tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6435147705903423012024-03-08T22:42:17.280+08:00presentable, logical VEGETABLEZaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-34220531280767818602013-09-15T23:27:00.000+08:002013-09-16T21:15:05.978+08:00Goals, Humility & Respect <i>Reposting here what was originally a two-part note on my facebook timeline on 9 and 10 September 2013.</i> <br />
<br />
After reading my facebook update last Friday, a few of my fb friends asked, ‘what was it about the <i>khutbah</i> (sermon) that brought me to tears?’ Did the <i>khatib</i> mention something that reminded me of my late wife Aishah?’ No, that was not the case, but let me explain. <br />
<br />
First-of-all, I have to admit, I didn’t really know who the <i>khatib</i>,
Ustadh <a href="http://www.nakcollection.com/naks-biography.html" target="_blank">Nouman Ali Khan</a>, was before last week. I did view one of his
talks on youtube some time ago. That talk was ok but it didn’t impress
me that much for me to search for more. Last Friday however, at the IIUM
masjid, he gave a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY-w2RrKbqg&feature=share" target="_blank"><i>khutbah</i></a> I honestly believe to be one of the best I’ve ever heard.<br />
<br />
The <i>khutbah</i>
was essentially a call to reflect, ‘why am I a Muslim?’ A rather common
topic really but the questions he posed and the analogies he gave
really struck a chord with me for they are exactly the issues I have
been grappling with lately. <br />
<br />
Ustadh Nouman began by
asking ‘what is your ideal?’ For some, it’s about having a nice house
and a nice car. For others, it’s about respect and recognition, while
for some others, it could well be all about fame, money and glory.<br />
<br />
My
ideal or goal in life has always been to help and to serve. Ideally, I
would want to do something where I am able to personally and directly
help others. During my brief stint at UNHCR (United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees), I started as programme assistant. I worked
mainly in the office perusing documents and drafting project proposals;
something that bored the life out of me. <br />
<br />
Later, as a
TP (temporary protection) screener, I was asked to interview people
applying for refugee status. I had to talk to them and listen to their
personal stories. I was a TP screener for only two months, but those two
months remain among the best and most satisfying times in my entire
working life. <br />
<br />
Someone asked me recently, what would I
want my son to be when he grows up? “A nurse”, that was the answer that
came instantly to my mind. This was around the time when my late
neighbour was first hospitalised. At first, he was at the main ward but
when his condition worsened, he was transferred to intensive care. <br />
<br />
All
the nurses I saw at the hospital were women. I know that is not
something to be surprised about. What surprised me though is a sudden
realisation that there is a serious need for every hospital to have male
nurses; for several reasons. <br />
<br />
For instance, I observed
at both the ward and ICU, there were more male patients than there were
females. Some of these patients were really ill. They needed help for
almost everything. Some of them however, physically were quite big and
tall, whereas the female nurses were physically smaller and of shorter
height. <br />
<br />
Don’t get me wrong, those nurses I saw,
despite their physical disadvantage, were indeed very skilful and
professional but I just wondered whether being cared for by a male nurse
would perhaps make those male patients feel more comfortable? <br />
<br />
Being
a nurse is not easy. The job requires one to be patient, compassionate
and firmly grounded; qualities commonly stereotyped with women. A man
however, have those qualities too, hence, should not have a problem
performing the role of a nurse. <br />
<br />
I certainly will not
be pressuring my son to become a nurse. That itself is not my goal. My
goal is to raise him in such a way that he shall never consider the idea
of becoming a nurse something repugnant. Indeed I would love it for him
to consider it desirable for the unique opportunities it will give him
to personally serve and help others.<br />
<br />
And this was
essentially the point Ustadh Nouman tried to put across. The ideal or
goal for every Muslim is not cars, fame and money. The goal is to serve
Allah and to serve others in this world. There is nothing wrong about
wanting to be rich and famous. But to be rich by itself is not the goal.
It is a means to attain a higher goal.<br />
<br />
<div class="_5k3v _5k3w clearfix">
<div>
Ustadh
Nouman said many great things last Friday, but there was one I find particularly
mind-boggling. He said, “the ultimate reminder to those who would serve
Allah's <i>din</i> (is), don't think highly of yourself; (and) don't think you are better than the people you are trying to serve."<br />
<br />
I
grew-up during the time when self-improvement books were extremely
popular. Early in my youth, I read numerous books by various motivation
‘gurus’ like Anthony Robbins, Stephen Covey, Zig Ziglair and Dale
Carnegie. Indeed there is a lot to be gained from their books and it
would be stupid of me to deny the positive effects they’ve had in the
lives of many. <br />
<br />
I have this feeling however, that
reading too much into them may lead to a few unintended negative
consequences. These consequences include an exaggerated sense of
self-worth, delusions of grandeur, arrogance, and a lack of respect for
the abilities of others. <br />
<br />
While conventional
approaches to motivation are driven by self-centred concepts like
self-worth and self-esteem, motivation in Islam, as indicated by Ustadh
Nouman; embraces a rather different philosophy. It starts from a clear
understanding on the purpose of our creation and the responsibility it
entails; and the need to carry out those responsibilities with sincerity
and humility. <br />
<br />
Sincerity and humility however, are
values that are difficult to define and impossible to measure. We may
claim that we are sincere and humble but how do we know really that we have those attributes? <br />
<br />
I am blessed by Allah with great
memory; episodic memory especially. I observe more, and talk and mingle
less. Throughout my life, I have seen how people change. I have seen how
a two-letter-prefix can change a person’s attitude and personality. I
have seen too how a piece of metal on a ribbon can heighten a person’s
sense of importance and sense of entitlement.<br />
<br />
It’s hard
however, to be too critical of all this because they are part of the
reality of today’s society; a society where you need to promote and push
yourself to the limelight in order to succeed. The challenge then is to
know how to remain, on one hand, sincere and humble, and on the other,
ambitious and determined.<br />
<br />
Continuous self-reflection is what we all need. We need to do something too that helps keep our
feet firmly on the ground, and ensure our children are nurtured to do so as well. However, as much as I try now as a parent to mould my
children’s character and instil certain values into them, there will be a
point in their lives where my influence on them will weaken and
disappear. From thereon, they will have to make their own choices. The
only thing I can do is to ensure they have the necessary spiritual and
analytical tools to make the right choices. <br />
<br />
Hence,
Ustadh Nouman’s advice to not think highly of ourselves is most apt. It
correlates with another of his advice that as Muslims, we should not be
easily satisfied. That Malaysia is a country currently blessed with
economic success and a peaceful society is not an excuse for us to rest
on our laurels. We should always think about what we can do more. <br />
<br />
We
have responsibilities both to ourselves and to the society. As Ustadh
Nouman explains, if you are aware of injustices, corruption and other
wrongdoings in the society, it is your duty as a Muslim to speak-up and
do something about it. It is not enough to say ‘somebody will do it’.
Instead, ask yourself, ‘why is that somebody not you?’ <br />
<br />
Ustadh Nouman closes his <i>khutbah</i>
with a beautiful reminder on the importance of respect; another issue
I've been struggling with. I’ve been trying to teach my children never
to use words like <i>Keling</i>, <i>Bangla</i>,<i> Indon</i>, <i>Awang Hitam</i>
and other derogatory terms when referring to others; a monumental task
really in the face of overwhelming usage and indifference in the
society. But I will keep on trying. <br />
<br />
Ustadh
Nouman explains that a Muslim should show respect and never assume he is
better than a non-Muslim. If indeed you think you are better than your
non-Muslim friend, think about what would happen if tomorrow that friend
embraces Islam. He will have his slate wiped clean and would instantly
be, in the eyes of Allah, a better person than you. <br />
<br />
I
believe the key towards genuine respect is a genuine sense of humility.
Humility is the shield that protects us from spiritual diseases of <i>ujub</i> (vanity) and <i>kibr </i>(sense
of superiority). A person who is conscious of his humble existence
would be mindful about not wanting to hurt the feelings of others. And
he will show respect to all regardless of gender, status, race, creed
and nationality. <br />
<br />
<i>Allahu’alam</i>.</div>
</div>
Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-23149059123104893732013-07-15T07:45:00.001+08:002022-08-16T20:47:55.965+08:00Muslim first...(Part II): Islamization and '1Malaysia'<span lang="EN-GB">The Malaysian society I grew up in was
certainly different from what it is today. I started primary school in 1984 at
the time when the effects of the Islamization wave, which began in the 1970's
was yet to be seen. I went to a primary school in Kelana Jaya, a then young
housing area in the fringes of Petaling Jaya. The local society was truly
multiracial and this was reflected by the multiracial composition of my
classmates in school.</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Looking back at my class photos, I can see
that when I was in Standard 1 (Tahun 1 Limau, 1984, Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan
Taman Seaport), out of 45 students in that class, only twelve of them were
Malays. I had 20 Chinese classmates, eight Indians while the rest were Kadazan-Dusun, Ceylonese and Eurasians. And my Standard 2 class (Tahun 2
Durian, 1985) was the same. There were 44 students in the class, 15 of them
Malays, 21 Chinese and five Indians. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Those numbers sum-up quite nicely my
childhood environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friends and I,
we were truly '1Malaysia'. In fact, my best mate in primary school was a
Chinese boy named Oliver, and in my first three years of secondary school in
Kelana Jaya, my closest friend was my Indian buddy, Thanaraj.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I was conscious about my race and religion,
and I'm sure all my friends in school were conscious of theirs too. That, however, did not stop us from playing together. We knew we had
different cultural-religious beliefs and practices. We talked about them at
times and from these conversations we learned to respect one another.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Occasionally, there were misunderstandings.
I can recall one specific occasion when we were all tired and thirsty after playing
football, a Chinese friend refused
to drink water from the same bottle with me, not because he thought my bottle
was dirty or anything but because; as what he said "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">aku makan babi</i>" (I eat pork)". He was genuinely
concerned that if his lips touched the bottle, the bottle would instantly
become <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">haram</i> (forbidden) for me to
drink from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I can see from those old class photos too
that back then, all of us Malay boys wore shorts to school while the Malay
girls all wore pinafores. One or two Malay girls started wearing baju kurung in
Standard 4 while the boys started wearing long pants in Standard 5. Even in
Standard 6, there were still more Malay girls in pinafores and skirts (prefect
attire). Now, all Malay boys in primary schools right from Standard 1, wear
long pants to school, and all the Malay girls wear baju kurung with <i>tudung</i> or headscarves as well. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The Malay-Muslim society in Malaysia has
certainly become more Islamic over the last three decades. The influx of
Islamic television programmes in recent years is a stark reminder of that too.
Back in the early 1980's, the only regular religious programme was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Muqaddam</i>, a basic Quran reading
programme hosted by Ustaz Hassan Azhari, aired on RTM1 every afternoon. Friday
sermons were not even shown live on national television. There were recorded
and aired after the evening news at 8.30 pm on Fridays. I remember this because what came immediately after was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tayangan
Minggu Ini</i>, a programme which aired old Malay movies of P. Ramlee and his
contemporaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The ‘Islamic Malaysia’ that we live in
today is a country were 'Islamic' content penetrates into all spheres of life;
in education, entertainment, medicine, finance, fashion
and others. A Muslim, like me, certainly has no problems with this for Islam is
my religion. But for non-Muslims? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I can understand their concerns. More so if
I imagine myself in a reversed situation, i.e. a Muslim minority living in a non-Muslim
majority society. If, for example that I live in the UK, and the British people
suddenly became more religious that all public schools suddenly revert to
routines and practices of mission schools in the past; with prayers read and
hymns sang in student assemblies, the BBC begin to air more religious
programmes; live coverage of mass on Sundays, Christian talent shows etc, and
the British Prime Minister announcing a national policy of insertion of
Christian values in public service, as a Muslim living in the UK, I would
definitely be very concerned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Coming back to the reality here in
Malaysia, I disagree with the popular assumption that the person chiefly
responsible for the Islamization of the society was former Prime Minister Dr.
Mahathir. Yes, he was indeed the man who introduced a national policy of
insertion of Islamic values (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dasar
penerapan nilai-nilai Islam</i>) in the 1980's, and the Islamization wave that
hit the country coincides nicely with his premiership. But really, that was
pretty much what it was, a coincidence. Anyone who became prime minister at
that time would have introduced some form of Islamization, one way or another.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Not to say that Dr. Mahathir was insincere.
He was indeed the country's first practicing Muslim prime minister. And I do
believe he is genuinely religious in his own way. But more than anything, Dr.
Mahathir was a cunning observer of political trends. He recognised and
understood the Islamization wave that hit, not only the Muslims here but
Muslims all over the world. He knew that if UMNO did not try to 'Islamize'
itself, it might lose its position to PAS as the major political vehicle for
the Malays. So he went on executing a deliberate political strategy’ to
Islamize’ the government and his party. And getting the then ABIM president,
Anwar Ibrahim, to join UMNO was undoubtedly part of that strategy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">As far as winning the hearts and minds of
the Muslims is concern, that strategy worked. Except for his last general election in 1999, UMNO and Barisan Nasional garnered the majority of Malay votes in every
general election held during Dr. Mahathir’s tenure. But when it comes to race
relations and national integration, that strategy has certainly caused great
consternation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Many non-Malays now refer to national
schools as 'Malay schools' precisely because almost all the students there are
Malays. There are hardly any non-Malays. The situation is particularly acute in
urban areas. I live in the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur and the local national
primary school here has not had a single Chinese student enrolled for more than ten years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Non-Muslim parents, especially Chinese,
have overwhelmingly refused to send their children to national primary schools.
This has been going on for almost two decades now, hence, as a result, we have
an entire generation of Malaysians growing up in a more-or-less homogeneous environment;
growing up interacting only with those of the same race with very little
interaction with others. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">When you don’t interact with others, what
would be the most likely effect? Tolerance and acceptance, or prejudice and
discrimination? You don't need a PhD in social psychology or sociology
to know the answer. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The situation today certainly does not look
good. The dream for a ‘Bangsa Malaysia’ and ‘1Malaysia’ looks increasingly more
like a pipe dream. But I believe there are still ways to salvage that dream. It
requires commitment and sacrifices from all; Muslims and non-Muslims, Malays
and non-Malays. For the sake of genuine peace and harmony, each of us needs to accept
some changes and let go some of our long-held opinions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">For example... </span></div>
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<![endif]-->Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-11153781778355099492013-06-17T01:40:00.001+08:002022-08-16T20:53:11.614+08:00Muslim first...In the two weeks that my three children and I recently stayed in Lanzhou (hometown of my late Chinese wife), my four-year-old daughter took bath only twice - on the day we arrived, and on the morning before we left. That, for most people in China, is quite normal. Not so for people here in Malaysia. We take a bath at least twice a day. Hence, to not do so for more than a week is quite unthinkable.<br />
<br />
I've been to 12 foreign countries so far in my life. Not that many really, but in most of these visits, I stayed together with the locals; stayed in their homes, ate their food and followed their routines. Two weeks in Islamabad, I wore <i>salwar kameez</i> and ate chapati almost everyday. 15 months in Finland, I ate boiled potatoes every day and ate rice only once or twice a week. Wherever I was, as much as possible, I've tried to follow the culture of my host.<br />
<br />
I can't say however that I was successful all the time. When I visited Lanzhou the first time, a week after Aishah and I were married, my late father-in-law (may Allah bless his soul) asked me what I would like to eat. I told him I will eat whatever he eats. Having noodles and green tea everyday was not a problem, but try as I did, there were a few things my stomach just could not take.<br />
<br />
For example, what my father-in-law often had for breakfast was a bowl of tea, a special kind of tea which when added with milk, it turns pink. He would then add some <b>salt</b> and put small pieces of bread into it. The pink tea therefore is like a soup and he would drink the whole bowl clean. I tried doing the same a few times but was never able to finish the whole bowl.<br />
<br />
Beyond food, certain things can be quite challenging, I certainly needed some getting-used-to using toilet paper in many countries, and till today I only use public toilets in China if I really, really have to.<br />
<br />
But when it comes to observing my duties as a Muslim, performing my daily prayers and all, I've learned and managed to adjust. For example, it's not easy to find a <i>surau</i> or a <i>musolla</i> in many Western countries. But as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, the whole earth is a <i>masjid</i>. A prayer or <i>solat</i> can be performed anywhere where the ground is clean. And I have done so, in secluded corners of airports and train stations, in lecture halls, libraries and supermarkets, and once, in a guest room in a church. <br />
<br />
When it comes to adjusting to variances in the practices among Muslims from different <i>mazahib</i>, I've managed that rather well too. For, if I had insisted being a Shafi'i while praying in a Hanafi congregation like in a Turkish <i>masjid</i> in Berlin or in <i>masajid</i> all over China, I would be causing others some unnecessary discomfort. Just imagine for example, if I insisted following the Shafi'i way reciting '<i>ameen</i>' loudly; when others don't, right after the imam recited <i>Surat Al-Fatihah</i> ? I will only be disturbing others in their prayers.<br />
<br />
Not everyone agrees though with such adjustments. To some, you should remain loyal to your cultural practices no matter where you are, and whether you do so or not depends on how you deal with your own social identity complexities.<br />
<br />
Each one of us has multiple social identities. There are based on among others our religious, ethnic and national affiliations. In that order, I am for example a Muslim, a Malay, and a Malaysian. Each of these identities is important in different circumstances. But overall, when it comes to general principles in life, the guide is provided by a specific social identity that a person considers dearest and most important.<br />
<br />
And to that, my thoughts are clear. I am, have been and will always be a Muslim first. Because of that, I've had no problem eating anything as long as it is <i>halal</i>. Because of that too, I have never compelled my wife (<i>Allahyarham</i>) and daughters to wear a <i>telekung</i> when they perform <i>solat</i>. I have never too, ingrained in the minds of my children that Malay food or Malay culture is superior to others.<br />
<br />
I love Malay food, of course. I still believe <i>gulai tempoyak ikan patin</i> is the best dish in the world but as I once told an aunt in Lanzhou who asked me "which food is better, Chinese food or Malay food?"; I said, "in China, Chinese food is better, in Malaysia, Malay food is better." :)<br />
<br />
A decade ago, when I received the scholarship offer to study in Joensuu, Finland, the first thing I inquired was whether there was a Muslim community in the town. It never crossed my mind to ask whether there were any Malaysians there. As it turned out, there weren't any Malaysians living there but I wasn't perturbed. The Muslim community of Joensuu, which comprised of about only 200 people, became my friends, and the 20 or so <i>brothers</i> who were regular attendees to the small local <i>masjid</i> became my family members.<br />
<br />
Obviously, the common understanding amongst many Malay Muslims in Malaysia is that since a Malay is defined by the country's constitution as a Muslim, whether a person defines himself either a Malay or a Muslim first does not really matter. That, I respectfully disagree.<br />
<br />
How we define ourselves has its implications not only on the way we conduct our personal lives, but also on our views and attitudes on cross-cultural relations and politics. And that is a thesis that I wish to discuss and explore more in my book <i>insha Allah</i>. :) Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-62362203893869189572013-05-06T11:07:00.000+08:002013-05-08T20:35:24.466+08:00"true, fair and transparent"?When my elder daughter was in Standard One, she scored full marks for both Bahasa Malaysia and English in the end-of-the-year exam.
