Together We Can
May 27, 2007
In ‘To Digress’, I lamented that justice was lost.
How, and why, did this happen?
Remember Operasi Lallang in 1987? YB Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh and 110 others detained under the ISA.
A nation stood by and watched.
Why?
Not our family.
Soon after, in 1988, Article 121(1) was amended. The judicial arm of government brought to its knees.
A nation stood by and watched.
Why?
Does not affect our family.
Still in 1988, Tun Salleh Abas and 2 other Supreme Court judges sacked.
A nation stood by and watched.
Why?
Not our family.
1996, the whistleblower judge, Syed Ahmad Idid, forced into retirement.
A nation stood by and watched.
Why?
Not our family.
We have never stood by some of the bravest politicians who have fought for justice for us.
We betrayed them.
We abandoned our judges in their hour of need. We left them to the mercy of self-serving politicians.
And still the people of this nation choose to stand by and watch. As this country is ravaged by parasitic politicians who thrive and sustain themselves off a people who have grown accustomed to care only for their own.
Last Friday, I received an e-mail from a young man who has not yet attained to the right to vote. I want to share with you a little of his opening and closing paragraphs.
‘I am a non-voting resident in________…I thought I might volunteer my help as well, especially since from what I’ve heard, many people are afraid to voice their opinions. I have no such qualms about doing so, because I am convicted that my opinions are lawful and thought out’.
The young man then shared some of his thoughts with me on some of his concerns and then concluded:
‘I understand if you feel that a non-voter might not be best-placed to speak on these things, but I hope you will give me a chance to lend a voice to those most disenchanted and alienated by the political process…’
To the many who have sent messages of encouragement for the efforts mooted through this blog, accompanied with reasons for not getting involved, please re-think your position.
If all like-minded Malaysians, who want to save this country, will come together, I believe there is much we can achieve.
Please, let us not make the same mistakes of the past by remaining silent.
Three efforts have been launched through this blog.
‘Get to know your MP’. If you want to know more about this, please read the ‘Get to know your MP’ and ‘Get to know your MP : What and How’ posts.
‘Keep our MP’. To know more about this, read the ‘Save the Constitution : No 2/3 Majority’ post.
‘Get a new MP’. To better understand this effort, please read the ‘Save the Constitution : No 2/3 Majority (Part 2)’ post.
If you think you can contribute through any of the three efforts mentioned above, please send an e-mail to thepeoplesparliament@gmail.com
The country needs you now. Please do not turn your back on her.
May 28, 2007 at 1:23 am
Kepala Batas, anyone? I’m the lone ranger ..
May 30, 2007 at 8:55 am
I remember vividly the sacking of the Lord President and the two judges. As ordinary citizens, what could we do then?
I was very angry and cursed Mahathir, Hamid Omar and the kangaroo tribunal. But many Malaysians just did not care one bit. It was not their concern as judiciary and courts are quite alien to them.
I was hoping then, that morally upright judges could have resigned en block in protest against the emasculation of the judiciary. They could have made a difference. But alas, they too stood by and watched. Thus the sorry state of our judiciary today.
I am still keeping “Mayday for Justice” by K Das and Salleh so that the future generations will know the reason for the decline of our judicial system.
July 26, 2007 at 9:40 pm
Hello Haris,
I would like to share the following story as a start for talking point even among the younger ones, especially those not eligible to vote.
http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/politics/detail/Political_maturity_not_a_question_of_age.html?siteSect=1505&sid=8001204&cKey=1183886981000
I leave it to you to put it out but in response to your above posting I think it is relevant and useful for us to consider how youths and the younger generation can participate in issues that greatly effect them.
Regards
July 30, 2007 at 11:47 am
[...] Forget about parasitic politicians, let’s talk about Bangsa Malaysia. [...]