I have been watching the news (read: not propagandas) that covers last Sunday’s rally by the HINDRAF representatives. If you are still getting your only source of news from The Stars, News Straits Times, or Nanyang Siang Pau, I can only feel sorry for you. For your own sake, Google “Hindraf Rally” and see the truth for yourself. You have no more excuse of being misinformed.

What is the HINDRAF Rally all about? One thing’s for sure, it’s not an attempt to blackmail the United Kingdom for monetary ransoms, which has been twisted by our most read newspaper. It’s so twisted that I am ashamed to even admit I was once subscribed to The Stars a decade ago, while I was still a secondary school student…How long do they think they can still mislead the people? From a business perspective, they are conning their consumers, and companies whose business models are built on such shaky foundations don’t last very long. Unless of course, your main business is not to inform the public, but as the marketing medium for a particular organization.

Having attended the Bersih Rally myself, what I can see from the videos on YouTube depicts a much more violence and aggressive stance by the authorities. It’s almost like the proverbial Goliath and David face-off. The only advantage David had this time was international coverage, which reported the supposedly peaceful rally without any bias.

Okie, here’s to summarize on what I’ve read so far.

Farish A. Noor’s article at Malaysia Today will give you a clear historical snapshot behind the intent of the Rally.

Prominent blogger Jeff Ooi’s coverage on the Hindraf Rally.

Nat’s eye-witness coverage on the event. You might weep after reading this one, due to the amount of tear gas used in the story…

To me, I believe the Rally has been a successful one, albeit facing fierce clamp downs and unreasonable use of force by the authorities. The world now can truly see how the Malaysian government handles freedom of expression and how democracy is truly “practiced” in this multi-ethnic country.

To my Indian brothers who walked the street on that fateful Sunday, I salute your courage.

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