Showing posts with label May 13. Show all posts
Showing posts with label May 13. Show all posts

Monday, July 7, 2014

After Muhyiddin’s May 13 caution, Penang DCM says ‘Bring it’

BY BOO SU-LYNJuly 7, 2014

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 — Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy has challenged Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to “bring May 13”  after the deputy prime minister reportedly warned that a repeat of the 1969 race riots could not be ruled out. 

Saying that Malaysians in general did not wish to see a recurrence of the deadly inter-ethnic clashes, the Penang lawmaker criticised “irresponsible” leaders for fomenting the religious and racial tension currently stewing in the country.
“MIC might be scared, Gerakan might be scared, MCA might be scared, but I tell you, if you want to bring May 13, you bring it,” Ramasamy told a press conference here yesterday.
“Don’t talk. All the time talking May 13, May 13. Bring-lah May 13. You start May 13. This will be the first time the government starts May 13. You think what? You think we’re scared ah?” he added.
Muhyiddin, who is also Umno deputy president, reportedly said on Friday that a repeat of the May 13 race riots could occur if the country’s ethnic communities continue to criticise one another.
Malay-language daily Utusan Malaysia reported Muhyiddin as saying in Johor that ethnic tensions that were allowed to simmer would lead to unrest when the various communities start to eye each other with suspicion.
“Because of that, there exists all kinds of assumptions when ethnic ties become strained and unhealthy. This can cause that event and I do not want to mention the particular date,” he was quoted as saying.
Muhyiddin did not mention the date specifically but Utusan Malaysia inserted May 13, 1969 to his quote in parentheses.
The Umno deputy president also said he has been receiving text messages from those expressing concern about the welfare of the Malays, the country’s dominant racial group, and Islam.
Muslims and Christians have been pitted against one another due to the government’s decision to prohibit the Catholic Church from using “Allah”, the Arabic word for God, in its weekly newsletter.
Malay concerns over the Bumiputera special privileges have also bubbled to the surface in recent months after Putrajaya’s National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) proposed three draft bills to replace the Sedition Act.
Among others, the laws and the members of the NUCC responsible for drafting them have been accused of being anti-Malay.
Hundreds of Malaysians are believed to have died during the May 13, 1969 clashes between the Malays and the Chinese. Although ostensibly triggered by the results of Election 1969, it was rooted in ethnic tensions between the two communities.
Source: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/after-muhyiddins-may-13-caution-penang-dcm-says-bring-it

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Explain your role in May 13, Kit Siang to Dr M


K Pragalath

 | April 30, 2013
Picking on Thamrin Ghaffar's allegation, the DAP stalwart tells the former premier to clear the air.

KUALA LUMPUR:  DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang today alluded that former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad is one of those behind the May 13 racial riots.
“Yesterday during two ceramah in Johor, former deputy prime minister Ghafar Baba’s son Thamrin revealed that the May 13 was due to a mini-coup by a group of men in Umno to topple Tunku [Abdul Rahman]. Former foreign minister Ghazali Shafie in the 1980s said that Mahathir was involved.
“This shows that I am not involved in the May 13 incident. I was not even in KL from May 11 to 13, 1969. I was in Sabah,” he said during a press conference at the DAP headquarters.
Lim also urged Mahathir to clear the air on Thamrin’s revelation.
On the same note, the DAP leader took a swipe at Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak for reminding the people of this lie – Lim’s involvement.
“They even have a candidate who keeps saying this lie in and out of Parliament – Zulkifli Noordin. Najib is saying 1Malaysia but he is dividing the people,” he said.
Lim is also disappointed that BN is playing the race and religion cards against him.
“There are rumours that I am anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Malay monarchs. These are all lies. This shows Najib’s insincerity in signing the Transparency International – Malaysia’s integrity pledge,” he said.
Najib had signed an election integrity pledge with the NGO two months ago and the move was aimed at showing the ruling coalition’s seriousness in fair game in GE13.
Lim also urged his BN opponent and Johor menteri besar Abdul Ghani Othman to ensure a level playing field while campaigning in Gelang Patah.
Both Lim and Ghani would be facing off each other on May 5 for the Gelang Patah seat.
“Let’s begin by ensuring that the Battle for Gelang Patah is clean, fair and done in a gentlemanly style. It does not matter who wins or loses,” said Lim.
He revealed that during his campaign rounds he was well received by the people in Gelang Patah. However there were BN campaigners distributing a 28-page booklet that claimed that Lim was anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Malay monarchs.
“It is despicable acts by wretched people,” he said.

