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Najib said: "Malaysia does not practise a policy of blocking opportunities for non-bumiputras to progress further,"

Yes, unfortunately the NEP Policy is.

Najib said: "Malaysia does not practise a policy of blocking opportunities for non-bumiputras to progress further,"

It amazes me no end, that politicians could say things like that with a straight face. But then again, if they can't they would not be politicians.

What do you call denying non-bumis places in public funded universities when they deserve it, then??

our DPM is constantly in denial where not only the brunt is felt by Malaysian but every other malaysian living outside of Malaysia. If we are "supposedly Malaysian" Bangsa Malaysia should not we are identified, marginalized and sidelined using racial card .

Like Chinese and vietnamese in Australlia. THey re just being referred as Australlians...if anything they are probably referred as ABC or ABV Australlian Born Chinese or AUstrallian Born Vietnamese

I wonder if we have a chinese as the Minister of Finance , boy would that have changed everything..looks at Singapore ..the country slight bigger than Penang but boast of an economy closer to Australlia.

Harry is right. For 50 years of independence, where are we now? We are still talking about race and some quarters still do not understand other ethic's customs and religions and make headlines in the local dailies as if only malay muslims has rights to exist in this country. Yes, respect & understanding of other religions and ethic customs are the keys to real racial harmony. Everybody knows. But do they walk the talk?

And Sathia is merely studying the real impact of the NEP and his findings should not be taken lightly by the government if they really want Malaysia to move forward (we are now moving backwards faster due to the disillustioned visions of the 'elected' politikus). Our government is always in the state of denial. Our environment is getting more and more 'articifial' as day goes by.

Harry was wrong and Najib was correct. We DO NOT marginalise the Chinese in Malaysia. We positively discriminate against them. And that is a world of a difference.

It's funny to see the different demographic profiles of the different blogs. Over at Rocky's Bru, everyone is lining up to wallop Singapore for something about Malaysia and in my opinion missing the point entirely. Over here, the mood seems to be that it is inappropriate to be said at an international conference but it's nonetheless true. A good study in Sociology these blogs.

Remember Najib at the TPCA stadium years ago...and you will see him as no better then the rest.

Remember who we are dealing with: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendatang_asing . Can Najib really be taken seriously?

Towering Malaysians who are not “appreciated”

Observer: "We DO NOT marginalize the Chinese in Malaysia. We positively discriminate against them." You read my mind and I wanted to add.

If Chinese asked to be treated equally, we will send our youth wing to gather in front of Chinese Community Building to harass them and swing the Keris few times. The next day, one of our minister will demand retracts the request in Parliament meeting because it's disturbing the country's “harmony”. This way we can always keep things the way we wanted it to be for the “Pendatang Asing”.

Truth hurts, isn't,dear DPM.I am all for the quota of 30 % for the Bumuputras in all fields for example give them 50 % in the civil service . Look at the senario now.They demand and are given 100%. It is silly to say that the nonbumis ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE POLICIES. That is a fool's argument.
Why did the Government NOT implement the NEP as it was
formulated and intended i.e the eradication of poverty without regard to race and religion? Why was it hijacked completely to benefit one race? It is not that our "Governmet" is not aware of this sabotage but it does not hurt to repeat and remind the truth.
I listened to the DPM speaking in Sabah that it is the way we see each other to be Malaysian! No dear DPM,coming from the country's PM in waiting it is a hollow view. It is through formulating and IMPLEMENTING policies fair to all races socioeconomically and recognising everybody's right to live as provided by our Constitution with all the freedoms contained therein.
Nation building is a very serious matter especially in multiracial and multireligious Malaysia .It is dirty word especially in this context but S'pre is a good example to follow.
All UMNO politicians should reflect deeply on this issue for the sake of Malaysia.MCA and MIC etc as good as nonexistent!

Najib said: "Malaysia does not practise a policy of blocking opportunities for non-bumiputras to progress further,"

Then why government purchases are intentionally designed for bumiputras companies only? It is explained in Treasury web site.
http://www.treasury.gov.my/index.php?ch=40&pg=141&ac=158

Let's see for small scale one for the SME (no tender).

1. Up to RM10,000 per year: buy direct from any companies with or without contractor registration with MOF.

2. RM10,000 - RM50,000 per year: buy direct from any registered bumiputras companies.

3. RM50,000 - RM100,000 per year: evaluate 5 quotations from 5 different bumiputras companies.

4. RM100,000 - RM200,000 per year: evaluate 5 quotations from 5 different registered companies.

Here is some analysis,

For item 1, anyone can sell to government. But limited to RM10,000 a year only.

For item 2, get yourself registered as contractor. Here is the tricky parts. There are 3 known class of contractors: non-bumi, partial bumi, and 100% bumi (both company directors must be Malays). I do not know the actual differences of partial vs 100% bumi companies. But many people seemed go for 100% bumi to avoid unforseen difficulties with MOF.

For item 3, you need 5 bumiputras companies to compare quotes and pick one that is the best.

For item 4, funny thing is, it is open up to any registered companies, i.e: non-bumi, partial bumi or 100% bumi. Why? I hope to know the right answer. Don't speculate.

Most SME companies with less than 10 staffs are doing business not exceeding RM100,000 per invoice. By looking at the rules of game, only bumi companies are preferred.

Another hurdle: it is per year total! I think this may be removed - no practical sense.

So Najid is not right to say our policy did not block non-bumiputras.

Not convinced? then you should read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malay_supremacy

its been called many times before. 'sensitive issue', 'disharmonious' and even '-said-itious'. And now 'naughty' (since harry isn't malaysian i guess). its like pointing out that someone is ugly. its naughty. doesnt mean that it isnt true.

there can be no progress if we cannot face the truth. similarly, if we keep quiet about it for fear of being chided/persecuted.

i'm all for balance (like the DPM described)

KJ can publicly ask the chinese (MCA) to don't play play when there is dissension in UMNO.
when was it OK to talk so openly against the chinese?
where was the labels that time? 'disharmony' 'seditious' etc.

balance. tsk tsk.

Malaysians await the day by which their elected representatives would make them proud.

Would you work hard if it wouldnt lead to results, a bonus/raise/promotion? If the government continue with their biased favours and not practise meritocracy, Malaysia cannot move forward.

Next year Malaysia is going to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Merdeka. If we look around the region, Malaysia can be described as a miracle to a certain extent. We survive all these years with only one notable "black mark-- 13 May 1969". And of course, the so-called "positive discriminatory policy" has been paying an important role in achieving this "miracle".

But looking forward, there is a great doubt that Malaysia, as a nation, can continue to face the increasingly competitive open market world. Let us stop talking about marginalzation of a particular community in Malaysia and focus on the highly probable (or is already happening) marginalization of Malaysia in this new era.

Believe me the root of the problem is not the concept of "the positive discriminatory policy" but rather the abuse and distorted implementation of such policy. In fact such policy should focus on uplifting the status and living standard of the have-nots, the poors and the destitutes irrespctive of race and creed, not the sepcialled section of a particular community. Worst still, we all know too well so many the so-called "big time politicians and corporate big shots" still grab this limited assistance to benefit their on family members at the expense of the deserving daughters and sons of the poors and the destitutes.

And believe me our top leaders also fully aware of these abuses but they just unable or refuse to confront the truth openly and honestly and bold enough to take the tough but right solution to solve these problems for fear of losing political support , may be. Thus, the vicious cycle continues and continues... whither Malaysia in the next 50 year?

The root of this vicious cycle: Our top leaders simply don't believe in themselve. So, it got nothing to do with racial politics, but it got everything to do with leadership --- believe in what is good to Malaysia (all communities) in long run and will do everthing to carry out the tough but correct policies though the whole ground may agaisnt us.

"Malaysia does not practise a policy of blocking opportunities for non-bumiputras to progress further," he said.

Err...what is having the race quota for local uni entry all about? If it is not blocking opportunities for non-bumi, then what is it?

perhaps the spin doctors could spin something out of this.

Racist!

"Najib said Malaysia did not marginalise ethnic Chinese or Indians in favour of majority ethnic Malays, who are known as bumiputras (sons of the soil)."
no surprise. they are forever swimming in the river of the nile! (in denial lah!)

just imagine if MCA or kit siang were to go around shouting non malays are being marginalised, they would get an earful from the UMNO MPs and even ask to apologise or resign. but when one of their UMNOputera - the famous S-I-L did it, crying that malays are being marginalised, they turn a deaf ear to his racism.

isn't this showing preferance (having 2 sets of laws!) to the malays?

btw don't forget there's one very towering malaysian - nicole david - a non bumi, where the gomen seemed to ignore her. i understand state gomen and the squash association did reward her or something but nationally?

If Najib really meant what he had uttered, then may the Almighty shed a tear for Malaysia.

Its better to acknowledge the problems arising from the positive discrimination against the minorities (not only chinese but other non-bumis), rather than just brushing it off with a white lie.

The thought of Najib becoming the next PM is causing shivers through my spine.

Err...what is having the race quota for local uni entry all about? If it is not blocking opportunities for non-bumi, then what is it? perhaps the spin doctors could spin something out of this.

It is to give more opportunities for bumis.

there, I spun it for ya. No need to thank me k.

Kudos to LKY for calling a spade, a spade. I really respect him for the balls he have to say it as it is.

I think all non-bumis and foreigners will know he is not incorrect in his statement.

Hats off to you Harry!

/// Let us stop talking about marginalzation of a particular community in Malaysia and focus on the highly probable (or is already happening) marginalization of Malaysia in this new era. ///

anakmalaysia, you made a very pertinent point about the real danger of marginalization of Malaysia, rather than merely marginalization of a particular race.

In fact, I would go as far as to say that marginalization of Malaysia has already started - compare the FDIs into Singapore and Malaysia. More scary still, compare the FDIs going into China and India.

Unfortunately, your suggestion to stop talking about marginalization of a particular community goes against your own advice to focus on marginalization of Malaysia.

The two are inter-twined. In fact, I would say that the marginalization of the Chinese is a cause, and an important cause which led to the marginalization of Malaysia.

Here you have some very talented Chinese (and Indians for that matter), but they are just not wanted. Some one who is unwanted as a lecturer in Malaysia went on to become a Professor in Australia. Bright Chinese students not given university places in Malaysia, are given scholarships to study in Singapore and later became citizens there and contributed to the economy. Bright technocrats who are non-Bumi are not inducted into the Civil Service and the government to help formulate policies. How to ensure Malaysia is not marginalized when competing countries are making the best use of their own talents, and even importing foreign talents?

This debate about whether the Chinese are or are not marginalized in Malaysia reminds me of two persons arguing whether the glass is half empty or half full. But what I see is the fact that the glass itself is sitting with half its bottom resting on the edge of the dining table and about to fall over and crash to the floor.

"Malaysia does not practise a policy of blocking opportunities for non-bumiputras to progress further," he said.

And he doesn't blink. AP sector --> 70% bumi requirement (not blocking?). Public sector ---?%. govt tender ?%. Banking sector --> ?%. IPO -->30%...........

The most basic human rights and basic citizen needs ---> education. They can spend 2bil on some non-existence patrol boat from a listed company or some 500mil sport complex thousands of miles from malaysia (many more example), they cant afford more uni to accomodate all! why?

Why not just open 1 or 2 uni for true blue merit?

Why never recognise TAR college as full fledged uni? its diploma is recognised as degree oversea (fren using that diploma to study master in uk), and our local uni qualification is not recogniced oversea.

Why? becoz "Malaysia does not practise a policy of blocking opportunities for non-bumiputras to progress further," he said.

Sorry, Jeff, if the article I attach below is really off the present topic. Personally I do not know if it is, as I stand as always a little confused with such arguments. I received the article and I suppose it must have been written in the English (UK) Press, I do not know which publication. It is not just in Malaysia that we all seem a lot less tolerant to others who believe in different ideals from ourselves but has become a worldwide phenomena and the trend grows. We tend at times, most of the time to "over"react. The differing views on your blog and that seen in Rocky's blog is enlightening yet ... frightening. The article below, is equally troubling, in this less and less globalised world. The world after all "Is Not Flat" it would seem.

