Police and authorities must not allow the “spiral of violence” to begin and continue as this is the second stage of those who want to create the conditions for another May 13

Despite my Second Open Letter to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet yesterday, the third Cabinet meeting of 2014 was a great cop-out, with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Ministers failing to fulfill their commitment and responsibility to face the quintuplet of national crisis squarely and courageously to end the government drift and the  leadership, clueless and rudderless Najib administration.

Worst of all, there was no word or  acknowledgement let alone leadership to end the  systematic campaign by a group of irresponsible and reckless elements out to  incite racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension to create another May 13 situation to destabilize the country, to achieve their  petty, selfish political ends.

All right-thinking Malaysians regardless of race, religion, region or political affiliation must deplore in the strongest terms the gross abdication of responsibility of the Cabinet yesterday to put a stop to the continued incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension as well as to all the saber-rattling to create another May 13 situation.

I agree with former MCA President Ong Tee Keat who recently warned that Malaysia will be left in tatters if the Prime Minister continues to ignore the raising issues that divide the country.

Saying that the escalation of polemics, hatred and threats is getting out of hand and is causing great concern among the public, including himself, Ong said:

“We can ill afford any form of auto-piloting by whoever in the driver’s seat. It is now time for the prime minister-cum-BN chairperson to intervene before our fragile racial harmony is thrown into tatters.”

Although Ong also chided the MCA leadership for remaining silent in the face of public racial threats, I am not interested in the convoluted and disgusting high-level MCA politics.

The question is whether Ong’s warning will be heard by Najib when nobody in the MCA leadership, whether Liew or Chua camp, are bothered about the quintuplet of national crisis in the country to even dare to requisition an emergency meeting of the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council to address the raging national, racial and religious issues in the country.

The Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council yesterday has offered an olive branch to the Prime Minister and the Barisan Nasional leadership, for a Summit Meeting of BN and PR leaders to assure Malaysians that all actions would be taken by Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat to ensure that there could not be another May 13 riots, as some irresponsible and reckless quarters are conspiring for.

If the BN and PR coalitions are united to ensure that there would not be another May 13, who in Malaysia could conspire and create the conditions for another May 13?

The Pakatan Rakyat offer from PKR, PAS and DAP leaders stem from their love and patriotism for Malaysia. Can we expect reciprocal love and patriotsm for Malaysia from Barisan Nasional leaders to respond positively to the Pakatan Rakyat overture?

Or is there no need even for the convening of the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council to consider and decide on the PR overture, as it is enough for the Prime Minister himself or the UMNO leadership to decide for the entire Barisan Nasional leadership?

While we await the BN response to the PR proposal for a BN-PR Leadership Summit to assure Malaysians that there could not be another May 13 racial riots in the country, the police and authorities must not allow the “spiral of violence” to begin and continue which  is the second stage of those who want to create the conditions for another May 13.

The first stage of those who want another May 13 are speeches and threats of another May 13, most of which were made by UMNO leaders  before the 13GE on May 5, 2013, specifically warning that there would be another May 13 racial riots if UMNO is defeated and  the Malay lose political power.

This is a gross fallacy for the Malays will never lose political power even if UMNO is defeated, for the Pakatan Rakyat coalition of PKR, PAS and DAP is a formula which will ensure that there will be no loss of Malay political power.

Another fallacy is to equate UMNO rule with Malay power, when it is the UMNO Baruputras (a term most aptly coined by commentator Mariam Mokhtar) who stand to benefit in UMNO Baru rule and not Malay interests in general.

The second stage of those who want to create the conditions for another May 13 is to start and continue the “spiral of violence” –  to translate from general threats in speeches and statements to physical action  through demonstrations to incite racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension with inflammatory and incendiary slogans and banners, even based on lies and falsehoods, as those staged by Penang UMNO and their allies over the weekend over the “kangkung” furore.

In the second stage to spark off “the spiral of violence” to create the conditions for another May 13, the May 13 conspirators hoped to see a further destabilization of the situation with the public losing confidence in the double-standards of the police and the authorities – as granting impunity and immunity to those responsible for demos which incite racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension while immediate police action are taken against those who do not incite racial or religious hatred, tension.

An example in hand is the case of PKR Machang Bubuk Assemblyman Lee Khai Loon who is hauled in by the police for investigation for criminal defamation while UMNO leaders like UMNO MP for Kepala Batas Reezal  Merican Naina Merican and UMNO state secretary and Bukit Mertajam chief Musa Sheikh Fadzir are treated with kid-gloves by the police although guilty of the most seditious offence in inciting racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension.

Yesterday’s deplorable thuggish behaviour by Penang UMNO members of violence against Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) enforcement officers is another chapter in this escalation of the  spiral of violence intended by those who wish to create the conditions for another May 13.

Are  Najib, the Cabinet and the police going to continue to give blank cheque for the irresponsible and reckless elements, many of them from UMNO and its allies, who want to continue to incite racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension to destabilize the country so as to create the conditions for another May 13.

Are Malaysian patriots and moderates who love  unity peace, harmony, tolerance going to be cowed and intimidated by  the traitors out to destroy plural society with their continued incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension so as to realize their objective of creating another May 13?

These are questions awaiting urgent answer.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 23 January 2014, 8:38 am and is filed under
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Suggest Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat form a joint Summit secretariat comprising three representatives to decide on date, place and agenda of BN-PR Summit

The Barisan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor told The Malaysian Insider that  the proposal by Pakatan Rakyat leaders for a Barisan Nasional-Pakatan Rakyat Leaders’ Summit will be discussed by the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council meeting tomorrow.

I welcome the prompt response of the Barisan Nasional in convening its Supreme Council tomorrow and hope that the BN Supreme Council will give a positive response to the PR proposal for a summit of the leaders of both coalitions to assure Malaysians that there could not be another May 13 riots, although there are irresponsible and reckless elements seeking to incite racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension to create the conditions for another May 13 in the country.

The proposal by the Pakatan Rakyat leaders from PKR, PAS and DAP stem from their love and patriotism to Malaysia and I hope that  the Barisan Nasional leaders could be similarly motivated by their love and patriotism to Malaysia to give a positive response to hold the first BN-PR Leaders’ Summit in the nation’s history.

If the BN Supreme Council gives a positive response tomorrow, I suggest that BN and PR form a joint Summit secretariat comprising three representatives each to decide on the Summit’s  date, place and agenda.

I am sure that all Malaysians look forward to the successful holding of the first BN-PR Leaders’ Summit.

PR leaders have proposed the agenda to assure Malaysians that there could not be another May 13.  The Summit could also deal with the quintuplet of the national crisis in the country, national unity and nation building, economic, educational, security and the worsening corruption in the country.

(Media Conference Statement  in Yong Peng after a Chinese New Year visit on Thursday, 23rd January 2014 at 5 pm)

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 23 January 2014, 7:04 pm and is filed under
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All are welcome to the Tuesday dialogue in KL on what is the most rational response to the escalation of racial and religious polarisation in Malaysia in the past eight months after the 13th General Elections so as to create another May 13

I have initially decided on a dialogue session  at DAP Hqrs (4th Floor) at Jalan Yew, off Jalan Pudu Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, 28th January 2014 at 8 pm with netizens and social activists after reading a joint statement by 83 young activists and writers urging me to retract my statement asking the PKR Penang State Assemblyman for Machang Bubok Lee Khai Loon to consider apologizing for the “flash mob” demonstration where kangkung was stuffed into the mouth of a cardboard cutout of the Prime Minister as they alleged that I was bowing down to the intimidation of “racists and political hooligans”.

Clearly, these young activists and writers signatories to the joint statement could not have read my statements in full or in detail, or had thought through the entire problem from all sides as to make such a call, and a dialogue session with them would be useful, as it is will provide an opportunity for an interaction where they could hear my views and I can benefit from hearing their standpoints.

The big  issue involved however is not just about the “kangkung phenomena”, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Lee Khai Loon or about any one personality, but about the escalation of the racial and religious polarisation in Malaysia in the past eight months after the 13th General Elections, where an irresponsible and reckless group had enjoyed immunity and impunity  to incite racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension so as to destabilise the country and create another May 13 racial riots to achieve their petty, selfish and even traitorous political objectives.

Thinking Malaysians must be concerned about the spiral of violence which the irresponsible and reckless group want to initiate in the country.  Such a spiral of violence has started, as illustrated by the assault on the MIC Deputy Education Minister P. Kamalanathan by an UMNO Youth leader two weeks ago and the violence against Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) enforcement officers by Penang UMNO thugs a few days ago.

There is also a growing spiral in the hardening of  hatred and intolerance inimical to the maintenance of inter-racial and inter-religious relations, goodwill and harmony which have hitherto been the hallmarks of Malaysian nation-building.

For instance, Penang UMNO yesterday was involved in a call for a ban on pork being sold openly in public areas in Penang although as rightly pointed out by the DAP National Chairman Karpal Singh, open sale of pork  in Penang existed even during British rule and under the Alliance Government, and no one had objected to it.

This is part of a conspiracy to up the ante to engineer and escalate animosity and conflict and poison inter-racial and inter-religious  relations to create the conditions where there could be unrest in plural society leading to another May 13.

I welcome all Malaysians who are concerned these  latest national developments in the country to the Tuesday dialogue which I have initiated on what is the best and most rational response to the escalation of racial and religious polarisation in Malaysian politics and public affairs in the past eight months after the 13th General Elections so as to create another May 13.

