Monday, March 23, 2009

Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde of Malaysian politics

Today Malaysiakini published- He's not going to be a 'nice guy', referring to how Najib Razak may behave when he becomes the PM.

James Chin, a political analyst from Kuala Lumpur's Monash University predicts that Najib as PM may institute authoritarian tactics that many have accused Dr Mahathir of doing when the latter was PM for 22 years.

Chin suggested that Najib has to do this out of (UMNO) political necessity, stating: "He has to show he is tough. In Umno, nice guys don't last ... so I'm 100 percent sure he's not going to be a nice guy.”

One of my uncles who served in a branch of the government years ago, told me that one day while he was standing near to a young Najib, who was then the UMNO Youth Chief, he overheard Najib talking informally to a group of BN junior ministers and politicians (comprising Malays, Chinese, Indians) about his jaguh behaviour.


Unc said that Najib was in an apologetic/explanatory manner, stating words to the effect that, "What did they expect? It’s party election time for UMNO Youth" in an effort to clarify his apparently aggressive behaviour in an earlier event.

That seems to dovetail with James Chin’s prediction.

No doubt this Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde characteristic of many UMNO leaders had been, is and will continue to be the politicians' formula for success, namely, playing to the ethnic gallery, whichever that might be at a particular time.


Let's not forget Anwar’s open call, when he was in UMNO, for the Chinese to balik Tiongsun, or threats he would stop the bells in an Indian temple from ringing (to his Indian Muslim audience). The only reason he can't afford to do that now is that he and PKR depend badly on non Malay support.

Khir Toyol used this waving of the ethnic banner in his campaign to be the new boss of UMNO Youth, vocally stating that non-Malays cannot be considered as equal to Malays. Thanks!

And poor Hishamuddin is making a half-hearted keris waving, but this time with the weapon remaining in its sheath wakakaka – he’s trying to shore up his VP
aspirations with the right wing elements in his
party while attempting to show the non Malay he’s more conscious of, caring and considerate to their fears.

35 comments:

  1. You are far too extremely kind to Najib.
    I only see Mr. Hyde.

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  2. I must say, if Anwar is still a racist as in balik Tiongsun, or stop the bells in an Indian temple from ringing he's been real expert at hiding it for the last 4 years in active politics.

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  3. Dear Kaytee
    I look forward to his rule.
    It's okay. I don't like nice guys.
    Nice guys finish last. It's all the better if he is a man with a past.
    Making nice don't play in our multi-racial country.
    That is why you see so many people hating each other and being open about it under Mr Nice Guy, Abdullah.
    It's better the devil we know than the angel we don't know.
    And it's better than Mr Pretend nice guy Anwar.

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  4. Ahh...the UMNO loyalist...hoping against hope for The Redeemer to make his appearance.

    Alas, he is Not The Redeemer. More like Destructor.

    Frankly, on a Cost/Benefit basis, UMNO is more Cost than Benefit to the country, and does not deserve to continue.

    By the Way, I AM NOT an AnWar supporter.

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  5. They all sweating already, even LKS fear Najib iron fist. AAB give them an inch but they wanted a foot. They will definitely get it when Najib put his foot down.....

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  6. Here's a comical article .

    Rosmah slapped her husband Najib, the next prime minister of Malaysia!
    (This article is by BarkingMagpie)
    There is this hot SMSes going around saying Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor slapped her husband Najib Razak, the future PM of Malaysia, in front of journalists in KL recently!
    Not only the future lady, Rosmah, slapped her husband in front of a bunch of journalists in Kuala Lumpur recently. She also has the audacity to also supervised, together with to other persons, the blowing up of a foreign woman in a forest out of town. She did that to cover he husband involvement with the blown up woman.
    Yes, Najib had one hell of a sexy and sordid affair with this Mongolian woman and bore her a child. So to protect the secret he ordered the woman to be killed, otherwise he cannot be the next PM.
    Feeling remorse Najib converted to Hinduism secretly, I suggested Buddhism to him as the ritual is a lot easier. Being a Hindu Najib now has to break coconut during Thaipusam ritual and climb the stairs, sigh!
    BTW what was not reported by Malaysia Today was the fact that a spaceship had also landed on the murder site when the murder took place and when Rosmah was supervising it. When asked why did he not report the alien landing in his report, Raja Petra Kamaruddin said: "Hey! Nobody would believe me if I said a space ship had landed. IN fact one of the aliens was actually asking Rosmah for the nearest MacDonald?!...come on... if I report that I will be a laughingstock of the whole country, and I will no get the respect of YB BABI anymore!"

