Ketuanan Melayu is UMNO’s lifeblood
January 28,2012
www.freemalaysiakini.com
Ketuanan Melayu is UMNO’s lifeblood
by Salena Tay@www.freemalaysiatoday.com
“This will be a never-ending game of race and religion orchestrated by UMNO. And you can add in the Hang Tuah card, too, unless the rakyat will put a stop to all these unethical abuse of cards in the coming 13th general election. As it is now, the cards are heavily stacked against Pakatan.”
If both Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat were alive today (alas, they are mere mythical characters!), it would be easy to tell which political party they will support, going by the statements they have made.
This is Hang Tuah’s statement: “Takkan Melayu hilang di dunia” (the Malays will never vanish from the face of the earth). And this is Hang Jebat’s statement: “Aku Jebat, rakyat biasa. Pangkat aku untuk kepentingan rakyat. Bergerak aku untuk membuat jasa kepada rakyat dan aku rela mati untuk rakyat kerana aku mahu keadilan, keadilan. Keadilan!” (I am Jebat, an ordinary citizen. My rank is for the people’s well-being. I work for the good of the people and I am willing to die for the people because I want justice, justice. Justice!)
No doubt about it. UMNO glorifies Hang Tuah in order to cement firmly the support of the Malays to the party as UMNO is all about Ketuanan Melayu or Malay supremacy. And this is clearly epitomised in Hang Tuah. This is the reason why Hang Tuah is glorified in our history textbooks – to imbue young Malay minds to worship Hang Tuah so that these children will grow up thinking that the Malay is the greatest race on earth. This then is the Hang Tuah card played by UMNO.
UMNO and Ketuanan Melayu are Siamese twins. Malay supremacy is the lifeblood of UMNO. Gluing the Malays to the concept of Ketuanan Melayu is UMNO’s trump card and there is no way Pakatan Rakyat can break this stranglehold.
The battle ground is now for the votes of the Malays, especially the rural Malays. But the Malays have always been taught to fear the Chinese while the Chinese have been taught to fear a repeat of an incident which occurred in 1969. The Barisan Nasional federal government thus controls the citizens by using fear as a weapon and what a mighty weapon it is.
Together with the weapon of fear is the weapon of Malay supremacy. So strong are these
weapons that even PAS as an Islamic party has failed to counter them. The Malay support for PAS is only about 36 to 38 percent. And not many Malays support PKR either because they think that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has given too much leeway to the Chinese and the Indians.
Has UMNO programmed the Malays to be selfish and to only look after their own interests at all costs? There is no way the Malays will let go of Ketuanan Melayu and opt for Ketuanan Rakyat which is all encompassing and all inclusive. And this is also the reason why Pakatan will never win the general election. It is because the concept of Malay supremacy has locked up the Malay votes for UMNO.
Due to Ketuanan Melayu, the Malays tend to view DAP with suspicion and this has led to them to ostracise DAP. MCA does not suffer such a fate in BN as MCA is merely UMNO’s lackey while DAP is on an equal footing with PAS and PKR in the Pakatan coalition.
UMNO’s bogeyman
UMNO uses Ketuanan Melayu to frighten the Malays into thinking that the DAP is a threat to the Malays. This is, of course, untrue as has been proven in Penang but the rural Malays are unaware of this because they only have access to the mainstream media which is controlled by BN. Therefore, DAP is always used by UMNO as a bogeyman to scare the Malays.
Not only does UMNO play the race card against DAP, MCA does it too. And that is why MCA has been labelled as worthless eunuchs by the Chinese. In addition to the race card, both UMNO and MCA also play the religion card against DAP but in opposite methods. UMNO says DAP is anti-Islam while MCA says DAP supports hudud law. The religion card is used against DAP but played differently to different audiences.
To sum up, this is the way UMNO and MCA woo their respective race groups:
- UMNO says this to the Malays: by supporting PAS, you will make DAP very powerful; and
- MCA says this to the Chinese: by supporting DAP, you will make PAS very powerful.
Looks as if UMNO and MCA are still sticking to the old ways of communal politics – back to pre-Merdeka era style of doing things. With the existence of these types of political parties such as UMNO and MCA, how is Malaysia ever going to achieve a clean, vibrant and matured democracy? Therefore it goes without saying that BN must be booted out to put an end to the era of communal politics.
