Peoples Power

Inside the 505 generation - the youth vote

GE13 SPECIAL In these final days before polling in the May 5 general election, more and more attention is focused on a third decisive group (besides civil servants and women) - young Malaysians, especially voters under the age of 30. This cohort comprises 2.6 million or 19.5 percent of the electorate, and are distributed over the entire country.

hishammuddin hussein gombak bn youth 240313They are particularly featured in BN rallies, often bused to locations, sometimes paid to wear blue T-shirts. They are the energy in the electoral campaign for both sides, riding motorbikes adorned with flags and cheering with great enthusiasm. They will ultimately be decisive in the election results.

While most of the attention on Malaysia's voting behaviour is on ethnicity, as this is the strongest indicator of voting behaviour, there are also important generational divides in the electorate.

Generally, polling shows those aged 55 and above favour BN. Between the ages of 40 and 55 is a hotly contested age cohort, as the battle for the middle-aged voters intensified. Traditionally, this age group has also leaned toward BN, but has since been more divided. However, those between 30 and 40 favours the opposition, due in part to the reformasi and tsunami periods of political awakening.

For the youngest under-30 group, the 505 generation, the situation is more unknown. Most of these are first-time voters, over the age of 21, which is one of the highest voting ages in Southeast Asia (Indonesia by comparison is 17). Polling shows the 505 generation has the most fence-sitters of any age group, and are being wooed intensely. In these last few days of the campaign, how they will swing will prove decisive.

Studies of voting behaviour of different generations identify two dynamics. The first is the life-cycle effect, where as a person grows older, they are seen to become more conservative with the weight of responsibilities, financial pressures and family obligations contributing to higher risks of changing their vote.

NONEThe older the voter, according to this approach, the more they will stay with the status quo. In this paradigm, Malaysia's younger voters thus embrace change more than older ones.

The other dominant explanation is the cohort effect, where a generation cohort is shaped by the events of a particular period of time when they were socialised and became politically aware.

In Malaysia, the cohort effect can be seen in the different political attitudes historically. The Merdeka generation, the post-1969 race riots with its New Economic Policy (NEP), the Mahathir years of growth, 1998-99 reformasi, 2008 tsunami and now the 505 GE 2013 are all pivotal moments in time where Malaysians have formed their views of politics and where there are clearly different perspectives of issues.

In this campaign, these generational outlooks have been engaged strategically. The fear tactics now used openly by BN are, for example, generally more successful with older voters, as they are relics of old politics. BN, on its part, also taps into the appreciation of the provisions of infrastructure and basic services, especially in rural areas, as a means to woo voters over 40.

For these voters, they have seen changes in their communities over their lifetime, and BN has successfully linked this development with their governance. In this election, the question is whether the young voters have similar buttons for political parties to push.

New voters, new politics

The pattern of political socialisation of younger voters is quite distinct than earlier generations. Increasingly, they do not get their news from the mainstream media, especially newspapers, and they are shaped by their social media relationships, notably Facebook and Twitter.

Rather than read, they watch YouTube and use Instagram. Over 80 percent of youths in Malaysia are online in some form, and they overwhelmingly get their news from the Internet, largely through smart phones.

They are a politically aware generation. Malaysia's under-30 cohort is as engaged in politics as older Malaysians, and have largely similar views towards key governance issues. In particular, they see corruption in the system.

There are largely three groups of young people - those disengaged (an estimate of one in three have not registered to vote), those engaged and those on the fence, who often tune out the political noise and during there campaign period, they are being wooed to tune on. It is this last group, the fence-sitters that will have to stand on one side or the other, and who are being targeted in the last round of hustings.

NONEThere are two important distinctive elements of this 505 Generation beyond their source of information. This group is on the frontline of economic challenges, often at the lowest end of the pay scale.

The ‘zaman duit' era of money is most felt by young people who have just entered the job market, with entry salaries, or are looking for work. Disproportionately, the highest level of unemployment is among the 505 generation, 11 percent reported last year.

