September 26, 2015
China’s Ambassador Tells Malaysia to Stop the Racism
by John Berthelsen@www.asiasentinel.com
http://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/china-ambassador-tells-malaysia-stop-racism/
Ambassador Huang
Huang Huikang, the Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, is expected to be summoned to the country’s Foreign Ministry on September 28 for a remarkable visit last Friday to the center of a Chinese area threatened by Malay-supremacy thugs to say the Chinese government is opposed to terrorism, extremism and any forms of discrimination based on race.
Such an action by an Ambassador, not just in Malaysia but anywhere, is virtually unheard of. By any measure, it constitutes unprecedented interference in domestic politics and is viewed by critics as a raw assertion of Chinese power. China is now Malaysia’s second-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade amounting to US$28.2 billion in 2014 and may well be the largest, since Malaysia’s trade with Singapore is US$33.3 billion and Singapore acts largely as an entrepôt, shipping goods on to other countries including China.
Huang’s stroll through Chinatown was a clear indication that China would not tolerate any form of criminal intimidation. But it has also raised serious concerns in the ethnic Chinese community that what is regarded as mainland ham-handedness could make it worse for them rather than better.
Nonetheless, despite the allegations of affront, Huang’s visit to the Petaling Street area appears to have played a role in bringing to a halt, however temporary, growing threats and intimidation by so-called Red Shirts led by a United Malays National Organization Division Chief named Jamal Md Yunos against Chinese hawkers and merchants in the area, the epicenter of the urban Chinese community, home of the historic 127-year-old central market and to hundreds of Chinese street hawkers and traders. Police arrested Jamal Yunos and warned Red Shirt protesters against marching through the area. The Red Shirts had been scheduled to march through Petaling Street today, Sept. 26 amid outright threats of violence.
The Red Shirt protest is closely tied to Malaysia’s deteriorating political situation, in which critics say the Prime Minister is attempting to use a perceived threat by the Chinese, who dominate the economic landscape, to attempt to dominate the political one as well via the Democratic Action Party, the predominant ethnic Chinese party. Najib’s position is threatened by not just the domestic political equation, but by investigations into allegations of money laundering and corruption by the US, Swiss, UK, French and Singaporean governments.
He and UMNO officials have responded by blaming an international conspiracy to bring down parliamentary democratic rule in Malaysia. Add that international conspiracy the Chinese community. On Aug. 29, the good government NGO Bersih brought hundreds of thousands of protesters against to the streets in a two-day rally dominated by the Chinese, giving UMNO the opportunity to characterize the rally as a DAP stratagem to wreck the Barisan Nasional, the ruling national coalition.
As tensions have grown, the Red Shirts have flung insults including Cina babi, meaning “Chinese are pigs,” seemingly with the support of officials linked to UMNO. Last week, police had to use water canon to drive back Red Shirt protesters attempting to force their way into the Petaling Street area, allegedly to demand that authorities raid traders allegedly selling fake goods or running other illegal activities.
Mahathir Mohamad, the 90-year-old former prime minister attempting to bring down Najib, charged last week that Najib is paying the protesters to distract from charges that US$861 million had mysteriously appeared in his personal bank account in 2013. Some of the protesters have acknowledged that they have been paid although Najib, in New York for the opening of the United Nations General Assembly, denied he had done so.
Huang, wearing a batik shirt, presented mooncakes to the traders in recognition of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, which begins on Jan. 29. Reading from a prepared statement, he said that: “Nobody has the right to undermine the authority of the law or trample on the rule of law. The Chinese government has always pursued peaceful co-existence in international relationship and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. But with regard to the infringement on China’s national interests, violations of legal rights and interests of Chinese citizens and businesses which may damage the friendly relationship between China and the host country, we will not sit by idly.”
“I think Najib has brought (the Ambassador’s action) upon himself,” said Din Merican, a longtime academic and blogger now teaching at a university in Cambodia. “His racist rhetoric is raising international concerns since in a globalized world, there are many stakeholders. Najib must show that he can protect the interest of foreign investors who have stakes in Malaysia. Fanning the flames of racial hatred and Islamic bigotry is not an option for him. China is sending a message to Najib to stop going overboard with his racism. The non-interference argument can no longer be used when human rights are being abused with impunity. The Red shirts are Najib’s paid proxies. The besieged Prime Minister is looking for a pretext to declare emergency rule to extend his political life. He knows that UMNO and Barisan Nasional will lose the general election in 2018 if he remains Prime Minister.”
Ambassadors “don’t do that,” said Wong Chin Huat, a political scientist and fellow at the Penang Institute in Penang. “I find it extraordinary because Ambassadors don’t do things in public.You go make a call, you don’t leave a trace”. Wong pointed out that the Ambassador didn’t make a clear distinction whether he was speaking for Chinese nationals or Malaysia’s ethnic Chinese as well.
“That is a no-no in Malaysia,” Wong said. “Some ethnic Malays feel uncomfortable with the idea that a Chinese Ambassador is acting in a way that he appears to be representing the Chinese here. I would be offended myself if he is saying that. If he wants to express concern, he should be doing it privately.
Najib catches much of the blame from observers over Huang’s move, although Gerakan and the Malaysian Chinese Association, two ethnic Chinese component parties in the Barisan Nasional, the ruling national coalition led by UMNO, come in for their own share of criticism.
“Najib is fomenting this to save his political skin,” said a Malay businessman who declined to be quoted by name. “But Gerakan and the MCA haven’t got the balls to stand up to him.”
“Malaysia views his remarks seriously,” a foreign ministry official told local media. “It is tantamount to interfering in Malaysia’s domestic affairs.”
Armand Azha Abu Hanifah, a member of UMNO’s youth wing executive committee, demanded an apology from Huang for both the government and the Malaysian people.
