Posted on by Kit

The Poison of “Unity” Government

by M. Bakri Musa

The two Malay political parties – UMNO and PAS – are battling each other to convince us that each is better than the other in advancing the “Malay agenda.” The two are like ageing fighters stuck with their same old tired moves. They are oblivious of the fact that we are fed up with their act; their lack of vigor and imaginative new strategies.

In a clumsy if not desperate attempt for new moves they concocted a ‘vision’ for a ‘unity’ government based on the two parties! Left unstated is the question: Unity for what and against whom?

I wish that they would expend their efforts on making our people competitive, and thus lifting us out of poverty. That is the most important Malay agenda today. Better yet, I would prefer that they just exit the ring and let others run the show for a change.

I fail to see how this ‘unity’ government would make Malays more competitive. The track record for UMNO is for all to see. Corruption is now rampant, as well as the erosion of the integrity of our institutions and the deepening polarization of Malaysians. The Melayu Baru (New Malay) of UMNO has now morphed into Melayu Barua (Malay scoundrels).

As for PAS, after decades of ruling Kelantan, the young still has to leave the state to seek a better life. The state is regularly plagued with such diseases as cholera. Tok Guru Nik Aziz may be pious and religious, with honesty and humility thrown in massive doses, but he is completely inept in running a modern state. Apparently his humility does not extend to his intellect for he has not seen fit to seek competent help in such ‘secular’ matters.

New Political Reality

UMNO and PAS are so used to fighting each other that they have forgotten what it is they are fighting for. While they are busy fighting each other, the world has passed them by. Today with the increasing plurality of the Malaysian electorate, securing the majority Malay votes would not necessary translate into political power, at least at the national level.

In a rare display of political wisdom, PAS recognized the need to reach beyond by, for example, fielding non-Malay candidates in the last election and establishing a new wing within the party for non-Muslims. However, whatever inroads the party may have made with non-Malays have since evaporated with its ill-conceived pursuit of a “unity government” with UMNO.

UMNO, a slow learner, has yet to recognize this new political reality. Thus it treats its non-Malay coalition partners in Barisan with undisguised contempt. UMNO leaders are quick to brandish their kerises, preferably dripped with ketchup for dramatic effect, at the slightest provocation.

Chauvinistic appeals of Ketuanan Melayu to win Malay votes might still work, but only regionally in Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, and Trengganu. Unfortunately those are not exactly the economic or power centers of the nation. In terms of population, landmass, and most importantly economic activities, the contributions of those states to the national total are at best miniscule.

The elements overrepresented in those states are poverty and the underdevelopment of the people, and the overwhelming majority of whom are, sadly, Malays. Oh, yes, combined those four states have nearly half (four out of nine) of the sultans. For some, that is a source of endless pride.

As for the much-vaunted Malay agenda or even Ketuanan Melayu, I am at a loss as to what exactly these Malay politicians are fighting for. If it is for retaining the Malay language, sultans and other key elements of Malay culture, including and especially Islam, those are already enshrined in our constitution. Even if non-Malays were to oppose that, there is not much that they could do about it. By themselves they could never secure the necessary two-third majority needed to amend the constitution.

The only way for non-Malays, or anyone else for that matter, to do away with those constitutional provisions would be to bribe Members of Parliament (Malays and non-Malays) to amend the constitution. Then just to be sure, also bribe the Senators and also the King and sultans so they too would agree with the changes.

The price tag would be cheap. The late Tun Ghaffar once suggested that for a few hundred million ringgit you could buy the entire UMNO Supreme Council. With a billion or two you could get the whole parliament and the Council of Rulers.

The colonial British secured the entire country for considerably much less, even after factoring in for inflation and devaluation (of both the sterling and ringgit). Flattery made up for what they could not afford in gold. The British offered fancy titles like the Knighthood of some Medieval Order to our leaders and sultans to win them over.

The corollary to my observation is that if we Malays truly wish to preserve our cherished special privileges, we better start electing honest and incorrupt leaders. Corrupt leaders would not only sell off those special privileges, they will also sell away our country.

Unity for What and Against Whom?

Following the Barisan election rout of March 8, 2008, the fear that the coalition, specifically UMNO, would lose power at the national level was palpable. This desperation led misguided souls in UMNO to seek those in PAS who had been longing for power. This quest for a ‘unity government’ was nothing more than UMNO securing an insurance policy for its continuing hold on power; for PAS, it was a seductive teasing on the taste of power.

