Derita Rakyat Selepas Pilihanraya…

Sejak perbentangan belanjawan 2012 Disember lalu, jelas kelihatan bahawa kerajaan di bawah Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak awal-awal lagi sudah memikirkan beberapa siri program dengan dana yang banyak untuk dicurahkan kepada rakyat. Belanjawan 2012 umumnya digunakan untuk tujuan itu.

Bermula daripada pemberian apa yang dianggap sebagai “wang saguhati” sebanyak RM500 kepada mereka yang berpendapatan rendah; baucer pembelian buku untuk mahasiswa; sehinggalah kenaikkan gaji yang diumumkan PM minggu lalu.

Atas desakan pembangkang dan badan-badan bukan kerajaan (NGO), pentadbiran Najib juga akhirnya terpaksa tunduk kepada beberapa tuntutan termasuklah membatalkan skim Saraan Baru Penjawat Awam (SBPA) yang sama sekali tidak berpihak kepada kepentingan kakitangan awam.

Keadilan percaya, akan ada lagi satu-dua program ‘pembelian’ dan ‘gula-gula’ seumpama itu dalam waktu terdekat menjelang pilihanraya umum. Tentulah boleh dijangkakan bahawa menabur tunai di pelbagai penjuru seperti yang dilakukan sekarang tidak lain adalah jalan mudah bertujuan meraih undi.

Syukur apabila hari ini rakyat mulai sedar bagaimana Keadilan dan Pakatan Rakyat sudah memainkan peranan sebagai pembangkang yang berkesan. Tanpa kemenangan di 5 negeri dalam PRU lalu, khususnya di Selangor dan Pulau Pinang sebagai dua negeri industri dan yang terkaya di Malaysia; serta menafikan majoriti dua-pertiga kuasa BN di parlimen, mustahil kerajaan aan melakukan seperti apa yang mereka lakukan sekarang.

Persoalan seterusnya ialah, bagaimana nasib rakyat selepas PRU nanti sekiranya Umno-BN terus diberi mandat sebagai kerajaan? Ada tanda buruk bahawa rakyat akan bertambah derita apabila Umno-BN diberi peluang mentadbiran untuk tempoh 5 tahun lagi selepas PRU nanti.

Sebagai contoh, kita lihat rekod Petronas sebagai sebuah syarikat kaitan kerajaan (GLC) gergasi yang mengumumkan keuntungan bersih sejumlah RM55.6 bilion untuk tempoh 9 bulan tahun lalu. Walaupun mencatat kenaikkan keuntungan lebih 10 peratus berbanding tahun sebelumnya, namun Petronas juga mengumumkan tidak akan lagi membayar pampasan kepada Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) bagi kos bahan api alternatif.

Sebelum ini, Petronas mengabiskan sebanyak RM1 bilion untuk tujuan itu. Dengan tamatnya bayaran pampasan kepada TNB, ada kemungkinan bahawa tarif eletrik dijangka meningkat lagi selepas PRU nanti. Tentulah Petronas tidak boleh dipersalahkan oleh sesiapa kerana syarikat itu juga mempunyai keperluan membuat keuntungannya dan menjaga rekod kewangan mereka tanpa perlu membazir keuntungan kepada syarikat lain yang mahu untung dengan cara mudah.

Apa yang penting ialah, keseluruhan pertumbuhan ekonomi harus dipacu untuk membolehkan masyarakat peniaga, syarikat, pekerja dan rakyat umumnya dapat berdikari dan memperolehi pendapatan yang selayaknya. Mencurahkan dana besar kepada rakyat tanpa pertumbuhan ekonomi yang rancak akan hanya kembali mencerut leher rakyat.

Apabila kantung kering, beban kewangan dan hutang kerajaan meningkat, akhirnya rakyat juga yang terpaksa menanggung kesulitan. Elit penguasa termasuk PM tidak akan terjejas kehidupan harian mereka.

