Change? What Change?

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Things alter for the worse spontaneously,
if they be not altered for the better designedly.
- Francis Bacon

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Something stinks in the Malaysian political scene - and it sure as hell doesn't come from the "opposition" parties.

Well, we have good news and bad ....
The good news is, we've been hearing lots of rhetoric about the dominant parties of Barisan Nasional (ie, UMNO Baru, MCA & MIC) wanting change.
The bad news is, they don't know what that means!

This is especially noticeable in UMNO Baru.
I do not believe that the crisis in MCA and MIC deserves any mention - they are simply "unhatched eggs", rotting away without any sign of redemption.
UMNO Baru on the other hand despite not having "hatched" after 50 yrs. appear to be a little more resilient - they are able to withstand the rot thus far, and at least make a pretense of wanting to change.
But what is this change that they wish for the party?
By the looks of it, they only seem to want a "fresh coat of whitewash" for the carcass of defeat.

As in all losing parties, they tend to lash out at the most vulnerable target - in this case being "Mr. Pantang-dicabar" and his "beruk".
Mr. Chris has meekly agreed to "vacate the premises", after all the act of dagger-shoving fetish act at the last AGM, lest he too come in the firing line. Such pussycats ....

UMNO Baru is groping ....., Mahadear & Co are shooting & spitting .... in the dark.
All are equally clueless as to what needs to be done, beyond screaming for AAB's (and his beruk's, of course) blood (or office, rather).
"Some people" are desperate to lodge their candidates as the heir apparents in place of the current hierarchy (lest his legacy is undone), and have resorted to personal attacks on any other possible candidate.
He/ they wouldn't admit his/their faults (that have become festering wounds on the back of UMNO Baru, while keeping a straight face), but are quick to beat the drums of war, calling for patriotism (aka "Ketuanan Melayu") with subtle fear mongering.
And guess what - the peasants are just waiting for any rickety bandwagon that they can jump on, so as to hide the shame that they now face ........

As Raja Petra had mentioned - it appears that there is an active "campaign of disinformation" to make the Malay electorate feel "dispossessed" and insecure.
The dispossession of UMNO Baru members (due to lack of "negotiated contracts"?) is translated and spun in their small minds, as dispossession of the Malay RACE and Islam!
How things are different at present for the electorate thus far, as compared to the time of total dominance by UMNO Baru, they do not wish to question. They only fear the unknown ghosts that they see, as in the "Orang Minyak" story given by Raja Petra some time back.
There also appears to be an active process of "subversion" in states held by parties other than BN, exemplified by "requests" to scrap federal funded projects and the en-bloc resignation of village heads.
Not to mention the repeated attempts at subverting the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.
That's how small-minded they get - and they say that they want a change in mindset in UMNO Baru!

The questions I wish to pose are these -

• Would it make a difference at all with Kuli, NTR or Muhyiddin at the helm?
• Did they not see the need for the changes earlier?
• Have any one of them articulated the changes that are needed, beyond requesting that the quota system of Mahathirism be abolished so as to enable the challenge to the current leadership?
• Have any one of the "potential candidates" (aka Kuli, NTR, Muhyiddin, Mukhriz, Toyol) addressed issues that set the rot in place? Such as the corrupt Judiciary? The abuse of NEP? The billions of Ringgit apparently lost in numerous scams/ mega projects/ white elephants that dot the nation?
• Have any one of them proven themselves as anything other than the proverbial "Pak Turut" in the past?
• Have they addressed the "ghosts of Mahathirism" and the dynasties of aristocrats?
• Have they requested any accountability from the financial giants on "negotiated tenders/contracts" that were awarded?
• Are they willing to do away with Mahathirism, Mahathirites & money politics?
• Do they see Mahadear for what he truly is, beyond his pseudo-intellectual facade?
• Do they see that all his judgements of character (for viable successors) have admittedly, been erroneous thus far?
  

To all these questions, the obvious answer is a big emphatic "NO"!
As far as I can see, non of them have articulated their ideas beyond the same old mantra of NEP, Ketuanan Melayu and "Islamist" rhetoric, with much fear mongering and threats of "persecution" for the electorate in Pakatan Rakyat states.
Of late, somebody has even stooped so low as to use the royal household of Kelantan, to get their racist ideas firmly entrenched in the Malay mind - I seriously wonder who that might be ......

