However, please do not be deceived by what you see on the surface of our society to think that such situations do not happen here in Malaysia. There are segments within our own society that is struggling below poverty lines, even within the cities. There still are many villages without basic toilets, let alone electricity or tap water. Some in the interior are not connected by roads, only accessible by 4x4s during the dry season; if the tracks have not been washed away during the monsoon.
It is really very difficult to visualize if you have lived all your life within the cities and maybe the occasional trips back to the hometown or kampungs. But such situations exists, nonetheless.
What can we do about it? Well, you, Sir, have taken the first step. Create the awareness and speak out. Do not let the poor live without a voice. Get together, pool your resources and go seek out the needy to help their communities. Giving the RM10 to the odd beggar or the fund collectors during your teh tarik sessions only serves to please your conscience.
If all of us could just take the little effort to bring relief to the poor and bring some real solution into their lives, Malaysia will be a better place.
Sad...but these are realities of life in a kleptocracy, whether in Uganda, Zimbabwe, Burma or Malaysia.
Wikipedia defines a kleptocracy as a government that extends the personal wealth and the political power of government officials and the ruling class at the expense of the population.
I am a father with 2 sons and I find tears rolling down as I watch this videoclip.Where did we adults go wrong to allow this to happen? R we too busy fighting our grownup wars ?
Dear Captazhar...you are right, most of these places are only accessible by 4x4's. Which is what we as the Buaya 4x4 group have been doing for years now. We make it a point to bring essential goods into these unreachable locations...oil, salt, rice, medication. Unfortunately we don't have a doctor in our group, so our visits into these remote areas are limited to just merely being courier boys...passing stuff to them.
We do limit ourselves as we realise that these people are from the jungle and things from the city may not be all that relevant to them i.e. Maggi mee...sweets...etc...
If you're interested in helping out please feel free to drop me a line - lionel.yew@gmail.com
If we can spare the space, you're welcomed to join us for the trip
It really, really breaks my heart everytime when I watch this. These issues has been going on for years.....
Many famous people have been made "ambassodors" to help them. Much money have been poured in through out the years. Yet "WHY" are they still in these situation....??????????
In our country............... year after year allocation made for the poor. Yet still poor. If not, worst off...!
Where did the money go..????????? Yet "WHY" are they still in these situation....??????????????
I needed to watch this video clip today to jolt me out of selfish thoughts that have been clouding my mind lately. Thanks for this post, Bernard - btw: the American guy looked a lot like you. It is easy to shake our fists at the government and blame everything on them. Is totally the government's fault? I know I am to be blamed as well - for not doing enough about the poverty, the discrimination, the injustice, etc - whether it's by speaking out and making a stand or by being in the forefront and helping people. This is where I admire you and Karen - for the wonderful work you have been diligently doing all these years. Thanks for posting this clip - I truly needed that jolt.
Time and again I have said that our country is a land of milk and honey but we now suffer a well entrenched system of governance that betrays its own people.
The news report in Utusan Online under caption “Lebih 3,000 Penan kebuluran” is one by product of a system failure.
Malaysia is seen on many occasions as a generous contributor whenever there are calamities around the world. Some of the aids that are despatched are laudably swift, perhaps within days or weeks of such calamities.
Of course we welcome such generosity of Malaysia. But what about our own backyard?
It is reported that more than 3,000 Penan natives from 5 settlements numbering about 264 families are in starvation for the last three months.
What is even more disturbing is the fact that the Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development in announcing the plight of the Penan natives had even revealed that some of the natives had resorted to eating wild plants.
It is also reported that the cause of the starvation is the destruction of the natives’ padi plantations by wild monkeys.
Read more here.
This revelation beckons many disturbing questions.
1. How is it that more than 3,000 natives in settlements endure starvation for the last three months without being noticed by a long chain of government officers from various departments including the health authorities? 2. What were the Rural and Regional Development Ministry officers doing all this while? 3. Why blame the monkeys for such starvation? Are the monkeys convenient scapegoats for the indiscriminate destruction of forests in Sarawak by those who are in the logging businesses and those who earn a living by destroying the forests? 4. What is happening to the land including the forests around these settlements that had resulted in a great numbers of monkeys suddenly destroying the padi cultivation? 5. Why the sudden mass movement of monkeys in search of food in these areas?
Of course now attempts are made to channel food supplies and other needed items to the affected natives but it must not stop there. We need to find out what is the real reason for this tragic unfolding of event.
Those responsible for this reckless omission to care for the need of the starving people and those who brought about this disaster unto the Penan natives must be severely dealt with.
It is only then people will have some sense of assurance that the system of governance is improving for the sake of people’s well being.
