For those of us who were in academic writing class, we recently learned about language stereotyping and oppression rite? Here's another issue for you all to ponder upon. You decide if there are signs of racial stereotyping here. It's the coverpage showing a black basketball athlete and the top supermodel in the world. Many are saying that they don't see any underlying msg in the picture.
Maybe you have a different take on this. It'll be interesting to hear your views.
Click here for the picture and the article written on this by AP. I malas wan do again so i linked to my blog.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Why Middle East Continues to Burn? – Muslim World and the so called War on Terrorism
Please don't kill me for too many postings.
Any takers?
Forum on
“Why Middle East Continues to Burn?
– Muslim World and the so called War on Terrorism”
Organized by SIRD
Date: 27 Mac 2008 (Thursday)
Time: 8.00 to 10.00 pm
Venue: The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (No 1, Jalan Maharajalela, 50150 Kuala Lumpur) [see map]
Abstract
Ever since the European colonial power led by Britain planted the Jewish state of Israel on the Palestinian soil the Middle East remains unstable. Isreal’s Western backed aggressive and expansionist policies have cause death and destruction. Even today Isreal remains the sole source of instability in the Middle East aggravated by deep divisions within the Arabs.
Meanwhile the so called war on terrorism turned out to be a war on Islam and Muslims. Under this campaign every Muslim man with a beard and Muslim women with a scarf is regarded as terrorist, hunted, arrested and tortured.
Exploiting the political climates the United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) invaded Afghanistan and Iraq and virtually ruined these two countries while Muslims were killed under various pretexts in many Muslim countries.
Under these circumstances what is the future holds for the Middle East in particular and the Muslim in general?
Panelist
1) Mr. Latheef Farook
Latheef Farook began his journalistic career with the now defunct Independent Newspapers in 1966 before joining the Sri Lanka’s premier English language daily Ceylon Daily News and the evening daily Ceylon Observer from 1971 covering local politics and foreign affairs besides finance and economic sectors.
Simultaneously working as the Sri Lankan correspondent for Middle Eastern news agencies following the local response to developments in the Middle East, especially in the context of the strong pro-Arab policy adopted by the then Sri Lankan government of Mrs Srimavo Bandaranaike, he also concentrated on economic developments in the international scene, especially in the developing world.
In 1976, Ceylon Daily News nominated him for the United Nations sponsored Dag Hammarskjold scholarship for Third World journalists.
In 1979, he led a group of Sri Lankan journalists to Dubai, relaunching the Gulf News before joining the Khaleej Times a year later, where for seven years he covered almost every aspect of Dubai’s development program, besides covering the Indian elections of 1979, which brought Ms. Indira Gandhi to power. Rejoining the Gulf News in 1987 he subsequently became the Gulf News Bureau Chief in Bahrain where he filed regular articles on the Gulf’s and Middle East’s sensitive political scene, economy, finance, banking and social problems besides extensively interviewing visiting world leaders.
In 2002 he became Head of Special Reports for the Gulf News in Dubai before returning home to launch the South Asia News Agency in Colombo in 2003, supplying feature articles on almost every aspect of Sri Lanka aimed mainly at catering to Sri Lankan expatriates in the Gulf region, Europe, the Americas and the Far East.
His book “War on Terrorism – The Untold Truths” was first published in Malaysia in May 2006 by SIRD. The book highlights all global issues since the collapse of the former Soviet Union and provides the other side of the US led campaign on the so called “War on Terrorism” which in fact is a global campaign against Islam and Muslims. It is being translated into many languages including Tamil.
Latheef Farook now resides family in Colombo.
2) Dr. Farish Noor
Dr. Farish A. Noor is a political scientist and historian and is presently Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University; and Director of Research for the Research Cluster ‘Transnational Religion in Southeast Asia’.
He is also affiliated professor at Muhamadiyah University, Surakarta and Sunan Kalijaga Islamic University, Jogjakarta, where he teaches both political theory and comparative religion.
He is the author of Islam Embedded: The Historical Development of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS: 1951-2003. (In two volumes), Malaysian Sociological Research Institute (MSRI), Kuala Lumpur, 2004.
