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| Malaysia’s Changed Political Landscape |
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| Written by Philip Bowring | |
| Saturday, 29 March 2008 | |
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The cracks in Malaysia’s ruling coalition and biggest party are widening after the shock of the March elections
Just how messy things have become, at least for the United Malays National Organisation, is shown by the success of the Sultan of Terengganu, who also happens to be the King at present, in getting his preference accepted as Mentri Besar (chief minister) rather than the nominee of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Badawi, universally known as Pak Lah, at first declared the move unconstitutional but an UMNO Supreme Council meeting on March 27 decided to accept the sultan’s choice to end the dispute and avoid having to face a by-election that could have led to the loss of yet another state to the opposition. The sultan’s override of the premier’s UMNO candidate is both an exhibit of Badawi’s weak position and the most blatant illustration of the royal rulers’ attempt to use the changed political situation to turn their heretofore nominal powers as constitutional monarchs into real ones. Earlier the Sultan of Perlis also overrode the PM’s choice, but on this occasion with the support of the UMNO assemblymen. The UMNO Supreme Council also knocked back a suggestion that party elections for top posts be postponed to next March, by which time, so Badawi’s supporters believe, his position would be strengthened. As it is, branch and division elections will be held between July and November and the top posts in December. It will still be difficult for challengers to get on the ballot as they need the support of 30 percent of the divisions. However, anti-Badawi sentiment could easily snowball. Meanwhile there remains the possibility that things can be brought to a head much earlier if Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah succeeds in his effort to gather enough support to call an Extraordinary General Meeting to discuss the reasons for the party’s electoral failure and to force Badawi to step down. Razaleigh, a onetime finance minister in the 1980s, has not been in government since he split with former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad two decades ago but cultivates an elder statesman aura at a time when UMNO is devoid of obvious younger talent
Sketching Scenarios These are only some basic alternative possibilities. The number of more detailed scenarios is huge. Here are a few:
1. Badawi hangs on by the skin of his teeth. By the time of the UMNO elections and party meeting later this year, the blame game within the party has subsided and division heads look to restoring party unity as a first step to regaining favour with the electorate. He is helped by UMNO’s loyalty traditions and the lack of an obvious immediate successor with sufficient support. Razaleighi is viewed by many as too old and tainted by the way he split the party when he lost to Mahathir.
2. Razaleigh fails to get an EGM, but chaos reigns at state levels with pro- and anti- Badawi factions squabbling a long the lines of what has been happening in Terengganu, with the country’s nine sultans using the situation to enhance their own power and show up Badawi’s lack of authority and credibility. As a well-known defender of royal privileges, Razaleigh stirs the pot.
3. Badawi’s nerve fails. Already nicknamed “Sleepy” because of critics’ belief that he is inattentive, he decides that the strain of being prime minister under these circumstances is too much. He is willing to resign and let the party decide whether to choose Najib, Razaleigh or a third candidate (International Trade Minister MuhyiddinYassin looks the most likely of the current bunch of senior party figures) with the proviso that son-in-law Khairy and other members of his family are protected.
4. As UMNO disarray develops, Anwar’s feelers to disgruntled UMNO legislators and some non-UMNO BN members from Sarawak and Sabah to move to Parti Keadilan Rakyat, the People’s Justice Party and the leading party in the Barisan Rakyat, the opposition coalition, provide it with sufficient numbers to oust UMNO. Already one Sabah member has resigned from a deputy minister position. The arithmetic makes this looks unlikely at present as 30 would need to change sides. But there is no UMNO loyalty among the local parties from Sarawak, which hold 54 of the Barisan Nasional seats.
5. Desperate to find a formula which will reverse the erosion of support for UMNO – whether or not Badawi stays for the time being – the party offers Anwar the right of return and the top job after a short interval. This would be bitterly opposed by many in UMNO, particularly those close to Najib and Mahathir, but UMNO feels Anwar is too popular to be left outside the tent. Anwar’s ambition to be prime minister overrides his commitment to the Barisan Rakyat and he takes a big chunk of Keadilan with him, all the while promising to reform UMNO and to re-make the Barisan Nasional in the multi-racial image of the Barisan Rakyat.
