MCA and UMNO — From “brothers” in Alliance to “master and slave” in Barisan Nasional in five decades?

The Chinese night editions this evening, front and inside pages, are dominated by news of the MCA Youth annual general assembly in Malacca this morning with the cover photograph of the entire MCA Youth Central Committee members on stage standing up to wave copies of the Malaysian Constitution when the MCA Youth leader Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said that instead of brandishing the keris to make a point, it is better to wave the Federal Constitution.

In blaring headlines, the newspapers quoted the eight words of “ren bu fan wo, wo bu fan ren” in relation to Liow ‘s speech when he said: “We in MCA and MCA Youth won’t be easily bullied by others, ren bu fan wo, wo bu fan ren; ren ruo fan wo, wo bi fan ren. In the BN family, we are brothers, there is no master and slave, there is no question of who is being scared of who or whom should kowtow to whom,”

The Chinese saying is a warning of retaliation when one is offended.

But the high-point of the whole proceeding was that the Umno Youth deputy leader, Khairy Jamaluddin, who attended the MCA Youth annual general assembly instead of the youth leader, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, did not understand a single word of Liow’s fierce speech and warning as this part of the MCA Youth leader’s speech was completely omitted in his Bahasa Malaysia delivery.

This immediately raises the question whether the whole proceeding was just a “sandiwara” for the Chinese media and Chinese audience.

Liow made a good point that instead of brandishing the Malay keris, one should wave the Federal Constitution to defend and uphold one’s fundamental rights as entrenched in the Constitution, the Merdeka social contract and the Malaysia Agreement which brought Sabah and Sarawak into the federation.

But the place to wave the Federal Constitution is not at the MCA Youth Assembly with the Umno Youth deputy leader not understanding what all the “show” was all about, but in the Cabinet and Parliament and at a time when fundamental nation-building principles and rights were being unilaterally, arbitrarily and unconstitutionally undermined!

Six years ago, when the Federal Constitution, Merdeka social contract and Malaysia Agreement were gravely eroded, why didn’t any MCA or MCA Youth leader wave the Federal Constitution in Cabinet and Parliament to defend the fundamental nation-building principles and rights laid down in the Constitution, Merdeka social contract and the Malaysia Agreement?

Instead of MCA and MCA Youth leaders waving the Federal Constitution six years ago to defend and uphold the fundamental nation-building principles and rights agreed by our forefathers on the attainment of Independence 50 years ago, MCA and MCA Youth leaders were all putting up their hands to support the unilateral, arbitrary unconstitutional revision of the Federal Constitution, Merdeka social contract and Malaysia Agreement.

Liow’s use of the Chinese saying, “ren bu fan wo, wo bu fan ren; ren ruo fan wo, wo bi fan ren” reminds many of another MCA Youth leader in the past, as this was also one of his predecessor’s favourite quotations. But when things came to a crunch during the Operation Lalang in 1987, he was the first to run away from the country while DAP leaders like Karpal Singh, Dr. Tan Seng Giaw, Lim Guan Eng, Lau Dak Kee and the late P. Patto and V. David did not flinch in the Internal Security Act crackdown where I was detained for the second time and all of us despatched to the Kamunting Detention Centre to be “guests” of His Majesty’s Government.

But the most thought-provoking part of Liow’s speech is his statement: “In the BN family, we are brothers, there is no master and slave, there is no question of who is being scared of who or whom should kowtow to whom,”

This has logically given rise to the question whether the relationship between MCA and UMNO in the past 50 years had deteriorated and degenerated from “brothers” in the Alliance to “master and slave” in the Barisan Nasional — to use Liow’s own words?

(Speech at the Kepong DAP dinner in Jinjang, Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, 18th August 2007 at 9 pm)

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56 Replies to “MCA and UMNO — From “brothers” in Alliance to “master and slave” in Barisan Nasional in five decades?”

  1. Now, who says there’s no master and no slaves?
    http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/71202
    SJK (T) Ladang Sungai Salak in Lukut, Negri Sembilan, while having shifted to “new” premises will face new financial challenges.

    “Now the rental of RM500 and utility bills of RM200 are being paid by donors,” [School Board Chairman, A Ponniah] said.

    Asked if the school has approached the government for assistance, he said the board had asked for money to buy furniture, but that the district education department rejected the appeal.

    “In June, we asked if the education ministry could at least take over payment of one of the utility bills,” he said.

    “Last month, they agreed verbally to pay the electricity bill for three months – possibly from this month, although we don’t know for sure. I guess, after three months, they expect us to find another donor to take care of the bill.”

