1Malaysia – Continued fragmentation

K Haridas looks at Najib’s ‘1Malaysia’ slogan and wonders how different it is from Mahathir’s ‘Wawasan 2020’ and Badawi’s ‘Islam hadhari’ buzz-words. Can we really trust the premier’s reform pledge?

It was April 2009 when Najib Tun Razak inherited the Prime Ministership from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who was held accountable for the 2008 election disaster, which saw the Barisan Nasional (BN) lose its two thirds majority. Like his predecessors Najib on assuming power outlined ‘1Malaysia’ as his Charter calling on the Cabinet, government agencies and civil servants to strongly emphasise ethnic harmony, national unity and efficient governance as key parameters.

In the fast paced 21st century Najib highlighted that it was time for new vision, commitment and bravery to make changes.”I need to find the ingredients in order to attain the objectives of developing the country and its peoples. By upholding the virtues in the ‘1Malaysia’ slogan we will progress to become excellent, brilliant and a glorious nation”, he said when addressing people near Kuantan soon after taking office three years ago.

Najib stressed that the focus of his administration would be to take care of the well being of all Malaysians regardless of race and religion.”We need to do this together and by being united we will have extraordinary strength to make changes. Our mindsets must not be confined by the differences in our racial backgrounds,” he stressed.

The slogan for 2009 was ‘People First, Performance Now’. The following year 2010 it would be ‘Generating Transformation’ and in 2011 it would be ‘Transformation Successful, People Prosperous’. He indicated that this was giving continuity to the earlier slogans of Badawi ‘Excellence, Glory and Distinction’ and Mahathir’s ‘Vision 2020’.

We have been a nation of visions and slogans. We can remember Mahathir’s slogan of creating a ‘Clean, Efficient and Trustworthy Government’ and the ridicule this created. Badawi, meanwhile emphasised ‘Work with me not for me’ and soon found himself out of office. When Najib announced his ‘1Malaysia’ policy, there were thumbs up from several quarters. In response, however, many exclaimed that they would like to see these ideas in action and the need for politicians to walk the talk.

What a paradox

Today, in 2012, as Najib enters his fourth year in office, what can we say about ‘1Malaysia’, which stresses national unity and ethnic tolerance? What a paradox that after 55 years of independence, with several charters and vision statements, we still have to talk in terms of unity and tolerance when the dialogue should be about unity and greater understanding.

The values he articulated were perseverance, a culture of excellence, acceptance, loyalty, education, humility, integrity and meritocracy. Speaking of improving the Government’s efficiency, he stressed the need for Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and National Key Results Areas (NKRAs). He outlined his Government’s commitment to carrying out a transformation programme based on the approaches and philosophy of 1 Malaysia – people first, performance now.

He directed the much maligned Biro Tata Negara (BTN) to provide training to civil servants: “We will ensure that the BTN courses will also inculcate the ‘1Malaysia’ concept and its eight values, namely high performance culture, accuracy, knowledge, innovation, integrity, strong will, loyalty and wisdom.”

This saw the establishment of 50 ‘1Malaysia clinics’ that were to provide basic medical services for a treatment fee of RM1. What an amazing outreach that will meet the needs of Malaysia’s 28m population! A RM50m contract was then awarded to Tricubes Bhd to run the ‘1Malaysia’ email process as part of the government’s social networking project. Through this free email opportunity, accounts would be opened for the public to communicate with the government.

This led to an uproar causing Najib to backtrack saying that this was a private sector initiative and that the acceptance of email accounts was voluntary. The company awarded the contract was found to be facing financial difficulties. This was thus perceived as a bailout process with good intentions covering up a money-making exercise.

In 2011, the ‘1Malaysia’ franchise went into the grocery stores business by opening up the ‘Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia’ (KR1M). This aimed at helping low-income groups obtain cheaper groceries. Allegations of poor quality products were highlighted. KR1M was then instructed to ask its suppliers to send their products for periodical lab testing. Another serious embarrassment for the Najib administration.

Other initiatives include the ‘1Malaysia Foundation’ and the ‘1Malaysia Youth Fund’. The Foundation was established in 2009 to promote and develop ideas of ‘1Malaysia’ and to coordinate and supplement government and private sector activities. The youth fund with RM20m was to provide support for young people to undertake creative projects that nurture national unity.

A year after the concept’s launch, Mahathir Mohamad indicated that he still did not understand the ‘1Malaysia’ concept. This was not surprising because Mahathir neither understood nor was he committed to the values of his own ‘Vision 2020’. His recent racist utterances attest to this fact. Based on an opinion poll in 2010, the public were weary of the ‘1Malaysia’ concept. According to an online news media, 46 per cent of respondents to an opinion poll believed that the concept had the political agenda of winning over the non-Malays.

Having gone through numerous slogans and vision statements the Malaysian public were questioning the sincerity of this programme. When Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin indicated that he was Malay first and Malaysian second, he conveyed the hollowness of the government’s position. How many in his own Cabinet have come out to say that they are ‘Malaysian First’ before their ethnic identity? The sceptics have been proved right, and the ‘1Malaysia’ champion has been unable to mobilise his own cabinet and his coalition for his cause.

