Archive | May, 2013

Tanpa menteri, lebih agresif? — Zulkifli Jalil

17 May


17 MEI — Mengapa tiada menteri dari Selangor? Itu persoalan yang beberapa kali dilontarkan oleh rakan seperjuangan kepada penulis lewat petang kelmarin.

Bagi penulis yang berpeluang membuat liputan hampir tiga bulan proses dan perjalanan kempen 15 hari Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 (PRU13) di Selangor tempoh hari, maklum mengapa Kabinet baharu di bawah Datuk Seri Najib Razak memutuskan sedemikian.

Perdana Menteri cukup sayangkan Selangor. Sebab itu beliau sanggup menjadi Pengerusi BN negeri itu semata-mata demi memastikan Selangor kembali ke pangkuan BN pada 5 Mei lalu. Beliau turun padang menemui rakyat negeri itu, malah hatinya sayu dan gembira apabila majoriti masyarakat Cina berasak-asak memenuhi majlisnya.

Namun, malangnya impian itu tidak dapat direalisasikan oleh barisan BN negeri sama ada yang dikendalikan oleh koordinatornya, mahukan timbalan pengerusi.

Berbanding timbalan pengerusi BN negeri, tanggungjawab dan peranan lebih besar diletakkan kepada pemimpin yang menjaga “war room” BN di Tingkat 9, Bangunan Umno di Shah Alam yang juga timbalan pengarah pilihan raya negeri. Tetapi malangnya dia dilihat gagal membawa manifestasi Pengerusi BN negeri.

“War room” BN di Selangor bagaikan “hak eksklusif” dan menjadi bahan rungutan bukan sahaja daripada pihak media untuk memperoleh maklumat perkembangan mutakhir BN, malahan daripada ketua-ketua bahagian Umno negeri sendiri.

Suatu ketika sekitar Januari lalu, penulis dalam pertemuan dengan seorang ketua bahagian Umno bertanyakan apa pandangan ketua bahagian berkenaan mengenai “war room” di Tingkat 9 itu. Penulis sudah dua kali masuk dan diberikan taklimat ringkas carta dan data-data berkaitan statistik pengundi dan serba sedikit strategi dan perancangan BN mendepani pakatan pembangkang.

Sedang asyik bercerita, ketua bahagian berkenaan terus “mencelah” dan memberitahu: “Kami ketua-ketua bahagian tak pernah dijemput ke sana… tak tahu bagaimana bentuk ‘war room’ tu. Kalau tak percaya, anda boleh tanya ketua bahagian lain.”

Semua pihak di Umno dan BN Selangor cukup sedar betapa Selangor cukup penting. Ini bukan sahaja kepada parti pemerintah dan Najib sendiri tetapi lebih menyeluruh untuk negara.

Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) bergantung harap kepada Selangor. Di negeri itulah berpusat dan berlegar sebahagian besar urusan dan aktiviti pelaburan, perdagangan dan perniagaan Malaysia.

Selangor di bawah pakatan pembangkang dan dengan BN mengendalikan Pusat, agak sukar untuk kedua-duanya berganding bahu yang akibatnya merencatkan kemasukan pelaburan asing.

Tanyalah Datuk Seri Noh Omar, berapa jumlah pelaburan sudah tersekat untuk pergi lebih jauh ke Selangor gara-gara “main wayang” pakatan pembangkang mempolitikkan kelulusan loji rawatan Langat 2. Kalau tak salah, hampir 400 projek.

Tetapi ini semua kurang dihayati oleh BN negeri. Mereka kurang sedar bagaimana pertambahan pengundi muda Cina naik mencanak di Selangor. Sama ada kemungkinan ia satu strategi menerusi “pemindahan sistematik” alamat-alamat para pengundi kaum itu, itu penulis serahkan kepada pertimbangan semua.

Namun, kalau diperhatikan “strategi licik” menempatkan kumpulan-kumpulan penyokong parti di satu-satu tempat sebagai pengundi berdaftar, diakui taktik yang cukup berkesan dalam meraih kemenangan secara realistik dan pintas.

Kalau disemak statistik sehingga suku keempat atau Disember 2012, pertambahan pengundi Cina kedapatan di banyak kawasan di Selangor. Ia agak “mencurigakan” meskipun mengikut saluran sah oleh SPR.

Di kawasan DUN Seri Serdang yang menyaksikan ketua pembangkang Selangor dari BN, Datuk Satim Diman menang di kerusi itu dengan 45 undi pada 2008, tiba-tiba pula menunjukkan pertambahan pengundi Cina di situ mencapai 10,638 orang.

Di DUN Subang Jaya, angka pertambahan itu mencecah 10,000 pengundi kaum itu. Di kawasan DUN Paya Jaras dalam Parlimen Subang yang mana penyandangnya dari Umno, Datuk Muhammad Bushro Mat Johor menang sekitar 600 undi pada 2008, gagal mengulangi kejayaan sama 5 Mei lalu. Lebih parah lagi Muhammad Bushro tewas lebih 5,000 undi di kawasannya yang turut memperlihatkan pertambahan pengundi Cina mencapai 6,000 orang.

Juga, sama ada sedar atau tidak, prinsip-prinsip asas seperti calon boleh menang di Selangor seolah-olah telah “tercabul”. Ini ketara khususnya di kawasan Sepang. Orang yang layak bertanding, diserahkan kepada yang tidak berhak. Begitu sebaliknya.

Sebab itu Sepang menjadi “ceritera penglipur lara” dengan perbuatan “tikam dari belakang”. Itu belum termasuk sabotaj yang digerakkan oleh “individu” terbabit sehingga calon BN tewas di tangan Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim di Pelabuhan Klang.

Kelmarin, Najib mahukan BN setiap negeri khususnya Selangor menyematkan dalam sanubari bahawa sesuatu perlu dibuat.

BN Selangor daripada kalangan Umno, MCA, Gerakan dan MIC perlu bertindak.

Orang Cina barangkali telah terasa pada tarikan dan dividen politik DAP di Pulau Pinang dalam tiga empat tahun ini. Kerana itu kawasan-kawasan bandar besar seperti Kuching, Ipoh, Seremban serta Cheras, Bukit Bintang, Kepong merasakan MCA tidak boleh diharap dalam memperjuangkan nasib mereka.

BN Selangor harus bermuhasabah dan mencari jawapan tanda tanya tiada portfolio Kabinet untuk negeri selepas parti itu kalah teruk dalam PRU13.

Jika telahan ini benar, sekurang-kurangnya BN Selangor khususnya Umno perlu bangkit dan bersungguh-sungguh untuk menyarankan formula sekali gus kemenangan pada PRU14.

Buktikan sekalipun tanpa jawatan menteri dari Selangor, perubahan secara drastik akan dilakukan untuk mengembalikan semula negeri itu ke pangkuan.

Selagi Melayu tidak bersatu, selagi BN negeri tidak merancang strategi dari sekarang, selagi itulah pihak-pihak tertentu akan lebih mudah “memperkosa” negara bangsa.

