakyat? Bukan setakat pilihanraya umum 2008, malah dalam banyak pilihanraya kecil selepas itu pun orang Melayu memilih Pakatan Rakyat. Malah lebih ramai yang mengundi Pakatan daripada UMNO. Jadi Melayu mana yang Awang wakili?

Untuk pengetahuan Awang, biarlah dijelaskan di sini bahawa yang menghakis kedudukan Melayu ialah golongan Melayu atasan UMNO kerana merekalah yang memerintah. Tak ada kumpulan lain pun yang mentadbir negara ini kecuali mereka, sejak merdeka dahulu. Jika Awang kata kedudukan Melayu terhakis, maka kumpulan Melayu atasan inilah yang bertanggungjawab sepenuhnya. Tapi Awang berani kutuk Pakatan saja. Awang kecut perut dan takut nak berdepan dengan “political masters” dia. Kalau benar anak jantan, tanyalah kepada orang seperti Mahathir Mohamad, Muhyuddin Yassin dan Najib Razak mengapa Melayu masih ketinggalan, mengapa tanah rezab Melayu makin berkurangan, mengapa jurang di antara Melayu kaya dan Melayu miskin bertambah besar? Salah siapa?

Masalah Melayu dan bumiputra bukan kerana Melayu/ bumiputra tidak ada hak atau keistimewaan Melayu dicabar. Soal hak tak timbul. Masalah sebenar ialah orang Melayu selama ini telah mengharapkan pagar tapi pagar itu pula yang telah makan padi. Sampai hari ini pagar itu masih tak berhenti-henti makan padi milik orang Melayu. Itulah punca kemunduran Melayu sabenar. Tak kan lah ini pun tak faham.

Artikel Asal: malaysia-today.net

Orang Melayu kata bahawa kita mesti menjalani hidup (addeen) sesuai dengan Quran, sunnah (cara) dan hadis (perkataan) Nabi. Mmm… semasa baginda hidup dulu, dia pernah menganjurkan majlis hari jadikah? Pada masa tu, adakah umat Islam merayakan hari lahir baginda dengan berarak di jalan-jalan Madinah? Jika tak, maka dari manakah datangnya tradisi aneh ni?

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Kawan saya, iaitu anak kepada seorang mufti Perak yang terkenal suatu masa dahulu pernah memberitahu sesuatu kepada saya.

Katanya, ada seorang lelaki yang mempunyai empat orang anak lelaki. Anak pertama menjadi doktor, yang kedua menjadi peguam dan yang ketiga menjadi jurutera. Tetapi anak yang keempat tak berapa pandai. Jadi, ayahnya menghantarnya untuk mempelajari jurusan agama. Si anak ni kemudiannya menjadi mufti. Kawan saya menyimpulkan bahawa itulah sebabnya para mufti tidak terdiri daripada orang yang benar-benar bijak.

Itulah yang dikatakan oleh kawan saya, Jad, anak seorang mufti Perak yang terkenal, yang juga penyokong totok UMNO dan pembenci pembangkang. Jangan salahkan saya. Tu lawaknya, bukan lawak saya. Saya hanya memberitahu apa yang dinyatakannya.

Tapi bukan semua mufti terdiri daripada pelajar tercicir. Sebaliknya, ada mufti yang bergelar doktor, seperti mantan mufti Perlis. Seperti yang anda mungkin tahu, dia adalah antara mufti yang paling progresif dan liberal yang pernah muncul di persada negara. Bahkan orang bukan Islam juga selesa dengan pandangan-pandangannya. Selain tu, dia juga satu-satunya mufti yang saya kenali yang mempunyai blog sendiri (http://drmaza.com/), yang mana dia menulis dalam kedua-dua bahasa Inggeris dan bahasa Malaysia. Malah dia juga mungkin akan menulis dalam bahasa Arab jika terdapat ramai pembaca yang mahir berbahasa Arab di Malaysia.

Ramai yang membenci saya kerana ‘berkhutbah’ tentang Islam. Ini kerana menurut mereka, saya tak ada ‘lesen’ untuk bercakap tentang Islam dan tak pernah belajar di mana-mana universiti Islam. Dengan demikian, saya tak layak untuk bercakap tentang Islam. Tapi bagaimana pula dengan Dr. Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin, iaitu mantan mufti Perlis yang saya sebutkan di atas? Dia bukan saja layak, malah dia adalah bekas mufti dan bergelar doktor pula tu. Namun mereka menangkapnya baru-baru ni semasa dia berceramah tentang Islam.