WHAT AUSTRALIA HAS SAID

What a great way of saying the truth.

England should really pay attention and listen to this Australia speech: Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks. A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to Australia at a special meeting with Prime Minister John Howard, he and his ministers made it clear that extremists would face a crackdown.

Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard, hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if they did not accept that Australia was a secular State and its laws were made by parliament.

"If those are not your values, if you want a country that has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you", he said on national television.? "Immigrants, not Australians must adapt. Take it or leave it. I am tired of this Nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians. However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the "politically correct" crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others.

I am not against immigration nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Australia. However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some who were born here, need to understand. The idea of Australia being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Australians we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom.

We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese or Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you want to become part of our society, ... learn the language.

Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push but a fact because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.

We will accept your beliefs and will not question why, all we ask is that you accept ours and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us. If the Southern Cross offends you or you don’t like a "Fair Go" then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change and we really don’t care how you did things where you came from. By all means, keep your culture but do not force it on others.

This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining and griping about our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you to take advantage of one other great Australian freedom: THE RIGHT TO LEAVE. If you are not happy here then LEAVE. We didn’t force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept our country? "

I’d be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are laws governing people in Australia, one the Australian law and another the Islamic law.

“That is false. If you can’t agree with parliamentary law, independent courts, democracy and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to another country, which practices it, perhaps, then, that’s a better option.” ”, Costello said.

Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he said those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to the other country. Education minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters that Muslims who do not want to accept local values should ‘clear off’…

“Basically, people who don’t want to be Australians and they don’t want to live by Australian values and understand them, well then they can basically clear off.”, he said.

Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation’s mosques.

England ....ARE YOU LISTENING ??

Wonder whether any of our insightful, "question-able" mainstream writers/columnists/journalists would care to publically take up the challenge and answer LKY with 50 indisputable facts to prove that the only ones marginalized in this country are those living in the fringes of Penang Island. Why 50 facts? Well it is almost 50 years since we started this thing called nationa building.

Grape has a good point in saying the marginalization of the Chinese is a cause, and an important cause which led to the marginalization of Malaysia. We must send our best out to stop the tide of our Asian giants swapping us. I think we can only hope for second tier tiger cub status now since many years are wasted since merdeka in fooling ourselves in policies that are not sustainable. Wake up Umno! Your policy can sustain you but not your cucu-cicit. The sad part is my generations is intertwine with yours, so wake up and shake up quick.

chinese saying: "open eyes wide and talk the blind language"

ya right, what marginalise? they just make it easy to malay and make it difficult for chinese only. poors stay poor and rich gets richer.

CI, so are you trying to say AGAINST human rights is good? An against anti-human rights movements is evil?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharia#Contemporary_practice_of_Sharia_law

Are you under the group of "beneficial" people under such practice?

The social engineering that is taking place in Singapore indicates that as a Nation it is dying. Just look at is fertility rate and population.
Its utopia to have a perfect system of governance does not exist for such state does not exist. Everything in the Universe is yearning for growth and change.

his other comments:
'My main critics want me to be as liberal, open and contentious and adversarial with the opposition as the West. Free it all up... If Denmark can do this, why can't we? If New Zealand can do this, why can't we?

'For one very simple reason. They've got a different physical, economic, geographic and strategic base. Their neighbours are different.'
For another perspective, more info and details from:
http://powerpresent.blogspot.com/2006/09/harry-lees-vision-for-singapore.html

lky came to the defend of the chinese in Malaysia /indonesia but not indians and other races.
What costello said with regards to australia as posted by CI are what some malays in Malaysia may well say to other races with regards to peninsular malaysia.
There is no such thing as a malay economy without government support.
comparing the malays to the chinese in malaysia is like bukit bintang to kampung bahru.
LKY should thank god that malaysia/indonesia discriminates against the minorities. That is why the rich chinese parked their money there and contribute to the economy of singapore. But that is not enough it seems as singapore now targets rich mainland chinese to park their cash there also.
It is better to allow malays to earn a living at an earlier age than to waste the governments money to put them into higher education and getting unemployed.
It is time to stop discriminatory practices as it is unjust and embarassing.

Folks

Quote: "Najib said Malaysia did not marginalise ethnic Chinese or Indians in favour of majority ethnic Malays, who are known as bumiputras (sons of the soil).

"Malaysia does not practise a policy of blocking opportunities for non-bumiputras to progress further," he said.

Firstly, Najib does not himself believe what he said. Unless he considers himself an absolute fool. And he is not a fool, because he is OUR Deputy Prime Minister.

Secondly, NOBODY in Malaysi believes what he said. Make a ramdom survey and the DPM will indeed look like a fool.

Thirdly, foreigners, who know where Malaysia is, also know that what Najib said is the opposite of what happened. Just read all the international newspapers.

So, the question is: Who is Najib is trying to kid??

The poor kampung folks or the Malaysian Chinese.

Try repeat what Najib said to the folks in Mainland China or India, the up and coming economic superpower in the world, where the Chinese and Indian Malaysians forefathers came from.

So, who is Najib trying to bluff?

Najib said Malaysia did not marginalise ethnic Chinese or Indians in favour of majority ethnic Malays, who are known as bumiputras (sons of the soil).

"Malaysia does not practise a policy of blocking opportunities for non-bumiputras to progress further," he said.

All these can definitely be nominated year end for Joke of the Year 2006 in M'sia. So dumb.

No wonder all these dumbest ppl won a talk with Harry's team.

No wonder all these dumbest ppl never won a single talk with Harry's team.

Folks, this is the same DPM who, sometime ago, publicly declared that the National Pollution Index is a national secret! Obviously, one who doesn't engage brains before opening mouth.

cr_X:
"publicly declared that the National Pollution Index is a national secret"

WAHAHAHHAHAAH

teh_o: Wonder what's next for Joke of the Year 2007?

If u have read the new on what Penang CM had to say...

Haha siok la..
tapi tak cukup siok.

Good doggie, lick harder.

WHAT A SHAME!

cr_X
There will be plenty more : )

Come to think of it, the Chinese are marginalised because they allow it to happen. Most of the Chinese leaders are absolutely useless and looks after their own welfare only. And,importantly, the Chinese are useless (maybe the other races too)because most of them voted the same people that bang them in the behind. Now they need LKY to speak out for them.
Am I wrong to make this statement?Think about it. You can make a difference in the next election if you are unhappy about your status, until then enjoy your well-deserved marginalised position.

It's not the first time the politicians of this country have been found wanting at the mike. Even M2 and AAB told white ones blankfaced when they said the races were united.

Indeed one wonders how politicians like Najib have the gall to say such things knowing they had done nothing positive to rein in remarks by KJ and the likes.

And that is the problem of umno politicians. They sacrifice principles of fairness at their own altar of party feudalism. Don't let me add that so far their thought processes have been as short as their noses.

The rakyat have long gone passed the signpost of trusting what are said by umno politicians. What people like Najib have shown are that they can openly grasp for answers out of the exigency of the moment in order to escape further embarrassment to themselves. This doesn't square with being a true leader, one who admits to facts and works towards better solutions. It only squares with what you won't find in anatomy classes - spinelessness.

The other possibility would be laughable - that they actually believe their own crap - and that must be because they are having some set view of the situation in their jaundiced minds that has been customized to fit their own comfort zone. Would you then trust any leader who openly says what he wants to believe when reality flies in his face?

This second possibility would mean they're already delusional; in this case, delusional on the actual situation of the Chinese and other communities of Malaysia in the context of the actual situation of Malaysia vs-a-vs that of the world.

For all his personal faults, LKY has delivered a stinging fact - that the power holders of this malay archipelago are resurrect- ing once more the diasporification of its Chinese citizens so that they can reinforce their own centre - assuming protector status of malays while blackmailing the other communities to be beholden to their power balancing acts. They reason this is the best option but forget that doing so actually debilitates the very factors needed to progress the region so that with each day of power-grinding, the human and financial capital of the region decant further.

In fact, that will marginalize the entire region of SEAsia from the progressing world.

We're seeing it in sensurround panorama in our own country.

Wake Up Malaysia.

I agree this was a "naughty" comment taken by itself, for it touches on the
internal affairs of neighbouring countries.

However, if one reads the entire speech, he was talking about what
Singapore needs to do, using the neighbouring countries as an example of
what may happen if Singapore is not strong amongst the bigger neighbours.
No different from the Son-In-Law saying Malays must be strong, otherwise the
Chinese will take advantage. So if the Son-In-Law can say that and get away with
it(note there has not being any denial nor apology from our "leaders" on
that incident), Harry is entitled to say that as well.

That begs the question, is what he says true?

Actually, when one thinks honestly, both are true.

It will be hypocritical to say that the NEP did NOT sideline the other
races. So the NEP in the way it is carried has sidelined non-bumis in the
NATIONAL AGENDA. That has not affected the Chinese much, through their own
hard economic effort (and not because there was no sidelining, as parroted
by MCA/Gerakan leaders).

It is also true, what the SIL said, that if the Malays are weak, the
Chinese will be braver in demanding for their (Chinese) RIGHTS.

But think carefully, which of these two actions have the MORAL RIGHT??

It is obvious too, that the two are related, one being the reaction of the
other.....

Malaysia has evolved into a where the Chinese and other minority were expected to just take orders from the main political power of the country, UMNO.

Despite all the talks of having a say, I question if those says by these non-UMNO politicians were heard and evaluated and most importantly acted upon.

On calling this arrangement a 'partnership', I have not seen a partnership where the other partners do not have a say and only expected to do PR. I am sure MCA, Gerakan, MIC and PPP would have brought up matters pertaining to the community they serve, but do you see things moving the way the rakyat wants it? I personally think that TV3 and NTV7 are more effective than these political parties.

Framing the above situation on the statement by LKY, does it sound like he has made it out of proportion?

Over the years, the ruling party has used the ISA and other means to suppress any form of 'free speech' and has been using this to scare the other party leaders to comply. Although they were elected to serve their community but not many wanted to risk going to jail of uncertain terms to 'uphold' the ideals they stand for. Politically, since there are not many in this category anyway, it would be a suicide attempt which does not bring about positive results.

The top leaders from federal or state level do not give a hoot about other races anyway. Look at the state administration, almost 100% malay staffed. Look at the way they carry out enforcements and development.

Although it may be radical of what I said here but if not for corruption, I think the non-malaysa would have been far worsed off in all aspect although morally it is something to be shun at.

As for Najib, if you trace back on his political career, you will see that he has not change much. I guess they call it the base character. He was racist from the start. The only difference where he has matured are his skills in delivering speeches. Surprisingly, he seem to be better than AAB. But from the intelectual side, he has left much to be desired.

another view.......

Are the Chinese discriminated in Malaysia?
Contributed by rejal on Saturday, September 23 @ 00:10:35 EDT
Topic: editor

By Dato' Rejal Arbee

Are the Chinese discriminated against in Malaysia? Looks like what is good for the goose is not good for the gender. This is in so far as Singapore’s long standing veteran leader and Minister Mentor, Lee Kuan Yew is concerned.

In a forum in Singapore in conjunction with the World Bank/IMF meeting there last Friday, he condescendingly accused Indonesia and Malaysia of marginalising the Chinese. To him both Indonesia and Malaysia are discriminating against the Chinese.

It looks as if he doesn’t know his facts (which is odd considering the worldwide accolade attributed to his legendary intellect) or if he does then he had purposely feigned ignorance. More of this later at least in so far as Malaysia is concerned.

It is also odd that the Minister Mentor deem it fit to derogatorily comment on a sensitive domestic issue of Malaysia. Singapore do not brook any nonsense over anything they deem to be interfering in their domestic affairs. But what is no go for others is OK for them? Isn’t Lee’s comments not interfering in our domestic affairs? Is it now open season for the Singapore leaders to pass negative remarks/judgements about its neighbours?

But woe betide a foreigner if he so much as hint negatively on a sensitive domestic issue of the island republic. The Singapore leadership is legendary in not allowing such things and will not rest until they can clean out anyone brave enough to make such remarks on its domestic issues through its courts.

