I’ve not posted anything of my own the last week or so for a couple of reasons.
Two Sundays ago, whilst at a PJ Selatan meeting at the Cobra Club, PJ, my notebook got nicked.
The same one that was bought for me last year by friends who felt my pain at losing my notebook last July when my car was broken into.
That made postings here difficult until the replacement notebook was up and running and fully functional. Thanks Tony.
To whoever nicked my notebook, a few of my friends and I are meeting again this coming Sunday at Cobra. If you happen to be reading this, why don’t you come along, bring along both your parents and we’ll get them both finally married.
The real reason, though, for the absence of any posts, was that I have been struggling to map out the direction I want to take in my activism post 8th March.
And my thoughts have kept going back to the much unfinished work that some of us started last year with the Anak Bangsa Malaysia initiative.
Today, I say thank you to the Council of Malay Solidarity for helping me shape that direction.
The report in the NST online today entitled ‘Council to champion Malay sovereignty’ underscores the urgency with which civil society must start to move with any and all efforts to arrest and neutralise this and all other race supremacist agendas, regardless of who the initiators are.
According to the report, 200 Malay NGOs, now under this new umbrella called Council for Malay Solidarity, have come together to further the Malay rights in the light of what they perceive to be as challenges to ‘Kedaulatan Melayu’ or ‘Malay sovereignty’.
I give this group at least the credit for not trying to disguise their racist agenda as a cause to champion Islam, unlike ABIM and their ilk.
I thought their proffered reason for coming together in this endeavour was worth a million laughs!
According to Gapena president Tan Sri Ismail Hussein, ‘ the council was necessary as he claimed that Malay-based political parties were too busy running the country to concentrate exclusively on Malay issues’.
Excuse me, Tan Sri!
Were you in fact referring to the Malay-based political party that has been too busy running this country to the ground? Too busy running off with the rakyat’s wealth?
If so, you mean UMNO, ya?
But really, aren’t you the frontmen for either UMNO Team A, Team B or Team C? Yes, all 200 of you?
Last count there were only 3 corners in the fight within UMNO , right?
Or have more splinter groups emerged?
And you ‘Malay intellectuals’ are against multi-lingualism, multiculturalism and religious pluralism because your stand is that Malaysia’s existence is founded on the principle of Kedaulatan Melayu?
Is that right, Tan Sri?
If so, it fortifies my belief that UMNO is beyond redemption, unable to rid itself of the entrenched culture of cronyism and corruption, so archaic in its feudalistic thinking, trapped in its own perceived self-importance and out of touch with the people.
UMNO is beyond reform!
Yes, Gerakan and the others within the BN coalition should give serious consideration to Keng Yaik’s recent suggestion to forge their own coalition based on non racial considerations.
Don’t wait for UMNO. It will never happen.
Sorry, Tan Sri, I digress.
Ok, here’s the deal, Tan Sri.
You see, my friends and I are all anak Bangsa Malaysia.
And we don’t buy into this race supremacist thing that you and your friends are espousing.
By the way, did you know that the Holy Prophet also did not buy into this race supremacist crap?
Anyway, my friends and I are planning roadshows throughout the country to share with our fellow anak-anak Bangsa Malaysia our ideal of a nation of a single people.
As you can see, our aspiration is probably the very thing that you Malay intellectuals are opposed to.
So how about you Malay intellectuals naming the time, date and place where perhaps my friends and I could come engage you guys in a public debate on the rights and wrongs of our respective aspirations?
I could suggest a few interesting titles for our debate.
“Is racism an act of apostasy from Islam?”
“Are concepts of ‘ketuanan Melayu’ and ‘kedaulatan Malayu’ mere smokescreens to enable the rich Malays to rob from the poor Malays?”
“Where has UMNO stashed away the riches plundered in the name of ‘membasmikan kemiskinan Melayu’?”
Give me a bit more time and I think my friends and I should be able to come up with a few more suggestions.
And just to make sure this open invite reaches you, I’ll send a letter to Gapena soon to extend this invite.
Alternatively, I could let you know when we will start our roadshows and perhaps you would like to come along to one of these. Being intellectuals, I’m sure we can count on you to behave most appropriately and not resort to gangster antics just to silence us.
You are, after all, intellectuals, no?