Ex-Umno man defends DAP against May 13 charge


 
JOHOR Ex-Umno strongman Mohd Tamrin Abdul Ghafar has become an unexpected ally in Pakatan Rakyat’s bid to counter the claim that DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang was behind the May 13 riots in 1969.

ghazali shafie king ghazThe former Batu Berendam MP, who is also the second son of former deputy premier Abdul Ghafar Baba, has claimed that the incident was the outcome of a “mini coup” orchestrated by Umno leaders including Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“What (then home minister Muhammad) Ghazali (Shafie, left) told (PKR de facto leader) Anwar (Ibrahim) and me, when we were in Umno Youth, was that the incident was a mini coup planned by Umno men, and that Mahathir was involved,” Tamrin said during two Pakatan ceramahs in Gelang Patah last night.

“(First prime minister) Tunku (Abdul Rahman) wrote in his column 'As I See It' in The Star two years before he passed away, that the incident was a deliberate seizure of power by Umno leaders who then blamed it on DAP and the Chinese.”

Lim Kit Siang is running in Gelang Patah, against incumbent Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman, in the hope of extending Pakatan’s 2008 ‘political tsunami’ to Johor.

NONETamrin’s disclosure supports the argument of academician Kua Kia Soong that the racial clash in 1969 was the result of a coup d'état by then deputy premier Abdul Razak Hussein against the Tunku, and that Mahathir supported it.

Tamrin recalled that the Tunku had expelled Mahathir from Umno after the latter wrote an open letter calling for the Tunku's resignation after the riots.

“After the Tunku stepped down and Razak took over the premiership, he took Mahathir back into Umno and appointed him as education minister.

NONE“This shows that Razak was grateful to Mahathir (for pressuring the Tunku to step down),” he explained, adding that Kit Siang (left) was not in Kuala Lumpur during the clashes.

He said the continued reference to the incident by Umno, in order to frighten Malay voters, indicates that the BN is desperate.

With anti-establishment sentiment growing rapidly among Chinese Johoreans to Pakatan’s apparent advantage, Umno has flashed the race card to consolidate its support among the Malay electorate in Johor.

Its campaigners have been found distributing publicity material to Malay voters accusing DAP and Kit Siang of causing the May 13 riots.

To counter the charge, Pakatan has brought in several former Umno leaders including ex-law minister Zaid Ibrahim and former Selangor menteri besar Muhammad Muhammad Taib to defend DAP and Kit Siang.

‘Which is the racist party?’

Speaking at his first ceramah in Taman Skudai Indah, to a mixed crowd of 300, Tamrin contrasted the track record of DAP and MCA to prove that DAP is “not a racist party”.

NONE“Since its formation in 1966, DAP has had more than 10,000 Malay, Indian and Punjabi members. During its first party polls, Daeng Ibrahim, a Malay leader, was elected as vice-chairperson.

“Since the formation of the party up to the last general election, a total of 55 Malay candidates have contested parliamentary or state constituencies on the DAP ticket.”

However, Tamrin (left) noted, MCA has never allowed a single Malay or Indian to become its member since its formation in 1951.

“So which is the racist party?” he asked.

“I have known Kit Siang since I became a MP in 1986 ... he has never gone against the rights of Malays. He has fought for the principle of a Malaysian Malaysia. How is that different from 1Malaysia? What is the difference? The difference is that Kit Siang is not corrupted.”

dap wong tack bentong ceramah 20130312 06 lim guan engTamrin urged the Malays to thank DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng(right), who had been jailed for three years after speaking out for a Malay minor who was allegedly raped by an Umno leader.

He claimed that both former MCA president Ong Ka Ting and former deputy president Lim Ah Lek, who he had met recently, are anticipating that MCA will win a maximum of five parliamentary seats in the 13th general election.

“How to win? (MCA president Dr) Chua Soi Lek is the first general since the Ming dynasty who has not gone to war.

