MERDEKA

53rd MERDEKA (August 31, 2010)

by M Krishnamoorthy @www.malaysiakini.com (August 29, 2010)

Celia:
“Now go we in content
To liberty, and not to banishment.”

Shakespeare, As You Like It (I,iii, 139-140)

The free intermingling of Malays, Chinese and Indians working together in harmony was the main reason Malaya achieved independence in 1957 without shedding a drop of blood.

“The greatest source of our pride has been the manner in which it has been achieved. It has been won by the spontaneous support of all communities in this country – Malays, Chinese, Indians and others who regard Malaya as their home,” said the nation’s founder and first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.

Tunku made this remark six months before Independence Day, August 31, 1957. We talk about 1Malaysia now as if it is something new, but it used to be taken for granted when there was no divide among the races as there is now, when there was hardly any talk of which race we belonged to.

Merdeka Merdeka Merdeka --August 31, 1957

What happened along the way? Was it the education system that molded us into thinking ourselves as different from the other? Why are school principals, who are supposed to emulate the concept of 1Malaysia. using racial slurs to divide the nation?

Fifty-three years ago, Tunku was convinced that this nation could survive only when the races were united. From this foundation of national unity in work, in play, in life, Malaya got its independence. I was eight years old then. There was no need for a campaign for 1Malaysia because we were all seen as one nation, one race – Malayans.

In schools, we all played as though we were of one race without noticing what creed, culture or religion we belonged to. I studied, ate and played with all races, and I did not have any mental block as to how a Malay or Chinese child was different from me. My parents would take me, my brothers and sisters to visit all the different places of worship during the various religious festivals.

‘Not a Drop of Blood’

On February 9, 1957, Tunku as then-chief minister of Malaya, in a speech broadcast over Radio Malaya, said: “Throughout our campaign, not one outbreak of violence occurred and, true to the pledge I gave, not one drop of blood was spilt in our constitutional struggle for Independence.

“The Independence of Malaya has, therefore, been won by the measure of goodwill which exists among the various peoples of this country as much as by their united efforts and patriotism and love for this land. Finally, the good understanding between Great Britain and Malaya has enabled Great Britain to appreciate fully our national aspirations.”

The speech was part of a nationwide campaign for contributions to fund the inaugural Merdeka celebrations.  Can you guess what the amount was for the celebrations? It was just a meager one million dollars (then).

“A certain portion of this sum will be required by government itself for the entertainment of foreign guests who will be invited to our celebrations,” said Tunku.

In speaking of Independence Day, he emphasised that “we have become a free nation solely through the efforts and support of the public themselves.”

“You will recall that the Alliance took the political field on the paramount issue of independence, and in the national election, the fact that Alliance candidates swept the board with a majority hitherto unknown in any country in the world indicates that the public decided in no uncertain terms that they want Independence.”

“When the delegation (of Malayan ministers and political leaders) went to England in 1956, we made known to the British government the wishes of the people. The British government accepted these wishes with good grace. They agreed to the date proposed by us for the granting of independence.

“But while the achievement of our independence is a matter of which we can be justly proud, all of us should remember our Independence Day with a feeling of thankfulness and gratitude.

“We must thank God for our achievement, and at the same time I would like to thank all of you for your support. The occasion we are to celebrate is the birth of a new nation. Let us make this event unforgettable.”

A Disturbed, Distracted world

The public would no doubt have its own ideas on how to celebrate the event, and he allowed them a free hand in organising shows and public entertainment.

Tunku was seen as a leader who listened and was liberal in the way he wanted citizens to play a more dominant role. There was a consensus that the money should be spent wisely, and the leaders listened to the people.

Given the racial unity among Malayans, Tunku would not have tolerated allusions to some citizens being penumpang (free-riders) and pendatang (immigrants). He would have nipped it in the bud instead of waiting and delaying action against government servants who use such words to humiliate the other races.

Neither would the Tunku have tolerated corruption reaching such heights of indecency as it is now.Imagine,

The Icon of Malaysian Independence

only one million dollars was allocated for the celebrations. If we had gotten back the billions that have gone to corruption over the past 53 years, we could celebrate in streets paved in gold.

Tunku words in his speech on Independence Day reverberated throughout the Merdeka Stadium where it was delivered, just as they reverberate to this day:

“But while we think of the past, we look forward in faith and hope to the future: from henceforth, we are masters our destiny, and the welfare of this beloved land is our own responsibility. Let no one think we have reached the end of the road: independence is indeed a milestone, but it is only the threshold to high endeavour—the creation of a new and sovereign state.

“At this solemn moment, therefore, I call upon to dedicate yourselves to the service of the new Malaya: to work and strive with hand and brain to create a new nation, inspired by the ideals of justice and liberty – a beacon of light in a disturbed and distracted world.”

Part 2 tomorrow

M KRISHNAMOORTHY is a freelance journalist and local coordinator for CNN, BBC and several other foreign television networks. He was formerly with The Star and New Straits Times and has authored four books.

