Is this "Incitement"?

The following is a fiction (taken from YB Lim Kit Siang's blog) which depicts an assasination on a lady YB that has been accused of being anti-Malay/Islam despite evidence to the contrary.To me, despite it being a fiction, it is very suggestive in nature (almost incitement) - and as such calls one to question the intention of the Editor of the mentioned tabloid/weekly, in publishing it.
One commenter (on YB Lim's blog) definitely thought so .... but in a true blue Malaysian mindset urged the use of ISA (probably just sarcasm, though).

abunsui Says:
Yesterday at 23: 33.52
Penulisan begini tidak sepatunya keluar di dalam akhbar. Ianya merupakan HASUTAN secara sangat halus. Apa pun bentuk hasutan : hasutan halus, hasutan keras, hasutan tersirat sama sahaja = HASUTAN. Watak dan jalan cerita pun ada kena mengena dengan seseorang yang masih YB masa kini. Hasutan di sini menggalakan ORANG Melayu (”anak muda”) jadi pembunuh seperti dan “membunuh YB J”. Umpama : “IT LOOK LIKE ME BUT I CANNOT CONFIRM THAT IS ME”
Correct , correct, Correct. Cerpen begini SANGAT BAHAYA. Fikir-fikirkanlah. The Police should investigate and arrest the WRITER and the NEWS PAPER EDITOR and may be PUT under ISA.

1. 
   

Mingguan Malaysia
12.10.08
Politik baru YB J
Sastera
CERPEN
Oleh Chamil Wariya

PAGI itu resah YB Josephine, yang lebih mesra dengan panggilan YB J sukar dikawal. Sepanjang perjalanan menuju ke Dewan Perhimpunan Warga Cha di ibu kota, fikirannya terganggu. Tuduhan bahawa dia anti-Islam dan anti-Melayu sungguh-sungguh menghantui perasaannya sejak malam tadi lagi. Entah mengapa baru sekarang dia begitu, dia sendiri tidak tahu. Dia juga tidak pasti sama ada pemandunya, Ahmad, menyedari gelora jiwanya ketika itu. Kalau dia tahu pun, peduli apa, YB Josephine berbisik sendirian.

Pemandu itu memang sedia maklum pendirian politiknya tentang kepentingan kaumnya vis a vis orang Melayu. Dan dia tahu Ahmad menghormati pendiriannya, walaupun dilihat anti- Melayu, anti-Islam sebagai hak asasi tinggal dalam sebuah negara demokrasi. Bukankah kebebasan asasi itu dijamin oleh Perkara 5 hingga Perkara 13 Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Tetapi YB J akui demokrasi ada yang tidak sempurna dan kerap disalahgunakan oleh pihak yang berkuasa. Tetapi hakikat itu tidak menghalang rakyat menempatkan pembangkang di Dewan Rakyat. YB Josephine adalah salah seorang daripadanya.

Ah, tudahan dia anti-Islam, anti-Melayu tuduhan yang melulu bentak YB J seolah-olah mahu menyedapkan dirinya.. Ia juga tuduhan yang tidak berasas, hati kecilnya bersuara lagi. Dia meyakinkan dirinya bahawa kenyataankenyataan yang dibuatnya atas nama pelbagai kaum untuk memperjuangkan kepentingan kaumnya, bukan sesuatu yang rasis. Amensty International, organisasi hak asasi antarabangsa akan menyetujuinya. Begitu juga dengan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu. Ketua Pembangkang, di Parlimen pun tidak pernah menganggapnya rasis. Yang menganggapnya rasis hanya orang Melayu di dalam Parti Orang Melayu (POM).

“Aku juga bukan anti-Islam. Aku bukan anti Melayu,” pujuk hati YB J yang sudah dua penggal bergelar YB itu, mewakili Parti Bertindak Rakyat. Parti itu dianggotainya sejak berada di kampus lagi, walaupun Akta Universiti dan Kolej Universiti melarang para siswa membabitkan diri secara langsung dalam mana-mana organisasi siasah. Lagi pun penguatkuasaan undang-undang itu sekadar melepas batuk di tangga. Lebih dari itu, ia adalah satu lagi undang-undang lapuk, kata YB J.

Kata hatinya lagi: “Aku sekadar memperjuangkan kepentingan kaum aku, sama seperti pemimpin Melayu dalam POM memperjuangkan kepentingan bangsanya, sama seperti pemimpin Parti Orang Islam (POI) berjuang untuk bangsa menggunakan wajah Islamnya.”

Malah YB J berasakan kelantangannya memperjuangkan kepentingan kaumnya itulah yang telah membantunya menang kali kedua kerusi Parlimennya. Kali ini dengan majoriti yang lebih besar lagi. Apa yang membanggakan dia adalah perjuangan yang dianggap anti-Melayu dan anti-Islam itu kini turut disokong pengundi-pengundi Melayu di kawasan pilihan rayanya itu. Pada mulanya dia sendiri terkejut apabila dimaklumkan sebahagian besar pengundi Melayu yang merupakan 20 peratus keseluruhan pemilihan berdaftar dalam kawasan Parlimen Alam Maya telah memangkahnya.

Ini satu perkembangan luar biasa. Tidak mungkin mereka menyokong aku, bisik hatinya. Tetapi apabila dimaklumkan oleh para pekerja parti bahawa pengundi Melayu di semua peti undi telah beralih arah mendokongnya, dia menerimanya dengan fikiran terbuka. Baguslah kalau orang Melayu menerima perjuangan Malaysia Barunya.

Tidak puas hati bermonolog dengan perasaannya, YB J secara spontan berpaling kepada Ahmad, pemandunya yang sejak tadi tekun dengan tugasnya.

“Kamu fakir saya anti-Islam, anti-Melayu?”

Pertanyaan

Ahmad yang sudah menghampiri usia bersara itu tidak menjawab, seolah-olah dia tidak mendengar pertanyaan itu. Matanya tertumpu ke jalan raya. Tugasnya adalah untuk mempastikan YB J selamat ke majlis yang ingin dihadirinya. Dan tiba tepat pada waktunya. Majlis itu penting kerana YB J akan mengadakan dialog dengan generasi muda seketurunan dengannya yang belajar di luar negara tetapi kebetulan berada di tanah air kerana bercuti. Ahmad sendiri tidak pasti sama ada pelajar yang pernah mempersendakan lagu Negara Ku sewaktu menuntut di sebuah universiti di Seberang Laut turut berada dalam kelompok itu. Kalau pun ada, pemandu YB J tidak ambil pusing. Budak itu memang kurang ajar. Ada ke patut Malaysia dianggap sebagai Negara Kuku (ejaan Inggerisnya cuckoo) yang bermaksud gila. Dan kreativiti digunakan untuk menghalalkan perbuatan biadapnya itu. Cuma Ahmad berfikir kalau semua orang dibiarkan menghina lagu Kebangsaan dengan lirik yang memperlekehkan kehidupan orang Islam, dan atas nama kreativiti, maka kesannya terhadap perhubungan kaum adalah negatif.