“Chua only won one war - the battle of Katerina Hotel, right?” he said, referring to the hotel in Batu Pahat where Chua was recorded on video, having sex with a companion.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

THE TIME IS HERE & NOW: Rally behind Pakatan whatever your race & religion


Wednesday, 10 April 2013 07:37Written by  Moaz Nair, Malaysia Chronicle

THE TIME IS HERE & NOW: Rally behind Pakatan whatever your race & religion
Parliament was dissolved on April 3, 2013 and the 13th general elections will be held any time before the end of May this year. This time, all Malaysians – Muslims and non-Muslims have all the reasons to rally behind Pakatan Rakyat to net Putrajaya.
Only by Pakatan Rakyat netting Putrajaya can racial politics long sponsored by UMNO be ditched once and for all.
The recent screening of the controversial movie “Tanda Putera“ to students in Muslim-dominated higher institutions of learning is another clear sign that UMNO still has to resort to the race card to rope in Malay-Muslim support for the party.
This is perceptibly another desperate move by UMNO to survive in politics. On the contrary, PAS being an Islamic party does not make allowances for this load of codswallop adopted by UMNO. PAS and majority Muslims in the country understand Islam more and they strictly follow the Qur’anic precepts when it comes to the issue of race and religion.
Against the teachings of Islam
Racism is understandably against the teachings of Islam. The Qur’an explicitly states that human race is the creation of God and people are created different not to look contemptuously at each other but perpetuate inclusiveness and promote a life of peace, harmony and understanding.
The Qur’an says: “Oh mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other (Not that you may despise each other)”. 49:13
“Tanda Putera”, a movie by a local producer, purportedly depicts what happened during the 1969 May13 incident in the country.  It was a racial riot cramped in a small section of the city of Kuala Lumpur that saw some people killed and properties annihilated.
But then, Malaysians have long forgotten this tragedy.
According to most students who watched the movie they were awfully disappointed.  The movie it seems is padded with fictitious scenes with the sole intent to demean the non-Muslims and also tag the Muslims as an “intolerant” group.
Towards the end students were also treacherously drilled by individuals allied to UMNO with unpleasant commentaries to debase among others BERSIH (The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections –  a coalition of non-governmental organisations which seeks to reform the current electoral system in Malaysia to ensure free, clean and fair elections) and the alternative  media or news portals falsely saying that they are sponsored by “foreign agents” to create disharmony in the country.
The purpose of showing the movie to the audience was none other than to sow the feelings of hatred among Muslims for the non-Muslims. But according to those students who were forced to watch the movie Muslims in the country cannot be easily swayed by this political exploit by UMNO.
To demean the non-Muslims
The organisers were even promoting the young to read dailies and watch television that are pro-UMNO and reproached them for reading the alternative media. This must be real insult to the intelligence of students of higher learning.
The concluding commentaries by the organisers were meant to demean the non-Muslims in the hope that Muslims will hate the Chinese, especially. This is blatant provocation all in the name of politics. They were also disparaging the opposition parties without realising that the bulk of supporters for the opposition are Malay-Muslims.
In fact, there are more Muslims in the opposition parties than in UMNO today.
The only voice of protest against the screening of the movie came from the Opposition parties – Muslims and non-Muslims. But surprisingly, MCA top leaders have not explicitly condemned this despicable act of some UMNO leaders who are trying to score some brownie points in politics for screening the movie to a select group of Malaysians.
By virtue of their silence, they do not deserve to represent the Chinese or non-Muslims in the country anymore. They just deserve to be voted out by all Malaysians.
The screening of the movie did backfire.  The organisers’ sinister objectives boomeranged when students mocked them after the show. The organiser had apparently underestimated the mind of the young university students – thinking that they were too naïve and could be easily swung by them into buying their propaganda.
The organisers were certainly not pleased when students did not fit in to their warped line of thinking.  They finally came to realise that they had insulted the intelligence of the young minds and left the scene in despair.
Going red in the face after being lampooned by some students they left the auditorium after their unaccomplished mission.
96 percent had already made up their mind
Of course there are scenes in the movie that can affect race relations in the country. But UMNO still insisted that it should be shown to select groups of university students – the Muslims, with the hope that these students would support them in the 13th general election after being swayed by the movie’s leitmotifs.
In a recent survey made on university students who are eligible to vote in the 2013 general election it was found that 96 percent had already made up their mind which party to vote. So UMNO’s falsehearted strategy here has failed to work.
And according to students, the screening of the movie “Tanda Putera”, which was forced onto them to watch, would not change their stand when it comes to which coalition to vote in the coming general election.
Only UMNO is still adamant that the May13 issue is relevant for their political survival after 56 years of independence.  Shockingly, one top Gerakan leader who represents some Chinese in the party was also reported to have been supportive of this skewed strategy promoted by UMNO.  For his stand he has now earned the wrath of the Chinese and non-Muslims voters.
For that matter, none of the other top leaders of the component parties in Barisan Nasional led by lynchpin UMNO has openly objected to the screening of the movie to students.
Rally behind Pakatan Rakyat
Since the screening of the movie “Tanda Putera” is backed by UMNO and with the tacit support from Barisan component parties, Muslims and non-Muslims in the country should now rally behind Pakatan Rakyat to trounce Barisan Nasional in the next general election.
True Muslims abhor racial politics. The non-Muslims – the minority in the country – too have the odium for racial politics. The people of Malaysia have grown to appreciate the reality that as Malaysians they have to live and let live with tolerance and understanding.
After almost six decades of independence Malaysians have naturally become wiser – except for UMNO – and they do not want a Malaysia that is still soiled with race politics and bigotry.
Disappointingly, the country has been led by a coalition for almost six decades whose members are parties that define themselves on explicitly racial lines: one for Malays, one for Chinese, and one for Indians and a few for Orang Asal.
With a much liberated Pakatan Rakyat around now the cohesion of those homophobic groups has begun to rip to shreds.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

