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	<title>Comments on: Merdeka Golden Jubilee - National anniversary or Barisan Nasional anniversary?</title>
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	<link>http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/09/01/merdeka-golden-jubilee-national-anniversary-or-barisan-nasional-anniversary/</link>
	<description>for Malaysia</description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:06:48 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>By: BobSam</title>
		<link>http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/09/01/merdeka-golden-jubilee-national-anniversary-or-barisan-nasional-anniversary/#comment-46759</link>
		<dc:creator>BobSam</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Sep 2007 14:55:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/09/01/merdeka-golden-jubilee-national-anniversary-or-barisan-nasional-anniversary/#comment-46759</guid>
		<description>U guys seem to have made a mistake.
It used to be Malaysia=Barisan Nasional
Now it is Malaysia=UMNO.

Get real guys, this is fact.

Unless the person in the mirror wakes up, and helps register voters.
By the way, did you call or SMS ur MP and inform him/her that you were disturbed that the Ambang Merdeka seemed to be an UMNO celebration and not a Malaysian celebration.

How about the TV8 broadcast? It was in Chinese. I have not heard of a live broadcast in Chinese since the early 70's. This shows that the Government looks after all races.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>U guys seem to have made a mistake.<br />
It used to be Malaysia=Barisan Nasional<br />
Now it is Malaysia=UMNO.</p>
<p>Get real guys, this is fact.</p>
<p>Unless the person in the mirror wakes up, and helps register voters.<br />
By the way, did you call or SMS ur MP and inform him/her that you were disturbed that the Ambang Merdeka seemed to be an UMNO celebration and not a Malaysian celebration.</p>
<p>How about the TV8 broadcast? It was in Chinese. I have not heard of a live broadcast in Chinese since the early 70&#8217;s. This shows that the Government looks after all races.</p>
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		<title>By: ktteokt</title>
		<link>http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/09/01/merdeka-golden-jubilee-national-anniversary-or-barisan-nasional-anniversary/#comment-46658</link>
		<dc:creator>ktteokt</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Sep 2007 00:53:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/09/01/merdeka-golden-jubilee-national-anniversary-or-barisan-nasional-anniversary/#comment-46658</guid>
		<description>There is always the "divide and rule" policy, but never the "share and rule" policy. BN is such a coward that they dare not invite the opposition to participate in National Day celebrations. So it ends up there is a BN National Day and an Opposition National Day!</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There is always the &#8220;divide and rule&#8221; policy, but never the &#8220;share and rule&#8221; policy. BN is such a coward that they dare not invite the opposition to participate in National Day celebrations. So it ends up there is a BN National Day and an Opposition National Day!</p>
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		<title>By: Colour-Blind - &#187; Merdeka: Sultan's advice completely ignored</title>
		<link>http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/09/01/merdeka-golden-jubilee-national-anniversary-or-barisan-nasional-anniversary/#comment-46626</link>
		<dc:creator>Colour-Blind - &#187; Merdeka: Sultan's advice completely ignored</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 02 Sep 2007 19:02:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/09/01/merdeka-golden-jubilee-national-anniversary-or-barisan-nasional-anniversary/#comment-46626</guid>
		<description>[...] Merdeka Golden Jubilee - National anniversary or Barisan Nasional anniversary? [...]</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[...] Merdeka Golden Jubilee - National anniversary or Barisan Nasional anniversary? [...]</p>
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		<title>By: badak</title>
		<link>http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/09/01/merdeka-golden-jubilee-national-anniversary-or-barisan-nasional-anniversary/#comment-46625</link>
		<dc:creator>badak</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 02 Sep 2007 17:07:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/09/01/merdeka-golden-jubilee-national-anniversary-or-barisan-nasional-anniversary/#comment-46625</guid>
		<description>Know what i heard ,The Bumi - Quota, Will only be given to UMNO members, You must show your UMNO CARD to enjoy this preverlege , I also want to join can ahhhhh...</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Know what i heard ,The Bumi - Quota, Will only be given to UMNO members, You must show your UMNO CARD to enjoy this preverlege , I also want to join can ahhhhh&#8230;</p>
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		<title>By: Jeffrey</title>
		<link>http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/09/01/merdeka-golden-jubilee-national-anniversary-or-barisan-nasional-anniversary/#comment-46554</link>
		<dc:creator>Jeffrey</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 02 Sep 2007 00:43:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/09/01/merdeka-golden-jubilee-national-anniversary-or-barisan-nasional-anniversary/#comment-46554</guid>
		<description>Ã¢â‚¬Â¦//..Even more pertinent, are those in authority prepared to acknowledge that mistakes have been made in missing a golden opportunity, once-in-a-lifetime, to unite rather than polarize Malaysians or will such criticisms be dismissed as lacking in patriotism and love for Malaysia?Ã¢â‚¬Â¦//Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€œ YB LKS.

