6 Days Into Hunger Strike Activist Still In High Spirits

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Nathaniel Tan has been on a hunger strike at Taman Tun Dr Ismail since Wednesday.PETALING JAYA: Six days into his hunger strike, activist Nathaniel Tan is feeling weak but still in high spirits.
He has received nothing but positive encouragement, with people admiring his efforts to send a clear message to the government.
“Family, colleagues, old friends and complete strangers have all been giving me encouraging messages.
“But they are also concerned about my well-being and health as I go through this hunger strike,” the activist told FMT, adding that his only worry is his wife, who is feeling stressed over his action.
Tan began his hunger strike last Wednesday at Taman Tun Dr Ismail because of the worsening political instability and health crisis. The following day, he was questioned by the police as to the reasons for his action.
Speaking about his experience these past few days, Tan said the weather has been hot but he accepts having to sacrifice the luxury of his bed at home for a tent at the corner of Jalan Rahim Kajai and Lorong Rahim Kajai 14 at Taman Tun Dr Ismail.
“Aside from being a bit weak and hungry, I am okay.
“I may also finally be losing the belly fat that I have been trying to get rid of for so long,” he joked.
According to Tan, he goes to the bathroom at the nearby shops when he has to answer the call of nature.
“To pass the time, I read a lot of books. The latest is ‘Barrayar’, a science fiction novel by Lois McMaster Bujold.”
In between his reading, there is also the welcome distraction of people coming by to check on him, asking him how he is feeling and giving him bottles of water.
“All of them have been giving me water,” he said, adding that he appreciates their support.
It is not known how long he plans to continue his hunger strike but Tan is hopeful that his five demands will be fulfilled:
To give decision-making power to experts or the Parliament in handling Covid-19 immediately.To channel RM500 million to buy medical equipment for hospitals handling Covid-19 cases.To allow frontliners to reveal the real Covid-19 situation without any action against them.To make public the names of companies allowed to operate during the lockdown.To provide N95 face masks and sanitisers at all hospitals and police stations for free. - FMT

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