Malaysiakini :: Letters
Malaysiakini :: Letters |
| July 9: Authorities must transform their mindset Posted: 11 Jul 2011 11:20 PM PDT The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) calls upon all concerned Malaysian citizens to hold Thanksgiving Prayers in their respective places of worship for the relatively orderly "rally" held last Saturday. They may have broken the unjust and uncalled for ban but they did so in a peaceful manner to exercise their right of assembly as enshrined in our Constitution, the inviolate supreme law of our nation. MCCBCHST is confident that the untoward events of July 9, 2011, could have been prevented if the authorities had dealt with the issues raised by Bersih from the outset at the negotiation table with understanding, compassion, honesty and respect as required in all our great religious teachings. MCCBCHST reiterates its strong support for every Malaysian's right to peaceful assembly as enshrined in our Federal Constitution under Article 10 (1) (b) and in Article 20 (1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and remind the authorities that freedom of opinion and expression too is provided for under Article 19 of the UDHR. The most important lesson to be learnt from the July 9 2011 event is that the authorities must transform their mindset and recognise that Malaysians today are much more learned, informed, matured and sophisticated beings than they are made out to be. MCCBCHST fully endorses the statement by Persatuan Promosi Hak Asasi Malaysia (Proham) on the matter: "The core matter of the Bersih rally must be addressed namely to address the concerns in the election system and the call for a free and fair election. Proham calls for the government to establish an independent mechanism to review these concerns either through a Royal Commission or a Parliamentary Select Committee...'. MCCBCHST supports the call for the Federal Government to immediately sit with all concerned parties to find an appropriate, just and equitable solution. We reiterate that all dialogue must be based on the principles of understanding, compassion, honesty and respect as required in all our great religious teachings. Reverend Thomas Philips, President, MCCBCHST Daozhang Tan Bon Sin, Deputy President, MCCBCHST Sardar V Harcharan Singh, Vice President, MCCBCHST Venerable Ming Ji, Vice President, MCCBCHST RS Mohan Shan, Vice President, MCCBCHST Prematilaka KD Serisena, Honorary Secretary General, MCCBCHST Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Bersih rally and the real 1Malaysia Posted: 11 Jul 2011 01:09 AM PDT Which Malaysia is PM Najib referring to in his catchy phrase 1Malaysia? The Malaysia I see him representing is one of tense tolerance always holding a precarious balance in check. A coalition of three main parties divided along racial lines. Each takes care of its own community, each fights for the same pie for its community. On all sides of the racial divide in Najib's 1Malaysia there are routine threats, name-calling and extremists who insist on ketuanan Melayu. The other side of Malaysia who came out in the tens of thousands this weekend during the Bersih 2.0 rally represented all segments of Malaysian society. All races, all generations, all beliefs and religion walked together; all who believed in a more democratic Malaysia. It wasn't that the Chinese walked on one side of the street while the Malays walked on the other or that the Indians walked behind while the Malays walked in front. We were all in one group singing our national anthem proudly. This was a dream come true that I had once learned in my siviks class in school at the age of 10. Growing up in the Mahathir era, I never saw it in evidence, and in fact saw more segregation and suspicion and animosity amongst the races. On Saturday, however, I saw the different races caring for one another. While sharing fresh water from a hose at Puduraya bus station, hosing one another down, a Malay brother shared some salt with me. We put a pinch of salt each in our mouths, and smiled at each other through our eyes watering from the tear gas, and ran out again to confront the 'other side'. Had we not been pursued by the cops, and in different circumstances, we would have bersalam and hugged and sat down together for kopi tarik. I even met many Chinese business owners, traditionally well-known for their kiasu-ness (play-safe attitude), last Saturday. Those who had supported change silently in 2008. Enough, they were saying now, braving the police; they too made their point in the march. We have to reclaim Malaysia from those who are determined to oppress us to stay in power. I am sure that our Malaysia won the approval of our dear Bapa Malaysia and other Malay warriors of the past. He would have smiled approvingly and would have supported us that day. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
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