Raja Nazrin: Get public involved

Good governance involves active public participation, and citizens today are more educated and equipped, demanding more from the government but trusting it less, the Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah said today.

"They demand a progressive and representative form of government. They want to be part of decision-making that affects their lives and livelihood," he said in his keynote address at the international conference on "The Challenges of Democratisation and Good Governance in the Malaysian Public Sector" organised by Universiti Malaya.

Raja Nazrin noted that society today was more interested in achieving results than merely obeying rules."

They welcome and appreciate a government that is approachable and consultative; one that guides rather than one that directs," he said.

Therefore, he said it was only logical that the call for good governance should and must go hand-in-hand with the call for greater democratisation, as both were intertwined.

He said democracy provided the various constituencies the avenue to voice their views on the way they wanted to be governed.

"It is government by consent. The democratisation process must also recognise the important role of non-governmental organisations," he said.

"Their participation should be encouraged to the extent that they assist the institutions of power to function better."

Raja Nazrin described good governance as the process by which public goals were achieved in an efficient, effective and ethical manner.

He also said the eradication of red tape and bureaucratic procedures will help stave off high economic costs and inhibit opportunity for illicit payments.

"The amount of regulation, permits and licences must be reduced. By using the Internet, for example, there should be complete transparency for all permits and licences retained. Tendering processes need to be made more competitive and transparent."

He said whistle-blowers should also be protected against retaliation from those complained about.

He also noted that good governance entailed accountability by those in authority.

"While public officials should be accorded sufficient power to deliver good governance, there must be effective restraints on the arbitrary exercise of that power so that the general interest and not special interests are served," he said.

"The importance of judicial independence and the formal separation of powers among different branches of government cannot be over-emphasised."

Raja Nazrin said that although Malaysia has survived and prospered in the last 50 years, largely due to political resolve, pragmatism and effective implementation of policies, it did not mean we have closed in on the type of governance that is needed for the future.

Comment:

YTM Raja Nazrin,

I personally was waiting and hoping against all hopes that someday a wise man will surface and tell the people of Malaysia not to be demoralized.

I believe I speak on behalf of all Malaysians and congratulate you Sir on your wisdom and foresight.

For too long we have been oppressed and are unable to speak and be part of decision making that will indeed affect our lives and livelihood. We are under threat and silenced by the infamous ISA, OSA and the like and we do not have any avenue to voice our grievances.

By the grace of God, finally, we have right thinking people like you and the Rulers who have finally come out and have voiced what we wanted to say too.

We are certainly not waiting for an opening to create anarchy but are merely trying to be heard. If we do try to speak out against inefficiency, incompetence and above all, rampant corruption, we will be labelled as being seditious.

YTM, I am not a Malay Muslim but I personally know of a Malay family in a kampong in Negeri Sembilan who actually believe that the government is helping them and when I try to explain to them, they advice me not to say anything negative about the government. Their sentiments are echoed by others in the kampong too.

All I was trying to do is to tell them the TRUTH. It never crossed my mind to incite or instigate anyone. All they have is the mainstream media to rely on and they absorb the propaganda as the gospel truth.

We Malaysians are proud to have men like you Sir who speak of JUSTICE for all. I can only hope that all what you said will be disseminated to the rural folks without censorship.

Not one word of yours should be 'doctored' and if what you said reaches the rural folks who are basically a simple lot indoctrinated by false propaganda, this will be a wake-up call to them to be a part of our nation building. As poor as they may be, they are human being too Sir.

There was an allocation for the rural areas to be upgraded - small projects, reparing roads, leaking pipes and drains. After many months, I went back to the kampong and found that there was nothing done. Roads were still badly in need of repairs, pipes were leaking. That was about a month ago.

I humbly write this to you YTM Raja Nazrin.

This is an appeal from all Malaysians who I am sure are with you in cleaning up this country of inefficient, incompetent and corrupt officials. The result is disunity and hatred among the races because of inefficent, incompetent and corrupt officials who I believe do not want a UNITED Malaysia for reasons best known to them.

Please save us all YRH. We see a light which is getting brighter by the day with people like you Sir, the Rulers and YM RPK.

God bless.

anon

Who says our authorities are not carrying out their duties?

From left: Salmah Mohd Ali, Michael Lawrence De Silva and his brother Charles. On the right is a customer buying tissue paper from Salmah Mohd Ali.


NST: Saturday August 11 2007 by K. Harinderen and Adeline Lau.

To summarize: Malaysia TRULY Asia.

Four blind persons selling tissue paper were arrested by the police, City Hall and the Immigration Department.

It was of course part of the City Hall's, Immigration Department's and PDRM's effort to rid the city of beggars. ( Beggars? What? In Malaysia? We cannot allow tourists to know that we do have beggars! )

According to one of them, Salmah Mohd Ali, 46, she was seated in front of the 7-Eleven outlet in Bagsar Baru when she was asked by two policemen to follow them to the police station without giving any reason.

The police were acting on a complaint from the Bangsar Baru Resident's Association on the problem of beggars in the area. ( Welcome to Malaysia where everyone is friendly and helpful )

Razak Hashim,55, was arrested by police in front of the McDonald's restaurant in Bangsar Baru.

Both of them have been 'working' in the same area for more than 12 years. ( It took our men in blue to act on this after 12 years )

Salmah who is from Kuala Lipis, is afraid to leave her home now as she fears being arrested again. ( Salmah is not alone in her fear of the police force )

"I sell tissue paper, I do not beg," said Salmah.

