Irresistible men

MARIAM MOKHTAR

Some women find men in uniform attractive. They will stop, stare and feel weak at the knees. Is it the straight back, the posture, the puffed-out chest, the shiny badges, or the tilt of the beret? Is it because the organisation they represent signifies safety and strength?One uniformed Malaysian has the opposite effect on many Malaysians. He is the Martabat Jalinan Muhibbah Malaysia (MJMM) president, Abdul Rani Kulup Abdullah. He is often photographed in a dark olive uniform, with a red beret and sunglasses. Many of us try to stifle our sniggers. Some men look good in uniform, but Abdul Rani makes us laugh. We tend to ignore his messages, and focus on his outfit. He makes a mockery of himself.

One does not have to wear a uniform to make women swoon. Firemen in their overalls and hard hats, or builders with their tool pouches can also have the desired effect.

Photos of Abdul Rani show him sporting more than his fair share of shiny badges on his chest. He looks like a poor copy of former Libyan dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, whose chest was covered with numerous medals and orders.

Are Abdul Rani’s sunglasses to hide small, nondescript eyes? When he gestures, while talking, we cannot ignore the large rings on his fingers. Only one other person in Malaysia has the same obsession with obscenely large rings. She is the self-styled First Lady of Malaysia (FLOM), Rosmah Mansor.

Instead of sporting a crew cut or short hair like most military men, Abdul Rani has long, dank, shoulder-length hair. This prompted another critic to ask if he was wearing the beret to hide a bald patch, as done by some vain men, who are troubled by their loss of hair.

A uniform gives us an identity, team spirit and should always be worn with pride. Our identity is not just defined by our appearance. The causes which we uphold also contribute to our identity.

The stupidity of many of the Malaysian Muslim NGOs is hard to beat; last week, several Islamic groups including Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) condemned an international school in Seremban. Why? The school was holding a Halloween event on Oct 31 and the NGOs were furious that “western culture” was being spread to children.

The front pages of the Malay daily andSinar Harianscreamed ‘Apa motif penganjur?’ (What are the organiser’s motives?) The school was also accused of holding an event that was against Islamic culture.

Halloween is just the short form of ‘All Hallows’ Eve’ and its origins began as a celebration to remember the dead. Even Christians are divided on Halloween having religious significance so, what are Isma’s motives in attacking this international school?

Isma would never dare to hold a protest preventing the Chinese from celebrating the Tomb Sweeping Day (Cheng Beng Festival). A few people may agree with Isma, like my non-Malay friend who lives beside a Chinese cemetery and complains about the packaging discarded at the roadside by the mourners, who do not take their rubbish home.

Another excuse for shops to make money

In the west, Halloween is just another opportunity for merry-making, with fancy dress parties, bonfire gatherings, having fun and eating toffee apples. A few will burn candles in church in memory of the dead, but on the whole Halloween is another excuse for shops to make money and for people to party.

If Isma and similar organisations are concerned about western influence, then stop protesting. In 2012, Anifah Aman toldBernama that Malaysians should not protest because protesting is a western attribute. He said that protesters did not preserve the country’s good name and they harmed Malaysian society. Today, the hypocritical Muslim NGOs, including Isma, continue to ape western culture, and protest.

If Isma was really concerned about bad western culture, why have they ignored the terrible influence of western culture on our youngsters, like cheap, easily available fast food and 24-hour television?

Yesterday, the Muslim NGOs went on another rampage. They complained that the planned construction of a church in Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya was an “insult to Muslims”. They claimed that the church would be built in a predominantly Malay-Muslim area.

Unsurprisingly, Abdul Rani was present at the protest. He wondered why the granting of permission to build mosques was slow, in comparison with churches.

Other pro-Umno Baru blogs asked if there was a covert reason for building the church beside low-cost flats. To convert Muslims to Christianity?

After years of the churches ostensibly trying to convert Malays, the rumours of solar-powered talking Bibles and the raid on the dinner party at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) in Petaling Jaya, why have the authorities failed to produce one Christian Malay?

There is no evidence of apostasy, but there is plenty of scaremongering about Malay conversions, threats to Islam and the pervasive influence of western culture, in the opposition held states. Once Umno Baru regains control of Selangor, these NGOs will disappear as will the water shortages and claims of conversion.