This Chinese New Year is a most unusual Chinese New Year.
As I have pointed out, probably in no other Chinese New Year since Merdeka has there been such a blizzard of conversational topics and talking points, from the two missing jet engines disappearing all the way to Uruguay; a multi-billion ringgit submarine that cannot dive; the RM12.5 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal still awaiting the prosecution of “big fishes”; Friday’s continued inquest into the mysterious death of Teoh Beng Hock and the question every Malaysian is asking, “who killed the DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock who went willingly to Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters on July 15, 2009 and came out as a corpse the next day” and the continued trial and tribulations of Anwar Ibrahim – with the Court of Appeal decision this afternoon on DAP National Chairman and Anwar’s defence lead counsel Karpal Singh’s application to review its judgment and to strike off the Sodomy2 charges against Anwar and the decision tomorrow of the Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah to recuse himself from hearing the Anwar Sodomy 2 trial for bias.
I will not be at the Court of Appeal decision at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya this afternoon but will be in the Kuala Lumpur High Court tomorrow.
But there is another reason why this year’s Chinese New Year is the most unusual in the nation’s history since Merdeka 53 years ago – the manner the Prime Minister’s Chinese New Year Message is openly undermined and torn to pieces by his own Ministers and political machinery.
In his Chinese New Year message, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak hoped all Malaysians would look ahead with greater optimism and resolve to build a stronger and more dynamic 1Malaysia.
But what happened just before and even during the Chinese New Year is the very opposite of Najib’s Chinese New Year message, for the people of Penang and Malaysia are witnessing a most irresponsible and vicious campaign to play the racial and religious card to create division, discord and disunity in multi-racial and multi-religious Malaysia – which goes against everything advocated by Najib’s 1Malaysia slogan and concept.
How can Najib’s 1Malaysia slogn and concept to create a united Malaysian nation where every Malaysian perceives himself or herself as Malaysian first and by race, religion or region second have any credibility when Umno has been unleashing a vicious campaign to play the race and religion card aimed at falsely painting the Pakatan Rakyat Penang state government and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan as anti-Malay and anti-Islam?
How can the Gerakan President and the KPI Minister, Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon be a credible Minister in charge of Najib’s 1Malaysia Government Transformation Programme (GTP) when he dare not speak out against the vicious Umno campaign through Utusan and other Umno-controlled media baselessly attacking Penang Chief Minister as anti-Malay and anti-Islam?
Penangites and Malaysians are reminded of Tsu Koon’s ignominous period as Penang Chief Minister, especially in September 2006, when he was publicly humiliated by Penang Umno leaders in the presence of the then Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah and he dared not emit even a protest.
After the political tsunami of March 8, 2008, Gerakan and MCA leaders said that they have learnt the lesson of their electoral debacle in the 12th general election and would no more be “dumb and deaf” and would speak up courageously for what is right and just.
But clearly, Tsu Koon has not changed, or as the Minister entrusted with the 1Malaysia GTP campaign, he should be the first to speak out publicly against the irresponsible and vicious campaign by Umno’s Utusan Malaysia and other Umno media to falsely accuse the Penang Pakatan Rakyat government and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng as anti-Malay and anti-Islam.
Tsu Koon was in Penang during the Chinese New Year and he did make criticisms, but against Guan Eng and not against Utusan Malaysia and other Umno agents in their irresponsible and vicious campaign to play the race and religious card against the Penang Pakatan Rakyat state government and Guan Eng – violating all precepts of Najib’s 1Malaysia slogan and concept.
I am not surprised to read in some of the more independent-minded pro-Umno blogs great disillusionment with the present set-up in the Barisan Nasional and calling for fundamental shake-up.
For instance, one pro-Umno blogger, who have no kind thoughts for BN Ministers whether MCA, Gerakan or Umno, wrote this blog on Chinese New Year Day:
“The Prime Minister appears to have become a one man show who is running the country all by himself. This does not seem to be by choice but necessity because the rest of the Cabinet is just not there. And sometimes when they speak, it becomes obvious it is better they do not speak.
“The PM can fire anyone from the Cabinet and nothing will happen to him, his Government, his party or the BN. This is a really rare alignment of the stars which is presenting itself to Dato Najib.
Lets look at it case by case. Lets say the PM drops the MCA Ministers. What will happen? Will the MCA leave the BN? If they do, then what? …If the MCA remains in the BN, does it bring back the Chinese vote? Nope. If they leave the BN will it get the Chinese vote? Nope. Or maybe it will. So whats the big deal with the MCA, yo?
