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WHAT INDONESIA CAN TEACH 'MODERATE' MALAYSIA
POSTED BY NORMANFERNANDEZ AT FRIDAY, JAN 27, 2012

I have just returned from a four day visit to yet another Indonesian city
and this time, Padang in the island of Sumatera. Padang, the land of the
Minangkabau is a city of of more than 850,000 people. This gracious people
have an eye for business in their genes and can compete on equal or better
terms with the Chinese. No need for quotas or AP's. Maybe that's why there
is comparably a smaller Chinese population in Padang than other cities.
Incidentally, there is also a very small Tamil. yes Tamil population in
Padang.

This time, instead of flying from Johor Bahru and then lounging aimlessly
for hours in LCCT cattle station at Sepang, KL to catch a flight to
Indonesia, I decided to first take a ferry from Stulang ferry terminal at
the Zon, Johor Bahru to the island of Batam, Indonesia. The journey is about
90 minutes and there is a ferry every hour from Stulang (and vice-versa). I
took the first ferry out at 8.30 am. Batam is on Waktu Indonesia Barat and
an hour behind Malaysian time, which means when you arrive in Batam you have
gained an hour. I arrived at Batam Center at 10 am Malaysian time or 9 am
Indonesian time.

The 90 minute ferry ride is a pleasant ride, though there is nothing much
to do save for looking at the wide blue sea and reflecting life unless you
want while-away reading the New Straits Times or Star and get high blood
pressure and thus spoiling your holiday.

Arriving at Batam Center ferry port, it is only a Rp70,000 to the Airport or
called Bandara (Airport) Hang Nadim. Incidentally there is more flights
taking off from Batam Airport than from our Senai "ghostport".

I had decided to try an Indonesian airline instead of travelling by Air
Asia. Incidentally, had I chosen Air Asia, I would not be able to take Air
Asia's morning flight to Padang since Air Asia flight to Kuala Lumpur leaves
from Johor Bahru at about 8.30 am and Air Asia's morning flight to Padang
from LCCT Sepang, KL is also around that time . The afternoon flight to
Padang by Air Asia leaves from LCCT late afternoon. That means travelling to
Kuala Lumpur in the morning and then lounging aimlessly in the LCCT cattle
station before catching the late afternoon flight to Padang. Travelling via
Stulang and then from Batam gives me an early start not to mention savings
on the time difference.

Anyway, from Batam, I took Sriwijaya Air. Paid Rp350,000 (@RM125.00 all in)
one way for Batam-Padang sector. Looking at the logo on the livery I sensed
this maybe an airline owned by Indonesian Chinese. That was confirmed once
inside the plane when reading Sriwijaya Air's in-flight magazine. Apparently
Sriwijaya Air is a Jakarta based airline founded by Chandra lie, Lie Hendry
(a little on this guys later and which I really want to highlight), Andi
Halim and Fandy Linga and commenced its first service in 2003. It now flies
to almost all major cities in Indonesia and regionally it has a flight to
Singapore and to Penang. It is categorized as a medium service airline which
means alight refreshment is served in a box to all passengers. It has good
leg space and eye pleasing stewardesses'.

Here is a little piece of history of Sriwijaya Air as extracted from the
in-flight magazine.

(SEJARAH SRIWIJAYA AIR)
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fPRcpWiXTsc/TyH9ibqgP-I/AAAAAAAABU4/6_Sv4C9vP9Y/s1600/\
Picture+036.jpg

Now, as I said earlier among the founders of this airline are Chandra Lie
who is the President-Director of the airline. Here is his welcoming message
as extracted from the in-flight magazine.

( 2012 LAYANAN TERBAIK UNTUK PELANGGAN )
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-12Lxx9mBFUQ/TyH9u-aPPWI/AAAAAAAABVA/Ck5ZXVsntmI/s1600/\
Picture+037.jpg

Look at the introduction. Despite not being a Muslim, Chandra Lie starts his
message with the Muslim greeting "Assaalamu'alaikum wr wb". He ends his
message with "Wassalamu'alaikum wr wb". Amazing isn't it a Non Muslim using
Islamic greeting. Imagine Air Asia's Tony Fernandez in his in-flight
magazine doing the same. No NGO's, religious scholars, or any group has
objected or protested Chandra Lie using such greetings. Imagine, if Non
Muslim in Malaysia use such greeting. Imagine the reaction by Perkasa,
Perkida, Hassan Ali, Harussani and other NGO's may get into a hissy fit.

Now, here is something really unheard of. Again it is extracted from the
in-flight magazine.