It is ironic that the pursuit of a “unity government” resulted only in sowing distrust within the existing coalitions. In pursuing PAS, UMNO succeeded only in straining relations with its long-time Barisan partners. PAS meanwhile managed only to poison its still frail Pakatan Rakyat coalition with PKR and DAP. Worse, as we are now seeing, it also threatens the unity of PAS.

The proponents for this “unity government” have obviously not done their due diligence or any downstream analysis. Those UMNO warlords would not take kindly to sharing their bounty with their new kopiah-clad upstart colleagues. Far from ‘purifying’ UMNO, PAS would end up being just as corrupt as UMNO.

It is remarkable that both Tun Mahathir and Tok Guru Nik Aziz are against the idea. I do not know their individual motives, but the fact they are both in rare agreement should serve as a cautionary note.

If the disintegration of UMNO and PAS were the consequence of this “unity” movement, I could not care less. However, the initiative would poison race relations in the country on a scale comparable to the May 1969 tragedy. Indeed the venom has already seeped out. That should concern everyone.

This “unity government” scheme is nothing more than a crude and greedy power-grab by the UMNO and PAS pair. It is not to be confused with Tun Razak’s version following the May 1969 tragedy. Then it was truly a unity initiative, with the wise Tun opening up the old Alliance coalition to all willing participants.

This latest scheme is the ugliest manifestation of Malay ultra chauvinism. It would lead not to unity but greater polarizations among Malays as well as between Malays and non-Malays, and at a time when we can least afford it.

Even if UMNO were to merge with PAS, the new coalition would still never command a two-third majority in Parliament. At last count, even if every Member of Parliament with a Malay-sounding name were to vote in “unity,” that would still fall far short of a supra majority needed to amend the constitution. The political calculus has changed irreversibly.

The central reality is that Malays will have to advance with and not at the expense of non-Malay Malaysians. Likewise, non-Malays would advance along with and not at the expense of Malays. The unity that we should all strive for must not only be among Malays but also among Malaysians. We can begin that process not by pursuing a “unity government” but decreasing the rhetoric that polarizes our society. Demanding that our political leaders be civil and courteous to each other would be an excellent beginning. Oh yes, please also keep those kerises sheathed!

It amuses me that the most vigorous proponents of this “unity government” in UMNO and PAS are also the shrillest and most divisive voices before they discovered this ‘unity’ religion.

A New Direction For Malays

Instead of wasting time and effort in chasing the mirage of Malay ‘unity’ and in the process unnecessarily alienating others, Malay leaders should focus on the more difficult and critical problem of enhancing Malay competitiveness. This problem cannot be solved simply by shouting slogans of Malay unity or Ketuanan Melayu. Instead we need leaders who are smart, competent, diligent, and above all, not corrupt.

Look at the schools Malay children attend. How can we expect them to learn English or science when we do not provide them with competent teachers? Examine the institutions run predominantly by Malays, the civil service for example. As Malays we should be ashamed of this. We need these institutions to be effective as they are a key to making Malays competitive.

The list is endless. What is limited, and severely so, is the willingness to acknowledge, let alone solve them. I have yet to hear something sensible from either PAS or UMNO leaders. So far PAS wants Malays not to learn English and to ban Sisters in Islam. Well, that is an advancement of sorts; at least they are not harping on hudud. As for UMNO leaders, they cannot even decide whether to continue teaching science and mathematics in English.

Malay leaders should not be deluding the masses with half-baked ideas of “Malay unity.” These leaders succeed only in deluding themselves.

35 Replies to “The Poison of “Unity” Government”

  1. Why are we still in the old ways after 52/46 years?

    Why are some groups throwing away the good and bad things of 52 years in a learning graph and stay in old bad ways?

    The nation has progressed with the contribution of everyone irrespective of race and religions, and yet why go back to 1R1R or 1race1religion?

