Give Bashar Al -Assad a chance - By Chandra Muzaffar

President Bashar al-Assad should be given the chance to implement the reforms that he has promised.

In his address at Damascus University on June 20 2011, he drew the attention of the world to the ‘National Dialogue’ he had initiated which will focus on the comprehensive reform of state and social institutions. The Dialogue, with representation from all sectors of society, aims to change existing laws on elections, political parties, local administration, and the media in order to create a society that embodies the freedom and dignity of the people. It seeks to amend and perhaps even replace the present Constitution of Syria. A democratically elected People’s Assembly may be inaugurated in August 2011. The Dialogue also envisages enhancing the fight against corruption through an Anti-Corruption Commission.

While concerned mainly about political reforms, Bashar’s speech failed to recognise that fundamental economic changes would be necessary to reduce widening disparities between the rich and poor and to curb huge increases in the cost of essential goods and services. It is of course true that the massive influx of 1.5 million Iraqi refugees since 2003 added to the 0.5 million Palestinian refugees from an earlier period have also severely strained the Syrian economy.

Nonetheless, Bashar’s commitment to reforms through a National Dialogue gives hope.

One, he has openly acknowledged the legitimacy and sincerity of the demands of authentic protesters for meaningful change, and identified with their demands.

Two, unlike some other Arab rulers, he has laid out a whole process through which reforms would be introduced, complete with time frames. In fact, Bashar began this process even before the National Dialogue through small and big meetings with thousands of people from all over Syria.

Three, he has already set into motion some important changes. The emergency laws have been rescinded and the state security court abolished. More than 6,000 Kurds who hitherto had no citizenship rights have been accepted into the Syrian fold.

Four, the President has shown that he is prepared to reconcile even with the men and women who were part of the armed insurrection against the State by extending an amnesty to all those who turn themselves in with their weapons. This also creates the right climate for reform within a cohesive social order.

Five, it is only too apparent that in spite of months of peaceful and violent protest against him, Bashar remains immensely popular with the vast majority of his people. After his June 20 address, millions and millions of people poured into the streets in a mammoth show of support and solidarity with Bashar. With such support, he would be in a stronger position to carry forward his reform mission.

And this is precisely what Bashar will have to do. He should be bold and brave enough to overcome the opposition to his reforms. Some observers have argued that he has been somewhat hesitant to bring about far-reaching changes because he does not want to antagonise the old guard and deeply entrenched vested interests.

Indeed, he should have the courage to call for a presidential election, to invite his opponents to stand against him in a free and fair contest. It will cut the ground from under the feet of all those who are out to subvert him.

Bashar has incurred the wrath of a number of actors within and without the region mainly because of his principled position on Israel which continues to occupy Syria’s Golan Heights. Syria also shelters Hamas leaders and has been steadfast in its commitment towards the Palestinian cause. Bashar and Syria have maintained close ties with the Hizbollah in Lebanon and with Iran. For Israel, the US government and some Arab rulers, this is not acceptable--- which is why they are allegedly funding and arming some of the Syrian protesters.

The Western dominated global media ignore foreign meddling in Syria. They refuse to admit that Bashar is faced with an armed insurrection which has witnessed killing, arson and sabotage. Like any other head of government he has no choice but to use force to quell the insurrection. At the same time, none of the major television channels highlighted the massive show of support for Bashar after his June 20 address. Instead, some of the media have been fabricating news like the lie about a non-existent Syrian internet blogger by the name of “Amina Arraf” being arrested and kidnapped. Even some video clips shown by Aljazeera and CNN do not match their news content, as pointed out by the Italian newspaper, La Rinascita.

The media, it is obvious, are determined to ensure that those who resist US-Zionist helmed hegemony are defeated.

Dr. Chandra Muzaffar is President of the International Movement for a Just World (JUST) and Professor of Global Studies at Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Malaysia

22 June 2011

Vote for Anas’ Book – 'The Quran and I' For POPOLAR – The STAR Reader’s Choice Awards 2011

Peace,

‘The Quran and I' is in the running for the POPULAR - The STAR reader’s Choice Award 2011 in the non-fiction category.

