From P Uthayakumar,
Umno’s insistence on retaining Interlok after all the public outcry and allowing only 19 out of 106 proposed amendments is akin to proposing the editing of Satanic Verses and lifting its ban in Malaysia.
What is the motive for still being adamant on retaining this book if not for Umno’s racist and supremacist agenda in continuing to subjudicate especially the Indian poor?
It is in direct contravention of Articles 8 and 12 of the Federal Constitution which guarantees equality before the law and that there shall be no discrimination against any citizen on the grounds only of religion, race, descent or place of birth.
We are unable to accept the book whose original version had the racially insulting and derogatory and degressive “paria” word, “dark skinned Indians”, “memamah sireh seperti kambing”, etc. as the racist basis and thereafter retaining the remaining parts in the book for example replacing “paria” with “golongan yang sama”.
The Umno education minister by accepting a mere 20% or 19 out of the 106 amendments proposed by the Interlok panel makes a mockery of the said independent panel. The three Indian representatives were, as usual, ultimately made use of to endorse Umno’s racism.
The lesson yet again learnt from this is that the Indian elite should in future refrain from accepting such “Indian mandore” positions.
We once again call for Interlok to be replaced by the Nov 25, 2007 Hindraf Rally novel by P Uthayakumar (see www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com).
It analyses amongst others the real racial and religious harmony and co-existence that existed even immediately after independence 54 years ago, and which has today regretfully ceased to exist, and the gross acts of Umno racism that led to Nov 25 Indian poor popular uprising.
Also in the hope that the present Form Five Malay, Muslim students in particular, as the future leaders would be able to better understand and hopefully undo the gross injustices meted out to especially the Malaysian Indian poor.
Irrespective, HRP and Hindraf will continue with our struggle beyond Interlok which is really Umno racism on a day to basis meted out against the Indian poor.
Our latest firm and uncompromising stand against Umno racism and religious supremacy is evidenced by the 53 Hindraf Makkal Sakthi human rights defenders being maliciously prosecuted within one week of this month alone.
They are the only human rights activists in the world to have ever been prosecuted for merely being a member of a human rights NGO. Over 300 were arrested on Feb 27, Hindraf rally alone (123 or 109 plus the 14 candle light vigillers officially acknowledged by police).
The writer is pro tem secretary general of the Human Rights Party
Friday, March 25, 2011
Hindraf will not let Interlok rest
The movement's chairman P Waythamoorthy also slams Muhyiddin Yassin for using high-handed tactics to silence the critics.
PETALING JAYA: Hindraf Makkal Sakthi has vowed not to close the chapter on the Interlok controversy until the government withdraws the book from schools.
In a statement, its chairman P Waythamoorthy also took Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to task for using “high-handed” tactics to silence the critics.
“Muhyiddin, with the the support of his toothless allies encourage segregation of Malaysians by retaining such sardonic literature in the school curriculum for juveniles.
“By using media tools such as Utusan Malaysia and Malay Mail to defend its act, it shows that Umno is adamant in perpetuating its ‘master and slave methodology’ between the Malay supremacists and the minorities,” he said.
Upset that the government rejected reasoning and concerns voiced by various NGOs, Waythamoorthy called on the public to rise against the blatant disregard for the feelings of the minorities.
“And we must ensure that the minorities’ future generations will prosper in tandem with the majority instead of having their sacrifice hijacked by a fascist Umno,” he said.
Yesterday, Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, announced that the government had either dropped, changed or substituted 19 parts considered offensive by the Indian community from the novel.
He explained that the changes were made following the recommendations by the independent panel set in January to review the controversial novel.
Among the words substituted was the word “tuhan” with “dewa” and also the dropping of the phrase “orang berkulit hitam” (dark-skinned people).
The remaining 87 parts recommended were not considered offensive by the government.
Unhappy with the outcome, DAP’s Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran traded verbal blows with Muhyiddin in Parliament when the latter said the novel would continue to be used in schools.
Muhyiddin defended his decision by saying that even MIC had agreed to the amendments.
