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Electoral Battle of the Century – hope or despair for the future

(Speech by Lim Kit Siang at the launching of the DAP Ipoh Timur general election operations centre at Jalan Kampar, Ipoh on Thursday, 21st February 2008 at 11.30 am)

This is the launching of the operations centre for the DAP Ipoh Timur parliamentary constituency for the 12th general election on March 8, 2008.

In another two days on Sunday, 24th February 2008, the curtain raises for what I would describe as the “Electoral Battle of the Century” as the March 8 election will decide not just the future of Malaysia for the next five years, but what Malaysia is going to be in 2020 and the next half-century of our nationhood.

It is going to be the most important general election not only in 51 years but 100 years of Malaysia – with many Malaysians waiting for the outcome of March 8 polls to decide whether there is still hope for change in Malaysia and to fully commit the rest of their lives to the building of a great Malaysian nation which can take its proud, proper and rightful place in the global arena in the face of the challenges of globalization or despair that there is no hope for the future in this land of our birth and spark another debilitating brain drain of the best and brightest to benefit foreign countries – which have already seen the exodus and brain-drain of one-to-two million Malaysian talents as a consequence of the New Economic Plan, causing Malaysia to rapidly fall behind not only Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea but in danger of being overtaken by Vietnam, Thailand and horror of horrors Indonesia.

In short, what the Electoral Battle of the Century is all about – Is there hope for change in Malaysia whether 2020 or next 50 years or one can only despair about the future of a great nation which has lost its way!

What are the great and critical choices in the hands of the 11 million voters on March 8, 2008?

A full adumbration of the issues at stake in the historic March 8 general election will fill volumes as we are the real watershed of Malaysian history.

Let me just limit myself to five issues, which I call the “Five Cs to make Malaysia great and for all Malaysians to be able to stand tall again and proud to be a Malaysian”!

• Crime – for Malaysia to be a safe country again for her citizens – men, women and children – visitors, tourists and investors. No more child victims Sharlinie Mohd Nahar and Nurin Jazlin,

• Corruption – After four years of Pak Lah as “Justice Bao”, Malaysia’s corruption problem is nationally and internationally acknowledged as even worse than the times of “nepotism, corruption and cronyism” of the Mahathir era, a fact publicly acknowledged by Tun Mahathir himself as well as testified by the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index, plunging from No. 37 in 2003 to No. 43 in 2007, and heading south towards No. 50!

• Cost of Living – Inflation and increasing economic hardships of the people camouflaged by an oil bonanza to government coffers with the price of crude oil again shooting above US100 per barrel and good commodity aggravating the divide between the haves and have-nots as well as accountability and integrity in the disbursement of billions of public funds and mega-billion contracts.

• International Competitiveness – Continued decline in Malaysia’s international competitiveness from refusal to give top priority to “meritocracy coupled with need” to ensure efficiency and justice in education , economy, civil service and nation-building which are the preconditions for the creation of First-World Parliament and world-class judiciary, universities, civil service and police force to position the country as a developed nation with “First World Infrastructure, First-World Mentality”.

• Merdeka Constitution and Social Contract – to return to the Merdeka Constitution and 1957 Social Contract that Malaysia is a democratic, multi-racial and multi-religious nation with Islam as the official religion but not an Islamic state, which suffered the most rapid and drastic erosion in the past four years as evidenced by the rise of Little Napoleons and Little Mullah Napoleons in the schools, universities and public service completely insensitive and dismissive of Malaysia as a nation of diverse races, languages, cultures and religions.

These are among the great and critical issues which will be decided in the March 8 general election.

I should have helped to spell out these great and critical issues before the 11 million voters in 16 days’ time, like:

• The first great financial scandal in the Abdullah premiership, the RM4.6 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) bailout scandal – which is even bigger than the first great financial scandal of the Mahathir premiership, the RM2.5 billion Bumiputra Malaysia Finance (BMF) scandal in the early eighties. Also for the first time, the mega billion-ringgit financial scandals in the country come under the direct responsibility of MCA Minister of Transport, who is the MCA Deputy President Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy.

• The shame for two decades of a judiciary which lost national and international confidence in its independence, integrity and quality – with the rot in the judicial system fully exposed by the recent though restricted public hearings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Lingam Tape.

• The dropout of Malaysian universities, including the nation’s premier university, University of Malaya, from world’s top 100, 200 or even 500 universities, according to various reputable international university rankings and surveys.

• Unprecedented national disunity and division from alarming insensitivity to Malaysia as a plural society with diverse races, religious, languages and cultures, illustrated by holding of general election during the Chinese New Year, the holding of Umno general assembly on Deepavali, the unrepentant wielding of the Malay keris by Umno Youth leader, Datuk Seri Hishammudin Hussein at Umno General Assemblies, body snatchings, bible-banning and restrictions on building of places of worship by the proposed tallest Mazu statue in Kudat, Sabah. Thanks to such insensitivity, there is no Chinese New Year for me and Malaysians – no Day of Ren on the 7th Day of Chinese New Year, no Pai Tian Kong on 9th Day or Chap Goh Mei today.

In fact, I thank many Malaysians for reminding and wishing me Happy Birthday yesterday – for I had completely forgotten about it!

And there is a very very long list of issues which are very very wrong with Malaysia although we have just celebrated the nation’s 50th Merdeka anniversary.

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89 Replies to “Electoral Battle of the Century – hope or despair for the future”

  1. “Whilst there is life, there is hope”.

    My hope is that Malaysians will decide on polling day that we deserve a more responsive and responsible government that can lead Malaysia in the new millenium.

    For me the most practical outcome would be the Barisan Rakyat winning one or two more state seats so that we can see how well they operate a state before we try them out for the whole nation.

    If the BN loses the 2/3 majority, that will also augur well for the development of the nation as reform will become a priority.

