Why HINDRAF? A Malaysians’ answer!
Before I begin, this is my first official post in my bro’s blog. Just for the record, I am Azlina Manoharan and my bro is Danesh Manoharan. I guess you see the MUHIBAH-ness of my family mirrored through our names!
Okay, back to my view.
I share the same view as you Abi! We can already see that everyone who was not in support of this rally blaming HINDRAF and their supporters for causing chaos on a calm and peaceful country.
We are accused of being racial! Come on. Grow up! Find some other reasons to look down on us. We are not fighting for Indian rites you fools. Its about the rights of Malaysians. It is not only Indians that are suffering in this country. Everyone who has got no contacts or strings to pull in the government are basically citizens who are non-existent in the this country.
Yes, there are things done to benefit the poor but in the process of giving to the poor, 3/4 of the funds are lost midway, and we know where it all goes. Everyone knows this as a fact but no one wants to question this. Why? Because those who are in the position to ask and be heard don’t want to loose their income and position in society. On the other hand, those who are willing to ask don’t have anyone who is willing to take them seriously. How then are we to ask for our rights. A simple example, we asked for a permit to just hand in this Petition, but no, we were refused. I wonder what would have happened if Azalina would have wanted to organize a rally in a similar nature to make a request to the British Govt to allow the development of the sports complex for the training of our athletes. That would have been allowed rite? No chaos would have been caused isn’t it?
Let’s see whether this HINDRAF gathering was racial in nature or was is it an attempt to voice out the grievances of people who have been long neglected! The BERSIH rally was mainly composed of Malays and HINDRAF was mainly Indians. In both these rallies there were other races involved too though not many. Both this rallies were treated the same by the govt and police. But when Khairy had a rally for God knows what, FRU was present but no water cannons or tear gas was used. Nothing was done to break this gathering. To my knowledge no permit was given for this gathering though there have been those that have said that permit was given. When Johari was questioned about this, he said he has to check. So, I am pretty sure no permit was given. However, there was no force used to dis[erse the crowd because they were people in power. Not only that, those attending the gathering also had some kind of power. But those involved in the BERSIH and HINDRAF rallies were ordinary people with no power wahtsoever, opposition members who in the eyes of the govt are trouble causers and have supporters who are good for nothing other than creating unrest and chaos in the country. Isn’t this clear to those of you out there! We don’t have a racial problem. It is purely a problem caused by greed for power and fame. You can be a Malay, Indian, Chinese, Sikh, Bajau or anything. You are all insignificant unless you can make those in power more popular or you have the money to give them to develop themselves.
It has always been the politicians using racism as their stronghold. Those in power use the police like puppets. The integrity of the police force itself is tarnished. We have a very good police force actually but today we do not respect them at all. Why? Because of this politicians. These police officers are forced to follow orders from these people of power. If they do not do as ordered, they have to suffer the severe consequences. They are not rich people. They also have their families to take care. End of the day, every decision made by them is influenced by their family. They had succumbed to bribery. Who is to be blamed? Thonk before you answer?
The hard work and good intentions of our fore fathers have been forgotten. During my father’s generation, no one use to talk about racial harmony and neither was there the need to tell a Muslim friend that the food was halal or inform their Hindu friend that beef was not served. It was a general and common knowledge that when a person of a different religion was invited, he need to be taken care and first class treatment was given. Today, everything has to be asked, informed and sometimes a big issue is made if beef or non-halal food is served. A complaint that the host was insensitive to their religion becomes an issue. Guess who makes these remarks? The more we talk about racial harmony the more we are growing apart. Look here. If I invite you to my home, you are my guest and rest assured you will be well take care off. The only important thing for those in power is money and fame. They will do anything for that.
These people have forgotten what is humanity. They have no feelings any more. How could one spray tear gas and use chemical laced water cannons on people who have not caused any harm at all. Fine. The authorities said it was used to disperse the crowd. It was an illegal rally and thus had to disperse the crowd before it got unruly. That is just crap! Devamany, in answering the interviewer from AlJazeera said it was “the type of crowd”. I wonder what he meant by that?
Just take a second and think, what would have happened if permit was granted by the police for the gathering. A bunch of people would have gathered in front of the embassy, handed over the petition and crowd dispersed. Everything would have been over in less than 2 hours. But guess what, all this so called chaos that our government and police accused HINDRAF of was caused by their own doing and not HINDRAF. They gave free publicity of the whole event.
