We gather for the announcement of the DAP/Pakatan Rakyat candidate for the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary by-election with mixed feelings – great sadness that this occurred because of the untimely death of Karpal Singh, an irreplaceable people’s champion; and enormous sense of responsibility and challenge, as the by-election is taking place at a very critical stage of the nation’s development.
At the DAP Gelang Patah 13GE Anniversary Dinner last night, I called for a people’s awakening to launch a national movement of moderates against racial and religious extremists to save Malaysia from descending to become a failed state.
Let the Bukit Gelugor and Teluk Intan parliamentary by-elections, to be held respectively on May 25 and May 31, be the first two test cases of a Malaysian people’s awakening for a national movement against racial and religious extremists in the country.
In the past 12 months since the 13GE last May, Malaysia had been blighted by two “missing” disasters threatening to plunge the country into a failed state – firstly, the missing MH 370, after 64 days with no clues or end in sight and secondly, the “missing Prime Minister” tragedy.
Both these two “missing” disasters had seriously highlighted the grave weaknesses and faultlines of the Malaysian nation and governance.
Today is the 64th day of the disappearance of the Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 on March 8, and despite the world’s largest multi-national, longest and most expensive search on air, land, sea and under-sea for the aircraft and its 239 passengers and crew, we are no nearer to an answer as to what happened in the early hours of March 8 to the routine flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, as no wreckage had been found and there is absolutely no clue what actually happened or where the airliner had actually ended.
It is a great tragedy that after two months of search for MH 370 in the South China Sea, the Straits of Malacca, Andaman Sea and the Indian Ocean, more and more people are asking whether the six-week multi-national search in the southern Indian Ocean based at Perth was the wrong area.
Yesterday, it was reported that 77 per cent of an Australian poll don’t believe the search area off Western Australia in the south Indian Ocean is the right place to search – following reports MH 370 is claimed to be in Bay of Bengal, South China Sea, Gulf of Thailand, Maldives and Diego Garcia naval base.
Furthermore, the majority of the respondents or 71 per cent thought Australia should stop footing the hefty bill – which had incurred costs of over RM100 million and will need more than another RM100 million in the next phase of the search.
Another poll in the United States showed that some 75 per cent of Americans do not believe that the Malaysian Government had done a good job managing the search and providing information to the general public.
Malaysians do not have to depend on polls in Australia, the United States or other countries to form their opinion about the MH370 disaster – as a Malaysian poll at the end of March showed that more than half of Malaysians surveyed believe that the government had been hiding information about MH 370’s disappearance.
What is indisputable is that never before in the 57-year of the nation has the Malaysian government and its accountability, transparency and good governance come under such intense and continuing international scrutiny, and we were found wanting on these criteria, not only in the international but also the national court of opinion.
The second “missing” disaster after the 13GE is the disaster of the “missing Prime Minister”, which has plunged the country into the worst nation-building crisis with the rising and unchecked crescendo of ugly voices of racial and religious extremism whether by racist and chauvinist NGOs like Perkasa and ISMA, threatening to tear apart the very fabric and integrity of the Malaysian nation.
Non-Malays and non-Muslims are insulted as “pendatang”, “trespassers” and “intruders” utterly subversive not only of the Malaysian nation-building process, but of the official signature policy of Datuk Seri Najib Razak when he became Prime Minister in April 2009.
Najib launched the Global Movement of Moderates and said at its inaugural international conference in Kuala Lumpur in January 2012:
“Malaysia has long been synonymous not with extremism but with moderation, tolerance, inclusivity and even acceptance.. In a predominantly Muslim country with substantial communities of Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Taoists and Sikhs, we know well the ‘dignity of difference’. We have many ethnic groups, many religions, but we continually strive to be a harmonious and truly united nation predicated on the values of moderation and the spirit of 1Malaysia.
“We know that we are best and we are strongest when we actively embrace our differences rather than just putting up with them – and it is in that spirit that we come together at the first ever meeting of the Global Movement of the Moderates. But a truly global movement cannot be imposed from above – so we must awaken in all our countries and communities the triumph of truth over ignorance, falsehood and fear.”
All these claims and credentials of “moderation” for Malaysia came under challenge in the past few weeks when never before in the nation’s history had there been such concentrated outpouring of racial and religious extremism, intolerance, hatred and venom.
