News of demolition of Hindu temples by local authorities that comes to surface from time to time is indeed disturbing but its status on government land blurs the line between right and wrong. Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) is one of a number of entities that are trying to stop any temple from demolition.
Frankly, I was uninterested in HINDRAF. It is partly to my slight inclination preferring not to have anything do to with religion as well as partly to me being undecided on the issue of temple demolition. I have read of mosques being torn down elsewhere and so I figured, what is so different with a Hindu temple?
Some may have countered that point by stating some of these temples are decades old. Fair enough but I am still staying firm on the fence, with equal force pulling to both sides.
That asides, HINDRAF’s action to drag the British government into local tussle — it is suing the British government for bringing Indians to Malaya, for exploiting them and then leaving them behind — sounds like a comedy. This Sunday, it plans to hold a rally in front of the British embassy, trying to get the British attention, and maybe trying to achieve the same success Bersih had achieved just weeks earlier. It amuses me. At the same time, there is a slight disgust in me of HINDRAF; I am not comfortable of the idea of getting foreigners involved though perhaps, HINDRAF had exhausted all local avenues and had no other choice but this. That notwithstanding, I have a feeling that members of HINDRAF are saying that they wished that they had not been Malaysians. If indeed that is the message HINDRAF is sending, it is hard to sympathize with them. Whatever it might mean, I take that their action is merely as an attention grabber, attracting spotlights from across the sea to highlight the issues that HINDRAF is working on. It is a strategic rather than a be all, end all action. But I essentially did not care. It was a Hindu issue with complex background and too communal to fit my taste.
I however start to care when outright transgression of liberty is happening. I start to care when the police begins to arrest individuals just because these individuals are expressing their opinion, however strong that opinion may be. I start to care when freedom to assemble is being robbed from free people.
This issue has gone from a Hindu-centered issue to a question of liberty. To me, it stopped being an exclusively Hindu issue when the BN-led government decides to ban the rally. It stopped being a Hindu issue when the BN government arrested some leaders of HINDRAF under Sedition Act. It is the same case for the Bersih rally. While I believe Bersih demands are acceptable, I do not agree in bringing the monarch into politics; I have a republican tendency. But when the BN-led government decided to challenge liberty, I resolved to join the rally, despite my misgivings.
Had the government in power shown more respect for liberty, I would have continued not to care.
9 replies on “[1450] Of mostly uninterested in HINDRAF but interested in liberty”
Ramesh88, well said.
Perhaps there isn’t any capable candidate strong (/brave?…) enough to face uncle samy. Current MIC leaders regardless of sides are either too afraid, too corrupt, too weak or simply was built politically by mr samy, it won’t work to simply replace him that way. Indians needs to be more vocal, stands up, and democratically challenging within MIC to induce/reform these leadership problems.
Ramesh88 I think MIC and Indian community at large needs someone like you, if you contesting or plan to contest any post within MIC I will be your no 1. supporter, let me know.
I found it a bit funny with this hindraf people who claim to be representing the whole Indian. While other races (Chinese, Malays, Kadazan etc) were represented by political parties to voice their needs, worries and demands. Hindraf choose to do it by themselves. Don’t they all learn history. How Malaysia was created…
Malaysian was created by having several parties that representing 3 main races. That includes us through MIC. If we feels that we’re not been treated nicely, who should we blamed. MIC and not Malays nor the government. We all must fight for our rights through our party. Let Samy Vellu go down the drain and replace him with our trusted leader.
The problem with Hindraf followers were not because of what they believe but because they have been provoked by hand full number of peoples who wants power. This people failed to win themselves in any Indian based parties. They are just losers.
I urge all my friends, fellow Indians to ignore Hindraf. We should be shame of our self. Our act has shown our true color. We’re not a stupid people who are willingly to let our self to be dragged into the fight of some morons who claims to protect our rights. Ending up we’ve put our self as the lowest cast among all other Malaysian. :(
I love Malays, I love Chinese, I love all other fellow Malaysian. Forgive me my friends, forgive my fellow Indians. We’re not as what you might think we are.. :(
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,
I am a Malaysian citizen, and I am a subscriber of ASTRO Satellite TV Broadcast here in Malaysia. Recently I have subscribed to the ASTRO News Package which contains Al Jazeera and other foreign news media.
I was highly looking forward for the international news broadcast on all of the stations provided by the package when I had shocking news from our local news station claiming that the foreign news broadcasters are lying and making stories without properly acquiring the real facts and they are very good actors !!! Furthermore these claims were also made by our government’s politicians.
Now, this is rather disturbing and disappointing for me as I have only subscribed for the service for just a few days and I’m being bombarded with such claims. This eventually made me to think:
Am I an IDIOT to subscribe, pay and end up watching acts and lies
OR
Is there is any conspiracy going on here????
I clearly understand the fact that Al Jazeera has a strong principal called the Code of Ethics and you strictly follow it. But the claims by the politicians and local media here make me to think otherwise.
The claims below were broadcasted on 27-November-2007 in TV3 news station. Similar claims were also made in other local newscasters. This is just a few of the claims.
