Friday, September 30, 2005

[Malaysia] Budget 2006's Salient Points

Budget 2006's Salient Points
The theme of the 2006 Budget is "Strengthening Resilience, Meeting Challenges".

The government will spend RM136.8 billion for next year, up five percent from this year. Out of this, RM101.3 billion will be for operating expenditure and RM35.5 billion for development expenditure, 13 percent more than this year.
With the government's target of lowering the budget deficit to 3.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) next year from an estimated 3.8 percent this year and 5.6 percent in 2002, the government would have a greater flexibility to focus on development efforts to sustain Malaysia's growth momentum.
"We are fortunate that within a short period of seven years after the 1997 financial crisis, the (Malaysian) economy has fully recovered to achieve sustainable growth. GDP grew at an annual average rate of 5.4 percent during the period. Despite the less than favourable external environment, growth is estimated at 5 percent for 2005," - PM.
Malaysia's per capita income is expected to increase to RM17,741 in 2005 compared with RM16,616 in 2004 while its purchasing power parity is projected to increase to US$10,323 from US$9,630 last year.
In outlining the government's blueprint for the well-being of the people in 2006, which would also be the first year of the Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006-2010), PM said the 2006 Budget would have four main strategies:
- implementing pro-active measures to accelerate economic activities
- providing a business-friendly environment
- developing the country's human capital
- enhancing the well-being and quality of life of Malaysians.
Maintenance work for bumi contractors
To supplement the allocation of RM4.3 billion provided to agencies for maintenance, the government will provide a special allocation of RM1 billion for the maintenance of public facilities for next year. In 2005, the government has provided RM500 million that is enabling nearly 9,000 maintenance works to be undertaken by class F contractors, in addition to the allocation to government agencies amounting to RM4.1 billion.
Members of Parliament together with State Development Officers and District Officers to identify a list of basic infrastructure, such as small bridges, in every parliamentary constituency to the Implementation Co-ordination Unit in the Prime Minister's Department before the end of November to facilitate their implementation. To expedite the completion of these projects, local contractors, particularly small-time bumiputera contractors, will be appointed to undertake them.
Reducing cost of doing business
Provision of group relief to companies within a group, with a minimum of 70% ownership between them. The group relief allows 50% of a company's current year losses to be offset against the profits of other companies in the same group.
To attract more investments to the Eastern Corridor, including Sabah and Sarawak, the existing tax incentives for projects located in this corridor will be extended for a further five years until 2010.
To encourage mergers and acquisitions, stamp duty and real property gains tax on mergers and acquisitions of companies listed on Bursa Malaysia will be exempted for those which are approved by the Securities Commission from Oct 1, 2005 to Dec 31, 2007.
To provide skilled managers and directors with integrity, especially for government-linked companies (GLCs), a Management Leadership and Directors Academy will be established as a centre of leadership excellence. The academy will produce competent directors and senior management who possess effective leadership qualities.
Focus on agriculture
The agriculture sector is allocated a sum of RM2.8 billion for development expenditure, primarily for agriculture, animal husbandry, fishery and forestry. The Fund for Food (3F) will be further increased by RM300 million to ensure sufficient funding for the food production industry. A major portion of the fund will continue to be provided for commercialisation of food production activities, including processing, packaging and marketing.
A sum of RM160 million is allocated for the development of fishery programmes, including upgrading of extension services, research and training, fish farming, fish breeding, deep sea fishing and ornamental fish. A new company with an initial funding of RM200 million will be established to develop forest plantations commercially. This is in line with the government's strategy to produce timber on a sustainable basis.
An additional RM400 million will be allocated to finance agricultural projects of GLCs.
A special fund, Malaysian Life Sciences Capital Fund - with a RM100 million contribution from the government - to be set up for investment in biotechnology. The Fund will pool investments from various institutions, such as GLCs.
Improving the Multimedia Super Corridor
To further enhance the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC), there will be changes to guidelines to facilitate the construction of more affordable homes and improvement of public transport.
To encourage more office space for MSC-status companies, a Industrial Building Allowance (IBA) for a period of 10 years will be given to owners of new buildings occupied by MSC-status companies in Cyberjaya.
An ICT Development Institute will be established to increase the supply of knowledge workers by providing the skill sets required by the ICT industry, especially shared services and outsourcing companies.
Pioneer Status of 50% income tax exemption for 5 years or Investment Tax Allowance of 50% be given to qualifying companies operating outside Cybercities.
Research and development
An allocation of RM868 million is provided under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. The R&D (research and development) Grant Scheme will focus on biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, advanced materials, ICT, nanotechnology and alternative sources of energy, including solar, to encourage innovation among local companies and developing new products.

Small and medium-size industries
The SME Bank has been established and will commence operations on Oct 3, 2005. To finance the expansion of Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad's lending activities, including the SME Bank, a sum of RM9 billion will be raised from the capital market. Part of this financing will be used to increase the paid-up capital of the SME Bank to RM1 billion.
SMEs will be given stamp duty exemption of 50% on documents for loans not exceeding RM1 million.
EXIM Bank will be placed under the Ministry of Finance. It will be strengthened and its scope expanded to play an important role in assisting and encouraging local entrepreneurs, especially Bumiputera entrepreneurs, to venture abroad. The facilities provided include trade financing, overseas projects financing and credit insurance guarantee. For this purpose, a fund totaling RM1 billion will be established.
Supporting bumiputera entrepreneurs
A Bumiputera property trust foundation, Yayasan Amanah Hartanah Bumiputera, will be established with an initial capital of RM2 billion for purchasing commercial properties, especially in major towns, with the objective of increasing bumiputera commercial property ownership in strategic locations and providing greater opportunities for prime business locations for bumiputera entrepreneurs.
Incentives for education
A total of RM5 billion is allocated for education and training under development expenditure, including RM1.3 billion for pre-school, primary and secondary schools and matriculation, RM1.4 billion for higher education, RM1.1 billion for training and RM1.2 billion for ICT, curriculum development, hostels and teachers' quarters.
Tax relief of up to RM4,000 for each child studying in local institutions of higher learning based on actual expenses to be given automatically. This relief will now include:
1. Children studying at recognised institutions of higher learning abroad.
2. Disabled children studying at institutions of higher learning. Taking into account the current tax relief of RM5,000 for each disabled child, parents will be eligible for a total relief of RM9,000.
To encourage lifelong learning, the scope of courses that qualify for tax relief of RM5,000 to individual tax payers will be broadened. Presently, tertiary level courses in technical, vocational, industrial, science and technology skills are tax exempted and this will be extended to professional qualifications and for courses in accounting and law.
The expenditure for the development and regulatory compliance for new courses by IPTS (private institutions) be given tax deduction to be amortised over three years.
To increase the number of local scientists, the government proposes that IPTS specialising in science courses be given Investment Tax Allowance of 100% for 10 years.
Cushioning the oil hike
Without tax exemptions and subsidy, the domestic price of petrol would have been RM2.80 per litre, RM2.15 per litre for diesel and RM2.50 per kg for cooking gas. These prices are about 70% higher than current retail prices.
With the exception of Sarawak, private diesel vehicles exceeding 1,600 cc be given a road tax reduction of 40% effective Oct 6, 2005.
Assistance for the old and the needy will be increased from RM135 to RM200 per month. The assistance for orphans and poor children will be increased from RM80 to RM100 per month per child. The maximum assistance per family is increased from RM350 to RM450 per month.
Poverty eradication
An allocation of RM700 million is provided, including Housing Assistance Programme to build and repair 4,000 houses for the hardcore poor in rural areas, upgrading and renovating rural schools, especially in Sabah and Sarawak.
Full coverage of electricity and water supply for schools, with the focus of supplying electricity to 550 schools and water to 260 schools.
RM104 million to be allocated to improve the standard of living of Orang Asli .
A sum of RM2.1 billion will be allocated to provide houses for low-income families. Of this, RM1 billion is allocated to build 21,600 units of low-cost houses.
More housing for teachers and uniformed personnel, such as the armed forces, police, firemen and customs officers. A sum of RM1.1 billion is allocated for the provision of 26,000 units of quarters in 2006. In addition, the government will also implement the PDRM 3-bedroom quarters project nationwide costing RM2.5 billion on a build-lease-transfer basis. The construction work will mainly be undertaken by Bumiputera small local contractors.
Equal treatment for women
To ensure equitable tax treatment, the option for Real Property Gains Tax (RPGT) exemption will be given to the owner of the residential property, irrespective whether it is the husband or the wife. Instead of only one claim for each married couple, a husband and wife can each claim one property for exemption of RPGT on a once in a life-time basis.
Enhancing culture
Tax exemptions on income derived from royalty or payment in respect of artistic works or recording discs and tapes be increased from RM6,000 annually up to RM10,000 annually;
Exemptions on import duty and sales tax be given to equipment used in the performing arts industry.
Income derived by non-resident professionals who train Malaysians in the fields of performing arts and creative crafts as well as related technical fields be exempted from withholding tax.
Tax hike in cigarettes, liquor
Tax on liquor and cigarettes be increased with the average increase in tax for liquor at 9%, whereas the average increase for cigarettes is 13%.
Rukun Tetangga to be revived
Rukun Tetangga in all residential areas will be brought back to curb crimes.
An allocation of RM101 million is provided for Rakan Muda programme and RM600 million for the National Service Training programme. A total of 95,000 youths from all races will be trained under the National Service Training programme in 2006 compared to 65,000 in 2005.
To carry out prevention, treatment and rehabilitation programmes as well as the management of 29 rehabilitation centres, a sum of RM207 million is allocated for the National Anti-Drug Agency.
A sum of RM138 million is allocated to assist non-governmental organisations in implementing these activities, including welfare organisations for the elderly, children, disabled as well as associations for sports and youths.
Encouraging gas as fuel
To facilitate vehicle owners to use gas, the number of retail gas stations currently totalling 51 will be doubled by 2007.
To encourage trucks and buses to utilise gas, it is proposed that import duty and sales tax exemption be given on chassis with engines of monogas trucks and buses as well as conversion kits.
A grant of RM50,000 per bus will also be provided for each monogas bus acquired until the end of 2008. Tax incentives will be given for the expansion of the gas reticulation network.
Companies generating energy from environmental-friendly renewable resources, such as biomass, hydropower not exceeding 10 megawatts and solar energy are eligible for tax incentives.
Bakun project to continue
Bakun hydro-electric project will proceed and it will cost RM6.1 billion for the period 2006 to 2009. Sabah has been allocated RM2.3 billion in the 2006, while Sarawak has been allocated RM2 billion.
Goodies for police, civil servants
Reimbursement for the cost of tailoring of uniforms for lower ranked police personnel up to RM100 per uniform for three uniforms per year.
Increase in incentive payments for bomb disposal unit from RM50 to RM100 per operation.
Incentive for divers currently enjoyed by the Armed Forces of Malaysia, Fishery Department, and National Science Centre will also be extended to PDRM as well as Fire and Rescue Services Department personnel. The incentive will be increased from RM50 to RM100 per month for divers and from RM150 to RM250 per month for clearance divers.
Assistance for living expenses for government servants in Grades 1 to 54, except for those living in quarters or receiving regional allowance, will be as follows:

