"WE DECIDE WHAT IS RIGHT NEVER MIND WHAT THE PEOPLE THINK."

“TM Emeritus 24 Apr 2012 quoted former Prime Minister of Singapore in 1987 as saying, " We decide what is right,never mind what the people think." Andrew Loh contributed this article as his reaction to what Lee Kuan Yew said in 1987. These words by Lee Kuan Yew were already 25 years old and yet there are people in today's Singapore saying "Mr. Lee's way of doing things, hopefully, has been relegated to the dustbins of history."

His son, the current Singapore's Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong is well aware of the problem and has recently engaged in Twitter, saying it as "meaningful". Lee junior is learning to communicate with the people . Probably, deep in his heart he must be thinking what Malaysian PM, Najib Tun Razak have in mind that the cliche which resorted to "the government knows best" is already obsolete. Below is the full text of what Andrew wrote in Singapore's TR Emeritus published on 24 April 2012.

"We decide what is right. Never mind what the people think"

“I am often accused of interfering in the private lives of citizens. Yes, if I did not, had I not done that, we wouldn’t be here today. And I say without the slightest remorse, that we wouldn’t be here, we would not have made economic progress, if we had not intervened on very personal matters – who your neighbour is, how you live, the noise you make, how you spit, or what language you use. We decide what is right. Never mind what the people think.”- Former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, Straits Times, 20 April 1987.

Singapore has come some way from 1987 which, incidentally, was also the year 22 Singaporeans were arrested and detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for allegedly plotting to overthrow the Government.

It was indeed a different time, or is it?

Mr Lee’s way of doing things, hopefully, has been relegated to the dustbins of history. The Government’s authority to “decide what is right” no longer is absolute. Neither would such claim to authority even be tolerated in the present day. “Never mind what the people think” is a recipe for disaster for the Government and for Singapore as a nation and a society. Recent examples should remind the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) of the consequences to itself if it continued to adopt such an archaic mindset.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is aware of this and post-GE 2011 made engaging and communicating with the public and those online his first priority [Link]. “[The] government as a whole has to be more active and adept, engaging Singaporeans online,” he said in August 2011.

And on Friday, 20 April, PM Lee finally jumped in and set up his Facebook page.

But engagement is no easy feat to undertake. However, neither is it surprising, given how our paternalistic and patronising PAP Government has operated throughout the last 5 decades in power. It has found itself, for the first time, on the side which it cannot control or mercilessly beat into submission.

The Government seems uncertain and tentative in wading into the arena of public engagement, especially online. It has taken PM Lee several years to decide to have his own Facebook page, for example.

This is borne out in its latest attempt to rein in what it perceives as “cowboy towns” and the “lunatic fringe” in cyberspace. The Media Development Authority’s (MDA) offer to “facilitate” the creation of a “code of conduct” for netizens is the Government’s way of a “softly softly” approach to persuade netizens to police themselves.

Undoubtedly it will approach, if it has not already, the more well-known and widely-read blogsites and bloggers to institute such a “code of conduct” themselves. This is so that such a code will have a veneer of “street cred”. In short, the Government wants netizens to do the dirty work for it, to put it bluntly. The Government will apparently stand at a distance, providing “support” to facilitate such an exercise, while hoping that this vicarious attempt will result in what it wants to see – a prim and proper cyberspace, stripped of the messy, the chaotic, the unexpected, the unorthodox, and perhaps even the creative – everything put in its respective boxes and properly labelled.

That’s the way things have always been done in Singapore. And that is what the authorities here want to see done in cyberspace, an arena which is mostly critical of the establishment. The recent spate of racist postings and what is seen as instances of cyberbullying are the apparent excuses the authorities are using to justify or explain the need for a “code of conduct”, never mind that there are already laws which can be used to deal with these. I will be honest and say that at times netizens have done themselves no favour by their actions. But that is the nature of the Internet.

From where I stand, the recent spate of racist postings and what are seen as instances of cyberbullying, the community equipped itself well by voicing out its displeasure and disapproval of these sort of behaviour. And that is heartening.There is no need for a “code of conduct” because recent examples show that netizens do know what is acceptable and what is not, although I do admit that the threshold among netizens for what is not acceptable is perhaps wider than we may expect.