Turunlah jenguk surau dan masjid di subuh hari atau setidak-tidaknya berjemaah semasa Maghrib mulai hari ini. Lihatlah di belakang pasar raya-pasar raya besar sekitar Shah Alam sudah ditumbuhi kondominium-kondominium mewah. Pembeli kondo yang juga penghuni di situ akan menjadi pengundi berdaftar di ibu negeri Selangor itu.

Bangkitkah dan tampillah dari sekarang agar menjelang PRU-14 tidak dianggap sekadar calon “payung terjun”. — utusan.com.my

* Ini adalah pendapat peribadi penulis dan tidak semestinya mewakili pandangan The Malaysian Insider.

 

via http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/rencana/article/tanpa-menteri-lebih-agresif-zulkifli-jalil/

Time to think about our future — Lim Mun Fah

16 May


MAY 16 — Before the 13th general election was held, I was worried that politicians who repeatedly played up racial issues might win and become even worse after the election in inciting racial sentiments.

After the election, I was worried that those with malicious motives might use the voting trend to create trouble and put forward a variety of plausible arguments to stir racial hatred.

Thankfully, two typical practitioners of extreme racism suffered a severe defeat in the election.

Thankfully, although a newspaper had published a provocative front-page headline, although some people had urged the government to change all existing multi-stream schools into single-stream schools, although someone warned of a backlash and although rumours were widely spread, we still proved that we are a family who can have peaceful co-existence and harmonious unity on May 13.

In the face of racist and provocative views, I believe that all friends who love peace and harmony will be very angry while finding a way to counterattack those people and their remarks to stop them from poisoning the people’s minds and leading the country and the people towards ruin.

The best counterattack is not to remain silent, but to take action.

After winning the election, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak promised to implement a national reconciliation programme to eliminate extremism and racism.

Meanwhile, Pakatan Rakyat is planning to hold a “national unity conference” to discuss countermeasures to promote national harmony.

We are happy with the prime minister’s commitment and Pakatan Rakyat’s plan.

In fact, it is gratifying that while various political parties were still engaged in the confrontation even after the election, many visionary intellectuals and 14 civil society groups have taken the initiative to organise a dialogue and study on how Malaysia should reform to facilitate national unity.

Participants of the dialogue raised a point of view that is very worthy of our careful consideration. That is, all political parties should bid farewell to race-based policies and stop all racial disuniting programmes as their election policies have caused a racial split.

The people are now facing such a worry, namely racists are still waiting for an opportunity to take action and racism is still lingering in the air. Society does not seem to be able to differentiate between justice and evil, while right and wrong are justified based on which party you belong to. All of these have led to social chaos and triggered anxiety.

Therefore, I very much hope that similar constructive dialogues could be held nationwide, similar timely exhortatory viewpoints could be widely reported while similar voices that can help in promoting racial understanding and harmony could be shared and spread by more netizens, so that more people can get rid of the election frenzy, find the direction, and think about the future of the country and the people more objectively and rationally! — mysinchew.com

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

 

via http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/time-to-think-about-our-future-lim-mun-fah/

Perpecahan kelas, gender dilihat dalam corak pengundian PRU13, kata Merdeka Center

16 May

Oleh Mohd Farhan Darwis

KUALA LUMPUR, 16 Mei — Wanita dan rakyat Malaysia berpendapatan rendah mengundi untuk Barisan Nasional (BN) sementara lelaki, golongan kelas menengah dan kelas atas, lebih cenderung ke arah parti Pakatan Rakyat (PR) dalam Pilihan Raya 2013.

Ibrahim Suffian, pengarah eksekutif Merdeka Center juga mengatakan hari ini, 55 peratus daripada responden dalam tinjauan terbaru mengatakan mereka bergantung kepada internet dan media sosial sebagai sumber utama maklumat politik mereka.

“Wanita secara umumnya lebih ramai yang mengundi BN berbanding lelaki, kerana mereka kurang melayari internet,” kata Ibrahim (gambar) dalam forum Pasca PRU ke-13: Harapan BN dan PR selepas PRU-13 di Universiti Malaysia (UM) di sini.

Dianggarkan satu pertiga daripada rakyat Malaysia memiliki telefon pintar dan mempunyai akses kepada internet, dan dijangka jumlah itu akan meningkat sehingga dua ke tiga kali ganda bagi tempoh dua tahun akan datang.

“Lebih ramai lelaki yang melayari laman web politik dan isu semasa. Pengundi wanita kurang melayari laman-laman seperti ini,” katanya dalam seminar anjuran Pusat Kajian Demokrasi dan Pilihan Raya UM (UMCEDEL).

MENYUSUL LAGI

 

via http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/bahasa/article/perpecahan-kelas-gender-dilihat-dalam-corak-pengundian-pru13-kata-merdeka-center/

Class, gender divide seen in GE13 voting trends, says Merdeka Center

16 May

By Zurairi AR

PETALING JAYA, May 16 — Women and poorer Malaysians voted for Barisan Nasional (BN) while men and the middle- and upper-class voters leaned towards Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties in Election 2013.

Ibrahim Suffian, the director of independent pollster Merdeka Center, also said today that 55 per cent of respondents in a recent survey stated that they depended on the Internet and social media as their main source of political information.

“We see women generally leaned towards BN compared to men who leaned towards PR,” Ibrahim (picture) said at a forum organised by Universiti Malaya Centre of Democracy and Election (UMCEDEL).

“More men browse political websites which discuss politics and current affairs. Women do that less, despite being younger.”

Around a third of Malaysians own smartphones or have access to mobile Internet, and the figure is expected to increase to around two-thirds in the next two years.

Ibrahim also explained that voters were obviously split between different classes, with the working and lower-income classes mostly voting for BN, and the middle and upper classes for PR.

Respondents who viewed BN positively cited development, Malay rights and its track record as reasons for choosing the coalition. 

They were mostly made up of rural voters who benefited from handouts such as the 1 Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M).

Those who viewed BN as negative did so because of its perceived failure in taking care of minority ethnic rights, inter-racial relations and graft.

Meanwhile, PR was viewed positively by those who saw the alliance as a multiracial representation, and felt that it promised a cleaner administration.

Negative views towards PR include a perception of frequent clashes between its three members and their incompatibility.

Pointing towards intra-ethnic differences, Ibrahim suggested that the votes were not split according to races but more towards the different ideologies presented by both BN and PR.

Last week, Merdeka Center had stressed that Election 2013 was not simply a “Chinese tsunami” as urban Malays had also voted for PR.

Analysts have noted that BN’s historic losses in Election 2013 were the result of a middle class and urban exodus from the coalition that further widened the urban-rural rift in the country.

 

via http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/class-gender-divide-seen-in-ge13-voting-trends-says-merdeka-center/

Bersih’s impact on GE13 — Khoo Ying Hooi

16 May


MAY 16 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for rallies nationwide, signalling the beginning of a “movement” to protest alleged electoral fraud at the May 5 polls. Bersih has backed Anwar’s claims that foul play was at hand. In a press statement released on May 5, Bersih (Clean/Movement for free and fair elections) alerted that preliminary observations show that there were many irregularities on Polling Day. Videos and photos of alleged dubious voters flooded onto social media, along with photos of people showing that their indelible ink was easily washed off. The 13th general election concluded with hundreds of complaints of polling irregularities.

