By Farish A. Noor
How soon we forget. Malaysian politics is characterized by a curious form of ahistoricity and a willful neglect of history in general. The contribution of the diverse communities of Malaysia to the country’s nation-building process is often forgotten in the official narratives of the country, the role of women in our national history is seldom even mentioned.
Malaysian politicians and political parties are likewise blind to history, and even recent history at that. Which has prompted many of my students to ask me the same question: “How come people don’t seem to remember anything in this country, and how come alliances can be made one day and broken the day after?” Well that, dear students, is precisely what Malaysian politics is made up of: Pragmatism that is grounded on political ambitions rather than the empowerment and education of the people. Politics here seems to be more directed towards the acquisition of political power for politicians than the political empowerment of the public; for the latter means having to educate the public, and to remind them of their history as well.
Now that all of Malaysia is abuzz with talk about the impending collapse of the Pakatan Rakyat and the moves to bring the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS closer to UMNO, let us revisit the history of these two parties for a while…
PAS, it should be remembered, began as a splinter party of UMNO when the Dewan Ulama of UMNO left the party in the wake of the Nadrah/Mariah Hertog debacle in the early 1950s. PAS’s founder-leaders, who included men like Dr Abbas Elias accused UMNO of not doing enough to defend the status of Islamic law and Muslim converts against the whims of the British colonial authorities then. From 1951 to 1969 PAS was led by men like Dr Burhanuddin al-Helmy and Dr Zulkiflee Muhammad who took the party down the path of anti-colonialism and anti-imperialism; supported numerous workers movements and liberation movements across the Third World and aligned themselves with progressive Islamist forces in Indonesia and further abroad.
UMNO in turn dubbed PAS a left-leaning Islamist party, and even referred to it as the ‘Red-Green menace’ that was in cohorts with the banned Malayan Communist Party MCP.
The war of words between UMNO and PAS continued up to the 1980s, with both sides accusing each other of being un-Islamic and even anti-Islamic at times. In the mid-1980s PAS leader Hadi Awang issued the famous ‘declaration of Hadi Awang’ that accused UMNO of being a kafir party led by impostors and hypocrites. UMNO in turn branded PAS a party of religious extremists, militants and fanatics, and this battle of words culminated in the killings that took place in the village of Memali in 1985. Since then scores of PAS leaders have been detained under the ISA and numerous security operations such as Operasi Kenari were used to arrest and detain members and leaders of the party.
Up to the 1990s PAS did not relent in its attacks on UMNO, labeling them a westernized, liberal, Eurocentric party that was serving the interests of the West and even the Zionist lobby. UMNO leaders have likewise continued to repeat the same stereotypical allegations against PAS, labeling them extremists and militants.
With such a nasty past behind them, why are some members of both parties indulging in this public display of apparent goodwill and talking about engagement and co-operation? Talk of such co-operation beggars belief, considering the fact that both sides have been bitterly opposed to each other before. Furthermore, if PAS and UMNO wish to work together now, does this mean that they have to revise their earlier estimations of each other?
Is UMNO now prepared to work with the very same party that it once denounced as being a party of extremist fanatics? And is PAS now prepared to work with the same party it once denounced as being a party of secular liberal Godless and Westernised materialists? Or are we – the Malaysian public – meant to believe that all that bile and venom was just shadow-play, some elaborate wayang kulit that was for our sordid entertainment that was in the end just a waste of time?
Whatever the outcome of the current round of PAS-UMNO talks, all this proves that Malaysians don’t know much of their own history and that our politicians are the most ahistorical of the lot. For the sake of short-term political gains, some of our politicians seem to think that the politics of pragmatic compromise and sell-out is the best way to secure a seat in Parliament, or better still a cabinet posting.
