| On Hishamuddin Hussein's apology: Is the keris a symbol of violence? |  |  |  |
| Posted by admin | |
| Sunday, 27 April 2008 00:02 | |
| The traditional Malay keris -- like Malaysia's proposal of the East Asia Economic Caucus (EAEC) -- , is a weapon of mass confrontation and has evolved in this postmodern era into a symbol of mass deception. Dr. Azly Rahman
"Never give a sword to a man who can't dance." - Kung Fu Tze We live in a world in which the signs and symbols of violence colonise our consciousness, From the French cave-wall-inscribed violent images of the Neanderthals clobbering a baby dinosaur, to narratives of "super race" passed down via Oral Literacy, to "doctrines of imperialism" disseminated as a consequence of the invention of Gutenberg's printing press and the primacy of Print Literacy, to the advancement of the production of violent images disseminated worldwide via FoxNews or even Malaysia's own TV stations controlled by Prime Media signifying the primacy of Electronic media literacy, and next the violence in the world of Digital Literacy especially on the World Wide web -- we are confronted with the issue of the violent use of language as a system of signs and symbols. We are creatures of signs and symbols manipulated by those who own the means of producing static and moving images. A violent logo? Objects of violence -- of deaths and megadeaths, and of decimations and of demolitions, and of the demonstration of defiance and destruction -- all these, throughout history, have become symbols of choice to those in power. Consider objects like crude-looking objects like sharpened stones and rocks used by the cavemen to club each other, spears use in Alexandra of Macedonia's phalanx, the spears and swords used in the Taiping Rebellion in China, canons used in Gettysburg in Lincoln's America, and the rifle used by the Iraqi Saddam Hussein in celebrating victory, the 21-gun salute in a modern military-inspired ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, the range of Inter-continent ballistic missiles (ICBM) buried in the silos of Nevada, USA, --- and finally the Malay keris. Consider all these sharp and pointed objects. These object involves the image of trajectoring something -- of the release of inner tension, of perhaps the libido and repressed energy, of anger, frustration, and of the lack of language to communicate peace. The Malay traditional Malay keris -- like Malaysia's proposal of the East Asia Economic Caucus (EAEC) -- , is a weapon of mass confrontation and has evolved in this postmodern era into a symbol of mass deception. It is a symbol. It is a sign. It is a signifier. It represents something. The keris is a semiotic subject of study and must be looked at from different perspectives of meaning. What is the "repression, the untamed libido, the repressed energy, the anger, the frustration, and the bottled up fears" encapsulated and buried in the psycho-archeology of the keris? I hope the original creator of the UMNO logo can help us answer this question. I want to propose something. I want to invite UMNO to consider changing its logo. If Apple Computer can do that with its unfriendly logo of an "apple falling on Newtons' head" and have it evolved into something friendlier like "take the byte off an Apple", then UMNO can do similarly. When I was a child sitting under a rambutan tree in a Malay kampong in Johor, I had this question: what if Parameswara the assassin-prince-- who was watching with thrill a mousedeer/kancil kick a Rottweiler -- had sat under a durian tree and the fruit fell? What if, like Newtons' apple, the fruit fell onto him, hit his head, and he and was brought back to Palembang to be hospitalized for concussion and coma? Would Melaka had been "founded" at all and would "ketuanan Melayu" be an issue, and would the keris be wielded in many an UMNO General Assembly? I do not know. This is a matter of counter-factual history the McFlys in the Hollywood blockbuster movie Back to the Future may be able to answer. That was my childhood and child-like question on Parameswara, who was hunted down by the Siamese, for murdering Temagi in a kingdom called Temasek.. History can be the greatest colonizer. Memories lie. There is no such thing as "historical facts" when selective, authored, and doctored accounts based on power/ideology/genealogy of truth and falsehood are used to report "historical events" and next to turn these into "facts" to be disseminated by our "nationalistic and patriotic" Sejarah/Tawarikh/History teachers and curriculum developers of the Biro Tatenegara. UMNO must improve its logo. It must have a logo competition. The criteria must be this: only symbols of peace are allowed. And one must submit an essay of 500-word on why the symbol of the party is chosen. But let us peacefully resolve the intellectual controversy surrounding the keris (traditional Maly dagger) and inquire into the problematique of the Malay neo-feudalistic-cybernetic construction of social reality, as essentially, we exist through language. Words become flesh. Inscriptions become ideology and what is inscribed into our consciousness is dependent upon the history of our material beingness. Language is reality, some might say. Transform the language we are in, and we will see psychological and social transformations unfolding. Neourolinguistic programmers, cognitive psychologists, neuroscientists and biosemioticians will tell us how perceptions can be reconfigured. The main problem with the Malays is that they have become silent reproductions of the feudal ideology. They have been "Othered", "alienated", "objectified as subjects" and "classically-conditioned" by each other through the long process of historical alienation both in body, mind and spirit by the language of feudalism – language that has structured the reality of what is not called "culture of the Malays"/budaya orang Melayu. The product of the genealogy of the transformation of the silent Malays or the "hamba sahaya" (indentured