DPM, Enough Double-Talk

by | Oct 23, 2014 | Politics

“This racial understanding must be protected and strengthened so that the aspiration of making Malaysia a role model for other countries can become a reality soon” (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin, Christmas 2011)

“I believe in racial tolerance as it is integral to peace in Malaysia. It can be retained if mutual understanding, respect and cooperation continue to be practised” (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin, Chinese New Year 2013)

“I hope the Festival of Light of the Indian community in Malaysia will overcome all darkness which obstruct unity among the various races so that we can enjoy life in harmony in the spirit of tolerance which is
important for a multiracial country like Malaysia” (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin, Deepavali 2014)

Aren’t the aforementioned excerpts from past speeches by our beloved Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) touching? They are full of racial tolerance and promotes moderation, in view of our multi-racial society.

The quotes above are exactly what the average Malaysian has always wanted and still wants to hear! Whoever makes our DPM’s speeches deserves a raise!

Sad to say, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin (and many other politicians) practices double-talk. During racial/religious festivals, we get to hear wonderful 1Malaysia speeches (such as those above). Other times, we hear the usual divisive mantra

In 2009, Malaysia’s DPM blamed BN’s loss at Bukit Gantang (parliamentary seat) and Bukit Selambau (state seat) on the ungratefulness of the non-malays towards the Government. In an interview with Mingguan Malaysia, he said:

“Ini yang mungkin menyebabkan sukar BN mendapat sokongan walaupun kita fikir bila mereka hendak sekolah Cina dibantu, kita bantu, sepatutnya mereka membalas budi.”

“Pada waktu itu, kita pun tidak berharap
sokongan kaum Cina akan meningkat 40
peratus dan sebagainya cuma kita berharap ada peningkatan sedikit tetapi apa yang berlaku ia mencatatkan penurunan, macam tidak ada penghargaan terhadap apa yang kita lakukan.”

Rough translation:
This (the removal of former Perak MB, Nizar Jamaluddin) could have made it difficult for BN to get support although we thought that when they wanted aid for Chinese schools, and we helped, they would have repaid the favor

At that time, we didn’t expect support from the Chinese to rise to fourty percent and all. We hoped for a mininal increase in support but what happened was that a decrease was recorded, as if there was no gratefulness towards what we have done

Eh, why the change in tone? If Muhyiddin was one who always treasured racial unity, he wouldn’t have blamed a specific race or community of people for BN’s loss.

Doesn’t he know that doing so would lead to dissatisfaction towards the Chinese? Why the double-talk?

A year later, Muhyiddin found himself in the limelight when he said the following:

“I am a Malay first but I want to say that being a Malay does not mean that you are not a Malaysian.”

“How can I say I am a Malaysian first and a Malay second. All Malays will shun me and say it’s not proper as Indians will also say they are Indian first,”

Our dear DPM doesn’t even believe in being a Malaysian first! Those prioritising their respective race may end up developing a superiority complex (e.g. malay supremacy) in which they feel those of other races are inferior to them

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was also quoted in 2010 as saying that anyone was free to form an association, including Chinese or Indian versions of the Malay rights group, Perkasa. He added that it would be acceptable as long as it was formed with good intentions

Again we see emphasis on one’s race over being Malaysian first. Groups championing the rights of any particular race definitely falls under the category of an ‘obstruction to unity among various races’

Groups like Perkasa stand up for Malay rights at the expense of other races [e.g. “…when their (Malaysian Chinese) power spreads, then it will threaten national security and the May 13 incident will return” – Ibrahim Ali]. If we wanted to promote unity amongst everyone, shouldn’t we be encouraging the establishment of NGOs that fight for the rights of Malaysians?

In 2012, the Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that the Chinese-dominated DAP was now looking to increase its Malay membership, suggesting that it would be poaching supporters from the same pool as PAS, whose members are predominantly Malay Muslims.

“And now we hear DAP wants to encourage Malays to join its party.

“My question is, if Malays enter DAP, who will enter PAS?”

There are so many things wrong with Muhyiddin’s statements. First of all, is it wrong for Malays to join DAP? Constitutionally and legally, no. Socially, it’s not wrong and has even become somewhat of a trend (e.g. Dyana Sofya, Melati)

Morally, it’s arguable since a significant amount of people (including Muhyiddin, as per his 2011 opening speech in the AGMs of Umno Wanita, Youth and Puteri) believe that DAP is anti-malay and anti-islam.

Next, is it socially unacceptable for non-malay muslims to join PAS? Not at all actually. What about Indian Muslims? I’m sure PAS has at least a  few! How can our DPM have such a skewed view that a Chinese must join DAP while a Malay must join PAS

PAS even has a non-muslim wing! I don’t see UMNO having a non-malay or non-muslim wing! Why isn’t racial-unity-promoter Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin advocating UMNO’s membership to be opened to non-malays? (similar to what was proposed by Dato Onn Jaafar)

Just a reminder to our DPM and every other politician out there, spare us the empty rhetoric! It’s time that you ALL walk the talk! The rakyat (people) are paying attention and will hold you accountable for every word spoken

*You can also find this at The Malaysian Insider , Malaysia Today , Free Malaysia Today

Were The Indians And Chinese Imported To Dispossess Malays Of Their ‘Birthright’?

by | May 8, 2014 | Misc

The article: www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/indians-chinese-imported-to-dispossess-malays-of-birthright-isma-claims

“Indians and Chinese were brought into Malaysia to weaken the Malay identity and undermine the community’s birthright to peninsular Malaysia on the pretext of multiculturalism.” This could not be further from the truth. Anyone who has studied our colourful history knows that the Chinese were brought in as tin miners while the Indians were brought in as estate workers

It was the Industrial Revolution at that time. As far as the British colonizers were concerned, they only wanted workers to help them achieve their economic agendas. Nothing in our history textbooks suggest that the British wanted to “weaken the Malay identity” using the Chinese and Indians as ISMA absurdly claims

“Abdul Rahman claimed that the entry of the Chinese and Indians had been a “cunning and evil” conspiracy by the British to weaken the Malays who were opposed to its occupation.” In all fairness to the British, some Malay rulers welcomed the Brits with open arms

1. In Perak, Raja Abdullah and Raja Ismail fought for the throne and the former requested the Brits to acknowledge him as the ruler of the state. That led to the “Perjanjian Pangkor 1874”

2. In Negeri Sembilan, Dato Kelana and Dato Bandar fought over Sungai Ujong. The former got the British to help strengthen his position. In exchange, the Brits got full authority to collect taxes at Sungai Linggi

So many chapters in the high school history textbooks talk about how the British wanted Tanah Melayu for its riches in natural resources. Nothing indicates that the British brought in foreign labour to weaken the position of the Malays.

The textbooks do say that the Brits brought in their own people to take up positions of power in order to strengthen their position in Tanah Melayu. Whoops. Been blaming the wrong people all this while?

At the end of the day, it depends on how you want to see things. Through the lenses of racial bigots, historical facts not in favour of their opinion counts for nothing

Things that happened in the past should be left in the past. Does it matter more how I got here or what I have done since I got here? After 56 years of independence (approaching 57 this year), we still have certain groups harping over how the Chinese and Indians were brought in

Every race has contributed to the development of the nation. Because of the blood and sweat of our forefathers, we are where we are now. No one race deserves to be here (in Malaysia) more than another!