2008

10:34 PM

Raja Petra Kamarudin

The REAL story of May 13 (part 3)
Posted by Super Admin
Monday, 22 September 2008 08:30



They say those who forget history are doomed to repeat its mistakes. In light of the recent sabre-rattling by those in Umno and the warning by the Armed Forces Chief, Malaysia Today feels compelled to republish an old article by Raja Petra Kamarudin that was published in Harakah on 24 September 1999.

NO HOLDS BARRED

 
The move to push Tunku Abdul Rahman aside had started. They needed something to trigger off some form of resentment against the government. They needed the Malays to rise, and what better platform to exploit than a racial platform?

Prior to that, 11 Chinese prisoners were sentenced to death for killing a Malay prison warden in Pudu Jail. This was subsequently turned into a Malay-Chinese issue.

The Malays wanted the 11 Chinese punished. The Chinese wanted their death sentence commuted. And demonstrations were held in the Chinese dominated areas around Kuala Lumpur to pressure the government to pardon the 11. In one large demonstration outside Pudu Jail, the riot police had to be called in the break up the demonstration with teargas. That was my first experience with teargas, and I was only 19 then.

The government had no choice but to back down, thereby angering the Malays.

In another incident, some Chinese demonstrated in front of the United States Information Service (USIS) office and one demonstrator was shot dead by a panicking Malay policeman -- interpreted as another Malay-Chinese thing.

The Chinese wanted a funeral procession but the police would not grant them permission as they knew it would attract a huge crowd and the funeral would be turned into a demonstration instead. Tun Razak, however, told the police to grant them permission and ordered the police off the streets. The resulting "giant" parade built up tensions further.

The May 1969 General Elections were held soon after and the Alliance Party won only 40% of the votes resulting in it losing its two-thirds majority in Parliament. It also lost a couple of states to the opposition plus its two-thirds majority in others.

The opposition parties held "victory parades" which turned into a mud-slinging and name-calling session. The Malays were now really angry and decided to hold a victory parade of their own. Dato Harun, the then Chief Minister of Selangor, was given the task of managing this "event".

On May 13, the entire cabinet withdrew to Frazers Hill while the Malays prepared for trouble. People in the top echelon of the government and commerce were tipped off to get out of town or go home early and, by 3.00pm, the city was quite deserted of the elite except for the unknowing rakyat.

That same evening, racial riots exploded. Parliament was dissolved, thereby saving the Alliance government that no longer had a majority in Parliament, and power was transferred to Deputy Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak under the National Operations Council (NOC).

The Tunku was now powerless.

Mahathir then increased his attacks on the Tunku using race as his platform. He also called for MCA's expulsion from the Alliance to "punish" the Chinese. Instead, Dr Mahathir was expelled from Umno as the Utusan Malaysia newspaper report of 6 June 1969 reveals:

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KUALA LUMPUR 5 June - Some leading members of UMNO's Supreme Council have voiced their support for the decision by MCA leadership to exclude themselves from the Cabinet. Among them are Tan Sri Syed Jaafar Albar, Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad and Syed Nasir bin Ismail.

In a meeting with Utusan Malaysia, Tan Sri Syed Jaafar emphasised his disapproval of efforts made to ask MCA to re-enter the Cabinet.

"I do not agree with the way some Chinese chambers of commerce have stated their confidence and support of Tun Tan Siew Sin and their asking him to reconsider MCA's decision to withdraw from the Cabinet," he said.

According to him, the problem now was not the question of confidence towards Tun Tan Siew Sin as the MCA leader, but whether the Chinese supported the present policies of the Alliance.

"This is the matter that should be considered by these people who are making a big fuss about giving their support to Tun Tan Siew Sin today," he added.

Tan Sri Jaafar Albar also stated that the support given to Tun Tan Siew Sin by the Chinese Chambers of Commerce was not sufficient because support had to come from the majority of the Chinese population.

He stated that discussions about MCA's inclusion in the Cabinet should not be confined to the newspapers or to MCA alone because UMNO, as the backbone of the Alliance party, had not decided yet if MCA and MIC should be included in the Cabinet or if the Alliance should remain as it was then.

He said: "It is not only the duty of MCA to discuss this matter as if it is its own peculiar problem, but it should be the responsibility of all the Alliance leaders from the UMNO, MCA, and MIC."

However, he did not want to give his final views before the party met to discuss the matter.

Mahathir, who supported Tan Sri Syed Jaafar's statement, stressed that MCA leaders had to adhere to their earlier decision of not wanting to be included in the Cabinet.

He said that he agreed with the view of MCA leaders that they could not actually represent the people they claimed to represent.

According to Mahathir, the support given to Tun Tan Siew Sin by the Chinese chambers of commerce and other Chinese organisations could not be taken as support from the Chinese community as a whole to MCA because those organisations did not represent the desires of the Chinese community as a whole.

"If MCA wants to know whether they have the support of the Chinese, they have to wait for the next general election. Since this will take quite some time, it is no longer necessary for MCA to remain in the Cabinet," he emphasised.

Mahathir also said that MIC's position in the Cabinet should also be reconsidered.

Syed Nasir stressed that on the whole, the relationship between UMNO, MCA and MIC had to be reviewed to take in the changes which had taken place after the general elections.

"The people have expressed their needs and desires, and there is little point in pretending that the policies of the Alliance party are the best acceptable to them," he said.

In a Press Statement released by UMNO's Secretary General, Senu Abdul Rahman, reported by the Utusan Melayu newspaper on 6 June 1969, it said:

"Mahathir Mohamad ceases to be a member of the UMNO Supreme Council with effect from today, 12 July 1969.

This decision was taken following the wide distribution to the public of Mahathir's letter to Tunku Abdul Rahman, President of UMNO Malaysia.

Letters containing important matters should first be discussed by UMNO's Supreme Council, especially in view of the present situation in the country.

The action taken by Mahathir is seen to be in breach of the party's etiquette and is capable of damaging party solidarity and the government which the party supports."

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Mahathir replied to this in his letter to the Tengku dated 17th June 1969.

"Your opinions were based on stories you heard from people who surround you, and who tell you only what they think you like to hear or should hear. Permit me to tell you what the position, the thoughts and the opinions of the people are really, so that you can understand my motive for making that press statement.

You yourself told me that you have prevented a riot by commuting the death sentence of the 11 subversive Chinese. In truth this very action sparked the riots of 13 May, which resulted in the deaths of many, many more.

Your 'give and take' policy gives the Chinese everything they ask for. The climax was the commuting of the death sentence, which made the majority of the Malays angry. The Chinese on the other hand regarded you and the Alliance government as cowards and weaklings who could be pushed around.