All in all, it only confirms the view that ours is a nation without a historical map and compass, and that we have been constantly played with and toyed with by those who claim to represent us. Forget the political education and empowerment of the Malaysian public; our national political culture today seems to be more one of backroom deals, hop-overs and cross-overs, pragmatism for short-term sweeteners and frills. And we, the Malaysian public, are all the poorer as a result.
pas leaders are talking to umno because they regard themselves as muslims and malays first, malaysians only second.
it has always been that way. dap came along and tried to change things for its own ends. dap failed. in malay and muslim malaysia life goes on. dap just needs to suck it in and move on.
In Malaysia REALPOLITIK nothing is permanent only permanent interest ,why not DAP joining BN something unthinkable…?? but then again you wanna blame history , get real Farish Nor…..
Lets not beat about the bush. This so-called ‘unity’ govt is racist and religion politics in nature. Why else would PAS and UMNO look into this at the very moment PAS just had its best victory in decades and UMNO its worst defeat in history? The excuse obviously is that they have a right to defend race and religion which has been the same excuse for 40 years for corruption and abuse.
No one is fooled about what at the core this is all about despite the veneer of justification. This is precisely what both PAS and UMNO still don’t get is that new age politics don’t excuse veneers thick or thin. They still believe in the domination of the old ways rather than embrace the new and the future.
No one is asking them to throw out everything they believe in but they have to throw out old impulses and fears. If they don’t throw out their own baggages, they just weigh themselves down and while others will help carry them a bit, the have to carry their own baggage eventually and the sooner the better.
They want a religious state? Not behind close doors. Malay rights does not marginalise others and drag everyone down too? Full accountability and debate (i.e. freedom of information act). The world is moving ahead in these manners, the issue is will they follow and catch up or be left behind…
This article must be translated into BM. Let the ‘illiterate’ party members be told the truth.
Thanks to Farish for this ‘expose’.
From history, Umno and Pas will always have problems, just like MCA and Gerakan. Both want to represent the Malays and both are fighting for the Malay votes. What if Pas won more Parliament seats than UMNO, and assuming BN/Pas still won control of the federal government after the 13th GE, will Umno play second fiddle to Pas and hand over the Premiership to the Islamic party?
2 tigers can’t roam in the same hill. Sure fight one la!
//……in malay and muslim malaysia life goes on. dap just needs to suck it in and move on….// – TomThumb said Today at 07: 41.40 (2 hours ago).
Well dap may be ok – suck in and move on. However there is some concern about one or two dap supporter here in love – romeo and juliet style – with PAS who might not be able to take this betrayal of unity talk, having, I recall, mentioning something (in earlier thread) about jumping from our balconies….
“UNITY IS STRENGTH”
This is the original one that goes back to 1957. Our fore fathers wanted all citizens, Malays, Chinese and Indians, to unite to show to the world that Malaya will survive. We have survive as a nation but the people are NOT UNITED. We still have political parties biased toward race. People tend to group together along racial line. Even if the diffirent races mingle together, it is only superficial but deep down in their hearts they have reservations.
To achieve the UNITY IS STRENGTH we must be loyal to the country, MALAYSIA, and we view ourselves as MALAYSIANS 1st and Chinese, Malay, Indian, Kadazan or any other race as 2nd. So all Malaysians should be treated as one. All fair and square.
Sooner or later, UMNO will break up due to internal squabble and power struggle, and some of them will join PAS or Anwar.
So this unity-talk is only a prelude to the breaking up of BN/UMNO and the eventual take over by PR.
Long Live PR!
Farrish A.Noor,can a fidel muslim and an infidel muslim be joined together and then claim they are loyal and faithful to Allah ? PAS claimed that Umno is corrupted and by joining Umno,do you think PAS can remain clean ?. Or both PAS and Umno are corrupted. Just as it says ” like attracts like ” and “like draws to like “. It’s the core reason why DAP could not be drawn to Umno .Umno knows that DAP is unlike them thus it’s attraction does not work.PAS and UMNO common ground is both are malays and muslim.PAS wants an islamic state and UMNO wants ” ketuanan malayu” or malay supremacy to control the malays and other races and wealth of the country for the benefit of Umnoputras and warlords.Can malay supremacy works in an islamic state ? Umno’s malay supremacy is to control and gain wealth for their own creed hence it’s ironic that it still want to work together with PAS as PAS’s agenda is an islamic state which strictly follows the Koran’s hudud laws. Umno wants power and wealth and PAS wants power and hudud laws to be enforced.How on earth can they strike a compromise in view of this pole apart differences?.I think this unity talk will fail.