Second, the 505 generation has been socialised with Pakatan as part of the political landscape, they know that there is choice and they have more choices at the polls nationally than earlier generations.

The two political camps have strategically reached out to the 505 Generation. Of the two sides, the most programmes have been developed by BN. Led by Khairy Jamaluddin, Umno did an extensive assessment on how to engage the youth. The focus of their assessment was on economic needs, especially jobs. Thus the creation of the Jobs Fair.

The BN also targeted this group financially through spending. The most known is the smart phones initiative. Youth-friendly initiatives in Najib's 2013 Budget, for example, included the following:
  • RM738 million provided for youth and sports development.
  • BR1M payouts for unmarried individuals.
  • A one-off rebate of RM200 provided for the purchase of a 3G smartphone from authorised dealers. This initiative is for youths aged between 21 and 30, earning RM3,000 and below monthly. A sum of RM300 million is allocated to benefit 1.5 million youth.
  • Discount of 20 percent for National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) borrowers, who fully pay off their loans within one year from Oct 1, 2012 to Sept 30, 2013.
  • To assist young ICT entrepreneurs, a New Entrepreneur Foundation (NEF) to be set up with initial allocation of RM50 million.
  • RM3.7 billion for technical and vocational training of students.
  • Securities Commission to introduce the Graduate Representative Initiative with the private sector to train graduates in fulfilling industry needs.
This comes on top of earlier targeted allocations in 2012, also extending into the billions. Many of these initiatives are needed, especially training, but the challenge is their implementation, as much of the money has not reached the youth and many of those most in need have not benefitted.

Powerful persuaders 

Pakatan has similarly developed its own youth initiative. The cornerstone has been free education and enhanced training for economic opportunities. Job creation, training for semi-rural and remote areas and higher incomes are emphasised as well, as the aim is to reach out to youth across the country.

What distinguishes Pakatan's efforts is more attention to political reform for the young, with greater calls to liberalise the political environment in universities, remove the controls on scholarship students and a broadening of the scholarship programme. The focus moves beyond seeing the young as economic actors, but as engaged political citizens whose voices matter.

On the other hand, BN did lift the ban on students joining political parties but stopped short of fundamental political reform for students.

student protest on malaysia day 160912 03The engagement of the two camps with the youth will ultimately come down to how the 505 generation will imagine the alternatives. And they are divided, especially between urban and rural areas.

Pakatan has overwhelmingly captured the imagination of the young in the urban areas, but less so in the rural areas, where the BN outreach has been more effective. Interviews in the rural areas of young people in East Malaysia and the rural Malay heartland, however, suggest that the 505 generation is increasingly moving towards Pakatan, although BN does have its base of support as well. Those moving are excited about the possibility of change and hopeful for the future.

The test on Sunday will be the voters turnout. As they know they matter, I expect high turnout. They are already heading home in many cases to vote and to discuss politics in the household.

In 1999 and 2008, the young were powerful persuaders of voting behaviour within the household and will be the same this time as well. The excitement is palpable among young people - from Selangor to Terengganu.

Like the rest of Malaysians, they are worried about their rights at the polls being compromised by disturbing reports of election irregularities. The 505 generation is likely to be among the first to come out and protest if their first election is debased by phantom voters and possible rigging. They do not want their rights denied and are intensely invested in the future.

Under-30 candidates

Already there are more young people participating in politics. This election we see the importance of the young in political parties. A record number of young people are being fielded as candidates.

We see more people on the opposition than BN overall, as shown in the available information of the age of the candidates fielded for parliament in the table below, but the changes are taking place on both sides.

The below-30 mark is being broken. In Perak, there are five candidates under-30 - two for BN and three for Pakatan. Almost every state has an under-30 candidate, largely Pakatan although there is the occasionally BN candidate fielded as well, notably MCA.
Many of these young candidates are well-qualified professionals, lawyers, accountants and engineers, and some of these have been political assistants to those in office, such as Kasthuri Patto fielded in Batu Kawan.