Vote for this book to be in the Top 3 Via:

1. SMS

Type:

RCAN(space)NRIC(SPACE)I(SPACE)SLOGAN' I like reader's choice awards because..' (not more than 120 characters

2. Entry forms

Entry forms are available at POPULAR and Harris bookstores, or Click here to download

Submit your forms at any Popular or Harris store or post it to:

Popular - The STAR reader's Choice Awards 2011

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No.8, Jalan 7/118B

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56000, Kuala Lumpur

100 voters have a chance to receive a RM 50 gift voucher and 1 year free membership POPULAR card from the organizers of the award. We’re also happy to inform you that ‘The Quran and I’ can be purchased at a 20% discount at Popular and Harris stores from now until 2^nd October.

I am selected as one of the Subject Matters Expert (SMEX) for the 1Malaysia Roundtable

Peace!

I have been selected as one of the Subject Matters Expert (SMEX) for

the 1Malaysia Roundtable discussion organized by the Prime Minister in support of 1Malaysia initiative.

Here are a few press releases on the matter:

http://www.1malaysia.com.my/blog/take-a-seat-at-the-1malaysia-roundtable/

http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/Online1MalaysiaRoundtablegoesliveonMonday/Article/

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/6/12/nation/8887599&sec=nation

Yayasan 1 Malaysia Press Release - The Scholarship Imbroglio

THE SCHOLARSHIP IMBROGLIO

Petaling Jaya, 9 June 2011 – Every year the scholarship issue creates much angst within certain segments of Malaysian society. This has a negative effect upon ethnic relations.

This is why Yayasan 1Malaysia (YIM) welcomes the proposed review of the Public Service Department’s (PSD) scholarship policy announced by Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz on June 1 2011. One hopes a new policy will reduce the disappointment and unhappiness among young Malaysians and their families which is often manifested along ethnic lines.

As a citizen input into the formulation of this new policy, YIM would like to put forward the following ideas for the consideration of the government.

1) A review of the marking and evaluation scheme for SPM which has resulted in an inflation of A achievers in the last few years. It is an inflation that does not appear to bear any relationship to their actual level of intellectual competence and ability. On the contrary, the granting of multiple As to such a large number of students has debased the value of the grade itself. It has also raised expectations unnecessarily, and consequently, aggravated feelings of disappointment when these students do not get what they feel they deserve.

2) A comprehensive revamp of the whole concept of scholarships so that a scholarship by definition will embody the principle of academic excellence and scholastic achievement. To enhance its prestige, it could be designated as the “Yang DiPertuan Agong Scholarship” and should only be bestowed upon a small number of recipients every year, perhaps not more than 100. Most of these scholarships would be for courses offered locally, though some would be for overseas studies, especially in disciplines or specialisations that are not available at home. The scholarships would cover a whole range of subjects. It is important that those pursuing vocational and technical courses also receive these prestigious scholarships if only to emphasise the pivotal significance of such skills for the future of our nation. A much bigger pool of our good students should be in the vocational and technical spheres if Malaysia is to achieve developed nation status.

Apart from their SPM results, their extra-curricular activities in school would also be taken into consideration in the award of the scholarships. An interview conducted by an independent panel would also be a factor just as the principle of equitable balance that underlies Article 153 of the Constitution would carry some weight. Those who are sent abroad would be required to return and serve the nation.

3) The award of a substantial number of grants or bursaries to a second category of SPM high achievers from a fund to which both the public and private sectors would contribute. The recipients would all study locally. While academic excellence would figure prominently in the selection, much more weight would be given to the socio-economic background of the candidate, compared to the first group. Poor students from Sabah and Sarawak in particular, regardless of ethnicity, would benefit from these grants. So would deserving Malay and non-Malay students from the lower echelons of society on the Peninsula.

4) Other candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds who have qualified for degree and diploma programmes in local colleges and universities could of course receive assistance from the government’s student loan scheme. Repayment modalities should be reinforced considerably to ensure that there are zero defaulters.

It is not just a question of restructuring our scholarship policy. The Malaysian mind-set vis-a-vis scholarships should also undergo a transformation. A scholarship is not a right— the God-given right of those who have attained a string of SPM As. It is an award that carries a responsibility, the responsibility to study hard and to serve society.