    Is 1Malaysia so contagious now for a different understanding?

    pw: convert 20-year-old

  2. I couldn’t finish reading this, kept drifting off to wonder if I should have a white man agenda. Should that be capitalised? White Man Agenda. It still looks crap. Perhaps it’s time for a coffee. Is that a White Man Agenda? My god, you could spend your whole life wondering about these things! I don’t have a god. Is that important, or not? I’m not even sure I have the time to think about all this stuff… how about White Man Unity? I suppose I am the only white man in Port Dickson. That’s a kind of unity, isn’t it? I’d like to spend more time thinking about these sorts of things. No, actually that’s a lie. I think it’s a waste of time. Time to save time. Submit, make coffee, get something done. Ah, an Agenda For All Men. Mustn’t forget the Ladies. On the other hand, perhaps forgetting the Ladies will help me get something done. Back to the Agenda.

  3. Najib proudly proclaim his vision for 1 Malaysia and next thing he wants is an exclusive club for Malays only.

    If his promoters are claiming that Najib is a PM for all Malaysians and a great man with a great vision, I am not convinced.

    PAS just lost Perak in such a manner to BN and Nizar, their thus far most popular leaders amongst all Malaysians have been subjected to such treatment from a BN Speaker, did not deter Hadi and Nasarrudin as well as Mustafa Ali from continue lapping up to UMNO like a little loving puppy welcoming its master home froma 2 week holiday

    I am sure the holy trinity above do not represent the views of many or most of the PAS members. The 3 people should boost UMNO’s image and mileage by quitting PAS and leading their supporters to join UMNO in a glittering ceremony graced by Najib. Keep PAS decent.

    No point for Coca-Cola to keep their top executive if the the top executive keep mentioning how good Pepsi is when mixed with Coca-Cola, right?

  6. Holy Trinity – the union of the Father and Son and Holy Ghost in one [deleted](Najid’s)

    PAS has 23 MPs and numerous state assemblymen while MCA, MIC and Gerakan altogether can call upon only 19 MPS and a handful of assemblymen. Little wonder unmo is dumping those 19 MPs

  7. by the way, by focusing on Malay unity, PAS is ignoring the position of non-Malay muslims. As far as I can tell, Islam does not preach racism so why is the Holy T can explain why the sudden embrace of racism in them which contradict the holy Quran?

  9. //This desperation led misguided souls in UMNO to seek those in PAS who had been longing for power. This quest for a ‘unity government’ was nothing more than UMNO securing an insurance policy for its continuing hold on power; for PAS, it was a seductive teasing on the taste of power// – Dr Bakri Musa.

    This a good article by Dr Bakri.

    So it’s a quest for unity by misguided souls hoping to cling to power with those others who are teased to share it earlier. Its a good question : “Unity for What and Against Whom?”

    It is reasonable to infer that it is here urging one group to be united in relation to other groups within the country when the real issue is unity for all diverse groups within the country, with each group advancing and prospering together with and not at the expense of other groups within the country. That would be the ideal.

    Bakri further commented, “Tok Guru Nik Aziz may be pious and religious, with honesty and humility thrown in massive doses, but he is completely inept in running a modern state. Apparently his humility does not extend to his intellect for he has not seen fit to seek competent help in such ‘secular’ matters”.

    The exceptional thing about Nik Aziz is that unlike many others, he is content with nasi, budu’ (a Kelantan sauce made from fermented anchovies) and ikan kering (Salted fish) but of late even the revered Nik Aziz’s stance has changed some what a notch from that of Tun Mahathir (if The MalaysiaInsider’s report of June 21st under caption “ Nik Aziz: Okay for unity talk on Islam only” were to be believed). According to the report, “PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said today any talk on unity government should be pursued through a proper channel and the talk should revolve on Islamic issues and not the Malay.”

    When Pakatan Rakyat holds the key meeting on this matter to resolve what YB Kit termed “the crisis of confidence”, Pakatan parties should end a clear and unmistakable message that the coalition rejects the old Malaysian politics based on ‘divide-and-rule’ – not only drawn on ethnocentric lines but also religious lines.

    As Kit has said, what is at issue is whether ‘divide-and-rule’ politics will give way for ‘new politics’ in representing the interests of all Malaysians. Just when New Politics is showing itselfg after March 8th political tsunamy last year, Old Politics is now re-asserting itself by these proposals of Unity Talk.

    If the Unity talk comes to fruition – notwithstanding the objections of good and sensible men – then once again the scoundrels have held sway. Let them then unite: one can’t stop birds of feather from flocking together. Maybe it is best for all.

    However this cuts both way: Let those who believe in New Politics also engage in Unity Talks for the Cause of all Malaysians.