The numbers of those in the 30s are also increasing, up from previous elections. The youthfulness of the candidates' list speaks to the reality that Malaysia is a younger population, with 56 percent of the citizens under 30. It also speaks to the youth's engagement in politics and are deeply vested in the future.
On Sunday, Malaysia's youth will tip the balance of power and the force of the youth will not just be at the ballot box, as they will likely not stand idly by and see their future taken from them through the potential manipulation of the results.

Let's hope that the rights of this generation are respected and this cohort will be allowed to fairly and safely shape their own future.
Kedah gets Grade E

Muhyiddin gives Kedah gov't a poor 'Grade E'
 
The 13th general election is the best time for Kedah to return to BN as the PAS state government had not carried out their responsibility for the past five years, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

He said the Kedah government was only eligible for a Grade E as their report card was not impressive at all and they had failed to develop the state.

"The next five years are critical as we want to make Malaysia a high-income nation. It's going to be hard work," he said at the foundation laying ceremony for the Jerlun Sports Centre in Sanglang, Jitra. 

He added that it was not wise to maintain the opposition coalition as the government because they were not capable of developing the state.
Serious matter
Muhyiddin further remarked that after five years a government should be able to present their achievements and deliver what was promised when they took over.

"They should have kept their promises. The Kedah state government has failed. Forming a government is a very serious matter and a huge responsibility.
"People should choose the party which can be trusted and able to fulfill their needs," he said.

On the other hand, BN has carried on the tradition of providing for the well-being of the people, he added.

"By 2020 we also want Kedah to be a developed and successful state. Can we rely on PAS to achieve this if they continue to rule?
"This is our future we're talking about," he said.

He emphasised that these goals could be achieved if people of Kedah decided to give BN the mandate at both state and federal levels.


- Bernama
Kedah Wave

Mukhriz's move to Ayer Hitam fuels MB speculation
11:48AM Apr 16, 2013 
VIDEO | 0.44 min
BN has announced that Kedah Umno liaison committee deputy chairperson Mukhriz Mahathir will be moved to contest in Ayer Hitam state seat in the May 5 general election.
azlanThe announcement further fuels speculation that the incumbent Jerlun MP is being slated for the Kedah menteri besar post should BN succeed in taking over the state.

The Ayer Hitam state seat is located under the Jerlunparliamentary constituency.

Meanwhile, Kedah BN liaison chief Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah will defend hisBakar Bata state seat.
Former Kedah Menteri Besar Mahdzir Khalid, who is the incumbent Pedu assemblyperson, will move to the parliamentary seat ofPadang Terap.

These seat allocations could also heighten infighting within the state Umno machinery for the post of MB ahead of the general election.

This is among supporters of Mukhriz and Ahmad Bashah, as well as with a third group said to be opposing former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mukhriz’s father Mahathir reigned as the nation’s longest-serving prime minister for 22 years and remains popular in Kedah, where he was born.

According to a survey by Universiti Utara Malaysia last year, BN would more likely recapture PAS-held Kedah should it field Mukhriz as a menteri besar candidate.

Meanwhile, another survey by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia shows that Mukhriz as MB could sway "fence-sitters" to favour the BN.

At the parliamentary level, caretaker Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Islamic affairs, Jamil Khir Baharom, will contest in the Jerai parliamentary seati, while caretaker Housing and Local Government Minister Chor Chee Heung will defend his Alor Setar seat.

'Candidates to face Pakatan big guns'

Caretaker Deputy Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Mohd Johari Baharom will defend his seat of Kubang Pasu, while former Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Heng Seai Kie, a senator, will now vie for the Padang Seraiparliamentary seat.

azlanThe MCA Wanita vice-president will go against PKR vice-president N Surendran in the seat that was previously won by PKR's N Gobalakrishnan, who has since quit the party.

The Council of Former People's Representatives Malaysia (Mubarak) vice-president Othman Abdul will come out of retirement to take on PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu inPendang.

PAS was short of just 50 votes in capturing Pendang in the 2004 general election, but BN solidified its position in 2008 by keeping the parliamentary seat with a 4,073-vote majority.

