“I fully support kicking umno out, but why vandalise public spaces??” – a comment from John to my “One little, two little, three little Mat ABUs” post.
I picked John’s comment to respond to and ignored the many others because many of the others sounded like UMNO cybertroopers, so I shall not waste my time with them.
John, you and I have access to the internet.
But for every 2 of us with net access, 20, or even more, do not.
How would you get your ‘kick UMNO out’ message to them, John?
Please tell us.
Take out and pay for a ‘Kuburkan UMNO / BN di PRU13’ ad in Utusan Malaysia and TV3?
Arrange that for me, John, and I cease this revolutionary graffiti.
You have my word on this.
Yes, John, what you call vandalism, many others call revolutionary graffiti.
Want to see revolutionary graffiti from other jurisdictions, John?
Falaki Street Wall, Cairo. Photo courtesy of Rowan El Shimi via Flickr.
Syrian President Bachar Al-Assad depicted as Hitler. Photo courtesy of Hanibaael via Flickr.
“Gaddafi’s Republic Leaving Libya,” Tripoli. Photo courtesy of EU Commission DG ECHO.
Street art on Mogamma building in Tahrir Square from the July sit-in, showing Mubarak behind the scenes pulling the SCAF’s marionette strings
Graffiti on Tank in Tahrir Square. Photo courtesy Rowan El Shimi, via Flickr.
Here, read this, John, and then listen to the ‘Sound of Slience’ by Simon & Garfunkel below. Pay particular attention to the lyrics at minute 2.39 of the song and you might be surprised at who did graffiti on the subway and tenement walls.
“…think about graffiti as it appears to us around the world today, in places where painting on a wall is about speaking truth to power. The Arab Spring was marked by spray-painted taunts to dictators, and Haiti’s chaos led to impassioned scrawls. A crackdown against anti-regime graffiti in the town of Daraa was even the inspiration this year for Syria’s tank-defying protest movement. In many of these cases, the artfulness of the graffiti takes a distant second place to what someone is actually trying to say. “Free doom — Get out Hamad,” reads one spray-painted text from Bahrain. During the rebellion in Libya, “Freedom=Aljazeera” written on a wall makes the value of a free press perfectly clear; on another wall, the simple tracing of an AK-47 is enough to invoke an entire ethos of rebellion. In Guatemala City, stenciled portraits of the “disappeared” of Guatemala’s long civil war, with the Spanish words for “Where are they?” written below, stand as eloquent witness to one of the country’s most crucial concerns” – Revolution in a Can
Now, maybe we can understand why the UMNO cybertroopers are coming in here and protesting that the ABU revolutionary graffiti is vandalism.
They’ve seen how it worked elsewhere.
The People's Parliament 
RCAIM
November 18, 2012
Most here would not do a fraction of what Haris does and is doing for this nation—the time sacrificed by him in travelling, strategising, attending meetings, giving talks, organizing things and so on. Without being paid a single cent to do it all. And at personal risk to himself—do nopt forget that. Do let him get on with his important work rather than distract him with minor issues like whether the graffiti constitutes vandalism. Vandalism has no other motive but to mischievously destroy and damage. Abu- ing the nation is ridding this nation of its scourge, and therein lies the difference.
Is it not far, far better to try and ensure that there are, for example, no more instances of the Teoh Beng Hocks and Kugans rather than have a little graffiti that can be so easily washed away once Putrajaya is taken?
Alex Wong
November 18, 2012
I’m puzzled…I’m confused….
1) I thought RPK is a good friend of Haris Ibrahim (the ABU leader). If yes, why is Haris Ibrahim attacking RPK? Personally, I think RPK is a great blogger with balls of steel. I can’t see any local blogger of whom could match RPK in anyway be it courage or wisdom. In fact, RPK helped PR to win many votes via his writings in the last G.E. & if so, what’s the bad blood between Haris & RPK?
2) To some, ‘graffiti’ might be seen as creative but to me, I see it as disgusting. To put it simple, men created papers for us to do our drawing & not wall, phone booth, bus stand or road surfaces for this said purpose. Sometimes by being too creative could make one look a big fool & this is why most creative artists are commonly druggies always high on either weed or meth. They somehow have the ability to transport their thinking way out of the box till outer space but only to end up in their sewerage system.