Much cynicism

Today we have a situation where there is much cynicism about the ‘1Malaysia’ agenda. Will this meet the same fate as the ‘Rukunegara’, ‘Vision 2020’ and ‘Islam Hadhari’? How can we expect race-based parties to promote a concept whose first principles must be value based, beyond issues of identity. There is a lot of rhetoric but everyone seems to be struggling within their ethnic or racial ghettoes shouting ‘1Malaysia’ while also promoting ‘ketuanan Melayu’, Hindraf and issues of Dong Jiao Zong.

Every group is longing for justice and fairness but race-based parties can never provide the answers. Every race wants justice for itself even at the expense of the other. The formula is based on a win-lose agenda and not a win-win model. We have experienced this over the last three or more decades of slogans and visions and it seems as though we have not learnt any lessons. Is ‘1Malaysia’ also doomed to failure because its fundamental basis again does not rest on justice, fairness or equity but on ethnicity?

What we have in the ruling coalition party in Malaysia are ethnic-based political parties. When they create a coalition, then we have an ethnic-based coalition party and not a multi-ethnic party. This is the fallacy. BN charades as a multi-ethnic party while essentially being a coalition of ethnic parties committed to championing ethnic causes.

We can see evidence of this with the subtle support that is covertly given to right wing groups like Perkasa. More than any other group, they together with Hindruf and the Dong Jiao Zong provide stress to the spirit of ‘1Malaysia’. They have genuine issues but what does this mean for the larger goal of ‘1Malaysia’. All these groups should dialogue together in the context of justice and fairness with a win-win model under ‘1Malaysia’.

Until we come out of the box of ethnicity, we will never see a Malaysia that has so much to offer all Malaysians. As long as our viewpoints, perceptions and mindsets are conditioned by ethnicity we will always champion for our share even at the expense of the other because we view our problems and challenges from narrow viewpoints and in the context of fear and scarcity. We will only go forward when we pull together and recognise that there is enough for all of us irrespective of our ethnic origins.

With all the virtues and values enunciated by ‘1Malaysia’, what is the situation on the ground? There is greater ethnic polarisation. Corruption is endemic, and the Najib administration is on the defensive. Where are the role models who walk the talk of ‘1Malaysia’? Ethnicity cannot be the basis for transcending race. This is the critical lesson that the last three or more decades offers us. It is so obvious in its logic that even intellectuals have missed it.

We need to find a cause that will embrace the best from all Malaysians, one that commits itself to justice and fairness. Without such an end position, we cannot transcend the ethnic dilemma that confronts our nation and our people. Where is the high performance culture in the midst of corruption; where is there integrity when there is so much gerrymandering and unfairness in the electoral rolls and vast differences in the constituency make up? Where is there fairness when money is given only to the ruling representatives to assist development at the constituency level? What do the values of ‘1Malaysia’ mean beyond the political divide and context?

There will be many believers about ‘1Malaysia’. We live with hope but believers do not change the price of cheese. They just protect and maintain the status quo. What we need are practitioners who walk the talk and show by example what ‘1Malaysia’ exemplifies. Who in the present administration exemplifies such leadership, character and conduct? Look at Najib’s team of Muhyiddin, Zahid Hamidi, Nazri, Shahrizat, Yen Yen, Chua, Palanivel and Kaveas to mention a few. Do they inspire confidence?

We have numerous forms that require us to identify our ethnic origins. We are Malaysians first and why can’t we even adopt the notion of ‘Bangsa Malaysia’, as highlighted in Vision 2020, as our overriding national identity. We travel with Malaysian passports and have one Yang Di Pertuan Agong. Even this, Najib’s ‘1Malaysia’ has been unable to achieve. The polarisation in schools and universities continues despite the stress over decades on national unity.

Najib must walk the talk

Najib neither has the spine nor leadership credentials to fly the flag of ‘1 Malaysia’. Had he done so and walked his talk, people would have seen the difference between him and his predecessor Badawi. Sadly they are made of the same mould, and we have not seen him take a ‘1Malaysia’ position against detractors like Ibrahim Ali, Hasan Ali and other groups for their strident expressions and claims.

A committed leader to his cause would have started by first transforming BN. Real transformation involves the metamorphosis of the caterpillar into the butterfly – a transformation that would have seen the ethnic coalition parties within BN coalescing into a new an effective BN, a party where the BN is more significant than the sum of its ethnic parts. Such a butterfly would pollinate and germinate the garden and add to the colour and diversity of nature. With such a transformation, the new multi-ethnic party can then shout the cause of ‘1Malaysia’ loud and clear.

All contentious issues can be addressed, be it inter-religious dialogue, education, corruption, a more level playing field and even issues raised by Bersih. The values that ‘1Malaysia’ speaks about would provide the guiding light for direction into the future. People will respect and respond to such transformation and have hope for the future. So long as transformation is sought in the other or is a reaction to a stronger political opposition, no effective change can take place. It is positive reaction at best but remains purely a reaction.

We have a lot of rhetoric about the achievements of ‘1Malaysia’ in a matter of just three years. Where are the tangible results in terms of employment created, factories established, inflation controlled, crime being reduced, prices stabilised, the corrupt being punished and efficiency heightened? We are inundated with much rhetoric and accomplishments that can only pass as mere election gimmicks. You cannot continue to fool the people as BN has done for so long. The propaganda machine of the government through its mainstream print and digital media is inadequate to respond to the challenges provided by the more credible online, social media and social networking.

