Many of us asking who is Zunar and what he have done until police arrested him under Printing and Publications Act and Sedition Act. Zunar aka Zulkiflee bin S.M. Anwar Ulhaque is a politics cartoonist who go against government’s poor systems and policies with his piece of cartoons. Previously he published three political comics – 1 Funny Malaysia, Perak darul Kartun and Isu Dalam Kartun.
Although the three books were banned by home ministry saying that the books were threats to nation security, he dares to take risk in releasing new book entitled ‘Cartoon-o-phobia’. The reality is, his comics never a threat to national security, but only threat to the government. I never have seen any riots or public disorder once people read his book. So what is the root to arrest him? Government should find out their weakness and try to correct it, not shut up the mouth of activists with such arrests!
The fact is such arrest never fears activists. The rising activist like Namewee (Wee Meng Chee) and Zunar (Zulkiflee bin S.M. Anwar Ulhaque) deserved praise from fellow Malaysians since they braved themselves in expressing people voice through music and cartoon respectively.
According to Zunar, Cartoon-o-phobia was chosen as the title to illustrate and reflect the fears of certain parties to cartoons. The cartoonist said that the content of this latest book have more bite compared to his previous books. The issues covered are the murder of Altantuya, the conspiracy against Anwar Ibrahim, the PM's wife, the loss of jet engines, the Scorpene that cannot dive, Sarawak, racism, corruption and waste of public funds, among others.
I urge all Malaysians to support Zunar, his good intention need to be praised and we should appreciate such a spectacular fighter who born in our nation. Zunar’s new book Cartoon-o-phobia will be sold at RM25. It can be purchased online via Cartoon Kafe. You can also add him in facebook.
Segelintir umat Islam di negara kita membantah pengunaan perkataan 'Allah' oleh Gereja-gereja dan akhbar-akhbar Kristian. Ini bukan sahaja melambangkan ketidakmatangan mereka untuk menerima sesuatu kebenaran, malah bercanggah dengan realiti Islam yang sering menekankan elemen keterbukaan.
Menurut Wikipedia Bahasa Melayu-
Allah (bahasa Arab: الله, Allāh), adalah perkataan dalam bahasa Arab yang merujuk kepada Tuhan Yang Satu. Kata Allah adalah nama khas yang merujuk kepada Tuhan Yang Satu, yang telah mencipta, mentadbir dan memilik alam semesta. Perkataan Allah digunakan dalam agama Islam serta dalam masyarakat Kristian yang berbahasa Arab.
Jadi apakah salahnya jika perkataan 'Allah' digunakan oleh semua agama di dunia ini? Bukankah ini lebih memperhebatkan bahasa Arab sebagai salah satu bahasa utama dunia? Fikiran yang sempit perlu dielakan oleh segelintir umat Islam di Malaysia. Dunia sedang berubah dari masa ke semasa dengan lebih terbuka dan liberal, 'kefanatikan' pihak tersebut hanya satu perbuatan yang tidak masuk akal.
Betulkan saya jika saya silap. Walaupun saya beragama Hindu, apa yang saya faham tentang Islam adalah walaupun perang yang berlaku, undang-undang Islam menyebut bahawa wanita, kanak-kanak dan rumah ibadat tidak boleh diusik sama sekali. Namun perkara yang paling 'kurang ajar' dan menyedihkan berlaku apabila pihak yang tidak bertanggunggjawab bertindak membaling bom petrol ke arah sebuah Gereja di pusat bandar. Susulan daripada berita tersebut, gereja-gereja di sekitarnya telah mengambil langkah berjaga-jaga menghadapi 'keganasan' tersebut. Baca di sini- Gereja hangus dibaling bom petrol
GEREJA YANG DILETUPKAN OLEH PENGGANAS
Persoalan yang nyata adalah adakah keganasan menjadi penyelesaian utama masalah ini? Begitu fanatiknya segentir umat Islam di negara ini sehinggakan tidak pandai menghargai keamanan yang kita nikmati sekarang. Golongan ini semestinya ada kepentingan diri sendiri samada politik atau kuasa. Manakala kerajaan pula tidak mampu untuk menangani isu ini, seolah-olah mereka membenarkan ia berlaku.