FELDA screening of ‘Tanda Putera’ proves movie racist, Ambiga says


UPDATED @ 08:33:46 PM 23-02-2013
February 23, 2013
The film is based on events surrounding the May 13, 1969 race riots. — File pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 – Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan questioned today the motive behind the recent private screening of “Tanda Putera” to Malay FELDA settlers here, saying this meant the movie was likely racist portrayal of the bloody May 1969 riots.
On February 18, over 3,000 settlers from the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) programme were shown a surprise preview of the controversial film in what the opposition has alleged was an attempt to “brainwash” them against voting for Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in Election 2013.
“My issue with Tanda Putera is why did they want to show it only to FELDA settlers.
“Show it to all of us. Let us all judge and believe me we will judge it... why only let a select few of people watch it? That shows what the issue is about,” the former Bar Council president said at a forum on racism held at the Civil Servants Golf Club here.
“Tanda Putera” depicts second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and his deputy, Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, during the post-May 13 period.
It was produced by Pesona Pictures Sdn Bhd in collaboration with the National Film Development Corporation (FINAS), which provided the financing together with the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDEC).
Abdul Razak’s eldest son, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, is the current prime minister.
Putrajaya had decided last October to put off the public release of the film indefinitely due to its controversial depiction of the events surrounding the bloody racial riots in 1969.
PR leaders, especially those from the Chinese-based the DAP, claimed the film was intended to stoke racial hatred among the Malay majority in a bid to mitigate the growing support for the opposition.
Observers noted that the possibility for the opposition bloc to form the new federal government at Election 2013, which must be held by June, is high.
Ambiga said such tactic reflects what she described as “institutionalised” racism.
The lawyer, who also co-chairs polls watchdog group Bersih 2.0, added that the roots of racial problems in the country could be attributed to a political system that promotes segregation through the existence of race-based parties.
“It permeates everything that happens in this country,” said the Bersih leader, referring to the various racial-charged incidents that have cropped up throughout the years.
She cited as example the alleged racism instilled through the education system in the form of the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) programmes where instructors had been reported to have told participants that the non-Malays are unwelcome immigrants.
Ambiga added that among the major factors behind the problem is the existence of political interference in the education system – where politicians, instead of educationists, are in charge of the learning institutions.
“What they are doing to our children is a crime,” she said, adding that her schooling children have also experienced the very same system that she claims has caused communal strife in Malaysia.
The former Bar Council president said combating these problems should be one of the chief issues political parties must address in Election 2013 but pointed out that the leadership have remained silent on the matter.
She claimed politicians refrain from tackling racism out of the fear that it would alienate support from their respective races.
Ambiga said the best way to deal with them is to “vote racists and sexists out” in the coming polls, which must be held by June.
“I want a statesman, not a politician,” she said.
Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/felda-screening-of-tanda-putera-proves-movie-racist-ambiga-says/

