Bagan Pinang, You Are Not Worthy of A Clean ADUN!

The selection of Tan Sri Isa Samad tells us that : Bagan Pinang voters, you are not worthy of a clean ADUN. UMNO will win the "buy-election", there is for sure, but alot of people are asking at what cost? It also tells us alot about UMNO's moral standing, if there is any at all.

Am I upset? Yes, of course. Because, you know, UMNO-BN is a ruling coalition at Federal and States government, and being the longest ruling party, they have the duty to make sure the candidates that they pick to contest are not only capable but clean or at least appear to be clean. In short, UMNO owes the people a sacred responsibility to pick the best people to serve their government. It's people's government that is at stake here, she ought to be treated with respect and honor. Just because you are assured of wining does not mean that you can pick any Tom, Dick and Harry to be candidate. Elected ADUN are not there to just fill up the empty spaces. You are there to help in the governance if your party happens to be in the government. DPM Muhyiddin said while announcing Isa's candidacy that he is the choice of the people. But who are these people? UMNO people or Bagan Pinang people?

State Government is entrusted to manage hundred of million of people's money. Can the people of the constituency trust Isa on how to handle their money? Do you think a bank would hire an ex-convict who found guilty of CBT to be their staff? Bagan Pinang voters, the choice is in your hands.

1 Malaysia: Rakyat UMNO didahulukan, pencapaian rasuah diutamakan

BFM 89.9 :: The Business Station

Put on your earphone/speaker, the interviews with Gayathry from Centre of Independent Journalism is what I am talking about all the while - that without a vibrant and independent reporting in the press, democracy is just a dream.

1 Malaysia

From Lazy Natives to Ketuanan Melayu

Lazy natives, greedy Chinese or unreliable Indians were social and political construct coined during the colonial period for the purpose of control. Syed Hussien Alatas argued in his book The Myth of the Lazy Natives (1977), "In its historical empirical manifestation the colonial ideology utilized the idea of the lazy native to justify compulsion and unjust practices in the mobilization of labour in the colonies. It portrayed a negative image of the natives and their society to justify and rationalize European conquest and domination of the area. It distorted elements of social and human reality to ensure a comfortable construction of the ideology."

Syed Hussien Alatas further argued that, "the image of the people subjugated by Western colonial powers, which dominated the colonial ideology, was drawn on the basis of cursory observations, sometimes with strong built-in prejudices, or misunderstandings and faulty methodologies. The general negative image was not the result of scholarship. Those who proclaimed the people of the area indolent, dull, treacherous, and childish, were generally not scholars. They were monks, civil servants, planters, sailors, soldiers, popular travel writers, and tourists. "

The negative image of the natives was not the result of scholarship. It was never meant to be purely because the original purpose of it was to dominate and colonise the various races in Southeast Asia. The colonised races had to be portrayed as someone who was not capable of governing so as to justify colonisation and their presence here in this region. The White Man's Burden and White Supremacy thus were prevalent during the spread of colonisation in Africa, Indian Continent and Asia. This view proposes that white people consequently have an obligation to rule over, and encourage the cultural development of people from other ethnic and cultural backgrounds until they can take their place in the world by fully adopting Western ways.

Dr Farish Noor has summed up the concept rather more accurately in this way: "Alatas pressed home several important points that should never be forgotten by any scholar working on political history: First, that identity politics and the construction of racial categories and racial stereotypes are never accidental but are processes fundamentally wedded to the working of (racialized) power.

Second, that the colonial enterprise required a moral pretext that was granted by the construction of convenient ‘instrumental fictions’ (to borrow Edward Said’s phrase) that helped to justify such an enterprise.

Third, that the perpetuation and reproduction of such categories of identity and difference were running parallel to the workings of racialized colonial capitalism and that the two sustained each other, thereby helping to create the highly divisive and uneven ‘plural economies’ so common in many colonial settings.

And fourth (most importantly, I think), that the legacy of colonial capitalism, having embedded itself in the racialized politics of difference and sectarianism in many colonies, would be hard to eradicate even after the departure of the colonial power for the local native elites themselves would have, by then, come to learn that the very same tools of divide-and-rule could be used by them to perpetuate such power differentials in the future."

