With special thanks to Joel Gurprit Singh and friends for these beautiful pictures. We’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Merdeka Review: 斋戒一天为国家祈福铭记建国日拒绝暴力
斋戒一天为国家祈福, 铭记建国日拒绝暴力
作者／本刊记者 Sep 16, 2009 11:37:55 am
【本刊记者撰述】今天是马来西亚日， 七十名“为国家祈福，为和平斋戒”（Fast for the Nation, Peace for Malaysia 2009）活动的发起人和参与者今天清晨五时聚集用餐，正式开始一天的斋戒活动，以行动尊重马来西亚多元文化，拒绝暴力，为国家祈福。
清晨五时，七十名发起和参加“为国家祈福，为和平斋戒”（Fast for the Nation, Peace for Malaysia 2009）活动的不同种族马来西亚子民，聚集在八打灵再也戏院旁边的莲花茶餐厅用餐，为一天的斋戒活动拉开序幕。
这六十名参与者先用餐，然后一同唱国歌。较后，发起人之一基督教牧师郭晓鸣发表简短的致辞，为此活动拉开序幕。
郭晓鸣在致辞中感激大家参与此活动，并强调此活动的宗旨是铭记马来西亚日，为国家和平祈福。同时，参与者必须在今天做一件好事，以拒绝暴力，因为仁慈是和平的根本。
接着，纳吉前特别官员（special officer）的奥玛慕斯达法王（Omar Mustapha Ong）的父亲慕斯达化王自动请缨发言，他提及1969年的五一三事件，并表示支持首相纳吉的“一个马来西亚”。
政治学者黄进发随后发言时强调，必须让和平赋权，而不是让和平伴随着恐惧。而且，今天大家参与斋戒是为了重新掌握国家的拥有权。
较后，郭晓鸣做出总结，大家为马来西亚干杯，并在餐厅内高唱国歌。
其中，玛丽娜马哈迪（Marina Mahathir）、回教姐妹组织活动经理玛斯嘉丽莎（Masjalizah）、雪州大臣办公室研究员杨淑雯、妇女辅助会（Women’s Aid Organisation）执行董事艾薇卓西亚（Ivy Josiah）、马来西亚律师公会人权小组主席邱进福、前律师公会主席安碧嘉（Ambiga Sreenavasan）等人都出席了今早的聚餐。
郭晓鸣也告诉《独立新闻在线》，他们将在今晚10时半于孟沙共进夜宵，为一天的活动画上美丽的句点。
Malaysiakini (Chinese): 配合916大马日为国家祈福数百各族人民黎明开始斋戒
配合916大马日为国家祈福
数百各族人民黎明开始斋戒
王德齐
9月16日
上午 10点21分
配合今天9月16日大马日，数百名来自不同族群和宗教的马来西亚人，参与别开生面的“2009年为国家斋戒，要大马和平”一天斋戒活动，为国家祈福。
这批大马人已经遵循回教徒同胞的斋戒月习俗，从黎明时分开始斋戒，并且会一直坚持到傍晚日落后才会恢复进食。
约60人黎明共进斋戒前早餐 
他们都是社会运动活跃分子，或是通过电邮或社交网站知悉这项活动的网民，当中大多数人更是非穆斯林和年轻人，也有一些人士更是携带孩子一起来参与。
他们在用餐后一起高唱国歌来庆祝大马日，然后就正式开始一天的斋戒，以实际行动为国家祈求和平及祝福，并表明拒绝任何暴力和煽动仇恨行径。
郭晓鸣：反对暴力煽动仇恨 
“我想许多人看到最近的新闻都会感到很压力，包括近期的牛头示威以及去年在一些场合发生的种族主义煽动言论。”
“我们就想我们是不是能做一些事情，做一些全部人都能参与的东西，因此才会出现9月16日要求大家一起斋戒的念头。”
他指出，不仅穆斯林，其他宗教都有斋戒的习俗，况且一些人士也会因为本身的诉求而进行斋戒，因此这是一项全民都能参与的活动。
“因为斋戒，我们整天都会感到饥饿，而我们是为了和平、真相、权力和正义而饥饿。因此，我们希望最终能打开和平的空间。”
保守估计逾800人响应号召 
他指出，参与者将在今日傍晚7点25分结束一天的斋戒，而他们也在今晚10点30分於吉隆坡孟沙一间餐馆，举行正式的闭幕仪式。
其他参与者在受询时皆表示，他们想以不同的方式来庆祝大马日，并赞同这项活动将能有助于团结各族人民。
玛丽娜就称赞说，在大马日和斋戒月的精神下，这是一项很好的活动，因为他们可以通过斋戒的举动，轻易地团结所有人民，并驱逐所有的暴力和仇恨。
她笑称，“大马人一向来都是因为食物而团结，但我们今天是因为缺乏食物而团结。”
参与者批牛头示威煽动仇恨
现年30岁的凯文罗汉（Kevin Rohan Thomas）则指出，他并不是纯粹是为了斋戒而参与这项活动，相反的他想做一些不同的东西来庆祝大马日。
他感慨表示，各族人民目前因为一些分歧而出现裂痕，并指牛头示威这类刻意煽动种族仇恨的政治活动，无疑会扩大这个裂痕。
“我认为，我们不应该是摒弃彼此的差异，反而应该接受这些差异。我相信全体人民是团结的，尽管我们不是完全一样。”
现年26岁的网民亿佳也赞同说，她并不认为所有的穆斯林都与牛头示威者一样，并指这些人是旨在煽动种族情绪，幸亏各族人民都没有掉入他们的圈套。
曾经经历513种族冲突事件和马印冲突的慕斯达法王则表示，他赞同首相纳吉提出“一个大马”概念，并希望我国不会再发生任何流血事件。
831还是916应该成为国庆日？
此外，一些民众也对我国的民主现况感到不满，并认为国民应该趁着大马日之际作出表态。
现年42岁的黄国良就指出，随着国阵在霹雳州策动民联议员跳槽及夺取政权后，民主也已经倒下。
“我认为我们多数人应该穿上黑衣，以恢复我国的民主制度。”
来自吉隆坡的他也认为，我国应该庆祝在今天庆祝国庆日，而非8月31日，因为9月16日才是真正的大马成立的日子。
不过，玛丽娜则持有相反的意见，并认为这两天都一样重要。唯她也赞同，9月16日应该获得更大的重视，我国或许可以考虑在这两个日期之间一连庆祝16天。