Many amongst those in authority would acknowledge the mistakes Ã¢â‚¬â€œ privately but would not rectify them. And why should they? What is good for their private interests is not good for the nationÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s interests and vice versa.

Those in authority (whatever the race) Ã¢â‚¬â€œ and their friends Ã¢â‚¬â€œ have made lots of money from power or association with power. Personal and group vested interests take precedence over national interests.

To leverage on race and religion is a well tried and successful formula towards such an agenda.

It is so because amongst the larger population there are different races, and being multi-religious and multi cultural, have no common shared norms or even laws and plenty of mutual suspicions and feelings of separateness. These divisive tendencies can only be ameliorated and bridged by evolution and forging of common interests and goals amongst the populace. 

However, the communal and ethnic based politics keep driving the racial and religious schisms and wedge deeper and things have gone the opposite way.

For so long as a public morality based on values of fair-play, equality of citizenry founded on unity of all Malaysians under the Bangsa Malaysia Ã¢â‚¬â€œ and differentiated only on criteria of merits Ã¢â‚¬â€œ and accountability of government in management of nationÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s resources does not develop and take root, a corrupt government dividing instead of uniting the people will not be booted out and will always successively be returned to power by the ballot boxes.

The expression the people (or the majority thereof) always get the government they deserve reflects the corollary that a government is only as good, decent and moral as its citizens, or at least the significant section of them that keep voting it to powerÃ¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦ As a nation about to celebrate 50th Merdeka anniversary, it is good to remind ourselves that our greatest threat is internal, not external.... 

The threat lies in the lack of shame Ã¢â‚¬â€œ indeed, on the contrary, much sense of pride and well being Ã¢â‚¬â€œ in taking unfair advantage of situation for personal gain, unfair gain over others for personal security and enrichment, the expression Ã¢â‚¬Å“othersÃ¢â‚¬Â being reference to people of perceived lower socio-economic standing or lower educational level or of different race, religion or political creed who, being different, are hence not entitled to considerations of equal and fair treatment, compassion or respect. 

The ruling politicians have not by their policies, nurtured a higher public morality amongst the people, it is on the contrary, the other way around so that the citizenry not having a higher public morality will keep on endorsing their brand of politics based on divisive criteria of race and religion and voting them back to power in a self feeding and endless cycle of self repetition.

So the Golden Merdeka Jubilee is rightly a BN Anniversary to commmorate its successful grip on power -  no Opposition leaders or flags were featured at Ambang Merdeka and many participating were school children and personnel of organisations who have no say to opt out - but celebrated at huge public expense as a national one, if only to give a strong propaganda boost to the BNÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s popularity in the imminent general election.

The symbolic and ceremonial importance of the Merdeka Golden Jubilee was supposed to give meaning to the cry of merdeka : of independence, nationhood based on constitution, unity and pride in success of the nation.

Meaning however cannot be evoked by words alone. It is subject to proof and benchmarked against deeds.

Is there a point on merdeka day to speak of the harmonious relations and contributions of all races when every other day we hear of how one community is entitled by the Ã¢â‚¬Å“social contractÃ¢â‚¬Â to special privileges over the rest? Or that, according to MB from bastion of UMNO in Johore that there is no such thing as Ã¢â‚¬Å“Bangsa MalaysiaÃ¢â‚¬Â? Or that the constitution prescribes the nation as an Islamic state? Or that every act or word highlighting the mistake of governance becomes a sensitive and illegal or unpatriotic one deserving of punishment by full rigours of the law?

