I desire change, and not power
March 20, 2008
At 8.58 tonight, wayan562 posted the following comment :
Dear Haris, it seems that your heart has been blinded by hatred that everything that the BN government does is sure to be bad. Mind you,I too dislikes those who is corrupted but not all that they have done are bad or useless. You guys are getting cocky by the days and one day it will get to your head. Tell me what is the difference between you and them?
___________________
Please do not misconstrue as hate my total distrust for and rejection of a regime that has for so long inflicted injustice on the rakyat.
Yes, I despise the burden that they place on an already heavily burdened people.
I despise that they terrorise the very people they took oath to serve.
I despise that in the name of affirmative action, they rob and plunder from the impoverished.
I despise that in the name of God and religion, they inflict inhumane treatment on my fellow citizens.
But I do not hate them.
I just wish they would leave us to begin the healing of a nation so badly scarred.
What difference between them and I, you ask.
I desire change, not power.
They ask you for power, but not to bring about change.
I desire a nation of a single people.
They would keep us divided.
I desire justice and equality.
They offer tyranny.
I desire that you, wayan562, and I, be heard.
They would rather have you and I silenced.
Getting cocky, you contend.
Again, do not confuse as cockiness a people slowly finding confidence from their mutual support to speak up, to assert themselves and to take their place in nation-building and governance.
All this will get to my head, you say.
I pray that day never comes.
March 20, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Dear Haris,
You are one of those few Malays (or even half-Malay) that aspire to bring about changes to the political structure in Malaysia; from race-based politics to multiracial politics.
I certainly hope we have more Malays like you in order to bring about a one country one nation a reality.
To me, democracy in Malaysia is still at its infant stage. For example, if you have a state constitution that says only a particular race can be the MB, then this is not real democracy.
Thank you, Haris.
Thank you, kahwangc
March 20, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Well said! It’s people like you that make me proud to be a malaysian.
Out of topic – but can you give yr take on BN defectors joining the coalition? I feel it’s unwise to accept them – by their actions, they have proven themselves untrustworthy and greedy. They’ll contaminate the coalition.
And this may not be the best of times to take over the Federal govt – a worldwide recession in on the way,the coalition may not be able to deliver on its’ rather ambitious manifesto – that would come back to bite them in 5 years.
If Malaysia is to have any chance as an unified progressive country, the coalition must prove itself. Don’t bite off more than it can chew.
March 21, 2008 at 12:19 am
Haris
I think many of MY family and friends who attended the many Barisan Raayat ceramahs were convinced of your sincerity to champion for better governance and transparency.
I would even dare to say, that together with RPK, both of you have changed the mindsets of many voters to vote for change cutting across racial lines. It was a difficult task to overcome barriers built by UMNO/BN racist propaganda over the last 50 years. You did it.
You have spoken without fear and favour. Most of all, you are not even a candidate in the GE12. For that, all of us are very thankful for your contributions for a “New Dawn”.
You spoke with passion and conviction. Of course, there is a old Chinese saying, “A tall tree attracts strong wind”. If you are NOT tall and important, who would bother about you.
The fact that you have received such unsavoury comments from your reader, confirms that you are doing the right things. In life, we must not only do the right thing but doing it right.
CARRY ON, BROTHER.
Michael,
Thank you for the words of encouragement, brother
March 21, 2008 at 12:35 am
Haris,
A good friend e-mailed me the story below. I think there’s something to be learned from it about necessary defiance but undertaken in the spirit of humility.
————————————————–
During the civil wars in feudal Japan, an invading
army would quickly sweep into a town and take control.
In one particular village, everyone fled just before
the army arrived – everyone except the Zen master.
Curious about this old fellow, the general went to the
temple to see for himself what kind of man this master
was. When he wasn’t treated with the deference and
submissiveness to which he was accustomed, the general
burst into anger.
“You fool,” he shouted as he reached for his sword,
“don’t you realize you are standing before a man who
could run you through without blinking an eye!”
But despite the threat, the master seemed unmoved.
“And do you realize,” the master replied calmly, “that
you are standing before a man who can be run through
without blinking an eye?”
