'One Malaysia', the illustrious slogan which took centre stage since the Najib regime. Inevitably, '1 Malaysia' is incarcerated into the minds of many Malaysians, with credit due to the millions spent on campaigning the slogan. But, does 1 Malaysia really exist or its just another phrase. Below, we have a long list of 1Malaysia examples, and its up to you to judge if 1Malaysia is realiti atau mimpi.
1. To remind 1Malaysia believers, we are one of the only country in the world which recruit varsity students based on race. MARA University is designated to further disintegrate Malaysians with it refusal to accept non-Bumis. Back in 2008, Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim's call for a 5% allocation towards non-Bumis was refuted with excruciating tones by UMNO, just when the institution allocated 10% for FOREIGNERS.
2. If you believe in 1Malaysia, you must have forgotten that our Bank Rakyat has 2 set of interest rates. One for bumis, the other for non-bumis. And the same goes for Permodalan Nasional Berhad's unit trust. Non-bumis garner rates in the region of 6-7% while bumis rack in rates as high as 14%. Thats 1Malaysia for you.
3. Besides that, UMNO's 1Malaysia is always prejudicial towards DAP. Just yesterday, MACC officers stormed and deranged a DAP office to investigate an alleged corruption act, confiscating anything they possibly could. But when corruption cases of BN ministers were reported, their offices were never busted.
4. UMNO's ISA is also put into good use. When DAP's Theresa Kok was wrongly accused of having asked a surau to lower the Azan's volume, she was sent directly to Kamunting under ISA. Months ago, when a MCA lawyer called for a similar request, a simple apology managed to sweep the issue under the carpet. Thats 1Malaysia for you.
5. Youtube sensation Namewee was also on the receiving end of UMNO's version of 1Malaysia. He was made to record a police statement for his video which condemned racist school principals. On the other end, the 2 principals who provoked non-Malays by uttering racist statements were let off the hook.
6. Last week, we have 3 UMNO members who screened a porn video for public viewing. But the De-facto Law Minister charged and spoke in defence of them. He called for the trio to be protected under the Witness Protection Act and Whistleblower Act. He must have forgotten that back then, people were arrested for distributing Chua Soi Lek's porno video.
1 Malaysia, 2 Standards.
Malaysia boleh.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Sarawak and beyond
By far one of the most anticipated round of elections ever in Malaysian history, Sarawak is set to be under the limelight once again. The Sarawak state elections, which is to be held on 19 April, would set the tone for the 13th general elections, widely expected to be called within this couple of years. Inevitably, mouth-watering clashes between the Barisan Nasional coalition and Pakatan Rakyat is on the cards. For the past year or two, the opposing momentum in Peninsula Malaysia had more or less spread across the South China Sea towards the inland of Sarawak. This was coupled with Pakatan Rakyat making massive inroads in Sarawak, knowing that what was once BN's fortress and fixed deposit is currently vulnerable.
Abdul Taib Mahmud, at the helm of the Sarawak government for 30 years, is currently at the twilight of his career. Repeated accusations of his widespread property acquisitions and businesses across the globe drew global attention. His wealth was drawn to comparison with that of the Sultan of Brunei. This was not helped when his daughter-in-law filed a 400million divorce suit against his son, knowing that the amount is only a pinch on an elephant. One person who deserves credit is Clare Rewcastle Brown (ex UK prime minister Gordon Brown's sis in law), the backbone of SawarakReport.org, who had been keeping track of his wealth and properties. These figures which are published in the website, draws some 15,000 visitors to the site daily. Clare Brown's aim is simple: overthrowing one of the richest man in Malaysia. Together with the figurative website is RadioFreeSawarak, a radio broadcast which reaches out to Sarawak natives. With a vast number of indigenous people still residing within the forests, the broadcast attempt to remind them of the constant land grabs, unfair treatment and poor development.
Those who are deserted and unreachable would remain to be deluded. And for this fact, the Abdul Taib-intangibility continues. He would act according to his wimps and fancies, knowing that inland natives are blinded by his empty promises and sweet treats.
On the opposing end, we have Pakatan Rakyat, with SNAP joining into the fray recently. Since the 12th general election, there were high hopes in Sarawak of denying BN's two-third majority or even overthrowing the government. With the emergence of Baru Bian, the well-received PKR leader, together with the existing chinese DAP leaders, dayak SNAP leaders, and malay leaders of PAS, the coalition saw itself well-represented. This was further buoyed by the government's recent decision to with-hold and impose unreasonable conditions on the Malay bible. This was only a year after the government had ban Christians from mentioning the name 'Allah'. With the majority of Sarawakians being Christians, these issues would definitely serve as a trump card for the opposition coalition. But the recent chronological of events which transpired as a result of inter-party bickering had pour cold water towards the expectations. All parties are currently in a deadlock of distributing seats. PKR demanded 52 seats out of the 71 up for grabs, leaving 19 for the other 3 parties, while SNAP demanded 40. In fact, DAP is on the verge of pulling out of the coalition and contest on its own due to the excessive demands of PKR. Without a doubt, PKR's move is seen as selfish and arrogant, just when the party is hitting rock bottom with the long list of defections in Peninsula. However, a conciliation between the coalition members is still on the cards, with the national leaders of all parties due to have a final round of negotiations.
