Yesterday, political scientist Farish Noor told the forum on public governance by the Perdana Leadership Foundation and the National Professors’ Council that Malaysia is dangerously close to absolutely breaking down if racial politics is not kept in check.
Farish, who said that Malaysia’s patterns of politics seem to reflect that of other countries which have suffered severe racial and religious discord, told the forum:
“I’ve spent more than 10 years studying dysfunctional countries and I believe we are going down the path of countries like Pakistan, Indonesia and Bangladesh.
“I have seen enough race and religious riots to see that Malaysia is close to going down that path.”
A week ago, former US ambassador to Malaysia John Malott warned that racial and religious tensions are higher today than when Datuk Seri Najib Razak took office in 2009 and even worse than at any time since 1969.
Najib’s 1Malaysia, which he promulgated as the signature theme of his premiership, is facing a critical test when more and more warnings are made inside and outside the country that racial and religious relations in Malaysia are at their worst since he became Prime Minister just short of two years ago.
Any independent, objective and dispassionate observer would agree with the analysis that despite all the massive publicity and propaganda about Najib’s 1Malaysia policy to create a more united, vibrant, productive and competitive Malaysia, race and religious relations have never been more jeopardised in the past two years because of the unrelenting stoking of communal poison and religious intolerance by quarters which seem to enjoy immunity and impunity for such criminal incitements.
What is worse, those most guilty of sowing and escalating racial distrust and religious disharmony emanate from the ruling circles, particularly from Umno ranks and Umno’s official media, particularly Utusan Malaysia.
Why is Najib indulging in the irresponsible and dangerous game of advocating an inclusive 1Malaysia on the one hand while allowing Umno leaders and mouthpieces to poison the wellsprings of 1Malaysia nation-building with incessant extremist, exclusivist, intolerant and incendiary race and religious baiting?
Is Najib the mastermind of such devious, hypocritical and hydra-headed 1Malaysia campaign or is he captive and helpless to check such irresponsible politics of race and religion from Umno ranks?
Furthermore, why are the other leaders of the other Barisan Nasional component parties silent, indifferent or utterly impotent in the face of such relentless escalation of hate politics of race and religion from Umno ranks and media, which make a total mockery of Najib’s 1Malaysia slogan and policy?
#1 by yellowkingdom on Friday, 18 February 2011 - 6:57 pm
I received this and need to find out more if this is correct….! Anyone out there can help authenticate this article.
>
> For those who read about it, you will recall that in 2005, the Malaysian
> Govt. was excited about accidentally finding an ancient civilization in
> Johor. This was reported in the various newspapers.
>
> There was talk about excavating the huge site to rediscover this
> civilization. And then….. silence! After that, no news at all about
> this discovery.
>
> A number of times I have discussed with friends that there was definitely
> a cover-up because the authorities did not like what was discovered –
> something that is contradicting what the Govt. is trying to claim. And so
> many years passed and now I received this email revealing what I suspected
> to be true! Read on…….
>
> Good to know who are the real Pendatang… The Indians and Chinese were
> here way before the Malays … You have to start learning the correct
> history.
>
> Regards,
> LEE Ong Kim (Dr)
> Associate Professor and Head
> Policy and Leadership Studies
> National Institute of Education
> NIE2-03-54, 1 Nanyang Walk,
> Singapore 637616
> Tel: (6… GMT+8h | Fax: (65) 6896-9151 |
> Email:[email protected]
> Web: http://www.nie.edu.sg
> An Institute of Nanyang Technological University
>
>
> A small piece of History for our future generation. Why Kota Gelanggi
> (lost city) touted as earliest civilization in Malay Peninsula news was
> banned as they were Buddhist.
>
> The Johor find of 2005 which was quietly dropped was none other than Kota
> Gelanggi lost city reflecting Srivijaya and its Buddhist splendour. But
> they deliberately disregarded it because that would have sidelined
> Malacca Empire and Islam which was smaller and came some 500 years later.
> I met Dr Lee Kam Hing, a former History prof at MU in Singapore recently
> at a seminar. Dr Lee, who is now Star research director, told me he was
> trying his best to highlight Kota Gelanggi, but that the govt killed it
> off. This
> is clearly another case to cover up the real history of Malaya and fool
> the younger generations into believing that our history only began from
> Malacca 1400.. Not only that, they try to show Parameswara as Malay and
> Muslim, but actually he was Hindu! If one were to condemn these UMNO
> scumbags on how they distort history, it will never end……the
> condemnations will more than cover 10 PhD thesis!
>
> A small piece of History for our future generation Hitler’s public
> relations manager, Goebbels, once said, ‘If you repeat a lie often
> enough, it becomes the truth.’