A number of foreign newspapers and periodicals that have crossed such lines had the unpleasant task of meeting head-on with Lee and company resulting in them meekly becoming compliant to the dictates of the island state apart from suffering monetary losses.

But what exactly did the Minster Mentor said? The Singapore Straits Times Interactive quoted him thus: “My neighbours both have problems with their Chinese. They are successful, they're hard-working and therefore they are systematically marginalised, even in education. And they want Singapore, to put it simply, to be like their Chinese, compliant.” So said the great champion of the Nanyang Chinese.

In response to a question, Lee said it was important for Singapore to have a government that was 'really firm, stout-hearted, subtle and resolute', noting that the attitude of Malaysia and Indonesia towards the Republic was shaped by the way they treated their own ethnic Chinese minorities, according to Straits Times Interactive.

What does it mean when he said the Chinese here are being systematically marginalised? Don’t the Chinese have a share in governing the country? Isn’t there power sharing among the Malay, Chinese and Indian political parties? Do the Malaysian government though dominated by the majority Malays curtailed the Chinese from carrying out their various endeavours? Do they not have a share of the economic cake, in fact the major share?

Lee attributed the Chinese success to their being hard working and diligent. But this is only half the story. It is not as if they are not given any chance at all in getting government largesse. Most of the Chinese enterprises big and small continue to get government jobs and tenders? Even when a Malay/Bumiputera enterprise obtained government tenders, the Chinese businesses is still not left out. They continue to benefit from the Malay contractors and will still have a share the job in some instances even the majority share. But can the Malay contractor expect the same treatment from a Chinese enterprise/business? How many Malay contractors have won tenders from Chinese owned enterprises/conglomerates?

In any case a company 51 percent owned by the Malays, meaning 49 percent is owned by the non-Malays, is still deemed a Bumiputera company. So even if it gets a government job the Chinese still have a very substantial share. But can the same be said of a Chinese company? Invariably it would be 100 percent owned by the Chinese.

It is the Malays who often times get only the crumbs. Of course in some instances it is the Malays themselves who are to be blamed if and when they are only interested in becoming rent seekers.

Thus the country’s economy is still in the hands of the Chinese. For a Malay contractor who gets a tender to build a building, he will need various supplies and materials. Invariably these can only be obtained from a Chinese distributor or wholesaler. Even when they do the work themselves, they still need to get supplies from the Chinese merchants who continue to monopolise the wholesale and distribution businesses.

And often times he is the one who gets discriminated against. A Chinese contractor is said to be able to purchase his supplies at a discounted rate which a Malay contractor do not enjoy. The Chinese contractor is also given longer credit terms sometimes up to six months whilst his Malay counterpart not only have to settle cash on delivery terms without the discount. And even if he can get credit it will be at a much shorter period of credit.

There are other cases of discrimination. Even in employment for example when for no valid reason a profiency in Mandarin is required even for a job as a salesgirl in a retail outlet at a shoping complex patronised by the Malays.

Yet the Malays continued to get the brickbats that the Chinese are discriminated against and the latest from the Nanyang Chinese champion himself.

One good criteria to measure whether the Chinese are discriminated against or not is the differentials in their per capita earnings. Latest figures supplied by the government say for every ringgit the Malay earns, the Chinese earns RM1.64. But no matter that this figure is disputed because prior to this the ratio had always show a widening gap from 1:1.6 some five or six years ago to 1:1.7 then 1:1.8 and even 1:2.04 a couple of years back. But suddenly the latest seem to show this ratio had improved to 1:1.64.

Even at this ratio, the target set by the government to get income parity between the Malays and Chinese by 2020 seems a tall order. Whether this is attainable is to be seen but what is certain it is a very difficult goal to reach.

In so far as Indonesia is concerned, suffice it to say that despite the Chinese accounting for only 5 percent of the population, they control nearly 90 percent of the Indonesia economy. If this is discrimination then I am sure the Pribumi Indonesian want to have that discrimination.

One thing that can be concluded from his statement, Lee Kuan Yew still has that fortress mentality – not surprisingly with all the Israeli advisors at his disposal.

So the island republic feels constricted by the larger neighbours which encircles it. Such inferiority complex has rendered the republic to its present stance pouring billions of dollars yearly into modern and sophisticated weaponry and war hardware and software including chemical and biological weapons capability thanks to the US and Israeli assistance. But this is a subject for another commentary.

Rejal Arbee
22 Sept 2006

what our exPM says......

Dr Mahathir Sifatkan Lee Kuan Yew Sombong

KIJAL, 22 Sept (Bernama) -- Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad membidas Menteri Mentor Singapura Lee Kuan Yew, dan menyifatkan beliau sombong kerana sengaja membangkitkn isu kaum Cina di Malaysia, yang kononnya dipinggirkan.

Bekas Perdana Menteri itu berkata Lee tidak menghormati negara jiran, dengan mendakwa kaum Cina di Malaysia dipinggirkan secara sistematik, kerana ia adalah sesuatu yang sensitif.

"Dia (Lee) berasa dia kuat, dia dah jadi sombong, dia pun tak hairan dengan jiran-jiran. Itu sebab dia sengaja bangkitkan perkara itu sedangkan dia tahu ini adalah perkara yang sensitif di dalam negara kita," katanya kepada pemberita selepas melancarkan Tabung Bangunan Persatuan Bekas Tentera Malaysia (PBTM) Kemaman dan Kempen Hari Pahlawan peringkat daerah Kemaman di Awana Kijal, Beach and Spa Resort, dekat sini.

Jumaat lepas, Lee pada forum di luar mesyuarat Bank Dunia-Tabung Kewangan Antarabangsa (IMF) di Singapura dilaporkan bercakap mengenai isu yang menyentuh layanan Malaysia dan Indonesia terhadap kaum Cina di negara masing-masing.

Lee dipetik oleh agensi media asing sebagai berkata sikap Malaysia dan Indonesia terhadap Singapura dibentuk oleh cara layanan mereka terhadap etnik Cina minoriti di negara mereka sendiri.

Lee mendakwa Malaysia dan Indonesia mempunyai masalah dengan kaum Cina di negara masing-masing kerana etnik itu berjaya serta bekerja kuat, justeru mereka dipinggirkan secara sistematik.

Dr Mahathir berkata Malaysia juga sebenarnya boleh mempersoalkan kenapa orang Melayu di Singapura dipinggirkan.

"Kita juga boleh tanya apa kedudukan orang Melayu di Singapura, kenapa mereka tidak dibenarkan dalam tentera memikul senjata atau pun dilatih menggunakan senjata. Kenapa orang Melayu di Malaysia ini begitu cekap dalam bidang tentera tetapi di Singapura, tidak dapat pegang jawatan tinggi.

"Kenapa orang Melayu dipinggirkan sehingga mereka tiada kedudukan sama sekali. Ini dilakukan dengan sengaja oleh Singapura. Tidak ada negara lain yang membuat tindakan yang semacam itu," katanya.

Dr Mahathir menegaskan bahawa apa yang diperkatakan oleh Lee bahawa kaum Cina di Malaysia dipinggirkan adalah tidak benar kerana ada di antara mereka, misalnya dalam perkhidmatan tentera, memegang jawatan tinggi.

"Orang Cina di sini dapat masuk tentera sehingga pegang jawatan Jeneral, Mejar Jeneral dan sebagainya. Tetapi (bagaimana pula) orang Melayu di Singapura, dia punya pendapatan per kapita berbanding dengan orang Cina di Singapura, cuba bagi tau.

"Cuba adakan siasatan bebas, kenapa orang Melayu tertinggal di Singapura. Bukan mereka kurang daripada orang Melayu di Malaysia tetapi mereka telah ditekan, dipinggirkan dan ditindas, itulah kerajaan yang diasaskan oleh pendapat Lee Kuan Yew," katanya.

Terdahulu, ketika berucap, Dr Mahathir menggesa Lee supaya tidak berbangga dengan apa yang diperkatakannya.

"Awak jaga periuk nasi awak sudahlah. Awak tak laku, awak pun bukan bijak sangat. Dalam satu kumpulan yang kecil, mungkin awak nampak bijak.

"(Tetapi) bila dia pergi China. Orang Cina di sana pun tidak akan dengar. Orang China pun tak pandang hormat kepada dia kerana dia sebenarnya dipinggirkan oleh orang Cina di seluruh dunia," katanya.

-- BERNAMA

looking at the Cari Forum and Jbtalk, most members agreed that what Lee said is right.

When LKY says something, the world pays attention because he has a creditable and consistent good report card.

While quote “Najib does not himself believe what he said “ unquote, most will believe what LKY said.

Chinese in Malaysia are very tame. While quote “Najib does not himself believe what he said” unquote, the Chinese politicians are already echoing what he said; I suppose for their own political survival.

Years ago, LKY said JB was a cowboy town. That aroused a lot of denial syndrome protest, however, to-day, one cannot deny that snatch theft, robbery and murder still flourish in JB. LKY does not simply say something that is not true.

We still remember the keris wielding, stepping sign board of the Chinese Assembly Hall, cause way protest ( to Singapore ), and the constant harassments to the Chinese every now and then whenever there is some kind of political unrest.

The main point of LKY’s talk is to remind Singaporeans to be strong and stand up firmly and handle situation smartly among the neighbors quoting the fate of the Chinese there. They have to build a strong and sophisticated military power with big brother’s backing in order to survive among the keris wielding mob.

Lee siapa??? He's oly big in his little red dot. Out of the red dot, he's Lee who??

Look at his brilliant Suzhou project. Yes,... very great success??! By the way, I am a Chinese Malaysian.

caribenar
You said....Come to think of it, the Chinese are marginalised because they allow it to happen. Most of the Chinese leaders are absolutely useless and looks after their own welfare only. And,importantly, the Chinese are useless (maybe the other races too)because most of them voted the same people that bang them in the behind. Now they need LKY to speak out for them.

VERY VERY TRUE.

Malaysian Chinese, as represented by the MCA Leaders, are opportunists of the worst kind, who do not look any further beyond their noses.

Singaporean Chinese, say what you like that they are both kiasu and kiasi Chinese, but at least that look further than their noses, and that is why Singapore's dollar is almost twice of the sickly Malaysian ringgit and that is why, Singapore has a higher standard of living than Malaysia.

So any criticism of Singapore by Malaysian leaders are out of envy, jealousy.

Even Mahathir's criticism of Singapore arises from the fact he cannot do or failed to do what Lee Kuan Yew did to the Singaporeans (Chinese, Malay and Indian), to turn the backwaters of Singapore into a modern city state.Mahathir knows that. And why Mahathir failed is not because he lacked brains or willpower, it is because UMNO killed his genuine desire to reform the attitudes and "crutch" mentality of the Malays into a Malay society that is self-confident, and equally competitive in business, proud of their achievement by merit, as their Chinese counterparts.

Dato' Rejal Arbee's article, breach no new ideas, its standard "look at the Chinese, they control everything, the economy, they are the richest" arguement.

That, my friend, is IN SPITE OF all the obstacles thrown in their way. Did the Chinese got where they are by any means, other than their own hard work and wit??

So as you sow, so you shall reap. Wanna get sustainably rich? Try hard work. Not by being toll-keepers.

Rejal Arbee's article needs some 'cleanings'.

Quote

“What does it mean when he said the Chinese here are being systematically marginalised? Don’t the Chinese have a share in governing the country? Isn’t there power sharing among the Malay, Chinese and Indian political parties? Do the Malaysian government though dominated by the majority Malays curtailed the Chinese from carrying out their various endeavours? Do they not have a share of the economic cake, in fact the major share?”

These arguments can be clearly defeated by the Umno’s recent brickbats against both Dr Koh Tsu Koon and Ong Tee Keat. They've have shaken the foundation of the Barisan Nasional political partnership vis-à-vis the famous sil ‘s racial propaganda diversion from his EMC-Avenue Cap & Pantai holding quagmire.

