The Malays of Malaysia – The Unique, Generous Race

Malaysia is a country of many races, ethnics, cultures, and languages.

But despite of the variety of races and religions of its people, there is only one race and one religion that is mentioned in the Federal Constitution of Malaysia which is the supreme law of the Federation; that is Malay and Islam.

The Article 3(1) of the Federation Constitution of Malaysia states that Islam is the religion of the Federation while the Article 153 of the Federal Constitution wrote about the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak and the legitimate interests of other communities.

Article 152 states that the Bahasa Melayu or the Malay language is the national language of Malaysia.

Not only “Malay” is specifically mentioned in the supreme law but the Federal Constitution also gives the interpretation of the Malays.

The Article 160(2) of the Federal Constitution:

 “Malay” means a person who professes the religion of Islam, habitually speaks the Malay language, conforms to Malay custom 

So, that makes the Malays of Malaysia so unique, for it is the only race in this whole world that is legally bound to a religion, which is Islam, the religion of the Federation.

Islam, the Malay language and the special position of the Malays are not only protected by the Federal Constitution but are also protected by the Section 3(1)(f) of the Sedition Act of Malaysia, which protects the four sensitive issues: 

1. Article 153: Special Rights For The Malays
2. Article 152: Malay As The National Language
3. Part III: of the Citizenship Rights
4. Article 181: Rights, Status, Sovereignty Of The Malay Rulers

In respond to critiques regarding the Article 153, our great forefathers, Tun V. T. Sambanthan and Tun Tan Siew Sin said that the Malays are very charitable, polite and “generous enough to relax the citizenship laws of this country”.

If the Malays were not generous, the Chinese and Indians who were immigrants at the time, would not be given the citizenship of this country and therefore became stateless people.

Article 153 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia was based on the Social Contract where the Malays and the Malay Rulers agreed to accept the immigrant races to become citizens of Malaysia.

In the contract, it was agreed that while the immigrant races were given citizenship, the Malays who are the subjects of the Malay Rulers must be given special position.

The great Malay Rulers of nine Malay Kingdoms had sacrificed their own absolute powers over their own sovereign countries to unite into the Federation of Malaya, which later becomes Malaysia with the addition of Sabah and Sarawak.

With the motto, “Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu” or “Unity is Strength”, the Malay states becomes a Federation and is now a great country.

‘Human-Faced’ Baby Goat

A baby goat belonged to a Felda settler, Ibrahim Basir of Felda Sungai Mas in Kota Tinggi is said to resemble a human baby including its face, nose and short legs.

The kid, however, was already dead when it was found by its owner.

Ibrahim Basir who had refused offers of money from people interested in buying the carcass handed over to the Veterinary Services Department.

A Peaceful World Without Tumult – A Poem By Ahmad Ali Karim

Butterflies flying freely in the air,
Bunnies bouncing here and there,
Trees and plants planted everywhere,
My beautiful garden, my dream world.

Friendly fox resting under a tree,
A baby bird sleeps in its nest,
Little beetle riding on a honey bee,
Living their lives, in peace and harmony.

Colourful flowers painted the scene,
Completed by fruits, hanging from the trees,
Its spring water is crystal clean,
Unpolluted garden, beautiful and serene.

Meeting The MB of Neger Sembilan

A photo of Dato’ Seri Utama Mohamad and I after the program.

I am very honoured to be able to meet the Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Hasan during a program at the Wisma UMNO Negeri Sembilan in Seremban recently.

The Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan singing an autograph for me.

As the Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Dato’ Seri Utama is also the chairman of the Majlis Agama Islam Negeri Sembilan.

Malaysia is an Islamic country of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah from the Shafie school of thought or madhhab and Menteri Besars who are the chairmen of their respective state’s Majlis Agama Islam (the Islamic authority) are tasked to assist the Sultan in protecting the sanctity of Islam in their states.

In order to do so, they must have a very good understanding of the subject of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah which is sadly being ignored by some leaders.

And for this reason, I’m really impressed with Dato’ Seri Utama Mohamad’s understanding of Islam, and the brave actions that he took to protect the sanctity of Islam in Negeri Sembilan, even though those actions were considered as unpopular by certain people, for example having a strict guideline to monitor the teaching of Islam in the state, the transgender case and others.

Dato’ Seri Utama gives a clear message that Islam, as the religion of the state and the country, must be respected by everybody and is above other religions in Malaysia.

I hope that the people of Negeri Sembilan can understand how lucky they are to have a great Muslim leader.

Orang Murtad Masih Melayu?

Saya amat berminat dalam mempelajari Perlembagaan Persekutuan, iaitu undang-undang tertinggi bagi negara Malaysia.

Sebagai undang-undang tertinggi negara, Perlembaggan Persekutuan mempunyai banyak perkara-perkara penting yang mesti difahami, dihormati dan dipatuhi oleh setiap rakyat Malaysia.

Saya amat tertarik dengan cara Perlembagaan Persekutuan menafsiran siapakah “Orang Melayu”.

Apakah definasi orang Melayu menurut Perlembagaan Persekutuan?

Menurut Perkara 160 Perlembagaan Persekutuan:

“Orang Melayu” ertinya seseorang yang menganuti agama Islam, lazim bercakap bahasa Melayu, menurut adat Melayu dan—

(a) yang lahir sebelum Hari Merdeka di Persekutuan atau Singapura atau yang lahir sebelum Hari Merdeka dan ibu atau bapanya telah lahir di Persekutuan atau di Singapura, atau yang pada Hari Merdeka berdomisil di Persekutuan atau di Singapura; atau

(b) ialah zuriat seseorang yang sedemikian;

Orang Melayu di Malaysia sangat istimewa kerana mereka bukan sahaja didefinasikan melalui keturunan tetapi yang pentingnya juga melalui agama.

Oleh itu saya selalu terfikir, apakah status bangsa orang-orang yang asalnya Melayu tetapi sudah murtad seperti Azlina Jailani dan Aisyah Bukhari?

Apakah bangsa mereka sekarang kerana mereka tidak lagi beragama Islam dan tidak layak di kira sebagai orang Melayu menurut Perkara 160 Perlembagaan Persekutuan.

Apabila saya tanyakan soalan ini kepada seorang bekas peguam kanan di Pejabat Peguam Negara dan pakar Perlembagaan Persekutuan, Datuk Professor Mahamad Naser Disa, beliau menjawab bahawa memang betul orang Melayu yang telahpun murtad tidak lagi seorang Melayu.

Dan apabila saya bertanya apakah bangsa mereka sekarang, beliau menjawab bahawa mereka sekarang mempunyai bangsa yang baharu iaitu bangsa Murtad atau ringkasnya, Bangsat.

Johor (2): Photos – Taman Negara Tanjung Piai (Tanjung Piai National Park)

Taman Negara Tanjung Piai, Pontian, Johor, March 11, 2016.

During our last trip to Tanjung Piai, we visited the Tanjung Piai National Park where the southmost tip of Eurasia mainland is located.

Unfortunately, the most significant part of the Tanjung Piai National Park where the southern most tip signage and globe is located, was temporarily closed because part of the pier’s structure is unsafe. 

Taman Negara Tanjung Piai, Pontian, Johor, March 11, 2016.

Please click the photos for larger images:

Taman Negara Tanjung Piai, Pontian, Johor, March 11, 2016.

Taman Negara Tanjung Piai, Pontian, Johor, March 11, 2016.