It is coming to a year since Datuk Seri Najib Razak became the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia bombarding Malaysians with his multi-million ringgit “1Malaysia” slogan and campaign.
It is sad and ironical that despite such high-intensity 1Malaysia publicity campaign in the past 11 months, Malaysians have never been more polarized both on race and religion, reminding Malaysians that they are even further from the goal of a united Malaysian nation, as illustrated by issues such as the Allah controversy, the burning of churches and attack of mosques and other places of religious worship, the cow-head and pig-head incidents; irresponsible politicking of race and religion as the mischievous attempt by Umno leaders and Umno-controlled media to paint the Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Penang Pakatan Rakyat state government as anti-Malay and anti-Islam; the racist brain-washing courses conducted by Biro Tata Negara of the Prime Minister’s Department, resulting in “ultra” statements like dismissing the Chinese and Indians as “pendatang” and defaming the Indians as coming to Malaysia as beggars and Chinese women coming as prostitutes; the rise of what UMNO elder statesman Tengku Razaleigh has described as “rabid racism” like the surfacing of organizations like Perkasa, etc.
Everywhere and everyday in Malaysia, there are more evidence of the absence of 1Malaysia rather than its presence.
In Kota Kinabalu today, I saw new evidence of the absence rather than the presence of 1Malaysia – with two conflicting and competing sets of billboards, banners and advertisements of Chinese New Year greetings by MCA in Sabah.
There is one set of Chinese New Year greetings by the “stand-alone” Sabah MCA Chairman Edward Khoo, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister competing with another set of Chinese New Year greetings featuring the lame-duck MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat accompanied by his Sabah MCA claque of supporters.
When under his leadership, the Barisan Nasional and its component parties cannot present a united front, like having 1MCA, 1Umno, 1Gerakan, 1Barisan Nasional, what credence and credibility can there be for Najib’s 1Malaysia?
Is there 1Sabah?
2013 in three years’ time mark Sabah’s 50th anniversary in the formation of Malaysia. It is appropriate in preparing for the occasion to seriously assess whether the dreams of Sabahans in 1963 to form Malaysia together with Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia had been fulfilled or betrayed.
Have the people of Sabah been granted their full citizenship rights as Malaysians in the past five decades?
Let the debate and soul-searching begin as to how one of the richest states in Sabah had been reduced in five decades to become the poorest state in the federation.
In the nineties, the Barisan Nasional promised Sabahans that poverty in Sabah would be eradicated in the year 2,000. However, instead of abolishing poverty in 2000, Sabah’s poverty rate became the worst in the whole of the country.
Barisan Nasional next promised that hard-core poverty in Sabah would be abolished in 2010. This is another candidate heading for the mountainous dump heap of Barisan Nasional broken promises, in Sabah and in Malaysia!
Sabahans and Malaysians remember that to topple the PBS Sabah government, Umno and Barisan Nasional pledged that if they come to power in Sabah, they would be genuine power-sharing through the rotation of the post of Sabah Chief Minister among the three major communities in the state.
What is the Umno/Barisan Nasional record of their rule of Sabah in the past 16 years since 1994?
UMNO/BN had betrayed their pledge of power-sharing by rotation of Sabah Chief Minister’s post as in the past 16 years, the Chief Minister’s post was held by a Kadazan native for 9 months, Chinese for 4 years and Umno for more than 11 years!
Nothing could be more eloquent than this episode to highlight the enormity of the breach of faith and betrayal of pledge of Umno/Barisan Nasional to the people of Sabah in the past 16 years of their rule of Sabah.
This is a far cry from the great promises shared by Sabahans in the early decades of nationhood.
