Re-diagnosing Malaysia's cancer

Fifty-three years since independence, Malaysia is fighting a losing battle against the R-cancer. It is also not responding to the cancer radiation programme known as 1Malaysia. Instead this rehabilitation programme has worsened the cancer. R refers to racism that has been permeating into the society through various levels.

What makes it more malignant than the rest is that it is being led by people who are along the corridors of power, entrusted to lead and raise a new generation.

This cancer is worsening as the physicians (read politicians) do not treat Malaysia of its cancer. Instead the physicians are turning up as catalyst to spread racism.

When physicians turn cancer catalysts
An example of this is the meeting between Home Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein with the cow-head protesters. Yet as home minister he still has the tenacity to tell Malaysians not to incite racism.

In recent times, there are several cases already that have debunked Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s half-past six suggestion for a task force to investigate the case involving school principals.

Muhyiddin’s call for a task force is definitely a half-past-six measure as police reports have been lodged against the principal. By calling for the formation of a task force, he simply is dismissing police investigations.

These incidents cannot be “isolated” as said by Koh Tsu Koon if the culprits are school principals and teachers.

In identifying this cancer, many symptoms have been misdiagnosed.

The education system has, by and large, been overlooked as the contents are lop-sided. The minority race groups can understand the sensitivities of the majority but not vice-versa.

Education over-emphasises on the majority without paying due attention to the minority races. For instance, freedom fighter Sybil Karthigesu is a misnomer. Secondary schoolchildren are unaware of this freedom fighter’s contribution in Perak.

Religion and cultural aspects of Malaysian minorities are taught like a footnote from a chapter.

There are also certain individuals and media who make racial allegations but are let loose by the authorities.

They act as catalyst through their own mediums. A national Malay daily continuously ensures that the cancer blooms at various body parts of Malaysia.

Despite being “Malaysia’s Messenger”, it gives prominence to certain colourful characters that openly endorse racial supremacy and contradicts the 1Malaysia treatment programme and belittles the minorities of a multiracial Malaysia.

To add salt to injury, racial groups have sprouted up like laryngeal cancer to further worsen Malaysia’s health.

In the spirit of Merdeka, the above-mentioned catalysts must be stopped. Various other cancer eradication programmes, apart from 1Malaysia radiation programe, by all levels of society are also needed.

(As published by Free Malaysia Today on Independence Day 2010

Persoalan perundangan dan hiburan berkaitan 'Allah'

Umum kini dimaklumkan perihal fatwa yang mengharamkan penggunaan kalimah Allah oleh golongan bukan Islam.

Dalam perkembangan terbaru, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz mengumumkan 'Allah' boleh digunakan di Wilayah Persekutuan, Pulau Pinang, Sabah dan Sarawak.

Yang menariknya, meskipun lampu hijau terhadap penggunaan 'Allah' telah pun diumumkan, fatwa yang melarang penggunaan kalimah ini oleh golongan bukan Islam tetap wujud.

Mengapa fatwa dirujuk untuk mengekang penggunaan nama 'Allah' sedangkan fatwa yang diumumkan Majlis Fatwa Negara hanya boleh digunapakai terhadap rakyat beragama Islam?

Masyarakat bukan Islam tidak dibendung undang-undang syariah tetapi oleh undang-undang sivil.

Jika sekalipun fatwa dijadikan enakmen di negeri -negeri yang bersultan, enakmen itu akan menjadi enakmen syariah.

Selain itu, terdapat satu lagi persoalan yang akan timbul sekiranya pengharaman penggunaan kalimah di kalangan bukan Islam dikuatkuasakan.

Lagu Hindustan ini umpamanya menggunakan kalimah ‘SubhanAllah.

Adakah ini bermakna lagu ini boleh dinyanyikan oleh masyarakat Islam semata-mata?

Adakah pihak berkuasa akan menapis bahagian lagu tersebut?

Jika sekalipun tapisan dibuat, lagu tersebut masih boleh diperoleh dari laman sesawang seperti Youtube.

Harus diingati juga penapisan atau pengharaman hasil ini akan turut menggalakkan kegiatan cetak rompak.