Happy Malaysia Day!

Today is the nation's 51st Malaysia Day celebration. It is a public holiday. Today is also the start of the Pas' 60th AGM. I wrote about it in

http://ardentindulgence.blogspot.com/2014/09/solidarity-muktamar-and-vep.html

All eyes will be on this congress. Let's watch what happens.

Meanwhile, NST's political editor Shahrum Sayuthi writes on the matter

In the NST online edition today

JOHOR BARU: The Pas’ 60th muktamar (annual general assembly), set to be held in Parit Salleh Ros in Parit Raja, Batu Pahat from Thursday till Saturday had an earlier than scheduled curtain raiser when its youth wing decided to start its meeting today.

Pas Youth was initially to have just a day meeting on Wednesday, but the plan was changed in the final hours.

“We have a lot to discuss at our meeting,” said a source within the party’s wing without elaborating when asked about the need to have more time for their meeting.

It was nonetheless understood that Pas Youth leaders had decided that they needed additional time to conduct their meeting due to the latest development in the Selangor leadership crisis which had seriously damaged relations not only between Pas and its Pakatan allies but also among the factions who made up the party’s own leadership.

The party’s youth wing leadership was said to be equally divided between the religious and so called “progressive” factions who opposed each other over the issue of whether Pas should stand united with its Pakatan allies at all costs or give priority to defending its own Islamic ideals.

The Pas Youth meeting was to be held at Dewan Choon Moi, Kota Tinggi starting at 12.30pm today.

The party’s religious leadership body, known as Dewan Ulama and the party’s women wing, better known as Dewan Muslimat will start their meeting as scheduled on Wednesday at 9am.

The Dewan Ulama meeting will be at the IOI Resort in Kulaijaya, while the Dewan Muslimat’s to be at Pulai Spring Resort, here.

It was expected that both the Dewan Ulama and the women wing will reiterate their support for party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang who recently broke rank with his PKR and DAP counterparts by nominating three candidates for the MB post as decreed by the Selangor Sultan, instead of just PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Hadi was heavily criticised for his decision not only by PKR and DAP leaders but also the faction within Pas known to be supportive of PKR de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Pas muktamar is held in Johor for the first time this year with the initial aim of creating a better presence for the party in this state which has always been known as an Umno’s stronghold.

Pas had in the last two general elections made some inroad in Johor, winning the State seats of Maharani and Sungai along in 2008, and adding two more, Parit Yaani and Puteri Wangsa last year.

Observers however had predicted that the muktamar will instead be dominated by heated discussions on the party’s problems stemming from the Selangor leadership crisis which had split Pas into factions which on one side is supportive of the party’s own ideals and the other who insisted on the importance of relations with PKR and DAP above all else.

The organising of the muktamar has been problematic from the start when the organizer had to abandoned its original plan of holding it at Taman Sutera Utama in Skudai, here after a disagreement with the landowner forced the party to switch the venue to the one in Batu Pahat.

It is also interesting to note that the muktamar is being held during the campaigning period for the Pengkalan Kubor by-election, where PAS candidate Wan Rosdi Wan Ibrahim is facing a three-cornered fight in the by-election against Barisan Nasional's Mat Razi Mat Ail and independent candidate Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary.

The voting for the by-election is scheduled for September 25.

Clouds Over Pas Muktamar

In The Star online today

by Joceline Tan

PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang is bracing himself for a fiery muktamar next week that will see his supporters rising to defend him against those critical of his stand on the Selangor crisis. 

THIS has been a difficult year for Datuk Seri Hadi Awang both on a personal and professional level.

The PAS president suffered a heart attack when he was in Istanbul and had to spend more than a month in hospital. He was still recuperating when his old friend and party comrade Datuk Abu Bakar Chik died in a car crash in Terengganu.

Hadi is still supposed to be taking it easy but things have been anything but easy for him over the last one month or so. He has had his hands full, thanks, or rather no thanks, to the Selangor Mentri Besar crisis. It has really tested his leadership.

The charismatic ulama-politician with two wives and 13 children has often been seen as a rather indecisive leader but there is something unusual about him these days.

It could be a result of his close brush with death but he has surprised many people by the way he asserted his will over his party in refusing to go along with the other two Pakatan Rakyat parties to propose Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for Mentri Besar.

