A week prior to Deepavali 2007, can you remember how the Indian community were greeted by their BN leaders? Their adored place of worship, the Padang Jawa Temple in Klang was cruelly demolished. Wonder if it is a decision that the previous Selangor MB regrets? Many Indians believe that it was ‘divine wrath and punishment’ that gave a trashing defeat to BN in the State of Selangor.
Now fast forward to 2008, this year the community got a wonderful present for their Deepavali festival. Our Government has banned and declared Hindraf illegal!!! None can say it better than F E Smith “There is more credit in being abused by fools than praised by rogues .”
One wonders if all this came about because the Big Boys were not happy that Indian families went to PMs open house in their orange Tee-Shirts. The delegation was led by a little 6 year old girl who handed over a greeting card and a teddy bear!!! By Gosh, by a stretch of any imagination, could the Malaysian population consider a little stuffed toy, as a threat to national security??
What is Hindraf then if it is not a surge of years of pent up frustrations of Malaysian Indians being marginalized in Education, in Government – the biggest employer in the country or even in business. Yet the world over, the Indian Diaspora economically does better than most other nationalities. So a question that Indians and others ask, how come in Malaysia, Indians are left behind???
Frankly do the Big Bosses realize that Hindraf is not a mere society that they can close down? Can you curb the pent up emotions of a people, generations who worked for this country and are now faced with difficulties. These simple people would have been happy to meet up with the PM and would have been his most ardent fan for life. Hey, I thought Governments are elected by the people, for the people and of the people, its hard to fathom, how come our leaders do not engage in dialogue? Yet, see how these simple Indian people, have been demonized?
Actually if the media have given an accurate report of the 27th September 2008, Candle light vigil, those big bullies in high places would have understood “the spirit of a people united”. That vigil was a true example of the Hindraf Spirit, organized for the release of the ISA detainees, most of whom are Malays, it was a call sent out before Raya, in hope that the Muslim brothers will get released prior to their festival Hari Raya. Many who led the Hindraf procession, and those who led the chants for Makkal Shakti and Hindraf Valage, were Chinese youth who came in full support the Indian cause. If it wasn’t the puasa month, for sure we would have seen many more of our Malay family there.
So then how can the spirit, the emotion, the soul, or the inner force, the oneness, the unity, the very essence of Malaysian Life be stilled, by a mere Government declaring it illegal?? Never and we loudly say never can the spirit of Bangsa Malaysia be snuffed out.
Now, like never before we Malaysians are bound together in one spirit, Malay, Chinese, Indian and others, have come together as one. You see it at the courts in solidarity for RPK, you see it on the blogs and websites, you see it at the vigils, we saw in the 8th March elections.
Yes my brothers and sisters, we are all bound together in one spirit. The spirit of unity cannot be declared illegal and cannot be banned. This time the wave of change is bigger than the Tsunami and it is sweeping our beautiful country. It’s a call for change, a call to wipe out all forms of racism that is being raised for political hegemony. It’s a call against corruption, scam and cheating of the Rakyat.
Let me jog your memory a bit to what our RPK said in one of the last few messages to us, before he got interned, albeit unfairly. I think briefly it meant that we Malaysians should give our lives to protect each other, so that not one drop of Malaysian blood is shed. We have to ensure that no one can divide us and protect this sprit of unity that binds us.
Maybe it indeed is a blessing, look back, last year’s Deepavali present resulted in March 8th Tsunami, five states landed into opposition hands and it was this refusal of the leaders to heed the voices of their own citizenry that gave them the defeat. This time one wonders what’s in store for the Big Boys in High Places!!
We the people of Malaysia are called together to ensure that we and the future generations, will live in peace, in harmony, entrusting our Country to the Good Governance of Honest Leaders called to be accountable by a Rakyat United.