PETALING JAYA: Hindraf Makkal Sakthi has vowed not to close the chapter on the Interlok controversy until the government withdraws the book from schools.In a statement, its chairman P Waythamoorthy also took Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to task for using “high-handed” tactics to silence the critics.
“Muhyiddin, with the the support of his toothless allies encourage segregation of Malaysians by retaining such sardonic literature in the school curriculum for juveniles.
“By using media tools such as Utusan Malaysia and Malay Mail to defend its act, it shows that Umno is adamant in perpetuating its ‘master and slave methodology’ between the Malay supremacists and the minorities,” he said.
Upset that the government rejected reasoning and concerns voiced by various NGOs, Waythamoorthy called on the public to rise against the blatant disregard for the feelings of the minorities.
“And we must ensure that the minorities’ future generations will prosper in tandem with the majority instead of having their sacrifice hijacked by a fascist Umno,” he said.
Yesterday, Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, announced that the government had either dropped, changed or substituted 19 parts considered offensive by the Indian community from the novel.
He explained that the changes were made following the recommendations by the independent panel set in January to review the controversial novel.
Among the words substituted was the word “tuhan” with “dewa” and also the dropping of the phrase “orang berkulit hitam” (dark-skinned people).
The remaining 87 parts recommended were not considered offensive by the government.
Unhappy with the outcome, DAP’s Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran traded verbal blows with Muhyiddin in Parliament when the latter said the novel would continue to be used in schools.
Muhyiddin defended his decision by saying that even MIC had agreed to the amendments.
HOW TO PROTEST AGAINST INTERLOK ONCE AGAIN?
By Johnson Doss,The Education Minister have broken his silence ...He said "The government today confirmed the retention of the controversial “Interlok” novel for the secondary school syllabus, choosing only to amend parts deemed insensitive to the country’s Tamil community.
At last we know , he have made his stand on the interlok issue.
Now , what are we going to do about that?
Lets be united now in this issue of INTERLOK , lets state our disagreement about this book for our children in School . Our panel have staged a walk out and still they don't want to listen to the views of 3 Indian educationist . what does that means then ...and why are the 3 was put into the panel for what purpose.
According to a friend of mine, a secondary Bahasa Teacher said , Interlok is a Bahasa Malaysia paper 2 subject of which interlok is one of the novel to be studied by the students. In SPM examination , these questions pertaining Interlok carries a mark of 20% the maximum. ( pleas correct me if i am wrong in this issue)
So, Indian students need this 20% for getting a A+ or A- or A for SPM Bahasa paper. That's a reality and a fact now.
Lets examine these carefully through this 2 examples of choices :-
1) Say that our INDIAN students refuse to take up INTERLOK and just sit in the class ... They will be asked to do work on interlok as homework , failing to they can be given 3 times warning , then suspension and thrown out of school. If this students sit for SPM exam and just leave it blank on INTERLOK question ,,then they will lose abt 20% of thier marks making them to obtain a B or C for Bahasa Malaysia.They can secure few % if they write somethings in the interlok issue as this is a written paper and it carries some marks and maybe our students will get about 5 or 6 % out of it. This students will not get all straight A's for SPM for sure . They will able to secure a place in Universities or collages too. If they opt out to work , they still can find a job in government sector for a credit in Bahasa Malaysia.
That's how I look at it at this moment of time ? Are we ready to accept this fact and continue to ask our kids not to study INTERLOK.
2) Say that our students take up INTERLOK but refuse to write the Bahasa Paper 2 on the part of interlok in the SPM examination ...just leaving it blank but doing homework at the classroom level... ignore but just write some nonsense into their homework sheets just like the Indian students doesn't understand INTERLOK ( buat blur aje), then the school can't punish them. if this students sit for SPM exam and leave it blank , They will lose abt 20% of thier marks making them to obtain a B or C for Bahasa Malaysia. This students will not get all straight A's for SPM for sure . They will able to secure a place in Universities or collages too. If they opt out to work , they still can find a job in government sector for a credit in Bahasa Malaysia. They can secure few % if they write somethings in the interlok issue as this is a written paper and it carries some marks and maybe our students will get about 5 or 6 % out of it.They can secure few % if they write somethings in the interlok issue as this is a written paper and it carries some marks and maybe our students will get about 5 or 6 % out of it.
