Demi Palestin, Usah Cepat Melatah

1. Peperangan dimenangkan dengan rancangan rapi dan pelaksanaannya yang tersusun. Ia tidak dimenangkan dengan emosi dan sentimen semata-mata.

Benar, emosi dan sentimen penting dalam memperjuangkan kebenaran:

Dengan emosi, kita terus didorong untuk berjuang. Dengan sentimen, hati-hati yang berbolak-balik mampu dibawa bersama menyertai perjuangan kita.

Namun sebaliknya, emosi dan sentimen yang tidak terkawal boleh menjadi fitnah kepada perjuangan.

2. Bukan satu rahsia lagi: orang bukan Melayu di Malaysia kebanyakannya tidak endah mengenai isu Palestin. Tidak kurang juga yang berpegang kepada pandangan bahawa orang Palestin turut bersalah dalam konflik ini.

Malah ada yang menyebelahi Zionis, mungkin kerana termakan dengan media arus perdana (mainstream media) seperti BBC, CNN, dll yang berat sebelah dalam meliputi konflik ini.

Buka saja ruangan komen mana-mana channel Youtube outlet berita yang banyak dilayari orang bukan Melayu - The Star, New Straits Times, dll - sudah tentu akan dijumpai komen-komen yang meminta Malaysia untuk neutral, “kedua-dua pihak bersalah”, dan sebagainya.

Malangnya, tidak kurang juga balasan daripada orang Melayu yang terbuai dengan emosi - membalas bukan dengan niat untuk memperjelas dan berhujah, tetapi mengugut dan mencaci. “Pindahlah ke Singapore kalau nak sangat sokong Zionis” antara sentimen yang pernah dijumpai di ruangan-ruangan ini.

Jujurnya, sebagai seorang penyokong Palestin, saya berempati dengan perasaan yang mendorong balasan beremosi seperti ini.

Siapa tidak sakit hati apabila rakyat Gaza yang tidak bersalah dibedil dan dibunuh beramai-ramai - tapi terus dipersalahkan sebagai pengganas?

Siapa tidak kecewa dengan golongan yang seolah-olah sengaja menutup mata dan telinga kepada kebenaran - dan terus memeluk tubuh walaupun beribu-ribu kanak-kanak dan wanita disembelih di depan mata mereka?

Tapi sedarlah juga bahawa jika kita cepat melatah, ia menjadi kelemahan dalam perjuangan demi Palestin - satu perjuangan yang memerlukan strategi dan visi jangka panjang.

3. Amerika kalah dalam Perang Vietnam pada tahun 1960-an bukan kerana kelemahan ketenteraan. Seperti Zionis yang bermaharajalela di Tanah Suci hari ini, Amerika dilengkapi dengan senjata tercanggih pada waktu itu serta kekuatan kewangan sebuah kuasa hegemoni dunia.

Namun Amerika tumpas akhirnya kerana sentimen rakyat sendiri yang menentang peperangan apabila melihat bilangan nyawa tentera sendiri yang terkorban dengan begitu ramainya, serta jenayah-jenayah perang yang dilakukan pihak sendiri ke atas rakyat Vietnam.

Medan perang fizikal adalah Vietnam, tetapi psikologi masyarakat Amerika adalah medan pertempuran utama. Begitulah juga keadaannya hari ini - Zionis Israel akan tumpas hanya jika Amerika menarik balik sokongan ketenteraan, kewangan dan politik daripadanya, selagimana Amerika masih berstatuskan kuasa hegemoni tunggal dunia hari ini.

Alhamdulillah, pada hari ini, semakin jelas bahawa sentimen pro-Palestin semakin kuat dalam kalangan masyarakat Amerika secara umumnya. Hanya golongan konservatif dan golongan elit terus berdegil kerana berada dalam saku lobi-lobi Zionis.

4. Perbuatan menzahirkan sokongan bagi Palestin bukan wayang semata-mata - apabila rakyat beramai-ramai menunjukkan sokongan terhadap sesuatu isu, ahli politik terpaksa akur dan mengambil kira sentimen tersebut demi kepentingan politik sendiri. Bukanlah satu kebetulan bahawa negara-negara yang pemimpin-pemimpinnya paling lantang bersuara menyokong Palestin di persada dunia merupakan negara-negara yang rakyatnya menzahirkan sokongan paling padu bagi Palestin - Ireland, Indonesia, Turki, Iran, dan ya, Malaysia sendiri.