————————-
What would diffentiate ‘us’ from ‘them’ is that we do not allow the ends to justify the means. Otherwise when we look at our ‘enemy’, we might see ourselves.
Helen,
Thank you for this timely lesson and reminder, beautifully narrated
March 21, 2008 at 12:43 am
Very well said by you. Change is what is needed to make this country a better place for all. BN had the power for 50 years, but instead of getting better, it just got worse and worse.
March 21, 2008 at 12:48 am
Well said in my opinion too!
However as it is now based, what disgust me as much as the glaring faults of the administration, is the tendency for Malaysians to abandon the “loser” when they are down and always siding with the “winner”. I do not condone the above faults but I hope you understand what I am implying.
I believe the measure of a people’s quality is how they treated the disenfranchised and the underdogs always.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” – Gandhi
March 21, 2008 at 1:17 am
Dear Mr Haris,
Thank God we Malaysians have people like you , Raja Petra Kamarudin, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar,Bernard Khoo, Marina Mahathir…. and others by speaking up thus giving hope to this beloved nation of ours.
Is been quite sometimes that I was thinking our country was going to be a banana republic when Malaysia’s crude oil reserve is exhausted coupled with all the blatant corruptions, mismanagement, wastages, cronyism, nepotism, self-enrichment with ill-gotten gains by the ruling coalition’s politicians .
It was not too long ago that we were at par economically with Singapore, Hongkong, Korea and Taiwan .We fared better than Thailand and Vietnam .
But now we have to console ourselves that ” we are better than Myanmar ” as quoted by Donald Lim (a former deputy minister “.
I would imagine not too far down the road, we will have to console ourselves by comparing with Namibia…
But now there is hope that we will not be a pariah state in the future.
With Barisan Rakyat as a credible force in forming the next federal government , there will be checks and balances in this country which we never have.
This will ensure transparency, integrity and hopefully a relatively corruption free administration.
Thank you all for saving Malaysia.
March 21, 2008 at 1:21 am
From UMNO to PKR hegemony?
http://unwantedcitizen.blogspot.com/2008/03/from-umno-to-pkr-hegemony.html
I’m made it clear from the start that I have more distrust for Keadilan than I do for PAS.
Recent events vindicate me to a certain extent.When Lim Kit Siang first made a statement announcing a boycott for the swearing-in of the Perak Menteri Besar, bloggers and commentators sounded the battle cry and bashed him with no mercy. The comments on Raja Petra Kamaruddin’s Malaysia-today are proof of it all. Lim Kit Siang apologized publicly soon after, in the most humble and sincere manner from a Malaysian politician to date.
Not too subtly, similar announcements were coming from the PKR’s camp. Syed Husin Ali threatened abandonment of the coalition government if PKR’s demands for representation in the Perak exco were not met. Over in Selangor, the finalization of the state government’s exco list has apparently hit an impasse as a result of PKR’s refusal to grant DAP their fair share of excos, citing racial imbalance and insufficient Malay representation. Surprisingly, there have been little murmurs, if at all over PKR’s growing arrogance and refusal to compromise the way DAP did in the Perak state government.
At parliamentary level, PKR is set to assume the position of opposition leader via Dr. Wan Azizah. Fair enough, in view that they hold the most number of seats among the opposition parties. The lingering question is, do they believe in democracy more than meritocracy? Wan Azizah has been in Parliament since 1999, a total of 9 years – which is a long time. She has had enough time to prove her salt but does anyone actually remember any moments where she created waves in parliamentary debates?
As far as I can remember, it was always the 12 DAP parliamentarians that received the worst from the rude and arrogant UMNO Mps when the DAP bench raised issues that were pertinent to the people of Malaysia. I have not read much of Wan Azizah raising any eyebrow or waking any sleepy eyes in all her years in parliament. If verbal abuses and insulting taunts were a measure of how active an MP was in parliament, Kit Siang, Karpal Singh, Kulasegaran and Fong Po Kuan are way ahead at the forefront. They have been outnumber 10:1 in Parliament and insulted beyond belief – all because they tried to stand up for stupid Malaysian voters. On the contrary, Wan Azizah has not ruffled any UMNO/BN feathers, at least none that ever made it to the press. If PKR truly believed in meritocracy, then there are many DAP parliamentarians that are more suited and qualified to lead the opposition bench compared to Wan Azizah. At the same time, if they truly believed in the principles of democracy, then they would have lobbied for DAP to lead the Perak state government in view that DAP held the most number of seats. Either way, there is the element of cakap tak serupa bikin coming from the PKR camp.
