By Liew Chin Tong | September 28, 2011
The Malaysian Insider
SEPT 28 — Middle Malaysia is elusive but it is clear that whichever coalition that is able to win across the traditional fault lines of race, religion and regions takes Federal power.
Barisan Nasional is now the world’s oldest elected government still in office. Its predecessor, the Alliance party, first won the Federal election for self-government in 1955.
BN’s longevity in government can be attributed to successful manipulation of the carrot and stick. Carrots range from contracts for big tycoons to rural patronage for the Umno base while the sticks are really big – dissenters can be put behind bars without trial for years while the mass media are muzzled.
But there is something deeper: there is no alternative.
Or more precisely, the ultimate use of the carrot and stick is to ensure that no BN-clone is allowed to exist.
Instead of fighting a single opposition, BN perpetuated a structure which has two flanks — PAS for the Muslims and DAP for the non-Malays — and styled itself as the indispensable pseudo “centrist” coalition that caters for the interests across racial, religious and regional boundaries.
Without a clean and fair electoral system and an unbiased mass media, the moment a moderate centrist coalition emerges it is destroyed without mercy.
Elections in 1964, 1974, 1982, 1995, and 2004 saw a general swing of all ethnic groups in favour of Barisan Nasional for various reasons. Elections in 1978 and 1986 witnessed Barisan Nasional winning across the races but losing heavily among ethnic Chinese voters.
A general anti-establishment swing across races in various degrees towards the Opposition occurred in elections in 1959, 1969, 1990, 2008 while the 1999 election was an oddity with Malays swinging massively towards the Opposition while more than 50 per cent of the supposedly more anti-establishment voted for the ruling coalition out of fear of the Islamic state claim and copycat violence a la Indonesia’s anti-Suharto days.
The de facto centre plus two flanks structure was almost broken in the 1990 general election until the final days of campaign when BN depicted Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah as a traitor to the Malays for wearing a Kadazan headgear with a symbol that looks like a cross. At the time, the majority of the ethnic Chinese and nearly half of the Malays were psychologically ready for a change of government.
Since the 2008 general election, BN’s formula to win the next election is not to recognise the two-party reality that it received only 51 per cent of popular votes. In fact, only 49 per cent in peninsular Malaysia voted for BN.
Instead, apart from starving the Opposition of material resources and fair mass media coverage, the strategy is three-pronged – to destroy Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s credibility as the alternative prime minister at all costs, to lure PAS’ leaders into the Malay/Muslim exclusivist discourse and to paint DAP as an extremist villain.
It is no small feat that for the last three-and-a-half years since the formation of Pakatan Rakyat as a consequence of the March 2008 election, it has so far been able to hold Middle Malaysia.
The alternative media channels are more mature compared to two decades ago while 70 per cent of Malaysians are now living in the urban areas which allow greater exposure and access to alternative views. In 1980, only 35 per cent of the population live in urban areas.
Umno has also effectively ceded Middle Malaysia to the Opposition since the waving of the keris by Hishammuddin Hussein in July 2005. Its right wing is now dictating policies.
And, to the credit of Pakatan Rakyat, it has stayed in Middle Malaysia all this while.
///Middle Malaysia is elusive but it is clear that whichever coalition that is able to win across the traditional fault lines of race, religion and regions takes Federal power///- Liew Chin Tong. This observation sounds good & hopeful. We like to believe it. If believed, it will be an incentive for both BN’s & PR’s politicians to embrace without reservation a multicultural all Malaysian inclusive approach with action backing words. But it is doubtful that it is true for so long as the following applies: the Constitution sanctions delineation of electoral lines to be gerrymandered in manner favouring Malay majority constituencies giving disproportionate weightage to Malay votes. Plus the fact that Malay population is close to 60% of total Malay votes would determine who takes Federal power. For this reason ever since May 13 and Tun Razak’s veered away from Tunku’s multi racial/cultural inclusive approach to that of ethnic cultural & centric Malay first policy supported, and indeed entrenched by successive UMNO leaders thereafter, UMNO has been able to remain in power as dominant party.
Alliance / BN started off in 1955 and is fast approaching the retirement age. No wonder they quickly want to raise the retirement age to 60 and above.
No wonder…CM Melaka dare to say UMNO b will govern forever.
