Official flag of the United Malays Organisation (UMNO)
Pernas Twin Towers
In a flashback to the days when we were in school & college & even at the university, we can remember fondly how we used to refer Malaysia
as the “Golden Chersonese”. Life was beautiful then, peaceful & harmonious in kind & nature. We didn’t have any “humbug” political slogans to instil that in us.
Then May 13 in 1969 civil racial riots & commotion struck upon us with great fury out of the brewing political storm of defeat, changing the political, social & economical landscape forever.
Hypocrisy & greed will not breed prosperity nor will they generate any posterity in longevity!
For the last five decades, the diverse southeast Asian nation of Malaysia has given economic benefits to its ethnic Malay majority, a policy of NEP (National Economic Planning) that was initiated by the ill-fated PM Tun Razak, who died of cancer, with weighted benefits in favour of the Bumiputras (the so-called sons of the soil). In this, you might have been born in Malaysia but you are out of political & legal consideration as one of them. Yet the ruling controlling party, UMNO in the Alliance, readily accepts other foreigners & confers them the Bumiputra title so long they are of Muslim faith & pledge allegiance to UMNO (United Malay National Organisation).
In line with the US media flagship of CNN, Malaysia has its own CCN representing Corruption, Cronyism & Nepotism which dig deep into the coffers of the Treasury, laying rampant waste & mismanagement while consolidating the power of the UMNOputras.
Seemingly, the gleaming Petronas Twin Towers aim high into the sky in the Malaysian capital city Kuala Lumpur. However, its economic wealth from oil resources has not benefited the overall population – need I say benefitting only the Bumiputras.
Amid Malaysia’s population of 28 million, comprised mainly of Malays, Chinese and Indians, the official religion for all purposes & intent is Islam, although constitutionally it’s free. Religious funds are freely available for Mecca pilgrimages, and the building of exotic mosques in virtually all nooks & corners.
Economically, Malaysia’s Chinese has long been a dominant force to reckon with. After the fateful day of May 13, 1969, the ruling component party of the Alliance government in all haste & rapidity implemented its NEP, the national policy aimed at increasing the slice of the economic cake for the ethnic Malays – the Bumiputras. It was stipulated to be at least 30% for a period of 30 years – but that period of time might just as well stretch on to 300 or 3000 years. Seemingly unfulfilled as far as the greater Malay majority goes, the NEP has largely enriched people with UMNO connectivity. How the national policy is being implemented is grossly questionable.
The 30 years of stipulated time frame for raising the economic level of the ethnic Malays has come & gone, but nevertheless still exists without constitutional rights. As long as the UMNOputras are secured politically and in power, the benefits will persist rightly or wrongly. Chinese & Indian entrepreneurs freeze while foreign investors flee.
The fundamental growth of the economy has always been attributed to the Chinese entrepreneurship, and to a lesser extent the Indian minority. History texts have been manipulated & changed to prove otherwise. This is laughable like denying that the Holocaust never happened or that the Nanking massacre to be a figment of the Chinese imagination. The fact is the aim has been forcefully there, but the target has been missed.
They say that all that glitter is not gold. Beneath the seeming reduction of dire poverty, the economy is no doubt stuck in the “Midway” syndrome with the financial coffers drained and bankruptcy looming in the not too distant future. Malaysia with its rich resources has been lagging behind the rest of its southeast neighbours, and glaringly behind the city state of Singapore.
Blatantly, the incumbent government is to be blamed – it has to go. Enough is enough! Racial quotas in education, home ownership, business & trade participation and a whole long list of negatives must go to allow the economy to flow & grow. Greater participation by all will benefit the country overall.
What Malaysia needs is a “mental revolution” to avoid treading upon the riotous road of “Arab Spring” or whatever. It’s been jokingly said that Malaysia hasn’t got a Prime Minister. It’s got a “Crime” Minister.
Let truth prevail
Adversities will fail.
Paul Chong's Blog 
The world is a dangerous place to live in, not because of evil people but because good people know of the evil and do nothing about it.
As one of the non-native Indonesian, I know what you shared explicitly and what is implied.
When you used “mental revolution” I am reminded that for an egg which has life potentially within it, in oder to continue growing, it has to have conducive environment. If it is broken from the outside, the life inside dies. But if it is allowed to grow with its correct environment, and at the right time it breaks it self from the INSIDE, it brings forth life.
Unless this basic truth is understood and actualized, I am afraid Malaysia has no better future but rather bleak.
CC
” I shall pass this way but once;any good therefore that I can do,or any kindness that I can show- let me not defer nor neglect it,for I shall not pass this way again. ” Make this famous quote as part of your life!
I agree with Paul. I often requested my relatives and friends in Malaysia not to give up because UMNO cheats! They must come out and vote and for the opposition. Their votes could make the difference as the majority of Malaysians have had enough of the UMNO crooks!
