What would Tunku Abdul Rahman do in light of raging racial tensions?

by Eileen Ng

The Malaysian Insider

February 11, 2014

Had Tunku Abdul Rahman been still around, he would have been disappointed with the elements that are trying to divide Malaysia and its people.

The nation’s first prime minister had considered himself to be the happiest premier in the world, but had he been alive today, he would be Malaysia’s saddest man due to the raging racial religious tensions.

With his legacy of unity being threatened, speakers at a forum held to commemorate Tunku’s 111th birthday last night in Kajang said there is a need to secure his legacy to ensure the nation remains united.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said Tunku wanted peace, love and harmony, which he lamented seemed to be in short supply in recent months.

“Never before has Malaysia been so divided and polarised, with the last eight to nine months being the worst. Today’s forum is for us to think of what we have lost in our 56 years of nation building.

“Tunku would want to see a united country. Is Malaysia more united or divided now? Has the issue of race and religion become more polarising?” he said at the forum in last night.

The veteran politician noted that during Tunku’s time, there was certain civic and gentle chivalry that seemed to have gone down the gutters today.

Described as a prime minister for all Malaysians, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said her father and his colleagues were among the ones who were inspired by the Kedah prince turned premier to work together to develop the nation.

“At that time, the spirit of nationalism was reigning high but what inspired people to work for the country was Tunku – he made everyone feel they belonged and that was crucial to build and develop the country,” she said.

If Tunku was alive today, what would he say to the way Malaysia is today?

“I would think he would say the same thing… that unity is our fundamental strength. He would be disappointed at attempts to divide us. He hated racism, as shown by his vocal views against apartheid,” she said.

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said during Tunku’s time, the former premier, widely described as a gentleman, was accepting of criticism even against his leadership to ensure the country continue to grow.

In sharing a personal anecdote of Tunku in his twilight years, the former deputy prime minister said he hosted a dinner which was attended by the statesman.

“He was telling the attendees ‘you know this young man? He was a great fighter but he became tired. So he joined Umno’. I just bowed my head and didn’t say anything,” he said.

Anwar, who was sacked from his post and party after falling out with former long-serving prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1998, reminded Malaysians to adhere and return to the spirit of the Federal Constitution.

“We must have tenacity of purpose to defend the spirit of the Constitution. We will be stronger if we remember and adhere to some of Tunku’s principles which many had forgotten,” he said.

He also took to task those who condoned the actions of groups who threaten assault against DAP Seputeh MP Teresa Kok over her Chinese New Year YouTube.

A group of Islamic NGOs had slaughtered two chickens and offered a RM1,200 to anyone who slapped Kok over her video which allegedly insulted Malays.

“You have every right to question Teresa, but you have no right to insult the intelligence of Malaysians and giving the go ahead for everyone to be threatened with slaps. This is crazy,” he said.

PAS’s election director Dr Hatta Ramli said despite his Islamist party and Tunku being political rivals, they had always respected the former prime minister for being down to earth and non-confrontational.

He said during Tunku’s governance from the mid-1950s until 1970, there was no such thing as Malay supremacy.

“If we ask Tunku whether he is a Malaysian or Malay first, he would have said the former,” Dr Hatta said.

Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim regaled the audience with a series of anecdotes about Tunku, whom he had heard much about from the former prime minister’s peers, especially former Bank Negara governor Tun Ismail Mohamed Ali.

In calling Tunku a “real gentleman with integrity”, Khalid said Tunku was instrumental in starting the Merdeka tournament football competition and the Islamic Development Bank. He also mooted the regional political and economic grouping Asean.

In sharing a personal experience, Khalid said when he was a student in Australia, he went to a Melbourne Cup horse race and was surprised to see a man with a songkok with the winning horse.

“I realised that was my prime minister. His horse won the Melbourne Cup,” he said. – February 11, 2014.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 11 February 2014, 7:46 am and is filed under
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If senior ministers and legislators  publicly demonstrate that they cannot differentiate right from wrong, what type of a bad example are they providing not only to citizens but the young generation of Malaysians in schools, colleges and universities?

I welcome the Islamic Consumer Association of Malaysia (PPIM) distancing itself from the offer to “slap” DAP woman MP Teresa Kok at a disgraceful “chicken-slaughtering and blood-smearing” demonstration by self-styled “Council of Islamic NGOs”  in Kuala Lumpur last Thursday.

PPIM secretary-general Dr Ma’amor Osman has clarified that  PPIM was not directly involved in making the initial offer of RM500 for anyone to slap the Seputeh MP over her controversial Chinese New Year satirical video.  The offer was later increased to RM1,200.

I fully agree with the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup that the bounty to slap Teresa Kok could only be made by people who are of “unsound mind”.

Dr. Ma’amor’s repudiation of the disgraceful “slap offer” and “chicken-slaughtering and blood-smearing” episode shows that sanity is returning to groups who were targeted by dubious but highly irresponsible characters bent on inciting racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension based on lies and falsehoods.

If Malaysia is to succeed as an international model of harmonious and tolerant multi-racial multi-religious and multi-cultural society, there can be no room for such extremists and ultras who had in fact committed a slew of crimes – criminal intimidation, sedition, incitement of violence against a woman, incitement of violence against Member of Parliament, and incitement of racial chaos and religious conflagration, including another May 13 riots.

It is now a full week since the blot of the “slap offer” and “chicken-slaughtering and blood-smearing” demonstration last Thursday.

Why have the police not acted against the 30-odd demonstrators from six NGOs who self-styled themselves as “Council of Islamic NGOs” for a slew of criminal offences which committed last Thursday.

The police and the authorities should realise that Malaysians and the world are waiting and  watching as to whether  the police will do or fail in  their duties as the guardians of law and order in the country.

Dr. Ma’amor’s clarification is all the more welcome as showing that the PPIM secretary-general can still differentiate between right and wrong – which cannot said for all political leaders, even Cabinet Ministers, in the country.

For instance, what excuse could one give for the shocking and outrageous stance of the UMNO National Vice President and Home Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who dismissed the “slap offer” as a threat.

Zahid said there was nothing for the police to investigate as “it is not a threat”, adding: “Slapping is not a threat. If they say murder, then it is a threat.”

Zahid not only cannot differentiate right from wrong, he does not know the law or has only  utter contempt for the law although he is the Minister responsible for the police to uphold law and order!

Zahid has yet to answer my question whether, in accordance with his perverse logic,  it is lawful and permissible for demonstrations to be held up and down the country offering RM1,200 for anyone to slap the Prime Minister, RM1,300 to slap the Deputy Prime Minister and RM1,500 to slap the Home Minister?

It is really shocking that such craziness about the law of the jungle replacing the rule of law is not confined to the Home Minister, but has support in certain UMNO quarters – as yesterday, the Penang state wanita Umno chief, Senator Norliza Abdul Rahim openly supporting the offering of a bounty to slap Teresa Kok.

There is  an UMNO Minister in the Dewan Rakyat and an UMNO Senator in the Dewan Negara who clearly cannot differentiate right from wrong as to open support the law of the jungle instead of civilized conduct in upholding the rule of law.

If senior ministers and legislators  publicly demonstrate that they cannot differentiate right from wrong, what type of a bad example are they providing not only to citizens but the young generation of Malaysians in the  schools, colleges and universities?

The Prime Minister and the Cabinet meeting today should have repudiated and reprimanded Zahid for embracing the law of the jungle instead of upholding the rule of law in his reaction to the “Council of Islamic NGOs” demonstration last Thursday.

However, I do not expect this to happen as there is no Minister who has  the political conviction or moral courage and stature  to raise in Cabinet to point out that Zahid had committed a major transgression as a senior Minister which must be remedied immediately and urgently.

Is Zahid prepared to apologise and retract his condoning and absolving of the  “Council of Islamic NGOs” resort to the law of the jungle? Do the demonstrators enjoy immunity and impunity for breaches of the law?

Is Zahid forcing the  police to comply with  his directive not  to investigate the slew of crimes committed by the Council of Islamic NGOs last Thursday?

(Media Statement in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, 12th February 2014)

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 12 February 2014, 6:09 pm and is filed under
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Shame of shame! Worst setback to Najib’s “best democracy in the world” claim with Malaysia’s 2014 Press Freedom Index falling to the lowest point in nation’s history, even below that of Myanmar

Shame of shame!  This is the worst setback to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s “best democracy in the world” claim with Malaysia’s 2014 Press Freedom Index falling to the lowest point in nation’s history, even below that of Myanmar.

Malaysia already plunged last year to a historic low of No. 145 ranking out of 179 countries in the 2013 World Press Freedom Index – the worst since the start of the annual index by Reporters Without Border (RSF) in 2002.

Malaysia fell by 23 rungs last year, as it was ranked at 122 in the 2011/2012 Press Freedom Index.

In the latest 2014 World Press Freedom Index just released, Malaysia fell further to 147 out of 180 countries, two places behind Myanmar which climbed from 151st ranking to 145th position this year.

ASEAN nations which outperformed Malaysia include Brunei 117, Thailand 130, Indonesia 132 and Cambodia 144 and  Myanmar 145. Philippines is ranked 149, Singapore 150, Laos 171 and Vietnam 174.

Malaysia’s World Press Freedom Index 2014 would have been more abysmal falling even behind Philippines and Singapore if the government’s latest press freedom repression had been taken into account, i.e. revocation of the publishing permit for FZ daily, hours just after the publisher The Edge Communications Sdn. Bhd. was granted leave to initiate proceedings against the Home Ministry for deferring its initial approval of the permit.