She was certainly very happy and proud of her achievements. When she
brought home the exam papers, I went thru them and noticed that in both, she
had actually made a few mistakes. I pointed them out to my daughter and
told her to show them to her teachers the next day. She initially
thought I wasn't serious but when I insisted, she became very sad and
began to cry. Understandably so since I was indeed asking her to
voluntarily get her exam marks cut. Not an easy thing to do but she did
eventually and that probably caused her a top-three ranking in her
class.<br />
<br />
And just a few months back during the school's sports day,
my son was in an event in which you need to pass water balloons to your
teammates by throwing it to the person behind you.
In the middle of the event, I noticed my son had unintentionally
moved a few steps back from his initial standing spot, closing the
distance between him and his teammate, thus, gaining a certain advantage
over other competing teams. I
told my son to move forward a few steps to erase that advantage. That
disrupted his team's momentum, and they finished last in the race. <br />
<br />
As
a father, I am far from perfect, but I have always tried to instill
certain values to my children, values that I believe are essential for
their development as Muslims and as members of the human race. I want
them to compete. I want them to win and achieve things, but I want them to
win them the right way. Not through cheating and not even by having any
undue advantage. <br />
<br />
This isn't something new. This is the same principle observed by Malay warriors in the past. In any duel, if you are holding a <i>keris</i> and your opponent does not, you get him a <i>keris</i>,
only then you may fight. Killing an opponent who is unarmed is a cowardice act
and you'll be labelled a coward for the rest of your life. <br />
<br />
Sometimes
we win, sometimes we lose. That's life. As a Liverpool fan, I'm quite
used to losing. It's bad enough the club has not won the league since
1990, it's worse when you see your greatest rival continue to win it
year in year out. But I can accept that because the Devil we know has been
winning them fair and square with eleven players starting every
single match, with one referee, two linesmen, one ball, and a level
playing field; the same facts I keep reminding my son every time either of his favourite teams; Harimau Malaya, Selangor or Arsenal, loses a game. <br />
<br />
Early this morning, soon after the
Elections Commission officially declared Barisan Nasional the winner of
Malaysia's 13th General Election, the BN leader and incumbent Prime
Minister wrote this on twitter: "This election was true, fair and
transparent. I hope the opposition accepts the result with an open
heart."<br />
<br />
First-of-all, congratulations Sir for your
victory. But please help me understand what do you mean by "true, fair and
transparent"? Because, I'm beginning to think, all this while, I've
been teaching my kids the wrong things. Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-10160650797715382472013-04-27T15:14:00.000+08:002013-06-16T13:18:13.146+08:00Slightly better than chimpanzee...There was a popular joke that made the rounds in the late 1990's about the different levels of efficiency of the election commissions in various Asian countries. At the time, many countries in the region were experiencing a surge of interest in elections and politics. The joke goes something like this:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
A journalist wants to know which country in Asia is fastest in announcing the results of their national elections. First, he went to Indonesia and met with the Election Commission (EC) there. The Indonesian EC said, "we are a big country and our system isn't really good, so we can only announce the official results three months after the election." The journalist next went to India and asked the EC there the same question. The Indian EC said, "we have a huge population but our system is good, we can announce the results three days after the election". Next, to Singapore, and the journalist was told, "we are very efficient, we announce the results in three hours". The journalist finally went to Malaysia and told the Malaysian EC how efficient Singapore was, to which the Malaysian EC chief retorted, "we can do even better, we can announce the results three months <b>before</b> the election!" </div>
<br />
This was of course during the time when elections in Malaysia were more predictable and <b>if</b> someone did really want to fix the election, he could have done so quite easily. Civil society was not strong, election monitoring bodies almost non-existent and opposition parties most often did not have enough counting and polling agents. Elections can still be fixed today, of course, but to do so without anyone noticing it would be extremely difficult. <br />
<br />
Fixed or not, to predict (correctly) election results is not easy. We often rely on experts and pundits for their views but how valid really are their views? Well, according to Professor Philip Tetlock, in his book<i> Expert Political Judgment: How Good Is It? How Can We Know?</i> (2005), an 'expert' is only slightly more accurate than a dart-throwing chimpanzee! A rather sad statement, isn't it? But the evidence is overwhelming.<br />
<br />
Here, in Malaysia, we only need to go back to the 2008 General Election to find examples of how inaccurate many expert predictions were. If you browse through all mainstream newspapers the editions just prior to the election, you will find one of the most talked about issues was 'who from Gerakan will replace Koh Tsu Koon as Penang Chief Minister?'; a question totally oblivious of even the possibility of Gerakan losing in Penang. And among pro-Barisan Nasional experts, a view often drummed-up was the 'death' of Parti Keadilan Rakyat after the election and the end of PAS' rule in Kelantan.<br />
<br />
What happened then was really quite amusing. I can still recall watching at around 7 pm on election day how excited an RTM presenter was about wanting to know the latest tally in Permatang Pauh. She was so excited because she was expecting a result that signals the end of PKR. PKR, of course not only retained Permatang Pauh but won 30 other parliamentary seats in 2008. <br />
<br />
Local political experts and politicians are very much more cautious this time around. Pro-government experts have lately become more philosophical. Those with statistics and numbers are gaining more prominence.<br />
<br />
A few days ago, Professor Redzuan Othman from the University of Malaya presented <a href="http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/228047" target="_blank">'selected findings'</a> from his survey on the election. He reported that 43 percent of his respondents preferred Anwar Ibrahim as Prime Minister, and 37 percent preferred the incumbent Najib Abdul Razak. That is indeed good news for the opposition. Pakatan Rakyat supporters are ecstatic and many are now predicting a resounding victory.<br />
<br />
I am not a member of any political party but for this election, I have openly expressed my wish to see PR win. I honestly believe a PR win would be good for the country, and good for Umno and BN too;) But a PR victory, with one week to go, is far from certain. Seven days is a long time in politics. Many things can still happen, many 'videos' can still be produced, and many mistakes can still be made. If everything falls into place, PR may not even need Sabah and Sarawak to win federal. But make just one mistake and PR may end up with only Penang and Kelantan to govern. <br />
<br />
Professor Redzuan's findings would be more meaningful if this was a direct presidential election. But that's not the case here. We have a really unfair system where even if a coalition garners more than 50 percent of the popular votes, it may only get 25 percent seats in parliament. The magic number is 112. Whoever gets at least 112 parliamentary seats will form the next federal government. And at this point, nobody really knows who will that be.<br />
<br />
The only way any pundit or expert can validly predict the outcome is to do what Nate Silver did for the US Presidential Election last year. He correctly predicted the outcome in all 50 states. More remarkably, in 48 of those, the actual votes received by each candidate fell within his margin of error.<br />
<br />
Nate Silver did not collect any data on his own. He uses data from various polling and media agencies, averages them and run a series of regression analyses to cater for various adjustments. The <a href="http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/methodology/" target="_blank">method</a> isn't really that complicated. But you need a diverse range of present and historical data to get it right, and we just don't have that here in Malaysia.<br />
<br />
That, however should not stop us from making our own predictions. Unlike 2008, I haven't been able to observe how things are on the ground but I still would like to offer my own humble slightly-better-than-chimpanzee's prediction. Later... Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-76107757494273152732013-04-02T16:50:00.002+08:002013-04-04T15:13:16.408+08:00Farewell Tribute to a 'Friend'I went to Subang Jaya last week and went to Subang Parade, a place I frequented a lot during my teenage years. Back in those days, this was the biggest and coolest shopping mall in the Klang Valley. That remained for about a decade or so before other more gigantic malls like Sunway Pyramid and Megamall were opened. My last visit to Subang Parade was a couple of years back and at the time, the place looked run down. But now, after some extensive interior renovation work, the place is glowing and packed again with visitors.<br />
<br />
I certainly have some fondness for Subang Parade but the place that I am more attached to is the building next to it. It is splashed in orange these days (the corporate colour of its new owners) but as recently as two months ago, it was all-white except for the iconic double arrow symbol of red, white and blue. This was Carrefour Subang Jaya, the first Carrefour store and hypermarket in Malaysia.<br />
<br />
I have always enjoyed shopping for groceries. As a young boy, I often accompanied my mother to the local <i>pasar malam</i> and <i>pasar tani</i>. Then, when the first Giant Supermarket opened in Kelana Jaya, we went for our groceries quite often there too.<br />
<br />
But shopping at Carrefour Subang Jaya was something else. The store in Subang Jaya was just a single-storey building when it opened in 1994 but it was bright and looked so spacious. The items on display were of such great variety, and the way they organised and arranged them was just splendid and that really matters for an OCD borderline case like me.<br />
<br />
All these years, even after other and bigger hypermarkets has sprung all over, Carrefour remained the place I would go to if time permits. My late wife was fond of Carrefour too. So fond of it she was, it was the first place she wanted to go to immediately after her confinement when our twins were born nine years ago. When we moved to Taman Melati, the Carrefour store in Wangsa Maju became our favourite shopping place even though the Giant Hypermarket in Batu Caves is perhaps nearer to where we live.<br />
<br />
Our fondness for Carrefour is not entirely sentimental. It is also due to a few of its practical qualities, which for me, other hypermarkets; try as they might, they simply do not have.<br />
<br />
The first is the systematic and practical arrangement of items. In some Giant stores, the bread section is located next to the poultry and fish section, which I personally find rather disconcerting because when I'm buying bread, especially fresh bread, I want to smell the aroma of freshly baked bread. At Carrefour, the bread section is normally at one end. Next to it are the cakes and cookies section, then the cooked/packed food, and then the fruits and vegetables, and finally the poultry and fish section at the other end.<br />
<br />
And speaking of bread, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Carrefour had the best bread in town. Just take the potato bread as an example. Other hypermarkets make them too but potato bread from Carrefour was just a class above. Others tend to overcook it or make it too soft and too fluffy. Carrefour however had it all just nice. It had the perfect tender.<br />
<br />
Another aspect I believe Carrefour triumphed over all its rivals is its spacious aisles. Others tend to crowd the aisles with promotional and discounted items. As a result, customers face great difficulty to move their shopping carts especially during busy shopping hours. Carrefour stores however, had most of the time kept the main aisles empty. Hence, it's easier and more convenient for customers to move around with their baskets and carts.<br />
<br />
I do concede though when it comes to pricing, Carrefour is not the best especially when compared to Tesco. You can certainly buy many things cheaper at Tesco, perhaps even at Giant. But both my late wife and I agreed that although many things are cheaper in Tesco, we still prefer to shop at Carrefour because every time we shop at Tesco, we end up buying more and at times unnecessary things. The cheap pricing is very seductive but potentially detrimental especially when you end up buying things too large in quantity and things that you don't actually need. <br />
<br />
So, as far as my shopping experience is concern, the time I've spent at Carrefour will forever have a special place in my heart. It pains me to witness the current 'orange invasion' in all its previous premises. But I do understand that sometimes in life, we have to make tough and painful decisions. Farewell my 'friend' and thank you for the services you had rendered us throughout the years. <i>Au revoir!</i> Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-53873419119780288782013-01-26T20:51:00.000+08:002013-01-26T21:01:07.409+08:00Satu hari di taman permainan...(Berikut adalah artikel saya yang diterbitkan di laman web Centre for Policy Initiatives pada 19 January 2013 di bawah tajuk '<a href="http://english.cpiasia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2470&catid=230&Itemid=193" target="_blank">Budak diherdik dengan panggilan 'keling bodoh</a>')<br />
<br />
Beberapa minggu yang lalu, saya telah membawa anak-anak ke taman permainan berhampiran tempat tinggal kami. Taman permainan itu agak luas. Di satu sudut, terdapat alatan permainan kanak-kanak – gelungsur, buaian, jongkang-jongket dan sebagainya – manakala di satu sudut lain terdapat tanah lapang yang walaupun tidak begitu luas, cukup untuk kanak-kanak lelaki bermain bolasepak.<br />
<br />
Saya memang minat bolasepak dan suka melihat telatah kanak-kanak cuba mempamerkan skil masing-masing. Tatkala asyik memerhatikan mereka, saya baru sedar dalam kumpulan budak-budak lelaki sekitar 20 orang itu, terdapat seorang budak lelaki berbangsa India. Yang lain semuanya budak-budak Melayu.<br />
<br />
Situasi sebegitu bukanlah ganjil sebenarnya. Memang kawasan perumahan itu majoriti penduduknya orang-orang Melayu. Yang ganjil dan amat memeranjatkan saya adalah sikap budak-budak Melayu terhadap budak India tunggal itu. Hampir kesemua mereka memanggilnya “budak keling”. Bila dia tersilap tendang, diherdik pula dengan panggilan “keling bodoh”. Budak India itu walau bagaimanapun, tetap bersemangat mahu terus bermain. Malangnya dia dipinggirkan. Tidak ada yang mahu menghantar bola kepadanya. Dia cuba juga mengejar sedaya-upaya namun terus dibuli budak-budak yang lain. Tidak cukup dengan itu, tidak putus-putus dia diherdik dengan kata-kata kesat dan menghina.<br />
<br />
Budak-budak lelaki yang saya perhatikan hari itu semuanya masih kecil. Pada amatan saya, semuanya berumur bawah 15 tahun. Kerana itulah saya terperanjat dengan sikap mereka terutamanya kata-kata kesat yang keluar daripada mulut mereka. Persoalannya, bagaimana mereka mampu bersikap sedemikian?<br />
<br />
Dalam bidang sosiologi, setiap kelakuan manusia dikaji berdasarkan rangkaian interaksi antara agensi-agensi masyarakat daripada yang paling kecil hingga yang paling besar. Individu itu sendiri adalah agensi yang paling kecil, diikuti dengan ibubapanya, adik-beradik, sanak-saudara, jiran-jiran, guru-guru, tokoh-tokoh dan idola masyarakat, dan akhirnya sesebuah masyarakat itu sendiri secara am.<br />
<br />
Sukar untuk kita tentukan adakah budak-budak Melayu yang saya ceritakan di atas, sikap dan kelakuan menghina yang mereka tunjukkan itu adalah hasil pengaruh ibubapa atau ahli-ahli keluarga terdekat. Itu hanya boleh ditentukan melalui kajian mikro psikologi personaliti dan psikologi sosial. Namun kita boleh melihat kepada beberapa contoh kelakuan dan sikap di kalangan tokoh-tokoh masyarakat yang jikapun tidak banyak, pasti ada memberi pengaruh dan kesan.<br />
<br />
Pada tahun 2007, ketika menghadiri sebuah program bersama pelajar-pelajar Malaysia di California, Amerika Syarikat, seorang menteri kabinet berbangsa Melayu telah dilaporkan mengeluarkan beberapa ungkapan yang dianggap menghina seorang pelajar berbangsa India. Dalam ucapannya, beliau menerangkan bagaimana pihak penjajah British membawa buruh India ke Tanah Melayu. Seraya berkata demikian, beliau memandang tepat ke arah seorang pelajar India di dalam dewan tersebut lalu berkata “that’s how we got Indians in Malaysia” (“kerana itulah di Malaysia ada orang-orang India”).<br />
<br />
Kemudian, pada tahun 2010, timbul pula laporan bagaimana seorang pengetua sekolah menengah kebangsaan di Johor, ketika berucap dalam perhimpunan khas sempena perayaan Hari Kemerdekaan, dengan lantang berkata pelajar-pelajar Cina tidak diperlukan di sekolah itu. Dicanang beliau agar pelajar-pelajar Cina berpindah ke sekolah Cina atau pulang sahaja ke negara Cina. Kepada pelajar-pelajar India beragama Hindu pula beliau berkata, tali sembahyang yang dipakai di lengan dan di leher mereka umpama tali yang dipakai seekor anjing!<br />
<br />
