Please Stop Harassing Ambiga (UPDATED with BM Translation)

Jamal says that he wants to make a point; when the law is broken, chaos ensues. He establishes that he does not agree with Bersih 3.0 as it went against the law but is intent on breaking the law to make his point. There is a word for this and it is called hypocrisy. Since when do people go around committing the crime they are against to prove a point?

Mohd Ikhram Merican

What’s the difference between organizing a peaceful sit-down in a public space and intimidating a lady in her personal space?

We were recently witness to some burger hawkers and army veterans creating a fiasco in front of Datuk Ambiga’s house. If that was not enough, now we have a group of 60 petty traders, under the helm of a Datuk Jamal Md. Yunus, who wish to set up stalls in front of Ambiga’s house, apparently to recoup losses made on the day of Bersih 3.0.

Seriously, these petty traders should permanently close shop and seek employment as they seem to lack the business acumen necessary for success in trade. Firstly, the residential part of Damansara Heights does not have the kind of human traffic that one will find in the city center. Commerce thrives in teeming streets. If the petty traders are genuinely concerned about recouping lost business, they should set up stalls in more strategic locations.

Secondly, simple mathematics eludes Jamal and his band of petty traders. According to Jamal (in Bernama), the petty traders can expect to make between RM300 and RM500 per day. That is an average of RM 24,000 per day in total collections. Assuming that each transaction is RM20 (a generous estimate), they are expecting about 1,200 visitors per day … in an exclusive residential street … between 3.30pm – 8.00pm … on a Thursday and Friday. That is assuming all 1,200 visitors buy something and are not just looking around. I am betting the petty traders will make more money if they stay in the vicinity of Dataran Merdeka (I am assuming that is where they ply their goods).

But then again, this is not about money is it? Based on the video interview Jamal gave to reporters, it seems that he and his coalition of petty traders are out to teach Ambiga a lesson. As if she needs one.

If the government is trying to make a martyr out of Ambiga, they are doing a fine job but enough is enough. We are sick of the intimidation of a decent lady in broad daylight under the guise of retarded excuses. Butt exercises? Serving beef burgers to a vegetarian Hindu?

Dear Prime Minister Najib, surely your expensive international education has taught you better. Our Deputy IGP finds nothing wrong with this but don’t you?

Some people say that there is no difference between Bersih 3.0 and the antics of these stooges. There is actually a big difference between what is being inflicted on Ambiga and what happened in Dataran Merdeka.

Firstly, Dataran Merdeka is a public space. Its maintenance is paid for by the public and large gatherings regularly take place here including concerts, sporting events, and national day parades. The road between Dataran Merdeka and Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad is regularly closed to motorists. Most dwellers in the Klang Valley have become accustomed to this fact.

If a peaceful sit-down in Dataran Merdeka offended anyone, by all means, have a peaceful sit-down in this public space, or any other, in a show of protest over Bersih 3.0. Bersih 3.0 was not held in front of Jamal’s house. It would do well for him and anyone planning more invasions of Ambiga’s private space to ponder upon what the holy Quran says about this in 24:27; “O ye who believe! Enter not houses other than your own, until ye have asked permission and saluted those in them: that is best for you, in order that ye may heed (what is seemly).” On this basis, I humbly ask the Federal Territory Mufti to condemn acts that violate the sanctity of a citizen’s personal space with the same zeal and speed in which he condemned protests against the government.

Secondly, the fact that many roads in Kuala Lumpur were closed as a result of Bersih 3.0 is not Ambiga’s fault. Take this up with the police or the government. The argument that Bersih 3.0 was dangerous and therefore required excessive security does not hold water. On a regular work week, I estimate (very conservatively) that over a million people commute to Kuala Lumpur’s city center. Any one of these million people could be a terrorist, a dangerous criminal, or a threat to national security. I do not see FRU trucks and thousands of police personnel lining the streets of Kuala Lumpur on a daily basis to keep an eye over this massive crowd converging in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

If you argue that Bersih 3.0 required a large police force to establish security, then we need the same number of police officers manning the streets of Kuala Lumpur on a daily basis as more than 1 million people entering Kuala Lumpur everyday can only mean trouble. On this reasoning, we need the same FRU trucks, water cannons, and tear gas on standby at every concert, football match, marathon, and parade. Why trust anyone’s intention? It would be better to preempt a security violation by having the full force of the law present all around Kuala Lumpur EVERYDAY.

