Malaysia - Police state?
Why is there this fear of this man, P Uthayakumar? Followers of Hindraf are not known to have damaged either public or private properties in their many past demonstrations.
Besides, judging from his past modus operandi, Uthayakumar is a lonely man, just like Ong Tee Keat in some ways (see how other opposition parties are not with Uthayakumar). So why is there a fear of this man? The police may rob him of his temporary freedom and make him physically immobile, but you cannot take away his mind.
The interpretation of right and wrong is something there for all to see, a sort of "social fact". No amount of effort to hide it away in whatever form will solve the problem of the marginalised and disenfranchised Indian community. See Egypt. See Libya.
As the saying goes, no regime can last forever, much less the oppressive ones. Should we allow protests? Peaceful protest is a form of expression allowed for in any democratic system. Not to allow it goes against the spirit of democracy where ultimately it is encumbered upon the government to look after its citizenry.
But the true meaning of democracy is illusive given the nature of political agents bent to interpret rules, reinterpret rules to meet their selfish ends; tasks even in the West find hard to control.
Despite the many shortcomings, Hayek (1979, cited in Gunning, 2004) has this to say: "Democracy is an ideal worth fighting for to the utmost, because it is our only protection against tyranny. Though democracy is not freedom, it is one of the most important safeguards of freedom.
"As the only method of peaceful change of government yet discovered, it is one of those paramount through negative values, comparing to sanitary precautions against the plague, of which we are hardly aware while they are effective, but the absence of which may be deadly".
Why is there this fear of this man, P Uthayakumar? Followers of Hindraf are not known to have damaged either public or private properties in their many past demonstrations.
Besides, judging from his past modus operandi, Uthayakumar is a lonely man, just like Ong Tee Keat in some ways (see how other opposition parties are not with Uthayakumar). So why is there a fear of this man? The police may rob him of his temporary freedom and make him physically immobile, but you cannot take away his mind.
The interpretation of right and wrong is something there for all to see, a sort of "social fact". No amount of effort to hide it away in whatever form will solve the problem of the marginalised and disenfranchised Indian community. See Egypt. See Libya.
As the saying goes, no regime can last forever, much less the oppressive ones. Should we allow protests? Peaceful protest is a form of expression allowed for in any democratic system. Not to allow it goes against the spirit of democracy where ultimately it is encumbered upon the government to look after its citizenry.
But the true meaning of democracy is illusive given the nature of political agents bent to interpret rules, reinterpret rules to meet their selfish ends; tasks even in the West find hard to control.
Despite the many shortcomings, Hayek (1979, cited in Gunning, 2004) has this to say: "Democracy is an ideal worth fighting for to the utmost, because it is our only protection against tyranny. Though democracy is not freedom, it is one of the most important safeguards of freedom.
"As the only method of peaceful change of government yet discovered, it is one of those paramount through negative values, comparing to sanitary precautions against the plague, of which we are hardly aware while they are effective, but the absence of which may be deadly".
This country belongs to the rakyat, but clearly this idea is not in the heads of those in power. You may block roads, and arrest individuals, but change hearts you may not.
You may try to instil fear in our hearts, but what we see is fear in your eyes. Fear of justice. Fear of freedom. Fear of the people's voice.
It is very sad that after contributing to nearly two centuries to Malaysia's development, Indian Malaysians have to go through all this wretched racism.
All this would not have taken place if the author of the book 'Interlok', Abdullah Hussain, wrote something that was beneficial to Form 5 students instead of insulting their parents and grandparents.
What's wrong with Hindraf going for a protest when the book itself is teaching students to fight in school? Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin should understand this. Otherwise, go back to Standard One and give yourself a good education.
The ugly face of fascism shows itself again. Instead of handling the issue rationally, the Umno-led fascist government is cracking down hard on the legitimate issues of its citizens.
What a joke. On the one hand, we have PM Najib Razak portraying himself like a wise and worldly statesman advising Libya's Muammar Gaddafi not to use force on the Libyan protesters, but here back at home, he and his cousin, Hishammuddin Hussein, are happily making a bad joke of our times.
When Umno's racist party members protest and shout racial slurs, it's alright. The Umno police will be there to give these party members protection during their protest. But anyone else who dares to challenge Umno is handcuffed and dragged into the lock-up. This country is becoming worse than Libya.