  2. All the Chinese language print media today was forced to print with big pictures and long articles about the MCA Youth meet. CKC was pictured as if he was the hero of Chinese community.

    Hero? He should perform harakiri on stage to apologize to all Malaysians on all his wrong doings involving the Port Klang scandal costing RM 4.6 Billions, the bus accident costing 21 good lifes and many others!

  3. MCA must learn to walk the talk..
    Like the Dompok guy who stood to his guns on certain issues.

    Right now MCA is just a empty barrel – if the Youth section does not put pressure onto the Seniles to lead, follow or get out of the way( which most should do ), MCA will remain 2nd class – you know like the caste system that’s practice in India

  4. MCA (in mandarin): We will not be bullied
    Malay translation: We are all brothers

    MCA (in mandarin): Do not threaten us with the keris
    Malay translation: We understand that the keris is a Malay cultural symbol

    MCA (in mandarin): We will not tolerate financial scandals
    Malay translation: We understand that there are projects of national importance.

    MCA (in mandarin): No upstart from UMNO Youth is going to tell us what to do
    Malay translation: We are so honoured to have such a senior UMNO representative in our midst.

  5. It is long overdue and hope it is not too late!!

    To save the country and protect the unique culture and traditions of the ordinary bumi and their way of life, MPs in BN, including UMNO’s, must leave BN and become an independent candidate or join Opposition.

    Enormous damage had already been done to the country and her ordinary people and the country could not have these irresponsible, unaccountable and incompetent politicians in government for another term.

    Only through a major reform, restructuring and change that the country stands a decent change of recovery.

  6. “In the Barisan family, we are brothers, there is no master and slave, there is no question of who is being scared of whom or who should kowtow to whom,” Liow Tiong Lai added to applause.

    Clap, clap.

    Yes, no question is asked of who is being scared of whom or who should kowtow to whom. MCA folks just instinctively and willingly know when to be scared and when to kowtow to their political master. Otherwise, how to survive lah – to get some crumbs of contracts, to get fanciful tiltles, to have access to some goodies reserved for obedient individuals, etc.

    Remember this is the 7th month of the lunar calendar. Time for acting on getai for the numerous raving hungry ghosts.

  7. MCA has not spoken on the topic whether Msia is a secular or islamic state. Parliamentary democracy as expounded by PM is akin to secular. So Msia as ashrined in the Constitution is not an islamic state as stated by DPM and he should retract his statement. When big brother (UMNO) talks, little bro (MCA. MIC) listen and keep quiet. MCA should be more bold to say what is the truth and not be a coward or to jaga their rice bowls.

  8. …..any person in government inflicting damage to the country and her ordinary people for whatever reasons must go and be brought to court to face charges for actions/non actions!

    These are the real and most dangerous traitors of the country and her ordinary people!!!

  9. Liow Tiong Lai said the authorities should do away with labels like ‘Muslims and non-Muslims’, ‘bumiputras and non-bumiputras’ among Malaysians to eradicate racism and advocate the spirit of ‘rakyat Malaysia’.

    This is worth a Nobel Prize for Peace to come from a guy who belongs to MCA, a race-based political party!

    To be a matured first world country, rather than a nation with tribal instinct, Malaysia should in the first place ban all political parties based on race. We must be one of the few countries, if not the only country, on this planet that has three main political parties based on race – UMNO, MAC, and MIC, whose memberships are based on race.

    If Liow is honest and walks his talk, he should declare that MCA, UMNO, and MIC are irrelevant (nay, in fact, the mother of all big fat problems in Malaysia) and should be dissolved. Political parties should be based on ideology and aspiration common to all racial groups and hence, opened to all individuals, irrespective of race and religion.

    Right now, at the official level, we cannot even change from Malaysian Malay, Malaysian Chinese, and Malaysian Indian to Malay Malaysian, Chinese Malaysian, and Indian Malaysian, respectively.

    So, Liow, please stop talk c**k! Take your acting of heroic to another planet. Just continue to kowtow to your master. Period.

  10. So, that UMNO Youth chief Hishamuddin Hussein Onn, was not brave enough to face the swarm of MCA Youths eh? …or did he go searching for his balls at the golf course?

    Well done MCA Youth Chief Liow Tiong Lai for delivering two sets of the fierce speech – in BM for political masters’ ears and in Chinese for Chinese audience and Chinese Media. A well-thought of sandiwara, sybas!

    So I guess Khairy Jamaluddin representing his Chief with the missing balls, must be grinning from ear to ear eh while Liow made his speech?

