Former Selangor Mentri Besar, Datuk Seri Mohamad Khir Toyo thought he was doing the state, people and nation a great service when he tried to mid-wife a UMNO-PAS Selangor State Government after the March 8 general election.
He wrote on his blog that he arranged for a muzakarah between PAS leaders and the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi after the general election and offered PAS the mentri besar post, deputy mentri besar post as well as four executive councilors in a PAS-UMNO coalition government in Selangor to champion Malay interests.
There is some discrepancy in Khir’s account from that of Selangor PAS leader and MP for Shah Alam, Abdul Khalid Samad, who had attended the muzarakah, with the latter recounting that Khir wanted the Deputy Mentri Besar post although Khir claimed that he was willing to be left out of the state government line-up if that would encourage PAS to accept the “power-sharing”.
Khalid, who had described the muzarakah as “coloured with a racial agenda” of Umno, had denied that PAS harboured any intention of any power-sharing arrangement with UMNO in Selangor as PAS had already agreed to the proposal to name PKR’s Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as Mentri Besar.
In the Berita Harian today, Khir was quoted as saying that discussion over his Umno-PAS power-sharing arrangement went on for four days but was unsuccessful because of external influences.
Right-thinking Malaysians must find it most shocking and outraged that the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who had just presided over a RM100 million 50th Merdeka national celebrations and repeatedly pledged to be Prime Minister of all Malaysians and not just for any one race, could give his blessing and endorse the formation of a one-race, one-religion government for the most advanced state in Malaysia – Selangor – in the year 2008!
Abdullah owes all Malaysians a full and proper explanation!
#1 by undergrad2 on Friday, 25 July 2008 - 8:23 pm
“To our malay brethrens rest assured we non-bumis are not anti-malays,but merely voicing out all those discriminations and obstacles put in front of us for far too long.” suresh kumar
Perhaps in the interest of ‘change’ you need to move away from the language of “we” versus “they” – or “you are either with us or you are against us” of the Bush School of Thought.
“We are the change we seek” is non-confrontational and would put everybody on the same side. Don’t you think??
#2 by zak_hammaad on Friday, 25 July 2008 - 10:30 pm
undergrad2 Says:
>> I’d urge zak_haamaad, to come down from his high pedestal and ‘educate’ us lesser mortals further on his ideas about Muslim theology and the resurgence of Islam.
This is neither the time or place to discuss this, but I’m sure we will have plenty of opportunities as this blog progresses. I mentioned the issue of Islamic revival because it is happening; to ignore it will continue to raise questions about “Islamisation of Malaysia”, it’s causes and affects. Since we know that politics is an inherent part of Islam (not vice versa) – We can begin to understand and address minority concerns in Muslim majority countries.
Political change in Malaysia, whether it comes through BN or Pakatan will continue to be based on Islamic elements that secularists like the DAP will not be able to wash off no matter how much they’d like to. Social justice will prevail; but not as defined by the anti-Muslim forces :^)
#3 by imranj78 on Friday, 25 July 2008 - 10:34 pm
Kathy, limkamput,
It is a requirement that Muslims get married to a person who professes the same religion. Every religion has its rules and tenets and for Islam, this is one of them. Your claim that this imposes on other religions is incorrect as marriage is not something that is forced upon you.
#4 by imranj78 on Friday, 25 July 2008 - 10:59 pm
i_love_malaysia, you said:
`All our us are created in the image of God, our identities are the identities of children of God!!! When every one of us in this world acknowledge God and knowing our true identity, the need to identify with culture etc will become irrelevant!!! Anyway, it is practical and achievable, may be taking slightly more time!!!’
I find your above post extremely idealistic and utopian. Yes one day we will all discard our cultures and totally be one human race.. maybe in a zillion years?
Now lets be more practical and down to earth shall we? I never mentioned that a culture has to be imposed upon another. What I mention is about the creation of a Malaysian identity or `Bangsa Malaysia’ which is so much touted and favoured by many especially in this forum.
When a collective identity has to be created especially in a country such as Malaysia, it is necessary that existing cultures morph to form one that is representative of the whole country. Of course certain cultural distinctiveness will remain but the general outlook and projection of the population will be one. Then only would you say that `Bangsa Malaysia’ have been borne. In my view, it is only natural that this single cultural projection will more closely reflect the majority in the country, and in Malaysia, this will be the Malays. Again I reiterate, this is not because of any cultural superiority or anything to that effect, its just a natural progression in any country with a substantial majority.
But in my view, there is a lot of hypocritical talk. Many seem to want Bangsa Malaysia but when it comes to the adoption some cultural traits that is more Malay (even a simple act of wearing songkok in the presence of a Sultan for example), there is some reluctance.
