By YB Mr. LIm Kit Siang
Race Relations Act - will it enable Barack Obama phenomenon in Malaysia?
When the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hamid Albar announced yesterday that the Cabinet has approved the proposed Race Relations Act to strengthen ties among the different races in the country, I immediately thought of two matters.
The first is the “penumpang” controversy set off by the Bukit Bendera Umno division chairman, Datuk Ahmad Ismail as part of Umno’s most racist and inflammatory campaign in the Permatang Pauh by-election, which was decisively rejected by the voters from all racial groups uniting as a pioneering Bangsa Malaysia to give a thumping victory to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to return to Parliament in triumph after an enforced absence of a decade.
The real fall-out from the “penumpang” controversy was after the Permatang Pauh by-election, where for two weeks, Ahmad was allowed to assume “hero” status among extremists and communalists for his provocative, inflammatory, insensitive and racist reference because of the abdication and bankruptcy of the moral and political authority of the Cabinet and the Barisan Nasional leadership in failing to take immediate action to strike down such divisive and destructive outbursts.
Ahmad’s grandparents migrated to this country from India. Why should a Malaysian who is a second-generation locally born in the country be so irresponsible, provocative and racist as to question the loyalty of a Malaysian Chinese like seventh locally-born generation Tan Siok Choo, daughter to Tun Tan Siew Sin and grand-daughter to Tun Tan Cheng Lock – whose ancestors came to Malacca 237 years ago in 1771?
Even up to now, Ahmad is totally unrepentant and immune from any police prosecution for his incendiary utterance – while the Sin Chew reporter Tan Hoon Cheng who had professionally reported Ahmad’s speech was detained under the draconian Internal Security Act but saved from the full iniquity of the ISA because of instantaneous nation-wide and international outrage.
What is the use of a Race Relations Act in Malaysia if the Ahmad Ismails enjoy immunity from the law being able to get away scot-free for their inflammatory, offensive, insensitive and racist utterances without fear of having to face criminal reprisals from the police and the Attorney-General’s Chambers for their seditious utterances?
The second matter that comes immediately to mind is about political developments the other side of the globe – Barack Obama’s presidential candidature in the United States.
Only 220 years ago, the Negroes were slaves in America, totally deprived of all political, economic, social and human rights. Today, an American black is one of the two contenders for the American Presidency in November – marking a historic breakthrough in race relations in the United States.
What has Malaysia to show in race relations in similar field after 51 years of nation-building?
When we achieved Independence in 1957, the Merdeka social contract and the Malaysian Constitution is unambiguous in providing equal citizenship status for all Malaysians, as in stipulating that any Malaysian, regardless of race, religion or class, can aspire to the highest political office in the land to become the Prime Minister.
The only condition for anyone to be Prime Minister is that he commands the confidence of the majority of the Members of Parliament.
During the first premiership of Tunku Abdul Rahman from 1957 to 1969, nobody would raise an eyebrow at the assertion that any Malaysian, whether Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan, Iban and regardless of whether Muslim, Chrisitian, Buddhist, Hindu or Taoist, can become Prime Minister of Malaysia.
Half a century later, under the fifth Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, anyone who makes the assertion in public place that any Malaysian, regardless of whether Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan or Iban, and regardless of religion, whether Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu or Taoist, would be looked askance and even deemed to have made a most“insensitive” statement.
There would even be groups in the country who would feel justified to be “provoked” by such a straightforward statement to launch vociferous protests up and down the country.
Why is this so, despite the Vision 2020 objective of creating a Bangsa Malaysia out of the diverse races in the country, which was proclaimed 17 years ago in 1991?
Will the proposed Race Relations Act resolve these knotty problems of Malaysian nation-building, or is its purpose to further institutionalize racial segregation and discrimination which have surreptitiously crept into various aspects of Malaysian life and taken deep and subversive root?
Will the proposed Race Relations Act open the way to enable and empower a major breakthrough like the Barack Obama phenomenon to take place in Malaysia or the reverse?
[Speech at the DAP Cheras SSS (Support, Sympathy and Solidarity) Dinner for Teresa Kok at Hee Lai Ton Restaurant, Kuala Lumpur on Friday, 19th September 2008 at 9 pm
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Anwar detained under ISA?
By YB Mr. Lim Kit Siang
Abdullah should give public assurance that Anwar will not be detained under ISA
The uncharacteristically stern and harsh allegation by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday that the Parliamentary Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is a threat to the national security and economy who wanted to “destroy the country and exploit the people’s trust and tarnish the country’s image abroad” had sparked speculation that the stage is being set for a Operation Lalang 2 crackdown and Anwar’s arrest under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
All right-thinking Malaysians must deplore in the strongest terms the veiled threat by Abdullah that Anwar would be arbitrarily and undemocratically silenced as the allegation that Anwar is a threat to national security and economy is a most ludicrous and preposterous one.
I have been twice detained under the ISA, once in 1969 and the second time in 1987, becoming the guest of His Majesty’s Government for a total of 35 months – and on both occasions, I was accused of being “a threat to national security”!
All the 16 DAP MPs and leaders detained in the 1987 Operation Lalang dragnet under the ISA were all accused of being threats to national security – but these are all baseless catch-all allegations just to justify the abuse of the ISA to silence critics and dissent.
We were threats to the political security of the Barisan Nasional leaders but it is the democratic and citizenship right of every Malaysian to challenge the political credibility, legitimacy and authority of the ruling government through the democratic process or we should not claim that Malaysia practises parliamentary democracy.
Such democratic challenges do not become threats to national security just because those in power are in fear of losing the perks of office and power.
Anwar Ibrahim can be accused of posing a grave threat to the political security of Abdullah and the other Umno and Barisan Nasional leaders with his “916 sky-change” plan, but he cannot under any stretch of imagination be accused of being a threat to national security and economy.
Abdullah should not prop up his political life by resorting to the abuse of the ISA which had been enacted to deal with subversion or organised violence.
The toppling of the Barisan Nasional national government by getting the allegiance of the majority of the 222 MPs in Parliament to support a Pakatan Rakyat federal government is neither “subversion” nor “organised violence” intended in the Preamble of the ISA enacted 48 years ago in 1960.
In fact, the toppling of the government-of-the-day is part and parcel of the democratic process if the government-of-the-day loses support of the majority of the elected MPs, resulting in a change of government.
In first-word Parliaments and developed nations, change of government resulting from the withdrawal of support by the majority of MPs is a common occurrence, which is accepted and transacted without any threat of chaos or disorder with all political leaders participating peacefully in an orderly transition of power.
Malaysia is experiencing the possible change of federal government for the first time in the nation’s 51-year history, as this has never happened in Malaysia before.
This does not mean that any change of federal power should not be conducted in a democratic, orderly and peaceful manner.
Since he became Prime Minister, Abdullah has been talking about his dream of Malaysia shedding its “First-World Infrastructure, Third-World Mentality” malaise to join the ranks of first-world developed nations.
Malaysia is presently undergoing a critical test whether the nation can become a first-world developed nation where democratic change of government at the national level is accepted as an integral part of the democratic process as in developed countries in the West.
This is why Abdullah should make a public statement that if the Barisan Nasional government loses majority support and Anwar can get the support of the majority of the 222 MPs, he will gracefully, orderly, peacefully and democratically effect a transition of power for a new federal government to come into being.
This is also why Abdullah should make a categorical public assurance that the ISA will not be used to silence and arrest Anwar whether to foil the “916 sky-change” plan to replace the Barisan Nasional government with a new Pakatan Rakyat government or on the preposterous and baseless ground of being a “threat to national security and economy”.
