Ceramah Bersama TG Datuk Nik Abd Aziz

Malam ini, 18/2/2007, saya diundang untuk bersama-sama dengan pimpinan PAS Kawasan Jasin menyertai ceramah perdana oleh Menteri Besar Kelantan, YAB Datuk Tuan Guru Nik Aziz. Pada saya setelah kehadiran Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim pada tahun 2005, kehadiran Tuan Guru ke kawasan Jasin pasti akan menyuntik semangat dan moral para petugas untuk lebih bekerja keras. Ini kerana untuk meyakinkan rakyat dan mendapat undi mereka tidak hanya melalui ceramah umum. Saya agak terkesan apabila melihat laporan kajian mengenai kesan ceramah terhadap para pengundi yang mana sekitar 5-10% sahaja. Justeru, malam ini saya akan tegaskan kepentingan mengenai kita mengangkat “senjata” iaitu risalah dan maklumat dan “menyerang” pengundi dengan maklumat yang kita ada.

Ayuh para komrad, teruskan usaha kita!!

Gempur Kampung Umno?

Semalam, 17/2/2007, saya mengadakan ceramah kelompok dan dialog di Peti Undi Kg Tehel, di dalam kawasan Dewan Undangan Bemban, Parlimen Jasin. Kg Tehel ialah di antara kawasan peti undi yang sukar buat KeADILan. Pasukan KeADILan bahagian Jasin telah memulakan kerja di kawasan tersebut bermula tahun lepas dan hasilnya, kita berjaya mengadakan jamuan hari raya Eidulfitri peringkat bahagian dan beberapa siri ceramah kelompok. Saya teringat apabila rakyat di kg tersebut berasa cukup terharu di atas sokongan dan bantuan yang telah kami usahakan secara bersama bagi membantu mangsa banjir di kg tersebut. Pihak kami juga turut membantu menyelesaikan beberapa masalah yang dihadapi oleh mereka terutamanya bantuan yang lewat tiba, tindakan menutup bilik gerakan banjir lebih awal oleh JKKK Kg Tehel, persediaan peralatan sekolah dan beberapa pertolongan yang lain. Saudara2 bayangkanlah kalau kita menjadi kerajaan, pasti berbagai lagi program yang boleh dilaksanakan. Mudah-mudahan rakyat di kawasan ini akan membuka mata.

Fokus Pilihanraya Umum,Jangan Terbawa Pilihanraya Parti!

Sepanjang minggu lepas beberapa isu berkenaan krisis kepemimpinan di dalam keADILan menjadi bualan hangat dan mainan propaganda semua pihak. Banyak persoalan yang dibangkitkan oleh ahli dan pendukung keADILan,khususnya di blog Sdr Anwar Ibrahim untuk mengetahui perkara sebenar khususnya di belakang isu perletakan jawatan Sdr Ezam Mohd Nor sebagai Timbalan Ketua Perhubungan keADILan Negeri Selangor merangkap Ketua keADILan Bahagian Shah Alam.

2 aktiviti yang membabitkan saya secara langsung,iaitu pertemuan kepimpinan Angkatan Muda keADILan Pusat (AMK) dan kunjungan hormat ke atas Sdr Anwar Ibrahim. Pertemuan saya bersama Barisan Exco AMK dan Sdr Ezam dilihat sebagai menunjukkan solidariti menyokong Sdr Ezam,sebagaimana yang dimainkan oleh Laman Web Umno-Reform . Pertemuan kami pada malam tersebut bukanlah atas kapasiti menyatakan sokongan kepada mana-mana pihak,sebaliknya lebih kepada majlis dialog bersama Sdr Ezam untuk mengetahui hujung pangkal pendirian yang diambil oleh beliau. Sebagai Pemangku Ketua AMK,saya mengambil tanggungjawab tersebut untuk menanyakan kepada Sdr Ezam sendiri mengenai spekulasi yang timbul,dan Alhamdulillah klarifikasi diperoleh dengan baik sekali. Saya berpendapat dalam keadaan kita, khususnya keADILan sedang menjaja budaya politik baru,adalah tidak wajar untuk kita memperbesarkan krisis yang timbul, ataupun bersikap opportunist, menangguk di air keruh dengan menyokong satu-satu pihak semata.Yang perlu kita dulukan adalah solidariti parti,bukan agenda peribadi.