    I suggest Khairy Jamaluddin go learn the chinese language so if he should be given an opportunity to meet China’s First Sec of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC), Hu Chunhua, he’d understand when the issue of Malay keris is raised, and not to just grin and make a fool of himself has his Chief did.

    Back to the Federal Constitution, why the sudden interest from MCA and Gerakan? Why the sandiwara?

    As I can remember DAP the only political party that dare to stand up to UMNO Gobloks in Parliament, got them to back off and buck off and to respect the Federal Constitution that protects the rights of EVERY MALAYSIANS UNDER THE SUN.

    For all that they had done, for decades MCA, Gerakan or MIC chose to remain subservient to UMNO and maintain their elegant silence for themselves and their ‘periok nasi’. They have betrayed the Chinese!

    Whatever it is, MCA has been a complete letdown to the people – Chinese Malaysians and for the name it represents. What needs to be said about them, has been said in all blogs, in the streets and every coffee shops and we are all tired and disgusted. Just can’t wait for the General Election to kick them all OUT!

  11. Aiyah, only sandiwara. Election coming and MCA’s ricebowl at stake. What to do, must sandiwara for the populace. BUT the Chinese people is now smarter and more knowledgeable. MCA cannot take them as fools & morons like before. The MCA scoundrels who hold public office will be chased out & lose their rice bowls. Don’t shed any tears for them, however, they have trillions of filled rice bowls some stashed in Switzerland.

  12. Liow Tiong Lai said the authorities should do away with labels like ‘Muslims and non-Muslims’, ‘bumiputras and non-bumiputras’ among Malaysians to eradicate racism and advocate the spirit of ‘rakyat Malaysia’.

    Hellooooo, Liow and his MCA youths should be jumping with joy to know that DAP has in fact been pursuing The Malaysian Dream and is committed to struggle for a free, democratic socialist Malaysian Malaysia (rakyat Malaysia). For years DAP MPs have been waving the Federal Constitution and talked about their Malaysian Malaysia goal in all four languages understood by our multiracial population.

    Why did it take so long for Liow and his MCA youths to realize that a Malaysian Malaysia is the way forward? They should declare during the ongoing MCA Youth annual general assembly, in front of the SIL, that they are quitting MCA to join DAP to walk their talk and to fulfill their rakyat Malaysia dream.

    A heartfelt message to Liow and his MCA youths: It’s not too late to be jantan, wake up from your nightmare, admit you are in the wrong political party, and be brave to turn over a new leaf to become politicians with conscience, principle, and backbone. Evolve to be vertebrates, rather than to remain forever as invertebrates.

  13. The Wee Meng Chee’s National Anthem controversy has been mismanaged at the outset. BN’s top leadership should have listened to wiser counsels and diffuse the controversy by magnanimity than escalating it by recommending prosecution after an apology. As much as Meng Chee’s parody of the national anthem might have touched on certain sensitivities [the part relating to Muslims calling to prayers (adzan)] for which he had apologized, what he articulated however struck a resonant chord with non malays, especially the Chinese, of what is wrong with the country, which is the reason why MCA took it upon themselves to broker a satisfactory closure to the controversy.

    To acquiesce with MCA’s intervention to solicit an apology from Meng Chee and yet proceed with prosecution is a betrayal not only of Meng Chee but also the broker because if the law were going to take its course anyway, then the apology was not necessary, as, whatever had been said, the deed of pursuing prosecution evinced that the apology was not accepted. Now by rules of fairness, if you demand for an apology it must be an express or implied quid pro quo arrangement that you let the “contrite” party off which was the basis why the 2 BN MPs of Jasin and Kinabatangan who made the infamous sexist “bocor” remarks were let off with an apology without further disciplinary action.

    To demand and get an apology and yet prosecute the offender is having the cake and also eat it, taking all and giving nothing back, and taking two bites of the cherries which is not in accord with gentleman fair play.

    Why is this so – because you’re dealing with the MCA? This is where the bigger issue of whether MCA is in a smaller vis-à-vis bigger UMNO brother relationship or Master versus Servant relationship comes to the fore, albeit on the eve of general election.

    When a Rotweiller pushes the cat to the corner, even the cat will fight ferociously back. That is why in all negotiations and test of wills, one does not push the weaker party to the corner where there is no room for the one cornered to maneuver to save face except to hit back! It is a recipe for disaster in the relationship.

