Kee Thuan Chye, made a comment on Malaysia Today after reading
Please let RPK know he has my support. I was at the candlelight vigil that turned into a march at Dataran Merdeka last night. And proud to have taken part. There were many who called out with conviction for RPK's release. The people I saw taking to the streets were those I would never have thought would do such a thing. But they did, and it's partly because of the empowerment RPK has given them in his writings in Malaysia Today and in his ceramahs. He is an inspiration to Malaysians. We need heroes like him.
I hope he will take heart from all this and keep his spirit intact.
May I leave you with my first-hand account of my experience last night:
I was proud to be there.
I got there with my wife, my son and my close friend before 7pm. I parked my car right at Dataran Merdeka. But there were only a handful of people around. And I had just received an SMS saying that the vigil would start at 8pm. I had all this while thought it would start at 7.
We moved off towards Masjid Jamek and ecnountered a group that was being harassed by police. They were threatened like children and told to snuff out their candles. The officer in charge, a Chinese guy, even said he was giving them five seconds to snuff out their candles. They asked him not to threaten them but he reacted even more strongly. He started the countdown: "One ... two ... three ..." The disempowered crowd moved off.
I was disgusted and was about to move off with my little group when we saw the WAMI people walking in a procession with tanglungs (chinese lanturn) towards Dataran Merdeka. We automatically followed them. They gave us tanglungs and we joined in the calls to abolish the ISA and free RPK. The leader of the WAMI group, Wong Chin Huat, talked briefly about the significance of the event. He also thanked the police for their generosity in giving us 10 minutes to gather and then he told us to disperse.
As we walked off, we sang "Happy Birthday" to RPK.
At that point, I wasn't sure what to do next. Would there really be a vigil after all? Would there be enough people present to make any impact? Or just a mere handful or a few pockets of people milling around? I was about to give up hope.
Then Hishammuddin Rais and his friends came by. I asked him what was happening. He indicated that Tian Chua was just across the road. We went over to join him. He knew where to go so we tagged along. We walked towards Jalan Tun Perak. As we neared the junction, we could hear the roar of a large crowd. They were shouting "Mansuhkan ISA!" We were greatly cheered by it.
When we turned the corner, we were amazed to see the huge crowd amassed in a procession heading down Jalan Tun Perak, chanting "Mansuhkan ISA!", "Bebaskan RPK!" and "Valgha Hindraf!" Where did they materialise from? Where were they when we first arrived on the scene just before 7pm?
We lit the candles we had brought along and joined in. The energy of the crowd was infectious. It was a fantastic feeling being in the midst of a large crowd of people with the same aim and the same mission. I was moved to chant along at the top of my voice. Numerous times, my voice cracked with emotion. Only those who know what it feels like to be passionate about something can understand that feeling. Only those who know what it is like to commune with other like-minded, like-hearted people can understand that feeling.
For a gloriuous half hour or so, we wended down Jalan Tun Perak and then turned into Jalan Pudu, past Menara Maybank. When cars honked in support, my heart soared. I saw someone inside a car give a thumbs-up sign. It was a moment of camaraderie and communion that inspired joy and hope.
Finally, we turned into the temple area and continued our vociferous chanting.
It's not often that I feel I've done enough for my country, but taking part in something as momentous as this march against the ISA is one thing I can be truly proud of. For once, I felt I made a significant contribution for the sake of my country.
Freeing RPK and all the ISA detainees, and abolishing the ISA forever cannot but be for the good of this country we all love.
Mansuhkan ISA!
Kee Thuan Chye
Kee Thuan Chye (born May 25, 1954 in
Kee graduated from Universiti Sains Malaysia in 1976 and received his masters in drama from
Kee has had poetry published Malaysian national newspapers, and in local and international journals such as Masakini, Pacific Quarterly Moana, Southeast Asian Review of English, Sands and Coral, Solidarity, Ideya, Ariel, Kunapipi, and Focus. Two of Kee's plays have been featured in at UK Festivals. "The Big Purge" was read at the Soho Theatre in 2005, as part of Typhoon 4, the International East Asian Playreading Festival. "The Swordfish, then The Concubine" was shortlisted at the 21st International Playwrighting Festival 2006.
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Thuan Chye, I still am guilty....I did not fulfill a promise I made.
Am I forgiven?
If not, what is my penance.
But dont be too hard ok?
Forgive me for saying this ,for it concerns me not. But you penance i belive ,you go through it Daily . Peace be with you Rev'rand.
ReplyDeleteya i knew kee thuan chye was there when i saw him marching in the video by malaysiakini.
