MALAYSIAN X

When Anwar Ibrahim is tried for sodomy — with impunity, I might add — for the second time after the Federal Court overruled the previous sodomy conviction, we are all on trial. We are on trial as ‘innocent’ bystanders who were standing by as the Opposition Leader of the nation is being persecuted again for his stand against corruption and injustice.

I know it’s presumptious to imply that all of us are guilty for allowing this treachery to persist. Indeed, many of the 28 million are children who are just too young to know the difference between Anwar and Najib, much less the meaning of politics and power.

Nevertheless, for those of us who were around (read, “demonstrating on the streets”) when the first conspiracy against Anwar Ibrahim took place, it is incumbent upon us so-called reform activists (or Reformists) to return from our comfortable zones and fight the war for Justice and Freedom.

Some say the trial of Anwar Ibrahim is a trial of the judiciary or the media. I say those two are just institutions that reflect what is permitted by the Rakyat. Us.

Nothing that goes on in this country happens without our implied consent. We elected the rotten Umno-BN government to rule over us. We did not work hard enough to convince enough of our friends and relatives not to put an ‘X’ for the Dacing — the Scales of Injustice that belong to Barisan Nasional — during the 2008 general election.

Now, we have no time to waste. We must ACT NOW. The trial and persecution of Anwar Ibrahim is our cue to stop the conspiracies against the people of Malaysia. Conspiracy 1 and 2 against Anwar Ibrahim are merely obvious examples of the Umno conspiracies against the Rakyat.

Umno cannot stand the revelations of Anwar Ibrahim, the man who was around to see what they were up to. Unfortunately for Umno, Dr. M failed to break the man who endured six years of prison for truth, justice and the people. Now, Anwar Ibrahim is back to lead the charge against Umno and demolish them once and for all.

Actually, the beginning of the downfall of Umno-BN took place before 8 March 2008. It’s just now we’re witnessing more dirt and rubbish floating to the surface of Malaysian awareness. Do you want more jet engines stolen or political aides killed before you weigh in? Those are just symptoms of Umno’s further descent into the political abyss. Our opportunity is here and now.

Go. Do something now. Post a comment on a blog like this one. Share something on Facebook. Tweet. IM your friend. What are you waiting for?

“Hah! I’m going to do what I have always wanted to do!” I’d stride across the floor to the Speaker’s rostrum and politely invite the Speaker to step aside. “If he doesn’t oblige, I’ll use my pepper spray on him.”

As I take the microphone and the floor, I will realise that “it’s now or never!” Despite my earlier calls for democracy, freedom and justice, my first pronouncement will be: “Every single piece of legislation can only be passed by this parliament if I, the First Ruler-Protector of Malaysia, assent to it.” And thus, I will make my first mark as the absolute ruler of the nation.

Before I forget, I must ‘take care’ of the monarchs. No, I will not behead them. I will make them my golf kakis. Those who can’t play can be caddies. “Oh yes, must castrate them though, lest they become a pain in my autocratic government’s rear end.”

Then, I will proceed to devise a big hairy audacious goal for the future generations of Malaysians to achieve (I’ll make it far enough in the future so that I’m sure I won’t be around when it doesn’t happen, unlike some idiot who announced ‘Wawasan 2020’) — that we would send the first spaceship beyond the Milky Way galaxy by the year 5050. Now, that’s what I call a developed nation. “Mahathir, eat your missing heart out!”

Now, before I put all that into place, surely I must get myself a half-decent (and a half indecent) cabinet to do my bidding. First of all, I’d pick an Information and Communications Minister (let’s leave the culture to someone else — Malaysian culture is too complicated) that at least knows what Twitter and Facebook are all about. “And who wasn’t counting the sand on the beach when Parameswara arrived.” (#yorais)

Then, I’d appoint myself the Home Minister, the Health Minister, the Defence Minister, the Education Minister, the Trade Minister, the Works Minister, the Transport Minister and the Finance Minister. “You sycophants can take the rest of the ministries — whoever can ‘carry’ more and ‘shine’ better can take the ‘better’ ministries; i.e. those that have more opportunities to accept bribes.”