Bersih announced on the day after the polls that a people’s tribunal would be set up to probe electoral fraud. Given the extensive media attention on electoral irregularity during the election, the impact of Bersih needs consideration. The movement had a tremendous impact on the political establishment by encouraging active political participation by Malaysians, which transcended the usual ethnic and class divide. Pakatan Rakyat has benefited the most from the expression of dissent that Bersih catalysed. From the rallies to campaigns, it cannot be denied the complementary roles of the Bersih movement and Pakatan Rakyat. However, it is evident that the political impact of the Bersih movement outweighs the actual electoral results.

Since its formal establishment in 2006, the Bersih movement has proven that it is more than just a collection of people pushing for electoral reforms. Its popularity made it into an important social force in Malaysia. It has contributed to a greatly increased level of political awareness especially among young voters. Furthermore, campaigns such as “Jom 100” that encouraged citizens to vote, and “Jom Pantau” campaign that advocated citizens to volunteer as polling observers, triggered more active participation in the electoral process from the citizenry.

Bersih is widely considered a pioneer in advocating for electoral observers for the 13th general election. Although Bersih itself was not appointed by the Election Commission (EC) to be one of the electoral observer groups, the EC did invite selected domestic non-governmental organisations and observers from ASEAN to observe the 13th general election.

Bersih has positively influenced the attitude of Malaysians towards elections regardless of their political inclination. Bersih-inspired gatherings took place simultaneously as a result of social media in various cities around the globe, giving the demand for free and fair (clean) elections international exposure. This further demonstrates that Malaysians are no longer political bystanders; rather, they now feel that they have more power to influence Malaysia’s directions. In the past, Malaysians were known to be apathetic and complacent about elections and national and state politics. However this has changed and it is undeniable that Bersih helped trigger the people’s engagement in politics.

Social movements such as Bersih however have a limited effect on society, and they cannot substitute for the state or political parties. Rather, a social movement and a political party working together is surely more effective at achieving political change.

Bersih has set up a people’s tribunal to investigate electoral fraud. Pakatan Rakyat has welcomed this proposal. The joint effort will have a greater effect at this juncture than if Bersih acted alone. However, the critical question remains whether Bersih’s concerted efforts will actually bring some, if any institutional reform to Malaysia’s electoral system and process. — New Mandala

* Khoo Ying Hooi is a fellow in the Department of International and Strategic Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in University of Malaya. She is also a PhD candidate at University Putra Malaysia, where she examines the impact of the Bersih movement on political change in Malaysia. 

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

 

via http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/bersihs-impact-on-ge13-khoo-ying-hooi/

Pasca PRU13: Pemikiran kontemporari politik Islam dalam krisis? — Marwan Bukhari A. Hamid

16 May


16 MEI — Beberapa isu, peristiwa dan reaksi umat Islam terhadap beberapa wacana politik tanah air sedang memberi isyarat bahawa pemikiran politik Islam kontemporari di tanah air kita ditimpa krisis. Saya berpandangan amat wajar untuk kita merenung dan berfikir akan krisis tersebut, lebih-lebih lagi pada saat suasana politik negara kita tidak mendidik untuk berfikir, melainkan kita sendiri memaksa untuk meninjau apa yang berlaku dan benarkah yang dianggap krisis merupakan krisis? 

Tentang hubungan antara agama dan politik

Mengulas tentang dunia Muslim dan pemikiran mereka tidak dapat lari daripada mengulas sumber-sumber yang menjadi rujukan mereka dalam kehidupan, selain tentang “bagaimana” mereka berinteraksi dengan dunia moden yang serba mencabar ini sambil berpegang dengan sumber-sumber (al-Quran, al-Hadis dan teks-teks tradisi) yang menjadi rujukan. Soal hubungan agama dengan politik sentiasa menjadi topik yang berlarutan, namun malangnya seringkali ia berlangsung dengan penuh mengecewakan sejak berdekad-dekad lamanya.

Ia bermula dengan kekacauan cara berfikir yang ditimbulkan oleh sebahagian yang mengaku sebagai “salafi” apabila perbincangan politik dibahaskan secara terlalu literal. Tokoh ilmuan Muslim antarabangsa, al-Qaradhawi mengulas dan mengkritik fenomena “literal dalam nas-nas berkaitan al-muamalat” tersebut dalam banyak karya beliau seperti as-Siyasah as-Shariyyah fi Dhau’ Nusus as-Shariah wa Maqasidiha dan Dirasah fi Fiqh Maqasid al-Shariah  atas nama az-Zhohiriah al-Judud  yang membahaskan persoalan-persoalan agama secara terasing daripada objektif-objektif Shariah. Di tangan mereka, agama seperti hanyalah halalisation dan  haramisation; lantas ditolak wacana-wacana semasa dalam pemikiran politik atas alasan bidaah. Al-Qaradhawi semasa mengulas fenomena tersebut menyatakan:

“Mereka menolak petikan daripada selain kita (Muslim), menganggapnya sebagai perkara baru dalam agama dan segala perkara baru adalah bidaah, setiap bidaah adalah sesat dan setiap kesesatan balasannya neraka. Lantas mereka menganggap demokrasi seluruhnya (kemungkaran) yang wajib ditentang, sementara penerimaan pandangan majority (bidaah Barat) yang diimport.”

Demokrasi haram, penubuhan parti haram, pengehadan tempoh pemerintahan haram dan segala idea-idea baru akan dibalas haram oleh mereka dan golongan yang menuruti mereka. Kita perasan di tanah air kita fenomena halalisation dan haramisation ini berlangsung hangat terutama menjelang musim pilihanraya. Contohnya kita tidak lupa apabila ada sebahagian golongan agama yang mengharamkan pengundian calon-calon bukan Muslim khasnya yang datang dari DAP. Penulisan ini bukan ruang untuk membincangkan secara ilmiah dan mendalam persoalan tersebut, tapi sesuatu yang sungguh wajar kita banteras ialah fenomena mereka yang “menghidupkan” (mematikan!) wacana pemikiran politik Islam kontemporari dengan berkata “haram” semata-mata. ia adalah suatu krisis yang memandulkan khazanah pemikiran kita. Awalnya ia mungkin sebuah tindak-tanduk yang mengharamkan falsafah politik, akhirnya tanpa sedar ia bertukar menjadi sebuah falsafah yang mengharamkan segala pandangan yang berbeda dengan mereka, “min tahrim al-falsafah ila falsafah at-tahrim” (daripada mengharamkan falsafah kepada falsafah yang mengharamkan) sebagaimana diulas seorang penulis bernama Turki al-Hamad dalam bukunya as-Siyasah bayn al-Halal wa al-Haram.