3) Yes, a big NO to UMNO no doubt!!! but why should we emulate ways taken by people from troubled countries such as Libya, Egypt & Arab? Why can’t we emulate brighter ways taken by more developed nations? Why should we emulate the acts stupid people when we can emulate the act of smarter people? Such picture examples shown above are just mere excuses to cover-up the consequences of dumb doings done by some ignorant ABU supporters in Melaka. You know what I mean ya.
Lastly, wise up….wake up….smarten up….&….fight hard against UMNO but before the fight begins, we should train ourselves to be smarter first or else we will just waste time fighting for this cause. Learn to walk before we learn to run & learn to run before we can take up a challenge in marathon. This is basic, my dear ABU friends.
Choo WK
November 18, 2012
well said, alex wong. no point of copying another knowing very well it’s not the right way. there are abundance of better ways of doing things as long as we dig deep enough into our minds along the very fine lines of being civilized. doing uncivilized things require almost 0% thinking. it’s easy to do & easy to copy but rarely bring about constructive purposes but if what is said is true, what should be the civilized thing to do? easy question but hard to get the answer. if only ABU can break the code, then, i foresee them going far but if they remain this way unable to break the code, then, i’m afraid the will just be neither here nor there achieving little than expected. lastly, i’m amazed how low intelligent ABU fans from Melaka can be. this is the difference between the intelligence of orang bandar vs orang kampung.
clap clap clap for alex
baba
November 18, 2012
Alex and choo, talk is cheap. Action speaks louder then words. If you have nothing constructive to contribute, then best to keep quiet. Critisizing is the easy part. Offering a solution is a whole different thing. To Harris, I salute you for your efforts.
baba
November 18, 2012
Break the code? What nonsense! Please explain what you mean by ‘code’. You think this is some kind of movie? Da vinci code? Indiana jones?!! I think you have been watching one movie to many. This is reality and not a figment of your wet imagination. This is ABU!.
Low intelliget ABU fans in Melaka? So lets see you come out with an intelligent plan Mr. Intellectual. And if you think that by typing some ‘intelligent plan’ here then you are the done……. well wrong my friend. Let us see you excecute the plan. Chances are you will not even get pass thinking of a plan. Or chances are you wont even bother as you might be a cyber trooper. ABU is a plan. Against many odds it is being excecuted. For that, Harris and the ABU team….. you guys are inspirational.
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
November 19, 2012
Choo WK,
How do you know there are an “abundance” of better ways?
Why do you think there are an “abundance” of better ways?
What do you mean by “constructive purposes”?
As you, yourself, have rightly pointed out, “easy question(s) but hard to get the answer(s)”. 🙂
Don’t get me wrong, in a democratic society, you have every right to ask uncomfortable and difficult questions to the Mat ABUs and they have to defend and justify their actions BUT democracy is a double edged sword – the Mat ABUs have their own rights as well and YOU have to defend and justify your accusations 🙂
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
November 19, 2012
Alex Wong,
Re your first point – it’s off-topic so I am gonna leave that aside.
Let me address your remaining points. I will use a slightly esoteric response as you appear to be appealing to our higher senses.
You mention that paper was invented for writing and drawing, etc. Well, in Malaysia, BN has ripped that “paper” out from our hands.
Fortunately, for the many disadvantaged Malaysians, we have managed to retain the “writing implements” and the “writing skills”. 🙂
The peaceful and non-violent methods of protests, in the form of tastefully designed and strategically positioned public messages, ARE, in fact, a feature of the “more developed nations” which many Malaysians admire, not just the Middle-Eastern countries in the examples above. You don’t have to believe me on this – I encourage you to go look for yourself.
I have also noticed that there are people who keep calling for a civilised or a smarter approach.
Unfortunately, these same people choose NOT to define what they mean by “civilised” or “smarter”.
Without an agreed definition of the terms “civilised” and “smarter”, it becomes easy for critics to denigrate the efforts of the Mat ABUs.
After all, if I don’t tell you what I want or what I mean, you will NEVER EVER be able to do anything to please me. 🙂
Penjuang Duit
November 18, 2012
Dear Khairy, this message is specifically for you. Get out of this much hated sinking ship now, rebrand yourself as an independant, independent of those money-friendly independants and help to rebuild our beloved country again, healing a divided people.The bigger war is how not to slip further down the road against our neighbouring countries, winning GE13 is kindie, shiok sendiri sementara sahaja.Make use of your brain and other fellow smarties’ to win for Msia, NOT to win for a dinosaur party infested with greedy, crafty old samurais who won’t allow a new kid on the block to tell them what not to do bcos they are overused to do as they pleasured. DON”T WASTE ANY MORE TIME WITH SUCH NUTS.
