Mariam Mokhtar
Free Malaysia Today
December 16, 2011
Najib plays different tunes for political purposes but in the process, it is causing a rift in Umno.
COMMENT
At the Selangor Taoist solidarity dinner on Wednesday night, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak recalled Tunku Abdul Rahman’s long-term vision and praised him for being “far-sighted in administering a complex nation such as Malaysia”. His remarks were at odds with the opening speech at the 62nd Umno general assembly, a fortnight ago.
The solidarity dinner saw Najib urging Malaysians to emphasise the similarities in their respective religions, for a stronger and more united Malaysia. He espoused universal qualities like courtesy, filial piety, trustworthiness and diligence as shared values.
“If we can emphasise on the common values, then we will have similarities between us. We can develop good citizens regardless whether they are Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Taoists… what is important is being good citizens who love the nation, are loyal to the country, respect the law and other religions.”
At the Umno party conference, Najib was playing a different tune. He told delegates that if Umno were to lose power, the Malays and their religion would be threatened.
Using the favoured “3R” strategy of race, religion and royalty to win over the dwindling Malay support, he warned: “Who will preserve the sanctity of Islam? Who will protect the Malays and its agenda and who will protect the rulers?”
Najib may have adopted a nationalist leaning at the Umno conference, but he played to the crowd at the Taoist solidarity dinner and related his version of events which prompted the downfall of the Malacca empire 500 years ago.
“It fell not because Malacca lacked warriors or due to poverty, it was overthrown because there was no unity and there were traitors.”
He praised his “1Malaysia” concept of inclusive policies which sought to eradicate poverty regardless of race.
“When the government extended the RM100 (school assistance), every student irrespective of whether he or she is from sekolah kebangsaan, or Chinese, Tamil or religious schools got it, and soon we will give the RM500 assistance to households earning below RM3,000 (per month)”.
Ultra-Malay
Political observers slammed him and said that Najib’s administration was politicising government aid. In mid-November, PKR Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin claimed that students from a primary school in Ampang had to collect their RM100 aid from the Umno division head, at the Umno building.
Investigations by an online newspaper revealed that a directive had been issued by the secretary- general of the Education Ministry Rosli Mohamed, dated Nov 11, which stated that “elected representatives, including members of parliaments, state assemblypersons or leaders from the federal government” were to be present during the disbursement of the aid. Rosli claimed that the decision had come from a Cabinet meeting on Oct 28.
Pressure has been exerted on Najib to recapture the Malay vote for Umno in the 13th general election (13th GE). Last week, in Shah Alam, Najib openly endorsed the Malaysian Missionary and Welfare Association (Pekida) in exchange for their votes, in scenes reminiscent of his infamous “You help me, I help you” plea in the Sibu by-election.
Around 12,000 Pekida members gave Najib their pledge of allegiance after he had promised to help them build a college in Malacca. Earlier, Pekida’s deputy president had openly solicited for funds, to help alleviate its burden and to assist its ayahandas (godfathers) and adik-beradik (lieutenants).
Najib said he was touched by their gesture and urged Pekida’s members to help him secure victory in the 13th GE by warning them of what lay in store, if Umno were to lose.
“Pekida must be ready to defend our administration. We cannot allow the Malays diinjak-injakkan (to be stepped upon) on our own land.” He might have added, “By anyone but Umno.”
Selangor PAS condemned Najib for his ultra-Malay stance and said that he had “forsaken his own wasathiyah (principle of moderation) and “1Malaysia” rhetoric. Selangor PAS deputy commissioner Khalid Samad described Pekida as a “dodgy” organisation which Umno once avoided having official links with.
Khalid said, “His (Najib’s) presence at a Pekida function has shown his ‘hardline’ side, akin to an ‘ultra-Malay’. It is a departure from the wasathiyah or moderation that he once espoused.”
Extremist rhetoric
Najib is not averse to extremist rhetoric to stoke nationalist feelings, when he deems it politically expedient.
Besides the pressure from Umno infighting, Najib is trying to curry favour with Umno chief supremo, whom younger Umno delegates affectionately term “the don” – Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Najib seems oblivious that Umno has ceased to be a party which fights for Malay issues. Both Najib and Umno refused to acknowledge that the younger generation and changing times, mean that Malays have begun to embrace the 21st century.
Nowadays, Umno is characterised by a party with several factions, all vying for power and glory – Najib’s lot, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s bully boys or the militias who still swear allegiance to Mahathir.
They wish to carve up the billions of ringgits in contracts, land grabs and monies siphoned from public institutions, for themselves. They are not concerned about the well-being of the rakyat, nor the interests of the Malays. The party is supposed to uphold the interests of the Malays.
The Malays are only mentioned in passing and come in useful when the leaders need to further their needs. The non-Malays make useful scapegoats to rouse sentiment in the Malays.
Najib’s inability to deal with his split personality may well hasten the split in Umno, and lead to its demise.
Mariam Mokhtar is a FMT columnist.
4give him 4 he knows not what he said, cos he just parroted what he was directed 2 say
Split Personality? There is no split personality – its one single idiot personality. Put it simply, the man has no clue what his job is. In his mind, his work is 1) keep himself in power 2) enrich himself 3) Keep his cronies/UMNO in power and 3) enrich themselves. Everything else follows afterward..
