Building bridges
November 18, 2008
On 28th November, 2007, I wrote the following in a post in this blog :
‘…both Hindraf and the ‘One People, One Nation’ initiative desire the same thing.
We are, therefore, not opponents.
BN and its ‘divide and rule’ blueprint is our common enemy.
Let me also acknowledge that where the ‘One People, One Nation’ initiative is still working on its outreach to the Malay heartland, Hindraf has succeeded in reaching out to the impoverished, disadvantaged Indians…
…Where do you go from there?
I ask the Hindraf leadership to note the concerns being articulated by many about the methods they have adopted and the demands they have made.
I ask the Hindraf leadership to not take these as criticisms of you, but as concerns voiced by those who are on your side.
I am one of those.
Both Hindraf and the ‘One People, One Nation’ initiative must recognise that because the target of our respective initiatives differ, the latter’s being wider in scope, so too our methods and our strategies differ.
The Hindraf leadership, I hope, will forgive me for this observation, and that is, that Hindraf has thus far taken an isolationist approach in pursuing its cause…
…The danger that we face now is that, if we pursue our respective strategies and methods independent of each other rather than working together on a common strategy, neither will get anywhere and the current status quo will remain.
In all humility, I say that if Hindraf is to take the cause that it now champions to its desired end, it must now change course.
I ask the Hindraf leadership to reflect upon this with an open heart.
My friends and I would welcome with open arms the Hindraf leadership to come together as one and secure justice and equality for all’
On 15th October this year, the government used its powers under the Societies Act and declared Hindraf an illegal organisation with immediate effect.
The very next day, I repeated my earlier call to the Hindraf leaders in another post.
Yesterday, I received a phone call from Waythamoorty who is in London.
I knew Moorty ( he insisted that I call him Moorty and not Waythy ) since our involvement in the ‘Everest Moorthy’ case in December, 2005.
I inquired after his health, as he did after mine and spent some time recalling the events of the last one year.
We spoke for almost an hour.
We got round to the matters I have touched on in my earlier posts.
We came to a consensus on a great many issues, including the need for all Malaysians to speak as one and to collectively address the needs of all marginalised Malaysians and, on that note, agreed to continue with our discussions with a view to exploring all possibilities of co-operation.
I was greatly encouraged by all that transpired during our conversation.
Moorty has consented to my sharing this with you.
November 18, 2008 at 9:11 pm
I found that police is hard on Hindraf and even the very low pangkat police also know that Hindraf is a banned society. Well, we know Hindraf not even registered. But how come EVERY policeman know the instruction to stop or arrest anyone associated to Hindraf? How the message being disseminated from the top level? I am curious also whether the message was twisted by anyone on top. Anyone in police force can tell us or willing to share with us how this information being passed down? I guess there must be a written instruction. If so, what is the content of this written instruction read? Just curious.
November 18, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Saudara Haris Ibrahim,
I am a HINDRAF supporter.But I guess what you have written makes sense.100%.I really hope that the leadership of both this organisation can find a common ground and merge together to renew and further strengthen our stuggles to topple tyrant be-end and umno government.
kraznyoctbyar,
Makkal Sakti!
November 18, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Hindraf only fights for Indians so they are just as racist as MIC. The only difference is that they are on opposite sides of the political fence.
Maybe I’m being harsh here but I call a spade a spade. If you are completely race-centric and fights only for your own race, “racist” is a proper description.
Perhaps Hindraf will turn around and say, “Then who will fight for Indians?” But that’s exactly what Samy Vellu said when told MIC is no longer relevant.
If PR comes to power, what will be Hindraf’s first demand? More Indian representation in the govt of course. What difference is this from MIC Saravanan’s suggestion of appointing an Indian director or deputy director at each government department?
Hindraf must expand their mindset and fight for all races based on social issues. They have to get rid of the notion that only Indians can help Indians. They have to become colour blind instead of being blatantly racial. Like Harris Ibrahim, Hindraf must embrace the concept of “anak-anak bangsa Malaysia” and put nation before race. Only then can they gain widespread acceptance.
In its present form why should I or Harris or any non-Indian support Hindraf?
