anti-ISA, a story of one minority Melayu
The story begin like this…
On Thursday night, a few of Melayu who work and earn our living in the city centre, all gear up for another troublesome two days ahead of us.
There is neither thunderstorm nor tsunami going to hit the city of Kuala Lumpur.
Instead it was a peace gathering by another Melayu NGO (Non-supporting Government Organisation) which largely come from many part of Melayu town all over the country - to sent a written templated memorandum in Bahasa Melayu with a title ‘ISA Abolishment‘ to the King (also a Melayu too) at the Istana Negara (which previously a Chinese Tycoon Mansion).
This peace rally will start from many parts of the city centre such as Masjid Negara (Muslim’s Melayu prayer place) and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (a shopping haven for Melayu).
By Friday morning, a multiple road block ready on all major roads leading to the city centre. The authority is getting concern about the rally since there no permit was approved.
You can see two or three young graduated Melayu police officers guarded and checking every car passes by. Even a few of Melayu driver who obviously going to city for work have to be check too.
Luckily there is a few highway still empty, heading to the city centre for some smart drivers is still ok. Then by afternoon, an SMS starts to fly around about the warning to avoid coming to KL on Saturday.
To some of Melayu who rather not to get involve in this political playing field have to be wonder again, are this another Melayu Anwar Ibrahim’s people power get together gathering?
Somehow, it wasn’t their choice but they have to face it the name of other Melayu and this time it was the ‘Internal Security Act’ also famously known as ISA.
News spread, multiple radio station starts to play an announcement about the warning by the IGP Police not to get involved in this ‘illegal’ gathering.
A few FB’s and Twitter’s status slowly starts to popping-up about the traffic chaos marking the anxiety of the event tomorrow and by night time on Friday, back-lock traffic in the city become bad to worse and start to define itself as totally new meaning of ‘massive traffic jam’ on that Saturday.
Sun do comes up gorgeously that Saturday, some Melayu plan to have family shopping get-together, some Melayu plan to go to work in the city and some Melayu going to city for those plan gathering.
Everybody pack their things and leave their house hopping for a success day ahead of them. Nobody knows their path would collide in the most significant way and that’s what happen on that Saturday.
To cut the story short, all this characters and plot line do get involved later on; there is a Melayu FRU officers, there is a Melayu BAR Council watchdogs, the tear gas, the water cannons, the handcuff exchange hands, the retailers trap in the shopping malls, the marching towards the Istana Negara, the ‘ALLAH MAHA BESAR’ shout and the long stand-still traffic jam.
And the story would end the same way; the police brutality, the anger, the dissatisfaction and the International Press quoting the opposition leaders blaming the government for the failed gathering.
The same old blame game! What a boring story do you think?
Melayu’s story plot-line is always will be like that, it’s the same tone act by same Melayu characters.
Perhaps without knowing we just love to be in the same story again and again.
Like one of the International press news quoted today – Saturday’s rally was less about ISA than to show Anwar’s political strength.
Why haven’t other Melayu wake up and realise his personal agenda or perhaps I’m just the minority one.
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:50 pm
[...] See original here: Anti-ISA – the story of one minority Melayu. [...]
August 4th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
I told most of my friends recently that rallies never provide any solution. There’s always an intellectual way by doing proper planning and strategy. People seems to prefer the most ’simple’ way of doing things, end up in this uproar which I’m agree to your article. Most irritating is when they use ‘religion’ to shield themselves when their objective and mission is to satisfy their political need and to prove to everyone they are heroes who fight for humanity, but result to property damages and waste people time, money and effort.
Muid Latif´s last blog ..Beast 2006
August 12th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Your article is interesting, however I see no difference whether it was Melayu, Cina or India.
If you see Malaysia as being of 1 race. The issue is still the same, people disatisfied, they have a demo lead by a leader. there are some disturbance. Government react.
The question naturally lies on “What are they disatisfied about?” , “How did they conduct their demo” and “How did the government react to it?”
About the same time, as the recent Anti ISA rally. Stateless Malaysians were holding their own demo in England. The difference is no water canon or tear gas was used on them and the government did not accuse them of scaring away investors.
Disruption caused by mass affairs is fairly common. During parades, shops and roads are closed too. The only difference is, 1 crowd is being led by the police, another is being chased by them.
Mahatma Ghandi did the same thing in defying the british. If this is not a planned an intellectual way;
Please propose a solution.
August 12th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Hi TheDoer, thanks – Yeap, I only see it from a point of view of one Malay guy – since I’m a Malay guy – I wrote this bcoz, I once participated in this kind of rally – however – there is clear indication between a demo by Stateless Malaysians and ANTI-ISA riot – first, majority of the Malay (matilah aku kena condemn for saying this) who participated in this event – hardly known the intellectual reference on the topics – most of them – either a crowd pleaser or just be there from a political based activities – It’s obvious you can see all over the net about this matter – an AJK of this, a PEMUDA of that;
Mahatma Ghandi did the same thing, but Mahatma Ghandi preach educatedly what’s the subject matter;
A lot of people argue, we have to do this since from rally is what revolution starts – however – as far I’m concern as a Malay – when Malay gathered – a lot of more bad words comes out from their mouth – and the more sin they create when they have anger in themselves.
I’ve witness myself how people destroyed things on the road just for sake of ‘Allahuakhbar’ – it make me sick;
August 13th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Hi Wahazaextra, thanks for the reply. I see where you are coming from. I have not been part of these rallies before, hence I do not know of their crowd mentality.
The actions of some people can be quite disturbing, but they do not represent the whole. If you hold a rally, naturally there will be some uneducated fools who join along for the fun.
But what the rally stands for is indeed righteous. I have seen talks conducted by the opposition, and the subject matter they bring forth and I have also seen how the Government potray themselves.
Let’s take the Bersih Rally as an example. During Aljazeerah’s coverage on the event they interviewed both the opposition and the Government. The opposition representative, gave the reason for the demo objectively and what they hope to see improved.
When it’s our Information Minister’s turn, through the phone interview, you could hear him banging on the table, talking gibberish, and kept repeating that Foreigners have no right to question the way the Malaysian government does things. A stark contrast, one representing the “unruly” rioters and one representing MALAYSIA (though I wonder how he managed to represent me).
Well that aside, it is true that the crowd some times can get out of hand (eg. Mat Rempit gangs), but if the government had legalised the request to hold the rally, and escorted instead of chased down the participants. I am sure it will be a completely different story; and the people like you would gladly give up the trouble makers, am I wrong?
Now instead, they blocked their peaceful walk, and refused them the right to move on, of course the crowd will be agitated.
If I may so quote: “Disturbing the Hornet’s Nest”
The Government is basically asking for trouble.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:02 am
TheDoer, one mistake of our current Government is some of the Minister is not a PR ready;
Very2 poor indeed – some of our politician is not well educated on how to talk on press and how to handle topics that’s crucial. That I’ve to agree.