  2. Dear Mr Lim

    Both my husband and I have much respect for both you and your team. During this trying time, please don’t feel despair.
    We just want you to know you’ll have our votes for Penang.
    We are already in the 50s and we want to see changes in this country. This time round, our friends and us will vote for the oppositions regardless of which party.

    Keep up the good work and all the best to all of you.

  3. Happy Belated Birthday YB Kit.

    There are much much more issues hanging in the air but racist umno just could not be bordered as long as they still have power to rape and rob the country dry.

    Fellow Malaysian,

    Its time for us to walk our talk. Do whatever it takes to deny the racist umno the 2/3 majority at least or better still throw them out.

    We are all over the country and we are the best person to be the eyes and ears for the oppositions. Help the Oppositions to help us.

    We need to find out the actual situation on the ground and post them here so that the oppositions can know to what to do in their forth coming ceramahs.

    I had already spoken and ask my relatives and friends to vote for the oppositions in their constituencies.

    I had also listed all the mobile phone numbers and now am preparing the text messages to send out just before election day. I need some of your help to prepare a strong message. Will this do:

    Please help to forward this message to all your relatives and friends. Please vote for the Oppositions to protect our citizen rights of this country. Our educations and religious rights are slowly being taken away from us. A vote for mca, gerakan or mic is a vote for racist umno who is running this country without consideration for other races. Vote for the Oppositions.

    Any better phrase text messages, please post here so that we can use them and sent sms to all we know.

    I had spoken to people at the coffee shop and they are still undecided who to vote. Many old die hard of bn are still supportive of bn, questioning what can the Oppositions do. Many are still afraid of their rice bowl being smashed. The hawkers are sure to vote for bn fearing that they might have problems renewing their licences and the councils although they are supportive of the Oppositions. Many are also relunctant to talk about politics.

    I hope DAP can reach out to them during the coming ceramahs.

    Please take this GE seriously and spare the arguements for some other times. We need to do a lot of ground work to ensure victory for the Oppositions.

    50 years is ENOUGH
    Vote For A Change
    Vote For Any Opposition
    Give Them A Chance To Change For A Better Malaysia
    Remember bn Is A Useless Grouping Of Self Serving, Corrupt, Dictator, Power Crazy, Racist, Kris waving, etc, etc type of parties.

  4. Bro Kit,

    First off, Happy Belated Brithday. Long life & prosperity to you & your loved ones!

    On your speech:- how true. I too am looking at this GE to see what future my family & I have here. I know a lot of my friends & family feel the same. Some have already left for foreign soils with heavy hearts.

    We can only hope & pray.

    You on the other hand have noting to be ashamed off as you have “fought the good fight”!

    After this we will leave it to God as he will guide us one way or the other.

    Good luck & God Bless!

  6. I received sms regarding phantom voters. Hope somebody can verify whether this is a true case of phantom voter or not:

    “pengundi hantu: sila semak daftar undi di website spr utk no IC 750909035727 dan no IC (tentera) T719756. Individu sama didaftarkan di 2 tempat berbeza.”

  7. normaly rich or living with comfortable or doing business people will voted for BN , they are afraid, but they do not understand ,they will be use up soon or later and left behind and you got no chance at all to correct it forever,their choice so selfish ,because how about the poor that cannot effort to get their children to private hight eduacation school / university/ foreign eduacation,remenber you are our side/race/kind, i am not on whose side, WHAT I WANT IS EVERYBODY IS SAME ON ALL, LIKE POLITIC/ECONOMY/EDUCATION/EMPLOYMENT/HOUSING( no 5% for bumi,no qotar on education,no 30% bumi share).NO SPACIAL RACE IN MALAYSIA.Last time leader said every body is the same equal on rule and law , no body over it ,including YANG DIPERTUAN AGONG,like below the Great sun all malaysian were same, but now not same at all, thay bumiputra like prince/prices , the original orang ASLI became 5class of citizen,

    Last time voter with serial number on voting ticket that can be check back,and now foreign voter allow goverment servent only (their people who depend on BN for their rice bowl), is not democracy, how can they supporter get to voted others cannot,
    WISE VOTER ,VOTE FOR YOUR AND OTHERS HUMAN FARE IN FUTURE..

  8. Just heard the incumbent of Gopeng gave way to the pampered one(Omega and Uniphonix pirate) after being paid 5 years’ salary(MP’s salary) in advance by the candidate’s father.
    This small fart is practically throwing money in Gopeng. He brought an army of followers to the ops room.

    From the Chinese papers and the MCA Gopeng, he lives a life of fun, sex and wine. Throws his money to China dolls and is making a name for himself in Ipoh already.

    There are bags of money to be distributed to the UMNO, MCA and MIC branches. TingCP used to visit the markets to check on ppl’s problems. Ppl buy him breakfast but this LingFart buys meals for everyone. Imagine the number of ma chais he has now.

    Ling SR thinks MCA belongs to him. He should think again. The locals like me are definitely voting against him. I just hope we can have a strong PKR candidate.

    I have been busy campaigning for the opposition in my office, among friends and anybody willing to listen.

  10. VOTE ANY OPPOSITION !!! AIM : TO DENY BN THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY!

    Yes, this electio is crucial. Crucial because if Bn is given too much power, it will carry on gobblingup ourcountry wealth. In the end, ‘pok kai’ and your children and grandchildren would mostprobably be Malaysian workers in Vietnam or Thailand.

    On top of that, as Mr. Lim had said, brain drain is at an unprecented level. Ask around and almost every family has at least one of their children who has migrated.
    With talents gone and money sucked dry by those vultures, whatfuture do we have in the country.
    SAVE THE SITUATION NOW! VOTE OPPOSITION!