Dengan ini, langkah bijak bagi kita warga Malaysia dalam perang saraf ini adalah dengan meneruskan momentum dan memperkembangkan sokongan bagi Palestin dalam kalangan masyarakat negara kita sendiri. Ingat, mana-mana parti atau koalasi parti yang memegang tampuk kerajaan akan lebih berani bertindak di peringkat antarabangsa jika ada sokongan rakyat.

Orang Melayu usah memperdaya diri dengan idea bahawa sokongan Melayu sahaja sudah mencukupi bagi mendorong kudrat politik (political will) pemimpin Malaysia supaya terus lantang bersuara demi Palestin. Orang Melayu perlu ingat bahawa 40% daripada populasi negara ini bukan Melayu - dan jika mereka bermati-matian tidak mahu menyokong Palestin, hal ini akan mempengaruhi kiraan politik pemimpin-pemimpin negara.

Alhamdulillah Malaysia telah dikurniakan setakat ini dengan pemimpin-pemimpin seperti DS Anwar Ibrahim dan Tun Mahathir yang konsisten memperjuangkan isu Palestin dengan aktif dan sistematik di pentas dunia. Namun kita tidak boleh leka dan menganggap bahawa situasi ini akan berterusan jika 40% daripada populasi Malaysia terus enggan memihak dengan Palestin.

Janji Allah itu benar - Dia akan menangkan Palestin, sama ada dengan pertolongan kita atau tidak; tetapi jika kita mahu negara kita terus berada di saf hadapan perjuangan ini, perlulah ada usaha untuk memperkembangan perjuangan Palestin untuk merangkumi semua lapisan masyarakat - Melayu mahupun bukan, Islam mahupun tidak.

Bukankah demonstrasi jalanan dan boikot ekonomi di negara ini akan lebih efektif jika Ah Kao dan Muthu berganding bahu dengan Ali dalam memperjuangkan Palestin?

5. Maka timbullah soalan seterusnya: apabila kita melihat demonstrasi pro-Palestin yang disertai beratus ribu orang bukan Islam di New York, Washington, London dll, terlintaskah di fikiran kenapa orang bukan Islam di Malaysia liat hendak sokong Palestin?

Dalam erti kata lain, pernahkah kita cuba mendalami psikologi orang bukan Melayu-Islam di negara ini? Atau adakah kita mengambil jalan mudah dan memukul sama rata dengan alasan bahawa “orang kafir memang tidak akan redha dengan kita”?

Soalan yang lebih direct: pernah tak terfikir bahawa mungkin liatnya orang bukan Melayu hendak sokong Palestin adalah akibat daripada politik kita sendiri yang selalu memburuk-burukkan mereka sebagai pendatang, komunis dan kafir harbi?

Pelikkah kalau, sebagai reaksi, mereka memegang kepada prejudis bahawa dalam apa-apa konflik yang melibatkan orang Islam, orang Islam secara automatik adalah pengganas? Pelikkah kita jikalau, dari perspektif orang bukan Melayu, perjuangan Palestin hanya dilihat sebagai perjuangan si Melayu menentang ‘si pendatang’ semata-mata?

Bukan saya nak maafkan orang bukan Melayu daripada kesalahan - kerana mereka juga malas. Malas membuat kajian, senang tertipu dengan media arus perdana, atau lagi teruknya hanyut dengan mengejar duit dan status sehingga tidak mampu melihat penderitaan manusia lain.

Dan pastinya, orang bukan Melayu juga ada prejudis terhadap Melayu dan Islam, sepertimana Melayu punyai prejudis terhadap bukan Melayu-Islam.

Inilah penyakit yang telah lama berhinggap di jiwa masyarakat Malaysia - dan isu Palestin telah mendedahkan isu ini dengan sejelas-jelasnya.

6. Maka apa langkah seterusnya? Sebagai orang Islam, jawapannya mudah: betul-betul praktikkanlah sirah Nabi mulia kita.

Apabila baginda berhadapan dengan mereka yang degil walaupun dihadapkan dengan kebenaran yang jelas dan nyata, apakah yang baginda lakukan?

Adakah baginda berputus asa dan memukul sama rata - melabel semua yang menentang sebagai kafir harbi yang tidak mungkin akan bersama perjuangan yang benar?