Dua contoh di atas adalah contoh kelakuan dan manifesti sikap yang ditonjolkan secara terbuka di khalayak ramai. Bayangkan apakah kata-kata yang mereka hemburkan dalam percakapan harian bersama ahli-ahli keluarga dan rakan-rakan? Pengetua sekolah menengah itu misalnya, kalau begitulah sikap beliau ketika berucap dalam perhimpunan, bayangkan sikap beliau ketika berbual bersama guru-guru (yang majoritinya berbangsa Melayu) atau ketika memarahi pelajar-pelajar berbangsa Cina dan India di pejabatnya? Bayangkan juga bagaimana sikap beliau ini boleh mempengaruhi guru-guru lain yang masih muda dan pelajar-pelajar Melayu di sekolah berkenaan?<br />
<br />
Merujuk kembali kepada kerangka sosiologi yang diterangkan tadi, tidak adil sebenarnya untuk kita menyalahkan individu-individu seperti pengetua sekolah ini semata-mata. Sikap dan kelakuan mereka juga dipengaruhi suasana atau individu-individu yang lebih besar kedudukannya dalam masyarakat. Dalam konteks negara kita, mereka yang paling berpengaruh dan yang paling besar hebahan kata-kata mereka adalah pemimpin-pemimpin politik kerajaan.<br />
<br />
Polemik bangsa dan agama memang sudah sebati dengan politik di Malaysia. Agak menyedihkan namun tidak dapat dielakkan. Setiap parti dan pertubuhan-pertubuhan yang mewakili bangsa-bangsa tertentu semuanya mahu tampil garang mempertahankan hak masing-masing. UMNO dan PERKASA misalnya, tidak putus-putus berteriak memberi amaran agar jangan ada yang berani mempertikaikan hak-hak orang Melayu. Diiringi pula dengan liputan meluas media arus perdana dan akhbar-akhbar tempatan.<br />
<br />
Selalunya pihak yang diberi amaran itu memang tidak disebut dengan jelas. Namun, siapa lagi ianya ditujukan jika tidak kepada orang-orang bukan Melayu di negara kita. Teringat saya bagaimana beberapa kenalan berbangsa Cina mengeluh apabila anak-anak mereka yang bersekolah di sekolah kebangsaan takut untuk ke sekolah setelah terdengar ucapan-ucapan yang disampaikan dalam Perhimpunan Agung UMNO yang disiarkan secara langsung di televisyen.<br />
<br />
Mungkin pemimpin-pemimpin politik ini tidak sedar kesan perbuatan dan kata-kata mereka. Mereka menakut-nakutkan orang-orang bukan Melayu, dan kesannya lahirlah perasaan marah yang menyebabkan mereka tidak mahu lagi mengundi mana-mana parti dan individu yang bersama dengan UMNO dan Barisan Nasional.<br />
<br />
Dari sudut yang lain pula, kesan kata-kata keras ini menyebabkan ramai orang-orang Melayu daripada segenap lapisan masyarakat menjadi sombong dan hilang rasa hormat terhadap bangsa-bangsa yang lain. Apa sahaja yang dilakukan pemimpin-pemimpin akan dijadikan teladan. Maka, ramai tidak lagi berasa segan menghina dan melemparkan kata-kata keras terhadap bangsa-bangsa lain kerana rasionalnya, “kalau pemimpin politik boleh, mengapa kita tidak boleh?”<br />
<br />
Budak-budak lelaki Melayu yang saya perhatikan di taman permainan beberapa minggu yang lalu itu adalah salah satu hasil daripada rantaian interaksi pemimpin dan masyarakat ini. Adakah ini sikap bangsa Melayu yang ingin dipupuk pemimpin-pemimpin UMNO, PERKASA dan pertubuhan-pertubuhan Melayu yang lain?<br />
<br />
Bukanlah tujuan artikel ini untuk menghentam orang-orang Melayu semata-mata. Sifat prejudis ada pada semua bangsa. Sebagai seorang yang berkemahiran sedikit berbahasa Cina, saya tahu bagaimana sebahagian orang-orang Cina menghina dan mempersendakan orang-orang Melayu. Namun, dalam konteks negara kita, orang-orang Melayu sebagai kumpulan majoriti lebih bertanggungjawab menunjukkan teladan yang baik. Tambahan pula, kita orang-orang Melayu beragama Islam dan ajaran Islam itu mengajar kita saling hormat-menghormati, bukan menabur dan menyemai perasaan benci. Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-70264042546981936052012-11-05T04:10:00.001+08:002013-03-27T00:23:06.486+08:00What I hate about politics...Early during my college days (at PPP/ITM, Shah Alam), since I had probably impressed some of my English instructors with my above-average fluency in English, I was asked to attend trials for the college English debate team. I wasn't really keen to attend but did so nonetheless out of respect for one of my instructors who really wanted me to try.<br />
<br />
So I went, and was randomly assigned as the first debater for the opposition side. My task was, well, to oppose whatever it was the arguments presented by the proposition. Alas, sitting on my chair listening to the first debater from the affirmative side passionately explaining her points for the motion, I began to feel how strongly in agreement I was with most of her points. But I was conscious of the fact that my task was to disagree and I should be focused on doing just that.<br />
<br />
When I spoke however, my words betrayed me as I went on to commit one of the most fundamental mistakes in a debate - expressing my agreement with my opponent's point-of-view. The topic was on media censorship and my opponent had just argued why children should not be exposed to violence and sexual content in movies. To me, that made perfect sense, so I told myself "how and why should I disagree". Agreeing with and conceding to your opponent are sure ways to lose a debate, and I did end-up losing that debate. And quite obviously, I was not selected to join the college debating team.<br />
<br />
To defend your arguments at all cost and to never concede that your opponent might be right are the essentials of partisan politics too. The goal and dream of every politician is to successfully portray himself as someone who knows the answers to all the problems in the history of mankind and to portray his opponent as a complete idiot. The problem with that is; as anyone with even a tiny-bit of objectivity would agree, no one has the answers to everything.<br />
<br />
In ancient Greece, there was a group of people renowned for their oratory and persuasive skills. They are commonly referred to as the <a href="http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/socialsciences/ppecorino/INTRO_TEXT/Chapter%202%20GREEKS/Sophists.htm" target="_blank">Sophists</a>. The Sophists were intellectuals skilled in the use of rhetoric. Their goal was to persuade and impress their audience. Whether their words represent their beliefs and conviction was not of their concern. The truth is not important. Winning is all that matters.<br />
<br />
Socrates detested the Sophists. He himself was a skilled orator but to him, the goal of every argument and dialogue is to establish the truth. And if one's argument is proven to be wrong, he should concede and gracefully acknowledge the veracity of others' opinion. The Sophists however were known to resort to cynicism and relativism when cornered.<br />
<br />
Politicians today (most of them at least) are not dissimilar to the Sophists. To them, winning the argument is all that matters. Whether they represent the truth or whether you even believe in what you say is not really important. <a href="http://romneyflop.com/" target="_blank">Mitt Romney</a>, the Republican candidate in this year's US presidential election is a prime example. During the Republican primaries, in order to secure the support from fellow Republicans, Romney painted a picture of himself as a true conservative on every single issue; healthcare, abortion, taxes, government etc. Now that he is the Republican candidate, his focus has shifted to middle-ground voters so, quite conveniently, he is now portraying himself more as a centrist and less conservative.<br />
<br />
You can convince some, even many perhaps that your shifting of views is a non-issue but for the more analytical and perceptive among us, it is something deeply disturbing. Why? Because ideally, we want a leader with principles and conviction, one who is honest and truthful in all his words and actions. We don't want a leader who is more like a prototype salesman who is willing to say anything to clinch a deal. Sooner-or-later, your flip-flop tendency will be exposed and your own words will come back to haunt you.<br />
<br />
Like the Sophists, politicians too often resort to cynicism when their principles and views are seriously questioned. The key is to deflect attention away from yourself by using negative politics. Essentially, this is all about painting the picture that your opponent is utterly useless and incompetent. And by doing so, you hope to persuade people to support you not necessarily because they like you and your ideas, but because they hate your opponent and his policies so much they are willing to vote for anyone except him.<br />
<br />
What is ironic about this is, a politician is supposedly concerned about all that is good for the country, but if for example you are in the opposition and you do not want people to continue to support the government, you would actually be happy whenever there is a negative report about the country. Consciously, or subconsciously at least, you would want every single policy undertaken by the current government to fail; the more devastating the failure the better. Because the more the government is seen to have failed, the more the people will hate the government, and the more willing they will be to vote them out and vote for you instead in the next election.<br />
<br />
We see this everywhere, in the US, in Malaysia and other countries all over the world. Mitt Romney for example seems happy to make the argument that President Barack Obama's economic policies in the last four years have all failed. And each time a report on the US economy comes out, he and his supporters have painstakingly extrapolate every single negative aspect in it, and while doing so ignoring whatever positives it may contain.<br />
<br />
This is the thing about politics that I really, really hate. Having said that, I accept that this is part-and-parcel, perhaps even the bread-and-butter of politics. It is not the arena for idealists, and I do consider myself an idealist. Hence, I have no business to ever be directly involved in politics. The cognitive dissonance that comes with it would be unbearable. But then, <i>Allahu'alam, </i>like many other things in life, you can never say "never"! Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-46281943540744719162012-10-20T03:57:00.000+08:002018-05-23T08:47:24.015+08:00"None of you believes till..."<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Despite what I still consider to be an immensely disappointing movie, <i>Revenge of The Sith</i>, the last of the Star Wars movies did have a few memorable moments. Most poignant, as far as the story line is concerned, was a scene that had very little special effects, very few movements and no dialogue.<br />
<br />
It was the scene just before Anakin Skywalker turned to the Dark Side. Master Windu had gone to confront Chancellor Palpatine and he ordered Anakin to remain at the Jedi Temple and wait for his return. Anakin of course at this point, his mind was messed, torn, and confused... He is a Jedi who had just discovered that the Chancellor is the elusive Sith Lord. He had premonitions of his wife's death and the Sith Lord was the only person who had offered to help. The Jedi way of course was to let go and allow fate to run its course. But that is exactly the one thing that Anakin, a young man so much in love with his secret wife cannot bring himself to do.<br />
<br />
The beauty of this scene is the way it depicts emotional suffering. Anakin, for all his obvious powers, cannot and should not attempt to change fate but when you are told there is perhaps a way to do so, how can you not be tortured by the thought that you should at least try? That thought ran through his mind as he sat alone at the Jedi Council's chambers. He stood up and walked to the window overlooking his wife's residence from a distance. As he stood there, unknown to him his wife too was standing by her window staring at the Jedi Temple with deep concerns about how her young husband was battling with his premonitions. When Anakin could no longer bear waiting, he decided to leave the temple in an apparent attempt to change fate. And the rest, as they say is 'history'.<br />
<br />
Love may energise but may also lead you astray and weaken you beyond your imagination. There was once in my life my thoughts and emotions were so consumed by deep affections towards someone, so deep that it was disturbing me even during my prayers. I remember hating myself for having such feelings as I thought I was immune from all these.<br />
<br />
Immune from these I was not and when I could no longer get them contained, I confided to a few close friends seeking their advice on what I should do. All except one, encouraged me to approach the person to get to know her better with a clear intention of marrying her. The one dissenting view however was Yoda-esque, a startling yet profound words of advice; "If indeed the feelings you have for this sister are as deep and strong as you described, <b>do not</b> marry her! You will always be weak."<br />
<br />
Followed his advice I did not as a few weeks later, I personally approached the person. Fortunately, I was rejected. Strangely enough, whatever feelings of disappointment I had was very much diluted by the overwhelming sense of relief I felt once everything was off my chest. And because of that, I was able to move on, and the whole emotional episode soon enough became rather insignificant.<br />
<br />
That was my first experience with 'love'. Quite an ordeal it was but a necessary and an invaluable learning experience indeed. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soDZBW-1P04&feature=related" target="_blank">"I really learned a lot, really learned a lot, love is like a flame, it burns you when it's hot"</a> Probably Nazareth was a tad too pessimistic here about love but to be outrageously optimistic like what Celine Dion once sang; <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_r8pDziQKE&feature=related" target="_blank">"I'm everything I am because you loved me"</a>, can't be right either, can it? Loving someone can be exhausting... so does knowing someone is in love
with you but for some reasons you cannot and will never reciprocate.<br />
<br />
The Prophet (may peace be upon him) explained: "None of you (truly) believes till he loves me more than his father, his children and all mankind." (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Hadith 15)<br />
<br />
Certainly, the hadith tells us of the importance of loving the Messenger of Allah, but underlying it is a bigger spiritual message on how to manage and prioritise love. And this was further expounded by Imam Al-Ghazali in Book 36; on Love, Longing, Intimacy and Contentment, of his <i>Ihya Ulum al-Din</i>. Al-Ghazali cited the above hadith early in this chapter along with a few more ahadith that bore the same opening phrase, "none of you believes till..."<br />
<br />
A literal reading of these ahadith would perhaps lead some to argue that the Prophet was rather histrionic; a trait characterised by a desire to be the centre of everyone's attention. Such an argument however, is both misleading and malicious. The focus here is not on the Prophet the messenger but the message. And the message is the religion of Islam in which God is Supreme, the Creator from Whom we came and to Whom we shall return.<br />
<br />
Faith in God is central to everything. All our actions, words and intentions ought to be those that pleases Him, as taught and exemplified by the Prophet (peace be upon him). To love God is to do what pleases Him in accordance with the teachings of the Prophet. If that is indeed the love most dear to a person, his conviction on what is vice and virtuous will remain strong in all circumstances. But if the love most dear to him is centred around another person; a spouse, a lover, a parent or a child, he may be tempted to commit evil and sacrifice his faith and conviction in the name of love.<br />
<br />
Sadly though, the world is filled with love stories where irrational sacrifices are made in the name of love. Shakespeare's <i>Romeo and Juliet</i> is a prominent example. A glorious love story, I contend, it is not but a story of supreme foolishness and of misplaced priorities. Why? Because in a period of not more than three days, Romeo and Juliet met and fell instantly in love, and from thereon were prepared to kill, denounce their respective families and take their own lives. How such actions therefore are worthy of applauds and admiration is just bewildering.<br />
<br />
At least in Anakin Skywalker's case, he was in love with a former queen whom he had adored for many years. His action however remains wrong. It was wrong of him to let his deep feelings for someone; no matter how dear she was to him, cloud his judgment and lead him to betray his teachers.<br />
<br />
Likewise for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinz_dilemma" target="_blank">Heinz</a>; of the famed vignettes by Lawrence Kohlberg. No matter how much Heinz may love his wife, to steal medicines for her would be wrong. Whether your wife lives or dies is beyond your control. And medicines are not magical antidotes. For the pharmacist to charge such an exorbitant amount of money is indeed wrong, but two wrongs do not make something right. In such difficult circumstances is where faith is paramount.<br />
<br />
So, should we all then <b>not</b> let ourselves develop feelings and emotions towards anyone? Is falling in love such a terrible thing? Certainly not. But the focus should be more; in reference to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangular_theory_of_love" target="_blank">Sternberg's theory</a>, on companionate love rather than romantic and infatuation love. And as Muslims, we are asked to seek those who may bring us closer to God, and those who may help unleash the good within us. For a widowed single father-of-three for whom midlife crisis has come early, these are my hope and prayers exactly.</div>
Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-64335222174383583842012-06-06T21:27:00.001+08:002012-06-06T21:27:56.746+08:00Tanzil - Quran Navigator<a href="http://tanzil.net/#.T89az6Oa7Es.blogger">Tanzil - Quran Navigator</a>Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-24796202153900801372012-05-15T06:31:00.000+08:002012-08-24T22:51:01.005+08:00To Toe or Not To ToeJosh Hong’s <a href="http://www.malaysiakini.com/columns/197608" target="_blank">article</a> dated 11 May
2012 on Malaysiakini is referred.<br />
<br />
Josh’s views on Tunku Abdul Aziz<i> vis-a-vis </i>Bersih 3.0 echo those of the leaders and the majority of the supporters of the
rally. They are entitled to hold their views and for that they should be respected.