These two incidents have also amplified racism & the political power sharing mechanism of BN in the country.

quote

“Most of the Chinese enterprises big and small continue to get government jobs and tenders. Even when a Malay/Bumiputera enterprise obtained government tenders, the Chinese businesses are still not left out. They continue to benefit from the Malay contractors and will still have a share the job in some instance even the majority share.”

There are few scenarios where the Chinese, enterprises big & small, fall into the described cases.

-Malay/Bumiputera enterprises obtained government tenders & sell off, log stocks & barrels to Chinese enterprises for quick gains. Sometime the Malay/Bumiputera enterprises remain only as a front – in the form of alibabaism. These usually happen for big projects where the contract clauses are tight & job requirements are highly demanding. Typical rent-seeking through political/ nepotistic connections

-Malay/Bumiputera enterprises obtained government tenders & cascade the tenders down through repeated rent-seeking procedures until no other downstream Malay/Bumiputera enterprises want to do the job due to the slim margin. Majority of the Malay/Bumiputera class A-F contractors fall into this category. The normally small Chinese enterprises that pick up these crumps will either cut corners & try to squeeze profit through very tight credit & project cost controls.

-Malay/Bumiputera enterprises obtained government tenders & find knowledgeable Chinese enterprises for join venture to complete the projects. Far from the norm as most of the Malay/Bumiputera enterprises who get the jobs only through know-who, so they tend to want a easy way out.

Quote

“But can the Malay contractor expect the same treatment from a Chinese enterprise/business? How many Malay contractors have won tenders from Chinese owned enterprises/conglomerates?”

There are very few Malay contractors do get the jobs from Chinese enterprise/business. The number is not ZERO! Reason? Out there nobody owes nobody anything. If you want something you have to prove yourselves.

Sadly most of the Malay contractors again have very bad job quality reputation & time schedulings. Ask around & one shall know these know-who contactors.

There are more & more other Malay contractors doing better now & through these effort they've get jobs from the Chinese main contractors. Yet their number is still very small.

Quote

“In any case a company 51 percent owned by the Malays, meaning 49 percent is owned by the non-Malays, is still deemed a Bumiputera company. So even if it gets a government job the Chinese still have a very substantial share. But can the same be said of a Chinese company? Invariably it would be 100 percent owned by the Chinese.

It is the Malays who often times get only the crumbs. Of course in some instances it is the Malays themselves who are to be blamed if and when they are only interested in becoming rent seekers.”

These arguments just don’t sound logic. The writer is just blaaaaa…without straight reasoning. For a start can a Chinese contractor get a govt job without any 'tokenism'? Thus the 51/49 shareholding . For a 100% Chinese company they can't even touch any govt job with a 10 ft pole. & yet as explain there are still good malay subcontractors getting 'crumps' from the Chinese maincon if they're competitive enough.

Qoute

“Thus the country’s economy is still in the hands of the Chinese. For a Malay contractor who gets a tender to build a building, he will need various supplies and materials. Invariably these can only be obtained from a Chinese distributor or wholesaler. Even when they do the work themselves, they still need to get supplies from the Chinese merchants who continue to monopolise the wholesale and distribution businesses.
And often times he is the one who gets discriminated against. A Chinese contractor is said to be able to purchase his supplies at a discounted rate which a Malay contractor do not enjoy. The Chinese contractor is also given longer credit terms sometimes up to six months whilst his Malay counterpart not only have to settle cash on delivery terms without the discount. And even if he can get credit it will be at a much shorter period of credit.”

Where & who you from buy are purely business decisions. This writer does not give credit to some of the successful Malay/Bumiputera enterprises who are major dealers/distributors in building materials. In fact a lot of the materials, especially those in oil & gas, are monopolized by the Malay/Bumiputera enterprises.

Bernas is a very clear cut case of Malay/Bumiputera enterprise dealing in monopolistic rice distribution business.

These are only sour grapes & heresays about Malay/Bumiputera enterprises do not get good & sound credit terms from Non-Malay/Bumiputera enterprises. In business credit control is important as you’re not in the business of Santa Claus. If you’ve bad reputation as a paymaster, don’t expect ANYONE to give you credit terms. Sadly most of the Malay/Bumiputera enterprises have very bad financial reputation in business.

Quote

”There are other cases of discrimination. Even in employment for example when for no valid reason a profiency in Mandarin is required even for a job as a salesgirl in a retail outlet at a shoping complex patronised by the Malays.”

These are very narrow accusations perpetuate by some unemployable Malays about their Chinese employers. Through a survey last December, most of the retail outlets in & around KL, Pinang & JB, owned by the Non-Malay/Bumiputera enterprises engaged Malay staffs, sometimes to the extend of 85%. Why? Young Chinese do not want to work as retail/sale staff! So stop this rubbish of looking for staff with Mandarin proficiency to discriminate Malay employment in private sectors.

When you need helps to manage the business you just pick the best, if not the second or third best. Race cannot be the issue or else the business will suffer due to lack of manpower.

As claimned by the writers of most of this twisted propaganda the Chinese are too business-minded & profit is everything. Can you stop & think that these profit-hungry Chinese businessmen will let their profit slip through their fingertip due to race of the staff?

Just an advice - why don't these unemployable people improve themselves by learning a second or third language? The world is getting flatter & yet you still want to be cocooned into your single language setups & look for easy-way out?

Quote

”One good criteria to measure whether the Chinese are discriminated against or not is the differentials in their per capita earnings. Latest figures supplied by the government say for every ringgit the Malay earns, the Chinese earns RM1.64. But no matter that this figure is disputed because prior to this the ratio had always show a widening gap from 1:1.6 some five or six years ago to 1:1.7 then 1:1.8 and even 1:2.04 a couple of years back. But suddenly the latest seem to show this ratio had improved to 1:1.64.

Even at this ratio, the target set by the government to get income parity between the Malays and Chinese by 2020 seems a tall order. Whether this is attainable is to be seen but what is certain it is a very difficult goal to reach.”

The writer has just pick & choose the statistics without clear understandings of the figures been used. There are more to this bloody statistics than meet the eyes!

First like the writer himself mentioned, how much can you read into these figures. There are many figures & which one is to be believed or are all of them been doctored? Like all statistics coming out from the BN govt one can only read between the lines. Our studies indicate that the figure is more likely to be half of all those mentioned if proper accountings are maintained strictly – this will have to be wait until more findings later.

In fact Gini co-efficient, which is a measure of the income-gap between the rich & the poor within the same grouping, indicates that it’s the highest between rich Malay & poor Malay. In another word, the problem for NEP is that the people who are able to fully take advantage of NEP are the better off Malays, not the poor Malays.

So who to blame? The Non-Malay/Bumiputera, especially the Chinese Malaysian scapegoat!

Just a parting shot - wondering how this writer can come up with craps like these & yet claimed to be a political journalist.

Just another case of education down the drain!

After reading Rejal Arbee's article and Dr. M's reply to LKY's statement, I am once again convinced that nothing good will come out if we were to continue to argue over "which particular community of this country has been marginalized". Whenever one speaks of one's own community being marginalized, surely you would hear the other says the same about his/her community. So, why waste our precious time and energy on this highly divisive and unproductive issue?

But what we should focus our energy and time on is how to prevent Malaysia being marginalized in this new highly competitive world. Whatever policies that are harmful to Malaysia's competitiveness ought to be dismantled, if not instantly but gradually. I believe this is not about Malay vs Chinese and the likes, but rather Malaysia vs the rest of the world.

No doubt LKY has made a good point at the right time (in the midst of the tense political atmosphere as a result of the marginalization issue in Penang). I believe alot of non-malays, especially Chinese in Malalysia, share LKY's sentiment. They claim comfort that, at least some one has finally spoken out on their behalf about their feelings which have been hurt so deeply during the recent "musim panas politik". But, Malaysia is not Singapore. Ultimately, we have to find ways and solutions to solve the problems our ways.

Hence, to all our beloved political leaders, in your hands lie our kids' future (including your own. so please fight for our kids' better future and not your own selfish poltical future. Please remeber: Malaysia, as whole, well certainly not be able to survive another 50 years, if 50% of her population is "on cruth" and another 50% of her pupulation is under disillutioment.

The above remarks must be seen in context.

LYK gave a speech during the IMF/World bank meeting in Singapore a few days ago. The above controversial remarks was uttered in response to questions from the floor regarding "the little red-dot" , the famous dressing down by former Indonesian PM Habibie years ago.

Watch it yourself and comment.

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew: Reflections on Good Governance

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/s2006/raffles-lky.htm

Dear ppl,

This debate that is going on is nothing new, right? Why do we repeat words which have been spoken for years?

Everybody knows what is going on and it is an accepted fact already. You say Chinese has always been getting the shorter end of the stick, yet Chinese still come up ahead of others.

For a minute, can we pause and just probably take a look at the Chinese race.

Chinese ppl are extremely intelligent and resourceful buggers. No matter what obstacles in its way, they prevail always. I have an aunt in Australia. She went there with nothing more than 10 years ago. Now she's married, with money in the bank and several homes. And yet she doesn't have a degree or a permanent job! All she has is dilligence, persistence and determination.

Chinese ppl are born to succeed...irregardless.

Most chinese immigrants living outside of China are succesfull. But success for Chinese ppl are full of hardwork...plain and simple hardwork. If business isn't good today, they will just double their efforts tomorrow. Even in China, chinese are 'fighting' among chinese. Anybody knows if certain chinese are being 'marginalised' by other chinese? I may be wrong but I understand certain dialects discriminate against each other.

How about locally, anybody knows whether certain malays discriminate against other malays like maybe Johor Malays with Kelantanese Malays?

My point is, I think we cannot escape from the words marginalised and discrimination when we have capitalism and now globalisation.

But having said that, Chinese ppl don't just stand there and keep getting whack in the face, right? Do you? What do we do? We take proactive action. Whenever face with a situation, we always find ways to cope, we double our efforts. We are brilliant at that. There is no such thing as a dead end for us, right?

So, what's all the fuss? Nothing can be done to diffuse us. That's why Chinese ppl are everywhere! Isn't it cool to find a chinatown in a lot of developed nations?

And another thing, if us disparate chinese ppl are already so succesfull, can you imagine if all chinese were united one heart?

I say stand proud and walk tall because you're chinese. Imagine the fact that you have to be restricted because you excel too much. That's what I'll tell my children. That, and double your efforts...

Dear harry,

Please look back to you own country, please look into the selective "preference" a.k.a racism that takes place within your own country first before commenting on your neighbours!

Please explain why Malays are barred in certain position in singapore armed forces and other key positions??? airforce?
...also...explain when was the last time they EVER took in an Indian as MP who ISNT married to a chinese? at least the new gen hirings!

These are many true things that happen in singapore, i guess he forgot that when u point a finger out, 4 points back to you!

He's just as senile as the old man in our country!

Singpore indeed has elements of racism u have to live there and be non-chinese to know it ..perhaps not to a degree and openess as malaysia does but Harry is too blinded to notice the obvious!

Ofcourse, legally you cant proove it but its pretty open indeed!

kokster99

You said....Chinese ppl are extremely intelligent and resourceful buggers. No matter what obstacles in its way, they prevail always. Chinese ppl are born to succeed...irregardless

Too simplistic, and stereotyping.

Your comments are what we classify as ethnocentric view.

For every successful Malaysian Chinese or resourceful Malaysian Chinese, I can quote you and equal number of them who are exactly the opposite.

So your example of your aunt could even be an exception to the rule.

You are talking about Malaysian Chinese who are immigrants, who left or who were promised to leave their motherland for greener pastures.

Any sociologists can tell you that immigrants, IRRESPECTIVE of race, will be resourceful and diligent. It is not a characteristic of the Chinese.

You should have qualified your generalisation, before taking too much pride of yourself as an immigrant Chinese.

If history had reversed the situation in Malaysia, you will find the Malays in the exact position of the Malaysian Chinese today, and the Chinese "bumiputras" will most likely be asking for crutches from the ruling "MCA".

Wander, thank you for your infor!

