Another exciting weekend in KL but I was in Penang for another commitment. However, I pondered: If I was in KL, would I have participated in this yet another peaceful march?
I would have for the Bersih march, but for this one, I paused to think again.
Why? For one, I am not sure that, theologically, Hindus\’ can take part in any forceful action, as the name of this organisation suggests. If one is a true and real practicing Hindu, forcefull ways of doing things is never a real or serious option. That is why the Great Hindu leader, Mahatma Ghandi preached and practiced non-violent peace marches – with the most famous being the Great Salt March of historic repute. Our marchers also carried his photographs as symbols, maybe to amplify their peaceful intentions. I hope they are well understood by the rest of us; who may appear to be innocent, or even the non-innocent on-lookers.
These are all legal due processes issues and relate to the religious and ethnic rights of Malaysian Hindus. Those asking are not just Hindus but really all democratic and Constitution-minded Malaysians. And, they are merely asking for a judicial review of whether, in fact, they have a legitimate case. They have a legal right to make their case and anyone else has an equal right to argue and debate against that same case, if necessary.
But, do they really have a case? Legally, I do not know and am not sure. What I do know is that they have a legal and constitutional right to at least make their case, and to be heard. One could ask why they did not make and file their case in Malaysia? A good and valid question. But I suppose I cannot blame them if they do not see justice being delivered by the Malaysian courts on this issue.
After all, the Malaysian government becomes the ruling and guilty party if in fact the case is actually heard and successfully made in England. The British government becomes the accomplice and ally by not protecting the so-called religious rights of the residual peoples the Great Britain introduced into the British Colonies. And, specifically the Malaysian Hindus are the ones making this case.
Putrajaya march
Legal issues aside, does the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) have a case to make and have they not tried the normal due processes? After all from the PM downwards, the government spokespersons say that there are due processes for them to be heard. Really? Where and how? I remember the specific instance when I first heard about Hindraf and their taking legal measures against the temple demolition in Melaka.
I remember a friend writing to make their case and inform others. I even circulated the issue and my genuine concern to friends on my private mailing list. Some asked why I was getting involved? Why not? I had already argued my case for why I went for the vigil for (Revathi/Subashini or was it the Manograhan\’s wife?) You see there have been a string of cases, much like the Lina Joy case, which denied the individual rights of the Hindu members of Malaysia.
I also argued why as a Malaysian I must stand up for their rights, for the sake of my children and their children. Many of these cases highlighted were handled poorly by the relevant authorities. Then, there were all the temple demolitions; even though the MIC denied them. MIC tried to get involved after the fact, and failed. All these were fuel added to the simmering coal of anger within the Hindu community, and especially at the popular level of emotional faith.
Then, what I think was the most significant event was when more than 1,000 Hindraf supporters gathered at Putrajaya. They peacefully handed their case and appeal to a representative of the prime minister. Their letter with contents was received. That must be about five to six months ago.
Did anybody in the PM\’s Department read their appeal? Did anyone speak to the organisers to find out what the concerns were? I mean we have the PM Department\’s Research Division, the National Unity and Integration Department, the PM\’s Office and their political officers? Did any of them even bother to read and take some corrective action, like calling up the leaders to find out what the real issues were? Is that not also \”our culture and way of doing things?\”
To prevent a demonstration of 30,000 people, to me, would have been easier, than to try and meet force with force. Has force ever won? Have we not learned from the two world wars and the many religious wars that no one ever wins in such a war? Both sides lose and it is only a matter of who loses even more.
As a government servant of 30 years and having had the interest and experience to potentially have headed the National Unity Department, I must say that maybe that department failed badly in not taking the Putrajaya demonstration and their letter more seriously. I would not be wrong to think that these demonstrators were the first ones to bring more than 1,000 people to protest in Putrajaya. Only the second came the now famous Bar Council march of 2,000. So, why is the government not learning to listen? Are they not interested in listening? Do they not understand the issues? Are they still in denial, like the famous Samy who blames God for everything?
Come on Barisan Natisional: you are a coalition of different ethnic and cultural groups. Surely, you know the real issues of anger and feelings of despair on the ground, the very kind of an illusion of hopelessness which overcomes simple and sincere people.
Dealing with citizens
I personally consider the most recent Shah Alam temple incident before Deepavali, coming after all the other more famous marches and demonstrations, as having added pure fuel to the fire. Then came the ultimate insult to injury: the application for a peaceful march was denied. There appears to be no political will to mediate for a serious dialogue of the real issues.
Force must meet force. And so this scene has been set up four times now. First there was Batu Buruk, then the Bar Council March, then the Bersih march, and finally the Hindraf march. Why are these peaceful marches denied? Why can\’t we try to handle this with the maturity of 50 years? Come on, these are not your traditional communists. These are Malaysian citizens with Constitutional rights.
Can I therefore make a suggestion to my former colleagues in the public service? Like the case with the original social contract and even the NEP, can we create a win-win situation for everyone concerned? Please remember, these are all Malaysian citizens we are dealing with. Can negotiation and mediation be a real and practical option; without any force at all? Can the so-called consensus building process, successfully used by the Alliance in the past, be renewed?
To me, there is no reason that after 50 years of independence under the same ruling party, why that party in power has to feel so insecure, or cannot find the political will on serious issues. Do they really believe that when force meets force anyone wins?
Frankly, much like Pakistan, we too are clearly building the steps to become a pariah among the Commonwealth countries. No wonder also, why the foreign minister does not sound so confident anymore, when talking about Myanmar?
Win-win situations
Win-win situations are clearly very possible. It goes simply like this. First, please have the heart to listen to serious concerns when more than 1,000 people march. Let us not delude ourselves by our own arrogance to believe that only Samy is in fact, a god of some sorts! He is only a very frail and failing human being. He is way past his prime and should have gone; but then many people do not know their own limits. Now, even his MP for Cameron Highlands has spoken up for the seriousness of the real issues. Please recognise the revolt from within.
My own simple triple win solution therefore would be: allow Hindraf or the Bar Council or Bersih to march under certain well defined conditions.
For example allow only 1,000 to march. All we have to do is to agree that 1,000 is enough to make the point; regardless of how serious is the point. Maybe allow the march to go down Putrajaya Boulevard; after all there are no shops and no concern for businesses there. After all, that is the administrative capital of Malaysia; and no more Kuala Lumpur. If there are only 1,000 people and there are explicit conditions; there should be no problems for the police to not only contain and maintain order but also to ensure that there are no other trouble makers in the vicinity.
All one needs is to recognise that our Constitution does give them the explicit right to assemble and to voice concerns for felt issues. That is the nature of a democracy. Simply have the political will to agree to a mediated form of protest and the voicing of whatever is their concern.
Otherwise, one can only conclude that there is reason for the government of the day to be hiding some private agenda of their own. I hope and pray that someone is listening before the next march takes place