We are still backward and primitive in the way we think and behave, when compare to Singapore and other developed nations.
“Unity talk” is just like child-play and reflects immaturity of the so-called leaders and elected representatives.
BN/UMNO is worried about the rise of PR and will try to hoodwink PAS like before, with the sole intention to weaken PR. They may use money to lure some leaders from PAS, just to shake up the party and create instability among the top leaders. This is a test of the spiritual strength which has bonded the supporters like 5-ton gum. Therefore it is a futile attempt for UMNO to buy their way into PAS. Instead, it might end up with UMNO joining PAS!
///Malaysian politicians and political parties are likewise blind to history, and even recent history at that.///– Farish A Noor
But they are very good at using history, and they make up history as they go along.
It is because of historical baggage that racism in this country with imbedded unfair practice in favour of the majority, who in turn ensures through ballot boxes that the corrupt government remains that we see Malaysia ranks at par with Myanmar today, including its police/military state.
///With such a nasty past behind them, why are some members of both parties indulging in this public display of apparent goodwill and talking about engagement and co-operation? Talk of such co-operation beggars belief, considering the fact that both sides have been bitterly opposed to each other before. Furthermore, if PAS and UMNO wish to work together now, does this mean that they have to revise their earlier estimations of each other?///–Farish A Noor
They were bitterly opposed to each other because they want one another’s seat. As Muslims, they only need to say ‘minta maaf’, and all will be forgotten, apparently. There is neither permanent friend nor enemy so is the position that they would hold dear except racism and religious fanaticism, but there is a permanent interest. The trouble was they did not take national interest as something that they hold dear.
///For the sake of short-term political gains, some of our politicians seem to think that the politics of pragmatic compromise and sell-out is the best way to secure a seat in Parliament, or better still a cabinet posting.///– Farish A Noor
Political involvement has become career for BN politicians. Samy Vellu was minister for three decades. They consider political-gains to be once a life time opportunity, and they hope to be landed with a life time ministerial tenure.
Sorry, off-topic
From chedet.co.cc
SOUND BITES
By
Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
on June 10, 2009 10:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (27) | TrackBacks (0)
DISHONOURING UMNO
///1. Why is it that when I defend UMNO or the Malays I am labelled a racist but not when others speak up for Chin Peng?///– TDM
TDM is labelled racist because of what he has done against other races. When Tunku governed in accordance with the constitution, he said that Tunku sold out to Chinese. When AAB wanted to be PM for all Malaysians he said that AAB did not do enough for Malays. If TDM had the sense of commiseration, that should cover all races. But he singled out one race for help. In so doing he had made other races among them those who might be in a worse unfortunate position and more deserving for assistance to bear the burden. His action would only be done by racist, and so he is one. If he did it to get Malay support, then he is a racist opportunist.
As a Mamak defending Malays he should not be a racist, but he defended Malays so that he could be accepted as Malay and enjoying the unfair advantages which he was not entitled to.
When people spoke up for Chin Peng, was that based on race? Only a racist would think that people of other races speaking up based on reason and logic as being racist.
TDM said that because there were still Malay drivers employed by Chinese so NEP should continue. If Chinese did not employ Malay drivers what then would he say; Chinese racists? So TDM considers driving as an occupation which is demeaning for Malays to serve the Chinese. He would think that it was alright for Malays to be drivers for Malays, but not to have Malays driving for Chinese employers. Is that not a racist when he called himself Malay?
///2. If speaking up for the Malays is considered racist then are the Malays to be denied their right to speak for themselves?///–TDM
Malays have ample able Malays to speak for them, and only when they replace reasons with might in number would they be termed racist.