Din Merican: the Malaysian DJ Blogger 
..its a sticky situation and I wonder who is going to blink first…..hmmmmmm
Many Malaysian Chinese in the country, in particular those at the Petaling Street, were probably, at least secretly, very proud & happy that their favourite Chinese ambassador from the PRC came down physically to ground-zero, to be in direct support of them. Without realizing it perhaps, the Chinese ambassador had actually acted as if to emphasize the suppressed fact that the Malaysian Chinese still have strong unbreakable roots in the PRC and that they deserve the ambassador’s public support, and this unfortunately strengthened the much-talked-about impression that the Malaysian Chinese are in fact and remain here as “PENDATANGs” – and the local Malaysian Chinese seemed to rejoice that, perhaps unintended, perception. That’s a huge diplomatic misstep by the PRC ambassador who intentionally appeared to further split the various races in Malaysia. Initially I thought the PRC ambassador’s action was more directed towards protecting the PRC’s gradually growing economic interests and investments here, but I was corrected by someone more savvy about the PRC’s real interests in Malaysia that it wasn’t the case. Reviewing the facts, I agree with him.
Personally, I don’t approve of the foolish & uncalled-for actions by that JOKER, Jamal, from Sungai Besar and he deserved to be arrested. Neither do I like the alleged involvement of our PM in the various 1MDB business practices and the private donation of the RM2.6 billion from the Middle East. But, this is a different matter, the PRC ambassador should have used more common sense by dealing with the host Government through the available diplomatic channels. Instead he is now seen as intentionally interfering with the internal affairs of Malaysia – the PRC surely would NOT like its internal affairs being intruded either by any foreign countries. When massive anti-Chinese feelings were reeling wildly with street demonstrations in Indonesia during the 90’s, no such visit was made nor support shown publicly by the PRC ambassador then to the Indonesian Chinese. Suddenly the PRC has decided to turn racist in Malaysia in support of the local Malaysian Chinese, necessarily against the Malays in particular. Is the PRC trying to further split our various races in Malaysia??? What is its end-game???
I’m afraid that those less discerning among us do NOT seem to realize this paradigm shift in the PRC’s attitude towards Malaysia despite the expensively one-sided agreement in the PRC’s favour for the PANDA DIPLOMACY that Malaysia got involved in. What a pity. Do Malaysian Chinese here associate themselves with the PRC??? Whatever their answers would be, can other Malaysians now, especially the Malays, believe or trust their answers???
I DETEST THE ACTION OF THE PRC’S AMBASSADOR VISITING THE PETALING STREET JUST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE RED SHIRT INCIDENT WHICH, ITSELF, WAS AN UNCALLED-FOR ACT.
Quote:- “The non-interference argument can no longer be used when human rights are being abused with impunity”
Yes, looks like we have all forgotten the Bosnian War which was essentially an internal conflict resulting from the breakup of Yugoslavia where it was estimated that 20,000 to 50,000 Muslim Bosnian women were systemically raped and hundreds of thousands of non-combat men killed.
Do we hear anything about non-interference in the internal affairs of Yugoslavia from anyone in Malaysia?
I wonder what our ambassador to Singapore would say if any politician there, from PAP or others, were to openly threaten violence against Singaporean Malays in Geylang Serai and Lee Hsien Loong keeping an elegant silence?
Certainly not something like Malaysia does not interfere in the internal affairs of the Republic of Singapore.
History serves a valuable lesson for all! The melacca sultanate which our country is so proud about did enjoy prosperity through trade, marriages with CHINA which also provided some kind of protection for the sultanate to grow! Like what mahathir says melayu mudah lupa!
“…Do Malaysian Chinese here associate themselves with the PRC??? …”
aliefalfa, I would expect Malaysian Chinese do associate themselves with the PRC. Afterall, it is their nationality. However, where are these Malaysian Chinese? I have never seen or heard of them; there are Chinese Nalaysians though, who form about 25% of the country’s population.
@Wayne September 26, 2015 at 10:55 pm,
Hmmm……If you want to see human rights being abused with impunity, go to the PRC where they are flushed into the loo. Associating the PRC ambassador’s visit to the Petaling Street as related to a sort of defence of human rights is akin to what the Malay proverb says “Harapkan tikus merawat labu” – it’s a clear case of interference in the internal affairs of Malaysia.
@HT Low September 27, 2015 at 4:34 am,
Well…well…well….The PRC ambassador’s ill-timed visit to Petaling Street apparently in support of those business people of Chinese descents who also rejoiced, in no uncertain terms, that show of PRC’s support has turned the Chinese Malaysians among them into the true blue Malaysian Chinese. This is unfortunate and undesirable as it worsens the racial relation situations prevailing in the country now. This undesirable development can creep quickly & easily to the other Chinese Malaysians who were not even at the Petaling Street then. All Malaysians should be well aware of the danger of this creeping tendencies in attitudes & stances among the races and we should NOT welcome any foreign interference in our internal affairs because they are having end-games of their own.
@aliefalfa September 26, 2015 at 10:28 pm
I make no apologies that I am proud of my immigrant roots and my Chinese heritage. But I consider myself a Malaysian, true and through.
The only problem is I am constantly reminded that I am a pendatang, like you just did. To argue with you would be, as the Chinese might say, a waste of my saliva and breath because the fact is my ancestors did come to these fair shores four generations ago. If you want to still consider me a pendatang now, then YOU are the problem — not me.
It would be good if you can see me just as a Malaysian but just because you call me a pendatang, it does NOT make any less proud or embarrassed to be a Chinese.
You can just as easily tell Red Lips to go back to Sulawesi or Shoot-First to make his way back to his village in Jawa, but will that solve any of the problems the “real” Malays (presumably you consider yourself the genuine article) face today and those that the Malays are ill-equipped to face in future?