    Although what MCA Youth has done may be sandiwara, it has every potential of escalating. What the Youth Wing has done is effectively to embarrass Deputy UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin in ways not entirely gentlemanly (taking advantage of his not knowing Mandarin) – an open defiance of UMNO!

    If I know them better, there is really nothing in the world that matters more to UMNO members than face and it is something that they may take any costs and would fight for!

    In the premises it almost predictable that UMNO would return the insult with gun blazing opening a way to a showdown.

    Of course it is also predictable that MCA would in all probability back down and eat humble pie but if that is going to the necessary end result why should MCA Youth come out with such fiery speeches in the first place to score points so that they might lose more points later? This does not make sense.

    MCA’s top leaders Ong Ka Ting/Chan Kong Choy and UMNO’s have cause to worry on how to manage this looming clash between their respective Youth Wings and how much its fall out will generate pressures on the top leaders.

    The eventual downfall of BN, if it ever comes, will be by “implosion” with their components getting each other throats.

    Sharing of spoils of patronage and largesse albeit unequal distribution is an incentive for so long as there’s strong leadership….but when the leadership (of BN as a whole and its individual component parties)is perceived, everyone in notches below will try to be a “taiko” and assert his/their positions leading to a internecine conflict within the grouping that occasionally may lead to a conflagration. Maybe this could be the instance.

  14. Is this another scam to cheat Chinese community’s sympathy or to threathen Chinese that if MCA loose in upcoming GE, Chinese will be doomed?

    No no, go and tell this story to your old granny…
    Who will believe them again?
    Why not put their words into action and challenge UMNO directly?
    Why not leave BN?
    No action, No Trust from Chinese Comminuty anymore……Must get this message to all Chinese to prevent them from being cheated by their scam again

  15. We did have strong leadership in Dr Mahathir, but being strong has its problem as well. It is able to keep the rot in for longer period than we can afford. It is pretty obvious to everyone except himself that his supermega projects were all a manifestation of his delusion of grandeur and have cost the country untold billions. His prescription of affirmative action to improve the poorer Malay lot in general has failed miserably. It only ended up lining the pocket of corrupted politicians and perpetuate the crutch effect of dependence and addiction. It is ironical that as a doctor he knew his prescription did not work and yet he persisted. Nobody could tell him otherwise. Everything has be kept underwrap for the benefit of fueling his ego.

    Now we have a new PM. Weak, ineffectual as many see him to be, the measure of restraint that necessary come about this allow the rot to come out into the open. We know it stinks like hell and that if we do not change our course down the slippery slop of destruction, we will be chicken feed for the rest of the world in 30 years time.

  16. The MCA No.1 and 2, are a shame to the community they represent. Not only are they subservient to UMNO, failed to protect the interest of the Chinese, it’s a shame to watch them speak in public, struggling to pronounce their english on tv and the world thinks our Malaysian Chinese have such low standard and speak just like them! Malu lah.

    Even Chinamen in Mainland China speaks better English and their pronounciation, ada standard!

  17. After 50 years of independence, the relationship between the race in Malaysia is not getting better. I guess may be 50 years ago, the relationship is much better than what we have now. There is no doubt that 50 years ago, MCA is the hero of the chinese community in Malaya but now we know whether they are “brother” or “master” or “slave”…

  18. The chinese communities and other races besides malays are being used by UMNO leaders as punching bags to climb their political ladder. Leaders such as Hissamuddin who is eyeing the UMNO Vice president and KHAIRY who is eyeing the UMNO Youth chief occasionally used racial issue to promote their image in UMNO. MCA is being used by UMNO to explain and blind the eyes of the chinese communities whenever the communities are being provoked by these leaders in UMNO.

  19. As much as MCA is trying its best to convince us, MCA is the slave and UMNO the master, period. The power sharing concept expounded by UMNO is that of “you take whatever we give”. If there is true power-sharing, I believe it is only proper that Presidents of the various component parties in the BN should head strategic ministries like Finance, Foreign Affair, MITI, Internal Affairs, Education, Defence and even be a DPM. These are the ministries with ultimate powers. It is so belittling that Presidents of the various BN component parties heading low-end ministries to that of their subordinates. For example: OKT = Minister of Housing is also = to Chan Kong Choy = Minister of Transport. May be we should not be demanding too much from UMNO but what about asking for the return of the Finance ministry to MCA??? Surely that could be done, couln’t it, unless MCA is still the slave and UMNO the master????

