“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by
narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the
dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by Thee into ever widening
thought and action –
Into that heaven of freedom, my father, let my country awake” – Rabindranath Tagore
_______________________
By Gunslinger
My first exposure to politics was when , as a little girl of 5 or 6 in Ipoh, I ran out of my house to wave at the charismatic Mr.Patto of DAP, campaigning through loudspeakers on his moving open-truck. He was fiery and I thought he was so brave and clever, standing up there and speaking without any fear. My father told me that Mr. Patto urged Malaysians not to fear change, and said that every citizen should call himself a Malaysian first and foremost, and not a Malay, Chinese or Indian. I never forgot that. Ever.
I remember thinking back then that even if I had even a quarter of his courage, I would be a lucky girl indeed. Years later, as a young adult, when I read that he had passed away, I was very saddened. Not because he had died, because I knew he must have lived a full, exciting life – lived more than most would have done in their lifetimes of subservient kneeling to whomever could throw them a few scraps. I was sad because he never got a chance to make a difference to more Malaysians by being a part of the ruling party. I felt his tough resilience, his strong character and his courage of convictions would define character for a lot of young Malaysians.
My father encouraged me to read the newspapers, which I found extremely boring. For even then I thought the reporting was pretty lop-sided, with mud-slinging and name calling by BN politicians to opposition party members, reported in what I felt was salacious glee. I eventually started following the adventures of one very inspiring man who stood out again and again as a lion of courage and strength amongst most other men – Mr. Karpal Singh. He took no nonsense from silly politicians, he fought with courage against corruption, he admonished newspapermen who got their facts wrong, hell, he even took on the King. Man, did he rock my world!
I was shocked when he was sent to prison for merely voicing his opinions, under the ISA, which was meant for communists. Opposition seemed a bad word back then, but I never got it. Why was being in the Opposition negative? Even as a child of eight, I could see the logic and absolute necessity of a strong opposition, which unfortunately most adults could not and would not see. I guess the lull of complacency, of the ‘let’s not rock the boat, we are fine now, what’ was at its greatest heights then. But I was not convinced.
So, in a dark lost world, Mr.Karpal Singh became my knight in shining armour. A man who would fight for what’s right. There were so few like him. Most men in positions of authority just sold out to the highest bidder like cheap prostitutes – for titles, for positions, for contracts, for seats. And with such intelligence, charisma, calibre and capability Mr. Karpal Singh could have been at the top of the stakes. But he never even considered cashing in his chips, because he had that rarest of commodities most men and women don’t have. Commodities that makes one stand out like a beacon in a sea of insipid folks – self-pride, honour, integrity. That is what makes a man, a real man.
And the people in the Opposition had it. Mr.Lim Kit Siang had it. I have watched his hair grow from black to white , but that pursed up lips of stubborn resilience, that fierce determination in his eyes has never diminished. That fearless questioning that went on, while backbenchers from BN shouted like monkeys on heat to drown his voice. He never gave up. And sometimes, I wondered why men like Karpal and Kit Siang went on, when they were locked up, reviled, slandered against…it would have been all too easy to just let it go and walk away. But they did it out of duty, to a country they loved. Now , that is what I call patriotism. Not shouting slogans, waving flags. Patriotism is making wrongs right for your country – without fear or favour.
These are men of courage, wisdom and integrity who should be ruling Malaysia, but they were never given a chance. If they had been, we would have seen a different Malaysia today. A Malaysia with backbone.
I must have been 9 or 10 when I followed my first election result tally with my father until the wee hours of the morning. I was the youngest in the family, and probably the most passionate, thereby I naturally became Daddy’s helper. I was helping him count and we took turns adding up results – it was a landslide victory – again – for Barisan Nasional. Ho hum. As usual. Then Mahathir came on screen. And he was gloating, with such a disgusting smirk on his face, that I wished I could lean into the tv and slap him.
I never liked him. Call it a child’s instinct, call it a child’s innocence or conversely, maturity beyond my age, I saw evil in him. I did not like his constant smirk, I did not like his shifty eyes, I did not like his disparaging words against the opposition who had lost. He was never a gentleman. The dislike for him has only intensified over the years, as I see now how he is also the ultimate racist who has divided and segregated the country, stolen our souls and spirit and has made a fortune for himself, using the Malay and bumiputra agenda to manipulate simple-minded Malays, while being a full Indian himself.
My father was an avid reader, and he read everything from politics to economics to romance (yes, when he could not get his hands on anything else). He was merely a clerk in Telecoms, but in another life, in a parallel universe with more opportunities his way,he might have been more, much more.
