Thank you for your review. Most of what you stated are facts with regards to the dirty tricks of the government but you then concluded that Najib is good for Malaysia???
“ingatlah: quite in keeping with Malaysian political tradition, he is a reasonable and astute leader…”
Ini kalilah, Ubahlah are not fashionable phrases but sentiments of the oppressed rakyat. Being a non Malaysian dont think its appropriate for you to use ingatlah, what have you experienced in Malaysia to qualify you to remind Malaysians of their history?
Your closing is spot on though. “Malaysians have not risen the way they have in the last few years, and if indeed BN does command the country this time, you can be sure the Malaysians who are dead against corruption and a dirty government, will not take it lying down.”
Malaysia does NOT practice democracy. The election is just a show for foreign countries.
Those constituencies that have majority of BN supporters, are divided up into small divisions such that each of them only has a population on average of 5,000 voters. Those constituencies that are known opposition supporters are grouped together such that each constituency has a population of a few millions.
Besides we have those phantom voters to ensure BN stay in power.
Pakatan may not take the lead as you rightly say, as BN has the hold on hardcore Malay, hardcore poor and rural communities, and also the hideous tactics of issuing easy identifications/citizenships to non-Malaysians so THEY could vote.
But I disagree with the lack of optimism felt on ground level, whatever the results. Malaysians have not risen the way they have in the last few years, and if indeed BN does command the country this time, you can be sure the Malaysians who are dead against corruption and a dirty government, will not take it lying down.
If you are a Malaysian you will know that this GE13 is different. Previously, the Malays are mostly under UMNO umbrella and PAS had small impact elsewhere other than in Kelantan. Today, the Malays are obviously divided and giving them a chance to choose between PKR and BN. The Chinese also feel the comfort that they have the opportunity to work together effectively thru PKR. Such alliance never happened before. BN has lost is ‘monopoly’ since the formation of PKR and most Malaysian feels the need for change.
I agree with most of the summary by Abdul Rahman. For as long as I can remember, the racial divide has always been present even though all races attempt to live in harmony for their own sakes. This will remain as long as we have inequality in the system. I think non-Malays in Malaysia are also lucky that they are able to retain their cultural values (so far); unlike their counterparts in Indonesian who had to ‘de-culturalise’ themselves. However to move ahead, Malaysia needs to do more; it needs to show the world that it is a safe and fair country to all its citizens. Located in the tropical region, endowed with resources (including its rich mixture of cultures), it has the potential to be a developed country like its neighbour, Singapore and other rising economies like Korea. With the advantage of its rich historical background, a good system managed by a genuine management team will lead the country to a better world status.
After reading the article I got sort of mix feeling, while I agree that UDD is a proxy (as in people at the top) but I dont think people at the lower echelon considered themselves a sure bet. There are a large group of people that do came out and actually criticised PT and the Shinawat openly. I suspected that the speech that Yingluck made in Ulanbator was intended to keep those people with PT
The number of Bangalas and Burmese and Indonesians voters being issued Malaysian IC’s is staggering ! This is a clear-cut issue of Treason. How should Malaysia prosecute those responsible?
Any regime or administration ruling for over 5 decades would produce complacency and fatigue. It would only be a matter of time before each electorate decides it’s time for a change of driver. May the best win in these Malaysian Elections then today.
an odd piece full of weird juxtapositions… Not sure that Walesa’s image and practice on notions of democracy are entirely faultless; if fact even flawed (if we look at the early 1990s). Some academics even say he may have been an agent provocateur at the early period for a provocation that got out of hand…and in any case it is hardly worthy of comparisons with aspirations for Thai democracy (minus the reactionary trade unions). PTP a “proxy” of UDD? nonsense. If the writer had followed the debate from the inside and, further, understood that vilifying PTP (on par with the likes of PAD!) will not help because PTP cannot touch the independent bodies under the current constitution…
While i appreciate and agree with your sentiment, that quote is not from Orwell or even Eric Blair. No the person that penned that was John Dalberg-Acton in a letter to Mandell Creighton arguing that all men should be judged equally.
Further on in the letter he writes:
“There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it. That is the point at which the negation of Catholicism and the negation of Liberalism meet and keep high festival, and the end learns to justify the means.”