The People's Parliament 
atanck
May 5, 2008
bravo Haris!!! GAPENA? dari mana ni?
is your roadshow gonna come to Sabah? if yes, COUNT ME IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
atanck,
Gapena itu kononnya intelektual Melayu, lah!
Sabah? For sure.
Two reasons.
First, to learn from our East Malaysian brothers about how to embrace diversity.
Second, to warn them about this fatal disease called Umnotitis ( assuming they don’t already know )
Look out for announcements.
toyolbuster
May 5, 2008
Bro.Haris,
We have a problem here, these “intellectuals” do not read Anglais, they are mono-lingual handicaps. Will you be kind enough to send them an invitation in Bahasa Malaysia (or Bahasa Melayu if they insist)for the debate. I think this would be a fantastic interaction. By the way, check this out http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/7074/84/
Since we are on the topic on morons, rumour has it that some other faculty of morons may just haul up our bro.Pete any moment if they do. Lets keep a vigil cos the devils work best during ghostly hours.
Bro,
Yes, a letter in BM it will be.
It’s confirmed that RPK will be charged tomorrow at 9.30am at the KL Court Complex, Jalan Duta
Beh Sai Kong
May 5, 2008
Dear Haris,
Thank you. I just caught this news item about the 200 Malay NGO’s and immediately I thought of you. The news item deeply affected me as I realise it would have a deep effect on the future direction of the nation. I felt the immediate necessity of checking on The People’s Parliament. You did not disappoint me. Thank you brother. I found meaning and comfort in your reflection. I feel much better now knowing that my concern had immediate affinity with yours. As such, we who think alike can find hope for a better Malaysia where there is assurance for all. Malays, Kadazans, Ibans, Eurasians, Indians, Chinese need not fear that they would lose out. Like you said, they need not cling to the powers that be who had thoroughly failed us. It is not to such that we look for our survival. The country can thrive in much better hands, that is, our destiny lies with a Malaysian people who transcend narrow ethnic aspirations but encompass all Malaysian irrespective of race, religion, gender or age. Thank you.
Beh,
I am very confident that the majority of Malaysians are like you and I and that these 200 are in the minority.
Time to reach out and touch our fellow anak Bangsa Malaysia.
Muda
May 5, 2008
And I thought that the circus had left town after the first Parliamentary debate last week . I’m sorry for my mistake . It seems in less than a week , the simians are now coming out from their habitat and going bananas in Johore after PWTC !
noyawns
May 5, 2008
A very worthy cause, bro Haris – Maju Bangsa Malaysia!
aaa
May 5, 2008
haris,
whats there to apologise to this sort of people? arent they are the cause of the problems in this country? UMNO? nothing but gravy train, everything else, subservient to that.
lucia
May 5, 2008
when i first read about that – council to champion malay sovereignty – i admit i was rather disturbed. oh no, i thought to myself, not again. when will these people ever learn… will they ever?
haris, i support your anak bangsa malaysia roadshow. if you are considering penang (again), don’t forget, i’m here always to offer my help in whatever means i can.
lucia,
Not if. When I come to Penang, how can I forget you?
shar101
May 5, 2008
Strange way for these malay intellectuals to show their innate capacity to interact with other members of civil society, isn’t it.
Does being knowledgeable equate to having the wisdom to know the difference?
“Melayu yang sedar, berani di-cabar”.
novice101
May 5, 2008
Haris Ibrahim, it’s great you see through the real reason of those behind the Council of Malay Solidarity. Coming from a Malay will show AAB and his government and those in UMNO, that the views of the Council of Malay Solidarity are not shared by all Malays. When I read the demands of the Council, I felt then that there is a slim chance of Malaysia achieving unity amongst the different races here. Your timely announcement of your focus gives hope to me that there is still hope that unity is still possible,
novice101,
Those who know me will tell you I am relentless in pursuing what I believe.
And I believe God made us equal.
I will pursue this to the very end.
Azmi Sharom
May 5, 2008
Haris,
A thought just occurred to me. A pretty funny thought actually. Some people have told me that they saw me on TV3 news recently speaking at a GAPENA forum. I did speak at a GAPENA do but that was many weeks ago. Reading your post, it dawned on me that perhaps they were showing clips of that forum in relation to this Council of Malay Solidarity thingy. After all that forum was about kedaulatan Melayu.
