INDONESIAN and the ANTI-MALAYSIA sentiment!!

Indonesian has been mighty sensitive in recent times over perceived insults that we, Malaysian have allegedly dished out on them. Until today, voices condemning Malaysia are still being aired, with professors and political scientists saying Malaysia has no indigenous culture and thus has some sort of inferiority complex, and thus is stealing Indonesian culture. The stole culture in question was the Pendet dances that have been claimed by them are from Bali, which in no way would reach Malaysia through shared Malayan culture or through Javanese and Bugis migrants.

I wouldn’t know the difference between Pendet and Polka but look at this way: if tourists came to Malaysia looking for Pendet and didn’t find any, it would be our bad, not Indonesia’s. In any case, the inclusion of the dance in the clip was a mistake not of our doing.

This nothing ill will has not been due to Pendet and Polka alone. Before this, we were accused of claiming Batik and Rasa Sayang as our own. Guilty as charged, because as for as many Malaysians are concerned, there is such a thing as Malaysian Batik, even though have been agreed by international bodies that the distinct and unique characteristics are totally differentiate. Tracking history, Batik is a common throughout Southeast Asia, and a to batik brand wrote in its coffee table book that batik had been influenced for centuries by Chinese, Indian , Arabic, Europe and Japanese designs. And as for Rasa Sayang, God knows how long we’re been singing the song. It is a popular folk tune in Singapore, too.

Also, now it seems our neighbors are upset with us over our national anthem, arguing that the Negara Ku was copied from the Indonesian song Terang Bulan. Surely, this is an old story. Yes, we readily admit based on Terang Bulan. The song is based on a song composed by Frenchman Pierre-Jean de Beranger, who lived from 1780 to 1857. The song apparently becomes popular in the French territories across the Indian Ocean in the early 20th century. The melody that was later to be known as Terang Bulan over in these parts was a “hit” in the Seychelles. It was a popular tune with the royal court of Perak, and the link between Perak and the Seychelles is that the former Sultan of Perak lived in exile on Mahe, one of the Seychelles islands.

The story goes that when Sultan Idris Murshidul’adzam Shah, the Sultan of Perak from 1887 to 1916, went to London to represent the Malay Rulers of the Federated Malay States at the installation of King Edward VII in 1901, his officers were enquired as to the state anthem. The Sultan’s private secretary proffered the melody in question, as Perak then had no official anthem. From then on, Terang Bulan was adopted as the Perak state anthem. Another version of the story has it that this happened during Sultan Idris’ visit to London in 1888 for the coronation of Queen Victoria, and the person involved was the Sultan’s aide-de-camp.

There is also a story published online by the much-vaunted Indonesian publication Tempo, which has a composer there claiming that Terang Bulan was the original composition of his late father, who led the Orkes Studio Djakarta in the 1960s. It seems that the late President Sukarno requested that his father offer the song to Malaysia as “several years after independence, Malaysia had yet to have a national anthem”.

Its sounds like a tall story, as the Negara Ku was played on the day of our Independence. Whichever the true version, we know for certain that the Perak state anthem was later adopted as the national anthem, Negara Ku. Regardless of its veracity, the story is reflective of how prickly relations with our Indonesian neighbors can get. But at the end of the day, it serves no purpose for us to dwell on these matters.

Furthermore, many learned Indonesians sneers at Malaysia’s tourism slogan, “Truly Asia”, saying that it’s nonsense and proves that Malaysia has no true identity. However, I pointed out that “Truly Asia” means that Malaysia is a one-stop destination for tourists wishing to see Southeast Asian, Chinese and Indian cultures. Some Indonesian condemners may still be unaware of Malaysia’s multiple-ethnicities, while others may deliberately ignore it and feel more comfortable with the view that Malaysia is a Malay nation.

The truly, Indonesian hatred for Malaysia has been around since 1960s, probably earlier. Malaysia is the political opposite of Indonesia. It had good relations with its British colonizer, it is a federation, a parliamentary monarchy, and it is never interested in socialism. After peace returned with the creation of the Asean bloc, both governments tried to convince the people that Indonesians and Malaysians were brothers of the same stock, or more preferred called it as “serumpun”. The effort held under until 21st century, when Malaysian economic progress left Indonesian behind, and more learned Indonesians are embracing Sukarno-style-zero-sum nationalism. The real story still the same after 40 years-distract one’s woes by creating and hating a foreign enemy.