///3. Liberalism is fine but it should not benefit only certain people and not others. By definition not benefiting certain people contradicts the very concept of liberalism.///– TDM
Liberalism may be defined as liberal opinions and principles, especially with regards to social and political matters. People should be free to hold their opinions and principles and the society will have fewer conflicts when people who had the authority chose not to be dictatorial.
///4. I really don’t think openly slugging it out on racial issues in Malaysia is healthy. But if that is what Malaysians want then they should be prepared to slug and be slugged.///– TDM
There are over one hundred countries, and many time the number in term of races. In the past when communications were not as convenient and advanced as today, people of the same ‘race’ tend to live together, and people of different races seldom meet on a daily basis. Had people of different races lived in close vicinity in the past, they would have grown to accept as their own the culture and practice of other ‘race’ if those are of benefit. The wealth that others possessed was not a cause for jealousy, and if the sense of jealousy was there, it would not be along racial line.
Today one can travel to a distant land on matter of hours. Do we look at people of other races and wish them ill? If we do not why should we wish people of other race ill, when they are residing in the same country? That was what happens in Malaysia where people of different races are treated differently, for example, there is a discount for the purchase of a house based on the racial classification of the buyer.
When the government chooses to govern based on race, the victimised group will complain. He who accepts discrimination without complaint has lost his soul, and it is more pitiful than losing his life.
MR. PATHETIC LAKSAMANA(DISGUISED) CHENG HO AKA ONE OF 3 STOOGES,
“chengho Says:
Today at 08: 47.37 (10 hours ago)
In Malaysia REALPOLITIK nothing is permanent only permanent interest ,why not DAP joining BN something unthinkable…?? but then again you wanna blame history , get real Farish Nor…..” – WHEN I SEE YOU WRITING THE WORD ‘UNTHINKABLE’, YOU REMIND ME OF YOU. YOU ARE UNTHINKABLE. NOT BECAUSE YOU ARE SPECIAL NOR MYSTERIOUS BUT YOU ARE DUMB.
On 10th June 2009 at 08:47.37, chengho said:
In Malaysia REALPOLITIK nothing is permanent only permanent interest
Actually, it should be more like nothing is permanent, except for impermanence…
On 10th June 2009 at 08:47.37, chengho said:
why not DAP joining BN something unthinkable…??
But UMNO’s BN can’t do what it now thinks is unthinkable, which is to accept wholeheartedly the political ideals of DAP…
On 10th June 2009 at 08:47.37, chengho said:
but then again you wanna blame history , get real Farish Nor…..
Well, as the saying goes, that those who have not learnt from the dark periods of history, are doomed to repeat it…
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana
What is Dum Dum talking about?
Is he bragging again?
“Those who do not work shall not eat”….Chairman Mao…or is it monsterball??
“Those who tell lies ..making Malaysians suffer..will have tongues cut off” …..monsterball
But we are a cultured country… no tongues cutting…just a simple “X”…all mouths shut off.
MR. PATHETIC TOMTHUMB AKA ONE OF 3 STOOGES, AKA TOMDUMB, AKA THONG THONG DUMBBELL, AKA SISSY BALL-LESS GEEK FENCE SITTER, AKA NEED A MILK BOTTLE FROM PARENTS AT AGE 80 WISHING THEIR TOMMY DUMBBELL NOT SO DUMB IN HOPE NOT TO BE CALL DUMB!…..EKIN.
1. UMNO will explode into pieces under NTR.
2. PAS is fated to rule the country under a coalition with PKR & DAP.
3. Ex-UMNO members will form all kinds of rozak opposition parties to disturb the peace, until the whole economy collapse.
4. Sabah & Sarawak pull out of the federation, and form a new nation with Brunei.
5. Singapore bought over the state of Johor for RM1 only
6. Penang is offered for sale at RM100 only
7. Langkawi is given free to TDM and converted to his burial ground