Remembering Altantuya at Bukit Selambau

Posted on by Teresa

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I participated in a little ceremony to pay respects to Altantuya on “Cheng Beng” (“All Souls’ Day) at PKR operations centre at Bukit Selambau.  On my right is Tian Chua, on my left is Hee Loy Sian, Lee Kim Sin and Gan Pei Nie.  

I got involved in the campaign in both Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau last Friday and returned to Selangor Monday, 6th April 2009.

I started my tour of duty at Bukit Gantang first. My my, the Bukit Gantang area rained almost every night, making it difficult to organise ceramahs (public rallies/forums). When I got there last Friday night, I was slated to speak at a small-scaled ceramah to a Chinese crowd, but I ended up speaking at a PAS ceramah, addressing thousands of Malay folks in a muddy field. Many of them recognised me, and yes, I was rather surprised by the warm reception too.

Of course, I told them my ISA detention story and the dirty tactics of BN / UMNO in trying to break the Pakatan Rakyat governments especially in Selangor.

I put up a night at a Sungai Petani hotel. The next morning, a DAP member in Sungai Petani took me to a Chinese new village. When I arrived at the PKR operations centre, I met with Tian Chua, Lee Kim Sin, Gan Pei Nie etc. They were preparing for a ceremony to pay respects to Altantuya in the Chinese tradition in front of their service center as that day was Cheng Beng (All Souls’ Day), a day to remember the departed when many Malaysians of Chinese ancestry visit the graves of their dearly departed. Initially, I was quite amused by the irony of it and I participated in the little ceremony.

However, when Gan Pei Nie read out the memorial message in a very solemn manner and described how much Altantuya’s parents and children must have missed her after she was murdered in October 2006, I suddenly felt very sad and heavy-hearted. I then recall reading about Altantuya’s father going to the site of her death to cry out for her soul to go back home following Mongolian beliefs and customs.

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After the little ceremony, we spoke to the media. I criticised the stupid directive of the police in attempting to bar the mention of Altantuya’s name during the election campaign and threatening to charge in court those who did so. I remarked that since the police forbade us from mentioning Altantuya in public, we will remember her in the Chinese customary way and offer our prayers for her soul. No one could stop us doing so.

One of the journalists asked Tian Chua whether this was a political stunt. My answer to this question was “It might be or it might not be. A young Mongolian woman was blasted to pieces with C4 explosives and allegedly by Police special task force personnel, isn’t this shocking? Shoudn’t we remember her death on this solemn “Cheng Beng”?

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I walked around with Lee Kim Sin (ADUN for Kajang), William Leong (MP for Selayang) and Hee Loy Sian (MP for PJ Selatan) at the Chinese village. Most Chinese villagers expressed their support for PKR. We went around with a model ballot paper with 15 candidates and symbols and told them to vote for No: 4, the PKR symbol and candidate 

7 thoughts on “Remembering Altantuya at Bukit Selambau”

  3. On the occasion of “Cheng Beng’, it is our filial duty to remember the dead and the departed. It is only decent and right that we also remember the tragic death of Mongolian beauty, Altantuya, who was brutally blown to shreds and pieces by C4 explosives. To her family especially her father and two young kids, I offer my sympathies and condolences to them. May her soul forever rest in peace!

    On another note, today is polling day in the 3 by-elections in the Parliamentary seat of Bukit Gantang in Perak, the state seat of Bukit Selambau in Kedah and the state seat of Batang Ai in Sarawak. Day in and day out for the past one month or so, we have been fed with a lot of filth, dirt, venom and half-truths directed at the Opposition especially the Pakatan Rakyat coalition parties by the government-controlled print media and also cyber television mainly TV1 and TV3. Pakatan Rakyat was given no chance to defend itself by all those one-sided documentaries and reports. Luckily, PR parties have the Internet as one avenue to explain and disseminate their policies ,vision and commitment for a better Malaysia for all. YB’s consistent and steadfast stand on this is all well-known and highly appreciated by all who dream of a more just and equal Malaysian society!

    I sincerely hope that Pakatan Rakyat will win all the 3 by-elections today with convincing majorities especially the Parliamentary seat of Bukit Gantang! Go, go, go PR!

    All the best to Pakatan Rakyat!

  4. I had a friend that was killed in China a couple of years ago. Her family had to bring back her body for her funeral. You see, as Catholics, the Priests can only give her her last rites with her body, ashes don’t count. It would be interesting to get Nik Aziz on this for Muslims.
    Another interesting story, the place I was working in has a female spirit haunting. I never had any encounter with her. Lately, a woman joined us and she saw her spirit and she arranged to have a Siamese Priests to remove her. The Priests then explained that when a person is born, her life span in already pre-determined. This lady was haunting the place as she committed suicide there. Her time is not up so she cannot go back to her Maker, and are left on earth. In cases of suicide and murders that’s what happen. So it is good that you all pray for her on cheng beng, may she find her way home…..

  6. the most telling part of the article is that our Malay saudara & saudari had a warm reception for you rather than to sling mud at you, which I believe could be quite handy.

    as for Al…Aminah (turned and looked around) she might not be an ordinary woman doing ordinary things but the way she departed sure ain’t ordinary and the events that transpired subsequently in the course of seeking justice is not ordinary at all. Another ordinary day in Malaysian politics.

    I am looking forward to something not ordinary again, like change of federalship.

    Remembering and respecting Al, whether political stint or not? Of course it is. We have been politicalizing everything from education to religion, racial issues and recently EGGs (involving a certain hardworking lady put on 2 weeks leave forcibly)

    If we look at it from another angle, it is a well-wishing gesture from a bunch of Malaysians too.

  7. My heart sinks when I recall how this poor pretty Mongolian woman was blown to bits by those evil murderers. Only the worst of evil guys can killed a lady this way. May her soul rest in peace.
    I hope the rakyat will try and help bring justice to her at all cost. These murderers must be made to pay for this cruel murder irrespective.
    Teresa, really appreciate for your kind gesture.

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