Salmah was taken away by a police van that night and in the vehicle, she met two other blind persons, Abu Zarif Maarof and Azhar Omar, whom she knew. They told her that they too were areested for the same offence - selling Tissue paper.

Salmah was detained overnight in a temporary cell at the Travers police station while the others were held at the Brickfields police station. They will be accused of begging. ( Viva la NEP )

1. The big question: Is selling tissue paper by the blind to earn a living an offence under the Destitute Persons Act? No one involved seemed to have an answer.

2. The bigger question: Why on earth would innocent blind people be arrested for selling tissue papers? PDRM could have shown its gentle side as the Act is still being scrutinized as to what it actually means. I do hope they come up with a proper and humane interpretation.

3. Why are the helpless blind people targets of the police force? They are trying to earn a living for God's sake.

Turn your attention to the real criminals.

According to the paper, it said, it's up to the their ( police ) discretion whether to arrest a blind person for selling tissue papers.

"the police will investigate such cases as there are beggars who disguise their activities by selling tissue paper."

4. Strange but from what I know, the NEP is after all, meant for the welfare of the Malays, right?

"The act is not clear on the matter," said Welfare Department elderly and family division director Nik Omar Nik Ab Rahman. ( The act is not clear on the matter or the matter is not clear on the act?" )

He also said that there was some confusion over selling tissues could be considered begging.

However he was uncertain about this. ( and he is the Director )

"Discussions are still going to resolve this matter."


So, no one seems to know about the Act but some were quick to act. I always considered Malaysians a compassionate lot. That includes PDRM.

To arrest innocent blind people for an act that they are not sure about is regrettable. Blatant criminal acts are being committed on the streets and these criminals seem to get away with it.

What next?

Investigate and interrogate the people in the welfare homes?
Or perhaps the next target will be pensioners? Pensioners know quite a bit and might spill the beans. Pensioners from all government sectors. We have to protect our Vision 2020 at all cost.

Que sera sera.

MERDEKA

anon

04/08: Betraying the Malay cause by opposing the NEP?

by Farouk A. Peru

http://www.peru.name/

Today, a rather interesting statement was in the Star. Encik Khairi Jamaluddin, the UMNO Youth deputy chief called the former deputy PM, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim as a ‘traitor to the Malay cause’. His reason for doing so was that Anwar voices opposition to the NEP.

This news report should be analysed for the implicit equations emerging from Khairi’s vocabulary and phraseology. Khairi branded Anwar a ‘traitor to the Malay cause’. The ‘Malay cause’ therefore must have a set ideology in order for Anwar to betray it. If the ‘Malay cause’ has no set ideology, whatever Anwar would do wouldn’t matter to it because it has no inherent values.

The ‘Malay cause’ in this case is betrayed because Anwar now opposes the NEP. The NEP is a policy that favours anyone by virtue of them being born or co-opted into a racial construct called ‘the Malays’ or by virtue of being indigenous to Malaysia. It fails to take into account that the definition of a ‘Malay’ is porous or that being indigenous is a virtue of time. At one point, even Parameswara’s descendants weren’t indigenous to Malaysia. So the even the beneficiaries of the ‘Malay cause’ may be also subject to change given time and racial interactions.

Anwar has betrayed the ‘Malay cause’, says Khairi. This means that the ‘Malay cause’ holds the NEP as a pivotal element because to reject it, one would be termed a ‘traitor’ to the ‘Malay cause’, a strong term indeed. No time limit was given to this equation so we can conclude the NEP is forever be inextricable to ‘the Malay cause’.

Questions we must now pose:

1. What is the Malay cause exactly? What is its ideology? Does its ideology impinge upon the causes of other races?

2. Is there a Malay cause that doesn’t involve the NEP?

3. Can the Malay survive without the NEP?

4. If not, why is this the case?

5. Has the NEP worked? If so, please define how it worked. If not, please define what the time limit is on this social experiment.

Clarity is a vital element to have in any discourse. Politicians who voice opinions in the media should be analysed so we understand the exact intent of a given statement and thus able to interrogate these statements fully. Only then can the rakyat be able to have a transparent and fully democratic government.

Comment:

anon wrote:

I too would like to know what exactly .... The Malays Cause is.

All 5 questions posed by Farouk is what I believe everyone wants to know. I had enough of reading and hearing about this The Malay Cause.

Would any cyber trooper be kind enough to explain to us what it means? Heck, you are paid so do some work other than just spamming and inciting racial hatred.

- Does the Malay cause mean .... never question the 'rights' of the Malays?

- Does it mean do not question 'ketuanan' Melayu?

- Does it mean the Malays must still be spoon-fed with the infamous NEP?

- Does it mean that the NEP is purely meant for the elitist Malays?

- Does it mean that that only Malays must be at the helm of every Government office? CEOs and Director Generals?

- Does it mean that only Malays must be Vice Chancellors of Universities?

- Does it mean that only Malays must be Deans in all Faculties in the Universities?

- Does it mean that only Malays must be Heads of Departments in all Faculties in Universities and Colleges?

- Does it mean only Malays have easy access ( or eligible ) to Government scholarships to study abroad and locally?- Does it mean that the Malays are a deprived lot?

- Does The Malay Cause apply to ALL Malays or a handpicked wealthy ones?

- Does it mean that the Malays have the right to threaten a bloodbath?

- Does it mean that the Malays have a right to pass highly intellectual statements on demeaning women?

