In Malaysia’s two-party system only two political teams will seriously contest in the next general election – BN (Barisan Nasional) and PR (Pakatan Rakyat). The 13th general election will be held any time before March 2013. But BN led by the UMNO team under bungling Najib will have a slim chance of victory in the country’s 13th general election. UMNO and racism will attribute to the end of BN.
A fascist organisation
Super-racist Perkasa (Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia) is a non-governmental Malay Supremacy organisation formed in the aftermath of the Malaysian general elections in 2008. Outsiders estimate the organisation to have less than 1000 members mostly consisting of political desperados who failed to win posts in UMNO. But this group is given tacit support by UMNO for the latter’s survival.
The major objective for establishing Perkasa is to “defend the rights of Bumiputera”. Perkasa is said to be fighting and defending the rights of the Malays which they feel are being “challenged” by non-Malays in Malaysia.
Many critics though have branded Perkasa as a fascist organisation. On July 9, 2010, the group was labelled “militant” by a former US Ambassador to Malaysia.
The group has been criticised by a former opposition leader for “re-using the religion, race and nationalism card when it's been proven obsolete and irrelevant in bringing progress and change to Malay social and economic development".
A state Gerakan official and lawyer has condemned Perkasa as “the Malaysian version of the white American supremacist movement Ku Klux Klan, which openly advocates racism, religious extremism and fascism”. He added that Perkasa “incites racial hatred and social disharmony in Malaysia”.
If truth be told, the majority Malaysians – Malays, Chinese, Indians and the Indigenous – are not pleased with Perkasa.
A menace to the society
In fact, super-racist Perkasa has become a menace to the society, as they are throwing their weight around antagonising the Opposition and NGOs that advocate a democratic Malaysia. Surprisingly, no actions are taken against them by the police. They have increasingly become foolhardy – flexing their muscles thinking that the police are lenient to them. With the lackadaisical attitude shown by the police towards them, they are becoming more impetuous, abusive and aggressive.
They have created copious ruckuses against the Penang Chief Minister and elsewhere – using profanities and at times behaving pugnaciously in street protests, during ceramah and peaceful rallies conducted by the Opposition.
It looks like UMNO and BN will find it a daunting task to win the next general election. The reason is obvious, as they have chosen many wrong partners to tack hammer the Opposition. They say in Malay, “Kerana nila setitik rosak susu sebelangga.” Perkasa – a politically protected super-racist group – and some UMNO fanatics are now putting the final nail on BN’s coffin.
A senior UMNO member in Penang described Perkasa’s behaviour as “disconcerting” and he was surprised that no action has been taken against this super-racist group. “Their shameful, racist and disruptive behaviour has become a liability to BN,” he said.
Blurred vision
The writings are now on the wall for all to see. UMNO has a blurred vision in politics. They are so immature to think that by using racial tones they can win back the hearts of the Malays. According to critics, no way can UMNO influence the majority Malays to concur with them with damaging and ferocious tactics in politics.
UMNO has indeed made politics difficult for MCA, Gerakan and MIC. The sycophants allied to UMNO are chasing away supporters not only from UMNO but also the BN component parties. The “ketuanan” stance played by UMNO has made more difficult for the component parties in BN to whine. It’s a matter of securing power and posts in the government and this will be at stake. They thus have to be silent.
Even the partiality of the mainstream media paid to spin issues insulting to the people’s intelligence to favour their sponsors will not convince the people not to leave UMNO and BN. Seemingly, the super-racist group allied to UMNO has caused irreparable damage to BN.
“They are the despairing minority trying to stir commotion in this peaceful state,” said a young Malay voter in Gelugor. “Their actions will see BN losing more votes in the next general election,” he added.
Failing to graciously counter the effective leadership of CM (Chief Minister) of Penang, sore losers of the last election are resorting to dirty politics now to show their contempt for the efficiently-led state government.
“The people in Penang have no problems whatsoever with the present government,” quipped a Malay executive attached to a bank here. ”It’s only the behaviour of some disgruntled groups that the main stream media prefer to highlight to give a bad image of the state government. But the people cannot be swayed by these sponsored thugs and media,” he added.
The envy of UMNO
Lim Guan Eng of Penang has created tremendous “fortune” and opportunities for Penang within less than 5 years of helming the industrial state. And his success has naturally become the envy of UMNO and BN.
Penang was won by Pakatan Rakyat in the 2008 general election and to most political observers the state will continue to be under PR after the next general election.
By choosing the wrong players to beat the drum of hatred against Lim, UMNO has failed Gerakan, MIC and MCA in Penang. If UMNO thinks that they can win the hearts of the Malays by provoking the Chinese, they must be extremely wrong. The support for PAS and PKR in Penang is gaining momentum.