Malaysia was in respectable ranking of 92nd position in 2006 but under Najib’s premiership, Malaysia is now locked into the worst position in the bottom quarter of 180 countries assessed.

Can Malaysians expect an explanation from Najib after today’s Cabinet meeting why he had reneged on his promise to make Malaysia “the best democracy in the world”  with the worst World Press Freedom Index in the past 12 years, falling even below Myanmar – which had up to now been regarded as the “bad boy” of democracy in ASEAN?

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 12 February 2014, 9:23 am and is filed under
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The conduct of Umno leaders

– Sakmongkol AK47

The Malaysian Insider

February 12, 2014

In an earlier article, I have mentioned a bit about the late Tun Dr Ismail. Some people cannot accept the comparison saying there’s no need to drag in Tun Ismail in the issue in question. Or saying Tun Ismail’s time was history.

Of course the personal attacks against me continue. I am after all a running dog of the “da PIGs” and my tokongs are the Lim Family. These diatribes and vitriol are of no consequence to me. I, a Malay and a Muslim and a rightful citizen of Malaysia find no contradiction being in the DAP. We can all coexist because we are united and resolute in struggling and fighting for a just, equitable and fair society through the instrument of the democratic process. I hope this can be sufficiently understood by people with sufficient intelligence.

People are free to believe in Umno and what it struggles for. We are likewise free not to believe in Umno.

We reject violence and unconstitutional approach to changing government. That is the basis which unites Malaysians who want to be in the DAP. I find it laughable the call from some Malays that they enter DAP to get into the CEC or get some posts. If they join DAP to get these, then don’t join. Let only those with similar convictions join.

So, in reprising the role of Tun Dr Ismail, what’s the issue? The issue here is the conduct of a leader. And Tun Ismail is a pertinent example for us to compare him and the current home affairs minister who has acted imbecilic so many times. Using Tun Ismail as an example further reinforces our argument about the absence of leadership in Malaysia. Tun Ismail is an example of responsible conduct and to act fairly, justly and in accordance to the rule of law.

One cabinet minister wanted to bring his daughter in law who was from China into Malaysia. Malaysia then had no diplomatic relations with Communist China as well as with some iron curtain countries. Malaysian citizens cannot go into communist countries and citizens from communist countries were not able to come into Malaysia. That was the law in regards movement of citizens between countries with no diplomatic ties. The cabinet minister didn’t have the courage to ask Tun Ismail directly and therefore asked Tunku Abdul Rahman to intercede. Tunku wrote a note to Tun Ismail to help out. Tun Ismail sent back the request with a short reply. YAM Tunku, there is not even a legal provision in our country to consider this case.

I mentioned of a quote which Tun Ismail was fond of saying: “an honest man is not necessarily a nice man.” He was a man prepared to act truthfully and honestly even at the risk of being un-nice. Readers can read more about Tun Ismail from the book The Reluctant Politician. As for me, I will relate some of the nuances and unconscious personal inflexions associated with Tun Ismail. I am sharing some minor details about the life of Tun Ismail which were related to me by someone who worked with Tun Ismail at the Home Ministry for a very long time.

The importance of Tun Ismail lies not in an attempt to paint Tun Ismail as a person bigger than life. He has earned that place already in our history. More importantly, we can treat Tun Ismail for his exemplary conduct – unflinching in holding up the rule of law. In the aftermath of May 13, there was still ISA and I mentioned about it in the earlier article, because that was what was said. I could have sanitised it by saying- if you don’t retract the letter, I will send you to jail.

We are familiar with the saying, with great power comes greater responsibility. Tun Ismail has sought to live to the maxim as honestly and truthfully as he could.

It seems leadership lessons from Tun Ismail are more important nowadays. We have a prime minister who seems to act and conduct himself as a PM for Umno not of the nation. On matters that threaten social cohesion, he has chosen to remain aloofly silent.  We then have a Home Affairs Minister who acts and conducts himself as a home affairs minister for Umno and the underground elements. After all he says these people are his friends.

What can we learn from Tun Ismail? He can be cited as an example of a person who acts responsibly with the powers with which he was given. A person should always conduct himself honourably when dealing with others whose fates are likely to be affected by his actions.

Even from the Islamic standpoint, it is more important to exercise proper conduct according to the Islamic principles rather than behaving like a mere Muslim. Especially in these turbulent times, it is necessary and important to distinguish between being a Muslim and conducting oneself according to Islamic principles. In Malaysia as in many Muslim countries, there are many Muslims but little Islam is practised. Absent from daily routine is the tolerance, mutual respect and rejection of violence demanded from the religion of Peace.

Nowadays, many Malays like to portray themselves as Muslims without necessarily upholding Islamic principles. They represent themselves as Muslims through their speeches, clothing and attire and advertise themselves as pious Muslims. But more often than not, their conduct is un-Islamic.

Islam is a religion of peace. But so many among us depict the ugly side of ourselves when interacting with people of different religious and cultural backgrounds. – sakmongkol.blogspot.com, February 12, 2014.

* Sakmongkol AK47 is the nom de guerre of Raub MP Datuk Ariff Sabri Abdul Aziz.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 12 February 2014, 10:46 am and is filed under
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UMNO Vice Presidents and Ministers will be even more irresponsible and reckless if their attack on Teresa Kok’s video as anti-Malay and anti-Islam is based on the video sub-titles which provide no cause whatsoever for such a rampage

I was yesterday reminded of the Chinese saying: 此地无银三百两（cǐdì wú yín sān bǎi liǎng), i.e .“there are no 300 pieces of silver here”, when I read a response to my statement that UMNO Ministers had been misled by Chinese BN leaders to spearhead the demonization campaign against Teresa Kok falsely accusing her video “Onederful Malaysia CNY 2014”  as being anti-Malay and anti-Islam.

The Chinese saying came from an interesting story.

There was this man named Zhang San(张三） who fancied  himself to be clever, but he really was somewhat dull.  He managed to collect 300 taels of silver.   He didn’t want this tidy sum of money to be stolen, so he had to figure out what to do with it.   After considering various plans, he decided to bury the silver in a corner of a wall behind his house.  Of course, he did when it was dark so he could evade detection.  After the silver was buried,  Zhang San was concerned the silver would be discovered.  So, he thought he arrived at what was a brilliant plan!   He made a sign that said 此地无银三百两 “No 300 taels of silver buried here” at the precise location where he buried the money.

I thought of this saying when I read of the tweets by the Gerakan national youth chief Tan Keng Liang yesterday:

“DAP @limkitsiang accuse othrs misled Malay leadr on @teresakok insensitiv video.He didn’t notice d English subtitl.Malay can read English la”

“harap @limkitsiang kaji video @teresakok dgn teliti sebelum buat andaian. Ada subtitle English.Kalau masih tak nampak,pergi lawat pakar mata”.

Tan was responding to my statement/speech that UMNO National Vice Presidents and Ministers had been misled by Chinese Barisan Nasional leaders into spearheading the vicious demonization campaign against DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Seputeh Teresa Kok falsely accusing her video, “Onederful Malaysia CNY 2014” as being anti-Malay and anti-Islam, and wanting her to face the full rigours not only of the laws of the land, but also the law of the jungle as well!

I had right from the beginning smelt a rat in the campaign by UMNO leader and pro-Umno NGOs against Teresa Kok as I  suspected that  there were  “unseen hands” manipulating UMNO Ministers, leaders and so-called Islamic NGOs, to launch a vicious demonization campaign against Teresa Kok on the ground that her video was anti-Malay and anti-Islam, for two reasons: (i) the allegations that Teresa Kok’s video is anti-Malay and anti-Islam were completely baseless; and (ii) why  the many UMNO Ministers, leaders and “Islamic NGOs” taking umbrage at Teresa Kok’s video when they could not have understood the languages used in the dialogue, which were in Cantonese and Mandarin?

For instance, UMNO National Vice Chairman and Urban and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, who was the first to launch off the campaign of demonization against Teresa Kok, accused the video of ridiculing the Malaysian security forces and the Lahat Datu incursion tragedy, when there was no reference whatsoever to both items in the video.

Where did Shafie get the misinformation, as he could not have understood the Mandarin and Cantonese dialogue in the video?  Shafie must have been targetted by what Confucius described as  xiaoren (小人, xiăorén, “small or petty person”) in contrast to 君子,  jūnzǐ among the MCA and Gerakan leaders.

This is why I threw up the question – as to how the UMNO National Vice Presidents and Ministers as well as the pro-Umno NGOs could have taken umbrage at Teresa Kok’s video, believing it to be anti-Malay and anti-Islam, when they could not have understood the Mandarin and Cantonese dialogue used in the video?

This question is actually a trap – as I want the UMNO National Vice Presidents and Ministers and the pro-UMNO NGOs to come out to say that they had depended on the English sub-titles in the video, which would have exposed them as even more irresponsible and reckless, utterly depraved politically and morally, for there is nothing in the English sub-titles to justify any demonisation campaign that the video is anti-Malay or anti-Islam.

But it is the 小人 xiăorén like the Gerakan national youth chief who  have jumped into the trap, acting like Zhang San in the political equivalent of the 此地无银三百两（“there are no 300 pieces of silver here”!

Why not let UMNO National Vice Presidents and Ministers defend themselves, that they were not bamboozled by MCA and Gerakan national leaders who bluffed them into believing that Teresa Kok’s video was anti-Malay and  anti-Islam  because they had read and depended on the English sub-titles – except that there is nothing in the English sub-titles to substantiate their allegations!

