Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said in Parliament yesterday in his reply as Education Minister that he supported the Prime Minister’s message of 1Malaysia and instead accused me of trying to drive a wedge between Datuk Seri Najib Razak and him.
Muhyiddin said:
“Ipoh Timur has questioned my commitment to the concept of 1 Malaysia. For Ipoh Timur’s information, 1 Malaysia, which was created by the prime minister, is a pure idea aimed at strengthening racial unity which has been the basis of our strength as a nation.
“Unity reflected by 1 Malaysia is not a form of assimilation where one’s identity is erased and replaced with one identity. It is also not a concept which rejects the special rights of the Malays as propagated by Ipoh Timur through the concept of Malaysian Malaysia and lately Middle Malaysia.
“My relationship with the prime minister is very close and 1 Malaysia has the support of the nation. The allegations made are aimed at weakening Barisan Nasional. I am confident that Barisan Nasional lawmakers clearly understand the concept of 1 Malaysia.”
Muhyiddin said that 1Malaysia respects the nation’s constitution and accused me of questioning the special rights of the Malays.
He said:
“Ipoh Timur is questioning the special rights of the Malays and rejects the differences in identity of the different races and the spirit of the constitution which does not reflect real commitment to the concept of 1 Malaysia.”
Clearly, Muhyiddin believes in the maxim that the best defence is offence, as he had completely evaded the three questions, which I had described as the three acid tests as to whether he really supports Najib’s 1Malaysia concept and has the 1Malaysia DNA, namely;
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Whether he agrees to the establishment of an Opposition-headed Parliamentary Select Committee on 1Malaysia;
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Is he prepared to declare that the basis of 1Malaysia is “ketuanan rakyat Malaysia” and not “ketuanan Melayu”; and
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Is he prepared to endorse the objective of 1Malaysia as defined by the 1Malaysia Government Transformation Programme (GTP) Roadmap to create a nation where every Malaysian perceives himself or herself as Malaysian first, and by race, religion or region second.
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Whether he is prepared to declare that the basis of the Malaysian Constitution is “ketuanan rakyat Malaysia” and not “ketuanan Melayu”.
As a result of evasion and prevarication by Umno Youth leader, Khairy Jamaluddin during the exchange when I spoke in the debate on the Royal Address, I had framed a fourth question:
Instead, Muhyiddin had gone on the offensive to launch a baseless and scurrilous attack on me, alleging that that I “questioned Malay special rights and rejected the differences in identity of the different races and the spirit of the constitution”.
Muhyiddin must be a very desperate politician that he had to make such a baseless charge, as I had refuted the allegation that I opposed Article 153 of the Constitution.
Is Muhyiddin making the allegation because I had declared that I am Malaysian first and Chinese second, and he is evading my challenge to him to similarly declare that he is Malaysian first and Malay second?
Isn’t Muhiddin’s refusal to make such a declaration the best proof that he does not fully support Najib’s 1Malaysia concept?
Let me remind Muhyiddin what the 1Malaysia Government Transformation Programme Roadmap said about the goal of 1Malaysia – “to make Malaysia ….a greater nation: a nation where, it is hoped, every Malaysian perceives himself or herself as Malaysian first, and by race, religion, geographical region or socio-economic background second and where the principles of 1Malaysia are woven into the economic, political and social fabric of society”.
During the debate in Parliament, I said this formulation of the goal of 1Malaysia is exactly the goal of Malaysian Malaysia and Middle Malaysia, proof that Malaysian Malaysia and Middle Malaysia are fully centred on the fundamental basis of the Constitution upon which this nation was founded when we achieved Merdeka in 1957.
In refusing to respond to my challenge to declare that he is Malaysian first and Malay second, isn’t Muhyiddin demonstrating that he does not fully support the 1Malaysia goal?
I challenge Muhyiddin to explain how my four questions on the acid tests of 1Malaysia had “questioned Malay special rights and rejected the differences in identity of the different races and the spirit of the constitution”?