serfs) is a people that has become institutionalised and silenced not only by the neo-feudalistic construct derived from the excesses of vulgar materialism-based ideology, but by yet another form of colonisation: the deeply structured hyper-modernised subliminal ideology derived from the structurally and historically violent image and symbolism of the keris. From the feudalism of the Malay kings to the totalitarianism of the psycholinguistic and philosophical-psychological strategies of mental conditioning, control, and containment of Biro Tata Negara we see the transformation of the Malay mind. In relation to the (George) Orwellian-isation of the Malay world, physically and psychologically - the keris is a symbol of violence. Contrary to how many a Malay historian would romanticise the keris, it is a symbol of historical violence akin to the modern day symbol of the rifle wielded by Charlton Heston for the National Rifle Association, or by the tyrant Godfather-movies-loving Saddam Hussein during his glorious days of cigar-smoking Tikrit/tribalistic celebrations. The hyper-modern Malay continued to be shackled by feudalistic-inspired institutions of thought-control – institutions that are successful in its total quality management (TQM) of fear through specialised and stylised language. Language and power Language shapes thought and defines consciousness and from this, the material landscape of human control takes shape. Language can never be neutral. In it contains, ala (Noam) Chomskyian analysis, the deep structure of dominance. Human languages have built-in cybernetic codes, signs, symbolism, and signification to transform human beings into powerful beings, and into gods, and demi-gods. The more archaic and most jealously protected the language is, the faster it will become extinct. Sanskrit, Akkadian, Sumerian, Andamanese, and Aramaeic suffered through this process. Language that glorifies demi-gods and the high and mighty amongst human beings become extinct through the process of self-destruction of the inner contradiction. With Fate and the Divine conspiring, the subaltern narrative overthrows the Grand narrative. Language contains gate-keeping mechanism to include or exclude others. Language sustains, entertains, appropriates and propagates power relations. The language of law, medicine, engineering, computer science, economics, bio-technology, finance, religion, ethnicity, and any of the manifold variations of modern human activities, excludes the ordinary human beings of less economically-privileged class. Thus, a farmer, a padi planter, a shopkeeper, a factory worker, a beggar, a rubber tapper, a taxi driver and those who labour in institutions created by the more linguistically powerful and articulate in society become the "silent majority"; one who will become losers in this complex game of language called "life". Language, parallel to the development of capitalism and consciousness, creates the modern caste system with the newly-conditioned pariahs becoming the urban poor enslaving themselves for the benefit of the postmodern state; one that employs "feel good language of economic progress" deployed to maintain social control so that the lowest of the caste will not see the reality they are in. Unable to perceive the reality they are in, they fail to cognitively liberate themselves. As French sociologist Michel deCerteu would say, language and power is embedded in the "practice of daily lives". Language creates spaces of knowledge and power between the oppressor and the oppressed – through a complex matrix of dominance. There is language of oppression in the daily signs and symbols and in the institutions that govern humanity. Language, as a system of signs and symbols, permeates consciousness in all spheres of human activity - from how one addresses the King to the language of borrowing Michel Foucault "panopticon and synopticon" of international corporate domination embalmed in the highway billboards along the road to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Photos of the traditional rulers, prime ministers, and state leaders that adorn offices, classrooms, or any public places are meant to colonise our consciousness into accepting power relations, in this linguistic game designed to have those with "official, standard, and neo-archaic" language wins. The losers will kowtow to those who are more articulate in this game. One must imagine the Malay Sisyphus happy, as the Algerian Nobel Laureate Albert Camus would say. Liberate from language The Malays have suffered through the blindness of their own language; one that contains the seeds of destruction that numbs the human mind into subservience. The various forms of addresses of the Malay signify the class and caste divisions within the Malay society. What is termed as "respect" in the utterances, addresses, and salutations is anti-egalitarian and preserved to maintain the hegemony of the neo-feudalistic ruling class. However corrupt a leader is, one still uses the language of "respect" to honour even the most dishonourable leader who has plundered the wealth of the nation for his/her family to enjoy more respect and honour maintained through specialised and stylised language. All the titles given to the rakyat are a form of language power play that ensures the maintenance of hegemony, masking the structure of dominance. 