2Malaysia - where double standards prevail

NAMEWEE IS A UNITING FACTOR
Mariam Mokhtar
Malaysian Mirror, Friday, 03 September 2010 08:5

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-Ma lay 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, Cul­ture 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.

Dangerous PKR man

Zulkifli Nordin attacks everyone over Islam

By Shannon Teoh - Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 - Pakatan Rakyat MP Zulkifli Nordin accused several parties including his own of disrespecting or insulting Islam in Dewan Rakyat today. "This pillar is being challenged from left, right, above, below, behind or in front, whether from the ruling party or from this side," he said, referring to the opposition benches. His statements are set to reignite speculation that he is ready to crossover to Umno as PKR have constantly been criticised for not punishing Zulkifli despite the party's principles of multicultural tolerance.

The Bar Council bore the brunt of his outburst as he accused it of insulting Islam by supporting apostates in Dewan Rakyat today and called for a separate Bar Council for Syariah laywers to be established which will protect those who practise Syariah law. "In the case of Azalina Jailani, the Bar Council sent a representative to be present in court to ensure she became an apostate," he added while debating the 2009 Budget. Azalina, also known as Lina Joy, however, had failed in her attempt to have the Federal Court rule that her religion be changed from Islam to Christian in May last year. The Kulim Bandar Baharu MP also said that a recent forum by the Bar Council to discuss Islamic matters openly, caused racial and religious tensions. Zulkifli had led a protest against the "Conversion to Islam" forum in August but insisted that he was there in his capacity as a Lawyers in Defence of Islam (Pembela) exco member, not an MP for PKR. He reiterated his stand today, saying "There are those that speak as if I am supporting another party but I am actually fighting for Islam. I do not care about what other people think of me because I will have to answer to Allah." Zulkifli proceeded to attack the suggestion that surfaced during the MCA General Assembly last weekend where delegates had called for the appointnment of a second Deputy Prime Minister who would be a non-Malay, calling it another challenge to Islam's position. "It insults Islam when parties go to court insisting they have the right to use the world Allah like Muslims do," he said in reference to the ongoing case where local Catholic weekly The Herald is attempting to get a court order to allow it to use the word Allah. Zulkifli also said that certain groups did not respect Muslims by disrupting Hari Raya celebrations by making unsuitable requests, an apparent reference to Hindraf's presence at the Cabinet open house where they lobbied Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi to release the Hindraf 5 detained under the Internal Security Act. He further claimed that the undermining of Islam had occurred since the time of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. "This man had tried to expel a mufti who wanted to defend Islam. He soiled the institution of the Malay rulers with his deeds. He should be the last person to defend the Malays, after what he did. His hands are soiled," he said. Zulkifli then asked for a mosque to be built specifically for the Chinese Muslim community in Kuala Lumpur as more Chinese were converting to the faith. "I suggest the Pudu prison site be used for this purpose," he told Dewan Rakyat. He suggested als for certain articles in the Federal Constitution be amended "so that Islam is not challenged by irresponsible parties." Article 11(4) allows for state law and federal law in respect of the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan, to restrict the propagation of any religious doctrine or belief among persons professing the religion of Islam. Zulkifli called for this clause to be passed into all state constitutions. Article 3 protects freedom of religion which Zulkifli wants amended so that Muslims specifically be subject to the regulations of Islam. ******************** Zulkifli dancing to Umno tune, say PR colleagues By Shannon Teoh KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 - PKR's partners in Pakatan Rakyat say that Zulkifli Nordin is dancing to Umno's tune after the MP's outburst on insults against Islam in Parliament yesterday. "He has fallen into their trap and is dancing to their tune," Selangor Pas deputy commisioner Khalid Samad told The Malaysian Insider. "It hurts our credibility. He seems to think he is the only defender of Islam," said the Shah Alam MP, adding that if Muslims insist that everything is taboo, it would be difficult for non-Muslims to respect and be attracted to the faith "Compromising with non-Muslims does not clash with Islamic principles," Khalid added. PKR's Kulim Bandar Baharu MP had yesterday attacked various quarters for challenging Islam, saying that it was being attacked from "the left, right, above, below, behind or in front, whether from the ruling party or from this side," referring to the opposition benches. Zulkifli had also been involved in an earlier debacle when he led a protest against the Bar Council forum on "Conversion to Islam" in August, where he was accused of barging into the forum and making an inciteful speech. Yesterday, he accused the Bar Council of supporting apostasy. There has also been widespread rumours linking the Barisan Nasional's dropping of the election petition in his constituency as a precursor to him crossing over to the ruling coalition. DAP vice-chairman Tan Kok Wai also expressed his regret over the matter, agreeing with Khalid that Zulkifli was playing into Umno's hands and that his action was damaging Pakatan Rakyat's credibility. "It is very straightforward that it hurts our credibility. Many members of the public are unhappy with PKR for not taking action after Zulkifli's behaviour at the Bar Council forum," he said. "Nobody is disrespecting Islam. It is a common agreement that Islam is the official religion as stated in the Federal Constitution. There is no doubt about this." He added however that it was clear that Zulkifli's action was not the considered stand of his party as none of his colleagues have echoed the same sentiments and while it was not up to DAP to suggest to PKR how to approach the matter, it is clear that the issue must be addressed so that it is not repeated.

