February 15, 2015
The Poor Malays are Victims of UMNO Baru
QUICK TAKE: The former US Ambassador to Malaysia John R
Malott wrote an interesting article about Martin Luther King and the poor Malays. There are many points that he had raised which really knock the nail on the head.
He used the term “useful idiots” the term that Lenin had coined to describe certain sections of the community. In other words, this group is no more than a group that had been used by the group in power in order to maintain that power.
He was describing about the rich whites in the US making use of the poor whites to maintain their economic status. He equated these whites as being like UMNO Baru in Malaysia. UMNO Baru had been using the poor Malays as its tool to retain power. It had used the mantra that these poor Malays need UMNO Baru to protect them.
But the poor Malays had remained poor even under over half a century of UMNO Baru’s protection. Just like the rich whites in the US putting the blame on the blacks and others for the bleak condition of the poor whites, UMNO Baru had also utilized this tactic to trick the poor Malays. Its leaders started blaming the non-Malays for the predicament suffered by these poor Malays.
It is indeed interesting to note that the rich and the powerful all over in the capitalist world use the very same method to deceive the people. This hapless group will again elect the very same people who had betrayed them into power and position. Hence. Lenin had termed these people as “useful idiots”.
Malott quoted what King had said in his speech on the steps of the State Capitol Building:
“How long? Not long, because no lie can live forever.
“How long? Not long, because you shall reap what you sow.
“How long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
How long then will this deceit of the poor Malays go on? From the look of it this will not be very long. A new generation that had managed to free themselves from this mental block had already emerged. The number of these “poor Malays” who have become “useful idiots” to UMNO and UMNO Baru is reducing itself. But to maintain the status quo, gangsters and agent provocateurs are being used.
NGOs consisting of those who had been trapped by ethnic and religious distortions had been given all the leeway by the government to act as they please to create tension thus frightening whatever poor Malays still left to forever seek the so called protection of UMNO Baru.
His politically motivated imprisonment will galvanise the Poor Malays
But there are other factors that will destroy the faith of the remaining poor Malays. One of the main factors will be the injustice meted out to Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. His imprisonment on a case which is touted as being politically motivated will cause UMNO Baru to lose this “useful idiots” group as its election asset.
Din Merican: the Malaysian DJ Blogger 
An astute and interesting take on “useful idiots”. May I suggest writer Ahmad Mustapha now do a piece on “useless eaters”?
why are we still giving space to this failed diplomat? he should use whatever expertise that he has to contribute towards the betterment of the American people. he has always been sore towards the present government ever since his lapdog that he was supposed to protect lost his place in the government.
I am also not very sure what anwar meant when he wants GOD to be his witness. the sentence seems to be incomplete. I think what he wanted is that GOD will be his witness to his immoral activities such as SODOMY.
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It is my right to post articles that I think are relevant and topical. The Anwar matter is indeed one such issue. Ambassador Malott who I know well is a well read and outstanding diplomat.He writes critically not only about Malaysia but also on US policy. I welcome your comments, although I do not agree with them. But please avoid making personal remarks especially when you do not know the man.–Din Merican
AMH,
Totally agree.the “useful idiots” should be educated to be useful.let’s all join forces to launch a mission to do this irrespective of age and ethicinicity.Let’s achieve this ASAP and prepare for the next GE.Agreed Anwar could have been what he is but 5 years? what about the some of the thousands of male prisoners in our jails? How do they keep themselves “happy” if you know what I mean.Try them in court and send them back for a different “offence”?
And on another issue of the Kelantan govt ordering all biz to close for Friday prayers.Fine we respect if it was only Muslim biz owners as rightfully the staff will be required to go for their prayers and which they should do.So why not order all golf courses, hotels,etc to do the same during the prayer times and ban all bars,breweries, gaming outlets,serving liquor on MAS flights, massage parlors, hair saloons etc.fair and be fair and see where your economy takes you in the long run
Din, thank you for posting this. I first thought about this point after reading a book a few years ago called “What’s the Matter with Kansas?” The book’s point was that people often vote — and keep on voting — against their own self-interest.