November 18, 2008 at 10:34 pm
haris,
our coat of arms says bersekutu bertambah mutu; the very act of sidelining a segment of our society without understanding, dialogue and action undermines that very notion. and the notion is about diversity. god did not create a monochrome cosmos; rather a colourful one indeed. let us fortify our solidarity with unity and then create an existence which is full of life and colour. then on we embrace the other kingdoms namely animals, plants and minerals and then my friend we will be on the way to enhance creation; that is our mission, by the way. when as souls we are agender; what business do they have then to derail the train of life; of diversity, of rain-bow??? looking at the big picture, the present govt appears to be in a hysterical position. every minute of the time they are losing support. but a word of caution nonetheless. they have touched a cord in the malays’ psyche. the potent mix of race and religion can be very explosive. that is what they want. to mop up efficiently and then to maintain effectively. sick minds need doctors and evil minds need consciousness. a genuine liberation of the mind; especially among the malays is the key to our collective emancipation. you make the choice, with the presence of your conscience. god bless
November 18, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Patriotic1994,
Way to go bro….. It is indeed a promising sign that Hindraf is now planning to join the mainstream groups. Now they can’t paste the racism tag on these Hindraf boys.
Hindraf’s focus exclusively on November 25th 2007 was needed at that point of time to open the eyes of the blindfolded Indian community to the atrocities on BN against them. The rally was a massive success in giving Malaysians of Indian origin the voice to fight against injustice.
Now, the situation is different. All communities supports Hindraf’s struggle and its about time we discard the exclusivity of Hindraf’s struggle and join the struggle for all Malaysians.
Bro Waytha’s call and new direction is a breath of fresh air and from here, we can only move forward.
Haris, Thank you very much.
November 18, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Dear Waytha,
Without a doubt your struggle and reasons for it are legitimate. However, there definitely are serious concerns about the platform upon which you have built your struggle.
The isolationist approach definitely doesn’t serve the cause too well, in that it has created the prception that you cater to the sectarian interests which the “powers that be” employ.
Do not restrict your noble struggle to that of the “ethnocentric” concerns. Please reconsider and join us in our struggle for a Malaysian Malaysia, to create a Bangsa Malaysia.
Makkal Sakthi!
November 19, 2008 at 12:29 am
Haris,
Just this evening an incident was related to me and I should say it was disturbing to say the least.
Apparently there was this Malaysian Indian engineer who had gone for the Hari Raya Open House at PWTC with his parents. He has claimed that he was rudely approached by a burly looking Hindraf supporter/member who was also there and rudely asked if he had come to partake in the festivities and food. He then is alleged to have spat on that engineer.
If this were true, then Hindraf has to reassess its position. Certainly it will find it difficult to gain support even from fellow Indians. And I too will not be able to apologise on their behalf. This is just unacceptable behaviour under any circumstances.
One other thing I find problematic with Hindraf is that they have so far quite successfully articulated their marginalisation.
But haven’t we all? Several of my Chinese friends concede the hopelessness of the Indian community and the poverty prevailing in it. But cannot fully appreciate Hindraf’s position and the stance they have taken. After all in Malaysia, just who is not marginalised, except for the UMNOPutras and the elite amongst the other races?
There is no point in pointing out the poverty that is prevalent, the hopelessness of their situation, the lack of educational opportunities and their overall marginalisation. It is also no point reminding us of the “criminalisation” of the Hindu Tamil as well.
These are just the results. These are just the consequences of over a century and a half of societal engineering principally for an economic gain.
Who has bothered to relate the necessity for the societal engineering in order to nourish the economic gains of the owners of the rubber estates?
In that story lies the the sad truth of why we see today the results of an economic need that gained for this country the economic might that it possesses today.
If Hindraf can take a good look at that story and is able to tell it as it is, it may just find many more sympathetic ears that will listen to what they have to say. Screaming marginalisation is not going to do it. Have I myself not cried marginalisation from about the time I left school in 1972? And have not the Chinese been saying so too since then? We move on despite it! So move on to Hindraf too if all that they have got to say is they have been marginalised!
In that story I am talking about there is a remedy that can be found for all that they are complaining about. And this they can seek in a far more dignified and honourable way.