Saya ingin menekankan bahawa pegangan agama seseorang manusia adalah bergantung kepada dirinya sendiri, ia tidak boleh dilakukan melalui paksaan, keganasan, ketakutan atau dengan desakan sistem atau polisi kerajaan. Kebebasan agama perlu dihormati agar dunia sentiasa berada dalam keadaan yang aman.
The issue of Ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy) once again raised the temperature among Malaysians. The issue had been issue raised by various non-Malay politicians in this nation, saying that Ketuanan Melayu had remained a stumbling block to unite the Malaysians. The philosophy is regarded as discrimination of other races.
After more than 5 decades, the minorities of Malaysians never experienced the real meaning of the independence. Poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, religious oppressions, policy discrimination are nothing new for them. Well, let me tell you the truth that Malaysia was more comfortable and independent under the colonial of British. UMNO colonial are very much discriminating the minorities, depressing their own citizen in own country.
The reason I mentioned UMNO as colonial is because they are always championing the “ketuanan Melayu” policy in Malaysia. So If Malays are “Tuan”, then other races are their slaves? Bumiputra and Bukan Bumiputra verse are the simplest example that the Malaysian non-Malays are under discrimination. This is the Malaysia state of denial in reality, the government is arrogant, refuse to listen Minority’s plight to create a fair and equal situation for all Malaysians regardless of ethnicity and religion.
It seems there are a number of aspects that remain an obstacle to unity among the various races in the country, among which Ketuanan Melayu which is a discrimination of the non-Malays is. In fact, it is oppressive to the harmony of our nation. If everyone is positive and open minded in accepting this, I'm sure that nothing can be regarded as sensitive issue.
The country remains in chaos and confusion even after 52 years of independent. Everything about the Malaysian identity is disappointing, because the minorities view Malays as helpless and incompetent while the Malays view minorities as outsiders.
Quoted from: The British:
our goal is the introduction of] a form of common citizenship open to all those, irrespective of race, who regarded Malaya as their real home and as the object of their loyalty.
Quoted from: E. E. C. Thuraisingham:
I and others believed that the backward Malays should be given a better deal. Malays should be assisted to attain parity with non-Malays to forge a united Malayan Nation of equals.
Quoted from: Lim Swee Aun:
We are co-owners, not lodgers, not guests.
Quoted from: Tunku Abdul Rahman:
For those who love and feel they owe undivided loyalty to this country, we will welcome them as Malayans. They must truly be Malayans, and they will have the same rights and privileges as the Malays.
Quoted from: The Reid Commission:
Our recommendations are made on the footing that the Malays should be assured that the present position will continue for a substantial period, but that in due course the present preferences should be reduced and should ultimately cease so that there should then be no discrimination between races or communities.
Malaysia has a population of just over 27 million. According to the Population and Housing Census figures, approximately 60.4% of the population practiced Islam, 19.2% Buddhism, 9.1% Christianity, 6.3% Hinduism, and 2.6% traditional Chinese religions. The remaining was accounted for by other faiths, including Animism, Folk religion, Sikhism and other faiths while 1.1% either reported as having no religion or did not provide any information. However, these figures may be misleading as professing the religion of Islam is a requirement for being a Malay in the sense of the Malaysian Constitution.
MALAYSIA'S RELIGIOSITY
Freedom of religion in Malaysia is a controversial issue. Islam is the official state religion and the Constitution of Malaysia provides for limited freedom of religion, notably placing control upon the 'propagation' of religion other than Islam to Muslims, a fundamental part of a number of other religions. However, questions including whether Malaysia is an Islamic state or secular state remain unresolved. It’s easy to convert to Islam but it is so difficult to return to non-Islam religions. Is this the freedom of religion means in Malaysia?
Force in religious believes by the authorities, is it the way to spread Islam?
Muslims who wish to convert from Islam face severe obstacles. For Muslims, particularly ethnic Malays, the right to leave the Islamic faith and adhere to another religion is a controversial question. The legal process of conversion is also unclear, in practice it is very difficult for Muslims to change their religion legally. It’s understood many Malays change their religion secretly.