The Spirit of Hindraf and Bangsa Malaysia will always live.
by Jaya
PEOPLE'S POWER
There is a difference between UMNO and Barisan Nasional. I want to make it clear that it is not the Barisan Nasional (BN) government, but the UMNO government. It is not the government, but UMNO. Barisan Nasional is a coalition of unequals, not equals. UMNO is the big brother in BN. Therefore UMNO must be held responsible; and more importantly, UMNO must not be allowed to hide behind the BN banner. UMNO is the enemy, not BN. UMNO is a racist party which has perfected the art of divide and rule. If moderate Malays, the natives of Sabah and Sarawak, and the Chinese and Indians unite, then they can vote UMNO out of office.
ReplyDeleteFor decades UMNO has strengthened her position by destroying the independence of the judiciary. So much so that high officials and the Police can almost act with impunity.
I have come to the conclusion that the easy solution is to completely defeat UMNO in the next elections. We have to vote racist UMNO out of office. UMNO is bent on divide and rule, which has affected Malaysia badly. It is for the next generation of Malaysians to undo the damage done to Malaysia by UMNO. There is a dire need for moderate Malays at the political level. There is also a need for the natives of Sabah and Sarawak to form a third force to protect their own interests. Imagine how UMNO had dealt with Sabah; from a rich state, Sabah has been reduced to a poor state subservient to UMNO. There has to be an explanation. The only way is UMNO has to be voted out of office. The younger generation of Malaysians do not like racist politics and UMNO must be taught a lesson by the younger generation by voting UMNO out of office. Please vote for any party but UMNO/BN.
To my Sabah and Sarawak brothers and sisters I tell you that historically UMNO has always avoided a Royal Commission of Inquiry as much as possible many times. Historically, UMNO has misused the Internal Security Act numerous times. Any political party that is an accomplice to UMNO is also the enemy. Any political party that is a co-conspirator to UMNO is also the enemy. To my Sabah and Sarawak brothers and sisters I say that you should form a third force. A third force would require unity among Sabahans and Sarawakians.
We have to get into the habit of putting people in office through votes, and removing people from office through votes. Nobody should be allowed to topple the government. We have to institutionalize the multi-party political system, one person one vote, and an independent judiciary.
In the 2004 elections (11th General Election), the voters gave good support to Mr.Abdullah Badawi. But reforms did not come. Why? Probably because UMNO had done well in the elections. If UMNO had done well in the elections, then the election results tell UMNO that the voters are satisfied with the status quo. If the voters are satisfied with UMNO, then no reforms are necessary. In the 2008 elections (12th General Elections), UMNO did not do well, but she managed to win. UMNO did lose the 2/3 majority in the Parliament, but she did win, nevertheless. Will UMNO undertake reforms now? I would not be surprised if she did not. Why should she? UMNO is still the winner in the elections; and she can plan to rise and may even succeed to rise again. So, as long as she wins, she will never undertake the reforms. So, how do the voters get the reforms that they need? The voters will get the reforms when UMNO is completely defeated in the 13th General Elections. If UMNO wins zero seats in the next elections (13th General Elections), then some other party would have to rule Malaysia. Let us call it Party B. If UMNO is completely defeated in the next elections (13th General Elections), then Party B would rule Malaysia. Would Party B undertake reforms? If Party B does not undertake reforms, then voters would know what to do.
There is no doubt that UMNO has used gerrymandering to strengthen herself. If we removed gerrymandering from UMNO, then there would be a reduced UMNO. So the non-UMNO voters of Malaysia have good reasons to vote against UMNO.
It is possible that UMNO has used the Police Force to strengthen herself. The Police Force is required to be neutral. But is the Police Force neutral? I appeal to the Police Force to be neutral.
UMNO is a race based political party and also the big brother of BN. So, the complete defeat of UMNO in the next elections is the only way to get reforms. The complete defeat of UMNO in the next elections is the only way to get a new beginning.
UMNO is inclined to believe that Malaysians cannot do anything if they are in any way dissatisfied. The voters, however, have to send a strong message to UMNO that the voters can do something: the voters can vote.
So, the next step for Malaysians is to completely defeat UMNO/BN in the next elections.