But for those like Tunku Abdul Aziz, who respectfully disagreed, respect must
be duly accorded too.<br />
<br />
I certainly agree with the basic
premise that the authorities should have allowed and facilitated Bersih’s
gathering at Dataran Merdeka. That the authorities chose not to however was
very much expected. What was less expected was the authorities’ willingness to
offer five alternative venues. Thus, like Tunku Abdul Aziz, I too would have
preferred Bersih to choose among these alternatives and hold the gathering in a
more controlled surrounding. In fact, I would imagine had the leaders of Bersih
been a bit more creative, they could have asked for permission to use all five venues!
Attracting a crowd to fill-up all the venues would not have been a problem.<br />
<br />
Most people agree that they are
some serious weaknesses in how elections are conducted in this country. Most
people would agree too that the police were overly aggressive in their actions
against participants of the rally. I have no doubt too that there were agent
provocateurs involved but again, the point that I wish to reiterate, all these
were entirely expected. Hence, I personally find Tunku Abdul Aziz <a href="http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/litee/malaysia/article/bersih-3.0-not-blameless-from-rally-violence-says-dap-leader" target="_blank">stinging view</a>
that the organizers of Bersih were partly responsible for the violence that occurred
during the rally absolutely justified.<br />
<br />
Regretfully, instead of applauding
Tunku Abdul Aziz for his independent view, his party the DAP chose to censure
him. Joseph Lieberman, a senior United States senator once
famously said, <a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/01/21/133095715/sen-lieberman-why-should-we-toe-the-party-line" target="_blank">“Why should we toe the party line?”</a> Senator Lieberman, although a Democrat, had on
numerous occasions expressed opinions and voted against his party’s wishes even
on major issues like the war in Iraq and President Barack Obama’s healthcare
reform. His independent tendencies even compelled him to openly endorse
John McCain of the Republican Party instead of Obama in the last US
Presidential Election.<br />
<br />
Likewise, when then British Prime
Minister Tony Blair was seeking support for Great Britain’s participation to
invade Iraq, more than a hundred Members of Parliament from his own Labour Party voted against
his motion at the British House of Commons. These rebel MPs openly demanded for
more evidence to justify Britain’s participation in the war.<br />
<br />
These are examples of how a mature
democracy should be. To toe the party line is indeed important but not
necessarily mandatory. A party member cannot just simply agree for the sake of
agreeing. If the individual cannot bring himself to agree with a stand taken by
the party, he should explain why he disagrees. Tunku Abdul Aziz did just that
and if indeed that was the reason why his senatorship was not renewed, I feel that the DAP
is no better than Barisan Nasional in the way it handles internal dissent. After all, when MIC’s <a href="http://pgoh13.com/sothinathan_suspended.php" target="_blank">S. Sothinathan</a> was suspended for three months for criticising the government in parliament seven years ago, the DAP and
other opposition leaders lamented about how unfair they thought the decision
was.<br />
<br />
If we really do aspire to be a country
with the best democracy, internal dissent should not be considered a crime and
the ‘perpetrator’ should never face retribution. Worth emulating is President
Obama’s treatment of Senator Lieberman. After soundly defeating John
McCain for the US presidency, President Obama, though mindful of Senator
Lieberman’s criticism against him throughout the campaign, personally ensured
that Senator Lieberman’s seniority and committee chairmanship at the US Senate
were not affected. Senator Lieberman, in return continued to work in tandem
with the Obama administration on various issues that they both agreed with.
That is the level of trust and cooperation that many of us in Malaysia would
like to see. If indeed governance and leadership is all about agreeing with the
party and its leaders on every single issue, why do we need democracy?<br />
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Note: Tunku Abdul Aziz has since <a href="http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/197920" target="_blank">resigned</a> from the DAP.Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-16478452878995197442012-02-10T01:28:00.006+08:002012-03-30T09:08:12.046+08:00Beyond "What If?"British wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill is often revered as one of the most important figures in World War II. His inspiring speeches galvanised the battered spirits of the British people, and his strong leadership inspired the British army and their allies towards victory. Any man of lesser resolve and determination would have caved in and surrendered to the then mighty Nazi Germans.<br /><br />That is what everyone knows. What very few people know is the fact that Churchill nearly died about 10 years before World War II. No, he didn't nearly die in some battlefield somewhere in the then vast British Empire. He nearly died after he was knocked down by a taxi in New York City! Churchill had an American mother so he was probably there for a social visit. He did not die but the injuries sustained were serious enough he had to be hospitalised for an entire week.<br /><br />"What if?" is a question many would ask while imagining alternative eventualities in life. What if Churchill had died? Would the Germans successfully conquered Great Britain and gained absolute control of Western Europe? If that had happened, perhaps most of us today would be reading and writing in German rather than in English, and perhaps most football fans in the world would be following the Bundesliga rather than the English Premier League.<br /><br />One may ask "what if?" for any issues, from the most profound to the most trivial. What if Hussein Onn had persevered and appointed Ghazali Shafie (instead of Mahathir Mohamad) as Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister in 1976? Mahathir probably would never become prime minister, ousted most likely from the government by Ghazali and forced to return to his Maha Clinic in Alor Star. No Mahathir, no Proton Saga, no Penang Bridge, no KLCC, and no KLIA. How backwards Malaysia would still be ;)<br /><br />What if Eric Cantona had joined Liverpool, and not Leeds United and eventually Manchester United in the early 1990's? In 1992, Liverpool manager Graeme Souness was asked by Michel Platini (then manager of the French national team) to bring the talented yet temperamental young striker to England. Souness refused the offer so Cantona went to Leeds United instead. Leeds won the league that season. He was sold to Manchester United the next season and the club immediately won the league for the first time in more than two decades and went on to win more league titles over the years, enough to even surpassed Liverpool's proud long-standing record of 18 English league titles. Liverpool of course depressingly has not won the league since 1990. <br /><br />Pondering with "what if" may also be an act of regret for not doing something that perhaps could have prevented a tragedy from happening. Former Wales manager and football player Gary Speed died tragically a few months ago. Most likely, he had committed suicide but expert testimony given during the coroner's inquest suggests that it might have been purely accidental. Whichever, it will not take the pain away from Gary Speed's wife who confessed that she and Gary had an exchange of words about "something or nothing" the last time she saw him alive. She went out for a ride to clear her mind but soon returned home only to find she had accidentally locked herself out. She spent the night in the car and in the morning found her husband's body hanged in the garage.<br /><br />Imagine how it feels like that your very last conversation with your late spouse was an unpleasant one. Imagine the "what if" that goes through Mrs. Speed's mind. "What if I did not leave the house?"; "What if I had brought my house keys with me?"; "What if I did not make such a big deal about the 'something or nothing' we had argued about?" Imagine that... Well, I certainly can. The circumstances surrounding my wife's death were certainly different. She certainly did not take her own life but we did have our own incident over 'something or nothing' on that fateful day. And because of that, I have continued to ask myself "what if" I had done this or that, and "what if" I had said something that night.<br /><br />It's not easy to move beyond these "what if's'". One cannot choose to have selective amnesia. I cannot simply extract specific data from my brain and delete it from my memory. It stays with me and continues to haunt me. Deal with it one must and as a Muslim, I've learned to accept all that has happened as God's will, the wisdom of which I shall learn to understand for the rest of my life.<br /><br />Fate is to be accepted, not questioned. To sometimes ask 'what if?' is instinctive, to be burdened by it however is maladaptive and un-Islamic. "I am enslaved to fate, of all else say no more; With a sweet tongue speak, else I plea say no more; Speak not of troubles, of treasures tell me more; And if of this you know not, be not troubled, say no more." (Rumi 149, <span style="font-style: italic;">Divan-e Shams</span>)<br /><br />For the first time in almost a year, I feel strong enough to move on, to finish all that I've started and to begin the search for a new mother for my three young children. Regaining some level of optimism is essential. Optimistic I am of many things, including for Liverpool to finally win their 19th league title next year (or sometime before the end of time:)) and for Roger Federer to finally beat Rafael Nadal at Rolland Garros. Churchill, Cantona AND Mahathir are best left to history.Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-5214030460911785392012-01-10T05:07:00.012+08:002012-03-29T12:11:46.539+08:00The Vegetable ChallengeOne of the most difficult challenges I've faced as a single-parent is to get my children to eat green vegetables. I can get them to prepare themselves to school, buckle-up in the car, clean-up their rooms (somewhat), and even switch-off the television with little resistant but to get them to eat green vegetables is almost impossible. Somehow, they just cannot bring themselves to swallow those green leaves and they look genuinely distressed when forced to do so. I am indeed at a lost on how to change this.<br /><br />Once upon a time, <span style="font-style: italic;">Popeye The Sailor Man</span> was a popular cartoon among kids. The fact that Popeye eats spinach to get his strength to beat-up his foe helped a lot of parents then to get their kids to eat vegetables. But Popeye unfortunately isn't popular among kids anymore. And as far as I know, they aren't any contemporary cartoon characters whose main persona revolves around him/her eating vegetables.<br /><br />I had troubles with vegetables too during my own childhood. Popeye was a motivator but what crucially pushed me to start eating lots of vegetables was something I learned when I was 10, in Standard 4 in a class that existed back then called <span style="font-style: italic;">Alam & Manusia</span>. We were learning about the different vitamins and the various benefits they each provide. Way down the list was Vitamin K and one of its main benefits is to prevent infertility (<span style="font-style: italic;">mencegah kemandulan</span>).<br /><br />I didn't actually know what infertility means. All I knew was it meant a person wouldn't be able to have kids. And since I was already imagining having lots of kids of my own, the word infertility (<span style="font-style: italic;">mandul</span>) so terrified me, it got me started eating lots and lots of vegetables. It worked wonders I guess as I had three kids within seven years of marriage. To have more however would be a bit difficult now since my wife passed away nine months ago.<br /><br />My late wife was indeed more successful in persuading the kids to eat vegetables. Whenever she cooked, at least one veggie dish will be prepared and she would always ask the kids to take some. And the kids somehow were able to eat them. It seems like they only eat vegetables cooked by their mother, not by anyone else.<br /><br />I'm struggling quite a bit since my wife died. I'm not ashamed to admit that. Looking after the kids and dealing with the various chores around the house aren't what I'm struggling with. The emotional and spiritual issues are those that continue to affect me. My late wife would've celebrated her birthday yesterday (9 January), and as I remember back the circumstances that preceded her death, my heart still aches with a tinge of sadness.<br /><br />At some point however, we have to move on. As much as I think I can raise our three children on my own, there will always be a few things that I won't be able to do on my own. My eldest daughter is fast approaching the stage where there will be a few 'female issues' to deal with. And I could certainly use some help to get the kids to eat green vegetables again.Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-72763931649103938192011-12-02T04:38:00.004+08:002011-12-29T20:52:18.611+08:00...vegetable<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcX1qA1Etc8"><strong>The Logical Song</strong></a><br /><small><b>Songwriters:</b> Davies, R; Hodgson, R;</small><br /><br />When I was young<br />It seemed that life was so wonderful<br />A miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical<br />And all the birds in the trees<br />Well they'd be singing so happily<br />Joyfully, playfully watching me<br /><br />But then they send me away<br />To teach me how to be sensible<br />Logical, responsible, practical<br />And then they showed me a world<br />Where I could be so dependable<br />Clinical, intellectual, cynical<br /><br />There are times when all the world's asleep<br />The questions run too deep for such a simple man<br />Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned?<br />I know it sounds absurd but please tell me who I am<br /><br />I say, "Now what would you say for they calling you a radical<br />Liberal, fanatical, criminal?"<br />Won't you sign up your name? We'd like to feel you're<br />Acceptable, respectable, presentable, a <span style="font-weight: bold;">vegetable</span><br /><br />At night when all the world's asleep<br />The questions run so deep for such a simple man<br />Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned?<br />I know it sounds absurd but please tell me who I am<br />Who I am, who I am, who I am...<br /><br />[ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/s/supertramp-lyrics/the-logical-song-lyrics.html ]Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-1259129717564745132011-03-11T04:14:00.011+08:002011-03-23T22:11:46.367+08:00Power, Fear & AngerHow do the emotions anger and fear tip the balance between peace and conflict?<span style=""> </span>When fear is used by government leaders on their own people, they use it to 'persuade' them to submit to their rules.<span style=""> </span>"Obey me, or else..."<br /><br />Fear is all about intimidation.<span style=""> </span>It isn't nice, unethical even but most often, it works.<span style=""> </span>If not, how else dictators and authoritarian leaders past and present managed to cling on to power despite their reckless cruelty, greed and unfair treatment of others?<br /><br />Fear works tremendously in environments previously rampant with strife and clashes between groups of people.<span style=""> </span>Anarchy exists in the absence of a strong authority to control warring factions.<span style=""> </span>A strong authoritarian leader, a dictator, is needed to control those in dire thirst for enemy blood.<span style=""> </span>The leader must be respected and feared to the extent that he is able to force such people to submission.<span style=""> </span>Only then can order be restored.<br /><br />Saddam Hussein of Iraq and Husni Mubarak of Egypt were dictators, no doubt. But Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia and Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore?<span style=""> </span>According to a few academic-operational definitions, they probably are.<span style=""> </span>But the 'd' word is also probably too strong and too harsh a word to be used on them.<span style=""> </span>After all, both of them did resign from their respective government positions.<span style=""> </span>And their actions while in power were certainly not in the same 'class' as those committed by Robert Mugabe of<span style=""> </span>Zimbabwe, Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines, or even Suharto of Indonesia.<br /><br />Both Mahathir and LKY however were definitely not gentlemen politicians.<span style=""> </span>In response to an interview question critical of Singapore’s political culture, LKY once said: "it is not in the business of the present government to make it easy for the opposition party to overthrow us."<br /><br />That short statement pretty much sums up LKY's view on democracy.<span style=""> </span>Basically, for both him and Mahathir, elections are fine but they need not necessarily be free and fair.<span style=""> </span>The government of the day controls the media, civil service and security forces.<span style=""> </span>Use them to the maximum to secure victory.<span style=""> </span>Who cares about ethics and fair play!