Atas kesedaran itu, Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat di negeri-negeri bertungkus-lumus untuk memperbaiki rekod kewangan yang cukup buruk yang ditinggalkan di era Umno-BN dahulu. Misalnya di Selangor, kepimpinan Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim mengesan kebocoran sehingga RM500 juta di Yayasan Selangor ketika Umno-BN mentadbir negeri itu.

Wang yayasan yang ditubuh untuk kepentingan pendidikan anak Selangor ternyata tidak ditadbir dengan amanah. Begitu juga kepentingan petani di Selangor yang dikhianati apabila sebuah anak syarikat Perbadanan Kemajuan Pertanian Selangor (PKPS) mengalami kerugian sehingga RM11 juta daripada pinjaman kerajaan persekutuan sejumlah lebih RM90 juta daripada tahun 2005 dan 2006. Tanah milik PKPS di Miri juga digadai dengan harga murah lima tahun lalu sehingga PKPS mengalami kerugian sehingga RM20 juta.

Bila diberi 500 ringgit, rakyat ambil; apabila diberi baucer buku, rakyat ambil; apabila ada kenaikkan gaji, rakyat tepuk tangan… tetapi itu tak bermakna rakyat akan kembali menyokong kerajaan yang ada. Betapa mulai disedari bahawa memberi sekali lagi peluang kepada Umno-BN akan hanya mengundang derita dan beban hidup berganda selepas PRU nanti. Hanya lima tahun lagilah Najib akan kembali menabur wang tunai sepertinya maharaja dulukala yang menabur sedekah kepada orang miskin daripada atas kereta kuda.

Maafkan kami…
Maafkan kami…
Maafkan kami…

Berulang-ulang bait seni kata itu didendang tiga bujang lapuk seperti yang selalu kita tonton dalam filem Bujang Lapuk arahan Allahyarham P Ramlee.

Apabila membuat lawatan ke Selangor bulan lalu, Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak menyatakan bahawa pemerintah Umno-BN memang pernah melakukan kesilapan di negeri itu. Di Kedah, dalam lawatan pada awal Mac, PM menyatakan perkara sama. Apakah sepanjang lebih 50 tahun memerintah, partinya itu hanya melakukan kesilapan di Selangor dan Kedah sahaja?

Ketika pemimpin tertinggi negara merintih simpati daripada rakyat, syarikat penerbangan nasional, MAS direkod mencatat kerugian besar melebihi RM2.5 bilion. Jika dilakukan perbandingan, angka kerugian MAS itu adalah lebih besar berbanding dengan belanjawan negeri termaju seperti Selangor sekalipun!

MAS dahulunya adalah syarikat yang tergabung bersama Singapore Airline (SIA) keduanya terpisah selepas Singapura keluar daripada Malaysia. Hari ini SIA terus mencatat keuntungan besar tahun demi tahun sementara MAS pula sebaliknya.

Nampaknya bukan cuma MAS, satu lagi syarikat kaitan kerajaan (GLC), Proton juga merekodkan kerugian sebanyak lebih RM80 juta.

Rekod kewangan yang buruk dua GLC berkenaan hanya satu daripada episod kerugian sekian banyak syarikat dan projek kerajaan sebelum ini seperti syarikat perkapalan MSC, syarikat besi nasional Perwaja bahkan beberapa saham amanah di peringkat negeri-negeri.

Nah! Kenyataan ini adalah sebahagian bukti bahawa pemerintah Umno-BN bukan hanya telah melakukan kesilapan dan dosa di Selangor dan Kedah sahaja. Parti yang sekian lama memerintah itu juga telah melakukan kesilapan di seluruh negara. Namun, saya tidak fikir PM akan berani menyatakan kenyataan ini.

Lebih-lebih lagi apabila isu “lembu-kondo” telah menyelongkar satu lagi wajah sebenar elit parti pemerintah. Projek dengan dana RM250 juta, yang begitu penting untuk kepentingan negara diserahkan kepada syarikat yang terkait dengan seorang menteri. Kini rakyat tahu, syarikat berkenaan langsung tidak ada pengalaman di dalam mengurus dan pengendali projek berkaitan penternakan lembu.