Melayu dan Islam mesti difahami

Hari Kemerdekaan ke 53 Bukan Melayu Perlu Tahu Melayu dan Islam Yang Sebenar

by Shen Yee Aun

The Great Islam

Oleh :  Shen Yee Aun
Hari Kemerdekaan ke 53 Bukan Melayu Perlu Tahu Melayu dan Islam Yang Sebenar
Perpaduan tidak dapat dicapai sekirannya kita yang berbangsa bukan Melayu ada prejudis , pemikiran negatif , perasaan takut dan gementar dan salah faham dan pandangan terhadap erti Melayu dan Islam yang sebenar. Kita akan cenderung untuk lebih menjarakkan dan menjauhkan diri daripada mereka.
Jangan sebab nila setitik rosak susu sebelangga. Jangan disebabkan beberapa pemimpin Melayu yang memiliki kepentingan politik dan peribadi sendiri dengan menggunakan nama Melayu dan Islam sebagai alat dan senjata maka kita terus menyalahkan seluruh komuniti Melayu dan Islam.
Keris
Sebelum ini ada seorang pemimpin Melayu menghunus keris ke langit dan mencabar bukan Melayu jangan mencabar mereka. Bukan Melayu kena faham bahawa itu bukan budaya dan adat Melayu. Hakikatnya dalam adat mereka keris tidak boleh dihunus sesuka hati. Keris hanya boleh dihunus apabila mereka dicabar dan bukannya digunakan untuk mencabar. Sebab itu dalam adat Melayu ada pepatah menyatakan biar mati anak jangan mati adat. Namun ada juga sebilangan pemimpin yang lebih rela biar mati adat jangan mati UMNO.
Terdapat juga seorang pemimpin Melayu di Pulau Pinang yang menyatakan Cina adalah pendatang. Tindakan biadap dan kurang ajar ini juga bukan Melayu. Melayu yang sebenar kaya dan budi perkerti dan budi bahasa mereka. Jika benar sekalipun bukan Melayu adalah pendatang maka Melayu yang sebenar dalam budaya dan karya kesusasteraan mereka merupakan satu – satunya bangsa di dunia yang banyak menekankan tentang melayan tetamu mereka dengan baik.
Dalam Islam juga merupakan antara agama yang amat memuliakan tetamu.
“Setiap kamu terhadap kehidupan ini adalah seperti rumah tamu. Setiap hari kamu dikunjungi pelbagai tamu dengan pelbagai kerenah. Bukalah pintu untuk mereka dan layan sebaik yang kamu mampu. Andai kamu menutup pintu, kamu sangka diri makin selesa tetapi hakikatnya kamu semakin kehilangan segala-galanya”.
(Jalaluddin al-Rumi)
Hak Beragama dan Beribadat
Terdapat juga segelintir pemimpin Melayu yang tidak menghormati hak beribadat dan beragama orang lain. Mereka ini bukan Islam yang sebenar. Realitinya dalam perlembagaan madinah iaitu perlembagaan pertama di dunia yang digubal oleh Nabi Muhammad s.a.w sendiri memperuntukkan fasal – fasal perundangan untuk melindungi bukan Islam termasuk Yahudi dan mereka bebas mengamalkan dan mempraktikkan agama mereka.
Kelemahan Pemimpin Melayu
Soal negara ini lemah dipimpin oleh Melayu Islam. Tidak. Sejarah dan tamadun Islam kaya dengan kecermerlangan dan kegemilangan mereka. Pada zaman pemerintahan Khalifah Umar Abdul Aziz kekayaan negara sampai boleh bertahan sehingga beberapa generasi. Begitu unggulnya pemerintahan dan pentadbiran Islam yang sebenar.
Isu Melayu malas dan tidak maju. Tidak. Itu bukan Islam yang sebenar. Tuhan mereka merupakan satu – satunya Tuhan di dunia dalam wahyu pertamanya menekankan tentang soal membaca dan menimba ilmu pengetahuan.
Keistimewaan dan Ketuanan Melayu
Melayu dikatakan telah merasakan mereka istimewa berbanding kaum di tanah ini. Itu juga bukan Melayu dan Islam yang sebenar. Pada pandangan Tuhan mereka tiada perbezaan antara keturunan dan warna kulit. Jika tidak mengapa Tuhan mereka memilih seorang rasul yang suku kaumnnya bukannya majoriti di Makkah pada ketika itu? Yang membezakan sesama diri kita di mata Tuhan adalah dosa dan pahala yang kita bina selama ini.
Isu ketuanan dan keistimewaan Melayu. Tidak itu juga bukan Melayu yang sebenar. Antara perjuangan awal Nabi Muhammad s.a.w di Makkah adalah hak persamaan taraf antara golongan hamba dengan suku kaum utama di Makkah iaitu Arab Quraisy pada ketika itu. Ciri – ciri Arab jahiliah seperti semangat kabilah dan assabiyah ditentang sepenuhnya oleh Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.
Dendam Melayu
Melayu pada hari ini dikatakan berdendam. Tidak. Itu bukan Melayu Islam yang sebenar. Bangsa Arab Quraisy yang menyeksa penganut Islam , memulaukan Nabi dan keluarga , mencaci , menentang dan cuba membunuh Nabi Muhammad sendiri tetapi apabila Kota Makkah dibuka semula oleh Nabi Muhammad. Baginda sendiri tidak pernah membalas dendam terhadap segala ketidakbaikkan yang dilakukan oleh mereka.
Segala keganasan dan provokasi yang dilakukan oleh organinasi dan pemimpin tertentu juga bukan Melayu yang sebenar. Melayu amat mementingkan tentang sifat keserdehanaan. Islam pula mementingkan kedamaian.
Muafakat
Melayu yang sebenar amat mementingkan tentang soal muafakat , kerjasama dan perpaduan. Sebab itu banyak peribahasa Melayu yang berunsur sedemikian. Contoh bersatu kita teguh , bercerai kita roboh , sehati sejiwa , berganding bahu , berat sama dipikul , ringan sama dijinjing , bulat air kerana pembentung , bulat manusia kerana muafakat dan pelbagai lagi.
Tun Mahathir
Ada juga seorang bekas Perdana Menteri negara baru – baru ini garang memperjuangkan agenda Melayu. Muka talam sebeginilah yang menggunakan Melayu dan Islam demi populariti sendiri. Beliau sendiri ada 22 tahun untuk memajukan Melayu tetapi ke manakah Melayu pada hari ini?
Hudud
Terdapat juga Melayu Islam sendiri yang cuba takutkan bukan Melayu terhadap perundangan Islam seperti Hudud. Pertama perundangan tersebut hanya tertakluk kepada Islam. Kedua jika kita tidak mencuri , merogol dan melakukan kejahatan mengapa kita perlu takut pada perundangan sebegini? Ketiga jika pada hari ini anak , adik dan orang terdekat kita yang menjadi mangsa penjenayah bukankah perundangan sebegini baik untuk kita?
Sekolah Vernakular
Terdapat juga Melayu Islam yang hendak menghapuskan sekolah vernakular. Hakikatnya dalam hadis mereka ada menyatakan tuntutlah ilmu sampai ke negeri China.
PERKASA dan Ibrahim Ali
Perjuangan pertubuhan ini terlalu radikal. Kita lihat bagaimana Nabi Muhammad menyebarkan Islam. 3 tahun secara sulit dan 10 tahun secara terbuka namun tidak pernah menggunakan paksaan dan kekerasaan. Melayu pula percaya pada falsafah berpuasa iaitu hidup besederhana maka segala tindakan mereka seharusnya bersederhana.
Bukan Islam Masuk Masjid dan Isu Berdoa Untuk Bukan Islam
Isu ini hanya dipolitikkan semata – mata. Dalam al – Quran iaitu sumber rujukkan , tertinggi dan utama dalam Islam hanya menyebut hanya satu masjid al-haram dan tanah haram sahaja yang tidak boleh dimasuki oleh bukan Melayu. Nabi Muhammad sendiri membenarkan bukan Islam tinggal dan berada di dalam masjid pada zaman pemerintahannya. Iman Shafee juga menyatakan tiada masalah untuk bukan Melayu memasuki masjid.
Isu berdoa untuk bukan Islam juga dipolitikkan oleh pemimpin , organisasi dan media kawalan mereka. Sebagai bukan Islam saya tidak berani untuk mengatakan dari segi hukum boleh atau tidak namun yang saya pasti jika benar sekalipun mereka silap Islam yang sebenar adalah membenarkan mereka. Mengajar mereka dan membawa mereka ke arah jalan yang benar. Bukannya mengaibkan mereka di media , memaki , memalukan dan menyerang mereka. Saya pasti itu bukan Islam yang saya kenali.
Lagipun isu ini Teo Ni Ching sudah memohon maaf. Masih ingat bagaimana Khalifah Ali bin Abu Talib berhenti menyerang apabila pihak lawan menyerah diri dan mengaku kalah?