Flying the Malaysia or Indonesian flags on your product and wallpaper, while condemning each other on Facebook and T-shirt, won’t solve anything, but getting worse.

Indonesian, here the fact. Malaysia never thinks about those tourism commercials and they know that Noordin Mohammad Top is a Malaysian hiding in Indonesia because he could not survive in Malaysia. We can accept and makes sense that may Indonesians in Malaysia are involved in violent crimes, because the crime rate in Indonesia also is high.

And this is my suggestion and advice. If you want ore tourists to visit Indonesia, stop sending the message that you dislike foreigners. If you want Pertamina to become a global brand like Petronas, and to have Formula One held in Indonesia, study and follow our steps. If you find an item on the internet demeaning Indonesia ignore it and move on with your own priorities.

Stop getting so angry about trivial things so easily when you, Indonesian have potential to do great things for yourself.

Alhamdulillah, saya sempat mengikuti perkembangan Ceramah Perdana Pakatan Rakyat yang berlangsung di Parit Sulong, Johor baru-baru ini.

Antara ucapan dan amanat dasar oleh Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ialah beliau telah menyatakan janji bahawa akan menyerang Johor habis-habisan dan dalam setiap jelajahnya ke Johor, beliau akan jelas nyatakan pendiriannya itu, demi merealisasikan impian untuk menakluk negeri Johor sebagai negeri ke-6 ditawan Pakatan Rakyat.

Saya merasakan ucapan DSAI kali ini penuh kelainannya. Berbeza sewaktu di Permatang Pasir dan di bandar-bandar di mana dia lebih menggunakan bahasa-bahasa moden dan mengungkapkan kata-kata ahli falsafah Barat, kali ini dia mengungkap pula kata-kata pujangga Jawa, Ronggo Warsito, sesuai dengan masyarakat Johor sendiri yang rata-ratanya keturunan berdarah Jawa.

Umum mengetahui, Ronggo Warsito ini adalah seorang pujangga besar Jawa yang lahir di abad ke 17 , sewaktu penjajahan Belanda. Beliau pernah berbakti kepada keraton Surakarta dan dikenali sebagai seorang peramal yang ulung di zamannya. Sepanjang hayatnya, beliau juga sempat menerbitkan beberapa karya yang hebat. Antaranya ialah Serat Keladita, yang menjadi asas penyebaran semangat penentangan terhadap penjajahan Belanda di Indonesia.

Memetik dari karya beliau Serat Keladita, Ronggo Warsito telah mengatakan,

“amenangi jaman édan,

éwuhaya ing pambudi,

mélu ngédan nora tahan,

yén tan mélu anglakoni,

boya keduman mélik,

kaliren wekasanipun,

ndilalah kersa Allah,

begja-begjaning kang lali,

luwih begja kang éling klawan waspada.”

Dan terjemahannya sebagai berikut:

menyaksikan zaman gila,

serba susah dalam bertindak,

ikut gila tidak akan tahan,

tapi kalau tidak mengikuti (gila),

tidak akan mendapat bagian,

kelaparan pada akhirnya,

namun telah menjadi kehendak Allah,

sebahagia-bahagianya orang yang lalai,

akan lebih bahagia orang yang tetap ingat dan waspada.

Nyata, hasil tulisan , Ronggo Warsito masih releven di zaman ini. Zaman yang penuh pancaroba dan juga fitnah. Begitu banyak propaganda dan penipuan-penipuan yang "dimuntahkan" kepada masyarakat sehingga yang benar itu jadi salah, yang salah itu jadi benar.

Sebagai Muslim, kita harus sentiasa ingat pesanan Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. di dalam sebuah hadis: "Aku tinggalkan kepadamu dua perkara. Barangsiapa berpegang kepada kedua-duanya, maka tidak akan sesat selama-lamanya, Kitabullah dan Sunnahku."

Para reformis dan pejuang keadilan sosial sekalian,

Biar kita hidup dalam keadaan ingat dan waspada, jangan hidup dalam keadaan lalai dan gila. Banyak yang akan meninggalkan kita. Banyak yang akan berkata-kata. Berbagai hujah, berbagai alasan yang mereka akan beri untuk mencela. "Gila", "Bodoh", "Sesat", "Munafiq", "Pengkhianat" adalah label-label yang biasa mereka gunakan untuk kita supaya kita patah semangat dan merasa hiba. Mereka akan berasa gembira dan puas hati tatkala memaki.