UMNO and money politics

Rais: Umno members want $; not good leaders

Posted by St Low
Wednesday, 22 October 2008 09:45

Kuala Lumpur: Umno veteran Rais Yatim said he had been asked to pay for votes in the upcoming contest for top posts, and warned that money politics would destroy the party.

Rais, who is Foreign Minister said "the majority" of Umno members were more interested in making money out of the election than in voting for the right person.

"The majority of Umno people want to look for money and not for good leaders," said Rais, a member of Umno's Supreme Council who is vying for the vice-presidency.

"We have been approached under the cloak of assistance and cloak of contribution. (But) I'm not a player so you don't see my marks going up very high. If you want to be a good player, you have to say yes (to vote-buying)," he told reporters.

Rais, who has been with Umno for over 33 years, said the problem of money politics within the ruling party should be eradicated or it "will surely kill the party."

Umno, which has ruled Malaysia since independence, is holding meetings to nominate candidates for party posts after suffering major losses in polls this year. It will hold party elections next March.

"If Umno cannot curb this practice, Umno's future is done for because this has been (talked about) for the past two decades and it has not been curbed," he said.

In July, Umno asked the country's anti-corruption agency to help it battle vote-buying ahead of the heated battle for top leadership positions in the party.

Rais has only garnered five nominations of the 19 needed to contest in the party polls.

- Daily Express, Sabah

Ahmad Ismail's "V" for Victory

Ahmad Ismail’s 3-year Umno suspension - “water off a duck’s back”

Blog Lim Kit Siang, 11 September 2008

The Umno Supreme Council’s three-year suspension of Umno Bukit Bendera Umno division chairman Datuk Ahmad Ismail of his Umno membership for his provocative, inflammatory and racist reference of the Malaysian Chinese as “penumpang” is too little, too late and too ineffective.

For Ahmad, the Umno Supreme Council decision is just like “water off a duck’s back”.

All these three attributes of the Umno Supreme Council decision being “too little, too late, too ineffective” were instantly evident from the immediate press conference held by Ahmad after the Umno Supreme Council decision yesterday, viz:

• Firstly, Ahmad remained defiant and unremorseful for his provocative, inflammatory and racist statement maintaining that he would not apologise although he accepted the Umno Supreme Council’s decision on him;

• Secondly, Ahmad declared that his “suspension” would not stop him from being active in the party, albeit unofficially, as he cannot hold posts defined in the party constitution, adding: “If my division is smart enough and creates a new post, such as division advisor, I can still be advisor.”

• Thirdly, he announced immediate plan to tour the country and explain to Umno divisions about the matter, and declared: “I promise one thing - I will make a comeback to Umno.”

• Fourthly, Ahmad’s defiance and total lack of remorse is not just individual bravado but clearly had powerful UMNO backing as indicated by the fact that he held his immediate press conference at the Umno headquarters at PWTC, Kuala Lumpur which was attended by the Umno Secretary-General Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor.

• Fifthly, Tengku Adnan’s presence at Ahmad’s press conference after being suspended as Umno for three years is most extraordinary and telling, for it could only mean that Ahmad has official Umno support or blessing for his interpretation that despite his three-year suspension, he could be appointed as “advisor” for Umno divisions with full liberty to go on a nation-wide tour to meet Umno divisions to justify his refusal to apologise for his provocative, inflammatory and racist reference of Malaysian Chinese as “penumpang”and do not deserve equal rights and to drum up UMNO support for his stand.

• Sixthly, the conspicuous failure of the Umno Supreme Council to take disciplinary action against the 13 Penang Umno division leaders who had supported and egged on Ahmad in his inflammatory, provocative and racist rants and acts in the past two weeks.

UMNO Youth leader Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said Barisan Nasional component parties should take appropriate action against their respective members if they go against party lines and raise sensitive issues.

He said the Umno decision to suspend Ahmad should also mean Barisan component parties show consistency by taking action against their own members when they stoked ill-feelings among the people.
This is the Star report:

Hishammuddin referred to an earlier incident involving Gerakan, where its Youth vice-chief S. Paranjothy created unpleasantness last year when he had reportedly said on the Internet that the Indian community were treated like fourth-class citizens.

“Hishammuddin said he called for Umno to break off ties with Gerakan due to the statement at the time.

“He added that acting Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon had asked him to not push for action to be taken against Paranjothy because of the impending general election in March.

“Now when the same situation has happened (in Ahmad’s case), the concerned party should see Umno’s decision as a sign that when we criticise someone, what comes around will come around,” he told reporters after an Umno supreme council meeting.

Hishammuddin should state whether he would agree that disciplinary action should first be taken against him for his various keris-wielding episodes at Umno Youth Generla Assemblies, in utter disregard of the sensitivities of Malaysia’s plural society and which UMNO and Barisan Nasional leaders have admitted was a major factor for the thrashing Barisan Nasional suffered in the March 8 “political tsunami”?

********************

Ahmad still defiant

By Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 - Datuk Ahmad Ismail remained defiant after accepting his punishment and refused to retract and apologise for his inflammatory remarks.

"No way. I made no mistake. Why should I apologise?" he told reporters after Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor had informed him of the suspension.