“What about the Gerakan Ministers? Who? What animal on the almanac is that? We must have Chinese Ministers in the Cabinet but they need not be from the MCA or the Gerakan.
“Lets look at the MIC. Does the MIC represent the Indians? Well there are Indians in the MIC. If the MIC Ministers are dropped, it may even bring back the Indian vote. We must still have Indian Ministers but it need not be from the MIC or the PPP.
“Now lets look at the UMNO Ministers. If the PM drops a dozen of them, what will happen? Nothing. The party will not split. In fact, hearing all the comments coming out of UMNO and Perkasa, it is better for the PM to drop a dozen UMNO Ministers from the Cabinet than to keep them. It will certainly strengthen UMNO.”
Let me advise Tsu Koon that if he is to lose his Ministership, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, do it with honour and principles rather than without honour or principles.
Let him take a stand against the race and religious card played by Utusan and other Umno political operatives especially as it goes against the 1Malaysia Government Transformation Programme entrusted to him by Najib.
DAP and Pakatan Rakyat are determined to make the next general election, the 13th general election, a historic one for Malaysia.
We want Pakatan Rakyat to be in power not only in Penang and the various state government level, but most important of all, at the Federal Government to unseat Umno and Barisan Nasional from Putrajajaya.
We admit that Pakatan Rakyat is undergoing internal problems but a shake-out in the Pakatan Rakyat will be to the good if it leads to a more disciplined, cohesive and committed political movement for change for the people and country after more than half a century of Umno monopoly of power in the Barisan Nasional.
For this reason, DAP and Pakatan Rakyat cannot be anti-Malay and anti-Islam, just as we cannot be anti-Chinese, anti-Indian, anti-Iban, anti-Kadazan, anti-Christian, anti-Buddhist, anti-Hindu or anti-Sikh.
If we are anti-anything, we are anti-Umnoputras, anti-corruption, anti-injustice, anti-racialism and anti-religious fanaticism.
Bottom line, DAP and Pakatan Rakyat are for Malaysians and all the races and religions which can make Malaysia a great nation again from our pluralism and diversity.
[Speech at the Penang DAP Chinese New Year Open House at Penang Chinese Town Hall, Penang on Wednesday February 17, 2010]
men owned up, boys rushed to hide
i know a doctorate who is studied to be a boy., what a waste, by the way …
would you befriend someone who help make your life difficult for decades.
“How can Najib’s 1Malaysia slogan and concept to create a united Malaysian nation where every Malaysian perceives himself or herself as Malaysian first and by race, religion or region second have any credibility when Umno has been unleashing a vicious campaign to play the race and religion card aimed at falsely painting the Pakatan Rakyat Penang state government and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan as anti-Malay and anti-Islam?”
That’s because Najib is promoting a facade of feel-good factor amongst the Malaysian people, while simultaneously behind the scenes, he is also trying to repeat his ‘ingenious’ Perak state government power-grab at other Pakatan Rakyat governed states.
It was reported in Malaysiakini (Chinese version) that Koh Tsu Koon had failed to stamp out UMNO racism and dominance when he was Chief Minister of Penang. As a result, today, UMNO racists are emboldened to make attacks on Guan Eng’s administration.
Because Koh Tsu Koon did not do a good job when he was Chief Minister, PR now has to mend the mess left behind by Tsu Koon.
How can Najib’s 1Malaysia slogn and concept to create a united Malaysian nation where every Malaysian perceives himself or herself as Malaysian first and by race, religion or region second have any credibility when Umno has been unleashing a vicious campaign to play the race and religion card aimed at falsely painting the Pakatan Rakyat Penang state government and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan as anti-Malay and anti-Islam? …by Kit. Hey YB Lim Kit Siang and YB Karpal Singh,why not sue Umno and Utusan for such false speeches and reports against YB Lim Guan Eng. I think being labelled as anti-Malay and anti-Islam is a pretty offensive to justifing taking them to the highest court in the country. Lets see justice is done and it seems to be done.
Pssst. Pssst. Tsukoon. Show them dap people some of your skeletons and they will understand why you have to keep quiet. Take my advice.
Koh Tsu Koon is a eunuch in UMNO’s court. UMNO is keeping his organs in a bottle.
This man is a shame to the Penang Chinese and his family. He has no dignity.
