Malaysian politics: developmental politics, race, religion and personal attack
Taken from: Malaysia Chronicle (Straight Talk)
Gavin Khoo
I have called the two by-elections a let-down and a political trap for Malaysia. Key themes continued to emerge and took centre stage at the by-elections e.g. developmental politics, race, religion and personal attack.
DayakBaru Thoughts:
There is very little difference between the politics in Sarawak and Malaya. The issues and paradigm are similar and also the political and economics environment around the communities. The below article cited few points that is also happening in Sarawak. What we must do is to find solution to such problems instead of lamenting on it. What is more urgent is, what can we DayakBaru do about it in order to bring the changes that we want.
Change WE Must is not an option or else we all fall under the category of “helpless mentality” people.
There are a few implications for the people:
1) The continuation of master-servant mentality. Voters especially in rural/semi rural constituencies continue to accept a false reality that their future and well-being are dependent on the political masters. There is little awareness of the role of politicians, the relationship between politicians and voters and the election process as a democratic instrument for them to measure the effectiveness of politicians. Elections and their votes are taken as something they must give politicians in exchange for services and assistance.
2) Voters continue to believe that politicians especially in the ruling regime own the nation’s resources. As a result, these voters feel obligated to vote for politicians who can deliver them the economic goods e.g. grants and development.
3) Politicians continue to manipulate national resources for their own political expediency. Some politicians actually believe that their party owns the national resources and as political masters they are eligible to use these resources to extend and expand their political interests.
4) Those who are aware and wanted a political reform will continue to stare at the symptoms of systemic decay in our democratic system. There is no indication that the ruling regime is interested to reform the system and accept more responsibility. They would prefer a distorted system in order to preserve power. There is zero indication too that the alternative coalition is ready to take a risk in a new system. It would not mind to compete with the ruling coalition on developmental politics if it has enough resources to match e.g. Galas (PAS government giving out land titles and zakat to Orang Asli). Without a political renewal there is hardly any possibility for this country to find enough political will to correct our internal weaknesses. All parties know that our economic competitiveness is slipping, our education system is decaying, our brains are moving out and our competitors are zipping pass us. But none can come out with a solid solution to rectify the crisis.
1) The defeats in Galas and Batu Sapi are indicative of the coalition weaknesses. It cannot continue to ride on the opposition weaknesses to win elections. Politics cannot be always about style but zero substance. Apart from pompous and entertaining speeches, the coalition should start to think how it can convince Malaysians of a new dawn which is better than what the current coalition can offer. How can it win in rural areas?
2) The coalition must be less superficial about its promise of ‘change’. Rural folks would not be able to digest an abstract promise of ‘change’. So far, the only change which Pakatan has promised is rather speculative – something it can only do after it has won power. How can this promise attracts voters to trust them? How can an abstract change be more powerful than developmental politics? At least the latter can be quantified e.g. money, low cost houses, rice, sarongs, etc.
3) If Galas and Batu Sapi defeats cannot keep Pakatan’s leaders arrogance and ego in check then the future is bleak for a two-party system in Malaysia. The ruin of Pakatan will be filled by other forces. The coalition has at most 2 general elections to make a difference. This is the golden era of opposition politics in Malaysia. The combination of Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang and Nik Aziz is an attractive force. However, these leaders are nearing their decline and are aging. Nik Aziz is probably serving his last term as a chief minister and an iconic leader of PAS. What will PAS become post Nik Aziz? Kit is a giant amongst parliamentarians. Kit is DAP and DAP is Kit. Can DAP command the same respect and support from the Chinese community and urban professionals after the era of Kit Siang? What is PKR without Anwar? These are key issues which must be thoroughly explored by the parties.
1) The victories in Galas and Batu Sapi cannot be seen as a yardstick to measure its political comeback nationally. BN must not allow the victories to cloud the need to commit to real political, social and economic reforms. BN may become another Thairak Thai Party if it does not pursue these reforms – only supported by rural/semi rural folks.