Ahmad tidak tahu apakah yang sebenarnya mengganggu bosnya itu sejak dari tadi lagi. Dia jarang begitu. Ahmad dapat mengesan YB J lain macam sahaja pagi itu. Dia dapat membaca keresahan dan kegelisahan YB J. Seolah-olah ada sesuatu yang tidak kena walaupun apa yang sebenarnya berkocak di dalam diri YB J dia tidak pasti. Sepanjang ingatan Ahmad, YB J juga tidak pernah berbual dengannya tentang politik, apa lagi tentang isu-isu semasa - kecuali memberi arahan yang ada kaitan dengan perjalanan atau jadual kerja. YB J juga tidak bertanya sama ada dia mengundi pom atau parti apa pada pilihan raya yang lalu.

Lazimnya, sepanjang perjalanan, baik ke pejabat atau majlis-majlis rasmi dan tidak rasmi yang lain, YB J akan menghabiskan masa membaca akhbar atau membelek-belek fail. Tetapi pagi itu YB J lain macam sahaja. Dia kelihatan resah. Gelisah. Fikirannya juga seolah-olah tidak menentu. Apa yang dibuat serba tak kena. Sekejap dia membelek ucapan utama yang akan disampaikan sebentar lagi menghuraikan gagasan Politik Baru Malaysia Baru yang dipeloporinya. Sekejap dia membelek akhbar-akhbar yang memang menemani YB J ke mana juga dia pergi.

Ahmad cuba mencongak mungkin keresahan YB J ada kaitan dengan suhu politik negara sedang panas ketika itu. Bahangnya terasa di mana-mana. POM sendiri sedang menghadapi pergolakan yang hebat berkait dengan kepimpinannya. Pertarungan kepentingan puak-puak di dalam parti sedang mengambil tempatnya. Kalaulah tidak kerana kedudukan politik kerajaan agak lemah selepas kehilangan majoriti dua pertiga, sudah lama Operasi Lalang, seperti yang pernah dibuat pada 1987, dilaksanakan, agaknya. Mungkin juga tidak kerana di bawah kepimpinan sekarang, kerajaan mengambil sikap yang lebih liberal terhadap para pengkritiknya.

Ahmad juga terfikir mungkin perasaan YB J terganggu dengan tindakan kalangan yang tidak diketahui siapa mereka melempar bom petrol ke rumah keluarga ahli Parlimen Sepohon Beringin, Su Lan. Barangkali, fikir Ahmad, YB J, bimbang kejadian yang sama boleh menimpa diri atau keluarganya.

Mana tahu selepas keluarga Su Lan, bosnya YB J pula yang menjadi mangsa. Dan yang dilempar itu bom betul-betul. Meletup pula. Tidakkah nahas YB J. Sekonyong-konyong Ahmad terbayang kejadian letupan bom berani mati yang berlaku di Damsyik, Syria yang ditonton menerusi Buletin Utama di TV3 beberapa hari lalu. Kalau kejadian yang sudah menghiasi kehidupan harian di Iraq, Israel, Tebing Barat, Gaza atau Afghanistan itu menular di negara ini, alangkah malangnya bumi bertuah ini. Minta disimpang malaikat 44, Ahmad berkata sendirian di dalam hatinya.

Tetapi fikir Ahmad, amaran kalau tidak diendahkan berbahaya. Dia teringat apa yang diceritakan berlaku pada 13 Mei 1969. Bapanya menceritakan dalam tragedi selepas pilihan raya umum pada 10 Mei itu, orang Cina dan Melayu berbunuh-bunuhan. Perjuangan yang mahu menafikan hak-hak istimewa orang Melayu dan kaum bumiputera lain yang dijamin oleh Perlembagaan Persekutuan, tidak dapat diterima oleh mereka. Kata-kata kesat dan menghina orang Melayu oleh para penyokong parti-parti pembangkang sewaktu berarak meraikan kemenangan besar di Kuala Lumpur dan bandar-bandar utama lain pada pilihan raya 1969 itu tidak dapat ditelan oleh orang Melayu. Parang yang terbiar tumpul selama ini diasah tajam. Dalam keadaan itu tercetuslah pergaduhan yang dahsyat menyebabkan Parlimen digantung dan pemerintahan darurat diisytiharkan. Negara diletakkan di bawah perintah berkurung. Ahmad sendiri belum lahir ketika itu. Tidak lama selepas itu, peralihan kuasa berlaku daripada Tunku Abdul Rahman kepada timbalannya, Tun Abdul Razak.

“Mat, saya ni anti-Melayu dan anti-Islam ke?,” YB J secara mendadak mengulang semula pertanyaannya apabila tiada jawapan daripada pemandunya.

Ahmad, yang sejak tadi membisu seribu bahasa selamba menjawab: “Mungkin tidak YB.” Dia memberi jawapan berlapik. Maksudnya: Mungkin tidak, mungkin ya bergantung pada mata yang menilai.

“Apa maksud kamu mungkin tidak.”

” Ini soal persepsi YB. Persepsinya begitulah. Hakikatnya YB tidak membenci Melayu tidak juga membenci Islam. YB sekadar memperjuangkan kepentingan kaum YB. Tidak salah YB berbuat demikian. Kalau YB tidak memperjuangkan kepentingan kaum YB sendiri, siapa lagi. Tetapi cara YB itu barangkali disalahertikannya.”

“Maksud kamu?” Tanya YB J yang masih belum jelas lagi.

Bergantung

“Yalah, ia bergantung pada mata yang memandang. Bukan sahaja di kalangan orang Melayu, tetapi di kalangan bukan Melayu. YB kena ingat di kalangan bukan Melayu pun bukan semuanya menerima politik baru Malaysia baru YB. Kalau tidak masakan parti satu kaum seperti Parti Orang Cina (POC) masih boleh bertahan.”

“Apa maksud kamu. Saya tidak begitu jelas?”

“Yalah bagi YB perjuangan YB adalah pelbagai kaum. Tetapi dalam tindak tanduk, perjuangan pelbagai kaum YB itu tidak tertonjol. YB mahu menghapuskan tulisan jawi dan ganti dengan tulisan Cina . Bagi mereka itu bukan perjuangan pelbagai kaum. Ia perjuangan satu kaum. Kalau benar pelbagai kaum, YB patut mempertahankan tulisan jawi.” Ahmad memberanikan diri untuk memberikan pandangannya.

Mengesan bosnya ingin mendengar pandangannya lagi, Ahmad berkata: “Patutnya kalau YB benar-benar ingin menjadi pejuang pelbagai kaum, kepentingan orang Melayu jangan diketepikan sewaktu mengetengahkan kepentingan kaum Cina. YB perjuangkan kepentingan kedua-duanya sekali. Penerimaannya saya pasti berbeza. YB akan dilihat sebagai mahu menjaga kepentingan kaum YB, tetapi pada waktu yang sama tidak menafikan hak orang Melayu.”

Itu perjuangan POM dan POC, dengus YB J di dalam hatinya. Bosan aku dengan Si Ahmad ini, dia berkata sendirian. Aku penganjur politik baru dan tidak mahu terikat dengan kerangka politik lama, katanya lagi kepada dirinya.