The recent “Himpunan Hijau dan Xpresi Anak Muda Pulau Pinang” held at Padang Hj Ahmad Badawi, Butterworth – on June 26 – saw a huge crowd of about 20,000. The support for PAS has apparently risen not only in Penang but also elsewhere in East Malaysia.
The more than 30 000 people pulling together during the 'Merdeka Rakyat' ceramah at Padang Taman Bersatu, Nibong Tebal on 24 June sent shivers down the spine of UMNO leaders. It was a mammoth gathering comprising people of all races.
A PAS supporter commented, “It’s a sign of fortitude and determination for change.” “Even UMNO members fed up with their leadership were among the throngs,” he added.
UMNO sycophants are not happy with PR’s success stories and they have to resort to gutter politics to win back Malay support. This shows how desperate UMNO can be.
Blunder in politics
UMNO is saddled with “symptoms of political disorder” in Penang. Devoid of good leadership and being divisive in nature due to internal power struggle that is going on the party could only dream of taking back the state from Pakatan Rakyat without the strong support from the moderate Malays, Chinese and Indians.
Added to that, with UMNO’s association with some fanatics within the party and super-racist Perkasa UMNO is handily shooing away the non-Malay support for BN.
If UMNO opines that by playing a dirty game they will win back the Malay votes in Penang they are making the gravest blunder in politics. Malay support for UMNO in Penang is less than 40 percent. The 2008 general election saw UMNO winning 11 state seats also with the help of non-Malay voters. The Malays cannot do it alone in Penang. What's more, not all Malays support UMNO.
With appointed thugs doing disservice to UMNO, the party can only dream of grabbing Penang back from Pakatan in the next general election. UMNO and the deportment of their notorious soulmates have made Pakatan even stronger. The non-Malays and the majority Malays in Penang are happy with the present state leadership and with the insolent behaviour of some super-racist scamps perceived to be UMNO-sponsored, the support for the incumbent CM will be further augmented
“These rapscallions are using brute force to make the people hate the incumbent state government. Actually their untoward behaviour is bringing shame to the Malays and Islam. The non-Malays are not happy with this either. “The majority Malays hate violent politics,” said a senior UMNO member in Bayan Lepas. “But the damage is already done. They are creating a bad image here. UMNO and BN cannot make it in Penang,” he added.
Targeting Lim
UMNO-led BN has actually become a lame duck in Penang. Failing to win back the peoples’ support some super-racist UMNO and Perkasa members have morphed into scallywags. Of late, they have been targeting Lim with impunity.
Political observers feel that it is because Lim is a Chinese that he has to be treated disgustfully by these rabble-rousers. “It's in truth racist in nature, as this will not happen to any leader if they were Malay,” remarked an observer.
“Lim is targeted just because he is a Chinese, a DAP man and not endorsed by UMNO,” he added.
Failing to convince the people of Penang in a cultured manner to win back the state for UMNO these mischief-makers have resorted to barbaric ways of achieving their aims.
They behave as though they have been given the “licence” by UMNO to do anything they wish against anything that is allied to PR.
Shouting profanities has become their trademark. Perkasa has on numerous occasions in the past incited feelings of ill-will and hostility in a multi-racial Malaysia. But no action has been taken against them. “Their action must be endorsed by UMNO,” criticised a disappointed Gerakan member in Penang.
But Lim is tremendously popular in Penang among all the races – Malays, Chinese and Indians. To the majority in Penang, and Malaysians in general, they are cognisant of the fact that Lim has proven to be a capable leader. They are happy that it’s a transparent government that is now running Penang.
No matter what these disgruntled super-racist imps are up to they only represent the minority and the “sour grapes”. They are disparaging others who have proven to be more competent and are accepted by the people. Nevertheless, Penangites have already rejected the corrupt UMNO-BN government.
Najib is too shaky a leader
Najib is too shaky a leader to rein in super-racist Perkasa and those extreme UMNO members. Obviously he is afraid of losing votes from Malay extreme groups. Be that as it may, a Pakatan victory in the next general election would instantaneously endorse a genuine two-party system where the party in power must pander to the will of the people in a true democracy.
UMNO’s arrogance and monocracy that have seen hatred and “violence” against the Opposition should not go unheeded. Racial politics must stop. This alone is enough for a better governance of the country as far as race relations is concerned. The worst scenario would be when there is no racial and religious harmony in the country. Thus racial politics as sanctioned by UMNO must come to an end.
Malaysia Chronicle
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