Pertemuan AMK Pusat bersama Sdr Anwar Ibrahim memberikan mesej jelas dalam memupuk iltizam saya,dan pastinya seluruh kepimpinan AMK Pusat. Selain menyatakan sokongan pada atas kepemimpinan Sdr Anwar,beliau turut menegaskan setiap masalah hendaklah diselesaikan dengan semangat muafakat yang tinggi.Paling penting,mesej ringkas beliau menyuntik semangat, ‘tumpu pilihanraya umum,jangan terbawa-bawa pilihanraya parti!’

Demokrasi dalam parti sewajarnya didukung oleh semua pihak.Pun begitu wajar bagi kita,sebagai barisan depan penjana budaya politik baru untuk berfikiran matang dan bertindak secara rasional.Saya kekal berpendapat,kita wajar bersikap telus dan terbuka.jangan terbawa-bawa dengan sentimen yang kekal bakal memusnahkan harapan rakyat yang kian menggunung menyandarkan harapan untuk kita memandu Malaysia ke arah sebuah negara yang lebih adil dan demokratik.

Saya teringat ungkapan popular Farah Fauzana, Pengacara Melodi, “kurangkan kontroversi, tingkatkan prestasi!”

Tribunal Jenayah Terhadap Rakyat & Rasuah Harus Ditubuhkan Bersama Tribunal Jenayah Perang

Angkatan Muda Keadilan Malaysia menyokong saranan bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr. Mahathir agar ditubuhkan Tribunal Jenayah Perang bagi mendakwa Presiden Amerika Syarikat George W. Bush dan Perdana Menteri Britain Tony Blair.

Walaubagaimanapun, kami mendesak agar kerajaan menubuhkan Tribunal Jenayah Terhadap Rakyat menyiasat pendakwaan berniat jahat terhadap tokoh-tokoh rakyat seperti Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Mohammad Sabu, Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, Karpal Singh, peristiwa Memali dan aktivis-aktivis Reformasi di samping penggunaan undang-undang zalim seperti Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri, Akta Rahsia Rasmi dan Akta Universiti dan Kolej Universiti.

Kami juga berharap Tribunal tersebut mendedahkan keadaan di Pusat Tahanan Perlindungan Kamunting yang digunakan untuk menahan tahanan-tahanan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri; sebagaimana Tun Dr. Mahathir kini mendedahkan keadaan Abu Ghraib.

Pada masa yang sama, sebuah Tribunal Rasuah juga harus ditubuhkan bagi menyiasat dakwaan rasuah oleh Tun Dr. Mahathir di dalam ’bail out’ Konsortium Perkapalan bernilai RM2 billion; pemberian kontrak bernilai beratus juta ringgit kepada anaknya untuk Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur dan keputusan untuk tidak mendakwa Dato’ Seri Rafidah Aziz berikutan siasatan rasuah BPR.

Kami juga ingin mendesak ahli Tribunal tidak bekerjasama dengan bekas-bekas diktator yang ingin menggunakan Tribunal tersebut untuk mengalih perhatian dari tindakan jenayah mereka sendiri. Kami menyeru ahli Tribunal untuk mengambil keputusan moral di dalam kerjasama mereka dengan seorang tokoh yang telah menyalahguna kuasa, mengumpul berbillion-billion ringgit wang rakyat dan kini membelanjakannya untuk persidangan antarabangsa.

SHAMSUL ISKANDAR MD. AKIN                                                                                                          Pemangku Ketua Angkatan Muda Keadilan Malaysia

Angkatan Muda Akan Terus Dedah Dokumen Rasuah

Angkatan Muda Keadilan Malaysia (AMK) berazam untuk meneruskan usaha membela rakyat dengan mendedahkan segala penyelewengan yang dilakukan oleh kerajaan.

Walaupun tekanan demi tekanan terus diberikan oleh kerajaan seperti penggunaan polis untuk mengugut pemimpin pembangkang baru-baru ini, kami merasakan tangungjawab untuk membetulkan penyelewengan dan adalah lebih utama.Kami percaya tekanan yang diberikan, tidak melunturkan aspirasi rakyat untuk mahukan pemerintahan dan pengurusan kerajaan yang baik dan tidak menyeleweng.

Oleh itu kami di AMK bersedia untuk terus mendedahkan dokumen baik yang rahsia atau tidak demi kepentingan nasional dan bangsa Malaysia.