Perbualan YB J dengan pemandunya habis di situ sahaja. Dia tidak mahu lagi mendengar pandangan karut pemandunya. Dia mahu terus melayan perasaan: Aku percaya pada Politik Baru Malaysia Baru, tegas YB J pada dirinya. Setiap warganegara, tanpa mengira apa keturunan mereka patut diberi hak yang sama mengikut undang-undang. Tidak ada bangsa yang patut diberi layanan istimewa. Tidak ada warga yang patut diberi darjat atau kelas kedua. Kita semua orang Malaysia.

YB J enggan melayan Ahmad lagi. Sebaliknya, dia membelek akhbar Utusan Malaysia yang secara rasmi diboikot oleh partinya. Perhatiannya tertumpu pada artikel berjudul Jangan Padam Rekod Negara yang ditulis oleh seorang generasi muda Cina yang menolak tesis politik baru Malaysia baru.

Ah, satu lagi propaganda yang memperlekehkan kaum aku, dengus hati YB J. Jangan-

jangan yang menulis artikel ini orang Melayu. Mereka masih menganggap kaum aku sebagai berketurunan pendatang. Tidak guna punya generasi baru. Dengus YB J. Bisik hatinya lagi: Betullah dulu nenek moyang aku berhijrah ke bumi bertuah ini untuk mencari kekayaan, membebaskan diri mereka daripada kemiskinan dan keperitan hidup di China. Itu dulu. Generasi Cina sekarang sudah menjadi warganegara Malaysia dan mereka hendaklah dilayan seperti warganegara Malaysia..

Dikejutkan

Sedang YB J asyik dengan lamunannya, dia dikejutkan dengan suara pemandunya yang memaklumkan, “Kita sudah sampai YB.”

Menunggu dia di luar ialah para penganjur dialog yang bakal berlangsung. Salah seorang daripada mereka membuka pintu kereta YB J, bersalaman dengannya dan memperkenalkannya dengan ahli jawatankuasa penganjur yang lain. Diiringi oleh mereka, YB J dibawa ke pentas. Menurut kiraannya ada 500 orang di dalam dewan pagi itu. Dia bangga dengan kehadiran begitu ramai anak bangsanya yang ingin bertemu dengannya. Apa yang lebih membanggakan YB J ialah mereka belajar luar negara dengan biayai sendiri, bukannya bantuan kerajaan.

Selepas ucapan-ucapan aluan oleh pengerusi penganjur selesai, YB J dijemput untuk memberi ucapannya. Inilah detik-detik yang ditunggu-tunggu oleh YB J. Gagasan politik baru Malaysia barunya akan dihebahkan kepada dunia bebas. Dia teringat buku Kee Thuan Chye yang berjudul 8 Mac The Day Malaysian Woke Up. Momentum rakyat Malaysia atau lebih tepat lagi warga bukan Melayu Malaysia yang sudah jaga dari lena itu mesti ditingkatkan. Pagi itu dia berazam untuk berbuat demikian.

Tetapi tanpa diketahui oleh YB J, di kalangan 500 orang generasi muda yang hadir pada pagi itu ada yang tidak setuju dengan pandangan politiknya itu. Salah seorang daripada mereka berazam untuk membetulkan penyimpangan politik YB J dengan caranya yang tersendiri.

Apabila YB J bangun untuk menuju ke rostrum ucapan, seorang anak muda dari belakang pentas berjalan tenang menuju ke arahnya. YB J tersenyum kepadanya. Dia menyangka anak muda seketurunan dengannya ingin mengiringinya ke rostrum atau bersalaman dengannya.

YB J menghulurkan tangan. Tiba-tiba YB J tergaman dan berdiri kaku. Dia tidak percaya dengan apa yang dilihatnya. Tergenggam erat pada tangan anak muda yang seolah-olah mahu membalas salam tangan yang dihulur itu ialah sepucuk pistol jenis Revolver yang betul-betul diajukan ke arah dada YB J.

Tanpa berkata apa-apa, anak muda itu melepaskan beberapa das tembakan. Salah satu daripadanya tepat mengenai jantung YB J. Dia rebah ke lantai.

Para hadirin menjadi panik. Mereka yang berada di atas pentas turut tergamam melihat apa yang berlaku. Kejadian menjadi hiruk-pikuk dan tidak terkawal. Pihak penganjur yang tidak menduga kejadian malang itu berlaku, tidak tahu berbuat apa-apa. Beberapa orang anggota polis berpakaian preman yang menjadi tetamu yang tidak diundang dalam majlis itu, meluru ke arah pentas. Rakan-rakan mereka yang berpakaian seragam yang berkawal di luar juga bergegas masuk ke dewan.

Tetapi belum sempat mereka berbuat apa-apa, kedengaran beberapa das tembakan lagi. Kali ini yang rebah adalah anak muda itu sendiri.

Apabila pihak polis tiba di tempat kejadian, kedua-dua mereka - YB J dan anak muda yang berpakaian kemas itu, sudah tidak lagi bernyawa.

Sewaktu pemeriksaan dibuat ke atas mayat anak muda yang tidak dikenali itu, terselit sehelai nota yang ditaip rapi, ditulis dalam bahasa Kebangsaan.

Ia berbunyi: YB Josephine adalah ancaman terhadap keharmonian. Lebih baik riwayatnya ditamatkan supaya masyarakat berbilang kaum boleh tinggal aman damai di negara bertuah ini. Saya berkorban untuk masa depan.

YB Lim Kit Siang Said:

(I lambasted Mingguan Malaysia and Datuk Chamil Wariya for this irresponsible piece of literary licence for inciting the killing of Teresa Kok during my budget speech in Parliament today.

(I asked what would be the reaction of UMNO and BN MPs if the Prime Minister or Deputy Prime Minister had been similarly targetted like Teresa in a cerpen like in Chamil’s irresponsible short story.)

Strong Government, or Good Governance?

*********************************************

"A weak Government would not be able to deal with the quarrelling between the races, which is the natural tendency of most multiracial societies. Indeed in some multiracial countries violence and fighting are common. Witness the countries around us."
- Dr. Mahathir, CheDet.com

"You definitely wouldn't desire a harmonious state, where the government is controlled by the people who are confident of themselves.
In fact, you would prefer "strong government" that requires repressive laws to control an irrational and emotional people prone to "perceived insecurities", as a result of "fear mongering"."
- Reply to TDM's Criticism on CheDet.com

************************************************

Dear Tun,
Once again you speak of a “strong Government”, which you believe in.
Accordingly, I would like to comment on it, just as I did previously (even if you don't read it).

As you can see, from the comments on MT, there aren't many who would oppose the idea of a strong Govt for the sake of stability. (The comments on CheDet.com however, would of course would shower you with accolades even if you said that the tooth fairy exists)
While everybody in his right mind would love a “strong government” that provides proper leadership with sound judgment, not many will agree with your definition of a strong government.
There is a flaw in your argument, dear sir..... as flawed as the “strong opposition” in your previous entry on this matter.

