In my media statement this morning, I had stated five reasons why Umno Deputy President Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s apology on behalf of Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail for the latter’s derogatory, offensive, insensitive and racist reference of the Chinese as “squatters” and untrustworthy Malaysians is inappropriate, inadequate and unacceptable.
For the fifth reason, I had said:
“Fifthly, the bona fide of Najib’s apology comes into question when this news is blacked out in the Malay mainstream newspapers owned and controlled by UMNO, in particular Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian. A check with Bernama online shows that Najib’s apology is reported in Bernama’s English news but blacked out in Bernama’s Bahasa Malaysia news.
“With such media manipulation of his apology, how much is one to believe Najib when he said that Ahmad’s statement did not reflect the position and attitude of Umno or the leadership of Umno?”
I now withdraw my statement with reference to Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian as I have found that it is a mistake, for Utusan Malaysia reported it in page 2 under the heading “UMNO minta maaf kenyataan Ahmad – TPM” while Berita Harian reported it in page 2 under the heading “Umno anggap kenyataan pandangan Ahmad”.
I apologise to Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian for this mistake.
It is however correct that Bernama online did not carry the news for its Bahasa Malaysia version although it was carried in the English version.
Thank you for Ahmad ruin BN. Thank you Ahmad digg grave for BN.
Thanks alot!
Berita baik:
Ramai Menteri dari Sarawak dan Sabah telah bersuara untuk menyokong cadangan LKS untuk menjadikan 16 Sept sebagai Cuti Umum, nampaknya peluang 916 PR menubuhkan kerajaan Persekutuan semakin cerah , teruskan usaha LKS, jangan mudah putus asa!
Hello, YB Lim K S, Dap seharusnya kerja lebih kuat sekarang di Sarawak dan Sabah. Kemukakan isu-isu berikut untuk menyemarakkkan semangat berkobar-kobar orang Sabah dan Sarawak ”
1. Isu royalty petroleum
2. Isu tempoh geran tanah ditambah sekurang-kurangya ke90 tahaun dan ke atas.
3. Isu bantuan dan pemberian tanah 1000hektar kepada Sekolah Menengah Swasta Cina.
4. Isu tidak ada jalan raya yang menghubungi kebanyakan kampung dan bandar di bahagian pedalaman misalnya Daerah Baram dan Lawas.
5. Isu Kemiskinan kaum pribumi di Sarawak dan Sabah
6. Isu kemunduran Sarawak dari segi pembangunan dan ekonomi walaupun sudah 45 tahun berada dalam Malaysia.
7. Isu kesusahan untuk mendapat permit membina tempat ibadat bagi penganut bukan Muslim.
8. Isu kemunduran sektor perubatan di Sarawak . Tiada seorang Haemotologist pun yang ada di Hospital Awam di Sarawak hungga sekarang.
Usahalah bersungguh-sungguh dan berikan lebih banyak galakkan dan sokongan supaya orang di sini berani BERTINDAKAK dalam usaha PR membuat CHANGE pada 16hb, Sept tahun ini.
Berita terkini hari ini: Hampir semua lapisan masyarakat dari pelbagai kaum di Sabah dan Sarawaksedang hangat membincangkan isu 16hb Sep, tindak balas menunjukkan 99% menyokong DAP dan PR untuk memawa perubahan , jika DAP dan PKR teruskan usaha, yakin terdapat 40+ MPs sarawak dan Sabah akan pindah ke PR…… ************Dap pula harus mengambilkan peluang ini untuk mendapatkan sebanyak mungkin ahli MPs sarawak dan Sabah untuk menyertai DAP supaya DAP masih menjadi parti BESAR dalam aPkatan Rakayat …….. kalau semua MPs di sini masuk PKR, DAP akan jadi parti nyamuk!!!!!!!!!
Come on, come on YB LIM KIT SIANG, , jangan lepaskan peluang keemasan ini, orang dari timur sedang menunggu!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No matter what UMNO will always be a racist PARTY.WANT TO SEE THE TRUE COLOURS OF UMNO.WAIT TILL THE UMNO ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.
Haha… Ipoh Timurr… ipoh Timurrr… xD
Calmdown YB lim next time dont bombard without survey first.
Your truely the man of courage i salut you for that.
This DPM truely mean it cuz his the guy behind it(but denny it), now wheres the fat goose gone running in hiding else where!
I attended a meeting regarding the MMSM on the 28 august.What was surprising is that the 4 PR states will not get any funding from the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT .End of the day Malaysian sports will suffer.
Its very childish for BN to behave like this.Can the people of the 4 PR states stop paying federal taxes and start paying their taxes directly to the states.
Apology usually does not cost a lot, you only lose your ego, but may gain many friend(s)/allie(s).
EP
Do not accept this apology. Its rubbish. He was there when the seditious statement was made…why then, if he was truly sorry, not censure Ahmad and apologise immediately. Its all sandiwara…all talk no action only. MCA protest also sandiwara to get Chinese support…no sincerity whatsoever. If MCA hold to its principles (if any) then they SHOULD leave BN. Don’t bark like a dog behind bars…its insulting to our mentality.
If DPM is sincere, why no apology from the kris waving maniac? In fact, DPM should also apologise for his seditious remarks at the stadium. Any true leader will think before opening his mouth…but this is BN, what do you expect?
YB LIM…
Hows everything going with the open letter today?
post youtube pls i wanna see not at home till 11pm.
sorry out topic hehe…
Where’s the sincerity? Yeah don’t we all already know who was the “mastermind” behind Ahmad Ismail’s racist remark/slur? Hypocrite?!!!!