I have tried to write that story a long time ago and if anyone cares you can read it in my archives of November 2007 and March 2008.
November 19, 2008 at 1:08 am
Looks like some here have found another platform for Hindraf bashing instead of coming up with solid ideas to work together with them.They dont seem to realise that all long when poor Indians were marginalized hardly any anak bangsa were willing to drop by even to find out their plight.It’s not that hindraf was born on the 24th nov 2007 and on the 25th they took to the streets.They would have probably visited Putra Jaya at least 300 times with letters and memorandums to the PM,which all fell on deaf ears.So where were all these so called newly born champions of bangsa malaysia?Having exhausted all avenues Hindraf took to the streets,as the Indians strongly felt they have to stand on their own feet to fight it out.Hence the chanting of `makkal sakthi’was born which was without an iota of doubt became a turning point during the march,08 political tsunami.Many opposition politicians,right minded Malaysians,protest voters and BN critics decided to jump on the bandwagon and the rest was history.
With that, the cries for anak bangsa Malaysia also became louder and louder.This is definitely indisputable.If this support was shown earlier by our bangsa malaysia champions,do any one think Hindraf would have gone to the streets with only Indian followers?How many of you, who call Hindraf racist,attempted to join them and were told that Hindraf only champions the cause of Indian poors?So what do you call DAP when they were so upset with the Perak state govt for appointing a PAS MB?This fight by DAP was for power and position whereas the Hindraf’s fight was for the survival of poor Indians who were ignored by the govt and also by the now newly born anak bangsa malaysias then.Not to forget there were also many minority Malaysians who exclaimed `wow,indians also now dare to stand up and fight,huh’,all that was going on in the selfish minds of these people were,`let them fight so it will benefit us also as a minority’,but never made any attempt to give the support in the open,why?.Now Hindraf is being branded as racist and selfish.What sort of justice is this friends?I for one am all for the anak bangsa Malaysia concept, so let me say with impunity,come all of you anak bangsa malaysia who are pugnacious, join our Hindraf brethrens,you all will be welcomed with wide open arms.And Hindraf will do the vice-versa.And yes no one poor minority shall be sidelined.
Frivolous statements like`in it’s present form why should I or Harris or any non-indian support Hindraf’-Kenneth Tan,is not going to help as this line itself smacks of racism,remember two wrongs cant make a right.Kenneth,rest assured that things are different now,Hindraf is open to new ideas as it is not a political party but a genuine movevment which is sruggling for the poor and down trodden,and these poor will never hesitate to speak up for other poors too regardless of race and religion.In the mean time maybe you can do your part too if you do not want to join hindraf,should you have any chinese friends running companies,please do tell them to do away with advertisements seeking employees from a particular race and with a particular langguage fluency,not only govt but the private sector too has its moral responsibility to create the `Anak Bangsa Malaysia’concept.
CHEERS!!!Hindraf is for all anak bangsa Malaysia.
November 19, 2008 at 6:39 am
Bro what about the hindraf boys joining pas,wouldnt that be one way around the system.
November 19, 2008 at 10:19 am
When UMNO talks about bathing their keris in chinese blood, Khairy says he is not ashamed to stand up for his race and Mahathir [ bapa racisme ] says one should not feel ashamed to stand up for ones race.
But when Hindraf stands up for their race bapa racisme and Khairy say they must be arrested under the ISA
November 19, 2008 at 10:35 am
If Malaysia is to survive as a country, the races need to learn to work together. How are the heck are we going to compete with India and China when we are forever trying to push racial agendas? We will fail and we will ALL suffer! As they say, if we don’t hang together we will hang separately!
November 19, 2008 at 10:52 am
Haris,
I’m on your line of thinking…please keep us posted on your ‘One People, One Nation’ initiative, and I agree wholeheartedly with you that The Hindraf leadership must jettison its isolationist approach to maximisie its influence.
