by Jaya
A week prior to Deepavali 2007, can you remember how the Indian community were greeted by their BN leaders? Their adored place of worship, the Padang Jawa Temple in Klang was cruelly demolished. Wonder if it is a decision that the previous Selangor MB regrets? Many Indians believe that it was ‘divine wrath and punishment’ that gave a trashing defeat to BN in the State of Selangor.
Now fast forward to 2008, this year the community got a wonderful present for their Deepavali festival. Our Government has banned and declared Hindraf illegal!!! None can say it better than F E Smith “There is more credit in being abused by fools than praised by rogues .”
One wonders if all this came about because the Big Boys were not happy that Indian families went to PMs open house in their orange Tee-Shirts. The delegation was led by a little 6 year old girl who handed over a greeting card and a teddy bear!!! By Gosh, by a stretch of any imagination, could the Malaysian population consider a little stuffed toy, as a threat to national security??
What is Hindraf then if it is not a surge of years of pent up frustrations of Malaysian Indians being marginalized in Education, in Government – the biggest employer in the country or even in business. Yet the world over, the Indian Diaspora economically does better than most other nationalities. So a question that Indians and others ask, how come in Malaysia, Indians are left behind???
Frankly do the Big Bosses realize that Hindraf is not a mere society that they can close down? Can you curb the pent up emotions of a people, generations who worked for this country and are now faced with difficulties. These simple people would have been happy to meet up with the PM and would have been his most ardent fan for life. Hey, I thought Governments are elected by the people, for the people and of the people, its hard to fathom, how come our leaders do not engage in dialogue? Yet, see how these simple Indian people, have been demonized?
Actually if the media have given an accurate report of the 27th September 2008, Candle light vigil, those big bullies in high places would have understood “the spirit of a people united”. That vigil was a true example of the Hindraf Spirit, organized for the release of the ISA detainees, most of whom are Malays, it was a call sent out before Raya, in hope that the Muslim brothers will get released prior to their festival Hari Raya. Many who led the Hindraf procession, and those who led the chants for Makkal Shakti and Hindraf Valage, were Chinese youth who came in full support the Indian cause. If it wasn’t the puasa month, for sure we would have seen many more of our Malay family there.
So then how can the spirit, the emotion, the soul, or the inner force, the oneness, the unity, the very essence of Malaysian Life be stilled, by a mere Government declaring it illegal?? Never and we loudly say never can the spirit of Bangsa Malaysia be snuffed out.
Now, like never before we Malaysians are bound together in one spirit, Malay, Chinese, Indian and others, have come together as one. You see it at the courts in solidarity for RPK, you see it on the blogs and websites, you see it at the vigils, we saw in the 8th March elections.
Yes my brothers and sisters, we are all bound together in one spirit. The spirit of unity cannot be declared illegal and cannot be banned. This time the wave of change is bigger than the Tsunami and it is sweeping our beautiful country. It’s a call for change, a call to wipe out all forms of racism that is being raised for political hegemony. It’s a call against corruption, scam and cheating of the Rakyat.
Let me jog your memory a bit to what our RPK said in one of the last few messages to us, before he got interned, albeit unfairly. I think briefly it meant that we Malaysians should give our lives to protect each other, so that not one drop of Malaysian blood is shed. We have to ensure that no one can divide us and protect this sprit of unity that binds us.
Maybe it indeed is a blessing, look back, last year’s Deepavali present resulted in March 8th Tsunami, five states landed into opposition hands and it was this refusal of the leaders to heed the voices of their own citizenry that gave them the defeat. This time one wonders what’s in store for the Big Boys in High Places!!
We the people of Malaysia are called together to ensure that we and the future generations, will live in peace, in harmony, entrusting our Country to the Good Governance of Honest Leaders called to be accountable by a Rakyat United.
The Spirit of Hindraf and Bangsa Malaysia will always live.