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are we sure YAB Abdullah is 'struggling to cope'? or is he secretly abetting these sentiments so that he can

a) emerge as the messiah-like voice of reason,

b) help Umno survive the only way it can: by perpetuating fears of bogeymen non-Malays.

As for 'the keris is just to defend the rights of Malays nonsense', where was kerishammuddin and gang when the very Malay Kampung Berembang 'ditsunamikan'??

3rd (or shd it be 4th ) world mentality rears its ugly head again.

INSECURITY by the ones who has no reason to feel insecure at all...! now dats bodoh!

getting riled up by religious issues happening outside, and then creating havoc in own country altho there is ntg wrong wit it is just plain STUPIDITY!

Dei! With dumb projects like sending Boleh nauts to do lame experiments, no other country will take you seriously!!! Buck up , Malaysia!

p/s : wats de record we'll get by sending a Bolehnaut ? the first muslim in space is an Iranian born American
. and She's a lady. so there.no wonder we need to create absurd records like de traditional games and teh tarik huh?

I think I shall start to show Hisham my utmost displeasure at his racist antics.

If there is some function which he is gracing, I shall stage a walkout when it is his turn to deliver his speech. A quiet stand up and take a break gesture. Nothing loud and brash - like waving an offensive weapon - but a little voting with my feet.

How much impact will that have?

Not much I think.. by itself. But imagine if more folks join in, and there is a significant number of people who have somehow decided to take a break whenever it is Hisham's turn to speak.

Who's with me?

Hishamuddin, you're an embarassment to your father and your grandfather. Both were more sensitive to other races when compared to you.

is suprising when his dad left UMNO bcuz he dnt agree with de way stuff are being run, and yet he is acting exactly like wat his father was afraid of : extremism,racism and un-equality among Malaysians.

he s got to over react la ...you see, kissing rear bumpers and ampu people who matters. get s de support frm de Malays. Get easy Mat rempit votes. Pre-planned move.

but we all can see it! action in the next GE! show em who s boss! de politicians, or us, de people!!!

Jeff, you call it the annual amok show. I prefer to refer to it as the annual amok orgy.

Whatever, obviously after such an orgy there has to be winners and losers. Surely it cannot be said that the entire orgy and its participants were losers.

Badawi seems to have come out looking like an angel after his closing address. Like as if he is the last straw that the rest of us can clutch on to. And some how his closing address seems to be what the rest of us should derive our assurances from.

But he is the man! He is supposed to have had the mental capacity to determine right or wrong, good or bad, when his Minister of Education started weilding swords while repeating words like it being bathed in blood. Does not matter if he said it or others. But an unsheathed keris together with threats of streets flowing in blood and keris bathed in blood spoken and targeted at the Chinese surely is Malay culture!!! come on...Keriamuddin, you cannot be serious there. The Malay culture is not that. They do not unsheath the Keris at their weddings although it is part of the getup of the groom. Only Kerisamuddin seems to unsheath his keris to motivate his Malay youth.

Badawi should have known that the theme being pursued in his Assembly was predatory in nature when it was absolutely not required.

But after all that, and he had permitted it to go on for the duration without a word of reprimand or apology, and he comes out with his conclusion which is supposed to appease all the rest of us.

Sounds like as if the whole thing was a set up just to push Badawi's falling fortunes in the eyes of both the Malays and the nons. This is sad. So sad!

Probably Kerishamuddin knows that he will never be PM in the future and so does not mind playing bad cop.

AS I have said previously, without a word of mention of the cancer thta is spreading deep within UMNO, the Malays have to be concerned that they are being led by a bunch of lepers. (oops, sorry to those inflicted by the disease. Do not mean to demean you in those terms)

Fact of the matter is more than 80% of the UMNO MPs and State Assemblymen and women owe their seats to the Chinese vote for whom UMNO has always been better than PAS. This assuming the Malay vote is always split between PAS and UMNO.

The real winner of the just concluded UMNO general assembly was ofcourse PAS. Can we all not see how suddenly, there seems to be little difference between PAS and UMNO whereas previously we would just brush off PAS without even thinking? As someone told me, when all of a sudden you find the old worn out prostitute who is well past her used by date, standing by the door way of a rumah tumpanggan, appealing, then something of a pradigm shift has surely happened in your life! And PAS is begining to look appealing to me. I never thought I'd say those words.

leandre

I think you're talking about his grandfather.

sorry. my bad...

his Grand dad!

thanx aput83

Observer

I agree. It seems a vote for PAS would actually be the lesser of two evils.

This issue is not going to disappear any time soon. The burden will be on the PM and he is bound to be asked this question by reporters on his foreign visits.
He cannot continue saying "one or two speakers" out of so many that were wayward, as this involves a member of his own cabinet, whom he cannot reprimand publicly. If he sacks Hishamuddin, it may be perceived as hinm wanting to elevate his SIL.
He might "demote" Hishamuddin to a very minor ministry to show his anger.