The Tuesday dialogue will be moderated by the DAPSY Chairman and MP for Rasah Teo Kok Seong. It will also be attended by DAP MPs and State Assembly members, including MPs  Teresa Kok (Seputeh), Teo Nie Ching (Kulai), Loke Siew Fook (Seremban), Tony Pua (PJ Utara) and Ong Kian Ming (Serdang).

(Media Conference Statement during a Chinese New Year visit in Taman Ungku Tun Aminah (TUTA), Skudai on Saturday, 25th January 2014 at 10.30 a.m)

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 25 January 2014, 4:22 pm and is filed under
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Kit Siang to meet critics over ‘kangkung’ issue

Lee Way Loon

Malaysiakini

Jan 24, 2014

Under criticism from netizens and social activists, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang will be holding a dialogue session with youth in Kuala Lumpur next week to explain his suggestion that PKR’s Machang Bubuk assemblyperson Lee Khai Loon apologise.

Organised by DAP’s party organ The Rocket, the event is scheduled to be held at the party headquarters at 7 or 8pm next Tuesday.

Lim told Malaysiakini this morning that he decided to hold the event after reading a news report, in which a group of youth urged him to retract his statement last Tuesday.

“I think they probably did not look at the problem from all sides, or did not properly read the details of my statement, so I am prepared to exchange my views with them and I am prepared to listen to theirs,” he said.

However, he denied that it was a move for damage control.

Asked if he would invite Lee to attend, the Gelang Patah MP said he will leave it to The Rocket to handle but he will not extend any special invitation to anyone.

“Everyone can come as this is an open dialogue.”

Activists support Lee, blame Kit Siang

On Tuesday, Lim had urged Lee to consider apologising over the latter’s kangkung-themed flash mob targeting the prime minister on Jan 16.

He had said the flash mob was “excessive, offensive, and insensitive” and the apology should take into consideration the importance of not allowing irresponsible quarters to look for excuses to incite racial and religious hatred.

Following this, a group of 83 young activists and writers had issued a joint statement on Wednesday, urging Lim to retract his statement as he should not blame Lee for the racial threat uttered by “racists and political hooligans”.

When contacted, Eric Ng, an activist who signed the joint statement, said he has yet to get the response from other signers but he personally welcomed Lim’s initiative to meet them.

He said that as of today, there are 118 youth who have signed the joint statement and he hopes the young people can attend the discussion next week.

Meanwhile, Lee told Malaysiakini that he has not decide whether to attend the dialogue session as he is scheduled to attend some other events in his constituency on that night.

However, he expressed his appreciation for Lim’s effort to open a discussion on that issue.

“This can offer space for everyone, including youth and the public, to participate in the discussion,” he said.

He reiterated that his flash mob was aimed at highlighting the price hikes issue but unfortunately, it has been diverted by certain quarters.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 25 January 2014, 8:37 am and is filed under
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Johor Pakatan Rakyat  should embark on a three-point strategy under its  “Johor Leads” motto to fulfil the Johor Dream to make Johor the  front-line state in Peninsular Malaysia in the 14GE in the march to Nusajaya and Putrajaya

The Pakatan Rakyat national leadership endorses the “Johor Leads” motto of Johore Pakatan Rakyat  announced by the Johor PR leadership on Friday.

In fact, the PR Leadership Council at its meeting at PAS Hqrs in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday 22nd January 2014 decided to give full support to the Johor PR objective to fulfil the Johor Dream to make Johor the front-line state of PR in Peninsular Malaysia in the 14th General Elections in the march of PR towards Nusajaya and Putrajaya.

In line with Johor as one of the key front-line states in the 14GE, national PR leaders from PAS, PKR and DAP will be making frequent visits to Johor after the Chinese New Year.

Parliamentary Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PAS President Datuk Seri Hadi Awang and PAS Deputy President, Mohamad Sabu will in fact be visiting Johor during the Chinese New Year period, culminating in an important joint national-state PR leadership  and strategy  conference in Johor on Feb. 24.

In the next 12 months, DAP national  leadership led by  DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng and national leaders including Tan Kok Wai, Teresa Kok, Loke Siew Fook, Tony Pua, M. Kulasegaran, Prof P. Ramasamy, Dr. Ariffin Omar, Zairil Khir Johari, Teng Chang Khim,  Gobind Singh Deo and Vincent Wu would be given special assignments to criss-cross Johor to provide special assistance to the Johor DAP leadership led by the DAP MP for Kluang Liew Chin Tong to achieve the mission of PR capturing Nusajaya and Putrajaya in the 14th General Elections.

Personally, I  hope to be able to visit all the 26 parliamentary and 52 state assembly seats in Johor in the next 12 months.

The Johor PR leadership announced yesterday that its first target, based on the 2013 General Elections results and present constituency redelineations, is to focus on the eight Barisan Nasional  marginal parliamentary seats of Labis, Pasir Gudang, Segamat, Muar, Tebrau, Ledang, Sekijang and Pulai and the eight Barisan Nasional marginal state assembly seats  of Paloh, Gambir, Makhota, Pemanis, Bukit Naning, Sungai Balang, Senggarang and Nusa Jaya.

Marginal Seats are defined as seats which are won by 55% or less votes.

I suggest that  Johor Pakatan Rakyat embark on a three-point strategy under its  “Johor Leads” motto to make Johor the  front-line state in Peninsular Malaysia in the 14GE in the march to Nusajaya and Putrajaya, viz;

* Firstly, to consolidate and strengthen the PR’s existing five Parliamentary and 18 State Assembly seats;

* Secondly, to focus on the eight BN marginal parliamentary seats and eight BN marginal state assembly seats; and

*Thirdly, to set up special 14GE PR committees in the 13 parliamentary and 26 state assembly seats presently regarded as “safe” BN seats to make them not only unsafe, but winnable for PR.

The battle for Nusajaya and Putrajaya in the GE must be fought in every parliamentary and state assembly seat in Johor, not just for PR to field a candidate, but to fight to win the seat as well.

Recent events and developments marked by the worsening racial and religious polarisation in the country’s history with irresponsible and reckless elements trying to sow instability and chaos in order to create the conditions for another May 13 riot have underline the importance of an overarching and unifying national theme – the Malaysian Dream of all Malaysians regardless of race, religion or region to build a united, harmonious, democratic, progressive and prosperous Malaysia.

In pursuit of the Malaysian Dream, the Impian Sabah and Impian Sarawak movements have been initiated.  The time has come for the Johor Dream movement as an important component of the Malaysian Dream campaign to be launched far and wide all over the Johor State, to spread the word that in the final analysis, all in Johor and Malaysia are one people – we are all Malaysians regardless of race, religion or region who have more in common with each other than with people from another country.

Whether we are Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Ibans or Orang Asli in Malaysia,  we are one Malaysian people, we swim or sink together, and we must go out of our way to respect and accept our ethnic, religious, linguistic and cultural differences and diversities which are  an asset and not a liability for transforming Malaysia into a competitive and great nation which could stand tall with any other nation in the world.

(Media Conference Statement after a Chinese New Year visit to Johor Jaya on Sunday, 26th January 2014 at 8 am)

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 26 January 2014, 7:05 am and is filed under
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Najib should be the first to undergo mandatory media training to prevent gaffes like the “kangkung” hullaballoo which has highlighted the “feet of clay” of the Najib administration

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is reported to have directed mandatory media training for his ministers to prevent missteps that have made his administration a laughing stock among Malaysians.

Najib’s second term has been marked by “foolish” remarks from several ministers that spawned Internet memes and jokes detrimental to Putrajaya’s image.

The Malaysian Insider’s report today “To avoid more gaffes, ministers to learn to speak sensibly” quoted a source that Najib wants his ministers to undergo media training to avoid repeatedly delivering “foolish remarks”.

Specifically cited as examples of Ministerial bloopers which have spoilt Putrajaya’s image were those by the Minister for Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Datuk Seri Hasan Malek  who wanted the people to be thankful for having “sincere” leaders who “prioritise people’s needs above all else” in response to the people’s unhappiness at subsidy cuts and price hikes and the Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor who made insensitive responses to the complaints of property owners in Kuala Lumpur to the hike in assessment rates.

“You want me to revaluate your property at 0.1% for 21 years? It does not matter to me… up to you.” He had admonished the media over the issue, telling them: “I don’t know why people like to spin this issue out of control. You should tell the rakyat that this is good for them,” Adnan  had said.

Putrajaya’s economic czar, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar is also remembered for his advice to the people a few months ago to stop eating chicken if the prices were too high and to use alternative roads if they did not want to pay toll on highways, when he spoke of impending hike in toll rates.

Even the Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is not spared from being  guilty of such follies committing bloopers which make him and the government a laughing stock.

Muhyiddin was in London last week to attend the Education World Forum 2014 – the largest gathering of nearly a hundred education and skills ministers in the world.

Muhyiddin, who probably lead the ministers as the most unskilled education ministers in the world, said in his speech  at the EWF 2014 that education should produce a “global citizen” mentality.

Imagine such a speech from a person who does not even have a “Malaysian citizen” mentality – as testified by his boastful declaration in 2010 that he is “Malay first, Malaysian second” in rejecting Najib’s 1Malaysia signature policy!