Thirdly, why stop at Ambiga in the blame game? Why not go all the way to the root cause – the government? Jamal et.al. should blame the government for their loss of revenue. The fact that the government has refused to provide any guarantee that Bersih’s 8 demands will be met before the next election has been conveniently forgotten. This was why Bersih 3.0 was held. Bersih’s 8 demands are not unreasonable. The government has been playing coy on this. Ambiga and the Bersih movement have been very clear – give the people a guarantee that come the next election, Malaysians will have free and fair elections. Is that unfair? Why does the government appear unwilling to guarantee free and fair elections? 

The Election Commission (EC) is accused of being bipartisan, the EC’s chairman and his deputy are alleged to be UMNO members, there are compelling arguments that the government is giving citizenship for votes, and there is evidence that the electoral roll is dubious. Surely this is reason enough for civil society to demand that the government guarantee free and fair elections. The burger hawkers, army veterans, and petty traders should blame Prime Minister Najib for failing to provide us citizens with satisfactory sureties, and thereby facilitating Bersih 3.0.

Fourthly, in his video interview, Jamal says that he wants to make a point; when the law is broken, chaos ensues. He establishes that he does not agree with Bersih 3.0 as it went against the law but is intent on breaking the law to make his point. There is a word for this and it is called hypocrisy. Since when do people go around committing the crime they are against to prove a point? Jamal lost the moral high ground when he went to Bukit Damansara with his group of merry-men to illegally paint the road with demarcation lines for stalls.

Lastly, when Bersih 3.0 broke the law, it did so in the spirit of civil disobedience. Globally, there is precedence for this; Gandhi’s non-violent resistance, the American Civil rights movement, the South African fight against apartheid, and the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia are but a few examples. Bersih 3.0 may have broken the law, but it was done to institute reforms to an electoral system that is in bad need of it.

The holy Quran says in 9:12, “But if they violate their oaths after their covenant, and taunt you for your Faith,- fight ye the chiefs of Unfaith: for their oaths are nothing to them: that thus they may be restrained,” and in 4:148, “Allah loveth not that evil should be noised abroad in public speech, except where injustice hath been done; for Allah is He who heareth and knoweth all things”, and in 26:151, “Do not obey the order of the transgressors.” 

Saidina Abu Bakr is quoted to have said, “Cooperate with me when I am right but correct me when I commit error; obey me so long as I follow the commandments of Allah and His Prophet; but turn away from me when I deviate.”

My humble suggestion to Ambiga, whom I hold in high regard, is to take a 1-week holiday from Thursday (the day of the planned protest outside her house). Go with your family and enjoy in a resort of your choosing by the sea. Sip on Pina Coladas and relax while the petty traders try hard to recoup their “losses”. When you come back, refreshed and rejuvenated, sue all these groups to the full extent of the law. I am sure all Malaysians who believe in justice will be more than willing to donate money and assistance for this cause.

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Tolong Hentikan Gangguan Ke Atas Ambiga

oleh Mohd Ikhram Merican

Apakah beza di antara mengatur perhimpunan bantah-duduk yang aman dengan menggangu seorang wanita di ruang peribadinya?

Baru-baru in kita telah menyaksikan kekecohan sekelompok penjaja burger dan veteran askar di depan rumah Datuk Ambiga. Nampaknya ia tidak mencukupi. Kini ada pula kumpulan yang terdiri daripada 60 peniaga kecil, di bawah pimpinan Datuk Jamal Md. Yunus, yang kononya  ingin membuka gerai-gerai di depan rumah Ambiga.

Peniaga-peniaga kecil ini seharusnya meninggalkan cita-cita untuk menjadi usahawan dan mencari kerja bergaji kerana tidak mempunyai kematangan untuk berniaga. Kawasan kediaman Bukit Damansara tidaklah sesak dengan manusia yang berulang-alik mencari nasi lemak dan barang-barangan pasar malam disiang hari. Adalah lebih afdal jika peniaga-peniaga kecil ini terus berniaga dikawasan persekitaran Dataran Merdeka jika mereka benar-benar tidak mahu rugi.

Akan tetapi usaha lucu ini bukan kerana mencari gantirugi. Kesimpulan yang boleh dibuat berasaskan kepada temuramah video yang diberi oleh Jamal ialah dia bersama-sama dengan kuncu-kuncunya ingin memberi pengajaran kepada Ambiga. Bukan niat untuk memberi pengajaran itu yang dikeji tetapi cara mereka sangat membimbangkan.