LJ

This issue is not going to disappear any time soon. The burden will be on the PM and he is bound to be asked this question by reporters on his foreign visits.
He cannot continue saying "one or two speakers" out of so many that were wayward, as this involves a member of his own cabinet, whom he cannot reprimand publicly. If he sacks Hishamuddin, it may be perceived as him wanting to elevate his SIL.
He might "demote" Hishamuddin to a very minor ministry to show his anger.

LJ

Pak Lah might demote Hishamuddin? Ha ha... You must be joking.

Azmi Sharom has put a neat rebuttal to the umnoglots in a recent letter to one press:

http://tinyurl.com/yhw44e

Fear-mongers drown out genuine issues

It would be an understatement to say that the just-concluded Umno General Assembly has caused a great deal of concern among right-thinking Malaysians, regardless of race. The language by many of the delegates was disgraceful. Although the prime minister did make conciliatory gestures in his closing address, the fact remains that not one of the Umno delegates, with the exception of Markiman Kobiran, publicly said anything against such behaviour. This to me indicates that such thinking is reflective of the thinking of the rank and file and that is worrying. This is not some fringe group we are talking about here, this is Umno and it is the ruling party.

However, let us look upon the positives. I remember many years ago in sunny England, talking to a South African friend and we both agreed that the thing about apartheid era South Africa was that at least you knew exactly where the racism was, unlike in Britain where it was more insidious. The same can be said in our situation now, the blatant bigotry and the racism have risen to the surface. It is there in plain view and should now be dealt with.

The language used in the general assembly was the language of war and death. Blood was a recurring theme and there was even a call to "use the keris". Now, no matter what Hishammuddin Hussein might say about the keris being merely a symbol, it is still a weapon and the imagery of him being asked to use that weapon is quite simply one of violence.

When there is talk of war and threats, the purpose is to frighten. And the purpose of frightening people is so that they, in their fear, will turn to a saviour. The fear is that of the non-Malay (and some "traitorous" Malays of course) and their ever-present threat to Malay privileges and Islam. The saviour naturally is Umno. A point not only made by the delegates but also by the RTM presenter covering the general assembly. Therefore, it must surely be true.

But let us first see whether this fear is justified. Just as the American and British public should have demanded more firmly from their governments "where are those weapons of mass destruction that is going to destroy us?", we the people of Malaysia, particularly the Malay people of Malaysia, should be asking "where is the threat to our constitutional privileges and the religion of Islam?"

Rights vs privileges

Firstly, let's examine the issue of Malay privileges. Incidentally, it is not "Malay rights". There is no such thing as a racial "right" to be given special treatment. And that is not me being argumentative, it's the Constitution. You won't find "Malay rights" in the supreme law of our land, instead, you will find terms such as "special position" of Malays. The difference is more than semantics. A right implies something inalienable. A privilege on the other hand is a benefit, presumably given to those who need it. It is inconceivable that discrimination, whether affirmative or not, can be considered a right. It is in direct contradiction with that most fundamental of true rights, equality among all human beings.

This privilege was made a fundamental part of the Constitution to protect the Malays from being overwhelmed economically, administratively and politically from the immigrant ethnic groups of the time. In return those groups were given the protection and security of citizenship. This is our famous social contract.

How is this constitutional provision being threatened? By people merely questioning it? Is that a threat? Have questions become a threat in this country? What the delegates did not bother pointing out to the people of Malaysia is that for such privileges to be taken away would require a constitutional Aamendment that would need the two-third support of the Dewan Rakyat, the Dewan Negara and approval from the Conference of Rulers. Hardly likely, no matter who is in government. So why is there such a fear?

'Threats' to Islam

With regard to the threat to Islam, again, it is merely fear mongering. A so-called danger is the matter of apostasy. The official numbers of converts out of Islam is miniscule and a large percentage of those are for people who had to embrace Islam because of marriages which have since failed. Shafee Muslims are given every single opportunity to practise their faith in this country and their perpetually delicate sensitivities are guarded to the point of comedy. For example, when was the last time you saw a pig on the cinema screen? So again, my question remains, where is the threat?

The so-called threats are made up based on narrow-minded thinking and untruths. For example, the Konrad Adenaur Foundation programme in Penang where people are brought around on a tour of various houses of worship is apparently a serious threat. How can it be? Unless your faith is so weak that the visiting of a temple would turn you into a Hindu. The idea of such programmes is to emphasise the peaceful and neighbourly intent of all religions. And what is wrong with that? Are these so-called "defenders of Islam" saying that only Islam promotes such values? If that is the case, all other religions must surely be solely about evil practices. Only the most bigoted can possibly believe that.