When I got an SMS 3 weeks ago about this rally, I just ignored it. I told my bro n dad that it must be a hoax. Only a week ago, when I read it in the papers and how worked up the government and their puppets…ie the police got…..that it finally hit me that it was all for real. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the govt and police for their “charitable action” of spreading the news. You were the reason why so many people turned up. Thanks!!!!!!
12 Responses to “Why HINDRAF? A Malaysians’ answer!”
Author comments are in a darker gray color for you to easily identify the posts author in the comments
Well said! Awesome post…Its sad to see they way the rally turned out but lets take the positives out of this..Its education to us all! Now we know where we stand and what we need to do, dont get sucked into the drama(there are people to do that bit) we as the “rakyat” do you part and VOTE Wisely!
and..and..the police called it a ‘riot’ when it was actually just a rally..
the number of injustices in the name of helping a certain race is absurd. there r many ways to help. what essentially the gov has done is give a crutch to what they considered a crippled race. in the process the other leg atrophied as well due to lack of use. now what u see is the majority in this country needing wheelchairs to do jus about anythg. whats worst is, those walking ard freely are not allowed freedom to access many areas because everywhere u see signs such as “only wheelchairs allowed” or “only those who are partners of the crippled allowed”. forgive me my friends who may use wheelchairs or are crippled, this is jus an allusion.
now, those who walk ard freely are also systematically targetted by destruction of places of worship, shady conversions, bias and with-holding of aid or opportunity.
after 50 years perhaps this wheelchair group should have the gumption and self-pride to stand up and walk with the rest but will they? hahaha .. no prizes for correct answers.
they go on n on abt how fair their religion is… so play fair. simple
respect the individuals right to profess their religion. to education. to equal apportunity. simple
This is really funny.
Funny how smart kids that are of the wrong race do not get to local university because they are deemed “out of quota”.
Funny how public scholarships are awarded to people who are not even qualified to shine shoes at the roadside, while does who are qualified would have to take up bank loans just to go to school and start their life with a big debt to the bank when they graduate. While those who are awarded government scholarship don’t even have to pay it back.
Funny how companies like Digi who gets screwed over by the government (look up Digi, 3G license) just because they did not have the “right” composition in their company. Forced to sell a large portion of their company to the “right race”-owned company if they want to continue to do business here. Funny how this issue never came up when Digi wasn’t making any money.
Funny how words like “ketuanan Melayu” can still be heard in political debates when the government clearly states that we all have equal rights as Malaysian. How waving a keris around and proclaiming supremacy of a certain race is deemed acceptable.
Funny how peaceful rallies are deemed as riot when noone present was seen brandishing any weapons or explosives. Funny how certain people who have “connections” with the so-called government never even got slap on the wrist for his shameful protest of Condolezza Rice.
Truly funny, indeed.
Malaysia Boleh. I guess what’s “Boleh” is what the government deemed is “Boleh”. Everything is “boleh” as long as noone stirs the pot of racial unity. Everything is “boleh” as long as everyone keeps being complacent and being ignorant of what is happening to our nation right now.
But of course, I don’t really blame the government for this. I blame the people who put these people in power, namely us. Ask yourself, are you a registered voter? If you aren’t, you why aren’t you? If things didn’t happen the way you wanted it to be, it’s your fault. You didn’t take an active role in making sure that your voice is heard.
If you are a registered voter, have you voted before? Are you voting a candidate into office because you know what is their stand on issues that concern you, or are you voting them into power because everyone else is voting for them?
Think about it.
This article was recently addressed to me:
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/11/20/1195321781628.html
Truth and justice are no longer Malaysian way
Michael Backman
Recent street protests have highlighted the self-serving nature of Malaysia’s Government.
THE Government of Australia will probably change hands this weekend. There will be no arrests, no tear gas and no water cannons. The Government of John Howard will leave office, the Opposition will form a government and everyone will accept the verdict.
For this, every Australian can feel justifiably proud. This playing by the rules is what has made Australia rich and a good place in which to invest. It is a country to which people want to migrate; not leave.
Now consider Malaysia. The weekend before last, up to 40,000 Malaysians took to the streets in Kuala Lumpur to protest peacefully against the judiciary’s lack of independence, electoral fraud, corruption and a controlled media.
In response, they were threatened by the Prime Minister, called monkeys by his powerful son-in-law, and blasted with water cannons and tear gas. And yet the vast majority of Malaysians do not want a change of government. All they want is for their government to govern better.
Both Malaysia and Australia have a rule of law that’s based on the English system. Both started out as colonies of Britain. So why is Malaysia getting it so wrong now?
