From CheDet.com 12/9/2008: The Barisan National
///1. There is a tendency these days to condemn the National Front as being effete and an obstacle to the modern concepts of a free democratic Government. The miserable performance of the Barisan Nasional in the March elections is attributed by foreign observers as evidence of a wind of change, as a rejection of race-based politics of the past.

2. They believe that the Malay, Chinese and Indian voters voted for a change to a more liberal regime.///–TDM

Whatever the reasons given for the cause of the political debacle of BN, the people are happy that soon there is a possibility of a two-party system where race politics will be consigned to history. The rejection of race-based politics has been the norm since 1969 elections. That was why the opposition parties had gathered a significant share of votes in every election since 1969, though the perverted gerrymandering of parliamentary demarcation did not allow opposition proportionate number of seats. The UMNO government had been capable in making Malays believe that they have no future without UMNO as the guardian. UMNO government with its decades of experience was able to implement populist policies of not only giving Malays the special preference in life, but also have the implementation seen to be exploitative of non-Malays. That ensures that BN candidates are returned in Malay majority areas. Malays voters are wise to know that the non-UMNO candidates are needed to allow UMNO a free ride on the policies that benefit the Malays.
PM AAB government allowed some liberal views in the press and and the advent of electronic media helped to expose corruption practices for all to see. Consequently, the myth that NEP was needed for the ordinary Malays was exposed, and Malays, especially the middle class know for the first time that NEP had in fact been hijacked for the few families connected to Putrajaya. It was the Malays who cast the votes in March 2008 election to deny BN the 2-third majority. TDM had his own secret desire and agenda to see that AAB was denied the 2/3 majority so that this article could appear. He is still in the mood of total denial. Of course AAB believe that BN was such a wonderful government that he considered a bit of ‘liberation’ serves no harm. It was TDM, the inventor of racial politics and cronyism knew the danger of having his secret exposed. It would be true that TDM might still have been able to be in control with 2/3 majority if he was in power, provided he did not give Anwar the black eye back in 1998.
( to be continued)

From CheDet.com, 12/9/2008
///3. I have explained in a previous article that the debacle suffered by the Barisan Nasional was due to the voters’ disgust with the leadership of Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
4. Let us examine the course of Malaysian politics leading up to the 2008 debacle in order to appreciate what happened. For almost half a century the Alliance / Barisan Nasional Governments had had the full support of the peoples of all races. There were ups and downs but the Barisan Nasional would invariably win elections with a 2/3 majority in Parliament. Other than Kelantan, the states had always elected Barisan Nasional Governments. Sabah for a time was not with Barisan Nasional.

5. In 1999 Elections Malay support of the Barisan Nasional was eroded because of sympathy for Anwar Ibrahim. But the Chinese strongly backed the Barisan Nasional to give it its usual 2/3rd majority and opposition stalwarts like Karpal Singh and Lim Kit Siang, who had never been defeated before, lost their seats.///—TDM

The Chinese formed the so-called Suqiu group which misjudged the character of TDM. They thought that TDM should be able to end NEP in 1990 since it had run its course of 20 years by then. The offered TDM the bonus of voting for TDM if TDM would only carry out the duties entrusted to him in ending the exploitative policies which other communities have left to UMNO to implement to its hearts content. For example, Article 13 provides that the King should reserve a reasonable proportion of education opportunities, such as no of seats to Malays, MARA colleges, institutes and universities had reserved 100% of the education opportunities exclusively for Malays. That was against the constitution and stated NEP objective.

