Sincere Apology

The present government has decided to acknowledge injustice to the 1988 Justices during last night's dinner organised by the Malaysian Bar. Many viewed such as a good move towards the right direction, well they may be disappointed with the move. Many view such as the first step towards improving the long suffering judiciary with the recent exposure of the 'correct, correct' lawyer.

What is interesting is the ex Lord President's statement that after 20 years finally he is accorded a moral victory. Tacitly, he implies that the government has committed a gross injustice ironically towards those who are supposed to uphold justice, the Justices themselves. Being arrogant and irresponsible as always, the government declines to a full and straight forward apology to those concerned. A good government should be brave and sincere in telling the people of their mistakes and not just playing around the bush by saying that they have committed something wrong but is unwilling to offer a sincere and clear apology. Maybe, that is what the ex- Lord President was really trying to say.

Looking at the newest installment of hilarious political drama, the government of the day would never say something to that effect if they won convincingly in the recent election. They realised that they aren't strong as before thus they have to concede and retreat few steps but sadly not in the way that the commoner wants. Their political maneuver hopefully will soon backfire as they aren't that sincere.

Mr. Lim Kit Siang in his statement said that the government should apart from the ex Gratia payment should render back all the privileges the Justices have been denied for as long as 20 years when they were disgracefully humiliated in 1988. Indeed, that is the most sensible thing to do apart from a full apology for their sufferings. Without the apology, the thing will never rest and it will continue to haunt the government until the day comes when they finally crumble to earth, Insya Allah.

The former Premier in his usual arrogance said that he was not the one who did all the miserable things instead it was the tribunal which decided to lay off the Justices for being honest to the profession. Oh dear, such statement from such a distinguished persona is really shameful and shallow. Let me say this..HE WAS THE ONE WHO ORDERED THE TRIBUNAL TO CONVENE AND THEREFORE HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OUTCOMES, EACH AND EVERY DECISION!

It is simply a situation where and when the subordinates follow to the letter their Superior's order just like the infamous slogan for the Malaysian civil service "Saya yang menurut perintah (Symp). Nobody dared to oppose him because he IS the PRIME MINISTER and anyone who dared to cross him, ISA would be the answer. Remember the 'Operasi Lallang'? Everyone who had the 'luxury' of living during his tenure would surely able to tell the situations they were in.

I am not a fan of Pak Lah or Si Lembik as many called him, but we will have to acknowledge that he opens up a new more transparent and free society. We are able to say something against him and his government not to his face but at least through the Internet. Many may say that that is inevitable as we are now living in a borderless world where information is the power but I beg to differ as the government can do something to block the contents as what China has done frequently or when the Indonesian government decides to block 'Fitna' fro being seen or viewed by their citizens. Remember when Nepal under the embattled King Gyanendra clamped down on the Internet and telecommunication? I wonder what will happen if the former Premier is still the Prime Minister...

A bigger man is one who willingly admits that he has erred and hence the government should readily admit that they have done something which tarnished the dignity of the once highly regarded judiciary and more importantly the honour of fellow beings who had been mutilated as a result of the setting up of the tribunal and its outcomes.

Saying that we need to move on and forget the past is totally unacceptable as what we facing now concerns dignity of fellow human beings and it goes beyond as their family too suffer as a consequence of such act. Are we saying that what happened in Bosnia and Kosovo for instance should just be forgotten? I may be a bit dramatic here but there's no difference with what happened in those countries and what happened to the judges 20 years ago. It is a question of dignity of human beings. If some are opposed to horrible mistreatment of animals don't human deserve better since we are His best creations?

Will you be able to accept when someone slap, kick and torture you to near death and afterwards give you some money without saying sorry for what he's done? If your answer is no therefore the Justices deserve better than ex Gratia payment. If those highly respectable individuals suffered in such way, what will happen to us the mere commoner?

Indeed, such saga is far from reaching a satisfactory conclusion and it is actually just the beginning of a long battle on a more level ground. Like what the former Lord President said, " I finally got my prayer answered and achieve a moral victory which wasn't possible even legally under the previous administration."

"Justice must actually be visible to the eyes"

Reminiscence Part 2

Just now I browsed a blog where the blogger expressed her happiness for being admitted to Matriculation. I could feel her joy as I myself was overjoyed when I got the same offer albeit from different institution. The feeling is so great and for a few days nothing seemed to bother me and I started to skip classes (I had the opportunity of being a sixth former for two weeks). I even forgot to get my school leaving certificate unlike the 'lady' whose blog I frequently visited. Those were the days and frankly I feel a bit jealous of the blogger. Selfish, huh?

