What a shameful, hypocritical UN speech by PM Najib

Richard Loh

The Prime Minister of Malaysia in his tweet is encouraging Malaysians to read his speech that he delivered at the UN General Assembly, and welcome their thoughts.

My thought is that it was such a shameful and hypocritical speech. His full text can be read here.

How can the PM be so shameless to preach to the world about the good while practicing the bad in his own homeland? I hope President Obama and other world leaders will take his speech with a grain of salt.

Let me differentiate what he preaches to the world and what he practices in his own country. I would like to remind the world leaders that Malaysia is quick to condemn other countries wrong doings but others were blocked from interfering with Malaysia internal problems even if they had signed or supported any of the international law agreements.

2.Let me reaffirm Malaysia’s unwavering and continuing support for the United Nations and the multilateral principles, based on international law, which it embodies. Let me also reiterate Malaysia’s commitment to doing our part in this collective endeavour.

In Malaysia the international law he spoke about was put into cold storage and he uses his own laws on humanity and democracy. He can arrest and lock up anyone under the Internal Security Act (ISA) without charges. The Press, Print & Publication Act (PPPA) had stifled freedom of speech to the extend that many were under investigation for seditions and a reporter arrested under the ISA simply for reporting what was said by others.

3.It is imperative that we have to achieve peace premised upon a covenant of the willing and not one enforced by way of hegemony through fear and coercion. Such peace can only be achieved if we are willing to constructively engage each other through dialogue. Such discussions would help in creating a deeper understanding as well as appreciation and respect of each other in our conviction to create a better future for all citizens of the world.

In Malaysia, racial polarisation and religious confrontation were at its worst since independent yet any discussions and constructive dialogue on racial and religious issues were illegal and condemned with their reasoning being that they are sensitive. The government itself is enforcing the way of hegemony through fear and coercion. Many opposition leaders are now under police investigations for talking about race and religious issues even though they were carried out in good faith.

4.As a trade organization, WTO remains relevant to today’s economic climate and Malaysia believes that the Doha Round must return to its original objective of ensuring free, fair and equitable trade.

Malaysia wanted the world to recognise free, fair and equitable trade but not willing to do so within its own country. The ridiculous pricing of its national car and the fall of FDI are just two examples.

5.Since the adoption of the MDGs a decade ago, which galvanized the world into collective action; there has been lack of efforts on joint endeavours towards the betterment of humanity. The missed opportunity at last year’s climate change meeting in Copenhagen is a wake-up call for all of us. We need to bridge the gaps towards resolving and addressing the issues of climate change which affects the lives and livelihoods of the peoples of the world and our future generations.

Malaysia, here again call upon the world for the betterment of humanity which they themselves are not doing anything about its poor handling of humanity in the country.

Vast forest are being destroyed for its priceless timber and soon, coal-fired and nuclear plants will be built and he got the guts to talk about climate change.

6.On 7 June 2010, the Malaysian Parliament unanimously passed a Resolution condemning the brutal Israeli attack on the humanitarian convoy in international waters.

Is it not hypocritical of Malaysia to condemn the brutal Israeli attack but letting loose its police force to crash peaceful rallies and demonstrations with arrest, firing tear gas and spraying chemical lace water onto protesters? Talking about humanity..it must be a real joke.

7.We were happy to see establishment of the UN Investigation Panel and the International Fact Finding Mission of the Human Rights Council. The report has found that the conduct of the Israeli military and other personnel towards the flotilla passengers was not only disproportionate but also demonstrated levels of totally unnecessary and incredible violence. This inhumane attack constituted grave violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law

Malaysians are facing inhumane attack and arrest that constituted grave violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law. Malaysians can get arrested for wearing black, get arrested for lighting candles, get arrested for drawing cartoons, get arrested in rallies and get arrested simply for voicing against the government. Many going in for interrogations by the police and macc did not come out alive but in body bags. Will Malaysia allow the UN Investigation Panel and the International Fact Finding Mission of the Human Rights Council to come in to investigate all the inhuman actions of its government? I can provide you all with the government standard answer, "Malaysia has its own laws, we do not need outsiders to interfere with our internal affairs".

11.While harnessing our efforts to promote international peace and harmony we are concerned with the increasing trend in some parts of the world to perpetuate or even fuel Islamophobia. I therefore urge us to embark on building a “Global Movement of the Moderates” from all faiths who are committed to work together to combat and marginalize extremists who have held the world hostage with their bigotry and bias. We must choose moderation over extremism. We must choose negotiations over confrontation.

Did anyone ask the Prime Minister what is happening in his own country and is he practicing what he preaches at the UN in Malaysia? In Malaysia, the word "Allah" is banned from usage by the non muslim, while mosques and suraus are allowed to be built without any difficulties, other religion places of worship are facing objections. Cow heads were been dragged to proof their objection of Indian temple being built. Non muslim are not allowed into mosque while no action taken on those muslims who entered a church and desecrated the holy communion.

13.We commend President Obama and Mayor Bloomberg for rising to the challenge by affirming the rights of supporters of the Cordoba House to be located near the site of the World Trade Centre. This project will include a mosque and aMulti-Faith Community Centre open to all. We support the objectives of the Cordoba Initiative, an organization that focuses on promoting peace, understanding and moderation, both between Muslims and non-Muslims and within the Muslim communities. All countries should encourage and support initiatives that promote mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and reject the extremists who divide us all with issues that have in the past brought misery and hatred.

Malaysia is happy to see that the Cordoba House include a mosque and a Multi-Faith Community Centre open to all but did he tell you all that in Malaysia no such thing can happened or realised? Even open discussion about Islam and entering the mosque is a no no and could get you arrested for sedition or ISA. How can the PM support such initiative half way across the globe but not willing to do so in his own country? Do you think the PM will agree for calls to build other religious place of worship within Putra Jaya?

14.Malaysia is a multi-racial, multi-religious, multi-cultural and democratic society that has benefited from the positive interaction and synergy between the various communities. Mosques, temples, churches and other places of worship co-exist in harmony. It is this equilibrium that leads to moderation or “wasatiyyah” in the Islamic tradition of mutual justice.

I agree with the PM on this point if we are still living in the 50's and 60's but the whole scenario at present time are not so rosy and there is no showing or practicing of his so call "Islamic tradition of mutual justice". He allowed his party controlled media and malay NGOs to heighten the tension of unfounded reporting regarding racial and religious issues.

15.We are therefore well poised to play our part in promoting religious understanding, harmony and tolerance. To further strengthen our process of national unity, I have introduced a philosophy known as 1Malaysia.

Did he explained the reasons why after 53 years of independent there is still no national unity and the people are still so divided by race and religious intolerance? I will skip this 1Malaysia rhetoric as Malaysians including the PM's own ministers are having a hard time understanding it.

With the PM 1Malaysia, RACISM is getting worst with racist remarks coming out from the PM own top party leaders, civil servants, NGOs and multi media. The PM can talk and talk just like his shameful and hypocritical speech at the UN but he simply has no guts to tackle nor take any actions against those racists.

So, Mr. Prime Minister, you want my thoughts, these are my thoughts.