The events of the past fortnight reminded me of the Greek saying: “Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad”.
There have been a series of events which are quite inexplicable as they defy logic, common sense and reason.
The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak today spoke up against “mooning” by a youth on August 30 describing its “un-Malaysian”.
I agree with him that “dropping one’s pants in public” or stomping on pictures of national leaders are “nothing to be proud of” and should be deplored and discouraged.
But what is most saddening and disappointing to Malaysians as a whole is the double standards of the Prime Minister, the Barisan Nasional leadership and the enforcement authorities, who could not see anything wrong in similar deplorable conduct against Pakatan Rakyat leaders like Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, and PAS Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Mat Nik Aziz and civil society leaders like Bersih Co-Chairman Datuk S. Ambiga whether perpetrated by UMNO or UMNO-sponsored activists.
Why didn’t Najib speak up and insist that “the law must run its course” when the pictures of Pakatan Rakyat leaders were stomped upon, urinated at and even funeral rites performed?
Yes, mooning and stomping on pictures of national leaders are “un-Malaysian”, but is the application of double standards by the government-of-the-day as illustrated by the handcuffing of Ong Sin Yee to be accepted as a Malaysian trait and character – something for Malaysians to be proud of?
Let me reiterate my call on Saturday from Sarawak to Najib to fully accept the apologies tendered by the two 19-year-old teenagers Mohammad Ammar A. Rahman and Ong Sing Yee as well as by their parents bearing in mind that “To err is human, To forgive divine” and to ask the Attorney-General drop all charges against the duo.
Another instance is the persistent, reckless and irresponsible campaign of lies led by top UMNO leaders, including the Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin accusing the Pakatan Rakyat of wanting to change the national flag and amend the Constitution to abolish the system of Malay monarchy although Pakatan Rakyat leaders have repeatedly denied these falsehoods.
UMNO/Barisan Nasional leaders are most guilty of the politics of hatred, hooliganism and lies, and yet loudest in accusing Pakatan Rakyat leaders of these infractions although totally without any proof whatsoever.
Last Saturday, Muhyiddin announced that UMNO would sack members proven to have sabotaged its candidate in the next general election, forcing the other Barisan Nasional component parties to echo the same call.
Post-mortem studies of the 2008 general election results showed that between 1 – 1.5 million UMNO members did not vote for UMNO candidates, as UMNO only obtained two million votes out of 5.7 million Malay votes in 2008 while UMNO boasted of a membership of over three million.
Is Muhyiddin seriously suggesting that UMNO should sack over one million UMNO members for “sabotage” of UMNO in the 2008 general elections?
Similarly, the majority of MCA and Gerakan members did not vote for the Barisan Nasional candidates in the 2008 “political tsunami”.
Is Muhyiddin seriously suggesting that MCA and Gerakan should expel the majority of their memberships for their “sabotage” of the BN candidates in 2008?
Another illogical, unreasonable and vindictive action of the Barisan Nasional government is its harassment and persecution of human rights organisation, Suaram, in retaliation against Suaram’s campaign to expose the truth about the multibillion ringgit Scorpene submarines scandal.
If Najib is sincere and serious about the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and its NKRA targets particularly in fighting corruption, all government agencies including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) should co-operate with SUARAM to allow the whole truth about the Scorpenes submarine scandal to be told instead of launching a witch-hunt against Suaram.
The on-going persecution of Suaram should be halted as it is a clear message and admission by the Najib administration to Malaysians and the world that it has a lot of dirts to hide about the Scorpene submarines scandal.
The hijacking of the 55th Merdeka Day and 49th Malaysia Day by using the Barisan Nasional election campaign theme of “Janji Ditepati” provides the overall backdrop to the building up of the recent scenario where the Greek saying “Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad” is most apt and appropriate.
///Last Saturday, Muhyiddin announced that UMNO would sack members proven to have sabotaged its candidate in the next general election…..///
Would UMNO sack Muhyiddin for sabotaging Najib???
///The minister (Ongkili) also claims that people are generally satisfied with the project following public consultations.///–Malaysiakini
Never in Malaysian history have we seen so many people who are persistently opposed to Lynas project. That that proves that the people are not satisfied, rather than generally satisfied. The minister mentioned that following public consultations, the people expressed satisfaction, How many attended the consultations and are they as numerous as those who opposed it? Did the ministry organize a open house to invite people who support the project; admission based on support! Did they say they support on exit?