However, as the Malay votes are the deciding factor, UMNO is cunning in cornering the Malay mindset. OF course there are goodies for MCA and MIC too in order for them to toe UMNO’s line and get the votes of their respective communities, all for the benefit of UMNO. UMNO channels these goodies to MCA and MIC to keep them quiet.
This will be a never-ending game of race and religion orchestrated by UMNO. And you can add in the Hang Tuah card, too, unless the rakyat will put a stop to all these abuse of cards in the coming 13th General Election. As it is now, the cards are heavily stacked against Pakatan.
This monochromatic article by Selena lacks the dynamism that she normally portrays. She still displays the ‘Malayan’ mindset, as do many of the elder commentators in this blog. The GE-12 statistics reveal that in Peninsular Malaysia, Pakatan had 51% vs 49% for Umno-BN, or thereabouts. PR only needs to hold on to this margin and UMNO is in deep trouble.
The game changer is no longer the rural Malay, who are irrefutably feudal. It’s time to factor in the indigenous Sabahans, Sarawakians, the disaffected youth and new voters. If PR do their due diligence with these cohorts, the equation may change and the Hang Tuah syndrome bites the dust, where it rightly belongs.
So.., is the spirit willing, but the flesh is weak?
C.L. Familiaris - January 28, 2012 at 7:03 pm
UMNO was set up to protect the interests of the Malay community, just like why the MCA and MIC as these were the three major races. Problems start appearing when this broad concept was hijacked by narrow political interest to remain in power.
Only education and access to information can beat this selfish, greedy and corrupt groups.
Rising political consciousness around the globe has given a glimmer of hope that things will get better due to confluence of technology and access to information.
ARMS728 - January 28, 2012 at 7:07 pm
You may ask what is wrong with community leaders among the Malays, Chinese and Indians appearing before their respective communities making promises?
Malay leaders would tell their constituents they will protect their special rights and ensure that their children will not have their rights denied them, that Malays deserve an equitable share of economic pie and that they will work to ensure a redistribution of wealth which would favor the Malays. The Chinese leaders would tell their constituents not to be afraid because they are there to ensure their legitimate rights under the country’s constitution would be protected. The Indian leaders would tell their constituents that they will work to ensure they have a place under the Malaysian sun. What is wrong with this picture? Everything.
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Hang Mongkut Bean, do you know what people say about politicians? Politician are a specie of the human kind who will promise you anything and everything to get elected and who will do everything and anything to remain in power. They seek power to serve their self interest and throw kacang rebus at people to keep them happy. A sucker is born everyday and the politicians know that. So they keep dangling the carrot.And the sad truth is that it works every time.–Din Merican
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It has all the features of a zero-sum game. The problem with zero-sum games is that success by one group can only come with the loss of another. When you add up all the minuses and the plusses we get zero. And that is exactly where we are today – zero, zilch, nada.
Fifty years later it is time we put the old formula (that of inter-communal alliance) where they belong i.e. the rubbish bin of history. It has run its course. We need to have it replaced by a truly Malaysian party and a real formula (and not Malay, Chinese and Indian) , with full membership to all who wish to join irrespective of their race and religion.
Mr Bean - January 28, 2012 at 8:52 pm
I find the characterization of the legendary hero (whose existence is disputed) by the writer is a little skewed. It is also the popular characterization of that legendary hero by Malays today politically opposed to UMNO’s monopoly of political power.
The name Hang Tuah has come to signify blind loyalty to King and country. The anti thesis of that would be the name of Hang Jebat (also another legendary figure whose existence is disputed to this day) who questioned the status quo, who dared to ask the question if disagreeing with the ways of a particular sultan as absolute ruler would also mean that you are also disloyal to the throne, to your race and country.
Mr Bean - January 28, 2012 at 9:55 pm
When the Malays come to their real senses this country would have gone down the gutter and floated into the South China Sea!
If Hang Tuah really did say that he would be the best apple polisher!
If the Ulamak were around he would be whipped!
Many moons ago, one whole race was wiped out because they all defied the Orders of the Almighty!Banyak kaum yang telah dihapuskan kerana engkar perintah kepada maha esa!