I suspect you already know the answer.
If you read the speeches in the UN you will notice that the principle of non interference in the internal affairs has almost reached a grey area. Globalization has made what happens in other countries the business of the neighboring state. I myself do not agree but like many other issues right and wrong has given way to the grey area. Why, our PM also recently made a statement on Islam in the US referring to that famous ‘clock boy’. We have to learn to separate the good from the bad and move forward. Daily we have an additional 1,369 mouths to fees. Any delay in addressing it only makes it even more difficult the following day.
_______________
It is going to be Responsibility to Protect (R2P). The grounds for intervention are there. China will intervene if the Chinese community is attacked and some people killed. We should put the ikan bakar man behind bars. –Din Merican
Aliefalfa,
Quote:- “…it’s a clear case of interference in the internal affairs of Malaysia”
It is “interference in the internal affairs of Malaysia” only if it “interferes” in the internal policies, affairs and administrative actions of the Government of Malaysia.
It one were to classify the Chinese ambassador’s words and actions as “interference in the internal affairs of Malaysia”, then is anyone admitting that the actions of the Red Shirts were part and parcel of the policies, affairs and administrative actions of the Government of Malaysia?
If it was, then I do agree that there was “interference in the internal affairs of Malaysia”
If this argument that anything done within the borders of a country is strictly the “internal affairs” of that country were to prevail, then even genocide can be classified as such. In this case, the arrest and trail of many of the World’s heads of state for crimes against humanity were illegal, like what happened to Slobodan Milošević who did not prevent the rape and massacre of thousands of Muslim Bosnians?
Perhaps you would like to answer my question, namely, what should our Ambassador to Singapore say if any politician there were to threaten violence against Singaporean Malays in Geylang Serai?
This certainly will not do the RM any good. It seems we are lurching from crisis to crisis. The Chinese Ambassador “read from a prepared statement”… I think we may be sure his intervention was pre-approved by Beijing. It is clearly an intervention into Malaysia’s internal affairs and if I were Malaysian of any persuasion, I would disapprove of it.
The fact remains though that Malaysians appear incapable of solving their own problems – business leaders are cowardly corrupters one and all (I would be glad to be told of an exception), focussed on BN’s gravy train to the exclusion of any thought for the greater good of the country. Most Malaysians (with the honorable exceptions that thronged Bersih 4.0) are frankly sheeple. Malay society has allowed a power-hungry deeply intolerant Islamic bureaucracy to control their lives as they obediently go to mosque every Friday and listen to hair raising racist sentiments littering the sermon.
Since Malaysians cannot find a solution, other, foreign, players – especially those with clout – will wade in. Someone has to give this appalling PM some pause for thought and clearly Malaysians cannot. That is the story of disintegrating polities everywhere, from Yugoslavia to Syria. If you want to hold this country together, stand up. All of you. Civil disobedience is highly effective when practiced in large numbers, requiring of course cowardice to be set aside. Is that too much to ask?
The red shirt Malays are not victims here!!
They are the aggressors and trouble makers, inciting hatred and violence against innocent and powerless ordinary people – these are petty traders trying to make a living and some had been trading there for decades.
They are planning more rally, violence and riots against innocent ordinary people with their politicians’ support and encouragement. These are danagerous blood thirsty Malay criminals waiting eagerly for their chances to cause trouble at all cost.
They should be stopped by their ‘ leaders ‘ and the authorities after the disastrous 1st rally……but they know they are protected, so they acted ‘ brave and bold ‘ to organise more rallies until they achieve what their ‘ leaders ‘ want.
With no responsible leadership in the country and politicians playing dangerous political ‘ games ‘, the Chinese Ambassodor has prevented a serious incident and unnecessary loss of innocent ordinary people lives……you talk about ‘ inteference with domestic affairs ‘???
Any problem with my reply to Aliefalfa posted at 10.48am today?
I thought that the Ambassador’s comments posted in an earlier piece on this blog were pretty mild and nothing that anyone should get too worked up about.
But the fact remains that for someone in his position to comment goes well beyond normal diplomacy and therefore an intrusion in our internal affairs.
Comparisons with other countries and other situations only clouds this particular issue.
if that is the case…how do we Malaysians feel and do about it…are we all going to let the UMNO red shirts destroy what ever is left of our fabric of Malaysian community and identity….are the silent majority keeping mum till the land is soak with blood??????
Gosh, if such statement is an intrusion to internal affairs and perceived to be rude, then what about this? WTF is Malaysia wor? Wait till Turnbull called Jibby an incorrigible liar, then you know…….
Macdonald Housing Bombing in Singapore…..It’s pretty near the Istana (Singapore Presidential Resident)
Guess what Jusuf Kalla said about the Haze
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/singapore-slams-indonesia-over-haze-response-schools-shut-040601893.html
Perhaps, the man from Pornorogol can help or Saputra Whyuduno can help too
Lawrenceab,the opposition should try your proposal of using Ghandi’s method as a possible effective strategy.I dont think the opposition will ever win Putrajaya even with with more and bigger Bersih rally.
Datuk Din,we shouldnt live our according to what China dictates ,even stronger military power like US had found that might alone could not gaurantee outright victory against small and poor country like Afghanistan.
I feel sorry for the Chinese community indeed I feel sorry for anyone who has to substantiate their Malaysian identity especially in response to thugs whose real agenda is defend a racist Regime.
Here’s the thing though. For far too long thugs who happen to be Malay under the employ of a Regime controlled by Malay elites have threatened violence against the minorities in this country.
Now the general Malay population having their own problems either do not acknowledge this or think tat this is the more unsavoury aspect of the so called social contract.
What this incident demonstrated is that the Chinese community here belongs to a larger diaspora much like how the Malays do whether they acknowledge it or not.