Malaysia’s Government hates feedback. Dissent is regarded as dangerous, rather than a product of diversity. And like the wicked witch so ugly that she can’t stand mirrors, the Government of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi controls the media so that it doesn’t have to see its own reflection.
Demonstrations are typically banned. But what every Malaysian should know is that in Britain, Australia and other modern countries, when people wish to demonstrate, the police typically clear the way and make sure no one gets hurt. The streets belong to the people. And the police, like the politicians, are their servants. It is not the other way around.
But increasingly in Malaysia, Malaysians are being denied a voice — especially young people.
Section 15 of Malaysia’s Universities and University Colleges Act states that no student shall be a member of or in any manner associate with any society, political party, trade union or any other organisation, body or group of people whatsoever, be it in or outside Malaysia, unless it is approved in advance and in writing by the vice-chancellor.
Nor can any student express or do anything that may be construed as expressing support, sympathy or opposition to any political party or union. Breaking this law can lead to a fine, a jail term or both.
The judiciary as a source of independent viewpoints has been squashed. The previous prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, did many good things for Malaysia, but his firing of the Lord President (chief justice) and two other Supreme Court judges in 1988 was an unmitigated disaster. Since then, what passes for a judiciary in Malaysia has been an utter disgrace and the Government knows it.
Several years ago, Daim Zainuddin, the country’s then powerful finance minister, told me that judges in Malaysia were idiots. Of course we want them to be biased, he told me, but not that biased.
Rarely do government ministers need to telephone a judge and demand this or that verdict because the judges are so in tune with the Government’s desires that they automatically do the Government’s beckoning.
Just how appalling Malaysia’s judiciary has become was made clear in recent weeks with the circulation of a video clip showing a senior lawyer assuring someone by telephone that he will lobby the Government to have him made Lord President of the Supreme Court because he had been loyal to the Government. That someone is believed to have been Ahmad Fairuz Abdul Halim, who did in fact become Lord President.
A protest march organised by the Malaysian Bar Council was staged in response to this, and corruption among the judiciary in general. But the mainstream Malaysian media barely covered the march even though up to 2000 Bar Council members were taking part. Reportedly, the Prime Minister’s office instructed editors to play down the event.
Instead of a free media, independent judges and open public debate, Malaysians are given stunts — the world’s tallest building and most recently, a Malaysian cosmonaut. Essentially, they are given the play things of modernity but not modernity itself.
Many senior Malays are absolutely despairing at the direction of their country today. But with the media tightly controlled they have no way of getting their views out to their fellow countrymen. This means that most Malaysians falsely assume that the Malay elite is unified when it comes to the country’s direction.
Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, a former finance minister and today still a member of the Government, told me several weeks ago in Kuala Lumpur that he could see no reason why today Malaysia could not have a completely free media, a completely independent judiciary and that corrupt ministers and other officials should be publicly exposed and humiliated.
According to Tengku Razaleigh, all of the institutions designed to make Malaysia’s Government accountable and honest have been dismantled or neutered.
It didn’t need to be like this. Malaysia is not North Korea or Indonesia. It is something quite different. Its legal system is based on British codes. Coupled with traditional Malay culture, which is one of the world’s most hospitable, decent and gentle cultures, Malaysia has the cultural and historical underpinnings to become one of Asia’s most civilised, rules-based, successful societies.
Instead, Malaysia’s Government is incrementally wasting Malaysia’s inheritance.
http://www.michaelbackman.com
hello guys.. dont u realize that we have lived 2gether in peacefully environtment for over 50 years of independences??? have you see indian people out there died course have no food, no houses, no clothes??? think before you said or act something that will harm Malaysia. Let say u r in india country rite now, do you think that u will gain a comfortable life like as wut u have rite here?? of course NO, i’ve been there for several times, they were so naive, some of them even have to sell their own family bodies (died bodies), for only about RM50+ (after converting), to buy food and some others necessary things. do u wish to live in that way????
And even my millionaire malaysian chinese, have been lied in China country. How luck he is cause he can make a lot of money for running busineses im Malaysia. See…there’s nothing we can argue about Malaysia’s Government. They’ve done a great job.
Let see rite now 8 out of 10 most wealthy people in Malaysia were chinese and indian such as tan sri lim goh tong, tony fernandez, tan sri ananda krishnan and others..
As a doctor, i talk from my experiences, i’ve been travelled to around the world, and i can see that indian’s in Malaysia are the most lucky indian in the world. thank god for this Malaysia country, n for giving us Malaysian great Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi..