His other writings include: Writings on the War on Terror (Globalmedia Press, India, 2006), From Majapahit to Putrajaya: Searching For Another Malaysia (Silverfish Books, Kuala Lumpur, 2005), Islam Progresif: Peluang, Tentangan dan Masa Depannya di Asia Tenggara (SAMHA, Jogjakarta, 2005), Di San Zhi Yan Kan Ma Lai Xi Ya (Sin Chew Jit Poh Press, Petaling Jaya, 2004), The Other Malaysia: Writings on Malaysia’s Subaltern History (Silverfish Books, Kuala Lumpur, 2003); and New Voices of Islam, (International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern World, Leiden, Netherlands, 2002).
Apart from his academic writings he is also a columnist for several newspapers across Southeast Asia, South Asia, South Africa and Europe. His columns have appeared in The New Straits Times, Sin Chew Jit Poh, Malaysiakini.com, The Star, The Pakistan Daily Times, The Khaleej Times, Far Eastern Economic Review, Jakarta Post, Bangkok Post, al-Qalam, and others. He has also been a radio essayist for the BBC World Service and BBC Radio 4.
For any further details please contact Ms Choong: 019-3503563 or Zul at 019-3083804 or our office at: 03 79578343/ 8342
(The Strategic Information and Research Development Centre (SIRD) is an independent publishing house founded in January 2000 in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. The SIRD list focuses on Malaysian and Southeast Asian Studies, Economics, Gender Studies, the Social Sciences, Politics, and International Relations. Our books address the scholarly community, students, the NGO and development communities, policymakers, activists, and the wider public.
SIRD also distributes titles (via its sister organization, GB Gerakbudaya Enterprise Sdn. Bhd.) published by scholarly and institutional presses, NGOs, and other independent publishers. We also organize seminars, forums, and group discussions. All this, we believe, is conducive to the development and consolidation of the notions of civil liberty and democracy.)
***Any takers?
Thursday, March 20, 2008
The Star's report on post-election forum
Source
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Chance to shape a new political frontier
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Chance to shape a new political frontier
PETALING JAYA: Malaysians need to think out of the box following the changes resulting from the recent general election, said a well-known political scientist.
The election results that transcended racial and religious sentiments have opened up possibilities of a new construct, said Dr Farish Noor, a Senior Fellow of NTU Singapore's Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
“Being in the frontier, we have no map or compass.
“We need to be brave to imagine,” he said, adding there was a need to look beyond superstition in charting new territories.
“Can Umno consider the possibility of a president from a Kadazan, Bajau, Iban, Penan or Peranakan background, PAS a non-Malay Muslim president or DAP a Malay or Indian leader?” Dr Farish asked during the Post-elections analysis open dialogue organised by the Centre for Public Policy Studies yesterday.
“Are we forever to remain beholden to history and trapped by the circumstances of the past?
Or are we going to admit to ourselves that this nation-state of ours is an invented construct and as such is also open to deconstruction, revision, adaptation and subsequently evolution?”
While deconstructing Malaysia, new leaders would encounter such obstacles that need to be overcome, he said
Human rights lawyer Malik Imtiaz said there was a need for civil society to be vigilant and hold the new state governments to higher standards of leadership.
The new leaders from the Opposition were generally young, while the Barisan Nasional had to be viewed constructively as a counter-balancing force because absolute power corrupts, he added.
Executive director of Sedar Institute Khoo Kay Peng said the relationship between the Federal Government and state governments would have to operate on a new dimension and that the former could not ignore the power held in five states.
Columnist Zainon Ahmad said the mainstream media had behaved disgracefully during the elections but would now have to reinvent itself to keep the people informed.
*
Let's give them credit where it's due.
What are they trying to hide?
From Elizabeth Wong, ADUN for Bukit Lanjan (PKR) in Selangor.
Fortunately, some members of the media caught this on camera.