2) On political reform, the Umno led BN cannot continue to perpetuate race politics and neglect the 40% population in the country. Umno is leading the coalition in a semi-feudal mode. Mahathir is right that a democratic leadership cannot function in the BN model. Moderate leaders cannot survive within the political structure of Umno. That is why Abdullah Badawi was rattled and knocked out when he lost his balance after his failed attempts at reforms. Mahathir is calling for dictatorship ala China. Sadly, Mahathir does not understand the political and economic systems of mainland China. In China, provinces are given wide autonomy to compete economically and for investments. Provinces have their freedom to pass legislations and enforce them. Most of them get to keep more than 20 percent of their revenues. There is a greater focus on less developed regions compared to Malaysia (where 60% of total budget is allocated to Greater KL). China has a law to safeguard the interests of minorities in education, civil service and cultural preservation. Malaysia focuses on the majority and continues to taunt and blame the minorities for the lack of success of the majority.
3) BN needs to take up a clearer direction for the country. During Mahathir, he was trying to Arabrized the Malay community. He told the nation to look East at the economic and industrial prowess of Japan. He was immersed with the superiority of Western culture and horse riding. Now, he asked the administration to adopt the Beijing Consensus. Malaysia needs its own direction by understanding its unique strengths and social and natural values. Malaysia’s strength is in its social diversity. Yes, Malaysia is truly Asia. Unfortunately, apart from appearing as a jingle in tourism advertisement the government has failed to incorporate and promote our diversity in governance and national policy formulation. Non-Umno political parties in BN should shoot themselves in the head if they missed this opportunity to persuade or even force Umno to move BN to the centre and become more accommodative. Their failure to push BN to adopt real multiracialism is partly due to the nexus between politics and business. Most political parties wanted to keep their rice bowl and dare not offend Umno which they are dependent on for contracts, grants, positions in government and agencies etc. Without a political reform, the victories at Galas and Batu Sapi cannot help BN to win the urban votes. Only the mentally shallow would think that 1Malaysia is so magical. It is but just an empty slogan and directionless. Why can’t Najib on CNN admit that this government just need to care for the poor and bottom 40% regardless of race in the new affirmative action? NEP benefits the capitalists and elites more than the poor.
4) Galas & Batu Sapi victories would not help to free us from the economic trap. Malaysia problem is a lack of competitiveness. We do not have the required brains, manpower and skills to attract significant and meaningful investment such as Microsoft, Apple, Oracle etc. Most of the investments are oil & gas related, property development, infrastructure development etc. Most critical components (design, R&D & engineering) are not provided by locals but foreign expertise and companies. There is little indication of technology transfer. Imagine Proton is still living on old designs from Mitshubishi. Umno fixation with race supremacy, Bumiputera rights over privileges, false conviction that Malays cannot compete without handicap and Malaysia is the centre of the universe is going to ensure that we stay in the same economic dump for a long time. Wonder why some of the mega projects implemented here fell short of global standards? Wonder why the LRT trains run like a KTM classic train? LRT cannot be compared to MRT or MTR? It is because Umno has never initiate something for the goodness of the people but merely to allow its cronies to make a bundle from these projects. Like any profit driven companies, who would not want to maximize profits at the expense of gullible and unenlightened consumers?
5) There is also a social trap which is holding up the rest of the nation. Mahathir had admitted that Chinese Malaysians were more superior. When a government holds back its best citizens, the country is moving at snail pace. It should allow its best people to compete freely and focus on helping the less privilege ones to catch up. Wonder why the government has never had a grand plan to help the SMEs the way they did for regional corridors? Most of these SMEs are not owned by Bumiputeras but yet they are the most important component of an economy. Most of them are entrepreneurial, energetic, nimble and can be energized to move the economy quickly. Instead of engineering an animosity between Malays and Chinese in the private sector, the government should help the two communities to work together and share their experience. Without any concrete and conscious step to eliminate this trap, Malaysia will continue to lose brains. Talent Corp will die a premature death together with our RM500 million allocated to it. Brains need a good intellectual and innovative environment to come back to and not free visa for foreign spouse or tax free cars.