If the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms is one example, then we can take it that words on paper mean that issues have been addressed. This is very different from providing specifics as to a time-line for action to be taken on the issues raised. This is sordidly absent. So, how can we likewise trust the rhetoric of the PM that much has been achieved?

At the end of the day things are made very complicated like Space Science. The present formula is BR1M+BB1M+KR1M+MR1M+ GTP+ETP+KPI+NKRA+IMF+ 1MYF=‘1Malaysia’. Unlike space science, however, many may appreciate that the formula is simply unattainable. This is the reality of the Rukunegara+Vision 2020+Islam Hadhari+1Malaysia over the last several decades. The rocket remains grounded even on the issue of national unity. With no change in mindset, we swim in the same swamp and hope for clarity.

The challenges we face require us to pull together in one direction beyond considerations of ethnicity because this represents what is right and best for our nation. Najib speaks about the need to find the ingredients to attain the objectives of ‘1Malaysia’ but he like all of us will not find this sitting conditioned by a narrow mindset imprisoned by ethnicity.

If he has not learnt the lessons, then have we? If we have, than we will vote wisely at the forthcoming general elections for a different future based on a new Paradigm for Unity.

Your country needs you

The people must know first-hand that a drastic change in the government will be detrimental to the nation’s future. There will be gross mismanagement, chaos and civil disturbances. It may also lead to bankruptcy and the deterioration of the democratic process.

If Pakatan is ever allowed to govern this country, it will trigger a horrific chain of events as detailed below.

So ponder very carefully on each point before we make the same silly mistake again:

• Petrol prices will be reduced, which will cause more Malaysians to drive their own cars instead of using public transport, leading to more pollution in the Klang Valley and the rest of the country.
• A reduction in staple food prices will cause Malaysians to eat more than their fair share, leading to premature obesity.
• Education loans will be abolished leading to our children being less focused on their studies as they do not need to repay their loans.
• Meritocracy will be fully restored, heightening intense competition for places in public educational institutions, government institutions, the public and private sectors and the civil service while promotions will be based on merit and good governance. Only students with excellent qualifications will be allowed to pursue tertiary education overseas or be guaranteed places in local universities.
• Open tender exercises that will affect a large segment of contractors who cannot compete equally on a level playing field.
• A total revamp with “check and balance” will tax the patience of those in the civil service, with a focus to cut down on red tape while politeness and dedication to service will be introduced in all civil and public departments.
• MACC will go under the purview of Parliament, thereby restricting its independence to select and prosecute without fear or favour.
• Independence will be restored to the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary which will reduce the government’s hold on power, while the judiciary will hand down verdicts contrary to the government’s interest. A coup d’etat may occur if the armed rorces are given too much independence.
• The police, too, will take their own initiative to investigate sensitive cases on their own, and haul everyone up for breaking traffic laws even if it were minor ones. The separation of powers of the Executive, Judiciary and Legislature may also lead to a true democracy so unlike our pseudo-democracy practised by the current administration.
• VIP’s like Datuks and Tan Sris may have to queue in line like everyone else, instead of being allowed special treatment.
• Equal rights may cause the majority race to lose their supremacy and superiority, and may ridicule the Bumiputeras special status. It may even lead to everyone being bestowed the same rights in the spirit of Ketuanan Rakyat.
• It may also cause the Malays and Muslims who have been lovingly protected by Umno against sinning unconsciously, to demand for more individual freedoms.
• Unbridled freedom of expression may also embarrass our country’s plurality.
• The proliferation of churches and temples will mar the landscape while widespread religious freedom may affect the sanctity of Islam as the religion of the federation.
• Malaysians will start to attend open houses for Christmas, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and Hari Raya again, after a long Sabbath. Valentine’s Day may again be aggressively celebrated.
• There may be a bigger increase in entertainment outlets like massage parlours and pedicure outlets, which is already happening in Selangor under the Khalid (Ibrahim) administration.
• A high minimum wage touted by the opposition will decrease our economic advantage, causing employers to demand longer hours and more output from employees, while at the same time pushing up the standard of living.
• Migrant workers will be sent back in droves, so that Malaysian blue-collar workers get to enjoy better wages.
• Curbing the mass issuance of citizenship to legible foreigners leading to a drastic drop of new citizens and impeding our aim to achieve our target population of 70 million by 2020 (Vision 2020).
• Malaysians will have to work very hard to earn a living as cronyism will be abolished, and so too the Ali Baba culture so closely associated with cronyism. Cronyism isn’t all that bad, as most cronies will sub-contract out the projects to others and the spill-over will benefit every race.
• There will be a free market economy, which will be disadvantageous for those who are wholly dependent on the NEP.
• Financial institutions will review their policies to give bank loans only to those who can repay.
• Malays, Chinese and Indians will start to unite, shedding their inhibitions to accept each other as fellow citizens, becoming colour blind, and work together in harmony that will spell the end of race-based political parties.
• A spendthrift government will retard economic stimulus, so necessary to propel the country forward economically, leading to a bankrupt nation, as funds will be re-channelled to improve the people’s living standards.
• Abolishment of the Official Secrets Act and the Sedition Act may open up a pandora box of dirty secrets that is better left unopened.
• A discontinuation of Billion Ringgit Mega Projects that is so necessary to stimulate our bearish economy.
• A tighter rein on our natural resources like oil and gas, timber and our giant plantations that will reduce our international exports edge and much needed foreign exchange.
• Independent Power Producers (IPPs) will starve without any forthcoming subsidies while electricity may go up again.
• The Prime Minister’s Department will not be able to administer effectively with a spending cut of RM4 billion a year.
• BN politicians may end up in the opposition bench, lacking hands-on experience to handle their new political role.