Jikalau begitu, mungkinkah Saidina Umar berubah daripada seorang yang lantang menentang Islam kepada salah seorang Khalifah Ar-Rasyidin? Mungkin hari ini, ada dalam kalangan rakan-rakan bukan Melayu kita seorang ‘Saidina Umar’ yang sedia berjuang bermati-matian demi Palestin, cuma belum diberi kesedaran oleh rakan-rakan Islamnya.

Saudara-saudara kita di Palestin memerlukan kita. Semangat dan usaha Malaysia selama ini patut dibanggakan - kita telah konsisten dengan doa, demonstrasi, perjuangan di sosmed dan boikot.

Namun rakan senegara bukan Islam juga satu amanat yang telah Allah berikan kepada kita. Siapa lagi yang akan memujuk mereka ke pihak yang benar jika bukan kita - jiran-jiran, rakan sekerja dan rakan senegara sendiri?

Memujuk dan berbincang dengan mereka yang bukan Islam bukanlah apologetik. Ia Sunnah Nabi.

Jadi marilah kita bermuhasabah dan berhujah dengan ikhlas. Dalam jihad propaganda ini, korbankanlah ego dan prejudis. Cuba fahami mengapa orang bukan Melayu mempunyai prejudis terhadap Islam dan Palestin. Buatlah kajian sendiri mengenai konflik Zionis-Palestin, sejarahnya dan statistiknya, supaya hujah kita diperkuatkan semasa berbincang dengan mereka yang belum yakin.

Jadikanlah ini sebagai sebahagian sumbangan kita kepada saudara Palestin yang menjadi barisan hadapan perjuangan kita di sana.

Dan bersabarlah. Bukankah Allah bersama mereka yang bersabar? 

As a Muslim, I too would love to see the ummah united. 

But does such a unity mean giving blind support for a political coalition self-proclaiming to represent ‘Malay-Muslim interests’? I think not.

Because having a bunch of Muslims in your party doesn’t automatically make your party Islamic - just as using a bunch of ayaat from the Quran in your speech doesn’t automatically make your speech Islamic. 

Practice honesty, integrity and proper syura (consultation) with all the people of this country if sincerely you want to unite the ummah.

Until then, don’t try to guilt me or any other Muslim to support you in the name of religion. You have neither the right nor the legitimacy. 

#notmyabah

It's Not Just the Politicians

 People swerving and maneuvering treacherously, eyes straight ahead unflinching. 

“Me, me, me - forget everyone else!”, seems to be the philosophy of players of this dangerous game.

Malaysians would agree that the above would be a good description of our politics, especially in these past few months. In recent weeks, in particular, politicians returning from Sabah have been spewing the Covid-19 virus to their constituents from the very mouths ringing hollow the tagline “Kita Jaga Kita”. Making things worse is the double standard with which the situation has been handled - disgusting as it is blatant.

But even more than the material and public health damage these politicians have done to the country all these years, more tragic is the helplessness that their long-term selfishness has made us experience. For the average Malaysian, the distressing feeling that one’s life and the lives of one’s family are in the hands of selfish idiots who have power over us is a sort of mental torture.

As a reaction to this, we seem to have become increasingly apathetic and cynical towards everything:

“Tak kisahlah what they want to do!”

“All those politicians are the same only-lah!”

“Whatever-lah..I have bigger problems to worry about in my own life!” 

are sentiments echoing louder among the people as the political class keeps playing their destructive game. Apathy and cynicism, after all, can be calming balms for heartache.

Thus, it may come as a relief to the reader that this is not just another article focused on the politicians and their antics - there are enough of those articles out there! Rather, I would like to take the spotlight away from them for a precious moment and point it elsewhere - on ourselves, the rakyat.

On this point, I invite you to read this paragraph again: 

People swerving and maneuvering treacherously, eyes straight ahead unflinching. 

“Me, me, me - forget everyone else!”, seems to be the philosophy of players of this dangerous game.

and see if it accurately describes typical Malaysian drivers. 

It cannot be denied - there is an uncanny correlation between the behaviour of the Malaysian politician and the Malaysian driver: both practice a huge deal of brinkmanship, having no time (or willingness) to properly think, constantly sacrifice basic etiquette for personal gain, and live with the motto ‘eat or be eaten’.

Funny that we are quick to complain about our politicians’ lack of moral values and principles, but we act the very same way on the road!