Go, visit Mafrel’s website/blog:
http://mafrel.wordpress.com
Malysian Hero YB Kit Siang,
I really appreaciate and highly respect u for your long sacrified to fight for justice and fairness in Malaysia. U always raise issues which will make Malaysia to become a better and more developed country. As a Malaysian Chinese, I had supported u for more than 20 years and Im so proud of u. In my opinion, u should be conferred the title “Tun” for your long contribution to Malaysia. Thank U….Malaysian Hero Lim Kit Siang.
YB Lim is fast to apologise – and not wait till 9 days later!
Thumbs up!
Why can’t Ahmad come out and apologise just like YB Lim does?
There is nothing wrong to apologise if you have done something wrong or Ahmad prefer to be charged under the sedition act and lock up under the ISA.
Cheers YB Lim Kit Siang.
Blood-Suckers
GE 13 – No matter what, we must ensure that racist umno bn do not regain the power like they had for the past fifty years.
How about the next blog on Lim Keng Yaik’s latest enlightened outburst!
So pitiful this guy, baru tahu “money, money, money” and it’s always “money, money, money” that his sleeping partners Umnoputras are interested in.
Only now he knows: “We had the worst kind of Umno arrogance as a result of the 2004 elections. The abuse of power, corruption, negotiated tenders with government tenders going mainly to Umno-associated companies. All this is not decided by the Cabinet but by the Ministry of Finance. You think people don’t know. Prices are jacked up and there is no check on the implementation of these projects.”
“And then you had the Umno assembly and everyone saw how racist its members can become. All these things put us as a component party in a very difficult situation. And then Hindraf came into the picture. So we knew before going into March 8 that it was very bad, ” he said.
Still clinging to Umno. So pathetic!
I agreed with zheng. I heard about Lim Kit Siang since I was in primary school. I appreaciate and highly respect Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng for their contribution to our nation.
Today lumped with Thailand, tomorrow with Somalia
http://www.malaysiainsider.com/index.php/malaysia/8463-credit-suisse-tells-investors-to-avoid-malaysia
It is plain common sense to apologise asp the moment you make a mistake if you are in public life, like politicans.
The way it is sincere and the most damage that can happen is that people may consider your mistake as an oversight or not having taken sufficient time to consider.
But when the Najib apology comes out, after so many days even more questions will be asked as like the ongoing fiasco.
Maybe the word “apology” is not in UMNO’s dictionary after so many years of lording over us all?
Dear YB LKS,
I really respect what you did. Can’t this AI do the same thing like YB. I think AI stand for the retarded “Artificial Intelligence”. Dah tahu salah, cepat-cepatlah minta maaf, apa ruginya? hai yaya.
Can those Hindraf leaders under ISA detention apologize for voicing out for the justice of the oppressed and be released without bail?
BN, please stop making bunch of clowns in the eyes of the Rakyat! BN cronies always above law and ISA! PERIOD!
After so many days they finally got the police to perform some wayang –
http://themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/8464-policetorecordstatementfromahmad
Why can’t Abdul Ismail just come out and clarify his stand?
Another non-apology apology and non-denial denial from UMNO, we are all so familiar with this Sandiwara.
“I apologise to Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian for this mistake.”
Almost a non-apology apology.
If Ahmad Ismail has said a Racial provocative statement and is not put to jail under ISA, this has proven that ISA is an UMNO tool created to Jail all opposition leaders and citizens who try to expose their corrupted activities and not to protect Malaysia’s stability as claimed by all UMNO leaders.
UMNO always tell us lies as their reputation.
I suppose we just have to be patient with this one.
Lets hope the truth will be reveal not What Ahmad said
but the manner this whole episode is played out.
The other explanation left …. He’s just carrying out order,
being instructed like the rest cronies?
Or he’s busy attending other pending court cases.
Anyway, its sure a new journey for many of us as well.
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said: “I will tell him not to talk like that again.”
Maybe Abdullah can teach Ahmad Ismail some nonverbal communication styles which is not racist.
http://themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/8464-policetorecordstatementfromahmad
Penang deputy police chief Datuk Salleh Mat Rasid said they would also be recording statements of witnesses.
“We ask all quarters to not play up racial issues. Leave it to the police to investigate,” he said.
*************************
Instead charging Ismail he insert threat opposition… haha!
Bunch of retard, aren’t you have enough evidence already, what witness do you need more to charge that fat goose. The witness itself are the mastermind behind the seen, enough said.
“How can Najiib apologise when he did not say such things?” – Penang MCA deputy chairman Lau Chiek Tuan
Lau needs brain surgery to improve his memory.
Only if Ahmad Ismail is charged under Sedition Act and put to jail, will I have any faith with Malaysia’s police and judicial system.
UMNO are faking apology which they actually don’t mean to but force by the public. We cannot except these clowns playing around and get away with it without punishment. It will happen again and again if nothing concrete put a stop to it. That is why we as True Malaysian wants to change this government desperately. Countdown 13 days to September 16 ….
Do you guys hv the same feeling as i have; that whatever the gomen says is irrelevant nowadays. Looking at their lying-corrupted-faces acting all compasionate and there for the masses, makes me wanna puke BIG TIME!
The sincerity in LKS apologies has always been there, and I have wondered if it is the timeliness of it or the simplicity in the sentences chosen to convey as in this and the apology to the Perak’s Regent.
To digress with the event Ahmad caused to unfold, I find DAP’s ‘invocation’ of the Sedition Act thumping Ahmad and UMNO roundly on it, to be a hurried and out of synch. The Malaysian Sedition Act is there at the same level as the ISA, if not of one and the same thing as in a cause and effect point for the ‘police’ to invoke the more draconian ISA.
ISA and it abolishment, and by association the Sediton Act, has been one of DAP’s main agenda. Many many Malaysians root for DAP because of its stand against the use of ISA in Malaysia.