- Does it mean that only Malays can wake up and sleep during working hours?

- Does it mean that only Malays can be totally corrupt?

- Does it mean that only Malays can issue permits to who they like?

- Does it mean that only Malays can advice the PM on how to run the country?

- Does it mean that Malays have the right to demolish places of worship without question?

- Does it mean that the UMNOputra Malays have the right to lie to the kampong Malays?

- Does it mean only Malays have license to kill?

- Does it mean that fighting for The Malay Cause will UNITE ALL RACES?


What is the RATIONALE behind this Malay Cause?

Heck, I could take up a lot more space as I have a lot more questions.

http://malaysia-today.net/blog2006/letters.php?itemid=7003

01/08: Raja Nazrin: Allow only honest officials to serve nation

People without integrity, honesty and morality should be prevented from holding public office.

The Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah said the fight against corruption should see good governance with figures in authority being qualified for such positions.

He said the corrupt should be held in contempt by society.

"Those with a chequered past or clear evidence of questionable morality should be prevented from taking office.

"There should be zero tolerance for corrupt practices," he said in his lecture entitled "Towards a Decent Social Order for All Malaysians" at the Islamic Arts Museum yesterday.

The lecture centred on the works of the late Prof Datuk Dr Syed Hussein Alatas, with special focus on three themes that he felt most compelled to write about.

These were religion as a positive force in development, mental liberation from colonial and western patterns of thinking, and creating conditions for good governance, particularly the eradication of corruption.

Raja Nazrin said Syed Hussein had fought tirelessly to elevate integrity and justice in society and to correct social ills, of which the battle against corruption was his top priority.

"Values and principles based on integrity and social justice, as enunciated by Syed Hussein, are crucial as mental attitudes and values are what shape a nation’s development.

"There must also be concrete anti-corruption measures and management practices based on efficiency, transparency and accountability.

"Syed Hussein also placed great store on the power of public outrage. He believed that if you awakened society’s consciousness to the ills of corruption and gave such cases widespread publicity, it would generate an adverse reaction that would force the government to take action."

Raja Nazrin outlined five traits needed for a decent social order which would produce social norms and behaviour that were fundamentally efficient, productive and just. They were:

• A social order that led to cohesion within and among communities and called for horizontal equity whereby all Malaysians in equal circumstances were treated in exactly the same way;

• Malaysians of all races and religions engaging one another with absolute civility and respect;

• Malaysians feeling a deep-seated sense of ownership over the problems of the country and being motivated to take decisive action and make whatever sacrifices necessary for the good of the country;

• Only Malaysians who were capable, hard working, bold and scrupulously honest being allowed to serve in positions of responsibility; and,

• The public having a high degree of trust in the pillars of state, the executive, judiciary and legislature, as well as the civil service and police.

"In short, a decent Malaysian social order would be one that is based on inclusiveness and accommodation as opposed to marginalisation and discrimination.

"Indeed, if Malaysia professes to be an advanced country, it had better be prepared to meet a higher standard of behaviour and morality. Anything less and it runs the risk of being declared a shameless sham," Raja Nazrin said.

The lecture was part of the Albukhary Lecture Series organised by the Albukhary Foundation and was attended by over 300 people.

The Raja Puan Besar of Perak Tuanku Zara Salim and Syed Hussein’s wife Datin Zahara Alatas were also present.

Syed Hussein’s son Assoc Prof Syed Farid Alatas read a citation on his late father’s works prior to the lecture.

Comment:

Your Highness,

If the incorrigibly corrupt UMNOputras and their cronies are banned from walking through the Corridors of Power, then Malaysia will indeed be on the path to being an advanced country.That is the only way towards a better and progressive Malaysia and a TRUE multi-racial people living in harmony. The rest of the world could learn from us.

You are indeed a man of wisdom Sir.

Can anyone dare doubt the TRUTH in Raja Nazrin's speech?

HRH is a very highly educated man and has had enough of seeing this country with its multi-racial people unhappy with the way the RACIST regime is running the country.

• These people in the regime are the ones who are inciting racial hatred.

• Waving a keris and threats of a bloodbath are just a couple of examples.

• Demeaning women by MPs is another despicable act.

• Calling this country an Islamic state is yet another act of challenging the Malaysian Constitution.

• Not putting these racists in their places again is another example of aiding and abetting such racists.

• Instead of snoozing this person should have put an end to all these atrocities. Now he and his cronies have achieved their objective - to spread ill-will and plant racial hatred among the races.

• Having his SIL to run the country shows his incompetence.

The kampong Malays are being made to look like idiots by this UMNOputras. I cannot blame them as the mainstream media is their only source of information.

To quote HRH Raja Nazrin:

Malaysia needs a future generation of leaders with unquestionable integrity. Only those who are capable, responsible and scrupulously honest should be allowed to serve in positions of leadership. Those who are inefficient, incompetent and, most importantly, corrupt, should be held in absolute contempt.

Comment:

I am personally trying to get these pragmatic words onto a car sticker and place it where all can see and read and .... digest.

To refute me, in my opinion, tantamounts to opposing HRH Raja Nazrin’s wisdom and foresight for a truly multi-racial Malaysia.

What HRH said is a benchmark for all and should be pasted in ALL government offices, the first place being Putra Jaya.

On behalf of the people of Malaysia, THANK YOU YRH RAJA NAZRIN SIR.

