#MARUAHMELAYU #WAHAIMELAYU

Setelah mendengar isi hati orang-orang Melayu yang baru-baru ini telah dengan serius bertekad untuk mempertahankan MARUAH ORANG MELAYU, saya berbesar hati dan rendah diri ingin berkongsi sebuah buku yang saya telah tulis dan di lancarkan oleh YAB TUN DR. MAHATHIR pada tahun 2014. Walaupun buku ini istimewa ditujukan kepada usahawan-usahawan muda Melayu, tetapi seruan universalnya juga baik di renung oleh semua baik Melayu atau bukan Melayu, baik yang muda serta juga yang berumur.

Saya akan memuatkan isi kandungan dari buku ini inshaAllah setiap hari, satu. Di sini adalah mukadimah buku tersebut yang bertajuk #WAHAIMELAYU.

Salam, 
Anas

Sesungguhnya Allah tidak mengubah apa yang ada pada sesuatu kaum sehingga mereka mengubah apa yang ada pada diri mereka sendiri. - Quran 13:11

KENAPA BUKU INI? 

Salam, 

Izinkan saya untuk berkongsi satu cerita. Menurut  Statistik Pendapatan dan Kemiskinan Isi Rumah oleh Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB), keluarga saya berada di bawah garis kemiskinan. Yed (ayah) merupakan seorang pembantu kedai bergaji kira-kira RM120 sebulan. Kadang kala kami makan nasi dengan planta dan kicap sahaja. Lewat 1960an, Yed dimasukkan ke hospital akibat batuk kering. Ketika itu, Umi hanya memperolehi RM60 sebulan daripada majikan Yed.

Pada tahun 1968, Umi mendapat satu peluang ‘besar’. Nasib Umi berubah apabila adik lelakinya yang bekerja di Timur Tengah memberinya USD30 (RM93). Umi tidak menggunakan wang itu untuk kepuasan segera, sebaliknya menjadikan wang tersebut modal berniaga. Umi mula berniaga kecil-kecilan. Menjual batik, selendang, cadar, dan lain-lain yang dibeli daripada Pak Ali di Jual Murah, Pulau Pinang. Apabila Pak Ali melihat kejujuran dan kesungguhan Umi dalam perniagaan, beliau menggalakkan Umi untuk mengambil bekalan daripadanya secara konsainan - ambil dahulu dan bayar kemudian. Pada mulanya Umi enggan, tetapi Pak Ali berjaya meyakinkan Umi untuk membuat bayaran balik secara konsisten. Umi memulakan sistem kreditnya sendiri. Umi bijak menguruskan kewangan perniagaannya sehinggakan Umi mahir merancang dengan tepat bila untuk mengetuk pintu pelanggan (pada minggu gaji) dan bila untuk membayar pembekal. Bagi Umi, menepati janji adalah sesuatu yang tidak boleh dianggap remeh dalam perniagaan mahupun kehidupan.

Saya membesar melihat Umi cermat berbelanja. Umi sentiasa berjimat dan jujur dengan pengurusan wang, pelanggan, dan pembekal. Umi tidak pernah menipu sesiapa. Tanpa menipu, tanpa mengelentong, Umi membina reputasi yang baik sebagai seorang peniaga yang beretika. Sehingga satu tahap, pembekalpembekal lain turut meminta Umi menjual untuk mereka, tetapi Umi setia dan kekal berurusan dengan Pak Ali sahaja. Etika perniagaan Umi dan sifat jimat-cermatnya dengan wang telah memupuk budaya berhemat yang sama dalam diri saya.

Saya percaya pada pelan tindakan afirmatif seperti DEB. Mana-mana masyarakat yang mempunyai golongan kaya dan miskin perlu melakukan sesuatu untuk mengurangkan jurang perbezaan antara kedua-dua kumpulan tersebut. Saya tidak percaya kepada kesaksamaan dalam erti kata yang terlalu luas, saya akan sentiasa mengutamakan golongan miskin. Kita mesti sentiasa membantu mereka. Pada pendapat saya, tuntutan kesaksamaan di kalangan yang tidak sama rata hanya menguntungkan golongan kaya sahaja. Namun demikian, kita perlu berhati-hati dalam memberi bantuan untuk mengelakkan mentaliti subsidi. Kita tidak mahu membantu golongan miskin sehingga mereka hanya mengharapkan bantuan sepanjang hidup mereka. Ini bukan membantu tetapi merosakkan. Keseimbangan antara menggalakkan masyarakat untuk belajar dan pemberian yang keterlaluan tidak mudah dicapai. Kita perlu bersederhana.