If someone were a real racist, for example, and persistently and maliciously instigates violence, then I would want the law to come down hard on him or her. That’s the way it should be. But I would not want a “code of conduct” to rein in or fence in free speech for everyone, just because a few bad apples choose to behave in a certain way.

The Internet in Singapore is the last free space we have, and I for one would be extremely reluctant to have anyone, least of all the authorities, stepping in to curb expression. And worse, to want netizens to do this themselves. Contrary to what the Government thinks – that there should be regulation and rules of behaviour for online discourse – what is needed is a physical space for netizens, and civil society, to be able to meet regularly to speak, discuss and debate among themselves about various matters.

If the MDA were serious in wanting to facilitate something more concrete, rather than a superficial, meaningless and useless “code of conduct”, then perhaps it should look into and consider providing a physical space for civil society, one which anyone can use at a nominal fee, on a regular basis. It is through regular interaction, discussion and exchanges that understanding, learning and appreciation can happen. It is totally woeful to think that a “code of conduct” is what will get us to that utopia of civil behaviour and civil discourse. Let us realise that first, there is no such utopia. And second, that the nature of online engagement and exchanges will only “improve” if there is mutual respect, and such mutual respect can only happen if time and effort are spent on the tedious task of meeting in real life, and engaging in discussions and debates. This, hopefully, will lead to understanding and respect for one another.The Government should facilitate this instead of trying to coerce netizens into doing what it thinks cyberspace needs.

In brief, let things evolve naturally and organically.Lastly, what is also disappointing to me is that the Government seems to have decided that a “code of conduct” is what is needed. It has not and did not, as far as I know, consult or ask netizens themselves how untoward behaviour should be dealt with. Instead, it seems the Government has thought about it, and decided that a “code” is what we netizens need. Consequently, it goes out and insists that this is what is needed and is trying to shove this down netizens’ throats.It smacks of the old paternalistic and patronising habits of old.It would thus seem that the present Government still subscribes to the thinking and behaviour which were evident under PM Lee Kuan Yew – “We decide what is right. Never mind what the people think.” There are many reasons why personally I am against a “code of conduct” for cyberspace. One of these is that I feel the Government itself does not know how to “behave” when it comes to online engagement. And thus, it should perhaps give itself time to learn, and not preach to others how to behave when the Government itself is groping in the dark.

Andrew Loh helms publichouse.sg as Editor-in-Chief. His writings have been reproduced in other publications, including the Australian Housing Journal in 2010. He was nominated by Yahoo! Singapore as one of Singapore’s most influential media persons in 2011.

 

SENATOR RAJA ROPIAH OF SELANGOR: SET FOR BIGGER THINGS TO COME?

YB Raja Ropiah Raja abdullah, Senator baru

The selangor Wanita Chief Raja Ropiah Raja Abdullah (63) was sworn in as tthe new Senator today, prompting one to pnder is she set for bigger things to come? After the departure of DS Shahrizat Abd Jalil and a new senator (a woman) occupying the vacancy one might expect what would be in store for her. Dato' Ropiah, the new woman senator is from Selangor and she is the Selangor wanita Chief.

A veteran in UMNO said DS Najib Tun Razak might have big plans for this woman senator from Selangor for one good reason. PM Najib is currently the Selangor UMNO Liasion  Chairman and he wanted Selangor back to the BN fold, attempting to take back the rich state rom Pakatan Rakyat. Nobody is denying this. Some might have been suggesting that it was no coincidence Ropiah is  given the senatorship, a day after it was left vacant by Shahrizat. Even one speculated that if Shrahrizat family had made the right move in NCP her senatorship would have been renewed together with the other ministers and one deputy.

The fact thet Najib is taking over the women's ministry suggests that any time sooner he would be relinquishing it to another woman minister and for  the moment let Najib grooms the new woman YB to take over later. And Ropiah might be that woman. Many people in the inner UMNO circle are not at all surprised at the turn of event. After all the former PM, Tun Mahathir Mohamad must have suggested to Najib who that person will be. What better person than Ropiah, who is the Selangor Wanita Chief and a Wanita UMNO Exco.

