Redundant race based politics
Tun Dr Mahathir opined that the imminent 13th General Election would be all about race rather than issues that matter. I beg to differ. This time around, the spawn of youngsters, urbanites, intellectuals and sentient voters would determine the polls result. And, their votes would not be based on ethnic factors, but by sound, cogent judgement on the respective track records and the performance as well as the professional ethics and maturity the of contending political parties and politicians.
To date, Malaysians are generally multi-lingual, some, able to speak more than four languages. We are indeed a multi-cultural and multi-religous society and lead varying norms of life. I believe that the divide line is not marked by the disparity of languages, cultures, norms and religions.
The divide is only created by the ruling coalition, with Mahathir taking ethnocentrism to a whole new level when Malaysia was under his tyrannical, vile, racist thumb spanning more than two decades, threatening to die in his boots. Now, as an octogenerian, not only he is sticking his nose around, he makes a cretin look like a savant and vice versa through unwarranted public proclamations.
This divide and rule concept was expediently applied by the British to lord over Malaya and Mahathir perfected it for very selfish reasons so that he can stay in power and plunder while the people are one dimensionally preoccupied with racial prejudice.
It’s been nothing but race aspect as trumpcards for the present day ruling regime, pun, intended, incumbents, mainly divided into Umno, MCA and MIC to stay in power via the brainwashing of the rakyat that without a minister belonging to a particular race based political party championing his or her race, all would be lost.
In that case, it wouldn’t be erronous to say that the rolling up together, the merging of the three major political parties under the coalition of BN has miserably failed to capture the Malaysian spirit.
Things are changing, slowly but surely and all the right reasons to renounce racial and misogyny nuances which are being portrayed by BN via it’s offshoots by the selective and relentless harassments and wild allegations towards Ambiga, Lim Guan Eng and Maria Chin which are, collectively, having the Malays, Chinese, Indians and others riled up as Malaysians.
Right minded Malaysians are furious for the mistreatment of Ambiga because like her, Bersih is colour blind; it’s a shared aspiration and vision and Malaysians from all walks of life can relate to it. The testimony is the massive turnout of Malaysians in all 3 of Bersih rallies.
While MIC have stepped up in criticising the Seri Gading MP’s statement devolved into question on it would be politically correct to have Ambiga sentenced to the gallows for treason at our King when her only and noble intention is to put a full stop to rigged elections reeking of shenanigans, it rings hollow amongst politically knowledgable Malaysian Indians who are taking Vell Paari and Palanivel’s voice out with a pinch of salt, so to speak.
Many Indians have bones to pick with MIC’s bigwigs and the same is true with Umno and MCA’s honchos, with the respective races they claim to represent, protect and champion, creating an internal dissension of sorts which would be the monkey wrench for unity within the coalition. This is the case scenario that is having Malaysians highly dissatisfied and outraged.
Whilst Pak Samad got glaringly left out from brickbats for being Bersih’s co chairperson, Maria Chin and Ambiga got slapped by lawsuits, with the latter further being subject to reprehensible, relentless, incessant hostility both in public and private life.
One can argue that Pak Samad is being left off the hook because of his age and his reputation as a National Laureate, abreast with Usman Awang is a sanctity in its own right, one that must be preserved at all cost, his race, not being a matter of consideration . At the same time though, Ambiga is not a nobody, again, race not taken into consideration; she is an international icon, abreast with Aung San Su Kyi.
In March 2009, Ambiga became one of the eight recipients of the 2009 Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award. In the ceremony, the United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton commented: “Ambiga Sreenevasan, has a remarkable record of accomplishment in Malaysia.
“She has pursued judicial reform and good governance, she has stood up for religious tolerance, and she has been a resolute advocate of women’s equality and their full political participation. She is someone who is not only working in her own country, but whose influence is felt beyond the borders of Malaysia. And it is a great honour to recognise her and invite her to the podium.”
This honourary event received next to nothing in terms of coverage and attention from the mainstream media. The event was figuratively swallowed whole and when questioned, the downright lame and ludicruous excuse was that Ambiga was dressed inappropriately, that she was clad in a saree and didn’t cover her head with a ‘tudung’ (hijab) Pray tell, are we living under Taliban rule?
Now, we have three races in question and the discrimination is held out for all and sundry to see and judge. Racism gnaws peace and prosterity from within; it wouldn’t foster balance, maturity and development. Instead, it breeds ill-will and prejudice and herd mentality, impeding human, economy, society and the physical augmentation of a country.
Racism is advantageous for few and a great disadvantage for the rest and the rest is simply fed-up. It is high time our politicians play by this veracity which is now being upholded by many Malaysians instead of race based political scare tactics.
Next up, high profile scandals of ministers involving billions of RM swindled and embezzled and the punishment for the daylight robberies being mere slaps on their respective wrists. Why are we having ministers known to everyone as corrupt and nothing but stealing scumbags still being at large?
They should be thrown behind bars for the violations of laws that they have commited. Is the police aid and abet to these atrocities and lawlessness? The son of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Nazri, Mohamad Nedim who was charged with assault of a security supervisor at the Mont Kiara condominium earlier this year has gone unpunished, with Najib remaining eerily silent on the controversial issue.
This clearly indicates that the Malaysian judiciary system has gone to the dogs and draconian laws are the order of the day in Malaysian courts where BN ministers and their next of kin can buy their way out from detention sentences. This would be a factor to be mulled over come polling day, not race.
Now, let’s look at Najib’s sloganeering of 1Malaysia. It is nothing but a hyped up facade put up for Malaysians to lap up unquestioningly. If Najib thinks his popularity would increase if he introduces such a sugarcoated policy, he is wrong because the focus and the decisive voting factor would be on the implementation of the policy at all levels, not on empty promulgations and measly handouts under the brand of 1Malaysia.
The poor and needy might see these goodies galore masterminded Najib as boons but there is no reason for them to hail Najib as some sort of a god. It’s his job as a politician, to address the rakyat’s predicaments even if the best comes to a period of respite for the people.
That is why we voted him into power in the first place and a pressing need has come to remind him and his subordinates of the fact all the time; it must be drilled in into them until the democratic pillar seeps into their subconscious mind. That is what sacks of rice, cans of sardines, packs of instant noodles and RM 500 would amount to, a temporary relief, not a permanent solution.
