Sivin Kit's Adventures

Archive for August, 2008

Prayer for the Nation

God of ages,
in your sight nations rise and fall,
and pass through times of peril.
Now when our land is troubled,
be near to judge and save.
May leaders be led by your wisdom;
may they search your will and see it clearly.
If we have turned from your way,
help us to reverse our ways and repent.
Give us your light and your truth to guide us;
through Jesus Christ,
who is Lord of this world, and our Savior. Amen.

Source: Presbyterian Church USA

I’m not someone into big "mega" events.  But once a while, it’s good to see so many Lutherans come together slightly over 1000 adults and children from all over Malaysia.  It was good to also have special guests from Australia and USA, of course, the speakers were from Singapore and there was a lone German presence

Just to know we are not alone, and we are part of a bigger family is worth it. But it’s more than that, it’s reconnecting with our history and heritage, reconnecting with old friends again, getting to know new ones, it’s eating together, worshipping together, listening together … etc. for 3 days and 2 nights.. .. is a good thing.

The first batch of BLC members arrived, and we slipped over to the Thai restaurant, the food was good (and expensive), but since we were hungry and were with family and friends, we didn’t mind.

It’s quite a scene and event for all of us to come in this manner.  Slowly but surely, the chairs were filled up. And it was not dominated by one congregation or a few congregations.  All were represented both big and small, English speaking, Chinese Speaking. BM Speaking (as well as Sengoi speaking), and even Tamil Speaking.

I liked the idea of having small banners made to represent each congregation.  Each tried to convey not just something of themselves, but also what they saw as important and needed to be emphasized on our common witness together as Christians (as specifically Lutherans) in Malaysia.

It’s a little late, and I had a good time translating for the first keynote Speaker Rev. Dr. Choong Chee Pang.  But I’ll leave that story for another day.

To the arrogant Mr. Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar

I wonder whether Mr. Home Minister will take these words to heart?

We are not stupid. If you have grounds to say that Raja Petra is publishing “libellous, defamatory and slanderous” stuff, please take him to court and seek legal recourse.

You are supposed to be a lawyer. So please start behaving like one and do not make arbitrary decisions whch are essentially politically motivated. Stop grand standing since it only reflects your personal inadequacies. I have been reading Petra’s blog and I know how careful he can be. His comments and analyses are fact based and the information is from impeccable sources.

Yeh, yeh, kita menang!

Doesn’t look like RPK is backing down, is he?

Raja Petra Kamarudin no longer owns Malaysia Today. Raja Petra may have started the original Malaysia Today. But he does not own it any more. Malaysia Today has been replaced by the son of Malaysia Today. And the son of Malaysia Today is owned by the people of Malaysia. The people of Malaysia are keeping the son of Malaysia Today going. It is now called MT Harapan Malaysia and you can access it at mt.harapanmalaysia.com .

Spread this message far and wide. Tell all your friends and family that Malaysia Today has died. It died at 6.00pm on 26 August 2008, the time and day that Anwar Ibrahim won the Permatang Pauh by-election with historic results and which has now triggered his march to Putrajaya. But also tell your friends and family that the son of Malaysia Today has taken over the fight of its father. And this son is called mt.harapanmalaysia.com. Also tell them that the fight is going to get fiercer. The son wants to avenge the death of its father. And don’t forget to also gloat to your friends and family: yeh, yeh, kita menang!

For the love of this country

The comments after the poem is worth reading …

After this, I will probably try to stay away from UMNO politics. Going down this road of commenting on them has been “fun” at times, but I think I’ve had enough. No amount of criticism is going to do them any good, and it surely isn’t serving me a higher purpose.

For the sake of nation building, and what little, if any at all, that I can contribute, I think it’s best we keep our minds open, our thinking caps on, and be constructive.

Hang them idiots@MCMC

Jeff Ooi the comeback blogger with a vengeance?

RPK can be penalised if he missteps any of the Malaysian laws. He knows that as he is now facing various police harassment over alleged seditions and civil suits from what he wrote about the Police Force and about the C4 murder of that Mongolian woman, just to quote a few.

But MCMC cannot prosecute RPK while these cases are being disposed by the Bench. By so doing, MCMC is sucking up to their paymasters at Putrajaya.
Therefore, I ask all Malaysian bloggers — and editors from the mainstream media — to stand up to this challenge, hang the MCMC in the international arena. Because of the S T U P I D I T Y at MCMC, Malaysia is now a banana republic.