Muhyiddin should resign as Deputy Prime Minister if he is not prepared to set the lead for all UMNO and Barisan Nasional leaders and declare that in accordance with the 1Malaysia goal, he is Malaysian first and Malay second.
#1 by bennylohstocks on Wednesday, 31 March 2010 - 11:54 pm
NOPE!!!
#2 by boh-liao on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 12:32 am
Moo, moo, I’m Malay first – O yeah, then Y keep follow d Indian MMK n smell his ass
NR proclaimed 1M’sia, n lo n behold, all racist worms 1 by 1 come out of their holes
MMK, Ibrahim, Ahmad etc all yelling supreme racist words, certain ISA is not meant 4 them
#3 by najmirelau on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 12:35 am
who eat chili will feel spicy….
#4 by Onlooker Politics on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 2:05 am
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin declared to the public that he is Malay First and Malaysian Second. Obviously Muhyiddin’s understanding about the Concept of 1Malaysia is quite different from that of PM Najib.
Anyway, I wonder whether Muhyiddin’s declaration that he is Malay First and Malaysian Second will just be an expediency in experimenting the racist approach as the campaign strategy for the upcoming Ulu Selangor by-election. If Muhyiddin really has the intent to do experiment in Ulu Selangor with the racist talk, then it will mean that Pakatan Rakyat is going to face a tough challenge from Umno.
If Barisan Nasional chooses this round to position a candidate from Umno to contest for the Parliamentary seat in Ulu Selangor by-election, it is too obvious that Umno’s election campaign as is probably to be led by Muhyiddin will most likely be a racist one. With Barisan Nasional’s poor performance in economic growth for the recent few years, Barisan Nasional is running out of positive political issue which it can rely upon as the attraction to woo for the support for Barisan Nasional in the by-election. Muhyiddin will not hesitate to use the racist approach in order to mobilise the Malay support in favour of Barisan Nasional candidate, even though the racist approach means that Muhyiddin may risk the danger to walk towards an opposite direction and to distance himself apart from Najib’s 1Malaysia concept and may risk the danger of cracking down the effort of Najib in promoting an all inclusive Malaysians’ 1Malaysia.
Muhyiddin has proven himself to be a hawk leader of Umno and he may continue to prove that he is a dangerous politician who will justify all means by the end of getting quick political gain. Racist approach will become an easy means at hand which Muhyiddin will not hesitate to adopt even though the approach will likely create much more adverse impact on the Malaysians’ unity than the perceivably short-term political gain which can be enjoyed by Barisan Nasional. Muhyiddin’s self-interested political ambition has made him dare to defy Najib by not complying to Najib’s 1Malaysia concept when running a by-election campaign. It seems that he is no longer patient in his waiting to take over Najib as the Prime Minister of Malaysia! It will not be surprised for us to see an internal rife which is to be happened in Umno soon!
#5 by monsterball on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 2:31 am
DPM is good for nothing.
Only good to talk nonsense…and twist where the wind blows for personal benefits.
What do you expect from people with no morals and principles in life.
The signs and symptoms are so clear of a totally insincere hypocritical leader….which UMNO BARU is famous for.
#6 by pwcheng on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 2:36 am
Obviously Muhyiddin Yassin is Mahathir in the making. He has one more rung to go and he thinks that playing the racial card is the surest way to achieve the top spot as Mahathir had proven to the world and admitted it. He is just a protege of Mahathir and the old racist had built a legend which many Malays will follow, Ibrahim Ali is one of them.
I blame it on the system of choosing our PM as the other 40% of the population has no say who the PM should be. Very ironical. As a result more time is wasted on the issue of race. race. race, race and oblivious that we are slowly out of the race even among countries like Vietnam and Indonesia. Of course we had long lost the race to Singapore, HK and Korea and recently to China. Why don’t we race against those countries instead of racing among ourselves.
The problem is we had selfish leaders who only think of themselves rather then the country.