'For whom does respect serve?' – is the essential question for us all. Such is the predicament of the mind of the Malay. Unless we learn how to deconstruct language of dominance and create newer frontiers of understanding power, ideology and totalitarianism and next deconstruct language so that it may gracefully evolve into one that reflects a class-less and caste-less society – the predicament will remain. The Algerian revolutionary thinker and psychiatrist, Albert Memmi would advocate the study of the relationship between the coloniser and the colonised through the use of language. But how is the restructuring of social language possible? What will happen to our class and neo-feudalistic system if the "silently reproduced" Malays revolt against the language that oppresses them and release themselves from what American literary critic Frederic Jameson would call "the prison-house of language" built out of the spirit of the keris? – a symbol of semiotic-feudalistic violence propagated as a symbol of "amanah" or trust? Must we have faith in such a symbol as the keris? Or is it all about economic dominance from time immemorial? From the use of the name "Iskandar (Dzulkarnain)"/Alexander the Great in the names of traditional rulers to the embalmation and enhancement of feudal glory to the name "Iskandar Development Region" in mystifying/masking local and international corporate domination through mega-real estate projects that do not benefit the poor, we see the game of semiotics taking shape in the history of consciousness. In-between this periodisation contains the waves of structural violence masked by language. For whom does the keris serve? This is the question the Malay linguist and historian and anthropologist of the keris must help us answer. Let us discuss this image of power/ideology/geneology: the keris. As a child were all told not to play with sharp objects. Comments (52)  ... written by malsia1206, April 27, 2008 00:22:46 We would leave the keris symbol for what it represents to all the Malay scholars to discuss and debate on. But we cannot ignore the fact that, for whatever it represents to the eyes and in the minds of the Malays, the Hisham incident in which it was unsheathed and waved in those given circumstances had caused a srong sense of uneasiness among other sections of the Malaysian communities. That is putting it rather mildly. For example, the Crucifix is a symbol of the Christian faith because Jesus was crucified. If it had been demonstrated in such-like manner, I would guess the Muslim community would likewise be offended. The symbol is one thing. The manner it was presented in those sensitive circustances in the eyes of the other communities IS THE ISSUE at hand. What it symbolises should not be used as a clarification to step aside the concern. report abuse disagree 2 agree 49 ... written by DatoSeri, April 27, 2008 01:03:25 I am confident that the kris itself is not a problem to the Non-Malays, the problem is UMNO always touting Ketuanan Melayu and the administration of segregation through classification of bumiputra privileges. While all these are happening, raising the kris plus what's being said by some UMNO dumb ministers such as "soaking it with Chinese blood" is then worked up the Non-Malays. Imagine if our Chinese friends do the same, raising their swords and asking for equal treatment from government, any of Malay not fighting back and condemning? This is unforgivable in multiracial community, especially committed by leaders of a country. report abuse disagree 3 agree 90 ... written by Sabahfan, April 27, 2008 01:25:06 Go back into the history of Malaya. wasnt the keris the weapon that early pirates used to invade malaya?? report abuse disagree 6 agree 23 ... written by Bunda, April 27, 2008 01:44:21 Do you know that when a new Agong is crowned, he traditionally unsheathes the keris and kisses it? But, the current Agong did not do so. When he was presented with the keris, he just took it with both hands and kissed it while it was still sheathed in its scabbard. Now, that is our current Agong. He knew how sensitive the issue had become because of the stupidity of Kerismudding (is this nickname going to haunt him forever?). Therefore, when previously it would not have even made anyone blink, this time he decided not to unsheathe the keris. Daulat Tuanku!! Daulat Tuanku!! Daulat Tuanku!!  report abuse disagree 1 agree 68 ... written by Motherchell, April 27, 2008 02:39:49 What if UMNO won a landslide -- would he apologize ???????????? So why do we need to forgive him when he lived on the conforts of the Rakyat from his fathers days ------ dont tell me he is kurang ajar---- cant he think for the education he had --- lucky Baztdar------ dare he sayt this now ????????? Better he join the perverts , Murderers, rapists and corrupted animals of the UMNO ZOOO!!!! report abuse disagree 1 agree 36 ... written by FFT, April 27, 2008 04:10:14 Doc, I think one important component of a Republic of Virtue is calling a spade a spade. So what say you that future UMNO Youth leaders wield the crutch instead? I believe it is as pregnant with symbolic meaning, if not more, than a little knife.  report abuse disagree 0 agree 93 ... written by smalluncle, April 27, 2008 04:24:20 All of us are so cheese off by the Object, the Keris. I for one quite like the keris as a symbol on flags, logos for its unique and we can easily associate it as Malaysian. The REAL issue here is when some bad mouth fellow uttered STUPID words like " I will bathe them in......" " when are you going to use it " " Hidup Melayu [are U hinting other should mati?]" and so on. To make matter worst, No ONE, No One from the TOP stop this provcative action only until they lost 2/3 in the last PRU12. And the one who said "mandi mandikan", over the TV last night, make no mentioned he is the pioneer on the Keris usheathing added with the bad comments. And he is not apologatic to what he has started. So WHO STARTED THE FIRE? Do you want this arson to be your country No.1???? report abuse disagree 2 agree 36 ... written by doggone, April 27, 2008 04:31:59 Ah, Dr. Azly. You never fail to entertain and enlighten as usual. Now, if only you were a Pakatan Rakyat's MP that you may straighten the wavy-blade issue for those who can't dance in Parliament. Of cos it would be to the disadvantage of the people if you succumb to the temptation of the sweet gravy of, and, in power. But I guess you have too good a heart for that. I like your write ups. report abuse disagree 0 agree 14 ... written by capcomangel, April 27, 2008 09:54:16 era tamadun already.still used weapon.i