WanSaiful.com

Personal thoughts of Wan Saiful Wan Jan

November 24, 2008 • 2:22 pm 3

On PAS

I had the pleasure of hosting Dato Kamarudin Jaffar MP (PAS Sec-Gen) and YB Dr Syed Azman (ADUN Batu Buruk) over the weekend. I am sure info about some of the meetings will be in Harakah soon. Later tonight I will be hosting the former Secretary of Dewan Ulamak Pusat. Exciting.

Of course, with all the Pas figures coming over, one cannot avoid but to talk and think about the party.

Clearly PAS is now in a very new territory. The party’s recent decision to accept non-Muslims as members I think will ruffle feathers, particularly among fellow “puritan” friends – ie: those who say people joining PAS, or party leaders, must have pure “fikrah”, untainted by the fikrah of UMNO, JIM, ABIM, Tabligh, etc.

With the new decision, we could possibly have non-Muslims holding leadership positions in the party. How can the party stay “pure”?

And that is not yet adding to the fact that PAS Vice President, Haji Mohamd Sabu, spoke approvingly at Socialism Malaysia 2008. Many moons ago socialism would be considered as very near to sesat. Now….??

I wonder what the real “fikrah” of the party is…..

Filed under: Malaysia, Politics

June 14, 2008 • 6:02 pm 1

Is it possible to have unity in a diverse society? A case study of Malaysia

The Conservative Muslim Forum is organising a series of Policy Roundtables to look at various issues. Our aim is to produce a short Policy Briefing for the Party following each Roundtable. We therefore expect the Roundtables to be ‘learning dialogues’ in which we hope participants will actively join in the debate and contribute ideas to the discussion.

Places for all Roundtables are strictly limited. To attend, please register your interest by sending your details (name, occupation, contact details) to me via email wansaiful@gmail.com. Please register your interest early so that we can confirm your seat allocation.

Theme: Is it possible to have unity in a diverse society? A case study of Malaysia
Date: Wednesday, 2 July 2008
Time: 6.00pm for 6.15pm start, to 7.45pm. Please allow 20 minutes to pass security
Venue: House of Lords, Westminster, London.

Background: Malaysia’s is a diverse population. Ethnically, it comprises of Malays, Chinese, the indigenous people, Indians, and various tribes in the Borneo island. Religiously, the proportion of Muslim to non-Muslim is almost equal, with a healthy number of Christians, Buddhists and Hindus. The country has been working hard to maintain harmony between the different groups. With Britain becoming an increasingly plural society, what can British policy-makers and the Conservative Party learn from the experience of its former colony, Malaysia? How can we ensure unity in the increasingly diverse British society? Dr Ooi Kee Beng, Fellow, Institute of South East Asian Studies (ISEAS) and an expert commentator on the sociopolitics on the South East Asian region will present his thoughts. Join us to discuss this important issue.

This event is jointly organised by the Conservative Muslim Forum and the Malaysia Think Tank London.

To attend, please send your name, occupation, and contact details to me via email: wansaiful@gmail.com

Filed under: Britain, Politics

June 5, 2008 • 1:59 pm 1

Towards a Politics of Ideas

Abidin Muhriz wrote an excellent piece which can be found here.

Filed under: Malaysia, Politics

June 4, 2008 • 11:41 am 3

Report in Harakahdaily

Report published in Harakahdaily .

Pergerakan Islam antarabangsa kagumi kejayaan PAS
Anis Nazri
Wed | Jun 04, 08 | 11:43:57 am MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, 4 Jun (Hrkh) – Kemenangan PAS dalam pilihan raya umum ke-12, 8 Mac lalu mendapat penghargaan, selain berjaya menyuntik semangat baru kepada pejuang Islam di seluruh dunia daripada wakil-wakil gerakan Islam antarabangsa.

Penghargaan tersebut dinyatakan kepada Presiden PAS, Dato’ Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang, ketika beliau menghadiri Kongres Antarabangsa Gerakan Islam Sedunia, di Istanbul, 29 hingga 30 Mei lalu.

Ustaz Hadi turut diberi penghormatan menjadi tetamu kehormat kongres itu, selain memberikan ucapan di majlis pembukaan kongres yang dianjurkan Parti Saadet, pimpinan bekas Perdana Menteri Turki, Dr Necmettin Erbakan.
Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Malaysia, Politics

May 20, 2008 • 11:18 pm 2

PAS leaders in London

At lunch on Friday, 16 May 08, YB Dr Syed Azman and YB Dato Kamarudin Jaffar – both of whom were in London – asked if I could arrange a meeting with Waytha Moorthy, chairman of Hindraf. A quick phone call later, the meeting was set in West London at 5pm. It was a good, cordial meeting. I don’t think I should disclose the content of the discussion, but I am sure an official announcement will be made in Harakahdaily very soon.