What is a Malay Race compared to these earlier Races? If only God Wills it, it becomes what he wills!
abdulrahmanteoh - January 28, 2012 at 10:25 pm
Many moons ago, one whole race was wiped out because they all defied the Orders of the Almighty! – abdulrahmanteoh
and in fact they were the jews from Soddom, ( thus origin of the word ‘sodomy’ ) who indulged in homosexual, till the whole race were banished by God. ( noted recently TelAviv was declared as the most vibrant gay city in the world). No wonder people like anwar considered defending the jewish nation as one of his policy as PM. ( as per his statement to a foreign media)…
james - January 28, 2012 at 11:15 pm
ach..James, what Jews and what homosexuals!??
we are Gods children, He created us as a image of himself. He did not create Jew, Muslim, Christian, Hindu or others. He wanted his children to live a happy life on earth and not preach segregation and cut each others throat in the name of God.
the fact is, Israel is just another country like India or Pakistan. the malaysian government has been having business dealings with Israel all the time, in fact the umno politicians have their bank account there(?).in a globalised world that is normal.
the apparent animosity shown by the umnoputras is just a ‘street opera’ for the cow herds of umno-mca-mic followers.
reeperbahn - January 29, 2012 at 12:56 am
What are you on about James? The fact that no Muslim countries are attacking Israel is a good indication that we, Muslims, are protecting the safety of the Israelis. Israel bashing is only popular during election time. Anwar has said he supported the two state solution. UMNO loves bashing Israel but don’t see them doing anything productive for the Palestinians.
didi - January 29, 2012 at 12:56 am
Utusan should be awarded for the Best Pemfitnah of the Century award. With the amount of propaganda they are spewing, that is enough to put Joseph Goebbels and his ilk to shame.
Of course by having the lies about foreign media repeated many times, some Malaysians would not be bothered to check what is really being written there. You really have to give these people credit for their ingenuity.
didi - January 29, 2012 at 1:06 am
Politician are a specie of the human kind who will promise you anything and everything to get elected and who will do everything and anything to remain in power. – Din Merican
That’s right. In reply to Newt Gingrich ‘s promise to put a colony on the moon before the end of his second term (quote and unquote – that’s how arrogant the man is) Ron Paul said he would do no such thing but instead look for some politicians to send there on a one way ticket.
Mr Bean - January 29, 2012 at 3:44 am
oh ya..maybe we can persuade Ron to take some of our politicians to the moon, especially the madhathir.
reeperbahn - January 29, 2012 at 4:40 am
“Racial supremacy” thinking is a major defining feature of fascism and Nazism.
Not surprising that this is found in semi-apartheid Malaysia.
Phua Kai Lit - January 29, 2012 at 10:00 am
didi,
During the 1967 Arab-Israel War, Egypt,Syria and Jordan combined forces against the Israeli army and on the verge of overrun and defeating the jews, but their godfather the american joined the israelis in that war, sending their supersonic fighters attacking the arab coalition forces. Unless and until the US changed their policy, of course no arab or muslim country will attack the jewish state!
phua,
Nazism were there in post war Germany to unite the germans against jewish immigrants monopoly of the country economy and business, unfortunately the leader Hitler gone overboard with his anti-semitic policy, sending jews to be massacred in concentration camps by the millions. Hitler’s aspiration and hope for his race made what the german people today.
james - January 29, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Dear “James”
I can only shake my head at your revisionist version of German history.
1. A lot of assimilated German Jews served with distinction as German patriots in the Kaiser’s army in World War One.
2. Anti-semitisim was promoted by the German-speaking intelligentsia
and already rife in German universities prior to the rise of Hitler and Nazism
3. Adolf Hitler – born in Austria actually – learned his anti-semitisim while working as a failed artist in Vienna. Physically abused as a child, he projects his failings onto Jews.
4. The Germans were led to ruin and destruction by this semi-crazed megalomaniac. It rose again because of its human capital (which long preceded the Nazis. Remember that Germany was the world leader in science and technology in the early 1900s. Many famous scientists and Nobel Prize winners of the era were Germans — Jews as well as non-Jews) and assistance from the Marshall Plan.
I am highly critical of the modern day militaristic and racist state of Israel.
(It was an ally of South Africa before the fall of apartheid) So do not think I am an apologist for the Jews.
The Jews are people like anyone else. So people should criticise Israel but not be anti-semitic.