No, this is not a defence of the politicians - far from it! For I am as angry and as frustrated with them as the next Malaysian. I am particularly furious at how easily they constantly manipulate our feelings with negative sentiments that pit us against each other, while they enrich themselves of our nation’s wealth at the top. No - let it be clear that they have to be held accountable, as any servant of the public should! But I am making the argument here that accountability of ourselves is a vital component in the process of holding our authorities to account.

Why? Because the culture of our politicians will not change until the culture of our driving changes; for the toxin at the root of both our politics and our driving is one and the same: selfishness! 

This culture of selfishness reveals itself in a people obsessed with his own rights, while being ignorant of his responsibilities; in his ‘tak cukup’ culture which forces him to chase after and hoard more, more and even more for himself at the expense of everyone else; in his attitude screaming: “Me, me, me - forget everyone else!”.

Selfishness is the toxic culture of littering on the pavement because it’s someone else’s job to clean it up; it is the habit of breaking SOPs designed to stop the spread of Covid-19 just because I’m not part of a high-risk group; it is the dumping of chemical waste into rivers from which people drink because it’s the cheapest way to get rid of it.

Selfishness is what is poisoning us.

So what’s the antidote?

Firstly, we need to realise that burying our heads in our own problems is not the right way to react to the messed up state we find ourselves in - because although apathy and cynicism may be calming balms, they are not cures to the disease. Rather, apathy and cynicism themselves can be diseases if left unchecked - leading to helplessness and bitterness in the long-term, thereafter leading to lethargy and inaction, which are the very things those in power depend on to manipulate us! For the sake of our children and our society, we cannot let ourselves drown in helplessness and bitterness!

So where do we go from here?

It is by wresting the true meaning of “Kita jaga kita” from the mouths of corrupt politicians who have made it into an empty slogan. It is by taking steps towards becoming better citizens. And happily enough, these steps are the very same ones it takes to become better drivers: slow down, look around, be aware of others, look out for those in need and help as much as we can. 

In practical terms, that means asking ourselves: among my relatives, friends and neighbours, are there anyone in need financially or emotionally? And how can I help? And then..help-lah! Though as an individual my sphere of influence may not extend to changing huge things like national policy, I do have influence on myself, my family and my neighbourhood.

And if your response to all this is: “Isn’t this the job of the government? Why should I have to do anything?”, then with all due respect, my friend, you are as much a part of the problem as those selfish politicians you despise so much. 

Your behaviour demonstrates the fact that our politicians are merely members of our society, they are from us, and if they are so rotten it’s because they reflect the rot present in our society. 

Once again, I underline the fact that I am not absolving the government of its responsibilities and that we will have to continue holding them to account. Rather this is an invitation for us to take responsibility in our spheres of influence. 

Only by being better than our politicians can we influence them for the better, and not them influencing us for the worse!

So today, why don’t we reach out to someone in need? 

Covid-19 may have forced us to stay home but we can always share enough with someone in need - if not enough to fix their home, perhaps enough to repair their vehicle; if not enough for that, perhaps enough for them in need for them to buy a meal; and if even that much is unaffordable, why not at least give way to someone else on the road?

* Muhammad Mikhail Shamsul Bahar is an Ikram activist

This article was published on the Malay Mail website on Tuesday, 03 Nov 2020 02:47 PM MYT

The Malaysian Spring

SubhanAllah walhamdulillah wastaghfirullah..
Malaysian grew up before our eyes yesterday!

But the journey is far from over..and even in our celebration, we can take steps towards a more mature democracy.

Despite the historic nature of this election, it cannot be denied that it was (and still is) marred by the same diseases of the past:
petty name-calling and labelling, racism, an inability to agree to disagree - just to name a few.
No side in this election was immune from such diseases.

We as a people have to strive for an Independence, a Merdeka, from such characteristics;
to have adaab (etiquette) in democracy.

A good place to start would be to distance ourselves from blind partisanship; meaning, that the party I support  is absolutely right and everybody else is absolutely wrong.

Let us instead recognise that in this new Malaysian Spring, the flowers which will bloom shall be in the form of diverse political views - often in competition and disagreement, but altogether a sign of a healthy garden.

Let those flowers bloom, do not crush them.
We may disagree with the views of other Malaysians - find them repulsive, even stupid.
But it is only if we can agree to disagree in a mature manner, to respect others’ right to hold an opinion we don’t agree with, that this new Malaysia can be a better one.
Let us realise that those you disagree with are fellow Malaysians. Often, family and friends. Accept them as human beings, and treat them as you expect to be treated.