But the Gerakan national youth chief, clearly bearing a “guilty conscience”, had  to jump out and  shout “there are no 300 pieces of silver here” to try to absolve the xiaoren among the MCA and Gerakan national leaders who had hoodwinked UMNO National Vice President and Ministers into believing that Teresa Kok’s video was anti-Malay and anti-Islam through an avalanche of MCA and Gerakan lies and falsehoods.

Let me declare with all the force in my command – UMNO Vice Presidents and Ministers will be  even more irresponsible and reckless if their attack on Teresa Kok’s video as anti-Malay and anti-Islam is based on the video sub-titles which provide no cause whatsoever for such a rampage – and not just being bamboozled and hoodwinked by  the  xiăorén among the MCA and Gerakan national leaders who lied to them that Teresa’s video was anti-Malay and anti-Islam.

Let me ask the UMNO National Vice Presidents and Ministers starting with Apdal and another UMNO National Vice Chairman  and Home Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who have criticised Teresa Kok’s video for being anti-Malay and anti-Islam to come out to declare individually, whether they were bamboozled by the xiăorén among the MCA and Gerakan national leaders who lied to them that Teresa Kok’s video was anti-Malay and anti-Islam or whether they had depended solely on the English sub-titles in the video.

If the latter, I challenge them to produce the parts of the English sub-titles which justify their attack on the video as anti-Malay and anti-Islam.

If required by the UMNO National Vice Presidents and Ministers, I am prepared to immediately email to them the full English sub-titles used in the “Onederful Malaysia CNY 2014) to refresh their memory!

The silence of UMNO National Vice Presidents and Ministers and the pro-Umno NGOs to this open question and challenge will speak volumes!

(Media Statement in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, February 12, 2014)

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 12 February 2014, 2:04 pm and is filed under
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It is not Teresa Kok who should apologise for her “Onederful Malaysia” as nobody could prove the video is anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Royalty but Abdul Rahman Dahlan who must apologise for his racist tweets which showed he is not  Minister for all Malaysians

In the Chinese folklore, there is a magic mirror which reveals goblins  照妖镜 [zhào yāo jìng] which now also applies to  exposing  conspiracies and other nefarious designs.

DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Seputeh Teresa Kok’s “Onederful Malaysia CNYT 2014” has the effect of a 照妖镜 or a magic mirror exposing the goblins in the Malaysian political landscape.

One of the “goblins” exposed by Teresa Kok’s “magic mirror’ of the “Onederful Malaysia CNYT 2014” is none other than the UMNO Housing and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan who gave full backing to the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi when the latter embraced the law of the jungle instead of upholding the rule of law when he said there was no need for the police to investigate a group of Muslim NGOs who offered a reward of RM500 later increased to RM1,200 for anyone who slapped Teresa Kok, as well as indulged in a “chicken slaughtering and blood-smearing” demonstration against DAP and Pakatan Rakyat leaders.

In his series of tweets, Abdul Rahman said Teresa Kok should not play victim when threatened by Muslim groups.

He made the wild and baseless allegation that the DAP had “relentlessly attacked the position of Malays and Muslims”, tweeting:

“Maybe the DAP don’t understand. To Malays, insulting the Agong and Islam is more painful and degrading than a slap.

“Since 2008, the DAP has relentlessly attacked the position of Malays and Islam. When there is a reaction from Malays, the DAP acts as if they are victims. Crazy!”

In a tweet exchange with  DAP’s Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, Abdul Rahman gave his blessing to the “slap offer” by the Muslim groups (which the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Tan Sri Joseph Kurup said could only be the work of people of “unsound mind”)  adding:

“Don’t act stupid, YB. You reap what you sow!”

I had challenged Abdul Rahman to substantiate his wild and baseless allegation that the DAP “had relentless attacked the position of Malays and Islam since 2008” and had insulted the Yang di Pertuan Agong.

Five days have passed and Abdul Rahman has not been able substantiate his wild allegations against the DAP. As a gentleman Abdul Rahman would have apologised for making wild and baseless allegations against the DAP, which he could not substantiate.

Would he apologise or he is one the political “goblins” exposed by  Teresa Kok’s “Onederful Malaysia” which is playing the role of the magic mirror exposing “goblins”?

It is not Teresa Kok who should apologise for her “Onederful Malaysia” video as nobody could prove the video is anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Royalty but Abdul Rahman Dahlan who must apologise for his racist tweets which showed he is not  Minister for all Malaysians.

Ahmad Rahman told Sin Chew and China Press  yesterday he could not understand me as I had taken conflicting position asking the PKR Penang Assemblyman for Machang Bubok Lee Khai Loon to apologise for stuffing kangkung into the mouth of effigy of  Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak in a kangkung  flash-mob demo against price hikes, while I had not asked Teresa Kok to apologise.

I am puzzled by Abdul Rahman’s lack of understanding as he  does not seem to have as high an IQ as I thought he had.

I advise him to read up my explanations which are available on my blog and facebook on the Internet, and if he is still puzzled, I am prepared to take time to explain to him why there is no inconsistency in my stand in the cases of Lee Khai Loon and Teresa Kok.

Even now, I reiterate t I will ask Teresa Kok to retract and apologise for the “Onederful Malaysia” video if Abdul Rahman or  anyone else can show me where the video is anti-Malay, anti-Islam or anti-Malay Rulers as alleged  by him and the political desperadoes in  the Malaysian political landscape who are incessantly inciting racial and religious hatred, conflict and tensions based on lies and falsehoods.

I await an answer from Abdul Rahman.

The “magic mirror” effect of Teresa Kok’s video has already exposed many “goblins” in the Malaysian political landscape, like  UMNO  Ministers and MCA/Gerakan leaders, like

·       UMNO National Vice Chairman and Urban and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, who accused the video of ridiculing the Malaysian security forces and the Lahat Datu incursion tragedy, when there was no reference whatsoever to both items in the video;

·       Umno National Vice Chairman and Home Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who disgraced the high office of Home Minister when he failed to uphold the rule of law and instead embraced the law of the jungle;

·       The 小人 xiăorén  in the MCA  the Gerakan national leaderships who misled UMNO Ministers and leaders into believing that Teresa Kok’s video was anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Malay Rulers.

Many others are still to be  exposed by the “magic mirror” of Teresa Kok’s video. I will like to see who are the other “goblins” in the Malaysian political landscape who will be exposed in the coming weeks and months.

(Media Statement in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014)

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 13 February 2014, 12:09 pm and is filed under
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Najib losing the moral right to lead the country

by Ahmad Mustapha Hassan

The Ant Daily

11/02/2014

OUTSPOKEN:
 Any leader who has been entrusted to govern the country will need to demonstrate that he is in total control of the government and that he has the full backing of his own political party.

He has to show that he has the qualities to be the leader. He has to be decisive and he has to act promptly to avert any untoward incidents that would harm the people.

He has to have a vision and a goal to achieve. His full concentration should be on the welfare of the people and their future well-being. This is especially so when the country is moving towards achieving fully developed status.

No task is simple for a leader of a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural country. But he has to prove that he has what it takes to be such a leader. He cannot shun reality and challenges but must face all these with resolute solutions that will keep intact the fabric that has enabled the people to enjoy stability. He should be a leader who can bring hope to the people. He should be able to command the full respect of the people.

He is the symbol of unity, progress and harmony.

Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first prime minister of Malaya and then Malaysia, had to some extent a certain amount of the qualities mentioned.

Tun Abdul Razak, the second prime minister, was completely committed to the people and the country. He had these qualities.

Unfortunately, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has none of the above qualities and will never have any of these leadership traits.

He is more a leader in hiding. He refuses to face reality and avoids all challenges. He cannot differentiate between reality and false assumptions.

He has no basic understanding of simple economics. His intelligence comes into question. Even his government colleagues are unable to support his illogical utterances.

He seems to be a loner even in his own party. He has no credible team that can give hope to the people. He is the first prime minister of Malaysia who has become the butt of jokes for the things he did and for the things he said.

His colleagues in the party and the government are too ashamed and embarrassed to come to his defence whenever he makes a fool of himself. His classic kangkung episode had even caused people to be on guard against the foolish acts of his mindless young followers. To them, to criticise the PM means to criticise the Malays in general.

This only shows the level of intelligence that pervades the Umno-Baru party that he is leading. To them, Najib has exhibited exemplary leadership and thus they have to defend all his foolish acts.

But he never realised the harm that these stupid acts had caused the country. He has not made any apologies.

He avoids facing controversy. He never came out with any definitive statement about the use of the word Allah by non-Muslims. He feared offending the Muslims and he also feared offending those non-Muslims who have been using the word. To him, silence and time would solve the controversy.

These are definitely not prime ministerial qualities.

His over-dependence on foreign consultants had undermined the ability of the local administrators. He paid these consultants millions of ringgit of the people’s money and the results are found to be wanting.

He never walks the talk. He wants the people to be prudent but he himself has no compunction to be away from the country as often as he likes and spends the people’s money as if there is no tomorrow.

He is not in control of the government, the party and the country.

This is a tragedy that Malaysia is currently experiencing. His time should end promptly for the sake of the future of the people and the country.

Ahmad Mustapha Hassan is a former press secretary to second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and the writer of the book, “The Unmaking of Malaysia”.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 13 February 2014, 6:49 am and is filed under
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The politics of violence

Jeswan Kaur| February 13, 2014

Free Malaysia Today

Umno’s image is in shreds, but does Zahid Hamidi care?

COMMENT

Violence apparently comes easy to Umno politicians and those associated with them, as they have illustrated so many times in words and deeds.

