Archive for category 1Malaysia
Lessons learnt in a walk with friends
— Sheila Santharamohana
The Malaysian Insider
Jul 13, 2011
JULY 13 — Like all others who came alone for Saturday’s Bersih rally, I found that I needn’t have worried. In the confusion and chaos with each blinding onslaught, we reached out and found each other. The strong supported the overcome, the sighted helped the blinded and in the fog of it all, we were one.
If anything, the rally brought to light that our lives, whatever our race may be, are interconnected. Malaysia is woven of the different strands, where in the tapestry of our destiny and shared experience, there can inevitably be only one outcome.
For those who wanted to make Bersih about the Malays and the non-Malays, they were misguided. Out on that day, as we walked alongside, we knew that it was the system and the proponents of such a system, not the people who had divided us. Read the rest of this entry »
Tanah tumpahnya darahku
— Esther Goh
The Malaysian Insider
Jul 12, 2011
JULY 12 — “Are you ready to die for the country?” I asked as I walked together with Simeon heading from Mirama Hotel on Jalan Maharajalela to Petaling Street.
My honest answer to my own question was, “No. I don’t believe I should die now. When I’m only 24. There is so much more that I want and believe I can do for my country.”
“But what if it takes bloodshed for people to wake up? What if we were the ones to go — so that people will finally realise the need for change?” was Simeon’s reply. Read the rest of this entry »
Bersih 2.0 “bersih”ed me!
— Lt Col (R) Aw Yong Tian Teck
The Malaysian Insider
Jul 12, 2011
JULY 12 — As I headed for the LRT station to enter the city on the morning of July 9, I was both fearful and determined — fearful that a “May 13” type violence would erupt, and afraid of being arrested. Yet, I was determined to break this shroud of fear that had gained intensity over the last two weeks from reading the newspapers, watching television and listening to coffeeshop talk.
I nervously joined a predominantly Malay group outside the KTM building. From those whom I glanced at a bit longer, I received courteous smiles. I soon started to join them in shouting “Hidup Rakyat” or “Hidup Bersih” and punching the air as we strolled along. When they shouted calling upon “Allah”, I suddenly became conscious of the present controversy concerning the use of the word by non-Muslims, reducing my voice to a murmur. Read the rest of this entry »
Merdeka when I was six, true democracy at 60?
Allen Lopez
Malaysiakini
Jul 12, 11
COMMENT
When the Tunku raised his hand to the cries of “Merdeka”, I was on the cusp of turning six.
On 9 July 2011, as I approach 60, I was among those who rallied at the Bersih 2.0 carnival. Yes, it was a carnival. And what a carnival! The atmosphere couldn’t have been more convivial and peaceable.
The gathering was diverse, emblematic of the Malaysian identity – Indian, Malay and Chinese; young, middle-aged and old; priest and laity; rich and the not-so-rich; politicians, NGOs and the ordinary voters.
A truer representation of what Malaysia represents would be hard to replicate. We came because we wanted to – for love of our country.
It was as simple as that. Read the rest of this entry »
Bersih 2 – no “Bodoh Melayu, Babi Cina or India Keling” feeling
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Bersih, Letters, nation building on Tuesday, 12 July 2011
by KennyChang
Letter
11.7.11
Let me Introduce myself,I’m a normal Malaysian Citizen 32 years old.
Never Had i have any interest in politics or whatsoever is happening in politics.I never vote before or have any urge to register as a voter.
I only know Dr Mahathir and Samy Vellu [Of course which Malaysian does not know this 2 person?]. My late father and relative did told me Dr Mahathir is a great man this and that and would vote for him anytime he call elections.
I never did really study or learn about him in depth, so i just follow my late fathers,friends and relatives to consider him my idol.So after my all this introduction that i wrote i might just now realised i’m maybe a Pro Umno/Bn unexpectedly. Read the rest of this entry »
Bersih rally and the real 1Malaysia
by Meng Yee
Malaysiakini
Jul 11, 11
Which Malaysia is PM Najib referring to in his catchy phrase 1Malaysia? The Malaysia I see him representing is one of tense tolerance always holding a precarious balance in check. A coalition of three main parties divided along racial lines.