You claim that “In a single ethnic country it does not matter if the Government is weak because...” does not hold water – would you say that of the many third world/ 'Islamic' despotic regimes or countries like Italy?
Probably not.
How about India?
It is a sub-continent, with in actual fact, many races/ “nationalities”/ religions to begin with.
It embraces pluralism and practices a secular constitution. Governance is complicated, but is a challenge which politicians have risen to.
Its successive governments have been “weak” (as per your definition), but have had sterling economic performance since they opted for it, as opposed to the “strong governments” of semi-fascist, isolationist Indira Gandhi's Congress rule which was impoverished, had a government controlled economy, an enslaved media & civil service, suffered economic malaise, endemic corruption and frequent unreported conflicts.
With this “weak government” with and a liberalized economy though, private enterprise is healthy, the economy is resilient, the country is in relative peace and the living standards have dramatically improved.

From the article you wrote, it appeared to me that what you advocate is a “powerful government” with "strong arm leadership", and not exactly a “strong government”.
A "powerful government" is able to keep the peace with “strong arm tactics” like barbaric laws and subservients instruments of state, while a truly “strong government” is able to convince the electorate of their credibility despite not having a majority.
A strong government is one that would dare to transcend partisan politics in order to safeguard the rule of law - whereas, a government that that demands power to rule, would seek to rule by intimidation.
While they can be both (powerful & strong or vice versa), they are rarely so, dear Tun.
You cannot always equate the two.
Likewise a strong leadership does not necessarily translate into good governance.

If you were to look at our politics (your politics, actually), the definition of a strong govt is "strong arm Govt" as a result of the state sanctioned corruption that's required, in order to perpetuate the agenda of greed. It means unquestioning obedience - right or wrong.
The 58% majority would be considered a "landslide", in a healthy democracy with strong institutions of state that provide adequate checks & balances. This however, is not be in a state run under the ideology of "Ketuanan Melayu" using NEP as a pretext for robbing the nation's wealth, where the subversion of the rule of law is a prerequisite for being a strong Govt (as under your rule). It is for this very reason that “powerful governments" have high stakes in the economy/ “private enterprise”.

This government (you propose and we had) has been inextricably linked to, and controls all sectors of the economy and institutions. As such, it is vulnerable when the economy suffers due to external influences. The economy/people would also suffer when the government has poor leadership, when the pie shrinks or there is a prospect of change in government. This is far from what one might call a “strong government” - the evidence can be seen from the economy of the Suharto regime or even Zimbabwe, for that matter.
Such a govt can never withstand the ideological onslaught of any right thinking people - and hence would resort to strong arm tactics to bully them into submission (read RPK/Hindraf/ISA). The other option would be to warn the people not to speak of "sensitive issues" and stifle the media.

It is what we have seen successive governments under BN do to opposition controlled states, civil rights leaders, academics or political dissenters. In the Umno leadership, due to lack of ideas & principles, it is imperative that they propagate a racist siege mentality, so as to shore up 'credibility' that rides on fascistic ideas of a "strong government".

That, dear Tun, is your idea of a strong govt - a govt that has the ability to hold the state at ransom - subvert the economy, the institutions of state, the constitution, disregard human rights and destroy the rule of law. A govt that dictates to an economically enslaved citizenry under the guise of democracy. The reason for this is simple - the Umno/ BN regime is philosophically/ideologically bankrupt, and would resort to anything (from religion to subversion) to maintain its grip on power and its "right to rule".
Umno doesn't see the need to be accountable or articulate in the actions or ideas. It therefore is unable to communicate coherently enough to convince its "opponents" of its ideas of nationhood. The objective & incentive here is only one thing - the freedom to squander the wealth of the nation (legally) created by the people, and not the well-being of a nation.

What you speak of Tun isn't exactly democracy - you speak of a "benevolent dictatorship" that dictates terms to the subservient people it professes to serve.
What you don't seem to advocate is a govt that is strong on principles of justice and rule of law. Nor do you advocate strong institutions of state that provide alternatives to the politicians who rape the land.
Even pirates can set up strong governments, so as to impose their will upon others with scant regard for intellect, truth and justice. For this, all you need are unreasoning automatons who'd would shudder at the thought of questioning the decision of the “leadership”.
That I presume, might characterise what you advocate in a “strong government”.

A strong government does not stifle voices of democracy.
True strength, dear Tun, comes from intellectual prowess and excellence- not the barrel of a gun. A strong government is one that's secure in its national ideology/ agenda, and is able to tolerate dissent, debate ideas and open to change and progress. It wouldn't propagate a siege mindset nor resort to threats - open or subtle.
It would not resort to punishing voters who exercise their democratic rights, does not “steal” elections, or punish “opposition” ruled states. It doesn't resort to gerrymandering either. It would graciously relinquish power should it lose in elections and is confident that the nation as a whole wouldn't suffer.

A strong and ethical government dissociates itself from excessive involvement in business interests, lest it breeds corruption and greed. It is paramount that it has a pool of intellectuals who can guide a state through challenges of the future, as opposed to the current crop of Umno leadership. While you admit that “a powerful Government, if it is incompetent and badly led would not manage to govern a multiracial country well”, you deny the fact that it is the bigotry, religious chauvinism and racism which the Umno/ BN regime practices, is what creates the need for a “strong government” you seek. Nothing else.

Dear Tun,
Your line of reasoning is deeply flawed, dear Sir.
What we need isn't a "strong government", but "Good Governance" - and it isn't about race or religion.
It's about an electorate having options to governments.
It's about good education in humanities. It's about building trust, and not suspicion, fear of dispossession or a siege mentality among an insecure electorate.

It's about confidence building, dear Sir - not fear mongering, or stifling dissent.

What "cogito" - it's Consumo Ergo Sum!

The following are just thots that run through my mind upon reading the following paper by a couple of Malaysian academics, published in CSSE journal in May.
Pretty good stuff by these guys, actually .....

The End of Academia? :
From Cogito Ergo Sum to Consumo Ergo Sum
Germany and Malaysia in Comparison

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"I have showed thee new things
even hidden things
and thou didst not know them."
-ISAIAH 48:6
...........
A hallucination is a fact, not an error;
what is erroneous is a judgment based upon it.
-Bertrand Russell
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We are told that consuming is the way to go - we consume till we drop dead.
It is always about consuming and consuming anything and everything without stopping to think.
Money/ loans, food, drink, clothes, gadgets,
machines, plastics, toys, gadgets/ gizmos, credit cards, fashion, movies,
television, comforts, holidays, travel, degrees ..... everything - the more the better!
In order to achieve it one has to work, work, work, and work
- everything else is secondary to being able to keep up with the Joneses on all fronts.
That's the "modern lifestyle".

We are drowned in a world of consumption, where we don't have time to stop and think about our humanity
despite all this talk about "thinking out of the box" being trumpeted, to think is wrong.
To consume and fulfil the desires is noble.
To "not want" is weird.
To refuse consumption is , is rude and to question "offensive".