Malaysia Today

The potential future MCA president speaks …

Under the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Bill of Guarantees, the government has promised that there would be no censorship over the Internet. I do not understand why MCMC is resorting to this.

Raja Petra, who runs the portal, is already facing several charges in court. We should let the courts decide on his fate.

Forcibly blocking access to his website only lends more credence to his writings. In fact, it is foolish to think that online censorship works effectively. There are still many other ways for surfers to access the portal.

If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

-1 John 1:9 (NRSV)

One of the segments of the worship liturgy which has stuck with me since returning to the Lutheran church is the time for personal and corporate confession.  It’s imprinted in my consciousness because it not only reminds me of my battles with sin (which is a reality), it gives me a chance to confront it (even for a short moment).  Face it weekly with my faith family. At times there is guilt, other times there is shame, but what is crucial is there is room for confession, absolution and renewal … to keep on going in working out our salvation.  Nothing about earning God’s favor here, that’s settled in Christ’s work on the cross, but some effort is needed to keep us on track so the work of the Spirit can continue.

Confession of sins also happens when I sit before trusted individuals and they become the "confession booth" for me. Secrets and especially secrets to cover up lies and deceit are severely damaging to our souls.  We will be trapped and imprisoned by the constant cycle of deception.  That’s tragic when we know the message of Christ is about freedom – true freedom. But maybe because we are so used to environments where we are less truthful that being truthful about ourselves takes some effort. 

The cycle of deceit needs to be confronted by a new rhythm of confession of sin. The process of cleansing then has a deeper impact on the secret chambers of our hearts.  The next time you spend some time in confession whether privately, in smaller groups or corporately … remember the forgiveness comes from a costly action by the one who demonstrated his love on the cross, the forgiveness opens up the door to leave sins behind and move forward freely.  Do we lapse on and off? we know the answers to that.  The question is, can we begin again and again? Repentance is an ongoing practice!

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If we were left on our own, doing our own thing, I guess, we’d prefer "shallow waters" rather than going deeper.  Why would we want to trouble ourselves?  Why should be leave the comfort of our surroundings? What’s the point of going an extra mile, or in many cases, an extra inch?  Especially when we feel we have enough burdens of our own. And then we sigh …

But there’s a wonder which comes, when we stretch ourselves from an inch to an extra mile and everything in between. Whether it’s in personal prayer and meditation, or corporate worship or a missional practice, wonders come after we begin getting ourselves wet in deeper water.

During a time of sharing in a LiFE group last night, that was what I witnessed exactly.  A brother shared how the mere attempt to identify with traffic controllers at the mall lead him to intercede for their well being.  A sister shared how rereading a familiar verse afresh brought new insights to press on at work.  Another brother talked about working our his discipleship while driving in chaotic traffic.  Another sister shared on how listening an intense prayer drew her to reconnect with her relationship with God.  One more sister shared on how the holy communion or eucharist was a special moment. Lastly, a brother shared on how small he felt as he encountered different people and environments.  All this … are ways in which we are called into "deeper water".  There is a "catch", but the catch signifies abundance and fulfillment.

* * *

These Harmonics vibrated from August  21 – August  22, 2008

Permatang Pauh: What BN leaders say

A classic "you did not lose, and I did not win" kind of reaction

Merdeka comes to Permatang Pauh, Anwar on his way to Putrajaya?

Susan Loone’s blog was another favorite of mine for this by-election.

Rise of PP voters as pioneers of Bangsa Malaysia generation shaming Umno, MCA, Gerakan, MIC leaders for their race politics

A very excited YB Lim Kit Siang cheering on.

Malaysia Today blocked! Order from MCMC

But MT moves here … for a while.  How about sites like this?

16 September beckons…

Wow, Anil has got stamina to blog on and gives us a bonus piece:

Victorious Anwar on path to power

Then Anil did get some honest feedback below

My “disgusting” coverage: Blogger crackdown looms?

Let’s take a break from politics.  This is for all of my friends who are Artists … in the widest sense of the word! Apart from supporting activists, I find myself at ease with artists and would like to encourage them along too. 

(Picture from The Nut Graph)

Official: Anwar gets BIGGER majority

I love the internet age … the speed of information is so cool!