The saddest part of it all is the fact that "peasants in Gucci" seem to be cheering one aristocrat or other, totally clueless as to what is required of real leaders.
The latest call was that of some youth faction "pseudo-ideologue" (who apparently is partly to blame for the Kris-shoving act) - he says that without a "Blog", one doesn't deserve to be a leader!
Holy mother of Idiots!
Since when was having a blog, the epitome of good leadership qualities?
What are they gonna write? .... where to get the best tempe & ikan masin? Or is it where they can find the hottest chicks? Or the number of hits that they get, without saying anything of substance?
Or could it be that they wish to simply advertise to the "peasant minds" that they are now "internet savvy bloggers", and so deserve to be the next UMNO firebrand leader?
They must be thinking that being a blogger is "glamourously far out" and at the cutting edge of technology, in line with their "Cinta IT" motto/ songs that they publicise on TV!

Anyway, knowing their penchant for symptomatic solutions, this whole "head-hunting" in UMNO will most probably be just another "sandiwara" that will be enacted, so that peasants will get "newer recycled aristocrats" in the sham "democratic processes" that are so UMNO - dulu, kini dan selamanya.
The propaganda machinery would then go on overdrive to extol the greatness and virtues of this "Ketuanan Melayu" candidate.

One might want to know - Just what is this "Change" that the intellectually bankrupt peasants of UMNO Baru clamor for?
Just a couple of heads to roll, and then it is all fine and dandy?
For UMNO, that's probably how the game is played.

Yep - peasants can then start shouting themselves hoarse "Hidup whoever!" and jumping for joy at the thought of UMNO Baru having started the process of 'change'.
That's all it takes to dupe the peasant - a fresh coat of paint!

So, it appears that UMNO Baru hasn't gotten over the first phase of grief in death - Denial.

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"It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg.
We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg.
We must be hatched or go bad."
- C.S. Lewis

Crouching Monkey, Wounded Tiger - Ep. III

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"It is like the phases of grief in death of a loved one.
You have denial, loss, anger, sadness, and then you come to accept it."
================

The monkeys are crouching in corners, and the tigers are wounded.
That appears to be what is happening right now in Barisan National.
The wound was so incapacitating although it wasn't that big, cos the tiger was sick to start with.
For UMNO Baru members, it was almost death itself (one really died!), which is why I started with the quote about the 5 stages of grief in death.
That appears to be what's going on within the main members of the ruling coalition - there appears to be no direction, except towards damage control after some denial.

After taking stock, death, squabbles and resignations the "stage of loss" is now over.
At present it is the phase of anger.
Politicians are right now gung-ho, shooting in the dark at anything that supposedly is moving, and hoping to strike a chord with the people and media (bloggers too - Kelembai will vouch for that!).
What it needs now, are some bogeymen to whack - and like magic, Kuli and TDM have appeared with their weapons fully loaded. They are definitely shooting away like cowboys .....
All of a sudden, for these two dinosaurs out of nowhere, democracy in UMNO Baru became the most important thing!

Kuli & Mahathir, who were silent about the dictatorship in UMNO Baru since its inception, have suddenly "realized" its folly!
Surprise, surprise - It is now their mission in life to "reform" UMNO Baru!!
At least Mahathir enjoyed the fruits of his labor ... Couldn't say the same for poor 'ol Kuli though.
I really wonder what kept Kuli silent for all those years - Mahathir must've done a real good job on him ...... pathetic, it sounds.
Freedom of expression & democracy is now vital!
Room for dissent is now so important!
Malaysia has become a "Police State" - horrors!!!
Mahathir never interfered with the judiciary - it was all the tribunal's doing on their own free will, over a neighbour's spat between TSA & YDPA!
The tribunal should apologize!
Roti-Man now appears to be on the defensive & openly claims to have done well - gone are the humble words, "History will judge me....". (Speak of "masuk bakul angkat sendiri" .....).
Mr. Mahathir, my little toe is laughing .....

As Raja Petra has said, AAB could have set things right in his years in office, but had chosen not to. It was simply becos the taste of the "stolen fruit" and absolute power was simply too sweet to let go - no wonder TDM stayed there for 22 yrs!
There's now plenty of mudslinging going on. Although the mud slung in the "love triangle" of AAB, Kuli & TDM is like watching mud-wrestling, it would leave all of us "high & dry". Pretty entertaining for some, but leaves you empty with a few bucks short.
Certainly hope that the mud-slinging and hot-air would stop, and all of them either sit down and talk, or call for an EGM and challenge the leadership once and for all.