1. TV3 news station claimed that the foreign media cannot be trusted as they do not report the actual news.
2. YAB Datuk Sri Samy Velu claims that there were only 4,600 demonstrators on 25-November-2007 and NOT 50,000 or any other number as claimed by the foreign media.
3. TV3 news station said that the questions thrown at the Information Minister of Malaysia by Al Jazeera (Al Jazeera’s name was mentioned) was to purposely create a scene to show that Malaysia is in kiosk situation and Al Jazeera purposely built up the story from the real one. They also mentioned the criticism made by the Information Minister to Al Jazeera.
(Prior to sending the mail, I did some research on the net and actually found the video clip of the above Interview in Youtube. And I actually laughed myself out listening to the reply given by our Minister. Pity him for his language. But in the Malaysian news channel TV3, they only provided the “CLEAN” version of the transcript and the actual call was not aired. This makes me even more confused!!! Who is telling the truth here???)
Now, if Al Jazeera is telling lies,
It is high time for Al Jazeera to review back their Code of Ethics and provide the truth for the people. If you can’t do it then don’t cheat the entire world. And don’t broadcast your news at all. I am not a fool to keep paying for acts and lies.
And if Al Jazeera is NOT lying,
Well, what the heck. The damage has already been done. No one in Malaysia is going to listen to your news anyway due to the “VERY GOOD” publicity done by the Malaysian politicians and the local media. By the way, did I mention that our local media could also be received by our neighboring countries like Singapore and Thailand?
FINAL CONCLUSION
It is not my intension to insult Al Jazeera, other foreign media, our local media or the politicians. If you feel offended by this email, I sincerely apologize to you. Whatever the scenario is, all that I want (and the rest of Malaysian citizens who are in my situation want) is the truth. Since Al Jazeera’s and other foreign media’s names have been badly damaged here in Malaysia, Al Jazeera and the other foreign media’s SHOULD do something to fix it back or you may start loosing your viewer in Malaysia.(and its surrounding countries too)
I hope you could keep my details confidential and properly investigate on this issue (just incase if you don’t trust me) and find out the real truth behind such a drastic claims by our local media. That is if you still follow your Code of Ethics.
Yours truly,
A concerned viewer.
PS:
1. i am also forwarding this mail to other foreign media for their response.
2. i will be posting this transcript in the internet via blogs so that the viewers around the world will be aware that this matter has been brought to your attension and for them to express their views.
[…] Al-Jazeera interviewed S.K. Devamany of the Malaysian Indian Congress, asking his opinion regarding the recent HINDRAF-organized rally. […]
Firstly, I didn’t say one should love one’s country unconditionally.
Secondly, I didn’t imply that it is wrong to say “I hate Malaysia because the government discriminates me.” It is just politically unwise and certainly won’t gain support from other people. Try go to an election with that stance. I doubt that stance would be popular even with the urban folks. Furthermore, by say that, one might immediately loses stake to say what should be done to improve Malaysia. Tying that back to the post above, I simply said it is hard to sympathize with them.
Thirdly, regarding “You may argue that he is ‘instigating’ others to leave the country. But, is that a problem to voice his/her opinion?”
I didn’t imply it is wrong for them to voice their opinion. In fact, the reason why I began to care is when somebody tried to stifle their voice.
Therefore, I feel you should read my words more closely. There is no need to question my “libertarianness”, if you had read my words closely.
Being a libertarian doesn’t mean I have to agree to everything that they say. What I can’t do however is to rob their rights of doing so.
That notwithstanding, I have a feeling that members of HINDRAF are saying that they wished that they had not been Malaysians. If indeed that is the message HINDRAF is sending, it is hard to sympathize with them.
I used to think that one should love their country unconditionally. But, do we necessarily need to do so? Or it’s just another ‘politically correct’ propaganda by the govt?
People are moving everywhere that they feel they are comfortable with, especially in this era of globalisation.
To love someone or something (car, pencil, washing machine or a country) is one’s personal choice. I don’t see anything wrong if he likes/hates the country.
What’s wrong if I said “I hate Malaysia because the weather is too hot and humid.”
and…
What’s wrong if I said “I hate Malaysia because the government discriminates me.”
You may argue that he is ‘instigating’ others to leave the country. But, is that a problem to voice his/her opinion?
I think you, as a libertarian, know more about that.
Well said, Hafiz. My views precisely.
[…] By Hafiz Noor Shams […]
As an agnostic (sometimes militant agnostic – “I don’t know nothing and by the time I am done, neither will you!”), I sometimes fail to be concerned about the destruction of religious history. But I have to admit that religious history is important and we do lose something when these antiquities are destroyed. Not just for anthropological and psychological reasons – though there are many. In fact, I lately see some of the former enemies of secularism to be important allies against religious fanaticism and fascism. Whereas homosexuality and Judaism were once the “canaries in the coal mine” against Christian fundamentalism, now Christianity is the “canary” in the face of Islamic fascism.
Basically, anything that can stand against the face of Islamic totalitarianism is a positive thing. For now.