Biar saya  kongsikan satu lagi cerita. Ketika saya di bangku sekolah menengah, saya menerima biasiswa bulanan daripada kerajaan sebanyak RM15. Jumlah ini jika diikutkan tidaklah seberapa tetapi bantuan itu membolehkan saya untuk mengambil bahagian dalam aktiviti-aktiviti yang biasanya disertai oleh kanak-kanak yang ibu-bapanya dari kelas pertengahan atau kaya seperti Kelab Interact. Saya menggunakan sebahagian daripada wang itu untuk pakaian seragam serta projek-projek sekolah dan melabur bakinya untuk menjana pendapatan kecil dengan berniaga bersama Umi. Melalui biasiswa itu, saya dapat menimba pengalaman di luar bilik darjah. Saya mula berjinak dengan kemahiran seperti kepimpinan, kemanusiaan, menganjurkan projek, dan banyak lagi. 

Bantuan itu juga mengajar saya beberapa perkara penting yang lain. Saya belajar menabung. Kita tidak akan dapat belajar menyimpan jika kita tidak berduit. Saya belajar mengendalikan wang, cara untuk berbelanja, dan menabung. Semua ini tidak mungkin berlaku jika saya tidak menerima RM15 setiap bulan melalui pelan tindakan afirmatif seperti DEB. Bantuan kecil daripada kerajaan itu adalah lebih daripada wang benih, ia membolehkan individu seperti saya untuk memahami, menghormati, mengendali, dan menghargai budaya wang.

Apabila saya berkongsi tweet tentang #WahaiMelayu, beberapa orang kawan saya hairan mengapa saya yang selalu menggalakkan perpaduan seolah-olah hanya bercakap mengenai satu kaum sahaja di Malaysia. Bukan menjadi masalah untuk saya menulis buku yang sama untuk kaum lain, malah saya merasa satu dengan semua kaum (seperti kebanyakan rakyat Malaysia yang lain). Sebenarnya, saya bersama beberapa rakan lain yang mengambil berat isu kaum India sedang dalam perancangan untuk melancarkan sebuah buku yang sama bagi kaum India di Malaysia yang bertajuk #WahaiKaumIndia. Terdapat pelbagai aspek sosiobudaya dan ekonomi yang unik pada kumpulan khusus atau etnik tertentu yang memerlukan perhatian unik. Walaupun #WahaiMelayu ditujukan untuk orang Melayu, sebahagian besar tip-tip yang ditulis di sini adalah sesuai untuk semua.

Saya berharap buku ini akan memberi inspirasi, berfikir dan membantu anda untuk menyoal diri sendiri. Saya menulis buku ini dalam bentuk cilik supaya ia mudah dicerna oleh semua. Tip-tip dalam buku ini adalah hasil pembelajaran  daripada Umi, keluarga, pengalaman sendiri serta dengan memerhati orangorang di sekeliling.

Akhir sekali, saya tidak percaya adanya bangsa pemalas. Saya juga tidak dapat menerima bahawa kaum Melayu hanya berbakat dalam bidang seni dan berpolitik tetapi tidak dalam perniagaan – ini semuanya adalah sempadan-sempadan palsu yang membataskan diri dan kita perlu keluar dari kepompong ini. Apa yang kita perlu cari adalah motivasi dan inspirasi yang betul untuk sesuatu budaya khusus seperti kaum Melayu. Begitu juga dalam menangani golongan-golongan tertentu di Afrika, India, dan sebagainya – kita mesti mencari jalan yang sesuai untuk berkomunikasi dan berhubung dengan mereka. Ini adalah supaya mereka akan tampil ke hadapan dan menjadi produktif dan efektif.

Saya ingin memohon maaf sekiranya ada hasil penulisan saya yang kedengaran agak kasar dan menyinggung perasaan pembaca. Bukan niat saya untuk menyakiti. Tetapi untuk membuka hati kita supaya kita akan lebih maju ke hadapan. Terima kasih kepada semua pihak yang telah membantu terutamanya Hidayah Mazlan, Aizuddin Arshad, ‘Aizat Roslan, Nur Intan Dayana Adinan, Nur Syuhada Zakaria, Nurul Haqq Shahrir, dan Rozitaayu Zulkifli kerana menjayakan penerbitan buku ini.