You make a very good point. Feel free to research any of my articles from 2009-2011 where I consistently ask for PM Abhisit to step down for his cosy relationship with the military and the coup makers.
The democrat party have never been electable in its almost 100 year history. It does not seem like it will change any time soon.
I would also like to point to a Post article i wrote (Feb 07) after the coup that disagreed with many academics of the time who viewed it as necessary by saying exactly what you have said. Given time, popular opinion would have thrown Thaksin out.
Now perhaps because of the shortsightedness of the military and the democrats and the elite, it is too late for that?
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Pakatan will not win
Thank you for your review. Most of what you stated are facts with regards to the dirty tricks of the government but you then concluded that Najib is good for Malaysia???
“ingatlah: quite in keeping with Malaysian political tradition, he is a reasonable and astute leader…”
Ini kalilah, Ubahlah are not fashionable phrases but sentiments of the oppressed rakyat. Being a non Malaysian dont think its appropriate for you to use ingatlah, what have you experienced in Malaysia to qualify you to remind Malaysians of their history?
You then go on to praise the police & comparing them to other countries ‘regime’. Implying you know the current government is in fact a regime. The police is as corrupt as ever & so is the media. Here is the deputy IGP blatantly denying all allegations of phantom voters & even trying to crack down the freedom of internet by arrest http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2013%2F5%2F5%2Fnation%2F20130505134735&sec=nation&utm_source=TSOL_main&utm_medium=links&utm_campaign=GE13#.UYYYB1X8fYc.facebook
Your closing is spot on though. “Malaysians have not risen the way they have in the last few years, and if indeed BN does command the country this time, you can be sure the Malaysians who are dead against corruption and a dirty government, will not take it lying down.”
How Malaysia’s electoral system works
Malaysia does NOT practice democracy. The election is just a show for foreign countries.
Those constituencies that have majority of BN supporters, are divided up into small divisions such that each of them only has a population on average of 5,000 voters. Those constituencies that are known opposition supporters are grouped together such that each constituency has a population of a few millions.
Besides we have those phantom voters to ensure BN stay in power.
Pakatan will not win
Pakatan may not take the lead as you rightly say, as BN has the hold on hardcore Malay, hardcore poor and rural communities, and also the hideous tactics of issuing easy identifications/citizenships to non-Malaysians so THEY could vote.
But I disagree with the lack of optimism felt on ground level, whatever the results. Malaysians have not risen the way they have in the last few years, and if indeed BN does command the country this time, you can be sure the Malaysians who are dead against corruption and a dirty government, will not take it lying down.
Pakatan will not win
[…] 2.35pm: Also check out ANU’s New Mandala for live coverage and analysis. […]
Pakatan will not win
If you are a Malaysian you will know that this GE13 is different. Previously, the Malays are mostly under UMNO umbrella and PAS had small impact elsewhere other than in Kelantan. Today, the Malays are obviously divided and giving them a chance to choose between PKR and BN. The Chinese also feel the comfort that they have the opportunity to work together effectively thru PKR. Such alliance never happened before. BN has lost is ‘monopoly’ since the formation of PKR and most Malaysian feels the need for change.
Live coverage of Malaysia’s election
You are right there seems to be an amazing number of Chinese voters!!
Live coverage of Malaysia’s election
[…] Also check out ANU’s New Mandala for live coverage and […]
Live coverage of Malaysia’s election
My Facebook page is filled with photos of foreigners who are caught by the public, trying to vote with Malaysian IC.
Live coverage of Malaysia’s election
Even one Bangladesh nationality admit Najib and his BN clone give each person $25k plus IC to vote for his party.
Video link below:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151349618531746
GE13 and hopes for a new Malaysia
I agree with most of the summary by Abdul Rahman. For as long as I can remember, the racial divide has always been present even though all races attempt to live in harmony for their own sakes. This will remain as long as we have inequality in the system. I think non-Malays in Malaysia are also lucky that they are able to retain their cultural values (so far); unlike their counterparts in Indonesian who had to ‘de-culturalise’ themselves. However to move ahead, Malaysia needs to do more; it needs to show the world that it is a safe and fair country to all its citizens. Located in the tropical region, endowed with resources (including its rich mixture of cultures), it has the potential to be a developed country like its neighbour, Singapore and other rising economies like Korea. With the advantage of its rich historical background, a good system managed by a genuine management team will lead the country to a better world status.