My most vivid memory of my dad is of him sitting on his favourite worn out chair, with one leg crossed under him and the other swinging in tandem to the mood of the moment, reading with his black horn-rimmed glasses, in his white singlet and blue striped shorts. We were poor, but hell, we had our books. There was this one book that he kept next to him and read and re-read more often than the others. It was Tan Sri Tan Chee Koon’s “Without Fear or Favour’. He was in awe of Tan Chee Koon, said there were few men like him. And he used to tell me this story – “This man beat the odds, girl. Born of immigrant parents, he rose at 5.30am every morning to feed livestock, cycled 5 miles to tap rubber, and when he came back at 4pm, he would tend to the vegetables and fruit trees and sometime between all that , found time to become a doctor and lead the opposition and write some of the most brilliant books that speak of a nation – without fear or favour. See, you don’t have to always remain poor if you work hard.”
My father kept telling me to read Tan Chee Koon’s book, I must have been 13 or 14 then. The teenager in me, though, was more interested in the racy, tittillating Sidney Sheldons and Joan Collins then, and I never did read that book. And when my father died, and my mother and I had to leave our home for good, I lost a lot. My home, my security, my sense of belonging, those books, but most of all , my father who made me cherish what was real and good in this world. I forgot that book, and my promise to my dad to read it. But I remember it now, as the mother-of-all-elections come close, and I managed to look it up in the internet, and realise that it is a book before its time. A book that asks questions that have been stifled for too long. A book just like its name. I promise I will read it, dad, and I am doing more than that – I am spreading the word of your favourite book to many, many more.
The nightmare of BN continued.
Tun Salleh Abbas, the Lord President was removed from the judiciary along with 5 other prominent , respected and most importantly, honest, judges by Mahathir. The independance of the judiciary was killed in one stroke. I was horrified. But people still voted BN in. It was the worst decision the country made, because Malaysia sunk into a state of lawlessness after that. And with that one by one, the many institutions that keep a country grounded through check and balance, and accountability fell like a stack of dominoes.
I must have been in the university when I read that Lim Guan Eng, then a young passionate DAP member, was thrown into jail for championing the cause of a young Malay girl who was raped by a prominent BN politician. It defied logic, and it strengthened my hatred for Barisan Nasional and for stupid people who kept voting Barisan Nasional in every election like goats to the slaughter. It was a stupidity and selfishness that has come back to haunt them over and over again.
Growing up, I stood on the shoulders of giants like Patto, Karpal, Kit Siang and I saw beyond the veil of deceit, stupidity and arrogance the ruling party had kept us under. I saw my nemesis – his name was Mahathir, and I learnt what real evil was, and how evil can manipulate everything to get its own ways. For even the Devil can quote the Scripture for his own benefit, the Bible tells us. Yes, Mahathir made me too – he made me aware of how conmen work, and opened my eyes to deceipt, racism, hatred, manipulation and how absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The insidious evil of Mahathir and his legacy of slimy politics and mega cronyism changed a landscape. The master manipulator had everyone singing his praises, except me. And then the tide turned – Anwar happened. I was there on the 20th of Sept 1998 – shouting REFORMASI with my fellow countrymen. Oh, for a glimpse of hope, for change, for a better Malaysia. I never felt more Malaysian that day, when finally I met people who threw of the shackles of race and religion and sang a song of freedom, as one people, one nation. United by Anwar. It must have been Mahathir’s nightmare.
We followed Anwar Ibrahim. We saw a leader. It did not matter if he was gay or straight, Malay or Iban, Muslim or Bahai – he was hope. And that little sliver of hope kept a torn nation together, in fevered anticipation. We dared to hope, we dared to dream once again. And the dream was so beautiful.
The dream was intermittently shattered by brutality and force of the oppressors – I saw frail Tian Chua beaten up, abused and manhandled. But that frail man was only frail in body , but an unstoppable juggernaut in heart and spirit.They beat him, he got up. And he got up more times than they could push him down. Where Karpal, Kit Siang , Patto had gone to jail and given up many privileges to remain steadfast in their beliefs, Tian Chua gave his body, took the beatings and soldiered on. They taught me the real meaning of sacrifice – to not just talk the talk , but to walk the walk.
Anwar Ibrahim, was just like those men I mentioned above – just that he started on the other side of the fence, and had it easier than Patto, Karpal or Kit Siang. But everyone deserves a second chance and Anwar Ibrahim has proven to me, by the sheer volume of torture, slander and injustice meted out by BN and still not buckling to their pressure – that he has my vote to be the change I have been wanting for as long as I can remember.