1. RM150 a month for those working in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Ampang Jaya, Kajang, Klang, Selayang, Shah Alam, Subang Jaya, Petaling Jaya, Johor Bahru, Georgetown and Butterworth.
2. RM100 per month for those working in 26 other towns.
3. RM50 per month for those working in other areas.
Bonus for civil servants
Civil servants earning up to RM1,000 a month will be paid a bonus of one and a half months salary and those earning more than RM1,000 a month will be paid a bonus of one month salary subject to a minimum of RM1,500.
The bonus will be paid in two equal instalments in October and November 2005. In addition, the Government will make a special payment of RM200 for pensioners in October 2005.
Inflation up
The government said it also expects to cut the budget deficit to 3.5 percent of GDP next year from an estimated 3.8 percent in 2005.
It said it would continuously review subsidies as part of efforts to reduce its financial burden as well as promote efficiency and competitiveness.
The inflation rate as measured by the consumer price index (CPI) was projected at 2.8 percent for 2005 against 1.4 percent in 2004.

The finance ministry report said the government will continue to monitor conditions to avert any potential build-up in domestic inflation, while maximising the growth potential of the economy.

For the first eight months of 2005, Malaysia's CPI rate ran at 2.8 percent, stocked by world oil prices which rose 40.1 percent during the same period.
Sources: Malaysiakini, BERNAMA,

[Malaysia] Beberapa Persoalan Belanjawan 2006

Beberapa Persoalan Dalam Belanjawan 2006
Jumaat, 30 September 2005

[1] Apakah pengurangan defisit belanjawan akan mengakibatkan pengecutan ekonomi dan penurunan kadar pertumbuhan ekonomi? Bagaimanakah defisit belanjawan ini akan dibiayai? Apakah dengan menambahkan hutang negara sama ada dari dalam negara mahupun dari luar negara?

[2] Parlimen Indonesia pada 27 September 2005 meluluskan untuk melupuskan subsidi bahanapi di dalam penetapan harga bahanapi di Indonesia. Mungkinkah negara akan mencontohi Indonesia tentang cara dan kaedah pemerintah Indonesia mengurangkan kadar subsidi bahanapi dan memberi bantuan dana kepada golongan berpendapatan rendah?

[3] Apakah pengurangan defisit akan berjaya dengan menambahkan perbelanjaan pengurusan menerusi pertambahan kakitangan Kerajaan? Tidakkah lebih baik jika kakitangan Kerajaan sedia ada di"redeploy"kan ke jabatan/agensi yang dirasakan lebih utama (priority)? Peningkatan dan pertambahan elaun-elaun tertentu bagi kakitangan awam adalah dialu-alukan dan sewajarnya perlu diiringi dengan peningkatan kekompetenan, ketrampilan dan kecekapan kakitangan awam dalam urusan pentadbiran Kerajaan.

[4] Ketika menjawab soalan Datuk Seri Law Hieng Ding (Ahli Parlimen Sarikei) di Dewan Rakyat pada 29 September 2005, Setiausaha Parlimen Kementerian Kewangan, Datuk Hilmi Yahya menyatakan bahawa Kerajaan memungut sejumlah RM 7.06 bilion cukai daripada aktiviti perjudian bagi tempoh 2001 dan 2004 [2001, RM 1.83 bilion; 2002, RM 1.78 bilion; 2003, RM 1.67 bilion dan 2004, RM 1.77 bilion). Apakah Kerajaan berhasrat untuk meningkatkan cukai terhadap aktiviti perjudian sebagai mendokong objektifnya untuk mewujudkan masyarakat Malaysia yang lebih murni dan berakhlak mulia? Hasil dari pertambahan cukai judi ini boleh digunakan untuk projek-projek kemudahan awam seperti pembinaan jalanraya dan projek-projek infrastruktur awam yang lain.

[5] Apakah pembekuan kenaikan harga bahanapi seperti harga diesel, gasoline dan LPG akan mengurangkan kenaikan kadar inflasi? Atau apakah kenaikan inflasi ini disebabkan oleh faktor-faktor lain? Kadar inflasi di negara-negara lain meningkat lantaran kenaikan ketara harga bahanapi adalah kerana harga bahanapi di negara-negara tersebut tidak disubsidikan; sedangkan inflasi masih berlaku di Malaysia walaupun harga bahanapi di Malaysia tetap disubsidikan pada tahap yang tinggi!

[6] Bagaimanakah Kerajaan akan meneruskan program pembasmian rasuah di pelbagai peringkat dan sektor yang banyak membantutkan program pembangunan negara dan memberi perspektif negatif kepada para pelabur antarabangsa? Apakah sistem tender terbuka akan benar-benar dilaksanakan di pelbagai agensi, jabatan dan Kementerian untuk memastikan ketelusan penelitian dan pemberian kontrak Kerajaan?

[7] Ramai yang berpandangan bahawa Kerajaan hari ini kelihatannya semacam panik dalam menghadapi pelbagai isu sehinggakan pengumuman demi pengumuman tentang pelbagai perkara dilakukan oleh hampir semua Menteri dan Timbalan Menteri. Ada yang bercanggah di antara satu sama lain; masing-masing memberi kaedah dan cara tersendiri untuk menangani sesuatu isu sehinggakan ada yang agak keterlaluan. Apakah sikap semberono, kelam kabut dan tidak seia-sekata ini akan diteruskan dengan para Menteri bersikap sendiri-sendiri (silo mentality) manakala pegawai Kerajaan dan para pelaksana dasar tidak bekerjasama dalam satu pasukan secara integratif sehinggakan ketidaksepaduan ini akan dieksploitasi oleh pihak-pihak yang ingin mengambil kesempatan di atas kekurangan dan kelemahan Kerajaan ini?

[8] Program peningkatan kemampuan sistem pengangkutan awam seperti yang diumumkan sewajarnya diberi fokus utama kerana ia akan memberi implikasi positif yang lebih menyeluruh kepada rakyat di semua peringkat. Setidak-tidaknya ia akan mengurangkan beban yang ditanggung akibat peningkatan harga bahanapi.
[9] Program penukaran minyak kelapa sawit perlu diteliti secara lebih terperinci untuk mengelak dari menjadi satu lagi program “gajah putih”. Program “biofuel” ini kelihatannya menarik sebagai satu bahanapi alternatif kepada produk petroleum, hanya ketika harga minyak di paras yang tinggi, sepertimana yang berlaku ketika ini. Soalnya, apakah program “biofuel” ini akan kekal berdaya maju atau “commercially viable” sekiranya harga minyak menurun ke paras yang lebih “sustainable” di masa-masa yang akan datang? Apakah program “biofuel” ini adalah satu reaksi spontan yang dilakukan tergesa-gesa tanpa memperhitungkan kebolehupayaannya untuk jangka masa yang lebih panjang? Sekiranya program “biofuel” ini menjadi “gajah putih”, apakah Kerajaan akan menggunakan dana awam para pembayar cukai untuk menyelamatkan syarikat-syarikat yang cuba mengambil keuntungan dari program “biofuel” ini?
30 September 2005

Monday, September 26, 2005

Sajak Melayu - Usman Awang

MELAYU
Usman Awang


Melayu itu orang yang bijaksana
Nakalnya bersulam jenaka
Budi bahasanya tidak terkira
Kurang ajarnya tetap santun
Jika menipu pun masih bersopan
Bila mengampu bijak beralas tangan.

Melayu itu berani jika bersalah
Kecut takut kerana benar,
Janji simpan di perut
Selalu pecah di mulut,
Biar mati adat
Jangan mati anak.

