‘Man and Nature: The Spiritual Crisis of Modern Man’ by Seyyed Hossein Nasr, professor of Islamic Studies at George Washington University, is very telling about the nature of the modern human problem. One summary about this book reads as follows:
It is a sign of the present state of humanity that only such blatant acts of aggression against nature as major oil spills, the burning of tropical forests and the consequences of man’s rape of nature and his destructive technology in the form of the warming of the climate and the depleting of the ozone layer should turn the attention of modern man to the environmental crisis.
It has taken the innocent eyes of dying seals to finally move hardened hearts and force human beings to think about the consequences of living on the earth as if no other creature mattered.
This work from one of the world’s leading Islamic thinkers is a spiritual tour de force which explores the relationship between the human being and nature as found in many religious traditions, particularly its Sufi dimension.
The author stresses the importance of a greater awareness of the origins of both the human being and nature as a means of righting the imbalance that exists in our deepest selves and in our environment.
When the Kelantan floods happened recently, the son of a former Kelantan MB attributed it to the anger of God towards the state government for not enforcing ‘hudud punishments’ in the state.
Kelantan’s real issue
Soon after, the Kelantan sultan also gave his views on the same matter, and argued that it is poor administration of the state and the environment which resulted in the worst floods of the century for the state.
While the debate about sources and causes continues, the real issue which faces Kelantan is, why – after 57 years of independence, and with the existence of many rich Kelantanese – is it still in such a state of disrepair and disregard?
My friend and former Bernama editor Azman Ujang wrote in the Sun that the floods should be a turning point for the governance of Kelantan, quoting the words of the owner of Karangkraf, Malaysia’s biggest private Malay publishing company as follows:
“I call for a political ceasefire among PAS and Umno, at least while the rebuilding takes place, as both parties are Muslim. I’m not playing politics. I’m saying this solely because there is so much to be done and this is the only practical solution. Actually, the people of Kelantan are just fed up with politics.”
He – unlike a number of others – does not think of the Kelantan floods as only a ‘tsunami-type’ phenomenon which hit either Aceh in 2005 or Japan lately. I agree with his hypothesis. I think also that the Kelantan sultan is accurate in his analysis; it is more like a man-made problem of neglect and negligence by the state administration.
My professor, Seyyed Hossein, would call it a “worldview problem”.
What does \’any new spirit\’ in politics need? Abdul Razak Hussein’s youngest son, Nazir Razak ( left ) suggests that Malaysia needs a newer model of unity politics – which his father had introduced to Malaysia.
Banker Nazir Razak said this when asked by The Malaysian Insider what message his father would convey if he could speak to Malaysians today: “I think he would say that it is time to set up another national consultative council – like he did in 1970 – to discuss critical issues around preserving harmony and fostering unity amongst Malaysians.
“I think he would be shocked that it is 2015 and race and religion divide Malaysians even more today than during his time,” he added.
The new politics needs a focus away from religion and race that divides the nation. It is clearly a shame that until today, almost 45 years later, this so-called national unity dream is still not a reality even with the oldest son of Abdul Razak as the PM. Why?
Politics without integrity
In my last column , I have taken the non-traditional model of protesting over the incompetence of my local authority by electing not to pay up my assessment for 2015.
My reason is simple: the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) lacks transparency and openness in the matter of awarding projects to contractors, and also the non-gazetting of public lands handed over to the city council by developers.
My view is that politicians and all politics of today lack integrity. One credible and useful definition of integrity is that we can each choose to do what is right, good and true, whenever we have the choice of doing it. Selangor did this at the first available opportunity by introducing an Information Act, but their follow through is much lacking.
The mayor of MBPJ, nevertheless, carries on development works with complete disregard for the views and concerns of the residents who actually pay their assessment. The so-called Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) and Damansara-Shah Alam Highway (Dash) are currently only proposals, but we the residents must get ready.
This week, I will therefore put up a little information board – which almost says nothing about the actual works being done and what purpose it serves and how much is being spent towards it.
My question: In which case, why put it up? As if it is only to comply with its own rules, but with little real concern to inform or educate the residents in the original spirit of the Local Agenda 21.
