I was at the debate. A decent report of the same can be read at the Bar website at
http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/content/view/8678/2/
I was glad I attended.
It allowed me to see in sharp contrast one man who might just have the qualities needed to make a difference in Parliament pitted against another who displayed an arrogance founded on his belief that a slick-tongued politician could fool all of the people all of the time.
To Zaid, I repeat what I have been saying for some time now.
The politics of BN may have been relevant 50 years ago when this was a fledgling nation and the different communities needed time to truly get to know each other and feel confident that this was truly a nation for all.
The people, ordinary folk, like the ones you saw in the audience at the debate, including me, reached that point a long time ago. I have good friends from the various communities. We trust and care for each other. Race, to a great many of us, has long become irrelevant.
Race, though, is relevant to the very survival of BN. And for a long time now, BN’s primary concern is its own survival and not the well-being of the ordinary folk. BN’s continued survival and rule hinges on the Malays, Chinese, Indians and the other communities continuing to distrust each other.
Until BN begins to dismantle its race-based politics, ‘Bangsa Malaysia’ will continue to be a farcical slogan written into the scripted speeches of the BN leaders. But BN cannot fool all the people all the time. It will take time, but unless BN changes, the people will.
To Zaid, I say this : I think you have tried to bring about change in UMNO and BN so that it might begin to dismantle its race-based politics. I think you have tried to restore some semblance of constitutional order to this country. You have failed, not for want of trying, but because the politics of patronage so entrenched in BN cannot be broken simply because of the vested interests of its leadership.
To Zaid, I say this also : if you stood in my constituency in the next election as an independent candidate, you would get my vote. I think you have done enough to rightfully be addressed ‘Yang Berkhidmat’.
To Nazri, I have little to say except to borrow the following words of Oliver Cromwell :
“You have sat too long for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!”
Libra
April 26, 2007
I have always admired Zaid but puzzled why he joined UMNO and even more puzzled why he is still in it now that it is clear they don’t want you. You can’t enter the cess pool to clean it up. You do it from outside.
If Zaid wants to make a difference and want to see this country survive as a nation, before UMNO destroys us all, I urge him to quit BN and join an opposition party. PKR will be a good choice.
Over to you sir.
Gan
April 26, 2007
Haris,
“BN’s continued survival and rule hinges …….. other communities continuing to distrust each other.” is exactly how BN divides and rule !!
Hopefully, there are many more Haris, MIS and Zaids who will join the Opposition to deny BN the 2/3 majority – then that might make BN sit-up and take notice !!
Haris Ibrahim
April 27, 2007
Gan,
I do not think it is about joining opposition. My sense is that it requires civil society to reclaim its power. And all the Haris, MIS and Zaids will not be enough if the Gans etc do not speak up for civil society
Libra
April 27, 2007
Yes and No.
“My sense is that it requires civil society to reclaim its power.”
Yes, I agree with you that what we need is a civil society. The problem is we don’t have one. We are merely existing as a nation, without a feeling of unity, cohesion or a sense of belonging to the country.
As a people we do not express any outrage and anger at the mass abuse of power – eg the abuse of ISA, sacking of a Lord President, jailing/beating of a former DPM, high level corruption etc.
We go on with life as though these issues do not affect us. Many of us are aware of these abuses, yet we support the government because their only concern is to to go on with life and to ‘hell with politics’.
By and large Malaysian ‘embrace’ corruption and abuse of power. Independence of the judiciary is too far fetched an issue, so is press freedom.
“I do not think it is about joining oppsition.”
No, we need an opposition because change can only be brought about through politics and elections. If people like Haris, MIS and Zaid do not take sides to give more credibility to the Opposition, there will never be any change.
Under the present BN, this country is doomed. Believe me , doomed and it will set us back generations to recover in this competitive world. Then it will be too late.
Haris Ibrahim
April 27, 2007
Libra,
I suspect we are both saying the same things, except differently.
Gan
April 28, 2007
Haris & Libra,
I agree with both your comments.
