Date: 18 Apr 1999.
Location: Xian Sheng’s house, Taman Melawati
Table of Contents
(A) We have to know about global conflicts and the challenges people face worldwide.
Xian Sheng brought up an important issue, which was not about Baitiangong, but focused on a political conflict involving the war and bombings in the area that used to be Yugoslavia, especially between Serbia and Kosovo, while we sat calmly in the meditation area.
Xian Sheng asked the group to raise their hands if they knew about the war happening there. He mentioned that it was fine if some did not know, but stressed that everyone should be informed about such events.
He questioned why it was necessary for followers to be aware of the conflicts, emergencies, and struggles people are dealing with in different parts of the world.
He explained that the followers had to know because they are the only ones who truly pray to the CREATOR.
By knowing about these situations, followers could pray to the CREATOR for those who are affected by these wars, conflicts, and hardships. He checked if everyone understood what he meant.
Baitiangong followers should offer prayers for everyone, no matter if they are Muslims, Christians, or whatever their skin color is.
This is the reason we must stay informed. If we do not know, we will not understand what we should pray for.
We pray for peace in the world, for wars to end, and for people to stop suffering and dying without reason.
(B) What can we do about wars, genocides, and acts of cruelty?
Xian Sheng questioned if the followers were aware of the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, when the Hutus carried out mass killings against the Tutsis over the course of 100 days. During this time, weapons such as hatchets were used without mercy, targeting women and children.
Xian Sheng asked what actions we could take in the face of such obvious cruelty and inhumanity that people are capable of. Men, women, and children were all killed without distinction.
The issue is, if we are aware of wars and conflicts, such as the current situation in Kosovo, what action can we take?
(C) Xian Sheng believes that sometimes the best solution is the decreation of the universe.
He mentioned that bombings can happen even in developed countries like London, England, as was seen recently. Fortunately, none of the followers were there on vacation during the attack.
The bombing happened at a busy market where both locals and tourists often shop for old items, antiques, and interesting finds.
When Xian Sheng visited London and Australia, he enjoyed exploring these paddy markets. He saw many things he wanted to buy but could not bring them all home. He noticed that prices in these markets were much lower than in Malaysia, where similar items could cost ten times more. He also mentioned that realistic dog sculptures sold there could fetch a good price here.
People have become so crazy that they set off bombs in crowded marketplaces. He called these perpetrators cowards because they hurt innocent people who have nothing to do with their hateful plans. In the attack, 17 people were badly hurt, with 4 in serious condition, and over 40 people were injured in total. Those with minor wounds were able to go home afterwards.
Xian Sheng questioned why anyone would plant a bomb in a market full of locals and tourists. He questioned what the perpetrators hoped to gain by harming so many innocent people.
These perpetrators are also human beings, created by the same CREATOR. The CREATOR brings people into existence through thought, and all humans are part of this creation.
Xian Sheng admitted that sometimes he thinks that it would be best if the world and the universe undergo decreation (the process or state of undoing, destroying, or passing away from creation) because of the existence of such violent people.
Luckily, there are not many people like this in the world, but even a few can cause chaos through killing and arson.
The main source of many problems is politicians. They get involved in politics but become unhappy with the results. In the Brixton Market bombing1, Xian Sheng said that if perpetrators are angry with the British government, they should confront the politicians, not hurt innocent people. He said that if these perpetrators really had courage, they would target the politicians directly, but instead, they only attack innocent people.
He explained that people are often seen as either good or bad, but in reality, there are many different types of people with different degrees of good and bad.
(D) Evil people kill good people.
Xian Sheng said that the French people are so fearless/brazen/bold that it sometimes appears extreme.
The judges in France are unflinching and will bring charges against powerful criminals and corrupt politicians without fear or favour. Such judges are unique in the world and only exist in France.
However, there are also a few exceptional judges like this in India.
French judges have the courage to judge and prosecute top criminals in their country.
In retaliation, these criminals hid bombs under the judge’s car. The judge, unaware of the danger, would get into the car, start it, and the bomb would detonate, destroying the entire car.2
Xian Sheng asked, “Who would do such a thing?” He replied, these are evil people. Evil people kill good people.
Not only do evil people kill good people, they also kill innocent people without hesitation.
Xian Sheng emphasised that people who commit such crimes exist everywhere in the world.
(E) What is our perspective on NATO and Serbia during the conflict in Kosovo?
Lately, there have been discussions about American aircraft, acting for NATO, bombing civilians instead of soldiers.
Xian Sheng questioned, “How can anyone be certain whether the victims are civilians or soldiers?” The answer was that no one can be completely sure.
At times, the bodies of soldiers are removed and replaced with those of civilians. Xian Sheng asked if this could actually happen, and his response was that it is indeed possible.
He asked if there are people who deliberately deceive others in this way? He replied that such people do exist. That is why many people kill without even blinking an eye.
Xian Sheng was interested in hearing the followers’ opinions on these matters:
Kosovo is a landlocked territory in the Balkans. He admitted he did not know the Cantonese term for the Balkans.
He described the Balkans as the Balkan Peninsula, which includes former Yugoslavian countries, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania, and neighbouring states.
Kosovo wants to become independent from Serbia, but the Serbian government does not want this separation.
Therefore, the Serbians killed many Kosovo Albanians and drove them out of the country.
Xian Sheng asked what the followers thought about the Serbian government’s decision to kill Kosovo Albanians simply because they were not Serbs. This is considered an act of ethnic cleansing against the Kosovo Albanians.
Even though their skin colour is similar (as both are classified as European Caucasians/Whites), Serbs would kill Kosovo Albanians, young and old, if they refuse to leave the country.
If anyone was suspected of opposing the Serbian government, they could be killed without hesitation, no matter how old they were.
Again, Xian Sheng wanted to know the followers’ thoughts on these events.