New landscape

Malaysians will start to wake up to a new, strange landscape filled with drastic changes so alien to their mundane lives.

Seriously, we don’t need to change the status quo. We should be contented with what we already have, while allowing the government a free rein to run the country.

The prime minister has recently announced that all the objectives from Budget 2012 have been achieved, while the deputy prime minister has stated that all of Bersih’s demands have been met.

What more can we expect? Why allow a small matter like the electoral roll discourage us from making the right choice?

Why act like hooligans with mob-like tendencies to march in those dirty Bersih rallies?

Now if you have pondered and contemplated on all of the above points, I am sure you will agree that we need to exercise our civic duty to save this nation from itself.

So follow your heart and do not repeat the same mistake back in 2008… again.

“Indians came to Malaysia as beggars and Chinese especially women came to sell their bodies”

In trying to downplay the “pendatang” (immigrants) slur oft made against non-Malay Malaysians, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak is admitting to two things:

1. The failure of his 1Malaysia Policy which he announced when he became Prime Minister 39 months ago with the objective to create a Malaysia where every Malaysian regard himself or herself as Malaysian first and race, religion, region and socio-economic status second;
2. Secondly, his inability and impotence to do anything to counter and wipe out this divisive and insidious mindset which perpetuates a false, mischievous and anti-national division of Malaysians, which is particularly ludicrous when the first-generation local born of one community could call on a fourth, fifth or sixth-generation local born of another community to “balik China” or “balik India”!

In his dialogue with Chinese youths at University Malaya yesterday, Najib urged the Chinese community not to be offended by people who call them pendatang (immigrants) because such remarks are made by a handful of “lunatics” with “loose screws”.

He said those who utter such remarks intentionally say so to hurt the feelings of the Chinese community and that his administration does not share such views.

He said: “I hope we are not too hurt by one or two comments. In every community, there are always one or two individuals whose heads are not quite right.”

Najib’s answer would be most assuring if it is true that it is only “one or two lunatics” with “loose screws” who made such offensive, insidious and anti-national remarks.

However, this is not the case.

In actual fact, the “pendatang” slur is most potent proof of the failure of Malaysian nation-building in the past five decades as well Najib’s 1Malaysia policy, as it is not confined to “one or two lunatics” but infected the highest levels of politics and government because of decades of Biro Tata Negara (BTN) indoctrination of civil servants and public officers.

Najib’s own special officer to the Prime Minister, Datuk Nasir Safar for instance had labeled Indians and Chinese as “pendatang” and added insult to injury in declaring that “Indians came to Malaysia as beggars and Chinese especially women came to sell their bodies”.

Two years ago, at the launch of the Merdeka celebrations of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, Kulai, the school principal Hajah Siti Inshah binti Monsar said: “Pelajar-pelajar Cina tidak diperlukan dan boleh balik ke China ataupun Sekolah Foon Yew. Bagi pelajar India, tali sembahyang yang diikat di pergelangan tangan dan leher pelajar nampak seakan anjing dan hanya anjing akan mengikat seperti itu.”

Malaysians of course still remember the incident in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election in August 2008 where an UMNO division chief referred to the Malaysian Chinese as pendatang orang tumpang and totally untrustworthy Malaysians.

The “pendatang” slur is not the result of “loose screws” of “one or two lunatics” but the result of decades of the poison of anti-national indoctrination by state agencies like the BTN perpetuating Malaysians into two classes of people.

What has the Najib administration done under its 1Malaysia policy to develop an official policy backed up by a national consensus that only “lunatics” with “screws loose” would make the “pendatang” slur, and classifying it as a divisive, treacherous and anti-national point of view which must be condemned by all patriotic and rational Malaysians?

Malaysia will be celebrating our 55th National Day on August 31. Is Najib prepared to send out a clear and unmistakable message that in line with his 1Malaysia policy, those who continue to regard the Chinese and Indians as “kaum pendatang” are lunatic, positively anti-national who must be condemned by all rational and patriotic Malaysians in unequivocal terms and who should have no place in Malaysian politics or public service? – Lim Kit Siang

Pakatan’s ‘shadow cabinet’ list

Recently there has been much talk pertaining to Pakatan Rakyat’s shadow cabinet as the Barisan Nasional side has mocked Pakatan for being unable to name names and accordingly this means that Pakatan is far from ready to govern.

Be that as it may, this columnist has talked to a Pakatan MP who wished to remain anonymous who has furnished some of the names for a few of the major ministries while some are names culled through observations from the performances of these lawmakers from the statements they have made or during their debates in the Parliament or State Legislative Assemblies and also through personal conversations with them, their friends or their acquaintances.

