Sunday 3 January 2010

Brit Hume Speaks out Against the Buddhist Faith

Edit: I think there are some wondering why waste our breathe on this, why waste our effort. Its true Fox News loves the attention, its gets viewers. And what will Fox News think about a few thousand Buddhists writing in? They will chuckle and this precisely why we should be so upset. Fox gets millions of viewers, millions of people who watch for a multitude of reasons, and many of these people will inevitably nod their heads in agreement without knowing why.

Could Hume get away with saying something like this about Jewish people or Black People or the Muslim Faith? You betcha he couldn't. Why should he be able to skate away scott free when speaking about Buddhists? Because we are only 3 or 4% of the population in the US? Hell NO! Sometimes we do have to speak up, sometimes right speech is getting in someone's face saying, "hey you can't say that about us...you know nothing at all about us!" Sometimes we have to stand up for what we believe, even if that means showing some red once in awhile. Because if we don't.....well....I think you all can figure that part out.

I already forwarded this to a few news organizations, perhaps you all can forward this story as well to ones you know. All it needs is a little push to get the word out that Buddhists aren't going to tolerate bigotry.

Here are those emails again:

mailto:newsmanager@foxnews.com
mailto:yourcomments@foxnews.com
fns@foxnews.com

There are already several posts up today, which have already done a wonderful job exposing Brit Hume for the Religious bigot he is. Here are just a few of the links so far, more to come. Edit: Sorry, I can't keep up, there are another dozen or so blogs and websites talking about this. I'll get them up as soon as I can. Check out Elephant Journal's hilarious piece on this.

My Buddha is pink
ZenDirt ZenDust 
Dangerous Harvests
Notes From a Burning House
Danny Fisher
The Raw Story
Hardcore Zen
ZenFant
Mahablog
About Buddhism





"He is said to be a Buddhist. I don’t think that faith offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith. My message to Tiger would be, ‘Tiger, turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world."

I urge everyone to follow Bitterroots suggestions and email Fox News at fns@foxnews.com and respectfully ask for the on air apology to all Buddhists or Mr.Hume's dismissal from Fox News all together. There is absolutely no excuse for what he said and we have come to far in this country and this world to stand idly by while an ignorant political mouthpiece spews hatred and intolerance.

Mr.Hume, please, excuse yourself from your position at Fox News. You all wonder why Fox News is criticized at the mouthpiece of the far right, well look in the damn mirror my friend. As the political centrist I am, it honestly frightens me, how someone who is supposed to be so in tune with the goings on in this country has such a large stage to spew hate, animosity and a grievous lack of understanding concerning someone's faith.

Mr.Hume, you are a disgrace to all Americans.

(Cross Posted at the Reformed Buddhist)

21 comments:

  1. I liked Brad Warner's point that it was not necessary for Woods to convert to Christianity in order to have forgiveness since Buddhism doesn't include the concept of sin in the first place that would require divine forgiveness. It's his family's forgiveness that's needed - and that would take more than a religious conversion.

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  2. I agree, its about his family, not his faith. And sorry my first post back has to be a bit rantish, but I felt this is important. :-)

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  3. THIS POST WAS QUOTED ON MSNBC. Here's the link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34691708%2334691708#34691708

    Cool.

    Congrats!
    --Rod Meade Sperry
    Editor of Web Publciations, Shambhala Sun
    (and also, editor of TheWorstHorse.com)

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  4. Thanks Rod! Though the influx of hate mail leaves a bit to be desired. :-/

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  5. I see no religious bigotry. He expressed his opinion about Christianity. As a Muslim I see nothing wrong with Brit Hume's comment. It was neither bigotry nor even extreme. It was a personal opinion as well as truth. Buddhism doesn't offer forgiveness because it doesn't have a lawgiver (God) to ask forgiveness from.

    I think maybe you're the one with bigotry. Perhaps by others expressing a opinion different from yours somehow your beliefs and opinions are invalidated. If someone making a comment expressing their opinion that a belief is superior to the belief you have maybe your beliefs aren't as well rooted as they should be.