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said to be one of the Umno president’s most trusted lieutenants, obviously does not care that the public thinks so lowly of his party or that his outrageous defence of blood-spilling thugs serves only to deepen our suspicion of his being a violent man himself, as alleged in a suit brought a few years ago by businessman Amir Abdullah Bazli.

Amir said Zahid allegedly administered punches on his face in public in 2006, leaving him with a fractured nose and swollen eye. Zahid denied the allegations and applied for the case to be dismissed, which finally happened in 2010.

He then decided to counter-sue Amir, citing humiliation and emotional trauma as a result of the accusation.

Thankfully, the Court of Appeal in 2012 had the wisdom to rule against Zahid’s bid to strike out the assault suit. The three judges in the panel ordered him to pay RM5,000 in costs and respond to the action.

Amir’s suit was eventually settled out of court at the end of last year.

But despite claiming to have been traumatised by the smear on his alleged reputation, Zahid seems not to have learned his lesson.

How else can we explain his apparent refusal to chastise the group that wants violence done on one of his political opponents?

Indeed the tone of his statement on the matter indicated that he was all for Teresa Kok being slapped in the face for allegedly insulting Muslims with her video, as if the Prime Minister and his wife represent Islam.

Zahid told reporters it was unnecessary for the authorities to investigate Kok’s allegation of harassment by the Council of Islamic NGOs.

He has instead ordered the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to investigate complaints made against Kok over her satirical Chinese New Year video.

Silencing critics

Of course, Zahid is only one of Umno’s many enemies within who are doing further damage to the party’s already tattered image.

Last month, a Hulu Selangor Umno Youth leader reportedly attacked Second Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan with a punch on the neck over a school transfer issue.

Is violence or the threat of it part of Umno’s strategy in silencing critics or those who dare complain about the depressing state of the nation?

Interestingly, the mob that killed chickens in their anger against Kok and other opposition figures were professing to protect the sanctity of Islam, a claim we have been hearing a lot lately from groups with a similar violent bent, even as they complain about unfair western portrayals of Islam as a violent religion.

And Umno, despite claiming to be a better protector of Islam than its rivals, does not seem to care that the religion ends up as collateral damage from the words and deeds of these hypocrites.

Jeswan Kaur is a freelance writer and a FMT columnist.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 13 February 2014, 8:38 am and is filed under
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The Saga of the Big Slap

By Kee Thuan Chye

Yahoo! News

13th Feb. 2014

It all started with a slap threat.

A Muslim group took exception to a satirical video produced by an Opposition MP who also appeared as a talk show host interviewing panelists played by actors, so they held a street protest and offered a RM1,200 reward to anyone who would slap the MP and show proof of having done it.

The group alleged that through the video, the MP and her fellow party leaders had insulted the Government, the King, Islam and Malay dignity, but those who had seen the video swore there was nothing of that in it.

Political observers said the group was mad for inciting violence. They called on the police to take action against the extremists.

The home minister, however, said there was no need for that. He said offering money to slap someone was not a threat. He said, “If they had issued a death threat, then it would be a threat. Slapping is not.”

Political observers believed that he responded this way because he was probably abused a lot as a child, and likely by his mother. So he was now getting his own back at society, and especially women.

One observer said the minister needed to have his IQ tested, because any person with just an average IQ could have seen that the threat on the MP was indeed a threat.

The next day, when the minister was walking out of a five-star hotel after having been treated to a sumptuous meal there, a burly citizen with biceps bigger than Popeye’s came up to him and slapped him hard on the cheek. It made the minister do a dozen pirouettes like a ballet dancer before he swayed about like a halal drunkard and eventually slumped onto the floor like a character from Looney Tunes.

The citizen later declared to the media that he was the one responsible for slapping the minister. But he said it was not an assault and that he was not a threat to anyone. Slapping a person, he asserted, was not killing them.

He said he slapped the minister because of these reasons. First, for not respecting a woman. Second, for not respecting a fellow human being. Third, for not respecting the law against violence. Fourth, for discrediting his own office. Fifth, for discrediting the prime minister for having appointed him minister.

When asked how he managed to develop such big biceps, he said it was because he ate kangkung.

The public speculated that the minister must have suffered severely from getting such a whopping slap, but no one could verify the extent of the injury because the minister was whisked away immediately after the incident. One of his aides who declined to be identified said the minister lost consciousness for at least an entire day, and after he regained consciousness, he was scared shit of going out.

Inside sources from the dental clinic that attended to him revealed that at the moment of impact, all but one of his teeth receded totally into the gum – and the one that didn’t, flew out of his mouth. That tooth was now being preserved for when he became prime minister whereupon a memorial could be built for it, somewhat similar to the one for the Buddha’s tooth in Kandy, Sri Lanka.

It was said that the minister had aspirations of becoming PM, which explained why he had been saying numerous stupid things of late. As the people had now come to realise, saying stupid things was a requisite for becoming PM.

One of the things he said was telling the police to “shoot to kill” gangsters. He also said there was no need to ask questions first. On numerous occasions, because of his appearance and his tough-talking stance, he came across like a gangster himself. No wonder he did not consider the threat on the MP a threat. After all, gangsters are used to punching people and fracturing their noses, among other things.

Speaking of the police, they did not hesitate to initiate investigations into the video produced by the MP. They said it might have contributed to public mischief. They even called in for questioning the actors who had participated in the video. Political observers called it an attempt at intimidation.

At the same time the actors were being interrogated, the Inspector-General of Police was giving a public talk on the integrity of the police force. He assured everyone present that the police were professionals, that they were not beholden to the ruling party, and that they were fair and colour-blind in carrying out their duties.

When he had finished, a portly, stocky woman with a huge and high hairdo carrying a Hermes bag went up to him. He smiled in recognition and with great delight, as if thoroughly pleased to see the woman. She reached out her hand and he thought she was going to shake his, but instead the woman landed a tight slap on his face that turned his smile into a permanent twist. Not only did his cheek turn red, it sustained a deep dent caused by the impact of the diamond ring the woman was wearing on her middle finger, tilted downwards to deliberately scar the IGP’s face.

The IGP sank to the floor and passed out. His twisted lip, though grotesque in appearance, seemed to fit his face perfectly. The audience in the room were too shocked to react. The woman coolly walked out.

Mouths wagged afterwards that she was an artiste who did impersonations of famous people, but no one could guess whom she was impersonating when she slapped the IGP. They also wondered if black magic had been employed in rearranging the IGP’s lip.

A note was found stapled to the IGP’s neck. The note asked why the police were so quick to investigate the MP’s video when it had done nothing on other, more serious cases, like the video in which a ruling party-backed Muslim MP had insulted Hindus. It also asked why the police had not even taken any action against the extremist group that started the idea of slapping.

The note explained that for the double standards practised by the police, their head honcho deserved to be slapped. It warned that the IGP would get slapped again and again till kingdom come if the police continued to be unfair. Its last words were: “Don’t play play. This is a real threat.”

After this incident, fear gripped the nation’s decision-makers and officers of the law. Everyone looked to the prime minister to make a statement that would help bring back sanity. But the PM said nothing.

Then one day, when he was at a function handing out envelopes containing goodness-knows-what to retired civil servants, an 88-year-old man who looked more Indian than Malay accosted him with a smirk and gave him a slap so hard that it detached his ruby-red lips from his face.

The assailant scolded the PM loudly in front of everyone for being weak, for keeping quiet all the time, for not stopping the extremist groups at home although he promoted moderation in the world whenever he spoke overseas.

All the PM could do was gape, especially now that there was nothing but a void where his lips used to be.

People wondered how the old-timer could have had so much strength to inflict so much damage on the PM’s face. Then a newspaper published an exclusive report disclosing that the man received regular injections of sheep placenta extract at a clinic in Switzerland. This was the secret to his regular rejuvenation.

When news of what had happened to the PM broke out, people in high office panicked. None of them was safe any more. They took out insurance on their facial parts, regardless of the high premiums they had to pay. The prime minister’s wife took out a policy insuring her hair.

Cabinet ministers argued over what needed to be done to stop the slapping mania. The poor PM merely sat and listened, because he had no lips and could not speak.

One minister proposed creating a law that would define slapping someone as a matter of life and death. By that token, a call to slap someone would now be legally considered a threat.

The first one to support the proposal was none other than the home minister. Who of course was now totally toothless. And, said his aides, totally gutless.

* Kee Thuan Chye is the author of the book The Elections Bullshit, available in bookstores.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 13 February 2014, 8:46 am and is filed under
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Call on new MCA leaders like Liow Tiong Lai and Wee Ka Siong not to be xioren 小人 but dare to speak truth to power by declaring that Teresa Kok’s video is not anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-royalty

I am really intrigued as to how at least five UMNO Ministers could be tricked and fooled by the Chinese leaders in Barisan Nasional in MCA and Gerakan into believing that DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Seputeh Teresa Kok’s “Onederful Malaysia CNY 2014” video is anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Rulers as to publicly launch a ferocious attack on Teresa Kok and the video – when there is nothing anti-Islam, anti-Malay or anti-Rulers in the video.

For the past two weeks, I have challenged the detractors of Teresa Kok’s video to produce evidence that the video is anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Rulers, promising to get Teresa to retract and apologise for the video if there is any such evidence, but there had been no takers by any Barisan Nasional leader, whether UMNO, MCA or Gerakan.

This is an “expensive” lesson to UMNO Ministers and leaders not to be so gullible as to believe everything the Chinese leaders in Barisan Nasional, whether MCA or Gerakan, tell them about the DAP is true, or it is their credibility which will be the biggest victims.