Isu Ekonomi Melayu Dirampas
Ekonomi mereka dirampas oleh Melayu UMNO dan bukannya bukan Melayu. Banyak Cina dan India yang kaya juga disebabkan oleh UMNO yang menjadikan mereka kaya . 52 Billion yang sepatutnya digunakan untuk pembangunan Melayu lesap di tangan mereka. Fitnah dan tohmahan dalam Islam lebih teruk daripada membunuh. Sebab itu mereka bukan Melayu dan Islam yang sebenar. Mereka cuba mengasingkan penguasaan GLC yang dimiliki 100% oleh Melayu dalam ekuiti sebenar negara. Jika tidak Melayu sudah memiliki ekuiti lebih daripada 60% jika mereka jujur untuk melaporkannya.
Segala serangan dan kenyataan mereka yang bodoh , dangkal , keterlaluan , melampaui batas dan jahil juga bukan Melayu. Melayu amat berjaga – jaga dan tutur kata mereka. Terkenal dengan sifat kelembutan dan budi bahasa yang tinggi. Sebab itu dalam peribahasa Melayu ada menyatakan terlanjak perahu boleh diundur tetapi terlanjur kata buruk padahnya.
Saya Merayu Supaya Kita Adil Kepada Melayu dan Islam Lain
Bukankah Melayu dan Islam sebenar yang saya bongkarkan kepada kalian jelas menunjukkan betapa agungnya dan tingginya nilai , moral , etika dan kebaikkan Melayu dan Islam yang sebenar ? Jangan sesekali kita keliru untuk membezakan antara yang tulen dan yang palsu. Yang benar dan yang salah. Yang baik dan yang buruk.
Cubalah mendekatkan diri lagi kepada Melayu dan Islam yang sebenar yang banyak terdapat dalam masyarakat dan individu biasa di negara ini. Janganlah kita dipengaruhi oleh segelintir pemimpin dan organasisi sehingga kita ada Melayuphobia dan Islamphobia.
Kamus Melayu dan Islam
Masyarakat bukan Melayu perlu membezakan antara Melayu UMNO dengan bukan UMNO. Istilah Melayu UMNO seharusnya wujud dalam kamus dewan negara kita kerana sekirannya tidak masyarakat tidak akan dapat membezakan antara UMNO Melayu dan UMNO PERKASA dengan Melayu. Nama dan erti Melayu yang sebenar akan terus dicemarkan.
Melayu – beradab , penuh dengan nilai murni , baik , istimewa dan unggul
Melayu UMNO – pentingkan diri sendiri , miskin dengan budi pekerti , kaya dan senang
Melayu PERKASA – biadap , kurang ajar , keterlaluan
Islam – Kedaiman , Kebaikan , Kemulian , Bermoral , Beretika
Islam Melayu dan Perkasa -  musuh dalam selimut , munafik , memiliki agenda
Saya seru blogger , pemimpin , masyarakat dan setiap individu di dunia ini menggunakan istilah kamus ini supaya Melayu dan Islam sebenar tidak tercemar. Apabila kita hendak menyerang Melayu dan Islam UMNO maka kita perlu gunakan istilah Melayu dan Islam UMNO  dan PERKASA dan bukannya Melayu dan Islam yang suci dan murni. Jika tidak masyarakat akan terus salah faham dan pandang terhadap kesucian , kedaulatan dan keagungan Melayu dan Islam itu sendiri sampai bila – bila.
Melayu dan Islam tidak berdosa. Nama baik dan imej hanya tercemar apabila dijadikan alat , nama dan senjata oleh pihak tertentu demi merealisasikan impian mereka.
Dalam bulan kemerdekaan yang ke 53 kita bersatulah dengan Melayu dan Islam yang sebenar. Kita cuba mendekatkan lagi dengan mereka. Sesungguhnya mereka merupakan bangsa dan agama yang agung yang mulia dan baik di permukaan bumi ini. Bersaudaralah sesama diri kita.
Yang perlu kita cari dan jauhi adalah Melayu dan Islam Palsu.Melayu , Cina , India dan bangsa Malaysia yang lain kita bersatulah dalam pentas persada arena ini demi membangunakan sebuah tamadun Malaysia di peta dunia.
” Selami dan Jiwailah Melayu dan Islam Yang Sebenar , Jauhilah Melayu dan Islam UMNO dan Perkasa”