1. He said he would not want to be a back-door Minister should he be defeated in the GE. Now he is a back door Minister.
2. His picture was torn and stepped on by UMNO and he kept quiet.
Why do we have such Chinese who are prepared to sell their soul for some temporal perks of office?
He could not even defend himself was he was humiliated. What makes you think he will defend Truth, Justice and Lim Guan Eng.
“How can the Gerakan President and the KPI Minister, Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon be a credible Minister in charge of Najib’s 1Malaysia Government Transformation Programme (GTP) when he dare not speak out against the vicious Umno campaign through Utusan and other Umno-controlled media baselessly attacking Penang Chief Minister as anti-Malay and anti-Islam?”
In the last ‘battle’ between Tsu Koon and his so-called political ally & Bukit Bendera Umno boss, Ahmad Ismail, Tsu Koon got his photos torn up & he could only run to Pak Lah for help behind closed doors, which resulted in Ahmad Ismail getting a 3-year suspension as ‘punishment’, which was later reduced to only 1 year. When Najib took over, Tsu Koon was as if ‘compensated’ for his troubles, by being made a cabinet minister. Najib had probably figured that if he manages to topple Pakatan Rakyat in Penang as he had insidiously done so earlier in Perak, he will still need Tsu Koon & his Gerakan party to help run Umno-BN’s show in Penang. So, with such prospects possible, how can Tsu Koon be expected to turn against his boss’s insidious propaganda smear campaign against Pakatan Rakyat especially in Penang?
Let me repeat again one more time, Gerakan esp this praying mantis lookalike KTK is no more relevant to the rakyat since 308. He is just a lapping dog to his masters in UMNO. Penang has been screw up economically and culturally by him to say the least. Just look at what these UMNO/BN politicians are trying to destroy the state government esp LGE recently using such back hand dirty tactics like religion and race. They have no time resolving all the country corrupted and economic issues to mention a few.
The rakyat is suffering under their rule.
Another point to note is 1Malaysia is an empty slogan as long as that bum A.Ismail remains in Umno and free of prosecution, cow-head protestors enjoy tea with the Home Minister Krishamudin, garbage media Utusan Malaysia continues to spew racial hatred, and chicken “Rais” thinks that Twitter is a western ‘evil’.
Gerakan is a simply a party of running dogs for UMNO, and there is no chance for them to grab power in Penang. The only way BN is going to win Penang back is through some engineered racial strife and to use emergency rule. I’m certain Koh Tsu Koon must have discussed this with his bosses in UMNO. That’s his only possibility of back-door entry.
Kit: please persuade Anwar to get rid of this Tee fellow. He’s a disgruntled ex-BN politician who can never get rid of the “get-rich-quick” mentality, and we are all better off with him rejoining his boss Koh.
Oops, am referring to the Tan fellow…Tee was his middle name.
Everywhere UMNO goes you will see Koh Tsu Koon.He has to carry all UMNO’s testicles around after all Koh lost his long long time ago.Gerakan was toothless and can’t bark anymore.PR is the way to go.Just wait for GE13.
I actually find what Najib says to be pathetic. I mean, ‘hope’?? I think the time for him to hope for anything from anyone is over. It has come down to either he deliver on his plans or its his head.
You know what is most curious about Najib’s message? His machining has basically delivered a bullet to Perak PR, Anwar is hanging by the teeth, PR latest defection is partly their doing AND YET, the likes of Perkasa and UMNO Youth ultras is STILL unhappy. Its not going to take long before they will take GTP and turn into into the same crap 1Malaysia is already..
Najib’s future is already written. He either is going to hang on to whatever they have left or he is going to get kicked out. He is not going to make big difference in anything. If he keeps his job, he is successful, otherwise he is a screw-up which in reality his track record is full of.
As for KTK, to be honest, There is nothing KTK can do to come back in Penang or anywhere else. He is done. If Gerakan is to survive, they must leave BN. LGE and Penang PR leadership in general is to be commended for putting the nail on the coffin of BN in Penang. Except for a total disaster, Penang will be retained by PR no matter what BN does for the next few years. Gerakan has to dump KTK and leave BN – there is no other option. KTK, better send his money and family out of this country and prepare to leave with them. I would if I were him. Life is too short, why do the crap he does – better leave and do some good somewhere else before one life is over. Forget about KTK.
