Malays will never disappear from this earth: Don't be too sure!

By: Hussien Hamid

From : Malaysia Chronicle

I was in Singapore the last few days for work. Have not been to Singapore for over 20 years. The driver of the taxi that drove me from the airport tomy hotel was Malay. On the ride to the hotel he pointed out that all theland along the coast that was now fully developed was reclaimed land. Hesaid that Singapore could no longer buy sand from Indonesia or Malaysia –so Singapore now buys its sand from Vietnam.

He suggested that maybe the Malaysian government should consider letting Singapore mine all the sand itneeded from the Pahang and Perak river so that floods would not occur asfrequently as they do now – this way Singapore would have their sand andMalaysia gets two strikes against Singapore: Payment for the sand and floodprevention!

I quietly smiled at his logic. If only our politicians couldthink that clearly!

At night I would watch TV as I ate dinner and what I saw on Singapore TVgave me some explanation as to why Malaysia is so far behind Singapore. NoI am not just talking about the physical aspect of development where acomparison between the two countries would be an exercise in futility:Where would you begin?

From Changi airport, the taxis I took, the buses andtrains that I used to the presence of a city confident in its growth andsecure of its place globally, Singapore is everything that Malaysia is not!

Singapore TV is filled with programs that provides you with information ofworld events, knowledge about anything that you would care to know andlearn about and many programs that tells Singaporeans that life out thereis to be lived and enjoyed responsible. No politicians in sight on theirTV. Nothing that would allow any sensible, intelligent Singapore TV viewerto be upset at any attempt by the Singapore government to try and influencethem on matters political.Malaysian TV is pathetic and an embarrassment to watch. Talk show hoststhat are so condescending to their guests that it makes me cringe!

We havecrowds of people being told about the latest government projects that willbenefit them and the nation. What passes for Television programs is inreality government propaganda - pure and simply drivel and unmitigatedspew of useless information that benefits no one – not even the governmentbecause all it does is to turn the thinking viewer against such blatantpropaganda of a BN government desperate to win a coming general election.

I remember one episode where this Malay politician was opening a show orseminar of some sort by unfurling a banner with a giant size portrait ofhimself! It makes me want to spew!What was more disturbing to me is thinking how all this rubbish onMalaysian Television will affect those Malaysian watching Malaysian TV. Ifthat is the only TV they watch then what chance do these people have ofdeveloping into a better human being?

We have been told that we are what weeat…well I think what our government allow our people to watch on TV andread in the media is what we will be: a people blinkered and oblivious tothe world outside.

But as a Malay what saddens me is that the politics within UMNO defines usMalays as we have never been defined before. Before this the Malays sawthemselves as a people who went about their life with a quiet dignitysecure in the knowledge that as a people, they had the respect of the otherraces and felt themselves worthy of being Malays – son of the soils. Moreimportant we had a sense of self worth.Today the ugliness of the Malay persona is now no longer a matter than canbe kept within the confines of family and the Malay community. How can itbe kept from the public domain when Malays are ridicule and laughed at asthey try to walk along the path where others have walked – and in trying todo so they have failed miserably.

Failed because they are ill equipped tocompete on a level playing field with the other races.This is not something that UMNO can sweep under the carpet anymore.Today it is the Malays themselves who have realized the dire situation thatthey are in.

This is what the Malays now know of themselves.There are no great Malay leaders in this country of ours any more. All ourleaders, without exception, has in one-way or another, failed us – and yethaving failed they still insists that their right to remain a Malay leaderis unaffected. The Malay leaders of today are a joke!

The education of our young has not prepared or equipped them to compete ona level playing field against non-Malays in Malaysia and against otherswhen they go overseas. They have failed miserably from their ability tomaster the English Language to their ability to interact and handle theintricacies of living amongst non-Malays.I have been shamed countless times when in conversation with Malay studentsin Australia – not only by their woefully inadequate ability to speakdecent English but more worrying in the blinkered approach to educationwith the ‘them’ and ‘us’ approach to everything – from social interactionsto having no understanding that we must celebrate diversity – not treat itas a threat to our Malay ethnicity, to our religion and to our way of life.That they have failed to do so is painfully obvious to me as a Malay – whatmore to the people they meet.

But ignorance is bliss and these students areunable to comprehend that they are looked upon as an object to be pitiedrather then laughed at. And so these students go about their educationoblivious to their failings. Katak di bawah tempurong!

The Malays can no longer ignored the reality that the non-Malays are wayahead by leaps and bounds in all things Malaysians: Business, Education,civil society and even respect and dignity of their own race.How is this possible when the Malays have complete control of governmentsince Merdeka and should and did have control over all aspects of life inMalaysia?

How is this possible when the Malays have 9 Sultans and numerous Governors as the constitutional head of state?

How is this possible when the Malays numerically overwhelmed all the other races put together?

And yet all this advantages have made the Malays into a people that can nolonger hold their head nobly whatever their circumstances simply becausethe Malay dominated Barisan Nasional government has failed in their muchstated purpose of Ketuanan Melayu.Failed not in the getting of the Ketuanan Melayu but failed in the mannerin which Ketuanan Melayu is used to further NOT The Malay interest but tofurther UMNO’s interest.And therein lies the tragedy of the Malays!

AN UMNO that takes for themselves what should really be for the Malays.And it is in the leaders of UMNO that we see the worst of the Malays acting out what the Malays have now become! These UMNO leaders are the epitome of greed, corruption and thievery of the nations wealth for their own pockets.That the Malays have now lost their sense of pride and dignity because of the misdeeds and abuse by UMNO politicians of the public office they hold is of no concern to these UMNO Malays.

