Sunday, January 17, 2021

Plunder and Apathy in Covid Times

Towards a Political Revivification- II


Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah,  continue on the subject of fraud and corruption in politics, in a national and even international society that calls itself democratic and liberated, especially in terms of freedom of expression. Much has happened since the discovery of the new type of coronavirus, COVID-19 [and quite recently another type which appeared in England] which has wreaked havoc in terms of contamination and deaths since December 2019. The economy of the world, that of large super powered countries and even small islands like Mauritius have found themselves affected by this virus not only in terms of human physical health, but also in terms of the economic health of our island and the world in general.

 

This is no secret for us members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam because Allah has already made us understand how man destroys himself by doing experiments, whether biological or atomic [or even nuclear etc.] to conquer territories or as a means of revenge on others by starting wars of this kind. COVID-19 is certainly a divine punishment, for Allah uses the demonic inventions of man and turns them against him. But at the same time many innocent lives find themselves touched by the calamity, like a scene from Doomsday. Therefore, all men will be raised [after death] and will be accountable to Allah for the actions they have committed. The innocent and the pious will be saved from eternal punishment while the guilty will be condemned for eternity or for as long as Allah wants them to suffer punishment.

 

In my previous sermons we saw how divine vengeance comes to save believers and cleanse the world of the impious [those who goes against/ blaspheme the religion of Allah], and to revive this same world and give men the opportunity to seriously reflect on whatever comes across them. We have seen how Muslims, because of their faith in Islam, in Allah the Unique, in Muhammad (pbuh) and in all the chosen prophets of Allah, as well as in the book of Allah - the Holy Quran, have been trampled on, whether, in Palestine, Iraq, France, the United States, Burma and even China. The atrocities committed against the pure religion of Allah - Islam and the persecutions of innocent believers [such as the Palestinians, as well as the Royingyas, and Uyghur Muslims, and Islam as a whole] are the last straw that broke the camel’s back. Allah is neither deaf nor dumb. He listens and sees everything and He is not indifferent to what is going on in the world He created with His own hands. He certainly hears the cry of the innocent and that of His Khalifatullah.

 

If COVID-19 has done so much damage globally, but it has also given man the time - during confinement - to look back on his life and his priorities and more importantly, to turn to his Creator in repentance. But unfortunately, only a small number of people really get to understand the message and are trying to improve themselves. Most of them, especially the heads of state, continue to trap their people to enrich themselves, by taking from the treasuries of their respective countries. 


The St. Louis Scandal 

 

By the grace of Allah, many times Allah (swt) has revealed to this humble servant (the Khalifatullah) about fraud and corruption at the national and international level. It is a shame for Mauritius, the island paradise which has now become hell. The official journal of the European Union of June 19, 2020 presented a list of 13 countries, including Mauritius, with strategic deficiencies in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism - the “scandal” of the power plant of Saint-Louis (CEB) intervened at the very moment of the inscription of Mauritius on the blacklist of financial centres by the European Union and as we have seen, this further dirtied the Mauritian offshore jurisdiction. The case on the contract to redevelop the Saint-Louis station for Rs. 4.3 billion continues to generate a lot of ink (i.e. continues to be of actuality and a subject of debate).

 

The Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Services take the Mauritians as fools. The Prime Minister said he became aware on June 8, 2020 of suspicions of corruption around the Rs. 4.3 billion contract and that the information was therefore not escalated to him. But the scandal has been controversial since March 14, 2019 through a letter that was highlighted by Nikolaj Holmer Nissen, Chief Executive Officer of Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor (BWSC) that the project was under investigation. This is the scandal of the bribes allegedly paid by the Danish firm Burmeister Wain Scandinavian Contractor (BWSC) to the “Mauritian administration” for the realization of the Saint-Louis project awarded in 2015.

 

Shady Deals in Covid-Times


There is also the big scandal of Air Mauritius, and the SBM bank and the billions of rupees for the purchase of drugs (i.e. medicines) from various pharmaceutical companies. Has COVID-19 been a good business opportunity for some? In any case, that is the public perception after the health ministry tabled in Parliament the names of the bidders of the pharmaceuticals and medical equipment used during the lockdown. Among these bidders, there are people very close to the current government.



I believe that all Mauritians have the right to know how much money has been spent on the purchase of these medicines. The Emergency Procurement has been tailored to favour Hyperpharm Ltd. Even when purchases are made through Emergency Procurement, you simply cannot bypass the Pharmacy Act. If Hyperpharm has violated the law, it is disqualified from making any offers and must be penalized. This company is accused of having benefited from the favours of bodies of the Ministry of Health to obtain the contract. To me, I honestly say there was some misconduct in the award of the contract to purchase imported drugs from Hyperpharm Ltd., under Emergency Procurement during the lockdown. The prices of medicines are exorbitant, very expensive, and even there are medicines which are important for some patients but which cannot be found in pharmacies [drugstores] and hospitals.


The government’s big pretext is COVID-19. The three months of confinement brought Mauritius to its knees. The instructions to stay at home and not to go out except under urgent conditions had strict measures, even going as far as imprisonment. Meanwhile those at the head of this country are having fun and are thus squandering the money of the Mauritian people. Such a shame! 