Sebagai anak muda, kita harus terus berjuang dengan cita-cita untuk memerdekakan bangsa daripada imperialisma dan exploitasi manusia. Jasad muda dan darah muda hanya seketika. Allah S.W.T. akan mengambilnya satu ketika kelak. Jangan dipersia-siakan peluang sekali dalam hidup ini. Dan jangan pula, kita menjadi orang tua dalam jasad muda. Malulah kita sekiranya sebagai orang muda, tidak mempunyai impian dan idealisma perjuangan.

Maka ingatlah pesanan Nabi s.a.w dan janganlah kita menjadi orang yang lalai dan leka..

Insyallah.

Saya menyokong penuh ketegasan bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi dan juga para pemimpin BN lain termasuk daripada Pakatan Rakyat dalam gerakan memansuhkan akta yang berusia lebih 49 tahun ini.

Secara faktanya, ISA telah dirangka oleh R.H Hickling dan mula berkuatkuasa di Malaysia Barat pada 1 Ogos 1960.Terdapat ramai negarawan yang dikenakan ISA sejak penguatkuasaannya pada 1960 lalu.Antaranya bekas Presiden Pas Dr Burhanuddin Al-Helmi, Datuk Ahmad Boestamam, Penasihat PKR Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Timbalan Presiden PKR Dr Syed Husin Ali dan terbaru, pengendali Malaysia Today Raja Petra Kamarudin serta Exco Selangor Teresa Kok

Saya menyokong ISA dimansuhkan bukan berdasarkan emosi semata-semata tetapi berdasarkan hujah akedemik yang berlandaskan kebebasan mengeluarkan pendapat sepertimana peruntukkan Perkara 10 (1)(a) Perlembagaan Persekutuan kita.Antara hujah yang boleh dikemukakan kenapa ISA perlu dimansuhkan ialah daripada faktor kuasa kehakiman yang perlu diberikan semula kepada hakim dan bukannya Menteri Dalam Negeri seperti yang dapat dilihat dalam peruntukkan Seksyen 8(1) ISA itu sendiri.

Juga tahanan tanpa bicara yang jelas bercanggah dengan Perkara 8 Perlembagaan.

Antara peruntukan ISA yang didakwa mencabuli hak asasi individu ialah Seksyen 8 ISA 1960 yang membolehkan Menteri Dalam Negeri mengeluarkan perintah tahanan selama dua tahun, tanpa melalui proses perbicaraan, terhadap mana-mana individu bagi tujuan mencegahnya daripada melakukan sebarang tindakan yang boleh mengancam dan memudaratkan keselamatan negara.Seksyen 73 pula telah memberikan polis kuasa yang luas untuk membuat penangkapan dan melakukan siasatan selama 60 hari berturut-turut terhadap individu yang dipercayai boleh atau telah memudaratkan keselamatan negara.

Kita sepatutnya memberi peluang kepada setiap warganegara hak sama rata di sisi undang-undang serta hak untuk akses kepada peguam dalam masa 24 jam.Penyeksaan dalam tahanan ISA seperti perbuatan memukul, penanggalan pakaian, soal siasat selama 24 jam, ketidakbenaran tidur, ancaman bunuh, ancaman deraan fizikal pada ahli keluarga termasuk ancaman rogol kepada anak mereka dan pelbagai lagi kezaliman lain adalah satu prosedur penyiasatan yang tidak boleh diterima oleh akal dalam dunia yang terbuka pada hari ini.Saya amat tersentuh dengan kisah malang isteri-isteri tahanan ISA yang merana selepas suami mereka ditahan tanpa bicara.

Kes anak tahanan ISA yang tidak sempat melihat ayahnya sebelum menghembuskan nafas yang terakhir dan kisah-kisah ini tidak pernah menjadi pedoman kepada ahli Parlimen untuk menghapuskan undang-undang rimba ini.ISA juga secara jelas bertentangan dengan undang-undang tertinggi negara dan juga konsep kedaulatan undang-undang walaupun diharuskan oleh Perkara 149 Perlembagaan Persekutuan yang memberikan kuasa kepada Parlimen untuk membuat undang-undang bagi mencegah kegiatan subversif.