The behavior of these UMNO leaders now mirrors ...... who have long ago surrendered any dignity they might still have and any claims to being Malay leaders by their decadent lifestyle that they lead on the money they get from the Rakyat.Are they Malays powerless to stop their leaders from taking them further down the road of lost respect and lost dignity.

How not to lose respect fora Malay leader like Najib? In fact look at the families of all the PrimeMinisters of Malaysia bar Tunku : Malays all of them: And all of them inone way or the other have profited hideously from the office of PrimeMinister.

And with Najib he goes a step further. The emergence of a wife that thinksthat being the wife of the Prime Minister entitles her to be styled FirstLady of Malaysia!

What these Malays leaders are doing are being aped by other Malays inposition of trust and power – where the getting of wealth by any meanspossible have brought into existence of at least two generations of Malaysthat have been brought to believe that Malaysia owes them a living: ask notwhat you can do for your country but ask what your country can do for you!

Two generations of Malays totally spoiled and weaken to expect somethingfor nothing by a UMNO totally devoid of any interest in furthering theinterest of any Malay what more other Malaysian, other then ofthemselves!

I am ashamed of being Malay. Ashamed because of the deeds and actions takenby UMNO in the name of the Malays.

How can I not be ashamed that a Malay Minister of Defense have seen it fit to allow a good friend of his to profit RM$500 million merely by arranging for the Malaysian government to buy French Submarines?

How can I not be ashamed of these Malay leaders when a Malay Prime Minister– well almost a Malay Prime Minister! – saw it fit to use the people’smoney - to the tune of RM$1 billion - to bail out the shipping company ofhis son!

How can I not be ashamed when a Minister, no less, is sent as ourAmbassador in Washington after being caught out for outraging the modestyof a waitress serving him!

These Malays do more damage to the Malays at large then to themselves.The Malays had Dato Onn, Tunku, Tun Razak, Tun Hussein Onn, Tun Dr IsmailAli, Ghazali Shafie …all great Malay leaders whose duty was to the Malaysa nd to Malaysia and all Malaysians!

Who do we have now? Malay leaders whose idea of being great is having thelatest model Mercedes and living in mansions paid for by their thieving ofthe people's money and taking actresses or singers for their wives andmistresses! And the Malay singers and actresses who thinks that these ageing lotharios is a good catch probably defines the materialistic mindframe that permeates too many Malays everywhere.

It pains me to see the Malays like this. It pains me even more when the most concerned of people are not the Malay leaders but the other races who are witness to the Malay fall from grace. The non Malays worry for the Malays more then the Malay leaders because they know that until the Malays are energized to do something for themselves by getting rid of these useless Malay leaders, then they too would have to bear the brunt of the corruption and the rape and pillage of their country by these UMNO leaders.Let us all realize that we are all in this together.

What the Malays are now enduring the other races are also enduring and we can only get out ofthis impasse by working together.The irony that I as a Malay is mocking and putting down my own race is notlost on me. Cutting off my nose to spite my face! For me UMNO has cut ofthe Malay nose a long time ago. PKR is not far behind because here again is a Malay dominated political entity that is run by Malays who presumes it istheir right to do as they please in PKR because they are the leaders ofPKR. If UMNO has cut of the nose of the Malay face then PKR is working onthe ear!

I say all this because it needs to be said. It cannot be ignored that theMalays have now lost their way in a country they call their own. If theycannot see themselves being so then I will point that out to them. If youwant to assail me for being a turncoat to my own race by living inAustralia – let me tell you this. A Malay is still a Malay wherever he orshe is.Open your eyes, engage your brains. Think and ask yourself if you are proudto be a Malay in Malaysia today. I am not. I no longer wish to refer tomyself as a Bumiputra because being a Bumiputra does not make me any more aMalay as a Chinese would be more a Chinese if he lives in China or anIndian in India!

Being a bumiputra is an embarrassment to anyone today because it denotes anunfairness within a society that tells you that birth, race and religionentitles you to being someone else other then what you are not – a firstamongst equal.

Today privileges of birth no longer hold any sway overcivilized societies - be you a Sultan or the son of a Prime Minister.

Everything that you want to be must be earned through hard work and decentlabor. And this is why the position of the Malays in Malaysia have long agobeen compromised by an UMNO government that sees the Malays only as a toolto further their hold on power in this country.But having had power for the last 53 years UMNO has not discarded theMalays - no they still have need of the Malays to win the next generalelections and the next and the next! The question now is whether we Malayswill let them use us anymore!

My fellow Malays look around you and ask yourself why we now like this? Weallow our leaders to engage in gutter politics! They no longer talk aboutextra marital sex as being against Islam – today it is sodomy! Today it isMalay leaders who take second wives without the knowledge of their firstwives. Today it is about using religion to threaten and cowered the otherraces into threading softly in their own country on pain of being brandedanti Islam and anti Malays.

Takkan Melayu hilang di dunia!Let me tell you Malays this. We Malays were never on the world stage! TheChinese were.

The Indians were. Not the Malays. So please wake up from theUMNO induced slumber that our people have been in for so long. Fifty-threeyears to be exact! Our Malay Prime Minister today does not have half therespect the Malay Penghulu used to have in the days when the Penghulus inthe kampongs were leaders of the Malays in the ruralareas.But this I know. As a human being we are responsible for who we are and who we want to become.

