Saffron Sunday
November 29, 2007
( created by Meesh )
adamabd, in a comment to my suggestion that this 2nd December, 2007 we commemorate our Hindu brothers efforts on 25/11 as a rallying call to emancipate all underprivileged Malaysians by lighting candles, asked :
‘Haris, you suggested a candle-lit vigil as an alternative. All nice and quiet, right? My kind of show. And what’s the significance of the candle?’
First, the significance of the candle.
On 19th June, 2007, Malaysians converged on Dataran Merdeka to light candles in solidarity with Revathi. You can read about it HERE.
From that day, this blog has carried a lit candle in the sidebar.
It represents, for me, the light of love, hope and solidarity of a people waking up.
All nice and quiet, you asked?
Well, its up to you. You can have a wild party and light candles or make it a quiet affair with the family.
Me. I’m going to get a few friends together, and maybe some family members and light some candles. If you would like to join us, please send me an e-mail at thepeoplesparliament@gmail.com . You’ll have to identify yourself, though. Yes, just like you did when you signed the petition. No anonymity, please. And as I do want to keep this small so that we can really fraternise, do not be offended if I reply and say that we have reached optimum.
Blogger friends, please help to publicise this initiative.
People, commit yourselves to tell 20 others about this initiative. Urge them to tell 20 others. Call your friends and family who do not have access to the internet and tell them about Saffron Sunday, why we are doing it and ask them to join in and to tell others. Ask them to take photos and to send it to you.
Wherever you and your friends meet to light candles, please take pictures and send them to me if you do not have your own blog to put them up.
Next week, I will dedicate a post to put up all pictures and write-ins from anyone who cares to send them in to thepeoplesparliament@gmail.com
If we commit ourselves to this, it is not impossible to have candles lit at 8.30pm on Saffron Sunday from Perlis to Johor.
And Sabah and Sarawak. Let’s not forget our brothers and sisters there.
Wouldn’t that tell us how strong civil society has become?
Wouldn’t that send out a very strong message to the government that they must heed our call for change?
I shall be asking a friend who subscribes to Google Earth to get pictures.
People, like the many initiatives started through this blog, Saffron Sunday is yours, not mine.
Its success and effectiveness, or otherwise, is in your hands.
UPDATE : My friend with the Google Earth account has just told me to stop talking nonsense.
Sigh! No satellite picture.
November 29, 2007 at 8:21 pm
What a wonderful idea Haris, and pictures do take pictures of your vigil and send it all around. Let Saffron Sunday pictures blanket the blogs!
November 29, 2007 at 9:23 pm
As a singaporean indian (hindu background but very much an atheist) with much familiarity with Malaysian blogs – jeez the amount of time I spend lurking! – and often dismayed by the vitriolic racism on display in the comments, as well as some blog articles (malaysia today being a prime example),I sincerely thank you for this initiative.
The way I see it, much of the anguish and turmoil that was expressed in the Hindraf rally comes from being marginalised and looked down upon and the immediate anger stems from the recent temple demolitions as well as the govt’s heavyhanded and arrogant treatment of the hindraf activists prior to the rally. It is regrettable that it was hindu concerns that ultimately drew people onto the streets but in many ways this is the logical and inevitable blowback to the islamist directions that malaysian society has taken in recent years. Hindraf do need to cool down and focus on discrimination issues which include specific issues like the conversion controversies and the temples issues, as well as the economomic marginalisation that affects indians if they want broader support from fellow malaysians. They cannot afford exclusionary tendencies they have neither the numbers nor the money for that. Thus far much of what I have seen and read (in tamil and english) shows that they have no extreme hindu ideas, just the anguish , sometimes ill-expressed, of having their faith and places of worship held in such low esteem by the authorities.