All this bickering will get the investors very jittery - not to mention the Malay community (who are being made to feel insecure with the racist rhetoric of Kuli).
Yup - it definitely would get the Malay community quite nervous.
It is specifically meant to make the Malay community feel "dispossessed" in the face of losing political power to "orang asing" in Penang. (That should tell the "orang asing" who have lived in this country for generations, that they never had any power at all under UMNO Baru doesn't it? That they were merely eunuchs in the UMNO court, although they had somebody at the helm as a show-boy!)

Oh yes, it has got many a sympathetic & patriotic Malay scurrying to "Save UMNO Baru", Demi Agama, Bangsa dan Negara - Sympathy and fear, sure are powerful magnets.
The sympathetic seem to have quickly forgotten that it was the mental slavery (perpetrated by "certain parties") that they were subjected to, that is at fault for their current predicament! .
But then, we all know how the saying goes ... "Biar mati anak, jangan mati adat" - so I guess, to some unthinking people, emotional decisions give great comfort, despite the empty belly.
(Hey- the empty belly can be blamed on "orang asing", Singapore, white-man or the Jews, right?).

But I suppose, I have greater confidence in the Malays - they aren't as gullible and emotional as before. They are more urban & educated now. They also know the level of corruption that is prevalent and that the pie is shrinking as a result.
They also know that they too have much to lose, should they over-react or get emotional & irrational.
It somehow seems like somebody is planning for something "big" (after the failed "che det" attempt by a wannabe lately), so that it would justify a coup d'etat within UMNO Baru and "emergency" for the nation.

Of all people, I least expected Raja Petra to come up with the 5.13 story as a backdrop for his "reasonings", should UMNO Baru implode.
"May 13? What May 13?" - That was something I remember reading in the Corridors of Power section of Malaysia Today. And I remember someone who was quite brave in the Barisan Rakyat rallies saying something like "Langkah Mayat Saya or orang Melayu" or something like that .....
Hmmmm - I wonder if it was just electioneering hot air!
To think that some people think that UMNO Baru "NEEDS" to be saved now by a "Unity Govt", after all that it has done to the people and the nation .... yes sir - I'm sure Tok Guru, LKS, Karpal and LGE will be ecstatic about it!

The excuse that we need to cave in to the threat of economic blackmail just doesn't cut it, RPK!
You don't work with blackmailers - you KILL 'em (at least jail 'em). Period!
If caving in to blackmail is what being Malay or Malaysian - I want no part of it!
That too after being accused of being too chicken/ turncoats to vote for PAS/ S-46 in earlier elections!
Now we abandon all that "idealism" for some juicy peanuts like beggars? The "Chinese" should remember the allegation that they "don't have balls", right?
No thank you, Pete!
Hope you at least enjoyed the "teh tarik" you had (hope you had company...) when you came up with this idea!

Anyway, I definitely do understand his concern, but isn't that subscribing to the "fear & apathy" factors that has kept despots in power thus far?
As I had mentioned in one of my comments, nobody suggested or handed them the Kris to be shoved up where the sun don't shine ..... if it is done, it will only be done out of their own free will - just like how they orchestrated the events that led to their electoral debacle.
Nobody put them up to it (I would reserve my comments where Mahathir is concerned, though - but he's one of them too!).

Of course ..... all this while, the monkeys are crouched in a corner, hoping for the dust to settle - only then can they start monkeying around.
When the monkeying starts, the voices of the UMNO Baru dynasties will ring loud and clear once again - the disdain which aristocrats hold for the masses will be seen in its full glory, back with a vengeance.
But that's another story, for another time .....

For now, with the threat of economic blackmail in the air (not to mention the subtle threat of 5.13 from the most unlikely people), I'm beginning to think that PR should now go on the offensive and win over all BN MPs and grab power at all cost to kill off these blackmailing thugs ......... even if it means buying them over like goats! They can be dealt with later.
As Smith says, "Hang the ethics" and screw the Blackmailers!
Yes - Go for it PR. Go for it DSAI, Tok Guru, LKS!
Just Do It!