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  6. Mr. Hume’s broadcast remarks about Buddhism were hard to believe, while the Fox Network’s decision to air Mr. Hume’s opinion is the greater concern. I believe the Christianity about which Mr. Hume spoke has a relevant bit of advice, “Judge not, lest you be judged.” Since Mr. Hume failed that, perhaps the US Dept of Labor will offer additional education about the responsibility of an employer, even those with a broadcast license, to abide by all EEOC laws ~ such as, the right of an employee to protection from a religiously intolerant work place.

    Is it still true that if Fox admitted what everyone already knows, that Fox is a “religious employer,” then the Fox Network is not violating any employee rights enforced by the US Dept of Labor?

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  7. "Buddhism doesn't offer forgiveness because it doesn't have a lawgiver (God) to ask forgiveness from." - So you are saying us Buddhists are Atheists?

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  8. Buddhism offers forgiveness, as human beings we must forgive and love each other.

    Someone should send Brit Hume "The Wisdom of Forgiveness" by the Dalai Lama

    The whole purpose of religion
    is to facilitate love and compassion, patience,
    tolerance, humility, forgiveness.
    - Dalai Lama

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  9. As a Buddhist (regular reader of this blog), and a conservative American who often watches Fox News, I guess I'll inject my 2 cents:

    It's disappointing to me that Mr. Hume believes this. It does show a degree of religious bigotry on his part. However, he does have the right to believe this as a private citizen, and even express it on the news network as a commentator (he wasn't in a journalist or reporting role when he said that, it seems). But, this is entirely about Mr. Hume and his belief, not about Fox News as I see it. It's not like he would have gone to the producers or executives and told them what he was going to say, nor do they have any precident for editing the show to remove his comment after the fact. And I also don't consider this a problem with conservatives any more than I do with liberals. I've heard just as much stupidity from both sides in the media.

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  10. Hi Kyle - I posted a response on my blog, which you and others may be interested in reading:

    http://loveofallwisdom.com/2010/01/brit-hume-on-buddhism/

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  11. LOL Amod, well judging from the responses from the media and thousands of people, I'd say your post is kind of off the mark. But don't worry, some people said much worse things about me. :-)

    PS I got a ton more over my personal blog.

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  12. I'm with you on this one. When I saw Hume's comments, I don't know that I've ever been so outraged and angry.

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  13. How ignorant the anchor was! No matter what Tiger Woods believes, he is a failure in managing his family.

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  14. Personally I'm all for bigotry against my Buddhist prejudices. I figure I benefit like the recluse who goes down to the village to stir his karmic pot for deeper practice. I'm just sorry other people listen to him. :)

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  15. Pro-UMNO MCA Is Anti Buddhist !
    Contributed by Anak Mami

    Ven. Phra Piya Thammo,

    Dear Devotees,

    Before I commence of my letter-writing toward. All of you, I would like to inform all of you that I am not satisfy with the lawyer, Dato YIP KUM FOOK due to his bad inspirit impressions because he sent an inspector to come to our Buddhist Temple to arrest me without any good reason, moreover, the lawyer, YIP KUM FOOK is not satisfy with Chief monk.

    When the Chief monk had me to go to his Temple already and he went away and left me alone to take care until Chief monk come back to the Temple first and he also told me not to leave the Temple if any committees or the chairman want to chase me out, you don’t leave the Temple at all understand? Then I said, alright? To the chief monk! On the second Day, YIP KUM FOOK came to our Temple and talk to me. He tired to make some inquiry from me and he asked me, where I come from? I told him that I came from Penang.