To be sure Malaysia has improved substantially in terms of living standards, education, wealth creation and even public facilities in the last 50 years but relative to the resources of the nation and the overtaking of her by other countries like Korea, Japan, Singapore etc, weÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re at best a successful failure or a failing success depending on oneÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s point of view. Instead of Malaysia so far so good, it is actually so far not so bad and would get badder unless things change. That is the sentiment that has been the dampener on the celebrations.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Ã¢â‚¬Â¦//..Even more pertinent, are those in authority prepared to acknowledge that mistakes have been made in missing a golden opportunity, once-in-a-lifetime, to unite rather than polarize Malaysians or will such criticisms be dismissed as lacking in patriotism and love for Malaysia?Ã¢â‚¬Â¦//Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€œ YB LKS.</p>
<p>Many amongst those in authority would acknowledge the mistakes Ã¢â‚¬â€œ privately but would not rectify them. And why should they? What is good for their private interests is not good for the nationÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s interests and vice versa.</p>
<p>Those in authority (whatever the race) Ã¢â‚¬â€œ and their friends Ã¢â‚¬â€œ have made lots of money from power or association with power. Personal and group vested interests take precedence over national interests.</p>
<p>To leverage on race and religion is a well tried and successful formula towards such an agenda.</p>
<p>It is so because amongst the larger population there are different races, and being multi-religious and multi cultural, have no common shared norms or even laws and plenty of mutual suspicions and feelings of separateness. These divisive tendencies can only be ameliorated and bridged by evolution and forging of common interests and goals amongst the populace. </p>
<p>However, the communal and ethnic based politics keep driving the racial and religious schisms and wedge deeper and things have gone the opposite way.</p>
<p>For so long as a public morality based on values of fair-play, equality of citizenry founded on unity of all Malaysians under the Bangsa Malaysia Ã¢â‚¬â€œ and differentiated only on criteria of merits Ã¢â‚¬â€œ and accountability of government in management of nationÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s resources does not develop and take root, a corrupt government dividing instead of uniting the people will not be booted out and will always successively be returned to power by the ballot boxes.</p>
<p>The expression the people (or the majority thereof) always get the government they deserve reflects the corollary that a government is only as good, decent and moral as its citizens, or at least the significant section of them that keep voting it to powerÃ¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦ As a nation about to celebrate 50th Merdeka anniversary, it is good to remind ourselves that our greatest threat is internal, not external&#8230;. </p>
<p>The threat lies in the lack of shame Ã¢â‚¬â€œ indeed, on the contrary, much sense of pride and well being Ã¢â‚¬â€œ in taking unfair advantage of situation for personal gain, unfair gain over others for personal security and enrichment, the expression Ã¢â‚¬Å“othersÃ¢â‚¬Â being reference to people of perceived lower socio-economic standing or lower educational level or of different race, religion or political creed who, being different, are hence not entitled to considerations of equal and fair treatment, compassion or respect. </p>
<p>The ruling politicians have not by their policies, nurtured a higher public morality amongst the people, it is on the contrary, the other way around so that the citizenry not having a higher public morality will keep on endorsing their brand of politics based on divisive criteria of race and religion and voting them back to power in a self feeding and endless cycle of self repetition.</p>
<p>So the Golden Merdeka Jubilee is rightly a BN Anniversary to commmorate its successful grip on power -  no Opposition leaders or flags were featured at Ambang Merdeka and many participating were school children and personnel of organisations who have no say to opt out - but celebrated at huge public expense as a national one, if only to give a strong propaganda boost to the BNÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s popularity in the imminent general election.</p>
<p>The symbolic and ceremonial importance of the Merdeka Golden Jubilee was supposed to give meaning to the cry of merdeka : of independence, nationhood based on constitution, unity and pride in success of the nation.</p>
<p>Meaning however cannot be evoked by words alone. It is subject to proof and benchmarked against deeds.</p>
<p>Is there a point on merdeka day to speak of the harmonious relations and contributions of all races when every other day we hear of how one community is entitled by the Ã¢â‚¬Å“social contractÃ¢â‚¬Â to special privileges over the rest? Or that, according to MB from bastion of UMNO in Johore that there is no such thing as Ã¢â‚¬Å“Bangsa MalaysiaÃ¢â‚¬Â? Or that the constitution prescribes the nation as an Islamic state? Or that every act or word highlighting the mistake of governance becomes a sensitive and illegal or unpatriotic one deserving of punishment by full rigours of the law?</p>
<p>To be sure Malaysia has improved substantially in terms of living standards, education, wealth creation and even public facilities in the last 50 years but relative to the resources of the nation and the overtaking of her by other countries like Korea, Japan, Singapore etc, weÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re at best a successful failure or a failing success depending on oneÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s point of view. Instead of Malaysia so far so good, it is actually so far not so bad and would get badder unless things change. That is the sentiment that has been the dampener on the celebrations.</p>
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		<title>By: hanuman</title>
		<link>http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/09/01/merdeka-golden-jubilee-national-anniversary-or-barisan-nasional-anniversary/#comment-46537</link>
		<dc:creator>hanuman</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 01 Sep 2007 17:09:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/09/01/merdeka-golden-jubilee-national-anniversary-or-barisan-nasional-anniversary/#comment-46537</guid>
		<description>Khairy Norhisham posts URL to website that offends the Malays in his article RAJA PETRA PERLU DI TAHAN BAWAH ISA at Kelab Penyokong Maya UMNO on 27th August 2007.

