Pakatan: The real saboteurs of 1Malaysia are in Umno not us

Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

Pakatan Rakyat leaders say the real saboteurs of Prime Minister Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia plan are not from their coalition but within Umno itself. They pinned the blame squarely on Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and former premier Mahathir Mohamad.

“Signs of very serious infighting have emerged in Umno. Muhyiddin is following Mahathir and Mahathir is stirring up the ultra right-wing groups because this is the path of least resistance. Traditionally, hawks tend to be emotional and seldom intellectualize about the longer term implications,” Tian told Malaysia Chronicle.

“Of course, this is Umno’s internal affair and it actually benefits Pakatan if they fight. But we hope they keep their problems contained and not create havoc for the nation. We are also very concerned about the slide back into racial polemics and we warn against the bashing of the minorities just to win power within Umno.”

Slide back into racial polemics, minorities bashing

Other Pakatan leaders minced no words either. They said it made no sense for the DPM or even Mahathir to go against Najib’s prized concept if there was not an ulterior motive or vested interest involved.

According to the Government Transformation Programme approved by the Cabinet and published in December, 1Malaysia is defined as a nation where, it is hoped, every Malaysian perceives himself or herself as Malaysian first, and by race, religion, geographical region or socio-economic background second.

“However, the deputy prime minister has chosen to reject the goal of 1Malaysia, by insisting that he is Malay first and subsequently ridiculing the concept of Malaysian first by saying How can I say I’m Malaysian first and Malay second? All the Malays will shun me... and it’s not proper,” DAP economic strategist Tony Pua said in a press statement

“The impact of Muhyiddin’s contempt for the ‘Malaysian first’ concept as defined by the government sounded the death knell for a unifying 1Malaysia and is best epitomised by the complete refusal till today of the president of Gerakan, Koh Tsu Koon, who is also the minister in-charge of the GTP, as well as the president of MCA, Chua Soi Lek, to declare themselves Malaysian first.”

Stuck in a time warp while bankruptcy looms

Indeed polarization amongst the various ethnic groups in the country has deepened since achieving independence from British rule in 1957. The New Economic Policy introduced in 1971 to eradicate poverty has been abused by the Umno elite, who use it as a smokescreen to gain government contracts to enrich themselves and their families.

But the vast majority of the ordinary folk have not benefited. Instead they are expected to be grateful for the crumbs they have received so far. PAS leaders have often said that if Umno had not been in charge the past 53 years, the Malays and the other races would be much richer than they currently are now.

Nonetheless, the Umno elite as epitomised by Mahathir who ruled Malaysia for 22 of its 53-year history, have refused to move with the changing times. Under the guise of Malay rights, they have not hesitated to use scare-mongering tactics just to cling to power.

Even the New Economic Model, the financial adjunct to the 1Malaysia plan, was still born due to stiff resistance from Mahathir and the NGOs that he patronizes, Perkasa and MPM.

They warned the NEM's implementation would spell the death knell for Malay political dominance, but totally ignore the fact that without spurring competition, the risks of Malaysia going bankrupt, like Greece and Dubai, are extremely likely.

“The deputy prime minister’s strident support for ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ (Malay supremacy) as being a pillar for 1 Malaysia and the complicit and complete acquiesce of Barisan Nasional component parties, MCA, MIC and Gerakan to Umno’s demands ensures that there will be no chance of a ‘Malaysian first’ goal of being achieved,” Tony added.

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan espouses a Malaysia for all Malaysians with justice, fairness and equitable distribution of wealth based on needs rather than ethnicity forming the cornerstones of its manifesto.