By Wong Choon Mei
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Last rites are being conducted for Teoh Beng Hock, the 30-year DAP political aide whose life was suspiciously ended last week after a marathon interrogation at the offices of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in Selangor.
Funerals are by nature sad. The grief at Beng Hock’s Alor Gajah home is no different. His family members have not been able to find comfort in either sweets words or empty promises, in neither gala bouquets nor grand ceremonies.
No words can assuage their sorrow as they brace themselves to send their beloved son off on his last journey. For it is at these final moments that the reality and the finality of death sinks in.
That is why one cries, one wails and one bawls no matter how uncharacteristic emotion may be to that person. But still, Beng Hock will not come back. That is the nature of death.
It is also difficult for all those who come to pay their last respects. No matter how sincere, what can well-wishers say, what can friends do to reduce the family’s sadness? In these moments, perhaps nothing.
But once the pain is all cried out, the fight to get him and his family justice will pick up again. Tomorrow, if not tonight itself, a new journey that has already begun will come to the fore – this time for justice and for reform.
And not just for Beng Hock and his family but for all Malaysians regardless of ethnicity – may a new chapter begin!
Time for a sea change
Funerals are by nature sad. The grief at Beng Hock’s Alor Gajah home is no different. His family members have not been able to find comfort in either sweets words or empty promises, in neither gala bouquets nor grand ceremonies.
No words can assuage their sorrow as they brace themselves to send their beloved son off on his last journey. For it is at these final moments that the reality and the finality of death sinks in.
That is why one cries, one wails and one bawls no matter how uncharacteristic emotion may be to that person. But still, Beng Hock will not come back. That is the nature of death.
It is also difficult for all those who come to pay their last respects. No matter how sincere, what can well-wishers say, what can friends do to reduce the family’s sadness? In these moments, perhaps nothing.
But once the pain is all cried out, the fight to get him and his family justice will pick up again. Tomorrow, if not tonight itself, a new journey that has already begun will come to the fore – this time for justice and for reform.
And not just for Beng Hock and his family but for all Malaysians regardless of ethnicity – may a new chapter begin!
Time for a sea change
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Already, more than 3,000 signatures have been collected in a petition to Prime Minister Najib Razak to begin a Royal Commission of Inquiry immediately.
Malaysia has had enough of these suspicious deaths. Malaysians want the truth for Beng Hock, they want the truth for Kugan Ananthan, for A Gnanapragasam, the list just goes on.
Tellingly, there is a picture showing an awkward Ong Tee Keat, president of the MCA, unsuccessfully trying to comfort Beng Hock’s mother and sister.
It is not difficult to see why. For the MCA – like MIC – supports Umno. And Beng Hock – like Kugan and Gnanapragasam – died because the police and the MACC take their ultimate orders from Umno.
Not only that, they have also been spoiled rotten by Umno and placed out of reach of ordinary taxpayers, beyond natural justice even.
Sadly, Umno preaches race-based politics – the superiority of the Malays over all other races in the country.
BUT not all Malays are Umno members. Not all Malays like it nor trust it. In fact, half the Malays in the country are against it.
Death knell sounds
Malaysia has had enough of these suspicious deaths. Malaysians want the truth for Beng Hock, they want the truth for Kugan Ananthan, for A Gnanapragasam, the list just goes on.
Tellingly, there is a picture showing an awkward Ong Tee Keat, president of the MCA, unsuccessfully trying to comfort Beng Hock’s mother and sister.
It is not difficult to see why. For the MCA – like MIC – supports Umno. And Beng Hock – like Kugan and Gnanapragasam – died because the police and the MACC take their ultimate orders from Umno.
Not only that, they have also been spoiled rotten by Umno and placed out of reach of ordinary taxpayers, beyond natural justice even.
Sadly, Umno preaches race-based politics – the superiority of the Malays over all other races in the country.
BUT not all Malays are Umno members. Not all Malays like it nor trust it. In fact, half the Malays in the country are against it.
Death knell sounds
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By supporting Umno, the MCA, MIC, Gerakan and all the other components are actually also supporting racism – ironically, against themselves and the very ethnics groups they supposedly represent.
This is why Tee Keat could not console Beng Hock’s family. No MCA leader could. Neither can the MIC console the families of Kugan and Gnanapragasam.
The reason is obvious. You cannot have your cake and eat it, you cannot straddle two boats and still maintain your course.
It is indeed time for Malaysians to show what they think of racism and what they think of those who knowingly support it.
It is also time for those who practise it and those who support its practise to do some serious soul-searching and ask the only question that can save them - should they persist?
The answer is also obvious. And it is better to take immediate and tough action because sweet and pretty words no longer work anymore.
The people have had enough. Once a certain point of tolerance has been breached, they will never listen to you again.
Sumber : Suarakeadilan
This is why Tee Keat could not console Beng Hock’s family. No MCA leader could. Neither can the MIC console the families of Kugan and Gnanapragasam.
The reason is obvious. You cannot have your cake and eat it, you cannot straddle two boats and still maintain your course.
It is indeed time for Malaysians to show what they think of racism and what they think of those who knowingly support it.
It is also time for those who practise it and those who support its practise to do some serious soul-searching and ask the only question that can save them - should they persist?
The answer is also obvious. And it is better to take immediate and tough action because sweet and pretty words no longer work anymore.
The people have had enough. Once a certain point of tolerance has been breached, they will never listen to you again.
Sumber : Suarakeadilan
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