URL to RAJA PETRA PERLU DI TAHAN BAWAH ISA article.
http://www.kpmu.net/modules.php?name=News&#38;file=article&#38;sid=587

INILAH LAMAN WEB YANG MENGHINA MELAYU
Klik Sini

Click on "Klik Sini" you be direct to the site.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Khairy Norhisham posts URL to website that offends the Malays in his article RAJA PETRA PERLU DI TAHAN BAWAH ISA at Kelab Penyokong Maya UMNO on 27th August 2007.</p>
<p>URL to RAJA PETRA PERLU DI TAHAN BAWAH ISA article.<br />
<a href="http://www.kpmu.net/modules.php?name=News&amp;file=article&amp;sid=587" rel="nofollow">http://www.kpmu.net/modules.php?name=News&amp;file=article&amp;sid=587</a></p>
<p>INILAH LAMAN WEB YANG MENGHINA MELAYU<br />
Klik Sini</p>
<p>Click on &#8220;Klik Sini&#8221; you be direct to the site.</p>
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		<title>By: bystander</title>
		<link>http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/09/01/merdeka-golden-jubilee-national-anniversary-or-barisan-nasional-anniversary/#comment-46527</link>
		<dc:creator>bystander</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 01 Sep 2007 14:56:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/09/01/merdeka-golden-jubilee-national-anniversary-or-barisan-nasional-anniversary/#comment-46527</guid>
		<description>The celebration was a farce. Governed by a bunch of idiots, racists, sinners and cheats.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The celebration was a farce. Governed by a bunch of idiots, racists, sinners and cheats.</p>
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		<title>By: Jong</title>
		<link>http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/09/01/merdeka-golden-jubilee-national-anniversary-or-barisan-nasional-anniversary/#comment-46514</link>
		<dc:creator>Jong</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 01 Sep 2007 11:37:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/09/01/merdeka-golden-jubilee-national-anniversary-or-barisan-nasional-anniversary/#comment-46514</guid>
		<description>The whole celebration was sad to say, below expectation. For a 50th anniversary -do, it should have been much better standard than that.

The total projection of umno, blatant pretense was deceptive and in bad taste.  The lowering of the Union Jack was most insulting! 

It just go to show this country is run by a bunch of idiots! And the irony is they are so mighty proud of it splashed across all govt controlled news media.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The whole celebration was sad to say, below expectation. For a 50th anniversary -do, it should have been much better standard than that.</p>
<p>The total projection of umno, blatant pretense was deceptive and in bad taste.  The lowering of the Union Jack was most insulting! </p>
<p>It just go to show this country is run by a bunch of idiots! And the irony is they are so mighty proud of it splashed across all govt controlled news media.</p>
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		<title>By: ENDANGERED HORNBILL</title>
		<link>http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/09/01/merdeka-golden-jubilee-national-anniversary-or-barisan-nasional-anniversary/#comment-46510</link>
		<dc:creator>ENDANGERED HORNBILL</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 01 Sep 2007 11:12:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/09/01/merdeka-golden-jubilee-national-anniversary-or-barisan-nasional-anniversary/#comment-46510</guid>
		<description>BERNAMA:
"When told by his aide that he did congratulate the prime minister, Bush laughed at his memory lapse and said: "Exactly. I'm going to congratulate him again. I'll double the congratulations."

It's  a wonder Bush remembers anything at all of Pak Lah. What an impression the Malaysian PM made on Bush.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>BERNAMA:<br />
&#8220;When told by his aide that he did congratulate the prime minister, Bush laughed at his memory lapse and said: &#8220;Exactly. I&#8217;m going to congratulate him again. I&#8217;ll double the congratulations.&#8221;</p>
<p>It&#8217;s  a wonder Bush remembers anything at all of Pak Lah. What an impression the Malaysian PM made on Bush.</p>
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