Unfortunately, we can’t march right in to stop them because (i) we haven’t been sworn in; (ii) police has cordoned off the state office since Saturday night.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Pak Lah's cabinet
| Full list of 2008 cabinet |
| Mar 18, 08 1:02pm |
| The following is the list of cabinet ministers and their deputies as announced by the prime minister at 12 noon today. Foreign Minister Deputies: Mohd Johari Baharum (Umno), Mashitah Ibrahim (Umno, to be appointed senator), SK Devamany (MIC) and Hasan Malek (Umno). |
Someone tell me why Syed Hamid is STILL there...
PM unveils 'trimmed-down' cabinet |
| Mar 18, 08 10:46am |
| breaking news Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today announced his 'trimmed-down' cabinet. During a 20-minute press conference at his office in Putrajaya, Abdullah said he has decided not to appoint any parliamentary secretaries - bringing the number of appointments down from 90 to 68. He has also dropped many notable veterans and roped in new faces, who now make up half of the cabinet. Those axed are veteran leaders Rafidah Aziz, Jamaluddin Jarjis, Azmi Khalid, Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, who is known to be close to the prime minister. The premier has dropped his portfolio of internal security and outgoing foreign minister Syed Hamid Albar will run a newly merged Home Affairs and Internal Security Ministry. Abdullah has also retained his finance portfolio and Nor Mohamed Yakcop will continue to serve as second finance minister. His previous cabinet had a whopping 32 ministers, 39 deputy ministers and 20 parliamentary secretaries, with jobs handed out to many of the 14 race-based parties that make up the Barisan Nasional coalition. Among the interesting new faces are Zaid Ibrahim (left), who has been appointed minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of legal affairs. According to Abdullah, Zaid will be put in charge of legal affairs and oversee reforms in the judiciary. Only 17 of the 32 ministers in the previous cabinet have been retained - with five keeping their old posts while 12 moved to new profolios. Among them are Dr Rais Yatim, who has been named foreign minister and Ong Tee Keat (transport minister). Making a return to the cabinet is Shahrir Samad (right) who is appointed domestic trade and consumer affairs minister. Also back from the political wilderness is Muhammad Muhd Taib, who is now rural development minister. Muhd Taib quit as Selangor mentri besar in 1997 after he was charged for breaching Australian financial regulations in bringing in huge amount of undeclared cash. He was later acquitted. Meanwhile, Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud's son Sulaiman has been appointed deputy tourism minister. Khairy not in the line-up Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin was not named in the cabinet line up announced by his father-in-law. Prior to the elections, it was speculated that Khairy - the 32-year-old Oxford graduate - will be given an important post. However, the March 8 polls reversed his fortunes. Many blamed the young politician for BN's disastrous performance. Since then, pressure had mounted on the prime minister not to include his son-in-law in the line-up. Ka Chuan takes over from brother MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan (left) has been made housing and local government minister replacing his brother and MCA president Ka Ting. Party vice-president Ong Tee Keat is transport minister replacing deputy president Chan Kong Choy. Youth chief Liow Tiong Lai is health minister and Women's wing chief Dr Ng Yen Yen is women, family and development minister. MCA was also trounced in the elections. The party only managed to retain 15 out of its 40 parliamentary seats. MIC loses Works Ministry MIC failed to retain its control over the works ministry and party's secretary-general Dr S Subramaniam has been appointed human resources minister. The previous works minister was MIC president S Samy Vellu. The party suffered heavy losses in the March 8 polls, losing six out of nine parliamentary seats and 12 out of 19 state seats. MIC information chief M Saravanan has been appointed deputy federal territories minister while central working committee (CWC) member S Devamany is deputy natural resources and mining minister. Rafidah dropped: No explanation Rafidah (file photo, far right), who has held the trade portfolio since 1987, was the highest-profile casualty of the reshuffle. Abdullah would not comment on the departure of Rafidah - also chief of Umno's influential women's wing - who is to be replaced by outgoing agriculture minister Muhyiddin Yasin. "I don't discuss why. I think she should make way for someone new," he said. Abdullah: I'm not quitting Abdullah reiterated his insistence on staying in power, saying he had been given "a very strong mandate". "I am not going to shirk my responsibilities," he said, adding that in his new term he would focus on implementing the many projects launched during the outgoing administration. He said he was well aware of criticism that he had plenty of good policies but that his administration was "very short on implementation". The premier defended his deputy and heir-apparent Najib Razak against allegations of wrongdoing in military contracts, and said they had the "best of relationships". "There is no proof that Najib is involved in any corrupt activities," he said. "People can make all kinds of allegations, but what is important is that there is no evidence of that." Ends At least Khairy isn't! |
Entangled - the Musical
A man, with an unknown past.