Another test for our Prime Minister’s slogan “People First, Performance Now”
As A 16 year-old attending a private school, I've noticed many of my schoolmates making so much fuss over the canteen food being cold and the faulty air-conditioners in class. I am ashamed to say that I was one of those students until I saw that video. Thank you for posting this video and making me realize that I have so many wonderful things in my life that I've been so foolish to ignore and instead, fuss over meaningless things. What haunts me the most about this video is that I've realized that there are more people like Sam and Esther all over the world.
This kind of scene is always around us but we hardly take note, for many reasons and excuses.
Besides due to kleptocracy ruling, also result of capitalism culture. The rich and capable are always getting richer and stronger, most of the time at the expense of the poorer and weaker.
I have personally encountered many super rich construction tycoons 'abusing' their advantage and squeezed those under them. These people are even worst then the robbers, unbelievable, they could just ignore paying works others have done for them!!! Yet these tycoons are being 'supported' from behind! and they are continuously growing and prospering.
I wonder what do they do with so much money?! Are they having 2 stomachs or more? Are they not just eating 3 or 5 times a day? Are they not sleeping on the most 6' x 6' bed? Are they having life span of 1000 years?
I am so curious, when money is so abundance, is money still so precious ? It is very sad that these parasites are prospering and expending, under the 'protection' of our current kleptocracy and capitalism system.
this video had me in great tears,a nail in my heart,i can feel it deeply coz i'm a paraplegic recently.do check out their follow up story at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba-4WKcrb5s
Thank you for allowing your heart to be moved by little Sam and Esther. This video was taken two years ago this month, and they are doing well...living in Kampala, getting therapy, loving care and good food. Sam has lost his first tooth...has a wonderful sense of humor...and Esther is a sweet and loving child. Little Jane goes to school and loves singing and dancing. However, it is hard work, day in and day out, as are many worthwhile things to do...and it takes those of us who are still able to cry to make a change.
People who are dealing with massive numbers of hurting people have to find a way to deal with it...usually by hardening their hearts to the pain. If we each do our part with just a few of God's forgotten children there will be so much less suffering!
If you would like to help us in our mission to provide compassionate care to vulnerable children one at a time, please visit us at www.village2villageproject.org . Kids like Sam, Esther and Jane will be better for it.
Dear Sir,
ReplyDeleteI am deeply moved by the video too.
However, please do not be deceived by what you see on the surface of our society to think that such situations do not happen here in Malaysia. There are segments within our own society that is struggling below poverty lines, even within the cities. There still are many villages without basic toilets, let alone electricity or tap water. Some in the interior are not connected by roads, only accessible by 4x4s during the dry season; if the tracks have not been washed away during the monsoon.
It is really very difficult to visualize if you have lived all your life within the cities and maybe the occasional trips back to the hometown or kampungs. But such situations exists, nonetheless.
What can we do about it? Well, you, Sir, have taken the first step. Create the awareness and speak out. Do not let the poor live without a voice. Get together, pool your resources and go seek out the needy to help their communities. Giving the RM10 to the odd beggar or the fund collectors during your teh tarik sessions only serves to please your conscience.
If all of us could just take the little effort to bring relief to the poor and bring some real solution into their lives, Malaysia will be a better place.
Thank you.
Capt Azhar Lin Abd (Rtd)
Sad...but these are realities of life in a kleptocracy, whether in Uganda, Zimbabwe, Burma or Malaysia.
ReplyDeleteWikipedia defines a kleptocracy as a government that extends the personal wealth and the political power of government officials and the ruling class at the expense of the population.
Sounds familiar, eh ?
I have no words. It's heart breaking.
ReplyDeleteI am a father with 2 sons and I find tears rolling down as I watch this videoclip.Where did we adults go wrong to allow this to happen? R we too busy fighting our grownup wars ?
ReplyDeleteDear Captazhar...you are right, most of these places are only accessible by 4x4's. Which is what we as the Buaya 4x4 group have been doing for years now. We make it a point to bring essential goods into these unreachable locations...oil, salt, rice, medication. Unfortunately we don't have a doctor in our group, so our visits into these remote areas are limited to just merely being courier boys...passing stuff to them.
ReplyDeleteWe do limit ourselves as we realise that these people are from the jungle and things from the city may not be all that relevant to them i.e. Maggi mee...sweets...etc...
If you're interested in helping out please feel free to drop me a line - lionel.yew@gmail.com
If we can spare the space, you're welcomed to join us for the trip
Cheers!
It really, really breaks my heart everytime when I watch this.
ReplyDeleteThese issues has been going on for years.....
Many famous people have been made "ambassodors" to help them. Much money have been poured in through out the years.
Yet "WHY" are they still in these situation....??????????
In our country...............
year after year allocation made for the poor.
Yet still poor. If not, worst off...!
Where did the money go..?????????
Yet "WHY" are they still in these situation....??????????????
I needed to watch this video clip today to jolt me out of selfish thoughts that have been clouding my mind lately. Thanks for this post, Bernard - btw: the American guy looked a lot like you.