So that's how i look at it .... Are we ready to stand firm in this matter ... shall we ask our Indian students to ignore or to follow the rules of the education ministry. I am abit upset about it now .... my fear is our INDIAN students become victims of a stupid INTERLOK.
My genuine suggestion ....
Lets united and fight against this stupid INTERLOK , we create rally and picket and sent our Indian's again to the street . Lets invite foreign TV network such as CNN, BBC, ALjazerra and others worldwide to televise our plights. Lets go again to the streets ( NON VIOLENCE and NO FIGHTING ) AND DEMONSTRATE OUR REMORSE OF INTERLOK ....
Listen dear Parents ,
HINDRAF fights an NON VIOLENCE fight .... be with us and come together for the sake of our own kids now and in future FORM 5 students . WE need to remove Interlok .... forget of other things especially which party we belong to or which group we belong to . Let us for once come as INDIANS , no matter what political parties we belong to. Be it MIC, PPP, DAP, KEADILAN, HINDRAF OR WHATEVER PARTY WE BELONG TO. LETS JOIN HANDS AND FACE THE INTERLOK ISSUE.
FOR PARENTS, COME AS IT INVOLVES YOUR KIDS FUTURE, NO MATTER YR SON OR YR DAUGHTER IS IN STANDARD ONE OR FORM 5, REMIND YOUR GOOD-SELF THAT ONE DAY YOUR OWN KIDS WILL GO THRU IT TOO ... THERE IS NO RUN AWAY CASE IN THIS MATTER.... LETS FACE IT.
I pledge and want commitment from all INDIAN'S from all background, profession, big, small, INDIAN Tan Sri, Datoks, and all layman ...come one come all ...for the sake of our poor INDIAN children ...please i beg all of you.
Start talking about Interlok and get a copy and read it yourselves and understand what a discrimination we are being held to... then only ...we would able to stand tall and demonstrate our non giving in to this stupid book called INTERLOK.
Racist and biased UMNO Court of Appeal led by C.J Tun Zaki Tun Azmi clears Malay-sian police murderers of G. Francis Udayappan at Malay-sian police station – killing fields of Indians. See gruesome photos below.
Francis Udayappan was murdered at the Brickfields police station and thrown into the Klang River behind that very same police station.
It was the clearest case ever of the Malay police murdering this soft target Indian youth.P. Uthayakumar, S. Jayathas and ten others were arrested for holding a peaceful assembly and carrying a mock coffin to the Brickfields police station in April 2005.
Francis’ body was kept at the P.J University Hospital for nearly 2 years. Francis head with injuries was destroyed and only parts of the skull and a highly decomposed flesh and bones were handed over to his mother Sara Lily and that too about 2 years later.
We had no confidence in the Inquest at the K.L magistrates Court and heard by Malay muslim coroner Mohd. Sham.
And now the 95% Malay muslim dominated Malay-sian Judiciary and in the Court of Appeal Judges Datuk Hasan Lah, Datuk Abdul Malik Ishak & Datuk Mokhtaruddin Baki after 6 years decides that the police
did not murder Francis.So who murdered Francis then? And right in the heart of the UMNO Malay muslim police station killing field of in particular Indian youths.
(see Utusan Malaysia 24/3/2011 at page 33)
Karunai Nithi @ Compassionate Justice
Interlok karya propaganda Umno
Menurut Lee Ban Chen, ia juga menonjolkan semangat Ketuanan Melayu.
KUALA LUMPUR: Kolumnis Malaysiakini dan Merdeka Review, Lee Ban Chen menyifatkan karya Sasterawan Negara Abdullah Hussain Interlok ‘berunsur politik dalam kerangka Umno’.