But these are child’s play compared to the biggest blooper of all of the Najib administration – the “kangkung” hullaballoo which has also highlighted the “feet of clay” of the Najib premiership: clueless, rudderless and leaderless at a great moment of test for any government with the country facing a quintuplet of nation-building, economic, educational, security and anti-corruption crisis never before experienced by the country in her 57-year history.

But horror of horrors, the person who committed the biggest blooper in triggering the “kangkung” hallaballoo is none other than the Prime Minister himself, resulting in the  Prime Minister and his administration being lampooned for arrogance of power and indifference to the people’s legitimate grievances over the avalanche of price hikes on the one hand coupled with unprecedented ostentation, squandering of public funds and new heights of corruption in the country.

In fact, the “kangkung” hullaballoo  of jokes, videos, satire, comedies, sketches, demos and counter-demos, spawning products like Kangkung Fried Chicken, Burger Kangkung, McKangkung and even crossing international boundaries to become embarrassing “kangkung-gate” international news in BBC, Channel New Asia, Singapore Straits Times, Jakarta Post, is still from from over after two weeks of the “kangkung” storm.

The “kangkung” craze has also gone viral on the Internet, with three videos  now attracting over 1.5 million hits on YouTube alone: the “kangkung remix feat, Najib” by Yuri Wong crossing 811,000 hits, the “Ucapan Najib ‘kangkung’ hangat di alam maya” video in second place with over 541,000 hits while the Effing Show #99 “Let Them Eat Kangkung” established as the  hottest item of the “popteevee” series, with over 168,000 hits in less than ten days.

Sending his Ministers for compulsory media training is no real answer to bring an end to the administration of bloopers led by Najib.

What he should do is to take a firm grip of himself, end the auto-pilot administration and demonstrate leadership for a change by giving a positive response to the olive branch offered by the Pakatan Rakyat to him and the Barisan Nasional leadership for a Summit of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat leaders to seek a consensus to end the quintuplet of national crisis in the country, including assuring Malaysians that there cannot be another May 13 racial riots.

Secondly, he should sack half the Cabinet who fits the definition of the previous Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad as “half-past six Ministers” and produce a Cabinet which commands respect and confidence of Malaysians.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 26 January 2014, 6:32 pm and is filed under
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Much to do about #kangkung

Ong Kian Ming

The Star Online

January 22, 2014

Fluctuations in the prices of goods and services are part and parcel of any economy.

UNDERLYING the furore surrounding kangkung brouhaha lies a much more fundamental political question. Namely, should we blame the Government for increases in the price of goods and not give the Government credit when the price of goods decrease?

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is at least half right when he questions the fairness of blaming the Government for rises in the price of let’s say, vegetables as a result of uncontrollable factors such as changes in weather conditions.

But if we should not blame the Government for uncontrollable increases in the prices of vegetables, surely we cannot praise the Government when the price of the same vegetables decreases? Gyrations in the prices of goods and services are part and parcel of any economy especially one with a decently functioning market for these goods and services.

Demand and supply forces work in the short term to determine prices, which means that prices would sometimes go up and sometimes go down. And while we will inevitably gripe when the cost of goods increase, most fair minded people would not heap the blame on the Government when they know that the cause of these price hikes are beyond the control of the Government.

This is what should be understood: the rakyat is not blaming the Government for short-term price hikes as a result of uncontrollable factors. What the man on the street is increasingly incensed about is the across-the-board price hikes this year, and most probably next year, being directly or indirectly the result of government policies.

The increase in the price of sugar is the result of the Government’s withdrawal of the sugar subsidy. The increase in the electricity tariff is the result of the approval of government agencies, notably the Energy Commission.

The expected increase in the toll rates later this year is the result of badly negotiated contracts in these public-private partnership agreements, which give excessive profits to the concessionaires. The introduction of the 6% Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a result of the Government to cut its own excessive spending and reduce wastages. This is what the average man on the street is blaming the Government for.

Of course, some may argue that these price increases are necessary and positive for the country moving forward as part of the larger plan to restructure the economy by rationalising subsidies and reducing its distortionary effects. The GST too, they argue, is a fairer system since it is a more broad based tax and also reduces leakages which currently exist in the system.

While these arguments may appear rational and reasonable, it quickly falls apart upon closer examination. Moves at restructuring the economy by withdrawing subsidies addresses only the price distortion aspect without correcting the distortions in the supply side of the market.

Take sugar for example. Why is it the case that economic restructuring does not entail allowing more than just the current two sugar manufacturers to operate in the Malaysian market?

Surely the entrance of more players into this market would increase competition and possibly even reduce the price of sugar even after the removal of subsidies.

Similarly, allowing Tenaga to increase the electricity tariff due to needing future investments in the grid but not set strict and transparent KPIs for Tenaga to manage it costs comes across as yet another lop-sided government policy. Also, why should toll concessionaires enjoy profit rates in excess of 40% when the internal rate of return stipulated in many contracts is only 12%?

Incidentally, according to the latest figures issued by the Department of Statistics, the price of water spinach – yes, kangkung, by its other name – actually increased by 7.7% in November 2013 compared to the previous month, the second highest increase after sugar (10.3%). So, by right, the Government can’t even take credit for the decrease in the price of kangkung.

Dr. Ong Kian Ming is the MP for Serdang.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 27 January 2014, 7:38 am and is filed under
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Call for an emergency Parliament during Chinese New Year period to address the “kangkung” crisis faced by the Prime Minister and the country, including attempts to incite racial and religious hatred to create another May 13

I call for an emergency meeting of Parliament during the Chinese New Year period to address the “kangkung” crisis faced by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the country, including blatant attempts by irresponsible and reckless elements to escalate the incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension to create the conditions for another May 13 racial riots in the country.

The throwing of two Molotov cocktails into the compound of the Church of the Assumption in Lebuh Farquhar, Penang, early this morning and the putting up of the provocative banner “Jesus is the son of Allah” without the knowledge of church authorities outside three churches in Penang yesterday by irresponsible and reckless elements out to escalate the incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension are the latest evidence of the existence of a treacherous conspiracy by a small group of traitors out to destabilize the country and cause a racial or religious conflagration.

The Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar could resort to the fairy tale that there was a conspiracy to topple the elected government on New Year’s Eve at Dataran Merdeka although there was no basis for such a wild allegation as there was only  a peaceful gathering to protest price hikes.

Why is the IGP completely  silent  about the numerous attempts by reckless and irresponsible elements who are acting no different as traitors in the past few months out systematically to incite racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension to create another May 13 in the country?

Is the IGP sleeping on his job?  It is time that the IGP wake up and carry out his duty to the nation and the people to protect them from traitors who are prepared to  incite racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension to create another May 13 in the country.

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad said today that racial tensions are rising under a weak BN.

He is both right and wrong – right that the Barisan Nasional is weak and that is why  the “kangkung” hullabaloo could resonate throughout the country and even become international news  because of a rudderless, clueless and leaderless administration.

Wrong because a rudderless government is not caused by attempts by the Chinese to establish political and economic dominance over the Malays as repeatedly alleged by Mahathir.

In fact, if there is any single person who is responsible for the present state of affairs in Malaysia, it is Mahathir himself, who started even before the May 5 general elections last year to incite racial and religious hatred, conflict and tensions by for example alleging that I was contesting in Gelang Patah for the Chinese to confront the Malays and to destroy the power-sharing of Malays and Chinese in Malaysia – which were a sheer pack of lies.

The first step for Malaysia to restore normalcy is for irresponsible elements like Mahathir to stop their irresponsible inciting of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension through lies and falsehoods.

I call for an emergency Parliament during Chinese New Year period to address the “kangkung” crisis faced by the Prime Minister and the country, including attempts to incite racial and religious hatred to create another May 13.

In 2008, former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah dissolved Parliament to hold the 12th general elections during the Chinese New Year period.  If Parliament could be dissolved during the Chinese New Year period for a general elections to be held, there can be reason why an emergency meeting of Parliament cannot be held during the Chinese New Year period when the  so many national issues are so imperative, urgent and pressing.

[Media Conference Statement after a Chinese New Year visit to Tangkak together with Johore DAP State Assemblymen Ee Chin Lee (Tangkak), Tan Hong Pin (Mengkibol) and Lim Eng Guan (Bekok) in Tangkak on Sunday, 26th January 2014 at 3 pm]

                This entry was posted on Monday, 27 January 2014, 10:55 pm and is filed under
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Malaysia’s Kangkung Meme

By Mong Palatino

The Diplomat

January 22, 2014

Najib Razak’s gaffe involving the humble green veggie has become a rallying cry for the opposition.

Kangkung, or water spinach, has been trending in Malaysia since last week after Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak cited it as an example of a commodity that has become less expensive over the course of his administration.

Najib was responding to protests against rising prices caused by the government’s decision to cut subsidies. During the New Year celebration, thousands joined a street parade in Kuala Lumpur to denounce the increase in prices of basic goods and services such as petrol, sugar, and toll fees.

Najib complained that the government is often blamed for rising prices – but ignored when prices go down.

“When the prices come down, why are there no praises for the government? When it goes up, the government gets the blame. This is unfair because [such issues are determined by] the weather condition,” Najib said in Bahasa.

Then, he highlighted kangkung’s cheap price in the market: “I read in the newspaper that some prices have come down. Kangkung prices once went up and now it is down.”

This remark ignited an uproarious public reaction. It unleashed a kangkung meme which quickly went viral on social media. Najib’s enemies used it to criticize the government’s economic policies, in particular the slashing of subsidies for sensitive consumer goods. They painted Najib as a clueless leader and insensitive to the worsening situation of the poor.

