Rights?What rights?

We cannot discuss religion. We cannot hold Interfaith Commission meetings. We cannot discuss Bumiputra equity. We cannot question the sanctity of Bumiputra rights. We cannot question Government policies. Civil Courts cannot decide on Islamic matters. We cannot do this, we cannot do that.

So what is it that we CAN do?
The Constitution guarantees us a lot of things. Such as freedom of speech. Freedom to practise your religion. The right to live. Equality in the eyes of the law. That no one is above the law.

But do are these things actually guaranteed? Not that I see or know of.

Lets take the example of the murder of the Mongolian woman. The two men charged in court were treated like celebrities! They were allowed to go through the back exit of the court escorted but a military of policeman helping them cover their faces from the media. They were driven into the compound of the prison when they were taken in for remand proceedings. Let's not even talk about the political analyst. He gets to travel around in a police car. Not even in a police lock up truck. That is what being famous is ALL about people! What makes them so special? Well, for one, the two arrested and charged men are policemen from the Special Forces Unit. If you were any other Ah Chi and Ah Kau or Ramli or Muthu, you will be handcuffed, brought to the front door of the court, escorted by two policemen and paraded before the media like two pieces of guilty meat. And these two lucky men were not even handcuffed while they were in Court. As far as I know, most men who have been arrested are handcuffed until they their matter is called up and they enter the dock. So lucky of them to be in the Police Unit. When the uncles were arrested for allegedly gambling during CNY, they were shoved into the lock up, their hair shaved and were dressed in the infamous pink lock up shirt. Our Police celebrities? Looking all nicely dressed in their own clothes, and hair intact.

While I agree Non Muslims have no right to discuss the religion of Islam, it is wrong to publicly declare that we as Malaysians have no right to discuss the Bumiputra equity and the Bumiputra rights. This equity and rights are the basis of all Government policies. The NEP and the 9th Malaysian plan is all based on the policy of helping the Bumiputras. In fact the 9MP is based on Islam Hadhari. So we as Malaysians have a right to question the effectiveness of outdated policies, of denying the rights of other races and the preferential treatment. How can it be said that we are Bangsa Malaysia when we cannot even agree among ourselves on our rights? If policies are outdated, it should be revised. If preferential treatment no longer has a place in this time and age, it should be discarded with. If the policy of handing out to certain quarters is no longer the right thing to do, then it should no longer be practised. Asking the rest of the country to sit down and not to incite hate and cause "racial tensions" is not the right way.

The whole basis of Barisan Nasional is the coming together of minds of different religions and race to work together for a better Malaysia. That all Malaysians have an equal right. That no one is better than another. But if we as Malaysians find that the Government is no longer looking out for us, but protecting only the majority, how can we be effective against our competitors? Just like if the Bar Council is disintegrating from the inside, how can it fight against outside influences and attacks?

Wouldnt it be nice to actually wake up every morning knowing that your Government has each and every one of us in their mind when they make their policies? That we do not have to worry about being sidelined? That we will not be treated differently if we were not in the right position? That it isnt our fault that we were not born into the "right" religion? That our country has got our back?

Wouldnt it be nice?