An anak Bangsa Malaysia’s call to Uthayakumar
July 8, 2009
Shakuntala sent in a comment to the “A Challenge to Uthayakumar…” post. It really does articulate what so many of us feel that I felt it deserved a reproduction here as a post.
It’s reproduced in full below.
Thank you, Shakuntala.
_________________________________________
I’m first and foremost an Anak Bangsa Malaysia and I want the numbers to grow….they are already. I believe in being an Anak Bangsa Malaysia only because the concept embraces all of us, whether we are black, yellow, a lighter shade of pale,dark brown, light brown and even white.That’s how far we have come already!There is no stopping the tide.
If we look ahead, our children and their children are not going to be in their particular national grooves…they are all going to be mixed and more mixed…they are definitely going to be MALAYSIAN. There’s no two ways….only ONE, the Malaysian Way.
A true leader who has the welfare of all Malaysians at heart, will heed the call…. for unity and intergration of all races.Because that’s the character of our country, Malaysia. We want the lousy word RACE to end and the only way to do it, is to unite and put an end to this damned thing called RACE which is causing no end of negatives…and problems.
Uthayakumar,….I heard that you fought very hard for a Chinese boy, who was a victim of police brutality, a few years back. I’m not sure if you were successful,or what came of it, but it just shows the kind of person you really are, not a race based crazy fanatic, but a far-sighted all embracing, generous person of the calibre of, maybe,Nelson Mandela?
You’ve been in prison like him. The experience has not embittered you, that is quite obvious. As a result too,of your prison term, you must be imbued with an extra, born again spirit ..a far- sighted one looking beyond the confines of nearness and of only one race,..but rather one that spans miles to embrace a nobler and worthier cause..That cause is the call to a better and united Malaysia and the only way that can come about is, when all of us become ONE PEOPLE ONE NATION, without separation into different races.
Remember,Uthayakumar, your children are the children of Malaysia.They are no longer Indians in this land. They want to live in a united world, a world in which they do not have to fit into race lines and be within a frame….they want to be free to be called just human beings. And because they live in Malaysia they want to be called Malaysians. They will not want prefixes, ie, malay, chinese indian.It is a very strong and enduring wish.
So please look ahead and see this as something to work for, to fight for, to live for, and finally to achieve … a hand is being stretched out that needs grasping.Shake that hand of friendship and far-sightedness, it belongs to Haris Ibrahim, but it is really all of our hands, the hands of the Anak2 Bangsa Malaysia, reaching out to you and Hindraf to join forces.
Take hold of that hand of friendship, and go together as ONE PEOPLE ONE NATION, to secure Justice and Equality for all Malaysians.
July 8, 2009 at 11:49 am
Dear Shakuntala,
Nice piece of article, from where you are coming from is one Malaysia but that is not enough cos we are all from planet earth. What Uthaya view is injustice to a group of people and not race based.
July 8, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Uthaya is a malaysian and right now he is struggling for a community of helpless and abandoned malaysians in Kg. Buah Pala. So what is the issue here? I do not see other malaysians reaching out to him and grasping his hand, which has been stretched out for years, but instead bloggers are offering misplaced comments after nasty comments! He and his team of activists seems to be battling this issue all alone, as many other issues affecting all communities in the past.
Instead of comments, advice and admonishments, why not go to Buah Pala and stand with him! Or hold your peace.
July 8, 2009 at 1:48 pm
My hand is also extended in all humility and love.
July 8, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Hear, hear, Shakuntala, nobly and truly articulated!
July 8, 2009 at 5:24 pm
I am not a racist but now in the process of being made one by the malaysian environment. In the past, I also shared the same sentiments as what Sakunthala has today.
Every idealist and armchair critique talks of one race Bangsa Malaysia and no no to racism, but they should first do a self analysis as to whether it is practised or not.
Before calling another a racist, see which political party the caller is a member of. Whether he/she has picked a malaysian or of the same race as a spouse. Which clothes do you and your children dress in? Which shop do you frequent for sundries and which restaurants regularly patronised for food?
The Indians in Kampung Pala has this serious problem but how many non Indians have gone there to give them the necessary support? If there are, one would discover that those are purely for selfish political reason and not genuine help.
Very often, the calls for non-racism comes from secured racists who do not want to see other races from getting united.