The good thing about the recent events is that many malaysian indians seem to have seen through the MIC and other malaysians have benefitted from having one of the taboo subjects voiced by malaysian indians : equal rights for all malaysians. I don’t think that malay-muslims will want to concede/share their position of advantage but franky speaking, unless you want to down the path total repression, you may ultimately have little choice but renogotiate the terms of citizenship.
November 29, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Assalam n good evening to all Malaysia People..just change the goverment with BARISAN ALTERNATIVE(PAS,DAP,ADIL N OTHER COMPONENT)just do it in next 12th election.This can happen with peace n harmony with BARISAN ALTERNETIVE the dream will come true….KEEP IN TOUCH WITH BARISAN ALTERNATIVE…GOOD NITE
November 29, 2007 at 9:45 pm
God ideas. Many colors, one dream. Many colors, one nation. Emancipation for all is found in Galatians 5:1 ” It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
I find that Christians are divided racially at an intimate level however.
November 29, 2007 at 11:08 pm
I’ll light up candles at8.30 pm on saffron sunday with my whole family. A Photo will be sent toyour email.
Thank you.
November 30, 2007 at 12:15 am
[...] As<”Haris of People Parliament”> puts it perfectly, “you can have a wild party and light candles or make it a quiet affair with the family”…at the end of the day how you decide to light your candles is up to you, the most important thing is that you do it with the intention and determination to support each of us Malaysians in their struggle towards achieving a better Malaysia for you and for me… [...]
November 30, 2007 at 12:25 am
You have my support as usual Haris. Have already posted in on my blog will spread the word to my non-blogger pals and the off line world…good luck…..may all Malaysians realize the significance of this act for Malaysia!
November 30, 2007 at 12:51 am
Will do
November 30, 2007 at 12:54 am
I will light a candle here in Dubai
.
November 30, 2007 at 8:07 am
Yes I support this and will light up some candles
November 30, 2007 at 9:51 am
will light some candles here in Korea
thanx for all the things you post on your blog….it is making a difference.takecare
November 30, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Candles for the Darks
or Blindness in the Heart!
=====================
Where are the lights
when Laws are stuck
with courts can distort grievances
and lawyers for their own life?
Departments with their own Rules to rise
Answer or not they can choose what they like!
Welfare of people at the mercy of the Parties
to share in their own eyes
Keeping people blind!
Fairness in Dark
so Blindness in the heart!
Lit the Candle
for Saffron in the Heart
to lift blindness off the Heart!
A Malaysian Heart!
November 30, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Rally on the Toll!
=================
http://whatalulu.blogspot.com/2007/11/lulu-despairs-as-rich-grow-richer-and.html
Can we fix the Date and Time
for a HORNING day?
towards the Hijack of Toll
if nothing can be hold?
In Rush Hours I suppose?
Along the highway
they thought those are milky way
to hidden pockets underway
with People fooled all the way!
Horn Samy for Transparency!
Horn Highway Co. for accountability!
Horn to say People must have Dignity!
Horn to CRY without Tears
remembering the Blood and Sweat
and the Bullies that continue to spread!!
November 30, 2007 at 2:04 pm
There is a great sense of forte having the fire of a candle burning in a hurricane!!
I will lit a candle..
e
November 30, 2007 at 3:59 pm
hi,
have been observing multiple events across the causeway for quite some time and reading the blogs…what happen really is kinda emotional…and i was in KL while the Bersih had their rally first time in my life watched the rally from a distance though….road blocks everywhere and i only managed to get in a bank after quite some time after all the rock blocks…
Malaysia is a beautiful country…!!
November 30, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Dear Haris,
Guess the bouquets outnumbered the brickbats so I just keep the helmet until you need them. In any case, a prayer for your ‘admirers’ that the next time they criticise you, forget-me-nots (flower) would sprout in their garden. Still, take care lest it is cactus that appear!
Lighted candles and prayers too for the awesome Rungus community in remote Kota Marudu (Sabah) who, a few years ago shared with us their food – tapioca, rice and unseasoned frog soups.