Each takes care of its own community, each fights for the same pie for its community. On all sides of the racial divide in Najib’s 1Malaysia there are routine threats, name-calling and extremists who insist on ketuanan Melayu.
The other side of Malaysia who came out in the tens of thousands this weekend during the Bersih 2.0 rally represented all segments of Malaysian society. Read the rest of this entry »
709 marks the empowerment of the real 1Malaysia
“709” will go down in Malaysian history as the day of empowerment of the real 1Malaysia – where all races and religions came together to demand a “Clean Malaysia”, not just for clean elections but also in the political system and all aspects of national governance.
The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak coined the 1Malaysia slogan on taking office in April 2009 but it has been pure gimmicry in the past two years and three months – reduced to 1Malaysia T-shirt 1Malaysia Tupperware circus.
But it was yesterday that Malaysians of all races and religions who gave true meaning to a 1Malaysia by coming out in tens of thousands in the federal capital to support Bersih’s call for free, fair and clean elections. This is something Najib can never understand. Read the rest of this entry »
Vague principles, contradictory policies
by Hafiz Noor Shams
The Malaysian Insider
Jul 06, 2011
JULY 6 — Some ideas are vague for a reason. In Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, the majority is afraid of commitment and responsibilities. It is simply impractical to have clear opinions or positions. Consistency arising from those opinions and positions is a barrier to success. One has to be pragmatic to be successful. Vagueness allows such pragmatism. To put it bluntly, it creates contradictions.
That is not too far off from the truth in our world. That is not too far off from the political culture in Malaysia. There are vague positions and from those ambiguities, contradictions.
1 Malaysia is an example. Despite all efforts to explain it by far too many sides, 1 Malaysia is still an ambiguous concept. It appeals to the idea of inclusiveness and equality, yet those with distaste for these very liberal ideas are the ones promoting it. There are of course true blue egalitarians within Barisan Nasional who are also promoting 1 Malaysia but when both racialists and egalitarians are able to appeal to 1 Malaysia in contradictory terms, the concept itself cannot escape the accusation of being ambiguous. Read the rest of this entry »
Pakatan Rakyat leadership council emergency meeting on Wednesday on Bersih 2.0 rally and current national political situation
The Pakatan Rakyat leadership council will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday on the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally for free, fair and clean elections and the current national political situation.
The PR leadership council will discuss the wise and commendable counsel of the Yang di Pertuan Agong. I am most impressed by the advice of the King particularly when he said:
“I also urge the government to carry out everything that is entrusted to it by the people in a just and wise manner, and it is important that I, as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, do not want to see this country with a plural society in a situation where there is animosity among them or a section of the people being enemies with the government, on whatever grounds.”
The Bersih 2.0 plan to have a peaceful rally on July 9 calling for free, fair and clean elections, which has the support of Malaysians transcending race, religion, class, gender and age, would be a celebration of the growing democratic spirit and culture in Malaysia and the best illustration of the 1Malaysia slogan of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Read the rest of this entry »
Where’s the 1 Malaysia, Datuk Seri?
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Najib Razak, Religion on Saturday, 2 July 2011
The Malaysian Insider
July 02, 2011
JULY 2 — Of course, any visit to Kelantan makes a politician a bit more religious in his outlook. Datuk Seri Najib Razak is no exception.
But Kelantan doesn’t make anyone less Malaysian or less inclusive.
Yet the prime minister chose to use his visit to Kelantan today to lash out at Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan in a very base way. The kind of attack one expects from others but not the political aristocracy that has given us two Umno presidents and two prime ministers.
“Who doesn’t know Ambiga. She’s the one who threatened Islam. And below her is Mat Sabu,” Najib told a 20,000-strong crowd here, referring to the Bersih chief who once took up a case involving the faith and the new PAS deputy president Mohamed Sabu. Read the rest of this entry »
Deciphering Najib
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Najib Razak on Tuesday, 28 June 2011
byj Jacob Sinnathamby
The Malaysian Insider
Jun 28, 2011
JUNE 28 — Malaysia is in the mess it is because we don’t have leaders of spine, integrity and consistency in our midst.