In a subsequent speech, Najib was unapologetic for his kangkung remark. He clarified that he merely used the green vegetable as an example to explain the economic principle of supply and demand. He also added that kangkung and sotong (squid) are his favorite foods.

But Najib was reminded by critics that people are not complaining against price increases in all products but only those which are subject to government regulation or price controls such as petrol, sugar and toll rates. They added that no one is blaming Najib for the fluctuating price of kangkung, the humble vegetable of the masses.

It is also misleading to use kangkung as a price index of consumer products since households spend a paltry 2 percent of their monthly budget on buying vegetables.

Indeed, Najib could have used better examples to assure the public that food prices have remained stable. But the humorous reaction to his kangkung gaffe could be a reflection too of the rising public dissatisfaction with Najib and the ruling party, which has been in power since the late 1950s.

Perhaps ordinary Malaysians, burdened with economic difficulties such as high prices and depressed wages, were simply expressing their frustration through humor. Instead of being sympathetic, Najib appeared to be mocking the plight of his constituents when he delivered his now infamous kangkung remark.

Thanks to the kangkung-loving Najib, the opposition now has a symbol to rally more Malaysians against the government. If the Bersih (clean) election reform movement has the color yellow for its symbol, perhaps the Reduce Cost of Living Movement (Gerakan Turun Kos Sara Hidup) or Turun could further popularize the green leafy vegetable as a new protest icon. Kangkung is rich with meaning: it’s cool because it’s green; and it can represent all Malaysians because it grows nearly everywhere in the country.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 27 January 2014, 7:14 am and is filed under
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Why the stir over kangkung?

by Azmi Sharom

Star

January 22, 2014

Brave New World

Things are being blown out of proportion over the issue with some viewing it through race-tinted glasses. Are they blind to the fact that the people who are annoyed at the kangkung remark are from all ethnic groups?

I DON’T like water morning glory a.k.a water spinach a.k.a kangkung. There’s a metallic tang to it that I find displeasing.

I much prefer kailan or bayam – the former fried with salted fish and the latter in a watery soup.

What has my taste in vegetables got to do with anything? Nothing really.

Just as the recent, rather humorous, jabs at the Prime Minister have nothing to do with his ethnicity.

It has plenty to do with his alleged insensitivity to the price hikes in the country (which affect every single Tan, Din and Harvin) and it has plenty to do with the fact that kangkung is funny (even its very name makes me giggle); but I can’t see where the Prime Minister’s ethnicity comes into play.

So, how is it racist?

I guess some people view the world through race-tinted glasses.

These are the people who are calling for a demonstration to defend the Prime Minister.

I must say their poster calling for participants in this demonstration looks very exciting.

It has a very macho-looking chap carrying not one but two parang and an equally macho call for all Malays to come out and defend their race, their king, their religion and who knows what else.

I am of course in favour of demonstrations and public protests; it is after all a fundamental right as guaranteed by Article 10 of the Constitution. But Article 10 also says, and rightly so, that any assembly must be peaceful and without arms.

This “Defend the PM” demonstration uses a poster with a chap carrying machetes. Aren’t machetes weapons? Are they asking people to bring their parang? Or is it just for dramatic artistic effect?

I am sure they will have a good explanation and surely the police should ask for it.

The Government has shown itself to be very sensitive to any symbols of violence. After all, the Registrar of Societies made a huge hue and cry about the fact that Parti Sosialis Malaysia used a closed fist for its party symbol.

A closed fist is violent, apparently. It conjures up images of pugilism, I guess.

But if a closed fist is violent, then isn’t a parang even more violent? Thus, I would be most surprised if the police do not swoop down on these organisers with the same vigour and energy that they use when swooping down on the organisers of other demonstrations.

For example, the anti-price-hike demo on New Year’s Eve was scrutinised and demonised by the cops because it was thought to be potentially dangerous.

The police even feared that there were going to be grenades in Merdeka Square.

The organisers did not say “bring grenades” and their posters did not have grenades on them but the cops wanted to be safe rather than sorry I suppose.

Therefore, I would expect nothing less from our men and women in blue than a complete and thorough investigation of people who actually have a weapon-wielding man on their invitation to a demo.

Especially in the light of several folks (again wearing those special spectacles) saying that this kangkung issue could lead to race riots.

Race riots? Because people are angry at price rises?

Are these people blind to the fact that the people who are annoyed at the kangkung remark are from all ethnic groups?

There is no racial issue here. The only racial issues are the ones being made up by the desperate people whose only pathetic claim to relevance depends on them making everything into a racial issue.

I don’t believe that Malaysians are going to fall for this idiocy. But having said that, a few may not care about reason and logic and all it takes is a handful to create trouble.

Surely a government maintaining the peace would seek these true trouble-makers out. Or do different rules apply? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Azmi Sharom (
[email protected]
) is a law teacher.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 27 January 2014, 7:28 am and is filed under
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Nation on fragile ground, warns Kit Siang

BY JENNIFER GOMEZ |
The Malaysian Insider

January 28, 2014

It only takes a spark to set off another May 13, said a worried Lim Kit Siang (pic) as he called on Malaysians to quell tension plaguing the country now.

The DAP adviser said this was the reason he had asked Penang PKR assemblyman Lee Khai Loon to apologise for stuffing kangkung into an effigy of the prime minister during a flash mob in Penang two weeks ago.

He said it was also why he has been crusading for Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat to form a secretariat to discuss issues plaguing the country.

“The situation has become very unhealthy, with drawn-out stoking of religious and racial tension for the past eight months,” he told The Malaysian Insider today.

Lim, who is Gelang Patah MP, is worried that the currently escalating tension could lead to a scenario similar to the black day in Malaysian history almost 45 years ago.

He also expressed concern that the police and authorities were standing by and doing nothing about the situation.

“While the majority of the rakyat want peace, all it takes is for a small percentage of people to go haywire, to spark another racial riot,” Lim warned.

Citing the recent Allah banner placed outside five churches in Penang and the molotov cocktail that was thrown into a chuch compound in Lebuh Farquhar in Penang in the wee hours of Sunday morning, Lim cautioned that there were certain quarters out to undermine harmony by engaging in these acts.

On January 15, Machang Bubok assemblyman Lee led a kangkung flash mob in Penang and stuffed the vegetable into an effigy of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, triggering outrage in Penang Umno, who then led demonstrations in the state and threatened a repeat of the May 13 racial riots.

“There was nothing wrong with what Lee Khai Loon did, but I was concerned that certain people out to create trouble would distort the situation and label it anti-Malay or such.

“For that (asking him to apologise), I got attacked all around, “Lim said.

Lim’s concerns led him to push for a Barisan Nasional-Pakatan Rakyat joint secretariat to discuss these issues.

He even suggested an emergency Parliament meeting during Chinese New Year to address the “kangkung” crisis, and the escalating attempts to incite religious hatred and create conditions for another May 13.

Lim said that over the past few days, he had received many calls from those who were equally concerned that matters were spiralling out of control.

“One of them was Ambiga. That is why I asked her to speak at the dialogue session tonight and she agreed,” he said, referring to former electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 co-chair and prominent lawyer Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan.

Lim said that what was needed was a proactive approach to remove destabilising effects on society, given what he described as extraordinary levels of tension building up in the country of late.

“There should be a proper response to this racial and religious incitement.

“We must learn to be sensitive to each other’s race and religion, and whatever we do, we must not cross the line,” he added.

The public dialogue at the DAP headquarters in KL tonight will discuss the most rational response to the escalating racial and religious polarisation in Malaysia over the past eight months.

Lim said the issue was not about the ‘kangkung phenomena’, the PM, Lee Khai Loon or any one personality,

“The issue is about reckless groups that have enjoyed immunity and impunity to incite racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension to destabilise the country and create another May 13 racial riots to achieve their petty, selfish and even traitorous political objectives,” he added.

Racial and religious tension has intensifed, with the latest incident being banners with the word ‘Allah’ put up in front of five churches in Penang over the weekend and Molotov cocktails thrown into the compound of one church early Sunday morning.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim  reiterated on Sunday his call for a dialogue with BN to address raging racial and religious issues, three days after making the same overture to the ruling coalition.

The opposition leader moved to extend the olive branch a second time after many Malaysians expressed concern over increased tension in the country resulting from several racial and religious issues lately. – January 28, 2014.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 28 January 2014, 5:38 pm and is filed under
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Call on Chinese Malaysians to work hand-in-hand with Malaysians of  other ethnicities to ensure a successful, progressive prosperous competitive nation where there is place for every citizen under the Malaysian sun

(2014 Chinese New Year message in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, 29th January 2014)

Happy Chinese Year of the Horse to all Chinese Malaysians and increasing number of Malaysians of other races who also celebrate the Chinese New Year.

This is the unique characteristic of the Malaysia Dream, where an increasing number of Malaysians participate in the different ethnic and religious festivities as they are Malaysian events although they belong to other races or religions.

This why during my Chinese New Year visit to Johor, covering all the 5 Parliamentary and 13 DAP State Assembly seats apart from Jementah (which I will make up during the Chinese New Year period), I also wished Malays and Indians “Happy New Year” and distributed oranges to them signifying that regardless of race, religion, region or  political beliefs, we all belong to one Big Family – the Malaysian Family!