Tentang agama dan politik, sebahagian gerakan Islamis pula masih gagal menjelaskan secara kritikal bagaimana sebenarnya hubungan antara kedua-duanya. Apabila disoal, mereka akan menjawab ringkas; “agama dan politik tidak boleh dipisahkan”. Soal kepercayaan dan pendirian kaum Muslim yang sentiasa melihat kehidupan dan isu-isunya menerusi kaca mata tradisi agama mereka, ia dihormati dan tidak disangkal. Namun wajarlah polemik hubungan antara agama dan politik ini dibincang kritis oleh mereka, contohnya soal bagaimana sebenarnya agama berinteraksi dengan politik? Soalnya juga ialah bagaimana membedakan antara pembahagian ruang dalam wacana agama dan politik? Adakah memandangkan politik berhajat kepada agama, dan mereka merupakan sebuah gerakan politik berorientasikan agama, maka segala idea dan pandangan politik mereka merupakan “agama”? Persoalan tersebut mestilah dibincang serius dan kritikal memandangkan jika tidak ia akan terus menambah kekeliruan dan campur aduk yang tidak seimbang antara dua ruang, dibimbangi akhirnya wujud unsur pemaksaan idea-idea politik atas nama agama dan autoriti khasnya dalam sebuah masharakat jamak agama dan budaya seperti Malaysia.

Demikian juga dengan persoalan antara peranan negara, komuniti, keluarga dan peribadi. Kerajaan bukan ibu bapa kita, ibu bapa kita bukan kerajaan. Komuniti ada tanggungjawabnya, kerajaan ada tanggungjawabnya. Keluarga, komuniti, sekolah, universiti dan kerajaan pasti akan mempunyai tanggungjawab yang berbeda, malah bentuk dan jenis kemungkaran yang mesti dicegah juga berbeda kuasa dan peranannya. Rasuah, salah guna kuasa, kes-kes jenayah dan sebagainya antara kemungkaran yang mesti diselesaikan kerajaan, tapi etika berpakaian, waktu keluar malam dan sebagainya pula merupakan tugas ibu bapa, atau rakan-rakan (komuniti), bukannya tugas kerajaan. Ada beberapa masalah yang memerlukan kerjasama dan tanggungjawab oleh kerajaan dan komuniti, tetapi bentuk tanggungjawab pastinya berbeda. Ada pula isu-isu yang hanya melibatkan komuniti dan ada pula yang hanya berkaitan peribadi dan komuniti. Saya melihat, wacana pembahagian tugas dan peranan antara keluarga, komuniti dan kerajaan masih tidak berlangsung dengan baik oleh mana-mana kumpulan Islam sedangkan ia mempunyai perkaitan rapat dengan persoalan hubungan antara agama dan politik.

Gerakan Islamis dan kaum cendikia awam yang memberi perhatian terhadap perbincangan ini juga haruslah sedar akan keperluan untuk memperbaharui wacana-wacana tentang hubungan agama dan politik. Pengalaman Islamis pada zaman kolonial sudah tentu tidak sama dengan apa yang mereka sedang hadapi pada zaman ini. Saya memberikan contoh apabila dibincangkan soal negara Islam dan negara sekular, kandungan perbincangannya pada hari ini mempunyai perbedaan dengan apa yang dibincangkan pada era kolonial dan awal pasca-kolonial. Teori Barat mungkin menyatakan; secularisation = freedom = religious pluralism = democracy, tapi akhirnya yang berlaku ialah secularisation = colonialism = de-Islamisation = dictatorship. Justeru apabila diajak mewacanakan soal negara Islam dan negara sekular, haruslah dinilai kembali wacana yang lalu dan disusun kembali menurut konteks hari ini dan menurut latar sesebuah negara, tanpa meninggalkan apa yang diyakini mereka. Demikian juga tidak wajar perbincangan tersebut hanya memberi kita dua pilihan sahaja iaitu sama ada hitam atau putih; sama ada negara Islam atau negara sekular.

Justeru tidak dapat tidak dalam projek pengharmonian antara agama dan politik ini, ditentukan apa itu objektif-objektif Shariah (fundamental values) di sebalik sekalian perdebatan dan wacana yang diadakan, contohnya antara objektif utama Shariah menerusi pintu politik ialah keadilan, keamanan, kemuliaan manusia dan kebebasan. Dunia yang makin kompleks dan cabaran yang makin berbeda mengkehendaki penilaian semua tentang persoalan-persoalan di atas, dengan menyediakan jawapan yang tidak lagi utopia dan simplistik, tetapi lebih realistik dan menepati objektif-objektif Shariah yang mesti dicapai.

Negara untuk kebaikan semua warganegara, bukan untuk kepentinganan golongan Muslim sahaja

Krisis dalam pemikiran kontemporari politik Islam khasnya di tanah air kita menjadi makin rumit apabila soal interaksi antara Muslim dan bukan-Muslim telah dicacatkan menerusi perbincangan yang bersifat sektarian dan penuh dengan sentiment keagamaan. Kita berada dalam kesempitan dada apabila para pemimpin jadong (iaitu jahat, bodoh dan sombong dan dibantu cita bencana) telah mengambil kesempatan realiti kepelbagaian agama untuk mengapi-apikan antara Muslim dan bukan-Muslim, sekaligus menyempitkan wacana pemikiran politik Islam, khasnya berkaitan hubungan antara agama.

Prof Dr Louay Safi, tokoh intelektual Muslim yang terkenal telah menulis satu artikel menarik bertajuk Linas’a ila bina’ dawlah madaniyyah tahmi huquq al-muwathinin, la dawlah diniyyah tar’a masolih al-mu’minin (Ke arah membina negara madani yang melindungi hak-hak warganegara, bukannya negara agama yang menjaga kepentingan orang beriman), beliau menutup tulisan itu dengan menyatakan;

“Legitimasi politik terlaksana menerusi pelaksanaan prinsip-prinsip umum yang dibawa piagam Madinah bukannya menerusi pelaksanaan hukum-hukum fiqh yang khas untuk pengikut agama Islam. Perjanjian Madinah yang mentadbir kehidupan Rasulullah saw dan para sahabat tidak menyentuh pelaksanaan hukum-hakam Islam dengan gambaran sempit yang diseru oleh sebahagian golongan beragama pada hari ini. Menerusinya ia mahu menukarkan sistem politik kepada sistem diktator yang religius, bertentangan dengan jawhar agama dan ruh Islam; keadilan, kesamarataan, saling membantu, saling bermaafan, menghormati kepelbagaian agama, pilihan-pilihan manusia dan kebebasan rakyat, jauh daripada dikte-dikte pemerintahan mutlak atau negara yang diktator.”

Ternyata politik berorientasikan ketakutan dan sentimen keagamaan dan perkauman telah mengalihkan perhatian banyak pihak akan perbincangan sebenar yang wajar diangkat. Lebih memburukkan keadaan apabila segelintir pihak telah memetik beberapa teks klasik mengenai hubungan antara Muslim dan bukan-Muslim dengan keluar dari konteks yang dikehendaki. Mereka menimbulkan persoalan “kafir harbi” sedangkan sekalian rakyat sama ada penganut agama Islam, Hindu, Buddha, Kristian, Atheist, Agnostik dan lain-lain merupakan warganegara yang sah, mempunyai hak-hak yang mesti diberi dan mempunyai tanggungjawab yang mesti dilaksana. Hal tersebut telah diulas oleh ramai tokoh ilmuan Muslim seperti Fahmi Huwaydi menerusi karya terkenalnya Muwathinun La Dzimmiyyun dan Prof Dr Muhammad Imarah turut menulis dalam pelbagai bukunya. Salah satunya ialah dalam buku Thawrah 25 Yanayir (Revolusi 25 Januari), beliau semasa mengulas tentang konsep kewarganegaraan telah menulis:

“Kesetiaan seseorang warganegara terhadap negaranya mewajibkan ia berlepas diri daripada musuh-musuh negara tersebut. Sepertimana untuk negara ada hak-hak ke atas warganegara, demikian juga sesungguhnya untuk warganegara ada hak-hak ke atas negara dan rakyatnya. Antara hak yang terpenting ialah; kesamarataan dalam persamaan peluang (equal opportunities), penafian diskriminasi dalam hak-hak politik, sosial dan ekonomi disebabkan warna kulit, kelas dan agama, sambil merealisasikan perpaduan sosial yang menjadikan rakyat jasad yang satu.”

