March 24 2009
A phase of repression descended on Malaysia as Najib Razak seizes control of the reins of power, even before officially taking over as Prime Minister, and unleashes his brutality and violence on the people.
Last night, a rally of about 10,000 people from all races wasmercilessly attacked by the police with tear gas and acid-laced water cannon minutes after I began my speech in Bukit Selambau. Scores of people were arrested including my chief of staff, MPs, and senior aides to the Chief Minister of Kedah.
To justify their iron hand tactics and blatant violation of the people’s fundamental liberties, the police have claimed that the rally was illegal. These are baseless claims as the event took place on private property and adhered to the rules.
Last night’s show of brute force is but the latest in a series of harsh and dictatorial action by the government under Najib against the people. Also yesterday Suara Keadilan and Harakah werebanned by the Home Ministry without any justification. These events only too starkly remind us of the cruel and authoritarian style of leadership under which Malaysians suffered for many years. The police force has become a band of marauders. The press is muzzled and those who speak the truth about the abuses carried out by the ruling clique are arrested, beaten and bullied.
The institutions of governance serve the interests of an elite clique which will exceed all boundaries of the law to retain power. A return to that era would be a disaster for this country and people of conscience around the world should condemn these unscrupulous actions.
It is quite clear that despite his superficial offers for cooperation and bipartisanship, the olive branch which Najib Razak extended to the opposition early this month is really a dagger in disguise.
In two weeks Malaysians will once again return to the polls in three important by-elections. Once again all forms of trickery, cheating and bribery will be employed by the UMNO led BN government in order to defeat the opposition. But we are confident that Malaysians will register a referendum, much like they already have done in Kuala Terengganu and in Permatang Pauh, against the brutal and inhumane policies of the government. The movement for change and reform in Malaysia will push forward and will succeed.
ANWAR IBRAHIM
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I have this hunch that Najib will revive the Singapore-Malaysia Water Talks once he becomes PM. Such a move would serve 3 purposes:
1. Distract the Electorate (Singapore is Malaysia’s favourite bogeyman)
2. End internal squabbles inside BN so he can consolidate power
3. Use the Water Talks to demonstrate to the Electorate that he is still their man.
For such a purpose, the Water Talks will consist of a lot of cross-causeway rhetoric with prolonged negotiation. Whether the Water Talks will result in better terms for Malaysia is immaterial. Malaysia already lost in the last 2 water negotiations, so public expectation to secure anything for Malaysia is actually very low.
Donaldson Tan
I agree. This is a tried and tested political tool used by past premiers.
There may be a lot of blood shed soon. Refugees might be streaming south as the fight for power spills over racial issues as usual.
Witness how a blessed country like Malaysia – with oil & gas, Oil palm plantations, clean water, tin mines, abundance land and bountiful seas potentially go down the drain in the next 2 years… a very sad tale indeed.
Memories of the riots of 1969, May 13, etc – this time it will be worse as Mahatir fans the flames……
Nagib has to “seize” power to be PM, and continue to be in power at all cost
Anwar is all out for revenge regardless
Who cares for the lives of others ?
Singaporeans take a moment here to reflect…..peace cannot be taken for granted.
Water and gas supplies? – towards security soon as Singapore opted additionally for alternate energy LNG and sourcing from Qatar, and water – almost there with desalination plant and new water but with water rationing necessary in the event of a sudden cut off of supplies from Johore.
Trouble up North will be a wake up call to all Singaporeans. Be Prepared.
Pakatan will win all three by elections with a comfortable margin. Malaysians are more daring and pragmatic, compare to singaporeans who are more kiasu, kiasi, kong kum, khe kiang . Singaporeans are chicken when you ask them vote oppositions !!
25/3/09
Our Modern Singapore must not be another Malaysia as she is too small and fragile, and thank God that we don’t have Money Politics in Singapore Politics and racial discrimination, and our minority races have been very well treated especially the Malays and indians (in Singapore, we have many Singapore Indians in our Cabinet and they are holding very senior and important posts unlike in Malaysia where the Minorities ie Chinese and Indians are holding very low profile positions).
Regards
Andrew Chuah
Many too in Malaysia felt that the present problems faced in Malaysia was because of Abdullah’s more open and less confrontational style. It would not happen under Mahathir’s style. Even under constant attacks by Mahathir, Abdullah refused to hit back.
Anwar, when he was the Deputy PM, was similarly authocratic, the very style he now criticised in the government although he himself knew that Abdullah played an important part in having him released.
We in Singapore wants our government to be more open and less confrontational. Are we mature enough to face similar problems?
