To many concerned Malaysians, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, has shown his true colours yesterday – he is not that open, liberal and tolerant after all.
He laid down two edicts for his second administration:
• No open forums or dialogues on religious or racial issues as they can undermine peace and stability – no more discussion on matters of religion or race that had already been enshrined in the Federal Constitution; and
• No objection to the use of Internal Security Act and Sedition Act against those who organize such forums like the Bar Council – up to the Home Ministry to act against the Bar Council.
Is it any wonder that Malaysians react to such edicts with the premonition that the second Abdullah premiership could be even worse than the previous 22-year Mahathir administration?
In one fell swoop, Abdullah has backed his deputy, Najib Razak and the Home Minister, Syed Hamid Albar in lining up against the Bar Council for organizing the forum on Conversion to Islam to discuss the conflict of laws arising from civil and shariah court jurisdictions and Article 121(1A) of the Federal Constitution and freedom of expression in general, as well as gave back-handed approval if not outright embracing of the demonstrators who had successfully stormed and disrupted the Bar Council forum by dragooning the police into their service.
How ironic that Abdullah could make such a statement in the same breadth as talking about the importance of making Malaysia more attractive to encourage more foreign direct investment by having good governance – after chairing the first meeting of the Economic Council.
Was Abdullah unaware that he was in fact going against the fundamental principles and precepts of good governance in giving his blessing to the storming and disruption of the Bar Council forum by demonstrators on Saturday – which is not going to inspire confidence of investors, foreign or local, about the rule of law, the system of justice or the integrity of national institutions?
The media have published some MCA, Gerakan and MIC leaders speaking up in support of the Bar Council forum. The acid test is whether the leaders and Ministers of MCA, Gerakan, MIC and other Barisan Nasional component parties from Sabah and Sarawak are prepared to raise this issue in Cabinet tomorrow and the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council in an emergency meeting to demand that the fundamental right of the Bar Council and Malaysians to hold such forums should not be abridged or denied but must be respected and protected.
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#1 by NewDAP on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 3:26 pm
I wonder why the Malays are so afraid to open up UiTM for non-malays? a mere suggestion to open up 10% only, some of them already went berserk…. hello, it just a suggestion only…….
lucky is not suggested by a non-malay leader, if not he will be detained under ISA.
it is not good to always close our doors.
must learn to open up our doors in order to enchance knowledge and wisdom….
#2 by cheng on on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 3:53 pm
Spore confuse / mislead / waste time by using 4 languages for announcement in their MRT stations.
Spore cannot export talented ppl or students like Msia. Msia ‘export’ many such ppl every year.
Pity Spore Malay have to learn English / study hard /work hard, while Msia Malay need not do so….
#3 by m.hwang on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 4:08 pm
Come on guys, Kassim is good for us in so many ways. It’s also good for the blog. Otherwise how to get so many postings in such a short time?
#4 by i_love_malaysia on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 5:53 pm
Kasim Amat,
You really can twist and turn the facts into fictions and spin our heads into accepting fictions become facts!!! No wonder you are paid for writing in the blog!!! Anyway, the truth will prevail and people wont buy what you said because their eyes are crystal clear!!!
#5 by boh-liao on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 5:55 pm
Comparison between MM and AAB: the former sodomised the nation and the latter r@ped the nation. The nation is totally skrued up and f@cked up under them and Umno!
#6 by Adolf_Napoleon on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 7:15 pm
**************************************************
WARNING! WARNING!! – Please also Inform all your Non-Bumi Friends
**************************************************
I urge Non-Bumi to stay out of politics, street demos and any new demands for equality and meritrocacy. At the height of this Political cum Economical tension, dont create any slightest excuse for those race-based politician to create racial tension.
There are many people still carrying the “May 13th” torch in their heart. Please advise your loved ones and friends. Stay out of active politics. ONLY involve is coffee shop and mamak talk.
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The ONLY WAY for a NON-BUMI to express themselves is in the voting ballot box. FULL STOP !!!!!!!!!!
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#7 by tenaciousB on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 7:30 pm
I agree with Napoleon, lets not waste our intelligence on dumb politicians. It’s a shocker for me the moment i saw Syed Albar on BBC hardtalk gettin drilled and literally pissed in his pants and looked like he had a seizure on screen whereby he reiterated the same words again and again despite getting quizzed different Q’s. It is a mockery that substandard ministers govern this nation. We have much more intelligent citizens but unworthy leaders. Shocker!
#8 by just a moment on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 9:58 pm
Heh guys, wait for me, almost missed the joy ride with our. K Amat. Enjoy reading it’s (his/she or neither here nor there) input, it’s ok lah-for the heck of it. It amazes me to the point of entertaining with Amat’s – childish ‘comprehension of the world his in” even though many more younger child can have better understanding.
Dear Amat, Your logics (obviously you’re be excuse for not having any) of comparing Singapore and M’sia tickles my toe somehow. But here’s some questions you ought to ask.
Is it because you think that M’sia is such a tolerant country that all the great entertainers of the world, be it musical groups, football team, singers, great teachers, great Motivators choose to avoid coming to Malaysia? Why Singapore? tell us when you have the answers.
Amat, in terms of natural resources. All our chidrens, regardless of races can have free full education up to University levels.Do we have it?