Meanwhile, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's political secretary Sahlan Ismail Nasution - brother of PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution - has been tasked to take back the parliamentary seat of Pokok Sena from PAS.

Saifuddin himself will be contesting in Kedah, but in the Kulim-Bandar Baru parliamentary seat, against Umno's Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzir, who is the parliamentary coordinator there.
Kedah List Of Candidates for PRU 13
P04 Langkawi – Datuk Nawawi Ahmad
N1 Ayer Hangat – Mohd Rawi Abdul Hamid
N2 Kuah – Langkawi Youth chief Norsaidi Nayan
P05 Jerlun - Datuk Othman Aziz
N3 Kota Siputeh – Datuk Abu Hasan Sarif
N4 Ayer Hitam  Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir
P06 Kubang Pasu – Datuk Johari Baharom
N5 Bukit Kayu Hitam – Ahmad Zaini Japar
N6 Jitra – Amiruddin Omar
P07 Padang Terap – Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid
N7 Kuala Nerang – Badrul Hisham
N8 Pedu – Kama Nooriah Ibrahim
Pokok Sena – Datuk Sahlan Ismail
Bukit Lada – Ahmad Lebai Sudin
Bukit Pinang – Mokhtar Md Noor (Pokok Sena Umno permanent chief)
Derga – Dr Cheah Soon Hai
Alor Star – Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung
Bakar Bata – Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah
Kota Darul Aman – Loh Gim Hooi (Alor Star MCA division secretary)
Alor Mengkudu  - Sharifah Maznah Syed Kassim Barakbah (Alor Star Wanita chief)
Kuala Kedah – Dr Zaki Zamani Abdul Rashid
Pengkalan Kundor – Norhasnita Md  Isa (Kuala Kedah Wanita chief)
Kubang Rotan -  Datuk Latt Shariman
Anak Bukit – Datuk Hashim Jahaya
Pendang – Datuk Othman Abdul
Sungai Tiang – Datuk Suraya Yaacob
Tokai - Najmuddin
Jerai -  Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom
Sungai Limau – Fadzilah Mohd Ali (division deputy chief)
Guar Chempedak – Datuk Dr Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail
Gurun – Dr Leong Yong Kong
Sik – Dr Mansor Abdul Rahman
Belantek Datuk Mohd Tajudin Abdullah
Jeneri
Merbok – Prof Ismail Daud
Tanjung Dawai – Datuk  Tajul UrusMat Zain
Bukit Selambau – M. L. Maran
Sungai Petani Dr Shamsul Anuar Ismail (Sungai Petani Umno information chief)
Pantai Merdeka – Datuk Ali yahaya
Bakar Arang Dr Lee Yean Wang (Kedah MCA deputy secretary)
Sidam – Bee Shiong Heng (Sungai Petani Gerakan assistant secretary)
Baling  - Datuk Abdul Azeez Rahim
Bayu -  Datuk Azmi Che Husain
Kupang  - Harun
Kuala Ketil – Khairul Azhar (Baling Youth chief)
Padang Serai - Datuk Heng Seai Kie
Merbau Pulas -
Lunas – S. Ananthan
Kulim Bandar Baharu – Datuk Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzir
Kulim – Chua Thiong Ghee
Bandar Baharu – Nor Sabrina Mohd Noo
Mukhriz as MB

Mukhriz as MB can sway fence-sitters, survey finds
 
GE13 WATCH Sending a strong signal that Jerlun incumbent Mukhriz Mahathir will be menteri besar if BN takes over Kedah, "could sway fence-sitters in favour of BN".

According to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia political scientist Samsu Adabi Mamat, this was the feedback received when the university conducted a yet-to-be-published survey in Kedah from January to March.

"The impression given is that to ensure a BN win, the coalition needs to put forth an MB candidate that fence-sitters will find attractive.

NONE"The general sentiment in Kedah is that fence-sitters value Mukhriz's leadership qualities (ketokohan)," he said, noting that fence-sitters in Kedah make up 25 to 30 percent of voters.