Malaysians should seek to establish greater Malaysian Oneness from  all different ethnic and religious festivities – based on the great values and virtues taught by all the religions and races.

Just as I believe that the overwhelming majority of Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region or political beliefs, do not want another May 13 riots in the country, the overwhelming majority of Malaysians regardless of race, religion, or political beliefs want good governance, accountability and transparency in public affairs; zero tolerance for corruption which will put Malaysia on the top-rank of countries least corrupt in the annual Transparency International Corruption Perception Index; a just, sustainable and competitive economic system which can bring progress and prosperity for all Malaysians and  a meritocratic education system recognized world-wide as producing world-class students in the top-scale of international assessments unlike at present where Malaysian students are stuck at the bottom third of international educational tests.

Malaysia is at the crossroads. Chinese Malaysians together will other ethnic Malaysians must work together hand-in-hand to build a better future for the new generations, founded strongly on the principle that there is  a place under the Malaysian sun for every one of its citizens.

This is why it is important the Malaysians should speak up as patriots to save Malaysia from the machinations and evil design of a small group of traitors who want to destabilize the country through the incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension so as to cause another May 13.

The civil society should organize and launch a campaign “to love and save Malaysia” from racial and religious strife, which is the precondition if Malaysia is to be a successful,  progressive, prosperous and competitive nation in the world.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 29 January 2014, 7:14 pm and is filed under
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Kangkung? Watch it fry in cyberspace

Carolyn Hong

Jakarta Post

January 27, 4014

First, it was kangkung (Chinese water spinach), then came sotong (squid). And together, these two cheap food items made for an unfortunate two weeks for Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak.

It began when Najib lashed out at critics two weeks ago for blaming the government when food prices go up but not praising it when prices come down. He made the argument that the government could not control market forces, and used kangkung to illustrate his point.

It was an unfortunate choice that immediately stirred a backlash on social media. Kangkung is seen as a cheap vegetable that grows in unappetising places like drains.

Najib’s message was soon lost as netizens invented a huge range of jokes – from McKangkung burgers to kangkung-fuelled cars – to mock him for apparently asking them to downgrade their lifestyle.

Last week, sotong came into the picture as he sought again to explain market forces. Speaking at his monthly address to the finance ministry, Najib reiterated that the government could not control the price of every food item.

“When it is the monsoon season, prices of fish go up and even vegetables,” he said. “I had used the kangkung as an example of the supply-demand principle. My favourite foods are kangkung and sotong.”

This addition of sotong to the dish proved irresistible to netizens as “sotong” is colloquially used to refer to a person who is confused or weak, triggering a second round of jokes.

But jokes aside, the kangkung- sotong saga illustrates just how much social media has changed the political dynamics between the people and the country’s leaders. Reverence, or at least some level of deference, is now no longer the default setting.

The social media has created an entirely new landscape that is making it increasingly imperative for politicians to up their game.

“The social media has rapidly reduced the aura surrounding politicians and leaders,” said analyst Ibrahim Suffian who runs the pollster Merdeka Centre. “It was once easy to create and maintain a political image but that’s now no longer the case.”

He noted that social media has eliminated the barriers for people to join the debate to point out inconsistencies, flaws and doublespeak. And as the kangkung episode showed, they can do it very quickly and effectively.

One rib-tickling joke spawned another, and soon, the saga took on a life of its own. In the pre-Internet past, a similar kangkung campaign would have taken such a long time to gain momentum that public interest would have fizzled out but the social media works at lightning pace.

This has changed the game significantly for politicians. Ibrahim noted that it has heightened the need for “authentic leadership” that goes deeper than a carefully crafted image and well-written speeches.

“If it’s all about projecting an image, your guard will slip at some point,” he said.

The kangkung saga was a sharp reminder of this.

It had all the elements to capture the imagination as the cost of living is an issue close to people’s hearts. Many spot a stark disconnect between what the government expects the people to do and what it is itself doing, thanks again to the social media.

While he talked ostensibly about kangkung, Najib’s underlying message was that Malaysians will have to grin and bear fluctuating prices as the government has to reduce the annual subsidies of 40 billion ringgit (US$11.9 billion).

But while this message is not without merit, it did not go down well because the social media also provided a context that made it seem insincere. The Internet media was buzzing with stories of alleged ostentatious spending by his Cabinet ministers even as the government called for cutbacks.

Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had hosted a wedding for his daughter at the former Istana (royal palace), while Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reportedly had a birthday bash in a luxury hotel in Kuala Lumpur. The prime minister himself came under fire after it was revealed that the government spent 180 million ringgit ($53.8 million) a year to operate two private jets.

Further, a well-read blog “Syed Outside the Box” listed a whole range of items, from cars to baby formula, that are expensive due to import controls. The blogger wrote that it was not kangkung that people were complaining about. Rather, they were angry at the high prices of items that are subject to government control.

The Internet campaign was remarkable in the way it gave the kangkung saga a life that it would not have enjoyed in earlier days.

This is something that many Malaysian politicians have yet to truly understand, on both sides. Even the tech-savvy Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who heads the opposition Democratic Action Party, stumbled badly earlier this month when he came under fire for buying a Mercedes- Benz to replace a two-month-old Toyota Camry as his official vehicle.

He defended the decision as being value for money. Yet, that was not the real issue; it was about perceived insensitivity to the difficulties faced by many ordinary Malaysians who cannot make ends meet, let alone change their car after just two months.

The social media has changed the game so much that politicians run the risk of ridicule and mockery if they say one thing and do another, or craft different messages for difference audiences.

Or as Merdeka’s Ibrahim puts it, there is a growing imperative for politicians to forget about being politicians, and become real leaders instead.

“The kangkung saga was a manifestation of the growing erosion of reverence towards politicians,” he said. “And it highlights the heightening demand for authentic leaders.”

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 29 January 2014, 7:03 pm and is filed under
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PR’s patriotic  olive branch to PM and BN – to love and save Malaysia to preserve and promote unity, harmony and tolerance and ban spectre of May 13 to cobwebs of history

In my first Open Letter in 2014 to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on 8th January 2014, I urged the first Cabinet meeting to send our a clear and unmistakable message to end the  national drift and loss of leadership and direction to create an united, harmonious, just,  and competitive and great Malaysian nation.

I zeroed in on the nation’s quintuplet of national crisis which warranted priority and immediate attention by the Cabinet – nation-building, economic, educational, security and anti-corruption.

In my second Open Letter in 2014 to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on 22nd January, I posed the question whether the Barisan Nasional leadership is prepared to work with Pakatan Rakyat leaders to ensure that there could be no repetition of May 13 riots in Malaysia?

I lamented that the Najib  administration had in the past fortnight remained

“leaderless, headless, clueless and rudderless” and the government’s “aimless drift” had worsened with “no resolution in sight for the quintuplet of five crisis”.

I am writing this third Open Letter to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet before the Cabinet meeting today to welcome the Prime Minister’s statement yesterday that he will bring Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s idea of a “national consensus” to the Cabinet.

Najib must be mindful that in the three weeks since my first Open Letter, the quintuplet of national crisis – in particular on nation-building and national unity – has reached its worst level, not only during Najib’s five-year premiership but probably in the nation’s 56-year nation-building history.

It has reached a stage where a small group of  traitors out to destroy the delicate fabric of Malaysia’s plural society in an incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, tension and conflict have produced the following handiworks:

•	The two  Penang Umno demonstration over the weekend where there was an unabashed and strident incitement of racial and religious hatred, tension and conflict, even raising the spectre of another May 13;

•	Hanging provocative banner “Jesus is the son of Allah” without the knowledge of church authorities outside three churches in Penang by irresponsible and reckless elements out to escalate the incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension; and

•	The throwing of two Molotov cocktails into the compound of the Church of the Assumption in Lebuh Farquhar, Penang, early Monday morning.

The heinous activities of a small group of traitors bent on inciting racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension to destabilize the country to cause another May 13 is not a  problem which had cropped up only in the past three weeks but a national menace which had been in existence and threatened the unity and stability of Malaysia in the past few years, worsening  in the past eight months after the May 5 general elections of 2013.

I am amazed at the “hands off” attitude adopted by the police and the Barisan Nasional government, which seem to have given this small group of traitors out to destabilise the country through incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension, a blank cheque to do their worst.

Last month, the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar shocked the country and the world with the wild and reckless “fair tale” of a plot the “topple the government” with a gathering at Dataran Merdeka on New Year’s Eve – as if the government of Malaysia has become so fragile and useless that it could be toppled with a gathering in Dataran Merdeka!

Neither the IGP nor the police force have been able to produce any evidence of a ‘topple government’ plot on New Year’s Eve, whether to support the IGP’s “fairy tale” or the subsequent “fairy tale” by the Kuala Lumpur deputy police Chief Amar Singh Ishar Singh that four NGOs were out to “create chaos” in Dataran Merdeka and would be bringing various weapons, including grenades and gas masks to stir up a commotion.

In the event, the “fairy tale” of the IGP and the KL deputy police chief proved to be no more than “fairy tales”.

All that the police was reduced to is to victimize Zul Raidy Ahmad Tarmizi, the man who printed T-shirts worn by protestors during the New Year Eve anti-price hike demonstration, on the ground the printing of such T-shirts could undermine parliamentary democracy and an offence under the  Penal Code and the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), entailing draconian penalities.

How pathetic – incessant incitemernt of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension no offence but printing T-shirts a heinous offence!