Against all odds the Chinese and other races havesurvived in Malaysia. Survived better then the Malays. It is time we Malayscast aside these useless Malay leaders that lives off our ethnicity to onlyfurther their own vested interests not the Malays.They are Malay leaders amongst us now that can provide us with an enlighten leadership to take not only the Malays but also all Malaysians towards abetter Malaysia.

Nurrul for one. But only because she has not had the timeto be what her father and so many Malay leaders have now become : UMNO in their thinking, UMNO in their actions and UMNO in the promotion of no otherinterest but their own. The worry is that given time Nurrul would be what her father is today – a man who held so much promise for the future of ourrace and our country and yet delivered so little. Let us make sure that Nurrul will not fail.

John Lennon, Bob Dylan ... and Namewee shape public conscience

An e-mail I received among many unsolicited ones caught my attention recently but this one, unlike the rest, is relevant as Malaysians celebrate their national day on 16 September and something that should arouse their national conscience. 

It is indeed sad that today's young generation suffers from the same plight that I described in an article I wrote and was published in Malaysiakini and the Centre for Policy Initiatives website a couple of weeks ago. The plight of the Merdeka Malaysian persists but for how long? 

Victimization is the 'bastardization' of every noble virtue and contradiction of everything the nation stands for. When patriotic and concerned Malaysians are persecuted (selectively) for trying to do the right thing for their country, something is drastically remiss. 

The e-mail was from Wee Meng Chee and it read, "Many accusations have been made upon me since 2007, and this time I like to defend for myself as nobody seems to be defending for me in the political arena. My name has been used on many incidents by politicians over the years, this time I am not going to let empty accusations with no basis being laid upon me again. I am only an individual with no political agenda or motives, who wishes to voice out his opinion against racism in this country." 

As those who may have read the full press release  of this young man better known as Namewee, it is yet another heartfelt and desperate plea of another victim of selective political persecution.

And the irony is all the victims -- from academics who exposed wrongs in the system to now patriot-in-exile Raja Petra Kamaruddin -- only wanted the best for their country, and acted openly and legally within their constitutional rights. 

Instead the real culprits escape admonition and punishment while the innocent ones suffer retribution.
 

Win by kicking the opponent 

Is the country now at a stage when those given the power to administer have lost their moral equilibrium and cannot tell the difference between right and wrong? Is political expediency the priority instead of justice for the victims and protection for the whistleblower? 

There are too many Malaysians who no longer uphold what is true and fair and virtuous but resort to animal instincts and will retaliate irrationally and unjustifiably against anyone who points out the error of their ways or oppose their ideas. 

They no longer know how to play the game but still want to be in the game. They hope to win by kicking their opponents and even the umpire! 

Namewee may be unconventional and speaks in the way he knows best through music and satire, in the tradition of protest, but it has turned out to be another instance of 'casting pearls before swines' as the saying goes, and indeed those who should know better have turned around to devour him. 

The older generation has seen it all before and many have resigned themselves to be perpetual victims of officialdom and the authorities' idea of justice, but the young generation cannot allow itself to be cowed and suffer a similar fate of their elders. 

"What to do?" the typical rhetorical retort of many pessimistic Malaysians won't do. 

"Just do it" is the approach of the young.  

Young are acting where old dither 

The future of their nation depends on their active participation and if the youth can be encouraged to play a more positive role in their country with the same passion they play the computer games, there is greater hope for change. Nothing should thwart their spirit and sense of outrage at societal wrongs. 

That is why Namewee wrote, "this time I am not going to let empty accusations with no basis being laid upon me again." And rightly so. 

You can only retreat so far, but when your back is against the wall, what you have to do is patently obvious unless grovelling like a cornered animal is a fate you choose. 

That is why more and more Malaysians from all races and walks of life are now realising that the future is in their hands and are beginning to come to life politically and taking their stand against all that is wrong and destroying their country. 

The days of Malaysian 'Nazism' -- the repugnant doctrine of racial superiority and prejudice -- must soon come to an end because there is a better way, and when Malaysians think of national day they must denounce the national shame of racism. 

Racism and corruption remain the twin foes of the nation and while every national leader has sounded the battle-cry against them, there is nothing they have done as concrete evidence of their sincerity. In fact one has even done the opposite and become an ardent supporter of the lost cause and added fuel to the fire of racial bigotry.  

I was travelling on an interstate bus a few days ago when the female Malay schoolteacher passenger sitting next to me discussed the case of the school principals who made insulting remarks to the students. She and I agreed that while some students may be mischievous, and some even arrogant, it was wrong of a school principal to use the racist language. 

Why is it so difficult for the authorities to step in and deal with something that is purely administrative and blatantly wrong, in an expeditious manner? Justice delayed is justice denied. That there is more than one glaring incident is cause for serious concern. 

The repugnant foot-dragging 

From media reports we are also told that certain groups spread the racist message in their centres of learning and coupled with politicians who major on racist policies and make wild racist threats. Such indoctrination methods are treacherous to and hijack the national agenda of racial harmony. 

It is this angst against the foot-dragging approach of the authorities against the racist school principals that prompted Namewee to do what he felt he had to do. It was the same sense of repugnance that makes others criticise the authorities when things go awry. 

No one is a proper citizen of a country who is unwilling to stand up and be counted and make the loud noise when all is disturbingly silent in the face of flagrant abuse of power. Populists and patriots may be like chalk and cheese. 

Hollow citizens do not make for a solid nation and young people like Namewee should be encouraged not discouraged from playing a significant role in shaping the public conscience and the destiny of his homeland. 