Friday, February 22, 2013

Najib’s litany of woes



Athi Shankar
 | February 22, 2013
A DAP leader claims that Najib's actions do more harm than good for the people.
GEORGE TOWN: A Selangor DAP leader claims that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s mistakes have reached an alarming level.
Former senator S Ramakrishnan said the latest was the closed door screening of Tanda Puteri to Felda settlers.
“By raising the spectra of May 13, all rational thinking had surely departed the BN political mind set.
“It’s not just reckless. It’s begging a spark to ignite a powder keg created by the BN,” said the head of Selangor DAP bureau for Ex-Plantation Workers and Urban Poor.
Tanda Putera reportedly contained a scene of a group of Chinese youths urinating on the flagpole bearing the Selangor flag of the then menteri besar’s residence and thus provoking the May 13 racial riots in 1969.
He questioned Najib’s reasoning for ordering its screening to 3,000 felda settlers without considering the consequences and the possible repercussions.
He said the BN government did not care on whether its action can harm the people and economy, or take the country backwards.
“The movie was screened to poison minds of targeted rural groups.
On Tamil movie Vishwaroopam, he said the home ministry had finally lifted the ban due to public pressure but not after “slaughtering the movie beyond recognition.”
The movie was banned on Jan 25 following complaints lodged by the Indian Muslim Congress (Kimma) and the Federation of Indian Muslim Associations (Permim).
Initially, Ramakrishnan said the Film Censorship Board made 12 cuts on the film.
But, he said dissatisfied Kimma and Permim lodged further complaints, resulting in the ministry setting up a special panel comprising the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and Censorship Board officers to review the film, focusing on religious and security aspects.
“The Home ministry made another 12 cuts and announced the lift on ban,” he said.
He pointed out that even in Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Vishwaroopam had resumed theatrical screening following a two-week ban after only seven cuts.
“But in Malaysia, the censor scissors were lavish, making 24 cuts. I understand that the film distributor Lotus Films don’t want to screen the movie now.” he said.
Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/02/22/najibs-litany-of-woes/

Friday, November 30, 2012

林冠英:国英报不提莎姐恐嚇论,“质疑希山干预媒体”


(檳城29日讯)檳州首席部长林冠英质疑,多份国文报及西报对於巫统妇女组主席拿督斯里莎丽扎在代表大会上发表恐嚇言论绝口不提,极可能是受到內政部长拿督斯里希山慕丁的指示,以避免巫统在非马来族群的形象受损。
“请希山慕丁回答我的疑问,为何莎丽扎谈及513的言论没有在马来报及西报中出现?是不是有人干预新闻自由,企图粉饰太平?"
林冠英今日出席檳州发展机构举办的屠妖节庆典后,接受记者访问时,这么说。
他认为,如果確实如此,只能证明巫统为了保住江山,已经不择手段,不惜撒谎、恐嚇,甚至是陷害马来西亚人民来贏得政权。
指莎丽扎低估选民智慧
他也批评,莎丽扎的此番言论是既危险又下流,而且不明智,更是低估选民的智慧,完全凸显出巫统的霸权思维。
莎丽扎昨天在大会上指出:“一旦巫统在大选中被选民拒绝时,占人口多数的马来人绝对不乐见此事,除可能引发政治动荡,甚至导致513事件重演"。
另一方面,林冠英也恭贺檳第二副首长拉玛沙米號召国內多个非政府组织,使用抗议的力量成功抵挡斯里兰卡总统马欣达拉贾帕克萨入境大马。
他说,大马政府允许背负在斯里兰卡內战期间屠杀淡米尔人罪名的马欣达拉贾帕克萨入境,对印裔族群是一种伤害。
马欣达原计划下个月来马,出席於12月4至6日在柔佛新山举行的世界伊斯兰经济论坛。不过,马欣达已决定取消行程。
来源:http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/269916?tid=1

Shahrizat's May 13 Slur: What a fear-monger she is!


