Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
Malaysiakini : PKR’s Rafizi Ramli, one of the few parliamentarians openly critical of the government, has publicly slammed the MACC probe against him, accusing the PM of allowing allies to weaponise slander against critics.
Academics
like Murray Hunter, who previously taught and lived in Malaysia and is
familiar with what happens behind the scenes, were sued despite commenting from overseas.
Bestinet’s lawsuit against multiple publications (including Malaysiakini), politicians, and individuals demonstrates why people are afraid. Similarly, Azam Baki’s lawsuit against Bloomberg is another example.
When
political dissent risks investigation, reputational attack, or party
retaliation, many citizens understandably choose silence, leaving only a
small, vocal minority willing to openly challenge the government.
They
are real, tangible problems affecting millions of Malaysians every day.
Dismissing them as “petty” risks alienating citizens and minimising the
lived realities of those who experience economic, social, and political
injustice.
While the prime minister calls some issues “petty”,
ordinary Malaysians struggling with job security, rising costs, social
fairness, minority rights, and limited opportunities would strongly
disagree.
For
many Malaysians, like myself, these issues matter, and they are
anything but petty. Anwar cannot simply dismiss our fears and anxieties
in such a flippant manner.
Perhaps the current troubling “ignored”
issue is the MACC nexus, the network of enforcement power, corporate
influence, and political connections that allows systemic abuses to
persist.
This is far from petty. Ignoring the MACC nexus is like
being a homeowner who sees a termite infestation in one corner of the
house but does nothing.
Eventually, the problem spreads, weakens the structure, and can cause the whole house to collapse.
Not‘fringe’ issues
Questions
remain about whether serious governance failures have been adequately
addressed, with critics arguing that law enforcement agencies risk being
perceived as a political instrument, undermining accountability and
sending a chilling message to dissenting voices.
Ordinary
Malaysians witnessing this cannot help but feel their concerns are being
dismissed while powerful figures and allies operate with impunity, with
allegedly corrupt politicians being fully acquitted.
If
this is considered “petty”, it is only in the sense that the prime
minister has redefined what matters, leaving systemic corruption and
abuse unchecked while public anger simmers.
It’s no longer
possible to claim corruption is limited to a small fringe. The armed
forces have been rocked by corruption probes involving top brass whose
actions undermine national security and trust in the military.
Beyond the military, Malaysia’s customs and enforcement agencies have faced scandals where smuggling syndicates and corrupt officers allegedly caused billions in leakages and illegal activities.
Immigration
enforcement has had multiple corruption allegations, too, including
officers arrested over “flying passport” schemes and visa‑related
misconduct. Vulnerabilities in systems meant to protect borders and
human rights are not petty issues.
When police, customs,
immigration, and defence officials - the people entrusted with national
security and law enforcement - face corruption scandals, it is not
fringe anger. It is public anger at a governance system that has failed
to protect ordinary citizens.
Rakyat feeling the pinch
Meanwhile, converts and controversial figures strain Malaysia’s delicate multicultural harmony.
Non-Muslims
face restrictions, and Orang Asli see their ancestral land rights
eroded. Unilateral conversions of minors anger Malaysians and divide
families. Ordinary citizens are left feeling that their voices, rights,
and cultural identities are under threat.
Even if the economy
grows on paper and exporters in sectors like electronics, rubber gloves,
and condoms report strong overseas sales, this doesn’t always translate
into better jobs and security for ordinary workers.
Many workers
feel their livelihoods are threatened by automation and low‑cost migrant
labour, with few high‑quality, sustainable jobs. These are issues that
growth figures alone won’t solve.
Environmental crises, from river
pollution to mismanaged rare earth projects, highlight serious
governance failures and the consequences of neglect.
In October, Sungai Perak around Gerik turned blue. We await the detailed mineral analysis; have the polluter(s) been identified and punished?
Fish died, and humans face risks. Are we supposed to wait indefinitely for an outcome? This is no petty issue.
The waters of Sungai Perak turning blue near Gerik
The
consequences of ignoring our anger are manifold: escalating social
tension, loss of trust, economic stagnation, silenced dissent, erosion
of harmony, and environmental collapse.
The 16th general election
could be decisive. Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, if fully
acquitted, could rise. Many may cling to Anwar, not because he’s
effective, but because the alternative seems worse.
So, the real anger is not a few. The majority feel unheard. Ignoring these issues risks deepening discontent and eroding trust.
Leadership is not just about encouraging investment. It is about making growth inclusive, fair, and sustainable.
Address grievances and deliver real solutions. It is essential for peace, prosperity, and survival, including Anwar’s.