    Then, I told to the lawyer (YIP KUM FOOK, MCA Man) that the chief monk came to Penang and fetch me and invited me to accompany him to go to his temple in K.L. I am not aware that YIP KUM FOOK is not in a good terms with the chief monk, chief monk already in this way, YIP KUM FOOK try to create trouble with me unnecessary. That is why, the lawyer want to chase me out of the Temple. Then I asked the lawyer, why you want to chase me out of the temple? Moreover, the Temple is not belonging to you, UNDERSATAND? Then, I asked him, who are you? I don’t know you at all, you have no right to chase me or control me at all, UNDERSTAND? You are just like a layman only. Do you know the regulations that any the chairman or committee cannot control the monks and the Nuns at all, also UNDERSTAND?

    I scolded him like that. Then the lawyer (YIP KUM FOOK) is not satisfy with me and he told me that he will called the police to come to the Temple and arrest me. I told him to go ahead and called the police to come and arrest me. I won’t run away, I said to him like that. I have done nothing wrong toward you, why you want to arrest me? He said, he doesn’t like me to stay here. I asked him, why? Again. After this he got very angry with me, then he phoned up to the police and the police came to the Temple and told me to leave the Temple.

    I told to the inspector of the again, 1 am sorry, I won’t leave the Temple because the chief monk had instructed me not to leave the Temple without his consent, UNDERSTAND? Then the inspector told me to leave, again. I told him I cannot leave the Temple because the Chief Monk hasn’t come back yet. This time, the inspector got very angry with me and he took out his handcuff and try to threaten me, then I immediately show off my hands for him to lock me up but he scare, then again, the inspector told me leave the Temple again but I still don’t want to leave the Temple.

    Then I phoned up to the chief monk again and I told him that the inspector insisted want to arrest me, you better come back to settle the case for me. After this incident, Chief Monk came back to the Temple and take me to go to another temple and stay their. That’s all about this incidents! Last of all, I would like to inform all of you, that no committees or the chairman can control all the monks and Nuns at all also UNDERSTAND? “They are higher than the King,” also! So how can the laymen, the committees and the chairman to control them: – EVEN THE KING ALSO RESPECTED THE MONKS AND NUNS. Why the chairman doesn’t respect the monks and nuns? They will carry the sins later on, UNDERSTAND?

    Yours in Dhamma

    Ven. Phra Piya Thammo
    Penang, Malaysia

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  16. 親爱的佛教信士.
    佛教之地,都是要善伩修守戒律, 但令人痛心的是 Samnak Sambodhi Buddhist Association No: 19 Jalan 38 Taman Desa Jaya 52100 Kepong Selangor, Malaysia.三宝寺却不以身作則。他们允许缅甸外劳庆祝佳日,隨心所意,在当地杀鱼.鸡. 猪.羊及飲洒作乐,醉身萝死耒污垢佛教神聖之地.至今 已引起居民的反感.

    針对以上的题,身为佛教伩徒,也是前任理事会成员,我 依佛礼的教海,据理力争。但孤学难呜,却被一手遮天,以商叶利益为重的马华公会,鹅嘜区会主席叶金福(Yip Kum Fook), 把我排除在外,其用意, 一目了然,想完全控(Yip Kum Fook)制甲洞帝沙再也,三宝寺耒达到私利賺钱.现在, 他应用外耒和尚主持三宝寺,其目的,也更清楚,因为外耒者不知内幕,不能久留,无杈过向.

    回顾10年前之事,由本地吉兰丹和尚仼壇主兼顾问之時, 此种现象,是不曾发生的,为何到了叶金福(Yip Kum Fook)的領导乏下,却帶耒如此違反佛教的文化?难怪,前仼壇主 也一声不言就远离了,必有其苦衷。

    为了佛教的遵严,我不忍看它沦落为醉身耒萝死之地, 让人耻笑,在此, 我只好通过现代的管道,泣声敬请,佛 教伩仰者及马耒西亜佛总能加以关注, 并给予该理事会劝导,尽速觧决此事,以免这种污点影响整体的佛教良好形象。

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  17. Okay, here's the brief translation of the story

    In the video, the guys were saying "You girls are Burmese, We also are the same. We all came here to get better jobs to have better lives. They take away your virginity and dignity for some hand phones and gadgets which are only worth $200 to $300 and treat you to some fancy dinners. If you want money, why don't you get a proper job like other people?

