By Singa Terhormat
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I first came across Nik Aziz in 1990.
Truth be told, I was expecting someone fiery and fearsome and I was a bit hesitant to meet him.
I had become victim to the local media’s demonization of him as being someone fanatical and half-crazy.
I was however surprised to find him very soft-spoken, so much so I had to lean forward to hear his words.
His face too reflected that of a calm, God-fearing person and there was an aura of kindness and gentleness about him.
I can still recall that moment as his persona defied and demolished all earlier perceptions I had had of him.
About the same time too, I had occasion to meet several other PAS leaders and the impression I formed was that they had been terribly wronged by our local media.
Looking beyond their attire, which admittedly is not common for one brought up in an urban setting along the West Coast, as I was, one could unmistakably recognize their greater sincerity, hospitality and gentleness towards others. It is often said that what the eyes reveal do not lie and indeed amongst many of them their eyes reflected those qualities..
It brought home to me the matter of human frailty in that so often when we come across persons or things that are strange or unusual to us we readily and unfairly form prejudices against such persons/things without further examination of the matter.
It is really our refusal to go beyond our ‘comfort zone’ that results in this.
In many ways they were strange to me, but I could see they were kind-hearted souls.
Of course, I am sure, there must be some ‘black sheep’ amongst them too but generally there was nothing I saw even approaching Umno’s penchant for trickery, treachery and selfishness. These were men and women who were basically God-fearing and they by and large exhibited that in their daily conduct.
They may not be as worldly-wise as their brethren in the West Coast, but there is more than a thing or two that they could teach those in the West Coast about human decency.
Almost overnight then, my earlier impression of them changed.
On numerous trips after that to the East Coast, I also met several non-Malays and non-Muslims residing there and the impression I formed was that they were generally a happy lot and they treated and were treated by their Malay-Muslim ‘neighbours’ as almost ‘family-members’.
They were not as rich materially as their ‘cousins’ along the West Coast but they were totally at ease and felt safe and secure with the Malay-Muslims there.
On one occasion my car broke down and I had to take it to a workshop in Kota Bharu to have it fixed. I learnt that the Chinese mechanic attending to my car hailed from Taiping. On enquiring what caused him to migrate to Kota Bharu, he replied that he felt welcome and totally at home there and life was simpler, safer and uncomplicated.
It reminded me that during the May 13th incidents (allegedly initiated by some to several UMNO chieftains), the non-Malays in Kelantan and Trengganu, although being more heavily outnumbered as compared to their West Coast ‘cousins’, were in fact the safest in the country. There was no incident at all in those places.
It did not totally surprise me therefore to read about and see online how Nik Aziz had gone to visit Karpal Singh and later welcome the Bishop in his hotel room. I noticed too how both of his hands were stretched out in humility to clasp Karpal’s and how warmly and graciously they had received each other. There was so much goodwill between all of them. It so obviously came from the heart.
I recall someone close to me recounting how on the occasion of a visit to Nik Aziz at his house after he had become Mentri Besar, this guest of his was amazed to find that all the guests had to sit on the carpeted floor as there was hardly any furniture around and that Nik Aziz’s wife herself was busy in the kitchen preparing food and drinks for them, unaided, which she herself personally served. I want to salute Nik Aziz for having exhibited the true qualities of a Muslim leader.
This is the real 1Malaysia, not Najib’s and Muhyiddin’s orchestrated public campaigns to hoodwink the public whilst at the same time ‘closing an eye” to, if not actually condoning, all the provocation fostered by Perkasa, Katak Ali, Harrusani, JAKIM and their kind.
Najib went all the way to the Vatican to give the impression that he is ‘for all’ whilst at the same time ignoring all the unholy provocation, including the call to burn the Bibles, on his home-front.
How hypocritical can one get?
And now Haris tells us that Najib will soon be leading a Harmony walk to commemorate World Interfaith Harmony Week with religious leaders at Brickfields.
Will they never end their patronizing ways and come to understand that the rakyat will judge them on their deeds and not mere words and slogans?
In the run up to the 13th GE, you can be sure that our local media will again demonise PAS and its leaders to the non-Malays and non-Muslims whilst at the same time demonizing DAP as being anti-Islam to the Malays. What exact stories and events the media will likely come up with, only their evil minds can envisage.
To my fellow-Malaysians therefore, I call upon you to anticipate such happenings and to ignore and disregard them. Let us exercise wisdom in the matter and not be influenced by racist and religious overtones that are meant to divide and cheat us.
