It never happened before.

Thursday 11, 2010: After Maghreb at the Mosque. It was the night of reading the Yasin and tahlil. I took my usual seat right at the back leaning against the wall and facing the Mimbar. Haji Jaafar the Chief Imam was all alone at the frontage to lead the Yasin and tahlil.

What surprised me was I have never seen the Imam sat alone upfront. I have patronized this Mosque at most Thursday Yasin and tahlil reading since I moved to this vicinity since 1984 and I have never witnessed the atmosphere of Thursday evening which was so dull. The Nazir was around but he decided to sit quite a distance from the Imam. Perhasps he was scared that Imam Jaafar would ask him to assist on the recitation of doa tahlil. The other Mosque Committee members were nowhere to be seen. Where was the Secretary? Where was the Songkok Tajam? The three (3) other Imams were also missing. One Imam is in Sarawak, the other, normally very busy with his umrah business and the last one, God knows. Whatever, rain or shine I try to be present as the Mosque is only about one hundred steps away from my house.

During those days before Khalid Ibrahim took over the affairs of Selangor and Khalid Mohamed took over the Kampong, the Mosque was the place where the kampong people congregate every Thursday evenings. At least three Imams out of four would be presence. The Mosque Committee would sit upfront in line with the Imams. The Ketua Kampong as well the JKKK Committee Members would be present too. That was the time the kampong people could meet the Ketua Kampong and air their problem. Now if you want to see the Ketua Kampong, go to PAS Markas. Question is, how many people want to step in into PAS Markas?

Pre PR era, the Mosque community was very harmonious and the congregation on Thursday evening normally exceeded than the other evenings. There were no camps in the Mosque, then. Politics was never an issue and the Jemaah mingled harmoniously among them. During that era, PAS Members normally avoided the kampong Mosque and they conducted their separate activities at the Markas. Their perception, the Mosque Committee was UMNO Puppets. Currently when PR took over the state administration, the Jemaah gave way to PAS Members to manage the Mosque. The management of the Mosque is no better with the exception that Penceramah Ugama had increased by 100% fold. Certain Ustaz was terminated and replaced by PAS Ustaz. They have shifted all the Markas activities to the Mosque. The kuliah being delivered is rather similar to normally heard at Pas political campaign during pre election. We never heard words like “mangkok ayun”, “aku” and “aku tampar, mampoih” by Ustaz during pre PR era. The present Ustaz have no respect for senior citizens and women in the congregation. The Jemaah want to hear and learn about Islamic theology but at certain time they are being ridiculed by the young and rude PAS Ustaz. The Mosque Committee invited (not free) four (4) Ustaz to talk on “aqidah” alone. Each of them has their own versions and styles of presentations and the Jemaah are either confused or misled. When PAS Ustaz is to deliver the kuliah of the night, PAS Members from surrounding area would congregate at this Mosque. When it is not, PAS Members can be counted. These people only mix with people of their own kind. Is this what Islam is all about?

In the Mosque we should be liberal and belong to no political party. In the kingdom of Allah there is no political party, so as in the House of Allah. To me, right is right and wrong is wrong. Every right we do, Allah would bless and every wrong you do, you answer yourself. Don’t change things for the sake of just changing but of no beneficial. As it is now, till Doomsday, the Malays would never unite. It is the Malays themselves instrumental to the disunity. The PhD syndrome. The Penyakit of Hasad and Dengki (or dendam).

I am eagerly waiting for the coming General Election. I had given them a chance and I still prefer the Old Devils anytime. Regret? Yes maybe, but if you don’t try you never know.