  20. Can someone clarify whether the following astounding revelation is true?

    According to Jeff Ooi, Information Minister Zam leaked that it was Gerakan ie Dr Lim Keng Yaik (its sole representative in Cabinet) who wanted Wee Meng Chee subject to legal action; that although Zam wanted to retract, The Star spiked the story but Sin Chew Jit Poh nevertheless ran it in its evening edition; that DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng told Jeff that he understood this from another editor of The Star : see link http://www.jeffooi.com/2007/08/negarakuku_zam_tried_to_retrac.php

    This is also brought up in Malaysia Unplugged Blogspot 19th Aug in this link: http://malaysianunplug.blogspot.com/2007/08/its-gerakan-lim-keng-yaik-who-wanted.html

    There are three or four important questions raised here.

    First, is it true or speculation that Lim Keng Yaik lobbied Wee Meng Chee to be subject to legal action? If so, why did the media (NST, Star & The Sun) only reported the statements of Nazri Aziz, Rais Yatim & Pak Lah as stating that Wee Meng Chee be subject to legal proceedings omitting Keng Yaik in first instance?

    Second (if events as stated by Star Editors to Jeff & Guan Eng were true), what is Keng Yaik’s motives – is it to cut a wedge between UMNO and MCA (considering recent events in MCA Youth Meeting on 18th Aug in Malacca)?

    Third (if events as stated by Star Editors to Jeff & Guan Eng were true), what is The Star’s motives in spiking the story when Sin Chew Jit Poh already reported it?

    Fourth, whether what Jeff Ooi blogged of what the Star Editors informed him and Guan Eng of what Zam said about Jeff’s previous party (Gerakan)’s complicity in punishing Wee Meng Chee is itself true .

  21. Nursery rhyme adapted for the mca
    Wee Willie TiongLai
    Runs through the town
    Upstairs, downstairs, in his nightgown
    Tapping at the window, crying and wailing
    Are you mca slaves all working?
    Big Brother the master’s coming!

  22. Well now, at least there are some sense in some Malaysian Chinese people. KJ’s attendance in the MCA youth general assembly was just for formality’s sake. Even if the MCA have used Mandarin, some Mandarin speaking Melayu would have translated the whole thing for our sleeping prince or any of his awakened workers. MCA forgets that it is the tradition of the Chinese people to have masters and slaves. The ancient Chinese king being the master and all below him were the slaves. With the coming of OUR 50th Merdeka Day celebration, one very prominent thing that is happening in Malaysia is Islamisation. Ask any tourist if he thinks that Malaysia is truely democratic. We should ask foreigners who come here for a brief visit and his impressions. By the way talking again about the flag, I am sure Malaysians know all the different situations this jalur gemilang is made inglorious. Sticking flags big and small all over their vehicles. And when this flag fell off, the other vehicle would just roll over and pass by. Big shots guilty of planting small flags on every car. Do you know the protocol of having the flag flown ? The Barisan Nasional itself should be ashamed for not knowing and for encouraging the flying of the jalur gemilang all wrong. Charge them. Bring them to the court. See how they defend themselves. 50 years gone and yet we still don’t know how to fly the jalur gemilang. And when a young man decided to expose the wrongs of the country, these people responsible for us cannot stand, refuse to acknowledge their sins and become defiant.

  23. Jeffrey:

    I beg to disagree. UMNO Youth will not escalate the tensions between them and MCA Youth at this juncture – the eve of general elections. They will carry this through the elections, then at next year’s UMNO General Assembly, this matter will be brought up again, with warnings of dire consequences for MCA if they do not recognise the superiority of UMNO within the BN.

    Kit is right, this is sandiwara of the highest order so that the Chinese papers can carry one version, and the Malay papers can carry a watered-down version. All parties go away happy – for the time being.

  24. For the past 50 years, BN has been digging the hole deeper and deeper. It will just take somebody to kick us into the hole and bury us now. The miserable failure of the BN brand of racial politics and race base parties has left us after 50 years poorer, more divided, more corrupted,more radical, less tolerant and disorganise. In the same vein, although DAP has almost all the answers, it is not able to do more than beyond customary and at times ferocious opposition. Uncle LKS and some others in DAP have proven beyond doubt they have the strength in character, the moral authority and unswaying integrity to Govern yet they went no further than being the opposition. So why has DAP failed to get the votes and the nation’s support even when the BN is obviously a big failure for the country. Why do the majority still continue to choose to take their chance with BN knowing full well that they have been lead down the path to destruction so far.

  25. you sudah lupa ka MCA…
    macam… now you see, now you don’t…
    remember the memorandum given to PM, where you all were being told to retract it back!
    today you got bolas, bila UMNO bising, your bolas semua jadi kecut.
    buat bising kat pentas aje tak guna. coba buat bising kat parlimen. baru boleh orang kat, lu betul betul ada bolas.

    aku punya falsampah!