Now I realise that you and those who read this blog probably don’t watch TV3. I know I don’t. ESPN for me mate. But, in case anyone did and in case I am associated with this Council of Malay Solidarity, please allow me to just say this:
What I said at the forum fundamentally was I did not understand why they were freaking out about kedaulatan melayu when all the PR MB’s were Malay (except Penang, but that has been the case since ’69 and no one complained), the Leader of the Opposition is a Malay woman, if the PR get into power a Malay man will be PM, the Malay sultanates is unquestioned, Art 152 and 153 of the Constitution is not being questioned, etc. I also wondered out loud if they were worried about kedaulatan Melayu or kedaulatan UMNO.
And when Islam was raised as the answer to malay woes(as it inevitably will be), I asked “what if my Islam does not acknowledge race?”
Needless to say, none of this was broadcast on TV3. So, in case you saw my ugly mug on the idiot box with GAPENA in the background and the “news” reader talking about this Council of Malay Solidarity, rest assured, I ain’t part of it.
Good luck with your Bangsa Malaysia roadshow and let me know if I can help.
azmi
Bro,
No explanations needed.
In my books, you are the epitome of anak Bangsa Malaysia
Hkengmacao
May 5, 2008
I am really sick of this Gapena. Being the so-called ‘intellectual’, can’t they do something else that can enrich the lesser intellectual?
Gapena’s mentality can only make them ‘jaguh kampung’. Lets us all discard such mentality and make Anak Bangsa Malaysia a progressive ones.
oA
May 6, 2008
.
How convenient these Group of idiots with antics of unmo.
Why don’t they make known how many percentages of actual Malays they are representing – maybe they are just unmo members for all that is known?
First they championed race and when race failed them they went to religion and now since religion failed them again they are reverting back to race again.
How can a race be progressive when all they have are leaders with archaic mindset and ever so fond of regurgitating the same garbage and thought they are world beaters drumming up issues that are based on their delusions?
Do they think people are so frailly gullible that they will fall into these “sorry ass tricks” all over again?
People should not see the face value of these idiots trying to portray
they should look beyond – and see their real intent –
and of course with the reference of history
such groups of idiots have nothing important to contribute.
when they do they usually screw the country up.
Haven’t you guys learnt a lesson yet???
Stop giving them credence and the will just wilt away.
.
Harvin Dhillon
May 6, 2008
Well the late Naza chairman was the Malay Champ. A true pride of Malay Businessmen. His 5billon wealth was made from Government taxes exempted because of all the AP’s he obtained. It sickens me to read how people are putting this man on the pedastal since he robbed us blind with the help of the government. His 5billion wealth should belong to all of us since it was made from taxes that should have been for the government. He is nothing to be proud of. Give my 6 year old sis a dozen APs, by 8 she would be a millionare as well.
These 200 malay NGO clearly wants this time op loopsided deals to continue so a 100 or so of these Malays can become the next Naza Chairman.
I would much rather have all Malaysians living above the poverty line than having a few Malaysians being billionares through stupid government projects.
Also “Ketuanan Melayu” is no different than the “Aryan Supremercy” of the Nazi’s. All the Malays who believe this are no worse than the Nazi’s themselves. In the 21st century these types of ideas are not needed. Every man is made equal in the eyes of god, who are we to say its not!
We are all Anak Bangsa Malaysia
Bro,
I am with you on everything you have said here.
Let’s work together on making Bangsa Malaysia a reality.
I am committed to this.
But I need the help of everyone who feels as I do.
flyer168
May 6, 2008
Dear Bro Haris,
Brilliantly said…Bravo.
I am saddened by what is happening. Haven’t they done enough damage to this nation, our nation’s assets,its peaceloving but downtrodden citizens & insulted their own race & Islam ?????
We have to remind them that everytime they point their finger at anyone, three fingers are pointing at themselves.
These so called Malay (muslim Bigots) NGOs still in self-denial are the desperados at the tail end of “Ketuanan Melayu” in the 21 century context being propelled by the powers-that-be, FEAR their imminent DEMISE by the Peoples’ voices, will resort to the SUBLIME !
They are their own worst enemies set on a “Self-destruct” mode, & now portraying Islam/Muslims/Malays as zealots – HOW INSULTING !!!
