By Dr Toh Kin Woon
In MalaysianInsider
APRIL 14 – In a recent interview with the Malay language Mingguan Malaysia, our country’s newly minted Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, claimed that he was at a loss as to why the Chinese voters failed to support the Barisan Nasional in the recent by-elections for both the parliamentary seat of Bukit Gantang and the state constituency of Bukit Selambau, despite the BN pouring millions to the Chinese schools.
He further suggested that perhaps Malaysian Chinese wanted to play the role of kingmakers in elections.
I find these statements by the DPM distasteful and an insult, not just to the Malaysian Chinese community, but to all Malaysians.
This latest outburst also manifests either a total lack of understanding of the demands of the electorate of all ethnic groups on the part of Umno, or an inability on its part to respond with progressive measures, or both.
So much for their oft-repeated claim that it has understood the message of the larger Malaysian polity as expressed through the polls on March the 8th last year.
To begin with, the DPM’s statement further confirms that the BN continues to engage in the practice of utilising public funds to buy electoral support; a practice that has long been condemned and eschewed by the public.
Malaysians welcome the development of education at all levels by the government, but at no time will they condone public funds being given to schools in a constituency during the campaign period in return for their support for the BN.
For the information of the new DPM, one of the key factors that has led the public to continue to reject the BN is that their status as the political masters of the nation has not been given due respect.
This was clearly shown in the BN’s recent unconstitutional grabbing of political power in Perak. The people in Perak, and for that matter the whole nation, were angry that they were totally sidelined in the crisis engineered by the BN’s stubborn refusal to go back to the people for a new people’s mandate, when the Pakatan Rakyat government called for a dissolution of the state legislative assembly upon the defection of three of its representatives to the opposition bench.
They were also miffed by the total disregard of the BN for the constitution in dislodging the Menteri Besar, who is now the newly elected Member of Parliament for Bukit Gantang.
If only Umno and the BN had agreed to hold the polls that will enable the people to choose a new state government, their electoral downslide might have been mitigated.
In the event, their greed for power, come what may, and their arrogance that led them to ignore the people, had the better of them.
Another factor is Umno’s hypocrisy in relation to the subject of the monarchy. To get at the opposition, it resorted to launching unfair attacks of les majeste against the PAS candidate in Bukit Gantang, when in fact there are records to prove that Umno, more than any other party, is even more guilty of this “crime”.
Umno and the BN will also do well to note that the uneven development that has taken place over the years has brought along with it wider social cleavages.
The antagonism of the poor and marginalized towards the ruling elites is bound to grow stronger.
To the deprived of all ethnic groups, it has not escaped their attention that the hegemony of political power by the Umno and BN elites has led to abuses, corruption and cronyism as manifested in the dishing out of patronage resources to the few of all ethnic groups.
And they are bent on breaking this hegemony of both economic and political power by the BN oligarchs through supporting a system that will allow of more competitive politics based on ideological contests and an alternation of coalitions in power. This is what will lead them to continue to support the Pakatan Rakyat.
*Dr. Toh Kin Woon is currently a Research Fellow under the Asian Public Intellectuals’ Fellowship of the Nippon Foundation at the Centre of Southeast Asian Studies, University of Kyoto, Japan. He was formerly a State Assemblyman and State Executive Councillor in Penang.
Umno/bn never get it.It’s their trade mark . A decade or two ago, Datuk Harris.BN Sabah chief minister said in Sandakan,BN don’t need the chinese voters to win and truly so the sandakan chinese majority constituency dump him in a by election…About three years later,the CM saked the Kadazan chief and assembyman of Tambunan again said this time he don’t need the kadazan/dusun voters to form the government in the next election. A year later,he called for state general election,this time both chinese and kadazan/dusun voters crushed him and his bn government.The rest is history .Like I said before and am saying again let umno/bn say what they like especially remarks not pleasing to chinese ,indian,kadazan/dusun and iban/dayak,come the 13th general election,together we all will dump NR/MY/umno/BN .
Looking at the current batch of “leaders” in the just announced Cabinet, one just can’t help feeling that many are intellectually, morally and ability challenged. Most are however, just there for the free ride on the gravvy train and would not want to rock this train.