In terms of natural resources. All our elderly folks would have nice home to be cared for plus free healthcare. Do you have it?
In terms of natural resources. Tourist should be jamming to Malaysia. Have you met any foreigner lately?
The list is endless. Its not just about natural resources, so what? can’t you see? Amat sleep on this lah. find out the answer yourself,ok?
Why see the plight of Singapore Malays when you are blinded by the plights of non-muslim here? I bet if theres an Kasim Amat there in Singapore, he’ll have better IQ there, I’m sure you’ll agree.
The only different in Spiritual life in Singapore is, they have more Mega Churches whereas M’sia have Acromegaly Mosques.
and just a ‘few’ surau’s
Amat, if Ringgit can be as strong as Sing dollars, can you imagine how much more pulaus and airplane our INDUVIDU Gov’t can owned? (none would be yours, well, since you’re be paid..toilet for you lah)
In terms of our great leadership past Umno, ok lah to be fair, the good ones are all dead, the live ones are bad.
Anyway, the country’s leadership is so good until we loose
1.Academic excellence University standards to India, Myanmah, aiyo shy to mention also..
2.Sports exellence to Vietnam, China, Korea …aiyo shy also here
3.Many more shameful stuff to mention here also.
The only great leadership here is to suppress, bondages to its own kind and making sure we are always behind the rest of the countries.
(Amat Some degrees of corruption is inevitable and it is a very natural sign in any developing country. As long as the country is progressing – Are You?)
Amat, tonite as you sleep, probably the only progress you have achieved is only situated in your mind – in your big head!! Sleep well folks. Nice chatting with Amat.
#9 by badak on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 11:55 pm
Kasim amat ..Yes i agree that all must know abit about ISLAM.The problem here is that the MALAY Muslim are so superficial.In Malaysia now, you will never see a MALAY entering a temple or a church.
But this same MALAY who go on tour overseas will enter a temple or church just to take pictures so that they can show of to their friends that they had just gone to LONDON or PARIS.
#10 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 14 August 2008 - 7:15 am
“It must be reminded that Islam does not belong to one particular race, it’s being embraced by many all over the world, not theirs alone.” Jong
There are more Muslims in China than there are in Malaysia.
#11 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 14 August 2008 - 7:18 am
“Ask yourself, is this the country that we want? ” Kassim Amat
Yes, I did. Many times. Every time the answer is “Yes” and it is BN/UMNO that I do not want.
#12 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 14 August 2008 - 7:21 am
“If we are to live happily, we have to be content with what we have and not keep pursuing what we don’t.” Kasian Amat
We pursue what we do not have. What we have we keep.
#13 by tenaciousB on Thursday, 14 August 2008 - 2:24 pm
Malaysia is still a safe haven. It is still the best country to live in in the whoel region. The malays are wonderful people, their names are smeared by a handful of hooligans. I have a fantastic number of malay friends whom i cherish and appreciate. So are the other races indians and chinese, all have their unique cultures and so forth.
That’s why we can’t afford to let corrupt individuals destroy this country, we need to reclaim the very true image of malaysia being multicultural,racial and tolerant. God bless Malaysia, truly asia!
#14 by TheWrathOfGrapes on Thursday, 14 August 2008 - 3:32 pm
/// Kasim Amat Says:
Yesterday at 13: 28.34
Singapore will not tolerate any dissenting view on their policies. Just look at the plight of their opposition leaders and you will know. ///
You mean like throwing Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng in jail. Like throwing Raja Petra K and Nathaniel Tan in jail. Like throwing Anwar Ibrahim in jail on trumped up charges. Oops, scratch that last one out – Anwar wasn’t an opposition member. He was with the governing party. Heck, he was the number two and the right hand man of the guy who stabbed him in the back.
Yes, Kasim, you are right – Malaysian politics is so clean and above board…
#15 by aquaimplotec on Sunday, 17 August 2008 - 10:07 pm
Kasim Amat,
You have your right to voice your opinion here but perhaps you have not got the point expressed by the others i.e. your comments do not gather much respect in this forum. You have only ridiculed the acts of your grand masters more by restating UMNO and BN statements that have been time and again disproved by the many revelations that we see both in the local and foreign press day after day time after time, endless unceasing acts of misappropriation of public funds, corruption in public office, blatant disregard of the rights of Malaysians, unilateral enforcement of laws to prevent injustice and lastly but not the least, circumventing the natural laws of justice.
Perhaps your masters should redo your faulty programming, you robot UMNO propaganda machine.
#16 by Adolf_Napoleon on Monday, 18 August 2008 - 3:44 pm
**************************************************
WARNING! WARNING!! – Please also Inform all your Non-Bumi Friends
**************************************************
I urge Non-Bumi to stay out of politics, street demos and any new demands for equality and meritrocacy. At the height of this Political cum Economical tension, dont create any slightest excuse for those race-based politician to create racial tension.
There are many people still carrying the “May 13th” torch in their heart. Please advise your loved ones and friends. Stay out of active politics. ONLY involve is coffee shop and mamak talk.
**************************************************
The ONLY WAY for a NON-BUMI to express themselves is in the voting ballot box. FULL STOP !!!!!!!!!!
**************************************************