The price tag would be cheap. The late Tun Ghaffar once suggested that for a few hundred million ringgit you could buy the entire UMNO Supreme Council. With a billion or two you could get the whole parliament and the Council of Rulers.The corollary to my observation is that if we Malays truly wish to preserve our cherished special privileges, we better start electing honest and incorrupt leaders. Corrupt leaders would not only sell off those special privileges, they will also sell away our country This latest scheme is the ugliest manifestation of Malay ultra chauvinism. It would lead not to unity but greater polarizations among Malays as well as between Malays and non-Malays, and at a time when we can least afford it.
A little bit of history does us a lot of good as it reminds us, lest we forget, that for as long as ISA and other repressive laws are not abolished, our fundamental freedoms as citizens of this country are under constant threat. 1987 was an unforgettable year as the then Mahathir Administration, which was being challenged by UMNO members, launched a massive crackdown on dissenters and others who purportedly threatened national security and public order. Actually, at that time, the legitimacy of the Mahathir Administration was challenged by his own party, UMNO. The video is a record of recollections of those Malaysians and their spouses who were victims of this politically motivated crackdown which usually happens when a government feels that its survival is under threat. Hopefully, you can understand why PKR and Pakatan Rakyat are working hard to have the ISA and other repressive laws abolished. This country should be the land of the free, of men and women who are guaranteed their rights under our constitution. The Mahathir regime (1981-2003) is gone, but successor regimes (Badawi, 2004-2009 and Najib, 2009 –?) have shown their proclivity to use the ISA against Malaysians. —Din Merican
 It may have been a passing remark by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, but Parliamentary opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim believes the former had let slip important facts about PAS-UMNO history.Yesterday, Muhyiddin told reporters that PAS should let bygones be bygones and forget about the tumultuous years the party had spent in Barisan Nasional back in the 1970s.
PAS sojourn in BN between 1973 and 1977 is a major sore point for party faithful who blame UMNO for causing a split in PAS, resulting in the 1977 Kelantan riots and subsequent Emergency rule of the state by the federal government. A weakened PAS was unable to recapture the state until 1990. It has not lost control of the state legislative assembly since. “As Muslims we are encouraged to forgive. That was in the past,” Muhyiddin said of the incident yesterday, reported Bernama. At a press conference after speaking at a PKR function in Shah Alam today,Anwar said Muhyiddin had inadvertedly admitted that UMNO had been “cruel and repressive” during the episode in the 1970s. “They asked for forgiveness, and then, they repeat the same thing (power grab) in Perak. Next year, they will ask for forgiveness for what happened in Perak,” he told reporters after delivering a speech at the PKR function in Shah Alam today. He said that though he does not doubt Muhyiddin’s sincerity, he said any calls for forgiveness should be backed by actions, such as not abusing the courts, police and Attorney-General Chambers against dissidents. “I’m sure PAS is (a) forgiving party. But you can’t continue to perpetuate crimes and injustices,” added Anwar.
When Anwar made his statement on Saturday, he correctly predicted that the paper would put spin on it. The very next day, as anticipated, its article ‘Anwar melampau’ appeared, whereUtusan solicited a reaction from maverick politician Ibrahim Ali, among others. Ibrahim, also Perkasa (an NGO) president, obliged by denouncing Anwar as a man willing to cast aside his own race for the sake of political survival. But as Anwar rightly points out, other former communist leaders such as ex-MCP chairman Musa Ahmad, and prominent guerrillas like Shamsiah Fakeh and Rashid Maidin have been permitted return. So why persist in waving the race card at Chin Peng? Communism is an ideology that transcends skin colour; there are communists in Cuba, in Nepal;West Bengal has the longest serving democratically elected communist state government in the world. Internationally, 
Oh yes, please also keep those kerises sheathed!
Instead of wasting time and effort in chasing the mirage of Malay ‘unity’ and in the process unnecessarily alienating others, Malay leaders should focus on the more difficult and critical problem of enhancing Malay competitiveness. This problem cannot be solved simply by shouting slogans of Malay unity or Ketuanan Melayu. Instead we need leaders who are smart, competent, diligent, and above all, not corrupt. Look at the schools Malay children attend. How can we expect them to learn English or science when we do not provide them with competent teachers? Examine the institutions run predominantly by Malays, the civil service for example. As Malays we should be ashamed of this. We need these institutions to be effective as they are a key to making Malays competitive. The list is endless. What is limited, and severely so, is the willingness to acknowledge, let alone solve them. I have yet to hear something sensible from either PAS or UMNO leaders. So far PAS wants Malays not to learn English and to ban Sisters in Islam. Well, that is an advancement of sorts; at least they are not harping on hudud. As for UMNO leaders, they cannot even decide whether to continue teaching science and mathematics in English. Malay leaders should not be deluding the masses with half-baked ideas of “Malay unity.” These leaders succeed only in deluding themselves.
KOTA BARU (June 21, 2009) : In a change of heart, PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has agreed to the unity talk with Umno but with conditions.
He said he could accept the unity government but it should be pursued through a proper channel and the talk should revolve on Islamic issues and not the Malay.
"It cannot ignore decisions made at PAS meetings and it should not be decided at one's whim and fancy.
"If one wants to pursue the unity story, let table it to the PAS Central Committee first, have it deliberated at the state level and then bring it up to the opposition alliance. Now the opposition alliance is angry with us," he told a news conference at the Mentri Besar's official residence here today.
