Thesun 2009-03-02 Page11 Hope Sinks in Limbo Land

The document discusses the political turmoil in Perak and how it has negatively impacted the indigenous orang asli community by threatening progress that had been made in recognizing their land rights and treating them as equals over the past 10 months. It criticizes gutter journalism that distracts from real issues like marginalized communities having their land taken away. The letters criticize the immature behavior of protesters and politicians who violate law and order or the sanctity of Parliament.

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Thesun 2009-03-02 Page11 Hope Sinks in Limbo Land

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theSun | MONDAY MARCH 2 2009 11

speak up!

Hopes sink
in limbo land Freespace
Where young views rule

by Leow Mei Chern political turmoil that could mean a permanent

end to whatever progress made since March
WHILE some are busy debating morality, our last year.
constitution and ethics over recent fiascos, a One wonders if some middle-class Malaysians
section of Malaysians know very well how po- whose emotions run high because they feel like
litical changes can directly impact their lives in “2nd class citizens” have spared a thought for
what could be very real and lasting manner. the orang asli, and perhaps include them in their
Watching a video interview of some Perak- demands for justice? One wonders also if those
ians recently, I saw the immense disappointment who thump their chest in anger because they
in their eyes as they spoke of the political turmoil feel besieged or “challenged” by those who
in the state. questioned the manner of Perak’s takeover, have
“Macam orang gantung pada langit”, a man considered the orang asli community whose
described how they have never felt Malaysian lives may be relegated back to how their rights
for the past 51 years; the orang asli in Perak have been trampled on for 51 years?
have been denied their rights to their land and Land-grabbing is happening right under our
a chance to live as equals ever since Malaysia noses, under the glare of our media, preoccupied
gained independence. with sensationalising private lives of politicians.
In finding an urban parallel, I imagined a for- Aside from stunting the progress of civil society,
eigner telling me that I have to leave my home such gutter journalism supports the malicious
because it belongs to them according to “their” intent of those bent on discrediting one of the
new set of laws. Then the house they claimed few politicians who makes a firm stand based
from me is sold or used for immense profit. In on just values.
the meantime, these powerful people decide to Threats against politicians like Elizabeth
do “good” by running a programme and hire me Wong are a threat to her country at large which
to work in the house for RM400 a year. will continue to inherit the kind of processes
Anyone in their right mind would revolt at the that put profit above lives, should her kind of
injustice. But such is the situation of a marginal- work not continue. We don’t need politicians
ised community with little access to recourse or who allow landslides to happen, only to appear
opportunities. They live at the sidelines, without a at the next tragedy site when people die to
voice, and pushed around as and when someone donate money and shed some tears for the
else with the power and money want the land press. We don’t need state policies that continue
they have been living and toiling on. to marginalise certain communities, and then do
Imagine their sense of hope, when what had so-called charitable work from fat profits off the
not been achieved in 51 years, was done in a land taken from the very people whose rights
short span of 10 months since the last general were denied.
election. Systems were put in place to assure We surely don’t need politicians – no mat-
their voices were heard by the state, and the ter how articulate – to opine or justify their
process of ensuring their right to their ancestral hypocritical actions, along with tabloids disguised
lands were started; they showed that when as newspapers, for these irritatingly distracts us
given a chance, they could work hard to exercise from the reality on the ground that speaks for
their rights, to live as equals, and hope for the itself.
future. (For more info, see: http://thenutgraph.
com/orang-asli-in-perak-apprehensive).
But the recent fiasco in Perak has left The writer rejects gutter journalism and all
them worried – with mixed emotions of quiet that’s associated with it. Comment: letters@
anger and hatred – at those responsible for the thesundaily.com

letters
[email protected] we like and when we like to. It is bound to lead
us to more troubles which will affect the nation’s
peace and stability, which is essential now during
the downturn.

Maturity What happened in Parliament last Thursday

is a shame. This is outrageous. I always thought
that such incidents happen elsewhere but now

at a premium such mobs have come here too. Can we allow

them to tear the fabric of this peaceful and law
abiding nation?
WE are still at it with a vengeance. We are How can a mob be allowed to attack a wheel-
protesting and defying even the police. How can chair-bound MP? What has come of us?
we keep acting like this? We are a law abiding people, and now we see
And why this street culture? Does it serve some people are allowed to take the law in their
the purpose, or are there other ways to solve hands and act as they want? Isn’t it a violation of
problems? Let us learn to go by the law? Or have the sanctity of Parliament?
the Rukun Negara principles lost all meaning? I had thought we are a mature lot after 51
By and large we have been peaceful but not years of independence, but it appears I am
of late. We act as we like as if there is no law wrong.
and order. We take to the streets, take on the
authority, etc. Why? Bulbir Singh
Or does the law mean nothing to us. We do as Seremban

Respect Parliament’s sanctity

UMNO Youth must be out of their minds if they and Malay adat is full of urgings for us to show
think that the way to ﬁght the gutter politics of good behaviour at all times?
Karpal Singh is to brandish their own version of When the Malays accuse others of treason
longkang politics. against the sultan, are they aware that Parlia-
Their intrusion into the august House of Parlia- ment is the rightful abode of our constitutional
ment can be construed as treason of the highest monarchy, and to invade this sacrosanct space
order as they have not only invaded the physical is more serious than demonstrating outside the
space of the honourable Speaker and members sultan’s istana?
of Parliament but also more significantly, the What must our politicians be thinking when
physical guardian of the Federal Constitution and they engage their supporters in these absurd
everything that it stands for. ways? Are they trying to provoke anarchy and
When the Umno Malays defend their ketuanan rebellion among the irrational and the emotional?
and adab, the sovereignty of their Rulers, the Or are they trying to wrest votes?
Malay language and Islam don’t they realise that
they themselves must be exemplary in upholding Halimah Mohd Said
all of these? Do they remember at all that Islam Kuala Lumpur