There is an organisation known as NATO, which is a political and military alliance of several countries like France, Germany, and the UK, that work together to protect people from being bullied and ethnically targeted.
(F) People have no right to kill people.
Some people would ask, if NATO is so concerned about protecting Kosovo Albanians from ethnic cleansing, then what would NATO do about protecting the Chinese people when Chinese are killing other Chinese.
There was a time in China when many Chinese were killing their fellow citizens. Xian Sheng estimated that at least 30,000 people died during that period, and he stressed that 30,000 is a huge number of lives lost.
The deaths of so many people at the hands of their own countrymen is a grave issue and not a trivial matter.
Xian Sheng raised several questions. How could NATO protect Chinese people from violence by other Chinese? Should NATO intervene in China’s affairs? How could they distinguish people in a nation where all are Chinese?
Situations like this are complicated to resolve. Xian Sheng asked the followers whether they had ever truly thought about these problems.
These are serious matters. People have no right to kill another person. The CREATOR did not create humans so that they could kill each other.
If the CREATOR had intended people to eat one another, then killing for food would be permitted.
Setting aside the issue of humans killing humans, even the killing of animals is not permitted except for food. Xian Sheng then asked the followers if they understood this point.
The issue is that humans are not even allowed to kill animals, let alone other humans. Killing animals is permissible only for food or when they are carriers of communicable diseases. The right to kill an animal, therefore, depends on the circumstances.
Sometimes, even before killing an animal, we must ask why we are killing it. How did the animal contract the disease? Xian Sheng said that he would speak on this later, but for now, he wanted to focus on the issue of people killing people.
There is no shortage of people killing people in this world.
In Europe, NATO exists to defend those who are bullied and to prevent genocide caused by ethnic or religious cleansing.
Xian Sheng’s first question was: Is NATO doing the right thing or not? He asked those who agreed to raise their hands, and then asked those who disagreed to raise their hands as well.
Some disagreed, and some did not raise their hands at all. Xian Sheng remarked that we cannot know whether they agree or disagree on the matter of genocide.
He expressed his disappointment with those who had no opinion. With a laugh, he said that such people should ask themselves whether they deserve to be spared when faced with others intent on killing them.
Xian Sheng affirmed that NATO’s actions in Europe to prevent ethnic cleansing are the right thing to do.
(G) A New Order.
Note: Xian Sheng was referring to Kuwait and not Saudi Arabia.
When Xian Sheng spoke at the World Chinese Conference in Mauritius in April 1992, he addressed the topic “Bush has set a new order.”
He explained that George H.W. Bush initiated this new order, which was then continued by Clinton.
The New Order arose following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Kuwait, being much smaller than Iraq, was vulnerable to bullying by Iraqi forces. The United States launched a military campaign to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait, thereby establishing the New Order.
This conflict is known as the Gulf War (1990–1991). The combat phase to liberate Kuwait was named Operation Desert Storm, which defeated and expelled the Iraqi forces and liberated Kuwait.
The United States is a country with significant global standing, substantial financial resources, and considerable military power. Because of its financial and military capabilities, the U.S. has the capacity to provide assistance to Kuwait. However, the key question remains whether such involvement is worthwhile.
The alternative would be to turn a blind eye and allow Iraq to potentially invade all the countries in the Middle East.
The justification would be that these conflicts were internal struggles among Islamic nations, and the desirable outcome would be to let them destroy themselves.
Xian Sheng emphatically rejected this notion, stating it was unacceptable regardless of religion or ethnicity.
The New Order symbolises the willingness of powerful nations to offer assistance.
This was the argument Xian Sheng sought to clarify in court regarding the necessity of a New Order. Despite his repeated efforts to clarify his reasoning, the stupid idiots who carried the title of lawyers from the defence counsel—while Xian Sheng represented the prosecution—failed to understand or acknowledge his arguments.
The opposing lawyer misinterpreted Xian Sheng’s argument as a call for the Chinese military (PLA) to intervene in Malaysia to address racial discrimination.
Xian Sheng denied that he was talking about requesting military intervention from China. He was explaining the concept of a New Order, where strong and capable countries assist those being bullied, to the court.
He reiterated that he was not requesting Chinese military assistance. The defence lawyer ignorantly retorted, “You said you are loyal to Malaysia, yet you asked China to come over and fight!”
Nevertheless, Xian Sheng advocates that powerful and capable countries should offer assistance whenever needed.
(H) Does ASEAN represent a New Order?
Xian Sheng advocates for a New Order. He explained this by presenting a hypothetical scenario – what would we do if one race were to massacre another race within our region?
Xian Sheng argued that since we have an organisation in South East Asia known as ASEAN, ASEAN should intervene regardless of who the instigator may be.
Recently in Kalimantan, the Madurese, who had migrated from the island of Madura in East Java, were massacred between 1996 and 1997.
If the Indonesian government failed to deploy its military to intervene and allowed the violence to continue, then ASEAN should have taken the initiative to step in and bring an end to the violence.
Xian Sheng asked: What if the Indonesian government itself were directly involved? He went on to ask: What if racial violence in our country became widespread and uncontrollable – what would ASEAN do?
He raised the stakes further by adding: What if the soldiers themselves were directly involved in killings and arson? What then would ASEAN do?
Would ASEAN remain silent on the matter? If that were the case, then ASEAN would be a useless organisation, and it would be better for it to be disbanded.
Xian Sheng questioned what the followers would do if there were indeed racial violence in Malaysia. Would one group migrate to Thailand and the other group to Singapore? As Singapore is already densely populated, what would they do then?
Would ASEAN simply stand by and watch silently without taking any action? What purpose would ASEAN serve then?
This is why the emergence of a New Order is justified.
(I) Baitiangong does not differentiate between religions.
Back to the Kosovo War, Xian Sheng expressed his disappointment that the United States merely dropped bombs from aircraft without deploying ground troops.