#7 by ringthetill on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 4:22 am
And this DPM comes from the most racially biased states in favour of one race:
1. civil service dominated by one race
2. one race demands 15% discount for buying houses
3. non-bumi are never given state scholarships.
Let’s hope Johor voters will open their eyes come next GE.
#8 by ekompute on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 5:36 am
“Ipoh Timur has questioned my commitment to the concept of 1Malaysia.”
No need to explain, Moorhidden! We know you well enough to know what your commitments are.
#9 by ekompute on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 5:39 am
“As they say, one must take the bad with the good, warts and all. But Ibrahim Ali is all warts and nothing more.” — Raja Petra Kamarudin
#10 by Jeffrey on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 6:41 am
If, as YB Kit says, the objective of 1Malaysia Government Transformation Programme Roadmap (“1 M’ysia GTP) is “to make Malaysia a greater nation” based on the hope that “every Malaysian perceives himself or herself as Malaysian first, and by race, religion, geographical region or socio-economic background second” – and if DPM were correct to say that he cannot so declare that he is Malaysian first and Malay second because then all the Malays will shun him – wouldn’t this, if true, equally and logically imply, as well:-
1. that all the Malays, UMNO’s core constitutency, will likely also shun and not accept 1 M’ysia GTP and its objective;
2. that the hope that “every Malaysian perceives himself or herself as Malaysian first, and by race etc second” is either not shared by the second in command to lead it or it is unrealistic pipe dream not supportable by the ruling party’s constitutency and grass roots, or rank and file assuming they view 1 M’ysia GTP and its objective through the same lens of the 2nd in command and cannot accept it???
If central to the PM’s (NEM) to hoist the country’s trade-dependent economy to the ranks of developed nations by 2020 through liberalisation and need based rather than race based affirmative premises is dependent on a reversal of Malaysians’ mindset of Race first and Malaysian second – and this according to DPM’s statement seems difficult to reverse – how are foreign investors and local business community going to have confidence and be convinced that the economic reforms will garner sufficient support to be pushed through when doubt assails whether this reversal of mindset is itself feasible?
Would the PM have confidence and political will then to push through such reforms when his deputy evinces doubt of the feasibility of reversal of mindset upon which such proposed reforms are underpinned???
These are the types of questions that will invariably arise in the wake of his statement.
I think he has to soon say that he has been misquoted by the press. Or else how are these questions to be satisfactorily addressed? He’s really in an unenviable position responding the Kit’s challenge.
#11 by Jeffrey on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 7:08 am
Its the kind of challenge that whichever way one responds one gets into serious trouble so that on balance it is wiser to duck responding.
#12 by Loh on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 7:27 am
Mooyiddin has declared that he is Malay first, and Malay last, and possibly never a Malaysian. So he is DPM for Malays. Najib should now groom a leader who would at least declare that he is Malaysian who happened to be born whatever race he grandfather was. It could even be Indian like Mamathir though he refused to acknowledge.
When affirmative action is based on needs, certainly those in needs can be elected President of any party. He or she would not have to come from the 40% lowest income group to help the needys.
When affimative programme is based on needs, as all such programme should be based, there would not be any use for Ahmad Ismail to call others pendatang. It would not matter which period their forfathers who were not orang Asli came as pendatang to Tanah Melayu/China’ depending on which history book one looks in.
NEP was used by mamathir to legalise corruption, and the government machinery has the antibodies everywhere. The reform should begin in government.
After the reform, let us ask Mooyiddin again whether he is Malaysian.
#13 by Bunch of Suckers on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 7:46 am
Bunch of UMNO suckers, get suck themselves!!!!!!
#14 by Thor on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 8:18 am
This Moo fella must go.
He is not fit to lead the country.
He thinks he’s very smart but in actual fact, his “moo” friends (cow), is much more smarter than him.
The way he talk makes many of us puke.
Go back home and eat banana!