<br /><br />Here in Malaysia , the <span style="font-style: italic;">modus operandi</span> of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition remains the same.<span style=""> </span>Fear is used to intimidate in such a way that many can’t even imagine political parties other than BN ruling this country.<span style=""> </span>The fear is, if indeed others were to rule, the country will collapse.<span style=""> </span>For many Malays particularly, the thought of a Chinese <span style="font-style: italic;">'</span><i style="">kiasu'</i> party like the DAP (Democratic Action Party) in federal government is their greatest nightmare.<span style=""> </span>We Malays are certainly not afraid of <i style="">Hantu Kak Limah</i> or <span style="font-style: italic;">Zombie Kampung Pisang</span>, but we are afraid of Karpal Singh and Lim Kit Siang.<span style=""> </span>They may look human but are actually more scary and evil than the most devilish of devils! So it seems.<br /><br />Any person with a more rational and practical mind would realize how foolish such a fear is.<span style=""> </span>DAP has never contested more than 35% of parliamentary seats in any general election.<span style=""> </span>That alone is enough to tell us that they can’t form the government on their own.<span style=""> </span>They can only do so in a coalition with the Islamic Party (PAS) and the National Justice Party (PKR).<span style=""> </span>And both PAS and PKR are led by Malay-Muslim leaders.<span style=""> </span>To say that these people can so easily be bullied by DAP to abandon their stand on Malay rights and Islam is just naive and insulting.<br /><br />If (a very big 'if') Pakatan Rakyat were to form the federal government after the next general election, the only people who would be overwhelmed with genuine fear are those who have unfairly benefited from their connections with the Barisan Nasional government.<span style=""> </span>Businessmen, civil servants and all others who had used political connections for personal gains indeed have a real cause for concern.<span style=""> </span>But for most of us who have never been part of that culture, there is nothing to fear.<span style=""> </span>Life goes on.<span style=""> </span>Work in the office continues.<br /><br />If people find that hard to imagine, look back at what happened when the opposition took over the state governments of Selangor, Penang, Perak and Kedah after the 2008 General Election?<span style=""> </span>Did the people in these states experienced armageddon?<span style=""> </span>Were the Malays in these states particularly in Penang and Selangor chased away from their homes?<span style=""> </span>Were they any masjids or suraus destroyed or confiscated?<br /><br />Leaders in Pakatan Rakyat are not immune from mistakes, no doubt, but they certainly are not devils in human form who would condemn the people in this country to a state of abject destitution.<span style=""> </span>Nor are they complete morons who have no skills and intelligence whatsoever to run this country. <span style=""> </span>Likewise, for ardent supporters of Pakatan, they shouldn't be thinking that everything that is associated with UMNO and Barisan Nasional is bad.<span style=""> </span>Give credit when credit is due.<span style=""> </span>Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has certainly done a number of good things since he took over from Abdullah Badawi.<br /><br />I believe, above all, what many of us want to see is a fair fight.<span style=""> </span>Let us see more debates between leaders and personalities from both sides.<span style=""> </span>Let it be a battle of ideas, not a battle which revolves around someone's anus and undergarment.<span style=""> </span>This is unfortunately what the current government is utterly incapable of doing.<span style=""> </span>For now, fear remains strong, especially amongst the Malays.<span style=""> </span>PM Najib thus should be reasonably confident that BN will win convincingly in the next general election.<br /><br />There isn't enough anger amongst Malaysians that would convince many of us to commit to the kind of actions recently seen in Tunisia and Egypt.<span style=""> </span>Many indeed are angry about the rising prices of oil and other essential goods, the lack of transparency in the government and the continued perception of rampant corruption.<span style=""> </span>But no one wants to see chaos in the streets. We do hope though that those in power, today and tomorrow, will realize the fact that real power is in the hands of the people.<span style=""> </span>Leaders who continue to abuse their positions for their own interest will, sooner-or-later, face the wrath of the people.<span style=""> </span>No matter how rich and powerful you are, you will always be haunted by fear.Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-39150733316943073752011-01-31T21:17:00.007+08:002012-03-05T21:19:40.442+08:00How Can You Not Know People Hate You?From a psychological perspective, the on-going mass uprising in Egypt raises one puzzling question: how can President Hosni Mubarak not know Egyptians hate him? Surely, for a man who has been in power for 30 years, he must have at least some indication how Egyptians view him. Common sense should tell us that but apparently dictators past and present are unable to understand common sense.<div><br /></div><div>I have for long seen and understood how some people have incredibly mind-boggling ways to justify their lofty positions and self-serving behaviour. Deep down they know they are unfairly privileged, and they know many others are suffering or not doing so well. They know it's not nice to be in power for too long, to enjoy all the comfort and riches, yet they'll say to themselves, "why not?" "I've been coming to office every day, I've brought at least some development, I've brought some positive changes, so why not I enjoy and gain some things for myself? And why should I step down? Everywhere I go people smile and greet me. That means they all love me and want me to stay as long as I want."</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm sure Sigmund Freud would've been proud to see how true his defense mechanism theory has turned out to be. Hosni Mubarak indeed is only one out of many other world leaders who are severely out-of-touch with reality. Ben Ali of Tunisia was another, while current leaders in countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia and Jordan are other notable examples.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here in Malaysia, we are not short of case examples either. The recently retired MIC leader is one outstanding example. Here is a person who was the leader of his community for 30 years, who along the process became so rich he could afford to have a collection of tailor-made Italian suits and spent millions for his children's wedding ceremony. Yet the majority of Indians here remain poor, a substantial percentage in fact are living below the poverty level. </div><div><br /></div><div>But perhaps the most interesting case is a certain chief minister in East Malaysia. Again, here's a man who has been in his position for 30 years, has become rich beyond all imaginations, and has enriched his family members too along the way. And, again it's the same story. He is rich while his people have remained poor. People don't like him but he doesn't seem to care nor realise that fact. After all, he is seeking yet another term in power.</div><div><br /></div><div>A certain iconic figure of the opposition would fit as an example too. He seems to be so engrossed with his ultimate ambition to be the next prime minister he does not realise many in his own party and previously ardent supporters are beginning to really hate him. He talks about justice and proclaims war against nepotism and croniyism, yet he keeps his wife as president of his party, allowed his daughter to be elected vice-president while he himself remains the de facto leader (whatever that means). </div><div><br /></div><div>How can you not know people hate you? Apparently some people are just incapable of knowing.</div>Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-90323049654527966272010-12-19T23:49:00.009+08:002014-09-13T23:56:38.918+08:00Disillusioned II (Redemption)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who has been so kind to leave comments in my blog particularly those that were made on my previous post. I wish to clarify a few things about that post and simultaneously respond to some of the comments made. <br />
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Students who took the course <i>History & Philosophy of Psychology</i> with me would probably recall my fascination with the ideas of a certain philosopher of science named <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Feyerabend">Paul Feyerabend</a>. Feyerabend was a controversial figure who advocated the argument that science does not need strict methodologies. His most famous book was aptly titled <i>Against Method </i>in which his main thesis was, in science "anything goes".</div>
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As someone who has always been quite uncomfortable with strict adherence with methods and methodologies, Feyerabend's ideas were certainly very appealing. Here is a philosopher who has written exactly about what I've been struggling with philosophically and intellectually. In all these years that I've been a student and teacher of psychology, I've never been able to really embrace the conventional notion of what is scientific and what is not. I certainly do not think that pure objectivity is ever possible and I find many of the so called 'scientific' arguments in the humanities and social sciences very pedantic and superficial. </div>
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This is the 'demon' that has haunted me for many years that no matter how much I read and try to impress myself with 'scientific' academic work, almost always I end up feeling dissatisfied and disillusioned. Haunted by this still I am as I continue to struggle this past year conceptualising my doctoral research. The dilemma here is, how to remain true and honest to my philosophical beliefs while accepting that adherence to certain rules and principles is mandatory?</div>
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That is me and my confused state of thinking. While I continue with my own internal struggle, I have never and will never look at it as a way to elevate myself above others. Others are entitled to form their own opinion and I respect them for that. Allow me to put it on record here that my previous post was never intended to criticise in any way any of my colleagues and friends. If indeed I have hurt anyone's feelings, please accept my apology.</div>
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Let me now explain the context behind my general criticism against academicians written in my previous post. Since my doctoral research is essentially about ethnic relations in Malaysia, I've been reading various literatures on the issue available across all fields of social sciences. I was impressed by many of these work but cannot honestly say the same for some others. What I find to be very disconcerting on one hand, are scholars/writers who pass simplistic and bias conclusions. And on the other, those who dwell too much on fancy terminologies and theories while offering little in real substance. Of course, one is entitled to express his/her subjective opinions. But an academic by right should know how to refrain him/herself from passing unfair judgments against others.</div>
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If I may briefly offer an example, on the issue of the education system in Malaysia particularly the argument for and against national schools and vernacular schools, I do not think for once there are any sides who are totally right or totally wrong. Such a complex issue should be analysed in all its complexities. I can understand if a politician argues in such a way that he projects the blame totally to a particular group. Politicians are concern about being popular hence they often resort to petty and simplistic arguments. But when an academician resorts to the same sort of argument, I find that very sad and annoying.</div>
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I hope this post will help clarify a few things. Certainly, many things I've written here have touched the surface of various intellectual and philosophical issues that I hope to discuss and write more about in the future. <i>Ma'as salamah</i>!</div>
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Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-84448257466765053772010-11-30T23:20:00.008+08:002013-02-13T23:47:02.943+08:00DisillusionedI am a city lad. I grew up in Petaling Jaya and now live in Kuala Lumpur. I've never lived in a <i>kampung</i> and I've never known how it's like really to be poor. Yet I often lose sleep whenever I see and read about the struggles of others. Why?<br />
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I met a few associates at a mamak joint a few weeks back. I expressed my bewilderment on what goes through the minds of politicians. Do they not lose sleep thinking about the poor? When they walk around and meet people, do they not realise how difficult life is for many others?<br />
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“You are assuming they have a conscience”, said the eldest among us. Apparently they don't. All politicians by nature are self-serving and think always about themselves before others. “People first, performance now”, what exactly those words mean I would never know I guess.<br />
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A friend once described to me how astonished he was when he met a person who lives in the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur who earns only 350 ringgit per month. He was so astonished that he thought the person was only joking. That was until the man showed him his most recent payslip.<br />
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If you can't trust politicians, whom should you trust to make life better for yourself and others? Academicians? Some academicians are so enchanted by theories and models they don't even know what's happening in the real world.<br />
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I am an academician myself (or at least that's what I'm supposed to be), but I often get utterly disillusioned reading ‘scientific’ academic papers. I've never been impressed with numbers, and have never been really interested in conceptual models and theoretical framework. I do concede theorising is necessary but there must be a limit to how much one should pursue it.<br />
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Why exactly do we encourage people to pursue postgraduate studies? Often this is due to opportunities to earn a higher pay and to improve the prospect for promotion. But what exactly about postgraduate qualification that elevates a person's career prospects higher than others?<br />
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Obviously it's the level of expertise the person developed for the topic he worked on for his postgraduate research. Other than that, and more importantly in my humble opinion, is the supposed sophistication of thinking and ideas. Not to say that they should be embroiled always with ground-breaking ideas but enough to know that conclusions and understanding of any issues and problems are never that simple.<br />
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A cabinet minister with a PhD recently made a statement in parliament that the Chinese and Indians in Malaysia are not patriotic enough. That is why, according to him, they refuse to join the military. That statement, was it based on any scientific findings or merely an assumption? If the minister really does have a PhD, I'm sure he could have come up with a more analytical statement.<br />
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“The more you know, the more you know you don't know”. Maybe I have taken this advice far too seriously that the more I read the more I am confused and disillusioned with everything and anything. I wish life can be more simple or maybe it's just me who is making it difficult.<br />
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Related article: '<a href="http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2009/08/25/am_i_an_academi.html">am I an academic?</a>'</div>
Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-51622695939860996932010-11-12T23:31:00.009+08:002011-10-16T11:45:03.437+08:00Diktator Berhati Mulia?<div>(Berikut adalah artikel saya yang diterbitkan di laman web Centre for Policy Initiatives pada 4 November 2010 di bawah tajuk '<a href="http://english.cpiasia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2060:dr-m-dan-lee-kuan-yew-ada-persamaan-mereka&catid=230:zaki-samsudin&Itemid=156">Dr M dan Lee Kuan Yew ada persamaan mereka</a>')</div><div><br /></div>Bekas perdana menteri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad pernah berkata antara tokoh zaman silam yang dikaguminya ialah pemerintah Rusia, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_the_Great">Peter the Great</a>, seorang Tsar yang memerintah Rusia selama lebih 40 tahun, dari tahun 1672 hingga 1725.<br /><br />Kehebatan Peter the Great terletak pada kejayaannya memaju dan meluaskan empayar Rusia setaraf dengan empayar-empayar lain di benua Eropah. Di awal pemerintahannya, beliau banyak merantau meninjau kemajuan negara-negara Eropah Barat. Di Belanda misalnya, beliau mengkaji teknik pembinaan kapal dan pembangunan pelabuhan, dan di London beliau mengkaji pembangunan dan perancangan bandar. Hasilnya, pelabuhan dan armada tentera laut Rusia dimajukan dan bandar Saint Petersburg yang megah dan indah berjaya didirikan.<br /><br />Kejayaan Peter the Great memang tidak dinafikan. Rusia sebelum dan selepas zaman pemerintahannya perbezaannya amat ketara. Jika sebelumnya Rusia lebih tertumpu pada budaya dan industri tradisi, Rusia pada zaman pemerintahan Peter the Great berubah menjadi sebuah empayar yang moden dan progresif. Pastinya banyak kemajuan yang dikecapi rakyat Rusia berpunca daripada kebijaksanaan raja mereka Peter the Great.<br /><br />Semua kemajuan ini tercapai walaupun Peter the Great hakikatnya seorang pemimpin diktator yang zalim dan autokratik. Tidak ada sistem demokrasi di Rusia ketika itu. Tidak ada pilihanraya dan tidak ada kebebasan untuk bersuara. Barang siapa yang berani menentang akan dibunuh dan diseksa. Mayat mereka dipacak pada tiang agar rakyat dapat melihat nasib yang menimpa mereka yang berani menentang. Malah, sejarah telah merakamkan bagaimana Peter the Great sanggup menyeksa dan membunuh anak lelakinya sendiri yang ingkar mematuhi kemahuannya.<br /><br />Bagi mereka yang mengagumi Peter the Great, segala kisah kezaliman ini barangkali tidak begitu penting. Yang lebih penting adalah kemajuan dan pembangunan negara. Penyeksaan dan pembunuhan dianggap asam garam pemerintahan. Matlamat mencapai kemajuan dan pemodenan itu yang lebih utama.<div><br />Dr. Mahathir baru-baru ini telah <a href="http://www1.malaysiakini.com/news/145652">berkata</a>, sistem pemerintahan diktator itu adakalanya baik untuk sesetengah negara. Yang penting, pemimpin diktator itu berhati mulia (<i>benevolent dictator</i>) dan mampu membawa kemajuan kepada rakyat di bawah pemerintahannya. Barangkali bagi Dr. Mahathir, Peter the Great adalah contoh utama seorang diktator yang berhati mulia.<br /><br />Memang benar, pemimpin-pemimpin diktator dulu dan kini bukan semua tindakan mereka jahat dan kejam. Bahkan, ada yang nampak ikhlas mahu membantu rakyat jelata. Saddam Hussein misalnya, berjaya menaikkan taraf pendidikan rakyatnya di Iraq sehingga mencapai taraf yang tertinggi di Timur Tengah pada suatu ketika. Di Cuba pula, pemimpinnya Fidel Castro berjaya mengurangkan jurang kemiskinan di kalangan rakyat dan memastikan khidmat perubatan dan bantuan makanan diberikan kepada semua. Maka, mengapa masih ramai yang tidak mahu sistem pemerintahan diktator seperti ini?</div><div><br />Sistem ini ditentang kerana kuasa dipusatkan kepada seorang manusia biasa yang sedikit sebanyak pasti ada kelemahannya. Seorang pemimpin yang agung, tidak kira betapa tinggi akal dan wibawanya, pasti lambat laun akan lalai dengan kedudukannya. Semakin lama beliau memerintah, semakin tinggi beliau dipuja. Akhirnya tersematlah di fikiran beliau layak untuk terus menjadi ketua, dan dalam segala hal dan perkara beliaulah yang paling arif dan bijaksana. Maka rakyat kesemuanya hanya perlu tunduk dan patuh. Pandangan dan maklum balas tidak diperlukan.<br /><br />Sistem demokrasi tidak mahu perkara sebegini terjadi. Dalam sistem ini, kuasa diberi pada rakyat untuk memilih dan menolak pemimpin. Pemimpin adalah hamba kepada rakyat, dan di tangan rakyat terletak segala kuasa. Jika pemimpin berjasa, beliau akan disanjung. Jika beliau mengkhianati amanah yang diberi, beliau akan dipaksa mengundur diri. Sistem demokrasi percaya bahawa pemimpin negara boleh ditukar ganti. Rakyat diberi ruang dan kebebasan untuk menegur dan mengkritik pemimpinnya dan pemimpin itu harus menerimanya dengan rela hati.<br /><br />Tidak ada sebenarnya seorang diktator yang benar-benar berhati mulia. Kesemuanya bersalah menghukum individu-individu yang tidak bersetuju dengan kepimpinan mereka. Ratusan ribu rakyat Iraq misalnya telah menjadi mangsa kekejaman Saddam. Castro pula begitu banyak memenjarakan orang-orang yang mengkritik dan menentangnya.<br /><br />Mungkin, contoh terbaik seorang diktator berhati mulia ialah <a href="http://www.sustainer.org/dhm_archive/index.php?display_article=vn210singaporeed">Lee Kuan Yew</a>, bekas perdana menteri Singapura. Singapura di bawah pemerintahannya melonjak dari sebuah pulau kecil yang mundur kepada sebuah kota kosmopolitan yang maju, aman dan makmur. Namun di sebalik kejayaan Lee, ada juga kisah-kisah orang yang disekat kebebasan mereka untuk bersuara. Ramai antara mereka pernah meringkuk di penjara.<br /><br />Antara Dr. Mahathir dan Lee sebenarnya ada banyak persamaan. Kedua-dua tokoh ini misalnya percaya sistem demokrasi yang diamalkan di negara-negara maju di Barat tidak sesuai untuk negara-negara di rantau Asia. Negara-negara di Asia dikatakan mempunyai nilai-nilai murni yang tersendiri (<i>Asian values</i>) yang mencerminkan budaya dan keperluan masyarakat di rantau ini. Nilai-nilai murni ini termasuklah sifat taat dan setia kepada pemimpin yang tidak berbelah bagi. Dan sekiranya kebebasan bersuara diberikan dengan luas kepada semua, ianya akan mengancam keharmonian dan kestabilan negara.<br /><br />Generasi muda sekarang ini tidak dapat menerima tanggapan sebegini. Ramai antara kami pernah belajar dan menetap di negara-negara Barat. Kami melihat sendiri bagaimana kebebasan bersuara di sana tidak mengakibatkan kehancuran negara dan masyarakat. Malah kami melihat bagaimana kebebasan itu mendesak pemimpin-pemimpin bertindak dengan lebih berhati-hati dan bertanggungjawab. Pemimpin-pemimpin kerajaan datang dan pergi, namun negara tetap teguh berdiri. Tidak hancur sesebuah negara itu bilamana pemimpin kerajaan ditukar ganti.<br /><br />Kami tidak mahu diktator yang berhati mulia kerana semua diktator itu sama sahaja. Semuanya bertindak mengikut kehendak dan buah fikiran mereka semata-mata. Walhal bukan dalam semua hal dan perkara pendapat mereka benar belaka. Dalam sesebuah negara, ada ramai yang berhati mulia. Mengapa perlu bergantung kepada seorang sahaja? Adakah hati seorang diktator berhati mulia itu lebih mulia dari semua seteru-seteru politiknya?<br /><br />Di Malaysia misalnya, adakah pemimpin-pemimpin Umno dan Barisan Nasional sahaja yang berhati mulia yang ikhlas mahu membangunkan negara? Pemimpin-pemimpin pembangkang bagaimana? Adakah semua mereka ini berhati busuk dan mahu menghancurkan negara? Dan, adakah semua mereka ini bodoh-bodoh belaka, tiada ilmu dan tiada keupayaan langsung untuk memimpin negara?<br /><br />Kami bukannya mahu kebebasan mutlak yang membiarkan pemimpin-pemimpin, agama, kaum dan budaya dicerca dan dihina. Cukuplah sekadar ruang yang sedikit luas diberikan agar rakyat boleh meluahkan pendapat dengan jujur dan berhemah tanpa perlu merasa takut menerima hukuman. Zaman sekarang bukan lagi zaman feudal di mana segala titah dan buah fikiran raja dan pemimpin umpama wahyu yang diturunkan.<br /><br />Memang menjadi lumrah pemimpin-pemimpin politik berbeza pendapat dan falsafah. Pertahankanlah pendapat dan falsafah masing-masing dengan jujur, telus dan matang. Biar rakyat yang menentukan mana yang menjadi pilihan. Tidak perlu seorang diktator berhati mulia yang menentukan.</div>Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-1338184052438297352010-09-30T18:41:00.019+08:002012-11-08T02:05:09.284+08:00'Yang Menang Jadi Raja, Yang Kalah Jadi Penjahat'(Berikut adalah artikel saya yang diterbitkan di laman web Centre for Policy Initiatives pada 23 September 2010 di bawah tajuk '<a href="http://english.cpiasia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2020:umno-menentang-malayan-union-memberi-kerakyatan-kepada-kaum-minoriti-&catid=230:zaki-samsudin&Itemid=156">Umno menentang Malayan Union memberi kerakyatan kepada kaum minoriti</a>')<br />
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Pepatah Cina ada menyebut: 'Yang menang jadi raja, yang kalah jadi penjahat' <i>(chengzhe wei wang, baizhe wei kou)</i>. Pepatah ini sering digunakan dalam konteks penulisan sejarah. Sejarah sering ditulis pihak yang menang dalam perang merebut kuasa. Maka, yang menang itu diagung-agungkan dan yang kalah dicerca semahunya.<br />
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Lihat sahaja bagaimana Hang Tuah dan Hang Jebat digambarkan dalam 'Sejarah Melayu'. Hang Tuah diagung-agungkan sebagai wira menyelematkan Melaka dan Hang Jebat dicerca sebagai penderhaka yang kejam dan hina. Hang Jebat digambarkan seorang yang mabuk kuasa mengamuk menuntut bela atas kematian sahabat karibnya. Beliau dikatakan kebal kerana keris Taming Sari berada ditangannya. Maka Hang Jebat seorang sahaja sudah cukup untuk mengambil-alih istana Sultan Melaka.<br />
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Hakikatnya, Sejarah Melayu ditulis oleh penulis-penulis yang diupah pihak istana. Mana mungkin huraiannya adil dan saksama menggambarkan setiap tokoh dan peristiwa di Melaka. Hang Jebat misalnya dikatakan bertindak sendirian. Tidak ada yang lain yang menyokongnya.<br />
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Namun bila direnung secara rasional, adakah mungkin benar Jebat seorang mampu menundukkan semua hulubalang raja? Bala tentera kerajaan Melaka bukan hanya seorang dua. Malah dikatakan mencecah puluhan ribu jumlahnya. Takkan Hang Jebat begitu hebat sehingga mampu menewaskan kesemuanya?<br />
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Mungkinkah apa yang berlaku sebenarnya adalah perang saudara? Hang Jebat adalah ketua pihak pemberontak dan beliau disokong ribuan rakyat yang simpati dengan perjuangannya. Kumpulannya tewas maka Hang Jebat sebagai ketua dicerca dan dihina seolah-olah tidak ada seorang rakyat pun yang menyokongnya.<br />
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Tidak cukup dengan itu, Hang Jebat dituduh pula mengamuk, setelah ditikam Hang Tuah, membunuh ramai rakyat Melaka yang tidak berdosa. Sehebat manapun seorang pahlawan, mana mungkin setelah parah tertusuk keris di badan mengamuk tujuh hari tujuh malam membunuh ribuan manusia?<br />
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Mustahil pada saat ini untuk kita mengetahui apakah sebenarnya yang terjadi. Kisah Hang Tuah dan Hang Jebat berlaku sudah sekian lama. Tidak ada sumber bukti yang sahih yang dapat memisahkan yang mana fakta dan yang mana rekaan semata-mata.<br />
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Namun dalam pengkajian sejarah kemerdekaan negara yang hanya separuh abad usianya, banyak sumber boleh diselidiki untuk menghasikan ulasan yang adil dan saksama. Misalnya, dalam mengkaji persoalan siapakah pejuang kemerdekaan negara, tidak mungkin hasilnya akan menjurus hanya pada Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak dan pemimipin Parti Perikatan yang lain?<br />
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Nama-nama seperti <a href="http://imgettingpersonal.blogspot.com/2009/08/biography-of-dr-burhanuddin-al-helmy.html">Burhanuddin Al-Helmy</a>, Ahmad Boestamam, Mustapha Hussain dan ramai lagi, kenapa lenyap begitu sahaja dalam buku-buku teks sejarah rasmi negara?<br />
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Yang pasti, yang terawal berjuang ke arah kemerdekaan bukanlah golongan elit dan bangsawan Melayu yang menubuhkan Umno pada tahun 1946. Yang terlebih dahulu menyemai semangat merdeka adalah orang-orang kebanyakan seperti Ibrahim Yaakub, Ishak Haji Muhammad, Burhanuddian Al-Helmy dan Mustapha Hussain. Malangnya, kerana mereka bukanlah daripada golongan elit masyarakat Melayu yang berdamping dengan penjajah British, usaha mereka tidak berhasil.<br />
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Namun perjuangan dan pengorbanan mereka tidak sia-sia. Walaupun telah sekian lama tidak diberi penghormatan, kisah perjuangan mereka kini mula terserlah melalui buku-buku yang disadur dengan interpretasi sejarah yang berbeza daripada apa yang sering dihidangkan dalam buku-buku sejarah rasmi negara.<br />
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Peranan dan sumbangan Umno ke arah kemerdekaan memang tidak dinafikan. Namun hakikatnya, ketika Umno ditubuhkan pada tahun 1946, kemerdekaan Tanah Melayu bukan matlamat yang diperjuangkan. Umno ditubuhkan asalnya untuk menentang penubuhan Malayan Union. Yang ditentang adalah perlucutan kuasa raja-raja Melayu dan undang-undang yang memberikan hak kewargenegaraan kepada semua golongan imigran yang termaktub dalam gagasan Malayan Union yang dicadangkan.<br />
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Malah Umno dalam tempoh lima tahun pertama penubuhannya begitu berkeras tidak mahu membuka taraf kerakyatan kepada orang-orang Cina, India dan orang-orang bukan Melayu yang lain di Malaya. Pengasas dan Presiden Umno ketika itu, Dato' Onn Jaafar mulai sedar kemerdekaan akan hanya tercapai jika masyarakat berbilang kaum dan agama di Malaya dapat bersatu dan bekerjasama. Namun usahanya untuk membuka keahlian Umno kepada kaum yang lain ditentang hebat, memaksa beliau meletak jawatan dan mengasaskan parti politik yang lain.<br />
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Dalam keadaan Umno yang masih terkial-kial dengan isu kerakyatan, sudah ada sebenarnya usaha untuk menyatupadukan masyarakat berbilang kaum di Malaya di bawah satu suara untuk menuntut kemerdekaan. Usaha ini dipelopori pertubuhan-pertubuhan di bawah naungan Putera (Pusat Tenaga Rakyat) dan AMCJA (All-Malaya Council of Joint Action). Putera dipelopori Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (PKMM) yang diketuai Burhanuddin Al-Helmy dan disokong hebat masyarakat Melayu di luar bandar. AMCJA pula didokong kesatuan-kesatuan pekerja dan beberapa pertubuhan bukan Melayu yang lain.<br />
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Malangnya semua pertubuhan ini tidak mendapat restu pihak British. Alasan utamanya ialah semua pertubuhan ini berfahaman kiri dan dituduh bersekongkol dengan pihak komunis. Maka kewujudan dan pengaruh mereka menjadi ancaman besar kepada pihak British yang mahu memelihara kepentingan mereka sendiri. Semua pertubuhan haluan kiri ini diharamkan dan ramai pemimpin-pemimpin mereka ditahan. Penahanan mereka membuka laluan untuk Umno memimpin perjuangan ke arah kemerdekaan yang sebelum itu bukan matlamat asal yang diperjuangkan.<br />
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Buku-buku teks sejarah sekarang tidak banyak mengulas tentang kisah-kisah ini. Sejarah kemerdekaan negara dirumuskan dalam fakta-fakta ringkas yang disusun dalam bentuk carta dan gambarajah. Mana mungkin pelajar-pelajar sekarang mampu menyelami dan menghayati sejarah negara dengan kaedah pembelajaran seperti ini?<br />
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Namun inilah realitinya sekarang. Sejarah hanyalah satu matapelajaran yang memerlukan penghafalan 'fakta' sepertimana yang termaktub dalam buku-buku teks dan rujukan.<br />
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Saya berpendapat semua rakyat Malaysia perlu didedahkan dengan penulisan-penulisan sejarah yang berbeza. Bermula dari sekolah menengah, golongan muda perlu didedahkan dengan kisah-kisah perjuangan semua golongan dan kumpulan pejuang kemerdekaan termasuklah kisah perjuangan Kesatuan Melayu Malaya, PKMM, Putera, AMCJA, Umno dan Parti Komunis Malaya. Semua pertubuhan-pertubuhan ini telah menyumbang ke arah kemerdekaan.<br />
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Maka, selain daripada membaca kisah perjuangan tokoh-tokoh seperti Onn Jaafar, Tunku Abdul Rahman dan Tan Cheng Lock, semua rakyat Malaysia perlu digalakkan juga memahami perjuangaan tokoh-tokoh lain seperti Burhanuddin Al-Helmy, Ahmad Boestamam, Mustapha Hussain, Rashid Maidin, Shamsiah Fakeh, Chin Peng dan lain-lain.<br />
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Antara tokoh-tokoh ini memang terdapat tokoh-tokoh komunis yang terlibat dalam pembunuhan dan keganasan. Namun keganasan sebenarnya tidak berlaku hanya di sebelah pihak. Dan pihak komunis tidak juga mengganas membabi buta tanpa sebab. Ada sejarahnya dan ada kisah di sebaliknya.<br />
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Fakta sejarah itu tidak semuanya hitam dan putih. Terdapat kisah dan interpretasi yang berbeza. Tidak salah untuk kita memihak kepada interpretasi yang tertentu, namun salah rasanya jika kita menafikan wujudnya interpretasi-interpretasi lain yang ada.<br />
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Secara peribadi saya percaya tatkala segala kisah perjuangan ini dirungkai dan dibahas, ramai yang akan bersetuju dengan kesimpulan bahawa kaedah yang diambil Tunku Abdul Rahman merupakan jalan terbaik untuk mencapai kemerdekaan. Tunku menuntut kemerdekaan daripada pihak British secara aman dan teratur.<br />
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Kebijaksaan Tunku berunding memastikan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu mencapai kemerdekaan pada tahun 1957 dengan mewarisi sistem dan prasarana pentadbiran yang licin dan berkesan. Ini banyak menyumbang kepada kemajuan negara yang lebih pesat berbanding dengan bekas tanah jajahan British yang lain seperti Ghana, Nigeria, India dan Pakistan.<br />
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Namun dalam keghairahan kita memperingati jasa dan pengorbanan Tunku dan rakan-rakannya, janganlah diabaikan pengorbanan tokoh-tokoh yang lain. Janganlah dinafikan kemerdekaan yang kita nikmati hari ini sedikit sebanyak adalah hasil perjuangan mereka juga.<br />
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Related article: '<a href="http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/35825-was-merdeka-taken-or-was-it-given">Was Merdeka taken or was it given?</a>' by Raja Petra Kamaruddin</div>
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Recommended short film: '<a href="http://vimeo.com/344899">10 Tahun Sebelum Merdeka</a>' by Fahmi Reza</div>
Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-45649460805139803422010-08-21T00:09:00.006+08:002010-12-21T23:02:57.770+08:00Kepentingan Kajian Sains Sosial(Berikut adalah artikel saya yang diterbitkan di laman web Centre for Policy Initiatives pada 12 Ogos 2010 di bawah tajuk '<a href="http://english.cpiasia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1982:masalah-kurang-kajian-dan-pribumi-pulang-ke-bakun&catid=230:zaki-samsudin&Itemid=156">Masalah kurang kajian dan pribumi pulang ke Bakun</a>')<br /><br />Sejak beberapa dekad yang lalu, kita ghairah menggalak pelajar-pelajar mengambil jurusan sains tulen. Hasrat kerajaan ialah untuk melahirkan jurutera-jurutera dan saintis-saintis tempatan untuk memacu pertumbuhan industri berat dan teknologi tinggi di dalam negara.<br /><br />Bilamana tumpuan lebih diberikan pada bidang kejuruteraan, sains komputer, fizik dan pelbagai bidang sains tulen yang lain, jurusan sains sosial kurang diberi perhatian, walhal peranannya dalam perancangan dasar dan pelan pembangunan seharusnya tidak diabaikan.<br /><br />Mengkaji kesan pembangunan kepada masyarakat adalah tugas dan bidang ahli-ahli sains sosial. Seorang ahli sosiologi misalnya akan mengkaji perihal kesan pembangunan kepada institusi keluarga, masalah sosial, kesejahteraan penduduk, taraf pendidikan dan kesihatan masyarakat.<br /><br />Kajian-kajian yang dilakukan penting bagi merangka polisi kerajaan yang menjurus ke arah pembangunan yang lebih seimbang. Memang menjadi hasrat ahli-ahli sains sosial agar hasil kajian saintifik dijadikan asas pertimbangan bilamana sesuatu dasar yang baru dan projek pembangunan ingin dilaksanakan.<br /><br />Maka sebagai seorang ahli seumur hidup Persatuan Sains Sosial Malaysia, saya menyambut baik kenyataan Ketua Menteri Sarawak Abdul Taib Mahmud baru-baru ini yang mengiktiraf peranan sains sosial dalam merancang pembangunan.<br /><br />Ketika berucap pada satu majlis pertemuan dengan pelajar-pelajar dari Sarawak di London pada 26 Julai yang lalu, Abdul Taib Mahmud <a href="http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=52332">dilaporkan</a> telah menyebut bahawa adalah penting bagi kerajaan negeri mencapai persefahaman dengan masyarakat Penan dan kaum-kaum asal yang lain tentang penempatan baru bagi mereka yang terpaksa dipindahkan kerana pembinaan projek hydro di negeri tersebut. Di sinilah, menurut beliau, sumbangan dan kemahiran ahli-ahli sains sosial amat diperlukan.<br /><br />Pakar-pakar dalam bidang sains sosial memang boleh banyak menyumbang. Sebaik-baiknya, setiap kali sebelum suatu dasar atau projek pembangunan itu diluluskan, perlu dijalankan kajian impak sosial polisi dan projek berkenaan. Perlu ditekankan di sini, kajian-kajian sepatutnya dijalankan sebelum, bukan sahaja, selepas perlaksanaan.<br /><br />Inilah yang sering menjadi masalah. Kajian-kajian sosial yang neutral dan saintifik tidak dijadikan asas pertimbangan. Yang lebih diutamakan adalah pendapat dan pendirian peribadi perdana menteri, ketua menteri atau menteri yang bertanggungjawab. <strong></strong><br /><br />Lihat saja pada kronologi bagaimana dasar Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam Bahasa Inggeris (PPSMI) diperkenalkan. Idea asal dasar ini datang dari perdana menteri ketika itu, Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Seterusnya dibawa ke persidangan Pemuda Umno untuk didebatkan. Tidak lama selepas itu dibawa ke mesyuarat kabinet dan kemudiannya terus diluluskan.<br /><br />Tidak diketahui samada ada kajian dijalankan untuk meramal kesan jangka pendek dan jangka panjang dasar berkenaan. Tidak diketahui juga samada kajian terperinci telah dijalankan untuk mengukur samada guru-guru yang sedia-ada sudah cukup terlatih untuk melaksanakan PPSMI.<br /><br />Nyata sekali kajian-kajian seperti ini tidak dianggap penting. Yang penting ialah pendapat dan keputusan perdana menteri dan mesyuarat kabinet. Selain daripadanya dianggap butiran yang boleh ditangani kemudian.<br /><br />Proses yang sama kini sudah kelihatan dalam perbincangan usul Kementerian Pelajaran untuk menghapuskan peperiksaan UPSR dan PMR. Idea asal datang dari Muhyiddin Yassin selaku Menteri Pelajaran. Memang ada beberapa perbincangan meja-bulat diadakan. Namun, sepertimana yang berlaku sebelum dasar PPSMI dilaksanakan, kerajaan nampaknya sudah jelas menjurus ke arah penghapusan kedua-dua peperiksaan berkenaan.<br /><br />Badan-badan dan pertubuhan yang mewakili guru-guru dan ibubapa sudah menyuarakan bantahan, namun ini nampaknya tidak begitu diendahkan. Ramai pihak menuntut agar apa jua keputusan yang diambil perlu dibuat <a href="http://www.utusanonline.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=0728&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Dalam_Negeri&pg=dn_06.htm">berdasarkan hasil kajian saintifik</a> yang telus dan mendalam. Sekali lagi, tuntutan ini tidak dianggap penting dan tidak dilayan.<br /><strong></strong><br />Agak aneh juga memikirkan adakah Abdul Taib Mahmud, setelah hampir tiga dekad menjadi ketua menteri di Sarawak, baru sekarang sedar kepentingan kajian sains sosial dalam perlaksanaan pelan pembangunan? Apatah lagi bagi projek yang begitu besar seperti projek empangan Bakun, apakah selama ini kajian impak sosial langsung tidak dititikberatkan?<br /><br />Untuk membina empangan ini, lebih 10,000 orang penduduk asal terpaksa dipindahkan. Mereka dijanjikan penempatan baru yang lebih baik yang lengkap dengan kemudahan-kemudahan asas dan dijamin peluang pekerjaan.<br /><br />Pihak bertanggungjawab secara amnya merasakan mereka lebih tahu apa yang terbaik untuk penduduk-penduduk ini. Maka mereka dengan sendirinya memutuskan di mana penduduk-penduduk ini dipindahkan. Tidak banyak usaha dilakukan untuk menyelami kegusaran yang timbul di kalangan penduduk-penduduk asal ini dan adakah penempatan baru ini sesuai dengan cara hidup mereka sebelumnya.<br /><br />Cuma sekarang baru terdetik di fikiran pihak bertanggungjawab untuk mengkaji kembali pelan penempatan semula. Hal ini diakui sendiri oleh penasihat alam sekitar kerajaan negeri Sarawak, Dr. James Dawos Mamit. Beliau mengakui sudah ada sebilangan penduduk asal yang mengambil keputusan <a href="http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/31/sarawak/5962927&sec=sarawak">pulang ke penempatan asal</a> mereka kerana tidak mampu menyesuaikan diri di penempatan baru yang disediakan. Mereka sanggup pulang walaupun menyedari mustahil untuk mereka tinggal di sana bila empangan Bakun dibuka nanti.<br /><br />Masalah-masalah seperti ini timbul kerana kurangnya perhatian yang diberikan pada kajian sosio-ekonomi dan sosiologi yang objektif dan mendalam. Tidak mengapalah, mungkin Abdul Taib Mahmud dan kerajaan pimpinannya sudah sedar akan kesilapan mereka dan kini mahu memperbetulkannya. Atau mungkin ‘kesedaran’ ini hanya bersifat sementara menjelang berlangsungnya pilihanraya negeri tidak lama lagi?Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-44192170727044919702010-07-31T13:12:00.004+08:002010-08-08T14:04:16.385+08:00Keluarga atau Negara?(Berikut adalah artikel saya yang diterbitkan di laman web Centre for Policy Initiatives pada 22 Julai 2010 di bawah tajuk '<a href="http://english.cpiasia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1970:jika-pm-guna-wang-negara-selamatkan-perniagaan-anak&catid=230:zaki-samsudin&Itemid=156">Jika PM guna wang negara selamatkan perniagaan anak</a>')<br /><br />Dalam salah satu episod siri drama televisyen popular 24, presiden Amerika Syarikat, Presiden Allison Taylor (seorang wanita) digambarkan berhadapan dengan dilema yang amat berat. Anak perempuannya telah mengaku mengupah seseorang untuk membunuh seorang saksi yang telah diberi imuniti dan perlindungan oleh kerajaan.<br /><br />Ada sebabnya saksi ini dibunuh. Saksi ini adalah seorang tahanan yang bertanggungjawab membunuh anak lelaki presiden. Maka adik perempuannya mahu membalas dendam atas pembunuhan abangnya. Namun, ibunya selaku presiden bukan sahaja tidak mendakwa saksi ini atas kesalahannya itu, malah memberikan imuniti kepadanya sebagai syarat beliau bekerjasama memberkas penjahat-penjahat yang lain.<br /><br />Bayangkan dilema yang dihadapi Presiden Taylor? Beliau ada dua orang anak. Seorang telah mati dibunuh. Yang seorang lagi kini berhadapan hukuman mati atau penjara seumur hidup. Yang mati tidak boleh dihidupkan kembali namun yang hidup masih boleh dilindungi.<br /><br />Yang boleh mengaitkan anak perempuan presiden dengan jenayah ini ialah sebuah pita rakaman yang merakamkan perbualan antara anak presiden itu dan orang yang mengatur pembunuhan tersebut. Sekiranya pita rakaman itu dimusnahkan, tidak ada bukti lain yang boleh membuktikan penglibatan anak perempuan presiden dalam kes tersebut.<br /><br />Suami Presiden Taylor mengesyorkan agar pita rakaman itu dimusnahkan. Beliau menyaran isterinya menggunakan kuasanya sebagai presiden untuk melindungi anak mereka. Lebih-lebih lagi, orang yang dibunuh itu ialah orang yang bertanggungjawab sebelumnya membunuh anak lelaki mereka.<br /><br />Berdepan dengan pilihan antara tanggungjawab sebagai seorang ibu dan isteri, dan tanggungjawab sebagai presiden yang bersumpah untuk mematuhi perlembagaan negara, yang mana patut dipilih? Mungkin situasi dramatik seperti ini tidak berlaku dalam realiti. Namun dilema seumpamanya dalam situasi yang berbeza pasti boleh berlaku.<br /><br />Bayangkan seorang perdana menteri, anaknya berdepan masalah kewangan yang kritikal; perniagaannya hampir musnah dan hutangnya bertimbun. Dilihat akan si bapa akan anaknya yang muram dan sengsara, adakah si bapa selaku perdana menteri patut berdiam diri sahaja tanpa melakukan apa-apa?<br /><br />Selaku perdana menteri, beliau punya kuasa dan pengaruh. Beliau boleh menggunakan sumber kewangan negara untuk menyelamatkan perniagaan anaknya. Perniagaan anaknya itu pun memang perniagaan strategik yang penting untuk negara. Walaupun ianya melibatkan anaknya sendiri, tidak salah rasanya menggunakan dana awam untuk membantunya.<br /><br />Mungkin secara peribadi, perdana menteri itu mahu membiarkan anaknya merana memikul tanggungjawab kegagalan perniagaannya. Hasratnya agar undang-undang negara dipatuhi dan sumber kewangan negara tidak digunakan untuk tujuan peribadi. Namun bila isteri dan ahli-ahli keluarga yang lain turut mendesak agar bantuan diberi, mampukah perdana menteri itu berpeluk tubuh berpegang pada prinsip?<br /><br />Jika perdana menteri itu tetap teguh berpegang pada prinsip, beliau berdepan risiko berlakunya perpecahan dalam keluarganya sendiri. Dalam drama televisyen 24, Presiden Taylor telah dengan berberat hati menyerahkan anaknya ke pihak berkuasa. Permintaan suaminya agar bukti pita rakaman dimusnahkan tidak ditunaikan. Suaminya marah dan kecewa sehingga membuat keputusan bercerai dengan isterinya.<br /><br />Dialog falsafah antara Socrates dan Euthypro wajar dijadikan renungan dalam hal ini. Euthypro merupakan seorang pakar perundangan pada zaman Greek purba. Pada suatu hari, beliau terserempak dengan Socrates di perkarangan mahkamah. Tujuan Euthypro ke situ pada hari tersebut ialah untuk mendakwa ayah kandungnya sendiri atas tuduhan membunuh.<br /><br />Socrates terpegun melihat akan seorang anak yang bersedia mendakwa ayahnya sendiri. Namun Euthypro berkeras bahawa tindakannya itu adalah satu tindakan yang mulia dan soleh. Maka tercetuslah dialog antara mereka akan apakah sebenarnya takrif kemuliaan dan kesolehan itu sendiri.<br /><br />Socrates melontarkan pendapat bahawa kemuliaan dan kesolehan itu adalah sebahagian daripada keadilan. Namun beliau sendiri kemudiannya menyoal, adakah semua yang mulia dan soleh itu adil dan saksama?<br /><br />Memang mudah untuk kita menyangkal, tidak ada yang kabur tentang apa itu sifat yang soleh dan mulia dan apa itu keadilan. Namun hakikatnya, lain orang lain pandangannya dan neraca keadilan mereka mungkin tidak sama.<br /><br />Di kalangan ahli-ahli politik dan pemimpin negara, ada yang berfikir adalah adil bagi mereka menggunakan sedikit kuasa dan pengaruh untuk kepentingan diri sendiri dan keluarga. Rasionalnya, setelah begitu banyak masa dan tenaga dikorbankan untuk orang lain, kenapa tidak sedikit manfaat dan habuan diambil untuk diri sendiri?<br /><br />Dan jika anak-anak atau ahli-ahli terdekat keluarga yang lain terlibat dalam sedikit masalah, kenapa tidak digunakan kuasa untuk menutup masalah itu? Kenapa tidak digunakan serba sedikit harta dan instrumen kerajaan? Kenapa tidak diarahkan pihak berkuasa tidak mengambil tindakan? Jika buruk imej keluarga pemimpin negara, buruk juga nama negara? Maka, bukankah ‘adil’ sekiranya imej pemimpin dan keluarganya dilindungi untuk kepentingan bersama?<br /><br />Tidak mustahil inilah corak pemikiran yang ada di kalangan pemimpin-pemimpin negara. Soalnya sekarang, adakah kita mahu pemimpin yang mentalitinya seperti ini atau pemimpin seperti Presiden Allison Taylor dalam drama 24?<br /><br />Sudah pasti, yang lebih baik adalah yang seperti Presiden Taylor. Namun itu watak di dunia fantasi. Realitinya bagaimana? Tuhan sahaja yang Maha Mengetahui banyak mana pemimpin-pemimpin negara yang tidak teguh prinsipnya.<br /><br />Kesimpulannya, barangsiapa yang merasakan pegangan prinsipnya tidak seteguh Presiden Taylor, janganlah sesekali mengimpikan apa jua jawatan politik yang melibatkan kepentingan negara. Yang sedia ada dalam kerajaan pula, jika pegangan prinsip anda juga tidak teguh, undurlah diri dengan segera sebelum bala menimpa.Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-37828825749220076362010-07-17T10:43:00.009+08:002012-03-30T09:08:56.876+08:00Mengapa Malaysia Tidak Pernah Layak Ke Piala Dunia?(Berikut ialah artikel saya yang diterbitkan di laman web Centre for Policy Initiatives pada <a href="http://english.cpiasia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1965:mengapa-malaysia-tidak-pernah-layak-ke-piala-dunia-&catid=230:zaki-samsudin&Itemid=156">9 July 2010</a>. Dipaparkan juga di bawah komen yang diberikan oleh 'Peminat Bolasepak' yang saya rasakan sangat bernas dan wajar diberikan perhatian yang serius)<br /><br />Pertandingan Piala Dunia Bolasepak 2010 di Afrika Selatan sudah hampir ke penghujungnya. Sudah hampir sebulan peminat bolasepak di Malaysia bersorak menyaksikan pertarungan antara negara-negara selain daripada negara tanahair mereka sendiri. Dalam keghairahan bersorak pasti ramai yang tertanya, "bilalah agaknya pasukan kebangsaan Malaysia akan beraksi di pusingan akhir Piala Dunia?"<br /><br />Melihat pada prestasi pasukan kebangsaan sepanjang beberapa tahun yang lalu, agak mustahil Malaysia dapat beraksi di pentas Piala Dunia. Senarai ranking mutakhir Persekutuan Bolasepak Antarabangsa (FIFA) meletakkan Malaysia di tangga 146, setaraf dengan 'gergasi' bolasepak yang lain seperti Turkmenistan, Burundi dan Madagascar.<br /><br />Walhal, kurang 30 tahun yang lalu pasukan bolasepak kebangsaan duduk setaraf dengan Jepun dan Korea Selatan yang sudah berturut kali layak ke pusingan akhir Piala Dunia. Saya sempat menyaksikan pertarungan antara Malaysia dan Jepun sebanyak dua kali di Stadium Merdeka pada tahun 1980-an. Pertamanya di peringkat separuh akhir Pestabola Merdeka 1986: Malaysia menang 2-1 dalam masa tambahan. Perlawanan kedua ialah di pusingan kelayakan Piala Asia 1988: Malaysia tewas 0-1.<br /><br />Sekarang, sekiranya Malaysia berjaya menewaskan Jepun ataupun tewas tipis di tangan mereka, pasti dianggap kejayaan yang sangat besar. Walaupun tewas 0-1 pada tahun 1988, hakikatnya Malaysia pada perlawanan tersebut menguasai pasukan Jepun sepanjang tempoh perlawanan. Kekalahan tipis ketika itu dianggap cukup mendukacitakan.<br /><br />Kemerosotan pasukan bolasepak kebangsaan boleh dilihat daripada pelbagai sudut. Yang pasti, kemerosotan ini banyak mencerminkan beberapa perkara 'pelik' yang berlaku di dalam negara.<br /><br />Pertama, jika dilihat pada barisan pemain kebangsaan sekarang, sudah tidak ada lain pemain berbangsa Cina yang menyarung jersi kebangsaan. Malah, hanya S. Kunalan, pemain dari Negeri Sembilan yang merupakan pemain bukan Melayu tunggal yang sering turun dalam kesebelasan utama pasukan kebangsaan.<br /><br />Sudah pasti kemerosotan prestasi pasukan bolasepak kebangsaan bukan kerana tiadanya pemain berbangsa Cina. Cuma, apa yang berlaku ialah menularnya polarasi kaum dalam arena sukan negara. Bolasepak kini boleh dianggap sukan untuk kaum Melayu sahaja, manakala kaum Cina lebih tertumpu pada acara sukan lain seperti bolakeranjang dan bolatampar.<br /><br />Dalam bersukan pun sudah kurang integrasi antara kaum! Bukankah ini sesuatu yang amat menyedihkan?<br /><br />Saya percaya kepelbagain kaum dalam sebuah pasukan bolasepak ada manfaatnya. Lihat saja pada pasukan Jerman dalam kejohanan Piala Dunia kali ini. Dalam kesebelasan utama pasukannya yang membenam England dan Argentina, ada permain yang berbangsa Turki, ada yang berasal dari Ghana dan Tunisia, dan di bangku simpanan ada pemain-pemain yang berasal dari Sepanyol dan Brazil.<br /><br />Pemain-pemain ini membawa pembaharuan dalam corak permainan pasukan Jerman. Jika sebelum ini mereka dianggap hanya bergantung kepada disiplin dan organisasi permainan yang tinggi, pasukan Jerman kali ini dilihat mempamerkan aksi menyerang yang baik dan kreatif.<br /><br />Pasukan kebangsaan Malaysia dahulunya punya kelebihan ini. Pemain-pemain Melayu dan India lebih ekspresif mempamerkan skil permainan manakala pemain-pemain berbangsa Cina dan Sikh punya daya tumpuan dan disiplin yang tinggi. Maka, tidak hairan jika dilihat pada senarai pemain kebangsaan pada tahun 1970-an dan awal 1980-an, tonggak pertahanan negara dibarisi pemain-pemain seperti Soh Chin Aun, Santokh Singh, Lee Kin Hong dan Serbegeth Singh; dan tonggak serangan dibarisi pemain seperti Mokhtar Dahari, Shukor Salleh, Hassan Sani dan Zainal Abidin Hassan. Budaya yang berbeza membawa gaya permainan yang berbeza, dan ini membawa manfaat bila diadun dengan sempurna.