The Balinese Hindus are a perfect example of good Muslims. That is what troubles me. The Balinese Hindus are what Muslims should be but are not. And I really need to find out why this is so even if it is the last thing I do.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
My wife and I spent three weeks in Bali in April this year. We were there to celebrate our 38th wedding anniversary as guests of a very good friend who allowed me to stay in his exquisite villa for free. It would have cost me USD1,100 a night otherwise.
That was after my Australian trip and just before the talk Haris Ibrahim I gave in Bangkok followed by all that drama.
What impressed me most about Bali was the honesty of the people, who are 90% or so Hindu (but very different from Malaysian Hindus). We left all our things including our cash in our room. The staff walked in and out freely and we did not feel any anxiety. In fact, our bedroom did not have any locks but just glass shutters.
I asked one Balinese girl who was giving me a two-hour massage how come the Balinese are so honest.
It is because we believe in karma, she replied.
Oh, I responded, that means whatever you do to others the same thing will happen to you (balasan yang sama).
No, she replied. Whatever you do to others ten times more will happen to you. And that includes both good and bad things.
Whenever we took a taxi the taxi driver would automatically switch on his meter. And they never took the longer route to get where we wanted to get to. It was always short cuts.
Whenever we stopped at the shopping complex to buy our groceries and stuff the taxi driver would switch off the meter and wait, however long it took. So we did not have to pay for ‘down time’.
On one occasion my friend left his Blackberry at Macdonalds. We were halfway back to the villa before he realised he had lost his Blackberry and we suspected he may have left it at Macdonalds, the last pit stop we made.
We asked the driver to turn around and go back to Macdonalds, although we did not really think that his Blackberry would still be there.
But lo and behold, it was still there. Someone had found it on the counter and had handed it to the manager. What a relief it was for my friend who could ill-afford to lose all his data.
There were many other instances regarding the honesty of the Balinese that impressed us immensely. I joked that if I did not yet have any religion and was looking for a religion I would probably become a Balinese Hindu. That’s how impressed I was.
After Bali we went over to Jakarta and suddenly it was another world altogether. Jakarta is predominantly Muslim but you did not feel safe in that city. You felt like you were constantly under siege.
“Why can’t the Muslims in Jakarta be like the Hindus of Bali?” I commented to my wife. I was so impressed with the Balinese Hindus and disgusted with the Jakarta Muslims. And it is the Muslims who cause all the commotion in Bali with the bombings and whatnot.
I would like to believe that Muslims have reduced Islam to a religion of rituals minus the commitment to the ideals of the religion. But then the Balinese are even more ritualistic than the Muslims. In fact, they appear to be constantly in prayer.
I am yet to put my finger on it. There is something about the Balinese version of Hinduism that makes them extremely honest and decent people. But what is it?
I think I am going to go back to Bali and spend some time studying the people there, in particular their religion. I need to find out what it is they are doing right and we are doing wrong.
The Balinese Hindus are a perfect example of good Muslims. That is what troubles me. The Balinese Hindus are what Muslims should be but are not. And I really need to find out why this is so even if it is the last thing I do.

written by NollanBD, May 22, 2011 09:41:16
written by Alice, May 22, 2011 08:56:34
Paradise is a place where you are comfortable nude and not judged on yr physical appearance. Nobody looks at you with pervertish sexual desire...Bali was that 20 years ago. Sigh .....its gone.
written by malaysianohope, May 22, 2011 05:00:32
written by Raja Kim, May 21, 2011 14:01:17
written by panca, May 21, 2011 09:55:29
By the way the same thing(unkind) that happened to my friend when he visited Bali. The Balinese Tour guide was in the midst explaining to them and suddenly there was this deafening loud car engine and worst was it drove recklessly across the street. The tour guide said, these are people from outside Bali and Balinese do not do this! What a Karma!
Karma is action that revolves like the driver and his wheel.....oh, I am going to listen to Boy George, it's bn a long time.


written by Rozlan, May 21, 2011 09:08:02
Why the muslims always beleives their words.The answer is simple.Most muslims especially the Felda type are ignorant lots.What to do man.We tried to gv them the understanding.They call us terrorist and extremist instead
written by JJFoo, May 21, 2011 09:04:04
In Malaysia, racism is OK, inequality is OK, discrimination is OK, nepotism is OK, corruption is OK and all this contradict with the teaching of any true religion.
