Lessons in dignity
by MARIAM MOKHTAR
There are many examples of people acting with dignity in our everyday lives and no-one needs a congress to show how to act with dignity.
Living on hand-outs, demanding a bigger slice of the pie, and depriving others is not acting with dignity. Demanding that vernacular schools be abolished, forcing non-Malays to be second-class citizens is not dignified behaviour. These are acts of arrogance and aggression.
Why waste the taxpayers' money and involve four public universities in the organisation of a Malay Dignity Congress (Kongres Maruah Melayu), when the meaning of 'dignity' is disregarded, and the participants indulge in race bashing?
Living on hand-outs, demanding a bigger slice of the pie, and depriving others is not acting with dignity. Demanding that vernacular schools be abolished, forcing non-Malays to be second-class citizens is not dignified behaviour. These are acts of arrogance and aggression.
Why waste the taxpayers' money and involve four public universities in the organisation of a Malay Dignity Congress (Kongres Maruah Melayu), when the meaning of 'dignity' is disregarded, and the participants indulge in race bashing?
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Demanding Malay political dominance as a means to uphold Malay dignity, harbouring a belief in Malay supremacy, and that all top government posts should be filled by Malays, just shows that the congress participants do not know the meaning of 'dignity'. The disgraced Najib Abdul Razak, who stole the taxpayers' money and heaped blame on an Arab prince and a Penangite, has been forgotten.
So, do some Malays need a lesson in dignity?
A few days ago, a Nepali security guard was attacked by a man, whose car had been clamped, for parking illegally in an Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) bay for disabled car users.
When told that the clamp could only be released after a fine had been paid, the man took a golf club from the boot of his car, and beat the guard on his head, face and arms.
Despite being injured, the guard did not retaliate, but merely restrained the thug. That is dignity. The guard kept his emotions and his anger in check.
In another incident, print shop owner, Koh Tat Meng (above, centre), implored Subang Jaya Municipal Council workers to show mercy on a stray dog and reminded them the Prophet urged people to be compassionate.
In contrast with the Nepali guard, one municipal dog handler lost all dignity when he started swearing, then threatened and assaulted Koh. Other workers had to restrain the abusive municipal worker.
To add insult to injury, Koh has been charged, in the Petaling Jaya magistrate's court, for obstructing municipal workers.
We normally see signs in government departments advising us not to be violent towards the staff. Perhaps a lesson in dignity and sincerity, should be included in staff training.
Asians are renowned for their filial piety, but recently, we read about people abandoning their elderly parents at bus stops, with their belongings in a few bags, hoping someone will take them in, or place them at a residential care home. In today's materialistic age, we fail to treat our elders with the dignity they deserve.
In Petaling Jaya, newlywed, Zuraiha Zaini, was criticised, by nosey relatives for marrying beneath her station because she had a master's degree, whereas her husband was only a lorry driver.
So, do some Malays need a lesson in dignity?
A few days ago, a Nepali security guard was attacked by a man, whose car had been clamped, for parking illegally in an Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) bay for disabled car users.
When told that the clamp could only be released after a fine had been paid, the man took a golf club from the boot of his car, and beat the guard on his head, face and arms.
Despite being injured, the guard did not retaliate, but merely restrained the thug. That is dignity. The guard kept his emotions and his anger in check.
In another incident, print shop owner, Koh Tat Meng (above, centre), implored Subang Jaya Municipal Council workers to show mercy on a stray dog and reminded them the Prophet urged people to be compassionate.
In contrast with the Nepali guard, one municipal dog handler lost all dignity when he started swearing, then threatened and assaulted Koh. Other workers had to restrain the abusive municipal worker.
To add insult to injury, Koh has been charged, in the Petaling Jaya magistrate's court, for obstructing municipal workers.
We normally see signs in government departments advising us not to be violent towards the staff. Perhaps a lesson in dignity and sincerity, should be included in staff training.
Asians are renowned for their filial piety, but recently, we read about people abandoning their elderly parents at bus stops, with their belongings in a few bags, hoping someone will take them in, or place them at a residential care home. In today's materialistic age, we fail to treat our elders with the dignity they deserve.
In Petaling Jaya, newlywed, Zuraiha Zaini, was criticised, by nosey relatives for marrying beneath her station because she had a master's degree, whereas her husband was only a lorry driver.
Some people look down on people thinking they are "uneducated". A university degree, or a Datukship, does not automatically guarantee that someone has dignity. Dignity derives from earning an honest living, in having a good heart, and acting responsibly towards others.
In 2014, Siti Fairrah Ashykin, aka Kiki, the Kuantan road bully, unleashed a verbal and racial tirade against an old man who had accidentally hit her new car. She repeatedly hammered on the man's car with her steering lock, called him stupid, demanded RM2,000 compensation and snatched his car keys.
In 2014, Siti Fairrah Ashykin, aka Kiki, the Kuantan road bully, unleashed a verbal and racial tirade against an old man who had accidentally hit her new car. She repeatedly hammered on the man's car with her steering lock, called him stupid, demanded RM2,000 compensation and snatched his car keys.
Despite a physical and mental attack, the old man kept his dignity, offered to pay for the damage and refused to lodge a police report against Kiki. She only apologised after the video clip of her tantrum went viral, and she was cyber-trolled.
The cost of her fury was a RM5,000 fine and 240 hours community service. Perhaps, lessons in anger management would have helped. Hopefully, the community service, would have shown her to behave with more humility and dignity.
Last week, Abdul Rahim Hashim, the vice-chancellor (VC) of Universiti Malaya (UM), could have acted with more dignity in otherwise difficult circumstances, when he was humiliated at a convocation ceremony.
Some may feel that Wong Yan Ke, the student protester, was ill-advised to use his degree ceremony to protest, but he had little choice, as he had exhausted other avenues to expose the plight of UM students and their wrath that the VC had dragged UM into the racial and political morass.
Instead of lodging a police report, UM and Abdul Rahim could have extended the olive branch to Wong and the student community, to defuse the tense situation.
The cost of her fury was a RM5,000 fine and 240 hours community service. Perhaps, lessons in anger management would have helped. Hopefully, the community service, would have shown her to behave with more humility and dignity.
Last week, Abdul Rahim Hashim, the vice-chancellor (VC) of Universiti Malaya (UM), could have acted with more dignity in otherwise difficult circumstances, when he was humiliated at a convocation ceremony.
Instead of lodging a police report, UM and Abdul Rahim could have extended the olive branch to Wong and the student community, to defuse the tense situation.
As an academic, and the more mature person, the VC could have acted with a bit more dignity, but he did not.
For 32 years, ever since Operation Lalang, and today's Security Offences Special Measures Act (Sosma), many MPs, and those in positions of authority, fail to use their power to curb institutionalised racism in our universities and public institutions, because they are politically motivated and cowardly.
For 32 years, ever since Operation Lalang, and today's Security Offences Special Measures Act (Sosma), many MPs, and those in positions of authority, fail to use their power to curb institutionalised racism in our universities and public institutions, because they are politically motivated and cowardly.
Few people dare to speak out against the "cancer" of racism which afflicts our lives. Their interest lie in protecting their positions and their rice bowls.
Wong has started the ball rolling, and our MPs should follow his lead.
How can we respect our MPs and vice-chancellors when they lack the dignity to treat others, as they would like to be treated?
Wong has started the ball rolling, and our MPs should follow his lead.
How can we respect our MPs and vice-chancellors when they lack the dignity to treat others, as they would like to be treated?
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