Looking at things as they are and and where they are heading, the powers there be will just use all the people and institutions at their disposal to legitimise everything, even possible wrong things, to get their way, and to protect and care for their “brothers”, including retired ones, and possible wrongful and erroneous acts and deeds will be pronounced to be right and justified. So all their adversaries will have considerable hurdles to overcome and will unlikely win against such obstacles.
Well, this is going to be the last free ride on gravy trains before the next general elections.
They should enjoy the view and goodies while it lasts.
The non-Malays, especially the Chinese and Indians, voted for an Islamic Party, PAS.
Muhyiddin and the BN leadership are in deep shock!!! They can’t believe it!!! They are in deep trauma!!! They can’t think straight!!! OMG!!! They don’t know what to do!!! They are confused!!! Their world is now upside down!!!
The DPM has his views.The PM has a different view.We will wait and see whether there is a collision course.The electorate has decided to vote for the opposition and it proves a politcal maturity.The government is not for the Malays and that perspec tive has to be changed.We will see more of this in any byelection till the next election.Meanwhile the opposition must get together to form a single party to rule otherwise it will be scattered rule and serve no purpose.The decline of UMNO/BN is well written.The Chinese and Indians will not support UMNO/BN as the last 50 years had seen their destruction which will not be boosted if they continue to rule.Blaming the Chinese and the Indians will not solve any problem.The nation must be thought as one and no one community should enjoy the largesse.
Any Chinese or Indian in their right frame of mind will never vote for BN, especially if UMNO is the candidate. The DPM is just not intelligent enough and his brain is just too flat to know why. He thought that the Chinese and Indian will be pacified by giving them some sweets.
Malaysia is always blessed with some nuts on the top.
Truth cannot be spoken because it may lead to confusion and exposing the ones who have helped them all along. Imagine if one were to appear to the whole nation and say I am sorry for this and for that. Most people would disrespect him straight away. Most human beings cannot accept this weakness, so called. Most human beings expect their leader to be like Genghiz Khan. A warrior on a charging horse, carrying the most powerful sword ready to strike down the enemies and like Robin Hood take what is there and give to the poor. Just like all the cartoons the kids watch on weekends. In reality, you cannot. You have to slow talk. You have to use psychology. You have to please. Before you can get what you want. They know. Malaysia does not want to be like Thailand bathed in blood even though the ordinary Thais are given the money to oppose.
Agreed that DPM’s remarks showed the BN still doesn’t get it. Such remarks showed that BN/UMNO is racist, power crazy, corrupted (buying votes through development projects), arrogant not able to admit his failures, insincere, etc.
His later remarks trying to justify his earlier statement by blaming the Chinese press for twisting his words, his bragging on his command of Malay language, etc reflected further of BN/UMNO hypocrisy, not honest but full of lies (in fact DPM himself is twisting his own words like a crooked politician), no courage to admit his own failures instead finger-pointing to others, egoistic with no humility instead he looked down on others and uplifting himself, etc.
This kind of politician, although he is DPM, doesn’t deserve our respects and our votes. If he has the courage to apologise for this unwarranted remarks, his hypocrisy, lies, etc and his willing to change to be a “better man”. This may result the start of gaining back the public’s respect and confidence.
Speaking as a Malaysian Chinese, I think the NEP had been one of the main factors that caused BN votes to slide.
As long as the NEP exists or is not moderated (tuned down), the Chinese and Indians will continue to support the Opposition. Nobody would want to be treated as a second-class citizen in Malaysia.
DPM/MY’s remarks are hardly surprising. It is question of how our BN ruling elites interpret – and respond to the challenge of this phenomenon of 8th March 08 Anwar/Opposition/ PR’s resurgence & UMNO/BN eclipse/loss of 2/3 majority, and reverse it. Which of course depends on what appeals to electorate, esp majority sector ? Is it communal/race as before based on which the BN communal political parties (UMNO/MCA/MIC) have been successful for 50 yrs to maintain political hegemony or has there been a quiet but fundamental shift in electoral psyche, esp amongst the young, and majority groups from traditional anxieties based on race differences to that conflicts based on class? Put another way, did 8th March political tsunamy signify – could it be explained as – traditional race antagonisms being superseded by class antagonisms?
