1Malaysia: It’s time to say enough is enough
I would consider myself to be a person who talks about politics only in coffee shops, who forwards some emails and complains endlessly about the injustice(s) that we suffer and how we should strive to make Malaysia a better country to live in. Like many millions of Malaysians, I only talk the talk and not walk the walk.
I have seen my friends being hauled up by the authorities for their participation in “illegal” assemblies and lighting candles but they have remained undeterred and as passionate as ever. They continue with their march and struggle with even more determination than before while I sit behind my desk and continue to complain about the little imperfections in our lives. I never did what they did because being charged in court and spending a night (or a few nights) in lock-up is not exactly what I have in mind as the price to pay for speaking up.
Incidents that have taken place lately however start to alarm me.
Is it because there are so many of us that choose to remain silent in order not to “stir the hornet’s nest” we have become the reason why some are so bold as to openly threaten bloodshed in my very own backyard? Fortunately they do not represent right-thinking members of the Muslim community but unfortunately like all cancerous cells, it is dangerous that such a “scourge” should go unchecked.
But the Sedition Act and the Penal Code are not the right vaccines.
These “hooligans” that live among us do not tolerate or practice any form of moderation whilst our Prime Minister speaks incessantly about his “1Malaysia” concept and took it one step further by saying there must be “acceptance”. His slogan is mind-boggling because the Government and the party that he leads do not believe in it. In order for these political parties to survive, UMNO must be seen as the “protector of Malay rights” and MCA must be seen as the “protector of Chinese rights”, and MIC must be seen as the “protector of Indian rights”.
If the rakyat do not feel that they are oppressed because of their ethnicity, UMMO, MCA and MIC would not be relevant. Hence, certain leaders are quick to provoke racial sentiments as it is their survival at stake.
I was not too bothered about politics until people like Hishammuddin came out singing to the tune of the “hooligans”.
I was not too bothered about politics until Teoh Beng Hock died mercilessly whilst in the custody of MACC.
I was not too bothered about politics until Khir Toyo said that the cow is a “stupid” animal.
I have as much a right to speak as any Malaysian has - we demand to live in peace and we demand to live in an environment where our children do not grow up hating one another. We all deserve a better Malaysia!
The final cry is this, and it ought to be the loudest, as the title of this post proclaims.
LB
I have seen my friends being hauled up by the authorities for their participation in “illegal” assemblies and lighting candles but they have remained undeterred and as passionate as ever. They continue with their march and struggle with even more determination than before while I sit behind my desk and continue to complain about the little imperfections in our lives. I never did what they did because being charged in court and spending a night (or a few nights) in lock-up is not exactly what I have in mind as the price to pay for speaking up.
Incidents that have taken place lately however start to alarm me.
Is it because there are so many of us that choose to remain silent in order not to “stir the hornet’s nest” we have become the reason why some are so bold as to openly threaten bloodshed in my very own backyard? Fortunately they do not represent right-thinking members of the Muslim community but unfortunately like all cancerous cells, it is dangerous that such a “scourge” should go unchecked.
But the Sedition Act and the Penal Code are not the right vaccines.
These “hooligans” that live among us do not tolerate or practice any form of moderation whilst our Prime Minister speaks incessantly about his “1Malaysia” concept and took it one step further by saying there must be “acceptance”. His slogan is mind-boggling because the Government and the party that he leads do not believe in it. In order for these political parties to survive, UMNO must be seen as the “protector of Malay rights” and MCA must be seen as the “protector of Chinese rights”, and MIC must be seen as the “protector of Indian rights”.
If the rakyat do not feel that they are oppressed because of their ethnicity, UMMO, MCA and MIC would not be relevant. Hence, certain leaders are quick to provoke racial sentiments as it is their survival at stake.
I was not too bothered about politics until people like Hishammuddin came out singing to the tune of the “hooligans”.
I was not too bothered about politics until Teoh Beng Hock died mercilessly whilst in the custody of MACC.
I was not too bothered about politics until Khir Toyo said that the cow is a “stupid” animal.
I have as much a right to speak as any Malaysian has - we demand to live in peace and we demand to live in an environment where our children do not grow up hating one another. We all deserve a better Malaysia!
The final cry is this, and it ought to be the loudest, as the title of this post proclaims.
LB
14/09/09
Posts
2 comments:
Both my parents are Indian and Hindu; and I am an evolutionist.
Malaysian voters must come of age. Look at India. The Republic of India maintains good relations with Russia, France, USA, Israel, etc. Similarly, I will continue to maintain that it will be in the best interests of the Malaysian people to maintain good relations with all nations.
