By Farish A. Noor
Nothing stirs the humbug soup better than spurious talk of patriotism and loyalty. The saddest thing of all is that more often than not whenever there is the rallying call to demonstrate one’s patriotism and to show one’s love for the nation, it comes from the most narrow-minded, chauvinistic and intolerant quarters of society.
This was demonstrated in Malaysia recently when political differences between the ruling National Front coalition led by the UMNO party and the opposition People’s Alliance (Pakatan Rakyat) spilled out onto the streets. In the wake of the take-over of the state assembly of the state of Perak by the National Front, several politicians of the People’s Alliance – including veteran opposition politicians like Karpal Singh of the Democratic Action Party and the former Chief Minister of the state Nizar Jamaluddin – cried foul over the means that were used to wrestle control of the state assembly from their hands. Complicating matters was the role of the Sultan of Perak who chose not to dissolve the Perak Assembly but instead allow for a new National Front-led state government in a matter of days.
Now from the wider perspective of world politics, the goings-on in the state of Perak somewhere in North Malaysia may not have even registered a blip on the international news radar. Indeed, years from now the historian may write on the episode and sum it up in one sentence, as an instance of power changing hands in a controversial manner.
But what is alarming was the reaction of the Youth Wing of the UMNO party that reacted to the protests of the opposition party leaders by condemning them for having the temerity to question the process and the role of the Sultan in the debacle.
Among the leaders of the UMNO Youth Wing who were present to further complicate the situation was Khairy Jamaluddin, son-in-law of the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who is stepping down from his post as Prime Minister by March this year. Speaking before a crowd of his loyal fans and supporters, Khairy was reported to have asked them “in the past, what did we do to traitors?” – to which they replied “Kill them!”
That chants for death and vengeance can be made in public like this and at a demonstration led by a politician said to have been educated at Oxford suggests that Malaysian politics has reached a new low of late. For a country that once aspired to attain ‘first world status’ and a ‘first world mentality’ – to quote Prime Minister Badawi, father-in-law to Khairy himself – there seems little to suggest that Malaysian politics today has evolved any further than the sorry standards of Bantuland.
When right-wing conservative politicians lead rallies that end with chants for death and retribution, we know that the normative operational rules of democratic politics have been breached and that we are now on a different playing field altogether. One is reminded of the hate-speeches of the Nazis and Fascists of Germany and Italy who likewise claimed the values of Patriotism and love of the nation as exclusively theirs; and who decried and condemned their opponents as the enemies of the state, worthy of banishment, exile, persecution, imprisonment and ultimately death.
Likewise we have seen the same sorry state of affairs in many an other failed state and dysfunctional polity where the democratic process is all but redundant and the rule of law usurped by the might of thugs and squads of goondas instead. Indonesia and the Philippines during the era of Suharto and Marcos witnessed the use of such right-wing stormtroopers who hounded the political enemies of their paymasters; and who were later responsible for a host of attacks, killings and disappearances. In Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto contributed to the slide in law and order when he too created his own para-military force to serve the interests of himself and his party; but which ultimately helped only to erode even further the credibility of the state and the process of law in the country.
Is Malaysia heading down the path of these countries too, then? Well thus far it can be surmised that an education at Oxford – sponsored or self-financed – certainly does not serve as a guarantee of a democratic outlook or a mature mindset. Had this been the behaviour of spotty teenagers suffering from hormonal imbalance, one could have dismissed the demonstrations in Perak as a case of stupid boys doing what stupid boys do. But this was a demonstration organised by a political party, led by an aspiring politician, who was savvy enough to realise the full import and gravity of the words he uttered, and cognisant of the emotional effect they were bound to have.
Hate speech is hate speech, even if it is cloaked in the guise of a misguided patriotism. The pressing need at the moment is for Malaysians to reclaim the value and meaning of patriotism again, and not let it be defined solely by those who equate patriotism with love of themselves, their party or their political interests. Should that come to pass, then hope will surely be lost.
#1 by TheWrathOfGrapes on Friday, 13 February 2009 - 9:36 am
/// Kasim Amat Says:
Yesterday at 23: 38.27
No one should ever challenge the decision of Sultans. Anyone that shows disrespect to the Sultans should be ripped off his or her citizenship immediately because they are not fit to be part of Malaysia. ///
Kasim Amat,
Imagine, just imagine for a moment, that the said Sultan used a golf club and bludgeoned your brother to death. Would you be so respectful and just take it as a loyal subject?