Sudahnya, dana yang besar itu digunakan untuk pelaburan-pelaburan yang tiada kaitan langsung dengan projek penternakan lembu. Keluarga menteri hidup bermegah-megah daripada miliki kereta mewah, kondominium termahal sehinggalah membuka pusat beli-belah di luar negeri. Cukup mendukacitakan apabila syarikat yang punya kaitan terus dengan kepentingan rakyat seperti anak syarikat Felda telah diketepi.

Persoalannya, apakah dengan menyatakan bahawa kerajaan dan partinya pernah melakukan kesilapan di Selangor dan Kedah, kesemua kerugian besar berbilion ringgit itu boleh ditebus? Begitu mudahkah untuk meraih undi dengan hanya mengakui kesilapan semata-mata? Sungguh kata orang tua-tua, memang lidah tidak bertulang.

Sekiranya kesalahan sebegini besar dilakukan oleh pemimpin di negara-negara maju, mereka tidak akan tunggu untuk sampai ke tarikh pilihanraya untuk mengakui kesalahannya. Mereka akan segera meletakkan jawatan dan siap untuk diseret ke mahkamah.

Kematangan politik sebegini tidak berlaku di Malaysia. Tidak berlaku di bawah budaya Umno-BN yang sudah memerintah sekian lama. Pemimpinnya mengakui kesalahan selepas diasak dan tidak tertanggung dengan maklumat yang sampai ke telinga rakyat. Hanya sekadar kata-kata tanpa tindakan untuk membawa setiap masalah ke muka pengadilan sedangkan rakyat telah jelas nyata dikhianati dan terpaksa menanggung bencana.

Pakatan Rakyat bertekad membawa sinar baru apabila matahari terbit selepas pilihanraya umum ke-13 nanti. Tidak perlu ada peluang sekian kali kepada sebuah parti yang mengakui kesalahan hanya sebagai jalan pintas melepaskan diri daripada segala noda.

EMPOWERING MUSLIM WOMEN

Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail

President, People’s Justice Party, Malaysia

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim

 INTRODUCTION

I would like to congratulate the organisers for their vision and hard work in conceiving and bringing to fruition this important conference. I am sure that during these three days much useful data will be compiled, covering multiple aspects of this complex topic. This is very valuable in itself, and also gives a truly comprehensive overview, which will help in coming up with effective planning for ongoing efforts to promote Islamic principles and practice in the contemporary world.

I would also like to humbly thank the organisers for inviting me to deliver this keynote address, which I consider a great honour.

Sisters and Brothers in Islam,

Let us begin with what has been stated many times in the past: that Islam – through the Qur’an and the Hadith – has given women a unique degree of independence and therefore dignity. This has been facilitated through granting various rights involving her happiness and fulfilment, her personal development, her control over her property, and her right to engage in activities both inside and outside her home. Since these are already common knowledge I will not go into the details. But what must concern us, especially in this important conference, is to assess to what extent these rights have been ensured and protected in Muslim societies, and where we have fallen short. We must then discuss and work out ways to enhance our adherence to the Islamic ideal.

There is an ayat in the Qur’an which expresses in a nutshell the essential partnership between men and women. It says: “Men and women are one another’s protecting friends.” (Surah Al-Tawbah [9] 71). They form a mutually supportive and complementary team, with each contributing a vital ingredient in the overall effort to fulfil the imperatives of Islam and build a successful and just society. This ayat indeed has far-reaching implications for the way in which we Muslims should develop and harness the full potential of our valuable human resource. It could be discussed in much greater detail, but it suffices here to acknowledge the importance Islam gives to this principle, and recognise that it is our duty to ensure that it is put into practice.

Respected delegates,

We must, in all honesty, admit that things are not perfect in the Islamic world. In researching for this paper, I was saddened and deeply disturbed by certain practices going on in some Muslim communities – and even more shameful is the fact that they are apparently condoned by the community, including lawmakers, law enforcers, judges and ‘ulama’, namely those whom we count upon to uphold justice and people’s rights.

