Cara-Bi-Cara
cbc-#02-25.10.99
--------------------------the discourse(trial) and the decision(verdict)
The sound of rotor blades was deafening as the helicopter was about to land.There were thousands of people gathered in the school compound.It was really a rare occasion for kampung boys like me to see a helicopter
in 1963-just 6 years after Merdeka.I could not remember the exact date - more than a quarter century ago.Most of us kids were very excited on that day and for me especially.I was very nervous as well.My late father was smiling and he was in his best dress,so was I in my school uniform-starched cotton white shirt and a blue shorts with a new pair of socks.It was like hari raya for me for I could not afford to wear socks everyday to school.My father was then the chairman of my school and that day we were going to welcome the late Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra,the then Prime Minister of Malaya(Malaysia now).He came to officiate our new school block of six classrooms at the cost of RM60,000.It was really a big day for everyone, especially for me who was designated to carry the tray with the scissors for the Tunku to cut the ribbon.It was a real 'pesta' for me but at the end of the day,my father was a very sad man.
During the opening speech,the Tunku also declared that the fund to construct the school came from the lottery-box i.e the tax from gambling.I only know about this incidence years later when told by my late father.
The next day the news spread like wild fires that my late father had accepted 'haram' (illegal in Islam) money to build school for our kampung.Some villagers threatened to stop their children from attending the school and a few even labelled my late father,a Tok Guru Pondok as 'kafir'(infidel).This incidence really made my father felt very sad and angry.He was pronounced guilty by the very people he wanted to help.One of the leaders in the opposing political party also condemned him.It took my late father about six months to explain to his kampung folks about his rationale and religous views about using 'haram' money for public good before things began to settle down.
This event,to my late father,was worse than what had taken place in 1946 when a group of Punjabi policemen came to arrest my father.He was accused and judged of getting involved in subversive activities.His only 'crime' was that he had set up a school for his kampung folks! This reminds me of the law in North Carolina ,USA in early 19th century when a black man can be hanged to death for learning to read! Luckily, he managed to escape the arrest.However,he was very proud of what he did.On the contrary,when certain quarters of his own community prejudged and sentenced him guilty, he was dissappointed.This,to me, is an example of quick judgement made with limited knowledge of the subject matter .It was a case of verdict without trial!
Everyday,we make judgements without even realising we are doing them. Some of them are without adequate 'trials'. Only when others make 'bad' judgement against us or our actions, then we quickly jump to say it is unfair.We expect them to find out the facts and the situations to justify our case.On the contrary, we ourselves do not do that when we make judgement about others,some of the time.We only know how to say:Do unto others what you expect others to do unto you...sometimes we fail to practise it ourselves.
Similarly,making choice is a judgement of various possible alternatives. Nothing is perfect in the real world.And nothing is absolute,except God.Not all the facts are available to us when we have to choose or to decide or to judge.Even if we know all about the facts,they will change with time.We make choices everyday.Again without realising it,we choose the better one against the rest,but not always.It is not the best choice,but we have to choose within the constraints at that time.Now,I know why my own cousin, who passed his Bar exams. in London in late 60's, refused to be a judge when the post was offered to him in the early 1980's.
Time taken to make a choice or a decision also varies.It could be in a few nanoseconds or a few years,depending on the subject matter and the situation.It would take us less than four seconds for us slap someone who spit on our face,but it has taken more forty years for the Germans to break the Berlin Wall.Until to-day,I still believe that Singapore should remain in Malaysia.To me,Singapore is still Temasik,founded by Sang Nila Utama and not by Stamford Raffles.However, history may prove me wrong...
I think most of us usually have our own internal discourse within ourselves about certain things/issues in our minds and in our hearts.Sometimes,we ask for a second opinion and sometimes we don't.The external environment also tainted our views.Then,the matrix of our rationale, sentiments and prejudices will interact with one another to come to a decision.It all depends which one prevails more than the others.Then,a choice or decision is made- rightly or wrongly.
In the case of civil or criminal proceedings in courts, we have the prosecutor, the defence and the judge.They are the learned officers of the court.Most of us do not have the previlege to have the knowledge and the training.Even that, mistakes are being made in courts from time to time.A man in England was found innocence after his death sentence was carried out for killing a policeman in a shoot out.The truth was only revealed when a man confessed to the killing on his death bed more than 40 years later...
Well,in reality we cannot wait for 40 years to find the truth or to choose life partner or a career.Even in seeking justice, we need to use the right method. It is not the case where the ends justify the means.It should be the means that sanctify the ends.
Whatever is our choice or our verdict,the truth will prevail.Only time will tell.As a muslim,when in doubt,we should seek Allah's divine guidance.
To me personally,the discourse and the decision are equally important.So be very,very careful ....
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