TWZ - Aren't We All Malaysians?

Zubedy is happy to present our latest book titled, “Aren’t We All Malaysians” by YB Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof (current MP of Parit Buntar; Chairman of PAS’ National Unity Committee).

 

The book narrates the personal stories, aspirations, and drive of the parliamentarian in his Unity effort to bring all Malaysians together.

 

Below is the foreword by Anas Zubedy:

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"And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colours: verily in that are Signs for those who know." – Quran 30:22

 

Peace,

 

Mujahid and I have been friends since our Form Six days at Penang Free School. We were in the same class. I am also familiar with Mujahid’s late father, Yusof Rawa, the president of PAS in the late 80’s and his more forward thoughts compared to his contemporaries regarding PAS policies. I have always kept abreast with Mujahid’s journey and some of our ideas resonate each other.

 

At zubedy, our core value is uniting people. Anybody who chooses the same undertaking albeit different approaches is our friend. As far as we are concerned, any Unity movement or endeavour is above politics. We encourage every political body, business organisation, NGO, and civil movement to have their own Unity initiative and Unity cause. zubedy has been promoting Unity with our ‘Many Colors One Race’ platform which we live by and incorporate into everything that we do when we deal with our clients, staff, family, and friends. Furthermore, zubedy believes in adding value to everything that we undertake. Mujahid’s ways reveal how Islam adds value to the Malay race. In this book, Mujahid demonstrates how the Malays are universally connected to the rest of the world through Islam.

 

As Mujahid heads PAS’ National Unity Committee, he is PAS’ trustee to explore the dynamics between the Muslims and non-Muslims.

 

Read the rest of the foreword here.

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To know more, get your copy of Aren’t We All Malaysians by YB Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof. The book is available at the retail price of RM34.90.

 

* For direct orders and bulk purchases (at a discounted price), please email aizat@zubedy.com. No postage fee for Semenanjung Malaysia.

 

** The book will be available in all major bookstores.

Aren't We All Malaysians by Mujahid Yusof Rawa - Foreword by Anas Zubedy

“And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colours: verily in that are Signs for those who know.” – Quran 30:22

Peace,

Mujahid and I have been friends since our Form Six days at Penang Free School. We were in the same class. I am also familiar with Mujahid’s late father, Yusof Rawa, the president of PAS in the late 80’s and his more forward thoughts compared to his contemporaries regarding PAS policies. I have always kept abreast with Mujahid’s journey and some of our ideas resonate each other.

At zubedy, our core value is uniting people. Anybody who chooses the same undertaking albeit different approaches is our friend. As far as we are concerned, any Unity movement or endeavour is above politics. We encourage every political body, business organisation, NGO, and civil movement to have their own Unity initiative and Unity cause. zubedy has been promoting Unity with our ‘Many Colors One Race’ platform which we live by and incorporate into everything that we do when we deal with our clients, staff, family, and friends. Furthermore, zubedy believes in adding value to everything that we undertake. Mujahid’s ways reveal how Islam adds value to the Malay race. In this book, Mujahid demonstrates how the Malays are universally connected to the rest of the world through Islam.

As Mujahid heads PAS’ National Unity Committee, he is PAS’ trustee to explore the dynamics between the Muslims and non-Muslims. As such, we support this gap-bridging effort that cuts across all races and religions because it sits well with our Unity endeavour. Personally, I feel this collaboration creates a cross-introduction for both zubedy and Mujahid. He is lesser known among the English-speaking Malaysian circles, especially the English-speaking middle class intelligentsia. These circles are instead familiar with the zubedy brand, while PAS’ members are more familiar with Mujahid. I see this book as a synergy between the zubedy brand and Mujahid’s ideas. I hope this collaboration will benefit Mujahid and his ideas for Unity among Malaysians. I want Mujahid and the likes of him to be heard.

Mujahid puts forth a number of interesting stories of Malaysian Unity in this book. I like the story about him and his Indian friends, Selvarajoo and Chandran. While he had a crush on an Indian girl, his Indian friends were into Malay girls. This close bond with friends of a different race is something I know well about. My best friend, Jubal was an Indian. In the book, Mujahid also speaks about how his mother developed a beautiful friendship with an old Chinese lady who sold eggs for her living.