MY brought TDM back to UMNO’s fold. Quid pro quo – he, after all, tapped on TDM’s criticsms/antagonisms against previous premier to coalesce power brokers to pressure the latter’s exit, opening the way of ascendency to the top by those waiting in line below, with him next after NTR. It is hoped that the still feisty octogenarian ex premier and his Mahathiristic Ideology would stem the tide against BN since 08/03/08 & put a brake on his nemesis (Anwar)’s political progress!
The distinctive ideological pancea of Malaysian ills prescribed under Mahathrism is ‘Ketuanan’ – ie. a multi racial society becomes stable when elites maintain political hegemony via mediating, mitigating & resolving inherent racial schisms by imposing the ‘benevolent’ will/dominance of majority racial group over the rest in exchange for support.
Anwar/PR/PKR prescribe a contrasting formula – that present society is torned by class schisms more than racial schisms; that ruling coalition has used the latter to camouflage the real – class- schisms, and that society will move to higher organisation only when the privileges, interest of and abuse by the ruling few/elites & cronies are dismantled to the benefit of the majority/rest irrespective of race and in their place is (ideally) superseded by good governance and accountability to benefit of the many!
Nah, Mahathirism derides that as naive idealism at best and Anwar’s hypocrisy at worse. It espouses the position that we’re (as society) not ready; that there is no such thing an egalitarian society, and ultimately it is always the few strong imposing a stable structure down the pecking order for the relative good of of the majority.
Mahathirism argues that notwithstanding Meritocracy in the red dot in the South, political stability (important for investors’ confidence) there depends on the strong elites imposing its will effectively on rest via a rigid class structure; that it is people who do not know their place, and who in name of democracy take to the streets, that forment chaos and chase away investors and undermine economic confidence: case in point – Thailand, Thaksin, then Abhisit Vejjajiva, and now Thaksin again? How do outsiders do business when government change every now & then by street democracy? See Phillippines decline after various changes of government after street demos , corruptuion has not abated….
The implicit thinking amongst UMNO elites led by MY is that Anwar’s pro democracy/reformasi approach, his leveraging on message of class antagonisms and how corruption has infused the higher reaches of political heirarchy will threaten not only vested interest but also lead to social/economic chaos – that the main way to put a brake on Opposition advance since March last year is to return and leverage more on traditional divide and rule TDM’s formula of communal sentiments/politics (now given greater edge by religious factors as well), something that Pak Lah, with his relative liberalism and “PM for all Malaysian” rhetoric had undermined, and hence caused last year March electoral debacle for BN but which now could and has to be redressed by the triumphant return of TDM and further fine tuning of precepts of Mahathirism structured upon cornerstone of communal politics/sentiments.
Speaking of NEP, I believe non-umnoputra malays felt equally frustrated like the rest of us. Those non-umnoputra malays sitting by roadside selling nasi lemak, mending shoes, peddling islamic cosmetics, and those driving trucks, buses and rented taxis, delivering documents and providing errand services, those teaching in schools, those in civil service, those who are professionals with pride and do not want to rely on connections – all of them are equally frustrated with having to run after the next customer/client, make ends meet and no doubt are struggling to earn, save and cut down on necessity spending. Like the rest of us they too felt cheated when they see contracts worth billions being dished out to the same few faces year in year out. Some of those who benefitted fortunately do have a conscience and a good sense of fairness and above all place the country first. Like Zaid and present Selangor MB. Those without, would continue on with their bloated greed and ever expanding demands. It is these lot that makes the whole country sick. They sicken umno and barisan and the economy. They sicken the people in the country by playing racial cards with the ulterior aim of securing their benefits. They sicken the dignity of the royalty. They sicken the judiciary. They sicken the police. They sicken the AG. They sicken the macc. They sicken just about everything.
On the one hand, BN wants to promote “1 Malaysia” but on the other hand it “splits” the people of Malaysia into 2, right in the middle, by differentiating Malaysians into bumiputras and non-bumiputras! Isn’t that self-contradiction?
