Malaysians. A typical feel-good advert on the telly will feature 3 Malaysians of different ethnic origins - a Malay, an Indian and a Chinese. Funnily, the rest of the country are not usually featured. In case you are clueless, I am talking about the indigenous people - the Senois, the Negritos, the Ibans, the Dayaks, the Kayans, the Kenyahs, the Penans, the Orang Ulu, the Kadazans, the Bajaus and many others. Anyway, I am quite envious of the rest of the country.

Whereas those of the main ethnic groups are not just known as the Malay, the Chinese and the Indian, back in many homes and micro-society (if there is such a word), phrases like “lazy Malay”, “Chinese conmen” and “Indian liar” are used with impunity. Afterall, such phrases are almost exclusively used within a community of the same ethnicity in a hush-hushed tone unless one decides to make a grand shocker in public. It is puzzling indeed that people react with anger and revenge in mind when they hear such things called about their race or ethnicity. Perhaps, the amount and regularity of “Cina babi” and “Chinese conmen” levelled at my kind has made me numb so much so that it goes into one ear of mine and gets out in one breath. In a sense, it is a waste of time asking for apologies when my own kind also degrades others in a similar fashion. You can’t ask for an apology to a whole race when some within the race also does the same thing to others. Get it? Not unless you can prove that no individual within the whole race which was being ridiculed has never made a racist remark.

No, it is not nice to say such things especially to generalise one whole race with a stereotype behaviour or character. I don’t condone it. But equally, it is not so nice to react as if it is the first time you’ve heard such taunts in your whole life especially if you call yourself a Malaysian.  Let’s get real. Unpleasant racist taunts and ridiculing has been around our society for as long as I can remember. Or have I missed something? That the Malaysians that I know have suddenly woken up in solidarity against racist taunts and stereotyping and I have been sleeping all these while? Have we reached a truly Malaysian race where none of us - save for the individuals in the media limelight recently, and I mean absolutely none of us could be caught slacking off the other race with some slurs or even had momentary thoughts about it?

Pray tell.

I don’t know about you but I never felt that Raja Petra, Tan Hoon Cheng or Teresa Kok were a threat to security, peace and public order. Instead, news such as a maid being bundled into a car whilst walking along the road and gang-raped by 5 men and how 2 armed robbers staged a hostage drama in a new housing area resulting in the murder of the hostage evokes feelings of not being safe living in this country. As crime rate does not seem to reduce and as people choose to stay in gated and guarded communities for extra security if they could afford to do so, I do sense that the real threat to the nation’s security, peace and public order is not Raja Petra, Tan Hoon Cheng or Teresa Kok.

And now, it appears that signs of a crackdown by those with political powers have started - and warnings made that the crackdown is imminent, and has already started. It is not the time to retaliate and retaliation should not be considered in any way. It is time to stay cool and not be sucked into dangerous political games which some are trying to play. Rather, it is time to pray. A time to pray for God’s intervention for the sake of this country’s future.

Update (13.09.2008 @ 1231hours) :

I just popped into Teresa Kok’s blog and I saw this on the sidebar:-

The Lord is my Light and my Salvation - so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? (Psalm 27:1)

Indeed, it is no sheer coincidence that this verse appeared on the very night Teresa was arrested. God knows what is happening and by our prayers, He will shield all those who stand for justice and truth.

Stating the Obvious!

Latest news on Malaysiakini states that Ahmad Ismail’s supporters are shouting ‘Hidup Melayu‘ (Long Live the Malays) as Umno leaders arrived at the tower block which housed the party HQ. I don’t know about you but is it just me who notices only the Malays (or selected few Malays) shout “Hidup Melayu” during protests? I can’t seem to remember the Chinese shouting “Hua Ren Wan Sui” (love live the Chinese) or the Indians shouting likewise.

Somehow, I can’t help but be amused (rather than alarmed or feel threatened) by these expressions of longetivity being shouted by these small groups of people whenever they perceive that their race is being threatened. To me, such shouts are made when the demonstrators feel that there is a need to prove that their race is still strong and can withstand any onslaught. It’s my personal opinion anyway. But are they just stating the obvious?

The rights of the every citizen of Malaysia are enshrined in the Federal Constitution and the special privileges accorded to the Malays are also indicated there. So, I can’t keep wondering why there is a perception that a whole race is being threatened and there is a need to shout the obvious “Hidup Melayu”. The Melayus will always live and they will live long enough like everyone else. And unless there is ethnic cleansing, shouting “Hidup Melayu” is only stating the obvious and does nothing else.