November 19, 2008 at 11:30 am
There seems to be (continuous and deliberate?) misunderstanding about Hindraf and its aims. This is my understanding:
1. The Umno led BN govt has violated the constitution by commission or omission, for 50 years,
2. leading to a marginalisation of non malays, particularly the Indians, as well as the deliberate neglect and demolition of schools and temples, and police custody deaths,
3. Hindraf seeks the removal of all marginalisation laws and unwritten policies, and all draconian laws,
4. and honor the 1957 constitution as it is.
While these aims are egalitarian, we are aware that race is still a factor in the Malaysians’ mindsets, and therefore greater transparency is required as the Indians have received too much of lip service and sanctimonious talk all this while from all quarters. We need to be practical and require;
a. removal of licensing, permits and other arbitrary requirements in businesses. Where permits have to be restricted, it should be offered by open tenders for bidding, like radio and TV channels, 3G telecom licenses, satellite TV, etc.,
b. free trade with the rest of the world, to cut down the politically propped up artificial economy here in Malaysia,
c. transparency in employment statistics. Both the private sector (the 900 listed companies) and the govt sector, should annually publish their employment personnel giving the racial breakdowns and into categories such as directors, managers, skilled workers and unskilled workers, and showing the salary band levels, as well as for suppliers.
d. have a need based affirmative action programme for all to correct the marginalisations of the past.
Now which part of THIS is not in agreement with One People, One Nation?
While we discuss this can someone tell me where were all these voices when Hindraf were championing these goals for the last ten years? Why ask Hindraf to join you? They were already championing these causes when there were no other voices to be heard, and rejection all around. You join them! Hindraf, or Makkal Sakti is for all! In fact you are latecomers to the party.
There is no organisation or party. It is just a movement or spirit. You claim it by declaring you champion Makkal Sakti or Peoples’ Power! There is nothing more to it. It seems to me that PP is already makkal sakti, Malaysia-Today is already makkal sakti. So what is there ‘to join’? This is indeed baffling!
November 19, 2008 at 11:39 am
if there are more people like Haris Ibrahim, Zaid Ibrahim, Malik Imtiaz this country will be the BEST place to live in
November 19, 2008 at 12:27 pm
in the end, malay is still the deciding factor. if majority of them still don’t see UMNO/BN is the one who instilling fear into them and sodomising them (& the nation) unside down and inside out, all this great concept will only remain as it is, a concept.
November 19, 2008 at 1:04 pm
ONE PEOPLE ONE NATION
THATS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. THANK YOU HARIS BHAI FOR CHAMPIONING THIS COURSE. WE JUST WANT EVERYONE TO BE UNITED AND FIGHT FOR CHANGE. CHANGE FOR THE BETTER NOT JUST FOR THE MALAYS, CHINESE OR INDIANS. FOR ALL! PERIOD.
RESPECT YOU HARIS BHAI
November 19, 2008 at 1:23 pm
“”Hindraf is open to new ideas as it is not a political party but a genuine movevment which is sruggling for the poor and down trodden,and these poor will never hesitate to speak up for other poors too regardless of race and religion”"
This is bullshit. Lets face it, Hindraf started off solely for the Indians and later to hide under the umbrella for others.
Statement and remarks of illfeelings by individual have been documented in the dossiers and classified as highly racial and extreme!!. Thats why Hindraf is banned!!
November 19, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I truly feel embarrased to hear the recent statement by the dty fed.territories minister Saravanan,proposing an Indian pengarah or timbalan pengarah in all govt depts.This is nothing but absurdity of the highest order.This is the very man who claimed that all the BN component leaders have no problems sitting down and discussing issues openly and fairly,yet he contradicts himself by coming up with such silly proposals.With such shallow minded leaders in our midst,I think the anak bangsa malaysia concept will remain a wishful thinking for a long long time.The perception of bangsa malaysia has to be clearly defined and a blue print has to be evolved and ways have to be found as to how it can be attractive to the vast majority i.e the bumiputeras who presently enjoy the special privileges.It’s sad that after 51 years of independence we are now talking about bangsa Malaysia.In the 70s our national schools were thriving with camarederie between the various races,today sadly such a bond amongst the various races is undergoing the acid test,no thanks to the culprits,the BN leaders.Therefore I strongly beleive that the national schools should be the place to nurture such bangsa Malaysia ideas right from grade one to the university level.The govt should once again make the national schools be more attractive to the non-malays as they were in the 60s and 70s.Tamil and chinese langguages could be thaught during school hours with greater emphasis,so that we can do away with chinese and tamil schools.