Malaysians should also resist the temptation of interpreting the scholarship issue solely along ethnic lines. While ethnicity has shaped the policy to some extent— after all, even during the British colonial period, Malay scholarships were part of their affirmative action programme for the community— it is undeniably true that the real challenge today is distributing a scarce resource equitably in a situation where the number of applicants, whatever their ethnic affiliations, has grown exponentially. In this regard, it is incumbent upon those who are entrusted with the task of managing the allocation of scholarships to be just and fair to all communities. Any whiff of bias would be a grave disservice to the nation. Similarly, applicants who are rightly concerned about their own well-being should also be aware of how the issue impacts upon others. There is always a big picture on this as in other issues. In a multi-ethnic society, the willingness to go beyond one’s own ethnic self is a fundamental requisite for inter-ethnic harmony.

Dr. Chandra Muzaffar,

Chairman,

Board of Trustees,

Yayasan 1Malaysia.

ISLAMIC FEMINISM by Asghar Ali Engineer

ISLAMIC FEMINISM

Asghar Ali Engineer

Often people object to the term ‘feminism’ as being a western terminology. One Maulana, when invited to speak in a workshop of this title refused to come as feminism is un-Islamic. Is the use of this terminology objectionable from Islamic viewpoint? Not at all. In fact Islam is the first religion which systematically empowered women when women was considered as totally subservient to man. There was no concept of her being an independent entity and enjoying equal right with dignity.

What is feminism? Nothing but women’s movement to empower her and to consider her full human being and not mere second sex as ‘Simon de Bouire called her. Thus we see in western countries until early part of twentieth century she did not enjoy an independent status. It was only after thirties of twentieth century that she won equal status legally and various western countries passed the laws to this effect. Yet patriarchy is looming large on her in these countries.

Though Qur’an empowered her and gave equal status but Muslims were far from ready to accept gender equality. The Arab culture was too patriarchal to accept equality. Many ahadith were readied to scale down her status and she, in most of the Islamic societies became dependent entity and Qur’anic formulations were so interpreted as to make her subordinate to men. One hadith even said that if sajdah (prostration) were permitted before human beings, she would have been asked to prostrate before husband.

This is totally contradictory to the Qur’an but who cares. It is patriarchy which influences our laws, not Qur’an. In fact when it comes to patriarchy it prevails over the Qur’an. Either Qur’anic formulations were disregarded or so interpreted as to conform them to patriarchy, Now time has come to understand the real spirit of the Qur’an. But Islamic world still does not seem to be ready. What is worse due to poverty and ignorance Muslim women themselves are not aware of their Qur’anic rights. A campaign has to be launched to make women aware of these rights.

Another important question is what is the difference between Islamic and western feminism or is there any difference at all. If we go by definition of feminism as an ideology of empowerment of women, there is no difference. However, historically speaking Muslim women lost the rights they had due, mainly, to feudalization of Islam dominated by patriarchal values. In the west. On the other hand, women had no rights and but won through great deal of struggle and this struggle came to be known as ‘feminism’ i.e. women’s empowerment.

But there are significant differences also between Islamic and western feminism. Islamic feminism is based on certain non-negotiable values i.e. equality with honour and dignity. Freedom has certain Islamic responsibility whereas in the west freedom tends to degenerate into licentiousness, though not in law but certainly in social and cultural practices. In western culture sexual freedom has become a matter of women’s right and sex has become matter of enjoyment and lost its sanctity as an instrument of procreation.

Though Qur’an does not prescribe hijab or niqab (covering whole body with a loose garment and face as well) as generally thought but does lay down certain strict norms for sexual behavior. Both man woman have right to sexual gratification (a woman has as much right to sexual gratification as man) but within marital frame-work. There is no concept of freedom for extramarital sex in any form. Sex is permissible only with marital framework. Sex, as far as Islam is concerned, is not mere enjoyment but an act for procreations and hence has sanctity.

It is important here to emphasize that in a patriarchal society men decided the norms of sexual behavior. It was theorized that man has greater urge for sex and hence he needs multiple wives and woman tends to be passive and hence has to be content with one. This is not true as far as Qur’an is concerned. Qur’an’s approach is very different. It is not greater or lesser degree of sexual urge which necessitates multiple or monogamous marriage.