People who believe in truly a Bangsa Malaysia should first convince the government. The people will automatically follow suit, if the government changes first.
July 9, 2009 at 11:47 am
Respectfully, BrownSuperman, why don’t you pose the self same questions on political party membership, race of spouse, clothes worn, shops and restaurants frequented etc to yourself and answer it for all readers to see and comment on first? Do not mistake preferences arising from cultural upbringing and personal taste as elements of racism. One should be more understanding and tolerant than that without even being anak Bangsa Malaysia.
July 9, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Goes to show that we are all racists in ways more than one….. whether a result of upbringing or personal taste. Racism can also be from cultural upbringing and not mere personal choice. So for one to say that he/she is not a racist, could be lack of self analysis or beyond one’s ablility to.
Have I not declared that I am being made one by the environment?, My wife is of another race, we speak a language not native to either of us. My daughter has a name foreign to us, we strictly do not dress in our traditional clothes nor worship “gods” of the religion we grew up with? We choose convenience stores and hypermarkets.
July 8, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Agitating and demonstrating irrationally, how does that shows support?
Look if there are evidences or proofs that the villagers were being cheated bring them out. Some people dare not go against the law, abeit an unfair one and worse when the authorities sided with the powerful and influential group.
Maybe it is better to investigate and look for ways to get the villagers some justice.
But in the end justice will depend on the facts and documents and not on emotion.
July 8, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Sakuntala, thanks for the wonderful artical for the
minority Malaysian group as eye-opener. Let me bring you back to Perak rule by our Pakatan Rakyat Government,MB Nizar sanctioned land issues to the poor minority Malaysians. The UMNO putras made into a racial issue. Is this what we Minority Malaysians want?
No we want the rakyat as true Malaysians, and fight for the unfortunate and lower income group.
NO MORE RACIAL DISCRIMINATIONS AND HOPE THE PRESENT
PM WOULD TAKESERIOUSLY HIS 1 MALAYSIANS AS PEOPLE’S PM AND NOT FOR UMNO or BN.
Hope all the leaders who are fighting will continue fight for justice andnot for colour, race and religion ( old BN Theory ) – MIC,MCA,UMNO,IBANS and so on so forth.
Well Done the present MP’s. REFORMASI, REFORMASI, REFORMASI. Valga People Power.
July 8, 2009 at 8:42 pm
I can’t help but be suspectful that Hindraf leaders have been turned. Please prove me wrong by doing the right thing.
July 8, 2009 at 10:04 pm
ok, fight hard for the removal of the word/classification called ‘race’ in our identity card. it is this classification that was included in the identity database that allow BN to generate election results statistics and use the data to decide the best action to take to win back the voters in each constituent. age-race-gender data are all used for such purpose.
July 8, 2009 at 11:40 pm
As a indian i use to support Utaya kumar and hindraf but now no more , why because i see him as a failed leader to malaysian because of his racism and arrogance. He can even unite his own organisation like the splinter group makkal sakthy who drifted away for their own personal self interest and the indian at large where moral social issues are at alarming state such as alcoholism , gangsterism, vices , divorce rate , single mothers and other moral decadance afflicting the society. Uttaya should address this and unite the indians whereas he is wasting his time harping on trivial issues such as death in custody , land matters, temples and many more things.He is blaming the goverment for the backwardness of indians but the reality they should blame themselves and MIC which they relied for the past 50 years.Now pakatan elected leaders slowly and surely lifting up the indians and the indians must cooperate and stay away from crimes , vices, laziness,inferiorty complex , alcoholism, gangsterism . Just as our late MJ sang the MAN IN THE MIRROR THAT REFLECTS that you look within yourself to change your fate and dont blame anybody.MICHAEAL JACKSON from africakan american became a world icon and a legend because he worked hard from young and its a rag to riches story. Why cant indians emulate great people in this world rather than idolizing indian hero s from tamil movies that generate negative elements to the society. so UTTYA KUMAR PLEASE BACK OFF THE INDIANS DOESNT NEED U AND YOUR RACIST APPROACH AND ALSO YOU ARE NOT THE THE CHOSEN ONE TO LEAD THE INDIANS
July 10, 2009 at 12:12 am
Your … ” As an Indian, I used to support Uthayakumar and Hindraf…” Well, isn’t this racism? Had you supported because the objective was to stop discriminations, then it surely isn’t.
