Vani wrote to me on 2nd November, 2007.
Her letter left me greatly troubled and moved me to decline to partake in the Deepavali festivities.
She has consented to my reproducing her letter.
It appears below.
_____________________________
Dear Haris,
I do not know why I am writing to you but I need to tell somebody. And I thought whom do I write to? Newspapers, the ministry, the local council? It sounded like a joke to me. But you name popped out in my head.
I read about the recent temple demolition in Padang Jawa. I come across these incidents pretty often these days and each time my heart bleeds. But this time, I broke down and sobbed my heart out. I m a Hindu.
They broke the deities’ with hammers and flattened the temple with bulldozers.
For many, they are just stones but for us, they are our lives.
It is where I unburden my problems.
It is where I place my hopes.
It is where I say a prayer for mankind.
Why such vengeance towards us?
Am I not a Malaysian? Was I not born in this country?
Am I not your sister?
The wordings ‘Tanah tumpahnya darahku’ hold the same deep meaning to me as the rest of us.
Am I not your fellow countryman?
Why, then, so much hatred towards us?
It is ironic that people who carry out these tasks are Muslims. It is a religion which teaches compassion and peace.
How can one, then, raise a hammer to destroy something, which we regard as God?
By all means, remove it if it is illegal and obstructive. All they asked was another piece of land to relocate.
Is that too much to ask?
Doesn’t the Indian community have any dignity? Don’t we deserve any respect?
My ancestors broke their backs for this country. My father broke his back for a government linked company for 35 years. And I m continuing the tradition.
Did we not contribute equally to this country’s development and progress?
My heart bleeds.
My blood boils.
Because I m oppressed in my own country.
People are oppressed in their land of birth.
We have nowhere to go.
And it really seems like there is nothing we can do about it.
Deepavali is a week away.
And the people of Padang Jawa do not have homes or a temple to light their lives up.
How many others are out there?
The People's Parliament 
drsaravananr
November 12, 2007
Vani, i feel your pain.
I believe in 2 things:
1. There’s always light at the end of the tunnel
2. What goes around comes around.
PM has made some promises. Now let’s see if he honors his words. In the meantime i just want to say that you are not alone.
Tear not of the past, fear not of the future.
Keep the faith.
Cheers
K P VARAN
November 12, 2007
It is said that God makes men go mad before they destroy them.
Those who destroyed what are Malaysian temples are men on the way to madness or already mad. Most or nearly all who carried out the physical act of demolishing the temple and the icons were probably following orders. There is nothing much they could have done even if they wanted to.
The schemers and the manipulators are hidden in dark recesses and do not come out except in the dark – mainly to raid certain places and partake in the pleasures available in the places raided.
Hinduism teaches ONE not to be ‘attached’ to anything except to the one and only OMNIPRESENT, IMMANENT and TRANSCENDENT Lord. He is everywhere and not in Padang Jawa alone.
WHY FEAR WHEN I AM HERE ? – says the Lord. Hope that in any event that you were able to celeberate Deepavali in a happier mood.
alliedmartster
November 12, 2007
vani, i feel too for the hindu community. its time we Malaysians stand up for each other.
If Malaysia is truly Asia, then, we should not be experiencing this. i respect all religions. And I believe no religion teaches hatred. This double standards must cease. If they are so quick to demolish an illegal temple, why not the illegal mansion?
Its time to change, vote for change. i would like to see municipal elections too, but iguess it will be too much to ask for. It really irks me to see the emergence of new suraus yet we cannot have our churches and temples. By all means build more places of worship, whatever the religion. Why discriminate? mosques and temples should be allowed right next to each other if we truly believe that we are a multi religious and racial country!
John Tan
November 12, 2007
It saddens me to read such a posting from a felllow Malaysian. With En Haris permission, I will have this posting emailed to all my friends. Can we call ourselves “Malaysia-Truly Asia”? If I could I would have this read out in Parliament.
John,
Go ahead.
