Johor Mentri Besar, Johor Barisan Nasional Chairman and BN candidate for Gelang Patah, Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman is reported in the media of expressing his disappointment that I had accused him of playing the race card.
He said I should not get “desperate” and insinuate that he is racist just to gain support from the Chinese voters who made up the majority of constituents in Gelang Patah.
He told New Straits Times: “I believe that he (Lim) is getting desperate. Everyone knows that I am not racist, and that is why I think he is trying to paint a picture of me being one”.
I do not know where Ghani got this report, just as I am equally mystified where Ghani got the report that I had said that if I win in Gelang Patah, PAS President Datuk Seri Hadi Awang will become the Prime Minister.
I had never said that Ghani is a racist. I do not believe Ghani is a racist. This is what I said about Ghani two days ago:
“The BN candidate for Gelang Patah, the four-term Johor Mentri Besar, Datuk Ghani Othman, is a classic Malay gentleman who is respected for his moderate and rational views. I have no qualms in giving credit to him for bringing development and progress to Johor in his 18 years as Mentri Besar.
“But he does not sound like himself in his first two pronouncements after the Nomination Day on Saturday, as captured by these Malaysiakini headlines:
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Ghani rails against Pakatan’s ‘racial polarisation’
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Ghani: If Kit wins, Hadi might be PM
“Ghani is sounding more like Perkasa leaders like Ibrahim Ali and Zulkifli Noordin as what he said is completely contrary to his image as a moderate, rational and level-headed political leader.
“Is this the price that moderate leaders have to pay if they are to stay and survive in present-day UMNO, whose most powerful leader is not Najib Razak but Mahathir?”
It would appear that Ghani is surrounded by very bad or sinisters advisers who seem to want to destroy Ghani’s reputation as a moderate, rational and level-headed political leader.
Let me reiterate. I never accuse Ghani Othman as a “racist” , I believe he is not a “racist” and I invite Ghani to join me in making the Battle of Gelang Patah and the Battle of Johor a clean, fair and gentlemanly contest of ideas and visions with no playing of the race or religion cards or money politics.
This will be our greatest contribution to Malaysian politics, especially as the 13GE is expected to the dirtiest general elections in history, not only in terms of the lies and falsehoods, race and religion cards, which will be deployed (I expect the worst examples of such “dirty politics” to be unleashed in the last three days of the 13GE campaign) but the scale of money politics which put previous general election campaigns to shame.
#1 by yhsiew on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 - 1:11 pm
Ghani’s statements contradict each other. If a vote for DAP is a vote of racial polarization, then how come the PM-to-be is a Malay and not Chinese? If the PM-to-be is Malay, then a vote for DAP is not a vote of racial polarization!
#2 by Jim55 on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 - 1:26 pm
Come May 5, it could be the May Day for Najib, Mahathir and Ghani, 3 in 1 swoop.
Why did EC choose May 5 as the polling date, perplexing. It’s a double 5! Five in Cantonese is “No”. Hence, it’s a no-no for BN.
#3 by yhsiew on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 - 1:33 pm
Instead of speaking bad about his opponent and frightening the people of Gelang Patah, Ghani can tell them about the developments he brought to Johor and his vision for Gelang Patah and how he will make Gelang Patah a better place for its people to live and work there if he is elected. This will be more appropriate for his gentlemanly personality.
#4 by Bigjoe on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 - 1:49 pm
I am more wondering if Ghani think what LKS said meant Ibrahim Ali and Zukiflee Nordin are racist, then how do you explain that his party has chosen them to be MP??
You give Ghani any chance, and he will chip away at the Malay votes against you..
#5 by lee tai king (previously dagen) on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 - 1:57 pm
Actually, what developments are there in johore?
Iskandar is a federal project. Anyway large part of the development in the state was actually driven by singaporeans. Development in the tiny republic is so fantastic that it overflowed into johore. Honestly, without singapore johore would be no better than terengganu, I suspect.
Hey, chengho abcd, any new NY underground longkang taste to share with us?
#6 by kg on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 - 2:15 pm
Keep it cool guys, the next important issue is Harun Din. Pas and PR need to be careful to handle hem well, he creating a difficult situation for Pas and PR, again.
