Deputy Prime Minister and UMNO Deputy President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is getting very defensive.
In Parit Sulong yesterday, Muhyiddin accused me of being more “racist” than him and defended his earlier statement that he is Malay first and Malaysian second, and he asked:
“Tanya Lim Kit Siang sama dia akan mengaku Cina atau bangsa Malaysia.”
It will be tragic if after 53 years of nation-building since Merdeka in 1957, Malaysian politics is reduced to political leaders exchanging allegations of who is more racist.
Firstly, let me state that I have not called Muhyiddin an “ultra”. However, he owes a full accounting to all Malaysians as to whether he really supports the 1Malaysia policy advocated by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and whether Najib’s 1Malaysia is a meaningless slogan or a serious policy to make Malaysia more vibrant, productive and competitive where every Malaysian perceives himself or herself as Malaysian first and race second?
I did not invent this definition of 1Malaysia. This definition is clearly spelt out in the official documentation on 1Malaysia, the 1Malaysia Government Transformation Programme Roadmap released by the government in January this year, which states:
“The goal of 1Malaysia is to make Malaysia more vibrant, more productive and more competitive – and ultimately 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.”
Muhyiddin again challenged me to state whether I am Chinese or Malaysian first.
I had already stated in Parliament that I am a Malaysian first and Chinese second. I am proud of my ethnicity but I have always believed that all Malaysians must rise above their ethnic, cultural, religious and geographic differences to seek a common bond with the Malaysian identity transcending all ethnic, cultural, religious and geographic identities.
The question Muhyiddin should answer is why despite Najib’s 1Malaysia policy, not only he but there is not a single Barisan Nasional Cabinet Minister who is prepared to stand up in Parliament to declare that he is Malaysian first and his or her race second?
In fact, I have a question in the current meeting of Parliament asking the Prime Minister to state how many Cabinet Ministers, and to name them, who regard himself or herself as Malaysian first and race second in line with the 1Malaysia policy and definition.
However, this question was ruled out of order on the flimsiest of grounds when the real reason is that the Prime Minister will not be able to answer this question without causing the greatest embarrassment to his 1Malaysia policy – as up to now no Cabinet Minister is prepared to stand up to declare that he or she is Malaysian first and race second.
If this is the position, where no Cabinet Minister is prepared to fully and publicly espouse the philosophy of 1Malaysia, how could the principles of 1Malaysia” be “woven into the economic, political and social fabric of society”?
It is precisely because of this lack of commitment to the goal of 1Malaysia that the New Economic Model (NEM) has met such a quick demise in the 10th Malaysia Plan.
Just to give one example. The NEM drew a picture of Malaysia in crisis, caught in economic stagnation and the middle-income trap for close to two decades.
It admitted: “We are not developing talent and what we have is leaving. The human capital situation in Malaysia is reaching a critical stage. The rate of outward migration of skilled Malaysians is raising rapidly.”
The answer of the Tenth Malaysia Plan is a Talents Corporation but without any political will to address the real problem for the damaging brain drain which has plagued the country for decades which had been rightly diagnosed by the NEM, viz:
“Globalisation has created a fierce competition for talent, forcing companies and government to recognize that people are the most valuable assets. To compete on a regional and global scale, Malaysia must retain and attract talent. Malaysia must be seen by its people and by others as a land of equal opportunity to earn a good living and provide a secure happy life for each individual and the family.”
In other words, 1Malaysia not in sloganeering but in reality – where Malaysians feel that they are Malaysians first and race second in all economic, political and social aspects in the country.
I have suggested a 1Malaysia Royal Commission of Inquiry on how to achieve the goal of making every Malaysian perceive himself or herself as Malaysian first and race second so that Malaysia can become more vibrant, more productive and more competitive.
Is Muhyiddin prepared to support this proposal?
#1 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Tuesday, 6 July 2010 - 4:30 pm
GEORGE TOWN, July 6 — Putrajaya has spent only RM9,600 in George Town annually for the past three years despite it being a World Heritage site since 2008, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng revealed today.
If we divide RM9,600 by the population of Georgetown, say, 500,000, then each citizen of Georgetown would have got RM0.02! Heck, it’s only 2 sen. Rounded up at supermarket, it’s ZERO!
