Penang to Sabah : More change in the making

Pitas, Sabah - Pastor Ontu, Melvin and Ondon

Being substantially a Muslim country and upheaving to the crest of political change, Malaysia is making waves in inter-faith relations.

Last few weeks, a component of the PR, PAS the Islamic Party members quietly but publicly took a bold step with a courtesy call when Sebastian Francis, became Bishop of the Penang Catholic Diocese . True to their call for political reforms and ethnic and religious understanding, PAS is making gestures at this early stage for reapproachment for socio-cultural appreciation.

On the heels of the Penang visit, a more positive event developed in Sabah where household incomes and illegal immigrants voting plague the political debate. A Christian Pastor, Otou @ Francis Singoron is set to move and work for the PAS candidate potential Puan Dausieh Queck for a challenge in the forthcoming GE 13, to be held any time between December and April 2013. He has canvassed around him helpers, Christians and surely others too in the locality of Pitas, Sabah to clinch a seat for PAS.

Sabah being dubbed as the poorest State of Malaysia with average bumiputera household income at RM2,800 (National avg RM4,025) is stirred and in debates for its future in greater justice and fairness and fundamental rights.

And it seems from Penang to Sabah, the debate is no longer skewed to narrow ethnic superiority or heritage. Its about life and living now and, here or thereafter.

As should be expected this is not without some hiccup as an committee outed senior PAS leader, Nasharuddin, chipped in with an outrageous accusation that DAP, PAS' own counterpart in the PR Coalition, had prayed in communion publicly for Malaysia to be a Christian country. The accusation speaks more of the accuser than the accused.

Malaysian Muslims should flatter themselves on this overal latest development. They are said to rise to the clamor that man should face life as if they would live forever and prepare for the thereafter as if death comes on the morrow. Enculturating though rhetorical but more lively and reasonable than the spunk churned out by Utusan and NST, the Spittoon Times.

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Related Info

• PAS makes courtesy call to new Penang Bishop
• Christian paster helps PAS get ready for polls
• Muslim-Christian relations
• Pitas, Sabah - Google location map

Malaysia Politics | Nizar's PAS gatecrashes an UMNO Ceramah

Former Perak MB, PAS Leader Nizar Jamaluddin (2nd from Right) at an UMNO ceramah.
PIX Credit | Tranungkite.net

Nizar explains his 'gatecrashing' at UMNO's event to run him down

Harakahdaily | 14 May 2012

May 14: Former Perak Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin's non-conventional act of walking into an 'enemy' event in Kampar last night has raised eyebrows among Malaysians, but the popular Perak politician has defended his presence in the lion's den.

"What is so wrong to sit and hear about my own lies, which I might have forgotten?" Nizar asked back when queried for his comments.

The event organised by Kampar UMNO, after all, was on the topic 'Nizar the Serial Liar", and featured former PKR information chief Hanafiah Man.

Hanafiah was condemning Nizar while adressing the 100-odd attendees when Nizar, who was ousted in the now famous Perak constitutional coup of 2009, walked in and sat beside Radzi Manan, the Kampar UMNO division chief.

According to the PAS central committee member, he was on his way to address his party's event some 150 metres away. "So I asked a friend of mine to give me a ride on his motorbike to the (UMNO) ceramah," he told Harakahdaily.

Recalling the moment, Nizar said Hanafiah suddenly changed his tune and there were silent murmurs from among the speakers.

Nizar said Radzi then advised him to leave to avoid any untoward incident.

"He questioned if I would approve UMNO supporters coming to my event. I replied that I would prefer UMNO members attending my event as it will be easier to pass on information," said the Bukit Gantang member of parliament.

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Related Info

• Nizar explains his gatecrashing at UMNO event

Malaysian Election Commission | PAS Notice Embargo

In a separate report by Free Malaysia Today, Mohamad Sabu, was quoted as having said "no date" has been set to demand resignation of EC Chairman and Deputy, as PAS are only supporters of the Bersih movement. Berish's Co-Chair Datuk Ambiga stated then no subsequent rally has yet been considered and would continue to emphasize the irregularities in the electoral process.

We'll keep the Countdown as self reminder for any development!

PETALING JAYA: PAS deputy president, Mohamad Sabu, today did not rule out the possibility of another rally if top Election Commission (EC) officials do not resign immediately.

He was, neverthess, quick to add that the decision to hold another protest was solely up to electoral watchdog Bersih. He said that political parties were merely supporting the coalition of 84 NGOs under the Bersih umbrella which held its third rally on Saturday.

“What I can say is that should the EC top guns not resign, the next time, we [PAS] will mobilise one million people.

“If they [EC officials] are stubborn and refuse to step down, there may be another rally. But we will leave that for Bersih to decide.

“We are merely political parties who support them,” said Mohamad Sabu, popularly known as Mat Sabu.

One of Bersih’s demands at Saturday’s rally was for the immediate resignation of EC chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusoff and his deputy Wan Ahmad Wan Omar.

Bersih claims that the electoral roll is ridden with irregularities which will not guarantee free and fair elections.

It’s co-chairman S Ambiga said that no decision has been made over another rally, adding that the group will continue to highlight irregularities in the electoral process. Mat Sabu was speaking to the press this afternoon after sending a memorandum to the EC demanding the resignation of Abdul Aziz and Wan Ahmad.

The memorandum was accepted by a representative from the EC’s public relations office.

“They have fallen short from fulfilling their duties. They have not cleaned the electoral roll and now there is evidence that they are Umno members,” he said.

He was referring to PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution’s revelation last week that Abdul Aziz was a member of Umno’s Sri Ampang branch and Wan Ahmad a member of the Kubang Bunggor branch in Pasir Mas.

Both Abdul Aziz and Wan Ahmad responded to Saifuddin’s revelation, saying that they may have been registered as members decades ago but have remained inactive.

Mat Sabu, however, said that no definite time line was given for the duo to resign. When asked what action would the political parties take should the EC heads refuse to resign, Mat Sabu merely said, “We [political parties] will have to discuss the matter”.

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Related Info

• PAS tells EC top guns: Resign now… or else!