Stand up and Speak up- Light Along the Journey

it's never too late! "you can't give up hope just because it's hopeless. you gotta hope even more, and cover your ears and go bla bla bla." -Phillip J. Fry has a point. i plumed the crash of- hope and despair with my eyes and puny brain. how the government and some of the main stream media had distorted the truth. truth about bersih, truth about lynas, truth about that diamond ring... ...why it's so hard to demand for Clean and Fair election? why it's so hard to demand for clean environment? "kerana nikmat amat lama berkuasa, kuasa pun seolah menjadi hartanya." - Pak Samad- 

As far as i can remember, i was long gone assigned to escort YB Tian Chua towards Teluk Chempedak. it was the first peace rally i'd ever attended, which also marked the first peace rally ever held in the beautiful little town of Kuantan. there's plenty to cheer! quietly! sitting side by side with the person i'd glorify so much about! it felt like the movie "Bodyguards and Assassins", only that, i didn't die.

the NGOs were complaining about political parties hijacked their peace rally, political parties this and that. but what'd the political parties done? picking up the hailer, "Briefing about the situation, chanting for supports, 'Selamatkan Kuantan'." but aren't these parties fighting for a common goal? to stop Lynas. why the necessity of parting what you and me? Children were brave enough to speak up for themselves, but where were my young energetic friends hiding? we need every source of energy to fight for our freedom to clean air.

i'm often frustrated that most of my friends who are always, too terrified to stand up for themselves! what'd happened to the country, society are never up to their sleeves to concern. i'm rather embarrassed that my friends are just gossiping about the issue while mostly were just talking through one's hat. life wasn't always about pussy and money. 

despite experts (chemicals, corrosion science, environmental, radiation) had repeatedly emphasized on how harmful the Lynas Advanced Material Plant to the environment, human, animals. yet, the Pahang Government restlessly sending lobbyists to pursue us, apply ourselves adjusting to the plant. what matters of conscience? just because it's my home, it doesn't mean i have to accept and compliance with the current state. this isn't an issue of Kuantan people but to all the Malaysian citizen out there.

long ignoring the lesson of Papan, Bukit Merah in the 90's, "those who can't remember the past are condemned to repeat it"? so, what is all this then? repeating the same script? many years till date, Mitsubishi is still unable to cleanup the radiation aftermath of Papan dump-site. 8 leukemia cases within 5 years in a community of 11,000. 7 of the leukemia victims have since died. yet, the government is gambling onto another rare earth processing plant.

i have my rights to live in a hazard free environment, i have my rights to protect my home, i have my rights to free air, i have my rights. i told myself, brimming with faith to "Stop Lynas Solidarity Walk", believing that my government would have heard our cries.

STOP LYNAS! i cried; we cried.
Did the Government also went cover their ears and go bla bla bla?

why should we care about social issue? as it's directly or indirectly affected us without you knowing it and it starts from education. during my years in public high school, some teachers had their teaching method in a wrongful way, intimidating students with punishments. but why haven't we stood up for ourselves? telling the educators, 'this is wrong'? because we were often too timid of punishment? does it means we should keep quiet when teachers were wrong? does it means we have to plant our head in the ground when ISA or EO detained your close ones? BUT why weren't you support PSM to free EO6 then?

i was once accused of intentional pushing a student onto the smashing window, and the discipline teacher had me signing a confession sheet of the wrong doing. i stood up and told him, it wasn't intentional, if i signed i die; if i don't sign i doomed with dignity. i walked out regardless the consequences. i was then lug on the bad student 'fame', and eventually lost my vice president post in school club. nonetheless, stood up for yourself often separated with a thin line with rebellious, it would easily misfired. conscience will keep you uplifted.

along the 5 months battle, we have talks, forums, peace rallies, activities, events... started in Kuantan right to the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Up until recently, we had finally held the first ever, environmental talk about Lynas in University level, 27th July at MMU, Cyberjaya. as vital as it is to expose undergraduates to social issues, embrace lively as the oxygen we breathe. don't be afraid my friend, my conscience tells me to stand up for myself.

Stand up and Speak up, my friends
Don't let the authorities curb your enthusiasm 

Regards,
JW


P/s: with my mastermind fled east to save Kuantan, my another comrade broke loose up North, i was left drifting without oar. i need some volunteers to run some errands to arrange talks in Uni, College or public. it'll be one of the worst job in the world without pay, but you'll live like a legend for saving Malaysia.

greet me an email_ heejennwei@yahoo.com