I am taking a break from writing about my personal drama, so that I can write about the country's drama.....Here goes
The anti-Internal Security Act rally came and went. And it came with all the drama that we expected.
But here's the thing, an Opposition state assemblyman pointed out how mass rallies had existed in Malaya during the pre-Merdeka days. This young turk assemblyman pointed out how Umno was founded by those who opposed the Malayan Union, which was the British colonialists' idea of a Malayan government which suited their interests.
There are many people who support the ISA because it is a form of preventive law which, I suppose, would help prevent cases such as May 13- you know when people of different races 'maki hamun' each other and end up in violence and death.
OK, let's look at it in perspective- in 1969, the May 13 tragedy occured. People died, there are a multitude of stories out there on the incident, depending on who you ask. One story I recently heard was how the Selangor Menteri Besar gathered all the Malays of Kampung Baru to defend the Malay people in the affected areas in KL. It was a scary scene but it was one which stoked the fighting spirit in many Malays in the area.
Regardless of how it occured, or how it started, do you think it could happen again?
If your answer is yes, then OK, the ISA should be used especially for cases which are based on racially-sensitive matters.
I suppose - I suppose only, lah - that Therese Kok was detained for this particular reason. Because the hype behind all that occured after Kok's alleged statement she made about the azan - be it fact or fictional hype - had bordered on being racially sensitive.
Now having said this, PM Najib, being the sane man that he is has assured the rakyat that his administration would review the ISA. Until then, we just need to wait and watch all these people hold rallies.
The thing about us Malaysians, is we have no point of reference for holding rallies. None. Those pre-Merdeka, pro-Umno rallies of yesteryear are vague vague vague.
We are perceived to be pro-Opposition and too liberal if we support rallies or demonstrations. I'm not saying rallies are good. I hate rallies that victimise kids.What I hate about the whole situation is how everyone is pimping his own view on this matter. Yes, everyone will end up agreeing on either one of these opinions - your either "for it" or "against it" - but everyone needs to wake up and realise that this is not 2003 (when Mahathir was like a God, and every Malaysian loved him and before Pak Lah came into the picture).
It's not even 2007, when the economic downturn was still far far away. It's 2009, and Malaysia is one big huge rojak petis of a landscape - all spicy , tangy and sweet at the same time.
So my suggestion, when you have a rojak, you jolly well have a good rojak sauce to go with it. Meaning: get a social lubricant. Meaning: BN get something fruitful to focus on. Oh, believe me you don't have much time. Pakatan Rakyat: do your job and be a good opposition. Like BN, you haven't much time either. The H1N1 influenza A scare is already risking our time period on earth, so might as well make use of the time we have. Hehhee
May God help the rest of us 'rakyat jelata'.
The anti-Internal Security Act rally came and went. And it came with all the drama that we expected.
But here's the thing, an Opposition state assemblyman pointed out how mass rallies had existed in Malaya during the pre-Merdeka days. This young turk assemblyman pointed out how Umno was founded by those who opposed the Malayan Union, which was the British colonialists' idea of a Malayan government which suited their interests.
There are many people who support the ISA because it is a form of preventive law which, I suppose, would help prevent cases such as May 13- you know when people of different races 'maki hamun' each other and end up in violence and death.
OK, let's look at it in perspective- in 1969, the May 13 tragedy occured. People died, there are a multitude of stories out there on the incident, depending on who you ask. One story I recently heard was how the Selangor Menteri Besar gathered all the Malays of Kampung Baru to defend the Malay people in the affected areas in KL. It was a scary scene but it was one which stoked the fighting spirit in many Malays in the area.
Regardless of how it occured, or how it started, do you think it could happen again?
If your answer is yes, then OK, the ISA should be used especially for cases which are based on racially-sensitive matters.
I suppose - I suppose only, lah - that Therese Kok was detained for this particular reason. Because the hype behind all that occured after Kok's alleged statement she made about the azan - be it fact or fictional hype - had bordered on being racially sensitive.
Now having said this, PM Najib, being the sane man that he is has assured the rakyat that his administration would review the ISA. Until then, we just need to wait and watch all these people hold rallies.
The thing about us Malaysians, is we have no point of reference for holding rallies. None. Those pre-Merdeka, pro-Umno rallies of yesteryear are vague vague vague.
We are perceived to be pro-Opposition and too liberal if we support rallies or demonstrations. I'm not saying rallies are good. I hate rallies that victimise kids.What I hate about the whole situation is how everyone is pimping his own view on this matter. Yes, everyone will end up agreeing on either one of these opinions - your either "for it" or "against it" - but everyone needs to wake up and realise that this is not 2003 (when Mahathir was like a God, and every Malaysian loved him and before Pak Lah came into the picture).
It's not even 2007, when the economic downturn was still far far away. It's 2009, and Malaysia is one big huge rojak petis of a landscape - all spicy , tangy and sweet at the same time.
So my suggestion, when you have a rojak, you jolly well have a good rojak sauce to go with it. Meaning: get a social lubricant. Meaning: BN get something fruitful to focus on. Oh, believe me you don't have much time. Pakatan Rakyat: do your job and be a good opposition. Like BN, you haven't much time either. The H1N1 influenza A scare is already risking our time period on earth, so might as well make use of the time we have. Hehhee
May God help the rest of us 'rakyat jelata'.
Comments
And no, I dont agree on street demos if it affects the lives of other people.
I have seen (on TV) the kind of demos our forefathers had (to free our country from the colonists) and that gave me goosebumps. They fought the real battle.
Ntah lah. I just feel that we have to choose the right battles. As far as I know, only 4 countries have ISA-like punishment: Israel, Singapore, Malaysia and US. How come we dont see citizens from other countries protesting against the ISA?
Anyway, keep on writing ok? :)
Take care..
*hugs*