In the United States, Senator Barack Obama’s nomination as the Democratic Presidential nominees heralds a new milestone in American nation-building and race relations but in Malaysia, the UMNO proposal for Umno-PAS talks marks a regression in Malaysian nation-building and the Vision 2020 objective of a Bangsa Malaysia.
The latter repudiates March 8 “political tsunami” where for the first time in half-a-century of nationhood, Malaysians transcended race, religion and political affiliation to vote for change to give primacy and priority to justice, freedom, solidarity, integrity and progress.
The March 8 “political tsunami” marks a bold and visionary stride forward by Malaysians to rise above their communal selves to reach out to a common national identity.
It is a great tragedy if the transformational message of March 8 to stride forward to a new politics of justice, freedom, solidarity, integrity and progress is nullified by a throwback to the old, narrow and divisive politics of race, religion and class.
#1 by devilmaster on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 1:08 am
zak_hammaad, or better known as littlefox in Lowyat.net forum; when you come to a political blog to post your opinions, you must be prepared with some disagreements from others. You cannot expect everyone to share your views. You dont have moderators here siding by your side too.
You were once got flamed in RPK’s Malaysia-Today, for unknown reasons to me. Like i always said, i respect everybody’s opinions provided it is logic & constructive, unlike all those stupid chidings by RealWorld.
#2 by limkamput on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 1:16 am
well I would like to remind you that approx 60% of Malays still voted for UMNO and the remainder are divided between secularists, Islamists and ‘dont knows’. zak
You have shown NO practical solutions how you would not only change the style of government, but more importantly how you would change the mindset of many Malaysians. I would urge you too, to see the geo-political reality of Malaysia through it’s social demography. zak
Let me tell you this, even if 60% of Malays voted for UMNO, it is also the time to change. It is blatantly clear the government and the country is not working. It is time they are told to accept the reality (not your geo-political reality) if they want food on the table and if they want the country to move forward. We can’t have an affirmative programme for the majority indefinitely.
Precisely we are letting the stupid mindset to linger on for the last 50 years and that is why we are seeing the country moving backward. Malays must be told by enlightened Malays that there are no free lunches.
#3 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 5:59 am
limkamput,
I like your “coconut head” comment of zak_hammaad. Even his nick has got to be unusual. Is it Zaki bin Mohammad?
#4 by yhsiew on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 8:12 am
PAS spiritual leader, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, is an experienced politician.
I believe he is testing UMNO “political waters and reaction” in the current PAS-UMNO events.
#5 by ablastine on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 8:29 am
PAS is likely not stupid enough to really want to join UMNO. They are probably just toying UMNO just like a cat playing with the mouse before eating it. Why would they really want to jump on board a sinking ship. It is not that difficult to see that the invitation by UMNO for talks are simply last cries of desperation before their demise.You don’t hear them accommodating PAS when they were strong. Even if the alliance really become reality, how long would it last. Until the next election probably. That is not too far away really by the time the alliance can come on full steam.
Pandering to UMNO wishes by joining them at this juncture is nothing less than betrayal to the electorate who elected them on an opposition ticket. What will PAS get in return for such a costly antic. Malay Unity and other nonsense comes about only when UMNO needed them to save their own ass. When UMNO were helping themselves to the countries wealth how come PAS was not invited for the sake for Malay unity. In any case the MB of Perak is already from PAS. Why would PAS kiss UMNO ass. What can they really get in return for being labelled a traitor. They are at grave risk of loosing their credibility by jumping ship like this.
In any case the reason why UMNO lost in the 5 States is because the people are fed up with them robbing the country. It has nothing to do with Malays unity or disunity. If PAS join them in the robbery, I don’t think they need to see the light of day in the next election. They will just die together with UMNO. PAS is not that stupid. They would not have been able to take Kelantan from the BN if they are really so dimwit.
#6 by oknyua on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 9:05 am
I am still puzzled with the demise of Kassim Amat – sorry not “demise”, but his disappearance. Godfather, is he still stuck in Putra Jaya, lobbying for a Mercs 200 for us?
