A pebble that can rock the world (sticks & stones): Part II

In the last paragraph of Part I, (read Part I here) I pointed out that in a globalised society that believe in absolute freedom of speech on one hand; and on the other; where God and His Prophet are more beloved than even your own mother/father/wife/husband/children, the twisted "ethics" regarding "honour" adopted by some people is a time bomb.

The "ethics" that they adopted is that people can insult them and they will not retaliate, but if people insult their loved ones, it is justified for them to retaliate, even with physical violence, causing physical harm.

Now imagine, that they are taught to love God and His Prophet more than their loved ones, more than their own families. And then, people made statement that they deemed insulting about their God and His Prophet.

What do you think will happen?

Do you see where this "playground pebble" metaphor can lead to?

If they are justified in using physical violence in defending the "honour" of their families, what level of retaliation would be required to defend the "honour" of the All Powerful Being that they loved more?

(A Being, I might add, that is more powerful than themselves and would have been more than capable of retaliation if He chooses to do so.)

Have they never heard about the concept of "fair and proportionate" response?

Is it "fair and proportionate" to harm or even kill people for the "crimes" of insult?

Some have heard and understood the concept, and they still believed that it is fair and proportionate.

For some other people, not taking offence is also an offence.

That is, if I am not offended by the same statement that you feel offended of, I am also being offensive, as guilty of being offensive, as the people who made the statement.

So, I am not going to tell you not to go and defend God, less I am accused of being offensive.

You have to decide for yourselves.

Before you decide to go and defend God for something you deemed insulting to Him, let's check what God has to say about it.

If you are Muslim and believe the Qur'an to be the words of God, then you have to listen to it.

 

"...indeed you shall hear many hurtful things from... [non-believers]...but if you remain patient in adversity and conscious of Him, this, behold, is something to set one's heart upon" 

-Qur'an 3:186-

"...ignore their insults, and put your trust in God; God suffices as an advocate..." 

-Qur'an 33:48-

"...He has no (need of) ally (or protector) from insult..." 

-Qur'an 17:111-

I will repeat the last verse, "...He does not need a protector from insult..." 

So, are you going to reduce God and His Prophet to that playground pebbles or are you going to trust that an All Mighty Being can take care of Himself and let Him deals with His "detractors" and "enemies" in His own way?

If you say you are Muslim, and Muslim believe that the Qur'an is the word of God, then reflect on the verses  above and make up your own mind.

Ask yourself why do you feel the need to defend an Infinitely Powerful Being even when He tells you He does not need help (17:111)? 

Is it because deep down you believe He is not Infinitely Powerful; but rather than confront the weak faith in your heart, you turn to anger to mask your own inadequacy?

You think if you manifest your fake anger, you can somehow increase your faith?

But then, you would be doing something that He said you should not do (17:111).

So, how does that lead to stronger faith?

You want to listen to your own God or succumb to your needless anger?

In the end, only God can judge you.

Hikayat Moden: Bahagian X (Antara dua kemungkinan...)

Baca Bahagian I, Bahagian II, Bahagian III, Bahagian IV, Bahagian V, Bahagian VI, Bahagian VII, Bahagian VIII & Bahagian IX di sini.

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Begitulah cara Lebai Pak Belalang mengalihkan perhatian rakyat dari hal-hal pentadbiran negeri yang penuh korupsi, tidak efisien and polisi-polisi dangkal yang lebih menjurus kepada menguntungkan kroni-kroni dan agamawan hipokrit; dengan mencari gaduh dengan kerajaan negeri lain dan menakutkan majoriti rakyat jelata dengan rakyat jelata minoriti yang lain.

Taktik ini telah berjaya mengekalkan kuasa Lebai Pak Belalang dengan begitu lama. Rakyat termakan dengan ketakutan dijajah sekali lagi oleh negeri dari arah matahari terbenam. Rakyat yang pelbagai rumpun dan bahasa juga ditakutkan sesama sendiri.

Agama dan adat dicanangkan berada dalam keadaan cemas dan tergugat dan hanya seorang yang bergelar "Lebai" sepertinya sahaja yang boleh membela agama dan adat.

Tetapi arus masa membawa angin perubahan dan rakyat negeri kini berada di satu ambang yang membawa kepada dua kemungkinan.

Samada terus terlena dengan candu kelebaian atau menongkah arus dan memotong lalang supaya "belalang" tidak boleh lagi hidup dan negeri subur dengan pokok-pokok yang membuahkan hasil.

