Snippets: How I would solve current Malaysian issues if I were PM

On Kalimah "Allah" issue...
Christians in Malaysia who are actually using the BM version of the bible (Sabah and Sarawak) would be encouraged to use the Malaysian version, not the Indonesian version of the bible. "Allah" shall never appear in these bibles because the more appropriate one to be used is "Tuhan", so to protect Christianity itself and the sensitivity of the Muslims who refer their one and only God, who do not bear a son nor that He has a father, as Allah.

On rising prices...
Controlled goods are controlled goods. If suppliers/retailers increase the prices of controlled goods above the maximum allowed, they will be punished heavily and jailed as well. It is also a high time for Malaysians to reap higher salaries especially in the Multinational companies. Minimum wage can be introduced and also set a clear salary benchmark for the public to see for each general occupations. Companies which meet this benchmark will be rewarded in some tax exemptions.

On people spewing racial, religious hatred...
They should be detained under sedition act. While I was against the ISA being abolished, I would also not welcome it back at this time (flip flop is a sign of weakness). The Act that replaces ISA should avoid making political arrests, unless it was clear what was uttered by politicians, regardless of party, religion or race, would cause disharmony and disunity.

On the motor industry...
Proton and Perodua should continuously be protected by the Government but we will not be pumping Rakyat's money anymore for their Research and Development. With Lotus under its wings, Proton should start using their technology fully to make better cars, not just its handling. Protectionism here would be the current price discrimination that we have against imported cars. Foreign cars shall continue to be expensive with the current duties and tax in place. Proton aftersales will be monitored so that they reach a world class level. Proton and Perodua cars will be made cheaper, to the extend that they are so cheap but in high quality, Malaysians will come back to Proton and Perodua.

On Shiah in Malaysia...
Shiah pracitices will never be allowed here in Malaysia. The Muslims are too divided already by three political parties and it would only be worse to have a Syiah sect joining the fray. Those involved will be caught for insulting the official religion Islam.

On Anwar's "olive branch offer" for reconciliation...
Truth be told despite Anwar's moral issues, he still has the backing of a large number of Rakyat. If we could agree on the things above and for him to convince his followers on the right thing to do, apolitical and unpopular even, then national reconciliation will be on the right track. If he is sincere enough, he would not ask for positions, favours or money even. Rakyat will reward him if he toes the line.
  

Not Urgent for Herald to Use 'Allah'

This is my third article regarding the issue. To date my colleagues have yet to ask me about the 'Allah' issue in Malaysia.

It's either they can't be bothered with it or simply too 'afraid' to discuss the matter with me.

I second the former.

That is the difference between people in the UK and Malaysia. Many Malaysians, still 'afraid' to SPEAK UP.

Instead of speaking up, discussing the matter level-headedly, some chose to torch the churches and suraus.

Malaysians, are still young to handle some issues with 'hikmah', eventhough they are suggested to do so by religions.

Today, I will try to underline a solution for this issue. It has been dragging for years already. When the matter became a lot worse with places of worship being burnt, the best thing many of our so called great leaders did was blaming each other.

Some leaders were quick enough to visit those places with some goodies and words of support, others, politicised the issue hoping to get a run of political mileage.

Disgusting!

Right, solution! Let us be as practical as possible. You guys want to discuss about it, conduct an open dialogue, thats fine, but please get someone who is impartial and non-partisans. I am quite sick already with people politicising the issue. It's like cancer! Even if you have to invite politicians, it's fine but make sure he/she's not a politicKING/QUEEN.

In my humble opinion, I don't see it is urgent for Herald to use 'Allah' in their Bahasa Malaysia version. The argument of Christians in Sabah and Sarawak have been reading 'Allah' in Herald cannot be used to indicate some sort of urgency. The reason why Christians in Syria, Egypt and other parts of the Middle East have been using 'Allah' for thousands of years is simply that they are Arabic speakers.

There are also stories of the pagan Meccans and Egypt Copts (Christians) referring their God as 'Allah' during Muhammad's (PBUH) time. This is simply because they were arabic speakers.

Herald wants to use 'Allah' in their Bahasa Malaysia version, not Arabic version.

Therefore, it is not timely for Herald to use it since millions of Muslims and small number of Non-Muslims in the Peninsula object to it. Malaysia then hit the headlines around the world for the wrong reason over this avoidable issue. Herald, NOT using 'Allah' in their Bahasa version will definitely ease the tension. The Christians, shouldn't feel as if they lost their 'Allah' and should never be angry about it. Herald BM in East Malaysia, can continue using the word 'Allah'.

Thing is though, I must ask, how many Bibles are written in Arabic that is available in Malaysia?

Situational point of view, unlike Muslims in East Malaysia, Muslims in the Peninsula are not comprehensively informed about the usage of 'Allah' by Eastern Malaysian Christians for decades. Of course there is a huge difference in opinions and it will take decades as well for the people in the Peninsula to absorb it. Thus, it is quite normal for the Muslims in the Peninsula to be strongly against it.