What needs to be realised is Najib is playing the tried and tested “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” formula. The catch is, he expects the rakyat to scratch his back for five years while he scratches the rakyat backs only once in five years, and sadly, dumbed down rural folk are blind to this reality. This would be an issue to consider when voters cast their votes this time around, at least for city slickers and netizens, not race.
The escalating cost of living is also bugging Malaysians especially the low income class. Burdened by ever rising price of goods, some resort to crime for fast cash while others struggle like anything to make ends meet. Malaysia has become an expensive country to live in; we are simply not generating enough money to sustain our livelihoods while banckrupcy rate is going on the rise instead of pay rise.
While the majority of Malaysians put honest effort to make a living, some political quarters amass gross wealth which raises many dubious eyebrows considering the short period of time in the gain of such obscene riches while other Malaysians are swamped by adverse needliness. This is an another issue that would be pondered upon by voters when casting their votes this time around rather than race.
If Najib is really sincere in espousing the essence of 1Malaysia, he must, foremost, abolish the quota system for tertiary education and replace it with meritocracy system, give equal chance for non-Malays in public service employment, harshly castigate those who bring about racial tension, ban Interlok instead of banning Irshad Manji’s book, fund vernacular schools proportionally and expunge the “Keturunan” (race) in governmental documents and supersede it with ‘Warganegara Malaysia/Bukan Warganegara Malaysia (Malaysian Citizen/Not Malaysian Citizen).
What is in total discrepancy with the 1Malaysia slogan is the breaking down of sub races of Malays, Chinese and Indians when applying for seats in public tertiary education. Isn’t this a direct subversion of 1Malaysia that Najib blares wherever he goes to dole out peanuts for the rakyat? Najib not only can’t effectively apply 1Malaysia concept, he won’t because race based politics is the very root that ensures BN’s survival.
1Malaysia is only a namesake, nothing but a rhetoric; it doesn’t have the substance and the ooomph factor that would benefit Malaysians as a whole in the long run. It is merely Najib’s legacy that would be forgotten once he steps down like Vision 2020 was for Mahathir and Islam Hadari for Pak Lah. We can see the flippancy of our preceding prime ministers through these past and present status quo.
Race based politics is like a chewing gum which has lost its flavour. What do you expect? We’ve been chewing the same gum for 55 years! It has not only become tasteless, it has becme substance-less and would be dead as a dodo in upcoming times.
Unless BN comes up with another strategy to win the votes of colour blind, intelligent, educated, critical thinking Malaysians, it is as good as becoming the opposition or banished to political exile considering the skeletons they have stocked up in their closets. It is time to spit the old chewing gum out and chew on a new gum and repeat the process over and over again, democratically. We have nothing to lose but all to gain.
Where is our beloved country, Malaysia is heading?
Tension is mounting for the much anticipated, near controversial dissolution of Parliament which is in the ominuos offing and the indisposition of our current PM to call the 13th GE. The more he hesitates, the more ground he is losing and the pace is near feverish.
It doesn’t matter how grandiose his groundwork is to enamour the rakyat to vote for the ruling coalition, his popularity and reputation is fast fading because of his torpid and gutless major decision making tendencies.
While the PM is hard at work to woo for votes, via goodies galore and feel good “Pemimpin bersama rakyat” gatherings, his subordinates and predecessor go out of their way to spoil his assiduous, drawn out vote expectant stints, being trigger happy morons. With friends like this, who needs enemies?
Najib’s defeaning silence on the personal intimidation and attacks on Ambiga, Bersih’s chairperson speaks volumes of both his political and social stand. His reticence is sending a strong racial undertone and the rakyat have enough sense of smell to pick the putrid scent.
Bad bode had begun for Najib since the mishandling and manhandling of the two Bersih rallies. Countdown for his downfall started from his decision to clamp down on Bersih 2.0 by unleashing the might of the police to quell the clamour of his own people who voted him into power for free and fair elections.
Perhaps he fears that Pak Lah’s fate would befall him, hence the vaccilation to call the 13thGE in immediacy and the increasing speed of doling peace offerings to the rakyat. I say, accept every handout, hail Najib as our true and only saviour, grant him superstardom, make him elated and come election day, vote for PR. Hypocrisy is in trend. Apply it for the greater good of saving Malaysia from avaricious clutches.
The delusional claim that salt and mineral water “brandished” by Bersih protestors would overthrow the government stems from the fear I mentioned earlier. The rakyat, in true sense of word is collectively Najib’s boogeyman.
It didn’t occur to Najib that Bersih 2.0 epic would spawn Bersih 3.0 seeming saga, each, bigger and more sonorous than the former, uniting Malaysians from all walks of life locally and internationally, not to mention the movement calling for free and fair elections and the way the Malaysian government tackled the issue being under worldwide scrutiny.
Bemused, clueless and riddled, again he ordered an arsenal of irritant ammunition to be unleashed on civilians, possibly thinking “this is how you scatter the roaches!” Mind you, roaches are resilient creatures.
The aftermath of Bersih 3.0 is a pretty ugly picture, painted by the power hungry sharks, scaredy cats, desperados, by-standers and Hermes role playing messengers and the sole target -Ambiga. From burger stalls to obscene butt exercises, from hate speeches to death threats, this lady is harassed like anything.
Racial undertone is conspicuous and the rakyat is angry, albeit contained. I believe it is just waiting to eplode at the ballot box. Malaysians generally have had enough of racial slurs and race based politics no matter how beclouding the practises are.
It is said that one would make the most blunders when in desperation and this rings true in the way present day Malaysia is governed, her helm holders, having succumbed to relative cretinism.
The covenant to give MACC more independence when it is supposed to be a complete independent body is tantamount to Malaysia not being fully independent from the British. If read between the lines, the PM is saying that MACC is indeed biased and it is Najib’s mistake for taking Malaysians for a bunch of fools, whom he can take for a ride.
Next, BR1M. This one takes the cake; a serious joke you might call it but it is anything but funny. It is the PM who is trying to prove that he is good humoured. RM500 per family whose monthly household income is less than RM3,000 and deemed to be a once a year event, and maybe even a second wave to buy votes from the poor and needy.
RM500 is pittance. While ministers pay RM100,000 for a night’s stay in Burj Al Arab, the rakyat get a mere RM500 per year while many more live in the yoke of utter poverty. A raw deal in every sense of word.