6. Determined to hang on regardless of losing the support of large numbers of UMNO legislators, Badawi offers to go into a grand coalition with the Barisan Rakyat. Despite opposition from the majority of UMNO, he has enough support from reform-minded UMNO figures, including recent respected and independent ministerial appointees like Shahrir Abdul Samad and Zaid Ibrahim, to proceed. He stays as Prime minister, at least for now, and agrees to a reform agenda with Anwar, who thus become heir apparent again.
7. When parliament assembles in late April, the opposition tables a no-confidence vote against Badawi. Enough UMNO or other Barisan Nasional members stay away for the vote which is carried, forcing the prime minister to resign. Up steps Najib, or Razaleigh, to claim the crown. The BR rapidly comes to regret this move as the new UMNO administration decides to put an end to Badawi’s tolerant ways, blaming him for giving space for the opposition to develop. It cracks down on new found freedoms and threatens or even imposes a state of emergency. These are all UMNO leadership scenarios of varying degrees of likelihood. Some of them the BR can view from a distance, preferring to focus on trying to keep its coalition together and make a success of government in the five states it controls – which together with the Federal Territory, also a BR stronghold – account for more than half the Malaysian economy. However there are also some more worrying possibilities.
Too Early for Congratulations Malaysians have rightly congratulated themselves on the calm atmosphere in which the political near-revolution has taken place. Some initial nervousness has given way to a degree of euphoria about Malaysian political maturity and advances in ethnic harmony. Whereas a similar government setback in 1969 sparked a violent Malay reaction and days of race riots, this time the anti-government result was achieved because of an unprecedented level of harmony as the three opposition components put aside some communal issue for ones on which they could agree. In the process all became more moderate and able to talk to each other. But some fear that this national mood of calm is fragile. Missteps by opposition-held state governments could yet spark racial tension – this is most problematic in Penang where Malays are in a minority and the newly ascendant Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party will need to keep its Chinese chauvinist instincts on a tight leash. Some at least in UMNO will want to use any sign of tension or Chinese over-confidence to claim that Malays are threatened. Already some of the Malay press, Utusan in particular, is full of letters (written in-house, say critics) warning Malays of the dangers they face and the need for unity under UMNO. As in 1969, there are surely some in UMNO who would like to fan communal flames to create a crisis which both provides UMNO figures with keris-waving opportunities and an excuse for a crackdown on the opposition generally and the non-Malay opposition in particular. Given the support that ethnic Malays have given to Keadilan as well as to PAS, this looks improbable – it is estimated that in Peninsular Malaysia 47 percent voted for the Barisan Rakyat, and in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang valley surrounding the city the figure was well above 50 percent. Nonetheless, UMNO still controls the levers of central power and Malays dominate the armed forces, the police and other key institutions. Some may feel, or allege, that the influence of the non-Malays within the Barisan Rakyat and its effort to de-emphasise Malay preferences are a threat to Malay supremacy. Although most Malaysians, even Barisan Nasional voters, seem happy with the zeal for reform, for racial harmony, and for the upsetting of entrenched interests, represented by the election, there are dangers that a wounded UMNO, deprived of access to funds in the states it has lost, will be unwilling to learn lessons, will become a nastier not a new UMNO. That may depend on who becomes leader, and under what circumstances. Comments (29)
  written by allen, March 29, 2008
The result of the GE probabably showed that UMNO and BN are not seen as the people's hero anymore.. the cronies and the unawaken are their remaining supporters.
The royal episodes ( in the various states )probably indicated who is the pretender and the real protector of the race..and the multiraced people..
 written by Casey, March 30, 2008
"Earlier the Sultan of Kedah ...." should be "Earlier the Sultan of Perlis ...."
 written by william wang, March 30, 2008
Your case-scenario are faulty. Did you consider most malaysians are reasonably happy with the situation now, fairly strong opposition, able to at least make a difference. Unless, of course, this bunch of oppositions cannot perform, but perform, I think they can, cause they are just too many blatant mishandlings in the past. Malaysian would be happy to see 2-strong-party system.