(Media Conference Statement at the Perak Mentri Besar’s Office, Ipoh on Thursday, 18th September 2008 at 12 noon)
Abdullah should give public assurance that Anwar will not be detained under ISA
The uncharacteristically stern and harsh allegation by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday that the Parliamentary Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is a threat to the national security and economy who wanted to “destroy the country and exploit the people’s trust and tarnish the country’s image abroad” had sparked speculation that the stage is being set for a Operation Lalang 2 crackdown and Anwar’s arrest under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
All right-thinking Malaysians must deplore in the strongest terms the veiled threat by Abdullah that Anwar would be arbitrarily and undemocratically silenced as the allegation that Anwar is a threat to national security and economy is a most ludicrous and preposterous one.
I have been twice detained under the ISA, once in 1969 and the second time in 1987, becoming the guest of His Majesty’s Government for a total of 35 months – and on both occasions, I was accused of being “a threat to national security”!
All the 16 DAP MPs and leaders detained in the 1987 Operation Lalang dragnet under the ISA were all accused of being threats to national security – but these are all baseless catch-all allegations just to justify the abuse of the ISA to silence critics and dissent.
We were threats to the political security of the Barisan Nasional leaders but it is the democratic and citizenship right of every Malaysian to challenge the political credibility, legitimacy and authority of the ruling government through the democratic process or we should not claim that Malaysia practises parliamentary democracy.
Such democratic challenges do not become threats to national security just because those in power are in fear of losing the perks of office and power.
Anwar Ibrahim can be accused of posing a grave threat to the political security of Abdullah and the other Umno and Barisan Nasional leaders with his “916 sky-change” plan, but he cannot under any stretch of imagination be accused of being a threat to national security and economy.
Abdullah should not prop up his political life by resorting to the abuse of the ISA which had been enacted to deal with subversion or organised violence.
The toppling of the Barisan Nasional national government by getting the allegiance of the majority of the 222 MPs in Parliament to support a Pakatan Rakyat federal government is neither “subversion” nor “organised violence” intended in the Preamble of the ISA enacted 48 years ago in 1960.
In fact, the toppling of the government-of-the-day is part and parcel of the democratic process if the government-of-the-day loses support of the majority of the elected MPs, resulting in a change of government.
In first-word Parliaments and developed nations, change of government resulting from the withdrawal of support by the majority of MPs is a common occurrence, which is accepted and transacted without any threat of chaos or disorder with all political leaders participating peacefully in an orderly transition of power.
Malaysia is experiencing the possible change of federal government for the first time in the nation’s 51-year history, as this has never happened in Malaysia before.
This does not mean that any change of federal power should not be conducted in a democratic, orderly and peaceful manner.
Since he became Prime Minister, Abdullah has been talking about his dream of Malaysia shedding its “First-World Infrastructure, Third-World Mentality” malaise to join the ranks of first-world developed nations.
Malaysia is presently undergoing a critical test whether the nation can become a first-world developed nation where democratic change of government at the national level is accepted as an integral part of the democratic process as in developed countries in the West.
This is why Abdullah should make a public statement that if the Barisan Nasional government loses majority support and Anwar can get the support of the majority of the 222 MPs, he will gracefully, orderly, peacefully and democratically effect a transition of power for a new federal government to come into being.
This is also why Abdullah should make a categorical public assurance that the ISA will not be used to silence and arrest Anwar whether to foil the “916 sky-change” plan to replace the Barisan Nasional government with a new Pakatan Rakyat government or on the preposterous and baseless ground of being a “threat to national security and economy”.
(Media Conference Statement at the Perak Mentri Besar’s Office, Ipoh on Thursday, 18th September 2008 at 12 noon)
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Raja Petra a 'threat to national security'
New Straits Time Saturday, September 13,2008 reported on the above title. I was very curious and puzzled how and why Petra is a threat! Datuk.Seri Syed Hamid Albar need to help us by detailing to us what and how he found Petra a THREAT. May be he can tell us which article that Petra wrote is a threat.
I can't help but keep thinking that the threat is not to the nation but to BN and in particular to Umno! If not why put him under ISA. Dr Koh Tsu Koon ( I can't agree with him more) urged the government to bring Petra to trial under existing laws rather than detain him under the ISA.
The other thing is this ISA ARRESTS are on Terasa Kok and Sin Chew journalist simultaneously which gave us the deja vu that "Is this Operasi Lalang 2?" Dr Wan Azizah said:"prelude to an impending crackdown". I can't help but think that it is the beginning of a crackdown!
Many of us are praying for PEACE, JUSTICE and God's WILL be done on Malaysia. Some have begun to light up candle every night till the NEW DAWN for Malaysia has come!
I can't help but keep thinking that the threat is not to the nation but to BN and in particular to Umno! If not why put him under ISA. Dr Koh Tsu Koon ( I can't agree with him more) urged the government to bring Petra to trial under existing laws rather than detain him under the ISA.
The other thing is this ISA ARRESTS are on Terasa Kok and Sin Chew journalist simultaneously which gave us the deja vu that "Is this Operasi Lalang 2?" Dr Wan Azizah said:"prelude to an impending crackdown". I can't help but think that it is the beginning of a crackdown!
Many of us are praying for PEACE, JUSTICE and God's WILL be done on Malaysia. Some have begun to light up candle every night till the NEW DAWN for Malaysia has come!
Friday, September 12, 2008
New government by 916?
Most likely NOT!
Anwar had declared to work toward that date.
Most of us are certain that it is a matter of time, a new government will take over. Latest by the next election.
Abdullah popularity rating had been sprialling down from record high of 91% in late 2004 to 61% before March 8, 2008 general election, plummating further to 53% in April and 42% in July.
For the past 6 months, the public confidence in the Abdullah premiership has been deteriorating because of his failure to honour his new pledges to judicial, police and anti-corruption reforms. There are many other happenings that may snowball to his eventual early demise namely: Petrol price hike triggering an inflationary spiral. Worsening of the crime situation. Ahmad Ismail "penumpang" furore. Permatang Pauh by-election. The arrest of Raja Petra Kamarudin under ISA today which appears to be the beginning of a crack down.
No wonder Umno Vice President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has publicly called on Abdullah to rethink his transition plan to step down by mid-2010 timeframe which is too long.
Anwar had declared to work toward that date.
Most of us are certain that it is a matter of time, a new government will take over. Latest by the next election.
Abdullah popularity rating had been sprialling down from record high of 91% in late 2004 to 61% before March 8, 2008 general election, plummating further to 53% in April and 42% in July.
For the past 6 months, the public confidence in the Abdullah premiership has been deteriorating because of his failure to honour his new pledges to judicial, police and anti-corruption reforms. There are many other happenings that may snowball to his eventual early demise namely: Petrol price hike triggering an inflationary spiral. Worsening of the crime situation. Ahmad Ismail "penumpang" furore. Permatang Pauh by-election. The arrest of Raja Petra Kamarudin under ISA today which appears to be the beginning of a crack down.
No wonder Umno Vice President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has publicly called on Abdullah to rethink his transition plan to step down by mid-2010 timeframe which is too long.
Untimely gift of RM160,000 watch
The Sun paper today reports:
Untimely gift
by Terence Fernandez
and R. Nadeswaran
PETALING JAYA: What can you
buy with RM160,000? An X-ray
machine for one, or fi ve low-cost
homes, breakfast for 1,000 poor
schoolchildren for two years and
feed a hardcore poor family of 10 for
almost 20 years!
However, a company owned
by the Selangor government,
Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad
(PNSB), deemed that it was better to
spend the sum on a watch for
its then chairman and
mentri besar Datuk
Seri Dr Mohamad Khir
Toyo.
On Jan 8, PNSB
paid RM159,250 for a
Patek Philippe watch
as “cenderamata
untuk pengerusi PNSB”
(souvenir for the
chairman of PNSB)
– Mohamad Khir at that
time.
It is understood that the watch
in white gold was presented to
the former MB before the March 8
general election.
But Mohamad Khir returned
the watch. And it was not until two
months later that a buyer was found.
“When we presented the watch
to Datuk Seri, he declined, saying he
did not need such an expensive gift,”
said PNSB chief executive offi cer
Datin Khairiyah Abu Hassan.