With all that accomplished, I’d ensure that every single relevant government institution will be completely under my thumb: the police, the anti-corruption agency, the military, the judiciary, the election commission and the national indoctrination service. “Of course, every single contract dished out will be to my relatives or close friends. Why would I give a contract to other more qualified people?”

Now, for the most important part — the theft of every piece of equipment that can be sold overseas at a fraction of the original value of the equipment. “Ah, I must remember to put them up for sale before the next summer line comes out in Latin America and Africa.”

And, of course, I’d remind the Information and Communications Minister to ensure that every single media organisation operating in Malaysia, online, foreign or otherwise, is completely subservient to the all powerful Ruler-Protector of the Nation (that’s me, in case you forgot). Now, that’s no easy feat considering the Minister just learned the meaning of social media. “But it’s okay lah, we can wing it as we go along. After all, that’s our culture right? Malaysia Boleh! Now, 1Malaysia Boleh!”

P.S. “Oops! Nearly forgot to divide and rule by using race and religion. But never mind lah, that one a bit complicated. Can leave for part 2… If I feel like it.”

Today is a day as good as any to resume my blogging activities. A little while back, I read a comment on Facebook (FB) that I could not comprehend. That person compared FB with blogging, saying that FB has made it so much easier to blog. I then wondered aloud how anyone could compare FB with blogging…

Well, it’s been almost four months since my last post on my blog, but I have been actively tweeting and updating my status on FB all this while. Indeed, some would say that’s an understatement. Whatever it is, I now definitely get the point that that person was trying to make with that comment…

Now, let’s come to the point of this blog posting. Today is the day we celebrate Diwali in Malaysia. For some reason, we call it Deepavali. I’m sure there’s a linguistic or cultural reason for the slight change in name. More importantly, though, is the significance of Diwali.

Some people in Malaysia think that it’s the Indian new year. You see, Malaysia is a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural country. We have Malays, Chinese, Indians, Dayaks, Kadazans and too many others for me to list here. Anyway, the point is, the Malays have Eid Fitr, which is considered their new year celebrations, and the Chinese, obviously, have their own lunar new year celebrations. (Am not sure about the Dayak and Kadazan, though. Sorry.) Thus, some Malaysians think that Deepavali is the Indian new year celebrations.

Well, that is not entirely true. The Indians have their own new year celebrations. Indeed, they have several, depending on which Indian community you are from. For example, the Tamils have Puthandu and the Sikhs have Vaisakhi. So, Diwali or Deepavali is actually not the celebration of the Indian new year.

Diwali is the celebration of the triumph of good over evil. If there’s anything that’s really worth celebrating today, that’s what I’d celebrate. And, you know what I really like about Diwali? No, not all the open houses and food that they serve. I can visit my Indian friends anytime. I can go down to the local Indian restaurant anytime. But do you get to see all the lamps lit to symbolise the victory of good over evil all the time?

Now, my friends, even if you’re not Indian or Hindu, I urge you to join in the festivity of Diwali by lighting a lamp (even if it’s in the cyber-world) and let that light signify your celebration of the triumph of Good over Evil.

Here’s Sdr Badrol Hisham’s latest email to me on Islam and the freedom of expression:

Dear Mr. Jonson,

I’m quite surprised to note that you still respect Dato’ Ahmad Ismail rights to say that non-Malays in Malaysia are “kaum pendatang”. I’m just wonders if somebody insulting your mother, will you respect their rights to say or express it? Don’t you have any dignity to defend of?

If the Malays are free to insult the non-Malays and vice versa, there will be no harmonious relation among different races in our country and similarly if the Muslims are free to insult other religions and vice versa, there will be no better understanding between different religions in our country. Freedom must be come with responsibility.

The main topic of our discussions is freedom of speech and expression. I don’t know why you keep harping on the issue of qualified people. Anyway, I’d like to recap what Y.B. Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang had said recently, “When talking about aerospace, you ask somebody from NASA, not someone in Somalia”. If you still don’t understand, I’ve no idea how else can I explain to you.