They tasted yummy as I imagined them to be chicken stew (not a word, Haris!). And all that time, timber-laden trucks zoomed past, spewing clouds of dust in our direction.
Thanks for the memories and humbling experience. It was a privilege.
November 30, 2007 at 8:08 pm
HUMAN RIGHTS FUND?
==================
Human Rights to be rooted
for any lawyer to talk fairness en route!
NO toll can be raised
with terms and conditions under OSA
hiding BIAS or illogical in the contract!
Raise a “Human Rights Fund”
a RM10 to a special account
with direct deposit or transfer
with same display on blog
to cast a kind of vote!
Injunction to get transparency
and accountability
with straightening of any contradictory
before any tariff please!
This should also help the Bail
towards anyone challenged with Human Rights
with contribution from ALL
Hope Lawyers & Courts to put it right!
ALL Drivers a RM10 to a “Toll Fund”
with fax or e-mail their details
for a Toll Committee on the list
giving numbers in grievance in one piece!
Both under Malaysian Rights Fund
to be audited and transparent to run!
Anyone like mavrky will help?
http://www.projectmanagementysm.blogspot.com/
WALK THE RALLY REQUESTS TO COURT!!
November 30, 2007 at 10:12 pm
To mirabilis and others who think that all malay muslims in malaysia hold positions of advantage, read more or better still ask the malay cross-section. The bersih rally marchers were 95 percent malay muslims. The majority of the malays have nothing to gain from the special rights. What is the big deal about 5 percent discount for buying houses when they can’t afford or places in university when they don’t qualify? I share the grief of my ethnic indian friends. No support even from the MIC! The present government ministers do not have the interests of the people in their minds. Greedy arrogant Bxxxards.
December 1, 2007 at 4:50 am
will definitely add my candles to the silent flame. while our little fires may not scorch, we can still expose the government’s shame.
thanks for the initiative, haris
December 1, 2007 at 6:45 am
Harris!
As you are fully aware,I am a Third Generation Malaysian Indian of The Raja Cholan Heritage {& a Hindu} to boot!
I will light candles Nine{9} representing the NavaKeraham{The Nine Planets of the Solar System} for peace,goodwill & the light of Divine Wisdom to beam down on our leaders{MALAYSIAN}of all races,religions,creed & culture, so as to fashion proper policies, implement them on behalf of the RAKYAT, to whom they owe an oath of office & a duty of care.
It is also believed from our Ancient Heritage, that An Act in breach of such Oath of Office, will bring reaction to the Holder of such office, in this Life!
Cheers, Ol’Friend!& all our best to Family! Godspeed!
December 1, 2007 at 11:50 am
So this is why the local kedai is out of candles. Sorry, Haris, just a weak attempt at levity. It has been gloomy lately.
Quiet is very much how I like it.
December 1, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Already got a photo of me in a yellow T-shirt (unfortunately, a BERSIH member who offered to send a few BERSIH T-shirts last weekend, couldn’t make it and said she will try this weekend. There is still tomorrow.
Already preparing a post in my blog to be published tomorrow at 8.30pm (that is the time set to show anyway. Unfortunately Google Blogger do not have the option to schedule to automatically publish at future date and time. I can be done though with a work-around, but I think all I need to do is change it from a saved draft to published post around that time. Itching to publish it now with date and time shown 2 Nov 2007, 8.30pm and send link to contacts but that is jumping the gun on Haris and co-organizer. However, if Haris gives go ahead, that is what I will do.
Anyway, there is still the time zone to play around with and US is I think about 12 hours after us, so I may have 12 hours to play with.
BTW I am neither Indian nor Hindu.
Concerned Malaysian (Peter, name given so Haris knows who is commenting) Blog*Star
Blog for Positive Changes
(proud to be the only Malaysian Blog*Star among a small handful, most in US and 2 in Canada)
December 1, 2007 at 10:05 pm
Will light one up, no should be 4 (2 sons, wife and me)
Haris I left a comment on your blog about banning newspaper.