She said a buyer was found in
March and the watch was sold for
about the same price and the money
banked into PNSB’s account.
What is perplexing is that PNSB
deemed it fi t to spend on such
extravagance after posting losses of
RM7.5 million in its 2006 fi nancial
year. (Companies Commission of
Malaysia records show that this was
its last fi nancial returns).
But Khairiyah clarifi ed that the
company had made a profi t of RM10
million and that the watch was a sort
of emolument for Mohamad Khir’s
“contributions”.
The purchase was not tabled
for approval by PNSB’s board of
directors. However, Khairiyah
said that board approval was not
necessary for such purchases.
“We have a certain amount
for entertainment and other such
expenses which
can be decided at
management level,”
she said in a telephone
interview yesterday.
The purchase of the
timepiece from Sincere
Watch Sdn Bhd was listed as
“sundry expenses” by PNSB.
According to a Sincere sales
agent, the watch was a collectors’
item from the Perpetual Calendar
series, retailed at RM235,600.
The agent expressed surprise at
the price PNSB paid, saying that the
discount was far more than usual.
“We usually don’t give more than
a 15% discount,” she said when
theSun contacted Sincere’s outlet in
Suria KLCC.
Meanwhile, executive councillor
for health, plantation workers’
welfare, poverty eradication and
caring government Dr Xavier
Jayakumar expressed disgust over
the “gift”.
“As an offi cial entrusted to take
care of the state, where urban poor
is on the rise, I fi nd it disgusting
that one can even think of such an
expensive gift.
“Do you know how many families
we can help with that money?” asked
the Sri Andalas assemblyman.
Khairiyah said PNSB was always
careful with spending its
funds.
“We are mindful that
we are dealing with
public money but we
are also a corporation
and it is not unusual
for chairmen and
directors to receive
such benefi ts,”
she said, adding
that the purchase of
the timepiece was
considered “frugal”
compared with other
fi rms that dished out large
cash dividends and luxury
cars for its top executives.
Incorporated on Oct 15,
1990, PNSB is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Selangor state
government. With an authorised
capital of RM100 million and a
paid-up capital of RM24 million, it
was specially established to take over
the commercial projects of Selangor
State Incorporation (SSI), involving a
host of diversifi ed activities; namely
housing and property, tourism,
investment, manufacturing and
services.
According to its charter,
“PNSB strongly believes in
balancing profi tability with social
responsibility. PNSB is assertively
assisting in the evolvement of mesra
rakyat” (people-friendly) and Caring
Government Programme
Untimely gift
by Terence Fernandez
and R. Nadeswaran
PETALING JAYA: What can you
buy with RM160,000? An X-ray
machine for one, or fi ve low-cost
homes, breakfast for 1,000 poor
schoolchildren for two years and
feed a hardcore poor family of 10 for
almost 20 years!
However, a company owned
by the Selangor government,
Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad
(PNSB), deemed that it was better to
spend the sum on a watch for
its then chairman and
mentri besar Datuk
Seri Dr Mohamad Khir
Toyo.
On Jan 8, PNSB
paid RM159,250 for a
Patek Philippe watch
as “cenderamata
untuk pengerusi PNSB”
(souvenir for the
chairman of PNSB)
– Mohamad Khir at that
time.
It is understood that the watch
in white gold was presented to
the former MB before the March 8
general election.
But Mohamad Khir returned
the watch. And it was not until two
months later that a buyer was found.
“When we presented the watch
to Datuk Seri, he declined, saying he
did not need such an expensive gift,”
said PNSB chief executive offi cer
Datin Khairiyah Abu Hassan.
She said a buyer was found in
March and the watch was sold for
about the same price and the money
banked into PNSB’s account.
What is perplexing is that PNSB
deemed it fi t to spend on such
extravagance after posting losses of
RM7.5 million in its 2006 fi nancial
year. (Companies Commission of
Malaysia records show that this was
its last fi nancial returns).
But Khairiyah clarifi ed that the
company had made a profi t of RM10
million and that the watch was a sort
of emolument for Mohamad Khir’s
“contributions”.
The purchase was not tabled
for approval by PNSB’s board of
directors. However, Khairiyah
said that board approval was not
necessary for such purchases.
“We have a certain amount
for entertainment and other such
expenses which
can be decided at
management level,”
she said in a telephone
interview yesterday.
The purchase of the
timepiece from Sincere
Watch Sdn Bhd was listed as
“sundry expenses” by PNSB.
According to a Sincere sales
agent, the watch was a collectors’
item from the Perpetual Calendar
series, retailed at RM235,600.
The agent expressed surprise at
the price PNSB paid, saying that the
discount was far more than usual.
“We usually don’t give more than
a 15% discount,” she said when
theSun contacted Sincere’s outlet in
Suria KLCC.
Meanwhile, executive councillor
for health, plantation workers’
welfare, poverty eradication and
caring government Dr Xavier
Jayakumar expressed disgust over
the “gift”.
“As an offi cial entrusted to take
care of the state, where urban poor
is on the rise, I fi nd it disgusting
that one can even think of such an
expensive gift.
“Do you know how many families
we can help with that money?” asked
the Sri Andalas assemblyman.
Khairiyah said PNSB was always
careful with spending its
funds.
“We are mindful that
we are dealing with
public money but we
are also a corporation
and it is not unusual
for chairmen and
directors to receive
such benefi ts,”
she said, adding
that the purchase of
the timepiece was
considered “frugal”
compared with other
fi rms that dished out large
cash dividends and luxury
cars for its top executives.
Incorporated on Oct 15,
1990, PNSB is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Selangor state
government. With an authorised
capital of RM100 million and a
paid-up capital of RM24 million, it
was specially established to take over
the commercial projects of Selangor
State Incorporation (SSI), involving a
host of diversifi ed activities; namely
housing and property, tourism,
investment, manufacturing and
services.
According to its charter,
“PNSB strongly believes in
balancing profi tability with social
responsibility. PNSB is assertively
assisting in the evolvement of mesra
rakyat” (people-friendly) and Caring
Government Programme
Beginning of a crack down
Raja Petra Kamarudin has just been arrested by the police from his house in Sg. Buluh under the Internal Security act.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The mouth--a weapon or a tool
An hypocrite with [his] mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
Proverbs 11:9 KJV
There will be a time when loud-mouthed, incompetent people seem to be getting the best of you. When that happens, you only have to be patient and wait for them to self destruct. It never fails.
Richard Rybolt
- More quotations on: [Patience]
LAB comments: The mouth can be used as a weapon or a tool, hurting relationships or building them up. Sadly, it is often easier to destroy than to build, and most people have received more destructive comments than those that build up. Every person you meet today is either a demolition site or a construction opportunity, Your words will make a difference. Will they be weapons for destruction or tools for construction?
My comments: We may simply eat but not simply talk with our mouth! Our mouth can get us into deep trouble, Ahmad Ismail, the Umno chief of Bukit Bedera division had been just suspended yesterday by Umno supreme council for calling the Malaysian Chinese "pendatang or penumpang"(lodgers) who therefore cannot enjoy equal rights.
Proverbs 11:9 KJV
There will be a time when loud-mouthed, incompetent people seem to be getting the best of you. When that happens, you only have to be patient and wait for them to self destruct. It never fails.
Richard Rybolt
- More quotations on: [Patience]
LAB comments: The mouth can be used as a weapon or a tool, hurting relationships or building them up. Sadly, it is often easier to destroy than to build, and most people have received more destructive comments than those that build up. Every person you meet today is either a demolition site or a construction opportunity, Your words will make a difference. Will they be weapons for destruction or tools for construction?
My comments: We may simply eat but not simply talk with our mouth! Our mouth can get us into deep trouble, Ahmad Ismail, the Umno chief of Bukit Bedera division had been just suspended yesterday by Umno supreme council for calling the Malaysian Chinese "pendatang or penumpang"(lodgers) who therefore cannot enjoy equal rights.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
We are all "pendatang"
By YB Mr. Lim Kit Siang
Jac Tan emailed a very interesting and timely blog from Syed Iman’s kuda ranggi.