    TO PENANG PEOPLE, DO NOTBE HOODWINKED OR PROUD TO HAVE A GERAKAN CM ! WHATDID KOH TSU KHOON DO FOR PG?
    TRAFFIC GETTING MORE JAM! KOMTAR IN A DILIPIDATED STATE! ROAD CONDITION? APPALLING! INVESTMENT DWINDLING!
    VOTE OPPOSITION BOTH FORSTATE AND PARLIAMENT!!!

  11. If I may, I want to add one more issue which I think is important to make Malaysia great again. This is in regard to competence. Today we see incompetence everywhere from political leadership, to civil service, local authorities and the judiciary. No doubt many of the problems may have its origins rooted in corruption and deliberate abuse of power. However, many of the problems I see today could also be due to incompetent people at the helm.

    It is the political power that decides who shall be the helm of leadership of this country. What we are seeing today is that this political power has not been able to translate into appointment of competent people to be ministers, deputy ministers and heads of departments. Malaysia is already a very internationalised and dynamic economy. Managing it requires more than political rhetoric and political power. We need people who are skilled, knowledgeable, and able to see the dynamics of profound changes that is currently taking place. I think one can easily fathom the lack of qualities of Malaysian Ministers when one looks those in Singapore.

    The system under BN of dishing out ministerial positions to all component parties could be one the reasons that explain our present predicament. The appointment is essentially one based on component parties they represent rather than on the personal attributes of individuals. Many of these ministers not only do not have much ability, but they also have come with their own narrow parochial interests. Hence despite being the biggest cabinet Malaysia ever assembled, the performance has remained lackadaisical.

    The incompetent ministers are further aggravated by a civil service that is essentially staffed by one single race, at least on all the important positions that I could think of. This is really a double whammy because we have ministers who do not how to supervise and provide direction and at the same time we have a civil service that is equally dumb. Malaysia used to pride itself of its independent and capable civil service. I must say it is all gone today. The NEP generation (i.e. those who graduated and joined the civil service at the advent of NEP) has now become heads of departments and secretaries generals of ministries. Many of the senior civil servants could hardly handle the complexity of issues facing a rapidly modernising and globalising economy. Consequently, many policy decisions are poorly conceived and carried out. In addition, the private vested interest groups, capitalising on the weaknesses of the civil service, have continued to hijack the decisions in order to benefit themselves enormously form lopsided contracts and privatisation agreements. Please don’t forget that one of the major factors that accounts for the escalation of cost of living in Malaysia today is due to ineffective government spending as well as the excesses of lopsided privatisation and contracts dished out in the past.

    In the nutshell, what I am trying to say is sometimes it is not necessary that those at the helm, either as the ministers or senior government servants are corrupted. They just need to be stupid to foul up the whole country.

  12. We have all always asked you “Are you ready?”, “Are you ready?” but it is obvious you were all NOT ready. And if you are not, then how do you expect to fight the fight of your lives?

    You have problems every where, in Penang, in Perak, in Selangor, in Sabah, in Sarawak, in Malacca, in Negri, even in Pahang. In fact just about everywhere. The problem is perhaps your party lacks discipline coupled with problems with your leaderships in every state. Too many Little Napoleons, yes, they exist, even in Opposition parties.

    I really don’t know how to have full confidence in the DAP with so many chieftains around. Too many “important” personalities for so few available seats. Everyone wants “safe” seats resulting in severe jostlings. You just can’t broaden your political base.

    I am very disappointed to note that of the many candidates that you have introduced, not 1, yes, not one, is a Malay. And yet you believe you can win up to 40 seats? In addition, you antagonise so many of your loyal members that they quit in frustration. Can you blame them?

    Too many opportunists and parachute candidates, all wanting seats at the last moment at the expense of long-time loyalists. There will be a backlash I fear. Don’t count your chickens yet as they might not hatch.

  13. The DAP must be see to be acting as a multracial party as it claims to be….the lack of Malay candidates in its line up is disconcertig as its power base is that of Chinese……LKS and co must start headhunting for a eminent Malays whobelieve in equal rights…..and there are many out there……

  14. I must agree with Singh, the observation and comments carry with it much concerns of the voting public. The Opposition in particular DAP must re-engineer their structure and leadership to give voters confidence that if you are place in power will the elected DAP MPs be able to hold the fort and carry out reforms in this country?

    As much as we respect our senior statesmen, we believe they have contributed much and can still contribute much to the younger blooming politicians. DAP must not be seen as a chinese Opposition Party but a truly alternative to the current BN. An alternative party that can lift the honour of this country into the next few decades.

    The fear of most voters must be resolved before they can give you the vote especially those on the streets trying to make ends meet. i believe if this round malaysians are still unable to make a committed choice to vote against the BN, many more will go. I for one will get my children out of this country.

    We will commit our votes to DAP like our forefathers and we want to see the house of DAP in order contrary to our DPM’s remarks.

  15. Hope or despair for the future?

    Uncle Kit, we already hope in despair for the future yet you are still asking us to keep hoping in despair for the future. Maybe this election is indeed the battle of the century, but the war is inside DAP only.

    Please don’t give us hopes, give us solutions!

  17. I hope DAP will recruit more malays to join. Without malay friend, what DAP can do now is just a battle(like Penang), not a war(whole country). No matter how, i will still give DAP a vote to deny BN 2/3 majority in Parliament.

  18. 3rd Generation DAP; if you are genuinely a 3rd generation Dap supporter, I really grieve for the party. Because you are so naive and easily taken in by some simplistic arguments planted by Sheriff Singh who obviously is a fifth columnist. It is apparent that he wanted to sow seeds of discontent as he pasted the same comments in at least 2 of YB Lim’s posting.
    I would advise you, as a young member to go to a DAP service centre near you and offer your services there and learn the truth about the DAP. It is only by associating closely with the people you wish to support that you will know their true colour.
    I have gone through many elections and have seen the leaders stoically braving the elements, through rain and shine to bring their message to the people. Despite all his hard work and sacrifices, the most unkind cut was when the people of Penang left him and YB Karpal Singh out in the cold in 1999. I trust the people of Penang have learnt their lesson and know that the DAP leaders are men & women of principles. Do not let them down this time around. You are not going to get a better chance than this to give them a stage to voice your frustrations and anger at the way the country had been plundered and robbed.