THANK YOU RPK SIR. You have I believe you exposed all these inefficient, incompetent and above all, corrupt and racist leaders.

Finally, a MAN of CALIBRE has publicly voiced the the peoples' thoughts which all of us so badly needed to hear and now see some light after hearing and reading what HRH Raja Nazrin had to say, much to the chagrin of some above-the-law defiant ones who walk tall through the Corridors of Power.

These people and their kampong cronies in who act as morons and thugs in Parliament should take heed to this undoubtedly inspiring speech par excellence.

To these ethnocentric and autocratic Musuh-Linis - read and digest this sublime speech.

Brothers and sisters of all races, we are Malaysians and we support HRH Raja Nazrin and YM RPK.

HRH Raja Nazrin and YM RPK are our last bastions of JUSTICE for all.

When Did Bloggers Get So Powerful?

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

A few years ago, the TV programme that Lina Tan and I co-produce, 3R-Respect,relax and Respond, had one episode banned from being broadcast by the Censor Board. That particular episode was about young women who were being discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation. It wasn't so much the fact that we were talking about lesbians that got the censors' knickers in a twist but that in interviews with two women, they both mentioned that their families continued to give them love and support. Apparently, telling the world that families continue to love their children or siblings despite them being gay was a truly radical notion, one which, in the words of our wise scissor-happy people, 'would bring down society'.

My colleagues at 3R and I were truly astounded by this. For one thing, nobody who had seen the episode could find much that was controversial. Secondly, the idea that families should discard their own kin seemed to go completely against the whole family-values thing. And thirdly, we never knew that a 30-minute TV programme for young women could have so much power that it could actually bring down the whole of Malaysian society. Perhaps I should thank the Censor Board for bestowing on us that power!

The furore over bloggers these days reminded me very much of that 3R incident. So much noise and angst over three or four blogs, albeit hugely popular ones. On the one hand, blogs are supposed to be 'not that popular' read only by the urban elite while the rural masses are completely oblivious to it. What's more, all they do is,apparently, lie. So if they are a bunch of liars who are only read by a small number of people sipping vanilla lattes, why worry?

But worry they do, to the extent of making police reports and calling for all sorts of bolts of legal lightning to be rained down on their heads, accusing them of 'cyber' crimes. And what are these ? Saying nasty things about people. Giving the country a bad image. Tut-tutting the government and its leaders. Gee whiz, these are the sorts of things that bring down our society? Give me a break!

I never knew that a handful of bloggers could be so powerful. So okay, they are writing about people in positions of authority, such as cops, doing things they shouldn't, like take money for um...services rendered. Or, they are reminding people who read blogs that there are a heck of a lot of pots in Parliament calling kettles black. Some are just reporting on the truly imbecilic things that our allegedly esteemed leaders insist on saying. Some of these, especially the idiocies, are in the mainstream media anyway. While others are noticeably absent, or are, shall we say, spun in such a way that they sound better than they are.

But just because some bloggers talk about these, life the Malaysian way will go down the tubes? Such faith we have in ourselves! If this was true, Raja Petra would be the most powerful man in Malaysia.

Unless of course, among those alleged 'lies', there is the tiniest grain of truth. And when people are feeling guilty, not even such tiny grains can be allowed to come out. Siapa makan cili and all that. So let's bring the mother of all hammers down on that tiny grain because otherwise, oh lor', it might just grow!

I don't have to reiterate it here but if we do have to worry about our image in the eyes of the world, it is the politicians we should be pointing accusing fingers at. Idiots like Bung Mokhtar and his 'bocor' remarks, Badaruddin Whatshisface and Jo B, both unfortunately from my home state, Zam, our Minister of Propaganda and of course , our 'favourite' nazi Nazri. Yes it's all politics but does politics have to be so stupid? (Did anyone see the US Democratic Presidential candidate debate the other night? Can you imagine any of our lunkheads doing that?)

And this is the thing...how did we get to a point when we are embarassed by our own leaders, when we feel ashamed to own up to them? Can we even name one of them that we even admire these days? Even if we don't agree with them but we can still admire them for their principles at least? What examples do they set for our children, for God's sake? Is it any wonder that in that survey not too long ago, our politicians came out last when people were asked who they trusted? Who in their right minds would trust Nazri?

(Lest anyone think I only consider Government politicians untrustworthy, let me state that I wouldn't lend money to any of the rest either.)

And we wonder why our young are disinterested in politics? Who can blame them? Rockstars and actors sound far more intelligent than our politicians any time. I'd rather tune in to Bono than Bung , no contest.

Maybe that's it. They know they have nothing to offer. They know they're skating on thin ice in the brain stakes. They know we can see through them. They don't mind us thinking it but they sure as hell would rather we didn't say it. Or worse still, say it and then give a cynical laugh. They think we're making them look like idiots, without once thinking that they're doing a pretty good job of it themselves. That's what they find unforgiveable.

Hey you know, if any little thing I say makes Nazri foam at the mouth and gives him ulcers, well I don't mind that. If Zam's eyes pop out every time I call him out on any of his nonsense, that would give me a real kick. I could really get off on making any of these guys (and the occasional girl) burst a vessel or two.In fact, I might start thinking I do have some power after all.

Posted by MarinaM at 11:39 PM

Comment:

Hi there Marina,

Really good to see your post in here. I saw your post and gave my comments in your blog but I personally think that this is an excellent article ( you have many just as good ones ) and I shall post my comments here again.