Oh, I like the “Cheaper cars ” campaign by PR.
Hello, Mahathir, please, please say something – sensible.
The last time Kak Rafidah was the MITI MINIster, Mahathir lambasted her – left, right, centre, top and bottom – for the APs scandal, enriching Rafidah’s favourites. Now I want to see the current list of AP beneficiaries now that Mukhriz is the Dy Minister of MITI.
Hello, Mahathir, come clean and ask for the list too even though your son is the minister. Any son-in-laws or daughter-in-laws who are benefiting from a stroke of the Minister’s pen’s.
The sign of madness is clearly seen on Mahathir will Najib following closely.
Focusing on how to keep fooling Malaysians…check out their comments..actions and characters..real weird.
To whom the bells toll?
Come 13th GE….all Malaysians will know.
I think Najib knows it….consulting his soothsayers.. fortune tellers….and keep stalling the 13th GE.
The wind of change blowing clearly.
Najib better be prepared for the biggest tsunami Malaysia has ever encountered.
All these UMNO ministers are so well trained by Mahathir to speak with forked tongue. They think & act as if they are above the law. Arrogant & Big Bully & bulldozer they are.
Yes, they have gone mad. Their actions these last few weeks tell us they have gone mad. There is no Police SOP. There is only Police subjective operating procedure.
Please defend and speak up for Malaysians who want change and who are suffering the wrath of the present corrupt government. BUT do not gloat as they fail.
Be serious and concentrate on taking Putrajaya. DO NOT GLOAT.
We must change the tenant at Putrajaya. GE 13 is coming. First to GE 13, then to Putrajaya.
Change we must. Change we can. Change we will.
Truth be told, there is no coherency in UMNO/BN strategy. Najib is still spinning the pretense of universal ‘change & promise’ for all of Malaysia while the rest of UMNO/BN is basically on the negative politics approach to just hold on to the Malay vote.
It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. No one is fooled by UMNO/BN hypocrisy and yet they keep insisting everyone can still be fooled.
Najib is grumbling and mumbling…this is not right..that is wrong…not our culture……on and on….on petty issues.
Chua Soi Lek said he receive 2 Hell Money issued by Bank Of Hell through post….saying the sender wants him to finish him.
These will be the issues for voters to decide at 13h GE…daily building up….hoping voters will ignore and forget…the real issues.
It is a message to voters….not to vote change.
November is 2 months away.
All BN politicians are trained well by Mahathir…to twist and turn..avoiding main issues….that are…vote change is smart…vote out corruptions and double standards..vote out a dirty government.
How could the wisdom of “to err is human, To forgive divine” be grasped by “those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad”? There is a contradiction here!
So jib did you accept my minta maaf or not? I oredi minta maaf for saya punya trafik ofense long time ago. Anyway, I saw an exclusive interview here with beng hock. Dia pun came out of hiding kerana he orso accepted your minta maaf. So you maaf my trafik ofense or not? I oredi maaf you. You know or not? Really one.
It seem that Malaysia belong to UMNO and Bn and no other. When ever something is against BN and UMNO, the government agencies will go all out to justify their actions. Some of the justification why action need to be taken are at time laughable and at the same time it is only barbaric can described best why action need to be taken.
So the Home Minister say hand cuff is SOP? Really? The best is a tactic to scare the those who act and protest against BN policy. So this how they justify to hand cuff a young girl who come voluntarily. But on the other hand the NFC case the accused is being treated like VIP when present to court. Mind you accused being charge but totally different treatment all together.
Now they act on Suaram. No one agency but they go all out to put 6 agencies in all go. They are no going to let this Suaram a chance. The justification is “The People ask the government to act”? Really again? Why then NFC? Was not the people ask the government to act? But where the SSM/CCM not even bother a bit? The people mean those only pro BN ? LHDN only collecting taxes from Pro BN taxpayers? So only those pro BN voices can be hear but not the other way?
It is only hope that the Politician must grown up. It is also hope that when PR taking over. They will not do the same. The government of the day must do what is best to all people but not only listen to those who are pro them
BN or rather UMNO trying to survive.. Trying it may, but surely it will be ousted.