Galas & Batu Sapi did not alter any part of our sad story. With the social, economic and political traps, the elections will only serve as venues for politicians to satisfy their ego and lust for power and fame. Whoever wins would not help to change the fate of this country. – Straight Talk
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My thought of the day
I wish to put aside political perspective herein but would rather write it in general manner; check which one fit you.
ONES WHO THINK HELPLESS ARE HOPELESS
1. Ones who do not have hope are hopeless.
2. Ones who always seek help are helpless.
3. Ones who depend on too much help are helpless.
4. Ones who failed to make a different are helpless.
5. Ones who are too dependable on others are helpless.
6. Ones who can’t help him/herself and others are helpless.
7. Ones who can’t protect his/her rights are helpless.
8. Ones who piggy-backed on others are helpless.
9. Ones who ignore education and opportunity are helpless.
10. Ones who owned “prinsip enda nemu ulu-ili” are helpless.
11. Ones who failed to change will remain helpless.
How is it that I can make such a bold statement? It’s really simple. Most people in this world have a “helpless mentality”.
People feel like their circumstances are too great to overcome. This is what is called “learned helplessness”.
Helplessness is by-product of lack of initiative, awareness, exposures, skill and courage. If you can help feeding your mouth with your own hands then how come you’re helpless?
There are 3 types of people in this world today:
1. People who don’t take action
2. People who say they will take action
3. People who do take action.
PEOPLE WHO DON’T TAKE ACTION
1. These are the people who don’t like their circumstances but are too lazy or scared to change it.
2. These are the people who love to complain about things without offering a solution. They sit there expecting the world to feel sorry for them and give them a hand out.
3. They don’t care about their lives or next generation enough to realize that nobody in this world is going to help them but themselves.
Some people are so conditioned to feel helpless that they even overlook opportunities that are accessible and/or available to them. If you want to be a leader and/or a wealthy person, this is definitely not the frame of mind you should be in, it is very toxic!
PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE ACTION
1. These are the people we have all come across in life. To be perfectly honest, and you must be honest with yourself, you might have been that person yourself.
2. This person is the man/woman/group of people who says they will do something but never get around to doing it. When you ask them why they did not do it, they have an excuse.
Some lame excuses may be valid, life is not perfect (it’s versatile), but one must find option/way or at least put forth an effort and build possibility(s) to overcome whatever obstacle it is that is stopping them from achieving their goal. It is way too easy to say you are going to do it.
Manifest your goal(s): Anyone can say they will do something, but not many can or will actually do it. Goals are only verbal until manifested. Don’t be that person who everyone ignores when they say they will do something.
Don’t be that person who has no credibility among their peers because they fail to follow through on what they say. Be the person who makes things happen, which leads me to the final person mentioned.
PERSON WHO TAKES ACTION
1. A person who sees a problem and or an opportunity and makes a decision to prevent/stop the problem and or take advantage of the opportunity.
2. This person does not wait for others’ approval, or wait until mainstream society accepts it.
3. They have trust and confidence in their own due diligence and intuition; they do not need outside approval.
4. They are masters of their own domain.
5. This type of person is so proactive that they actively look for opportunities on a regular basis.
6. This person looks at failure as a learning opportunity, not a hindrance to their progression.
This is why there are far less wealthy people in the world than middle class or poor people. And I’m not talking about the people who have inherited wealth or spend their mom and dad’s money.
I’m talking about the real self made millionaires and billionaires out there. They have each done something unconventional.
Successful people are not conventional people but unconventional explorer
1. They prefer unconventional method, exploring and inventing new way to achieve success and prosperity
2. They think differently from conventional lifestyle/model/theory
3. They have chosen not to follow the crowd and become their own leader.
4. They refuse to allow themselves to be brainwashed by the idea that we must all go to school and get a job and work hard to move up the company ranks, etc, etc.
Change our “stereotypes” to new breakthrough “ultra-thinking mentality”
What is taught to us from when we are kids are “stereotypes” but very few people break out of that mentality.