#7 by Taxidriver on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 - 2:17 pm
A hyena cannot survive on its own. It has to stay close to the pack, hunt together and share their spoils. Ghani is part of the UMNO B/BN rotten system. We cannot expect him to be different from the rest in UMNO B. Prior to this 13th GE, Ghani, like many ‘good’ UMNO B leaders, did not show his true self as things were going smoothly, and winning the GE is guaranteed. Now that the possibility of their losing power is becoming clearer by the day, playing up the race card is their only hope to retain power. Ghani understands. He must stay close to his pack or he dies. Abdul Ghani is, afterall, a politician in the rotten system.
#8 by Taxidriver on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 - 2:44 pm
How shallow is Haron Din’s thinking! If DAP’s readiness to accept PAS help when the party is in crises can be construed as acceptance Islamisation, Then the Malays need to be reminded that many UMNO B leaders have sold themselves to the Chinese because the wear Chinese traditional costumes during MCA-organised functions. Isn’t Haron Din showing himself to be afraid of his own religion? And because of people like Haron Din, Non-muslims understanding on Islam is warped. Haron Din must never forget he has his three fingers pointing at himself every time he points his finger at others.
#9 by Taxidriver on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 - 2:44 pm
How shallow is Haron Din’s thinking! If DAP’s readiness to accept PAS help when the party is in crises can be construed as acceptance Islamisation, Then the Malays need to be reminded that many UMNO B leaders have sold themselves to the Chinese because the wear Chinese traditional costumes during MCA-organised functions. Isn’t Haron Din showing himself to be afraid of his own religion? And because of people like Haron Din, Non-muslims understanding on Islam is warped. Haron Din must never forget he has his three fingers pointing at himself every time he points his finger at others.
#10 by Bunch of Suckers on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 - 2:45 pm
BN suckers and great LIARS start to roar loudly…
#11 by Loh on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 - 3:08 pm
///Lahad Datu incursion is Sabah BN campaign fodder
Aidila Razak | 2:35PM Apr 24, 2013 | 2
BREAKING NEWS SABAH Action on the Lahad Datu incursion is concrete proof that KL is strongly behind Sabah, says Najib Abdul Razak.///-Malaysiakini
Was KL strongly behind Sabah or was it KL was strongly behind [causing] Sabah’s problems?
#12 by lkt-56 on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 - 3:34 pm
Yup, you did not brand him a racist. I read your post two days ago and you did not say he is a racist. The truth is that your wish for this to be a gentlemanly competition will not materialize because BN will not stop at anything to win. Too much is at stake. My personal opinion is that they have over done it and they will fall this time for the people are fed up of their unreasonable behaviour. I only hope that you and all your colleagues will steer clear of their race and religious baiting. Treat Waythamoorthy with respect even though it is clear what he has done. The people will judge him accordingly. Those in PR who have become independents: They are not putting people above their personal cause. I hope they realize it and pull out.
#13 by megaman on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 - 4:37 pm
Cool it guys coz if you don’t it might give more “ammo” to BN to lable PR supporters as rioters and troublemakers.
Such statements may not even come from Ghani’s mouth anyway.
Judge and evaluate him based on his past and current actions, not by some articles written by some crazy spin doctors.
#14 by tuahpekkong on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 - 4:53 pm
Mr Lim, maybe you should clarify that he sounded more like Ibrahim Ali and Zulkifli who are in their initial stage of working up. A fully worked up Ibrahim or Zulkifli would spew out racial slurs frenziedly, which gentleman Ghani won’t.
#15 by sotong on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 - 5:12 pm
Racist policies had done a lot of damage to social cohesion.
#16 by good coolie on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 - 6:18 pm
Gentleman though Ghani may be, one should not vote for him because he is standing on the ticket of BN which is a divisive and corrupt party. Good guys get smeared with mud because they associate with dirty fellows. If Koh Tsu Khoon (another gentleman) had stood for this elections, the same thing could have been said of him.
But then, don’t forge that Ghani’s opponent in this elections is a gentleman “par excellence”.
#17 by cinaindiamelayubersatu on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 - 7:34 pm
Pakatan Rakyat harapan baru rakyat
#18 by on cheng on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 - 8:20 pm
Those who play “race” card will never bring Malaysia to any greater height !
Name me one multi racial country that can progress or is prosperous when their leaders only use racial issues to get support ! None in ASEAN is doing this except Mala… previous ruling party