  19. “..Is there hope for change in Malaysia ..” KIT

    To borrow a line or two from the U.S. Senator Barack Obama who today have achieved rock star status in politics in the States, who is on a roll beating Hilary Clinton in nine states straight .. the dark horse who came from behind to reduce an American icon in U.S. politics, Hilary Clinton, to a mere ghost of her former self!

    “Hope is what we have, and hope never dies…The time for change has come, and the time is now! Yes, we can! Yes, we can!”

  22. If Malaysia in general needs a change, the urgency is even greater in Sabah.

    With Project IC upped to even greater intensity now, soon Filipinos and Indonesians will form the bulk of bumiputeras, and the non-Muslim Bumiputeras will be aliens in their own land of heritage:

    http://unwantedcitizen.blogspot.com/2008/02/kera-di-hutan-disusukananak-di-rumah.html

    http://unwantedcitizen.blogspot.com/2008/02/unbooked-pregnancya-42-year-old-lady.html

    Vote opposition, never vote Dacing – they are betrayers of the country.

    Vote Dacing and one is worse than a running dog.

  23. Blindeye, whatever i write, you not only read, but you remember and you quote. That is wonderful. It shows I have quality and substance. You are just a parrot, but it is ok, you are learning, hopefully, in 50 years’ time you will reach my standard. I can understand you are feeling useless and despair for not able to write even two paragraghs on any issue of substance.

  27. Penangites are in for a headache. But I hope they would stop seeing the woods for the trees and look at the big issue. Sure, it’s a completely noble idea that you want Chinese Chief Minister to run Penang. But what’s the difference if that Chinese Chief Minister is under the thumb of UMNO? By peeling away Gerakan facade, we will get down to the true political masters of Penang, which is UMNO. By peeling away the Gerakan facade, UMNO will finally be directly accountable to the people in Penang. Now, UMNO does not need to be accountable to the people of Penang because they can claim that Gerakan supports them when in fact Gerakan and for that MCA is already subservient to them because assemblymen and Parliamentarians of Gerakan and MCA are largely appointed due to Bumiputra support. It’s also another reason why the Election Commission is not giving racial profile for each constituency, because that’s just another soundbite for the opposition to attack MCA and Gerakan’s loss of credibility amongst the minority races in Malaysia.

    On the other hand, if PKR and PAS could deliver the Bumiputra votes in Penang, the people of Penang would have made a grave error by not voting for DAP to enable DAP to be the leader of the new Penang government.

    I would implore Penangites to listen extremely carefully the next few days the sentiment of Malays in Penang, to make a determination whether PKR and PAS will gain in Penang. If they are, then there is every incentive to vote for DAP. Let DAP show the way that an opposition led government can do far better than BN led government. BN is a laborous giant, slow to move and change, and increasingly self contradictory. Lim Chong Eu was in opposition when he brought change to Penang. There is no reason why this cannot happen again, especially with a powerful team from DAP, PKR and PAS in Penang.

  29. “BN is a laborous giant, slow to move and change, and increasingly self contradictory.”

    That does not bode well for those who have a thirst for ‘change’ and ‘change that they can believe in”?

  30. No doubt if DAP and PKR were to win the state of Penang, and goes on to form the next government, it would be a test of how Chinese and Malays in the opposition while remaining separate could work together for the good of the people in Penang.

    This opportunity will not come for another fifty years!

  31. To all Malaysians,

    It is time to change…..VOTE OPPOSITION…. for a better, fair and responsible government.

    BERUBAH…….READY FOR CHANGE is the right way to go this coming 8-3-8.

    My family, relatives and and friends are voting for the OPPPOSITION….to deny BN a two third majority.. Join us?

  32. BN always claims that the component parties are together as one, but are they? So, why concern about Chinese and Malays in oppositions not able to work together? You are trying to make the oppositions more despair than they already are. Please don’t be a spoiler.

    Yes, narcissism is the correct to use and to apply to Dracula @ Blackeye. Thank you.

  33. BN always claims that the component parties are together as one, but are they? So, why concern about Chinese and Malays in oppositions not able to work together? When the time comes, they will. Don’t procrastinate, don’t contemplate, and don’t hallucinate too much. Seize the opportunity, and the opportunity is now. The change belongs to the brave, not the kiasi and the kiasu. The kiasu people are people without dignity and they are trading short term expediency for long term misery. Get over with it.

    Any why 50 years? If we can’t get them this time, we will try again in the next election which at most is 5 years from now. Are you trying to make the oppositions more despair than they already are? Please don’t be a spoiler.

    Yes, narcissism is the correct to use and to apply to Dracula @ Blackeye. Thank you.

  34. limkamput,

    I’m only echoing the sentiment expressed by YB Kit who writes:

    “In short, what the Electoral Battle of the Century is all about – Is there hope for change in Malaysia whether 2020 or next 50 years or one can only despair about the future of a great nation which has lost its way!”

  35. I think Singh is correct.
    Looking at our opposition, the DAP is fielding Chinese Candidates & the PKR is fielding Malay Candidates. I hope I am wrong here.
    This looks very much like UMNO & MCA!
    However, no matter what, Vote for Change, Vote for the Opposition!

