Cooking Heals

Yesterday was International Human Rights Day (December 10, 2011). Some people just shrug their shoulders and say well it’s just another day. Some may say “So what?” But some decided to stand up for their rights as the citizens of Malaysia to say NO to the Public Assembly Bill (see previous blog post for the background of the bill here).

This was the third time on three consecutive Saturdays where a concerned group of people decided to show their dissatisfaction in the open, demonstrating to the authorities who drafted and approved the bill that it is 100% okay for Malaysians to assemble publicly without causing commotion, disruption or safety concerns to the public.

The original event was a flashmob to be staged at KLCC concourse area but KLCC management issued the organizers a legal letter threatening for court injunction should they insist to proceed as they (KLCC management) claimed past two events disrupted their tenants’ business and caused safety concerns to their shoppers (the past two events were not even conducted in the shopping mall)! Though we did not see the rationale as we were merely going to KLCC to shop, then congregate and disperse, we happily abode and decided to shower KLCC management with love.

About a hundred of us turned up, we went shopping and joyfully posed in front of the Christmas trees with the “yellow” items we purchased from KLCC outlets. Despite accusing us for causing business disruption and security concerns, we showed them that we only have good intentions and showing our concerns against the Public Assembly Bill in a loving and safe way.

I decided to make some Christmas cookies and share the love and joy with everyone present. This was the first time I decorated cookies with royal icing and they actually turned out pretty good as a novice. The cookies were only decorated in yellow and white. Yellow is the colour of “Bersih” (Clean in English), a movement created to demand for a clean general election in Malaysia. Tens of thousands of people marched on the streets on July 9 this year, and it was truly a historical movement to be witnessed (I wasn’t there as I flew to Hong Kong on that day 😦 ); and white resembles purity, that we PUREly only want peace and the best for the citizens of Malaysia!

The event went surprisingly well without the interruptions from the management nor the security guards. We shopped for yellow items and posed with the items and our receipts in front of the Christmas trees. We sang “Jingle Bells” and our national anthem. We had our group photos taken and the photos were published in some of the online news portals. (For video of the event, click here.) I happily distributed the cookies among the participants. We made new friends and smiled at everyone even though I didn’t know most of them. And most importantly, we had fun and we’re just a bunch of concerned citizens who happened to be happy shoppers! I felt really patriotic to see Malaysians (and foreigners) of all walks of life and races coming together and do something for the future of Malaysia! Bravo peeps! And see you in all future events! We will do it together and KILL THE BILL!

P.S. The best part was the after-event lunch…sitting down at the same table with Malaysians that I do not know and yet there was such strong sense of solidarity and home-coming feel…We should do this more often!

Click on the photos below to view them large.