Maybe, I Mean, Maybe

By LIM MUN FAH/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily

Smash it, splash it, destroy it. After the plaque under Perak's Democracy Tree built by the Pakatan Rakyat Perak State Government has been declared illegal by the Ipoh City Council, it is doomed to be demolished.

Maybe, the Ipoh City Council was just taking the action according to law. But other than law, sometimes we should take morality as a consideration as well. Maybe, the general public have a different interpretation.

The plague was built on 8 March and it was meant to commemorate the state assembly sitting held under the yellow rain tree. The building of the monument was related to a political incident and maybe, the demolition of it was as well related to politics.
Pakatan Rakyat claimed that they are going to raise funds to build a new monument. But if it is going to be built in a public place, it's ending is almost predictable.

"By this, the Ipoh City Council can do nothing and take no action."

During the June Fourth Movement in 1987, the Statue of Liberty built by Chinese students at Tiananmen was destroyed by tanks. But 20 years later, the dissidents have made a copy of the Statue of Liberty and placed it at Los Angelas, United States.

Maybe, Pakatan Rakyat will do the same and find another location, not necessarily abroad, but a private place will do, to build a monument. By this, the Ipoh City Council can do nothing and take no action.

Of course, this is an expedient measure. Maybe, Pakatan Rakyat will regain the state regime in the next general elections and they can place back the monument under the tree, guarding Ipoh, once a glorious city, day and night. It is just like how the Statue of Liberty keeps guard the United States and symbolises the people's fight for democracy and the longing for freedom.

The Statue of Liberty, also known as “Liberty Enlightening the World”, was presented to the United States by France in 1876 as a gift for the United States national 100th anniversary. It has been listed as a world cultural heritage and an important tourist attraction of the United States.

Maybe, the monument will one day become another tourist attraction of Ipoh besides of Perak Cave Temple.

Maybe, I mean, maybe, people will think of the great image of the monument when they mention about Ipoh in the future, just like we will think about the huge Statue of Liberty when we talk about the United States today….