Further findings of the survey, conducted by the university with about 3,000 respondents in Kedah, Selangor, Kelantan and Penang, will be presented later this month.

In 2008, Pakatan Rakyat won 20 out of 36 seats, giving it a simple majority in the state assembly, with rival BN controlling 14 seats. Two other seats have independent incumbents.

According to the School of History, Politics and Strategy associate professor, announcing Mukhriz as a state seat candidate would be signal enough for the electorate but could cause some friction among party workers, particularly those from opposing factions.

"But on the whole, this can be resolved quickly as Mukhriz is very popular among the electorate, and has a professional image. The fact that his father is (former premier) Dr Mahathir Mohamad also helps," he said.

azlanMukhriz, who is caretaker deputy minister of international trade and industry, has been widely speculated to be BN's Kedah MB candidate, ahead of Kedah BN liaison chief Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah.

The former is expected to contest in a state seat located under the parliamentary seat ofJerlun, which Mukhriz won with a majority of 2,205.

The state seats under Jerlun are Ayer Hitam, narrowly won by PAS in 2008 andKota Siputeh, a seat held by BN.

Ahmad Bashah, meanwhile, is expected to defend his Bakar Bataseat, which he won with a razor-thin majority of 358 votes.

Both Ayer Hitam and Kota Siputeh are said to be among the 22 seats which BN has declared as "safe", while Bakar Bata is believed to be "grey" as about a third of the electorate are Chinese.

The minority Chinese community since 2008 have largely voted against BN.

'PAS short of potential MB candidates'


Meanwhile, Samsu Adabi said that highlighting an MB-in-waiting will work well for BN in Kedah because PAS "is short of candidates" for the post, if they choose to bench incumbent Azizan Abdul Razak.

"PAS has a shortage of potential MB candidates and this is a problem in view of Azizan's advanced age, which can bring negative connotations," he said.

However, he said, choosing not to field Azizan in a state constituency could heighten infighting at times of battle, as it will confirm that the MB seat is up for grabs.

NONEIt is widely believed that Azizan (left) will not be retained as MB if Pakatan Rakyat wins, mostly due to health reasons.

The 73-year-old suffered a heart attack in 2011 and was hospitalised several times since.

Kedah PAS ulama secretary Syeikh Mohd Zainul Asri Mohd Romli has also reportedly urged Azizan to take a step back due to his poor health.

Names in the mix include Kedah PAS deputy commissioner I Phahrolrazi Mohd Nawawi (below). He is part of the state executive council, but last year refused to be reappointed citing disagreements with Azizan.

He relented and rejoined the exco upon instruction from the central party leadership.

NONE"I heard that I am already dropped from the MB list. I don't even know if I am contesting, either at state or parliament level," he said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

However, sources claim that the engineer by training is still in the MB's post shortlist due to his good ties with the palace.

Other names floated include fellow executive councillor and engineer Amiruddin Hamzah and PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar, who will be defending his Pokok Sena parliamentary seat.

It is unclear if Mahfuz will also be contesting a state seat as state candidates will be announced at a later date.

Asked if he is indeed in the potential MB list, Mahfuz said: "I don't know. I have never heard of it or discussed it."
Polemic of the Godhead - ALLAH SWT
It is unfortunate to see how this country is undergoing yet another major crisis. This time it does not stem from racial conflicts or political outrage, but through religious terminologies. The Malaysian court has decided to permit the Catholic’s Herald Weekly’s usage of the Arabic term ‘Allah’ in the terminology of their Godhead. The reason behind this decision is that Christians in the Arabian Peninsula have used the term ‘Allah’ since the time of Prophet Muhammad S.W.T (May Peace be Upon Him).

This controversial verdict has now divided the country into two differing opinions. On one side, you see Malaysian Muslims welcoming the usage of ‘Allah’ by Catholics, and on the other, many are outraged by it. Furthermore, it is truly disheartening to note that the verdict has the backings of some in PAS, notably the ‘Tok Guru’ Nik Abdul Aziz and the parliamentary member of Shah Alam, Khalid Abdul Samad. The justification of the usage of ‘Allah’ among Christians by the Catholic Herald is a fallacy. It shows how ignorant they themselves are of the historical perspective of Christianity.