Syed Imran is an Arab-Malaysian born in Penang, Malaysia, ex-Bernama journalist (1971-1998) and former press secretary to Minister in PM’s Department.
Syed Imran provides a Bangsa Malaysia voice in the nation-wide furore which had erupted as a result of Ahmad Ismail’s irresponsible, opportunist and racist reference of Malaysian Chinese as “pendatang” and “penumpang”.
Syed Imran blogged:
“Secara peribadi, saya tidak setuju dengan apa yang didakwa dikata oleh Ahmad Ismail atas beberapa sebab.
“Bagi saya, hampir 90 peratus rakyat Malaysia, khususnya di Semenanjung, adalah pendatang dan kita semua sebenarnya menumpang hidup di bumi Allah. Kita bukan pemilik kekal tetapi hanya menumpang…
“Kita adalah kaum pendatang yang menumpang hidup di negeri ini. Golongan yang boleh diiktiraf sebagai orang asal atau anak bumi tulen adalah mereka yang kita kenali sebagai Negrito, Jakun, Semang, Jahut, Orang Laut, Orang Darat, Senoi dan suku kaum masyarakat Asli lain yang masih menjadi penghuni belantara.
“Kita semua adalah rakyat Malaysia.”
Syed Imran’s blog touching on the lineage of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir, Home Minister, Syed Hamid Albar, Ahmad Ismail himself should be compulsory read for the agent provocateurs out to sabotage the realisation of a Bangsa Malaysia - whether by constant keris-wielding or the canard of “pendatang” and “penumpang”.
Monday, September 08, 2008Antara pendatang dan penumpang
Pada mulanya saya agak keberatan nak ulas kekecohan yang berpunca ekoran daripada kenyataan ketua UMNO bahagian Bukit Bendera, Pulau Pinang bernama Ahmad bin Ismail. Sama ada benar atau tidak apa yang didakwa dikatakan olehnya mengenai rakyat Malaysia keturunan Cina bukan persoalannya kerana isu tersebut sudahpun merebak dan mengapi-apikan keadaan.
Jika tidak ditangani dengan cermat, teliti dan bijak, isu itu boleh ditangguk dalam air yang keruh oleh anasir-anasir yang ingin melihat negara ini hancur serta mengundang campur tangan kuasa asing. Dalam zaman dunia tanpa sempadan dan liputan meluas dan segera oleh media elektronik antarabangsa, apa yang berlaku di sesebuah negara itu tidak dapat disembunyi atau dinafikan.
Isu pokok yang dibangkitkan oleh Ahmad Ismail membabitkan persoalan “menumpang” iaitu rakyat Malaysia keturunan Cina adalah penumpang di negara ini. Beliau menjelaskan bahawa ia merujuk kepada zaman pra-Merdeka. Bagaimanapun, sensitiviti rakyat Malaysia keturunan Cina telah terguris.
Saya tidak mengenali secara peribadi Ahmad Ismail, tetapi kenal agak rapat dengan Allahyarham abangnya, Abdul Rahim Ismail, pemilik Syarikat Pembinaan Rahim yang pada satu ketika dahulu agak terkenal sebagai sebuah firma pembinaan Bumiputera yang unggul di Pulau Pinang. Saya tidak tahu apa dah jadi dengan syarikat itu selepas Abdul Rahim meninggal dunia.
Secara peribadi, saya tidak setuju dengan apa yang didakwa dikata oleh Ahmad Ismail atas beberapa sebab.
Bagi saya, hampir 90 peratus rakyat Malaysia, khususnya di Semenanjung, adalah pendatang dan kita semua sebenarnya menumpang hidup di bumi Allah. Kita bukan pemilik kekal tetapi hanya menumpang.
Sebagai contoh, saya sendiri adalah keturunan pendatang yang menumpang hidup di bumi bertuah ini. Datuk nenek di sebelah bapa saya berhijrah dari Makkah dan dari Brunei ke sini manakala di sebelah ibu pula dari Hadhramut, Yaman. Kami adalah pendatang dan penumpang sama seperti hampir semua penduduk negara ini khususnya di Pulau Pinang.
Bagi Ahmad Ismail, dia juga datang dari keluarga pendatang dan menumpang hidup di negara ini. Ahmad Ismail tidak boleh menafikan hakikat bahawa datuk neneknya adalah pendatang dari India untuk menerokai penghidupan yang lebih baik dan selesa di bumi bertuah ini.
Perdana Menteri Abdullah bin Ahmad juga tergolong dalam kategori yang sama. Datuknya di sebelah ibu adalah pendatang dari wilayah Guandong, China. Pendek kata, datuk Pak Lah iaitu bapa Allahyarhamah Kailan bernama Hassan Salleh atau Hah Su Chiang adalah seorang pendatang. Beliau berhijrah ke Tanah Melayu dari wilayah Guandong (Kwantung) pada pertengahan abad ke-19 dan menetap di Bayan Lepas sebagai pekebun getah, pesawah padi dan kemudian saudagar intan berlian.
Najib Tun Razak, Timbalan PM juga berasal daripada keluarga pendatang iaitu dari Sulawesi, Indonesia atau lebih senang disebut orang Bugis manakala sepupunya Hishamudin Hussein tidak terlepas daripada darah keturunan Turki.
Datuk nenek mantan PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad juga pendatang dari Kerala, India manakala ibu Almarhum Tunku Abul Rahman berasal dari negeri Siam (Thailand).
Kesultanan Melayu Melaka pun dibuka oleh orang pendatang dari Sumatra bernama Parameswara, seorang anak raja atau bangsawan beragama Hindu.
Dalam sejarah kesultanan Melayu, kita dapati ada yang ditubuh oleh pendatang dari Bugis dan ada pula dari Hadhramut selain dari Minangkabau.
Hampir semua orang Melayu di sini berasal dari luar Tanah Melayu tetapi diiktiraf sebagai “bangsa Melayu” oleh Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Kita adalah “Melayu mengikut takrifan Perlembagaan” iaitu beragama Islam, mengamalkan adat resam Melayu dan bertutur dalam bahasa Melayu. Malangnya, bahasa Melayu nampaknya dimatikan oleh orang Melayu (UMNO) sendiri apabila dinamakan sebagai bahasa Malaysia.
Oleh itu, orang Arab seperti Syed Hamid Albar dan saya, orang Aceh seperti Sanusi Junid, orang India seperti Kader Sheikh Fadzir dan Nor Mohamed Yakcop, orang Bugis seperti Najib, orang Minang seperti Rais Yatim, orang Jawa seperti Mohamad Rahmat dan yang lain seperti dari Madura, Pulau Boyan, Siam, Burma, Yunnan (China) dan selatan Filipina dengan mudah boleh diiktirf sebagai “Melayu”.
Mereka diterima sebagai orang Melayu tidak kira sama ada mereka bertutur bahasa Melayu atau tidak di rumah umpamanya si Arab berbahasa Arab, si Jawa berbahasa Jawa dan si Minang berbahasa Minang atupun si Mamak berbahasa Tamil.
Bahasa-bahasa yang disebut itu bukan bahasa Melayu dan jika dilihat dari sudut Perlembagaan Persekutuan, tidak boleh diterima atau diiktiraf sebagai bangsa Melayu. Walau bagaimanapun, atas kepentingan dan faktor politik, semuanya diterima sebagai Melayu dan Bumiputera.
Oleh itu, adalah tidak adil untuk menuding jari kepada orang Cina yang juga kaum pendatang sama seperti orang Arab, India, Aceh, Minang, Batak, Mandailing, Jawa, Madura mahupun Bugis, sebagai menumpang di negeri ini. Kita tidak boleh menafikan bahawa sebilangan besar datuk nenek orang Cina telah berhijrah ke negeri ini semasa Kesultanan Melayu Melaka, bahkan kesultanan-kesultanan terdahulu di Kedah mahupun Terengganu dan Kelantan serta semasa Francis Light berjaya menipu Sultan Kedah untuk menduduki Pulau Pinang pada 1786.