Jika kerajaan ingin menjadikan Ambiga seorang tokoh terpuja, teruskanlah berpaling tadah penganiyaan wanita ini. Kami membantah sekeras-kerasnya ganguan dan intimidasi seorang ibu Malaysia atas sebab-sebab yang bodoh. Menunjuk punggung? Memberi burger lembu kepada seorang Hindu yang tidak makan daging? Ini adalah kerja-kerja melampau batas yang tidak dapat diterima oleh rakyat yang menyanjung adab.

Perdana Menteri yang dihormati, kenapa mendiamkan diri? Dato’ Seri terdiri daripada kalangan yang terdidik. Walaupun Timbalan Ketua Polis tidak mendapati kesalahan, saya pasti Dato Seri lebih mengetahui.

Ada yang menyatakan bahawa tiada beza antara Bersih 3.0 dengan tingkah-laku badut-badut ini. Saya tidak setuju. Apa yang sedang dilakukan kepada Ambiga jauh berbeza daripada apa yang berlaku di Dataran Merdeka pada 28 April.

Pertama sekali, Dataran Merdeka merupakan kawasan awam. Penyelenggaraannya dibiayai oleh rakyat dan program-program besar sering berlaku di sini, seperti konsert, perlawanan sukan, dan perarakan Hari Kemerdekaan. Jalan di antara Dataran Merdeka dan Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad kerap kali ditutup kepada pemandu-pemandu jalan raya. Penduduk Lembah Kelang sudah biasa dengan hakikat ini.

Jika perhimpunan yang aman di Dataran Merdeka tidak dipersetujui oleh sesiapa, balaslah dengan perhimpunan aman di Dataran Merdeka atau kawasan awam yang lain. Bersih 3.0 tidak berhimpun di depan rumah Jamal. Adalah lebih baik jika Jamal dan sesiapa lagi yang ingin menyerbu kediaman Ambiga bertafakur di atas 24:27 Al-Quran yang berfirman seperti berikut; “Wahai orang-orang yang beriman, janganlah kamu masuk ke dalam mana-mana rumah yang bukan rumah kamu, sehingga kamu lebih dahulu meminta izin serta memberi salam kepada penduduknya; yang demikian adalah lebih baik bagi kamu, supaya kamu beringat (mematuhi cara dan peraturan yang sopan itu).” Berasaskan ayat ini, saya dengan rendah diri menyeru agar Mufti Wilayah Perseketuan mencela tindakan-tindakan yang mengganggu ruang peribadi rakyat dengan kesungguhan dan kelajuan yang dipaparkannya apabila mengeluarkan fatwa mengenai perarakan menentang pemerintah.

Keduanya, Ambiga tidak bertanggungjawab ke atas penutupan jalan-jalan di Kuala Lumpur akibat Bersih 3.0. Salahkan polis ataupun kerajaan. Alasan bahawa Bersih 3.0 adalah bahaya dan olehkerana itu memerlukan pengawasan polis yang ketat tidak munasabah. Setiap hari, lebih daripada sejuta penduduk (anggaran konservatif saya) Lembah Pantai memasuki Kuala Lumpur dengan berbagai cara. Ada yang mengguna kereta, ada yang mengguna motosikal, ada yang mengguna pengangkutan awam dan ada yang berjalan kaki. Sedangkan perjalanan lebih sejuta orang ke dalam pusat Kuala Lumpur SETIAP HARI tidak memerlukan pemantauan polis yang intensif, apakah 22,270 (mengikut kira-kiraan Rais Yatim) orang yang ingin berhimpun di Dataran Merdeka memerlukan kehadiran sebahagian besar Polis DiRaja Malaysia?

Kalau kita mengikut logik bahawa Bersih 3.0 adalah bahaya dan perlu dikawal oleh polis, maka kita juga memerlukan pengawasan polis yang ketat, trak FRU, meriam air, dan gas pemedih mata setiap kali berlaku konsert, perlawanan bola sepak, marathon, dan perarakan di Malaysia. Semua ini adalah perhimpunan yang boleh menjadi kecoh pada bila-bila masa.