Let us not forget the late John Lennon (left) and Bob Dylan and a host of other musicians and songwriters did influence public opinion against the many wrongs they saw in their societies and while some of their antics may seem outrageous, they pale in comparison to the wrongs perpetrated by those they criticise. 

Namewee is not alone because the nation and all it stands for stands beside him. Indeed he is a true son of the nation and I hope as a passionate young citizen with a cause, he will prove his critics wrong and defend his country from those who want to harm it with their bigotry.

By: Steve Oh in Centre For Policy Initiatives

UMNO & the average Malay : is the party still relevant?

Source : Malaysian Chronicles
Cheong Suk-Wai

(Straits Times) - It used to be that whenever it came to election time in Malaysia, the country’s ruling party Umno would gets its community development workers to fan out to all the hamlets on bicycles and on foot to take the political temperature and assure villagers that Umno was the best doctor for them, taking care of their births, deaths and everything in between. But then village youth began migrating en masse to towns from the 1980s and Umno lost these rural forts.

Malaysian sociologist Maznah Mohamad recalls Umno’s women telling her how urban folk would shoo them away and even hurl insults at them if they tried to woo them. Dr Maznah, 54, notes wryly: ‘You can’t go knocking on doors in, say, Subang Jaya. People will just chase you away. There’s no community spirit in such neighbourhoods. Anyway, they’re urbanised, so why would they need you to help them?’

An alumna of Macalester College, Stanford University and the University of Malaya, Dr Maznah knows a lot about such matters, having studied Malays in general, and Umno in particular, in her 27 years as a don in Penang’s Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

She retired from USM in 2006, and has since been a visiting senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore’s Asia Research Institute. Her husband, Dr Johan Savaranamuttu, is a visiting senior research fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies here. They have two children.

She spoke to The Straits Times recently about her country’s New Economic Model (NEM) and where Umno stands today:

Who is the average Malaysian Malay today?

He is male, Muslim and has an excess of rights and privileges without too much responsibility, for he benefits from what I call a vulgarised affirmative action policy formally known as the New Economic Policy (NEP).

Why ‘vulgarised’?

Simply because it has veered from its original aim and has metamorphosed into a scheme that equalises rewards rather than opportunities… After a while, even a conscious policy like that is not necessary because it assumes its own dynamics – like people from the same ethnic group drawing their own (into workplaces), so you don’t even need racial quotas… But it is difficult to undo a policy that’s so entrenched.

So life is good for the average Malaysian Malay?

Besides NEP rights, Malaysia’s Islamic laws today are biased towards male rights, such as polygamy and the unilateral right to divorce. Even Jakim, the Department of Islamic Development, has had to set up a RM15 million (S$6.4 million) fund to assist single mothers who have not received maintenance from their children’s fathers. This is not good because the state picks up after these errant males… The average Malay male is treated with kid gloves.

Why so?

Well, there’s really a lot of disjuncture in the system. The (average Malay) has all these rights and privileges, but for a Muslim man who’s poor, that’s where the problem starts: Psychologically, he might think that he’s powerful and head of the household but, realistically, he’s not able to maintain it… That’s why you find many among them just leaving the family. You also have Muslim wives who earn a lot more than their husbands, yet are forced to be obedient and subservient. There is this whole entrenchment of a kind of politics and culture that does not actually assess (Malays) realistically.

So what is Umno’s attraction to them these days?

The attraction in joining Umno today is still that it’s a sure ticket to a plum appointment or business contract because there isn’t anything idealistic in Umno today. Sixty years ago, it was about wanting to help the Malays but that is not so today because Malay rights and privileges are already guaranteed in the Constitution… If Umno pays you RM300 a month to deliver letters to its branches, that’s enough to pay, say, the loan on your motorcycle. So Umno is more like a job than a party at the end of the day.

Which begs the question: Who wouldn’t want to join it?

Well, those who don’t need to, don’t have to, right? Also, those who join the opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) have an idealism that has trumped even material benefits.

That puts Umno in quite a spot, surely?

Exactly. Umno’s lifeblood has been helping the Malays get to a certain level. So if the Malays are backward and not able to catch up, Umno would then be forever relevant… But now, what other language can Umno use?

So why are its leaders saying the NEM must replace the NEP?

In a way, it’s the right moment to do so because, on the one hand, Prime Minister Najib Razak isn’t exactly all that strong because he hasn’t gone through the baptism of elections and was endorsed by Umno when it was at its weakest. On the other hand, you have a growing Malay middle class that is clamouring for reform. This convergence of the weak and the strong makes Malaysia ripe for the NEM.

Having said that, it’s a misnomer to call the NEM a model. It’s really just a government wish list. Nevertheless, it’s going to provide a platform for some very important talking points.

How fresh are these points?

There are three which have not been stated explicitly before: The first links corruption to the faltering economy; before, corruption was there but it wasn’t considered a moral evil… But now the NEM has made that connection, albeit with the fancy-sounding term ‘rent-seeking in economic practices’. The second is trying to get rid of affirmative action, using the code phrase ‘affirmative action that is friendly to market policy’ – which is an oxymoron, right? The third – and this is very important – is how they’re going to stimulate the economy by bringing back ‘talented Malaysians’ which, again, is a code phrase for non-Malays… I don’t know if that’s possible under the present circumstances, but at least they’ve identified that as what they’ve to do. So let’s give them the benefit of the doubt.

These three things are good because a good policy has something which people desire commonly. So the NEP was very successful because it was made out to be something that could prevent future ethnic conflicts and also eradicate poverty – and who could quarrel with that?

But hasn’t the NEP rendered Malaysians uncompetitive?