    Sigh! This is a very sick country and Malaysians are just plain gullible. Heard about a story of how expensive a Malay brain is...and why?Well, because it is hardly used!

    Cheers I am leaving for Canada!

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  7. xiean

    Here are three clips for your viewing . This is especially good for the younger generation who should be highly recommended to see these clips .Perhaps they will have a fairer understanding of the what MCA has gone thru for the Chinese . Many younger generation Chinese are not aware or simply couldn't be bothered ! of the hardships immediately after the second world war .
    On a similar analogy , its just like your parents bringing you up from a young child , provide you with love , care and education and when you are somebody disowns the parents for NOT doing some thing which is beyond their control .

    Here are the three clips !Look at it with an open mind !

    The Inseparable Bond 1/3
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIR_u9EMuCw

    Reflections from MCA Veterans 2/3
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZVhuLaSQg4

    The Sense of Brotherhood 3/3
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjZVl-CPjHI

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  8. Politics, especially at elections is about the present and the future.

    What you did 20 years ago is of no meaning if you have nothing to offer for the present and the future.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Dear Idzan Ismail and Xiean

    Your comments tell us a lot about you (and your right-wing politics, including support of
    authoritarianism and the police state that Malaysia is fast becoming).

    Phua Kai Lit

    ReplyDelete
  10. No, we are not sweating.

    Ktemoc, is I pointed out earlier, is so extremely kind to quote a rather benign anecdote about Najib.
    You may want to know there are many, much, much less agreeable anecdotes about the PM2B - and just like your story, they are from credible eyewitnesses.

    Najib is what we call, to borrow Pentagon jargon, a target-rich environment. He's almost a caricature of all that is wrong with UMNO.

    Only worry is the suffering of those who will be the targets of his iron-fist, and their families.

    He's fighting a guerrilla army, many of them very difficult to trace (residing overseas, routed through multiple proxy servers etc.).

    Iron-fist will not cut-it.

    Telling the truth might do the trick...then again what surfaces as a result of coming clean may totally disqualify him from being PM.

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  11. Dear Phua Kai Lit

    No apologies for being rightwing or supporting an authoritarian regime.
    At least you and I and our children are safe, free to pursue our interests and living well.
    Due to the police state, I am glad the Chinese and the Indians have the most billionaires.
    May God bless us all.

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  12. The final judgment day is imminent.

    Najib with beaucoup of ammunition with make up of army, police, MACC, monarchy, etc will response swift and forceful to cause hell to his opponents. Nothing will stop him until all trouble markers being lock up and charge, that is to achieve a sense of political stability in order realize a quick and successful economic recovery. No point spending billions when a strong opposite forces are doing other wise to cause instability in the government. Economy of the country will not recover when the government is weak and uncertain. With the those obstacle remove, Najib will then can move swiftly to tackle the economy.

    Those prime mover of current ruckus sensing trouble ahead is now shivering and trying really very hard to preamp Najib of becoming the next PM, but their destiny is written on the wall.......

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  13. Yes, Heil Fuhrer !

    Stalin was wonderful, wasn't he ?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Mark this in your diary. You first read it in Ktemoc's commentary section.

    BUMNO is going to lose the upcoming 3 by-elections 3-0.


    Yes, I'm afraid the destiny of Najib's administration is to start unravelling 1 week after it takes power...

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  15. Thanks to high-handed, even brutal actions even before he becomes PM, Najib is NOT going to get any honeymoon period.

    He will be subject to withering scrutiny and criticism right from Day 1.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Dear Idzan Ismail and Xiean

    Yes, we don't have to apologise for our political leanings or political philosophies.

