Thesun 2009-09-02 Page08 Acceptance Must Be The Buzzword

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Moderation, the right way to celebrate MERDEKA Day was celebrated on a much smaller scale this year and most of the activities associated with it were held within the compound of Parliament building and in the states the celebrations, also on a moderate scale, were mostly held indoors. There are good reasons for this and an important one is the Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic. The other reason is the economy and this fits in nicely with the fact that the important date falls in the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan where moderation and restraint are called for. Also it would be most inappropriate for the celebrations to

be just as plush and extravagant as in most years considering the state the national economy is in and the fact that the global recession has affected many of our neighbours and friends even more badly than us. While fasting during Ramadan is only for Muslims, there is nothing to prevent others from inculcating in themselves the values that it encourages. For instance extravagance is something that it discourages and therefore a celebration on a grand scale would be in total disregard of the restraint encouraged by Ramadan. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak

alluded to the training and disciplining that fasting during Ramadan does to those who practise it to strengthen their mind and spirit. Speaking to student representatives from18 public universities and their lecturers in conjunction with Merdeka Day he said for Malaysia to progress and for nation building to be successful all Malaysians must strengthen their mind and spirit. Indeed only those who are mentally and spiritually strong can be tolerant, understanding, restrained and clean in deeds. And these are values all Malaysians must be imbued with in their long and hazardous journey towards a

truly united and multicultural nation. For those who submit completely to its rigours, fasting also cleanses the souls and Najib said this is important for all Malaysians who are preparing themselves to contribute effectively to nation building. However, everyone would probably agree that it is almost next to impossible for all Malaysians to be totally tolerant, understanding, restrained, clean in deeds and to possess clean souls. But in the interest of a peaceful and harmonious nation Malaysians must try. After all how many Muslims can

‘Acceptance’ must be the buzzword MONDAY was Merdeka Day. A good hard as I opened the inbox. There part of the day was spent in the office were comments, news reports, looking into the archives of what had video clips, photographs and other been penned in these columns over evidence of the madness that had the past year. Reading the newspapers, taken place in Shah Alam on Friday. one could not but support the clarion Honestly, no one saw it coming. call by the prime minister to “restore While the majority was carrying the bridge and tear down walls”. In out its routine activities, for a few every Merdeka story, one word stood hours that day, a small group held out. “Unity” is that key word. Everyone the rest of Malaysians at bay. Had screams “unity” but is it from the heart we lost it all? Had we lost what we and soul or is it treated like a password had built from the ashes of May 13? CitizenNades to get into the realm of politics? Then One moment of organised madness by R. Nadeswaran there are those who talk about “tolerresulted in a massive damage to ance”. And I will unequivocally say that the whole country. If we already it is the wrong word. It should be “acceptance”. It had honorary mention in CNN and BBC for the is no use grudgingly acknowledging each other “beer and rotan”, we made it to Forbes and other as Malaysians. It must be accepted and not just international publications. tolerated. “Unity” can only come if “tolerance” is On Friday night, all kinds of messages filled up replaced by “acceptance”. cyberspace. There were calls for “calm” from our Over the years, the voices of the extreme leaders, and rightly so. What happens next? What were considered as voices in the wilderness is there to ensure that there will never be another seeking attention. But religious and racist fermad-cap incident like the one during lunch break vour, fanned by selfish politicians gave credence on Friday? to such nuances. Of late, such voices have got No one can guarantee this because by nature, louder. On Jan 20, after hearing a narrowhumans can sometimes be driven to do the most minded, bird-brained councillor of the ruling idiotic things. One moment they behave saintly coalition in Selangor speak with racial underand in a flash, they turn into monsters. We have to tones, I asked these questions: Are we ready for a identify these characters and take appropriate actruly multiracial Malaysia? Can we hold a decent tion failing which; they will go back to the streets conversation without bringing race into the isto disseminate more hatred and fear. While our sue? Can we talk to each other without looking leaders are building bridges and tearing down at skin colour? Can we address issues, collectively walls, there is within, yet another group which is as Malaysians instead of looking at ourselves in tearing down bridges and building walls. our ethnic background? Is the Pakatan Rakyat’s As a nation, we cannot afford that. promise of a Bangsa Malaysia for real or is it political hogwash? Are politicians hiding behind *********************** a facade of unity only to throw the race card THE pre-arrival announcements on almost all when it suits them? aircraft landing in Malaysian airports are standThe events of the past week were hitting ard. Besides advice on removing luggage from overhead cabins, they end up with a mouthful: “Malaysia has tough laws on drug trafficking. It carries the death penalty.” The warnings have not been heeded as some have discovered to their dismay. One of the most celebrated cases of drug traffickers was that of Australians, Kevin Barlow and

