Candles of hope, peace, joy and love

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Reconstructing and starting the life of a young child is more difficult than building a new house.

THE controversial Project IC had “more likely than not” existed, concluded the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI).

Many are asking what kind of verdict is that, considering the RCI had, during the course of its exhaustive investigation, recorded the views of five credible star witnesses – all high- ranking officers from the National Registration Department (NRD).

The RCI noted that these officers had apparently acted under orders from their political masters in pursuit of a political agenda, yet, it concluded – ostensibly contrariwise – that the whole exercise was not “political.”

It stressed: “The culprits were syndicates and individuals driven by the opportunity to make money. They were aided by corrupt government officials.”

That could have been the case but surely, given the meticulous nature of the widely published RCI, the power-that-be must have been jolted to the reality of the situation by the drastic demographical transformation of Sabah since the 1980’s – with 67,000 holders of dubious ICs at present. It was simply too glaring to have been missed.

Regardless, should we expect these “corrupt government officials” to be charged? How about the fate of the “stateless” children in Land below the Wind?

I had a short stint in Sabah six years ago.

When I first landed there, the only things I found close to home were the evenings spent along the waterfront with many of the “stateless” children.

I was welcomed and accepted by these children almost like a friend every time I walked among them and snapped some pictures.

I posted some pictures of the happy children on my blog and drew reactions from both friends and strangers alike.

Ken said: “Sorry, I cannot see any happiness in the future of the next generation of true Sabahans. Stay a while and find out.”

Yan said: “When I see the smiling faces of these children, I naturally have compassion for them – and see them as normal – just like any human beings would.

“I don’t see them as Filipinos – or black or white. I see them as human beings with the same needs for love and respect and human interactions.”

Ken added: “True, true. If only more people are like you (Yan), the world will be a better place. Till today, John Lennon’s IMAGINE still reverberates with utopian ideals. But Kota Kinabalu is a great place – enjoy your stay.”

Constance noted: “The pictures captured the carefree spirit and innocence of the children. Life is so much simpler without politics, wars, prejudices or an obsession for materialistic possessions.

“Indeed, it would be best if human beings could embrace the joy to live, to be with other human beings and learn to smile with honesty and truthfulness. No hidden agenda.”

Arthur commented: Good or bad, children are innocent – with nary a care in the world. It’s only when they grow up into the adult world, moulded by unscrupulous minders into their sick, selfish, materialistic and immoral ways that their world becomes tainted and miserable!

During my evening strolls at the waterfront in KK, the most unforgettable child I met was a little girl – probably 10 or 11.

She would always sit beside me quietly by the sea and we both dangled our feet just above the blue water. There was complete tranquility. She seemed able to sense I was as alone as she was.

With a beautiful sunset before us, I recalled these words from an old Danish novel called Borderliners by Peter Hoeg:

“I did not say much, nor was it necessary. She sat on the box, leaning forward, and listened to me, even to my pauses.

“She heard everything – even things I did not say. We sat there and I knew this was how it felt to be totally accepted.

“You sit close to another person and are understood, everything is understood and nothing is judged and you are indispensable.”

I like that and if my young friend had read Borderliners, these would be her thoughts too! She was different from the other children her age.

Those were the memorable days. I left Sabah for a while but when I returned, the whole place where I mingled with the stateless children had been demolished to give way to the development of a promenade.

The same sunset, the same sea but in the place of shabby wooden houses which the children without a state called home was a stretch of cement compound and a high wall.

The little girl was no longer around and I felt lost, wondering whether her home had been demolished or whether her families and those like them had been relocated.

So, it was natural for me to feel emotional last night when I saw the photo of a young girl which my friend took not far from Kuching, sitting in what looked like a wooden bed among a jumble of household furniture. (See picture)

Enforcement agencies, reportedly made of 200 personnel, had knocked down the premises and facilities built on state land at the entrance of Santubong National Park in Ops Santubong and Ops Tanah Merah.

The premises was said to be a restaurant and also home to the owner.

Notwithstanding the legality issue, public opinion would expect some humanitarian considerations when it involved a place that was also a home – with especially innocent children among the residents.

My friend at the scene had this to say about the picture: “The girl was confused and angry. I asked how old she was and she told me point-blank – 11 (eleven).

“I asked what happened, she said she woke up to see a lot of people outside the house and they were asked to take their things out.

“Her mother was crying. The girl didn’t understand anything – only helped to move things. She said she just wanted to play with her younger brother in the stream during this school holiday.”

Indeed in life, different sufferings shake us to the very core and we watch helplessly as the walls around us come tumbling down.

Reconstructing and starting the life of a young child is more difficult than building a new house.

We entered the Advent Season last week – four weeks before Christmas is the Advent season for Christians.

During this time, we light one candle every week, representing hope, peace, joy and love and sing the chorus – candle, candle burning bright, shining in the cold winter night, candle, candle burning bright, fill our hearts with Christmas light.

And may each one of us have the heart and humanity to shine as brightly as the Advent candles we light in fostering the universal values of peace and harmony.