This doesn’t mean you should keep your views quietly to yourself. The freedom to express one’s views, after all, is a sign of a healthy democracy.
So go ahead and try to convince others. Discuss. Debate, even.
But realise that the worst argument is to tell others, emotionally, to “shut up”;
that just shows how weak your own stand is.

Stay cool.
Show good akhlaq.
Have adaab.


P.s. Congratulations, Malaysia.
Truly I am especially proud today to be Malaysian. If one day I am blessed to have children and grandchildren, I will surely tell them of the day our country achieved her 2nd Merdeka, InsyaAllah!



#MalaysiaMenujuNegaraRahmah

Dear sir

Dear sir,

I am a Malaysian citizen studying in the UK. I have lived here for 6 years now.

In that time, I have voted 3 times here - because Commonwealth citizens are allowed to vote in UK elections, and it is good citizenship to exercise the right to vote.

So far in the UK I have voted in a city council election, an European Parliament election and the Brexit referendum.

I am registered to vote as a postal voter for the Malaysian GE14. But it is the 8th of May and my ballot paper has yet to arrive.

Dear sir,

Isn’t it tragic that I, a citizen of Malaysia, finds it much easier to exercise my RIGHT to vote in a FOREIGN land than in my own country?

Dear sir,

Isn’t it tragic that the best case scenario is that the Election Commission is just too incompetent to allow postal voters to vote,

and that the worst case scenario is that the EC is in some way or other purposely denying us the Malaysian diaspora our right?

And isn’t it tragic, dear sir, that when these concerns are brought to you, you answer with a reply so dismissive that it borders on the idiotic?

That you tell us to not “get excited”, with the justification that we are too insignificant in number to decide this election?

That you have missed the point entirely?

That the question at hand, sir, is NOT our “insignificant numbers”, rather it is our RIGHT to take part in our democracy. 

It is a tragedy compounded with irony when an official ELECTED through a democratic process doesn’t seem to understand the basics of democracy.

What’s more a member of cabinet, a DEPUTY MINISTER? 

Dear sir,

Your advice to us postal voters to not “get excited” has been duly noted.

In reply I advice you to not “get excited” for a post in the Cabinet post-GE 14.

Regards,

The insignificant 0.1%

#getexcited

Islam and Politics

There are two extreme ends of the spectrum when it comes to the role of Islam in politics:

On one extreme is the view that Islam and politics must be kept entirely separate.
As a result, the principles of Islam are not allowed to contribute to the discourse of ethics in administration, good governance, adaab in democracy.
This leads to dichotomy, and a road to ruin.

On the other extreme is the view that Islam in its entirety is political in nature.
As a result the health of the spiritual heart is overlooked, akhlaq (character) deteriorates, those who do not agree with my political stance is ‘less Muslim’.
This leads to disunity, and a road to ruin.

It is better, in my humble opinion, to take the middle path;
to learn that Islam and politics is inseparable, but Islam rises ABOVE politics - and encompasses so much more as a way of life.
That there is room for not just a Muslim voice in politics, but there should be room for multiple Muslim voices to exist - offering differing solutions to political issues, and room for discussion in a climate of maturity.

Shall we not take that path?


#MalaysiaMenujuNegaraRahmah

A Democracy in it’s Infancy

At a voter registration centre in Afghanistan today, a bomb went off; among those killed, children.
It is a symbolic situation - a democracy in its infancy struggling to mature in a climate of violence.

In Malaysia, Alhamdulillah, we have been spared such violence - but our democracy has also seemed to find it hard to mature.


I have been warned by those around me to be careful when talking about politics.
To not criticise those in power too openly.
After all, I am a government-sponsored student -
not the wisest thing to do, is it, to bite the hand which feeds you?

Largely this advice has come from well-meaning people, from family and friends.

But with all due respect, and with no intention to shame or embarrass, I humbly assert that it is this very mindset which has held democracy back in Malaysia.
An unwillingness to challenge authority in fear of the ‘bad things’ which can happen to ME, is the very thing that has led to ‘bad things’ happening to ALL OF US -
the kleptocratic mess we find our country in today.

This self-censorship kills the freedom of expression necessary to hold our representatives in government to account.

And yes - they are OUR representatives. They work for us, NOT the other way around.

The allowance I receive is from the PEOPLE of Malaysia, NOT the government’s.
Is it not, then, even more of a responsibility for me to speak out against a government oppressing my people?
Is it not selfish of me to sit down quietly and let the corruption of my government be?


