'Here's the ugly truth about the social stratification of Malaysian citizenship along race and religion under Umno-BN: even amongst 'bumiputeras' there is a racially-defined hierarchy.'

Gertak goes 'smaller and more intimate'

Don't Play God: Why are the Malays still weak after decades of affirmative action? The answer is simple: Umno wants to keep them weak and fearful of other races (Umno has warned them that they cannot compete with other races due to their lack of abilities and resourcefulness), and a general lack of high quality education.

Only in this way can Umno make the Malays dependent on, and look to Umno as their saviour.

Moreover, Umno has told the Malays that the blame for their weakness and backwardness falls squarely on the Chinese. The Chinese are the reason why the Malays have not caught up, despite all the spoonfeeding, supply of ‘crutches', monetary aid, etc.

As for Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, he is trying to be like all those ‘mamaks', where by being racist for Malays and condemning the Chinese, he can be accepted as a bumiputera.

Tan Kian Khim: Here's the ugly truth about the social stratification of Malaysian citizenship along race-religion lines under the Umno-BN federal government: even amongst 'bumiputeras' there is a racially-defined class hierarchy.

Nowhere is this more visible than in the civil service in Sabah and Sarawak. The 'first class' citizen is the Malay-Muslim bumi from Semenanjung; the second-class citizen is the Malay-Muslim from Sabah; the third-class is the local-born Muslim ‘bumi' (including both real and imported 'bumis'); the fourth-class are non-Muslim ‘bumis'; the fifth-class are non-Muslim Chinese and Indians.

There are slightly fewer class divisions in the Peninsula.

Gertak seeks to entrench these class divisions with its race-religious rhetoric. By selling himself to the racist socio-political platform of Umno and the Malay rednecks of Gertak, Ridhuan Tee should realise that he can only ever be at best a third-class citizen - viewed with

contempt from all sides, including the one he thinks is his own.

Gordon Gecko: Ridhuan Tee Abdullah would have remained a small-time lecturer, driving a Proton bought with government loan, lamenting about the lack of higher education opportunities for his kids and his promotion prospects - if he were to remain only ‘Encik Tee.

But add an ‘Abdullah' behind his name and presto, his life changes and doors are opening up for him, including an invitation to ‘gertak' his own kind.

Ferd Tan: Razali Idris, I guarantee you full attendance for your rally if you call in Siti Nurhaliza. Better still, make sure her performance is at the end of the forum - otherwise themoment her performance ends, the crowd will disappear with her.

However, for most Pakatan Rakyat ceramah (public talks), the crowd comes willingly, unpaid and without any inducement of material gains. Not only that, we gladly pay to attend such ceramah by giving small 'donation' to the party. Can you see the difference?

Swipenter: Is Gertak admitting that they themselves don't understand the Malays or are they denying that, in spite of all the advantages that the Malays have, they externalise their failings onto others?

As for Ridhuan, he probably doesn't understand how the Chinese think. I don't understand why it is so difficult for others to understand the Chinese. The Chinese work hard and play hard. They don't take things for granted and if they enjoy good fortune, success and blessings they give thanks to God.

If they fail, they blame themselves and try again. Life is never a bed of roses to the Chinese, and if you want something you work for it but success is not a guaranteed thing.

Yeoh Chee Weng: Hold your horses, and stop firing your guns at Ridhuan Tee. I may not like him, but he has every right to say his piece. I hope that Razali is sincere when he said that they want to understand why the Malays are still weak.

I suggest that he read ‘Towards a Competitive Malaysia, Development Challenges in the 21st Century' by Dr M Bakri Musa. Having digested the information properly he may not need Ridhuan Tee or see the need to organise the forum anymore.

Anonymous: Razali, buat apa buang masa dengan Gertak? Alangkah lebih baik anda tunjuk simpati dengan orang Melayu Islam yang mati dikejar oleh polis-polis ugama? Saya bersimpati dengan Allahyarham, sungguhpun dia orang Melayu, sungguhpun dia berugama Islam.

Buat apa orang Melayu seperti kamu nak heboh-hebohkan 'Melayu Bangkit' sedangkan kawan-kawan Muslimin and Musliman dianiayai polis-polis ugama Islam ini? Bukankah lebih baik kita sama-sama dianggap insan yang dicipta Allah, dan bukan sebagai 'Melayu' atau 'bukan Melayu' yang sengaja dimain-mainkan oleh Umno dan Perkasa.

Cukuplah, insaflah.

Minister: No further action on Nasir Safar

Tan Kian Khim: Minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz is an intellectual midget. So, it is acceptable to make racial slurs if it's aimed at 'pendatangs' and not at Malaysian citizens? A racial slur is a racial slur! It does not matter whether it is uttered in public or behind closed doors, whether it is aimed at so-called 'pendatangs' or at Malaysian citizens.

And what is this nonsense about 'insufficient evidence'? Nasir Safar's statements are on record - video, audio and written. It seems the only evidence that is in abundance in Malaysia is that Umno-BN itself endorses these bigoted statements (which are merely a verbal articulation of their racist ideology after all) and is prepared to go to any lengths necessary to protect their own when caught out making these statements.

Nasir Safar - a close aide of Najib Razak - in particular must be protected from any form of judicial prosecution that might further expose his involvement in the abduction and subsequent murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Kgen: What is the sedition law for if such cases of clear-cut racial insults are not charged? Or is there one law for Umno and another law for the opposition? Karpal Singh only said the Perak sultan can be sued in court (which is factually correct), and for that he was charged.

Keturunan Malaysia: Pakatan, they even used ISA in order to protect the safety of an opposition MP. Let's pray one fine day, we can return such same favour to all these Umno people. After all, we Malaysians are a very modest and grateful lot and do not like being indebted too long like this.

Hibiscus: If we are serious about democracy, we should never goad the home minister into applying draconian laws like the ISA on anyone, even on intimidating racists like those in Perkasa and Gertak. All racists for that matter should instead be rebuked continuously by the rakyat and the media.

If they stand in elections, let them be put to shame by losing their deposits. I believe Malaysians today are matured enough to allow racists to speak their minds so long as they do not incite people to take up arms.

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