Penang Bridge ‘Suicide’ Prelude To Malaysia’s Arab Spring?

Only in the warped psychotic minds of the DAP-led opposition!

Brushing aside any police conclusion about the cause of death of Mohd Shukri Saad who “jumped” (or was pushed) off Penang Bridge on 28th October 2016, the Opposition wasted no time in describing the incident as similar to that of Mohamed Bouazizi, a Tunisian street vendor who set himself on fire in front of the town hall of Oued in 17 December 2010.

(http://ift.tt/RyPrD9)

The only similarity between the Penang Bridge incident and the Tunisian’s self-immolution was that both resulted in the death of a man. However the Opposition spinmasters simply refused to acknowledge that fact, but instead went into an overdrive simply because of a “suicide” note allegedly written by Mohd Shukri moments before his tragic death.

The “suicide note” was the Opposition’s only weapon to instigate the rakyat (Malays) into perhaps participate in the upcoming mass selfie event in the country’s capital on 15th November now infamously called Bersih 5.

Had it not been for the “suicide note”, the Penang Bridge incident would have passed into obscurity, providing no fodder to the already declining support of the rakyat towards the deeply divided and clueless Opposition, though they may claim otherwise.

The Opposition was in desperate need to capitalise on the “suicide note”, which was so full of incredulous contents that one would simply dismiss it as a very badly written outpouring of one’s feeling done in haste.

So an objective mind would ask: Was the note “implanted” by any agents of the Opposition? Has it any relations or connections to the nature of work of the deceased? Was it a diversion tactic by any party trying to (conveniently) make the Government a scapegoat for an ulterior sick purpose?

These are among the 1001 questions which need to be addressed and accurate answers given.

And we have yet to consider the whole scenario – the Who, Why, What and How of the purported “suicide”, which the police have just started investigating.

So why was the Opposition very impatient to wait until the police conclude their investigations? Would you jump start yourself into hysterical amok IF the contents of the note were very critical of the DAP-run state government’s policies for example?

You see, the Opposition cared less for any findings that may demolish their case against the Government in the run up to the scheduled Bersih 5 outing on November 15.

The the moment they need to establish their narrative quickly in place the moment the “suicide note” was “discovered” and “becomes” viral, And yes, to the Opposition’s propaganda war room, there is nothing strange or mind boggling that a suicidal person should request the public to elevate his (inconclusive) act of suicide to a viralled status, and thus enable the Opposition to capitalise on his “sacrifice”.

True enough, the Opposition “picked” and carried his “request” at an amazing speed, with various comments and a steady flow of statements heaping “anger” and vitriole against their political nemesis. Putting the cart before the horse is acceptable in this case, as they gained the initial upperhand at manipulating public perception into believing that a repeat of Mohamed Bouazizi’s self-sacrifice has taken place at Penang Bridge.

The intended narrative was very apparent in Latifah Koya’s opinion published by the Christian-owned the Heat Malaysia (http://ift.tt/2e2OC1b), apart from others who shared similar views.

Keyword – suicide note, without which the said writer’s (and the Opposition’s) fantasy would immediately crumble:

“What made a difference about his suicide is that his last letter resonated with millions of Malaysians who go through the same thoughts every day today.

His suicide note went viral and many agreed to most things that he said, that there is too much persecution on the small fishes and small crimes, than on the big white collar crimes reaching to billions.

Millions of us are struggling with the increasing costs of living, scraping the barrel even on salary day to buy the most basic grocery items to put food on the table and dodging the mounting bills every month.

As much as Islam abhors suicide, what shows in his death is that sympathy poured on this man by Muslim and Malays, who would normally condemn such an action. Very few condemned him for leaving his family to pay off his debts.

His suicide should trigger at least some emotion from the authorities, for despite many have jumped off the bridge before, this man has said it clearly – that it was not within his ability to get out the economic hardship and he felt there was no more use of continuing to live and that he is better off dead.