In the 3^rd chapter, Mujahid recollects how the Malays and Chinese in Penang protected each other during May 13. The two races worked hand-in-hand to ensure everyone’s safety from vigilantes on that day. This first-hand experience gives us a peek into the untold long-existing unity between different races in Malaysia. This story substantiates what zubedy has been saying about May 13. We have been calling for the re-colour of May 13 because we know that the episode does not represent how we stand together as Malaysians. While a few tried to upset the racial harmony that we have always had, millions of us have prevailed together in proving that we are indeed one.

Another thing that strikes me is Mujahid’s loving and caring nature and what a wonderful Abi (father) he is to his children. Mujahid treats everyone around him with tenderness and compassion. I was touched when I read about how he jokes around with his wife and children. Also with how their entire family sobbed in the car when they had to move back to Penang from Melaka because they felt like they were leaving behind their own flesh and blood. These stories give us an understanding on why Mujahid is a strong advocate of racial and religious harmony. Also more than that, I hope these stories will demystify the pre-conceived image of Muslim leaders that many hold. A Muslim leader is like Mujahid; open, loving, compassionate, intelligent, and able to mix around with people from all walks of life with ease.

My respect for Mujahid is founded on many things. One of them is his willingness to go against the current and highlight unpopular issues even within his own circles. Apart from sharing the similar experience of having close friends from different races, Mujahid and I also share similar views on the Quran and the Constitution being separate entities. We both have stressed on many occasions that it is an insult to the Quran if one regards it as the Constitution because the former is revealed by God while the latter is man-made. Mujahid took a big risk in saying what he said and that to me is praiseworthy.

This is a book on Unity by a PAS leader. And as PAS in one of the players in the political arena, it is good for people whether they are PAS supporters or not, to read it. The stories and ideas stomached all over the next 179 pages may ring well with you, or not; but I believe we have it in us to agree to disagree. Thinking Malaysians must understand that the underlying issue is not within partisanship. I understand everyone has their own ways to achieve their goals, but there are people who are hardcore or while there are those who are moderate. The hardcores tend to favour exclusivity while the moderates embrace inclusiveness in their approach.

We need to work with the inclusive ones. We need to give our support to the inclusives in every political party. We support them not for their politics, but for their Unity endeavours. At the same time I am happy to meet more inclusives such as Mujahid from all parties whether they are from Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat. I want to meet them and assist in publishing their books. As Mujahid said in this book, “Politics is not all about finding the opportunity to attack the opposition; mature politics is looking for best solutions”. At the bottom of it, it’s not about which side we are on. It is about choosing the inclusives among them. The real battle is between the exclusive and the inclusive, the extreme and the moderate.

Mujahid and I once had a makan together at Mahbub Restaurant, Bangsar where we discussed how PAS would be like in the future. I suggested that for PAS to become a national party that incorporates all Malaysians, they need to find a way to work with the non-Muslims, to include them as an equal partner within the PAS family. I also suggested Mujahid to write a book about the possibility of having non-Muslim PAS members. I am waiting for that book.

I wish Mujahid and anybody like him the best in his endeavours to unite Malaysians.

“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).” - Quran 49:13

let us add value,

anas zubedy

Let's Recolor May 13 advert in The STAR tomorrow

May 13, 1969, is a solemn reminder of the importance of our Perpaduan.

On that day, Malaysians lost their lives. At the same time, we must not forget that the majority of Malaysians helped and protected each other with no thought of ethnicity, religion, background. We must remember that though some of us lost our balance, the majority of Malaysians stayed true to Unity.

This is the force we need to keep going. This is the potency of Unity we must celebrate and keep strengthening. As with other days to commemorate our nation like Hari Merdeka, Hari Malaysia and other Malaysian festivals, let’s make each May 13 a day to breathe new spirit and re-launch our quest for Unity; a time to remember Unity as our priority.

