Picture source.

Yesterday, the front page headline, “Only on merit” was printed in bold letters on the widest circulated English daily newspaper of Malaysia. That certainly caught my eye.

I am sure that particular headline got many people’s attention, but I am not sure how many actually bothered to pay RM1.50 for a copy of the newspaper. Well, I must confess that I bought a copy of the newspaper, although I deeply resent the way the newspaper is operated. (I am sure you know what I mean.)

Here, I would really like to commend Tan Sri Sidek Hassan, the Chief Secretary to the Government (federal, obviously), for the circular that he sent to all the civil servants directing them to report to their superiors if they are asked for “favours” by politicians and the “well-connected.”

But I won’t. Not because I don’t like him (I don’t know him personally) or because he serves a government that I am not particularly fond of. I am not commending him for issuing the seemingly laudable circular for several reasons. Although the directive contained in the circular may at first glance seem to be a good idea, I strongly believe that it is not what it seems. Here’s why:
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Making sure the Chinatown shoppers are safe? (photo by Rizuan, Wikimedia Commons)

He who cannot draw on 3,000 years is living from hand to mouth.
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

We’ve all heard the cliché, “Think out of the box.” Well, this clever suggestion is most often used when we are trying to overcome a very difficult obstacle or find a solution to a set of very difficult problems. Then, some smart aleck will come along and say, “Let’s not look at them as obstacles or problems, but challenges…”

Thank you, Sir.

Now, Malaysia—and the rest of humanity, to varying degrees—has faced persistent problems with crime and illnesses, both physical and mental. Why is it that we, human beings, with about 10,000 years of civilisation and more than 100 years of modern medical science, have yet to really address these two problems effectively?

Indeed, these so-called “challenges” seem to be getting worse by the day in many parts of the world and, if I’m not mistaken, in Malaysia, too (I am a cynic when it comes to government statistics). From anecdotal evidence as well as newspaper reports, we can see that incidences of all sorts of crime seem to be on the rise, as well as illnesses like cancer, heart diseases, kidney failures, depression, schizophrenia, etc.

So, what have we and many people of other nations done to address these problems? Hire more cops? Enact more laws? Place mobile police stations in busy areas? Train more doctors? Build more hospitals? Give out more free medication?
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Hahahah!!! PM Najib Razak is so lame… Probably because he’s whipped by the “First Lady”…

Thank you, Zaid, especially for treating Bala to ice kacang on behalf of all Malaysians who have woken up to the reality of Umno-BN propaganda…

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, read the following news article…

* * * * *

Zaid calls for open probe on RPK and Bala
By FMT Staff

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR leader Zaid Ibrahim, accusing Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak of being afraid to face blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK) and private eye P Balasubramaniam, has challenged the government to conduct an independent and open investigation to determine RPK’s guilt and Balasubramaniam’s credibility.

He said he was sure the two would return to Malaysia to defend themselves if the government would guarantee their families’ safety and their immunity from detention under the Internal Security Act.

“The truth is that Najib is afraid of these two human beings,” he said in his latest posting on myzaidibrahim.wordpress.com under the title Comedy a la P. Ramlee, which is translated below:
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The plight of the Palestinian people and the role of the ‘Zionist’ government of Israel is a matter of international and humanitarian concern, not a matter for Malaysian politicians to score points with the Malay-Muslim electorate. The prime concern of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (KEADILAN) has always been, and will always be, the fair and humanitarian treatment of all Malaysians and also the downtrodden peoples of other nations.

Four Umno leaders have voiced their opinions on Anwar Ibrahim’s stand on Zionist aggression, especially in light of The Washington Post article that was published recently. These Umno leaders — Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi, Information Minister Rais Yatim and Umno Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin — are jumping at the opportunity to distort the words of the writer, who wrote:

He [Anwar] said he regretted using terms such as “Zionist aggression,” which are common coin for demagogues like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. “Why do I need to use it if it causes so much misunderstanding?” he said. “I need to be more careful.”