Despite all the suicidal thoughts and hopelessness, in his last hours, he still had faith and hoped that in death he would find a better life.

As much as some have labelled him as selfish, one cannot but agree that there will be more suicides by poor Malaysians who just cannot take such a life scrounging from day to day for their meals to continue living, as authorities remove subsidies and let prices rise, allow free trade and let big fishes free.

The government must take this suicide seriously and remember that it was very much a similar suicide which led to the Arab Spring.

In 2010, Tarek el-Tayeb Mohamed Bouazizi, a Tunisian street vendor set himself on fire on 17 December 2010, in response to the confiscation of his wares and the harassment and humiliation that he said was inflicted on him by a municipal official and her aides.

This act became a catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring, inciting demonstrations and riots throughout Tunisia in protest of social and political issues in the country.”

Fine arrangement of words from the PKR’s lawyer indeed, except that it has two glaring flaws.

Firstly, the cause of Mohd Shukri’s death is yet to be determined conclusively as suicide. Homicide can also fit the description.

Secondly, there is no verified confirmation that the “suicide note” was genuine and authentitic.

Until these two issues are thoroughly investigated through post-mortem, forensic procedures, police interviews and investigations, any conclusion as to the cause of death is very premature, which the writer above and many others from the Opposition camp purposely and recklessly disregarded.

Thus whatever was written by Latifah Koya was only a figment of her imagination. To compare the economic situation of Tunisia in 2010 and Malaysia’s present is like comparing jambu batu to olive.

Millions of Malaysians still go shopping at TESCO and MYDIN, the Shah Alam stadium was packed with the Malaysia Cup final between Kedah and Selangor, yuppies are nonchalantly sipping White Coffee at Hard Rock Cafes while the fingers were fidgeting away at the iPhone 7 Plus and the common malaysians still go the cinemas and frequents MacD and KFC.

Prosecution and confiscation of the street vendors trying to earn an honest living as well as increase in taxes and fees happens in Opposition controlled states too.

Politicians from all political divides can still afford to live in bungalows (with or without swimming pools), drive imported continental cars, own business and shares in multiple companies (while in office, via proxies) and claim very generous allowance and very minimal pay cuts.

Would the perks and priviledges enjoyed even by the Opposition be taken out of the equation, just to demonstrate the “fact” that the government has betrayed its citizens?

If the writer above is so concerned about the disparity of living conditions between the Haves and the Have Nots, between the Prince and the Pauper, the Capitalists and the common consumers on the street, perhaps she should start with ALL politicians from BOTH the ruling Coalition and the Opposition to let the rakyat themselves scrutinise ALL the wealth, assests and luxuries obtained while in office and compare the same before these individuals became politicians.

After all, you should be the rakyat’s wakil, not the wakil of your own selves, family, relatives or close associates, right?.

Latifah Koya’s contention that “The government must take this suicide seriously and remember that it was very much a similar suicide which led to the Arab Spring” has no basis either in law nor in political relevance, except that it strongly reinforces the suspicion that the “suicide” issue was merely an excuse which they (Opposition) hoped might trigger a Tunisian-style “Malaysian” Spring come November 15.

Forcing the idea of a “Malaysian tsunami” from the death of a person (which exact circumstances is yet to be disclosed) into the throats of Malaysians is very dangerous and reveals the vile tactics of pitting the citizens against their own government and can be regarded as a subtle form of a provocative rallying point for regime change.

And then, “one cannot but agree that there will be more suicides by poor Malaysians …”.

Seriously?

Parti Amanah Rakyat (PAN) Deputy President’s view is no different.

(http://ift.tt/2fuL39l)

Same narrative, same script, same objective.

To the uneducated and uninitiated, the following observations from Dr Ahmad Farami, a Fellow at the Institute Of Journalism Studies, UITM is worth pondering:

“Suicide Reporting And Public Interest.

