Malaysia's Multi-Ethnic Coalition = BN Near Collapse

UMNO may have to go it alone as Chinese, Indian parties crumble

 

Regardless of who wins Malaysia's 13th* general election, expected to be held on April 27, the historic multi-ethnic coalition that has ruled the country since independence will have likely collapsed.

"Whatever the results, the Barisan coalition will cease to exist as we know it because the Malaysian Chinese Association, Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian Congress will be wiped out," a Kuala Lumpur-based businessman told Asia Sentinel. "Assuming UMNO forms the government with Sabah and Sarawak parties, there will be no Chinese and Indian representatives in the government. And that is not a good scenario to have."

The Barisan and the opposition, made up of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat headed by Anwar Ibrahim, the ethnic Chinese Democratic Action Party and the fundamentalist Parti Islam se-Malaysia are embroiled in what is being called the closest election in the country's history, with both sides predicting victory. One opposition strategist said the race would probably come down to a margin of 10 seats either way in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat, or parliament.

For most of the time from its 1957 inception as an independent nation, the country has been governed by a carefully engineered amalgam of ethnic parties led by the United Malays National Organization, the Malaysian Chinese Association, the Malaysian Indian Congress and, to a lesser extent, Gerakan, which has faded in recent years.

However, in the debacle of the 2008 election, the MCA was left with just 15 seats in parliament. Gerakan, the second mostly Chinese ethnic party, ended up with just two seats. The MIC was left with three. UMNO won 78.

In the upcoming polls, political analysts say the MCA could see its total seats fall to just one or two, roiled as the party is by years of major scandals and political infighting that once impelled one of the contending factions to secretly film party leader Chua Soi Lek having a sex romp in a hotel room in a vain effort to drive him from politics. The resurgent opposition Democratic Action Party expects to claim the vast majority of Chinese voters. Gerakan, whose base is in Penang, which is controlled by the DAP, could be wiped out completely, the analysts say. The MIC is equally riven by scandal and infighting, with its members and leadership gravitating away towards the Hindu Rights Action Force, or Hindraf.

This is not a scenario conjured up by the opposition. It has been discussed within UMNO councils for months as the party has watched the other components of the Barisan drift into disaster. It is at least partly responsible for the rise in race-baiting in recent months as UMNO and its attack-dog ancillaries such as the Malay supremacy NGO Perkasa raise the spectre that ethnic Chinese, and particularly Chinese Christians in a Muslim country, will take over the reins of power.

Ethnic Malays make up 50.4 percent of the population, Chinese 24 percent and Indians 7.1 percent, according to the CIA World Factbook. UMNO sees its chance to keep its leadership of the country intact by winning every available ethnic Malay vote and hopefully luring ethnic Indians back into the fold.

Thus indigenous tribes, most of them in East Malaysia, with 11 percent of the population, probably hold the key to the 2013 election, most political analysts feel. The states of Sabah and Sarawak and the federal territory of Labuan control 57 of the 222 seats. The 165 peninsular seats are almost equally divided between the Barisan and Pakatan Rakyat.

As the MCA in particular descended into chaos, an UMNO operative told Asia Sentinel months ago that UMNO basically decided it would have to go it alone in the 13th general election. While the other ethnic parties will field candidates in the election, UMNO will try to take as many constituencies dominated by ethnic Malays as possible and hope the component parties can have some impact.

If not, the 57 East Malaysia seats -- depending on how the parties controlled by the current chief ministers fare in the election -- will control peninsular Malaysia's destiny. In both Sarawak and Sabah, the bonds of loyalty that keep elected lawmakers tied to particular parties are slippery indeed. In one case in the 1980s, when the opposition unexpectedly took control of the statehouse in Kota Kinabalu, the victorious coalition locked their winning members behind a chain link fence to keep them from being bribed away by the losers.