#2 by Mr Smith on Friday, 13 February 2009 - 10:21 am
UMNO’S FAKE PATRIOTISM. HERE’S WHY
Early this week, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, openly wept on live TV while commenting on the devastation caused by the bushfire that killed almost 200 people and made many more homeless.
He was so moved by the tragedy that he could not hide his emotions. He was choking with emotions as he spoke and even briefly stopped speaking.
Two years ago when floods engulfed Kota Tinggi and Segamat and thousands were made homeless and caused millions of ringgit in damages, Malaysian Prime Minister Ahmad Abdullah Badawi was happily holidaying in Perth, Australia. Some say he was on honeymoon but monitoring the situation from there.
Compare the love and passion the two men have for their people?
Rudd showed his love and deep passion for his people. He felt his people’s grief and was overcome with emotions. Those are the qualities of a true leader, love for his people.
Abdullah was a personification of the entire UMNO leadership, selfishness and heartlessness.
No love. No concern. A true leaders would have ‘walked in the waters’ with the people. Is this the patriotism UMNO leaders speak about? Is corruption patriotism?
A person who has no passion for his people should not opt for public office. A leader worth his salt must stand by his people during a calamity or national disaster.
#3 by k1980 on Friday, 13 February 2009 - 10:50 am
Ghafar Baba: “There are 20 kings left in the world, and half of ‘em are in maalaaysiaa”
#4 by TheWrathOfGrapes on Friday, 13 February 2009 - 11:02 am
k1980 – you forgot about the 80 queens…
#5 by Kathy on Friday, 13 February 2009 - 11:19 am
I agree with what TheWrathofGrapes said. By the way, if the Government is thinking of giving back the immunity to the Sultans and their family members, then it is a serious matter, even as the simple example that was given by TheWrathofGrapes.
To Kasim Amat, this is not Tanah Melayu anymore. This is Malaysia, whether you like or not. If it is not for the Chinese, Indian and other races that worked hard in Malaysia for all these years, you would not be able to enjoy the spoils now while the rest of us still have to work hard.
#6 by undergrad2 on Friday, 13 February 2009 - 11:27 am
Kasian Amat,
It was UMNO that removed their immunity from prosecutions or have you forgotten and now you are threatening Kelapa Singh!
#7 by ch on Friday, 13 February 2009 - 11:47 am
Dear All,
We should reconcile with the fact that Malaysia is wonderfully blessed with natural resources and the nation thrived both politically and financially as a result. Let us not be naive that Malaysia would have been what it is today without these natural resources. If one were to be more resourceful, checking out the history books, one will quickly realize that the Chinese and Indian immigrants were brought in by the British simply to toil on the tin mines and rubber estates so as to bring out the natural resources that Malaya was richly blessed with. The British government then could choose not to bring these immigrants in as they can exploit the Malays to work on them as well but they didn’t. We should also reconcile with the fact that purely due to the natural resources that Malaya had and which were cleverly and rightly used by the British government then, Malaya became the second richest nation in Asia just a notch behind behind Japan after merdeka in 1957. Where have gone to now? The nation of today were built by all the races and it is pointless to argue or spend countless time to debate as to who be the rightful owner of the soil. If one are to be calculative, look at the living state of our original Bumiputera, who are living in the jungle without electricity, without the so-called joy of the nation pride, Proton Wira. But then look at the lavishness of certain second generation Indonesians who are now proudly claiming to be first class citizen of Malaysia. Nothing is fair is this world and the Indonesians were given citizenship simply to boost the strengths of UMNO in numbers. Let us not be foolish to argue on this as UMNO is now having trouble solving the issues brought up by these Indonesian members of theirs. I am a firm believer of cause and effect and I do believe that what goes around, comes around and it will never fail coming back.
UMNO is precisely in this situation today and they are dumbfounded with the extensiveness of its internal fightings among members. Having a mind-set thinking that this country belongs to you more than others would not solve the various pressing issues that the nation is currently bogged down. Not naming them openly by the current government doesn’t mean that they do not exist. If one were to look out internationally, at least 65% of the nations in this universe are in recession and how could Malaysia be excempted from it when we are 60% export oriented. The numbers are there and no one should wake Einstein from his grave to tell us that Malaysia is indeed in recession. As expected, Malaysia’s exports fell 15% in the month of December and export to US dropped by a huge 30%. The Ringgit is declining on concern of slump in industrial production. The Ringgit has weakened by 4.5% this year as the region’s exports collapsed amid a recession in the US, Europe and Japan. It is very difficult to be positive on the Ringgit going forward but just less than eight months ago, UMNO leaders were saying Rinngit would appreciate to RM3 vis-a-vis USD1 and many were cheerleading as these false accolades were uttered.