He called the decision the will of Allah and accepted it willingly as he was a "fighter", not just a leader, and would have to take risks for his cause.

"We say that if you are not brave enough to play with the waves, don't make your home on the shore.

"And these are not just waves. This is a tsunami," he said, referring to the beating that Barisan Nasional (BN) had taken in the March 8 general elections.

"I have a long time, three years to rebuild my home in Umno. I will still stay with Umno because it is my party. I promise that I will make a comeback in Umno," he said to applause from members of his Bukit Bendera division, of which he is now former chairman.

He expressed his belief that the current situation was due to the rift among Malays and their strength was not strong enough to face unforeseen circumstances such as this.

"It must not have been easy to make the decision. The meeting took two-and-a-half hours but the top two leaders made this decision knowing it may not be in the favour of Umno but took it in the interest of national stability," he said of president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

"You can blame the Sin Chew Jit Poh reporter for manipulating the issue but who blew up the whole thing? It was Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan followed by Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon who played the issue for more than seven-eight days.

"But I know, Tsu Koon has a party election coming up, so give him a chance to cari makan (earn a living).

"I also congratulate Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon. He won this game, today is his day. Umno Bukit Bendera wishes to express our deepest gratitude for the 18 years that he has worked with us and for the unique way he has repaid the goodwill of Umno, Muslims and Malays.

I would like to remind Malays in Bukit Bendera and all of Malaysia not to forget that if you support Gerakan, they will repay your goodwill in a very unique way, whether they are running under BN or not," he quipped.

He asserted that his statement during the Permatang Pauh by-election had been taken out of context.

Tengku Adnan clarified that Ahmad was still a party member and added that the supreme council was happy that Ahmad had accepted the decision and showed that he still loved the party.

"I cannot hold positions that are in the constitution, but if my division wants to create an advisory role, I can still take it up," Ahmad said.

Ahmad also claimed that more than 10 buses of supporters had wanted to come down from Penang to gather in front of the Umno headquarters before the supreme council meeting but he had pleaded with them not to come as it would make things chaotic.

Instead he promised that he would visit the different divisions and explain the matter to them.

- The Malaysian Insider

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From Malaysia-Today online

Ahmad Ismail: Man of controversy

Ahmad was removed as councillor in May 2006 when he was declared bankrupt by the Insolvency Department. He was reinstated after obtaining a stay of execution of the bankruptcy order.

Himanshu Bhatt, THE SUN

Raised in a family of contractors in Penang, Datuk Ahmad Ismail, 53, has been embroiled in controversies in the political, business and sports arenas.

He joined Umno in 1974 and has been the party’s Bukit Bendera division chief for 20 years during which all legislative seats in the Bukit Bendera constituency have been contested by only Gerakan and MCA.

In 1995, a special purpose vehicle called Peninsular Metroworks Sdn Bhd (PMWSB) was set up and Ahmad was made its executive chairman. PMWSB was given the Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR) concession, but the federal government recently put off the project.

Ahmad was also director of Nadi Senandung Sdn Bhd, which held a 55% stake in PMWSB in the early years. The remaining stakes were held by Setegap Bhd and Kumpulan Pinang Holdings Sdn Bhd (KPHSB).

KPHSB was a full subsidiary of Yayasan Bumiputra Pulau Pinang Bhd.

In 2002, Ahmad was appointed a councillor on the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) and assumed the role of “Barisan Nasional whip”.

In February 2003, MPPP appointed him alternate chairman of the Building and Planning Committee, sparking criticism from then DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang who called it “outrageous”.

Lim labelled Ahmad as Penang’s “Super Councillor”, and said the appointment showed the government’s “utter contempt… for the legitimate objections and sensitivities of Penangites who are opposed to the PORR project for violating the principles of good urban governance.”

Ahmad was removed as councillor in May 2006 when he was declared bankrupt by the Insolvency Department. He was reinstated after obtaining a stay of execution of the bankruptcy order.

But his days as councillor ended because he had served the maximum term of four years.

He has also been embroiled in controversy in sports. As president of the Malaysian Sepak Takraw Association (PSM), he sensationally led the national team’s pullout, at the eleventh hour, from the 24th SEA Games in Korat, Thailand, last December. He claimed the new rubber-coated ball to replace the pure rattan one was unsafe for players and that it had inconsistent bounce.

The International Sepak Takraw Federation (Istaf) proceeded to suspend Ahmad as its member and deputy president, and PSM as its affiliate on grounds that he tried to influence some member countries to leave Istaf.

Ahmad’s biggest mistake was made on the evening of Aug 23 this year when he campaigned for the BN candidate for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat. On Aug 25, Sin Chew Daily reported the speech he made at Kampung Pelet in which he allegedly said Chinese were “squatters” and could not have equal rights.

His problem did not end there. On Sept 3, Penang Development Corporation (PDC) lodged a police report, asking for an investigation into the now-defunct Popular Profile Sdn Bhd (PPSB), of which Ahmad was director, for wrongfully taking and keeping RM500,000 from the state in a botched land transaction in 1998. PPSB wound up in 2005.

Ahmad was awarded two Datukships by the Penang government -- the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri in 1996 and Darjah Mulia Pangkuan Negeri in 2002.

Today, Ahmad’s membership in Umno was suspended for three years by the party’s supreme council for what he had said. He remained defiant to the end, insisting he did no wrong.