TDM gave his words to implement changes. Unfortunately, immediately after the election TDM attacked the Chinese community and negated on his promise. TDM accused the Chinese of taking advantage of his weakness and resorted to calling them extremists and other unkind term. It was beyond TDM’s understanding that the Chinese are law abiding, and would only use its right to vote, just like other communities. The Chinese communities thought that TDM should be given the benefit of understanding of what the Chinese community looked for and considered as fair request, and they acted on their bargain as promised by TDM. Should they have known what TDM would cheat them of his promise, they would have done like what they did in March 2008. TDM in 1999 would have to be facing UMNO members like AAB is doing now if BN lose a few states, and the MBs of these state suddenly found that their lifelong career of easy money political profession had come to an abrupt end. The Chinese helped TDM but he is still ungrateful as ever. He now says that the Chinese gave him the support as if he was such a wonderful leader to the Chinese community. On the contrary his claim of Chinese support implies that the Chinese were stupid and did not know their rights, and worse that the Chinese were said to agree to all those discriminatory policies UMNO implemented against the non-Malays.

(to be continued)

From CheDet.com, 12/9/2008
///8. It was not all smooth sailing of course. There were problems – political, economic, religious and social. But all these had not reduced support for the Barisan Nasional or affected the progress and stability of the country under BN Governments unduly.

9. Can anyone say that the Barisan Nasional had not provided good Governments in the country? Of course the opposition cannot be expected to say it. But foreign observers have all been astounded at the progress made by this tin and rubber country which had bloomed into a modern industrial country. ///—TDM

Comparing to Myanmar, Malaysia has progressed tremendously. But when compared to Singapore what would people say? Foreign observers thought that after with corruption and nepotism imbedded in government services, we are only fit to be compared to Burma. Vietnam adopted market economy in 1992. She will within the next decade surpass Malaysia economically.

The British has left a good system of government with institutions that were ranked high in the world. Unfortunately TDM’s sacking of Tun Saleh Abbas as Lord President has killed the judiciary. Since then the Cabinet has been used as the office of an absolute monarch, and the PM, the absolute emperor. Malaysia is a failed state to all who are not in denial. The practice of public tender has been replaced with negotiated contracts, and it has been estimated that half of Petronas’ contribution of a trillion RM has gone to private pockets.

///10. There were people who all along had criticised what they term as the lack of democracy in this country, the “controlled” press and electronic media, the ISA (Internal Security Act) and curbs on the open discussion of sensitive issues. But obviously these people were in the minority and had never been able to influence the voters into rejecting Barisan Nasional. ///–TDM

That is the classic example of might is right. With the power of the state, it was possible to keep the voters foolishly voting for BN al the time. Parliamentary democracy has long been in the form of making the people go to the polling stations to move his pencils, with rewards for their action. Money politics has seen its worst form in this country.

///11. After the stunning victory of Barisan Nasional in 2004 why has it been clearly rejected in 2008? What happened between 2004 and 2008? Can it be that after almost 50 years of supporting race-based politics the voters have decided to reject it and opt for non-racial politics? Have the people in the kampong suddenly yearned for more liberalism? If so why did they give strong support to PAS, a race-religious party which is anything but liberal?///–TDM

Race politics has been bad and has caused this country to be forever at the lowest rung of economic development. The race-based discriminatory policies have seen brain drains and the educated do not help to make structural change to the economy.

The immediate cause of the 2008 election results was the sombong attitude of UMNOputras. Malacca MB found it proper to tell PPP to leave BN. Indians were said not to matter in the election. The Keris waving in the UMNO assembly, and the question when would the keris be used, and the threat for another May 13 giving credence to the perception that since the Malays were happy about it, they had organized it.

Non-Malays were suffering at the unfair policy. To add insult to injury, it was claimed that the rights were birth right.

///12. Maybe the ordinary Chinese are more sophisticated than the rural Malays. Maybe they have now rejected racial politics. But as far as can be made out the Chinese are upset over the economic situation. Even hawkers and small traders; the subcontractors, the retail shops owners are unhappy with the Government. They are however very cautious about criticising Dato Seri Abdullah but when pressed they admit that they wanted Abdullah out but dared not say it aloud for fear of being accused of rejecting Malay leadership. They also worry about their businesses being singled out for some unpleasant treatment like being investigated by the Inland Revenue Board.///—TDM

The Chinese have also been very cautious about criticising TDM as a racist and anti Chinese but when pressed they admit that they hoped TDM was never admitted to UMNO but dared not say it aloud for fear of action like Operation Lallang.