Malaysia is facing a very dangerous period in her nation-building when moderation, tolerance, inclusivity and even acceptance of Malaysia’s diversity of races, religions, languages and cultures are condemned as anti-national and even akin to treasonous activities.
The leader of ISMA has been likened to Pauline Hanson of Australia in the 1990s, who shot to prominence with her racist and extremist views, and though such extremism got her initial political attention and momentary prominence in Australian politics, she was eventually relegated to the dustbin of history because her racism and extremism went against the grain of mainstream Australian opinion.
We may be seeing a similar phenomenon in Malaysia.
The greatest threat from the extremist racist and religious fulminations from Perkasa and ISMA is not their advocacy by the extremist Perkasa and ISMA leaders, but the silence of those in authority, especially the Prime Minister himself, which is interpreted not only as given “immunity and impunity” to these extremist views, but even worse, as either agreement or condoning of such views.
MH 370 has disappeared for 64 days unveiling a shocking state of absence of accountability and transparency as well as lack of good governance of the Malayian government of the day.
For how long is the “disappearance of Prime Minister” be played out before Najib is prepared to come forward to declare not only his dissociation but opposition to extremist views, whether on race on religion, which makes total nonsense of his 1Malaysia policy as well as Movement of Global Moderates?
Or have the racial and religious extremists in Perkasa and ISMA overawed, overwhelmed and overpowered Najib and the UMNO/BN government?
If so, it is most important that the voters of Bukit Gelugor and Teluk Intan should the pioneers in a Malaysia people’s awakening to spearhead a national movement of moderates against racial and religious extremists in the country to save the country.
(Media Statement on announcement of Ramkarpal Singh as DAP Bukit Gelugor parliamentary by-election candidate in Bukit Gelugor on Saturday, 10th May 2014 at 12.30 pm)
#1 by winstony on Saturday, 10 May 2014 - 4:07 pm
That MIA buffoon is also a hypocrite.
And the way he kept mouthing nonsense shows that he’s not the slightest bit worried about the image of this country.
Also, all the racist and religious sentiments cannot be bandied around without his active connivance.
The opposition must go all out to wake up the people, especially the rural folks about the clear and present danger facing this country.
#2 by pulau_sibu on Saturday, 10 May 2014 - 7:02 pm
what a good excuse made by mca to stay away from the by-election. they will be busy fighting hudud against um mo?
#3 by Bigjoe on Saturday, 10 May 2014 - 7:20 pm
If people recalled in 2012, amidst proof that GE-13 was going to be the dirtiest in history and questions about Altantuya case, Najib was heckled everywhere he went. Instead of answering questions, he largely ignored it making simple denial without answering questions i.e., he got away without answering the tough questions despite everything he is accused of was proven ultimately.
So why should he answer anything again this time? Its his M.O. – when things get tough, just slip & slide away. A prodigal son does not change his color in his senior years – look at Donald Sterling.
#4 by boh-liao on Saturday, 10 May 2014 - 9:13 pm
There is an intimate LINK between plane n chicken n peeM
Find d missing peeM, then most likely also find d elusif n missing RM1 chicken n MH370
So, quickly, find d missing peeM, mayb shivering n peeing in his pants
#5 by Paul Boon on Sunday, 11 May 2014 - 12:32 am
There is a few reasons why our PM is considered missing in this sense.
Reason No.1 – He is afraid of backfire when he speaks out.
Reason No.2 – By keeping mum over issues, he cannot be penalised for wrong decisions.
I personally find that he MUST speak out as a true leader for this nation. He MUST decide whether he stands for the nation for all races or bias on one race and religion. He claims to be the initiator for 1Malaysia, he MUST practice what he started by being fair to all races and religion for the peace and harmony of this country. He MUST not say that this country is a MUSLIM nation. This nation consist of multinational, multiracial and multireligion.
#6 by boh-liao on Sunday, 11 May 2014 - 5:08 am
Plz DEFINE “FAILED STATE”
R U sure dis 1DERful land blighted by ONLY two “missing” disasters?
What abt d missing Mongolian beauty (atomised), missing details of numerous rakyat-damaging but Perkosa-UmnoB/BN-enriching-gravy-train CONTRACTS, missing CRUCIAL evidence in our courts, …………… etc etc etc?
#7 by boh-liao on Sunday, 11 May 2014 - 5:53 am
NOW, d racist MCA is “MISSING” in d coming by-election
It claimed (SELF syiok) 2 represent Chinese in 1M’sia (True meh? Then Y call MCA, insulting all Chinese Malaysians!)
