Archive for February 9th, 2010
Najib’s 1Malaysia concept means “a thousand and one” different things even to Umno and BN Ministers and leaders
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is unhappy about the various misconceptions over the 1Malaysia concept which he introduced upon taking office in April last year, causing him to lament yesterday in his keynote speech at the 1Malaysia Economic Conference: “I am greatly saddened that such an idea, which is not terribly complicated, is so often not understood.”
Najib has only himself to blame as the 1Malaysia concept has come to mean “a thousand and one” different things even to Umno and Barisan Ministers and leaders – let alone to the people at large.
This is why even his senior aide of some two decades, Datuk Nasir Safar, could interpret Najib’s 1Malaysia as inclusive of offensive and insensitive sentiments such as:
Labelling Indians and Chinese in Malaysia as “pendatang”;
“Indians came to Malaysia as beggars and Chinese especially the women came to sell their bodies (jual tubuh)”;
Claimed that Umno was solely responsible in drafting the constitution sidelining the contribution of MCA and MIC;
Threat to revoke the citizenship of those vocal about the subject cap for SPM examination.
by Azly Rahman
“Man proposes, god disposes”
Thomas a Kempis, ‘Of The Imitation of Christ’
While America awaits The Super Bowl, Malaysia awaits The Super Trial II this week to listen to the arguments concerning the predicament of Anwar Ibrahim.
Philosophically, what ought to be the shape of things to come? Where do we go from here, as a nation? Where do we wish to bring this nation that is in need of deep reflection on the meaning of nationhood and democracy?
Maturity after Mahathirism
If we take 1998 as a framework in looking at the changes this country is seeing politically, Anwar can be seen as an embodiment of Nelson Mandela.
His spirit did not die for the six years he was jailed and upon his release a momentum was created that grew in strength to first, become institutionalised in the form of a strong Parti Keadilan Rakyat and next, of Pakatan Rakyat.
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