know it was a bahan warisan,but how also it was a killing object and not a fruit cutting knife..u should keep it safely for younger generation see..but why have to used it and wielding it publicly..try look at western.have they used sword to wielding? just the king do so.now take a look at eartern such as china,japan,south korea.have the used it? and now take a look at west asia those arab country.they used sword? no they use gun and rocket.now can u reconize wat mean is violence actling or danger object? put down ur weapon and start build a peace country. report abuse disagree 0 agree 7 ... written by chanatak, April 27, 2008 10:11:00 plus what's being said by some UMNO dumb ministers such as "soaking it with Chinese blood" Let us look at the UMNO mindset. It is a stubborn, blinkered and blinded mind, steeped in pure arrogance, awakening momentarily only this time when prodded endlessly by barbed attacks, to mutter a meaningless sorry for the wrong reason. Hishammuddin apology is no apology to the people. He is not sorry for what he has done, but rather sorry for the negative results it had on him and UMNO. We all can see thru that. So it was a wasted effort. Now let us look at the UMNO mindset in this respect more clearly based on the "bathe in blood" vulgarity. Look at the person who voiced that vulgarity. Has the person voluntarily come out of the shell yet to say sorry out of a sudden awakening of remorse? NO! He sees no need to. Only Hishammuddin has the bad luck of being targetted so violently for his keris antics. So that perpetrator is showing the typical UMNO arrogance. It will take another round of violent protestations against him to make him to it. The protestation will need to adversely affect his political ambitions before he does it. And so, if he does eventually apologize, will the rakyat by then accept his apology? NO! Because he would have apologized for the wrong reason. He apologized for his own sake. That is not what the rakyat wants. See why UMNO fails? report abuse disagree 3 agree 32 ... written by PR Msia, April 27, 2008 10:37:00 A symbol of barbarian's act. How if a Chinese waives a weapon of sword? How if an Indian waves a weapon of a M-16? I dun believe educated people will do this to show supremency. Krismudin, respect is earn not through waiving of kris. report abuse disagree 1 agree 27 ... written by YSL, April 27, 2008 10:51:32 It was so obvious that a weaked man's act to boost his own silly and bastard thinking. He was, is and will be a weaked man!!!!!!!!!!!!! Prediction, he knew his cousin's case with the Mongolian case..... report abuse disagree 1 agree 11 ... written by Toyolbuster, April 27, 2008 11:16:59 The Keris like any other weapons can be regarded as symbols of power, protection, strength and terror. Depending on how we present them, and the manner we demonstrate. With the body language and words accompanying the "symbol", there could be hundreds of interpretation. The point in question about Hisham's act, was clearly a demonstration of power, ego and threat. His apology was not, I repeat NOT sincere. He gave in 10% and took back 100%. A typical racist he is and you just can't change a leopard's spots. Mahathir and Najib are just as racist. Not forgetting the current sex maniac JJ who is a master racist. report abuse disagree 1 agree 17 ... written by sactyr, April 27, 2008 14:04:49 Having the keris as the UMNO logo is not the problem. The problem is when certain political figure misuse it by waving the keris in the air and saying "The Keris shall flow of Chinese blood". Thats exactly where the problem starts. report abuse disagree 1 agree 28 ... written by Loh, April 27, 2008 14:24:54 ///For whom does the keris serve? This is the question the Malay linguist and historian and anthropologist of the keris must help us answer./// The Keris can serve as a flag, as what a flag serves. But the controversy is not the Keris, it is the intention of the person using the keris. The intention has to be discerned from the occassion it was used and the person using it. The person signifies the position he held, and the occassion has to be associated with the objective of the gathering. When the occasion was to defend the position of the nation, the Keris is the symbol of uniting the nationals against foreign power. But when the occasion is for furthering the interest of a group within many in the country, the Keris signifies war against other groups whose interests are not included for protection at the occasion. The Keris can remain on the flag of UMNO, but UMNO should not treat non-UMNO members their enemies. UMNO should motivate its members to do the right thing, to have respect for righteousness, civility and fair play. It should not promote the idea of unity in terms of vote casting at election, rather it should be unity of efforts for the progress of the nation in social and economic development. report abuse disagree 1 agree 13 ... written by tuanlokong, April 27, 2008 15:00:14 The writer is right.... I am still curious why DAP have rocket  and not a mustang or any....  report abuse disagree 0 agree 4 ... written by humanist, April 27, 2008 15:29:58 Azly, I felt UMNO logo should be better changed to a "Songkok" over a "Book". Songkok being symbol of Malay Gentleman-ness and Book being the progressive and learned intellectuals. That should be the true Malay the representation Malaysia. Not some some gangster with a sharp weapons. Albert See report abuse disagree 1 agree 9 ... written by PR Msia, April 27, 2008 16:05:57 Malaysia today should have logo of eye and ear. Freedom of speech and independent news.  report abuse disagree 1 agree 3 ... written by Milo, April 27, 2008 16:22:59 Many of the commenters are right about the issue of the keris, probably because of its obviousness. It was NEVER about the Keris or whether it is a symbol for the malay. A Keris is just a neutral object like any others - it is people who gives it meanings and symbolism. If say, UMNO held a National silat