| Malaysia's Sclerotic Political Reality |
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| Written by Kim Quek | |
| Monday, 27 October 2008 | |
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Page 1 of 2
Musa said the party is "too introverted", its leaders preoccupied with self-interest and oblivious to the interests of the masses, and incapable of rectifying fundamental flaws such as corruption, poor accountability and abuse of power. As a result, the party has lost popular support.
Musa politely described this phenomenon as penyakit tua (old age sickness), but I think it will be more appropriate to call it Alzheimer's disease, as the state of corruption of the party has already reached a stage of no return.
Just flip the daily papers, and one reads stories of money politics in the run up to the party election galore. One senior UMNO minister was so exasperated by this rampant practice that he sarcastically suggested that party might as well auction its leadership positions by tenders. And the chairman of the party’s disciplinary committee Tengku Ahmad Rithaudeen, who often admonishes party leaders against money politics, recently expressed shame over the hopeless state of corruption in party elections, as even informers on such corruption could reap bumper rewards from the corruptors, thus depriving the committee’s access to incriminating evidence. In fact, election corruption in UMNO has been so ingrained – it has been practiced for more than two decades according to Rithaudeen – that a search in Google would show that “money politics” has become synonymous with UMNO.
When money and politics become so negatively intertwined, party leadership inevitably falls into the clutches of wealth-seekers and wealth-dispensers. This explains why UMNO lacks political idealism, and its leaders mired in mediocrity.
Abhorrent as such money politics may appear, it is however only the tip of the iceberg and symptomatic of a larger scourge that is destined to put UMNO to eventual oblivion.
Started as
a nationalist party in the 1940s to unite Malays in their political
struggles for independence, UMNO has seen prouder days as true
nationalists when it worked shoulder to shoulder with other
race-based parties to build the young nation. However, the watershed
event of the May 13 racial riot in 1969 changed the course of
history. Thenceforth, UMNO assumed absolute political dominance. As
the famous saying goes "absolute power corrupts absolutely,"
corruption began to spread rapidly in the UMNO-dominated government
in the 1970s. However, it was during Prime Minister Mahathir
Mohamad's two-decade rule that the art of corruption was
perfected and institutionalized and lifted to the high level that we
are all familiar with today.
Mahathir was able to do all this, unscathed by law, because he had amassed vast dictatorial powers through numerous amendments to the Constitution and legislation of repressive laws. With such power, and with electoral victory guaranteed by playing racial politics, he subdued political dissent and subjugated institutions of state to serve party and personal interests.
Through
sweeping privatization of state assets and through a policy of public
procurement by private negotiation, party leaders and cronies were
enriched beyond their dreams through political favoritism under the
all-embracing façade of the affirmative New Economic Policy,
giving rise to overnight millionaires and even billionaires in the
process, aggravating income disparity within Malay society.
It is not an exaggeration to say that the entire hierarchy of UMNO was financially sustained through this largesse system. Remove the system, UMNO would have crumbled overnight. In short, Mahathir’s iron grip and race-backed rule was sustained through repression and corruption.
Then what
about Abdullah Badawi's reign? He won an unprecedented
electoral victory by promising to undo the evils of the Mahathir era,
but he also suffered the greatest electoral set back four years later
for failing to fulfill any of that promise. Now he is on the verge of
handing over power to his deputy Najib Tun Razak, while promising to
carry out a few reforms before he leaves the scene as his legacy to
the nation. These reforms are aimed at improving the independence of
the judiciary and the effectiveness of the anti-corruption and other
law enforcing bodies.
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(16)
Tau Bohong Tak? (Can't Even Bluff?)