///13. So, unable to do anything else they cast their votes for the opposition. With that the Barisan Nasional, after getting the biggest number of Parliamentary seats in the history of the Alliance / Barisan Nasional went down and achieved the worst result in its history. Was this rejection of Barisan candidates due to the rejection of the Barisan Nasional coalition?///–TDM

The non-Malays have been doing it all these years. It is the Malays who have now come to realized that BN used their name for their benefits. The policy of getting them up the academic certificate level but with degree incommensurate with their paper qualifications made many a Malay graduate hide their university degrees but instead used their high school certificate for jobs. They could have advanced in their job without having to spend the extra years in the universities. But then UMNO would not be able to say that they care for the Malays, and discriminate the Chinese. It is the scheme of making UMNO look good as saviour of Malay race that the tens of thousands of students who could have excelled in other fields of jobs and occupations have to suffer the indignity of having to hide their paper qualifications of higher education. They have UMNO to thank for, and so they vote their feeling accordingly.

///14. The votes that the opposition parties got were not due to a desire to replace the Barisan Nasional with the unstructured Pakatan Rakyat. They were protest votes. But is it protest against the Barisan Nasional party? Is it a rejection of race-based politics? I don’t think so. ///–TDM
Yes, race-based policies are still accepted by the people who stand to benefit. The people will have only Malaysia as its world. They would acquire the competition-deficiency syndrome. They can stay forever in the country to await handouts, and the politicians will have the opportunity to continue with the balancing acts, and be indispensable like TDM claims himself to be. The whole society is held hostage to insincere coexistence with no possibility of advancement, so that the politicians would continue to be in the seats of power to manipulate what they have the expertise to do so. Would TDM please wake up? The country that had worst racial disharmony in the 1960s have now become race-blind in life while we might have some misunderstanding between races in the post 1969 years, it has developed into the situation where people of different races are born enemies. If the people don’t think so, the political set up, and the government make sure that they are polarized by race and religion. This country will be a pariah which does not deserve a seat in the United Nation if it persists to continue with race-based politics

///15. It is a protest against the poor leadership of the BN, rather than the BN itself. The people saw a BN leader who was indecisive, unable to deal with the increasing cost of living, flip-flopping, unable to stimulate the economy and above all is known for putting his family’s interest above that of State. Everyone knows about the 4th Floor and the role of Khairy Jamaluddin’s cronies in determining policies and deciding on the business activities of the country. People consider these arrogant young people as contributing to the poor performance of the Prime Minister.///—TDM

I sense that AAB is the greatest enemy TDM has ever cultivated. The moment he sees AAB’s front, TDM ‘s hatred of him pierces through to his back.

///16. The Barisan Nasional coalition is still the best political party in Malaysia. It gave due consideration to the problems of all the Malaysian parties and the races they represent. And there can be no denying that the BN had built the Malaysia that we see today.///–TDM

Had Onn Jaafar been alive today, he would be the saddest person in the country. He would not have accepted that a country which he wanted formed would turnout to champion for mono race and single religion. The situation now would be most unfamiliar to him in all his adult life, and that was when the society was yet under developed. Onn Jaafar would never feel proud of the Malaysia we find today.

///17. It would be a pity if, as the Malay saying goes, “we burn the mosquito net because of one mosquito”.
18. What needs to be done is to get rid of the mosquito but continue to use the net.///–TDM

It depends on the harm that particular mosquito could cause. It is hard to imagine that one man in the person of TDM could have caused so much suffering to the people in Malaysia in general, and the polarization of Malaysian citizens in particular. If we cannot get rid of the mosquito in the personality of TDM, it is worth it to burn the mosquito net.