Quote from LKY on Good Governance: “Good governance is having a good system that will ensure the country survives, so that citizens have secure lives. ------.We've structured the system such that the competent group that gets in will find a machine that works, don't tinker with it, run the system properly on the basis of merit, not nepotism and you'll always find a way out of a problem.----- “ unquote.

LKY does not only talk, he delivers.

As a Malaysian, irrespective whether I am a Chinese, Malay or Indian. I feel ashamed for our country and our leaders.

AnakMalaysia has the point that as a country, Malaysia, we are already marginalized in the competitive globalization. Take a recent example of the fiasco of the Chinese school repair works project. A RM 30 thousand repair project was actually worth for only RM 3 thousand and it took an Education Minister to slam on the Deputy Minister not because the DM was right but had hurt the feeling of the little Nepolean’s territory, the Education Ministry. The Minister for higher Education had to apologize on behalf of the DM. It took two additional heavy weight cabinet Ministers to visit the site and confirm and got the shoddy job corrected. Come on, this is a joke. A simple renovation works nowadays most likely would cost more than that, a capable housewife probably could handle it. On a larger scale in Singapore, a clerk of works probably would handle all that. But in our country, our politicians would say we would handle the matter our own way and our works minister is now busy climbing up the ladder to check on the ceilings of schools. What a shame! The whole country is already marginalized from the competitive world. If we were to bid for school repair works in the competitive globalised market, we for sure would lose to Singapore.

We also must have a humble attitude to learn and what’s wrong if we learn something or have views from somebody irrespective whether they come from Singapore, England or India.

The truth prevails if one reads the total text of LKY's speech. The survival of Singapore today and tomorrow is the main point whilst the issue of the racial marginalization is a tree in the whole forest.

It's all tied in to the attitude of Malays. Malays give a higher priority to their religion, making money is not important to them. I have quite a few Malay friends who had told me money is secondary. In fact, one Malay friend told me he has no problems being poor if the Chinese are poor too. However, even my Malay friends acknowledge that the Chinese work much harder than them. Malays basically want big money but they do not want to work for it. They think money is like durian, and it should fall on their laps.

agreed with Kingkong.

You can don't like Singapore, You can hate LEE.

He DOESN'T CARE if you like him or not.

But important is, pick up the good skills and knowledge from the people that can DO WORKS.

by the way, from the Cari Forum (Chinese version), majority of the members think that MCA & Gerakan leaders ONLY know how to angkat UNMO.

"Not convinced? then you should read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malay_supremacy"

Darth Dave,

u are kidding trying to convince people through WIKIPEDIA?? do you know that any sanity people in the wold can upload any information in it??..eve a con can upload.. you will know..so please check fact first

Dear All 'Malaysian' who support your beloved Singaporean 'Harry Lee', read the following quotes;

"Kita juga boleh tanya apa kedudukan orang Melayu di Singapura, kenapa mereka tidak dibenarkan dalam tentera memikul senjata "atau pun dilatih menggunakan senjata. Kenapa orang Melayu di Malaysia ini begitu cekap dalam bidang tentera tetapi di Singapura, tidak dapat pegang jawatan tinggi.'

'Thus the country’s economy is still in the hands of the Chinese. For a Malay contractor who gets a tender to build a building, he will need various supplies and materials. Invariably these can only be obtained from a Chinese distributor or wholesaler. Even when they do the work themselves, they still need to get supplies from the Chinese merchants who continue to monopolise the wholesale and distribution businesses.'

so what the fuss, the malay in singapore are effectively marginalised ,same as penang...are the bumi.. not good enough no because the are not chinese, this is true fact, go aread and..
so please do not bee hypocrite

YOU ARGUE THAT MARGINALISED BUT YOUR OWN RACE PRACTICE THE SAME DISCIRIMNATION...

so its back to square one..

and anak malaysia, your quote is just on your own shallow assumption and act of denial same as what most of ppl. here said about DPM.

Quote

”There are other cases of discrimination. Even in employment for example when for no valid reason a profiency in Mandarin is required even for a job as a salesgirl in a retail outlet at a shoping complex patronised by the Malays.”

These are very narrow accusations perpetuate by some unemployable Malays about their Chinese employers. Through a survey last December, most of the retail outlets in & around KL, Pinang & JB, owned by the Non-Malay/Bumiputera enterprises engaged Malay staffs, sometimes to the extend of 85%. Why? Young Chinese do not want to work as retail/sale staff! So stop this rubbish of looking for staff with Mandarin proficiency to discriminate Malay employment in private sectors. '

this is already an open secret.anyone knows.. so y deny it..

Frank&Honest,

So, I guess the argument should be a human being stepping on another human being's hand, then?

"Any sociologists can tell you that immigrants, IRRESPECTIVE of race, will be resourceful and diligent. It is not a characteristic of the Chinese." If this is the case, then I suppose all immigrants of irrespective race must be marginalised/oppressed/etc because one will be resourceful and diligent?

You can't say that now really? It's only obvious that you work harder when you are hungry. And it isn't like we gave all our money earned to someone else or another country. We pour it back into Malaysia..all blood, sweat and tears. What we plundered, we gladly gave it back.

"If history had reversed the situation in Malaysia, you will find the Malays in the exact position of the Malaysian Chinese today, and the Chinese "bumiputras" will most likely be asking for crutches from the ruling "MCA". So, can we at present reversed the situation and find out? You don't have facts & figures to say that the Chinese "bumuputras" will 'most likely' be asking for crutches from the ruling MCA, right?

I don't think my aunt serves only as an exception. I bet many Malaysian Chinese will come up with plenty of examples of chinese who have made it irregardless of whether there are any sanctions on them. So, my generalization no matter how ethnocentric as you may call it, is just based on hands on I-see-it-with-my-own-eyes experience. Granted, my opinion may not be in line with findings of any experts and such. But heck, yes, I am proud of who I am and what I have achieved thus far in a country I was born in and called homeland. I am proud because even under such circumstances, I am still able to walk tall.

We can talk to the cows come home about this and as Rafidah has said that things will never change. So, based on that retrospect, I am going to plunder hard, not starve, save for my children, tell them what to expect when they are old and then die.

And when you die, nothing matters anymore.

lets all not get divisive over a comment by another individual/leader's statement. Lets all reflect on our self!

As agreed with anakmalaysia, we have to work against the political force outside malaysia.

If we are not working as one and allow malaysia to be systematically taken advantage? Where will we end up 5 or 10 years down the road?

So what if the chinese is better than the malay and vice versa! Are we better than the rest of the world? Cup is always half empty or half full right?

Long Live Harry!!!

Fuck MCA !!!

Fuck Gerakan !!!

It took a Singaborean to speak out for us, you fuckers!!!!

Pocurarante,

Grow up and be more mature. Sounds to me that you are having tremendous amount of difficulty expressing yourself eh?

Shame on you!

董教总顾问沈慕羽：马国华人应感谢李资政

　　（马六甲综合讯）马来西亚华文教育机构董教总顾问沈慕羽认为，马国华人应该感谢新加坡资政李光耀所发表的“华人被边缘化”言论，因为有关言论连马国华人都不敢讲。

　　沈慕羽被称为华教斗士，他昨日接受《中国报》电话访问时指出，上述现象其实有在马国出现，只不过是华人执政党（马华及民政党）都不敢说出来，而国内种种对非土著不利的政策，造成华人敢怒不敢言，一直在忍受。

　　他表示，李光耀上述言论就刚好说出了所有非土著的感受。

　　李光耀日前指马来西亚及印尼有系统边缘化华人，此谈话引起国内许多在朝华人领袖的抨击。

　　沈慕羽说，从昨天各报章刊登的华人执政党领袖之回应看出，他们所发表的言论都不是真心话，也没有讲出真心话。

　　“其实，他们比我们更痛苦，很多方面都无法为我们抱不平，又受到我们责备，由此可见，他们内心是很痛苦的。”

　　他指出，当然，马国华人被边缘化的情况并没有印尼严重，不过，他觉得政府对于非土著所推行的政策，如果换作是土著也无法忍受。

　　他也对《南洋商报》说，马国华人应深思李光耀的谈话，并趁此机会以正确管道反映他们的心声。

　　他表示，非土著在马国独立以来承受许多困难与苦处，大家却只能敢怒不敢言，无法表达心中的不满。

　　他说这批华人领袖身在朝中却有苦难言，虽有心为华社争取平等权益，却碍于特定因素而无法实现。
他说，马国土著与非土著都是通过纳税为国家建设发展作出贡献，政府理应对所有族群一视同仁。然而，从各方面的固打（限额）制措施，或许是不增建华小的举动，都已证明了马国华人已被边缘化。

　　不过，教总顾问陆庭谕昨天对李光耀反唇相讥，质问新加坡难道就没有边缘化华人？

　　他发表文告说，新加坡75％的人口是华人，但是，华文小学、华文中学，以至南洋大学都已英化，“英化华人，就不是边缘化华人吗？”

　　他说李光耀提起印尼前总统哈比比指新加坡“只是一个小红点”，其实，李光耀更耿耿于怀的是前首相马哈迪所说的“新加坡只是一个由马来西亚海域围绕着的一个小岛”。

　　反对党民主行动党元老廖金华说，李光耀指马国华人被边缘化的谈话，也不是没有道理。无可否认，马国在文教方面，确实有华人被边缘化的情况或现象，尤其是在华教的发展上。所以，李光耀的谈话是有一定的道理存在。

　　该党非政府组织局主任刘天球说，在新经济政策下，非马来族群确实被边缘化，更甚于政经文教及其他领域。

　　他说，最近，新经济政策借尸还魂，被抬出桌面。第9马国计划强调上述政策，这样一来，马国华人继续被边缘化。“从马国独立迄今，国内不曾有非马来人担任政府大学校长职或警察总长或三军总司令，难道非马来族群没有资格吗？

http://www.zaobao.com/yx/yx060924_509.html

After 50 years, we are still debating on the course of nation building. It is a shame that we are not able to get ourselves out of this racial quagmire. Yes, to be a national of a country with such a diversity of races is always difficult because if the arguments and views do not conform to a particular format, it is considered as a "sellout". The problem is that it is easier to be racial and behave in championing the cause of the race. We jump when statements touch on the raw nerve of race. The latest example is the statement from LKY of Singapore whose address exhorts Singaporeans to be wary as this small island is surrounded by a majority of other racial groups in the region. Although his example may be found wanting, he is speaking the truth of the reality. This reality hurts in some ways. It is like disturbing the hornets' nest. The truth of the matter cannot be erased. Yet in the same breath we have a young upstart in Malaysia who wants to climb the political ladder fast harping on racial lines like stating 'the Chinese taking advantage' when it is actually the internal factions in UMNO fighting amongst themselves. Not only that, this young and immature fellow makes a statement like 'fighting for racial rights does not need to apologize'. The effect of these statements by LKY and young upstart KJ have created a furore and a subject of this debate.

