The 13th General Election is just around the corner!

It is that time of the year again. Although the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak hasn't yet announce the dissolution of the Parliament to make way for the 13th General Election, signs are there that the time for the people to go to the ballot box is near. Moreover, it has been four years since the groundbreaking March 8, 2008 general election which saw the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional lost its traditional two third majority in the lower house, which would have enabled them to pass all laws and jurisdictions virtually unopposed.

According to English daily The Star (yes, the one who costs the nation major PR disaster) today reported that the signs are already there that the government will call for the dissolution of the Parliament soon. For instance, the government's decision to halve the toll charged at the Cheras-Kajang Highway (better known as the Grand Saga Highway) is deemed as an effort to shore up its popularity in the eyes of the people. This is because toll rates have always been a political hot potato as the scheduled hike in toll charges at the rate of between 5% to 10% every three or so years burned a huge hole in the rakyat's pocket.

Another sign is the fact that the PM has been on a nationwide tour, with the latest was in Kedah, where he made a "public apology" on the short comings of his administration in the rice bowl state in the years prior to the 12th general election in 2008. Kedah, which its current government Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) saw an internal strife between camps favoring the current Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak and those who oppose, and its lackluster performances especially in attracting larger foreign and domestic direct investments into the state, could have seen more state seats going to the BN this time around.

The federal government coalition has been taking on the generous man role, as in the six months to one year period to date, it has given cash hand outs and incentives to the rakyat, especially in the rural states and the urban poor, to mitigate the rising cost of living which is deemed to be very high. In its budget 2012, the government announced various cash hand outs schemes such as, among others, one-off cash hand outs for low income households, and to all primary and secondary school students nationwide, with a promise that it'll reduce the burden of rising cost of living.

Popular and socialist policies are common features in the Malaysian political scenario. Both parties of the political divide has been trying to outdo each other in churning out or proposing popular, socialist policies to shore up support in the politically divided settings. The federal opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat has repeatedly calls for lopsided agreement between the government and independent power producers (IPPs) to be reviewed, citing it has forced the state utility company Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) to buy electricity from the politically connected IPPs at a high price. The coalition has also called for the abolishment of toll rates or at least to freeze any scheduled increase in toll rates.

Recently, former prime minister and the architect of Malaysia's modernisation in the early 1980s to the middle 1990s, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed has commented in his blog post that the government's minimum wage legislation will cause the country to bankrupt. He said the nation has already too many holidays and that the increase in wages should be accompanied with the increase in labor productivity. Citing Europe which is mired with a debt glut, Mahathir said Malaysia should not simply follow the European way of paying high salary to their workers but labor productivity remains low.

The signs are there that the general election will be called very soon. After the groundbreaking outcome of the 12th General Election in 2008, the next general election is touted to be the most crucial one for both the ruling coalition and the federal opposition. BN would want to recapture the states that it has lost to PR, and also increase its share in the lower house of the Parliament to at least a 2/3 majority. On the other hand, PR's ascension politically in the rakyat's mind and heart will give them a fair share at winning the federal government, although it would not be an easy fight.

Lord knows.

It has been so long since I last updated this blog. I can't seems to focus on it since I've been busy writing for The Edge while at the same time trying to catch up with my studies. God, I always love to write. It's the only avenue that I could express myself and let my opinion be heard. Sometimes writing make me realize what I never thought of myself before. It is sort of retrospective myself, reflecting on who I really am.

The reason why I feel like updating this blog back because recently I was quite lost. I sort of like lost myself, who I really am, what I stand for and what I'm searching. I want to find myself back. I've been wondering around recklessly, doing things that I never thought of before. And not that it wasn't good, and not that I regret it all. But god knows what I'm feeling and what I really need.

I'm searching for love. I want to love and be loved in return. I have been searching for love for god knows how long. And now I am so tired. I want to stop searching for love, but I just can't seem to make myself stop from searching for it. I've been searching for love everywhere. God knows where I've been to for the sake of love. I failed. Love seems to avoid me.

Am I not worthy to be loved? Am I destined not to find it because of what I've done before. Is this the punishment for me?

Only lord knows.

Firdaus Fariq Che Ahmad - Please Come Back Home

Dear Fida,

Where are you, dear? We are worried sick on your condition there in Egypt. How could you not call any of us to inform your condition there?
I know situation is very much like hell, but I want you to keep be strong, k! You have to be strong! Take care of your safety first before anything else. I want to see you when you're back in Malaysia.
Fida, I always miss you. You are one of the best friend I ever have. And you will always be.