He was perplexed by the assumption that aerial bombardment alone would compel the Serbs to surrender and permit the Kosovo Albanians to return to their homes.
Instead, this approach worsened the situation, as the Serbs responded by ordering all Kosovo Albanians to leave the territory or face indiscriminate execution.
Earlier, Xian Sheng recalled watching yesterday’s news, which featured a woman leading a group of children—he could not remember whether there were ninety-one or nine children. The woman stated that she was the mother of four of them and had no idea where the parents of the others were. The children ranged in age from seven to eleven, and she single-handedly escorted all these orphaned children across the border.
While some might say children are heaven-sent and that heaven will provide, should such a burden fall on this one woman under these dire circumstances? And yet, this is precisely the context in which the United States launched its bombing campaign.
Strangely, however, the Malaysian government remained utterly silent—why? Especially given that the majority of Kosovo Albanians are Muslims.
On the contrary, both the Americans and the Serbs are Christians, yet American Christians were bombing Serb Christians, ostensibly on behalf of the predominantly Muslim Kosovo Albanians.
Once again, Xian Sheng noted that the Malaysian government maintained complete silence. Yet, if the United States were to bomb an Islamic nation, other Islamic countries would swiftly voice their objections. Is this not deeply contradictory?
Here, Xian Sheng remarked that when we pray to the CREATOR, we make no distinction between Christians, Muslims, or followers of any other faith.
(J) No one else can speak to the CREATOR except the Baitiangong followers.
Xian Sheng emphasised that the followers must acquire knowledge and understanding of the problems afflicting our world.
He urged the followers that when they pray at night—being in direct communion and thus closest to the CREATOR—they should speak to the CREATOR.
Aside from the Baitiangong followers, who else could possibly speak to the CREATOR? Xian Sheng stated unequivocally that no one else can.
Others are not truly praying to the CREATOR and therefore cannot speak to the CREATOR; only the Baitiangong followers, who truly pray to the CREATOR, are able to do so.
This is why, when we appeal to the CREATOR, we can obtain the CREATOR’s agreement and sympathy.
And when the CREATOR bestows consciousness, people will not recklessly kill others—that is how it works.
Every person’s actions stem from the consciousness they receive: if they receive evil consciousness, their actions will be evil; if they receive good consciousness, their actions will be good. Thus, a person’s conduct arises from the consciousness granted to them.
Xian Sheng urged the followers to pray to the CREATOR and ask for good consciousness to be bestowed, so that people—specifically the Serbian soldiers who entered Kosovo to expel the Kosovo Albanians—would cease to recklessly kill them.
(K) Would you sacrifice your life for your convictions?
The Albanian diaspora in the United States is preparing to send troops to fight alongside their fellow countrymen in Kosovo against the Serbs.
Xian Sheng was particularly impressed by an Albanian-American girl living in the United States—whom he heard was only sixteen years old—who led several planeloads of Albanians willing to sacrifice themselves to fight for their homeland against the Serbs.
These Albanian Americans from the diaspora had undergone military training, as many young Albanians had received such training.
Xian Sheng explained that this Albanian girl had also received military training. If she is willing to travel to Kosovo, carry a gun, enter the battlefield in an armoured vehicle, and fight to reclaim territory for her countrymen, she likely does not expect to return to the United States. She is willing to sacrifice her life for her ethnic community, despite already being an American citizen and therefore under no obligation to return to Kosovo in the first place.
Xian Sheng asked whether there were followers who were willing to sacrifice themselves. Yet, there are people like her who are prepared to do so.
He reiterated that as an American citizen, she already enjoys the comforts of a nice house, a nice car, and so on, whereas in Kosovo, she could easily die the next day or face death at any moment with a gun in her hand—she might even perish before firing a single shot.
So what do we make of this? Xian Sheng urged us to reflect on it carefully.
Several planes have already touched down in Albania, and their passengers will join other volunteers to enter the battlefield in Kosovo. At present, they are on standby in Albania.
However, they are still awaiting orders to be deployed to the front lines. There is a possibility that NATO troops and American soldiers will be sent in to support them.
The problem lies with President Clinton, who had announced a preference for aerial bombardment over the deployment of ground troops.
Xian Sheng criticised this aerial bombing strategy, as it fails to target aggressors who can easily hide under a tree when aircraft pass overhead. An assailant armed with a machete could continue massacring Kosovo Albanians without ever being detected from the air.
Therefore, ground troops are necessary to effectively drive out the Serbian forces and prevent their interference with Kosovo’s autonomy. Kosovo had functioned as an autonomous province prior to the Kosovo War, but the Serbian government interfered and dismantled that status.3
Xian Sheng questioned why Yugoslavia wanted the province of Kosovo. Is it because the Republic of Yugoslavia—comprising Serbia and Montenegro—sought to claim the land for itself?
It is possible that Serbia desired more territory for its own ethnic population. Human beings possess a greed that drives them to covet their neighbours’ lands, even when they already have lands of their own.
Although the Serbians are Christians, they are not praying to the CREATOR. If they were Christians who truly prayed to the CREATOR, they would not covet their neighbour’s land.4
(L) Forbidden fruit is sweeter.
Nevertheless, there are people who hold a different view regarding the commandment, “You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife.” Instead, they say, “While my wife is sweet, my neighbour’s wife is sweeter.”
Xian Sheng has a friend who thinks this way. He landed himself in prison, having claimed that another man’s wife is sweeter, justifying it with the saying, “Forbidden fruit is sweeter.”
He took someone else’s wife to a hotel, and both were arrested and sent to prison. Xian Sheng said it was fortunate that he did not associate closely with that friend.
He was arrested because of his belief that forbidden fruit is sweeter. Nevertheless, Xian Sheng stated frankly that it was not solely the man’s fault; the other man’s wife was also at fault. He questioned whether his friend could so easily drag a woman against her will into a hotel room.
