Nik Aziz I’M not a fan of Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat or his party, PAS. In fact, I am personally downright against PAS ever winning the federal or any state government. This is because what PAS stands for is not in line with my own liberal beliefs in terms of religious freedoms and social issues.
I think most of them are hypocrites, except for Tok Guru Nik Aziz. I mean, who else in PAS would call for an investigation into Selangor PAS for its antics?
Personally, I reckon the state’s branch has gone power crazy, it being led by an ex-Umno leader and all. Even former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said about Selangor PAS chief Datuk Dr Hasan Ali: “No, not Hasan Ali. We can’t reaccept him into Umno. I have had some bad experiences with this guy.”
“Saint Nik”, while far from being perfect, has been nothing but honest and critical, even calling for “problematic” leaders like Hasan to be removed from PAS. He has been similarly candid about other issues of national interest.
I’m guessing this is why he is being targeted by Kelantan Umno Youth. They have reported Tok Guru to the MACC, along with his son-in-law, for accepting an RM65,000 VVIP package to perform the haj (holy pilgrimage) as a gift.
In keeping with his style of governance, Nik Aziz dropped the haj from his schedule and said he would go next year. Seeing photos of a 78-year-old man crying after making such an announcement was heart-wrenching. And the fact that multiple members of the political fraternity on the Barisan Nasional (BN) side accept bigger “gifts” without similar media coverage makes my blood boil.
Umno’s hypocrisy
Badruddin (Wiki commons) Take former Jerai BN MP, Datuk Paduka Badruddin Amiruldin. After losing his seat, perhaps as a consequence of his sexism and also his remark that Karpal Singh was in a wheelchair as a punishment from God, guess what happened to him? He was made chairperson of the Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (Fama).
How about what was given to the previous Selangor government’s executive councillors? What would you call the RM40 million exco housing area in Shah Alam?
Some have called for Nik Aziz to resign as Kelantan menteri besar (MB) for having accepted the gift. Well, sure. If Tok Guru has to resign as MB for accepting this gift, then why is Datuk Seri Ali Rustam still Malacca chief minister after being found guilty of money politics in the Umno party elections? Why is Khairy Jamaluddin still head of Umno Youth after being issued a warning for being guilty of the same charge?
Kelantan Umno Youth also had the cheek to say that Nik Aziz accepting such a gift was “morally” wrong. Is it not also “morally wrong” to field a by-election candidate found guilty of money politics? Isn’t it also morally wrong to deny state royalty payments for oil, and simply labelling it wang ehsan? Isn’t it also morally wrong to be sexist?
What about leaders who spend the state’s money to go off to Disneyland? Is this not morally wrong? How about asking civil servants to “close one eye” for one’s personal timber shipment so one can make a quick buck? Is this not also morally wrong? And weren’t all of these perpetrated by either individual Umno leaders or an Umno-led government?
(Pic by John Takai / Dreamstime) In trying to look virtuous, Kelantan Umno Youth is akin to a soot-covered pot calling a slightly smudged kettle black.
Tok Guru no angel
Like I said, I’m no fan of Tok Guru. Far from it, I sometimes hate his guts due to some of his rather harsh statements. For example, when he said smokers are no better than defecating cows. In the last general election, allegedly all candidates from PAS were non-smokers. Yet, I understand that there are still closeted “cows” within PAS’s ranks of elected representatives.
I also took offence when he likened Umno members to orang hutan.
He even said you see the “moon” (PAS) all the time, while nobody uses “weighing scales” (BN) anymore. Personally, I think both symbols are outmoded. Weighing scales make me think of the Libra sign in the Zodiac, and nobody uses the lunar calendar except for religious reasons.
No, I’m not a Tok Guru apologist. I just hate people living in a pigsty complaining over a speck of dust in another person’s household. 
Ahmad Hafidz Baharom is a paradox. He’s an anti-smoking chain smoker, an environmentalist who leaves his office lights on, a centrist who’s a lalang, and a twentysomething yuppie who dreams of being a slacker.
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Half Truth says
When BN makes uncountable mistakes for 50 years, it is acceptable and easily forgotten. Why? Problem of mental psycho immunisation.
When will Malaysians learn how to stand up firmly for justice and fairness, and reject racist politicians or policies, and corruption, etc.
When PR makes mistake or sometimes has difference of opinion [among] themselves, the issue is blown out of proportion. Malaysians express their unhappiness and threaten to support BN in the next GE.
PR is only 18-months-old, they need moral support to strengthen their position to fight for a fair and just Malaysia. Please given PR some breathing space and time for them to grow. Let’s be fair to PR. Let’s take a look, Transparency International commented that Penang had a major improvement [in terms of] declining corruption.
If Malaysians think both sides are devil i.e. BN and PR, please select the devil that does not suck blood. Why? Suck blood means your future generation “dies” at a faster rate. This is the difference.