A young lady, with a dream for greatness.
A family, with untold hurts.A wrong, that can never be made right.
When your past threatens to bind you from your future,
Forgiveness is the only way.
Forgiveness is the only way.
A story of love, of dreams, of fear, of forgiveness.Untold inside the hearts of many people.
For more information, please visit
http://entangledthemusical.blogspot.com
Entangled - the Musical
26th March 2008
7.30 p.m.
Kompleks Perdana Siswa (KPS) Auditorium
University of Malaya
(Free Admission)
(Free Admission)
For more information, please visit
http://entangledthemusical.blogspot.com
It is not a Race thing, it is an Identity thing!
(by a good pal of mine. Piece is published in the Sun I believe)
A number of international media reported that Malaysians head to the polls amidst racial tensions. They show pictures of Hindraf supporters throwing rocks, PAS within the Bersih march and FRUs spraying on demonstrators. It gives the misleading picture that racial strife is the main factor for the defeat of BN.
I don't believe that analysis is correct. I believe that we are seeing a new nationalism. Malaysians are asking - what does it mean to be a Malaysian. In fact, they're not only asking, they are answering it with their votes. It's a search for a new Identity. We want a Malaysia where all Malaysians are equal. That is why we see such a high turnout of first time voters who predominantly vote for the opposition.
These are the younger generation who were born after independence and do not share the divisive racial politics that came with the creation of the Malaysian nation state. They ask: Why should some Malaysians be less equal than others?
They vent their frustrations through the unofficial channels. If BN leaders have bothered to read blogs and web news, they would have an inkling into how huge this discontentment is. Instead they only believed in the mainstream media that has ironically created a bubble of illusion that led to their own downfall.
Non-Malays voted overwhelmingly for the opposition because they don't want to be 2nd and 3rd class citizens anymore. The Indian's call for Makkal Sakti- People Power which demolished the MIC and in places that are split between BN and opposition, their "minority" vote tip the scales away from BN.
As for the sway of Malay votes away from the BN, there is a palpable disgust that the BN is not doing enough to fight corruption and Bumiputera privileges meant little to them when they feel that wealth is only distributed among BN elites.
Anwar Ibrahim is savvy and he has been echoing this sentiment in all his ceramahs. He calls for an end to the NEP, and still attracted the Malay votes. And that's because the opposition coalition recognised that hunger, that cry for equality and the need to belong and answered it - Justice and equality for all. Even PAS has caught on. Nik Aziz says Islam does not discriminate. I saw many Indian youths and elderly Chinese bearing PAS flags campaigning for PAS.
The only party that is oblivious to this hunger is well - the BN! They are still scratching their heads wondeing what hit them. They can't hope to understand because their very existence is what is so hateful to many. They represent the old politics of divide and rule. Race-based politics where UMNO as the Malay party must be KIng to all other ethnic groups. And if you are not Malay by their definition, you are merely a "pendatang" who is here by their grace. "We should be grateful" is perhaps the most hated oft repeated line of the BN leaders to any dissenting voice.
I say to them -They should be grateful for the overtime we have given them.
A number of international media reported that Malaysians head to the polls amidst racial tensions. They show pictures of Hindraf supporters throwing rocks, PAS within the Bersih march and FRUs spraying on demonstrators. It gives the misleading picture that racial strife is the main factor for the defeat of BN.