#15 by Bigjoe on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 8:33 am
Its unbelievable that just after he accuse Sdr. Lim of baiting him to fight with Najib, the man shoots himself with ‘I am Malay first’ statement that basically blew Najib’s 1Malaysia apart – a day after NEM annoucement no less.
This is just the pre-fight scuffles that will lead to the main event of a full blown Najib-Muhiyiddin fight that is more rivetting than any of Muhammad Ali’s fight or even Mahathir-Anwar spat..
Congrats Sdr. Lim, its still early but there is more than just writing on the wall for PR to head to Putrajaya now.
#16 by dagen on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 8:56 am
Dear Moo, listen.
“I dagenli am a malaysian.
And my race is not a matter of concern to anyone except my family.”
See. Its easy. Just say it moo. Nothing to fear.
#17 by Thor on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 8:59 am
A mamak would claimed he’s a malay.
An indon would claimed he’s a malay.
A bugis would claimed he’s a malay.
An arab would also claimed himself as a malay.
If all of them considered them as malay, then what is the status of those real malays???
Stop monkeying around please!!!
#18 by PRU13 @ pollkad.com on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 9:58 am
that’s it. 1-2-3 malaysia.
1msia is for pru13 only. pru13 …
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/58266-nothing-wrong-with-being-a-malay-first-says-pm
#19 by yhsiew on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 10:59 am
Here it is, a pro-Najib but anti-Muhyiddin and anti-Mahathir minister:
Perkasa are opportunists, says Nazri
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/58250-perkasa-are-opportunists-says-nazri
#20 by limkamput on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 11:16 am
Jeffrey, you are wrong again. It is actually very simple for this MOooo to answer Sdr Lim. He should just answer that he is Malaysian first and let us talk about his hypocrisy rather than putting his head into his ass. Told you he is not very smart.
#21 by Yee Siew Wah on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 11:17 am
What is the use of proclaiming yourself ‘Aku Melayu’ if you are not like Zaid Ibrahim, Haris Ibrahim, Mariam Mokhtar, Nik Aziz Nik Mat, Nizar Jamaluddin, Anwar Ibrahim, Khalid Samad, Khalid Ibrahim, but choose to be like ‘Malay first, Malaysian second’ Muhyiddin Yassin?
In the very first place, you are definitely not fit to be a minister and DPM for that matter. You belong to the “moooo…”category if you know what i meant. You are trying to distance yourself from other races to be another champion of his race like that equally dickhead Ib Ali. This is a reflection of how you regard yourself as well as your members in Umno and cousins in Perkasa.
How can the nation progress with this sort of mentality esp from a DPM. Anwar Ibrahim is the first Malay leader who dares to campaign on a platform of national inclusiveness instead of Malay racism. All Umno leaders have pandered to race for their political advancement. The Malays have not shunned Anwar.
Had Umno/BN practised meritocracy over ethnicity, we would have the best people running the country, we would have been a much more developed country, our judiciary would not be a joke, the police would be impartial, every Malaysian would benefit from the progress we’ve made as a nation.
Many of us now know that the most of the riches of the country has gone to enrich Umno, and all in the name of ethnicity. If this continues, in the end, it will not only ruin just one particular race but all Malaysians will have to suffer together, the real rural poor malays in particular.
Malaysia Boleh????????????
#22 by Comrade on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 11:34 am
Primarily, I am a Malaysian
Whether my race is Malay, Chinese or Indian
Is of less concern, a secondary position
Because there should be no racial discrimination
#23 by Godfather on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 11:36 am
To demonstrate solidarity with his deputy, Najib now says that to be Malay first and Malaysian second is not a contradiction to the 1Malaysia concept. I find that this comment shows Najib to be what he really is: STUPEED. [The actual word would put this straight into moderation.]
Now it is clear what UMNO wants us to be. It’s OK to be Malay first. It cannot be OK to be Chinese first or Indian first…because that would be quickly picked upon by Utusan or Perkasa or UMNO Youth as being unpatriotic. The hypocrisy of UMNO is laid bare for all to see.