    Continues...

    They traffic girls like you. You all are already in foreign country, if you want to do that kind of thing for living, why don't you just do it in your own country?"

    Then the men asked the boy who seemed to be working together with the girls to call them up straight away if any of the girls were doing anything bad. They claimed to be beating the girls up for their own sake, while trying not to leave any apparent bruises or any blood at all..The girls themselves looked ashamed and they just kept quiet.

    The writer added, the men had no other choice than beat them up like mothers beat their own kids, in such incidents as, they cannot make the girls listen to them only by talking anymore. The writer then said, he is not applauding the men for beating the girls, but on the other hand, they have no other reasons or any bad intentions by beating the girls apart from the fact that, they just wanted them to stop doing whatever they were doing. And apparently, all of the girls weren't getting beaten up, and they even beg to differ when they were asked if they were partaking in such actions as of the other two girls did....

    The video clip was taken in Taman Desa Jaya Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by the way....

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  18. 敬爱的佛教伩徒,
    有关马來西亜,吉隆坡,甲洞帝沙再也 (暹寺) 三宝寺 Samnak Sambodhi Buddhist Association No.19-21 Jalan 38 Taman Desa Jaya, Kepong 52100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 所发生的纠纷, 经过阅读了,Venerable Phra Piya Thammo 和尚及叶金福律师 (Yip Kum Fook) 的双方书信之后, 再经实地旁听了觧,做为中间人,我要客观实事的说:

    1.当一个和尚、初出道 (小学生),在修行, 若有缺点, 那是难免.他马华公会鹅唛區会主地席叶金福律师(Yip Kum Fook),却心眼看不顺,就电招警万到耒佛教之圣地要扣畄和尚耒耻唇出家人, 这是绝对不许可, 除非是殺人放火之大罪悪.

    2.他身为马华公会鹅唛區会主席叶金福律师 (Yip Kum Fook),却反其道而行, 在佛寺不依佛法而軽视佛教的精神, 以傲慢的手段,帶领一般黑社会的人耒挑衅和尚打架, 这也是不该有、更不是佛教修行者的行为.

    3.佛教的圣地, 其主要的目地, 是让眾生修佛道, 不是政治争執的地方. 他马华公会鹅唛区会主席叶金福律师 (Yip Kum Fook), 却利用佛教之圣地当政治活动的场所。如此果敢冒犯佛陀的教誨,更是大大的罪悪。

    囯有囯章,彿有佛法,家有家规. 如果出家人有何不对之处, 他叶金福律师 (Yip Kum Fook), 为何不向主持和尚投?让出家人自依和尚的條规处理、却强权一味要显示他是马华公会鹅唛区会及三宝寺理事会主席, 无法无天的应用霸道手段践踏佛教之圣地.为什么。。。。。为什么.

    至今, 他叶金福律师 (Yip Kum Fook),不当不歉愧,还要狡辩, 这又证明了他说一套, 做的又是另一套, 囗是心非, 所谓的两舌, 相当阴险. 身为律师, 受高深教育, 却应用如此悪毒, 横蛮无礼的作风污辱和尚, 相等于是耻辱佛教伩仰者。他叶金福律师(Yip Kum Fook)不向主持和尚投诉, 却自承英雄,电招外耒者.请问,身为將近20年的三宝寺主持和尚兼顾问,也是第一位 自筹建寺的大功臣,在大马南傳泒中,是闻名遐邇的高僧.其脸要放在那裡?同样的,要是台湾星雲大师的佛寺沙彌犯錯, 理事会没有礼貌自作主张,电招警方要扣畄其沙彌.我敢请问!星雲大师的自尊是怎样的感受?他叶金福律师(Yip Kum Fook)是后耒者,担任理会主席也不久, 竟敢应用如此,目无尊長的方式对待住持,间接的就是告大家,强迫住持和尚必远離,雀巢鸠要佔。这种用心不良, 有老千之谋, 的确令人不敢恭维。