 written by Liang1a, March 31, 2008
From the article:
the newly ascendant Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party will need to keep its Chinese chauvinist instincts on a tight leash. ------------------------------- Wanting equality and justice for the Chinese is not chauvinistic. This article is full of what is happening to UMNO. But what happens to UMNO is no longer the most important thing in Malaysia. The most important lesson to be learned from this election is that the Chinese, the Indians, and the non-Malay natives are the most powerful force to shape the Malaysian politics in the future. It is the Indians who started the opposition by their protest marches. It is the Chinese who united with the Indians and pulled in the PKR and PAS to form the opposition that had allowed them to win a surprisingly large number of states and federal seats. It is also clear that the non-Malay natives in Sabah and Sarawak would have been able to tip the government into the hands of the opposition if they had the nerve to vote for the opposition. Even now many of the Sabah and Sarawak BN members are sending out feelers to flip over to the opposition. And it is still possible that the opposition could gain enough flipped seats to capture the government. Furthermore, the threat of racist slaughter is less credible now than in 1969. Then America was in control of SE Asia and in full swing in Vietnam and implementing the encirclement of China strategy. Now America is in full retreat as its economy is peaked and in recession. China is much stronger now and can fight America to a stand-still in SE Asia. America is also bogged down in Iraq and could not fight a new war. And not the least, America is even more anxious to fight the Islamist terrorism than China. And Singapore is now even stronger than Malaysia militarily. The Singaporean airforce will definitely knock down all Malaysian fighters within 1/2 hour of war and sink all Malaysian naval ships within 3 days of war. Then it is just a march up the Malay peninsula to accept the surrender of the Malaysian army which is staffed with incompetent sons of important people. Singapore has everything to gain by knocking out the Malay government that has been hostile to it since Singapore was kicked out of the Malaysian federation in 1965. Therefore, it is no longer what UMNO and the Malays want in Malaysia. It is what the Chinese, the Indians, and the non-Malay natives want that will determine the future of Malaysia. I only wish the Chinese can realize this because they would then realize that they are the truly powerful ones and it is for the Malays to fear them then the other way around. As for Penang, the Chinese leaders should take this opportunity to organize a predominantly Chinese neighborhood self-defence force that will be well-armed to blow away any attempt by Malay thugs to attack Chinese in a repeat of 1969. I'm sure this will provoke another round of diatribe from whites about Chinese chauvinist tirades. As I always reply to such diatribes, who gives a da*n.
 written by Shantaram, April 01, 2008
UMNO, PKR, DAP, PAS, MCA, MIC, GERAKAN.....well, all of them are united by one common need - POWER!!! The RAKYAT's need is incidental and any attempt to serve the RAKYAT is only a charade to garner more POWER. We will have the new players pretending to serve the RAKYAT in the interim whilst they build their POWER base. If we all understand this reality, then we must be prepared to accept the outcome i.e. at the end of the day, nothing much will change. Not as long as GREED rules the MIND. Is there any hope for real CHANGE? Well, with FREEEDOM, we might experience CHANGE.....but on the other hand, isnt FREEDOM JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE.....
Friends, reflect within yourselves and get GREED out of your SYSTEM before you can even hope for a CHANGE. GOD BLESS US ALL
written by Liang1a, April 01, 2008
Shantaram wrote:
Well, with FREEEDOM, we might experience CHANGE.....but on the other hand, isnt FREEDOM JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE..... ------------------------- The people have to have the right to get rid of the corrupt leaders before they can change anything. This can be done by violent rebellions in dictatorships or by peaceful elections in democracies. As to what kind of change is needed, that is up to the people themselves. This is why the people must be well educated and well informed and take an active interest in scrutinizing the government and use their vote wisely to make sure the elected officials are honest and competent. If the people don't do this, then they have only themselves to blame. And all the senseless whining about the meaning of freedom is self-defeating.