9.50pm: Official EC tally - Anwar got 31,195 votes, Arif Shah, 15,524, Hanafi, 92. Anwar won with a majority of 15,671.

Anwar’s wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, won the seat with a 13,388 majority at the March 8 general elections.

The official voter turnout is 81.1 percent, or 47,410 out of 58,459 registered voters – which is much higher than what the EC has stated earlier. There were 599 spoilt votes.

Meanwhile, outside Tuanku Bainun Teaching Institute, thousands of jubilant PKR supporters have gathered to embrace their leader’s return to Parliament.

PKR vice-president Azmin Ali is already there to address the crowd numbering some 6,000. Other party leaders like R Sivarasa and Tian Chua are also there.

Anwar is expected to address this ecstatic group of supporters later as well. Tian said that the overwhelming victory showed that "the prime minister’s racial politics is bankrupt".

The EC made the official announcement at 10.05pm. Only Anwar and Hanafi were present at the announcement.

Anwar claims landslide victory

Nice graphics from Malaysian Insider …

Inspired by Anil Netto’s post Eve of polling: Hopes of a nation… your thoughts, I was moved to leave some comments which is based on a google chat I had with a church member last Thursday.

Someone asked me the other night, “What does it mean to be a Malaysian?” I guess, what came out from me would also be relevant to your post here. Let me put up here some of my raw random thoughts.

To me, being a Malaysian means ..
… we have a chance to create a future together we can call home
… being a people who will bring our uniqueness and diversity not into a melting pot where we cease to be who we are but a mosaic where we can become better than we are in isolation
.. a mosaic where even our mess can be beautiful
because we’re willing to look into the future together
a future where we are creating a home for our kids to be friends and family

My hope is the votes tomorrow will be a way the friends and family in Permatang Pauh can voice for themselves and on behalf of others the aspiration and commitment towards a Malaysia ALL of us can call home.

My hope is the one who wins will persevere further towards the changes needed for a better Malaysia to emerge.

my 2 sen

Anyway, Vote wisely friends and family at Permatang Pauh! God be with you …

I received a heartfelt piece via email about 30 minutes ago.  It’s in Bahasa Malaysia and is timely as "The Mother of By-Elections" will occur tomorrow August 26. But  the content goes beyond elections, it’s about the essentials of carving a future together. Thanks Anak Jati P44, N10 for sharing.

(Photo from Anil Netto)

* * *

"Esok Permatang Pauh akan menempah sejarah sebagai salah satu tempat di mana penduduknya akan menghadapi ujian litmus dan berpeluang menentukan masa depan negara" – itulah kata-kata seorang pekerja PKR yang menganggap kejayaan atau kekalahan DSAI di pilihanraya kecil kawasan parlimen Pmtg Pauh sebagai petanda kepada arah tuju dan masa hadapan negara. Secara tidak langsung, kemenangan bagi pihak PKR juga merupakan satu pengesahan kepada agenda PKR yakni "memerdekakan rakyat" mahupun "ketuanan rakyat" dan agenda-agenda sampingan yang lain.

Manakala kemenangan bagi pihak BN, khususnya kepada UMNO seolah-olah mengiyakan usaha kerajaan BN dalam "… membangunkan kawasan luar bandar yang hasil ekonomi utama penduduk setempatnya bergantung kepada hasil pertanian dan penternakan kepada satu kawasan komersil yang pesat membangun dan menyumbang kepada peningkatan taraf hidup dan ekonomi."

Soalan siapakah yang akan muncul juara dalam pertembungan politik yang teramat sengit ini terletak di dalam tangan pengundi-pengundi kawasan parlimen Permatang Pauh esok.

Bagi sesetengah orang, hujah politik mirip kepada omong-omong yang membosankan. Sudah tentu soalan pilihanraya kecil ini yang menjadi buah mulut semasa tidak akan dipedulikan.

Walaupun begitu, kawasan Parlimen Pmtg Pauh membawa banyak kenangan manis kerana di situlah tempatnya saya menghabiskan sebahagian besar zaman remaja saya sebagai seorang penuntut di satu sekolah di sana. Sudah 14 tahun saya menjejak kaki keluar daripada pintu utama ‘alma mater’ menuju ke alam kolej, universiti, kerja dan mendirikan rumahtangga.