R
November 18, 2012
Thanks Haris for your motivational piece.
From,
R. (wink wink)
R
Sama2 ( wink wink )
shakuntala
November 18, 2012
….graffitti is a recognized art form, in fact a beautiful art form and graffitti artists are intelligent because they combine a good effective message which suits the art
ABU has to carry the message far and wide. …..an important message on an important issue. A message that is going to liberate Malaysians, giving them insight.
Some countries even give graffitti artists space, because they recognize freedom of expression.
This graffitti issue has made you rather famous Haris and that is the best thing that can happen to ABU, at this moment in time..
HIDUP ABU
Hawkeye Jack
November 18, 2012
Vandalism? who says? it’s only for the uninitiated who says abu is vandalism, those who sits in the comfort of their home, not understanding and succumbing to the play of the umno cybertroopers and saboteurs, umno works with lots of your ringgit and throws it out to contractors who recruits and plants these slimeballs in all corners without you even knowing until you have been taken over.
There have been many such instances that has happen it is just that it is not announced or written about. Civil societies and internet media have fallen prey to these saboteurs and it is still happening and many are still oblivious of such slime balls in their midst, we know it’s difficult to see when they have befriended many in pretense.
There have been efforts to undermine ABU but we will soldier on, our goal is near and we will do our part to ensure the departure of umno.
Well done! Haris, for a clear presentation in this post.
For those who still says it’s vandalism, please reflect and see who among you that had subtly planted such a thought in your head.
Taipan
November 19, 2012
Hawkeye,
Well said! Ever wonder why there are so many crows in our neighborhoods? That’s because this land of ours is littered with filth, filth accumulated over the years due to indiscrimate dumping by those who pride themselves on moral high ground but living in glass houses. What ABU is doing is to clean up these filth to keep the crows away, and that’s a most civilized thing to do!
I see efforts are being made by the few here to litter this blog with their filth to attract the crows. Time to wield the cane and see who has the last laugh!
Ipohgal
November 18, 2012
One man’s poison is another man’s meat, right, Harris? So do what you think is good for the country.
Right on, sis
S. Menon
November 18, 2012
To Alex Wong and Choo WK: you have both chosen to take what you consider the moral high ground regarding the use of graffitti. OK, fine. Your point is taken. You appear to dislike UMNO and/or support PR. However, while you have given us your take on this graffitti thing, you have had nothing at all to contribute about solving the problems we face. How exactly would you suggest that we counter UMNO propoganda when BN has full control of the media, when the digital fora are not available in the heartlands of this country? If you have nothing to say, sometimes it is wiser to keep quiet!
ALVIN
November 18, 2012
Alex Wong, did you forget to take your medicine ?
ablogsmith
November 18, 2012
The message has to go out. UMNO has to go whatever the cost.
ALVIN
November 18, 2012
John, the writing is on the wall !
bigjoe99
November 18, 2012
You get all sorts. The way to put it. Harris is not blowing things up like IRA or Palestinians is he? – Ask informed Sabahan if they feel like Palestinians and Irishmen…Revolutions are never clean..
Choo WK
November 18, 2012
Oh my gosh! I can see many hostile & angry people here (people filled with rage). I never knew uncivilized actions such as the graffiti issue could make people blow their anger off. How ironic & how amusing in some ways. Man!!! these people are taking things way too seriously I’m afraid. Such quick temper could lead to unfortunate stroke & heart attack, you know? Take it cool lah !!! Chill lahl! You people need to seek urgent medical help.
baba
November 19, 2012
Brother…. you are taking things waaayyy to hard. Cannot accept constructive criticisms? Come on….
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
November 19, 2012
Choo WK,
??? Hostile people?? Angry people??? Where??? 🙂
Stop it, you 🙂 You are making up things which are simply not there!! 🙂
This is a moderated blog and I don’t think too many hostile or angry comments get thru.
Of cos, if one was unusually sensitive and is used to having one’s views accepted without question, then ……
Lynn Cheang
November 18, 2012
Before Alex Wong and Choo WK takes the high moral ground, let them show what they have done for ABU other than saying they fully support PR. Perhaps they would like to join Haris in walking their talk? RCAIM hit it right and it is worth quoting what he said ” … Most here would not do a fraction of what Haris does and is doing for this nation—the time sacrificed by him in travelling, strategising, attending meetings, giving talks, organizing things and so on. Without being paid a single cent to do it all. And at personal risk to himself … ”
Haris, don’t let the turkeys get you down. We are 100% with you.