The author talked about how conservative politicians and pundits in the US stir up conservative voters by going on and on about social and cultural “wedge issues,” like abortion, immigration, and taxation. (More recently it is issues like gay marriage and syariah law. That’s because King Obama, as they call him, who is secretly a Muslim, wants to impose syariah law on the United States.)
They constantly have to portray America and “good Americans” as under threat. We are under threat from people who want to take away our guns. Or immigrants, or Muslims, or gays, or people who want to impose syariah law on Americans. Or terrorists — even though there has not been one foreign terrorist attack on the US since 9/11/2001.
The politicians portray themselves as champions of the conservative voters on all these issues, so they get elected.
Once in office, however, they go about their own business of helping big business on taxes and deregulation, etc. But then they have to explain to the voters why no progress gets made on those other issues, so they blame the “liberal elite” as a straw man. If we have a Democratic President, they blame everything on him. They blame it on the “liberal media.” They accuse the liberals of “hating America. ”
Now just substitute Malaysia and UMNO, and you see the similarity. The Malay race and Islam are always under threat, so you must vote for UMNO as the defender of the Malay race. Foreigners want to recolonise Malaysia, so you must vote for UMNO to protect the nation. The Chinese Malaysian community is trying to rip you off and take away your money , and it wants to have a Chinese PM who will take orders from Beijing. The opposition believes in western, liberal values which are un-Malay and un-Islamic. So vote for UMNO.
But once in power — and they have been in power for 57 years now — they go about their own business. 1MDB, the National Feedlot Corporation, overpriced no-bid contracts for UMNO leaders, you name it. None of that has ever benefited the people in the rural areas who vote for UMNO.
While I think an etymological examination of the term “useful idiots” would be interesting, I think it is telling that people like Abdul Rahman Noor attacks not the writer of the piece but John Mallot and then Anwar Ibrahim .
The tragic joke is that UMNO is right. The Malay community and Islam is under threat but it is not from without. The enemy is within. If poor Malays are the victims, UMNO is the perpetrator.
UMNO had what 57 years to make its case that it is the only hope of the Malay community. May 1969 created an artificial Malay middle class slowly realizing that it has been duped all these decades.
I mock those stupid opposition supporters that claim the Non Malays are living under an apartheid system. The majority of people who have been marginalized, taken advantage of , robbed of their self worth , dumbed down and unable to compete are the Malays. UMNO has ghettoized them.
Abdul Rahman Noor, I don’t have a clue who you are. But I do know that in American law schools, they like to joke and say, “When the facts don’t support your case, attack the other guy’s lawyer.”
So I take pride that because you have chosen to attack me personally and called me a “failed diplomat” — rather than have the least iota of intelligence to counter the specific points I raised — I have won the argument.
Good to read Malott’s latest posting suggesting all politicians are the same anywhere and there isn’t much difference in the politics of his country to that of Malaysia. So, nothing is odd in our politics.
Coming to the’useful idiots’ perhaps they and the rest should come to terms with the reality that the highest Court in the Land has ruled that Anwar is guilty, beyond any reasonable doubt, of sodomizing Saiful. No amount of denial will change the fact.
In our world today more that 85% of the people are influenced by the last person they had a conversation. That is what happens once in five years when we have elections, First World included. The difference is the strong institutions that moderate the sweet talk and require the administration to implement policies and decisions within the framework of the laws that had been agreed to earlier by the very people who make those important decisions. I hope that this hidden message in the article by the so-called ” Failed Diplomat” is not lost.
abdul rahman noor February 16, 2015 at 12:54 am
“I am also not very sure what anwar meant when he wants GOD to be his witness. the sentence seems to be incomplete. I think what he wanted is that GOD will be his witness to his immoral activities such as SODOMY.”
Encik A.R.Noor, the above statement of yours is indeed the unkindest cut of all. As a Muslim yourself, I presume, you must know that invoking the name of Allah in vain will surely bring the Almighty’s wrath on the person. So who are you to judge DS Anwar Ibrahim? Keep your hatred under check lest karma get the better of you.
oops first line should read “more than 85%”
“We (Americans) are under threat from people who want to take away our guns.
