File 38 : Pro - Aspirasi & Pro - Mahasiswa...

[Photo courtesy of: aniswahab.blogspot.com and pro-am-unitar.blogspot.com]

These two groups are famous in UM, UPM, UIAM, and some other IPTAs [public universities] in Malaysia. Studying in UiTM, these two groups are rarely being heard of. From my readings, what I know is that Pro-Aspirasi is a group linked or associated with the university administrators thus they are said to be pro-government. On the other hand, Pro-Mahasiswa, albeit always associated with the opposition, is said to be the group fighting for the students.

It does not matter whether the perception is true or not. In my opinion, the existance of these two groups as well as other groups [such as the PPIM in UIAM] during campus election is something healthy. Yes, you heard it. H-E-A-L-T-H-Y...

Maybe some will disagree and they will claim that the existence of such groups will divide the unity among the students. But to have all these groups will let the students know that this is the reality that they will face in real politics.

Universities are preparation centres, to prepare the graduates before they storm into the real world full of challenges. And in the real world, there is the government and the opposition. That is the ideology of democracy. A government without an opposition will not and never be a democratic country as powers are concentrated to a party per se. The concept of a government with an opposition is to ensure that there is check and balance in the administration. This check and balance doctrine is to prevent concentration of power as to establish a CAT government [as in Penang's Clean, Accountable, and Transparent]. - [[ I borrow your tagline Mr. Lim Guan Eng... =) ]]

In UiTM, campus election is just a mere competition of certain individuals to win two chairs allocated to each faculties. There is no thrill in the election. No ideology to be promulgated, no teams, no Pro-Aspirasi, no Pro-Mahasiswa, no public speaking, no speakers' corner. Even the face of the candidates were hard to be seen during campaign period. It's the individual for himself [and with the help of certain close friends from that particular batch whose candidates are from]. Nothing more.

Maybe this situation need to be changed. Will Pro-Mahasiswa exist in UiTM one day? Will UiTM students brave enough to say that the university belongs to the students, not the Vice-Chancellor's? Only time can change this. Let us just wait and see...

File 37 : Politics...

Politics. Sick with it. Sick as in eating four pieces of Original Recipe 'Kentaki' Fried Chicken [read: KFC]. Why do I feel that way?

Simple. Because Malaysian political scenario is as same as people who has eaten one large bucket of KFC but still order it again and again. Do not know when to stop.

Other people in other countries involve in politics too. Even during Prophet Muhammad [PBUH] time, he had established the Syura Council where parties in the council will have meetings, discussions, consultations what not with regards to the political situation.

But his involvement in political activities was not 24/7. Not at all.

Politics is good. It is the fundamental ground for a good administration of a nation as well as any other institutions. But over-politics will cause disruption to the country. Will the country be productive if the leaders still play political games every seconds in every minutes?

Please...think wisely...

p/s: Just concern if young generations like my peers had lost interest in politics. What will happen then to the future of this beloved nation?

File 36 : Refrain from evil and mischief on the earth...

I am very disappointed after reading the statement made by the Works Minister in The Star dated 15th February 2009 [front page – Hillside projects to go on ~ We need lands for development]. What is happening to Malaysia? Where are all those open plains land? Does development means we have to build projects on hillside?

Landslides did not happen in Malaysia once or twice. And it is not one or two persons who died due to landslides. Landslides and Malaysia are like best friends. For the sake of development, we sacrifice Mother Nature. Highland Towers, Bukit Antarabangsa, what is next?

I’m sick.

I am not blaming the property owners for buying their houses on hillside or buying the hillside lands to build their houses. Yes, maybe they are ‘not too clever’ for buying their assets [or is it now a liability?] there. They can afford it and the government consented to it. Are they wrong? Will they build their houses there if the government does not approve the projects?

AP News after Bukit Antarabangsa tragedy, 6th December 2008 [searched in cbsnews.com] – “the Malaysia government will ban [Malay word: mengHARAMkan] all hillside projects…” But now? There is a Malay proverb which says, “Lembu berpegang pada tali, manusia berpegang pada janji” loosely translated as “Cows depend on rope [to move on] but humans depend on their promises.” Is it so? Oh… I forgot. It is just a mere statement. Not a promise. There is no legal obligation to follow what had been said earlier.

In Islam, the word “human” rooted from the word an-Nas which means “the forgotten”. It is to say that humans always forget many things. It is true. Allah has reminded all human beings to take care of Mother Nature, His earth, but yet, nothing is done on our part. The land is over developed especially the hillsides.

I hope that our leaders, especially those responsible for granting hillside projects, to remember what Allah has says in the Holy Quran in Surah Al-A’raaf [The Purgatory] verse 74 [7:74] :

Bismillah…



74: “And remember how He made you inheritors after the ‘Ad people and gave you habitations in the land: ye build for yourselves palaces and castles in [open] plains, and care out homes in the mountains; so bring to remembrance the benefits [ye have received] from Allah, and refrain from evil and mischief on the earth.

p/s: Just reminding before it is too late…

File 35 : Gaza attack - a sad chapter...

It's almost 2 months since I last updated this blog. I want to update it earlier but this semester, there are loads of works to do especially when we are required to finish our Honours project paper before the end of the semester.

Anyway, yesterday I watched Majalah 3 on TV3 where they highlighted on the issue of the attacks on Gaza. I was so sad to see many kids died because of the attack. I was further touched to see young teenagers sacrificed their life to defend their country from Israelis attack. While our adolescents are busy partying here and there, enjoying every moment of their life, Palestinian teenagers are ready every second to defend their beloved country.

Just look at the photo. Innocent kids who do not know anything became the victim. They were not given the chance to enjoy their life in this world just because there are people who think that they are the greatest race in this world.

To say that the attack on Gaza City was a self-defense is the most stupid reason I have ever had. Hamas will not attack Israel if Israel did not occupied their land! Furthermore, to attack Gaza massively was just unjust. Tanks vs Guns, it just doesn't make sense.

Maybe this is the right time to promote the effort of Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War. War is about killing... Massive killing... War must be criminalised! There are other means in settling disputes. Let's not sacrifice the future of the children by letting them die because of war. Sign the petition! And help create a better world to live in...