The Interfaith Commission is another handy bogeyman. The IFC is not an NGO or an organisation of any kind; it was a proposed statutory body. The purpose of this body was to provide a forum where interfaith issues could be discussed and advice given to the relevant bodies in the event of conflict. It was not a judicial body with authority to make binding decisions. It can in no way usurp the jurisdiction of the syariah court, the civil court or even the penghulu court.

But the Malay press painted a different picture. The IFC was going to emasculate the syariah court and it was going to encourage and enforce the conversion of Muslims out of the religion it seems. Either the writers of such slander did not read the Constitution of the proposed IFC or they did and they decided to just write what they wanted anyway. Besides, the idea has been all but scrapped and for it to work it needs to be passed by Parliament. I don't think that this is going to happen. So what we have here is delegates raising the ghost of the IFC as a threat when in fact it never was a threat and having been shelved by the Umno-led government, it's effectively dead anyway. How much simpler can this be put? There was no threat.

In the face of such bigotry, I am reminded of Akbar Shah, the greatest of the Moghul emperors. He protected people of all faiths and protected the freedom of worship for all. And he encouraged debate and communication between religions as well. It's a good thing that this man, the leader of one of the greatest Muslim empires ever known, was not Malaysian because he would have probably been branded a threat to Islam.

Genuine issues ignored

All this fist-waving and calls to arms is sad not only because it shows the unacceptably ugly reality of prejudice in our country, but more importantly, by raging against imaginary dangers and shooting at shadows, time is wasted and genuine issues are not being properly debated. Even the prime minister bemoaned the fact that the true threat of corruption was not discussed in any depth.

And why was the issue of the wastage of public funds not discussed? For example, the spending of millions of public money to send Malaysian astronauts to space to play batu seremban. Supposedly it is to encourage interest in science. Perhaps it would have been better to debate whether this will promote interest in science or maybe, just maybe, using the money to build proper science labs in government schools, would be a better option.

And if the issue of apostasy has to be debated, instead of vicious calls for punishment (as if cruelty is going to make one's religion more endearing), maybe the debate should be why are those Muslims who are converting out of Islam so disillusioned? When looking at a problem, the first port of call should be oneself. It's a lot harder than pointing accusatory fingers quivering with rage at others, but ultimately more meaningful.

Issues such as the Asli (Asian Strategic and Leadership Institute) report must be studied with cold reason and not emotive screaming. It is of vital importance to know the truth and that means looking at works from independent bodies like Asli. It is important because we need to know what is working and what is not in order to make sure we do not head towards economic and social meltdown.

It is the future of Malaysia that we should be concerned about and honest discussions about what we can do to secure that future is what we need to hear from the so-called leaders of the country. Not the scoring of cheap shots and not the obtaining of political mileage from appealing to the lowest and basest instincts of man. If we are not mature enough to rationally examine what this country truly needs, and more importantly, if the leaders of the nation are not mature enough to do this, all of us, Malays, Indians, Chinese, indigenous peoples, all us ordinary Malaysians, we will suffer.

Azmi Sharom
Kuala Lumpur

1-0 to right thinking Malaysian!

Observer

You said.... there seems to be little difference between PAS and UMNO

I beg to differ.

UMNO is a race-based political party, policies guided on racial lines, and through years of virtual absolute power have resorted to dangerous racist tendencies.

PAS is a party founded on religion. It is NOT a race-based party and it does not have in its constitution of a race-based policies.

There Chinese, Indian and Western Muslims and they are eligible for PAS membership. In fact there are ethnic Chinese members in PAS.

I don't hear racist verbal diarrhoea, blood-soaking keris threats to non Malays, and I don't hear that they will let blood flow if the Malays' status quo is threatened. First of all, Islam as practised by mainstream Malay Muslims does not allow that, ie to look at others in terms of race, as UMNO does.

So, I disagree with your position on this.

guess who is behind the white mask.

i believe wat he meant abt de little diff btween UMNO & PAS is that if UMNO continues with the extremism, they wld not be diff from PAS who over the years preached religious extremism in their actions. since dat agenda obviously turns off the interests of non-muslims, and dare i say the most of the muslims themselves, PAS cnt go far. but with the UMNO sayin de same, well we have a big problem, dnt we...? both malays and non-malays, and both muslims and non-muslims.

its just a case of "melayu mudah lupa" and "paku sembilang paku serpih, mengata orang, dia yang lebih".....

UMNO demonised other political parties before for harping the racial issue, and being extreme...!

so wat now...? i agree with the " vote for the lesser evil...!"

which is getting harder to differenciate by the day!

leandre

I still differ. You need to differentiate between race and religion.

A Chinese can be a Buddhist, Christian or Muslim. But you are a Chinese still.