ReplyDeleteIt is easy to shake our fists at the government and blame everything on them. Is totally the government's fault?
I know I am to be blamed as well - for not doing enough about the poverty, the discrimination, the injustice, etc - whether it's by speaking out and making a stand or by being in the forefront and helping people.
This is where I admire you and Karen - for the wonderful work you have been diligently doing all these years.
Thanks for posting this clip - I truly needed that jolt.
And we were just saying??
ReplyDeletePenan Starvation: People First, Performance Now?
by Augustine Anthony
Time and again I have said that our country is a land of milk and honey but we now suffer a well entrenched system of governance that betrays its own people.
The news report in Utusan Online under caption “Lebih 3,000 Penan kebuluran” is one by product of a system failure.
Malaysia is seen on many occasions as a generous contributor whenever there are calamities around the world. Some of the aids that are despatched are laudably swift, perhaps within days or weeks of such calamities.
Of course we welcome such generosity of Malaysia. But what about our own backyard?
It is reported that more than 3,000 Penan natives from 5 settlements numbering about 264 families are in starvation for the last three months.
What is even more disturbing is the fact that the Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development in announcing the plight of the Penan natives had even revealed that some of the natives had resorted to eating wild plants.
It is also reported that the cause of the starvation is the destruction of the natives’ padi plantations by wild monkeys.
Read more here.
This revelation beckons many disturbing questions.
1. How is it that more than 3,000 natives in settlements endure starvation for the last three months without being noticed by a long chain of government officers from various departments including the health authorities?
2. What were the Rural and Regional Development Ministry officers doing all this while?
3. Why blame the monkeys for such starvation? Are the monkeys convenient scapegoats for the indiscriminate destruction of forests in Sarawak by those who are in the logging businesses and those who earn a living by destroying the forests?
4. What is happening to the land including the forests around these settlements that had resulted in a great numbers of monkeys suddenly destroying the padi cultivation?
5. Why the sudden mass movement of monkeys in search of food in these areas?
Of course now attempts are made to channel food supplies and other needed items to the affected natives but it must not stop there. We need to find out what is the real reason for this tragic unfolding of event.
Those responsible for this reckless omission to care for the need of the starving people and those who brought about this disaster unto the Penan natives must be severely dealt with.
It is only then people will have some sense of assurance that the system of governance is improving for the sake of people’s well being.
Another test for our Prime Minister’s slogan “People First, Performance Now”
http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2009/07/31/penan-starvation-people-first-performance-now/
As A 16 year-old attending a private school, I've noticed many of my schoolmates making so much fuss over the canteen food being cold and the faulty air-conditioners in class. I am ashamed to say that I was one of those students until I saw that video. Thank you for posting this video and making me realize that I have so many wonderful things in my life that I've been so foolish to ignore and instead, fuss over meaningless things. What haunts me the most about this video is that I've realized that there are more people like Sam and Esther all over the world.
ReplyDeleteThis kind of scene is always around us but we hardly take note, for many reasons and excuses.
ReplyDeleteBesides due to kleptocracy ruling, also result of capitalism culture. The rich and capable are always getting richer and stronger, most of the time at the expense of the poorer and weaker.
I have personally encountered many super rich construction tycoons 'abusing' their advantage and squeezed those under them. These people are even worst then the robbers, unbelievable, they could just ignore paying works others have done for them!!! Yet these tycoons are being 'supported' from behind! and they are continuously growing and prospering.
I wonder what do they do with so much money?! Are they having 2 stomachs or more? Are they not just eating 3 or 5 times a day? Are they not sleeping on the most 6' x 6' bed? Are they having life span of 1000 years?
I am so curious, when money is so abundance, is money still so precious ? It is very sad that these parasites are prospering and expending, under the 'protection' of our current kleptocracy and capitalism system.
this video had me in great tears,a nail in my heart,i can feel it deeply coz i'm a paraplegic recently.do check out their follow up story at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba-4WKcrb5s
ReplyDeleteThank you for allowing your heart to be moved by little Sam and Esther. This video was taken two years ago this month, and they are doing well...living in Kampala, getting therapy, loving care and good food. Sam has lost his first tooth...has a wonderful sense of humor...and Esther is a sweet and loving child. Little Jane goes to school and loves singing and dancing. However, it is hard work, day in and day out, as are many worthwhile things to do...and it takes those of us who are still able to cry to make a change.
ReplyDeletePeople who are dealing with massive numbers of hurting people have to find a way to deal with it...usually by hardening their hearts to the pain. If we each do our part with just a few of God's forgotten children there will be so much less suffering!
If you would like to help us in our mission to provide compassionate care to vulnerable children one at a time, please visit us at www.village2villageproject.org . Kids like Sam, Esther and Jane will be better for it.
Many blessings, Laurie Kroll, V2V Director