1987 Ops Lalang and Chinese primary school crisis – will Cabinet own up to historic wrongs?


Veteran Chinese educationist Sim Mow Yu has said that Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser and former Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should apologise for what he had done over the 1987 Ops Lalang mass arrests under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the controversy over dispatching of staff unversed in Mandarin to hold senior posts in Chinese primary schools.

As one of the Ops Lalang ISA detainees served with a formal two-year detention order and incarcerated at Kamunting Detention Centre, Sim is most qualified to speak up on these subjects.

The Ops Lalang detention was my second ISA detention, which lasted 18 months as compared to 17 months in my first ISA detention in 1969-1970.

DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng and I were the last two of the Ops Lalang ISA detainees incarcerated in Kamunting Detention Centre to be released in April 1989 — serving the longest Ops Lalang ISA detention after all the other 49 Ops Lalang detainees had been earlier released from Kamunting in various batches.

Anwar has admitted that he was wrong in 1987 in the dispatch of staff unversed in Mandarin to become principals and senior assistants of Chinese primary schools which resulted in the subsequent Ops Lalang mass arrests.

Anwar has now taken a stand on mother-tongue education which is in accord with justice and fair play for mother-tongue education in plural Malaysia as well as the higher national interests of enhancing Malaysia’s international competitiveness, which should be commended and supported.

However, are all the current Barisan Nasional Ministers and leaders who had been collectively responsible for the 1987 Ops Lalang mass arrests and controversy over dispatch of staff unversed in Mandarin to senior posts in Chinese primary schools prepared to follow the example of Anwar and admit that what they had done twenty years ago were wrong?

Such Barisan Nasional Ministers and leaders would include the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the Gerakan chief and Minister for Energy, Water and Communications, Datuk Seri Dr. Lim Keng Yaik, the MIC President and Works Minister, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and the Minister for International
Trade and Industry Datuk Paduka Rafidah Aziz.

Najib was in 1987 the Umno Youth leader and what he did in 1987 was even more infamous than the keris-wielding incidents involving the current Umno Youth leader, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein in the context of extremist and communal demands in utter disregard of the rights and sensitivities of all races in a plural nation.

What did Najib do in 1987? A Government White Paper entitled “Towards Preserving National Security” tabled in Parliament on 23rd March 1988 recorded that in an Umno Youth rally led by Najib on 17th October 1987, banners bearing strong words were displayed, including one which said: “SOAK IT (KRIS) WITH CHINESE BLOOD”.

Are MCA and Gerakan leaders prepared to ask all Umno and Barisan Nasional Ministers and leaders to emulate Anwar’s example and admit that they had acted wrongly in the crisis of 1987?

Is the next Cabinet meeting prepared to end the historic wrongs in 1987 by adopting a formal Cabinet decision to openly and publicly admit that what the various Barisan Nasional component parties led by Umno had done in that year in these two episodes had been wrong?

Are the other Barisan Nasional component parties and leaders prepared to demand that both Najib and Hishammudin admit that they were wrong — the former for the “SOAK IT (KRIS) WITH CHINESE BLOOD” slogan at the Umno Youth rally in 1987 and latter for the keris-wielding at Umno Youth general assemblies in circumstances threatening the multi-racial fabric of our nation?

  1. #1 by undergrad2 on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 5:26 am

    Why has Siim Mow Yu chosen this time to throw in a monkey wrench into the works when he must know that this would spark off attrition among DAP/PKR leaders? Why would anybody want to do that?

    This is stupid!

  2. #2 by undergrad2 on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 5:32 am

    Every knows where Anwar stood then. He himself has suffered the pain of incarceration much longer than the two years under ISA. No man could have spent that much time in jail and not change. Give the guy a chance to reform and change!

    He lacks credibility today because of the turn-around in views in such a short span. But we are facing an election year! This is really stupid.

  3. #3 by pamelaoda on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 7:49 am

    Agree we shld give Anwar a chance. Maybe Sim just wanted reassurance from Anwar.As you know how politicians can change overnight…Just imagine anwar himself is a malay and yet being played out by his own race, so can you imagine what could happened to non malays!

    I am sure after what had happened to Anwar, he shld understand the dilemma and the situation of the country and put himself into the civilians’ shoes.

    To undergrad 2, are u still in japan..gotta to teach me how to play pachinko ne.

  4. #4 by pamelaoda on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 7:52 am

    Oh forgotten the apologies by BN. Uncle lim, forget about it la…sigh! If Opposition could garner more victory, it is better than their apologies cos action speaks louder then wordddd..

  5. #5 by pamelaoda on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 8:04 am

    undergrad2,

    this time i m very sure my earlier positng gone missing la..must complaint to KDDI

  6. #6 by twistedmind on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 8:37 am

    Good Check-Mate!
    Lets see if the monkeys respond and if not, they shoulder the loss of voters.

    Send the message loud and clear – “Next time, think 10x before raising the kris, as it will come back to haunt you”.

    It is moments like that, that could end people’s political career.

    Bravo!

  7. #7 by undergrad2 on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 9:43 am

    May I draw readers’ attention to a piece written by one Biggum so-and-so on Malaysia-today.net regarding the presence of U.S. observers in Ijok,

    Why is it that every time Americans are seen anywhere, they must be CIA agents? Why must Anwar be seen as a CIA agent?? This is ridiculous!

    They are who they say they are – representatives from the U.S. Department of State. This department is primarily responsible for country profiles they put together for their own reference and you can read them on their website. These reports are regarded as authoritative by other branches of the U.S. Government e.g. Department of Justice.