The issue of Muslim apostasy is very sensitive. In 1998 after a controversial incident of attempted conversion, the Government stated that apostates would not face government punishment so long as they did not defame Islam after their conversion. However, whether the very act of conversion was an "insult to Islam" was not clarified at the time.
But I’m very sure that religious freedom is guaranteed by law, but the Muslim Malay government trying to increase the role of Islam in the country by increasing their population at the same time.
The conversion cases: T Saravanan/R Subashini
In 2006, T. Saravanan, a Muslim convert, sought to dissolve his marriage with his non-Muslim wife via the Syariah Court. His wife, R. Subashini, applied to Kuala Lumpur High Court for an injunction against her husband seeking divorce in the Syariah Court. The High Court dismissed her application. This was affirmed in the Court of Appeal, where the court also ordered Subashini to take her case to the Syariah Court. As of September, 2007, their case is pending in the Federal Court after an appeal by Subashini. Subashini is also seeking to stop or declare void the conversion of their children.
Revathi Masoosai
Revathi, an ethnic Indian woman, has been held in a rehabilitation center run by Islamic authorities since January 2007 because she wants the State to acknowledge she is a Hindu and not a Muslim. Revathi was born to Indian parents who had converted to Islam before her birth. She claims she was raised by her grandmother as a Hindu. She and Suresh were married according to Hindu rites in March 2004. Revathi was advised by the Malacca Islamic Religious Department to make an application at the Malacca Syariah High Court to confirm her status as a Hindu. She did as she was told.
However, the Syariah Court ordered her detained in a rehabilitation centre in Ulu Yam, Selangor under Melaka’s Syariah criminal laws for 100 days. This detention was extended in Revathi’s absence for a further 80 days supposedly because she had not “repented”. In the meanwhile, Revathi’s Muslim mother obtained a Syariah Court order granting her custody of Revathi and Suresh’s 15 month old baby. That order was enforced on Suresh’s Hindu family with the assistance of the police. The family is now torn apart - with the mother in detention, the child with the grandparents and the father in limbo without his family.
Lina Joy
In fact, Many Muslims who have converted to Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and other religions lead "double lives", hiding their new faith from friends and family. The Lina Joy case challenged this view of the situation by taking the problem of apostasy to the Federal Court in 2007. Lina Joy lost the case and was denied conversion to Christianity. This cleared the situation about the overlapping areas of jurisdiction between the Islamic and the secular courts in Malaysia. Also it is now clear that renouncing Islam is very difficult although not impossible in Malaysia.
Wong Ah Kiu
Legally known as Nyonya binti Tahir, was a Malaysian convert from Islam to Buddhism.Of mixed Chinese and ethnic Malay descent, she was taken in by her grandmother, a Malay Muslim married to a Chinese of Hainan origin who had converted to Islam; however, she was later adopted by a Chinese family and raised as a Buddhist. Her husband died in 1989 at the age of 87; knowing that she would be unable to be buried next to him as a Muslim, she filed two further applications for recognition of her change of religion in 1991 and 1998; these too were rejected. She left behind a written declaration that she was a Buddhist and wanted to be given a Buddhist rather than an Islamic funeral.
Maniam Moorthy (A member of the first group of Malaysians to successfully climb Mount Everest)
A Malaysian Indian born and raised Hindu, a controversy about his religion arose after his death; he was buried as a Muslim against the wishes of his wife in accordance with a Syariah Court ruling that he had converted to Islam without the knowledge of his family. Despite his conversion to Islam, Moorthy remained uncircumcised, still took part in Hindu festivals, ate pork, and drank alcohol; he appeared on television on 31 October 2005, being interviewed about his celebration of Deepavali. On 11 November 2005, he fell from his wheelchair, injuring his head and entering into a coma from which he would never recover.
Indrani Gandhi’s case:
Indra gandhi’s three young children were forcefully converted to Islam by her estranged husband. Indira's marriage is now is a limbo after her husband, K Patmanathan, 40, converted without her knowledge on March 11. She claimed that her husband, who has since assumed the name Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah, had also converted their three children - aged one to 12 - on April 12 without their presence and using only their birth certificates. Now Indra Gandhi fearing that she could not reconvert her children to Hindu. Read here- Anguished mom knocks on PM's door and here- Conversion row: Hindu Sangam turns to new cabinet.