Can you organize A NO TOLL Holiday? Don’t use the toll during this xmas holiday from 21 December 2007 – 3 January 2008.
Wear Yellow and stop by every kampung and tell them about our struggle. Let the kampung know we are coming, ask them set up store to sell food for all the motorist who are using the federal trunk road!
Do you think it will work? I will be doing this on my way to Kedah from KL!
Cheer
Yong
December 2, 2007 at 10:31 am
Dear Harris,
I’m attending a dinnr tonight at a dear friend’s home -who although not an activist herself , is very proud of al the ongoing efforts to bring about a united and just Malaysia.
I will take some candles and a camera along to ensure that our picture gets to you.
Thanks
Cheers.
Here’s wishing you a meaningful Saffron Sunday
December 2, 2007 at 2:06 pm
[...] As<”Haris of People Parliament”>puts it perfectly, “you can have a wild party and light candles or make it a quiet affair with the family”…at the end of the day how you decide to light your candles is up to you, the most important thing is that you do it with the intention and determination to support each of us Malaysians in their struggle towards achieving a better Malaysia for you and for me… Read [...]
December 2, 2007 at 2:39 pm
[...] be a gathering among friends, probably at the Blog House, to mark the event. Peace and quiet. Visit The People’s Parliament for [...]
December 2, 2007 at 2:49 pm
[...] http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/saffron-sunday/ [...]
December 2, 2007 at 10:35 pm
Have been reading this blog recently – but have hardly participated in anything.
But thougt its about time that I started doing something. Lit a candle outside my house. Thought really hard about it before I did it , for the simple reason that I do not agree with what appears to be your initiative to play down the RACIAL marginalisation of the Indian community with Saffron Day. (or maybe I have misunderstood this?)
But I lit the candle nevertheless, to support the call for a united Malaysia, for all Malaysians.
An e-mail is circulating on an alleged posting from a Malaysian studying overseas, which refers, inter alia, to your blog. Perhaps she has posted a commentary on your blog laready – but if not, an excerpt of what she says is set out , which I wanted to say, but could not put down as succintly:
” ….. I read Malik Imtiaz’s article and I think it is good. Same for Haris Ibrahim. I only wish that people would STOP saying that they have a problem with the Indians fighting for Indian/Hindu rights. That they should be fighting for the collective poor’s rights. I am afraid I find this kind of reasoning completely devoid of logic or historical foundation. The Indians have been the most marginalised group in this country. Have there been millions of Malays who have been marginalised and who fall below the poverty line? Yes. But as a group, the Indians stand out as having received the least favour and the worst treatment over the last 50 years, BECAUSE they are Indian. So as a group they coalesce (finally) and stand up to fight for their rights, and then you have all these Malaysian liberals who would have this low status, disenfranchised group fight for the rights of ALL? When the discrimination against the Indians has been based on their group membership, suddenly we want them to put this aside, rise above it and say ‘let us fight for all the poor’?. This is seriously flawed thinking. It panders to an ideal without taking into account the reality on the ground……… ”
Just out of curiosity, have you done any research to substantiate what appears to be your position , that there is no RACIAL marginalisation of these Indians? Or that their plight is no more than that suffered by the poor of other races – in which case there is then no racial marginalisation of Indians?
I have not researched this e-mail that claims the Indians are the most marginalised in the country. I have just assumed that there is truth to it, based on Kg Medan and the claims and experiences of people (against and for) Indians, whom I know.
Maybe its not true. And maybe I (and many that I know) are reacting and thinking based on perceptions that are not true.
Is there some (honestly) independant report or study on this?
Btw, being new to the site, just wanted to say that you are doing what a lot of us want, but make little effort to achieve – you are making a sincere and valiant effort to make a better Malaysia for all of us – it is much needed, and very much appreciated.