idiotic
ulamaks
Malaysia colleges urged to run courses on Mahathir's thoughts
KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (AFP) - Malaysian colleges and universities were urged Sunday to introduce a course on the thoughts of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
The call came from his political secretary Dusuki Ahmad.
If the instititions could rely on Islamic thinkers of the past as a source of reference, they must also consider referring to Mahathir's thoughts, he said.
"The time has come for the institutions to come up with a specific field of study on the thoughts of Dr Mahathir who has contributed a lot to the country and Islam," he told reporters after meeting government religious teachers in the northeastern town of Kota Baru.
Dusuki, quoted by Bernama news agency, said Malaysia was on its way to achieving the status of a developed Islamic country.
"The prime minister also wants to make the Muslims in this country, especially the Malays, a model for the global Muslim community," he said.
"This is a leader who is not only outspoken but also one who does his work, enabling us to rise to this level."
Mahathir has written a number of books on general political topics and also spoken forthrightly about Islam in the modern world.
He told an Islamic conference last year that Muslim nations would become "banana republics" unless they stop squabbling, embrace modern technology and unite to face the dangers of globalisation.
mahaism
Studying Mahathir's thoughts
Alan Sivarajoo
4:18pm, Mon: And so it came to pass that the wise ones that sat on the right side and on the left side of their lord Dr Mahathir Mohamad that it shall be that his unworthy subjects shall henceforth worship him.
Having knowledge of some amongst them that were unfaithful to the cause of their master, one amongst them, one Dusuki Ahmad, proclaimed that those youths committed to learning shall now dwell their minds on the thoughts of Dr Mahathir. Having studied the thoughts of their master they shall then finally all be persuaded that their lord is indeed the Lord and they shall all hail him as their master almighty.
What next?
Interesting to probe the workings of PM’s mind
Kevin Gan
3:21pm, Thu: The call by the prime minister's political secretary Dusuki Ahmad that colleges should introduce courses on the thoughts of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad may sound hilarious at first, but then again why not? Perhaps we have much to learn by trying to understand the inner workings of a man who has driven Malaysia to the brink of disaster.
We should study the true intentions of a man driven to build huge, economically senseless mega-projects such as the Petronas Twin Towers and Bakun dam. A flawed economic vision or a tribute to his megalomania?
We should try to come to terms with Mahathir's concept of privatisation when public utilities are slogged off to become private monopolies with escalation of costs for the consumer without any improvement in efficiency or service.
We should study how Mahathir hopes to nurture world-class Malaysian entrepreneurs who can compete in a globalised economy when failed crony businessmen are constantly bailed out with public funds instead of having to suffer the brunt of their mismanagement.
Perhaps there will be time to study why Proton is touted as a huge success story when its effect has been to hold the Malaysian public hostage to shoddily-built, over-priced cars while the said manufacturer is still unable to wean off government protection in the foreseeable future.
We should find it interesting to examine Mahathir's xenophobic outbursts when the country is sorely in need of foreign investment and goodwill. We must really get to the bottom of the incongruity between his crusade against money politics in Umno on one hand and his protection of corrupt individuals on the other.
We should scrutinise the thinking of a man who is willing to use repulsive racial politics to maintain his hold on power despite the obvious danger of inflaming a country which depends on peaceful co-existence between the races.
Last but not least, we should try to determine why Mahathir treats the public as fools who could not understand the workings of a public trial and then wonders why people are not believing the guilty verdict on his ex-deputy.
I am sure the above are just a tiny sample of the many interesting and intriguing issues for academic research when one studies the thoughts of Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Recently, the prime minister's political secretary, Dusuki Ahmad, proposed that colleges should introduce courses on the thoughts of Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Let us say that one college has taken this advice to heart.
Examining The Thoughts of Mahathir
He had woken up with a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach and gone to the Wawasan2020 College after having eaten only half his normal breakfast. Not that he was afraid of exams, but this particular subject — The Thoughts of Mahathir — was one that he most detested.
‘Hi Osman, apa khabar?’ A voice greeted him as he walked to class from the bicycle park.