Rakyat seperti Mat Jenin perlu berhenti berangan sahaja dan turun dari pokok kelapa. Ladang kelapa adalah tempat untuk berladang dan menuai hasil dengan kerja keras bukan tempat berangan.

Rakyat seperti Si Luncai perlu dididik dengan nilai-nilai kemanusiaan sejagat supaya dia dapat mengunakan kecerdikan akalnya ke arah yang lurus dan lebih produktif.

Rakyat seperti Mak Andeh yang berakal panjang tetapi ditotok oleh orang agama bahawa dia berakal pendek hanya kerana jantinanya, perlu memecah tradisi dan mencari haluan yang lebih bermakna dan produktif dan perlu enggan dikawal lagi oleh ajaran agama yang membazir potensi mereka.

Katak-katak perlu keluar dari bawah tempurung dan gunakan keupayaan mereka dengan melompat tinggi untuk mencari air, bukan hanya menunggu hujan dan membuat bising bila hujan turun.

Kebebasan bersuara perlu dijaga supaya rakyat seperti Hang Nadim tidak dibunuh hanya kerana menyuarakan pendapat bernas mereka.

Adakah ini semua mungkin? 

Bersambung di Hikayat Moden: Bahagian XI bulan hadapan…

CoVid19 & Stealing Democracy (I swear youtube can read my mind...)

I swear youtube can read my mind.

I have been thinking about this matter for a few weeks, after the first phase of "Movement Control Order" or MCO ("Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan" or PKP) was supposed to end. Then, suddenly youtube algorithm recommended a video to me related to what I was thinking.

Before I show you the video, let me explain.

The MCO (PKP) in Malaysia was initiated right in the middle of a power transition in Malaysia. Malaysia was in the middle of a political crisis. It was politically chaotic. There was a change in government. In spite of all that we managed to go through the MCO in a very efficient and effective manner. We come out of it rather successfully.

This was a surprise to me! 

Under normal circumstances, Malaysian politicians, in general, are not a very clever or intelligent bunch (to put it mildly and politely). In the past, there were many ineffective and inefficient policies put in place that made life for the citizens worse. They are also generally bad at crisis management.

More to the current point, whenever an emergency or national disaster happened, our politicians handled them badly. Just look at the two MAS airplanes tragedies. The way both were handled by our leaders then were embarrassing. The only reasons the world was not laughing at our country then, was because the world was polite and recognize that it is unbecoming and impolite to laugh at people who are suffering.

Just remember all the tragedies of the past; the landsides, the floods, collapsed building, the national security incursion of Sabah; most of the times our leaders handled them badly. They do not know how to handle emergencies and disasters.

(Just to be clear, I am referring to politicians and government leadership, NOT the frontline workers, NOT the BOMBA, NOT the police, NOT the armies. They execute their duties to the highest degrees of integrity and courage always.)

But surprisingly, amid the political turmoil, the political chaos, the MCO (PKP) was handled and executed successfully, very successful indeed that even a mat salleh youtuber made that famous youtube clip praising Malaysia's handling of the CoVid19 crisis.

I attributed the success of the MCO (PKP) to the dedication of the frontline workers, sense of community among the citizens, the hashtag #kitajagakita and effective communication & leadership by the Health Director-General, who is a technocrat civil servant not a politician. 

I refused to attribute the success of the lockdown to the country's leadership. But when I analysed the daily news, they also handled it quite well. The single point of communication & the daily briefings which provided clarity & assurance were handled effectively. They contributed with good policy, planning & leadership, (or so it seems).

This caused a cognitive dissonance in my head. 

The facts say they handled the crisis well but my head refused to accept it. To me, Malaysian politicians do not have the capability and skills to handle the pandemic of this scale this effectively.

There is something I am missing.

I stew with this cognitive dissonance for a while. It might just be a fluke but I am a fair person. Even if it is a fluke I would have to give credit where credit is due. But not quite yet. After all, we are not out of the woods yet.

Then, one day it hit me.

What is the utmost goal of most politicians? 
Power!
Lots of it, the more the better.

They are not "managing" the situation.
They are not providing leadership during crisis.

They are dictating when and where people can move.

They are taking away people's freedom of movement, freedom of assembly, freedom to work, freedom to play, freedom to socialize.

It was a show of power, which is easy for politicians when there are no resistance.