So lets then turn to GTP, the fact is its failure is inevitable. With KTK pretending to helm it while a novice like Idris Jala tries to make a difference, its doomed for failure. For a guy like Idris Jala to make a success in govt, he has to do what Khalid Ibrahim did – a radical choice. In fact, if he were smart, he would join up with Khalid because they are largely the same kind of people. Frankly I doubt how good is he given that he cannot see his obvious choices. So inevitable, GTP while it can have a few success, is guaranteed to be swarmed by a sea of mediocrity and a few waves of failures. In other words, it can be like Najib – inevitably exposed to be a screw-up.
Lets keep our finger cross, the likes of Perkasa and pro-UMNO blogs/press will do the work to get rid of Najib in the end..
See we nincompoop Malaysians – they gave us some toll discount during the Chinese New years, the whole issue of toll review was conveniently forgotten. What reform? They will never change; this country will be sucked dry by all the cronies and vested interested groups before it is handed over to PK. It will be Pyrrhic victory.
All it takes is another GE and then Koh tsu Koon will be buried in the graves of history along with his beloved GERAKAN, UMNO, MCA et. al.
Well, Tsu Koon – he laughs best who laughs last. Besides, it’s never worth it to sell one’s soul to the devil, no matter what the price…no matter what… yes, no matter what!
People’s power is always, and has always been….People First to….People Last, not that cheap sloganeering and facade by the scheming and conning Najib behind a drooling stream of insincere niceties and platitudes.
Plz lah, give chance loh, no need 2 b so heartless 2 drive a dog 2 jump wall mah
Everyone has 2 won saek, where else can a 60 yrs old PhD find such a lucrative n easy job
No sodomy 1, carry n scratch balls saja lah
As if no one has done dat b4, no no-shame 1, OK 1
Keong Hee Fatt Cai, E Lu Fong Soon
If Koh Tsu Koon dares to speak against his UMNO masters, pigs can fly.
koh tsu koon’s political credit is non-existent. umno keeps him around for his loyalty and to make up the divisity numbers, as long as he has no teeth. ktk is a toothless bark. n you’d be happy if he does bark at all.
Koh Tsu Koon, PhD
UMNO is caning women and you are keeping quiet. You are a disgrace to both your ancestors and humanity.
Next GE, KTK will win a Parliamentary seat, because he would be allowed to contest in PutraJaya, the safest umno-held seat in the country
Do not expect much from KTK? He is a eunuch,got no b..ls but destined to carry others’ b..ls.Maybe this can be substantiated by his nickname ‘Ah Yee'(in Hokkien dialect it means a girlish boy) during his Chung Ling school days.
By the way why this GTP minister keeps so very quiet when the top 20 elite schools announced recently did not even include any of the renowned schools like VI,PFS,St.John,his alma mater Chung Ling and the like?
Someone overheard someone who overhead someone who overheard someone who oversome’s neighbour’s daugther’s friend’s best friend recounting tsukoon remark made behind close door: “Wa tua lampa liao.”
KTK is just a puppet on the string
To his master’s side he will always cling
His latest minister post will be his final fling
If to PR’s favour the electoral votes swing
It boils down to what honour means, and Koh Tsu Koon (TSK) may have different understanding of meaning of honour and principles. Ministership is honour to him. Throw him a challenge to “take a stand against the race and religious card played by Utusan and other Umno political operatives especially as it goes against the 1Malaysia Government Transformation Programme entrusted to him by Najib” and he may weigh and decide that the cost of taking up the challenge and risking his Ministership is not worth it.
What is intriguing is that he is a highly educated man presumed to make rational choices. Somehow he does not think that the honour of being true or been seen true to inclusive principles – standing up against race and religious instigations – consistent with 1 Malaysia precepts or Gerakan’s founding principles are worth publicly and visibly defended. Is that rational? He may think if the more powerful PM himself could not stem out the elements playing the race and religious card, how could he and whats the point of even trying that yields no result by change in the situation but only change in his personal circumstances, ie losing the ministerial position?
Perhap we cannot attribute KTK’s decision to remain silent on UMNO’s transgressions to differing definition of honour but more aptly a simple case of….gravy train….to be the beneficiary of largesse.
So here lies the difference between the kind of politicians the likes of whom KTK and many from BN mirror and those from developed, ‘first world’ countries – the honour to cop it on the chin on the grounds of principle, sometimes even on minor indiscretions unrelated to their responsibilities.
Once a EUNUCH, always a EUNUCH lah! How to “uncastrate” a EUNUCH?