Email Reports
A big applause to the organisers. I enjoy every minute of the fasting although I was quite sceptical at first. Great to know how our Muslims friends or colleagues fast too.
PEACE to all Malaysian and the World at large. ~ See Kim Wah
* * *
"Two friends from the Bahai faith joined us for Sahur Fast for the Nation on 16 Sept 2009 at Pelita Rest, Desa Sri Hartamas. ~ Sharifah Zuriah (photo by Yati Kaprawi)
* * *
A small group of us met at the Canteen, Malaysia Hall in Bayswater this evening to share the cause with our fellow Malaysians back home. ~ Steven Lee.
* * *
"Fasted 24 hrs. First 12 hrs without anything, next 12 hrs without solid food. - Tan Jien Seng
* * *
Sorry the picture is not clear. But I'm happy that we did it. Especially Daphne Iking. With her busy schedule and a full day theatre rehearsal she managed to fast. I'm so proud of her. It's the least we can do for our beloved country.
Thanks for encouraging us to be a part of this.
Love,
Mas & Daphne
* * *
"They (non-Muslim staff) actually thanked me for persuading them to sign up! Except for 20+ yr. old C who was so weak with hunger by 5pm, she could hardly talk, much less sell ... am not planning to tell my boss about this! ~ Can’t Reveal Name in case Boss finds out!
* * *
This year, just like any other year, we celebrate Hari Malaysia together with our client but this year with a twist. We have asked our entire client that coming to our office including our staff to fast for the day in conjunction with the fast of the nation celebration. Attached is a couple of picture for the fast of the nation collection.
Thank you,
Anas Zubedy
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Peace4Msia: The Experience
Peace4Msia: The Experience
After the recent hoo-ha of the cow head protest and the sheer helplessness I felt, it was a relief to hear that I was not alone. There’s something about civil society in Malaysia that gives me hope that my country is not as bigoted or narrow-minded as the politicians make her out to be.
It’s initiatives like Peace4Msia, Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia, Rescue the Pulau Ketam Dogs, and so many others that make me feel proud to be a Malaysian. It’s people like Haris Ibrahim (who I’ve never met), TVSmith, Regina (founder of the Pixel Project), the IRC gang and the Comic Fiesta Committee, Marina Mahathir, my godfather, Anthony Pinto, and countless others who make me proud to be alive in this country.