    I certainly don't apologise for my
    Western European social democratic
    leanings.

    But I hope that in Malaysia, we can disagree peacefully and work these differences out legally through our political institutions, not by
    resorting to beating up political opponents or crushing those who differ with us through the use of truncheons, torture and guns.

    Arbitrary police power threatens us all e.g. Kugan case and all the other "deaths in police detention".

    As for BN's management of the deteriorating economy, we'll see the results soon. (First, it was denial. Now it's .....??)

    Phua Kai Lit

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  17. Phua Kai Lit,


    You sound so worried and want to be in nice term with us, that a good sign at least you realize how nasty Najib can be. Well the country need people like him to deal with people like Anwar. For you, need not worry just condemn Anwar acts and every thing will be fine with you..........

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  18. XieAn, it's pathetically appalling for you to suggest that we should fear Najib and we should ingratiate ourselves with him by condemning Anwar.

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  19. KT
    I think xiean is just being sarcastic in his meaning , and I don't blame him , after all everyone has his or her opinion .

    Btw xiean

    Perhaps you should take a look at this blog . Understand his blog also links to KTemoc .

    http://tilianker.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  20. KT,

    Not for you but a sarcastic remark for Phua Kai Lit for insinuating that Najib beating up and torturing political opponents

    ReplyDelete
  21. Phua Kai Lit,

    Arbitrary police power threatens us all e.g. Kugan case and all the other "deaths in police detention".

    I wouldn't want to link deaths in police detention to BN or blame the govt .

    First and foremost police brutality happens in every country that you can think off . No country in the world can claim to be free of police brutality , some gets expose , most are swept under the carpet . In certain countries as you can see from movies , they have gang wars within the prison walls and inmates are killed simply because they belong to different gangs . If it happens here in Malaysia , people will be blaming the BN govt , and the PDRM .
    Policeman are also human , and as humans they are also subjected to stress , humiliation , worries , family problems etc etc . So do soldiers as many soldiers on the same side have been killed by " friendly fire " or from the same sides .
    When you are dealing with criminals its a new ball game . When people be it policeman lose their self control , the inevitable happens . In all police HQ many things happen to extract a confession . Kugan happen to be the unlucky one .

    ReplyDelete
  22. Tu Lan Kooi (Hokkien)

    ReplyDelete
  23. cariDear Xiean

    Thanks for your sarcasm.
    At least we are talking and not
    bashing each others' brains out
    over our political disagreements :)

    Well, I am certainly not going to
    change my tune to ingratiate myself with the powers that be
    (and the soon-to-be). I'm not insinuating anything. "Innocent until proven guilty" if one believes in the basic principles of justice and fair play.

    I'm arguing that there should be "rule of law" and respect for our political institutions as avenues to resolve political disagreements. Otherwise, you will have anarchy and even worse, outright civil war between warring factions. We don't want a repeat of the Yugoslav tragedy under the cynical leadership of Slobodan Milosevic here in Malaysia, do we??

    chaptokam: Regarding police brutality, the buck has to stop somewhere, doesn't it? Whom do the police report to but the Home Minister? Thus, the Home Minister has to take responsibility, take action and prevent these things from happening again and again.

    Phua Kai Lit










    "

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  24. BUMNO. how about marking this in your diary.
    BN will win Batang Air and Bukit Selambau.
    As for Bukit Gantang, its 50-50.
    I am glad Nizar is contesting.
    Good testing ground to see whether he's still wanted.
    We go back to this site after the results, okay?

    ReplyDelete
  25. Phua Kai Lit,

    So you are not insinuating than what is this, quote "not by resorting to beating up political opponents or crushing those who differ with us through the use of truncheons, torture and guns" unquote, is that not what you have written?

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  26. Thus, the Home Minister has to take responsibility, take action and prevent these things from happening again and again.

    True the buck has to stop somewhere , but then how do you stop black sheep in the force ? When these happen spontaneously on the spot and not premeditated ? When good guys who have no previous record of reacting wildly suddenly at the spur of a moment lose their temper and self control and bashed up a helpless criminal during interrogation !
    I don't think I am able to provide answers neither do I think the CPOs , the IGP and the Home minister could provide either ! Maybe with your background and education you should join the PDRM and help them to resolve this .