My father, Patto, Kit Siang, Karpal, Tan Chee Koon, Guan Eng, Tian Chua, Anwar and many others who speak without fear or favour – they have shaped my character. My fighting spirit. The pride I feel in myself for never needing to grovel for handouts, for always standing on my own two feet. The way I hold myself up high, look people in the eye and DEMAND my rights in this country I call home, not shyly whisper for it.
I am no more a child, I am not afraid of bullies anymore. I am the new generation, a generation that is part of a global village, who is conditioned not merely by the environment and politics of this country but by that of a global community. You can’t fool us with lies. That time is long gone. But you will watch us roar. And march forward to stake our claim in a country we call home. We know no other home but this home, and we will fight to make it ours, the way we want it. We will speak, and not forever hold our breath. And we will NOT go gently into the night, but rage, rage against the dying light….
I see millions of Malaysians in youtube videos, who must feel like me, waving flags with fire in their eyes, passion in their souls, hoping for a change.
I am 44 years old. I was born into BN rule. And I don’t want to die under BN rule.
My country, my people and I deserve more than this. And I hope to see the men who made me, and men and women like them, be given the chance to bring back pride, soul, spirit and hope to the disenfranchised youth. To create more young men and women like me to go on and carry the torch for a future we can proudly leave behind for our children.
Andrew
April 26, 2013
“But everyone deserves a second chance, and Anwar had proven to me….”
Podah lah haris. Anwar in 1994 engineered cross overs to UMNO – and now he is engineering cross overs from UMNO. Is this part of anwars second chance? In effect it is still UMNO in Sabah.
Is this part of your ABU plan? U must be a damn smart strategist haris by kicking UMNO out through keeping its politicians. Pandai.
SL Goh
April 26, 2013
Andrew, I don’t think Haris wrote this. something must be wrong with yr eyesight
Zuma
April 27, 2013
RPK just early this year asked why Zaid Ibrahim chose to resign over the use of ISA against Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng ,while Anwar remained as Sabah operations chief in 1994 to carry out Project IC?
I sent in a comment together with a link to an article by Zaid Ibrahim to RPK,
Anwar has changed, give him a chance says Zaid,
http://www.freemalaysiakini2.com/?p=61871
RPK chose not to publish it.This is what a person who screamed
freedom this and freedom that do.Hahaha,”freedom not to publish”
Daniel
April 26, 2013
Everyone can see clearly that your blog has attracted some very different commentators in the past 2 weeks. It must be because you are doing the right thing, Haris.
And be careful and be safe when you are out there.
God bless you.
Brian
April 26, 2013
Andrew, I’d give Anwar a 3rd chance if necessary, in the light of the BN thieves and scoundrels we have and been living with for the past 55 years.
I however can’t blame these thieves and scoundrels but the blame rests on our shoulders for having given them the chance.
Vivian
April 26, 2013
Beautifully expressed but Gunslinger should give out her name too.
Her style rivals Mariam Mokhtar’s.
Could this former 8 year old be 44 years old now?
kochebin
April 26, 2013
“We followed Anwar Ibrahim. We saw a leader. It did not matter if he was gay or straight”
What a despicable attitude the writer has.A leader should be the role model of young and old,especially growing up children.
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
April 27, 2013
kochebin,
“…A leader should be the role model of young and old,especially growing up children…”
I guess Najib would be an excellent role model, right?
He could teach young children to have extra-marital sex, blow-up annoying ex-mistresses, pocket secret commissions from the public purse, and the list goes on.
You BN people have a very strange sense of morality.
kochebin
April 27, 2013
I am not in favour of Najib,but I am sad that,the writer is instilling the wrong values of accepting characteristic of a leader.
wandererAUS
April 26, 2013
Andrew, why don’t you use a microscope, see what more you can find in Anwar’s hair located where you love to have a sniff between his balls!
wandererAUS
April 26, 2013
After 55 years of fighting this UMNO/BN monster, I could not claim a place standing next to this fine and courageous lady but, I can safely switch off, knowing there are young talented fighters willing to direct and set a new direction for the future of Malaysia….all is not lost yet!