In the early beginning of the religion, Christian was not written in Arabic, Hebrew or even Yiddish. The birth of Jesus around 4BC and the earlier preaching’s of Jesus up to AD 30 centered more towards the Jewish community. The language spoken by the community at that period of time was Aramaic. Jesus and his disciples spoke the language as well. Aramaic was the lingua franca of a region extending from the Levant coastline eastward into Mesopotamia, what is in the present day Syria and Iraq.

However, Jesus himself never wrote any account of his teachings. Most of his followers were illiterate and there is no known document written by an eyewitness of Jesus’ life. Educated Greeks, outsiders of Judea and Galilee between AD 70 and AD 100, wrote the four canonical gospels of Christianity theses attributed to Maric, Matthew, Luice and John.

The language of God evolved again after Paul of Tarsus went on a campaign against the Nazarenes and Ebionites, who regarded Jesus as the Messiah but not as divine. Being the early followers of Jesus, they professed him but continued to follow the Jewish way of life and refused to believe that Jesus was given birth by a virgin.

On the road to Damascus in AD 70, Paul claimed that Jesus appeared in a vision berating him for his persecution. The dramatic conversion of Paul changed the teachings of Jesus and eventually, the language.

Jesus had no education other than what he had absorbed from the synagogue. He was from the region of Galilee, which was rural and remote, untouched by the Greeks. Paul, on the other hand, a Roman citizen brought up in a Greek-speaking city, was at ease with urban life. He was well educated and aware of the two compelling cultures of the Greeks and the Jews. The Torah of the Jews was split into two languages, Hebrew in the original version, and in the Greek version, Septuagint. Not Arabic.

Paul, who was considered to be the first Christian, dominated the history of Early Christianity. He transformed the spiritual Jewish prophet of Galilee, Jesus, into the crucified Christ (Christos ‘The Anointed One” in Greek). The seven letters of the supposed Pauline epistles of the New Testament were all in Greek: Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Thessalonians, and Philemon. Most of the early translations of his letters were translated into Latin, Syrian, Coptic and Georgian.

No later than AD 180, Chartaval in Africa was the largest city in the west after Rome. This was where the first reference to Latin-speaking Christians came into existence. By the 4th century AD, a split occurred again between Christians, this time between the Greek-speaking and the Latin-speaking Christians, which by this period was fast becoming established. As a result of the Edict of Emperor Constantine in AD 315 and his ‘conversion’, all imperial laws were issued in Latin, the language of the day.

Furthermore, by AD 325, the assembled Christian bishop had issued and passed the Creed at the ecumenical council in Nicaea. The creed was then amended at the Council of Constantinople (AD 381), which became the core of the Christian faith, famously known as the Nicene Creed. It runs as follows: -

“We believe in one God, Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and all things, seen and unseen; And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only begotten, begotten by his Father before all ages, Light from Light, true God from the God, begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father, through whom all things came into existence, who for us men and for our salvation came down from the heavens and become incarnate by the Holy spirit and the Virgin Mary and became a man, and was crucified for, under Pontius Pilate and suffered and was buried and rose again on the third day in accordance with the scriptures and ascended into heavens and is seated at the right hand of the Father and will come again to judge the living and the dead, and there will be no end to his kingdom.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Life-giver, who proceeds from the Father, who is worshipped and glorified together with the Father and the son, who spoke by the prophets.

And in One holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church: We wait for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the coming age.”

This runs contrary to the Abrahamic and Muslim God “Allah” which is defined in the following verse from Surah Al Ikhlas (Pure Faith): -

“ In the name of ALLAH, the most benevolent ever merciful,
say : HE IS GOD.
The one, the most unique.
God, the immanently indispensable.
He had begotten no one,
And is begotten of none,
There is no one comparable to Him.”

