Sq Sarawak Taib Mahmud un-Islamic and sinful.giving bribe to vote what kind muslim is he?

Will Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Dr George Chan run to his master and complain about the treatment he received from the residents of Miri, the very people who year after year elect George to be their MP?

Will the Chief Minister of Sarawak, Taib Mahmud be worried that the old stalwarts in the Sarawak political scene are on the road to decline? Is this the beginning of the end for the cheating and corrupt duo of George and Taib?

In the past, George would hold court in Miri and people would flock to see him and receive his political blessing. They worshiped him. Or was it the crumbs that he dished out that they were after? And he in turn adored them – without them he was nothing.

But now, thanks to the good people of Sarawak who are slowly coming out in greater numbers to protest and fight for their rights, George has no longer got the people in the palm of his hand.

When George went on a walkabout at the Miri wet market and the surrounding shops on 14 March, there was a ruckus when George, who is also the president of the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) tried to shake hands with the patrons and the shoppers.

George was not happy because they refused to attend to him and denied him the accolade he is used to.

Instead, they questioned him about the revenue from the oil and gas that Sarawak has been pumping out of the ground for over a hundred years. They asked him about the money from timber and palm oil. They asked him why this income was not used to stabilise the prices of goods.

Miri is an oil town. It also enjoys its status as a ‘border’ town because of its relatively close promixity to Brunei. So, the prices of goods and services in this area, which has a large population of expatriates and an influx of wealthy Brunieans, are higher than other towns in Sarawak.

However, not everyone in the town is in oil, gas, timber, and its associated industries.

People come from the ulu to seek work in Miri and they wrongly assume that the streets are paved with gold. Many are disappointed and end up in crime or petty theft and prostitution.

Others simply lead destitute lives and succumb to alcohol and drugs. Some are unable to return to their longhouses or villages, because of shame and also because they do not have the means to do so.

The terrible twins, Taib and Chan, have neglected to provide jobs and an improved way of life in the interior, unless of course, the communities are willing to become workers in companies owned by Taib, where wages are a pittance and living conditions more pitiful.

In the fracas that George experienced in Miri, one angry patron held onto George’s hand and demanded to know why the Miri people had to endure such a high cost of living.

When George was unable to provide a satisfacatory answer, the coffee shop patron became livid.

George hurriedly left the scene but observers said that they witnessed similar commotions elsewhere, and in the wet market.

Poor George. In the past, money used to do the talking. This time round, people wanted answers, not sweeteners and no more excuses.

George should consider himself lucky that the Miri residents were placid that day. He could have been ‘lempanged’ (slapped) with a wet fish.

On the other hand, Taib is smarter than George. He knows he is unpopular and would not dare to walk around in Kuching. He is aware he will be buried under a barrage of shoes – middle-eastern style of contempt.

Taib also knows that when he travels to places outside Kuching, he always uses a helicopter so he can make a quick exit.

Knowingly voting for candidates with criminal record or taking a bribe to vote are un-Islamic and sinful. This was stated by Darul Uloom Deoband, the seat of Sunni Islam in India, in a fatwa (edict). "Voting is akin to giving testimony in Islam. By voting, a voter provides testimony that the candidate is suitable and would fulfil all duties. A false testimony is a sin," the seminary said, responding to a fatwa sought by the Ghaziabad-based Social Awareness Society. According to the electoral data, around 40% of candidates who get elected in India have a criminal record and voters are often courted with bribes.
Former Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami welcomed the fatwa and said: "As politicians fail to act, religious organizations have risen to the occasion."

Experts said Deoband's fatwa shows that, for Muslims, the presence of the Sharia as a source of legislation does not conflict with the democratic values or its processes.

According to most scholars, there is no inherent conflict between Islam and democracy but some interpretations of Islam -- such as those of the al-Qaeda and radical Islamists - are seen clashing with democratic ideals.

"I think that Islam as a set of values emphasises equality, transparency and accountability of leaders. So, Islam could not be compatible with a government that would take away these values," Akhtarul Wasey, head of Islamic Studies department of Jamia Millia Islamia said.