I mentioned opposition as I think with current situation, a “civil society” CANNOT just happen without a strong opposition to provide the check and balances to ensure that “uncivility” DOES NOT become the order of the day.
I am hoping that people like MIS, Haris, Zaid can be the ones to lead the many very scared and timid Gans (I believe there are many such closet Gans out there).
P.S. The comments posted in the many blogs do indicate that many of us cares about the injustices that’s happening but many of us are at a loss at what to do.
Haris Ibrahim
April 28, 2007
Dear Gan,
I am in agreement with your last comment. In fact, I will go so far as to say that I truly believe that the greater majority are unhappy with the state of things.
Those in power count on fear silencing this majority. The majority must break out of this fear mode if we are to reclaim our country.
You, too, must take the lead in bringing about the change that we want.
Gan
April 28, 2007
Dear Haris,
Over 30 years of fear indoctrinated in my mind will need time for it to be purge from my system.
I am starting to be more brave albeit stealthfully by daring to speak my mind in the blogs.
My take on Nazri’s reply during the debate (hardly what I will call a debate reading the write-up from The Malaysian Bar link):
Extracted:
“……. that I am the one whom you are going to convince. It is not important to me whether you are convinced or not with what I said because if I am not convinced with what you said, the system remains. …….”
Gan’s comment:
How can one person decide on the setting-up of the Commission? For a person who harps on “engagement” his words indicate otherwise, it’s more like “I am the boss here, so either my way or no way”.
Nazri’s reply to Ms Chew:
Extracted:
“……. There has never been a drop in a number of cases registered with the courts …..There has been increase. Of course, you say that, you know, there is no choice. But there is a choice – arbitration or you go settle out the court but people still go to court ……”
Gan’s comment:
This reply just knocks me senseless, if people do NOT go the courts – where else are they suppose to seek justice?
Nazri’s reply to Datuk Shaikh Daud:
Extracted:
“……. And you know how the Malays are with the Sultans. ……The Malays are feudal people. They are. ……”
Gan’s comment:
If that’s Nazri’s stand on the Malay mentality being “feudalistic”, it’s all the more reason that we need the Independent Judicial Commission to ensure that the right calibered judges are appointed so that the “feudalistic” (Kita yang mengikut perintah) mentality will NOT interfere with their judgement.
Farida
April 28, 2007
Hi Haris,
After reading the Malaysian Bar link report, I have only one thing to say – What debate? So much of what Nazri said was doublespeak! Weaving through the labyrinth of wordy, ambiguous statements he made, I ended up lost as to what point he was making except that of asserting he had the final say.
onn
May 3, 2007
yeah join the opposition, no one cares….basically, the former DPM…PKR..isnt doing any real cause that benefits the people. the symbol of BN has become imbalance….from self interests of the few chosen ones.
the people need education, time, or even tragedy if no one learns from history.
but Malaysia is a gifted country, so give the people time…the change is happening. it has always been.
Arifabdull
June 1, 2007
Libra says,
“If Zaid wants to make a difference and want to see this country survive as a nation, before UMNO destroys us all, I urge him to quit BN and join an opposition party. PKR will be a good choice.”
PKR?
Why?
Rick
November 2, 2008
When a child is pampered, by giving all the goodies in the world at the cost of others, you are spoiling the child.
You are creating a group of people which are pampered in the guise of Malay supremacy. To put it bluntly you are not allowing a Malay, as a race to grow but all your actions are destroying them.
Let me give you some examples. These type of reservation policy was and is still done for the aborigines in Australia, the Red Indians in USA, the Arabs in the Gulf, the lower castes in India.
It is all done for decades together, as a noble cause, in the guise of helping the under privileged.
What has happened now in all these countries? The conditions of the group or race of people they propound to help, has deteriorated. They have become more lazy and less competitive. They do not feel like working because they always feel that they are protected. They feel secured in their cocoons which they have created.
In other words, the race based parties in Malaysia are not doing anyone a favor but slowly destroying their own races.
A pampered child will always remain that. A pampered child.