Yes, I realise that in saying this I may come across as a naively idealistic young kid.
But perhaps it is because I am young that I have so much to lose with a corrupt government in power.
It is because I’m so idealistic that I can speak with a clear conscience, no strings attached.

So I shall speak.
And in my own small insignificant way, I shall hold to account those in power.

As Afghans die in a bomb blast seeking their democracy,
we in Malaysia cannot let our democracy die quietly.

Rise up and speak.



P.s. if you are afraid of speaking up because of the government, perhaps its time you get a new government.

The people’s ‘tidak kisah’ attitude 

       leads to 

                  ignorance;

which provides fertile ground for

                       kleptocracy, 

            cronyism, and 

blind fanaticism.

the apathy of the rakyat = the corruption of her politicians 

Malaysian Blood

A sample of blood was recently obtained from a cohort of randomised Malaysian volunteers. The samples were centrifuged, and the results observed in all of them were remarkably similar:

This study decisively proves a fact that has long been suspected: 

POLITICS RUNS IN THE VEINS OF MALAYSIANS.

Which is not much of a surprise, to be honest. 

The mamak stall industry, after all, has long known about and thrived on this very fact - providing a platform for Malaysians to discuss politics more effectively than the Parliament (seriously, have you seen those debates??)

Incidentally, the success of this industry also explains the presence of the other two components of Malaysian blood - oil and teh tarik.

This very fact, though, is exactly the reason why it is now such a scary time to be Malaysian.

And no, I am not talking about diabetes or high blood cholesterol (although those are also pretty scary).

It is a scary time because change has happened.

Admittedly, not a change in government - because as I write this post, it has already been confirmed that the coalition which has ruled for 56 years will rule for at least 4 more.

The change I am talking about is in the way we view how we should be governed. And that has been quite a decisive change.

Don't get me wrong: I welcome that change very much. In fact, I can safely say that much of the youth of this great nation share the same view.

We must face the facts, though: it is a dangerous situation we are in.

The build-up of emotions on either side of the political divide over the past few months does not paint the rosiest of pictures of Malaysia for the next few - the danger of those emotions manifesting themselves in physical violence is very real.

The politics that is so much a part of the Malaysian identity - detectable even in our blood, has been "activated" like so many antibodies in response to an infection. And people have gone crazy as the elections have neared. I am just worried that things will get even crazier.

While many may fear that the Government has retained power for too long, or that the Opposition is becoming too strong, many more Malaysians have the immediate fear of harm inflicted on friends and family. I guess I am in that latter category. 

I wonder, as I write this in a hall in the UK, how it is like to be in Malaysia right now...

*                         *                         *

Solace from all this, I have found in an unlikely place: Manchester.

As I sat among a bunch of fellow Malaysian university students today, watching the results of the elections unfold on a big screen in front of us, I couldn't help noticing how calm everything was. 

Of course there was the usual noise and banter accompanying any Malaysian event. But there was no divisive political insults thrown about, despite the fact that the students held wildly differing political views. 

No shouting and name-calling, just a bunch of Malaysians talking politics. Combined with the free teh tarik given out at the back of the room, it was almost like I was back home. The only thing missing was someone making roti canai at the corner of the room.

They represent an emerging breed, those students; a generation of youth very much Malaysian; with as much politics in their blood as their parents and grandparents. But this is a generation not tied too much by sentimental feelings to any political party out there.

It is, for now, a generation which is not afraid of change. A generation with the ability to think independently and rationally, which can stand its ground. But not too emotionally. 

I hope with all my heart that this generation stays this way. 

*                          *                          *

Mark my words.

The next few years and decades will see a change in our society, our political parties, and in our government. It is a change which will be brought about by the politics in our Malaysian blood. 

But the next few days, weeks and months may yet witness the spilling of that very Malaysian blood on our streets. 

The former is inevitable, the latter is not. 

Keep calm, Malaysians. Please.

The above picture was taken at a Malaysian event in Manchester. The room is full, but the front row is still empty. Memang Malaysian.

Disclaimer: The author apologises to any reader who has believed/being convinced of/trusted in the 'scientific facts' stated in the first 5 paragraphs and 1st picture in this post, as they are purely fictional (duhh -.-")

Th author does not, however, apologise for his (albeit sometimes lame) Malaysian sense of humor. It runs in his blood.