contest where all the contestents exhibit the keris and the Keris is used as a ceremonial item, I don't think any non-malay will be offended or feel threaten at all. This would be the same case if the Kung Fu sword is exhibited in a sport event. But when our Hisham fella start giving the Keris ugly prominence in a political platform and in a threatening way and urged on by the members to 'use' it impliedly against the non-malay, it is an entirely different context. The intention is clearly to frighten the non-malays into submission, i.e. not to raise issues even if they are legitimate. The incident was so ugly that even my malay friends were embarassed by it. As a result of the actions, the Keris has now come to symbolise ARROGRANCE, ABUSE OF POWER, UNFAIRNESS, etc in the minds of many people - both within and without UMNO. Thanks to the silly actions of a few leaders, the symbol of the Keris is now stuck with such unsavoury characteristic. report abuse disagree 0 agree 25 ... written by aryn, April 27, 2008 16:23:44 No, the 'keris' is not a symbol of violence. It's the way the person who waives it, is. The Agong raises the keris during his coronation and we Malaysians know what it symbolises. When Umno politicians do it, they cry 'ketuanan Melayu' and meant to incite. That's the problem. report abuse disagree 0 agree 19 ... written by wag the dog, April 27, 2008 16:53:19 Mother Malaysia - Tanah Tumpahnya Darahku Visit www.wagthedog-malaysia.blogspot.com for details. report abuse disagree 1 agree 2 ... written by miwaki, April 27, 2008 18:00:28 It's not the kris that matters,it's the heart of Hisap-putin.It's stink ! report abuse disagree 0 agree 8 ... written by Kcc, April 27, 2008 20:34:17 On Hishamuddin Hussein's apology: Is the keris a symbol of violence?- any weapon (the keris, sword, dagger) could be a symbol or either violence, bravery or defence. Which symbol is used by Hishammuddin and UMNO? I think it's more a symbol of defence...the defenders of Malay Rights...or Ketuanan Melayu. Hishammuddin has made his apology. Why now and not when the fuss was at its climax? I guess he came to his senses real late, and with UMNO elections coming up, he certainly doesn't want to look bad or lose his position. Whatever it is, he has apologised, and we have to continue with our lives as usual until another idiot does or says something stupid. report abuse disagree 2 agree 5 ... written by harrbm, April 27, 2008 22:31:07 > > Dear Dr. Azly, I disagree with you completely. No need for UMNO (Malays) to change it's logo. Malays have been oppressed for hundreds of years. The "spirit of the keris" have liberated them. The Apple Computer changed its logo for want of money. Its not the same for Malays. ( are you stupid or what?) And it's a stupid and coward thing for Hisham to apologize. Why? Do you want me deliberate? Let me know. cheers. > < report abuse disagree 15 agree 3 ... written by yeechut, April 28, 2008 00:25:27 The keris – like any other symbolic objects – means whatever meaning attributed to it by common convention/consensus. As such it could also be taken to be a symbol of courage and dignity, and I don’t think anybody will have any problems with it. The real problem with this saga was the circumstance and intention in which the keris-waving was being conducted – which was completely contrary to the projected meaning of courage and dignity. I find Hisham apologies to be utter offensive. On the one hand he apologized to the non-Malays about his keris waving act, and on the same breadth he apologized to the Malay for failing to protect the dignity of the keris! Come on – the non-Malays never had any problems with the keris and what it represents to begin with. There was never a challenge to the Malay race! It was the ultra-radical and provocative stance associated with the keris-waving incidents that was objectionable. Hisham apologies were simply a lot of bullshit. It is the same BN bullshit that spin everything into a racial issue. I also wrote about it here: humblevoice.blogspot.com report abuse disagree 1 agree 8 ... written by yeechut, April 28, 2008 00:26:46 http://humblevoice.blogspot.com/ report abuse disagree 0 agree 1 ... written by Dr Azly Rahman, April 28, 2008 01:04:19 Dear "hrrmm" Good response. You wrote: ".. Dear Dr. Azly, I disagree with you completely. No need for UMNO (Malays) to change it's logo. Malays have been oppressed for hundreds of years. The "spirit of the keris" have liberated them. The Apple Computer changed its logo for want of money. Its not the same for Malays. ( are you stupid or what?) And it's a stupid and coward thing for Hisham to apologize. Why? Do you want me deliberate? Let me know. cheers. " --------------------------------------------------- Please deliberate/elaborate on how the Malays has been oppressed for hundreds of years and why the violent symbol is necessary. Please also explain how the definition of "Malay" evolved. Others please contribute as well -- it's great question. report abuse disagree 2 agree 11 ... written by yeechut, April 28, 2008 01:49:03 For whom does the keris serve? This is the question the Malay linguist and historian and anthropologist of the keris must help us answer. In this particular instant - it is blatantly obvious that it is being perverted by a small group of policiticians as a tool to incite racial sentiments. We don't need linguist and historian and whatnots to tell us that. The rakyat has spoken loud and clear in GE12 that we dont want any more of that bullshit. report abuse disagree 0 agree 4 ... written by campuras, April 28, 2008 08:52:04 The Kris is not a symbol of violence. It is a symbol of historical heritage importance. Our country's historical folk lore is full of it and we should be proud of its symbolism. But in the hand of of wrong person with violent intention, it becomes a symbol of violence. The world and our country in particular has gome through many periods of extreme violences. Our country has moved on and is now a