Opinion
The Democratic Action Party (DAP) has just concluded its most intense party election in history, amidst the tussle over keeping or sending off “the god in the party.” DAP officially enters the era of Loke Siew Fook and the Lim dynasty comes to an end. However, those who understand the saying of “barren land goes unattended, but once cultivated, many will fight over it”, they must be mentally prepared that the next party election will likely be even more intense. Therefore, party members must remember that the party is strong when it is united and otherwise if it is divided. Party elections are a process of renewal and a test of survival for the party. The decline of MCA (Malaysian Chinese Association), Gerakan and UMNO from their once-dominant positions serves as a mirror for DAP. It must be vigilant against internal fights as these could become the very demons that topple the party. Where will be DAP heading under Loke’s helm? The DAP is no longer an opposition party today. It holds power and enjoys the strongest support from the Chinese community. With this backing, the Chinese have high expectations and hope that the DAP will remain vocal to serve the community However, the rocket has been accused of being too silent when it should speak up on many issues, earning the nickname of “a silent party.” In response to this criticism, Loke strongly denied the accusation in his speech at the party congress, emphasising that the DAP, now a ruling party, must change the way it speaks. “DAP is now part of the government. Our leaders do not only represent the party but also the nation. Therefore, communication should be taking place through dialogues and meetings, with the focus on finding solutions,” he said. Loke is absolutely right—this is how a governing party should function. However, when the MCA was in the government, it adopted the same approach but was criticised by DAP (the opposition then) for being “in power without authority”. History is not just a mirror—it is often an ironic joke. The current position of MCA is extremely awkward. Even though it is now an opposition party, it is still bound by the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition spirit and has been forced to follow its “big brother” UMNO to join the Unity Government. This feeling of dependence is unsettling—it is technically an opposition party but remains within the government, making it truly a case of power without authority. For the DAP, although it now holds both power and authority, some of its leaders still cannot let go of their hostility toward MCA, seizing every opportunity to criticise and attack the latter, as if they are still stuck in an opposition mindset. As political rivals, both are facing identity crises now. The key difference between MCA and DAP is that MCA openly acknowledges itself as a Chinese-based party, whereas DAP, bound by its “Malaysian Malaysia” ideology, cannot publicly affirm its Chinese identity. Although it relies heavily on […]
3 d ago
Features
I often hear all kinds of mythical stories whenever I wander through the forest. Some warn humans to beware of demons and spirits, while others praise the protection of ancestral spirits and deities. However, in the world of the indigenous people, there is one figure that is both good and evil. It is believed to devour human souls while also being the guardian of forest. This controversial “creature” has many names. In North America, it is called Bigfoot or Sasquatch; in the Himalayas, it is known as the Yeti; and in Malaysia, one of its names is Mawas. Yes, it is the mysterious, unproven creature that frequently appears in world mythology—Bigfoot. Records about Mawas are scarce, with the earliest documents tracing back to the British colonial era. At that time, explorers heard stories from indigenous people about encounters with Mawas deep in the Peninsular Malaysia. These accounts often describe it as a creature standing six to 10 feet tall, covered in long black or reddish fur, resembling an ape, and possess supernatural abilities that allow it to move swiftly through the forest. But where has Mawas been sighted? According to a 2005 report, three workers reported seeing three Bigfoot-like creatures near the indigenous village of Mawai in Kota Tinggi, Johor. Later, massive human-like footprints were discovered nearby, with one measuring up to 45 centimetres long, causing a sensation both locally and internationally. The following year, the Johor state government even formed a forest expedition team to verify the existence of Mawas – Malaysia’s first official search for a mythical creature. Mawas enters children’s theatre Regardless of whether the Johor government ultimately found Mawas, I recently had my own “encounter” with one! But instead of being in the south, it was in Selangor. A few months ago, I was invited by Shaq Koyok, an indigenous artist from the Temuan tribe, to visit his village and witness this legendary Mawas. To my surprise, its appearance was adorable and amusing – completely different from what historical records describe. In reality, it was part of a cross-disciplinary art project called “Awas Mawas” (Beware of Bigfoot). The initiative was led by sculptor William Koong, visual artist Forest Wong, theatre director Ayam Fared, community art advocate Fairuz Sulaiman, and performing artist Malin Faisal, with support from Orang Orang Drum Theatre. Inspired by the Bread and Puppet Theatre in the United States, this artistic group spent three weeks in Temuan and Mah Meri villages, discussing myths and land issues with the locals. During this time, they encouraged children to create their own stories and characters, incorporating adult perspectives, and then worked together to craft giant puppets using eco-friendly materials like cardboard, dried leaves, and bamboo strips. Among these were Mawas, the Temuan ancestral spirit Moyang Lanjut, and the Mah Meri ancestral spirit Moyang Tok Naning. At the event’s finale, this “modern-day Mawas” acted as the narrator, leading the entire village in a cultural parade, while the children performed two different theatrical plays. These plays aimed to […]
1 w ago