Melayu di tanah Semenanjung luas maknanya:
Jawa itu Melayu, Bugis itu Melayu
Banjar juga disebut Melayu, Minangkabau memang Melayu,
Keturunan Acheh adalah Melayu,
Jakun dan Sakai asli Melayu,
Arab dan Pakistani, semua Melayu
Mamak dan Malbari serap ke Melayu
Malah mua'alaf bertakrif Melayu
(Setelah disunat anunya itu)

Dalam sejarahnya
Melayu itu pengembara lautan
Melorongkan jalur sejarah zaman
Begitu luas daerah sempadan
Sayangnya kini segala kehilangan

Melayu itu kaya falsafahnya
Kias kata bidal pusaka
Akar budi bersulamkan daya
Gedung akal laut bicara

Malangnya Melayu itu kuat bersorak
Terlalu ghairah pesta temasya
Sedangkan kampung telah tergadai
Sawah sejalur tinggal sejengkal
tanah sebidang mudah terjual

Meski telah memiliki telaga
Tangan masih memegang tali
Sedang orang mencapai timba.
Berbuahlah pisang tiga kali
Melayu itu masih bermimpi

Walaupun sudah mengenal universiti
Masih berdagang di rumah sendiri.
Berkelahi cara Melayu
Menikam dengan pantun
Menyanggah dengan senyum
Marahnya dengan diam
Merendah bukan menyembah
Meninggi bukan melonjak.

Watak Melayu menolak permusuhan
Setia dan sabar tiada sempadan
Tapi jika marah tak nampak telinga
Musuh dicari ke lubang cacing
Tak dapat tanduk telinga dijinjing
Maruah dan agama dihina jangan
Hebat amuknya tak kenal lawan

Berdamai cara Melayu indah sekali
Silaturrahim hati yang murni
Maaf diungkap senantiasa bersahut
Tangan diulur sentiasa bersambut
Luka pun tidak lagi berparut

Baiknya hati Melayu itu tak terbandingkan
Segala yang ada sanggup diberikan
Sehingga tercipta sebuah kiasan:
"Dagang lalu nasi ditanakkan
Suami pulang lapar tak makan
Kera di hutan disusu-susukan
Anak di pangkuan mati kebuluran"

Bagaimanakah Melayu abad dua puluh satu
Masihkan tunduk tersipu-sipu?
Jangan takut melanggar pantang
Jika pantang menghalang kemajuan;
Jangan segan menentang larangan
Jika yakin kepada kebenaran;
Jangan malu mengucapkan keyakinan
Jika percaya kepada keadilan.

Jadilah bangsa yang bijaksana
Memegang tali memegang timba
Memiliki ekonomi mencipta budaya
Menjadi tuan di negara Merdeka "

Usman Awang

[Malaysia] What's Next For Rafidah

The Star, Kuala Lumpur
25 September 2005

What next for Rafidah?

The political situation for Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz grew from bad toworse this week when MPs, including those from the governmentbackbench, turned on her, writes JOCELINE TAN.

DATUK Seri Rafidah Aziz flew home from the United States amid greyskies and a steady drizzle. The cooling rains of the past few days marked the end of a rather hotand hazy spell of weather in the Klang Valley. But the political temperature looks far from subsiding for Rafidah. In fact, it went up a few notches this week.

Parliament convened on Monday and, as expected, the Approved Permit(AP) issue and the absent Rafidah dominated the debate. “I wouldn't want to be in her shoes. It was nightmarish,” said one MP. The International Trade and Industry Minister has been away for thelast 10 days on an investment mission that had involved a hectic string of pit stops in Seattle and the US west coast.

To be fair to her, the trip had been arranged some six months ago, sothe question of whether or not she was trying to avoid Parliament is debatable. Unfortunately, the MPs were not in a mellow mood and most of them were simply not ready to accept excuses for her non-appearance. “She doesn't care about Parliament. She can’t be bothered and that’snot right,” said Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, Minister in the PrimeMinister’s Department.

The AP issue is indeed turning out to be a bottomless pit of troubles for the International Trade and Industry Minister. As some of her supporters had feared, Rafidah came under fierce attack from both opposition MPs as well as her own backbenchers.

Being criticised by the opposition is one thing, but to be censured by your own kind is something else. Nazri, known for his without-fear-or-favour political style, has beenat the forefront of the government backbenchers’ position on Rafidah's handling of the AP issue. “You tell me,” he said, when asked whether what had happened amounted to a breaking of ranks between the government backbenchers and theonce invincible woman minister.
And if that was not enough, Nazri and several other MPs brought their grouses to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when he turned up in Parliament on Thursday. Incidentally, Najib’s appearance in Parliament did not go unnoticed among the MPs. If the Deputy Prime Minister can come to Parliament, why can’t the MITI Minister?
“I hope Datuk Seri Najib will convey our feelings to the PrimeMinister,” said Ketereh MP Alwi Che Ahmad. Does this latest episode spell the end of the road for Rafidah?
Her supporters beg to defer.
“She has told us not to worry, that everything will be okay for her,”said one of her Wanita Umno loyalists. Whatever her standing among the men in Umno, the Wanita Umno leaderstill enjoys support in her wing. Her AP woes, the women insisted, are to do with the ministry whereas they have no serious complaints with her role in the wing.

Rafidah may snap at her Cabinet colleagues and spurn her fellow legislators but she is quite capable of turning on the charm when she goes on the ground. She connects with the women as a wife, mother and grandmother. She switches on her mega-watt smile and hugs, air-kisses and chitchats like she is one of them. For instance, when she visited Kedah for several Wanita Umno programmes organised by Kedah Wanita chief Datuk Rosnah Majid, she bowled over the ladies with her charm and homely style.
In Malacca last week, she went on stage to dance the joget with her Wanita ladies. And in Johor Baru a fortnight ago, she told her ladies she still enjoys the Prime Minister’s confidence. She told them: “What people want to say, let them say. I cannot be bothered.”

She said she had nothing to worry about because she had done nothing wrong. And that is the official line her supporters have been dishing out. But that does not mean they have not been as perplexed as anyone else by Rafidah’s at times irrational actions over the past months. The hugging incident involving Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Merdeka Day is one such episode.

Her Wanita inner circle was ecstatic, thinking that Rafidah had apologised to the former Premier. Rafidah was scheduled to officiate at their newly renovated office atthe PWTC the day after the hug and they decided to make the occasion a sort of thanksgiving kenduri. However, the kenduri plan was quickly aborted and their sense of relief quashed when Rafidah declared that there had been no apology.

But what has been most glaring is the fact that they have not come outto defend her against attacks, including the latest flare-up inParliament. The release of the list of MPs who used their AP allocation has been likened to the hug-that-was-not-an-apology, namely that both incidents have backfired on her.
The list reflected poor judgement and left MPs with a bad taste in the mouth. She knew the MPs were rearing to quiz her and put her on the grill. Instead of placating them, she chose to further provoke them by releasing the list. “I don’t understand what she's trying to do. We ask her about the AP policy and we get the list of MPs who got APs,” said Ketereh MP AlwiChe Ahmad.

The list irked both sides of the bench in a strangely unifying way. Thus, when Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang said in his trademark rhetorical style that Rafidah was “on the run from the Press, on the run from the Cabinet, on the run from Parliament,” some Umno politicians were so amused they privately referred to her as “The Fugitive”.

Many think the veteran minister has grown detached from public opinion and that she is on a path of self-destruction. “It’s unfortunate because she has done a lot of good things for the government. She is like an aeroplane which had a good take-off and a great flight but where is the smooth landing? I think her plane is plunging,” said Alwi.

Almost everything she has done, from her disastrous outing at the Umno general assembly to the Merdeka Day hug, seems to have gone badly for her. “She’s being defiant but I think she underestimated the mood on the ground,” said one Umno official. It is also possible she is merely doing things in the way that she is familiar with or what some termed the “old modus operandi,” that is, as long as the Prime Minister is behind her, she will be okay.

That she will survive as long as she is capable and good at her job. If that is so, she may have misread Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The fact that the Prime Minister ordered the release of the list of AP-holders shortly after the issue erupted and even the open discussion in Parliament this week are all signs that times have changed.

The issue started off with APs but now Rafidah herself has become an issue. She is, without doubt, a top brain in the government and it is hard to visualise anyone who can take her place as MITI Minister. But how effective can one be if one does not have the cooperation of Cabinet colleagues?

Being competent does not always add up to being effective. Can she still be effective when even her own government backbenchers have turned on her?