Look at what had happened to the Chinese population in Indonesia in 1998. The rapes and killing of Indonesian Chinese with the connivance of the military is a manifestation of a lack of acceptance despite the fact that the Chinese there have taken on Indonesian identity with a change of names. You cannot blame anybody when you are born a Chinese, just like you cannot blame anybody when you are born a Malay or an Indian. The fact is that can we behave in a civilized manner to look at the issues and offer solutions to these contentious issues? Can we behave as nationals of a country and look at the issues from the angle of the country without wearing tincted racial sunglasses. I have read most of the comments on this blog and it is a frightening trend...Are we marching through these follies once again towards the disaster of another May 13? After 40 over years, the wounds have not healed despite all the affirmative policies of the country to uplift the Malays. The tension is no longer healthy? It is becoming worrisome. The effects of all these affirmative policies and head starts given have not done their intentions and fulfilled what the founding fathers wanted to achieve at the time. Do we need to go through another disaster to wake up to the dire need of changing the national policies, policies which are non-race based catering to all 'have-nots of all communities. I have participated in the political arena at that time, perhaps, a voice in the wilderness. Give the Malays hope but do not make the other communities feel hopeless. Over this period, there is not much improvement other than some Malays benefitting from the affirmative policies of the government, the majority remain poor and some desolate in the rural areas, the gap widens through cronyism and APism. Some Malay political leaders, the like of AAB has on record said that the crutches should be removed so that the Malays will hold their heads high without these crutches. But do the actions synchronize with what has been articulated? It is not because Malay as a community that is weak, it is the mind-set. The mentality like 'they' and 'us' must be got rid off! The mentality of Bumiputras and Non-Bumiputras must be wiped off this mind-set. The other communities are not NON something. A simple example is many of the so-called non-bumiputras are few generatinos in this country and yet they do not enjoy the same status whilst those who come here in less than one generation, the next new borns are known as bumiputras. Where is the equity? So the best solution is rid the system of this classification and educate the populace on the national line. '

The next question being asked is whether the Chinese and Indians have been marginalized in this country. Ask the ordinary fellows and what kind of answer will be given. The emotional outsburst we read in this blog is just one example.Emotional outburst is just a frustration and a moment of letting out steam. Over the years, the running of the country has also changed. Change drastically over the last 3 decades starting from the time of the second PM, the father of the current DPM immediately after the NOC was formed at the height of May 13. National policies used to be discussed at the Supreme Council of the Alliance Party and after May 13, the focus was shifted to UMNO Supreme Council. If it is a BN government then, national policies must be decided in the BN Supreme Council. Over the years, BN Supreme Council is a convenient social club of component parties to gather together for a cup of tea ( just an illustration) and the truth is, if it is a coalition of parties, then each coalition party will have its say.

Is it a deliberate attempt to marginalize? They know best, UMNO also knows best. The Civil Service also knows best. Today, the Civil Service is heavily tilted and it is claimed that the private sector is also tilted favouring one community. The same argument goes on. And you get political journalist who put forward wrap argument that contracts given to Malays are being 'sub-contracted' to the Chinese and not vice-versa. From this kind of argument, one can see what kind of mindset this person has. Where is the level playing field? Is this not a continous effort to use the 'crutches'. It may even logically be argued that the use of crutches is a result of the existence of other communities. We cannot blame others for our own weaknesses. There is no easy way out. We have to toil for it. In Chinese culture, the youngs are taught from their formative years that nothing comes easy, "qing" meaning hardwork, "li" meaning ethics of behaviour, "yi" meaning obligations, "nian" meaning incorruptible, "tzu" meaning shame. Each is illustrated by stories so that when they grow up, this code of ethics and human behaviour will guide them through their lives. If one chooses to foul anyone of this behaviour it is at his own peril.

The long and short of all these, is to seek the Way of the Means. Measure your own strength to carry out the task confronting you. Nation building is always difficult. But we cannot behave hypocritically to tell the whole world we are multi-racial,multi-cultural and multi-religious and yet carry out policies and their implementation mono-ethnically!

马华族被边缘化？

新加坡前总理李光耀提出马来西亚及印尼华人被边缘化，并指出以华族人口为最多数的新加坡，也面对马印的挑战，必须巧妙机智地面对。
　　相较于印尼，马来西亚社会对于李光耀的言论肯定比较敏感。从时机来看，马来西亚社会刚刚目睹某些政治人物的真面目。这主要展现于极端政客种族性的叫嚣，提出诸如“槟州马来人被边缘化”等的煽动性言论。

　　个别政客的叫嚣，其实也不应成为动摇社会的事件。然而，默许（巫青副团长、首相阿都拉女婿）凯利之流的极端政客叫嚣，甚至以实际行动顺应其要求的举措，使当权者难逃骂名。

　　所谓“边缘化”，指的主要是一个动态的过程。但在马来西亚，“边缘化”却意味着某些族群相对于他族的财富占有比例。从新经济政策的30％土著股权，到极端政客提出的财富比例指标，非土著被“边缘化”的现象，实际上是否不存在，是值得探讨的。

　　副首相纳吉提出马来西亚并未“边缘化”华人时，指出马来西亚政府：第一、并未阻止华族的发展；第二、执行“公平”的财富分配。
　　就第一点而言，实际状况是否真的如此？华族经济能够超越“边缘化”的挑战，在经济上依然有一定的作为，是否意味着“边缘化”的不存在？

　　近来有经济学者提出数据，指出当今政府屡屡提出土著股份未达30％宣示，其实毫无根据。即使从当下的财富分布，华族经济主要只是局限于中小型企业，而大型企业早已被土著主导。难怪有人会说华族经济被“边缘化”。

　　就第二点，如果真的要执行“公平”的财富分配，为何马来西亚的贫富悬殊，依然居高不下？为何财富分配的工作，不能实质上以不分种族的方式进行？为何所谓的“公平”分配财富，受益的却是统治精英及其家属朋党？

　　除了经济领域，马来西亚华人在文化教育领域是否也被“边缘化”？前几天，教育部副部长诺奥马不也指出，政府不会在第九马来西亚计划增建任何华小吗？

　　纵使李光耀的言论或会产生一些冲击，但是由一位新加坡政治元老说出，对于马来西亚华族的政治现况恐怕无甚帮助。

为了招架另塑假想敌

　　当今巫统内部斗争的其中一个交锋点，就是马新弯桥的课题。在马来政治的脉络当中，新加坡原本就是一个假想敌。斗争另一方为了得以招架，塑造另外的假想敌，才会出现“种族输赢论”等极端言论。

　　李光耀的发言曾数次引起争议，遭到国内巫族政治势力的抨击。在当今政治角力相持不下的局面下，各方群起攻击李光耀以获取政治资本的可能性，不能排除。

　　可以预见的，抨击李光耀，“澄清”马国华人没有被边缘化的言论，将会陆续登场。加上近来华基政党及政治人物的遭遇，这样的维护与“澄清”是否只会显露马来西亚华族另一个层面的“边缘化”——政治边缘化？

　　（《南洋商报》评论•作者林猷荃为医疗保险顾问及WA Online网络电台主持人）

Why are you guys so forgetful?

Some time ago, Ong Ka Ting et al submitted a memorandum, only to be rejected because it's not appropriate.

That could possibly mean two things:

1) There's no biasness in this multi-racial country (therefore it's not appropriate)
2) There really problem in the fairness of all races. Therefore it was inappropriate even though it is appropriate.

HOWEVER, the Chinese ministers have already claimed that the Chinese Malaysians are well treated in Malaysia.

SO GUYS, YOU ARE ALL WRONG!! There's no biasness in this multi-racial country. I'm sorry LKY, you are wrong too!

Take a look (on the rejected memorandum stuff):

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2006/01/23/2003290371

If, I mean if, LKY wanna ease the anger of Malaysians, there's one very easy way.

"The press had misquoted me, I didn't say that"

There is no need for Harry or anybody to apologise as what is mentioned is the truth. The truth hurts, people say. So, our Malaysian G is hurt cause what Harry says is the TRUTH.

DJZ: Gov't breaks promise on vernacular schools

Sep 22, 06 7:53pm

The government has allegedly broken its promise by pulling the plug on the construction of new Chinese and Tamil primary schools under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP).

According to Chinese education movement Dong Jiao Zong (DJZ), Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had promised to build more vernacular schools.

However, Deputy Education Minister Noh Omar revealed two days ago that under the 9MP there would be no more new vernacular schools.

Expressing disappointment with this, DJZ urged Barisan Nasional's Chinese-based parties such as MCA, Gerakan and Sabah's Supp and LDP to clear the air on this issue.

DJZ said the government should understand the people's need for education and provide fair treatment to all schools.

"Based on the funds allocated by the government, it is obvious that they have placed more emphasis on SK (national schools) and have marginalised SJK (vernacular schools)," the movement said in a statement.

Meeting the demand

From 1970 to 2006, it is estimated that the country saw an increase of 2,900 national schools. During the same period, a total of 193 vernacular schools - 58 Chinese schools and 134 Tamil schools - closed down.

According to DJZ, there is a demand for 134 Chinese schools nationwide at present.

"If the government only builds five or so Chinese schools every four years once when an election comes, then it will take 188 years or 47 elections before the 134 schools will be completed

"But by then, the population will increase and more schools would be needed," said the movement.

I think we shouldn't get worked up over this issue anymore. It was anyways, a comment, not an accusation for goodness sakes! Most of us know whether this is happening or not. We actually don't need anyone else to tell us so.

Also, Najib didn't have to reply to Mr. Lee's comment anyways. It's not like Mr. Lee officially asked for it, right? The locals have been doing it for yonks lah, Mr.Lee!

What could Najib have said anyways...Yes, Yes...we systematically and categorically marginalised Malaysian Chinese...!!Of course, he will deny at all cost.

Want to talk about marginalisation? Then let's talk about the cops being totally uncared about! A pay of RM650, who would not take bribes?! Even a bus driver in Singapore earns 3 times that amount!

At times I look at it, we just have to pandai-pandailah as the malay proverb goes. The Government has to do what they do because of the obvious reasons. No choice. So, the stronger will just have to bear with it.

To offer crutches as Frank&Honest puts it is fine if you really don't have the ability to to compete. But just to fill the multiple pockets of a few is not right.

Yes, just like Confuze said, we actually must fight as a single Malaysian against the core issues.

Pocurarante,

Yes. SHAME ON YOU. I agree with CONFUZE.

Using vulgar words to express your opinions don't reflect well on your community, assuming you are a Malaysian Chinese, a community which people like kokster99 is very proud off. People like Kokster99 lives in an isolated world that thinks that everybody else outside the Chinese community is not as smart, diligent and resourceful as him and his aunt in Australia.

But at least Kokster does try to argue his case, but he argues like someone who has just passed his teens and in his twenties or early thirties (not likely).

So,Pocurarante,control your emotions and may I also advise not to have the same mind of mental frame of Kokster99 in sensitive issues like inter-race matters

very interesting poll results in Cari forum (Chinese version) - [unofficial survey]

1) Do you agree with what Lee said? (你们支持李光耀的说法吗？)
=99% say YES

2) Do you agree that Malaysia did marginalise ethnic Chinese ? (是否贊成大馬華人被邊緣化的言论！)
=100% say YES

3) Do you want LEE to be our PM (你要李当我们的首相吗？)
= 100% say YES

4) 身为华族的你觉得你被国家边缘化吗？
= 100% say 是的。

note:
the above result taken as of 24/09 2pm.
Poll result may changed from time to time.

Clickster

You said...Malays give a higher priority to their religion, making money is not important to them.

Don't get into the same mudhole as Kokster99 with the same kind of generalisation and stereotyping about OTHER people. It is NOT fair.

But at least Kokster stereotypes his own community,ie the Malaysian Chinese, with attributes which he is so proud of, like his aunt in Australia and I would add, folks like Procurante.

If you are a religious person, and if you go to churches or temples every week, the priests or pastors will also tell you to give more priority to RELIGION and treat making money as NOT important.

Money is the root of all evil and maybe the problems with our Malaysian chinese community, as exemplified by our MCA Leaders, is the cause of our present "suffering", despite Kokster99's diligence and resourcefulness which his aunt has to migrate to Australia.

You think every Chinese will agree with you that the Chinese are nothing more than MONEY-MAKING MACHINES and does not give priority to RELIGIONS?
. Kokster99 may agree with you. And Malays spend the best part of their lives worrying about Religion??

Come on, it is stereotyping by people liek Kokster99 and you who do NOT contribute to better understanding and harmony between races and communities and cultures, which Malaysia need very badly.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/9/24/nation/15528615&sec=nation

pak lah on malaysia-singapore: the Klang Valley could be compared favourably with the republic.

hello? has pak lah been to singapore recently? what exactly is he comparing?

public transporation?

quality of education?

cleanliness?

integrity/efficiency of town councils?

flood prevention?

spending power?

he must be comparing something else...

on a sidenote, has anyone noticed that upon driving from the singapore customs checkpoint to the city centre along the TUAS highway, there isn't a single advertisement billboard to be spotted. hm. how do their town councils survive? hm..

Hey, hinzelmann, you hit the nailhead. Good questions.