    I go through such ‘Country Profiles’ and I find them moderately conservative. In my opinion, the U.S. Department of State tries too hard in trying not to offend the host government – and as such these reports are not sufficiently detailed and could be vague about certain issues and wanting in other respects.

    What I don’t understand is why the phobia? Why must there be a CIA agent lurking around every corner?

  8. #8 by Libra2 on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 9:44 am

    Somtimes I wonder why some Chinese leaders stoop so low to please their Malay masters in exchange for some temporary perks and positions.
    Perhaps Sim does not realize that the Chinese in this country are in such pathetic state ( or maginalised accoring to Lee Kuan Yew) because of people like him.
    Other UMNO leaders like Najib , Mohamad Rahmat and Hishammudin have ridiculed and insulted the Chinese. Where is your sense of outrage? Where is your dignity?
    Yes, the Chinese are financially better off then the other races but then, is life all obout money?
    Where is your pride?
    If this is the attitude of Sim and his MCA goons, then the Chinese deserve to be marginalized and remain UMNO’s pet poodles.

  9. #9 by undergrad2 on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 9:45 am

    ‘paranoia’ instead of ‘phobia’ sorry.

  10. #10 by letsbefair on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 9:55 am

    Sun Tze once wrote “Know yourself and know your enemy and you will win in every battle”.
    I rephrase that to “know yourself and know your peers, allies and enemies so that you can stay ahead”.
    To maintain as an economic as well as political superpower, that strategy must hold water.
    Even US will spy on Isreal and UK not for sinister reasons but to understand your allies and know what they think. Thus even a lowly Malaysia is not dismissed. It may help them to see themselves clearer and to learn from a different political perspective. Who knows such an unimportant piece of information may come in handy one day!

  11. #11 by oversee on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 9:59 am

    The facts:

    (1) Negritos are the first inhabitants in this land

    (2) Proto malays came from Yunan in China

    (3) Deutro malays came from Indonesia

    (4) Malays are Hindus/Buddhists for 2000 years

    (5) Harun and Razak plot the 1969 riot

    (6) Social contract rewriting after 1969 riot

    (7) Bumis term never exist before 1969 riot

    (8) lie – Blame Chinese control economic 70%

    (9) lie – Blame Chinese/Tamil schools for national unity

    (10) lie – Blame Singapore government suppress malays

    (Many more.)

  12. #12 by RealWorld on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 11:01 am

    If it was wrong why the people still vote for BN?

    The chinese in Machap voted BN giving BN a thumping victory there recently.

  13. #13 by Godfather on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 11:07 am

    Because BN bribes, cheats, lies, threatens and coerces. And the vast majority will capitulate in the face of one or a combination of all these factors.

  14. #14 by Godfather on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 11:09 am

    Funny that if it was wrong, it was one person’s fault, never mind that the entire cabinet voted on it, and even the Chinese parties did not have the balls to object then. If it was right, it was all due to UMNO’s leadership.

    Read Aisehman’s latest posting. We must send a message to these clowns and thieves that they cannot continously put us in deep shit.

  15. #15 by RealWorld on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 11:10 am

    Godfather,

    There will be major challenges along the way. No one says that it is gonna be easy. The chinese in Machap should have remained resolute if they wanted a change for the better but they went for short term gains instead.

  16. #16 by ahkok1982 on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 12:43 pm

    well, Machap ppl would shoulder 1/3 of e blame for their vote for BN.
    1/3 of e blame of course goes to BN n their cronies for using gov machinery n also their underhand tactics together w e EC for an unfair election.
    e other 1/3 would go to DAP themselves. I would like to commend uncle Lim for wanting to make light of tt loss but then again, wont it enforce their belief in wat is wrong?
    ppl in machap vote for BN, DAP loses then DAP comes out to say tt ppl in machap r real winners cuz they got their progress (as in bribery n incentives to vote bn) while giving bn a little less votes. sry for my language but tt is juz plain bullcrap. it is no different fr encouraging them to vote for bn. wat is in tt message?
    get a bn mp killed, get a by-election, let bn make promises, let bn n dap campaign n kill each other, then vote for bn. sry to say although ppl in machap were temporary winners, it juz makes it stink w such things said by dap members. so will ppl in Ijok do e same? get goodies by voting bn n then hav ppl label them winners? juz plain nonsense. it is times like these which makes me think if dap is any better than bn. juz plain simplistic thinking n not agressive enough.

  17. #17 by k1980 on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 1:36 pm

    So far 1,137 phantom voters found in Ijok electoral list. What is Abd Rashid and his EC doing all this while? What is the use of the NRIC when any Abdullah, Ah Too and Butuhsamy can use others’ NRIC to vote?
    http://malaysia-today.net/blog2006/beritankom.php?itemid=4215

  18. #18 by dawsheng on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 2:19 pm

    I would like to think Malaysia is not the way it used to be. There is a great divide among the people, malay between malay, chinese and indian, young and old, all with diffrent ideologies and priorities.

    Why blame old folks in Machap just because they have their priorities, if they got what they wanted and satisfied, let them be. This is democarcy init?

    If the opposition (or alternative as one commentor suggest) wants to win the next GE, first they need to win the hearts of majority of Malaysians. The rest is history.

  19. #19 by Kingkong on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 2:25 pm

    To fulfill the dream of a Malaysian Malaysia once again, the closer leader we could have at this moment will be none other than Anwar. We all make mistakes in some part of our lives as we are human, however, if we are willing to change our mistakes for good, we can still be a better man.

    Sim, please don’t rock the boat unnecessarily. At your age you should retire peacefully and don’t get your name screwed up.

    Chinese Chauvinism can sometimes become a stumbling block to the concept of a Malaysian Malaysia. Lets move together once again, Malay, Indian , Chinese and others towards the realization of a Malaysian Malaysia.