While this list attempts to show a fair representation, inevitably there will be ministries wherein the representation of certain parties will be more than others.

Appended below is the all-important list:

Prime Minister: Anwar Ibrahim (PKR, Permatang Pauh MP)

1. Deputy Prime Ministers:

a. Lim Kit Siang (DAP, Ipoh Timur MP)

b. Abdul Hadi Awang (PAS, Marang MP)

c. One seat for either a Sabahan or a Sarawakian who will be looking after East Malaysian affairs. (There are names of candidates but this columnist was instructed not to reveal it.)

2. Finance Ministry:

a. Tony Pua (DAP, Petaling Jaya Utara MP)

b. Rafizi Ramli (PKR, currently not a MP, will contest in the coming polls)

c. Nizar Jamaluddin (PAS, Bukit Gantang MP)

3. Education Ministry:

a. Dzulkefly Ahmad (PAS, Kuala Selangor MP)

b. S Kulasegaran (DAP, Ipoh Barat MP)

c. Chong Eng (DAP, Bukit Mertajam MP)

4. Home Ministry:

a. Azmin Ali (PKR, Gombak MP)

b. Mahfuz Omar (PAS, Pokok Sena MP)

c. M Manogaran (DAP, Teluk Intan MP)

(Knowledge and expertise can also be gained by consulting PAS member Fauzi Shaari, retired from CID, Bukit Aman.)

5. Defence Ministry:

a. Dr Hatta Ramli (PAS, Kuala Krai MP)

b. Liew Chin Tong (DAP, Bukit Bendera MP)

c. Tian Chua (PKR, Batu MP)

(Knowledge and technical know-how can be gained from PAS member First Admiral (retired) Mohamad Imran Abd Hamid.)

6. Law Ministry:

a. Karpal Singh (DAP, Bukit Gelugor MP)

b. Gobind Singh (DAP, Puchong MP)

c. William Leong (PKR, Selayang MP)

d. R Sivarasa (PKR, Subang MP)

e. Hanipa Maidin (PAS, non-MP who acts for PAS on many legal matters)

7. Health Ministry:

a. Dr Lee Boon Chye (PKR, Gopeng MP)

b. Dr Tan Seng Giaw (DAP, Kepong MP)

c. Dr Siti Mariah Mahmood (PAS, Kota Raja MP)

d. Dr Michael Jeyakumar (PSM, Sg. Siput MP)

8. Transport Ministry:

a. Khalid Samad (PAS, Shah Alam MP)

b. Tan Kok Wai (DAP, Cheras MP)

c. Baru Bian (state assemblyman for Ba’Kelalan)

Baru Bian can look into improving transport into the interiors of Sarawak.

9. International Trade and Industry Ministry:

a. Khalid Ibrahim (PKR, state Assemblyman for Ijok, Selangor Menteri Besar)

b. Teresa Kok (DAP, Seputeh MP)

c. Husam Musa (PAS, state assemblyman for Salor)

10. Agriculture Ministry:

a. Salahuddin Ayub (PAS, Kubang Kerian MP but this time will be leaving Kelantan to contest in Johor)

b. Ng Suee Lim (DAP, state assemblyman for Sekinchan, he champions the padi farmers)

(For Felda matters, Mazlan Aliman of PAS is at the forefront in fighting for the rights of the settlers and highlighting Felda issues.)

11. Foreign Ministry:

a. Kamarudin Jaffar (PAS, Tumpat MP)

b. Lim Guan Eng (DAP, state assemblyman for Ayer Puteh, Penang Chief Minister)

c. Elizabeth Wong (PKR, state assemblyman for Bukit Lanjan)

12. Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry:

a. Lim Lip Eng (DAP, Segambut MP)

b. Nurul Izzah Anwar (PKR, Lembah Pantai MP)

13. Environment Ministry:

a. Fuziah Salleh (PKR, Kuantan MP)

b. Che Rosli Che Mat (PAS, Hulu Langat MP)

c. Nga Kor Ming (DAP, Taiping MP)

14. Women Ministry:

a. Zuraida Kamaruddin (PKR, Ampang MP)

b. Fong Po Kuan (DAP, Batu Gajah MP)

c. Siti Zailah Mohd Yusof (PAS, Rantau Panjang MP)

Currently, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is in charge of this ministry. Is there no capable woman in BN who can take over this post from Sharizat Abdul Jalil who stepped down on April 8?

15. Race Relations and Inter-Faith Dialogue Ministry:

a. Nik Aziz Nik Mat (PAS, state assemblyman for Chempaka, Kelantan menteri besar)

b. Mujahid Yusof Rawa (PAS, Parit Buntar MP)

c. Mohd Nur Manuty, (PKR, at the moment not an MP)

d. Ngeh Koo Ham (DAP, Beruas MP)

e. V Sivakumar (DAP, state assemblyman for Tronoh)

The Ministry for Race Relations and Inter-Faith Dialogue will be a place for discussions on thorny issues so that solutions can be sought without acrimony.

Art of corrupt practices

The BN leaders have always harped on the fact that BN has a great record in governing for over half a century and has urged and coerced voters to stick to BN, stressing that the nation will be in great peril and is certain to plunge into the abyss of destruction if the rakyat chooses Pakatan.

