Going botak for a cause

Wire service AP called it ‘to show devotion to their beliefs’. The Hindu meanwhile labelled it as a ‘novel protest’. The mainstream media in Malaysia however ignored the event. Only the Tamil dailies gave any prominence, with photographs as well.

I am talking about the Hindraf-sponsored ‘head-shaving ceremony’ at the Batu Caves temple yesterday morning. In all 16 supporters decided to sacrifice their locks as ‘a sign of protest against the ISA and to pray for their (leaders') freedom’.

The organisers have initially thought of having 50 people shaving off their tresses. However only the 16 had the guts to take on to the scissors - including six teenagers and a three-year-old girl, as opposed to about 100 who had gathered to witness the occasion.

I reckon this is as good as it gets to a symbolic protest. However it would have been better if it was not done by Hindraf, whose remaining main leaders just turned up to give speeches and turn it into a political affair.

Perhaps Hindraf should have just passed the word around on the ‘botak protest’ and let people do it on their own. Their supporters could have started it in a place, even Batu Caves, and then they should have let the others to follow suit.

Or if Hindraf had wanted to make a good start, it should have made sure that ALL its leaders, including those from PKR and DAP, started the protest by shaving off their own hairs first!

I think only one Hindraf leader - who is also a PKR man - shaved his hair yesterday. The other leaders there were only cheerleaders.

Come on Hindraf, if you want people to sacrifice for the community, on your behalf, then you too must take the lead. It is still not too late for these Hindraf leaders (and those with it from the opposition parties) to show their support for the ‘botak protest’ by taking the plunge themselves. And then, they have all the right to get their supporters to follow suit.