With the General Election  looming around the corner the new Senator is well placed to garner an even greater support from voters in the state, especially the woman voters . Now it is a matter of how the new woman senator can rise to the occassion. The biggest challange of her career lies ahead. Let us see whether Ropiah is made of "steel" of the same mettle as former  Wanita UMNO greats like TS Rafidah Aziz or Shahrizat.. Anyway the show is over for the latter.

Columnist Joceline Tan of the Star has an interesting analysis on Sharhrizat's departure from the political scene extracted below:

The star 9 Apr 2012 Still a force to be reckoned with ANALYSIS By JOCELINE TAN

The NFCorp controversy and the public condemnation that came with it could not help but contribute to the end of Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s ministerial career, but as Wanita Umno head, none can touch her. IT was no coincidence that the Prime Minister and Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil wore matching purple outfits in Temerloh last weekend. It is the colour of the Women, Family and Community Develop-ment Ministry, which Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will be taking over from today.

Shahrizat’s term as a minister and senator ended after much drama and commentary over the NFCorp controversy. Today, Datuk Raja Ropiah Raja Abdullah, who is the Selangor Wanita Umno chief, will be sworn in as senator. It is not the best way one’s career should end, and Shahrizat said in a newspaper interview that she was leaving her heart at the ministry. She has proven to be the proverbial “steel magnolia” – soft petals on the outside and tough as steel inside.

 Anyone watching her in Temerloh would not have suspected what she has gone through in recent months or how heavy her heart must be. She wore her megawatt smile throughout the afternoon and made a fiery speech about how hard the womenfolk had worked to make the event a success. Her speeches used to be demure and soft but she has gone into combat mode of late. Everyone expected her to make some sort of a “farewell speech”, but she did not.

The fact would have passed unspoken had not the incoming minister aka Prime Minister taking it upon himself to thank her on behalf of the Government. Shahrizat’s speech that afternoon was about the ministry’s achievements.Under her, it has been a trailblazer on women and social issues, and it is something which even the scandalous allegations over the NFCorp cannot take away from her.

 From today, her focus will be on her role as Wanita Umno leader and she has made it very clear that she is in charge and will set the agenda for the wing even without a Cabinet post. She has also turned to her religion in her moment of need and she attended a Quran recital event on Sunday. The allegations made about the NFCorp have damaged her too much; public opinion is against her, and it has spilled over onto Umno. She has become a liability to her party.

 Some have even questioned if Shahrizat can still be an effective leader of the women’s wing. If the NFCorp issue tainted her standing as a minister, would it not have the same effect on her status as Wanita Umno leader? That was what prompted Wanita Umno No.2 Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim to make that brash call for Shahrizat to resign as Wanita Umno chief.

 But Shahrizat proved she is still a force to be reckoned with in Wanita Umno when the senior ladies turned out in full force to show their support for her a fortnight ago. They filled three big halls to overflowing and it was not just the numbers but the outpouring of emotion that stunned the Umno men.

The women were clapping at everything that was said, a few were openly crying and some were shouting in rather unladylike manner. For the pragmatists in Umno, it was living proof that Umno has, in them, an election campaign machinery that is more powerful, organised and extensive than any other political party in the country. They believe that the women are among their most faithful grassroots.

 Public opinion is against Shahrizat, but the women’s wing is still a strong entity. The Wanita Umno show of force was the high point at the lowest point of her career. Her position as Wanita Umno chief is no longer in question and in public at least she has been magnanimous towards Kamilia, describing her as “my sister” and insisting that she has no ill feelings towards her No.2. Umno blogger Zakhir Mohamed, better known as “Bigdog” and who is critical of the NFCorp issue, said the caravan has to move on from Shahrizat and her family’s problems.

The Prime Minister has rung the opening bell for the general election and the Johor-born Zakhir, who was in Batu Pahat when the Prime Minister visited on Saturday, noted how the atmosphere has become more intense. Najib is somewhere or other every weekend and, in Batu Pahat, there was no red carpet or special seats for the VIPs. Down-to-earth was the operative word and everyone was standing when the Prime Minister was speaking.

 A number of the ministers and VIPs did their own walkabouts before Najib arrived. The Shahrizat issue had two hot fuses – one was public opinion and the other was about how to jaga hati or not hurt the feelings of the Wanita Umno ladies. Dropping her from the Cabinet was to heed public opinion and keeping her on as Wanita Umno chief was to assuage the ladies. With that behind him, Najib is gearing up for the big battle.