“It is true that Pakatan has no experience in governing at the federal level while BN has much experience. But then it is also true that BN’s vast experience in governing at the federal level is just as great as their skills in the art of appropriating funds for themselves and their cronies: in short, the art of corrupt practices wherein they channel funds into their own pockets,” commented PAS Kuala Selangor MP, Dzulkefly Ahmad.

On the other hand, Penang and Selangor are well-managed financially and economically.

Penang’s debt to the federal goverment has been reduced from RM630 million to only RM30 million while Selangor has recorded the highest sum in reserves, amounting to RM1.9 billion for last year.

Kedah is still better managed than during its years under BN while Kelantan is doing fine, considering the fact that it has been denied oil royalty payments by the federal government ever since PAS took over the state in 1990.

The Kelantanese have money in their pockets and the hypermarkets there are doing a thriving business although BN leaders have a fondness for portraying Kelantan as being in constant doldrums.

Even the Pakatan state government which was in charge for 10 months in Perak has managed to save money and has given many freehold titles to Perakians during its extremely short tenure.

When BN grabbed Perak through illegal and undemocratic means, it continued Pakatan’s policies and good ideas by claiming Pakatan’s ideas and policies as its own.

If Pakatan wins the 13th general election, it has got its work cut out to clean up more than half a century of dirt and filth in all sectors.

The time is short and the task is Herculean before Malaysia suffers a Greek tragedy. We have to start educating our family members, relatives and friends on the dire situation Malaysia is in.

Broken promise of Najib to Malaysian Indians Once Again – Matriculation

MIC president had announced on Saturday (16/6/2012 that those who were rejected for Matriculation intake will be given seats in AISMT University. This announcement is to calm down the 400 over students who got more than 7 A but were rejected by the ministry of education. But MIC/BN must explain why despite making public announcement that 1500 seats were allocated for Indian students but only about 781 seats are given?

Datuk Seri Palanivel said 700 seats were given. Datuk Murugesan said 800 seats were given. Datuk Ravin Poniah’s secretary said 500 over seats were given in the first intake. So what is the real figure is not known too. But the minister of education couldn’t be bothered about the broken promise of Prime Minister. Indians are only needed for vote purpose and nothing more than that.

During the appeal period for those students who were rejected in the first application where assuming only 700 were taken in, both Datuk S.Subramaniam and Datuk G.Palanivel had announced that the balance 800 seats will be filled. But in the appeal only 81 students were taken in.

What happen to the balance 800 will be filled? Instead of demanding the PM to fulfill his promise, MIC leaders have given him an escape route from his promise by announcing that those who were rejected in matriculation intake will be given place in AISMT University. With MIC around it is so easy for UMNO to just ignore Indians. UMNO keeps MIC to act as its apologist to Indian community. MIC has compromised our rights to education many times over.

Can MIC offer scholarship to all these 400 over students? They owe an explanation to the Indian community how they are going to support and sponsor the education of these students from pre-university and university level. Datuk Devamany said that intake of students for matriculation consists of 90 per cent bumiputera and 10 per cent non-bumiputera. Why should it be so? What is the entry requirement for Malay students? Aren’t we citizens of thiscountry and contribute to the coffers and economy of this country. It is the racial discrimination that makes Indian students expect low and have low self esteem. With MIC/PPP around we don’t need enemies.

BN government has systematically alienated the non Malays from the education system. These 400 over students will not be able to go back to the government education institutions, scholarship and any other support. UMNO can rob us in day light despite openly promising in front of a large ponggal gathering in Kapar in February this year. The excuse is the ministry of education did not receive any circular that extra 1000 seats were offered to Indian students. As long as Indian community is naïve, ignorant and forgiving UMNO and their MIC/PPP dispatch boys will keep us begging for pittance. Be the change agent for the change we want to see.

It’s now or never.
Senator S. Ramakrishnan

Hindu temple saved in nick of time

KUALA LUMPUR: A temple, which was in the midst of demolition by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), was saved in Kepong today, after timely intervention of Federal Territory and Urban Wellbeing Minister Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin.

The Veppam Kaliamman Amman temple, along Jalan Kepong, received an eviction notice only at 8.30 this morning, and work to break down the temple began 15 minutes later.

The temple committee, stunned at the speed of the whole exercise, immediately called the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Deputy Minister M Saravanan, who is in charge of temples in the federal capital.

FMT learnt that the deputy minister had in turn called top officials of the Federal Territory land office under the purview of the ministry but they refused to take orders to stop the demolition.

Saravanan was told that the land division was only answerable to the minister and when he contacted the minister, Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin, the latter immediately ordered the demolition stopped.

“Luckily the minister was available to talk… otherwise, I do not know what would have happened.

“But within 15 minutes, before I could reach the spot, DBKL enforcement officers had already torn off the temple’s awning. I am very disappointed with DBKL. They know if any temple was to be demolished, a proper discussion must be held but in this case this was not done.

“The eviction notice was prepared only yesterday and handed to the temple committee at 8.30am this morning and demolition started at 8.45am. This is utter nonsense… this is a classic case of little Napoleons running the show,” said Saravanan, who was clearly irked with the incident.

Who changed land status?