 written by bunga raya, April 02, 2008
The people of Malaysia, esp the Chinese are sick and tired of UMNO leaders threatening them with another May 13. For 50 years, UMNO have not produced any new idea to bring up the Malays to par. They only have the NEP(New Economic Piracy). Every year in their genearl assembly, they have nothing to discuss in "depth"; no new ideas for the uplifting of the Malays; all they can think of is to threaten the Chinese. Now you can see the kind of leaders UMNO have; all of them have been brought up permanently "on the milk bottle". They refuse to be weaned of it. Evey time a problem comes up, the NEP is invoked. There is no great intellect among the leaders. As long as the NEP exists, the Malay brain will not develop. Look at the young UMNO leaders. They are a no brainer lot. They try to impress the rural lot with gimmicks like the boy who scored 21 A's. What a scam. Nobody is impressed. We all know how the A's come about. I am willing to bet that in 5 years time this boy would have become a nobody. UMNO will continue to rot. Anyway this is actually UMNO BARU. No difference. The rot continues unabated. Previous leaders like DR.M are derisive of the government, forgetting that it was he who allowed the rot to spread. Dr M has no shame and no guilt. This is the culture of the Malays. Power struggles, corruption,incompetence, hypocrisy, dishonesty and narrow mindedness. This is also the culture of Pirates.
 written by Inner Shine, April 02, 2008
Politics should rise to the occasion to help people like this young man:
STPM top scorer Chan Kok Fei Many were touched by the plight of the 19-year-old, who said that although he scored 5As, he would be giving up his dream of studying medicine to give tuition as his family needed money.. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/20/nation/20674124&sec=nation
written by Liang1a, April 02, 2008
Inner Shine wrote:
STPM top scorer Chan Kok Fei Many were touched by the plight of the 19-year-old, who said that although he scored 5As, he would be giving up his dream of studying medicine to give tuition as his family needed money.. ------------------------------- If he were a Malay he would have gotten all the scholarship he needs to study as much as he needs. This is the inequity of Malaysia. The Chinese paid the most taxes but Chinese families have to pay for the education of their children. In other words, the taxes paid by the Chinese all go to pay for the education of the Malays while they have nothing left to educate their own children. This is what makes the Chinese angry. And those Chinese who said the Chinese support NEP are race traitors who should be spat upon. It is also why the Chinese have turned against MCA and voted for the DAP. And the DAP better get off their collective as* and start doing something to abolish the NEP or the Chinese will not vote for them next time.
 written by myop101, April 03, 2008
Your theory on supremacy of chinese is nothing more than a racial chauvinism in disguise.
Stop talking bulls**t about Singapre invading Malaysia. It will never happen simply because it will affect international trade, the lifeline of Singapore. Both our economies are intertwined so much so that it is more profitable for Singapore to be a partner with Malaysia. Also, why should affirmative action to help the poor, weak and helpless regardless of race, religion and creed be abolished? I am sure once the implementation policy of this affirmative action has been reformed, more of those with genuine needs would benefit regardless if they are Malays, Chinese, Indians and others. This racial supremacy bulls**t is tiring and old. The new generation of Malaysians are tired of racial politics. Please take your diatribe and preach it to UMNO, MCA, MIC and such. I am sure your dwindling hardcore audience will still appreciate it while the rest of Malaysia moves forward into a new era of true cooperation and appreciation of one another.
written by Liang1a, April 03, 2008
myop101 wrote:
Liang1a, are you an UMNO cybertrooper? : myop101 : http://myop101.blogspot.com/ Your theory on supremacy of chinese is nothing more than a racial chauvinism in disguise. ------------------------------- I don't know what kind of idiot myop101 is? Nobody with an ounce of brains would think I'm a supporter of UMNO. I've been condemning UMNO-BN without cease. So how could any man other than a totally brain dead one could even think I'm an UMNO sympathizer? My opinion of Chinese superiority is not disguised at all. I've commented on it openly all the time. While the Chinese may or may not be genetically superior, it is very obvious that the Chinese are clearly culturally superior to the Malays and have achieved superior education and business attainments to the Malays. Even in America the Chinese have achieved higher education and higher per household incomes. The Chinese are simply disposed to study harder and work harder and save more and plan for longer terms than the Malays. Chauvinism is characterized by aggressiveness and excessiveness. My opinion of Chinese superiority is neither aggressive nor excessive. It is just a matter of fact founded on extensive evidence. Nor do I advocate that the Chinese be aggressive to suppress and marginalize the Malays and the other non-Chinese races. I've always advocated full equality for all races as have been demonstrated to be working very well for Singapore's multi-racial society. But if the equality of the Chinese cannot be achieved by peaceful election than the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights fully condone the use of violent force for those oppressed to achieve full equality. And it will be the fault of the Malays for oppressing the Chinese with its despicalbe dogma of 'ketuanan Melayu.' myop101's kind of snake-like double talk and veiled threat is no longer terrifying. The Malays' day of oppressive Nazi-like marginalization is over.
