SEPT 18 — How on earth does one equate flying the national flag and attending state sponsored celebrations  to being patriotic?

Does it make you more patriotic to flay those who don’t, going to the extent of  threatening their livelihoods? Ini bodoh sombong, kan? 

Patriotism is a noun; defined as devoted love, support, and defense of one’s country; national loyalty.

How devoted are you to the rakyat when you roll out policies meant to pull wool over their eyes? Lying outright by saying these affirmative actions will benefit the bumiputeras, yet not sidelining or taking from the lain-lain (others).

Who are you kidding?

The gravy train will only make stops at places or homes of  those who will keep you in power. It’s not going to uplift the lives of your ordinary Malay brothers and sisters, what more the other bumiputeras, whose name you bandy about now and then, to sound inclusive. Are you a patriot, Mr PM of all Malaysians?

A national leader of a multiracial nation and he says they need not be apologetic or worried if the non-bumiputeras or even the international community see this as concerning only a certain group.

(Apartheid, you mean?)

We don’t need your apology. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. We’ll be better off.

We don’t need your apology. We will not be incarcerated by mediocrity.

We don’t need your apology. We will learn to fish in rough waters instead of always begging for the miserable two fishes.

We don’t need your apology. We will walk tall and not be dependent on crutches.

We don’t need your apology. We will see clearly through the haze and not be led (or is it misled?) in the kingdom of the one-eyed king.

We don’t need your apology. We have never expected anything from anybody. We always fend for ourselves.

We don’t need your apology. Our kids will learn that hard work, honesty and humility are the attributes that will hold them in good stead for life.

You know what, Jaguh Kampung, it’s those whom you will harm in the long run, that you owe more than an apology. For political survival, you strip these pawns of their dignity, again and again.

Remember  Hitler and his maniacal Lebensborn Project? Know what it means when you think yourself master and the rest, insignificant fools whom you can dismiss?

Let me tell you a biblical story.

Once, there was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and feasted every day. At his gate lay Lazarus, a poor man covered with sores, who longed to eat just the scraps falling from the rich man’s table.

Even dogs used to come to lick his sores. It happened that the poor man died and angels carried him to take his place with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.

From hell where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham afar off, and with him, Lazarus at rest.

He called out: “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus with the tip of his finger dipped in water to cool my tongue, for I suffer so much in this fire.”

Abraham replied: “My son, remember that in your lifetime you were well-off while the lot of Lazarus was misfortune. Now he is in comfort and you are in agony. But that is not all. Between your place and ours, a great chasm has been fixed, so that no one can cross over from here to you or from your side to us.”

The rich man implored once more: “Then I beg you, Father Abraham, to send Lazarus to my father’s house where my five brothers live. Let him warn them so that they do not end up in this place of torment.”

Abraham replied: “They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.”

But the rich man said: “No, Father Abraham. But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.”

Abraham said: “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the grave.”                                                                                                             

(LK:6:19-31)  

So, I say, dismiss the Lazaruses of society at your own peril. Your insatiable greed will marginalise them further, forcing them to lead dehumanized lives where no matter how many Op Cantas you execute, your very own homes can never be secured. 

Patriots defend their country, no? A promise is a promise, no? So, too, an agreement, no? Yet, those appointed to helm the country’s defence and protectors of the Supreme Race are afraid of the ashes of one who once fought to liberate this country.

I’ve always wondered how our “elected” leaders fare at international forums, negotiations and all those high-level pow-wows. Sure does confound one each time they open their traps!

How can they ever walk into any of such events and elicit respect from those present? How can they talk the way they do, abroad, when the international community knows so well, it’s plain hogwash?

Knowing what our “elected” leaders are capable of doing back home, does the international community think them patriots?

Malaysia is not short of patriots. Just that, they do not rank among those above.

There’s Pak Samad whom I’m very sure will lay down his life for love of country. There’s Ambiga, Karpal Singh, Nik Aziz, and many, many more names that come to mind. Even some of our young urchins are far more patriotic than those at the helm.

Lately, we have seen how almost all the election petitions were dismissed on technical grounds instead of the litigants’ grievances being addressed.

Unprecedented high costs were awarded to thwart further appeals and legal redress. Litigants were punished and justice was denied.

Here, I’m reminded of the wisdom of Solomon. Two harlots came to him, both claiming to be the mother of a baby. He asked for the baby to be cut into two, one half to be given to each woman. One of the women then cried out and begged that the baby not be killed but to be given to the other woman, while the other woman readily agreed to have the baby divided. Solomon, then ruled that the baby be given to the first woman. See how justice cannot be rendered just through mere juridical text (especially outdated ones) and how Solomon probed the depths of their hearts and sought a mother between them.

I would think among those whom we can salute as patriots are those who defend and preserve the sanctity of our Constitution.

It was therefore heartwarming  to hear a senior judge publicly remind his peers of their oath to preserve, protect and defend the Federal Constitution; that they should not be bullied by government leaders and Parliament.

Kudos to Datuk Dr Hamid Abu Backer for bravely stating that an obedient judiciary will indirectly promote all forms of vice, which in all likelihood will destabilize the nation as well as harmony and security.

An obedient judiciary cannot  produce patriots, no?

Also, too, those whom we can hail as patriots are those who toil to build bridges between different  cultures and religions. Those who promote interfaith dialogue and see these overtures as a peace travelogue.

May God bless you, Mujahid Yusof Rawa, Abdul Rahman Kasim, Rev Canon John Kennedy Samuel and your friends for playing your part to bring about peace and harmony in our  nation of many beautiful colours.

All would agree you people are the patriots Malaysia sorely need.

If you want what’s best for our beloved motherland, ensure that she not be plundered, her rakyat fed, educated with a roof over their heads.

That each and every Malaysian has a share of what’s been promised to him or her.

That each and every Malaysian can live with dignity with his or her rights sanctified and as enshrined in the Constitution.

That you rise and protect our Constitution from being hijacked and abused, again and again. That no one be enslaved to anyone.

You need not look any further. You are already a patriot.

Thank you and God bless.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malay Mail Online.