Demikian sebagaimana tersebar dalam teks-teks klasik dan semasa politik Islam bahawa interaksi antara Muslim dan bukan-Muslim terasnya ialah konsep Lahum ma lana wa ‘alayhim ma ‘alayna iaitu soal hak dan tanggungjawab sama ada Muslim ataupun bukan Muslim adalah sama dalam sesebuah negara. Malangnya konsep ini tidak begitu diangkat ke tengah-tengah masharakat di Malaysia gara-gara sentimen agama dan kaum yang sempit. Selagi kita tidak keluar daripada sentimen keagamaan dan perbuatan memetik teks-teks klasik politik tanpa meraikan realiti semasa, selagi itulah kita akan terus terjerumus dalam gua kejahilan dan kemunduran karena kita akan gagal memberi fokus terhadap projek pembaikian dan perobahan dalam pemikiran kontemporari politik Islam.

Al-Quran bercakap tentang kemuliaan anak-anak Adam (17:70), tiba –tiba sebahagian Muslim bercakap tentang kemuliaan dan kehormatan Muslim semata-mata, lantas mengabaikan hakikat setiap manusia mesti dimuliakan dan ada hak-haknya yang wajib ditunaikan. Al-Quran menyebut tentang konsep keadilan dalam menjatuhkan hukuman antara manusia (4:58), ada yang melupakan soal manusia selain mereka, lantas hanya bercakap soal adil dan saksama “sesama kami”, yang menganut agama kami! Al-Quran melarang kaum Muslim daripada bersikap tidak adil sekalipun terhadap kaum yang mereka benci (5:8), sebahagian Muslim pula bercakap soal lebih baik mengundi pemimpin Muslim yang jadong berbanding bukan-Muslim yang berkredibiliti dan terbukti keadilannya dalam mengurus tadbir. Apabila risalah agama merupakan kasih sayang untuk sekalian alam (21:107) bukan semata-mata untuk Muslim apatah lagi bangsa Melayu, bererti wacana negara yang mahu ditegakkan atas aspirasi dan keyakinan beragama haruslah memberi kebaikan kepada semua tanpa mengira agama, bangsa dan latar belakang sosial.

Atas nama Islah, dari sini kita bermula

Kita tiada pilihan lain, selain keluar dari kejumudan dan jalan gelap yang sedang menimpa masharakat kita khasnya di tanah air, kita wajib menggantikan wacana politik yang berorientasikan halalisation dan haramisation kepada wacana-wacana soal etika-etika yang berada di sebalik praktikal politik. Krisis yang disebutkan mesti ditangani atas semangat perobahan (at-Taghyiir) dan pembaikian (al-Islah), lantas memerlukan kerjasama banyak pihak sama ada intelektual, ahli politik mahupun masharakat kebanyakan.

Untuk menjelaskan secara ringkas aspirasi Islah dalam pemikiran kontemporari politik Islam khasnya di tanah air kita, saya menjelaskan pandangan-pandangan di bawah secara ringkas:

Revolusi etika  (Ethical revolution — at-Thawrah al-Akhlaqiyyah)

Tentang ethical revolution, saya meminjam perkataan yang digunakan oleh intelektual terkenal, Dr Jasser Auda semasa beliau memberi ucapan dalam satu majlis di Qatar pada 9 Mac 2013. Kita melihat betapa seluruh dunia sedang menghadapi krisis moral dan etika dalam segenap lapangan kehidupan termasuk politik. Ini adalah zaman di mana sistem kehakiman yang diharap bisa memberi keadilan, sistem kehakiman pula menjadi pelindung kepada pemimpin jadong dan koruptor kelas atasan. Institusi-institusi pendidikan yang asalnya sebagai tempat mendidik manusia dan tempat pembudayaan ilmu, tapi akhinya ia menjadi tempat kreativiti terhalang, kebebasan intelektual menjadi terlarang. Sementara itu, kerusi-kerusi politik bukan lagi menjadi medium melaksanakan tanggungjawab dan berbakti kepada masharakat, sebaliknya tempat mengumpul kekayaan dan harta benda.

Reaksi dan respon sebahagian masharakat dunia terhadap sekalian kecelaruan tersebut ialah dengan turun ke jalan raya dan menjatuhkan pemimpin diktator daripada singgahsana kuasa. Itu salah satu tindakan manusia berani dan bermaruah, tapi ia tidak benar-benar cukup karena pada saat ini kita sangat berhajat kepada revolusi intelektual dan spiritual. Supaya perobahan politik dan dunia yang dicita-citakan itu berlangsung lebih baik, islah radikal pada sisi intelektual dan spiritual sangat diperlukan. Negara bukanlah matlamat akhir, sebagaimana difikirkan oleh sebahagian Islamis ataupun bukan Islamis, tetapi negara salah satu jalan penting demi mencapai kebaikan.

Untuk merealisasikan ethical revolution dalam pemikiran kontemporari politik Islam, wajarlah kita memandang politik dengan melihat “apa di sebalik apa”, dan di sebalik pemikiran kontemporari politik Islam, ‘apa di sebalik apa’ ialah objektif-objektif tertinggi Shariah (Maqasid as-Shariah).

Keadilan, amanah, kebebasan, kemuliaan insan, keamanan, kebajikan, perpaduan nasional  dan pelbagai lagi nilai-nilai fundamental telah ditinggalkan daripada dibincang serius untuk dicapai dalam praktikal politik tanah air kita. Gerakan-gerakan Islamis dan ahli-ahli politik yang berada di kancah politik mestilah menjadikan sekalian nilai-nilai fundamental sebagai tujuan dan panduan dalam praktikal politik demi kepentingan negara dan warganegaranya.

Islam dan demokrasi

Kediktatoran wajib ditolak walau atas apa nama sekalipun, Abdur Rahman al-Kawakibi menulis:

“Kediktatoran merupakan musuh kebenaran, musuh kebebasan dan merupakan pembunuh kedua-duanya. Kebenaran merupakan bapa kepada manusia, sementara kebebasan pula ibu mereka. Rakyat merupakan anak-anak yatim yang tidur dan tidak mengetahui apa-apa, sementara para ilmuan pula merupakan saudara mereka yang bijaksana. Sekiranya mereka (golongan berilmu) mengejutkan rakyat, pasti rakyat akan bergerak aktif. Adapun jika para ilmuan meninggalkan mereka, mereka akan kekal sebagaimana sebelumnya, lantas akan bersambung tidur mereka (rakyat) dengan kematian.”