2020 is just eight years away and hardcore poor still dwell in provincial, remote areas, lacking the most basic living necessities. Vision 2020 was conceptualised by Malaysia’s forth and longest serving premier Dr Mahathir in 1991.
The nine strategic challenges that Malaysia has to overcome to achieve Vision 2020 are as follows:
Establishing a united Malaysian nation made up of one Bangsa Malaysia
Race based politics is still the trend and quarters of racism raises its ugly head every now and then. The claim that Indians came here as beggars and Chinese as prostitutes, the insinuation of calling Indians ‘pariah’ in the novel, Interlok and the malicious, harm intended acts at Ambiga is only the tip of the iceberg. Can Bangsa Malaysia be established and consolidated in the remaining eight years?
Creating a psychologically liberated, secure and developed Malaysian society
Psychologically liberated, secure and developed minds won’t indulge in faux pauses. The foot in mouth syndrome is prevalent among the ruling coalition’s incumbents, the most recent one being Sri Gading’s MP’s clarion call to have Ambiga hanged for treason. Can such bloody mindedness be rectified in eight years?
Fostering and developing a mature democratic society
The rightful call for free and fair elections and true democracy be implemented has fallen on deaf ears even after 3 sweeping waves of Bersih rallies, the organisers, harassed and the converged public be bullied by the powers that be that is supposed to protect the people not, play thugs to the ruling coalition. The very man behind this vision is now doing a back flip, saying that democracy without limits, would result anarchy. What’s bugging him? Absent-mindedness or fickle mindedness? Again, the signs are clear that no recent Malaysian PMs so far intend to foster and develop a mature democratic society. Talk about talking cock.
Establishing a fully moral and ethical society
An ethical, fully moralistic society will be achieved when exemplary in top leaderships gets modelled at all levels. The case scenario is yet to exist here, with PERKASA being left without discretion and restriction leash by its tamer. It is let loose to malign and bodily harm those who oppose its views. It is also uncouth and resorting to violence to disrupt opposition parties’ gatherings, immersed in mob mentality and thugism. So much for the establishment of a fully moral and ethical society. I don’t even have to elaborate on corruption and other vices. They are well-known cases.
Establishing a matured liberal and tolerant society
The ban of Irshad Manji’s book, the skewed persecution of Christian groups trying to proselytise Muslims, and other incidents carrying analagous flavours prove that Malaysia has failed to overcome the challenge of attaining an established matured liberal and tolerant society. The factors are impossible to be achieved before 2020 dawns.
Establishing a scientific and progressive society
Due to the oblique of the Bumiputera status, Malaysia is experiencing chronic brain drain which bogs a scientific and progressive society down. Why stay when the land you are born into treats you like a second class citizen when the world welcomes you with open arms?
Simple logic. Not to mention the influx of foreigners here being granted citizenships to preserve the ruling coalition’s political survival. Can the establishment of both scientific and progressive society be achieved in the balance of eight years with the two factors above serving as stumble blocks at the ruling coalition’s own doing? I think not.
Establishing a fully caring society
A fully caring society means not only caring for human interests; it includes flora and fauna interests too. Why does Malaysia have so many zoos in deplorable conditions? Our next door neighbour, Singapore, has a superb zoo with worldwide reputation for excellence which puts Malaysia to shame. Quantity doesn’t count; quality does. Those bodies and personnel in charge of wildlife conservation is operating at zero level. They simply cannot be bothered by the plight of animals indigeneous to this rich, blessed land and now 2 pandas are going to call Malaysia home for 10 years when Malaysia is unfit even to watch over and protect endangered animals at home. I shudder to think of the fate of the 2 baby pandas. Again, can this deeply wanting need be fulfilled in the remaining eight years? You do the math.
Ensuring an economically just society, where there is a fair and equitable distribution of wealth
Now, this tenet of Vision 2020 is sorely missing. The chasm between the rich and poor is getting wider by the day. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. When mentioning Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak must be taken into equal account. To date, it won’t be deniable to say that both the states of Borneo have been grossly taken for advantage. Petroleum producing Sarawak and timber producing Sabah remain the poorest states in Malaysia along with Terengganu and Kelantan. Failure in developing those rich in natural resources state is tantamount to the failure of Vision 2020 unless Superman decides to interfere.
Establishing a prosperous society with an economy that is fully competitive, dynamic, robust and resilient
Bankruptcy rate is staggering and the cost of living is skyrocketing. Are those evidence of a competitive, dynamic, robust and resilient economy? It is popularly known that citizens would go bankrupt first before the country does. Debt-to-GDP ratio jumped from 41.4% in 2008 to 53.1% in 2010 while government debt grew 14.6% in 2008 and18.3% in 2009, far outpacing the country’s GDP growth. It must be noted that when Malaysia was formed in1963, the British left her with a solid administrative template.
Yet, after more than 50 years of rule by BN, the template has not been improved on. In fact, it has gone to the dogs; replaced by a form of government that encourages leakages and corruption of all forms. Malaysia has a population of 28 million and a civil service of around 1.3 millions. Out of the 28 million, only one per cent are paying income tax. (Heaven knows how much black money is stashed in Swiss accounts.) This clearly shows that 99% are either below the income tax bracket or merely earning too little to need to pay taxes. With inflation and the price of goods continuing to rise, expect even fewer people to pay income tax in the near future. So much for a prosperous society.
Another disturbing, worrying and down right ridiculous trend is the discontinuation of gazzeted policies made by successive PMs. Dr Mahathir introduced the Vision 2020 and Abdullah Badawi failed to follow it through. Instead, he created the brand Islam Hadari and once Najib successed Pak Lah, he went on his on way and came up with 1Malaysia, leaving Malaysians disenchanted and disillusioned.
The scenario looks like our PMs are being keen to imprint their own, singular, exclusive marks within the term they assume public office at the expense of rakyat, the ‘brand’ propagated via mainstream media. How underskilled, fickle and disengaging! How can we change a national policy every time we change our PM? Would the ‘halfway or quarterway done’ policies bring any good for the rakyat as a whole? Hwaaa.. Malaysia memang BOLEH!!
Then, there are white elephant projects which benefit few Malaysians. There are homeless and starving Malaysians living in slums and in severely deprived living conditions and yet, we boast on gilded achievements like building the tallest twin towers in the world and sending an astronaut to break fast in outer space. Let’s ask the Penans what they think of such grand displays while their children have no decent meals to fill their tiny tummies and cannot afford an education. Build towering Malaysians first; building towering buildings can wait.