“The Chinese Malaysian community is trying to rip you off and take away your money , and it wants to have a Chinese PM who will take orders from Beijing”
– John Malott
Good American, mind your own business, put your house in order first.
“China moved some 500 million people out of poverty during the same period that saw America’s middle class enter a period of stagnation. An economic model that doesn’t serve a majority of its citizens is not going to provide a role model for others to emulate. America should see the rise of China as a wake-up call to put our own house in order.”
Source: http://rightwaysrichard.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-natural-american-reaction-would-be.html
Talk about democracy, Chinese is the majority, being #1 most populous on earth, why not give them more representation than Americans based on democratic principle: one man one vote, agree?
UMNO Baru is a “useless idiot” comprising useless idiotic leaders.
Assalammualaikum, Mr. Malott, you have just hit the nail on the head. Well, at least the American public may have an insight on what actually UMNO is. But as long we have useful idiots, UMNO will flourish.
Mr Malott i totally agreed with you. These poor Malays will continue to be made a fool of if they still want to vote for this corrupted government. They have only themselves to blame if their lives & their future generation are suffering.
“why are we still giving space to this failed diplomat?” AR Noor
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” ML King
We read John Mallot because what he writes resonates with truth and justice. We welcome and support like-minded people who seek to uphold truth and justice.
last 13th ge – in peninsular malaya, bn won 86 seats vs pr’s 80. allah & hudud issues among other factors contributed to the failure of pr in defending the seats they won in 2008. there are not many malays in sabah but bn grabbed 22 from 25 and interestingly there’s no umno (baru) in sarawak but bn also won 25 out of 36, now, who are the useful idiots?
malaysia are on monopoly capitalism mode. will pr change this if they were to become the federal government?
politics = power = money, money & money.
my friends and I always look forward to browsing through your blog. we consider this to be one of those blogs that is bipartisan and intellectually presented .
we as ex diplomats know exactly what some of them do as part of their job specs. this failed diplomat has got nothing good to say about our country. being an ambassador for four years does not qualify him to be an expert in the intricate balancing act that the government has to play to keep the peace.
the serial sodomite is now out of the political equation, at least for a few years to come.
you would probably agree that the situation in the country is not healthy at all. the altantuya case and the 1MDB ‘fiasco’ smells very rotten to the core. these are issues that should be probed and investigated by bipartisan blog like yours so that the culprits (real) are revealed.
my take is that a friend who wants to bring down our beloved country is not a friend indeed.
I fully agree with your stand that you can do whatever you want with your blog but my only hope is that in the process it will bring some benefit to this lovely country of ours. shalom.
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This blog is intended as a kind of forum for differences of opinion. You are always welcome to share your views and take on issues which affect our country. I know from my sources that you have done well in Wisma Putra where I started my working life on August 15, 1963.–Din Merican
Abdul rahman noor – your posts have been uploaded by din merican and so he has a right to also upload john malott’s… why do you have to stop other’s point of view but just only read yours? if you cannot address the points raised by mr malott in the article, just shut the Fvck up – there is no need to attack a person personally – please respect the right of others too….
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SiangMalam,
I respect the dignity of difference, but not labeling and stereotyping. Rahman must explain what he means by a “failed diplomat”. What a diplomat is not is when he fails to represent his country. While holding the job, he must do his best for his country and provide the State Department with accurate and timely information.Once he is out of office, he can express his own views. As King Ghaz once said to me, an Ambassador’s job is to make friends for his country. Ambassador Malott’s views may differ from Rahman’s, but that does not make him a “failed diplomat.” In fact, he was a very successful US Ambassador to Malaysia.–Din Merican
Guys the thing on “useful idiots”. If you have a chance watch the Hindi movie “3 idiots” and how they bring a dictator headmaster to his feet.It’s a entertaining reflection of how our local najis should receive the same .
A Malaysian minister asked the Saudi Arabian minister “how come you have a Railway Minister when you do not have a train service.The Suadi guy asked the Malaysian how come you have a law minister when you do not have laws that comp,y with international protocols.
Er.., pardon my ignorance. But what is a ‘failed diplomat’?