> Andrew Chuah on March 25th, 2009 7.13 am 25/3/09
>Our Modern Singapore must not be another Malaysia as she is too small and >fragile, and thank God that we don’t have Money Politics in Singapore Politics >and racial discrimination, and our minority races have been very well treated >especially the Malays and indians (in Singapore, we have many Singapore >Indians in our Cabinet and they are holding very senior and important posts >unlike in Malaysia where the Minorities ie Chinese and Indians are holding very >low profile
Andrew Chua should watch the Malaysian parliamentary sittings televised by RTM 1. He would be shocked to see the number of non-Bumiputera senators as well as parliamentarians. Many too are holding top positions, and often providing answers to opposition members in their capacity as ministers, deputy ministers etc.
As for Singapore, Andrew should ask his friends from the minority races to speak frankly about how they feel. Even one holding a top position is seen as the `Prata man’ etc. I can provide a long list of degoratory names given to members of the minority races.
Having said that, I must agree that the official policy is one of non-racial discrimination. For that, I am thankful.
OK………..now I need to learn to speak Mandarin. My English doesn’t seem to be accepted everywhere these days.
What you see here is not really what it is!
Most situations are created to maintain control; meritocracy is a much abused word nowadays.You are called when you are inside the circle never mind your performance subsequently.
Just why you ask would Singapore need an American to be the CEO of Temasek? You read the answers in the papers. Are you convinced ?
But the real reason is not there. The answer lie partly in fear of locals in the likes of Ong Teng Cheongs or Devan Nairs; and partly in the establishment’s pinkleton effect with ang mos. Who is not qualified for this sort of top position when you have hundreds of scholars doing the due diligence for you and thousands of western consultants at you back and call ? Come on , give some credence to the mature citizens who are not born yesterday but who will continue to vote for PAP anyway when there is no credible or respectable opposition to represent them and Singapore. What choice does one has at this junture?
Malaysia – it is a very different story altogether and wish the beautiful country well .
The younger generation of Malaysian have woke up to realize that they can demand changes and they are determined to do it, even it means social chaos and serious economy recession, but they (young malaysian) know that no pain no gain, you simply cannot wait for the food to drop from the sky, but instead you have to fight for it, and endure the painful process along the ways. But eventually, Malaysia will turn out to be a better, cleaner, and more vibrant country, in a matter of 10 – 20 years.
In comparison, take Singapore for example, people are more confined to their own world and fantasy, and mostly leave everything to PAP for decision. Some even suggested that in order to prosper, its better to status quo rather than demanding changes. This is dangerous sign that our current generation is rather ignorant of the changes. In 10-20 years times, not sure if singapore will still have its lead over other Asean if we are to continue with what we have now.
Wake Up Call (#3),
The ground sentiments in Malaysia is very much different from what is projected on the media. Every newspaper in Malaysia is biased and they lean to different political parties. While incidents are only concentrated at certain states, for most parts of Malaysia, there really isn’t any political manoeuvre. You should wake up and not buy the scaremongering tales. The only rational response towards scaremongering tales on Malaysian Media and our own MSM is investigation, not absolute acceptance.
Malaysia’s and Singapore’s legal system has its similarities. I am fearful of the same thing happening in Singapore..
what happen in malaysia concerning their poltical troubles stems out from the past..in which mutual agreement were made then..mistakes were made
those days,feelings of independance from the Brits..was the boiling point at that time..
From my experience staying in Malaysia for quite anumber of years, the ppl from all the different races tend to keep to themselves..not much of integration and even in schools..they have different schools accordingly to their ethnicity..
from there, misconceptions tend to creep up..
failure of the govenment led by UMNO for years is poor integration especially between the rural and urban malays..
if u look at it carefully,they have both have different idealogies in first accepting the ideas of ‘bangsa malaysia’ as in the whole..
i noticed that papers in singapore tend to only focus on the weakness of the present govt…problems among races that keep on creeping up again and again..
but not the roots of the problem..
what happened there in malaysia will may happen in singapore one day?so that’s y we have actually in my opinion freely comunicate/live comfortably with all the races due to system of integration.especially in HDB flats..
I am not a stauch supporter of PAP but certain policies that have been roll since independance have actually bonded all races…and when some frictions or misunderstanding happen..rational approach or views can be heard across the board..
Malaysia is a country that’s blessed with its beaches beauty and natural resources..
if they have a clean and efficient government,they can be easily be the Dubai of the East..
but it seems that sometimes it makes me feel irked to even travel cos of it’s political turmoil..
aniza,
are you sure that the policies in Singapore have really bonded Singaporeans together? Or have they merely created the illusion of bonding? A solution is different from a mixture.
And honestly, Malaysia doesn’t really have that much political turmoil. The “turmoil” around Anwar is very restricted to mainly the Capitals; it is not a nationwide turmoil. Don’t read too much beyond the report.
arix
newspaper report that we read everyday does not reflect the real situation..some i know is just coverage…
if u read carefully that i have mentioned,i stayed in malaysia for quite a number of years..
u can only comprehend the situation if u are there..and well keep track of the happenings there..
as i said no country is perfect…