That was why the Chinese and the Indians behaved outrageously toward the Malays on 12th May. If you had been spit in the face, called dirty names and shown obscene gestures and private parts, then you could understand how the Malays felt. The Malays whom you thought would never rebel went berserk, and they hate you for giving too much face. The responsibility of the deaths of these people, Muslim or Infidels, rests on the shoulders of the leader who holds views based on wrong assumptions.

I regret writing this letter, but I have to convey to you the feelings of the Malays. In truth the Malays whether they are UMNO or PMIP supporters really hate you, especially those who had lost homes, children and relatives, because of your 'give and take' policy.

They said you wanted to be known only as 'The Happy Prime Minister' even though others are suffering. They said that although the country was in a state of emergency you were engrossed playing poker with your Chinese friends. Even the policemen said that you were using official cars and police escorts to contact your poker gang.

Lately, another disturbing factor came to light. The Malays in the Civil Service, from Permanent Secretary downwards, Army Officers and the Malays in the Police Force have lost faith and respect for you. I know that the majority of them voted for the PMIP through mail ballots....

I wish to convey what the people really think, that is that it is high time you resign as our Prime Minister and UMNO leader.

I am fully aware of the powers you still hold and I remember too well the fate of AZIZ ISHAK. But I would be irresponsible if I do not explain what I have said earlier. Even if I am jailed, I have to say what I have already said.

Once more I wish to repeat that the statement I made [on the continued exclusion of the MCA from the Cabinet] is to prevent the Malays from hating the Government more and to stop the Chinese from abusing the dignity of the Malays. A bigger riot will occur if this is allowed. The military itself will be beyond control.

I pray to God it will open your heart to accept the truth bitter though it may be."

***************************************************

Soon after, the Tengku stepped aside and Tun Razak took over as Prime Minister. The opposition parties were invited to join the government and the Alliance gave way to the Barisan Nasional giving the government back their two-thirds majority in Parliament. Later on, of course, PAS left the BN to stay on as an opposition party.



http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/12950/84/
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6:10 AM



SAPP Supreme Council declares that SAPP is no longer a member of the Barisan Nasional
Wednesday, September 17, 2008

The BN has lost its "BN spirit". It was not that the people who did not want the BN, it was the BN who abandoned the people. In spite of repeated appeals from some BN members to other BN leaders to be more sensitive to the peoples' feelings, these leaders continue to treat the people with contempt. Perhaps, after 50 years of uninterrupted government, some BN leaders have got it in their heads that they have a divine right to rule.

http://sapphq.blogspot.com/

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SAPP pulls out of BN
DAILY EXPRESS NEWS

Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) pulled out from the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, Wednesday, three months after declaring the party's loss of confidence in the Prime Minister's leadership.

The announcement by party President Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee at a packed Press conference after chairing a SAPP Supreme Council special meeting at its headquarters in Bornion, Foh Sang, was followed by the mass resignation of almost all the party's leaders from their respective government posts.

They were Assistant Finance Minister Melanie Chia who is also SAPP Wanita chief, Deputy President Datuk Eric Majimbun who was appointed Deputy Chairman of Sabah Economic Development Corporation (Sedco) as well as those holding the post of councillors and people's development leaders, among others.

Melanie and Eric said they would be tendering their resignations Thursday.

However, two others - Deputy President Datuk Raymond Tan who is a Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Infrastructure Development Minister and a Vice President, Jimmy Wong, who is Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, have yet to announce their decision.

Another elected representative, Elopura Assemblyman Au Kam Wah who is also SAPP Youth chief, did not attend the meeting but sent a message to Yong stating that "he will not go along with the party's decision to quit BN".

"He did not say he is resigning from the party. I also did not say that he has resigned but he is only not going along with the party's decision," said Yong when asked on Au's position.

Tan, who spoke to reporters after walking out of the meeting at about 4.15pm, made it clear that he had objected to the move and would be deciding on his position in the party as well as the State Government in 24 hours. (See separate story).

Yong said the question of whether the decision was made unanimously did not arise because "the Supreme Council made the decision and it is a valid decision".

He said of the 35 Supreme Council members, three were absent including Au. "And out of the 32 present, two objected (Tan and Wong). They have requested that their names be made public (objection to the move) although we don't normally reveal this," he said. Yong said SAPP would not be joining the opposition Pakatan Rakyat but that its elected representatives in Parliament and the State Legislative Assembly would perform their role as a "quality opposition".

"SAPP will be a quality opposition until we are returned as government," he said to cheers and thumping of the table.

Asked if SAPP would consider if it were offered to join Pakatan, Yong said they would be in communication with each other but did not elaborate.

Asked whether SAPP would change its mind and return to the coalition should Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi step down, he said:

"Kalau kapal sudah mau tenggelam, kapten mau lompat, sama juga (it makes no difference if the captain wants to abandon ship when the ship is already sinking)".

"Some people say it's too fast, some people say it's too long (to make the decision) but we look at the situation, and the time has come to remove all doubts.

"In the last few months, (we have been deliberating whether) we should be in or out. The BN has not made any decision to expel us, so after a long period of two months, may be we see the time has come," he said.

"(DAP veteran) Lim Kit Siang has come up with a new terminology which is 'Pakatan plus', but we in Sabah hope to have a 'SAPP plus'," he added.

SAPP, a Chinese-majority party, was registered on Jan. 21, 1994 by a group led Yong himself following his resignation from Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) after a fallout with PBS President Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

Reading a prepared statement, Yong said "The BN has lost its BN spirit". It was not that the people did not want the BN, it was the BN who abandoned the people. In spite of repeated appeals from some BN members to other BN leaders to be more sensitive to the peoples' feelings, these leaders continue to treat the people with contempt.

"Perhaps, after 50 years of uninterrupted government, some BN leaders have got it in their heads that they have a divine right to rule."

He said SAPP was now free from the BN and shall, henceforth, use this freedom to pursue its autonomous political path to fulfil the party's mission to establish a trustworthy government and a progressive, just and harmonious society.

"We now have the master key to our own house. We shall build a brighter future for our people and the generations to come."

According to him, on March 8 (general elections), the people had spoken out loud and clear, resulting in the BN paying a heavy price but the BN refused to learn.

He added that the ruthless increase in fuel prices on June 4 and the failure to tackle inflation and economic slowdown had dealt a severe blow to ordinary people.

"The recent blatant abuse of the ISA against an innocent journalist, an MP and a blogger only confirms that the BN leadership has not learned from their mistakes.