You should not compare Islam with Christianity or any other philosophy. Islam is a complete and perfect religion which was revealed by God Almighty to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) 1,400 years ago for all mankind. In Islam, we are encouraged to read the holy book Koran, understand and practised it with the guidance from Hadis, Ijtimak Ulamak and Qias. The question is whether we (the Muslims) follow it or not.

Some Muslims have deviant from Islamic teaching either by their act, view, thinking, approach, etc. So, I don’t see any need to comment to the so called progressive Islamic thinker that you mentioned in your blog.

I’ve told you clearly that the reason I asked you to remove my emails from your blog is because I’m afraid that some party will only use it to attack and degrade Islam. My afraid seems to be correct.

Anyway, I hope that one day you will be able to find the TRUTH in your life.

For Ms. Alice, I’ve full confidence in my belief and can take any amount of criticism. However, I can’t tolerate anybody who insult or discredit my religion.

Thank you for your understanding.

Regards,
Badrol Hisham
Kuala Lumpur

P/S: Mr Jonson, you can post this last email from me in your blog.

By the way, when I said justice for the Chinese and the Muslims, it is only as reference to the Dato’ Ahmad Ismail and Sisters In Islam cases. Sorry to confuse you. Justice is for all. So does Islam. God bless you.

Res ipsa loquitur.

P.S. Please read this post in the context of the previous postings: Engaging a Muslim on Islam & the Freedom of Expression and Engaging a Muslim on Islam & the Freedom of Expression 2

Here’s Sdr BH’s [author's name removed] reply to my email response to him:

[Email removed upon the request of the author. My reply remains below.]

Well, instead of just sending emails back and forth, I think it’s better for us to discuss openly about this concept of qualified freedom of speech.

I may not agree with Dato’ Ahmad Ismail calling non-Malays “kaum pendatang”, but I respect his right to say it. Similarly, he ought to respect my right to call him a bigot and a racist.

No matter how difficult it is to accept what others have to say, we must always respect their right to say it. We don’t have to respect the person, the organisation or even their point of view, we just have to respect their right to express it. As Voltaire, a French philosopher, once said, “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”

Similarly, Sdr BH [author's name removed], I do not agree with what you’re saying but I’m more than happy to publish what you’ve got to say on my blog.

On another point, I think we should really question the restrictions on who “qualifies” to study, analyse and discuss principles of religions, or philosophies for that matter. Are religious principles sacrosanct and “lay people” should be prohibited from espousing their views about them? If that is so, then philosophical principles ought not be discussed by any “lay people” except so-called qualified philosophers, too.

I’m sorry but this reminds me too much of the Roman Catholic Church that had a monopoly on God in the middle ages. In those days, lay people were not able to read the scriptures and think for themselves what those scriptures meant. Indeed, they had to literally buy penance from priests. Thankfully, there were reformists like Martin Luther that reformed Christianity.

Similarly, there was a progressive Islamic thinker by the name of Mahmoud Mohamed Taha that took a different approach towards Islam. Unfortunately, he was executed by the Sudanese government for heresy. For a living example of a progressive Islamic thinker, google Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’im (or just click on his name to read the entry on Wikipedia).

By the way, justice is for all, and I don’t think there’s a need to specify any race or religion.

I received the following email in response to my statement on PAS’ resolution on Sisters In Islam:

[Email removed upon the request of the author.]

This was my response:

Dear Sdr BH [author's name removed],

Salam,
Jonson

Your comments are most welcome…

It is refreshing to hear some leaders from Barisan Nasional making sense in their statements for a change. Indeed, what they have said actually reflects general opinion that there should be fresh State elections in Perak.

Then again, perhaps these BN leaders are simply weary of the never-ending political imbroglio that seems to be quickly degenerating into a farce. Perhaps they are beginning to realise that something needs to be done desperately before the farce turns Malaysia into a joke in the international community.

I note that the sentiments reported in that article are only the personal views of the Deputy President of MCA and the Secretary-General of Gerakan. What are the parties’ official positions on the Perak issue?

One really wonders whether the leaders of BN component parties have the moral fibre to make their official views public even if they contradict those of the Prime Minister or Umno.