Fasting yesterday was an eye-opener for me. Like I’ve said before, I’ve never done a full fast, so I was rather surprised by the results. I didn’t really feel the hunger pangs (by this I mean the sharp, stabbing pains I get when I skip breakfast) at any time yesterday. I didn’t really feel thirsty either which was a blessing when my colleagues made coffee (I did not advertise to them that I was fasting till it was nearing lunch time. See: My Twitter 
Instead, most of the time I went about my business as I did usually (except lunch; I stayed in the office playing Scribblenauts till Jerry asked for my Sachiko to try the game for himself). This included acting a bit over the top (my colleagues will tell you this is nothing unusual) and shooting at people with Marauderz’s nerf gun.
It was only later in the day that I started feeling sluggish. By later I meant around 6pm onwards, when I was eagerly counting down to the end of the fast with NikiCheong on Twitter. I couldn’t wait till 7.14pm came around, and at 7pm, Grayfox and me went downstairs to search for food. When we went back to the office, I was happy to realise it was already 7.15pm and bit into my chicken sausage bun (sorry couldn’t go vegetarian).
I didn’t have heavenly bells and what not ringing when I bit into the bun. Instead, I simply recognised the food for what it was. Sustenance. And then I went home to have dinner with my family.
That night, I slept early, slightly worried that I didn’t manage to do a kind deed as Peace4Msia suggested. While chatting with a few friends, something the good Reverend Sivin Kit said suddenly clicked in me, which led to this entry. Before I slept, I said a prayer for my country, thanking the Father for the blessings he’s showered, and that today went off so peacefully.
Erna said that being kind wasn’t always synonymous with being nice, and I agree with her. Sometimes you have to be cruel, to be kind, they say. Fasting, in a way, is an embodiment of that. You starve your body to clear the mind.
It’s like living in Malaysia, really. Only when you step out of the ugliness and the hate and the prejudice can you accept Malaysia in all her imperfection. We’ll always have arguments, we’ll always have disagreements, but if we can’t agree to disagree, doesn’t it benefits only our detractors?
When one family member backstabs another and considers themselves holier than the others, then we have a recipe for disaster.*
*This isn’t just for Malaysia, but also mine.
Happy Hari Malaysia.
Posted on 17 September '09 by Naoko Kensaku, under Civicness, Musings.
The Star: Malaysians come together to fast for peace
Thursday September 17, 2009
Malaysians come together to fast for peace
By FAZLEENA AZIZ
SPIRITS were high as some 50 people from all walks of life gathered for sahur at the Lotus Restaurant, Petaling Jaya, before the Fast for the Nation, Peace for Malaysia event.
The event was held to commemorate the country’s formation on Sept 16 and to promote peace among all.
The event saw notable Malaysians like Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, former Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, TV personality and emcee Datuk Mahadzir Lokman and Ivy Josiah from Women’s Aid Organisation coming together in support of peace.
According to Rev Sivin Kit, a member of the core group, more than 800 people took part in the event.
He hoped that this would be the beginning of more acts of kindness that would promote a desire for peace among all.
“It is encouraging to see these people here together for a cause and there may be many more doing it that we are not aware of.
“The event will help people remember the hunger for peace and justice during the fasting period.
“We want people to show restraint, have self control and reject violence,” he said.
He added that everyone would be able to feel empowered by the wave of peace-loving Malaysians.
For Marina, the event marked a day to reclaim the true meaning of Malaysia, which was peaceful and harmonious.
She said that Malaysians should not let a few people define Malaysia in a negative way.
“This coming together is what our country is all about. I am encouraged by the response, especially from the non-Muslims, who also want to fast during Ramadan,” she said.
Freelancer Smita Sharma, 24, from Bangsar, said the event was a great way to push back dirty political movements.
She said that the significance of Sept 16 should be seen as a celebration of citizenship.
“I have fasted before and should have no problem fasting today for this cause. I think this is a powerful idea for people coming together,” Sharma said.
Digital media specialist Michelle Ding, 25, from PJ, came to know about the event via the Internet and said it was a really good start.
“It is not a big task to fast because a lot of people do it and it is great to come together for sahur with the rest of Malaysia.
“In the true spirit of Malaysia, I am having my nasi lemak and teh tarik and I am proud to be Malaysian, especially today,” she said.
The buka puasa event was held at Rumah Anak Bangsa Malaysia at 66, Lorong Setiabistari 1, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, followed by a supper programme at Chawan in Bangsar.
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