Just can't wait for the final phase of grief in political losers - the acceptance of political defeat/ death!

Crouching monkey, Wounded Tiger Pt. II

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"It is as sudden as death. The only thing different is that you do not have to walk into a funeral home, peek into the box and say, 'Well, he was a nice guy'.
It is like the phases of death.
You have loss, anger, sadness, and then you come to accept it."
- a defeated Liberal.
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Political life is also exhilarating.

Immersed within its subculture, politicians readily believe that they are affecting change in a needed direction. As they are socialized into this subculture, they become convinced that they are becoming better at doing what they are supposed to do.
Initial feelings of uncertainty and confusion are replaced by confidence and determination. In the process, their status as politician becomes their master status, overtaking the various other statuses they occupy. However, while self-assured at this point, they are particularly vulnerable. It is within this context that political defeat at the polls is experienced as death.

The imagery of death rings true for yet another reason. The defeat generates a series of sympathetic telephone calls and visits from family members, friends and constituents offering words of solace and comfort.
As incapacitating as defeat may be, the defeated member must make sense of it. Expressions of mourning and grief are not experienced to the exclusion of other lines of thought, notably those helping to make the loss more understandable and palatable. In time, and with the assistance of others, a series of explanations for the loss -- rationalizations -- are embraced which serve to reduce the individual's culpability.

We now turn to the types of accounts employed by the defeated politicians to assuage their bruised egos. In short, they rely upon a variety of rationalizations which, whether recognized or not, serve to deflect responsibility for the outcome. These are presented as justifications for their defeat and situate the outcome of the election as being outside of the politician's control.

The Party and the Leader

In terms of party dynamics, ex-politicians may also blame their loss on their leader, the organization of the party, unpopular political decisions, or the calling of an election at an inopportune time. In this way, when the entire party is "swept" during an election, it supports the sentiment that the defeat was the result of the party platform or leadership issues rather than anything the politician could control or be responsible for.

In the process, ex-politicians distance themselves from responsibility for the loss and attempt to shield themselves from the negative repercussions accompanying the political defeat. In looking at party dynamics to explain their defeat, some politicians argue that the party did not have a sufficiently sound infrastructure in place to support its members. For instance, some maintain that proper educational mechanisms were unavailable.

In comparing their party to other parties during the election campaign, the competition, in their view, was better organized, thereby disadvantaging them in their quest for victory. Tied to the issue of party organization is a belief that the party leader can either make or break one's own political campaign.
Therefore, in an attempt to distance oneself from the defeat, ex-politicians also look to place some of the blame on the leader of their party.
Once again, cues from the public often supply the ex-politician with the ammunition necessary to re-direct the blame for the loss. While believing ahead of time that a loss was imminent may bring some consolation by providing the politician some time to plan and prepare for the defeat, there are still accompanying feelings of anger and possibly sorrow and guilt that need to be dealt with. However, if these emotions can be displaced onto something external to the politician, it helps to dampen the assault on one's ego.

By developing a rationalization which situates blame on a variety of seemingly external factors, the ex-politician if offered a more convincing justification as to why he or she was unsuccessful. At the same time, it allows the ex-politician to save face and deal with negative feelings experienced as the result of the defeat.
Having people encourage the belief that the loss had to do with the government as a whole and not the individual, allows the ex-politician to accept this rationalization. In the next example, we see that having friends indicate that the defeat was the result of her party affiliation rather than anything which she could have controlled, helps the individual come to terms with the defeat.



** IMPORTANT NOTE:
Please refer to earlier post Crouching Monkey, Wounded Tiger Pt I.
The above are comments from the article "Trauma of political defeat." It was written in 2002.
For those who wish to give Political Defeat Gifts to Grieving Parties please click here.
"Crouching Monkey, Wounded Tiger Pt III" will be coming to this blog soon .....

Crouching Monkey, Wounded Tiger Pt. I

"It is as sudden as death. The only thing different is that you do not have to walk into a funeral home, peek into the box and say, 'Well, he was a nice guy'.
"It is like the phases of death. You have loss, anger, sadness, and then you come to accept it."