NASIB RAKYAT PALESTIN DI BUMI MEREKAH PALESTIN...

Setiauasaha Negara Amerika Syrikat,  Hillary Clinton

Pada zaman Nabi Musa, kaum Bani Israel mendapat pembelaan daripada kezaliman Firaun dan akhirnya Bani Israel keluar dari bumi Mesir menuju Semenanjung Sinai dan bermukim di sana. Itu kisah yang sering kita baca dalam buku sejarah Qisasul Anbia atau yang kitab-kitab lain. Dalam al-Quran juga cerita Surah tentang Bani Israel disebut. Nabi Musa menjadi penyelamat Bani Israel daripada kekejaman Firaun. Tetapi hari ini. kaum yang menggelar diri mereka Bani Israel ini menzlimi pula rakyat pribumi Palestin. Di tempat dan daerah yang sama. Rakyat Palestin pua yang dizalimi.Kaum Bani Israel ini mendakwa Palestin adalah tanah air mereka sejak zaman Nabi Musa lagi. Dan adalah menjadi hak mereka meminggirkan mana-mana bangsa yang menduduki bumi yang dakwa mereka dianugerah "Allah". Malah ada golongan yang mendakwa seluruh bumi Arab yang menjadi bumi Nabi Ibrahim adalah tanah air mereka. Ini bererti bumi yang hari ini disebut Iraq (bumi Kana'n) adalah juga tanah air mereka yang termasuk dalam wilayah "Greater Israel."

Tak pasti adakah ini rasional yang menyebabkan PBB (Pertubuhan Bangsa Bersatu) enggan membawa kisah kekejamn Israel ke ICC di The Hague. Atau pengaruh Amerika Syarikat ke atas PBB begitu mencengkam sehingga negara itu  boleh semenang-wenangnya melindungi dan mempertahankan Israel. Atau kuasa politik dan ekonomi Israel yang sebenrnya mencengkam Amerika Syarikat. Apapun sebab dan latar belakangnya apa yang diberitakan dalam Berita Minggu di bawah ini mungkin menjadi suatu mala petaka kepada kewujudan langsung rakyat Palestin. Akhirnya, mahu ke mana rakyat Palestin? Adakah mereka sekarang menunggu seorang dewa penyelamat yang lahir dan membawa mereka ke Mesir pula dengan cara "membelah Laut Merah" seperti halnya Nabi Musa yang menyelamatkan Bani Israel ribuan tahun dahulu? Pemimpin sepeti Yasser Arafat gagal berbuat demikian dan bagaimana dengan Abbas? Baca rakyat Palestin yang terluka akibat kezaliman Israel di bumi "merekah" ini. Berita Minggu yang tersiar hari ini, 7 April 2012. 

BM 8 Apr 2012 Keputusan ICC bela Israel guris hati antarabangsa
Oleh Anwar Patho Rohman
wananwar@bharian.com.my
2012/04/08

Amerika Syarikat lindungi Zionis elak rejim dibawa ke muka pengadilan

KEPUTUSAN Mahkamah Jenayah Antarabangsa (ICC) pada 3 April lalu yang tidak akan membuka kertas siasatan terhadap jenayah rejim Israel dalam serangan ke atas Gaza antara Disember 2008 hingga Januari 2009 memang amat mengejutkan. Memang sukar diterima keputusan ICC itu, apatah lagi apabila mengetahui badan itu menggunakan alasan tidak masuk akal dalam membuat keputusan berkenaan iaitu – Palestin bukan sebuah negara yang sah di sisi undang-undang PBB.

Kita amat marah dan kecewa dengan pendirian ICC yang bersikap berat sebelah menyokong keganasan rejim Israel terhadap rakyat Palestin terutama penduduk Gaza Zaki Ahmad Zahid, Pengerusi Aman Malaysia. Keputusan dangkal ICC itu pastinya mengguris hati masyarakat dunia, terutama umat Islam yang cintakan keadilan kerana jelas sekali ia menafikan hak rakyat Palestin khasnya penduduk Gaza untuk mendapatkan keadilan disebabkan kezaliman tentera rejim Israel.