Dr Farish Noor's last point is particularly important for me to understand the demonisation of the natives is not only carried out by colonist alone but the term is so powerful that even after the colonist had left the country their legacy continued by the ones who inherited the country for easy domination and control.

In Malaysia the demonisation of the natives continued by the Malay ruling elites - UMNO because "there was also no ideological struggle. There was no intellectual break with British ideological thinking at the deeper layer of thought. The leadership of this party were recruited from the top hierarchy of the civil service trained by the British, and middle class Malay school teachers and civil servants." Thus the incapability of the ruling elites to break free from the shackles of the colonial master. Instead of embarking on the new path of development and deracialised the social and political setting after the independence, UMNO chose to blame on their own people to cover up their failure in developing the nation and at the same time strengthening their position as the master of the country by constantly invoking the threat of other races in the country.

As an evidence, Alatas refer extensively to the books titled "Revolusi Mental" that put out by UMNO in 1971 (please take note also it was the year after the 1969 election, where Perikatan lost badly) and Dr Mahathir's "The Malay Dilemma" bear a striking resembled that of the colonial ideology.

He critically debunks the racialized stereotypes that were found in those books, in these works, written so late in the post colonial era by a new generation of post colonial leaders, the colonial mindset that saw Malaysian society as being fundamentally divided along racial lines was still sadly prevalent. What is more he lamented the fact that even up to the 1970s the generation of Malay ethno-nationalist leaders in the country could not help but base their appeals for privilege and power based on colonial clichés and stereotypes of the Malays as a ‘backward’ and ‘lazy’ race that had to be protected.

And not only to be protected but they have to become the master of this land, thus the term Malay Supremacy. This time the portrayal of the negative image is put squarely on the Malay Masses by their own people the ruling UMNO elites to justify total domination over the Malay electoral.

Obama's speech on race relation

I just can't stop thinking of race relation issue. The only problem of worsening race relation in Malaysia I think is because politicians are not honest in dealing with the issue. We talk so much of unity, tolerance and acceptance, but we quick to jump in to exploit any racial issue for political gains. That is why I am particularly like to listen to Obama's speech on race relation in US during the presidential primary in March 2008. I like it because it's honest. Rather than talking about the evil of racial polarisation and what we should do to deal with it, Obama chose to talk about how his own life experience taught him about race relation growing up in US. Rather than talking about using draconian laws to deal with the issue, he talks about how in reality the issue is actually affecting the society as a whole and recognising the difficulty in handling it in our every day lives. His is putting the challenges to all of us and calling us, not to solve the issue, but to think of the solution together and to celebrate diversity and not merely acceptance.

I am still waiting for this kind of speech by our Malaysian politicians.

Mr Najib, Tear down this wall

Prime Minister Najib called on Malaysians to tear down the racial walls on the Independence Day this year. Independence day came and gone. But the "tear down the wall" calling still hovers over my mind. Sad to say but I find the speech very hollow and meaningless. Over the weeks as I was thinking on how Malaysian can tear down the so called racial walls, I am reminded of President Reagan's speech back in the 80s in West Germany. President Reagan was making the speech at the site near the infamous Berlin Wall that separated West and East Germany.

If one may recall, The Berlin Wall was a physical barrier erected by the German Democratic Republic (GDR) (East Germany) completely encircling West Berlin, separating it from East Germany, including East Berlin. The longer inner German border demarcated the border between East and West Germany. Both borders came to symbolize the Iron Curtain between Western Europe and the Eastern Bloc.

President Reagan was obviously asking Mr Gorbachev, the then USSR's leader, who was embarking on his domestic reform - Perestroika & Glasnost, to make bold reform and changes that will benefit the whole world. Thus if Mr Gorbachev was sincere on his reform, he should tear down Berlin Wall the symbol of oppression and autocratic rule.

Now, could Reagan ask the wall to be torn down if it's built by himself? Similarly why did PM Najib ask the racial wall to be torn down if he himself is the beneficiary of the wall itself? It's very clear that Malaysia until today is still ruled by BN, a coalition of race-based political parties namely UMNO, MCA and MIC. After the fall of Apartheid Rule in South Africa, Malaysia is the only country in the world that is still ruled by race-based political parties and policies that are race-based, like NEP.