For certain Malays so used to pushing less privileged people around , it is shocking to experience such behaviour themselves. I mean it’s life, right ? You play with fire, you get burned.
Only this time, they are the ones playing with fire.
Quote:- “….are the silent majority keeping mum till the land is soak with blood??????
Haven’t you heard?
These are our “internal affairs” and so we have to sort it out ourselves, even if it means soaking someone’s kris in Chinese blood, just as the plight of the Palestinians under Israeli rule is the “internal affairs” of the State of Israel which we should not interfere in.
Why should we let Chinese ambassador visit Petaling dividing us? Let’s focus on issue like high unemployment rate, poor ringgit performance, haze, corruption, high crime rates, etc. China is just like US, UK etc. these are big countries and nothing we can do about it. Currently, Chinese send their Navy to our territory and claiming it. Our government did nothing about it. Why? We must unite together if we do not want these foreign countries to meddle our internal problems. Thus, UMNO needs to get rid of people that is destroying our country and reform. With reform, we can make our country stronger and hopefully lead other South East Asian countries to counter balance big countries influence. Lastly, it is our PM and current UMNO leaders that makes us economical and military weak. We need reform to fix problems. Hopefully, our brightest Malaysians of all race rise up to lead all of us!
We are all fellow Malaysians if we are not united then we are weak to face foreign force!
Salam
@sui generis September 27, 2015 at 9:54 am,
Nobody should have to make any apologies about his/her immigrant roots. In my postings about the PRC ambassador’s ill-considered visit to Petaling Street, I made a clear differentiation between Chinese Malaysians and Malaysian Chinese who apparently approved, supported & rejoiced at the visit. The Chinese Malaysians on the other hand, like the guy called henry in the other thread, detested the PRC ambassador’s interference in Malaysia’s internal affairs. If you consider yourself as a Chinese Malaysian you certainly DO NOT deserve to be referred to as or associated with the abhorrent term ‘PENDATANG’ which rightly belongs to the Malaysian Chinese. I hope you understand.
@Wayne September 27, 2015 at 10:48 am,
“Perhaps you would like to answer my question, namely, what should our Ambassador to Singapore say if any politician there were to threaten violence against Singaporean Malays in Geylang Serai?”——-@Wayne.
That’s perhaps IS a foolish question. Firstly, it is hypothetical and the likelihood of its happening is highly debateable. Secondly, Singaporean citizens of Malay descents consider themselves as Malay Singaporeans as opposed to Singaporean Malays as you misleadingly put it. Thirdly, they do NOT racially and, now even perhaps culturally, associate themselves with the Malays of other countries – you may be surprised that some do NOT even speak Malay well.
If in the slimmest of chance, your hypothetically illogical suggestion were to take place, our High Commissioner (we don’t have an ambassador in Singapore or in any other Commonwealth countries) there, should just shuddup or at the most mention it either privately or officially via the appropriate diplomatic channel. Our High Commissioners and Ambassadors should NOT behave like that foreign guy from the PRC.
“Secondly, Singaporean citizens of Malay descents consider themselves as Malay Singaporeans as opposed to Singaporean Malays as you misleadingly put it.”
I’m curious. What exactly is the difference here ?
Thanks Aliefalfa for answering my hypothetical question.
Appreciate it.
Najib has done well in turning his personal scandals and depressing state of economy into now a ‘Malay’ issue. Such is the power of racial politics. The downside of course is that this ‘nationalistic’ fervor is strictly temporary. The hardship that everyone is is going thru and the source of all the ills have not gone away and will inevitably come back to bite. Najib should also realize he is losing ‘friends’ (latest being Canada n Australia) quickly internationally; he is about to lose another influencial one if he is not careful. Our economy could get much worse very quickly.
There was a basic rule underpinning the birth of the UN and most, if not all, international bodies since… that no country shall interfere in the internal affairs of others.
That has long since been eroded – by the very people who helped chart the early course of these bodies…. which is one reason why the UN, for example, is now so emasculated.
So how does this concern us? Simple… we all know that ours is a sick country … but it is us Malaysians who must and can fix it… for any outsider to butt in is interference.
Some will recall the recent Myanmar refugee boat people who suddenly started appearing on our shores. Almost rightaway there were calls to impose sanctions etc on that country. That would have been interference… because it was an internal problem and therefore had nothing to do with others.
All that was needed was a behind the scene reminder to Myanmar that we could not be expected to take in such people.
In the case of the China Ambassador episode… just imagine if the Malaysian Envoy to China were to turn up in Xinjiang or Tibet and remind the host country of the need to maintain cordial ethnic relations…
I leave the rest to you friends…
________________
The lesson to be learned is that you have to be big and economically powerful in order to have sway in world affairs. Of course, Najib’s Malaysia is an exceptional nation; we are the leader of the coalition of moderates wearing red shirts. –Din Merican
Are we in danger of missing the wood for the trees?
This is strictly about business – a contest between behind the scene major players out to protect their geopolitical interests. Human rights, reformasi and democratic changes – are just codified semantics used to justify intervention to bring about regime change.
The innocuous Chinese wayang at Petaling Street was not meant for the local audience but more likely for the entertainment of the Americans.
The subtle message is that unless Uncle Sam controls his pet monkey and contain the situation from going out of control, China will not stand idly by but will be forced to interfere to protect her own interests.
The fact that a political pariah like pinky lips is allowed to waltz into town albeit dragging along a heavy bag of skeletons, to address the U.N. should be a give away that something is more than meets the eye.
Having said that, my Celtic soothsayer foresees a silver lining coming by Anwar’s way. 🙂
My view with regards to immigrants is this:-
Most immigrants will always have a sentimental attraction to anything that reminds them of “home”.
Thus, most Malaysian immigrants living abroad will cheer and support any Malaysian sporting team playing in their respective adopted countries.