Jadi, isu sebenar bukanlah sama ada anda layak dan memiliki ijazah yang sepatutnya ataupun pernah belajar di sebuah universiti Islam, atau lain-lain lagi. Isu yang sebenar adalah sama ada perkara yang anda sampaikan selari dengan kehendak kerajaan ataupun tidak. Jika ya, okeylah. Jika tak, maka anda dikira tak layak untuk bercakap. Nah, tulah hujung pangkalnya.

UMNO menghentam Lim Guan Eng atas perkara yang didakwa mereka sebagai pendirian Guan Eng yang anti-Melayu dan anti-Islam. UMNO menuduh bahawa Guan Eng membatalkan perarakan Maulidur Rasul. Ya, hakikatnya adalah orang Melayu merayakan ulang tahun Nabi dengan berarak di jalanan sambil melaungkan namanya.

Kalau ikutkan, ni dah kira demonstrasi. Demonstrasi merujuk kepada sebarang tindakan yang melibatkan perarakan di jalanan sambil melaungkan sesuatu. Tak percaya? Pergilah tanya polis. Tapi bukankah UMNO sendiri yang mengatakan bahawa berdemonstrasi dan berarak di jalanan bukan budaya kita? UMNO menentang tindakan berdemonstrasi dan berarak di jalanan kerana ia melanggar budaya Malaysia. UMNO yang cakap macam tu, bukan saya.

Ya, orang Melayu mungkin satu-satunya golongan Muslim yang merayakan hari jadi Nabi dengan berdemonstrasi. Bahkan ini tak diamalkan di Mekah dan Madinah. Budaya ni hanya terdapat di Malaysia, sebagaimana budaya pertandingan membaca al-Quran, yang mana ia tidak diamalkan di Mekah, Madinah, Istanbul, Tehran dan lain-lain tempat.

Dalam pertandingan membaca al-Quran, para peserta dinilai berdasarkan irama dan ketepatan bacaan. Hakikatnya adalah lebih daripada 90% daripada mereka yang menghadiri pertandingan membaca al-Quran tak pandai bercakap bahasa Arab. Jadi, mereka sebenarnya tak berapa faham pun apa yang dibaca. Ia adalah seperti menghadiri konsert rock di Jerman. Kumpulan muzik tu menyanyi dalam bahasa Jerman dan anda tak faham pun apa yang mereka nyanyikan. Jadi, anda hanya menghayati melodi dan suara si penyanyi, dan bukannya liriknya… iaitu dalam bahasa Jerman.

Jadi, apa yang kecoh-kecoh sangat tentang perarakan Maulidur Rasul di Pulau Pinang, yang mana UMNO menuduh bahawa Lim Guan Eng telah membatalkannya? Mula-mula sekali, betulkah dia membatalkannya? Kalau betul pun, apa masalahnya? Mungkin ada hikmah di sebaliknya, iaitu orang Melayu akan kembali ke jalan yang benar. Sebenarnya, dah beberapa generasi lamanya orang Melayu menyimpang dari ajaran Islam.

Orang Melayu kata bahawa kita mesti menjalani hidup (addeen) sesuai dengan Quran, sunnah (cara) dan hadis (perkataan) Nabi. Mmm… semasa baginda hidup dulu, dia pernah menganjurkan majlis hari jadikah? Pada masa tu, adakah umat Islam merayakan hari lahir baginda dengan berarak di jalan-jalan Madinah? Jika tak, maka dari manakah datangnya tradisi aneh ni?

Saya tak kata bahawa adalah salah bagi kita memperingati hari jadi Nabi. Tapi berapa ramaikah antara peserta perarakan Maulidur Rasul yang tahu hari Nabi dilahirkan? Tahukah mereka bahawa Nabi juga wafat pada hari ulang tahunnya? Jadi, adakah mereka merayakan kematian dan juga hari jadinya pada masa yang sama?

Ramai daripada mereka yang menyertai perarakan Maulidur Rasul tak sedar pun bahawa Nabi wafat pada hari ulang tahunnya. Sepertimana dalam kes Nabi Isa, terdapat perbezaan pendapat mengenai hari baginda dilahirkan. Tradisi mengatakan bahawa baginda dilahirkan pada Tahun Gajah. Pihak yang lain pula mengatakan bahawa baginda mungkin dilahirkan dua tahun sebelum tu. Jadi, sebagaimana terdapat perbezaan pendapat tentang kelahiran Nabi Isa (25 Disember ataupun pada bulan Julai), begitu jugalah dengan tarikh kelahiran Nabi Muhammad SAW.