Should the collapse scenario actually take place, it will produce a "mono-ethnic and unelectable opposition that will be constrained to the Malay belt" in the Peninsula, where 20 million of the 28 million Malaysians make their home -- without the help of the East Malaysian states. Both chief ministers have been implicated, although not indicted, in scandals involving untold amounts of money in bribery for timber sales. They would be pleased to talk to the opposition in exchange for immunity from prosecution.

If UMNO is to rebuild the coalition, win or lose it means its gamble to conduct the election by appealing to the fears or prejudices of its Malay constituency has failed the country at large, and that it must regain the trust of the complex ethnic mosaic that makes up the rest of the country.

"What's left is UMNO seats, high Malay-majority seats," said an opposition political operative. "They might be propped up with some Malay seats in Sarawak, and some Sabah UMNO seats. If they lose, they would have to reconstitute. They have to start moderating their line and to try to get back the support of the minorities. Assuming they hold power, I would assume over the next five years they would have to reconstitute."

It is unsure what the implications are for Malaysian society as a whole. Tension has simmered for decades, since 1969 riots took the lives of hundreds on both sides of the ethnic divide, exacerbated by the New Economic Policy created in 1971 to give economically disadvantaged rural Malays a leg up. Malays get the majority of government jobs and places in universities. The country has been on a 30-year campaign to ensure rising ethnic Malay ownership of the commanding heights of the business community.

So-called Ali Baba companies dot the landscape, with the "Ali" being an ethnic Malay usually sitting behind a polished and empty desk, while "Babas," a nickname for Straits-born Chinese, run the business from the backroom. Billions have been wasted on government-linked companies given to UMNO cronies to run into the ground. An explosive report by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists released today said as much as RM200 billion* was funneled out of Malaysia last year to Singapore, an astonishing burst of capital flight.

"Malaysia's system of holding back the dynamic Indian and Chinese minorities has turned it into a bastion of mediocrity in a fast-growing region," Wall Street Journal columnist Hugo Restall wrote in an editorial today. "The country's best and brightest leave because the cronyism and racial quotas in education and employment hold them back."

Tumbuk Estate: Cleaning up MIC’s mess

Tumbuk Estate is located near the fishing village of Tanjung Sepat. It is a scenic view if one is to drive there, as one would pass by the Morib beach as well as a stretch of mangrove trees. During high tide, the sea water would splash along the road. Beautiful and breathtaking. But this scenic value gets distorted when one goes close enough to see the housing of the plantation workers who lived in Tumbuk Estate along the same road.

Tumbuk estate was at one time owned by Maika Holdings – the investment arm of MIC. One would expect a model estate since MIC is supposed to be the vanguard of the Indians. Yet Tumbuk estate remains pathetic. Except for the school, the houses for the estate workers are in bad shape, they do not have inbuilt toilets, drainage broken and houses depressing. I always wondered why didn’t MIC make this their model estate with the best facilities.

Then they could have challenged other plantation companies to do so. The situation is similar when the National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW) took a case against the Planters MAPA on the question of monthly wages. One of the reason for NUPW to lose the Industrial case against MAPA was that they themselves did not implement monthly wages in the estates which they owned themselves. Therefore it is difficult to champion the plight of the plantation workers if MIC itself is not prepared to do so.

On April 8, 2006, Maika Holdings and NUPW signed an agreement for a housing scheme for the plantation workers. The scheme is to build semi-D houses for 29 remaining families in Ladang Tumbuk. The agreement said that Maika shall commence construction of the houses in April 2008. Workers were also shown several layout plans of the houses to be built. The beautiful agreement had everything in it except it did not have a date of completion for the proposed housing scheme. The houses never got built and workers have remained in their deplorable quarters ever since. Not only were houses not built, MIC too faded from the scene.

In 2010, Maika after several scandals and controversy was taken over by G-Team. G Team under millionaire Gnanalingam had no patience. His task was to sell all assets of Maika Holdings and wind up the company. They told the workers that based on the agreement, there is nothing binding as there is no dateline. They offered the workers RM25,000 each. Take it or leave it and went on to sell pieces of the estate to individuals who were interested to buy. Meanwhile, water was being disrupted to the workers quarters.