The worst part of it all was all this nonsenses were committed in the name of religion (or with a cunning and sinister twist it was committed in the name of "Bangsa & Agama") and the joke was, those corrupted sinners go to Mecca and return as sinless as a new born baby and everything is "A" OK again.
On second thought. it ain't too bad to be a Muslim, an ideal choice for criminals or those want-to-be criminal as crime can be commited with some "swearing ritual" and pardoned with a plan vacation.
Religion suppose to help and save those who are lost or corrupted. In Malaysia, like anything else, religion
it-selves was being corrupted. It only shows how evil some of these practitioners have become.
If RPK need to find out what it is they are doing right and we are doing wrong, you have one hell of a mass to untangle.
written by theAlphamale, May 21, 2011 06:28:47
A great discovery and revelation.... May I suggest to make a study/in depth research to prove this difference and uniqueness. This research can be published in the journal of social studies.
I believe it's more than karma; I might be wrong.
written by NSTPravda, May 21, 2011 06:20:04
pouting lips: The proof of the pudding is in the eating!!! What the halal are you raving about now!? First, are you talking about halal or non halal pudding? Why talk pudding at all. Puddings are mat salih colonialist infidel anti national sedition generating food. You should talk more about kuih muih. This shows that the renegade PK is support by foreign elements and not as halal nor as pious as IMoi. Please come back and be breakfasted by my $ayang Ro$mak FLOM.
written by Prince Yuva, May 21, 2011 05:04:37
Because,
We GOT PERKOSA BULLY....
written by truthbespoken, May 21, 2011 00:38:06
Will these wayward Muslims change for the better of all? Nope, don't think so, not for the next five or ten years, that is, certainly not even if their 'spiritual leader' suddenly decides to leave them while in hospital. Just hit your head hard against the wall if you do harbour any hope for behavioural changes from those hypocritical Muslims in the near term. Or it could remain they could never ever be compared to the good Balinese Hindus RPK so openly described above. And that's bad news for the country... unless they are kicked out by the electorate.
written by DPG, May 20, 2011 23:16:24
written by earthman, May 20, 2011 23:14:11
I know many Muslims would be insulted or angry with what I have just said. many would give the same answer that I have taken the Koranic verses out of context.. But still the fact is its there. That is how Osama became. But do you read and know what Jesus taught us in the New Testaments? You would be amazed and transformed after reading it. Many great man are guided by the teachings of Jesus ( but unfortunately not Christians) and Mahatma Gandhi is one of them. If we can forgive and love even our enemies , we are on the right path as man . If not one is not man but a coward and deceived. History tells us we are repeating the same mistakes to win for ourselves instead of winning for all. that is why wars will never end on earth.
written by BAYANGKARA, May 20, 2011 22:34:52
written by doitanyway, May 20, 2011 22:00:03
written by commonfolk, May 20, 2011 21:47:52
written by Concerned_Citizen, May 20, 2011 21:40:58
written by temenggong, May 20, 2011 20:21:59
If you want to see a photofreeze of how Hindu society would have looked like in 200 CE, Bali would be it.
In a deeply entrenched racist and bigotted Malaysia, it is near impossible for anyone to be true to their religious or philosophy of life.
written by BAYANGKARA, May 20, 2011 20:21:18
After your Bali trip and staying in Bangkok for a few days , I would think that you would have notice how the Thais are a few notches higher up than Jakarta Muslim in terms of honesty, courtesy and tolerance. But not as high up as the Balinese Hindus (why Hindus only? it is because there are Muslim, Christian and animist Balinese too). If Muslims can''t be like Balinese Hindus, at least be like Buddhist Thais.
My first visit to Bali was in 1972 when I was an undergrad and when there were no street lights and not even a 3-star hotel in Denpasar. The present day heavy commercialism does not appear to have corrupted the charming, leisurely ways of the Balinese. Everyone loves Bali not only for its physical beauty but also that something mystifying and magical.
In my thinking, the Balinese does not just live, they live true to their religion and they are still what they have been for centuries.