‘Khabar baik, Ling,’ he replied, observing that the Chinese guy’s face was full of anticipation. No doubt the latter had memorized to perfection all chapters and verses of “The Thoughts of Mahathir,” a large, red-covered book that he frequently carried about with him. Already, the thin, heavily bespectacled face had A+ written all over it.
‘So, how’s your preparation?’
‘Bad, bad. All I’m hoping for is a pass mark,’ Osman replied.
Ling Ah Shit’s face turned disapproving for he disapproved of anyone who was not fired up with enthusiasm for “The Thoughts of Mahathir.” Well, if your father had served as Transport Minister under Mahathir and enriched himself handsomely as a result, you wouldn’t mind one bit licking the old man’s filthy boots, Osman thought.
‘Only by being world-class can we compete in the globalised economy,’ Ling Ah Shit intoned.
‘Okay, okay,’ replied Osman, not wanting to be lectured to with quotations from the Big Red Book. But privately he thought: ‘World class my foot! The old man allowed his cronies to engorge themselves on sweetheart business deals. And, when they failed, he was always there with billions in public money to bail them out.’
Outside the class, Osman joined a group of his friends who, like him had no love lost on “The Thoughts of Mahathir.” Like him, they had gloomy looks on their faces for, like him, they would have to drown their real sentiments writing praises to the so-called “Great Father of Modern Malaysia.” At Wawasan2020 College, it was a compulsory subject that had to be passed. Privately, they called him the “Destroyer of Modern Malaysia.” Ling, on the other hand, was effecting a last minute revision of his dog-eared, well-thumbed, Big Red Book, his lips moving silently and quickly, as though in prayer.
At nine sharp, the students were let into the classroom. Osman took a seat at the back, the further away from the huge portrait of Mahathir which gazed down at them in front, the better. The exam paper lay face down on each desk. When the body of students had settled down, the teacher nodded, ‘All right, you may start.’
Osman turned over the paper and his heart sank on reading the first question:
Question1: The Proton car industry is considered one of the finest examples of Father Mahathir’s brilliance, foresight and vision, an immense gift to the nation. Discuss with particular reference to national pride, the national economy, and benefit to the people of Malaysia.
He wrote: It’s not true. We were held hostage to a shoddily built, overpriced car that still has to be protected after over thirty year. It deprived all Malaysians of choice …..
No, this would not do. He crossed it out and began more sensibly on a new sheet of paper:
I suppose the Proton can be said to have fostered national pride. After all, everything about it is now made in Malaysia except for the engine, which is still imported from Japan. Lucky for us or else, it won’t even run ….
Osman checked himself in time and crossed out the last sentence. But he did not know what else to write that was positive about the national car. And there was the whole page to fill. For inspiration, he looked at the nape of Ling Ah Shit’s neck in front who was writing as though there was no tomorrow, but none came. Oh, he’ll come back to this question later. On to Question 2:
Question 2: Discuss how Father Mahathir, as Defender of the Nation, had frequently warned us of evil Westerners seeking to re-colonize Malaysia as well as Chinese extremists seeking to exploit Malay weakness.
Yah, yah, yah, whose father was he anyway? He had trade missions go begging for foreign investments at the same time as he was warning us about being neo-colonized and then he played racial politics at home, trying to win back the Malays he had alienated. But for the purpose of the exam, he tried:
Fr. Mahathir, in his oceanic wisdom, knew a thing two about Westerners. After all, you can’t be a good father unless you are also a good mother as well. He was certainly the Mother of all Liars Malaysians in that he tried to protect our natural assets from being taken over. For instance, our lovely beaches were protected from foreigners too scared to come after his raving and ranting warnings. Also, all the horseshit pearls of wisdom about Chinese extremists must be viewed against the impossibility of ghosts of the old Communist Party of Malaya coming to life again.
Osman re-read what he had wrote and squirmed mentally at the banality of it all. He’ll come back to this question later, time permitting. Stifling a desire to giggle, he proceeded to the next one:
Question 3: Give three examples of mega-projects initiated by Father Mahathir and discuss how they have not only benefited the people, but also placed Malaysia on the world map.