With all those tricks and manipulating tactics…besides successfully brain washing his own race..these are smart crooks indeed.
Thank god…all the tricks and treats are exposed and without a 2/3 majority…. after 12th GE…they cannot steal billions like before and without money .their so call wonders done are all exposed too.
Malaysians finally work and newly registered young voters are ready for a change with no second thought.
Brain washing tactic still going on…but it will not work with young voters.
Now phantom votes are exposed by the thousands upon thousands.
It is dirty race and religion politics…they are banking on to win….right now..playing good guy and bad guy acting.
Liew says that “the 1999 election was an oddity with Malays swinging massively towards the Opposition”. That “oddity” is just another ethnocentric/cultural facet where many felt that the party championing Malay nationalism/cause should not humiliate/shame another Malay leader on the basis of sodomy over factional power struggle. The “oddity” was in the necessary result of drawing a part of traditional support away instead of towards UMNO. It is not an oddity in ethnocentric worldview. So is the case on the other side (PR) where both PKR’s and PAS’s leaders recently try to garner populist support by reviving the controversial Hudud issue notwithstanding it’s out of PR’s Common Policy Framework. This is hardly a multicultural inclusive approach consistent with Middle Malaysia or New Politics. It is in deference to fact that Malay votes are pivotal, and if not appeal to race (as promoted by UMNO), then appeal to cultural identity as defined by religion is the way to go. This is still ethnocentric in loose sense as race is intertwined with culture as defined by religion. A multicultural inclusive approach would be realistic only if majority of Malays accept or are perceived by politicians to accept and embrace it. Are we there yet? At least the faction opposed to incumbent PM apparently don’t think so. That’s why they are so called hard line & right wing.
A 19 year-old youth was shot dead in Taman Tun last night while he and others were stealing goods from a cop’s car.
According to reports, the cop shot at them. It would appear his life was not threatened at that time. No warning shot(s). Just shot at them. Not even to injure them. A young life was lost. Was this a SOP?
Is there a middle path?
umno is going to implement the GST after the next general elections in 2012. PR should make this the BIGGEST issue in its election manifesto, because every Ahmad, Ah Seng and Arumugam will have to dig deep into their pockets to pay for price increases of everything under the sun.
But PR MAY NOT b around in d next GE, sudah imploded n disintegrated mah
So, UmnoB/BN continue 2 rule, OK, easi only mah
As PR leaders meet today to discuss Hudud it is important to ask Anwar/Nik how Hudud is consistent with ‘Middle Malaysia’ that PR ostensibly subscribes. Also how practical is this argument –that Non Muslims should not be affected if Hudud were applicable to Muslims only? Can two systems of criminal law apply simultanously to people -whether as offenders or victims- that are inextricably mixed togther in one society? Consider 3 scenarios:
1. Muslim (“M”) and Non Muslim (“N”) together commit theft, with N being ring leader, both are caught and are found guilty: is it in accord with sense of justice that ring leader N under secular law is punished by 1 month jail whilst M gets his hand amputated?
2. M commits rape on N, a woman. N wants DNA evidence to convict M but M says that under Syariah that invites hudud punishment to which he is subject, there must be 4 male witnesses in absence of which he is to be let free.
3. N male entices a married M woman to commit adultery and both are caught. For N adultery is not criminal offence but for his female partner whom he actively entice, she is to be stoned to death under hudud. Does it accord to sense of justice?
A taste/experience of this is in CONVERSION CASES. Husband marries wife, both are N but husband converts to M and takes young minor children away wanting them to be M which wife N does not agree. Under secular law N has a right. However since husband becomes M syariah applies and N wife has no say. Civil courts dare not interpret Article 121(1) of the constitution to say Civil Courts can interfere with Syariah court’s jurisdiction in matters where both M&N are involved. N is therefore deprived off her rights. It is argued here that if Hudud were applied to Muslims subject to Shariah, Non Muslims not so subject will be affected adversely as happened in all these conversion cases by operation of Article 121(1) of Constitution. I agree with Kita Zaid Ibrahim’s take (as reported in page6 of NST today)- that Hudud covers everyone; it is impossible to have 2 sets of criminal laws (as 3 simple examples show) and people like Anwar/Nik should know it. They are disingenous to say otherwise. And even this is irrelevant. The objection to Hudud is that New Politic is to take the nation forward not back to 6th century.