Among the practices I came across were:

            -  child brides as young as 4 or 5 years old

            -  child sex slaves

            -  young children, including girls, trapped in labour-bondage

            -  genital mutilation of girls

            -  savage punishment of women thought to have committed adultery (without any proper trial, and no effort made to trace, let alone apprehend, the men involved)

            -  regular and vicious wife-beating, resulting in serious injury

            -  honour killings – once again, only of women and based on mere suspicion

There are, in addition, other aspects of Islamic practice in the contemporary world which are unsatisfactory – laws which are unfair to women; failure to grant women their rights as enshrined in the Qur’an (such as the laws of inheritance and dowries, over both of which a woman is supposed to have sole and unobstructed control); failure in many Muslim countries to provide women with education commensurate with their personal potential, and the consequent waste of human talent which could contribute towards creating vibrant and prosperous Muslim states and communities.

These, too, must be addressed, as part of the overall situation, which tends to treat women as of lesser worth than men – an attitude which is clearly against the teachings of the Qur’an and the practice of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), a significant part of whose mission was to put an end to such injustices.

In the Qur’an itself, it is related that all the prophets (peace be upon them) faced the same arguments from their people, who, when asked to change to something better, protested: “We found our forefathers practicing this!” The Qur’an repeatedly condemns such blind adherence to unjust and even cruel cultural or religious practices, advising people to base their way of life instead on just Islamic principles. Islam and its civilization are enriched by the variety of ethnicity, language and culture which it embraces, but these must not entail beliefs or practices which are against Islam.

My dear conference participants,

Justice and human dignity are the cornerstones of Islam. It is not enough just to talk. Six further steps are critically important.

The situation requires that, after analysing the strengths, and especially weaknesses, of the contemporary Islamic world, we also:

Firstly, proceed to the next crucial step of working out plans for correcting the injustices. Because the situation is complex, this must involve committed people from various disciplines and professional fields – not only the academics, who will provide the critical analysis and religious theory and principles, but also those who work in fields which deal with the problems on the ground: these will include welfare officials as well as NGO activists, who will, in turn, provide much useful data on which the academicians can base their analysis. The debate on causes and possible ways to overcome the negative situation must also, very importantly, involve representatives of the victims, who have a unique, first-hand knowledge of the problems and the resultant suffering and negative impact.

Secondly, the victims – women and children – are very vulnerable (which is why they are so easily abused in the first place), and therefore need urgent protection and support. Islam, and the Prophet himself (PBUH) gave special attention to the vulnerable groups in society, and we must therefore do the same. This protection and support must be accessible and able to be legally enforced.  This includes putting a stop to the shameful habit, in some Muslim communities and nations, of enforcing laws rigorously and without pity on the poor and vulnerable, while the rich and influential get away free.

Thirdly, women in general, and the vulnerable groups in particular, need a support network. Even the bravest of them will rarely be strong enough on her own to stand up for her rights. It must be recognised that what each individual faces is actually part of a well-established pattern, generally accepted by the community, and therefore the problems must be addressed as systemic and not merely isolated cases.

Fourthly, because some of these injustices are protected or condoned by the laws of the community, it is imperative that the lawmakers and others in positions of authority are engaged, and persuaded to play a determined role in changing unjust or inadequate legislation. We should keep in mind the Hadith which recounts: “The Messenger of Allah said, ‘The greatest form of jihad is to speak the truth in front of an unjust ruler.’” (Ahmad)

Fifthly, in all aspects of policy-making and planning, it is essential to involve both women and men in the preparatory analysis as well as the formulation of policies and laws, in order to get a balanced perspective and to ensure that the decisions arrived at are fair and just to everyone. Women as well as men are affected by overall policies and decisions of their governments, and therefore have a right to participate in their formulation.

Sixth, it is self-evident that all these tasks, involving women at all levels of society, require a good foundation in education. It is therefore imperative that women’s education is not neglected – it is necessary to mention this specifically because so many Muslim women around the world are still deprived of this basic right. Education is the cornerstone of human development, including for women, therefore women themselves should strive as hard as they can to obtain education in whatever ways are available to them, whether formal or informal, and no-one should stand in the way of this effort. Education is not just a means to gain employment or embark on a professional career, but is essential for a woman to be an effective educator of her children – as the saying goes: “When you educate a woman you educate a nation.”