  20. #20 by a-malaysian on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 3:02 pm

    From Malaysiakini.com:

    Najib: I risked more for Chinese than Anwar
    The DPM says he risked the wrath of the Malays by revoking certain controversial provisions of the Education Act involving Chinese schools.

    najis let me tell you this:
    A TRUE MALAYSIAN CHINESE WILL NEVER EVER BELIEVE A WORD YOUE SAID

    A TRUE MALAYSIAN CHINESE WILL NEVER NEVER FORGET YOUR FAMOUS EPISODE “SOAK IT {KRIS} WITH CHINESE BLOOD”

    This is the time to remove all these arrogant, hyprocrites, corrupted, liars and shameless running dogs come the next GE.

    Ijok voters, vote wisely tomorrow, throw bn out.

    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.

  21. #21 by sotong on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 3:31 pm

    This is the most irresponsible behaviors – to threaten or incite indescriminate aggression, hate and violence against innocent people and place the country’s security at great risk.

    Since then, some of our politicians had not learned anything from that incident……there seems to be a strong culture of aggression and intimidation which could lead to violence.

  22. #22 by sotong on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 3:41 pm

    The country is promoting bad and unsuitable leaders which will have a significant impact on the country and people.

    Eg. Rampant corruption and high crime rate could be attributed to bad leadership.

  23. #23 by Loh on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 3:54 pm

    The BN Cabinet has been half-past-six all along. It stays united to bully. The 1987 Ops Lalang was not justified since it was the ministers who played with racial issues, after the Chinese community showed the government that the action of the minister was against the interest of the community. Had the Cabinet been a democratic one, it would have reconsidered whether those actions were in the interest of the nation, rather than to show that the Cabinet was all powerful.

    Anwar is now out of the Cabinet. But those who are in the Cabinet still behave like members of secret society.

    Should Anwar apologise? He should if he truly feels contrition. Should Anwar be asked to apologize? That gives Anwar an opportunity to clarify matter. He initiated an action that have ended in a ugly situation which he might not have desired. Or was the end result intentional?

  24. #24 by Bigjoe on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 4:02 pm

    I agree with Undergrad2. For this election, Anwar has apologized for Ops Lallang. The focus should move to Najib as Sdr. Lim is trying to do. Practicality is everything. Najib will take the slightest wrong and say anything with a megaphone if it gave him an edge. Hell, he has lied with that megaphone with nothing to go on if he can get people to listen.

  25. #25 by Cinapek on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 4:57 pm

    “WILL CABINET OWN UP TO HISTORIC WRONGS?”

    Will the sun rise in the west or the rivers flow upstream?

    Cabinets or ministers that owns up to their wrongs comes from people with honour and strong principles. I do not think a single one of our HP6 Govt. fits that description. These people rose in their party positions through a combination of thuggery, bribery, corruption, lies and maybe a dash of luck. They did not get there by being honourable and intellect. Once they are there, they stay in power by intimidation, abuse of power, corruption and maybe even blowing people up with C4s, just to stay on. They behave like eunuchs to avoid taking positions on contentious issues or crawl snivelling at the feet of their party and Cabinet bosses to hang on to their Cabinet positions. And you expect these kinds to own up?

  26. #26 by dawsheng on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 5:06 pm

    “SOAK IT (KRIS) WITH CHINESE BLOOD”

    How barbaric. Do you want this person to be you prime minister? Malaysian should reject any politician who is racist and violence. Just like Najib, he obviuosly thinks he will win the war with the chinese should they fight, what an idiot. This man cannot be prime minister of Malaysia at all cost.

  27. #27 by TheThinker on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 5:31 pm

    Perhaps speaking up and demanding Anwar’s apology is not so much a monkey wrench as it is helping Anwar with the racial issue that so many of us have yet to forgive him for.

    If one were to defend oneself without being attacked, that is an almost sure sign of guilt, hence the attack was planned . . . and the reply somewhat satisfactory.

    So the new situation becomes, if Anwar can apologize for his racist actions, why can’t the others ? . . . In other words, if they don’t follow suit . . . they still hold the undead craving for Chinese blood…

    It’s quite worrying how this country is seemingly becoming more and more Orwellian . . .

  28. #28 by MALAYSIANbukanMALAYSIAN on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 5:43 pm

    [deleted]

    Najis days are numbered! He has made too many enemies by just sitting silently on the fence. While climbing up the political ladder, he has insulted many good politicians.

    Cause and effect!

  29. #29 by democrate on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 5:57 pm

    Do u know, Krismudin is a cousin br. of Najib.? yes it is true , The stupid Krismudin is learning from Najib so as to climb up fast.
    I had brought up this Najib behaviour two times in this blog, Thank s God finally some one has brought up again with picture to proof at least many of my friends including Malays will now believe on what i had told them. Najib a 100% RACIST and the soul of the death will go after him!!!

  30. #30 by democrate on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 6:18 pm

    IF all of you wanted to glance at the photo that Najis was standing besides the banner go to Sin Chew Jit Poh and check it out. It had bcome part of the Malaysian dark history anyway.

  31. #31 by dawsheng on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 6:25 pm

    The only future for Malaysia is to form a fair and rensponsible govt that will propel the country to greater heights. A govt that not only take cares of the malay, but also the chinese, indian and other minority races. A govt that is transparent, does not deal in corruption and not racist. Everything that UMNO and BN are, not suitable for Malaysia anymore. They have to go or else we will be miserable in our own country, except to those who are used to greese their palms.