Satu perbincangan yang telah lama berlangsung, masih berlangsung dan berkemungkinan akan terus berlangsung ialah mengenai Islam dan demokrasi. Untuk projek al-Islah, kita mesti sentiasa mengulang bahawa jawhar-jawhar agung agama Islam tidak bertentangan dengan konsep-konsep umum yang wujud dalam demokrasi. 

Malek benNabi semasa mengulas tentang Islam dan demokrasi, ia menyebut bahawa prinsip-prinsip demokrasi mengajar manusia tentang membebaskan diri daripada diperhamba sesiapa dan daripada memperhamba orang lain, demokrasi juga antara teras utamanya ialah kemuliaan manusia karena ia projek menolak sebarang tindakan perhambaan dan kecenderungan seseorang untuk memperhamba. Justeru demokrasi menurut Malek benNabi ialah projek pendidikan karamah insaniyyah (human dignity) yang mesti bermula dengan merobah apa yang ada dalam diri manusia terlebih dahulu.

Dalam konteks tanah air kita, pendidikan nilai-nilai teras demokratik mesti terus dipergiat karena kita tidak bisa membina sebuah negara yang demokratik semata-mata dengan meletakkan perkataan demokratik dalam perlembagaan, manifesto atau nama parti, tetapi demokrasi akan berlangsung baik apabila rakyat mengetahui bahawa perjuangan menolak penipuan, korupsi dan kediktatoran ialah perjuangan yang hanya bisa didokong oleh pemilik dhamir yang menghayati nilai-nilai demokratis. Hanya manusia yang merdeka dan mengangkat kemuliaan insan bisa membina sebuah negara demokratik dan berpartisipasi dalam membentuk sebuah masharakat dan negara yang harmoni.

Perbincangan kritikal

Untuk menjayakan aspirasi Islah dan menangani krisis pemikiran kontemporari politik Islam di tanah air kita, wacana kritikal tentang hal tersebut wajar terus dihidupkan. Tanpa menafikan kebaikan wacana antara idea, fahaman dan agama, namun wacana yang bertujuan menyelesaikan hal-hal dalaman pemikiran politik Islam tidak boleh dikesampingkan. Saya memberi contoh, pembacaan teks-teks klasik tidak wajar berlangsung literal hingga apabila ditanya sesuatu soalan, terus dikeluarkan bulat-bulat apa yang wujud dalam teks-teks klasik. Bahana sikap tersebut ialah timbulnya isu “kafir harbi”, “darul kufr”, “pembangkang khawarij”, “haram pilihanraya” dan sebagainya.

Penulis buku “Who Needs an Islamic State”, Dr Abdel Wahab el-Affendi dalam bab kedua buku itu telah menulis satu sub-topik bertajuk”Problems with the Classical Theory”. Beliau mengulas salah isu penerimaan al-Mawardi perihal penamaan (penentuan) pemimpin oleh pemimpin sebelumnya, dalam kitabnya, Ahkam Sultoniyyah:

“Al-Mawardi memetik kisah Abu Bakr melantik Umar menjadi penggantinya sebagai dalil bahawa adalah sah untuk mana-mana pemerintah memilih penggantinya. Beliau mengabaikan hakikat bahawa tindakan sedemkian adalah sah bukan kerana individu menentukannya, tetapi juga kerana tindakan itu disahkan oleh umat-umat Islam yang utama pada masa itu. Beliau turut terlepas pandang, perbezaan ketara antara perlantikan Umar oleh Abu Bakr dan paksaan melalui kekerasan Muawiyah melantik anaknya sebagai pengganti. Ini merupakan kekurangan di dalam mana-mana teori.”

Demikian juga contohnya isu ahlu adz-dimmah dan kewarganegaraan, Tariq Ramadan menulis (terjemahannya):

“Konsep kewarganegaraan (al-muwatanah) kini merupakan rujukan yang diterima umum, walaupun sesetengah fuqaha literalis atau tradisionalis ragu-ragu untuk menggunakannya atau menolaknya secara keseluruhan (hanya kerana ia bukan sebahagian daripada istilah klasik Islam)”

Khatimah

Sama ada disedari atau tidak, di tanah air kita krisis pemikiran kontemporari pemikiran Islam sememangnya berlaku, ia jelas tampak apabila kandungan perbincangan dan persoalan yang ditimbulkan masih lagi berlegar-legar pada sudut Muslim dan bukan Muslim, Islam dan demokrasi dan akhirnya menatijahkan halalisation dan haramisation oleh segelintir golongan literal. Untuk menghadapinya kita hanya ada dua pilihan iaitu; pertama, melakukan Islah dan ethical revolution. Kedua, kembali kepada yang pertama.

* Ini adalah pendapat peribadi penulis dan tidak semestinya mewakili pandangan The Malaysian Insider.

 

via http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/rencana/article/pasca-pru13-pemikiran-kontemporari-politik-islam-dalam-krisis-marwan-bukhari-a.-hamid/

Anwar says no street protest, but insists on more rallies

15 May

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid

Anwar said the call such street protests came from outside of PR parties. — Reuters picPETALING JAYA, May 15 ― Pakatan Rakyat (PR) today distanced itself from calls for street protests to overturn the results of Election 2013, with Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim saying the pact will stick to indoor rallies to “voice their disgust” at alleged electoral fraud in the May 5 polls.

Anwar said calls for a mass street protest to oust the elected Barisan Nasional (BN) administration did not originate from PR but from affiliated non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

“These are just suggestions and it was never raised to the leadership and it is not something that is adopted by leadership,” he told a press conference after chairing a PR presidential council meeting here.

Several activists were reported suggesting mass street protests to remove BN from power, alleging that the coalition had won Election 2013 fraudulently.

Among them was Hishammuddin Rais, a steering committee member of poll reforms group Bersih.

The left-leaning leader was reported to have told a forum on Monday that street demonstrations was the best recourse to affect a change in government, claiming that attempts to challenge the election results through legal channels would be futile.

PR has repeatedly alleged that Election 2013 was marred with widespread electoral fraud.

MORE TO COME

via http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/anwar-says-no-street-protest-but-insists-on-more-rallies/

BN denies war room strategies failed

15 May


Tengku Adnan said activities within the BN war room were meant to be confidential. — File picKUALA LUMPUR, May 15 ― Barisan Nasional (BN) denied claims that its war room strategists had failed to achieve the pact’s Election 2013 targets, pointing out that it still retained control of Putrajaya.

In a statement carried by Utusan Malaysia today, BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor expressed disappointment over the claims, saying the accusations against BN’s strategists were made by “irresponsible persons” in the war room.

“I regret the various allegations made against BN, even after we kept our mandate as the federal government.

“All activities and duties carried out in the war room were secret, and internal discussions were carried out with integrity and precision,” he was quoted saying today in the Umno-owned daily.

Tengku Adnan was responding to an earlier accusation by Perkasa information chief Ruslan Kasim who had said that BN’s war room strategists had failed in their bid to win over the hearts of voters.

The Malay rights leader had also reportedly accused the ruling coalition of failing to respond to the various allegations made against it in the social media.

