Monday, September 07, 2009

Letter to YB Khalid (Original to Malaysiakini)

Salam Sejahtera, my Selangor Menteri Besar. I hope you are in a pink of health while working hard for the people during this holy Ramadhan.

I know you are currently facing a lot of troubles especially from the recent ruckus over relocation of the S19 temple, the beer-banning and not to forget the suggestion of the Zakat fund to be made available for the state.

It didn't come as a shock to me to be honest because growing up in Selangor, I still know that people here are still not ready for some dramatic changes being made in the way Selangor should be governed.

Of course every Selangor residents wants everything works for the better, but we are still so young and naive over certain issues.

To start with, the Muslims were left shell-shocked over your suggestion for the state to interfere with the Pusat Zakat Selangor fund. Some called you stupid, some called you trying to please the non-Muslims too much, some asked you to go back and read the fundementals of Zakat.

I called my mom weeks ago and the first 'gossip' during our conversation was about this Zakat matter.

Let me remind you briefly of the 8 groups of people (asnaf) who are allowed to gain from the Zakat fund. They are all based on the holy Quraan (9:60)

1. The needy - Fuqara'
2. Extreme poor Muslims - Al-Masakin
3. Those employed to collect - Aamileen (Pusat Zakat staff salaries)
4. Muslim converts - Muallafatul Quloob
5. To free the slaves - Ar-Riqaab
6. Those in debt - Al Ghaarimeen
7. In the way of Allah - Fi Sabeelillah
8. Wayfarer - Ibnus-Sabeel

So it was a blunder by YBhg. MB to even proposing it. I hope such things can be avoided in the future.

Moving on, the beer banning issue in Shah Alam. This was suggested by Dr. Hassan Ali (PAS) and it was proposed innocently, to respect Muslims in the area. Again, your judgment was under scrutiny. Please bear in mind that these people are Muslims who are so afraid that their children would find easy access to alcohol beverages. They were not paid by UMNO or any BN component parties to cause chaos whatsoever. My take on this is that you should listen to the people in the area, not trying to please EVERYONE. Alcohol is bad for everyone anyway, Muslims or not.

And finally, the temple issue. I was gutted by the way the S23 residents were acting bringing along a cow's head in a street protest, spitting and stepping on it. I know they are now playing the blame game for the cow head among themselves but I think it was just a split second decision from one of them, getting the cow-head from the local butcher and bringing it along to provoke the Hindus. Stern action should be taken to the people responsible for this as a cow is deemed as a sacred animal for the Hindus and Islam does not condone the act of humiliating any animals. (Yes, pigs and dogs included).

Some hardcore Pakatan fans and voters put the blame on UMNO by lying to everyone saying those people were from Pekida or some BN-related NGOs while I truly believe these peole are genuinely from S23. And so what if they so happened to support PKR, PAS or UMNO? Thats normal. I also believe that these are the same people who went berserk during the dialogue with you earlier today which I think did not respect the holy Ramadhan. It was a good initiative to hold a dialogue but was it not too little too late?

My question is however, is there really a NEED to relocate the temple? It's 150 years old maybe it should stay there and become one of Malaysia's heritage buildings and maybe some reworked can be done on it? Why the hassle to relocate the temple?

The mistake by Y.Bhg MB was to relocate the temple without the S23's people consent or any prior explanation. They feel betrayed and think you are arrogant for making decisions behind their backs. What happened to this 'Giving the Power Back to the People' or 'Ketuanan Rakyat' concept?

Well, I hope everything will then be alright after wise solutions are implemented. No offence to the guy, but I prefer you than Khir Toyo to lead Selangor.

Or maybe we need a new guy if you don't buck up soon. But please no more Khir Toyo. Ever.

My advice to you, work sincerely, you don't have to try hard to please everyone. This is not you.

Yours sincerely,
Jeg Hui.

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