Sebaliknya, Kementerian Luar Israel dengan bangganya mengatakan yang ICC memang tidak mempunyai bidang kuasa undang-undang untuk mendakwa negara itu.

Dilaporkan, lebih 1,400 penduduk Gaza terbunuh dalam operasi tentera rejim Israel yang dipanggil Operasi Lemparan Beracun itu dan majoriti yang terkorban orang awam.

Menurut angka PBB, tentera Israel memusnahkan lebih 3,500 rumah kediaman dan menyebabkan 20,000 orang kehilangan tempat tinggal dalam serangan 22 hari itu.
Israel turut didakwa senjata yang diharamkan dalam serangan itu iaitu menggunakan bom fosforus, sejenis bahan menghasilkan bunga api besar, bersifat menghakis seperti asid dan mengakibatkan mangsa mengalami kecederaan secara berterusan tanpa henti sehingga membawa maut walaupun sekadar terkena serpihannya.

Keputusan ICC itu mendapat kutukan keras daripada Pusat Hak Asasi Manusia Palestin (PCHR), badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) membela nasib dan hak asasi manusia di Palestin yang menganggap ia satu pendirian melampau, bersifat antikeadilan dan hak asasi manusia.

Malah, Amnesty International turut menegaskan keputusan ICC itu sebenarnya membawa maksud ‘mangsa serangan Israel di Gaza tidak layak mendapat keadilan’ dunia.

Keputusan ICC itu juga sebenarnya hanya membuka ruang untuk masyarakat dunia menganggap badan keadilan dunia itu bersifat berat sebelah dengan meletakkan isu jenayah rejim Israel ini kepada pihak lain atau dengan kata lain menunggu pengiktirafan PBB ke atas negara Palestin.

Pada dasarnya, kita tahu PBB tidak akan menerima sebarang cadangan, apatah lagi usaha menjadikan Palestin sebuah negara berdaulat kerana sekutu kuat Israel, Amerika Syarikat (AS) akan melakukan apa saja termasuk menggunakan kuasa veto untuk menggagalkan usaha itu.

Ini dapat dibuktikan apabila AS menggunakan kuasa veto untuk menghalang tawaran keanggotaan penuh Palestin dalam PBB pada September tahun lalu menerusi inisiatif Presiden Mahmoud Abbas.

Berikutan tindakan AS itu, Majlis Keselamatan PBB tidak lagi membuat sebarang syor untuk mengakui dan mengiktiraf kewujudan negara Palestin.

Namun begitu, walau apa pun justifikasi ICC, perlakuan jenayah tentera rejim Israel dalam operasi di Gaza itu sebenarnya berjaya dibuktikan oleh beberapa pemerhati laporan pertubuhan hak asasi manusia bebas seperti Pemerhati Hak Asasi Manusia, Amnesty International dan Persekutuan Hak Asasi Antarabangsa (FIDH) serta Laporan Suruhanjaya Pencari Fakta yang dimandatkan oleh Liga Arab.

Difahamkan, Pejabat Pendakwa ICC menerima ratusan aduan dan permintaan daripada mangsa serangan di Gaza supaya badan kehakiman dunia itu melakukan siasatan bebas pada peringkat antarabangsa.

PCHR dan rakan NGO yang sealiran dengannya turut mengemukakan pelbagai fail kes bagi pihak mangsa kepada Pejabat Pendakwa ICC, namun badan itu gagal menangani isu yang dibangkitkan ini dengan cara yang sesuai.

Pendirian ICC tidak mahu menyiasat perlakuan jenayah dalam serangan Israel itu dengan alasan status Palestin bukan sebuah negara sah pada prinsipnya boleh dipertikaikan kerana Undang-undang Rom Mahkamah Jenayah Antarabangsa mengatakan sebaliknya.

Menurut PCHR, dalam menentukan status sah negara Palestin, Pendakwa ICC bertindak secara unilateral kerana Undang-undang Rom menyatakan Pejabat Pendakwa ICC tidak diberi kuasa untuk menerima pakai kaedah mentakrif Negara mengikut Artikel 12(3) kerana bertentangan dengan Artikel 12(1).

Malah, keputusan Pejabat Pendakwa ICC itu hanya menimbulkan syak wasangka terhadap badan itu membuat keputusan bukan berdasarkan keadilan manusia, tetapi menjurus kepada kepentingan politik.