This can clearly be seen when the UK stages its ALL-England badminton tournament. The hugely excitable and vocal support that Malaysian players get from the “Malaysian crowd” (regardless of Malay, Chinese or Indian) always gives me goose pimples.
Does it mean that these supporters are being disloyal to their adopted country, the UK? Of course it doesn’t. It is simply the way things are. I have no sociological term for it.
The UK Indian immigrants support for Indian cricketers borders on the fanatical. They turn up in their thousands whenever the Indian team is in town. The same goes for the Pakistani and West Indian teams.
The great thing is that the local Brits know and understand this sentimentality.
My view with regard to Dr Huang? It is a diplomatic faux pas.
Lastly, I have always called myself a Malaysian Chinese (as opposed to a Chinese Malaysian) simply because I always thought of myself as being a Malaysian first. What’s a Chinese Malaysian then?
@aliefalfa September 27, 2015 at 9:04 pm
Frankly, I am just Malaysian. If someone wanted me to elaborate, I would say that I am Malaysian of Chinese descent. I haven’t the faintest idea what the difference is between a Malaysian Chinese or Chinese Malaysian and care even less.
But the way you frame your argument, you appear to harbor the perception that the Malaysian Chinese are in fact and remain here as “PENDATANGs” or you clearly identify with those who do.
Why do you not consider Red Lips a pendatang given that his forefathers most probably came from Sulawesi, but consider me one because my ancestors made the trip from Fujian? Is it the shorter boat ride from Sulawesi, or perhaps his came in an Orang Kaya vessel and mine in a humble rickety tongkang?
Do you think the Petaling Street folks would revel in the Chinese ambassador’s visit to the area if the Red-Lips had gone to Petaling Street to admonish the red-shirts and to provide reassurance to the folks there?
Imagine if Red Lips had gone to Petaling Street and said something smart like:
“I know the red-shirts have caused some anxiety for you, but as a democratic country we have to allow them space to express themselves. I regret that some of their speeches were seditious and the police have taken appropriate action to deal with the individuals involved. I am here today to personally reassure you, my fellow Malaysians that my administration will not allow anyone, including those from my party, to foment hatred and to incite violence, and that anyone found doing so will be made to account for their actions under the full measure of our laws.”
Then the Chinese and other ambassadors can make some nice diplomatic noises about how good Red Lip’s regime is.
But there is a vacuum of such Malaysian leadership today, so why fault the Petaling Street folks for being grateful when the Chinese ambassador came with words of reassurance?
If Red Lips does not step up, then others (even foreigners) will step in. As Dato Din and Conrad implied somewhere on this thread, China now carries a big stick. And she is increasingly unafraid to wield it.
“Najib’s Malaysia is an exceptional nation; we are the leader of the coalition of moderates wearing red shirts” –Din Merican.
“Coalition of morons wearing red shirts” sounds better, Pak Din. That aptly describes the Jamal Ikan Bakar’s rag tag army that wanna pain KL red on Sept 16.
Those who understand Beijing knows that while they have a sentimental attachment to Chinese Malaysian, Beijing is largely concern about its national interest and this interest is merely a old style way of sending a message to Najib and Wisma Putra not to get too cosy with United States – to remind us that we are mere side players in the global power play that China has multiple front it can deal with us if it is truly displeased.
The China ambassador has skillfully already stated what he will tell Wisma Putra and up to Wisma Putra to get into their thick skull what the real message is.
What is more significant is it shows how limited the opportunistic Najib has to manouvre – there is no way he can recover given the limited room that he has. All he can do is drag on his inevitable fall which will damage his party and the country or more important delay the inevitable change that this country must confront, a change that will get more cathartic the longer its delay.
Everyday Najib stays in power, when change has to come, it will get harder. Its possibly, it already will be terrible, horrible for some one..
Interference by Uncle Sam or by China… either way small countries like ours will get crushed… while they sort out their geo-political and internal interests
“just imagine if the Malaysian Envoy to China were to turn up in Xinjiang or Tibet and remind the host country of the need to maintain cordial ethnic relations…”
I would have no problem with this ? Would you ?
Of course there would be reprisals but that’s would be a ballsy stand.
It is to our deep shame, that our domestic problems spilt to the streets and now the police comes a-knocking. We are just a dysfunctional family.
Btw has anyone else read the comment pieces by P. Ramasamy’s and Dennis Ignatius on Malaysiakini ?
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/313697
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/313686
Ignatius’s piece has drawn flak from the usual apparatchiks but I think the piece is generally well argued except that it lacks moral clarity. Dennis does a good job of contextualizing the issue, the historical background, the cravenness and incompetence of UMNO, the idea of foreign interference on domestic policy in the form of donations from alleged Jew hating Saudis but like I said, his piece lacks moral clarity.
Dennis acknowledges that this isn’t really about race, that the Chinese are being used as scapegoats but any kind of solidarity by foreign power(s) should be eschewed. Maybe morality and diplomacy are mutually exclusive so I can’t fault Dennis on this but…..
I do think that the piece would have had a clear moral stand, if it overtly stated that foreign interference is wrong but what can you expect when the Regime uses race as a weapon against its own citizens and the citizenry becomes divided.
Ramasamy’s piece on the other hand is a complete mess. He seems almost gleeful that because of this horrid UMNO situation foreign powers may interfere and his implications is this is a good thing.
He totally ignores the real politick of foreign intervention or influence and uses this incident to take a few easy hits at UMNO. If Ignatius piece in my opinion lacked moral clarity then Ramasamy’s piece was well, amoral.
/// aliefalfa September 27, 2015 at 9:30 pm
@Wayne September 27, 2015 at 10:48 am,
“Perhaps you would like to answer my question, namely, what should our Ambassador to Singapore say if any politician there were to threaten violence against Singaporean Malays in Geylang Serai?”——-@Wayne.
