INTERLOK & THE LINGERING BTN ‘POISON’

By Sharifuddin A Latiff

A commentator, Robinson [muchos gracias, hombre], sent us a news article plus a video clip with regard to afaux pas by the Ministry of Defence of Britain.

In short, it was a story about a recruitment drive by the British Royal Marines several years ago which included a promotional video. [Click on screenshot below to watch].

“I am the most evil man in the world. Come fight with me. I will kill you all,” the actor said in Malay.

The ‘Malay terrorist’ depicted in the video apparently upset a Malaysian MP who then protested for it to be withdrawn from the MoD’s official website.

Well, whaddaya know, the Brits complied to avoid a full-blown diplomatic incident. Considering that they were our former colonial masters, I reckoned it was a gentlemenly gesture to acquiesce to the request (demand?) since the video gaffe ‘hurt local sensitivities’. Suffice to say, goodwill among nations must remain paramount within civilised societies. [Read the report here]

Meanwhile. back home in Tanah Air Tercinta, a person named ‘Baktiar’ in Kuala Kubu Baru was reported to have ‘brought’ three school children [who wanted to return the Interlok book to their headmaster] to a police station, resulting in a 10-hour ordeal when these minors were interrogated. And because they were also denied access to their parents, these young Malaysians must have had a ‘terrifying’ experience that will traumatize them for years to come.

Going by his name, ‘Baktiar’ is a Malay [or surely -- to quote our most famous Malay Dr Mahathir -- at least "constitutionally a Malay"] and a Muslim, a policeman and the head of the school PTA. The essential ingredients (Malay, Muslim, police, head of organization) are all in place to enable the authority of Malay supremacy to be vested in such an individual — in this case, at the level of the semi-rural Kuala Kubu Baru.

In this blatant display of ketuanan Melayu, we see its flagbearer behaving in an irrational manner without due consideration for the safety and welfare of those Indian school children.

Adding salt to wound, an unnamed disciplinary teacher was also implicated in this incident who apparently uttered -

“Kenapa orang India garang? India memang suka rosakkan nama sekolah. Keling memang dasar pariah sejak sejarah lagi“

Do you still think Interlok can bring about unity in Malaysia [as advocated by its most ardent supporter Mr Yeah camping at our blog]?

- Hartal MSM