Typical of Umnoputras and BN politicians, MY, whose role-model is MMK, believes that he and his divide-according-to-race-and-rule warlords can bribe and, failing which, threaten the rakyat to give Umno and the BN the mandate to continue to plunder the wealth of the nation.
The rakyat should get wiser and BOOT Umno and the BN OUT in all buy elections and the next general election.
The rakyat owe it to their children and grandchildren and grand-grandchildren to TERMINATE the rule of Umno and the BN to get the nation back to the proper path. At least, return the nation to the principle of separation of powers and independence of the three branches (Legislative, Executive and Judiciary) at the Federal and State levels.
“The first principle of a good government is certainly a distribution of its powers into executive, judiciary, and legislative, and a subdivision of the latter into two or three branches.” –Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 1787.
At the moment we have a despotic government in which the Executive had swallowed up all the powers of government, legislative, executive and judiciary. MMK started it and Umnoputras continue to practice it.
The rakyat have to put this illegal and shameful situation to an END.
/// Jeffrey Says:
Today at 08: 28.03 (1 hour ago)
The distinctive ideological pancea of Malaysian ills prescribed under Mahathrism is ‘Ketuanan’ – ie. a multi racial society becomes stable when elites maintain political hegemony via mediating, mitigating & resolving inherent racial schisms by imposing the ‘benevolent’ will/dominance of majority racial group over the rest in exchange for support. ///
Jeff, more like maintaining political hegemony via manipulating, machination and misleading the people by imposing malevolent dominance of majority racial group… Invoking loss of political power of the majority group to instill fear and garner their support.
/// Mahathirism argues that notwithstanding Meritocracy in the red dot in the South, political stability (important for investors’ confidence) there depends on the strong elites imposing its will effectively on rest via a rigid class structure; that it is people who do not know their place, and who in name of democracy take to the streets, that forment chaos and chase away investors and undermine economic confidence: case in point – Thailand, Thaksin, then Abhisit Vejjajiva, and now Thaksin again? How do outsiders do business when government change every now & then by street democracy? See Phillippines decline after various changes of government after street demos , corruptuion has not abated…. ///
Jeff – good point. Mahathir tried to copied its thorn-in-the-side neighbour down south – political stability is necessary for economic prosperity. The only difference – and a very BIG one – is that Mahathir’s elites are more self serving than those in the little red dot. Compared to Thailand and the Philippines, Malaysia did grow and prospers for decades. The question is – why did all the wealth created and wealth harvested (oil, gas, natural resources, etc) go to?
Muhiyiddin definitely don’t get it. The issue is really does Najib see that too and will act. Nothing better to mess the tag-team more when they don’t think much of each other and full of themselves.
I actually think Najib think so too given lateset annoucement he is going to lecture his Cabinet on 1Malaysia. Which is really a lecture to Muhiyiddin. One more thing by Muhiyiddin or a member of his team and the two really will start to look at each other differently and we have the circus back in town!!!
Mahathirism is all about the Top Dog telling everyone that he is right. If you argue with that principle, you should leave the country so that all who remain will agree with the Top Dog. If you don’t leave the country, then you could end up in Kamunting Camp.
They will never ever get it. No moral sense at all.
They are totally numb but thirst and sensitive to power and money.
It’s a stupid & shocking remarks by DPM !. BN is loss and confused ?. Being a high ranked minister can’t analyze???. Hope our PM will correct it in line with “1-Malaysia” slogan or perhaps MCA/MIC stand up to protest instead of being quiet.
We should be grateful here that everyone is treated equally and fairly without discrimination……..In a tiny country, 14% of its population are systematically marginalized……No senior position in the cabinet…prohibited from holding high positions in military/top government agencies…..bla bla bla .. Yet, they never complain…
BN/UMNO has to think of other ways and strategies to win in by-elections and the13th general election. Before the 12th GE held last year, the prevailing thinking among Chinese voters is like this: Vote or not to vote is the same, BN is going to win. After the 8-3-2008 GE, Chinese voters were awakened that their votes did carry weight and make a difference, even in Malay-majority seats.