Would you as an employer hire someone who tells you he/she is not interested in the job? Surely not, I say. However, that is exactly what we’ve done. Wan Azizah was never interested the job of being an MP. She was thrust into it after the downfall of her husband. She held it for eight years and has recently announced that she just might step aside after being elected to allow Anwar Ibrahim to contest in a Penampang Pauh by-election. Do you really think a person who is not interested to be an MP is the best person for the task of being opposition leader? Or maybe you think that Wan Azizah will eventually pass the baton of being opposition leader to Anwar Ibrahim later?
Well, Anwar Ibrahim will indeed make a great opposition leader. Just one problem though, like his wife, he too is not interested to be opposition leader. He wants to be Prime Minister, which is why he is currently obsessed luring disgruntled BN MPs to cross over to Keadilan, at no cost apparently. This brings me to my next provoking thought. Isn’t vote-buying and party-hopping more of an UMNO/BN culture? When one is unable to form a government by legitimate means, one has to resort to back door techniques. That, my friend, is exactly what Anwar Ibrahim is trying to accomplish now. Vehemently, he declares that Keadilan would have formed the next government if not for election frauds and rampant vote-buying, but here he is, trying something similar by luring discontented BN warlords and position-obsessed MPs to join his camp. Take a look at Richard Riot, the Serian MP who reportedly resigned from BN out of frustration of not being accorded a cabinet post. Is this the kind of character PKR wants to be associated with?
It’s really ironic that Anwar Ibrahim is canvassing for defectors over in East Malaysia. His party was very much the spoiler to begin with, or at least very much to be blamed for the opposition’s trashing in Sabah/Sarawak. PKR refused to make way for DAP in so many seats that were DAP’s traditional battlezone, resulting in vote-splitting three-way fights that proved so profitable to the BN candidates. In a number of seats, the total votes received by the two opposition candidates actually exceeded the BN candidate’s. If Keadilan were sensible and reasonable enough, it would have conceded that the party does not have much to show in Sarawak especially, as proven by its dismal performance in the 2005 Sarawak state elections. As a late-comer in Malaysian politics, it should have given way to DAP to fight in its traditional seats but it didn’t and now has to resort to backdoor entry into Borneo.
More and more every day, PKR is resembling UMNO in more aspects than one.
I still believe in the possibility of a stable and progressive DAP/PKR/PAS coalition government. If Keadilan continues its unjustified arrogance and unreasonable reasoning however, Malaysia will finally witness real change – a shift from UMNO political hegemony to PKR hegemony.
Some might ask, what can be worse than UMNO? My answer: two UMNOs.
March 21, 2008 at 1:48 am
Haris,
A good response to wayang562 whom i feel does not deserve one, but then again you never run away from accountabilty. If it’s power that you want, you’ve got my vote above all politicians from both side of the divide. Please keep up your good work, I’m sure you’ve got the support to all right thinking Malaysians who loves the country and want the best for our motherland -yes, not China, India or lain lain but Malaysia it is and will always be.
just malaysian,
I confirm again that I do not desire power.
March 21, 2008 at 5:50 am
Haris,
I salute you for your passion and commitment to a cause you wholeheartedly believe in. At times, however, you do appear so confrontational in your wholesale distrust of the BN government I fear for you. There are [ a few ] good and decent people in BN who really try to make a difference in their own way. I am sure they, too, desire change. I trust you can accept BN is not all bad, that they are capable of change, no matter how remote the possibility.
March 21, 2008 at 6:06 am
Yo Haris,
Where’d you hide that sledgehammer? It’s not at the usual place lah.
————————————————————————————————————–
On a serious note, I concur with Semua Sama. Two UMNOs is definitely undesirable. The current status quo at national and state levels should remain during this transitional 4-5 year period for Malaysians to adopt, absorb and digest, with the forthcoming GE13 to decide on the next best option.