With all said and done, I pose the question to my fellow Malaysians, where is our country heading? Towards encompassing development or enveloping destruction? Making a difference lies in our hands, we hold the power and let’s show the full force of the people’s power at the ballot box. The country is cool but not the people who are running it.
Learn the difference. Know the difference. There is a difference. We can make a difference.
It doesn’t matter how grandiose his groundwork is to enamour the rakyat to vote for the ruling coalition, his popularity and reputation is fast fading because of his torpid and gutless major decision making tendencies.
While the PM is hard at work to woo for votes, via goodies galore and feel good “Pemimpin bersama rakyat” gatherings, his subordinates and predecessor go out of their way to spoil his assiduous, drawn out vote expectant stints, being trigger happy morons. With friends like this, who needs enemies?
Najib’s defeaning silence on the personal intimidation and attacks on Ambiga, Bersih’s chairperson speaks volumes of both his political and social stand. His reticence is sending a strong racial undertone and the rakyat have enough sense of smell to pick the putrid scent.
Bad bode had begun for Najib since the mishandling and manhandling of the two Bersih rallies. Countdown for his downfall started from his decision to clamp down on Bersih 2.0 by unleashing the might of the police to quell the clamour of his own people who voted him into power for free and fair elections.
Perhaps he fears that Pak Lah’s fate would befall him, hence the vaccilation to call the 13thGE in immediacy and the increasing speed of doling peace offerings to the rakyat. I say, accept every handout, hail Najib as our true and only saviour, grant him superstardom, make him elated and come election day, vote for PR. Hypocrisy is in trend. Apply it for the greater good of saving Malaysia from avaricious clutches.
The delusional claim that salt and mineral water “brandished” by Bersih protestors would overthrow the government stems from the fear I mentioned earlier. The rakyat, in true sense of word is collectively Najib’s boogeyman.
It didn’t occur to Najib that Bersih 2.0 epic would spawn Bersih 3.0 seeming saga, each, bigger and more sonorous than the former, uniting Malaysians from all walks of life locally and internationally, not to mention the movement calling for free and fair elections and the way the Malaysian government tackled the issue being under worldwide scrutiny.
Bemused, clueless and riddled, again he ordered an arsenal of irritant ammunition to be unleashed on civilians, possibly thinking “this is how you scatter the roaches!” Mind you, roaches are resilient creatures.
The aftermath of Bersih 3.0 is a pretty ugly picture, painted by the power hungry sharks, scaredy cats, desperados, by-standers and Hermes role playing messengers and the sole target -Ambiga. From burger stalls to obscene butt exercises, from hate speeches to death threats, this lady is harassed like anything.
Racial undertone is conspicuous and the rakyat is angry, albeit contained. I believe it is just waiting to eplode at the ballot box. Malaysians generally have had enough of racial slurs and race based politics no matter how beclouding the practises are.
It is said that one would make the most blunders when in desperation and this rings true in the way present day Malaysia is governed, her helm holders, having succumbed to relative cretinism.
The covenant to give MACC more independence when it is supposed to be a complete independent body is tantamount to Malaysia not being fully independent from the British. If read between the lines, the PM is saying that MACC is indeed biased and it is Najib’s mistake for taking Malaysians for a bunch of fools, whom he can take for a ride.
Next, BR1M. This one takes the cake; a serious joke you might call it but it is anything but funny. It is the PM who is trying to prove that he is good humoured. RM500 per family whose monthly household income is less than RM3,000 and deemed to be a once a year event, and maybe even a second wave to buy votes from the poor and needy.
RM500 is pittance. While ministers pay RM100,000 for a night’s stay in Burj Al Arab, the rakyat get a mere RM500 per year while many more live in the yoke of utter poverty. A raw deal in every sense of word.
2020 is just eight years away and hardcore poor still dwell in provincial, remote areas, lacking the most basic living necessities. Vision 2020 was conceptualised by Malaysia’s forth and longest serving premier Dr Mahathir in 1991.
The nine strategic challenges that Malaysia has to overcome to achieve Vision 2020 are as follows:
- Establishing a united Malaysian nation made up of one Bangsa Malaysia.
- Creating a psychologically liberated, secure and developed Malaysian society.
- Fostering and developing a mature democratic society.
- Establishing a fully moral and ethical society.
- Establishing a matured liberal and tolerant society.
- Establishing a scientific and progressive society.
- Establishing a fully caring society.
- Ensuring an economically just society, where there is a fair and equitable distribution of the wealth.
- Establishing a prosperous society with an economy that is fully competitive, dynamic, robust and resilient.
Establishing a united Malaysian nation made up of one Bangsa Malaysia
Race based politics is still the trend and quarters of racism raises its ugly head every now and then. The claim that Indians came here as beggars and Chinese as prostitutes, the insinuation of calling Indians ‘pariah’ in the novel, Interlok and the malicious, harm intended acts at Ambiga is only the tip of the iceberg. Can Bangsa Malaysia be established and consolidated in the remaining eight years?
Creating a psychologically liberated, secure and developed Malaysian society
Psychologically liberated, secure and developed minds won’t indulge in faux pauses. The foot in mouth syndrome is prevalent among the ruling coalition’s incumbents, the most recent one being Sri Gading’s MP’s clarion call to have Ambiga hanged for treason. Can such bloody mindedness be rectified in eight years?
Fostering and developing a mature democratic society
The rightful call for free and fair elections and true democracy be implemented has fallen on deaf ears even after 3 sweeping waves of Bersih rallies, the organisers, harassed and the converged public be bullied by the powers that be that is supposed to protect the people not, play thugs to the ruling coalition. The very man behind this vision is now doing a back flip, saying that democracy without limits, would result anarchy. What’s bugging him? Absent-mindedness or fickle mindedness? Again, the signs are clear that no recent Malaysian PMs so far intend to foster and develop a mature democratic society. Talk about talking cock.
Establishing a fully moral and ethical society
An ethical, fully moralistic society will be achieved when exemplary in top leaderships gets modelled at all levels. The case scenario is yet to exist here, with PERKASA being left without discretion and restriction leash by its tamer. It is let loose to malign and bodily harm those who oppose its views. It is also uncouth and resorting to violence to disrupt opposition parties’ gatherings, immersed in mob mentality and thugism. So much for the establishment of a fully moral and ethical society. I don’t even have to elaborate on corruption and other vices. They are well-known cases.
