1130am this morning, again in an Asalkan Bukan UMNO t-shirt, I flagged down a cab to head out to the workshop to pick up the car and then head out to my ‘sembang’ session with, hopefully, a few taxi drivers.
“You Mr Haris, ah?”, the taxi driver asked.
“Depends. That Haris fella owe you money, ah?”, I asked back.
He laughed, and I laughed with him.
Lim, aged 45, with 3 school-going kids, told me that he had heard me speak at the ceramah at SS2, PJ on the eve of polling day in 2008, and had since then, when he could, tried to keep up with my writings on the blog.
“But now you don’t write so much, ah”, he remarked.
“Busy with ABU, lah”, I explained.
I shared with him what the ABU initiative would be launching shortly as part of our phase 2 work to rid this nation of UMNO and BN come the 13th GE.
1/2 hour later, the meter showing RM24/=, we had reached the workshop.
I pulled out RM25 to hand over to him.
“Boss, you keep the money for ABU, please. I go back today and tell my children their father also help to ABU”, Lim said, smiling.
Given that Lim had told me that he earned an average of about RM100 a day, I was touched by this gesture of support.
“God bless you, Lim. Thank you”, I said, and shook his hand.
The car was ready.
More good news.
No repair bill!
Why?
Hey, I don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, ok.
Thanks, bro.
N, the cab driver I had met the other day had text me earlier to say he might not be able to make it there on time as he was sending a fare to Klang, but that he had alerted another driver, R, to expect me and to introduce me to the other taxi drivers there.
Got to the cab stand and found N not there.
R was there, along with 3 other drivers.
All Malays.
All had already heard from N about the work I do in ABU.
And there was immediate hostility from one of them.
Yes, he said, he was an UMNO member and he did not take kindly to me wearing the t-shirt I had on.
I told him that if he could give me 3 good reasons that I could not effectively rebut as to why I should support UMNO in the 13th GE, I would not only strip out of the t-shirt there and then, but would also cease my work in ABU.
The other three started to needle him and tell him that they also wanted to hear from him.
He said he did not have 3 reasons to offer me, but that UMNO had done much for the Malays and that we should be grateful to UMNO.
I asked if he had his own taxi licence.
He said he did.
I asked the other three if they, too, had their own licences.
None of them did.
So I turned back to Mr UMNO and asked him if this was fair.
“Suruh mereka masuk UMNO tapi tak mahu, jadi apa boleh buat? Kalau dah masuk UMNO, pasti dah ada lesen”, he shot back, quite irritated.
“Jadi encik setuju UMNO hanya tolong UMNO, bukan tolong Melayu?”, I asked
“Ah, jangan nak jadi loyar buruk, lah”, he replied curtly.
I laughed and told him I did not have to try and be a ‘loyar buruk’ as I was a lawyer and had practised law for 20 years. Told him that I, too, like cab drivers, needed a licence every year to practise law but, guess what, my licence was not issued to a company owned by minister Nazri Aziz who then in turned allowed me to practise on condition I paid him a daily fee, as do a great many cab drivers in the city.
I asked Mr UMNO how many years now he had his own licence and how many years before that he was sharing his daily income with Nazri?
He got up, said he did not want to talk to me anymore, and walked away.
The other 3 asked me not to mind him.
We chatted.
I flipped open the Ipad and shared with them some of the online alternative news.
Thanks, TK, for the Ipad. It came in handy today.
Did I have any material that I could leave with them, they asked.
I gave them each a copy of the DNBN KUBURKAN BN DI PRU13 dvd and asked them to share it with their friends and relatives after they had viewed it, if they thought there was any good in it that should be shared.
I told them that ABU would be coming out with some printed material for mass distribution and asked if they would help.
I got a resounding “Boleh” from all three.
Told them I had N’s phone number and I would be in touch the soonest the material was ready.
Sharon
July 11, 2012
Guess you can’t win ‘em all Haris..
Sad thing is there are too many like Mr UMNO who refuse to listen despite you asking and stating the obvious. These people, I will never understand..
Looking forward to seeing how I can contribute to the ABU initiative. Till then, Preach on my brother..
Admiral Tojo
July 11, 2012
Sam, next time you go on one of this jaunt, please let me know as I want to participate. Need to free the slaves from the shackle of UMNO and its culture.
Shalom
Taikohtai
July 11, 2012
3 out of 4 is not bad, not bad at all! Syabas bro.
"Gugu",kinabalu
July 11, 2012
Haris,i think you have won all the 4 of them,well done! I have the feeling Mr Umno will come back to you with the rest.Today he left cos probably ashamed for failing to give you 3 gd reasons on the “goodness” of Umno cos at the beginning he said Umno have done much to the malays(but in actual fact only to those who become party members)..