Nonetheless, she will soon get over the feeling after she starts attending classes, tutorials, assignments and 'killer' lecturers. Ahaha....those days we had one particular silent killer who coincidentally is one of my course mate's sister. If you happen to read this, thousands apologies Madam Ahlam. Fortunately, I never been in her class but being in a close knitted faculty, I soon realised that she's got a rival in Madam Ramizah. Again, I was lucky coz she was only a stickler to rules but fair to deserving (law abiding students...like me) ones. Come to class and complete all her assignments and voila! you passed the course. One peculiar professor was Prof Samsar, many claimed that by coming to his houses for makan - makan would guarantee good marks but I never went to his maybe that's why I got C for his subject. Again, those were the days...

My advice to all those soon to be graduates to take the opportunity wisely as it would only come once as age is indeed a barrier. Some of my colleagues wasted their chances (we have three chances at least in terms of resitting exams) and one sad but also mind boggling was a friend of mine who didn't graduate though he was given those chances and last time I heard he is a court interpreter instead of a lawyer. Nonetheless, countless of my former course mates are now established lawyers with their own practices, magistrates, lecturers with 'Dr.' as the beginning of their names and many more inspiring stories.

My own story? Maybe next time or never?

"Everyone has a story to tell"

Tired...

I have been feeling tired lately and since two days ago I think I got the flu bug all because I've been struggling to fill up SPSS with the data I collected from my survey. It is really a challenge as I've to wrap up everything by May 31. Can I make the dateline? Sure I can, Insya Allah.

Works do not tire me as much as the longer working hours which most of us are complaining to no avail. But, at least we get it out of our system, right? It is a kind of relief to talk about our dissatisfaction about the system but some especially those who are trying to fish in the troubled water and the power of the day will not tolerate such and they usually view this as grave insubordination worthy of reprimand.

We need to listen and emphatise to others and don't just brush them aside as being 'micro' as one leader used to say. Leaders who can't or unwilling to listen and react appropriately to grudges and complaints will never prosper but not many will try his or her best to accommodate dissenting ideas, many will view such as anti- establishment or the like.

One instance is the move to implement one session school which is done without proper or thorough study just because of one missing girl during the night!The higher ups keep on their bullying stance not only over the teachers but also the children who are suffering as they have to spend almost ten hours to be 'babysitted' by the teachers who are tired themselves.

It is sad indeed when the higher ups keep ramrodding their subordinates just to please their own superiors. Fortunately friends are there to support and console each others with motivating and soothing words of encouragement.

"People of the same rank and status usually are the ones who console each other"

Lest We Speak..

"Saya ini banyak buat salah, menukarkan guru-guru ke tempat yang jauh; saya ingin menebus kesalahan saya..."

What is so special about the above caption? Indeed, it is not extraordinarily special as it shows blatant disregard of democratic practices when others disagree with you. But, when others agree with you although what you have done or are doing is against the principles of democracy then it is o.k as some interpret democracy as according to the majority.

Transferring teachers just because they disagree with the mainstream politics is an act of gross injustice and an obvious act of power abuse. Is it wrong not to agree with your superiors in terms of politics? Is it a sin to say no when you are 'forced' to vote for the mainstream party? Is it wrong to think and choose based on your own reasoning? Do we have to follow everything to the extent of 'forcing' others to vote for certain political party? The answer to the above , to some narrow minded people is Y.E.S! In fact it is incumbent to all civil servants to vote for the mainstream party based on the false and utterly misconceived reason that since the government is under the control of the mainstream party therefore it is an act of treason? or unpatriotic for them to vote other that the mainstream party.

I have heard that teachers were threaten with transfer to remote areas and such injustice was actually true with the confession of a former high ranking officer. It is said to see that people who are desperate to cling to power will do almost everything including unethical and wrong things just to make sure they remain in power. Look at Zimbabwe's Mugabe and Kenya's Kibaki, they do everything just to cling to disappearing authority.

Now, our own former PM too is infected by such despicable trait when he quickly resorted to ISA through 'Operasi Lallang' and such was admitted by Pak Lah himself. At least now, we are a bit free to express ourselves especially through alternative media compared to when the former PM was in power. Nobody dared to go against him and whoever had even the inclination would surely suffer the consequences as what happened to the last 'true' Lord President, Tun Salleh Abbas.

The former PM even has the audacity to say that he;s not responsible for such sacking as according to him it was the doing of the tribunal but who ordered such tribunal to convene if it wasn't him? It is indeed very irresponsible and arrogant of him to say such things and for sure this writings of mine will never seen the light of the day if he's still in power. He has the guts to say that he is being sidelined by the media for his opinion but he maybe because of his advanced age seems to forget his own 'sins' years ago when even the slightest dissent would receive the harshest reprimand.