Establishing a matured liberal and tolerant society
The ban of Irshad Manji’s book, the skewed persecution of Christian groups trying to proselytise Muslims, and other incidents carrying analagous flavours prove that Malaysia has failed to overcome the challenge of attaining an established matured liberal and tolerant society. The factors are impossible to be achieved before 2020 dawns.
Establishing a scientific and progressive society
Due to the oblique of the Bumiputera status, Malaysia is experiencing chronic brain drain which bogs a scientific and progressive society down. Why stay when the land you are born into treats you like a second class citizen when the world welcomes you with open arms?
Simple logic. Not to mention the influx of foreigners here being granted citizenships to preserve the ruling coalition’s political survival. Can the establishment of both scientific and progressive society be achieved in the balance of eight years with the two factors above serving as stumble blocks at the ruling coalition’s own doing? I think not.
Establishing a fully caring society
A fully caring society means not only caring for human interests; it includes flora and fauna interests too. Why does Malaysia have so many zoos in deplorable conditions? Our next door neighbour, Singapore, has a superb zoo with worldwide reputation for excellence which puts Malaysia to shame. Quantity doesn’t count; quality does. Those bodies and personnel in charge of wildlife conservation is operating at zero level. They simply cannot be bothered by the plight of animals indigeneous to this rich, blessed land and now 2 pandas are going to call Malaysia home for 10 years when Malaysia is unfit even to watch over and protect endangered animals at home. I shudder to think of the fate of the 2 baby pandas. Again, can this deeply wanting need be fulfilled in the remaining eight years? You do the math.
Ensuring an economically just society, where there is a fair and equitable distribution of wealth
Now, this tenet of Vision 2020 is sorely missing. The chasm between the rich and poor is getting wider by the day. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. When mentioning Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak must be taken into equal account. To date, it won’t be deniable to say that both the states of Borneo have been grossly taken for advantage. Petroleum producing Sarawak and timber producing Sabah remain the poorest states in Malaysia along with Terengganu and Kelantan. Failure in developing those rich in natural resources state is tantamount to the failure of Vision 2020 unless Superman decides to interfere.
Establishing a prosperous society with an economy that is fully competitive, dynamic, robust and resilient
Bankruptcy rate is staggering and the cost of living is skyrocketing. Are those evidence of a competitive, dynamic, robust and resilient economy? It is popularly known that citizens would go bankrupt first before the country does. Debt-to-GDP ratio jumped from 41.4% in 2008 to 53.1% in 2010 while government debt grew 14.6% in 2008 and18.3% in 2009, far outpacing the country’s GDP growth. It must be noted that when Malaysia was formed in1963, the British left her with a solid administrative template.
Yet, after more than 50 years of rule by BN, the template has not been improved on. In fact, it has gone to the dogs; replaced by a form of government that encourages leakages and corruption of all forms. Malaysia has a population of 28 million and a civil service of around 1.3 millions. Out of the 28 million, only one per cent are paying income tax. (Heaven knows how much black money is stashed in Swiss accounts.) This clearly shows that 99% are either below the income tax bracket or merely earning too little to need to pay taxes. With inflation and the price of goods continuing to rise, expect even fewer people to pay income tax in the near future. So much for a prosperous society.
Another disturbing, worrying and down right ridiculous trend is the discontinuation of gazzeted policies made by successive PMs. Dr Mahathir introduced the Vision 2020 and Abdullah Badawi failed to follow it through. Instead, he created the brand Islam Hadari and once Najib successed Pak Lah, he went on his on way and came up with 1Malaysia, leaving Malaysians disenchanted and disillusioned.
The scenario looks like our PMs are being keen to imprint their own, singular, exclusive marks within the term they assume public office at the expense of rakyat, the ‘brand’ propagated via mainstream media. How underskilled, fickle and disengaging! How can we change a national policy every time we change our PM? Would the ‘halfway or quarterway done’ policies bring any good for the rakyat as a whole? Hwaaa.. Malaysia memang BOLEH!!
Then, there are white elephant projects which benefit few Malaysians. There are homeless and starving Malaysians living in slums and in severely deprived living conditions and yet, we boast on gilded achievements like building the tallest twin towers in the world and sending an astronaut to break fast in outer space. Let’s ask the Penans what they think of such grand displays while their children have no decent meals to fill their tiny tummies and cannot afford an education. Build towering Malaysians first; building towering buildings can wait.
With all said and done, I pose the question to my fellow Malaysians, where is our country heading? Towards encompassing development or enveloping destruction? Making a difference lies in our hands, we hold the power and let’s show the full force of the people’s power at the ballot box. The country is cool but not the people who are running it.
Learn the difference. Know the difference. There is a difference. We can make a difference.
Political gratitude defined
Politically sentient Malaysians especially netizens are fully aware of BN's shenanigans as well as scams and are raring to make the opposition form the federal government via the imminent 13th GE.
Lately, BN honchos are using another 'weapon' for political mileage and it is none other than asking for gratitude to the ruling coalition for what it did for Malaysia and her people.
Rural folks, especially, are duped into pledging unwavering affinity and gratefulness to UMNO, that their future is only secure and would only flourish under BN's empire and the only way for them to express thankfulness is by voting it into power time and time again. Anything opposing BN is considered pestilent. Such is the face value conjured up by BN to win provincial votes.
As much as it is pathetic, it is also illogically effective. Numerous dumbed down Malaysian would buy BN's sloganeering 'Show your gratitude for what we had done and sacrificed for you' wholesale.
BN did do and sacrifice much for the people who put them in power for donkey's years. Equality, mass media transparency and the freedom of expression were sacrificed in the name of democracy. Corruption, elitism, cronyism, nepotism, the subversion of national unity, the compromises in the education system not to mention the judiciary system and the "tidak apa" attitude were commited in the name of service to the rakyat.
Political gratitude is topsy turvy in Malaysia and we are the international laughing stock, I'm sorry to say. It has everything got to do with hoity-toity politicians, asking the rakyat to remember their policies and deeds that has 'benefitted' the Malays, the Chinese, the Indians and others. So much for 1Malaysia!
