A repeat legal assault on the opposition leader highlights the current volatility. The old order is desperate to hold power.
A feverish atmosphere now grips Malaysia. The country is awash with rumours. Until the resignation in 2003 of the previous prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad – after 22 years in office – its politics was entirely predictable. Now it is becoming highly unpredictable.
Malaysia is one of the great Asian success stories. It has enjoyed a growth rate of up to 8% for much of the past 20 years, and the fruits of prosperity are everywhere to be seen, from the magnificent twin towers in Kuala Lumpur to the expressways and traffic congestion. Without doubt Malaysia is the great economic star of the Muslim world. The architect of this economic transformation was Dr Mahathir, but since he stepped down the country has been engulfed by growing doubts about his legacy and the emergence of a new set of priorities.
The turning point was the general election last March. Ever since the country gained independence from Britain in 1957 it has been ruled by the Barisan Nasional, a coalition of three racially based parties led by the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), which has dominated Malaysian politics, leaving the opposition permanently enfeebled and embattled. In March, however, the government gained only 51% of the popular vote compared with 64% at the last election in 2004.
It was its worst performance ever, and was compounded by the fact that the BN lost its two-thirds majority in parliament, by virtue of which it had previously been able to enact constitutional change. The government still enjoys a healthy majority, but the election has undermined its self-confidence, hugely enhanced that of the opposition and transformed the mood of the nation; where once politics seemed set in stone, suddenly change is in the air.
The government has become defensive and fearful, symbolised by the prime minister Abdullah Badawi, who is a weak leader in comparison with his formidable and long-serving predecessor. The government’s defensiveness is illustrated by its latest legal assault against Anwar Ibrahim, the leader of the opposition coalition and a former deputy prime minister.
In 1998 he was charged with sodomy (engaging in a homosexual act, which is illegal in Malaysia) and imprisoned for 15 years, but released in 2004 after the appeal court overthrew his conviction. Fearful of his imminent return to full-scale politics after serving a period of disqualification, the government has once again charged him with sodomy (“carnal intercourse against the order of nature”). In a recent poll, two-thirds believed the charges were politically motivated. Indeed, a remarkably apologetic leader in the Umno-run New Straits Times last Saturday displayed a transparent lack of conviction in the charges. In a predominantly Muslim country, the sodomy charge is manifestly designed to discredit Anwar in the eyes of Malays, while the timing is a blatant attempt to prevent him from returning to parliament. In short, it is the unimaginative act of a government that is running scared.
The government, meanwhile, finds itself mired in another scandal – the murder of a young Mongolian translator in 2006, for which a close political adviser of Najib Tun Razak, the ambitious deputy prime minister and defence minister, is standing trial, together with two of his bodyguards. The fact that, subsequent to her murder, an attempt was made to remove all traces of her body by the use of special explosives, whose use can only be sanctioned by the highest authorities in the government, has encouraged widespread speculation that Najib and his wife were involved in the murder – which appears to have been related to a lucrative submarine deal with France.
The government has only itself to blame for this endemic mood of rumour. The media is closely controlled by the government and is widely disbelieved. As a result the vacuum of information and opinion has been filled by two websites – malaysiakini.com and malaysia-today.net – which have become highly influential, outspoken and merciless towards a government that no longer controls the information agenda in the way that it has previously, further serving to undermine its position.
The growing lack of confidence in the government is fuelled by systemic corruption, especially in Umno, and a widely held view that the benefits of the country’s economic growth have not been shared equitably, with poorer Malays and the Indian minority in particular losing out badly. Indeed it was a demonstration by the Indian minority-rights organisation Hindraf last year that helped to draw the nation’s attention to the plight of the Indian community and the neglect of the poor. Corruption is rife in Umno, which has become a vehicle for personal enrichment; its vice-president said last week that “it has become rampant at all levels and it is frightening if this becomes normal practice in future”.
Events could move quickly. On August 26 Anwar will stand as the opposition Pakatan Rakyat candidate in his old parliamentary constituency and will undoubtedly win by a huge margin. The government, meanwhile, will attempt to stymie his rise by the use of the sodomy case. Anwar has regularly predicted that the government will fall by September 16 when, he claims, about 30 government defections will enable the opposition to form a new government.
It is unlikely to be so simple. The old order, which has ruled Malaysia for 51 years, will mount a desperate fight to ensure its own survival. Too many people have got too much to lose; a Pakatan government would threaten their reputations, careers, wealth and, in some cases perhaps, freedom. A further problem concerns the nature of the opposition. A Pakatan government would be a combination of incongruous, incoherent and uneasy bedfellows: the Islamic PAS, DAP (a predominantly Chinese party) and Anwar’s Keadilan. As a consequence, the opposition’s credibility as an alternative government is seriously flawed.
The greatest fear must be that as the old order weakens, underlying racial tensions will be exacerbated and exploited for nefarious purposes. Malaysia is multiracial in a way true of few societies outside Africa: with Malays accounting for around 60% of the population, the Chinese for some 25% and Indians 8%, this is a country that depends on a racial consensus for its stability. That cannot be said of any European society, Britain included.