On May 13, let’s organize gatherings, Unity parties and kenduris; let’s meet on the middle path of empathy and reconciliation with one another. Let’s share stories between the older generation and the younger ones, reflect on where we are today, and remember - whatever our differences, we share One destiny.

Each year on May 13, zubedy tries to do a small part to breathe new life into our spirit of Unity. We have done this since 2009 through books – books to deal with our issues, speak to Malaysian hearts, and call for reconciliation – books to Unite people. In the same way, this year we want to recolor May 13 with three new books to

Unite Malaysians.

 

1.PERJALANAN… ke arah Satu Malaysia by Dr. Chandra Muzaffar. 

A collection of essays in Bahasa Malaysia written between 1996 and early 2011 on Unity among Malaysians. This book addresses the challenges we must face in our quest for Unity, the importance of understanding our nation’s history and background,  and the key to solutions we must find in our journey… towards Unity.

“Keadilan yang menyeluruh, yang tidak hanya cenderung pada kaum X atau kaum Y adalah kunci penyelesaian yang dikehendaki dalam masyarakat berbilang kaum. …Tetapi mesej yang lebih penting ialah usaha untuk menyatupadukan masyarakat berbilang kaum adalah suatu perjalanan – suatu perjalanan yang berliku-liku; yang penuh dengan rintangan dan halangan. Ini adalah perjalanan yang akan mengambil masa yang mungkin tiada destinasinya… Namun, kita harus terus beriltizam untuk memperbaiki tahap kemesraan kaum dari semasa ke semasa.”

2. The Middle Path by Anas Zubedy.

 

Easy-to-read articles explaining issues that have concerned us as a society in the past few years, taken from a middle path perspective. This book revisits subjects like the NEP, voting, one stream schools, can a non-Malay be PM, how to deal with public rallies like Bersih, and the bond between Malaysians. It speaks to the heart, draws the discussions away from extremes and brings it to a path of intelligence, accommodation, reconciliation and Unity.

‘…Choosing the middle path takes us to a way that is not extreme, but measured in every way. When we balance the right principles with the right pragmatism, then we can take steps that move us forward…The middle path is a way to keep things in check which requires more careful thought, more intelligence and more willful deliberation to find the best ways to move forward.”

 3. The Bedrock of our nation: Our Constitution by Emeritus Professor Shad Saleem Faruqi

A focus on the spirit of accommodation that animated our Federal Constitution; from its drafting and its deeper meanings, to how it serves us in emerging issues like our social contract; the special position of Malays, the natives of Sabah and Sarawak and the legitimate interests of other communities; freedom of religion; and inter-ethnic

relations.

“As a nation we are farther apart today than we were 54 years ago. Knowledge of the Constitution’s delicate provisions dealing with inter-ethnic relations

can help to provide some understanding of the give and take that lay at the basis of our supreme law. If we have to go forward as a united nation, we

need to go back to the spirit of moderation, accommodation and compassion that animated the body politic in 1957.”

Ulasan Buku: #BodohPolitik by Uthaya Sankar SB - TMI

 

KUALA LUMPUR, 21 April — Sesungguhnya politik adalah salah satu topik yang paling menarik, mudah, selesa dan sesuai diperkatakan pada semua peringkat — dari kedai kopi hingga ke lobi Parlimen.

Malah, saya sering mengatakan bahawa saya amat “suka” akan politikus dan segala perkara yang berlaku di dalam dan di luar parti-parti politik kerana semua itulah — Drama Paul Lathic — yang menjadi sumber inspirasi yang berterusan bagi begitu banyak karya berbentuk satira dan parodi yang saya hasilkan sejak 1992.

Bayangkan jika tidak ada ahli politik dan parti politik. Pasti tidak ada apa-apa yang menarik untuk diperkatakan serta tidak ada apa-apa untuk dilaporkan menerusi media cetak dan media elektronik arus perdana.
Buku “#BodohPolitik: 101 easy guides on how (not) to choose a Malaysian leader” (2012) oleh Anas Zubedy memberikan 101 lagi topik atau fakta menarik untuk dibicarakan berhubung perkara sama.