Yes, but it never hurt the economy – until now – and so Umno became complacent and mixed up short-term necessities with long-term realities.

Can Umno change?

The only way it can change is if it loses… That’s because nothing has changed in Umno, not even its rhetoric. Has money politics changed? No. Histrionics? No. Keris-waving? No.

Is this Umno’s darkest period yet?

There are two ways of looking at it. If you view it in terms of election performance, Umno did very badly in 2008. But if you’re looking at Umno versus PAS, Umno is still ahead of PAS by a long shot. In Umno’s worst years, 1969 and 2008, it won 35 per cent of the parliamentary seats. PAS’ best year was 1999, when it won just 14 per cent of the parliamentary seats. See the gap?

So who or what is Umno’s biggest threat now?

Fence-sitters. The 2008 election was really about them; a lot of seats were won very narrowly and that was when the fence-sitters mattered.

Hard talk

SOCIOLOGIST Maznah Mohamad is an avowed feminist known for her incisive and perceptive views. Here she is on:

What the average Malaysian Malay wants out of life

‘Nothing much, really – well, except maybe pride and dignity – because he has too many rights and privileges but too few responsibilities.’

Malays and affirmative action

‘Many Malays increasingly do not feel comfortable about continually receiving handouts – unless they have political ambitions, then it’s tied to that.’

How she feels about being Malay

‘In Malaysia, it is about being inadequate culturally; in Singapore, it is about being inadequate professionally. So Malays like me feel neither here nor there.’

How she lives with that

‘Actually, I’m quite comfortable because it’s good to be in a category where you’re able to confuse people.’

1Malaysia

‘Umno doesn’t want to promote a Malaysian Malaysia because that’s associated with the People’s Action Party. And then you have this peach of a slogan which means the same thing.’

The ruling coalition

‘They’re pandering to race and religion and people don’t need that. They need good food, good jobs, good education, good transport and good health.’

Former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad

‘He was neither maverick nor Machiavellian; he was actually mainstream. He did bring radical change with Vision 2020 and he tried to create a Bangsa Malaysia. But he wasn’t forceful enough…and instead perpetuated race-based politics.’

The opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)

‘Many of its members were from Umno and so expected the same gravy train to come their way. But they’ve waited and waited and PKR is still not the government, so you can expect them to leave it.’

Malaysia’s future

‘We can still go out for hawker food; it doesn’t matter that the buildings are falling apart.’

——-

Dr Maznah Mohamad – PROFILE


Dr Maznah Mohamad joined Asian Research Institute (ARI) of the National University of Singapore (NUS) as a Visiting Senior Research Fellow in 2006. Concurrently, she is a Visiting Senior Fellow at the Southeast Asian Studies Programme, NUS.


Before joining ARI, she taught at the Universiti Sains Malaysia and also held a visiting chair appointment (ASEAN and International Studies) at the Munk Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto.


Dr Mohamad obtained her Ph.D. in Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Malaya and her M.A. in International Development Education at Stanford University. She also holds a Bachelors degree in Sociology (cum laude) from Macalester College.


Maznah’s publications include, The Malay Handloom Weavers: A Study of the Rise and Decline of Traditional Manufacture (ISEAS, 1996); Risking Malaysia: Culture, Politics and Identity (co-edited, Penerbit UKM, 2001) and Feminism and the Women’s Movement in Malaysia (co-authored, Routledge, 2006). She has also published articles on Malaysian politics, Islam, democracy and human rights.

“Namewee Is A Uniting Factor”

Mariam Mokhtar

Friday, 03 September 2010 08:56

COMMENT If Namewee (Wee Meng Chee) is prosecuted for his music-video, then two mixed messages are being sent out by the government: The first is that the authorities practise double-standards. The second is that it was only because of Namewee's 'intervention' that the government sat up and took racism seriously.

On Wednesday, it was reported that the rapper was being investigated by the police for sedition. Various ministers and a menteri besar also want Namewee punished for his controversial video.

In the first place, Namewee made this clip because of the government's slow response to tackle effectively the latest racist incident. It appears that we are now united, against racism.

Far from being seditious or racist, Namewee has done the job of the government in exposing all that is 'ugly' about us.

Just over two weeks ago, the Johore school headmistress featured in Namewee's clip made serious, humiliating and crude remarks to non-Malay students in her school.

The prime minister, who coined the term 1Malaysia, took two weeks to make any comment regarding this issue. In the meantime, the damage became magnified.

Finally, Najib said that when it came to racism, he wanted 'zero-tolerance' and a 'swift response' to people who made racial slurs.

It appears that the prime minister has fallen at the first hurdle. There was not a quick, speedy response, as promised. It took him a very slow two weeks before issuing a statement.

For another, why has the police investigation been allowed to drag?

But let us imagine that for one moment, it was a non-Malay school head who had uttered derogatory remarks about her Malay pupils and told them to 'pergi balik bawah tempurung' (return to your place beneath your coconut shell) or that the tudung worn by the girls was only to cover-up their 'bad hair-do'.

Wisdom and tolerance

I need not mention how the Malay community, egged on by the Ketuanan Melayu clowns, would react by picketing, protesting and practically foaming at the mouth.

If anything, the Johore school incident proved that the non-Malay community has shown extreme restraint and should be commended for their wisdom and tolerance.

The shame is that few Malays voiced their objections to the disgusting remarks of the Malay school-heads (both in Johore and Kedah). Where are the voices of condemnation for these racist rants? Are they afraid of pilloried by members of their own community? Or have they no principles? And lack a conscience?