S. Menon
January 29, 2013
At this stage of the game, the die is cast. We have come to a fork in the road and we MUST choose one path or another.
UMNO, BN et. al. are definitely out of the question, and cannot be trusted even for a moment.
Yes, Nik Aziz comes across as a decent man, but two things worry me. He is an old man and, ready to step into his shoes, there are an assortment of candidates, from god-fearing to extremely fundamental Muslims. Thus, things can change in the longer term, not always for the better.
Anwar and his lot carry a lot of baggage, too much of it, carried over from their UMNO days. It will thus be very hard to determine exactly how they will perform in the longer term.
I like some of DAP’s methodology but they do tend to be strait-laced and dogmatic in more ways than one.
So, it comes down to a simple equation:
“Tweedledum or Tweedledee,
The devil or the deep blue sea,
If you don’t get burned,
You will get singed!”
For now, come what may, our only hope lies with PR. And, if they screw up, get rid of them during the next election.
K.C.Chin
January 29, 2013
Well said my bro! God love Msia!
JAmY
January 29, 2013
Singa Terhormat, I agree with you on the humility and compassion lived out by Tok Guru Nik Aziz. Like you, I was duped all these years by the MSM and chose to be wary and judgmental of TGNA and the entire PAS fold. I have since recent years realized my folly and have tremendous respect for TGNA. I am Christian and my daily prayers include (among many others…yes, you too Haris!) TGNA and I pray that our Almighty God bless and guide him with divine wisdom and favor, sustain him with divine health, physical strength and stamina for the course set before him and for God to protect him against every harm.
shakuntala
January 29, 2013
Singha, so true,your tribute, to Nik Aziz, the man! Lucky guy you to have discovered what is meant by personality. You may have missed out one attribute of his, that he never turns down anyone who comes to his door as several persons do call on him over problems, everyone gets called in. You don’t have to make an appointment. People mention Nik Aziz’s spontaneity and his, as you say, apparent humility.
Have been to Kota Baharu on several occasions, a taxi driver once obliged me with showing me Nik Aziz’s very humble home..unbelieveably sweet and homely….the taxi driver told me all what you have related about the man Tok Aziz . I also salute him and his people in Kelantan who are typically kind, they certainly share his humility. I experienced some of that PAS friendliness once again at the Himpunan Kebangkitan rally two weeks ago. I felt accepted, we were able to smile and talk.
I dare say Malaysians are quite aware about media attacks and slurs on this quiet unassuming man, his party and the rest of the shenanigans the media want us to swallow. No way!.
Shanmughanathan.P
January 29, 2013
Yes, Bro. Haris I too was serving in Pasir Mas (1968-1970) during the May 13th crisis and the area was very peaceful, during the entire period. As a non-Malay I never felt any sense of fear either, though my living quarters was surrounded by a Malay kampong.
The Indian hospital assistant serving in Pasir Mas Health Centre, was later promoted to the west coast, but he requested for a transfer back home to Kelantan!…where he felt most at home!
It was indeed a challenge working in Pasir Mas area, being the only dentist for some 165,000 people in 2 districts in Kelantan…but I never had any problems with the PAS politicians whlie serving there.
There was also a contract Banagaladeshi Doctor working, serving 165,000 people!…without even an X-ray machine, in our health services west of the Kelantan river!
Those were the days Bro. Haris.
Rewarp
January 29, 2013
While I appreciate the contrast between the leaders, this is the same man who openly said that “dah dia buka aurat, dirogol, padanlah muka dirogol.”
I am glad I don’t have to choose between his party and BN.
Robert
January 29, 2013
Once I went to see him at his office without appointment. He was in a meeting. After waiting for about 2 hours, he walked out with his entourage supposedly for lunch as it was way past lunch time. When I said that I had waited for 2 hours for a very important thing, he told other people to go ahead for their lunch and invited me into his office.
This is our tok guru – no appointment needed, whereareas appointment with our BN ministers takes many many moons to materialize. That also without guarantee. They may instead send their assistants or senior officers to your functions.
ganesan
January 29, 2013
The Media especially the MSM has been hoodwinking and making us beleive that PAS will bring hudud law and make Malaysia the worst place to live and usually the UMNO will play up as if being Islamic is bad. Now we Malaysians have woken and realised that a good guys are PAS leadership as compared to UMNO leaders who have become fixated to money and corruption. Malaysians have realised it is better to have an Islamic party that believes in god than a party that worships money alone and will go to the extent of corruption.