written by Liang1a, April 03, 2008
The Chinese are simply disposed to study harder and work harder and save more and plan for longer terms than the Malays. And that makes the Chinese superior to the Malays.
written by Liang1a, April 04, 2008
myop101 wrote:
Stop talking bulls**t about Singapre invading Malaysia. It will never happen simply because it will affect international trade, the lifeline of Singapore. Both our economies are intertwined so much so that it is more profitable for Singapore to be a partner with Malaysia. ------------------- Singapore allocates on a per capita basis more funding to its military than all countries except Israel. Why do you think Singapore is allocating so much to its military? Obviously it is to be prepared to fight a war with Malaysia. Thereore, if the opportunity arises, Singapore will certainly move decisively to knock Malaysia down for the many decades of military hostilities and eliminate Malaysia as a military threrat once and for all. Singapore's trade and business will not be affected because the war will be over within a matter of days. Most probably even faster than the wars Israel had fought against the Arabs. All Singapore needs to do is knock down all Malaysian fighters within the first half hour of the war and sink all the Malaysian naval ships within a couple of days, and the war is effectively over as Singapore calls up its hundreds of thousands of active reserves and march up Malay Peninsula to accept the surrender of the incompetent Malay regiments staffed by the incompetent sons of big shot Malays. Of course, it will be beneficial for both countries to be partners than to be hostile enemies. But the reality is that the Malays are such scummy thugs that they had been threatening Singapore for decades which made it an absolute necessity for Singapore to spent more than any countries in the world except Israel on a per capita basis to deploy a superior military to Malaysia's Malay dominated military. It would be beneficial for Singapore to reduce its large military spending. But that can only come with a genuinely better relationship which will not happen until UMNO-BN is destroyed and replaced with a rational and enlightened political alliance that genuinely favor racial equality and regional peace and cooperation. In the end, it is the UMNO-BN and the Malay racist thugs who have been doing all the racist marginalization against the Chinese and threats against Singapore. It is the Malays who had been the thuggish aggressors. And it would be a very good thing for the Chinese to replace these thugs for the benefit of all. Even the average Malays would benefit with a Chinese dominated political alliance because only then will Malaysian economy flourish and grow and provide many millions of high paying jobs for all races including the Malays.
written by Shantaram, April 04, 2008
Please my brother, humble yourself; we are all gods children. It just so happens that the Chinese over generations in China have developed a far more agressive survival instinct then most of the rest; China has and is still a land of absolute inequality. If a Chinese does not hone his instinct to take care of NO.1, then there will be no food on the table. In the Malaysian context, lets be objective on how all this cultural 'refinement' has translated to the Malaysian Chinese - well, just take a peek into any one of the Chinese run companies/factories and observe how they treat the non-chinese. I dont have to say more, all Malaysians knwo this too well. Take a look as well in areas and towns under Chinese majority control - it is pretty much park, eat, spit where-ever you want. Boy, if the Chinese ruled Malaysia, Malays, Indians and the rest will be marginalised. Just look south and if you are objective, you will see the real color of the Chinese. Please, stop this superior being s**t and start opening up your hearts and mind. WE ARE ALL CHILDREN OF THE SAME GOD...!!
written by Shantaram, April 04, 2008
Please my brother, humble yourself; we are all gods children. It just so happens that the Chinese over generations in China have developed a far more agressive survival instinct then most of the rest; China has and is still a land of absolute inequality. If a Chinese does not hone his instinct to take care of NO.1, then there will be no food on the table. In the Malaysian context, lets be objective on how all this cultural 'refinement' has translated to the Malaysian Chinese - well, just take a peek into any one of the Chinese run companies/factories and observe how they treat the non-chinese. I dont have to say more, all Malaysians knwo this too well. Take a look as well in areas and towns under Chinese majority control - it is pretty much park, eat, spit where-ever you want. Boy, if the Chinese ruled Malaysia, Malays, Indians and the rest will be marginalised. Just look south and if you are objective, you will see the real color of the Chinese. Please, stop this superior being s**t and start opening up your hearts and mind. WE ARE ALL CHILDREN OF THE SAME GOD...!!