I am astounded on a daily basis by statements made by Datuk Seri Najib Razak. I don’t care about Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin or Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein or even Datuk Ibrahim Ali — you expect the racism and rubbish spewing from these characters because this is what they are about.
But Najib didn’t sound like that in the beginning of his term as the prime minister. He promised changes, said he would be inclusive and heal the wounds that have been tearing this country apart. He promised 1 Malaysia and other stuff. Read the rest of this entry »
Dear Brother Anas
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Lim Guan Eng, nation building on Tuesday, 28 June 2011
by Art Harun
The Malaysian Insider
Jun 27, 2011
JUNE 27 — I am moved to comment on your “Open letter to Lim Guan Eng.”
First of all, I have no doubt of your centrist stance. Having known you for close to 27 years, I think I could state, with some level of authority, that your centrist stance is one which you have embraced all this while. Now you are just utilising that stance for what you think is for the good of the society. I respect that.
As unity is a subject which is really close to your heart, allow me to put my thought to that subject, especially in relation to what you had written in your said open letter. Read the rest of this entry »
Hannah’s baby vs. an ‘East Indies’ Chinese
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Articles, nation building on Saturday, 25 June 2011
By Dr Boo Cheng Hau
25 June 2011 | Centre for Policy Initiatives
My widowed mother was a rubber tapper who took care of me when I was growing up. My younger sister and I used to sleep on the grounds of the rubber plantation in the dark because we helped our mother to tap rubber at dawn. After finishing the work, we headed to school. Neither we nor my mom ever groaned about our poverty. All by herself, she managed to put me through medical school.
I did medicine in Jamaica where the University of the West Indies (UWI) charged an annual tuition fee about RM3,000 (the amount at that time) – which was more of a token sum really. I obtained a seat under the two places reserved in the medical faculty for non-West Indian students. Read the rest of this entry »
Najib says 1 Malaysia more than just rhetoric
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Najib Razak, nation building on Wednesday, 22 June 2011
By Shannon Teoh
June 22, 201 | The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 — Two years after coming to office with his 1 Malaysia concept, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today that the slogan was more than empty rhetoric but a policy that will improve the lives of the public.
He said the 1 Malaysia concept promises to prioritise the people with improvements in public service delivery and economic reforms.
“1 Malaysia is also products and services which will lighten the burden of the people and improve their quality of life,” the prime minister said at the launch of the pioneer Kedai Rakyat 1 Malaysia (KR1M) thrift store at the Kelana Jaya LRT station today. Read the rest of this entry »
Home is where my heart is at ease to serve
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Brain drain on Wednesday, 22 June 2011
By Kang Ho
June 22, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
JUNE 22 — In the 1980s, I received 8A’s for SRP. Thereafter, I transferred to a technical school and received 3A’s for SPM with Grade 1.
My Malay schoolmates who received Grade 1 were sent overseas for further studies and those who received Grade 2 were placed in local universities. My other Malay schoolmates who received Grade 3 were left behind in the same class as I was in Form Six.
Even back then, I knew something was not right and I lost focus on my studies in Malaysia. My teachers told me that the reason I was not treated the same as my Malay schoolmates was because of “kulitfication.” Read the rest of this entry »
DAP takes offence at pig snout comic book
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Najib Razak on Monday, 20 June 2011
By K Pragalath | June 20, 2011
Free Malaysia Today
PETALING JAYA: DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng and veteran DAP leader Lim Kit Siang criticised the Prime Minister’s press secretary, Akmar Hisham Mokhles on how he portrayed the Chinese in a comic book.
Guan Eng who has apparently not see the book said: “If it is true, it is an act of self delusion and mass deception. I am utterly shocked.”
Guan Eng who is also the Penang Chief Minister said: “It is utterly deplorable, and unacceptable.