In case these Umno leaders cannot comprehend proper English, what that means is that Anwar regrets using terms which demagogues like controversial Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad use, especially when it causes a misunderstanding in the international community. Anwar then humbly concedes he needs to be more careful in how he criticizes Israel’s Zionist government, in light of the fact that accusations of anti-semitism are rampant.
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* The following is a letter I sent to three online news portals regarding the above matter:

I am both bemused and disturbed by what I read in your esteemed online news portal. Indeed, I find a similar story on two other online news portals. I am referring to what my former KEADILAN colleague, Zahrain Hashim, said about Zaid Ibrahim’s links with Raja Petra Kamarudin (aka RPK), the “fugitive” political blogger (to me, he’s the victim of political persecution because of his outspoken views).

What Zahrain said and is trying to insinuate both bemuses and disturbs me; hence, this letter to you.

Firstly, I find it completely ironic that someone of Zahrain’s standing (he is, after all, a Member of Parliament) could say such a ridiculous thing. What is he really trying to say? That KEADILAN or Zaid Ibrahim is funding a fugitive? That somehow some opposition people are aiding and abetting RPK?

Zaid has openly (and proudly, I think) admitted that he is a friend of RPK’s. So is Anwar Ibrahim. Indeed, so am I. Is it a crime to be friends with someone who is being persecuted by an undemocratic and repressive government (who is trying to paint that someone as a fugitive on the run)?
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When Anwar Ibrahim is tried for sodomy — with impunity, I might add — for the second time after the Federal Court overruled the previous sodomy conviction, we are all on trial. We are on trial as ‘innocent’ bystanders who were standing by as the Opposition Leader of the nation is being persecuted again for his stand against corruption and injustice.

I know it’s presumptious to imply that all of us are guilty for allowing this treachery to persist. Indeed, many of the 28 million are children who are just too young to know the difference between Anwar and Najib, much less the meaning of politics and power.

Nevertheless, for those of us who were around (read, “demonstrating on the streets”) when the first conspiracy against Anwar Ibrahim took place, it is incumbent upon us so-called reform activists (or Reformists) to return from our comfortable zones and fight the war for Justice and Freedom.
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Today is a day as good as any to resume my blogging activities. A little while back, I read a comment on Facebook (FB) that I could not comprehend. That person compared FB with blogging, saying that FB has made it so much easier to blog. I then wondered aloud how anyone could compare FB with blogging…

Well, it’s been almost four months since my last post on my blog, but I have been actively tweeting and updating my status on FB all this while. Indeed, some would say that’s an understatement. Whatever it is, I now definitely get the point that that person was trying to make with that comment…

Now, let’s come to the point of this blog posting. Today is the day we celebrate Diwali in Malaysia. For some reason, we call it Deepavali. I’m sure there’s a linguistic or cultural reason for the slight change in name. More importantly, though, is the significance of Diwali.
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Here’s Sdr Badrol Hisham’s latest email to me on Islam and the freedom of expression:

Dear Mr. Jonson,

I’m quite surprised to note that you still respect Dato’ Ahmad Ismail rights to say that non-Malays in Malaysia are “kaum pendatang”. I’m just wonders if somebody insulting your mother, will you respect their rights to say or express it? Don’t you have any dignity to defend of?

If the Malays are free to insult the non-Malays and vice versa, there will be no harmonious relation among different races in our country and similarly if the Muslims are free to insult other religions and vice versa, there will be no better understanding between different religions in our country. Freedom must be come with responsibility.

The main topic of our discussions is freedom of speech and expression. I don’t know why you keep harping on the issue of qualified people. Anyway, I’d like to recap what Y.B. Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang had said recently, “When talking about aerospace, you ask somebody from NASA, not someone in Somalia”. If you still don’t understand, I’ve no idea how else can I explain to you.

You should not compare Islam with Christianity or any other philosophy. Islam is a complete and perfect religion which was revealed by God Almighty to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) 1,400 years ago for all mankind. In Islam, we are encouraged to read the holy book Koran, understand and practised it with the guidance from Hadis, Ijtimak Ulamak and Qias. The question is whether we (the Muslims) follow it or not.

