Post GE 13

After GE 13, I was talking to a few christian friends about the whole election thingy..As we were talking, I was questioning myself and reflecting on how I responded towards the current situation in Malaysia.

I was reading this book called the 'Bible and the Ballot' and there are really some good points that the authors pointed out which include;

"True change will only come when sinners are transformed by the gospel. No human leader can bring this about. But as representatives of the coming kingdom of God, Christians are to live by Kingdom of God, Christians are to live by Kingdom values in every sphere of it. And this includes coming out to vote."

"Must not give in to politics of hatred or ridicule."

"And at the end of the day, I know Jesus is coming back to usher in the new heaven and the new earth, so I know that righteousness, justice and compassion will win in the end. In the meantime, miracles are always possible. That is God's responsibility. My responsibility is to do the right thing."

"To pray is to reckon that the One who has the final say is God. By praying, we communicate hope instead of defeat."

"To love the enemy is to acknowledge his weaknesses and struggles and to recognise that the nature of political life is always in the process of development and change. While we are open to reconciliation with those who persecute us, we must not shy away from political engagement nor neglect our duty to secure basic human rights for society at large."

In the midst of speaking up, am I reflecting His values? In the midst of standing up for what is right, am I blinded by hatred or anger? As much as I want to see a better Malaysia,I need to keep in mind that all earthly kingdoms will soon fade away..only His Kingdom will last for eternity. I need to remember to live by Kingdom values and draw people into His Kingdom. I need to keep my focus on eternity. 

And Timothy posted on Enzyme Agents forum, "Whether BN is the government or not, please don't give up on them. As much as we want to see change don't neglect praying for God to purify their hearts and change them from within as well. Because the God I know still loves them and has not and will never give up on them. Don't let the hate for their actions blind you from the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for them too. He came to seek and save the lost.", 
which made me realised how much more I need to pray for the current government..for their salvation..and that I should remind myself again and again - to attack issues, not individuals..and hate sins, not sinners. There is so much more to learn.. change, I must!

God, why?

So this was what happened at night on 5th of May; When Fong Wan came into the room, I was already lying on my bed because I was dead tired..but I haven't fallen asleep. And she asked, 'Carmen, let's pray?' Then I replied, 'I cannot pray..' I actually didn't expect that to come out from my mouth.. but really, I didn't know what to pray anymore. Deep inside, I was questioning and doubting God. I can't comprehend His plan.. Why is He allowing all these? How can this be a good plan to prosper and not to harm us? Just like how Habakkuk cried out, 'How long o Lord?' (Habakkuk 1:2), I too felt the same.

Decided to go for all churches combined prayer at EPCC just now. And what struck me most is when Pr. Sam said, "You won't go wrong when you celebrate Jesus!" How true. Just when we don't know what to do or where we are heading towards, all the more we need to look to Jesus. One of the worship songs that moved me to tears was 'God of this City',

You're the God of this City 

You're the King of these people 
You're the Lord of this nation 
You are 

You're the Light in this darkness 

You're the Hope to the hopeless 

You're the Peace to the restless 

You are 

If you ask me now, I seriously still can't comprehend His plan.. but now, I'm reassured that His plans are good simply because He is a good God. God loves Malaysia even much more than I do. I know He has not forgotten our land. I know He will bring restoration and He is at work. Habakkuk also never expect God to raise up Babylonians, God always does things exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ever imagine..and then make us go 'Wow!'. Perhaps God is taking this time to prepare us for the greater things that have yet to come! It's exciting time that we're living in :) I know He has heard every cry and every prayer and all our cries and prayers matter so much to Him :) I will rest in Him and Him alone. Let us be assured too, that though we may sow in tears we will reap with joy! Hidup Rakyat! Hidup Tuhan! (God is alive!) :) 

I know that I will still be angry at some of the latest news (eg; Cina Tsunami) especially when I see them on FB. So I've challenged myself to always pray whenever I feel angry or disappointed, may God grant me wisdom to respond and not react ;) I'm glad I went for Combined Prayer. Now I understand why Peter and John would run to their companions after being released (Acts 4:23). And the first thing they did was they prayed together with fellow believers. So important and crucial. May we not lose sight of this too :)

and Yes, God knows what He is doing.

