Saudi Arabia contemplates Haj restrictions over Bersih protests

[Aziboy]

Saudi Arabia is contemplating whether to impose restrictions or suspension against Malaysian haj or umrah pilgrims over unlawful Bersih 3.0 assemblies held in Mecca and Medina recently.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom said this was conveyed to him by Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Malaysia Fahad A. H. Al-Rashid at a meeting last Friday.

"I have clarified the Malaysian government's stand against such misbehavior involving a small group of people. Furthermore, the protests were staged outside the country," Jamil Khir told reporters after opening an Islamic education teaching seminar here Tuesday.

He said the Saudi government was very sensitive towards any form of unlawful assembly, more so after the Arab Spring, an uprising in several West Asian countries by imposing sanction on certain countries before.

Jamil Khir said the government was very worried about the possibility that the Saudi authorities might take drastic action such as reducing the haj pilgrimage quota and visas approved this year.

Expressing his regret over the Bersih 3.0 protests in Mecca and Medina, he said the people involved not only tarnished the country's image as Malaysian pilgrims had won praises from the Saudi King for their discipline and became a benchmark for pilgrims from other countries.

On the distribution of a book on marriage by Middle Eastern Study Group that allegedly condone same sex relationship, Jamil said the Islamic Development Department would cooperate with the Home Ministry to get the book banned.

Middle Eastern Study Group is linked to the Institute of Policy Studies, a think tank associated with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

 

[Hard Rock Moslem]

I regret that my folks held the rally in our holly lands. Whether it is permissible to hold such rally at such locations or not is beside the point. I trust we should keep our holy lands free from such incidents which is also not welcomed by KSA govt.

"Bersih" literally means clean i.e a movement comprising opposition parties, NGOs and concern citizens demanding for a clean and fair upcoming election in Malaysia (predicted to be in June). They had similar rallies before, dubbed as "Bersih 1.0", "Bersih 2.0" and the latest Bersih 3.0. I must acknowledge that our electoral roll need some clean up and I personally do think is valid and fair demand by Bersih group. Some call it "Malaysian spring", no, this is not Malaysian version of "Arab spring"... not really because our govt is 100 times better than Ben Ali or Hosni Mubarak's former regimes. Muslims can freely practice and study Islam and non-Muslim are free to practice their own faith here. And our govt is an elected govt, our PM is a Muslim and our King is a Muslim and head of Islam in Malaysia.

However for last 5 years, if I can still remember, Malaysians are becoming very impatient with the govt of the day, mainly due to rise in corruption especially among politicians but hardly any politician convicted (although a few charged in the court but acquitted). Then our Election Commission (EC) are seem not independent because they are directly appointed by the govt. The EC officials seem releasing statement and making rules in favour of ruling parties. The electoral irregularities are oblivious but complaints always fall into deaf ears. E,g there are cases reported number of homes have 100 registered voters, how can that be? Malaysian houses are just nice for a fair family of 5 only not 100. And who are this 100 people? There are also cases dead man still in electoral list and some "ghost" are casting votes without fail every time there is election. These are some of the irregularities which disturbing us a lot especially those have access to alternative media networks.

Therefore, Bersih demands is justified but I'm not comfortable with the people coordinating Bersih. I have reservation joining any of the Bersih rallies and did not joined any of them. Mainly because the chairperson for Bersih, Mdm Ambiga (former Bar Council president), she is also championing the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transsexual) rights in M'sia. She is a stubborn lady and refused to abandon conference she organised about LGBT rights some time ago although majority of Malaysian in particular Muslims protested the conference / seminar. I'm not sure why Mr Anwar is working with her. In fact the govt had warned her to abandon it. I also suspicious, whether a third party is behind the Bersih rally such as Freemasonry or Illuminati, Allah knows best.. This is because our politics because dirtier and dirtier, it never happen before. The politicians are no longer shy using all kind of tactics to discredit their opponents including producing fake sex videos, slurs etc. This is not our culture, I'm surprise. The opposition parties seem to be impatient to take over the govt and the ruling parties are refusing to admit that the people is not longer wants them.

Pls make du'a for us.

http://bersih.org/?page_id=4111