Apa pun justifikasi ICC itu, keputusan badan kehakiman dunia itu turut mendapat protes banyak negara, termasuk Malaysia. Di negara ini Perikatan Keamanan Rakyat Malaysia (Aman Malaysia) mengutuk dan membantah keputusan ICC itu.

Pengerusinya, Datuk Zaki Ahmad Zahid menganggap ICC bersikap berat sebelah dalam membuat keputusannya kerana menafikan hak waris dan mangsa Operasi Lemparan Beracun di Gaza itu kerana apa yang dilakukan rejim Israel itu terang-terangan mencabul hak asasi manusia.

Aman Malaysia, katanya, menganggap ICC memihak dan tunduk kepada Israel dengan mengambil keputusan PBB yang tidak mengiktiraf Palestin sebagai negara sah untuk dijadikan dalil mengapa mereka menolak untuk menyiasat aduan jenayah dilakukan tentera rejim Israel terhadap penduduk Gaza.

“Kita amat marah dan kecewa dengan pendirian ICC yang berat sebelah menyokong keganasan rejim Israel terhadap rakyat Palestin terutama penduduk Gaza yang menjadi mangsa operasi berkenaan.

“Dalam peristiwa itu ternyata tindakan Israel membunuh orang awam di Gaza yang tidak bersalah adalah satu jenayah yang sepatutnya bukan saja perlu disiasat ICC, bahkan badan kehakiman dunia itu perlu mengambil tindakan terhadap Israel,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, keputusan ICC itu didalangi kuasa besar, khasnya AS untuk melindungi Israel dengan menggunakan undang-undang antarabangsa yang diiktiraf PBB sebagai perisai untuk mengelak mereka daripada dibawa ke muka pengadilan dunia.

Natijahnya, apa pun yang dilakukan rejim Israel di Palestin sejak menceroboh, mereka tetap terlepas siasatan atau tindakan, tetapi mangsa keganasan Israel pula terus terabai tanpa pembelaan, apatah lagi mendapat keadilan sewajarnya.

Ia seperti peribahasa Melayu – ‘sepuluh jong berlalu, anjing tetap bercawat ekor’. Walaupun apapun usaha dilakukan untuk menyelamatkan Palestin dan rakyatnya, Israel juga akan tetap mendapat pembelaan. Soalnya, siapakah yang perlu menamatkan segala bentuk perlindungan yang Israel nikmati ketika dan sampai bilakah rejim itu akan terus kebal daripada dikenakan tindakan undang-undang jenayah perang atau sivil?

APA IMPAK SUDUT MALAYSIA DI UI KAMPUS DEPOK JAKARTA?

Penggambaran Jejak Bahasa di Pejabat Timbalan Bupati Solok, Sumtera Barat pada 13 November 2000 bersama pengacara Azura Abd. Karim (membelakangi kamera).



Cakap-cakap tentang hubungan Indonesia-Malaysia ini "sudah berjeman hngga lidah pun dah jadi kelu." Ini kata pencinta mesra hubungan dua negara. Sejak tahun 1972 apabila ejaan Indonesia-Malaysia disamakan, pelbagi cara, kaedah dan program dilakukan untuk menjalin kemesraan antara dua rayat yang sememangnya serumpun. Terakhir Mac lalu Menteri Penerangan, Komunikasi dan kebudayaan, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim menyampaikan ucaputama di Majlis Pelancaran Sudut Malaysiadi Universitas Indonesia. (Lihat "Hubungan Malaysia-Indonesia" Dunia Tiger, 8 Mac 2012 di bawah ini.)

Namun apakah ada kesan-kesan menyeluruh daripada kegiatan ini, baik oleh pemimpin dan rakyat Indonesia maupun pemimpin dan rakyat Malaysia. Kalau kita tanyakan kepada anggota PAPTI (Persatuan Alumni Pendidikan Tinggi Indonesia) yang pernah belajar di negara jiran dan yang khabarnya sudah mencecah ribuan graduan, banyak yang akan kata tak banyak kesannya dalam menngkat hubungan mesra itu. Malah PAPTI sendiri mempunyai agendanya sendiri untuk meningkatkan hubungan antara rakyat dalam bidang pendidikan, terutamanya. Tetapi keaannya belum juga dilihat banyak.