written by Douglas Kee , November 14, 2008
Reply to:
Votes: +5
go back to school written by marimutu , November 06, 2008 - Yes. Indeed so-called marimutu has to go back to school. He doesn't even know that 'Apartheid' comes in several forms. 'Apartheid' comes from the root word 'Apart' (see below). Why can't Malaysians after 50 years of independence can't be united as one? In Malaysia, the majority immigrant Muslims shamefully classify themselves "Bumiputras" (it's common knowledge that the aboriginal indigenous natives are the Orang Asli) and the non-Muslim minority citizens "Non-Bumiputras" so as to continue to spend the money of the non-Muslim taxpayers on themselves, their cronies, relatives and supporters to the detriment of the entire economy. You can't fool educated people and the hundreds of ambassadors and high commissioners residing in Malaysia. Unless you have thick-skin or are blinded, you would have read even the out-going senior EU official in Malaysia pointing out the blatant racial discrimination by the UMNO-led government recently. report abuse
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go back to school
written by marimutu , November 06, 2008
to ayu...do you know what is apartheid? pls go back to school to learn what is apartheid instead of calling malaysia racist apartheid...GO FIND A DICTIONARY U IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Votes: -5
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Apartheid
written by Ayu , November 04, 2008
Malaysia is one of the last country to practice racial apartheid policy claiming the Majority Malay race needs to be protected because of their under-development and under-achievement even after more than 50 of affirmative actions. In effect, the majority Malay recieve very little benefits and develop a dependency mindset while the cronies of corrupt politicians are getting away with most of the loots.
Votes: +3
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Mr
written by YSTAN , November 04, 2008
If I were still in the country paying taxes, I would either refuse to pay or make a ‘voluntary’ cut in the tax that I pay. The reason is because widespread corruption by the government has resulted in an increase in my tax rate. My taxes are meant for services to the citizens, so I am not constitutionally bound to pay for taxes that are for the illegal pockets for someone else.
Votes: +2
Secondly, I am merely supporting what the government is doing, taking my inspiration from it. If it thinks it is alright to plunder the citizens, then I am merely lending support to the government by plundering the citizens too. We are here not talking about a black sheep or two which is found in any system. We are talking about systemic corruption, a philosophy of government (sometimes even defended) so I cannot see why the government should oppose any citizen aligning itself with its philosophy. How much should I voluntarily deduct from the tax I pay? One method could be to consider Malaysia’s GDP position in the world and relate it to its position in the Transparency International ranking. If say, Malaysia’s ranking is 25 in GDP terms and its TI ranking is 40, then I would deduct 15% from my taxes (40 – 25) as my loyal support to the government for plundering its citizens. This is actually a rather soft approach; in the Philippines, it is a crime punished by the death sentence. Of course, Syed Hamid (of “put her in for her safety” fame), would “ISA” me but then Syed Hamid would put me in for any reason anyway. His problem is in the genes. report abuse
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PKNS BOSS
written by Pangait , November 02, 2008
Amazing, the lazy Malays of UMNO are still harping on the Malay rights to be the chief of PKNS. The PKR malays have been bold enough to be sensible...
Votes: +2
Time for BN malays to stop making the Government bodies their welfare institution.. report abuse
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UMNO to Hell!
written by Iskandar Nasir , November 01, 2008
UMNO in Malaysia is playing racial hatred politic instead of uniting the country like many other countries in the world. The Malays in UMNO think they are the greatest but in actual facts with the "pig-brain" within them, they cannot even beat small island state like Singapore that has no resources. Singapore has the brains...
Votes: +2
UMNO are the greediest and most corrupt political party in the world. They strife to be in the elite to get rich. To hell with UMNO... Malaysians do not need you. report abuse
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Never Ending Piracy(The NEP)
written by Shameless Bumi , October 29, 2008
The Malays keep harping on their special rights! what rights! They were not the first people in malaysia. The orang asli(aborigines) were the original people. Malays like the others were and still are immigrants. Note the new "malays" in the state of Sabah. This special rights thing is nothing but a ploy to get rich without having to work for it. Look the the mess everything is in Malaysia. Everything touched by Malays turn to coal. They can only hope to piratise on the Chinese. This they will do by imposing a new policy called "Malay superiority, Islam superiority" This will not work as this time the non Malays will not take things sitting down. The Malays have forgotten that they did not win the shooting war against the CPM. What makes them think that they can browbeat the non Malays again? Whether it is in education, work or economics, the Malays have been led to believe that everything will be bestowed on them. They are the only race in the world to have knowledge bestowed on them. Ask anyone in the local universities. They have a pass rate of 98-99% for the Malays. No wonder our Ministers make a mess of the country. They just have no brains.