Food for thought
November 12, 2007
As a Chinaman, i am totally appaled and disgusted by the way the temple was demolished by the local town council. Definitely, there are better ways to settle the problem even if the temple is deemed to be illegal or otherwise. I am hurt and at the same time angry about what happened in Padang Jawa eventhough I may not be a Hindu. This is total disregard and disrespectful of religion for anyone who profess to be a God fearing person.
I agree with alliedmartster “By all means build more places of worship, whatever the religion. Why discriminate? mosques and temples should be allowed right next to each other if we truly believe that we are a multi religious and racial country!”
Just look at Indonesia, our closest neighbour. If one ever visited Jakarta, on one side of the street they have the Istiqal Mosque and next to it, the Cathedral Church. Mind you, both buildings are national icons and treasures. But the fact is Indonesia is the World’s most populous Muslim nation and the respect the Indonesians have for freedom of religion is second to none.
Avtaran
November 12, 2007
The Prime Minister has promised many things on racial unity and religious freedom. He has to my knowledge delivered nothing. He condoned the act of the former IGP in April last year of forcing non muslim police women in wearing the tudung for the police day parade. He did this on the basis that it is a uniform.
Since when has a religious garment become a uniform for someone of another faith?
Living in a delusion, he has no idea what he is saying and let alone what he is doing. But that is because he belongs to the fourth race, Bangsa UMNO. Not Malay, mind you, it is a separate race that we must refer to has Bangsa UMNO.
Once we accept this and also accept that there is a fifth race, Bangsa BN, consisting of the component parties, we can better appreciate race relations in this country.
The BN does not help Malays, Chinese, Indians or others. And they have no clue as to what is Bangsa Malaysia. Because they only think of themselves and help their own party members. And above all they have no religious convictions.
This is the tragedy of this country.
Hidup Bangsa Malaysia.
yh
November 13, 2007
vani
i share your pain coz i am a simple malaysian. yes, whatever transgression, they could have waited after deepavali. no, they dont care and have no sensitivities. but should we throw our curses on them. no, vani. pray hard coz at the end of the day what goes round will come round.
work hard and pray hard. you will, just as i have, see light at the end of the tunnel. do not, let me repeat, bear hatred but in your heart, pray and you will find peace.
BobSam
November 13, 2007
Hi Everybody
Before we go looking for a political agenda, can I ask you for help?
Kindly investigate who is the land owner?
Kindly investigate who is the developer?
Someone or some people gave instructions, lets look for that leaking pen, that signed document b4 it disapears as under OSA.
It just could be greedy people taking advantage of the poorest of poor, the so-called underclass of Malaysia.
Get the facts. Let the truth come out. Every truth that is published, will eventually lead you to freedom.
But let me warn you, I believe its a long, long road, and the price to be paid will be heavy.
Corruption has spread its cancer, Bersih’s 10-11 was the first step in looking for how deep & how far the cancer has spread. But it has spread, and will continue spreading.
Take care all & May God Bless You.
Ram
November 13, 2007
Vani,
As a fellow Malaysian and also a Hindu I truly feel your pain.But none of these atrocities will really stop UNLESS the Indian community stops voting for the dacing.
For all the oppression that the Indian community has suffered,they by and large keep on voting for the dacing.
Can we SOMEHOW reverse this trend?Only then will change come.
MIC should rightfully give a broom to the Selangor MB!
thegodfather
November 13, 2007
Vani,
Although I do not subscribe to any specific religious doctrines, I believe that every individual has the right to profess his/her beliefs. Also, no one has the right to force his/her beliefs on someone else or belittle them.
What was done by the authorities in Padang Jawa is a blatant disregard for basic universal human values and an arrogant and barbaric display of power and might on a minority community.
I understand your pain, Vani, but please remain strong and rest assured that such acts of evil will never go unpunished. They have upset the balance and the universe will definitely act. there is no other way. As you sow you shall reap. Remain strong Vani and all those who have been affected.
Azlan Adnan
November 13, 2007
Malaysia is full of racist (they call themselves nationalist, but means the same thing), bigoted and myopic politicians. I remember being in PWTC where Ali Rustam, MB of Melaka was giving a ceramah that nauseated me. He was telling the audience how great he was during the last elections at getting all the religious leaders of Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism to get their congregation to vote for BN.