In essence, for a few months, Malaysia was a semi-dictatorial state.
This is a wet dream of all aspiring politicians craving for power.

That was why the lockdown was successful. They were not "managing" it; they were practicing at being a "dictator"!

(To their credit, freedom of expression and speech, such as it is, were not curtailed further.)

Before anyone accuses me of blasphemy or encouraging dissent to the lockdown rules, let me be VERY clear.

I am NOT proposing breaking the rules of MCO or lockdown or the rules of the "new norm". 

Please obey all rules regarding MCO.
Keep a safe distance.
Wear masks in public.
Do not breach Red Zone Area.

Declare and quarantine yourselves if you are a suspected case.

But I do want you to be more vigilant.

Be vigilant of all new policies, laws and/or regulations introduced during this time until the MCO is totally lifted.

Scrutinize the efficacy and accuracy of all data relating to the pandemic. Fake or manipulated data might be used to introduce draconian laws/regulations that can be used in normal time. This pandemic might and can be used by scrupulous politicians to give themselves more power.

To steal democracy.

If you think I am exaggerating, remember earlier when I said youtube can read my mind?

Well, it has happened elsewhere, and not just in some third world country, but right in the middle of modern democratic Europe.

This is the video that youtube recommended to me.

So, yes, obey all the MCO rules.
But, remember, be vigilant!
Follow what is happening in Parliament.
Be aware of what the politicians are doing.

Do not let them use this pandemic to steal our democracy.

Salam.

Hikayat Moden: Bahagian IX (Tragedi September)

Baca Bahagian I, Bahagian II, Bahagian III, Bahagian IV, Bahagian V, Bahagian VI, Bahagian VII & Bahagian VIII di sini.
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Pesta Monsoon yang dianjurkan di seluruh negeri telah menyebabkan ramai kanak-kanak mati lemas.

Pada mulanya, ibubapa kanak-kanak tersebut dipersalahkan kerana tidak menjaga anak-anak mereka semasa bermain air. Kanak-kanak tersebut disangka mati sesak nafas kerana terlalu ramai orang. Tidak mungkin mereka mati lemas dalam air sedalam dada itik sahaja.

Tetapi semakin hari semakin ramai kanak-kanak mati lemas dan rakyat mula mempersoal akan maklumat paras air banjir.

Ada rakyat mula menyalahkan Lebai Pak Belalang dan Pak Pandir kerana memberi maklumat yang salah.

Penyokong Lebai Pak Belalang mempertahankan Lebai Pak Belalang dengan alasan-alasan lain.

Mereka menyalahkan rakyat jelata yang terlalu seronok riang ria bermain air sehingga lupa kewajipan agama yang dituntut lima kali sehari. Mereka mengandaikan ini adalah hukuman Tuhan kerana alpa tuntutan agama. Ada juga yang mengandaikan tragedi yang berlaku adalah hukuman Tuhan kerana ada rakyat jelata perempuan yang bermain air dengan pakaian bikini yang seksi.

Ada yang membuat pengaduan di badan siasatan rasuah untuk menyiasat itik-itik yang dikatakan telah memberi info dan maklumat yang salah pada Lebai Pak Belalang. Mereka cuba menyalahkan itik-itik yang hanya berenang di air tanpa menyedari gambar mereka diambil oleh Lebai Pak Belalang sebagai bukti saintifik paras air banjir.

Majoriti rakyat berpegang pada sebab-sebab tersebut di atas tragedi yang berlaku. Mereka tidak terfikir sedikit pun untuk menganalisa dan mencabar data dan maklumat yang diberi Lebai Pak Belalang sebelum ini. Maklumlah, bagi mereka golongan lebai dan ulama tidak mungkin berbuat salah.

Ada segelintir (termasuk Si Luncai) yang cuba mengkritik Lebai Pak Belalang & Pak Pandir. Mereka cuba mempersoalkan kebijaksanaan kepemimpinan Lebai Pak Belalang & Pak Pandir. Tetapi mereka dituduh menghina ulama dan dikecam hebat.

Pada rakyat jelata, mengkritik ulama adalah sama seperti menghina ulama. 
Menghina ulama adalah seperti menghina agama.
Menghina agama adalah menghina Tuhan.

Begitulah panaakulan mantik yang dipegang oleh sebahagian besar rakyat jelata.

Dengan ini, suara-suara yang cuba mengkritik Lebai Pak Belalang & Pak Pandir ditenggelamkan.