I believe various nations are laughing and cackling jokes on our leaders as to the urgency of solving economic issues rather than wrestling a state government. Now, politicians will be busy for the next two or three by-elections. The entire nation will be glued to the results of these by-elections and the entire government machineries will be focussed on these by-elections.
Get real, this country is moving towards a very difficult end.
#8 by Kasim Amat on Friday, 13 February 2009 - 12:03 pm
YB Khairy Jamaluddin has said to the public after the 318 election that UMNO will fight back and get back what we have lost in the election. This is the time to prove we are on track with what he pledged. I have confidence with Khairy and whether by hook or by crook, this land will eventually be taken back by BN. You can cry about financial problems or whatever problems Malaysia has now but it won’t stop us from achieving our goals. UMNO is not a weak party to be bullied. So please be prepared for the next battle and don’t tell us what is right and what is not. Don’t be surprised if Kedah and Selangor are the next targets.
#9 by Joshua Tan Kok Hauw on Friday, 13 February 2009 - 12:05 pm
Khairy’s mouth vomits rubbish and stupid statement. So, what is his motive for doing this?It is to gain political mileage.
A person like Khairy should never be a politician,parliamentarian , let alone Minister.
I think he should consider going after the daughter of Najib now.
#10 by ch on Friday, 13 February 2009 - 12:26 pm
Dear All,
Saying things and making political promises are cheap and worthless. What is worth is the roadmap of achieving the things that we have set ourselves with. It is strange and at times, laughable, to note that Malaysians are still ignorantly believing those sugar-coated words uttered by our politicians. During the KT and Permatang Pauh by-elections, thousand of promises were made. But if you are a little bit more resourceful and visit or even give a few calls to the residents of both areas, you will quickly realize how many of those million promises were broken. Several of those federal UMNO leaders who were openly seen pushing wheelchairs of the less-fortunate are now never to be seen at the same area. A UMNO Deputy Minister who gave his personal hand phone to a group of less-fortunate citizens, refused to identify himself when calls were made to him recently.
Wrestling state governments through the illegitimate and unlawful manner appears to be the order of the day in Malaysia. We are in a very deep self-denial position. You may be surprised to hear a Minister coming out to say that Malaysia is insulated from the world recession while knowing very 30,000 jobs were lost just last month.
Rakyat Malaysia harus sedar bahawa kerajaan yang ada sekarang telah mula memporak-perandakan negara ini dengan memutar-belitkan fakta-fakta ekonomi dan sosial. Apakah rakyat Malaysia akan terus diabui dengan janji-janji manis? Apakah rakyat Malaysia begitu cetek pemikirannya sehingga boleh diperbofohkan oleh kerajaan UMNO-Barisan Nasional? Apakah rakyat Malaysia masih mempercayai bahasanya negara ini akan maju dan makmur pabila khazanah rakyat dan negara dijaga oleh gerombol pendusta tamak haloba?
#11 by Jeffrey on Friday, 13 February 2009 - 1:04 pm
Under Constitutional Monarchy, no one is above constitution and law including rulers.
The rulers’ traditional immunity from all civil and criminal suits was partially stripped in an amendment to the Federal Constitution in March 1993 (pushed by TDM’s administration) which allowed, with AG’s consent, civil and criminal suits against the King or any ruler in respect of their PERSONAL ACTS.
Hence if a ruler commits a criminal wrong/offence like using a golf club and bludgeoning a person to death, he will be tried by the Special Constitutional Court. Likewise if he does a civil wrong : in October 08, the special court ordered Tuanku Ja’afar to pay US$1 million (RM3.6 million) to Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia to honour a commitment made in connection with a business deal.
HRH Sultan of Perak’s act in interpreting the Perak State Constitution as allowing an appointment of a BN’s MB and transferring power of Perak state assembly is not a personal act that he has allegedly done wrong. That it is not a personal act but an official act carried out in interpreting the Perak state Constitution is admited by Karpal Singh : therefore I would surmise that it is not a fit and proper subject for the Special Constitutional Court, delaing with a sovereign’s personal act, to adjudicate or deal with.