Let us all work hand-in-hand to UNITE as MALAYSIANS to save our nation, its multi ethnic cultures/religion & its assets for every downtrodden MALAYSIAN citizen forthwith !
Let us all give them enough rope to hang themselves at every turn….. we now sit back & watch the action.
May God show them the truth !
Singam
May 6, 2008
There has been no collapsing empire that was able to recognise or acknowledge its own demise. UMNO is imploding. The sooner they are put out of their misery, the less collateral damage there will be.
barry
May 6, 2008
I am sorry to say this, but the so-called ‘Malay intellectuals’ are really truly very STUPID! Or really that caught up by their delusion of grandeur, such as suffered by our ex-PM TDM. They put the real intellectuals among the Malays to shame (you among them, Haris). If I were Malay, I would have no place to hide my face. How can an intellectual claim to fight for his own community, when it is blatantly clear that he is robbing them by ensuring that the majority remain poor and ignorant?
George
May 6, 2008
These “Chimps” of Ketuanan Melayu will go extinct soon. Just look at them, this is their last resort to breath before they die in their own hands.
Late Naza chairman was a typical example… Earlier was the Klang’s Zakaria. I bet more to follow their footsteps…cause God is listening to our prayers and start to punish all this chimps… 🙂
Hope their next life be chimps for real.
anak-malaysia
May 6, 2008
I’m glad those who think they are anak Malaysia stand up and protest Malaysia future regardless of races because if Malaysia hancur, semua mati regardless of races. Seumpama kalau bumi in hancur, semua mahkluk tidak kira orang, binatang atau tumbuhan akan mati sama sekali. Yang tinggal hanya la hantu…The country will only improve if there is unidity of the nation from EVERYONE, not just Malay, Indian or Chinese. As long as the person is borned in Malaysia! In USA, if you are born there, you are considered a citizen for the country regardless of races, as long as the person pay tax.
retard
May 6, 2008
as a sabahan, i feel even more uncomfortable with the concept of ketuanan melayu.
funny how when it comes to collecting money (like, i don’t know, oil revenues for example), sabah is part of malaysia.
but when it comes to spending money and giving it back to the people, suddenly malaysia is only made up of peninsular malaysia.
hot air? sabah is one of the richest states in natural resources. sabah also has the highest percentage of hardcore poor. go figure.
the last time i checked, the majority population in sabah isn’t malay. so ketuanan melayu is meaningless here. we have at least 28 recognized ethnic groups and i think we can get along just fine thank you very much.
but in the future this may change. apparently according to statistics, the population growth rate in sabah is so impressive (with one race in particular) it deserves a mention in the malaysian book of records.
a friend remarked a while back that the only way we could achieve this kind of growth is if our women can give birth 4 times a year. well, what do i know, i didn’t graduate in statistics.
Bigjoe
May 6, 2008
Tan Siew Sin told them they opened a Pandora’s Box in 1969. Now they can’t put back the genie (or is it the devil?) back into the bottle.
These things don’t go away. Most Malays are not as extreme as the group but these small groups are willing to do a lot more than the likes of people who do the roadshow and their message is a lot more sensational.
I say the answer still lies in a formula that calls for them to be compartmentalized with their agenda and have them self-rot away.
justiceforall
May 6, 2008
For a better tomorrow for all. We salute you, Haris.
adisi
May 6, 2008
Dear Haris,
It’s time to put this stupid debate on ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ or ‘Malay Supremacy’ shits to the grave.
It’s time too to make this ignorant Melayu realise what Islam is all about. People who promote Malay Supremacy like these are the real reason why our Malaysia is not a better place to live in. Pure hypocrisy! I didn’t recall during Rasulullah’s (PBUH) time in Medina that he sets a policy favouring a particular race/religion in Piagam Madinah. Kan?
Good to note that you realise this race supremacy word sounds much like how Zionism was founded! It makes them just alike! Fair & justice ape ni?
May you long put these matters to rest and rescue what Islam stands for really.
I’m bloody tired to hear anything about Persatuan/Gabungan Melayu etc. etc. etc.
Yeah, go debate with them and see how they argue sorry pathetic points.
Thank god I went to national school called Kajang High School. There we compete with the best and survive based on same level playing field. Am so proud of myself.