That every now and then we hear certain UMNO heavyweights utter irresponsible statements tells us that some of them still do not want to repent. The encouraging sign is that more and more Malays are embracing multi-racialism and are aware that it is the way forward if Malaysia is to become a truly advanced and progressive nation. They as well as many non-Malays now find that PR’s policy more suited to their idea of how to move the country forward. BN/UMNO must change or be changed. Since they are aware of it why can’t they translate their awareness into actions? Or is it true that they have been in power for more than 50 years and won every GE that they have become insensitive to the needs of non-Malays. Some top UMNO leaders may have acquired this thinking; the Chinese voters are easy to deal (kaotim) with. Just give them some money to their Chinese school and their votes will come in – as sure as the sun will rise. But when this didn’t happen they began to show their ugly side. The didn’t get it that they are immensely unpopular.
Chinese voters have only one option in general elections or by-elections. Just use their brains to assess for themselves which Malay party is more moderate and takes care of their interests more, then their votes go to them. I think it is not wrong to say at this stage that most Chinese voters prefer PR. DPM, accept the reality that Chinese voters have not voted for BN/UMNO simply because the leaders have taken them for a ride for too long. Whether the disillusionment of Chinese voters towards BN has reached the point of no return hinges on B/N changing its policy to match that of PR’s. No, they will never be able to match PR.
/// cintanegara Says:
Today at 12: 38.42 (1 hour ago)
We should be grateful here that everyone is treated equally and fairly without discrimination……..In a tiny country, 14% of its population are systematically marginalized………No senior position in the cabinet… ///
cintanegative – there you go again – obsessed and possessed. Don’t come and everyone here why the obsession with the tiny country.
Stop lying – Dr Yacob Ibrahim is in the cabinet.
BTW, stop twisting my word. I said “appreciative”, not “grateful”.
On 15/4/2009 at 12:38.42, cintanegara said:
We should be grateful here that everyone is treated equally and fairly without discrimination……..In a tiny country, 14% of its population are systematically marginalized……No senior position in the cabinet…prohibited from holding high positions in military/top government agencies…..bla bla bla .. Yet, they never complain…
Mari kita rakyat ‘tiny country’
Sama-sama menuju bahagia
Cita-cita kita yang mulia
Berjaya ‘tiny country’
Marilah kita bersatu
Dengan semangat yang baru
Semua kita berseru
Majulah ‘tiny country’
Majulah ‘tiny country’
Marilah kita bersatu
Dengan semangat yang baru
Semua kita berseru
Majulah ‘tiny country’
Majulah ‘tiny country’
(Sorry for being off-topic a bit here…)
Its not that UMNO do not get it. In public they will say they are for fair government and will be fair to all races but their true agenda which is tattooed into their psyche is Malays will be masters and others will receive whatever the master can spare with gratitude. Now and then when there are no non-malays around, like when talking to malay reporters, the commit what is known as a Freudian Slip when their true inner thoughts and believes spill out. That was what happened to the DPM. When confronted, he tried to slither his way out by blaming others for “mis-interpreting” his words.
I agree that the Chinese papers have used their own intepretation of `membalas budi’. And as expected, DAP and LKS are making this a political issue and blowing it out of proportion just for the sake of getting brownie points.
`Membalas budi’ means that a person did reciprocate to a deed done upon him. This may be due to several reasons. It could be due that the deed was not good enough for the receiver, it could be that there is animosity between the receiver and the giver or it could also mean that the receiver was not grateful etc.. So there are various reasons why a person would not `membalas budi’ and it is WRONG to automatically translate it as ungrateful!
If you translate `membalas budi’ to English; it is definitely WRONG to say it means ungrateful as such translation includes a high level of assumption by the translator on the true meaning the speaker was trying to actually communicate. A more accurate and correct translation of `membalas budi’ would be `reciprocation of a good deed’.
LKS, probably it is time you go back to school as well :) Oh yes, I suggest some of the readers and posters of this forum to join you in this class. I can help to organize a BM and English class especially for if you wish :)
TheWrathOfGrapes,
Yes you are right indeed….Dr Yaacob is in the present cabinet of that tiny country? Does his position significant or senior enough(Finance, Transport, Education, Defence etc)???? Or, is he doing the clerical work???
