Transmenu powered by JoomlArt.com - Mambo Joomla Professional Templates Club

Contributed by the National Young Lawyers Committee

“Counter-productive to charge NameWee”

Tina was called to the Bar in 2001, and runs her own law firm. Teo Nie Ching spoke to her about the recent furore over THE rap video.

Have you seen the Wee Meng Chee’s ‘Negarakuku’ rap video clip on YouTube? What do you think about it?

I personally just feel sad that there are so many of these young rabble-rousers existing. They have no inkling of how much their forefathers put in to bring peace and prosperity to this nation. To make your constructive opinion known on the failings of our country is one thing but adding insult to injury by making fun of the national anthem and other religions is….hmmm….that’s just asking for trouble. Wars have been started over less than that! And by ending it all with “please don’t sue me, saya takde duit”, I suppose NameWee is trying say: “heck, this is a joke!”. He has failed to realise that everyone who makes his opinions known to the public also has a responsibility to all those who view or read it. Every bad deed has its consequences.

Wee Meng Chee is not the first in history to change the lyrics of a national anthem. In fact, the anthem of the United States of America ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ and the anthem of the United Kingdom ‘God Save the Queen’, have been modified by a numbers of singers in the past. Do you think our society has over-reacted?

What NameWee did by attacking his own national anthem is nothing less than spitting on the door of his own home. As a Malaysian student studying overseas, NameWee is an ambassador of our good name. I was fortunate enough to spend a decade in London as a teenager and tour Europe with my parents. My travels did not instil in me a sense of superiority but taught me to appreciate the differences of people around us and what a young country like Malaysia has given me. No country’s administration is perfect, but we can certainly all strive to do our best for our own home. I think our society has done right by condemning the video, because it cannot be encouraged. Other students representing Malaysia around the world must know that although they are overseas, they will never shed their duty to their homeland. We cannot keep pointing to the West, saying: they are so free to do it, why can’t we? Malaysia should not emulate nations breeding serial killers, devil worshippers and people with loose morals, just because they are more developed than we are. If we can nip this nonsense in the bud, let’s do that. There are many things from the West we must learn - technology, commerce, legal righteousness - but a tolerance of uncivilised caustic behaviour: never!

He has apologised to the nation for the parody and removed the video clip from his blog. Do you think it is sufficient?

I am glad he did apologise. But, although it may no longer be on his blog, I just viewed the video clip online again. The video has not been withdrawn from You-Tube has it? Whether the apology is sincere is between him and God.

Do you think he should be charged under the Sedition Act?

NameWee’s rap on the Muslim ‘azan’ call for prayer though said in jest seems insensitive to me. It was uncalled for and as a Muslim, I personally take offence. As a lawyer, I am of the view it could be categorised as having seditious tendencies falling in the category of “promoting ill-will and hostility of different races and classes of the population of Malaysia” (see section 3(e) Sedition Act, 1948). However, personally I hope the powers that be find another way to rap this guy over his knuckles because such a conviction would have dire consequences for such a young person. Furthermore, charging him under the Sedition Act may end up glorifying his actions. It will make him the champion of the Opposition and anti-government people which surely is not the intention of such a reprimand. I think all those concerned just want to tell him what he did is wrong and BAD for national unity, and to make sure he and everyone else knows they cannot get away with something like that.

UMNO Information Chief Muhammad Taib had warned that riots could break out if no action is taken against those who touch on racial and religious sensitivities via the Internet. Do you agree?

When I attended the Siri Pemikiran Kritis II recently, Jeff Ooi, a prominent blogger, related his fascination with the programme ‘Seconds From Disaster’, a show on the National Geographic Channel which begins with a striking narrative: “Every disaster results from a dramatic chain of events”. I am concerned about how these insensitive opinions could trigger unwanted tensions amongst those who may already be suffering from the stress of a low income and lack of healthy social release. We shouldn’t blame the internet, just as we shouldn’t blame knives as tools of murder, telephones for the increase in sms-ed ‘talaks’ or the motor-vehicle for killing pedestrians. The wrong person behind a tool will always be dangerous. A careless, immature young man who feels he is doing no harm must be put in his place, in a suitable way. Left unchecked, many other silly youngsters may feel spurred to do worse. People who want to comment about the failures of our current social system should be given a healthy avenue for them to let it out constructively.

Speaking of motor-vehicles, who do you think should be responsible for the Bukit Gantang crash tragedy?

The entire system is at fault. On one hand, it’s a vicious circle. Travellers want to pay as little as possible for an uncomfortable 5 hour ride to get from point A to point B and transport providers want to make profit. They use old and cheaper busses - pay bus drivers on a per-trip basis - for example, RM30 for a 10 hour return trip - bus drivers want to cram as many trips as possible to make enough to feed their families at home - they are naturally too exhausted and BAM! a tragic accident occurs. Families lose their loved ones. On the other hand, it’s the lack of initiative by those involved in the transport industry to identify and remedy these issues before a disaster occurs.