For PAS, they operate within the confines of Islam that has known parameters to one and all. For UMNO, it is guided by individual or mob racist tendencies as we witness in the UMNO General Assembly.

And it is also unbecoming of you or anyone to classify UMNO and PAS as "EVIL".

One other thing: UMNO is a tested entity in as far as ruling the country. They are a know quantity as far as Malays and non Malays are concerned in terms of running a Govt.

PAS is not. So your comments about PAS is based on assumptions and it is still hypothetical statement.

UMNO and PAS are as different as eggs and oranges, even if both are in the same basket.

i would like to clarify dat by saying the "lesser of two evils", im not implying both parties evil. de context is in de sense that in politics, each side has de negative issue, its up to us in deciding which one "lesser damaging" to us.

and for our betterment...

*refer to de postings in de "say no to NEP forum".

as explained by Najah : The rule in politics is "the lesser of two evils".

as sheryl crow once sang: a change would do you good. how long shd we wait, till we ve got ntg to lose?

It's time we as Malaysian understand that 1 major political party dominating the government is a big No-No. As you can see, a huge BN wins means, they (BN goons) can screw with us whenever, however, whichever way they like. And there is absolutely nothing you can do or say about it, like it or not. So, are you sure you still want to vote for these BN goons? I'll rather vote for PAS, if I no choice.

Why the keris? It is "Culture" so he said. But, why choose a symbol like that. That keris took the life of a brother in a duel. The only difference is this one has a different name. Choose something else or else, brothers beware!

The fact that he is the Education Minister is really scary. What kind of message our students will be getting from such behaviour?

I recalled that he was very vocal and 'angry' over thuggery in schools not long ago. Isn't his behaviour worse than such students'?

Histories have shown that aggression and racism only led to destructions. What sort of education he had?

This fellow has lost the moral authority to be an Education Minister! Any responsible administration must remove such leader immediately.

What is next? Badawi's Islam Hadhari seems to protect radical elements. Instead of condemning Hishamudin, he said a few words, the reactions by PM and DM towards Hishamudin and his morons in UMNO are not justified.

Clearly, Malaysia's PM and DPM is either afraid of the extremist or, in the context of conspiracy theory, are the one supporting them.

I wonder where is all this nonsense going to lead us? We have seen what happened in Indonesia during the height of AFC. Are we going to wait until our wife, daughter are killed, raped and tortured by extremist in this country before we take affirmative actions.

If MCA, Gerakan and MIC does not make a stand, then they are not any better than the extremist in UMNO.

Frank and Honest

Does it really matter that one is religious based and the other race based? To us nons, the fine line dividing the two has become so thin that they seem seamlessly jointed together. That is our perception.

Fact is PAS has never renounced the NEP and all those pro-Malay policies that will make God himself a little embarrassed in the way of its implementation that these things are being done by his own defenders.

And ofcourse there is a world of a difference between the young and fresh looking prostitute and the tobacco chewing old witch looking mama outside the rumah tumpangan. Problem for the young prostitute is when her regulars start to find the old mama appealing all of a sudden! Who really cares for principles and policies anymore anyway?

Frank and Honest

Does it really matter that one is religious based and the other race based? To us nons, the fine line dividing the two has become so thin that they seem seamlessly jointed together. That is our perception.

Fact is PAS has never renounced the NEP and all those pro-Malay policies that will make God himself a little embarrassed in the way of its implementation that these things are being done by his own defenders.

And ofcourse there is a world of a difference between the young and fresh looking prostitute and the tobacco chewing old witch looking mama outside the rumah tumpangan. Problem for the young prostitute is when her regulars start to find the old mama appealing all of a sudden! Who really cares for principles and policies anymore anyway?

Observer

We need to make one fact clear.

When the NEP was first launched, everybody accepted it on the need for affirmative action, or positive discrimination to rebalance the economic cake. Those from all political persuasions who were familiar of the situation in mid60s and early 70s, recognised it.

The issue NOW is that it was very badly, negatively implemented as a result the NEP created a layer of bumiputras who we call now the UMNOputras. Those undeserving of NEP took full advantage of this and enrich themselves and they continue to siphon off the benefits, denying to a large section of the poorer and more deserving Malays.

You cannot judge or simply give a vote or not to political party based on one issue of renouncing NEP. You have to look at a basket of policies.

There are other issues which PAS must address if it needs to re-invent itself to be more palatable to the non Muslims or non Malays. Least of all in today's Malaysia, is NEP.

NEP was never the hallmark of PAS's policy, one way or the other.

The NEP issue is the only lifeline left for UMNO's continued relevance and for its greedy UMNOputras and their cronies to further enrich themselves, with little sweat invest to become overnight millionnaires.