"The shameful Taiwan trip by 49 BN MPs and the instigation of racial animosities have aggravated the collapse of confidence among the people and leaders, not only on the Prime Minister but the BN as well.

"The Prime Minister's Budget 2009 was totally uninspiring and has already been discredited even before it was debated in Parliament. The BN has lost its moral authority to rule. Numerical majority in Parliament means little if the people no longer respect you," he said.

Yong also said the resignation of Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim only confirms what many lawyers already knewÉthat the Prime Minister and his government never had the intention to reform the judiciary.

"Zaid's exposure about 'the BN government being paralysed by internal strife and divisions' has also been known to many people in the BN. In many other countries, such paralysis of government will lead to fresh general elections," he said, adding SAPP has nothing personal against the PM and his family.

"None of the matters raised by SAPP concern his person, his family, son, daughter, son-in-law or businesses. SAPP is only concerned about the issues affecting the country such as the need for good governance, the dangers of racial polarisation and injustice of economic imbalances to be tackled effectively," he said.

Yong stressed that SAPP had only wanted to see that the legitimate rights of Sabah and the unfairness suffered by Malaysians in Sabah be given due attention with results.

"The BN must realise that, if not for Sabah and Sarawak, BN would be in the opposition today. But instead of sincerely working to solve the issues raised by SAPP, the BN has chosen to embark on a course of action to destroy SAPP," he said.

He said the SAPP Supreme Council condemned the attempts of BN operatives to destroy SAPP through divide and rule tactics and by abusing the economic resources of the BN State and Federal governments aimed at instigating SAPP members and leaders to destroy SAPP.

As a matter of fact, he said by deliberately excluding SAPP from four consecutive meetings of the Dewan Tertinggi (Supreme Council) and two meetings of the Management Committee ever since the announcement of no confidence in PM on June 18, the BN has effectively terminated the membership of SAPP.

"I call on our members to be brave. Do not despair. Remember that one of our party culture's seven values is Resilience. From the day we joined the party, we knew that things can get very rough for us.

"Yes, together we shall overcome this difficult period because the people are with us. With strong encouragement and support, SAPP will succeed in our struggle," he said.

Yong said SAPP would also be embarking on a series of political activities two weeks after Hari Raya during which a "road map to victory in future elections" would be planned.

"We shall elaborate how we plan to achieve the eight-points declaration, namely good governance and non-racial politics, autonomy for Sabah, 20 per cent oil royalties, return of Labuan, review of unfair laws and detrimental departments, Borneonisation of the federal civil service, solution to the illegal immigrants issue, and redress economic and social imbalances," he said.

http://dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=59918

17/9/2008

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Yeah....This is what sabahan people looking for...Sure that SAPP lose their position in government but one thing that is very important that SAPP gain Sabahan support more that he could imagine...People has no doubt over SAPP anymore for SAPP really stand for sabahan. I'm proud with you Datuk Yong Teck Lee. You are my leader...You earn my highest respect in all aspect... Keep it on Datuk....We stand by your side.
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6:10 AM

The REAL story of May 13 (part 2)
Posted by Super Admin
Thursday, 18 September 2008 11:35



They say those who forget history are doomed to repeat its mistakes. In light of the recent sabre-rattling by those in Umno and the warning by the Armed Forces Chief, Malaysia Today feels compelled to republish an old article by Raja Petra Kamarudin that was published in Harakah on 24 September 1999.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

UMNO is at it again! They are going round the country saying that keADILan and PAS have allowed the National Mosque to be used by non-Muslims to attack Muslims. UMNO politicians and Pusat Islam officials have likened the non-Muslims to “unclean” people because of their pork-eating and liquor-drinking; so they should not have been allowed into the mosque.

Maybe these narrow-minded people have not noticed the daily busloads of foreign tourists visiting the National Mosque as part of their itinerary? Have these foreign (non-Muslim) tourists been screened whether they eat pork or drink liquor before being allowed into the mosque? I bet not!

UMNO adopted this very dangerous strategy once, 30 years ago, back in 1969, which resulted in the infamous May 13 racial riots. Now they are doing it again. It was a very narrow-minded and short-sighted strategy then. It still is now -- maybe even more so now seeing that we have entered the borderless cyber age and are about to enter a new millennium.

Race and religion should no longer be used to separate Malaysians in the divide-and-rule policy of the Barisan Nasional government. The Malays, Chinese and Indians must protest strongly and reject this outdated racial politics that is extremely dangerous and can disrupt the peace and stability of this multi-racial, multi-religious country of ours. UMNO is saying one thing to the Malays, and the opposite to the non-Malays. This is the height of hypocrisy.
Do any of you know the REAL story behind May 13 -- how is started, why it was started, and who started it? If not, then let me take you down memory lane.

Contrary to what the (local) history books try to tell us, May 13 was NOT about Malay and Chinese rivalry. It may have eventually ended that way, but that definitely was not how it started out. May 13 was basically a Malay political struggle with racialism used as a camouflage.

To understand May 13, we need to go back to the pre-Merdeka days to see how independence was achieved and how the first leaders of independent Malaya were groomed to take over running the country.

The British knew that, one day, they would have to grant independence to Malaya. India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and many countries around this region had already gained independence from their colonial masters. In 1946, the independence movement in Malaya had also started, giving birth to the first Malay political party, UMNO. It was a matter of time before the British would have to give in to the demands of the Malays.

The British thought that the best way to grant independence to Malaya, yet still have some control over their old colony, would be to groom the leaders who would take over and educate them the British way so that they would soon become more English than the Englishman.

In the mid 1940s, the British doors were thrown open to the Malays and the first batch of Malays was brought over to England to receive an English education. These were mostly the sons of the elite and royalty -- Tengku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak, and many more future leaders of Malaya. Tengku Rahman was definitely given special treatment by the British to the extent he was the only student in Cambridge history ever allowed to own a car on campus (everyone else rode bicycles). He drove a MG sports car and spent his years enjoying the lifestyle of the rich and famous.

Eventually these young graduates of an English education were brought back to Malaya and given government posts as part of their training to one day take over the reins of power. As an example Tengku became a District Officer in Kedah, a post normally reserved for the "white man".

Needless to say, these English educated Malays enjoyed all the trappings of England including cricket, rugby, tea-at-four, brandy-after-dinner, and so on, not to mention a day at the dog races.

Eventually, Merdeka was won and, in 1957, the local Malays took over running the government. But it was merely a changing of the skin colour. The management style remained the same. It was Merdeka without losing the English influence. In fact, as mentioned earlier, the Malays of this era tended to be more English than even the Englishmen.