Salam.
anas zubedy 

email: anas@zubedy.com 
http://letusaddvalue.blogspot.com 
http://www.facebook.com/zubedy 
twitter: @anaszubedy

ONE STREAM SCHOOL SYSTEM

Can we re-look both the VERNACULAR and AGAMA school system?

I am for ONE-STREAM school system but not on the expense of quality education. Any move to change must be done sensibly and the transition period must be managed with extra care and planning. For example, if the vernacular or agama schools are producing better citizens as compared to our national ones - say in terms of life skills and discpline, learn from them - let them lead if we must. Choose from the very best. Home bred ways, besides learning from other countries like Finland.

Furthermore, even if we have a single stream school system, due to location, we will still likely have schools that are filled with kids from a particular ethnic group – say in Kedah and Kelantan. As such, it is important that we ensure the tenaga pengajar (teachers and principals) and school administrators are represented by all our ethnic groups including Sabahans and Sarawakians for schools in the Semenanjung. These teachers and administrators will act as a channel, role model and informal teachers who can share their ethnic culture with the school population via special extra-curricular activities and festive celebrations.

The following is an article from my book The Middle Path published in May 2012 about the subject concern.

WHY HAVE ONE-STREAM SCHOOLS

What do you mean by one-stream schools?

We now have national schools and vernacular schools - schools that use Mandarin and Tamil as their medium of teaching. We also have Agama schools as well as International private schools.

However, I suggest that we work towards forming one- stream schools where all our children can learn together. For this to happen, there needs to be a change in our schooling system. We need to come up with a two-session structure perhaps where all students go to school together in the morning session, then learn the vernacular languages and other important skills in the afternoon. This way, Mandarin will not just be limited to the Chinese students, or Tamil to the Indian students - our children can learn all four major languages including Arabic if they are interested.

Why have one-stream schools?

Because Unity is our most important goal.

As children go through their socialisation process, it is crucial that they do it in an environment that is truly representative of the Malaysian society. Beyond what they learn in school lessons, the actual process of socialisation, mixing around with others around them, is the most influential learning process our children will go through. We must ensure that they get to know each other from a young age – that they interact with each other, learn to get used to each others languages, cultures, practices, smells, behaviours … and if they have to quarrel because of differences, it should all be part of the socialisation process from when they are young.

Whatever it is, we are a multicultural society – we cannot allow our children to grow up separately. This is one of the greatest recipes for disunity. If children grow up surrounded only by their own race, they will be ill-prepared to deal with the reality of Malaysian society. They may become maladjusted people when they enter the workforce.

This is why I suggest that we encourage more multiracial neighbourhoods so children can grow up together at home (as I have explained in the previous chapter). In the same way, we need to work towards one-stream schools so that they can grow up together in schools and practice supporting one another as they learn together.

Are you saying that those who go to vernacular and private schools are not capable of Unity?

No, it is not a generalisation that applies to all who go to vernacular or private schools - there are many who still have a healthy sense of Unity. In any situation, there are always some who are able to rise above the circumstances. But I am suggesting that having separate school systems does not prepare a conducive environment for most of our children to grow up knowing each other as one.

How can we work towards schools that are conducive for our children to study together?

We need to deal with the quality of our national schools; the system, approach, and the teachers. Many send their children to Chinese schools not simply because of language, but more so because of the quality of education. When we work towards setting up one-stream schools, we need to carefully look into the quality of the school system and the quality of teachers. Maybe we can even learn from the Chinese school system, transfer technology of how they mould hardworking and effective students. The leaders and technocrats from the Chinese schools should play an important role in revising the structure of national schools. We need to study how to organise the school system to allow students to learn history, mathematics, science, languages, arts, drama, sports, culture… all the important aspects of development.

As far as possible it would be best if we have teachers from all races. The school environment must be a microcosm of the diversity in Malaysian society for children to go through a healthy socialisation process that will prepare them to know, appreciate and love our various cultures.

Peace,
Anas Zubedy

PORK IN THE QURAN - What does the Quran say?