Why the hurry to put Ahmad at a discomfort via the Sedition Act? Is this a sign of opportunistic traits in DAP who condems UMNO for being opportunistic?
Ahmad’s ‘Cina tumpang’ should and rightfully be countered by explaining all the good deeds these ‘Cina tumpang’ brought about and still do, for this nation Malaysia. There are countless written documentations on the meritorious deeds the Chinese brought about directly and indirectly from as early as the Malacca Sultanate period right up to the recent resistance movements against the invading Japanese in the Second World War, and the struggle for Independence from the British.
And it is so easy for DAP to organize such public forum as it official repartee to Ahmad.
Why then di DAP make police reports on the grounds of sedition?
..the message claims that some Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties from Sabah and Sarawak will begin an exodus from the ruling coalition by Friday. And by Saturday, BN parties from Peninsular Malaysia, with the exception of MCA and MIC, will also signal their exit from the coalition, the message alleges.
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com.my/index.php/malaysia/8454-swirling-rumours-as-september-16-looms
What an excellent deputy prime minister. he helps on everything, ranging from sodomy care to take responsiblity for others on all matters
“Only now he knows: “We had the worst kind of Umno arrogance as a result of the 2004 elections. The abuse of power, corruption, negotiated tenders with government tenders going mainly to Umno-associated companies. All this is not decided by the Cabinet but by the Ministry of Finance. You think people don’t know. Prices are jacked up and there is no check on the implementation of these projects.” – boh-liao
If I’m not mistaken, everytime a finger is pointed at a particular minister for any misdeeds, he’ll say that the decision is made by the cabinet and not individually.
So, why is he now saying that it isn’t so?
What nonsense is going on at UMNO/BN?
Time to kick them out!
pulau_sibu
Don’t you ever forget that he also counsels university drop-outs.
And he does it out of office time and in his very home.
I wonder if I had dropped out from university, he would lend me his ear!
Believe me, this is what’s happening. 40 or more BN MP’s are going to defect come this sept 16. Badawi is in absolute distress, he’s making countless transactions from bank negara with millions of the governments money trying to buy these MP’s from defecting. Now whether it’s gonna work or not, we don’t know?
An apology for mistake made won’t cost a sen.
Well done Kit!
We are all human beings, we make mistake here and there.
If we find out that we have make a mistake, the most honourable thing to do is APOLOGIZE!
Unlike some people from UMNO who know he is wrong and yet refuse to apologize, SO ARROGANT AND STUBBORN.
Ahmad Ismail made a great “contribution” to BN, helping it to be buried earlier than expected.
Unlike some people from UMNO who know he is wrong and yet refuse to apologize -penang308
He refuse to apologize because he thinks he is right and there is nothing to apologize for.
Guys Gals, sorry to divert but I cannot help it.
Another round of selecting the best University
in Malaysia. See if you can get any logics or
any motives for selection. Very interesting.
http://www.malaysiainsider.com/index.php/malaysia/8469-usm-is-surprise-choice-for-apex-university
LKS,you made a mistake and you apologised; that is the decent thing to do for a decent person.
I advocate that no poltical party should have any investment or control over any MSM in order for journalists to report news and happenings without fear or favour. The local media must fulfil its “solemn duty as one of the most important institutions of a democratic and civilised society” and not ” appears to be merely a pliable propagandistic instrument of the political power that be.” I am merely quoting from Rustam A. Sani’s book titled “Failed Nation? Concerns of a Malaysian Nationalist”
I am just thinking, if ever there is such an award like the Astro Wah Lai Toi best actor, best actress, best director, best movie, best movie theme, etc, can be rest assured that ALL, and I mean ALL the awards will be won by BN!
BTW, what suddenly happen to Khairy, the keris wielding Hishamuddin, Ezam and the rest of the UMNO goons?? Before this talk so much, after the Permatang Pauh by-election, all gone into hiding?? I thought Ezam wanted to reveal all of Anwar’s dark secrets? Mana? Where is he? Awww, common, you are can’t be that scared, rite??
First of all, if this thing is mentioned by opposition party member, the first thing in BN / Police mind is to use the ISA act and put that guy into jail. Why there is nothing if happen to their own member?
Another Thumbs Down to BN. I feel sorry for LKS and your son because you and your son has been detained under this ISA Act.
this comment has nothing to do with your post. would you be able to provide reason for banning female concert in one of the PR states?
I would like to highlight few issues in relation to the banning:
1) I believed that the people voted for change and that change is to promote equality, freedom of speech, economic growth etc etc…eliminating racism, having said that i ‘sensed’ there is a discrimination or devaluation directed against women> SEXISM. The PR better off ban all concerts which include male artistes as well.
2) If it has something to do with ‘certain culture’, wouldn’t it be better off that tickets can only be sold to non-muslim or place security to prevent the muslims from entering the hall? Voting for opposition, certainly doesnt mean i am ready for islamification, what’s more the ‘extreme way’ although the intention is good!
3) Please pardon my pun, Bak Kut Teh and ‘roast pork’ are so irresistable, how could i ever miss such delicacies over religion. probability is 0.000001% :p:p:p The main issue is unemployment, economy, and education not petty things such as concert, alcohol, gambling.
DAP and PAS have different ideology all together, i doubt that it would work in long term unless you prove me wrong. At this point of time, PKR certainly needs support from PAS and DAP as the ratio of bumis to non-bumis is 60:40. how will it differs if the ratio is 80:20? will PKR still needs ‘the minority’?? can someone answer these uncertainties?
something to ponder about, since sexism is becoming an issue for pas, will the next general election be based solely on gender than race/agenda? shall we start encouraging baby girls? or from the ‘extereme’ point of will, having girl in family will be a burden?? arent we reverting to the old ways where girls should not be competing in sports and education?