It was now twelve years after Merdeka and the "young Turks" in UMNO were getting restless and wanted a change of leadership. These young Turks such as Hussein Onn and Dr Mahathir Mohamad had no sentimental attachments to the British, as they were educated in India and Singapore respectively. They were also angry that Tengku Abdul Rahman surrounded himself with Chinese businessman.
Mahathir made this point very clear in his letter to the Tengku which goes as follows:

"You have become so powerful, both by virtue of your office and by popular acclaim, that UMNO has become subservient to you. UMNO is being held together, not because the members share your ideas on politics, but through a system of patronage and disguised coercion based on Government rather than party authority.

A feeling of power normally grips those who wield patronage, a feeling that they can mould and shape people and opinions any way they please. The leaders of UMNO, the senior partners of the Alliance Government, have succumbed to this disease and, believing that they no longer need to heed the opinions of their supporters, they disregard them at every turn.

Laws have been hurriedly passed without prior consultation with the representatives who have had to "sell" these laws to the people. Tax innovations have been made and discarded with complete disregard for the disrupting effect on the public. In the main, Parliamentary sittings are regarded as a pleasant formality which afford members an opportunity to be heard and quoted, but which have absolutely no effect on the course of the Government. The sittings are a concession to a superfluous democratic practice. Off and on, this strength is used to change the constitution. The manner, the frequency, and the trivial reasons for altering the constitution have reduced this supreme law of the nation to a useless scrap of paper.

Your Ministers and the Cabinet are vested with this decision-making authority. It is obvious that only the most capable and experienced should be made Ministers and be in the Cabinet. But independent Malaysia has chosen to treat membership of the Cabinet as a reward for loyalty to party chiefs and acceptability to the Prime Minister. Once appointed, no amount of dereliction of duty could affect the position of a Minister. On the other hand, even if the Minister performs well, failure to remain on good terms with the Prime Minister means removal from the Ministry.

Your Government of mediocre people is bereft of ideas, is unable to understand the limits of their authority, and is generally unable to rule. All the while, however, your Government is busy on devices to perpetuate itself. These devices are so transparent and so lacking in subtlety that they achieve just the opposite effect.

May I remind you, Merdeka has brought power and wealth to the new Malay elite. Politics is found to be the panacea. It provides a shortcut to everything. It makes possible the attainment of positions of immense power. These Malays are in a position to acquire riches.

At first, this might seem grossly unfair. These few Malays - for they are still only a very few - have waxed riches not because of themselves, but because of the policy of a Government supported by a huge majority of poor Malays. It would seem that the efforts of the poor Malays have gone to enrich a select few of their own people. The poor Malays themselves have not gained one iota. With the existence of the few rich Malays, at least the poor Malays can say that their fate is not entirely to serve the rich non-Malays. From their point of view of racial ego, and this ego is still strong, the unseemly existence of Malay tycoons is essential.

The various races in Malaysia are differentiated not merely by ethnic origin, but also by many other characteristics. These characteristics are important. How these characteristics develop is another matter, but when races compete in a given field, these characteristics play an extremely important role. The Jews, for example are not merely hook-nosed, but understand money instinctively.

The possession of these characteristics means little until different races come into contact with each other. Jewish stinginess and financial wizardry gained them the commercial control of Europe and provoked an anti-Semitism, which waxed and waned throughout Europe through the ages.

The first thing that comes to mind is that the vast majority of Malays are feudalistic and wish to remain so. A revolution, which starts off by preaching the destruction of the established monarchical order, will therefore fail. It will not win the support of the majority of orthodox Malays. In any case, the monarch has done no real harm to the Malays or to anyone else. The maintenance of the system is no doubt costly, but being separated from power, the ruler cannot constitute a tyranny. Besides, a Malaysia without rulers would mean the complete eclipse of the Malays. It is the rulers who have in the past furnished and continued to present the Malay character of Malaysia. Remove them, and the last vestige of traditional Malaysia would disappear. It is essential therefore that the monarchy remains.

To take on an adversary when it seems to be beyond one's capacity is courageous. To calculate and assess one's chances first is to exhibit cowardice. Time and again this inability or unwillingness to measure the odds against them has led to defeat and disaster for the Malays. The courageous or brave Malay is usually foolhardy, and because he is likely to do things without thinking of the consequences, the average Malay treats him with fear and respect. The ordinary man knows that it is not worthwhile to incur his displeasure and that it is safer to let him have his own way. The ordinary man therefore represents the other extreme when principle is easily set aside for the sake of safety.

Even feudalism can be beneficial if it facilitates changes. The political Rajas of today can, therefore, institute change if they themselves are willing to change. Such a change would spread rapidly. If the indications are that there should be a change in the value system and ethical code, then the leaders can lead the way with the certainty that they will be followed by the masses. In a feudal society, if the leaders fail, then there is little hope for the masses."


http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/12845/84/
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8:25 PM

“916” this year has added significance, as it marks not only Malaysia Day but also the yearnings of Sabahans for a new Malaysia where they enjoy full citizenship status and benefits as Malaysians.

In the past 45 years, Sabahans have been denied their full citizenship rights – which is symbolised most vividly by the government failure to declare Malaysia Day on September 16 as a national public holiday.

After 45 years, Sabah’s problems are more than a basketful.

Sabah is a rich state with vast natural resources but the people of Sabah have been denied an equitable share of the wealth of the state.

Not only hard-core poverty, but poverty, should have been eradicated in Sabah by now. Instead, poverty in Sabah is the worst in the country.

Last year, I raised in Parliament the tragedy of the suicide of a 11-year-old Dusun boy from Kinarut, Donny John Dion, because of acute and desperate poverty of his family by hanging himself at home at Kampung Suangon in the Papar parliamentary constituency.

It is a state and national disgrace that in the 21st century, 11-year-old Donny could be driven to suicide because of the poverty and deprivation suffered by his family 45 years after the birth of Malaysia.

The Sabah Chief Minister should have resigned in shame and disgrace at a scandal like Donny’s suicide but there had neither been moral stirrings nor sense of responsibility by any of the Barisan Nasional leaders whether at state or national level for Donny’s tragedy.

Secondly, there is the problem of an equitable share of Sabahans in the “black gold” in the state.

A Pakatan Rakyat federal government will ensure that Sabah will get 20% of the oil royalty from Petronas and not just 5%, so that greater resources can be devoted for the development and empowerment of ordinary Sabahans.

Thirdly, the long-standing rampant corruption in Sabah. The state tops the list of states in the country in terms of corruption.