>
> Once again our government wiped out any references to a famous Melaka
> prince as being Hindu and belonging to the powerful Hindu empire Sri
> Vijaya. So all of a sudden our museums, school text-books etc. all refer
> to Parameswara as a Malay prince.
>
> What race ruled or did not rule is beside the point. What is important is
> not butchering history to create your own truths. You cannot change your
> race even if you convert – Parameswara could have been responsible for
> Umno’s proud heritage of ‘ Ketuanan Melayu ‘.
>
> If this is what it is based on, there is no ‘ Ketuanan Melayu ‘. The
> lineages of Melaka Sultans are Indians, not Malays.
>
> It is no secret that Parameswara was an Indian and a Hindu prince.
>
> It is clear from records that Parameswara never converted to Islam. He was
> an Indian Hindu who fled Palembang in Sumatra to
> eventually found Melaka circa 1400 AD. It was Sri Maharaja who converted
> himself and the court of Melaka to Islam, and as a result
> took on the name of Sultan Muhammad Shah sometime after 1435…
>
> The most famous of Indian Hindu Kings were Raja Chola and his son Rajendra
> Chola who invaded Southern Thailand, Kedah, Perak, Johor and Sumatra about
> 1000 AD. This is Raja-raja Chola – the Indian/Hindu kings and not Raja
> Chulan – a Malay king. But what is really sad is that our children are
> taught as though Malaysian history suddenly began in 1400 with an Islamic
> Melaka.
>
> We are led to believe that the Indians and Chinese first arrived on the
> shores of Malaysia in about 1850 as desperate indentured labourers,
> farmers and miners. Nothing could be further from the truth.
>
> The cultural influences of India in particular, and China, in South East
> Asia span over 2,000 years, starting with the arrival from India of the
> Brahmanical prince/scholar – Aji Saka in Java in AD78, through to
> Vietnam, Cambodia (Indo China), Thailand, Burma, Indonesia, Bali, Borneo,
> Brunei and beyond.
>
> The findings at Bujang Valley speak of an ancient Indian/Hindu presence in
> Kedah. There were Chinese settlements in Pahang and Kelantan around the
> 13th-14th century and in 12th century in Singapore.
>
> The early Brunei Sultanate had a Chinese Queen. One need not ponder at
> length the implications of Angkor Wat and Borobudur or that 40%-50% of
> Bahasa Malaysia
> comprises Sanskrit/Tamil words. To illustrate, some of these words are :
>
> bumi = boomi singgasana = singgasanam
> putra = putran perdana = pirathamar
> raja = rajah menteri = manthiri
> desa = thesa kapal = kappal
> syakti = sakthi samudra = samuthiram
> kolam = kulam sepatu = sappattu
> bahaya = abahya
> jaya = jeya
> maha = maha
> aneka = aneha
> nadi = naadi
> kedai = kadai
> mahligai = maaligai
> mantra = manthrum
> tandas = sandas
> (This list can go on)
>
> An extremely important archeological find that pointed to one of the
> greatest empires in history – the Raja Chola empire that ruled from the
> Maldives through India , Sri Lanka and right down to South East Asia
> found deep in the jungles of Johor a few years ago and made headlines in
> the mainstream newspapers in 2005, suddenly disappeared from the news¦..
>
>
> The time has arrived for us to record our history as the facts tell us and
> not as we would like to wish it.
>
> The truth will never hurt anyone. Lies, always will.
>
> National Institute of Education ( Singapore ) http://www.nie.edu.sg/
#2 by boh-liao on Friday, 18 February 2011 - 8:04 pm
What critical test? Selangor Speaker could not even lawfully declare an UmnoB ADUN’s seat vacant n has 2 pay d ADUN RM40K in costs
Judgement in default, Speaker’s lawyer chose not 2 take part in d hearing mah
#3 by tak tahan on Friday, 18 February 2011 - 8:39 pm
Najis is lost in direction.He is feeling heaps of high-pressure.A man with no strong leadership would never ever could lead a nation.Poor jib,you are not meant to be the primier.No quality,integrity and worst of all racist.Corruption equally as well!
#4 by monsterball on Friday, 18 February 2011 - 8:44 pm
In just 3 years…Najib have lied….twisted .applied ll sorts of stunts..and contradicts himself…so many times…with a reputation that exceeds all past PMs.
Najib split personality is dangerous….and he is PM to get votes as all cost…since UMNO B is working with a slim majority.
Will Najib take heed over such predictions made by locals and foreigners with standings and experiences of Malaysians affairs?
Crazy to win 13th GE at all cost..to save his own life and future…and his family….Najib stands to loose more than anyone else…if UMNO B lost control…and govern.
As such…you can be sure…he neither care nor hear anyone talking bad about him or his government.