And the latest case:
S Banggarma fighting to establish that she is a Hindu has denied a claim by the Social Welfare Department that she was converted to Islam by her father when she was one year old in 1983. Read here- 'Welfare home conversion': Lawyer wants proof
CHIN PENG WAS AWARDED FOR HIS COURAGE AND EFFORT AGAINST THE JAPANESE
UMNO IS WEAK AND ARROGANT
UMNO is too weak to face 85 years old Chin Peng, it fears the true history of Malaya will be revealed! Since 2000, Chin Peng applied to be permitted back into Malaysia, and a complex legal issue has arisen out of this. Why 85 years old Chin Peng not allowed to return to Malaysia and the government refuse to accept Chin Peng's apology? The fact is his return is not oppose by victims of attacks committed by Communist Malays Party but only by UMNO itself. Its nothing wrong to regard Chin Peng one of the Malayan Nationalist who fought against Japanese and British although there were damages done by the Communist.
His return said to be opposed by victims of attacks committed by the Communist Party of Malaya, those who served in the armed forces during the Emergency, and members of the public by the Malaysian government. There has been a resurgence of accounts of the alleged atrocities the Communist Party of Malaya committed in newspapers by those who are against his return to Malaysia (such as the Ex-Serviceman's Association of Malaysia). Chin Peng has lived in exile in southern Thailand and has also giving lectures in the National University of Singapore. The current Malaysian Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak might reconsider Chin Peng's position if he is not fearing of Chin Peng's return.
CHIN PENG LED COMMUNIST PARTY OF MALAYA TO FIGHT AGAINST JAPANESE
CHIN PENG IS A MALAYSIAN
In June 2008, Chin Peng again lost his bid to return to Malaysia when the Court of Appeal upheld an earlier ruling that compel him to show identification papers to prove his citizenship. Chin Peng maintained that his birth certificate was seized by the police during a raid in 1948. His counsel, Raja Aziz Addruse, had submitted before the Court of Appeal that it was wrong for the Malaysia government to compel him to produce the documents because he was entitled to enter and live in Malaysia by virtue of the agreement.
When Chin Peng's parents are already obviously dead, old as they must have been, this is the time for the other relatives of Chin Peng, mainly, his own brothers and sisters who are still alive, and also, his own children, to assist him now, and probably have some DNA testings done so as to ascertain the reality of the birth and existence of such a person named Tan Boon Hua, also, known as Chin Peng, to have been born in Sitiawan, Perak some 85 years ago.
It is not impossible for the records of Chin Peng's birth to have been lost by the authorities concerned - in this relevant time. However, since the keeping of such records is not within the control of Chin Peng, he ought not to be blamed when the authorities cannot trace their records of his birth which might have been kept some 85 years ago. What about the records of his parents, and also, those of their deaths (certificates)? If it had been recorded that his parents had been citizens, then "BY OPERATION OF LAW", Chin Peng ought to be a citizen as well.
DO FULFILL CHIN PENG'S LAST REQUEST TO RETURN
I think he is not a threat to UMNO, and I'm really sure that his age not allow him to re-emerge as a fighter. Perhaps UMNO is making his as a hero by stopping his return! It is indeed a great honor to our country that Chin Peng, after all his sojourns, have decided to come back home to Malaysia to breathe his last at 85. It hurts him a lot when denied to return to his homeland. Just think of our feelings if we are in his situation. Definitely, it will be good for us to fulfill his last request.
It’s a fact that Malaysian Indians awakened from the HINDRAF factor because of its previous apolitical approach in fighting for the ethnic rights. But now since HINDRAF formed Human Rights Party, people feel betrayed by Uthayakumar. Many of Malaysian Indians trusted Uthaya’s leadership and HINDRAF leadership very much before he turned as a politician.
