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| Posted: 18 Jan 2014 10:28 PM PST Some developments over the past one week that drew my interest. Its worrisome, to say. Penang Umno yesterday staged a protest against Machang Bubuk assemblyman Lee Khai Loon, who had organised the controversial 'kangkung' flash mob earlier this week. Angry that Lee, a PKR assemblyman, had insulted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak by stuffing kangkung into an effigy resembling the leader, the mob took to the streets chanting 'Allahu Akbar' and 'Hidup Melayu' (Long live the Malays) as they marched about 1km towards the Sunway Carnival Mall with banners.  One banner read 'Because of DAP's leaders mouth, May 13, 1969 happened... Want some more?'. Other banners had messages like 'Insulting the PM is like insulting the Malays', 'Penang Malays survive by eating kangkung', 'ABCD - Asal Bukan Cina DAP' and 'DAP is the enemy of Islam'. Lee had earlier said he never meant to insult anyone, especially the prime minister. In a statement, the PKR first-term rep stressed that there was no intention to insult anyone by 'inviting the prime minister to eat kangkung' and that the whole affair was to reflect public opinion on the issue. Utusan Malaysia today accused Lee of being a racist for criticising the prime minister but not the Penang chief minister.  Awang said although Lee was an elected representative of the people, his mentality was akin to that of a glue-sniffing addict. "While Putrajaya is implementing various cost-cutting measures by slashing the allowances of ministers, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is using the rakyat's money to buy a new luxury car. It looks like we are taking a plunge into a deep ravine. Amid controversy over the unsettled 'Allah' issue, the 'kangkung' has fast been turned into a divisive political platform to incite hatred among us. Where are our level-headed leaders from both divides? What have they done to douse off the fire which got bigger by the day? Why can't they sit down and find amicable solutions to these craps and nonsense? The Muslims (not those in PAS) said the effort by the Catholics to use the word 'Allah' is an insult to Islam and the Malays, while Pakatan Rakyat leader Anwar Ibrahim says the issue was 'politically fabricated' by certain parties to spark a row between Muslims and Christians in Malaysia. Senior church leader Archibishop Emeritus Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam said recent events where offensive words were used and an effigy of Herald editor Father Lawrence Andrew was burned, were 'tantamount to an attack against the Christian community'. Pakiam also said 'it is deplorable that certain groups also wish to organise mega demonstrations and road shows... these insensible actions by groups of persons have caused a great deal of unease, anxiety and even anger among Malaysians...', forgetting the fact that even the Pope is against the use of 'Allah' by the Christians. On Friday, Minister in PM's Dept Nancy Shukri who is also the de facto law minister said religious affairs in every state fell under the purview of the state government and Putrajaya could not interefere.  Under the agreement, which was drawn up by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala, Bibles in all languages can be imported into the country, including those in Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia, and the Bibles can also be printed locally in the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak. However, the Christians and Muslims are equally divided over the issue. While some Muslims feel it was not wrong for non-Muslims to use the word 'Allah', some took it as effort by the Christians to 'rob them of their legitimacy in using the word'. The Protestants, being the hardcore among the Christians in demanding equal right to use 'Allah', is only the minority Christian sect in the country, representing about 38 per cent of about 2 million 'other Christian sects' in Malaysia. Not only me but I believe many other Malaysians, regardless of religion, race and politics are getting blase with all these 'brouhahas'. The rakyat, now being hit by spiraling price of necessary items, need more than just the special attention from their 'wakil rakyat' - for both sides to work hand in hand to ensure that they have enough to eat and wear!  And I tend to agree with what Nancy said the other day - Malaysians are indulging in too much politicking and this is impeding intellectual development of the people - every issue now seemed to be politicised, waylaying Malaysians from focusing on the development objectives that needed to be attained. "I think politicians, be they from the right wing or left wing, should not be politicising things too much, as it doesn't help our people to develop. We are not helping our people to become more intellectual but making them more immature in politics," she said.  |
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