Letters from the Equator

Kenneth Lee sentenced to death

Four years ago, an accountant was shot to death in her car by the grandson of the late Tun H.S. Lee, a prominent and influential Malaysian politician in the past (fought for Malaysia’s independence, former national finance minister). Both the victim and oppressor had no prior connections. This article just jumped up at me when I read it, because the victim, Lee Good Yew, was a former classmate of my mom’s.

Lee appealed to the court to re-evaluate his sentence, and the court decided that he should be sentenced to death. He was initially sentenced to serve 8 years in jail. It was quite controversial because the motive was unclear (he claimed that he was suffering from a condition at the time he killed the victim), and that he could not recall the event at all.

I believe that this is a sign of the changes currently taking place in the government, which is a good thing. After the appointment of the new prime minister of Malaysia, there were a lot of corrupt leaders and businessmen who were removed. Similarly, the police force was reported to look more proactive by the media, and if you read the articles in the news these days, it speaks of that.

Helps me to think that we do carry a great responsibility in choosing our leaders and cooperating as citizens. Somehow it helps not just being “armchair critics” (a phrase I read from the papers just recently), an attitude which we Malaysians tend to adopt.

I am also reminded of 2 Chronicles 7:14

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

It doesn’t just help to pay our taxes and not park illegally (and not shoot people in their cars). The real condition is in our hearts. The land itself cries out against the evil done by men and women (Genesis 4:10). The condition of our hearts and the motives of our actions bear great consequences for our benefactors.

However, despite the greatest extent that we have tried and failed to do what we think is right, we still bear all the scars and legacies of human errors. Forgiveness belongs to God alone, a price which was paid by the death of Christ Jesus the Savior. Today we celebrate both this death and his resurrection, from whom all good things begin and end, forever, for all.