That’s perhaps IS a foolish question. Firstly, it is hypothetical and the likelihood of its happening is highly debateable. ///
alie, maybe you would like to answer a non-hypothetical question. Malaysia has been accusing Singapore of marginalizing its Malays over the past decades. In particular, Mahathir during his reign likes to invoke the bogey of Malays in Malaysia becoming like the Malays of Singapore (as if this is a bad thing), to scare the Malays to vote for UMNO. Even after he stepped down, he still resort to interfering in the domestic affairs of Singapore.
@aliefalfa
I am Malaysian enough to know that it is wrong for China to claim so much of South China Sea. I would support the Red-Shirts if they are ‘jantan’ enough to rally against China’s claim in South China Sea. I would praise the Red-Shirts also if they could realize it is wrong for Petronas to work with CNOOC in their oil exploitation in Sudan. (I do mean it.. no sarcasm in the above the two statements).
Yet, I am also Chinese enough to know that I have been discriminated against in Malaysia, because of my race. For this reason, I appreciated Dr Huang’s kind gesture. I am proud that as a Chinese ambassador, he could stand tall representing the most populous nation in the world, reminding what the Red-Shirt did is wrong.
I am not proud that my grandparents, as Chinese landed in Tanah Melayu had to ‘cari makan’ as pendatang. In many respect, I did honestly appreciate the fact I grew up in a much more comfortable environment in Malaysia, as compared to a reality if my parents had to raise me in China. It is because of this appreciation which had led my personal conviction to surrender to a Tuhan. Yet, that feeling of appreciation should not obligate me to having to agree to the fact that Article 153 itself is a racist policy. Most of all, as a Malaysian, I know it is a duty for me to call out May 13 as what it is, i.e. a pogrom. The Red-Shirts had been calling forth such sentiment again.
Malays today inherited a very complicated world. For that, I pray my Tuhan would grant this generation of Malay the wisdom in sorting out the complexities. It is a very complicated matter. For now, as a pendatang (though I really should not be calling myself that, as it would not lessen my responsibility for the nation), I could only do what is right, as taught by what our nation’s education has offered me.
Dr Huang did the right thing in calling out the racism in Red-shirt’s rhetoric. As Malaysians, if we could not overcome that, the proverbial saying that Melayu might ‘hilang’ would indeed come true. I really don’t want that to happen.
@aliefafa yes, we must resist China’s interference into domestic policy, just as it is wrong for Najib to receive donation from a Saudi. Yet, with that, I hope you would agree that Red-Shirts represented a racist sentiment which would lead to the downfall of the Malay race.
In the 70s many Third World Leaders were earned the following: Personalizes National Affairs and Nationalize Personal Affairs.
” “Secondly, Singaporean citizens of Malay descents consider themselves as Malay Singaporeans as opposed to Singaporean Malays as you misleadingly put it.”
I’m curious. What exactly is the difference here ? ”
It depends if you are from the West or the East. In the English language, for a two-word noun, the latter word is more important. For example if you say Palm Oil, you are talking about the oil and if you say Oil Palm you are talking about the palm(trees). As for western names, their surname comes latter. In Forex, if you quote ” EUR/USD” the value that appears is understood to be in US dollars. So, for the negros in America, they called themselves African American. That is very patriotic of them because the put the word “American” later.
As for Chinese the world over, we put our surname first because the we think our surname is more important. We called ourselves Malaysian Chinese because we think we are Malaysian first and that is more patriotic, we think. If the Malaysian government wants to call us Chinese “Chinese Malaysian”, I have no problem with that either. Although I hope we are called just as only “Malaysian”.
As for the Malays south of the border, I don’t know, you have to ask them.
For some, the terms ‘Malaysian Chinese’ & ‘Chinese Malaysians’ are the same and having no differences in meanings and for others they are mere semantics of dubious grammatical significance while others (those of Chinese descents especially) place more importance to the first word like their surnames being mentioned first. We should remember that we wrote our postings here not in Mandarin or other Chinese dialects but in English that has its own grammar. In each of the two-word nouns like the examples above, the former in each serves as a qualifying adjective to each of the latter proper noun. The nuances in meanings are significant. ‘Malaysian Chinese’ are PENDATANG while ‘Chinese Malaysians’ are citizens of Malaysia. I do hope that we will still have lots and lots of Chinese Malaysians in Malaysia even after the PRC ambassador’s visit to Petaling Street and very few Malaysian Chinese who are loyal to the PRC. Please refer to this posting below (in this thread) to get a clearer picture:
@HT Low September 27, 2015 at 4:34 am.
Thank you.
Oooops……. M.C.A. is in BIG trouble.
aliefalfa,
For a well learned person like you, with a very good command of English, you can distinguish good grammar from bad. What about others that are not so well versed in English as you, might think that if we call ourselves Chinese Malaysian, we are Chinese first Malaysian second. There goes the Chinese bashing again. I already made it very clear, it doesn’t matter which defination to use as long as it is patriotic. I even suggested only “Malaysian” would do. I do not understand why you would classify one as “pendatang” the other as “citizen”.
Yes this posting is in English but it must also be in a Malaysian context. Let’s translate two English words to Bahasa(Not Mandarin as you insinuate), see if you can catch my drift.
Science
Nitric Acid = Asid Nitrik
Geography
White Clouds = Awan Putih
History
American Revolution = Revolusi Amerika
Law
Malaysian Citizen = Warganegara Malaysia
Please fill this up for me
Chinese Malaysian = ??
Now you know what I mean by Malaysian Context?
The Chinese ambassador’s verbal “intervention” is noteworthy not so much because of the words he used, but because of the country and government he represents. China has long championed the principle of non-intervention in domestic affairs. China does not accept foreign criticism of its rule of Tibet and Xinjiang or that China is a one-party dictatorship, and so it tends not to keep quiet about what happens within the borders of other foreign countries. It is if anything consistent about this.