    The only other way to engage and counter one side’s Unity Talk based on exclusivist lines of race and religion is for the other side (DAP/PKR) to start Unity Talk with all political parties and politicians (whether from PR or BN, East or West Malaysia) who will subscribe for inclusivist New Politics away from race and religion.

  12. As much as newspapers will tell half truths and twists ….suggesting…now Tok Guru Nik has changed his mind and agrees.. PAS should talk to UMNO for malay unity. I will not pay too much attention….as such are the ways in Malaysia..all talks on race and religion…parties and no work. This itself….will make the country poorer for no reasons ad again tax payers will be paying for gaju buta…year after year.
    On the positive idea…it may mean good for all Muslims and why not?
    The talk maybe focusing on how to agree to promote one kind of Islamic religion in Malaysia.
    Knowing PAS…anything good for Islamic religion….why not?
    I hope that is how Nik is thinking and agreeing.
    Religions are such profitable business nowadays….I am seeing mine being interpreted into so many ..”way of life”….making Buddhism the most expensive religion to embrace on earth.
    Christianity is no better.
    Finally!!…..”1 Malaysia” revealed itself…by Nasir…the Law Minister…..under PM Dept….which means….everything he says…represents the PM too.
    He said “1 Malaysia” must have 100% unity of Malays……or else..it will not work.
    Is that not revealing “1 Malaysia” is exactly like before…race politics?
    Ah …he added….also not let other races be left out…never say… 100% must also unite….or else it will not work.
    Which really means …the other races can be disunited..and those who support UMNO will not be left out.
    And it always can mean…other races are secondary matter…as we are second class citizens…just one step better than the untouchables…….and we should thank UMNO for their generous kind hearts.
    It also mean..UMNO owns Malaysia…take it or leave it.
    You guys go and read the paper and guess what you think… UMNO ministers are thinking.
    To me..they are downright 100% racialists….trying so hard to fool others.

  13. here’s one definition of ‘white trailer trash’ – given by urban dictionery

    “Most rich people secretly live in trailers, they don’t have jobs and they get money off the government.”

  16. The author for 1Malaysia was the same bloke that created the political impasse in Perak…he screwed PAS!
    Is PAS willing to be ‘satu kali hamdam, dua kali mau’?
    How do you have a unity govt when one is pure water (PAS) and the other the crude slimy oil (UMNO). If these two parties can mix,
    we will have sunny days daily in Malaysia.
    It is more likely, the likes from both the parties are merging closer together for one common goal…..duuuuuuuuit!!!!

  17. TomThumb…Dumbo….will you just shut up with your trash?
    Are you trying to teach Lim Kit Siang English too?
    Does it never occur to you..you are speaking totally out of point from the post?
    Two styles..one.. out of point and another to insult me…disturbing this blog.
    You think LKS was born yesterday?
    Giving you racialists the opportunity to comment here…few of you have nothing else to do…but keep distracting….keep insulting.
    What next..grandfather stories of me again?
    I put few pro Mahathir University graduates into my pocket…3 years ago…..which you love to quote what they wrote too.
    Why be copycats to UMNO machais?
    Why no new ideas?
    You MCA peanuts…cannot smell the high quality of UMNO chosen few to insult me.
    Are you not feeling shameful…..now trailing UMNO students…who are much smarter than you MCA buggers?
    If I do not have any love for young Malaysians of all races..I will not write to try and wake you up.
    So Malays are getting smarter.
    Next decade….it is helping Chinese. Is that what you want?

  19. “The central reality is that Malays will have to advance with and not at the expense of non-Malay Malaysians. Likewise, non-Malays would advance along with and not at the expense of Malays. The unity that we should all strive for must not only be among Malays but also among Malaysians. We can begin that process not by pursuing a “unity government” but decreasing the rhetoric that polarizes our society. Demanding that our political leaders be civil and courteous to each other would be an excellent beginning. Oh yes, please also keep those kerises sheathed!”

    Dr Bakri has done an excellent job in his discourse on the “unity talks” issue that has been hogging the headlines lately. On the one hand, Najib’s 1Malaysia concept has drawn flak from many quarters because of its vagueness and ambiguity. Now with Umno and a faction in Pas pushing for a “unity government” to bring all Malays together, it is even clearer that there’s a sinister ring to this move and, by and large, it makes a mockery of the 1Malaysia idea if it ever was a sincere one in the first place.