Earlier today, together with DAP MPs Hiew King Cheu (Kota Kinabalu), Teo Nie Ching (Serdang), Lim Lip Eng (Segambut) and DAP Kadazan leaders Edward Muji and Jeffrey Kumin, I revisited the “Double Six” Mausoleum to pay respects to the great Sabah sons who perished in the Triple Six tragedy of June 6, 1976 – Chief Minister Tun Fuad Stephens and State Ministers, Datuk Salleh Sulong, Datuk Peter Mojuntin and Chong Thien Vun.
Almost exactly 32 years ago on February 25, 1978, I had first visited the “Double Six” Mausoleum as well as the grave of Peter Mojuntin at St. Michael’s Church, Penampang.
Sabah history would be very different today if not for the tragic air crash of June 6, 1976 wiping out the core of the Sabah cabinet.
It is time that Kadazans and Sabahans reflect what went wrong that the rights of Kadazans and ordinary Sabahans had become so emasculated and marginalized while the vast rich resources had been monopolized by a few.
In this connection, the time has also come for the Federal Government to lift the ban on the biography of Peter Mojuntin, “The Golden Son of the Kadazans”, written by my old friend and DAP comrade, Bernard Sta Maria, who was Malacca State Assemblyman.
The book was banned on June 22 1978 on grounds of public security and order. This is utterly unacceptable. Those who disagree with the interpretation of events in the life of Peter Mojuntin can write a rebuttal or come out with their own publications – but there can be no justification or excuse for the ban of the book “The Golden Son of the Kadazans”.
[Speech at the dinner with Kadazan representatives at Windbelll Restaurant, Kota Kinabalu on Friday, 26th February 2010 at 9 pm]
How can Najib preach 1Malaysia to the nation when coalition members in BN (MCA, Umno, Gerakan etc) fail to present a united front under his leadership??
If Lim Guan Eng could wipe out hardcore poverty in Penang within months after becoming Chief Minister of Penang, how come UMNO could not do the same in other states??
GE13 – Together we save Malaysia
Together Let US Save Malaysia!
That could be a good tag-line for GE13
That air-crash in 1976 – what was the official cause reported?
If the book on a person’s biography can be banned, it is possible that dark forces were at work even then.
I think Sabahans are the biggest losers since joining Malaysia in 1963. The majority non malays and muslims are now the minority and are being suppressed discriminately.Sabah based political parties once ruled but not anymore.Umno is the ruler now and Sabahans are at its mercy. Sabah CM,though a Sabahan but is a puppet to Umno’s president and PM. Though Sabah is under BN rule,Umno is the demoninator,the rest of the componnets Sabah based parties are only there to keeping UMNO strong and window dressing to please Sabahans. I wish to remind all Sabahans that UMNO could not be trusted.UMNO brought in the chief minister’s post rotation system because it needed those Sabah based parties to building its own strong base through its various dubious means which it achieved. Umno dropped the rotation system immediately when it achieved its goal. It shows Umno’s cheat and greed and not care really for Sabahans interest.UMNO shown its ugly head when some of its top leaders suggested that PR should rotate its chief minister post based on race and party within PR.This affirmed Umno’s double standard. My dear Sabahans,would you still want to trust UMNO ?
Dear HJ Angus. I suggest you to ask TR and Datuk Harris. I think these two gentlemen know pretty lots about this particular air=crash in 1976. As far as Sabahans are concern,we are still in the dark just like you.
All you need to blow up a plane is to pay lots of money to an airport janitor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmir_Princess
When it was a kadazan’s turn, umno promised to continue with what is honourable. When it was a chinese’s turn, umno extended the promise further. Finally, when it was umno’s turn, umno too did the honourable thing ie obeying ketuanan umno – actually a vulgar thing.
Blame it on the hapless “leaders” from Sabah, just like what the MCA, MIC and Gerakan have been doing the last 50 years. What difference?
Kit,
Show them Dap can do it in Penang , appoint Deo as the CM by june.
Oh Sabah, it’s time to move on and say NO to UMNO….
chengho,
Show them umno can do it in Putrajaya, appoint Sami V as the PM by april. Why april? April Fool’s Day lah
Chengho has gone to “kickdefella” blog to instigate Sheih to part friendship with me.