Brownlee, Jason. "Ruling Parties and Regime Persistence: Durable Electoral Authoritarianism in Egypt and Malaysia" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Philadelphia Marriott Hotel, Philadelphia, PA, Aug 27, 2003

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper demonstrates why electoral authoritarian systems benefit from party institutions that prevent leadership rifts by accommodating dissent and managing elite interests. I present Egypt and Malaysia’s experiences with ruling parties and regime persistence, the contrast outcome to incumbent defeat. By regulating leadership politics, the NDP in Egypt and UMNO in Malaysia have held together a dominant cadre and repeatedly blocked opposition forces from winning control of government.

Barclay, Pascael. "Do Authoritarian Elections Matter? Political Business Cycles in Electoral Authoritarian Regimes" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the ISA's 49th ANNUAL CONVENTION, BRIDGING MULTIPLE DIVIDES, Mar 26, 2008

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Do elections in authoritarian regimes matter? It is often assumed that they are mere window dressing. Yet it is also possible that these elections have independent effects, which make authoritarian leaders care about the elections, despite their ability to manipulate the results through fraud and repression. One way to discover whether authoritarian elections matter is to examine political business cycles (PBCs) in electoral authoritarian (EA) regimes. This study shows that PBCs occur cross-nationally in authoritarian regimes that hold regular elections, but only when the incumbent faces a challenger. In fact, government consumption increases by .43% in election years in competitive elections. Although this number is small, elections have the largest impact on government spending of the variables included in the model. Also, evidence from case studies portray PBCs in authoritarian regimes as targeted and informal. Therefore, in the case of informal spending, much pre-electoral spending may not be captured by overall government consumption or, in the case of targeted spending, the magnitude of the increase for certain groups will similarly not be captured by this aggregate variable. From the evidence presented in this study, we can conclude that PBCs occur in competitive authoritarian settings, indicating that dictators care about electoral returns.

Thompson, Mark. and Kuntz, Philipp. "To Steal or not to Steal: Authoritarian Regime Behavior after Electoral Defeat" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Hilton Chicago and the Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, IL, Sep 02, 2004

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: The terrain that authoritarian regimes enter after electoral defeats has been roughly surveyed but not yet well mapped. We show that there are other outcomes than the two options of stealing an election and retaining office or accepting defeat and surrendering power. There is also the possibility of regimes stealing elections but losing power after failing to effectively repress popular protest. In other cases, non-democratic rulers have accepted defeat but still maintained ultimate political power. We then offer a few explanations for these different paths. We coin the term “electoral sultanism” to stress the importance of personalistic interests in explaining electoral theft. Parallel to this was the argument that regimes with stronger institutional interests are more likely to concede that the opposition has won because regime members are better able to defend vital interests outside of power. Whether regimes hold onto power after accepting defeat depends basically upon the scope of the election. Conceding defeat in polls that are constitutionally limited because they are local, or only referenda, or constrained in their impact due to “dual power” in the state does not lead to the loss of power and can even contribute to authoritarian consolidation. Only conceding defeat in national elections for the highest office makes a withdrawal from power inevitable. Limited polls have been stolen nonetheless because autocrats estimated the costs in acknowledging defeat - a loss of reputation or the creation of “oppositional islands” - as too high.

"Anjing Tersepit" Psyche in UMNO Baru / Govt?

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"All political revolutions, not affected by foreign conquest, originate in moral revolutions.
The subversion of established institutions is merely one consequence of the previous subversion of established opinions. "
-John Stuart Mill
____________________________________

The recent 12GE results have opened the Pandora's AMNO's Box in Bodohland- especially that of AMNO Baru's politics and mindset.
They appear to want a change in "leadership" but don't appear to want to change their attitude or the system within, and are thus quite confused and clueless.

The weak neo-Fascist cabinet line-up, is nothing but a superficial face-saving gesture at "Reform" of an administration in denial, conflict and under siege.

As a result, the Government/ AMNO Baru appears to have entered a phase wherein they behave like "anjing tersepit" - hence they appear to be lashing out in confusion at anything and everything, while scrambling and grappling in the dark for direction.

The unrelenting search for political scapegoats & bogeymen today, while denying the sins of the past is the communicable disease that has afflicted AMNO Baru - but there's plenty of anger and rhetoric about "reform", though .....
Some other Fascists are furious ........ and they wanna prove themselves as the real Fascists with teeth. They're baying for blood like hyenas and They need prey.
They need to subdue the People of Bodohland, who have woken up and aren't so bodoh after all!
Without a subdued people this is no longer Bodohland! They need to return Bodohland to its former Fascist "glory" .......

