One fine day
113,846 SIGNATURES were collected for the petition urging the United States to intervene over the conviction and imprisonment of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on a sodomy charge.
The petition reads: We the People want the United States to make release of the opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim a top priority for US policy towards Malaysia.
We the People is an online platform allowing people to call on the Obama administration to take action on a range of issues. And for the White House to respond, the requirement is a minimum of 100,000 signatures garnered within 30 days.
One fine day in March, We the People managed to meet the minimum requirement ahead of its March 12 deadline. Perhaps by design, the Oval Office -- also on a fine day -- issued an official response to the petition, condemning the conviction of Anwar on the said charge.
Part of the statement reads: “The United States is deeply disappointed with Mr Anwar’s conviction following a government appeal of the original verdict finding him not guilty. The United States and Malaysia have built a strong “comprehensive partnership” and we remain committed to expanding our cooperation on shared economic and security challenges, affecting our countries’ interests in Asia and globally.
“At the same time, we have and will continue to urge the government to apply the rule of law fairly, transparently and apolitically in order to promote confidence in Malaysia’s democracy, judiciary, and economy.
“History has shown that countries that uphold the human rights of all their citizens -- regardless of their political affiliation, ethnicity, race, religion, or sexual orientation -- are ultimately more prosperous and more stable.” Now, is that all? What’s the next step? I was not among the over 100,000 signatories but I almost fell from my chair over the response which appeared almost entirely identical to the White House’s initial comments on Anwar’s conviction on February 10. The response was a complete letdown to many -- no doubt about it -- as it was not even as strong as the initial reaction which expressly stated the US would make the release of Anwar a top priority in its foreign policy towards Malaysia.
PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli was kind when he said: “I think the White House and the international community should do more.”
But he did not elaborate what more should the White House do or what he thought US should do.
When Nurul Izzah was arrested this week, the US decided it was another fine day to express its disappointment, and encouraged Malaysia to take steps to apply the rule of law fairly, transparently, and apolitically in order to promote confidence in Malaysia’s democracy, judiciary and economy.
Indeed, one observer commented: “You guys (the US) keep saying you are concerned. Has anything been done? No. The truth doesn’t lie. Stop playing golf with our dear PM.”
Should petition for international intervention, especially from US, be sent?
Dr Jeniri Amir, a senior lecturer of Unimas Faculty of Social Sciences, told a news portal the petition may result in international tension as it involved major world powers.
“I believe the quarters that made the petition do not care about the country’s future nor its millions of citizens, and only care for the freedom of their one beloved leader,” he opined.
Former NST managing editor Datuk Nuraina Samad said it was “silly” for people to have filed a petition calling for US to intervention.
“How can that be right? Have these people regressed so much as to ask Obama to interfere? We are an independent sovereign nation. Is looking to the US for help not regressing?”
While the petitioners are seen as pinning their hopes on intervention from a big and powerful nation, what I can see is that we are actually having reasons to begin to lose hope.
The Kita Lawan rally to free Anwar saw the turnout of a mere 10,000 in the national capital and the crowd, who gathered in the late afternoon, actually dispersed at 6pm. The familiar faces in the previous rallies, led by Anwar himself, were not seen.
Getting nowhere with the call for strong foreign intervention and action, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) – on another fine day -- decided to petition the Yang di-Pertuan Agung for a royal pardon to secure Anwar’s freedom.
It is dubbed Petition Rakyat (People’s Petition) and PR is seeking the signatures of one million Malaysians from now till May 1. The outcome is awaited with keen anticipation.
When a handful of fishermen in Miri were disturbed by foreign trawlers fishing in our territorial waters, and after having had to put up with the encroachment with no solution in sight for a long time, they decided to send an SOS to the Chief Minister through The Borneo Post.
Within two days last week, the Maritime Enforcement Agency acted on the Chief Minister’s instruction and seized the foreign fishermen and their boats for fishing illegally in Sarawak’s waters.
Indeed, we should not lose hope but look for good auspices within the country, and most importantly, from our Maker above. HE has promised, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that you may ask for, it shall be done because where two or three have gathered together in His name, He is there in their midst.
This is a beautiful promise of hope in the Bible where the dreams of men will be fulfilled, when all the longings that reflect themselves in peaceful demonstrations and cries for disarmament will find their fulfillment.
The description may be literal but Alexander Pope did mention in this oftquoted proverb -- Hope springs eternal in human breast.
As Carole King continues to sing: “Oh, one fine day you’ll look at me …And you’ll be proud to have me right by your side”… keep that one fine day in our hearts and hold our heads high with hope.