No Equality under 1Malaysia - Perkasa

Perkasa claims 1 Malaysia not about equality

UPDATED @ 07:37:36 AM 30-08-2010

By Boo Su-Lyn

August 29, 2010

Ibrahim claimed that Najib’s 1 Malaysia was being twisted by some to claim equality. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 — Malay rights group Perkasa today heaped more pressure on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to explain his 1 Malaysia concept, already decried by critics as a hollow slogan amid escalating racial tension. “The 1 Malaysia concept has been twisted by some who say that it is about equality,” Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali told reporters today.
“We urge the prime minister to explain the 1 Malaysia concept. It is a concept that must be based on the constitution, on Article 153,” he said, referring to the part of the federal constitution which states the special position of Bumiputeras and allows the government to set quotas for educational institutions, government jobs, and permits.
DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang had also questioned yesterday the effectiveness of Najib’s 1 Malaysia policy given the spike in racially-tinged incidents, with two school heads allegedly spewing racial slurs against the Chinese and Indian communities.
Ibrahim today challenged Najib to submit a parliamentary resolution to remove Article 153 from the Federal Constitution if his 1 Malaysia concept was indeed about racial equality.
“Can he do that?” asked the Pasir Mas MP.
Najib only broke his silence two days ago on the weeks-old furore surrounding two school principals in Johor and Kedah who were accused of spewing racial slurs against Chinese and Indian communities, and said that his administration has a “zero tolerance” policy on racism.
This caused Lim to issue Najib a 60-hour deadline yesterday to act against the errant school heads by National Day, failing which he said it would be proven that his “zero tolerance” policy was a mere public relations soundbite.
The school heads of SMK Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra in Kulai and SMK Bukit Selambau in Sungai Petani have since apologised but various parties are still calling for stern disciplinary action against the duo, including sacking.
Today, Ibrahim also slammed the Chinese for calling for the removal of the 30 per cent Bumiputera equity quota during MCA’s recent Chinese Economic Congress.
“This race does not respect the Malays as ‘bangsa ketuanan’,” said Ibrahim.
“They have no respect because of greed. Malays make up 67 per cent of the population. We are just asking for 30 per cent,” he added.
MI

Perkasa under counter attack

Ibrahim Ali and Tengku Adnan UMNO Secretary General

BN leaders tear apart Ibrahim Ali’s ‘siege mentality’

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

August 31, 2010
 KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 31 — Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders have flayed Datuk Ibrahim Ali for suggesting that the 1 Malaysia concept did not accord equality for all races in the country. The Perkasa president had heaped more pressure on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Sunday to explain his 1 Malaysia concept, already decried by critics as a hollow slogan amid escalating racial tension.

Ibrahim claimed that the concept had been “twisted” from its original meaning, stating that 1 Malaysia had to be based on Article 153 of the Federal Constitution which uphold special rights for Bumiputeras.
“Ibrahim Ali does not understand the meaning of national unity. Only those who choose to not understand the meaning of 1 Malaysia and purposely try to create a situation out of nothing would be unclear of the concept. I don’t think the prime minister has to explain anything to Ibrahim Ali,” said BN Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.
Khairy told The Malaysian Insider yesterday that there was “nothing in 1 Malaysia” which challenged the Federal Constitution, and that the concept upholds whatever has been set out and guaranteed.
“There is no confusion of 1 Malaysia. There is nothing in the 1 Malaysia concept which challenges the Constitution. 1 Malaysia seeks to protect the rights of all Malaysians, upholding whatever that is enshrined in the Constitution,” said Khairy.
The Rembau MP said that Ibrahim’s actions were “symptomatic” of a “siege mentality” and lambasted the Perkasa president for creating a false sense of insecurity among Malaysians.
“Why must you overreact and scare people into thinking of something that is not even there?” said Khairy.
Ibrahim had also challenged Najib to submit a parliamentary resolution to remove Article 153 from the Federal Constitution if his 1 Malaysia concept was indeed about racial equality.
Khairy’s remarks were shared by MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu.
“If Ibrahim Ali does not understand what 1 Malaysia means, he should go and read it up himself. The Prime Minister has never made any attempt to rewrite the constitution. No one is challenging the provisions of the Federal Constitution.
“1 Malaysia would only serve to make our country more competitive,” said Gan.
However Gan explained that 1 Malaysia did not necessarily mean “absolute unity”, rather more towards helping those who needed assistance the most, regardless of race.
He claimed that Ibrahim was trying to “attract attention” especially with today being Merdeka day.
“Ibrahim Ali is hoping to desperately attract unwanted attention with his narrow-minded politics, especially since Merdeka Day is around the corner. What he is doing does not help anyone.
“I suggest that he studies the constitution, from its history to the present-day application to fully understand how 1 Malaysia fits in,” said Gan.
Umno Pulai MP Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed advised the Pasir Mas MP too face the “realities” of the current economic and political situation in Malaysia.
“He (Ibrahim) is trying to preserve the status quo. Many efforts were taken by the government to help the Malays, but the current situation does not allow for the Bumi agenda to be carried out as before.
“I think Ibrahim Ali should face the realities of the economic and political situation. In the past, Malays were disadvantaged...but now many have been elevated to a middle-class category.
“He wants quotas, but quotas are no longer relevant,” said Nur Jazlan.
The Umno man said that Ibrahim was being “extremist”, adding that many Malays no longer identified with what Ibrahim was preaching.
“1 Malaysia is based on the premise of political stability, where everyone feels that they are equal,” Nur Jazlan told The Malaysian Insider.
Malay rights groups like Perkasa as well as the Malay Consultative Council (MPM) have been increasingly vocal in their racial rhetoric in arguing for maintaining the pro-Bumiputera New Economic Policy (NEP).
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has also thrown his weight behind Perkasa, warning of a revolution if the economic disparities between the Bumiputeras and the non-Bumiputeras were not dealt with.
Dr Mahathir has maintained that the NEP needed to be retained indefinitely in order for Bumiputeras to be successful.
Analysts like Dr Azmi Sharom have argued that Ibrahim would only remain relevant as long as the Najib administration “entertained” his “erratic” arguments.
“He is only a shadow government if Umno and BN let him become so. If you react to him, he will try to impose his ideas on people.
“Najib should just ignore him,” said Azmi.
The Universiti Malaya law lecturer said that Ibrahim and his ilk had no “bargaining power” and therefore there was no reason for the government to entertain his requests.
“Who is Ibrahim Ali? What does Perkasa have over Umno? If they are not an authentic political party, then who are they going to support? They don’t have any bargaining power here, they have nothing, no political power at all.
“If Najib responds, it will show that he is weak, and fundamentally supports a racist organisation,” said Azmi.
MI

Tunku's Vision poisoned by racism

Tunku Abdul Rahman was born on Feb 8, 1903, in Alor Setar. He was the seventh prince of Sultan Abdul Hamid Shah, the 24th Kedah sultan. A robust and bright boy, Tunku received his early education at the Debsurin School, Bangkok and Penang Free School.

He then went on to study at St Catherine's College in Cambridge University on a Kedah government scholarship, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in law and history in 1925.