(DOA-DOA PERJALANAN)
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4ydWDviDKtg/TyH9-JQjvCI/AAAAAAAABVI/as6AgTQta8g/s1600/\
Picture+038.jpg

This must be a first ! It is the first time I have seen prayers seeking
God's
providence and blessing in all faith. Islam, Catholic, Protestant, Hindu,
Buddha and Confucian. Will we ever see a Malaysian airline do the same ? In
fact do Malaysia Airlines or even Air Asia has the gumption to do what
Sriwijaya Air has done? In fact, at first I thought that was a unique
gesture by Sriwijaya Air. In the return flight from Padang to Batam, I
travelled on Lion Air. Guess what in the seat pocket, there is a laminated
prayer sheet and again for denomination. Maybe it is the norm in Indonesia.

Malaysia always bleats how moderate they are et all.and have international
conferences trumpeting its "moderation". Indonesia by action shows what is
acceptance, tolerance and moderation. There are many things we can learn
from Indonesia.

Lastly, here is a page extracted from the in-flight magazine of Sriwijaya.
It shows a Christmas fellowship for all its staff and business associates at
Sriwijaya Air's prayer house.

(NATAL BERSAMA SRIWIJAYA AIR)
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jse47pmLosg/TyH-MXoJNMI/AAAAAAAABVQ/aVdodNChFBE/s1600/\
Picture+039.jpg

The picture shows, Sriwijaya Air's President-Director Chandra Lie, his wife
and his children participating in the celebration. The four girls singing
are his daughters. Haven't heard any Sriwijaya staff or business staff
complaining that the event was an attempt to change their "aqidah".

Comments at anfalaw@...

This is a series on reflection from Indonesia. Norman Fernandez intend to
visit Manado, Indonesia next. Feel free to send any information about Manado
if you have visited there.
____

http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2012/01/27/sgor-mb-is-no-threat-to-islam/

S'gor MB is no threat to Islam
posted on Friday, 27 January 2012, 12:24 pm

Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz | January 27, 2012
Free Malaysia Today

Malay rights group Perkasa can say all it wants about Islam coming 'under
siege' in Selangor, but the fact is it's Umno's ruinous actions which
threaten Islam.

COMMENT

Is Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim a closet Christian evangelist? Is
that why Perkasa is upset over him taking charge of Islam in the state,
warning that "the faith of Islam, of Muslims is under siege in Selangor"?

Is Khalid not Islamic enough for Perkasa?

I believe placing Khalid in charge of Islamic affairs in Selangor is the
best decision the Pakatan Rakyat government has made.

Despite Perkasa's postulation that Khalid "lacks the religious credentials",
I believe he will lend the prestige and stature of the MB's office to
Islamic affairs.

Since he has managed the state financially well, he can keep a look-out on
the zakat money, too.

So how is he a threat to Islam, as claimed by Perkasa? Khalid is no threat
to Islam, Umno is.

Islam is threatened simply because the majority of Umno members shy away
from mosques and suraus.

They want positions as chairmen of suraus and masjid for the prestige. But
they are sorely deficient and wanting when it comes to evangelical
programmes.

But then that is the basic leadership philosophy of the majority of Umno
people - they want positions without accountability and responsibility.

'Islamic bodies can expect more'

They want to become boss of suraus or mosques, they want to become chairman
of PTAs (Parent- Teacher Associations) even though they themselves are
elementary educated.

So when things go afoul, the answers are not difficult to identify and can
immediately be found. They almost always somehow originate from Umno.

Perkasa is pedalling an array of claims but the biggest gobbledygook thus
far is that DAP is wanting to proselytise Muslims.

Noteworthy is the fact that a majority of DAP people are not Christians.

Also noteworthy is the fact that Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng
allocated a budget of RM30 million for Islamic institutions in the state.

Compare that with a measly RM12 million allocated yearly in Negri Sembilan
headed by - horror of horrors - a Malay Muslim Menteri Besar (Mohamad
Hasan).

Under Khalid, Islamic bodies in Selangor can expect more.

Yes, Islam is under threat but simply because Umno has carried out ruinous
business policies and economic predation that have so impoverished the
Malays.

It has made Malays vulnerable and left them to seek help from the
inefficient Islamic bodies.

If Malays convert then, the fault lies firstly with the institutions charged
with keeping the faith.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The writer is a former Umno state assemblyman and now a DAP member.
He is a FMT columnist.
____

Bajet Agama Penang (DAP) Lebih Tinggi Dari Bajet Agama N.Sembilan (UMNO)
http://www.malaysiawaves.com/2012/01/bajet-agama-penang-dap-lebih-tinggi.html
____

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/187601

'Hasan should train his guns on Obedient Wives Club'
Nigel Aw 1:07PM Jan 27, 2012 [extract]

Selangor PAS Muslimat chief Wan Hasrina Wan Hassan today called on sacked
former state commissioner to train his guns on the Obedient Wives Club
(OWC), which has compromised Muslim faith, instead of taking aim at the
party.