Subjects of the state
After reading the article I got sort of mix feeling, while I agree that UDD is a proxy (as in people at the top) but I dont think people at the lower echelon considered themselves a sure bet. There are a large group of people that do came out and actually criticised PT and the Shinawat openly. I suspected that the speech that Yingluck made in Ulanbator was intended to keep those people with PT
Live coverage of Malaysia’s election
The number of Bangalas and Burmese and Indonesians voters being issued Malaysian IC’s is staggering ! This is a clear-cut issue of Treason. How should Malaysia prosecute those responsible?
Pictures so far which came my way:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/v/911711_10151863988668066_555814895_n.jpg?oh=6b52e885de2f15d755d5d3d8faf218be&oe=51881341&__gda__=1367922465_face0d2e2f37cd6784be2e5756f58654
Next is here:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/253239_325174947610939_222280755_n.png
Another one here:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/181479_325174194277681_1147238923_n.jpg
And here:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/944478_325173974277703_195294632_n.png
Live coverage of Malaysia’s election
Any regime or administration ruling for over 5 decades would produce complacency and fatigue. It would only be a matter of time before each electorate decides it’s time for a change of driver. May the best win in these Malaysian Elections then today.
Subjects of the state
an odd piece full of weird juxtapositions… Not sure that Walesa’s image and practice on notions of democracy are entirely faultless; if fact even flawed (if we look at the early 1990s). Some academics even say he may have been an agent provocateur at the early period for a provocation that got out of hand…and in any case it is hardly worthy of comparisons with aspirations for Thai democracy (minus the reactionary trade unions). PTP a “proxy” of UDD? nonsense. If the writer had followed the debate from the inside and, further, understood that vilifying PTP (on par with the likes of PAD!) will not help because PTP cannot touch the independent bodies under the current constitution…
Nationalism and genetics: Thai obsession with race
[…] http://www.flickr.com/photos/jethuynh/8150602243/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/iketerule/55035473/ Nationalism and genetics: Thai obsession with race exactly what you are trying to do ^ Interestingly, the research has eventually shown close […]
Subjects of the state
I stopped reading Cod’s articles due to their low academic quality and troll-esque nature.
I’d really like to hear rational arguments from ‘the other side’, but his aren’t it.
Desperately seeking Malaysian election ephemera
Here are a few facebook pages to follow and keep track:
Malaysia Design Archive digital photos of Election Propaganda:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elections-Malaysia-Promises-Propaganda/559351717422228?fref=ts
Yee I-Lann have been collecting samples of Election Art:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3006327895152.1073741828.1771066543&type=3
She has also been collecting images of Reworked party logo:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3009792421763.1073741829.1771066543&type=3
as well as ‘public art’:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2977045923121.1073741827.1771066543&type=3
May 13, 1969
[…] in the wake of race riots in 1969 by Mr Najib’s father, the “new economic policy” ensured that Malays and other indigenous […]
Subjects of the state
While i appreciate and agree with your sentiment, that quote is not from Orwell or even Eric Blair. No the person that penned that was John Dalberg-Acton in a letter to Mandell Creighton arguing that all men should be judged equally.
Further on in the letter he writes:
“There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it. That is the point at which the negation of Catholicism and the negation of Liberalism meet and keep high festival, and the end learns to justify the means.”
That last line is much more chilling.
Subjects of the state
Hey G
You make a very good point. Feel free to research any of my articles from 2009-2011 where I consistently ask for PM Abhisit to step down for his cosy relationship with the military and the coup makers.
The democrat party have never been electable in its almost 100 year history. It does not seem like it will change any time soon.
I would also like to point to a Post article i wrote (Feb 07) after the coup that disagreed with many academics of the time who viewed it as necessary by saying exactly what you have said. Given time, popular opinion would have thrown Thaksin out.
Now perhaps because of the shortsightedness of the military and the democrats and the elite, it is too late for that?