A diplomat, by it’s very definition presents his/her nation’s view on whatever matter that affects bilateral or multilateral relationships – be it praise, cooperation, criticism or even declaration of hostilities/war. They aren’t usually considered ‘useful idiots’, but erudite and well trained professionals..
So i presume that’s why we have got bottom pinchers, attempted rapists (even failed a proper penetration, apparently), corrupt, self-promoting and rent-seeking flurs and other ‘useful idiots’ among our most august ‘diplomats’. Has the Hawaii 5-0 case been settled by the present head honcho of Wisma? I believe 2 of his subordinates (i.e kerani kanan) have already been brought to book on his account when he was the ambassador in D.C? Any MACC investigators lurking in here blog?
So John here is a retired ambassador from the only extant super-power in this planet. Since he is no longer a diplomat, i like many others share his view. The only people hurt by his frank opinion, probably suffer from tunnel vision with a huge dose of self-justifying arrogance and masturbatory compulsions.
We are Malaysians, but we are NOT UMNObytes, nor useless idiots like ‘Wrongways’. We care about our national image as a just, moderate, well informed, civilized and self-aware country of dignified citizenry. Anything less will be like ‘buggering’ yourself.. Remember, No Man is an Island.., except for Whom the Bells Toll.
Abdul rahman noor = one of those useful idiots ?!!!
SiangMalam,
we hv to mind our language if we want to maintain a meaningful discourse. john mallot can come up wth what ever theory he wants n he can even agree 2 equate d malays as ‘useful idiots’. well, I n 4 of my brothers who r science graduates r d products of these ‘useful idiots’.
4 5 yrs as n education attaché in London, I can b proud to boast that together wth the govt, we hv helped educate more than 4 thousand of sons n daughters of these ‘useful idiots’. it is up to them now 2 decide what kind of country they want 2 leave behind. may b they may become d new ‘useful idiots’.
this chap has been relentless in sowing his brand of hatred towards d government of d day. may b he will only stop when his sodomite friend takes over d running of d country. if he is that good than Obama shld engage him instead of john Kerry —- better still get d PR 2 employ him as their ‘con sultant’.
the blog owner has been very bipartisan most of the time n it gives us pensioners great pleasure browsing thru d articles. my only hope is 4 people like him 2 highlight all d wrong doings that are happening within our govt n society now so that his readers (including my friends n I) can make a considered decision when the time comes.
that will b his biggest contribution towards the well being of d country.
Quote:- “my take is that a friend who wants to bring down our beloved country is not a friend indeed”
Yes!, at least one “useful idiot” identified.
Abdul Rahman Noor, you called Amb. Malott a failed Ambassador, how about you? Ambassador Malott was Ambassador to several countries including Malaysia. Are you or were you a Malaysian Ambassador? Which countries may I ask.
Appointment as Ambassador is a rigorous exercise in the US. After nomination the person undergoes Senate review unlike Malaysia an Ambassador is appointed because he/she served his/her time and is friendly with the KSU and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“….the serial sodomite is now out of the political equation, at least for a few years to come.
you would probably agree that the situation in the country is not healthy at all. the altantuya case and the 1MDB ‘fiasco’ smells very rotten to the core. these are issues that should be probed and investigated by bipartisan blog like yours so that the culprits (real) are revealed…”
The real culprits are the serial liars, thieves, bigots, embezzlers, hypocrites and con artists who not only perpetrated those cases you mentioned but also jailed Anwar to get him out of the way so they can continues fleecing the Malay community under their guise of protectors of race and faith.
I have no idea what kind of “ex diplomat” you are but I figure since the only “crimes” you are interested in “bi partisan blogs” covering are those that pertain to Najib, (and your despicable attacks against Anwar) your own agenda and faction seems pretty clear.
But even your feeble little tirades against Mallot don’t amuse me as much as the commenter, rightways, whose post deserves a big WTF…….
“…..I can b proud to boast that together wth the govt, we hv helped educate more than 4 thousand of sons n daughters of these ‘useful idiots’…”
Ok so now I know who to blame.