ReplyDeletezorro, since you are talking about kee (with his profile), why didn't you help to publicise his latest book, march 9: the day malaysia woke up. if you have not bought the book yet, you should! it's very good... esp. the interview with RPK.
FYI Kee Thuan Chye has recently compiled some articles under his new book " March 8 The Day Malaysia Woke Up" Interesting. Good read.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely Hari Raya with your family and friends.Enjoy tucking in the Raya feast!Selamat Hari Raya from Sakmongkol and I!
ReplyDeleteLucia....that was the reason I said I am guilty......he personally asked me to post to promote the book. In fact I owed him a contribution to that particular book but I faulted again. I am going to hate the penance he may impose on me. Probably knowing Tuang Chye, he is too forgiving.
ReplyDeleteSelamat Hari Raya To All Malaysian Muslim or Non Muslim...
ReplyDelete:)
From
GoMalaysian.Blogspot.Com
ylcw says:
ReplyDeleteA policeman is a policeman. We are Malaysians, and not Malays, Chinese, Indians. Likewise, we should not use the term Chinese cop, Malay cop, Indian cop, etc. We shd use the term Malaysian cops.
There would be a long list if you want to insult the different kinds of cops.
How about the 20 Malay FRUs who beat up the Chinese man at Cheras? How about on the highway? Are we very sure that the long line of cars (esp. Singapore cars) are not giving any money to the Malay cops? I am not too sure you would like it if we used similar expression on these Malay cops. Please be sensitive to all races.
And please do not use the word "chink", which is used by the West to insult a Chinese.
Anonymous said…
ReplyDeleteNo matter what cops, they must remain neutral at all times and they must not take any political sides because they are employed to serve the King & Country's Rakyats not UMNO, BN nor PKR, PR ok??? But the Rakyats must have their freedom of speech to express their dissents and discontents on the following:-
Leave BN, all Component Parties with a conscience must leave the Evil Master Oppressor UMNO for good ok??? Leave & let them, the UMNO clowns to settle the horse trading between Flip Flop and C4 ok???
Come October 2008 there is nothing left but the Opposition Leader’s Post to Hand Over from Flip Flop to C4 ok???
There should be no peace for Botak if the ISA detainees are not released and the oppressive draconian law is not abolished because such injustices are not tolerated and thus create great discontentment in this modern society. One day Botak and his cohorts should be made to eat their own medicine for the injustices they have committed against the detainees especially RPK, our Brave Hero no doubts.
We call upon all the Rakyats of Malaysia to sign a Petition to be sent to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong to release RPK from his detention under ISA because there is a hidden agenda of a conspiracy of using his detention to silence him so that he could not further release more evidences against the real C4 murderers of Altantuya because all the accused were all fall guys of the real murderers because they all did not have a real & logical motive to murder the Mongolian Lady.
THE NEW DAWN OF MALAYSIA HAS COME & THE FIRST THING IS TO ALLOW APPEALS & THEN RELEASE ALL ISA DETAINEES, ABOLISH ISA, OSA, SEDITION OR WHATEVER ACTS THAT COULD BE EXPLOITED AND MADE PREJUDICIAL AND OPPRESSIVE TO THE VOICE OF DISSENT FROM ALL THE RAKYATS.
It is very easy to generate Police Reports against DSAI by using Penang Mamak Umno’s 25 Members headed by Wan Abidin Zain, who claimed to be non-partisan, using their uneasiness that most Penangites will now be boycotting Nasi Kandar one more round???
It is very Sad that the legacy of Malaysian Independence is reduced by this Moronic Flip Flop Coward into great disrepute and a laughing stock of the whole world and knowing very well that the UMNO Government has technically collapsed and they have lost locus standi to govern but yet he has decided to shamelessly still cling on to power via dubious means like hiding himself via using of the ISA and we cannot imagine that the Malaysia Moronic Flip Flop Coward has now stoop so low and using the Police Deputy IGP as his willing tools especially the Deputy IGP’s clearly taking side as the Police must be neutral and should be not politiking for him.
The Coward Moronic Flip Flop Chicken dare not meet DSAI face to face to settle matters but chose hiding under the use of ISA and that is what you have as a disgraceful cowardice leader for UMNO.