Thank you Marina and keep up the good work. I have utmost respect for you, your blog, your articles and what you stand up for. Unfortunately, many have yet to understand and appreciate YOU. I know I do.

Here's my comment:

Dear Marina,

An excellent article.

Yes, pea-brained racist MPs like that 'bocor' moron has a 'bocor' in his head when he passed that disgusting racist remark. I have commented at length about this in M-T. What can you expect from wild monkey who has escaped from a cage? And these are the ignoramuses that sit in Parliament. These are the ones who indulge in lurid behavior and put on a mask when they get home.

As for your 3R, did you really think it was going to be aired? There are male chauvinist who would never air such programs simply because they believe it’s a ‘Man’s world’ but let’s look beyond that, they are basically insecure.

Rural folks are certainly oblivious to sites like yours and M-T. The ruling party will ensure that it stays that way. If the rural folks have access to M-T they know that all hell might break loose. I personally know of many rural folks who actually believe that they are being helped. Can you blame them? Years of propaganda, brainwashing, indoctrination, call it what you like, has seeped into their innocent heads and they now believe that the pittance they get is a huge bonus.

Raja Petra is indeed the most powerful man in this country – the idiots without realizing it have made him so. And I might add, rightly so.

You said:
And we wonder why our young are disinterested in politics? Who can blame them? Rockstars and actors sound far more intelligent than our politicians any time. I'd rather tune in to Bono than Bung , no contest.

I say:
Absolutely!

Look at that ex-Menteri Besar with two Muhamads in his name. He is nothing but a corrupt liar and worse, a stooge. Educated in MU ( UM) but pleads that he is illiterate in the English language! I detest such low life reprobates like him. People like him and those two hole-in-the-head duo should be personae non gratae not just in this country but in every society. They have absolutely nothing to contribute but what’s in their head and that is precisely what they proudly blurted out in Parliament.

Marina, you too have a lot of clout as what you say and do is respected by a whole lot of people.
Btw, I like that pic of the three stooges.

Cheers.

Sexy and the Sexually enthusiasitic ... an innocent victim of pressure and persecution

A singer Siti Noor Idayu was caught singing in a pub in Perak by the Raiders of the Lost Ark aka JAIP for donning this attire which they claimed was too 'revealing'. Yes, the attire that you see in the photo here. White sleeveless top with pants.

Of course it has to be in Perak. I mean, where else would you find SEXY girls!

I leave this to you to arrive at a conclusion whether this attire ( see pix ) is revealing or otherwise.

Read more

Siti Noor Idayu said an officer even told her that the money she earned working in the outlet was duit haram (illicit money) and that her parents, children and future generations would all be tainted for using such money. ( an overworked officer )

“They finally wrote me a notice accusing me of dressing sexily ( white sleeveless top and long pants - see pic above ) and encouraging immorality just because I sang there,” she said. The notice ordered her to appear before the Syariah Court here on Aug 6. When contacted, JAIP director Datuk Jamry Sury said he was confident that his officers had not acted outside of their jurisdiction in issuing the notice.

“According to Islamic laws, a Muslim woman is not allowed to serve or entertain a man who is not her husband in a place where immoral activities usually take place,” he said.

===============================================================

So, if a Muslim woman is not supposed to serve or entertain a man who is not her husband where "immoral activities usually takes place", then all Muslim women entertainers, singers, dancers, salesgirls, TV hosts, Personal Secretaries/Assistants ( who sometimes have to accompany their bosses locally and abroad ) should stop working? Heck, 'immoral' activities take place even at residential places. A woman's place is in the kitchen then?

===============================================================

"I was surprised when the officers told me that this top was too revealing. Sometimes I wear something similar when I go out in the day. This is sexy? I do not think so," she said yesterday.

Noor Idayu claimed that during the raid, the male officers had taken a lot of pictures of her from almost every angle." ( almost every angle ... interesting )

When I was taken to the department’s headquarters in Ipoh, my pictures were taken again. When I asked why they needed so many shots, they said, ‘It’s procedure’. ( Again? Hmm, I wonder why ... exhibits perhaps? )

( Ahh, Procedure! You know, catch a criminal and take mug shots ... all angles )

Noor Idayu was released on Wednesday morning on a RM1,000 bond in one surety. She was told to appear before the Ipoh Syariah Court on Aug 6 to face charges of "revealing her body" and "promoting vice" under the Perak Syariah Penal Code. The singer was picked up together with four of her band members. ( They must have absconded to KL? )

"I felt so insulted when one of the officers, who was holding our MyKad, put them together with some beer glasses and said ‘najis’ (filth). What gave him the right to demean us when it is not clear that we were guilty of anything?" she asked. ( Come on Siti, that's 'procedure' darling )

Noor Idayu, who has been singing in clubs for the last three years, said she did not take any alcoholic drinks and even her breathalyser test was negative. ( Imagine if it was positive! More mug shots with close-up shots too... at every angle)

"When I passed the test, the female officers seemed disappointed and asked me to do it again. I did so willingly as I knew that I did not drink. Not once in my three years of singing in clubs have I drunk liquor," she said. ( Dammit! She passed the test !!!! )

There was a twist to the incident, though. Noor Idayu’s father, who contacted the department, was apparently told that the charges would be dropped. ( Siti dear, inform your father that they just wanted a few photos of you from almost every angle for personal viewing. Your ardent fans lah sayang )

"However, I will still appear at the court on Aug 6. Whether the charges are dropped or otherwise, we shall see. I am prepared to fight my case," she said. ( Good for you dear Siti Noor Idayu)

===============================================================

So I guess all other Sitis got away with it. What makes the other Sitis so different? What makes other singing Sitis different? What makes the whole entertainment industry with women in it so different? And what about other local Muslim singers?