BN’s longevity in government can be attributed to successful manipulation of the carrot and stick.
No. BN’s longevity in government can be attributed to successful manipulation of the electoral process.
Ban on BERSIH extends to Dewan Bahasa
By Kuldip Gangaram
Monyet News Network, 19 July 2011
Kuala Lumpur, 19 July. Dewan Bahasa dan Perkasa (DBP) today confirmed that the word ”BERSIH” will be banned and taken out from the Malay lexicology. The chairman of DBP, Tan Sri Faizal Suresh Abdullah announced the decision at a press conference held at DBP’s main campus at Jinjang, north of the city.
“We are only following the Government directive. They said BERSIH is illegal, so we also follow lah. We are part of the same government, you know. From today onwards, nobody can use the word bersih. Anyone caught doing otherwise can be fined RM 5,000 or jailed for two years or both”, stressed Tan Sri Faizal.
http://maverickysm.blogspot.com/2011/09/bahasa-malaysia-lesson.html
BN is only “Middle Malaysia” in name, certainly not in action.
It is not coincidental UMNO has decided to appeal more to the Malay voters because they have done their maths. First, they possess the advantage to draw and redraw constituencies to favour voters supporting UMNO. Second, they have systematically allowed Muslim immigrants to outnumber the Chinese, Indians and non Muslim bumi in Sabah and Sarawak. In fact many non Malays have left the country not to return again. Such a strategy can only be based on one assumption – that the majority of the Malays are still in favour of exclusiveness, privileges and supremacy. So I am not exactly sure the the “coalition that is able to win across the traditional fault lines of race, religion and regions takes Federal power”. On the PR side, why do you think PAS suddenly resurrected the hudud? For Middle Malaysia? Gimme a break.
With regard to the remark made by the Speaker of Dewan Negara, I am indeed surprised that it took him more than a generation to realize that BN had put so many feeble minds in that supposedly augast house. for that matter if one looks into the PKFZ issue, the same issue was the cause of the blind approval of the Board staffed by BN component parties represented by forklift driver from MIc and retired Chinese primary school teacher, who had never travelled beyond econ-class by air, suddenly being provided with firat class flight overseas. Semua-nya boleh di-luluskan! This country political leadership had stooped to conquer so low that all kinds of donkey were deployed to undertake their crooked wishes. But at the same time, one must be wondering, all a “sudden”[?} changes are implemented for the good of the nation or just for the forthcoming 13th GE? How come it took BN so long to realize changes are necessary? You have ISA, now Dewan seems to be filled with numbskulls, quotas are bad for the nation! Then you have the purchase of 3D+1 for Education costing $2.1 billions, just wondering whose money it was in the first instance? All these came about after the forceful attempt against BERSIH failed miserably! One begins to ask if these changes are for real? To me, for real or not, we REALLY NEED A CHANGE! jUST REMEMBER THAT! for that PR, please don’t sink your boat with internal strifes even before you start sailing!
///BN’s longevity in government can be attributed to successful manipulation of the carrot and stick. Carrots range from contracts for big tycoons to rural patronage for the Umno base while the sticks are really big – dissenters can be put behind bars without trial for years while the mass media are muzzled. ///–Liew Chin Tong
It is more correct to say that the carrot and stick are used separately for people based on race. The carrots represent the NEP. The Malays are made to feel that they are entitled to more of the nation’s resources than others. They are even made to believe that they are better off with the current UMNO-led government. The sticks are the discriminations against non-Malays. Such institutionalized discrimination made the Malays feel that the carrots were in fact larger thantheyt actually were. Thus they would vote UMNO till eternity. Having assured of electoral support UMNOputras are making themselves rich with contracts from government. Through gerrymandering and the fact that non-Malays are in minority, their votes don’t count until recently when Malays have come of age as entrepreneurs in political establishments. Not all Malays are happy to receive crumbs off UMNOputras’ tables.
