MY CHINESE NEW YEAR WISH.

It is opined that as one ages the senses too either fade or get jaded. I say this is a fallacy. It is an opinion concocted to gain easy passage or to ask for concessions. At 68, my senses seem more sharpened, more keen, I don't just hear, I LISTEN better; I SEE not only the big picture, but go into the complexity and intricacies of what is before me; my sense of TOUCH is now translated into being in touch with what is happening around me; my TASTE is more discerning....I will not partake of the common fare dished out by people whom we have allowed to control our daily diet of spin information ; the final faculty, SPEECH (through blogging) has allowed me to reach a bigger and hopefully more discerning audience.

THE LUNAR YEAR THAT JUST LEFT US TO TAKE A 12 YEAR LEAVE, HAS BEEN A YEAR THAT I WILL TRY TO FORGET SOME THINGS AND CHERISH A FEW OTHERS.

I WANT TO FORGET THE BRUTE FORCE INFLICTED BY THE POLICE ON MY FELLOW MALAYSIANS WHO STOOD UP FOR THEIR DUE.

I CHERISH THE STEADFASTNESS OF MY FELLOW MALAYSIANS WHO DID NOT ALLOW THE CALLOUSNESS OF THE GOVERNMENT TO DAMPEN THEIR SPIRIT.

I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW MALAYSIANS BONDED ON 10/11 TO ASK FOR A FAIR DEAL....THIS BOND DELETING THE WAY THE GOVERNMENT REACTED. ON THAT DAY BANGSA MALAYSIA TOLD THE PEOPLE: YOU WILL NOT DIVIDE US.

ON HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, OF ALL DAYS, THE POLICE OBEYING THEIR MASTERS, PLAYED GOD AND BLASPHEMED GOD'S GREATEST GIFT TO MANKIND: TO LIVE IN HARMONY.
I WILL NOT FORGET THAT THE POLICE ALLOWED THE MARCH, BUT EIGHT MINUTES INTO THE MARCH, THEY ARRESTED SOME BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PERMIT TO MARCH.
HOW CAN YOU FORGET SUCH DECEIT COMING FROM AN AGENCY THAT SWORE ALLEGIANCE TO KING AND COUNTRY TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE.
BUT I SHALL NOT FORGET THE SPIRIT OF OUR PEOPLE WHO BRAVED ARREST AND NEEDLESS HARRASSMENT THAT SUNDAY MORNING.

I WILL FOREVER REMEMBER THAT SATURDAY EVENING WHEN SOME 200 OF US WANTED TO LIGHT A CANDLE FOR OUR 5 COUNTRYMEN WHO WERE ARBITRARY INCARCERATED IN KAMUNTING. AGAIN THE POLICE INTIMIDATED THEIR OWN PEOPLE AND BLEMISHED WITH WATER-CANNON, A SATURDAY EVENING WHEN MALAYSIANS REMEMBERED THEIR FRIENDS WHO HAVE BEEN WRONGED.
FOR ALL THE ABOVE EVENTS, THE POLICE SAID AN EMPHATIC NO....NO TO ANY ASSEMBLY....NO TO THIS.....NO TO THAT.
I WILL NOT FORGET THAT ON ALL THESE FIVE OCCASIONS, THE BARISAN GOVERNMENT JUST WATCHED AS THEIR HATCHET MEN AND WOMEN SHOWED WHO WAS MIGHTIER.
BUT OUR PEOPLE ARE UNITED. THEY AWAIT THEIR DAY.

But things are different oceans away.

Some 200 Malaysians in vicinity of 10 Downing Street, sent this message to the British Prime Minister.
The authorities did not say NO, Instead they said

Come 26 February this little girl, together with some 200 children will make a trip to Parliament to present the Prime Minister of Malaysia, with roses. However they want to be protected and this little girl penned this letter to the Chairman of Suhakam.

click to enlarge

My wish this New Lunar Year is for this august body, SUHAKAM, to walk the talk, to have more bite.
Eighteen of you were selected because of your distinguished service to the country. Let it not be said that you are toothless, not accountable, couldn't care less, not on the ball or just warming the seat! Let it not be said that you only look distinguished but an extinguished spent force now. Wouldn't it be great to prove us all wrong and all you eighteen accompany that little girl to Parliament. Or will it be too costly? The proverbial ball is on your court.

Below are the Suhakam Commissioners
2006-2008

Tan Sri Abu Taib, Chairman

Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Simon Sipuan, Vice Chairman

Dr. Chiam Heng Keng

Dr. Mohd. Hirman

Tan Sri Dato' Aisha Abu Samah

Datuk Dr. Raj Abdul Karim

Dato' Dr. Abdul Monir Yaccob

Datuk Karam C Vohra

Tunku Datuk Nazihah

Photos of the following were not available:

Dato' Choo Siew Kion
Prof. Datuk Dr. Khoo Kay Kim
Dato' Muhammad Shafee Abdullah
Dato' Siva Subramaniam
Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria
Dato' Dr. Michael Yeoh
Ustaz Muhamad Uthman-el-Muhammady
Datin Paduka Zaitoon
Dato' Khalid Haji Ibrahim

TAKE THE CHILDREN'S HANDS PLEASE!