In any case, I asked Waytha a question that has been burning in my mind – since Hindu Rights Action Force is an ethno-religious grouping, is he not taking Malaysia a step backwards? Waytha, in his usual calm manner, provideed an answer that helped me to understand why things are the way they are. I personally would not do it that way, and I told him that. But at least I understand.

Some pics of the meeting:

And then, on Saturday evening, we had dinner at Ibrahimsa’s house. Joining us was the legendary Brother Faruqi, editor of Impact Magazine.

Dato KJ, Faruqi, WSWJ, Syed Azman

Filed under: Malaysia, Politics, , ,

May 9, 2008 • 1:43 pm 4

How should Malaysians remember Pak Lah?

In September 2004, in his closing speech at UMNO’s general assembly, Datuk Seri Abdullah said “They wanted to know that since Tunku Abdul Rahman has been given the title of ‘Bapa Kemerdekaan’ (Father of Independence), Tun Razak ‘Bapa Pembangunan’ (Father of Development), Tun Hussein Onn ‘Bapa Perpaduan’ (Father of Unity), Dr Mahathir ‘Bapa Pemodenanan’ (Father of Modernisation), what title is to be given to Pak Lah? Pak Lah wants only to be known as Pak Lah. I will carry on my own way,”

I have a different suggestion here: www.malaysiathinktank.org

Filed under: Malaysia, Politics

April 12, 2008 • 8:38 pm 4

Who Needs an Islamic State? events

Two events in Singapore and Malaysia. Please follow these links for further info:

1. Singapore event with ISEAS.

2. Malaysia event with MPF.

For further details of the book, visit www.my-islamic-state.com

Filed under: Freedom & Liberty, Malaysia, Misc, Politics

April 9, 2008 • 12:42 am 0

Invitation: The Role of the Press

Reflections on Malaysia’s Checks and Balances
The Role of the Press

The Malaysia Think Tank London released a report – Press Freedom in Malaysia – in early March. Contributors include Datuk Azman Ujang, Prof Madya Dr Azmi Sharom, Sonia Randhawa, and ‘Abidin Muhriz. The report is available for free download from www.malaysiathinktank.org

How has the mainstream press changed since 8 March and how will it evolve? What are the challenges to the press as democratic space increases? Will greater press freedom facilitate cooperation or foster conflict with bloggers? Join us in this special event to examine the role of the press as one of the check and balance institutions in a liberal democracy.

Date: Saturday 12 April 2008
Time: 2.30pm – 4.30pm
Venue: Bilik Etika, Institut Integriti Malaysia, Off Jalan Duta, 50480 KL

Chair: Datuk Azman Ujang, Chairman, Malaysian Press Institute and General Manager, Bernama

Speakers:
Zanon Ahmad, Political Editor, theSun
Karim Raslan, Group CEO, KRA Group
S Vicknesan, Editor, Malaysiakini.com

To attend, please register by sending an email to register@malaysiathinktank.org

Co-organised by the Malaysia Think Tank London, the Malaysian Press Institute, and the Malaysia Institute of Integrity

Filed under: Freedom & Liberty, Malaysia, Politics, ,

March 25, 2008 • 2:02 am 4

Now… Terengganu state government

Apparently Ahmad Said will start his job as Terengganu MB regardless (Malaysiakini).

My opinion on this issue:

1. The Sultan should have accepted Idris Jusuh. He commands the support of the majority of BN ADUNs. But there is no point discussingthis now because the Sultan has decided to stick to his (royal highness) gun.

2. Those parties that are supporting the Sultan should remember that this case is setting a precedence. What if in the future a Sultan does not like the state head of PAS or DAP or PKR?

3. And, somehow, I have a feeling that someone else, a third person, will be the beneficiary of this crisis. If the PM and the Sultan want a compromise, they would choose someone other than both Ahmad and Idris. I wonder who that might be?

5. And, why in the world does the PM not go and talk to the King?

Hmmmm….. will direct election of PM and MBs solve the problem?

Filed under: Malaysia, Politics

March 21, 2008 • 11:10 pm 0

Who Needs an Islamic State?

VISIT www-my-islamic-state.com FOR FURTHER DETAILS

Filed under: Freedom & Liberty, Politics

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