THIS year-ender article was supposed to be the final column for 2009. Following the tradition of the Paul Sir column, this was to be published on Dec 26, the last Saturday of 2009.However, the last two Saturdays were nonpublication days for The Borneo Post as Christmas and New Year’s Day fell on Fridays. Still, it’s better late than never.
As always, many BP readers wrote to me over the past year commenting on the many issues I brought up for discussion. Here are some of those letters, which are worth pondering over again.
Janet Wan wrote in to comment on one of my January articles, ‘Gaza: Some naive thoughts from some naive people’ saying while she agreed with the Malaysian government’s support for the Gaza issue, she also felt it was double standards if the support was based on religion.
Janet also wondered why Malaysians should be so busy seeking donations or aid for people from the other side of the world, while there are many Malaysians who need help too.
Be they Malays, Chinese, Indian, Dayaks or Kadazans, and whether they are from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah or Sarawak, let us think of them all as Malaysians and not what race they are or the religion they profess or even their political allegiance.
Commenting on the same article, Debbie Carmen, a 19-year-old wrote: “The Malaysian parliament passed resolutions condemning the Israeli attacks on Gaza. But what about what is happening to the Tamils in northern Sri Lanka? Why not a squeak even from our MPs? We have no Palestinian voters here in Malaysia. But there are millions of Tamils in Malaysia who are concerned for the welfare of the Tamils in Sri Lanka. Why isn’t the Malaysian government condemning the attacks on Tamil civilians in Tamil Eelam? Then, what about the five Tamils still locked up in Kamunting. Are they now forgotten?”
I am sad that what the Malaysian government is doing seems to take into consideration the religious aspect rather the humanitarian objective. We have to change this perspective of our leaders in the government.
To Azlan of Miri who emailed me at the end of January, thank you for your kind words. I think I have responded accordingly to your request which is of a private nature.
In February, my piece on skinning political frogs re the Perak fiasco prompted many to write in. Here are two of them.
Ben Diomedes, in his email, said: “I’m a fan of your weekly column. Although The Borneo Post is a pro-government paper, I find it heartening to read your comments, which are indeed very eloquently written and fair, without bias or favour, unlike the one written by (name mentioned) in the (newspaper mentioned) where to him, the government can do no wrong.
“Like you said, the political frogs ought to be castrated, ‘skinned’ and ‘cooked’. These people were voted into office because of the party they represent, not their own individual self, unless you are an independent of course. In jumping to another party in less than 12 months after being elected, they have really betrayed the trust of their voters. If they were to stand in a fresh election this time under BN, I am sure that they will lose.”
Ben also expressed his disappointment with the palace’s role in the Perak crisis, saying that the sultan should have called for fresh elections in the state.
Perak should not have a change of government just because of four unprincipled YBs. Ultimately, it has to be the people who should decide, he added.
Hg Wee commented on the same subject: “Urg … I also feel like skinning them until they bleed to death, no need to be skilful in doing it. A political frog is the worst kind of frog on the earth. Maybe we should send them to Mars. They don’t belong here. We have enough pollution here.
“Do you know there is a species of frog called sugar cane toad in Australia? Well, let me tell you the story:
“In the 1930s, there was a problem in the sugar cane field in the state of Queensland where a certain insect was causing problem to the crop. So the scientists there introduced the toad from some Pacific Island as a biological control of the pest. It was very successful. But, as time goes, the toad not only ate the pest, but also started to eat other beneficial insects. Worse still, the toad also produced a toxin in its skin, which is poisonous to other animals which tried to eat it. Due to the lack of control for this toad, it multiplied like hell. Nowadays, it marches from Queensland to the Northern Territory and is going to Western Australia too.
“Whose fault? The scientists failed to conduct a proper study of the toad before introducing it to Australia.
“Can you imagine if the political frogs in Malaysia behave as such?”
Thank you, Hg Wee, for the story. I think I got the point.
A special thanks to the many other readers who commented on this subject. I enjoyed reading all of them. Unfortunately, space constraint is an obstacle to publishing all the letters here.
In March, the death of Reverend Father James Muhren greatly saddened me. I wrote ‘A tribute to a great friend and priest, Father James Muhren’ and many who knew the Catholic priest expressed similar sentiments.
Teresa Lim emailed: “Paul Sir, Read your column about our beloved priest and friend, Father James Muhren. Like you, I too have crossed paths with Father Muhren. I think he touched many of us in different ways. I agree with you that he was one of a kind and an exceptional one.