Kita adalah kaum pendatang yang menumpang hidup di negeri ini. Golongan yang boleh diiktiraf sebagai orang asal atau anak bumi tulen adalah mereka yang kita kenali sebagai Negrito, Jakun, Semang, Jahut, Orang Laut, Orang Darat, Senoi dan suku kaum masyarakat Asli lain yang masih menjadi penghuni belantara.
Kita tidak harus lupa akan sumbangan dan pengorbanan semua kaum dan suku kaum untuk membangunkan Malaysia sama ada dari sudut ekonomi, kemasyarakatan, keselamatan dan yang paling penting kesepakatan dan perpaduan. Semua orang yang kena dan seharusnya membayar cukai, berbuat demikian tanpa mengira kaum atau asal keturunan, sama ada pendatang atau penumpang.
Jac Tan emailed a very interesting and timely blog from Syed Iman’s kuda ranggi.
Syed Imran is an Arab-Malaysian born in Penang, Malaysia, ex-Bernama journalist (1971-1998) and former press secretary to Minister in PM’s Department.
Syed Imran provides a Bangsa Malaysia voice in the nation-wide furore which had erupted as a result of Ahmad Ismail’s irresponsible, opportunist and racist reference of Malaysian Chinese as “pendatang” and “penumpang”.
Syed Imran blogged:
“Secara peribadi, saya tidak setuju dengan apa yang didakwa dikata oleh Ahmad Ismail atas beberapa sebab.
“Bagi saya, hampir 90 peratus rakyat Malaysia, khususnya di Semenanjung, adalah pendatang dan kita semua sebenarnya menumpang hidup di bumi Allah. Kita bukan pemilik kekal tetapi hanya menumpang…
“Kita adalah kaum pendatang yang menumpang hidup di negeri ini. Golongan yang boleh diiktiraf sebagai orang asal atau anak bumi tulen adalah mereka yang kita kenali sebagai Negrito, Jakun, Semang, Jahut, Orang Laut, Orang Darat, Senoi dan suku kaum masyarakat Asli lain yang masih menjadi penghuni belantara.
“Kita semua adalah rakyat Malaysia.”
Syed Imran’s blog touching on the lineage of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir, Home Minister, Syed Hamid Albar, Ahmad Ismail himself should be compulsory read for the agent provocateurs out to sabotage the realisation of a Bangsa Malaysia - whether by constant keris-wielding or the canard of “pendatang” and “penumpang”.
Monday, September 08, 2008Antara pendatang dan penumpang
Pada mulanya saya agak keberatan nak ulas kekecohan yang berpunca ekoran daripada kenyataan ketua UMNO bahagian Bukit Bendera, Pulau Pinang bernama Ahmad bin Ismail. Sama ada benar atau tidak apa yang didakwa dikatakan olehnya mengenai rakyat Malaysia keturunan Cina bukan persoalannya kerana isu tersebut sudahpun merebak dan mengapi-apikan keadaan.
Jika tidak ditangani dengan cermat, teliti dan bijak, isu itu boleh ditangguk dalam air yang keruh oleh anasir-anasir yang ingin melihat negara ini hancur serta mengundang campur tangan kuasa asing. Dalam zaman dunia tanpa sempadan dan liputan meluas dan segera oleh media elektronik antarabangsa, apa yang berlaku di sesebuah negara itu tidak dapat disembunyi atau dinafikan.
Isu pokok yang dibangkitkan oleh Ahmad Ismail membabitkan persoalan “menumpang” iaitu rakyat Malaysia keturunan Cina adalah penumpang di negara ini. Beliau menjelaskan bahawa ia merujuk kepada zaman pra-Merdeka. Bagaimanapun, sensitiviti rakyat Malaysia keturunan Cina telah terguris.
Saya tidak mengenali secara peribadi Ahmad Ismail, tetapi kenal agak rapat dengan Allahyarham abangnya, Abdul Rahim Ismail, pemilik Syarikat Pembinaan Rahim yang pada satu ketika dahulu agak terkenal sebagai sebuah firma pembinaan Bumiputera yang unggul di Pulau Pinang. Saya tidak tahu apa dah jadi dengan syarikat itu selepas Abdul Rahim meninggal dunia.
Secara peribadi, saya tidak setuju dengan apa yang didakwa dikata oleh Ahmad Ismail atas beberapa sebab.
Bagi saya, hampir 90 peratus rakyat Malaysia, khususnya di Semenanjung, adalah pendatang dan kita semua sebenarnya menumpang hidup di bumi Allah. Kita bukan pemilik kekal tetapi hanya menumpang.
Sebagai contoh, saya sendiri adalah keturunan pendatang yang menumpang hidup di bumi bertuah ini. Datuk nenek di sebelah bapa saya berhijrah dari Makkah dan dari Brunei ke sini manakala di sebelah ibu pula dari Hadhramut, Yaman. Kami adalah pendatang dan penumpang sama seperti hampir semua penduduk negara ini khususnya di Pulau Pinang.
Bagi Ahmad Ismail, dia juga datang dari keluarga pendatang dan menumpang hidup di negara ini. Ahmad Ismail tidak boleh menafikan hakikat bahawa datuk neneknya adalah pendatang dari India untuk menerokai penghidupan yang lebih baik dan selesa di bumi bertuah ini.
Perdana Menteri Abdullah bin Ahmad juga tergolong dalam kategori yang sama. Datuknya di sebelah ibu adalah pendatang dari wilayah Guandong, China. Pendek kata, datuk Pak Lah iaitu bapa Allahyarhamah Kailan bernama Hassan Salleh atau Hah Su Chiang adalah seorang pendatang. Beliau berhijrah ke Tanah Melayu dari wilayah Guandong (Kwantung) pada pertengahan abad ke-19 dan menetap di Bayan Lepas sebagai pekebun getah, pesawah padi dan kemudian saudagar intan berlian.
Najib Tun Razak, Timbalan PM juga berasal daripada keluarga pendatang iaitu dari Sulawesi, Indonesia atau lebih senang disebut orang Bugis manakala sepupunya Hishamudin Hussein tidak terlepas daripada darah keturunan Turki.
Datuk nenek mantan PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad juga pendatang dari Kerala, India manakala ibu Almarhum Tunku Abul Rahman berasal dari negeri Siam (Thailand).
Kesultanan Melayu Melaka pun dibuka oleh orang pendatang dari Sumatra bernama Parameswara, seorang anak raja atau bangsawan beragama Hindu.
Dalam sejarah kesultanan Melayu, kita dapati ada yang ditubuh oleh pendatang dari Bugis dan ada pula dari Hadhramut selain dari Minangkabau.
Hampir semua orang Melayu di sini berasal dari luar Tanah Melayu tetapi diiktiraf sebagai “bangsa Melayu” oleh Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Kita adalah “Melayu mengikut takrifan Perlembagaan” iaitu beragama Islam, mengamalkan adat resam Melayu dan bertutur dalam bahasa Melayu. Malangnya, bahasa Melayu nampaknya dimatikan oleh orang Melayu (UMNO) sendiri apabila dinamakan sebagai bahasa Malaysia.
Oleh itu, orang Arab seperti Syed Hamid Albar dan saya, orang Aceh seperti Sanusi Junid, orang India seperti Kader Sheikh Fadzir dan Nor Mohamed Yakcop, orang Bugis seperti Najib, orang Minang seperti Rais Yatim, orang Jawa seperti Mohamad Rahmat dan yang lain seperti dari Madura, Pulau Boyan, Siam, Burma, Yunnan (China) dan selatan Filipina dengan mudah boleh diiktirf sebagai “Melayu”.
