By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : An Indian origin trucker charged with attempted murder persuaded the judge to grant him bail by repeatedly shouting “Malaysia Boleh!” – a slogan that has captured the imagination of Malaysians.
Like the Punjabi origin “Chak De” (buck up) in India, “Malaysia Boleh!” (Malaysia can do it) has come to be a popular exhortation in recent years.
Truck driver M. Sathiananthan created quite a scene in the Sessions Court Friday when he cried out “Malaysia Boleh!” several times, seeking justice, The Star newspaper reported Saturday.
It carried a photograph of the trucker in a blue uniform, flaunting a document after securing bail.
Sathiananthan was charged for trying to run over security guard R. Nageswaran, 23, and G. Kesavan, 22, on May 20. He claimed trial.
“I want to be bailed out. I want to hire a lawyer and fight my case. This is injustice,” he told the court. “The criminals are out there while I am detained in the lock-up.
“Even the policemen who drove me to court this morning ran a red light. Why wasn’t he arrested?” Sathianathan asked.
Judge M. Gunalan, also of Indian origin, told him that he was free to lodge a police report.
He then granted Sathianathan RM10,000 (approx. $3,100) bail in one surety and warned him not to contact the victims and their families until the completion of the case and fixed June 23 for hearing.
The general belief is that “Malaysia Boleh!” was the slogan used by a health beverage in its marketing campaign in the 80s.
Cries of “Malaysia Boleh!” were initially heard at sporting events like the Commonwealth Games and Thomas Cup Finals, then later it was embraced wholeheartedly by people as a means to push themselves to endure and accept challenge, to set targets and to excel.