So far, no one yet has given any strong rebuttal to the above. Please keep it practical, not idealistic mind you.
#5 by imranj78 on Friday, 25 July 2008 - 11:35 pm
dr suresh kumar,
This particular thread is not about BN vs PR and as such I will leave your comments as it is; maybe for some other more relevant threads. But I will just say this: In successful companies and organizations, the stakeholders all have synergy and have common long term goals. The way PR is currently structured is for short term gains and they have not yet clairified their long term goals and how they plan to reconcile differences esp. between PAS and DAP. Now I am not a BN fan, but I am not willing to gamble the future of our country to an unstable coalition, especially one that wants to build the federal government through defections. I’ll leave it at that.
#6 by wesuffer on Saturday, 26 July 2008 - 11:52 am
i think abdullah is dead brain already.
he thought umno is the one party won the most seat, then can simply find other party to set up as state goverment ? he dont forget the voter may choosed umno in past general election but the people who choose those umno candidate is because they are BN. not BECAUSE THEY ARE UMNO. SO STUPID ABDULLAH !
IF UMNO SUCCCESS JOIN VENTURE WITH PAS, TO FORM STATE GOVERMENT, IM SURE THEY ONLY FOR 4 YEARS. NEXT GENERAL ELECTION , ALL BN COMPONENT PARTIES SURE DIE IN SELANGOR
#7 by shortie kiasu on Sunday, 27 July 2008 - 11:05 am
Abdullah and Khir Toyo can immerse themselves in the glory of the UMNO-PAS dialogues and sing their swan songs, but morally and politically they are finished, their liabilities will sooner or later drag UMNO to the dirt, along the way BN will go with it.
#8 by poo on Sunday, 27 July 2008 - 5:04 pm
PAS is as always making a fool of themselves, UMNO as always using the old SUN TZU divide and conqueour method to cling on to power. If PAS accepted the offer to join UMNO, then in the next GE, UMNO will win bigger & PAS will be swipe away or even crush. This will not only weaken PR is the short and long term but chances for UMNO to win is much better. KILL two bird with one stone, simply smart!. HADI and ISA please just jump to UMNO & dont be a pain the ASS!
#9 by dbrutal on Monday, 28 July 2008 - 10:04 am
Maybe u guys should voice out the in-equality and discrimination that may take place in public or private sector also. Appointment and increment base on racial basis rather than merit. This is all un written discrimination that has been planted inside those racist brains
#10 by zak_hammaad on Monday, 28 July 2008 - 5:56 pm
Imran, totally agree with you last post, couldn’t have said it better myself.
#11 by i_love_malaysia on Tuesday, 29 July 2008 - 4:44 pm
imranj78,
You are missing my points and your thinking is still 50 years before independence. As I had said, we are a global city now and no country or people are insulated from the onslaught of globalisation, unless you prefer to living in your own cave!!!
Bangsa Malaysia may not be just talking about attire etc, it must be about things that we can all relate to!!! if you ask me to wear songkok for ceremony sake, it is perfectly ok to do so, but dont impose this requirement on those who feel that songkok has lost its purpose when the weather is so hot nowadays and yet you still insist that people need to wear them every day to school and must be worn at all time!!! This is not acceptable and not moving in progress with the world!!!
#12 by dr suresh kumar on Tuesday, 29 July 2008 - 9:39 pm
imranj78,
I for one dont agree with defections too,but what other options are there to topple UMNO led BN govt which has stooped so low by re-enacting the same old sickening script of sodomy against Anwar?Don’t you feel this is very unfair to his wife and children?
BN is trying to lure PAS to realize their ulterior motives,is this not defection?The rakyat have sent a crystal clear message through the ballot boxes in the 12th GE by denying the 2/3rd majority and the loss of 5 states.So why BN is trying to gain power through the back door?What future are you talking about some more?BN has decimated everything,the future can only come now with a change.
If you are afraid to try out new things in life as a man then you will forever be living in a cave with a siege mentality as a fearful and coward person.
You want to wait for the next GE to bring about a change?Cant you see how the UMNO scums are so desperate now to regain power by stooping so low,how sure are you that they wont mobilize all the govt machineries to gain power by using dubious means in the next GE,with all the ample time they have.Till about 2 months ago I too was unhappy with all these defections talk,but now I find it imperative to go for a change of govt in Malaysia asap as we have become a laughing stock in the eyes of the world.