For you to mention and bring God into the picture, in whatever form of religion you based upon, into the politics of Malaysia is truly uncalled for and most distasteful. What has God to do with the politiking of PAS or even UMNO or MCA?

You might even lose your own argument viz-a-viz UMNO in your present line of discourse.

I think your own personal sentiments in this issue are getting in the way, unfortunately, of your more objective thinking which used to come across in most of your other postings

Why can't these leaders just put up the V fingers signal (peace) like what Richard Nixon always do... Simple and easy and unoffending... keep the keris at home

What has God to do with the politicking of PAS, Frank&Honest? Quite a lot, I'd imagine, since they're an Islamic party. (Unless they converted to atheism while nobody was looking.)

johnleemk

So is every political party even in the United States or UK or in UMNO and even in Govt. In US where Church and State are separated, prayers are held before Congress starts its session.Prayers are made to God. Not only PAS.

My point is why bring God into the picture in the politiking of political parties.

Like bringing Jesus Christ into the politics of Christians in MCA or MIC and saying that Jesus Christ will be embarrassed by these sinful Christian politicians.

You miss my point of contention.

Leave God or Jesus Christ out for that matter . Just read what Observer wrote on this issue with his distasteful remark about PAS and personalising what God thinks. I think it is very distasteful in a discussion like this. You bring the debate into the gutter.

Racist political morons who make inflammatory statements should not be allowed to walk scot free. They should be charged in court for sedition, immaterial of their political connections. An idiot who displays the ceremonial Kris in an assembly is insulting our heritage. Hope Badawi stops talking & takes action - the Mahathir way & shows Malaysians who is The Boss of Malaysia. Wake up Badawi & stop hiding under Rafidah's skirt for Christ's sake!!!

Badawi thinks he is in control of UMNO...but i think he has lost control..despite his advice not to go overboard..the delegates did it.

And what did he do..nothing...Instead of publicly giving them a tongue lashing..to shame them..he tried damage control by playing down the racists elements in the GA.

I don't think he will last as PM, when his members are openly challenging his authority

Well, fortunately for some but not the others, TDM might be right when he said that the government is "half-past-six". Heck, Umno might as well have a loser in the house.

Frank and Honest

God, whom we all picture Him to be, would certainly be embarrassed with the goings on in Malaysian politics and for that matter in every other political theatre whereever he is invoked. That statement has nothing to do with what I believe or disbelieve of God.

However, I cannot exclude Him in any take on any kind of political situation as He happens to also be a motivator, a reference point, a moral beacon and a cause. No, not that He has manifested Himself in any tangible way. But say or do anything in the name of God, and walla, somehow, you find justification and rationale in the most ludicrous of positions. Or at the very least you shut the other person up.

To ignore God in the political equation in Malaysia, whether it be PAS or UMNO would be blatantly being irresponsible.

PAS's political position which wavers like the wind just cannot be depended upon if all that you wish to see is the top of the grass that's bent over by the wind blowing at the time. Fact is no wind dislodges the grass from its roots. PAS's true colours came out after the 1999 elections when they thought for a moment that the country was deliverd to them by their God. I hope you do remember their Islamic State document. Their present position of remaining silent to that document only goes to show their own commitment to themselves and to their faith. I would have thought that indeed if you are there to serve your God, that alone should overide political realities and expedience. Taht they can one day be championing the Islamic State with a gung ho and the next day distancing themselves from it so that the electorate forgets their previous position makes them as devious as any other BN politician. At least the BN politician is not as devious.

If there is, therefore, a God, yes surely, He would be quite embarrassed about the shenanigans of all those who usurp His name in advancing their political positions in Malaysia. But of course if He were another politician Himself....then I may have to rephrase myself.

I still can't help myself finding the old hoot outside the rumah tumpangan appealing though. I must be sick. That is how close UMNO has made itself to be to PAS in my eyes. There is therefore a greater chance that PAS might get my vote now unlike before the last UMNO GA.

observer,

can you tell us what in islamic state that you scared of? can you pin-point to one or two issue.

i'm afraid it just a paronia only since most of non-muslim will compare islamic state with saudi or pakistan, which is way, way not according to quran. or you compare it to taliban?

Observer

Don't be one who suffers from Islamophobia. And don't get caught, unwittingly, due to lack of empathy and deeper understanding of other people's religion, into religious bigotry. You don't want to be classified as a religious bigot, do you. I hope not.

If you want to criticise or condemn Islam or any religion which is not one you practise, you should, to do justice to your own self esteem and to your own religion and other's religion, is to give youself as much time reading about the religion you condemn, as you give to the religion you are practising.

Otherwise, just stick to talking about your own religion.

If you don't, then you disgrace yourself and the very moral and religious principles your own religion teaches you. You let down your own religion.