It is quite obvious that these small band of people still could not shake their racial way of thinking - that the Malays are the superior race in this multi-racial country and that being superior gives them the right to trample and ridicule on others. Somehow, they fail to realise that their actions reflect back on themselves as so-called “defenders of Malays”. They fail to realise that by unashamedly declaring that they are voicing out on behalf of all Malays in this country, they are representing to the world how Malays act and react. Of course, to those who are more familiar with these actions and reactions, we will dismiss their theatrics as nothing but plain politics. To the outside world, however, such actions and reactions would be attributed as a characteristic of the Malay race. And really, is that the real character of a Malay or a person, for that matter? Is the Malay one who tears down the photo of someone he dislikes or one who barges into a peaceful meeting demanding an end to the meeting failing which there will be a storming in?

No. I don’t think the Malays are like what these small bands of demonstrators and I refuse to think that they are like these small bands of demonstrators who get heated up into a primal character whenever they are unable to have a civil discourse. I refuse to think that the Malays, who are Muslims - the people of the religion of peace, are unable to exercise restrain whenever they perceive that their rights are under threat.

It is quite obvious that there is a strong display of political power play as demonstrated in recent events and this is nothing more than a prelude to the UMNO General Elections which is looming near. It’s not really about “Hidup Melayu” for that is stating the obvious. It is about “Hidup Kuasa” and showing who is more powerful politically.

I am leaving early tomorrow morning and won’t be back until Saturday.

Can you guess where I am going?

and especially to the Honourable Mr. Lim Kit Siang…I know many Pakatan Rakyat supporters, Pakatan Rakyat members and Pakatan Rakyat leaders were elated with the March 8th General Elections result. It was truly unexpected and the winning of so many seats by Pakatan Rakyat and thus denying Barisan Nasional a 2/3 majority was labelled a “Political Tsunami“.

Over the past 5 months, the word “Political Tsunami” was used almost regularly to remind the Barisan Nasional leaders of the rakyat’s displeasure with the Barisan Nasional government. Now, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has won the Permatang Pauh by-election by a greater majority and suddenly, some are saying a “2nd Political Tsunami” is on the horizon.

Frankly, I have grown tired of hearing the words “Political Tsunami” or anything to that effect. Today, Mr. Lim has again quoted “With the success of the second political tsunami in Permatang Pauh and the coming of the ‘Titanic’ next time …,” (source) in reference to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s winning. Don’t you get tired repeating the same phrase?

Please-lah! I think it is about time you guys move on and use some other words rather than repeating the tiresome “Political Tsunami”. And even “Titanic” itself, though a grand looking cruise liner, met with disaster. I am sure you guys are matured enough to use better choice of words to express yourself rather than keep repeating Tsunami which is always associated with disasters, destruction and death. At the very least, spare a thought for those who actually suffered or lost their loved ones in a real Tsunami (the one where the waves hit the shores!).

Anyway, let us take a trip down memory lane to see what the Big Mouth losers had proclaimed and claimed during the by-election campaign…

Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil on the 12th August said:

“The wing views the by-election as a critical election not just for Barisan Nasional but also for the whole country and its people.

“It is a jihad because this individual should not be given the chance to destroy the country’s political stability and prosperity.

“If we allow him to lead the country, he would lead us to destruction,” she said after launching the Barisan Nasional Wanita Permatang Pauh by-election machinery here yesterday.

Now, it appears that the majority of voters prefer the country to go to destruction via Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim than the path of destruction via UMNO-led Barisan Nasional. Isn’t it telling enough how much the majority despises you UMNO-led Barisan Nasional lot?

Najib on the 17th August said:

“God willing, we will emerge the winner this time as Barisan has a proven track record of looking after the people,” he told reporters at the Tuanku Bainun Teachers Training College here.

It looks like God was not willing. Could it be that God felt that Barisan has no proven track record of looking after the people?

Khairy Jamaluddin was quoted on 20th August as saying:

“For all its talk of a new Malaysia and a real alternative against Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Rakyat remains a politically expedient arrangement among strange bedfellows bound not by a shared ideology but by a common lust for power.

“The rupture has begun.”

No mate. The rapture for Pakatan Rakyat and their supporters have just begun!