  32. #32 by undergrad2 on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 6:47 pm

    The voter profile of Ijok residents favours BN. Period. BN victory over DAP/PKR in this state by-election is a foregone conclusion and will be by a narrow margin. It will go the way all rural constituencies would go – the BN way.

  33. #33 by MALAYSIANbukanMALAYSIAN on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 8:13 pm

    If each of us who has been offended one way or another by the racist Najis who’s proclaiming to be the next PM, start praying for his downfall.

    [deleted]

  34. #34 by MALAYSIANbukanMALAYSIAN on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 8:15 pm

    [deleted]

  35. #35 by jango ang on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 8:29 pm

    Anwar saw the light, and he has apologised. It takes a man to admit his wrongdoings. For that we salute him.

  36. #36 by Oldman on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 9:13 pm

    The problem with us, Chinese Malaysians, is that we are a short-sighted, self-serving community.
    Already they are talking about staying home and watch TV instead of participating in a democratic fight for fairer treatment of all Malaysians. They see this by-election as Malay vs Indian instead of BN vs Opposition.
    That is why we always got bullied. Frankly, looking back at the past decades, I think that had the Chinese opposition party been stronger, we would not have been in this sorry state.
    Lee Kuan Yew was right but we were too ashamed to admit that.
    As far as the outside world is concerned, the Chinese participated in choosing the govt so we should not complain about human rights and fairness.
    How many times we saw images of the kris and still we voted BN.

  37. #37 by Donald on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 9:19 pm

    It is memalukan if they were to confess the truth. Some of us have never got our real independence. I have been wondering at the many Merdeka ! Merdeka ! Merdeka ! clippings on the television. Is that a way of telling Malaysians that somehow along the way, they have forgotten the original plans for Malaysia ? From British colonialism to Malay colonialism; we are still being colonised. And each time an election draws near, there are all the campaigns going on. There is one television clipping in which this man tells the viewers to vote for Barisan Nasional because they develop the country. No doubt they develop the country because the country’s money is in their hands. And another one said that politicians who campaign tend to disappear. In fact, all politicians disappear. Only the winners get to appear every now and then in the television. And the winning politicians do not meet the people until the next election campaign. An election campaign should be a daily, on going process. People have to know what sort of a leader do they have. It cannot be just a one off event like one of those reality t.v. shows in which the viewers send in SMS and vote for who they like.

  38. #38 by undergrad2 on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 11:04 pm

    Let’s use the platform provided by Leader of the Opposition to make our views and not just our anger and frustration known so others could know what the best way forward should be.

  39. #39 by undergrad2 on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 11:08 pm

    But I must disagree with Kit, on the need for this constant reference to the keris and its association with Chinese blood to attract supporters. It may unite the non-Malays but does so against the Malays and does little to unite disaffected elements of the more progressive left of Malay society behind DAP/PKR.

    It is deeply divisive and a constant reminder that race relations could so quickly plummet out of control.

  40. #40 by undergrad2 on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 11:33 pm

    The American seen at Ijok are not CIA agents but apparently representatives of the U.S. Department of State, there to observe at first hand how we do things.

    The U.S. Department compiles the annual “Country Profile” on Malaysia (and all other countries in the world) which could be read on their website, which is referred to and used as citations by various international agencies like the U.N. and Amnesty International and, of course, by the U.S. Department of Justice.

  41. #41 by undergrad2 on Friday, 27 April 2007 - 11:37 pm

    To say Anwar is a tool of the CIA is like saying that Abdullah Badawi is a tool of the Saudis.

  42. #42 by bbtan on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 12:35 am

    To him who is obsessed about Chinese in Machap:
    The chinese in Machap were mca-protected, if they voted for the MCA candidate. The rest voted for the opposition. If only the other races were to vote against BN…..

  43. #43 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 1:13 am

    Anyone who has had a hand to suppress Chinese education in Malaysia in those earlier decades can now chew their hearts out, having lived to rue the stupidity and bigotry of their misconceived campaigns.

    Malaysians should encourage their younger generation to learn in as widely diversified fields as possible. Why discriminate only against Chinese education? Why not French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean etc. too?

    But those who have sought to suppress Chinese now see their foolhardiness as China leapfrogs into the forefront & seems on course to displace USA as the foremost economic power of the 21st Century, the way Toyota has displaced General Motors as the world’s leading automobile manufacturer.

  44. #44 by DiaperHead on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 2:32 am

    When it comes to vernacular schools and school system, Malaysian government today has been too accommodating. Name me one country where such ethnic schools are recipients of public funds and public funding?? In most countries they are allowed to operate independently and without government grants like we see in Malaysia.

    During the post WW2 years up till independence in 1957 and beyond, the county has had to face Communist insurgency. This was guerrilla warfare much like you see in Iraq today. The enemy hides behind civilians. They form cells much like the AlQaeda operates today. They penetrate trade unions. They also penetrated schools. And since the CTs were almost exclusively Chinese, this meant Chinese schools. School literature focussed on events in China and it was during a period when the loyalty of the Chinese was in doubt or unclear. When the Brits left Malaya, the CTs continued fighting the newly independent government under the then, the Alliance refusing to recognize its independence. The loyalty of the local Chinese to their adopted country naturally became suspect.

    Can you blame the Alliance government for trying to control the spread of Chinese vernacular schools?

  45. #45 by undergrad2 on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 8:19 am

    “Anwar has now taken a stand on mother-tongue education …”

    Time to speak in tongue??

  46. #46 by Loh on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 11:25 am

    ///When it comes to vernacular schools and school system, Malaysian government today has been too accommodating.///

    Are you implying that the vernacular schools are bad for the country? Please list the issues.