It is disgraceful that a politician seemingly on the way out has to ressurect the fear factor to shore up her flagging fortunes in Umno.
As a former minister, she should have more sense to be responsible and appreciate the democratic process. Instead, she comes across as someone who is not prepared to accept the verdict of the people in a democratic election if that verdict went against Umno.
Is she planting the seeds of hatred in the minds of Umno members and instigating them to run amok and create havoc?
How does one view her statement when she said at the Wanita Umno Assembly, “If we are no longer in power, we would lose political stability. Certainly, the Malays, the majority in this country, would be unsettled” (Malaysiakini, 28 November 2012).
“I am concerned and worried that this would bring racial tensions that could lead to a repeat of the May 13, 1969 tragedy.”
Is she threatening Malaysians that there will be a recurrence of the May 13, 1969 tragedy if Umno were to lose power? Why should that be so? Is she calling on Umno members to get ready to do the unthinkable if they were forced by the electorate to vacate Putrajaya?
Is she aware of the terrible consequence of rioting following the likely routing of Umno? She doesn’t care to think for a moment of the destruction and the loss of innocent lives that can ensue in such an eventuality. Her concern seems not to be for the well-being of the country and the people but only focused on remaining in power at whatever cost.
This is utterly irresponsible!
Her unintelligent gibberish only bewilders thinking Malaysians. Consider this for a moment when she rambles, “We must address this now if we don’t want to be refugees in our own land. A split in the Malay vote would dull the political power of the Malays.”
How can citizens become refugees in their country? Refugees are people who flee their own country because they no longer feel safe for their lives. Refugees run away to another country for some valid reasons: political oppression, social upheavals, unrest, persecution, absence of rule of law, absence of protection from the government, inability to eke out a livelihood, etc.
Can anyone foresee this ever happening in this country i.e. people being forced to flee? She has to exaggerate this lie to create fear and horror in the minds of unthinking Umno members!
How would “a split in the Malay vote dull the political power of the Malays”? The Malay vote has been split for decades. That has not dulled the political power of the Malays. This goes to show that Umno doesn’t necessarily equate with the Malays, and vice versa. The political reality is much more complex than Umno would like us to believe. Besides, Malays, like any other ethnic group in the country, should instead unite around noble principles of justice, equality and compassion.
Take Kelantan for example. There was and has been a split in the Malay vote but has that dulled the political power of the Malays? Has that forced Umno members to seek refuge elsewhere outside the country?
There was a change in government in Kedah. Has that dulled the political power of the Malays? How many Umno members fled Kedah to seek safer haven elsewhere?
Take the case of Perak that was taken over by the Pakatan Rakyat. In recognising the political reality and the make-up of the polity of this country, Tan Sri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin was appointed the Menteri Besar of Perak. Obviously, Pakatan was very sensitive to the Malay sentiment and did not do anything that could be upsetting. We are not aware if Umno members were involved in any exodus from Perak!
Then there is Penang, which fell to Pakatan Rakyat in March 2008. In keeping with the tradition and original understanding – unlike Malacca – Lim Guan Eng was sworn in as Chief Minister. There was no unrest. There was no flight of refugees from Penang.
So there is no basis to claim that the Malays will become refugees or that their political power will be diminished. What has been established is the fact that change can be peaceful and that the harmony of the country will not necessarily be destroyed.
As long as we accept and respect the political process as a legitimate avenue of expression, political change will be without any untoward incident. By and large, the majority of Malaysians are peaceful, sensible and responsible. However we must be on the lookout for the few who may try and stir up trouble. We should leave them to the police to take care of.
Umno must be desperate if such lies have to be manufactured!
P Ramakrishnan
29 November 2012
Source: http://aliran.com/10862.html