AI was never the glue factor with the new coalition. BR is. We do not want froggies who will become subservient to their new political master, and ignore tvoters’ choice and aspirations as encapsulated within the People’s Voice and Declaration. Looks like ‘94 all over again.
March 21, 2008 at 6:50 am
Heart & Soul to be felt and not through the look!
Felt with the days and nights, words and walks that one took!
With distinction of yells and talks!
Corruptions is bad, not only on what they could look but the hearts and souls they had forgot!
Without hearts and souls a lot are artificial to be looked!
Without hearts and souls, What can be seen is only the outlook!
A country should be Fair to the People
The Right Politicians are for the Fairness of ALL!
Has BN headed this way?
The answer after 50 years, is still NO!!
Because they had lost their Hearts & Souls!
With Power in mind but not the Obligations along!
Anything to be praised with a “outlook” but the Hearts & Souls have gone?
What are Malaysians getting after working days and nights to pay taxes and Tolls?
Not even a Clear Account of where they had gone?
Not even an answer to what they have the Rights to enquire or the Services or Security they deserved?
Not even to see the Protection of Laws by the System and People they have indirectly employed?
What sort of protection or Service can one get under
HDA, STA, NLC, TCPA, LPA, HIGH COURT RULES, PENAL CODES, etc..
or what sort of non-sense can be found in Authority Protection Acts, Public Servant Acts, Building Common Property Maintenance Management Act
and the Many Many Amendments made?
or，the kind of Bias even in the basis Constitution?
Putting Professionalisms in DOUBT!!
Not only one should hate but ALL have feeling of FAIRNESS that had been abused and tortured!!
SORROWS GO ALONG!!
NOT ONLY BECAUSE ONE SUFFERS BUT MANY THAT LIVE UNDER!!
TEARS IN THE HEARTS FLOW!!
————————————————
wayan562
Can you find Fairness of BN to ALL Malaysian?
Except those cronies they care most!!
————————————————
Semua Sama
It is sad when Hatre is put towards Personal revenge and not at least the social responsibility of a “learned” or “well-positioned”!!
Did he see People or Country except seats?
Or cares to take Fairness as Priority?
Your worry is not ALONE!
March 21, 2008 at 6:52 am
Harris,
The very idea of The Peoples Parliament born & based on the www was brilliant & innovative.
The very idea of The Malaysian speaking out against the bullying of the Napoleans was {in my view} Divine.
The proof is in the pudding as it is said
FINALLY, THE RAKYAAT SPOKE!
Across our proud nation we the people in almost unanimous voice have said ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
And you Harris Ibrahim have been principally/in no small measure been part of it.
There will be facing the Peoples Parliament a myriad of situations,obstacles & negativity,created by the 50 years of rot.
GO TO YOUR HEAD!
Well , from my personal interaction with Harris Ibrahim {over 20 years}, it is very difficult for this to happen!!
In any event lets keep on working towards the HEALING of our Nation!
Cheers, Squire!
My dear thespian friend,
When do we sup, pray tell?
March 21, 2008 at 7:00 am
harris,very few people like you around nowdays.please do carry on with your good work.dont try to be to arrogant just because alot of us supporting you.be a hawk for us.you need to survive.i dont know how you survive and spend time to be bloggers.its time you declare you asset if you need money and support.maybe some of us who will support you if you need some money.condition is you must be always neutral and be our eye.you are creating bangsa malaysia.raj raman.race.malaysian.religion.my problem to be anwser to god.dreaming to be malaysian putera throu nobble people like you so think about your income also.
RAJ RAMAN,
I’m sure I can count on all of you to kick me in the ass if I start to get arrogant.
Need money? No, money is the lowest form of support.
Need more people to speak up. That would help big time.
Thanks for the concern, anyway.
March 21, 2008 at 8:16 am
Dear Pendekar Haris,
After the newspaper boycott, please initiate a sustained boycott of the advertisers in these newspapers!
March 21, 2008 at 8:21 am
Haris
I was trying to see where it was that wayang562 might be coming from. Years of angst, distrust, contradictions, being lied to, robbed off, etc., etc., etc., by politicians to an almost hegemonious civil service has probably robbed him off any capacity to see good in anyone or anything. How can it be possible for a Malay/half-Malay, to be committed to the kind of good that you appear to represent?