I don't believe that analysis is correct. I believe that we are seeing a new nationalism. Malaysians are asking - what does it mean to be a Malaysian. In fact, they're not only asking, they are answering it with their votes. It's a search for a new Identity. We want a Malaysia where all Malaysians are equal. That is why we see such a high turnout of first time voters who predominantly vote for the opposition.
These are the younger generation who were born after independence and do not share the divisive racial politics that came with the creation of the Malaysian nation state. They ask: Why should some Malaysians be less equal than others?
They vent their frustrations through the unofficial channels. If BN leaders have bothered to read blogs and web news, they would have an inkling into how huge this discontentment is. Instead they only believed in the mainstream media that has ironically created a bubble of illusion that led to their own downfall.
Non-Malays voted overwhelmingly for the opposition because they don't want to be 2nd and 3rd class citizens anymore. The Indian's call for Makkal Sakti- People Power which demolished the MIC and in places that are split between BN and opposition, their "minority" vote tip the scales away from BN.
As for the sway of Malay votes away from the BN, there is a palpable disgust that the BN is not doing enough to fight corruption and Bumiputera privileges meant little to them when they feel that wealth is only distributed among BN elites.
Anwar Ibrahim is savvy and he has been echoing this sentiment in all his ceramahs. He calls for an end to the NEP, and still attracted the Malay votes. And that's because the opposition coalition recognised that hunger, that cry for equality and the need to belong and answered it - Justice and equality for all. Even PAS has caught on. Nik Aziz says Islam does not discriminate. I saw many Indian youths and elderly Chinese bearing PAS flags campaigning for PAS.
The only party that is oblivious to this hunger is well - the BN! They are still scratching their heads wondeing what hit them. They can't hope to understand because their very existence is what is so hateful to many. They represent the old politics of divide and rule. Race-based politics where UMNO as the Malay party must be KIng to all other ethnic groups. And if you are not Malay by their definition, you are merely a "pendatang" who is here by their grace. "We should be grateful" is perhaps the most hated oft repeated line of the BN leaders to any dissenting voice.
I say to them -They should be grateful for the overtime we have given them.
Monday, March 17, 2008
LKS: perpetual Mr Opposition Leader?
by Josh Hong Mar 14, 08 3:37pm
www.malaysiakini.com
[I'm taking the liberty of poaching this from Mkini site because I think it is a very good read and prescient analysis by Josh Hong, columnist]
Much of the nation was immersed in euphoria over the unexpected wins by the major opposition parties last weekend, only to taste some bitter fruits of victory now.
Yes, Umno, MCA, MIC and Gerakan fell like a house of cards in many of their parliamentary and state assembly constituencies, but racist politics is still very much alive and kicking. I mean, within the DAP itself.
Initially, I was extremely heartened to note that Islam, or the Islamic state debate, played a very insignificant role in the just concluded general elections, as opposed to the previous two. I remember Lim Keng Yeik of Gerakan and Ng Yen Yen of MCA, the two chief non-Muslim propagandists of Umno, going around Chinese areas scare-mongering the voters with ‘no pork, no karaoke and no cosmetics’ talks in 1999 and 2004, but those ridiculous words were conspicuously absent this time around.
Instead, Ong Ka Ting, the MCA president, and Lim, in their imperfect harmony, resorted to a relentless smearing of Anwar Ibrahim as an anti-Chinese fanatic. The strategy backfired and their parties lost big with Gerakan almost routed.
So it was crystal clear that Islam was a non-issue, so then why has Lim Kit Siang, the DAP veteran and stalwart, chose to have a post-election manifesto by allowing religion to raise its ugly head?
LKS, in an utterly disrespectful and arrogant manner, issued a statement instructing all the newly elected DAP assemblymen of Perak to boycott the swearing-in ceremony, scheduled to take place at Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar this week. Well, who did he think he is?
Need not be answerable?
He is no longer the secretary-general, the post that he vacated in 1999 after his ignominious defeat in Tanjong. The incumbent is his son Lim Guan Eng who is now the Chief Minister of Penang, but Guan Eng has maintained his elegant silence so far. Neither is LKS party chairman, the post currently occupied by Karpal Singh.