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  27. "When good guys who have no previous record of reacting wildly suddenly at the spur of a moment lose their temper and self control and bashed up a helpless criminal during interrogation !"
    Bull...shit.

    What happens is standard interrogation process in an incompetent police force.
    Its just that in some cases the suspect has the bad manners to die on them...then it becomes another "Death in Police Custody" case....

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  28. Aiyoyo...this Titanic with Captain Najib gonna hit the iceberg soon-lah.

    Get out while you still can.

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  29. Enough Lies, Enough Bull Shit

    Bullshit or no bullshit that's my opinion .

    Its just that in some cases the suspect has the bad manners to die on them.
    If the suspect has bad manners doesn't that trigger an immediate reaction at the spur of a moment for them to lose their temper and self control and bashed up a helpless criminal during interrogation !

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  30. Dear Kaytee

    I have been mulling this question.
    Why do you or rather the Chinese fear the kris so much?
    It's not easily available, it's rather blunt and cannot kill you.
    Thus it's more of a symbol.
    I have yet to see Malays having one except for decoration.
    Fear more the knife, the gun, the parang or even the pen knfe.

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  31. XieAn... don't know whether you are kidding with your wish that Najib will resort to totalitarian methods in order to protect BN (and MCA-Gerakan's) interests.

    But just a word of advice... be careful what you wish, you might just get it.


    Remember, many cadres supported Stalin's great purge & Mao's cultural revolution... until they themselves got liquidated.

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  32. Idzan, May 13! Much more Chinese were killed than the official figures.

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  33. BrighEyes,

    A quick and decisive actions is needed to break the deadlock for the benefit of the people and country economy. We cannot effort the stalemate and long wait. I think the benefit outweigh the risk. Follow Lee Kuan Yew path by clamping down on his opponent.

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  34. Giving the benefit of doubt that Najib has excess baggage I feel that Xiean is right in that aspect that something has to be done to break a stalemate . Otherwise it is getting us nowhere .
    It is a done deal that Najib will be PM . That's for sure . That he has to do something drastic to improve his image , that I can believe . He cannot be doing something that will alienate the fishes from the water . That is like pronouncing his own death sentence and that of UMNO , pulling down all the BN parties with him .
    I have refrain from commenting on this issue as I have earlier mentioned that nothing can be done at this moment . Wait and see what happens in the next six months .
    For all those who want to see Najib goes ..is six months a long wait ? If he doesn't or UMNO doesn't change , then it should make all those Anwaristas dream become a reality .

    Np point ranting , voice all your frustrations , condemn every move he makes , blame all the economic problems on the govt .
    We should be concentrating our voices on the economy rather than still in election mode after one year . Everyday its politics , politics . My brain has gone numb with this !

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  35. Dear Xiean 5:24 pm

    My friend, my words that you quoted are to point out that for
    parliamentary democracy to function reasonably well, political rivals must respect the law and not resort to violence or brute force. Again, I am not insinuating anything.
    Think of parliamentary politics as a soccer game. There are rules to be followed if the game is not to end up in anarchy with wild fist fights between players (MPs) and fans (supporters of the two opposing soccer teams).

    Back to politics in general and Malaysian politics in particular.
    In a "two party" state like the USA (Democrats vs Republicans) or UK (Labour versus Conservatives), the rules of the game are respected and therefore power can be transferred peacefully. One day you are in power and the next day you are out. In yet another day, you may return to power. When you are out of power, you are not persecuted through abuse of state power by the ruling political party.

    So, why can't we have the same thing in Malaysia i.e. BN versus PR in fair fights (outcome to be determined by the people in fair elections)? So, Xiean, why do you support repressive measures against the political opposition? If you repress your political opponents, they can do the same to you when you are out of power! Once again, I want to emphasise that it is better to respect the "rules of the game", follow the Constitution and uphold our political institutions than to engage in repression just to cling on to power if Parliamentary democracy is to work well.

    Phua Kai Lit

    ReplyDelete