At this point of time, the matter did get referred to the Selangor State Government under the excoship of YB Xavier. YB Xavier met two camps of workers and told them to decide which would they prefer – money or housing. This seems to be the offer on the table. Take the money and leave versus the group who wanted the initial agreement fulfilled. The following weeks ended with more in-fighting between these two groups.

It was at this time that PSM was approached. We went in at the time when the local union leaders had already left the estates, when the people were divided into several camps and when they were under pressure from thugs to take the offer and leave.

More than half the workers took the G-Team offer of RM 25,000 and left the estate, leaving behind 12 families who were determined to get housing as the initial agreement stated. Since October 2010, the harassment was building up on the remaining 12 to take the offer. On Nov 21, 2011, water was completely cut off. PSM then went to the ground, organised the workers, lodged several police reports against the threats, highlighted their plight in the media and held a protest outside the labour department.

The labour department then held several meetings. They were not comfortable dealing with the more confrontational PSM and JERIT and wanted the workers to choose NUPW to handle the negotiations. The workers opted for PSM as PSM had been consistent in fighting for them. Meetings in the labour department was tough with both parties shouting and standing by their ground. A combination of street protest, police reports, negotiations as well as legal option in putting a caveat on the land was employed by the workers.

These actions finally restored the water supply and after a few more meetings, the agent dealing on behalf of the new land owners agreed to build houses for the workers. It was a victory of sorts and it took many meetings between PSM representatives and a company dealing with the owners of the land. Though the housing issue was sort of resolved, other matters such as the temple, etc. remained problematic.

The land owners managed to remove the caveat in the land but they had one more bigger obstacle, that is to get the State Government approval to sub-divide the land as the land is more than 100 acres. The land owners were now finding ways to solve the problems and have allocated two acres of the land to relocate the 12 families and the temple.

As the problems from the land owners slowly subsided, a new kind of problems began to prop up. The remaining 12 families started to split into two new groups and more mistrust and unnecessary miniature fights took place. On the one hand, the new owner cannot develop the land unless he solves the workers housing problem. The land owner claims that the workers kept shifting the goal post every time a settlement is in sight.

YB Xavier, the Pakatan Rakyat State exco was firm in his dealings. He said that the Estate Land Board (ELB) approval will not be given unless the housing issues of the  12 remaining workers are resolved. A field visit by Xavier further shocked him. He could not understand how come the houses are in such a bad shape and had agreed to top up and do up the houses. He agreed to put State Government money in making built-in toilets, doing up the drainage, etc. Xavier said that the State Government will make the houses in a liveable and humane condition.

PSM worked hard to work out a proper settlement so that the remaining workers future will be protected and they will not go into a limbo like the previous agreement. After a few more meetings with the Land Owners, lawyers, etc. finally an agreement was reached and the signing took place on March 26, 2013 at the Ladang Tumbuk school.

With this agreement, 12 workers will get a free 2,600sf piece of land, eight of them who participated in the earlier scheme and who have contributed were paid a further RM25,000 each as well as will be given a renovated unit of their current houses. The temple will also be given 5,000 square feet of land free and a compensation of RM 40,000.
At the signing in ceremon,y many workers were relieved that their issue is finally settled.

Besides the involvement of the State Government, many other people also played their part in solving the issue such as representatives from JERIT, legal advisers for the workers, K Arumugam and Pasupathi, the company dealing with the owner Tamil Selvam and Vannir Selvam. The workers put their signature on 21 copies of the agreement. It is hoped that this agreement will not end up like the previous one.

It was a relief that the agreement has finally been signed in spite of the many internal conflict. Estate workers cannot go on fighting for housing every time an estate goes for development. There must be legislation protecting them. We are lucky in Selangor that the State Exco refused to approve unless housing rights for the workers are given.
Similarly the estate workers future cannot be left in the hands of the State Exco perse but needs to be protected by a legislation.