Leave God out of the sickening politics.. That is how George Bush, who said God asked him to attack Iraq, ( http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article317805.ece )and now more close to 3,000 young American boys and girls got killed in Iraq and more than 650,000 innocent civilians,women and children dead. And of course the same applies to the terrorists beheading others in the name of God.

That's what happen when sinful politicians including the President of the United States, try to bring God into the picture.

Observer

Yes, you can condemn people using God's name, but you don't implicate God in human shenanigans, like George Bush did and like those terrorists did.

Race and religion. Its basis of existence for most political parties in malaysia.

Umno(Race&religion)MCA/MIC (race), PAS (Religion). Without those elements, they struggle exist.

It doesn't matter which evil take the G. They will be corrupt anyhow, if you give them absolute power.

I say vote those disadvantaged opposition (be it PAS/DAP/independent) into 50-50 seating with the ruling.

Afterwhich, all of them will know they need your consent for survival.

Rafidah will prolly cry again and AP Kings will donate their helicopter to St. John Ambulans.

But with 92% control, you can eat my keris for all i care.

Rosman, F& H,

Just as much as those who want to and are committed to an Islamic cause or objective I am as much opposed to it. So I guess with that I balance out my position as an Islamophobe as you would want to label me as the fanatics that I and some others would label them.

PAS was going to use Democracy to secure the power they would need to surrender to the Council of Ulamas whose appointment would be closer to the truth as one being derived from the length of their beards than by virtue of any popular vote. Taht was what was stated in that document. And you guys think I should not be an Islamophobe! I guess I and every other freedom loving democrat should always be on the lookout for this...

UMNO is more on race than religion, if you note how quiet they are in commenting on issues which concern religion.

Dear friends,

I feel sorry when a politician can stand at the podium and say things to his or her liking without due consideration for others. There was this Penang delegate who was so annoyed because he had a brochure of a programme sponsored by Konrad Adenuar Foundation with the logo of Islam religion printed together with all other religions. It insults the greatness of Islam, so he argued. He went on belittling all the good work that such NGOs are doing. Can an ignorant man like him really represent the religion or in this case the holy Prophet himself? Will the holy Prophet really feel comfortable seeing Islam protrayed with such gross arrogance if He was in that hall? What is the difference between misrepresenting the Prophet by speech and by drawing a picture?

I once read a story about the holy Prophet standing up in respect because a funeral procession of a deceased who was an infidel was passing by. I was so touched by His humility. I hope that this story featured in a Buddhist magazine is true because it gave me such a great sense of peace and admiration when I read it.

I do not know about others, but if I were to see all logos or symbols of religions printed side by side, I will feel proud for all religions and humbled by the greatness of a common bond.

I hope our keris weilding minister is forgiving too because the foundation his fellow brother is screaming mad about is the same foundation that supports an important human capital development programme inspired by his very own late father, the Late Honourable Tun Hussien.

Don't believe? Well, see :
http://www.mim.edu/thora/
and note the logo on the top right hand corner.

Like I said, brothers beware, especially those whose ego speaks louder than neccessary and who may not realise that they might be insulting a wrong man's father.

Perhaps, in the modern day the keris can be put to good use too - Kill arrogance, hatred, jealously, greed, lust, fanaticism, ego, stupidity, deceit, etc... Only then, will all problems plaguing this country cease and Malaysia can be beautifully cherished - Truely Asia.

Forgive my ignorance if I believe till i die that this is a country with not just great dreams, but there is real hope. We must all get there somehow.

The racism, which was so obvious during the UMNO meeting, needs to be resisted by all level-minded people. Of course, racism is not confined to any particular group of people. As members of civil society, we need to teach our families and our communities about the evils of racism. More importantly, we need to impart values of tolerance, acceptance, and respect for everyone in our children. The heated polemics in response to this blog just adds fuel to the fire. The bigger question is, what can we do to stop racism and hate in whatever form these are expressed?

Question for Jeff: why there was a need to insert a "progressive Muslim" qualification next to Fareed Zakaria's name? This is an honest and sincere question. It seemed to me you wanted to make a point, but I wasn't sure what exactly was your intention. I respect Zakaria, he's a very smart man. Now that you brought the "progressive Muslim" label, I should state that Zakaria used to write a wine-tasting column for Slate magazine. I know for some people this would be an evidence of his progressivism, but for many Muslims that would be very questionable, to say the least. Keep up the good work!

Observer

Here is a choice, for example,you are compelled to make other than to migrate if you want change of Govt. Voting others would not change the status quo:

a) A party with very strong religious leanings

OR

b) A party of "bloodthirsty " and "keris-wielding, amok prone racist fanatics" who declare publicly and in the media of hatred of other races?

Take a choice. If not, migrate.

bonbon

I agree with your comment that the word "progressive" for Fareed Zakaria is very subjective subjective.. It might be relevant to westerners and to western minds.