"I think this is the battlefield that Hasan Ali should be fighting in and
not against PAS, there is clear distortion of faith here," she said at a
press conference in Shah Alam.

Hasrina was responding to the OWC's move to portray Prophet Muhammad as a
sex icon.

Selangor PAS commissioner Abdul Rani Osman, who was also present at the
press conference, said he hoped the Selangor Islamic Religious Council
(Mais) should not let such an incident occur in the state.

"How can you use a holy person as a sex figure, this is ridiculous," he
said.
[...]
____

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/litee/malaysia/article/jamil-khir-says-keepin\
g-close-eye-on-owc/

Jamil Khir says keeping close eye on OWC
January 27, 2012

Jamil Khir said religious authorities have no grounds to act against the
group at the moment. - File pic
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/images/uploads/mugshots/jamil-khir-baharom3-j\
an5.jpg

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 - The Obedient Wives Club (OWC) is coming under
government surveillance for possible Islamic deviationist elements, Bernama
Online reported Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom as saying today.

"They are portraying Prophet Muhammad as having a high sexual desire by
marrying many women," the de facto minister of Islamic affairs was quoted as
saying in the report.

The controversial motivational group re-entered the limelight on Wednesday
by launching a new campaign, "The Prophet, Islam's Sacred Sex Figure", to
commemorate Maulidur Rasul this year.

The 12-day affair, held in conjunction with the Prophet Muhammad's birthday,
is aimed at reversing moral decay in Muslim society.

Today, Jamil said religious authorities had limited options when it came to
the group as it was not expressly an Islamic organisation.

"The problem is, this group is operating under the guise of a
non-governmental organisation (NGO), making it difficult for the government
to take immediate action," he was quoted further in the report.

"They are operating behind different names. We cannot simply take action
without having clear proof. What we can do is to watch out for the contents
of the programmes they organise."

The OWC, which believes women should behave like "first-class whores" for
their husbands if they wished their marriages to succeed, last hit the
headlines in October when it published an explicit guide to "Islamic sex".

The book, which caused uproar among the public and women's rights groups,
was later banned by the Home Ministry.

The ministry said the book was banned because of OWC's links to the outlawed
Al-Arqam movement, and for falling foul of the strict censorship guidelines
of the Department of Islamic Development (Jakim).

The OWC was founded by Global Ikhwan, an offshoot of Al-Arqam.

The club has branched out to Indonesia, Singapore and Jordan, and claims to
have 2,000 members, most of whom are Malaysians.

____

OWC dubs Prophet Muhammad as Islam's sex figure
http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=26888:owc\
-dubs-prophet-muhammad-as-islams-sex-figure&Itemid=2

Selangor Mufti Slams Obedient Wives Club
http://www.malaysiandigest.com/news/39192-selangor-mufti-slams-obedient-wives-cl\
ub.html

Kempen 'Rasulullah Tokoh Seks Suci Islam' rendahkan martabat Nabi Muhammad,
tegas Muslimat PAS
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/litee/bahasa/article/kempen-rasulullah-tokoh-\
seks-suci-islam-rendahkan-martabat-nabi-muhammad-tegas-muslimat-pas/
____

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/187588

Himpun condemns fake letters to Penang mosques
10:46AM Jan 27, 2012 [extract]

Himpun, the network of Malay NGOs, planning a mega-rally in Penang this
weekend, has condemned the distribution of fake official invitation letters
sent to mosques, urging Muslims to participate in the event.

One of the organisers, Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid, described the whole episode,
including the use of the state government logo on the letters with the
forged signature of Penang exco on Islamic affairs Abdul Malik Abul Kassim,
as a "dirty and unethical" act.

"It creates confusion (among the public) by using the state government's
name and Himpun," he said in a statement today.

"We cannot accept this act and the police report lodged by Abdul Malik as
the state exco for religious affairs yesterday is correct and it is
appropriate that the police investigate the matter immediately," he added.

Mohd Azmi was referring to the letter entitled 'Jemputan MenghadiriProgram
Perhimpunan Ummah Selamatkan Akidah' dated Jan 19, urging Muslims to attend
the "One Million Muslim rally" organised by Himpun planned for Saturday in
Kepala Batas.
[...]
____

Fake invite to Himpun making the rounds in mosques
Susan Loone 6:24PM Jan 26, 2012
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/187555
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