My Best Friend's Accident

Assalamualaikum and Good Day,

As u guys know, (or not know) our friend, Muhammad Safuan bin Ismail had been hit by a car while on a motorbike when he was on his way for dinner, around 10.00 p.m. 25th July, 2008. He was hit from behind, where he was sitting as the pessenger of the motorbike, and flung backwards and smashed on the car's front screen, on his head.

He was first admitted to the Tampin Hospital, (the incident occured at Jalan Tampin-Rembau), but due to his serious injury inside his head, he was then transfered to Tuanku Jaafar Hospital in Seremban. Through CAT Scan, the injury is cracking his back skull up to the upper jaw and of course, caused internal bleeding. The injury effects his sight, where he is now still seeing double eventhough the accident was to days ago.

He was vomitting blood, twice as I recalled.And of course, the nurse was and still is, nowhere when we need them. The doctors were and still are incompetent (freshgrad, with 1 month experience, no supervisor), and had to take care of almost 30 patient in one time.

But Safuan is progressing, though slowly, gradually. He is now able to eat a full McDonald's burger.

Still, his welfare, now and in the future is at risk. The injury inside his head might become something we don't want to think about. We are now fighting for a transfer for him, at least to be placed at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital. But according to his warden, Bonda said that the college only covers government line hospital, and though HUKM is a semi-government hospital, the insurance only covers the government line of that hospital, which in my opinion, isn't much a different story with what we are facing now at the Tuanku Jaafar Hospital.

We want Safuan to be transfered to a private hospital, though no need of anything fancy, because we want a serious and thorough inspection and observation for his health. In this case, he was a mere victim to a reckless and mindless biker of his friend and a careless driver. I am pushing for a full cover which consists of medical billing and supports ie in education expenses and life supports. At least a one year observation of the condition of the injury.

Thus, for anyone out there who knows anyone who has a say, or authority to help his case, please give me a call so that we can arrange a meeting between Safuan's representative, so that his welfare doesn't be treated unfairly. In the mean time, I am setting a bank account for anyone who wants to give sincere donations to help his mother and himself through this hard time. I will post Safuan's mum account number together with a picture of her bank account for transparency.

For those who had time visited her for the last two days, we are acknowledging your presence. Thanks for your time and efforts. Those are:

Ahmad Fawwaz Dato' Muhammad Sharkar
Fashli Aziz Abdul Aziz
Logeswaran Selvaraja
Hud Jafni
Aina Syazwani
Mohammad Syafiq Fakharazzi

And also for those who asked and send their warmest get-well-soon:

Aaron Quay
Abang Saidin
Andi Rizal Za'ba
Chong Wen Cheng
Geethanjali Makenthiran
Hamidie Shaari
Halimah
Kameel Hijjaz Zulkifli
Ms Marlina Alias Ali
Nadhirah Fauzi
Puan Rafidah Jaafar
Abdul Rauf Abdul Rahman
Siti Nasihah Nasurudin

And also to all of u , who for my mistake, cant remember but of course u know who u are.

Thank You.

Politik Penghancur Perpaduan

Pilihan Raya Umum ke 12 sudah hampir lebih 3 bulan berlalu. Namun, cakap-cakap mengenainya masih belum terdapat tanda-tanda akan surut. Pelbagai agenda-agenda, terutamanya agenda-agenda politik berbanding agenda-agenda untuk memantapkan ekonomi dan meningkatkan taraf hidup rakyat telah dilakukan. Kedua-dua pihak saling menaburkan janji-janji kosong dan tohmahan-tohmahan yang adakalanya tidak masuk diakal langsung.

Terbaru, salah sebuah parti politik dalam Pakatan Rakyat (PR) iaitu Parti Islam Se-Malaysia telah mengadakan apa yang dikatakan sebagai "muqabalah" oleh PAS bersama parti setru utama mereka, iaitu parti politik tunjang Barisan Nasional (BN) iaitu Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu atau UMNO. Kedua-dua parti seteru ini mengatakan bahawa muqabalah atau muzakarah (tak kisah lah apa ertinya sekali pun) adalah bagi membincangkan isu perpaduan Melayu dan masa depan bangsa Melayu dan agama Islam.