Furthermore, it is notable that the nations which are most backward in present times are those in which women’s education is badly neglected, which clearly demonstrates that it is not only women who suffer the consequences but the entire community and the nation as a whole.

Honourable delegates,

In these endeavours it is essential that we are fully honest and humble. By all means recognise the successes and build further on them. But at the same time, we must not be hypocritical – for are not hypocrites strongly and repeatedly condemned in the Qur’an? We must admit what is wrong in the contemporary Islamic world, and we must speak up against it and act to put things right.

We must put a stop to the habit of denial and secrecy, because this only prolongs the injustices. It will not weaken us to admit our failures: what will weaken us is to pretend they are not there, and to do nothing to overcome them.

By the same principle we must be willing to acknowledge the good in others, whether Muslims or adherents of other faiths. For instance, we should salute the UK authorities who have provided accessible support and protection mechanisms for victims of forced marriages (whether already perpetrated or threatened). This mechanism is even extended to UK citizens in countries where such abuse occurs. One might ask, why have the Muslim authorities themselves not provided such support?

In fact there are many laws in Western countries which are closer to the Islamic ideal than those in Muslim nations. There is much we can learn from others, and we should be ready to emulate whatever is good and in keeping with Islamic principles.

We should take care that our faith is firm enough to ensure that it shapes our every thought, word and deed, that it is not divorced from practice.

Respected participants,

What are some of the things we have to work towards in order to empower women?

Firstly, what must women do to empower themselves? It will involve adopting correct and positive attitudes, as well as gaining relevant knowledge and skills.

They must know and appreciate the identity which Islam has forged for them; to do this, they must return to and re-examine the fundamental sources, the Qur’an and the Hadith, without being influenced unduly by the concepts and practices which have accumulated over the centuries, some of which were borrowed unthinkingly from other cultures, and some of which are – or have become – incompatible with Islamic principles.

Muslim women should be proud of this identity, for it gives them very broad opportunities for self-discovery, self-development, and for contribution to their society. They should not feel obliged, as many contemporary Western women apparently are, to ape men in order to be respected, but should rather make full use of the special qualities and opportunities Allah has given to them.

As an extension to this, they must know the rights and responsibilities accorded to them by Islam in general, and also by the society or nation in which they reside.

Women must develop confidence in themselves and in the mission Allah has placed on their shoulders. Education and financial independence – both rights specifically granted them by Islam – need to be demanded to this end. They will need to build solidarity by networking with other Muslim women, in their own communities and abroad, including organising themselves in groups, so that their voice will be stronger. It is important to organise women into groups, to pool ideas, resources, and thereby form effective pressure groups.

Muslim women need to gain men’s respect through sound learning, and smart, professional work. They must assert their rights with confidence, patience and persistence, and insist that women’s opinions and ideas are given due consideration. They should not be daunted by the challenges, and should avoid taking the easy path of simply abdicating all their powers and rights to men.

Lest the men in our gathering are beginning to panic or grow angry at the thought of their women wantonly abandoning their duties at home, let us also emphasise that a woman’s first duty is to her family, and other activities will depend on her individual opportunities and personal capabilities. However, she herself should not use this as an excuse to avoid playing any role in her community, whether out of fear or laziness. Reaching out to others is an effective way to develop oneself, expand one’s knowledge and enhance one’s skills, and such a woman will then also be a better daughter, wife and mother, insha’Allah.

Secondly, how can society as a whole help in empowering women? This will encompass: creating an image of women which is truly in keeping with Islamic principles; provision of their needs; and organisation and solidarity.

Society must give due recognition to women’s qualities and characteristics, and not judge them against the “model” of men. The concept of women as weak, inferior and in need of protection must be corrected. This change of attitude must extend to the mass media, including avoiding prejudicial labels and stereotyped images.