Choo WK
November 18, 2012
I seriously wouldn’t mind joining Haris & gang walking their talk but how could I do that when they don’t bother walking? You mean to say you want me to join them spraying paint logo on every public properties all over town? *sigh*
No wonder they say Malaysians lack moral values.
baba
November 19, 2012
If you dont wanna to do spraying then there are so many other ways to contribute. Financial donations, or just ask the ABU team how you can contribute. If there is a will then there is a way. Put your money where your mouth is. Be creative on how you can contribute. Besides criticising, you are capable of thinking creatively right?. If not then just shut!
Taipan
November 19, 2012
No, ABU does not need you to do any spray painting job. You are not made for it, anyway!But they may want to take you on wearing the ABU T-shirt as their official mobile billboard. I think it will look nice on you. Let’s see what your balls are made of?
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
November 19, 2012
Choo WK,
After reading some of your comments, I don’t deny that you appear to have very high moral values.
Having high moral values can be a good thing until one starts believing that one is so much better than those “lower class, uncouth, barbaric, uneducated, uncivilised” people.
I grant that it takes a great deal of personal soul-searching to learn how to share one’s sense of high morals with others who may not share the same values – I would be amongst the first to plea guilty to a very poor record in this area.
Like I said elsewhere, in a good and healthy democracy, you have a right to complain but you will also be called to defend and justify your accusations.
I know, I know, know, it sucks, eh? 🙂
Farida
November 18, 2012
Alex Wong,
You suggest a lot:
” Why can’t we emulate brighter ways taken by more developed nations? Why should we emulate the acts stupid people when we can emulate the act of smarter people?
” fight hard against UMNO but before the fight begins, we should train ourselves to be smarter first or else we will just waste time fighting for this cause. Learn to walk before we learn to run & learn to run before we can take up a challenge in marathon. This is basic, my dear ABU friends.”
But what do you really mean by ’emulate brighter ways’ , ’emulate the act of smarter people?’, ‘fight hard against UMNO’, ‘train ourselves to be smarter first’ , ‘learn to walk before …’ ???
AIYOH! Words without substance.
Remember what Eliza Doolittle sang? “Words, words, words! I’m so sick of words”
Daniel Chew
November 18, 2012
Haris, I totally agree with you. That is call fighting smart !
shakuntala
November 18, 2012
Still on the subject of ABU and graffitti…..I did ABU proud today. I wore my ABU t-shirt for the first time outside of my neighbourhood,
I caused little ripples..
Don’t be shocked…I got five compliments from total strangers. One was a salesman who came up to me while I was in the store, shook my hand and said,”Ma’am I like your t-shirt, such a fantastic message.” Goodness gracious, what an insight…..I told him to get himself one and gave him Haris’s blog address.
When I went up to pay, one customer raised his thumb and smiled broadly and said, “Wonderful, your t-shirt”.
Three others as I passed them also raised their thumbs up. and smiled…..Gosh, I call today, my ABU day. I.
One last one laughed out so loud, he nearly ruptured my ear drum, when I gave him the English translation…he was trying hard to read and understand the Bahasa.
Hehe ,,,, was not that a great day. So stop talking about vandalism and start wearing the ABU t-shirts,you gals and guys. That way you will be helping Haris who is doing such a lot of work for our good and that of the country…….Hidup, Hidup, ABU
Shakuntala,
I wear an ABU t-shirt everyday, alternating between the yellow and the black.
And yes, not a day passes when I don’t get positive responses.
Having said that, can ABU adopt you as our official mobile billboard?
All for ABU
November 19, 2012
If we have to paste the whole country with ABU graffiti to get rid of Umno we must do it – for the simple reason that we would have done a great favour for our country. Umno is rotten and a cancer. We have to get rid of it before it kills our whole nation which is already perhaps 90 per cent strangled by the Umno sickness and corruption.
shakuntala
November 19, 2012
Haris I usually am an ABU braggart…..I tell people about ABU wherever and whenever I get the chance. I also give them your blog address. ….I have started wearing the t-shirts. I am going to buy more to wear, yes perhaps everyday and also to give away as presents. Isn’t that what you mean?