Fourthly, another long-standing problem of illegals with Sabahans reduced to strangers in their own land – completely overwhelmed by a larger population of foreigners in the state. Sabahans have a right to demand the return to the old days when they can feel safe not only in the streets and public places, but even in their homes when they could leave their houses open without fear of becoming victims of rampant crime.

Fifthly, the marginalisation of the Sabahans, particularly the Kadazan-Dusun-Murut community, depriving them of the full fruits and benefits of Malaysian citizenship.

In the flurry of “goodies” after the March 8 “political tsunami” to ensure the allegiance of BN MPs in Sabah in view of their sudden “kingmaker” role in ensuring the survival of Umno hegemony and Barisan Nasional government in Putrajaya, among the measures announced by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi were the appointment of a Sabahan to be Vice Chancellor of Universiti Sabah Malaysia and to head the federal development department.

However, what Sabahans want are not just two “one-off” appointments made more for their immediate political effect but a systemic change of mindset where Sabahans are given fair treatment in civil service and political appointments, both in the state and at the federal level, not because of any tokenism or “one-off” show effect but because of their entitlement as full Malaysian citizens.

At the Sabah state level, the Kadazan-Dusun-Muruts (KDM) have been marginalised to become the new underclass in Sabah and Malaysia – a point I had stressed in the last Parliament.

All civil service and political offices, including that of Chief Minister, should be open to all Sabahans regardless of ethnicity or religion, based on meritocracy, competence or public support.

When for instance was the last time that a Kadazan or Dusun was appointed the Yang di Pertua Negeri in Sabah?

Similarly, at the federal level, a Sabahan should have an equal right to be promoted to the highest reaches of the civil service, whether Secretary-General of Ministries, departmental directors or even Chief Secretary of Government!

There are three Federal Ministers from Sabah. Sabahans are most unhappy with their appointments, as one is in charge of museum, another in charge of the planetarium, while another is in charge of “everything and nothing”!

Why can’t a Federal Minister from Sabah be entrusted with heavy-weight portfolios like Education, Defence or even Finance?

These are pointers to a new Malaysia that Sabahans and Malaysians want from the political changes to emanate from “916”.

[Speech (2) at the Sabah DAP forum “Malaysia – Towards A New Era” at Kian Kok Middle School Hall, Kota Kinabalu on Tuesday, 16th September 2008]


http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2008/09/17/916-symbolised-the-yearnings-of-sabahans-for-a-new-malaysia-where-they-enjoy-full-citizenship-status-and-benefits-as-malaysians/

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Adalah sangat memalukan kepada semua pemimpin kadazandusun kerana isu ini telah dibangkitkan oleh seorang ahli parlimen cina dari pari DAP. Sedangkan mereka lagi risau akan kadazandusun tapi bagaimana pula dengan pemimpin kadazandusun??? Mereka cakap berjuang untuk rakyat sabah terutama orang kadazandusun tapi dimanakah perjuangan mereka sekarang? Si pairin??? Tiap-tiap tahun kasi lepas ikan sana kolam tambunan saja dengan ucapan yang sudah basi...maximus??? dua kali lima saja dorang...Buduh punya pemimpin...REJECTED AND EXPIRED!!!Mereka tidak layak untuk menerima penghormatan dari orang sabah lagi! get lost you pairin! get lost you maximus! get lost you kurup! You all are such a disgusting representative!!! We feel shame to have people like you in our race! GEt lost!!! You are not protecting your people instead protecting your pocket money.... Get lost....Money sucker!!! You are such a disease for sabahan!!!

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5:07 PM


Selasa, 2008 September 16
SELAMAT PAGI MALAYSIA BARU
Untuk pertama kalinya kita rakyat Malaysia telah menyambut HARI MALAYSIA. Perhimpunan bersejarah di Stadium Kelana Jaya pada malam 15 September 2008 telah merakamkan rasa hormat kita kepada warga Sabah dan Serawak yang selama ini telah ‘ditipu’ dan terpaksa menyambut tarikh 31 Ogos sebagai Hari Malaysia.

Poooorah 31 Ogos bukan Hari Malaysia. Khalas. Period. Khatam. Finito. Fin. Kaput. End.

Hari Malaysia ialah 16 September. September 2008 adalah kali kedua Hari Malaysia dirayakan di Semenanjung. Kali pertama dahulu pada September1963.

Hari Malaysia ini juga akan membawa satu lagi perubahan baru. Kerajaan baru Pakatan Rakyat akan ditubuhkan. Ini bukan mimpi. Ini bukan olok-olok. Ini adalah harapan warga Malaysia yang telah bosan dan mual dengan kerajaan Barisan Nasional yang di kepalai oleh United Malays National Organisation. Hari Malaysia adalah tanda rakyat mahukan perubahan.

Dari ucapan Sdr Anwar Ibrahim di Stadium Kelana Jaya , kita rakyat telah diajak untuk meyakini kelahiran kerajaan baru ini.

Mustahil?

Tidak perlu ada loncatan parti. Tidak perlu meninggalkan parti.

Apabila pemimpin Parti Keadilan Rakyat berkata ‘ kita cukup jumlah’ jangan salah tafsir. Bukan jumlah ahli parlimen untuk melompat parti dan meninggalkan parti asal mereka.Tetapi jumlah untuk menyatakan yang mereka TIDAK lagi memiliki keyakinan terhadap pimpinan Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Surat resmi telah dihantar kepada Abdullah Badawi pada hari Jumaat lalu. Pakatan Rakyat ingin mengadakan pertemuan agar peralihan kuasa berjalan lancar. Dan Kerajaan Malaysia Baru akan ditubuhkan.

Malaysia Baru adalah Malaysia yang berpandukan Ketuanan Rakyat.
Malaysia Baru adalah Malaysia tanpa Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri - ISA.
Malaysia Baru adalah Malaysia tanpa Akta Cetak.
Malaysia Baru adalah Malaysia tanpa Akta Universiti dan Kolej Univeriti.

Malaysia Baru adalah Malaysia yang agihan kekayaan bukan mengikut kaum/agama tetapi keperluan.

Malaysia Baru menjamin dan menghormati kebebasan beragama/berkepercayaan.

Malaysia Baru adalah untuk semua rakyat Malaysia. Tidak ada yang menjadi tuan dan tidak ada yang menjadi hamba. Tidak ada yang istemewa. Semua setaraf. Semua sederajat.

Kita semua adalah anak semua bangsa berbeza-beza tetapi sederajat.

Anak semua bangsa marilah kita rayakan perbezaan dalam Malaysia Baru.
Dicatat oleh Tukar Tiub di 3:29:00 AM 2 ulasan Pautan pada catatan ini
Label: 16 September, Merdeka, merdeka malaysia

http://tukartiub.blogspot.com/

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MERDEKA...!!! MERDEKA...!!! MERDEKA...!!! MERDEKA...!!! MERDEKA...!!! MERDEKA...!!! MERDEKA...!!!


