Tunku Mahkota Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim tidak pernah terbeban untuk meluahkan isi hatinya, dan terbaru, melontarkan pesanan kepada mereka yang tidak senang hati dengan negerinya menjadi sebahagian daripada Malaysia.
“....Anda boleh beramai-ramai berjumpa dengan YAB Perdana Menteri di Putrajaya untuk mengusulkan satu deklarasi kepada beliau untuk mengeluarkan negeri Johor dari Malaysia," menurut pesanan itu.
Dalam catatan laman Johor Southern Tigers di Facebook itu, Tunku Ismail turut memetik beberapa sebab yang menjurus kepada kelebihan negeri tersebut yang membangkitkan rasa iri hati kepada sesetengah pihak, antaranya, tiada unsur perkauman dan kebencian terhadap rasuah.
Setiap ayat dimukan dengan perkataan “Jangan salahkan Negeri Johor”.
“...Jangan salahkan Negeri Johor dan mengapa kami bangga menjadi bangsa Johor kerana negeri kami telah dibina bukan atas dasar perkauman ianya dibina kerana kami bersatu sebagai bangsa Johor sejak dahulu.
“....Mengapa kami bangga dengan pemimpin kami yang senantiasa bersama kami pada saat susah dan senang... suka dan duka.
“Jikalau kami tidak suka kepada orang yang korup... kerana kami tidak pernah dididik utk menjadi sekeji itu.”
Catatan tersebut turut menegaskan Johor telah wujud semenjak 1885, jauh sebelum tahun 1957, ketika Malaya mencapai kemerdekaannya.
Di samping itu, ia juga menyatakan rakyat Johor tidak sepatutnya dipersalahkan kerana mempunyai tengku mahkota yang dekat di hati dan membezakan antara pemimpin di negara itu dengan yang lain.
“Jangan salahkan Negeri Johor dan menuduh kami menyangka DYAM Tunku Mahkota Johor kami maksum kerana kami berdiri disini melihat bagaimana dia senantiasa berada untuk kami.
“Jangan salahkan Negeri Johor dan cemburukan hubungan kami dengan pemimpin kami kerana... Dia sahaja yang terus menerus berani menjamin kesejahteraan kewujudan kami.
“Jangan salahkan Negeri Johor jika pemimpin anda tiada bersama anda... kerana bezanya pemimpin kami dilahirkan untuk berkhidmat kepada rakyatnya.
“Jangan salahkan Negeri Johor jika pemimpin anda tidak bersama-sama dengan anda disaat negara menghadapi kecelaruan integriti dan krisis kepercayaan kerana kami di sini mempunyai pemimpin yang senantiasa memperjuangkan hak kami dan senantiasa berlaku jujur pada kami.
“Jangan salahkan Negeri Johor jika pemimpin anda tidak berada di dalam negeri sendiri untuk anda mengadu nasib pada saat-saat diperlukan.” - mk
Ask PM to remove Johor from M'sia, crown prince tells envious lot
Losing Faith...
The claim by Datuk Jahara Hamid (pix,above) that a Taoist shrine at the newly refurbished Armenian Street in Penang can cause Muslims to lose faith (hilang akidah) is simply absurd. Being a Muslim, I find her conclusion not only childish but out rightly insulting to Muslims. Perhaps it is confusing to her, as being an opposition leader, everything is confusing so long as the matter makes the rounds in the state assembly and, inadvertently, raises her stature as an opposition leader.
Otto Van Bismarck’s quote “Politics is the art of the possible” is not without reasons. And this is being reinforced by author H.L. Mencken who said that “practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.”
Imagined or otherwise the word “hilang akidah” has been bandied about with other religious taboos ever since Islam was declared “the official religion of the country” by long-serving Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir in 2001. Mahathir’s intention was nothing more but to 'out-Islam' the other major Malay-based political party, PAS (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia). And in doing so he had, unwittingly, confused the whole nation (pun meant).
So one can “hilang akidah” (lose faith) by simply walking into a church or walk past a Chinese or Indian temple or take a peek at a shrine, as declared by Jahara Hamid. Come on, lady, I have been a practising Muslim for almost seven decades now and I have not lost my faith yet, despite the many temptations around me.
I am a byproduct of a mission school and during my formative years attended chapel services with my classmates. We sang the hymns and Christmas carols along with others of varying beliefs but none, I repeat none, of my Muslim classmates have become Christians. And to claim that the mere sight of a pre-war Taoist shrine in a public park would confuse Muslims is not only insulting but demeaning. Are Malay Muslims so easily confused by sight and sounds?
I attended a funeral service of an old friend at a church recently. The previous night my wife and I were at the wake, there were a number of Malay Muslims among the crowd. We were there not to be indoctrinated but to pay our respects to a dearly departed friend. At the end of the service I asked my accompanying reporter, a twenty-something Malay girl attired in a flowing black dress, whether she had “hilang akidah”. She shook her head and smiled. She knew perfectly well what I meant. “Sir, I’ve been to such services before. I am alright,” she answered. I am pleased with her candor. This headscarf-wearing girl, who is a devout Muslim, has never allowed trivia to distract her thoughts. If only we have more of her in our midst, especially within the ruling circle, Malaysia will be a better place to live and work.
The controversial shrine at the upgraded Armenian Street Park in Penang has been around for over 70 years. “Datuk Kong” said a resident “has been protecting the people living in the vicinity. Its presence helps to ward off evil spirits,” he added.
I have seen similar shrines during my tenure in the army. Once while operating in the jungles of Kulim in the early 1970s we came upon a Hindu temple at the fringe of a rubber estate. And like other Hindu temples, the courtyard was adorned with statues. There were two life-size horses at the entrance to the temple. I warned my men not to disturb but to respect the statues. Unbeknownst to me one of the naughtier ones decided to ride on the horse. That night we had a tough time stopping him from “riding” around our jungle base on his imaginary horseback. He came around after the temple priest revived him.
The naivety of some Malay Muslims is mind boggling indeed. If losing faith is as easy as seeing or uttering something un-Islamic I fear for the sanity of the Muslim community in the country. Religious intolerance is fast taking root that soon it is no longer chic to be seen in my non-Muslims’ company. As it is, Christmas celebration is being frowned upon by many. Brunei has banned it totally.
Honestly, I am at a loss as to the direction this bountiful country is heading. Never mix religion and politics. But this is easier said than done.- Fathol Zaman Bukhari, Ipoh Echo.
Hang-hang UMNO/PAS
The PAS Youth Muktamar turned into a Malay warrior fashion show when PAS leaders came dressed in traditional Malay clothes complete with samping, keris and headgear. One would have thought Hari Raya came early with such colours and fashion, except that Ramadan has yet to begin.It was a break from the traditional jubah, kopiah, serbans which they probably have been wearing all their adult life.This fashion show beats even their new found friends in arch-rival party Umno, who usually wear the simple baju Melayu or baju kurung.While there was no talk of upholding ketuanan Melayu, the message was clear — the leaders are all Malay warriors and that the party now stands based on race.- Zakiah Koya
cheers.
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