#7 by Sagaladoola on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 9:21 am
My writing on this issue……
Title:
Will PAS Embrace Islam Hadhari or Join BN?
Link:
http://sagaladoola.blogspot.com/2008/07/will-pas-embrace-islam-hadhari-or-join.html
#8 by Bigjoe on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 9:26 am
Let me make my stand clear. Its one thing to fight for a new idea of Islamic state whatever that may be, its quite another to constitutional say the Quran is supreme.
A constitutional theocracy, where a religious text is supreme is no different than one based on Mein Kampf, or thinking of Das Kapital, OR The little Red Book. I have seen those lives personally as I have seen how Saudi Arabia and other middle east countries including the prosperous Dubai, Kuwait. That I won’t put my children and future generation. If they want to do that, then either they take my life or buy my assets and pay for my losses and let us leave by allowing us to declare ourselves as political refugees. I cannot answer to my children and grandchildren into a future which I already know will rob of them of their future without sacrificing all that I can to protect them.
#9 by britcrazelady on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 11:52 am
qcb3838,
“Chinese + Muslims + Indians + Bumiputeras = Rakyat = MALAYSIA”
Q : If the equation is true, why aren’t the Chinese + Indians not given EQUAL RIGHTS & BENEFITS? Why must there be “Bumiputra rights”? AND why is there a need for implementation of hudud? Why is there a need for MALAY unity and not MALAYSIANS unity? Are the Chinese + Indians “Malaysians”?
#10 by britcrazelady on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 12:03 pm
It’s funny why countries like England for example, which is also ruled by a written Constitution can have fair play, ie; their Constitution isn’t drafted in accordance to the Bible (their monarch is under Church of England, right?) – and benefits all races? Why is the Malaysian written Constitution drafted “with reference” to the Quran, and benefits “one race” more than the other?
#11 by Yee Siew Wah on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 12:36 pm
I hv great respect and faith for PAS after the March 8. However, with their recent dealings with the umnoputras I am now sick of their Malay unity and religious issues agenda. Islam does not work this way i hope. PAS has shown their true colours. Can the non-muslims trust them? I bet. Of course there some good muslims in PAS like our Perak MB Nihar. I admire him so far on what he has done for the rakyat as a whole. A realistic and open minded MB.
Hope he will keep it up.
I hope he join PKR or try to open those numbskulls in PAS to face the world globally in a practical and realistic way. U cannot hv progress,peace etc… if u still have stone-age mentality in running a multi-racial rakyat like Malaysia.
#12 by alphapower on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 4:05 pm
To all my fellow Malaysian, let us pray that 31/08/08 will be the last Merdeka for all the BN goon to stand on the grand stand. Next year they will be the spectator.
#13 by Emily Pratt on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 4:42 pm
PAs has just given UMNO their middle finger… yup there will never be any coalition on state and federal level btw PAS & UMNO.
As reported in Malaysia Insider today 31.07.08
KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 — Pas has rejected any coalition government with Umno or the Barisan Nasional at both state or federal level, party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said today, ending the controversial unity talks with its ideological nemesis that have rocked both the ruling and opposition coalitions.
“The issue of Umno’s offer to Pas therefore does not arise,” Abdul Hadi said after a rare joint meeting between Pas’s central working committee and its highest decision-making body, the Majlis Syura Ulamak (religious scholars consultative council).
Pas has been embroiled with the secret meetings between its leaders including Abdul Hadi and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and Umno’s offer to some state Pas leaders to form coalition state governments in Perak and Selangor — both now under the federal opposition’s Pakatan Rakyat. Umno, however, has not invited Pas to join other Barisan Nasional state governments.
Abdul Hadi also reaffirmed the party’s commitment to Pakatan Rakyat, the nascent coalition that groups the Islamist party with Parti Keadilan Rakyat and the Democratic Action Party that denied BN its traditional two-thirds parliamentary majority in the 222-seat Parliament with its 82 seats and unprecedented control of five states.
He said Pas was grateful to the non-Muslim community for supporting the party in the March 8 general election, adding it was prepared to meet political organisations and non-governmental organisations to discuss issues of mutual interest.