********************

LOOK, Who is Talking about SENSITIVE ISSUES?
Thursday, September 11, 2008 (Blog 7th Rangers)

Barisan Nasional component parties should take appropriate action against their respective members if they go against party lines and raise sensitive issues, said its Youth chairman Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, in The Star. Does not this guy know any shame? He conveniently forgets that he is the guy who screwed up the BN big time. You want to know a hypocrite, here is one.

He said yesterday’s decision by Umno to suspend Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail should also mean Barisan component parties show consistency by taking action against their own members when they stoked ill-feelings among the people. Did you not Hishamuddin? The waving of the Keris was the biggest Public Relations coup for the Pakatan Rakyat! He alone pushed away the majority of Non Malay voters to the opposition plus our Malay brethren who were disgusted with his antics. Even the official propaganda organ of UMNO says so!

Kerismuddin also referred to an earlier incident involving Gerakan, where its Youth vice-chief S. Paranjothy created unpleasantness last year when he had reportedly said on the Internet that the Indian community were treated like fourth-class citizens. Hishammuddin said he called for Umno to break off ties with Gerakan due to the statement at the time.

If you recall Hishammudin said he was not threatening anyone nor being emotional when he said that Umno Youth and Barisan Nasional would sever relationship with Gerakan if the Gerakan Acting President Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon could not give a satisfactory explanation and response on Paranjothy’s statement for saying two things:

• that the 30,000 Indians who took part in the Hindraf demonstration in Kuala Lumpur on November 25 did so to express their frustration and anger because the community had been “marginalized, oppressed and ignored”.

• Blaming Umno leaders, particularly the Umno Youth Leader Hishammuddin and Deputy Umno Youth Leader Khairy Jamaluddin for racial posturing and inciting racial sentiments among Malays to gain political mileage – citing as examples the keris-wielding episodes against the former and the public castigation of the Indian news vendors by the latter when the Umno presidential address of Prime Minister and Umno President, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was not carried in the press the next day as the Umno general assembly fell on Deepavali, with the next day an annual press holiday.

Hello, excuse me, when the crutches needing people go into universities with pathetic scores, the people with better scores blocked from pursuing tertiary education, marginalised to the point of desperation open their mouths and plead, you turn a deaf ear, what do you expect? Comparing the Indians with Ahmad Ismail ? This guy was someone who stood to benefit financially if the Penang Outer Ring Road (Porr) (he was the main contractor of that project)-Malaysiakini. S. Paranjothy was right in speaking out for the downtrodden Indians. No one was listening to their cries of desperation, Ahmad Ismail and his gang were not downtrodden, they were castrated off power in Penang on the 8th March 2008, that is why they are behaving like small time warlords.

I would say Hishamuddin has a very short memory of his antics. Remember when he was waving his tiny Keris around? Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah too mentioned it in Gua Musang, so did Muhamad son of Muhamad on the outcome of the elections. His antics with his Keris, which everyone in UMNO cheered on at that time, eventually met Waterloo, in the form of the 12th General Elections. If anyone recalls, immediately after the election results there was neither a peep nor a squeal from the great and mighty UMNO Youth Chief, where the BN got thrashed and humiliated resoundingly. I guess he scurried away with his tail neatly tucked away between his legs, before anyone asked him to commit hara kiri with the much maligned Keris. He must have got into a great depression, well for a guy who actually depressed many millions of Malaysians with his "desensitising" antics with his Keris, me included, I say, serves him right. Continue being depressed. Yes, continue with your Ketuanan Melayu war cries and posturing in the next UMNO gathering. It will probably gain you a seat in the opposition, which is very likely, as you, yourself cannot seem to see your faults.

Enough of your crap, you are the cause of the rise of racists. I think you are the last person on this earth to lecture anyone on sensitivities. Bah! Humbug! Period!

The Ahmad Ismail saga - the beginning of the end of Pak Lah

Umno suspends Ahmad three years (Update 3)

(The Star Online, 10 September 2008) KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has suspended Bukit Bendera division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail three years over his alleged racist remarks about the Chinese.

The decision was reached at a special meeting of the Umno supreme council held at the PWTC Wednesday afternoon. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi chaired the meeting that lasted almost three hours.

As a result of the suspension, Ahmad will be stripped of all party posts and voting rights. He will remain an ordinary member however.

Abdullah told a press conference after the meeting that the Cabinet at its meeting Wednesday also discussed racial relations in the country.

“The Cabinet feels that racial tension may arise if sensitive issues are raised. The Cabinet has ordered ministries with laws pertaining to this to enforce them.

“If it is necessary, the ISA may be used on those who stoke racial tension,” he added.

Abdullah also told Barisan Nasional component parties to be firm and take disciplinary action on their members, who also made statements that stoked racial sentiments.

The meeting was held after Barisan component parties said they wanted “immediate and stern action” to be taken against Ahmad during a meeting of the coalition’s supreme council on Tuesday afternoon.

However, because it involved a party matter, they left it to Umno to act.

After stopping 10 busloads of his supporters on their way to the Putra World Trade Centre where the supreme council meeting was held, Ahmad said he would not retract his statements, but urged his supporters and all Malays to remain calm.