Yes, we are indeed grateful. We are grateful for the heavy handed police SOP at all 3 of Bersih rallies calling for free and fair elections, for all the money politics, for all the abuse of power, for all the high profile scandals involving collosal amounts of RM, for all the deprivation and adversity the average Malaysians are going through while ministers live large and last but not least, for giving all right-minded Malaysians all the right reasons to not vote for BN in the looming GE.
In order to be relevant and trustable again, BN must fully comprehend one fact, that is, it is not the rakyat who must be grateful to the government; it is vice versa, being true to democratic tenets.
The people pay ministers their salary and entrust them to govern the country by adhering to the people's righteous demands. That is why the incumbents got elected in the first place; the people are the masters and the incumbents are put in public office to serve the people. That is the correct democracy working order.
But, what do we have here? It is what is termed as 'democracy, Malaysian style.' Ministers are the Patricians and the rakyat are plebeians. This is the present day state of Malaysia where draconian laws and opression and the silencing of dissent reign supreme.
All of it stems from one irrefutable reason. A government that has been in power for too long that it couldn't bear the thought of not being to lord Malaysia no more.
It is terrified should the years of tapping Malaysia dry to fill their pockets would end with a bang and all their past misdeeds would come out in the open, tried in upright court of law and the doers be counting incarcerating bars instead of their ill gotten money.
Malaysians have been grateful to BN for over more than half a century by voting the political coalition to hold the nation's helm and it is more than enough.
For a country so rich in natural resources and no natural disasters, Malaysia would have become a first world country by now if only our leaders thus far used half of their zoetic grey matter to propel the country to the crux of overall development instead of clandestine self-enriching agendas by the means of mainstream media propogation of whitewashing the rakyat and by creating a fake impression that they are doing a supernal job of governing the country.
It is time for Malaysians abandon their gratitude to BN. It should be non existent in the first place. Please don't be grateful to our PM who serves us empty bones, having devoured the flesh and sucked the marrow dry. We deserve better and let's serve BN right this time around.
It is, indeed, long overdue but better late than never!
Lately, BN honchos are using another 'weapon' for political mileage and it is none other than asking for gratitude to the ruling coalition for what it did for Malaysia and her people.
Rural folks, especially, are duped into pledging unwavering affinity and gratefulness to UMNO, that their future is only secure and would only flourish under BN's empire and the only way for them to express thankfulness is by voting it into power time and time again. Anything opposing BN is considered pestilent. Such is the face value conjured up by BN to win provincial votes.
As much as it is pathetic, it is also illogically effective. Numerous dumbed down Malaysian would buy BN's sloganeering 'Show your gratitude for what we had done and sacrificed for you' wholesale.
BN did do and sacrifice much for the people who put them in power for donkey's years. Equality, mass media transparency and the freedom of expression were sacrificed in the name of democracy. Corruption, elitism, cronyism, nepotism, the subversion of national unity, the compromises in the education system not to mention the judiciary system and the "tidak apa" attitude were commited in the name of service to the rakyat.
Political gratitude is topsy turvy in Malaysia and we are the international laughing stock, I'm sorry to say. It has everything got to do with hoity-toity politicians, asking the rakyat to remember their policies and deeds that has 'benefitted' the Malays, the Chinese, the Indians and others. So much for 1Malaysia!
Yes, we are indeed grateful. We are grateful for the heavy handed police SOP at all 3 of Bersih rallies calling for free and fair elections, for all the money politics, for all the abuse of power, for all the high profile scandals involving collosal amounts of RM, for all the deprivation and adversity the average Malaysians are going through while ministers live large and last but not least, for giving all right-minded Malaysians all the right reasons to not vote for BN in the looming GE.
In order to be relevant and trustable again, BN must fully comprehend one fact, that is, it is not the rakyat who must be grateful to the government; it is vice versa, being true to democratic tenets.
The people pay ministers their salary and entrust them to govern the country by adhering to the people's righteous demands. That is why the incumbents got elected in the first place; the people are the masters and the incumbents are put in public office to serve the people. That is the correct democracy working order.
But, what do we have here? It is what is termed as 'democracy, Malaysian style.' Ministers are the Patricians and the rakyat are plebeians. This is the present day state of Malaysia where draconian laws and opression and the silencing of dissent reign supreme.
All of it stems from one irrefutable reason. A government that has been in power for too long that it couldn't bear the thought of not being to lord Malaysia no more.
It is terrified should the years of tapping Malaysia dry to fill their pockets would end with a bang and all their past misdeeds would come out in the open, tried in upright court of law and the doers be counting incarcerating bars instead of their ill gotten money.
Malaysians have been grateful to BN for over more than half a century by voting the political coalition to hold the nation's helm and it is more than enough.
For a country so rich in natural resources and no natural disasters, Malaysia would have become a first world country by now if only our leaders thus far used half of their zoetic grey matter to propel the country to the crux of overall development instead of clandestine self-enriching agendas by the means of mainstream media propogation of whitewashing the rakyat and by creating a fake impression that they are doing a supernal job of governing the country.
It is time for Malaysians abandon their gratitude to BN. It should be non existent in the first place. Please don't be grateful to our PM who serves us empty bones, having devoured the flesh and sucked the marrow dry. We deserve better and let's serve BN right this time around.
It is, indeed, long overdue but better late than never!
Indian prioritizing
Sunday, June 24, 2012 3:33 PM
“The government must undertake serious efforts to ensure Indians are not left behind. The same with temples. Schools and temples have been a major problem for Indians since independence"
And, that's exactly why Indians' present status quo here is made inherent. Underscore the phrase 'made inherent'. That's why Indian school dropouts, unemployed and prisoners number is high as opposed to the Malaysian population ratio. In line with that, it is roundedly alterable and changeable if only Malaysian Indians shake their one-dimensional agendas, ficklemindedness, temerity, ignorance, apathy, blinkered mindsets, mob mentality and the failure to prioritise off.
Let's zoom in into the perennial fiasco of Hindu temples issue primarily which is riddled with hypersensitivity rather than sensibility. Although the majority of Indians here are Hindus, this case scenario makes the impression that all Indians are Hindus and all of Indians' places of worship are Hindu temples. This perception fragments Indians internally, screwing unity up from within.
