my response to “OutSyed the Box: Is The DAP A Chauvinist Party?”, a reader who signed off as Paul Warren left the following comment (at Hartal MSM):
You just wasted a some bytes writing a crtic on this guy SAA. He’s an idiot to have thought that his opnions mattered. Just as he was, I am pretty sure, unable to comment on acts against non-Muslims and places of worship as well as worship right here in Malaysia itself he seems so cncerned about behaviour elsewhereITs more important now for decent Malaysians to ignore these kinds of bigotted writings and racist incantations and move on to forge a better Malaysia for Malaysians.
Thanks for your comment, Paul. Yes, it is tempting to brush aside SAA and other BN cyber-troopers as idiots. However, I can see some parallels between our situation in Malaysia today and Germany, during the rise of Nazism:
- Political leaders who have no qualms about demonising minorities in order to hold on to power (e.g. Nazi anti-semitism)
- Promotion (and acceptance) of racist and supremacist ideologies e.g. Aryan Supremacy and Lebensraum) as "OK" or necessary
- Media (mainstream and cybertroopers) becoming propagandists for their ideology
- The rise of organisations that threaten and intimidate other citizens with violence just to prevent them from exercising their rights (ala the brownshirts and SS)
"Propaganda must always address itself to the broad masses of the people. (...) All propaganda must be presented in a popular form and must fix its intellectual level so as not to be above the heads of the least intellectual of those to whom it is directed. (...) The art of propaganda consists precisely in being able to awaken the imagination of the public through an appeal to their feelings, in finding the appropriate psychological form that will arrest the attention and appeal to the hearts of the national masses. The broad masses of the people are not made up of diplomats or professors of public jurisprudence nor simply of persons who are able to form reasoned judgment in given cases, but a vacillating crowd of human children who are constantly wavering between one idea and another. (...) The great majority of a nation is so feminine in its character and outlook that its thought and conduct are ruled by sentiment rather than by sober reasoning. This sentiment, however, is not complex, but simple and consistent. It is not highly differentiated, but has only the negative and positive notions of love and hatred, right and wrong, truth and falsehood."
The gloves have come off. Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad is the man Umno is now pinning its hopes on to win the next general election, while current premier Najib Razak is lurking close behind with his 1Malaysia slogan to moderate the temperature in case Mahathir's rhetoric gets overheated and racial tensions get out of hand before their party is ready to benefit from an all-out ethnic dogfight.
Buoyed by the Malay support shown to Umno at the Tenang by-election, Mahathir is striking while the iron is hot.
“This country belongs to the Malay race. Peninsular Malaysia was known as Tanah Melayu but this cannot be said because it will be considered racist. We must be sincere and accept that the country is Tanah Melayu,” Malaysian Insider reported the 85-year old as telling a seminar entitled “Malay race and the future” on Tuesday.
Malay supremacy
Meanwhile, Mahathir told the non-Malays to admit that the country belonged to the Malays, implying that they had to accept a lower status.
According to him, Malaysia's forefathers gave the Chinese and Indians citizenship because they expected the communities to respect Malay sovereignty
“(Former Philippine President Corazon) Cory Aquino is Chinese but she identified herself as a Filipino. (Former Thai Prime Minister) Thaksin Shinawatra is Chinese but he speaks the Thai language and lives the Thai culture. It is different in Malaysia, we still introduce ourselves according to our race. This is why the question of race will continue to haunt us,” Mahathir said.
He continued to make himself popular with the Malay audience by insisting that race affirmative programmes such as the New Economic Policy were still necessary as the community was still weak financially.
“We must not reject every government effort to help us. We must push away the crutches and realise that we are still limping. Which is better? To be dependent on policies which will save us or depend on others hoping that they will save us? Sooner or later, we will be under their rule,” said Mahathir.
He did not mention who "their rule" referred to but it was obviously the non-Malays in the country. In the past, he has even warned Malaysia could become like a colony of Singapore's if the Malays here were not careful
National Civics Bureau (BTN) has joined the campaign trail in the Merlimau by-election, organising up to three talks per day starting last Sunday.
According to a list posted on the BN Federal Territory operations room, the talks take place in private residences across the constituency and those interested can call the hosts whose number is listed.
One of the 'talks' however, was held at a nondescript stall at a popular food court in Merlimau, but instead of a ceramah, Malaysiakini found that a DVD was played.
The 'audience' was made up of less than 10 Malay young men, one of whom was wearing a Perkasa Melaka t-shirt, who claimed to be from a neighbourhood about 100 metres from there.