Mereka diterima sebagai orang Melayu tidak kira sama ada mereka bertutur bahasa Melayu atau tidak di rumah umpamanya si Arab berbahasa Arab, si Jawa berbahasa Jawa dan si Minang berbahasa Minang atupun si Mamak berbahasa Tamil.
Bahasa-bahasa yang disebut itu bukan bahasa Melayu dan jika dilihat dari sudut Perlembagaan Persekutuan, tidak boleh diterima atau diiktiraf sebagai bangsa Melayu. Walau bagaimanapun, atas kepentingan dan faktor politik, semuanya diterima sebagai Melayu dan Bumiputera.
Oleh itu, adalah tidak adil untuk menuding jari kepada orang Cina yang juga kaum pendatang sama seperti orang Arab, India, Aceh, Minang, Batak, Mandailing, Jawa, Madura mahupun Bugis, sebagai menumpang di negeri ini. Kita tidak boleh menafikan bahawa sebilangan besar datuk nenek orang Cina telah berhijrah ke negeri ini semasa Kesultanan Melayu Melaka, bahkan kesultanan-kesultanan terdahulu di Kedah mahupun Terengganu dan Kelantan serta semasa Francis Light berjaya menipu Sultan Kedah untuk menduduki Pulau Pinang pada 1786.
Kita adalah kaum pendatang yang menumpang hidup di negeri ini. Golongan yang boleh diiktiraf sebagai orang asal atau anak bumi tulen adalah mereka yang kita kenali sebagai Negrito, Jakun, Semang, Jahut, Orang Laut, Orang Darat, Senoi dan suku kaum masyarakat Asli lain yang masih menjadi penghuni belantara.
Kita tidak harus lupa akan sumbangan dan pengorbanan semua kaum dan suku kaum untuk membangunkan Malaysia sama ada dari sudut ekonomi, kemasyarakatan, keselamatan dan yang paling penting kesepakatan dan perpaduan. Semua orang yang kena dan seharusnya membayar cukai, berbuat demikian tanpa mengira kaum atau asal keturunan, sama ada pendatang atau penumpang.
Racist Ahmad Ismail provocation
By YB Mr. Lim Kit Siang
« We are all “pendatangs”
Racist Ahmad Ismail provocation - will 13 Penang Umno division leaders be disciplined too?
What action will the Umno Supreme Council take at its emergency meeting today to end the15-day national furore over Ahmad Ismail’s provocative, inflammatory and acist “penumpang” reference to Malaysian Chinese – a simple and straightforward issue which should have been nipped in the bud when it surfaced publicly on August 26 instead of being allowed to snowball into a “no-holds-barred” political and nation-building crisis escalating into the Bukit Bendera Umno divison chairman:
• Warning the Chinese in Malaysia not to mimic American Jews in seeking to control the country’s economy but also its political power;
• Wanting Gerakan to leave the Barisan Nasional;
• Demanding that Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon should be stripped of his post as the state Barisan chairman and the post be given to the MCA; and
• Public tearing of a picture of Tsu Koon.
What would have ensued if there had been a public tearing of the picture of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi or the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuik Seri Najib Razak by a Gerakan division leader of Chinese or Indian descent?
Armed Forces Chief Jeneral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal yesterday made a most uncustomary public intervention when he proposed at a Wanita Umno function that the Government take stern action against those who stoke racial sentiments, the country’s main security threat.
Is Abdul Aziz referring directly to Ahmad Ismail and the 13 Penang Umno Division leaders who had given full backing to the Bukit Bendera Umno division chairman in his inflammatory, irresponsible and racist acts and rants, or is the Armed Forces Chief referring to those aggrieved by Ahmad Ismail’s provocative outbursts?
Ahmad Ismail’s grandparents migrated to this country from India. Why should a Malaysian who is a second-generation locally born in the country be so irresponsible, provocative and racist as to question the loyalty of a Malaysian Chinese like seventh locally-born generation Tan Siok Choo, daughter to Tun Tan Siew Sin, causing her to declare most justly and legitimately in her Sun column, “Politically blind and tone deaf?”:
“And for some Malaysian Chinese like myself, to be called a ‘squat’ is an insult. My forefathers came to Malacca in 1771. Even in August 1957, my family had been living in Malacca for 186 years. How many other Malaysians can claim this long period of residence? “
Ahmad Ismail however belong to the “dinosaur” generation when their narrow-minded racist views meant to protect their “pot of gold” as an Umnoputra rather than to advance the welfare of all Malays is rejected by young and progressive Malaysians from all races, including young Malays, as reflected in this posting on my blog:
What happen to this country? Please stop and stop this racial issues llaaahh… Im a Malay, 22 years old and Im a University of Malaya student. In my class, Im really happy I can interact with each other as a Malaysian. Sure!!! In my class from 30 students, there are only 5 Malay and the other 25 are Chinese. Even after class, there’s not a big deal we can makan-makan and minum-minum together without realized that we are all “penumpang”, “pendatang” or wuteva the damned thing you call it. If I dont understand anything or facing any difficulties in the subject that I learn, my Chinese friends dont even hesitate to teach me and so when they ask me, I will share my knowledge also. Then again, we makan-makan again at mamak stall eating a roti canai and glass of teh tarik. EERRGGHH!!!
Do you think the current our politician leaders never experienced this warmth moment with their friends different in races during their study period on youth time??? How come? We live in Malaysia laaahh… Its healthy when you getting know each other… Come and visit their house during Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and so on…. Even Im a Malay, I really hate when UITM students “berarak”, “berdemo” or “berpekik-pekik” when Selangor MB suggested at least 10% quota for UITM students opened for non-bumis. AARRGGHH!!! They are stupid, really-really stupid. In UM, in our college activities, we Malay dont even have any problem to hold any occasion collaborating with Chinese or Indian. We engineered an event together until it success- for example, a choir competition, a Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Competition, an Annual Dinner of the college. We work together. But when I read the newspaper, puuuff!!!! Seems every single of my joy losssttt, destroyed!!!! Eeeevvvveryday racial tense issues!!!! AAAARRGGHH!!! Cant we respect each other….??? Im a muslim and my religion teach us, in Holy Quran - “Nor will you worship that I which worship, to you be your religion, and to me my religion (Islamic monotheism)” - Surah Al-Kafirun : sentence 4-5…. Means that even you are from other religion - can applied also other races, there’s nothing to do with that. You are free to apply or live with your own life and religious style if you are different than a Muslim also. So, just respect other races or religions laaahh… Cant our leaders do that?? Its really makes me paaaiinnn heeelll!!!
The real personalities being tested in the Ahmad Ismail furore is not the Bukit Bendera Umno division chief but the Prime Minister and the Umno leadership – whether they are capable of and prepared to redeem themselves for their dereliction of duty to the nation and people in the past 15 days in allowing a comparatively small issue over Ahmad Ismail’s inflammatory, provocative and racist statement to blow up into a full-scale political and nation building crisis!
This is why Malaysians are waiting for the decision of the Umno Supreme Council emergency meeting to see what disciplinary actions would be meted out to firstly, Ahmad Ismail and secondly, the 13 Penang Umno division leaders who had supported and egged on Ahmad in his inflammatory, provocative and racist acts and rants.
« We are all “pendatangs”
Racist Ahmad Ismail provocation - will 13 Penang Umno division leaders be disciplined too?
What action will the Umno Supreme Council take at its emergency meeting today to end the15-day national furore over Ahmad Ismail’s provocative, inflammatory and acist “penumpang” reference to Malaysian Chinese – a simple and straightforward issue which should have been nipped in the bud when it surfaced publicly on August 26 instead of being allowed to snowball into a “no-holds-barred” political and nation-building crisis escalating into the Bukit Bendera Umno divison chairman:
• Warning the Chinese in Malaysia not to mimic American Jews in seeking to control the country’s economy but also its political power;
• Wanting Gerakan to leave the Barisan Nasional;
• Demanding that Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon should be stripped of his post as the state Barisan chairman and the post be given to the MCA; and
• Public tearing of a picture of Tsu Koon.