Let us see what our "prominent politikus"/ agencies have said of late ......

1. Mr.Badwa believes that he has a strong mandate as in the valid BN majority in parliament. Mahatheeran believes that one needs the 2/3 majority to be PM.
   
2. So, Mahatheeran says Mr.Badwa is shameless to hold on to his post.
3. Mr.KaTie, after having lost Selangor says, ""Dalam blog saya yang kini mencapai hits lebih 40,000 .....", declaring himself a full fledged blogger of repute (and all he has done is request "feedback" from people, who weren't really giving much feedback)!! LOL. ..... quite a "pencapaian"!
   
4. Mr.KaTie said that there was "interference" in selection of election candidates.
   
5. Mr.Chris says that nomination for AMNO Baru candidates in recent elections had no "middleman" influence, as alleged by Mahatheeran.
   
6. While acknowledging that reforms were needed in AMNO Baru Youth, Mr.Chris also says that Mr. Phuart himself needs to reform with the whole party hierarchy - but he supports the current hierarchy.
7. AMNO Baru Ketua Kampungs tender resignation from posts, but wish to be on Federal payroll for duties of a different description - that's where our taxes go.
8. Some agencies/ depts wish to prosecute non-Muslims for "Khalwat" in Civil Courts - (if that isn't a brain-dead idea, I really don't know what is!) while pedophiles, rapists and murderers run free.
   
9. Then, we also have a campaign by a Dr. Must-Shittah who wants to "save" a British prostitute (who is apparently the daughter of a Pakistani tutor-cum-child molester), while neglecting the economic plight of Malaysian "working girls". This Dr. Shittah definitely deserves the Pea-Brain Award for 2008, up hers!
   
10. No "Opposition" politician can be invited by schools for functions, unless approved by Mr. Chris or his "machais".
11. Mr. SuKun tells LGE to stop "harping" on land scams that are "being investigated" by ACA. Meanwhile, Mr.Cutting and Uncle Sam are silent after being neutered.
    
12. The Ex-Putri [Non-Wanita AMNO Baru but AMNO Baru member??!!] Minister says, Tourism MoUs with Tourism Action Councils in "Opposition"-ruled states will be terminated, but "will appoint commitee members from tourism community" to help develop tourism in these states.
13. Mahatheeran promotes the "rising son" (the failed Tongkang Medivest entrepreneur, who "does a Che Det" while hiding behind Daddy), saying that AAB should "stop listening to family".
14. Zaid says that Govt should apologize to Tun Salleh for the 1988 Judicial Crisis. Others say Mahatheeran should apologize ......
    
15. Mahatheeran says everything in the 1988 Judicial crisis was "Legal" (not necessarily "right") - hence not wrong (that's what Hitler said about his anti-semitic laws....), and no need for apologies - interesting.....
16. Mahatheeran says he resigned "respectably" when the time was due .....
17. Mahatheeran now says, Mr.Badwa is "shameless"!!
    
18. Mahatheeran also supports The Disgraced Coolie's calls for an EGM and wishes to contest for Presidency!
19. Mahatheer promotes the obedient son (who "does a Che Det") while saying that Mr.Badwa should "stop listening to family".
20. Mahatheeran drops initial overt support for Mr.Badwa, then the "mongolian candidate", and now "doesn't know why" he has changed his mind to anybody else. He has also changed his mind about the ground rules of the AMNO Baru elections - it was good in his time, apparently! (I wonder what else is coming.... and we say AAB flip-flops ....)
21. And the great "A-moral but legally upright" Mahatheeran says - Mr.Badwa is "shameless" .......
    

These are just a few things that have been happening in Bodohland.
Now, with a Pakatan Rakyat coalition to contend with, I really wonder what else would be in store for the nation as a whole in time to come ......

"Somebody" is subverting the AMNO Baru Federal Govt,
and "somebody" else is subverting the "Opposition" State Govts.
- I'm pretty sure though, that Pakatan Rakyat isn't party to either of these subversions at present .....

This is simply the royal rumble, bloodlust & chaos in al-AMNO Baru's Bodohland ....... what else can we expect from these "anjing tersepit", huh?

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"May we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion."
-Dwight D. Eisenhower


Note:
All names and incidents mentioned above (except for the quotations, Zaid, Tun Salleh and Pakatan Rakyat which were added for "realism") are purely a figment of a CruzinThot imagination - any other similarities with people or organisations dead or alive, is purely coincidental.