HuaYong
July 11, 2012
borrow from ambiga, abu is about : people power, people right to choose, people right to kick out crook and evil, people is the boss, people people people x 27 mio, not regime change, not anwar, not azmin, not lge, not na, not comparing tarc with gardenia, not conflating apple with orange, not etc etc etc…
Simplex
July 11, 2012
I think you got 4/4. He who left early must have a heavy burden of thought. If he had ‘that’ thought, then that will be enough to spark.
Wanna bet RM25 that he will be back to listen to you again? Better not as I don’t think I’ll be able to ‘collect’ from you even if I win…
June
July 11, 2012
Your encounter with the first taxi driver truly impressed me. Both you and the taxi driver are equally true to the cause; you both not only enriched ABU, but also each other’s spirit, and mine as well!
shakuntala
July 11, 2012
Taxi drivers are indeed the best people to out-reach. They know and are closest to Malaysian politics, especially the dirty side of it.
I drove in a cab today, wow expensive! these days. But the driver was a benign Pak Cik who for some unknown reason called me teacher!!! Must have looked old fashioned?
Anyway we chatted. I asked who he’d use his precious vote on, he very diplomatically said he would give it to the best man. On Anwar he was more than sympathetic, which was so pleasant, for a change,from the usual smear campaigns on another human being.. He said very wisely that ‘they’ had already made a devil of Anwar and he questioned as to why they were still beating up an ‘evil devil’. Wisdom like that can only come from someone who has travelled the streets and knows and understands so much about about life and how hard it can be for some…..cheers Pak Cik..
James Nakason
July 11, 2012
Excellent …Bro Haris and love to hear this great news … LOL
Middle path
July 11, 2012
He may be ignorant or arrogant and he can be change when he cant give you the 3 best answer.
I have gone thru even more ignorant and arrogant than him.
Manage to over come him with, kindness, patience and soothing words.
Give him some time, Im sure this man will come back to you to ask for more.
Antares
July 11, 2012
Round of applause (in lieu of beers)!
kastafareye
July 12, 2012
chheeeeeeeeerssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!….well done
Yee Chut Ngeow
July 12, 2012
Well done Haris. That’s the way to go, presenting facts that are so obvious and hard hitting that there can be no counter arguments. It is especially poignant putting 1 person who benefited from the ‘system’ with 3 others that are disadvantaged by it. The one that exploited the system can only leave in shame.
jose manuel
July 12, 2012
That’s what our stupid Piem.doing now. Bribing our cab drivers, giving free tyres only. Others are paid by cab drivers,balancing,alighment and workmanship. Umno tipu rakyat idup2.
RRK
July 12, 2012
hmmm and I was dumb founded at meeting a few Mr MICs lately.
But they all have a common thread.
My side is green, ( as in im making a good living under the present arrangement, so why must I upset the apple cart ).
Sadly its only about me.
RRK,
Persevere.
Do not despair.
Our task is but to deliver the message of truth
Penang Voter
July 12, 2012
UMNO has turned innocent peace loving Malaysa into lembus. Sad to say but true
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
July 12, 2012
What I find curious is that the other 3 drivers did not join UMNO despite knowing that they would get a taxi licence. Has the greed and corruption in UMNO become so obvious? Or is it the arrogance? Weird.
As usual, more power to you, Haris Ibrahim
shakuntala
July 12, 2012
Haris, your RM25/- story rings a bell…..how does ABU manage for funds?
shakuntala,
With great difficulty
SpeakUp
July 13, 2012
Haris … you have been working your butt off to fight for what is right. That is most commendable.
I have taken taxis many times and when I speak about things with the taximen, I get the same reply. Sick of politicians from both sides. So the question now is, are they speaking the truth or what passengers want to talk about? Many times, I feel they are sincere. Many say they only want to cari makan. Many also say how tired they are of both sides with their politics of running down the other.
I wonder if our politicians will ever change their ways. For me ABU is not the most important thing. For me, getting politicians who truly serve is of utmost priority. Malaysia is in a tailspin now … and politicians are still fighting for control so that the other does not have it. Crazy la …
HuaYong
July 13, 2012
“For me, getting politicians who truly serve is of utmost priority.”
how and where to find one?
We Stand Together
July 13, 2012
1. Quite strange. Do you honestly believe that the Opposition has been anywhere near as abusive as UMNO and Barisan? Really? The sexist remarks over the years, the bullying in parliament, the threats of violence and the rowdy “NGOs”, the silence over multi-million and BILLION ringgit scandals, the RELENTLESS RACE-BAITING. So… really?