Dengan itu, kanak-kanak yang mati lemas dalam air banjir menjadi seumpama mati katak sahaja. Menjadi bahan politik untuk Lebai Pak Belalang dan golongan lebai lain untuk memperkuatkan kuasa politik mereka.

Sementara itu, itik-itik yang cuba disalahkan, telah terbang ke benua selatan untuk lari dari cuaca sejuk yang bakal datang, seperti yang dilakukan mereka setiap tahun. Apabila kerajaan benua selatan mendapat tahu yang itik-itik tersebut menjadi buruan kerajaan Lebai Pak Belalang, dan bakal dijadikan itik salai masak lemak; jika ditangkap; mereka telah melarang itik-itik dari terbang balik apabila musim sejuk habis.

Maka terjadilah perang mulut antara kedua kerajaan tersebut. Lebai Pak Belalang menuduh kerajaan benua selatan rasis. Mereka  dituduh anti masakan tradisional seperti itik salai masak lemas. Dengan menahan itik-itik tersebut dari terbang kembali, rakyat jelata tidak dapat makan itik salai masak lemas. Kerajaan selatan dituduh anti masakan tradisi dan anti budaya negeri ini. Kerajaan selatan dituduh rasis.

Perang mulut ini lagi menenggelamkan isu kematian kanak-kanak tersebut dan lama-kelamaan kematian mereka dilupakan.

Bersambung di Hikayat Moden: Bahagian X bulan hadapan…

The ultimate freedom (belated Merdeka Day 2020 post).

In Malaysia, there are a lot of restrictions in our freedom.

There are legal restrictions in our freedom of speech; rightly or wrongly; in the name of sensitivities of the races, of religions, of cultures and/or for safeguarding the institutions of the state.

There are legal restrictions in freedom of expression, in the name of harmonious living among the citizens of Malaysia and/or for national security.

There are also legal restrictions in the creative, arts & entertainment industry in the name of moral/cultural/religious sensitivities and/or other arbitrary reasons.

There are legal restrictions (arguably) in practising minority religions.

There are legal restrictions in the rights of assemblies, in the name of national securities and peaceful living of citizens.

There are also other legal restrictions such as relating to the press, sedition acts, blasphemy acts, slander acts, etc.

The government says that all these restrictions are, singularly and/or collectively, for national security and harmonious living among the multi racial, multi cultural, and/or multi religious society of Malaysia. 

The government may be right. Agree or disagree, rightly or wrongly, these are the facts of the situation, legally, in Malaysia.

There are also social & moral restrictions that a society imposes on its members. Most of us willingly follow these restrictions for harmonious and peaceful living among our neighbours.

But there is one freedom no government and no society on Earth can restrict legally or practically.

Freedom of thought.
Freedom to think.

Freedom to think whatever you want to think. 
(As long as you do not express them out loud, of course).

Thinking is done in your brain, and nobody can read what is in yours. It is done in the safe haven of your brain and it is the most free act that you can do.

As far as I know, there are no devices yet invented that can read your mind, and as far as I know, telepathy is still science fiction.

But sadly, among majority of Malaysians, especially, the Malay Muslims, even this, they are afraid to do.

People are afraid to think even though this act cannot be controlled by the state or regulated by law.

They are afraid to think.

They are afraid to engage their brain. They are afraid to think critically. 

There are Muslims who are afraid to think about what the Qur'an actually says. They outsource and rely 100% on their favourite preachers to know what the Qur'an says. Their favourite preacher in turn rely on his revered preacher to know what the Qur'an says. The revered preacher in turn rely on his tok guru to know what the Qur'an says.

None of them actually read and study the Qur'an themselves. None of them analyse and think what the Qur'an actually says.

They are afraid to read and study the Qur'an themselves. Some people I have talked to even say that you cannot read and study the Qur'an yourselves or you might be led astray or 'sesat'.

The irony!

They believe the Qur'an is sent as guidance to all humanity and yet they believe reading and studying the the Guide Book themselves might make them stray from guidance or 'sesat'...

I am speechless...

The emoji is speechless...

Even the statue is speechless...

There not enough hands for me to facepalm my own face...

They are afraid to think and question in their mind what their favourite preacher says. They swallow in whole whatever he says. No critical thinking.

They are afraid to think critically on what he says. It is almost as if it is a sin if they question, even in their mind, what he says.