TheStarOnline reports this : “Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail, under investigation for sedition after he allegedly made racist remarks, did not turn up for an interview with the police on Tuesday to give his statement. The police rescheduled the interview to today, and he still hasn’t turned up, while his home in Butterworth is empty.”
Hmmm… I am comfortable in my home. He is scurrying here and there looking for a place to stay. Who’s the squatter I wonder? perhaps he has gone to Thailand to be a “pendatang asing”….
DAP (Older) + PKR (Younger) = For All Malaysian
PAS = For Muslim Malaysian
UMNO = For Malaysian Malay
MCA = For Malaysian Chinese
MIC = For Malaysian Indian
If PAS is protecting ISLAM –
Supporting DAP / PKR = Not Protecting ISLAM ?
We can see, a party that not for all Malaysian will be rejected from time to time, agree ?
DPM for leader from DAP is DAP’s right after they get the mandate from Malaysian in GE2008. Is mandate not appreciation !
DAP + PAS, if you aim for higher post – work harder – get more seat in next GE, ok ? This call Democracy – Having discustion with BN will make you loose more seat !
Anwar always say choose the best Malay, Chinese, Indian to run this country. Malaysian Leader must at lease know how to speak in BM and English right ?
PKR + DAP + PAS + All Malaysian – Want to turn it into reality – work harder to convince MP from the corrupt govt to cross over !
{{Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said: “I will tell him(Ahmad Ismail ) not to talk like that again.”}} – Next time let others to ‘ talk like that…..then I would tell him not to talk like that…….
3 salute to YP Lim K S.
He made a mistake about the mistaken blackout of the news and immediately made an apology.What a brave man.
On the contrary some monkey dare to say but dare not admit, went into hiding oversea and dare not apologised. Need his very senior boss to apologise on behalf of him..What a shame. This is call UMm UMm boleh.
This country dont need such a monkey to lead malaysian.We have so much mockery stories , so much so a book is needed to compile the lot.
All this are due to the 51 years of pampering,votes buying, corruption and to remain in power at all cost.
Enough is enough. Give PKR 5 years you can still be alive to kick them out if they dont perform BUT if you give BN another 50 years all the non malai will have no more tears to cry even let alone wanting to change the govt.
Right now we have a god send leader DSAI ready to serve.Pls give him a chance to prove his point.ONLY 5 YEARS IF NOT 4.
It wont cost you ppl an arm or leg..but if you ppl let this govt to rule in this manner, you will loose your lives without knowing why.
PRAY 916 IS REAL..PRAY 916 COME TO REALTY..PRAY 916 SAVES OUR SOUL..
PRAY 916 SAVE THIS COUNTRY FROM FURTHER ROT..
my.. How right you are.We all voted for a change.But not to be cowed by narrow mindedness .Kedah had ban all kinds of concert.PAS youth are so weak that even seeing a women singging on stage is a taboo.
As long as a women is beautiful and has a great body she can,t perform in a concert.If any singer wants to perform in a PAS control state she better be fat and ugly.That goes for the guys too.
Will PAS BAN women from driving next.
Imagine the scene. DPM sitting there. The UMNO chief in that area wanted to let him know just how loyal he is to the party. So he uttered some racist remarks. He thought that when he has said these words, the DPM and UMNO will remember his good works and for that, may be give him some special privileges. He has proven himself by being courageous enough to attack any race and to exalt his own. He thinks of nothing but his own world, that of UMNO. To him, the rest of the world is blank. In his own way, he is polishing the shoes of his bosses. This UMNO chief is probably like many UMNO members who still think that their party is the strongest. If he is a man, he should apologize personally.
DEAR BLOGGERS,
KEEP YOUR FINGER CROSS ! COUNT DOWN STARTED FROM THE FRIST DAY DSAI WON AND SWORE IN THE PARLIAMENT. CAN PAKATAN RAKYAT AND DSAI KEEP THEIR WORDS AND PROMISES TO ALL MALAYSIANS ?
DONT WORRY ! PAKATAN RAKYAT AND DATO SERI ANWAR WILL APOLOGISE TO ALL MALAYSIANS IF THEY FAIL THEIR PLAN TO REMOVE BN RULE ON SEPT 16.
HOPE TO GET SECOND APOLOGY FROM SDR LKS IF DAP ALSO FAILS TO DELIVER THE DREAM FOR MALAYSIANS.
GOD WILL FORGIVE DAP, PKR AND PAS AFTER THEIR APOLOGISES , MARK MY WORDS BUT EAT MY WORDS IF BE END IS OVER BY SEPT 16?
SELAMAT BERPUASA , INSYALLAH
Nice dream team, haha they wouldn’t know what hit them. Attack!
Keeper(DSAI), Defender(Nik Aziz), Midfielder(LGE) to Striker(LKS) shoot!~
??????????????!
Whatever negative political aspects which involve UMNO and their lackeys will always sidetracked with some comment “it is not umno policy, it is personal and does not reflect on our policy”. End of story.
We all know of this outcome. Why do we keep on commenting negatively with insulting statements sometimes? It is a waste of time and effort isn’t it? Expressing our frustrations when we know that we will continue to be frustrated with this UMNO BN??
What we must pray and hope for is to look forward to 916. This is the crux of the matter. Can we or can we not? The ball is in your court DSAI, and we cannot wait for the day! Make your delivery!
I will be away for 2 weeks and return on 916. First thing I will do is not to read the Star, but to get into MalaysiaToday site for the situation. I don’t think I will be disappointed!
DSAI, make 916 the day for all Malaysians to celebrate!