Ketiganya, kenapa berhenti dengan Ambiga dalam permainan mencari salah ini? Mengapa tidak terus pergi kepada punca segala kekecohon ini – kerajaan Malaysia? Jamal dan gengnya harus menyalahkan kerajaan di atas kerugian mereka. Hakikat bahawa kerajaan tidak ingin memberi apa-apa jaminan kelapan-lapan tuntutan Bersih akan ditunaikan sebelum PRU Ke-13 sudah dilupa. Bersih tidak membuat tuntutan yang tidak munasabah. Sebaliknya, kerajaan membuat pekak. Ambiga dan Bersih amat jelas di sini – syorkan bahawa rakyat akan mendapat pilihanraya yang bebas dan adil pada PRU Ke-13. Adakah ini tidak adil? Mengapa kerajaan enggan memberi sebarang jaminan?

Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya Malaysia (SPRM) dituduh berat sebelah, pengerusi SPRM dan timbalannya dituduh adalah ahli UMNO, terdapat hujah-hujah yang sukar dinafi bahawa kerajaan memberi kerakyataan untuk mendapat undi, dan terdapat bukti bahawa senarai undi adalah ragu-ragu. Ini memberi sebab yang cukup untuk rakyat menuntut supaya kerajaan memberi jaminan pilihan raya yang bebas dan adil. Seharusnya penjaja-penjaja burger, veteran askar, dan peniaga-peniaga kecil ini menyalahkan Perdana Menteri dan kerajaannya kerana gagal memberi rakyat jaminan yang memuaskan, dan secara langsung menghalalkan Bersih 3.0.

Keempatnya, di dalam temuramah videonya, Jamal berkata bahawa dia ingin menunjuk kepada Ambiga jika Ambiga tidak menghormati undang-undang, orang lain juga tidak akan menghormati undang-undang dan akan berlaku kucar-kacir. Di sini Jamal mengistiharkan bahawa dia tidak bersetuju dengan Bersih 3.0 kerana ia melanggar undang-undang tetapi dia sendiri bertekad untuk melanggar undang-undang demi memberi pengajaran kepada Ambiga. Ini adalah kerja munafik. Jika seseorang itu tidak bersetuju dengan sesuatu penyelewengan undang-undang, dia seharusnya mendukung undang-undang tersebut. Jika tidak, dia hilang hak moral untuk membantah apabila undang-undang itu dilanggar.

Akhir sekali, jika Bersih 3.0 melanggar undang-undang, ia membuat sedemikian atas dasar “civil disobedience” atau pembangkangan social. Di serata dunia terdapat contoh-contoh konsep ini yang membawa kebaikan seperti rintangan aman Gandhi di India, pergerakan hak-hak sivil America, bantahan kepada system apartheid di Afrika Selatan, dan Revolusi Velvet di Czechoslovakia. Mungkin Bersih 3.0 tidak mematuhi undang-undang tetapi ia membuat sedemikian kerana menerajui reformasi system pengundian kita yang rosak. Bersih bukanlah pergerakan yang menuntut kejatuhan moral rakyat.

Allah s.w.t berfirman di dalam Al-Quran 9:12, “Dan jika mereka mencabuli sumpahnya sesudah mengikat perjanjian setia, dan mereka pula mencela ugama kamu, maka perangilah ketua-ketua dan pemimpin-pemimpin kaum yang kafir itu, kerana sesungguhnya mereka tidak menghormati sumpah janjinya, supaya mereka berhenti (dari kekufuran dan bertaubat),” dan di dalam 4:148, “Allah tidak suka kepada perkataan-perkataan buruk yang dikatakan dengan berterus-terang (untuk mendedahkan kejahatan orang); kecuali oleh orang yang dianiayakan. Dan (ingatlah) Allah sentiasa Mendengar, lagi Maha Mengetahui,” dan di dalam 26:151 “Dan janganlah kamu taati perintah orang-orang yang melampaui batas.”

Saidina Abu Bakar dilaporkan berkata seperti berikut, “Ikutilah saya apabila saya betul. Dan apabila saya salah, betulkanlah saya; patuh kepada saya selagi saya mengikut perintah Allah dan Rasulnya, tetapi berpaling tadah apabila saya keluar daripada jalan yang benar.”

Ambiga bukanlah musuh. Musuh kami, rakyat Malaysia, adalah benda-benda yang melampaui batas seperti penipuan rakyat, rasuah, dan sistem yang tidak adil. Hentikanlah gangguan-ganguan ala samseng di ruang peribadi Ambiga.