Eminent Malays urge PM to show leadership
Kingfisher: A clearly thought out and rational collective ‘Malay’ voice from, even if, a select group has been quite a long time in the coming.
Malaysians who genuinely love their country would welcome this statement by the Eminent 25 and wish that this noble effort will have a multiplier effect on many who have been agnostic to the ills affecting our society.
In recent times it has become obvious to many Malaysians that the insidious characteristics of political debate and social discourse in the country have been fraught with the danger of precipitating social strife.
And that those responsible for such debasement are purely motivated by the greed to retain influence and power unmindful of the social cost.
Society at large must be rationally alert against any attempts to dilute the supremacy of the constitution whatever the persuasion of spiritual and temporal powers are current at a given time.
History is replete with tales of miseries wrought by intransigent clergies.
David Dass: What a wonderful statement. It is timely. Given the stature of the signatories, hopefully the prime minister will take note of the views expressed therein.
The diversity of Malaysia makes us a unique country. We are at the confluence of so many civilisations. Malaysians of the generations represented by the signatories are multilayered given their education and their active interaction with people of different ethnicities and cultures.
Theirs is a world view moderated by respect for diversity. Groups like Perkasa and Isma create tension and conflict.
Some politicians may think that 'extremism' is the best way to consolidate Malay support in elections. They are wrong to use 'extremism' for political again. The nation loses.
Extremism from all sides has caused us to become polarised. Fortunately, there are still areas and places where people of all faiths exist peacefully and happily.
Abasir: Dear Eminent Malays, it has been a while since PM Najib Razak and Rosmah Mansor ascended the Putrajaya throne with their baggage and all.
Now after all these years, you have seen it fit to ask him to show leadership. For your information, almost 51% of non-eminent Malaysians have been saying the same ... ever since Perkasa, Isma and other random bits of flotsam and jetsam started spewing their garbage with the full protection of your erstwhile paymasters.
Still, I guess we non-eminent fellows should be pleased that you have finally stirred from your deep post-retirement slumber and summoned enough courage to say what you have said.
But then, given your collective wisdom, you must have also realised that you cannot draw water from a rock - meaning that if the cause of your concerns was capable of leadership, he would have demonstrated it by now.
So my dear Eminent Malays, please rub the sleep from your eyes and wake up to what the rest of us who have known for years - you cannot grow a spine at will.
Swipenter: What do these eminent Malay personalities do to arrest this dangerous trend when they were in position of power and/or working for the government?
Maybe it was difficult to balance one's own thoughts and convictions with the policies of the government when working for the government of the day. Perhaps it is never too late to voice their concerns, misgivings and speak out for the sake of Bolehland's peace and prosperity.
It is better and more effective for them to form a formal or informal group to speak out against what they see is wrong and is going wrong with the government today.
They must be able to withstand accusations of being "traitors to their own race and religion" thrown at them by the ultra-right and race chauvinists, and attempts to make them and their family members outcast within their own society.
This has been their main psychological weapon against those who speak out without fear and favour. Indeed, this takes courage and tenacity.
Anon1: Bravo and thank you. It takes a lot of guts to go public against a regime which encouraged extremism, ignorance and bigotry just to continue to remain in power.
More so, when there is a big possibility that the regime will label 24 out of 25 of these noble individuals as traitors and probably let loose on them yet another NGO specifically set up for this task.
Boonpou: It's about time moderate Muslims speak out. This is indeed a beginning to an end of the way Islam has been hijacked in Malaysia in recent years, all under the watchful eyes of our weakest PM since 1957.
I sense a taint of hope after all. For once, we have the silent majority of moderate Muslims speaking up for the rakyat to rise up in unison that we are all Malaysians, and that Malaysia is not another Afghanistan.
I salute you, the 25 sensible Muslims for committing yourselves to fight for a better Malaysia.
Kilgore: What a relief to hear from the intelligent, sane, and just of the privileged class. It's about time. If this is a sign of a growing trend, there may still be a glimmer of hope for the country.
Hot Khong: Kudos to these brave ladies and gentlemen for speaking up for right-thinking Malays and Malaysians. I know one of them personally and know him to be an upstanding person with a very truly Muslim heart.
If Najib and Umno will not listen to these eminent Malays, you can be pretty sure his and Umno's agenda are sinister.
Raja Chulan: Hats off to these true patriotic Malays and Muslims. We will need many more like these to save Malaysia and to safeguard the good name of Islam.
Ksn: This shows that there are Malays, the educated, informed, knowledgeable with national interest in mind outside of Umno Baru, who are feeling very uncomfortable with the way the country is being led.
It will be most interesting how Najib is going to respond. Will he annihilate the extremists and get rid of the ministers and MPs who are undermining him?
His back track on the Sedition Act is one example of the extremists having their way with the government. Najib, your call.
Bamboo: There is hope for Malaysia that there are fair-minded and sensible Malays in our midst. This open letter needs to be translated into Bahasa Malaysia and disseminate to the whole country, especially to the rural folks.
This is to call the bluff of the Umno-led BN government, enacting legislation to regulate Muslims' lives, creating a wedge between races, trampling on citizens' rights, holding onto power by cheating at elections while the stealing of public money continues.
Real Truth: Yes, it’s time for Malaysian moderates to speak up. We welcome this statement from eminent personalities who love this country. Let us hope we Malaysians will feel peace in our hearts and listen to the words of moderates among us.
Clearwater: This is indeed heartening. But who will listen? Will others like-minded carry the torch or has the rot gone on too long, too deep to be excised?
Najib hears the Eminent 25 but will he listen?
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