The other UMNO Ministers apart from these five must be greatly relieved that they have not made a fool of themselves in being so gullible as to believe the whisperings of Chinese leaders in Barisan Nasional, whether MCA or Gerakan.

When there are MCA and Gerakan leaders who could lie to UMNO Ministers that Teresa Kok’s video is anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Rulers when there is not an iota of evidence in the video to substantiate such wild and irresponsible allegations, what other unprincipled and unscrupulous things MCA and Gerakan leaders are incapable of doing to serve their petty political interests?

After more than two weeks of the Teresa Kok video controversy, including the irrational, mindless and extremists reactions like the demonstration in Kuala Lumpur last Thursday by the self-styled “Council of Islamic NGOs” offering RM1,200 to anyone who slaps Teresa Kok as well as the “chicken-slaughtering and blood-smearing” of pictures of DAP and Pakatan Rakyat leaders, resulting in more than 600,000 hits of Teresa Kok’s video on YouTube, it is time to bring the whole artificial crisis to a closure.

I want to specifically address the new MCA leaders like Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Datuk Dr. Wee Ka Siong – that the new MCA leaders should stop being xioren 小人 but must dare to speak truth to power by declaring that Teresa Kok’s video is not anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-royalty.

Unless of course Tiong Lai and Ka Siong are of the view that Teresa Kok’s video is really anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Rulers, then let them say so openly, and I will respect them for it – but they must be able to prove that Teresa Kok’s video is anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Rulers.

Nobody will respect the MCA leaders if all they can do is to work in the dark to whisper in the ears of UMNO leaders that Teresa Kok’s video is anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Rulers although there is no evidence whatsoever.

Let me tell Tiong Lay and Ka Siong that they have got their priorities all wrong if they think that the most important thing for MCA under their leadership to do now is to get back to the Cabinet and government, so that MCA leaders have the opportunity to become Ministers and Deputy Ministers.

What is the use of MCA getting back to Cabinet and government to have Ministers and Deputy Ministers if they all stripped of all public respect, honour and credibility – when they dare not speak truth to authority to state publicly to ask UMNO leaders to stop persecuting and victimising Teresa Kok over the CNY video as there is no basis in the allegations that the video is anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Rulers?

I am astounded by a report of the absurd and perverse illogic of a lawyer of the self-styled “Council of Islamic NGOs” claiming that the offer to reward anyone for slapping Teresa Kok would only be an offence if the offer is taken up – and that the offer otherwise remains an offer and not a threat.

This is another example of the shocking decline of intellectual and educational standards in Malaysia after half-a-century of nationhood, that we have “lawyers” publicly talking such garbage without a tinge of shame or embarrassment.

I am still waiting for the Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar to answer my question whether it is legal and permissible for demonstrations to be held up and down the country to offer RM1,200 to anyone to slap the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak RM1,300 to slap the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and RM1,500 to slap the Home Minister!

It is most deplorable as to the type of riff-raff which have come forward to set the nation-building agenda, by reckless and irresponsible dissemination of lies and falsehoods to continue to incite racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension to create racial chaos and religious conflagration.

One of them have even to temerity to claim that the offer to “slap” Teresa is not “to hurt” Teresa but a “slap of love” – “tampar sayang-sayang”.

Is such a person prepared to stand in public to receive the “slap of love” of a long queue of Malaysians worried about his sanity?

Have the crazies taken over the country?

Is this the type of Cabinet and government that the MCA leaders are thirsting to go back to?

The time has come for Malaysia to return to sanity.

Is the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak capable of such an assignment?

(Speech at thd DAP Segamat Chinese New Year gathering on Thursday, 13th February 2014 at 8 pm)

                This entry was posted on Friday, 14 February 2014, 9:19 am and is filed under
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Months after GE13, Najib needs to get into gear

COMMENTARY BY THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER

February 14, 2014

How did Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak survive the last 10 months in office? No seriously.

It has been one C after another C since he led Barisan Nasional (BN) to a less-than-convincing victory at the general election on May 5, 2013.

For the record, C stands for crisis or calamity, and both can be used interchangeably to describe Malaysia’s dysfunctional political, religious, racial and economic situation post-13th general election (GE13).

Recent surveys show that more Malaysians are despairing over the rising cost of living and are convinced that national leaders are clueless about the economy and don’t have a plan for the country.

Worse yet, when Najib has had to make a strong decision for the good of the majority, he has opted for the wrong option.

For example, the decision to “study” the Approved Permit scheme further was a political decision made at the last minute by a leader more concerned about the push back from 98 AP holders than ending a get-rich-quick scheme that has deprived the government of billions in revenue.

Instead of bringing some form of resolution to the “Allah” issue, the PM has abdicated his leadership role, preferring instead to allow non-governmental organisations and government agencies to inject strident and threatening tones into the debate.

The end result: Christians are unhappy. Muslims are unhappy. And the rest of the country is left wondering when did it become fashionable to rule by autopilot.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the critics are no longer just the chattering class or the BR1M class (those earning RM4,000 and below).

Even members of royalty, well-heeled businessmen and politicians are puzzled how it got so bad so fast for Najib.

They can’t understand how someone, who has been groomed for the top job for more than 30 years, and surrounded by a battalion of advisers/consultants/special officers seems so indifferent about his problems.

So indifferent about Malaysia’s drift towards mediocrity, intolerance, extremism and helplessness.

After all, he won the general election and became stronger, at least in theory, after the Umno elections. But strangely, paralysis afflicts Putrajaya.

Most critics are just content with venting their grievances with Najib over dinner or a teh tarik.

Others like Suara Guru Masyarakat Malaysia are going further. They are taking to the streets to protest against the controversial school-based assessment system.

The government said that it would review the scheme but the NGO countered that it wanted it abolished.

In facing down the government, SGMM is showcasing another trend: the willingness of individuals and groups to challenge a government perceived as weak, indecisive and sometimes just plain confused.

A third group of critics (and this includes veteran Umno politicians and former civil servants) have been making a beeline to see former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In addition to picking apart the decision by the Najib administration to cut subsidies for several items, some of the visitors have also briefed Mahathir on the political temperature on the ground, with some having evidence that BN would perform worse than it did in GE13.

They paint a dire picture for Dr Mahathir, as if they need to. The former prime minister has been a stinging critic of Najib for some time now, smacking him for everything from his reliance on BR1M to his preference for the status quo in the contest for Umno’s vice-presidents.

The latter effectively snuffed out Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir’s chances of becoming vice-president.

It remains unclear if Dr Mahathir intends to launch a campaign to push Najib out but those who have had discussions with him walk away with the unmistakable sense that he believes that Najib and the BN government have lost their way – badly.

And the chief gripe is that no one seems to be taking charge of making sensible decisions on the economy. Everything seems haphazard.

And even when a decision is made, it is not explained well or defended vigorously, leading to the inevitable flip-flops.

Some senior Umno ministers know that there is a malaise enveloping Putrajaya, a malaise that has meant that no meaningful post-mortem has been done on BN’s performance in GE13 until today.

In private, they, too, concede that Najib must speak with more authority in public more often; and that the administration is having a tough time just holding its own in the perception battle.

Interestingly, many of them blame Najib’s advisers and his wife for the loss of focus, sparing him and themselves condemnation for poor policy choices and even more bizarre personal choices.

They remain convinced that Najib is the best man to lead Malaysia but are unanimous in their conclusion: Najib has to shake things up drastically.

How? They don’t seem to know. Perhaps a sign of times of the talent level in the cabinet.

For his part, Najib seems to responding to growing despondency over his administration’s performance with some small steps.

He is overhauling his staff at the Prime Minister’s Office, even replacing a long-time chief of staff with a younger and more dynamic individual.

There is also a retreat in the works for Umno division chiefs and other power brokers in the party – a move aimed at convincing the Umno ground that Najib has a game plan and is a leader worth closing ranks behind.

But the drift in the country is such that Najib has to do more than employ a Band Aid strategy to regain the confidence of Malaysians that he is in charge. Much more.

There must be evidence and on a daily basis that life is getting better not worse for millions of Malaysians who are struggling to cope with the rising cost of living.

If not, the public will start its own countdown on Najib. – February 14, 2014.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 14 February 2014, 8:07 am and is filed under
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New MCA leaders led by Tiong Lai and Ka Siong are doing Malaysian Chinese and Malaysia the greatest disservice aiding and abetting the baseless perception that Malays and Islam are under siege because of Teresa Kok’s video

Wee Ka Siong has come out with a most pathetic reaction to my advice to the new Liow/Wee MCA leadership to stop being xioren 小人 but must dare to speak truth to power by declaring that Teresa Kok’s video is not anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-royalty.

Unless of course Liow Tiong Lai and Wee Ka Siong are of the view that Teresa Kok’s video is really anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Rulers, then let them say so openly, and I will respect them for it – but they must be able to prove that Teresa Kok’s video is anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Rulers.

Up to now, neither Wee nor Liow is prepared to say that Teresa Kok’s video is anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Rulers but the duo also dare not say that the UMNO Ministers had been seriously misinformed to believe that Teresa Kok’s video is anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-royalty.

If MCA leaders are not responsible for misleading UMNO Ministers into believing that Teresa Kok’s video is anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Rulers, what is holding them back from openly declaring that the five UMNO Ministers who are attacked the video as anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Rulers are wrong to attack Teresa Kok as there is nothing in her video is anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Rulers?

This is a simple logic which even children can understand but the highly-educated MCA leaders find difficulty to grasp!

In desperation to rebut the allegation that MCA leaders had misled the UMNO Ministers, Wee had to say that Teresa Kok’s video come with English sub-titles and the UMNO Ministers must have depended on the English sub-titles.