During his overseas studies, Tunku experienced firsthand racial discrimination at the hands of the college's administrators, which convinced him to fight for equality and to make his homeland an independent state, free from the yoke of British colonialism.

His flair for leadership unfolded in England. Realising the Malay students there were not represented by any organisation, he established the Kesatuan Melayu Great Britain (Malay Association of Great Britain) and became its first secretary.

In 1931, after returning home Tunku joined the Kedah civil service as a cadet in the Legal Advisor's Office, and then as a district officer in several Kedah districts. He proved himself unpopular among some British officials due to his outspokenness and tendency to introduce reforms in his quest to improve the living standards of the people.

His attempt to complete his law studies at the Inner Temple in England in 1938 came to a halt when the Second World War broke out. He resumed his studies only eight years later, coming home with legal qualifications in 1949.

On Aug 26, 1951, Tunku became Umno president, succeeding Onn Jaafar.

His first mission was to travel throughout the nation to meet people from all walks of life and various races to promote unity. His efforts in overcoming the country's political problems by way of cooperation among the various ethnic groups saw the birth of the Alliance Party in 1955.

In 1956, he led a mission to London for a discussion with the British government concerning Malaya's independence.

The meeting resulted in the signing of the Independent Treaty at Lancaster House in London on Feb 8, 1956 and, consequently, the independence of Malaya on Aug 31, 1957.

On his return from London on June 3, 1957, after finalising plans for independence with the British, Tunku in his first speech, upon landing at the Sungai Besi Airport, issued the clarion call for unity.

“The situation in this country is different from other countries in the world. Because of this, one race cannot take everything for itself. In order to set up an independent government, we must compromise and make sacrifices.”

Racial slurs
Tunku would never have thought that five decades later, things would develop to a point that national school officials would make remarks ridiculing other races. If a headmistress could make such racial slurs, what more ordinary teachers?

I know of many children who tell their parents not to raise a hue and cry over the incidents of racism they experience at school out of fear that they, the students, would be punished. There must be many cases that go unreported.

This not only goes contrary to the concept of 1Malaysia, but against the fundamental rights of human beings.

The government must call upon teachers, students and parent-teacher associations to report all cases of racist utterances and behaviour. The laws are clear and provide ample sanctions against such behaviour.

As we celebrate Merdeka today, our political landscape has worsen from what Malaya was 53 years ago when Tunku declared Independence. At that time, Malays, Chinese and Indians believed in consensus as the basis for how the nation should be ruled.

You did not hear much of non-Malays being called 'immigrants' and compared to dogs or prostitutes. No leader dared to threaten Umno presidents that they would lose Malay support, as Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali has done recently.

In this era of globalisation, we must think as citizens of the world, not as creatures living under a coconut shell. There is no room for racism.

Malays powerless

In his Independence proclamation speech, Tunku said: “We fully realise that (there are) difficulties and problems that lie ahead and are confident that, with the blessing of God, these difficulties will be overcome and that today's events, down the avenues of history, will be our inspiration and our guide.

“At this solemn moment, I call upon you all to dedicate yourselves to the service of the new Malaya: to work and strive with hand and brain to create a new nation, inspired by the ideals of justice and liberty - a beacon of light in a disturbed and distracted world. High confidence has been reposed in us; let us be united and face the challenge of the years ahead.”

About a month before independence, July 10, 1957, at the Legislative Council, Tunku explained the feelings and aspirations of the three major component races.

On Malays, he said: “Before the First World War, the Malays accepted the intrusion of hundreds of thousands of men and women of other races because they realised that they were powerless to prevent it.

“But in those days, few people were brave enough to interest themselves in politics and our complicated treaties with Britain had given the 'protector' absolute right to do as they liked in this country.

“The Malays had the assurance that the British government would protect their interests and that they would be given time to learn the art of administration and time to develop a business sense, and so they believed in the British.”

Not an easy journey

Reflecting on the early Chinese settlers, Tunku said: “They have been in this country for many hundreds of years. In the early days, they came here to trade and later to like this country and decided to settle down, and they were absorbed by the country and followed local customs and spoke the Malay language, which at the same time retaining some of their own culture and traditions. Later, after the First World War, a large number of Chinese came into the federation to further its development.”

On the Indians, he told the Legislative Council: “The Indians also came to the federation to seek wealth in the country and they found employment in government services or in estates. They, too, have made their contribution for which we are all grateful.

“Men and women of many other races have also come to Malaya, though in smaller numbers, and I should like to make particular mention of the part played by the British people. They have admittedly devoted their lives to the advancement and development of our country. Whatever may have been their fault, they have made Malaya a prosperous and happy place today.”

The road to nationhood has not been an easy journey. Malayans then, and Malaysians now, have endured the trials and tribulations with confidence and patience, calmness and forbearance, with faith in our final goal of establishing a united Malaysia.

Tunku knew that there would be challenges for the co-existence of the various races.

A visionary, he said in his proclamation speech: “Let no one think we have reached the end of the road: Independence is indeed a milestone, but it is only the threshold to high endeavour - the creation of a new and sovereign state.”

Fifty-three years after, Malaysians strive to reach, with great difficulty, yet another milestone.

Part 1: Tunku - the true believer of 1Malaysia

M KRISHNAMOORTHY is a freelance journalist and local coordinator for CNN, BBC and several other foreign television networks. He was formerly with The Star and New Straits Times and has authored four books.

