AZIZ BARI PERLU IKUT GILIRAN

Oleh : AZMAN ARIFFIN

PENULIS menyambut baik dan mengalu-ngalukan sokongan terbuka pakar perlembagaan negara, Profesor Dr. Aziz Bari terhadap Pakatan Rakyat. Walaupun pengumuman tersebut sebenarnya tidaklah begitu mengejutkan, jika melihat peranan yang dimainkan Aziz Bari sebelum ini yang lebih banyak berpihak kepada Pakatan Rakyat, terutama dalam sebarang isu yang melibatkan tafsiran perlembagaan.

Sokongan itu juga pada pandangan penulis menandakan bermulanya karier Aziz Bari dalam politik sebaik kerjayanya sebagai Pensyarah Undang-Undang Berakhir hari ini (31 Disember 2011).

Secara amnya, penyokong Pakatan Rakyat menyambut dengan baik jika ada golongan profesional dari kalangan penjawat awam yang mengumumkan sokongan terbuka kepada Pakatan Rakyat.

Apatah lagi jika mereka sanggup meninggalkan kerusi empuk masing-masing dalam perkhidmatan kerajaan, semata-mata untuk keluar dari kepompong kepura-puraan dan terlibat secara langsung dengan politik Pakatan Rakyat, Aziz Bari tidak tekecuali.

Tapi penulis sedikit kecewa bila Aziz Bari dengan serta merta juga menawarkan diri sebagai calon Pakatan Rakyat. Seolah-olahnya sokongan Aziz Bari kepada Pakatan Rakyat tidak ikhlas sebaliknya semata-mata mengharapkan jawatan.

Apatah lagi bila Aziz Bari belum mengumumkan untuk menyertai mana-mana parti komponen Pakatan Rakyat.

Umum mengetahui bahawa Pakatan Rakyat masih belum didaftarkan justeru tidak melayakannya bertanding menggunakan nama tersebut dalam pilihanraya akan datang. Setiap calon masih perlu bertanding atas lambang parti masing-masing dan penting untuk Aziz Bari menyatakan parti mana yang mahu disertainya.

Dari situ, barulah ditentukan kawasan mana yang sudi menjadikan Aziz Bari sebagai calon mereka.

Jika Aziz Bari dicalonkan dalam pilihanraya umum akan datang tanpa melalui proses yang sepatutnya, dikhuatiri pencalonan beliau akan menyekat peluang kepimpinan di kawasan tersebut untuk bertanding, seterusnya menyumbang kepada undi protes. Dalam keadaan sekarang, itu (undi protes) adalah perkara terakhir yang kita mahukan..

Kita perlu akui, Pakatan Rakyat sekarang tidak lagi sama seperti mana tahun 2008. Pencalonan tidak boleh lagi dibuat sesuka hati dan tangkap muat kerana sudah terbukti pencalonan yang sedemikian hanya mendatangkan musibah kepada parti seperti mana yang berlaku dalam PKR hari ini.

Apatah lagi sebagai ‘orang baru’ dalam politik, kesetiaan Aziz Bari kepada Pakatan Rakyat dan dasar perjuangannya masih lagi belum teruji, dibandingkan dengan pemimpin akar umbi sedia ada.

Penulis nasihatkan Profesor Dr. Aziz Bari agar dapat bersabar sedikit sementara menantikan saat yang sesuai untuk dirinya bertanding mewakili Pakatan Rakyat. Perhebatkanlah dulu jasa dan sumbangan di peringkat akar umbi sebelum boleh menawarkan diri.

ARTICLE 153 IS NOT JUST FOR MALAYS!

By : DANIEL JOHN JAMBUN

DATUK Ibrahim Ali just came up with a gem of truth when he said there is no need for a Race Relations Act if people behave.

“If everyone behaves, if nobody touches on (Article) 153, nobody questions this and that, condemns this and that, and at the same time recognises the disparity of wealth between Malays and non-Malays, I don’t think we need any additional Act,” he said.

