In the recent UMNO general assembly, Rafidah Aziz highlighted the issue of "Knowledge Poverty" as the new Malay Dilemma.
Rafidah, speaking as the Wanita Umno chief has identified a new “Malay dilemma” that will affect the younger generation should they continue to ignore the importance of knowledge. Rafidah said: “knowledge poverty” would definitely be the new Malay dilemma if the younger generation lagged behind in their studies and failed to give priority to acquiring knowledge. She said poverty in knowledge would eventually marginalise young Malays from the mainstream of development, hence reducing their ability to be creative and innovative. This would also retard the development of the individual and the race, she added. “To avoid this knowledge poverty from further affecting the Malays, it is important to ensure that all Malay children have access to education and that all rural schools be given adequate infrastructure, similar to those enjoyed by urban schools. The nation, she added, must direct its educational policy and programme to “smart learning” that covered an innovative and creative approach to studies.
Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi emphasized on the road of moving "Forward Towards Excellent." According to Pak Lah:
"Umno has now proven to the world the success of a progressive approach to Islam. Umno must therefore enhance its understanding of the concept of development that we propagate through Islam Hadhari."
"Umno’s strength has been proven to be predicated on a more astute approach, based on reason and rationale."
"The Malay society must be a society that embraces knowledge, skills and expertise in order to build capacity. Islam makes it compulsory for Muslims to embrace knowledge in all fields. The misconception that there exists a difference between so-called secular knowledge and religious knowledge must be corrected."
"Umno must enable Muslims to engage the world in a positive manner. Life on this earth is a journey that requires us to discharge our responsibilities to society in an honest, transparent and trustworthy manner."
"Wealth must be used to develop education, healthcare and welfare for the world community. We want a world that provides justice for the weak, opportunities for the needy; hope for the poor that they may improve their socio-economic status. We must strive to close the gap between the rich nations and the developing world. A world that is at peace will provide comfort to the developed nations, when there is equality from a social and economic perspective. The world should not be divided into the rich and the poor, North and South, East and West, Muslim and non-Muslim."
(Excepts from Pak Lah's speech at the general assembly)
Apart from the leaders who had been trying to forward national, and international issues and the necessity of the Malays and Muslims to enhance their knowledge, skills and expertise in order to built capacity, some delegates felt that other issues such as TV shows are critical and deemed important to be addressed in the general assemly. The issues are the reality shows screen by the TV stations:
UMNO Youth delegate Datuk Pirdaus Ismail said participants in Fear Factor were challenged to eat najis (forbidden things) or asked to jump off tall buildings. “Fear Factor is dangerous. It shows acts of bravery and Islamic Hadhari does not propagate that sort of bravery,” he told delegates yesterday when debating the motion on religion. Pirdaus, also said television soap operas such as Astana Idaman and Spanish ones did not reflect actual lifestyles.
Negri Sembilan delegate Mohd Nor Mohd Kassim, said Akademi Fantasia tarnished moral values. “The contestants hug each other on stage. Boys and girls mix freely with each other. “It shows that there is no limit to glamour and socialising,” he said.
Mohd Nor also criticised TV3’s Sure Heboh carnival and concert tour saying it promoted maksiat (sinful activities). “Islam does not disallow entertainment. It can relieve mental stress. But it is illegal when there are instances of relations between a man and woman who are not related,” he said.
He proposed the relevant religious committees such as the National Fatwa Council and National Mufti Council to work with the Information Ministry and TV stations to streamline entertainment programmes. “They need to be reminded that intelligent programmes that have the Islamic Hadhari concept should not be ignored. “The National Fatwa Council should be brought into negotiations to avoid confusion,” he said.
Maybe, there isn't much issues to shout about and so, the TV operators had to bear the brunt of some of the delegates. I have not watch 'Sure Heboh', Akademi Fantasia, and Astana Idaman. I had watch 'Fear Factor' a few times. It seem that these delegates spent quite a lot of time watching TV and in particular these named shows and that's why, they know so much about it to be able to make so much comment.
It may be interesting to know that, after making those nasty comments, many of the other delegates, including those who had commented may need to spent much more time to watch them so that they can make further comments in any coming functions of UMNO.