The Nicene Trinity defined three divine forces, Father, Son and the Holy Spirit as the three in Majesty, Power, Glory, Splendor and Divinity. To the Muslims, it’s a blasphemy as in Tauhid (Islamic Monotheism): -



“Oneness of the Lordship of Allah. To believe that there is only one Lord

for all the universe and he is, its creator, organizer, planner, sustainer, and

the Giver of security.. and that is Allah



Oneness of the worship of Allah. To believe that none has the right to be

worshipped (e.g praying, invoking, asking for help from the unseen,

swearing, slaughtering, sacrifices, giving, charity, fasting, and pilgramage)

but Allah.



"Oneness of the Names and Qualities of Allah”

(Extract from the Noble Qur’an, a summarized version of At-Tabari,
Al-Qurtubi and ibn Kathr)

Allah is a truly universal God to the Muslims, knowing no chosen people, racial discrimination or any hint of theological division of unity. Even the name Jesus is a Greek form of the Hebrew name ‘Yeshua’ or ‘Joshua’. The Muslims were taught to not discriminate other religions but to only believe that ‘there is no God but Allah.’ It clearly states so in Surah Al-Kafirun (The Unbelievers): -



“O You Unbelievers,

I do not worship what you worship

Nor do you worship who I worship

Nor will I worship what you worship

Nor will you worship who I worship

To you be your religion and to me, my religion


This article was being donated by the Binshahab Clans for a thought to the blog
Tanah Melayu Bertuah...
Sekarang jam 2.30am 27disember 2009 dikesempatan cuti hujung tahun yang singkat paktuan masih lagi mengambil peluang bercuti bersama keluarga kali ini dikota singapura..negara berjiran paling hampir dengan malaysia bumi bertuah.
dalam keheningan dan kedinginan lewat malam ketika ini, kota singapura masih lagi bergermerlapan riuh dengan hiruk pikuk warga kota melayari malam tanpa sempadan tika hujung minggu krismas. Paktuan juga berkesempatan untuk bersama keluarga dengan semangat 1malaysia merayakan sambutan krismas disingapura,sambutan disingapura amat dan terlalu meriah..berduyun duyun warga kota singa menyusuri orchard road berpekik dan menari nari merry cristmas suasana ini amat menakjubkan dan jarang ataupun tidak pernah berlaku di kuala lumpur.
itulah yang digambarkan oleh kota singa ini, sebuah negara yang bertamadun maju progresive dan berdaya saing yang tinggi, kalau di bandingkan secara 'apple to apple' dengan malaysia umpama langit dengan bumi. jika pembaca berkesempatan berada disini, pabila menjejakan kaki di tanah kota singa ini, umpama kita berada mungkin dijepun,taiwan ataupun korea kerana rakyatnya yang berdisiplin, sistem kotaraya metropolitannya yang begitu tersusun, kotaraya yang bersih dan undang-undang yang being 'well observed'.

Singapura,dalam sejarahnya sebahagian daripada jajahan kesultanan melayu melaka, kemudian dalam episod kegemilangan empayar melayu johor-riau, pernah dikenali sebagai temasik dan terkenal oleh cerita rakyt 'Singapura dilanggar todak'. sehingga raffles datang membuat perjanjian memperdaya sultan johor ketika itu akhirnya membuka singapura pada tahun 1819. semenjak itu singapura mula berkembang pesat membangun diletakkan dibawah straits settlement oleh british.Semua rakyat singapura mendapt tempias yang berganda-ganda, makmur aman sentosa. paktuan juga berpendapat budaya kemelayuan juga mula didokumentasikan secara visual di Singapura iaitu melalui perfileman era kegemilangan jalan Ampas dimana lahirnya seniman agung P Ramlee. pernah juga menjadi sebahagian daripada malaysia sehingga membawa haluan sendiri pada tahun 1965 kalau tak salah paktuanlah..TAhniah untuk bapa pemodenan Singapura Mr Lee Kuan Yew kerana berjaya membawa Singapura hingga ke mercutanda dunia kemuncak yang diidam-idamkan oleh pelbagai pemimpin mana-mana negara termasuk malaysia.