[Malaysia] Why the Customs D-G would be allowed to retire gracefully

Why the Customs D-G would be allowed to retire gracefully

Datin Seri Rafidah will not resign. Nor would Tan Sri Isa Samad. So, the public attention is on the Customs and Excise Director-General, Tan Sri Halil Mutalib. But he would not resign either. He would be allowed to go on retirement as scheduled, early next month. But Tan Sri Halil should never have been in the closed service, the customs and excise department. Not only was he bought into the service from outside, he was also given an extension by former Prime Minister, Tun Mahathir Mohamed. He looked the easiest to get rid of, but as the story unravelled, it became a fight between the present Prime Minister, Pak Lah, and the former Prime Minister. Pak Lah cannot force him to resign although he could spread the corruption bit on Tan Sri Halil and damage Tun Mahathir. But it did not work as he planned. His 'boys' had accepted favours from Datin Seri Rafidah, Tan Sri Isa Samad, and Tan Sri Halil Mutalib, and if he did not close their cases quickly he would be hurt. The public perception that he is against corruption is not true. For when he was faced with corruption in his cabinet and his civil service, he could not act for that would have moved the UMNO warlords against him, those he would rather not, and so he took the easy way out, and went after Tun Mahathir. But that backfired. For it would have affected his 'boys', and he could not afford that. The mainstream newspapers, all owned by one or other Barisan Nasional newspapers, and all beholden to the Prime Minister, all today its readers that Datin Seri Rafidah should resign, that Tan Sri Isa Samad should resign, that Tan Sri Halil Mutalib should resign. But they are all in office, will not resign, and the newspapers find creative reasons why they should remain in the jobs.
I am interested in Tan Sri Halil Mutalib and his farewell party. I had gone to Klang last weekend and met a man whose life depended on the customs and excise department. He was told bluntly, by Tan Sri Halil and his deputies, that if he did not pay RM3,000 for the farewell party, he would face difficultes in his working life. He could bring along his wife or a friend for the price. That was later reduced to RM1,500. This bribery is prevalent in all government departments. In Putrajaya, for instance, one woman in each department is told she is in charge of cooking, and there are at least 20 women who give up their professional qualifications for the cooking every week. The government has since said there is provision for farewell parties for the chief, but this is for the whole country. But in the case of Tan Sri Haiil, it is RM250,000 for the whole country. His department spent RM160,000 for a golf game. Much of the money goes into the pockets of senior officials. At the English College (now the Makltab Sultan Abu Bakar) in Johore Bahru. it was common for us in the 1950s to collect funds for the school magazine from the school suppliers. Often, the cheques came in unasked. But the practice was common in those days. Today, funds are collected so that senior officials pocket the difference. This is common throughout the civil service. Many people cannot afford to go to the government departments for the bribe asked. You pay a lower amount at the bottom, and more as you go up the civil service ladder. Pak Lah cannot stop this by blaming his predecessor. He would be out of his job if he means what he says on corruption. His 'boys' are in it to the hilt. He would keep silent about his 'boys' for they are as guilty as Tan Sri Halil.
A friend, who had retired from the civil service, and who missed his dato'ship because his boss felt it would do him credit if he had three dato'ships instead of two, told me that he went to one government department recently and he found food being prepared for the civil servants who had come for a meeting. In his day, he went for meetings but they broke off at lunch time to enable the participants to have their lunch, for which they paid. Today, lunch is paid for by the office, and meetings are held in exotic places at government expense. Civil servants in Johore Bahru would have their meetings in Langkawi. It is common for the senior officials in the civil service to spend hundreds of thousands of RM to decorate their offices, and continue spending as they climb up the civil service ladder. So Tan Sri Mutalib's farewell party is passe. What has upset him is the public scrutiny in the Barison Nasional owned mainstream presse. He would have retired in the past, but he has become a pawn now between the urban Malays and the rural. The rural Malay is watching every step the urban Malay makes. And the urban Malay is nervous. The former Prime Minister started the ball rolling by accusing his deputy, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, of being a gay and removing from office. He is out of office but continues to repeat the allegation, the latest in Singapore. Dato' Seri Anwar has sued him, and this would be the clash between the urban and rural Malay, each representing one of them. Tun Mahathir finds his urban credentials and his 22 years in office disappear before his eyes, as Pak Lah flirsts with bringing Dato' Seri Anwar into UMNO. But Dato' Seri would not come into UMNO unless he is given a free pardon, for which he would not apply. But if Dato' Seri Anwar comes into UMNO, it would be to defeat Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak, and in the bargain Tun Mahathir. Otherwise Dato' Seri Anwar would be in the opposition.
Tun Mahathir would have lost if Dato' Seri Anwar is brought into UMNO. But would Dato' Seri Anwar be acceptable as deputy prime minister, for he is a more dangerous person to Pak Lah than the present deputy prime minister. Pak Lah sleeps at meetings. This is well known. And he depends on his son-in-law to keep him awake. Tun Mahathir has been kept waiting for a formal meeting with Pak Lah, because the latter was sleeping in his house. Sources close to Tun Mahathir say that he has been kept waiting at the Prime Minister's office by as much as one hour. But Pak Lah is not home free. In the UMNO elections in 2007, Pak Lah could be challenged by a warlord, from Johore. The challenger may not win, but like Tun Hussein Onn, in 1978, who was forced to resign for the deputy prime minister three years later, Pak Lah may be forced to as well. If the warlord from Johore wins the election, then Pak Lah would have to resign. Though he had said that those in his cabinet and government need not resign if they had lost the party elections. He is finding creative ways for them to remain in office, arguing that those in his cabinet and government have taken office before the Yang Dipertuan Agung, and that supercedes any party election. But this is not why he would not reshuffle his cabinet and government. He is awaiting inspiration. The real reason why he does not reshuffle his cabinet is that those he drops would walk to his opposition. Those in his cabinet are UMNO warlords from the states. And he would not behave as boldly as Junichiro Koizumi in calling for general elections for the upper and lower House in Japan when the warlords opposed him plan to privatise the Post Office.
But he spoiled his chances by promising to retire next year. The UMNO president is not as beholden now to the warlords, but he is afraid the warlords he drops would go in opposition to him. And that to him is not a good thing.

M.G.G. Pillai
pillai@streamyx.com

[Malaysia] Articles on Malaysian Politics - Always UMNO

Articles from Malaysiakini

Most MPs angry with Rafidah, says Nazri Beh Lih Yi - Sep 22

International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz came under intense pressure today for allegedly resorting to underhand tactics over the Approved Permits (AP) controversy in order to silence members of Parliament. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said he has reported to Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak the unhappiness of the MPs over the release of the AP list Tuesday.

During a press conference at the Parliament lobby later, Nazri said most MPs were angry with Rafidah. “(They) are most angry with the fact that her (Rafidah’s) name is not on the (MPs with APs) list, as if she is trying to show that she was right.

“(She) is using this arm-twisting (tactic) against MPs so that they don’t raise the matter again,” he said. Mohd Nazri’s name is also on the list. Najib was also seen in Parliament although he was not scheduled to answer any questions today. He however left without making any comments to the media. Telling absenceMohd Nazri said the MPs were also annoyed with Rafidah’s continued absence when there were AP-related questions being raised in the Dewan Rakyat.

He said she should heed Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s instruction that all ministers must be present in Parliament to field questions. “Due to the (her) absence, many questions remain unanswered. If she is really keen to answer, she could have given the replies.
“There are so many questions on the AP and she could have gathered and replied them in one go while she was still in the country,” said the minister in charge of parliamentary affairs. Rafidah’s continued absence, he said, gave the impression that she was trying to avoid addressing the issue. He said it was not just the opposition who demanded the her presence in Parliament but that a majority of backbenchers also felt likewise.

“This is about respect for the Dewan Rakyat. The PM’s instruction is still effective, therefore it is Rafidah’s responsibility to be present to answer related questions as the AP is a big issue,” said Mohd Nazri. He also noted “a conspicuous silence of disapproval from the backbenchers” when an opposition MP’s emer! gency motion seeking to debate on the AP list was rejected earlier today.

“The deputy PM himself witnessed the Dewan Speaker’s rejection of the urgent motion and how the backbenchers were silent. “Usually, they will thump the table (to show support or approval). This implies that they also disagree with the (Speaker’s) decision,” he added.

He said Najib will report today’s proceedings to Abdullah.
Standard reply
Yesterday, Rafidah's deputy Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah reiterated that no irregularities were involved in the issuance of APs to import foreign luxury cars. He said the policy will continue. Describing Husni’s reply “an expected answer”, Backbenchers Club chairperson Shahrir Abdul Samad told malaysiakini that a lot of issues still remain unanswered. “What is the policy? How do you designate that a car is a car? For example, a tuned-up model never appears in any respectable car magazine but in Malaysia they have become a new brand,” he said when met at the lobby yesterday.

“These issues were not addressed. That’s why a lot of issues have yet to be answered. All the issues have been raised and openly debated but the answers are not forthcoming. “The Parliament is the best place (and time) to settle it,” said the vocal MP for Johor Baru. Shahrir said Rafidah could either arrange for a special briefing for MPs or provide the answers through the media.

However, he said that since the AP issue has been placed under the Prime Minister’s office, the BBC will wait for a reply accordingly. On Rafidah’s continued absence in Parliament, he said all they wanted was an explanation regardless of who answers the queries. Rafidah is currently on a trade mission to the United States.

Corruption index 2004: Malaysia slides further Claudia Theophilus - Sep 22
Malaysia’s 39th placing on a list of 146 countries indexed for perceived corruption should rankle the present administration, particularly the prime minister, who has repeatedly vowed to combat graft. While efforts to increase awareness of anti-corruption measures are underway, public expectation for actual action is not being met.

In contrast, a host of other countries have made far greater strides in waging war against corruption by institutionalising anti-corruption mechanisms. Transparency International’s (TI) 2004 Corruption Perception Index was topped by Finland which scored 9.7 out of the full 10 points, followed by New Zealand (9.6), Denmark (9.5) and Iceland (9.5). Neighbouring Singapore scored 9.3 to occupy the fifth spot. Malaysia, whose ranking has been on a decline over the last few years, was placed 37th among 133 coun! tries in 2003 and 34 among 102 countries the previous year, recording an average score of 5.

Last March, TI released a 316-page Global Corruption Report 2005 with special focus on corruption in the construction industry. “Nowhere is corruption more ingrained than in the construction sector,” read the TI report.
It proposed for both public and private sectors to sign an integrity pact or a ‘no-bribes’ agreement designed to commit contracting parties to refrain from bribery, which TI claims to be in use in over 20 countries. A blueprint for transparent public contracting called Minimum Standards for Public Contracting was also released together with the report.
Open, competitive bidding
Among others, it requires open, competitive bidding, blacklisting of companies caught bribing, full disclosure of the entire tender details and contract process and strict monitoring by independent agencies and civil society bodies.

Although a number of emerging economies in Africa, Eastern and Central Europe, and Southeast Asia were cited as prone to corruption, the report had examples of ongoing efforts to counter them. Malaysia’s strategy is found in the National Integrity Plan spearheaded by the Malaysian Institute of Integrity which was formed in 2004 to attain set targets by 2008.

Dr Sulaiman Mahbob in his paper at a recent integrity forum on the construction sector said there was a need to develop an implementation and coordination mechanism. He said the public sector has management integrity committees at all levels but needs to strengthen the mechanism with the leadership’s commitment. A similar role can be played by chambers of commerce and associations in the private sector. “Regulatory bodies such as the Companies Commission of Malaysia, the Securities Commission and the central bank must ensure compliance of laws and procedures,” he said.