Keputusan Pilihan Raya yang lalu sudah jelas emnunjukkan bahawa rakyat sudah susut percaya terhadap kepimpinan BN yang diterajui oleh Perdana Menteri Pak Lah, malah rakyat telah memberikan mandat kuasa politik yang tidak pernah dalam sejarah Malaya atau Malaysia berlaku dimana kerajaan Persekutuan BN telah kehilangan 5 buah kerajaan negeri kepada PR. Sudah terang lagikan bersuluh, rakyat telah memberikan petanda amaran kepada Kerajaan BN bagi mengstruktur semula pentadbiran dan politik sebelum Pilihan raya yang seterusnya. Jelas sekali rakyat telah "melantik" kuasa baru PR bagi menjadi pemerhati agar kerajaan BN tidak lagi mengamalkan dasar-dasar autokratik dan diskriminasi. Dalam erti kata lain, rakyat Malaysia telah bersatu dan bersuara melalui peti-peti undi bahwa mereka inginkan perubahan.

Akan tetapi, ahli-ahli politik baik dari kerajaan BN mahupun PR seperti "membutakan mata, memekakkan telinga" akan suara rakyat yang ingin dan telah pun disampaikan. Mereka asyik melaungkan kata-kata dan ucapan-ucapan yang bagi saya boleh disabitkan dengan Akta Hasutan dan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negara. Ucapan-ucapan berbaur perkauman seperti soal ketuanan Melayu dan kontrak sosial bagaikan cendawan tumbuh selepas hujan.

Apakah benar perpaduan Melayu yang merupakan bangsa terbesar dan majoriti di negara ini telah terhakis selepas rakyat menolak calon-calon UMNO? Adakah dengan pertambahan satu lagi ahli Parlimen bumiputra dalam Dewan Rakyat menunjukkan kuasa politik bumiputra terutamanya Melayu terhakis? Adakah dengan terlepasnya Pulau Pinang ke tangan Parti Tindakan Demokrasi (DAP) daripada Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan) bermakna Melayu sudah "merempat" di tanah air sendiri?

Rata-rata orang menceritakan tentang soal perpaduan Melayu dan agama Islam. Adakah tidak ada yang ingin mengutamakan perpaduan rakyat Malaysia dan mengukuhkan ekonomi yang kian hari semakin lembab dek hambatan kenaikan harga minyak di seluruh dunia? Kos sara hidup makin meningkat hari demi hari, harga bahan keperluan seperti beras, minyak masak, tepung dan gula telah melambung naik. Rakyat, tidak kira Si Cina yang Kaya, Si India yang Professional, Si Dusun yang Miskin mahupun Si Melayu yang Pemalas, telah kehilangan satu-satunya kuasa yang ada pada mereka; kuasa membeli.

Keadaan ekonomi yang kian lembab dan kadar inflasi yang semakin memuncak didorong ketidaktentuan politik rekaan ahli politik sendiri menyebabkan rakyat kehilangan punca. Kemiskinan semakin nyata di depan mata. Ada yang terpaksa mengorbankan pelajaran semata-mata untuk mengelakkan penambahan kos dalam perbelanjaan, ada yang mula membuat kerja-kerja sambilan, menyebabkan kualiti kerja merudum, sekaligus menggalakkan aktiviti-aktivit rasuah dan korup.

Dalam keadaan yang sempit lagi menyempitkan, ada pula yang sanggup tukar kereta baru!

Dan kini, PAS dan UMNO pula diuar-uarkan akan bergabung semula dalam sebuah parti yang baru. Apakah tindakan ini distimulasi oleh kepentingan rakyat secara menyeluruh atau kepentingan politik masing-masing sahaja atau lebih menakutkan usaha untuk mengukuhkan "superiority" sebuah bangsa ke atas bangsa-bangsa lain adalah tidak diketahui. Namun yang pasti, faktor utama pastinya bukan demi BANGSA MALAYSIA.

Sekiranya senario ini berterusan, usaha-usaha untuk mewujudkan sebuah Bangsa Malaysia dengan satu identiti dan satu rupa bangsa seakan-akan angan-angan Mat Jenin. Malah, Wawasan 2020 juga seolah-olah satu gurauan.