Vote DAP and PR next GE.
maybe, DAP ADUN should resign so that Najib can give RM50 million for Georgetown, eh? To fish for votes. But he will get nothing. And Georgetown will get RM50m.
#2 by BoycottLocalPapers on Tuesday, 6 July 2010 - 5:05 pm
Under 1Malaysia, I didn’t ask too much as I did not expect to be treated equally with the Malay.
All I ask of the PM is to give the left-over money for education to the Chinese and the Indian instead of giving it to the Palestinians.
Why under 1Malaysia, the Palestinians are more important than the Chinese and the Indians?
Why can’t you give that left-over money to the Chinese & Indians instead of giving it to the Palestinians?
As a second class citizen of Malaysia, I am very jealous. If you wanted to treat non-Malays as second class citizens, I can understand. But if you are treating the Palestinians better than fellow Malaysians, then this injustice I will never understand.
I hope someone can enlighten me, why under 1Malaysia, the Palestinians are much much more important than fellow Malaysians.
#3 by Jeffrey on Tuesday, 6 July 2010 - 5:13 pm
Malaysian is Nationality, Malay or Chinese is Ethnicity (race). When someone asked, “what are you?” it depends on who’s audience and context.
Overseas, Muhyiddin will probably answer along nationality lines that he’s Malaysian.
In rural Malay heartland of Parit Sulong canvassing for political support for UMNO and himself – and UMNO is a communal party fighting specifically for Malays’ than all Malaysians’ interest – he would proceed on Ethnic/racial lines and say he’s Malay first. That’s because UMNO is a communal party.
However PKR PAS and DAP are not ideologically based on communal lines (though their membership may be based on more of one race).
Hence its easier for any of the politicians in PKR PAS and DAP to say he’s Malaysian first and race second because each of these Opposition political parties is not communal based but ideologically is more akin to Rakyat based.
When Opposition made resounding gains in last election, the ruling coalition sought to recover lost support by hijacking what it thought was the inclusive formula underpinning success of the Opposition and hence came up with “1 Malaysia” motto premised on inclusiveness of all Malaysians – forgetting that it may be mis-suited by reason of the main parties within BN being still communal in political agenda and appeal.
One can’t pretend to be Cinderella for all the talk of being her when one’s foot does not fit her shoe.
That’s why BN’ honchos get caught in dilemma when asked this question, whether they are Malaysian first and race second and they couldn’t say so.
Kedah Gerakan Youth could rap Muhyiddin for considering himself a “Malay first, a Malaysian 2nd only because Gerakan is by political ideology not race/communal based…
These are the reasons why BN’s main parties, being race based, are anachronistic because the BN’s ideology of 1 Malaysia (hijacked from Opposition) is ahead of and not consistent at all with their traditional race based agenda and appeal.
When strategic advisers to BN formulated “1 Malaysia” they might not have given sufficient thought of how this goal will contradict the communal character and politics of their clientele (BN) that has not yet changed in tandem with that motto that ultimately makes it a butt of jokes from the contradictions arising.
#4 by Jeffrey on Tuesday, 6 July 2010 - 5:32 pm
The other part is race based patronage system has over 50 years of communal politics spawned a legion of political and corporate interest in government’s largesse, contracts and licences – in short a web of vested financial interest which will suffer and possibly unwind if inclusive politics under Pakatan Rakyat’s banner were to win election and power.
These vested interests are bent on keeping Malaysia under the race based pecking and patronage political/economic order – and are opposed to ’1 Malaysia’ as it threatens their interest.
Out of respect for PM, these vested interests will give 1 Malaysia only lip service but are all out to undermine it if it were seriously implemented.
Its not the Opposition that oppose 1 Malaysia.
#5 by Loh on Tuesday, 6 July 2010 - 5:38 pm
Chua Soi lek said that even if PR controls the federal government grievances of non-Malays would not go away. CSL used Mamakthir’s logic that all communities should not be contented with government policies because it is then fair to all of them. Mamak of course lies through his teeth because he pretends to be more Malay than and Malay and he wants Malays to take advantage of others. He encouraged Malays to prevent other communities from progressing even when they do so at no expense to the Malays. Mamak uses the argument that Malays would then be left behind, as if life is a continuous comparison and Malays should always be jealous of the well being of other communities. Mamaks wants other communities to remain backward, and CSL thought that Mamak has given him the right argument to hide the weaknesses of MCA in allowing UMNO to dictate to them.
