vox populi small thumbnail'I think we have an issue here, and all parties concerned must resolve it. It is not a racial issue or showing disrespect to the Agong.'

'Burning of Interlok insults Agong, literary greats'

Brij Jayaram Kathiravelu: While I don't agree with the perpetrators behind the action of burning the novel 'Interlok', the statement by the groups against the incident to link the irresponsible action to the royal entities is a long way off the cue. Lately, too many groups are conveniently ‘using' the royal entity for their political ambitions.

To the organisers of the book-burning incident, I quote the acclaimed German poet Heinrich Heine, who said: "People who burn books will end up burning people".

Richie: Why should the book-burning incident anger the Malays? How does it become racial? The Indian groups were opposed to the contents of ‘Interlok' and the ministry for choosing the book for school students. If it was merely on bookshelves but not used as a school text, I don't think it would have bothered the Indian community.

Defenders of the novel state that when read in the whole context, the passage is not offensive. Well, when taken in the context of Indian Malaysians, that particular word (pariah) is very sensitive and is a throwback to a long period of humiliation and insult. The wounds run deep till today.

The writer, if he had any quality, could have restated the caste issue without resorting to the derogatory word for the caste. It could have been dealt with more academically like saying that certain Indians come from an oppressed and underprivileged caste, that particular word is not necessary.

Retnam: How does the Agong come into the picture in this issue?

Malaysian First, Malaysian Always: So the burning of ‘Interlok' has aroused the anger of the Malays. What about the distortion of its contents? Does not that constituting the arousal of the anger of the other races too?

Come on, do not be so inward looking. Learn to look from others' point of view. Do not use the name of the Agong vainly out of your bankrupt and ill-serving motives.

P Dev Anand Pillai: If Malay-based NGOs can burn effigies and hurl obscenities as they wish and see fit, and while doing so they even get police protection, why can't others do the same?

If these parties would like to find common ground on what the school kids should learn as history, just go back to the archives and take Dr M Thambirajah's book and put it back on the list again. His book is the best and the most accurate version of Malaysian history all in a nutshell for 15-17 year olds.

But again, will today's religious and racial fanatics, bigots and hypocrites accept a book written by an Indian Malaysian many years ago if it were to become a school text again? If it cannot be accepted then we know what 1Malaysia is all about.

Bozo: I think we have an issue here and all parties concerned must resolve it. It is not a racial issue or showing disrespect to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.

ACR: The book should not have been burnt. But the fact remains the author, a national literary great, knows next to nothing about the caste system. These five NGOs can voice their dissatisfaction about the book burning - but claims of insulting the Agong and Malays are tall stories.

But I am not surprised at this since Gapena and Majlis Permuafakatan PIBG Nasional are involved. PIBGN president Prof Ali Hassan said education should not be politicised - a very nice statement to hear.

Is that why this country's history texts for schools are written with scant mention of any non-Malay historical personality and above all, the decision to make history a compulsory pass was decided at an Umno assembly?

Sleek: Kaki lima (sidewalk) literary greats deserve kaki lima treatment. If that is the quality of a literary great, it is a sad moment for the Malay language. More should be done to improve the quality of the literature. More funds should be injected into the 10-year plan. I support fully efforts to ensure that nothing like this garbage finds its way into the Malay language.

Wira: Why must the burning of ‘trash' be linked to the king by those Umno goons? How far must they go to degrade the institution of monarchy in the country?


Pakatan vs BN: 12,000 turn to prayer

Docs: Along with PAS, I am sure the Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Taoists, East Malaysians and West Malaysians are all praying for the demise of BN and Umno in the coming general elections to ensure the survival of the nation.

On the other hand, I'm sure the Umno fellows are also praying very hard that Pakatan Rakyat loses the elections significantly to ensure the continued prosperity of their party and that their pockets will still continue to overflow with the rakyat's cash.

This is the reality of the situation in Malaysia when it comes to seeking divine intervention in Malaysian politics.

KSN: I have no doubt in my mind that the majority of the followers of others faiths and religions in Malaysia will join PAS members that their wish to save the country from Umno-BN will be successful and soon, too.

Ade: Yes, my church is also praying for the nation. In such trying times, divine intervention is really needed. May God bless Malaysia and its people and send us righteous leaders.

YF: Abdul Hadi Awang said, "Those who say that there shouldn't be any connection between prayers and politics are thick and dense," he said. "We follow in the footsteps of the prophets who not only preached the religion but were also heads of states."

Hadi contended that there is room in religion for politics provided that it is done within the tenets of Islam. Hadi, there's a big difference between theocracy under God and theocracy under men.

We have seen in the history of any religion, including Christianity, that men have simply failed in setting up a government based on theocracy. Why? Because the ways of men are imperfect and only God is perfect and it is only He who is all knowing.

The problem is when religious leaders are given absolute power, they too are easily corrupted. So Hadi, do you think you're perfect or that anyone who is religious is perfect? Christ states clearly that His kingdom is not of this world, hence theocracy is God's job, not us mortal men.

Anonymous_408d: Hadi should not be so arrogant. He has the right to his opinion, but it does not give him the right to say that those who do not see it his way are thick and dense.

Maybe they are just being more practical than he is because they realise that Malaysia being the multi-cultural, multi-religious, multi-racial country it is, calls for a balance that does not impede on the rights of anyone.

This is where PAS always fails. It does not logically take the facts into the revealing light of day where the reality becomes crystal clear; the feelings of those who do not support an Islamic state are of the certainty that they would be utterly foolish to ignore.

Armour Man: I hope this is a gathering of 12,000 Muslims to pray for divine help in their fight against injustices of the BN government. I hope it is not blind allegiance of these people to PAS and PKR. I hope also that it is not the case of PAS and PKR using religion to garner political support for sake of power in itself.

Habib RAK: A very timely show of force for solidarity. Helps to calm jitters following the ‘secret' meeting that tricked Nik Aziz Nik Mat into a dinner meeting with the Agong, PM Najib Abdul Razak and his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin.

 

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