The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should not be paranoiac by the “kangkung furore” and completely immobilised when he should swiftly identify the underlying factors of the “kangkung phenomenon” in Malaysia in the past week and demonstrate that he is not a “PM kangkung” running a “kangkung government” hollow inside apart from a glittering externa
In the past seven days, the “kangkung phenomenon” has taken the country by storm, as kangkung becoming the butt of comedy, satire, video and comic sketch.
What is most regrettable and must be condemned by all right-thinking Malaysians is the dishonest and dangerous game of political opportunists who tried to racialise the “kangkung furore” as the work of Chinese showing disrespect to Malay leaders.
In the past week, Malaysians regardless of race, religion or region have taken part in the “kangkung bashing” of Najib including the latest edition of comedy sketch, That Effing Show, hosted and produced by Ezra Said, entitled “Let Them Eat Kangkung”.
Instead of indulging in a “Kangkung phobia” and hitting out at all and sundry involved in the “kangkung furore” – I commend the police for not being infected by the Kangkung phobia and announcing that the police is not arresting the artist Yuri Wong responsible for the kangkung video which first kicked off the “kangkung tsunami” – Najib and the Barisan Nasional leadership should swiftly identify the underlying reasons as to why an inadvertent reference to the price of kangkung should set off such a “kangkung tsunami”.
Firstly, it is a reaction to a government leadership which is quite cut off from the problems, pain and sufferings of the ordinary Malaysians caused by the spate of price hikes – illustrated not only by the continued corruption, waste and squandering of public funds (the latest example being the 15-day 20-person luxury cruise to the Antarctica led by the Terengganu Mentri Besar).
But the “kangkung tsunami” reflects a deeper problem – that Najib is facing the worst crisis of confidence ever faced by any Prime Minister in the nation’s 56-year history because of his lack of leadership and direction in the past eight months after the 13th general elections on May 5 last year.
Just as kangkung is hollow inside, the “kangkung furore” is an expression of lack of public confidence against a Prime Minister and a government which have very impressive and glittering coating but has proven to be empty and hollow in the past eight months to deal with the grave national problems confronting Malaysians.
For example, Najib talks about moderation and tolerance all over the world but in the past eight months he has allowed extremists and the advocates of hatred and intolerance a field day, an example of “kangkung” politics – fine outside but empty inside.
Malaysia is facing at least five national crisis:
*Crisis of nation-building – as racial and religious polarisation in Malaysia had never been more serious than today, because of the failure of leadership by the Prime Minister who, for instance, has not said a word to resolve the “Allah” controversy despite the Cabinet’s 10-Point Solution in 2011.
*Economic crisis highlighted by the price hikes but aggravated by a government which is heedless of the problems of the people.
*Educational crisis of deteriorating standards – for the past two months, both the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister who is also Education Minister have studiously avoided this subject, highlighted by 2012 PISA results on Dec. 3.
*Security Crisis as the police have failed to give top priority to ensuring that low crime and the safety and security of citizens, investors and tourists should be No. 1 agenda instead of protecting the Barisan Nasional regime.
*Crisis of worsening corruption in Malaysia.
In all these five fronts, Najib has only a “kangkung effect” – good-sounding on the outside but utterly empty and hollow inside.
Hey….better balik kg less headache for u
Najib AND UMNO have completely LOST IT ALL when it comes to this.
Supposedly, they are mad at PKR but they are Blaming DAP and in the same breath say this think is somehow also the same as Kalimah Allah issue?
All it does is make Najib AND UMNO look like a mess. No reasonable mind think of this and not believe its ALL UMNO POLITICS & POLITICKING and THE MESS THEY AE IN ARE ENTIRELY THEIR OWN MAKING no one else to blame..
NAJIB & UMNO HAS COMPLETELY LOST ALL OF IT – the plot, the game, the point of it all, – EVERY SINGLE THING…
Well, the reaction clearly shows the frustration of the people over the induced inflation. It is obvious the power that be knows that Malaysians are fed-up with the Gomen; hence the involvement of the police> It is farcical! He thought it was a JOKE! but it had certainly misfired. It just shows how distance he is from the average Malaysian who is burdened with the INDUCED INFLATION. Now you have a MB wanting to enjoy a tour of the Antartic at the expense of the public! He dare not even ask him to call off this trip!!