Osman groaned inwardly and shot a hostile look at Mahathir’s smiling portrait. Oh well, he can only try:
Example 1: Petronas Twin Towers. Some people say that erecting the tallest buildings in the world was a waste of money because they are still only half full. But the Opposition in Malaysia is getting stronger by the day and, soon, all the extra space can be turned into a high-security prison.
Example 2: Bakun Dam. Some people say that flooding a vast area of primeval jungle to generate electricity that East Malaysia has got no use for is a waste of money and environmentally destructive. But remember that we have not built Fr. Mahathir’s mausoleum yet and this will require a colossal amount of electricity for lighting and special effects.
Example 3: KL International Airport. Some people say that this expensive airport is oversized and too far away from the capital but excess space in KLIA can be rented out to all those corrupt government officials who need to live as close as possible to the airport to effect a quick getaway in case of a popular uprising.
Inwardly heaving a deep sigh, Osman turned to the final question.
Question 4: The prosecution and conviction of Anwar Ibrahim for sodomy and corruption may be said to be Father Mahathir’s finest hour and greatest victory. Give an account of the major events leading up to and during the trials. Note: You must not write anything positive about the corrupt and immoral Anwar Ibrahim.
His blood boiling, Osman could no longer contain himself. He began writing furiously:
What sort of brain-washed idiots do you think we are? Do you imagine that any fair-minded Malaysian believes that Anwar was guilty of sodomy and corruption? Instead, the sickening kangaroo courts showed up the worst abuse of prime ministerial power ever in country’s history and destroyed the last vestige of respect the people had for the whorehouse judiciary. Mahathir may be properly said to have sodomized the rule of law ...
He continued writing energetically in the same vein. He would not only fail this subject but would also get into trouble with the Principal. But so what? It was not worth selling his soul for a pass grade in this hateful subject. He would transfer out of Wawasan2020 College? To where? Any where as long as he didn’t have to take a course called “The Thoughts of Mahathir.” But, ahead of him, Ling Ah Shit looked up in reverence at Mahathir’s image and smiled.
Written by Tsu Nam
March 26 2001
Pada Jumaat 18 Mei 2001, ruangan Rencana Pilihan akhbar Utusan Malaysia menyiarkan sebuah rencana oleh Dusuki Ahmad yang bertajuk 'ISA menurut pandangan Islam'. Menariknya, ia disiarkan empat hari selepas rencana saya yang bertajuk 'ISA dari perspektif hukum Islam' tersiar dalam laman-laman web reformasi dan pembangkang. Mungkin suatu kebetulan, dan mungkin juga satu sanggahan kerana bimbang masyarakat internet memahami kebajingan ISA pada pandangan Islam yang sebenar.
Kedua-dua rencana saya dan Dusuki menjurus kepada menguji dan menjustifikasi akta ISA dari segi Islam. Bila disebut Islam, ialah adalah hak mutlak Allah s.w.t. dan Rasul-Nya s.a.w. Bukan hak saya dan bukan juga hak Dusuki.
Cuma bezanya rencana saya cuba menghukumkan ISA berdasarkan nas-nas ayat al-Quran dan hadis-hadis sahih. Tidak kurang daripada empat potong ayat al-Quran dan sebelas buah hadis sahih yang berkaitan, saya bawa sebagai hujah dalam rencana sepanjang empat belas muka surat itu. Di samping itu, hampir sepuluh buah kitab dan buku rujukan yang dikarang ulama dan ilmuan muktabar saya gunakan sebelum menghukum ISA sebagai satu peraturan haram di sisi Islam dan haram mempertahankannya. Namun, saya tidak mendakwa pendapat saya benar secara mutlak seperti mutlaknya kebenaran al-Quran. Cuma saya bersaksi bahawa saya tidak menceluparkan lidah saya untuk berdusta atas nama Allah dan Rasul-Nya. Segala kemampuan telah saya kerahkan untuk meletakkan ISA pada kedudukannya yang sebenar. Maka kerahan tenaga saya berdasarkan pendalilan al-Quran, hadis sahih, ilmu Usul al-Fiqh dan ilmu-ilmu yang perlu menatijahkan ISA sebagai haram dan bertentangan dengan ruh al-Quran dan sunnah.