I am so glad to be able to help ABU, in my own small way and I find it great fun….so there you have a taker!
You’ve done and are doing so well, quite a few people know about ABU already….it is catching on, slowly but surely..
Shakuntala,
Let me know when you’re coming round to get those t-shirts.
As I said before, you’re priceless!
tok merayau
November 19, 2012
i really feel sorry for people like alex and choo. they think they are smart but in reality they exhibit nothing more than empty vessels making noises devoid of any constructive contributions. perhaps its people like these that has enabled bn to remain in power for so long. get real lah – do something meaningful for your country. dont just sit on your high horses and pontificate.
Jahamy
November 19, 2012
BIngo ! Sound of silence. Thought I was the only one who saw that in the song!!!!
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
November 19, 2012
On a slightly different note and at the risk of being off-topic myself, I wonder if anybody else has noticed a few more seemingly innocuous comments from supposedly supporters of ABU?
I hasten to apologise unreservedly and unconditionally to REAL supporters who have made REAL and GENUINE comments of REAL concern about the actions of ABU.
I have heard rumours of a campaign by BN to use highly intelligent and well-articulated commentators with a low-key approach. I do not visit many blogs and I wonder if others have noticed any such changes in the tone and tenor of comments made on blogs elsewhere. Just curious.
Personally, I am not fazed by such BN tactics, if they do exist at all. I am not that smart and I don’t debate very well BUT I have noticed that where I am lacking or have faltered, others have stepped in. It is a great feeling 🙂
In fact, I really hope that we get to see even more of such comments so that EVERYBODY gets a chance to practise some REAL DEMOCRACY in action 🙂
Again, sorry about this off-topic post.
lizzie
November 19, 2012
I wonder if umno cybertroopers are getting smarter and now they come with sheep skin so we receive comments from people who claim to be against UMNO, but yet, disagree with the ABU graffiti. Now cybertroopers come in the guise of ‘friendly fire’. Anyway, in the olden days, people even slip messages inside a moon cake. When Malaysians are deprive of the channel to air alternate views, what choice do we have. The least we can do is contribute money, if time is what we are not willing or ready to give.
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
November 19, 2012
Lizzie,
I have met MCA members who are extremely hostile towards UMNO. By “extremely hostile” I mean to the extend that there is NOTHING that UMNO can do right in their eyes.
So, there may be more than one type of cybertrooper being unleashed, I dunno.
baronvonchesto
November 19, 2012
Haris – see Im not the only one who feel that the grafitti is inappropriate! Grafitti is grafitti and vandalism no matter what the motive. I for one hate all forms of so called “street art”. My concern is that many who see the Abu stickers (ala Ah Long style) or the spray paint may get a negative impression of the ABU movement and choose to ignore the message being sent.
It is for those two reasons that I have refused to stick ABU stickers around town.
Oh and please dont cover road signs. Ive seen quite a few of your pictures with ABU stickers on things like Berhenti, the Orange Diamond signs, etc. Those are there for safety. When Ah Longs stick their stickers to the point you cant clearly read/distinguish them its a genuine danger. Please dont emulate Ah Longs.
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
November 19, 2012
baronvonchesto,
Are you serious? You mean to tell me there are ABU stickers out there which “cover” a road sign?
Given the relative size of an ABU sticker to a road sign, I find it hard to believe that one could not tell what the road sign meant.
Paul F
November 19, 2012
To Alex Wong and Choo WK: Both of you are dumber than I thought. In this God forsaken land run by the evil UMNO/BN regime there is no even ground. TVs & the govt controlled Toilet Papers are good examples of spinning lop-sided lies against the opposition. Hence, one have to graffiti to get the message across to those who are not well informed due to unavailable of alternative internet news…..get it? Every Kumar, Abdul & Ah Chong knows the injustice propagated by this crooked regime….Why not you two? You should be the ones to wise up….wake up….& smarten up …… Smart Alecks !!!
Sam
November 19, 2012
Alex and Choo, once you have stopped clapping for each other, do list out your “civilized”, “smarter”, “orang bandar”, “basic” ways for ABU. Start with just 2 that you have implemented and proven to work. Take your time; we will not be holding our breath. Too busy graffiti-ing. (Been doing that since school days).
Theresa
November 19, 2012
ABU executing the……
OPPA AH LONG STYLE???