Kelahiran buku ini juga ternyata amat kena pada masa dan tempatnya kerana Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 semakin hampir dan orang ramai (pengundi) perlu lebih bersedia untuk melaksanakan tanggungjawab memilih bakal pemimpin yang benar-benar berwibawa.

Buku ini memaparkan 101 perkara yang sesuai dilabel sebagai “bodoh politik” serta ditulis dalam Bahasa Malaysia, Inggeris, Mandarin dan Tamil. Saya berpeluang terlibat sama dalam menyemak dan memurnikan sebahagian besar terjemahan Bahasa Malaysia. Individu lain yang terlibat ialah Mu, Sangar, Fah Yen Yin, Chai Hong, Sharon, Aminah Poh, Rosa dan Soo How.

Penggunaan hashtag (#) pada setiap pandangan di dalam buku ini memberikannya “rasa” seperti komentar yang sering dikongsikan kepada umum menerusi Twitter. Namun, perlu dinyatakan bahawa ada pandangan yang terlalu panjang untuk paparan Twitter.

Setiap pandangan yang amat sinis — “siapa yang makan cili, dia yang terasa pedasnya” — dikemukakan dalam empat bahasa utama di negara ini. Sekali gus, mampu turut dinikmati oleh mana-mana politikus dan pak turut yang hanya tahu satu bahasa.

Misalnya: “#BodohPolitik adalah apabila kita andaikan orang India, Cina dan etnik lain yang miskin tidak layak mendapat hak yang sama seperti golongan Bumiputera yang sama-sama miskin” dan “#BodohPolitik adalah apabila kita sibuk memikirkan pilihan raya akan datang berbanding apa yang perlu dibuat selepas pilihan raya — iaitu bekerja untuk rakyat”.

Pada masa sama, Anas turut menyelar dan mengkritik golongan masyarakat (pengundi) yang juga selalu bertindak tanpa berfikir secara rasional dalam pelbagai perkara.
Misalnya: “#BodohPolitik adalah apabila kita sanggup mengundi seseorang calon atau parti semata-mata kerana kita membenci calon atau parti yang satu lagi” dan “#BodohPolitik adalah apabila kita pandai merungut, mengeluh, mengkritik tentang politik tapi tidak mengambil inisiatif mendaftar sebagai pengundi”.

Buku “pelbagai rasa” (pedas, manis, pahit, kelat) ini baru sahaja terbit dan dijangka menarik perhatian pelbagai lapisan masyarakat; sama ada sebagai bahan bacaan ringan atau bacaan serius yang mencabar minda.

Anda pasti berasa bangga dilihat di tempat awam bersama-sama buku ini kerana hanya orang yang “bodoh politik” akan menjauhkan diri daripada buku seperti ini.

* Uthaya Sankar SB memblog di www.uthayasb.blogspot.com dan boleh dihubungi menerusi e-mel uthayasb@yahoo.com.my

Read this article in TMI

#BodohPolitik: 101 easy guides on how (not) to choose a Malaysian leader

"If I had no sense of humour, I would long ago have committed suicide" - Gandhi

We're happy to announce the launch of zubedy's latest publication:

Available soon in major bookstores, or to order direct, e-mail ideahouse@zubedy.com.

Happy reading!

BOOK INFO - Can We Use Allah in the Bible @ Allah dalam Bible, Boleh atau Tidak

Peace!

Latest news on the books availability as below:

For MPH Bookstores:

A) English book: Can We Use Allah In The Bible?

1. MPH just finishes placing our English books in Klang Valley only.
2. For the rest of MPH bookstores including Sabah and Sarawak, it’s by the end of next week.
   

B) Malay book: Allah Dalam Bible, Boleh Atau Tidak?

1. Will be in the stores by next week in Klang Valley and the rest of the bookstores by the following week.

Other bookstores i.e. Kinokuniya, Popular, Borders, Times and etc.

1. Kinokuniya just placed an order yesterday. Books will be in stores earliest by end of next week.
2. For the rest of the bookstores, MPH is still waiting for their order on the book.


For those who are interested in purchasing the book, you may purchase it at your nearest MPH bookstores.


Click here for MPH store locator