/// A general anti-establishment swing across races in various degrees towards the Opposition occurred in elections in 1959, 1969, 1990, 2008 while the 1999 election was an oddity with Malays swinging massively towards the Opposition while more than 50 per cent of the supposedly more anti-establishment voted for the ruling coalition out of fear of the Islamic state claim and copycat violence a la Indonesia’s anti-Suharto days. ///–Liew Chin Tong
The non-Malays and especially the Chinese never ever learned until that 1999 election. The so-called Chinese leaders were simply stupid to believe that Mamakthir would ever honour his promise with regard to the so-called Suqiu. Stupid them were so naïve not to realize that having gained power, who was there to remove Mamakthir. Yes, he knew that he would be kicked by the Chinese voters if he did not resign by the 2004 election. But why allow him the pleasure of staying on for another three years? It would have been better to face the Indonesian type of change of government than to have Mamakthir continue for another three years. Had the Chinese voted the way they did in 2008, Mamakthir would have been forced out by Muhyiddin with Najib as the PM, based on what they did in 2009. AAB is of course stupid. It is not that Najib was good, but in comparison no Malay can be worse than half-Indian pretending to be Malay.
There is no doubt that practicing Muslims want to follow the teachings of the religion. But to choose hudud over the common law is another matter.
Malays in the country such as Anwar realises that the judiciary system in the country is suspect. The judges are in the pockets of the powers-that-be. If they subscribe to hudud, then they have to bow to the wishes of the powers-that-be of a particular political party. They will then be giving away both their religious and political rights, to be their subjects.
I was told by a Muslim who said that beause of the standard of hygiene in the Middle East at the time pork was considered unsuitable for consumption and thus forbidden by the religion. He complied with it considering that the proscription was part of the religious rituals. But hudud is not part of the rituals. Indeed if one is sincere to oneself while alone in following the teachings of Islam, the punishment for wrong doings would not be relevant. Islamic leaders should concentrate in moulding Muslims to do good, and let the common laws take care of the outliers.
The people who called for the implementation of Hudud laws obviously think that the laws and punishment thereto are not relevant to them. Let us assume that they sincerely believe so. Have they considered the situation where they are involved in trump up charges when the powers-that-be chose the law to remove their political threats?
PAS should ensure that the judiciary system functions as it should if it cares about justice. Of couse if PAS chooses to politicise religion, that is another matter.
///An Iranian pastor who has refused to recant his Christian faith faces execution as early as Wednesday after his sentence was upheld by an Iranian court.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/09/28/iranian-pastor-faces-execution-for-refusing-to-recant-christian-faith/#ixzz1ZGmGDj98///
The pastor was born to the wrong parents, and lives in a wrong country.
MORE facilities 4 DISABLED ppl r being planned in 1M’sia 2 prepare 4 a big jump in d number of disabled ppl (no hands, no feet, no fingers, no toes, no U know what lah) in M’sia
After a meeting lasting about 3 hours ending at midnight Pakatan Rakyat’s top leaders were unable to come to a consensus on issue of Hudud. “It’s quite clear that DAP opposes it and PAS and PKR respect this…(Hudud) We acknowledge the differences in ideology in Pakatan, as a democratic coalition and this involves PAS’ stand on syariah law,” Anwar said – Malaysiakini, Aidila Razak report | Sep 29. DAP’s stand is laudable – on principle. This is not just a question of democratic respect of each others different ideological positions. It affects the larger issues of trust. How can PKR/PAS agree with DAP a Common Policy Framework (CPF) for PR that excludes Hudud and now seek re-affirm it? This is taqiyya (disguise/dissimulation) that Lee Wang Yen and I talked about many moons ago in this Blog. That PAS would never falter in its support for Hudud and the Islamic State (euphemistically couched under its “welfare benevolent” state is more or less expected. But for Anwar leading PKR to support PAS on this (in a 2 against 1 manner) shows his true colour as a political chameleon. What kind of a Renaissance man does Anwar claim himself to be to support Hudud as part of New Politics?? (PAS is trenchant because he/PKR supports it). In doing so he betrays all those who join PKR based on his claims to moderation and liberal approach.
On 1 hand we hv political parties based on RACE, on d other hand, we also hv a political party based on RELIGION; can’t blame their leaders twisted over race n/or religion
These r never ending issues which will crop up again n again, unless d parties CHANGE their names n objectives, n struggle 4 d have nots, rather than 4 race n/or religion, siao liao