Richard
There is more than enough of comments and criticisms about the present state of affairs, but unless people are willing to take the bull by the horns and bring UMNO/BN down, the dire situation will persist. We need action, on a mass scale, so all those who have as their aim the crushing of UMNO/BN must get together and act collectively to amplify their efforts, and not be confused by the diversionary tactics thrown at us, to divide us and pick us off one by one. UMNO/BN’s greatest fear is the unity of the rakyat of all races and religions which will be the battering ram against their citadel; that is why they throw all kinds of decoys and petty issues at us in the name of race or religion, and oftentimes those so-called leaders of the opposition fall into the trap and become so confused and confusing that it’s like they don’t even know at whom to point their guns and shoot. The greatest enemy to the progress of Malaysia is UMNO/BN; make no mistake about that. When you don’t even know who should be your enemy, and who your friend despite some differences, you can only wallow in muddle-headedness.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Eng Hock. There has to be a general awakening & call to action (but no violence). People are too complacent, resilient & political naive . . . negatively discouraged in the face of adversities. Enough of bending, stand tall & be counted! Join in here & have your say &
collectively our voice will be loud & clear.
What we advocate is a “mental revolution” as opposed to the like of “Arab Spring” initiated & perpetrated by the American. Just don’t be a frog in the well!
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Some people I spoke to felt it’s best to migrate as they’ve lost hope with the government and there’s no future in Msia. If more people are having that mindset, I believe the situation will get worse. For those who believe in the rights that we’re entitled to in our own country, let’s stay and fight with our votes.
The ordinary Malaysian is no doubt fed-up to the teeth with the present bunch of politicians ruling the country (UMNO…. MCA being their obedient sidekick is equally bad). A change in the government is long overdue. But are we sure of the alternative? Are we substituting a wolf (devil) we know for one we don’t know? Much has been discussed about corruption, religious fanaticism, hatred & intolerance for others of another religion & race etc. How sure are we that the new government we can bring in by our votes will not do the same? We hear of Taliban-like rules & practices in the states presently ruled by the opposition (Penang excluded). Will this also be practiced in the new Malaysia after UMNO? What is needed is a change in the values & mindset of the people at large, both the politicians & the ordinary people. They must not have the subsidy mentality & that present privileges enjoyed by them is God-given & is perpetual (whether under the old government or new. There must be fairness and an acknowledgement that all Malaysians are equal…no first class or second class. This will be unlikely to happen! The future of Malaysia is indeed dismal…no matter who rules!
Malaysian politics has been in need of change for many years. There has been and continues to be lots of able people leaving Malaysia. It is a brain drain that robs Malaysia of its human resources, and one that may eventually relegate Malaysia to a poor country. When leaders keep robbing the country, the end result can be like the Philippines.
I am out of touch with the present Malaysian politics but notice the level of English has declined. No longer am I able to walk in the streets or shops and assume everyone would be able to understand simple English. A simple emergency to find out “Where is the toilet” forces me to dig out the Malay equivalent of “Di mana tandas?”. It is such a shame since Malaysian English was like its neighbour Singapore, and to the standard that I had no problems when we moved to Australia. Singapore has advanced further in its English and its modern citizens are at least fully bilingual because of the education policies. Malaysian politics forces BM onto its citizens at the cost of the loss of English proficiency. This bias appeals to the majority and keeps UMNO / BN in power and allows them to continue to rob behind the facade of providing for the needy putras.
Identity politics has often been used to mask economic intents by those in power. In Australia, identity politics is often evoked to instil fear and outrage against those who are a threat to our economic security. Different migrant groups have been a target of this form of social manipulation to either detract from the real issues on the government’s agenda or to distract from negative reports on the government’s failure to meet its agenda. If we look underneath the ethnic division created, it usually has an economic reason.
In Malaysia likewise the race and religious issue has been used for decades now to mask the government’s real political agenda. It is interesting in Malaysia that the threat is a rather large racial group unlike the minority groups in Australia. However, the similarity lies in the groups being an economic threat to the majority and hence, political threat to those in power. This analysis is probably too simplistic but that’s my two-bobs’ worth.
I have no real solution except to encourage those who have no economic power to rise above those who oppress through discriminatory educational policies, to equip themselves with the English language by reading young. This may open more doors for them in future. Churches can offer this help through English language studies that are offered freely.
A former Sixth Form student of mine of 1967/68 batch from Anderson School, Ipoh,
Raja Noora Ashikin
Oct 11 (7 days ago)
wrote to me
‘That is your view. Do not impose it on others. You are not even living here’.
I do not have extensive knowledge about life and the political situation of Malaysia, but tend to think that life could be extremely difficult for many ethnic Malays. I recognise a strong need for people to unite and act, pushing for change, equality and a better standard . Bad or corrupt politicians must be exposed for what they are abd subsequently ousted.
We live in a distorted world, whatever we can do we do your best, God is in control. Leave Him to judge, we can only pray for this troubled world and reach out whenever we can and wherever we can.
We live in a fallen world. Peoplel will one day perish. Even though this is the way the world is today, we need not assume that this was the way that it was meant to be. Earth is not our home and we are only a visiter. We have a purpose in life, so we need to do what we are made for.