Kami juga menyatakan kesedian untuk menjadi jambatan atau pemancar kepada sesiapa yang mahu mendedahkan dokumen ¡V dokumen terbabit untuk kita sama-sama menghapuskan budaya rasuah dan seleweng yang wujud dari sistem yang tidak bebas di negara kita.

Lagi ditekan lagi kita lawan, bersatu menghapus penyelewengan dan rasuah

SHAMSUL ISKANDAR MD AKIN
Pemangku Ketua
Angkatan Muda Parti Keadilan Rakyat

OPINION: Anwar and cross-civilisation dialogue

I remember written an article on my journey back to Malaysia after visiting Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim at Munich. This article later on was published by The Nation, Thai Independent Newspaper. Luckily, i manage to find the soft copy so that i can share with all the young Malaysians.

Published on Oct 13, 2004

Though the future path of Anwar Ibrahim’s political career is still uncertain, the former deputy prime minister of Malaysia has been contemplating a possible role as an international mediator between Islam and the West.

Hours after he left for Munich, Germany, to seek medical treatment for a back ailment, Anwar pondered the urgency of dialogue between the two cultures and the possibility of working to build a bridge between the two worlds amidst a global war against terrorism.

In an interview with International Herald Tribune journalist Thomas Fueller, Anwar criticised Muslims for what he calls their lack of introspection in dealing with their own shortcomings. He slams Muslims who are quick to blame others for their problems, saying they are devoid of the real voice of conscience.

He also condemned the West for its failure to understand the root causes of terrorism. For Anwar, “The battle of terrorism is a battle of hearts and minds”, in which Muslims must be challenged “on whether a society devoid of such principles of democracy, civil society and tolerance is legitimately Islamic”.

Elsewhere, Anwar has spoken of the need for more openness and participatory democracy in Muslim countries as a means of checking the rise of Muslim extremists, who are more likely to resort to terrorism in pursuing their agenda. Democracy, which is essentially a Western doctrine, may pave the way for the resolution of the predicaments facing the Muslim world.

This unorthodox view of the West and Islam, or the East in general, is not uncharacteristic of Anwar. In the book “The Asian Renaissance”, which he wrote while he was in office, Anwar dwells on the symbiotic relationship between East and West and the importance of cross-civilisation dialogue. To make such dialogue fruitful, both East and West, Anwar maintains, must look at each other from new perspectives, untainted by bitter past experiences. Anwar writes: “The East must look beyond the Crusades and the era of colonialism, while the West must look at the East and the rest of the world in a new light, a perspective illuminated by humility and sincerity.”

In the 1990s, the need for Anwar’s cross-civilisation dialogue became apparent not only in the developed West’s cultural jingoism, but also in the post-colonial language of many Third World leaders, who viewed the West’s actions as nothing more than neo-colonialism. Democracy, freedom and human rights were regarded as tools the West used to overthrow governments in developing countries and plunder their wealth. The establishment groups in these countries thus preferred anti-pluralistic politics to pluralistic ones. These governments stifled dissent and instituted an array of political controls to limit the scope of political competition, while maintaining corrupt leaders in power. This took place in the name of maintaining political stability, a prerequisite for rapid state-led economic development. Asia’s booming years in the early 1990s served as a vindication of this distinctively “Asian values” politics.

Anwar, however, had a nuanced view of the Asian values. While he acknowledged that Asians come to democracy from a different perspective than their Western counterparts, he cautioned that Asians should be less arrogant in condemning the West and concentrate instead on remedying the shortcomings of their own societies, including poverty, corruption and moral decay. In an interview with The Australian Financial Review in June 1994, Anwar condemned some Asian leaders who “tend to be even on the verge of arrogance when they only look at the excesses of the West and assume that everything’s all right in the East”. Further, he called for “more dialogue and rapprochement between the West and the East because the future rests ultimately with the complementarity of both the strengths of the West and the East.”

Anwar’s inclusive approach to East-West relations struck a chord with many leaders in the West. While in office, he used this platform to forge closer ties with Western governments and influential international organisations. It therefore came as no surprise that his sacking, trial and imprisonment drew international criticism. Even six years after being removed from office, Anwar still inspires international concern. Among his visitors at Alpha Klinik in Munich, where he was recuperating from back surgery, were former Indonesian president BJ Habibie, former Australian foreign minister Gareth Evans and renowned Islamic scholar and former director of the International Institute of Islamic Thought, Dr Jamal Barzinji.