“Ia mempertahankan dasar ideologi Umno yang diwarisi daripada penjajah British. Ideologi ini dipupuk agar kerajaan negara ini menjadi kerajaan boneka British,” kata Lee pada forum bertajuk “Interlok: Antara Kesusasteraan, Pendidikan dan Hubungan Kaum” di sini malam tadi.
Ideologi Umno, jelasnya adalah berteraskan Ketuanan Melayu, pro-British, anti-rakyat dan anti-komunis.
Beliau turut mengecam gambaran tentera komunis yang digambarkan sebagai perogol.
“Komunis bukan perogol. Mereka cukup berdisiplin. Apakah kita lupa bahawa mereka membela negara ini?,” Lee menyoal sambil menegaskan bahawa keadilan mesti diberikan kepada tentera komunis anti-Jepun dan anti-British.
‘Karya tempang’
Profesor Dr Chong Fah Hing dari Fakulti Bahasa dan Komunikasi, Universiti Putra Malaysia pula menyifatkan Interlok sebagai ‘karya tempang’.
Dari sudut ilmiah, karya Abdullah Hussain ini juga tidak menepati definasi sastera dunia ketiga yang menitikberatkan nasionalisme.
“Abdullah Hussain hanya melihat nasionalisme Melayu dan menekan nasionalisme masyarakat lain lantas menjadikan novel ini tempang.”
Dalam analisanya terhadap kontroversi ini beliau telah menempelak pendirian Persatuan Penulis Nasional (Pena).
“Alasan Pena ialah Interlok edisi murid perlu dikekalkan untuk menjaga maruah Melayu? Apa kena-mengena Interlok dengan menjaga maruah Melayu?,” Chong menimbulkan persoalan.
Pandangan empat Sasterawan Negara yang mempertahankan Interlok atas alasan karya ini membicarakan aspek kemanusiaan turut disangkal sebagai kaedah mengaburkan permasalahan sebenar yang menekankan aspek imigran.
Beliau menambah bahawa Interlok juga merupakan karya bermasalah kerana condong kepada politik Umno-Barisan Nasional dan prejudis terhadap pergerakan nasionalisme kiri.
‘Rasisme wujud dan diinstitusikan’
Sementara itu, pensyarah undang-undang dari Universiti Malaya, Profesor Madya Azmi Sharom berhujah bahawa anugerah Sasterawan Negara tidak bermakna karya yang dihasilkan adalah bagus.
Beliau turut menjelaskan bahawa karya-karya berbaur perkauman boleh diterbitkan di Barat kerana masyarakat di sana menolak perkauman atas alasan bahawa ia adalah salah.
“Masalah kita adalah kita belum sampai ke tahap di mana masyarakat kita mengatakan rasisme adalah salah kerana ia wujud dan telah diinstitusikan.”
Beliau turut menyifatkan negara ini gagal mengambil pendekatan intelek untuk menyelesaikan permasalahan berkaitan Interlok kerana sikap hipokrasi.
Selain mereka, forum ini turut disertai Presiden Persatuan Kavyan, Uthaya Sankar SB dan Pengerusi Badan Bertindak Interlok Kebangsaan (Niat), Dato’ Thasleem Mohamed Ibrahim.
Ketika berhadapan dengan persoalan mengapa kerajaan liat untuk menarik balik Interlok, Azmi berkata, “kerajaan takut berhadapan dengan kumpulan pendesak perkauman Melayu seperti Perkasa.”
Selain daripada Ahli Parlimen Ipoh Barat M Kulasegaran, forum turut dihadiri Ahli Parlimen Bukit Mertajam, Chong Eng dan M Manogaran (Telok Intan). Ketiga-tiga mereka dari parti DAP.
Kira-kira 70 peserta menghadiri forum anjuran Pusat Pembangunan Kebudayaan (LLG), Dewan Perhimpunan Cina Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor, Niat dan pertubuhan hak asasi Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram).