They were all made to fill up a sheet with their details, which a staff member at the stall later gave to a couple of men waiting at a neighbouring stall.
DAP anti-Malay and Islam
The DVD, about 40 minutes long, details how DAP is a threat to Malays and Muslims, and concludes that the party's aim is to abolish Article 3 (which pertains to Islam), Article 152 (which pertains to Bahasa Malaysia) and Article 153 (pertaining to the special position of Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak).
According to a list posted on the BN Federal Territory operations room, the talks take place in private residences across the constituency and those interested can call the hosts whose number is listed.
One of the 'talks' however, was held at a nondescript stall at a popular food court in Merlimau, but instead of a ceramah, Malaysiakini found that a DVD was played.
The 'audience' was made up of less than 10 Malay young men, one of whom was wearing a Perkasa Melaka t-shirt, who claimed to be from a neighbourhood about 100 metres from there.
They were all made to fill up a sheet with their details, which a staff member at the stall later gave to a couple of men waiting at a neighbouring stall.
DAP anti-Malay and Islam
The DVD, about 40 minutes long, details how DAP is a threat to Malays and Muslims, and concludes that the party's aim is to abolish Article 3 (which pertains to Islam), Article 152 (which pertains to Bahasa Malaysia) and Article 153 (pertaining to the special position of Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak).
To prove this, the video, which does not at any time display a BTN logo, rehashes allegations against DAP leaders including Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Selangor exco member Teresa Kok.
The 'show' which was narrated in Bahasa Malaysia, noted how DAP representatives have acted against Islam while in office.
While showing a photograph of Kok in a knee length skirt, it alleged that the Seputeh assemblyperson had sought for the broadcast of the azan to be turned off in her constituency.
"Lihatlah, Teresa Kok memakai skirt pendek semasa menziarah masjid (See, Teresa Kok is wearing a short skirt when visiting a mosque)" it said, following on with photos of Serdang parliamentarian Teo Nie Ching speaking in a surau.
Teo had gotten in trouble for allegedly giving a 'tazkirah' in the surau, while wearing a 'tight kebaya' and not covering her hair.
The 'show' which was narrated in Bahasa Malaysia, noted how DAP representatives have acted against Islam while in office.
While showing a photograph of Kok in a knee length skirt, it alleged that the Seputeh assemblyperson had sought for the broadcast of the azan to be turned off in her constituency.
"Lihatlah, Teresa Kok memakai skirt pendek semasa menziarah masjid (See, Teresa Kok is wearing a short skirt when visiting a mosque)" it said, following on with photos of Serdang parliamentarian Teo Nie Ching speaking in a surau.
Teo had gotten in trouble for allegedly giving a 'tazkirah' in the surau, while wearing a 'tight kebaya' and not covering her hair.
'Penang gov't makes Malays suffer'
Lim, on the other hand, was accused of going all out to destroy the livelihood of Malays in Penang.
Lim, on the other hand, was accused of going all out to destroy the livelihood of Malays in Penang.
"Pemimpin persatuan peniaga bumiputera di Pulau Pinang terpaksa melutut untuk merayu Lim Guan Eng supaya tak merobohkan gerainya. Perlukah kita merayu di negeri sendiri? (The leader of the Bumiputera traders association in Penang had to go on his knees to beg Lim Guan Eng from destroying his stall. Must we beg in our own country?) " the narrator asked.
As if answering PAS' accusation that BN is perpetuating a dynasty in Merlimau by choosing a member of a prominent local Umno family, the video pointed out the two father-son combos in DAP.
Stalwarts Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh were accused of supporting nepotism by sponsoring their sons Guan Eng and Gobind Singh Deo in their political careers.
As if answering PAS' accusation that BN is perpetuating a dynasty in Merlimau by choosing a member of a prominent local Umno family, the video pointed out the two father-son combos in DAP.
Stalwarts Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh were accused of supporting nepotism by sponsoring their sons Guan Eng and Gobind Singh Deo in their political careers.
The dynasty argument was also stretched to link DAP to Singapore's People's Action Party (PAP), which is now led by founder Lee Kuan Yew's son Hsien Loong.
Pushing the case further, a photo of an anti-Malayan Union rally was displayed while the narrator asked if the viewer is willing to gamble what his or her forerunners have fought for by aligning themselves with the said Singapore-linked DAP.
Is it really BTN?
Stall owner Salmah Embee said that she was roped in because her husband has links to the BN operation room.