To add on in my above posting, why is 916 important? Well, 999 is pure gold 24K which has high value but si soft and easily deformed by external pressure. 916 is 22K (91.6%) gold which still has very high value but is an alloyed version to be much harder with greater deformation resistance. Thus 916 is an appropriate representation of PR!
916 also has another important meaning. Malaysia Day is actually 16 Sept and NOT 31 August! 31 August is Malaya independance day and not Malaysia day!
So, rightfully, since we call this country Malaysia, 16 Sept is the right day to celebrate Malaysia Day. Of course we need to give respect to Tunku Abdul Rahman for Malayan independence, and we should also keep 31 August as a holiday day out of respect.
My 2 cents worth.
Aiyah YB Lim why this kind of mistake also can make, right now we must not give BN any chance to hantam us.
aiyah Malaysian Always…humans make mistakes, pls don’t blame YB Kit. At least he is MAN enough to apologise as soon as he realised the mistake. No big deal,la. Compare this small matter to problems and racial statements made by those retards, this is nothing!
I note that the Chinese community of all political shades are truly riled by Ahmad Ismail’s racist remarks and everyone is after him for a sincere and contrite apology. I can understand that. For too long it has been a one way street. UMNO’s people could say such things with impunity and get away but not the other way around. People are fed up of this ‘Ketuanan ideology’ that undermines racial equality and harmony in a multiracial country. Ahmad is not alone culpable for this kind of remarks. It happened before many times. For examples in 2007 UMNO Assembly of 3,000 delegates, Malacca delegate Hasnoor Sidang Hussein was attributed to have said “Umno is willing to risk lives and bathe in blood in defence of race and religion,” had told some during the gathering.” “Please don’t test the Malays; they know amok. We don’t want to reach that level,” said another delegate Mohamed Rahmat.
In the earlier thread, ghinna_lm informed us that Ahmad Ismail’s “statement was a common statement made by government during the compulsory “Training Camp” of government servants for newly recruit professionals, such as doctors, dentist, pharmist….etc”. We have heard before what goes on Biro Tata training camp.
UMNO is directly or indirectly responsible for nurturing the mentality of Ahmad Ismail and his ilk.
To me, in terms of responsibility, it is therefore right and appropriate that the political organisation from which Ahmad Ismail and his ilk learned to utter such racist remarks apologises publicly through its deputy president.
Such an apology from UMNO is unprecedented. It publicly benchmarks that such remarks are no more considered right in UMNO. It implies UMNO would no longer extend protection for such remarks, one of the reasons perhaps why police has started investigations on sedition and are looking for Ahmad who has disappeared. Najib’s apology on UMNO’s behalf is therefore of greater value than that of a foot soldier like Ahmad Ismail and should, in my view, be accepted by the Chinese community.
You should be careful with your remarks.Make sure your advisers read the papers well.Any wrong reporting will undermine your personality and trustworthiness.When at a time people are supporting the DAP any facts without evidence might put off anybody.Your apology is well received.
YB, I hope you let the matter rests. The Chinese community wronged should rise above pettiness and demonstrate that after suitable amends in some form by UMNO Deputy president we’re not Shylock in Shakepeare’s Merchant of Venice, still demanding the exact pound of flesh. We’re in multiracial country and should not go over board in demands to make our Malay brothers feel uncomfortable by what coud be interpreted as excessive sensitivity not to let go (forgive and not forget in Anwar’s words), no matter how justified it may be.
To me the Malaysian Chinese and all other Malaysians have better things to do than to bicker, hound and clamour and cause divisions amongst ourself chasing for an apology from a foot soldier like Ahmad Ismail who had since cowardly disappeared having not even appeared to give statement to police when requiredto do so.
We should move forward because we have better things to do, one of which figuring prominently is how to effect political change to improve governance.
If we persist in this petty chasing after of an apology from Ahmad Ismail, whom even if he were to apologise is unlikely to be sincere about it, we’re not only missing the larger picture of the forest from the trees but we’re also providing ammunition to reactionary elements within ruling establishment opposed to change, to exploit the situation, stir troubles and incite inter racial disharmony to thwart Pakatan Rakyat’s reform agenda.
Lets not create further schisms and divisions between different communities when one community keeps clamouring redress from one errant person of the other community. We should heal -not aggravate- the communal rift arising from the kind of climate that UMNO/BN has created. Now that Najib has apologised and made known that such behaviour is unacceptable, we should let the matter rest (until the next time when when he said is not heeded).
25 August 2008, Ahmad Ismail, an UMNO division chief, made an offensive statement to the Chinese community with the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak.
2 Sept 2008, Najib said he will, on behalf of UMNO and Ahmad, apologise if (only if) Ahmad’s statement offended the non-Malay.
It took BN/UMNO/Najib a good 8 days to apologise with condition.
3 Sept 2008, Lim Kit Siang made a mistake claiming both Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian did not published Najib’s “apology”.
In the same afternoon, when discovered otherwise, Kit Siang apologise to both publications that he overlooked, thus withdrawn paragraphs describing the mistaken facts.
Just give a thought of the 2 incidents, one “apologise” with condition, and needs 8 days to act, and the other within the same day, and action taken.
You may say these cannot be compared as there are 2 distinctive matters.
To me, it is who has guts to admit his own mistake, correct it, and move forward.
Clearly, Uncle Kit win my respect.
Correction in last post (until the next time when WHAT he said is not heeded).
Energy & concentration should be directed at 916. I believe whatever publicly said to the contrary, the opposite side is worried.
Beware, as Anwar/PR races to meet 916, such actions, by Newton’s Third Law of Motion, will generate a strong counter reaction from the other side soon. You should be prepared. So is the strong reaction of some demanding Ahmad Ismail’s scalp, calculating that such intransigence on Ahmad Ismail’s part (not to apologise) would exert appropriate pressure on rank and file of MCA, Gerakan to push for cross over to PR – but think again (Newton’s law), this could backfire if the other side manipulate the communal card using this incident against PR.
