THE PRICE OF RACISM IN MALAYSIA!

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Tuesday, June 28, 2011 6:02 PM


MALAYSIA'S RACISM REVISITED

The Price of Malaysia 's Racism - Revisited


Wednesday, 11 May 2011


Written by John Malott

EXCLUSIVE When my op-ed appeared in the Asian Wall Street Journal last
February, all hell broke loose in Malaysia . My thesis was that the highest
levels of the government were tolerating or even provoking racial and
religious tensions in order to shore up their political base among the Malay
community.

I also pointed out that there is an economic price to pay for that political
calculation, namely, that members of the minority communities increasingly
will feel unwelcome in their own country and continue to emigrate overseas,
taking their talents and skills with them.

Now, three months later, I don't think that there is any doubt at all about
what I said. It's not a thesis any more, it's a fact.

A very comprehensive report by the World Bank has described the exodus of
talent from Malaysia in great detail, pointing out the reasons for the
migration and the economic consequences for Malaysia . It is shocking to
think that two out of every ten Malaysian college graduates now lives (and
works) overseas. Malaysia 's loss is Singapore 's (and America 's) gain.

On racial and religious tensions, not only do they continue, but they seem
to have gotten worse. Najib says that Islam is superior to all other
religions. Mahathir says that Malaysia is Tanah Melayu. Talk of Ketuanan
Melayu - the Malays as the Master Race, rather than as a people with a
special position, which is what the constitution says - has grown. The Home
Ministry desecrates the Holy Bible with government stamps and serial
numbers.

When Utusan undercuts the Prime Minister's 1Malaysia policy and calls for
1Melayu, Muhyiddin says that Utusan is the voice of the Malays. Utusan then
goes on to say that the Chinese are trying to take over Malaysia , and that
the Christians are conspiring to abolish Islam as the national religion, and
so on. All complete fabrications.

But Utusan - owned and controlled by UMNO - gets away with it. This is the
clearest example of what I meant when I said that the Government - at the
highest levels - is tolerating this in order to strengthen its base among
the Malays in preparation for the next General Election.

I find all this very frightening. To strengthen its base, the Government is
pandering to the basest elements - some of the most racist, least educated,
most gullible, and most intolerant segments of society.

Those elements are constantly conjuring up threats - that the Malay race and
Islam, which are the majorities in Malaysia , are under seige by the
minority, which is a demographic impossibility.

And rather than say it isn't so, the Government goes along with Perkasa,
Pembela, racist bloggers, Utusan, and so on.

- John Malott is the former US ambassador to Malaysia

Don't Be Afraid, jom turun Bersih (Read Description first)

Macam Orang Gila

MACAM ORANG GILA - Dinsman deklamasi sajak.

http://youtu.be/plsXPxsOCBc

June 22, 2011 YB Tengku Razaleigh..speaking to reporters

Ku Li: Sultan cannot remove MB

Humayun Kabir | June 22, 2011



The Umno veteran argues that the Perak Sultan had no power to remove Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as menteri besar.



TAIPING: Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said that Perak Sultan, Azlan Shah, did not have the power to remove former Pakatan menteri besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin from his post in February 2009.


“The sultan can only appoint the menteri besar but does not have the power to remove him from his post which can be only done if he resigns on his own accord or is removed by a vote of no-confidence in a formal sitting of the (State Legislative) Assembly,” he said.


Razaleigh, who is fondly known as Ku Li, added: “I have even spoken to the Perak Raja Muda about this matter.” However, the Gua Musang MP did not elaborate on what was discussed.


Razaleigh said there must be separation of powers between the royalty, executive, legislative and the judiciary for the democratic process to be effective.


Before the controversial take-over of the state government by Barisan Nasional, Nizar had sought the Perak ruler’s consent to dissolve the state assembly to hold fresh polls but this was denied.
The sultan instead gave his consent to BN to form the new state government with Zambry Abdul Kadir as menteri besar.


Razaleigh was answering questions from the floor after delivering his keynote address at an event held at the Taiping New Club here over the weekend.


Better management needed
To the question of whether Malaysia would become bankrupt by the year 2019 as predicted by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Idris Jala, the former finance minister dismissed this.
“I don’t buy the theory that the country will go bankrupt (by 2019 ) as God has given us the wealth of natural resources like gas and palm oil,” he said.


He added that the high price of gas and palm oil would keep Malaysia afloat for years to come, but stressed that there was a need to change the bad management of the country’s natural resources and finances.
“Malaysia can enjoy a much better standard of living than Singapore, Hong Kong and Sweden if we manage our finances prudently,” he explained.


On the increasing cost of cars which was going beyond the means of most Malaysians, Razaleigh suggested that protection given to national car makers be removed.
“Free the car market of import duty so that prices of cars will come down and people will have a chance to buy the cars of their choice,” he said.


“We must abolish the AP (approved permit) system as only cronies enjoy the benefits at the expense of the country’s economy. All government tenders must be open so that the government can save costs,” he added.


Asked whether the political uprising in Middle East countries would influence Malaysians, Razaleigh said: “Yes! The influence will be felt especially among the younger generation who are more knowledgeable as the world has become a global village.”


Despite his stinging criticisms, the Umno veteran denied that he would consider switching political camps.
“Pakatan Rakyat is not even a registered political body but a loose coalition. The question of serving the people can be based from any party and not necessarily from Pakatan,” he responded to a question.

My Letter for YOU...#42 - JUNe 2011

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Thanks Ms Frances Yeo for your encouragement. I will continue writing this letter as long as I have the strenght (as long as i live)...God willing! What is life without friends!