Habibie promised Anwar whatever resources he had to help realise the latter’s vision of peaceful coexistence between Muslims and non-Muslims. Former United States vice president Al Gore also expressed his concern and willingness to work with Anwar in forging better understanding between Islam and the West. When I was in Munich visiting Anwar, on October 5, he received a visit from the US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, one of the neo-conservatives behind the US invasion of Iraq. Wolfowitz and Anwar had a two-hour debate and discussed various issues involving Muslims, particularly terrorism, Iraq and Palestine.

Though Anwar’s image as the “darling of the West” gives him a much-needed advantage in his effort to resume his diplomatic role in bridging the East/Islam-West divide, amid the war against terrorism, he needs to be wary of efforts to accuse him of having sold out to the West. He has already suffered because of such sentiments.

Beyond this potential pitfall, because he is not part of the government, his effectiveness as a “diplomat” will depend heavily on the space allowed him by the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as well as the intricacies of diplomatic relations between nations.

Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin
*Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin is vice youth chief of the People’s Justice Party (Keadilan).

Kenapa Saya Kata Pak Lah PM Yang Lemah?

Saya ingin mengulangi penegasan yang telah saya lakukan semasa program Debat Perdana pada 12 Mac 2006 lalu yang disiarkan secara langsung melalui TV 1 bahawa Malaysia mempunyai seorang Perdana Menteri yang lemah. Pada malam tersebut, saya telah membawa sekurang-kurangnya tiga contoh yang jelas iaitu:

Kegagalan Perdana Menteri untuk meluluskan permit surat khabar rasmi Parti Keadilan Rakyat iaitu Suara Keadilan walaupun Parti Keadilan Rakyat merupakan sebuah parti yang berdaftar. Permohonan permit telah dilakukan semenjak tujuh tahun yang lalu. Kebebasan media dan maklumat merupakan prasyarat kepada sebuah kerajaan yang demokratik.

Kegagalan Perdana Menteri untuk menangani isu-isu yang berkaitan dengan kedudukan istimewa orang Melayu di mana secara khususnya saya merujuk kepada dasar kerajaan pimpinan beliau mengenai pengajaran Matematik dan Sains di dalam Bahasa Inggeris, AP (approved permit) yang dianugerahkan kepada segelintir elit pemerintah dan anugerah biasiswa yang pada waktu sekarang ini tidak lagi dinikmati oleh pelajar Melayu.

Kegagalan Perdana Menteri untuk memahami masalah dan beban rakyat yang terpaksa menanggung beban akibat daripada kenaikan harga minyak sebanyak 30 sen.

Saya percaya penilaian dan pandangan saya bahawa PM Abdullah merupakan seorang Perdana Menteri yang lemah turut dikongsi oleh sebilangan besar rakyat Malaysia termasuk beberapa bekas pimpinan kerajaan. Yang terbaru ialah kenyataan bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad yang menyatakan secara diplomatik bahawa kenaikan harga minyak di Malaysia boleh dielakkan sekiranya kerajaan mengambil tindakan dengan mengukuhkan mata wang kerana dengan mengukuhkan mata wang, harga minyak sebenarnya tidak akan menjadi terlalu tinggi. Dalam erti kata yang lain, pandangan beliau memberikan satu bperspektif bahawa kerajaan di bawah pimpinan PM Abdullah adalah lemah dan tidak berwibawa.
Justeru, saya percaya tindakan YB Wee Ka Siong yang menganggap bahawa kenyataan saya mengkritik PM Abdullah seorang perdana menteri yang lemah sebagai satu kenyataan yang BIADAP, menggambarkan tentang bagaimana semangat demokrasi khususnya kebebasan memberikan pendapat dan pandangan telah mati di dalam sebuah negara yang dianggap sebagai negara yang demokratik. Apatah lagi, pandangan seperti ini keluar dari mulut seorang pimpinan muda kerajaan yang sepatutnya mempunyai pandangan yang lebih progresif dan terbuka.

Saya dengan ini membuat cabaran rasmi dengan mana-mana pimpinan muda parti pemerintah untuk berdebat dengan saya tentang penegasan saya bahawa Malaysia mempunyai sorang Perdana Menteri yang lemah dan beliau perlu berubah segera !