  26. Since the last GE, many issues affecting the Chinese community were not taken up by MCA or Gerakan, both of which just keep mum.

    The reasoning by them was that they are doing something on the quiet, God knows what! On top of that we do not see results.

    Instead opposition parties had raised many issues and raise consciousness of the citizens.

    We just do not understand whether MCA or Gerakan knows what it meant to be a leader, and the quality and requisite of a leader.

  27. Pure sandiwara.
    Next UMNO will come out waving a cane and the MCA youths will run helter skelter for cover!!! Ha!ha!
    Truths are out for all to see.
    Some one suggest that MCA leave BN? Not for another 1000 years.All the goodies these people are getting, they will cling to their posts like clinging to their dear lives!!!!
    Look at the directorships waiting for them on retirement.
    Hoi, cannot la!!!

  28. Why should anyone be the least offended by what is happening in this display of hypocrisy in the MCA Youth Conference? By now, every right thinking Malaysian should know what to expect from each of the BN component party. Leaders in these parties, let us not be mistaken, they are all wolfs in sheep skins. They are out to kill and eat raw. They are all the same. No mater where, peninsular Malaysia, Sabah or Sarawak. In Sarawak almost the whole state is already swallowed. Jadi “ulam”.

    Concern for justice and wellbeing of the people are the last things on their mind. Most of them are there after the wealth, power and self interest. So for us let us not expect good fruits to be borne by bad trees. The BN component parties are bad trees.

  29. “…//……I beg to disagree….UMNO Youth will not escalate the tensions between them and MCA Youth at this juncture – the eve of general elections. Kit is right, this is sandiwara of the highest order so that the Chinese papers can carry one version, and the Malay papers can carry a watered-down version…//..” – Godfather.

    Yes, agreed too, I would think that what is suspected – a grand sandiwara for MCA to show some “spine” to its constituents for the coming election – is true.

    It must be in part a reaction to the recent polls in June by Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research which determined generally Malaysian Chinese voters’ unhappiness with the government’s policies and predicted an surge of Chinese votes towards the opposition in the next elections. The PM even told the MCA delegates that any leader practicing discriminative policy was not fit to be a leader in Malaysia. “I have been fair, I want to be fair and I will always be fair. That is my promise,” he reiterated to the thunderous applause from the floor.

    But what I earlier said that there is really nothing that matters more to UMNO than face and acquiescence by other component parties of its hegemony – that it is the big boss – is equally true. How does this weign in the balance against sandiwara even if necessary for collective interest of BN in the coming elections?

    Sandiwara with no immediate escalation of conflict between UMNO & MCA Youth arms will play out smoothly if all abide by the decision – and leadership directive – of the top leaders of the component parties.

    The only part that I am not too sure is whether all will play by the rules of this so-called sandiwara (which has been staged often enough in the past).

    And the reason for this is that I sense that of late there are many occasions of a breaking of ranks (caused by internal divisions and jostling of power within UMNO especially) whether or not encouraged by a perception of weak or flexible, easy leadership or otherwise, that may make the best of plans including sandiwara go awry.

    At least that is what many would find interesting to see. :)

  30. Liow’s speech must have been censored by UMNO well before it was delivered.
    Without UMNO’s clearance which MCA slave will dare challenge his UMNO master/
    UMNO allowed the speech as MCA is fast loosing Chinese support and needs to show it is a toothless tiger.

  31. SANDIWARA.

    Folks please dont buy it. NO matter what happens dont ever gv MCA or BN another chance.

    I am willing to take my chances with DAP. If DAP doesnt measure up to the challenge, we also hv nothing to lose.

    SO Guy / Gals……DAP all the way.

  32. If Datuk Liow was no coward and UNMO lackey he should have spoken in plain Queen’s English in order that the SIL can understand him plainly.

    But because he is a coward, and only out to gain political mileage among the Chinese, he spoke Chinese to hookwinked the rural Chinese speaking folks. If for nothing, he should have repeated the pertinent points both in Queen’s English and Agong’s Bahasa Malaysia so that the SIL would get the message at least twice, and without a mistake.

    No, all just a political showmanship because election is coming.