Dengan sepenuh jiwa dan raga saya katakan, inilah hari yang paling istimewa bagi saya sebagai SABAHAN khususnya dan MALAYSIAN amnya. Ini kerana hari Kemerdekaan Sabah dan Sarawak telah diiktiraf oleh Kerajaan baru. Kerajaan baru yang selama ini hanya dalam khayalan tetapi kini ia telah menjadi realiti!!!! Saya menangis bukan kerana ditinggalkan oleh girlfriend, saya menangis bukan kerana orang melukakan hati saya tetapi...Saya menangis bila mengingatkan PAHLAWAN SABAH DAN PEJUANG SABAH yang SANGGUP MENGORBANKAN DIRI untuk KITA, GENERASI SABAH!!! yang selama ini telah diabaikan oleh kerajaan umno-bn... Pejuang Tanah air kita tanpa mengira kaum dan agama BERSATU dalam menentang jepun pada masa dahulu!!! BERSATU dalam mendamaikan semua kaum yang ada di SABAH!!! BERSATU dalam mengelakkan konflik perkauman!!! BERSATU dalam MENGELAKKAN KONFLIK agama!!! tetapi SABAHAN yang terdahulu yang TELAH MATI UNTUK KITA TIDAK PERNAH MENGELAKKAN DIRI UNTUK BERSATU DIBAWAH NAMA SABAHAN!!! TIDAK PERNAH MENGUNDURKAN DIRI DALAM PEPERANGAN!!! JIKALAU MEREKA MENGUNDURKAN DIRI, MAKA TIADALAH KITA SEKARANG DIATAS BUMI SABAH!!! SAYA MENANGIS TANDA KEMENANGAN KITA SEBAGAI ORANG SABAH!!!

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5:56 AM

Salam sejahtera semua… Disini saya ingin menyeru kepada saudara-saudari yang mengakui dirinya anak sabah, hati sabah, jiwa sabah dan cinta sabah sepenuh hati untuk bangkit dan berdiri teguh dalam menegakkan kebenaran dalam mempertahankan hak-hak kita sebagai anak sabah. Seperti yang anda semua sedia maklum, kita orang sabah telah mengalami banyak penindasan dalam semua aspek iaitu politik, ekonomi, pendidikan, pekerjaan dan lain-lain. Dahulu pemimpin kita berjuang dalam isu-isu ini namun sekarang mereka sudah tidak mengendahkan semua ini kerana perjuangan yang mereka laungkan selama ini terlah bertukar menjadi perjuangan untuk survive dalam arena politik, perjuangan dalam mempertahankan kedudukan dalam kerajaan, perjuangan demi kepentingan peribadi DAN TIDAK LAGI MEMPERJUANGKAN HAK-HAK SABAH, KEPENTINGAN SABAH AMNYA DAN RAKYAT SABAH KHUSUSNYA!.

Dahulu ketika dibawah pemerintahan mahathir, dia telah mencipta satu sistem penggiliran ketua menteri. Mengapa? kerana dia tahu melalui sistem ini, akan terjadilah perebutan kuasa, akan terjadilah sikap pentingkan diri-sendiri, akan terjadilah perpecahan parti dari satu kepada banyak. Ramalan dia memang betul kerana setelah sistem ini dilaksanakan, parti yang kuat pada masa dulu disabah iaitu PBS berpecah dengan begitu banyak sekali. Untuk pengetahuan anda semua, pemimpin seperti Datuk Yong Teck Lee (SAPP), Benard Dompok, dan kebanyakan pemimpin sabah adalah dalam satu parti PBS tapi mereka telah keluar dan menubuhkan parti masing-masing.

Memang tidak salah untuk mereka berbuat demikian tapi apa yang menjadi masalah ialah setelah hasrat mereka tercapai, mereka sudah lupa orang-orang yang mengundi mereka, mereka lupa tangguggjawab mereka, mereka berubah menjadi tanggang dan ini juga boleh diumpamakan seperti kacang lupakan kulit. Setelah musa aman menjadi ketua menteri sabah, sistem penggiliran terus dimansuhkan. Kenapa ini berlaku? Ini disebabkan oleh UMNO. Sebenarnya, sebelum ini mereka telah berusaha untuk mengawal dan menawan kerajaan sabah (politik) dengan tidak memberi peruntukan yang mencukupi untuk pembangunan sabah. Mereka mahu memaksa sabah menerima sistem pemerintahan mereka agar mereka dapat membantu. Tapi sebenarnya bukan untuk membantu tapi menghisap segala hasil bumi sabah dan disalurkan kedalam parti mereka dan juga untuk disalurkan kepada negeri disemenjung.

“20 PERKARA” yang menjadi asas perjanjian sabah sebelum bergabung dengan perseketuan tanah melayu kini telah diabaikan. Mereka (UMNO) juga telah merangka undang-undang yang mengatakan jika mereka beragama islam, bertutur bahasa melayu, dan ikut budaya melayu secara langsung akan menjadi melayu. Kenapa mereka merangka undang-undang seumpama ini? Ini disebabkan mereka ingin meraih sekongan terutama dari sabah. Orang sabah secara umunya tiada orang yang berbangsa melayu. Bangsa yang ada cuma kadazandusunmurut, bajau, cina, bisaya, suluk, dan lain-lain. Tapi setelah ada undang-undang ni, bajau yang memang pure bajau pun terus mengaku dirinya orang melayu, kadazandusun pun tidak terkecuali. Tengok saja si musa aman yang memang orang bajau terus jadi melayu. Apa semua ini?

Oleh itu, kita sebagai genarasi muda yang besemangat patrioritik sabah harus berdiri dalam memperjuangkan hak kita. Bukan untuk kepentingan diri semata-mata tetapi untuk rakyat negeri kita, SABAH. Pilihan raya umum ke-12 sudah berakhir dan kita telah menyaksikan kemengan yang begitu besar disabah. Tetapi semua itu tidak akan berkekalan. Satu perubahan politik yang besar akan berlaku disabah pada pilihan raya ke-13 nanti yang mana parti pembangkang yang PKR dan DAP akan menguasai sabah. Ini disebabkan mereka memperjuangkan hak rakyat dan bukan parti mereka. Mereka mempunyai asas perjuangan yang kuat. Marilah kita semua lakukan perubahan ini dengan membantu menyedarkan orang tua kita, kawan-kawan kita dan orang sekitar kita akan masalah yang berlaku di sabah ini. Hanya PKR sahaja yang dapat membantu negeri kita untuk mendapatkan hak 20 PERKARA itu semula. Kepentingan dan hak kita akan pasti terjamin dan pembangunan yang pesat sudah pasti akan berlaku. Keadilan dalam sistem pendidkan dan ekonomi juga akan sangat terjamin. Percayalah.