So, how on earth has LKS - a mere MP for Ipoh Timur - this power over DAP state assemblymen in Perak? I thought half of the country voted for separate administrations at state and federal levels.
Why can’t PAS secretary Mohd. Nizar Jamaluddin be the first choice as menteri besar of Perak? Because he is a Muslim? So a Muslim cannot represent and safeguard non-Muslim interests, if I buy LKS’ argument? If the DAP veteran honestly thought he had to make a stand so that he would not be seen to have ‘betrayed’ the Chinese who had voted for his party nationwide, LKS must also understand DAP could not have formed the government in Penang and won a total number of 28 parliamentary seats, unprecedented in the party’s history, without the huge swing in the Malay vote!
For instance, Teo Nie Ching of DAP defeated MCA heavyweight Hoh Hee Lee with a splendid majority of 21,025 in Serdang, but this could not have come about without the party securing 40% of the Malay votes in the constituency. So LKS seriously believes he need not be answerable to them?
How pathetic to see LKS is still obsessed with the harmful dichotomy of race and religion although the nation has awakened. Perhaps he has so used to the racist game orchestrated by Umno that he can hardly recognise the vastly changed political landscape.
Poisoning the people
Although I have my reservations about monarchy, even a ceremonial one, I agree with many that the royal household of Perak is unique and different from the rest in Malaysia. The Perak royals are highly respected for their intelligence and commitment to justice, especially the Regent Raja Nazrin Shah, who in my view is far more popular and genuinely loved by Malaysians of all races. Does LKS think he can surpass the Regent in unifying the people of Perak?
True, LKS has apologised to the Sultan and Regent of Perak, but this is not enough. He should go a step further by admitting that he failed to take into account the feelings of the Malay/Muslim community, a constituency that the DAP could barely win in the past.
As Ibrahim Suffian of Merdeka Centre has pointed out, the opposition parties must view the sharp decrease of Malay representation in Penang and Perak very seriously. If mishandled, the Malay voters who have just ventured into the new political terrain could feel threatened and flock back to Umno.
Let’s not forget, the two major Malay dailies, Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian, are still bent on poisoning the people with lies, fears, greed and hysteria, not to mention RTM and TV3 which reach nearly all corners of the country. DAP must exercise extra caution in order not to give more fodder for the racist party to regain its losses.
But LKS has apparently failed to live up to the expectations of those who are hungry for truly multiethnic politics. The more LKS meddles in the affairs in Penang and Perak, the more DAP sounds like the People’s Action Party of Singapore, and LKS himself like Lee Kuan Yew.
Should Umno successfully cash in on this negative impression and recover much of the Malay vote, LKS can go back to doing what he does best: being the perpetual Mr Opposition Leader.
www.malaysiakini.com
[I'm taking the liberty of poaching this from Mkini site because I think it is a very good read and prescient analysis by Josh Hong, columnist]
Much of the nation was immersed in euphoria over the unexpected wins by the major opposition parties last weekend, only to taste some bitter fruits of victory now.
Yes, Umno, MCA, MIC and Gerakan fell like a house of cards in many of their parliamentary and state assembly constituencies, but racist politics is still very much alive and kicking. I mean, within the DAP itself.
Initially, I was extremely heartened to note that Islam, or the Islamic state debate, played a very insignificant role in the just concluded general elections, as opposed to the previous two. I remember Lim Keng Yeik of Gerakan and Ng Yen Yen of MCA, the two chief non-Muslim propagandists of Umno, going around Chinese areas scare-mongering the voters with ‘no pork, no karaoke and no cosmetics’ talks in 1999 and 2004, but those ridiculous words were conspicuously absent this time around.
Instead, Ong Ka Ting, the MCA president, and Lim, in their imperfect harmony, resorted to a relentless smearing of Anwar Ibrahim as an anti-Chinese fanatic. The strategy backfired and their parties lost big with Gerakan almost routed.
So it was crystal clear that Islam was a non-issue, so then why has Lim Kit Siang, the DAP veteran and stalwart, chose to have a post-election manifesto by allowing religion to raise its ugly head?