He is faceless and nameless and Sheih and are not faceless friends.
This Chengho….not only carry UMNO balls…but love to see two good friends find faults with each other.
I cannot find the right word to describe such a sickening low class UMNO Muslim.
BN has done nothing but con the Sabahans. Sabahans must wake up and vote out BN in GE13, otherwise they are doomed forever.
Since “The Golden Son of the Kadazans”, written by Bernard Sta Maria has been banned, why not make it available or sell it as ebook?
It will be ‘more’ accessible to all compared in printed form.
“UMNO/BN had betrayed their pledge of power-sharing by rotation of Sabah Chief Minister’s post as in the past 16 years, the Chief Minister’s post was held by a Kadazan native for 9 months, Chinese for 4 years and Umno for more than 11 years! ”
Yeah, right. UMNO’s lying tongue is as as meandering and as dirty as the Klang River. (sorry to borrow West Malaysian landscape).
and recently umno youth demanded that the cm post in Penang be rotated among the 3 races
Its not BN or UMNO but Sabahans are themselves betrayed the state. Any good sales motivation book will tell you not to blame the surrounding but yourself. Despite being marginalized to the lowest point, Sabahans seem to religiously pick BN as saviors not realizing the back stabbing the continuously receiving. If and only if Sabahans come to their senses, things will remain gloomy over that part of the world. Why it is so hard for them to accept good things in life leaves me wonder.
Kadazan people don’t really mind whether they have had a CM of Kadazan-Dusun race for only nine months or for a suggested long period as 9 years. What they really mind is that whether YB Kit can sing a Kadazan folk song or not when DAP is going to have a Karaoke contest in the Kadazan tribe! They like singing folk songs because they are said to be the descendant of Hakka people from China. Indeed, Koraoke contest in Kadazan folk songs is just a very simple and inexpensive way to win over the heart of Kadazan-Dusun people but not many DAP leaders know about it!
Sabahan and Sarawakians have to ask themselves if they want to end up worst than American Native Indian in US, the Indians in this country, the Orang Asli in Peninusla, the Aborigines in Australia. And not the same, WORST, much WORST..
When the rotation was proposed, we knew it won’t be long. Anyway it is not a good idea as implementation of plans take time. It would be better if each CM serves for 2 terms.
///Everywhere and everyday in Malaysia, there are more evidence of the absence of 1Malaysia rather than its presence./// – YB Kit .
It depends on what ‘1Malaysia’ exactly means. Problem is it may be opened to all kinds of interpretations.
Lets hear from the Horse’s mouth: The MalaysianInsider’s report by Clara Chooi of 28th Feb under caption “Najib’s 1 Malaysia means total acceptance of diversity” has reference.
The PM says there are 3 stages: First, tolerance, with each community tolerant of the other. However that’s not enough. From passive tolerance we make transition to second stage ie acceptance of differences/diversity from our pluralistic races and cultures. This (passive acceptance) again is not enough. The third apex stage is when we make transition from acceptance of differences/diversity to a “celebration” (ie active appreciation) of the differences/diversity. Although national harmony can prevail in all 3 stages, permanent “unity, harmony and prosperity” is attained in 3rd stage. I think that’s what he means to say.
In these senses, one set of Chinese New Year greetings by the “stand-alone” Sabah MCA Chairman and another set of Chinese New Year greetings “featuring the lame-duck MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat & his clique may not be compatible with MCA unity but is not necessarily incompatible with national unity, harmony and prosperity”.
What is more interesting – and controversial -in what PM says is this: certain groups may embark on separate pathways – hence Sin Chew and Utusan Malaysia may take a different paths – but what is important is that all Malaysians converge and reach that final destination of “one people, one nation, one dream” based on national “unity, harmony, the prerequisite of prosperity”.