  38. YB, the writing is on the wall. I know for sure many so-called die-hard BN supporters are giving up their support for BN ,this time around! One veteran even bought dinner table at DAP-PKR-PAS talk to ask friends to go. He is not young, retired many years ago and he couldn’t stand the BN’s nonsense any more!! But if the Barisan Raayat can not come to their ‘senses’, my guess is you all will be KAPUT! for the next 50 years!! Of course with it, MALAYSIA!!!! There is certainly a need to put in hard copies all the corruptions that had taken place and send them to the rural folks to open their eyes. Many of us will do the coffee shop rounds, keep reminding the fence-sitters that if they keep quiet THEN they should be silent forever!! This opportunity may not come that often!

  39. To, YB L K Siang,

    In October 1987 I saw you & your team served very well with dedication in Parliament.

    I was in Parliament & was honored to witness your team in action.

    Now in 2008, again you & your team continued to serve with full dedication against all odds.

    Syabas . Bravo.

    YOU & Your extended team in BR will be well blessed on 8-3-2008.
    ,,,

  40. Dracula,
    This was what Sdr Lim said: Is there hope for change in Malaysia whether 2020 or next 50 years or one can only despair about the future of a great nation which has lost its way!

    This was what you said: This opportunity will not come for another fifty years!

    I think there is a difference. Please read again. I don’t mean to split hair or trying to be funny.

    Lady Godiva,
    I want to be a serious contributor to discussion. But I am often distracted by unnecessary and never ending insults. I would suggest you read who actually started all the nonsense in this thread, if you are not one of them in different handle. By the way, your posting is not exactly coming from someone who treats this blog seriously. Have you read what I wrote earlier and may I know what is wrong with my thoughts? May be you have lots of things you want to comment but you simply can’t express or put down in writing? That is not my problem.

  41. “Let me just limit myself to five issues, which I call the “Five Cs to make Malaysia great and for all Malaysians to be able to stand tall again and proud to be a Malaysian”!” YB Kit

    You forgot to add that the five Cs which threaten to drown the Abdullah Administration is a wave that can only be reversed by another ‘C’ which is ‘change’.

  44. A popular song by Pet Shop Boys which one poster thought it was too “intellectual” to be understood. According to him it was “typical of Oxfordian tradition”….lol

    Not knowing of course it is by the Pet Shop Boys!

  52. “I want to be a serious contributor to discussion. But I am often distracted by unnecessary and never ending insults. I would suggest you read who actually started all the nonsense in this thread, if you are not one of them in different handle.”

    You want to be but you are not a serious contributor and you still cannot be because you responded to unnecessary distraction and insults. So if this continue can you be a serious contributor at all?

    You all know what are the problems in this blog? It is free, that’s the whole freaking problem. Secondly it is ego, and the egoist does not tolerate egoism, so there it goes, over and over again, in the expense of other commentators who cares about this blog. Thirdly, some people don’t know that it is impossible to defeat an ignorance man by argument, but when try to they became ignorance too.

    Lat but not leasts, well, it is always easy to blame people for our own fault.

  61. The Indian and Chiness must reallise that UMNO call the shorts in BN.The other component parties in the collition has no say what so ever.Even candidates for the G.E IS PICKED BY UMNO LEADERS.

    There are so many examples to show that non UMNO MPS who tried to speak up for the rights of their people were told to shut up.

  62. Badak is right. Only the stupid fools in other non-UMNO coalition parties do not know of the noose round their neck. It’s all because of their own personal gains in politics where all those who obey BOSS will survive. All are covering their ass, shortchanging the poor little Malaysians in the long or short run……I think both. Why must our futures be decided by UMNO leaders. Clear sight for such component party leaders to be totally blinded by self gains

  63. Dear Badak,

    I refer to your disparaging statement on UMNO. I notice you hate UMNO so much. BN maintains the spirit of consensus although UMNO, due its position as the largest and most influential political party in Malaysia, holds the most influence.

    At least, UMNO still cares for feeling an aspiration of others . It is willing to let a non Malay BN candidates to win in a Malay majority area. Badak, do you think I as a Malay can win in for example in Ipoh Timur or Seputeh.

    See, sometimes those who accuse UMNO as racial is the one playing with racial issue. And so much insult given to MCA, Gerakan, MIC for its alliance with UMNO. But Mr Badak may forget that hundreds of students for example go to MCA to appeal on scholarship. Surely, these parties are not that bad. Mr Badak, can you deny MCa’s role in promoting quality education through UTAR?

    The reason why BN holds the court is actually quite simple. It is the only platform that caters to all sections of communities. Other options are not that appealing. PAS is rejected by non Malays and sizable Malays . For Malays, voting DAP is tantamount to suicide. The feeling is understandable. This is the political party that wholeheartedly agrees with ridiculous charge by Hindraf on “etnic cleansing”.

    After all, Malay still remember the “role” of DAP in May 13, reinforded by slanted view by Kua, a member of DAP in his book.

  65. “This is really a double whammy because we have ministers who do not how to supervise and provide direction and at the same time we have a civil service that is equally dumb.” leekamput

    Excuse me?? Once in a while we have some idiot coming along and try to show how much he knows. All he manages to do is to reveal his own ignorance and his idiocy.

    Ministers do not supervise.

  66. To , YB Lim Kit Siang,

    Please use a common slogan & call ourselves “People’s Front” (PF) or ‘Barisan Rakyat’ (BR).

    The word ‘opposition’ connotes ‘negative image’ and is self ‘defeating’ in itself.

    BN call ‘Opposition’ as noise makers in Parliament since 1984.

    At least address & identify ourselves as
    “Constructive Opposition ” until slogan “People Front” is registered for official use .

    A good ‘Label’ speak volume by itself.

    It create a common voice & one unity, one spirit.

    One blogger said application to register and to use common slogan like “Barisan Rakyat” & “Barisan Alternative” was rejected by Ruling BN Government Registrar of Society ?