Rakan-rakan sekolah dulu yang main bersama, makan bersama, bersekolah bersama, malah jatuh hati bersama-sama tanpa mengira soal asal-usul, taraf kelas, kedudukan sosial, saling menyumbang kepada satu kenangan nostalgik yang positif. "Eksperimen" sosial ini yang dijalankan dalam masyarakat pelbagai kaum nampaknya telah berjaya memupuk satu semangat bersatu-padu antara kaum di kalangan pelajar. Maka kami menziarahi rumah satu sama lain tanpa was-was. Saya masih ingat ketika rumah terbuka untuk menyambut harijadi saya bagaimana rakan-rakan Melayu begitu sensitif tidak mahu menyinggung perasaan saya dan terus memakan kek dan kuih yang dibeli (halal) yang dihidangkan tanpa merungut walaupun tidak menyentuh mi dan ayam goreng yang telah dimasak emak. Hanya selepas upacara selesai pada keesokan harinya, maka rakan pun memberitahu.

Kepada sesetengah orang, mungkin eksperimen tersebut terlalu berjaya. Bidadara Cupid mengambil kesempatan merapatkan jejaka lelaki yang tampan lagi gagah dengan gadis-gadis yang ayu lagi molek. Seingat-ingatnya saya, senyum-senyum kambing terukir luas pada wajah si lelaki Tionghua dengan si gadis Melayu, si lelaki Melayu dengan si gadis Cina atau si gadis India dan sebagainya, masing-masing dengan rahsia mereka sendiri. Rojak ataupun sudah rosak?

Pokoknya, pengalaman saya di dalam masyarakat pelajar tingkatan menengah yang bergaul sesama sendiri tanpa mengira kaum mahupun jantina bermaksud tercapailah maklamat Rukunegara dengan terhasilnya satu masyarakat pelajar yang terpelajar yang bersifat egalitaris, hidup dalam harmoni dan sosialis (iaitu kesamarataan dan bukannya ideologi komunis) yang berlandaskan kepada nilai-nilai keagamaan dan moral yang murni.

Dalam hubungan pelajar dengan pengajar pula bolehlah dikatakan cukup akrab. Saya dikira amat bertuah kepada mempunyai guru-guru yang ramai di kalangnya berdedikasi kepada perkembangan akademik dan akhlak pelajar-pelajar. Tidak pernah saya terdengar kata-kata kesat yang bersifat seksis yang bertujuan menjatuhkan imej dan maruah kaum-kaum ibu dan wanita ataupun bersifat rasis yang bertujuan memecah-belah kaum yang terkeluar daripada bibir-bibir pengajar.

Malah, saya terkenang bekas Penolong Kanan (I) yang telah bertegur sapa dengan saya apabila terserempak ketika di pasaraya Makro Seb Jaya dahulu. Orangnya cukup berbudi, wataknya cukup alim, rupanya seakan ulama sewaktu saya masih di bangku sekolah dulu. Terkejut saya dia masih ingat kepada saya dan menegur saya tanpa ragu-ragu. Sebaliknya, saya pula yang ragu-ragu kerana masih ingat lagi kata-kata lembutnya yang meninggalkan kesan yang mendalam ketika mengadapnya, "Merokok itu adalah haram." Tegas tetapi lembut; bukannya fanatik.

Bekas Penolong Kanan (II) Hal-Ehwal Pelajar yang banyak memberi nasihat di samping mengajar kelas Matematik Tambahan yang begitu rumit. Ketika menghadapi masalah menguruskan soal biasiswa dan sijil akuan tamat sekolah, beliau telah meluangkan masa dari jadualnya yang amat sibuk untuk membantu saya tanpa mengharapkan sebarang balasan. Jemputan minum pun ditolak. Baginya, dirinya puas melihat anak didikannya berjaya ke menara gading. Lagipun, dia tidak memandang taraf; saya hanyalah orang kebanyakan dari golongan kaum Tionghua.

Riuh rendah kami menjadikan rumah seorang guru kelas kami ketika datangnya Hari Raya Puasa. Pasangan suami isteri dengan anak seramai sepasukan bola sepak itu amat mengalu-alukan kami, pelajar-pelajar yang begitu majmuk di rumah satu teres satu tingkat di Taman Siakap bertentangan masjid Seberang Jaya yang tersergam megah.

Terdapat banyak kenangan-kenangan manis lagi, sekira dicerita belum tentu boleh dimuat semuanya dalam satu buku.