  47. #47 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 11:45 am

    Diaperhead, yr comment contains an anachronistic analogy.

    I think we are examining the records on developments in Chinese school education since TDM era. No one can say the record was abysmally dismal.

    Well, in education every policy mistake will set us back by decades. And so here we are, decades behind for a string of policy mishaps.

    No apologist can defend the government’s record. Nor would any apology put the country on the right tracks again.

    THe time is NOW to re-evaluate the competencies in our education system and revamp them according to what is best for the country vis-a-vis a dynamic and challenging global environment in education or risk falling into the trash bins of history as global competitiveness in education is the platform to rise on the pedestal of excellence.

  48. #48 by Jeffrey on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 12:41 pm

    Datuk Sim Mow Yu asked Anwar Ibrahim whether he would apologize for his role in 1987 Ops Lalang mass arrests under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the controversy over dispatching of staff unversed in Mandarin to hold senior posts in Chinese primary schools.

    MCA’s strategy for Chinese voters in Ijok is basically this poser: can they trust political chameleon Anwar Ibrahim who today sings a different tune in supporting vernacular language? For this MCA taps on Sim Mow Yu’s credibility as a veteran Chinese educationist on premise that Chinese education issues are cornerstone of the hearts and minds of Chinese voters.

    MCA thinks its poser clever. Well, in a sense, it is. It is calculated to kill 2 birds with one stone: first, in showing Anwar a double faced opportunist singing different tunes depending on which side of the fence he sits, his Keadilan (PKR)’s candidate, Khalid Ibrahim is discredited; second by reminding, the 1987 Ops Lalang mass arrests under the Internal Security Act during which Kit was incarcerated, it throws a monkey wench between DAP and Anwar/ Keadilan (PKR) and questions Kit, campaigning for the opposition why he so conveniently forgets about the man who played an important role in his arrest.

    To counter this poser, Anwar admitted that he was wrong in 1987. He said he would not defend his then decision. “Anwar in Umno is not as free as Anwar now,” he said. [To be sure, this excuse is weak, and can be availed to everyone of the ultras in UMNO today who later, for whatever reason, leaves UMNO and join Keadilan (PKR)!]

    Anwar also counter attacks : “When I made the move back then, MCA didn’t even raise it to me – only DAP and the Chinese educationists protested,” he argued. YB Kit now defends Anwar by saying at least he apologized. Kit put the poser back : “Are the other Barisan Nasional component parties and leaders prepared to demand that both Najib and Hishammudin admit that they were wrong – the former for the “SOAK IT (KRIS) WITH CHINESE BLOOD”?

    My answer is yes they would, if they were expelled from UMNO for whatever reason and have joined Keadilan (PKR) sitting with Anwar side by side.

    If truth be said, and it must be, all these questions posed and counter posed are largely relevant to the masses but irrelevant to real students of politics or their masters like Nicolo Machiavelli , Carl von Clausewitz or Sun Tzu!

    The search (by raising these questions) for consistency of position and principles amongst politicians – as we are prone to do so that we could vote on these criteria – is naïve, and I would respectfully submit, an irrelevant one.

    Politics is a profession, the end of which is power, the means of which is persuasion based on whatever agenda, programme and ideology that is expedient and popular. That I submit is the consistent dominating purpose and raison de etre of politicians bearing few exceptions. Except for this consistent dominating purpose to attain power, all other consistencies or criticisms of inconsistencies is petty and irrelevant.

    A politician should never be adjudged by what he says when he is vying for support in quest for power. It is what he does, after he has attained power and how he exercises that power, and how people are affected good or bad – by his exercise that is the ultimate arbiter, and the legacy. Nothing else.

    Based on this criteria of record, neither Anwar nor Mahathir would be credible , never mind Anwar says the right things now, and even if an unlikely source of support in the person of ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad comes out in his support and called on the Ijok voters to send a ‘signal’ to the government – even if Anwar represents the hopes of multitudes of oppressed!

    (In saying this, I do not wish to tar with the same brush all politicians and am prepared to carve out exception in the likes of Kit whose political record and sacrifice for the Malaysian agenda is unassailable).

    But what has been said, in general terms here, is true bearing in mind what former US President, Ronald Reagan was quoted (by Observer 13) to have said (before the onset of Alzheimer’s disease): “I used to say that politics was the second lowest profession and I have come to know that it bears great similarity to the first”.

    In summary then, if, in general, politicians are opportunists, so voters and constituencies, must necessarily also be – to match and complement!

    The voters of Macap in last by-election have shown and benefited. That is why DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng said in Melaka on 13.4.2007 that Machap Voters were the real victors in getting tens of millions of Ringgit In development projects!
    As in the case of Macap, so will likely be the case of Ijok’s voters. No matter how relevant issues raised about abuse of money and corruption by BN, the key question to the majority of voters of whatever race, culture, religion and creed is : what’s there for me, and development and money hand outs or other tangible benefits will always override intangible values and principles raised.

    In the general populace of any society, persons adhering to principles are a small minority : the majority salt of the earth kind who care more of bread and butter issues for themselves and their families will, in a democracy of one man to one vote, decide and prevail. Which is why the old saying the people (by which expression must necessarily refer to the majority) will always get the government they deserve.

  49. #49 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 1:02 pm

    “No one can say the record was abysmally dismal.” should read as “No one can deny the record was abysmally dismal.”

    Sorry, antibiotic must have washed ashore in the brain!

  50. #50 by burn on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 1:44 pm

    being a kepala, he have already shown his inmaturity as a DPM and UMNO youth leader in the 80’s. wonder, how can he be elected as a DPM, when he does not even have the leadership image to show, maybe only for his own supporters.
    will always remember and tell other malaysians his famous WORDs
    “SOAK KERIS WITH CHINESE BLOOD”…

    aku punya falsampah…
    hidup DAP and KEADILAN!