However the fact that it is an official act and therefore not a proper matter for the Special Constitutional Court to deal does not preclude it from being reviewed as to legality and validity by the ordinary courts. Taking a suit whether against MB BN Zamri does not preclude the additional measure of including the ruler as a defendant if as a matter of legal strategy, the aggrieved party thinks that such addition of the ruler as defendant would tie up the loose ends of legal aspects to win the case according to law. This is the way Karpal would think right as a lawyer concerned with legal considerations but which Anwar/PR coalition partners may think is not the right or politically favourable course by virtue of political calculations that certain segment of the populace may be angered by what they wrongly misconstrue as disrespect of the monarchy ibnstitution and the particular ruler.
If this matter goes to ordinary courts (with or without the ruler being included as defendant), those who have a vested interest in preserving BN’s power in Perak State govt would argue that Perak’s Sultan’s official act of interpreting Perak constitution the way he did was valid and canot be impugned being exercised in “good faith”. The opposite side would say that is an interpretation wrong in law because aggreived party Nizar has an untrammelled right to call for dissolution of state assemby to pave the way for state wide elections which the Ruler could not withold consent.
Whatever the merits of the Perak Sultan’s oficial decision, the above shows that there is nothing wrong or unpatriotic or treasonable in taking legal recourse whether in respect of ruler’s personal acts (civil or criminal wrong) in Special Constitutional Court or in official act for judicial review in ordinary courts, and for anyone to say otherwise, he is wrong and to stir the crowd on calls of treason qualifies as a “hate” speech.
#12 by Onlooker Politics on Friday, 13 February 2009 - 1:07 pm
“UMNO is not a weak party to be bullied.” (Kasim Amat)
Kasim Amat,
Agreed! Agreed! Agreed! One Hundred percent agreed!
UMNO is so strong and so energetic that if it does not attempt to bully and overpower other minority races of Malaysia, it will find itself suffer from the psychedelic states involving with many experiences elicited by sensory deprivation. Such experiences include hallucinations, changes of perception, synesthesia, altered states of awareness, mystical states, and occasionally states resembling psychosis.
UMNO of the Modern Days Malaysia is the synonym of Alphonse Gabriel “Al” Capone of the 20th Century America.
Who dares to bully UMNO? Most Malaysian people shall be thankful if UMNO can spare them from suffering as the victims of daylight looting or ISA detaining!
#13 by Jeffrey on Friday, 13 February 2009 - 1:22 pm
Contents of my preceding posting is based on premise that in a Constitutional Monarchy Parliamentary System of Government – in sharp constrast to an absulte Monarchy of yesteryears/feudal times, it is the sovereignty of the people that takes precedence and since it is people’s representatives that make the laws in parliament based on the Constitution, NO person, whether rulers or even the more powerful prime minister (who is defacto ruler whom other rulers have to take his advice) is above the law and constitution! This also means ordinary subjects/people who are fully entitled to seek recourse to the law as final arbiter of all disputes and their rights, without let or hindrance, and free from all unwarranted accusations and intimidation of treason etc….
That this is the position is established by none other than HRH Sultan Raja Azlan Shah when he as acting CJ (Malaya) (as he then was), in the case of Pengarah Tanah dan Galian, Wilayah Persekutuan v Sri Lempah Enterprise Sdn Bhd. said in a clear voice the following (I quote):
“Every legal power must have legal limits, otherwise there is dictatorship. In particular, it is a stringent requirement that discretion should be exercised for a proper purpose, and that it should not be exercised unreasonably. In other words, every discretion cannot be free from legal restraint; where it is wrongly exercised, it becomes the duty of the courts to intervene. The courts are the only defence of the liberty of the subject against departmental aggression. In these days when government departments and public authorities have such great powers and influence, this is a most important safeguard for the ordinary citizen: so that the courts can see that these great powers and influence are exercised in accordance with law. I would once again emphasize what has often been said before, that ‘public bodies must be compelled to observe the law and it is essential that bureaucracy should be kept in its place’, (per Danckwerts LJ in Bradbury v London Borough of Enfield (1967) 3 All ER 434 at p 442).” (unquote)
What is said by HRH the Sultan as then acting CJ in respect of official acts of government departments and public authorities would apply with equal force to official acts of the ruler [except in cases where it concerns Royal Prerogative that is the Ruler’s sole discretion].
However whether that decision made by Sovereign is within “Royal Prerogative” is again not a matter for the ruler to decide as he then would be judging his own cause.
It is still left to ordinary courts to decide whether it is matter of “Royal Prerogative” that courts canot go behind to review as to its validity or something the courts could.