The deputy minister said he did not even ask the demolition be cancelled but just asked for it to be postponed until a proper discussion was held.

The temple even had a letter from Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak allowing it to operate on a temporary basis as it sits on government land, he said.

“The land was originally reserved for place of worship… but somehow along the way the status of the land was changed to a Muslim place of worship… it can’t be because the land is beside a sewerage treatment plant. I don’t think Muslims would want a surau or a mosque there.

“How was the land status changed without prior notice? Who changed the status of the land without any knowledge of the deputy minister?” Saravanan asked.

“I am really sad that this has happened… while the prime minister is working hard to win support of all Malaysians, we have little Napoleons running about creating havoc and damage to the Barisan Nasional-led government,” he added.

Meanwhile, the temple committee has lodged a report at Jinjang police station against DBKL for trying to tear down the temple.

B Periasamy, the patron of the temple, wanted the police to act against DBKL for not giving proper notice before attempting to demolish the place of worship.

“I am also disappointed with DBKL enforcement officers. They were very arrogant and totally refused to hear our pleas for them to stop the demolition… They seemed so heartless,” he told FMT.

No alternative land given

Periasamy, 43, an odd-job worker, said the temple was originally founded in Segambut some 20 years ago but was transferred to Metro Barat, Kepong, last year.

“The temple is a registered temple and the current land was given by Saravanan. In May this year, a DBKL officer approached me and asked me to relocate the temple as the land had been earmarked to build a surau.

“However, no alternative land was given. All this was only done verbally. DBKL didn’t give any notice.

“And all of a sudden this morning they came, wanting to tear down the temple. We did not see any eviction notice until today and the notice was dated yesterday.

“When you want to evict someone, don’t you need to give time for them to move? Furthermore, this is not a house or business dwelling… it’s a temple,” he added.

Asked to elaborate on the incident, Periasamy said about 35 DBKL enforcement officers with 15 policemen arrived at the temple at about 8.30 this morning.

“We rushed to the temple after being told of this development. We tried to convince them by showing the deputy minister’s letter and other evidence to stop the demolition but they started to smash the shrine with backhoe machines,” added.

“I feel very sad that when the prime minister is promoting the 1Malaysia concept, we have this kind of civil servants. His own civil service is sabotaging him,” he said.

He also said if the BN government was serious about the 1Malaysia concept, then DBKL should apologise for the incident while all DBKL officers involved must be severely punished.

“We also want DBKL to rebuild the temple,” he added.

On another development, PKR vice- president N Surendran who visited the site this afternoon, expresed shock over the incident.

“Why are they [DBKL officers] so eager to demolish the temple when they were the ones who allowed the temple to be here a year ago?” he asked.

He added that it was ridiculous for DBKL to try demolish the temple without any proper notice.

He said Raja Nong Chik must provide a proper explanation and ensure incidents like this do not recur.

Born a bigot

The choice of words that Malaysians use reveals what runs through their head. And most Malaysians reveal that they are bigots who look down on those not of their same race or religion. Whether they are supporters of Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat does not matter. They are all the same, bigots of the highest degree. And the comments in Malaysia Today only serves to prove this.

I may be a muslim but i certainly respect you. if they do put you in jail, convert as many as you can. be liek the shoe throwing imam. these umno bastrads shud be the ones in jail. anyway if you are still in jail and PR takes over and we jail people like pairin, his brother jeffrey, joe kurup, joseph balang, joseph gamdum, idris jala, peter chin fcuk kui, ling leong sik- you can give them confession. and if we find murphy pakiam guilty of selling out assunta - then i will insist he be jailed too and just imagine - an archbishop going to priest for confession...  (A comment by ‘Mohd Ali’ in the news item ‘Catholic priest prefers jail than pay fine if guilty of illegal assembly’).

***************************************

That was the comment by someone posting as ‘Mohd Ali’ in the news item‘Catholic priest prefers jail than pay fine if guilty of illegal assembly’. I have not done any editing to the comment and as you can see it is a very bad comment with so many typos and errors. Either ‘Mohd Ali’ is someone of very low education/intelligence or he is one very lazy bugger (or maybe both). And what’s wrong with using capital letters for proper nouns? Is it that much trouble to do this?

This comment by ‘Mohd Ali’ also reveals something very important about the Malaysian mentality. Malaysians, by and large, are bigots. Then they try to impress us that they are not bigots by making a comment that is even more revealing. Hence the more they talk the more they prove that they are bigots.

‘Mohd Ali’ said, “I may be a Muslim but I certainly respect you.” What does this mean? Well, it can also mean, “You may not be a Muslim but I certainly respect you.” Or you can also say, “You may be a Christian but I certainly respect you.”  Plus you can say, “You may be an infidel but I certainly respect you.” All statements mean the same thing.

Why do you need to even mention the word ‘Muslim’? Why can’t you just say ‘I certainly respect you for the stand you are taking’? Why must you include ‘I may be a Muslim” or ‘you may be a Christian’ or whatever? By crafting the statement in this manner you are saying that Christians do not deserve respect or Muslims should not respect Christians. Hence, “I may be a Muslim but I certainly respect you”, meaning you may be a Christian but I certainly respect you because normally I would never respect Christians.