Is it a FAILED political party
Let’s look at some facts
D Bukit Gelugor Parliamentary seat has 61,112 Chinese voters, who make up about 74.5% of d electorate
Racist MCA claimed it veri concerned abt hudud n wants 2 concentrate its campaign against PAS’s plans 2 implement hudud
Then, LOGICALLY, d party dat claimed 2 represent Chinese Malaysians must b happy with joy 2 contest in d BG Parliamentary seat, a perfect n ideal Chinese-voters-MAJORITY seat 2 seek n obtain Chinese votes 4 itself against hudud
Instead, MCA (self-appointed racist party claiming 2 represent Chinese M’sians) announced it will NOT contest the Chinese-voters-MAJORITY seat
HUH!? Apa itu? What kind of LOGIC lah?
Veri obvious now, TRUTH is RACIST MCA depends on friendly NON-Chinese votes (of voters who support Perkosa-UmnoB) 2 survive in any election
A Chinese-voters-MAJORITY seat is AiYAH NOT a safe seat (in fact, NO GO) lah 4 racist MCA dat claimed (SELF syiok) 2 represent Chinese in 1M’sia
MCA will only contest n may win in a seat with majority Malays who support Perkosa-UmnoB, cos after all it IS a well-known PROXY of Perkosa-UmnoB
It certainly must kwai-kwai KOW TOW 2 Perkosa-UmnoB n beg 4 n b satisfied with crumbs
Doggie, sit, beg 4 food, roll over, pretend 2 b dead, ……. SURE, woof, woof
[Got safe electoral seats, cabinet posts, n gravy train crumbs, OK lor, WHO cares if called “pendatang”, “tresp@ssers” n “intruders”]
MCA, listen, listen, listen
“You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” – Abraham Lincoln
#8 by boh-liao on Sunday, 11 May 2014 - 6:15 am
MAY 13 is round d corner
EXPECT another round of fact-twisting walloping n bashing of NON-Malays by Perkosa-UmnoB n their @ssociates (their annual ritual mah)
EXPECT another round of chest-thumping threats, rallies, butt-dancing, movie-screening, poster smearing n ripping, balik here n there, talk of WHO pissed where n what, ………………….. etc, etc
Let d shows/”falsi-tainments” start
Of cos, b4 dat, “HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, Hari Ibu, அன்னையர் நாள், 母亲节” 2 all mothers, whom we dearly love
,
#9 by Bigjoe on Sunday, 11 May 2014 - 8:24 am
Najib’s first respond on plunging this country into a crises with irresponsibly playing chicken with PAS is to defend himself and his ‘plan’ – displaying both over-entitlement of asking to be judge in 2020 when he is already five years into his administration and we already know what to expect in 2020, and claims on his resume that means absolutely nothing on the larger issue of 3 rails of Malaysian politics.
In other words, as Zaid says, he does not care likely have no clue what his irresponsibility means – the very definition of prodigal son.
All this, while PAS, has made some definite move to defuse the situation – something very very difficult for them at the heart of their party’s soul – seizing the initiative at the toughest thing they have to confront.
#10 by Cinapek on Sunday, 11 May 2014 - 5:38 pm
The ostrich behaviour of our “missing” PM is very perplexing indeed. Either he is a in serious case of denial or he is deliberately staying silent for some sinister reasons.
Surely he is aware of the heightening religious and racial tension being drummed up by the likes of Perkasa and now ISMA, who is trying to steal the stage from Perkasa. He cannot be so dumb or so blind to what is going on. Then it begs the question why he is allowing such a dangerous trend to develop. I can only come to one conclusion. Probably his advisers must have told him such dangerous rhetoric is actually playing to his advantage, hence the silence. Worse still, and I hope it is not true, it could the work of his people to stoke such dangerous developments to embellish his Islamic credentials to appeal to the Malay majority.
#11 by cskok8 on Sunday, 11 May 2014 - 5:58 pm
The 1PM was not missing, he was busy looking for the RM1 chicken
#12 by boh-liao on Sunday, 11 May 2014 - 8:53 pm
Oredi well known, d kangkung peeM, while seeking d elusif RM1 chicken n MH370, remains elegant silence bcos Perkosa, Isma, n other ultra-Malay grps r financed by UmnoB gomen (tax payers’ $$)
Sama sama mah