    If this is the case, then in the eyes of the other races, the unity talks is nothing more than a Malay Agenda strategy which does not bode well for the country. But Umno is more concerned with its survival, and using this ploy it hopes it will be able to continue its hegemony and hold sway in power.

    Pas spiritual leader Nik Aziz has shown he is a man of principle but the way the NST twisted its report on the front page that he has changed his mind and is all for unity talks is another example of how a news media can bend the news. We are going to see lots more of this media propaganda in the days ahead with a new editorial management in place at Balai Berita.

  22. M.Bakri Musa asked “unity for what and against whom ?”. I think Umno/PAS unity talks is all about absolute power so that they can enjoy absolute corruption.Think about it guys,two major muslim malays political parties which at one time strangling at each other and now want to join together,what would be their greatest assets ?

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    GE 13 – No matter what, we must ensure that racist umno bn do not regain the power like they had for over the past fifty one years.

  25. If the whole idea of a PAS-UMNO unity government is to unite the people and bring Malaysia forward, I am sure Malaysians will welcome the idea. But everybody ( with the exception of people like cintanegara, chengho, Kasim Amat & co. ) knows the hidden agendas for such union.

    UMNO/BN know they are sinking fast. To keep afloat, they need to play up the race card again ( MM very good at playing this game ). UMNO leaders saw through the opportunistic Hadi Awang and his gang, so made them an offer in the name of Islam and the Malay race; to hold on to power to continue enriching themselves.

    Dr. M. Bakri was right to say that this ‘holy’ ( or unholy? ) union will be the cause of a big split, not only in BN, but also within UMNO itself. PAS too will ‘berpecah belah’

    As much as UMNO is prepared to share their loot, how are they going to solve the question of posts distribution. Hadi Awang and his supporters know that without holding ministerial positions they will have no chance to lay their hands on the people’s money. Who then are the current ministers/deputy ministers who are ready to make way for them?

    I, for one, do not think this so-called unity government will take form. But one think I am sure of is that Hadi Awang is being taken for a ride. He will wake up soon to become a fool in the eyes of UMNO/BN. If that is not bad enough, he will no longer be trusted by PR.

    In such a scenario, Hadi Awang and a handful of supporters will have two options open to them : Form a new party or join UMNO. Eitherb way, Hadi Awang’s political career will be as good as finished. More pitiful is UMNO will regard him as just another political beggar void of ‘loyalty’ and principle.

    In advance, I wish Hadi Awang good-luck and sayonara.

  26. //This desperation led misguided souls in UMNO to seek those in PAS who had been longing for power. This quest for a ‘unity government’ was nothing more than UMNO securing an insurance policy for its continuing hold on power; for PAS, it was a seductive teasing on the taste of power// – Dr Bakri Musa.

    The talks of “unity” government is meaningless from day one, and is one that being over-politicize for no apparent conclusion. At best, UMNO can only get Hadi Awang and Nasharudin to crossover, the rest of PAS will stay put, as a Pakatan Rakyat supporter, I really hope so.

  27. When muslim are honest, they are really good people but when they’re corrupted, they’re really bad.
    There were never be any “unity” government here as long as Umno is in control.

  28. ///The corollary to my observation is that if we Malays truly wish to preserve our cherished special privileges, we better start electing honest and incorrupt leaders. Corrupt leaders would not only sell off those special privileges, they will also sell away our country///–Bakri Musa.

    Do the special privileges refer to Article 153 or NEP? Article 153 was include in the constitution to help Malays attain level playing field in 15 years, and as the late Tun Dr Ismail said he was pleasantly surprised that the leaders of MIC and MCA accepted that article willingly, and he said that Malays would willing forgo that Article out of pride when they no longer required it. So Tun Ismail did not cherish the so-called special privileges, but took it out of humility. Tun Dr Ismail would not consider NEP a special privilege, but he could not stop Tun Razak pretending that Article 153 did not do enough for Malays after 12 years in operation.
    The value Musa placed on the ‘special privileges’ is unsettling since he knows the history, and he is a well educated doctor living abroad for a long time. The ordinary Malays under the perennial influence of UMNO leaders believe that they had the ‘special privileges’ because their ancestors came from geographical areas nearer than those of the Chinese and the Indians, and are thus closer to be the native so that they became bumiputras. With those special attributes, they want special rights, and TDM considers that the Chinese and Indians are to be blamed for not following his example to become NEWMalay, and thus deserve discrimination.