How very true! Out of so many idiotic statements we have heard from political jokers, this one is a real gem of truth. The funny thing is that Ibrahim thinks he said something very brilliant when in fact it is a simple truism (truth that doesn’t need to be said).

Yes, we wouldn’t need any law for that matter if everyone behaves. We wouldn’t need the police, the security guards, the magistrates and judges, nor the prisons if there were no criminals. We wouldn’t need the Speaker in Parliament if every Member of Parliament can behave and not become rowdy or insensitive comedians making fun of women.

But who are really behaving badly in Malaysia? Who are those questioning this and that, condemning this and that? I guess only Ibrahim is the luckiest guy in the country because he makes all sort of seditious and racist statements, misbehaving in a way that he should be arrested and charged in court, but nobody touches him, no national leaders even dare to ask him to shut up.

Of the Race Relations Act he said that “We will see the draft of the Act. If it is good for the country, we have no problem supporting it,” he said. “But whatever Act is introduced... it must not encroach upon (Article) 153, Islam as the official religion of the Federation, Bahasa Melayu as the national language, the sovereignty of the Malay Rulers.”

We all know that there is no question about Islam being the official religion, Bahasa Melayu as the national language or the sovereignty of the Malay Rulers. What I would precisely prefer to talk about is Article 153.

It is very tiring to keep hearing political leaders speak about Article 153 as if it belongs only to the Malays. If we read the article in its entirety we will be reminded very clearly that it is not a protection for Malay rights, and neither has it got to do with any so-called social contract.

It says that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is responsible for the safeguarding the special position of the Malays AND the natives of Sabah and Sarawak, AND the legitimate interest of other communities. The simple meaning is that the Agong is the protector of ALL Malaysians, and not just the Malays!

So why do leaders like Ibrahim Ali keep harping on this Article 153 as if it is a sacred provision for the Malays only? Are they idiots who can’t read? Or are they stubborn morons who deliberately behave like idiots for the purpose of making political mileage over something that has nothing to do with what they are saying?

I fully support Senior Christian leader Reverend Dr Eu Hong Seng who said that Article 153 had been used to bully others, and that it was something that “needed somebody to say it.” He told an online portal he had nothing to fear despite the fierce reaction from various Malay groups and denials by the government that Christians or any minority group had been sidelined.

He described Perkasa’s call for him to be investigated for sedition an example of fear-mongering. It is time somebody said and stood up bravely about it. The Deputy Prime Minister hit back and said the provision was never used to bully anyone. But has he not heard radicals like Ibrahim Ali abusing the provision all the time? How do the non-Malays feel when radicals talk about Malay supremacy or when the DPM himself said he is a Malay first and Malaysian second?

The radical groups who idolize Article 153 as if it gives the Malays special rights, privileges, positions and bullying power need to be told to stop the negative attitude. What I see in the Article is something very positive for Malaysians as a whole because to me it is a strong unifying provision, under which we are protected by our King as equal partners in Malaysia.

It is NOT a provision to give the Malay superior position. It doesn’t give the Muslim the right to bully other people and other religions. Under this provision the Malays have equal ‘special position’ with the natives of the Borneo States. Under it, the Malays are on equal position with the Ibans, the Penans, Bajaus and the Kadazandusuns. We have the same special position of the Malays, so we can tell the Malays like Ibrahim Ali to shut up and grow up if we want to.

TELIPOK TAMU HAWKERS NOT HAPPY

TALKING…. Edward talking to hawkers in Telipok Tamu Ground.

THE HAWKERS at the Telipok Tamu ground are not happy with the condition and the arrangement of the place where they are selling their farm produce. They said they were moved to the new shop area where very few people come to that area to shop. Their businesses are seriously affected and it is very difficult for them to do business here.

The people don’t like to come up to the new shop area because of the congestion and difficulty in finding car parking space. Some don’t want to walk up here to buy their needs. They complain about their old place next to the old shops in Telipok were taken over by the foreigners and including their customers too.

