I don’t know why people write, say and do what they write. I can only
speak for myself. I didn’t want to be partisan. I didn’t want to care
about people who don’t care. I didn’t want to tempt fate. If you know
me, you will know that I cannot live a lie. I find it rather hard to
lie. Possibly, since young, I’ve earned scornful looks for being too
outspoken.
I thought after being taught a few lessons, here and there, I should
be able to hold my tongue. Yet, just the other day I told someone who
has migrated that the biggest robber in Malaysia is our very own Big
Brother. Bad habits do die hard, at least for me. (I’m forever tempting
fate, I think, so help me, God!)
I could leave Malaysia, you know. Leave and lead a comfortable life
elsewhere. However, it’s unthinkable to leave behind something in a
mess. You can call me anything but irresponsible. And it would be
irresponsible not to help unravel this mess. It would be irresponsible
to muddle the situation any further.
That’s why when I tuned into Malaysia Chronicle yesterday and read
what Ahmad Mustapha Hassan had to say about Kit Siang and May 13, I felt
that this fight (no arms, please) is worth it. In his book, “The
Unmaking of Malaysia”, AMH mentioned the incident and in Malaysia
Chronicle, he says, “…..it was impossible for Lim Kit Siang to be there
and did what he was purportedly accused of. If he did, he would have
been killed by the mob…..”
There you go, that’s someone who can unravel the mess and contribute
to the well-being of our beloved nation. I believe if all Malaysians are
brave enough to embrace the truth, LKS will himself forgive those who
see it fit to hurt him and his family again and again, and ask that we
all move on. I must also mention here that each and every one of us
should also read Zaid ibrahim’s latest book, “Ampun Tuanku”, another
brave venture. You know, there are towering Malaysians in our midst!
Why, then, are there others who want to further muddle the already
tense situation and inflict more pain? I just don’t get it. Aren’t we
all Malaysians? Doesn’t Malaysia belong to all of us? Don’t we all want
what’s good for our motherland? Don’t we all want a true Malaysia, one
where everyone can call Malaysia her own?
Aren’t we all tired of looking at each other with suspicion? Why
continue to have this holier-than-thou attitude and think that others
are less worthy than you? I hope to be less racist today than yesterday
and lesser still, tomorrow. It doesn’t augur well for Malaysia for us to
think in terms of creed and colour. For that, I think any party,
society or grouping that fight solely for a particular race should
“bungkus”. Please, go affirm those who need it. Turn your back to his
colour or creed and just listen to his pleas and help accordingly.
I’ve seen poverty though not experienced it. And it is because I know
how blessed I am that I can’t bear to see such poverty in this land,
originally plentiful. I’ve been impacted by some incidents I saw when I
was with the SSVP.
This is one of them. Some years back, a Vincentian friend asked me to
make a home visit with her. We belong to different teams, so I’ve never
been to this home. We went to this shack where an old lady lived with
her special daughter. The old lady was bedridden while the daughter was a
mute. The old lady laid on a stack of mattresses, one after another,
urine-soaked. Her daughter would just hide dirty linen, buried under the
mattresses. She was this huge girl who like to “merayau”. Apparently
she does have a brother, somewhere. The last I heard, the old lady has
passed on.
There were five of us, I think, who went there to help spring-clean
the shack. I remember how, because there was not much equipment there, I
practically scooped up the dirt in the drain with my bare hands. It was
faster that way, I thought. Now and then, I wanted to throw up. How I
managed to hold what little I had inside of me, is a wonder! We were
there the whole morning. I left before 2pm to pick my kids from school.
At the car-park, a friend approached my car. (I used to teach in that
school, so some teachers knew me.)
I came out of the car to talk to my friend. I had to tell her not to
come too near. I didn’t know which was worse-the stink from my body or
her throwing up at me! What came after my explanation as to why she had
to keep her distance, blew me away. My dear friend, Lee Fay May,
immediate gave me RM200 for this family. That’s why I always have hope
in people. I know mercy, I’ve seen it often enough.
I believe, if someone does not rob his neighbor, there’s enough for
everyone. I believe if each and every one of us embraces the truth about
ourselves, we need not watch our backs and be afraid of our very own
shadow.
May 13, 1969 is an ugly episode that robbed Malaysia of the democracy
she set herself out to be. Nations, like men, have their infancy. Well,
Malaysia is past half a century, 55 to be exact. Hey, guys, time to act
your age! Can you imagine having 55 year-olds all over the floor,
bawling and rubbing their legs, eyes, whatever, for attention?
Can you imagine, not knowing how to walk at 55? Never-mind, discard
those crutches. Let’s help each other journey on this democratic path
our founding fathers set out for us, which somehow along the way, was
hijacked by self-serving creatures. Let’s start anew.
So, let’s go back to those who are trying to unravel the mess for
direction. In the spirit of the season, of “maaf, zahir dan batin”,
let’s stand together as one to usher in our Independence Day. Malaysia
was formed for each and every one of us and was founded on democratic
principles.
So, let’s all together come in peace, wherever you may be, 10 pm at
the designated location, Aug 30, 2012, to celebrate democracy and usher
in a new dawn. Be part of “Janji Demokrasi”. The Malacca version will be
held at the Queen Victoria Fountain, Clock Tower at the Stadhuys
while the national version will be celebrated at Dataran Merdeka
involving 49 NGOs – the Gabungan Janji.
NGOs do good, so you wouldn’t want to be left out of the chance to
contribute to something good. So, let’s all wear yellow on the night of
Aug 30, 2012, the eve of Merdeka Day, to celebrate democracy and usher
in a true democracy for a true Malaysia. She’s ours, you know, this
Malaysia, our very own.
No comments:
Post a Comment