KUALA LUMPUR: Kolumnis Malaysiakini dan Merdeka Review, Lee Ban Chen menyifatkan karya Sasterawan Negara Abdullah Hussain Interlok ‘berunsur politik dalam kerangka Umno’.“Ia mempertahankan dasar ideologi Umno yang diwarisi daripada penjajah British. Ideologi ini dipupuk agar kerajaan negara ini menjadi kerajaan boneka British,” kata Lee pada forum bertajuk “Interlok: Antara Kesusasteraan, Pendidikan dan Hubungan Kaum” di sini malam tadi.
Ideologi Umno, jelasnya adalah berteraskan Ketuanan Melayu, pro-British, anti-rakyat dan anti-komunis.
Beliau turut mengecam gambaran tentera komunis yang digambarkan sebagai perogol.
“Komunis bukan perogol. Mereka cukup berdisiplin. Apakah kita lupa bahawa mereka membela negara ini?,” Lee menyoal sambil menegaskan bahawa keadilan mesti diberikan kepada tentera komunis anti-Jepun dan anti-British.
‘Karya tempang’
Profesor Dr Chong Fah Hing dari Fakulti Bahasa dan Komunikasi, Universiti Putra Malaysia pula menyifatkan Interlok sebagai ‘karya tempang’.
Dari sudut ilmiah, karya Abdullah Hussain ini juga tidak menepati definasi sastera dunia ketiga yang menitikberatkan nasionalisme.
“Abdullah Hussain hanya melihat nasionalisme Melayu dan menekan nasionalisme masyarakat lain lantas menjadikan novel ini tempang.”
Dalam analisanya terhadap kontroversi ini beliau telah menempelak pendirian Persatuan Penulis Nasional (Pena).
“Alasan Pena ialah Interlok edisi murid perlu dikekalkan untuk menjaga maruah Melayu? Apa kena-mengena Interlok dengan menjaga maruah Melayu?,” Chong menimbulkan persoalan.
Pandangan empat Sasterawan Negara yang mempertahankan Interlok atas alasan karya ini membicarakan aspek kemanusiaan turut disangkal sebagai kaedah mengaburkan permasalahan sebenar yang menekankan aspek imigran.
Beliau menambah bahawa Interlok juga merupakan karya bermasalah kerana condong kepada politik Umno-Barisan Nasional dan prejudis terhadap pergerakan nasionalisme kiri.
‘Rasisme wujud dan diinstitusikan’
Sementara itu, pensyarah undang-undang dari Universiti Malaya, Profesor Madya Azmi Sharom berhujah bahawa anugerah Sasterawan Negara tidak bermakna karya yang dihasilkan adalah bagus.
Beliau turut menjelaskan bahawa karya-karya berbaur perkauman boleh diterbitkan di Barat kerana masyarakat di sana menolak perkauman atas alasan bahawa ia adalah salah.
“Masalah kita adalah kita belum sampai ke tahap di mana masyarakat kita mengatakan rasisme adalah salah kerana ia wujud dan telah diinstitusikan.”
Beliau turut menyifatkan negara ini gagal mengambil pendekatan intelek untuk menyelesaikan permasalahan berkaitan Interlok kerana sikap hipokrasi.
Selain mereka, forum ini turut disertai Presiden Persatuan Kavyan, Uthaya Sankar SB dan Pengerusi Badan Bertindak Interlok Kebangsaan (Niat), Dato’ Thasleem Mohamed Ibrahim.
Ketika berhadapan dengan persoalan mengapa kerajaan liat untuk menarik balik Interlok, Azmi berkata, “kerajaan takut berhadapan dengan kumpulan pendesak perkauman Melayu seperti Perkasa.”
Selain daripada Ahli Parlimen Ipoh Barat M Kulasegaran, forum turut dihadiri Ahli Parlimen Bukit Mertajam, Chong Eng dan M Manogaran (Telok Intan). Ketiga-tiga mereka dari parti DAP.
Kira-kira 70 peserta menghadiri forum anjuran Pusat Pembangunan Kebudayaan (LLG), Dewan Perhimpunan Cina Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor, Niat dan pertubuhan hak asasi Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram).