written by Liang1a, April 04, 2008
Shantaram wrote:
Racial Supremacy ala Liang1a http://www.shantaram.com Please my brother, humble yourself; we are all gods children. ----------------------- That is where you are wrong. There is no God. There is not a single shred of evidence that anything supernatural exists. Only fools believe in Gods. However, all modern men are descended from a single common ancestor. There are plenty of evidence to demonstrate that.
written by Liang1a, April 04, 2008
Shantaram wrote:
In the Malaysian context, lets be objective on how all this cultural 'refinement' has translated to the Malaysian Chinese - well, just take a peek into any one of the Chinese run companies/factories and observe how they treat the non-chinese. --------------------- I see plenty of Chinese run companies/factories and have seen nothing but efficiency and good treatment of all kinds of people, be they Malays, Indians, Philippinos, Indonesians, etc. Any insinuation that Chinese treat their employees badly is just lies. Chinese treat all their employees equally and better than any other people, be they Malays or Indians or even whites.
written by Liang1a, April 04, 2008
Shantaram wrote:
Take a look as well in areas and towns under Chinese majority control - it is pretty much park, eat, spit where-ever you want. Boy, if the Chinese ruled Malaysia, Malays, Indians and the rest will be marginalised. Just look south and if you are objective, you will see the real color of the Chinese. --------------------------- Obviously this turkey doesn't know that spitting is a crime in Singapore. Nobody spits in Singapore. On the other hand, the kind of people who spit the most in Malaysia are the Malays. I've just hardly ever seen any Chinese spit in Malaysia either, though I'd seen plenty of Malays spit. I frankly don't know what part of Malaysia this turkey is talking about seeing Chinese spit. Obviously, he is just making things up out of his own befuddled mind. Just more lies to demean the Chinese. It also happens that there is total equality for all races in Singapore. The Indians in Singapore on a per capita basis have incomes as high as the Chinese. The Malays in Singapore also earn some 5 times the incomes of Malays in Malaysia. By all means, look south to Singapore and see what a wonderful place it is. Compared to Malaysia, Singapore is heaven to Malaysia's hel*. Even Malays are running off to Singapore every chance they get and being able to live in Singapore is a sign of superiority that Malays boast to their Malaysian cousins.
written by Liang1a, April 04, 2008
The reality in Malaysia is that the only people who are doing any marginalization are the Malays and the Chinese are the ones being marginalized. To accuse the Chinese of marginalizing the Malays are just baseless lies to cover up the Malays' own heinous racist crimes. The only institutionalized racist supremacist dogma in Malaysia is 'ketuanan Melayu' or 'Malay supremacy.'
written by Liang1a, April 04, 2008
Shantaram wrote:
Please, stop this superior being s**t and start opening up your hearts and mind. WE ARE ALL CHILDREN OF THE SAME GOD...!! -------------------------- Religionists have been the biggest murderers in the human history. Nobody has ever killed more people than fanatic religionists in the name of their Gods.
written by smoking dragon, April 04, 2008
The Chinese are successful in SE Asia, not because of any special law for them. They are successful because adversity has taught them to be self dependent. Whether in China(drought, famine, war-lords,etc) or Malaysia(the NEP, Ketuanan Melayu, ketuanan islam etc), the Chinese have to overcome their adversity, or else they will die, literally. For every one successful Chinese, there are probably thousands who have failed by the way side. Hence you get only one Robert Kuok, Lim Goh Tong, Lee Kong Chian, etc. Don't think every Chinese is a huge success. Most are just middle class, making a living from what we can - the NEP and the Ketuanan melayu/islam are used by UMNO to marginalise us. The Malays are jealous of our self dependence and will try all they can to press us down. It will be a continuous struggle; I hope it will spill onto the streets like in Ceylon. But there is a strong chance it will - because the Malays don't think ahead. They are thoughtless. They will resort to the ways of their ancestors - the Pirates of SE Asia. What they want, they just grab. The NEP has become just that.