What 1Malaysia, Najib ?
#24 by Godfather on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 11:41 am
Jefffrey,
These people have had it so good that they think they can do anything and say anything, and ducking Kit’s challenge is a no-no for them. The typical UMNO macho-guy stuff, the typical “kalah tak apa, style mesti mau” philosophy of our Malay leaders.
Foot-in-mouth disease perhaps, but they will get a doctor in a government hospital to say that it isn’t the case….and for the mainstream press to report it as so.
#25 by k1980 on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 12:04 pm
Q: What 1Malaysia, Najib ?
A: 1Malaysia means that Najib is numero uno in the country. Moo is 2Malaysia, meaning he is number 2. Got it, dummy?
#26 by johnnypok on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 12:29 pm
The main target of the opposition party is to overthrow BN/UMNO and to restore true democrasy.
BN/UMNO is only interested in robbing the nation dry in the shortest time possible. In the meantine, they have to use all kinds of dirty tactics to weaken the opposition.
#27 by wanderer on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 12:58 pm
THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN CLAIM TO BE A NATIONALIST AND A PROUD MALAYSIAN IS NONE OTHER…MCP BOSS CHIN PENG.
UMNO MELAYU DISPUTE MY CLAIM?…
HE BRAVELY FOUGHT THE INVADING FOREIGN FORCES AND HONORED BY OUR COLONIAL MASTER…UMNO MALAYS WHERE WERE YOU?
I AM SURE, CHIN PEN WILL NOT HESITATE TO CALL HIMSELF “A PROUD MALAYSIAN”…NOT A CHINESE!!
#28 by johnnypok on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 3:14 pm
“Wang Malaysia” is a better slogan, and more appropriate, since we are all preoccupied with money, money and more money.
#29 by ReformMalaysia on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 9:20 pm
Now We see what 1Malaysia means to UMNO. 1Malaysia is merely an empty slogan to camourflage “ketuanan Melayu” !!
#30 by DCLXVI on Friday, 2 April 2010 - 1:54 pm
wanderer: “THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN CLAIM TO BE A NATIONALIST AND A PROUD MALAYSIAN IS NONE OTHER…MCP BOSS CHIN PENG.
UMNO MELAYU DISPUTE MY CLAIM?…
HE BRAVELY FOUGHT THE INVADING FOREIGN FORCES AND HONORED BY OUR COLONIAL MASTER…UMNO MALAYS WHERE WERE YOU?
I AM SURE, CHIN PEN WILL NOT HESITATE TO CALL HIMSELF “A PROUD MALAYSIAN”…NOT A CHINESE!!”
The problem with Chin Peng was that he had wrongly chosen the path of violence towards an independent Malaya which unnecessarily cost the lives of other Malayans.
He had wrongly believed that he had the support of the majority of Malayans, and as time has already proven, communism itself has already become a failed ideology.
#31 by boh-liao on Friday, 2 April 2010 - 4:06 pm
Moooooooo, I yam d DPM of Malays first, Malaysians second, mooooooooooooooooo
When I yam PeeM, I yam also d PM of Malays first, Malaysians second, mooooooooooooo
#32 by rockdaboat on Friday, 2 April 2010 - 9:36 pm
“Moo Moo declared to the public that he is Malay First and Malaysian Second.”
Obviously, Moo Moo only has the mentality and perspective of a Jaguh Kampung.
Instead of governing a nation, he prefers to be a Kampung Penghulu!
Nowadays, he sounded more dumb than Syed Hamid, the Ramli burger seller.
#33 by johnnypok on Saturday, 3 April 2010 - 1:46 am
No need for DPM to resign. He can be the PM for “2-Malaysia”.
Toon Bak Kut Teh can be the PM for “3-Malaysia”
Whoever wants to be a PM, just create a new “Malaysia”, until every one is satisfied.