Oleh demikian, apabila saya melihat, membaca dan melihat berita-berita media arus perdana dewasa ini, saya menggeleng-gelengkan kepala terkilan dengan permainan politik yang memainkan slogan-slogan berbaur api perkauman dan agama. Maka saya memulaukan membaca media arus perdana kita.

Betulkah keadaan yang dialami saya semasa di bangku sekolah dahulu seperti di atas bukan satu perkara yang normatif lagi? Adakah penduduk di Malaysia tidak percaya lagi bahawa keutuhan dan ketahanan sesebuah negara itu bergantung kepada kesefahaman rakyatnya sesama sendiri sebagaimana kuat lilit kerana simpulnya? Adakah ini hanya akan tinggal sebagai kenangan dan satu angan-angan? Sudahkan ahli politik lupa bahawa sikap kuah sama dirihup, sambal sama dicolek perlu sekali diwujud dan dikekalkan di kalangan rakyat sesebuah negara berbilang bangsa?

Adakah rakyat Malaysia mahu berbalah semasa sendiri mendengar hasutan ahli politik sehingga berpecah belah? Mahukah kita yang berbilang kaum yang tidak lagi bersatu padu membuka ruang kepada pihak-pihak yang tidak bertanggungjawab memanipulasikan keadaan?

Balik kita kepada pilihanraya kecil ini; Mac 8 telahpun berlalu dan rakyat telahpun bersuara. Kini tiba masanya untuk rakyat kawasan parlimen Permatang Pauh bersuara sekali lagi. Keputusan pilihan raya terletak di dalam tangan mereka.

Melalui pengalaman saya dengan rakan-rakan dan guru-guru Melayu saya dari kawasan parlimen pmtg pauh, saya yakin penduduk di sini dapat membuat keputusan yang betul. Baik Melayu, Cina, India, Kadazan, Iban atau sebagainya kita sebagai insan tetap mahukan integriti, keadilan, kesejahteraan, keharmonian untuk semua bagi membina Malaysia.

- Anak Jati P44, N10

* * *

O God, we acknowledge You today as Lord,
not only of individuals but also of nations and governments.
We thank You for the graces you have given us
to exercise our political charity in Malaysia.
We also thank You for the opportunity of free choice offered
to the people of the constituency of Permatang Pauh for electing a leader.
Lord God, give them the courage to exercise their solemn duty
as citizens of Malaysia to vote on behalf of the whole nation!
Guide those voters with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit
so that they may choose a suitable and trustworthy candidate
to become the next Member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Citizenship
Day of reckoning Herald Editorial, August 17
Just one day before polling day in Permatang Pauh, Micah Mandate thought that it would be good to reprint Herald’s August 17 Editorial, a call to prayer for the nation.
Read the article…

Citizenship
The Cries Of Men By Andrew Khoo
“Today in Malaysia Christians around the country are being called upon to stand up for the truth. It may mean writing articles to tell the true story. It may mean speaking up for the truth. And we do it in the face of all manner of oppressive laws, and in the face of the self-interest of one or more persons, or collections of people. It is not easy. But we must find through our on-going relationship with God, brought about by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and emboldened and empowered by the Holy Spirit, the strength and courage and commitment to do so.”
Read the article…

Citizenship
MOVING ON NEUTRAL? by Goh Keat Peng
“The neutral gear is engaged to keep the vehicle from unintentionally moving when it is inappropriate for it to move. The Christian Church cannot move on neutral. Neutrality is a strategy. It is intentional. It should not become a hiding place. Or an excuse to stay still or keep silent for an indeterminate period of time.”
Read the article…

Citizenship
The Role of Christian Youth in Nation Building by Tricia Yeoh
“Wherever the beat and pulse of the nation is, there the youth should be also. The generation of the young has always played a tremendous role in breaking and building nations. It is from this rank that arise idealism; the desire to change the world; the raw passion to push forward; the energy to execute these dreams and ideas.”
Read the article…

Commentary
Empty words by TK Tan
“These things upset me because things are said by leaders while their actions betray the emptiness of their words. The words roll off their tongue with practised ease, with little thought as to what they really mean. And if leaders do not take care to say what they mean and mean what they say, then can we trust them when they say that they care about all Malaysians, not just one race, that they will protect the rights of all Malaysians, not just those of one religion?”
Read the article…