LKS, in an utterly disrespectful and arrogant manner, issued a statement instructing all the newly elected DAP assemblymen of Perak to boycott the swearing-in ceremony, scheduled to take place at Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar this week. Well, who did he think he is?
Need not be answerable?
He is no longer the secretary-general, the post that he vacated in 1999 after his ignominious defeat in Tanjong. The incumbent is his son Lim Guan Eng who is now the Chief Minister of Penang, but Guan Eng has maintained his elegant silence so far. Neither is LKS party chairman, the post currently occupied by Karpal Singh.
So, how on earth has LKS - a mere MP for Ipoh Timur - this power over DAP state assemblymen in Perak? I thought half of the country voted for separate administrations at state and federal levels.
Why can’t PAS secretary Mohd. Nizar Jamaluddin be the first choice as menteri besar of Perak? Because he is a Muslim? So a Muslim cannot represent and safeguard non-Muslim interests, if I buy LKS’ argument? If the DAP veteran honestly thought he had to make a stand so that he would not be seen to have ‘betrayed’ the Chinese who had voted for his party nationwide, LKS must also understand DAP could not have formed the government in Penang and won a total number of 28 parliamentary seats, unprecedented in the party’s history, without the huge swing in the Malay vote!
For instance, Teo Nie Ching of DAP defeated MCA heavyweight Hoh Hee Lee with a splendid majority of 21,025 in Serdang, but this could not have come about without the party securing 40% of the Malay votes in the constituency. So LKS seriously believes he need not be answerable to them?
How pathetic to see LKS is still obsessed with the harmful dichotomy of race and religion although the nation has awakened. Perhaps he has so used to the racist game orchestrated by Umno that he can hardly recognise the vastly changed political landscape.
Poisoning the people
Although I have my reservations about monarchy, even a ceremonial one, I agree with many that the royal household of Perak is unique and different from the rest in Malaysia. The Perak royals are highly respected for their intelligence and commitment to justice, especially the Regent Raja Nazrin Shah, who in my view is far more popular and genuinely loved by Malaysians of all races. Does LKS think he can surpass the Regent in unifying the people of Perak?
True, LKS has apologised to the Sultan and Regent of Perak, but this is not enough. He should go a step further by admitting that he failed to take into account the feelings of the Malay/Muslim community, a constituency that the DAP could barely win in the past.
As Ibrahim Suffian of Merdeka Centre has pointed out, the opposition parties must view the sharp decrease of Malay representation in Penang and Perak very seriously. If mishandled, the Malay voters who have just ventured into the new political terrain could feel threatened and flock back to Umno.
Let’s not forget, the two major Malay dailies, Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian, are still bent on poisoning the people with lies, fears, greed and hysteria, not to mention RTM and TV3 which reach nearly all corners of the country. DAP must exercise extra caution in order not to give more fodder for the racist party to regain its losses.
But LKS has apparently failed to live up to the expectations of those who are hungry for truly multiethnic politics. The more LKS meddles in the affairs in Penang and Perak, the more DAP sounds like the People’s Action Party of Singapore, and LKS himself like Lee Kuan Yew.
Should Umno successfully cash in on this negative impression and recover much of the Malay vote, LKS can go back to doing what he does best: being the perpetual Mr Opposition Leader.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Check this out!
http://www.sangsuria.blogspot.com/
I am putting in a plug for a blog by a very very very good pal of mine, who is near and dear to my heart. This friend is a notable photojournalist, investigative reporter, senior researcher at an international broadcast news media network and also a filmmaker. We've known each other for more than 15 years and I have deep respect and admiration for my friend's achievements.
So, please do give the blog above a healthy dose of attention! :-)
I am putting in a plug for a blog by a very very very good pal of mine, who is near and dear to my heart. This friend is a notable photojournalist, investigative reporter, senior researcher at an international broadcast news media network and also a filmmaker. We've known each other for more than 15 years and I have deep respect and admiration for my friend's achievements.
So, please do give the blog above a healthy dose of attention! :-)
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