    縱观以上几项重点,我不是盲目的護持三宝, 而是要坦白的说;他叶金福律师 (Yip Kum Fook) 身受高深教育, 为律师者,本应通情达理才是,但遗憾的是, 却令人惊觉, 他厡耒就是彿书裡所讲的狡猾且残忍的此颣人。他叶金福律师 (Yip Kum Fook),利用他的专业知識, 懂得包裝自己的道德守則,以宗教为幌子手,到处募款,商业经营, 政治活动为重, 并没依循佛教宗教守则行事, 也没对人道作出任何貢献, 只不过借宗教之名捞取权和私利而己。

    在此, 我奉劝, 他马华公会鹅唛区会主席叶金福律师 (Yip Kum Fook), 好自为之, 免因果報应.

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  19. Dear brother and sister,

    I am Myanmar who working in Malaysia more than 10 years and I would like to explain about SAMNAK SAMBODHI BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION. Therefore, recently I stayed at Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary (SBS), Taiping, Perak. I am very close with Ven. U Nandiya Maha Thero.

    My monk Ven. U Nandiya is very good heart and compassion to everyone in the world, also I heard when he stayed at Kuala Lumpur Buddhist Temple, he lend donation money to President of Temple(Datuk Yip Kum Fook, MCA Gombak) with amount RM20,000.00 only and he said that money belong to Myanmar society in Malaysia.

    On the other hand, my monk said, also many things happened when he stayed there because always disturbing, I am very sadly about that matter, why committees are very poor and crooks. Others Temple, people come to Temple to respected Buddha and Monks, also give red packet to monks. Why this Temple, monks must give money to committees, this is opposite.

    If anyone receive or read this message, please inform to DATUK YIP KUM FOOK to return that amount to my monk as soon as possible.

    My monk contact place:

    Ven. U Nandiya
    Sasana Daja Buddhist Temple
    49 Bombay Street, Lidcombe NSW 2141.
    Tel: (02) 9649-8124

    With kindness

    KO KO NAING
    Taiping, Perak, Malaysia

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  20. 敬爱的佛教信土:
    我是甲洞三宝寺 (暹廟) SAMNAK SAMBODHI BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION NO: 19-21 JALAN 38 TAMAN DESA JAYA KEPONG 52100 KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA. 的理事, 当任此职多年, 对内的事務也一清二楚。

    最近, 在网络上看了PHRA PIYATHAMMO和尚和马华公会鸱唛区主席叶金福(Yip Kum Fook, MCA Gombak)律师的双方信件, 使我的内心久久不能平伏, 良心受到很大的譴責, 不吐訢不痛快, 所以我要誠恳的説:他叶金福(Yip Kum Fook, MCA Gombak)侓师叫外来的流流氓到三宝寺(暹廟)挑衅和尚打架及电招警方人员扣捕沙彌, 其嘲笑手法, 不外是要显示其权力, 而鞏固其职位, 以达到权力就是一切, 好让住持难堪, 自动離开, 方便行事……这种举动, 已间接的表逹其含意, 住持和尚兼顾问, 都无能为力,你们这些信徒能做什么?即使告马耒西亜佛教总会又能为难什么?这种心态, 的硧令人反感, 不是一个正信佛教者应有的行为。

    至今, 三宝寺的理事成员多数是其親戚, 这是实事, 加入会员需交RM100元费用,同时,必须经过叶金福(Yip Kum Fook)律师的同意,否则免談, 所以会员也不多。