civil, educated, prosperous and modern country. We do not view and cannot accept violence and violent intention lightly. Any violence and violent intention is against another person liberty, well being and human right. It is least to say against the law. This man whose name is too violent to be mention has violence intention and does not deserve to continue to hold the position of an MP or to that matter any public position or any position. This country has no room for such a violent man. If he has any pride and dignity, he must resign. The perty that he belongs has not said a word whether they support or find his statement extremely offensive and repugnant. This only implies that its leaders and members condone and support his violent intention or has violent intentions themselves. What type of civil and right thinking political party that support and has such intention in our modern, civil and educated society. This type of party has not right of existence in our country. UMNO leadership must come out from its shell and state its position. report abuse disagree 0 agree 8 ... written by Raymond, April 28, 2008 10:50:50 The keris is a weapon of legacy. It's symbolic of an era that has past. It has nothing to do with the Malays struggle now. The oppressor are the politicians. There are no race (not the chinese nor the indians opressing the Malays). And UMNO does not represent teh Malay's. That is their claim only. Check reality, only UMNOputera's has beenfited from their policies. The NEP has made a whole generation of Malays over dependant on government handouts, they are not able to compete effectively internationally without government subsidees and guarantees. Continued, Malaysia will only survive as long as we have Petronas money. So the correct symbol for UMNO would be a SKUNK... becasue their policies STINK, and they have the smell of CORRUPT ROT. report abuse disagree 0 agree 4 ... written by noyawns, April 28, 2008 11:01:46 I respect the symbols of any race, religion, etc - so the keris per se is not offensive. If one marches dignifiedly, regally handles (and even kiss) the keris in a ceremony such as the coronation of our DYMM Agung - no one has ever thought of it as anything but dignified. What Hishamuddin (and KJ and Najib -earlier) did was unsheath it, wave it around, get the crowd worked up, whipping up a frenzy, and kissing it while shouting and hollering! The crowd responded and then the words "when will you use it", "run amuk", "bathe the keris with chinese blood"...and the leaders of UMNO watch with smiles! Pooh-poohed the concerns raised by their colleagues in component parties and did nothing to rein in the seditious and racially hateful behavious and words. THIS is what smells - not the keris - but the weilder and the manner in which it was used, and the resulting hatred it caused. report abuse disagree 1 agree 10 ... written by harrbm, April 28, 2008 11:49:56 > < dear dr. azli, Thank you for your invitation for me to deliberate/elaborate. I will do so for benefits of all to agree and disagree as well. I will write in the following headings with what little time i have. meanwhile please be a little patient. 1. The Malays in pre malaya and then malaysia. 2. The keris and malay traditions/cultures. 3. Hishammudin: what was in his malay mind. 4. Hishamuddin apology. What it means to Malays. 5. Malays and the Keris after GE 12. > < report abuse disagree 11 agree 1 ... written by Milo, April 28, 2008 14:01:48 Ordinarily, the keris is a non-issue with anybody. It is just a humble weapon with some history behind. Even for the malays, it is a thing of no big deal, or else they would carry it around everyday. It is just some dumb smart-ass UMNO politicians trying out the same old stuff to frighten the non-malays into submission using the youth platform. That intention is as clear as water in an unpoluted stream. THAT is the issue. Nothing to do with malay or the keris - just those stupid leaders who claim they represent the malays, thus smearing the reputation of the malays and the keris with their unthinking actions. As for changing the logo of UMNO, don't bother the non-malays; it is the internal issue of UMNO. As long as nothing is used to threaten others, including using culture as an excuse, no one cares. UMNO, especially those sam seng under the current leadership, are so used to creating imaginary enemies and making them the scrapgoat for their own agenda. Remove these sam sengs and everyone will be at peace - Keris or no Keris. Have some common sense when talking about your culture. It is a chinese culture to pray to dieties and during celebration by having a roasted pig as a "must have" delicacy item. Would the malay vote for MCA if they change their logo to a roasted pig? Or maybe, they display a big fat pig in one of their celebration dinner when the the PM is the guest of honour? Are these okay, since it is a chinese culture? I say, get rid of these leaders and leave the poor Keris alone! report abuse disagree 1 agree 4 ... written by panca, April 28, 2008 18:31:45 Is all about that BIG FAT EGO, goons associated with brandishing a 'weapon' is more to be seen as going to war, a racial war. (I suggest kerismuddin go watch and get some cinema entertainment, the 3 kingdoms now showing for some resurrection by once China war hero, Zhao Zilong played by Andy Lau "the weapon he carries"). For kerismuddin case is 'erection' if is not too distant on the definition of that phallic piece he continuously did and in the state of denial for the last two umno assembly and then calling it "DE-SENSITIZING the non-Malays, esp. to the Chinese has opposed for his racist arrogance behaviour; blood-thisty, not too far of the mark" I hope he reads this! Forgive - yes, don't give(tak boleh!) Forget? Who can forget a National Leader who set a 'good example'? A national leader who supposed to pride himself holding then the portfolio of "Education Minister" for all races yet set a sickening behavior condoned by the umno