Which road will Anwar take?

Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin
Sep 21, 04 12:19pm

En-route to Munich on Sept 4, Anwar Ibrahim wrote: “I have often wondered whether there was a mystical reason for my being put out of circulation during one of the most turbulent periods of human history, at least in my lifetime. Given my contacts in both the Muslim and Western worlds, I would have been expected to play some diplomatic role in the so-called war against terrorism, and I would be loath to shirk it. I shudder at the thought of how complicated the job would have been and the agonies I would have had to go through in making some of the required decisions. I would definitely have convened the group of friends with whom I have been involved in the civilizational dialogue project”. (See Far Eastern Economic Review, Sept 16, 2004).

If Anwar’s lamentation of his role as a mediator between the Muslim nations and the West after the Sept 11 attack on America has anything to suggest, other than his conviction to civilizational dialogue as a means to bridge the East and West divide, that would be of his position as someone who was once at the corridor of power which still runs deep in his psyche. But given his position as an icon of opposition politics for the past long six years, one would wonder how would he get there again?

Few options are there for him to consider. He may choose to be with the opposition, strive to deal with their differences and then build a strong and cohesive front to unseat the Barisan Nasional. Soon after the Federal Court set him free, he pledged to do just that.

With his track record as a charismatic crowd-pulling Muslim youth leader and ex-deputy prime minister, Anwar is no doubt a ready-made asset for the opposition. His long six years struggle to free himself from wrongful incarceration would make him a powerful icon of justice in his own right. This would certainly be warmly greeted by the opposition leaders who have been at the forefront in the struggle for his release and in support for reformasi.

If Anwar chooses to stick to that, he would in one way return their favor. But politics is not about returning one’s favor. What matters the most is how to wield political power. Given the BN’s hegemony and its institutionalised political control, Anwar must be ready to take a long bumpy road to his final destination. He knows this very well.

National reconciliation

The second option is to work towards national reconciliation and a full closure to the divisive Malay cultural revolt which has plagued Malaysian politics for the past six years. He may remain as an icon of justice, of reform and of national unity without aligning himself to any side of opposing political parties. It is imperative for Anwar to work hand in hand with an array of civic groups, the opposition and the leaders of ruling party to realize this goal.

This option is not too remote in Anwar’s mind as he himself had mentioned shortly after his release that he was willing to engage wide range of people and groups, including Umno leaders, for the country’s sake Anwar may then, as a populist and statesman, galvanize popular support for political reform and national reconciliation

Given Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s current reform initiatives, a meeting point can be reached somewhere along the broad political spectrum. In this regard, Anwar is an asset to the nation. However, not only would this option be of chagrin to those who want Anwar to fight their war, his road to political power would be as long and bumpy as it would if he chooses to be with the opposition.

The third option would be to rejoin Umno, the party which once brought him so close to the helm of power. His return to Umno would invite mixed reactions though. As a taxi driver remarks, “if Tengku Razaleigh, the man responsible for the dissolution of Umno, could be readmitted to the party, why not Anwar?”. Anwar’s “sin”, he said “could not match that of Razaleigh”. Anyway, “given the fact that Anwar is a victim to political conspiracy, it is not unreasonable to reinstate his position”.

This could be the sentiment at the grassroots. But will Umno leaders, particularly those who have been working very hard to keep him out of politics, do nothing to stop him from resurrecting his political career? To do so would amount to digging their own graves. Even the warring factions within Umno will certainly close ranks and make sure that Anwar will not make his way into the party. They are too frightened to let him in. What more, prison seems to be a good incubator for world class leaders. They cannot imagine having to face another Mandela on their own turf. Suffice to say that Anwar could not be guaranteed of a smooth sailing in Umno too.

Having considered all the three options, what else is left for Anwar? In the light of the Federal Court’s decision to uphold his conviction for corrupt practice, Anwar will have to wait until April 14, 2008 before he can hold any political post. This would somewhat narrow down his options. But this too would leave much for political astrologers to predict. Which roads will he not take? Does this politician par excellence have something else in mind?

SHAMSUL ISKANDAR MOHD AKIN is the Vice-Youth Chief of Parti Keadilan Rakyat and currently works as a Legal Practitioner.
*This article was published by Malaysiakini.com