After 51 years MALAYSIA IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE but backwards because of the Oppression from the UMNO goons’ divide and rule fear tactics the Rakyats have matured & you must see all this coming because All The Rakyats of Malaysia are all fed-up & can no longer with-stand the hypocrisies, bullshits, lies and deceits of these UMNO Clowns now in Power ok??? What Oil Subsidies IS nothing but a hoax that the UMNO Government MAKE BELIEF THAT THERE IS AN OIL PRICE SUBSIDY TO THE PRICE OF FUEL BUT IN FACT THERE WERE NONE THIS IS BECAUSE MALAYSIA IS THE NET EXPORTER OF OIL THAT IS ONLY AFTER DEDUCTING DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION THE BALANCE IS EXPORTED TO EARN FOREIGN EXCHANGE. THESE LIARS MAKE US BELIEVE BY CONTINUOUS PROPAGANDA THAT THERE ARE OIL PRICE SUBSIDY BUT IN FACT THERE WERE NONE BECAUSE THE PRICE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACTUAL SALE LOCALLY AND THE PRICE THEY INTENDED TO SELL ABOARD IS AN OPPORTUNITY COST NOT PRICE SUBSIDY.
We urge all BN Components & MPs with a conscience to do the necessary to make possible a New Malaysia for all Rakyats of Malaysia so that all our children and their children & their children’s children’s future will be safe and secured in the Country we all love and not be intimidated by those UMNO Clowns now in power with their oppressive & fear tactics and in the verge of making Malaysia a Police State if left unchecked otherwise. Save RPK as he is the midst of a conspiracy of the real murderers of Altantuya to silence him for good, instead of being C4ed he could be poisoned and worse off if he is on hunger strike by himself. The Acting IGP is defending the Police position after being made the tools of UMNO’s fear tactics & so he is now making lame excuses for being the Stringed Puppet to be easily manipulated by the Puppeteer, power that be. The Deputy IGP must be held personally responsible for the safety of RPK who has been heard to be tortured otherwise he must be made to eat his own medicine come the New Dawn of Malaysia.
Moronic PeeM and Botak Home Minister last minutes’ attempts to cling on power by using the fear tactics of using the ISA at their whims and fancies selectively against dissent & tried to deny their own actions as they now have no balls to face the wrath of the all the Rakyats of Malaysia. ONE DAY THE MORONIC BOTAK AND FLIP FLOP AND C4 MUST BE MADE TO TASTE THEIR OWN MEDICINE OK?
All Rakyats of Malaysia will see to that these Clowns will be thrown out soon come the New Dawn of Malaysia & that all Rakyats of Malaysia will welcome the New Malaysia on Malaysia Day 916, 2008 for a Malaysia for All Malaysians.
Justice MUST BE DONE for Altantuya and for all those detained under ISA without the trial nor the rights of appeal. Light-up a Candle in the Lantern of the Mid-Autumn Festival for them all to usher in the NEW DAWN OF MALAYSIA COME 916, 2008
ylcw: I want to insult THAT Chinese, if you don't mind.
ReplyDeleteI was there. This is a moving account of the sentiments of that day. Thanks to Kee and zorro.
ReplyDeletebn haramjadah Says:
ReplyDeleteRPK DOES NOT INSULT ISLAM, HE ONLY INSULT’S THOSE WHO ABUSE ISLAM FOR THEIR POLITICAL GAINS. LET’S GET THIS THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL UMNO.
RPK insults the Malays that insult ISLAM, so how does that make him a national security threat, he makes people think, what the masses think but do not want to voice, he puts into words.
RPK, insults those who insult our intelligence with ridiculous statements and come out with their own interpretations of Islam. RPK INSULTS CORRUPT HYPOCRATES, who insult Islam
The only people who insult ISLAM are the ones from UMNO, how do they insult Islam you ask? Well here is a list, join me and add your own interpretations of how ISLAM IS INSULTED BY THE MORONS WE NOW HAVE IN GOVERNMENT.
Islam is already perfect, so why reinvent Islam and re-brand it under the UMNO banner of ISLAM HADHARI., That by itself is blasphemous, the Author of this statement, slogan or whatever name you want to give it, Should by itself should earn a stay in kamunting under the ISA, if the same standards are applied to others should also apply to UMNO. This should include all govt officials, tv stations, editors, print media, politicians, MPs and everyone involved in these blasphemous name of ISLAM HADHARI.
Collecting Interest in Islam is Haram, ‘Most important was Islam’s ban on interest payments as usury’, The Malaysian govt.. led by umno has re-branded ‘USURY’, under many different names and words such as e.g. Modal, Amanah, etc. rebranding the pig which is haram in the first place, under the guise of another name like ham or bacon or whatnot, doesn’t make a difference, it is still HARAM.
The myth made-up by Umno that if you insult the Malays you insult ISLAM, this is a tried and tested method perfected under the Mahathir administration, whenever there is a scandal or an expose’ on the govt’s. gross mismanagement, it becomes a Malay issue therefore an Islamic issue. Let’s understand something, MALAYS does not equate to ISLAM, the term ‘Malay’ equates to a race, ISLAM is a religion. The abuse of Islam under the guise of Ketuanan Melayu, Bumiputra issues, and the NEP are all inter-related. Let not even go to the term ‘Muslims’ and ‘Malays’, because there it becomes even murkier, and muddier.