Some Muslims have deviant from Islamic teaching either by their act, view, thinking, approach, etc. So, I don’t see any need to comment to the so called progressive Islamic thinker that you mentioned in your blog.

I’ve told you clearly that the reason I asked you to remove my emails from your blog is because I’m afraid that some party will only use it to attack and degrade Islam. My afraid seems to be correct.

Anyway, I hope that one day you will be able to find the TRUTH in your life.

For Ms. Alice, I’ve full confidence in my belief and can take any amount of criticism. However, I can’t tolerate anybody who insult or discredit my religion.

Thank you for your understanding.

Regards,
Badrol Hisham
Kuala Lumpur

P/S: Mr Jonson, you can post this last email from me in your blog.

By the way, when I said justice for the Chinese and the Muslims, it is only as reference to the Dato’ Ahmad Ismail and Sisters In Islam cases. Sorry to confuse you. Justice is for all. So does Islam. God bless you.

Res ipsa loquitur.

P.S. Please read this post in the context of the previous postings: Engaging a Muslim on Islam & the Freedom of Expression and Engaging a Muslim on Islam & the Freedom of Expression 2

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (KEADILAN) is gravely concerned with the trend of deaths in police custody. Not only are the deaths increasingly frequent but they also seem to be happening only to suspects from a particular racial community.

Although the police have asked the public not to speculate on the latest death in custody of A. Ganana Prakasom, KEADILAN hopes that both the Inspector General of Police and the Minister of Home Affairs will seriously look into this matter before it becomes a full-blown racial issue in our country, which is already divided along racial lines.

Indeed, in light of the Prime Minister’s attempts to promote the concept of One Malaysia, the authorities must ensure that no community, regardless of race, religion, gender or economic status, is sidelined or ill-treated.

Moreover, the fact that most, if not all, of the deaths in police custody are happening to Indian Malaysians reflect the reality that they have not been able to advance either socially or economically.

The federal government must recognise that this is not only an issue of crime or law and order, but also one that requires an urgent government policy to assist the Indian community in Malaysia to overcome the social and economic realities faced by them.

If the Umno-Barisan Nasional government is serious about the people being the first priority, they should take real steps to resolve this matter holistically and stop trying to cover-up the real causes of these deaths in custody.

* Written in the capacity of Communications Director of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

Here’s Sdr BH’s [author's name removed] reply to my email response to him:

[Email removed upon the request of the author. My reply remains below.]

Well, instead of just sending emails back and forth, I think it’s better for us to discuss openly about this concept of qualified freedom of speech.

I may not agree with Dato’ Ahmad Ismail calling non-Malays “kaum pendatang”, but I respect his right to say it. Similarly, he ought to respect my right to call him a bigot and a racist.

No matter how difficult it is to accept what others have to say, we must always respect their right to say it. We don’t have to respect the person, the organisation or even their point of view, we just have to respect their right to express it. As Voltaire, a French philosopher, once said, “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”

Similarly, Sdr BH [author's name removed], I do not agree with what you’re saying but I’m more than happy to publish what you’ve got to say on my blog.

On another point, I think we should really question the restrictions on who “qualifies” to study, analyse and discuss principles of religions, or philosophies for that matter. Are religious principles sacrosanct and “lay people” should be prohibited from espousing their views about them? If that is so, then philosophical principles ought not be discussed by any “lay people” except so-called qualified philosophers, too.

I’m sorry but this reminds me too much of the Roman Catholic Church that had a monopoly on God in the middle ages. In those days, lay people were not able to read the scriptures and think for themselves what those scriptures meant. Indeed, they had to literally buy penance from priests. Thankfully, there were reformists like Martin Luther that reformed Christianity.

Similarly, there was a progressive Islamic thinker by the name of Mahmoud Mohamed Taha that took a different approach towards Islam. Unfortunately, he was executed by the Sudanese government for heresy. For a living example of a progressive Islamic thinker, google Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’im (or just click on his name to read the entry on Wikipedia).

By the way, justice is for all, and I don’t think there’s a need to specify any race or religion.