    Is it true?

  68. Dear Non-bumis , there are about 40% of you in Malaysia , please vote for your own future .

    Vote to be a first class citizen in your own country.

    You have been treated as second class citizens since 1970.

    Don’t vote for the people who make you a second class citizen.

  69. This is to enlighten the present NEP government and some people in this blog who are so naive about the meaning of etnic cleansing that i compelled myself to post this, i.e. the definition of etnic cleansing ( Our example can be compared with that of US as explained below) :

    Definition:
    ETNIC CLEANSING

    ETNIC CLEANSING is the practice of eliminating, minimalizing, or marginalizing individuals with whose skin color, national origin, culture, language, or religion a nation-state disagrees.
    Nazi Germany: Before and during World War II Nazi Germany sought to “ethnically cleanse” its country of Jews because Germany’s charismatic, megalomaniac dictator (Hitler) believed Jews were inferior to blond-haired, blue-eyed “native” Germans.

    Middle East: For many centuries — far longer than the U.S. has been in existence — and right up to the present, Middle Eastern nations have ruthlessly murdered and/or tortured those within their borders who have differing religions, races, skin colors, and ethnic origins. In 2003 these Middle Eastern countries continue to use torture, brutal murder, stoning, dismemberment, chemical agents, car bombings, and other means to “free” their countries of those with whom they disagree. These countries also hate the U.S. because we are so prosperous.

    United States: In 2003 the etnic cleansing of the United States takes a somewhat more subtle and less violent form, albeit just as insidious. In the U.S. today descendants of the original European settlers of the U.S. are routinely prohibited from getting jobs, promotions, contracts, and educational opportunities because they are European descendants, otherwise described as “white” or as “non-minority”!

    It is popular in the U.S. to bash, denigrate, and marginalize our European-American settlers. So-called “affirmative action” programs have essentially defined our original European settlers as evil, malignant, racists who do NOT deserve equal treatment under the law without regard to skin color or ethnic origin (as promised by the U.S. Constitution). Under the terms of modern day “affirmative action” European-American citizens in the U.S. are to be reviled, denied jobs, and otherwise marginalized simply because they arrived in the U.S. from European countries instead of from “preferred countries” (presumably more deserving countries) such as African nations, Mexico, Middle Eastern nations, South American nations, and certain Pacific Island nations.

    Under this pretext, murder and violent crimes against U.S. citizens of European descent are classified as mere “crimes of violence” BUT murder and violent crimes against U.S. residents (citizens as well as non-citizens) who are descended from any non-European country, and/or who are dark complected, are classified as “hate crimes” which invokes federal law enforcement resources and overrides local and state law enforcement

  71. Dear Shamsul, just some fact, who went to jail for the sake of a Malay girl affair with a Melaka Minister?
    Even if DAP win all the Parliament seats they contested (may be 60 or so), can they alone, form the govt? then, why is Malay scare of DAP?(as claimed by you).
    You also hinted S’pore ill treated their Malay, if true, then why we do not see an exodus of S’pore Malay to Msia? There is also a sizeable Malay minority in Thailand, but BN govt seldom speak up for them.
    Hope, majority of Msian (of all races) who voted for BN, don’t hv to wait til 1-1-2020 to see that BN is actually bad!

  72. Dear Shamsul, if govt is fair, there is no need for Chinese Msian student to go to MCA for appeal, student hv to use political party to appeal to govt for scholarship, must be very rare in the world.
    If UTAR or KTAR benefit Chinese students, it also benefit Msia, Isn’t these students later, become useful workforce to contribute to Msia growth? Didn’t this also saves a lot of foreign exchange for Msia?

  73. Dear Chen on Soo,

    No, Malays are not scare of DAP. It is just that thay feel DAP maintains a very anti Malay sentiment. I am inclined to believe it. Hiding behind freedom of speech, they threw soo many unbelievable charges vs the Malays.

    For the Malays, a vote to DAP is tantamount to suicide. That is the reason why Malays felt that Anwar( and people of his pedigree) is finished politically. He is considered as a willing ally of a party that his own race considered as enemy.

    The reclocation of a Chinese school several years ago is a classic case. DAP played to the gallery. For nothing, UMNO was made to look like evil in foreign media( WEsten media) as trying to deny the right to study the mother tongue.

    And how can Malays forgot DAP is so willing to cash on Indian votes that it agreed to lies by Hindraf. DAP did not even try to tell the minsinformed world that the said temple was demolished after Deepavali. Instead, quitely, it went along Hindraf, knowing that Hindraf lied.

    And allow me to enlighten Mr Chen on what PM of Singapore said several ytears ago. Its Malay citizens will not be allowed into sensitive defence army system as their loyalty is in doubt. This is enough to show the true attitude.

    At least in Malaysia, there are still Chinese as OCPD, CPO, CEO of a bank owned by Malay shareholders. As for Chinese students getting scholarship, please reread my writing. Nowhere I question such wise move.

    What I said is crystally clear. Mock MCA, ridicule Gerakan, but if have any problem seeking fund to build a Chinese school, go through MCA to ask Govt for help. Incite the Chinese sentiments to oppsose the relocation of a Chinese school( even Chinese initially ask for the relocation). When the situation is out of hand, DAP quietly washed its hand off. MCa is left with the burden of clearing the damage.

    .

  75. Shamshul,
    Please don’t remind us about the roles and contributions of MCA and Gerakan anymore. If without them, Malaysia today would have been a nation “ala” Singapore where every community is self-assured and contributing to nation building. Because of them colluding with UMNO, today this nation has become moronic.

  76. “What Hindraf fought for is the truth and DAP is on the side of truth, got it? – leekampiut

    so everybody else is a liar? come to papa….if you want to know the truth. let me show you the truth.