"I don't really know what they do as I was cooking in the kitchen. They needed a venue and I thought the people who come may want to order something, so it would be good for business," she said.
She, however, could not say whether BTN or BN has paid a fee to use her business premises.
"That is being handled by my husband," she said.
Malaysiakini contacted BTN this morning for comment but was told that today is their new director's first day and was advised to speak to the deputy directors, who were at that point in a meeting.
At least five other phone calls at different times of the day were, however, unanswered.
Pushing the case further, a photo of an anti-Malayan Union rally was displayed while the narrator asked if the viewer is willing to gamble what his or her forerunners have fought for by aligning themselves with the said Singapore-linked DAP.
Is it really BTN?
Stall owner Salmah Embee said that she was roped in because her husband has links to the BN operation room.
"I don't really know what they do as I was cooking in the kitchen. They needed a venue and I thought the people who come may want to order something, so it would be good for business," she said.
She, however, could not say whether BTN or BN has paid a fee to use her business premises.
"That is being handled by my husband," she said.
Malaysiakini contacted BTN this morning for comment but was told that today is their new director's first day and was advised to speak to the deputy directors, who were at that point in a meeting.
At least five other phone calls at different times of the day were, however, unanswered.
Nik Aziz’s recent remarks: “I did not ask to be born Malay, as long as I am allowed to be a Muslim,” are very brave words indeed.
Malays should seriously reflect on it, and give it some thought. It takes a very wise and brave Muslim to utter such a statement.
With massive media blitz by the MSM in the past to discredit his reputation, Nik Aziz still stands tall. Most Malays has a soft spot for this great man, a living legend, and an inspiration to the Malays. Lovingly called Tok Guru, he is looked upon as the embodiment of Islam and highly respected by Muslims of all ages.
His insistence to live a simple life with a simple house and a simple car, forgoing the Menteri Besar’s Residence has rattled most politicians of the Opposition ( In Kelantan PR is the ruling coalition) who could not do without their little istanas, high powered limousines, and their flair for material wealth. They could only look on at Nik Aziz with disbelief.
Reigning over Kelantan, his government is corruption free and people friendly, and everyone lives in peace and harmony. Even Non Malay residents have little to complaint about the State government, yet somehow the Opposition saw it fit to try and charge him for corruption over a RM2000 layered cake.
Guan Eng, another passive leader of the ruling coalition who also shunned the statesmen lifestyle for a meagre one, is also a target of character assassination. It’s a wonder that boring, no nonsense and pious leaders like them makes such juicy news.
With countless attempts to discredit him, Tok Guru still soldiers on faithfully carrying out his duties to rule the state of Kelantan and continuing to be the Spiritual Advisor of PAS. Unlike his other counter parts like Hadi Awang and Nizar Jamaludin, he has stood the test of time.
Many Malays see PAS as a party that champions and upholds the principles of Islam. PAS must also prove to all Malaysians that it can uphold Islam without resorting to extreme measures. In the words of Nik Aziz: “that all races are the same, and what makes a person special is that he is a Muslim.” He also said that he was striving for Islam as a religion of moderation and was opposed to extremism which contradicted Islam.
A while ago, secret talks were initiated in the guise of Malay unity talks to repair UMNO –PAS rifts. There was talk that PAS may rejoin UMNO. Nik Aziz on finding out furiously retorted that PAS should never ever entertain any thoughts of rejoining UMNO. Doing so, would forever close the door to a true Malaysian democracy. True Muslims will not take the bait, and Malays will not want to see it happen.
PAS has since reinvented itself with the infusion of young moderate professionals, and projecting a more moderate outlook. It has trimmed down on its fiery religious rhetoric and corporatized its image.
When Pakatan Rakyat won in Perak, Malaysians look on in astonishment, as DAP offered the post of Menteri Besar to PAS. That showed the excellent cooperation of the PR coalition for the common good.
Nizar also proved to be the perfect candidate, gaining instant approval of Perakians. In an instant Malaysian’s perception of PAS had changed. Nizar was the perfect gentleman in his western suit, so unlike the regular garb that was the trademark of PAS. If not for the Toyota Camry incident, Nizar will still have a government to rule.
However, the stigma is still there. The issue of Hudud Laws, amplified to maximum by the MSM continue to haunt Muslims and Non Muslims alike. Careful study has shown that Hudud is more a preventive than a punitive law, requiring 4 witnesses to certify proof, therefore affording adequate protection to the accused. This issue has been taken out of context by the MSM. PAS was crucified to the maximum, with the public shunning the party like a blood sucking leech. PAS was also made out to be an extremist party with talibanistic goals.