The Quran is very specific about pork. The Book specifically said that we are to avoid EATING the 'MEAT' or ' FLESH OF SWINE' . Any other than these are basically MENGHARAMKAN YANG HALAL. Here, read for yourself all verses regarding the prohibition of eating THE FLESH OF SWINE. Nothing about touching it or using it for printed money. Quran 2:173 إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَالدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ الْخِنْزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ بِهِ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the FLESH OF SWINE, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. Quran 5:3 حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةُ وَالدَّمُ وَلَحْمُ الْخِنْزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ بِه Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the FLESH OF SWINE, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah , and [those animals] killed by strangling or by a violent blow or by a head-long fall or by the goring of horns, and those from which a wild animal has eaten, except what you [are able to] slaughter [before its death], and those which are sacrificed on stone altars, and [prohibited is] that you seek decision through divining arrows. That is grave disobedience. This day those who disbelieve have despaired of [defeating] your religion; so fear them not, but fear Me. This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion. BUT WHOEVER IS FORCED BY SEVERE HUNGER WITH NO INCLINATION TO SIN – then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. Quran 6:145 إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ مَيْتَةً أَوْ دَمًا مَسْفُوحًا أَوْ لَحْمَ خِنْزِيرٍ فَإِنَّهُ رِجْسٌ Say, “I do not find within that which was revealed to me [anything] forbidden to one who would EAT it unless it be a dead animal or blood spilled out or the FLESH OF SWINE – for indeed, it is impure – or it be [that slaughtered in] disobedience, dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], then indeed, your Lord is Forgiving and Merciful. Quran 16:115 إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَالدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ الْخِنْزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ بِهِ He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, THE FLESH OF SWINE, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit] – then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. Peace, anas Note : You may choose to follow or not to follow the Quran. That is between you and Allah.

IRAN --- NEITHER MILITARY ACTION NOR ECONOMIC SANCTIONS

by Chandra Muzaffar

It would be utterly immoral of the United States to launch a military attack upon Iran if it is true that one of the missiles that destroyed an oil refinery in Saudi Arabia on the 14th of September 2019 had a casing bearing a number that suggested that the weapon was manufactured for NATO forces. The alphabets preceding the number denote the type of missile it is and one of its uses. The picture of the missile was inadvertently supplied to the media by the Saudi Defense Ministry.

A theory that has emerged in the wake of the picture of this missile is that the assault on the oil refineries in Saudi’s Eastern Province could have been a false flag operation initiated by John Bolton who was sacked by President Donald Trump as National Security Adviser around that time. It was his way of orchestrating a ‘parting shot’ which he could then blame on Iran --- a State that he has always targeted in pursuit of his neo-conservative agenda of emasculating Israel’s regional adversaries in order to ensure the latter’s supremacy and hegemony.

A false flag operation would exonerate Iran which has consistently maintained that it had nothing to do with the attack on the refineries. Besides, Iran does not stand to gain in any way from such action. Its current preoccupation is with getting crippling sanctions imposed on it by the US lifted immediately. A false flag operation would however raise a question or two about the Houthi ( Ansar Allah) claim that it destroyed the Saudi refineries. Indeed, if anyone in the region has a reason to act against the Saudi regime, it would be the Houthis and the people of Yemen in general. Since 2015 at least 50,000 bombs and missiles have been dropped in Yemen by the Saudi military and its regional allies. More than 15,000 children, women and men have perished. Farms, hospitals and schools have been bombarded. The constant daily attacks have spawned the worst humanitarian crisis in the 21st century. Preventable diseases such as cholera have spread and malnutrition and starvation haunt tens of thousands of families. It has been estimated that a child dies every 10 minutes in Yemen as a result of all this.

It is this terrible catastrophe that the world should address. False flag operations divert attention from the root causes of a catastrophe ignited by the Saudi and US elites years ago. Those causes in turn are related to geopolitics, power and hegemony. The ordinary Yemeni has paid a huge price.
If a military assault on Iran is not to going to help the ordinary Yemeni neither will the tightening of economic sanctions against the people of Iran. Already the sanctions re-imposed upon that country since the US withdrew from the six nation nuclear deal have led to a great deal of pain and suffering within the populace. The sick including children have been deprived of much needed medicines which are presently imported from abroad.

Military action and economic sanctions it is obvious only exacerbate dire situations. Whenever it is initiated by a mighty power in collusion with its allies and agents, it fails to achieve its objectives. Take US helmed military campaigns aimed at furthering their own often diabolical agenda. The US attempt to crush what was in reality a nationalist movement in Vietnam in the sixties and early seventies resulted in its own ignominious defeat. Under the banner of NATO, it took control of Afghanistan in October 2001 and in the process ignited a war of resistance which after 18 years has undoubtedly enhanced the Taliban’s grip upon power.