Today, I'm reminded on the most important element to UBAH. It is not hatred or bitterness. It is love - the love for our nation, our home, Malaysia. If truly I want to see change, let it begin with me. May I grow to love Malaysia each day :) #nomore-emo-emo #bangkit #rakyat #malaysia #love

Thank you, Wai yan, for helping me to see that in your blog post :)

GE13: My experience

I remember how excited I was to be a first-time voter. I was deeply encouraged to see the crowd lining up early in the morning. Even the lame came to cast their votes! I'm so proud of them. I'm so proud to be called Anak Bangsa Malaysia.

Nevertheless, I also remember witnessing how SPR showed special treatment to a certain party when we were on duty as Pemantau at a school in Balik Pulau. I remember how someone from SPR tried to accuse us of distributing flyers and I heard myself voicing out for justice, "The police there can be our witness!" There were also people who tried to intimidate us by taking our pictures without our consent. They came near to us and snap photos. I remember feeling very fearful. But the police were helpful and I saw them doing their job quite well.

I remember seeing a few motorcyclists roaming around to catch hantu. I prayed for hantu not to come so that there will be no fights..so that there will be peace. I also remember staring at the school and thinking to myself, "Why cheat in a school? The very place where you ask the younger people not to steal, cheat or lie..The very place where you educate the younger generation...Why?". I remember how Fong Wan and I hide under the umbrellas and keep hearing ourselves saying, "I can't take the HEAT anymore!" I remember smiling at this man whom I know are not doing the right things..I hope that one day he will turn away from all these things. I remember praying with Fong Wan as we sat down there by the roadside.

I remember how excited we felt when we were following the latest updates from different sources.. "YES! Unofficial results: XX seat, XX wins!" I remember how Malaysians felt when they flood FB with the latest updates..the excitements and sense of hope. However, I also remember the disappointments and anger that were lashed out after hearing the blackouts incidents. 

Up till now, I'm still very much angry and sad.. not because BN won but because of how they won. They have lost even the slightest (perhaps 0.01%) respect that I had for them. Changing my FB profile picture to black is not because I have given up hope on Malaysia.. but because I feel disgusted on how the people in power can twist and turn and to cheat Malaysians even when all of us are watching. I can't comprehend the degree of wickedness that the authority is practicing. I mean, please la, Who can? While most Malaysians went to sleep with disappointment in their hearts, I wonder if you, the culprit(s), could sleep well?

But thank you for doing all these because Rakyat will be more aware now. Ya, just in case if you're not aware..Rakyat sudah bangkit. You have reminded us on what it means to be a Malaysian - to care not just for ourselves, not just for Peninsular but also for Sabah and Sarawak. Thank you for challenging us to be even more united than before.

I want to remember how I felt yesterday and today. I want to remind myself of all these things so that I will not forget why I choose to stay back. Somebody said this, "Democrary is not a sprint. It is a marathon." Thank you dear leaders who have fought for the country all these while without us realizing how tired you can be, how disappointing things can turn out to be. Thank you to all who came back to vote. Thank you for believing not in the system but the power of unity.. Thank you, fellow Malaysians for believing together, for fighting together. Because of you, I have grown to love my home even more now. I have no other home. Malaysia is my home. Most importantly, thank you God for being who You are - sovereign, great, mighty and all-knowing!

Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The Lord God is my strength;

He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Upon injustice, we will tell of our God,

The hope of all hearts is You!

Your love never fails.

Jom balik undi

The best article that I've read so far..saw it on FB :)
To my dearest BN supporting friends

I know that there are still some of you who refused to go back to vote. When we had casual conversation, you said you're lazy to go back to vote. As a penangite, I don't really know how to persuade you because I don't have to travel for hours to go back to my hometown.. but I'm very certain that if I were you, I will still go back to my hometown just to cast my vote. It is not like you do not know about the corruption or injustices that are happening in Malaysia, but perhaps it is because you don't see them affecting you much.

Maybe because you have forgotten about the poor, the marginalized, the needy.. most of us haven't really seen them. I've been to Sabah Mission trip and that's when I realised that many of them who are living in kampungs don't even have proper electricity - they use generators at night. The toilets are awful because they do not have proper piping. They don't really have clean water, they have cloudy water or air sungai. I have yet to see with my own eyes; the orang Asli, the penan people..I've only heard about them and how they are mistreated. 56 years of ruling by BN with many developments (KLIA, KLCC, Monorail, etc) happening around us, why are the people in rural areas still suffering? Living in cities or even small towns, we do not know what it is like to not be able to afford food.. because most of the times, we only busy asking, "What to eat ah?"

