Tanjung Piai by-election re-examination: Malaysian Dilemma

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Tanjung Piai by-election re-examination: Malaysian Dilemma

Sslee

Publish date: Sun, 17 Nov 2019, 11:48 AM

Dear all,

A comment I posted at Tun’s Blog:

http://chedet.cc/?p=2982#comment-146213

Dear PM Tun Dr Mahathir,

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2019/09/25/this-by-election-save-ph-by-voting-bn/

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2019/11/10/no-kafirs-here-only-citizens/

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2019/09/23/are-chinese-schools-bad-for-national-unity/

Is Tanjung Pial a resounding victory for BN or for that matter MCA or Malaysian Chinese?

As Malaysians Chinese we are now in a very dangerous uncharted territory:

On one side, we have this Umno-PAS-BN. All Umno-PAS-BN has to offer is the same old toxic mix of racial and religious extremism. The assurances of both Umno and PAS leaders that they will protect the rights of non-Malays are not worth a bucket of spit given their long history of race-baiting and extremist policies. This was proven from BN initial reluctant to give the seat to MCA and then during campaign according to Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub, Umno-PAS campaigners are justifying their appeal to Malay voters in Tanjung Piai to vote for the BN candidate (who is from MCA) on the grounds that the MCA are “kafir dzimmi” (non-Muslims who have submitted to Islamic rule) as opposed to the other non-Muslims who are “kafir harabi” (enemies of Islam).

I’m sure no one is surprised to hear such drivel coming from Umno-PAS; after all, they have a long history of bigotry. PAS, in particular, has grown increasingly extremist, calling for non-Muslims to be barred from holding high office and constantly twisting every issue to make it sound like Islam is under threat.

After Umno and PAS signed their so-called “Piagam Muafakat Nasional” (national unity charter), they talked about how it will be non-discriminatory and of benefit to all Malaysians. Now we see their true colours: their charter is nothing more than a thinly disguised scheme to divide the non-Muslim population into those who have submitted to Umno-PAS (dhimmi) and those who do not (kafir). Those who submit will be accorded limited privileges; those who do not will be demonised and excluded. It takes the Ketuanan Melayu ideology to a whole new level, doesn’t it?

On the other side, we have PH in the mould of PPBM still carry the same gene as Umno-PAS politicians as Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu recently demonstrated while campaigning in Tanjung Piai. Speaking informally to a group of voters, he was videotaped saying that he was in a “desperate battle” against the DAP in defence of the Malays and to champion Islam. He also thanked his Umno friends for standing with him in this battle. It was a shocking statement coming from a state-level leader of a multiracial coalition, a rank betrayal of the very ideals upon which PH is premised.

Instead of using the occasion to promote the PH agenda to the voters, Faizal took the opportunity to push the detestable and false Umno-PAS narrative that the Malays and Islam are under threat from the DAP and from non-Muslims. This is the wider problem with PPBM; too many of its members still behave like the Umno men they once were, never mind that they would not have come to power on the strength of Malay support alone.

Tun as PPBM chairman now needs to show some leadership. Tun own remarks at the Kongres Maruah Melayu and Tun failure to rebuke the slew of racist comments that were made at the event are clearly encouraging others in Tun party to play the same racist card. Enough is enough. In Malaysia, there are no kafirs, only Malaysian with citizen rights as guarantee under Malaysia constitution.

Not helping is DAP itself in the like of LGE arrogance and insensitive to what is dear to Chinese community:

Defending the characteristic of Chinese Vernacular School that have served many Malaysians well.

Malaysia National schools are nothing but a favorite playground for politicians and “Ketuanan Melayu” ideologues intent on politicising the education system to further their own agendas. In the process, our National schools became less inclusive, less focused on scholastic achievement, more religiously orientated. As a consequence, our national schools became less welcoming, even hostile to non-Malays. At the same time, standards began to fall setting off an exodus from national schools to private schools that continues to this day. It is not for no reason that Malaysia currently has the highest number of private schools in the region on a per capita basis.