I personally think since the East Malaysians are not Arabic speakers, why bother using an Arabic word for God when you have Tuhan in Bahasa? However, since the Christians in the East has been using it for decades, I dare not take that away from them.

Now, I must ask the Muslims in Malaysia, when you read the Asma ul-Husna, do you find 'Allah' in the 99 names of Allah? When I was 8, I asked my ustazah how come 'Allah' is not included in the Asma ul-Husna? Of course she couldn't answer such a big question. It took me years only to realise that Allah is not the name of God in Islam but rather, Allah is what Arabic speakers call God, the Creator of the Universe and everything inside it.

However, since the Holy Quraan was sent down by God, through Jibril the Angel to Muhammad (PBUH) in Arabic, of course the word 'Allah' is more fond with the Muslims. Hadiths are also written in Arabic and to be fair, this is why the Muslims in Malaysia thought 'Allah' is exclusive only for Islam.

Again, Allah is a standard Arabic word for God and is used by arabic speaking people particularly from the Abrahamic faiths. Since Islam accepts the four Holy Books of Taurat, Zabur, Injil and Al-Quraan, we should not object the people who are reading the Torah (Taurat), Psalms (Zabur) and Bible (Injil) in ARABIC using the word 'Allah'. (even though it is arguable the similarities between each of the books from Islamic and non-Islamic point of view).

I know some people who claim to be 'Moderate Muslims' (MM and MM for example) or 'Liberal Muslims' (when there's no such thing as those since Islam always promotes moderation through the concept of Wasatiyyah) would welcome the idea of Herald using 'Allah' in their Bahasa version IMMEDIATELY, but for me, it is not a wise thing to do. The situation will not agree to it and it's impossible to change their mindset in one night.

There is a reason why many Malaysian Muslims are prejudiced to it.

-Why there is a need for Herald to use the word 'Allah' at such an untimely manner?

Some has labeled these people as 'Islamic extremists' and even UMNO-paid agent provocateurs. (I am not referring to the arsonists -these people should be ISA-ed ASAP).

I have to agree with these so called 'extremists' at some point.

It is not urgent and Herald is not having it in Arabic anyway.

And most importantly, most would object to it.

Some stats update:

Malaysian-Facebookers against the use of 'Allah' by Herald = 199,242. (76%)
Malaysian-Facebookers in support of Herald using 'Allah' = 62,284. (24%).

Jeg Hui

Knowing You Knowing Me

WARNING: SPOILER AHEAD. IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED 'KNOWING' THE MOVIE PLEASE DO NOT CONTINUE!

I had the chance to watch this movie after watching its sneak preview on Astro with Nicholas Cage's interview and all. I was pessimistic at first Knowing would be a good movie for the day with Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic and others rating it at an average of 40%.

But my oh my don't I like this movie to bits? Come on! It's so good for me I am writing a blog entry for it!

Most people would find sci-fi movies to be stupid and too good to be true. I understand the over-dramatization of some of it although they are based on scientific evidence. I always thought I will make a movie one day and to tell you the truth, Knowing is the kind of movie I am going to make! (if I had the chance and money).

A mix of scientific discoveries with the Abrahamic holy books (Torah, Bible and Koran) has always intrigued me on provoking the minds of the humans. It is a missionary way to promote their religions through films that I am willing to take opportunity from. I also had the chance to watch 'Maut' which was clearly related to Islam and yes, it was a bit disturbing, same goes to Knowing to some extent.

It was so quiet after the movie ended in both cases. I went straight to Musollah after watching 'Maut' and went on 'insaf' mode at least for a few days! As for Knowing, everyone was quiet as if they were planning to go for pilgrimage in the same year, or the Mass for the Christians. Some might scoff of the idea of the 'aliens' are actually the angels with a superior technology that have created us all. Whatever it is, be very sure that I am not worshipping the Knowing religion created by scriptwriters or the original novel author (like Scientology) by telling you all this but it did provoke me in some ways.

What if the end of the world is near? Then all of this is useless. Your life. My life. Their lives. My goal to become an actuary. Anwar's goal to become the Prime Minister. Herald trying their means to provoke the Muslims. The terrorists fighting for the causes in the wrong way. Obama trying to salvage the future of a peaceful world. Your plan to go for futsal tomorrow. Your plan of getting married. Your plan of making a lot of babies...

The list is of course too long. But we are not sure enough when this end of this world will be.

But it will come eventually.

However, it is vital that we are not the people who will end this world. It can start with simply "Knowing you knowing me". I believe to end the war related to religions, power-craze, greed, ethnicity among others should start with knowing people. What are the needs of the people. I truly believe their is always a way to end the war.

Destroying the environment, the animals and the plants are simply because of not sensitive enough to knowing each other. You can't expect the animals, the plants, the microorganisms to know much of you people, but we are given the best gift that is to think what is right and wrong. Even some animals are prepared to evacuate their habitat if you developers relocate them instead of shooting them down.