He urged Umno members to quit en masse and join the Pakatan Rakyat coalition members.
EP
#14 by barble on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 5:23 pm
we can all sit in front of our computers and write about the incompetence of our politicians, the polices lack of interest in making malaysia more safe and the shameful judiciary system that we have in this country. But we the citizens of Malaysia has never made a stand on our right to be the ‘voice’ and do our
job to ensure the right person runs our country and makes us feel safe to live here like our parents and parents before them….
we can’t even walk in our own neighborhood to visit our neighbors across the streets, because of the fear that we would be harmed by a thief or rapist. our own children are not safe in their own housing play grounds…. why is this happening????
its all because we the citizens are not voicing enough of our frustration in public.. i don’t mean in the internet where its only writing, but actually going head to head with our elected politicians(politicians that we vote, our votes that put them where they are now) and pressure them to be more responsible in their actions as the elected leaders in this country.
do more public protests.. do you actually think that jails in malaysia can fit 26million malaysians??? obviously not right… and by doing this will not only impose fear in the politicians but they will definitely do they jobs well…
we malaysians are no ‘UNITED’ in wanting what ‘WE’ want and how we want our country to be… we malaysians just gossip, talk behind backs, curse and swear but at the end of the day do not show our frustrations to ensure that there are heard. why we do this? because a typical malaysian will answer you, that they just hide it and keep mum when it comes going against the government, is because they have mouths to feed…
let me tell you all here, if we don’t do what we have to do to make sure our country is a safe place to live for us, our children and the next generations…
we all will not have jobs to feed them anyway… so why bicker behind the scenes??? ask yourselves why not do much more than that??? are we not capable to do so??? are we the voice of this country???? is this a democratic country??? ask yourselves these questions… i am hoping it will open all of your eyes..
#15 by zak_hammaad on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 6:03 pm
limkamput Says:
>> i thought i just did – let the best govern.
Who defines “best”? What processes are used to select? How do you overcome objections for other sides? etc etc.
>> Just for your info, a black is on the verge of becoming the president of a white majority country – a country that practised slavery at one time.
Not black enough for some, but nevertheless a start.
>> Why do you think we are so special?
Diversity of races, religions and cultures; where laws are drafted and political parties are created to server specific purposes for specific races. This you will not find in the US.
If you are talking about overhauling the status quo, then again please answer my question on “how” you intend to do this rather than “we need to do it”.
#16 by zak_hammaad on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 6:19 pm
devilmaster Says:
>> zak_hammaad, or better known as littlefox in Lowyat.net forum;
Instead of assuming, stay on the topic. fyi, I’ve never visisted that forum and don’t intend to (if your purpose was to advetise for it :^)
>> You were once got flamed in RPK’s Malaysia-Today, for unknown reasons to me.
LOL, is that what you call it. Try the archives and see my postings. The so-called champion of ‘free speech’ barred my account because truth was getting a little too hot for him. She should have got out of the kitchen :^) If he goes to prison or becomes bankrupt, he has only himself to blame.
The whole purpose of blogs as you say, is for sharing of ideas and agreeing to disagree in many parts; issues of this nature are not concluded in stone and it’s the diversity that makes us who we are. limkamput might want to think about “unity in diversity” when he proposes radical and evolutionary ideas without the “how”.
#17 by limkamput on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 8:22 pm
zak, we are already doing it, and if you can’t see it, you are an idiot.
By the way am i not reporting to you? You want my ideas, please beg me, may be i will consider telling you.
#18 by zak_hammaad on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 10:14 pm
AhPek, I should have made it clear that the figure quoted was for “bumi-puteras” and not just Malays. I understand that many people have a vested interested to perpetuate lies so that minorities can justify a bigger stake of influence. I don’t understand why there is so much fear of statistics.
S’pore is not an impartial source for this as for example, they’ve been putting the Malays at 14% for more than 2 decades despite Malays having bigger families. S’pore continues to socially engineer the makeup of it’s population by retaining this figure by way of Chinese neuturalisation as well as giving non-Malays easy access for settlement etc.