If the five UMNO Ministers had depended on the English sub-titles and not MCA hearsay to attack Teresa Kok’s video as anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Rulers , why up to now none of them dare to say so?

The reason is very simple. The five UMNO Ministers had not depended on the English sub-titles but on the national leaders in MCA and Gerakan who played the role of xioren 小人 whispering to UMNO leaders the lies and falsehoods that Teresa Kok’s video is anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Rulers.

Furthermore, the UMNO Ministers will come under further attack for being irresponsible politicians who are not fit to be Ministers because there is nothing in the English sub-titles which they could use to show the video is anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Rulers.

I will in fact go one step further and I accuse the new MCA leaders led by Tiong Lai and Ka Siong are doing the Malaysian Chinese and Malaysia the greatest disservice by aiding and abetting the baseless perception that Malays and Islam are under siege because of Teresa Kok’s anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Rulelrs video.

Let me ask Liow and Wee straight – do they agree that Malays and Islam are under siege in Malaysia, and one of the reasons is because of Teresa Kok’s purportedly anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Rulers video?

If not, why are they condoning such lies and falsehoods – which goes back to the 13th General Elections when MCA created the impression that there is confrontation between two races in Malaysia, the Malays in government and the Chinese in Oppositio

Do Liow and Wee agree with the theory of former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir that I had gone to Gelang Patah in the 13GE to contest to bring about a confrontation of the Malays and Chinese, and the 13th General Elections results is proof that the Chinese in Malaysia wanted to oust the political power from the Malays?

The MCA leadership should know that silence on their part on such dangerous and reckless political theorising in Barisan Nasional is equated to consent with such racist and extremist political views.

When will the MCA leadership openly repudiate and dissociate themselves from such extremist and ultra views and groups who are trying to create the impression that the Malays and Islam are under siege in Malaysia after the 13th General Elections?

(Media Statement in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, 14th February 2014)

                This entry was posted on Friday, 14 February 2014, 3:45 pm and is filed under
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Perspectives on national unity: heritage, home and hope

 – Ramon Navaratnam

The Malaysian Insider

February 14, 2014

My perspectives from my generation.

A.  Our heritage – past

Merdeka proclamation – I was there at the Merdeka Stadium.

We felt as “One Malaya” even then in 1957.

Tunku Abdul Rahman and later Tun Abdul Razak and Tun Hussein Onn treated all Malayans and Malaysians equally.

There was no name–calling like “pendatang”.

Political leaders were far more honest, polite and civil, and served the rakyat more faithfully on the ground.

Institutions like the judiciary, police, civil service, parliament and politicians were generally much more efficient and of higher quality.

We were much more united and a national happy family.

B. Home – present

Now fewer Malaysians feel that great Merdeka spirit of “satu bangsa”.

We are more polarised than ever before.

We are developing as a “silo society”.

Tolerance of other religions is declining – Bible and temple issues unsettled.

C. Hope – future

Is there hope? Yes, but only if we act now.

What future do we want and what do we need to do for greater national unity?

Adopt the policy of inclusive development as follows:

1. Immediate term

Condemn and pull up all those responsible for hate speeches and acts.

Isolate extremists of all kinds and vote against them.

Enforce rule of law uniformly against extremists – without any perceived selectivity.

Go all out against crime, corruption and cronyism with a stronger political will!

Let the Bahasa Bible be used as before. Proselytisation can be forbidden.

2. Medium term – up to 5 years

Provide for a basic needs and non–racial–based economic strategy in 11th Malaysia plan.

Phase out the NEP which apparently favours the rich and powerful over the poor.

Consider phasing out the bumi/non–bumi divide.

Provide quota guidelines for public and private sector employment and promotions.

Phase out “ketuanan” concept and practices which run counter to national unity.

Phase out protectionism in APs, housing and monopolies. This will counter inflation too.

Allocate more development funds to Sabah, Sarawak, and the poorer states like Kelantan and Terengganu.

Strengthen the electoral process and improve electoral delineation, so that all Malaysians will embrace the new system as fair and reasonable.

Introduce local council elections to improve democracy.

Conclusion

We have about 5 good years to steer our beloved country away from deterioration and the “tipping point”, towards a more united Malaysia.

Be fair to all race and religions based on our Federal Constitution, with the Merdeka spirit.

Adopt a new policy of inclusiveness.

Malaysia is a blessed land with enough for all.

Give more priority to the poor and lower- and middle-income groups for socio–economic progress.

Our motto – “Unity in diversity” – should be upheld. Our diversity should be regarded.

As our national “heritage” and our “home” and “hopes” for the future.

As a model of multi-racial and multi-religious country, for the whole world!

Malaysia Boleh!

* Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam is chairman of the Asli Center of Public Policy Studies.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 14 February 2014, 7:23 pm and is filed under
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What kind of society are we becoming?

 – A Malaysian

The Malaysian Insider

February 13, 2014

Some weeks ago, over a glass of wine, my friend told me excitedly that she was pitching for a government-linked project and when I asked how sure she was at getting it, she sounded confident.

A few days ago I bumped into her and asked how the progress was, she sadly told me that she had chosen to withdraw because someone who had the power to make the decision wanted something in return for awarding her the project.

Being a Christian, her conscience wouldn’t let the greed of another person get the better of her.  Was I surprised? Like many Malaysians, I was not surprised that people asked for kickbacks.

However, upon further introspection, I was more surprised at the fact that I was not surprised that someone had asked for monetary favours in return for awarding a project. This seems to be the Malaysian way – corrupt, uncaring, unjust, insensitive, lack of transparency and unaccountable.

Today, we are bogged down with so many issues that to me camouflage the real issue at hand… what are we becoming? Almost every day our media is filled with issues of racial division and hatred that seems to be escalating.

From cow head delivery to chicken blood smearing, from effigy burning to reward for slapping, from buttock dancing to Molotov cocktails… where are we heading as a nation? There are so many “real issues” that those in authority do not want to address.

Corruption is so widespread that people don’t even blink an eyelid to offer a bribe. There was a time when people used the term “under the table money” but today it is no longer so. Money and favours are exchanged openly and “over the table”. Do we need evidence?

Recently, I saw that someone had posted a video on Facebook of an official taking bribe for a traffic offence. Talk to your friends who are renovating homes and they will tell you that the contractor has already included “tips” in his costing, ask stall owners who are trying to make a living and they will tell you that they are often visited by “officers”. Just put your ears to the ground and the evidence will overwhelm you.

Drive through the city and notice the number of people who commit traffic offences… it is truly amazing. Bus drivers think they are Sebastian Vettel. Traffic lights are but beautiful ornaments in the city because many people have no regard for them. Pedestrians fear for their lives when crossing at zebra crossings, irresponsible parking, unscrupulous taxi drivers who refuse to use the meter, using the mobile phone while driving and the list goes on.

Why are people so brave to break these laws? It is simply because most of them know that when caught, a mere RM50 (more or less) can “selesai” the matter. So they continue to flout the law without any remorse until some major bus accident takes place for the authorities to pretend to want to take action.

Try explaining to someone who has lost a loved one that the cause of the accident was due to a faulty break. Aren’t public vehicles supposed to undergo inspection periodically? I am told that these too can be agreed on a “handshake”.

Billions are spent (and wasted as exposed by the Auditor General) in the name of development but are we becoming a developed nation? Every day many Malaysians live in fear – fear of being robbed, fear of being a snatch theft victim, fear of abduction, fear of walking to the car park, fear of hurting someone’s sensitivity. I am tired of being afraid.

Officials unashamedly announce to the public that the crime rate has dropped but we know from experience that it is not true because many of us have become part of the statistics that often go unreported.

House owners have to fork out money to engage neighbourhood security guards, install sophisticated alarm systems and cameras and our houses are looking more and more like “Big Brother” homes.

Walking down the street, even in one’s own neighbourhood, with children can be a traumatic experience. Neighbourhood public parks are deserted and rotting because parents fear for their children. We are becoming prisoners in our homes.

But yet try going to a police station to lodge a report that you have been a snatch theft victim, the “mata-mata” has not even an ounce of compassion and will probably give you a lecture as to why you should not be walking on the streets alone. When will there be action? Only when someone dies after either being dragged on the street (or a head knocked against the culvert?).

Promise for sterner action will last for a couple of weeks and then life is back to where it had been before… back to being prisoners of fear. Even the migrant worker is fearful that his daily wage will be snatched away by the very people who are supposed to be patrolling the streets and protecting us.

These are only but the tip of the iceberg. There are so many other issues that those in authority either don’t have the political will to act or the interest as long as they get to enjoy their luxury cars and dress themselves in Armani’s or Christian Dior’s.

Furthermore, they seem only to be interested in staying in power and will do everything to remain in power including dividing the “rakyat”.

Our leaders spend most of their energy in character assassinating the opposition in public that they have no time to work on nation building. They don’t seem interested in leaving behind a legacy for future generations to appreciate and remember them with fondness. In the meantime, Malaysia is becoming a decadent society.

Like many other countries, Malaysia is not a perfect state but what is worrying is that there seems to be neither any indication nor the will to work towards it.

The way our nation is moving, in time to come, we can engrave on our tombstones, “Here lies a Malaysian, truly corrupt, uncaring, unjust, insensitive, lacked transparency and unaccountable. RIP”. – February 13, 2014.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 14 February 2014, 5:21 am and is filed under
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In “Major Right, Major Wrong” challenge facing the country, can Liow-Wee MCA leadership be trusted to be with “moderates” in Malaysia to take a stand against extremists, or will they keep silent hoping that the extremists can create a political situation they can benefit?