Our culture caters to consumerism.
Our education caters to consumerism.
We are told to consume knowledge, without knowing how to use it, or even know if it will be of use or abuse.
As such, every so often we are faced with graduate automatons, who are simply "educated into imbecility". Lately Mukhriz said, "I can't say I know what Form 6 students are thinking..."
Well Mukhriz - I've got news for you. You may be in for a pleasant surprise - many of the don't!

In colleges it is a competition of "A"s and passing rates as a measure of excellence - not quality. It's about reproducing - regurgitating what is flushed down your brains, into exams. With express instructions to the academia, they'll have to be fit into the percentage of required passes (unlike in the old days).
The capitalist market & politics control the academia, and no longer the academics.
It is not a wholly Malaysian phenomenon - the world has been convinced to believe that it is warranted and the right way to go about "making a living" (and not making a life).

In Malaysia it has been used to transform what was supposedly to uplift the economically downtrodden to the enrichment of the elite - in the form of none other than the NEP.
Due to the increasingly devalued currency and the escalating costs as a result of "legalized robbery", we work hard.

Yes we Asians are reputedly hard workers (especially those who perceive themselves as being forced to put up with economic hurdles). We end up becoming more and more creative on how to overcome these hurdles, and work harder & harder to achieve it. We also shudder at the thought of losing a little bit of our opportunities and we have little time for the "little things in life" that make up our humanity.

In Colleges/ Universities, the students are told to write what the teachers want to hear, and not to illustrate their own thinking faculties or challenge conventional wisdom. To challenge the established school of thought is to invite retribution of some sort. Our universities and colleges advertise their "wares" like they sell cars - education is to day merely a commodity to be marketed to the employers.
Degrees and titles which were once much revered, are today simply status symbols as a means to trumpet "successes of the system".
Our civil service is supposed to think up ways to agree with their "political masters" regardless of his/her duties which the taxpayer pays him for. The politician believes that employees are there to polish apples, and not to do a job! Is it any wonder that a politician (yes - Umno's) told off a broadcaster, "... if you do not agree with government policies, don't be a government employee. Resign."
The government prefers unthinking automatons to fill up the civil service, rather than have proud, dynamic and intelligent people who might question them or have integrity.

They are supposed to be that way, as many a job/qualification is bestowed upon them, due to political patronage/advantage.
Many a graduate or "professional" today, don't seem to have enough respect for the very qualification that they have, simply because they didn't really earn them - it was thrust upon them by a system that doesn't want to appear to be making losses.
It about appearances - it's about "public perception", whether "Ketuanan Melayu", or the NEP.

The public is made to believe that it is their right to consume, till they become slaves of their own obsession and thus becomes willing slaves to the system.
Forget values.
Forget truth.
Forget ideals.
Forget ethics.
Forget Philosophy.
Forget your Humanity.

You are here because it is your right to consume - production be damned.
I'm born to consume - the "National Agenda" states that!!
It is beneath me to to produce. My job is to allow the produce to produce, and I have to be paid accordingly for my "kindness & goodwill".
Let the producers produce, while I feed my desires and exercise my right to consume ....

It is my right to demand 30% for being born with a chip on my shoulder, and go gallivanting to Monte Carlo, Harrods, Paris, New York, Switzerland, Horse riding in the Pampas or Mongolia.
But of course every once in a while we can take money from the durian trees to pay for a flight to space or even dump a Proton in the Antarctic, so that "we" highlight how "gagah perkasa" we are and look good to the imbeciles who set the national agenda .....

Sad really ....

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"Where is the life we have lost in the living?
Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information ?
The cycles of heaven in twenty centuries
bring us farther from God and nearer to dust."
- T.S. Elliot
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Clericalism versus religion

By Aloysious Mowe
editor@thenutgraph.com

I GAVE a presentation a couple of weeksago on some of the problems associated with so-called Islamic finance and its roots in the shariah. After the session, a professor of political science said to me: "It's such an insoluble problem. I don't know how Islam can resolve the issues and difficulties in its law and practice. At least the Catholic church has a clear structure of authority so that decisions can be made that are binding on everyone."

He clearly regarded the hierarchical structure in the Catholic church, with its pope, bishops, and priests ruling the church from above, as a positive element in its governance and decision-making.

The problem with hierarchical structures is that the people at the top begin to see themselves as superior in some way to those below. We have this phenomenon in civil society. The people we elect to Parliament to serve us in government are mysteriously transformed into Datuks and Tuns, who go about in Mercedes Benzes and always seem to end up wealthier than the rakyat. The convention of calling the workers in government offices "civil servants" seems to many of us, given the usual state of the "service", to be an abuse of language.

The Catholic clergy are prone to fall into the sin of clericalism, that is, regarding themselves as special and superior members of a class within the church.

Emblem of the Papacy (Public domain)

(© sxc.hu)

Servants and masters

One of the traditional titles of the Pope is servus servorum dei, the servant of the servants of God. This should be a title that all Catholic priests embrace as a reminder of our true calling, to be of service to God's people. One would be forgiven, however, for thinking that the servants have in fact become the masters. Priests become members of a class within the church with access to certain powers and knowledge not given to other members of the church.

Like the ministers in government we get special titles: "Father", "Monsignor", "Your Lordship", "Your Eminence" (and sometimes in Malaysia even "Datuk" and "Tan Sri"). We have special garments that we wear at ceremonies, and there is even a daily "uniform", often called "clerical dress", that sets us apart from others.

Clericalism is not a phenomenon purely promoted by priests themselves. There is a culture within the church of automatically deferring to priests and putting us on a pedestal. The maxim that people should have to earn respect never seems to apply to members of the clergy (or, for that matter, to government ministers, judges, and royalty). We get told over and over again by people in our parishes: "Oh Father, you have given up so much for God."

Once this is repeated to us often enough, we can develop a sense of entitlement. Catholics spoil their priests. Parishioners in the airline industry upgrade us on aircraft to business or first-class seats. We are taken to dinner in the best restaurants. We soon expect to have the best of everything.

Abuse

That sense of entitlement leads us to believe that we can behave in any way we like. I have heard bishops blaming the phenomenon of sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy on the greater degree of sexual permissiveness in the world today. This is errant nonsense. The majority of the cases that have come to light seem to have happened 30 to 40 years ago, or even further back in time, as can be seen from the ages of the perpetrators who have been brought to book.

I believe that clericalism, coupled with the kind of arrested sexual development that can occur when you deny your basic sexual identity, can be found to be at the root of much of the terrible abuse that has occurred. The automatic trust and respect given to priests by their people also meant that parents unquestioningly and recklessly trusted them with their children.

Clericalism, like any caste system, also seeks to protect its own, and to preserve its privileged position. Bishops regularly moved priests who were sexual abusers from one place to another, and kept their crimes secret, on the grounds that they were protecting the reputation of the church and the image of the priesthood. Those priests went on to abuse children over and over again in each new location.

Gender bias

The male clergy jealously guards its caste privileges against inroads by women, denying that they can be priests on the grounds that a priest must be in persona Christi, mirroring Jesus Christ and standing in his place. Since Jesus was a man, only men are deemed capable of fulfilling this office.