Mismanagement of the Economy


It is in the month of confinement, June 04, that the government presents its 2020-2021 Budget. It is a less clear budget of all [other budgets and for all people] with very vague measures. Very dishonestly and in bad faith, the Minister of Finance made a major U-turn on the solidarity tax and did not even have the humility to admit it. Thus, he explains that instead of paying a 25% tax, high income individuals will only pay 10%. Another U-turn, in his speech he said that only Mauritians should pay this tax, except that he changed to say “residents of Mauritius.” There is a serious injustice and it is unacceptable. He explains that an employee of the private sector receiving a salary of Rs. 60,000 for example must pay a tax of 3% and his employer 6% while that of the public sector receiving the same salary has nothing to pay. 

 

During the containment, many areas such as businesses, hotels, stores, etc., were closed. The unemployment rate has increased. The situation is very critical. There’s a lot to be said - the prices of commodities have skyrocketed, including the prices of vegetables and meats. The poor suffer a lot. During the lockdown, the Government passed a stay-at-home law, so that no one gets contaminated with COVID-19. But the irony in all of this is that it crushes the little houses of squatters, in such areas like Pointe aux Sables, Riambel, and Malherbes - women with babies in their arms, children and men find themselves out in the open [homeless], in the open air; no houses, no water and electricity, no food. It’s inhumane. After the destruction of these houses, these people lived in small tents to protect them and their children. I know they built their little houses on state land because they are poor, but it is not a proper way to instruct everyone to stay at home due to the danger of COVID- 19, but at the same time to crush the temporary houses of these poor people. And besides, it was winter; a very cold winter, with rain.

 

Community Outreach versus Governmental Apathy


Alhamdulillah, the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam is doing groundwork [i.e. is out and about to help those people] and so are other organizations as well as other people. We went to meet them, on several occasions in places such as Riambel and Pointe aux Sables. We have helped them in different ways, from providing food, baby and children’s clothing, as well as back-to-school supplies. We have not done this for publicity but to partake in this misfortune [and to support them].

 

As for the Government, it has turned its back on these people, and it is only during the elections times that these people become important people because their votes count a lot. Before the General Elections of November 07, 2019, the government was talking about an alliance with the people, and now back in power, it is destroying the people’s house; the people are suffering greatly. What a shift in mentality! It’s unfair, inhuman. There is a Creator who sees this injustice.

 

The Minister of Housing acts under the instruction of his head of government and with the dismissal of the former No. 2 of the government with the pressure of the Mauritian people and the Opposition, thus the situation is very critical for the honour of the country nationally and internationally. 

 

The Ex no. 2 of the government was removed for the Saint-Louis scandal (CEB) and so, with his departure, the Minister of Housing got a “promotion” for breaking down houses and is now No. 2 in the government.

 

Many Mauritians have been stranded abroad since the borders were closed - I have personally listened to how these people have suffered from this situation. With their money exhausted, they were forced to pay hotels for these additional days and some even ended up on the streets without proper food. They were forced to eat biscuits [cookies] and drink water. There are other Mauritians who were stranded in a cruise ship and begged the government to send a plane so they could return home. They had left their families, and wanted to meet them. After so many bad decisions [of the government], I see a ruthless government, as if human blood doesn’t even flow in their veins. There is so much to say.

 

Almighty God has revealed a Chapter on fraudsters. Islam is deeply concerned with removing corruption from the economic life of the country. Islam, along with other religions, condemns fraud and corruption. How much longer can they hide their unconstitutional actions in this world? A day will come - the Day of Judgment - when they will have to present themselves before the Creator and then He will expose all their hidden sins before them.

 

There is a lot to be said about what has happened and is happening in Mauritius. Insha-Allah, I will continue on the same subject next week.

 

'Trump'ism in the US


Before closing my sermon today, I would like to speak on the crushing of democracy in the United States with the riot orchestrated by Donald Trump and his supporters [sympathizers] on the Capitol Hill Wednesday January 06, 2021. Outgoing President and Anarchist in his last days as President, he brings upon himself dishonour and the anger of politicians and Americans, as well as the media and businessmen [being himself a wealthy businessman at the head of an empire of about 500 types of companies in his name or where he is the main shareholder]. Most of them have now boycotted him on their respective platforms. Then we see firsthand how Allah’s promise has been fulfilled on him. Allahu Akbar!

 

But that doesn’t mean Muslims will be safe and sound during Joe Biden’s presidency [as the new president]. He too has his hidden agenda against Islam and Muslims. So I once again issue a most sincere and urgent appeal to all Muslims to unite us so that non-Muslims do not mutilate Islam and our brothers, sisters and children and slaughter the sacred honour of our beloved prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). May Allah help us, and open the hearts of mankind to the truthfulness of Islam and Allah’s Unicity. Insha-Allah, Ameen.


----Friday Sermon of 15 January 2021~01 Jamadi’ul Aakhir 1442 AH delivered by Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim Saheb (aba) of Mauritius.