At a press conference, he said he accepted Umno supreme council's decision to suspend him, but added he would "make a comeback."

He accused Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon of “raising temperatures” on the issue of race relations.

Dr Koh was one of the many leaders who had asked Ahmad to apologise to the Chinese community.

He also denied that he had torn down a picture of Dr Koh at a press conference on Monday.

The Prime Minister had said on Tuesday that the issue had caused uneasiness, worry and anger among the people.

“Some (component parties) expressed their disappointment over what transpired while some showed anger.

“All of us are of the view that Ahmad’s comments are not acceptable at all. What he said has caused anger and concern among the people, non-bumiputras and bumiputras alike, not just in the peninsula but also in Sabah and Sarawak,” Abdullah told reporters on Tuesday.

Ahmad stirred a hornet’s nest recently when he said in a speech while campaigning for the Permatang Pauh by-election that the Chinese were immigrants in the country and did not deserve equal treatment.

Despite criticisms from various community leaders, he refused to apologise.

********************

We will wait, says Gerakan

(The Star, 10 September 2008) KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan will wait for Umno’s decision on Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail before taking the next course of action, said its acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

Asked how he would continue leading his party in Penang since Gerakan has severed all ties with the state Umno after Ahmad’s latest attack against him, Dr Koh said Gerakan would wait for further developments.

The Umno supreme council will hold a special meeting today to decide on Ahmad’s fate after the Barisan Nasional component parties called for Ahmad to be dealt with for his remarks that the Chinese were merely “squatters”, leading to a spat between Penang Umno and Gerakan and MCA.

“We will wait for the Umno supreme council’s decision and evaluate the situation. This is not about one party but two sides,” Dr Koh told reporters after the Barisan supreme council meeting yesterday.

He was asked the action deemed appropriate to be taken against Ahmad and what if Ahmad was merely suspended.

He said the component party leaders had suggested the type of action Umno should take but agreed to leave it to Umno to handle and decide.

“Our way has always been to refer disciplinary cases to the component party concerned to act on, and as the Prime Minister has said, stern and quick action will be meted out,” he said.

To a question, he said it was not that Gerakan had no stand on how Ahmad should be dealt but that it was a well tested principle of Barisan “whereby we make certain suggestions but we don’t want to announce them, instead respect the party concerned to decide.”

He referred to the 2002 case of Penang MCA assemblymen Tan Cheng Liang and Lim Boo Chang who were suspended indefinitely after the Barisan supreme council decided that MCA should take action against them for not voting against an Opposition motion in the state assembly.

Dr Koh, however, said all the component parties, including Umno, had reached a deeper understanding and commitment that the incident should never be allowed to recur.

“All component leaders unanimously expressed their stand that Ahmad’s remarks, statements and behaviour were utterly inappropriate,” he said, adding that they, however, accepted the stand by Prime Minister and Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and other Umno leaders present that Ahmad’s stand and approach did not reflect Umno and Barisan’s policy.

On Ahmad’s continued insistence that Dr Koh was to blame for the entire episode, Dr Koh said: “It is up to him but what was decided at this meeting is what is important.”

On whether the Chinese community would be willing to accept the Barisan decision, he said Abdullah’s reassuring statement should be taken positively.

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Penang BN Youth chief resigns over photo tearing incident
Himanshu Bhatt

GEORGE TOWN (The SUN, Sept 9, 2008): Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) youth chief Huan Cheng Guan has tendered his resignation after holding the post for six years.

Huan Cheng Guan

Huan, who is also Penang Gerakan youth head, said he sent an SMS on his decision to BN national youth head Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon at about midnight on Monday.

He said he felt compelled to resign because of the behaviour of Umno members who had torn Koh’s photo in a press conference by Umno Bukit Bendera division head Datuk Ahmad Ismail on Monday afternoon.

"I cannot tolerate the tearing up of the photo of my party president and stepping on it," Huan said when contacted today.

"This is not our culture. We have been component parties for so long, we can sit down and talk."

Asked about the future of the state BN youth, Huan quipped: "If these type of people are in the BN, you just think for yourself what the future will be. If they don’t correct their attitude, don’t even dream of going for elections."

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Pictures courtesy Kwong Wah Yit Poh

Ahmad Ismail: I did no wrong; reporter to blame for inaccurate reporting
Opalyn Mok

GEORGE TOWN (The SUN, Sept 5, 2008): Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail today addressed the recent uproar over his alleged racist statement by again insisting he did no wrong and instead blamed a Sin Chew Daily reporter for inaccurate reporting of his speech delivered during a ceramah at the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign.

"I do not dispute the fact that I did say that the Chinese were merely 'menumpang di tanah air kita' (squatters in our land) but I was referring to the pre-Merdeka period when Malaya was under the British," he told a packed press conference at Menara Umno here.

Ahmad reiterated confidently that he was not wrong as according to historical facts, it was undeniable that the Chinese were immigrants and squatting on our land during the pre-Merdeka period.

"I did not create any racial issue. It is the reporter who manipulated my speech and he is the one with his own agenda," he said.

Ahmad went on to attack the reporter for not being ethical and for intentionally creating a sensitive issue.

"So the reporter is the one who is responsible in creating this racial issue. It is the reporter who is racist, not me," he said amidst cheers and calls from some Umno members present who shouted the words 'Suruh dia balik tong san' (Tell him to go back to China).

