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Politicians willingly destroy society by appealing to the worst primate instincts. They are mad, but coherently sensible in their own eyes.

The two-liner message sent by a friend via Whatsapp may appear shocking but its truth cannot be denied, especially with Malaysian politicians.

Coming from a fellow writer, who is well-read in financial reports, the statement is just too profound for me to ignore.

Day in and day out, our news portals are filled with stories of politicians who utter all sorts of rubbish for the sake of being put in the limelight.

In particular, Umno is always willing to create a mountain out of a molehill. Since the Malay and other bumiputra population is over 60 percent, and the Chinese community is hardly any threat at all, yet Umno leaders see it fit to tell lies to the people during the Umno general assembly that the Malays’ rights are being threatened in states under Pakatan rule.

Penang has always been singled out, because of its outstanding performance under Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Previously, the Christians were being accused of collaborating with the DAP to Christianise Malaysia. Silly, but there are some who still believe that the DAP and Christians are out to make Malaysia a ‘Christian nation,’ when the Bible clearly speaks of this world as a passing through. Since Martin Luther’s time, the church has been taught to separate itself from the state affairs.

In the past, when Gerakan was helming the Penang state government, there was hardly any brouhaha but now, anything can be a ‘big’ issue. Malay reserve land that was given away during the BN time is now blamed on the Penang state government.

In fact, with these local opposition leaders, anything goes so long as they are in the limelight. They do not care whether they are in the news for the right reasons or for the wrong things. As long as they can be seen threatening Lim with a slipper, or desecrate the August House, they would do it.

That is what turns people ‘off’ when they talk about Umno. The on-going Umno general assembly is another poor public relations exercise, where delegates can throw all sorts of allegations, without proving themselves.

Mashitah, Mashitah

It is strange how even a former deputy minister, Mashitah Ibrahim, could accuse the Chinese of torching pages of the Quran during a prayer ritual, yet no police report was lodged against the culprits.

Apparently, Mashitah had no evidence to offer, except hearsay, and she had forgotten that it was Dr Mahathir Mohamad who had said that an old copy of the Quran should be burnt away.

Mashitah’s words are in fact seditious, provocative and, if anything, a possible threat to national security.

She is quoted by Malaysiakini as saying: “In Kuala Kedah, Kak Ta (Kuala Kedah Wanita chief Noor Hasita Mat Isa) recently told me that the Chinese community (there) burned the Quran page by page during a prayer ritual. Do you feel challenged? Sensitive? Sad? Frustrated? If you feel that way, why not voice out?

“Don't be quiet. Where is our voice in the media, in cyberspace? Don't be the silent majority. (Don’t allow) the minority to talk. The position of Islam and the rights of Muslims are being challenged. After 57 years of independence, why is this happening?”

In Mashitah’s worldview, democracy is dead - the minority is not allowed to speak up, but she can, by virtue of her position in the country’s most dominant party. Even when her words are provocative or meant to emotionally charge up her fellow members, the authorities will not go after her.

But, what she said during the Umno general assembly, the rest of the world is watching. It will weigh in on the people’s choice of the next government come the 14th general election.

Sexist Bung

One would expect a member of parliament to speak up on important issues affecting the people.

Instead, Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar Radin again courted another controversy when he hurled a sexist remark against DAP Seputeh MP, Teresa Kok in the August Gouse.

A couple of years ago, Bung had also raised the ire of the women in this country, when he used the word ‘bocor’ (leak) when responding to Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan.

It is no wonder why Bung has been the target of political satirists. He is like a loud mouthed cannon which fails to realise that the world is watching him.

Comedian, Allan Perera, for example, saw it fit to produce an entire video on him, and within a year, the YouTube video ‘Burung Moktar Tua’ hit 24,400 clicks.

Bung thinks that whatever appears in the cyberspace about him may not affect his constituency, but it has certainly affected my perception of the party Bung represents. If this is the quality of people there is to represent us in parliament, I do not see any reason why I would continue voting for Umno.

Get your acts together

Perhaps, one good advice to Umno during its general assembly this year, comes from former Bar Council president, Ambiga Sreenevasan who urged the prime minister, Najib Abdul Razak to “ set an example with regard to his decision to backtrack on his plan to dismantle the Sedition Act.”

She asked: “Will the PM now give an assurance that there will be no selective prosecution and even Umno members who so vigorously support this Act will face the full force of this Act for statements they have made at the assembly which are potentially seditious.”

The former Bersih co-chairperson also said: “Not that I support having this Act but if there is such rapture over it, let them lead by example within their own party.”


STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008.

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