In the recent debate about whether the Prime Minister must be a Malay-Muslim, I have seen comments such as 'I have no problems with a Malay Prime Minister as long as he is fair to the non-Malays'. Does this mean only Malay Prime Ministers must be fair to the non-Malays? What if we have a Chinese Prime Minister? Is it okay if he is not fair to the non-Malays? Must only Malay Prime Ministers be fair to the non-Malays? Furthermore, do you mean to say that Malay Prime Ministers are regarded as a curse but you do not mind this as long as he is fair to the non-Malays?

This is also like saying that normally Malays are not fair to the non-Malays. Hence. “I don’t mind a Malay Prime Minister as long as he is fair to the non-Malays.” You might as well say it is very rare to find Malays who are fair to the non-Malays. This also means non-Malays are not like this. Non-Malays are always fair to the Malays. It is only Malays who are not fair to the non-Malays.

“You may be Chinese but I must say I think you are a good person.” What if I were to say that? Would you regard this as a compliment or an insult? Do I mean to say that under normal circumstances Chinese are not good people? Is it rare to find a Chinese who is good? Is it normal that most Chinese are bad people?

You may be black but you are quite a good person. So, normally ‘non-whites’ are bad people?

You may be Malay but you are quite a good person. So, normally Malays are bad people?

You may be Chinese but you are quite a good person. So, normally Chinese are bad people?

Islam must be respected because Islam is the religion of the Federation. This is another common statement. Does this mean the other religions need not be respected since they are not the religion of the federation?

Muslims tolerate the religion of others. That is another thing that Malays like to say. Why must Muslims tolerate the religion of others? Normally, things that you tolerate are regarded as a nuisance.

You tolerate the dog shit of your neighbour’s dog on your lawn because you want to be a good neighbour. You tolerate the loud music from your neighbour’s apartment because you do not want to complain about the noise and hence trigger conflict with your neighbour. So you tolerate all these nuisances for the sake of being a good neighbour. Does this mean you also tolerate Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc., on the basis that these religions are a bloody nuisance? Other religions, dog shit and noise are nuisances but are tolerated.

The choice of words that Malaysians use reveals what runs through their head. And most Malaysians reveal that they are bigots who look down on those not of their same race or religion. Whether they are supporters of Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat does not matter. They are all the same, bigots of the highest degree. And the comments in Malaysia Today only serves to prove this.

Is the M'sian Cabinet intellectually challenged: 6 tips for Najib & Co

The post Bersih 2.0 and now the 3.0 are still blowing in the sand and into the eyes of the politicians. And the storms are yet to die down as long as the politicians keep failing in their public relations.

To begin with, the Bersih events were spiraled into a crisis stage thanks to the politicians from the BN camp. That was their first failure in public relations.

Next, their responses – both knee jerk press statements and seemingly strategic ploys are only keeping the post Bersih crisis protracted and apparently creating potential mini-crises within the crisis. This again reflects a failure to understand the potent power and the management of public relations.

So, here are some tips for free. Why pay APCO.

Rule 1: A crisis does not happen ‘suddenly’. It results from prolonged neglect or ignoring of brewing issues.

Yes, the BN politicians had all the lead advantage to keep ahead of the issues that kept surfacing over months. They even had the benefit of Bersih 2.0 that could have been translated and recognized as an issue; and by managing that issue they could have averted Bersih 3.0.

Rule 2: A crisis need not be a liability. It can be turned into an opportunity provided there is a clear intent to make amends on a timely and believable basis.

And BN politicians failed to seize upon the Bersih 3.0 opportunities as it unfolded on the morning of the 28 April. There was no evident intent on the leaders’ part to spot the opportunities. On the contrary there was every attempt to turn the assembly into a seemingly monstrous threat on BN. We witnessed far too many spokesperson drumming different beats and this entrenched the crisis further.

Rule 3: The earlier you pin a crisis down, the sooner you will be on the route to repair, amend and build bridges.

Unfortunately, despite almost forty days since Bersih 3.0, the effort to repair, amend, and build bridges is nowhere in sight. Instead, the BN politicians keep shooting themselves in the foot with each passing day’s statement and denials, actions and inactions.

Rule 4: The longer you take to address a post-crisis situation and fail to ride on the opportunities that can rise from the ashes, the chances are you will only be sowing the seeds of yet another crisis within a crisis.

BN politicians are far too slow to learn from the inventory of world examples of post crisis management. And in doing so they are only sowing many seeds of potential crises that will eventually surface over protracted time.

Rule 5: Badly managed crisis communication will leave a dent so deep on your armor that it will take a long time and huge efforts to rectify the damaged reputation.

So that is the price that BN is forced to pay owing to the silly of politicians who are not knowledgeable in dealing with crises. Crisis communication in itself requires that certain separate set of rules are followed and not compromised.

It is most unforgivable, that despite having the entire main stream media tied to its apron, the BN political chefs and captains are unable to use post crisis communication to their optimal advantage.

Rule 6: In any crisis, honesty is a premium. It cannot be compromised or sidelined.

And this is one other rule that BN politicians are always failing to keep. Or even when they do try to keep, public opinion remains suspect for their effort would have been a little tart too late. And blaming your opponents for this eventuality only makes the situation more complicated.

Written by  J. D. Lovrenciear