theSun | MONDAY MARCH 2 2009
speak up!
Hopes sink
in limbo land
by Leow Mei Chern
WHILE some are busy debating morality, our
constitution and ethics over recent fiascos, a
section of Malaysians know very well how po-
litical changes can directly impact their lives in
what could be very real and lasting manner.
Watching a video interview of some Perak-
ians recently, I saw the immense disappointment
in their eyes as they spoke of the political turmoil
in the state.
“Macam orang gantung pada langit”, a man
described how they have never felt Malaysian
for the past 51 years; the orang asli in Perak
have been denied their rights to their land and
a chance to live as equals ever since Malaysia
gained independence.
In finding an urban parallel, I imagined a for-
eigner telling me that I have to leave my home
because it belongs to them according to “their”
new set of laws. Then the house they claimed
from me is sold or used for immense profit. In
the meantime, these powerful people decide to
do “good” by running a programme and hire me
to work in the house for RM400 a year.
Anyone in their right mind would revolt at the
injustice. But such is the situation of a marginal-
ised community with little access to recourse or
opportunities. They live at the sidelines, without a
voice, and pushed around as and when someone
else with the power and money want the land
they have been living and toiling on.
Imagine their sense of hope, when what had
not been achieved in 51 years, was done in a
short span of 10 months since the last general
election. Systems were put in place to assure
their voices were heard by the state, and the
process of ensuring their right to their ancestral
lands were started; they showed that when
given a chance, they could work hard to exercise
their rights, to live as equals, and hope for the
future. (For more info, see: http://thenutgraph.
com/orang-asli-in-perak-apprehensive).
But the recent fiasco in Perak has left
them worried – with mixed emotions of quiet
anger and hatred – at those responsible for the
letters
letters@thesundaily.com
Maturity
at a premium
WE are still at it with a vengeance. We are
protesting and defying even the police. How can
we keep acting like this?
And why this street culture? Does it serve
the purpose, or are there other ways to solve
problems? Let us learn to go by the law? Or have
the Rukun Negara principles lost all meaning?
By and large we have been peaceful but not
of late. We act as we like as if there is no law
and order. We take to the streets, take on the
authority, etc. Why?
Or does the law mean nothing to us. We do as
Respect Parliament’s sanctity
UMNO Youth must be out of their minds if they
think that the way to fight the gutter politics of
Karpal Singh is to brandish their own version of
longkang politics.
Their intrusion into the august House of Parlia-
ment can be construed as treason of the highest
order as they have not only invaded the physical
space of the honourable Speaker and members
of Parliament but also more significantly, the
physical guardian of the Federal Constitution and
everything that it stands for.
When the Umno Malays defend their ketuanan
and adab, the sovereignty of their Rulers, the
Malay language and Islam don’t they realise that
they themselves must be exemplary in upholding
all of these? Do they remember at all that Islam
11
Freespace
Where young views rule
political turmoil that could mean a permanent
end to whatever progress made since March
last year.
One wonders if some middle-class Malaysians
whose emotions run high because they feel like
“2nd class citizens” have spared a thought for
the orang asli, and perhaps include them in their
demands for justice? One wonders also if those
who thump their chest in anger because they
feel besieged or “challenged” by those who
questioned the manner of Perak’s takeover, have
considered the orang asli community whose
lives may be relegated back to how their rights
have been trampled on for 51 years?
Land-grabbing is happening right under our
noses, under the glare of our media, preoccupied
with sensationalising private lives of politicians.
Aside from stunting the progress of civil society,
such gutter journalism supports the malicious
intent of those bent on discrediting one of the
few politicians who makes a firm stand based
on just values.
Threats against politicians like Elizabeth
Wong are a threat to her country at large which
will continue to inherit the kind of processes
that put profit above lives, should her kind of
work not continue. We don’t need politicians
who allow landslides to happen, only to appear
at the next tragedy site when people die to
donate money and shed some tears for the
press. We don’t need state policies that continue
to marginalise certain communities, and then do
so-called charitable work from fat profits off the
land taken from the very people whose rights
were denied.
We surely don’t need politicians – no mat-
ter how articulate – to opine or justify their
hypocritical actions, along with tabloids disguised
as newspapers, for these irritatingly distracts us
from the reality on the ground that speaks for
itself.
The writer rejects gutter journalism and all
that’s associated with it. Comment: letters@
thesundaily.com
we like and when we like to. It is bound to lead
us to more troubles which will affect the nation’s
peace and stability, which is essential now during
the downturn.
What happened in Parliament last Thursday
is a shame. This is outrageous. I always thought
that such incidents happen elsewhere but now
such mobs have come here too. Can we allow
them to tear the fabric of this peaceful and law
abiding nation?
How can a mob be allowed to attack a wheel-
chair-bound MP? What has come of us?
We are a law abiding people, and now we see
some people are allowed to take the law in their
hands and act as they want? Isn’t it a violation of
the sanctity of Parliament?
I had thought we are a mature lot after 51
years of independence, but it appears I am
wrong.
Bulbir Singh
Seremban
and Malay adat is full of urgings for us to show
good behaviour at all times?
When the Malays accuse others of treason
against the sultan, are they aware that Parlia-
ment is the rightful abode of our constitutional
monarchy, and to invade this sacrosanct space
is more serious than demonstrating outside the
sultan’s istana?
What must our politicians be thinking when
they engage their supporters in these absurd
ways? Are they trying to provoke anarchy and
rebellion among the irrational and the emotional?
Or are they trying to wrest votes?
Halimah Mohd Said
Kuala Lumpur