Malaysiakini reports Sarawak PKR chief Dominique Ng as saying Pakatan Rakyat coalition could now count on more that 40 MPs to cross over from Barisan Nasional. “Come September 16, we will show who has in fact been dreaming or bragging” he added.
This kind of talk will be taken seriously because likely Sarawak holds the key – the moment Sarawak BN MPs cross enmasse, it may prove the catalyst for an avalanche of defections from Sabah spreading to Peninsular, and we’re not talking of mere 40 but many more….
As I said before I don’t forsee BN will allow this to happen. We will face a national crisis as the other side moves to block such a wave.
The next 11 days is crucial upon which the fate of nation hangs and therefore it is a waste of time trying to flog a dead horse like Ahmad Ismail!
There is absolutely no reason to think that the trigger of crossovers in Sarawak are unlikely and purely a figment of Anwar’s imagination.
I say why not? Anwar dangles 30% oil royalty in their face as compared to present 5%, the difference of 25% represents $billions for development and concomitant patronage and money making opportunities Ala BN’s style. Besides there is widespread discontent amongst Sarawakians (& Sabahans) that their states – and politicians – have been marginalised at Federal Level. Somemore Anwar has said something to effect (symbolically) there are 5 DPMs when he is PM – a Malay, Chinese, Indian, one from Sabah and the other Sarawak in rotation, never mind how that rotation works. Besides Sarawak Taiko is not very happy that his interest in RHB has been diluted by EPF!
When you deal with BN’s politicians, many are opportunists and lallang – they have no permanent allegiance to principles other than where the prevailing wind blows and where they could have positions, development funds to indulge in cronyism and money making justified by local parochial sentiments supporting their move.
Their not sticking with BN – and triggering the cross over – is therefore a real possibility. For this reason if I were the BN leadership I would to act in preemption….and for this reasons the next 11 days is crucial as we stare at a crisis in formation.
;e! Lo, . n to be pulled come from all the state’s four BN component parties – PRS, SPDP, SUPP and PBB. But their leaders have all publicly denied this
Typo errors – “I would TOO act in preemption” in second last para of above posting. Also ignore last para entirely.
Funny how it is the DPM who apologises instead of the PM. It looks like DPM is “acting” PM now.
Sdr. Lim’s confusion arose because of his reliance on modern technology – perfectly understandable. But its indicative of what is actually going on in UMNO. What Najib has done is caused confusion and lack of clarity of UMNO’s direction and policies.
The ground and machinery is lost on what is the right thing to do. Najib made an apology in English but he did not issue a statement which should have been in Bahasa, thereby making it an official policy which would have been loud and clear to the rank and file and the machinery.
Najib just made something clear – he has no clear idea what direction he wants to take UMNO or the country. All he see is his appointment to PM and holding on to it as long as he can. This is not going to take UMNO/BN or this country anywhere. Its going to be more of the same.
The real danger is that Najib think he won’t make the same mistake that Badawi made. The problem is that he will make ALL NEW MISTAKES of his own. Badawi has made some irreversible change – opening the media, fight against corruption, etc. if Najib think its not his job to complete what Badawi has foolishly started, he is sorely mistaken. The Rakyat will not accept anything less.
if bn/umno has even a modicum of smarts, they’d be:
1. doing what they can to thwart the defection
2. prepare for a worst case scenario of the defection actually happening.
the 2nd is a scary thing whatever they do. god help us all if that happens.
YB LKS,
I think we should take heed of what Jeffrey elaborated above. Though I am a newbie to our political arena, I fully agree with his rationale and we must move on as intended. There is not much time!!
Thank you.
Apologising for mistakes made is basic social manners.
And for bodies that thrive on popular support, apologising for mistakes made is basic damage mitigation measure.
51 years and they still could not get this basic point?
Hopeless indeed they must really be.
Well not for long I suppose.
You had better enjoy your days being hopeless, umno.
Do it while you still can.
Fighting official sanctioned racism is also part of the larger agenda of PR. For too long the non malays are being demonised by Umno and what about BTN’s insidious role in promoting racism as pointed out by ghinna_lim and others.
If not for the outcry you think a delayed apology is forthcoming. What is so galling is that those racist remarks were uttered in front of Najib and in an Umno election campaign and AAB defended Ahmad Ismail by saying that it was his personal opinion and not that of Umno. So keris waving episodes of Hishammuddin and Najib are personal opinions? This kind of repeated excuse offered by PM just sound hollow to the non malays.
Now we have Ahmad Ismail gone MIA. What kind of a man is he? Unlike LKS he made a mistake he apologised like a man and that is decency. We should be magnanimous to Ahmad Ismail if he personally apologise for his racist remark but we must not let our guard down in our fight against racism wherever they come from in order to build Bangsa Malaysia and a Malaysian Malaysia
Umno is half a century old party and I would expect at least the leaders are a cultured and matured lot. But they are behaving otherwise and cannot accept the fact that Malaysia existed with the common effort of all races within this nation. If they continue to harp on racial issues, I am sure they are heading towards extinction.
Yes! This is exactly what I want to say too!
Ong Ka Ting still has an illusion that MCA represents ALL chinese in Malaysia?!!
He said ‘We HOPE this would also be a lesson to others. My HOPE is that Ahmad realises his mistake and never repeats it.’
It’s time MCA learned to stand on his own two feet. I HOPE!!!
i don’t buy newspaper but let me guess.
Najib’s apology should be front page on most MSM like TheStar and NST except Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia.
Correct?