B warned – kangkung is a FORBIDDEN word, though NOT a forbidden vegetable
By associating kangkung with najis, it can trigger AMOK behavior of Perkosa-UmnoB Malays, it can be twisted 2 mean INSULTing Perkosa-UmnoB Malays, it can be twisted 2 twist HISTORY dat DAP’s mulut caused May 13 (esp if uttered by DAP kaki; when uttered by Malays, OK – looks like some religious bodies hv 2 come out with a command dat it is HARAM 4 non-Malays 2 say KANGKUNG, alamak)
Anyway, PR/DAP better investigate n rectify d NEW car parking system of d kangkung operator in Penang; settle it efficiently, otherwise d state gomen will b known as another disappointing kangkung gomen
Rakyat can obvioulsy C dat Perkosa-UmnoB Malays CANNOT tolerate an objective discourse n will always TWIST an issue in2 a RACIAL issue
Perkosa-UmnoB Malays always eager/quick 2 create racial tension among rakyat
Its ABSOLUTELY CLEAR that as far as Najib is concerned, he would let things be Kangkong if its too hard for him.. He (and especially his wife) is ALL COVERED up, flooded in fact, with superficiality, they need not care that the rakyat is left to their own drowning in the cesspools and messes that UMNO/BN created.
These are small people given enormous task, gigantic calling..The fault is entirely Malaysian for giving them the job..
Come on! We need to gauge the response of the rural malays. Why corruption over & over again, UMNO is chosen? I am not saying that DAP must follow UMNO’s method. I am saying DAP must be made aware of UMNO’s tactics & how to get head start.
Not point talking to the converted. Perhaps, it’s time for LKS & the gang to make peace with the dissidents. One of them is Aspan Alias
Najib, and especially those political opportunists who tried to racialise this kangkung issue, should ask themselves why is there such an outpouring of reactions over a nondescript remark about kangkung by the PM. Evidently it has hit a raw nerve when people are feeling helpless when facing the massive prices hikes all across the board and need an avenue to get rid of their “geram”. News of the extravagant lifestyle of the PM and his family, the other BN ministers and their family and unexplained corruption and wastage has clearly upset a lot of the people who had to bear with the debilitating increase in the cost of living.
Yes – the Hokkien word for Kangkung is Eng Chye and the Mandarin word is “kong xin chye” – hollow vegetable. This is indeed a hollow government – looks good on the outside, but nothing inside.
the naked emperor aka perception. you see a person with fashion sense different from a person who thinks that as long as he she is not naked, it is enough. how this vegetable is called cannot beat the fact that it has vitamins, moisture, fibre and it is among the many sources of food that send you and your kids and your descendents to schools and be wise men
taik anyone ?
Najib may have good reasons to be paranoid but not for Kangkong reason (could not help myself).. Its just possible Muhiyiddin and Mukhriz/Mahathir has made a deal and Najib is cornered. He could very well be on his way out..
There is no doubt that UMNO/BN is not concerned with all the writings by the Opposition. The message must be sent to the RURAL Folks whose voters have been seduced through BRIM1; when the timing is made right, these folks will bite the bait like the Dory Fish. Hence, PAS and PKR must find the mean to change this scenario and make the folks understand the reality of the situation within the next 10 years; even within the contact of Asean. If the rest of the pack increase their PCI faster than Malaysia, it only mean we are slipping down the slope on comparative basis; slowly but surely we will hit the bottom!
Mr Lim,
I find it puzzling that no police action has been taken against Ezra Zaid and others who have been making fun of Najib over the kangkung issue.
Normally, police reports will be lodged and people will be hauled into police stations and pushed around a bit to scare them.
Is this one of those games being played where “someone” realises that the more the kangkung issue is in the public eye the more detrimental it is to Najib’s image.
Also, interesting to note that Mukhriz is stepping up again to chastise Najib for unpopular decisions.
Najis WHERE got time now 2 consider dis hollow inside thingy
Like his step-son, he is so excited over d humongous sukces of their investment, The Wolf of Wall Street, which picked up “Best Comedy” n “Best Comedy Actor” Golden Globes
He is busy helping his step-son 2 count ALL fantastic incomes fr screenings around d world (SADly, dis COMEDY is banned in i-Melayu-1st Perkosa-UmnoB’s M’sia, so funny 1, a COMEDY, banned – but no worries lah, bet U even Perkosa-UmnoB n Jais kaki oredi watched d Unsensored DVD on sale everywhere; COMEDY what, watch n hv a good hearty larf lor)
Kangkung also busy watching again n again d XXX rated COMEDY, so syiok 1, even d opening scene is so MOUTH watering 1
Lagi, he n his char bor busy preparing their suits n dresses 2 attend d Oscars 2014 what in anticipation of d sukces of The Wolf
Some more must decide which private plane 2 charter 2 fly 2 Oscars 2014 (dis is d easi part; d tough part is what ekskus 2 give 2 fool rakyat 4 d use of d rakyat(aka gomen)-paid plane)
WHERE GOT time lah, so much 2 do in so short a time what