The criticism against Akmar comes following the depiction of the Chinese with pig snouts in a comic book entitled Transformasi Najib that Akmar authored.
Read the rest of this entry »
A nation divided?
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, nation building on Monday, 20 June 2011
by Kapil Sethi
The Malaysian Insider
Jun 19, 2011
JUNE 19 — On the one hand there are the Petronas Twin Towers, Malaysia Truly Asia, Vision 2020, the Economic Transformation Programme, the Government Transformation Programme, National Key Result Areas and the prime minister’s international call towards moderate Islam.
On the other hand is Malay First, Malaysia Second, Perkasa calling for jihad against Christians trying to take over Malaysia, the cow head and Allah controversies, the failure of the New Economic Model, legalised child marriage, female genital mutilation and the latest additions being the Obedient Wives Club and the Polygamists Club.
The former aims to project Malaysia as a responsible, progressive member of the community of nations committed to inclusive spiritual and material growth. The latter reflects the changing social realities on the ground, where there seems to be a regression of sorts towards a narrow backward looking society, distrustful of multiracialism, insecure about its own identity and religious practices, and hell bent on seeking comfort in extreme traditionalism.
At a deeper level, this points towards a fundamental shift away from the quintessential Malaysian belief in the middle way, where everyone understood the fragility of the peace between the races and instinctively stayed away from trampling on the sensitivities of others. Read the rest of this entry »
“Smoking Gun” proof of Muhyiddin-Utusan conspiracy to subvert 1Malaysia concept
There is now the “smoking gun” proof of the conspiracy or complicity of Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and the Umno official organ, Utusan Malaysia, to subvert the 1Malaysia concept and destabilise Malaysia to justify a Operation Lalang2 crackdown on civil liberties with mass ISA arrests to prolong Umno hegemony.
Yesterday, Muhyiddin made the preposterous claim in Sabah when opening the Beaufort UMNO general meeting that Pakatan Rakyat is hiding behind the planned Bersih 2.0 rally with a plot to topple the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) Goverment.
He alleged that the opposition’s agenda was to create a momentum among the people to hate the government by raising various issues beyond the call for clean and fair elections. Read the rest of this entry »
Majlis pelancaran Misi Palestin: Mat Sabu tidak dibenar berpidato
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Middle East/Africa, Palestine, PAS on Sunday, 19 June 2011
By Fazy Sahir
June 19, 2011 | Free Malaysia Today
KUALA LUMPUR: Timbalan Presiden PAS Mohamad Sabu mendakwa pentadbiran Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak bertindak mengambil alih misi kemanusiaan rakyat Palestin dalam majlis yang dilancarkan malam tadi.
Ini berikutan beliau dan beberapa badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) Pakatan Rakyat digugurkan dari menyertai majlis Pelancaran Pasukan Lifeline4Gaza (LL4G) Malaysia itu.
Mat Sabu yang dijadualkan menyampaikan pidato dalam majlis pelancaran itu malam tadi di Stadium Badminton Kuala Lumpur, Cheras telah digugurkan daripada berbuat demikian.
Beliau hanya diberitahu oleh pihak penganjur bahawa ucapannya dibatalkan awal pagi semalam dan membuat keputusan untuk tidak hadir dalam majlis tersebut. Read the rest of this entry »
Isn’t a one-race civil service a form of apartheid?
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Good Governance, Public policy, public service on Saturday, 18 June 2011
By Dr Boo Cheng Hau
June 18, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
JUNE 18 — I remember once, as a young medical officer, I was boycotted by operating theatre staff when I wanted stern action taken against a staff nurse who went for a kenduri when she was supposed to scrub for a surgery.
An assistant nurse had to cover up for her delinquent senior. Both the nurses — the one who had absented herself and the one suddenly forced to relieve her duty — were Malay. The young patient lying on my operating table waiting to deliver her baby was Malay too. And also Malay, the anaesthetist and other operating theatre staff who gave me the cold shoulder after I remonstrated with the matron. Read the rest of this entry »
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