Next, what’s your take on Sekolah Berasrama Penuh (SBPs)? They are too Malay to my liking, not enough ‘real’ competition and lacks the mixture of Bangsa Malaysia. That’s why I decided against going to SBPs when I got the offer.
Oh, I’m Malay and will try my best not to send my kids to any boarding school. Only exception is, if and only if, the boarding school is multiracial!
insecticide
May 7, 2008
Bro Haris:
These so call 200 malay NGOs could be about 200 members or less. They doesn’t represent anyone except themself. By the way I only know about ‘Kedaulatan Undang2’ thru RukunNegara but never heard of ‘Kedaulatan Melayu’. When does it exist!!! Keep on with ur anak bangsa malaysia campaign.
Mat Rempit Hubris,Carthage
May 7, 2008
To Harris Ibrahim,
Sigh…I am very sadden by your outburst Haris.
Dear Mat Rempit,
Sorry to hear that you are saddened by my perceived outburst
Your choice of words has always strike me as someone who was firm, but humble.
But this post, by its title and content, the humility that I often detect in the language used has been replaced by its opposite–arrogance.
Referring to people who you disagree with as ‘chimps’ reminds me of a certain Kairy Jamaluddin when he called bloggers ‘monkeys’.
Er, you may want to take this up with God
Therefore when they revoltingly persisted in what they had been forbidden, We said to them: Be (as) apes, despised and hated – Surah 7 verse 166
Additionally, even if it was simply to cajole the Tan Sri to have an open debate with you, to suggest that the he would resort to gangsterism tactics is simply crass Haris. And cheap.
How very, very unbecoming of you.
This is what I said : Being intellectuals, I’m sure we can count on you to behave most appropriately and not resort to gangster antics just to silence us.
No suggestion, as contended by you, was made.
After all, why is there a need to insinuate that the Tan sri would in anyway resort to gansterism Harris? I need to ask you, why do you make such innuendo’s? Is such a question posed from the prism of your own heart? Is it because you ascribe to others your own motives and intentions? Or is an example of political posturing, employing turn of phrases and other rhetorical devices not because of its accuracy but rather because it plays to the galley?
What insinuation?
Haris, The Tan Sri is a 76 year old man. His elder brother is a Sastrawan Negara while his younger brother is the continentally acclaim painter, Ibrahim Hussein. He himself is an emeritus Professor.
And lest you think that he got to be Professor due to his ethnicity, or some other unmeritorious reasons, well think again. He earned his Phd in the early 60’s from the prestigious Leiden University. And prior to that he was first class honours student from UM. (Please note that this was way before there was any preferential treatment for Malays and UM was still in Singapore.) In fact he was so excellent as a student that he was offered a scholarship to do medicine but in his thirst to know more about his own heritage he requested that the scholarship be changed for Malay studies. In Kedah, this guy is an academic legend.
To achieve all this when his father was an illiterate and at a time and a kampong where nary a person knew a word of English, is indicative of the man.
In other words Professor Emiritus Ismail Hussein is a paragon of merit. Everything he is today, he earned. He is a highly respected authority in his own field, if not a giant. As respected as Khoo Khay Kim or Ungku Aziz or KJ Ratnam are in theirs.
Impressed!
His prestige as an intellectual has already been long recognized and not by layman like us, but by his peers. Apart from his social activism, it is based on a working track record of excellence that has span almost 50 years. Thus, whether he responds or not to your open debate invitation, it will not diminish or increase his reputation. (In fact, if anyone does hanker after a seal of intellectual respectability, I’m sure it wouldn’t be sought from a person whose argumentative itinerary includes labeling others ‘chimps’.)
Chimp again. Please take it up with God, will you?
And more importantly, he also epitomizes budi bahasa and adab. Even his professional adversaries like Prof Emeritus Wang Gangwu would attest to this. If you knew the man, being cultured is not only a requirement of his job and social activism but rather an intractable component of his very being.
Just goes to show that all the education in the world cannot guarantee that the basics of life like justice and equality will be grasped
Thus for you to suggest that he would employ gangster tactics to silence people like you Haris, is either misinformed or kurang ajar.
Er, you write very well. Do you read English, though? If you do, please re-read the excerpt that I reproduced above.
And yet, this post doesn’t only display arrogance but worse, ignorance. But, it should not be surprising—after all those two ingredients often come hand in hand.
