Eid Mubarak :)
Maaf Zahir dan Batin.
ps- WP tells me that this is the 1000th post of this blog..
Maaf Zahir dan Batin.
ps- WP tells me that this is the 1000th post of this blog..
A late report on the ISA walk on Saturday night.
It was really quite a sight, I haven’t seen that many people on the move in quite a long time - very stirring.
All the usual reservations about an ethnic based movement remain, and I confess I got pretty uncomfortable when we passed Masjid Jamek, as it was almost Solat Tarawikh time, and we were really quite noisy :(
I think it would have been better if we had taken some other route, I don’t like the idea of infringing.
The crowd was mixed, but clearly not as mixed as say the Kelana Jaya Malaysia Day gathering on 9/15. I maintain though, that when it comes to anti-ISA activism, better a crowd dominated by one ethnic group than no real crowd at all, which may have been the result without Hindraf.
I applaud the surprising restraint showed by the police. Since the walk appeared to have been somewhat spontaneous, someone joked that when Plan A doesn’t quite work out, sometimes the cops don’t seem to have a Plan B.
I don’t know the real reasons, but I will give grateful credit to the authorities one way or the other.
I think the walk demonstrated once again the truth we have tried time and again to prove - that when left to their own devices without interference, Malaysians are an eminently peaceful bunch :)
There were any number of tense moments (to my observation anyway), and it was a very excited, exuberant crowd, but still - to their grand credit, Malaysians exhibited supreme tolerance.
It was good to see so many old friends there and make a few new ones (*waves!*). Let’s hope there’ll continue to be a continued movement to Mansuhkan ISA!
Such a terrible incident :(
I’m sure many people are fuming mad over this, and they have every right to be. No human being should be subject to such vicious attacks.
I am still smelling great mischief at work. The last thing we should do is cower in fear of placate violence, but, I have always believed in fighting smart.
In this unfolding tragedy, I believe we must refrain from fighting (literal) fire with fire.
Conscious of what appears to be a concerted attempt to polarise Malay-Chinese sentiment, we must channel our outrage into something constructive and positive, and denounce virtriol.
YB Teresa, I know these will be tough days for you, and I really feel for your family. You have earned the admiration of so many in this last month, and understandably so.
In this growing hour of darkness, I hope your endless fount of strength will be the strength of wisdom, statesmanship and above all, love.
For you and your party, a great opportunity exists to set the tone for the character of your political struggle and what it represents.
I have faith that you, DAP and all political parties concerned will rise beyond blind rage and ethnic thinking to become a movement and resistance based on the principles of Gandhi, King and Mandela.
Tenaganita is launching a book tomorrow (Saturday, 27/9, 5pm Mandarin Court Hotel) which tells the tale of how refugees are exploited through and through in Malaysia - coming in, living in Malaysia, and going out.
I used to work with an NGO that assists refugees, so its a matter still close to the heart.
The book launch is tomorrow (stop by on your way to vigil!), and is open to the public. Here’s what they wrote:
The cycle of arrest, detention and deportation that the Burmese refugees in Malaysia experience is a vicious one. The experiences they face along the way, often riddled with violence and abuse, is a complete and utter violation of basic human rights.
[Read more →]
There are a few events going on this weekend, another opportunity to show that we care, and will not stand for our fellow Malaysians to rot in detention without trial.
Come if you can, and if you can’t, there’s still so much you can do!
I copy and paste from Shar101:
A) Kuala Lumpur -
Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) will be organizing ” Raya Demand Abolish ISA” on 26th September 2008 at Masjid Jamek.
Date: 26 September 2008
Time: 12noon
Place: Please gather at main entrance of Masjid Jamek (near to Masjid Jamek LRT Station).
Please wear Black and Red coloured clothes to show your solidarity with GMI.
Lets demand for abolishment of ISA and release of all ISA detainees.
For program details please contact Miss Nalini at 019 3758912 or SUARAM office 03 77843525. For direction please call Mr Syed Ibrahim at 013 3682067
Please spread the news to your friends and family and encourage them to come for this event.
B) Penang -
C) Kuala Lumpur -
Venue : Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
Date : Saturday, 27th September, 2008
Time : 7.00pm
Our system has denied justice to 64 ISA detainees.
Are you going to allow them to languish further in Kamunting?
Some of these detainees, like our beloved RPK and the Hindraf 5 spoke out for you and me, spoke up for a better Malaysia, spoke up for our next generation!!
Now is our turn, what can we do for them?
Pick up your candles and join the vigil to repeal the draconian ISA.
JUSTICE FOR RPK, JUSTICE FOR THE HINDRAF 5, JUSTICE FOR ALL ISA DETAINEES.
Suara Rakyat, Makal Shakati!!!
An article on Sabah and the environment. This gentleman took all the trouble to write it and send it, so the least I can do is reproduce it.
Also, eventful Umno meeting tomorrow eh?
A letter from Sandakan.
From KL to Sandakan on Air-Asia is a fast 2 plus hours and one is
ready to enjoy friendly hospitality, fresh-seafood and the embrace of
mother nature. On our MAS, Malaysia’s National Carrier it takes a bit
longer - 2 hops and almost a day. Besides seafood, Sandakan is also
well known to Westerners as the sanctuary for Oran Utan, Proboscis
monkeys and endangered Turtles (on Turtle Island). To Australians,
Sandakan is known for her War Memorial dedicated to our Aussie heroes
marched to their death in WW2. To be fair, Sandakan was also captured
in a less known Japanese “B” movie of the same name. She is also home
to the famous American writer Agnes Keith who once lived here with her
family and was inspired to write of her experiences about the Land
under the wind. Her house now stands as a tourist attraction
show-casing how the whites lived in paradise as it was then (after the
Government spend millions fixing the old home at the hill top). Even
books were written about the non-white inhabitants - The Towkays of
Sabah - better known for clan rivalry to exploiting timber trade.
Setting aside its historical moments, Sandakan always stood as a
refuge for us who have made it our home since grandpa’s time, all
stood proud when she was crowned with the Title - Nature City, a first
in Malaysia.
Big deal?
No, behind held in prison without knowing if you’ll ever get out, or IF you’ll ever get out is a big deal.
Inspired by Guan Sin.