Votes: +8
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After the wind blows
written by nonplussed , October 29, 2008
To move forward to a greater height requires the will and the poltical awakening of the masses. When the majority of the majority are not at that political consciouness stage, it would be like floging a dead horse. Everything else best left unsaid. We may suffer the same fate, but the destiny is of their own choosing- being the ruling majority. So be it. After the wind blows, there will be no more! Such is the destiny installed for Malaysia.
Votes: +3
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The truth & nothing but the TRUTH
written by Cheng Ho , October 29, 2008
All the stupid craps about "social contract" without any legitimate documentation to prove whatsoever.
Votes: +8
No right-minded people would begrudge the crutches be given to the indigenous aborigines, the Orang Asli. But also to immigrant Muslims from India and the Indonesian provinces. Absurd! More than 45 years of free riding. Not enough? No bloody shame! The non-Muslim Malaysians pay the taxes, the Muslims, wealthy & poor, get all the privileges. If theyt (indefinite handouts) were for the "Malays" then ALL should benefit - from the extreme west of Aceh to the extreme east of the Philippines. These are all "Malays" by definition. The NEP therefore is in fact religious by nature - Christian Malays don't other religions eg Hindu Balinese , don't qualify! Where is the logic? Laughable by international standard. And in case we don't know, "Affirmative Policy" in Wikipedia is meant for "the minority, women & aborigines" not for any religious majority. What have these immigrant Muslims from India (Mamaks) & Indonesia (Javanese, Boyans, Achenese, Bugis, etc.) done to deserve the NEP? The Chinese emperor defended its vassal state of Melaka against the Siamese without which Malaya today would have been a part of Petani under Thailand. The Peninsula Chinese fought the Japanese occupiers with blood whilst the majority Malays worked with the invaders as he-ho (local police). The Peninsula Chinese fought the imperialist Brits when the Malays served under them as colonialists This authentic history recorded internationally.. What have the immigrant Muslims done to glorify the country and then calling themselves "prince of the soil"? Ta Malu! (Shameless!) Remember, even Mamakthir was BORN AS Mahathir s/o Iskandar Kutty. How the hell did he and the likes of Mamak Ahmed Ismail become a "bumi" when other non-Muslims were there in Malaya centuries before him? LOL! report abuse
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Going the way of Zimbabwe
written by Forsight , October 28, 2008
Are we going to be like Zimbabwe and South Africa before the ordinary people take control and kick out the political bigots of religion and race ? I am sad that a "miracle country" like Malaysia will soon become worst than the 3rd world countries of Africa as the economic cake become smaller and the ruling powers will soon run the country to the bone. The ordinary populace are being sacrificed on the altar while the ruling larges enrich themselves with position and power. Anyone who has seen the movie, Braveheart will know what I am talking about.
Votes: +4
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...
written by LCE , October 28, 2008
The Evil Mamak not only successfully passed himself off as 'son of the soil', he deceived the real 'sons of the soil' for 22 years by promising them good life. But In actual fact, he fooled the gullible real sons of the soil to support him so that he could exploit the country's wealth to enrich himself, his relatives and his cronies.
Votes: +9
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written by pttan , October 28, 2008
The retirement age is 55 or 56 ....
Votes: +3
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jatuhkan UMNO/BN yg sedang nazak
written by agas , October 28, 2008
teruskan dgn PR - sengketa yg sedikit lupakan. yg penting BN tumbang, kita buat kerajaan baru
Votes: +3
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UMNO/BN pupus
written by agas , October 28, 2008
Hidup PR, lupakan sengketa. Doakan semoga BN pupus dulu, yg penting jatuhkan BN.
Votes: +2
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Failed Islamic State
written by komodo , October 27, 2008
The man who is an Indian but managed to pass himself off as a Bumiputra is the brains behind the failed state that will be Malaysia. Not only he, but other mamaks like him are responsible for the debacle in malaysia and long ago in singapore(remember the Maria Hertogh riots? Indian muslims were the ones inflamming the Malays). In Malaysia, they are still inflamming the Malays and the Malays are so stupid not to see it. Under his rule, there were more Mamaks and Arabs than before. Today he is gleefully still instigating the Malays. No wonder Malaysia is in such deep s**t trouble.
Votes: +10
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