... or maybe, you just couldn't care less? "One vote only what..it doesn't make a difference!" "It is impossible to change, there is no hope." I want to remind us that truly, Change begins with us. There is no hope simply because you refuse to hope. To be honest, I feel very angry and disappointed whenever I hear of my friends not going to cast their votes especially when they are believers.. so much about 'praying and loving' Malaysia, the least you could do is to cast your vote. If you still refuse to go back to vote this Sunday, no doubt I will feel disappointed.. but I will still respect you as my friend..I will still love you for who you are.. but then I want you to ask yourselves if this is the value that you want to pass down to your children in the future? 

If you call yourself a 'Malaysian', then I urge you,
 Dear fellow Malaysians..

 jom balik undi.

Tanah Tumpahnya Darahku..

It was only 2 years ago that I started to learn to love my country..because I know my God's heart is also for this nation. Nevertheless, I still have so much more to learn..so do correct me if I'm wrong :)

Recently, I have been seeing a lot of posts and comments on FB that are related to GE 13.With all the big huu-haa about General Election and different parties, I can't help but to be disappointed to see how some christians (even leaders) responded. I saw a post where people are misusing God's word to 'side' the party that they are supporting. I think this is very wrong. The thing is this; it is very obvious that the post is a lie because the photoshop was really bad.. and I cannot tahan when I see christians sharing this photo and adding more inappropriate comments..cursing individuals. My room mate is right when she said, "People are being very irrational now."

Am I not angry at how some politicians use money and free gifts to procure votes?
Am I not angry at how some politicians use dirty strategies against one another?

Am I not angry at how fellow Malaysians beat others up just because of some flags?
Am I not seeking and praying for a better Malaysia?
Am I not for clean and fair election??

Despite all these, I think we have to constantly remind ourselves that we are attacking issues, not individuals. We hate sin, not sinners. What would Jesus do? I have to remind and ask myself too.

Yes, we pray for a better Malaysia.. but let us also pray for blind eyes to be opened..for those who do not know God to know Him. Let us also pray for ourselves, that God may grant us wisdom and discernment in our words and actions.

Yesterday, a junior asked me "What if things remain the same after 5/5?"
I thought for awhile and replied..

"God knows what He is doing."

Never really heard from Hannah Yeoh before.. except for a few tweets on twitter and a few posts on her blog.
But this sharing is really inspiring :)
Hannah Yeoh's sharing at DUMC

Listening to this, I'm reminded of this dream that I used to have..which was to become a millionaire by the age of 30 haha and how I planned to study in Australia, be rich, help my whole family to migrate and never come back to Malaysia.. But somehow God intervened.. it was the same verse (Jeremiah 29:11) that led me to Form 6..and changed my life.

"...When I first won, I was always complaining.. inside me, throw tantrum at God.... and I said, 'I don't want to do this for You anymore. I want to do my own thing, I want to lead my own life'. And I remember one conversation I had with a pastor over dinner and he said this to me, 'If you are constantly discouraged, if you are constantly looking for encouragement in your work..and looking for only the good things in your work..you know, if Christ behaved like you..He would not have gone to the cross."

It's amazing how God works. 

Plans for good and not for disaster,

to give us a future and a hope.

Happy birthday, Malaysia!

Dear Malaysia,
May I grow to love you more each day. Not just in words, but in actions too. 

Di tanah tercinta, negara Malaysia

Ku berdoa Malaysia bagi kemuliaanMu

Malaysia bagi kemuliaanMu.

428 Duduk dan Bantah

Reached Esplanade at about 12.40pm and had our lunch there since it was quite early. On the way there, we begin to see so many people/drivers wearing yellow t-shirts and some even the Bersih t-shirts. We were excited! Yes Penang, this is the way! We then walked towards the big and massive crowd at around 1.30pm..people were already gathered there :) and I heard cheers from the crowd "Hidup Rakyat! Hidup Rakyat! Bersih Bersih!" Yes, we need to let the government hear our voices! We are the voice! I shouted together with my fellow malaysians "Hidup hidup, hidup Rakyat!" 

I see unity. I see young and old, coming together to stand up sit down for what is right! For the first time, we sat down and it meant something significant. Not for any political parties but for justice, for truth, for our future, for Malaysia. 

I'm glad and proud to be a part of this Bersih 3.0: Duduk dan Bantah. It was a peaceful rally in Penang. We just want to make our voices heard. Of course I did have worries before I went..what if I kena tear gas, what if the policeman this and that..was I scared? To be honest, yes a bit.. but I need to go and I want to! Because my presence matters. If not now, then when? If not us, then who? We want clean and fair election! We are the voice. 

We were not there only for ourselves

but for our children and our children's children.