Yes, you would know
Haris, CONTRARY TO YOUR INSINUATION, Tan sri Ismail Hussien doen not belong to Umno A or B or C or even UMNO XYZ. In fact he does not belong to any Umno faction. And why should he? As it is, the last place that would appreciate him would be Umno—Umno would have no inkling what he is all about.
I’m fast becoming convinced that you do not understand English.
I did not insinuate that they ‘belonged’. I alleged they were frontmen.
You know, like mercenaries, who will lend their skills for a price.
He may or may not be a party member, but he is definitely not involved in its politicking or power struggle. I’m sure he detest that aspect of Umno culture as much as you do if not more so—after all he was a victim, both professionally and personally, of Umno’s descent into the rabidly anti-intellectual organization that it is today. Anwar Ibrahim, as the then Deputy President, the guy whom a lot of you are pinning your hopes on, sponsored poet turn cooperate captain, Ahmad Sebi to topple Ismail from Gapena. Money politics was involved and the campaigning was an example of politics at its worst.
Sure sounds like an UMNO setting to me.
Man, you really love this guy, don’t you?
Or are you another mercenary?
I know you guys don’t care about such details. And I wouldn’t care to tell you either, except as means to indicate how nonsensical it is for Haris to insinuate that Tan Sri Ismail Hussein is an Umno frontman.
This ‘insinuation’ thing is becoming tiresome.
Here’s an online dictionary meaning of insinuate : to suggest or hint slyly: to instill or infuse subtly or artfully, as into the mind: to bring or introduce into a position or relation by indirect or artful methods.
I did not insinuate. I said it plainly.
It is simply wrong—to Umno, anything or anyone that sounds remotely intelligent is considered either an enemy today or a potential threat tomorrow. In fact I wouldn’t be surprise if the rank and file of Umno doesn’t even know who Professor Emiritus Ismail is.You can even add some of its main office bearer’s to that.
And by the way, if Tan Sri Ismail Hussein is a racist then he is no more so than your hero, Tunku Abdul Rahman.
If you say so
Though the Tunku was one of the main protagonist within Umno that rejected Dato’ Onn’s proposal of turning Umno into a multi racial party, nonetheless, you have no qualms in using him as an inspiration for your Bangsa Malaysia.
People do change
And one of the reasons why he evicted Singapore from Malaysia was because he disagreed with Lee Kuan Yews advocacy of a Malaysia where everyone was equal.
There are other theories
Wahai Haris, i will leave it to your imagination to see the contradiction here.
SO I REPEAT IF PROF EMIRITUS ISMAIL HUSSEIN IS A RACIST THEN BY THE SAME TOKEN, SO WAS TUNKU ABD RAHMAN.
Unless, of course, your definition of a racist is also wrong. And since your opinion on Tan Sri Ismail and Tunku Abd Rahman is misinformed , could it be the case also with your understanding on racism?
Let’s assume you are right and that I’m well off the mark in my understanding of what is racism. Teach me, then. Tell us what is racism. Send in a post and I will put it up.
My 2 cents?
Well, we must always inspect again and again the basis for our beliefs and prejudices. And if found wanting, always have the humility to discard any position regardless of how much we cherish them.
In other words be humble and stay away from arrogance—it has a habit of interfering with our vision. And it would be good to remember the adage ‘history is littered with disasters that start with good intentions’.
Salam Haris and God bless.
PS – Pls note, its not the general prescription of this post that I disagree with—it’s the arrogance loaded in its choice of language and presentation.
PSS- If anyone wants to reply, I might not be able to. Schedule is a bit tight, so, even if I can, it might only be at nite. And that’s a big if. So if don’t reply, please don’t take it as my agreeing with the rejoinder.
Mat Rempit Hubris,Carthage
May 8, 2008
Haris,
Sori for late reply—ada sikit ‘under the weatherlah’ bro.
Anyway, since an inordinate focus of your replies was concerned with
1) questioning my usage of the word ‘insinuate’,
2) accusing Tan Sri of being mercenaries and
3) citing the Quran to justify calling Tan Sri Ismail and co, ‘Chimps’, as such this response of mine would be limited to those issues.
Haris Ibrahim,
Thank you for being so kind as to remark on the inappropriateness of my usage of the word ‘insinuate’.