Malaysiakini

Settlers Victory and more lawsuits to follow

Harakahdaily

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26: PAS has welcomed the decision by the Federal Court in ordering the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) to pay RM11 million to 354 Felda Kemahang 1 settlers for cheating them over the grade of their oil palm fruit. “Today’s victory proves that PAS and PR have been sincere in fighting for the welfare of the settlers who have been victimised for years by an unjust system,” PAS vice president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (pic) told Harakahdaily today. Congratulating the settlers, Tuan Ibrahim said their patience "has finally paid off today". Court of Appeal president Alauddin Mohd Sheriff who led a three-member panel today refused to review Felda's application to challenge a similar Federal Court decision by another panel which had earlier dismissed Felda's appeal. Due to the absence of Felda and Felda Palm Industries’ counsel in court, Kota Baru High Court judge Mohd Azman Husin ordered Felda to pay RM7.8 million plus interest, escalating the total amount to RM11 million. The settlers, who have been fighting for compensation for more than 10 years, are expected to receive between RM25,000 and RM30,000 each. Tuan Ibrahim said the court ruling today has vindicated Felda settlers who had accused the agency of wrongdoing. “With today’s decision, it means that the allegations brought forward by ANAK have basis...it will open the eyes of the parties involved to pay settlers fairly,” he said, referring to recent police reports lodged by National Felda Settlers' Children's Association (ANAK) detailing massive irregularities in Felda. Tuan Ibrahim also hit out at Felda chairman Yussof Noor for alleging that opposition leaders were trying to pit the settlers against the agency, saying Pakatan Rakyat was only trying to get justice for the settlers. “The issue of splitting Felda does not arise because some of the supporters and members of PR are settlers and the second generation of Felda. "They only seek justice and the government should not provide ‘sweeteners’ to them in time of Raya while at the same time rob them by manipulating oil palm price," he said. 'Be transparent' Tuan Ibrahim called on Felda to be transparent in its dealings with settlers, and not compel them to accept prices determined by it. “Costs for fertilizer, pesticide, farm roads, transport and others have increased Felda settlers’ debt unreasonable proportions," he said, adding that in spite of this, "their production outputs are continuously being cut by Felda due to the lopsided agreement." Commenting on the land title grants, Tuan Ibrahim urged Felda to return the land titles to settlers who had settled their debts, and said some were yet to receive their land titles despite doing so.

Singapore Dissident Talks

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew stuck in the bog.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I get the refreshing feeling now that Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew and company, the bully boys who run the island, have finally got themselves firmly stuck in the bog. And it appears they don't know what to do.

Although the old Chinese adage of killing a chicken to frighten the monkeys, another way of saying "Punish and shame a few to silence the majority", is very much in vogue in Singapore as it has always been, lately, it simply does not seem to work.

You recall the late JB Jeyaretnam. He was repeatedly punished for his political opposition which finally killed him. Yet he never gave up and Lee's punishments, rather than silencing him, made him even more vociferous. Then of course there is Dr. Chee Soon Juan. He goes to prison almost every month a week at a time for exercising his civil rights. Lee's idea was to punish him, so he will stop. It was also to intimidate others so they will not do likewise.

Lee's plan for Dr. Chee Soon Juan appears to be a complete flop. Dr. Chee does not mind going to jail a week at a time, and neither has it frightened anyone else.

And then there was me, in 2008. I criticized Singaporean Judge Belinda Ang Saw Ean for prostituting her office to please Lee Kuan Yew in a defamation trial. I was sent to jail for 3 months with great fanfare and the local state controlled press carrying headlines of it for several days. That has not stopped me from criticizing her or anyone else in Singapore. In fact my criticism has become even more robust.

The ground in Singapore instead of becoming cowed and intimidated, has become just the reverse. Today almost daily you have someone taking on the Lee Kuan Yew regime openly and fearlessly. Last week a young man wrote in his blog that Vivian Balakrishnan should be "burnt". He was arrested for that. Yesterday another young man had criticized the manner of Shafie Goh's arrest, a photographer who had taken pictures of the flooding last month. He has been taken in for questioning. But it is not stopping them. In fact the young man who wanted Balakrishnan to be "burnt" has challenged Lee Kuan Yew to "take him on"!

These protest are now becoming more regular and Singaporens are resisting the repression they are living under. The efficacy of the old Chinese saying about killing chickens and frightening monkeys is being disproved. Singaporeans are turning out to be neither chickens nor monkeys. If there are any monkeys or chickens, they are Lee Kuan Yew, his son and his sidekicks, all of them.

Here I am going to advise Lee Kuan Yew. Sending anyone to jail for a week like you do Dr. Chee Soon Juan does not interest anyone, least of all Dr. Chee Soon Juan. And when you sent me to jail for 3 months in 2008, it didn't interest me or for that matter anyone else.

If you really want Singaporeans to be afraid of you in the year 2010, you have to do what Hitler or Stalin did. Shoot them or send them to jail for 20 years, not one week. I dare say it would make a difference on the ground if you sent Dr. Chee Soon Juan to jail for 20 years. That would not only silence him, it would also silence everyone else. Better still shoot him.

But you and I know, at this day and age, you can do none of that. All you can do is to send him to jail for a week at a time, because if you did anything more to him, the international community will "burn" you and your friends to borrow the young man's phrase.

So, it appears now, you are finally stuck in the bog, up to your neck. You can neither move or do anything. You are helpless. And I ask Singaporean young men as the one who was arrested, not to fear, and continue standing up to the bully.

Gopalan Nair
39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1
Fremont, CA 94538, USA
Tel: 510 657 6107
Fax: 510 657 6914
Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com
Blog: http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/

UMNO: the long and winding road

Tuesday, 31 August 2010

The recent Merdeka  centre survey showed that UMNO has still a long way to go. Only 12% of the Chinese respondents said they are satisfied with the Government/UMNO. Malays are split 50:50. The Indians- they are not so critical as they are easily swayable.

The survey also said that if PM calls for early elections, he has to project more of himself to win. The gravity of this finding needs to be appreciated. If UMNO's future depends on the weakened shoulders of one person, this means the party is bereft of leadership material. It is reduced to a party forced to manage its image instead of offering convincing direction and policies.

I am sorry to say this- at the moment what Najib has, is the made for TV image and persona of leadership. He is still struggling to impose his leadership substance. And he isn't helped on by his colleagues who are either disinterested or disconnected with his ideas. Or worse, his party members do not understand his leadership direction.

The party UMNO is so discredited. There were 3 main reasons- the leadership is only interested in themselves( read feathering their nests), playing politics and corruption is seen as growing bigger, aided and abetted by the government leadership.

If the party is discredited because of racist chauvinism as asserted by a senior minister, it would have lost its relevance a long time ago. UMNO has always been identified as a Malay chauvinist party. So, why could it stay relevant with the Malays for a long time? That could only suggest that its posturing on Malayness is an accepted trait. UMNO will always be as UMNO is, but what turned Malays and Malaysians against UMNO are the 3 things exposed by the survey; stupid UMNO politicians are interested in feathering their own nests, the level of corruption has reached its tipping point and there is too much politicking brought about by vacuous leadership material.

I have said it before and will repeat it here- the unfortunate truth is that UMNO leaders reached their eminent stature not because of producing great thinking but because they are adept at playing the political game. Hence instead of the cream rising to the top, you have the scum prevailing over others. UMNO is sliding because there are no more good men in leadership capacity.