There are Indian Christians and Indian Muslims and these brethrens are left out by the sum of Indian Hindus. In other words, they are plainly dianak-tirikan. There is an undercurrent of dissatisfaction amongst Indian Christians and Indian Muslims in similitude with the dissatisfaction non-Malays have over Bumiputran status and the special rights that come with it. Ironical, isn't it?
Mindsets need to evolve to meet needs which morph through time. Petty sentimentality should not be allowed to get the better of logical, timely and sound judgement.
Maybe temple issues were relevant say, 20 to 30 years ago but now it has festered into a red herring, steering Indians away from things that matter now and in the long run. Instead of erecting one temple for one estate or residential area and spending much valued money in maintaining the buildings, use the existing temples as operational hives for beneficial activities besides fulfilling one's spiritual needs. This way, decadence in the Indian community can be doctored to say the least.
Convert a part of a temple into a library, conduct free tuition for those children who can't afford tuition fees, organize motivational speeches on weekends, hold sporting events for youths and make those activities available not only for Hindu Indians but for all Malaysians, regardless of race and religion. Make the effort! For the holier than thou units who think that these activities as highly sacrilegeous, I have just the phrase for you, "Makkal sevai, Mahesan sevai." Translated literally, it means service to people is akin to service to God.
Now, let's shift our sight to Tamil schools. Tamil schools have been existing from the British colonial times. The age is over but some of us are stuck in the era either by refusal to move on from times gone by or plain ignorance or the static belief that Tamil schools would do wonders to unite the Indian people.
Historically, the British built separate vernacular schools to maintain racial divide and prejudice to lord over us. It is indeed expedient and shrewd and one of the things that should have been kicked out right after Malaysia gained independence from the British if our leaders truly want to see a united Malaysia turn up without jeopardising our national language, our official religion, our monarchy and our Rukun Negara.
Vernacular schools impede national unity at the primordial stage; there is no room for vernacular school in a multi-racial society. I can further break down the Indian community who have known no land except Malaysia and helped build her together with fellow compatriots, that are besides Tamils who make up the majority of the Indian community, Malayalis, Telugus and Punjabis in that descending order.
I'm a Telugu and I hail from Teluk Intan. There was a single roomed Telugu school at Simpang Empat if I remember correctly. The school has ceased to exist now. It should be the case of vernacular schools by now. I want to make one thing crystal here. I am not against Tamil and Tamilians. Although I went to a national primary school, I taught myself to speak and read Tamil but I can't write Tamil effectively though.
All I'm saying is to have vernacular schools abolished and vernacular language literacy be achieved by the means of languages' subjects integration in national schools like English. But, unlike English, make it an option; students can either take the subject up or omit it. The government doesn't need to split monetary allocations into 3 separate schools no more; it would be single pronged. Ethnic gratification level would augment alongside with over-reaching racial unity.
For those who fear that Islam and Bahasa Malaysia would be compromised, I say not to worry. The two factors are already solidly established. I'd like to quote Madame Marie Curie, " There is nothing to be feared. It is only to be understood."
France and Germany were more divided than Malaysia in the past, different dialects were spoken in different provinces. Their leaders, succession after succession came to the realization that for solidarity to prevail, a bit of identity sacrifice must be made for greater good and for encompassing development to accelerate.
Rome wasn't built in a day. From independence day to the present day the separatist notion has been it's an Indian problem, it's a Chinese problem and it's a Malay problem. It is high time we call our problems a Malaysian problem and seek to solve it as Malaysians.
The Trouble with Malaysian Indians
As much as I hate race discrimnation, I have to be exclusive here to illustrate why Indians are failing in the Malaysian society. I am not going to sugar coat facts. Instead, I'll deliver truths as naked as they are and that all is not well.
Ignorance, the lack of drive, bad prioritising and apathy take precedence in this issue I am highlighting. This, as a package is the self-inflicted plague that besets the Indian community here.
Many Indian parents don't give much importance to see their children through varsity, being blind to the fact that a solid education would secure their children's future and make them hot commodity for employment both locally and internationally.
The average Indian household' clime here is devoid of acute attention for education. While some parents entrust their children to tuition classes, a substantial number of them just don't care whether their children is going to school properly or playing truant at their whim and fancy. Some don't even know the name and the location of the school their children attend what more the subjects they are studying, their teachers and circle of friends.
Many stay home as well as working mothers, spend their evenings watching Tamil serials while fathers get self-indulgent with alcoholism while expecting their innocent and impressionable children to study, blissfully ignorant that they are setting all the wrong examples.
In due course, after being imbibed by the rotten exemplary their parents display, these children would begin not to take their studies seriously. Since their parents show not even an infinitesemal concern on their studies, the perception that "Why should I study when no one cares my education seriously?" would take deep root in their plastic minds and all will go downhill from there.
Waywardness, ruthlessness and anarchy would then breed freely and rowdism and crime would become the order of the day for these hot-blooded kids who would take the vices to adulthood. Is it any wonder that prison inmates here brim of Indian male youths, their prime and potential wasting away?
Gangsterism is another burden that is weighin Malaysian Indians down
Ignorance, the lack of drive, bad prioritising and apathy take precedence in this issue I am highlighting. This, as a package is the self-inflicted plague that besets the Indian community here.
Many Indian parents don't give much importance to see their children through varsity, being blind to the fact that a solid education would secure their children's future and make them hot commodity for employment both locally and internationally.
The average Indian household' clime here is devoid of acute attention for education. While some parents entrust their children to tuition classes, a substantial number of them just don't care whether their children is going to school properly or playing truant at their whim and fancy. Some don't even know the name and the location of the school their children attend what more the subjects they are studying, their teachers and circle of friends.
Many stay home as well as working mothers, spend their evenings watching Tamil serials while fathers get self-indulgent with alcoholism while expecting their innocent and impressionable children to study, blissfully ignorant that they are setting all the wrong examples.
In due course, after being imbibed by the rotten exemplary their parents display, these children would begin not to take their studies seriously. Since their parents show not even an infinitesemal concern on their studies, the perception that "Why should I study when no one cares my education seriously?" would take deep root in their plastic minds and all will go downhill from there.
Waywardness, ruthlessness and anarchy would then breed freely and rowdism and crime would become the order of the day for these hot-blooded kids who would take the vices to adulthood. Is it any wonder that prison inmates here brim of Indian male youths, their prime and potential wasting away?