Phua Kai Lit - January 29, 2012 at 1:26 pm
james, sorry to note that you have a cockeyed view of world politics. you are right on one thing, as long as USA and Europe exist, they’ll guarantee the existence of Israel.
do you know any Jews personally? I know many of them, they are just people like you and me with the same passion for life. why do you have this mordlust on them? why should’nt they exist as a country in this 2012?
they are not questioning the right of existence of Malaysia, so whats your problem. you should sweep your own backyard first before complaining about others.
one more important thing about Germany. in no way are the germans what they are today because of Archie and his nazism. he threw them backward and spoiled their reputation. the germans are excellent skilled workers and thinkers and scientist. after the WW1 the British primarily recruited german workforces to take with them to build the US to what it is today.
with your skewered view you’ll qualify as a member to the bloody Neonazis. last week three of them were charged with brutally murdering NINE turkish shopkeepers. JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE TURKS!
reeperbahn - January 29, 2012 at 6:52 pm
This article by By Dr. Azmi Sharom, a law lecturer, well educated, well read…a person who refuses to accept what is going on, who feels the injustice not only for the Malays as he too is a Malay but for all Malaysians …… he is really a anak Malaysia….
We want PR not because We Love PR, We just want a CHANGE !
Actually we will vote PR because We Still Love BN. After all it was started by great and honest leaders of the past.
Its for the good of BN that we vote for PR and for better future for the people at the same time.
What happens, when PR become New Government:
We have a New Goverment with Less Experience in CORRUPTIONS and SCANDALS….. good for people
We have a STRONG and RICH Opposition with 50 years Experience in CORRUPTIONS and SCANDALS. They know the ins and out of corruption and scandals, so they can better check the PR government…….. also good for people and for BN
BN will do their BEST to EXPOSE those who CORRUPT,because BN has 50 years of experience in CORRUPTIONS
Final Result:
RAKYAT MENANG
TWO party system is……….. BORN
We vote for CHANGE……. because we LOVE……………. MALAYSIA
“The world is a DANGEROUS place not because of people who do EVIL, but because of good people who look on and DO NOTHING ABOUT IT”Albert Einstein
All (including former) Malaysians must know – By Dr. Azmi Sharom
If you have already watched this (and I’m not surprised at all), just pass it on….
Dr. Azmi Sharom- All Malaysians must know.
Malaysia has never been an Islamic State as our Constitution is very specific on it. It was the Mental Mamak (our equivalent to Singapore ‘s MM) who lied all the way when he declared Malaysia as an Islamic Country and therefore State in 2001. Lim Kit Siang immediately corrected him but he being the person he is insisted that he was right. Jokers like Ling Liong Sik, Samy Vellu and Lim Keng Yaik of course did not object and quietly agreed with him and so did the other BN leaders. This mamak has damaged our country through and through.
MM also passed the Syariah Law in Selangor in 1995 with the help of MCA, MIC, and Gerakan.
Ask MCA, MIC and Gerakan why they support an Islamic State and passed laws to support it, and now complain that DAP is supporting an Islamic State, when DAP has never ever agreed to do so.. The evidence is beyond doubt, it is in the public domain, ask them, the shameless ones, do they have an answer?
Worth listening to this recording. Our constitution is the most altered, amended, and modified constitution in the whole wide world. We must never ever let UMNO get back their 2/3rds majority ever again. If they do, then our country will go to the dogs. UMNO will again start changing the constitution like there is no to-morrow. It will be changed to suit UMNO, just like they changed the constitution/rules/laws to allow for gerrymandering of the consituency, where a rural constituency with an electorate of 5,000 voters is entitled to vote for one MP/DUN, whereas in urban localities, an electorate of 100,000 can only vote for one MP. What sort of democracy do you call this? Can someone out there enlighten me. Whether you’re pro-BN or pro-opposition, please, do not, in your wildest dreams ever allow UMNO their 2/3rds majority. Don’t ever let Malaysia go the way of Zimbabwe , Somali, or Myanmar .
An interesting speech by Dr. Azmi Sharom; an Assistant Professor of Law at UM. He explains the CONSTITUTION: the Malaysian supreme law. Listen to this, it’s interesting and refreshing.
For people who think that only BN can govern properly. Think again. Once BN gets back their 2/3 in Parliament they will start amending the Constitution. Then we won’t have the Constitution that protects ALL. Educate yourself about what the supreme law of the land says. Then vote wisely.
Please spread this like wildfire…make it one of the most viewed.
You will help educate people about our law.
tourman53 - January 30, 2012 at 6:16 pm
Listen to what??
scarlet.pimpernel - January 30, 2012 at 10:23 pm
Tourman53 please provide the link for old geezers like us. Do us a favor.
orang malaya - January 30, 2012 at 11:33 pm