CSL said that even though UMNO government has pampered Malays and yet demand for more handouts came from Malays, and hence UMNO is expected to respond to such demands. CSL conveniently pretends not to realize that if one can get anything free by just demonstrating, without any respect for fairness, he will continue to demand. The Malays continue to demand because UMNO continue to feed them at the expense of the weaker communities. That happens now because MCA could not tell UMNO leaders that they have to tell the Malays to be fair, over the past five decades. In fact, UMNO leaders were leading the Malays to project whatever image they choose. UMNO leaders went on stage of its AGM to wave the KRIS and chanted May 13 and then we hear statement from the lesser leaders to tell non-Malays to get lost. It is because MCA leaders wanted to stick with the UMNO government for their own benefits that they dared not tell UMNO the truth. Worse, by being part of the government MCA gave the wrong impression to foreign investors that non-Malays, liked Mamak had said, approved of the racial-discrimination policies, and some believed that there is political stability. CSL said that even if PR comes to power, the situation cannot change.
CSL forgets that UMNO and BN government has proven for the past 50 years that it practices racial discriminating policies. That would continue forever. PR has not been given a chance to prove that it cannot do better. Even if PR cannot change the situation for whatever reasons why should MCA and UMNO have the monopoly of presiding over the failed state? MCA days in government are numbered, because BN will lose the next GE.
It is expected that PR federal government would call those involved in PKFZ to answer for their ill gotten gains; new gaming licenses would be given only to non-profit institutions and toll ways would be nationalized.
#6 by AhPek on Tuesday, 6 July 2010 - 5:48 pm
So what you are in fact saying is that Jibby has landed himself with a catch 22 problem whereby if he is saying he is Malaysian First,Malay 2nd he is in shit street without a shovel with his rural malay constituency,and if he is saying he is Malay First and Malaysian 2nd then he has a problem with the non Malays which of course is a lesser problem but nonetheless a problem if he also has to depend on their votes to win.
So the best course of action would be to treat 1Malaysia for its sloganeering value rather than use it as a policy considered important enough for implementation to
promote fairness with an eventual goal to reach unity amongst all Malaysians to face the global challenge.
#7 by frankyapp on Tuesday, 6 July 2010 - 5:50 pm
Funny thing is happening in Malaysia especially among the malays/muslim people for instant you see arab turned malays trying more than pretty hard to be malays,local malays trying their level best to be liken arabs and of course you also have mamak trying to be real malays. Wondering how on earth these people don’t have any shame to act and live so superficially and still boosted around that they are holier that thou.
#8 by Loh on Tuesday, 6 July 2010 - 6:16 pm
#9 by Godfather on Tuesday, 6 July 2010 - 6:54 pm
Cintanegara says that some of us are not intellectually his type….he says he wants intellectual debate. I think we can debate properly if he gets UMNO to repeal the ISA. I can debate with Moo-hee-din or even with Ibrahim Ali, anywhere, anytime. In the meantime, cintanegara, can you answer the simple question posed by LKS:
Are you Malay first or Malaysian first ? I can tell you now that wherever I go, I tell people that I am Malaysian first, and Chinese second. If you can do the same, then at least we have some basis for intellectual debate. If you can’t, then you deserve to debate with the UiTM undergraduates.
#10 by somaris on Tuesday, 6 July 2010 - 9:08 pm
Dear LKS,
Im just a simple person and i love my country.I agreed with Boycottlocalpapper. Why they care for palestine people than the All malaysian people who needs money for study and the poor people like the Indians need a lots of help from the Goverment.its our money they are using from the taxes,We Malaysia come first than others. Iam so angry for that such a stupid Goverment that we have. To all MALAYSIAN come GE Kick those BN UMNO out for good. We are the power of the people not them. so better run the country well or else go to hell.
May God BLESS U and UR FAMILY YB
#11 by monsterball on Tuesday, 6 July 2010 - 9:12 pm
That’s telling off that upstart cintanegera….Godfather.
Me monster to him…not intellectually enough.
Infact..all are not intellectually to him..except ekan and one more.
He is insulting ALL!!!
{deleted}
#12 by Godfather on Tuesday, 6 July 2010 - 9:36 pm
If the UMNO leadership were to come together and publicly proclaim that they are Malaysian first and Malay second, then this issue would be put to rest. Instead, we have the majority of UMNO leaders pretending to be deaf and dumb when cornered on this issue. Only Moo Hee Din had the decency to say what he really felt, but the rest were just spineless.