Funny, that almost always it is these types who cannot count from amongst their friends someone who they would consider to be a good Malay who might be a contradiction to everything of the “public” Malay of UMNO’s making from amongst their friends.
You have to realise that for a good many non-Malays, their insights into the Malay mind is what UMNO represents to them. Not very nice.
But then again wayang562 could be a Malay. Does he then see you as undermining whatever it is he might have held dear for so long? Or does he see you whittling away at his comfort level? Or the poor chap may have been witness at close range the turning of good men with good intentions into power hungry and power motivated individuals.
I wouldn’t worry if I were you Haris. You surround yourself, not with politicians or the rich and powerful. You surround yourself with good men and women and I shall not worry about you turning over! In any case, even if you tried its not something a smooth single will not cure. Right?
Ah Paul,
The smooth single cure-all
March 21, 2008 at 8:29 am
Well said, Haris. Like I wrote before, yours is a thankless task. You and all like you are at the fore front of an area (Blogging) that is taken notice of by a small percentage of the rakyat. But it’s growing. Keep to the wheel. Defend our area, always in truth, facts, in God’s healing grace and His guiding Light.
March 21, 2008 at 8:29 am
kahwangc,
i know what u r getting at. there is no true democracy in this world. even in the us primaries, they have what they call superdelegates, whose votes are umpteen times the ordinary folks. study history of the land. we do not just be here. we r a continuataion of those b4 us. such rules r here 4 a reason.
March 21, 2008 at 8:38 am
Dear Haris,
My family and I always look up to you as an exemplary example of a Malaysian that deserves to be praised. What you have done has make us proud. Do continue to spearhead the Barisan Rakyat and allow Malaysians to deserve what they should deserve. Deep down in our hearts, you are a perfect example of a True Malaysian with no racist agenda. I really thank God for someone like you who is willing to fight for our rights.
Keep it up, Haris.
Dear Grace,
Thank you for your kind words. Humbled.
March 21, 2008 at 8:43 am
In response to SemuaSama…
First of all, let me categorically state that I would trust PAS and DAP before I trust PKR. This is why I have said before, it is paramount that DAP and PAS resolve issues between them so that they don’t depend on PKR to be the glue holding them together.
Having said that, I wish to ask… if you feel DAP should head the Perak state government by virtue of having the most number of seats, why won’t you apply the same principle to the Opposition leader in parliament? How do you see your stance as meritocracy? I suggest you set aside whatever DAP preference you silently hold and accept the fact that the best man has been appointed to lead Perak.
If the parliamentary opposition is as it will be in the months and years to come, I agree with you, Lim Kit Siang is a more suitable candidate to be the leader. But you know as well as I and Lim Kit Siang do that Wan Azizah is holding the place for Anwar. Kit Siang did the sensible thing. Kudos to him for being forward-thinking.
The massive attacks launched against LKS and, to a lesser extent, his son and other DAP leaders were not about the views they held but the fact that they went public, to the MSM of all creatures, with their sentiments. That was what upset those who were trying to hold together a fragile electoral understanding in danger of being torn apart. The PKR went about it in a more controlled manner. Only insiders knew what the issues were about. DAP leaders have to learn that their classic opposition stance and posturing are no longer appropriate.
I am probably just as uncomfortable as you are about UMNO defectors joining PKR. That is why the DAP-PAS alliance is urgently necessary. But I hold a different view about Sabah & Sarawak BN components.
The Barisan Rakyat spirit did not effectively reach those places (either to the rakyat or their candidates) which is why BN retained their stranglehold. But the coalition there is tenuous, only holding together out of a survival instinct. Remember Joseph Pairin’s PBS was to be a charter member of Ku Li’s Gagasan Rakyat. But after Mahathir’s master stroke, the opposition subsided into an uncomfortable coalition.
The people and their leaders will be willing partners in an alternative coalition, even to the point of forming a new government. They will not remain beholden to UMNO. They will have good cause to support the race-free political equation that we all seek.