Court throws out ex-ISA detainees’ RM200m suit
Former ISA detainees M Manoharan and P Uthayakumar lose their bid to sue Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and five others.
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here today dismissed a RM200-million suit brought by former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees M Manoharan and P Uthayakumar against Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and five others.Judicial Commissioner Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal allowed the application by Najib and the five others to strike out the suit after hearing submissions from Manoharan, who represented himself and Uthayakumar, and senior federal counsel Najib Zakaria and Azizan Md Arshad who appeared for Najib and the others.
The five others are former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan, the Taiping detention centre superintendent and the government.
Azizan told reporters the judge allowed the application with RM5,000 costs.
When asked for the grounds on which the application was granted, Azizan said there was no issue to be tried in the suit filed by the two ISA detainees.
He said he had submitted that the claim and the damages sought by the plaintiff in the suit could not be sustained as the High Court had ruled in their habeas corpus application that their detention was lawful.
Manoharan said he would appeal against today’s outcome.
In the striking-out application, Najib and the five other defendants said the suit filed by Manoharan and Uthayakumar on Dec 9 last year was frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of the court process.
They said the suit was directly related to a case which had been disposed of by the High Court and Federal Court.
In their suit, Manoharan and Uthayakumar had sought RM100 million each in damages and an annual interest of 8% on the grounds that they had been wrongfully detained for 514 days from Dec 13, 2007, to May 9, 2009.
-Bernama
Does it feel like a bunch of gangsters are running this country?
By Naragan,The most recent act by UMNO to try and kill off Anwar with a lowly sex video moved me to write this article. Because it increasingly feels like we are living in a country run by gangsters.
What characterizes gangsters? Is there any difference between what gangsters do and what UMNO is doing?
Use of force, fear, bribes, threats, violence, deceit, unchallengeable positions, indulgence, and parasitic existence and not worrying about appearances would be a reasonable answer to the first question.
To answer the second question “Is there any difference?” I will examine how UMNO performs in many of these dimensions to answer that question.
1) Force –The Police, the Attorney General’s office, the Courts (I will call them the Unholy Trio from now on) are the instruments of force of UMNO.
You see them figuring prominently in all occasions where UMNO’s lawlessness are questioned. Being involved with Hindraf Makkal Sakthi, I can tell you that, without batting an eyelid– our people are constantly threatened with detention under ISA, or with charges of sedition, or are charged with being involved in an illegal organization after UMNO unconstitutionally and unlawfully outlawed Hindraf. The form of force used and the way it is administered may vary in specifics between the gangsters and UMNO but in essence they are the same – UMNO and the gangsters equally resort to force because that is the sole source of their power. UMNO has lost its moral legitimacy in its claim for power and hangs on to power only because of the control of the instruments of force – the Unholy Trio being the prime instruments. The gangsters never had moral or legitimate basis for claims to power, their claim to power hinges only on one thing – the use of raw and brutal force.
2) Fear – UMNO so readily instills fear just like the local gangsters.
UMNO uses the Unholy Trio along with the Media, and when necessary the underworld members to achieve this. The Police have a special unit the Special Branch just for this – the Malaysian Gestapo. Every so often we see battalions of the Light Strike Force or the Federal Reserve Units to disallow, to disrupt, to frighten off citizen’s gatherings. You should have seen the hundreds at the anti –Interlok forums throughout the country and the thousands at KLCC for Hindraf’s Solidarity March against UMNO’s racism. This is exactly what the local gang boss. Putting in the fear of god they say. What the gang boss does is what UMNO is doing.
3) Threats – The laws enacted by UMNO – ISA, Publishing and Printing Presses Act, Official Secrets Act, Seditions Act, Police Act and even the MACC are all actually devices crafted by UMNO that threaten all those that dare cross the line.
