YOURSAY ‘Abdul Rahim knew he was taking risks in signing the statement.’
Ex-sec-gen Abdul Rahim rejoins Eminent 25
Appum: When one fights for a noble cause - and I would consider fighting for our nation is one - I think the most important ingredient is a strong sense of conviction.
It is not intellect or intelligence or even experience. It is conviction that you are doing the right thing. With that conviction, you are able to weather all kinds of storm.
And when you are pursuing a noble cause, there is no time frame. You have to see to its fruition.
That's what we ordinary rakyat hope for - that you, Eminent 25, be the catalyst to a new tomorrow but stay around to aid and nurture till the final objective is achieved.
Thank you to the Eminent 25 and also to the many Eminent 25s to come. There is hope yet for all of us, I think.
HardTruth: We are grateful to the 25 concerned citizens for expressing their concerns over the direction this country is heading. This has opened a channel for more concerned moderate Malays to speak up. They could well be the silent majority.
Ferdtan: I remember many years ago when a group of us, executives, were not happy with our salary increases as the cost of living was high. So we had a secret meeting among ourselves and decided to write a letter of appeal to the CEO.
We knew the CEO would not be happy as this may be construed as an informal union grouping. So when the CEO invited all the signatories to the letter for a meeting, guess who was last to enter the boss’s room?
Yes, it was the one in the meeting who was most vociferous and loud among us in his demand. Before all of us enter the room for the meeting, he went to toilet first (deliberately to delay making an entrance) and then he walked in later as if he was not involved.
Please be clear that I am not implying former Home Ministry secretary-general Abdul Rahim Din is like that person.
Monty: Why all these negative comments? The man reconsidered his position and returned. Give him some credit and let us hope that he can contribute to turning around this nightmare our country is facing.
When you are sinking in quicksand, you should not worry who is helping you out.
Myrights: Some commenters in Malaysiakini in this forum are overly brash and over critical of Abdul Rahim.
At least, he did sign in the letter to ask for moderation. He took that first step along with the other 24, and we should thank him for it.
I am sure he knew that he was taking risks in signing the statement, but just not realising how big this thing can grow.
Now, just because he withdrew later, does not make him the enemy, and we don't know what might have happened. Probably someone or something got to him and he realised how much more he has to lose perhaps personally.
Some people have given up the combative spirit, especially at that age, but that is why we have silent majority, not loud majority.
In any case, we should welcome him back. Yes, some of you may be suspicious and you have every right to be. Just don't crucify him.
Multi Racial: For the 25 to take the step to represent the moderate Muslims is already a courageous move.
For Abdul Rahim to be part of the Eminent 25 and then withdrew and in less than 24 hours rejoined tell us it is not easy for everyone to take such as stand although it is noble and for the good of the country.
Courage is not something everyone has. We hope this group will be the catalyst for more moderates to stand up and be counted. We believe moderates represent the overwhelming majority and if all come forward, they will send a strong signal to those extremists and racists, particularly the politicians.
When that happens, politics in this country will never be the same again and we shall see the last of extremism in this country.
David Dass: Abdul Rahim’s explanation is not unreasonable. Indeed, it is difficult to take the position that they did.
Others should step up. That includes those who write anonymously. All who want to participate in saving the nation from extremist forces should step up. All should make the argument for keeping the country secular.
We can be a spiritual people without the country being theocratic. See what has happened in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. See the horrors committed by ISIS (Islamic State) forces in the name of religion.
Anonymous #33227154: These 25 people are brave enough to voice out their concerns. They did not promise to solve the problems themselves. So let's not have unrealistic expectations on them.
All Malaysians are responsible to solve our country's problems, not just these 25 ladies and gentlemen.
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