Communal and national decision and policy-making at all levels must ensure proper gender balance. Men should not make all the decisions and then simply expect women to follow them in mute obedience.

Governments and communities must also provide adequate facilities and support systems to enable women to fully participate in public life according to their respective capabilities. This includes, importantly, access to quality education. Women’s health must also be nurtured and protected, not only through accessible health and medical care, but also through reasonable working hours and conditions for those who work. Let us remember that many women work outside the family home not by choice, but rather out of financial necessity, and measures must be taken so that women are not crushed beneath this burden.

Key professions such as teachers, the judiciary and legal profession, and healthcare workers, must ensure that there is proper gender balance in their workforce at all levels, to make sure that girls and women who use their services are not short-changed and are treated with respect.

Besides women, men, too, must be persuaded to change some of their traditional attitudes towards women and their roles. Apart from recognising the value of their special qualities, men must see issues which concern or affect women as a common responsibility, something to be taken seriously by all and worked out together, in keeping with the Qur’anic ayat quoted above.

This enhanced recognition must extend to practical support, beginning in the family home. Fathers and husbands should share some of the household chores and play an active part in child-rearing. I am confident that they will find it very fulfilling and family ties will be enhanced. In this way a new model, more in keeping with Islamic values, can be forged and provide a role model for the growing children. It is worth noting here the example of Luqman, who took it upon himself to educate his son in great detail. (Surah Luqman [31] 12-19).

In the same spirit, men should also not wilfully and arbitrarily obstruct their women from activities beyond the family home, but instead show understanding and offer support. A balance should be found in each family so that no-one is overburdened and no-one totally denied their legitimate needs and rights.

Since the Hadith and sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) constitute a major guide for all Muslims, let us here remind ourselves of just a few relevant examples:

a)      “Allah is gentle and likes gentleness.” (Muslim)

b)      “Allah’s Messenger (SAW) never struck anyone with his hand, including women and servants, except in the case where he was fighting in the cause of Allah.” (Muslim)

c)      “A’ishah reported that the Prophet (SAW) would mend his own shoes, darn his clothes and do household work like any ordinary person. He would milk his goat and himself do all his personal work.” (Tirmidhi)

d)      There are also numerous Hadith which recount how the Prophet (SAW) showed great affection towards children, both male and female, joining in their games and educating them in gentle and creative ways.

e)      There are many Hadiths, too, which show that the Prophet was kind and respectful towards women. He was ever willing to listen to their views and even actively sought their opinion not only regarding domestic matters, but on dealing with people, and even concerning strategies for his mission as a prophet.

CONCLUSION

Sisters and brothers in Islam,

It is my hope that this conference will thoroughly and honestly assess the situation in the Islamic world – which will of course have variations from community to community – and formulate concrete and do-able plans to ensure that Islam enjoys its rightful place as the ultimate arbiter in all matters.

This is not a selfish act of women trying to get more for themselves. It is rather about restoring the principles established by the Qur’an in order that the proper gender balance can be attained, justice and human dignity upheld. We urgently need an Islamic answer to contemporary requirements and problems. The fundamental principles of Islam are unchanging, but implementation must respond to the needs of time and place. Only in this way can it remain relevant, a dynamic and benevolent influence on human life and society, Muslim and non-Muslim, and become, as it should be, a powerful force for good on the contemporary world stage.

Because what is to be attempted is no less than overturning longstanding practices and indeed changing the mindset of entire communities, the task is daunting, the journey difficult and will take time to complete. But I am confident all of you here are committed to the cause of Islam, and if all of us work together we can achieve this critical mission, insha’Allah.

Thank you for your kind attention. Wa billahi tawfiq wal hidayah, wassalamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

Kerala

6 January 2012

Akhirnya, saudara Anwar Ibrahim bebas. Saya seisi keluarga mengucapkan syukur dan penghargaan tidak terhingga di atas doa dan sokongan semua selama ini.