The Question to ask is whether this is possible (arriving at same destination) having regard to the Sin Chew and Utusan Malaysia’s going separate parts.
I submit whether possible or not depends on definition of what that ‘ final destination’ is.
Can’t proponents of Ketuanan also identify with ‘1 Malaysia’ if ‘ final destination’ is defined as “one people, one nation, one dream” based on “unity, harmony and prosperity” under Malay hegemony??? (So far nothing that proponents of 1 Malaysia say is dismissive of Ketuanan!)
[Continuing from preceding post]
We know that nation-building is a process of constructing or structuring a national identity using the power of the state. This process aims at the unification of the people or peoples within the state so that it remains politically stable and viable in the long run. We purport to do ours via 3 stage “1 Malaysia”.
On the matter of nation building and identifying how different people may view “1 Malaysia”, it is important to clarify 3 concepts via metaphors: (1) “melting pot”, (2) “salad bowl” and (3) “Imperial Emperor’s Dish”.
1. Melting Pot: Its a metaphor for a plural/heterogeneous society becoming more homogeneous, the different elements “melting together” into a harmonious whole. It is particularly used to describe the assimilation of immigrants to the United States! It is not applicable here. Even during TDM’s time it has been abandoned. Minorities are not culturally absorbed. They don’t want to be absorbed. Neither do majority want to absorb them or have plain give up trying! Chinese for example are culturally absorbed in Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines.
2. “Salad Bowl” is multiculturalism, which asserts that cultural differences within society are valuable – different cultures mix (on equal basis), but remain distinct. Better examples are Singapore, and (I am not sure) likely Switzerland!
3. “Imperial Emperor’s Dish” is also multiculturalism, which asserts that cultural differences within society are valuable but unlike “salad bowl” the different cultures mix on an unequal basis where one culture, the one of the dominant majpority group is deemed paramount and given, and continued to be given, state’s full support. Call it what one wishes – whether Cultural colonialism or imperialism it signifies internal domination by one group and its culture or ideology over the rest).
If one looks closely at the table of 1 Malaysia’s “one people, one nation, one dream” based on national “unity, harmony, the prerequisite of prosperity”, all these can, with cogence, be argued to exclude the “Melting Pot” but include both the “Salad Bowl” and the Imperial Emperor’s Dish. Now if Sin Chew or Non Malays interpret “1 Malaysia” as “Salad Bowl” and Utusan and UMNO right wingers, “Imperial Emperor’s Dish”, can “1 Malaysia” reach its destination via 3 stages“ of one people, one nation, one dream” based on national “unity, harmony, the prerequisite of prosperity”?
For 50 years, there is this disjunct between majority & minority groups in perceiving what nation building means whether under motto of Bangsa Malaysia, Vision 2020 or now 1 Malaysia! Nothing has changed (except political rhetoric) unless those who prescribe it come out openly to say it means the “Salad Bowl” because is healthier for the diet of the body politic instead of the high Cholesterol Imperial Emperor Dish!
The truth is Sabahan have themselves to blame for allowing their leaders to sell out to UMNO/BN. Anyone who was genuine Sabah patriot back when UMNO moved in who had half a brain knew that UMNO/BN was going to mess things up for Sabahan. The man in charge was the father of hypocrisy and betrayal Mahathir – how could it not happen?
But what Sabahan has to realise is that its not too late although its a daunting task. While galvanising the fractious groups in Sabah, they cannot underestimate reaching out to Malay Muslims in Sabah – the cornerstone of UMNO power. Sell the message to the Malays Muslim that they are better off in an inclusive state that is fair to all than one that is corrupted although it supposedly favour them. Sell the message that the corrupted regime of UMNO/BN does not include them by pointing to Kelantan, Terengganu and many other pockets of PAS stronghold..
UMNO has cheated and robbed Sabahans and it is time to get rid of the intruders.
Jesus is coming soon.