When contacted for an immediate reaction, Sin Chew Daily editor-in-chief Pook Ah Lek told theSun that they stand by their report, and that it was an accurate coverage of what was said.

He said the report was written by a senior journalist who received an in-house excellence award for reportage last year.

The report churned up a furore among Barisan Nasional components MCA and Gerakan, and the DAP joined in as well, to slam Ahmad for his racist remarks. A number of police reports were also lodged, alleging an offence under the Sedition Act.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, who was reportedly present during Ahmad's controversial speech, had on Tuesday tendered a public apology on behalf of Umno for Ahmad's remarks, adding that it was not reflective of Umno's policy.

Ahmad however said Sin Chew Jit Poh had manipulated his speech on Aug 24 and on Aug 25 he had given another ceramah at the Barisan Nasional Bukit Indera Muda Operations Centre and had given an explanation to rectify the issue.

"Why didn't the reporter pick up and rectify the issue? This clearly showed that the reporter has his own agenda," he said.

Continuing with his 'attack' on the reporter, Ahmad said he believed that the reporter was not a reporter who usually covers political issue but had taken over a friend's duty.

"The question now is that surely the newspaper's editor checked the reporter's report. So, I hereby firmly state that I will not apologise over the mistakes made by the reporter. I am innocent and I challenge anyone who wants to disagree with me that the Chinese were 'squatters' in Malaya before Merdeka," he said.

"I am firm with my statement. The reporter should be the one apologising, not only to the Chinese for deliberately creating a racial issue but he should also apologise to me, my family and all the Malays and Muslims in our country," he said.

Reading out from a prepared 16-page speech, Ahmad also demanded for apologies from all Chinese leaders who had issued comments recklessly and blindly which further blew the whole issue out of proportion.

"This includes the Chinese leaders within Barisan Nasional," he said.

Datuk Ahmad Ismail pressing home a point during his press conference to address the furore over a report of his alleged racist remarks.

Ahmad then went on to criticise Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon for getting carried away and losing his judgement by releasing immature comments on the issue.

"Koh has tried to shift the focus on his weaknesses by stating that this issue is the cause of Barisan Nasional's loss in Permatang Pauh," he said.

"I challenge Koh to look at himself in the mirror and not to try to find a scapegoat and stop being so dramatic, which he is very good at. He should accept the reality

that the Chinese no longer support him and Gerakan so he should not be looking for a scapegoat," he added.

Ahmad also ticked off three Gerakan leaders from the Bukit Bendera division, whom he did not name, and told them to look ahead.

"In this issue, they have made statements in the Chinese newspapers but we, Malays, have read the translations. We feel saddened and very angry that after 18 years we, the Malays, supported them, they dare to politicise this issue and it is clearly they who are trying to conduct a character assassination, together with several other Chinese leaders, of Malay leaders in Bukit Bendera," he said.

"Or perhaps Koh and Gerakan has their own agenda of late and they are only looking for excuses and reasons to realise their agenda. What agenda? You think about it yourself," he added.

Ahmad also said: "I wish to remind my leaders not to be too weak and extreme in trying to take care of the feelings of others until the feelings of Malays were hurt." He urged them to be strong, firm and not to follow in others' footsteps.

In Penang, he said it is a reality that a majority of the Chinese community do not support Barisan Nasional, which was obvious when, in the March general election, Gerakan and MCA lost all the seats they contested in.

"Don't forget that out of the 15 seats that Umno contested in, 11 seats were given full support by the Malays. Don't be too eager in taking care of the feelings of other races that we are seen to be weak to the point of hurting the feelings of Malays who had supported us all this while," he said.

"Malay leaders must wake up and realise now that we have to unite to uphold the rights and pride of our race," he said.

Later, when asked to respond to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's statement asking him to apologise, Ahmad said he respects and loves the Prime Minister. "With all due respect to Abdullah, as a BN leader I still have my own principles in certain areas so I will still stand by my statement in not apologising."

As for the Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Abdul Razak's public apology on his behalf, Ahmad said it is Najib's right to apologise.

Asked to respond to a statement by Koh in Kota Baru that Gerakan will review its position in BN if the component parties, especially Umno, fail to bring about change so as to restore people's confidence in the ruling coalition, Ahmad said if Koh and Gerakan wants to leave BN, they can do so.

WHAT AHMAD SAID AT THE CERAMAH

Earlier in his speech, Ahmad started off by stating that he is not a racist and that he has many Chinese and Indians who are not only in politics, sports or business but also in his daily life.

"I am not going to be apologetic. I am not going to apologise as I did not owe any apology to anyone in this issue. I have done nothing wrong," he said.

He claimed that he had been put on trial in the 'media court' where the media had found him guilty which is unfair and unprofessional for not getting any clarification from him while straightaway penalising him.

"I am supposed to be 'innocent until proven guilty' but unfortunately, this did not happen. Worse still, there are some Chinese extremist who has branded myself as a racist. However, there are many Malays who considered me as a nationalist," he said.

He admitted that he had chosen to be silent on the issue in the past week as he had wanted to assess the situation and the development that follows.

