By Ravinder Singh

As has been aptly pointed out by some, the hudud bill by PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang is the first small step, or a stepping stone, of more to come, little by little, as time passes.

Cunning strategists, or shall I say, schemers, are not in a hurry to do everything at one go. They will camouflage their steps with promises and assurances they have no intention to keep.

Using religion is the best way to do this. We have started hearing warnings that to oppose hudud is a sin, to oppose PAS is a sin. Many more sins will be created to scare the daylights out of as many as possible (for not all care about PAS/Umno declared sins).

This reminds me of a story in the famous Aesop’s Fables that children of the 50s and 60s used to read. I reproduce it here for the benefit of those who have not read it or have forgotten it.

Hadi’s cunning is a replica of the camel’s cunning in the story. Please pay close attention to the moral of the story.

Aesop’s Fables: “The Arab and his camel”

One cold night, as an Arab sat in his tent, a camel thrust the flap of the tent aside, and looked in.
“I pray thee, master,” he said, “let me put my head within the tent, for it is cold without.”
“By all means, and welcome,” said the Arab; and the camel stretched his head into the tent.
“If I might but warm my neck, also,” he said, presently.
“Put your neck inside,” said the Arab. Soon the camel, who had been turning his head from side to side, said again:—
“It will take but little more room if I put my fore legs within the tent. It is difficult standing without.”
“You may also put your fore legs within,” said the Arab, moving a little to make room, for the tent was very small.
“May I not stand wholly within?” asked the camel, finally. “I keep the tent open by standing as I do.”
“Yes, yes,” said the Arab. “I will have pity on you as well as on myself. Come wholly inside.”
So the camel came forward and crowded into the tent. But the tent was too small for both.
“I think,” said the camel, “that there is not room for both of us here. It will be best for you to stand outside, as you are the smaller; there will then be room enough for me.”

And with that he pushed the Arab a little, who made haste to get outside the tent.
It is a wise rule to resist the beginnings of evil.

Ravinder Singh is an FMT reader.

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