Such racially diverse societies are extremely difficult to govern, and it is to Malaysia’s enormous credit that it has combined economic growth with relative racial harmony – a feat for which it has rarely been given the credit it deserves in the west. Undoubtedly the present system of positive discrimination in favour of Malays has largely outlived its usefulness, but any reforms will be difficult and potentially fraught. Hopefully the kind of political change that Malaysia now requires can, in time, be achieved without losing its most precious achievement. But there can be no guarantees.
· Martin Jacques is a visiting research fellow at the London School of Economics Asia research centre
Before we can see the termination of racial stereotyping
We can now witness the appearance of religious sterotyping
How can there be any progress with all the self-restrictions
Plus all the petty mental blocks serving as self-strangulations
(C) Samuel Goh Kim Eng – 180808
http://MotivaitonInMotion.blogspot.com
Mon. 18th Aug. 2008.
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Asalamualaikum
the chinese are 100% solidly supporting DSAI to be the next PM of Malaysia.
to my malay and indian friends
come let us together show and prove our solidarity and rally
behind DSAI.
forget about saiful sinful or whatever fool .
just go all out and vote DSAI your MP and our next PM of all Malaysian.
long live DSAI and may god bless you and your family.
Ameen
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Nostrdamus Predictions on Possibilities In Malaysia.
Ramalan Nostradamus atas Kemungkinan-kemungkinan di Malaysia.
1. Is it possible that DSAI wins the Permatang Pauh elections and become the next Chief Minister of Penang as a stepping stone to becoming Prime Minister?
Adakah mungkinnya DSAI memenangi pilihan raya Permatang Pauh dan menjadi Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang sebelum menjadi Perdana Menteri?
2. Is it possible that DSAB resign as PM of Malaysia after the Permatang Pauh elections and handover to DSNTR earlier than expected?
Adakah mungkinnya DSAB meletak jawatan sebagai PM Malaysia selepas pilihan raya Permatang Pauh dan menyerahkannya kepada DSNTR lebih awal dari jangkaan?
3. Is it possible that UMNO and PKR will combine to form a new party?
Adakah mungkinnya UMNO dan PKR akan bergabung untuk membentuk sebuah parti baru?
4. Is it possible that all other component parties of BN without UMNO will combine with PKR to form a new party?
Adakah mungkinnya parti-parti komponen BN lain kecuali UMNO akan bergabung dengan PKR untuk membentuk sebuah parti baru?
5. Is it possible that PKR and PAS will combine to form a new party?
Adakah mungkinnya PKR dan PAS akan bergabung untuk membentuk sebuah parti baru?
6. Is it possible that PKR, DAP and HINDRAF will combine to form a new party?
Adakah mungkinnya PKR,DAP dan HINDRAF akan bergabung untuk membentuk sebuah parti baru?
7. Is it possible that TDM and all other Little Napoleons knows of these possibilities and are preparing to migrate?
Adakah mungkinnya TDM dan semua “Little Napoleons” mengetahui kemungkinan-kemungkinan ini dan sedang bersedia untuk berhijrah?
8. Is it possible that DSAI is charged and disqualified as Member of Parliament after winning the Permatang Pauh election?
Adakah mungkinnya DSAI didakwa dan tidak layak sebagai Ahli Parlimen selepas memenangi pilihan raya Permatang Pauh?
9. Is it possible that there will be another by election in Selangor or Perak?
Adakah kemungkinan ada pilihan raya kecil semula di Selangor atau Perak?
10. Is it possible that there will be new religious parties formed besides PAS eg. Christian, Buddhist, Confucianism, Hindu, Bahai, Sikhism, Judaism or other beliefs?
Adakah kemungkinan akan tertubuhnya parti berugama baru selain PAS seperti Kristian, Buddha, Konfusius, Hindu, Bahai, Sikh, Yahudi atau lain-lain kepercayaan?
To be continued…….
Akan disambung……
http://patek1472.wordpress.com
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The architect of this economic transformation was Dr Mahathir….
Do you mean transforming the wealth of the nation for the gains of his croonies??? And this is done in the name of national development????
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Chong Wei Lee won a Silver for Malaysia, yet he can’t enter UiTM university because of his race…. The Barisan Nasional prohibits equity in this University by protecting its own race, yet argues of “NEP” equity by disallowing any chinese of indian minorities for entry…
Its as if BN is spitting on its achievers because it has Racist policies, yet argues its case to benefit its own race.
Hyocricy and Racism… why bother support a government that discriminates based on race… that is precisely the definition of racism.. But then again, the law is to not question Malay special priviledges, so.. move to Australia, America, Europe or even Singapore or Thailand.
Un-natural policies will lead to failure. We can see it coming and its a good thing BN is too blind to even see it, to their downfall.
I find it utterly amazing that no Malaysian has argued the case that BN DID NOT have a long term strategy in oil pricing. In stead it resorted to reactionary policy changes overnight by increasing prices by over 41%. If this isn’t POOR ECONOMIC MANAGMENT.. I dont know what is. It’s typically incompetence that is the norm in Malaysia.