Masalahnya adalah pada masa tu, tiada rekod disimpan tentang hari kelahiran dan sebagainya. Jadi, sebenarnya, pendapat tentang hari lahir Nabi adalah dugaan berdasarkan maklumat yang ada. Ini kerana bagi orang Arab dan Badwi pada masa tu, perkara seperti ni tak penting. Jadi, mereka tak kisah tentang tarikh lahir seseorang.

Walau bagaimanapun, jika anda ingin memperingati Nabi, maka itu tak menjadi masalah… silakan. Tapi jika anda benar-benar mencintai Nabi dan mahu memperingatinya, maka sepatutnya ada cara yang lebih baik bagi melakukannya.

Kenapa anda nak raikan ulang tahun seorang individu yang tidak anda contohi? Jika anda benar-benar mencintai Nabi dan ingin memperingatinya, maka anda harus mengikut ajarannya.

Nabi menentang perkauman. Ini adalah antara isi khutbah terakhirnya di Arafah. Tetapi mereka yang turut serta dalam perarakan Maulidur Rasul terus berusaha menegakkan Ketuanan Melayu.

Nabi juga berkata bahawa rasuah adalah riba’ dan bahawa dosa riba’ adalah seperti dosa bersetubuh dengan ibu ataupun ayah sendiri. Pinjaman bank melibatkan riba’. Begitu juga dengan pinjaman kereta dan kad kredit. Wang yang diperoleh bukan dari hasil usaha sendiri tetapi dengan menggunakan wang bagi menjana wang, seperti saham dan bon juga adalah riba’. Selain tu, spekulasi (berjudi) seperti pembelian ataupun jualan hadapan (forward) adalah riba’. Di samping itu, pendapatan tetap (bunga) yang diterima atas wang adalah riba’. Keuntungan yang berlebihan juga adalah riba’. Tambahan pula, tindakan menyembunyikan barangan yang mengakibatkan kekurangan bekalan, yakni dengan tujuan menaikkan harga juga adalah riba’.

Hah, tunjukkan kepada saya seorang Melayu yang menyertai perarakan Maulidur Rasul yang tak terlibat langsung dengan riba’.

Ada banyak perkara yang disuruh dan ditegah oleh Nabi. Tapi kita melakukan sebahagian besar dari perkara yang ditegah dan sebaliknya, tidak melakukan sebahagian besar dari perkara yang disuruh. Malah kita melanggar ajaran Nabi setiap masa. Kita tidak menurut ajaran baginda. Sebagai pengikut Nabi Muhammad SAW, kita sememangnya telah gagal. Namun di sebalik tu, kita mahu memperingati Nabi dengan berarak di jalanan pada hari ulang tahunnya.

Kalau nak berarak, beraraklah. Tapi sebelum tu, pastikan anda mengikut segala ajaran Nabi. Apa anda ingat bahawa dengan berarak di jalanan pada hari jadi Nabi, maka itu bermakna bahawa anda adalah pengikut sejati Nabi Muhammad SAW? Sebenarnya, berarak di jalanan hanyalah satu bentuk demonstrasi, yakni anda sekadar menunjukkan bahawa anda adalah pengikut sejati Nabi Muhammad. Tapi ia tetap satu bentuk demonstrasi, yang mana demonstrasi hanya bersifat luaran dan bukannya dalaman. Apa yang lebih penting adalah dalaman dan bukannya luaran.

Berkenaan dengan isu yang mana UMNO mengatakan bahawa demonstrasi bukan budaya kita dan tidak seharusnya dibenarkan, UMNO pula sering menceritakan tentang demonstrasi anti-Malayan Union tahun 1946 yang mereka anjurkan di depan Majestic Hotel berhampiran dengan Stesen Kereta Api Kuala Lumpur. Inilah saat yang paling dibanggakan UMNO dan kita terus-menerus diingatkan tentangnya.