In short, if elections were to be called early as in next year, UMNO will lose. The revolution that will occur will come about not because NEPish policies are abandoned, but more because UMNO cannot accept losing power.

Can you imagine, life as many UMNO bigwig politicians know for so long is no more? No more pillaging, no more abuses of power, no more avenue for rapacious greed, no more hiding behind your prowess of outshouting your opponents. No more concealing your mediocrity. That will be the end of the world for men and women accustomed to prevailing over others with bullying tactics and out-maneuvering others in political intrigues. These people will incite rebellion because they will find themselves cut off from their power bases and decapitated from wealth creating resources.

If the survey is taken in Pekan, I think the observations will be more correct. It is impossible for Najib to lose there and indeed there Najib enjoys an unassailable stature like Anwar Ibrahim to some of his followers. He can do no wrong.

But a victory alone in Pekan if cancelled out by massive losses elsewhere is of no use. UMNO still loses and that will be the end of Najib's career as PM. The problem is with UMNO and its leadership in general. It is a discredited brand name soiled by self interested leadership, mired in political intrigues and UMNO is seen as a party that promotes corruption.

How can UMNO redeem itself?

Bring in good men in government which means sack the mediocre material. Even a bad system can still be saved by having good people in leadership capacities. Perhaps it was this factor that made UMNO successful in the early days as they were more good leadership material. Honest and sincere leaders believing they could make a difference to the lives of the public. Good leaders were even forgiven for personal weaknesses. Tunku Abdul Rahman and even Tun Razak were partial to intoxicating drinks, by they were nevertheless tolerated because they could lead and because they don't trample over religion and their race.

Restore the people's faith in a party committed to offering the best and talented to the people. Remove all vestiges of ensconced privileges and political rules that impede and frustrate the emergence of new talent. The insistence of no campaigning for party positions is a mockery to the commitment to let diversity of leaders emerge.

Restore the public's faith in the resolve of the government to stem out corruption by going after the big guns. Start by opening the boxes infamously mentioned by one Ezam Mat Noor and go after the 18 high profile cases mentioned by Rais Yatim. Compel him to turn state evidence otherwise charge him for obstructing justice.

Restore the public's faith in our judiciary by first promoting judges of the highest integrity and sound technical knowledge of the law.

Restore the public's faith in the freedom of ideas by giving real press freedom. Allow opposition parties to publish their papers so that the public is accustomed to a contest of ideas and thinking.

And in this 21^st century, there is hardly any justification to have a draconian piece of legislation such as the ISA. It is an archaic piece of legislation more relevant in an age of unreason. It is suitable in an age where we stamp our authority by using coercive instruments. In the age of reason, we secure public's faith and belief in us by the force of reason and civil argument. 

At the end of the day, good leadership must not only be heard, but must also be seen to operate. 

SakmongkolAK47

 

Revolution says Mahathir

Dr M warns NEP removal could lead to revolution

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

August 30, 2010

Mahathir: Everyone is thinking about his own race. If I am included it is because I think it is dangerous for the rich to take away what little the poor have.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad predicted today that there would be an escalation in racial tension and division should NEP-style policies be removed, likening the situation to the Communist revolution in Europe. He stressed that the time was not right to introduce any policy which would “disregard the disparities between races in the interest of equity and merit.”
“Take away the minor protection afforded by the NEP and the bumis will lose whatever that they may have. Then racial division will be deepened by wealth division. I don’t think this would be good for the country. Remember it was the disparity between rich and poor in Europe which led to the violence of the Communist revolution.
“I may be labelled a racist but fear of the label will not stop me from working for what I think is the good of the country. Nothing will be gained by dividing the people of Malaysia into poor Bumis and rich non-Bumis. The time is not right for disregarding the disparities between the races in the interest of equity and merit,” said Dr Mahathir in a posting on his blog today.
The former PM continued his stout defence of the pro-Bumiputera New Economic Policy (NEP) style policies in his blog post, by suggesting an indefinite continuation of affirmative action programmes.
The former prime minister admitted today that he was “not proud” of the NEP which accorded protection to the Bumiputeras, but stressed that such protection was still necessary and that a 20 year-timeline was not enough for Malays to be economically on par with other races.
Malaysia’s NEP, put in place in 1971, officially ended in 1990, but many of its programmes are still being continued. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has said he plans to remove subsidies and many of the pro-Bumiputera quotas under economic reforms. But Dr Mahathir and many Malay groups are opposed to the removal of quotas and equity targets, despite evidence suggesting Malaysia is being handicapped economically and is less competitive globally as a result of such policies.
“I am not proud of the protection afforded the Bumiputeras. It implies weakness. I don’t think Malays and other Bumiputeras like to think that they are inferior in any way.
“But the reality is that in Malaysia the Bumiputeras need new skills and a new culture even. These cannot be had by them in a mere 20 years. The original planners of the NEP were too optimistic,” said Dr Mahathir in a blog posting today although he did not provide or suggest a time frame in which the NEP would no longer be needed.
Using education as an example, Dr Mahathir lashed out at critics who have attacked the government for maintaining a 60 per cent quota for Bumiputeras in local universities.
The former PM said that if the current Bumiputera quota in public universities was reduced, more Bumiputeras should be then allowed to enter private universities which he claimed only consisted of 10 per cent Bumiputeras.
“Even the 10 per cent Bumis are there because of scholarships by MARA. Take the scholarships away and there would be practically none.
“Why is it that the focus is only on what is done by the government? If the Bumis in government universities should be reduced, then the Bumis in the private universities should be increased. Or else meritocracy would reduce the number of Bumiputeras getting university education. Or is it the intention to deny Bumis higher education? They are not the best but they are qualified,” said Dr Mahathir.
The outspoken politician claimed that there were more non-Bumiputeras in foreign universities than local universities because Bumiputeras still could not afford to pay for private tertiary education, and cautioned that this would inevitably result in the Bumiputeras lagging behind in education.
“Because they can afford it there are more non-Bumis than Bumis in foreign universities. This must increase the disparities in higher education between different races,” he said.
Dr Mahathir has been increasingly vocal in speaking out against the New Economic Model (NEM) introduced by Najib, saying that affirmative action must still be carried out, signaling fears that Malays and Bumiputeras would stand lose out the most if the administration were to implement a hundred percent meritocracy-based system.
The former prime minister revealed last week that he had written to the prime minister to offer his advice and let him know what he thought of the New Economic Model (NEM).
However, Dr Mahathir said he did not expect Najib to consider his recommendations.
Citing another case, the veteran politician alleged that even with the existing Bumiputera quotas in government contracts, there was still no guarantee that the contracts would actually be awarded to Bumiputeras.
“As for contracts even with the 5 per cent advantage given to Bumi contractors, many of the Government contracts do not go to them because of their lack of capacity. Even if they do get, non-Bumi contractors get most of the sub-contracts etc.
“Actually construction by the private sector is bigger than the public sector. In the private sector the Bumi contractors get next to nothing. I suppose this is because the private contracts are given based on merit. Or maybe it is not. I don’t know,” said the former Prime Minister.
In justifying his arguments, Dr Mahathir said that during his tenure as Prime Minister and under the implementation of the NEP, Malaysia enjoyed stability and good economic growth.
He noted that despite increased talks about “meritocracy,” the races in the country are more divided today than ever before.
“For 46 years this country enjoyed relative stability and consequently good growth. But today the races are more divided than ever. Everyone has become racist, talks about meritocracy notwithstanding. Everyone is thinking about his own race. If I am included it is because I think it is dangerous for the rich to take away what little the poor has,” added Dr Mahathir.
Dr Mahathir has appeared to be highly critical of Najib and Umno in recent remarks, suggesting recently that the ruling party was weak and mismanaged.
The feisty ex-premier had also mocked proponents of meritocracy last week, calling them racist and decried Malays who supported meritocracy as having misplaced pride.
His comments come after recent remarks by top Malaysian banker Datuk Seri Nazir Razak — the CIMB group chief executive and the brother of the PM — who said that the NEP had been “bastardised.”
Nazir has been pushing for reforms while Dr Mahathir has been putting his weight behind right wing Malay groups such as Perkasa, who believe Bumiputera quotas were a “right” of the Malays.
Dr Mahathir has also denied that the NEP had been an obstacle to the country’s development.
He has also mocked proponents of meritocracy, calling them “meritocrats” who are pushing for dominance by one race in all aspects of the country.
MI