Dan bezanya rencana Dusuki, 'Islam' yang dihujahkan olehnya untuk mempertahankan ISA, ialah Islam yang tak bersumberkan al-Quran dan sunnah serta pandangan ulama muktabar, sebaliknya berdasarkan fikiran dan pemahamannya secara 'sendirian berhad'. Maka keluarlah rencana Dusuki bertajuk 'ISA menurut pandangan Islam' dan kita tercari-cari Islam Allah dan Rasul-Nya (bersumberkan al-Quran dan sunnah) dalam rencananya itu, tetapi yang kelihatan hanyalah 'Islam Dusuki Ahmad' dengan memilik peribadikan Islam untuk dirinya. Tetapi inilah mentaliti agamawan UMNO, melaung dan melalak Islam ke sana ke mari untuk menggambarkan UMNO tak kurang Islamnya, tetapi satu ayat atau hadis pun tak terdengar. Maknanya mereka itu berbohong dan berdusta atas nama Allah s.w.t. yang memiliki Islam itu. Kalau dibaca ayat pun, kriteria pilihan ialah ayat yang boleh ditafsirkan oleh mereka untuk menegakkan 'Islam sekular' atau 'Islam keduniaan' mereka.
Kita lihat apa hujah Dusuki. Beliau menulis, "Malaysia negara kecil saja. Bumi dan udaranya sama dengan Indonesia, Thailand dan Filipina. Fizikal orangnya pun serupa. Bahkan dari segi hasil bumi, negara-negara tersebut lebih kaya dari Malaysia. Tetapi apa rahsianya Malaysia menjadi destinasi rakyat asing mencari rezeki? Jawabnya pendek saja, iaitu kami di Malaysia mempunyai ISA. Akta inilah yang menyelamatkan negara daripada tersungkur ke lembah pergolakan ….."
Tambahnya lagi, "Sejak merdeka, ISA telah banyak berjasa kepada rakyat dan negara." …. . "Jika tidak kerana ISA, warna Malaysia tidak seperti apa yang kita lihat dan nikmati hari ini."
AstaghfiruLlah-al-`Azim!!! Jaga-jaga iman dan akidah kamu wahai Dusuki! Bukankah nikmat kemakmuran, kekayaan dan keamanan itu datangnya daripada Allah s.w.t.? Bukankah Allah s.w.t. berfirman maksudnya:
"Kerana kebiasaan aman kaum Quraisy (penduduk Makkah). (Iaitu) kebiasaan aman tenteram perjalanan mereka (menjalankan perniagaan) pada musim sejuk (ke negeri Yaman) dan pada musim panas (ke negeri Syam). Maka hendaklah mereka menyembah Tuhan yang menguasai rumah (Kaabah) ini. Tuhan yang memberi mereka penghidupan; menyelamatkan mereka daripada kelaparan, dan mengamankan mereka daripada ketakutan." (Surah Quraisy: 1-4)
Tetapi Dusuki berkata keamanan dan kemakmuran Malaysia adalah kerana ISA. Pendatang asing datang beramai-ramai kerana ISA. Akta inilah yang menyelamatkan negara. Kalau tidak kerana ISA, negara tidak seperti hari ini.
Beginilah tabiat agamawan UMNO, mereka menyeleweng jauh daripada kehendak al-Quran apabila dunia menjadi pertimbangan. Tidak boleh dinafikan kemungkinan mereka akan berkata ayat ini hanya untuk orang-orang Quraisy dahulu kala saja, seperti mana mereka mendakwa ayat yang menghukum kafir, fasiq dan zalim ke atas orang yang tidak menjalankan hukum Allah s.w.t. itu (Surah al-Maidah: 44, 45 dan 47) sebagai celaan dan laknat kepada kaum Bani Israel sahaja. Mereka tidak termasuk dalam kehendak ayat itu!