…//Why then di DAP make police reports on the grounds of sedition?// cvl
_____________________________________
This is what we call “let them have a taste of their own medicine”
“When you deal with BN’s politicians,many are opportunists and lallang they have no permanent allegiance to principles other than where the prevailing wind blows and where they could have positions,development funds to indulge in cronyism and money making justified by local parochial sentiments supporting their move.”. Jeffrey.
How very true this is and is best exemplified by Ling Liong Sik’s overboard shameless show of bodekking Mamak during the opening of UTAR by making the singing “We love Mahathir” as a major part of the programme.And look at Samy now who would ever think that he is capable of criticising the mamak today?
Your mention of more than 40 BN MPs crossing over has also appeared in the Singapore Straits Times just before the PP by election,stating that if Anwar were to make it to Parliment as the Leader Of Opposition more than 40 BN MPs would cross over. This surely would be fantastic for the country for the sooner PK takes over the better it is for the country.We just can’t afford to be hit by a double whammy, recession plus political turmoil.
“Such an apology from UMNO is unprecedented. It publicly benchmarks that such remarks are no more considered right in UMNO. It implies UMNO would no longer extend protection for such remarks, one of the reasons perhaps why police has started investigations on sedition and are looking for Ahmad who has disappeared.” — jeffrey
Unprecedented as it may be, it is because the Premiership is at stake for the DPM. Note that AAB did not take the same stand. He tried to brush the matter off. And the common factor between the both of them is: neither took any action on their man. When you have the Number 1 and Number 2 men sending different signals out, one cannot expect the rest of the party members to understand that the act was indeed wrong.
In as far as “police investigations” are concerned, it remains to be seen whether their subsequent findings and end result would be impartial, and also whether there will ever be any findings at all once this issue has died down.
It is perfectly alright to demand an apology, but with the understanding that not all of our malay friends are like Ahmad Ismail. In fact, any right-thinking Malaysian, regardless of race, should unite in demanding the apology from him.
ahmad ismail is a moron…still think his statement is right and refused to apology…we must do something to give him a lesson
‘And the common factor between the both of them is:neither took any action on their man.’. Richardqed
But then again, how could they? Najib uttered even far worse seditious remarks
when he raised his kris threatening to bathe it with Chinese blood.As for Badawi,he did nothing when Krishmmuddin brandished his kris in 2005 at the UMNO General Assembly, and a second time in 2006 with an UMNO delegate from Perlis asking him,’Datuk,when are you going to use it?’.
So what can be expected from these two except sandiwara!!
Fifty years of staying under one roof, contributing to income tax and nation building, yet a “pendatang” is what one gets.
That’s the mentality we have in this bolehland and therefore this land will never prosper; only corruption it does best, correct? correct!
Isn’t that the sleepy head is chinese related? So the sleepy head is 2nd or 3rd class pendatang?
Dear YAB LKS
It is more courageous & dignifiying for acknowledging a mistake. This is leadership by example. Salute you for it.
Folks, here is one glaring evidence of what has been deliberately blacked out by our pariah mainstream media. Talk about selective and creative reporting eh. Take a look at how a foreign press reports on Bolehland’s shameful state of affairs by calling a spade a spade and a shovel a shovel:
Anwar’s popularity adds to ruling party’s fear and loathing
Posted by St Low
Thursday, 28 August 2008 18:51
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 — Former Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim won a crucial by-election for the parliamentary seat of Pemantang Pauh on Tuesday.
That Anwar was going to win was never in doubt. He was first elected to the seat in the early 1980s and his wife became MP when he was jailed in 1998.
Last month, she resigned from the seat so Anwar could get back into Parliament. What was unexpected was the huge margin of victory. Anwar’s wife won the seat in the March general election with slightly more than a 13,000-vote majority.
Many had expected Anwar to win by about 10,000 votes rather than the nearly 16,000 votes he took on Tuesday. The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition poured everything it had into the campaign.
Led by the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the BN promised nearly RM60 million worth of development. Almost every minister visited the constituency offering more goodies if Anwar was defeated.
The BN has spent millions in trying to discredit Anwar, using the mainstream media and giant video screens spread all over the constituency, to remind voters that Anwar is under criminal indictment for sodomy. Sodomy is a serious offence under Islam and more than 60 per cent of Pemantang Pauh’s voters are Malay Muslims.
The BN showed a tape of Anwar’s accuser swearing on the Quran that he was sodomised by Anwar. Malay voters were told also that Anwar was a race traitor.
Anwar champions the removal of the New Economic Policy, or NEP. Under the guise of affirmative action, this policy discriminates against the non-Malay population in all areas of political and economic life. Special scholarships, bank loans, contracts and even a university were established exclusively for the Malays.
While it was initially popular among the Malay population and deeply resented by non-Malays, in recent years, the younger, better educated, Malays have become critics of the NEP.
It is a known fact that the NEP has enriched only those with link to Umno, the ruling party, and that poorer Malays have benefited much less. Some Malays who supported opposition parties were even denied access to the NEP.
Younger Malays are starting to realise that the NEP, far from helping them, is actually a tool for Umno to manipulate and buy its political support from the Malay community.
The culture of corruption created by the NEP has reached the plateau that a large segment of the Malay community has decided that the only way to get rid of the corruption is to get rid of the NEP and Umno.
They also want an end to racial politics in Malaysia pioneered by the BN, and Umno in particular. Umno’s ideology of ”Ketuanan Melayu” or Malay supremacy has meant open and blatant racial discrimination against the non-Malay population.
One senior Chinese minister described Umno’s relationship with its non-Malay parties in the BN parties as akin to a ”master-slave’ ‘ relationship.. Race relations are now much worse after 50 years of independence.