“Mine is a simple story which I would like to share with you in brief.
“I first met Father in the early seventies when he came to say Mass regularly in the chapel in Batu Lintang Teachers’ College, Kuching where I was a trainee. I remember I used to help him to arrange his cassock and prepared the altar for mass. He said I would make a very good nun.
“After many years, I met him in St Mary’s Church, Sibu. I brought my husband and three children to him and told him that I did not become a nun after all but instead I was bringing my loved ones to attend his Catechism class. He was very happy and told me that God has wonderful plans. We spent one whole year (on every Sunday afternoon) learning the Christian doctrine from him. Finally, my husband and children were baptized by him in 1993 in St Mary’s Church. He visited and blessed my home. He became a friend … a dad to me and a grandpa to my children.
“Yes, the Mill Hill priests have touched so many of us in the past. Now that you mentioned, I suddenly recalled one Rev Father Rottinghus of St Anthony’s Church Sarikei. He, too had nurtured many students of St Anthony’s School, Sarikei where he was the principal for decades.
“Thank you Lord for sending these wonderful Mill Hills missionaries to Sarawak.
“I believe that Father Muhren is up there smiling (looking down at us). His imagination of heaven and angels must have become a reality to him.”
Thanks also to Vernon Chew, Tp Leong, Colin Thomas and Grace Sim Eng Siang for writing about their memories of Father Muhren.
In my column ‘Seriously, how long do you want to live?’ Loretta, one of my most loyal fans, chided me for being so negative.
I’ve written about this before and am reposting it here because of its humour.
“WHY are you so negative? Why do you think that all people in their 80s are sickly and bedridden. Our former premier (Dr Mahathir) is not only strong and healthy, his mind is still sharp and witty.
“If everybody thinks like you, there will be no Grandpas left in this world. You are really negative.
“For me, I definitely want to live to 90 or even 100 to see the world changes around me, God willing!,” Loretta added.
Well said, lady!
Lim Geogi also commented on the same subject: “Life has started and one cannot escape from it. The only choice we have is how to live. For a person to enjoy real happiness, he needs to be physically healthy and mentally happy. Most old folks are not happy, because they feel physically helpless and mentally lonely. I agree with you that we must live one day at a time.
“Life is uncertain. Death is certain. The oldest man need not be the happiest man.”
I must record my thanks to Chester Lim and Grace Sim for enlightening me on the state of affairs of wushu in Sarawak last June. Up till December, I was given to understand that things are still not so right in the local wushu association. My thought on the matter is still the same — sports officials should refrain from playing politics. The victim will be the sports if they continue to do so.
Shela Polly gave her view on the teaching of Science and Maths in Bahasa, sarcastically remarking that ‘Malaysia is deeply a real fun nation with wasting people’s money through a bad government system”.
On my September article ‘No need to conquer the world, just look after your family’, Josephine Engkassan Yee wrote: “Well said. Charity begins at home. In some harsh and uncensored term, these people at the mamak stall are merely ‘c**k talking.”
Lolita Jimmy sent me this note: “I am an ardent reader of your column and hardly miss reading it.
“Your articles are very entertaining and refreshing. They broaden my knowledge about life and also gave me new ideas and goals.’
I’m glad to be of some help to you, Lolita.
Referring to my September piece ‘BN partners should never fear ‘big brother’ Umno’, Lee Yew Meng has this to say: “Your source on how Dr Mahathir dealt with the MCA leadership in early 2003 is quite accurate.
“Your article brought to perspective the depth of MCA’s compliance and subservience to Umno. Even the various wings in Umno are elected posts, whilst the ‘Chinese’ wing is an Umno-anointed one.”
In the months leading to December, many BP leaders shared with me their thoughts on Anwar Ibrahim, Idris Jala, MCA and Umno and other social and religious issues which I’ve touched on.
Some provided me with much fodder for future stories. Others were quite personal in nature and they were some whose language could be considered too crude for publication.
Overall, 2009 was not as exciting a year as 2008 where the general election that year provided the news and stories which kept Malaysians spellbound for much of the year.
I do not know what’s in store for 2010 but if you want to believe the stargazers, it will not be quite a ‘good’ year on all fronts.
But what’s to prevent all of us from making the most of the new year.
Have a great 2010, people, and continue to send me your comments and thoughts in the new year.
(Comments can reach the writer at [email protected])