I would be interested to know how Pak Lah‘s letter to LKY would be, and I would be more interested to know how LKY’s reply would be. I hope those letters are not classified as a top secret.

As far as this kind of intellectual combat is concerned, I have little confidence on our side, sorry to say that. For sure LKY would not adopt the cheap skate tactic like“ the press misquote me” the unique trade mark of our half past six ministers and politicians.

On the negotiation table between us and Singapore, our negotiators could seem only nod heads to the other side. Nodding head seems to be the only skill they learned through the practice of nodding head to TDM for 22 years.

I still cannot understand why all there is nothing but talk about the marginalisation of the non malays (this includes non malay bumis).

Why not do something about it!. It is the only language the malays understand. When they have no more jobs it will make them think. Remember why malaysia went through two recessions in the 80s and 90s the Umno government had to relax their bumi policies to attract investments. Why not start small businesses that employ a few person (non malays)only. This will also not attract the UMNO government to rob you of your small business.

Why don't the non malays follow the good advice of Rafidah to go elsewhere if they do not like it here. After all there are many other better places (both current and potential) to invest. Then there will be a loss of jobs here. Then, if the malays feel the pinch, they may then be realistic!.

Forget the MCA the Gerakan or MIC. They are a joke. Treat them as if they do not exist, which is exactly what they are!

KJ raised the 'Chinese' issue in the era of 'Glocalisation'.

LKY raised the 'Chinese' issue in the era of Globalisation'.

Why LKY needs to apologize? Why KJ was let go scot free?

Both raised racial issues for their own survival! Bloody unfair & biased.

Thank you, MCA. Thank you, Gerakan. You guys are the best UMNO asshole lickers.

I don't blame the Malays, Chinese, Indians, or other Rakyat Manaysia

peterpan has written a piece that resonates with the ring of history.

ck has written a sharp rebuttal to rejal arbee.

ktak has heads-up everyone on how a small-time minister can overturn the promise made by his boss, the prime minister, to the peoples of Malaysia, including the many malays who would have wanted their children to attend chinese vernacular schools.

so many others above have moved mountains with their words and feelings in this thread that started with what LKY said and dived on into what's wrong about governance in our country.

i can therefore only put up a small ramble here.

The state city of Shanxi is Taiyuan. A few hours by pristine superhighways cutting through mountains and open plains from that sprawling city is a small town called Hoama famous for her apples, grapes and vinegar. Within a hour by road from Hoama you will reach a building by the side of the road. It's sparse, just a small hostel, a hall and some office rooms. What this place does is the county govt provides some money, not much because the place is poor, to sponsor a vocational programme. Every year this programme picks up some 30 youngsters, ages from 14-17, from the surrounding countryside. Those who don't get in cry. They cry because their families are so poor they cannot afford to pay for their normal education. Those who're just a mite more fortunate will go through this programme. Without fail,for over 11 hours everyday, these youngsters train under the vigilant eyes of volunteers who're imbued by the need to help them. They're trained to be drummers. The Yicheng drum group is one of the best in Asia. If ever you're tired of life, just twenty minutes with them and you'll find back that lost human spirit.

It's something that has to be built upon; there's pain of poverty and being underprivileged. There's renewal of hope in ones so young. There's some impetus by those who can to wring some way to help those who can't. But most of all, it's about fortitude, hardwork, energy, self-sacrifice and sheer self-discipline. In the very process of drumming and working as a team to create a small future where there was none, something happens inside each of these youngsters.

Maybe those elements which work for the teenagers of Yicheng are the same elements which will work for the Mat Rempits of Malaysia. The children of Yicheng have no NEP.

It's about focus and discipline. And getting back to basics. And that, perhaps, is what Umno has forgotten. It so much wants to help the malays that it pours not only money and policies onto them exclusively. Then it finds that when those are not enough, its politicians pour some more of both. Then one day some of them decide it's not working out and that's when they decide they should make some hay for themselves, to incentise themselves to pour some more for the hoi-polloi. They must have reasoned - if those idiots can sell their votes for RM200 each, it will be a cinch to continue to get the mandate to do their whatever.

And that's why a prime minister can get a gift of a pair of shoes costing 4,000 pounds sterling airflown from London, paid for by his telco kaki. It's also why the same minister's son can corner the supply of granite supplied from Perak at RM 10/unit, then sold to KLIA at RM 160/unit. It's also how the chief's finance minister can cough up one hundred thousand pounds for a shopping spree of some blueblood's mistress. It's also about kickbacks from backdoor contracts to supply excess spare parts to the police and marine, about the samsonite suitcases of cash, some twenty million, for a resort project in johor.

And so the megamillion Rakan Muda programme with those splendid buildings which remain unused to this day because the new sports minister has decided to focus on something else in some other country, as if athletes trained there will be trained better than here. While the PE lessons in national schools are virtually non-existent, while housing estates don't have fields.

and after a teacher died from falling through a termite-infested floor.

and after patients died in some district hospitals in johor because there was no frigging oxygen for surgery, and the damn scanning machine did not work.

And they want to insist another country's mentor to apologise? Why are the politicians in this country constantly asking people to apologise when some of them can't even apologise to their own citizens for their racist statements and policies?

This growing tide of malay-inclined policies is not helpful; malays are not the only bumis, so umno is just flagellating around to create tension and deflect attention from their own despolations; and they can't push that line because the other fifth generation non-malays will insist that they should be more bumis.

In every one of those Yicheng kids, you will see the triumph of the human spirit over the fatalism of one's roots. The Malay kids can also do it. But it cannot be done using the same formulas and methods that umno have used for so many squandered, plundered and murdered years. The policies are wrong because the mindset is wrong, the perceptions are wrong, the priorities are wrong and the character is weak.

With the state of Melaka now bankrupt, the pageant of billboards sending the state of Selangor back to underdeveloped status, the misallocation by EPU of almost half a billion to Perak for an aborted rail project so soon after the multimillion Lumut fiasco, the bailout of TNB (again), the n, n+1, n+2, n+3,.... ad nauseum blinkered breach of fiduciary trust of the rakyat by the umno govt and civil service,.. all hope is gone for this country because we can no longer afford to muddle through. There's nothing left to muddle with anymore.

But that half a billion - it should go to the chinese schools. For what it's worth, i have to say that.

Will Badawi stand up and sit down on his education minister on this?

Since we all know the answer to that, QED on LKY's assertion. Because it would mean the original axiom remains:

the Chinese in Southeast Asia are considered migrants, will be considered migrants even if they're already nth-generation citizens.

No amount of drumming will lift this spirit anymore.

We're dead, man.

A very insightful thought by Neil, once again :)

In my humble opinion, the issue is more than racism + religion itself.

Let's talk about language itself - With three (four, to be precise) major languages being used in this country, with the three major races having no interests to learn each other's languages - how could we possibly achieve unity?

There were too much of quid pro quo situation in the first place, and actually all races are to be responsible actually.

You may ask any of those Chinese Malaysian or Indian Malaysian - "Are you a Chinese?" or "Are you an Indian?"

Big chances are, they would say yes.

Face the fact, we are all Malaysians. Chinese is those who born in China and Indian is those who's born in India.

Perhaps under the situation we have (yes, I could only say perhaps), since we are not bumiputra, these are the ONLY IDENTITY that we could be proud of.

Whose fault? Like I said, it has too much of quid pro quo situation - "you want me to give up this, why not you give me that first/why not you give up that first"

What i'm sure is, there's definitely no quick solution on this.

Ramadan Kareem to all Muslim,
What Harry said is right if most of the chinese in Malaysia feel systemically marginalised by Majority race in Malaysia, but thus some how the Malay and Indian in Malaysia are also systemically marginalised.Since were opening the can of worms.Economicly were are devided, politicly we are devided.Amazing we have been a nation for such a long time.What is holding us together so long?

I wonder how these malays can fast and pretend to be pious but at the same time they have no problems discriminating against non bumis. On the other hand, I guess even Osama bin Laden observes ramadan. One thing I did notice about all the muslim countries in world, they are all powerless and at the mercy of "Christian" countries. Maybe muslims should pay attention that, you gotta go with something that works. If it does not work, its best to discard it.

This story was printed from TODAYonline

Better to call a spade, a spade

• News Comment

Monday • September 25, 2006

KIM QUEK

IN the chorus of protests against Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's recent remark that Chinese Malaysians have been marginalised, one simple question remains unanswered.

If there has been no racial marginalisation, why has the word meritocracy been a taboo in Malaysian politics ever since the racial riots of May 13,1969?

A few more simple questions: Why has there been a massive and unrelenting brain drain since then, resulting in many Chinese Malaysians excelling in many fields in foreign lands? Why has there been a virtual monopoly by one race in the whole spectrum of the public sector, from the army and civil service to the judiciary and universities?

Why have there been, year after year, top Chinese Malaysian students barred from universities, only to be admitted later (for some) upon begging by Chinese Cabinet ministers?

No doubt Mr Lee may be faulted for lacking diplomatic niceties in his remarks, but he has spoken the truth. And I think every Malaysian knows that, at least in the deepest part of his heart.

Yes, we have been practising racial discrimination, and that is a zero sum game. When race A is barred so that race B can get in, it is one side's loss and another side's gain.

It is sheer dishonesty and hypocrisy to deny that no race has suffered a disadvantage as a result of this policy.

But the real question is: Is such policy justified? To answer that, we have to go back to where such policy started — the New Economic Policy (NEP), formulated after the racial riots in 1969.

In its original concept, the NEP's prime objective was to achieve national unity and the strategy was two-pronged: To eradicate poverty irrespective of race, and to restructure society so as to eliminate the identification of race with economic function.

There is nothing wrong with such an affirmative action policy, but the tragedy is that over the years, through racial hegemony, it has been transformed into a policy synonymous with racial privileges.

There is no question that in spite of the misapplication, the NEP has achieved its limited objective of elevating the status of Malays to a respectable level, compared to that of other races.

But such anachronistic and regressive policy has no place in the globalising world or in any civilised society. As it is, the pressure to dismantle such policy does not come from within — as the deprived races seem powerless to redress this wrong — but from the whole world who are our trading partners.

Our trade negotiators should be able to testify how tough the going is when it comes to negotiating free trade agreements — whether it is regional marketing pacts or bilateral agreements — due to the presence of Malaysia's race-based protectionist policies.

These NEP-inspired policies stand as stumbling blocks to the opening of a wider window for two-way trades and investments.

Even worse is the loss of Malaysia's economic competitiveness in the face of rising competition from abroad.

Our prime minister has correctly diagnosed this malaise as the prevalence of our third-world mentality, but he has not done enough to correct our uncompetitive culture or to stamp out our worsening racial and religious divide.

Mr Lee's comments have understandably riled many Malaysian leaders, but it should also have struck resonance among many who have silently put up with these unjust policies all these years.

The great silent majority should now ponder what would serve their interests best: To save face by angrily rebutting Mr Lee, or to stare at the ugly truth and institute changes that will put the nation on the right path?

We have reached a stage in our history critical enough to warrant caution in putting too much trust in incumbent leaders. The fact that we have scraped through as a nation despite such policies does not guarantee we will be similarly lucky in the future.

Internal and external circumstances have so altered that we can no longer commit such major errors without putting our future in peril. From this perspective, Mr Lee's bitter medicine may yet work to our advantage, if we are humble and brave enough to do some serious introspection that may lead to our common good.

The writer is a political commentator and author of the Malaysian best-seller, Where to, Malaysia?.

'MM's comments reflect reality in M'sia'

Doyen of Chinese-language education says issue was avoided by Chinese parties

Monday • September 25, 2006

KUALA LUMPUR — Comments made by Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew at a forum last week reflected the reality in Malaysia — but it was an issue the Chinese parties in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition did not dare bring up, said Malaysia's doyen of Chinese-language education Shen Muyu.

Mr Shen said the country's ethnic Chinese should thank Mr Lee for his comments that the "Chinese are being marginalised" in Malaysia, Singapore's Chinese- language Zaobao reported yesterday citing an interview with the Chinese-language China Press.

Answering a question at a forum in Singapore last week, Mr Lee had reportedly said it was vital for the Republic to stand up to Malaysia and Indonesia.