    /// The“unity government” scheme is nothing more than a crude and greedy power-grab by the UMNO and PAS pair. It is not to be confused with Tun Razak’s version following the May 1969 tragedy. Then it was truly a unity initiative, with the wise Tun opening up the old Alliance coalition to all willing participants.///–Bakri Musa

    Tun Razak did not open Alliance coalition to willing participants. Some opposition parties joined under compulsion, possibly to prevent UMNO organizing ethnic cleansing. Tun Razak wanted 2/3 majority to amend the constitution, including the amendment which removed the provision which called for a review of Article 153 after 15 years, in 1972. Tun Razak threatened that if the amendment could not take place, he would continue to rule through national operation council, and the parliament would not be convened. The opposition parties were blackmailed into joining the government, and it was not a unity initiative. NEP policy initiated by Tun Razak was even worse. It institutionalised discriminatory policies against non-Malays. The racist policy offered TDM the excuse to remove the practice of public tender for government projects and purchases. That started legalised corruption in the country.

  29. ///The central reality is that Malays will have to advance with and not at the expense of non-Malay Malaysians. Likewise, non-Malays would advance along with and not at the expense of Malays. The unity that we should all strive for must not only be among Malays but also among Malaysians. ///Bakri Musa

    If the government would only treat the citizens as individual who are free to pursue their dreams and development for their own happiness without arbitrarily compiling artificial assessment of the collective advancement by race, the question of one community advances at the expense of another does not arise. It makes no sense to add the wealth of TDM with a Malay engineer, and to say that the average wealth has arisen for two Malays. It makes no sense to average the wealth of Robert Kok and Ling Liong Sik and to claim that Chinese are rich, since there are a lot of poor Chinese around. Nevertheless, it makes sense to uplift the living standards of the poor so that they do not have to suffer when resources for living are not so short that some social transfer could not take place. That satisfies the sense of commiseration for humans of the developed society. For that purpose, assistance should always be based on needs rather than on other birth related characteristics or religion of the beneficiaries.

    It is because of the racist motivation that the government highlight the need for special treatment for any race, and it has later developed into a convenient means to create vote banks to hoodwink the citizens that the government pursue parliamentary democracy. Having been ensured that they would return to power despite publicity of their known blatant practices of corruption, as reflected by money politics within party election, UMNOputras would not change. The so-called unity talk has the agenda to ensure a larger majority in parliament and state legislative assemblies in the name of race and politicians. Polarisation in Bolehland is entering a new era.

    The so-called special privileges for one race give the government the pretext to monitor and to prevent non-Malays advancing at the expense of Malays, as the original Article 153 had hoped to bring them up to enter free competition with others in 15 years, by 1972. But that has been hijacked for assurance of life tenure for UMNO politicians. Some 52 years after independence Malay politician who served previously as prime minister still quotes examples of Malay drivers for Chinese employers as proof that Malays still need NEP. How untenable is the argument. But does the government care?

  30. From http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1936&Itemid=181

    QUOTE
    ///I do not know Ahmad Ismail personally, but I am quite close to Allahyarham, his brother Abdul Rahim Ismail, owner of the Rahim Construction Company which was once quite renown as the best Bumiputra-owned construction firm in Penang. I do not know what has happened with the company since Abdul Rahim passed away.

    Personally, I (Syed Imran) disagree with what Ahmad Ismail claims for several reasons.

    To me, almost 90 percent of Malaysians, especially those in the Peninsular, are immigrants and all of us are actually squatting on God’s land. We are not permanent owners, but merely squatting.

    As an example, I myself am descended from immigrants who squatted on this blessed land. My grandparents on my father’s side immigrated from Mecca (in Saudi Arabia) and Brunei, whereas my maternal grandparents came from Hadhramut in Yemen. We are immigrants and squatters just like almost all of this nation’s citizens, especially those in Penang.

    As for Ahmad Ismail, he too comes from an immigrant family and is squatting in this nation. Ahmad Ismail cannot deny the fact that his grandparents are immigrants from India who came in search of a better, more comfortable life in this blessed land.