Even the great second Caliph, Saidina Umar Al - Khattab who was feared for his bravery was 'reminded' by his subject to piously follow the guidelines set by Islam and as the pious man he is, Umar never reacts unjustly towards his subject, though the reminder came in the most harsh way considering that Umar was the head of the state. If we were to do that during our former PM's tenure for sure we all would be 'guests' of the prison!

It is not wrong to have dissenting ideas and such is even acknowledged by the Holy Quran. If Allah Himself admits that there will and should be dissenting ideas- the Creator and the Almighty, how could we mere mortals are hard pressed to force our ideas on others to the extent of causing grievous hurt to mental and physical being of others? Political parties are made up of human and human are prone to errors therefore they should never try to force choices to the people. The most they can do is to persuade people to accept their views but never the threat of causing mental or bodily harm.

"Human are bestowed with thinking faculty, let them use their mind accordingly."

Leave

For the second time since 2005, I take my leave today. I think I deserve such luxury since I've been sweating for my employee while some of my colleagues have the leisure of leaving us to stand in for them countless times on the pretext that they were training the athletes.

While some might be true and committed to their task some seemed oblivious to us who have to juggle between things because at the same time we have to stand in for them. Now, I am at home surfing the net while the rest have to stand in for me! Sounds spiteful but that's how it goes....

Say NO! to Chelsea

Lately I've been critical of the ruling government but I think such shouldn't be frown upon since to develop and to progress we need dissenting views, aren't we? Anyway, the decision by the not so progressive FAM (sounds like Farm, an animals sanctuary) to proceed with their intention to bring over Chelsea got my attention.

It is sad to listen to its Secretary General's statement that such plan shouldn't be politicised although politically the Chelsea's head coach's country of origin has no relation with this nation of ours. Thus, how could he utter such confusing statement? Of course, bringing Chelsea to Malaysia concerns with politics. Among others he said, they will only be here for three days and during that time their head coach can't do anything to influence us. Such narrow minded opinion from an important? man!

People, particularly Israelis will see this as a victory because such a nation like Malaysia who has been staunch supporter of the Palestinians' causes for the second time has to eat the humble pie and acknowledge though not formally the existence of their nation! A nation built upon the sufferings of the sons of the soil, the Palestinians. The particular coach is a persona non grata. The football club is welcome here but should be without their head coach and there shouldn't be any lame excuses to allow him here.

Their visit will not drastically change our pathetic football, the most they can do is to enrich the governing football association and we'll be able to see our team humiliated again. Will the players immediately learn from that friendly? I have serious doubts although the entertainment rate will be high but to what expense? Another humiliation for sure. Just because they are a great? team we shouldn't sacrifice our sovereignty. Are we willing to witness our dignity blown to smithereens just to see them here?

In fact they are not that great anyway, just because they have a few stars that does not qualify them to be the greats. With such pool of stars they should be at the top but look at them, they are just like Real Madrid which depends too much on individual talents by pinching players from other clubs just because they have the greens. Look and learn from Arsenal, theirs aren't the glamorous but they manage to produce the desired results. Who know about Toure, Adebayor and the gangs, sure they are well known there but compared to Ballack, Shevchenko and others in Chelsea they are giants in terms of popularity.

Enough is enough, the governing football association should be true to their words when they pledge reforms in our local football. They should concentrate more on grooming young talents and try very hard to improve our local leagues which have received countless criticisms from within and outside the country including FIFA. Football is not just a sport to entertain the crowd but it goes further it represents dignity of a nation.

Sacrificing the sovereignty of our nation by allowing Grant to come to Malaysia is not worth the humiliation we will have to endure. In fact, that particular football club have strongly indicates that they will not come if their not so great manager is not given entry. Such a pompous statement from a not so good team! I strongly feel that we should not be threatened by such demand as there are lots of quality clubs around the world. They themselves were forced to eat the dust when Fenerbache, a lowly rated club from Turkey beat them in the Champions League.

It seems that somebody has an ulterior motive in bringing that not so good club here after the MU debacle last year. Wonder what they'll get by bringing that club here. Forgive my language but I have no intention to insinuate mala fide but it is obvious that FAM are bent on the idea of bringing the club here to the extent of discounting a far more significant aspect - dignity and sovereignty of this nation.

Football is not merely a game as it envelops all aspects including politics. We and rather FAM should think hard of the benefits the nation will get by inviting such unnecessary controversy. As Pak Lah said the time is ripe for us to remain united after the disastrous election and such irresponsible act will only bring discord among the already divided nation.

"Football is not mere game, it encompasses our life"