In the same degree, S’pore continues to put the figure of Muslims at 14% despite the fact there are sizeable Indian Muslims and well as pockets of Arab and other Muslims (a more realistic figure is 17-18%). So % of Malays do not equal % of Muslims.
Beyond this, we find PAP actively promoting Christianity so as to relegate Islam to 3rd place. There are more than twice as many churches as there are mosques despite the fact that Christians make up 15% of the population.
When it comes to Malaysia, I’m sure the discerning readership of this blog can at least conclude the follows stats:
Muslims: 62%
Buddhists: 20%
Christians: 9%
Hindu: 6%
Others: 3%
#19 by limkamput on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 10:40 pm
we find PAP actively promoting Christianity so as to relegate Islam to 3rd place. zak
this is what i call third world half baked people talking.
#20 by limkamput on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 10:41 pm
S’pore is not an impartial source for this as for example, they’ve been putting the Malays at 14% for more than 2 decades despite Malays having bigger families. zak
prove it, don’t need to talk c*ck here.
#21 by limkamput on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 10:43 pm
it clear that the figure quoted was for “bumi-puteras” and not just Malays. zak
See how greedy is a** is. You have exploited enough of non bumi, now you want to exploit the bumi from
Sarawak and Sabah. You tell me what did the bumi from Sabah and Sarawak get?
#22 by limkamput on Thursday, 31 July 2008 - 10:48 pm
I understand that many people have a vested interested to perpetuate lies so that minorities can justify a bigger stake of influence.
why you keep talking minority and majority? what is your motive? so that you can continue to scr*w us, zak? What is so great about the majority, when what they do is to bring the country backward. Why should minority stand by and let the country destroyed. We have everyright to take control and see that all, majority and minority, make progress. This is much better than your tribal leadership which only bring destruction, destitute and misery.
#23 by zak_hammaad on Friday, 1 August 2008 - 12:19 am
limkamput Says:
>> this is what i call third world half baked people talking.
Clearly you have no independent acumen. Your research probably comes from wholly anti-estbalishment material.
>> why you keep talking minority and majority?
Because this is a fact of life. You want equal representation while ignoring the fact that the majority will never accept it. To change their mindset requires persuasive arguments.
>> what is your motive? so that you can continue to scr*w us, zak?
“you can”; I have not authority to do anything from the top, in fact I am not even Malay as I told you before. There is no motive, it is a simple reflection of the social demographic reality that you continue to IGNORE.
>> What is so great about the majority,
Nothing much, except that they have an inherent stake to the country and the would not like the social contract to be shot down casually over the newly formented political ambitions of the minorities and anti-Muslim forces.
#24 by limkamput on Friday, 1 August 2008 - 12:47 am
owah, social contract, casually shot down, come on, what are you getting at?
How you think our social contract should be. Lots of things change by default or in the course of time. So casually shot down may be is changing by default or may be it is time, got it?
#25 by limkamput on Friday, 1 August 2008 - 12:59 am
Because this is a fact of life. You want equal representation while ignoring the fact that the majority will never accept it. To change their mindset requires persuasive arguments. zak
why keep saying this moronic thing! why are you assuming the majority government is deciding for the interests of majority? They rule in the name of majority but they are for parochial interests. The change has just begun, and it will take its course. Sorry you can’t stop the train now. Taking about lack of discernment, I think you are the epitome of that. We will achieve secular, liberal and cosmopolitan Malaysia because it is inclusive, sustaining and acceptable to most people and the global community. The opposition is Myanmar or North Korea or Zimbabwe. We will never allow that to happen because everybody has a stake here, not just your “majority”, whichever way your coconut head chooses to define it. By the way, majority does not always means right, hope you heard that before.
#26 by limkamput on Friday, 1 August 2008 - 1:04 am
sorry, the last line should be: majority is not always right.
#27 by sirrganass on Friday, 1 August 2008 - 1:31 am
Hello friends…. by today, 1st August 2008, the games is OVER! Pas is with Pakatan Rakyat and has rejected UMNO/BN. Full Stop. Let’s go back to work. Thanks!