Between Suu Kyi and Mat Sah, my heart goes to the latter...

The survey

Malaysia has been named as the worst place for refugees but I hope Malaysia starts its first corrective steps by releasing Mat Sah. If the authorities feels necessary, place him under house arrest or limit his movement but release Mat Sah. Is that too much for me to ask and hope for? Let the world prays for Suu Kyi, I choose to pray for Mat Sah...

1. For some, today is Aung San Suu Kyi's, Myanmar pro-democracy leader's, birthday. As Western's media darling, her birthday is celebrated world wide with renewed urge to get the millitary junta to release her from house arrest.
2. MSM's STAR reported that Malaysian cops arrested 15 Myanmars who were part of gathering to celebrate her birthday. Reason for the arrest? They do not have any identification papers. There you have it...I guess Malaysia is a safe haven for those entering the country without proper papers and process. In short, even USA put Malaysia in the same basket as Zimbabwe for our "limited efforts" in trying to stem human trafficking.
3. With that notoriety, Malaysia has been named as the worst place for refugees for 2nd consecutive years! Another record for Malaysia...
4. How you perceive Malaysia is based on what you paint Malaysia to be...for many, they would like to paint Malaysia as a caring country, ever willing to arrange to celebrate a foreigner's birthday, just because she is media darling who is fighting for democracy in Myanmar...and we think that we are the human rights champion for doing so, without realising that our own backyard stinks...
5. In our haste to join the world community in urging Myanmar's military junta to release Suu Kyi from house arrest, we hold candlelight vigils and gatherings. My question is simple and straight to the point...where is our stand on ZOPFAN (Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality)? Don't get me wrong here. I am not saying that we should not celebrate or remember Suu Kyi but what I am putting forth is do we need to hold candlelight vigils and AMCORP gathering? Is it necessary? Does it has the necessary effect?
6. I would be more comfortable if DAP (incidentally the candlelight vigil organiser) to hold dialogues and ceramahs to highlight Myanmar's flight. Maybe it is not necessary for DAP as they are all knowing but I am not. I want to hear what the the junta's stand and compare that to Suu Kyi's supporters' stand before I make up my mind.
7. We look into problems thousands of miles away when we are still unsuccessful to secure the release of one Mat Sah who will be entering his 8th year in ISA's Kamunting University of Life. Suu Kyi has the world watching after her. Mat Sah? Who cares for him? Who remembers his birthday? Who is watching after his needs? Yes, Mat Sah has a good and dedicated wife and yes he has a teenage son too. Mat Sah's son is Suhaib. That's all. And up to now, Mat Sah has not been charged in an open court. So, while the rest of the world celebrates Suu Kyi's 64th birthday, I choose to pray for Mat Sah's early (if you call 8 years as early) release.
8. I call for Mat Sah's release on the basis on humanity. I call for his release so that he can spend the rest of his life catching up the lost time with his teenage son together with his wife. Suu Kyi has lost her husband and she has her sons in UK but she has Myanmar. Mat Sah? Will Malaysians remember him? Will Malaysians embrace him as a hero? No, I don't think so...but I will choose Mat Sah anytime because of his patience and his sufferings. I will choose Mat Sah over Suu Kyi because Mat Sah is a person whilst Suu Kyi is an icon. I choose Mat Sah because he is an underdog, persona non grata to the eyes of Malaysians except for the few who relentlessly fight to abolish ISA.
9. Mat Sah is no Mandela. He is no Suu Kyi. He is not even a Mousavi. He is just a number, one of the numbers, passing through Kamunting camp. Whilst others walk out free, he is still in there...waiting...When and if he is released, I did not see Mat Sah running for public office. I did not see Mat Sah running as candidate...so I did not see the reasonings of prolonging his detention...
   
10. To Merah hitam, Mat Sah's wife, I may not know you as you do not know me...but that is not important. This lone blogger, the person who call oneself DNightcaller, salute you for your undying support to your hubby. I sincerely wish I could help further but this is all that I can do...I pray to the al-Mighty for your husband's release from the draconian ISA.
11. You see, Merah Hitam lost another pillar of strength in facing life when Sauda abdul, Mat Sah's mother passed away 3 weeks ago. Merah Htam is an exemplary sample of a determined woman, fighting against unjustice in the form of her husband, the father of her teenage son, away and placed him in Kamunting.
    
12. Malaysia has been named as the worst place for refugees but I hope Malaysia starts its first corrective steps by releasing Mat Sah. If the authorities feels necessary, place him under house arrest or limit his movement but release Mat Sah. Is that too much for me to ask and hope for? Let the world prays for Suu Kyi, I choose to pray for Mat Sah...
13. Call me anti-establishment for all I care, I don't mind and frankly I don't give a damn. Tonight, DNightcaller prays for Mat Sah's release. I won't be lighting any lone candle in any public place because it is not my style. But in return, I hope that Mat Sah will be finally released after so much promise and indications and false hopes that his family endure. Another thing, when and if Mat Sah is released, maybe that's the day DNightcaller will celebrate in one's own way, at a place of one's choice without disturbing the tranquility of Mat Sah's family gathering.
14. I know that, for now, I am alone in this hope and maybe one day there will be more who look things from my perspective. It is not that we care for others outside Malaysia less but I think we have to set our priorities right. Let's clean our house first. It is hard because Mat Sah did not have the news coverage of MSM, CNN, BBC etc. His news coverage is from his wife and the movement supporting to abolish ISA. That's all that he has. His plight is too minute to be mentioned in the same breath as Suu Kyi. So for those who celebrate Suu Kyi's birthday, please ask yourself "Did I think of Mat Sah too when I call for Suu Kyi's release?". Be true to yourself and if your answers is affirmative, DNightcaller salute you wherever you are...
    
15. Tonight, DNightcaller is a victim of sentimentalism. Tomorrow, it will be another beginning for new challenges...I have said what I want to say and I am tired and exhausted. It's time for me to rest...
    

8th year in Kamunting

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

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