Still some of the Malaysian Indians believe his ‘empty’ struggle which he has transferred the support from HINDRAF to his own political benefit. HINDRAF/HRP is now more to criticise both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat. Instead of doing this, they should sit in the same table, work and discuss with both of the parties for ethnic Indians well beings. This clearly shows that HINDRAF/HRP is more to play politics, not for helping the Indians.
Leadership confusion
Waythamoorthy, Uthayakumar, Kenghadaran, Manoharan, Ganapathirao and Vasantha Kumar are the HINDRAF top leaders who worked hard to form the organ and lead Malaysian ethnic Indians fought against federal government on 25 November 2007. But since Waythamoorthy ran away to London fearing that he could be arrested in Internal Security Act Malaysia, the rest five of them were arrested under the security act.
During the detention, the truth revealed when Vasantha Kumar stated that Uthayakumar has misused the HINDRAF’s money, since then HINDRAF’s leadership broken into pieces. The leadership crises are worsening when Vasantha Kumar and Ganapathirao joined a hand forming another team. They also wanted Waythamoorthy to back to Malaysia to face whatever possiblities if he is a true fighter.
Misused of HINDRAF funds
After Vasantha Kumar during his ISA detention revealed the ugly truth about the misuse of fund by Uthayakumar, V Ganabatirau has accused the P Waythamoorthy of using millions of ringgit collected from the people for his personal use while in self-imposed exile in London several months ago.
The millions of ringgit that collected from Malaysian Indians during the HINDRAF rally lost just like that, Uthayakumar and Waythamoorthy failed to tell the truth about the fund. In several other occasions, they refused to answer about this claim.
HINDRAF hijacked by Waythamoorthy, Uthayakumar, Thanenthiran and Jeyathas
When we talking about HINDRAF and Makkal Shakthi, it all belongs to the people. The people is HINDRAF, and the HINDARF is people. But the leaders 'hijacked' Indians for their own benefits and refuse to hear people's voice.
Waythamoorthy and Uthayakumar might have planned to ‘collect’ more money by involving in politics. The problem to consider was peoples support, so the both used HINDRAF to form own political party. The shameful truth is hard to believe, but just look at their press statements nowadays, all focusing on attacking government and opposition, not fighting for the pledge of minority.
Waythamoorthy appointed HINDRAF co-ordinator Thanenthiran is another traitor in fact. He ‘sold out’ Makkal Shakti to Najib by forming Makkal Shakthi Party which support the cruel government. The Malaysian Indians again betrayed by HINDRAF leaders.
Most of us still thinking that why Jeyathas also in this list, but he is not that bad as you think. I pity of this man, who being loyal to Uthayakumar since long time ago. Uthayakumar is using this man for his purpose, hope Jayathas realise it when he is also highlighted in ‘traitors’ list.
Empty promises
After few months promising that he will not organise any street protest, and now he is going to his old habit. He organised several protests to show his dissatisfactions. Such protests are nothing more than cheap publicities for his new race based party, Human Rights Party (HRP).
Between that, I wish to know his ‘landmark plan’ that he said he has been created during his ISA detention. Is he cheating the Malaysian Indian again and again? Let wait and see.
REJECT HINDRAF, SAY NO TO RACISM
Racial politics
In reality, Human Rights Party and HINDRAF are racially dividing Malaysian Indians from the mainstream politics and organizations. Younger generation should reject such movements push for racial lines which will bring us backward in uniting with other ethnics in our nation.We ethnic Indians in Malaysia must put Malaysia’s interest first before our minority interest.
MIC formed in 1946, next PPP formed in 1953 followed by IPF, MIUP, Mindraf and MMSP, and finally HINDRAF reemerge as HRP (Human Rights Party). So what's the different between MIC and HINDRAF/HRP now? All of them are in same group which we can call them as racist.
Let’s work with other races in building a Malaysia for all Malaysians. Let’s fight for the removal of racial politics, in fact all the minorities get benefit if racial politics removed and the poor citizen/minorities will get equal attentions from the government.
ZUNAR.......
ZUNAR'S PREVIOUS BOOK - PERAK DARUL KARTUN
ZUNAR.......
ZUNAR'S PREVIOUS BOOK - PERAK DARUL KARTUN
