DPM spouts zero-tolerance for Namewee, not headmistresses

Muhyiddin himself accused of being racist

Malaysia Chronicle

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyddin Yassin has reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance policy for racism, but it was clear that for him, racism was only meant for the non-Malays.

His remarks made at a press conference on Thursday defending the police action taken against controversial rapper Namewee, while maintaining a deafening silence on two Malay headmistresses accused of hurling racial taunts at their pupils were denounced by members of the political opposition.

Lee Boon Chye

“It is shocking that this sort of outright racial bullying can be so blatantly and openly pursued by Umno leaders. It shows the level of degradation. It is as though the other races are dead to them, we are not on the Umno radar at all,” PKR vice president Lee Boon Chye told Malaysia Chronicle.

Only Namewee, nothing on the headmistresses

Muhyiddin told reporters Namewee's behavior could have an "adverse effect" on the country, but did not specify how. The 27-year old rapper, whose full name is Wee Meng Chee, had produced a three-minute video clip lambasting two Malay headmistresses for their alleged racism.

The clip sparked near immediate retaliation with the police sending three patrol cars to his home in Muar, Johor to pick him up for questioning.

However, the two school principals escaped similar humiliation and are instead being investigated by the Education authorities and the Public Service Department. Muhyiddin, who is also Education minister, made matters worse by declining to comment on their cases, choosing instead to focus on Namewee.

Namewee at his studio

“Even though previously there are certain parties who have accused the government of not being firm against racism but we have studied this matter (Namewee) because what is important is that we do not want any racial tension between the different communities which could have an adverse effect on the country,” Muhyiddin told a press conference.

“That is why if there is someone who wants to voice their opinion in a democratic country, they are bound by laws especially the Sedition Act. That is why the government has decided that we must be more firm, regardless of race, against actions and statements that can escalate racial tension. We want to avoid this.”

Who is the real racist

It has already been nearly a month since the complaints about the two principals first erupted but Muhyiddin declined to set a definitive time frame on when a decision on the pair could be made.

“We have transferred the case to PSD and we hope they will make a decision immediately. That is why it was transferred last week and the PSD director has been asked to make a decision as soon as possible,” he said.

Siti Inshah, the headmistress of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra in Kulai had said in a speech in early August:

“Pelajar-pelajar Cina tidak diperlukan dan boleh balik ke China ataupun Sekolah Foon Yew. Bagi pelajar India, tali sembahyang yang diikat di pergelangan tangan dan leher pelajar nampak seakan anjing dan hanya anjing akan mengikat seperti itu.”

“Chinese students are not needed and can go back to China or Foon Yew School. As for the Indian students, the prayer strings that they wear around their wrists and necks make them look like dogs and only dogs are chained up like that.”

Despite calls for her sacking, Education director-general Alimuddin Mohd Dom had tried to cover up her case, claiming that it had been amicably resolved. But parents and other civil rights groups lodged police reports against her and Muhyiddin was forced to set up a task-force to re-investigate the case.

Tian Chua

As for Namewee, in his music video that was peppered with the vulgar and obscene words typical of his generation of rap musicians, his lyric“You tak baca? Siapa buat Malaysia kaya?” (Don’t you know? Who made Malaysia prosperous?) was seized on by Umno leaders, who accused him of intentionally humiliating the Malays and creating racial tensions.

Public sentiment no longer with BN

Pundits have said Namewee’s video was a ‘godsend’ for Umno to reinforce its pitch to the Malays that it was the sole defender of their rights.But in doing so, it has created even further ethnic tensions.

An influential overseas think-tank Economic Intelligence said in a report released a day ago that public sentiment no longer favored the BN and as such, it no longer expects snap general elections to take place in 2011. It predicted Prime Minister Najib Razak will defer the 13th national polls to sometime in 2012.

“I won’t discount that possibility even though at the moment I still believe elections will come earlier rather than later. But the longer Najib delays, the better it is for Pakatan. Umno can’t change any more, what moves can it make?” PKR strategic director Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

"It can only get worse and it will sink to new depths just to impress the Malays. They don’t care about the Chinese but don’t underestimate the Malay sense of fair play. When Umno over-does it, there will a backlash – just like in 1999 when Malays protested the persecution of Anwar Ibrahim and voted for the opposition.”