"Progressive" is value-judgement and carries a cultural bias.

A more appropriate neutral term would be "liberal" Muslim, rather progressive.

Of course media like the Newsweek and Time would show their cultural bias to describe favourably to Fareed Zakaria's liberalism as "progressive."

It ain't necessarily so.

YOu have a point there, for Jeff to describe Fareed Zakaria as 'progressive" as lending support to cultural bias.

Frank&Honest,

I wasn't accusing Jeff of cultural bias. I just wanted to know why he thought it was necessary to insert that phrase after Zakaria's name. Frankly and honestly :-), I was just being curious. I have too much respect for Jeff to accuse him of anything.

JEFF OOI says: I have been reading Fareed Zakaria for years. I don't care what he does in private. His thoughts on global issues are progressive to me.

bonbon

No, I am not accusing you of saying that Jeff is biased.

What is meant is that to use the term "progressive" , a very value-loaded subjective term, to Fareed Zakaria, a Muslim, is LENDING oneself to cultural bias.

That I agree with you that the term "progressive" in this context may not be the right choice of words, for the above stated reasons.

Frank&Honest,

I agree with you. I just wanted to clarify the matter, but I shouldn't have implied you were saying I was accusing Jeff. Anyway, using a term 'progressive Muslim' is a value judgment, and I'm still curious as to what people mean when they say that -- it probably means different things to different people.

F & H

If you read what I was writing earlier, you would see, that remaining indifferent to PAS for their politics, the bridge that spanned the difference between PAS and UMNO, that previously made it almost impossible for many of us to cross, has now been made shorter. If previoulsy PAS was not to be considered at any cost, UMNO, by its own actions, have made PAS palatable, indeed appealing. Nevertheless it does not change the fact that PAS is what they are and dedicated to their cause. Its not a cause that I subscribe to. Neither is whatever it is that UMNO is or stands for.

Jeff, thanks for clarification. I was just wondering, that's all. My opinion is that Zakaria is very knowledgeable when it comes to world affairs. However, I'm not sure if I'd label him as a progressive for he's too conservative politically (in the American sense). He's made it clear he sympathizes with the Republican party, and he was supportive of many Bush policies. At least here in the US, that wouldn't be considered progressive. But, he's definitely more enlightened and nuanced than many of Bush's supporters.

Anyway, the main issue here is racism in Malaysia. Again, I think that civil society needs to rally around this issue and fight all forms of racism and discrimination. Greetings to all in Malaysia from the US!

Observer

I understand where you are coming from regarding PAS and UMNO.

I too do not subscribe to many of PAS causes, believe me, and some of their policies are too way out of range in today's world.

But, really, given the experience which decent Malaysians face with the utter arrogance of UMNO and UMNO Youth in the last 20 years or so, not only for nonMalays, but to a growing majority of fairminded Malays too, then, the options for folks like you and me are pretty limited. Voting for DAP, worse still, MCA or MIC or Keadilan at this juncture will result in a status quo inasfar as the fundamental change needed to take place.

Otherwise, it is a Do Nothing situation for the complaining Malaysians on this blog and we just let the rot continues while we whinge and whine that things are not right each day as a therapy.

The change HAS to come from the Malay heartland, whether you or me like it or not. If change is needed, the Malay heartland need that support from the nonMalays.

The point is: It is all about putting the whole scenario on a balance and weighing what is the second best outcome, if we cannot achieve the best outcome.

It is one thing for us here to whinge and whine all day about how political parties don't fit our expectations , and another, if we want change, which require us to go out and make the change.

It is no use being polemical about causes etc. We need to ask: What Options do we have?, other than to whinge on the internet and do nothing to eventuate a change??

Malaysia again the lime light but for the wrong reason.

This NEWSWEEK article has cast a poor image of our country to foreigners.With a readership in the tens of millions,people from every corner of the world,would now have been exposed to the MYTH of a tolerant and multicultural society.

As I always say, the average rakyat be they Malays,Chinese,Indians,Ibans or Kadazans, are decent people who work hard to fend for themselves and their families.

It is the UMNOputra politicians who for the past 50 years have practised the cult of discrimination and racism.They have hijacked the noble aspirations of the founding fathers and replaced it with a racially biased doctrine, the NEP and its antecedent Malay Agenda.With the increasing popularity of PAS, this policy has been complemented by the Islamic Agenda.This process has unfortunately been abetted by the appeasement of the MIC and MCA.There has been a gradual weakening of the position of the non UMNO component parties in BN over the ensuing decades.And this has definitely reached a nadir with the Badawi administration.

So we now have a combined Malay and Islamic agenda.In the process, the non Malays and non Muslims have become alienated from the mainstream of society.Never in my 50 years have I seen this degree of alienation and pessimism among the Chinese and Indians, as over the past few months.