Dawn of a new nation
April 26, 2013
Those names are but a few good men.Unfortunately in our country we have bad men aplenty, who are worshipped becoz they throw coins for us to pick up while they burn dollar bills to light up their cigars. They even have the cheek to say they are the chosen ones ! For them, there is never enough to make more money in pursuit of worldly pleasures and power ,even until their last breath. These peoples have bastardised our country and it’s left to us common folks to stand up against these powerful men —FOR OUR CHILDREN’S FUTURE.
Mak Jun Yeen
April 26, 2013
“…..has made a fortune for himself, using the Malay and bumiputra agenda to manipulate simple-minded Malays, while being a full Indian himself”…
Dear Gunslinger….. What Dr M’s great grandfather’s race got to do with all this? On What basis you say Dr M’s Indian? What proof can you provide me that’s he is Indian? Dr M was never brought up an Indian nor lived as one through out his life. He was his mother’s child. He is what he feels he is, not what you think he is. Haris Ibrahim my friend could choose or celebrate both his parents heritage, but Dr M had only one choice and that choice was made by his grandfather and father. Thought this was a good read until that stupid statement.
MAK JUN YEEN
shakuntala
April 26, 2013
Great and touching thoughts,Gunslinger,Bravo…… the best line for the moment, “But you will, watch us roar”..do you mean….the determination and courage that the Ra’ayat will display on 5th May 2013….
harkis
April 26, 2013
Everyone born in Malaysia should be a Malaysian. Under customary practices, a child follows his father. If Kutty’s father is an Indian, therefore he should be a Indian according to Kedah birth registration under the British as Kedah is one of the unfederated malay state. As he is supposed to follow his father, isn’t he a Indian all the time until Malaya become independent in 1957 and only the term Malay is defined. Before independence, there is no definition of being a Malay and can Kutty be a malay before 1957 independance? The Babas practise malay custom and culture and yet they are called Babas for hundreds of years but Kutty can only become a bumi after 1957 independence.
Mustafa
April 26, 2013
DAP had image problem but now thing had started to change slowly.Majority of PAS members started to accept them.This is what MCA and UMNO try break it.They are really worry.UMNO still want tomplay old record.13 May.It doest worh now with the generation Y.
Brian
April 26, 2013
Kochebi, welcome to the 21st centuary
Brian
April 26, 2013
Mak Jun Nee, please check the records of University of Singapore, Medical Faculty. The Mamak was registered as Indian. Theres nothing wrong being Indian, but when you disclaim your heritage then you are like the dirt that this Mamak is. The hate for him is well described in this very good piece of work.
Taipan
April 27, 2013
Brian,
You beat me to this. A person may change his religion but can never change his race. For Mahathir, it is different – he did it his way! He wasn’t even proud of his roots. Then, we have that Malay ‘wannabe’ with an unmistakable chinaman DNA in him who even condemned his own parents to hell for going against his wishes. For me, I am happy for being a Malaysian!
Angoragal
April 27, 2013
A stirring, well written piece. Every line of it resonated with me..I, too, share this writer’s hope for a better Malaysia and I dare think that this time, it’s within our reach. For at long last, Malaysians have woken up! UBAH..ini kalilah..ABU
marie chee
April 27, 2013
Wow..great great article, gunslinger.
You stirred up the ferocity of Ubah to each and everyone of us who read this magnificent
piece. You took the words right out of our minds and mouths.
Yes, I remembered Dr Tan Chee Khoon. A man with fear or favour, and Mr Patto, as well.
Its really time for change and restore malaysia to one of the eight tigers of S,E,A.
Its now or never.
How about giving us your name, girl.
Alfred Adaikalaraj
April 28, 2013
A fantastic article, captures the spirit of a long drawn fight between the evil that has gripped Malaysia in the form of UMNO and the good people who could see through the veil deceit they so cleverly created through state owned media. Reading this article moved me because I recalled the aungish I felt when good people were scooped up in Ops lalang in 1987, and then Lim Guan Eng and then the unjustifiable atrocity committed on Anwar and those who joined the Reformasi movement beginning 1998 and right until now. It leaves a truimphant feel too, knowing that the good men and women who have opposed UMNO, and withstood so much over the years have in them what it takes to bring about the change we deserve on 5th May 2013.
Pao
April 28, 2013
Well written and says all to our younger voters – I share your admiration for D Patto and I was twice your age then – he inspired me to be interested in what the Opposition is doing for the underdogs of this country.
To all our new voters and to those who have been ‘goats’ – rethink your loyalty after 56 years of proof that BN has done nothing good for every one and all this BR1M is a result of copying PR’s manifesto…. UBAH, Ini Kali Lah because a vote for BN is a vote for Mahathir and Ibrahim Ali.