    马华公会鹅唛区主席叶金福(Yip Kum Fook, MCA Gombak)律师,自控制三宝寺之後,把三宝寺(暹廟)当着私人產業,聘用和尚賺钱,利用佛教的道地为政治活动埸所,而处理三宝寺的钱财也不透明?这点,值得信众追问。马来西亚地擴人多,和尚也不缺乏,为什么不用本地和尚当任住持化缘,却偏偏劳心劳神,浪费签证费,交通费? 还要烦劳梹城佛总的推荐信, 向文化不同, 而語言又不通之千哩外囯缅旬和尚求助? 为什么….为什么? 只要我们用头脑想一想,便一日了然, 不必晝虎添足。

    叶金福(Yip Kum Fook, MCA Gombak )律师说:欢迎任何人如有意见,可以电话03:62762369/0122039700 Email: YIPKUMFOOK@HOTMAIL.COM 戓到其马华公会鹅唛区会甲洞三宝寺及以下地圵:NO.2,B JALAN 53 TAMAN DESA JAYA KEPONG 52100 SELANGOR, MALAYSIA.討論, 我要老实的提醒大家, 最好不要一个去見他, 因为这个人狡滑, 笑裡藏刀, 很阴险, 出家人都不放在眼裡, 連TAMAN DAYA 52100 KEPONG, KUALA LUMPUR. 众人的印度廟也敢放火燒, 利用权势把场地佔为己有, 由此可见, 他是何等的心毒? 还有现在三宝寺内, 各处都按裝计孔监视来人一举一动。

    目前, 三宝寺很多信徒及当地居民, 已经对叶金福(Yip Kum Fook, MCA Gombak )律师不满, 但也不能做什么。他计划把三宝寺主席的职位轉给其子YIP JIUN HANN律师, 续承皇朝. 想近一部了觧詳情, 可上网得知。

    再说, 根据前理事在网络上给叶金福(Yip Kum Fook, MCA Gombak)律师的批評, 説他懂得包裝自己的道德守则, 以宗教为幌子手, 到处募款, 啇業经营, 政治活动为重, 并没依循佛教守則行事, 也没对人道作出貢献, 只不过借三宝寺宗教之名捞取权和私利而己, 其言也不为过, 是实事。

    在此, 我恳切希望, 廣大的佛教信仰者, 给予关注, 并共創義举, 弘扬佛教. 谢谢。

    Mr Lim Sok Chia敬啟
    Ms Yap

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  21. We would like to announce to all Malaysian Buddhists, that if anyone is political, please do not allow them to join any Buddhist Temple committee or Buddhist association because they hope and expect something from Buddhists, like the SAMNAK SAMBODHI BUDDHIST TEMPLE(吉隆坡甲洞帝沙再也三宝), there now is very problematic because the president is an MCA politician “DATUK YIP KUM FOOK (叶金福 Datuk Yip Kim Hock)”

    For example, like DATUK YIP KUM FOOK 叶金福 and he is cheating everywhere, also playboy to people wives everywhere, he doesn't have any Buddhist rules, then after go to get a position as Buddhist temple president, this is very ugly and shameful.... used police and gangsters to remove the Buddhist monks out from Temple

    This SAMNAK SAMBODHI BUDDHIST TEMPLE(吉隆坡甲洞帝沙再也三宝) is founded by Buddhist Sangha Kelantan at Taman Ehsan and then moved to Taman Desa Jaya, Kepong...You! (YIP KUM FOOK) just become a president of Temple but you reject all old committees, your mind is very dirty.... now Buddhist devotees wake up to understanding what happened at Temple

    We and the devotees know very well about SAMNAK SAMBODHI because we are close to the Buddhist monks in Kelantan, we were in the committee for a long time because the last time Temple was nothings, we had to support the Sangha to build the Temple, but you (Yip) defrauded the Sangha of RM20,000.00, this is a dirty mind and stupid thought

    Political ideas and Buddhist teachings, please do not mix because Buddhism is a way of human life in this world and the afterlife, DATUK YIP KUM FOOK叶金福 needs to understand more on this, because of he / you higher education (law graduate), we are ordinary people, cannot be compared to you

    Tony Keong, Kepong

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