RACIAL TOLERANCE

Good Racial Relations

Lat's cartoons on the antics of various races in Malaysia are good for laughs and in no way being condemned as racist. He had said that his cartoons had never been rejected based on racial grounds. Once a upon a time people can always enjoy a good laugh at each other's expense and there were no hard feelings. Today one must be careful with the jokes that one makes otherwise the word racist would appear immediately.

In the eighties jokes on race were still tolerated even at official meetings, of course off record, in a light hearted manner. It goes this way:

Chairman: Where shall we go for study tour? Shall we go to Australia ?
Malay Councillor: Apa bikin ? Sana cakap orang putih, kita pun kurang faham! Apa mahu belajar?
Indian Councillor: Lebih baik kita pergi lawatan India. Curry pun sedap dan original.
Chinese Councillor: Lagi baik kita pergi negeri Cina. Sana pun ada orang Muslim
Non Commital Councillor: Boleh pergi dua dua negeri dan kos lagi murah pergi Australia.
Chairman: Baik lah kita pergi Singapore - paling murah, naik bas sahaja !!!
All Councillors: Sebulat suara, jom pergi lawatan Singapura !!!

And all went to Singapore and stayed in a hotel in Katong.

NON GOVERNMENT ORGANISATION

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Day always falls on 10th. December of each year. A few days ago it celebrated its 61st. Anniversary. On its 10th. Anniversary in 1958 the Postal Department of Malaysia even issued commemorative stamps.

Human Rights today is very closely linked to ISA and other related issues that even gave rise to a minor political party known as National Human Rights Party (HRP). HRP had its early footing in 1990 and by 2007 its activities are sometimes under the banner of HINDRAF.

It would be of interest to look forward to the next anniversary as to whether greater awareness would be created through various forums or even the issue of commemorative stamps.