Saturday, July 29, 2006

Rule of chaos

On a Sunday morning two months ago, a group of Malaysians gathered in front of the KLCC to voice their protest regarding the hike in fuel prices and escalating costs of living. They were ordinary citizens of various races showing their concern about issues that affect their daily lives. What did they get in return? A treat of water cannon and violent bashings from the FRU and police. 'No permit', the enforcers said.

Yesterday another group of Malaysians gathered too, voicing their protest of what's happening in faraway Lebanon. However, they received pretty good treatment I would say, that they could march all the way into an international conference site, pushed their way past FRU lines, gathered for 3 hours, and their leader got to show his bad manners to a guest of the Malaysian government. He 'gave Rice five minutes to come out and receive the memorandum'. Well, the FRU and police were very tolerant this time, no mention of needing any permit. Read the full text HERE. And HERE is another example where it's ok to stage fiery protests and make violent threats... but you must be with the right party and the right race.

How I see it, it's NOT OK if you protest something that concerns your livelihood. It's OK it you protest about other people's business. If you are an ordinary citizen, you have no right gather and voice you problems. If you are aligned to the right party, you can get away scot-free showing your bad manners in public and creating chaos, even if you are bossing about other people's business.

This kind of double-standard and lack-of-principle response from the government is indeed worrying. I dunno whether it is a sign of weak governance, or a sign of preferential treatment and silent consent that is leading to more worrying agendas.

Pray for the nation in the coming Merdeka month.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Interesting observations indeed.

40 days of prayer and fasting. Let's go to it folks.