Deoband's fatwa outlines five principles that apply on voters, when interpreted through Islamic norms.

First, voting amounts to giving evidence and giving wrong evidence is a sin.

Secondly, voting for reasons of money or under pressure are "not permissible".

Third, the best among candidates should be voted.

Fourth, voting for a person from whom there is a risk of harm is un-Islamic.

Finally, if all candidates are found unsuitable, then voting should be done after consultation.

"If a candidate commits a sin after winning, the voter will also be accountable," fatwa said

. (The Hindustan Times)

All the signs are there. The Opposition is faltering. Got to keep it simple this time! No more twists and turns to bring the message across. The only reason Najib is holding the General Election is simple. BN is not aiming to win the Election this time. BN wants a two third majority. It is as simple as that. BN will not be bold enough to hold elections if they have no chance of winning with a two thirds Majority.

The outcome of this election will be the ultimate take-no-prisoners battle. They have crunched the numbers through supercomputers, and they are very sure that they will win. While Anwar’s fickle advisors are advising him on the next cause of action on his sodomy trial and the outcome of the election, BN has APCO, for which they pay RM77 million a year for the very best top notch advisors. They call it overseas technology, and it is very state of the art. And APCO knows BN stands a very good chance to regain lost ground.

BN has done their job very well. While PR is still celebrating their success, BN has been quietly slogging to ensure a total victory. The Opposition knows it. Although, they muster an effort to show a brave face and a bold front, they too know that it’s going to be a very tough battle.

But let's get this into our heads, PR cannot do very much to win this election, it is up to us the Patriots of Malaysia. Don’t forget that Pro BN supporters are also patriots. And there are more of them than we know.

Lately, every effort has been made to discredit our prime minister in waiting. Every effort has been made to impress on the Malay electorate. Everyone knows that the Malays are the ones that will ultimately decide the winning team. MCA and MIC is no help either.

While PR is kept busy, ruling their respective states, BN has been working very hard to regain their trust from the electorate. The rural folks are the deciding factor, and not the urbanites. There are just too few of us, to make any impact. BN can afford to lose all the urban seats, like WP and others, but they will still be King in the rural regions.

Once BN has consolidated its power, there will be not another repeat of GE12/2008 for the next fifty years. The cause is lost!!!

Is that not simple enough? Fear-motivation of the past doesn’t seem to activate our sixth sense to act in earnest haste this time. Without a secret weapon PR is hard pressed to repeat its magic.

There is a possibility that PR has other tricks up its sleeve. There is also a possibility that Malaysian Patriots has seen through BN’s bluff.  But decoding the truth from the lies is not everyone’s ‘forte’ especially in the rural sectors and among the ordinary rakyat. This dormant army, including the civil service and uniformed units out there are all registered voters, and they will vote anyone that shows an interest in them. The acronym, BANGSA, AGAMA and NEGARA means the world to them.

PR might win the election with a very slim margin, and there may be a 2-party system, but that is highly unlikely. And I repeat once again, Very Highly Unlikely.

Without a two-thirds majority, there will be political chaos, as the Executive, Judiciary and Legislature being so subservient towards their political masters for 54 years, will find it strange and unusual to become once again independent.

The coming Sarawak election will decide whether PR stands a fighting chance. As for the Peninsular, it is a foregone conclusion.

So keep it short and simple, no motivation by fear, no satirical lines to ponder and skimming through will be enough to get the message across. So please understand: PR cannot help us.

Only we can help ourselves. One extra vote will make the difference. Have we decided who will accompany us to exercise our Rights? Have we decided who that extra voter will be?

And by the way, Fear Not, as there are many of us who are with you - the ones who can decode the lies of the Devil and the deep blue sea, and the ones who dream of a democratic Malaysia.

And on a lighter note, the terrible tragedy, with over ten thousand lives lost, the Tsunami and the Nuclear Disaster in Japan sounds very familiar like 2012 is coming. Maybe, it doesn’t really matter after all. Let’s just live our lives day by day and thank God daily for a healthy body and mind.