He asked the wives present whether a man could drag them into a hotel room that easily. Xian Sheng remarked that it was not an easy task, implying the woman had willingly gone to the hotel room. In fact, they were holding hands as they walked up to it.
When arrested, the woman claimed she had been forced to go to the hotel room. If that were true, she should not have entered the room in the first place. Moreover, if she had been forced to have sex, there were no signs—such as torn clothing or other evidence—to support her claim.
Xian Sheng observed that people are duplicitous: the woman claimed she was forced when arrested, yet would say it was something she enjoyed if not caught.
The key takeaway is this: as a follower who prays to the CREATOR and understands Baitiangong, you must recognise that what you have is yours, and you should not covet what belongs to your neighbour or seize what is not yours, for this is wrong.
If you desire something belonging to your neighbour, negotiate with them to purchase it properly. Never seize what is not yours.
Xian Sheng asked whether the followers are aware that land and property are often seized by force, using political power to do so, for example, by burning down entire squatter settlements to drive people out and then taking the land for themselves.
There are all kinds of people on this Earth.
(M) ASEAN is useless when it comes to security.
Returning to the topic of people killing people, Xian Sheng reiterated his question: “Do you think that is right or wrong?”
Do people have the right to take another’s life? He immediately replied, “No.” The only exception, he said, was when NATO acted to protect and assist the Kosovo Albanians from being massacred by the Serbs.
Xian Sheng presented a hypothetical scenario: if a minority race were being bullied by the majority in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, or Thailand, should ASEAN come to their aid? He asked the followers, and their reply was, “Yes.” Xian Sheng emphasised that ASEAN should provide assistance to protect the minority group.
Xian Sheng referred to May 1998 in Indonesia, when the ethnic Chinese Indonesian minority was scapegoated as the country descended into unrest following the economic collapse caused by the Asian Financial Crisis. Not a single country within ASEAN spoke out against the anti-Chinese violence.
Xian Sheng remarked that all the countries within ASEAN are useless, and ASEAN itself is a useless organisation.
The right course of action for ASEAN would have been to address and publicly condemn this violence. It should have called on the Indonesian government to control its military and order it to protect the ethnic Chinese from mass killings. That, he said, is how ASEAN should have acted. He then asked the followers whether they agreed with his assessment.
Xian Sheng said he had heard that soldiers merely stood by and watched as the ethnic Chinese were being killed. He asked for a show of hands to see how many were aware of this, and then confirmed that the soldiers watched as the ethnic Chinese people were being killed.
Did the soldiers take any action to prevent the mass killings? If they took no action, then who should speak out against this?
ASEAN should have spoken out to prevent the mass killings. If the Indonesian government failed to comply, ASEAN should have sent in its own troops to stop the violence.
ASEAN should have acted like NATO, which intervened to halt the killing of Kosovo Albanians.
The Western nations have NATO; we in Southeast Asia have ASEAN. But if ASEAN fails to prevent ethnic killings, Xian Sheng expressed his frank opinion that it should be disbanded, as it is a useless organisation.
(N) We can pray for many positive changes in the world.
It is very important for us to observe and understand world affairs.
A Baitiangong person is a Whole Man. A Whole Man is a political man, an economic man, a social man, a cultural man, and a spiritual man. If we have fulfilled our responsibilities in these areas, we can call ourselves a Baitiangong person.
We pray to the CREATOR, and we are the closest to the CREATOR. Therefore, when we perform our prayer tonight, we pray for a peaceful world. We pray that strong nations do not bully weaker nations. We pray that people stop killing one another because of differences in ethnicity and religion.
If the people of a nation desire independence, then let them attain their independence. Why should others control them or prevent them from achieving it? Xian Sheng asked whether the followers agreed with him.
Xian Sheng reiterated his argument that there should be no justification for anyone seeking to dominate a group of people or their land and obstruct their path to independence.
If we make these requests when we pray to the CREATOR, there will be many positive changes in the world. He once again emphasised the importance of the Baitiangong followers in fulfilling this role.
(O) Lottery for pigs.
Xian Sheng turned to speak about the recent pig-related outbreak in Malaysia.
Although the infected pigs have been slaughtered, we still need to address the crucial issue of how disease outbreaks within the farming industry should be managed, even before they occur.
First and foremost, the government should take the lead in tackling the problem. It should not allow the issue to be turned into a racial issue.
The prevailing view among the public is that this outbreak is a race-related matter, and therefore, national politics should assume responsibility. This has enabled the MCA (Malaysian Chinese Association) to organise mass donation campaigns. It would appear that the MCA has taken control of the outbreak, transforming it from a national disaster into a race-based political issue.
Since pork is a dietary staple for the Chinese community, people have simply passed the problem to the MCA to handle. As a result, the MCA is ‘on fire’, actively organising campaigns across Malaysia and collecting substantial donations. Xian Sheng commended the gullible donors and told them to give even more money to the MCA.
Today, Xian Sheng heard that the MCA intends to organise a lottery to raise yet more funds. He provided a brief historical note that the MCA originally organised the first social welfare lottery, which was later taken over by the government. Xian Sheng vividly recalled that the lottery was formerly known as the MCA lottery.
Xian Sheng asked whether the followers had heard that the MCA now wants to launch another lottery for the pigs. A follower responded that it was described as a “special draw.”
Regardless of whether the MCA labels its fundraising scheme a lottery or a special draw, Xian Sheng drew attention to the fact that someone is taking money and benefiting from the arrangement. He asked whether the followers agreed with his assessment.
Xian Sheng does not believe that all the funds collected will be fully disbursed to the victims, as the Board of Directors will need to be paid for their services. He reiterated that someone will inevitably be paid.
