Negative Cyber Reactions on Keris Wielding Apology

[by Sagaladoola]

Perhaps, it is time to decipher why the public is not endorsing the apology by Hishammuddin . It all boils down to one word : Sincerity.

1) Apologising only after a massive Barisan Nasional defeat in various seats in PRU 12.

2) Not apologising after the first keris wielding incident but promise to repeat it the following year to de-sensitise the non-Malays despite a massive outcry from the public.

3) Previous statements made to justify the keris wielding. The Star: Keris Tradition to Continue (Tuesday October 30, 2007)

4) Compare points 1, 2 and 3. An important question to ask Hishammuddin : Is the apology made just because the non-Malays feel hurt on a matter that they should not be sensitive about or because Hishammuddin had done something really wrong ?

5) Is the apology done only with party interests in priority? Principle number 2 of Rukunegara : Kesetiaan Kepada Raja dan Negara (Loyalty to the Raja and Country / Nation)

6) Since Hishammuddin has so-called "apologised", is it necessary for Mohamad Rahmat, Azimi Daim, Hasnoor Sidang Hussein and Hashim Suboh to make a similar public apology for their racially slanted statements when the keris was waved by Hisham?

Meanwhile certain (not all) Malay quarters say that Hishammuddin should not apologise for the keris-wielding incident because it is a cultural item and accordingly everyone has a right to do so.

As a Malaysian who loves culture, I see keris as a unique and symbollic utility of art. I have many non-Malay friends who respects Malay culture and regard that keris is a beautiful cultural element with expensive diamonds attached onto it. The Sultans of Malaysia brought keris-es along for official palatial functions. Keris is part of the coronation of Agong. Not astonishingly, the public did not make any noise.

I have no qualms of seeing it (or Panca Warisan) being raised or used in public if it is for peaceful or/and, positive ulterior motives.

Are Malaysians angry because they are suspicious of negative ulterior motives (towards a specific group of people) associated with the keris-wielding incident or purely of the cultural elements it represents?

When one approaches a problem, one should solve it from the root and not its symptom. When one apologises, it should come from the heart. That is where Sincerity lies.

P.S. This blog entry is published in Malaysia Today "From Around the Blogs" section.
Link: http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/6827/84/