Malaysians are entitled to know why the Police had failed to act to interdict the treasonous activities of a small group of irresponsible and reckless people out to create national instability and another May 13 through incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension – furthermore based on lies and falsehoods!

There is no doubt that if the Police had not been remiss in their duties, and kept the activities of the traitorous few out to incite racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension under their constant radar, the hanging of the provocative banners outside three churches in Penang by treacherous mischief-makers and the throwing of two Molotov cocktails into the compound of the Church of the Assumption in Penang would not have taken place.

After all, haven’t Malaysia got among the most competent and professional Special Branch in the world?

It is all very well for the Prime Minister to appeal for calm as the raging racial-religious issue came to a boil with the fire-bombing of a church in Penang, but what all Penangites and Malaysians want to know is why there is such a failure of police intelligence and security apparatus as reflected by these events?

Is the Cabinet prepared later today to direct the IGP to set up a special intelligence and security apparatus to deal with the treasonous activities of a small group of irresponsible and reckless people out to destabilize the country with incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension?

If the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat are united in their resolve that there will not be another May 13 riots in Malaysia, nobody could destabilize and the create the conditions for another May 13.

Why is the Prime Minister and the Cabinet so reluctant to do what right and patriotic for Malaysia.

The purpose of this third Open Letter which is released at 7 a.m. before the Cabinet meeting today is to urge the Prime Minister and the Cabinet to reciprocate the act of patriotism of the Pakatan Rakat leadership – to jointly endeavour and ensure  there is continued harmony, goodwill and tolerance in Malaysia leaving the spectre of May 13 in the cobwebs of history.

Is the Prime Minister and the Cabinet prepared to work with Pakatan Rakyat on the great national issue of the day –  to love and save Malaysia by preserving and promoting unity, harmony and tolerance and to ensure that there will not be another May 13 to blot the development of Malaysia?

(Third Open Letter in 2014  to the Prime Minister and Cabinet in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, 29th January 2014 at 7 am)

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 29 January 2014, 7:07 am and is filed under
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DAP welcomes the Cabineet’s positive response to the “Love and Save Malaysia” overture by Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council for a  BN/PR  Leaders’ Summit to promote national unity and scuttle plans by small group of traitors out to destabilize Malaysia by creating another May 13

DAP welcomes the Cabinet’s positive response to the “Love and Save Malaysia” overture by the Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council for a Barisan Nasional/Pakatan Rakyat Leaders’ Summit to promote national unity and scuttle plans by a small group of traitors out to destabilize Malaysia by creating another May 13.

The Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council had repeatedly made this patriotic call – as reflected in all the  three Open Letters I addressed to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on Jan. 8, 22 and 29 where the idea of a Barisan Nasional/Pakatan Rakyat Leaders” Summit “to love and save Malaysia” is the consistent theme.

As I ended in my third Open Letter to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet yesterday, I urged the Prime Minister and the Cabinet to reciprocate the act of patriotism of the Pakatan Rakyat leadership – to jointly endeavor and ensure there is continued harmony, goodwill and tolerance in Malaysia leaving the spectre of May 13 to the cobwebs of history.

The Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat parties and leaders have major differences about the political road that should be taken by Malaysia after more than half a century of nationhood, and these differences have to fought out in the democratic clash of ideas to be finally decided by the Malaysian electorate in the ballot box.

But one thing the BN and PR cannot disagree if both are patriotic movements, that is on the need to unite to save Malaysia from the machinations of a small group of irresponsible and reckless people who are no different from traitors who  seek to destabilise the country to cause another May 13 by incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension in the country.

I fully agree with Najib who said in his statement yesterday that for the  “reconciliation plan” to  work, all must be committed to “avoid spreading lies and slander , finally put to rest the politics of hate”.

DAP and PR leaders have often been the victim of the politics of lies, slander and hate, and it is beholden on all political leaders whether BN or PR to set the example to clean up Malaysian politics of lies, slander and hatred which has become so commonplace especially in the past eight months.

As I have said, if the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat are united in their resolve that there would not be another May 13, and would do their utmost against those who seek to incessantly incite racial and religious hatred, conflict and tensions based on lies and falsehoods, there is no way there could be another May 13 in Malaysia.

Najib said yesterday that the reconciliation plans do not include the formation of any sort of unity government.

This clarification is most appropriate as such a notion of a “unity government”  has never entered the minds of any Pakatan Rakyat leader when we  repeatedly made the  proposal for a BN/PR Leader’ Summit to address the worsening national crises in the country.

Najib said the Cabinet yesterday examined a plan to develop and promote an environment that is conducive and  will promote  national reconciliation through  unity and consensus in the country, based on four key thrusts, namely social, political, government and international relations.

As the BN Cabinet has responded positively to the proposal for a BN/PR Leaders’ Summit, a joint secretariat should be formed to work out details of the Summit.

This can include the  government’s national reconciliation plan which will be discussed by Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council once we have received details of the plan.

I am sure all Malaysians will feel relieved if there is a genuine effort by BN and PR leaders  to establish a national consensus  for unity by isolating  and preventing the treacherous elements in the country who are seeking to destabilise the country through incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension based on lies and falsehoods from carrying out their treacherous plot and design.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 30 January 2014, 9:54 am and is filed under
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Malaysia no longer land of peace and tolerance, says Pakistan website

by Elizabeth Zachariah

The Malaysian Insider

January 28, 2014

Malaysia’s global image as a moderate and progressive Muslim country is being tarnished by increasing racial and religious intolerance, and more recently, the attack on a church in Penang, a Pakistan online news website reported today.

Despite the millions of ringgit spent by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to promote this moderate image through his anti-extremist Global Movement of Moderates, the Allah row and incidents stemming from it show that this may not be the case anymore, Pakistan Today said.

The writer, Masood Khan, said for the rest of the Muslim world, Malaysia used to be an “island of peace and tolerance”.

“Sadly, it’s no more as an evil eye has cast its bad shadow on a moderate and progressive country,” he wrote.

Warning that Malaysia could end up like Pakistan should religious intolerance continue to escalate as seen in the past few weeks, Masood said: “Regardless of any falsified justification, it’s a regrettable action and shall be condemned. Malaysians shall learn from Pakistan what successive governments over there gained by pitching various religious and sectarian groups against each other.

“Such narrow-mindedness created monsters of ignorance and death. Today, no one in Pakistan knows how to put this controlled genie back in the bottle,” he said.

Masood’s comments came following the firebombing of a church in Penang early yesterday morning when two Molotov cocktails were thrown into the compound of the Church of the Assumption in Lebuh Farquhar.

Tension had already heightened in Penang when banners bearing the words “Allah is Great, Jesus is the son of Allah” were found on Sunday outside five churches – the Victory Lutheran Church, St John Britto Catholic Church, The Church of the Immaculate Conception and the Church of the Assumption on the island and the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Butterworth.

Najib ended his long silence over the Allah row on Friday to say that the 10-point solution still stands in Sabah and Sarawak but in the peninsula, it was subjected to the respective state enactments. His comments drew more criticisms.

Before the Sarawak state election in 2011, the Najib administration crafted a 10-point solution, which among others, allowed for the import and use of Bibles in all languages.

“I really felt sad about Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak’s statement in which he supported the court’s judgment banning non-Muslims (read Malaysian Christians) from using the word Allah in the Bible text and in church services,” Masood said.

“What do you call this – the authorities’ attempt to distract Malay Muslims, who constitute 60% of the population, from subsidy cuts and rising cost of living, or it’s a simple case of narrow-mindedness to put various religious groups against each other to perpetuate the grip over power,” he added.

Monday’s church attack was reported by the international media including Washington Post, BBC and International Business Times.

This comes about a month before the Catholic Church’s leave application to the Federal Court to appeal the Court of Appeal ruling which last October overturned a High Court decision allowing Catholic weekly, Herald, to use the word Allah. – January 28, 2014.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 30 January 2014, 6:52 am and is filed under
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‘O what fun’ Malaysians will have for the rest of 2014

by Elizabeth Zachariah

The Malaysian Insider

January 30, 2014

An email calendar – titled “The Rise of Malaysia” – circulating in cyberspace spells out what is in store for Malaysians for the rest of the year.

While the source of the creatively presented calendar is unknown, it proudly claims to be “produced by Malaysians, for Malaysians”.

It breaks down the rising cost of living into 12 months – and each month with its own “theme”.

“This calendar was produced to share in our sorrow and help deal with our 2-week memory problem (our leaders say we can only remember bad events for 2 weeks, after that we forgive and love them again). “It (2014) will be a bleak financial year for Malaysians as we face an increase in toll prices, electricity tariff rates, public transportation, possibly further fuel subsidy cuts, impending GST, etc, etc”, it stated.

The “inspiration” was the ordinary Malaysians who had “vented their frustrations” on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s Facebook page.

“All facts quoted in the calendar are accurate and reported in the mainstream news.”

Contending that if Putrajaya will not serve the people, “then the people must serve themselves”, with the caveat that “2014 must be the year we”:

• Remember all the failed promises and ask for good governance.

•Demand for good leaders who care for the whole population, not just their own relatives.

• Move as a nation to see our real issues, rather than the petty ones that are frequently thrown as veil over our eyes.

• Work to support the poorer and most affected of our nation.

Each month quoted ministers highlighting products or services that are targeted for price hikes. Most of the quotes presented the ministers in an unflattering light.