Xian Sheng remarked that the MCA might attempt to hold a special draw for the pigs. On a serious note, he clarified that the stated purpose was to raise relief funds to help farmers purchase replacement pigs after hundreds of thousands had been slaughtered during the outbreak. He then continued sarcastically: pigs are important, and the MCA wants to hold a lottery for pigs. He proposed that the lottery ticket features a pig’s head to distinguish it from standard lotteries.
On the issue of the virus responsible for the disease among the pigs, Xian Sheng questioned whether it was Japanese encephalitis (JE), a mosquito-borne illness, or the Hendra virus.
Xian Sheng stated that the authorities have yet to officially announce the identity of the virus that caused the outbreak. He asked whether anyone knew the name of this killer virus.
(P) What do you think pigs eat?
Xian Sheng could recall the deaths of dozens of children in Sarawak in 1997, when local health authorities initially misdiagnosed the virus as Coxsackie B, only for subsequent investigations to reveal that it was not the Coxsackie B virus but rather Enterovirus 71 (EV-71).
Xian Sheng remarked that the medical authorities had failed to pinpoint the true virus responsible for the children’s deaths, much as they had initially assumed that the virus behind the pig outbreak was Japanese encephalitis (JE). He emphasised that such diseases must be accurately diagnosed to identify their causes.
He believed that Malaysia’s virology R&D (Research and Development) capabilities were insufficiently advanced to swiftly detect and respond to emerging novel outbreaks.
Regarding recent national disasters, they ought first and foremost to be managed as national operations, rather than as race-based operations.
The current pig-related outbreak seems to be an MCA operation. Perhaps MCA sought to exploit this crisis to bolster its membership.
Yet disaster management must not become an MCA operation, but rather one led by national government agencies. He reiterated that it should never devolve into a race-based political party operation.
In the wake of a national disaster affecting the pig farming industry, the government should undertake serious efforts to regulate the sector.
Xian Sheng enquired whether any of the followers had visited pig breeding facilities in Switzerland. Their operations are highly disciplined, with pigs fed exclusively on commercial compound feeds, and the entire farms are maintained in pristine cleanliness and order.
The key message here is that we want our government to impose proper regulations on the pig farming industry.
Xian Sheng asked if the followers were aware that, even in the present day, food waste from restaurant leftovers and kitchen scraps—replete with human saliva—is still utilised as swill feed for pigs on certain pig farms.
Xian Sheng found it scarcely believable that swill feed contaminated by the spit of sick individuals could be ingested by pigs without rendering them ill as well. He urged them to reflect deeply on this. All such hazardous practices must be stopped immediately.
In other countries, food waste and swill are dried and subjected to various treatments to transform them into fertilisers. Likewise, sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants is processed in a similar fashion into fertilisers.
There are numerous pig farmers, and many continue to employ unsafe feeding practices, such as swill feeding, to rear their pigs.
(Q) Are pig farmers wealthy?
Xian Sheng asked if it would be wise for the government to immediately merge small pig farmers into larger, regulated farms.
Since many people have donated large sums of money, Xian Sheng suggested using some to build homes for jobless pig farmers from the outbreak. He also proposed giving them shares in the merged pig farms. He said direct cash payments to individuals are ineffective. He asked the followers if they thought this was a good idea. He believed the government should take these steps.
For children of pig farmers who died in the outbreak, Xian Sheng suggested giving them shares in the merged pig farms. In the meantime, he proposed providing money for their education.
Xian Sheng, however, does not believe that those who rear or sell pigs are necessarily lacking in wealth.
Xian Sheng noted that a friend who sells pork drives a Mercedes and works only a few hours daily.
Xian Sheng shared that another friend, now deceased, owned a roast pork stall. This friend raised several children solely by selling roast pork. All his children studied at the school where Xian Sheng taught. During a visit to the friend’s home in Kepong, Xian Sheng learned the family had migrated to Australia. The children became graduates of Australian universities. Their education was fully funded by the roast pork shop. The friend also drove a Mercedes when alive. Xian Sheng asked the followers if they believe pig sellers earn large incomes.
In the past, this pork seller often joined Xian Sheng and his friends at a coffee shop next to his stall.
The pork seller was older than Xian Sheng but called him Old Chew fondly. He often carved meat from the pig’s face and served it to Xian Sheng and his friends for free.
The pork seller repeatedly asked Xian Sheng to remember him. He insisted that Baitiangong activities should include roast pork when praying to the CREATOR. Xian Sheng laughed as he recalled staying silent in response to these remarks.
Xian Sheng stated that the CREATOR would not be tempted by roast pork. He questioned if the CREATOR, who created all things, would want roast pork from us. Still, since the pork seller offered, Xian Sheng gladly enjoyed the free roast pork himself.
(R) Xian Sheng was a strict and devoted teacher.
Xian Sheng would linger at the coffee shop to watch for students attempting to skip school.
While other teachers arrived at school by 7:30 a.m., Xian Sheng was occasionally late on some days. He would arrive at 8:00 a.m.
This was because he spent time at the Kepong bus station, observing students arriving on buses from various areas. Instead of heading to Kepong High School, some students tried to board another bus to Kuala Lumpur city. He would catch such students who attempted to play truant. He carried his cane on such occasions.
One day, Xian Sheng noticed a few students who had disembarked from a bus and were trying to catch another to Kuala Lumpur. He shouted at them, causing them to scatter in fear. One student hid inside an empty fruit stall cabinet. The fruit stall owner pointed to the cabinet, alerting Xian Sheng. He flung open the cabinet door and caned the student inside, who cried out in shock. Xian Sheng ordered him to walk uphill to school immediately. He warned that if he checked the classroom and found him absent, he would visit his home, and the student would face serious consequences.
Xian Sheng was a strict and vigilant teacher who closely monitored his students to ensure they attended classes. He asked the followers if they had ever met a teacher like him. None of them had. Xian Sheng proudly affirmed that he was indeed such a teacher.