To ensure a better future generation and a better tomorrow for Malaysia, we need two-party system to be firmly rooted in [our] political system. This is what we waited for 50 years, PR is taking the lead. Malaysians, now is your turn to join in this noble action for your future generation, to give your moral support to make it happen. We have to be responsible to [the] political party we voted to manage our country, Malaysia. We have the option to chose rather than [have a] monopoly of political power.
Serious mentality problem of Malaysian and wake up call to all Malaysians.
yong says
I will always support a honest and God fearing people like Tok Guru and others who are not corrupt. As humans, we do make mistakes because we are not God and God will forgive them because of their honesty, loving kindness for fellow human beings especially the poor and unfortunate.
Nicholas Aw says
I’m in total agreement with Hafidz. To err is human, to forgive is divine. I have the utmost respect for Nik Aziz and I don’t think there was any ill-intention on his part. The ones who should be blamed for making a mountain out of a molehill are his political adversaries.
In fact, there are quite a number of leaders who will always be remembered. They strive for universal principles but because of their political beliefs they still remain plain “Mr” whereas many unknown BN clouts walk about with titles such as “Datuk” and “Datuk Seri”. A real irony in the true sense of the word.
oik says
The bottom line is that (if Kickdefella is to be believed), this guy accepted a RM455,000 holiday for himself and his family from someone who had received contracts and logging concessions from the state government that he heads. He hasn’t shown any remorse nor accepted that there is anything wrong with what he has done.
That makes him corrupt in my book. For you to defend him by saying that the other side has done worse is just lame.
Hoyohoyo says
Well, actually a number of people still rely on the moon/lunar calendar, other than religious reasons. Sailors, intertidal- and subtidal-related works (marine biologists, divers), astrologists etc., to name a few.
PAS has its own merit, but as a liberal and a secularist, I can’t really support it.
The weighing scale can be easily seen on Lady Justice’s hand, usually outside the courts. Most law schools and bar associations use it as part of their symbols. But of course, I can’t see how the BN is a symbol of rule of law, or a party that respects justice…
Sam says
There are many non-Muslims who respect Nik Aziz for his morality, frankness and honesty. Not a single soul from Umno can match up to him. It’s like comparing a saint with a devil.
nando says
Simple thing: a bribe is a bribe. Crony means crony. You scratch my back, I scratch yours. We are just human beings. People make mistakes; nobody perfect.
ellese A says
Nik Aziz must not be a Pak Lah. You can be honest and sincere, but to be a leader, the rakyat has shown that you must be more. He should have realised that his entourage including SIL and wife costing hundreds of thousand was not reasonable in any way. He should not have been naive and make the mistake of Pak Lah to allow SIL to manipulate. […]
hanana bt abdulla says
It is interesting to note the government under successive prime ministers has the same modus operandi in doing work or in giving out projects.
I am amazed by all the effort and funds wasted in employing spinning by using PR firms and a long list of cybertroopers.
To say that the incumbent government wants to progress with a corresponding spin — Rakyat didahulukan/KPI thingy. And on top of it, the government appoints a minister in charge of KPI […] and had a flying honcho from MAS and a host of high-flying machais to do the high-faluting executive monitoring.
All the spin generated and with the busy cybertroopers spewing venom and expletives in every pro-government blog upon Nik Aziz and his DAP cohorts cannot hide the ugliness and stupidity of the government’s operational policies.
The days of government is always right and might is right is now eroding before our eyes. [Previously], the government can hide policy decisions [through] elegant silence
and simply not dishing out news [about] the ugly parts ie selective truth aka spinning in the MSM.
Nowadays, there will always be pro bono analysts who write in blogs. If one popular blog does not publish, send the same material to many, many blogs until they get published in MSM or neutral or opposition-minded blogs.
It is an accepted fact that our neighbour down south is superior in all aspects of government operations and policies management. Our government (at least the Khir Toyo government) sent people to advanced nations on a mission to study better methods and technologies.
The question that needs to be answered is, is the government employing the best practice and policies for maximum public benefit?
I do not intend to delve into the social cost and benefit of public policies because our ministers and Level 4 [team] appear to be well qualified in economics and graduated from top universities to boot.
At the end of the day, is the quality of the policy decisions up to par that they can propel the country to a slightly better level? Obviously not. The current policy management seems just like the well announced Rakan Muda thingy introduced in the past. The government of the day spends about RM90mil in operations in the 1980s but
the returns to date was never released. My estimate, probably under RM10 million!
On the part of the rakyat, we can only give feedback, hoping that somebody up there will take notice.
BSJT says
I am ok with PAS as long as it is with PR… I am pro-secularist, no way I can accept PAS’s policies!
Dokter Lap says
This piece is so weird […]