Together with Britain, it invaded and occupied Iraq convinced that it would not only be able to control the nation’s rich oil resource but also determine the region’s politics in favour of Israel. Neither goal has been achieved and Iraq continues to be in a quagmire. Libya is another country in West Asia and North Africa (WANA) where the US and its NATO partners initially succeeded in overthrowing Muammar Gaddafi and murdering him brutally but is now bogged down in a chaotic terrain where there is no effective functioning government.

In Syria for at least seven years, starting in 2011, the US and its allies sought through covert and overt means to oust the government of Bashar Al-Assad mainly because it refused to kowtow to them. Though they even employed terrorist outfits to achieve their objective, Bashar is still in the seat of power, supported by the Hezbollah, Iran and Russia. Syria has proven yet again that it is not possible to accomplish regime change through military means orchestrated by external actors.

Economic sanctions however harsh have also not succeeded in bringing governments that value their independence and integrity to their knees. An outstanding example of a nation that has withstood US sanctions and enhanced its sovereignty is Cuba. One of those rare occasions when sanctions have worked is the global movement against Apartheid South Africa in the eighties. There was a universal moral principle underlying those sanctions that transcended any self-serving agenda which was one of the reasons that explained its success. One can argue that such a principle is also present in the Boycott, Divest Sanctions (BDS) movement in relation to Israeli occupation of Palestinian and Arab lands.

The time has come for people everywhere to reject military action and self-serving economic sanctions as means towards certain nefarious ends. Since the former is a threat and the latter is a reality in the case of Iran, the Iranian crisis should serve as a platform for the mass mobilization of global public opinion against the use of these two weapons. Let Iran be that moment in history that will persuade humankind to eschew what is vile and vicious, what is cruel and callous in our setting as we journey towards a civilization that is just, humane and compassionate.

Dr Chandra Muzaffar is President of the International Movement for a Just World (JUST).

Malaysia.
20 September 2019.

MUSLIMS: SHOULD WE FOCUS ON CONVERTING OTHERS OR CORRECTING OURSELVES?

CLICK HERE

YEMEN CRISIS

While some Muslims are all excited trying to convert Non-Muslims into Islam, many Muslims are busy killing innocent Muslims, including children.

Should we spend more energy in correcting ourselves? Should we deal with our Sunni-Syiah divide that have resulted in war, death and persecution?

Perhaps our preachers and televangelist can talk about commonalities or if you like comparative ‘religion’ between these two sects instead of paying attention to outside the Muslim milieu.

“As for those who divide their religion and break up into sects, thou hast no part in them in the least: their affair is with God. He will in the end tell them the truth of all that they did” - Quran 6:159

“And be not ye among Mushrikeen (those who join gods with God), - i.e., those who split up their Religion, and become Sects, - each party rejoicing in that which is with itself!” – Quran 30:31-32

“And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favour on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus doth Allah make His Signs clear to you: That ye may be guided.” Quran 3:103

Salam, anas

THREE GOOD BOOKS - PART 3 - The Malays

‘The Malays: Their Problems and Future’ by Syed Husin Ali. ISBN: 978-983-9541-61-8

This book was first published over thirty years ago in 1978 when Prof. Syed Husin Ali was in detention under the ISA; and it was updated in 2008. Prof. Syed Husin Ali was then the deputy PKR president.

‘The Malays’ is a really good book, because it goes way back to the origin of the Malays, their history, religion, socio-economy and politics. It discusses the issue of Malay poverty, providing facts and data, not just specifically on the Malay community but also in comparison with other communities. The book also addresses the impacts of modernity and past policies on the development of the average Malay and emerging challenges that face them. It gives a good overview of the situation of the Malay community.

Can you share with us some parts of the book?