For point of reference, I am referring, inter alia, to your following remarks(BTW the brackets are my own):
1. “I’m fast becoming convinced that you (Mat Rempit) do not understand English.I did not insinuate that they ‘belonged’. I alleged they were frontmen. You know, like mercenaries, who will lend their skills for a price’.
2. “This ‘insinuation’ thing is becoming tiresome. Here’s an online dictionary meaning of insinuate : to suggest or hint slyly: to instill or infuse subtly or artfully, as into the mind: to bring or introduce into a position or relation by indirect or artful methods. I did not insinuate. I said it plainly.”
The following is my( Mat rempit) reply:
Haris, I guess it’s true when my jurisprudence book say that legal training sharpens the mind by narrowing it.
Though my English was not the issue, u repeated 3 times (2 of which took the form of lengthy insertions) on the inappropriateness of my using the word ‘insinuate’ to describe your depiction that Tan Sri Ismail and co are ‘Umno frontman’. Instead you corrected by saying, ‘I did not insinuate. I said it plainly’.
Thus, as a sign of respect that you are the blog owner, I will reply in the same spirit of trivialities and pedantries that u have shown.
Haris honey, you DID NOT, AS U CLAIMED, stated it clearly that they( Isamil and co) were Umno frontman.
Your exact sentence ( in the original post ) was in the form of a question, which for ease of reference I will repeat is as follow (brackets are again, mine):
“But really, aren’t you ( Tan Sri Ismail) the frontmen for either UMNO Team A, Team B or Team C? Yes, all 200 of you?”
Notice wahai abang Harris, that your sentence took the form of question. And since it was posed as a question, strictly speaking I cant just assume that it was an ‘allegation’ as was later asserted by you—hence I used the word ‘insinuate’.
I agree, that in whole plethora of words available in English, the word ‘insinuate’ may not have been the most appropriate. Perhaps the word ‘assert’ may have been better. Nonetheless, considering the fact that you frame your sentence as a question, my referring to it as an ‘insinuation’ is definitely more apt than your later clarification, “I (Haris Ibrahim) did not insinuate that they ‘belonged’. I alleged they were frontmen” .
Regardless of your spinning( learnt that from former lawyer, Nazri Aziz huh?) you did not state it clearly. Rhetorical or otherwise, you posed it as a question.
Now, with regards to your using of the Quran to justify calling people chimps.
The word ‘We” in the ayat that you quote “Therefore when they revoltingly persisted in what they had been forbidden, We said to them: Be (as) apes, despised and hated – Surah 7 verse 166, refers to God, my friend.
For your benefit, I will risk making a tautological mistake by repeating that the word ‘We” refers to God and not us humans.
God is All-knowing while you are not. God is also All- Seeing. Unlike you or me, he does not need to put forward evidence when passing judgment. Every context of an act, good or bad, is known to Him. In fact, all our hearts intentions, even those that we are unconscious of are like unto an open book to Him (even for instance, when done in the confines of a pub called ‘old skool’) . Nothing escapes His notice. AS SUCH GOD CAN CALL THOSE WHO PERSITS IN FORBIDDEN ACTS WHATEVER HE WANTS. BECAUSE HE IS ALL KNOWING,GOD DOESN’T NEED TO SHOW EVIDENCE— GOD, FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN HE IS GOD, CAN MAKE THAT CALL.
You Haris, contrary to what you may believe, are not God. You are not All-knowing. You cannot cite options that are available to God, to justify your own act of calling people ‘chimps’. Though this may surprise you, you do not have that authority. You cannot make that call.
Thus, in fairness or justice, u cannot simply assert ( accuse ) that people like Ismail Hussen are mercenaries…at least not without evidence. Alleging people of being mercenaries is a very serious accusation Haris. It is akin to saying that they are prostituting themselves for a price. Indeed, if its without evidence or at least some basis, such accusations can be considered Fitnah.( and of course, the onus is on the accuser to come up with the evidence)
And I do not need to quote the Quran or any other Holy Scripture to tell you that Fitnah is a grave offence. On this there is uniformity of opinion.
But, its up to youlah to use Divine Revelation to justify your act of calling people ‘chimps’ or accusing without basis people of negative acts or intentions. After all, Wilders can also use the Quran to portray Islam as violent religion. Misrepresentation, as you and I know, happens all the time.