Sulaiman emphasised on the need for public and private leadership to set the tone for anti-corruption measures by formulating concrete policies and implementing them strictly. Last week, Malay Contractors Association president Roslan Awang Chik confirmed at the same forum the long-standing suspicion that Malaysia’s construction industry was corrupt and plagued by red-tape.
Concrete reforms
Josie M Fernandez of TI Malaysia, meanwhile, gave a socio-economic perspective and cited tragedies in recent years such as the Penang jetty tragedy (1988), the Highland Towers (1993), the North Klang Valley Expressway-Meru Link (2005) and the Sultan Ismail Hospital (2004) to illustrate claims of corruption in the construction sector.

In addition to political will, concrete reforms and good governance, she proposed a code of conduct for clients, construction and engineering companies. “Implement TI’s integrity pact for contracts,” she added.
Prof Khairuddin Abdul Rashid in his paper cited tender, payment, variation and claims as the most problematic areas in a pilot study involving 32 Malaysian construction students in August. “About 94 percent answered yes to a question on whether ethical problems existed in the industry.” He also found that the construction sector lacked integrity due to delays, cost overruns, poor quality and abandoned projects.

Khairuddin proposed that Malaysia consider the World Bank’s country procurement assessment reports containing 183 attributes to identify gaps for improvement. Forum participant Koon Yew Yin further affirmed the public’s perception of prevailing corruption at all levels in the local construction sector.

'Predictable' Mahathir at Suhakam do
Martin Jalleh - Sep 22
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) marked its 6th anniversary and Human Rights Day in Malaysia recently by holding a forum in the capital city, with former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad giving the opening address.

A group of 30 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had initially written an open letter to Suhakam urging it to ‘close the door’ on Mahathir for a simple reason that he had committed a host of ‘human wrongs’ with regard to human rights at home.
They had provided Suhakam a list of human rights abuses in Bolehland by Mahathir and pointed out that it would be wrong to invite ‘a leader who perpetrated extensive human rights violations’ during his 22-year political reign.
Surely Suhakam was familiar with Mahathir’s record. Its very own findings on his abuse of human rights, especially through the ISA, made it very telling. The revelations of the Royal Commission on the Police Force provided further evidence most compelling.
But Suhakam was keen on reading everyone their rights. The NGOs had the right to protest and pull out, Dr M had the right to be present, the commission had the right to press on with whom they wanted. Strangely though, no one had the right to walk out half way.
Suhakam commissioner Chiam Heng Keng questioned the late protest of the NGOs, probably hoping that everyone would be naive enough to believe that Suhakam would actually change its mind if an early protest had been made. Late or early, the point is that Mahathir should not have been invited in the first place. But Chiam, who appeared rather charmed by Mahathir chimed that he was ‘the best choice of a speaker to deliver a knowledgeable discourse on the subject at hand’.

Perfect camouflage
As it turned out Mahathir was predictable. After 22 years, the citizens of Bolehland can guess who he is going to laud and/or lambast and what he has to say. Quite typically he roasted the West, rapped the media, and of course ranted on ‘gullible’ NGOs. He quite expectedly and rightly too highlighted the hideous and horrible crimes against humanity by the West, especially in Iraq and Palestine. He harped on and hammered away at their ‘sheer hypocrisy’ in portraying themselves as champions of human rights.
His daring and descriptive account of the lowdown West in terms of human rights was meant to raise him on higher ground. He portrayed himself as a hero of the Third World or at the worst a much ‘lesser evil’ compared to the West. Mahathir preached that “the more advanced the society the greater should be the capacity to think, to recognise and evaluate between right and wrong and to choose between these based on higher reasoning power and not just base feelings and desires.”

Yet the 22 years of his tenure saw what former MP and writer Sim Kwang Yang (left) calls "the politics of depolitisation"— the closing of the Malaysian mind, based on the assumption that Malaysians cannot handle political liberties without killing each other. Important political decisions were taken away from the people. Public participation – a core democratic right was discouraged and even denied. Decision making was concentrated in the hands of the ruling elite and became the sole monopoly of the great leader.

The colonial white supremacy which we once had to endure was taken over by Mahathir’s executive supremacy which showed contempt for the people. Those who ruled under his reign believed that once elected they had the prerogative to pontificate and decide for all - and do what they like. In Malaysia the democratic process dies after each general election. Growing executive dominance reduced the political representation of the people, as embodied in Parliament, to nothing more than a rubber stamp, a symbol shorn of substance, stripped of essence, sidelined and side-stepped by the executive.
Mahathir was right when he said: “We have gained political independence but for many the minds are still colonised”. This is especially true of the undergraduates on campus most of whose minds are not only closed, but cowed and colourless.

Mahathir, had, especially in the last years of his reign, stifled intellectual freedom and political activity amongst academics and students in the universities especially by resorting to the Universities and University Colleges Act.
In October 2001, 61 university lecturers accused of having engaged in anti-government activities were warned, transferred or fired. It was very obvious who the new ‘coloniser’ was. The very sad state of affairs in our universities today is part of the legacy left behind by Mahathir. Harmful hegemonyMahathir also spoke of globalisation resulting in the ‘world (being) totally hegemonised’. Yet he chose not to mention the BN-Umno hegemony he had created - a system which had spawned so much abuse of power, injustice, corruption and inequality.

Mahathir’s political hegemony proved to be highly detrimental to the healthy growth of democracy. It subverted the independence and integrity of important democratic institutions such as Parliament, the judiciary, the office of Attorney-General, the police, the Election Commission, etc. It was a hegemony that promoted an ideology that ultimately benefitted ‘dominant interests’ - the ruling elites and the unscrupulous cronies of the powers-that-be and which left no place for the small man or woman who had no cash, ‘cable’, clout or connection.
Mahathir’s political hegemony also thrived on the cult of secrecy. It hid the misdeeds of leaders, and penalised whistleblowers. It was a brute majority used to push through many constitutional amendments at its whim and fancy - and not to strengthen rule of law and basic rights - but to erode and erase constitutional checks and balances in order to consolidate and perpetuate the hegemony.
Muzzled media
When it came to the media, Mahathir made it known to his audience that Malaysians ‘can read newspapers, which support or oppose the government….no one is prevented from watching or listening to foreign broadcasts which are mostly critical of the government.’
Mahathir was mum on the increasingly tight controls he had imposed on the press through coercion, ownership changes, verbal bullying, and backroom personnel moves, and that his government owned virtually all major media, either through the Barisan Nasional parties or his allies.
He was particularly silent over the meeting o! f more than 70 local journalists with Suhakam on World Press Freedom Day in May 2002 to urge the body to call for the repeal of repressive laws, especially the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA), the Official Secrets Act, the Broadcasting Act and the Sedition Act.
In fact in 1999, a memorandum carrying the signatures of 581 local journalists calling for the repeal of the PPPA was presented to the then home minister. The signatures of another 370 journalists who had endorsed the memorandum were forwarded to him the following year.

As for Mahathir's ‘freely available’ foreign publications - a special office in the Home Affairs Ministry censors all foreign publications and has repeatedly delayed publications deemed critical of the government. “Then there is the Internet which no one seems able to stop even if libelous lies are screened”, Mahathir added with a tinge of helplessness. Yet, news websites such as malaysiakini have been subjected to constant government pressure and childish threats.
Malaysiakini reporters were barred from attending government press conferences on the grounds that ‘their credibility is doubtful’ and that they did not carry government-issued press cards. Parliament was told that the government was monitoring ‘every article’ published by malaysiakini to ensure that its writings did not upset public order.

Side show
Mahathir’s high praise of Suhakam on its anniversary as ‘a body dedicated to overseeing and ensuring that there are no abuses of human rights within its borders’ smacked of hypocrisy. As PM, he had ignored the recommendations by Suhakam – especially its call to scrap the ISA. He had also ignored Suhakam’s call on his government to liberalise rules surrounding the right to freedom of assembly. He had said that the commission “did not understand ‘national security’ considerations”.
Mahathir had even accused Suhakam of being ‘influenced by Western thinking’ and of ‘not thinking in the interest of Malaysia’ in his response to Suhakam's censuring of the police for human rights violations at the Kesas Highway-Jalan Kebun gathering in 2000.

In April 2002, Mahathir terminated the services of half of the members of the then ‘dedicated body’. They included Prof Mehrun Siraj and Anuar Zainal Abidin, who were exemplary in their commitment to the protection of human rights and civil liberties in this nation. Alas, to Mahathir, Suhakam was just a show, a side show not to be taken seriously - a ‘dedicated body’ at which he would take an occasional dig or dismiss completely or even launch a diatribe against.
Cloned colonialist?
Mahathir issued the same warning as he would in any talk he had given in the past in relation to globalisation. He warned his audience of the danger of re-colonisation. But one does not have to wait for a Bush or a Blair to re-colonise this nation.
The ‘British’ have not actually left our shores. Re-colonisation began when through a gradual process executive supremacy under Mahathir donned the mantle of British supremacy and had even outdone it in many ways. The very leaders who once fought against and detested the oppressive laws of the British now brandish a gamut of harsh executive powers - which are deeply and undeniably derivative of authoritarian colonialism. Most of the laws left behind by the British were amended and made even more draconian by Mahathir to contain, cripple and crush legitimate dissent by the c! itizens of this country. We are not short of examples.