Stray dogs on the streets are killed everyday. What have they done wrong to you that they deserve capital punishment? Stealing your leftovers? There's no religion that asks men to kill the dogs or any other animals. If there is one hadith saying that, it clearly means the hadith is not true and must be thrown away. There is no such thing as a discrimination against the dogs and pigs in Islam and this is another misunderstanding that Muslims should know.

So, it's all about knowing your/their religion, your/their faith, your/their beliefs. Even if you are so called infidels and atheists as you called yourselves it doesn't mean I have to fight you. However, you also shouldn't comment about whichever religion is not right. When you get to know my religion, and bear in mind that we have been practising it for about a thousand and a half years, you can't just take it away from the world. Let us believe what we want to believe. And then will come mutual respect.

Our main enemies are not the Christians, the Jews, the Muslims, the Hindus, the Buddhists or the Communists. People who give hate a chance at all cost, are our common enemies. The terrorists, the blood-lust leaders, all the people who promote war and destruction, they are the real issues here. Not like the things happening in Malaysia, the political turmoil, craze of power that we should champion for.

I wouldn't want to put my body in line for the benefit of the few leaders who are not even sincere and would do the same mistakes in the long run! That would be stupid. The best thing is to play our roles to help bring peace in the world.

The movie Knowing ended with the current world destroyed by solar flare with Caleb and Abby would become Adam and Eve in the new earth thanks to the angel-like aliens which want the humans to 'start-over'.

When there is a nuclear war, 'starting over' would be too late in the real world.

Herald Allowed To Use Allah

I do not see Karpal being surrounded by thugs as a serious problem this week. Karpal himself was asking for it for using the word "celaka" and accusing UMNO youth of sending him the bullets without evidence. And since nothing had happened, it was still a good entertainment for Malaysians who love Akademi Fantasia and other reality TV shows. Same goes to Eli Wong naked pictures. I feel for her actually but you can't be that foolish enough to let your boyfriend have your body where you know he can leave you anytime.

"It's like free sex!" claimed a friend in my college days the reason for having relationships.

Marriage is more legitimate and Halal and I bet other religions are against sex before marriage as well.

So I guess the people enjoyed the scenes. But I am not fazed.

Anyway, in a more serious matter, Herald was allowed to use the word Allah in their publishings.

That's it. That's the final straw.

Before that, let me remind you readers that the word Allah is actually God, derived from Arab-Hebrew language. I do not deny that. But I always look at the application perspective.

The only intention this Christian group was sooooooo eager to use Allah in its publishing is to lure the Muslims to convert to Christianity. They have used Lord before and Jesus, nothing has worked. So now rather annoyingly wanting to push for the use of the name Allah.

I don't care if Herald can use the name Allah as long as they must state "For Christians Only", how about we put the name Jesus in our teachings of Nabi Isa and blatantly state that Jesus is not God, Jesus was human, Jesus could feel pain, Jesus was not crucified and all, but we are actually referring to Nabi Isa, will the Christians be fine with that?

We have a weak leadership! What happens to our country now is simply because of trying to please everyone attitude.

Some idealists, be it bloggers or defacto leaders, want to please everyone and I bet that is not practical. I was accused of being a MALAY ULTRA many times but they simply forgot that I am a practical man and always want to avoid conflicts in the future. We do not want to take risks to change everything in a sudden that will only anger people!

I am not ULTRAMAN as well as I do not expect people to absorb whatever I said but let us all be realistic. A muslim politician can say that Islam does not condone racial discrimination which is sooo true. But at this point, I am with the UiTM guy from Shauqi's blog. Not because I am an Ultra Malays like the guy is posing, I am simply being realistic. You Malays are still faaaaaarr behind economically. You Malays do not seize the opportunities being given to you to improvise yourself.

So don't blame the system. If we were to have equality today, it's like a time bomb in the next 15 years when the Malays finally realise they won NOTHING. I am pessimistic that the Malays will work hard now like the Chinese after being pampered, but I also do not believe they will change OVERNIGHT.

I feel like swearing now you know...

Lets go back to the system, minus the corruptions and mis-use of power. In their manifesto, PKR did say they are keeping the Perlambagaan but you know it's just politics.

If you ask me who will benefit NEP? The Malays? Not soo much. People with money of course. With NEP, the government injects more money so that people can get projects. So what's the difference?

This is confirmed by a Chinese partner of ours as he sees nothing wrong with NEP as long as he is still in business. So you readers must not just read the blogs and papers. Be in the industry now only you know the reality.

Sadly, most people do not know the reality and the practicality. They are like emotional cows (not Khalid's story here), gazing on the grass and roots of controversies, feeding on them and mooing spreading the lies and half-truths everywhere around the world.

Utusan Malaysia? You are worse than Utusan Malaysia, not even near Bi-POP!