UMNO Corporate Nexus Probe

Pakatan seeks probe on Umno-corporate nexus

By Boo Su-Lyn

August 29, 2010

Lim said the mingling of Umno’s interests with GLCs’ stretched back decades. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders are demanding a probe into Umno-linked companies being awarded lucrative government contracts, but conceded to the complexities in such an exercise and the difficulty in proving that corruption was involved The links between Umno and certain conglomerates were revealed further in a High Court hearing last week involving the past shareholders of Realmild Sdn Bhd, the shadowy company that took over media giant The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Bhd in 1993, and Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB).
“There has to be a comprehensive investigation because for the last 30 years, there has been such a far-ranging nexus of Umno companies and the role they play not only in corporate but also government-linked company (GLC) transactions,” DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang told The Malaysian Insider.
“There is no proper accountability in the whole process,” said Lim, adding that this was the reason why Malaysia’s integrity rating took a nosedive in the past three decades.
The Ipoh Timur MP pointed out that it was difficult to identify the boundaries involving the government, the political party, and the individual in companies owned by Barisan Nasional (BN) parties.
DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua said that there was a clear conflict of interest when the government awards contracts to Umno-linked companies.
“Whatever the government awards benefits companies [owned] by Umno and other ruling coalition parties,” said Pua.
Realmild, originally a RM2 company, was the majority shareholder of MRCB, which is now developing the KL Sentral commercial and transport hub in Brickfields.

Pua claimed that Umno’s masking of the ownership trail makes tracing the real beneficiaries “complicated”.

The Petaling Jaya Utara MP added that the probe should focus on identifying the stakes in the Umno-linked companies. “The National Audit Department should run a check on all companies where Umno holds a stake, direct or indirect, and verify them against contracts awarded by the government,” he said, adding that this must apply to all ruling parties including PR if they should capture Putrajaya.
Pua, however, admitted that the probe would be a “complicated” exercise as he claimed Umno hides their holdings under various companies.
“Trying to unravel the entire network of Umno’s ownership in many companies would be a major exercise,” he said, pointing out that the complexity was shown by the court dispute where some shares that were meant to be proxy shares were retained as personal shares.
Former Realmild director Datuk Khalid Ahmad had sued Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Maidin in March 2005 for RM10 million over the sale of a five per cent stake in Realmild in 1999, which took place during a shake-up and buy-out related to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sacking from government.
Abdul Rahman had paid RM5 million but later reneged on the remainder as he learnt from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the shares actually belonged to Umno.
Abdul Rahman is also now seeking to recover the RM5 million he paid to Khalid, saying the businessman had misrepresented the ownership of the shares.
However, Khalid has maintained that the five per cent stake was his own although he acknowledged that the majority stake was part of an “Umno Trust”.
The other directors in Realmild then were former Berita Harian group editor Datuk Ahmad Nazri Abdullah, New Straits Times group editor Datuk Abdul Kadir Jasin, and Mohd Noor Mutalib, who replaced Khalid as NSTP managing director in February 1993.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali noted that it was difficult for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to probe Umno-linked companies as they were private companies.
“Unless there are reports from people inside regarding irregularities, it is very difficult to prove them,” said Mustafa, adding that the national anti-graft agency had no legal grounds to investigate Umno-linked companies.
Mustafa pointed out that one way to ensure transparency despite the existence of companies owned by political parties was to implement open tenders for government contracts.
“The number of negotiated tenders by government should be reduced. They have to do open tenders,” said Mustafa.
Pua said that laws should be put in place to ban or restrict political party involvement or ownership in business interests as mere guidelines were unlikely to prevent abuses.
“In a case where the government is awarding contracts to an Umno company, it becomes complicated. The minister may step away from (making) the decision, but civil servants are under pressure to award the contract as they are under the purview of the minister,” he said.
Pua also noted that although companies participating in government tenders could be forced to disclose political party ownership, most Umno-linked companies avoided such disclosures as their shares were usually held in proxy.
Beyond the disclosures of such links, Lim also stressed that proper guidelines and accountability were still needed to prevent gross abuses.
“There has to be proper check and scrutiny to ensure public accountability and transparency and integrity of our government,” said Lim.
MI