Orang ramai berhimpun sejak malam, 8 Januari di perkarangan mahkamah terutama selepas dua ceramah utama malam itu, baik di Kampung Baru mahupun di Pandan yang dipenuhi puluhan ribu orang. Mereka bukan hanya datang dari ibu negara, tetapi dari seluruh ceruk rantau. Tidak lain, mereka mahukan keadilan.

Kira-kira jam 9.40 pagi, mahkamah membebaskan Anwar.

Berita itu segera sampai ke mana-mana sahaja melalui twitter, SMS bahkan facebook. Selain saya yang mengiringi saudara Anwar, turut bersama di dalam kamar mahkamah ialah anak-anak, menantu, saudara terdekat, pemimpin Keadilan dan Pakatan Rakyat . Ya! Tidak ada yang lebih menggembirakan apabila Hakim membacakan keputusan bahawa suami saya tidak bersalah.

Tanpa saya sedari, saya menitiskan air mata. Terasa seperti duka di badan dan jiwa pun terlerai. Rupa-rupanya ramai lagi yang diluar kamar mahkamah juga berlinangan air mata. Ucapan syukur dan tahniah menderu saya terima dari penyokong dalam dan luar negara.

Tidak sampai setengah jam keputusan itu diumumkan, satu persatu letupan di luar mahkamah kedengaran. Beberapa hari sebelumnya, ada pihak bersuara garang menentang perhimpunan kami. Mereka mendakwa akan membawa sekitar dua ribu penyokong untuk ‘berhadapan’ dengan “penyokong Anwar”. Ternyata hanya hadir sekitar 50 orang sahaja. Sudah beberapa kali tokoh tertentu itu bercakap besar, bahkan bernada ugutan untuk menimbulkan rasa tak tenteram menjelang perhimpunan aman.

Lima peserta perhimpunan cedera terkena ledakan tersebut. Di samping mengutuk perbuatan memasang bahan letupan berkenaan, saya mendesak agar pihak polis segera menyelesaikan kes ini agar tidak ada sesiapa lagi yang boleh mengugut untuk mengucar-kacirkan perhimpunan aman. Kewibawaan polis juga wajar dikembalikan agar wujud persepsi buruk bahawa polis ‘bersekongkol’ dengan perbuatan terkutuk berkenaan.

Alhamdulillah, satu lagi ujian berat berjaya ditempuhi. Keputusan tersebut sangat penting, lebih-lebih lagi tatkala Pakatan Rakyat khasnya bakal mengadakan Konvensyen kali ke-3 di Alor Setar, Kedah.

Rupa-rupanya, dengan cabaran sebenar ini, rakyat semakin bersemangat. Ribuan menghadiri konvensyen yang cukup berjaya. Tekad untuk membesih dan membebaskan rakyat daripada belenggu Umno [sebuah parti yang sudah berkuasa terlalu lama di Malaysia terasa meluap-luap. Lihat sahaja bagaimana hampir 80 ribu menghadiri ceramah Pakatan pada malam selepas konvensyen.

Nampaknya negeri-negeri yang kini dikuasai Pakatan, sukar untuk dirampas Umno-BN. Selepas konvensyen ini, fokus dan destinasi kita seterusnya tidak lain tak bukan ialah Putrajaya. Bersama rakyat, kita tidak boleh menangguh lagi untuk menyelamatkan Malaysia dengan palbagai kepincangan, terutama apabila berbilion ringgit dilapor mengalir ke luar negara secara haram.

Saya tak fikir penguasa insaf, walaupun selepas pembebasan saudara Anwar. Media perdana semakin kemaruk dan sasau dengan cuba mengaitkan saudara Anwar dengan kegiatan tak bermoral. Memang di mana-mana di dunia, rejim kuku besi akan cuba mencemar musuh politiknya dengan fitnah yang terkait kegiatan seksual yang kotor. Kini, strategi sama masih gunakan walaupun selepas 14 tahun tanpa ada tanda-tanda dihentikan.

Hanya rakyat yang akan menghentikan politik kotor ini. Caranya dengan menyokong Pakatan untuk sampai ke Putrajaya. Sekaligus untuk menyelamatkan Malaysia. Ayuh!