One should read the book in entirety to get the full picture, because just by reading this book would be a good start to help in understanding the Malays. Here is an excerpt from the beginning of the book on who the Malays are:

“Taking a wide social and cultural definition, the term refers not only to those who are settled in the Peninsular, but also includes those in the larger area of the Malay Archipelago, embracing the Malay Peninsular and thousands of islands which today form the Republic of Indonesia and the Philippines. Although they are divided into many sub-groups, and perhaps as many dialects, linguistic and cultural experts always consider them as belonging to the same stock, known as the Malays or Malayo-Indonesians.” (pg. 1)

“Quite often when we refer to the term Malay, we think only of those who are living in the Peninsular. Descendants of the Malays in the Philippines are now known as Filipinos, while those in the former Dutch territories are called Indonesians. Our eyes have been shaded by three separate political boundaries to such an extent that we lose sight of the similarities in ancestry, of culture and history which are the common heritage of all the inhabitants of the Malay Archipelago.” (pg. 2)

We have particularly seen a lot of this in recent years – people make comments, for example, to say someone is not really ‘Malay’ because his ancestry is Bugis. But based on this larger definition described by Prof. Syed, the Bugis are also Malay. We tend to think that the Malay only refers to those in Peninsular Malaysia, but this is a very myopic view point.

The book lays the foundation for understanding the definition of who is a Malay. As an ethnic group, the Malays are defined historically but have also been defined legally in our Constitution. Prof. Syed discusses the historical context for this as well as its implications. These basic definitions and the understanding of who a Malay is, are very important concepts all Malaysians need to learn and understand (more on this is discussed in Chapter 28).

The book also discusses the situation of the Malays in the time of Merdeka and post-Independence. It sheds light on the rise of Malay political organisations, especially the Unity that was found among the Malays when opposing the Malayan Union. Opposing the Malayan Union was described as ‘a life and death matter’ to the Malays, and the question about the survival of the Malays as a race was what caused the Malays to come together. (pg. 45)

Understanding this historical pattern may help us to understand why the call for ‘Malay Unity’ has been carried on even until today. After Independence, language and education became the rallying call. After that, and now we see, it is religion. Prof. Syed writes – “Whatever the issues – religion, race or culture – all are open to political manipulation and exploitation. But this does not deny the fact that there are some individuals and groups who are sincere in their intentions over these same issues.” (pg. 47)

The book also discusses whether our development policies have been a success or failure, providing a study of data and statistics. The May 13 incident was described as a reflection of socioeconomic problems. Prof. Syed writes “although the incident appeared to be a racial conflict, it was recognised that the root causes were some basic economic problems” (pg. 125).

According to Prof. Syed, the analysis of the root causes of poverty was not correctly done in order to lead to the right strategies to properly eradicate poverty. He suggests that the NEP needs to be “reviewed and replaced by a new economic plan that would ensure the wealth and resources of the country are not monopolised by only a small coterie of people who have already enjoyed power. Instead they should be distributed fairly and evenly to the majority of people comprising different ethnic groups.” (pg. 151)

He adds - “Although absolute poverty has been reduced, relative poverty widening of the socioeconomic gap has increased. NEP helps to sponsor Malay rich and has resulted in nepotism and cronyism.” (pg. 182)

With discussions like this, the book presents a good balance of information and opinions. In discussing multi-ethnic relations between Malays and other races in Malaysia, it addresses some of the historical issues that hinder the journey to Unity and integration. Prof. Syed stresses the importance of shared values –

“it is … necessary to disseminate universal values and attitudes, which can help people so that they do not succumb easily to racial or ethnic appeals. There is also a need to overcome ‘false consciousness’ caused by ethnicity. At the same time, the state should not be allowed to legitimise ethnic violence to perpetrate itself. Until racial and ethnic harmony comes naturally, it must be strived for.” (pg. 180)

I urge readers to go out and get these three books as a start to understand our Indian, Chinese and Malay brothers and sisters. Knowledge of the history, background and current situation of these three Malaysian communities will go a long way in helping us to really understand each other and nurture harmony amongst us.

Peace,
Anas Zubedy
Malaysian Movement for Moderates

Note : This article is the final entry for the topic is taken from my book The Middle Path, chapter 4.

JANGAN BOIKOT, SOKONG PRODUK BUATAN MALAYSIA

Hari ini di SINAR HARIAN ms 6

Kami, sekumpulan rakyat Malaysia, mengajak kesemua rakyat membeli dan memberi keutamaan kepada produk buatan Malaysia.

Pada asalnya, rangsangan untuk mengutamakan pembelian produk Muslim sahaja atau memboikot produk buatan bukan-Muslim kemungkinan nampak sebagai suatu strategi yang amat baik. Namun demikian, jika ditinjau dan dikaji dengan lebih mendalam, ia mungkin suatu tindakan yang kurang bijak.