Is 1Malaysia only meant for non-Malays ? Is it a test of allegiance for the pendatangs ? Can we just drop this charade if UMNO doesn’t believe in it from the start ? Why extend APCO’s contract if their work on 1Malaysia was never going to fly ?
#13 by yhsiew on Tuesday, 6 July 2010 - 10:02 pm
Ultimately, Najib’s 1Malaysia is to fish non-Malay votes.
#14 by monsterball on Tuesday, 6 July 2010 - 11:52 pm
We are already Malaysians after merdeka.
It is UMNO B trying to split Malaysians .to divide and rule and apply the lowest class of race and religion politics to make sure Malays stay backward and depend on UMNO B.
Successfully doing that…Mahathir embarked on stealing billions….from Malaysians with the Malays being programmed it is not sinful and not stealing from Malays..but other races..to help Malays.
As usual…a devil is a devil and those Malays that does not pleases him…joining PAS and other parties opposing UMNO B are all being side lined.
22 years passed by .
The 12th GE shocked UMNO B and Najib applied “1Malaysia” to try his luck to fool Malaysians.
All he did fooled are school children and innocent non voting youngsters.
“1Malaysia” was a way to accept a Malaysian Malaysia concept…with a twist.
As UMNO B will always be a party for the Malays….the “1Malaysia” simply have no logic.
Najib did say unity by diversity…meaning to divide to rule….which is exactly what they are doing all along.
Not working ..this unelected PM…is out to make deals with Malaysians.
The fact that MACC sees nothing wrong with that proves UMNO B is truly corrupted to the core.
And for corruptions…when have Najib ever admit and wrong doings by UMNO B.
He cannot admit corruptions…nor will any UMNO B ministers..past and present.
Yes….corruptions is the major decision for voters to decide in 13th GE…to get rid of it or support it to be prepared to be slaves to Najib…when the country’s wealth all stolen..and oil is dried up…in a matter of maximum 15 years.
“1Malaysia” will flourish when all are beggars to the devils.
#15 by monsterball on Wednesday, 7 July 2010 - 12:11 am
What say you…cintanegera?
Monsterball plenty smart….correct?
hi ….you want a debate….Godfather will take you on.
You want to insult…..I will take you on.
So choose.
#16 by dagen on Wednesday, 7 July 2010 - 8:21 am
Boycott Local Paper remarked above
“I hope someone can enlighten me, why under 1Malaysia, the Palestinians are much much more important than fellow Malaysians.”
Ans: Palestinians are much much more important than non-umnoputras.
#17 by k1980 on Wednesday, 7 July 2010 - 2:34 pm
How was your golf game, dear?” asked Rosma.
“Well, I was hitting pretty well, but my eyesight’s gotten so bad I couldn’t see where the ball went.”
“You are getting old, Jib!” admonished his wife, “Why don’t you take Hathir along?”
“But he’s eighty-five and doesn’t even play golf anymore,” protested Jib.
“But he’s got perfect eyesight. He could watch your ball,” Rosma pointed out.
The next day Jib teed off with Hathir looking on. Jib swung, and the ball disappeared down the middle of the fairway.
“Do you see it?” asked Jib.
“Yup,” Hathir answered.
“Well, where is it?” yelled Jib, peering off into the distance.
“I forgot.”
#18 by boh-liao on Wednesday, 7 July 2010 - 4:02 pm
Welcome 2 d racist land
D racists refuse 2 admit they r racists but readily label others as racists
#19 by johnnypok on Sunday, 11 July 2010 - 1:39 pm
If the cow knows how to talk, Jesus will come down.
#20 by good coolie on Sunday, 11 July 2010 - 2:16 pm
I am a human being first and then a Malaysian.
I am a human being first and then a Christian
I am an Indian first and then a Malaysian.
Muhyddin is a Malay first, then a Malaysian.
He’s a human being first then a Muslim.
Let’s not split hairs on this. I don’t see why this natural order of progression (human being, race, religion, nationality …) should indicate that one is less in any of his parts or nature.
Lim Kit Siang is the old-world Malaysian. Perhaps he is a Malaysian rarely conscious of his or others’ race. We could all wish we were like him.