I would welcome them, especially if they defected en block as a party and not as individuals joining PKR. If they do hop as individuals, I would like to see some of them join DAP instead of PKR. But DAP leaders have to do their groundwork to make this happen. We can’t blame PKR if the DAP fail to capitalise on the opportunity.
Just my 2 sen.
March 21, 2008 at 9:25 am
Temenggong,
All the car manufacturers and distributors advertise heavily in all the papers in full color spreads.
Do we boycott all of them? If not all, how would you propose to select the ones to be boycotted?
March 21, 2008 at 9:41 am
Hi Haris, you have said it well to wayang562. Inspite of all the ceramahs where you have clearly put forward that for Malaysia to survive and succeed we need to change our mindset from race based to a one society.
I strongly support you. Keep up your excellent work.
rnkumar
March 21, 2008 at 9:48 am
wayan 562, no problems. If Haris, or anyone for that matter, seek n come to power (which is not bad) and if it gets to his/their head(which is bad) well, we’ll just have to replace him/them as well.
Haha
On a more serious note, i think we should not be led to believe that we, the people, are indebted to the BN government for implementing things which are at some times, useful. To use wayan562’s words ‘not all that they do is bad or useless’. In other words, we do not owe them unnecessary gratitude for occasionally doing their job. Its their responsibility and the responsibility of any group of people who form the government. You put an opposition at the government’s place we would still expect them to deliver n carry out the responsibility vested upon them. Hence, all the good that they did, they pledged to do it and it became part of the job scope the moment they asked for our votes.
March 21, 2008 at 10:12 am
Haris – don’t worry about all these negative comments and good of you to issue a reply.
Many of us – either readers of your blog or those who have heard you during the ceramah BELIEVES and SUPPORTS in what you, MIS, ZORRO, and many others are fighting to achieve for this country and the rakyats.
This journey will be long and difficult, stay strong and hold on tight to your principles and you will NEVER go wrong.
God Bless.
March 21, 2008 at 10:35 am
One can see that it is not power that you desire but “fairness and justice” to one and all irrespective of colour or religion. Whether you are known to many or not is not the objective, but what you are fighting for be made known to all and with this in mind, collectively we can make the difference. Strive on brother, we are behind you; though I may not live to see the fruits but at least the generations to come will be assured of the harvest.
May all be well and happy.
March 21, 2008 at 10:36 am
Dear bonafee,
And what are the reasons for such rules? I hope you can enlighten those of us who are ignorant of such situation.
In the USA, you can become the President as long as you are born there. It doesn’t matter if you are white, black, yellow, brown, etc.
March 21, 2008 at 10:46 am
Hi Haris:
In this transitional times, emotions tend to rise high on both sides of the divide. You have shown calmness, single-minded purpose and focus in your response to wayan562 above. Very well said and to the point. You have my utmost respect and support. Stay the course and God bless you and this country.
cheers
March 21, 2008 at 11:01 am
haris,
very well said. i concur with kahwangc, penang71 and michael sun. we are indeed proud of you and the other brave malaysians for speaking up for bangsa malaysia. for having the gumption to stand up and be counted. a thankless job? i dont think so. not when your conscience is at stake. our future generations will thank you too.
keep up the good deeds haris. we are all doing our part towards a united and peaceful malaysia. i will be at the star forum on the 24th and i will proudly wear my ‘dirty yellow t-shirt’ to boycott the msm.
dave avran
http://avran.blogspot.com/
March 21, 2008 at 11:21 am
Saudara,
I never understand and am always troubled by blind loyalty. It saddens me to see that there are still people who refused to not only do something about the plunderings, the corruptions, the injustices, the extravagance in using taxpayers’ money, etc., etc, but to instead belittle efforts by those who do.
Thank god for people like you, Haris
Adam,
Thank God for God.
March 21, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Hi Harris,
Good work will always be recogized for what it is. Keep going and the thousands who have become part of the Peoples Parliament will be with you. Many abandoned the BN bandwagon to vote the Barisan Rakyat and they look forwards to the promises being kept. What we have now is HOPE and Belief in the Barisan Rakyat – that we will indeed see the new dawn, the new Malaysia for Malaysians. I am starting to feel proud of being a Malaysian once again.
Our fear is that the culture of the BN will creep into the Barisan Rakyat now that some of them might jump wagon.
