A TIME and a place for everything applies to most societies in most countries. That's the way most of us are brought up. As guests we are taught to show respect for our host. For a guest to disrupt a party, to misbehave, is to put it simply and mildly, a sign of poor upbringing, of uncouth behaviour.
A Hari Raya open house is to most Malaysians a joyous occasion for them to savour the sumptuous and generous spread of traditional Malay delicacies and kuih-muih on the table. It's a day that is almost sacred to the Malay/Muslim. It's a day for forgiveness -- and for kids and even those older who have yet to work to smile from ear to ear on being given their duit raya.
It definitely is not a day for anyone to organise a protest of sorts and hand over a petition or whatever to the host. But that was what happened at the open house hosted by the prime minister and members of his Cabinet in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
On that day at the PWTC members and supporters of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) decided that it was an opportune time to hand over a card to the PM asking him to release five of the organisation's leaders detained under the Internal Security Act in Kamunting. There was also another form of protest by a group of about 20 bloggers who wore T-shirts with the slogans "No to ISA" and "Free (blogger) RPK".
If my father was still alive and someone told him I was one of the protesters either with the Hindraf group or the bloggers I don't think I would dare come home to face him for the next five years. Such was the way he brought up his nine children, always reminding us about never going to a feast without an invitation and never to go a-calling at someone's home during meal times.
Granted that Wednesday's was an open house that didn't require an invite but still there was a host and there was a guest.
But politics does strange things to people. If previously some of my Malay/Muslim friends would condemn the decision by the two groups as being kurang ajar, they now say this is perfectly normal only because they have now become firm believers in opposition politics. And I think it was politics that influenced Pas president Hadi Awang to say that the action by Hindraf was part and parcel of democracy and that it signalled a change in the democratic practices in the country that should be viewed positively.
For good measure Hadi further said this: "I don't think it was rude. That's democracy. In the United States people demonstrate in front of the White House."
Wow, so it's American style democracy we have here in Malaysia these days, especially following the 12th general elections on March 8? C'mon Hadi, in this case in front is on the pavement outside the perimeter of the White House, a few hundred metres and well away from the president's Oval office.
If this is also part of the changes people expect from Malaysians I shudder to think what else is in store for blokes like me.
ISMAIL MUST BE JOKING
I READ a story from Singapore yesterday on the launch of the book by retired journalist Ismail Kassim who was a correspondent in Kuala Lumpur for something like 20 years for his Singapore newspaper until 1995. I bumped into him many times during my reporting days but never exchanged more than a few words each time. Usually it was just a smile and a "hi".
It was from this story that I knew Ismail had in fact came back to live in KL after his early retirement but that lasted only about a year before he decided to return to Singapore.
His reason for returning home: "I would never be happy as a Malaysian. I am someone who cannot keep my mouth shut when I see something disagreeable happening. In Singapore, as a citizen, I have the right to express my opinion at any time on any issue. I can't do it in Malaysia even if I become a permanent resident or a citizen."
Tell me you were kidding Ismail. No wonder Singapore is known the world over as a country that has a political opposition that thrives on being free.....
Monday, October 6, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
Bro, i like your piece on Hadi. I wanted to write the same thing in my blog. I decided otherwise when I read yours. Well said. It is exactly how I feel about his statement.
nobisha
I dont like hindraf very much. Infact i hate hindraf. But, it doesnt meant that I hate indian. Indian people are mostly a good people. but hindraf... a ???? group... (still can't figure out what is their 'main goal')
And I think that guy need a realignment on his view. Sent him to kedai tayar. Maybe in singapore, kedai tayar charge him to much.
As salaamu alaikum
Bukan nak kata, tapi perihal adab dan sopan santun ni banyak yang ada antara kaum2 di Malaysia, hanya ada pada orang Melayu. Ya setiap bangsa ada peraturan moral mereka tersendiri tapi kalau hendak dibezakan secara halus, cuma pada orang Melayu yang kenal apa itu sopan dan apa itu santun pada tahap yang lebih dari kaum2 lain.
Pada saya, sampai bila pun orang2 Hindu yang menyokong Hindraf tidak akan sadar arti perbuatan mereka menceroboh majlis sambutan Hari Raya itu. Barangkali kerana dibawah arus politik, perasaan perkauman atau apa jua tapi pada dasarnya cara kesopanan dan tata susila yang mereka diajar tidak sama dengan peradaban orang Melayu.
Makanya tak usah perah keringat mahu mendapat sebarang reaksi bersalah dari mereka. Pada mereka, apa yang mereka buat itu benar kerana peradaban mereka berlainan. Pada saya, peristiwa ini mencerminkan betapa susahnya sebenarnya untuk menjadi Malaysian Malaysia. Perkara intrinsik kaum terlalu tebal.
Saya ada menonton rakaman dari peristiwa tersebut... Terlupa dimana... Tapi pada suatu ketika, terdengar suara salah seorang ahli Hindraf yang seolah olah mencabar, "kita pun rakyat Malaysia, kenapa tak boleh? Kita pun rakyat Malaysia..."
Apabila terdengar ayat itu, saya terduduk memikirkan apakah benar kata ahli Hindraf itu? Apakah kerana dia seorang rakyat Malaysia, maka dia boleh buat sesuka hati dia dimana dan dengan cara apa pun?