UMNO mengatakan bahawa demonstrasi tu adalah peristiwa penting dalam sejarah Malaya. Disebabkan demonstrasi itulah maka landskap politik Malaya berubah. Jadi, betulkah bahawa demonstrasi bukan budaya kita? Sebenarnya, ia adalah batu asas Persekutuan Tanah Melayu. Malaysia yang wujud pada hari ini adalah hasil demonstrasi tu. Inilah yang terus-menerus diberitahu UMNO kepada kita.

Tapi sekarang, mereka kata bahawa demonstrasi bukan budaya kita pula?

Artikel Asal: malaysia-today.net

“Ini bukan dialog teologi atau perbandingan agama, sejauh mana kadar untuk mereka (bukan Islam) dibenarkan menggunakan kalimah  ‘Allah’.”

Beliau yang juga pensyarah Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) turut mempersoal tindak-tanduk Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (Jais) kerana melarang masyarakat bukan Islam di Selangor dari menyebut nama ‘Allah’.

“Jais gantung kain-kain rentang nama Allah untuk orang Islam sahaja, tetapi lagu negeri Selangor pun disebut nama Allah, takkan Jais nak tangkap orang bukan Islam yang menyanyikan lagu negeri dengan menyebut nama ‘Allah’,” ujarnya.

Jelasnya, pada logo polis pun terdapat kalimah Allah sedangkan logo tersebut turut dipakai oleh anggota-anggota polis yang bukan beragama Islam.

“Sepatutnya polis bersama-sama Jais tak boleh tahan masyarakat bukan Islam yang menyebut (kalimah) Allah, mereka kena tahan mereka dulu yang masuk Selangor kerana Selangor melarang orang bukan Islam (dari) menyebut  ‘Allah’,” jelasnya.

Beliau yang juga pakar hadis mendedahkan suatu hadis sahih daripada Imam Bukhari sendiri pun merakamkan bahawa Raja Rom bernama Hercules turut diriwayatkan menyebut kalimah  ‘Allah’.

“Hercules bertanya dia (Abu Sufian) banyak soalan, antara yang diriwayatkan Imam Bukhari: Sebelum dia (Nabi Muhammad s.a.w) diutuskan menjadi seorang rasul, pernahkah kamu menuduh dia sebagai pembohong,” jelasnya.

Menurut beliau, Abu Sufian yang ketika masih tidak memeluk Islam berkata  ‘tidak’, lalu Hercules berkata bahawa mustahil Muhammad itu berbohong menggunakan nama ‘Allah’.

“Lalu Hercules berkata: Kalau Muhammad ini kepada manusia pun tidak berbohong, maka fahamlah aku bahawa mustahil dia berbohong atas nama  ‘Allah’.”

“Hercules sebut nama Allah (walaupun) dia Raja Rom, dia Kristian…terjemahan Abu Sufian adalah dia (Hercules) menyebut nama ‘Allah’ dan terjemahan itu ada di dalam Sahih Bukhari,” jelasnya.

Bekas Menteri Kesihatan, Datuk Seri Chua Jui Meng kemudiannya mendedahkan bahawa Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) mula bergiat menghalang penerbitan akhbar mingguan The Herald terbitan Katholik bukan disebabkan akhbar itu memohon menggunakan kalimah ‘Allah’ dalam penerbitan mereka.

Sebaliknya, menurut dakwaan Chua, KDN berasa tidak selesa apabila mendapati kandungan The Herald cenderung menyokong parti-parti pembangkang ketika menjelang Pilihan Raya Umum ke-12 (PRU12) lalu.

“Sewaktu Bersih (Gabungan Menuntut Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil) mengadakan demontrasi besar-besaran di ibu negara, The Herald Katholik menerbitkan di muka hadapan majalah itu gambar-gambar dan tulisan-tulisan menyokong Bersih,” jelasnya.

“Apabila KDN yang dimiliki oleh Umno menyedari tentang itu, Umno mendapati Kristian di negara ini banyak menyokong pembangkang khususnya PAS, di samping PKR dan DAP yang boleh menjejas Umno (dalam) PRU12, mereka mula mengharamkan The Herald.”

Katanya lagi, usaha mengharamkan penerbitan The Herald bukan disebabkan faktor agama, tetapi demi menjaga kepentingan Umno.

Ekoran itu, menurut beliau, pihak Gereja Katholik terpaksa menggunakan  ‘jalan Mahkamah’ dengan memohon menggunakan kalimah ‘Allah’ dalam penerbitan The Herald demi mencegah konspirasi Umno tersebut.