When I last visited Kajang on Monday to take part in the forum “Legacy of Tunku Abdul Rahman” together with the Parliamntary Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Selangor Mentri Besar, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and the former Bersih 2.0 Chairperson, Datuk Ambiga Sreenivan, I made a national appeal to all Malaysians to best remember the life and services of Bapa Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman.

I called on all moderates in Malaysia, whether Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat, to unite and isolate extremists and traitors of the country who want to foment racial chaos and religious conflagration through incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension,hoping to destabilise the country by fomenting racial chaos and religious conflagration.

For the past nine months since the 13th general elections in May last year, the country has been afflicted by a quintuplet of national crisis the magnitude of which had never been experienced by the country in over half a decade of nationhood – nation building and national unity; economic as reflected in the unchecked rise in prices and the increasing hardships of the low-income groups; education with the unchecked decline in educational standards; security in terms of the safety of Malaysian citizens, investors and visitors; and good governance particularly in the losing war against corruption.

Never before has the country been more polarised both racial and religious as in the past nine months – because of a combination of two factors, a rudderless and directionless administration of Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and a systematic and relentless campaign by an irresponsible and reckless group who are prepared to destabilise the country by ceaseless incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension to create the conditions for another May 13 racial riots.

I believe that the overwhelming majority of Malaysians, whether in DAP, PKR or PAS in Pakatan Rakyat, or in Umno, MCA, Gerakan, MIC and the other component parties in Barisan Nasional, do not want another May 13 riots in the country as they want, like Tunku Abdul Rahman, love, peace, harmony and prosperity to prevail in Malaysia.

But all the moderates in Malaysia, whether Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat, must act to unite and isolate extremists and traitors of the country who want to foment racial chaos and religious conflagration through the incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension – or they will lose by default and allow the irresponsible and reckless few to hijack the national agenda which can only lead to ruination and sent the country down the abyss of a failed state.

I have said that the overwhelming majority of members of political parties whether in DAP, PKR or PAS in Pakatan Rakyat, or in Umno, MCA, Gerakan, MIC and the other component parties in Barisan Nasional, do not want incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tensions to lead to another May 13, causing racial chaos and religious conflagration – as they all want are peace, harmony and prosperity for all Malaysians.

But I am not sure about the the Barisan Nasional leaders, whether Umno, MCA, Gerakan, MIC or others, for some of them may think racial chaos and religious conflagration are the only way to consolidate and perpetuate their political control and interests, though they are a handful of people going against the wishes of the overwhelming majority of Malaysians, whether Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans or Ibans who want inter-racial and inter-religious peace and harmony.

A recent case in point is the controvery over DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Seputeh Teresa Kok’s “Onederful Malaysia CNY 2014” video.

One can agree or disagree with the stinging criticisms in the political satire in the video about a whole host of problems faced by Malaysians, whether price hikes, plunging educational standards, crisis of security by ordinary Malaysians in their homes and streets, or rampant corruption in the country but nobody can charge it for being anti-Malay, anti-Islam or anti-Royalty because there was just no references in the video that could be used to ground such allegations.

Yet at least five UMNO Ministers could make such wild allegations, backed up not only by the army of UMNO cybertroopers but pro-UMNO NGOs, who even broke a slew of laws in a demonstration ten days ago offering RM1,200 to anyone who slaps Teresa Kok as well as carrying out a “chicken-slaughtering and blood-smearing” demonstration against DAP and Pakatan Rakyat leaders.

This is clearly part of a campaign of incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension to destabilise the country with the threat of another May 13 riots.

This is why I had called on all moderates, whether in Pakatan Rakyat or Barisan Nasional, who do not want to see another May 13 riots, racial chaos or religious conflagration to unite and isolate these extremist and treacherous elements out to cause trouble in Malaysia.

In the “Major Right, Major Wrong” challenge facing the country, can Liow-Wee MCA leadership be trusted to be with “moderates” in Malaysia to take a stand against extremists, or will they keep silent hoping the extremists can create a political situation they can benefit?

In this “Major Right, Major Wrong” challenge facing the country to save the country from extremists who are even prepared to create another May 13 riots to perpetuate their political interests, there can only be four options for a Malaysian to take:

Firstly, to stand and speak up, joining hands with all moderates regardless of race, religion or political affiliation, to rally behind the cause of moderation, harmony and peace in Malaysia to expose, isolate and defeat the extremist and traitorous few who do not care if their nefarious and treacherous plots will destroy Malaysia as a plural society;

Secondly, though they support the moderate cause they dare not take an open public stand, even though this will result in the cause of moderation in Malaysia to be lost by default;

Thirdly, the camp of the irresponsible and reckless group set to destabilise Malaysia though incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension through lies and falsehoods, even if this can lead to another May 13 riot, racial chaos and religious conflagration; and

Fourthly, the option of cowardice and opportunism, who secretly support the third option but dare not admit it publicly, secretly hoping that the irresponsible and reckless group of extremist and traitors can succeed in their nefarious and treacherous ends, even if it means creating another May 13 riots, so that they can find a place in the new political landscape of the country.

Let me ask Liow and Wee – In the “Major Right, Major Wrong” challenge facing the country, can the new MCA leadership be trusted to be with “moderates” in Malaysia to take a stand against extremists, or will they keep silent hoping the extremists and traitors can create a new political situation they can benefit?

(Media Conference Statement in Gelang Patah on Saturday, 15th February 2014)

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 15 February 2014, 4:44 pm and is filed under
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Najib and Hihammuddin should intervene and drop all charges against RMAF pilot Major Zaidi Ahmad who should be rewarded and not penalised for speaking up about the indelible ink fiasco in 13GE

I call on the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to intervene and drop all charges against Royal Malaysian Air Force pilot Major Zaidi Ahmad who should be rewarded and not penalised for speaking up about the indelible ink fiasco in the recent 13th General Elections.

If Pakaktan Rakyat is running the Federal Government in Putrajaya, I would have recommended that Major Zaidi should be promoted for showing utmost patriotism going beyond the ordinary call of duty instead of indulging in the mean and petty vindictiveness of clipping his pilot’ wings and reassigning him to a desk job, followed by charges before a court martial which could land him in jail for two years.

Why is the Najib government so unreasonable and even perverse as to want destroy Malaysia’s fragile international image with the latest scandal of sending a patriotic air force pilot to jail for two years not because of any heinous crime or moral turpitude but because of the basic honesty of a decent human being in speaking the truth about the “indelible ink” used in the last general elections which was in fact quickly washabke and deletable?

In contrast, the really corrupt and heinous characters in Malaysia, particularly the “big sharks” of corruption who steal tens and hundreds of millions of ringgit of public properties and wealth, enjoy total immunity and impunity,.

In fact, if Major Zaidi is sent to jail for two years for speaking the truth about the “indelible ink” fiasco in the 13GE, all Malaysians will feel utterly ashamed of being Malaysians in the eyes of the world in having such barbaric and savage laws in the country.

The two persons should be the most embarrassed not only in Malaysia but in the world at such a travesty of justice if Major Zaidi is sent to jail should be the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister, but they seem to have become completely numb and insensitive to decent opinions whether in the country or world-wide.

I hope this is an unfair judgment and I am prepared to be proved wrong – which is why I am urging Najib and Hishammuddin to immediately intervene to drop all charges against Major Zaidi – and even to consider a promotion for him, in view of his great act of patriotism in speaking up as a voter about the indelible ink fiasco in the 13GE.

When Major Zaidi lodged a police report about the indelible ink fiasco, he was acting as a Malaysian voter and citizen. He was not lodging a report as an air force pilot.

Is the Prime Minister and Defence Minister suggesting that if Major Zaidi had been bribed to vote for any political party, or he has concrete evidence of election offences committed during the elections such as big amounts of money being used to buy votes from the soldier-voters or other election abuses, he cannot lodge a report to the police without violating his military duties?

Which has the higher calling – loyalty to the Constitution or loyalty to the bureaucratic rules and regulations in the military services?

In any event, any law, regulation or rule whether in military establishments or government service which conflict with a citizen’s loyalty to the Constitution cannot stand and must be repealed immediately because, as in this particular case, they are not in conformity with a democratic society, where every citizen, whether in uniform or otherwise, must enjoy the constitutional right to vote freely for the elected representative or government of their choice.

The Election Commission should be thoroughly ashamed of itself that it is standing idly by while Zaidi is being charged for ensuring a free, fair and clean elections in the country.

Is it any wonder that the Election Commission has forfeited all respect and confidence of right- thinking Malaysians when it could be a party to such a travesty of justice against Major Zaidi?

The least the Election Commission should do is to protest in the strongest terms against the court martial of Major Zaidi, and recommend the air force pilot should be rewarded for his great act of loyalty and patriotism in exposing the “indelible ink” fiasco – which though embarrassing to the Election Commission is a great service in the cause of clean, free and fair elections.

Major Zaidi is a cause celebre in Malaysia for democracy, the rule of law and upholding the Constitution.

If Najib and Hishammuddin are not prepared to act to drop all charges against Major Zaidi, then Major Zaidi will become a cause celebre in Parliament when it reconvenes for a month-long meeting on March 10.

(Media Statement in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, 15th February 2014)

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 15 February 2014, 11:02 am and is filed under
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Should you migrate? The 64,000-dollar question

 – Koon Yew Yin

The Malaysian Insider

February 14, 2014

Recently, I received a reference to a new book written by two migrant Malaysian brothers who have lived abroad for more than 10 years with advice for would-be migrants.