"During that period, I was also in Bangkok, Thailand. But during that period, I have discussed with my friends and today, I am ready to give response to the issue. This enabled me to make a decision that is not too rushed or hasty unlike some Chinese leaders who had made baseless comments which reflects

their immaturity and had helped fan this whole baseless issue," he said.

He explained that his ceramah was held for a Malay and Muslim group.

"As a less significant leader, I was trying to create awareness amongst those in my race and religion so it is not wrong for me to talk to them about the fight for Malays and Muslims as it is within Umno's constitution that we fight for Malays' and Muslims' rights," he said.

He further read out what he had said in the ceramah which is a recounting of the history of Malaya during the time of the British rule.

"I said Malaya belonged to our Malay ancestors. The Chinese were only squatting in Malaya at that time, and that due to the unfairness of the British at that time, the immigrant race had received education and more benefits earlier than Bumiputras," he said.

He also said that in achieving Merdeka, the Malays had willingly allowed citizenship to the Chinese and this right was allowed the Chinese when the Chinese at that time agreed to Malay rights and supremacy which must not be disputed.

"This is a social contract agreed by our leaders at that time. Citizenship rights were given to the Chinese as a package whereby the Chinese must accept and respect the rights of the Malays and Malay supremacy.

"The Chinese can't just accept citizenship and later dispute the Malay rights and supremacy as this is breach of contract," he said.

He also pointed out that if the Chinese wants to dispute the Malays rights and supremacy, then in the same context, the Malays also can dispute the rights of the Chinese's citizenship here.

Several Umno leaders who were at the press conference, such as state Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Rashid Abdullah and Opposition leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim also voiced their support for Ahmad for his stand of not apologising.

Pak Lah defends UMNO racist

Ahmad didn’t mean it, says Abdullah

The Star, Sunday 31 August 2008

KEPALA BATAS: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will personally see to it that Bukit Bendera Umno chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail does not repeat his remarks about the Chinese community.

“I will tell him not to do it again. You know in a campaign all sorts of things can come up. I don’t think he meant it. I’ll make sure to tell him not to use it again,” the Prime Minister said after chairing the Bertam Umno division meeting yesterday.

Ahmad had allegedly called the Chinese pendatang (immigrants) and was also reported to have said that “as the Chinese were only immigrants it was impossible to achieve equal rights amongst races” during a ceramah in Permatang Pauh in Aug 25.

He had allegedly uttered the remarks in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Penang Gerakan Youth committee member Dr Thor Teong Gee lambasted Ahmad and charged that Umno was still using racial ideology to achieve its own personal political agenda.

Bukit Mertajam MCA division chairman Lau Chiek Tuan called for disciplinary action against Ahmad.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s political secretary Ng Wei Aik also called on Ahmad to immediately retract his statement and apologise to the community. Ahmad could not be reached for comment.

Tanjung Gerakan Youth division chief H’ng Khoon Leng lodged a police report at the district police headquarters in Patani Road over Ahmad’s alleged remarks.

MCA Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said there was no reason for Ahmad to stir racial feelings with his remarks. “This is the Merdeka month and such a racist remark should not have been made,” he added.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Umno leaders should stop using racial sentiment to seek support from the people.

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Anwar: Ahmad Is Low Class Politician

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim slammed UMNO Bukit Bendera divisional chairman Ahmad Ismail as a "low class" politician.

"That is exactly what 'low class' politicians would do."

He was commenting on the remarks by Ahmad Ismail that the Chinese are squatting in Malaysia and if they are in power, they will not be fair to all races.

Anwar said this kind of people will not bother about the feelings of other races.

"Why did he talk that way? Perhaps out of some political motives. However, he should have been more careful before making any comment. Why is he trying to instigate the emotions of other races? This is just another instance that explains why UMNO will lose its dominance in Penang." (Sin Chew Daily)

MySinchew 2008.08.28

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Gerakan wants stern action against Ahmad Ismail over 'seditious' remarks

KUALA LUMPUR, Sun: (New Straits Times Online, 31 August 2008)

Gerakan, a component of the Barisan Nasional (BN), has called for stern action against Bukit Bendera Umno division head Datuk Ahmad Ismail over his recent “seditious” remarks on the Chinese community.

During a ceramah in Permatang Pauh on Aug 25, Ahmad was alleged to have said the Chinese were mere squatters or temporary residents of the nation and therefore, it was impossible to achieve equal rights amongst races in the country.

“Many Malaysians are disappointed with the mild statement by Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when commenting on the seditious statement by Datuk Ahmad Ismail.

“They (Malaysians) had expected a strong rebuke, especially on Aug 31, a day all Malaysians celebrated the country’s independence.

“After 51 years of independence, any further doubt of loyalty of any Malaysian of any ethnic origin and the questioning of citizenship is beyond the understanding of all Malaysians,” Gerakan secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye said in a statement today.

In the run-up to the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election last week, Ahmad allegedly made the remarks and yesterday, Abdullah commented on it when he said he would “tell him (Ahmad) not to do it again.

“You know, in a campaign all sorts of things can come up. I don’t think he meant it. I will make sure to tell him not to use it again,” Abdullah had said yesterday.

Chia said Ahmad’s statement was outdated and racially provocative, adding that any sign of the Barisan Nasional tolerating any outrightly racist and provocative views would give the wrong signal to the people.