Taipan
January 30, 2013
The future of PAS lies in the hands of the progressive democrats. It is no longer a party of the ‘ulamaks’ as was once known with the current leadership in place. The emerging move towards a new era of paradigm shifts, both politically and ideology, will bring the Party more in line with political realities on the ground. That said, the line that separates what should be their religious convictions and politics of the day should be clearly defined. I do not wish to see another Umno in the making.
Vince
January 30, 2013
I once returned to KLIA domestic arrival and there was Tok Guru walking ahead of me, without any flunkies and bodyguards in his entourage. Some 10 paces behind him walked his assistant (I presume). That is the embodiment of humility, I respected that.
shakuntala
January 30, 2013
When one comes to think of it, one is easily led to believe that religion and race are the main evils, promoting the present un-natural divide between the races, since both arouse our emotions, a real pity. We pay little attention, although we are well in the know, that while we are engaged, we non-muslims and PAS/UMNO in debates about Allah predominantly, also Hudud and what have you, the Malays have to seriously wake up to the real truth… that a great majority of them are going to remain poor. for the rest of their life time
The Allah issue is being successfully propagated,touted mercilessly, to pull wool over the Malays’ eyes. The Malays are getting wrongfully angry with the non-muslims over a silly and careless assumption that Allah is being “stolen”. The fact is, their own kindred are having a fine time doing the needful, filling up their pockets.
Some time ago,while a poor Malay girl was being flogged for having drunk beer, by religious authorities, the son of a politically astute ex-politician, Dr. Mahathir Mohammad, was being installed as the President of the world-renowned San Miguel Corporation, advertised as a fantastic tasting beer, by courtesy of the Philippines..
The Malays have to wake up to a future fact, that they will forever, remain the slaves of a power, UMNO/BN, which is feeding on their gullibility and their innocence/ ignorance.
It is time for the Malays to know for sure, that the non-Malays are their compatriots,their friends, not in the least bit, honestly and truthfully interested in sabotaging Islam or in “stealing” the benevolent Allah.
We non-Malays too have our own equally reliable Deities, from whom we get enough embrace….the Lord.Jesus Christ,the Lord Buddha, the Lord Khrishna and a host of Others. Moreover we are taught from childhood, that we need to RESPECT the religions of others, in order to live in peace and goodwill.And we have done that, indisputably,.with loyalty, pride and good sense. We have played our part to give Malaysia a good name,shared our talents generously, for the good of the country as a whole. We are Malaysia’s peaceful citizens and we BELONG here.
THE MESSAGE TO THE MALAYS is… wake up,be vigilant, not to religious abuse as is being deliberately touted, that exists as more of a side-show, to hood-wink the Malays.. Wake up to real abuse of political power, which is making a good section of the Malays forever the down-trodden poor slaves.
Bobby
January 30, 2013
I know that mechanic, Ah Tan! My fellow Taipingite!
He used to tell me how there’s no problem for him to have bak kut teh over there., but over here, Muslims walk past BKT shops as if there are lepers inside.
Only small issue is want to buy numbers have to call his Taiping uncle to buy for him. Not a big issue really.
abdullah37
January 30, 2013
I am of the Chrstian faith. I had very negative impressions of TG Nik Aziz thanks to the gomen controlled toilet papers that I used to read. After meeting him in Taiping my feelings changed from fear of him to one of respect and love for him. I found him very approachable, friendly, soft spoken, unassuming, meek and a person of humility. On the other hand most of those BN clowns are arrogant pompous twits who think that they are God chosen torule over us.
bigjoe99
January 31, 2013
Well, game is ON! Selangor election in 3 weeks. ABU is NOW! Najib can’t win Selangor, UMNO/BN will be in a mess going into GE. UMNO/BN win with lots of irregularities, then Bersih 4.0 across the country and losing Selangor will be worth it to get Putrajaya.. Lets go for winning back Selangor AND the irregularities are real – so it won’t just be winning Putrajaya, it will be a in-their-face slam-dunk..
Amus
February 1, 2013
Manipulations are very common in this “new world order” of ours. It is a lesson that all of us can learn that our perception of an individual, of an organisation and of a group of people could be warped and manipulated by powers that be. Here is a good example of such manipulation :
wandererAUS
February 2, 2013
Body language can tell this humble PAS leader Nik Aziz, have all the trade marks of an honest Allah fearing man. Look at the house he is staying, his simple clothing and his humbleness when approached, how could this man be a devil!..obviously, he is not near the devil we know and the self confessed UMNO devil, who cheated the nation. BN’s demonizing ways will not cowed this servant of Allah. In fact he will come out stronger like a true soldier of his Creator.