Gangsterism is another burden that is weighin Malaysian Indians down
Me!!
The name's Hema,
Her game is writing in an imaginary hoopla,
She can be saucy,
To her family and friends mercy,
She knows that she is intelligent,
And sometimes belligerent,
She is outspoken,
Given a token,
With a strong heart,
She pushes real hard,
She is determined,
All the weight of the world won't have her broken,
Need I say more?
All is said and there is no more.
Her game is writing in an imaginary hoopla,
She can be saucy,
To her family and friends mercy,
She knows that she is intelligent,
And sometimes belligerent,
She is outspoken,
Given a token,
With a strong heart,
She pushes real hard,
She is determined,
All the weight of the world won't have her broken,
Need I say more?
All is said and there is no more.
What Malaysians Really Want
Malaysians are generally simpletons and do not demand much, some, too complacent for their own good. We carry ourselves mannerly, graciously and accomodatingly , mingling with our fellow compatriots of differing races in schools, work places and neighbourhood occasions, sharing banters, food and exchanging and understanding cultures.
Of late, many Malaysians are politically caught up, including me. It has become a part of life which we cannot run away from simply because the knowledge that politics determine the making or breaking of life of the Malaysian hoi polloi is now more prevalent than ever.
The recent claim that Bersih 3.0's motive is to topple the government earned the rage of right-minded Malaysians both at home and abroad as well as the silent critics hiding behind their computer screens and those who got to downtown Kuala Lumpur and got 'clean'.
All Malaysians want is a government that listens and reacts in accordance to its bosses' orders, that is, Malaysians who voted politicians into public office and placed trust on them to run the engines of the nation through responsible, accountable, credible, integral statecraft.
When the mentioned wants fail to be met, it is only natural for anybody to rise up and clamour for an exhaustive explanation and when it is found dubious, misleading and untruthful, emotions will run high and dissatisfaction would translate into votes during elections, true to the democratic system Malaysia boasts of.
When the rakyat discover that democracy and election procedures here is grossly flawed and utterly manipulated to be oblique to one coalition party that held the helm of the nation for over a half century, isn't it righteous for Malaysians, irrespective of age, social status and ambulatorial ability (I'm ommiting the mention of race here because I believe most Malaysians especially urbanites have mentally transcended racial bounds) to take to the streets to make their high dudgeon reverberate worldwide?
The people of Malaysia don't want much; we only want our rightful rights and the abolishment of obsolete and redundant policies and for policy makers to engage in deliberations with the rakyat and to keep tabs with time and ever-evolving needs instead of being dreamily grandiose, smugly hebetudinous, callously belying and maliciously partial.
The sincere and progressive phasing in and the active implementation of equality, mass media freedom, freedom of expression, meritocracy as the basis for the furthering of education and at holding posts would benefit Malaysia as we can retain our brains from draining out to overseas and progress at all levels would gain also much wanted momentum.
While the Malaysian Ideal is still out of reach, Malaysians are willing to work towards it to see a not only physically developed Malaysia but a country of professional ethics where heavy handed approaches, shenanigans and errant indulgences are not allowed to ferment to lay way for the best that Malaysia can be. That is what we want for Malaysia.
Malaysians want their fair share of the economic pie. To channel all the coffers have to offer to develop only a particular, segmented part of the nation is not munificent and beneficient. It's not develoment; it's a disease, akin to elephant foot disease where only one part of the body grows out of proportion and stunts the growth of other parts of the body. Development must be even and sweeping and Malaysians want to taste the prosperity that they rightfully deserve as taxpaying citizens.
Malaysians want a better future for their children and their children. We want to leave a legacy where our posterity's future is secured and is able to proliferate healthily as well as propel the nation to great heights. Is it too much to ask?
Of late, many Malaysians are politically caught up, including me. It has become a part of life which we cannot run away from simply because the knowledge that politics determine the making or breaking of life of the Malaysian hoi polloi is now more prevalent than ever.
The recent claim that Bersih 3.0's motive is to topple the government earned the rage of right-minded Malaysians both at home and abroad as well as the silent critics hiding behind their computer screens and those who got to downtown Kuala Lumpur and got 'clean'.
All Malaysians want is a government that listens and reacts in accordance to its bosses' orders, that is, Malaysians who voted politicians into public office and placed trust on them to run the engines of the nation through responsible, accountable, credible, integral statecraft.
When the mentioned wants fail to be met, it is only natural for anybody to rise up and clamour for an exhaustive explanation and when it is found dubious, misleading and untruthful, emotions will run high and dissatisfaction would translate into votes during elections, true to the democratic system Malaysia boasts of.
When the rakyat discover that democracy and election procedures here is grossly flawed and utterly manipulated to be oblique to one coalition party that held the helm of the nation for over a half century, isn't it righteous for Malaysians, irrespective of age, social status and ambulatorial ability (I'm ommiting the mention of race here because I believe most Malaysians especially urbanites have mentally transcended racial bounds) to take to the streets to make their high dudgeon reverberate worldwide?
The people of Malaysia don't want much; we only want our rightful rights and the abolishment of obsolete and redundant policies and for policy makers to engage in deliberations with the rakyat and to keep tabs with time and ever-evolving needs instead of being dreamily grandiose, smugly hebetudinous, callously belying and maliciously partial.
The sincere and progressive phasing in and the active implementation of equality, mass media freedom, freedom of expression, meritocracy as the basis for the furthering of education and at holding posts would benefit Malaysia as we can retain our brains from draining out to overseas and progress at all levels would gain also much wanted momentum.
While the Malaysian Ideal is still out of reach, Malaysians are willing to work towards it to see a not only physically developed Malaysia but a country of professional ethics where heavy handed approaches, shenanigans and errant indulgences are not allowed to ferment to lay way for the best that Malaysia can be. That is what we want for Malaysia.
Malaysians want their fair share of the economic pie. To channel all the coffers have to offer to develop only a particular, segmented part of the nation is not munificent and beneficient. It's not develoment; it's a disease, akin to elephant foot disease where only one part of the body grows out of proportion and stunts the growth of other parts of the body. Development must be even and sweeping and Malaysians want to taste the prosperity that they rightfully deserve as taxpaying citizens.
Malaysians want a better future for their children and their children. We want to leave a legacy where our posterity's future is secured and is able to proliferate healthily as well as propel the nation to great heights. Is it too much to ask?
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