Najib’s father Tun Razak started the Workers House Ownership Scheme but less than 5% of plantation implemented this. Today Sime Darby which is owned by the Government is the biggest plantation company, yet when it comes to building houses for their workers, they just end of being stingy as the game of profits and returns rules their decision. They forget about the workers who put them there. From ruins to settlement. This is the tale of Ladang Tumbuk. Soon the work to restore the houses is being done. The scenic view along this sea side village can only get better.






ArutChelvam - secretary-general of PSM

Estimated 99% Indians excluded from and schemes meant for the poor and landless Malaysians

Under Najib’s One Malaysia, an estimated 99% of even the pre-existing Malaysian Indian plantation workers as at Independence were denied opportunities in these Felda, Risda and Felcra (also Fama, the various state government land schemes and later the Agropolitan land schemes).

We are only aware that immediately after independence, only about 1% of the Felda Land schemes were allocated to the Indians. In the last 20 years we have hardly heard of in particular any Indian being granted these land ownerships schemes.

In the latest Agropolitan land ownerships schemes, we have yet to hear of a single Indian poor and landless being granted the opportunities. The UMNO controlled Malaysian government should make public at their websites the list of the poor and landless beneficiaries with their names and other details to prove One Malaysia and non-racism against especially the Indians.
UMNO has never done so as it practices open race-based politics and policies but otherwise preaches One Malaysia.

The aforesaid ‘RM 202.2 Million in dividends to Risda smallholders’ and the ‘90,000 hectares under two (recent) planting schemes involving more than 43,000 settlers’ as stated by Prime Minister Najib and Risda Chairman has obviously excluded an estimated 99% of the deserving poor and landless Indians.

Najib said ‘we want to transform Malaysia into a high income population but this must be planned carefully’ ‘Instead of relying on foreign workers to keep costs low, we want to focus on new ways and activities to raise people’s incomes’. (But again the Indians are excluded.)

An estimated 99% of the deserving Indian poor and landless are excluded from the benefit of this RM 202.2 Million, 90,000 hectares and 43,000 settlers. An estimated 99% of the poor and landless Indians even after 52 years of Independence have been excluded from the national mainstream development of Malaysia so much so that the Tamil papers repeatedly reports that Indian mothers are so poor that they cannot even afford to buy milk for their babies and instead feed them with tea and rock sugar water, stop their children from attending even primary schools because they cannot afford the school bus fare and are so backward and illiterate that they are deliberately denied even birth certificates for their children.

This critical Indian poverty could be solved by the stroke of Prime Minister Najib’s pen if only Najib and UMNO also included these poor and landless Indians on the National Policy and Agenda and include them into the aforesaid land schemes and be transparent about it as opposed to the playing politics using UMNO’s supervisor (mandores) system by creating impressions, perceptions and mere promises as has been done for over the last 52 years of independence. The only difference today that it is now under P.M Najib’s ONE MALAYSIA BUT TWO SYSTEMS.

By Thiagarajan Sasayapillai

No need for expert analysis for BN's poor performance in GE12

Why do Umno and the rest of the Barisan National component parties need to 'engage an independent body to conduct a post-mortem on their performance in the recent general election'? Were they so removed from the rakyat that they were not aware of the swelling discontentment that was swirling amongst the ordinary folk?

No wonder the political tsunami that swept across the nation with five states going to the opposition was a complete unexpected shock to Umno and the BN parties. You don’t need an expert in political science to tell you what actually caused the failure of the Barisan Nasional parties.

The principle cause of the BN failure can be attributed to the leaders in Umno. They were under the delusion that they had the majority support of the Malay populace. To a certain extent this was true before the advent of PAS and now PKR.

However failure to realise that the political landscape had changed led Umno leaders to formulate policies that antagonised the non-Malays. The non-Malays were maginalised in practically every aspect of the Umno-dominated government policies.

This marginalisation led to the loss of support for other race-based BN parties like MCA, MIC and Gerakan. In addition, the BN component parties were cowed to such an extent that religious and educational issues affecting the community did not find a voice and they were unable articulate their grievances.