Recommendations have been made over the years. And they continue to be made. However we still have a bus driver with a string of traffic offences been allowed to drive and a 20-year-old bus deemed to be roadworthy. Why?

Because there is no follow through! Issues such as health and safety must be given top priority. But as long as politicians are tied up in fencing words and dodging blame, disasters like this will never end.

Let’s talk about the Bar. Compare the young lawyers at the time when you just joined the Bar and the young lawyers these days. What are the changes that you have noticed?

How much time do you have!? This is a topic we often discuss among friends when we meet up. There is generally a lack of passion and commitment amongst the new graduates who enter the profession. They are concerned more about getting into a firm that has prestige, a big fat allowance, dressing-up in their suits and make-up, and less concerned about the importance of learning the skills necessary for them in the future. There is no desire to go the extra mile.

What do you think is the main reason for these changes?

I think it’s a lack of exposure to the real world. New law graduates who enter the profession have chests bursting with pride and ego, perhaps because admittedly they had suffered the ordeal of a tough education programme and survived. They were now professionals and want to be respected. Also it may be too much of ‘Ally McBeal’ and ‘The Practice’ which has somewhat over-glorified their idea of what the profession is. Graduates who enter this profession have to realise that the profession is more than just the theories that they have absorbed for the last 4 years, but rather a perfected skill in the areas of ‘Time Management 5.1’, ‘Client PR 3.2’, ‘Staff Rapport and Teamwork 8.0’, ‘Court/Government Office Liaison 9.2’, ‘Decorum 1.0’, ‘Humility 5.4’ and ‘Stress Management 11.3’. There’s just no shortcut. It’s a rite of passage that every lawyer goes through. I’ve noticed that students who had previously been involved in an attachment program during the long breaks in their studies have faired better during their chambering period.

Being a partner in a law firm, what are the reasonable working hours that you would expect of a young lawyer?

Young lawyers should just put in as many hours as necessary to get the work done. During my time, we left home while it was dark and returned from work after nightfall. It was not uncommon for us to sometimes work 14 hour days. Not that I advocate pupil or junior lawyer ‘kuli’-ing, mind you. A master or firm should not take advantage of an unsuspecting newcomer. However, in the beginning, I think all of us must be willing to sweat a little, whilst juggling a private life. Many have young children when they began practice and still managed. The point is that in order to have a better practice later, be a partner in a respected firm, have an envious practice with an income to match - that is the sacrifice that every young lawyer must be willing to make. Seniors don’t become highly paid because of their classy suits. Legal practice is a cultivated art which can and will be learnt if a young lawyer is willing to put his or her nose to the grind.

The use of race and religion as a political tool has become more prevalent. We have daily reports of corrupt and incompetent leaders, and the need for a progressive and representative form of government. Do you think there would be some radical changes in the coming elections, or the near future?

I am by nature an optimist. I always believed in hope and that things will improve. But on this issue, I have to be honest. It would be naïve to think that the political situation will change at a stroke or cross of the ballot pencil at the upcoming elections, or anytime too soon. People have to wake up! They can’t keep complaining and finger-pointing without themselves doing something to improve the situation. I’m not talking about blasting your unchecked thoughts on a blog or screaming at the clerk at your next government office visit. I am talking about the subtle things that every Malaysian can do: registering to vote, taking part in online polls and efforts by the authority to improve things around us. We have to stop ourselves from putting down those who are trying and making the effort. Instead, try being a good and courteous neighbour, being involved in your community, learning about other cultures by attending their festivals and events, teaching your children and all the young to do the same. Don’t perpetuate hate. Especially to the young. Because before you know it, the future is here, and you would have raised the rabble-rouser yourself. Then, you would have to ask yourself: did I do anything to contribute to this? Actually, I think we have survived relatively unscathed thus far because many Malaysians share a similar vision. That’s the optimist in me talking again.

Other YL Personalities:

Albert Ding Choo Earn
Sulaiman Bin Abu Bakar
Nasdrul Umur Bin Shamsulhuda
Elaine Daly
Devkumar Kumaraendran
Sandesh Kabir Singh
Edelina Sophia Binti Sophian Pulle
Mohd Busyairy Bin Che Muda
Wong Fook Meng
Fadiah Nadwa Fikri
Lee Chooi Peng
Angeline Cheah Yin Leng
Mishant a/l Thiruchelvam
Shahrizal Bin Mohd Zin
Rezalman B. Bahran
Gavin Tang Cheng Loong
Noreen Ahmad Ariff
Nadia Ashikin binti Maduarin
David Dinesh Mathew
Nizam Bashir Bin Abdul Kariem Bashir
Amer Hamzah Bin Arshad
Ernie Suffiani Binti Salim
Ahmad Syukri Bin Yusoff
Dipendra Harshad Rai
Soo Wee Loon
Tracy Hah
Aminuddin bin Abdullah

Comments (2)

Subscribe to this comment's feed