Despite his commitment to guiding students, the government failed to acknowledge his efforts and wrongly branded him a bad teacher.
Xian Sheng carefully studied the school’s attendance records. If any student was absent for three days, he would visit their home to check on them. He asked the followers if they had encountered a teacher who took on such a duty, one which even the headmaster would not do.
Xian Sheng directed all teachers at Kepong High School to submit lists of students absent for three days. Upon receiving the lists, he would personally visit those students’ homes.
Once, Xian Sheng found a group of students who had been absent for days, playing in their underwear at a pond in an abandoned tin mine. He ordered them to walk to Kepong High School in their underwear, pushing their bicycles with their uniforms folded on the rear racks. At the school, he caned each student once before allowing them to dress in their uniforms and return to class.
Xian Sheng reiterated that he was a strict and dedicated teacher. He confessed he could not recall which students he had disciplined or whether they resented or valued his actions.
Years later, one student from that group met Xian Sheng and praised him sincerely. He said that without Xian Sheng’s firm discipline, he might have become a gangster and a bad person. He expressed heartfelt gratitude for having Xian Sheng in his life.
(S) The government’s responsibility beyond pigs, cows and horses.
Responsibility lies at the heart of this issue. We must act responsibly in all our actions, and likewise, the government must also fulfill its responsibilities, particularly regarding the pig farming issue.
The government, through the MCA, has collected a substantial amount of donations. Xian Sheng questioned what the government intends to do with these funds.
The government should ensure the welfare of children orphaned by crises, providing them with housing and educational support. Additionally, it should reorganise the pig farming industry by consolidating smaller farms into larger, more efficient operations. Xian Sheng asked whether the government should implement measures to ensure the pig farming industry operates cleanly and systematically.
Livestock inspectors must conduct strict inspections of the pigs. Xian Sheng illustrated a common bribery scenario, where pig owners offer bribes with smiles, and inspectors, also smiling, accept the money and falsely declare the pigs healthy. Rightfully, inspectors should draw blood samples from pigs and take them back to the laboratory for testing.
If proper procedures are followed without corruption, the public can safely consume pork. Xian Sheng emphasised that every pig should be tested before slaughter, with those failing to meet standards rejected as unsafe. He questioned whether this should fall under the government’s responsibility.
Xian Sheng questioned the scope of the government’s responsibilities, asking if they are limited to merely tending to cows and rearing horses.
Xian Sheng inquired about the possibility of horses contracting a Hendra-like virus, amid circulating rumours.
Xian Sheng speculated that even if horses were affected by the virus, the government would likely suppress the information, particularly since some horses are owned by royalty. He suggested that any such news would be discreetly covered up and buried, as horses typically belong to the wealthy, who hold significant influence. Xian Sheng questioned whether the poor could afford to rear horses and whether the authorities would dare to publicise the issue if horses were found to be infected. He concluded that they would not, instead opting to quietly euthanise the affected horses with lethal injections and conceal the matter to protect the interests of the affluent. Xian Sheng said that this is how the world operates when it comes to the interests of the rich and powerful.
Setting aside the issues of horses and pigs, the government has broader responsibilities, including protecting the interests of both sellers and consumers.
If traders wish to raise or lower their prices, the government should leave them to market forces. How can the government intervene to prevent price drops, as this reveals that the government looks after the rich while callously ignoring the poor.
The public naturally seeks the lowest prices. Thankfully, the government is allowing petrol fuel operators to engage in fierce price competition, which is good as it delivers tangible benefits like tissues to wipe Xian Sheng’s sweat or free bottled drinks after refuelling. This demonstrates that competition benefits everyone.
The government nearly succeeded in halting the petrol station price competition, briefly stopping it, but overwhelming public protests and the looming general election forced them to back down and allow the competition to resume, while conveniently staying silent about the upcoming general election.
(T) Xian Sheng’s advice to the government.
Xian Sheng questioned where the government’s responsibility truly lies in addressing the pig issue.
By right, the government should organise more research and development into diseases that affect farm animals, such as pigs, fish, and any other types of meat consumed by the public, including dogs, should dogs become a dietary staple.
Nevertheless, dogs ought to be vaccinated regularly. Xian Sheng assured the followers that his pair of Russian Greyhounds (Borzoi) is kept constantly vaccinated.
If the government upholds such responsibilities, then any diseases affecting farm animals consumed by the public—regardless of whether they involve pigs—should be managed by government agencies, rather than being left to a race-based political party like the MCA or any other racially oriented political parties.
The government should focus on conducting research and development into diseases within the animal farming industry to identify and prevent future outbreaks. This effort need not be limited to animal diseases, but should encompass all diseases.
Xian Sheng said that we do not want another instance where the government fails to accurately identify the virus, bacterium, or pathogen causing the outbreak, mistakenly attributing it to other viruses instead. We want an accurate assessment of the virus involved.
Xian Sheng relayed that a follower had mentioned the government had already identified the virus but chose not to disclose it to the public, attempting to conceal certain facts from public knowledge. Nevertheless, Xian Sheng noted that people are already speculating it was either Hendra or Japanese Encephalitis.
However, at present, Xian Sheng said the government has not identified the actual virus involved and has merely labelled it a new virus. Brother Too Hing Yeap said that the government had already confirmed the virus responsible. However, Xian Sheng countered that he had not read anything about the government providing a definite and confirmed answer regarding the virus. He wants the government to give a definite answer to the public, not mere speculation.
Malaysia’s response to outbreaks is much slower compared to countries like Switzerland, the UK, and the US, where they respond swiftly to outbreaks.
Xian Sheng hoped that Malaysia’s response to future outbreaks would be faster and that the issue would be resolved promptly. This would, therefore, require constant examinations of pigs, cows, and goats, rather than waiting until an outbreak occurs. This is the critical issue here.