But Tengku Adnan pointed out that despite the accusations, BN had not only kept Putrajaya but also recaptured Kedah and Perak, two states that the federal opposition pact Pakatan Rakyat (PR) had won in Election 2008.

The Putrajaya MP reportedly added any data or information released by these “irresponsible persons” were untrue.

“We in BN will not be traitors to the people, but instead, we will proceed with implementing all our election promises,” he was quoted saying.

The Malaysian Insider reported yesterday that questions are being asked about BN’s war room strategists whose plans with a substantial budget did not appear to stop the ruling coalition from losing more federal and state seats in the May 5 general election.

The BN war room was tasked with selecting the candidates and advising various strategies to win the polls. It counts Rompin MP Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis, PWTC chairman Datuk Seri Dr Alies Anor Abdul, Petronas director Omar Mustapha Ong, Tengku Adnan, Umno information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan and former minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh as among its members.

“It was just a crapshoot. Their ideas didn’t work and their white list predictions were wrong,” a senior Umno divisional leader told The Malaysian Insider on condition of anonymity.

The war room had stuck to its prediction of BN winning between 145 and 150 federal seats and also getting back Selangor in Election 2013 although some senior BN leaders were privately doubtful of the figures.

And by noon on Polling Day, the war room had issued its “white list” of 118 federal seats it was sure to win, but some like Pasir Mas, Shah Alam and Lembah Pantai were lost, which some Umno divisional leaders said reflected the disconnect between the leadership and the ground.

The Malaysian Insider had also learnt that Jamaluddin was behind BN putting Perkasa vice-president Datuk Zulkifli Noordin as their direct Shah Alam candidate despite his controversial remarks that offended Indians about their Hindu faith.

It was understood that Jamaluddin felt that Zulkifli’s candidacy would not be too much trouble as the latter had already apologised to the Indians for his remarks which he claimed were made when in PAS.

But sources said the strategist did not consider that Zulkifli would become the poster boy of Umno’s disregard for sensitivities of non-Malays.

PR lost its bid for Putrajaya in the May 5 polls last week by a small margin, polling 89 seats to BN’s 133, a good seven seats more than it scored in Election 2008.

But the federal opposition pact cried foul when the overall results failed to reflect the popular vote trend, which saw PR polling 51 per cent to BN’s 48 per cent, an outcome they blamed on gerrymandering and vote-rigging by their political foes.

via http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/bn-denies-war-room-strategies-failed/

Despite widespread protests, Pakatan admits time to move on

15 May

BY CLARA CHOOI
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Despite the fervour shown by their supporters, some PR leaders acknowledged that no concrete change will manifest from continued rallies. — File picKUALA LUMPUR, May 15 ― Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders have admitted that their post-Election 2013 public rallies, despite their mammoth following, will soon run out of steam and was unlikely to change the outcome of the just-concluded polls.

Amid incessant cries for re-election, newly-elected PR lawmakers said the events were merely to keep the momentum going for the federal opposition pact and to serve as a reminder to Malaysians that a majority 51 per cent of the electorate had voted out Barisan Nasional (BN) even though the pact returned to power.

They agreed that theirs was a losing battle as the odds were stacked against them, despite acknowledging the existence of legal avenues to challenge results in certain constituencies where they believe they have sufficient evidence of fraud.

But while most insist the rallies are necessary, a silent few in PR have agreed that it is time to move on and admit defeat before Malaysians begin to regard their leaders as sore losers.

“What can I say? How many times can we expect our supporters to come out for these rallies? Eventually, this anger will fizzle out and we must move on.

“The fact of the matter is that we are not the government of the day and, yes, we do recognise the election results, despite what some of our leaders are saying,” one senior PR leader told The Malaysian Insider on condition of anonymity.

Another notable leader agreed with this view and said the rallies would likely affect PR’s image, particularly if those who did get elected into power begin to neglect their duties in favour of the endless protests.

“Some of us did win and we are expected, at the very least, to use what power we have in our hands to become a strong and formidable opposition,” said the leader.

Leaders who went on record told The Malaysian Insider that the rallies must be channelled positively to ensure that it achieves its purpose, which is not to demand for wide-scale re-elections but to show the Najib administration that a large segment of Malaysia does not recognise the new government.

“The takeaway from these rallies is that it demonstrates the frustrations of the people over the results.

“But it is important that it is channelled positively to show that what we are doing is exposing the fraud, exposing the cheating, and we are not doing this in an illegal fashion,” said DAP publicity secretary Tony Pua.

When asked if he endorsed the results of Election 2013, however, the Petaling Jaya Utara MP would only reply, “Well, as we have mentioned before in the DAP, we are giving full endorsement to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to be our opposition leader, as he is our prime minister-designate.”

PR lost its bid for Putrajaya in the May 5 polls last week, polling 89 seats to BN’s 133, but picked up seven seats more than it did in Election 2008.

But the federal opposition pact cried foul when the overall results failed to reflect the popular vote trend, which saw PR polling 51 per cent to BN’s 48 per cent, an outcome they blamed on gerrymandering and vote-rigging by their political foes.

PR’s de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim immediately put his earlier retirement plans on hold to protest the election results, leading his team to hold a series of mammoth nationwide rallies to prove a majority of the Malaysian electorate support them.

After commanding large crowds in Petaling Jaya and Penang, PR held its third rally in Ipoh, Perak, last weekend, where Anwar vowed never to surrender until the polls results are validated and PR claims its rightful place at the held of Putrajaya.

Newly-elected Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli pointed out to The Malaysian Insider that the mammoth gatherings were necessary to show that PR would not accept such a fraudulent defeat without putting up a fight.

He said that while PR will also be legally challenging the election results, the second method was to take the issue to the court of public opinion by holding such gatherings to prove that Malaysians too are protesting the vote.

“We need to manage both… that is why, apart from going through the normal court process, we also have to continue educating and highlighting to the public that fraud did take place.

“The very legitimacy of the government is at stake here so we must pursue all means available, whether in court or the court of public opinion,” he said.

The PKR strategy director also pointed out to The Malaysian Insider that even with the current legal options available to PR, the pact was fighting a losing battle in trying to challenge the polls results.

“The fact is this is a system that BN created. We are using laws written by BN. They are lopsided and designed to side with them.

“We have not much hope that these efforts would bear fruit at all. But we have to do it… because we cannot bury the public anger and just give up,” he explained.

“It would be irresponsible of us to just say to our supporters, ‘tough luck, guys. Let’s move on now,’” he added.

Adding to his PR colleague’s words, PAS Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, said it was important to ensure that the public continues helping PR keep up the pressure on the government to ensure that all future elections are scrutinised even more closely.

He said Malaysians who voted for PR, all 51 per cent of the electorate, expect their leaders to fight for them and these post-election rallies are one way for PR leaders to show they had not forgotten their supporters.

“We can keep the pressure going even though Najib may not be willing to succumb to us. But, we do hope that we would win over some other factions within the BN,” he said, referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

He noted that by keeping the issue alive, the spotlight on the Najib government has gone even brighter, highlighting every wrong move that the prime minister and his team may or may not make.