Umno’s mistake was its failure to grasp the current political reality. Umno today cannot claim to be a legitimate representative of all the Malays. With the birth of PAS and now PKR, Umno at best can claim to have the support of only 30% of the Malay community.

In fact, it was reported in the main stream media that Umno's Malay support in the recent election amounted to only 29.6%. The reality of today’s political landscape clearly demonstrates that for any of the three parties - Umno, PAS and PKR - to succeed, it is vital for them to obtain the support of the non-Malays.

They were, in fact, the king-makers of the last election. As long as Malay support is divided amongst the three parties namely Umno, PAS and PKR, the fate of each of them will continue to remain in the hands of the non-Malays.

Therefore if Umno continues to plod along with its old racist and pro-Umnoputra NEP policies thinking that it will garner Malay support but in fact eroding its non-Malay support, it will most likely end up as a political dinosaur in the next general election.

PM Najib’s plea to Indians a day late and a dollar short

 

The prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak pleaded to Indian community to support BN in the coming 13^th general elections. He announced that he will ensure that the Indian community will enjoy a better future, just like the other communities in the country. The prime minister added that he would discuss with Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the education minister, about the possibility of converting Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) which did not receive government assistance, to be converted into fully government assisted schools, in stages. Datuk Seri Najib said Tafe College would also be upgraded to a university college status because the institution has the capability to provide technical expertise that is needed by the country. The prime minister said the government would also allocate funds to upgrade community centres and crematoriums and raise the equity for the Indian community to 3%.

Since the election is round the corner all that is said by the prime minister can only be done after the next general elections provided he remains in office. But Dr Mahathir Mohamad who represents the UMNO hardliners have called on Prime Minister Datuk seri Najib Tun Razak to relinquish his post if he is unable to secure a two-thirds majority for Barisan Nasional in the next election. Securing two thirds majority and winning back Selangor by BN is not predicted by any independent analyst so far. Therefore Datuk seri Najib’s position after the 13^th general election is not feasible and untenable as it stands now. Even if BN wins 13^th general elections how much support and authority will he have in UMNO is anybody’s guess. Under these conditions can the prime minister fulfil his pledges and promises? Indian community has seen these election promises in the past but nothing changed.

In 1970s BN/MIC leaders have promised achieving 3% economic stakes. But Indian economic wealth has dropped to 1.2% by 2000. The prime minister is recycling the same figure 3% again. It’s quite understandable that he only realised the Indian equity is only 1.2% just before the general elections and not after he took over the premiership in 2009. Does he have UMNO and Malay bureaucracy support for his pledge? Datuk Seri Najib should get the consent of UMNO and the Malay bureaucracy before he promises. Otherwise when Indian Malaysians go to government departments on prime minister’s pledge, the counter clerk will say that they did not get orders from higher ups. Indian Malaysian had enough of political rhetoric but need actual delivery.

Prime minister’s pledge to turn all partially aided to full aided sounds hollow. Even now the full aided Tamil schools need to appeal to Indian community to refurbish depleted signboards and repair toilets. They don’t get funds on time but after 3 to 4 years and besides Tamil Schools have to run to MIC for assistance but national schools get assistance from ministry of education itself. Why the double standard Mr. Prime minister? Why not set up a department in ministry of education to develop, maintain and formulate progressive curriculum so that every Tamil school student can join form one class and cope his/her lessons and not drop out of secondary schools?

AIMST University was built with MIC grassroots’ support and government fund. But Malays get Bumi quotas and Chinese students can afford to pay but many Indian students cannot afford to pay their fees of AIMST University. Indians students study with PTPTN loan. How will converting Tafe College to university status help Indian students? Again the Malays will have their Bumi quotas and Indian students have to borrow from PTPTN. Mr. Prime minister Indians need scholarships, job opportunities, higher education places in universities and recognition that they are truly Malaysians.