How far are we supposed to push this? Must all priests then be circumcised, as Jesus was, and from Palestine, as he was? What about length of hair? Height? It is a ludicrous piece of reasoning that has resulted in men having all the key positions of authority, and women being relegated to the role of workers and worshippers, but never decision-makers.

I once was told by a priest who had previously worked in a bank that, just as bank employees who take a pay cheque from the bank should never publicly criticise its management, priests should never criticise any aspect of the church and its teachings. It is an unfortunate and dangerous analogy (especially given the state of the world's banking system today).

The church is not a perfect institution: it is always on a journey towards the truth, finite humanity struggling to discover the ways of an infinite God. And it is, like all human institutions, semper reformanda, always reforming itself.

(© The Walt Disney Company)

Of mice and men

It is perhaps then not such a bad thing that Sunni Islam, at least, does not have the kind of hierarchical structure of authority that has bred the sin of clericalism in the Catholic church. Otherwise the opinions of the ulama would have a weight that would bring Islam into disrepute.

It must be a relief to all Muslims that someone like the Saudi Sheikh Muhammad al-Munajid has no authority to speak for Muslims everywhere. Last month, in a religious affairs programme on al-Majd TV, the sheikh said that mice were instruments of Satan, and he condemned the positive depiction of mice in popular culture as seen in the Tom and Jerry cartoons and the character of Mickey Mouse. He proceeded to declare that Mickey Mouse should be killed.

It may be problematic for even the most ardent of Sheikh Muhammad's followers to kill a fictional and animated character. However, no such difficulties lie in the way of those who would wish to accord authority to the opinions of the chief justice of Saudi Arabia's highest court, who recently declared that the owners of television stations that broadcast "immoral" programmes should be killed.

When Sheikh Saleh al-Luhaidan's remarks were condemned by other Saudi clerics, he went on television to say that he had not meant to encourage murder. The station owners, he clarified, should be brought to trial and sentenced to death, after which they could be legally killed. So that's all right then.

---

Aloysious Mowe, SJ, was born after Merdeka and considers himself Malaysian by birthright and not by anyone's concession. The last time he checked his passport, it says he was born in Malaysia, not Tanah Melayu.

Death of Democracy : Umno(Baru) Transition Recycled ....

"To all appearances, we are beginning to lose grip of the rule of law.
The use of the Internal Security Act and of Sedition Laws to target
particular individuals further erodes the credibility of the
government.
Our actions exacerbate rather than calm the fear that
stokes civil and racial strife."
-Statement from KuLi, of Umno (23.09.08)

Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you;
be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them.
-W. Clement Stone

"Abdullah pledged to complete his promised reforms
before leaving office next March......."
- TheMalaysianInsider

******************************

At a time when the world is reeling from the financial crisis that's hitting the world markets, local warlords are fighting over the shrunken political/financial pie that they cannot seem to live without.
Politics seems to be all that our leadership seems to care about.

It is a very unsettling development that we see today- when one mild mannered and incompetent CEO, decides to effectively leave the management of state to another although retaining the post.
It is left to the workings of one who has no track record of leadership to his name (beyond the aristocratic bloodline, some "explosive issues" and the reported "Chineseblood-lust" when he declared that "May 13 has begun" ).
An unblushing full page spread of him in one of the MSM dailies, posing with piles of books so as to "look intellectual", comes to mind.
(Reminds me of the story of a politician who went to a bookstore, to buy "25 feet of books" to fill his bookshelf, with which he wanted to pose, for a photograph!).
The choreographed video of him (in his welcome address) on his blog, with his fake accent and amateurish gestures, is at best, laughable.
This is the glorious future of Umno/Malaysian leadership, (which as Anwar expects,) will wield the tongkat/baton with greater ferocity- with the help of a fascist (cum racist) 'godfather'. The "godfather" though, today makes a pretense of distancing himself from this "economist", by calling him names like 'coward' - which incidentally could very well be true.

The baton/tongkat will, in true-blue Umno "tradition", be passed on to this new "emperor designate". The new emperor will meanwhile pass the word through the "grapevine" (or the "little bird"), on his desired accomplice for the deputy,
- and the voices of Umno democracy ends there.
Just as everything else in the Malaysian "system", Umno Democracy is about the little man conforming to the desires of warlord politicians/ leaders, and not vice versa.
Anything else on show, will only be for media hype.

This new "naked emperor" will definitely need the tongkat (maybe a "fig-leaf" too) which will be wielded on behalf of the "old guard". Without the ability to bully the parliament with the two-thirds majority (and the ever present Mongolian ghost), he'll need all the tongkats available to prop himself up - and they'll have to come even from the scum of the earth.
In other words, he'll simply be the pretender on the throne - should he really manage to get there - and the same old game of mega-projects and piracy will go on (unless checked by a change in Govt).
Bakri Musa's "The Limp Replacing the Lame" could very well prove to be prophetic ....

As usual, the anointed successor will disregard the democratic process and assume the mantle of leadership with absolute/dictatorial powers, in an organisation that's supposed to practice and protect democracy.
Accordingly, he'll be showered with nauseating accolades upon accolades from all the underlings hoping for handouts and fresh opportunities to rise through the hierarchy of corruption and decadence, which has become the trademark of a racist & fascist organisation.
Without a doubt, they (the MSM) will be peddle flattery for the simpletons to consume- that he is the best, the wisest, the most fit to rule, the best leader, the most beautiful lips, forehead, chin, and not to mention "family heirlooms" which they'd scramble to kiss and worship.
Anything less would be considered "biadap" or "uncultured". To these "Pak Turuts" who make up the vast majority of the dominant political party, it's called in Umno-speak, "Malay Democracy, Leadership and Culture".
Anything else is said to be - "isn't our culture".

"He's a natural successor, etc, etc ....", said a 'political analyst' from UUM.
Perhaps, rightfully so - as he has nothing to his record, to speak for his leadership skills. He has right from the start rode on political patronage and his family name. In fact, some reports even suggest that he had once resorted to "stealing" an election victory with "postal votes" - in his own "stronghold"!
Just as the outgoing CEO was condemned for his cluelessness, the "natural successor" was apparently equally clueless (according to a "little bird") during his days, about affairs in his education ministry years. This pink-lipped wannabe however got away thus far, due to the "godfathers" who gave him protection with their tongkats, wielded as batons to club competition & dissenters to death (at least politically, if not literally).
He will, more likely that than the current "leadership", hobble along with the "tongkat" along paths thrust upon him, by the real masters at work behind the scenes.

The much publicised pledges for reforms prior to the passing of the current regime is just that - pledges, and nothing more. With real reforms, taking into account the intellectual bankruptcy of the political elite, theBN/Umno political machinery will soon cease to exist.
It is imperative that no reforms take place, if Umno is to survive.
It has to perpetuate the current system, or die!
Umno as we know it, cannot co-exist with the independent institutions of state - namely the Judiciary, Security Forces, Civil Service, Ruler's Conference. Numerous toothless commissions will probably be created as window dressing, which we have become so accustomed to.