Once the national schools could improve its quality of staff and syllabus and be sensitive and fair to the needs of the non-muslim students,I dont see why,the need
for chinese and tamil schools to exist.We will not even need the so-called sekolah wawasan.Having said that,the sincere commitment of the govt and also the private sector cannot be stressed further to make this bangsa Malaysia concept become a reality.Meanwhile all peace-loving and right thinking Malaysians should do their bit no matter how small the contribution is,and lay the ground work towards a anak bangsa Malaysia.
November 19, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Dear Haris,
It is refreshing to read your article.
However i have my humble advise to all including WM. Please no more politics and spindoctoring. Lets all help the Malaysian Indians in our own selfless ways to get them on their feet again and move forward.
By helping the marginalised Malaysian Indians , you are after all helping anak bangsa Malaysians anyway.
Don’t sit back comfortably hoping they will just vanish and don’t swear and critizise the Indians who are involved in crime or any other unhealthy activities.
Everyone do your part without fear or favour but most of all without prejudice and politics.
November 20, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Well said HARIS,
We should all think as one Rakyat-Anak Bangsa Malaysia
No need for Indian,Malay or whatever race representation in govt,institutions n society as a whole.Best suited Rakyat should get the respective job,be it high or low ranking;only then can Malaysia progress as an efficient society thereupon a successful nation.
Hindraf did in fact take an “isolationist”stand when they drew support from Indians exclusively though their principle concerns cut across all races-the Rakyat.
However,it was a good start and,may be because it was mainly an “Indian”initiative that it managed to identify with such a large number of Indians who in turn felt the compulsion to participate as representation of their race.
It is indeed time for Hindraf supporters to come join us all ,irrespective of race as Anak-anak Bangsa Malaysia,to raise common issues of concern in Malaysia
together, as ONE LOUD VOICE!
We must ALL come forward as ONE PEOPLE n ONE NATION to demand for CHANGE n PROPER GOVERNANCE !
We can start by holding Candle light vigils together.
Imagine if we have the Bersih yellow,the Hindraf orange,RPK shirts or our own yellow or orange tops,all come together at the same time;such solid unity (“light”)cannot be concealed even if the police remove the candles from our vigils !
(to avoid confrontation with police,why not wear shirts with slogans inside-out !?)
Last Sunday I was determined to be at the Civic Hall,I wasn’t about to let anyone stop me on the way there over the shirt I might be wearing or the candles I might be bringing,n if I had to candle-light vigil without the candle,SO BE IT !
I just wanted to be there ,to “vigil”with my fellow Anak-anak Bangsa Malaysia.
It’s most ridiculous to candle light vigil without the candles,but are we going to allow the “candles”to stand in the way of our coming together?
Having a permit will certainly encourage a whole lot more people to come join us.
If we can have a thousand Whispers ,whispering at the same time and place,it might just grow into a thunder too loud to be ignored!!!
Best wishes,HARIS!
November 20, 2008 at 6:50 pm
pm,
I think you have got some comprehension problems here.Please read my posting once again and if you still cant deciper, read it again and again,esp my reply to Kenneth Tan.If you still have a problem understanding me,then read what tkterimakasih has to say.
November 23, 2008 at 2:13 pm
There’s a new post at the Brewery blog about a proposal by the ISA man to set up a code of ethics for bloggers. Okay, I know it’s out of topic here, but I’m not posting any comment at the Brewery. So here I am.
Man, what’s the point for these codes? Global bloggers are already following some kind of universal code of ethics, except for the mavericks, since the advent of blogs. This proposal is just a another diabolical move to keep tabs on bloggers.
Anyway, Malaysian socio-political blogs are just a tiny segment of the bigger picture in blogosphere. Most other bloggers are not so much bothered by the shenanigans going on among socio-political blogs.
The blogosphere is borderless. Most other bloggers are more focused on writing personal weblogs on their sites or trying to make some income from blogging. They couldn’t care less about this code of ethics that smells fishy.