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib has been asking for trust (nambikai) again and again. For the past 55 years Indian Malaysian’s trust (Nambikai) on BN was taken for granted and their rights have been denied and ignored. Many in the community are still waiting for blue identity card and rightful treatment in government front office counters. MIC leaders like Datuk samy velu, Datuk Nadarajah etc have betrayed the Indian Malaysian’s trust once too many. But Datuk Seri Najib surrounds himself with these untrustworthy characters and asking the Indian Malaysians to trust (Nambikai) him. Will the Indian Malaysians ever trust the prime minister? Can he be trusted in the first place? Even this simple fact has eluded the prime minister.

Datuk Seri Najib’s BN government spends about RM500 million every year on BTN programs which is indoctrinating Malay supremacy (ketuanan Melayu) concept in the minds of civil servants. Will the 95% Malay civil service having attended the BTN program allocate funds to upgrade community centres and crematoriums for non Malays? The prime minister can give grand promises to gullible Indian Malaysians but will the BTN trained government department counters entertain request for temples and crematorium or do they have a policy on these matters. The prime minister’s 1Malaysia ponggal speech may be music to MIC/PPP/IPF leaders but the large numbers of Indians in Malaysia are more aware and informed now.






From the desk of Senator S Ramakrishnan

PM Najib, Please fulfill your promises to Tamil schools

The prime minister may sound very generous to Tamil schools in political gatherings but the reality is the ministry of education has their own national agenda to adhere to. Prime minister may announce the building of 6 Tamil schools in 2010. He also announced 100 million for Tamil Schools in 2012 and 2013 budgets. But till date no new Tamil school has been built and very little of the first 100 million from 2012 budget has trickled down. In fact the prime minister must order ministry of education in writing instead of making political statements in public gatherings. After Datuk Seri Najib becoming Prime Minister nothing has changed in Tamil schools despite the many announcements. I would like to highlight one of the forgotten promises of ministry of education to Tamil community in Bandar Salak, Sepang.

Lothian estate and Bute estate in Sepang was acquired to build KLIA in the late 1970s. To relocate the 2 Tamil Schools from these 2 estates, 6 acres of land near Salak town in Sepang district was given to ministry of education by the estate management. Lothian estate Tamil school was closed and the school children were transferred to SRJK (T) Salak tinggi. But the SRJK (T) Bute was not closed to accommodate the children from the nearby kg. Chincang, Salak.

Many estate workers have shifted to the housing estates (Tamans) in Salak town. This town’s proximity to KLIA has led to more housing estates in Salak town. Therefore there is a sizable Indian population to support a Tamil school. The parent teachers association (PIBG) of Ladang Bute Tamil School also supported the relocating of their school to Salak town. Since 1993 the school PIBG and the local MIC have been actively canvassing for the relocation of SRJK (T) ladang Bute to the land in Salak town given by estate management in 1978. The kg Chincang parents too willing to send their children to a bigger and better town school in Slak town. But the ministry of education is dumb and deaf to these calls.

In Salak town every housing estate has a national school (sekolah kebangsaan). There are 5 national primary schools and 2 more being built in Salak town. But the request for the relocation of one Tamil school since 1993 is not possible. The local MIC leaders themselves have given up and are now supporting the Pakatan Rakyat to relocate the ladang Bute Tamil School to Salak Town. Parents and the local Indian leaders are concerned that if nothing is done then that piece of land given by Genting plantations in Salak town may be transferred to national school.

So Datuk Seri Najib may announce anything to make Indian Malaysians feel good but the ground reality do not match his words. The officers in district education department do not follow what Najib promises to Indian community.

The Member of Parliament for Sepang Datuk Seri Ir Mohd Zin Mohamad is busy finding fault with the Selangor government and recapture Selangor for BN. Appeals to him too fell on deaf ears. If he wills, he can solve with a stroke of a pen. Unfortunately they only want Indian votes but they couldn’t be bothered about Indians thereafter.

Mr. Prime Minister we do not appreciate all the birthday greetings and well wishes without delivering what you promised. Please deliver the basic necessities such as infrastructure for Tamil schools, more quality education in Tamil schools, education opportunities to those non Malay children who excel in studies, scholarships and job opportunities. The promises of Prime Minister should have been fulfilled in 1970s and 1980s. So it is nothing new. Will UMNO agree to these offers to non Malays Mr. Prime Minister?