The home truth is this:
Don't preach faith the way it's usually preached, to keep people quiet and forbid them to think on their own. That kind of faith is blind and being blind it is useless. Call on faith only when the mind has given up.
written by G kembong, May 20, 2011 19:20:43
written by Middle Path, May 20, 2011 18:43:40
written by Nixcloud, May 20, 2011 18:31:59
that's because, in malaysia, the people that professed to be muslim dont even know the meaning of being a muslim. they can recite the Quran inside out, upside down but it will be just like us singing some danish song really well without understanding the meaning.
eating danish pastry does not automatically makes u a citizen of Denmark
written by a guest, May 20, 2011 18:26:40
From time immemorial, we have seen man relegating their own god to a petty level, making their own god needing man’s help to intervene in their own defense over insults or the burning of their holy book? I profess my expectations and concept of God is much greater than this cruelty and pettiness exhibited by these little gods that needs man to kill in their names shouting “god is great” at the same time. It is an evil ideology when a god needs man to kill and defend for its own dignity, and hence should have no place in any man’s life. You may think I am an atheist though I am not. If you ask me now, I would say leave the fighting to be done by the god or gods themselves to prove if they are real or they are truly powerful beings. In the mean time Man should just look at each other and say “since we are stuck on this earth why can’t we get along and build a better life for everyone in order to honor the Creator that have left us with this common sense” .
Now you know why a secular government is very important in protecting and enforcing the same right and freedom to the guys that does not believe in any gods or want to worship the giant teapot to the guys that are willing to kill over any tiny insult to their own useless god.
written by Awang Kuku, May 20, 2011 18:17:31
The Holy Book states:
"Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded." Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 38
"It is better for a leader to make a mistake in forgiving than to make a mistake in punishing." Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1011
" '...what is the best type of Jihad [struggle].' He answered: 'Speaking truth before a tyrannical ruler.' " Riyadh us-Saleheen Volume 1:195
"...you should show courtesy and be cordial with each other, so that nobody should consider himself superior to another nor do him harm." Riyadh-us-Saleheen. Hadith 602.
"Anyone who believes in God and the Last Day (of Judgment) should not harm his neighbor. Anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should entertain his guest generously. And anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should say what is good or keep quiet." Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 47.
written by educationist, May 20, 2011 18:16:01
written by Saint, May 20, 2011 17:42:41
written by arazak, May 20, 2011 17:38:30
In Sweden and Denmark those people who run these countries are not Muslims. They eat pork, consume alcohol and what not. Yet, these non Muslims don't steal the peoples' money and are among the least corrupted country in the world.
Sometimes, I think the religion doesn't matter. . ., it is how much you adhere to it!
To all the UMNO Malay Muslim leaders. . ., shame on you!
written by eloofk, May 20, 2011 17:37:23
It's a "Monkey see, Monkey do" mentality!!!
written by Fart Fart Wah, May 20, 2011 17:29:01
that everytthing in this world comes form one source..God..Allah..Bagwan...and so forth..They see the world in totality , holistically ie. ecologically too. Whatever they do affects everthing other thing. Does Islam teach that? does it teach that the Hindus you experienced can go to heaven..(if there is one.)Does it teach christans can go to heaven or the Jews too? There in lies the teaching..of haram halal kafirs...and all the bullshit. Have you seen the video of how they brainwash a 3 year old girl to memorise that jews are pigs and christians are lost and how they train the young to learn to kill jews and commit suicide for the same purpose? So muslims live in their own make up world of an Allah who are theirs only and will accept everything they do and forgive all that they do as long as they are non kafirs.....so why the fck worry about the good Hindu or Buddhist or Christian who sometimes helps them more than they deserve? Why do Muslims see others as different? as Kafirs and must be converted even if it means killing everyone in this world?...And why to they treat others as sure going to hell..And the killing goes on even brother muslim to brother muslim..so if you sunni muslim better watch it in Iraq..you may get your head blown..and vice versa. yeh..sure boggles the mind...and even after the kafirs lend a helping hand to the non-kafirs like in natural disaster hit countries they still get..F**ked. Something is wrong with the Allah they are worshiping...or something is very wrong with the muslim mind...I cannot blame Allah for sure so I have to conclude that the muslim mind is gone farts....thank God I am not muslim...with Utusan former pork eating converts and gila perkasa mamaks and crazy mooooftis...I would not touch islam with a ten foot ople....even if the Ayotollah says I am going to hell..so be it.
written by Awang Hitam, May 20, 2011 17:21:44
As regards Jakarta, I feel unsafe too just like Manila. I think it is the race called Malayan stock.
Hinduism and Buddhism preach peace and love for fellow beings. Not a word about other religion be it kafir or kaput or crusade against others.