  79. “God help those who help themselves!” The opposition has been working very hard all these years and they are surely not only helping themselves but also the rakyat of Malaysia, thus they will have the blessings of the Almighty!!!

  80. God helps those who practice MERITOCRACY., otherwise corruption sets in deep , like what is happening in BN. Read the following and enjoy, as this is fact not fiction.

    At 84, the fire still burns!
    By Ahmad Mustapha

    Singapore’s Minister Mentor, Lee Kuan Yew, who was Singapore’s founding father, has always been very direct in his comments. This was the man who outsmarted the communists in Singapore (with the innocent help of Malaya then and the willing help of the British) and who later outwitted the British and outpaced Malaysia in all spheres.

    Singapore practices corrupt-free meritocracy and Malaysia affirmative action. The former attracted all the best brains and the latter chased out all the brains. The Singapore cabinet consists of dedicated and intelligent technocrats whereas Malaysia has one of the most unwieldy cabinets. Not only that, brain- wise it was below par not even good for the kampong. With that kind of composition, one that is very brainy, naturally Singapore , with no natural resources could outstrip Malaysia in every aspect of development. Malaysia , on the other hand, was too much preoccupied with its Malayness and the illusory ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ and was also more interested in useless mega iconic development rather than real social and economic development. Whenever Kuan Yew utters anything that deemed to be a slight on Malaysia, voices were raised admonishing him. Malaysia would never dare to face reality. That Singapore had shown that it could survive was a slap on those who believed that Singapore would fold up once it left Malaysia. Therefore it was natural that these doomsayers would try to rationalise their utterances to be in their favour to combat on whatever Kuan Yew commented. Its political jealousy. Singapore achieved its development status without any fanfare . But here in Malaysia, a development that was deceptive was proclaimed as having achieved development status. It was trumpeted as an achievement that befits first world status. This was self delusion. Malaysians are led to believe into a make believe world, a dream world.

    The leaders who themselves tend to believe in their own fabricated world did not realise the people were not taken in by this kind of illusion. Lee Kuan Yew believed in calling a spade a spade. I was there in Singapore when the People’s Action Party won the elections in 1959. He was forthright in his briefing to party members as to what was expected of them and what Singapore would face in the future. Ideologically, I did not agree with him. We in the University of Malaya Socialist Club had a different interpretation of socialist reconstruction. But he was a pragmatist and wanted to bring development and welfare to the Singaporeans. Well! He succeeded . Malaysia was so much embroiled in racial politics and due to the fear of losing political power, all actions taken by the main party in power was never targeted towards bringing wealth to all. Wealth was distributed to the chosen few only . They were the cronies and the backers of the party leadership to perpetuate their own selfish ends. Seeing the efficiency and the progress achieved by Singapore caused the Malaysian leadership to suffer from an inferiority complex. That Malaysia should suffer from this complex was of its own making. In a recent interview, Kuan Yew said that Malaysia could have done better if only it treated its minority Chinese and Indian population fairly. Instead they were completely marginalised and many of the best brains left the country in droves. He added that Singapore was a standing indictment to what Malaysia could have done differently. He just hit the nail right there on the head.

    Malaysia recently celebrated its 50th year of independence with a bagful of uncertainties. The racial divide has become more acute. The number of Malay graduates unemployed is on the increase. And this aspect can be very explosive. But its sad to see that no positive actions have been taken to address these social ills. Various excuses were given by Malaysian leaders why Singapore had far outstripped Malaysia in all aspects of social and economic advancement :- Singapore was small, they rationalised and therefore easy to manage. Singapore was not a state but merely an island. There was one other aspect that Malaysia practises and that is to politicise all aspects of life. All government organs and machinery were ‘UMNO-ised’. This was to ensure that the party will remain in power. Thus there was this misconception by the instruments of government as to what national interest is and what UMNO vested interest is.

    UMNO vested interest only benefited a few and not the whole nation. But due to the UMNO-isation of the various instruments of government, the country under the present administration had equated UMNO vested interest as being that of national interest. Thus development became an avenue of making money and not for the benefit of the people. The fight against corruption took a back seat. Transparency was put on hold. And the instruments of government took it to be of national interest to cater to the vested interest of UMNO. Enforcement of various enactments and laws was selective. Thus a ‘palace’ in Kelang, APs cronies and close-one-eye umno MPs could exist without proper procedure. Corruption infested all govt departments, the worst is the police and lately even in the judiciary. Singapore did not politicise its instruments of government. If ever policisation took place, it was guided by national interest. To be efficient and to be the best in the region was of paramount importance. Thus all the elements like corruption, lackadaisical attitude towards work and other black elements, which would retard such an aim, were eliminated. Singapore naturally had placed the right priority in it’s pursuit to achieve what is best for its people. This is the major difference between these two independent countries.

    Malaysia in its various attempts to cover up its failures embarked on several diversions. It wanted its citizens to be proud that the country had the tallest twin-tower in the world, although the structure was designed and built by foreigners. Its now a white-elephant wasting away in the glow of the sun and the moon. It achieved in sending a man into space at an exorbitant price. For what purpose? These are what the Malays of old would say “menang sorak” (hollow victories).

    It should be realised that administering a country can be likened to managing a corporate entity. If the management is efficient and dedicated and know what they are doing, the company will prosper. The reverse will be if the management is poor and bad the company will go bust. There are five countries around this region. There is Malaysia, and then Indonesia. To the east there is the Philippines and then there is that small enclave called the Sultanate of Brunei. All these four countries have abundance of natural resources but none can lay claim to have used all these resources to benefit the people.

    Poverty was rampant and independence had not brought in any significant benefits to the people. But tiny Singapore without any resources at all managed to bring development to its citizens. It had one of the best public MRT transport systems and airlines in the world and it is a very clean city state. Their universities, health care, ports are among the best in the world. It is impossible to compare what Singapore has achieved to what all these four countries had so far achieved. It was actually poor management and corruption, and nothing more.