This is the primary purpose of these acts and organizations, though more noble intentions are proffered to legitimize them. But the true intentions of these are to act as a sword over the heads of any that dare. The Media for its part carries statements from time to time from the Ministers, from the IGP, from the Attorney General,from UMNO stalwarts, from Right wing Perkasa or carries images and reports of the Police overpowering any attempts to challenge them or of right wing demonstrations threatening the rest. But the purpose is one – to pre-empt potential trouble makers. The gang bosses just use outright threats, they do not need these more sophisticated devices. As the saying goes, cut the throat of one chicken in front of all the monkeys so the monkeys will behave themselves. In that sense the devices of threatening may be different but both UMNO and Gangsters use threats to remain in power.
4) Violence – What happened in Kampung Medan in 2005 is a clear example of the workings of the Unholy Trio, the Media and the underworld in the meting out violence whenever they see a need.
A little further back we had the May 13th riots and May 13th is still a keyword for violence . Hundreds of police killing and maiming continue till today in UMNO’s Police Stations. The Police in the fore and the Armed Forces at the back are nothing more than UMNO’s killing machines. The threat of violence that UMNO can unleash, should it decide to, is what holds much of the opposition back. Violence is the bread and butter of gangsters and it is the bread and butter of UMNO. UMNO and the gangsters understand this very well.
5) Bribes – When expediency requires and it is wiser, then UMNO bribes to clear their way of trouble makers.
They buy up leaders of groups outside their circle of influence. They make “mafia offers”. They use skeletons in cupboards to assist them, as we see regularly happening in buying up of the opposition members of the legislature. Other forms of bribe, we see at election times. There is a free flow of gifts, goodies and promises. These are tidbits used to corrupt and remove obstacles or create perceptions while UMNO walks away with the loot – to UMNO these bribes are nothing more than the cost of doing business. Gangsters for their part use bribes to share their bounty when attempting to get at very large bounties. It is a cost of doing business for them too.
6) Unchallengeable positions – UMNO’s positions on issues are unchallengeable, just like it is with the local gangster. You challenge at the risk of losing everything.
You see them figuring prominently in all occasions where UMNO’s lawlessness are questioned. Being involved with Hindraf Makkal Sakthi, I can tell you that, without batting an eyelid– our people are constantly threatened with detention under ISA, or with charges of sedition, or are charged with being involved in an illegal organization after UMNO unconstitutionally and unlawfully outlawed Hindraf. The form of force used and the way it is administered may vary in specifics between the gangsters and UMNO but in essence they are the same – UMNO and the gangsters equally resort to force because that is the sole source of their power. UMNO has lost its moral legitimacy in its claim for power and hangs on to power only because of the control of the instruments of force – the Unholy Trio being the prime instruments. The gangsters never had moral or legitimate basis for claims to power, their claim to power hinges only on one thing – the use of raw and brutal force.
2) Fear – UMNO so readily instills fear just like the local gangsters.
UMNO uses the Unholy Trio along with the Media, and when necessary the underworld members to achieve this. The Police have a special unit the Special Branch just for this – the Malaysian Gestapo. Every so often we see battalions of the Light Strike Force or the Federal Reserve Units to disallow, to disrupt, to frighten off citizen’s gatherings. You should have seen the hundreds at the anti –Interlok forums throughout the country and the thousands at KLCC for Hindraf’s Solidarity March against UMNO’s racism. This is exactly what the local gang boss. Putting in the fear of god they say. What the gang boss does is what UMNO is doing.
3) Threats – The laws enacted by UMNO – ISA, Publishing and Printing Presses Act, Official Secrets Act, Seditions Act, Police Act and even the MACC are all actually devices crafted by UMNO that threaten all those that dare cross the line.
This is the primary purpose of these acts and organizations, though more noble intentions are proffered to legitimize them. But the true intentions of these are to act as a sword over the heads of any that dare. The Media for its part carries statements from time to time from the Ministers, from the IGP, from the Attorney General,from UMNO stalwarts, from Right wing Perkasa or carries images and reports of the Police overpowering any attempts to challenge them or of right wing demonstrations threatening the rest. But the purpose is one – to pre-empt potential trouble makers. The gang bosses just use outright threats, they do not need these more sophisticated devices. As the saying goes, cut the throat of one chicken in front of all the monkeys so the monkeys will behave themselves. In that sense the devices of threatening may be different but both UMNO and Gangsters use threats to remain in power.