British ‘propaganda’ is now replaced by a powerful broadcast media, owned by the government and allied companies, and regulated by the Broadcasting Act, 1987, which gives the Information Minister vast powers of control and manipulation.
The Sedition Act (1948) was a British law used to stifle Malay nationalists (especially those in Umno, which was born two years before the Act came to be). The Act was amended for selective prosecution of political opponents and to protect Umno.
The Internal Security Act (1960) meant to combat the then communists, was amended 20 times (most of them during Dr M's tenure). It is now more repressive than the original, and its powers have been abused by Dr M to protect his own "security" and that of Umno.
Described as 'white terror', the ISA is used by Malaysians on Malaysians. Rais Yatim (left) once wrote that "the ISA is an anti-human rights legislation..." and that "(t)hat there are clear violations of human rights by invoking the ISA and other draconian legislation is an understatement".
The Printing Presses and Publications Act (1984) originated from the Printing Press Act (1948). Amended in 1987 (Mahathir’s tenure) to exclude judicial review of the executive's action vis-a-vis publications, it serves as a stranglehold on the press and opposition publications.
The Official Secrets Act (1972) was based on the British OSA of 1911. Amended in 1986 (Dr M's tenure) to provide for mandatory jail sentences, it was used by Mahathir to reinforce the cult of secrecy, hide the misdeeds of leaders and to penalise whistleblowers. It also resulted in self-censorship by the press.
The Police Act (1963) was amended in 1967, 1981 and 1987 (during Mahathir’s tenure) to further enhance the wide array of police p! owers, thus making the constitutional right of assembly quite “irrelevant". The late Tunku Abdul Rahman died a disillusioned man on seeing his independent Malaysia become, in his very own words, a ‘police state’.
Even the Special Branch was a creation of Britain in 1887. It was meant as a direct response to Irish anarchist terrorism. It was perfected during Mahathir's tenure by the Royal Malaysian Police to ‘trace’, threaten, torture and ‘turn over’ political dissidents.

Every trick employed by Mahathir during his tenure - ‘divide-and-rule’, purveying a ‘culture of fear’ or a ‘siege mentality’, manipulating ethnic fears, trotting out a bogey (the latest being the ‘Militant’/ ‘Terrorist’ bogey) - were tools of British Colonialism.
About Abu Talib Othman
Mahathir must have been very encouraged by the supportive presence of Suhakam chairperson Abu Talib Othman who was a former attorney-general during his (Mahathir’s) tenure. Surely the latter could empathise with and share wholeheartedly in the hypocrisy of his former boss. The present head of ‘a body dedicated to overseeing and ensuring that there are no abuses of human rights’ once played a major role in Mahathir's conspiracy to get rid of the then Lord President Mohamed Salleh Abas in 1988 which ultimately resulted in a crisis in the judiciary.
Rais Yatim in his book Freedom Under Executive Power in Malaysia highlights this for a fact: "It is significant to point out that the attorney-general, Abu Talib Othman, who was completely relied upon by the prime minister during the crisis, played an outstanding role in the removal of Salleh (Abas). Subsequently he also played a similar role in the removal of two other Supreme Court judges in his capacity as 'assistant' to the Tribunal."
"In the first place, the attorney-general who is at all material times the legal advisor to the prime minister and thus an officer of the executive should not have been involved in the Tribunal's work at all," Rais commented.

What Rais had written was confirmed by Salleh in May Day For Justice in which he would recall how he had groomed Abu Talib only to be betrayed by him one day: "I have known this man Abu Talib Othman for a long time...I chose Abu Talib, who was then a comparatively junior officer…I t! ook him to Geneva ... I also took him as my junior in the prosecution of some memorable cases…Never did I entertain the thought that one day he would turn against me, and in the way he did." In a very sad and tragic line, Salleh would add: "And it was to emerge, subsequently, that it was none other than the attorney-general himself who had actually framed the charges against me!"
The removal of Salleh (right) was an event that has "sullied the fair name of this country...it struck a terrible blow, not only to the independence of the Malaysian judiciary - and ruined the careers of at least three honourable men - but to national pride itself.... It has severely damaged the people's faith in the law and brought several judges into disrepute. It will take a long time for us to recover from the horror and shame of this episode."

These words, if Mahathir would care to take note, are not by an editor of a foreign journal or part of report of a foreign human rights NGO - they are from the foreword of May Day For Justice written by the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first prime minister of Malaysia.
What a great bash Suhakam had organised on its sixth anniversary!

Friday, September 23, 2005

Lessons from Iran

Lessons from Iran
By Salama A Salama
al-Ahram Weekly, 22 - 28 September 2005

Arab countries press on with their petty squabbles and the world moves on. In recent UN meetings the US and the EU III (UK, France and Germany) have gone out of their way to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power. This is because they don't want any country to challenge Israel in this part of the world. Consequently, a showdown between Iran and the US is in the offing.

The European troika has failed to persuade Tehran to freeze its nuclear activities in return for trade and other incentives. Iran is defending its right to produce enriched uranium, a right upheld by various international agreements, including the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty, and says its nuclear programme is peaceful. So far it's been a stalemate. Iran says it will continue to produce enriched uranium but is ready to accept monitoring of such activities to allay international fears. The US, for its part, says that Iran should not be allowed to produce enriched uranium because it will use it for nuclear weapons. This is nothing more than a conjecture, though the US is using it to pressure Iran, blackmail Gulf states and rally Europe, Russia and China to its side.

The US does not want Iran -- a country that opposes US policies in the Gulf, Iraq and Palestine -- to acquire nuclear leverage. For the past few years, Tehran has managed to stay ahead of the US-Israeli game. It has proposed that the entire region, including Israel, be turned into a nuclear-free zone. It is a demand Egypt has made repeatedly and one the US and Europe reject for obvious reasons. It would make perfect sense for Egypt to coordinate its position with Iran on this point yet inexplicably it has not done so.

For all the uproar over Iran's nuclear programme the International Atomic Energy Agency has regularly inspected the country's nuclear facilities and found no evidence of weapon-related activities. The Iranians say they need nuclear-generated electricity to resolve the worsening problem of pollution. In recent UN meetings Iranian President Ahmadinejad has insisted Iran has every right to produce nuclear energy. The only concession he offered was that US and European companies could take part in developing Iran's nuclear programmes.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, spokesman of the European Troika, rejected the Iranian gesture out of hand. Behind their rejection lies the threat that the issue will be referred to the UN Security Council, a not so subtle hint that Iran stands to face the same fate as Saddam Hussein's Iraq. But the Iranians are standing their ground. They know the US administration is in no position to repeat its Iraq adventure and cannot justify taking military action on the basis of claims that Iran is developing weapons of mass destruction when they have been shown to be false in the case of Iraq. Iran is firm but careful. No bravado, just the facts.

Strangely enough, Arab countries have offered Iran no support. Arab countries are at an obvious disadvantage because of Israel's status as the region's only nuclear power yet Arab and Islamic countries -- including Pakistan, Indonesia, and Qatar -- are bending over backwards to please Israel. This doesn't make sense. If there is anything to learn from the current international scene it is that meekness gets you nowhere. We have much to learn from Iran and North Korea.

Mencari Makna Salat Tarawih

Mencari Makna Salat Tarawih
[Utusan Online, 23 September 2005]

Solat Tarawih ialah sunat muakkad yang amat digalakkan. Mendirikan Tarawih sebulan penuh bermakna ia telah menunaikan 600 rakaat solat sepanjang malam bulan Ramadan. Mereka yang menunaikan Solat Tarawih sejak kecil itu beruntung, kerana jika ia ditunaikan selama 60 tahun, maka ia telah mendapat 36,000 rakaat Solat Tarawih. Kemeriahan budaya daripada Solat Tarawih dan kemanisannya tidak akan dapat dirasai sekiranya seseorang itu meninggalkannya.

Tarawih berasal daripada bahasa Arab yang bermaksud rehat. Ringkasnya, Solat Tarawih adalah solat yang tujuannya menghasilkan kerehatan. Apakah yang dimaksudkan dengan kerehatan? Bagaimana ia dikaitkan dengan rehat, sedangkan ramai di kalangan kita yang kepenatan ketika mengerjakannya?

solat adalah Mikraj atau wadah yang membawa seorang mukmin itu lebih `dekat' kepada Tuhan-Nya. Ia adalah tali yang menghubungkan hamba secara langsung dengan Pencipta. Solat itu istimewa. Sebab itulah perintah solat diterima langsung daripada Allah s.w.t. dalam peristiwa Mikraj, tahun berlakunya peristiwa Israk dan Mikraj dinamakan sebagai `Aamul Huzni (tahun kesedihan) kerana kematian Abu Talib dan Khadijah yang menjadi penyokong Baginda dari segi material dan moral.

Pertemuan dengan Allah s.w.t. merupakan kerehatan dan kelapangan bagi Nabi setelah melalui kemuncak tribulasi dalam dakwah Baginda. Firman Allah s.w.t. lagi bermaksud: Bukankah Kami telah melapangkan untukmu dadamu? Dan Kami hilangkan bebanmu, yang memberatkan belakangmu, dan Kami tinggikan sebutan buatmu. Sesungguhnya sesudah kesulitan ada kemudahan. Sesungguhnya sesudah kesulitan itu ada kemudahan. (As-Syarh 94:1-6)

Solat juga menjadi penawar dan kerehatan jiwa daripada segala macam bentuk kesusahan dan ujian yang kita lalui dalam kehidupan. Allah s.w.t. berfirman yang bermaksud: Dan mintalah bantuan dengan sabar dan menunaikan solat. Sesungguhnya ia adalah berat kecuali bagi orang yang khusyuk. (Al-Baqarah: 153)

tujuan yang kita cari melalui Solat Tarawih ialah kerehatan dari segi rohaniah dan kesihatan yang menyihatkan tubuh badan. Rasulullah s.a.w. mencari kerehatan melalui solat. Pernah apabila hendak menunaikan solat fardu, Baginda menyebut: `'Arihna ya Bilal.'' (rehatkanlah kami wahai Bilal dengan azanmu yang menandakan solat akan didirikan).

