A kid's shattered dream...
Rahmah GhazaliPublished: Dec 23, 2008 4:03 AM | Updated: Dec 23, 2008 5:46 AM
Like all teenagers, S Ragaanesan harboured an ambition. To him, there was not a profession nobler than being a man in blue who battles bad hats so that people can go about their lives in peace.
Like all teenagers, S Ragaanesan harboured an ambition. To him, there was not a profession nobler than being a man in blue who battles bad hats so that people can go about their lives in peace.
The 15-year-old schoolboy, who hails from the tiny hamlet of Sungai Siput in Perak, has always dreamt of becoming a policeman.
But this dream has been reduced to tatters.
Ragaanesan's participation in the 16-day nationwide 'Ride for Change' campaign has drastically altered his perception of his heroes.
"Before this, I always wanted to be a policeman when I grow up," he said. "But when I saw how they (the police) treated us... I think I'm going to change my ambition... I don't know what to become any more."
The nationwide campaign organised by grassroots coalition, Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit), was peppered with incidents like police roadblocks and arrests, as well as several bicycles being torched by arsonists.
While the authorities accused the organiser of numerous misdeeds, including exploiting children, Jerit has claimed that the official reaction was nothing short of politically-motivated harassment by the police.
Malaysiakini spoke to several participants and their parents to get their views.
People living in dire conditions
For Ragaanesan, the campaign had also instilled a greater of sense of discipline in him, such as waking up early.
"When I went cycling to the estates, I saw people with no electricity and who had to use candles. When I returned home, I did not turn on the lights because I kept thinking about them," he said.
His father M Sugumaran, 52, said he is proud of his son for having joined the campaign to highlight the woes of the poor.
"I only earn RM40 a day and this is not enough to support my three children. If it rains a lot, I can only earn about RM400 a month. I'm so proud of my son for doing this for me and other people," he added.
Sixteen-year-old student A Kaliswari said he had volunteered for the campaign to address the plight of the people, including that of his family in Sungai Siput.
"Our family earns a very small living and now prices of goods have increased. That is why I joined this campaign... besides it's the school holidays now," he said.
Kaliswari said the campaign had taught him to be more appreciative of the condition around the country as he had come across people living in worse conditions than his family.
"When we cycled to an Orang Asli settlement, I saw that they did not even have electricity and water. This has changed the way I look at life.
"Before this, I just looked at 'physical' things but now I think of people who are more unfortunate than myself."
Also expressing pride, his father K Arumugam denied that the campaign was aimed at creating chaos, but was rather to help poor Malaysians.
"When my son was detained at the Rawang police station, I was proud of him because he experienced a tough challenge.
"He is not a bad boy. He asked my permission to join in the campaign," said the 40-year-old lorry driver.
More independent now
P Gunaraj, 15, who works part-time to support himself, said the campaign had taught him to be more independent.
"I earn RM20 every day by carrying boxes at shops. I do not want to ask my parents for any money," said the Form Three student of a Chinese school in Ipoh.
His mother R Devi, a 40-year-old factory worker, said she has noticed changes in her son since his participation in the campaign.
"When he was in the campaign, he never failed to call me. And I notice that he has become more independent. He even does his own laundry," she added with a laugh.
The 15-year-old schoolboy, who hails from the tiny hamlet of Sungai Siput in Perak, has always dreamt of becoming a policeman.
But this dream has been reduced to tatters.
Ragaanesan's participation in the 16-day nationwide 'Ride for Change' campaign has drastically altered his perception of his heroes."Before this, I always wanted to be a policeman when I grow up," he said. "But when I saw how they (the police) treated us... I think I'm going to change my ambition... I don't know what to become any more."
The nationwide campaign organised by grassroots coalition, Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit), was peppered with incidents like police roadblocks and arrests, as well as several bicycles being torched by arsonists.
While the authorities accused the organiser of numerous misdeeds, including exploiting children, Jerit has claimed that the official reaction was nothing short of politically-motivated harassment by the police.
Malaysiakini spoke to several participants and their parents to get their views.
People living in dire conditions
For Ragaanesan, the campaign had also instilled a greater of sense of discipline in him, such as waking up early.
"When I went cycling to the estates, I saw people with no electricity and who had to use candles. When I returned home, I did not turn on the lights because I kept thinking about them," he said.His father M Sugumaran, 52, said he is proud of his son for having joined the campaign to highlight the woes of the poor.
"I only earn RM40 a day and this is not enough to support my three children. If it rains a lot, I can only earn about RM400 a month. I'm so proud of my son for doing this for me and other people," he added.
Sixteen-year-old student A Kaliswari said he had volunteered for the campaign to address the plight of the people, including that of his family in Sungai Siput.
"Our family earns a very small living and now prices of goods have increased. That is why I joined this campaign... besides it's the school holidays now," he said.
Kaliswari said the campaign had taught him to be more appreciative of the condition around the country as he had come across people living in worse conditions than his family.
"When we cycled to an Orang Asli settlement, I saw that they did not even have electricity and water. This has changed the way I look at life."Before this, I just looked at 'physical' things but now I think of people who are more unfortunate than myself."
Also expressing pride, his father K Arumugam denied that the campaign was aimed at creating chaos, but was rather to help poor Malaysians.
"When my son was detained at the Rawang police station, I was proud of him because he experienced a tough challenge.
"He is not a bad boy. He asked my permission to join in the campaign," said the 40-year-old lorry driver.
More independent now
P Gunaraj, 15, who works part-time to support himself, said the campaign had taught him to be more independent.
"I earn RM20 every day by carrying boxes at shops. I do not want to ask my parents for any money," said the Form Three student of a Chinese school in Ipoh.His mother R Devi, a 40-year-old factory worker, said she has noticed changes in her son since his participation in the campaign.
"When he was in the campaign, he never failed to call me. And I notice that he has become more independent. He even does his own laundry," she added with a laugh.
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