Justeru itu, hanya satu jalan yang boleh diambil iaitu ISA perlu dimansuhkan dan kerajaan boleh meluluskan undang-undang untuk menangani masalah-masalah tertentu yang melibatkan ancaman negara seperti undang-undang mencegah penyeludupan, pemalsuan pasport dan seumpamanya.

Isu ISA juga amat dekat dengan mahasiswa kerana mahasiswa turut dikenakan penahanan di bawah ISA seperti yang berlaku ke atas 7 orang mahasiswa pada tahun Jun 2001 lalu dan juga dua aktivis pelajar, iaitu Khairul Anuar Ahmad Zainuddin dan Mohamad Fuad Mohamad Ikhwan akibat kebakaran Dewan Tunku Canselor di Universiti Malaya.

Mungkin selepas ini,nama saya turut disenarai bersama saudara Khairul Anuar dan Mohamad Fuad..

1Answer for TBH Inquest..

The death of Teoh Beng Hock was an unfortunate event that could well invite a dark cloud into an already troublesome country which now faces more stringent test as racial tension becomes worser. Finger-pointing and accusation of murder were the focal points of the attack between parties involved as though the only reason for Teoh’s death could ONLY be MURDER.

Worst when the death were linked to a government agency trusted with such huge responsibility and triads which none of us wish for its existence. Soon after Teoh’s death a group of people started to accuse MACC as the culprit. There were banners printed with annoying words such as “MACC is Murderer” and “MACC Kills The Innocence”. I was amazed to see how fast they came to such a conclusion, even the CSI people won’t be able to solve the case in just a couple of days.

Nevertheless, what was more important for me is to see that the majority of those people come from just one race group and I don’t think I need to eloborate on that. Ironically, the counter arguments, defending the MACC, majorities are coming from another race group. The counter arguments also linked the death with corruption and the existence of THE UNDERWORLDS.

It became more interesting yesterday, when it was revealed that two Chinese from the same political party as the deceased were reluctant to give their DNAs sample when everybody else (102 of them) have cooperated . Interesting right? But still, what connects the dots? How could anyone be sure that there is murder in this case?

I much prefer the finding to show that Teoh committed suicide or probably slipped and fell from the 14th Floor. That would be better although certain people will still make all type of noise and call for an inquest of the inquest itself? It won’t be good for the nation if the inquest found that any of the above parties involved.

Nevertheless, it is the truth that we wish for and hopefully justice to the late Teoh too. As for now, everybody should keep their mouth shout and give full cooperation to the police. It’s a pity that Teoh family has taken the bad advice from certain quarters and requested for the postponement of the inquest. The inquest is in accordance with the law and is provided under our Criminal Procedure Code.


While Teoh’s family can continue to talk to PM on the Royal Commision issue, it is best that there is no further delay for the inquest. Delays will only provide the criminals (if any) opportunities to hide the evidence and therefore the truth can no longer be found.

Afterall since the inquest was provided under the law, why shouldn’t we just oblige the law? Is the Rule Of Law only made for certain parties and certain others need not adhere?

Maybe YB Kota Alam Shah has the answer? (or maybe not).

P.59: Bukit Gantang By-Election

Pakatan Rakyat Menteri Besar, Dato’ Seri Ir Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin won the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat, beating Ismail Saffian and Independent Kamarul Ramizu Idris.

The 52-year-old polled 21,860 votes against Ismail’s 19,701 while Kamarul only managed to secure 62 votes and lost his deposit.

Nizar’s won 2,789-vote majority over Ismail Saffian, is almost double the majority obtained by former Pas member of parliament (MP), the late Roslan Shahrom, in last year’s general election.

Roslan defeated BN candidate and Umno treasurer Datuk Seri Azim Zabidi with 1,566-vote majority.



The Election Commission said 75.1 per cent or 41,626 0f the 55,562 voters cast their ballots despite yesterday being a working day and a one hour downpour in the afternoon.

For record, in last year’s election, voters turnout was 72.6 per cent.
“This victory was a clear referendum by the people that the state assembly must be dissolved to pave the way for snap elections.”, said Nizar.