Maa syaa Allah! Maka tidak hairanlah kalau ada sesetengah orang yang warak tak akan berimamkan orang yang bercakap sebegini dan tidak tergamak memakan sembelihannya. Saya TIDAK tuduh Dusuki murtad. Itu kerja Allah s.w.t. dan mahkamah syariah, bukan tugas saya. Tetapi setiap orang Islam diwajibkan mengelakkan diri daripada perkara yang syubhah, kerana sesiapa yang sengaja menjerumuskan dirinya dalam perkara syubhah maka dia telah terjerumus dalam perkara haram (maksud sebahagian hadis yang keenam daripada Hadith Empat Puluh Imam al-Nawawi, diriwayatkan oleh al-Bukhari dan Muslim). Selagi Dusuki tidak menarik balik dan bertaubat daripada kepercayaan ISA pemberi keamanan dan penyelamat negara, maka selagi itulah orang-orang Islam yang warak akan merasa syubhah untuk berimamkannya dan memakan sembelihannya. Dan saya berkata 'orang Islam yang warak', bukan semua jenis orang Islam.
Letih saya mencari hujah Islam yang dibawa Dusuki untuk mempertahankan ISA kesayangannya. Yang saya terjumpa hanyalah katanya, "Menurut Islam pencegahan adalah lebih utama daripada pengubatan."
Apakah maksud sebuah pepatah Arab yang berbunyi "al-Wiqayah khayrun minal `ilaaj" itu (orang putih menyebutnya "The prevention is better than cure") layak digunakan oleh seorang 'ilmuan' Islam seperti Dusuki untuk bercakap atas nama Islam? Sedangkan Islam mestilah bersumberkan al-Quran dan sunnah, bukan pepatah Arab atau Melayu. Kalau pepatah boleh digunakan untuk dijadikan hujah Islam, sudah tentu setiap bangsa ada 'Islam' tersendiri yang berbeza daripada bangsa lain.
Kalau pun hendak diterima hujah pepatah itu atas dasar logik dan rasional (bukan atas dasar ia Islamik), apakah ISA satu-satunya cara pencegahan terhadap kekacauan dan suasana huru-hara dalam negara? Perlu disedari ISA ialah tangkapan tanpa bicara, tanpa hak bela diri, tanpa hakim, membenarkan penderaan fizikal dan mental, membenarkan penahanan tanpa arahan mahkamah selama 60 hari kemudian dua tahun, dua tahun dan seterusnya tanpa perintah mahkamah. Anda adalah pesalah bila polis atau Menteri kata salah. Anda tak boleh kata anda tak salah, bahkan anda mesti salah dan mesti dikurung!
Soalnya, adakah itu sahaja cara pencegahan yang terbaik untuk masalah kekacauan dalam negara? Nampaknya agamawan UMNO ini masih berfikir cara manusia zaman purba. Apakah tidak boleh mencegah ketegangan antara kerajaan dengan rakyat yang membangkang secara muzakarah, perbincangan, memberi peluang bersuara secara adil? Bukankah Islam berkata:
"Dan urusan mereka (diselesaikan secara) syura sesama mereka" (Surah al-Syura: 38)?
Bukankah Islam menyuruh pemimpin berkasih sayang, memberi maaf, berlemah lembut dan bermesyuarat dengan rakyat walaupun rakyat telah melakukan kesalahan? Allah s.w.t. berfirman maksudnya:
"Dan dengan rahmat Allah kamu (Muhammad) berlembut terhadap mereka (yang telah melanggar perintahmu ketika perang Uhud), sekiranya kamu bengis dan keras hati nescaya mereka akan lari daripada kamu, maka maafkanlah mereka, mintalah ampun untuk mereka dan bermesyuaratlah dengan mereka…" (Surah Ali `Imran: 159)
Bukankah sebaik-baik pemimpin itu ialah yang kasih kepada rakyat dan rakyat kasih kepadanya, yang mendoakan rakyat dan rakyat mendoakan untuknya. Seburuk-buruk pemimpin pula ialah yang bencikan rakyat dan rakyat bencikannya, yang memaki laknat rakyat lalu rakyat memaki laknat kepadanya? Baginda s.a.w. bersabda maksudnya:
"Sebaik-baik pemimpin kamu ialah yang kamu kasihi mereka dan mereka kasihi kamu, kamu mendoakan mereka dan mereka mendoakan untuk kamu. Seburuk-buruk pemimpin ialah yang kamu benci mereka dan mereka bencikan kamu, kamu laknat mereka dan mereka melaknat kamu." (Riwayat Muslim, Ahmad dll.)