  51. #51 by RealWorld on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 2:27 pm

    Just got back from Ijok today. From the look of things, I would say BN and PKR chances are just about equal. The 51% malay population seem to be supporting PKR, but the Chinese in Ijok will vote for BN. Indians there are split down the middle. So, it is going to be close.

    Very disappointing to see the Chinese selling out again.

  52. #52 by a-malaysian on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 4:33 pm

    Just saw this headlines at malaysiakini.com:

    PKR people blocked my way, claims Najib
    Apr 28, 07 3:53pm

    najis oh najis, you are a real najis.
    A TRUE MALAYSIAN IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT RACE WILL NEVER NEVER EVER BELIEVE A WORD YOU SAY

    You are a dpm, no escort, no bodyguard, no police protection for a dpm?????
    You are making everyone laugh at you, maybe you are scare that bn is going to lose and preparing for some excuses.

    I am very sure if truly there are PKR people blocking you, they will be instantly and swiftly detain by the police or your bodyguard. Don’t make a fool of yourself lah..please…….

    If there are people blocking you, I am sure they are the locals you do not like you at all…

    Together with your statement that you risked more for Chinese than Anwar50 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.

  53. #53 by a-malaysian on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 7:07 pm

    From sloone.wordpress.com:
    6.45pm (malaysian time) About 15 Opposition supporters, including Mohd Ezam and Shamsul Iskandar and DAP’s Ronnie Liu will be arrested by the police for allegedly stopping the busses believed to be carrying phantom voters.

    According to lawyer Latheefa Koya, the 15 are now at the Ijok police station. Their identity cards are being held by the police while they have been asked to fill in police reports.

    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.

  54. #54 by a-malaysian on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 7:14 pm

    Unofficial result: bn wins big

    THE DEATH OF DEMOCRACY IN THIS COUNTRY

    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.

  55. #55 by undergrad2 on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 7:17 pm

    “Politics is a profession, the end of which is power, the means of which is persuasion based on whatever agenda, programme and ideology that is expedient and popular.” Jeffrey

    A politician is like a medicine seller that you see plying the streets. He would sell a particular brand or brands of medicine, and if sales are not good enough for him to be able to sustain himself and his family he would look to other brands. Brand loyalty does not make sense.

    What is wrong with switching brands?

    To be a good politician, one has to be a good salesman.

    FOOD FOR THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK.

  56. #56 by undergrad2 on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 7:19 pm

    To be a good man, one has to go to church.

  57. #57 by undergrad2 on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 7:32 pm

    “Which is why the old saying the people (by which expression must necessarily refer to the majority) will always get the government they deserve.”

    Democracy is all about ‘majority’ rule. Now who says the majority is always right?? They may sometimes get things right but that is not because they are the majority. Kapish?

    Benevolent authoritarianism as we saw under Mahathir may be a better alternative – except that there is the natural tendency for it to degenerate into a self-serving fascist regime at it is today.

  58. #58 by undergrad2 on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 7:38 pm

    “Very disappointing to see the Chinese selling out again.” RealWorld

    I am of one mind with RealWorld – except that I think BN will win with a bigger majority than most thought likely.

    If the Chinese want to prostitute themselves, it is their choice. Hey, in some countries ‘prostitution’ is legal.

    Have we forgotten: ‘Democracy’ is about the freedom to make choices.

  59. #59 by undergrad2 on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 7:40 pm

    Who says anything about ‘good choices’?

  60. #60 by RealWorld on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 8:15 pm

    My contact in Ijok just informed me that the results will be out anytime in 30 minutes or so. The sentiments are BN have won with the help of the Chinese votes.

    Shame on the Chinese folks. I think you have just voted for the keris to be continually shoved right in your face. So, dont moan and rant about no chinese schools, racism etc.

  61. #61 by a-malaysian on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 8:28 pm

    Congratulation barisan national for winning the Ijok by-election.

    bodohwi, najis, all your menteries, the EC and the disgraceful sil, you all are a very happy lot and I understand you all are also very religious and also GOD fearing.

    Let me ask you just one question ( if any of the bn control media journalist got the balls to ask, please ask them when they make the press conference on their victory):

    Is Ijok by-election conducted in a Fully Democratic, Clean, According To Election Rules and Equal Playing Field?

    If your answer is yes from the bottom of your heart and it is really the truth :- May GOD bless you all with more wins to come.

    If your answer is yes from the bottom of your heart and in actual fact not true:- May GOD help you.

    No one knows the real answer except between you and GOD.

    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.

  62. #62 by RealWorld on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 8:36 pm

    Congrats! Congrats! Congrats!
    Democracy have served it’s course. The rakyat have spoken LOUD n CLEAR. ;)

    Be a good loser and accept the rakyat’s decision.

    Now, lets celebrate our 50th Merdeka! May we have another 50 more years of stability and growth.

  63. #63 by undergrad2 on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 9:09 pm

    “Shame on the Chinese folks. I think you have just voted for the keris to be continually shoved right in your face. So, dont moan and rant about no chinese schools, racism etc.”

    Let’s see things in perspective. This is only a state by-election and there are promises being made to the residents of Ijok. If these promises do not materialize by the time of the general elections, then you can expect to see a groundswell of support for the Opposition.

    Already the profile of the average PKR is one of fierce dedication to ideology and an unwavering support for change. The average profile of a BN supporter is that of complacency fast turning into insecurity.

    It would be wrong to use what happened in two state by-elections as barometer, as indicator of things to come.