Can’t they find a better & more original way??? AES system they make so much noise when it does help reduce accidents but when they go around sticking Ah Long & Ah Bu stickers on road signs which could increase accidents, they say it’s a good thing. Are Malaysians stupid or what?
How to maju like that with such mentality?
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
November 19, 2012
Theresa,
The AES is a great way to reduce accidents and improve safety on Malaysian roads. Unfortunately, the huge windfall from increased fines will go to a BN crony instead of the public purse.
I seriously doubt if ABU stickers on road signs present huge problems as such due to the relative size of the stickers to the actual road size. If you cannot tell what a road sign means with an ABU sticker on it, I humbly suggest you should not be behind the wheel of a vehicle.
Are there better and more original ways? Probably but this is it so far with the resources available.
It sad, I know but I am pretty sure Haris Ibrahim is open to any suggestions anybody else may have 🙂 Have you got any suggestions?
shakuntala
November 19, 2012
In the then democratic republic of east Germany,(a misnomer!) when the denial of human rights and freedom was such an entrenched obsession of the regime, the wall, a symbol of repression, which ruthlessly divided the people, for no rhyme or reason, came tumbling down because the people stayed steadfastly focused on freeing themselves.They were tireless in their efforts to achieve their goal to become ONE PEOPLE, ONE NATION. Today they are.
Cybertroopers as such were, are, will be ……as long as we are aware. Think we can all agree that ABU has got nothing to hide, it is honest, . …….so if another intelligent, well-articulated method, albeit low-key, is at work, to counter ABU……so be it lah.
The likes of Perkasa??????????? hehehe!
Looks like most of the so called cybertroopers are rather confused and puzzled…..so maybe ABU can serve as a smart comparision. One can learn from example!
HARIS:… re t-shirts, will inform before coming to purchase…..it is good you have this regulation. Many thanks.
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
November 19, 2012
shakuntala,
No, no, no, you should never mention “intelligent” or “well-articulated” on the same page as Perkasa 🙂 It would be cruel to make fun of Perkasa like that!!! 🙂 You should consider using words with fewer syllables 🙂
On a more serious note, you are absolutely correct that the ABU movement is a lot more transparent and open than most Malaysians are used to – cybertroopers included.
The concept of honesty, integrity and accountability will take some time for many Malaysians to absorb after so many years of living under a regime which excelled in falsehoods, outright lies and corruption.
Never mind, you guys keep up the good work cos us ordinary folks are with you.
Not long to go now for a new Malaysia 🙂
Malaysian Overseas
November 19, 2012
Alex Wong & Choo
Have you heard of Banksy? No?
Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based graffiti artist, political activist, film director, and painter. His graffiti work worth hundred of thousands pounds!!! People in UK called it art! what disgusting about you talking about???? You sound like very ignorant to me! Open your eyes to see more! Read here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banksy
Wave33
November 20, 2012
Yeabsolutely, we need some kind of movement. The authorities called it rebels movement.
End of the day, the regime calls the shot, they control the judiciary and legislative. When it is wrong, they would come down hard. It always has been double standard.
Bersih 2.0 street protest is illegal, Perkasa camping in front of US Embassy every single month is not.
Suspected corruption in thousands is national security and someone is gonna drop dead, corruption in hundreds of millions is commission and it does not dent the national coffer.
Graffiti and public property vandalism is wrong. Polis Raja Di Malaysia will come to act and ‘Volcano Massage’ instead gets away scott free and smiling all the way to the bank. Double standard as usual.
Shall we be doing the wrong… perhaps this time.
shakuntala
November 20, 2012
Give me five, Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia “Hidup ABU”.
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
November 20, 2012
Hahahahah!! Hi-5 to yer to, mate 🙂
annabrella
November 21, 2012
A hard point made about ABU and vandalism and one which cannot be brushed-off easily or too glibly. Hence, please beware of my long comment on the nitty gritties of ABU!
That I suppose is because some actions can look the same from the surface but can be very different in content/substance once seen from the perspective of their underlying structure of rationales, intentions, motivations, effects, consequences and justifications.