Until year 1980's and 1990's Indian politicians too had the bad habit of blaming all their woes on the USA and the CIA. By year 2000 everything changed and in the new India very few politicians blame USA and the CIA anymore because the voters no longer believe such propaganda. Now the Indian voters have come of age. Similarly, I hope Malaysian voters too would change and come of age. See India video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP-TwHwLc98
JUST LIKE INDIAN VOTERS HAVE FINALLY COME OF AGE, IT IS TIME FOR MALAYSIANS TOO TO COME OF AGE. Politics in contemporary India is increasingly about economic developmental issues, not targeting a fictitious enemy like USA or CIA. Voters in India no longer want to hear about fictitious enemies like USA or CIA. Malaysian voters too must come of age.
Before year 2000 I used to deny that I was Indian. After year 2000 I am proud to be Indian. Before year 2000 was the old India; after year 2000 is the new India. Old India and New India are not the same. I have no problems with the new India. After year 2000 we can note that the Indian voters have come of age.
In September 2009, some Muslims in Malaysia paraded a cow's head. The media has the right to highlight it. What is news? When a dog bites a man, it is not news worthy. But when a man bites a dog, it is news worthy. The media makes news judgement. The media must be given freedom to decide what is news worthy or not. Please leave the media alone.
Some Muslims decided to protest by carrying a cow's head. So what? They can carry a cow's head if they want to. Nobody should be offended by it. The best thing to do is to play down on it and ignore it. The main thrust for Hindus should and must be in giving a good education to their children. The world will become more competitive. It is the duty of all Hindus in Malaysia to take care of their own families. Please do take care of your own family. If you can, please do work at two jobs so that you can get extra money. So the goal of Hindu Malaysians should be EDUCATION and WORK.
Parading a severed cow's head should not perturb you. If it does perturb you, then you have only yourself to blame. Those people parading a cow's head look like comedians any way. Why are you perturbed by comedians? They say that laughter is the best medicine. It is good to have some comedy.
Some people carry a handbag, some people carry a shopping bag, some people carry a mango, and some people carry an umbrella. Different people carry different things. Similarly, people do have the right to carry and parade a severed cow's head, or for that matter, chicken wings, pig's ears, goat's feet, turtle shell, cat's tail, etc.
If the intention of the Muslim protesters is to encourage beef consumption, then I can assure you that more Hindus in Malaysia consume beef and pork nowadays. If the Muslim protesters regularly parade a severed cow's head, it may encourage beef consumption, which is a good thing. I hope the Muslim protesters promote beef consumption by parading a severed cow's head regularly. Cattle farmers will be supportive of the idea of increasing beef consumption. In fact, you can even persuade the cattle farmers to pay the Muslim protesters.
If the intention of the Muslim protesters is to encourage beef consumption, then I can assure you that more Hindus in Malaysia consume beef and pork nowadays. If the Muslim protesters regularly parade a severed cow's head, it may encourage beef consumption, which is a good thing. I hope the Muslim protesters promote beef consumption by parading a severed cow's head regularly. Cattle farmers will be supportive of the idea of increasing beef consumption. In fact, you can even persuade the cattle farmers to pay the Muslim protesters.
Incidentally, there are many Hindus in Malaysia who eat pork and beef. After you see a cow's head being paraded several times, then you would get used to it and it would no longer perturb you any more. The human mind has the capacity to de-sensitize. It may help to increase beef consumption. Wait a minute. Beef has high cholesterol but not as high as crustaceans.
Similarly, many Muslims consume pork too. Again, after eating pork for some time, you would get used to it. If you are non-Muslim, please do treat your Muslim friend to some pork food. Pork consumption may be irresistible to Muslims especially if non-Muslims pay for it.
Why are Muslims perturbed when a Hindu temple relocates to a Muslim majority area? Muslims do not have to enter the Hindu temple if they do not want to. There is no way the Hindu temple would perturb Muslims. I think the matter should be referred to the Judicial System. Muslims should stop over-reacting. The Muslims look like comedians when they overreact and carry a severed cow's head, parade it, and stomp it. What's the matter with the Muslims? I am a beef and pork eater and I would be glad to stomp a severed cow's head only if I am paid well enough.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_lBBx4UnoE
The human mind has the capacity to de-sensitize. There are people who make a living as butchers and people who do autopsies. We need butchers and autopsies. Hindus must come of age and accept butchers and autopsies, and all the other jobs as important to a socio-economic system. It is good that more Hindus are eating pork and beef these days. It is the duty of Hindu groups to prepare the Hindu youth for the 21st century. We have to detach food from divinity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R7eqMug-wo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udi8IpP3Uy8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVuIeK5_YuQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yZdBrwjFa8
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A Hindu temple, Sri Maha Mariamman temple from Section 19 needs to be relocated to Section 23. But the Muslim residents of Section 23 object to the relocation plan. So some Muslims carried a severed cow's head and made a protest march. It is the right of people to carry a severed cow's head. But objecting to the relocation of a Hindu temple to Section 23 is unreasonable. The presence of a Hindu temple in a Muslim majority area will in no way interfere in the daily lives of Muslims. May cool heads prevail. I hope we can find a solution.
Please vote against UMNO in all future elections. It is time for Malaysian voters to come of age and vote UMNO out of power.
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