  33. Wah Liow!!

    “In the BN family, we are brothers, there is no master and slave, there is no question of who is being scared of who or whom should kowtow to whom.” – Liow

    No master or slaves, you wish but your wish may not be granted. Remember, even if you are all “brothers”, there are “big” brothers and there are “small” brothers. There are “tai kors” and “sai lor kors”. Not all brothers are equal or are treated as equals. The biggest brother eat first and may not leave anything for the rest. So shouldn’t you be frightened?

    If you don’t do anything quick and fast Mr Liow, it will soon be “boh Liow”.

  34. What have MCA leaderships done until they needs to wave the constitution book?

    “We in MCA and MCA Youth won’t be easily bullied by others, ren bu fan wo, wo bu fan ren; ren ruo fan wo, wo bi fan ren. In the BN family, we are brothers, there is no master and slave, there is no question of who is being scared of who or whom should kowtow to whom,”

    [deleted]

  35. I beg to differ that it took 50 years to get to the Master Slave relationship. The truth is it has been that ever since Mahathir came into power. The only difference was that the Master was weak and depended on the slave until now. What we are seeing is how when spoilt children inherit their parents fortune and outdated ways, the children don’t get along. So long as there is enough inheritance to go around, the children will still watch their mouth. As soon as the inherited fortune evaporates or someone decides wants more than he is getting, then everything will fall apart and there is no real family to speak of.

    I think the most interesting part about the speech is sutlely, MCA Youth is sending a message to UMNO Youth that they are not what their fire-brand forebears are like and they, MCA Youth are not what their gentile forebears are like. The truth is UMNO Youth and MCA Youth are becoming more like each other. Its filled with ambitious weak principled people many with dubious motives and background. These groups of people are heading towards a clash with each other should the well dry up. But before the well dry up, they are also going to go after the innocent, those standing on the side, the weak. If may be happening already. When that avenue runs it course, we will know the end is near.

  36. Either this guy is stupid or he thinks we!

    Ever heard of Muslim brotherhood???

    If you are not a Muslim, you are not their brother and they do not trust you and your kafir way of life.

    That is why they are prepared to accept Pakistani Muslim or Arabs as their brothers, with benefits of Malay/bumi, than the non Muslims who had been in the country for generations, let alone their great contributions and sacrify to a modern and progressive country.

  37. “We must balance out the demands because no one gets 100% (privileges) É Please understand that I have not given out 100% (to any one party) and we distribute fairly.”
    http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=19027

    Sure, you have not given out 100% to any one party. But you have given out 99% to one single party and the rest of the parties have to share the remaining 1%. And you call that fair distribution, soontoo?

  38. Perhaps you would like to know more about Liow Tiong Lai. He is a nice, peaceable fella, a graduate from UKM, who would not give anyone offense or hurt anyone’s feelings. Liow would be quick to compromise and quite easily give in to a robust opponent. One must not forget his rise in MCA politics was not through the thickets of championing issues, but he was a good and obedient assistant to Lim Ah Lek and was rewarded with the position for being obedient and loyal; not for being a great thinker, innovator or leader.

    The same goes with Ong Ka Ting, a nice schoolteacher who was able to please his master, former MCA Chairman, Ling Liong Sik. These were not self-made leaders who struggled for the community or did something proud for the nation! This should be perfectly clear. I can’t honestly say too much in support of Chan Kong Choy either. He appeared, carrying Lim AH Lek’s bag too. That’s the appearance from all the English media over the last decade. There’s nothing to suggest otherwise; these are not men who shone through leadership or who became champions in their own right with a character of their own.

    Such leaders in MCA person would make good and nice partners and companions for basketball (in OKT’s case), coffeeshop talkshop (in the cases of CKC and LTL); surely we can’t expect them to champion issues and robustly debate affairs of state, lesser still to represent and earnestly defend the rights of entire communities in an egalitatrian and cosmopolitan society.

    Did I say ‘egalitarian’? Oh, Malaysiakini reported Pak Lah said:

    “I don’t practice favouritism” (Beh Lih Yi | Aug 19, 07 4:21pm ).

    Pak Lah fudges so blatantly on the meaning of ‘favoritism’.

    Let me add:

    Pak Lah doesn’t practise egalitarianism either. It’s a long, tiring tale!

    Pak LAh pays lip service to integrity but, really, he neither understands nor practises integrity. That’s the truth. Sigh!

    Pak Lah pretends to respect his elders, but suppressed Tun M (not that I support Tun M either). Nor do I support Pak Lah now.

    Pak Lah pretends to lead, but lets his 3 ministries and the nation run on auto-mode; crime, corruption and inflation escalating.