So, PM Najib, who is to call who to tear down the wall?

A Nation ripe with fear

People often say absolute power corrupts absolutely, but this is only true partially. It has proven times and again that it's the fear in us that actually created opportunity for politicians to corrupt this nation. Yes, the fear of speaking against injustice, against corrupted politicians, against inefficiency, etc, fear among citizen has allowed BN to rob and rape this country for 52 years.

A nation ripe with fear, by Augustine Anthony

Wing collar with bands, wearing a black jacket and holding my robe, my brisk stride to the usual work place came to a momentary halt by a gentle voice coming from the back me. “Bos boleh menang kah… ini BN Ooh”

In a short given moment, that gentle voice had many misgivings about the state of affairs in our country, but then I had to go or else I will be late. Then with a tinge of despair the parting words came from that gentle voice. “Tapi apa boleh buat, kita mesti undi dia”.

From his attire and the way he spoke my reading is, he must be a civil servant.
Later that evening, I sat down and thought about the words of that gentle voice that were spiked with sadness. There were no hidden meanings to decipher. The emotions were simple and clear to understand. I know. And so let us talk about fear. And not just our fear but of those who are opposed to our thoughts and actions.It has been depicted in the movie “Gandhi”, where a Hindu man in rage rushes to the fasting and near dying Gandhi and confesses that he had crushed and murdered a Muslim child during communal violence and fears that he will, in death end up in hell for his wrong doing, Gandhi assures him that he can overcome that fear. Gandhi tells the Hindu man to raise a child who is orphaned in the civil unrest with conditions. That, that child must first be a Muslim and he/she must be raised as a Muslim in the Hindu man’s home.

Barack Hussein Obama has made the message of overcoming fear and human prejudices simple and exceedingly pleasing to listen.

He is Hussein Obama to start with, but a practising Christian. To the Muslims he is a Christian who they need not fear and to the Christians he brings assurance that they need not fear the Muslims.

To the American whites he sees his fears as a white through his grandmother’s eyes and as an American black and coloured he shares the fears of blacks and coloured through the pain and hardship of people like his father.

By birth and disposition Obama is an embodiment of assurance rather than a byword for fear.
But in our country even after 52 years of independence, UMNO continues to put fear in non Malays by words such as “Ketuanan Melayu” and all the side shows of Ketuanan Melayu that we have often witnessed. UMNO at the same time puts fear in Malays of the potential loss of Ketuanan Melayu if the Opposition comes to power.

MCA puts fear in Chinese and non Malays that PAS is going to turn this country into an Islamic state (frankly I have no fear of this but it is a topic that we can discuss on some other day)
I will stop by saying that politics in MIC is frightening. The events of late leading to the party election is proof of its state of affairs.

Collectively Barisan Nasional puts fear amongst ordinary people, civil servants, fishermen, farmers occupying TOL lands and etc. etc. of what potentially awaits them if they do not vote for Barisan Nasional candidates. And many out of fear vote for Barisan Nasional even though the chosen candidate may not be the real choice of the people.

The Prime Minister’s 1Malaysia: People First, Performance Now! is a very attractive catchphrase but the recent events indicate that it may be heading the same direction as other slogans like Bersih Cekap Amanah, Vision 2020, Zero Inflation and Cemerlang Gemilang Terbilang. The prime minister’s down liners are such a let down.

The above actions of politicians are only causing fear and mistrust in ordinary people. In fact it is akin to poisoning an otherwise ordinary, peaceful and healthy society.
Do we have any assuring words from our politicians?

Anwar Ibrahim’s message to the nation is very assuring. Having listened to such assuring words from Anwar, peoples’ mistrusts are likely to disappear. But then there are many who may say that Anwar cannot be trusted because of his past association with UMNO, but at least he is prepared to change his old rhetoric with a new way forward. That is a first step and a good sign. Check Anwar’s recent speech in Ipoh available in You Tube.