Phahrolrazi: Head of an NGO that is seen as PAS breakaway group.

The PAS central leadership had agreed earlier on to nominate the PKR president and her deputy Azmin Ali for the top Selangor post. But Hadi decided to override the central committee decision – to exercise his presidential prerogative, as he put it – and sent in a list comprising only PAS names to the Palace.

There has been a hue and cry over his action and a segment in his own party is said to be deeply unhappy about it. They said that first, he made a U-turn, then a roundabout and finally he is on a merry-go-round.

Hadi, 67, is said to be facing a rebellion of sorts within his own party, hence the storm clouds gathering over the PAS muktamar in Johor this week.

These are unsettling times for PAS and Pakatan and many are expecting an emotion-charged muktamar, heated debates and even some unruly behaviour at the annual meeting.

“I don’t think it will be stormy as you call it, but people will speak their minds, there will be criticism from the floor. It is quite normal for us,” said secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali.

Those critical of Hadi reportedly make up about 35% of the party. This group comprises those who 
are passionate about PAS staying put in Pakatan as well as those who admire and support Datuk Seri 
Anwar Ibrahim. They are angry that Hadi does not seem to understand that compromises are 
necessary in coalition politics.

Zaharudin: The brains behind the young Turks in the ulama group.

However, Hadi still commands the support of more than 60% of the party. More important, he has the backing of the powerful Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and the influential spiritual healer Datuk Dr Haron Din.

His boyhood friend and arch loyalist Mustafa has also stood solidly by him, defending his stand in the party’s central committee which is dominated by the Erdogan group.

Hadi also has the support of an up-and-coming vanguard of young, dynamic and well-educated religious scholars whose opinions are starting to make an impact in the party.

They include his own son-in-law Zaharudin Muhammad, Syura Council secretary Datuk Nik Mohd Zawawi Nik Salleh, research director Dr Zuhdi Mohd Marzuki and Nik Aziz’s son and Pasir Mas MP Nik Abduh.

They are the young Turks in the ulama circle of PAS and they are fiercely protective of Hadi.

This network of young Turks has been moving around the country to meet members and consolidate support for Hadi ahead of the muktamar. They want to contain the situation and ensure that any criticism that erupts at the muktamar will not get out of hand.

They are worried because there has been talk that opponents of Hadi may “do an Asri” on him, a reference to former president Datuk Mohd Asri Muda who was ousted in 1982 during a dramatic muktamar.

They are also worried that some delegates may heckle Hadi when he makes his policy speech on Thursday, the way Asri was jeered before his exit.

Asri had lost support because he was against PAS taking the Islamist road but he was overwhelmed by the rising might of the ulama. After delivering his presidential speech at that fateful muktamar, Asri told the delegates he was leaving matters in their hands and left the venue, never to return again.

The new leadership under Datuk Yusof Rawa ushered in a new era of “leadership by the ulama”.

The irony is that this time around, the rebels are the moderates who find Hadi too conservative and want the party to go mainstream. The party has come full circle.

There is a lot riding on the muktamar, the outcome of which could determine whether or not PAS continues in Pakatan.

Dr Fadzli: Speak openly at muktamar but within the Islamic norms.

Among the topics that will heat up the gathering will be the Selangor Mentri Besar issue and PAS’ place in Pakatan. The Kajang Move that triggered off Pakatan’s downward plunge will be mauled.

The two PAS assemblymen who broke ranks to support PKR will also be in the line of fire. PAS members are very unhappy 
with their action and even the mild-mannered Kelantan deputy 
Mentri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah had told people he would have sacked them if he had the authority.

Those unhappy with Hadi will criticise him for not respecting party procedure on the Mentri Besar issue while those for him will slam PKR for insisting on only Dr Wan Azizah for Mentri Besar.

There will be calls for PAS to quit Pakatan and there will also be calls for PAS to stick with the coalition.

Will there be calls for Hadi to go? No one would dare do so.

Hadi is not perfect but his strength is his religious integrity. Any group that wants to take him on will also be taking on the ideological core that he stands for.

Delegates will also question the involvement of PAS leaders in the newly-formed Pasma or Parti Ummah Sejaterah Malaysia.