January kicks off with removal of the sugar subsidy and Najib’s “justification” for the price increase.

“Sugar is bad for you. Besides poor vision, gangrene and being dependent on a dialysis machine, excessive sugar intake could affect the male libido.

“I myself have learnt to have tea without sugar. People can change for their own good. If this is a responsible government, we must teach people the right things,” the prime minister was quoted.

January also featured Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar’s argument that “we do expect that the inflation rate would go up, but our current inflation rate is still acceptably low, so it won’t increase by a lot”.

Yesterday, the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research’s (MIER) released a report which noted that inflation went up from a two-year low of 1.2% in December 2012 to 3.2% in December 2013 following the rise in prices of goods. In October, the calendar highlighted Putrajaya’s “promises” versus reality.

For example, Putrajaya had promised a host of consumer-oriented measures to help ease the cost of living.

The response was a tart “Ha, ha, ha! (good one there), see January to December in calendar”.

The rest of the calendar featured hikes in petrol price, school bus fares, toll rates, electricity tariff, Kuala Lumpur assessment rates, public transport fares, broadband rates and the declining education standards.

November cited United Nations statistics showing that Malaysia has the highest income disparity between the rich and poor in Southeast Asia, greater than that of Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Malaysia’s millionaire population had also doubled in 2011, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

It quoted an Umno delegate, who said, “more Malay millionaires are needed to protect the dignity of Islam”.

The calendar ends with Najib’s Christmas “present” – the goods and services tax, which will come into effect in April 2015 – and a parody of “Jingle Bells”.

“GST, GST, GST all the way, O what fun it is to have, A nice big new tax system.” –  January 30, 2014.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 30 January 2014, 7:33 am and is filed under
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Police first duty is to restore Malaysia’s reputation as “a land of peace and tolerance” for different religions and it should not be distracted by proposals to set up a shariah unit or squad to check prices

The Malaysian Insider
 yesterday, in a report by Elizabeth Zachariah and headlined
“Malaysia no longer land of peace and tolerance, says Pakistan website”
, is an indictment and stain on the efficiency, professionalism and career of  the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar .

This follows weeks and months of incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tensions with the police adopting a “hands-off” policy, resulting in the Molotov cocktail attack on a church in Penang on Monday, a day after three provocative banner “Allah is Great. Jesus is the son of Allah” was hung outside five  churches in Penang without knowledge of the church authorities and the vandalism of eight gravestones in a Christian cemetery near Kuantan yesterday.

As the writer of the Pakistani website, Masood Khan, said: For the rest of the Muslim world,  Malaysia used to be an island of peace and tolerance.

“Sadly, it’s no more as an evil eye has cast its bad shadow on a moderate and progressive country”.

As IGP, Khalid should ask himself why he had been so remiss in his duties and responsibilities as the No.1  Policeman the country to allow Malaysia to slide down the slippery slope, as if Malaysia wants to compete with Pakistan in terms of religious strife, intolerance and conflict!

Khalid must always remind himself that he is IGP for all Malaysians, and not just IGP for any one race or religion, and any divergence from this guiding principle amounts to criminal negligence of his high office.

I am glad that the  IGP has finally spoken up after maintaining an long eerie silence, issuing a “strict warning”  yesterday to those responsible for the incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension “to immediately stop such provocations which can jeopardise public order”.

The more relevant question is why the IGP had taken so long to wake up to the racial and religious “provocations” of a small group of irresponsible and reckless traitors out to destabilsie the country and cause another May 13.

It is however better late than never and all Malaysians hope the IGP and the police will on constant standby to prevent the conspirators who want Malaysia go up in flames in a racial and religious conflagaration would be stopped in their tracks and be given  no space or room to carry out their nefarious and treacherous activities.

The problem in Malaysia is not that the IGP and the police lack the police numbers and firepower to keep these conspirators under the radar 24 hours a day and to  nip in the bud their nefarious plans, but purely because the police lack the political will and mandate to discharge their first duty – to keep the country and citizens safe and secure.

Prompt and proactive police action to nip trouble-makers in the bud to send a clear signal to those who want to incite racial and religious hatred, conflict and tensions based on lies and falsehoods that the police would brook no nonsense from them could do wonders.

This is illustrated by the pro-active and most commendable police action in Penang which investigated a group of about 150 people from NGOs that protested at the Bayan Baru mosque on Monday night, on the ground that they suspected that the mosque  may be attacked – when the police dismissed talk there were plans by certain quarters to attack the mosque.

This is not unlike the Penang UMNO protest a week ago  raising the spectre of May 13 when its blood-red banners screamed that the DAP was the cause of May 13 with speakers asking whether DAP wanted another May 13.

This is just like the “Thief shout Thief” ploy to blame others for a crime or wrong when the person concerned was the perpetrator himself.

Muslims in Penang and Malaysia can be assured that if mosques and suraus are attacked, non-Muslim whether Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs or Taoists will come to their defence. In the same manner, if non-Muslim places of worship are attacked, Muslims should be in the forefront of their defence.

If we can arrive at such an understanding and concord in  multi-religious Malaysia, it will be a big step forward in promoting harmony, unity and tolerance in the achievement of a Malaysian Dream.

Recently, there had been proposals that the Police set up a shariah unit or even squad to check prices.

The Police should not divert from its main duty to keep crime low and Malaysian citizens, investors and tourists safe and secure; and most of all, ensure the Malaysia regain her international reputation as a “land of peace and tolerance” and a model in a conflict-filled world.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 30 January 2014, 3:44 pm and is filed under
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Selesai segera isu kaum dan agama

A Shukur Harun

The Malaysian Insider

January 30, 2014

Pelbagai pihak kini sedang memerhatikan dengan cemas segala perkembangan yang berlaku di tanah air, yang dilihat sangat membimbangkan.

Ini akibat segala isu yang berbangkit menuju ke arah maraknya api perkauman dan pertentangan agama sedang dibakar oleh pihak tertentu yang mempunyai pelbagai kepentingan dan keadaan ini sangat mencemaskan.

Isu berbangkit yang mana tidak diheret ke lembah perkauman dan pandangan agama sempit? Isu kangkung turun harga, isu kalimah Allah, GST dan keputusan PRU13 lalu di mana ada pemimpin negara menganggap sebagai ‘tsunami Cina’ berikutan kebanyakan pengundi bandar, khususnya pengundi Cina, menolak calon Barisan Nasional. Semuanya diheret menjadi isu perkauman.

Kini selepas lebih enam bulan PRU13, isu perkauman masih dimainkan dalam pelbagai variasi dan bentuk. Semuanya ini sangat membimbangkan.

Sehubungan itu, NGO Islam mengalu-alukan usaha Pakatan Rakyat untuk duduk bersama Umno/BN bagi membincangkan isu perkauman dengan segera bagi mencari formula terbaik demi memelihara kesejahteraan rakyat negara ini.

Presiden Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim), Amidi Abd Manan, berkata saranan Pakatan Rakyat itu wajar disambut oleh BN sekiranya mereka benar-benar ikhlas mahu menjaga kesejahteraan rakyat negara ini.

Katanya, Umno terutamanya wajar menerima cadangan itu kerana sering dilihat membakar api perkauman, jika benar-benar memikirkan kesejahteraan negara.

Beliau berkata, emosi rakyat sedang dibakar dengan api perkauman, maka sebelum ia menjadi tidak terkawal wajar pihak yang terlibat terutama pemimpin parti politik duduk bersama berbincang.

Menurut Abim, cadangan Pakatan Rakyat itu adalah satu tindakan yang menunjukkan kematangan berpolitik dan wajar disambut oleh Umno BN.

Sementara itu, Setiausaha Agung Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia (Ikram), Zaid Kamaruddin, berkata walaupun saranan ini ‘overdue’ tetapi ia satu usaha yang bagus kerana memperlihatkan kemuafakatan parti politik demi menjaga kepentingan negara dan rakyat.

Kelmarin, Majlis Pakatan Rakyat sepakat mengajak Umno BN untuk duduk bersama membincangkan isu perkauman yang dilihat semakin dijadikan modal oleh pihak tertentu bagi menimbulkan suasana tegang di kalangan rakyat.

Keadaan ini berikutan ada pihak cuba menimbulkan provokasi seperti menimbulkan ancaman berulang peristiwa 13 Mei setelah tidak berpuas hati apabila rakyat mengadakan demonstrasi ‘kangkung’ sebagai bantahan terhadap kenaikan harga barang di Pulau Pinang. PAS berpendapat masalah perkauman ini mesti diselesaikan segera.

Timbalan Presiden PAS, Mohamad Sabu, berkata demonstrasi ‘kangkung’ itu tiada kaitan dengan isu perkauman sebaliknya adalah isu ekonomi iaitu kenaikan harga barang yang membuatkan rakyat semakin terhimpit.

Sementara itu, jika kita melihat kepada sejarah Melayu itu sendiri, menunjukkan bahawa sejak zaman penjajah lagi, pertentangan bukan saja berlaku di antara Melayu dan bukan Melayu disebabkan hasutan penjajah, tetapi antara sesama Melayu.

Sejarah Melayu memaparkan bahawa ‘peperangan’ banyak berlaku di antara penduduk daerah di Semenanjung untuk merebut hasil cukai dan lain-lain. Penguasa daerah di zaman itu sanggup mengerakkan para ‘panglima’nya menyerang daerah sempadan untuk menguasai hasil.