The next day in a ceramah, arrogant Khairy cockily said:

During a fiery 30-minute speech, Khairy said BN candidate Arif Shah Omar Shah’s true challenge was to end the career of the ‘power crazy’ opposition leader.

“We are here to bury Anwar’s political career. We are here to make history to ensure our nation’s future is free and safe from him!” he thundered to loud cheers from those present.

Now, it would seem that the majority of voters did not think that Anwar was as power crazy as Khairy claimed. On the contrary, the barrage of public opinion over his uncouth “bury” statement shows their displeasure over this power-wannabe young politician. Khairy could have quit Rembau and stood to challenge Anwar if he felt so important that the nation must be rid of Anwar’s politics and influence. If Anwar becomes the PM, I wonder who’s political career is gonna be buried…

Arif Shah on 21st August was quoted to have said:

Speaking Thursday at a press conference at his house in Persiaran Tenggiri here, Arif Shah said he is confident of winning the Permatang Pauh by-election with a slim majority.

He said his target of 28,000 votes is possible due to his track record in the previous election. In the March 8 election, Barisan managed to garner nearly 20,000 votes from Seberang Jaya, Penanti and Permatang Pauh.

“If I manage to maintain this and pull in another 8,000 votes, I should be able to win a slim majority. I am looking at a slim majority of between 500 to 5,000 votes,” he said.

This time around, the majority is greater than the one secured back in March the 8th. Being over confident and arrogant does not bode you well.

Abdullah Badawi was quoted on 22nd August to have said:

“We are confident of victory because Arif Shah is a candidate with a proven track record. He is a hardworking assemblyman.”

We all know that when Badawi says one thing, he means the other. So, what he truly meant to say was “We are not confident of victory because Arif Shah is not a candidate with a proven track record. He is not a hardworking assemblyman”.

Meanwhile, Arif Shah on 22nd August showed his interest in superstitions :

Precisely at 8am on polling day, Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah will be stepping into SK Seberang Jaya 2 to cast his vote.

The jolly candidate said he would like to keep the ‘triple eight’ effect on that day.

“Polling is on the 26th, and the year is 2008,” he pointed out to newsmen at his house in Persiaran Tenggiri yesterday.

“If you add two and six, it equals eight. The ‘two’ in the beginning of 2008 is perceived as going ‘towards’ the number eight, which is at the end. So there are two eights derived from the two dates and I’ll enter the polling station at 8am, the third eight.”

The number ‘8’ is a homonym for prosperity in Cantonese. Arif’s voting slip also has a number ‘8’ in it. His slip is numbered 978.

Arif is printing 58,000 post cards to be sent to the electorate to urge them to vote for him.

I thought your religion teaches you not to believe in such things? Anyway, just to amuse you further, Arif garnered 15,524 votes. Add the numbers together and you will get 17. Add 1 and 7 and you will have 8.

Najib confidently said on the eve of the polls 25th August:

“After nearly two weeks of hard work and prayers, the situation is tilting towards BN,” the Deputy Prime Minister said at a briefing at the BN’s Kampung Kolam operations room here today.

Najib said although political observers had initially forecast a slim chance for the BN, hard work had changed all that and that the coalition could emerge victorious.”

I wonder where he got information that the situation was tilting towards BN and could be smelling victory. Not only did Anwar win, he won bigger. Spend more work dealing with public complaints and I am sure Barisan will stand a better chance next time.

Updated:

News just got in. The Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek had this to say this afternoon post-election results:

Ahmad Shabery claimed that Umno had actually expected for Anwar to win in the by-election with an even bigger majority than the one recorded on Tuesday night.

So, did you mean to say that it was all bravo talk by Najib on the eve of the election? Why didn’t you say this earlier? Well, of course you won’t because you guys were busy with your propagandas.

Happy Birthday

It’s a beautiful day. Usain Bolt ran the 200 metres race at the Beijing Olympics and created a new world record at 19.30 seconds. I share something similar with him - we are both born on the 21st August. And today marks the birth of PabloPabla ala Wordpress. I have decided that it is about time to claim this domain and to blog from Wordpress after more than 2 years of blogging over at Blogspot. I had decided against importing all my posts from Blogspot because there are more than 500 posts there.

What can you expect here? For starters, it is going to be much of what was offered at PabloPabla’s Whatever. This blog is still new, and I have yet to give it a full thought of what’s in store. Commentaries will be plenty, that’s for sure. If you have been following my previous blog, do update your feed subscription to this site and blogroll and do whatever you like to follow me here.

See you around!