My God is a God of Justice. 

A God of righteousness!

ps: My dad gave me the permission to attend the rally :) Thank God for that! 

Satu Malaysia

Just like other Malaysians, I used to sing 'Negaraku' every morning in school during assembly. Didn't know what it meant to me back then.. but now I know.
Negaraku, it means so much more than just a song.


Now I can say it with conviction, with understanding, "Ya, Ini negaraku."

Kita satu bangsa, kita satu negara..
kita 1 Malaysia.

My home

I pray that I will not leave my home when things get tough.. but to stay and fight for my home. My prayer is the same..for all my malaysian friends.

Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas!

Sometimes we don't even talk for long hours on the phone because of RADIATION

Talk about Radiation??
Stop Lynas!!
Save Malaysia!!! Click here:
Why do we need to Stop Lynas?

colour blind

:) this is sooooooo nice :) :)
very meaningful too! *not because i'm in love now or what okay*
but I'm just wondering.. since when we start categorizing ourselves?
Can you recall when was the first time you start being racist? and... Why?

pls vote, pls?

I can't understand this.
Many people who are eligible to vote are not registering as VOTERS.
Seriously if you want to see change, change begins with YOU.
Stop looking around and see what other people do, for goodness' sake!
Many people are saying 'It's okay..I'm just one of the many million voters'
Do you know that some people are dying to see change? because their life is not as easy as yours? because they may not have good education like you're having? even basic necessities like ELECTRICITY WHICH YOU're taking for GRANTED? CLEAN WATER SUPPLY? I MEAN, C.L.E.A.N water supply which you can get so easily whenever you turn on the tap.. some people are still using water which look like teh tarik! You have not seen, does not mean these people do not exist.

Can we, chinese, be more outward looking?
Please?
Stop being so cina.
and start being a MALAYSIAN.

Jadilah agen perubahan

Sempena NECF 40 hari Berdoa dan Berpuasa, lagu ini telah menemani saya sejak hari pertama..dan telah menjadi doa saya untuk gereja-gereja di Malaysia :) Saya berdoa agar gereja (termasuk saya sendiri) akan bangun dan bangkit dan menjadi agen perubahan bagi meninggikan nama Tuhan Yesus!

Satu Suara - Juwita Suwito

This is my home

Truth that cannot be covered

:'( so far, this is the only bersih video that made me cry. The people were standing for what is right yet they were treated like criminals. Heart-breaking.. People are often killed not by bullets but ignorance, inhumanity!!

Enough is Enough.

To you who hurt your own citizens when you're suppose to protect the innocence, to you who still think that Bersih has caused you to miss your weekend shopping, to you who said 'what's with everyone and bersih? it's such a waste of time' AND YOU WHO SAID THAT BERSIH has caused you to lose your 'RM 7 billion' profit by not being able to sell ice-creams a day (and the list goes on), I feel so sorry for you because you have eyes but do not see.

To you who walked and stood for what is right on my behalf and for the generations to come, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!! :') Thank you soooooooooooooo much!!

You have shown me that we have the right to stand for Justice
You have shown me that we have the right to speak up for the Truth
You have shown me the real meaning of 1Malaysia
Thank you!

Malaysians march together

If this old lady is joining the Bersih rally to 'fight' for a better future for the next generation, I don't think there's any excuse for us (the younger generation) to leave Malaysia behind.




I think I never understood the meaning of our national anthem until last year when I saw a large crowd of young people lifting up their state flag and Malaysia flag during National Conference. Til then, I have never felt so 'Malaysian'.

Through Bersih 2.0, I don't just see young people from different states but malaysians from all over the world coming together with one voice, standing together for the same cause.

Malay? Chinese? Indian? Iban?
No!
There's only one race.
It's called the human race.

Kami semua,
anak bangsa Malaysia.

ONE Malaysia,
Hidup Rakyat!!

9 July 2011

The immovable are moving.
How about you?




The time is now!

Bangkitlah anak-anak bangsa Malaysia!

Phang Carmen,
anak bangsa Malaysia.

(curi bro's brazil jersey from his closet :p)

The 'people' are you and I

Just in case you are unaware of what Bersih is all about, check this out:

Raja Petra Kamarudin- Give me one reason why I should march on 9th july 2011.

"So now you know why we need electoral reforms. And now you know why we need to march on 9th July 2011. And this is not about the opposition. It is not about Anwar Ibrahim either. It is about the rights of the people of one-man-one-vote."

I am not into politics.
I am into Malaysia. My home.