Katakan ada seorang penyokong kelab bola Manchester, dan tiba2 dia mahu masuk ke bilik khas penonton, apakah logik kalau alasan dia mesti di benarkan masuk kesitu kerana dia sudah membayar yuran beratus ratus paun maka apa yang dimahukannya mesti dituruti oleh kelab? Malah itu sudah berbayar duit lagi, tetapi menjadi rakyat Malaysia tak perlu bayar satu sen pun (lupakan tentang cukai, ok?).
Atau barangkali penyokong tersebut akan dikenakan tindakan polis atau pembuangan dari menjadi ahli kerana kebiadabannya?
Lucu tapi aneh. Orang Melayu terkenal dengan adab dan sopan santunnya, tapi ada satu lagi aspek perwatakan orang Melayu yang hampir dilupai ramai. Apakah dia?
Ia suatu mental aberration atau perasaan kurang stabil yang dikenal dengan istilah AMUK! Perasaan orang Melayu boleh diperlekehkan tapi ada hari, ada had. Jangan sampai ketahap kita udah tak boleh tahan, dan perlihatkan apa artinya istilah Melayu dah Mengamuk.
Dear Aziz,
Looks like 'the end justifies the means'thats what Hadi is trying to say.Pas has compromise alot just to please the power wannabe.
Islamic and natural malay customs has been side step.I wonder will be in place if they come to power.May ALLAH have mercy on us.
sdr aziz
PAS sedang mabuk sekarang,mabuk dengan Anwar Ibrahim.Perkataan orang mabuk memang tak boleh dipakai.Biarkanlah mereka,satu hari kebenaran akan diterangi Allah.
Hindraf memang kurang ajar dimajlis hari raya diPWTC.'For the first time a blogger uses the right word to describe the actions by hindraf'.Syabas!
Ekonomi orang India di Malaysia terutama sekali Hindu 'lower caste'memang teruk.Tapi mereka marah 100% kepada UMNO dan Melayu adalah tidak masuk akal.
Cuba tengok kedai Mamak saja,mana ada hindu Malaysia yang mereka ambil berkerja?tengok kedai2 kain yang masyur diKL,mana ada Hindu Malaysia yang berkerja.Kalau ada pun mungkin driver sahaja.Jadi jangan marah Melayu.Perbetulkan sistem 'caste'anda dulu.
Kemudian tanya Samy dan MIC dimana perginya wang dan projek yang kerajaan beri untuk orang India.
Dah selesai dengan caste dan MIC barulah Hindraf boleh marah Kerajaan.
Sdr Aziz
Si Ismail ni satu hal pula!Saya nak Sdr tanya Ismail supaya buat koleksi segala artikel yang beliau tulis mengritik kerajaan Singapura dan bukukan nya.Saya janji akan beli buku tersebut.Yang saya rasa buku itu akan nipis sangat2
saudara aziz,
i remember reading my brother's (another mcoba) blog "The Ancient Mariner" that the tiny luak of Rembau has produced more Malay medical doctors and Ph.Ds than all 'Malay' Sporeans put together ! so this bachelor social misfit staying in a 3room hdb flat shouldn't call himself 'malay'. as a matter of fact there are no more malays in singapore after being decimated by LKY. they are all boyans, arabs, indians, javanese, achehnese decendants. malay? they are ashamed to call themselves so.
regards
kassim ahmad
co65, idris, life328
Hi All .... just a note about this Ismail fellow ... by all means ... Go Back to your trusted-beloved Singapore. Yeah right ... Singaporean can view up their opinion openly ... hello kawan ... your government ada dengar ka? Depa ada peduli ka? Yeah ... you're having better living there in Singapore.
I support what you said. Kentut (Farting) is also my democratic right and it is not illegal.
But if I wre to do it with people around, it would not be decent. And, I wonder if those holy people would fight for my democratic right to kentut in their presence.
Salam Aidilfitri, and hope that outr amal during Ramadhan is accepted.
sdra kassim, a sikh friend (yg termasuk dalam ketegori bangsa "indians") yg kenal baik ramai politikos melayu membuka ramai mata rakan2nya serta politikos berkenaan sewaktu isu hindraf bermula dan cukup hangat dengan menjelaskan bahawa sesiapa yg berkata bahawa orang india ramai berjaya -- jadi doktor, lawyers, dll -- salah tafsir. tidak tepat.
betul ramai berjawatan tinggi tapi dari kaum bukan tamil. dalam masyarakat india memang betul ada caste systemnya. yg berjaya ramai dari golongan malayalee, ceylonese. masalahnya dalam masyarakat tamil. saya juga ada membaca surat dalam sun ketika itu yg jelas ditulis oleh wanita india yang merojok kpd masalah "dalaman" dalam masyarakat india sendiri -- discrimination begitu ketara katanya sesama mereka.
ramai masyarakat malayalee dan ceylonese tak boleh cakap tamil dan saya rasa tak maupun. nama juga berbeza -- tony fernandes,gnanalingam (ceylonese), dan yg lain2 yg menyerupai nama mat salleh. di nstp group dulu memang ramai gang malayalee yg pegang senior posts in advertising dan news dept.
Post a Comment