What would have ensued if there had been a public tearing of the picture of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi or the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuik Seri Najib Razak by a Gerakan division leader of Chinese or Indian descent?
Armed Forces Chief Jeneral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal yesterday made a most uncustomary public intervention when he proposed at a Wanita Umno function that the Government take stern action against those who stoke racial sentiments, the country’s main security threat.
Is Abdul Aziz referring directly to Ahmad Ismail and the 13 Penang Umno Division leaders who had given full backing to the Bukit Bendera Umno division chairman in his inflammatory, irresponsible and racist acts and rants, or is the Armed Forces Chief referring to those aggrieved by Ahmad Ismail’s provocative outbursts?
Ahmad Ismail’s grandparents migrated to this country from India. Why should a Malaysian who is a second-generation locally born in the country be so irresponsible, provocative and racist as to question the loyalty of a Malaysian Chinese like seventh locally-born generation Tan Siok Choo, daughter to Tun Tan Siew Sin, causing her to declare most justly and legitimately in her Sun column, “Politically blind and tone deaf?”:
“And for some Malaysian Chinese like myself, to be called a ‘squat’ is an insult. My forefathers came to Malacca in 1771. Even in August 1957, my family had been living in Malacca for 186 years. How many other Malaysians can claim this long period of residence? “
Ahmad Ismail however belong to the “dinosaur” generation when their narrow-minded racist views meant to protect their “pot of gold” as an Umnoputra rather than to advance the welfare of all Malays is rejected by young and progressive Malaysians from all races, including young Malays, as reflected in this posting on my blog:
What happen to this country? Please stop and stop this racial issues llaaahh… Im a Malay, 22 years old and Im a University of Malaya student. In my class, Im really happy I can interact with each other as a Malaysian. Sure!!! In my class from 30 students, there are only 5 Malay and the other 25 are Chinese. Even after class, there’s not a big deal we can makan-makan and minum-minum together without realized that we are all “penumpang”, “pendatang” or wuteva the damned thing you call it. If I dont understand anything or facing any difficulties in the subject that I learn, my Chinese friends dont even hesitate to teach me and so when they ask me, I will share my knowledge also. Then again, we makan-makan again at mamak stall eating a roti canai and glass of teh tarik. EERRGGHH!!!
Do you think the current our politician leaders never experienced this warmth moment with their friends different in races during their study period on youth time??? How come? We live in Malaysia laaahh… Its healthy when you getting know each other… Come and visit their house during Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and so on…. Even Im a Malay, I really hate when UITM students “berarak”, “berdemo” or “berpekik-pekik” when Selangor MB suggested at least 10% quota for UITM students opened for non-bumis. AARRGGHH!!! They are stupid, really-really stupid. In UM, in our college activities, we Malay dont even have any problem to hold any occasion collaborating with Chinese or Indian. We engineered an event together until it success- for example, a choir competition, a Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Competition, an Annual Dinner of the college. We work together. But when I read the newspaper, puuuff!!!! Seems every single of my joy losssttt, destroyed!!!! Eeeevvvveryday racial tense issues!!!! AAAARRGGHH!!! Cant we respect each other….??? Im a muslim and my religion teach us, in Holy Quran - “Nor will you worship that I which worship, to you be your religion, and to me my religion (Islamic monotheism)” - Surah Al-Kafirun : sentence 4-5…. Means that even you are from other religion - can applied also other races, there’s nothing to do with that. You are free to apply or live with your own life and religious style if you are different than a Muslim also. So, just respect other races or religions laaahh… Cant our leaders do that?? Its really makes me paaaiinnn heeelll!!!
The real personalities being tested in the Ahmad Ismail furore is not the Bukit Bendera Umno division chief but the Prime Minister and the Umno leadership – whether they are capable of and prepared to redeem themselves for their dereliction of duty to the nation and people in the past 15 days in allowing a comparatively small issue over Ahmad Ismail’s inflammatory, provocative and racist statement to blow up into a full-scale political and nation building crisis!
This is why Malaysians are waiting for the decision of the Umno Supreme Council emergency meeting to see what disciplinary actions would be meted out to firstly, Ahmad Ismail and secondly, the 13 Penang Umno division leaders who had supported and egged on Ahmad in his inflammatory, provocative and racist acts and rants.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Najib's apology on behalf of Ahmad inappropriate
By YB Mr. Lim Kit Siang
reasons why Najib’s apology on behalf of Ahmad inappropriate, inadequate and unacceptable
There are at least five reasons why Umno Deputy President Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s apology on behalf of Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail for the latter’s derogatory, offensive, insensitive and racist reference of the Chinese as “squatters” and untrustworthy Malaysians is inappropriate, inadequate and unacceptable.
Firstly, why is there no public response from Ahmad Ismail himself, who have shown no sense of contrition or remorse whatsoever in the past nine days for his racist slurs of the Malaysian Chinese? Is Ahmad Ismail fully confident that he has the mainstream support of Umno leaders and members, encouraging him to show contempt for the nation-wide furore?
Secondly, how can Najib’s second-hand apology on behalf of Ahmad Ismail be acceptable when Ahmad continues to be defiant and unrepentant? Even if Ahmad Ismail tenders an apology, the question of its adequacy will arise, following the precedent set by the Cabinet in the Wee Meng Chee case over his “Negaraku” rap video-clip last year, when the Cabinet rejected Wee’s apology as inadequate.
Many police reports have been lodged against Ahmad for violating the Sedition Act. Is Najib’s apology meant to be a message to the Police and the Attorney-General that Ahmad should get off scot-free instead of having to face the full weight of the law?
Thirdly, Najib should apologise on behalf of himself and not on behalf of Ahmad as Najib had failed to take immediate or prompt action to reprimand Ahmad for the latter’s racist and seditious speech at a Permatang Pauh by-election ceramah on August 24 which was attended by Najib.
Fourthly, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi himself should make a public apology for trying to protect and excuse Ahmad Ibrahim for the racist and seditious speech, with the totally unacceptable claim that the Bukit Bendera Umno division chief had not meant what he said and that he would “tell him not to do it again”.
The Prime Minister’s attempt to condone Ahmad’s racist speech caused outrage among right-thinking Malaysians especially as it is the latest example of a series of extremist, racist and seditious outbursts by Umno leaders, such as Umno MPs shouting “Balik Cina” in Parliament and a keris-wielding Umno Youth leader-cum-Education Minister.
Fifthly, the bona fide of Najib’s apology comes into question when this news is blacked out in the Malay mainstream newspapers owned and controlled by UMNO, in particular Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian. A check with Bernama online shows that Najib’s apology is reported in Bernama’s English news but blacked out in Bernama’s Bahasa Malaysia news.
With such media manipulation of his apology, how much is one to believe Najib when he said that Ahmad’s statement did not reflect the position and attitude of Umno or the leadership of Umno?
If Najib is fully sincere and serious about this statement of the stand of Umno and Umno leadership in dissociating from Ahmad’s speech, why is his statement only allowed to be reported in the non-Malay mainstream media but not in the Malay mainstream media?
reasons why Najib’s apology on behalf of Ahmad inappropriate, inadequate and unacceptable
There are at least five reasons why Umno Deputy President Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s apology on behalf of Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail for the latter’s derogatory, offensive, insensitive and racist reference of the Chinese as “squatters” and untrustworthy Malaysians is inappropriate, inadequate and unacceptable.
Firstly, why is there no public response from Ahmad Ismail himself, who have shown no sense of contrition or remorse whatsoever in the past nine days for his racist slurs of the Malaysian Chinese? Is Ahmad Ismail fully confident that he has the mainstream support of Umno leaders and members, encouraging him to show contempt for the nation-wide furore?