#13 by imranj78 on Wednesday, 30 July 2008 - 1:49 pm
i_love_malaysia,
My mention of songkok is just a small example. I don’t deny that we are in a globalised environment. But are you saying now that Malaysia should not have its own `Bangsa Malaysia’ but rather embrace an utopian `global culture’?
While we are on the songkok topic, I don’t think that it is imposed in public isn’t it? Yes in some ceremonies it is a dress code (like when meeting the Sultan), but is it different then when you are invited to a formal dinner where there is a formal attire dress code? To me, those who refuse to wear the songkok for formal ceremonies are hypocrites. They talk about Bangsa Malaysia but when the time comes for them to show tolerance and respect to a Sultan (not even a BN politician mind you!), they fail. Sounds like hypocrites doesn’t it?
#14 by imranj78 on Wednesday, 30 July 2008 - 2:05 pm
dr suresh kumar,
I for one am not afraid to try something new in life. But trying something new entails making an informed and a responsible decision after careful evaluation of pros and cons. And my view is different from yours.
What proof do you have that the sodomy allegation is brought about by the UMNO chain of command? I agree that there could be a conspiracy, but it could have been certain factions or even certain groups in our country that have engineered it. I don’t know and at least I don’t pretend to know the facts unlike many here.
Now tell me, if PR gets 30 defectors to jump ship to BN, would the PR led government be more stable then the current BN government? The PR government would only have 1-2 majority over BN. This is an extremely unstable government and only an irresponsible person would think that such a government would last 5 years. My dear doctor, this is elementary so hear me out: go for long term sustainability and not short term gains. If PR do well, GE13 will be the platform to build the federal government.
We all know that BN have resorted to defections before and that is not something new. And it is expected that they will try now especially when PR is working to do the same. I am not a BN fan, but I can see some right decisions been made by BN and an effort made to move to the right direction. My beef with PR is that PR is supposed to bring in a new wind of change to Malaysia. They are supposed to hold the higher moral ground and not stoop to low unethical practices. What makes BN and PR different if PR resorts to such low practices now? They might make one unethical move now and you will forgive them, but what makes you think this will not be the last??
#15 by dr suresh kumar on Wednesday, 30 July 2008 - 8:57 pm
imranj78,
Would you mind elaborating on who are those`certain factions or certain groups that might be engineering the down fall of Anwar?
I cant see here any one who could be benefitting by bringing down Anwar than those racist UMNO scums?May be you have some pointers for me here.Wether PAKATAN has a weak majority or not,the point here is that BN must be taught a lesson.50 years of hegemony is enough.I assume you are a malay,maybe thats why you are afraid of facing a new govt and therefore a new challenge,I being a non-malay have nothing to lose as we non-malays have gained nothing through the racist BN govt initiatives,today a western country is infact gaining from me and my wife,but my heart and soul is still there in the country of my birth,I am trying my best to tell my fellow non-malay Malaysians to be patient and try out a new govt,infact it took me and my wife nearly 10 yrs to decide to leave the country for the sake of our children’s future,only when i got totally exhausted did we leave ,that too after losing our Australian PR 10 yrs ago, because I at that time still had some hope that this racist UMNO scums will one day change their attitude towards the non-bumis but sadly after 10 years I saw it became worse with further marginalization of the minorites in every aspect ,when I applied again in 2005,we were welcomed with open arms, because what the racist govt refused to recognize in us the white man did.
I have all the reasons to think that this is a BN conspiracy.The reasons are;1)why are the police refusing to divulge the police report made by Saiful? 2)Why do the police have to use such long arm tactics by sending balaclave clad commandos to arrest Anwar 1 hr before the deadline for Anwar to be at the police station to give his statement? 3) Why the Dr from PUSRAWI med centre has to go on long leave,for stating that there was no signs of sodomy on Saiful? 4)Why aren’t the police investigating allegations against Najib and his wife as claimed by RPK? 5)Why didn’t the police reprimand Mahathir for sabotaging the present on going sodomy investigation against Anwar by hinting that some habits are hard to break,as you know Mahathir still commands significant support amongst the people?6)Why did PI Bala changed his SD within 24 hours and then dissapeared into wilderness with his family?Do you have any inkling on these?Dont say things for the sake of arguement.Make sure you have got some substance before you comment my respected young brother.
I wish time and duty had been more liberal to me,as I would love to continue this debate with you,unfortunately i may not be,therefore I rest my case with the fervent hope that Malaysia will be able to overcome this ferocious storm and all Malaysians can leave in peace and harmony always.God bless her.
#16 by dr suresh kumar on Wednesday, 30 July 2008 - 9:00 pm
By the way imranj78,you were talking about unethical move by PAKATAN.Is BN and PAS upholding ethics now?Speak for youself.