Umno is incapable of reform - the 10 points P.Gunasegaran suggests in The Star today can only materialize in dreams, and thus, it would be more constructive for Guna to pick his nose (and The Star to stop charging readers for the ads), than advise Umno.
KuLi is there - attempting to lend some credibility to the Umno "pseudo-democracy". Being a political "has-been" and a lonely has been voice in the Umno wilderness, he today has the luxury of being realistic with his posturing, despite all his previous racist rhetoric.
With a mere 5 months to go, Anwar's scepticism on these Dollah pledges, is shared by all Malaysians of sound mind.

Those at the forefront of the campaign in the last elections had become the victims of the Umno aristocratic retribution.
Raja Petra and the Hindraf-5 have become the fall guys thus far.
Infantile attempts at making scapegoats of Teresa Kok and Ms. Tan for their own failures, (with bumbling arguments of "required protection", anti/unIslamic & what not)- and had backfired. Racial conflicts did not erupt despite concerted efforts of some parties.
To divert attention and sabotage the opposition, Anwar has hurdles piled upon him in the form of trumped-up charges. He could very well expect more "saifuls", danger to society/national security and conspiracy charges in the near future. There are others who could possibly "be on the watch-list" in an anticipated crackdown on civil liberties (a la "Ops Lalang II"), in the near future, under the 'new leadership".

As to who eventually runs the show amidst all the "wayang", it remains to be seen - as of now, 'the usual suspects' appear to be in competition, and one has already wished the other "good luck" ....
Rumour has it that one party wields a Mongolian dossier, while the other, is the master of sabotage & political subversion and has "pop appeal". Age/ time however doesn't isn't in favour of the old man - he may at best last another year, as the multiple bypass grafts to his heart have long passed their expiry dates. That he has survived this long, is in itself, one for the medical journals ....

An "Anwarista" I'm not - not by a long shot. However, it appears more than ever, that he is at present the only hope for any salvation from the "droppings" left behind by Mahathir.

This is what the crystal ball says for Malaysia- No Reforms.
Only the Mahathirist Umno (Baru) recycled.
And more than a "tongkat", Najib probably needs a "fig-leaf" ......

=========================================

Related:

• Dilema Tongkat Melayu - by YB Nik Nazmi

• United Malays National Organisation

• Ketuanan Melayu

**************************

Carnage On The Markets!!!

CNN: Crisis bailout for UK banks as markets dive

Britain unveils a $87.4 billion rescue package for its battered banking system as global stocks prices continue to crumble under the weight of the unrelenting financial crisis. European indices opened down sharply, following brutal losses in Asia. full story

• Nikkei plunges nearly 10 percent
• UK rescue plan | Analysis | Blogs
• Bernanke: Expect tough times ahead
• CNNMoney: Dow drops to 5-year low

Note: Wall Street would be interesting tonight .....
..................................................................

KLCI Top 10 Active Counters
Name	Last	Change	Vol
KNM	1.020	-0.080	682,057
RESORTS	2.570	-0.020	328,219
IOICORP	3.680	-0.200	300,740
GAMUDA	1.860	-0.150	282,965
IGB	1.260	-0.100	237,396
AMMB	2.680	-0.080	177,467
TIMECOM	0.325	+0.025	145,230
KINSTEL	0.500	-0.020	111,489
TMI	4.980	-0.170	109,280
SIME	6.550	-0.100	105,716

SinChew says:
The global financial market meltdown triggered by the US subprime crisis has snowballed to a magnitude too big for anyone to tackle.

The financial crisis that has taken the world by storm over the past one year, has not seemed to slack off despite efforts by the US government to keep dishing out rescue plans and joint actions with other central banks to inject massive sums of money into the markets.

No one seems to be able to tell when the crisis will actually retreat, but one thing is sure: it has displayed the trend of further propagation, as evidenced by the spread of its fallout to financial institutions in Europe calling for similar rescue packages.

The intensity of this crisis easily dwarfs the 1997/98 financial crisis in Asia.

When the Asian financial crisis broke out a decade ago, the vulnerability of Asia's financial system quickly came under the harsh criticisms of the West. Nevertheless, the latest crisis has sparked off from the world's most powerful economy, and Western critics, which mercilessly thrashed Asian economies back then, appear to be less critical of the root cause of the debacle this time.

The root cause, to some extent, reflects the laxity with which the United States has been regulating the disbursement of subprime mortgage loans as well as the derivatives evolved from them.

The financial institutions of many countries, in particular developed and emerging economies, have been lured by such derivatives, which explains the far and wide reach of the latest crisis.

Even Malaysian banks, long known for their conservative approach in handling their investments, have been implicated in the debacle. Maybank, for instance, has suffered approximately US$10 million from the Lehman Brothers bonds it is holding.

Which, is a direct impact the crisis has on the country's financial system. As for the indirect impact, the intensity could be way larger than what we have imagined.

Given credit tightening, it is anticipated that global economy will be adversely affected. The United States is now a full-blown victim with its economy heading towards a possible recession and consumerism taking a sharp dive.

Like Malaysia, most countries in the world are export-driven economies. The US imports US$2 trillion worth of products each year, exporting only US$1 trillion (or a trade deficit of US$1 trillion). Many countries, especially Asian countries, have viewed the US as a very important consumer market for their products.

With Uncle Sam sneezing now, the whole world is poised to catch the cold soon.

Although the crisis has erupted in the US, it could bear down on ordinary people like you and me.

From a peak of more than 1,500 points, the KLCI has retreated to around 1,000 points today, with the face values of many stocks suffering drastic contraction. On top of the political uncertainties in the country, the external financial turmoil and subprime crisis have also contributed to the recent falls in the local bourse.

The shares we are still holding on hand have devalued remarkably; even the values of trust units have been squeezed.

In view of the existing uncertainties, coupled with the sluggish global economy, it remains largely unknown when Bursa Malaysia will see its sunny days once again.

Although some petty investors with a little cash to spare may want to do some bargain hunting at this moment, many will still adhere to the "cash is king" belief.

More importantly, having gone through the recent falls, investors have picked up some wisdom now, and they will try to avoid absorbing stocks they are unfamiliar with, let alone commodities which they seldom hear of.

This financial crisis is bound to lash some horrendous impacts on global economy, and Malaysia is not going to be spared. The first victims could have been electronic manufacturers which export a sizeable portion of their products (currently at 16% of total export) to the States. If you are in an electronic business, or are working for one such company, you may want to get yourself mentally prepared for possible layoff.

But this might as well be an opportune time for self-improvement so that you could still land on a new job in case you are retrenched.

Moreover, consumers are generally more prudent when times are bad, or they may have to encounter problem servicing their house and car loans if they lose their jobs.