    Everything is done for the vested interest of the few. Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines and the Sultanate of Brunei need good management teams. They would not be able to do this on their own steam. I would advise that they call on Kuan Yew to show them what good governance is. Why look East to Japan when the answers are all there just next door across the causeway.

  81. And to say that comparison cannot be made between apple and grapes, why not ? Boduwhi , we can compare apples Vs grapes , with science , we can compare the vitamins and mineral content of both and similarly with 2 different countries so many parameters can be compared with.,
    Maybe he would have been happier if comparison of Malaysia were made between Malawi or Afganistan, then maybe we wud have come out tops.
    If things like meritobumi (unlike meritcracy)continues democracy in this country will become doomacracy and put the country even backwards, stay tuned.

  82. If the people decide to give a thumping victory to the BN parties, then they should not blame other but themselves for whatever injustices to be inflicted moving forward.

    So this is the time of reckoning.

  83. Colonel says:
    So now you say we are all morons! When are you going to stop??
    Malaysia a nation of morons??! God! That’s a new twist!

    Colonel @ Come2Papa,
    HI coward, First, please don’t invoke God’s name in vain. It is sinful.
    Second, i will stop when moron like you disappear from the surface of this earth. You corrupted twisted mind.

  85. Dear Limkamput,

    A few questions for you:
    1) Why Hindraf did not mention that the temple in question was demolished after Deepavali ?

    2) Why Hindraf did not tell the Indians that the number of temples in Selangor itself is more than the number of masjid and suraus put together. Mind you, Indian population in Selangor is roughly a quarter to that of the Malay community.

    And what is wrong by highlighting the contribution of MCA. You want condemn MCA as a stooge of UMNO, but please remember thousands of Malaysians benefits from UTAR.

    Mr Limkamput, cant you see anything good in MCA? I mean I know you feel any Chinese party that is in alliance with UMNO must be bad. For once, search youtr heart, remove the hatred.

    Cant you see any good deed by MCA for once in your life? FOr one, be honest, for your sake.

  86. Yes. I am being honest and I am touching and searching my heart and I just can’t find any good in MCA. Because of MCA ever willing to sell their soul, that is why Malaysia today has become a third world nation with UMNO exercises full political, social, cultural and religious hegemony on others, promote mediocrity, inculcate incompetence and corruption. If only MCA can see what PAP saw when PAP was in Malaysia, today this country would have become a little Switzerland in Asia, with every race including the Malays self assured, confident and dynamic in facing the world. Yes, because of MCA colluding with UMNO, Malays today have become permanent aids recipients while many Chinese have to migrate to seek opportunity and excel elsewhere. Do you know if not for Malaysian Chinese in Singapore, Singapore today would have been nothing? Do you know that a vast majority of the specialists in Singapore hospitals are Malaysians or former Malaysians? Look, I think you have to tell your fellow country men that the time has come where all races must earn their own upkeep. The earlier you do it; the better is for your community. The system we have does not promote efficiency both among the Malays and the non Malays. Chinese from MCA and Gerakan and Indian from MIC are half-bake non Malays. The good ones will never be subservient to those who are less competent them. If UMNO genuinely want to see progress and development in this country, you have no choice but to work with more clever non Malays. You have to face the cold hard fact. Malays alone (and even working with half bake Chinese and Indians) are just not good enough to bring prosperity and development to this country which is increasingly facing pressure and challenges from a rapidly globalising world. Wake up my friend; it is not that the Non Malays hate ketuanan Melayu. The race supremacy thing is simply not in sync with the modern world. As far as I know, no race in the world today claims to be more supreme than others. Even South Africa during apartheid has never claimed supremacy. They just set apart the white and the black. Ketuanan Melayu must go. Read my lips; go it must because it is a third world tribal mentality concept. Many Malays are now university professors, wearing three piece suits and driving BMWs and Mercz, but mentality wise, I am not too sure. You could one of those in this category, judging from the many postings you wrote earlier – a clever person caught in a third world mentality.

  89. Dear Limkamput,

    They say “hatred can blind a man “. Exactly that is the plague that consumes you.

    However, you are right for once. You indeed are not able to see anything good in MCA. Yes dear, hatred does have a potent force. It can blind people.

    You cant see or refuse to see. The truth is that you consider any alliance with UMNO is a sign of weakness. MCA just takes a practical view. It accepts the reality of the situation. It recognises the supremacy of UMNO simply as Malays forms the largest group in Malaysia. Naturally the political power is in their hands.

    Whatever condemnation you have against BN, you cant deny that your much cherished political party is not in any way provides a credible alternative. DAP only appeals to a section of Chinese community.

    Tell the truth. Which better represent the true face of Malaysia from Malay to Iban to Bidayuh to Chinese to Melanau races:BN or DAP?

    Worse still, hiding behind whatever good practises, DAP is known as “father and son “co. So, it does not practise what it preaches.It consistently maintains a very anti-Malay attitudes.

    And I never deny contribution of non Malays. I recognises good traits among Chinese. They are good in financial planning as compared to Malays. But surely this does not give anyone any right to condemn any race.

    As for the over used Ketuanan Melayu, I do not use the word. Neither the word is used among Malay politicians. What I heard from Malay politicians is that they remind Malays that Malay have themselves to be blamed should they lose political power.

    It is actually a natural process. Malay political power is due to the demography. Just like the WASP concept in USA. White Anglo Saxon Protestant, being the largest group has the most influence in politics as compared to ,say Latinos or Asian Americans.

    And I see no reason to belittle a race that maintains supremacy in politics. At least in this planet. Just like Singapore is likely to have only Chinese Prime Minister. Malaysia is likely to have a Malay Prime Minister.

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