These activities should be conducted on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis, and not solely during an outbreak.
It should not be treated as a race-based political problem, as in the current pig outbreak, where the MCA resorted to lottery fundraising. This is purely a political manoeuvre.
The government should have prepared funds for such outbreaks and not rely on public donations raised by its citizens. Xian Sheng asked what the government would do if the public did not donate, and he would like an answer to his question.
Once again, Xian Sheng reiterated that the government should not resort to race-based politics or use lotteries to raise funds. The government should help its citizens regardless of race. He would be the first to raise his hand—and even his leg—in support of such a government.
(U) “Abuse of Power” is corruption.
Xian Sheng wished to discuss “abuse of power,” which refers to the corruption charges brought against Anwar Ibrahim. He was accused of using his position as Deputy Prime Minister to interfere with police investigations. In April 1999, he was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment.
Anwar was convicted on four counts of corruption. Since the sentence for each count is six years, if the sentences were to be served consecutively, the total would be 6 × 4 = 24 years.
Conviction under Section 2(1) of the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance No. 22/1970 carries a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment.5
However, the judge sentenced Anwar to six years for the first charge, and the remaining three charges were served concurrently, resulting in a total sentence of six years.
There were also sodomy charges against Anwar, but these had not yet been brought before the court at the time.
Nonetheless, Xian Sheng sought to emphasise that abuse of power is classified as corruption.
(V) The real face of Dato’ Lim Hui Boon.
Xian Sheng recalled a past business dealing between Brother Phuah Kim Yean and the present Dato’ Lim Hui Boon of Ho Wah Genting Berhad.
The business deal involved renting heavy construction equipment for moving sand at Gua Musang in Kelantan to a company owned by Lim Hui Boon, which sounded something like “Bina Gawai” (likely deregistered or renamed).
Initially, Xian Sheng was not interested in accepting their business, as his peers in the rental trade had also turned them down. Nevertheless, Lim Hui Boon persistently lobbied Brother Phuah and even offered a down payment. Consequently, Brother Phuah assured Xian Sheng that the risk was worth taking.
Since Bina Gawai had offered an advance payment, they dispatched the heavy construction equipment all the way to Gua Musang. However, after the job was completed, they refused to settle the final payment of around ten thousand ringgit. After exhausting every avenue to recover the payment to no avail, they finally went to confront Lim Hui Boon directly.
Lim Hui Boon’s bodyguard threw the first punch at Brother Phuah and his team because of their insistence on collecting the final payment for the completed job. A fight ensued.
Both parties subsequently went to the police station to make their reports. At that time, Lim Hui Boon was merely a commoner who had not yet received his honorary title of Dato’. Xian Sheng joked that he only received it after striking Brother Phuah.
The Investigating Officer (IO) criticised Lim Hui Boon for contacting his senior officer over such a trifling matter. The senior officer rang the IO, evidently instructing him to placate Lim Hui Boon. Still holding the phone, the IO asked what Lim Hui Boon expected—whether he wanted him to arrest Brother Phuah’s team. Lim Hui Boon told him to do whatever he deemed appropriate.
Xian Sheng asked whether it was truly Lim Hui Boon who had telephoned the IO’s senior at Bukit Aman Police Headquarters. He stressed that it could not have been Lim Hui Boon, as the man was standing beside Brother Phuah at the very moment the call came through. Moreover, Lim Hui Boon was then a nobody, a small fry with no clout to summon a senior officer from Bukit Aman. Someone far more powerful had placed that call.
Xian Sheng said that they had toiled with blood and sweat to earn the money, only to be assaulted when they sought the final payment.
Not even a week later, Brother Phuah and his team were summoned back to the police station for further questioning. They were immediately thrown into the lockup. It was not merely a case of being locked up, as Brother Phuah Kim Hoe was beaten by the police while his hands were handcuffed. Brother Kim Hoe confirmed that he had indeed been beaten by the police while handcuffed.
Xian Sheng was slightly disappointed that Brother Kim Hoe did not strike back at the police with his handcuffs. He said Brother Kim Hoe should have smashed the policeman’s skull with the steel handcuffs, as he should defend himself when under attack.
Finally, Xian Sheng asked whether this was a case of abuse of power.
(W) Who was the secret benefactor who corrupted the police involving “abuse of power”?
Who was the person who instructed the police to take action against Brother Phuah and his team? We must ask Lim Hui Boon who his secret benefactor is.
That secret benefactor ought to be imprisoned for more than six years. Xian Sheng’s reasoning was that he committed an offence against five people—a number confirmed by Brother Phuah.
The secret benefactor who phoned the senior officer at Bukit Aman must surely be more influential than Lim Hui Boon. Xian Sheng demanded to know who that person is. The police ought to ask Lim Hui Boon who he is (in order to uphold the integrity of the police force).
That person must then be charged under s.2(1) of the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 1970, and should be imprisoned for longer than Anwar Ibrahim.
Xian Sheng stated unambiguously that if the government does not take the action outlined above, then this government is not fair.
Xian Sheng instructed Brother Phuah to have Sister Amy Too send a demand letter stating that if Anwar Ibrahim is imprisoned for six years on charges of abuse of power, then the secret benefactor who phoned Bukit Aman—and whom the police must reveal—should likewise be charged and imprisoned. He urged Brother Phuah to proceed with this action without fear of consequences.
Xian Sheng asked for the names of those thrown into the police lockup. They were: Brother Phuah Kim Yean, Brother Koh Kian Beng, Brother Chong Cheng Wah, Brother Ng Swee Lian, and Brother Phuah Kim Hoe. All five—employer and employees—were locked up.
Xian Sheng mocked the police for breaching public trust by failing to uphold the laws they are sworn to enforce. Those who were owed money and went to collect their payment were beaten, thrown into lockup, and subsequently beaten again by the police.