The question is: What should the dress code be for entertainers?

She ain't dressed up like entertainers on MTV.

So 'immoral activities' take place in pubs. How about other places ... like hotels, resorts, parks, malls, cinema halls, theatres? Wait a minute, there was some kind of a dance competition on TV lately. There were Malays in there. What should have been the dress code for those dancers?

Actresses? I like movies like ... " Perempuan, Isteri dan ... "

Heck, Sofia Jane acted very well. Pretty too and ... umm ... yea, good acting.

Oops, I forgot ... every nook and corner in schools and colleges. Nah, they are innocent students.

These innocent people are trying hard to make a decent living. Some years ago, it was taboo for a Muslim to work in Gentings Highlands or was it just the casino?

If singing in a pub is 'immoral' then what about singing in hotels and at concerts ( indoors or outdoors ) where all kinds of freaks, I mean people, hang out.

I guess the answer is to sing in Studio One ... then again, it's like a pub too, a kosher pub. And you are certainly not entertaining your husband.

Come on, we are civilized and let us act like we are.

I cannot fathom why that guy is still the mufti of Perak. Perak may become an extension of Kelantan soon. Ahh, Siti Noor Idayu was caught in Ipoh, Perak. Siti, Siti, why did you have to sing in Perak? Nice place Perak but there are so many other places Siti, like KL, Malacca, Penang, so many more.

What about the Muslim cashiers at the malls? Especially when customers buy non-halal products. And the beverage they buy like wine and other alchoholic drinks?
All these non-halal and haram items have to pass through a counter and the Muslim cashier has to put them all in a plastic bag. Now is this Muslim 'abetting' illicit activities?

The mufti of Perak tells the Muslims not to work in nightclubs because it's a sin for a Muslim to do so. Not even as cashiers or clerks.

According to him, Muslims who work in such places that serve alchohol are considered as 'abetting' illicit activities. "A Muslim should stay with her family or look after her children rather than be in these places drinking," he said. So remember this, all you Muslim women ... a woman's place is in her kitchen!

She voluntarily took the breathalyser test - twice - as the women officers were rather disappointed with the first test - and passed the tests. So drinking is not the issue here.

So where does one expect these Muslims to find a job? People who work as cashiers and clerks in any place do not have the required qualification to get into Universities and grab high-flying jobs. These are the unfortunate ones.

So, what are these Muslims going to do to get a 'decent' job? Job vacancies are scarce for even degree holders. Thousands of them are unemployed.

Do we need these Muslims to leave these jobs and join Mat and Minah Rempits? Or perhaps join gangs and resort to being snatch thieves. We have enough of them as it is.

Abet simply means help or encourage someone to do something wrong or illegal. These pubs and nightclubs are not operating illegally. They have a licence to sell alchohol.
These Muslims are not helping to sell or serve moonshine.

The mufti of Perak said: "If your parents told you that you could drive on the highway at 120kph, is it still right to do so?" This analogy is ludicrous.

Firstly, it shows total disrespect for her parents.

Secondly, speed limits on highways are not set by muftis. Stay away from Government-set laws.

Thirdly, if Siti's parents tell her to adopt the veil ( purdah ) and strap herself with bombs, is it still right to do so?

In the same vein, if her parents told her to unquestionably listen and be an ardent follower of the mufti of Perak, does that make it right? In the myopic eyes of the mufti, of course it is.

So to say 'abetting' illicit activities does not do justice to say the least. It's one man's warped interpretation of what is right and what is wrong. In my opinion and I am entitled to one, such misogynistic attitude should never be welcomed by our society. If not checked, it will spread like an epidemic.

An insightful band member says she was only earning money by using her talent. For that Noor Idayu is being persecuted.

The Sisters in Islam said this: If Muslim men were offended by the sight of Noor Idayu's dress, then the Quran commanded them to lower their gaze and guard their own modesty.

"It is not the duty of the state to bring about a moral society to turn all incidence of 'bad dressing' into crimes against the state.
"It is obvious that many provisions of the Syariah Criminal Offences law are ununforceable as they intrude into issues that remain, for most Malaysians, in the realm of personal choice and fundamental liberty," it said.

Well said Sisters in Islam. I applaud your statement and conviction on this matter. Says a lot about the insiduous intent of the learned mufti of Perak.

Dear Noor Idayu, you have your parents' consent and blessing and that is what matters most. If you know you are not doing anything against the law, do not be affected by sanctimonious saint who seems to envisage a halo above his head. You are not as lucky as some who in the comfort of their homes, pass 'illicit' judgement on you.

It's not easy to earn a living for some. One should understand that before hurling wild accusations.

I personally know of some poor Malay Muslims who are feeling a big pinch trying hard to get a job just to earn some money to support their family.

Some live to eat while others eat to live. Hungry predators waiting to pounce on an innocent prey.

End this vexing game of snooping and random enslaving of innocent citizens.

We do not need snoops and spies nor do we need any civilians taking on the role of sanctimonious saints.

What Siti Noor Idayu needs is to live her life with nobody advising her on morality. I am sure she understands what morality is and is abiding by the law.

Given a choice, she would, like a lot of us, sit behind a desk in an established air-conditioned office with the plaque on her mahogany desk stating: CEO.