The Pasma president is Datuk Phahrolrazi Mohd Zawawi, an assemblyman and former PAS deputy commissioner of Kedah and some claimed that it is funded by a well-known PAS politician from Kelantan.

Phahrolrazi was quite candid about the fact that more than half of the PAS central committee members are pro-Pasma and a few of them have spoken on the Pasma platform. But he said he is the only PAS big name in the organisation.

“Pasma is not against PAS. Our objective is to strengthen Pakatan,” he said.

Phahrolrazi’s group is seen as the alternative to PAS in Pakatan. It will be the repository for those PAS members who want to stay on with Pakatan.

Many of them were idealistic professionals who joined PAS after Anwar’s sacking from the government. They are now older and their idealism has morphed into a thirst for more power which they think is possible only via Anwar.

The first indication of the mood at the muktamar will come when the Youth wing convenes. The Dewan Pemuda, as the wing is known, is dominated by the pro-ulama group who are staunchly behind Hadi.

The Youth wing had also asked Youth divisions all over the country to organise sembahyang hajat sessions last week to ask the Almighty “to cleanse the party of destructive elements” and to “strengthen Pakatan states”.

“The muktamar is the right place to speak. If they want to say anything about the president, this is the time and venue but it must be in line with the ethics of Islam,” said Kelantan executive councillor Dr Fadzli Hassan.

Shortly after tasting success in the 2008 general election, PAS had trumpeted the slogan, “PAS untuk semua (PAS for all)”.

By last year, the theme at the muktamar was a rather toned down “Rahmat untuk semua (blessings for all)”.

The theme this year is more inward-looking – “Terus beristiqamah”. It means to be steadfast, to continue in the right direction.

The original venue for the muktamar was an upmarket shopping mall in Johor Baru. It was to signal the party’s aspirations to capture Johor in the next general election. The coalition made huge advances last year, winning 18 out of 56 state seats.

The owner of the mall reportedly changed his mind and PAS shifted the venue to Parit Raja, a small town not far from Batu Pahat.

So much has changed in the last few months, it was not surprising that PAS is reaching back into its rural comfort zone. PAS, said one journalist, is going back to basics.

The new site, which belongs to a PAS supporter, has been cleared and white tents erected for the big day. On Thursday night, supporters gathered under the partially erected tents to pray for a peaceful and successful muktamar.

“It is a challenging time for everyone. But I am very confident Hadi can weather the storm. He will reply and explain everything at the end of the day,” said Mustafa.

It is make or break time for PAS.

A Million Things To Do

I may have over-reacted last night. I was referring to my post  Dumbfounded.         .

That's why people say "a problem is not a problem but our reaction is the problem". If someone is rude, munafiq, arrogant, inconsiderate, selfish, calculative, uncaring and we get angry, offended, disappointed, frustrated .... we will never have Happy Days!

I think this wonderful revelation came from the late Charlotte Joko Beck in her book, Everyday Zen. 

When I went to the kiosk to make a payment for my Celcom number, the man who was manning the kiosk and who walks with a limp, was rather rude. But now that I think about it, his physical handicap could be a contributing factor to his "bad attitude". 

So when my number could not be found in the system, it triggered the impulse to write about the company which hired a Russian beauty to endorse its brand.  Actually, it's not really a big deal --- I mean my number not being in the system.  I can be an anonymous user.    

That's just me de-cluttering my thoughts. This is what happens when you don't know what to do on a day when you have nothing to do.

That's not completely true either. There are bills to pay, relatives and friends to visit and catch up with, pets to pat and projects to finish. There are a million things to do, like

making a cushion cover or a blanket from these leftover rags.

making my own costume jewellery. Please note that these are just some of my collection and none of the jewellery that you see in the picture were made by me. I have tried and the feedback was not too encouraging.

I once asked my friend if she could help me sell my jewellery online, those that I made myself, of course.  Her answer was a resounding NO. I said "Why not?" and she said I have no handiwork skills. 

Ok lah, I'll just have to find something else to do, like maybe, shopping ...?

Dumbfounded

"Celcom is the leader in telecommunication for 3 consecutive years".  Really?

I signed up for a phone line some time in July.  I went to a kiosk in Aeon Bukit Indah today to pay my bill.  The person manning the kiosk checked the system and said my number does not exist.  He has a very bad attitude, so I didn't want to ask him why my number was not in the system.