May I remind the Umno government that about 40 percent of the people in Malaysia belongs to the minority groups. If you continue to govern in the racist ways that you have always been, you will see many more demonstrations and when these demonstrations swells to millions, how many do you think you can effectively arrest.
Even Libya will fall to people's power. You think the police force or for that matter the army can withstand the wrath of the people? Are you going to shoot 11 million of your people on the streets?
We stand with the Hindraf rally to fight end of racism. The rally was peaceful and the police had no business to stop them and arrest some of their participants. There is no way HRP (Human Rights Party) under the leadership of Uthayakumar can make any headway against Umno without some support from Pakatan and other races.
In order to serve the interests of HRP, Pakatan, like-minded NGOs and the rakyat like us, we hope they can come to an amiable agreement to fight racism together through the ballot box. To have a win-win formula - some sacrifices are needed to be made.
HRP is quite potent and in politics, and the reality is that you don't choose friends; you choose allies who have the same aspiration - to kick out BN out of Putrajaya. On our part, we shall be glad that two-party system will evolved from the victory.
One more episode that confirms that democracy in Malaysia dies a long time ago. One more episode that confirms that Malaysians, especially the non-Malays, live in a totalitarian state. And, sadly, one more episode that demonstrates, yet again, that most Malaysians will not have learnt the lessons of contemporary history and not vote for Umno-BN.
And one more episode that illustrates yet again that unless majority of Chinese and Malays join the Indians in a mass popular protest such as this, nothing will change for the better in Malaysia. One more episode that suggests that the Indians are divided amongst themselves, and that all three races are as segregated now as they have been since 1969.
You may try to instil fear in our hearts, but what we see is fear in your eyes. Fear of justice. Fear of freedom. Fear of the people's voice.
It is very sad that after contributing to nearly two centuries to Malaysia's development, Indian Malaysians have to go through all this wretched racism.
All this would not have taken place if the author of the book 'Interlok', Abdullah Hussain, wrote something that was beneficial to Form 5 students instead of insulting their parents and grandparents.
What's wrong with Hindraf going for a protest when the book itself is teaching students to fight in school? Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin should understand this. Otherwise, go back to Standard One and give yourself a good education.
The ugly face of fascism shows itself again. Instead of handling the issue rationally, the Umno-led fascist government is cracking down hard on the legitimate issues of its citizens.
What a joke. On the one hand, we have PM Najib Razak portraying himself like a wise and worldly statesman advising Libya's Muammar Gaddafi not to use force on the Libyan protesters, but here back at home, he and his cousin, Hishammuddin Hussein, are happily making a bad joke of our times.
When Umno's racist party members protest and shout racial slurs, it's alright. The Umno police will be there to give these party members protection during their protest. But anyone else who dares to challenge Umno is handcuffed and dragged into the lock-up. This country is becoming worse than Libya.
May I remind the Umno government that about 40 percent of the people in Malaysia belongs to the minority groups. If you continue to govern in the racist ways that you have always been, you will see many more demonstrations and when these demonstrations swells to millions, how many do you think you can effectively arrest.
Even Libya will fall to people's power. You think the police force or for that matter the army can withstand the wrath of the people? Are you going to shoot 11 million of your people on the streets?
We stand with the Hindraf rally to fight end of racism. The rally was peaceful and the police had no business to stop them and arrest some of their participants. There is no way HRP (Human Rights Party) under the leadership of Uthayakumar can make any headway against Umno without some support from Pakatan and other races.
In order to serve the interests of HRP, Pakatan, like-minded NGOs and the rakyat like us, we hope they can come to an amiable agreement to fight racism together through the ballot box. To have a win-win formula - some sacrifices are needed to be made.
HRP is quite potent and in politics, and the reality is that you don't choose friends; you choose allies who have the same aspiration - to kick out BN out of Putrajaya. On our part, we shall be glad that two-party system will evolved from the victory.
One more episode that confirms that democracy in Malaysia dies a long time ago. One more episode that confirms that Malaysians, especially the non-Malays, live in a totalitarian state. And, sadly, one more episode that demonstrates, yet again, that most Malaysians will not have learnt the lessons of contemporary history and not vote for Umno-BN.
And one more episode that illustrates yet again that unless majority of Chinese and Malays join the Indians in a mass popular protest such as this, nothing will change for the better in Malaysia. One more episode that suggests that the Indians are divided amongst themselves, and that all three races are as segregated now as they have been since 1969.
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