You would be credible if you presented a reasoned counter argument instead of engaging in ad hominems. I mean didn’t all that educating involve teaching all those “Malays” how to respond in an argument.
Btw here is a definition of the term and as you can see, it applies to you :
“In political jargon, useful idiot is a term for people perceived as propagandists for a cause whose goals they are not fully aware of, and who are used cynically by the leaders of the cause.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useful_idiot
Quote:- “4 5 yrs as n education attaché in London, I can b proud to boast that together wth the govt, we hv helped educate more than 4 thousand of sons n daughters of these ‘useful idiots’”
OMG, 4 thousand?
“I can b proud to boast…” 🙂
Finally we can point a finger to someone with a name………Abdul Rahman Noor.
orang Malaya,
pls read my comments on 11:07.
it is n open secret that anwar was d US darling kid in this region. john mallot failed 2 protect anwar right till d day anwar was sacked. dep. president al gore who came 4 d apec meeting also failed in his attempt 2 start n uprising against d duly elected govt of d day. that speech given by al gore wld not hv been that uncouth wthout d input from d embassy.
it is this context that he has failed. he has been trying all this while 2 make good his failure by condemning d country no matter how well we hv managed 2 trod along as a nation. his intentions r not honorable.
he has not failed 2 give total support 2 anwar n family till 2day. 2 him a serial sodomite is acceptable 4 as long as they r willing 2 b d US lapdog.
the sooner he leaves our country 2 chart her own course n destiny, the better it will b.
Quote:- “…condemning d country…”
Anyone care to show us where Mr. John Malott has condemned the “country”, i.e. The Federation of Malaysia?
So ABN you were only education Attache in UK. The MSD . The late Admiral Md. Zain former Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy and later High Commissioner to New Zealand was a close friend and we used to meet up once a week. He told me that his biggest problem in the Embassy were the MSD. this was confirmed by a few other diplomats. Why because they did not encourage Melayu students to mix with non melayus. Remember the case of the young Malay couple who neglected their child and were having prayer sessions and the New Zealand welfare authority took custody of the child. Became a diplomatic issue thanks to the MSD
By no stretch of the imagination you are a diplomat but an overpaid bureaucrat Sir.
Education Attache, was it MSD or Education Malaysia? Whoa belum lagi H.E. Ambassador or High Commissioner. Kalau nak tahu tanya students apa mereka fikir tentang Education Attaches. Perhaps you are familiar with the word TLDM.
Ambassador Malott is acting in his personal capacity not on behalf of the US Government. Al Gore was attending APEC and not a guest of the Malaysian government. Even the late Nordin Sopiee Head of ISIS Malaysia had to take out full page advertorial in the local press to back pedal. You clearly have very little understanding of how the US government works.
Malaysia is a lil bit player in Asia other than the fact that US have large investment in Malaysia which have to be safeguarded. POTUS have visited Asia many times and have only paid an official visit once. Why?
By the way you sound confident that AI is a serial sodomite. Care to share what you know instead of making these wild allegations. After all its for the benefit of the 4000 students that are or will be returning to Malaysia to be the future leaders to know the truth.
Orang malaya, may I add?
Not only is our appointment system skewed towards faithful yes men and women from within the civil service and useful partisan parasites, we have upped the ante against ourselves by implementing fast track entry to the world of diplomacy by parachuting deserters from the Opposition, much to the envy and anger of drooling, waiting UMNO Old Faithfuls, now gnashing their teething in helplessness.
Is this the much touted transforming paradigm shift towards excellence, or the forced slide into mediocrity at the epicentre for the transmission to the rest of the world of our national character, values, cultural mores, and certitudes vis a vis the commonwealth of nations as we celebrate the dignity of human life without the slightest hint of misuse and abuse of official power?
Look for our man across the Straits. He has a lot to do to prove to us, despite our less than stringent filtration system, that his was not a choice made in vain, as we approach PRU 14.
Dato Din, continue to post all the excellent opinion pieces. Thank you.
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/anwar-was-offered-deputy-prime-ministers-post-confirms-rafizi
Typical of the 1PM, isn’t it ?
The 1PM thinks that he can buy others with offers of money and position.
Too bad, not every Malaysian can be bought with money etc.