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Whatever it is… all Malaysian now should be wisely in this process of ‘changing’…
All Malaysian now no more like ‘ayam makan padi’ but they will turn to look over their ‘tuan’…
Let think wisely to make this happen…
What we need now is the good leader to lead our lovely country…
http://hidrogen-fuel.blogspot.com/
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I pray to God Almighty that UNMO be completely and permanently sacked from power.They have betrayed me and the nation. Long live PKR and Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim!
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HI ALL VOTERS,
If you really want a good leader for Malaysia, VOTE DSAI!!!
Otherwise we all will go to hell ,SOON.
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The test?
For whom?
Lets test the POEPLE POWER – to the warlords.
rajraman.ACTUALL TEST for the warlords and their sidekick (barisan components party)
FACE THE TEST FOR LONG TERM MALAYSIA FOR MALAYSIAN DREAM.
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ALL MALAYSIANS MUST BE HELPED REGARDLESS OF RACE…NEP WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP THE MALAYS BUT BN MISUSED IT TO ENRICH THEIR CRONIES!!
THERE ARE POOR MALAYS, THERE ARE POOR CHINESE AND THERE ARE POOR INDIANS…THERE ARE ALSO SMART MALAYSIANS AND ALL OF THEM HAVE THE RIGHT TO ENTER ANY UNIVERSITIES THEY WANT…I CAN UNDERSTAND IF THERE IS ONLY ONE RACE IN A SCHOOL BUT A UNIVERSITY, WHETHER IT’S UITM OR UTAR OR ANY OTHER U’S.????
WHEN I WAS IN YEAR ONE IN THE 70′S, MY BEST FRIEND WAS A CHINESE..LEE POOI POOI, I STILL REMEMBER HER BUT NOW MY CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE ANY FRIENDS FROM OTHER RACES…
THE DIVIDE AND CONQUER SCHEME BY THE BN GOVT MUST BE STOPPED…WE MUST OVERCOME OUR FEAR FOR CHANGE…WE MUST STAND TOGETHER AS MALAYSIANS…WE ARE MALAYS, WE ARE CHINESE, WE ARE INDIANS AND WE HAVE OUR OWN RELIGIONS BUT WE MUST STAY UNITED AS MALAYSIANS…AND WE MUST RESPECT OUR DIFFERENCES…
AND ANWAR IS THE ONE TO BRING US TO A NEW MALAYSIA..!
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it is all becoz of anwar ibrahim. he is the cause of all the chaos in malaysia. he create something that had never exist to cover his own bad doings. a conspiracy theory thats a true malaysian should know that nobody in malaysia has the balls and the brain to execute such tactics even for dr. mahathir. because the consequences if it is fails is really bad. but all event become so smooth and the plot is likely genuine. why? because it is all true. but mr anwar choose to divert everything into a lot of theories that will make the people confused and mislead those with the weak minds into his “conspiracy theory”. yup, mr anwar is certainly is a smart guy, with the words especially but doesn’t mean a smart guy is brilliant as well. we are reading you mr anwar. make your next move we’ll be laughing before you know it
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In response to statement aired over TV recently, made by Hon. Foreign Affairs Minister, Dato’ Rais Yatim, on Parliment to deliberate on the possible proposed Enactment to be implementd, of actions to be taken upon Bloggers, does’nt matter whom or what status they are in Malaysian society, who propagate seditious, provocative racial and political sentiments, disruptive elements towards achieving the harmonious unity of the Malaysian multiracial population, dishonouring others without protective evidence, which actually should be deliberated in the Malaysian courts (Judiciary) that are independent of Executive (Parliment) rights, where Law and Justice is to be upheld, and applied fairly to all deserving Malaysian citizens. Syariah laws should be designated and handled by Specialists in their own fields in the Syariah Courts of Justice, and Civil cases in Civil Courts, whence it is still not yet incorporated in the Syariah Courts.
Preference should be given to Syariah Courts to conduct cases related particularly to Muslims in Malaysia, whereby it is more applicable.
Proper executions of both the Syariah and Civil Courts, will eventually lead to improved racial harmony amongst multi racial communities, better perceptions by Malaysian citizens, thus eradicating virtual suspicions amongst inter racial sentiments, and Malaysian citizens can progress further to achieve better Prosperity and Sovereignity, within these environments.
TQ
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Tungku Abdul Rahman – Bapa Kemerdekaan Malaysia
Tun Abdul Razak – Bapa Pembangunan Malaysia
Tun Hussein Onn – Bapa Perpaduan Malaysia
Tun Mahathir – Bapa Pemodenan Malaysia
Datuk Seri Abdullah – Bapa Mertua Khairi Jamaluddin
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I do agree with the writer that it is extremely difficult to govern a very racially diverse societies. In fact it is a challenge to all leaders and governments. But, this does not mean that it could not be overcome… if only leaders are being true to himself, restrain from mobjustice, and be more cordially open to all including the groups that challenge them. In other words, sitting together trying to find ways of settlement and agreements is thounsand times better than political platform.
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