Rafidah, speaking as the Wanita Umno chief has identified a new “Malay dilemma” that will affect the younger generation should they continue to ignore the importance of knowledge. Rafidah said: “knowledge poverty” would definitely be the new Malay dilemma if the younger generation lagged behind in their studies and failed to give priority to acquiring knowledge. She said poverty in knowledge would eventually marginalise young Malays from the mainstream of development, hence reducing their ability to be creative and innovative. This would also retard the development of the individual and the race, she added. “To avoid this knowledge poverty from further affecting the Malays, it is important to ensure that all Malay children have access to education and that all rural schools be given adequate infrastructure, similar to those enjoyed by urban schools. The nation, she added, must direct its educational policy and programme to “smart learning” that covered an innovative and creative approach to studies.
Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi emphasized on the road of moving "Forward Towards Excellent." According to Pak Lah:
"Umno has now proven to the world the success of a progressive approach to Islam. Umno must therefore enhance its understanding of the concept of development that we propagate through Islam Hadhari."
"Umno’s strength has been proven to be predicated on a more astute approach, based on reason and rationale."
"The Malay society must be a society that embraces knowledge, skills and expertise in order to build capacity. Islam makes it compulsory for Muslims to embrace knowledge in all fields. The misconception that there exists a difference between so-called secular knowledge and religious knowledge must be corrected."
"Umno must enable Muslims to engage the world in a positive manner. Life on this earth is a journey that requires us to discharge our responsibilities to society in an honest, transparent and trustworthy manner."
"Wealth must be used to develop education, healthcare and welfare for the world community. We want a world that provides justice for the weak, opportunities for the needy; hope for the poor that they may improve their socio-economic status. We must strive to close the gap between the rich nations and the developing world. A world that is at peace will provide comfort to the developed nations, when there is equality from a social and economic perspective. The world should not be divided into the rich and the poor, North and South, East and West, Muslim and non-Muslim."
(Excepts from Pak Lah's speech at the general assembly)
Apart from the leaders who had been trying to forward national, and international issues and the necessity of the Malays and Muslims to enhance their knowledge, skills and expertise in order to built capacity, some delegates felt that other issues such as TV shows are critical and deemed important to be addressed in the general assemly. The issues are the reality shows screen by the TV stations:
UMNO Youth delegate Datuk Pirdaus Ismail said participants in Fear Factor were challenged to eat najis (forbidden things) or asked to jump off tall buildings. “Fear Factor is dangerous. It shows acts of bravery and Islamic Hadhari does not propagate that sort of bravery,” he told delegates yesterday when debating the motion on religion. Pirdaus, also said television soap operas such as Astana Idaman and Spanish ones did not reflect actual lifestyles.
Negri Sembilan delegate Mohd Nor Mohd Kassim, said Akademi Fantasia tarnished moral values. “The contestants hug each other on stage. Boys and girls mix freely with each other. “It shows that there is no limit to glamour and socialising,” he said.
Mohd Nor also criticised TV3’s Sure Heboh carnival and concert tour saying it promoted maksiat (sinful activities). “Islam does not disallow entertainment. It can relieve mental stress. But it is illegal when there are instances of relations between a man and woman who are not related,” he said.
He proposed the relevant religious committees such as the National Fatwa Council and National Mufti Council to work with the Information Ministry and TV stations to streamline entertainment programmes. “They need to be reminded that intelligent programmes that have the Islamic Hadhari concept should not be ignored. “The National Fatwa Council should be brought into negotiations to avoid confusion,” he said.
Maybe, there isn't much issues to shout about and so, the TV operators had to bear the brunt of some of the delegates. I have not watch 'Sure Heboh', Akademi Fantasia, and Astana Idaman. I had watch 'Fear Factor' a few times. It seem that these delegates spent quite a lot of time watching TV and in particular these named shows and that's why, they know so much about it to be able to make so much comment.
It may be interesting to know that, after making those nasty comments, many of the other delegates, including those who had commented may need to spent much more time to watch them so that they can make further comments in any coming functions of UMNO.
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