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11:43 AM
Rowan Walker and agencies
guardian.co.uk,
Friday September 12 2008 17:53 BST
Article history




















Malaysia's most prominent political blogger was arrested today at his home for posting anti-government comments on the Malaysia Today website. Raja Petra Kamarudin, the British-born founder and editor of the site, could be detained indefinitely without trial under an emergency law brought in after a series of attacks on senior political figures. "They came here and arrested him under the internal security act (ISA) for inciting hate in his articles on Islam," his wife, Marina Le Abdullah, told foreign press agencies. A statement on Malaysia Today said police "ransacked RPK's bedroom and took away some documents and CDs".

Hours later, police made a second arrest. Tan Hoon Cheng, a Chinese reporter, was detained under the ISA in connection with comments in the Sin Chew Daily, where he reported that a member of the ruling party had referred to ethnic Chinese as "squatters". The Malaysian home minister, Syed Hamid Albar, said authorities had been forced to act because Raja Petra had written numerous allegedly offensive pieces, including one that was claimed to ridicule Islam. "We have called and advised him many times about his statements, but he still continues writing in a way that could pose a threat," the minister told the national Bernama news agency. Two weeks ago, authorities blocked the Malaysia Today website, in a move that was met with outrage from journalists and bloggers worldwide. Raja Petra continued to publish online via an alternative link.

On September 6, he predicted his arrest, saying he had been told by friends that he would be detained under the ISA if he persisted. His arrest came a day after the Malaysia Today block was lifted. Articles calling for the release of Raja Petra and condemning the ISA have appeared on the site. Amnesty International urged the Malaysian government to revoke the ISA, under which more than 60 people are being held. "The Malaysian government is using this law as a repressive measure to control dissent," said Donna Guest, the organisation's deputy Asia-Pacific director. "It should be revoked immediately, and Raja Petra, along with those others currently being held in indefinite detention, should be either charged with an offence and brought to fair trial or released immediately."
One blogger called for peaceful demonstrations and "planned vigils" to be held on September 15 in a show of support. In May, Raja Petra was charged with sedition for allegedly implying that the deputy prime minister was involved in the killing of a Mongolian woman. His trial is due to begin in October.There is increasing political tension in Malaysia, with threats by the leader of the country's resurgent opposition, Anwar Ibrahim, to take power by September 16 - Malaysia's national day. In March, the ruling National Front party, led by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, lost its two-thirds majority as opposition parties made big gains in parliamentary elections. Abdullah has been in power since 2003.
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umno-bn is really damn party!!! Arrest innocent guy that did not commit any wrongdoing instead he is stand for the true. Pakatan Rakyat, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim...Help him...Get into power as fast as you can... We Malaysian cannot wait anymore...
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10:19 AM
Another stupid arrest again taken by the Home Minister, syed hamid albar. Teresa Kok is Seputeh MP and also assemblyman for Kinrara, was arrested at 11.20pm Friday. DAP's Teresa Kok is the latest to be arrested under Section 73 (1) if the ISA Friday. Meanwhile Tan Hoon Cheng was arrested at her home in Taman Permai in Bukit Mertajam at 8.40pm Friday. This is something that we cannot accept because the real trouble maker is ahmad ismail. He is rising the sensitive issue by saying that "chinese is just immigrant" during campaign of by-election at permatang pauh. People with low moral value are not deserve to get respect from other people and also not qualified to govern this government. They are umno-bn. They are corrupt, liar, killer, racist and many more. They are in desperate time to create chaos in this country so that they may be able to declare curfew just because want to stay in power. How long we want to live like this? If we don't take stern action against them, our future generation soon will face the same problem and it might be worst than now. So, what we can do now is to stay calm and support the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to take over the government so that the Peace and justice can be bring into power. I hate very much with this current government. Really, because they are too stupid and uncivilized people. All Malaysian...Let us all unite under Pakatan Rakyat and bring them down to the deepest ground ever and make them feel like want to kill themself for what they have done to our brothers and sisters in the past, 13 Mei 1969 today. Long Live Ketuanan Rakyat!!!





UMNO-BN=AMINO-BE END

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7:23 AM
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it !
Today, we’ve been shocked by the recent news which state that Raja Petra Kamaruddin (RPK) the editor of the Malaysia Today http://mt.m2day.org/2008/ has been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA). As we all know, RPK is one of the most brave Malaysian for he is stand for the true. He open up Malaysian’s heart, mind and soul through his article where all his view, comment and post are nothing else but FACT and TRUE. I just can’t believe that umno-bn in a desperate time taken the very uncivilized action against him. He, RPK not do it for himself but for the sake of Malaysian. Yes, it’s true that he is malay but a very pure malay that love his fellow chinese and indian friends. We all know that umno is the most worst political party ever exist in this 21st century where they are using race and religion to gain political power. They want to frighten all the malays about the threaten they may face if they, malay people didn’t vote and unite under their party.

You will know the true by clicking this link which will directly go to Malaysia Today website. There, you will see a title “The REAL story of May 13 (part 1)”. Do read it as it very important resource for all of you. Here is the link http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/12512/84/ . But if his article been removed, don’t worry, for i already copy it and keep it as one of my precious information about the history behind the 13 Mei 1969. I will paste it here for you all to read.




The REAL story of May 13 (part 1)Posted by Super AdminThursday, 11 September 2008 14:37
They say those who forget history are doomed to repeat its mistakes. In light of the recent sabre-rattling by those in Umno and the warning by the Armed Forces Chief, Malaysia Today feels compelled to republish an old article by Raja Petra Kamarudin that was published in Harakah on 24 September 1999.



NO HOLDS BARRED















Raja Petra Kamarudin

This is Part One of an article I wrote almost nine years ago, which was published in Harakah, the official media organ of the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS). History is not something that should remain buried. History is something that should be a lesson to all or us so that we do not repeat the mistakes made by those before us.

In 1968, Umno fanned racial sentiments in a bid to ‘unite’ the Malays under its banner. Umno realised that the Malays were abandoning it in droves and it needed an issue to reunite the Malays. Further to that, the Prime Minister was being blamed for what Umno perceived as a loss of Malay support and the Young Turks in Umno wanted to also use this issue to pressure the Prime Minister into resigning.