goons! His apology came very much late. Besides it is not for us to forgive his actions because he had made successfully himself the ICON of the keris he proudly brandish. Had he and umno not defeated badly , he would be still brandishing it and deny his undoings! Yes, we can forgive him and surely we will soon forget him too. Malaysians, in particular the minority races want to forget this ill episodes and wants to forget about him doing it. .....And Best is to forget him in total from political arena. report abuse disagree 0 agree 4 ... written by PasarRoad, April 28, 2008 18:56:45 It is not the keris per se which pissed of the rakyat (all Malaysians). Its what was said and the message intended. If this keris crazed man had not intended to hurt the feelings of Malaysians, he would have stopped the delegates who stood up and called for a bloodbath. No, indeed, it was quite clear when Hisamuddin brandished (not waved!)the keris, it was intended to intimidate. I certainly would not want a man like him to manage the affairs of my country. Could you imagine him, brandishing the keris, if he is called upon to diplomatically fend off any accusations by Amnesty International? Or worse, rattle the keris at World Wildlife Fund officials because they might criticise us for overlogging? After all, as he said, he brandished the keris to protect "ALL" Malaysians. Hey, I don't want a crazyman, with a fetish for knives and swords to represent my country. God forbid that we should ever have a future PM like him, much less a minister. Assuming that Pakatan Rakyat fails to run the country properly or in some other way disppointed the rakyat, when the next election comes around; I'd doubt the rakyat would see BN as a choice candidate, as long as keris brandishing amoks are members of BN, crooks and thieves. So to begin the journey to rejuvenating the BN party, BN must first realize that the rakyat is now 50 years and has matured. BN too, must grow up and grow up fast. As you evolve, discard the useless amoks and thieves. What better time than now to kick out the likes of Hisamuddin, Muhammad Muhammad, Khairy, Ong Ka Ting, Ong Ka Chuan, incarcerate the rabid Samy Vellu in Hospital Bahagia, etc etc. When all the cleaning is done, come back and talk to us, the rakyat. If not, kiss the next two elections goodbye. report abuse disagree 0 agree 2 ... written by panca, April 28, 2008 18:57:11 Kerismuddin....in the end war has more purpose to feed the similar FAT EGO you brandished! "IF A MAN SHOULD CONQUER IN A BATTLE A THOUSAND AND A THOUSAND MORE, AND ANOTHER SHOULD CONQUER HIMSELF, HIS WOULD BE THE GREATER VICTORY BECAUSE THE GREATEST OF VICTORIES IS THE VICTORY OVER ONESELF" - BUDDHA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...re=related report abuse disagree 0 agree 4 ... written by bikerzon, April 28, 2008 19:24:10 Keris by itself, I don't think it causes any harm. Even in our national symbol/logo, we have keris on display. But it is the bearer with their action that incited the motion of violence, such as waivering the keris while chanting the racist remarks. That causes violence. It is sad that we have such a leader that can act in such way. report abuse disagree 0 agree 5 ... written by shan, April 28, 2008 21:27:37 Whatever the symbol that is place on the coat of armour is just symbolic of the manifastation of the kind of enery you wanna derive from the symbol.(Hindu cosmic science) During war,to pchyche the soldiers,symbol which instill fear into the enemy are placed on the coat of arms. Is Umno going to war anytime for them to have the kris in their coat of arms,.?. This was intentionally put by the foundering fathers to encourage the growth of the party to vidicate the british gomen.But our latter day fools misinterprete these symbol.,.thus making a bloody fool of themselves. report abuse disagree 0 agree 4 ... written by glock17, April 29, 2008 17:40:25 Dear Sir, Keris 101 :- A keris is a sharp edge dagger (design with crooked or wave in body length) with the sole purposed of causing serious nasty mortal wounds to its victims. With a longer length, the keris is capable of deadly slashes (example the long keris Panca Warisan waived by Kerismuddin), thus creating more bloodbath (sounds familiar???) When unsheath by any person(s)..may it be a silat exponent, a bomoh in trance, a mental nut case, an angry amok psycho or even in the hand of a minister...it is still consider a very a deadly weapon. When the person starts foaming racist or xenophobic threat while waving it in full view of an audience or blind narrow-minded loyal followers...this is tantamount to dealy subversion or the act of igniting a homicidal spree. If you do it in any western civilisation, the law enforcer has the right to put you in jail or worst , you can even end up in the morgue if things get out of control. Sadly, in Boleh Land....things are easily be forgiven just because you are a high ranking minister in a racist ruling political party that have no qualms using threat, abuses or in-direct blackmailing against its innocent hard press minorities for the past 50 years or so. Anyway, not to sway away from the above topic, yes...a Keris Is A Deadly Weapon of confrontation and bore violent aggresion to its victim...it is not design for the kitchen to cut chilly, poultry or kangkung. It is specially designated to maimed, wound and kill with extreme prejudice. I rest my case. Glock17 report abuse disagree 1 agree 5 ... written by ladasiber, April 29, 2008 18:20:50 If umno were to change its emblem/logo (or whatever), they should use the symbol RM. After all they have a very suitable mascot for that, R----- M----- report abuse disagree 1 agree 2 ... written by hanzz, April 30, 2008 05:37:49 the way hishamuddin wield the keris was more of a provocation act...shame on him. kudos to the agong during his highness' ceremony. anyway...every race has its own traditional weapon or a symbol...its there right and i don't want to know more. but if a good leader wants