    Pak Lah became a PM by sheer ‘luck’ after Tun M destroyed Musa, Ku Li, Anwar. He happened to be in the wings; a nice, obedient and ‘easy-to-handle’ successor (and that’s where Tun M was wrong). Tun M must have pulled Pak Lah’s name from a rabbit’s hat or a lucky draw box (and, honestly, I can’t tell which. What difference would that make? Both are fatally flawed.)

    And so we see Malaysian opera in full swing. What an awful mess with such sheepish actors from UMNO, MCA etc.

  39. “ren bu fan wo, wo bu fan ren; ren ruo fan wo, wo bi fan ren. ‘
    This Chinese phrase is actually a slogan of the Great Mao Tse Tong of China against the American Imperialism in the 50s and the 60s.
    Liau Tong Lai should translate the phrase to BM and warn the UMNO that May 13 is no more a threat to the Chinese cos we are going to live here and die here !!

  40. Since the last GE with the advent of blogs and more exposure to the Internet, I’ve always wondered if MCA would be getting more and more edgy abt the sentiment ‘on the ground’ esp. from its core constituency. I guess the AGM proves it to be the case, esp. with the results of the Merdeka survey recently. There must be genuine fear and apprehension in the party hierachy over the extent of the backlash against the MCA/BN in the coming GE.
    Saying one thing in the one vernacular press and another thing in another vernacular press is a classic tactic used since independence. Again ‘divide and rule’, division by race, language, culture, access to information are all elements of tried and tested BN strategy, so no surprise there. But having seen what was discussed in the MCA AGMs, they are nothing compared to the virulently racist and supremacists ideologies spewed at the Umno AGMs which would make the Nazis and Afrikaners blush with pride.

  41. “The time has come,” the Walrus said,
    “To talk of many things:
    Of shoes–and ships–and sealing-wax–
    Of cabbages–and kings–
    And why the sea is boiling hot–
    And whether pigs have wings.”

    Who would you prefer? A Prince from Oxford vs a Toad from Oxford?
    http://colour-blind.org/?p=796
    Both are graduates of Oxford, but what a difference between the two! What separates them is that elusive quality: class. One has it; the other does not. When you have class, Oxford will bring out the best in you. When you do not, not even esteemed Oxford can do much for you.

    One is a crown prince, a sultan-to-be whose recent wedding warmed the hearts of Malaysians for its elegant simplicity and regal restraint. His eloquent speeches inspire the young and old alike; they enthusiastically embrace his enlightened vision of Malaysia. He appeals to their idealism and decency, and they in turn respond in kind. His understated passion and cool rationality resonate with the citizens. He elevates the tone of our civil discourse. In short, Raja Nazrin is “Yang Teramat Mulia” (“The Most Esteemed”) personified.

    The other is a neophyte political operative, with grand pretensions of being the next Prime Minister. For now however, he is till struggling just to have the title (but not the qualities) of a “Yang Berhormat” (“The Honorable”) that goes with being a Member of Parliament. His obscenely ostentatious wedding a few years back dragged on for days, with multiple ceremonies. Its extravagance easily outmatched the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, minus of course the royal elegance. Today he is again indulging in excesses; this time hurling insults at Malaysians and assaulting their sense of decency.

    In his speeches to his followers in UMNO Youth, he instigates and brings out their dark side. To him, the Mat Rempits, those midnight marauders of unemployable youths who terrorize our streets, represent the best of our community. He champions them. Like them, his trade in stock is taunting and provoking, with undisguised racist undertone. Lately he resorts to simian references; no surprise as he is surrounded daily by the opportunist monkeys in the jungle that is UMNO. This fraud of a leader coarsens our public debates, dragging them to his barnyard level.

  42. It’s time for the young one to VOTE for a better Malaysia. I have enough of the government sandiwara! 50 years have gone with 5 different Prime Minister. What have we achieve? The tallest twin tower building in the world? I doubt our country future and I am scared! Sometimes ago, EX-PM said that we are all one big family and should live in unity! If that is true why is there bumiputra and non-bumiputra status? For me enough is enough, I am sick of all those empty promises! Please don’t waste the country resources to bail out failed national project! Proton is a FAILURE!

  43. MCA and MIC will remain to be the political eunuchs of UMNO. MCA and MIC did not even have the courage and conviction to voice these and other issues out where it matters, in the parliament. It’s time to vote the entire BN out for the sake of our beloved country!

  44. well at the very least some folks in MCA said something never mind their sincerity. What about MIC? Where are DAP’s Indian members? Don’t they have something to say? Does semi value have such a strong strangle hold on them?

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