Moving in the right direction, the local government in Penang could soon introduce car-free streets in George Town. Continue reading »
Oct 242011
Mar 052009
A message from DEMOCRACY TREE
I am just a tree, why not be like me..
I give shelter, and rest to all in need, you can see.
There’s shade under my branches, come and take your rest
You’ll know then, that I am simply Nature’s gift and I ….did my best.- Shakuntala, an anak Bangsa Malaysia who adores trees and spends time just staring at their beauty and generosity and who believes in the fusion of Nature with human activity.
Some people are saying the tree in question is a yellow flame tree. Can anyone verify this?
Continuing on the tree theme, I wrote the following for IPS:
It has already been dubbed “Pokok Demokrasi” or Democracy Tree and is set to enter the annals of folklore in Ipoh, capital city of Perak state.
In an open space beneath this 60-foot high rainforest tree and another lush mango tree nearby, the state legislative assembly of peninsular Malaysia’s second largest state held an emergency session Tuesday as a crowd of several hundred looked on.
On this historic day, the Perak state assembly held an emergency sitting under a tree, 200 metres away from the state government complex, after the people’s reps were prevented from sitting in their usual venue.
Democracy was returned to the people, gathered in a solemn assembly beneath this humble but majestic tree, its outstretched branches reaching out to the heavens while embracing and providing shade for the multitude below.
Thanks to Rain Tree for sending in this poem by Hamza Yusuf:
The historic "Pokok Demokrasi" - now part of Ipoh's folklore (Photo by Jong)
A tree knelt in praise
I know that I shall never see
A poem that bows quite like our tree
A tree who like us loved to pray
In adoration every dayA tree who humbly knelt in praise
To God and never chose to raise
Itself above the other trees
Instead remained as if on kneesA tree who gave our scholars shade
And never asked that it be paid
A tree whose needles never hurt
But gently fell upon the dirtA tree whose worth cannot be told
Or ever lent or bought with gold
A tree who showed us all its height
With God by bowing with delight
