Eclipse : Of Penumbral lunar eclipse, Chap Goh Mei, anti ISA vigil and ...

Today, part of Malaysia will be fortunate enough to witness the penumbral lunar eclipse starting from 8.30 pm and will last until 00.39 am of 9th Feb '09 which coincidentally will fall on Chap Goh Mei, the last day of Chinese New Year. For those who are interested to brush up their Science, please click on http://www.mreclipse.com/Special/LEprimer.html for more information on the eclipse.

Maybe our Chinese Feng Shui masters can tell whether the eclipse is an omen of tings to come. In medieval times, eclipse is normally associated with bad omen and in certain religion, Islam included, special prayers are offered to mark the occasion. In 1960's, there are reports that natives beating drums, hack on trees in he hope of scaring the heavenly beast from gorging on the moon. Fact, fiction, myth?

Being the last day of Chinese New Year, will sparklers, crackers scare the beast away tonite? How this scribe hope that when the eclipse pass Malaysia, it will bring along the political impasse currently facing Perak and at the same time, the flood in Sarawak will recede with the eclipse. But then again, this is all wishful thinking as being politicians, both BN and PR will not let go of Perak as easily as writing on a piece of paper.

Malaysiakini reported of popularity test between the 2 MB's of Perak during the Thaipusm festival whilst 300 vigilers decided to hold 'mock' funeral symbolising the death of democracy in Perak, as a sign of protest. If the 2 preceding events indicated the feelings of Indians and Chinese, more than 3000 gather tonite in Perak's MB residence, in support of MB Nizar. What the 3 separate and independent events show is the coming of age of Perak politics. 3 main races reacting to the ongoing impasse and what they did, either in line or out of synch with the general mass, depends on which side is talking. To PR, this is the statement of the public rallying behind MB Nizar whilst to BN this is a show of disrespect to the MB Zambry. Maybe, the Sultan's decision to put off function to celebrate HRH silver jubilee on 10th February 2009 is a signal, for things to come. It will depends on whether BN or PR can capitalise on this small yet subtle message. Good luck to both BN and PR...

On related matter, it will also be a wise move for BN leaders to abstain from terming MB Nizar's action as that of treason. It will be more suitable to call MB Nizar's action as that of civil disobedience. BN, especially UMNO should reflect upon themselves that they were, at one time, courted PAS to form Perak and Selangor state government post 308, but PAS stood firm to their earlier pact and stay put with PKR and DAP, although they knew beforehand that the triparte agreement will face stormy weather in the years ahead. And that is what "setiakawan" is all about, sama-sama melayari gelora politik walaupun penuh dengan onak dan duri. Sesuatu yang UMNO harus mempelajari sekiranya ingin mengukuhkan BN, tanpa unsur ugutan, dan UMNO harus menganggap semua rakan komponen BN adalah sama penting dalam menempuh dugaan 308.

Bloggers juga mempunyai peranan penting untuk mengendurkan musibah yang menimpa Perak dengan mengambil pendekatan yang lebih tenang. Namun, pemanggil malam faham bahwa apa yang pemanggil malam impikan tidak akan tercapai kerana setiap bloggers terlalu emosional sehingga lupa bahwa tujuan utama kita semua ialah untuk melihat Malaysia maju dan blogs hanyalah satu ruang untuk bertukar pandangan dan juga untuk berhujah dengan cara gentleman.

Dalam hal ini, pemanggil malam juga terharu kesedihan dengan "choice of words" sesetengah
komen didalam guestbook DYMM Sultan Perak. Untuk menyatakan perasaan kesal, meminta DYMM menimbang kembali keputusan baginda adalah OK, begitu juga dengan sembah setuju dengan keputusan DYMM tetapi apabila guestbook dicemari dengan kata-kata kesat dan ada pula yang spam dengan perkataan "Daulat Tuanku", itu sudah melankaui norma-norma kita, bangsa Malaysia. Alamat e-mail yang "pelik" mungkin disengajakan supaya administrator tidak dapat memberi "response" kepada penulis komen.

Maybe, those nasty commentors in HRH guestbooks should get a vist from the lycans or the werewolves of "Underworld 3" fame. The night might just be right with the full moon, tainted with the penumblar lunar eclipse for those lycans and werewolves to prey on these unfriendly netizens. That is what Dnightcaller feels and he knows that he is not prosecutor, jury, judge and executioner, all 4 roll into 1.

Closer to heart, the vigilers for anti-ISA in Petaling Jaya on Sunday evening were diplomatically given 10 minutes to do their things under the watchful eyes of police before adjourning to their usual haunting restaurant, that of Lotus restaurant where the vigilers occupy more than 3 tables before calling it a day. This scribe was there to observe the moments, although understandbly could not attend the vigil proper as the timing is just not right...too early for those who need to solat maghrib, before rushing to the meeting point.

Till then...G'nite M'sia...wherever u are...