The True Way of Life

If I ask to Muslim people (including me, myself and I), what is the true way of life?
I am more than sure that we would say ; "Islam is the true way of life". Period. No question about it. Same goes to all folks of other religion. "Christianity, and only Christianity is the true way of life", "Judaism, and only Judaism is the true way of life"..bla bla bla...
And until currently, I am content with that, that me, as a believer of a religion called "Islam", would believe that my religion is the true way of life, and I am pretty sure that my friends of other religion have the same opinion as I do, not that they believe Islam is the true way of life, but they would also believe that their only religion is the true way of life. Simple English ; the believer of one religion would believe that the believer of other religion would not get to the heaven. American English ; they would all be burned in hell. Yes, i was content with that.

But until one sunny day, I went to our good ol' library (the Library), where somehow I suddenly picked up an Encyclopaedia (really hope that I get it spelled correctly, sigh...) about my beloved religion, and I flipped it open, and I came acrossed this article which stated an excerpt of a Firman, which says:(lebih kurang lah!!!)

"The believer of Christianity and Judaism claimed that to enter heaven, one has to be a Christian, or a Jew, which they were wrong. Anyone who submit himself to the God (One God) and do good deeds, will eventually go to heaven."

I was like, strucked by a lightning!NO!

It suddenly occured to me that, we are the same. Muslims, Christians and Jews, the Believer of the Book(s) are all going to heaven!

Well, not literally so, but I think (of course, my personal opinion!) regardless of what religion we believe in, I mean, whether Islam, Christianity or Judaism, as long as we believe in one God that is God Himself, we are eventually getting into the heaven. Because, we share the same faith, that is, as the Muslims called it the "Syahadah", which is the statement of witness that "There is NO GOD except GOD". Laillaha illa Allah. (FYI: I strongly believe that the word Allah means the GOD in Arabic, which does not only belongs to the God that Muslims believe. It is the GOD, which includes the God of the Christians, and also the Jews)

Of course, we don't know through the standard of proof or even standard of beyond any reasonable doubt that the religion we believe in is the true religion. That takes faith.

Alright, there might be only one religion that is truthfully sent down by God Himself through His messengers. I strongly believe that the religion of Moses, Jesus and Muhammad is the same religion. Maybe through out time, the original, one religion is gradually forgotten. Thus, making the religion kinda "split into three". And of course, legend and history has it that the Emperors, Shahs, Amirs might eventually "adapt" the original version of the religion for their own political prowess. For example, (just example, doesn't mean it true) the Roman Emperor had deliberately choose which Apostle to be included into the Holy Bible after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (correct me if I'm wrong).

My point is, if the whole world except this idea, I'm pretty sure that the world would be a better place to live in for all people of all religion. The Muslims won't be harrassed just because they wear head scarf, the Christians won't be bombed in some pristine island, and the Jews will eventually reconciled with the Arabs.

Let us pray for world peace.

My Father Said...

Yes, he is my father. I guess majority (if not all) young Malaysians of these days, regard him, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad as Our Father. He is the one who provides us with a sense of belonging, identity, spirit to come out tall and proud as being a Malaysian, though all of his efforts didn't get to the extent of creating Bangsa Malaysia.Not yet.



Last Saturday, he wrote again at his famous blog http://www.chedet.com/ an article entitled, The Racist Card. He was explaining about the accusations that he is playing the racist card when he urged the Malays to buck up and perform through acquiring knowledge and skills, so that they deserve to be called "Tuan". A thousand applause for my father!



In a way, I agree with him about the creating of Bangsa Malaysia.One should not call for a common identity as bangsa Malaysia to be created if he or she still does not master the essence of creating a bangsa, which is the language and the culture.There are still many of us, the people of Malaysia, who doesn't really master Bahasa Malaysia.They speak with dialects, which somehow tarnish the beauty of the language.And they do not picture as a Bangsa Malaysia when speaking like that!



They keep on calling for vernacular schools to be set up, while the government are spending millions of ringgit to build Sekolah Kebangsaan, which in a way is to foster the sense of being a Bangsa Malaysia since primary school days.Yet they keep on accusing the government of being racist in favour of the indigenious people.



They should be proud and grateful of being born and live in Malaysia because the government had never so far implimented any policies which adversely affect their culture and heritage, though still pushing of a common identity of Bangsa Malaysia.Sign boards are multi language, TV programmes are multi language, multi cultural and even to the extent of importing dramas from the respective countries of their ancestors, just to fulfill them "cultural needs".



If we look back in history, the struggle of the French , Italiano, German and even the American in creating their own bangsa, they are using "real politics", which include the systematic eradication of foreign race in order to make the indigenous the "Master of the Land".



(I will continue this post later)