  64. #64 by RealWorld on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 10:01 pm

    “This is only a state by-election and there are promises being made to the residents of Ijok.” – undergrad2

    The GE in 1999 comes to mind. If you can recall then it was the chinese votes that swung it for BN when the malays voted for the Opposition due to the Anwar factor.

    One can hope till the cows comes home but the makeup of the Chinese here are a bunch of sell outs. We will see another BN thumping win in the next GE.

  65. #65 by Jeffrey on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 10:23 pm

    Why is this bias and what is the basis for some of you saying that Chinese voters are a bunch who sold out in the Ijok by – election?

    Preliminary reports from breaking news of Malaysiakini indicate different.

    I quote:

    “PKR lost three of the four Malay-majority districts – Jaya Setia, Bukit Badong and Simpang Ijok – but retained Kampung Ijok.

    It however picked up Chinese-majority Pekan Ijok. THIS TRANSLATES IN A SWING OF MALAY VOTERS TO BN, AND A SWING OF CHINESE VOTERS TO THE OPPOSITION.

    MCA leader Ong Ka Ting refused to comment ON THE SWING AMONG CHINESE VOTERS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. He said that the party has yet to analyse the results.

    “Nevertheless, we should look at the big picture that BN has won,” he said.”

  66. #66 by Loh on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 10:47 pm

    ///“Nevertheless, we should look at the big picture that BN has won,” he (Ong Ka Ting) said.”///

    Only UMNO looks at big picture, and MCA has no small one to view, why is MCA in the government?

  67. #67 by RealWorld on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 11:06 pm

    Dear Jeffrey,

    You are basing your facts from Malaysiakini? ;)

    Dude, whatever it is the people in Ijok have spoken by giving BN an increased majority this time round.

    Same goes to those folks in Machap. Believe the majority there is Chinese?

  68. #68 by Jeffrey on Saturday, 28 April 2007 - 11:18 pm

    The majority voters in Ijok might be said to have spoken by giving BN an increased majority this time round (assuming there are not many phantom voters or other foul means) – but that is different from saying before the by – election results that the Chinese sold out there by supporting BN and after the by election results confirming the same without analysis of the results. Well I agree that what Malaysiakini reported is still preliminary but it is still for the moment comparatively more credible than someone saying that the BN won Ijok because the Chinese sold out there based not analysis of the results but a mere perception and opinion of a so called general trait of pragmatism attributed to a racial group.

  69. #69 by undergrad2 on Sunday, 29 April 2007 - 1:31 am

    It is hard for me to do a post postmortem analysis from this distance. I do not know more than what I read in this blog and others.

    But based on what Jeffrey says here i.e. the Opposition won the Chinese controlled Pekan Ijok, it would appear that BN won based on Malay votes.

    The question which needs to be answered before one could indulge in any meaningful postmortem analysis of the election results is to what extent “phantom voters” played a role if any in the BN victory?? Obviously there are “phantom voters” who arrived by the bus loads.

    Is there a basis for challenging the election results in court? Is there evidence of the commission of election offenses under the Act? Should we pursue the matter to court and have the Ijok state election declared null and void?

    If we do that would it not be overtaken by the General Elections?

    The Malay votes are clearly split as expected. ‘Sleeping with the enemy’ after all carries with it far ranging consequences far beyond the issue of corruption, of a Prime Minister sleeping on the job and some foreigner being blown to bits in some isolated part of the country.

  70. #70 by undergrad2 on Sunday, 29 April 2007 - 1:39 am

    “You are basing your facts from Malaysiakini?”

    That even if true does not change the facts. The fact remains that it would appear Malay voters have chosen to support the incumbent and BN.

    To: Jeffrey

    “Swing votes” mean votes (the bulk of it at least) if delivered to one party would decide the election. These votes need not constitute the majority – but enough to make the difference. Could Chinese votes in any of the districts determine the result of the election?

  71. #71 by undergrad2 on Sunday, 29 April 2007 - 1:56 am

    “One can hope till the cows comes home but the makeup of the Chinese here are a bunch of sell outs. We will see another BN thumping win in the next GE.” RealWolrd

    This I must say is an inaccurate analysis of Ijok and of what happens in most constituencies with Chinese majorities during general elections. The 1999 general elections are not representative of general elections since 1957. The GE then were unduly influenced by the Asian Financial Crisis and the Anwar factor.

    It is true that this country has lost an opportunity at regime change in 1999. Blame to a large extent can justifiably be placed on Chinese voters who were duped into believing that their lot would be better off with the BN under its new leader.

    Well, today we know better – and elections are still being lost!

  72. #72 by undergrad2 on Sunday, 29 April 2007 - 1:57 am

    The Anwaristas must take the matter to court.

  73. #73 by undergrad2 on Sunday, 29 April 2007 - 9:05 am

    This is an interesting observation a reader on another blog made:

    “The Batang Berjuntai polling district has since been split into two for the 2007 by-election, namely Berjuntai Bestaru Utara (a 51.4% Indian-majority area with 2,236 Indian voters and 31.1% or 1,142 Chinese voters) and Berjuntai Bestaru (a 45.8% Chinese-majority area with 534 Chinese voters and 30.6% or 384 Indian voters).”

    The EC has been busy at work – and predictably so, by dividing and subdividing districts to split non-Malay votes, turning districts that have non-Malay majorities into districts with Malay majorities.

    What does one say about the EC?

  74. #74 by RealWorld on Sunday, 29 April 2007 - 2:29 pm

    Lets not assumed that there were phantom voters or the dead rising to vote without proof. Talk about presenting facts ” based not analysis of the results but a mere perception and opinion of a so called general trait of pragmatism..” So, lets do away with the double standards, shall we?

