DONUTS AND COFFEE AT THE HOME OFFICE?

The Home Ministry seems to be enjoying the company of editors from The Star, and they keep on coming back for more visits. It has become almost a habit that I’m beginning to think that the Home Minister himself is serving them donuts and coffee over laughs and a mild apology after ridiculing Islam like the last time.

Last Ramadhan, the fasting month in the Muslim calendar, editors from the same newspaper were invited to the Ministry to explain their insensitivities towards the Muslim community and the official religion in this country by promoting Pork Ribs while also writing on the breaking of fast in their special supplement on the same day.

After being “cordially invited” to the Ministry at the pleasure of the Minister himself, the Star left with just a soft tap on the wrist with an official apology from them the next day.

A few days ago the same newspaper stretched its luck even further by provoking Muslims in this country by publishing a full page picture of a visiting entertainer with “Allah” inscribed on her bare bosom bordering SEDITION!

While Information Minister Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim, took the bull by the horn and banned the concert performing his duty under the jurisdiction of his Ministry, Home Minister and “accidental” Vice President of UMNO which supposedly upholds the struggle of “ Agama, Bangsa dan Negara” Dato’ Sri Hishammuddin Hussein preferred to leave it to his MCA Deputy Minister to handle the issue pertaining to the serious insult on Islam. 

Picture Test: If This Doesn’t Burn Your Blood To A Boil, You Are Not Muslim Enough!

Apparently, the Home Ministry has issued a show cause letter and given The Star a week to respond. A show cause letter is usually an avenue to allow the perpetrators to go scot free if they are good at constructing a reasonable excuse.

In the meantime, I’m sure the ministry will refer this to the Cabinet to decide because the Minister in my view prefers to hide in the “closet” and NOT take a stand.

FACTS AND ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION:

* Sedition is defined in the Colin’s English Dictionary as:  A) speech or behaviour directed against the peace of a state.  B) An incitement to public disorder.

* The Star is “owned’ by MCA.

* In August 2011, The Star promoted “Pork Ribs” on the same day they ran a special supplement on breaking fast in the month of Ramadhan.

* In December 2011, MCA owned The Star allowed an article by their royal “stooge” writer to call UMNO members attending the General Assembly at PWTC leeches.

* In 27 February 2012, The Star published a full-paged picture provoking Muslims. (The picture above explains itself)

* Deputy Home Minister Lee Chee Leong who was asked to handle this, is a MCA Central Committee member.  

* Michael Chong (Chairman of MCA’s complaints bureau) was appointed as Special Officer/ Advisor to the Home Minister in 2009.

* The action on The Star might be referred to the Cabinet.

* The Cabinet has 4 MCA Ministers.

*Apologies kept pouring in one after the other for their writers’ mistakes without one stern action being taken against them in the past.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER OVER.

* Is MCA a team player in the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition?

* While the Chinese community are rejecting this party but are warming up to Prime Minister Najib himself, is this not sabotaging Barisan Nasional’s chances by hurting the feelings of the voting Muslims who usually support MCA because of BN?

* Would it not be biased for the MCA committee member as Deputy Home Minister to be involved at all in the issue at hand?

* What is Micheal Chong’s role as Special Officer/ Advisor to the Minister? Is he advising the Minister in the interest of the Country or his party and its members? Will he be advising the Minister to take stern action on the paper owned by his party?

* Will the MCA Ministers be rightfully asked to recuse themselves from participating in the meeting to avoid being biased in discussing the action on the paper that their party owns if it reaches the Cabinet for execution?

* Are the concert organisers Malaysian, and did they provide the picture without considering its sensitivies?

* Why did they go ahead with providing these pictures?

* If the organisers didn’t send that particular picture, the authorities might have allowed the concert to continue not knowing of the tattoo.

* Did we do enough research on the singer before we approved the concert in the first place?

* Can the fans sue the organisers and The Star because their actions caused the concert to be cancelled?

CONCLUSION:

This Is Not The First Time That The Star Has Hurt The Feelings Of The Muslims. No Show Cause Letter Should Be Issued This Time. They Must Be Dealt With Sternly And With Clinical Precision Without Hishammuddin Pushing The Envelope Up To The Cabinet. The Local Organisers Too Should Be Taken To Task For Being Imbeciles Neglecting The Fundamentals That Keep The Very Fabric Of Our Society In Tact. This Is Not About Race But Will Be Seen As Such Because The Paper Is Owned By The MCA Which Is Insulting Islam. This Is About An Individual And The Establishment That Allows The Individual To Be Reckless Jeopardizing Racial Harmony And National Security.

