New Mandala readers in Canberra interested in Malaysia will not want to miss this seminar. It discusses UMNO’s links to this shadowy group called PEKIDA. With the increase in political violence since the 2008 general elections perpetrated by UMNO supporters, understanding PEKIDA is important in understanding “democracy ala UMNO” in Malaysia.
The details of the seminar follow below the fold:
Speaker/Host: | Sophie Lemière |
Venue: | PSC Reading Room, 4.27 Level 4 Hedley Bull Building, ANU |
Date: | Tuesday, 10 April 2012 |
Time: | 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM |
Website: | http://ips.cap.anu.edu.au/psc/seminars.php |
Enquiries: | Greg Fealy on 6125 2302 |
Abstract
In December 2011, Najib Tun Razak, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, attended the annual meeting of the most controversial Malay organisation in Malaysia: The Association of Islamic Welfare and Dakwah of Malaysia (or Pertubuhan Kebajikan dan Dakwah Islamiyah SeMalaysia or PEKIDA). In exchange for Pekida’s political support, Najib promised governmental aid. The opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, strongly criticised the move, saying Najib was backing an ‘ethno-fascist organisation’. Pekida emerged in the Malaysian conscience several years ago and is often portrayed as a Malay mafia, UMNO’s militia and an ethnonationalist group. Pekida creates fear, suspicion or denial within Malaysian society: everyone knows about its reputation but no one knows what exactly Pekida is. The popular myth surrounding Pekida is that it is an umbrella for several sub-groups, spread throughout the country, and that it has the support of high profile UMNO politicians and businessmen, and that Pekida is allegedly involved in criminal activities. This original in-depth study is based on the narratives of Pekida members and follows the internal and external discourses surrounding the organisation in order to go beyond “the legend”. This research reveals the mechanisms of influence of an unseen political force in Malaysia and the use of the myth as an extension of political power.
Why are you so forgiving & relenting? Have they-UMNO got a trace of the people’s interest at heart? NO! It’s endless tricks, acrobatics & deception to stay in power. If you research globally & think thoroughly: Politicians are the roots of all the problems in the world: pillage & plunder; cronies; in-equality of races & incomes; hardship & grief turning to crime & tragedy; trillions of $$$ wasted worldwide on corruption, thefts, land-grabs, resource-grabs, amassing of projects, money outflow & laundering, white elephants & kickbacks; abuses, mismanagements, misuses, mismanagement, crime-fighting, strife, riots, wars. In the end, to cling to power & luxury, they will kill. Look at Idi Amin, Africa, N. Korea, Arab Spring.
Not after 55 years of UMNO! It must now be zero tolerance & striking back with the greatest force.
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Putrajaya only had 6,008 voters but Opposition-held Kapar needed a staggering 112,224 voters, 17 times more than Putrajaya. Deceit; gerrymandering; State-controlled media; vote buying; phantom voters; postal votes; useless ink, new voters from illegal immigrants, public machinery used to support votes for incumbent, crooked government….
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