Anwar has promised to replace the NEP with the Malaysian Economic Policy, or MEP, which does not have racial criteria. The overwhelmingly majority of the younger population sees this as the only real long-term solution to racial polarisation.
Anwar has promised that he will engineer the defection of about 30 MPs from the BN by the middle of September, and he will take over as prime minister then. There is every reason to believe that Anwar is capable of doing this, although the BN will still try to do its best to stop him.
The BN will do its best to make sure that Anwar is convicted of sodomy. It does not matter that more than 80 per cent of the population thinks that the sodomy allegations are politically motivated.
The only political game Malaysia now, at least among Umno, is to stop Anwar. The security apparatus will also be used against Anwar’s allies.
Several leaders in Anwar’s parties have been arrested for corruption, and bloggers who are sympathetic to Anwar are being sued for defamation and publishing false reports on the Internet.
The Government is also expected to pass laws that restrict political chatter on the Internet, and crack down harder on civil society groups.
The BN is still a powerful political machine and when it is threatened, it moves back to its authoritarian mode. There is every reason to believe that there will be mass arrests under the Internal Security Act to stop Anwar from becoming prime minister.
There are too many vested interests that will stop at nothing to make sure that their corruption and past misdeeds are not exposed by Anwar’s new administration.
They have every reason to fear the consequences of an Anwar ascendancy. When Anwar’s party took power in several states after the March general election, they exposed shady land deals and government contracts worth millions.
A Morgan Stanley report published a few years ago says that corruption has cost Malaysia the equivalent of more than US$110 billion (RM360 billion) in the past 30 years, and mostly during Mahathir’s rule.
The NEP was promulgated about 30 years ago and it was only after the NEP came into being that ”money politics” became synonymous with Umno.
If Anwar eventually becomes prime minister, it will be one of Asia ‘s most remarkable political comeback tales.
The closest one to it is that of Kim Dae Jung. Sometimes called the Nelson Mandela of Asia, Kim was nearly killed by South Korea ‘s intelligence service in the 1970s, imprisoned, put under house arrest, sentenced to death for sedition and banned from politics.
Kim managed to overcome all these obstacles before becoming South Korea ‘s president from 1998 to 2003.
– Canberra Times –
Ahmad Ismail conferred as the “Official Undertaker Of and From UMNO” seeing to its burial.
My writing on this:
Why Is It Hard to Accept An Apology In My Personal Capacity?
Link:
http://sagaladoola.blogspot.com/2008/09/why-is-it-hard-to-accept-apology-in-my.html
Latest news announced is that Ahmad claims he was referring to the situation before independence. What a lousy excuse! As if the Malays themselves were not “squatters” then! Don’t forget that Malaya was a British colony before independence and it does not matter whether you are a Chinese, Malay or Indian – everyone was a British subject and everyone was a squatter!
if nothing is done to take that ahmad out of our sight forever, then malaysia should throw all the law books into the drain! then the killers in jail waiting for gallow can be released, bcos they can always defend themselves by saying they killed someone bcos they were referring to something or some one else! dont think we are kids! this lesson has opened the eyes of those chinese and indians that always on their side to be theirs dogs. wake up for the non malays! be realistics, we are always 2nd or 3rd or even no class in their eyes. is just this ahmad “sincere” enough to tell us straight to our face! for the nonmalays, pls vote correctly in the next election! for good malays that we have been taking as friends, look at what BN has done to destroy malaysia! SAD SAD SAD…..
now we all know, you read only chinese paper. Hai, i’m a malay, muslim, PR supporter, but not DAP. I’m anti BN, but not only UMNO which is MALAY party, but also MCA (chinese party), GERAKAN & SAPP (also chinese lead), MIC & PPP (indian party). wow…how many non-malay party in malaysia. I’m also anti HINDRAF, an organization which fight for indian with no concrete motive, which claim’s malay and muslim is cruel and doing ethnic cleansing.
Just to remind you, do you ever know the following people? Datuk Maharaja Lela and Datuk Sagor in Perak, Datuk Bahaman, Datuk Gajah, Mat Kilau and Mat Seman (Mat Kelantan) in Pahang. Datuk Dol Said in Naning, Negeri Sembilan, and Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong in Terengganu. Mat Saleh and Antanum in Sabah, and Sharif Masahor, Rentap, Banting, Asun and Rosli Dobi in Sarawak.
Who are they? Are they chinese or indian. Tell me where are they came from?. Why are they forgotten? Are they also migrant like most of you all claims. Then who is malay? who is bumiputra? who is iban? who is kadazan?. Don’t you read history? Malacca empire also including part of indonesia? Aceh also once under malacca How dare you claim that malay is migrant?. You don’t understand who is malay? jawa, minang, bugis, people from indonesia, south thailand, kemboja, philipine, sulu and others are all malay.
Don’t you know, most malay vote PR because of they see injustice including injustice on chinese and indian and also because the spirit PAS shown?. It is not because lim guan eng, or lim kit siang, or DAP (which fight for chinese only, the rest is political motivated to gain malay support). Don’t think you win because we like you, it is because you in PR, and PR is alternate party other than BN. like Republican vs Domocrat.
As long as you fight more on your race. We will never support you. PRU 12 is just a rise of malay thought. Don’t expect we will vote you in the next election, as we can also think and judge.
Sometime you forgot what is your objective, as you see this year is a great opportunity for you to get more power. But don’t forget, without malay, you are nothing. So watch your mouth and action, mr lim kit siang and son lim guan eng(i see you try to get malay & muslim supporter by using Umar Al-Kattab character, and some word of islamic. stop that mr. it does not work, as we know it is just a gimic to gain our support). mr karpal, i know you are malaysian, but don’t always insult muslim&malay la, over my dead body if u are in PR cabinet.