1. The “suicide” case at Penang Bridge was reported with an element of sensationalism. The social media forum was inclined to romanticize this incident as that of heroic martyrdom. In a facebook posting, a religious scholar interpreted this case as a conflict between a common man (protagonist) against a an unjust system (antagonist).
2. A study revealed that this discussion presents a likely risk of copycat suicide, especially among those who possess a leaning towards suicide, or experiencing a clinical depression or burdened with problems of unemployment, divorce or others (documented records reveal a form of imitative suicide, from the suicide of Kurt Cobain to that of a Tunisian man, who immoluted himself pre-Arab Spring).
3. The reporting and discussion on suicides should focus on the issue of mental health, the causes or warning signs of suicidal behaviours, the increase in awareness or promotional efforts on suicide prevention. The objective should be for the benefit of the general public.”

(Translation)

(http://ift.tt/2e2JSJ2)

Locus Of Control And Suicides

1. In psychology, the concept of ‘locus of control’ reveals how man views about life.
2. The individual with INTERNAL locus would ascribe one’s success and failures to the own efforts, not because of other people or his environment. This individual is very convinced that life can be changed and controlled by one’s own efforts.
3. The EXTERNAL locus individual, on the other hand believes that his fate or events that occured in his life are controlled by external factors. His failures in life were deemed to be caused by other people who harbours jealousy against him, workplace problems, political injustice and others.
4. A classic study conducted by Pearce & Martin (1993) found a clear relationship between locus of control and suicides. The majority of those who commit suicides were those who possess EXTERNAL locus of control.

In the discipline of counseling, there is a cliche called ‘suicide is a permanent solution for a temporary problem’.

(Translation)

(http://ift.tt/2fuLS1P)

Thus, what is the true purpose of the Opposition really, when they jumped the gun – consistently forcing the “suicide” narrative when the police are yet to complete their investigations?

To mobilise more Malays to attend?

The DAP is suspiciously silent about this “suicide” episode. Are they afraid that it might backfire on the Opposition’s desire to see more visible participation from the Malay community OR extremely careful not to repeat the Bersih 4 all-Chinese affair?

By the way, a blog revealed that Bersih is NOT an NGO, but a registered company under Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia. So, it is not a coalition of local NGOs or civil groups after all!

(http://ift.tt/2e2IiqB)

One can derive a certain conclusion from the episode of Penang Bridge “suicide” being vigorously pursued by the Opposition. That is, they hope that the rakyat can be hoodwinked or convinced into believing their dungu narrative and “conclusive” evidence that the (questionable) suicide note and the act itself is a horrfying testimony of how evil and unjust the government is towards Malaysians.

The desire was that the daily repetition of Suicide! Suicide! Suicide! might perhaps sway the Malays (now that PAS has let its stand known) to join in the street celebrations in the nations capital about two weeks from now, where a massive turnout was expected and not dominated by the Chinese ethnicity.

This writer believes that the nationwide campaign to promote Bersih 5 is facing a cold reaction from Malaysians, especially the Malays, which was not surprising, given the Opposition’s negative stand towards the issue of Malay rights and interests as well as in matters of Islam and the Muslims, especially from the DAP camp. They really and desperately needed the participation from the Malays this time around, after the totally embarrasing debacle of the previously Chinese dominated Bersih 4 weekend outing.

The Opposition would have no choice but to play the “suicide” song to keep the momentum alive to achieve the desired political results, which alas had been elusive to them for decades – Putrajaya.

If they believe that one person’s “suicide” and a questionable “suicide note” might trigger a Malaysian Arab Spring, they might be facing a hard reality shock sooner than the 14th General Elections, widely rumoured to be held between April to July 2017.

It is now up to Malaysians to make sure that the death of any Malaysian must not be a pawn or a bargaining chip to realise any political aspirations of the DAP-dominated Opposition.

You want regime change?

Do it through the ballot box!

Mohd Luttfi Abdul Khalid

Pengerusi Ikatan Peguam-Peguam Muslim malaysia
(iPeguam)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, and should not be attributed to, Isma or Ismaweb.

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