Oleh itu, tidak hairan jika elemen mempertahankan kaum berlanjutan hingga kini dan kita wajar memahami sejarah Melayu – perwatakan Melayu dengan mengelus kata-kata Hang Tuah ‘Takkan Melayu hilang di dunia’, sebuah kata-kata yang entah benar, entah tidak disebutkan. Namun, kata-kata ini menjadi sesuatu yang sangat menghibur dan menyenangkan hati orang Melayu.

Persoalannya di sini ialah apakah orang Melayu, walaupun menjadi kaum majoriti di negara ini mampu menghadapi pelbagai cabaran yang ada sekarang untuk bersaing dengan bangsa lain di negara ini dalam pelbagai bidang kehidupan.

Adakah orang Melayu mampu menghadapi cabaran dengan hanya mengelus emosi, nostalgia masa lampau dan menjeritkan suara perkauman tanpa melakukan persiapan untuk bersaing, terutama di segi pendidikan, ekonomi dan politik moden.

Itulah sebabnya adalah tidak wajar kita bermain atau melayani semangat perkauman untuk memastikan kelansungan hidup bangsa Melayu, tanpa berusaha memperkukuh kedudukan orang Melayu di segi yang saya sebutkan itu.

Sehubungan itu, menjadi kebimbangan banyak pihak jika isu perkauman terus dijeritkan, ia akan mengundang bahaya besar kepada negara, kerana kesannya akan menimpa seluruh kaum di negara ini. Islam sendiri dengan tegas menentang sebarang bentuk perkauman, malah Nabi Muhammad sendiri menegaskan bahawa Baginda tidak mengakui umat mereka yang meneriakkan perkauman.

Oleh itu, sangat wajar pelbagai pihak berusaha mengurangkan ketegangan kaum ini dengan mengadakan rundingan dan apa-apa bentuk wacanapun untuk mengatasi krisis yang berat ini.

Saya kira, pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat mengambil sikap yang jujur, ikhlas dan tepat pada masanya, dengan mengajak semua pihak, khususnya antara Pakatan dan Barisan Nasional untuk berbincang mengendurkan ketegangan ini.

Tidak ada siapa atau pihak yang untung dengan mengapi-apikan semangat perkauman kecuali samseng dan petualang politik yang tidak bertanggungjawab, kerana mereka tidak mengambil kira bahaya perkauman itu sendiri.

Pemimpin politik berjiwa besar, yang tidak hanya memikirkan kemenangan pilihan raya partinya saja, tetapi keselamatan negara dan rakyatnya, akan tampil untuk bersama-sama menyelesaikan masalah perkauman ini.

Saya fikir akan ramai lagi NGO dan rakyat prihatin yang akan tampil menyokong usaha mengadakan rundingan menyelesaikan persoalan ini dan nampaknya pemimpin PAS dengan fikiran terbuka sudah sangat bersedia  menyokong sebarang usaha ke arah terebut.

Jangan dibiarkan negara ini ‘hangus’ dibakar oleh api perkauman dan pertentangan agama kerana ia suatu kejahatan. – 30 Januari, 2014.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 30 January 2014, 12:50 pm and is filed under
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Taming the ‘pig-beast’

by Mariam Mokhtar

Malaysiakini

Jan 27, 2014

Umno Baru MPs are euphoric. They have successfully concluded the world’s longest animal behaviour experiment. Decades of living in a police state, run by a one-party system, have conditioned us to behave like laboratory rats.

‘Therapeutic’ methods are designed to make lab rats give up undesirable habits by associating them with unpleasant effects. In Malaysia, troublesome people – like those who dare to express an opinion, who design eye-catching T-shirts, or who interpret constitutional laws – will receive a nasty jolt, in the form of police harassment. Their lives are blighted by years of questioning, and the possibility of fines, jail or both.

 These ‘gentle’ methods are sometimes supported by the action of thugs.

 Like lab rats, our lives become devoted to pleasing the leaders who designed the experiments. We sacrifice our principles, our consciences and our children’s futures, because we are not prepared to do what is right, to question, and basically do what normal rats do best when in the wild – to live.

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi should have been pleased that printing firm KHL blacked-out the faces of pigs in a farming article, which appeared on the front-page of the Malaysian edition of The New York Times, last week.

 KHL, based in Shah Alam, claimed that they voluntarily and regularly self-censored articles. They insisted that they had not been directed by the authorities: “If there is picture of nudes or like this, we will cover. This is a Muslim country [sic]”.

Politicians wrap cotton wool round Muslims, then abuse them to advance their own political ends – by goading Muslims into taking offence easily. Yesterday, the word ‘Allah’ was banned. Today, the open sale of pork is being challenged. At least one supermarket is alleged to have started segregating their trolleys into haram and halal trollies. What will be next?

 The company, KHL, reacted by taking precautionary measures to protect its business interests. Similarly, we protect our childrens’ futures by acceding to the wishes of our corrupt leaders. Most of us take the easy way out, by keeping silent amid injustice and abuse of power.

 Like the rest of the country, KHL probably mistrusts bodies like the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais), the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais), the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), Perkasa, and similar Muslim NGOs which are given carte-blanche to disrupt people’s lives and wreck businesses. Neither the police nor Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, seem to want to censure them.

PDRM goat unit?

 It won’t be long before a crony, or minister, has his ‘eureka’ moment and suggests that words containing ‘pig’ and ‘hog’ (and possibly, dog) should be banned? At risk would be the following words: pigment, epiglottis, hedgehog, pigeon, champignon, epigraph, piggyback, pigtail, lithograph, psychograph, pscyhogeny, shogun, and pathogen.

 If images of pigs are removed from publications, Malaysian children will grow up not knowing what pigs look like. Many children already think spaghetti grows on trees and peas come in cans. Our children will imagine pigs are mythical winged creatures, like unicorns, mermaids or dragons.

If dogs are in the list of prohibited items, might the Royal Malaysia Police’s (PDRM) dog unit be forced to enlist the help of… goats, perhaps?

 Pigs feature a lot in popular culture and the appreciation of English, English literature, books and mythology is poorer without the pig. Speaking English in Malaysia would be a challenge.

 In biblical times, Umno Baru might have stopped Noah’s two pigs from entering his ark.

 The film ‘Babe’, about a pig who thought she was a sheep-dog, was temporarily banned in 2005. Will George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ be blacklisted? What about ‘Miss Piggy’ of ‘The Muppets’, the animated cartoon series ‘The Three Little Pigs’, ‘Piggy’ in ‘Merrie Melodies’ or the Warner Brother’s ‘Porky Pig’?

Children’s tales like the ‘Three Little Pigs’ or the nursery rhyme and finger-play, ‘This Little Piggy’ are at risk. Books, manga cartoons, video games and rock musicals have all featured pigs. How should we address the Chinese Year of the Pig?

 The removal of ‘pig’ idioms would tarnish the beauty of language. The Education Ministry would be hard-pressed to offer replacement phrases in the following summary of Umno Baru.

 When Najib became PM in 2009, he said he would rid Umno Baru of corruption. Many said, “pigs might fly”. A few cynics said, “Never in a pig’s eye” will Umno Baru be cleansed because “You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig”.

Bersih has been a thorn in Najib’s side and he knew he had to “go the whole hog” to ‘win’ GE13, if he and his cronies valued physical freedom. Favours were called in from cronies, horse trades were made, and when the GE13 results were announced, Umno Baru “went hog-wild” because they could still roam free and continue plundering.

 Having a nose for making money through corrupt means is like hogs being able to sniff out truffles. The debilitating disease of corruption is as infectious as swine-flu. No one is spared, especially the top.

‘The master manipulator smirks’

Certain NGOs made May 13 their battle-cry. Giving Najib and his inspector-general of police (IGP) the authority to rein in people who threaten the peace, is a waste of resources, like “casting pearls before swine”.

Najib (left) tried to soften the blow of rising sugar prices, with claims that he was concerned about our health. He dared not insult us and tell us that we were “as fat as pigs”, but refrained from using an alternative description.

 The purchase of two Scorpene submarines was like “buying a pig in a poke”. Malaysia paid for two expensive, hollow metal tubes. Government functions resemble feasts, and those who attend “eat high off the hog” at these events.

 Rising prices dominate our conversations, but the ‘Allah’ issue was timed to divert our attention from the extravagance of senior politicians and their spouses. Teenagers have tried to emulate the success of the self-styled ‘First Lady of Malaysia’ (FLOM) by saving a portion of their pocket money in their “piggy banks”, but failed.

 Despite belt-tightening measures, the rakyat were disgusted to see MPs living “high on the hog” with taxpayers’ money, jet-setting overseas, or buying luxury condominiums. The treasury is their cash cow. Politicians’ children, some of whom were “road hogs”, were elevated to become special advisers, by “riding piggyback” on their fathers’ shoulders.

 Amidst the pandemonium, one man – the master manipulator – smirks on the sidelines. Like Napoleon of ‘Animal Farm’, who forsook his roots, he grins like a Cheshire cat at the fracas he has created.

 The contretemps over the word ‘Allah’ was ostensibly to stop Muslims from being converted and preach the wrong religion. Is obliterating the photos of pigs to stop more confusion? We look at pigs and see greedy, pot-bellied, squealing creatures. We are shocked that their behaviour mirrors ours. The self-revelation is frightening, to some.

 MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army and president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO).

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 30 January 2014, 7:18 am and is filed under
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