Hats Off To Yb Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim On His Righteous Decision Without Fear Or Favour. 

Where Are The Muftis And Minister Of Religious Affairs In This Matter? Are They More Interested In Fighting Among Themselves On The Facets Of Our Religion Rather Than Defending Islam When It Is Clearly Attacked By Infidels?

The Entertainer’s Fans’ Wrath Should Not Be Directed At The Government Who Had No Qualms In Approving The Concert In The Beginning. It Should Be Duly Directed At The Organisers And The Star For Causing It To Be Cancelled Due To Their Negligence In The Basic Foundation That Holds Us All Together As One Harmonious Multiracial Nation.

The Home Minister Should Take Any Action Necessary According To The Provisions Under His Jurisdiction Without Sidestepping Or Prancing Around The Issue In His Ballet Slippers While Others Arrogantly Tap Dance In The Faces Of Muslims And Islam.  If The Action Is Done In Good Faith And Righteously According To One’s Official Responsibility In The Interest Of National Harmony, No Matter How Risky It Might Look, The Mature Rakyat Will Ensure That This Principled Government Will Be Retained In The Next General Election.

Most Of All, It Will Have The Blessings Of Our God The Al-Mighty.

THE SWORN OATH

It has been 75 days since “The Oath” was taken by the UMNO delegates led by the Deputy President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Yes, one might ask why it has taken this long for me to write an article on it. I took my time, as I wanted to give a reasonable grace period to judge the impact it had on those who made the pledge.

The Pledge Of Allegiance

TRANSLATION (From The New Straits Times):

* We in UMNO pledge to close ranks, forge solidarity, rid ourselves of dispute, ill feelings and jealousy and put party interest above self.

* We in UMNO promise to be loyal to the party by giving our full confidence and support to the party President to lead us in achieving a landslide victory in the general election.

* We in UMNO swear to work tirelessly in an organised and systematic manner, to struggle and work in the path of Allah to ensure UMNO and Barisan Nasional's victory in the 13th general election.

* We in UMNO pledge to give our undivided support to candidates who will be selected by the party's leadership to contest in the election.

The Maestro, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin Leading The Oath-taking Event

Many of my fellow delegates do remember it and will certainly hold true to their pledge.

But will those in the hierarchy keep their Oath solemn and do justice to it or will they compromise and renege on what they forced upon us all, in good faith.

Of late, I heard of efforts by both Ministers and deputy Ministers to lobby the Prime Minister to remain in office.

It had become intense that even the Prime Minister had to change his own holiday plans to enable him to be away from it all. Sources said some of them had planned to travel to where the Prime Minister was to be in the hope of getting some private time with him to further lobby their positions. Others have gone to the extent of asking to contest a safer parliamentary seat for fear of losing their own constituencies.

I know most, if not all, of the UMNO delegates who attended the General Assembly will keep to the oath that they took on that day.

But I am not convinced that those in office now such as the Ministers and deputy Ministers are equally convicted to the Oath. What if their names are dropped from being candidates in this coming General Elections? Is there a different set of Rules for the incumbent Cabinet members when it comes to putting Party above self-interest?

If any, I personally think that their acts portray them for who or what they really are.

One UMNO member, who was a former Minister, spoke against the party and government as if he holds high moral grounds. Another continues to be defiant in keeping her post despite having dragged the party and the government in what can be considered her own family matters.

In the meantime, there are also outgoing and aspiring candidates who are said to be trying to get cozy with the PM’s wife in order to keep their seats or get nominated. This is a despicable act if it is true and will definitely put the Prime Minister as well as his good wife’s name in bad light, especially if the former entertains such nonsense.

At the same time, I believe these acts would make it much easier for Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak to identify the good, from the bad and the ugly within the Party and the Government.

However, while the final sentence from the Oath is most reasonable and generally acceptable, it needs to be reminded that if the nominated Candidate is not from the party division and is an outsider shoved down the throats of the locals who’ve served the area tirelessly and unselfishly for the last 20 years since they were young, patiently waiting for their turn to rise, there will undoubtedly be a backlash.

Since known adversaries from within the divisions are willing to accept one another in the spirit of The Oath , they cannot be accused of reneging on it if an alien is put forth to represent them unsupported.

In this respect, the decision makers who are out to save their associates or Cabinet members by switching them to a safer seat would be the ones betraying the Party and be considered Traitors.

I Suggest If The General Election Is Further Postponed To Either The End Of The First Half Or Early In The Third Quarter Of The Year, Then We Should Use The UMNO Anniversary As A Forum To Renew Our Oath And Raise Again The United Spirit To Pummel Through Our Course To Imminent Victory.