4) Violence – What happened in Kampung Medan in 2005 is a clear example of the workings of the Unholy Trio, the Media and the underworld in the meting out violence whenever they see a need.
A little further back we had the May 13th riots and May 13th is still a keyword for violence . Hundreds of police killing and maiming continue till today in UMNO’s Police Stations. The Police in the fore and the Armed Forces at the back are nothing more than UMNO’s killing machines. The threat of violence that UMNO can unleash, should it decide to, is what holds much of the opposition back. Violence is the bread and butter of gangsters and it is the bread and butter of UMNO. UMNO and the gangsters understand this very well.
5) Bribes – When expediency requires and it is wiser, then UMNO bribes to clear their way of trouble makers.
They buy up leaders of groups outside their circle of influence. They make “mafia offers”. They use skeletons in cupboards to assist them, as we see regularly happening in buying up of the opposition members of the legislature. Other forms of bribe, we see at election times. There is a free flow of gifts, goodies and promises. These are tidbits used to corrupt and remove obstacles or create perceptions while UMNO walks away with the loot – to UMNO these bribes are nothing more than the cost of doing business. Gangsters for their part use bribes to share their bounty when attempting to get at very large bounties. It is a cost of doing business for them too.
6) Unchallengeable positions – UMNO’s positions on issues are unchallengeable, just like it is with the local gangster. You challenge at the risk of losing everything.
When you challenge they fight tooth and nail so you do not get what you seek, on the contrary they make you lose further with intense vindictiveness. Case in point is the Interlok novel. The book remains in the curriculum and the rest who voiced dissatisfaction get beaten up and charged in courts for speaking up, but the book remains in the curriculum.Another clear case in point is what UMNO is doing to Anwar Ibrahim. He gets all kinds of s*** thrown at him and with increasing frequency just because he dares to challenge the UMNOPutras. Challenge at great personal risk – they will ruin you if they can. Their position must not be challenged. This is very clearly the ways of gangsters too. The hallmark of a gangleader is one who has overcome all those who have challenged him and anyone who challenges the leader must lose or the leader loses his basis to continue
as a leader. Exactly the case with Najib –ala UMNO and UMNO ala the people.
7) Deceit – “Biji setelor, rio sekampung” as the Malay proverb goes. UMNO throws a tid bit here, a tidbit there and the media steps in and creates perceptions of a totally benevolent and caring UMNO.
UMNO holds the reins of the media tight. UMNO is able to manufacture perceptions in people that are so far removed from the truth that the lies are more real the reality itself. You speak the truth and no one listens to you, for they think you distort, for personal advantage. UMNO has established monopoly over their minds and UMNO will do with it what they want. They deceive the people and leave the rest of us biting the mud.
UMNO caught between getting the non-Malay votes and increasing their appeal to the Malays use their outsource vehicle, Perkasa to create a perception of the Malays losing out to the non-Malays because the Malays are split. The reality is both the Malay And non-Malay people are losing out to the UMNO leaders and their Non-Malay elite accomplices as they use this perception to delude the people and walk off with the loot. No one really listens to this truth, they think it is distorted for personal use. This is a very refined deceit-making machine that we are up against.
On this count UMNO has improved over the gangsters, recognizing they have to operate within a community of nations and have to be seen to be in accord with norms of civilization. They worry about how they will be perceived, they need to legitimize their position, the gangster does not have to.
So, except for this last point there is really not much difference between gangsters running this country and UMNO running this country. UMNO is nothing short of being dignified gangsters. This truth may look far- fetched, but you think about what I have said, deeply. Just think about it.
If you agree, then do not be the person UMNO, the gangster wants you to be, the meek and powerless person. Look at what is happening in Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen. When all the people get together, the empire crumbles, because the true sovereign is the people united. We have to move out and into the light, to a future based on competence, not on force.
The people have to get out from the grips of gangsters.
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