Baginda juga menyebut solat itu sebagai Qurratu `Aini (penyejuk mataku). Jika ini prinsip yang diajar oleh Nabi s.a.w., maka amat wajar bagi orang beriman mengikut sunah ini, iaitu menjadikan solat sebagai wadah untuk mendapatkan kerehatan. Hati akan menjadi ringan ketika mengembalikan segala urusan dan kepayahan kita kepada Allah s.w.t. Badan juga menjadi ringan, kerana perut yang dipenuhi makanan akan menjadi ringan setelah dibakar oleh metabolisme badan, hasil sistematik dalam Solat Tarawih.

Apakah sebenarnya yang kita cari di sebalik Solat Tarawih? Soalan ini cukup ringkas, tetapi jawapannya mempunyai implikasi yang amat besar kepada hidup seorang mukmin. Selama kita mengerjakan Solat Tarawih ribuan rakaat seumur hidup kita, adakah kita memahami apa yang kita cari dan soalan yang lebih besar, sudahkah kita peroleh apa yang dicari?

Allah s.w.t. menyediakan pahala yang besar kepada hamba-hamba-Nya yang berpuasa pada waktu siang dan solat pada malam-malam bulan Ramadan. Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda (mafhum): Ganjaran pahala bagi orang yang menunaikan Solat Tarawih itu adalah Syurga. Namun, selain aspek pahala, orang yang beriman sentiasa mengintai untuk mencari Cinta Allah dan redha-Nya melalui puasa dan ibadah Solat Tarawih. Ada kala kita akan merasa penat sekiranya solat yang dikerjakan itu semata-mata berdasarkan hitungan pahala. Tetapi jika solat itu dilakukan untuk mencari Cinta-Nya dalam bulan yang kudus ini, solat itu semakin dikerjakan semakin khusyuk, kudus, tunduk dan mengecap inti kemanisan iman yang tidak dapat dibahasakan. Allah s.w.t. berkehendak supaya kita berdiri, rukuk dan sujud dalam jalinan berhubungan yang mesra antara hamba dengan al-Khaliq. Namun ia bukannya amalan tanpa jiwa, bahkan ia adalah amalan yang tercetus daripada jiwa yang sentiasa mengingati Allah s.w.t. Cinta akan lahir bersama rasa rendah hati kepada-Nya,. Seorang hamba tidak memiliki apa-apa. Pemilik (al-Malik) yang sebenar adalah Dia sebagaimana yang diajar dalam doa Iftitah, Sesungguhnya solatku, ibadahku, hidup dan matiku adalah demi kerana-Mu Ya Allah, Rabbal Alamin, dan di dalam ayat Hanya kepada-Mu kami mengabdi diri, dan hanya kepada-Mu kami memohon pertolongan.

Jika Tarawih atau solat-solat lain diiringi cinta dan merendahkan hati kepada Allah s.w.t., maka tidak mustahil lambat laun solat itu akan menghasilkan buah yang manis, menghiasi kita dengan budi pekerti yang baik serta beradab kepada Allah s.w.t. dan sesama makhluk. Ia juga akan membakar sifat-sifat rendah atau Mazmumah yang menghijab hati antara kita dengan Allah s.w.t. seperti `ujub (takjub dengan kemampuan diri), riak (menunjuk kebaikan), rasa lebih hebat daripada orang lain, sum'ah (mencari nama dan populariti), amat cintakan benda, mengejar pangkat, tamak, bakhil, merasa ringan dan aman dengan azab Allah, takabbur (besar diri), ananiy (tinggi rangsangan keakuan) serta banyak lagi. (Lihat Minhajul Abidin dan Ihya Ulumuddin oleh Imam al-Ghazali).

Telah puluhan tahun usia kita berlalu. Masa yang ada dalam mencari cinta-Nya semakin berkurangan. Allah s.w.t. menegaskan ``Mereka yang berusaha di jalan Kami, pasti Kami akan tunjukkan jalan kepada Kami.'' Mungkin sudah sampai masanya untuk kita bermuhasabah dan mula mengurangi penyakit hati. Semoga keringanan ini memudahkan jiwa kita `terbang' menuju redha dan cinta-Nya yang abadi. Firman Allah s.w.t. bermaksud: Wahai orang yang beriman, belum sampaikah masa kepada orang yang beriman untuk tunduk hati-hati mereka dalam mengingati Allah dan kebenaran yang diturunkan-Nya?

Ramadan adalah program rabbani. Yang mengikis karat-karat hati sebagaimana puasa menghakis toksik dari tubuh badan. Ibadah di dalamnya seperti puasa, solat, membaca al-Quran di dalamnya adalah anugerah khusus kepada manusia. Ia adalah satu pakej lengkap yang terdiri daripada ibadah puasa, membaca atau tadabbur al-Quran dan Solat Tarawih. Taqwa yang menjadi objektif ibadah berpuasa itu hanya akan dapat dicapai jika seseorang berpuasa dan mengamalkan ibadah serta akhlak-akhlak yang lain.

Jika puasa berfungsi untuk memberi ruangan kebebasan dan keringanan jiwa daripada nafsu rendah (ammarah), bacaan al-Quran pula untuk melunakkan hati, maka dari perspektif ini, tidak salah jika dikatakan solat itu sebagai kemuncak daripada puasa dan bacaan al-Quran, kerana solat itu membawa seseorang untuk `bertemu' Allah s.w.t. Maka, perhubungan simbiotik antara ibadah-ibadah ini amat perlu dalam membentuk jiwa taqwa.

Kita juga selalu membaca ayat puasa mengenai kewajipan berpuasa tetapi ramai yang `terlepas pandang' kepada ayat selepasnya, iaitu Firman Allah s.w.t. bermaksud: Dan apabila hamba-hamba-Ku bertanya kepadamu mengenai-Ku, katakanlah (wahai Muhammad) Aku amat dekat. Aku menjawab permintaan orang yang meminta ketika ia berdoa. Maka, taatilah perintah-Ku dan percayalah kepada-Ku. Mudah-mudahan kamu mendapat petunjuk. Jika kita berpuasa jangan pula lupa untuk ingat dan berdoa kepada Allah s.w.t. Di antara cara berdoa yang paling tinggi ialah solat, kerana definisi solat itu adalah ad-Du'a (doa). Di dalam solat juga mengandungi doa dan puji-pujian kepada-Nya.

Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda yang bermaksud: Sesiapa yang berpuasa dengan penuh iman dan ihtisab (memelihara, beramal dam berharap) akan diampuni dosa-dosanya. Sebab itu orang yang berpuasa tetapi tidak menjaga anggota atau tidak menunaikan Solat Tarawih pada malam harinya, objektif untuk mencapai taqwa itu mungkin tidak mudah dicapainya.

Solat Tarawih dikerjakan secara berjemaah diimamkan oleh RasuluLlah SAW. Dari segi pelaksanaannya, Nabi mengerjakan Solat Tarawih berjemaah di masjid selama beberapa malam, dan pada malam-malam yang berikut dilakukan di rumah Baginda. Tujuannya supaya Solat Tarawih berjemaah di masjid tidak dianggap sebagai suatu kewajipan bagi umat Islam. Solat berjemaah itu sendiri adalah fardu kifayah dan ia adalah sunat muakkad dalam Mazhab as-Syafie. Solat Tarawih sunat didirikan secara berjemaah dan berjemaah di masjid adalah paling utama. Namun, tidak mengapa sekiranya Solat Tarawih didirikan bersendirian di rumah, atau berjemaah bersama keluarga, di rumah sahabat handai yang diziarah dan sebagainya. Yang perlu dicari ialah kualiti dan redha Allah s.w.t. Allah s.w.t. tidak melihat kepada gambaran zahir tetapi meneliti kepada keindahan amal yang disertakan keikhlasan di lubuk hati. Mungkin pada tanggapan manusia, sesuatu perbuatan yang dilakukan oleh seseorang itu remeh, tetapi pada penilaian Allah s.w.t. ia adalah amal yang bernilai tinggi.

Allah tidak jemu melihat hamba beribadah kecuali apabila hamba itu jemu beribadah. Justeru, dalam mendidik nafsu agar tidak jemu beribadah perlu ada tekniknya, khususnya dalam melaksanakan Solat Tarawih. Menurut Imam al-Ghazali, nafsu seperti kanak-kanak. Ia suka pada perkara yang menyeronokkan, dan tidak suka kepada ibadah dan kebaikan. Ia boleh dikawal, tetapi tidak boleh dimatikan.

Jika terlalu kuat kawalan, ia akan memberontak dan lama-kelamaan akan meninggalkan terus ibadah yang diperintahkan ke atasnya. Justeru, tidak menjadi masalah jika pelaksanaan Solat Tarawih bagi individu dipelbagaikan supaya nafsu tidak berpatah arang dan berkerat rotan dengan ibadah. Ia boleh dilaksanakan di surau atau masjid yang berbeza, bersama keluarga, bersendirian, melakukan lapan rakaat, 20 rakaat, solat berselang seli dengan rehat sejenak, keluar sebentar untuk tunaikan hajat kecil misalnya, dan berbagai-bagai cara lagi. Yang penting, Solat Tarawih itu mencapai maksud seperti yang diterangkan sebelum ini.