Namewee is reacting to the slow response of the government to tackle racism. Hence, it is the government who has failed the Malaysian public. It is Namewee who conveyed the important message to Malaysians, in an entertaining way via his Youtube clip, that 'racism sucks'.

To date, what is the progress into the school-head investigation? How long does it take to get eye-witness statements?

People forget that Namewee is a rapper. He produces videos and music videos. Rap music may glorify violence, misogyny, drug abuse and homophobia. Profanity and vulgar language are common.

Like it or not, rap or hip hop, is the language of the young these days. With rap, he has managed to engage with the young, to 'say 'no' to racism'. Any parent of a teenager will know what I am talking about. The songs teenagers listen to these days, often colour the air-waves blue.

One can only imagine Namewee's rage at the slow official response to tackle racism.

It is the same fury that overcomes us when we are lectured by our political masters to do, think and talk '1Malaysia' but then discover to our shock, that some ministers do not practise it.

Admittedly, Namewee is simply expressing his anger and frustration in creativity and music, just like Eminem or Jay-Z.

It is highly unlikely that our aging ministers will understand nor appreciate rap music.

Namewee is the perfect entertainer and has sound business acumen. Sometimes, to shock may even sell more records. He has gained increased publicity for himself being enterprising.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin adopted a different spin on Namewee's questions: "You tak baca? Siapa buat Malaysia kaya?" (Don't you know? Who made Malaysia prosperous?). Khairy assumed that Namewee suggested the 'Malays played a minor role in Malaysia's economic growth'.

Khairy is possibly wrong and as far as can be ascertained, Namewee wasn't alluding to anything.

Namewee posed an open-ended question. However, political personalities are already scoring brownie points by insinuating various things.

Namewee was wrong to be abusive – even I would balk short at such behaviour. But Namewee speaks for all those who suffered that day in school and for the people in Malaysia who care.

Maybe if the authorities had been swift in their response, Namewee would not have had the reason to come up with this clip.

The more potent danger

Actually, Namewee has done the job of the government much better that the government itself. It has given prominence to racism issues in a creative way and made us take a stand against racism. If not for his Youtube, clip, would we have taken as much attention? The problem is that the authorities have 'lost it'.

When Dr Chua Soi Lek criticised Namewee and said, "Freedom of expression should come with responsibility to consider sensitivities towards other races and religions", he forgot that it was the two school principals who ignored sensitivities and caused a furore.

And instead of the school principals being censured, it is Namewee who is allegedly being charged with sedition. Namewee's clip was crude and coarse, but not racist.

This young disgruntled Malaysia's response to racism has been blown into something of a racial firestorm. That is the more potent danger.

It seems that when you scratch beneath the surface, 1Malaysia is unraveling faster than a knitted jumper. One person condemns an irresponsible racist head, and the so called defenders of the race, react like beasts unleashed, and all for the wrong reasons.

Namewee has talent. He engages with the young via his rap music and lyrics. He should be nominated for a role in the Ministry for Information, Communications, Cul ture and Arts, to promote racial unity and other Malaysian issues.

Far from creating disharmony, Namewee has united us against racism. He at least has the courage to tackle racism in his own entertaining way.

Source : The Malaysian Mirror

The Malaysian Crisis - Whither "kesopanan melayu"?

While “Ketuanan Melayu” is undoubtedly the battle cry for UMNO and its whole leadership, scant attention is given to the other hallmark of the Malays, namely, “Kesopanan Melayu”. The Malays are well known for their “sopan santun”, a Malay phrase of which I find difficulty in finding the exact English equivalent, mostly because that concept, like the Malay amuk, is almost alien to Westerners. Perhaps the closest English equivalent would be “courtesy”. The concept of “kesopanan” is not alien to all of us and the Malays are in fact well known for being courteous to everybody. The Rukunegara even acknowledges the importance of such element. Thus, the fifth element in the Rukunegara is “kesopanan dan kesusilaan” or loosely translated, “courtesy and morality”.

A look at the political landscape of Malaysia lately would leave everybody to wonder whether “courtesy and morality” are dead and buried, as far as our politicians are concerned. The fifth element of our Rukunegara might just as well be “hypocrisy and whetever-suits-me”.

When Jamaluddin Mat Radzi was earlier accused of having sexual intercourse with some prostitute from China, he was reported to have said that it was a “donation” (or “sedekah” in Malay) and it would not be good to refuse such “donation”. The Barisan Nasional leaders of course had made such a huge cry over that episode. As event would have it, Jamaluddin was duly charged for corruption.

The clowning glory to this episode is now complete when the Barisan Nasional led government was formed in Perak with the support of a majority consisting of, among others, Mr Jamaluddin-can’t-refuse-any-donation-Mat Radzi as supposedly an “independent assemblyman.

The irony in all these is of course the fact that prior to September 16th last year, when the heat of a Federal Government takeover was causing the Prime Minister sleepless nights, the Barisan Nasional leaders would come out in TV3 news saying that political defection and power takeover through defection is unconstitutional and undemocratic. But of course, it is undemocratic and unconstitutional if it happens to the Barisan Nasional while it is totally acceptable and morally correct if it is done by the Barisan Nasional.
Then, when Karpal Singh was screaming on top of his voice that he would sue the Sultan of Perak for what he opined as an unconstitutional act, the UMNO leaders went berserk. WE WILL DIE FOR THE SULTAN. TREASON! Blah blah blah… Demonstrators went to the street in Perak. In Kuala Lumpur, they assembled in front of Karpal’s office. Threats were made to demonstrate every day until Karpal apologise. Khairy even said Karpal should be banished. Traitors are killed, said the crowd. Like bloody wow wow…