You know the answer……
1. BN promises $X millions (X) to Hill No1
2. BN wins Hill No1
3. BN ignore Hill No1 Rakyat for 5 years
4. BN recoup $Y millions (Y) by hook & by crook
5. BN scores big in dirty KPI by achieving excellent +ve %ROI (Y/X) shared by elitists only
6. BN repeats Step 1-5 in next GE/By Election
Sorry monkeys, that formulae is long obselete and you all dinosaurs still worship this formula like Da Vinci Code. Bye bye in GE13!
Jeffery, there is no need to talk long and wide and confusing at times. I must say that it was AAB that gave UMNO and BN four more years. The unfortunate thing was he was not able to match words with deeds. If Mahathir did not resign and continue on, what happened in March 2008 would have taken effect 2004, so much for the greatness about the father of anything that is ill in this country today.
cintanegara, perhaps you should ask why Indians are given lots of responsibility in the Cabinet and GLCs in that tiny little dot. I think you know the answer too, racist.
/// cintanegara Says:
Today at 15: 50.01 (2 hours ago)
Yes you are right indeed….Dr Yaacob is in the present cabinet of that tiny country? Does his position significant or senior enough(Finance, Transport, Education, Defence etc)???? Or, is he doing the clerical work??? ///
The little dot believes in putting the better/best person for the job. Do you think Yaacob is better than Tharman, Raymond Lim, Lui Tuck Yew or Teo Chee Hean.
Don’t use your Melayu Ketuanan mentality and tell them how to such eggs. You should instead ask – why is Muddleyiddin Yasin given the Education portfolio. He doesn’t even know English or Malay, and is ungrateful and unappreciative of the support given by the non-Malays and the rejection by the Malays.
cintanegative – get this into your head once and for all – most countries assign jobs and portfolio by their competence, not by their skin colour. Qualification, not kulitfication. Get it???
We should be grateful here that everyone is treated equally and fairly without discrimination……..In a tiny country, 14% of its population are systematically marginalized………No senior position in the cabinet… by racist
By the way, the 14% in that little tiny dot are the ones that need the least help from among all their brethrens in other countries nearby who just know how to talk cock but do nothing for their people. Look around, idiot.
Dalam Bahasa Malaysia:
Q – Tetapi bukankah setiap kali pilihan raya kecil, permintaan kaum bukan Melayu dipenuhi, malah di Bukit Gantang walaupun peruntukan RM1juta diberikan tetapi kaum Cina tidak juga menyokong BN?
MUHYIDDIN: Ya, kadang-kadang kita berasa terpedaya juga kerana zahirnya nampak macam ‘ok’, sambutan dengan tepukan gemuruh tetapi mungkin sudah ada tertanam dalam hati iaitu sesuatu tidak mudah hendak berubah, pokoknya masalah isu Perak terutamanya di kalangan masyarakat Cina yang mungkin telah dipengaruhi dengan sentimen simpati kepada Datuk Seri Ir.Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin, kononnya dia ‘dijatuhkan’, lepas itu kononnya dasar memberi pegangan tanah selama 99 tahun dilihat dasar yang menguntungkan.
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.
In English:
Q – But isn’t it that in every by-election, the requests of the non-Malay community have been fulfilled, and yet, at Bukit Gantang, in spite of RM1 million being allocated, the Chinese community still did not support the BN?
MUHYIDDIN: Yes, at times we still feel deceived because from the outside, everything looked okay, responding with a thunderous applause, but probably there are already feelings taken to heart which are hard to change, mainly over the Perak issue, especially amongst the Chinese community whom could have been influenced by sympathetic sentiments towards Datuk Seri Ir.Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin, as if he’s been overthrown, as if the 99 year land ownership policy is being seen as beneficial.
This has probably made it difficult for BN to get support although we know that when they want assistance for Chinese schools, we shall help, therefore they should return the favour. At that time, we were not even hoping for the support from the Chinese community to rise by 40 percent and so forth, as we were only expecting a slight increase, but what happened was that it has instead dropped, as if there is no appreciation for what we have done.