    Prime Minister Abdullah bin Ahmad is also included in the same category. His maternal grandfather was an immigrant from the Guangdong province in China. To cut a long story short, Pak Lah’s grandfather and Allahyarhamah Kailan’s father known as Hassan Salleh or Hah Su Chiang was an immigrant. He immigrated to Malaya from Guangdong (Kwangtung) in the mid 19th-century and settled in Bayan Lepas as a rubber planter, paddy farmer and later a diamond trader.

    Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak also comes from an immigrant family, that is from Sulawesi in Indonesia, or to be simply he is a Bugis. Meanwhile, Hishamuddin Hussein cannot deny from his Turkish bloodline.

    The grandparents of former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad are also immigrants from Kerala, India while Almarhum Tunku Abul Rahman’s mother originated from Siam (Thailand).

    Even the Malay Sultanate of Malacca was founded by an immigrant from Sumatra (in Indonesia) named Parameswara, a prince or noble of the Hindu religion.

    In the history of the Malay sultanates, we find that some were founded by immigrants from Bugis and others by immigrants from Hadhramut (in Yemen) and Minangkabau (in Indonesia).///–

    UNQUOTE

    Malays has ceased to have meaning in classifying race; it is a political classification. So unity talks aim only at enhancing the political group’s capability at monopolising power, through utilising the emotions of those who fall within that group.

    With the discriminate inclusion of NEWMalays as Malays, the Malays have actually been overpowered by those who masqueraded as one of them, in their name. The articles in the constitution that served to help them turned to harm the race instead, and non-Malays suffer ollateral damages too.

  32. Now can any of these guys deny (except the dead ones) as mentioned in Loh’s qoute as above ?. Like I said we are all “pandatang” or occupiers except the Orang Asli in west malaysia. I hope next time,these and other Umno politicians before accusing others as ” Pandatang ” should look at the mirror first to see his or her face of any resemblance of Orang Asli’s features,if not,then it’s best they keep their mouth closed.Don’t these guys have any dignity at all to calling his/her own kind as “pandatang” ? The orang Asli is the only qualified tribe or people who can call us “pandatang “in P malaysia.

  35. written by Loh, June 22, 2009 05:41:44

    ///The corollary to my observation is that if we Malays truly wish to preserve our cherished special privileges, we better start electing honest and incorrupt leaders. Corrupt leaders would not only sell off those special privileges, they will also sell away our country///–Bakri Musa.

    Do the special privileges refer to Article 153 or NEP? Article 153 was include in the constitution to help Malays attain level playing field in 15 years, and as the late Tun Dr Ismail said he was pleasantly surprised that the leaders of MIC and MCA accepted that article willingly, and he said that Malays would willing forgo that Article out of pride when they no longer required it. So Tun Ismail did not cherish the so-called special privileges, but took it out of humility. Tun Dr Ismail would not consider NEP a special privilege, but he could not stop Tun Razak pretending that Article 153 did not do enough for Malays after 12 years in operation.

    The value Musa placed on the ‘special privileges’ is unsettling since he knows the history, and he is a well educated doctor living abroad for a long time. The ordinary Malays under the perennial influence of UMNO leaders believe that they had the ‘special privileges’ because their ancestors came from geographical areas nearer than those of the Chinese and the Indians, and are thus closer to be the native so that they became bumiputras. With those special position, they want special rights, and TDM considers that the Chinese and Indians are to be blamed for not following his example to become NEWMalay, and thus deserve discrimination.

    /// The“unity government” scheme is nothing more than a crude and greedy power-grab by the UMNO and PAS pair. It is not to be confused with Tun Razak’s version following the May 1969 tragedy. Then it was truly a unity initiative, with the wise Tun opening up the old Alliance coalition to all willing participants.///–Bakri Musa

    Tun Razak did not open Alliance coalition to willing participants. Some opposition parties joined under compulsion, possibly to prevent UMNO organizing another ethnic cleansing. Tun Razak wanted 2/3 majority to amend the constitution, including the amendment which removed the provision which called for a review of Article 153 after 15 years, in 1972. Tun Razak threatened that if the amendment could not take place, he would continue to rule through national operation council, and the parliament would not be convened. The opposition parties were blackmailed into joining the government, and it was not a unity initiative. NEP policy initiated by Tun Razak was even worse. It institutionalised discriminatory policies against non-Malays. The racist policy offered TDM the excuse to remove the practice of public tender for government projects and purchases. That started legalised corruption in the country.

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