Who was the one, or rather which party was the one, who took away the immunity of the Rulers? In whose era was there not one, but two constitutional crisis involving some very belligerent attitudes towards the Rulers? In which era was the Royal assent to Parliamentary bills was deemed unnecessary before that bills become law of the country? When was that the Rulers were belittled and decried as “zalim” through various statements and repeated showing of old Malay movies which portrayed the olden Malay rulers as stupid, bad and greedy? Granted, the immunity was taken away so that the Rulers could be brought to the Courts for any wrongdoing –which is and should be the right of every aggrieved citizen to do- but the manner in which it was done was demeaning to the Royal institution. But of course, if it’s UMNO, it’s okay. And now, when Karpal wants to question the Sultan’s constitutional act in Court, that’s not okay. That’s treason. And what did we use to do to people who commit treason? So asked Khairy. The crowd said, yes, we kill them. Well, said Khairy, now we banish them. Awesome!

And so when Elizabeth Wong’s picture in the nude - taken apparently while she was sleeping and unbeknown to her – made its round in the tabloid and the government bulletins, Khir Toyo – he whose face is as fair as snow white – screamed that she should resign. Hmm…you have your naked picture taken while you are sleeping and without your consent and you should resign because you are…erm…immoral. Forget about your right to privacy. Forget about betrayal. Forget about catching the scum who did that to her. Forget. She must resign. Because she is immoral. Err dear Encik Khir, how about the guy who accepted the sexual donation in Perak who is now an independent ADUN on whose support you rely to form a majority government? Okay with you?

And then there were three. Yes. Three guys who are vying to be the UMNO Youth chief. One is the son. The other is the son in law. The last one is the fair looking guy, the keeper of the ADUN’s morality. They met and they talked. The son said he will be like his father. The son in law said we must all reform. The other one said we lost because we are not Islam enough. Well well well…what is Islam enough? Or what is enough in Islam? And what is not enough? Accepting sexual donation from prostitute from China is enough? Sex with underage girl is enough? What? Pray tell me.

Oh, we shall also maintain ISA. And why is the police not using ISA against the street demonstrators? That is not good. Excuse me Mukhriz. Your father is the biggest ISA abuser in Malaysia. Remember Operasi Lalang? And even a former DPM could be detained and given a black eye by none other than the IGP. Oh, by the way, speaking of demonstrators, which demonstrators are you talking about? The one at Karpal’s office? The one in Perak with threatening banners? The one along Jalan Tun Razak abusing a woman? The one in front of the Bar Council’s building questioning a private seminar? Or the one in Amcorp Mall lighting up candles and singing? Which one? All of them?

Sometime, being a Melayu, one must remember, is not all about being a Tuan. It is about embracing the whole Malay concept. And that includes “kesopanan dan kesusilaan”. And being hypocritical about things is just not kosher Malay.

Pure and simple.

Source : Art-Harun

A Question Of Morality

As such, it would be wiser for Pas not to open up Pandora's box on this issue of morality at this juncture. It can only create differences within a ruling coalition which is being besieged by its external enemies.

Khalid Samad, The Malaysian Insider

I was told that Selangor Pas released a statement which, among others, requested that Elizabeth Wong be investigated for any moral wrongdoings as a result of this “scandal” of her nude photos and, if found to be guilty, she is then to be “suitably” punished. The statement also talks of the need for all PR elected representatives to be morally upright so as to be examples to be emulated by all.

Unfortunately I have to comment on this statement which I believe is very ill-advised. Before that I do have to clarify that the meeting held by Selangor Pas prior to the release of the statement was a meeting of the Dewan Harian, which is made up of the state commissioner and all other appointed office bearers. It was not the full state meeting as such.

Secondly, and this is the crux of the issue, PR is not Pas! For Pas we have a clearly defined set of right and wrong, moral and immoral and although it may have similarities with some universal values, there are some huge differences particularly in that of the “personal arena”. What Pas and Islam see as immoral may be something quite acceptable in the eyes of other cultures. Take the question of drinking wine, for example.

Similarly, there are items which Islam accepts, which to other cultures is not quite as acceptable. The easiest example here would be polygamy.

As such, it would be wiser for Pas not to open up Pandora's box on this issue of morality at this juncture. It can only create differences within a ruling coalition which is being besieged by its external enemies. We can avoid this awkward situation by identifying clear boundaries while understanding that the coalition is made up of different parties with different views and values but agreeing on the specific socio-economic and political agendas which we wish to pursue. On matters of personal discipline of party members, we leave that to the parties themselves to decide on what they wish to implement and enforce, if anything. We should avoid imposing our values and beliefs on others. This is even more relevant when we acknowledge that Elizabeth Wong is not a Muslim.

The proposal to let each party handle its members is akin to what was practiced by the Holy Prophet in his agreement with the different communities in Medina.

The call for the PR elected representatives to be models of morally upright individuals to be emulated by others is again something which many PR elected representatives may not subscribe to. I imagine some of the PR elected representatives reading the statement with complete bewilderment, shaking their heads saying, "I never knew I would have to play this role!"

Even for Pas, as an Islamic party, our message is that the Muslim youth should emulate the Prophet and his illustrious companions and not ourselves as we too are but mere followers. I cannot for the life of me, knowing my personal weaknesses, project myself as a model for anyone to follow. Maybe others can; on that I have no comment.