PAS sees it as a religious duty to implement these laws, but Non Malays will object vehemently, unless total understanding and acceptance is taught. But like any other policies, these laws must be thoroughly explained and accepted by the general populace. Failure to do so will only reflect on PAS suitability to rule.
So if PAS wants to win over the Non Malays it really has got to have good Public Relations and projects itself as a modern, professional Political Party with a moderate outlook.
A recent incident involving PAS Youth chief Nasruddin Tantawi, over Valentine’s Day was immediately condemned by non-Malays as extreme. Grossly misquoted by the MSM, Poor Nasruddin had to trip over himself, apologizing profusely for the misunderstanding to all quarters.
If PAS Youth continues to be trigger happy in their stand on religious controversies, without taking into consideration the sensitivities of other faiths, it will negate all efforts PAS has made to mollify the nation.
PAS, unlike DAP and PKR opens its membership to Muslims and Malays only, and this does not augur well with the public, who sees it as an elitist party.
PAS is seen as the backbone of the PR coalition. Until now it has done its job well, but its enemies will continue to find faults to crucify this party.
And finally, if Malays can understand the real meaning in Nik Aziz’s statement, we should put our differences aside and declare that we are Muslims first, followed by Malaysian next.
As for race, we can throw it out of the window. Only racists will put race first. It should be a dirty word, deleted from our IC’s, and our History Books. Nobody should ever have to go through the humiliation of writing our race on any forms.
Those who disagree, please leave this country, go back to Yunnan, Indonesia, China, India or where ever. Full stop!
In December of 2007 during a trip to Rome , the president of France France
President Nicolas Sarkozy is now looking at another nuance of this secularity. He wants a national debate to examine "laïcité" and how it relates to Islam -- an issue expected to carry weight in the nation's 2012 elections.
Muslims make up perhaps as much as 10% of France France
His party, the UMP (Union for a Popular Movement), has organized a convention for April 5 on worship in a secular republic, and particularly Muslim worship.
In a Feb. 16 speech to UMP deputies, the president criticized "a growing gulf between the media portrayal of Islam and the preoccupations of the French people." He suggested that the immigration issue was ignored in the 80s with unwelcome consequences. "It was a taboo subject," he said. "The same thing is happening with Islam in France
Sarkozy wants some concrete proposals this year on issues such as where Muslims worship -- a question that has growing relevance because of some Muslims accustoming themselves to praying on the street, ostensibly because the mosques are not big enough to hold them all.
"We need to have a debate on prayer meetings in the streets," Sarkozy told the UMP. "In a secular country, we cannot tolerate having a public call to prayer."
Winds of change
However, the secretary of state for housing, Benoist Apparu, floated the idea of government aid in constructing mosques.
The minister of budget, François Baroin, however, said any change to the 1905 law would be opening a Pandora's Box. He affirmed there is no change on the government's agenda.
Adding his view in a Feb. 17 interview with Le Figaro, Alain Juppe, who has just been named the foreign minister, had this to say: "Republican law must be applied in conditions of equality for all. Diversity certainly exists, but the republican principle [...] is that the law cannot accept differentiations based on religious or ethnic criteria."
"In regard to rights, it is imperative to affirm that Muslims, like Catholics, Jews, Protestants and the rest, have the right to be able to practice their faith," he added.
He also spoke of duties, such as respect for the values of the republic, particularly "equality between man and woman."
The former prime minister also called for prudence. "It is necessary to conduct and control this debate because it can go off in all directions. Islam is France
A former minister of justice who now is a member of the European Parliament, Rachida Dati, shared similar caution. "The debate on Islam, which is not a problem for me, is pertinent. But it is necessary to be careful, and it is important to say it, so as not to stigmatize Islam as a religion and not stigmatize Muslims, who in the first place are French," she told
One or many?
One thing is clear: German Chancellor Angela Merkel in October of 2010, British Prime Minister David Cameron, in his Feb. 5 address at the 47th Conference on Security in Munich
"We do not want a society in which communities coexist one beside the other," Sarkozy said Feb. 10. "When one arrives in France
But a multicultural and multiethnic society was defended by three ecologist politicians -- Esther Benbassa, Noel Mamere and Eva Joly, of Europe Ecologie. "Integration and assimilation are authoritarian movements that come from above, which do not take into consideration the human realities," they said in a public forum published Jan. 27 in the newspaper Liberation.
The trio made an appeal in favor of what they call "a national secularity that recognizes the part of ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic membership."
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