Kalau masih banyak ubat pencegahan yang lebih wajar dan mujarab untuk memulihkan penyakit bahaya, kenapa hanya ubat pain-killer digunakan? Sudah tentu ubat mujarab untuk penyakit rakyat tak puas hati terhadap pemerintah ialah ubat yang Tuhan rakyat dan pemerintah itu sendiri sediakan, bukan ubat yang direka-reka oleh orang kafir zaman dulu seperti ISA.
Dusuki yang bercakap dan berfikir secara zaman purba kala bukan sahaja tidak menepati cita rasa Islam, tetapi juga bercanggah dengan disiplin ilmu perawatan penyakit. Kalau benar mereka yang ditahan ISA itu melakukan kesalahan jenayah, dakwakan sahaja mereka di mahkamah di bawah undang-undang jenayah yang sedia ada supaya rakyat nampak kesalahan mereka. Ubat itu lebih baik. Sebaliknya ISA yang disangka ubat oleh Dusuki dan juak-juaknya, akan menjadi racun yang membunuh negara. Lihatlah perkembangan seterusnya nanti, kemarahan rakyat tak akan reda dan mereka tak akan duduk diam walau dicincang dengan ISA.
Walaupun khabarnya Dusuki ini berkelulusan dalam bidang pengajian Islam (peringkat sarjana? Bidang apa? Bahasa Arab?), kita perlu memberi kuliah kepada orang jahil seperti Dusuki ini. Mungkin Dusuki dan rakan-rakannya berkecil hati bila orang kata dia jahil, seperti kecil hatinya dia bila orang kata dia tak pandai baca doa. Tetapi hakikatnya memang begitu, dia hanya alim dunia, jahil akhirat yang merupakan tempat pembalasan yang kekal abadi. Maka kita ikhlas dalam memberikan kuliah ilmu untuk Dusuki ini, bukan untuk membongkak diri.
Mungkin Dusuki telah membaca nas-nas ayat al-Quran dan hadis-hadis sahih yang saya sebutkan dalam rencana 'ISA dari perspektif hukum Islam' itu. Sebagai tambahan kepada nas-nas itu, di sini saya ingin khabarkan kepada Dusuki dan para agamawan UMNO semua bahawa ISA yang konotasinya ialah tuduhan tanpa bukti dan tahanan tanpa bicara, adalah batil dan haram dipertahankan berdasarkan sabda baginda s.a.w. yang maksudnya:
"Sekiranya manusia diberi hak untuk membuat dakwaan (tanpa bukti) nescaya mereka akan mendakwa darah dan harta orang lain (halal untuknya), tetapi membuktikan dakwaan adalah tanggungjawab pendakwa dan sumpah adalah tanggungjawab tertuduh yang menafikan (tuduhan)." (Riwayat al-Bukhari, Muslim, al-Bayhaqi dll)
ISA membenarkan Menteri dan pegawai polis menahan tanpa memberi peluang tertuduh membela diri dengan alasan mengancam keselamatan negara yang direka-reka seperti tuduhan merancang mengadakan demontrasi militan tanpa sebarang bukti kewujudan senjata. Dengan itu ISA batil dan bercanggah dengan Islam.
Selain itu baginda s.a.w. pernah mewasiatkan Saydina Ali supaya tidak menjatuhkan hukuman sehingga mendengar terlebih dahulu keterangan kedua-dua belah pihak (maksud hadis riwayat Ahmad, al-Bayhaqi dll). ISA adalah hukuman terhadap tertuduh dengan berdasarkan tuduhan sebelah pihak iaitu Menteri atau polis. Maka ia bertentangan dengan Islam dan wajib dihapuskan.
Bangkitlah rakyat yang beriman dengan keadilan Islam dan percayakan prinsip keadilan sejagat untuk menentang ISA habis-habisan!!! Tolaklah kepura-puraan agamawan UMNO yang bertuhankan dunia!
Sekian, wassalam `ala man ittiba`a al-huda.
alimuda@hotmail.com
25 Safar 1422 (19/5/2001)