Sebelum itu, Ketua Pemuda PAS Pusat, Nasruddin Hassan at-Tantawi menjelaskan bahawa rasa bimbang yang bersarang di kalangan umat Islam disebabkan tidak rela kalimah ‘Allah’ digunakan secara yang salah.

Pun begitu, menurut beliau, umat Islam tidak berhak melarang masyarakat bukan Islam dari menggunakan kalimah ‘Allah’ itu.

“Kita tak ada hak melarang mereka (bukan Islam) nak guna kalimah Allah, tapi jika mereka guna secara salah dan inilah menjadi asas kebimbangan umat Islam dalam negara kita,” jelasnya.

Bercakap di depan lebih 500 hadirin dari pelbagai agama, beliau secara peribadi melahirkan rasa bimbang sekiranya kalimah  ‘Allah’ itu diletakkan di restoran-restoran yang menjual produk atau makan tidak halal, yang akhirnya mengelirukan umat Islam.

Disebabkan kebimbangan tersebut, beliau menggesa pihak berwajib supaya menjelaskan  ‘kadar’ menggunakan kalimah Allah di kalangan masyarakat Islam secara undang-undang yang praktikal.

Dalam forum tersebut, beliau turut mengulangi ketetapan PAS iaitu masyarakat bukan Islam dibenarkan menggunakan kalimah Allah, tetapi tidak boleh digunakan pada tempat yang salah serta bertujuan menyampaikan dakyah ke atas umat Islam sendiri.

Forum anjuran Lajnah Penerangan Pemuda PAS Pusat itu turut menampilkan ketuanya, Suhaizan Kayat selaku moderator.

Artikel Asal: malaysia-today.net

]]> http://www.melayuberaja.org/?feed=rss2&p=1474 0 http://www.melayuberaja.org/?p=1458 http://www.melayuberaja.org/?p=1458#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:13:47 +0000 admin http://www.melayuberaja.org/?p=1458 LAMPETER (Wales) — Regardless of the state of the monarchy in Malaysia, a society that wants to move forward should shed medieval and feudal traditions, said former Perlis mufti Mohamad Asri Zainul Abidin.

“Citizens should have the right to criticise the Rulers. In Islam, there is no such thing as any person who is above criticism,” he told The Malaysian Insider when asked about the issue of derhaka, or betrayal, that has become a point of contention amongst Muslims in the country.

The issue of derhaka came into prominence in February after Sultan Azlan Shah refused to dissolve the Perak assembly upon the request of the then Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin.

The Sultan of Perak later appointed Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir as mentri besar after installing Barisan Nasional as the state government. Certain quarters, especially BN, have tried to convince the public, especially the Malays, that criticising or disputing the decisions of the Rulers was tantamount to treason.

DAP chairman Karpal Singh, having stated that the Sultan could be sued along with the new BN state government, is now facing a sedition trial.

The maverick Islamic scholar, who has a strong following among young Muslims in Malaysia, said that the idea of being Malay and Muslim should be decoupled and addressed separately.

Speaking at his home in Lampeter, he disagreed with the conventional understanding that Malays have been Islamised but instead that they have “meMelayukan (to influence with Malay) Islam.”

Asri, who was mufti for two years before quitting the position to move to Wales last December to research on Islam, was no stranger to controversial statements in his time as mufti. He became an icon for progressive Muslim voices for his stand against the propensity of religious authorities to conduct raids on Muslim couples engaged in khalwat, or close proximity, and has stated that non-Muslims had a right to use the word “Allah”.

Asri said that Malays had to stop equating Islam with the Malays.

“If Malays want to defend their rights, go ahead based on Bumiputera rights or whatever. But you cannot say Islam does not defend you because you are Chinese or Indian. Islam was not given just to the Malays.

“Do not in your efforts to defend Malay rights relate it to Islam. Islam was not sent down by God to protect Malays but all of humanity,” he explained, saying that such moves in the past had caused non-Malays to be fearful of the religion as it appeared to be intent on removing their culture.

During the interview, Asri expressed his consternation over ideas that have taken root in Malaysia under the guise of Islamic principles.

“Sometimes there are terms which we cannot understand. Daulat (sovereignty) for example. What is the meaning of daulat? Does this mean that if you criticise a Ruler, then you will be cursed by God? This is not in Islam,” he said.

Artikel Asal: malaysia-today.net