I then went over to a Celcom dealer in Giant Nusa Bestari, which is very near to Aeon Bukit Indah.  The lady here also could not find my number in the system, but as she was more "civilised" than the guy at the kiosk, I decided to ask her why.

She was just as amazed as I was.  The number is active, she says, but it is not in the system.  She directed me to go to the Celcom regional office in Kempas.

Before that, she helped me to call a customer service operator.  In the telephone conversation at 3.16pm I also took the opportunity to tell the customer service operator that I always encountered problems when I wanted to send my stories online because there was always no line.

Regarding this, the customer service operator suggested that I speak to a technical staff.  That wasn't very helpful.

I really have no patience for things like these because it is a waste of time. Why did Celcom give out a number and not have it in the system?  But then the number is active.  It is just not registered to anyone.  

One more question before I retire for the night.  Does anyone know why Chinese tea is called Chinese tea?

Someone asked me earlier today "What is the difference between green tea and Chinese tea? 

I was telling her "Rose tea is a brew of rose petals and Chrysanthenum tea is a brew of dried chrysanthemum flowers.  So she asked me if Chinese tea is from a plant called Chinese?

 

I never really thought of that.  I did some research and found that Chinese tea is made from the dried leaves of the Camellia Sinensis, an evergreen Shrub.

 

So

 

back to the question "What is the difference between green tea and Chinese tea?

 

Oh, it's after midnight.... way past my bedtime.  Selamat malam  晚安

 

 

Yellow Umbrella

There was a horrific traffic congestion along Jalan Skudai in Johor Bahru after a heavy downpour.  The city really has flood mitigation issues.

Flash flood also occurred at Kampung Pasir, Tampoi, which affected some 50 families living there and the four surrounding villages nearby. Among them was Kampung Asam Paya where firemen had to rush to the scene to assist. I believe no one was hurt.

The water receded at a fairly fast pace at Kampung Pasir. I got to walk bare-foot in the rain. It was quite fun. Saw a centipede scurrying along the road as the water receded.

Haah ... A wet day but it didn't dampen my spirit one little bit.

Come rain or shine, we must continue our journey with a smile.  This one is for Hoon, who lost her battle with cancer today.  I don't know her full name but I doubt I would ever forget Hoon who always showed a cheerful disposition and unwavering faith. 

Farewell, Hoon. 

Solidarity, Muktamar and VEP

Johor Pakatan members showing their solidarity at a Press conference in Johor Baru today and called on the national level to do the same as the focus of the Opposition coalition is the rakyat and not on personal whims.

However, they believed the Selangor political crisis will soon be over and a new chapter will soon begin which will see an even stronger coalition.

Pas is also gearing up for its 60th annual general meeting, which the party calls a Muktamar (Arabic term).  It is the 1st time, the Muktamar is held in Johor which is also coincidentally, Johor Pas' 60th anniversary.  A Muktamar is normally only held in states governed by the Islamic party.

The Muktamar will see the attendance of international participants and there will be cultural performances throughout the three-day gathering beginning Sept 18, to be held at Parit Salleh Ros in Parit Raja, Batu Pahat.

There will also be other gatherings in the IOI Resort in Kulaijaya (Sept 17); Dewan Choon Moi, Kota Tinggi (Sept 16 and 17) and Pulai Springs Resort, Johor Baru (Sept 17).

On  Sept 18 at 9am in the gathering at Pairt Salleh Ros, the party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang will lay down all its strategies for the year.

Meanwhile, on another matter, Pakatan Rakyat called for Malaysians driving a Singapore-registered car into the republic to be exempted from Vehicle Entry Permit charges, which will be implemented next year on foreign-registered vehicles. 

Johor opposition leader Dr Boo Cheng Hau said the locals head to the republic to work from 5am to about 9pm, and they are contributing to the state's economy when they bring the money back to spend. Dr Boo said the steps taken by the government to impose VEP charges and toll hike was not rakyat-friendly and would add to the people's burden.

On time limit parking which the MBJB is proposing, Pakatan Rakyat says that it could work to free up parking congestion in the city but also called for stage bus services to be upgraded, namely, to provide services to more housing estates.