Please note that the huge error here is the use of Nelson Mandela instead of Mahatma Gandhi.
Nelson Mandela once said "there is no easy walk for freedom anywhere, and many of us will pass through the valley of shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires".
Mandela himself spent 27 years in prison before driving the world's second-largest population towards independence from colonisation.
October 28 and 29 will be a crucial date for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. But, in fact, it is wrong to view this as a personal battle between an oppressive regime and Anwar. It is battle of a nation against a regime that has been suppressing dissidents since time immemorial.
It is true that people are tired and weary. But this is good news to nobody, except a regime that has been suppressing dissents.
For Lensa, perhaps the only way to “berjuang” is by taking the streets, and since people are sick of the sun and scorching heat, Anwar should give up with the struggle.
But for the many other Malaysians out there who do not take the streets, they too are tired. However, instead of being tired from going to the streets, they are tired with the never-ending selective prosecution, corruption and abuse of power by the Barisan Nasional government.
I find this extremely confusing. As a youth non-governmental organisation that supports and endorses Mahasiswa Ganyang Akta Hasutan (Ganyang) and the struggle to end the Sedition Act, they should have fully understood that this is another form of intimidation and selective prosecution.
People like Anwar are prisoners of conscience.
The common enemy is the current oppressive regime that has been immobilising dissents and freedom every Malaysian yearn for.
Instead of being united, some resort to attacks from within, which will indirectly strengthen the current establishment.
If one were to view Anwar's Sodomy 2 as a personal battle, they are missing the point. This is akin to saying Mandela's struggle for South Africa's independence was a personal struggle between him and the British.
In Malaysian history, many have come and gone. But the distinction between Reformasi 1.0 and other struggles is the significance it has brought 10 years down the road in GE12.
GE12 and GE13 are a testament that Malaysians have to be united and rally under one cause. For the first time in history, Malaysian politics have seen an opposition powerful enough to deny BN a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
For the first time, the ruling coalition lost five states.
As proposed by Saudara Ekhsan from Lensa, Anwar should retire and enjoy the benefits from the government as deputy prime minister or even the special position offered by the Turkish government.
This reflects nothing but the shallow-mindedness of some who give up their struggles when tempted with perks. It is an indication such “political frog culture” has been planted somewhere.
Is this what “perjuangan” is about? The sort of unprincipled stance displayed by political frogs? Is this the type of “politik habuan” that Malaysians voters wish politicians subscribe to?
The selective persecutions against Anwar and other opposition politicians speak volume. It is crystal clear through the Internal Security Act (now repealed), Ops Lalang, Sodomy 1, Sodomy 2 and the current sedition dragnet.
Is this indication not clear enough?
A genuine battle for the nation cannot be bought simply with a deputy prime ministerial post, what more a special position by a foreign government.
Ekhsan Bukharee himself has court charges looming over his head.
In fact, many in Lensa are themselves prisoners of conscience facing jail time soon. Are we going to invite him to step down and retire?
Several other opposition politicians and activists are facing selective prosecutions as well. Are they supposed to give up the struggle? – October 18, 2014.
Malaysia Chronicle: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=381091:would-lensa-tell-nelson-mandela-to-retire-or-are-they-too-busy-pleasing-anwars-foes-to-wriggle-out-of-their-own-woes&Itemid=2#axzz3J2DKBmbX
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