    In a malay majority area, to lose by a margin of 1800plus votes surely did not indicate that the majority of the malays went for BN. Unlike Machap, a chinese majority area, the difference was 4000 over votes. Are we still going to insist on the notion that the Chinese in Machap did not sell out???

  75. #75 by Jeffrey on Sunday, 29 April 2007 - 5:00 pm

    Dear RealWorld,

    What is the argument here? Did I assume that there were phantom voters in Ijok? I merely said “The majority voters in Ijok might be said to have spoken by giving BN an increased majority this time round (assuming there are not many phantom voters or other foul means)”. It is the defeated PKR’s Khalid who was reported to have said that after the results were known that PKR intended to contest the results and reveal the incidences of bribery and phantom voters. Do you know for a fact that there were no phantom voters and that Khalid was talking through his hat? An the last I recall we were talking about you saying before and after Ijok by-election that if the BN won it was because the Chinese voters had sold out. We were NOT talking about Machap when you extended the question, “Are we still going to insist on the notion that the Chinese in Machap did not sell out???” Keep the point of contention instead of twist and stray! But back to your question, albeit extended, if you were of an opinion that Chinese voters in Machap dold out, did not Malays in Ijok do anyless the same if what Malaysiakini reported was true on the swing votes? So what has that got to do with my original question why you should attribute the result of a BN victory to a general perception and opinion of a so called trait of pragmatism attributed to the Chinese as a group even before you knew the detail results or analysis thereof? Whether or not it is true that Chinese are pragmatic in the sense you attribute (to supporting BN) is something that some here may agree with you and some disagree and whichever way it does not mean that in the instance of Ijok, it was the cause of BN victory. So stay sharp and alert as to what has been discussed in this forum than butting around with irrelevant contentions and nitpicking on trivial points out of context!

  76. #76 by undergrad2 on Sunday, 29 April 2007 - 8:52 pm

    Yes, get real for once!

  77. #77 by RealWorld on Monday, 30 April 2007 - 3:25 pm

    “Yes, get real for once!” – undergrad2

    i didnt know Jeffrey has a personal lap dog as well.

  78. #78 by RealWorld on Monday, 30 April 2007 - 3:28 pm

    Jeffrey, Jeffrey … my dear boy,

    You can write till the cows come home, infact you can write and twist and turn the whole day for all I care. Were you there in Ijok during the campaign period and on polling day??

    If you take Msiankini as your final bible, then I must say we have no basis to discuss further.

  79. #79 by Jeffrey on Monday, 30 April 2007 - 4:51 pm

    I certainly won’t take you as a final bible. But don’t you think your work is done in Ijok, you can take a well deserved rest, instead of continuing it here in this blog?

  80. #80 by Jimm on Monday, 30 April 2007 - 6:09 pm

    Guys, it’s over about Ijok and please let us restrained ourselves from being overboard with the result. The show is only begins now. Let us sit back and watch what really will take place for Ijok constitutional development from now.
    We all can relax, however, poor little MP have to live up to all those promises that I believe he will find out soon as he sitted on that chair. He will have a tough time from those Top Brass of BN to get the Ijok folks request or suggestion ‘supported’.
    I would say that most MPs cannot look into their own eyes and commit to fulfill their obligations and duties. Believe it.

  81. #81 by Godamn Singh on Monday, 30 April 2007 - 8:08 pm

    “You can write till the cows come home…” RealWorld

    I don’t like this idea of you being fixated on my cows. The idea of you jumping on my cows is too much. Religious freedom should also protect our cows from you and not just from each other.

  82. #82 by undergrad2 on Monday, 30 April 2007 - 8:26 pm

    RealWorld seems to be suffering from bouts of schizophrenia if his comments are any indication:

    He says in another thread:

    “The Malays will support BN while the Indians will follow suit.”

    And on this thread he says:

    “The 51% malay population seem to be supporting PKR…”

    I have faith in you still, RealWorld if only you end your fixation with Goddamn Singh’s cows.

  83. #83 by DiaperHead on Monday, 30 April 2007 - 8:31 pm

    What’s with RealWorld and Goddamn Singh’s cows? Has RealWorld taken to jumping cows?

    Sheriff Singh is not going to like this since he does not want his cow’s milk tainted with human DNA.

  84. #84 by pamelaoda on Tuesday, 1 May 2007 - 9:23 am

    Wake up Sheriff Singh, somebody is messing with your cow la..stop drinking the milk with ginger for a while ok? Right? Diaperhead

  85. #85 by ktteokt on Saturday, 12 May 2007 - 11:17 pm

    Why is the government reluctant to build Chinese schools when the MCA is blowing its horn that Chinese will become an important international language? The best place you can study Chinese in Malaysia is Chinese schools, but the way the government is limiting its growth will definitely not help to make it important at all. Is the government thinking it can close its doors to the outside world? Or is it simply afraid to admit the truth?

    Chinese schools in Malaysia no longer house only Chinese pupils. Pupils of other ethnic groups are now flocking to these schools in the light of acquiring additional knowledge, giving rise to competition for places in these schools.

    What’s more, when the government announced that it was not about to build any Chinese schools under the ninth Malaysia Plan, MCA was taken aback. Shouldn’t MCA has known of this fact during the debates in Parliament or in the Cabinet? Why the shocked reaction? Or were the MCA representatives dozing away and did not know what was happening during these debates? By the time the government realized it should not be doing that as the general elections is drawing near and in fear of losing Chinese votes, it approved two miserable Chinese schools and MCA nearly had to kneel down to express its gratitude.

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