to show/wield it or what ever...a good thing that he/she should say is like; 'with this (keris/aruval/guan daos) i would protect the country regardless of race and everyone is under the protection of that symbol' report abuse disagree 0 agree 0 ... written by cheekhiaw, April 30, 2008 13:20:04 HISHAM'S FAMILY TRADITIONS What symbol of violence? They traditionally used to use that crooked knive to cut padi and trees to build houses. At least Hishamuddin's forefathers probably did. Dumb may be but who is to say it was not their culture. xxx report abuse disagree 0 agree 0 ... written by cruzeiro, April 30, 2008 14:30:22 Doc, Very nice indeed. Most people go on in their lives oblivious of the influence that "languange" has on their lives. The transformation of the language used by OMNO Baru to disseminate "information" to its faithful has almost successfully enslaved the Malay (and consequently all Malaysians) to the whims and fancies of the existing warlords. The sad part is, many of them have begun believing the lies fed to them about their history, heritage and rights - even the "Nons" are included here. The public (still a large proportion of them), being oblivious to the evils that they are faced with are quite apprehensive about UMNO Baru losing power. With regard to your proposal on a new symbol that might be "peaceful", maybe they can consider FFT's suggestion of a crutch, or even a vibrating plastic phallus (considering their sexist/patriachal hierarchy) which would fit quite nicely in FFT's image in place of the crutch. Cheers, Doc. report abuse disagree 0 agree 0 ... written by cruzeiro, April 30, 2008 14:32:00 Lovely images, FFT ... I'll put it up on my blog! report abuse disagree 0 agree 0 ... written by das, April 30, 2008 16:23:49 Considering vedic rules, the Keris(weapon) should only be held by a Kshatriya (kingly) class of men. Kshatriya means one who protects others from harm. It is meant for protection against adharma (irreligious) elements. One without Kshatriya qualities may not know how to use a weapon. As such the Kingly class are best since they are trained from birth about weapons and managing countries. Sastra means weapon Saastra means scriptures. Finally it is the intellectual class who will advice the Ksatriya (kingly) class. So Saastra is always needed. Knowledge of weapons can only be applicable to a person as long as his body is able. But knowledge of scriptures will grow better by time till the time of death. It eventually becomes wisdom and all will bow to it automatically. The example of Bhisma is evident. report abuse disagree 0 agree 0 ... written by educationist, May 01, 2008 03:09:58 "The Malay traditional Malay keris -- like Malaysia's proposal of the East Asia Economic Caucus (EAEC) -- , is a weapon of mass confrontation and has evolved in this postmodern era into a symbol of mass deception." My apologies but I thought that the EAEC had more or less died a premature death so I'm not sure how it linked with the keris. Anyway, an apology ought to be sincere and I'm not sure Hishammuddin's apology comes from the heart. But it matters not, as the rakyat has passed their verdict , yet he's fortunate to escape the political tsunami of March 8th. report abuse disagree 0 agree 0 ... written by my2cents, May 02, 2008 17:37:46 A kitchen knife is a kitchen knife and is classified as a cooking utensil. If however, the cooking utensil is used to stab someone and the person is killed, the cooking utensil is now classified as "the murder weapon". A Keris is a keris in the same light. If it's kissed than its a symbol of sort. However if brandished, it then takes on a different symbol. Is DAP's rocket is placed on a missile launcher, how would the reaction be? report abuse disagree 1 agree 1 ... written by bogeyman, May 03, 2008 17:30:04 written by cruzeiro, April 30, 2008 | 14:30:22 Cruz, I was just thinking the same thing. A dildo would make the perfect symbol. When they run out of idiotic gesturings, they can go f**k themselves with it. report abuse disagree 1 agree 2 ... written by HHKim, May 05, 2008 21:15:02 Look at his dog's face at the photo!! He looks more like baboon than human. As I said earlier, he can kiss the kris until his bloody lips drop; and he can hold his rotten kris until his hands patah, we could'nt be bothered!!! The kris is for his hara-kiri!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Saitan !!! HK report abuse disagree 0 agree 1 ... written by Koleta, May 07, 2008 15:15:48 I have always regarded the keris as a symbol of customary gallantry. I'm 58 years old. Never have i regarded the keris as a weapon when not used as a weapon. I see no reason why Hishhamuddin should apologise. He is just apologising for the misapprehension of some non Malays especially the chinese (the ignorant among them, not the informed and culturally aware). report abuse disagree 3 agree 1 ... written by Fart Fart Wah, May 09, 2008 15:07:11 VIOLENCE IS ROOTED IN ISLAM....SO THE KERIS IS BOTH A SYMBOL OF KETUANAN MELAYU( IS THERE SUCH A THING) AND VIOLENCE IF THE OTHER RACES TALK TOO MUCH..IT IS ATHREAT TO THE OTHER RACES...NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOUEXPLAIN IT IS NOT JUSTIFIABLE.. NO THINKING EDUCATED PERSON WILL NOW DO THIS( SO i QUESTION THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION THE EEEEEEDUCATION MINSITER HAS)... i acccept his apology...but I want the keris to be buried.. I do not want UMNO Lebih DIRAJA MAHARAJALELA..donot want MCA( MAIN CINA ALWAYS) and MIC...( MAKAN INDIA CUKUP)...BLOODY MALAY LEADERS..THEY MAKE THE GOOD MALAYS LOOK LIKE FOOLS...AND THE BLOODY CHINESE LEADERS HAVE WACKED ALL THEY WANTED...AND ONE BIG GANGSTER..MAKAN SEMUA ORANG INDIA... NO MORE UMNODI RAJA MCA OR BLOODY MIC... report abuse disagree 0 agree 1 Write comment This content has been locked. You can no longer post any comment. You must be logged in to a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet. |
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