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

EVIL INCARNATE: Umno-BN's blockbuster movie May 13, 1969

Written by  Iskandar Dzulkarnain, Stan Lee, Malaysia Chronicle



EVIL INCARNATE: Umno-BN's blockbuster movie May 13, 1969
The most saddening event in Malaysia’s politics today is the screening of the new May 13 movie - Tanda Putera. What is the country coming to?
Barisan Nasional, which calls itself as a caring government and the 'only alternative' in this country refuses to lift a finger to stop this madness! But it's time Malaysians told them - stop it!
For God's sake, stop damaging racial relations in this country any further. If Malaysians don't want you at the 13th general election, please accept defeat graciously and leave. You can always come back in 5 years time but Malaysians cannot afford another 5 years of such evil scheming aimed to destroy the fabric of our own society just so that the BN can stay in power.
It is really sickening to see a faltering government conjuring controversy after controversy to try and justify its right to rule, only to be caught in the act time after time for false representation. You can kid the Rakyat once or twice, maybe three times but you can’t kid them all of the time. Malaysians are not that dumb.
Too late for BN to garner a mandate?
The GE-13 should have been held a year ago. BN would have had a fighting chance to garner a solid mandate. Instead, greed to regain a two-thirds majority got the better of them and today, they are in real danger of losing their simple majority to rule.
No right thinking Malaysian would allow BN to have a two thirds majority. BN should be contented with either a two-party system or get ready to warm up the Opposition bench.
The polls delay has caused so many unpleasant incidents to emerge that many Malaysians already view the Federal Government as nothing more than a bunch of power-brokers struggling desperately to stay in power at any cost. That’s how dim the scenario looks today!
Screening such a controversial movie is simply the last straw for most Malaysians. The May13 incident is a ‘dark horror episode’ that should remain buried in the past.
Digging it up to remind Malaysians of the cruelty, madness, evil deeds and murderous intents of masses running ‘amok’ in the streets chopping everyone up in a blood bath is a perverse condition of unstable rulers who should belong in a mental institution, not governing our nation.
Copycat threats
Screening it and reminding Malaysians of these horrors, may activate unstable ‘copy-cats’ serial murderers baying for blood. It may cause them to lose control and copy the demented actions of the Umno Youth which instigated the tragedy.
It also reminds us of the mass shooting during the premiere screening of ‘the Dark Knight’ when an unstable American tried to copy ‘the Joker’ and gunned down 12 people in cold blood, injuring scores of other victims.
What does the government hope to gain from screening such a film as Tanda Putera? With its depiction of hideous atrocities and racial slurs, is the May 13 movie expected to remind the audience of our illustrious history or to be taught a 'new' history where Umno's role is washed clean and it is all Lim Kit Siang's fault. Yet the DAP adviser was not even in Kuala Lumpur but in East Malaysia when the May 13 incident broke out in 1969.
The REAL HORROR of May 13
The racial riots on that fateful day led to a 'national emergency' or Darurat. Officially, 196 people were killed between May 13 and July 31, 1969, due to the machete attacks and other violent acts. Journalists and other observers have stated many times, this number is intentionally under-counted and the real tally much higher.
Other reports at the time suggest that over 2,000 were killed by rioters stirred up by Umno Youth and mainly in Kuala Lumpur. Many of the dead were quickly buried in unmarked graves in the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital grounds.
Thousands were injured and maimed for life. It was almost a full-scale war. Even the death toll from all the ‘Rambo’ movies combined hardly touched 200 casualties. And now the BN government, for its own motives, thinks that it is good idea for Malaysians to be reminded about its sordid past.
Although, many Malaysians know the real truth leading up to these events, the BN government has no qualms as to distorting the accuracy of the events depicted in the movie.
May 13 movie to make the Malays hate the Chinese: Chong Wei to appease the Chinese
Now, on its final leg leading up to the GE-13, the BN government is desperate to grasp at something that can sway the people - in this case, the Malays - against the Chinese.
All the talk about 1Malaysia sounds so hollow when the authorities have no wish to enforce or embrace the concept. Even making a national her o of badminton star Lee Chong Wei won't help because the people know Prime Minister Najib Razak is playing a devious game.
He is using May 13 to get the Malays to hate the Chinese and using Chong Wei to appease the Chinese that this is 'not so bad' after all.
Somehow, with such fictitious sincerity, unity may indeed be a lost cause unless there is a regime change. For as long as the BN remains in power, it will see racial unity and integration as a direct threat to its hold over the country.
First Anwar, now gunning after Kit Siang
Implying that the DAP and a living, breathing leader to be the cause of the May 13 riots is not only character-assassination and gutter politicking, it is downright Evil.
Ban the movie immediately for the distorted historical events and inaccuracies for these are dangerous and can be perpetuated as being the truth when it is anything but truthful.
Those who were born after May 13 and are gullible enough to believe Umno-BN would be telling their children and grandchildren 50 years from now that it was Kit Siang who started the racial riots.
But the fact remains, Kit Siang was not even in Kuala Lumpur. How could he have urinated on a flag pole bearing the Selangor flag at the residence of the then Mentri Besar Harun Idris?
After failing to convict Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, despite Sodomy I, Sodomy II and the awful Datuk T sex tap, are the Umno-BN now turning their attention to the DAP and Lim Kit Siang?