Twenty years later, in 1988, Umno again went into turmoil with the emergence of Team A and Team B, which eventually split into Umno Baru and Semangat 46. Again, just like twenty years before that, the Malays had become disillusioned with the Umno leadership and there was a danger that Umno would suffer the same fate it did in 1969 if the general election was called. The Umno leadership very cleverly got the Umno Youth and MCA Youth leaders to raise racial issues and bring the country to the brink of another ‘May 13’. This was when that infamous gathering at the TPCA padang in Kampong Baru was held and when Najib Tun Razak, the Umno Youth Leader, raised the keris and threatened to bathe it in Chinese blood.

Of course, this second ‘May 13’ never happened. What did happen instead was that Operasi Lalang was launched and more than 100 opposition leaders and activists were detained under the Internal Security Act. Najib and the MCA Youth Leader, Lee Kim Sai, however, were spared detention, although they were the two main players in the whole episode. The ploy did not quite succeed though. In the 1990 general election, half the Malays swung to the opposition and Umno lost most of the Malay heartland to Semangat 46 and PAS. Twenty years on and history is, again, being repeated. It appears like every twenty years Umno takes the country to the brink of a race riot in its effort to ‘unite’ the Malays and to ensure that it does not lose Malay support. And the 8 March 2008 general election, as well as the recent Permatang Pauh by-election, is proof that Umno has lost Malay support.

“The current situation is a repeat of 1969,” said Umno in its brainstorming session held at the Umno headquarters to conduct a post-mortem of the election results. “Therefore, a 1969 ‘solution’ will also be required.” This is very dangerous talk indeed. And Umno has been doing nothing but talking dangerously since March 2008, as evident in the recent episode in Penang. Maybe the culprit has since been punished. Yesterday, Umno’s Supreme Council decided to suspend Ahmad Ismail for a period of three years. But the damage has already been done and the suspension can’t turn back the clock. Racial sentiments have already been fanned and Malaysia, again, is being pushed to the brink of a race riot.

Malays, Chinese and Indians need to know how May 13 started. They must be made aware of what May 13 was really all about. They must be made to realise that the current sabre-rattling is nothing but the same ploy that Umno used back in 1968 and 1988 whenever it felt that it was losing Malay support. May 13 was not about race although it is being touted as so. May 13 was about ‘reuniting’ the Malays and about ousting the Prime Minister from office. To forget history would be to repeat its mistakes. Let us not be taken in by Umno’s shadow-play (wayang kulit). They know they are rapidly losing power and they want to retain power through foul means by raising the spectre of May 13. Malaysians need to be matured and clever enough to reject this ploy. Umno can try, but whether it can succeed will all depend on whether we get suckered into this very dangerous race game. Let me take you down memory lane and recap what I wrote nine years ago so that we may learn from this dark history and not repeat what went wrong. As follows is what I wrote in Harakah on 24 September 1999.
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A REPORTER’S ACCOUNT OF AN INTERVIEW WITH TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN ON THE 13 MAY INCIDENT

The following statement is a factual account of the above-mentioned event given to me by the late Tunku Abdul Rahman (first Prime Minister of Malaysia) during an interview at his residence in Penang in 1972. I requested to discuss the above incident and was surprised when the appointment was given within three days. His Secretary, a Chinese gentleman, allotted me one hour and advised me not to go into too much detail as this would tire the Tunku unnecessarily. In fact, the interview lasted three and a half hours. Because of the very surprising details provided to me, I think it would be best to report in a first-hand manner based on my notes written immediately after the interview.

“It was clear to me as well as the police that in the highly charged political atmosphere after the police were forced to kill a Chinese political party worker on May 4th, 1969, something was bound to happen to threaten law and order because of the resentment towards the Government by the KL Chinese on the eve of the general election. This was confirmed at this man’s funeral on the 9th May when the government faced the most hostile crowd it had ever seen. Therefore, when the opposition parties applied for a police permit for a procession to celebrate their success in the results of the general election, I was adamant against it because the police were convinced that this would lead to trouble. I informed Tun Razak about this and he seemed to agree.

Now, without my knowledge and actually “behind my back”, there were certain political leaders in high positions who were working to force me to step down as a PM. I don’t want to go into details but if they had come to me and said so I would gladly have retired gracefully. Unfortunately, they were apparently scheming and trying to decide on the best way to force me to resign. The occasion came when the question of the police permit was to be approved. Tun Razak and Harun Idris, the MB of the state of Selangor, now felt that permission should be given, knowing fully well that there was a likelihood of trouble. I suppose they felt that when this happened they could then demand my resignation.

To this day I find it very hard to believe that Razak, whom I had known for so many years, would agree to work against me in this way. Actually he was in my house, as I was preparing to return to Kedah, and I overhead him speaking to Harun over the phone saying that he would be willing to approve the permit when I left. I really could not believe what I was hearing and preferred to think it was about some other permit. In any case, as the Deputy Prime Minister, in my absence from KL, he would be the Acting PM and would override my objection. Accordingly, when I was in my home in Kedah, I heard over the radio that the permit had been approved. It seems as though the expected trouble was anticipated and planned for by Harun and his UMNO Youth. After the humiliating insults hurled by the non-Malays, especially the Chinese, and after the seeming loss of Malay political power to them, they were clearly ready for some retaliatory action.

After meeting in large numbers at Harun’s official residence in Jalan Raja Muda near Kampong Bahru, and hearing inflammatory speeches by Harun and other leaders, they prepared themselves by tying ribbon strips on their foreheads and set out to kill Chinese. The first hapless victims were two of them in a van opposite Harun’s house who were innocently watching the large gathering. Little did they know that they would be killed on the spot. The rest is history. I am sorry but I must end this discussion now because it really pains me as the Father of Merdeka to have to relive those terrible moments. I have often wondered why God made me live long enough to have witnessed my beloved Malays and Chinese citizens killing each other.”

This was a conspiracy at the highest level and nothing short of a power struggle, with the ‘Young Turks’ then forming the pressure group. To achieve their ends, they very cleverly used race to make the Malays rise and push the Tengku aside. Today, they are doing it again. This is dangerous politics. It may backfire and, instead, it may make the Malays rise against the non-Malays, like what happened in 1969 — a fire raging out of control with no fire extinguisher in sight.

We must never allow our country to be turned into a racial battlefield again. Let politics be issues concerning policies, civil rights, good governance and justice. Let us not allow anyone to bring race and religion into our politics lest we suffer the fate of many countries around us where mass murders of entire families are made in the name of ‘bangsa’ and ‘agama’.
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