<br /><br />Seperkara lagi yang menyedihkan dalam bolasepak negara ialah penglibatan ahli-ahli politik. Memang benar, daripada sudut kewangan penglibatan ahli-ahli politik itu membawa manfaat. Mereka mampu menarik dana yang diperlukan untuk mengurus persatuan bolasepak tempatan. Selain daripada itu, penglibatan mereka sebenarnya tidak perlu.<br /><br />Saya tidak faham misalnya mengapa jawatan presiden persatuan-persatuan bolasepak negeri sering dipegang menteri-menteri besar. Tidak cukupkah kerja di pejabat menteri besar sehingga perlu mencari kerja tambahan mengurus persatuan bolasepak? Mengapa tidak dibiarkan sahaja pentadbir profesional mentadbir dan membuat keputusan? Saya percaya ramai menganggap penglibatan ahli-ahli politik ini tidak lebih daripada usaha mencara publisiti murahan.<br /><br />Kita tidak mahu ahli-ahli politik masuk campur kerana tidak mahu 'penyakit politik' meresap dalam bolasepak. 'Penyakit' yang paling ketara ialah kurangnya fokus pada rancangan jangka panjang. Banyak dana dan tenaga lebih tertumpu pada kejayaan serta merta. Siapa di kalangan ahli-ahli politik yang mahu membuang masa merancang pelan jangka panjang seperti 'Malaysia ke Piala Dunia 2018'? Tahun 2018 itu sangat jauh dan jangka hayat politik mereka mungkin tamat sebelum itu.<br /><br />Sekiranya perancangan rapi dibuat, saya percaya pasukan bolasepak kebangsaan mampu bersaing di peringkat antarabangsa. Saiz dan tubuh pemain yang kecil tidak lagi boleh dijadikan alasan. Pemain-pemain Jepun dan Korea Selatan sudah membuktikan ia bukanlah penghalang untuk mengecap kejayaan. Kejayaan pasukan kebangsaan merangkul pingat emas Sukan SEA tahun lalu perlu dijadikan asas kejayaan yang lebih besar pada masa hadapan.<br /><br />Bersorak untuk pasukan Brazil, Sepanyol dan Argentina dalam pusingan akhir Piala Dunia banyak membawa kepuasan. Namun, bagi setiap peminat bolasepak di tanahair, tidak ada yang lebih memuaskan dan membanggakan daripada bersorak untuk pasukan Malaysia dan mendengar lagu <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Negaraku</span> berkumandang di Piala Dunia. Bilalah agaknya impian ini akan menjadi kenyataan?<br /><br />Komen ‘Peminat Bolasepak’:<br /><br />Point 1 : <u>Polarasi kaum </u><br /><br />Saya rasakan kurang adil jika kita jatuhkan hukuman polarasi kaum kepada kualiti bolasepak kita. Hakikatnya, memang itu sahajalah yg kita ada. Saya berpendapat jika ada kaum bukan melayu yg mahu bermain pun, tak akan berubah kualitinya. Germany memilih Khedira, Ozil dan Klose bukanlah kerana mahukan integrasi kaum, tetapi kerana itulah yg terbaik mereka ada. Saya yakin bahawa jikalau 23 pemain terbaik German adalah yang memang dilahirkan di German, mereka itulah yg akan dipilih.<br /><br />Sepanyol pernah mencuba kaedah yg lebih kurang serupa pada piala dunia 1984 dengan seberapa boleh menyenaraikan pemain-pemain dari kesemua regional, contohnya Basque, Catalonia, Madrid, Valencia dan Andalusia. Ternyata, ia langsung tidak menjadi, dan persembahan Sepanyol pada piala dunia itu adalah tersangat mengecewakan.<br /><br />Kesemuanya adalah bergantung sepenuhnya kepada perkembangan pemain-pemain kita. Kita selalu melihat kepada bolasepk Inggeris. Corak latihan, akademi bolasepak, kesemuanya adalah merujuk kepada pasukan-pasukan dari Inggeris, padahal, sebenarnya England tidak langsung menyerlah di peringkat antarabangsa. Corak permainan Inggeris yg pantas, laju dan fizikal sebenarnya tidak sesuai dengan keadaan fizikal kita yg sekarang lebih kecil dari Jepun. Bagaimana jika kita menitik beratkan kepada skil teknikal individu? Cara memegang bola, 'close-control', 'dribbling', 'possession', semua ini kurang ada pada bolasepak Inggeris. Kalau kita melihat kepada pemain-pemain dunia yg mempunyai skil seperti yg saya sebut di atas, kesemuanya bertubuh kecil! (Messi, Xavi, Pedro, Iniesta) Jika kita boleh menitik beratkan aspek ini pada permainan kita, tak mustahil kita boleh mempunyai Messi kita sendiri.<br /><br />Point 2 : <u>Politik</u><br /><br />Saya setuju 100%. Tahukah kita bahawa bolasepak Jepun boleh berada di tempat mereka sekarang dengan pelan 20 tahun mereka yg bermula pertengahan 80-an? Dan kita dapat menyaksikan sekarang mereka boleh bersaing di pentas dunia. Dimana pelan kita? Sedangkan format liga malaysia pun seringkali ditukar 1-2 tahun sekali, apatah pula dengan 'blueprint'?Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-76556291860481592032010-06-24T23:22:00.005+08:002010-06-25T00:23:43.234+08:00Bebaskan Mahasiswa Daripada Cengkaman AUKU(The following is my <a href="http://english.cpiasia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1950:bebaskan-mahasiswa-daripada-cengkaman-auku&catid=230:zaki-samsudin&Itemid=156">article</a> for Centre for Policy Initiatives published on its website on 17th June 2010)<br /><br />Gara-gara turun padang meninjau perjalanan kempen pilihanraya kecil di Hulu Selangor April lepas, empat orang mahasiswa Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) kini berhadapan tindakan tatatertib. Mereka adalah 'mangsa' terbaru Akta Universti dan Kolej Universiti (AUKU) yang menghalang mahasiswa dan ahli akademik daripada terlibat dalam sebarang kegiatan politik.<br /><br />AUKU yang diwarisi hari ini adalah salah satu 'harta peninggalan' bekas perdana menteri Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Pindaan ke atas AUKU pada tahun 1975 dibentangkan Dr Mahathir selaku Menteri Pelajaran ketika itu selepas berlakunya demonstrasi besar-besar anjuran gerakan mahasiswa pada tahun 1974. Demonstrasi tersebut dianjurkan bagi membela nasib petani-petani miskin di Baling, Kedah.<br /><br />AUKU diperkenalkan atas alasan perlunya mahasiswa menumpukan masa dan tenaga pada pelajaran dan tidak membuang masa terlibat dalam kegiatan politik. Politik itu dianggap melalaikan. Mereka yang terlibat dalam politik dianggap sudah terpesong daripada landasan yang benar. Hasrat kerajaan ialah membendung kemungkinan mahasiswa gagal dalam pelajaran kerana keterlibatan mereka dalam kegiatan politik.<br /><br />Tidak diketahui berapa ramai mahasiswa di universiti-universiti tempatan yang gagal dalam pelajaran kerana sibuk berpolitik. Mungkin benar ianya salah satu penyebab kegagalan namun pastinya ada penyebab-penyebab yang lain. Antaranya mungkin kerana sibuk bersukan, sibuk bekerja sambilan dan mungkin juga sibuk dilamun percintaan.<br /><br />Sekiranya berpolitik, sebagai salah satu penyebab kegagalan, dibanteras sepenuhnya melalui AUKU, mengapa tidak AUKU diperluaskan bagi membanteras penyebab-penyebab kegagalan yang lain? Mengapa tidak diharamkan saja mahasiswa daripada bersukan, bercinta dan bekerja sambilan? Haramkan saja kesemuanya kerana kita mahu mahasiswa menumpukan hanya pada pelajaran.<br /><br />Sebagai salah seorang tenaga pendidik di institusi pengajian awam, saya kurang mengerti mengapa berpolitik itu dianggap sesuatu yang begitu hina dan membahayakan. Memang benar, ada mahasiswa yang ponteng kelas dan gagal dalam peperiksaan kerana sibuk ke hulu dan ke hilir menghadiri ceramah-ceramah politik. Tetapi tidak semuanya begitu. Ada yang sibuk berpolitik tapi masih mampu mentadbir masa melaksanakan segala tugasan akademik dengan cemerlang.<br /><br />Persoalannya, apakah sebenarnya golongan mahasiswa yang mahu dilahirkan melalui sistem pendidikan tinggi tempatan? Apakah kita mahu melahirkan mahasiswa yang hanya berminat membaca dan menghafal, atau adakah kita mahu mahasiswa yang mampu menghubungkan teori dengan kenyataan?<br /><br />Saya pernah beberapa kali semasa kuliah cuba menilai sejauh mana pengetahuan am pelajar-pelajar saya di kelas. Saya bertanyakan soalan-soalan mudah seperti, 'apakah nama penuh Menteri Pelajaran?' dan 'apakah nama penuh parti PAS?' Agak menyedihkan bagi soalan-soalan mudah seperti ini, tidak sampai 25 peratus pun pelajar yang dapat menjawabnya dengan betul.<br /><br />Yang menarik berkenaan kes empat mahasiswa UKM ini, kesemua mereka adalah pelajar program sains politik yang ketika pilihanraya kecil Hulu Selangor berlangsung, sedang menduduki kursus 'Analisa Pilihanraya' di Jabatan Sains Politik, UKM.<br /><br />Tujuan mereka turun padang di Hulu Selangor adalah untuk meninjau realiti bagaimana kempen pilihanraya di negara ini dijalankan. Malangnya, apa yang sepatutnya dipuji sebagai inisiatif yang baik dijadikan jerat untuk memerangkap mahasiswa-mahasiswa ini.<br /><br />Kesatuan kakitangan akademik tempatan sudah sekian lama menyeru kerajaan menghapuskan AUKU. Bukanlah tujuan saranan ini dibuat untuk mendesak mahasiswa terlibat dalam politik. Saranan ini dibuat atas kesedaran mahasiswa perlu diberi kebebasan menyelami pelbagai ideologi dan pemahaman. Bila lagi kalau bukan ketika menuntut di kolej dan universiti golongan muda berpeluang mengembang minda dan pemikiran?<br /><br />Bukankah politik itu menganjur perdebatan dan merangsang pemikiran kritis di kalangan orang muda? Atau, adakah kita lebih selesa sekiranya golongan muda terpesona dengan muzik, wayang dan lain-lain hiburan?<br /><br />Sebagai seorang pensyarah, saya pastinya lebih senang mendengar pelajar-pelajar saya menghadiri ceramah politik daripada menghadiri acara-acara hiburan. Saya juga pasti lebih gembira jika melihat pelajar-pelajar membaca <span style="font-style: italic;">Harakah</span> dan <span style="font-style: italic;">Aliran Monthly</span> daripada membaca <span style="font-style: italic;">Mastika</span> dan <span style="font-style: italic;">Media Hiburan</span>.<br /><br />Perlu diingat, tidak semua mahasiswa yang terlibat dalam politik akan terpengaruh menyertai parti-parti pembangkang. Di kemuncak gerakan Reformasi pada akhir tahun 1990-an, berpuluh ribu mahasiswa seluruh negara turun menyertai demonstrasi anti-kerajaan.<br /><br />Daripada puluhan ribu ini, tidak semua yang hingga sekarang masih setia menyokong parti-parti pembangkang. Ramai juga yang dulunya kuat melaung "Reformasi" dan menjunjung poster Anwar Ibrahim ke sana sini kini menyertai Umno dan parti-parti komponen Barisan Nasional yang lain.<br /><br />Fahaman dan dokongan politik itu boleh berubah. Maka, janganlah disekat mahasiswa daripada mencuba dan mendekati pendekatan politik yang berbeza-beza.<br /><br />Jika ya pun kerajaan bertegas tidak mahu menghapuskan AUKU, paling tidak laksanakanlah ia dengan adil. Empat orang mahasiswa UKM ini dilaporkan telah membantu berkempen untuk calon PKR dalam pilihanraya kecil di Hulu Selangor. Ramai yang pasti tertanya, sekiranya mereka turun membantu berkempen untuk calon Barisan Nasional, adakah tindakan tatatertib akan diambil ke atas mereka juga? Barisan Nasional ialah sebuah gabungan parti-parti politik.<br /><br />Kalau salah berkempen untuk PKR, pasti salah juga berkempen untuk BN!<br /><br />Atau mungkin berkempen untuk BN itu tidak salah kerana BN itu kerajaan, maka berkempen untuk BN itu sebenarnya sekadar memberi khidmat pada kerajaan. Jika itulah rasionalnya, empat mahasiswa UKM ini tidak boleh dianggap salah juga. Sebabnya, kerajaan negeri di Selangor itu diterajui PKR, maka berkempen untuk PKR juga boleh dianggap memberi khidmat pada kerajaan negeri.<br /><br />Saya percaya beberapa pemimpin muda Umno seperti Saifuddin Abdullah dan Mohd Puad Zarkashi mahu ruang yang bebas diberikan kepada mahasiswa untuk terlibat dalam kegiatan politik. Mereka sedar jika ruang yang bebas ini diberikan, bukan parti-parti pembangkang sahaja yang boleh menerima manfaat. Umno juga boleh secara terbuka mengembangkan pengaruhnya di kampus-kampus melalui sayap Putera dan Puteri-nya.<br /><br />Empat mahasiswa UKM ini kini telah membawa kes ini ke mahkamah. Agak sukar membayangkan mahkamah akan memihak kepada mereka, namun sekurang-kurangnya kes mereka ini akan menarik perhatian ramai akan perlunya AUKU itu dihapuskan.Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-643514770590342301.post-59867405560070834622010-06-15T12:29:00.012+08:002012-03-30T09:09:45.226+08:00FIFA World Cup: The Moral Equivalent of WarIt was William James who first called for a moral equivalent of war. In his <a href="http://www.constitution.org/wj/meow.htm">article</a> published in 1910, James wrote:<br /><br />"I spoke of the "moral equivalent" of war. So far, war has been the only force that can discipline a whole community, and until an equivalent discipline is organized, I believe that war must have its way. But I have no serious doubt that the ordinary prides and shames of social man, once developed to a certain intensity, are capable of organizing such a moral equivalent as I have sketched, or some other just as effective for preserving manliness of type. It is but a question of time, of skilful propogandism, and of opinion-making men seizing historic opportunities."<br /><br />Football (or soccer) was probably the last thing in James' mind when he wrote this classic piece. In fact, what he suggested then was, we should all go to work at coal and iron mines, and spend our energies for dish-washing, clothes-washing, window-washing, road-building and tunnel-making! He also did not mention anything about the Olympic Games, which at the time was beginning to grow as a major international sporting event.<br /><br />James himself was rather clueless about what the moral equivalent of war is, but there is no doubt today that sports is the closest to James' vision. While many would argue that the Olympic Games is the biggest sporting event of all, I have no doubt that as far as the moral equivalent of war is concern, the FIFA World Cup is the better candidate.<br /><br />There are too many different games in the Olympics which means only a few big nations can realistically become the overall champion. In the World Cup however, all the 32 teams competing in the finals have the same number of players and play the same number of matches in the opening round. That puts all the teams more-or-less on equal footing.<br /><br />Moreover, football as a game embodies a lot of our psychological nature. Psychologists have for long believe that human beings have an innate desire to compete. And in addition, with reference to the Freudian perspective, have the need for catharsis; to release some of the overabundance psychic energy.<br /><br />People in the past went to war because that was probably the only social event which gives them the opportunity to compete and collectively release some psychic energy. Understandably, war is filled with aggressive and destructive behaviours that are simply the manifestations of the energy released.<br /><br />Football provides the same opportunity. In this game, players need to be aggressive to win. Similar to a battle in a war, a football game cannot be won by strength and skills alone. It must be supported by clever tactics and strategies. And most importantly, football is a team game where teamwork is of paramount importance although the heroics of individuals can prove to be crucial; again very similar to what happens in war battles.<br /><br />We no longer live in times where envy, pride and jealousy would propel someone to physically destroy the enemy (at least not most of the time). These 'sins' still exist between and against people of different nations. But rather than going to war against the enemy, the battle can be fought on the football field. Players representing each nation are the soldiers who battle to preserve the honour of the country, while the spectators are the common citizens who watch with pride the valiancy of their 'warriors' fighting on their behalf. And the best thing of all about football is, there is minimal chance of civilian casualties.<br /><br />The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa offers the prospect of some tantalising encounters. As early as the second round, either England or the United States may battle against Germany. Of course, none of the players of these countries were around during the First and Second World Wars, but the memories of both would surely spice-up the build-up to such an encounter.<br /><br />Meanwhile, at the quarter-final stage; if both teams advance as expected, England and Argentina will do battle, a match that would surely bring up memories of the bitter Falklands War fought by the two nations. Argentinian football legend and current national head coach Diego Maradona has repeatedly said that beating England in the 1986 World Cup was the sweetest moment in his football career. No doubt this was largely because of the bitterness carried over from the Falklands War. If the two nations do meet again this year, the reciprocal animosity between players and fans from both countries will again be the focus of attention.<br /><br />If England advances to the semi-final stage, their likely opponent is Holland, which is another juicy encounter. After more than a century where people from both countries fought a long and bitter war in South Africa (the Second Boer War), they may do battle again on the very same soil, this time for the honour and pride of advancing to a world cup final match.<br /><br />Football may well be a silly old game where 22 grown-ups run like crazy chasing after a white ball. But football today is more than just a game. The FIFA World Cup, football's biggest tournament is the moral equivalent of war where people of different nations battle for their nations' pride and glory. There is no need to bludgeon your opponents to win this 'war'. All you need is the right tactics and strategies and to fight on the field in the name your country. And the satisfaction of winning would be just as sweet.Zaki Samsudinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18252385881886321706noreply@blogger.com6