He said the attitude of Malaysia and Indonesia towards Singapore had been shaped by the way the countries treated their own ethnic Chinese minorities.

Mr Shen said there were a number of policies that were disadvantageous to non-bumiputras but this was something the Chinese were afraid to talk about and silently acquiesced to.

What Mr Lee said reflected the feelings of Malaysia's Chinese, he added.

Mr Shen said the response of the Chinese leaders within Malaysia's ruling coalition to Mr Lee's remarks did not "come from the heart".

Mr Shen urged the Malaysian government to treat all races alike, saying that both bumiputras and non-bumiputras pay taxes and contribute to the well-being of the country.

The presence of a quota system with respect to a number of government policies, as well as the policy of not allowing the creation of new Chinese-language primary schools, are evidence that the Chinese were being marginalised, he added.

Speaking to the Chinese-language Nanyang Siang Pau, Mr Shen said Malaysia's Chinese should take up on what MM Lee had said and make their views heard through proper channels, Zaobao reported.

In a poll on blogsite MonsterBlog, hosted by Malaysia's New Straits Times, 42 per cent of respondents agreed with Mr Lee that Chinese in Malaysia were marginalised, 18 per cent disagreed, while the rest had other opinions, according to a report by Nanyang.com.

Malaysian government leaders have criticised Mr Lee's comments; Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Saturday that his words were "very dangerous" and could amount to "instigation".

"I will write to him and seek clarification why he had said it," media reports quoted Mr Abdullah as saying.

"This act is not fair at all, made by a leader of our neighbouring country. Mr Lee Kuan Yew should have understood that our relations with Singapore must always be nurtured with care.

"He would want stability on our side because if we are not stable, Singapore will face problems because of its many interests here."

every words comes from harry lee is true.

as a muslim, i oppossed all discrimination from gov to other race. true islam didn't preach that only islam hadhari preach that.

most of umno voters didn't care about dosa/pahala for what they had done to other race. in islam all race are equal and need to be treated equal, as simple as that.

me myself as malay born with 30% advantage guaranteed by gov policy whereas my chinese friend born with no advantage at all. ..........HIDUP MELAYU......piiiiiiiiirah

and some malay said they deserved that because this is their land. in other word they saying others shouldn't be born here. But who on earth can control that? you want them to blame their ancestors? very funny, because malay should first blame their people/royalties who allowing brits to bring all kuli that they need that time.

rosman

LKY is a closet racist in the guise of being an intellectual.

LKY is no different from those racist hiding in UMNO Youth and UMNO.

They both use race and communal sentiments to be heard in the media and gain some clap traps from readers on this blog.

LKY should stick to governing his own kiasu and kiasi Singaporeans who have high standard of living but are more like walking robots remote controlled by the PAP mind-benders.

LKY should not try to be a Chinese champion for Malaysian Chinese. We already have enough idiots in MCA and Gerakan for ourselves in Malaysia.

Somtimes I think, LKY should age with grace and with more wisdom instead of becoming intellectually senile by engaging in a neighbour's communal issues.

He had done well for Singapore and he should just keep that for history and his legacy, rather than trying to over-reach his cleverness in his twilight years.

ktak

LKY is speaking the obvious. So what is new?

Najib, as I said, does not believe what he himself said.

All the brohaha we hear on this thread is a feel-good therapy.

Thank God we all have the internet and Jeff's blog instead of a psychiatrist so that we all can pour out our whining and whingeing and self-pity (including vulgar words used and self-praise of resourcefulness of aunts overseas, to quote Kokster99, and feel good the next day.

And I am already feeling good writing this.

tiredguy

What is holding us together so long?

My answer: The fear-politics of UMNO backed by the lap-dog attitudes of MCA and Gerakan leaders, and the deaf, dumb and blind personalities of MIC leaders who jointly managed to cleverly hoodwinked the clever-by-half Malaysian voters and non-voters.

That is how we had survived since 1957. But then, we, as a nation, are like a well-designed and well-coloured egg shell from the outside but quite rotten inside, politically. This we have to admit.

Frank&Honest,

You sound like a Mr-Know-It-All...

Please teach us then, the lesser ones, what should we do about this?

The marginalised community in malaysia should gang up and demand equal opportunity.
Lets see how many parliamentary seats there are in sabah n sarawak. Add that to the number of seats held by non-umno parties.
Lets just say that the marginalised community have had enough and jump seats or vote against ammendments that are discriminatory.
having said that, LKY is a mean person. Meaner than TDM. He marginalised anybody who opposes him and bankrupts them. Cronyism exist in singapore. All important positions in the state is controlled by the FamiLee.
So to the gullible malaysian public, don't be fooled.

It is sad to see that it only takes very little to sway the malaysian chinese to be on singapore's side. What is more worrying is would the malaysian chinese help this nation if ever singapore were to attack and slaughter us? You live in this country you call yours, make your fortune here, bring up your children and family here, but yet when loyalty test you, you fail to stand up. You jump at the very opportunity you get to stab the people you have been living with all this while. Do you live here to just suck this country's resources dry, or will you be here through thick and thin, through happiness and sorrow? Yes we have problems here and there, we are not a perfect nation, but who is? That is only natural. We are so blessed to be born and live here, have so much that we are able to share with others. Regardless of ethnicity, religion, race and status, we manage to co-exist peacefully. Can u sincerely say that we live here peacefully because the government marginalize a certain race. We are reminded daily that other nations have so little that they can call their own, even their dignity is gone, living their life at the mercy of other nation. We need to count our blessings everyday, not just on merdeka day! This is my country. I would fight and die if and when the call comes. Could you say the same about yourself? It would have been great if we stood united with one voice as malaysians and gave LKY a piece of our mind. A famous man once said " ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country". To LKY i say, mind your own business in your own dotted little space ( the country that the obliging malays gave you in order to cast you away from creating more havoc in malaysia, u didn't earn it through your sweat, mind you) and learn to live like a good neighbour should.

kokster99

You asked...Please teach us then, the lesser ones, what should we do about this?

I have to presume you are living in Malaysia and of voting age and has some time on your hands.

After reading all the comments here and elsewhere, you can do something when the next election comes. Well, I am not going to tell who to vote or who YOU should advise your neighbors, friends and strangers to vote.

Since you are not happy with the status quo, then with your resourcefulness and diligence (to quote you), you should know what changes needed to be done so that the country does not keep on going down the drain o issues which we are so concerned about here.

Use your resourcefulness which you claim you have plentiful of it ... or your aunt in Australia might give you some tips on it.

Frank&Honest,

Why don't you run and I'LL vote you?

And I think you ought to stop your sarcasm about my relatives. You can knock me because I lack substance in my comments but please refrain from knocking my relative.

You are threading towards being rude and insulting.

Frank&Honest,

I dont care how racist lky is, but what he said is true. if not pls put your arguement.

others,
coward like f&h will never tell you what to vote, he will just play know-all-attitude. so listen to me, whatever you do, when election comes, vote for anything other than bn, even if monkey vs bn, you should vote for monkey

sydput,

i dont care even if dictator rule malaysia, if he can make us prosper.

harrylee and sons and in laws headed spore but they also spreading all weath to their people. but we aab and son in laws and cronies keep everthing to themselve. maybe rich people like you never come accross/meet/live with poor people, thats why you guys can accept everything people up there did.

Harin, said

"I would fight and die if and when the call comes. Could you say the same about yourself?"

No!. I would not NOW! My grandmother was born in this country, so were my parents, my family, children & grandchildren.
I am a citizen by operation of law. My citizenship certificate Number is in the single digit. I even fought for independence. I was very loyal & patriotic. NOT ANY MORE.

I not only have my citizen's RIGHTS but also my human RIGHTS taken away but also robbed by UMNO.

Why should I fight and die for UMNO or Malaysia when UMNO and malaysia do not treat or regard me as as a full citizen. Until they do I say to hell with them. I will advise my children and grandchildren the same. They are doing very well overseas and contibuting to the success of those countries.

To add to my comment to Harin.

I live here not because I like it. I live here because my aged parents are here. Tey are too aged to travel. I cannot run away from this fact as well as my responsibility to my parents.

I live here because it is relatively cheap. If you have money you can buy anything here including the PM and the government. That is also known as corruption! Where else can I have the best justice that money can buy!

Harin,

Couldn't agree more with what you said " ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country".

Also agree that true royalty will not sway even when tested. But why do you feel that it is not the case now?

Didn't we all scream and cry with happiness when Malaysia won the Thomas Cup back in 1994??

Why the Chinese choose to say Yes to a foreigner's (LKY) comment??

Can we blame the chinese for being unhappy whenever top chinese students being denied a palce in the university?

Does royalty mean a blind faith to be provided unilaterally no matter what the government does to you?

Harin,

Couldn't agree more with what you said " ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country".

Also agree that true royalty will not sway even when tested. But why do you feel that it is not the case now?

Didn't we all scream and cry with happiness when Malaysia won the Thomas Cup back in 1994??

Why the Chinese choose to say Yes to a foreigner's (LKY) comment??

Can we blame the chinese for being unhappy whenever top chinese students being denied a palce in the university?

Does royalty mean a blind faith to be provided unilaterally no matter what the government does to you?

Harin & Simplicity,

Deep down I cannoot help thinking about the parallel case of Hong Tuah & Hang Jebat in what both of you have bring up.

Hang Tuah was given shit by the sultan & yet had to fight to protect the shit-giver by killing his best friend, Hang Jebat!

There are many write-ups on this issue & has caused a lot of 'flares' amongs the Malays.

So if the Malays can argue so well in the saga of Hang Tuah/Hang Jebat I would sincerely like to see such an argument play out with these roles replacement; Hang Tuah (Malay), Hang Jebat (Non-Malay) & Sultan (the prevailing socio-economic setup).

Goes for it.

Then perhaps this will help to clear-up the lingering doubts about the loyalty of the Non-malay in M'sia by the Malay!

Harin, you said...

"What is more worrying is would the malaysian chinese help this nation if ever singapore were to attack and slaughter us?"

Don't worry too much-lah harin, though we are chinese by ethnicity, but we are still malaysian. We may have arguments here and there but those are constructive arguments that will build a better nation.

Inspite of what singaporean lee have said, we all know to a certain extent it was true. But then, he is an outsider who was trying to stir the broth we all have built. Some people may not see beyond what was uttered by Lee. Yes, we have racial imbalances, but do we need an outsider to tell us? Weren't we working towards a better, less imbalance Malaysia? What's Wawasan 2020 then, though we are lag behind already? Unless, we did not make an effort to improve, then it's a different case.

Harry is an old fox, I don't think he open his big mouth because he suddenly woke up and now giving a shit about the faith of the chinese malaysian. Let's not emotionally affected by that.

I agree Singapore is more advance in terms of economy. As a result, they can buy all sorts of advance technology stuffs. Singapore is meant for young and energetic people. If you are aged, you can expect yourself to queue up and become a taxi driver. They encourage old people to migrate, the gov don't give a shit because they are not productive anymore. This maybe good for the country's productivity but bad for the citizen, old folks leave the country please! Do business in Singapore? Limited opportunity... even their businessmen come and do business in malaysia. They will tell you singapore not more gold, malaysia is the place! Go and ask the singaporean.

Singapore is saturated, they've got no more land to develop. They are desparate and the sand issue makes Harry even more pissed. Yes, they envy malaysia because we have wide ranges of resources. Singapore attack malaysia? What in the world make it justifiable? Do you think a country can attack another country just like that? Look at all the wars around the world, it is the internal problem that makes a country weak, that eventually makes it justifiable for outsider like US interfere and conveniently conquer.

Coming back to your question, if our relation is strong, yes we will fight together and kick the singaporean buds out of this country. This boils down to the government's effort to promote unity and ensure a country fair for everyone to live in. If the malay and chinese hate each other so much, no need to say-lah, it's obvious.

p/s. It should be "chinese malaysian", not "malaysian chinese". Malaysian chinese are malaysian who has migrated to china and obtained a chinese citizenship.