by Mariam Mokhtar
Malaysia Chronicle
27th December 2010

When Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim revealed that eighty-four percent of Malaysians understood the 1Malaysia concept, would it be safe to say that Deputy Prime minister Muyiddin Yassin is in the 16 percent group?

Earlier, Prime minister Najib Abdul Razak said that the 1Malaysia concept described how the ‘spirit of togetherness and the ability to rise above political differences’ were important for continued peace and stability in the country.

He said, “Although some might like to think it (1Malaysia) is for political purposes, it is actually for nation-building.”

Would he care to tell us how much he has spent on all the 1Malaysia posters, advertisements, billboards, badges and other paraphernalia where 1Malaysia has been plastered around the countryside?

Instead of spending millions on frivolous projects, why not spend that money on its people? The nation could do with improved healthcare, better infrastructure, quality teachers and schools. At a time like Christmas, several hundreds if not thousands of Malaysians roam the streets because they are destitute. Money could be channeled away from the promotion of 1Malaysia, and be used for a good cause to help these homeless people.

If 1Malaysia has to be continually drummed into us, then it says a lot about Najib’s leadership.

Najib also said that, “In today’s world where a small group of extremists has drowned the voices of reason and common sense and hijacked the agenda of peace and moderation, it is important for the moderates in every faith – Muslims, Christians, Hindus and Buddhists – among us to speak up to reclaim our rightful place and the moral high ground.”

Sometimes, even the best of us do not realise that those who are nearest and dearest to us, do us more harm than good and can hasten our downfall faster than our enemies could do to us.

That is perhaps why BN has not banned Perkasa or even censured the Deputy Prime Minister from being Malay first and a Malaysian 2nd.

Najib has failed to deal effectively with ‘extremism’, be it in the form of a non-governmental organisation, a newspaper daily or a public-funded institution. Why does he allow Perkasa, Utusan Malaysia and the Biro Tatanegara to take pot-shots at him or his administration? Is he fearful of these groups or has he no faith in his own 1Malaysia concept?

Catholic Archbishop Murphy Pakiam has warned that a climate of fear will exist if an apostasy law in Sabah is pushed through by the state’s Islamic authorities.

Najib’s 1Malaysia concept cannot even be adopted by all the state Islamic religious authorities. Different states have different rules regarding the enforcement of Islam’s strict code of ethics and behavior.

Pakiam said, “It (apostasy law) will create fear and it is unfortunate that these things come about like that. That is why we need to heed the call of the prime minister for moderates to be counted.”

Najib cannot be that committed to 1Malaysia when government contracts, admission to public universities, house purchases, scholarships, application for civil service jobs, construction of houses of worship and more, have all been exploited by his administration.

Rais might want to conduct another survey. This time ask how much trust Malaysians have in their government.

As DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang pointed out, “Najib cannot deny that in the 20 months since the introduction of Najib’s “1Malaysia, People First, Performance Now” slogan, instead of giving Malaysians a new sense of being Malaysian, the reverse has taken place.”