Not all of us are in the right place at the right time.

21/06: Understanding the Malay-Muslim mind

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

On 19 June 2007, one Malaysia Today reader who goes by the nickname of anon sent in a letter under the heading of There is THEM and there is US (read the letter here). Anyway, the bottom line is there was this Malay teacher who chided Malay students for getting to chummy with the non-Malay students.

Now, I know how angry anon must be feeling and I am sure this particular situation appears puzzling to someone not of the Muslim faith. I hope, through this piece, I can help non-Muslims better understand the Muslim mind, in particular the Malay mind. After you understand how the Malay mind works, meaning Muslim mind of course, you may actually end up pitying Malays rather than hating them. I hope you will then better comprehend the confused state of mind the Malays are in and how Islam, or rather their version of Islam, has led them up the garden path. Religion is supposed to enlighten one. In the case of the Malays, Islam has shackled their minds instead of opening it and allowing them to think.

It is not the fault of Islam though, if that is what you are thinking. Ideologies are never at fault. Even Communism is good in theory. It is the application of Communism that invites disaster. Well, you may argue, if ideologies are good in theory but not in practice then that ideology can’t be any good in the first place. Yes, I suppose you can use this argument. But then that argument would apply to Democracy as well. Hitler was voted in democratically. Does that mean we abolish democracy? It is not democracy that is at fault but those who wrongly apply or in some cases abuse democracy. If democracy is restored to what it was supposed to be there would be nothing wrong with it. And that applies to all ideologies, including Islam. It is the wrongful application and misinterpretation that is at fault. And I hope this piece will help enlighten you on the real problem, which may differ from the perceived problem.

Islam, to the Malays, is basically Arabisation. This is the very narrow viewpoint of the Malays. They look up to the Arabs as the perfect example and role model of Islam and anything Saudi Arabian is considered the best example of the Prophet Muhammad, which should be emulated by all good Muslims. Dressing the way of the Prophet, eating and drinking the way of the Prophet, in short, conducting your entire life the way of the Prophet is virtuous and scores points. The only thing is, they do not really know what it was like in the time of the Prophet other than that he was an Arab -- so what is Arab today must then be what it was like in the time of the Prophet.

At one point the Saudi Arabian ulama (religious scholars) refused to allow aeroplanes to land in Saudi Arabia because they considered it un-Islamic seeing that there was no such thing in the time of the Prophet. The same thing went for radio and television as well. The ulama refused to allow Saudi Arabian soil to be ‘contaminated’ with these non-Muslim inventions. It took a long time for the rulers to slowly persuade the ulama to ease up on the ruling and allow western inventions onto ‘sacred’ Saudi Arabian soil. Even then they agreed reluctantly and with very strict conditions attached. It also took a long time for the ulama to agree to allow western magazines and publications into Saudi Arabia. Magazines and publications that were eventually allowed into Saudi Arabia were heavily censored though. The government employed hundreds of people to go through each and every copy of the magazines and publications and paint out pages after pages of offending material using paint brushes and pots of black ink. Some pages were torn out entirely if there was too much to censor, in particular advertisements featuring women not covered from head to toe.

Now, why is it like this? Why is the Saudi Arabian version of Islam so intolerant? You, anon, are just faced with the problem of Malay teachers telling Malay students to not mix with non-Malays. You might not realise that the majority of Muslims are actually not like this at all but are really very tolerant. It is those people who believe they are holding dear the true version of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad’s version, who are resorting to this intolerance. And these people are those who look to the Saudi Arabian model of Islam in moulding their opinions and beliefs. In short, they are following the Wahhabi version of Islam.

Let me at this point give you a brief history lesson on Wahhabi Islam. Wahhabi Islam did not always exist. The Arabian Peninsular was not even a nation or country until less than 100 years ago. For more than 1,000 years it was a peninsular inhabited by various tribes that were perpetually at war with one another. This scenario was no different from that of North America before the coming of the whites. War was a way of life and caravan raids plus attacking each other’s communities, killing the men, and taking the women and the children as slaves, was an accepted and normal way of life in the Najd Desert. No one actually ruled the Najd or the Arabian Peninsular. One of the many tribes was the Saud tribe that around 1500 settled in the area where Riyadh is now situated.

In the 1700s, a local tribal chief by the name of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab tried to introduce a very strict version of Islam. No doubt Mekah and Medina were the centres of Islam and which were then under the jurisdiction of the Ottoman Empire based in what is known today as Turkey. But the other tribes living farther away from these two Islamic centres had reverted to pagan practices steeped in superstition and a corruption of what Islam really stood for. In that sense Islam had deviated and had been reduced to what it was in the pre-Muhammad days. So the Arabian Peninsular, other than Mekah and Medina, was not Islamic at all. And this al-Wahhab wanted to change.

Al-Wahhab was actually a child prodigy who had memorised the entire Quran at the age of ten. He married at the age of 12, which was quite common in many parts of the world until even quite recently (and I believe is still practiced in some parts of Indonesia). Al-Wahhab travelled to Iran and Iraq to learn about Islam and he eventually came back to the Najd to preach his version of Islam. His students and followers called themselves mujahideen and this was when the term started to become popular. But of course their enemies called them Wahhabis and until today this is how they are referred as. Al-Wahhab’s interpretation of Islam is that Islam is militant and political and that is how Islam must be propagated.