Xian Sheng challenged the police to try beating him instead of those who dare not fight back. He would retaliate until the end, even at the cost of his life, but he would ensure the police did not walk away unscathed. The bottom line is that the police cannot behave like scoundrels.
If Anwar was imprisoned for six years (for pressuring the police to obtain a written admission from Azizan bin Abu Bakar to deny sexual misconduct and sodomy), then the secret benefactor should be imprisoned for 30 years (for pressuring the police to lock up five innocent people and also beating one of them).
Xian Sheng stated emphatically that the majority shareholder of the company, Bina Gawai, is the son of Lim Goh Tong (the founder of Genting Highlands). This is why the secret benefactor exerted so much influence on the police.
If Anwar Ibrahim, the Deputy Prime Minister, can be charged and imprisoned (Anwar challenged the Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad), then the rich oligarch who could so easily contact Bukit Aman and have our five brothers locked up is likely a supporter of the Prime Minister.
On the issue of abuse of power, Xian Sheng asked Brother Phuah how long he thinks the secret benefactor should be imprisoned for, as the five of them were locked up for a week. Xian Sheng emphasised that the sentence should be longer than Anwar Ibrahim’s six years.
Xian Sheng stated that what is wrong is wrong, no matter what. He emphasised that many issues within our society are fundamentally wrong.
(X) We should ask for fairness and defend our human rights.
Xian Sheng asked, “What can you do?” The election is drawing near. (29 November 1999 is the 10th General Election in Malaysia.)
Politics is a trivial matter to Xian Sheng; what he seeks is fairness, and his way of achieving fairness is by kneeling to pray to the CREATOR. (Xian Sheng likely meant that whichever coalition or party forms the government is of no concern to him, provided the public is assured fairness and justice.)
Xian Sheng told the followers that when he prayed to the CREATOR he asked: “If Anwar Ibrahim can be sentenced to six years, is the offence of the secret benefactor whose employee beat our people when they tried to collect payment, then had them locked up and beaten again by the police, heavier than Anwar’s?”
Xian Sheng asked whether Brother Phuah had taken any action after so many years. What advice had Sister Amy Too given on the matter? Xian Sheng had not kept track, for it was Brother Phuah’s case. If Brother Phuah had done nothing to pursue fairness and his human rights, the fault lies entirely with him.
Nevertheless, Xian Sheng said that Brother Phuah should take action. Brother Phuah should frame his demand letter to the police around the corruption case of Anwar’s “Abuse of Power,” insisting that the police identify the secret benefactor who placed the call to Bukit Aman and that they interrogate Ho Wah Genting’s boss, Lim Hui Boon, about who telephoned the top brass there. That person must be prosecuted for using the police to lock them up and beat them.
Anwar Ibrahim did little else besides using the police to pressure Azizan bin Abu Bakar into providing a written admission denying sexual misconduct and sodomy with Anwar, whereas the secret benefactor of Lim Hui Boon instructed the police to lock up innocent people and have them beaten as well. Xian Sheng asked whether this constituted a case of abuse of power.
Xian Sheng asked the followers to raise their hands if they agreed that the government should investigate the matter; he insisted that it must.
Xian Sheng told the followers to spread what they had learnt: If abuse of power is a corruption case for Anwar Ibrahim, then Lim Hui Boon and his secret benefactor have committed a more serious corruption case against their fellow brothers.
(Y) Only those who pray to the CREATOR understand fairness.
Xian Sheng declared that the CREATOR will never abuse HIS power, and he told the followers to remember this.
If we are good people, the CREATOR will repay us millions of times over until it is beyond all measure. If we are evil people, the CREATOR’s wrath is beyond anything we can imagine. This is why the CREATOR is the ultimate in fairness.
Xian Sheng asked when humans will once again pray to the CREATOR and thereby grasp what fairness truly means. Until they do, they will never understand it.
A person who truly prays to the CREATOR understands the true meaning of fairness and the extent to which it applies. Xian Sheng believes that those who do not pray to the CREATOR cannot speak of fairness, for they see only face value (appearance), monetary gain(wealth) and a person’s status(social standing).
For those reasons, a man like Brother Phuah, when he tried to collect payment, was beaten, thrown into the lock-up and beaten again by the police. The rich oligarchs believe that this is how it should be.
These oligarchs enjoy immunity only while they are alive on Earth. The day they die, they will discover whether they deserved to be beaten. Xian Sheng would love to see what they still believe then.
- The Brixton Market bombing happened on April 17, 1999, in South London. A far-right extremist named David Copeland planted a nail bomb on Electric Avenue, an area known for its large Black community. The bomb exploded on a busy street, injuring 48 people, including 11 seriously, but no one died.
This attack was the first of three bombings aimed at London’s Black, Bangladeshi, and LGBTQ+ communities. Copeland wanted to start a race war and spread fear. These bombings are remembered as some of the worst hate crimes and acts of terrorism in Britain’s history.
- Italian anti-mafia judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino were assassinated in 1992 by the Sicilian Mafia using car bombs. Falcone was killed in the Capaci bombing on May 23, 1992, and Borsellino died in the Via D'Amelio bombing on July 19, 1992. Both attacks involved powerful explosives placed in or under their cars, resulting in their deaths along with several police officers and bodyguards.
Xian Sheng could have mistaken France for Italy as the only judges killed by car bombs planted by criminal organisation close to 1999 took place in Italy. - Kosovo was neither independent nor autonomous at the time; it was administered by an underground provisional government that was not legally recognised by any state.
- Exodus 20:17, NIV: “You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.”
- Section 2(1) of the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance No. 22/1970 provides as follows:
“Any member of the Administration, Parliament or State Legislative Assembly or any public officer who commits a corrupt practice shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of 14 years or a fine of RM 20,000 or both.”