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Desperado Muhyiddin May 13 Threat Hoping to Gain Votes


Challenge to Muhyiddin on raising the May 13 spectre


I challenge the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to prove he is a responsible political leader and Malaysian nationalist when raising the spectre of May 13 wanting to prevent any recurrence and not indulging in the low- class, irresponsible, unscrupulous and contemptible double politics of fear and race to preserve UMNO/Barisan Nasional in power at all costs in the next general election.
It has been reported that at a national youth conference held in Parliament yesterday, Muhyiddin called on the young generation to be united in order to ensure the country remains stable and peaceful and to avoid a repeat of the May 13, 1969 tragedy.
Muhyiddin was quoted as declaring at the conference: “We don’t want May 13 repeated.”
On behalf of DAP and Pakatan Rakyat, let me officially respond by declaring that we in DAP and Pakatan Rakyat also do not want a repeat of the May 13 tragedy and we pledge to do all we can to prevent any such recurrence.
DAP and Pakatan Rakyat offer to co-operate and work closely with UMNO and Barisan Nasional to ensure that there will be no repeat of May 13 in the next general election, and Malaysians are entitled to ask how there could be a repeat of the May 13 tragedy if both political coalitions – Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat – sincerely pledge to work together in the national interest to prevent any such recurrence?
I confess I am concerned at the way Muhyiddin raised the spectre of May 13, which had been used in the past decades to create fear among voters as part of the scare tactics to force voters to vote for UMNO and BN, as it raises the question whether the DPM was giving an assurance that there would be no May 13 recurrence or he was subtly threatening that there could be another May 13 if UMNO loses power!

Could there be another May 13 in the next general election? My answer would be a strong NO.
Without going into the debate as to who should be held responsible for the May 13 tragedy in 1969 (and there are diametrically conflicting accounts and versions of who should be held responsible and this is why right from the beginning after the May 13 riots, DAP and I had called for an independent Royal Commission of Inquiry into its causes) the circumstances today are completely different from those prevailing 43 years ago in 1969.
The most important difference between 1969 and the 13th general election is the emergence of a multiracial multireligious naional coalition represented throughout the country to peacefully and democratically challenge UMNO/BN’s hold to power in Putrajaya -as the Pakatan Rakyat coalition of PKR, PAS and DAP is a Malaysian coalition of all races, religions and regions in Malaysia!
Only the most irrespnsible, anti-national and treacherous elements in our country can try to distort and misinterpret a PAkatan Rakyat victory in the 13GE as victory of one race against another, as to justify wild thoughts tinkering with the idea of anther May 13, when any victory for Pakatan Rakyat will be a Malaysian victory representing all races.
Is Muhyiddin sincere when he declared “We don’t want May 13 repeated”.
If so, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should break his silence and answer the question I had posed to him many times in the past three years – whether he would declare clearly and unequivocally that he would accept the verdict of the people in the 13GE, including the election of a Pakatan Rakyat government in Putrajaya to replace the Barisan Nasional and that he would personally ensure and facilitate a peaceful transition of federal power for the first time in the nation’s history, to tell the world that Malaysia has becoome a normal democracy and even en route to become, in Najib’s own words, “the best demoracy in the world”!
[Speech at the DAP Inanam Sepanggar ceramah on Friday July 20, 2012 at 9pm]