Is Wong a Chinese or has he become NEWMalay? Sorry, he can’t be but maybe his grandson, if he follows the path traced by TDM’s grandfather.

Sorry, off-topic

From CheDet at http://test.chedet.com/che_det/2008/11/racism-and-2008-elections.html#more

///When the Barisan Nasional did badly in the March 2008 General Election, foreign observers and many in this country were jubilant because they claim that it marked the demise of racial politics and racial parties in Malaysia.///–TDM

It might be the wishful thinking of some, but the rejection of race-based politics was clear. One has to trace the history of politics in the country to understand why politics had become race-based. Though Malays were favored over non-Malays by the British during the colonial rule, the people did not feel direct discrimination during that period, and the people of different races as subjects of the British lived in peace among themselves. The people were not apolitical but they did not hold racist bias against one another.

The politicians could have approached the British to negotiate independence, as a united Malayan party. But in response to the demand by the British that the people of different races could live in peace, the leaders then considered it proper to prove that they represent the people of different communities by having the representatives as the leaders of the different communities by virtue of their position as leaders of political parties comprising members of the community. That was a top down approach in the organization of political parties to meet the condition imposed by the British for negotiating independence for Malaya.

The Alliance government formed by the three main race-based parties was able to forge national unity. Unfortunately the good intention of the British and that of Article 153 in the constitution were to prove detrimental to the development of the country as later history serves to prove.

May 13 has changed the course and destiny of the nation. While some who feel compelled to justify that NEP created a large section of Malay middle class while at the same breath claiming that NEP has yet to achieve its objective after having overrun twice its promised duration, people who are not in denial would claim that without NEP, Malays would have as large the size of their middle class with their confidence intact that they could meet the globalised world without handicap offered as in golf games. Further without NEP as the protective umbrella for corrupt practices, cronyism and nepotism, and as a means to create vote bank and extending the government services as the extended arms of UMNO, the country would not have been reduced to its sorry state as a low income country, earning only one-sixth of Singapore on per capita GDP when we have infinite times more in resources than her.

UMNO politicians have proven that political career as UMNO leaders is by far the most profitable enterprise the country could ever provide. Inspired by the racist path TDM, and Najib have shown the way, UMNO politicians outdid one another just to be recognized as heroes of the community after having convinced the vote bank that they are still weak and vulnerable. Their contests proved to the non-Malays that smarting pains at NEP did not pay, and they felt that they had nothing to lose voting for a change.

Yes, the people, at least the non-Malays were voting against racist politics. The Malays especially the families that are internet savvy opened their ears and eyes on how UMNO politicians, their families and cronies have taken advantage of their support. That was how tsunami on 308 election was made.

///I did not agree with this simplistic view and I had put my thoughts on this blog. I believed that it was rather protest against the failures of the Abdullah Government that caused many Barisan Nasional members and supporters to vote for the opposition. But many still insist that race based politics is no longer relevant in Malaysia. Is it?///—TDM

It was certainly a protest against AAB government that made the government fair badly in the election. It was a protest that the hope which AAB brought to the country after the people have patiently waited for TDM to retire turned out to be futile. But the fault lied more in the way TDM had destroyed the country rather than the ineptitude of AAB as PM.

TDM has given hope to the people that the police would be made professional, the judiciary would return to its past independence and glory, corruption in the civil services would be reigned in through Hong Kong- typed ICAC, and most important of all that government policies would be fair to all from his pronouncement that he would be PM for all Malaysians. But unfortunately TDM was quick to incite racial tension by accusing AAB for having not done enough for Malays. The Keris-wielding Education Minister introduced obstacles to AAB’s effort to getting the police to implement the full recommendations of the Royal Commission on police reforms.

PM AAB made a fatal mistake in getting his son-in-law to climb the UMNO political ladder. It was said that he had done it out of duress, to keep his daughter happy. Poor old man!

/// If it is because the Malaysian electorate had rejected racial politics, why did they vote for such parties as PAS, a very Malay Muslim party, and DAP, a Chinese dominated party. Even the Keadilan is made up of violently racist Hindraf Indians, Chinese dissatisfied with the MCA’s representation of the Chinese in BN and self-serving Malays who could not find a place in the other Malay parties.///–TDM

The parties that formed the government are race-based, and those in the opposition can only be the leftovers of citizens who are not in the political parties forming the government. It is because UMNO had been successful in showing the Malays that they can bully others when they are in numbers, and other non-Malay parties in the government have proven that they had no say in getting a fair deal for all Malaysians, Chinese voters chose the opposition during the 308 election. Many Malays cared more for the teaching of the religion than to support the injustice perpetrated by UMNO. They selected the opposition including DAP. The Chinese were willing to vote PAS, because UMNO is worse. DAP has a large Chinese memberships not because it did not allow membership to other races, like the constitution of UMNO prohibits, but it is the reality of the political situation. People chose the opposition because they rejected the racist policies practiced by UMNO.

///Truly Malaysian politics have not been decoupled from racial sentiments and loyalties. And it is going to remain so for as long as the different races prefer to be separated and divided, prefer to strongly uphold their languages, cultures and their historical origins and links. All that is said about reforms and liberalism is mere lip service.///–TDM

The race-based political parties led by UMNO have monopolized the government since independence. UMNO policies ensured that government policies are race based. TDM believes that UMNO has the naturally right to dominate other minor race parties, and as far as political career goes, the ambitious ones have only one single route, to be a NEWMalay, and be member of UMNO. What was more dangerous is the thought behind the statement. What is left unsaid is that unless non-Malays followed TDM’s way, or that of his grandfather, to be converted to Muslim, and marry Malays, they will continue to be discriminated till eternity. The statement above implies that it is official policy of the government that purification process is in action. Hence Hindraf is correct that ethnic cleansing has been ongoing, though through non-violence means.

Had the above statement been made by any other aspiring UMNO politicians, one would think that he might be positioning for political stratagem. As the person helming the government and party for over two decades, that shows the philosophy that underpinned his administration. It paralleled that of Hitler in creating master race, and hence the concept of ketuanan Melayu. Have Malaysians escaped his ugly clutch, not yet. He is creating a dynasty for his son.

It might be discernable why a true blue Malay would want to insist assimilation. But for a person who could only be so classified because of ‘carelessness’ in the constitution defining Malays, TDM’s chauvinism is unfathomable. Was it because he was a staunched kerela Indian and he had been forced to give it up, and severed his link with his true ancestors, in Muslim tradition, that he wanted it a price for other non-Malays to be accepted as equal citizens of Malaysia? Psychologists will no doubt have fertile fields for research.

Sorry, correction :

“TDM has given hope to the people that the police would be made professional…”

should read “PM AAB has given hope…”