When did you discover that Uthaya is a racist? He had been doing the same thing all the while… mobilising the Indians to support the same causes.
You are right about the social issues in the Indian community and they need real help, which the government is not giving as necessary. All the social evils and crimes are as a result of their deprived state of economy and opportunities. While some are from a better background (education and wealth), the rest are desendants of estate labourers and government manual workers. A lot of suggestions are received but suggestions alone won’t move the mountain. We need volunteers for these backward malaysians to move on and take care of themselves and their immediate families.
Uthaya is one man with no necessary resources except his guts. Besides the government, fellow Malaysians are all out to stop him. When he does something small, there is criticism from the visionary eagles. When he doesn’t even the house sparrows spit on him. When he attempts on something big, he takes a look behind to see no hardcore and valuable supporters but buddies with dagger close on his back. That’s the reality.
Darkangel, if you can, please help at least three really backward families by constantly guiding and aiding them till they can take off on their own. I am seen a racist for this activities, but least bothered. Who isn’t a racist, anyway?
July 8, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Dear malaysian,
We need to be united and be malaysian first.(It will take a hundreds years from now).It will be long process!!@%&#^*-????=Malaysian race year 4040.So don’t give up.
For Buah pala cowboys your times is over,you can’t simply live like your forefarther on a free land,just try to work out win-win situation and get your compensation and just move on with your life.Life does’t stop here!Unless you choose the otherwise.
July 9, 2009 at 1:22 am
Now, lets be honest. Can Uthaya be President of any poltical party within PR? He can’t! And if you want to be President you start your own party la!! After all being just an ordinary member of any party he is not going to be quoted nor can he make demanding statemnets like he and his brother have become accustomed to.
As for BrownSuperman above, if he thinks my preference for Thosai over Char Koay Teow for my breakfast makes me a racist…well, so be it. So what does it make me that I prefer wine over toddy?
July 9, 2009 at 8:29 am
[...] An anak Bangsa Malaysia’s call to Uthayakumar Shakuntala sent in a comment to the “A Challenge to Uthayakumar…” post. It really does articulate [...] [...]
July 9, 2009 at 10:53 am
Dear Haris,
I am a Malaysian Indian. Come what may, sink or swim I shall remain a Malaysian. I share peace to all Malaysians irrespective of race, creed and skin colour. In fact I do share peace even to BN members and supporters.
God Bless all Malaysians
July 9, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Well done Paul Warren for your alert comment….it may have been BrownSuperman’s tactic to incite a comment such as yours….which I’m sure he will accept.
Everyone is entitled to have particular preferences for food.We Malaysians are so colourful because of the preferences we have….that is not related to who or what we are. That is what makes Malaysia a rainbow nation too.
I’d guess that Uthayakumar is doing just what he said he would, that on the 19th of July, he would make an announcemnt…maybe that would give him the clout to answer Haris?
Uthayakumar would do well, to reach out for the hand of friendship to work together as a larger group in fostering Justice and Equality for all Malaysians.The more men the greater share of honour.
Mr. Uthayakumar you are only a telephone call away from contact with Haris Ibrahim. After all, in normal circumstances one says yes or no to an invite. You are probably still thinking about it?
Anyway, we wait and see.
July 9, 2009 at 3:19 pm
An appeal from the heart no doubt. Mr. Uthayakumar has from the start fought for the poor and the forgotten masses that have been uprooted from their dwellings into the streets by uncaring developers and government, irrespective of race. While his leadership in Hindraf might portray him as with leaning towards one community, Mr. Uthayakumar should understand that fighting for a common cause for all races that will win the day. He should respond to Satkuntala’s appeal and join hands with Haris and be an Anak Malaysia rather than being an Indian. I am all for the Anak Malaysia concept taking off in a big way.
July 10, 2009 at 10:47 am
Get TDM, our ex-PM and your fellow countryman to write a new book, “THE INDIAN DILEMMA”. I am sure he can write very well, even better than THE MALAY DILEMMA!
November 20, 2009 at 8:22 am
HRM = Hindu Right Party
November 20, 2009 at 8:24 am
Sorry.
HRP = Hindu Right Party