Razak's UMNO, Mahathir's UMNO Baru Dilemma.

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Let the people think they govern
and they will be governed.
-- William Penn
_____________________________

The rise of UMNO was none other than an elaborate scheme involving some Malay aristocrats and the British.
Laws were formulated after the great 1947 Hartal (still enforced today) to suppress dissent and handicap other parties (and render them enemies of state). Those who fell in line and "toed the line" were rewarded, while the rest were "punished".
Among those who were "punished" was non other than the Father of UMNO himself, who dreamed of a nation based on trust and cooperation.

Razak wouldn't let it be, though - He knew how the party and state worked (stuff he learnt well from the Brits and Japanese).
He was a visionary, no doubt (although being one that differed greatly, from that of Onn Jaafar and Tunku). Tunku was simply Razak's poster-boy he knew nothing about the workings of the state - it was Razak who wielded power.
Razak did his homework well in planning for his rise to power and the continuation of his legacy (some say that he rigged all elections in the party to favor him!!).
And Mahathir was his "anointed".

We've had 'watershed' moments almost every decade since Merdeka was proclaimed.
1957 - Merdeka
1969 - May 13, Mahathir sacked (followed by meteoric rise through the ranks upon his return in '72 under Razak - possibly planned?)
1978 - Mahathir becomes DPM (then
1988 - Mahathir-UMNO-Judicial Crisis/ UMNO Baru
1998 - Asian Financial Crisis/ Anwar Saga
2008 - BN electoral losses/ return of Anwar and what else?

What has happened recently is nothing short of a watershed in our Nation's history. The mighty BN/ UMNO Baru machinery was no match for the people's voice.
So, what happens next?

We are now faced with stark choices as a result.
It is primarily the question of the (UMNO pretender's) political/ cultural hegemony - Are we willing to do away with it?

There are still many among us who still want to believe that the divisive race based politics is the only way forward - even if it is only for selfish interests. More so among a people who pine for sectarian glory that existed only in UMNO (Baru) myths.
UMNO Baru philosophy for nationhood appears to me, as simplistic and silly as this - "Everything, has everything to do with Power, Money, Race & Religion" .... period.
Let us not fool ourselves into believing the propaganda "BS" that UMNO Baru is Onn Jaafar's UMNO of old that "fought for Merdeka".

The two entities are as different as night & day - It is simply a tall tale that the some aristocrats would want 'peasants' to believe - and there definitely are a whole lot of peasants out there who swallow it all up lock, stock & barrel.
To these peasants, ignorance is bliss, and denial is sweet.
Over 25 years, peasants have been programmed to think that there can be no alternative to what we had for 50 yrs, and all that mattered was that the "stability & peace & status quo" at all costs.
To them, there's supposed to be nothing worth more than going about with their daily routine in "peace, harmony and stability" .... and so they unwittingly become their own oppressors.

In the last Elections, that appeared to change somewhat although not significant enough- some have started thinking again, even though with misgivings and a heart bleeding for the UMNO of old.

The allies of this UMNO Baru entity are actually (willingly) blind to the fact that it is parasitic in nature. It survives on rhetoric that appeals to the "basic instincts" & "siege mentality" amongst the members and electorate, devoid of ideas on Nationhood. They are all ultimately reduced to sectarian parties begging for handouts, to enrich themselves and facilitate UMNO Baru's hegemony.
This might, incidently explain its current leadership, membership, representation, conflicts, dilemma/ crises.

How does it work?
Besides the "peasants who only end their days as "runners", first & foremost it courts a potential threat to the planned leadership with "promises".
It then "kills off" the intellectuals within its ranks who may rock the boat - unless they are willing to be docile, obedient and mindless zombies to ascertain the planned leadership. (They will of course be used to propagate its feudal system)
Then comes the so-called "allies" .....
UMNO Baru's survival depends on its ability to suck the political life/will out of its "allies", based on the hallowed "social contract". The allies are tempted into the BN with promises of material gain and are thus "drugged, neutered and corrupted" into impotence, while remaining there grinning for posterity.

Contrary to their convictions - The impotence of UMNO Baru's allies, their tendency for racist delusions and the absence of Malay intellectuals are its Achilles Heel.
The very fact that a septuagenarian is the alternative candidate attests to this fact - there simply isn't any other viable candidate that's trustworthy enough!