Secondly, how can Najib’s second-hand apology on behalf of Ahmad Ismail be acceptable when Ahmad continues to be defiant and unrepentant? Even if Ahmad Ismail tenders an apology, the question of its adequacy will arise, following the precedent set by the Cabinet in the Wee Meng Chee case over his “Negaraku” rap video-clip last year, when the Cabinet rejected Wee’s apology as inadequate.
Many police reports have been lodged against Ahmad for violating the Sedition Act. Is Najib’s apology meant to be a message to the Police and the Attorney-General that Ahmad should get off scot-free instead of having to face the full weight of the law?
Thirdly, Najib should apologise on behalf of himself and not on behalf of Ahmad as Najib had failed to take immediate or prompt action to reprimand Ahmad for the latter’s racist and seditious speech at a Permatang Pauh by-election ceramah on August 24 which was attended by Najib.
Fourthly, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi himself should make a public apology for trying to protect and excuse Ahmad Ibrahim for the racist and seditious speech, with the totally unacceptable claim that the Bukit Bendera Umno division chief had not meant what he said and that he would “tell him not to do it again”.
The Prime Minister’s attempt to condone Ahmad’s racist speech caused outrage among right-thinking Malaysians especially as it is the latest example of a series of extremist, racist and seditious outbursts by Umno leaders, such as Umno MPs shouting “Balik Cina” in Parliament and a keris-wielding Umno Youth leader-cum-Education Minister.
Fifthly, the bona fide of Najib’s apology comes into question when this news is blacked out in the Malay mainstream newspapers owned and controlled by UMNO, in particular Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian. A check with Bernama online shows that Najib’s apology is reported in Bernama’s English news but blacked out in Bernama’s Bahasa Malaysia news.
With such media manipulation of his apology, how much is one to believe Najib when he said that Ahmad’s statement did not reflect the position and attitude of Umno or the leadership of Umno?
If Najib is fully sincere and serious about this statement of the stand of Umno and Umno leadership in dissociating from Ahmad’s speech, why is his statement only allowed to be reported in the non-Malay mainstream media but not in the Malay mainstream media?
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Derogatory remarks by Datuk Ahmad Ismail
Bukit Bendera Umno Chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail made derogatory remarks about the Chinese in Malaysia. He was reported to have made the offensive remarks in the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign: refering to the Chinese in Malaysia as "PENDATANG, ORANG TUMPANG"
As though what he said is not bad enough, The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was reported to condoned him by saying that he probably did not mean what he said in the heat of the campaign, and that he will be advised not to repeat it, that is all! Of course with a boss who condone such a remarks, what do you expect? No wonder, 10 days before the Merdeka anniversary there were Umno making offensive remarks like "BALIK CINA".
I think, only these type of remarks similar to condoning Kris kissing and raising had caused BN to loose a lot of votes during the previous elections!
Today we read in the Sun paper concerning the protests made by different ones on the remarks:(Let's wait and see the outcome!)
Furore grows
over remark
by Opalyn Mok, Himanshu Bhatt
and S. Tamarai Chelvi
KUALA LUMPUR: Pressure is mounting
on the Barisan Nasional leadership and the
police to act against Umno Bukit Bendera
division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail for the
alleged racist remarks he made last month
during the Permatang Pauh by-election
campaign.
Yesterday, the DAP joined grassroots
leaders from MCA and Gerakan in lodging
police reports, urging that investigations
be carried out under the Sedition Act,
and that Ahmad be made to withdraw his
statement and to apologise to the Chinese
community for the remark likening them to
“immigrants”.
In Port Klang, MCA
vice-president and
presidential hopeful
Datuk Ong Tee Keat said
he advocated penalty
under the Sedition Act
for members of BN
component parties who
made racially-sensitive
remarks.
He said such action
was necessary to ensure
that the remarks by the
individuals did not refl ect
the stand of the parties
they belonged to.
“If a party wants to
show that the remarks were not refl ective of
its stand but represented an opinion of the
individual (party member), it must discipline
the member so as not to give a wrong picture
to the people,” Bernama quoted the transport
minister as saying after a visit to Westport
Malaysia.
Ong was asked to comment on Gerakan’s
intention to suggest to the BN supreme
council that leaders of component parties
who uttered racially-sensitive remarks be
hauled up under the Sedition Act or other
relevant laws.
Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr
Koh Tsu Koon had claimed that Ahmad’s
comment had eroded the Chinese support
for the BN.
The Chinese press reported Ahmad
as saying that the Chinese are “only
immigrants” and that “as the Chinese
were only immigrants, it was impossible to
achieve equal rights among races”.
When contacted, the Penang Umno
Liaison Committee said it would
leave it to the BN leadership to deal
with the matter.
Its deputy chairman, Datuk Seri
Abdul Rashid Abdullah, said it
did not receive any offi cial letters,
references or complaints regarding
the statement.
He declined to comment
directly on the remark as he had
not received any references or
complaints and also did not know
whether the vernacular papers had
reported the comment accurately.
He said this matter became an
issue only after Datuk Seri Anwar
Ibrahim won the Permatang Pauh
by-election on Aug 26. “Ahmad had
allegedly made the statement on Aug 25 but
nothing was mentioned at that time. Now,
after BN was defeated,
As though what he said is not bad enough, The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was reported to condoned him by saying that he probably did not mean what he said in the heat of the campaign, and that he will be advised not to repeat it, that is all! Of course with a boss who condone such a remarks, what do you expect? No wonder, 10 days before the Merdeka anniversary there were Umno making offensive remarks like "BALIK CINA".
I think, only these type of remarks similar to condoning Kris kissing and raising had caused BN to loose a lot of votes during the previous elections!
Today we read in the Sun paper concerning the protests made by different ones on the remarks:(Let's wait and see the outcome!)
Furore grows
over remark
by Opalyn Mok, Himanshu Bhatt
and S. Tamarai Chelvi
KUALA LUMPUR: Pressure is mounting
on the Barisan Nasional leadership and the
police to act against Umno Bukit Bendera
division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail for the
alleged racist remarks he made last month
during the Permatang Pauh by-election
campaign.
Yesterday, the DAP joined grassroots
leaders from MCA and Gerakan in lodging
police reports, urging that investigations
be carried out under the Sedition Act,
and that Ahmad be made to withdraw his
statement and to apologise to the Chinese
community for the remark likening them to
“immigrants”.
In Port Klang, MCA
vice-president and
presidential hopeful
Datuk Ong Tee Keat said
he advocated penalty
under the Sedition Act
for members of BN
component parties who
made racially-sensitive
remarks.
He said such action
was necessary to ensure
that the remarks by the
individuals did not refl ect
the stand of the parties
they belonged to.
“If a party wants to
show that the remarks were not refl ective of
its stand but represented an opinion of the
individual (party member), it must discipline
the member so as not to give a wrong picture
to the people,” Bernama quoted the transport
minister as saying after a visit to Westport
Malaysia.
Ong was asked to comment on Gerakan’s
intention to suggest to the BN supreme
council that leaders of component parties
who uttered racially-sensitive remarks be
hauled up under the Sedition Act or other
relevant laws.
Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr
Koh Tsu Koon had claimed that Ahmad’s
comment had eroded the Chinese support
for the BN.
The Chinese press reported Ahmad
as saying that the Chinese are “only
immigrants” and that “as the Chinese
were only immigrants, it was impossible to
achieve equal rights among races”.
When contacted, the Penang Umno
Liaison Committee said it would
leave it to the BN leadership to deal
with the matter.
Its deputy chairman, Datuk Seri
Abdul Rashid Abdullah, said it
did not receive any offi cial letters,
references or complaints regarding
the statement.
He declined to comment
directly on the remark as he had
not received any references or
complaints and also did not know
whether the vernacular papers had
reported the comment accurately.
He said this matter became an
issue only after Datuk Seri Anwar
Ibrahim won the Permatang Pauh
by-election on Aug 26. “Ahmad had
allegedly made the statement on Aug 25 but
nothing was mentioned at that time. Now,
after BN was defeated,
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