I hope the above clarifies the uncertainties and confusion over the issues raised here and preceding threads.
#14 by limkamput on Friday, 13 February 2009 - 1:31 pm
We simply respect UMNO and expect all Malaysian to do the same.
Only Kassim morons like him respect UMNO.
UMNO is not just a political party but an icon…..
Yes kassim you right 100%, UMNO is an icon of greed, racism, cronyism, parochialism, backwardness, kurang ajarness, tribalism and third world mentality. Prescisely because of UMNO, Malaysia has increasingly become third world.
I hope that all races can be clear who is the rightful “Tuan” in this country and do not ever cross over the line.
That moronic line – the line leading to stupidity and backwardness, we shall never cross. Other than that, we love and enjoy crossing you all the time and there is not a damn thing you can do about, hamba yang bodoh.
#15 by One4All4One on Friday, 13 February 2009 - 2:13 pm
One should suspect that kasim amat is a troll intentionally put into this blog by some trouble maker to create uneasiness and confusion among readers.
Apart from being ridiculous and nonsensical, this troll’s purpose is to divert the attention of contributors from discussing real issues. We should ignore him once and for all.
To answer whatever he put forward is just a sheer waste of time and reources.
#16 by shah pinang on Friday, 13 February 2009 - 6:40 pm
# undergrad2 Says:
Today at 02: 42.32 (14 hours ago)
“You Malays …??? Kasian Amat does not reprent all Malays. He is a troll. Treat him as just that.
—————————————————————————–
Thank you undergrad2. Be it Kasim Amat or Khairy the ‘Ox Graduate’(no disrespect to the Ox)-they DO NOT represent the Malays……well perhaps only for their their kulis/pak turut in UMNO. Pak turut who can’t think for themselves(what’s right and wrong) and will ‘sit and roll’ like a DOG if they are ask to.
Kasim and Khairy…just shut the four letter word up – well you should know if you are an Ox Graduate (no disrespect again to the Ox). Your views and comments were just plain pathetic and ridiculous. To be honest…..I think ALL Malays should unite and call for a ‘jihad’ against these segment of people who are threatening to lead the Malays ‘backwards’, becoming stupider and racist- which are in fact against the tenets of the Islamic faith(considering majority of the malays are Muslims).
Kasim/Khairy-your ‘kind’ of UMNO is the kind which ‘makan daging saudara sendiri’! You enriched the few, you suppress/prosecuted the good malays, who were/are the true ‘patriots’ of this country and worse you disseminate this ‘corrupted’ culture of bribery-part of the ‘subsidy’ mentality which UMNO thrives on to gain the support of the Malay population. If Khairy aspires to become another Hitler or equivalent & UMNO a Nazi party or equivalent(Allah forbids)-be sure to know there will be many of ‘us’ who will resist!!
“UMNO is not a weak party to be bullied”. Kasim – you ARE Weak and if anything you are the TRAITOR! and not YB Nizar or even YB Karpal for that matter. Like YB Karpal said- REPENT!
On final note- I fully support the disbanding of UMNO Youth Wigs..I mean Wings in its current form.
*Sorry…that’s rather ‘fiery’ for my standard. terrible back pain today…and Kasim was too lame for my liking!
#17 by undergrad2 on Saturday, 14 February 2009 - 6:40 am
“Kasim/Khairy-your ‘kind’ of UMNO is the kind which ‘makan daging saudara sendiri’
Dia bukan makan daging lagi! Dia hisap daging.
#18 by Ramesh Laxman on Saturday, 14 February 2009 - 9:03 pm
Tolong jaga tepi kain orang.
#19 by Loh on Sunday, 15 February 2009 - 10:50 am
///The pressing need at the moment is for Malaysians to reclaim the value and meaning of patriotism again, and not let it be defined solely by those who equate patriotism with love of themselves, their party or their political interests./// Farish A. Noor
Patriotism is love for and loyalty to one’s country. If objection to what happened to Perak was done out of hope that the country would practice true democracy so that there could be peace and prosperity, it is for the good of the country, and the objection was expressed out of love, for the country. That is patriotism.
When UMNO considers it represents the country, and its de-facto chief is the head of UMNO kingdom, then any irritation to UMNO would be considered traitorous. UMNO kingdom practices absolute monarchy, and all institutions in the country are only to serve its interest. That is why we see UMNO youth behaving like secret army of UMNO kingdom, and the police would facilitate traffic control so that they can go onto the streets to threaten whoever they please.
5) Andy unlined