There is no confusion of what he is. HE is the one that is confused and so are a lot of voters..
Every word uttered by him is for finding suckers to vote for him.
His split personality is well known.
At the last moment…he could break his promise to Tunku Razaleigh.
He thinks he is very smart…but Malaysians know who Najib is…though and though.
Ask any young voters….almost all hates his snaky personality….never really sincere.
His “1Malaysia” “People First Performance Now” are hollow slogans.
He never walk the talks…….just talk talk talk nonsense all the time.
He is a compulsive liar.
He is definitely…one screw loose…guided by the moon….a natural born lunatic.
He is a compulsive liar.
He desperately need to win 13th GE…for the love of his own life.
Fortunately…he is powerless.
So whatever he planned …no firing power at all.
Two clowns are now performing.
He and his adopted father….Mahathir.
Enjoy and relax.
More and more people should know by now he is a double headed snake.He and all his snake gang must be exterminated in order to save the nation.
His immediate predecessor was better than him. At least he (immediate predecessor) did not display a split personality.
by Loh on Thursday, 15 December 2011 – 10:35 am
///CHINESE businessmen can prosper in Malaysia because the country is led by tried and tested leaders, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.///– http://www.nst.com.my/local/general/pm-govt-helping-chinese-thrive-1.19564
It would be more correct to say that Chinese businessmen prosper despite the government which have used the tested method of racial discrimination and corruption. Barisan Nasional led by UMNO has proven that it is the worst government ever, and any fool that comes in next can do better.
///He said the leaders built a conducive business climate for them, including practising free economic policies and upholding peace and stability.///– Najib
If restricted access to business opportunity in a country simply because one was born the wrong race can be termed as conducive business climate, the word conducive must have lost its original meaning. If stability means the same political party returns to power to continue plundering the country with impunity; they do not even have to face protest because demonstrators are not allowed by police act, then Malaysia should certainly be proud of its stability. Peace is maintained by police action allowing only the ruling party to harass others. Yet police efficiency is appalling in protecting the people, crime rates is high compared even to failed states
///At the same time he urged Malaysians to stress common values that all religions shared.
“Instead of focusing on the differences, we must emphasise shared values that are preached by all religions.///–Najib
Najib need not go so far as emphasising shared values. Najib preached about not focusing on the differences but the government he leads specialises on harping on the difference of race among the citizens and since independence implemented policies based on race. Isn’t UMNO tired of focusing on the differences? Najib should first remove government policies based on the differences of the citizens in terms of race before he has the moral right to preach what he did.
///“By doing so, we can build a better and stronger Malaysia, whose citizens have a strong love for the country.
“Obey the laws and respect others, even though our belief systems are different.”///–Najib
Obviously Najib did not appreciate what he has uttered since the government does not respect the constitution which provided for equality of the citizens, and NEP is clearly unconstitutional. Malaysians allowed Najib’s father to act unconstitutionally for 20 years, on a give and take basis: Razak gave his promise, and non-Malays took the pains. But Mamakthir relied on NEP to enrich his cronies. Najib would not even honour his father’s words. Does Najib understand the virtue of filial piety?
///He highlighted the importance of Malaysians embracing a “give and take” attitude to ensure the nation’s peace and stability.///–Najib
Give and take in Chinese philosophy does not include bullying. Here in Malaysia only non-Malays are made to give up their rights and privileges as citizens, and UMNO takes the advantage to create the unfair society that it can continue to get votes from its followers. That is a one way flow. Because of UMNO’s system of give and take, two million Malaysians have left the shores since NEP from 1971. Najib still considers this the tested approach to govern. Yes UMNO will continue to preside over the government of a failed state.
Article 153 was to help the poor who happened to be classified by race. Ministers in Malaysian cabinet are the most successful persons in the economic activity of governing. They should be able to feed themselves and look after their families and children. They are much well off then 99% of the population. If Malay politicians had been faithful to the aspiration of article 153, no Malay ministers should have availed themselves to the ‘assistance’ provided by the government meant for the poor. But how many of them do it morally right? People can still recall that Tun AAB said that his son was also Malay and so was entitled to take advantage of government policy helping Malays.
Until UMNO Ministers live up to the aspiration of the Malaysian constitution, racial discrimination will continue as an excuse for powerful UMNO politicians to take advantage of the ordinary poor Malays. To set the stage, UMNO has to continue focusing on the difference of birth and religion among the citizens.
Those who do not like the game of give-and-take ala UMNO can leave, like Razak said good riddance.
Like the previous ” leaders “, he is just is figure head and do not make decisions…..there are more powerful and influential people behind him.
He is not a liar… he’s just a pembohong besar
See a Malaysian Malay commented about at his blog:
Let me tell you Malays this. We Malays were never on the world stage! The Chinese were. The Indians were. Not the Malays. So please wake up from the UMNO induced slumber that our people have been in for so long. Fifty-three years to be exact! Our Malay Prime Minister today does not have half the respect the Malay Penghulu used to have in the days when the Penghulus in the kampongs were leaders of the Malays in the rural areas.
http://steadyaku-steadyaku-husseinhamid.blogspot.com/2011/12/takkan-melayu-hilang-di-dunia-dream-on.html?showComment=1323804454346