Their advice included tips, such as never taking things for granted, never burn your bridges, to be objectively optimistic and the importance of financial freedom amongst the various freedoms.

These tips are useful in any major decision you make about life and career.

In fact, many “how to succeed” books – whether they deal with the stock market or changing jobs – offer similar or variants of this advice, although the advice may be presented in different languages and styles.

The most important point that the book seems to emphasise is that every country has its good and bad points.

This again is sensible.

Every would-be migrant – unless he or she comes from the most god-forsaken and wretched country on earth – should know that the new country he or she is intending to migrate to will not be a paradise on earth.

What the book seems to be concerned about is that many Malaysians are being driven to migrate in the false hope that somewhere in some countries, the governments care for their people, practise freedom of speech, and promote fairness and equality.

Actually, I think few Malaysians have the expectation of a completely level playing field and fair play in Australia, New Zealand, United States, Britain or any other country to which they intend to migrate.

I also do not believe that any departing Malaysian has an ideal picture of the host country and its various freedoms and racial policies as their main reason for migration.

Why Malaysians are migrating

What is driving them – especially Chinese and Indian Malaysians, and also Malays – to migrate is that the political and social situation in Malaysia has gone from bad to worse.

They see growing “ketuanan Melayu” and “ketuanan Islam” intruding into their personal and public lives.

They see a Barisan Nasional government which is unable to reform and increasingly giving way to Perkasa, Isma and other extremist forces in public policy making and implementation – a development which even moderate and liberal Malays cannot stomach.

Of course, they are fully aware that they are exchanging one “ketuanan” for another in the countries that they are migrating to.

But the important difference for many that make the hard decision to leave is that, even though the playing field may be uneven when they arrive at their new home, it will be a more even and fairer one for their children – in terms of education and jobs – even without taking into account the higher quality of life in these countries.

This then is the 64,000-dollar question which many Malaysians – especially those who have succeeded so well and are the top of their professions – face.

Just on the economics of it, for these businessmen or professionals, Malaysia is a good country to live and die.

Many Malaysians (I am part of this group) have done well for themselves. Despite the New Economic Policy and other forms of discrimination, we remain privileged in our economic standing.

But the younger generation face an increasingly bleak future.

As the economic pie shrinks, the fight for good jobs, contracts, commissions and a better life is becoming fiercer.

A young graduate today without assistance from his parents will never be able to afford a decent apartment in Kuala Lumpur or Penang.

A house within an hour from his place of work in the city centre is a dream which can only be achieved by winning the lottery.

When you combine the economic with the political, social and educational factors, then the decision on whether to migrate or not becomes a more urgent one – even for Malaysians who have done really well in their careers here.

For them, it is the future of their kids which becomes the final push factor.

What the government can do to stem migration

While the decision to migrate or stay back is an individual and personal one, the government must realise that most Malaysians – I would say more than 90% – are loyal and patriotic.

We know that we are living in a good and in some ways, a lucky country. The majority of Chinese Malaysians do not want to leave for a new land and to start afresh all over again.

But we, and our children, must not be treated as “pendatang”.

Our contributions to the country’s prosperity and wellbeing must be recognised.

It is an undeniable fact that all the urban towns, megamalls, apartment buildings, amusement centres, roads, railways, ports, rubber plantations, manufacturing plants were built solely or mainly with Chinese and Indian labour and capital.

The foundations of our educational system – our schools and universities – similarly owe much to non-Malay teachers.

It is also an undeniable fact that modern Malaysia and its amenities and standard of living – what Perkasa and Malay and Islamic supremacist groups take for granted – will not exist without the Chinese and Indian contributions.

It is not only on the economic side that we have contributed.

Our contributions have also been in the arts, culture, architecture and social.

Just think of how much Malay food has borrowed from, and has been enriched by the Chinese and Indian communities – even right down to the language – taugeh, bihun, kuetiao, pohpiah, sotong, lobak, chapchai, tauhu, chapati, roti canai, mee mamak, thosai, sambal, nasi biryani and more.

Do not kill the golden goose

Our talent and abilities must be given equal opportunity so that we can contribute to a more prosperous and greater Malaysia. Our young people must not be driven to feel they have an inferior place in this country.

The Malay ultras and those in Umno must come to their senses regarding the place of the Chinese in Malaysia.

Malays may have control over all the major sectors of the country – political, social, cultural, educational, and a large part of the economy through government-linked companies and new Malay business elite.

But it is the non-Malay component that created the old wealth. It is also the non-Malays who can provide much of the driving force and dynamism that enables new wealth to be created and shared with the less productive and needy.

Don’t kill the goose that lays the golden egg for Malays and Malaysia is my advice to them.

Finally, to those facing the dilemma of migration, I wish to point out that the Pakatan Rakyat manifesto during the last elections acknowledges the need for reforms to dismantle the racially discriminatory policies put in place by the Barisan Nasional.

Since the opposition coalition won more than 50% of the popular vote, there is hope still for a fairer society to emerge. – February 14, 2014.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 15 February 2014, 7:32 am and is filed under
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The Election Commission Chairman and members should convene special meeting to consider collective resignation as they have lost the most important ingredient of their appointment , i.e. “enjoy public confidence”

The Election Commission (EC) should have a proper sense of priorities instead of being led by the nose according to the dictates and wishes of the powers-that-be.

The latest example of the Election Commission failing to have a proper sense of its constitutional proprieties is the statement by the Election Commission Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusuf that the EC is mulling to introduce harsher penalties against elected representatives who abuse the electoral process through unjustified resignations.

He said: “We need to curb the abuse of the electoral process…they (elected reps) should not resign at their whims and fancies.

“One must be aware of the hefty costs involved in holding a by-election”.

In 1997, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Mahathir Mohamad created not one but two by-elections, when he handpicked the then Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk (now Tan Sri) Abu Hassan Omar to be the Selangor Mentri Besar after the then Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib was forced to resign following two charges in the Australian court over his failure to declare cash equivalent of RM2.4 million while leaving Brisbane International Airport in December 1996.

Abu Hassan, who was the deputy Selangor Umno liaison chief, resigned from his Cabinet position and as Kuala Selangor MP to contest the Permatang state seat in a direct swap with incumbent Datuk Jamaluddin Adnan. Permatang is in the Kuala Selangor parliamentary constituency.

The creation of these two-by elections by Tun Mahathir took place 17 years ago, and Mahathir has stepped down as Prime Minister for 11 years, having been replaced by two Prime Ministers.

But even in this distance of time of 17 years ago, would Abdul Aziz dare to say that Mahathir had “abused the electoral process” in creating two by-elections at his “whims and fancies”?

If Abdul Aziz dared not condemn Mahathir for abusing the electoral process 17 years ago in creating two by-elections in the Permatang state and Kuala Selangor parliamentary seats, what moral right has he to criticise the holding of the Kajang by-election on March 23?

Similarly, would Abdul Aziz criticise the impending holding of the Balingian by-election in Sarawak caused by the expected resignation of Tan Sri Taib Mahmud, giving up his 33-year Sarawak Chief Ministership for the Sarawak governorship?

If the EC Chairman is mindful of his constitutional proprieties to promote democracy by conducting free, fair and clean elections, he would have given more urgent consideration to provisions which mar democratic principles.

One is the provision in the Federal and State constitutions which provides that no by-election needs to be held if a resignation from Parliament or the State Assembly occurs within two years of the expiry of the legislature.

The other is the provision that a Member of Parliament or State Assembly member who resigns from the legislature would be barred from standing for re-election to the same legislature for a period of five years.

Both these amendments were the draconian and desperate measures by Mahathir to consolidate his political power in Umno and Barisan Nasional when he was the Prime Minister to avoid accountability to the electorate, and is clearly undemocratic and should be removed from the statute books.

One can agree that within 12 months of the dissolution of Parliament or State Assembly, any vacancy that arises including because of resignation need not be filled, but the political party which had won the constituency should be entitled to nominate an interim MP or SA who should enjoy all the allowances, perks and facilities of a fully-elected MP or SA.

There can be no reason for barring an MP or SA from standing for re-election for five years except to prevent another Shahrir Samad incident which had been most embarrassing for Mahathir when he was Prime Minister.

Shahrir was sacked from Umno in 1987 in the events leading up to the 1988 Malaysian Constitutional crisis and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s challenge to Mahathir as Prime Minister and UMNO President. In 1988, Shahrir resigned from the parliamentary seat of Johor Baru and ran as an independent candidate in the ensuing by-election, inflicting an ignominous defeat to Mahathir whose Umno/BN candidate was crushed with a 12,613-vote majority by Shahrir.

Barring a person from standing for re-election flies in the face of the principle that it is the electorate, and not the Election Commission or the government-of-the-day, which should decide who should be their elected representative.

Article 114 (2) of the Malaysian Constitution imposes one qualification for appointment of the Election Commission Chairman and members of the Election Commission by the Yang di Pertuan Agong – “the importance of securing an Election Commission which enjoys public confidence”.

There can be no doubt that in the past 56 years, there has been no Election Commission like the present one under the chairmanship of Abdul Aziz which has forfeited public confidence in the manner it conducted the 13GE.

If there is a public referendum on whether Malaysian voters have confidence in the Election Commission headed by Abdul Aziz, there will be a substantial percentage of Malaysians who would vote against the present Chairman and members of the EC.

The Election Commission Chairman and members should convene special meeting of the Election Commission to consider whether they should collectively resign their commission as they have lost the most ingredient of their appointment, I.e. to “enjoy public confidence”.

(Media Statement in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, 15th February 2014)

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 15 February 2014, 12:31 pm and is filed under
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