Bodoh. dan Merbahaya.

Stupid people are dangerous.  Stupid people who don’t realise they are stupid are even more so.

For some background on this incident, please refer here. The video of the incident can be found on YouTube, let’s just say there’s NO EXCUSE for the behaviour of these uncivilized lowlifes. I am sick and appalled and ashamed that such an atrocity happened in my beloved country. I appeal to all Malaysians to NOT let this matter just fade away.

*Note: I watched the video. When asked what the cow-head symbolized and why they brought it along, the Action Committee Chair Muhyiddin Manaf averted the question by spouting some gibberish about it being the contribution of certain individuals who were angry with Khalid Ibrahim. He said “ini merupakan…. individu-individu…. yang merosakkan bangsa kita”.. it was unclear whether he meant the individuals who brought the cow head, or the state government. He also asserted that it was the state government “yang mengajar mereka biadap” and forced their hand.

Good grief, with brains like that, one wonders how this man rose to such a powerful position in our government. Oh yeah, he leads the keris-waving battle cry for Ketuanan Melayu. That’s why. Bodoh-nye orang ini.

Some choice excerpts from the press statement:

“……They are not getting off scot-free. They felt victimised……”

“……There was no intention on their part to cause racial divide. They, the organisers, who are sitting left and right of me, didn’t even know that somebody was going to bring the head of the cow during that demonstration …..”

Well, even if you “didn’t know” someone was going to bring the head of a cow, why didn’t you stop them from parading it around? As the organisers and the persons responsible for the protest, they SHOULD BE held accountable.

“…..the residents only wanted their voices to be heard but it was unfortunate that “the publicity they received was negative because it was linked with racial and religious sentiments.”…….”

In that case, every time I feel victimised or want my voice to be heard I should parade animal parts around the state government assembly? Or around the hospital where I will eventually work?

“…He tried to play down the cow-head incident by pointing out that there were previous incidents where a pig-head was used……”

I fail to see the relevance of this statement. “An eye for an eye” is it? No respectable Malaysian would condone such disgraceful acts of hooliganism, no matter what race of Malaysian is responsible for it.

“……The Umno vice-president warned irresponsible parties not to provoke racial sentiments because it goes against the concept of 1 Malaysia.…”

Goodbye Mr Home Minister. By bowing down to unreasonable gangsters and hooligans, you have effectively lost the respect and support of the many intelligent and clear-headed Malaysians out there. For goodness sake, grow a spine and take a firm stand Mr Prime Minister, show that the government is serious about punishing acts of hooliganism and doing away with double standards. And while you’re at that, get rid of stupid and spineless people in your cabinet. Show that your beloved 1Malaysia slogan is more than just empty words designed to lure Malaysians into a false sense of security and optimism.

Just this past Merdeka Week, NTV7 (or was it 8TV?) ran a heartwarming feature on a special street in Melaka (Harmony Street, I think) where a Chinese butcher selling pork and a Chinese coffee shop selling all manner of non-halal delicacies coexisted peaceably with a mosque that was situated opposite them. The ulama of the mosque had no quarrel with such non-halal activities taking place outside his mosque because he said that the proprietors and patrons took every care to show respect for the Muslims who congregated to pray there. Similarly, the Chinese proprietors when interviewed said that they were very conscious of Muslim sensitivities towards pork and therefore took every possible measure to ensure that their products did not offend (contaminate?) the Muslims in the area. The feature, meant to exemplify the spirit of “racial harmony” in Malaysia, made me think that perhaps among us ordinary Malaysians, tolerance and peaceful co-existence are not just “feel-good” words tossed about by our beloved government. These people obviously did not need the glammed up branding of 1Malaysia to practise the spirit of racial harmony and religious tolerance. Indeed, I believe most ordinary Malaysians are like that. It is only through the actions of certain factions within our society (eg. the cow-head protestors) who seem determined to maintain the status quo and keep the lines between the races firmly entrenched.

*Updated: The next day, the Home Minister appeared to do a complete about face and ordered the cops to charge those involved in the cow-head protest. Methinks someone should learn to think before they open their mouth, since doing so only further emphasizes their stupidity.