From the desk of Senator S Ramakrishnan

Under BN nothing is sacred nor seditious anymore

 

The litany of offenses by the BN is now not only alarming but also is dangerous. The latest, the closed door screening of Tunda Puteri to Felda settlers is not just reckless but is begging a spark to ignite a powder keg created by the BN.
 
Mature citizens have long forgotten aberration in our history. By raising the spectra of May 13, it would seem that all rational thinking has departed the BN political mind set.
It is akin to the scorched earth policy employed by Napoleon and Hitler whose armies lay waste to the land as they retreated from the battlefield, leaving the victors nothing but a burnt out shell of the land.
 
Meanwhile, the ministry of home affairs has lifted the ban on Viswaroopam movie after much delay due to public calls. The film was banned on Jan 25 following complaints made to the Home Ministry by the Indian Muslim Congress (Kimma) and the Federation of Indian Muslim Associations (Permim).
 
The Film Censorship Board made 12 cuts on the film. But the KIMMA and PERMIM made further complaints which resulted in the ministry setting up a special panel comprising of the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and censorship board officers to review the film, focusing on religious and security aspects.
 
The home affairs ministry made another 12 cuts on the movie and now has announced the lift on ban. I understand that the film distributor Lotus films don’t want to screen the movie after 24 cuts.
 
KIMMA and PERMIM are UMNO cronies and they want to be more Malay than Indian. They have more influence than all the other BN beggar parties like MIC, PPP and IPF. These Indian based parties have no backbone and are depending on UMNO and PM Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to win back Indian votes.
 
In India itself Viswaroopam is being screened after 7 cuts on the movie after protests from smaller Muslim groups. But in the Malaysia Film censor board has made 24 cuts before lifting the ban. Viswaroopam is just like any other Hollywood or for that matter Tamil movie. This movie has been slaughtered beyond recognition.
 
Yet, without considering the consequences and the possible repercussions, Datuk Seri Najib has ordered the screening of Tanda Putera to 3000 felda settlers. A movie criticized by many as seditious and harmful to the multi racial society is screened to targeted rural groups to poison their minds. On the other hand Datuk Seri Najib reaching out to Indian and Chinese communities with sweet promises with no results yet.
 
PM Datuk Seri Najib and UMNO are now possessed by sheer desperation to stay in power. They don’t care if its action can harm the people or the economy and take the country backwards. They are forcing Malaysians of all backgrounds to choose only UMNO/BN by hook or crook. Where is the 1Malaysia feeling and spirit in these actions of PM and UMNO. Is 1Malaysia a mere vote buying slogan? The PM must understand that action speaks louder than words.
 
In allowing venom to be spat at certain sectors of society by handpicked individuals, the BN is overtly encouraging and even supporting calls for the burning of religious books and the closure of Batu Caves just because it is inconvenient and causes a traffic jam once a year. The founding fathers of this nation, including the PM’s father would never have brooked such flagrant abuse, deprivation and deception.
 
The silence of PM on these issues is egregious and borders on utter insanity if he expects the events to lead to their calculated catastrophe. It is almost as if the BN has given up on anything clean or above board. The exposé on the number of phantoms, the torrid revelations at the Sabah RCI, should have prompted immediate action by the EC.
Instead, the chairman asks an infantile question as to what detergent to use to ‘Bersih’ the rolls! His response, is preposterous, it can only elicit shock and disbelief from right thinking citizens, coming from a person appointed to ensure free and fair elections.
And he has the audacity to say that we can expect ‘unexpected situations’ to occur! All he has to do is to carry out his appointed task with the same reverence as his appointment letter reflects.
 
By his own admission, former PM Tin Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has openly admitted that BN “is the devil you know.” There is more truth in that Freudian lip than meets the eye






From the desk of Senator S Ramakrishnan