Sememangnya kita sebaiknya berbangga kerana Singapura juga adalah sebahagian daripada Tanah Melayu, pernah dinobatkan antara 'one of the best city in the world'. Atas semangat serumpun paktuan cuba untuk sama-sama merasa nikmatnya,tetapi tiba-tiba terasa amat janggal dan terasing...masih pak tuan tanya-tanya kenapa?? cuba mencari jawaban dan akhirnya mendapat kesimpulannya...dengan dada yang sebak dan luluh dan secara insafnya paktuan berpendapat banyak pengorbanan dan airmata jatuh membasahi bumi bertuah Tanah Melayu Singapura.
TAPI DIMANA ORANG MELAYU SINGAPURA???, paktuan menyusuri perjalanan daripada orchard road mencari orang berkulit sawo matang, dalam celah celahan ribuan manusia opera, adalah tompok tompok sawo matang cba mengukir senyuman...perjalananan diteruskan ke
laupasat(shenton road) tompokan sawo matang pula makin banyak memenuhi lorong itu ohh, disinila sawo matang berkumpul dan meneruskan perjuangan dengan berpaksikan tema'its all about satay' masih membuka warung menjual satay dan menjadi tumpuan pelancong umpama muzium.setelah kenyang dengan satay sempat jugak berbual dengan saudagar satay di sini dengan panggilannya kingbob atau nama sebenarnya borhan parawes, katanya sawo matang banyak diarea gaylang, ayuh jom kita lihat,paktuan menyusuri la geylang, sebuah kawasan penempatan yang kalau dilihat agak usang dan lama..pekan lama la katakan, bertanyakankan pemandu teksi geylang ini kawasan geylang ini kawasan orang melayu ya? lantas dijawabnya ya ramai disini..tapi...disini juga tempat tumpuan kerana tempat ini telah digazzete secara sah dan legal sebagai 'red light district(RLD)' di singapura...(para pembaca RLD adalah kawasan pelacuran) Nauzubillah!!! memang sungguh ramai seperti pasar borong ikan, tawar menawar dan jual beli berlaku.

HMM....merenung sejenak paktuan memikirkan bagaimana?,mengapa?,bila?dimana?siapa?? berkecamuk.....mungkinkah ini akan terjadi di Malaysia? kenapa tidak? evolusinya pak tuan kira sudah mula berlaku...
Singapura sesudah keluar dari gagasan Malaysia, telah mula memperjuangkan kesamarataan...Malaysia for Malaysian mainan DAP dimalaysia sudah lama berjaya dilakukan di Singapura oleh abang sulungnya parti PAP(people Action Party) pimpinan legasi Lew kuan Yew. Tiada model ekonomi umpama DEB di Singapura...maju sungguh kalau diukur dek pecapaian Singapura hari ini...tapi apa terjadi tuan Tanah Melayu Singapura ini? ooooo...ada ada tuu dok jual satay, tuu pelayan restoran, tuu pencuci tandas, tuu pencuci pinggan, tuuu pengemis buta, tuuu pelacur jalanan.......apa yang tinggal hanya lagu kebangsaan singapura dalam bahasa melayu Majulah Singapura.

janganlah menganggap penulisan ini sebagai rasist dan seumpamanya kerana paktuan merasakan ini bukan acuan kontrak sosial yang ditinggalkan oleh nenek moyang pejuang kita.janganlah kerana sandiwara dan laungan atas nama keadilan sosial satu-satunya hak kita tergadai. Islam memanglah menuntut keadilan tak kira bangsa dan agama buktinya orang melayu singapura tetaplah islam keturunan mereka juga kebanyakan masih juga islam tapi mahukah kita menjadi islam yang hanya mampu melihat dan tidak berkuasa menentukan apa-apa. sama-samalah kita renungkan demi anak cucu kita...

Singapura maju terkenal didunia,
menjadi siulan serata negeri,
rakyatnya majmuk aman sentosa,
Melayu hilang membawa diri.





wasalam...cacatan ikhlas dari singapura 4.00am.
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