Thank you.
March 21, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Dear Haris
Just a word of support. For every criticism of you, there will be hundreds in support of you. For every criticism of you, there will be hundreds who will pray for you. So let those idiots who can never see the truth be. They will always be idiots.
God bless you.
MaddieC,
I, too, was an idiot once. A big one.
Still am from time to time.
By God’s Grace, even idiots will come round to seeing right from wrong.
I think I did.
God bless us all.
March 21, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Kudos to you, Haris!
Personally, I don’t really blame wayan562 for his point of view. Many individuals in Malaysia seem to think that everything has to be partisan, i.e., totally with BN or totally against them.
If you whack the ruling coalition, you must be with the opposition. If you whack the opposition, you must be with the ruling coalition.
With the former, you’re out to obliterate the ruling coalition, and with the latter, you’re out to screw over the country.
There does not seem to be a place people can stand just to stand up for what they think is right.
FYI, I was one of those guilty buggers who never voted before. It wasn’t until I came to your site that I started to learn about what I can do and what I should do, that I actually did something.
20 Cent,
Kudos to you, then.
Are you at the blog get-together 2moro?
March 21, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Dear brother Haris,
You fall into my own age group who have seen Malaysia degenerate into a 3rd class mentality country with BN always looking the other way with cronyism, neopotism and corruption because all of them had their hands in the kitty. A clear example are all those MBs and exco members from the states that fell to the govt. in waiting – a true saga of the missing files. Can you imagine if PKR-DAP-PAS taken won all the states, it would have been a story of them starting on a clean slate, literally speaking. No need for ACA to investigate. Their actions speak for themselves, a truly corrupted BN to the core. And imagine Malaysians voted them in for 50 years!!!!!!!!!! How very stupid have we been for letting ourselves be taken for a ride for so long.
Haris, you are a few of a kind, that goes for Raja Petra too. I salute both of you, true Malaysians to the core. The only thing that saddens me though is that race still plays a part as evidenced by the need for the MB to be a Malay and a Muslim. How can we non Malays ever feel equal with such laws? Can we ever hope that soon that law will be removed for the best woman/man who enjoys the trust of the people.
USA may soon make history with the first black American president.
March 21, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Birdseye,
We start with a few selected frequent advertisers who depend on middle class purchasing, and we let them know of our boycott, and that it will be sustained!
Like KFC, McDonalds, Domino’s and other fast food outlets! Just like the boycott of the Penang nasi kandar outlets which has made an impact!
Just throwing up some ideas.
March 21, 2008 at 1:56 pm
i was speaking to some UMNO members on the current state of affairs.
I asked them whats up with the street demonstrations in Perak, Penang and Selangor ?
They told me it’s the work of Kahiry and other notorious UMNO Youth racist members who want to stir up racial sentiments so that the can declare emergency and rule by the National Operations Council [ NOC ].
Thats the only alternative left for Pak lah now since UMNO is set to revolt against him.
Haris, you’re doin a good job for all Malaysians. Feel not guilty ever.
March 21, 2008 at 2:40 pm
thanks for your reply harris,anyway i believe you can count on our support to you and your nobble cause.i am sorry if i offended u.as u say money is the lowest support for you.i dont mean that.just a bit of concern.i going throu your blogs lately due to my free time.i hate paper work and email,but you did make a change in my life.very interesting human being u r.thanks man.raj raman.race.malaysian.religion by now you knows.still dreaming to b malaysia putra.
March 21, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Dear Haris,
As an anti-BN citizen of Malaysia, I am highly offended that you have in the past, entertained the notion of engaging BN leaders – for instance, your letter to the Prime Minister to seek a dialogue with him.
In other occasions (which I am too weary to locate), you have even been guilty of writing to BN MPs to clarify matters (such as ‘defending the Constitution of Malaysia from any revision to threaten its secular status’ – Astaman & Chew Mei Fun) and trying to organise meetings between BN MPs and their constituents!!!
In fact, before you launched your initiative to “Get an MP” in the respective constituencies, you tried engaging the incumbent BN MPs.
By my standards, that has been a grave injustice and an unforgiveable sin.