Indeed, I recall that the MCA President was once notoriously outspoken before he became President and a full minister in the cabinet. Perhaps he has too much at stake to publicly voice an opinion contrary to his political ‘big brother’. Similarly, what about the President of Gerakan? Is he prepared to make a public stand on the matter?

The question begging to be asked here is whether the component parties of Barisan Nasional are actually equal partners in government or are they simply junior partners that have to kowtow to the senior partner, Umno.

For the sake of Perak and Malaysia as a whole, I certainly hope that the leaders of all BN component parties will make a stand for the rakyat, speak up and do the right thing; i.e. table and support a motion at the next BN meeting for fresh State elections in Perak to resolve the constitutional stalemate once and for all.

Barely a day after Najib’s naked show of contempt for democracy and the people of Perak in the State Legislative Assembly on Thursday, he has yesterday further insulted the intelligence of Malaysians by releasing ISA detainees and those arrested in recent days, thinking that he will be seen as the good guy.

Who doesn’t remember that the new Prime Minister himself was the one who orchestrated the cross-over of a few recalcitrant elected representatives and sparked off this political and constitutional mess in Perak?

And up to yesterday, his silence in respect of the actions of the Perak State Secretary and the police was deafening. As we all know, silence is acquiescence; that is, Najib actually condones the meddling by the State Secretary and the crackdown by the police, if not ordered it.

Alas, his decision to release the detainees, both ISA and otherwise, was too little and far too late.

Why stop at 13 detainees? Don’t the other detainees have feelings or families? Don’t they deserve dignity like the rest of us? Don’t they have the right to fair trials and be presumed innocent until proven guilty?

Najib’s far too late because a moral crime has already been perpetrated against these people. They have already been deprived of their freedom for no good or justifiable cause. Precious moments of their lives have been robbed forever.

This may be the Prime Minister’s way of making amends but are the people supposed to be grateful for such small mercies when he has obviously shown his contempt for them and their human rights?

The specific release of the Hindraf trio also begs the question whether Najib thought now would be a convenient time to subtly avoid a by-election in Selangor.

Whatever it is, the people of Perak, no, the people of Malaysia will hold Najib Abdul Razak solely responsible for dragging our nation through the mud in the international arena; and, for grossly violating the sacred doctrine of separation of powers, thereby reducing our beloved country to a pariah state.

I found this in the middle of a U2 song during a concert. I don’t know if the lyrics are from an opera but it’s beautiful:

Dici che il fiume
Trova la via al mare
E come il fiume
Giungerai a me
Oltre i confini
E le terre assetate
Dici che come il fiume
Come il fiume…
L’amore giungerà
L’amore…
E non so più pregare
E nell’amore non so più sperare
E quell’amore non so più aspettare

[Translation of the above]

You say that the river
finds the way to the sea
and like the river
you will come to me
beyond the borders
and the dry lands
You say that like a river
like a river…
the love will come
the love…
And I don’t know how to pray anymore
and in love I don’t know how to hope anymore
and for that love I don’t know how to wait anymore

[End of translation]

Isn’t that beautiful? It’s like listening in colours and seeing in vibrations…

It will be dark days ahead for Malaysia if citizens cannot speak up against undemocratic actions of the government. Sdr Wong Chin Huat, one of the spokespersons for Bersih was arrested earlier tonight at his house in Taman Sri Sentosa, Kuala Lumpur.

He has been taken to the Commercial Crimes Department HQ, where I believe lawyers Edmund Bon and Latheefa Koya are in attendance. For the rest of the news, check out the Malaysiakini article.

Personally, I received a couple of SMSes last week to wear black this Thursday, 7 May 2009, to protest the undemocratic takeover of the Perak government and call for fresh state elections. Frankly, I didn’t give much thought to it. But now, by hook or by crook, I’m gonna look for a black shirt that’s suitable for work on Thursday.

I know it was wishful thinking on my part when I asked whether Najib can perform miracles. Alas, it’s now blindingly obvious that Najib is not only incapable of changing a corrupt and autocratic government but he is so childish and sensitive that he can’t take the very clever play on his “1Malaysia: People First, Performance Now” slogan by Bersih.

All together now, “1BlackMalaysia: Democracy First! Elections Now!”