Di Indonesia, masih lagi kita dengar ramai rakyatnya mencari dan mencipta kata-kata yang kaddang-kadang menyakitkan telinga mendengarnya. Terakhir kita mendengar kata "Malingsia" dilemparkan kepada rakyat Malaysia gara-gara tim kesebelasan sepakbola Indonesia kalah di tangan Malaysia dalam satu perlawanan antarabangsa. Malingsia dan bukannya Malaysia. Maling dalam bahasa Indonesia bererti perompak atau pencuri. Nampaknya sebahahian rakyat di sana mengenali Malaysia sebagai Malingsia. Kata Malingsia ini mengingatkan kita kepada zaman regim Soekarno ingin menggaynyang Malaysia pada tahun-tahun 1960an dahulu.Tika itu kita mendengar kata seperti "rumahsakit korban lelaki (hospital bersalin)  dan banyak lagi.

Kita juga dengar bagaimana mereka melayan kunjungan Timbalan Perdana Menteri ketika itu ke Indonesia, En. Abd. Ghafar Baba. Ada akhbar perdana di negara itu menasihatkan Ghaffar agar "berlaku sopan ketika berada di negara Indonesia." Entah di mana silapnya sehingga hubungan dua negara ini hanya dianggap mesra di peringkat teori sahaja, tetapi realitinya kemesraan itu seperti sesuatu yang jauh di sudut hati. Apabila ditanya hubungan mesra itu apakah benar wujud, ada yang menjawabnya, "Ya!" tetapi tak bertitik.

Tak pasti adakah Rais mampu memberi impak dengan perasmian Sudut  Malaysia di universitas tertua di Jakarta itu. Kita lihat kesannya enam bulan akan datang. Suatu ketika dahulu Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka pernah menubuhkan Galeri Ilmu di Jakarta dengan harapan menjalin kemesraan dalam bidang perbukuan dan penerbitan. Akhirnya galeri itu "berkubur" begitu sahaja. Ada yang bertanya apakah impak daripada penubuhan Sudut Malaysia di universiti? Apakah tidak lebih baik sekiranya Sudut Malaysia itu diadakan di tengah-tengah jantung dan nadi kota Jakarta sendiri. Misalnya sudut itu diadakan di tempat yang memboleh interaksi antara rkyat kedua-dua negara daripad semua lapisan.  Sebabnya, di peringkat rakyat inilah bermulanya semua masalah. Penciptaan "Malingsia" adalah dirasakan dicipta oleh masyarakat banyak, atau paling-paling oleh kumulan yang tidak mahu melihat hubungan berbaik-baik dua negara.

Betul, hubungan antara pemimpin dua negara memang baik dan lunak. Kalau pun ada rasa tegang itu hanya mainan politik belaka yang sebahagian besarnya  untuk tujuan konsumsi dalam negeri. Di kalangan rakyat inilah punca masalah. Hubungan tidak akan dapat dipinggirkan dengan hanya memberi nasihat dan seruan agar berbaik sangka. Sudut Malaysai seperti yang dilancar Rais juga tidak akan membawa banyak kesan. Mungkin belum lagi kot! Apakah mungkin PAPTI boleh mencelah mengusahakan yang terbaik untuk menjalin hubungan mesra ini?

Kita tunggu dan lihat sahaja!

Dunia Tiger 8 Mac 2012 HUBUNGAN MALAYSIA INDONESIA

JAKARTA : Menteri Penerangan, Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan, Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim akan menyampaikan ucaptama di Majlis Pelancaran Sudut Malaysia di Universiti Indonesia, pagi ini.
Ucapan bertajuk Demi Hubungan Erat dan Mesra Rakyat Malaysia-Indonesia menyentuh pelbagai usaha yang sudah, sedang dan akan dilakukan oleh kerajaan bagi mempereratkan hubungan di antara kedua-dua negara serumpun.
Selain itu, ucaptamanya juga dijangka memaparkan hubungan rakyat dengan rakyat yang semakin relevan kerana ia menentukan degupan jantung dan penentu kemanusiaan dengan rangkaian kehidupan yang tidak terbilang banyaknya.