To demonstrate my dissatisfaction with your pro-BN stance, I have spent the last 2 hours boycotting your site.
Thanks and regards,
Crankshaft
Crankshaft,
Guilty as charged.
Henceforth, I shall endeavour to reach your standards.
March 21, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Dear Haris
Your heading caught my attention . How enlightening to read your view ;succinct and passionate but totally rational.
Up until the 12th GE, i was one of the many bystanders who felt totally hopeless and helpless with our political system dominated by BN
If you were not part of the gravy train, your best option was to migrate , an option which many had taken.
Having read your views and comments by other like-minded bumi intellectuals , I think there is hope . While the tunnel may be long with many treacherous obstacles , at least i could see some sparkles , albeit at a distance.
Given your tenacity and most importantly , the fact that you are articulating the truth , you will prevail.
Keep up the excellent work
God willing, we, the rakyat, will prevail
Regards
Rat
March 21, 2008 at 3:49 pm
i find it interesting the awakening of the Malaysian psyche that all men (and women) are created equal. That we as a nation of individuals collectively must agree (or disagree if need be) to live together. Nay not just live but to care for one another. We should be ashame if the least of our brother or sisters in need are not taken care of. The true test of citizenship is not the laying of ones life for the country but to defend the rights of our fellow citizen. May we live in peace and in humility for this time that has been entrusted to us.
Amen
March 21, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Hi Haris,
People listen to you and that itself is power ie power to influence. With power as we all know, comes great responsibilities.
You may not be holding public office but your influence is there as could be seen from the responses defending you, the initiatives you started and the attendances at your ceramahs.
I don’t see anything wrong with having power if it is used for the betterment of society, but as human beings, power can sometimes be intoxicating.
You are good person and may the force of conscience be always be with you.
aiyomanaboleh,
I pray that God will give me the strength to honour your trust in me.
March 21, 2008 at 6:23 pm
“Like KFC, McDonalds, Domino’s and other fast food outlets!”
Please do not forget Pizza Hut.
March 21, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Right on!
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
Spider-Man, the movie
2002
March 21, 2008 at 7:43 pm
HI!{That’s Harris Ibrahim!}
Supper! Sure – Ganda Baik on u & fly!
Jalan Gasing – “Van’s Cottage” – on me!
Menu/Agenda{”Van’s Cottage”} – Thosai/Byrani/Stir Fired Noodles/Pandan Chicken – a’la JM! – dont forget Richard Burton!! Cheers my friend ! I am exhausted but u & your clan keep my belief in my homeland alive! from me & Vanaja. Godspeed!
March 21, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Peoples!
Half Malay! Half Indian! Half Chinese! Half this 1/4 this!!! Good Grief! It does not matter! Our Land is so rich & blessed becoz of such rhythms & sounds of our ancient cultures!
U r muslim – I sit at your home & u feed me!
I am hindu – u sit at my home & I feed u!
U r christian/buddist/bidayu/melanau/dayak/etc… no difference – My home the light at the gate is always on.The weary traveller will always have a drink & food 24/7.
Such was how I was brought up!
The People have spoken !
We are rich becoz of our cultures – the rhythms of over a 1000 years is the tapestry that has been woven into this our land the Greeks called The Golden Chersonese!The Land of Gold! That the Divine has ordained!
March 21, 2008 at 11:57 pm
[...] I desire change, and not power [...]
March 22, 2008 at 2:12 am
That is why in a democracy the good, the bad and the ugly have their say; right or wrong.
As I send my son for National Service, I was appalled by the cocky BN supporter who declared to other BN volunteers that they received a windfall; 3 biji (as in 3K RM)and all expenses paid trip to KL with 5 star hotel accomodation. He was laughing how sometimes “rezeki” just fall into their laps! Talk about cocky; can we allow this type of culture to go on?
Haris, BR is on the right track. Your hard work will not be in vain. If God is for us, who can be against us. We want a better Malaysia not just for us but also for BN supporters but they have to realise quickly that “rezeki” must be halal in the eyes of God. Otherwise it will turn into “racun”. May God’s grace be with you and your family.
March 22, 2008 at 11:58 pm
I like not only the essence, but the writing flair. Keep it up.