Indeed, damage by Abdul Taib is beyond repair, but the opposition had people in despair. The opposition will have themselves to blame if they couldnt take advantage of the vulnerable state BN is in.
Abdul Taib Mahmud, at the helm of the Sarawak government for 30 years, is currently at the twilight of his career. Repeated accusations of his widespread property acquisitions and businesses across the globe drew global attention. His wealth was drawn to comparison with that of the Sultan of Brunei. This was not helped when his daughter-in-law filed a 400million divorce suit against his son, knowing that the amount is only a pinch on an elephant. One person who deserves credit is Clare Rewcastle Brown (ex UK prime minister Gordon Brown's sis in law), the backbone of SawarakReport.org, who had been keeping track of his wealth and properties. These figures which are published in the website, draws some 15,000 visitors to the site daily. Clare Brown's aim is simple: overthrowing one of the richest man in Malaysia. Together with the figurative website is RadioFreeSawarak, a radio broadcast which reaches out to Sarawak natives. With a vast number of indigenous people still residing within the forests, the broadcast attempt to remind them of the constant land grabs, unfair treatment and poor development.
Those who are deserted and unreachable would remain to be deluded. And for this fact, the Abdul Taib-intangibility continues. He would act according to his wimps and fancies, knowing that inland natives are blinded by his empty promises and sweet treats.
On the opposing end, we have Pakatan Rakyat, with SNAP joining into the fray recently. Since the 12th general election, there were high hopes in Sarawak of denying BN's two-third majority or even overthrowing the government. With the emergence of Baru Bian, the well-received PKR leader, together with the existing chinese DAP leaders, dayak SNAP leaders, and malay leaders of PAS, the coalition saw itself well-represented. This was further buoyed by the government's recent decision to with-hold and impose unreasonable conditions on the Malay bible. This was only a year after the government had ban Christians from mentioning the name 'Allah'. With the majority of Sarawakians being Christians, these issues would definitely serve as a trump card for the opposition coalition. But the recent chronological of events which transpired as a result of inter-party bickering had pour cold water towards the expectations. All parties are currently in a deadlock of distributing seats. PKR demanded 52 seats out of the 71 up for grabs, leaving 19 for the other 3 parties, while SNAP demanded 40. In fact, DAP is on the verge of pulling out of the coalition and contest on its own due to the excessive demands of PKR. Without a doubt, PKR's move is seen as selfish and arrogant, just when the party is hitting rock bottom with the long list of defections in Peninsula. However, a conciliation between the coalition members is still on the cards, with the national leaders of all parties due to have a final round of negotiations.
Indeed, damage by Abdul Taib is beyond repair, but the opposition had people in despair. The opposition will have themselves to blame if they couldnt take advantage of the vulnerable state BN is in.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
PAS and DAP: Tale of a dog and a cat
One would ponder if a dog and a cat, living on different ends of the spectrum, can be paired together for a marriage. The answer is clear cut and nothing but in the wildest realm of imaginations can that occur.
Here in Malaysian politics, we have PAS, whose ultimate aim is to form an Islamic state, and DAP, who demands for a secular state, being paired together as founding parties of the coalition, Pakatan Rakyat. In between this spectrum is where PKR stood. PKR, a multi-racial party, led by their flamboyant leader, Anwar Ibrahim, is touted to have successfully pull the strings in Pakatan Rakyat, by uniting the cat and the dog in within the coalition.
The buzzing question remains if the marriage would be a temporary one as a light snap of the string over issues surrounding ''Islamic state'' would bring an end to the 2 year old coalition. This was not helped when PAS president, Hadi Awang, dismissed the need for the registration and a common logo of Pakatan Rakyat, bringing fears that PAS is merely flirting with their coalition partners.
However, the common framework policy of Pakatan Rakyat had successfully brought together objectives and aims shared by the 3 parties and easily overwhelmed and swallowed the differences of the cat and the dog. Issues surrounding corruption, nepotism, cronyism, extortion, non-democracy, kangaroo courts, to name a few, are viewed as serious stumbling blocks, currently experienced by the BN government, for the progression and advancement of the country and these issues are all laid down in the framework.
Non-muslims who had traditionally feared PAS as a conservative and extreme party, had also gradually accepted the party. This was brought about by the existence of progressive leaders in PAS who repeatedly showed their liberal stance in major issues. Nik Aziz and Dr Dzul, to name a few, had backed East Malaysian Christians to use the word 'Allah'. Khalid Samad, had made rare visits to churches and temples to reassure non-muslims of their freedom of religion, besides, being furious of the call for ban of alcoholic drinks in Selangor by Hasan Ali. And not forgetting Nizar Jamaluddin, the former MB of Perak, who is very well-received by non-Muslims in Perak.
On the other hand with UMNO, we have Najib's aides calling for the removal of crucifixes and banning hymns and prayers prior to the visit of Najib to a church for a Christmas tea party. This was seen as massively paradoxical as to his illustrious 1 Malaysia theme, which was wielded barely a year ago.
Would you, as a fair-minded Malaysian, still fear PAS? or you are already intimidated by UMNO with their extreme acts.
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