“Ahmad Ismail should not only retract what he uttered and also apologise to all Malaysians but also be disciplined so as to prevent such divisive statement or action from being repeated. Such archiac views can further divide a multi-ethnic country like Malaysia,” he added.

Meanwhile, Gerakan vice-president Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan, in another statement, urged the UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership to review its stance against Ahmad.

He called on the police to investigate the matter as the MCA and Gerakan Youth had lodged a police report against Ahmad. — BERNAMA

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Sabah for Sabahans

COMMENT BY FUI K. SOONG

The disenfranchisement and the resentment in Sabah towards federal politics and policies are very real, realities created by the BN administration. The dynamics that are being witnessed today is just a situation ripe to play mind games with.

SABAH for Sabahans” gained its zenith of popularity during the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) rule in the state.

To a puritan federalist it is almost treasonable. But to many proud Sabahans who remember the 1980’s struggles, it was a term that gave rise to a generation of Sabahans whose political consciousness was awoken by a sense of identity that was multi-racial, open and most of all, confident. We stood tall because we had dared challenge the federal regime of the day.

With all the talk of Sabah MPs crossing over to Pakatan Rakyat, and if anyone believes this to be another wave of Sabah defiance, they are dead wrong.

Sabahans still stand in awe when we see the shape of Mount Kinabalu sitting in the blue hues of our state flag. And in reality, the mountain is an awesome sight by itself. “Sabah Maju Jaya” is still sung with great pride by every Sabahan with no exception to any race.

We should be so insulted to be painted as a bunch of shenanigans with no virtue, moral standing or principles.

The disenfranchisement and the resentment towards federal politics and policies thus far, are very real. But these are realities created by the BN rule. The dynamics that we witness today is just a situation ripe to play mind games with.

Sabahans have to live every day of their lives alongside reportedly, two million illegal immigrants compared to one million locals. Their children litter the streets in the cities begging for scraps and odd jobs, unable to attend school, as they have no official papers.

By the day, Kota Kinabalu is looking more like Manila than Malaysia. By any moral standard, how can we allow poverty and human suffering to come to this level – whether or not we choose to recognise them as full citizens is another matter.

Sabah ranked from being the richest state in 1970’s to being the poorest state. Using UNDP’s numbers, Sabah has a poverty rate of 23.0% compared to Wilayah Persekutuan-KL of 1.5%!

In the district of Nabawan, the poverty rate is as high as 70.8%, as 21,568 households live in hardcore poverty. The dropout rate is 50%, twice the national figure and most schools located in the rural areas are equipped with very poor facilities.

Children are so poor that they do not even have soap to clean themselves with. Children attend classes naked because parents sell their free uniforms to feed their families.

In the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the total allocation for Sabah makes up 7.69% compared with 15.06% for the Federal Territories.

These are just hard numbers.

Sabah won 24 out of 25 seats contested. However, it’s still only 25 seats out of the 140 seats garnered by the BN. The lack of representation at ministerial level in truth is limited when both the states combined only represent 1.7 million out of the 10.9 million registered voters.

While Sabah and Sarawak may have held a crucial deciding factor to retain BN’s simple majority in this elections, many of the seats were won due to lack of cohesion among the Opposition parties. The extent of gerrymandering also contributed to no small amount to BN’s wins in the state.

Is this why Sabah representatives often complain that they are not treated with respect in all the political platforms from the Cabinet to grassroots, including those within their parties?

Today, both sides of the political fence paint Anwar Ibrahim in the same breath as how we saw Pairin Kitingan or PBS in the 80’s.

To begin with, Anwar Ibrahim is no Sabahan. In the 90’s, he was Finance Minister and PM-in-waiting “hero-rised” as a leader with international stature but in small-town Sabah, the people saw him as no more than an errand boy for Tun Dr Mahathir.

That said, has there been a credible Sabah leader that has been able to articulate our pain and concerns?

Is it really about more representation in the Cabinet and more royalties? Younger generations of Sabahans, unlike previous decades, are less likely to be anti-Federal.

Many of them have studied in Peninsular Malaysia in both private and public colleges and universities. They know what is like to live in a greater Malaysia beyond their Sabah shores.

Most also know that the 20-point agreement (signed when Sabah joined Malaysia) cannot be practically implemented if we are to finally come to terms with being part of Malaysia.

But what does it mean to be a Sabahan when two-thirds of the population are illegals? If the BN government does not want the situation to be hijacked by the Opposition, this is the first thing it must address – bring back what matters most to Sabah, our land.

The illegal migrant situation has become so bad that we already have a second, if not third generation of Filipinos and Indonesians born in Sabah.

In the name of humanity, I am not sure if we can even morally deport them without causing social mayhem and a localised economic collapse. But we need a definite closure because we need to move on.

“Sabah for Sabahans” conjures a lot of idealism as well as realities for many Sabahans even today but it does not mean we are less proud of who we are and what we still stand for. RESPECT and DIGNITY.

Whoever captures that, gets to rule.

Fui K. Soong is CEO of Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research (INSAP), a think tank of MCA, an organisation dedicated to research on the removal of barriers and bias in policies that impede Malaysian unity, racial harmony and economic prosperity. You can e-mail her at fui4545@yahoo.com.