written by Liang1a, April 04, 2008
Amoking Dragon wrote:
I hope it will spill onto the streets like in Ceylon. But there is a strong chance it will - because the Malays don't think ahead. They are thoughtless. They will resort to the ways of their ancestors - the Pirates of SE Asia. What they want, they just grab. The NEP has become just that. -------------------------------- This is why the Chinese in Penang should take this opportunity to organize neighborhood self-defence forces that will be well-armed with big guns. This will allow the Chinese to protect their neighborhoods from Malay thugs. The Chinese must know that Malays are basically cowards who will not dare to attack well-armed people because the Malays are even more fearful of dying than the Chinese. Therefore, the moment the Chinese become well-armed, the Malays will not dare attack. And this will then make it possible for them to give equality to the Chinese. The meek may inherit the earth, but it is the bold that bequeath it to them.
written by Liang1a, April 04, 2008
"Amoking" Dragon wrote: should be "Smoking" Dragon.
Sorry.
 written by Shantaram, April 05, 2008
With a little dose of his own racism and bigotry, my attempts to get the real liang1a to reveal his true self has shown us all that he is indeed a racist, and worst still, one with an idiotic, small minded outlook. Lets move on to build a harmonious society based on equality and ignore the rantings of one bent on violence and racism. Just because you allege that the Malays are THE racist, you have proven to be just like them in this case.
May god bless us all; in liang1a's case, may his ancestors bless him and fill his heart with love and his mind with humbleness. Adios.
 written by E. Lubis, April 06, 2008
Liang la you seem to think that Singapura or should I say Pulau Temasek is the best place to live in the whole wide world and everbody is dying to live there! However, I beg to differ just look at one close White Anglo Saxon country called Australia you will find many former Singaporians of either Malay, Chinese, and Indian descendents already living and working there either as bus drivers, nurses, doctors, factory workers and teachers. If what you say is true Liang1a and Singapura is really the best place to be why is it that so many former Singaporians have already left and moved permanently to a White Anglo Saxon country such as Australia? Because the truth of the matter is Singapore is a place where discrimination and dictatorship exists especially if you are not Chinese. Has Singapore ever had an Indian or Malay as a Prime Minister before? Never. I rest my case and that is why today and in the future more and more Singaporians are leaving the country to live and work in a White Anglo Saxon place such as Australia. Face the music about Sinagapore it is really not that great of a place to live and work unless of course you are ..
 written by eddychow, April 08, 2008
malaysia should learn from canada which should accommodate all kind of races from different countries,cos in canada here,we pratice true democracy,live debate in paliament,no hatred new economy policy.more equality, that is why canada is alwalys a better place to live than in malaysia,in here we ever argue about races issues eventhough we have over 100 nationality living in this society unlike in malaysia just comprises 3 mains races, what a shame,isn't it.
 written by Rupert, April 08, 2008
hiyah chinaman, you hiding ah? why you no respond to those who poke holes in your 'arguments'?? i say, maybe he migrate to singapore already.....!!
 written by ari, January 02, 2012
Shantaram and Rupert, especially Shantaram, you are hsameless opportunistic snakes and wolves. You distort, misinform and disinform hoping to manipulate public opinion. The UMNO Malay government's overt ethnically discriminatory policies are unacceptable anywhere; More so by the Chinese who pays the bulk of the taxes. So, f*ck off with your bullsh*ts! In essence the malay government also have been vilely corrupted by the Indians snakes and manipulated by the American and British for their own strategic interest. Do not expect any real Chinese to believe any of the crap you put out.
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The March 8 national elections in Malaysia have left politics in such a state of flux that one could construct about as many scenarios as there are politicians in the country over the future of the just-elected parliament. With the opposition for the first time strong enough to mount a serious challenge to the Barisan Nasional, or the ruling coalition of ethnic parties, the country appears to have been forced by the elections to embark on a bout of democracy.
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Parallels can be drawn with India where the Congress ruled for decades and then was supplanted by the BJP by the populace. The Congress returned a more
humble and compromising party and India has never looked back. A government that is seen to be fair to all the component ethnic and lingual groups is not an easy feat.But,it can be done.
Malaysia is entering a transition into a true two party system not broken along racial lines and this bodes well. Unleashing the true potential of the
Chinese,Malays and Indians in a country that practices true democracy will
turn Malaysia into a powerhouse in the ASEAN grouping.Watch out world!