Then after the elections (BN won lah), he said these leaders came asking for State land to build churches and temples and he was very PROUD of the fact that he frustrated them at every move, giving non-commital answers, buying time, giving delay tactics and throwing the whole gulong of red tape at them.
STUPID POLITICIANS prevent the building of places of worship so that God-fearing people can go to pray. So what happens? There will be less god-fearing people and these same politicians start wondering why the crime rate is high, drug abuse in up, child abuse and sex crimes are up. Bodoh punya orang.
Wouldn’t you rather have god-fearing people as your neighbours than godless criminals?
Same thing in Kota Warisan where an application by the World Assembly of God Church was denied permission by Majlis Perbandaran Sepang to open a church in a shoplot in Jalan Airport City 2.
Also, BN would not approve the opening of mosques in UMNO minority-PAS/KeADILan majority areas. Betul tak?
choong
November 13, 2007
Perhaps in the end, we are gearing towards a system meltdown. We are basically creating a reason to self-destruct simply because we choose to not respect others. There is only so much room available to vent one’s frustration. If all is exhausted, I can see a revolution similar to the 1789 French revolution coming. I shudder to think how much lives must be sacrifice before this madness ceases. God, please save Malaysia and awake us from this nightmare.
rajkumar
November 13, 2007
vani ,, sorry ,, ur father , like mine ,was a fool.and i , like u , am one. my apologies
Rajkumar, if you’re going to lie down and take the crap, then I suppose you’re right.
Vani, things can be different if we try to make them different.
Up to you.
IdeaLog
November 14, 2007
This is very good site. Maybe I’ll do something like that in Russia.
nstman
November 14, 2007
Haris, I salute you. You are a true Malaysian. Let’s continue our struggle against oppression, lies, bigotry, racism, idiocy, stupidity.
drsaravananr
November 14, 2007
Choong,
“…..system meltdown…..self destruct….revolution…”. Scary stuff man. It’s time we stood up against this kind opression.
See Malaysiakini: Wear yellow every Saturday. I’m starting this Saturday.
Cheers
lucia
November 14, 2007
re: what azlan said.
talking about the prevention of the setting up of non muslim places of worship by these stupid racists people, do you know that even the setting up of a signboard, they will made noises!
i have inside info of a church in perak that wanted to erect a signboard on the roadside (main road) to point people to their chapel (because it is small and out of the main road), and where the signboard is going to be, happen to be near a mosque and these mosque people made a helluva protest!! can you believe that?
animah
November 14, 2007
Vani,
Do I have your permission to read your words (or get someone else – writer or actor to read your words) at any of the writers and readers’ gatherings that go on around the Klang Valley?
If you say yes, then I will let you know when, where and who will read your piece. And you are of course most welcome to come and watch, or, better still read it out yourself.
I suppose given that Vani consented to it being posted here, she should not have an issue having it read at a gathering
Vani R
November 14, 2007
Animah and the rest,
By all means, please do. It is heartening to read all of your thoughts and comments. Thank you very much.
I will come and watch. I will only break down again if I read it out myself. My email address is edengarden_2000@yahoo.com.
Thanks again for your efforts.
Rajkumar,
Like Haris said, I m only a fool if I take the crap. But I m no fool.
Walk tall, Vani
animah
November 16, 2007
Vani,
I will be in touch with you by e-mail separately, and with your consent, we can alert Haris and his readers through this blog.
Hugs,
Animah
klconfidential
November 16, 2007
Dear Vani,
I cry as I write this. Your letter was heartfelt and touched me deeply. I am a Muslim and you are my sister.
The officials in power are not religion sensitive. Please do not lose hope. Please.
Please all, let’s change this country and make it better for EVERYONE, not just the few.
I’m so sorry, Vani.
Vani R
November 16, 2007
Sure, Aminah.
Hugs to you too 🙂
required
November 26, 2007
Okay before we get all emotional about this, lets be rational a little here. How would you suggest they clear it ?