Kebanyakan syarikat-syarikat swasta mempunyai ramai pekerja dari kaum Melayu. Malahan dalam beberapa syarikat ini, kaum Melayu menjadi tenaga pekerja majoriti. Walaupun pada hakikatnya sesebuah syarikat itu dimiliki kaum bukan-Muslim, tetapi rangkaian ekonomi meliputi juga komuniti lain. Ia termasuk pengambilan bahan mentah, kepada pembekal barangan serta penghantaran kepada pembeli secara hubungan rangkaian perniagaan. Hubungan sebegini adalah hakikat sebenar ekonomi tempatan dan juga di peringkat global. Tambahan pula, semua syarikat yang mendapat keuntungan akan membayar cukai yang digunakan untuk belanjawan bagi manfaat seluruh masyarakat. Ia termasuk juga pembiayaan gaji dan elaun kakitangan kerajaan yang kebanyakan kita semua sedia maklum majoritinya adalah kaum Melayu. Wang cukai ini juga digunakan untuk pembangunan pendidikan, kesihatan dan lain-lain lagi.

Wang dapatan dari cukai syarikat-syarikat yang membuat untung juga digunakan untuk membiayai institusi Islam seperti JAKIM dan ini mendatangkan manfaat secara langsung kepada umat Islam sendiri. Maka itu, adalah suatu perkara yang malang jika mereka yang mewarwarkan kegiatan boikot ini kurang faham tentang prinsip dan dasar ekonomi ataupun mereka sengaja memainkan sentimen perkauman dan provokasi emosi orang Islam dengan agenda tersendiri.

Kami ingin juga mengingatkan bahawa ramai orang-orang Melayu dan Islam memegang saham dalam kebanyakan syarikat tersenarai awam dan nama-nama mereka pun terpapar sebagai ahli-ahli lembaga pengarah. Kebanyakan syarikat-syarikat di Malaysia juga telah melaburkan wang dalam usaha menjadikan produk dan kegiatan syarikat itu serasi dengan syariah dan mendapat pensijilan halal. Malaysia merupakan hub halal yang terbesar di dunia di atas usaha orang-orang Islam dan bukan Islam.

Jika ada apa-apa usaha memboikot, ia akan mendatangkan kesan bukan sahaja kepada orang bukan Islam tetapi pada orang Islam juga. Kita semua kena menyokong barangan jenama Malaysia supaya sama-sama dapat kita membangun ekonomi dan menjadikan ia lebih kukuh. Pemboikotan dalam suasana ekonomi masakini bukan sahaja sesuatu yang tidak praktikal ia juga sesuatu yang bersifat hipokrit memandangkan kita semua menggunakan barangan dari seluruh dunia. Segala barangan dari makanan, pakaian, teknologi dan pengangkutan, setiap satunya datang dari sumber pembekal, pengasas dan pembuat dari pelbagai kaum, bangsa dan agama. Begitulah hakikatnya ekonomi global dalam dunia masakini. Maka itu, bagaimana boleh kita mengatakan bahawa setiap barangan yang kita pakai atau makan datangnya khusus hanya dari satu kaum dan agama sahaja?

Sebagai rakyat Malaysia, hidup kita berangkai dengan semua kaum. Seorang Mak Cik menjual nasi lemak di depan kilang milik kaum Cina untuk menyara hidup anak-anaknya adalah suatu yang biasa kelihatan dalam negara yang mempunyai pelbagai kaum. Sama juga kelihatan seorang India menjual roti berniaga di kawasan kaum Melayu. Adakah kita impikan kehilangan ciri kepelbagaian ini hanya kerana hasutan beberapa individu berkepentingan?

Kami percaya bahawa kita semua harus mengeratkan integriti bangsa kita lebih daripada memecahbelahkan masyarakat dengan hasutan boikot sebegini. Matlamat akhir kita sepatutnya membantu perkembangan perniagaan, mempastikan harga barangan rendah, mempastikan kos sara hidup bersepadanan dengan barangan buatan Malaysia yang berkualiti serta harga berpatutan. Hanya dengan usaha dan sikap sebegini serta gandingan persefahaman masyarakat maka kita semua akan menikmati kejayaan bersama.

Kenyataan bersama :-

Tawfik Ismail
Tajuddin Rasdi
Syed Sadiq Albar
Shad Saleem Faruqi
Nurul Haqq Shahrir
Noor Farida Ariffin
Johan Jaafar
Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos
Hussamuddin Yaacub
Chun Wai, Wong
Chandra Muzaffar
Anas Zubedy