1. The ones who don’t are the ones who complain when they are laid off or they hate their job.
2. The ones who don’t are the ones who say they are going to be independent but are afraid to step out of the “secure” comfort zone a job provides.
3. The ones who break out of this mentality are the ones who become entrepreneurs, and take calculated well informed actions towards becoming wealthy.
Change your thinking if you want to propel and prosper
The main point I’m trying to make from all this is that;
1. LIFE IS HARD
2. LIFE IS CHALLENGING
3. LIFE IS COMPETITIVE
4. LIFE IS USELESS
Only if you make it a different, there is always light and hope at the end of the tunnel. Everyone is equal the day we were born into this life. If you continue to look at the ‘blank white wall’ you will find nothing, turn around and see the environment surrounding you; you may find the door and/or clue.
Think from another angle, you maybe able to see it. If you Change your way of thinking and decision making today, you will naturally move toward your goals. If world is changing, why not you? Or are you still living in the 40s – 60s?
Conclusion
I hope you see the value in becoming the person who takes action. I will leave you with this quote I like to say.
When there is no action, there’s no Change. When you’re only hoping others to take action, there’s no Change.
When you feel that others will take action, there’s no Change. You need to maneuver yourself with the action for Change. Action is to “Act On” – Change can’t act on without physical action!
POOR = Passing Over Opportunities Regularly
RICH = Realizing It Can Happen
Cheers, gkm2020
CHANGE WE MUST!
Unggal gkm,
Just to add to your long list:
One who refused help is also helpless.
One who slept day and night is helpless.
One who liked to point “middle finger” at others is helpless.
One who seen other mistake/weakness but not owned is also helpless.
One who chose to build castle in the air is also helpless.
Nya aja kaban.
Unggal Jugam,
I agree with you on the above. That’s the fact of life.
Let me add some more herein:
1. Ones who failed to voice for his/her peoples are helpless.
2. Ones who denied others are helpless.
3. Ones who forgot to mirror him/herself is helpless.
4. Ones who refused Change is helpless.
5. Ones who failed to render help are helpless.
6. Ones who deprived helpless people are helpless.
7. Ones who failed to promote and protect justice are helpless.
8. Ones who failed to promote equality and fairness are helpless.
9. Ones who failed to protect and defend “human or native rights” are helpless.
10. Ones who failed to shoulder responsibility and accountability are helpless.
11. Ones who failed to protect ecological disaster are helpless.
12. Ones who failed to honor his/her promises are helpless.
13. Ones who failed to protect his/her own peoples are helpless.
14. Ones who support injustice and double standard policy are helpless.
15. Ones who failed to find solutions to eradicate poverty are helpless.
16. Ones who failed to provide basic humanitarian projects are helpless.
17. Ones who failed to provide solution and awareness are helpless.
18. Ones who conspire with wicked peoples are helpless.
19. Ones who failed to vote for his/her rights are helpless.
20. Ones who sold his/her soul and/or vote are helpless.
21. Ones who takes bribe are helpless.
22. Ones who think one-sided are helpless.
23. Ones who promote and assist native discrimination, marginalization and assimilation are helpless.
24. Ones who failed to uplift and protect native special privileges are helpless.
25. Ones who “point finger” on others but not realizing three other fingers are point at him/her are helpless.
Ones who dare to Change will find progressions and prosperity.
Sambong ka dia kaban.
bn won meaninglessly.
Jugam Cow.
Jugam Cow either you like it or not, its real TRUE..!! Politics of Atap Zink, politic papan, politic jalai pendaie, politik api, politic ai paip, politic jalaialun, politic tali karan, politic tangki ai, politic MRP, politics of negatives developement, backward mentality…!!!
Jugam Cow 47 taun udah merdeka, agi tugong rakyat minta bansa politic ke atasnya Jugam Jugam..!!
Change We Must rebak Baru.
Mupok Jugam. idup Iban Idup Dayak. OOhhaa…..