Especially those who are motivated by political ideology, religious belief, or outrage over injustice.
“A truly great man is one whom
money and rank cannot corrupt,
poverty and hardship cannot shake,
and power and force cannot subjugate”
Mencius
Will Anwar Ibrahim satisfy these ?
If so, he will be Malaysia’s greatest Prime Minister.
Reblogged this on ycpok and commented:
Lawan tetap lawan!
@ abdul rahman noor,
” I can b proud to boast that together wth the govt, we hv helped educate more than 4 thousand of sons n daughters of these ‘useful idiots’ ..”,
Are you Not ashamed of the (60 %of 28 m)remaining 16. 6 million Malays who are ”poor victims of the Umno Baru” and are innocently sufferings all these years ?
I am unsure of Amb Malott intended agenda (commenting) staying in Malaysia and Asia, ultimately.
His sincerity would be tested. Time and events would bear witness.
I am quite sure you are a useful hypocrite, well educated, assisting the Umno Baru government in pretending to help (the majority) Malays, while ”robbing” them of their dignity in advancing progress and self-sufficiency.
MSD in London? Hahaha.. I missed that. That figures.
OM, they can take the Malay outta kampong, but they can’t take the kampong outta the Malay. Except enlightened Malays, like you, Bean and many more – whom they despise because of your independence, hard-work, intellect and industry. Makes them look bad. Cemburu and Crabby spelt with a capital ‘C’. Their idea of R&R is gossiping, playing petty games of denial-obscurantism-obstructionism and enjoying schadenfreude.
True, Sumpitan, parachute diplomats are useful idiots and utter rubbish. Not to mention the horde of pathological, paraphilic low-lifes that inhabit our Embassies and Consulates. Many of them can’t even string a simple sentence of diplo-speak, without crapping in their diapers. Whatmore sampling possibly non-halal hors d’oeuvres during cocktail engagements? Their black-tie suits, probably come with a chestful of ribbons and medals bestowed along with well.., the black noose.
Ha ha CLF, I’ve known, seen, met and interact with many Malaysian diplomats, of all rankings. Except for one or two the rest fits in the TLDM profile, Tidor, Lepak, Duduk dan Makan. Three sometimes four years spent in their post as paid vacation. First year busy with getting a house (must be the maximum allowable under their housing allowance) then look for fine Italian furniture, look for schools for their children and getting to know the other Malaysians in the mission. Second year getting down to some work usually “recce” places, hotels and other attractions in case their bosses happen to stop by. Then its taking up golf lessons. In between answer a few letters and inquiries. Some are anxiously seeking business opportunities to enhance their retirement or income when sent home. MSD officers are notorious for taking trips supposedly to visit students but really to tour with their families.
The third year busy with lobbying for an extension, usual reason given children have not finished school, wife expecting and cannot travel, anything to stay in post. Thus the tour of duty for a Malaysian diplomat.
MSD is now known as Education Malaysia and main purpose is to encourage and promote foreign students to study in Malaysia. Imagine asking a foreign student to attend a College or University in Malaysia that never even made it to the top 100 Asian Universities.
Malaysian students are the most pampered lot. Mid West games, Orientation, Taklimat and such events, yet they prefer the Ghetto or Kampong Malaysia, living amongst other Malaysian students, attend the same College or Universities, taking the same courses and sometimes attend the same lectures. Best is many Education Attache are not proficient in English and have difficulties in securing places for Malaysian sponsored students. They also are not conversant with the College or University ranking system, and depend on guides such as Barron’s. They cant differentiate between Regional Accreditation and Professional Accreditation.
MSD London, the Malaysian Travel Guide service for Malaysian VIP’s. Malaysia Hall from the time of Pak Baharain, and you wonder why more Malaysians treat London as their second home.
Proud to boast of having educated 4 thousands malays in the UK? Last I check I wasn’t educated by the MSD officers but by my professors in the university. MSD officers couldn’t even keep track of students who have dropped out from university and thus, violating the immigration law.