Who insults Islam, RPK or Umno, its agents and cronies who are put in positions of power, (turbanated little Mullahs, little Napoleons)?
Funds from Tabung Hajji misappropriated and mishandled?
While claiming to be the guardians of Islam, the members (especially in one known incident with a bunch of cronies’, fellow Muslims?) go and chomp expensive cigars, consume alcohol get drunk and grab any women’s BUTT.
Whatever happened to that case, has the shariah people got involved, where’s the JAKIM, RELA, JAIS, SHARIAH COURT)
A certain person got entangled in sheets with a seductress actress cum singer in some Hotel room in Port Dickson, where a raiding party of religious dept. people caught them, when realising who it was, it was hushed up. Now the question arises, what is more insulting to Islam, The overzealous raiding party, the cover-up, or the vvip who was caught with the women, mind you , till today no report or anything has been reported in the press.
Balkis and other such so called ‘CHARITY’ bodies which are chartered to be helping out the poor and single mothers (normally muslims), well they seem to have spent a lot of money on themselves instead of helping out the poor, again the question arises, which is more insulting to Islam, the promise to help the poor single mothers, spending money on FETEING themselves to luxurious dinners , cuti sambil belajar overseas junkets, Expensive souvenirs programs, collecting donations on false pretences from donors, OR PROMISING, AND NOT DELIVERING TO ‘ helping out the single mothers and orphans’ . Isn’t taking away help from the poor a bigger insult to ISLAM.
The list goes on, Now would you like to add to this list. Carry on folks, because I find this list will run into pages, I might as well write a novel or a BIOGRAPHY, on means and ways how to insult Islam but beware, the is your interpretation of who and how you would define insulting ISLAM or in this case RPK insulting ISLAM, and than you have the Govt. interpretation on who and how Islam is insulted.
Let me leave a footnote though, on whether this insults Islam,
Corruption, Stealing/ misappropriating funds, swearing on the Koran,
Lying, involving in immoral activities, Adultery, Visiting the family Bomoh,
Practising witchcraft or the Black – arts (mind you this is not black metal)
Racial discrimination in govt. policies, Jacked up projects, under/over-table money, kopi money, Surat laying, Surat fitnah, back stabbing, Murder, talking rubbish that really tests our intelligence, ‘no speak engrish’ when confronted by customs officers whilst carrying 2 bags full of unexplained cash, Hijacking the NEP meant for the poor, Mishandling of Malaysia’s resources and funds etc take your pick folks, which would you find a bigger insult to ISLAM, RPK OR UMNO & BN.
An insulted Malaysian
BN is HARAMJADAH
Bernard,
ReplyDeletePlease, don't hijack the noble values reflected in the ISA movement or Kee Thuan Chye's respectable and civilised account of that night's incident to justify your own crude and thuggish response to disgraceful policeman.
The simple principle of a civilised society is NOT to respond to arrogance with arrogance, threat with threat, violence with violence.
Your challenge for a fight with that unprofessional, disgraceful cop is plainly that. The language of your challenge to him in this blog is no less aggressive, thuggish or childish than his.
The intent of the cop's bad attitude is to create fear in the crowd. It may be result of his poor training or PDRM culture. Poor excuse, but still a reasonable excuse, albeit one that must never be condoned.
OTOH, your intent of challenging him is clearly, also to elicit fear of being assaulted by you. But hey, what's your excuse? Pot calling the kettle black, aint it?
By your impulsive actions, dire lack of self-control and severe myopia, you insult both the ISA movement and Kee Thuan Chye. In effect your actions only sabotage the efforts of those many others who truly work for a better and more civil society.
Your uncivilised response is in conplete contrast with Kee Thuan Chye's. I refuse to believe for even one second that your hooliganish reactions reflects the true spirit of the anti-ISA movement, those of The People's Parliament's and/or the aims of other civil society organisations.
Grow up already, Zorro!
Kee Thuan Chye is a man of principles. I was his colleague in the NST during the brutal years under the tyrannical Kadir A. Jasin and his sycophant, Ahmad Talib. Kee refused to be cowed by these tyrants. Kee paid heavily in the face of brutal tactics by these two monkeys. Fight on, Kee. And to Zorro, continue the fight against lies, treachery, idiocy, sycophancy.
ReplyDeleteman, i am damn proud to be a kee too!
ReplyDelete