Then there is this issue of “suitable punishment”. (Hmmmm, wonder what they have in mind). I have no idea where this zealousness for punishment comes from. I remember Datuk Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang's lecture where he told us of a case in the time of the Prophet. A man came and admitted to the Prophet that he had committed adultery and requested that he be punished. The Holy Prophet remained silent and turned away from him. The man came in front of the Prophet and repeated his admission and request. The Holy Prophet responded in the same manner, turning away from him. The man came in front of the Prophet again and repeated the admission and request for the third time. The Prophet then asked the companions who were there witnessing this incident to take the man away and punish him as he requested.

Later the companions returned and reported to the Prophet that the man, prior to being punished, had a change of heart and ran away. They chased him and meted out the punishment. The Holy Prophet looked at his companions and asked: "Why did you chase him? You should have let him go".

From the short story it is clear that there is no zealousness in the meting out of punishment. The Prophet only consented when the man showed great remorse for having sinned and wished himself to be cleansed. However, if that was no longer the case, the need was no longer there. Note also how the man was not questioned who his partner was. No thumbscrews. No witch hunt.

Actually it is this kind of zealousness which the non-Muslims fear from Pas and this is where we must emulate the spirit of the Islam more accurately. We should not become zealous moralists who wish to enforce their moral code on others. As I always say, preach, reason and argue with them in the best of ways. Never give them the impression that we wish to impose something on them irrespective of how noble the intentions. That was the way of the Prophet and that too must be our way.

Lastly, I wish to state that this is not a case where the complainant wishes to see some form of justice or goodness prevail. It is not a case of a person bringing to the kadi or judge a report of “immorality” on the part of so and so. It is on the other hand a smear campaign and should be handled as such. If the Quran teaches us to be wary of reports brought in by dubious persons, what more of cases which are clearly aimed at discrediting and maligning a person. The wickedness intended alone should suffice for everyone to reject the proposition, confiscate all the photos and ignore the issue altogether. If the Malaysian public can behave in the same manner as the people of Coventry when Lady Godiva rode through town in the nude, the problem would be easily solved.

Khalid Samad is MP for Shah Alam. He is also head of the Shah Alam Pas division and also a member of the Pas political bureau, which is the most powerful bureau in the party. His website is www.khalidsama

From : Malaysia-Today

Malay Rights

The Malays are 'technically' in power governing the country but it is also this same controlling group that demands the right to correct economic imbalances and disparities for its own race.

What does this say about the 'majority governing' Malay race for the last 50 years?

I dare say that most Malaysians (regardless of race) below the age of 40 would like to see all opportunities be spread amongst those who deserve it on meritocracy.

We do not need the keris anymore to tell others to be careful of what they say and do because in the survival of the fittest, the keris is of very little relevance!
If we continue to hide under the 'bumiputera' tempurung as most Malays have been in the last 50 years or more, the catch-up game will just get harder and the gap wider.
If we continue to expect without earning it, we will never learn how to be a race that succeeds on merit. There is NO substitute for merit. The Malay politicians continue to shout about Malay rights and bumiputera rights because the very nature of our local politics is sadly racially biased.

In this day and age, a great nation is built upon joint success stories, meritocracy and the
combined hard work of its people WITHOUT any fear or favour of racial biased politics governing our daily policies. Sadly, the Malay politicians have ended up completely corrupt, racialists, twisted religious fanatics.
I am below 40 and as much as I love the 'idea' that Malaysia is tanah tumpahnya darah orang Melayu, I can't help but also feel that this country is for ALL Malaysians alike including the Chongs, the Kumars, the Xaviers, the Singhs & Kaurs etc who were born on the same day in the same hospital as me here in Malaysia.
If we feel that WE (the Malays) deserve this country more than THEM , then WE (the Malays) should have shown them a long time ago that we deserve the 'control all' status.
We have to earn it. The policies FAILED because the very concept of Malay rights or the NEP/DEB is like a double-edged sword. On one hand, it aims to eradicate wealth disparity but on the other, it has made the Malays oblivious of what reality is. Our (Malays) success is only reflected in the 'perceived' political power which today can collapse in a matter of minutes.

I would also like to see my children succeed in their country, Malaysia, for reasons that true success should be based upon, which are merit and hard work and NOT because they are Malays or bumiputeras.

For as long as the Malays don't see this, there is very little point in fighting for Malay rights.
It just makes us look more ridiculous. We have taken this notion of being privileged a bit too literally in that it now simply means we want this country and its fruits all for ourselves without accepting the responsibilities that come with it. I blame the MALAY politicians for this because we want to only fight the cause without strategising for the true substance and need of the cause. We have been given fish all the while without being taught how to fish.

It's funny how two different generations can be so diverse in their thinking and the recent elections proved
just that.. We are no longer concerned with racial problems but more so the never-ending Malay agenda issues. The rakyat has spoken and the landscape has drastically changed. Is this change welcomed?   Is it good?
The answer is 'NO'. Because we,the Malays, have been caught with our pants down - we are
not ready to compete on any level playing field (we can't even compete on advantageous grounds!). Even with three or five more continuing policies for Malay rights or bumiputera privileges over the next 50 years, we will still be in exactly the same position as we are in today.
The truth hurts and the truth will always prevail. And the truth of what's to come will NOT go away. I am cynical perhaps because I feel that Malay rights is NOT relevant anymore.

The right to be safe, to be treated fairly, to have a world-class healthcare and education, to enjoy equal prosperity, to have good governance, to live in a clean environment and to be war-free is what I want for my Malaysia. NOT for MY race to be artificially powerful.

If we want the Malays to fail, then by all means continue the fight for Malay rights. Go and polish your keris..

Shaik Rizal Sulaiman