Like when you kill someone for instance. What others generally see is that a person is dead because of your actions. Civilised society, as a general rule, considers killing people as a very bad act indeed and so classifies it accordingly under its criminal code of offences and also ranks the act of killing in degrees of severity of commission. So if you kill someone then it is murder if you kill that person with premeditation i.e. malice aforethought. Or it can be voluntary manslaughter if you killed that person without premeditation but did it say, while you were not in full control of your mental faculties, like when you are drunk or high on drugs or when you lose your self-control due to some extreme provocation. Or it could be involuntary manslaughter if you killed that person in self-defence or in the defence of someone else. Whether you are convicted or acquitted or the type of sentence you get would depend on the actual circumstances of the case, the reasonableness or unreasonableness of your actions, the consequences and your underlying intentions and motivations. So to hold you to account for the really bad act of taking the life of another, the people judging you would want to look at the situation in detail using a set of consistent general principles for guidance so that they could come to a fair and just decision on your act of killing to ensure that justice is served appropriately to both the victim and accused.
That’s how one should look at any act that is being classified by others as being a bad act. You can use those same generalised considerations as used in the example of the killing act to come to a conclusion about other acts classified as being bad, like acts of vandalism which deface/destroy property.
The ABU initiative acts might look the same as acts of bad vandalism from the surface but they are not that in their underlying structure. They are not pointless destructive acts done by immature delinquents, retards and other such degenerates who have nothing valid to say or better to do with their time other than to go around wasting their and other people’s time, energy and money destroying things simply for the sake of some pointless “rebellious” audacity or sick chauvinism or worse, exhibiting the mindless abhorrence of gang-culture.
ABU’s acts go much deeper than the annoying and pointless shallowness of vandalism. ABU’s acts are considered and justified acts arising from the dynamics of inalienable human intellectual freedoms which refuse to be subservient or be shackled by the more static society-based general rules and laws which themselves once originated, ironically, from the same dynamic intellectual freedom process before these became normalised into the more static societal or self-imposed straightjackets of general rules/laws to follow or obey.
ABU has arisen from the Malaysian ashes as it were because good people now want to do something effective to help remove and get rid of a real evil that has manifested and taken hold of their country in the awesomely destructive shape and cunning parasitic form of a deadly self-serving, non-democratic, authoritarian fascist-supremacist government that is headed by an awesomely greedy and corrupt pariah elite running amok without any democratic accountability whatsoever within the echelons of political power controlled by a Medusa-like UMNO-head with its racist segregationist policies being rubber-stamped without question by a spineless lapdog body of self-serving BN-crony politicians.
Rather than focussing on good stewardship and principled governance of the nation for the good of all, this dreadful UMNO-led BN-coalition government has been far more interested in carrying out its self-serving greedy and corrupt activities to enrich itself and its cronies for the entire length of the 55-years that it has been in power. Throughout that time, it has relentlessly engaged in abuse of power and corrupt activities, using propaganda wholesale to denigrate, degrade and destroy everything of value in the country, vandalising and harming the lives, potential and quality of lives of countless numbers of Malaysians who trusted the BN-government to take care of their country and keep it safe in stewardship for them and for future generations.
The heavy costs paid (and still accruing) and the incalculable consequential harm that has been wreaked upon so many Malaysian lives through UMNO/BN’s wholesale evil vandalism over its 55- year lifespan to date cannot now be undone and redressed adequately or put right easily.
The effects of UMNO/BN’s evil vandalism are also nothing like the easily quantifiable and repairable effects of ABU’s actions (like cleaning up the ABU graffiti through more civil community service actions if Malaysians decide in future not to leave it as a Malaysian art-form to remember the bad ole’ days by). It is also nothing like ABU’s no-real-harm based consequences arising from ABU’s justifiable disobedience and clean/clear conscience acts of non-vandalism. ABU’s acts of civil disobedience will also only be done until the real evil now resident within Malaysian politics is removed for good by good people.
That is why I can support ABU because I see ABU’s acts as being necessary and poles apart from UMNO/BN’s totally unnecessary evil acts of real vandalism.
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
November 21, 2012
annabrella,
Eeeerrr… eeerrrr….that was exactly what I was going to say 🙂
Heheheheh!!! I wish 🙂
Hawkeye Jack
November 21, 2012
wow.. i bet u, alex and choo and his other friends all collapse from reading this, i think i can agree with you annabrella. 🙂
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
November 22, 2012
hawkeye,
My brain overheated and I am writing to you right now with my head stuck in my fridge 🙂
Heheheheheh
Voter Wan Abdullah
November 22, 2012
Graffiti ??? ABU is a beautiful piece of Arts. OK it is stil graffiti as John insist it is but it is a beautiful piece of Graffiti I say. ABU ABU ABU / bn.