Lim Kit Siang’s frank disclosure is also assuring. By making honest admission of the negative (though manageable) state of affairs in Pakatan Rakyat coalition, (like the recent interview with Sin Chew), voters who are not partisan feel that as a leader he is sensitive to their feelings. His further statements that collectively there are efforts to resolve these minor differences are very assuring to the people. In this way he signals the people that he is listening to their grouses even if it is only a whisper. These are steps in the right direction.
Click here to read My Sinchew interview with Lim Kit Siang:

Exclusive Interview With Lim Kit Siang: “Pakatan has not yet achieved maturity.”
Exclusive Interview With Lim Kit Siang: “Islamic state is the greatest challenge.”

As a leader of an Islamic party, Ir. Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin is also very assuring in his ways when dealing with people. The Kuala Sepetang Chinese voters are living testimony to this. Click here to know what makes him special.

Those who put fear in people may attain success for a certain period of time but not always, for people who live in fear may one day stand up and say enough is enough and let us rid of it, once and for all!
History is the best lesson for those who are unwilling to learn and reform.
I think the writings are not only on the wall but all over the place.

I have a dream

Government Steps In? For What?

Today's Star headline screams " Government Steps In" on the PKFZ scandal by setting up a task force to "determine whether there was abuse of power, any wrongdoings or violation of law". First of all, you tell me before this the Government never stepped in? Then what was OTK doing? You mean he is not part of the Government? Then who is he? Opposition?

Then secondly is investigation by the police.

“This is the responsibility of the police to investigate and for the Attorney-General to decide (on the findings and the next course of action) later", Najib said.
OMG, what more you want to investigate? Didn't the PWC report tell you enough?


On the issue of PKFZ, the truth is very important. The Cabinet wants a full and detailed investigation,” he told reporters after breaking fast with Cabinet Ministers and senior government officials.

Ya ya ya, everyone knows the truth is very important. But most important is what action next. Remember actionlah stupid.

Najib said on the good governance issue, the task force would have to determine if it had been practised from the early stages of the project.

This is truly amazing. Now only you talk about good governance practices, as if before this you were all sleeping. Hello, it has been practiced by private sectors for decades already.

“We also want the task force to propose what we should do with the project and what can be done in the future so that we can maximise (its) value for money and reduce cost to taxpayers.

This is another classic example of sweeping under the carpet act. We want the culprits to be chargedlah , Najib. What is stopping you???

They are really talking rubbish without shame.

Politics of Hate

First we have people demonstrated in front of a state government building using cow head and promised blood shed if their demands were not met, than we have a security minister who supposed to uphold law and order of the country for some reasons that were only known to him decided to protect them. Just what is wrong with our Federal government? Aren't they suppose to protect our security and peace?? And the worst part is instead of going after the perpetrators, the anthority is asking Malaysiakini to remove the video evidence from their site. I just can't conprehend the way they do things. It seems that in Malaysia BN politicians are more equal then their citizen.


And one more thing, the authority is also very stupid. They think by removing the video from Malaysiakini the evidence would be gone forever. Don't they know they are in the 21st century? Hahaha

Vision 2020 - Are we there yet?

Many Malaysians now realise that vision 2020 was just a slogan after seeing the failure of Abdullah's Islam Hadhari and Najib's 1 Malaysia. Dr M mooted that idea to regain the support of Malaysians after losing significant support from the electoral in the 1990's general election. I think many of us were duped into believing we would one day achieve developed nation status by just focus on export and building more modern structures. Hussein Hamid's article on the subject brought back memories of those days when Dr M unveiled the slogan. Instantly, 2020 became the magic number and lucky number for some to be placed on the car and advertising billboard. Malaysian were so naive back then and without alternative media, we believe in everything the main stream media sold to us. Looking at what we have achieved now, I think we are far from what Dr M has outlined in the vision 2020, far from it, we are now a nation I call "neither here nor there". At the cross road, the ruling BN government has no clue as to where we suppose to go. The world is very much different now compare to when Dr M first mooted the idea in the 90's. But they seem to be unable to change the old mind set when facing the new generation that are very different in the way they do things. Globalisation then was just a concept that we study in the book and in the seminar. Now, we are actually living in it whether you realise it or not.

Vision 2020…not bloody likely!

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