Rasulullah s.a.w. mendirikan Solat Tarawih lapan rakaat bersama jemaah, namun lapan rakaat Nabi dihiasi dengan bacaan al-Quran yang merdu dan menusuk kalbu. Tidak terasa penat walaupun dibaca surah yang panjang. Di sini ada kualiti semasa menunaikan Tarawih. Umar al-Khattab pula menggesa umat Islam melaksanakan Tarawih di masjid sebanyak 20 rakaat. Tindakan beliau adalah ijtihad sebagai seorang sahabat Nabi, faqih dan Khulafa ar-Rasyidin yang menilai tuntutan semasa umat Islam pada waktu itu. Penduduk Madinah pula berijtihad untuk melaksanakan Tarawih lebih daripada 20 rakaat termasuk witir dan diselangi dengan selawat ke atas Rasulullah s.a.w. Kepelbagaian dalam menentukan bilangan rakaat itu sendiri adalah perkara khilafiah dan keluasan yang diizinkan berlaku bagi memudahkan pelaksanaan ibadah.

Yang paling utama bukan bilangan rakaatnya, tetapi yang lebih utama adakah solat itu mendapat ketenteraman hati dan taqarrub (mendekatkan diri) kepada Allah s.w.t. Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda yang bermaksud: Ad-Din itu mudah, tidak ada seseorang yang menyusah-nyusahkan pelaksanaan ad-Din itu, pasti ia kecundang jua. Sabda Baginda juga yang mahfumnya: Permudahkan, jangan menyusahkan, dekatkan, jangan melarikan orang daripada agama, berikan khabar gembira, jangan menakut-nakutkan dan jadilah hamba-hamba Allah yang bersaudara. Alangkah indahnya jika umat Islam hari ini memahami pelaksanaan Islam sebagaimana yang diajar oleh Baginda s.a.w.

Solat Tarawih ialah suatu fenomena, namun ia mungkin tidak disedari oleh umat Islam yang biasa mengerjakannya. Tetapi di luar Islam, orang melihatnya sebagai satu fenomena yang menimbulkan kekaguman. Bayangkan, manusia keluar berduyun-duyun dengan sukarela pada waktu malam pada musim panas atau dingin, dan mengerjakan solat di masjid bersama-sama, tua, muda, lelaki, wanita, kanak-kanak dan bercampur baur pelbagai bangsa. Daripada satu kajian ringkas, tokoh dari luar mengakui ia adalah keistimewaan dan kekuatan yang amat mereka perlukan dan tidak ada dalam mana-mana agama di dunia. Adakah kita menyedari keistimewaan ini? Ia adalah kekuatan yang sedia ada di dalam agama. Justeru, kebaikan ini perlulah disedari dan disebarkan. Kesedaran ini juga menggerakkan kita untuk menjadikan remaja harus membina suatu tekad yang tinggi bahawa kita dilahirkan ke dunia bukan untuk menjadi beban, sebaliknya kita dilahirkan untuk menyumbang. Solat Tarawih sebagai wasilah (perantara) untuk memupuk ikatan persaudaraan umat Islam pada zaman ini.

Solat Tarawih di Masjidil Haram dan Masjid an-Nabawi mempunyai keindahannya tersendiri yang sukar dilafazkan. Solat Tarawih dengan ribuan jemaah adalah pemandangan biasa bagi beberapa negara seperti Mesir, Turki, Pakistan dan negara umat Islam yang lain. Kemerduan suara imam juga mempunyai kesan yang menarik manusia untuk Solat Tarawih. Atas dasar itulah, maka negara kita membawa masuk imam dari luar negara yang mempunyai bacaan yang baik untuk mengimamkan Solat Tarawih. Di sesetengah tempat pula ada yang melantik kanak-kanak yang masih kecil tetapi hafaz al-Quran untuk menjadi imam. Ia adalah perkembangan yang baik. Namun. Kita perlu juga diingatkan kepada beberapa perkara asas dalam Solat Tarawih ini. Ia jangan pula menjadi budaya yang dimestikan hingga timbul keadaan menyusahkan kemudian hari. Di antaranya kriteria imam yang dipilih itu hendaklah fakih, iaitu seorang yang berilmu dan memahami selok belok solat. Suara yang bagus duduk kepada perkara yang kedua. Imam yang mempunyai kedua-dua ciri tersebut adalah lebih diutamakan. Kedua, selain membawa imam yang baik dari luar, kita juga harus membina imam Solat Tarawih yang mempunyai kualiti yang setanding dan sebaik imam dari Asia Barat. Negara kita yang sentiasa melahirkan qari antarabangsa tidak sunyi daripada individu yang boleh digilap bakatnya ke peringkat yang sewajarnya.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

We need a modern way to recreate religion's respect for the earth

Old world order: We need a modern way to recreate religion's respect for the earth
Karen Armstrong
Saturday September 10, 2005, The Guardian
In the eighth century BCE, the Chinese became concerned about a disturbing change in their environment. Hitherto the Yellow River valley had teemed with wildlife: elephants, lions, tigers, rhinoceroses, monkeys and all kinds of game had inhabited the woods and swamps. After a hunting expedition, the king and his nobles consumed hecatombs of beasts in huge, drunken banquets. But now they discovered that aggressive deforestation had destroyed the natural habitat of these animals, and that their hunters returned almost empty handed.
The Chinese had assumed that their resources were inexhaustible, so they had plundered the countryside and slaughtered its animals with no care for the morrow. Now they realised that this brutal insouciance could not continue. Aristocrats were forced to curtail their hunting, which had been their chief pleasure - almost their raison d'être - and an extensive ritual reform regulated every detail of their behaviour. Gradually this religious discipline transformed their mentality, so that a spirit of moderation and self-control replaced the former wasteful excess. Even warfare became a courtly game in which it was considered bad taste to kill too many of the enemy.
It did not last, alas. In the fourth century BCE, the Chinese had an industrial revolution, and restraint went out of the window. With greedy abandon, princes cut down forests, mined mountains, drained swamps, and their savage internecine wars reduced the great plain to a desolate wilderness. But religious reformers, such as Confucius and Lao Tzu, called upon their rulers to conform to the basic laws of existence, to the way (dao) things ought to be.
The Chinese knew enough about human selfishness to realise that external directives alone would not save their society; there had to be a fundamental change of heart. We are facing a similar dilemma today. As we gaze aghast at the devastation that Hurricane Katrina has wreaked upon the southern United States, some have asked whether this catastrophe was intensified by global warming. Whatever the answer, the question betrays a deep and widespread anxiety. Environmental catastrophe has replaced the apocalypse predicted by the prophets of the past and many now watch for signs of approaching cataclysm as nervously as our forebears looked for portents of the end of days.
In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the damage we are inflicting upon the planet, at both the public and private levels. Recycling, for example, which 10 years ago was regarded as an expensive, eccentric pursuit, is now commonly enforced by most local authorities. But there seems little point in punctiliously recycling our wine bottles and waste paper, while as a society and as individuals we continue to burn fossil fuels with impunity. And if the United States, the principal polluter, refuses to control its emissions, anything anyone else does is doomed to failure.
Many people prefer to deny that there is a problem because the implications are too alarming; it is easier to concentrate on "clean and green" concerns that do not challenge our way of life. But would we seriously be prepared to give up our cars and aeroplane travel? If the danger became more acute, would governments have to impose a ban on activities and appliances that we now take for granted? And how would this cohere with democracy and our much vaunted freedom?
In order to prevent further damage to their environment, the Chinese were for centuries prepared to give up their favourite pursuits and submit to constraints that most of us would find intolerable. We too may have to make sacrifices and this would require some kind of spiritual reformation. By this I do not mean that everybody should join a church or submit to an orthodox doctrinal position - quite the contrary. But it may become necessary to create within ourselves a readiness to subordinate our personal comfort, convenience and prosperity to the common good - an attitude that is at odds with much of the current ethos.
In the ancient world, religion helped people to develop a holistic vision. There was no ontological gulf between heaven and earth. Gods, humans, animals, plants and other natural phenomena all participated in the same divine life; all were subject to an overarching order that kept everything in being and shared the same predicament. Even the gods had to obey this order and work with humans to preserve the cosmic energies, which were not inexhaustible and, if not replenished, could easily lapse into primal chaos. Humans offered sacrifices to recycle the energies that these deities expended in maintaining the order of the universe.
This preoccupation was central to the religious practices of most ancient societies, perhaps because people were more directly exposed to the unpredictable power of nature and knew how easily it could wreck the precarious artefacts of human culture. In our technologically cocooned existence, it takes a mammoth catastrophe such as Hurricane Katrina to shock us into an appreciation of our civilisation's fragility.
It is neither possible nor desirable to recover the old holistic world-view in its entirety, but we could try to cultivate its underlying attitudes. First would be the awareness that everyone, without exception, was in the same boat: to destroy or maim the part endangered the whole. Second, there were no fantasies of omniscience or omnipotence: everyone was equally vulnerable. Third was the sense that everyone was responsible for the cosmos, and had to do his or her bit. Fourth, the natural world was not simply a resource but was revered as sacred. Finally, there was the conviction that human behaviour could affect the environment for good or ill, and that a society that did not respect the natural rhythms of the cosmos could not survive.
This insight was not abandoned but redefined in the later, more ethically based traditions. Jains cultivated an attitude of friendship towards all beings and took care not to trample on the tiniest insect; Buddhists were exhorted to extend their love and benevolence to every single creature on the face of the earth; and the Chinese continued to urge people to conform to the way. The first chapter of Genesis may have commanded humans to "subdue" the earth, but it also insisted that every single one of God's creations was valuable and blessed.
The ubiquity and persistence of this attitude of committed concern for the well-being of the earth suggests that it once came naturally to humanity. It used to be essential to the way we related to the world but it has clearly become problematic in the technologically driven economy of modernity. It is no use hoping for the best or waiting until "they" have discovered a cleaner form of energy. In the ancient world, assiduous religious ritual and ethical practice helped people to cultivate their respect for the holiness of the earth. If we want to save our planet, we must find a modern way to do the same.

Karen Armstrong is the author of A History of God. karmstronginfo@btopenworld.com