When RPK decided to starve to death if he was going to get thrown into Kamunting again after losing in the Federal Court, I thought it was a stupid decision. Leaving aside the ethical issue of suicide, I don't see how his death will accomplish anything. He doesn't have enough fanatical following who can organize mass protests to bring down the government. The few who were ready to do the same with him were equally misguided. The BN led government will be elated if they are gone.
So I was happy to know that he has now gone into exile so that they can't put him away for good. Instead of dying, he has decided to fight another day. Continue to be a source of irritation to Najib and his government. Continue to be the conscience of the rakyat. Continue to write on issues that only he dares to write.
RPK, wherever you may be, stay safe. We will eagerly await your return when the BN led government is no more. Till then, keep on writing.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
In My Place Condemned He Stood
Man of Sorrows! what a name
For the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude
In my place condemned He stood
Sealed my pardon with His blood
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Guilty, vile and helpless we
Spotless Lamb of God was He
Full atonement can it be?
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die
It is finished was His cry
Now in heav'n exalted high
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King
All His ransomed home to bring
Then anew this song we'll sing
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Philip Bliss
There is therefore now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1)
For the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude
In my place condemned He stood
Sealed my pardon with His blood
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Guilty, vile and helpless we
Spotless Lamb of God was He
Full atonement can it be?
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die
It is finished was His cry
Now in heav'n exalted high
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King
All His ransomed home to bring
Then anew this song we'll sing
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Philip Bliss
There is therefore now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1)
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
The Rice Bowl is no longer our god
As I read of the overwhelming support given by the Chinese in Bukit Gantang to Nizar during the by-election campaign, I kept wondering whether it will translate into votes. After all, the Chinese were also very supportive of the Pas candidate in Kuala Trengganu by-election a few months back, but that didn't really translate into votes. Of course, various reasons were given. But I cannot help but to conclude that, their (Chinese) rice bowls became the paramount consideration when they voted.
To the Chinese, the rice bowl is sacred. As long as we can 'cari makan'(earn a living), we will not want to 'kacau' (disturb). But woe to those who take away our rice bowls. In fact, the Chinese word for 'rice' is made up of the radical for 'rice' and the word 'rebel' or 'rebellion'. So when the radical 'rice' is removed, all that remains is the word 'rebel' or 'rebellion'. Throughout Chinese history, peasants uprisings were common phenomena. Peasants who literally no longer have anything to eat. Any emperor who took away the rice bowls of the common folks will no longer have the mandate from Heaven to rule.
Well, coming back to Bukit Gantang, I was worried that the same thing could happened. In an earlier post, I mentioned that my friend told me that there were businessmen from Batu Gajah who want PR to give up on its claim to the state government as the political instability is taking a toll on their businesses. Well, I must apologize to the Chinese folks in Bukit Gantang to have second guessed them. I salute all of you for standing up to what is right despite the threats made to your livelihood. (Read about Kuala Sepetang fishermen being harassed here).
Recently, my brother-in-law who has applied to become a Singapore citizen told me that there are more and more Malaysians Chinese giving up their Malaysian citizenship to become Singapore citizens. The waiting period for approval has now stretched to almost 5 months from a few weeks previously. I was really disheartened. Yes, things may not look promising and I'm not even sure when we are going to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But last night we have seen light shining from the two hills. Malaysia is just too valuable for us to turn our backs on as I echoed Zaid Ibrahim. Stay back, stay put.
Remove the rice bowl from the altar of your heart. Continue to fight for a land that will not only flow with milk and honey but justice and righteousness as well.
To the Chinese, the rice bowl is sacred. As long as we can 'cari makan'(earn a living), we will not want to 'kacau' (disturb). But woe to those who take away our rice bowls. In fact, the Chinese word for 'rice' is made up of the radical for 'rice' and the word 'rebel' or 'rebellion'. So when the radical 'rice' is removed, all that remains is the word 'rebel' or 'rebellion'. Throughout Chinese history, peasants uprisings were common phenomena. Peasants who literally no longer have anything to eat. Any emperor who took away the rice bowls of the common folks will no longer have the mandate from Heaven to rule.
Well, coming back to Bukit Gantang, I was worried that the same thing could happened. In an earlier post, I mentioned that my friend told me that there were businessmen from Batu Gajah who want PR to give up on its claim to the state government as the political instability is taking a toll on their businesses. Well, I must apologize to the Chinese folks in Bukit Gantang to have second guessed them. I salute all of you for standing up to what is right despite the threats made to your livelihood. (Read about Kuala Sepetang fishermen being harassed here).
Recently, my brother-in-law who has applied to become a Singapore citizen told me that there are more and more Malaysians Chinese giving up their Malaysian citizenship to become Singapore citizens. The waiting period for approval has now stretched to almost 5 months from a few weeks previously. I was really disheartened. Yes, things may not look promising and I'm not even sure when we are going to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But last night we have seen light shining from the two hills. Malaysia is just too valuable for us to turn our backs on as I echoed Zaid Ibrahim. Stay back, stay put.
Remove the rice bowl from the altar of your heart. Continue to fight for a land that will not only flow with milk and honey but justice and righteousness as well.
Friday, April 3, 2009
A Prime Minister who is devoid of moral authority
Today we witnessed the swearing in our nation's sixth Prime Minister. 81 MPs and 5673 Malaysians don't want Najib. That's the sarcastic headline of Rocky Bru's post today. Yes, I believe the petition initiated by Haris Ibrahim has failed but I'm proud to be part of that failed effort and I thank Haris for his unwavering effort in realizing the idea of 'Anak Bangsa Malaysia' where all of us a treated as equal irespective of race, religion and economic status.
Najib may now be the PM and all the legal authority of a PM is vested in him. But as long as he has not cleared his name on all those allegations thrown at him, he has no moral authority to take on the highest post of governance in this country. I do not expect him to prove that he is innocent as it's trite law that the burden of proof falls on those who alleged (of course, this has not always been the case, re Anwar Ibrahim's 1st sodomy case), the very least he can do is to sue all those who have cast aspersions on his character. So far he has not done so.
Well, whatever doubt I may have about Najib is confirmed by what happened in Perak. Here we witnessed someone who has no qualms in robbing the rakyat of their constituional rights and using all the machinery of the state to ensure that those rights continue to be suppressed and violated. His oath in protecting the Constitution this morning means nothing.
One Malaysia? After all the racial venom that were spewed during the just concluded UMNO General Assembly? Read what Liew Chin Tong's take on this here.
Hopefully he will be the last PM from BN/UMNO.
Najib may now be the PM and all the legal authority of a PM is vested in him. But as long as he has not cleared his name on all those allegations thrown at him, he has no moral authority to take on the highest post of governance in this country. I do not expect him to prove that he is innocent as it's trite law that the burden of proof falls on those who alleged (of course, this has not always been the case, re Anwar Ibrahim's 1st sodomy case), the very least he can do is to sue all those who have cast aspersions on his character. So far he has not done so.
Well, whatever doubt I may have about Najib is confirmed by what happened in Perak. Here we witnessed someone who has no qualms in robbing the rakyat of their constituional rights and using all the machinery of the state to ensure that those rights continue to be suppressed and violated. His oath in protecting the Constitution this morning means nothing.
One Malaysia? After all the racial venom that were spewed during the just concluded UMNO General Assembly? Read what Liew Chin Tong's take on this here.
Hopefully he will be the last PM from BN/UMNO.
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