More importantly, we must refrain from swiping our cards unnecessarily during this period of economic uncertainties.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that we could safely sail past the assault of this gigantic storm bearing down upon us in a big way now. (By LIANG FENGYING, Business Desk/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)

MySinchew 2008.10.05
=================================

Note:
And our brainiacs are concerned about whacking unarmed citizens
on frivolous charges in courts for voicing dissent,
or clutching at straws for political survival/ mileage.
It's only too obvious what our "leadership" is good for - nothing!
They don't seem to realize that they too will be losers in the end
- not that they aren't already anyways ...
=================================

Tamil Schools: Pride & Prejudice

RPK Forever!!!
********************************************

"By ‘culture’ the writer doesn't refer to what is commonly assumed: temples, festivals, dance, music, attire, obsolete ways of life and so on. Today what is meant by culture revolves around education, healthcare, social equality, gender equality, harmony with environment, freedom to choose the ways of life, economic and human resources, elite formation in the society, and above all, the capability of a society to contribute to humanity in general."
- Tamil Youth Of Malaysia: Question Of Culture And Empowerment

*********************************************

http://www.coxandforkum.com/

Many an "indian" Malaysian would take pride in the effect of the Hindraf rally that kinda woke many Malaysians up from their 50 yr slumber party. However, speaking of the awakening of the Malaysian "Indian" (Tamilian, actually) psyche, it has barely dented it. The rally itself has simply been a source of pride - nothing beyond that.
Many barely seem to realize that the real question here is the economy, and how to break out of the psychological ghetto which the "education blueprint" of the NEP has subjected the poorer "Indian" to.
This doesn't actually refer to all Malaysians of "Indian" descent - but merely those who defend the "Tamil schools" as their "cultural bastion" of sorts, despite the socio-cultural impediments it "equips" the students with.

Of late, the Tamil schools issue was discussed quite a bit on MT, despite the fact that it wasn't the main topic in several articles published.
Obviously, it is a topic that's close to the heart of many "Indians" (specifically, Tamilians) - and hence could be termed "sensitive". We all know that discussion on "sensitive issues" are actively discouraged by the authorities, as many are "hypersensitive" to these things, for reasons only known to those who deem them so.

The strangest thing about this Tamil schools issue is that many the advocates whom I do know personally aren't themselves a product of Tamil school education. They however, would shy away from discouraging Tamil school education, for fear of appearing to be "unpatriotic" - much like those "silent majority" who shy away from condemning violent "Islamist" jihad openly.

As expected, some were apparently "disgusted" with my arguments against these "Tamil schools" - they obviously don't see the economic handicap the "pride" & "tamil school ghetto" "equips" the students with- which works to the benefit of their competitors.

I may be wrong in my perception that a Tamil "ghetto" education in Malaysia is a handicap, and would only be to happy to be enlightened on it (with sound argument). However, before anyone should seek to use "pride" or "pity" as the reason in defense of "tamil schools (or equating it "chinese education") - allow me to say that "pride" has no economic value, as compared to "chinese" or Malay education in Malaysia (and hence, 'holds no water').

One apologist even cited govt sponsored "studies" showing that Tamil schools performing better than "chinese" or Malay schools!
He (temenggong) says,
"Lots of misinformation about tamil schools.
As I posted before in MT with
statistics by the Education Ministry,
tamil schools are today
performing better than
national and chinese schools
in terns of exam results and in terms of attendance by students, meaning less dropouts."

I'm so impressed - Yeah, Man! I am!
That's definitely as true as MSM peddled "studies"/stories from our Ministry of Misinformation - that's as true as my pinky being longer than my middle finger,
the UiTM PhDs being on par with that of Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
or even
unlike Ahmad Ismail - RPK, Teresa Kok and the Sin Chew journalist (Ms Tan) are threats to national security .....

Before anyone chooses to lambast me for my opinion, let me make it clear that I don't care much about these Tamils schools, whether they keep it or or not, as it doesn't affect those who truly wish progress (as I see it) for their countrymen.
All I know for a fact is that it is an impediment/ handicap, for all those poor kids who need (the scorned upon) "remove class" in secondary schools which they have to attend in order to "assimilate" to national schools.
(I wonder if these classes still exist - either way, it's a "double whammy" for the argument against Tamil schools!)
..............................................................
The following was my last comment on this issue, in response to some other comments on MT:

No offense intended - As far as I know, that foolish pride of the "mother tongue" taken to such extremes is what is spelling some people's economic vulnerability.
I spoke of "economic feasibility" here - You just don't get it do you?
You cannot sacrifice economic feasibility at the altar of your mother tongue! Talk to me about the mother tongue and your mother, when people suffer without realizing it - just out of "pride".
And it always comes before your fall - as is seen now!

Malay may not be feasible in the globalised world - but they have had the means to make it comercially sustainable nationally thus far.
Same goes with Mandarin - however they are much stronger numerically/economically, and the economic might of China/Taiwan can help to a great extent, though.

Do Tamilians have that capacity?
I don't think so - Not by a long shot. Not even in India as a whole.
Maybe, just maybe in tiny and impoverished Tamil Nadu.
In Malaysia, they cannot even go beyond decent primary education.
Even in India many are opting for an English education to stay competitive. It's about assimilating and adopting every possible competitive advantage - not "pride". Civilisations have died becos of this pride - you become sitting ducks to cultural hegemony!

Pride is good. But it only helps it can be put to good use. If you wish for your "people/Identity" to be successful, they need liguistic/economic/technological edge. With neither of these, you're nothing no matter how much you shout out your mother tongue - and it would spell the doom of your people and your pride! People may not wanna come to your door, even when you lay out the red carpet if you have nothing competitive to offer.
When knowledge is lost to worthless pride, you'd only be able to live by backbreaking labour! Just take a good look at those who refused to give up "ancestral ways" - you'll see what I mean.
As the saying goes -"It the economy, it's the money, stupid!"

Nobody said you cannot or shouldn't learn your mother tongue - and nobody said you cannot learn it in national schools either.
I have American friends who think, speak and act American - and also speak and write their mother tongue flawlessly becos they take extra classes.
Some even learnt it on the Internet for free! Some don't speak or write - but contribute to the economy by being good at what they do, and know more about their history and heritage than many of us put together. They are very much in contact with all their brethren in India and have made their Indian brothers' intellect "marketable" and sought after in the world!
That's true pride - they have helped propel their brothers onto the world stage!

You know what - President Reagan was the guest of honour their very small association AGM!
President Reagan said in his speech then, "Never in history, has any community as small, contributed as much as you to the USA!"
Now that's respect earned!
It wasn't about their language - it was about their economic well being!

Another very successful friend passed SPM Tamil papers. He knew quality when he saw it! He knew that he would end up a failure had he opted for Tamil school education, even though his father taught in one.
He did it on his own out of interest - now that's true pride that's worthwhile!
I don't see why you need Tamil schools to preserve the language, if it cannot fill your belly or your minds with something competitive!

Whatever lah - Have it your way loneranger and you "proud" Tamilians. I've had just about enough of talking on this topic. It keeps going back to some worthless empty pride.
It's just like talking to someone who wants an "Islamic Republic" but doesn't know how it works. But they do "know" that they should be proud of it!

Take a good look around - Pride as sure as hell comes before the fall .... and you reap what you sow.
The world is a lonely place when you go hungry and have to beg for handouts ... even if you are full of pride for your "mother tongue"!

Peace guys!
For what it's worth - Makkal Sakthi Vazhghe!

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If you don't design your own life plan,

chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan.

And guess what they have planned for you?

Not much.
- Jim Rohn

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