Edward Ewol Mujie the Sabah DAP Vice Chairman took the complaints during his short visit to the Tamu ground today. There were many other complaints which include the street lights not functioning in the Tamu ground and there is constantly cars coming through the Tamu ground which affected their customers and it is dangerous to have cars driving through while others are doing the shopping.

Edwards after listening to the hawkers’ complaints feels that it is true and there is a need of some re-arrangement to the weekly Tamu in Telipok. The present place for the kampong folks to sell their farm produce is not that good especially it is at the back of the town center. The people usually don’t like to go up there, and it is hotter at the back.

Edward said it is better to rearrange the whole Tamu ground for all the stalls into different category and area of selling. For example, the vegetable and fruits in one row, the clothing in one place, the hardware and electrical goods in one corner, the live stocks and meat stall to be located where there is less disturbance, and the other house-whole items can be grouped together. The whole Tamu ground would look more tidy and easier for the shoppers to pick up their purchase and find what they want.

Edward said the DBKK will have to come to do the rearrangement as requested by the hawkers here, so that their requirement can be met, and they can have better business in the long run. Edward will arrange with DBKK to look into the matter soon.

TEKNOKRAT SABAH, ILTIZAM EKONOMI KENDIRI

BAHAGIAN PERTAMA

"APA gunanya mencipta sejarah dan menjadi negara merdeka kalau hanya di atas kertas sahaja, tetapi akhirnya rakyat yang menerima padahnya. Kalau negara bertamaddun tinggipun boleh mengalami musibah ekonomi seperti ini, apalagi negara kita yang turut terdedah kepada realiti dan cabaran yang tidak menentu." Ikuti Bahagian Pertama perbahasan penuh Wakil Badan Perhubungan UMNO Negeri Sabah, Datuk Mohd Hasnol Ayub di Perhimpunan Agung UMNO di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra Kuala Lumpur pada 1 Disember 2011.

TIADA INDIA MUSLIM MISKIN MENJELANG 2015

KONGRES Indian Muslim Malaysia (KIMMA) menyasarkan sifar peratus fakir miskin daripada kalangan masyarakat India Muslim di negara ini menjelang 2015.

Presidennya, Datuk Syed Ibrahim Kader berkata usaha untuk mempertingkatkan bantuan dan menjaga kebajikan masyarakat India Muslim bermula Oktober lepas dengan mengeluarkan borang bancian Yayasan Kemajuan Islam Nasional (YAKIN) bagi mendapatkan angka sebenar masyarakat India Muslim yang menetap di negara ini.

"Dalam rekod KIMMA, terdapat 64,800 orang masyarakat India Muslim di Malaysia walaupun tiada angka rasmi yang dikeluarkan oleh pihak kerajaan.

"Usaha mengenal pasti jumlah sebenar ini adalah bagi KIMMA memantau dan membantu kebajikan masyarakat India Muslim sekiranya mereka menghadapi sebarang kesulitan," katanya kepada pemberita pada majlis penyampaian bantuan persekolahan di ibu pejabat KIMMA di ibunegara, kelmarin.

Di majlis itu, KIMMA dan YAKIN menyampaikan bantuan persekolahan bagi sesi 2012 kepada 174 orang pelajar daripada 80 keluarga dari sekitar Kuala Lumpur.

"Kita perlu sedar bahawa pendidikan adalah amat penting bagi menjamin kehidupan anak-anak pada masa depan dan saya sentiasa bersedia untuk membantu golongan ibubapa sekiranya mereka menghadapi masalah kewangan dalam menyediakan pendidikan yang sempurna kepada anak-anak mereka," kata Syed Ibrahim.

Beliau berkata KIMMA dengan kerjasama YAKIN turut menyediakan biasiswa dalam membantu pelajar yang ingin menyambung pangajian di peringkat tertinggi tanpa mengambil kira sama ada mereka daripada kalangan ahli KIMMA atau tidak.