To all those who applaud the Chinese ambassador for doing the “right” thing, the fact is that China is not known for doing the “right” thing in international relations. It blocked UN resolutions against Sudan on Darfur and it vetoed (with Russia) resolutions against the Assad regime in Syria. The point is that the intervention at Petaling Street against “racism or extremism” is extraordinarily out of character for Beijing. Beijing simply does not act overseas out of a concern for human rights.
On another note, rather than discuss the hypothetical Singaporean Malays in Geylang, it is worth noting that the Malaysian government has largely kept silent publicly over the Malay Patani insurgency in southern Thailand. The fact that no one on this forum has yet cited the Patani situation as an example of non-interference speaks volumes. As for the Palestinians, the entire world (including the US) recognises that Israel is in occupation of the West Bank, and so Israel’s conduct there is not strictly-speaking a “domestic” issue.
I understand why a Malaysian of Chinese descent might approve the PRC ambassador’s intervention. And in the end, the greatest blame must lie with the Malaysian government in allowing things to deteriorate to such an extent that many of its citizens would welcome the intervention of a foreign power. But if Beijing now has an interest in how the Chinese minority in Malaysia, then it will complicate Malaysian politics immeasurably. I believe it will exacerbate the racial divide.
Correction – First para “…and so it tends to keep quiet about what happens within the borders of other foreign countries.”
Katasayang,you said that you feel discriminated but I think a lot of people in this world including a lot of Malays will love to be in the Malaysian Chinese shoes that they cry about discrimination,they earn double that of other races.They own 80% of the commercial buildings and businesses in Malaysian cities. 96% of them can go and be educated in their mother tongue and become the most educated in the country.If you think that just being a Malay your life is all set-up you must be living in another country from me. If you are some big short in UMNO or a Royalty then Article 153 can be very useful but that represent less than 1% of the Malays.If you are a Chinese and very close with the above group you will be fabulously wealthy too just like your brother the Taiko of George Kent which was just awarded a rm 11 billion LRT project together with MRCB despite not completing in time the earlier LRT project worth 1 billion.I have met a Chinese owned professional firm which won more government projects than most Bumiputra firms and Chinese developers who are given big chunks of land by UMNO/Government controlled bodies.
Those were a small part of enormous benefits which that the Chinese businesses gained despite the Article 153.There are many Malay firms that spend a decade without getting a single benefit/project from Article 153.Though I have to agree that its much easier for Bumiputras to gain employment in Government services/GLCs; ,these employments form only 15% of the total employment.I n the 85% of the jobs in private sector,the Malays do have difficulty to get professional/managerial posts even if they have the same qualifications as the Chinese .When they do get the jobs,they are paid 30% less in gross remuneration than their Chinese counterparts.This study on employability of the various races was done jointly by Malay and Chinese academics.
The people who suffer the most in this country are the middle class and below regardless of the race.These are the people who need this Special Rights not you or me.
_______________
I agree with what you said. However, I think we should stop this entitlement mentality. In stead we should begin by creating a merit based society where there is abundant opportunities for all to be the best that they can be. Our government has failed us.The Malays in particular have been taken for a ride by UMNO leaders of recent vintage since the Dilemma man called Mahathir. Melayu di perbodohkan.
Of what use is Article 153 in our constitution? It should be removed. It is not good for the Malays and for Malaysia. It has been used by UMNO leadership and their cronies to help themselves in the name of Hidup Melayu. Today, we have a character called Jamal who is championing to the cause to keep Najib in power so that he can be given a share of the loot. That is unadulterated crap called kleptocracy(Ketuanan Melayu) which is corrupt and decadent.–Din Merican
@LYW September 28, 2015 at 7:41 pm,
You seem to have a lot to catch up on. The MCA has been facing lots of problems for some time now. The votes from the Chinese Malaysians have migrated to the DAP, perhaps PERMANENTLY . The MCA has to depend more on mixed constituencies where Malay voters are in the majority. But that has got nothing to do with the PRC ambassador. When “China’s Ambassador Tells Malaysia to Stop the Racism” as the title of this article says, I think, he doesn’t mean that the MCA should be disbanded just because it is based only on one race. I hope you don’t get yourself mixed up again.
@aliefalfa
We are all familiar with the ‘ask what you can do for your country’ speech (JFK Inaugural Address). A Malaysian would fight for his/her nation, and attempt to work on the things that plague the nation. This Malaysian, Chinese or not, believes that our nation has been plagued by racism, an idea abused by various political princelings, at the expense of the greater good for the nation.
Perhaps, if you agree with me on the above, you would see the goodness in the Chinese ambassador’s words. In many ways, I wish our Malaysian Ambassador in Myanmar could be more vocal for the Rohingyas, and the Palestine Muslims. If you agree to the last statement, I hope you could consider the words from the Chinese Ambassador in that light.
/// LYW September 28, 2015 at 4:26 pm
In the English language, for a two-word noun, the latter word is more important. For example if you say Palm Oil, you are talking about the oil and if you say Oil Palm you are talking about the palm(trees).
We called ourselves Malaysian Chinese because we think we are Malaysian first and that is more patriotic, we think. If the Malaysian government wants to call us Chinese “Chinese Malaysian” ///
LYW, I think you just contradicted and confused yourself.
You started off correctly by explaining the two-word noun – the emphasis is on the noun. If you think you are Malaysian first, then you should emphasize the noun Malaysian – i.e. Malaysian. So, you should call yourself Chinese Malaysian. If you call yourself Malaysian Chinese, then, according to your two-word noun definition, you are seeing yourself as a Chinese; the word Malaysian being merely the adjective.