I agree with Ganesan…
From my point of view, i do not see our govt unfair to all of you. Since in my life I’ve never seen any hardcore poor Indian people in Malaysia.
Not only Indians living in the small apartment, but Malays too. Not only Indians working as rubber tapper, but most of the Malays who are living in kampung also working as a rubber tapper. We cannot depend 100% on govt, if you work harder then you will get wealth. For example Kamdar, Mydin etc. Everything is depend on our hard working.
Our government treats us equal between Malay, Chinese and Indian, there is no differences at all. But only Malay people get just a little bit extra 5% privileges. But not all Malays get that special privileges only some of them.Not many Malays can afford to buy expensive cars or bungalow, only a few. Not all Malays got a job in govt sect, you see many Malays also working as lower class job such despatch, driver, farmer, mechanic and so on.
I tell you 80% of Malays are poorer than Indian in Malaysia. That’s why our govt, just give a lit bit extra from other races in order to balance the distribution of wealth. But still Indians are more convenient to compare to Malays. You all should thankful when you having a rubber estate.
Our govt does not discriminate all indians here. If you go to the Bar Council Office you can see indian staffs more than Malay staffs.Also a lot of Indian working in govt sector include teacher, University lecturer, policeman, bomba army and others.
If Indians go the govt klinik or hospital they also have to pay RM1.00 for medicines. In my hometown there are many Indians etnic warded in hospital.Our doctors never discriminate indians.
One more thing I came from a family who are staying in the village, my parents are working as a rubber tapper and we have only poor wooden house. But we as a Malay we do not complain to the government.
Most Indians working in the estate as a rubber tapper, you all should thankful because at least you all have income.
If you all want to have a good life so just struggle like chinese people. Do your own business. The most important thing just ask yourselves whats are your contribution to govt? JUST BEAR IN YOUR MIND NOT ALL BUMIPUTRA HAVE THE SPECIAL PRIVILEGES.
so what is the next action going to taken by british …?…
hi irrmila …
hi friend i agree what u say about the country and how we live in this peacefull country … in my point
hindraf accually not a organization to againts the government but a organization where plan to summit the their morendum , opinion, what is good for country for the future and indian community..and what their hope from this country too… not araint government and BN yet all….
But you can ask this didnt ask via MIC ….?
ans : no action from them ……and MIC no majority in parliment … that y plan to summit to british …
to make right to all… not for againt government …
please understand …
I suspect there a curtain people coming here a trying to instigate some racial issues guys. Many people told me to moderate the comments and only let positive one be shown, that’s not me and I want to be fair. Good or bad you get to voice your opinion.
Everything was fine till the recent week when I started getting negative comment that were very racist, very suspicious activity I would say.
Please forgive me because I am forced to turn off comments now on the Hindraf related post.
Sorry guys
hi everybody…..
I’m a Malaysian Indian student studying in overseas as I have the money to study abroad….But what will those with not enough money do?? Only a small amount of Indian in m’sia are capable of spending money on their children’s education as they have the money…
To mention majority of Indians are still poor…they make their children study until secondary school…to pursue their higher studies, they highly depend on the government institution as they cant afford private education institutions…This is a known fact..
“Irmila”…What do u know about Indians is m’sia???….Don’t tell me the Malays have any problem in gaining good education… I know a lot of my Indian friends who highly depend on the government university after their STPM…when they list down a list of course they are interested in….Do know what is the result…”They’ll get a course which was the last on their list”..This is what they obtain..This is what normally happens..People who wanted to study acc..Will get some other course which is not at all related…All we need is education to bring up ourselves….when that education is not properly provided what else the Indians can do…A Malay student with lesser mark than a Chinese or Indian can easily enter the university without any doubt…”CAN U SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS?”
CAN ANYONE JUSTIFY THIS? WE WANT PROPER RIGHTS FOR GAINING EDUCATION…now only the Indian have been awaken to ask their rights
Thanks to HINDRAF for leading them …hope the government to appropriate action on this…
Next is about the police….How can they do so. Mixing chemical in the water to disperse the crowd… (DONT U HAVE A HEART?)….I don’t think it is necessary for the police to do so….even though it was said that it was an illegal rally….How can the police do so…?? Y no action on the police…
“The most important thing just ask yourselves what’s are your contribution to govt?” This is ur statement irmila…For ur information it’s the governments duty to look after the ‘rakyat’..not the rakyat’s job to look after the government….its the government duty to solve if there’s any problem in any of the community let it be Chinese ,Indian or Malay..
…irmila u don’t know the full story about what’s going on in the Indian community. so I guess u know what im trying to say…