RAJA PETRA DESERVES IT!!!!

By JAI

The news that blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin aka RPK was slapped with Section 8 of the Internal Security Act (ISA) which allows the government to detain him without trial for 2 years at Kamunting, did not trigger me any alarm. In fact, I do support the move by the Home Ministry.

Sorry fellas! I am a blogger, too but I am for what is right and against what is wrong. I am living in Malaysia, one of the most delicate countries on the globe. If one tries to incite racial, religious and economic chaos with the intention to bring down the socio-stability of the country, I will be among the first to protest.

RPK is a good writer with thousands of readers and supporters. I like his style and his postings. He got his own class to woo support and sympathy and I personally believe most bloggers, readers and those of the opposition parties are upset with the Home Ministry's decision.

Had he not incite public uproar (especially the Malays and Muslims) over his postings which insulted the religion, the Prophet and the Malays, I would also join the bandwagon that opposes his detention under ISA. The government cannot take him in just because he posted too much 'slanderous' materials on his website. Afterall, there are still many other bloggers, including politicians who also posted similar articles on their weblogs.

I have my own stand and opinion... and I deserve to speak my downrights. When most people in the country, including ministers voiced out their views - some were against the ISA - that the draconian laws must be scrapped, I personally believe that in a country like Malaysia, the ISA is still relevant.

After what happened during the communal riot in Singapore in 1964 (that led to its Independence a year later) and Malaysia in 1969, we cant take chances anymore. Its true that thing were quite okay after that but it is building up again. Even Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi admitted the fact recently that the 'muhibah' spirit among Malaysians are at its lowest now.

The Malays, the Chinese, Indians and other races have been contributing well to the development of the country. Should there be minor misunderstanding, it should be well addressed by our leaders and their representatives. This has been the best way to manage Malaysia since 1969.

However, this harmonious atmosphere was slackened by some people who either tried to take advantage of a few 'incidents' or for their own political objectives. The Hindraf movement was the result of discontentment among a few politicians. It was then turned into a platform to pressure government and to challenge the law. The Malays were adamant about it but there were few occasions when there were calls by Malay 'leaders' to launch a backleash against the Indians. We are happy when the government (although a bit late in its action) detained some of Hindraf leaders before things went out of control.

And then came the Bar Council - a body supposed to be non-political and most fair to Malaysians - with its Social Contract and Embracing Islam forums, which openly challenged the law and the Muslims for its 'unconstitutional' moves. The organisers, maybe, failed to recognise and consider the sensitivity of both issues to the country, as a whole.

Now, Bukit Bendera Umno division chief (now under suspension) Ahmad Ismail should be the next to be taken to Kamunting for his 'racist' statement during Permatang Pauh by-election. Had he not liken the Malaysian Chinese as 'passengers' and immigrants in Malaysia, the Sin Chew Jit Poh reporter wouldnt be held by the police for her stories.

Calling the Chinese 'pendatang' was like spitting on our own ancestors' grave. As most Malays and Indians, too, are descendents of Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam and some other countries, we cannot simply labelled others as 'pendatang' just because the Malays form the majority of Malaysians.

Malaysian history is very colorful. Almost each and every one of us came from somewhere... few hundred years ago. Let us share the history in our nation-building. At least, we are proud to have such varieties.

I maybe wrong to liken RPK as another Sulman Rushdie but as a Muslim himself (married to a convert Chinese), he should be well aware of his religion and its path. Insulting Nabi Muhammad SAW is the first thing that will spark anger to any other Muslim who hears about it. Unless RPK is a Shiite, then I think... I think... its okay as the Shiites only recognise Saidina Ali and Imam Mahdi as their sect leaders.

Come to think about it again, ISA is still relevant to our country. We cannot let anybody else to cause public chaos that will lead to uneasiness, bloodshed and economic collapse. We should have learnt enough from the past.

Please bear in mind that any issue on race, religion and culture can be very erruptive. We cannot let Malaysia to become another apartheid nation, neither can we allow her to be fall apart under racial and religious riots.

I have observed wars, riots, lootings and killings in some countries. It taught me a lot of mutual respect and mutual recognition of rights. I dont want to imagine Malaysia plunging into racial and political turmoil. Even a political and power struggle is bad enough to put the country into chaos. When there is no legitimate government of power, we will place the nation at uncertainty. This will halt economic development as no foreign investors are willing to come in.

Having said this, let me declare that I have nothing personal against RPK or Ahmad Ismail or Teressa Kok or anybody else. I still hope for the government to reconsider the decision on RPK as Aidilfitri is near the corner. I am not pro or against the government. I am an ordinary Malaysia who stands by what is right.
What I want to point out here is MALAYSIA'S STABILITY AND PEACE. I still support ISA in some ways. It wont be easy to 'correct' someone with racial and religious hatred to change his/her perception in one or two months. Sometimes it takes many years.

Remember, this is our country. For a country like ours, where freedom of speech and expression is in practise, we still cannot take full advantage of it. Let's look before we take a leap. It wont be easy to mend a broken family. This is a BIG family!