In any case, all these fine distinctions can be thrown into the rubbish bin, since Najib doesn’t believe in his own slogans of 1Malaysia. He’s more concerned with milking as much out of 1MDB – 1 Money Donation Blackbox.
The,
Thanks for your input. No, I am not contradicting and confusing myself. Far from it. I am the one (only one) that explained the differences when no one did, remember?
What is the official stand on these two terms by the way, Chinese Malaysian or Malaysian Chinese? If you ask MCA (BN Government) they would say……… no need to elaborate here if you know what M.C.A. stands for. What ever the official stand of the Government is, I am okay with that. I hope I am clear on this. The problem here is education. You know the standard of English in our country. Also, we are not a native English speaking country. I was only trying to justify why some Chinese use different terms. Maybe they do not know the difference? Or are they taking into account the Malaysian Context? See my comments above regarding “translations”. If you translate two English words into Bahasa, they are reversed.
Maybe you should ask MCA (any MCA members here?) why they did not use CMA instead.
Alie, thank you for clarifying that I’m a Chinese Malaysian. I now see why there are African Americans, Italian Americans and so on. It makes sense. It means I’m a Malaysian of Chinese origin.
But, to follow your logic, it also means that you could be a Malaysian Chinese, could you not? You could theoretically be a Chinese passport holder of Malaysian origin, if you wanted to make it so.
I doubt you’d be called a Pendatang though.
@LYW September 29, 2015 at 3:24 pm,
OK, LYW – We are writing English here, not any Chinese dialects or Bahasa Malaysia or any other languages for that matter. The MCA stands for the Malaysian Chinese Association. So, in this case, we are dealing with a noun having 3 words with the 2 preceding words serving as adjectives and the last word is the noun which describes an ASSOCIATION which is registered in Malaysia and having Chinese members. It would apply in a similar manner for the MIC which describes the CONGRESS. Let’s not complicate matters with red herrings.
@ai tze September 29, 2015 at 8:21 pm,
Sure, ai tze, a Malaysian Chinese holding a Chinese passport wandering about in Malaysia is referred to as a tourist or may be a worker having a work permit to be employed in Malaysia. His/her visa would need to be renewed or extended when it is near to its expiry date. Otherwise he/she would become a PENDATANG – akin to an illegal immigrant. However a Malaysian of Chinese descent having a formal Malaysian citizenship but lacking loyalty to Malaysia by showing allegiance to the PRC in attitudes & stances for example with regards to the support for the PRC ambassador’s interference at the Petaling Street, could appropriately be referred to as PENDATANG too not unlike the Malaysian Chinese without a visa or having an expired visa. He/she is a Malaysian citizen formally only on paper but not at heart.
///Abdul Jalil September 28, 2015 at 10:36 pm
Katasayang,you said that you feel discriminated but I think a lot of people in this world including a lot of Malays will love to be in the Malaysian Chinese shoes that they cry about discrimination,they earn double that of other races.They own 80% of the commercial buildings and businesses in Malaysian cities. 96% of them can go and be educated in their mother tongue and become the most educated in the country. ///
AJ, like most Malay apologists, you have to highlight the fact that the Chinese do relatively well in Malaysia. That still does not detract from the fact that there is institutionalized discrimination in Malaysia. The non-Malays are doing well DESPITE the official discrimination. Imagine how much better the nons can do if there are no discrimination. Malays cannot just love to be in the Malaysian Chinese shoes – they have to work hard for it. This is the nub of the problem – the Malays think this country belongs to them and the nons are here by their sufferance. The Malays think the world owe them a living. That they can take anything without effort.
@AJ
I hear you that a lot of Malays have still been left out of fair economic opportunities. I also hear you that some Chinese Malaysians, especially those who are connected, gets more than their fair share of wealth. Honestly, I do hear you. There are many things that I don’t like about my own race, and people, especially our own politics within MCA. I can only say that there is more that we Chinese Malaysians could do. There is no reason to lose sight of better possible outcome, especially when it comes to ways to create a better community for all.
For e.g., you have mentioned 96% of [today’s Chinese Malaysians] can go and be educated in their mother tongue [ in Primary schools ]. I am grateful for that, as I am one of those who benifitted from it, as it subsequently landed myself an opportunity to work in Shanghai 3 decades later.
At the same time, we need to remind ourselves about 95% of the Malaysian Chinese switch to Malay-medium schools for their secondary education. [http://news.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20080130-47357.html]
As it stands, our education system has taught us too little. It also caused too much frustration for the Chinese community. As per above quoted article, 25 per cent of Chinese students quit studying before they are 18. Personally, I too lack the interest to study hard for my STPM, when realizing so few of my classmates would not end up anywhere, and so many of my SPM classmates would leave the country to further their education. Worst, is when I get to read about a May 13 that has changed the nation for good in college.
Collectively, we do have a problem. It could only be resolved when we try to find a resolution for it?
You know what I want to add. China’s ambassador should tell their State Owned Enterprise to stop F-Ing using racist policies when employing people. Bank Of China, ICBC, etc. Look at jobstreet.com. Whenever you see the name of these companies they requirement is always “must know how to speak Chinese”. First of all, Chinese is not even language. Are they retarded or something that they don’t know the difference between a race and a language. Secondly, these China Chinese people, wouldn’t even have the guts to publish 10/10 job advertisement such as we have here in Malaysia. Try and do that in Australia and America, and for sure these companies would made headlines at their major newspapers tomorrow. So please, Mr Ambassador from China. Malays are stupid and racist. I admit. I don’t even support the Malays special rights to be honest. However, the Chinese (Especially from China), are racist as well and clannish. Mr Ambassador you better warn this racist p## SOE to stop making racist policies to their recruitment practices. Don’t wait until the Malays and Indians speaks out and attack you on social media and newspapers.