They are also afraid to think and questions in their mind what their leaders are saying. This is all the more true when the leaders are saying racial things. When the leaders are instigating their emotions with racial and religious issues.

I am not asking you to question them openly in public. There are legal repercussions if you say the wrong thing out loud. People may interpret what you say wrongly, intentionally or unintentionally, to get you in trouble. These fears are valid.

But nobody can know what you think. Nobody can read your mind.

So, please engage your brain, think critically, and find the answers yourselves.

It is the most free thing that you can do.

Happy belated Merdeka Day!

Gunung Banang Hiking Trip (14th March 2020) & Gunung Banang Song.

Gunung Banang is located in Batu Pahat, Johor.
The peak is about 430 metre in height.

To climb this mountain, you can follow the paved road built by Telekom Malaysia to access its telecommunication tower. The distance to the top is about 2.9 km. You can read this blog on this hiker's experience in hiking up this paved road.

However, we did not take this paved road. We took the more adventurous route to climb this mountain. This jungle trail is more challenging and I have to admit, I almost gave up. While the hike is not the highest I have ever climbed, this is the most challenging as the trail was very steep all the way; between 60 to 80 deg steepness all the way.
(Google map video of the route that we took.)

But I made it in the end.

View of Selat Melaka, Batu Pahat River and Minyak Beku.

 

 

Batu Pahat town.

Dari secawan kopi aku belajar erti
pahit manisnya sebuah kehidupan
(and the bittersweet success of hiking up a mountain).

Batu Belah Batu Bertangkup.

Batu Gajah.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gunung Banang is also immortalised in a classic Malay Asli song, titled, "Gunung Banang", of course.

Enjoy the song.

Lyrics:
Gununglah Banang,
Gunung Banang,
Tinggilah menawan,
Ahai...
Tinggi menawan,
Nampaklah lagi
Gununglah Soga
Ahai...
Gununglah Soga
2X

Bila ku pandang
Wajahmu Puan
Bagai ku pandang
Pintunya syurga
Ahai...
Pintunya syurga
2X
Selat Melaka
Selat Melaka
Airnya tenang
Ahai...
Airnya tenangBanyaklah perahu
Perahu Bugis
Ahai...
Perahu Bugis
 
 
Bila terpandang
Wajahmu Puan
Hati yang sedih
Terus menangis
Ahai...
Terus menangis
 

 

Hikayat Moden: Bahagian VIII (Pak Pandir, Pak Belalang & Pesta Monsoon)

Baca Bahagian I, Bahagian II, Bahagian III, Bahagian IV, Bahagian V, Bahagian VI & Bahagian VII di sini.
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Sebagai menteri, Pak Pandir berfikir bagaimana untuk menjana ekonomi negeri. Dia teringat akan penerangan Lebai Pak Belalang kepada rakyat yang negeri mereka dikurniakan Tuhan banjir setakat paras dada itik sahaja pada setiap tahun.

Bagi Pak Pandir ini adalah satu peluang besar untuk meraih untung. Dia mencadangkan acara Pesta Monsoon diadakan setiap tahun. Paras banjir yang setakat dada itik sahaja setiap tahun adalah satu rezeki dari Tuhan. 

Maka, pada bulan monsoon tahun itu, Pak Pandir merancang satu pesta besar-besaran di setiap pelusuk negeri. Ini termasuklah acara permainan air kanak-kanak dalam air banjir dengan hadiah yang besar dan mahal. Paras air banjir setakat dada itik tidak akan membahayakan nyawa kanak-kanak kecil dalam negeri.

Pesta Monsoon seperti yang dirancang Pak Pandir telah bermula dengan meriah. Acara dirasmikan oleh Lebai Pak Belalang dengan gilang-gemilang. Acara pesta tahunan ini diharapkan boleh menjadikan negeri lebih cemerlang gemilang dan terbilang di seantero dunia. 

Setiap hari hujan turun dengan lebat tetapi paras air banjir tetap sama...setakat dada itik sahaja.

Rakyat bersyukur pada Tuhan dengan anugerah ajaib ini. Mereka berpendapat ini adalah berkat kealiman kepimpinan negeri yang dipimpin oleh Lebai Pak Belalang.

Acara Pesta terus berjalan dengan rancak, kanak-kanak di seluruh negeri amat riang-ria bermain air banjir dan hujan semakin turun dengan lebat seakan-akan merestui negeri mereka........

Bersambung di Hikayat Moden: Bahagian IX bulan hadapan…