Brian Chambers. They were arrested at Penang International Airport on Nov 9, 1983 with a large amount of heroin. They were both found guilty of drug trafficking and sentenced to death by the High Court on Aug 6, 1985 in Penang. Barlow and Chambers were hanged in Pudu Prison on July 7, 1986. Regularly, the government makes its stand on drug trafficking and it is clear that there will be no change in its policies to deal with such merchants of death. However, this innocuous report must have given the impression that Malaysia has changed its tough stance on drug traffickers. The Star reported that Deputy Foreign Minister Kohilan Pillay has promised to look into providing financial assistance to four Malaysians jailed in Peru for drug trafficking. The newspaper quoted a Wisma Putra statement which said Kohilan met the four during his two-day working trip to Peru starting Aug 11. The four are awaiting full pardons from the Peruvian government. Now, the inevitable question is: Why are we giving money to a bunch of drug traffickers, when we ourselves don’t brook their nonsense? Why in the world should taxpayers’ money be used to “assist” those who peddle deadly substances? Why should those found guilty of drug trafficking get sympathy, let alone money from the government? It is ludicrous for a deputy minister to even consider giving them any kind of assistance – monetary or moral – especially that they had been convicted and sentenced in a court of law. Didn’t we ignore the then Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke’s passionate plea for a stay of execution on behalf of Barlow and Chambers? Didn’t we take umbrage when he later described the hanging as “barbaric”? So why the money and sympathy for Malaysian criminals abroad whose acts are as despicable as those of the infamous Australian duo? R. Nadeswaran is editor (special and investigative reporting) at theSun. He can be reached at [email protected].

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Stop issuing logging permits I REGULARLY watch the news on ntv7 at 8pm and I have observed a short advertisement on the felling of trees. The clip first shows a screen full of trees, and they are being felled to the sound of chainsaws, until only a single tree is left standing. The punchline: “What will we do when all the trees are gone?” It’s great to have programmes that raise the public’s awareness of our social responsibilities, and the things they do that destroy the environment and the Earth, leaving nothing for our future generations. However, I think this TV clip is directed at the wrong audience. To be frank, what good can we do, even when we are made aware of the plight of the

diminishing forests? We can stop buying wooden furniture, not have wooden floors and houses, and try to plant some trees wherever we can find some space. But who is solely responsible for the felling of trees and the destruction of primary and virgin forests around the world. The main culprits are the timber corporations and the large plantation owners. Timber companies, for example, in order to survive must increase or at least maintain profits from their primary businesses each year, and that means they must continue to obtain new forest concessions and new trees to fell. Not doing so, would mean the certain demise of their companies. Likewise, plantation own-

ers who must also continue to grow more crops and food for the world. Sustainable forest development to me, is just a dirty word. There is never an adequate replacement for a 100-year-old tree, that has been cut down in less than 10 minutes. So, my point is, what is the reason for showing that clip on TV? The only way we can prevent the punchline from happening, ie “What will we do when all the trees are gone” is to stop issuing any more approvals for timber concessions, and have the United Nations protect the jungles in Borneo and the Amazon. Tam Yeng Siang Petaling Jaya

honestly say that they have successfully fasted. They may have been able to deny themselves food and drink but have they been successful in disciplining their mind? Do they entertain bad thoughts or plan devious means of acquiring something they have coveted? Do they entertain evil intentions towards their neighbours? Can they at the end of Ramadan truly say that they have mended their ways? Others may have their own “cleansing” process but whatever the processes the net result should be Malaysians who want a truly peaceful, prosperous, harmonious and united multicultural nation.

History brought alive I REFER to “Two ‘budak Cina’ in a Malay household” (52nd Merdeka Special, Aug 28). Initially, I thought it would be the usual story of two Chinese boys living with a Malay family and their experiences of growing up in a Malay culture. It was as what I had expected but deep between the lines were valuable traces of our history and culture. The writer has depicted the events in a positive and cheerful manner to the extent that I was transported back to my childhood days, living in a Malay kampong next to a Kampung Baru (new village) and a row of railway quarters inhabited by a few Indian families. This story is authentic and the information is priceless. Our young generation should be encouraged to read such stories. It will help them to further understand the 1Malaysia spirit. The writer’s life experience is valuable and I thank him for sharing it with us. I would like to suggest to theSun to set aside a page or two for such similar stories to be published weekly. Teachers would be able to use the material for their history or English language classes. Perhaps, it would also be a way for us to inculcate the 1Malaysia spirit. To Martin Lim Say Leong, thank you for the remarkable and out of the ordinary story. You are truly a Malaysian at heart. I have enjoyed reading your story and intend to share it with my friends. To the editor of theSun, congratulations and thank you for publishing such an interesting and exciting story. Lecturer Kuantan

No room for fanaticism NEWS of Malaysians bloodying a cow’s head to protest against the proposed construction of a Hindu temple made me shudder. The behaviour maligns the Tunku’s legacy as well as Islamic teaching. The Tunku (Abdul Rahman) repeatedly voiced his support for a secular Malaysia. While he did believe Islam to be the state religion, he never meant this doctrine to assume an iconoclastic shape. Articles 3 and 11 of the Federal Constitution support this view. The Tunku aside, Islam condemns intolerant attitudes towards religion. The Quran declares a sweeping protection of freedom of religion (2:257), going so far as to order Muslims to protect other houses of worship, in the event of an attack, before attending to any mosque (22:41). Malaysian Muslims, that is those who do truly represent the country and the religion, must therefore live up to their name and stop fanaticism from threatening their very identity. Sardar Anees Ahmad Waterloo (New York state)