For many working-class ethnic Chinese, vernacular schools became a place of refuge from the “Ketuanan Melayu” ideologues and “Race and Religion” agenda. Even Malay and other non-Chinese parents who could not afford private schools began enrolling their children in Chinese schools. Between 2010 and 2017, non-Chinese pupils in vernacular schools increased from 11.8% to 18.2%.

What draws them to Chinese (and other private) schools? The professionalism and calibre of school teachers, the discipline, the work ethic, the good learning environment and equal treatment of all students irrespective of race or religion. In other words, everything that is missing from our national schools, everything that our national schools were once exemplars of.

Today, far from hindering national unity, Chinese (and private schools) are the only places in the education system where all ethnic groups can mingle freely. Indeed, many Chinese schools are more multi-ethnic than national schools. And, far from not wanting to mix with Malays, Chinese schools opened their doors to Malays and others despite the fact that they receive little assistance from the government.

Of course, the “Ketuanan Melayu” types cannot accept that the very schools they condemn as disruptive to national unity are now the ones that are really keeping the spirit of national unity alive. No surprise then that they are determined to stymie Chinese schools at every turn, including withholding UEC recognition.

No funding for UTAR:

LGE is guilty as charged of personal vendetta in non allocation of fund for UTAR, Period.

Is LGE a finance minister or a book keeper?

It was hard to figure out what vision animated the recently announced 2020 budget by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government which came to power on the promise of transformation and reform. Scarce resources are allocated in billions to bail out Tabung Haji, increasing Jakim’s budget to a staggering RM1.3 billion. It was a little more than RM810 million when PH came to power. No doubt, it will be put to good use to “Islamise everything,” RM64.1 billion to Education Minister where we all know our education system is in a mess and in need of urgent reform and after more than a year in office, our education minister still doesn’t have a clue about what needs to be done. Pouring yet more money into a failed education system and somehow expecting better results is, of course, the very definition of insanity, to borrow a well-worn phrase. Yet one institute UTAR that served Malaysians well irrespective of race is shut out of any allocation.

Tanjung Pial by election is done with and MCA a component party in BN scored a resounding victory. A hollow victory for MCA, if MCA is now accepting UMNO-PAS narrative of characterisation of their status as “kafir dzimmi” (non-Muslims who have submitted to Islamic rule) and will be accorded limited privileges.

Voters of Tanjung Piai had sent an unequivocal message to Putrajaya of our collective unhappiness with PH performance thus far. PH despite some initial steps at reform, seems to have lost its way. Their performance has been lacklustre to say the least. They plead for more time but appear to be wasting the time that has been given to them with bickering and infighting that has racked PH and its component parties. Don’t they realise that the succession issue has become a huge distraction? Whether they like it or not, ministers like Azmin Ali and Zuraida Kamaruddin should respect the succession agreement and start working together with Anwar Ibrahim for the good of the country. If they can no longer work with him, they should just leave so the rest of the coalition can get on with the task of fulfilling the expectations of the people.

Voting BN to save PH, it might well be the kind of “tough love” that is needed to bring PH leaders to their senses before it’s too late. Perhaps if the people lead, the leaders will follow. If that’s what it takes to get their attention and make them change, if that’s what it takes to shock them out of their complacency, it would be well worth it.

Thank you

Yours truly,

SS LEE

P/S: The by-election had brought out the worst in Malaysian politicians on both sides, they are bankrupt of real ideas and meaningful policies, and they wallow in the gutter of racial and religious bigotry and appeal to the worst of human instincts. Please spare us the agony of choosing between the devil and the deep blue sea when its time to vote again in GE15.

Discussions

1 person likes this. Showing 50 of 170 comments

ahbah

Mahathir's priority is save the country's finances.......That means patience, long term, sacrifices, virtues and living a life of philosophy...surely not the success factors in a modern democracy....................

Dr M got save our mkt here ?

I oredi kena banyak teruk from the mkt !

2019-11-21 16:56

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