“We must never allow the fact that we have been cheated to be forgotten. We cannot let our supporters down,” he said.

PR has held three election rallies so far over the past week, each one drawing record crowds of tens of thousands of Malaysians dressed in black to mourn the “death of democracy”. A fourth rally is scheduled for tonight in Kuantan, Pahang, and a fifth will be held the following day in Johor.

via http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/despite-widespread-protests-pakatan-admits-time-to-move-on/

Ethnic-based voting and young urban voters in GE13 ― David CE Tneh

15 May


MAY 15 ― With the 13th general election in Malaysia officially over, political analysts are now dissecting the results keenly, and with the recent catch phrase “Chinese Tsunami” being openly repudiated by countless political analysts, one can conclude that voting trends that are based on race-based political parties in Malaysia are now becoming obsolete.

Caught in this dilemma would be mainstream political parties in the National Front or “Barisan National” whose past formula of inter-racial collaboration and power sharing formulated during the British pre-independence days of the 1950’s facing tougher days ahead in the current 21st century and the future 14th general election.

The shift in voting patterns occurred during the 12th General Election in 2008 where Malaysians have voted across ethnic lines and supported the coalition of opposition parties, namely Pakatan Rakyat. The opposition alliance appeared to have consolidated into a more formidable alliance in the 13th General Election thus strengthening concept of a two coalition system and this offered an alternative to Malaysians, young and old, who have grown tired of Barisan National’s five decade rule that was constantly marred by perceptions of corruption, power abuses, and racial politics.

The noticeable shift in voting trends of Malaysians, especially Generation X and Y youths, have contributed to Barisan National losing their customary two-thirds majority in Parliament and the shocking lost of 4 states and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur in 2008. A series of major rallies such as Hindraf, Bersih and anti-Lynas rallies have also created political awareness among youths on matters such as race relations, electoral reforms and environmental concerns which further consolidated civil society movement in Malaysia. Civil society movements that have been on the rise since 2007, have also been seen a huge participation by youths in these rallies.

The electoral reform NGO, Bersih is the most successful and influential civil society movement in Malaysia that has played a tremendous role in creating political awareness among youths and creating the ground swell in NGO participation in Malaysian politics. It is an undeniable fact that civil society movement have indeed out a dent on BN’s popularity and reputation in the last two general elections.

As the number of voting individuals increases annually, issues such as race and religion espoused by Umno-led BN no longer hold water with the majority of Generation X and Y individuals who constitute more than 50 per cent of the Malaysian electoral roll. Such polemics do not interest young urban Malaysians, instead, issues such as corruption, employment, rising cost of living, and escalating price of properties and high car prices are now the major concerns of this group. Although BN have initiated several Government Transformation Programmes (GTPs) and National Key Research Areas (NKRAs), all of these are insufficient to placate the majority of youths and urban dwellers who are left out of cash handouts such as BRIM, hence the urban vs rural divide in contemporary Malaysian politics which is set to widen in the future. The rural voters are still BN’s main supporters and the effectiveness of the BN machinery and money are the two factors that have consolidated BN’s power in the rural areas, especially in East Malaysia. Nevertheless, with the urban to rural migration among young voters increasing every year, BN’s pools of traditional supporters are shrinking.

This brings to light the weaknesses of BN’s formulaic power sharing concept where race-based political parties have to garner support from their respective ethnic groups. This concept is irrelevant to the younger voters who do not consider ethnicity or religion as fundamentally important as their identity as Malaysians as a whole. The term “Chinese Tsunami” is inaccurate because it was fundamentally not a Chinese shift but Malaysian voters have voted en bloc Pakatan candidates whom they believe to be more trustworthy. Thus, it seems ironic that Barisan National leaders are still harping about the importance of ethnic Chinese representation in the Malaysian Cabinet when the Malaysian voters in general are seeing themselves more Malaysian citizens than segregated individuals living in a country.

This is also another reason why the Chinese community in general have brazenly rejected Chinese political parties such as the MCA, SAPP, SUPP and this also includes Gerakan with its multiracial background. Political representation is not essential because most Chinese Malaysians feel there is no difference whether they are represented officially or not represented at all. In addition, these Chinese political parties are unfortunate because they are part of the BN coalition, and with Umno being the most domineering party, such parties are seen to be playing second fiddle to Umno-led BN.

In terms of the digital divide between the urban and the rural, younger urban voters are adept technologically and keep themselves abreast with the latest news in social networking sites but this gap will be bridged as internet connectivity widens in Malaysia. This brings to light the role of digital communication such as Facebook and Twitter, which played a significant role in the 12th and 13th general elections. Post-election events such as the “Suara Rakyat, Suara Keramat” rally that drew 100,000 participants to the Kelana Jaya stadium and the almost 80,000 in attendance at Batu Kawan stadium, Penang, are proof of the effectiveness of social media. In this area, PR parties, especially the DAP have the edge as their dynamic online campaigns are more appealing to the youths and this is partly because of the youth factor in the DAP. Contrast this to the abysmal “Love is in the Air” and “Beribu-ribu Tahniah” YouTube videos done by MCA and MIC members that went viral for the wrong reasons and you would have a stark contrast in terms of quality, creativity and appeal.

 The cyberspace is thus the most popular, influential and effective medium affecting the hearts and minds of Generation X and Y voters as compared to the mainstream media of printed newspapers, television, and radio which might further see a decline in popularity in post-elections Malaysia. Mainstream media press such as Utusan Malaysia’s reputation for race baiting currently draws flak from most Malaysians and has turned alternative media sites to be more credible sources for political news than the mainstream press.

Currently, the political scenario in Malaysia is changing as more and younger Malaysians see the need to unite under the Malaysian flag. Events such as the May 13 racial riots no longer can work on the minds of the younger voters who are now more impressed with issues of economic competency, national development, quality of living, equality and justice at the national level, and Pakatan seems to embody these qualities effectively than the BN coalition.

What is of interest to younger voters right now would be multi-racial representation and equal power sharing concept and for this PR seems to be the more popular choice among youths as they offer a fresher alternative as compared to the older BN coalition.

Again, one of the most important pull-factor for PR would be their youth appeal seen in their cadre of young leaders. Pakatan Rakyat has always appealed to the urban crowd with politicians such as Nurul Izzah Anwar, Rafizi Ramli, Tony Pua, Hannah Yeoh, N. Surendran and Badrul Hisham Shaharin. Pakatan’s young leaders are more in sync with the aspirations of the young voters who in turn find the young, dynamic and tech-savvy PR leaders to be more responsive, dynamic, and approachable.

In essence, Malaysia’s political landscape is changed forever after the 13th general election. Race-based politics will have to be replaced in the coming future as more and more Malaysians reject racism and racial and religious politicking. With more and more countries progressing and developing ahead of Malaysia regionally and internationally, the only obstacle to the great leap forward is Malaysia’s internal political bickering centred on race and religion. The country’s only hope for transformation thus lies in the younger generation who will dictate the fate of the country in the 14th general election.

* David reads The Malaysian Insider and thinks that the future of the country lies in one’s own thinking.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

via http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/ethnic-based-voting-and-young-urban-voters-in-ge13-david-ce-tneh/