Denying that he is a headstrong person, Nik Abdul Aziz, who is also Kelantan Mentri Besar, said instead he was 'istiqamah' (steadfast) in pursuing the truth.
He said he had opposed the unity talk proposed by PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang as he stick by the decision made at the party's muktamar in Ipoh last year where it had agreed to go along with the opposition alliance.
"Some people had labelled me as a stubborn person because I do not accept the unity government. Let me tell you that I am not stubborn but I am being istiqamah.
"Stubborn means being adamant in defending what is wrong. When we know something is wrong but we will not back down, that is stubborn. But when we know what is true, what is right, that is istiqamah.
"So if there are certain quarters in PAS, who want unity with the opposition pact and at the same time they want unity with Umno, then it spells trouble. Do not do that," said Nik Abdul Aziz.
He said he had yet to meet PAS Deputy President Nasharudin Mat Isa and the later had also not contacted him to resolve their disputes over the unity talk.
Nik Abdul Aziz, who had urged Nasharudin to resign as PAS president and Member of Parliament for Bachok and join Umno if he persists the unity government agenda, said he would attend a meeting with Abdul Hadi and Nasharudin along with other PAS leaders tomorrow to trash out their differences.
On Umno Deputy President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's statement that Umno and PAS should start their relations anew, Nik Abdul Aziz said Umno should apologise to PAS first. |
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George Lee | Jun 19, 09 4:08pm |
As the media reported that Zaid Ibrahim has now joined PKR, I have been in a buoyant mood not from the PKR or Pakatan Rakyat perspective but Malaysia as a whole. Action speaks louder than words.
For the past one year, there are two bumiputera leaders worthy of their places in the heart of Malaysian people. This is especially true as the ordeals they are both enduring are full of twists and turns in the highest measure of the country’s political panorama.
Both Zaid Ibrahim and Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin conspicuously stand out for their continuous tussles with the authoritative government, monarchy as well as pro-government individuals.
For ordinary laymen, Zaid and Nizar cut across the race and religion boundaries and I believe they are loved by many Malaysians on the street. We are very fortunate that politicians of such genuine character and truthful conscience still come through the pipeline and give us a glimpse of hope.
Hope that is threatening to vanish into the darkness which is going to loom upon us until the dawn of next general election.
 Truthfully, the country’s constitution and social contract previously agreed upon means that only a bumiputera can sit at the helm and be accepted by all Malaysians. To this, many Malaysians do not have any qualms provided it is fairly and properly implemented.
We have seen many bumiputera leaders emerging over the years but none were really endowed with the magnetism as illustrated by these two men in the short period they have surfaced. There is also no lack of bumiputera public figures combing the political scene.
There are those from the rich and famous political dynasties as well as educated scholars whose social prominence have escalated after becoming famous as a ‘in-law’. Last but not least, the hardcore and power-crazy fanatics who have disregarded and defied moral values to reach the pinnacle.
It is indeed heartwarming to see Zaid crossing the line. Very few individuals can do what he has done which is mainly due to a personal commitment and agenda.
It takes an extraordinarily altruistic mindset to relinquish all that fame and impending wealth he could enjoy and instead take the long and winding journey that could prove to be frantic.
His unreciprocated giving to the Malaysian cause is a great contrast to those who achieved their wealth through unscrupulous means like the prominent bumiputera who was once implicated in a murder trial and who recently obtained a doctorate degree.
Zaid sacrifices are worth many times any academic achievement, the latter which is worth nothing if an individual’s personality is profoundly tarnished. Instead of wallowing with those in power, Zaid has chosen to be with the people and holding on to his impartial standpoint on issues such as the judiciary, the ISA, the Perak debacle and other pertinent contemporary issues.
This is indeed a revitalising feeling for the ordinary folk who want so much for their voices to be heard.
Enough of praises bestowed upon this new Malaysians icons. On the other hand, I strongly believe that this move to join PKR is in anticipation of the forthcoming sodomy trial that Anwar Ibrahim is about to embark upon.
If Anwar is submerged in the scuffle with the attorney-general and the police, it is essential for PKR or Pakatan Rakyat followers to have another influential individual in the same mould of Anwar in their hearts.
This is a perfect strategy because no one comes close to having the articulation and tenacity of Anwar especially after the traumas he has gone through after being disposed off as the second most powerful person in the country.
It is with hope that Zaid’s move would stir up an honest and healthy political playing field in the country which Malaysians are dying to see. It would take unusual flair and attitude to thaw down the obdurate system that is entrenched in its present position for slightly over half a century.
The central government has far too many parasites that it is a matter of time before the main body crumples to its own infliction. The fact that Pakatan Rakyat has been picking up by-elections victories with so much ease further illustrates that recovery and change are beyond the central government and that it is doomed.
The present central administration is going to regret that it did not take Zaid’s advice but instead kept its habitual values that are detrimental and invalid in the present climate. It is irony that that the same advice would still be coming from the same man but this time on the opposite side of the fence.
With anticipation, I would also like to see that the coming forward of Zaid would put those brainless and bad-mannered ministers - like the de facto law minister - in their own places which could, to some extent, eradicate the occasional, infuriating howling these people indulge in.
After all, we are talking about a different class of people. Once again a shooting star has risen from nowhere. I hope that Malaysians regardless of race, religion or region would rise to the occasion to welcome Zaid.
Ttogether with Nizar, they are no ordinary bumiputera as they are the leaders truly worshiped by Malaysians from different diverse backgrounds. They symbolise a better tomorrow for Malaysia. |
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