Al-Wahhab and his followers began to destroy what they viewed as pagan sites and he was soon enough sent into exile in an area known as Ad Dirayah. That was when he attracted the attention of Muhammad Saud, the head or Emir of the Saud tribe that had established itself 200 years or so earlier. In 1744, Muhammad Saud and Muhammad Abd al-Wahhab took an oath of alliance. If I may be so dramatic as to say that this oath of alliance changed the entire course of Islamic history after the first change of course in 656 soon after the death of Uthman and the election of Ali as the Fourth Caliph of Medina. It took Islam about 1,100 years to finally ‘find its roots’, if I may be permitted to put it that way for want of a better phrase.

When Muhammad Saud died 21 years later, his son, Abdul Aziz ibn Saud, took over as the new chief of the tribe. By then the Saud family, through its army, was already in control of most of the Najd region. In 1801, the Saud-Wahhab army attacked Hussein’s shrine in Karbala and destroyed it. Hussein, the son of the Fourth Caliph Ali, is revered by his followers who are now known as the Shias, which is the short term for ‘The Party of Ali’. Those the Wahhabis considered as ‘deviant’ Muslims were massacred by the thousands. They then attacked the city of Taif and massacred its inhabitants. After that Mekah and Medina surrendered without a fight. Monuments were destroyed, graves desecrated (including shrines of saints), and thousands of books which did not fit the Wahhabi version of Islam were burnt.

The two holy cities of Mekah and Medina then came under the Ottoman Empire and at first the Ottomans did not know how to deal with the Wahhabis. Eventually, the Ottomans sent the Egyptian army to take care of the problem and the Wahhabis retaliated by declaring the Ottomans and Egyptians as infidels (kafir) and apostates (murtad). In 1811, a bloody battle ensued which resulted in the defeat of the Sauds-Wahhabis. The Saud-Wahhabi imam was arrested and brought back to Istanbul where he was beheaded in public. Ad Dirayah was burnt to the ground and until today still remains in ruin.

The Sauds retreated to an area north of Ad Dirayah into a small town called Riyadh, which they proclaimed as their new capital in 1824. However, instead of consolidating, they spent the next 60 years engaged in tribal and interfamily conflicts, which weakened them even further. By 1890, they had to retreat to Kuwait because they had lost control of Riyadh to the more moderate Muslims who moved into Riyadh and soon outnumbered the Wahhabi Sauds.

By 1906, Abdul Aziz ibn Saud, Muhammad Saud’s grandson, had restored the influence of the Saud tribe in the Najd. In the merciless battle for control of Riyadh, the detractors were beheaded and their heads placed on spikes in a ring surrounding the gates to the city. 1,200 others were burnt alive and the young women captured as slaves and some given away as presents to friends of the Sauds. Mekah was captured in 1924 and Medina the following year. By 1932, the Sauds had control over the entire Arabian Peninsular. Abdul Aziz then proclaimed himself King and declared the Arabian Peninsular as his personal fiefdom. Thereafter, he made an announcement that his family was of royal blood and, on 22 September 1932, he renamed the Arabian Peninsular the United Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. And so a country was born.

Abdul Aziz then declared Wahhabi the official religion of the land and all other religions and other versions of Islam were banned. Tolerance was not on the agenda as what Abdul Aziz said, “The Arabs understand two things only; the Word of Allah and the sword.”

The majority of the Malays in Malaysia accept the Saudi Arabian version of Islam as the correct and true version. Just like the Sauds of 100 years ago, the Malays too regard all other versions of Islam as deviant to the true Islam. All other Muslims are apostates and infidels. The Sauds solved this problem of ‘deviant’ Muslims by massacring all the men and capturing the women as slaves. Through ethnic cleansing the different variations of Islam were wiped out from the Arabian Peninsular. But other variations of Islam still remain in other countries in the Middle East as well as in countries like India, Indonesia, etc.

Most Malays actually have no inkling about the history or origins of Wahhabi Islam. Many Malaysian ulama acquired their religious knowledge through Wahhabi schools, so invariably they end up following Wahhabi Islam. And since Malays have been taught to never do any independent research on religion but just take the word of the ulama without question or dispute, then what the ulama teach would be accepted as the gospel without challenge.

But religion is one thing and history is another. Granted, only the ‘experts’ should be allowed to interpret religion. You do not, however, need to be a member of the cloth to study history. Researching Wahhabi Islam is not about studying religion. It is about studying history. And if you research Wahhabi Islam then you will know the movement is about militancy and politics. That was exactly what the Wahhabi movement was set up for. So you need to study history, not religion, and analyse Wahhabi Islam from the historical angle; where it came from and how it emerged. Malays believe that Islam is a peaceful religion. The Wahhabis do not. They believe that Islam is militant and political. That one fundamental issue contradicts what Islam stands for.

So, anon, Malays sincerely believe that when they tell their kids to not mix with non-Muslim kids this is what the Prophet Muhammad preached and this is what Islam is all about. Actually, what they don’t realise is, this is what Wahhabism and not Islam preaches. Therefore, in that sense, you must pity the Malays for they are grossly misguided. And let me assure you that what I have written here will be disputed by 99% of Malays who will accuse me of running down Islam. The Arabs, to the Malays, are the best example of the Prophet and to insult the Arabs tantamount to insulting Islam and the Prophet.

If the Malays only knew the truth! But they refuse to recognise the truth because they are worried that the truth may erode their akidah whereas this has nothing to do with akidah, or even religion, but has everything to do with history and reality.