2. I also think you have not been following the news on how civil society is being treated.
3. If Malaysia is in chaos now, have you considered who is creating the chaos? Of course, the mass media and some internet mouthpieces would have you believe it is everything but UMNO.
LOL.
bigjoe
July 13, 2012
Two things
1) I usually ask taxi drivers and the cheap but delicious Malay hawkers I go to and ask them where they come from. In my experience a lot of them are from Kelantan, Kedah – PAS stronghold and hence its not surprising they are not pro-UMNO.
2) You may think you only lost 1 out of 4 but the correct way to look at it really, are you sure you closed any? I say you have not closed any and giving info is not the way to close. The way to close is to ask something from them – the old sales adage ABC – Always Be Closing. Should instead have asked them for their cell numbers or better yet, facebook or email account or/and get them to commit to come to a future event of ABU or related – that is closing..
Bill
July 13, 2012
Harris – your story is inspiring.I live overseas How can I donate to your cause?
Bill,
I am working on the setting up of an account. Hope to be able to announce details. Please bear with me
shakuntala
July 13, 2012
Lucky RM25 ringgit!!!
May some of us chip in, after the example. A penny for your meaningful thoughts, ABU is a deserving cause for the sake of ALL of us and the Nation.
There may be more takers than just one good taxi man? How do we begin, Haris?
shakuntala,
I am working on the setting up of an account. Hope to be able to announce details. Please bear with me
the mythbuster
July 14, 2012
Haris, talking about taxi men, I recently had a chat with one such guy. When asked about the free tyres that Najib donated using the taxpayers’ money, he was quick to point out that the tyres were given to his towkay and he does not benefit in any way and there are thousands like him.
He is an Indonesian who he said was lucky to get his Mykad after a two year stay in Sabah. He says he has to vote for BN because that was the condition for getting his Mykad. If he votes otherwise he would lose his Mykad and the privileges that come with it.
Najib has been buying votes by giving the civil service personnel pay hikes. He has done the same thing by giving teachers promotions to a higher level with a big increase in pay. He has become the sugar daddy to the PDRM. Apart from the taxi men, he had roped in the Mat Rempits, Rela, the Malay Martial Arts group, Perkasa, Pekida and other riff-raff to create trouble and mayhem to intimidate and harass ordinary Malaysians.
Sorry to say that taxi guy was in the dark about ABU. He thought Pak Abu was his colleague! Anyway he was all ears when I talked about your initiative to bring about a change and why ABU was important to all Malaysians.
shakuntala
July 14, 2012
Glad to know that the message of ABU has gone far far, over the waters …… the Spirit is certainly willing….
Mr. Bigjoe, there was a sage, in days of yore who always said,”Follow me”..I dare say that..ABU is good wine, it needs no coaxing.
Monica Voon
July 16, 2012
I am humbled and impressed with the quiet work you do on the ground, Haris. It is uplifting and gives us hope. Thank you for all that you are doing, Haris. How does one contribute funds?
Monica Voon
July 16, 2012
I went back to the person who posted this on FB and realized I had missed his last sentence on how to contribute. Thanks!
Sedih
July 17, 2012
Terasa nak naik cab jer pi dan balik kerja, bang Haris. Amat kagum dengan usaha dan keberanian anda. Aku tak side apa apa parti tapi betul2 dah bosan dengan keadaan di negara aku ni, dari semua segi, inflasi, perkauman, traffic jam, dan kes2 pencurian, pembunuhan, perompakan yang nampaknya asyik meningkat jer.
Tapi kalau nak naik teksi tiap hari pergi balik kerja, mesti aku akan jadi lebih miskin. Sepertimana yang abang tulis, Nazri yang akan jadi lebih kaya.
olivia cheng
July 20, 2012
i like to contribute in some kind of way, am living abroad,.. how to?
Wave33
July 22, 2012
Dear Haris,
You have really nailed that taxi driver whom is a hardcore UMNO supporter.
That taxi driver was selfishly thinking about himself all the time forgetting about his three comrades and is blessed by the “bribe” (license) for being a UMNO member. He expecting more privileges for being an UMNO member in the exclusive club. He needs UMNO to be in power to continue to pour him benefits that his other comrade could not get.
The UMNO taxi driver just can’t see beyond for a better Malaysia, he was thinking about his pocket all the time. The same for all UMNO Puteras!
Syabas Haris!
Thank you very much.
sniper1810
July 25, 2012
That is how Respect is RM25 & Workshop Fees Earned, not RM Millions demanded by BN …..pay first talk later….then they will talk till the cows come back (NFC in the Kandang)….with no action and the miracle resounding gong churns the slogan Janji Ditepati. Merdeka!