These would be the main contributing factors to the impending "implosion" of UMNO Baru, which effectively translates into the collapse of the Alliance/ BN juggernaut - and of course the rise of BR.



Further reading:
Where is the Spirit of Merdeka?
A Social Contract of "Asian Values".
"Asian Values" 101
The "Social Contract" - A Malaysian "Cold War"?
Progress of a Nation - the flip-side.
Class Politics - the Other Option?
A Malaysian Disease of Fear and Apathy


***The above is a personal perspective on the Malaysian political scene and as such may be debatable, depending on the shades through which one looks.

Mahathirisms.

Here are a few Mahathirisms to consider from BBC & Wikiquote:-

"There were times when I was elated with what I thought was my success. But mostly I feel disappointed, because I achieved too little result from my principal task, the task of making my race a race that is respected, a race that is honorable, a race that is highly regarded." - June 21, 2002,

"It is good governance by good people that we need. And feudal kings, even dictators, have provided and can provide good governance." - April 26, 2002, speech.

On Bumiputras........

"The Malays are spiritually inclined, tolerant and easy-going. The non-Malays, and especially the Chinese, are materialistic, aggressive and have an appetite for work. For equality to come about, it is necessary that these strikingly contrasting races adjust to each other." - 1970 book, "The Malay Dilemma."

"They know it, they see it right before their eyes but they learn nothing. Next time they will do it again."

".....We tell them if you use crutches, you will not be able to stand up. Throw away the crutches, stand up straight because you still have the capacity."

"........ I know very well the meaning of crutches but somehow or rather they want the easy way out. If I get an AP and I sell it and make some money, it’s all right, they say."

"..... But every one of them sold their contracts. Sold and sold and sold until finally the last man could not sell and had to do the work. He then found he would make terrible losses and so he tried to cut corners, used bad materials and the labs collapsed."

On Muslims....

Disunited, confused about Islam, fighting each other for power and lacking in essential knowledge and skills... Muslims today have reached the lowest point of their development. - January 2003

"We [Muslims] are actually very strong, 1.3 billion people cannot be simply wiped out." - OIC Conference, Oct 16,2003

On Jews ......

The Jews for example are not merely hook-nosed, but understand money instinctively.
- 1970, the Malay Dilemma

"But today the Jews rule the world by proxy. They get others to fight and die for them. They invented socialism, communism, human rights and democracy so that persecuting them would appear to be wrong so they may enjoy equal rights with others. With these they have now gained control of the most powerful countries. And they, this tiny community, have become a world power"
- OIC Conference, Oct 16,2003

"The Jews robbed the Palestinians of everything, but in Malaysia they could not do so, hence they do this, depress the ringgit."

"We may suspect that they, the Jews, have an agenda, but we do not want to accuse. And incidentally, we are Muslims, and the Jews are not happy to see the Muslims progress." - Oct. 10, 1997, speech during Asian financial crisis.

On Europeans .....

They are very clever, brave and have an insatiable curiosity... unfortunately they are also very greedy and like to take forcibly the territories and rights of other people.

The culture and the values which they will force us to accept will be hedonism, unlimited quest for pleasure, the satisfaction of base desires, particularly sexual desires. Our way of life must be the same as their way of life. Asian values do not exist to them. -June 2003

"The Sept. 11 attack on America, which supported Israel, has made an excuse for the Anglo-Saxon Europeans to return to their old violent ways. Their strategy to fight terrorism is through attacking Muslim countries and Muslims, whether they are guilty or not." - June 19, 2003, speech.

On Australia..........

This country stands out like a sore thumb trying to impose its European values in Asia as if it is the good old days when people can shoot aborigines without caring about human rights. - December 2002

"... white trash of Asia".

"If Australia wants to be a friend to Asia, it should stop behaving as if it is there to teach us how to run our country. It is a small nation in terms of numbers and it should behave like a small nation and not be a teacher."

On America .....

"American voters are not astute and will be fooled by President George W. Bush's propaganda."

"The American people are, by and large, very ignorant and know nothing about the rest of the world.... Yet they are the people who will decide who will be the most powerful man in the world".

"I've never seen anybody so rude" - on Al Gore's speech at the KL APEC summit.