I just thought that as a muslim, and as person whose blog I have been advocating as a ‘must read’ to scores of friends, you were different.
Yup, after following religiously your blog from Day1, I couldn’t help but have such a positive outlook on you…I admit it’s my fault.
As such, I hereby apologize for having such an optimistic impression of you.
And, Oh, by the way, to answer your question of whether I am a mecenery..well my answer to you is this: a mercenary to whom Haris? Umno? Of courselah no. On March 8th, I voted for Tony Pua.
Why do you ask Haris? Are you a one (mercenary) yourself?
Salam.
PS- btw, you flatter me when you say that I write well. I am, in my humble opinion, no worse than you.
PSS- In your response to me saying, that Tunku was Umno’s poster boy in their rejection Dato’ Onn’s attempt to open the party to non- Malays, you mention that people( I presume your talking about Tunku Abdul Rahman ) change. With regards to Tunku, can you be more specific and describe to me how?
And pls don’t cite general platitudes that every PM or ex PM spews out like “everybody has a place under the Malayan/Malaysian sun’ or ‘I am a PM for all Malaysians’, but something concrete and specific to Dato Onn’s idea. For example did Tunku Abdul Rahman go on record, at any point in time, that he agreed with Dato Onn’s proposal? Or express regret that he did not follow Dato’ Onn’s suggestion? Did he ever suggested later on that Umno should be working towards becoming multi racial in character?
PSSS- A word to the wise.
Since I notice you have a proclivity for quoting the Quran to justify yourself, I want to draw your attention to the phenomena dubbed Tafsir bil Ray. It is a term used by serious (both modern and traditional) scholarship to designate the act of quoting the Quran out of context to legitimize an argument. Granted, sometimes the interpretations are legitimate, but as has been assiduously proven, more often than not, it results in the bastardization of the Quran. It is recorgnize by serious scholarship such as Maulana Kalam Azad and Fazlur Rahman, as one of the main obstacles to a proper appreciation of the Quranic message and spirit.
So be careful when quoting from the Quran, Haris—we may in our haste, make the mistake of lumping those that fall under the category of ‘Mukhamat’ for those of ‘Muntashabihat’ or vice versa and pervert its intention. And no, this not an advice but just something I wanted to share. Do with it as you will.
Helen Ang
May 14, 2008
(Pursuant to) Azmi Sharom Says:
May 5, 2008 at 11:49 pm
worth noting viz-a-viz Hartal is Dr Mustafa K Anuar’s blog post, “’Ketuanan’ TV Forum Moderator”
& Mat Rempit Hubris, Carthage
i note also that MR has made out a reasonable case and appreciate his word to the wise.
walski69
May 14, 2008
Bro Haris,
I know this is really late in the game as far as this topic is concerned, but I just managed to read thru (and translate) the resolution a couple of days ago, and have come to a few conclusions.
0. This whole thing is an UMNO proxy attempt at getting their 15 minutes. It’s obvious, but it needed to be said.
1. If the congress were the best of what Malay intellectualism can offer, then they are in some serious trouble.
2. The resolutions pertaining to education, language and culture, if any government loses its mind and actually implements ANY of the demands, is going to provide the so-called “Malay” race with a free one-way ticket to social extinction. That’s one ride I have no interest whatsoever on getting on.
3. The resolutions demanding respect for the royalty are simply rehashing the provisions already there, and therefore totally unnecessary.
In any case, I’ve done a belated critique on this conference and the resolution, should you find the time to give it a read (http://asylum60.blogspot.com/2008/05/lazy-myth-of-native.html).
Lastly, take good care, and keep up the good work… and you have my undying envy how you can cope with all that you do 😉
Peace!
God’s peace be with you, too, Bro
Meat Popsicle
May 20, 2008
Dear Harris,
I think it is time for all Malaysians to revive the spirit of ‘Malaysian Malaysia’ that our previous political leaders have initiated. I am really saddened by the racist messages that these ‘Malay intellectuals and elites’ are giving out. It is very disturbing the way they upheld ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ as politically correct. The Malays as chosen and privilege people – where did this idea come from? Was there a great biblical history about their origin, about how Divine intervention created a special privilege for them?