Many are contemplating migration but only a minority with skills and wealth will be able to do so.The vast majority of non Malays will remain as they will have no other choice.The majority of these will be from the lower social income group with non marketable skills and inability financially to send their children overseas for education.

So we will have a gradul demographic shift where the proportion of the more needy and poorer non Malays will gradually increase. This will be compounded by the nearly 2.5 million or more Indonesians from the lowest strata of society.And not forgetting the unemployable Malay gradutes.Here we have a volatile cocktail of people of various races , most of them poor and unskilled, scrambling for the breadcrumbs.

In an ever expanding economy , this is not a problem.But with the rapidly falling FDIs and competitiveness of our economy,the repurcussions are going to be serious in the future.The NEWSWEEK article will further discourage foreigners from contemplating any long term investment in the country.

The poor and less skilled Malaysians will have to fight for an ever shrinking cake.

The consequences would include;

1. Fall in disposable income as is being experienced now.Graduate salaries have generally stagnated over the past two decades.

2. Greater disparity between the rich and poor.

3. Escalating crime.

4. Escalating vices like prostituition and drugs.

5. Increasing tensions between the poorer segments of society.

6.As some have sarcastically remarked, we might even be exporting maids and construction workers like Indonesia and the Phillippines in the next two to three decades.

7. Greater Islamisation as the poorer segments of Malays find solace in religion,when life becomes difficult.This may be exploited by radical imans who will try to push their Islamic agenda into the mainstream as is happening now ( elaborated in the above Newsweek article).In the current sea of Islamaphobia in the non Muslim world, Malaysia may be further marginalised from the rest of the world.

The Newsweek article is one of many articles appearing in the foreign press which are seriously casting a doubt on the future of our country.

Many Malaysians and even foreigners are genuinely concerned about our country's future. But to our politicians, ' semua nya Okay in BOLEHLAND"

While our country is slowly but surely regressing, the politicians are playing fiddle.

As the days pass by, we are more and more beginning to resemble Indonesia. No wonder the NEWSWEEK article bundled the two countries together.

Who knows. The aspirations of former President Sukarno , ( during Konfrontasi)might be achieved in the next 50 years.

malaysianpatriot

Great analysis and insight.

Does this UMNO-dominated Govt care? No. I don't think so.

As far as UMNO is concerned, the country's destiny is tied to UMNO and only UMNO. If UMNO falls, so shall the country.

The survival of UMNO is paramount... and the country can go to the dogs, as far as UMNO is concerned. Otherwise, why is the country in the current mess??? When UMNO had virtual absolute power since 1970s, and they had control of this Govt since in independence.

UMNO cares only the survival of UMNO, NOT Malaysia, not at all.

And the Malay heartland must wake up soon and fast. Because our neighbours, like Vietnam, India , China, Singapore, Thailand etc will be crowding out Malaysia in the global economy.

And our kampung folks, the majority are our Malay brothers and sisters are , will be hardest hit when this international competitive forces come into full play. And the UMNOputra will be sitting tight with their wealth while the people they say they champion over the last 40 years are made to pick up the pieces.

F & H

Its not whinging or whincing or whatever....But that is an exercise that probably needs to be undertaken to begin a change of heart and attitude. Obviously when something that was abhoring becomes appealing, what follows would be indifference rather than bias. This is what is needed for PAS, in all its splendour, or as some would see it, demonic cover, to get what is needed to give UMNO a beating. Unlike 1999, I believe UMNO has rather successfully made itself hated in the eyes of the non-Malays so much that PAS has become appealing. There is a greater chance that the non-Muslims might not be as reluctant before to lend them the political support they need just to oust UMNO. I hope the Malays and Muslims too will see it the same way to give DAP the needed votes. Just so that, to start with, to deny UMNO its two thirds majority.

Indeed, if only Keadilan can reposition itself and not try to be everything for everybody, do a reality check and become the party that non-Malays can view as an alternative to UMNO for the Malay vote, there is every chance that between the three Malay parties, UMNO can be made weakest of the lot. If the BN still continues to maintain a simple majority, UMNO must see that it is thanks to MCA,MIC, Gerakan and other non-Malay parties and not UMNO. UMNO should be made weak within BN. That is what is needed.

the problem is all these three parties think they are God's gift to Malaysia and everyone wants to be chief!. Where I come from, so long as PAS wants to play politics, hopefully they will leave religion behind. If they can't, then what is needed is an alternative to UMNO to represent the MAlays. I can see Keadilan playing that role. But becaue they want to be multi-racial and so on and they got their Tian Chuas, and whoever else who want to stand for seats that probably have greater traction with DAP, come election time all of them together create confusion.

So once again we all may know what is best...yet....our politicians will fail us miserably.