Didi, he BTNed the 4000 students not educated them. So now these 4000 students cant even think for themselves and cant even think between right and wrong and fair and just except what the government say is the whole truth and nothing but the truth. They have become robots just like him.
orang Malaya,
u seem 2 know a lot abt d foreign service. I m here not 2 defend them. may b d blog owner who I was told was also a diplomat may want 2 respond.
my intention was not to gloat abt my achievements but basically to deny d theory ( supported by d failed diplomat n some say a closet cia agent) that d malays r basically ‘useful idiots’.
I was sent 2 look after d Malaysian govt sponsored students. of course I did not lecture them but made sure that i secured places 4 them 2 do ond n a levels as well as degree courses. ensure their monthly stipends , tuition fees n claims were being paid. attend to them if ever they get medically unfit or get into trouble wth d authorities.
these qualified graduates (sons n daughters of ‘useful idiots’) r now holding important positions in society. we shld not question their political inclination. they cld b the ones leading the charge on d opposition side now (some may call them ‘new useful idiots). well that is their right n entirely their choice.
wth regards 2 yr observation abt d foreign service it is unfair n may b entirely misplaced. granted there were individual diplomats/ attaches that behaved the way u described but most were sent on these postings bcos there were requirements 4 them 2 b there.
the little bit that i know abt d foreign service is that amongst them they hv categorized 3 types of postings namely hardship; good; n prized postings n every career diplomat had 2 undergo d three stages. 2 outsiders they may seem contented n aloof but i can assure u that their lives r constantly disrupted due 2 frequent movements. many hv suffered quietly . however they hv got 2 persevere 4 ‘king n country’.
there were also instances where individuals outside the diplomatic circles r appointed 2 head diplomatic missions as n when d govt deems fit. it is either 2 reward them 4 d excellent service they hv rendered 2 king n country or 4 specific objective.
in d case of our ambassador 2 Indonesia ( once a very good buddy of anwar ) it was a masterful move by d govt.(congratulations) . all this while anwar has been having a field day telling half truths 2 d Indonesian masses but that has entirely being checkmated by the ambassador who knows anwar in n out. anwar has lost a very useful platform n wth his guilty verdict it wld b most difficult 4 him 2 resurrect or regain his credibility in Indonesia.
u can ridicule or dismiss whatever i have achieved. that is yr right but one thing that i can assure u that if anybody belittles my race, i will fight tooth n nail 2 defend it.
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ARN,
I talked to some of my wisma putra friends about you. They tell me that you were a very good diplomat. Your record of service speaks for you. Well done. We must not be upset when people make negative comments about the Malays. Sometimes, this is done to provoke a response. And there are times we the Malays deserve the criticisms leveled at us. Make sure that you don’t defend these people.–Din Merican
ARN, I have never called Malays a “useful idiot” but I do wish the Malays would use the opportunities afforded to them to expand their views and be more independent, matured and indulge in critical thinking instead of a pak turut. You must have confused me with some other commentator on this blog.
In the years from late 70’s to 2000, thousands of Malay students were sent to Universities and Colleges overseas to get an education. But most came back with a degree but didn’t benefit from the exposure. Imagine these people are now at the most senior level of government KP, DG, KSU and TKSU. What do we have to show? Any changes in policies?
In Malaysia earnest desire to send students to Canada in late 70’s JPA sent a group of students to a College that didnt have a campus. I’m sure you remember the late Shamsul Bahrain Mat Akas, Director of Training at JPA. Then there were students sent to campuses in the boonies where the professors taught from notes used 15 to 20 years ago. What kind of education are these students getting? With the amount spent, Malaysia should have sent students to more selective or competitive universities.
Other countries also have large numbers of students oversas but they dont have an office like MSD to cater to the students and yet the students have excelled.
The diplomats from Wisma Putra are on a specific mission and they chose to join the Foreign service and endure the constant postings from one post to another. Yes many a Wisma officer childen education were affected. My heart goes out to them. But what we are discussing is the other socalled diplomats like the TC, Education Attache, MIDA, Defense, Agriculture and the likes. These are once in a lifetime posting.
I am not ridiculing your noble efforts, but just trying to put it in the right perspective. Nobody is putting down the Malays here lest of all the blog host.