Whole emphasis is on monogamous marriage (in both the Qur’anic verses i.e. 4:3 and 4:129). Multiple marriages were permitted only to take care of widows and orphans and not for greater sexual urge and the verse 4:129 gives the norm of monogamy and not to leave first wife in suspense or neglected. Thus as far as Qur’an is concerned sexual gratification is a non-negotiable right for both man woman. And hence a divorcee and a widow are also permitted to marry and gratify their sexual urge.

Also, in western capitalist countries women’s dignity has been compromised and she has been reduced to a commodity to be exploited. Her semi-naked postures and her sexuality is exploited commercially unabashedly. It is totally against the concept of woman’s honour and dignity. Unfortunately western feminists do not consider this as objectionable but accept it as part of woman’s freedom. Some (though not many) even advocate prostitution as woman’s right to earn her bread.

This is against the concept of Islamic feminism as while sanctioning sexual gratification as much right of woman as that of man, it prohibits extra-marital sexual liaison and on one hand upholds dignity and honour of woman and on the other, exalts sex on the level of sanctity and restricts it for procreation.. Thus it would be seen that discourse of Islamic feminism, while having something in common with modern western feminism, it also significantly differs from it. Islamic feminists have to observe certain norms which modern western feminists are not obliged to.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Centre for Study of Society and Secularism
Mumbai

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

Wesak Day Advert - Tomorrow in The Star

Have a meaningful WESAK

“ He knows the precepts by heart, but fails to practice them, is like one who lights a lamp, and then shuts his eyes,” – Nagarjuna (c. 150 AD – 250 AD)

Do It For Unity -
Support 1Malaysia Ideals

Yesterday we celebrated Wesak Day with a nationwide holiday. This is one of the most wonderful characteristics of Malaysia. We commemorate together the religious traditions of all our people, not just the majority.

Our Unity basis has been established from the very beginning. In 1957 we vowed out cooperation in the Constitution; in 1963 we grew even stronger as Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular combined as one. Since then we have built our country on Rukun Negara, Vision 2020, and now, we have 1 Malaysia.

Every government brings new spirit to how it promotes Unity. Yey. Many of us reject these efforts based on our auto-response of taking sides, rather than real understanding. Inste4ad of considering the merits of 1 Malaysia or CAT (Competency, Accountability and Transparency) governance, some judge it based on whether they like PM Najib and CM Lim Guan Eng.

Unfortunately, many talk about ‘Unity’ but instead of accepting 1Malaysia as a good Unity endeavor, they poke fun at it and use it as ransom to get their own agenda across.

When we fail to throw our support behind Unity ideals, we water down the cause of inclusivity. When we do not support 1Malaysia, inadvertently, we provide fuel for those who wish to be exclusice; we give power to 1Melayu, 1Chinese, 1Indian. Slowly but surely, they will gain more ground and take bolder actions.

When we take 1Malaysia lightly, what are we really rejecting?

The ideals of 1Malaysia are for a nation developed on the foundations of unity, with core values of acceptance, fairness, humility and respect for all. It endorses high performance, punctuality, knowledge, loyalty and innovation as principles we all need to practice together.

There is no such thins as taking sides when it comes to Unity ideals. All calls for Unity are non-partisan. It does not matter whether it comes from the government, the opposition, non-governmental organizations or individuals; Unity ideals must be supported. All parties, organizations and individuals should take a pledge to stand by the ideals of 1Malaysia.

Let us show that we are serious about Unity. Let us show those who champion exclusiveness that the support of Unity will not be easily divided, that we will not allow any ground of exclusiveness or elitism or disunity, regardless of our political affiliation.

Let us be first and foremost Malaysians.

At zubedy, our programs and actions draw strength from shared values and traditions. We believe that at hears, all Malaysians want good things fro themselves and for their brother and sister Malaysians, simply because our nation cannot prosper as whole if some of us are left behind.

Let us add Value,

Have a meaningful Wesak Day
To know more about 1Malaysia ideals before making your decision, go to http://www.1malaysia.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/1MalaysiaBooklet.pdf