He is defending with his life….as declared by him.
That is why…Malaysians who want change of government must stay cool and calm and act at the 13th GE..and not be easily provoked to angers and take laws into their hands.
13th GE may not come so soon…as months over months…no matter how much those UMNO B ministers try to fool Malaysians…the signs for change of government is getting stronger and stronger….no matter how many by-elections they can win with their stunts and dirty bribery acts.
But people are getting poorer and poorer.. and hardships are real and lives … difficult to manage by millions …and these people have nothing to loose and may sacrifice themselves like what we read and saw in TV in Egypt.
Indonesia have shown the way for Muslims …how to be free from Dictators and corruptions.
For those Muslims in Malaysia supporting double standards and corruptions …they bring shame to their Muslims brothers and sisters…..too long….and enough is enough.
In Malaysia…it is more than voting for change and getting rid of corruptions.
It is a vote for GOOD or EVIL.
And with that… conflicts may really materialized..with more deaths hanging over his head…if Najib does not wake up to the truths and face the consequences with dignity and fearing God.
#5 by yhsiew on Saturday, 19 February 2011 - 7:16 am
///Why is Najib indulging in the irresponsible and dangerous game of advocating an inclusive 1Malaysia on the one hand while allowing Umno leaders and mouthpieces to poison the wellsprings of 1Malaysia nation-building with incessant extremist, exclusivist, intolerant and incendiary race and religious baiting?///
This simple reason is UMNO has found the “divide and rule” method worked – at least for the past five decades. So they are emboldened to continue with the method in order to hold on to power.
#6 by dagen on Saturday, 19 February 2011 - 10:03 am
Nah. “W”. There. Jib’s tongue.
One tip says 1 kan this and that.
The other tip says ketuanan here and there.
#7 by wanderer on Saturday, 19 February 2011 - 11:01 am
What test?! The day this UMNO PM rose his kris above his head and wanted it to be stained with Chinese blood…he had forfeited himself to talk of One Malaysia. This jerk was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and came from a privileged political family, he rose from the express lane more on patronage rather than for his intellect and talent. He will never understand what is the meaning of integration of various races and religions into One Happy Family….
calling ourselves “MALAYSIANS”
#8 by PoliticoKat on Saturday, 19 February 2011 - 9:29 pm
I believe a certain party (UMNO) would proudly say “Mission accomplished!”
The “Divide and rule” method which they have inherited from their British teachers has served them well.
For most of Malaysian history this method was under threat that good sense would see the race fueled rhetoric for what it was. Or that good neighborly relationship formed by living and growing up so close together might fuse Malaysians into a single united whole. Perhaps even literally, given the long history of intermarriages, and adoptions between the races. Why just look at our royalty! Or even our leaders! Arab, english, dutch, chinese, indian, people from every corner of the world!
Congratulation! They have overcome tremendous odd to divide a melting pot, and set the Malaysian people at each others throats. All so blinded by “race”, not realizing that to every other person in any other nation, all the races in Malaysia, are just Malaysian. They can barely tell a part a Malay from a chinese or an Indian. Malaysians look at the same to them.
With the citizens distracted by the old “Divide and rule” method, one can safely exploit Malaysia for every treasure she is worth. It will make family fortunes that would last generations. I feel that I must congratulate such ingenious men.
And favorite is K Toyo. Son of an Indonesian immigrant, he joined UMNO and quickly gain a fortune once becoming MB of Selangor. From a simple dentist, he became a man of substance in 8 short years. A single property of his, was worth RM23 million. Or even his RM1.7 million trip to Disneyland. Not bad for a man on a RM560,000 per year salary.
#9 by Loh on Sunday, 20 February 2011 - 10:31 am
Mamakthir said that he wanted to remove ISA. Whether or that that was true, and even if it was, that says that the thought went through his mind. Many a corrupt politicians might have a fleeting thought of becoming clean, but eventually succumbed to greeds;greeds for money and power. One should be judged by his action. before a man dies he still has the chance to think food thought and act on it. Thinking good thoughts is the right beginning, but Mamakthir has no good thought for others, but thoughts to make him look good.
Mamakthir said he is not a racist; he is right since as born Indian he fought against Indians for his own good. Race is his platform, and if using race for personal benefits, even against his own, he is only an opportunist. His son is also an opportunist, and he uses religion this around.
#10 by tak tahan on Sunday, 20 February 2011 - 11:42 am
Jib should set up elite con man institution to churn out more specialist bogey man and professional con man.Jib must mantain our top world ranking illicit money outflow.RM888 billion has become bolehland’s hallmark.Jib Jib hurrah.At least Jib make up for the lost of incoming foreign invesment.Yo man!