Let race decide

At the end of the day, the reason for the objection does not appear sincere. Why were the Chinese not upset seven years ago back in 2006 when clearly she not only supported the government but was also well paid for that support as well? And why now when she continues to support the government, as she always has, has it become an issue? Is this not her democratic right to support whoever she wants to support?

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

(Channel News Asia, 21 April 2013) - Actress Michelle Yeoh has defended her decision to openly support Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. The actress has been heavily criticised since she announced that she would be attending a banquet held for the prime minister by the Chinese association in Selangor (which was held last night).

A Facebook page supporting the Malaysian opposition drew more than one thousand comments condemning the actress as a traitor and a government stooge. However Yeoh has urged netizens and her fans not to judge her negatively.

She said: “This is a democratic country. We're all free to voice our opinions. I think people shouldn't be personal. I think all of us want to do good for our own country. And I believe they want to do the same thing.”

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Jean Todt, the president of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the Formula One motor sports governing body, with his wife, Michelle Yeoh.

RM1m for ex-Ferrari F1 boss to promote Malaysia

Sharon Tan, The Edge, 25 June 2009

Tourism Malaysia has allocated RM1 million for former Ferrari F1 boss Datuk Seri Jean Todt to promote the country.

The sum is for a two-year budget that has been set aside for Todt, who was appointed ambassador for Tourism Malaysia in May.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen was clarifying a statement by Azmin Ali (Gombak-PKR) that Todt was offered RM1 million to be ambassador for Tourism Malaysia.

“The RM1 million allocated to him is not cash to him,” said Ng. “It is given when he travels, and whenever he meets people.

So this is a two-year budget set aside for him.

“We need him to go and promote the country. When you want to go on a promotion in Europe, RM1 million gets you nothing. So yes, he has been allocated the money, but not in his pocket. It is in the ministry,” she said during a press conference at the parliament lobby on June 24.

Ng said Todt’s presence and connectivity in Europe and around the world would be able to bring more visibility to Malaysia.

“We also want him to promote the Malaysia My Second Home programme,” she said. Tourism Malaysia would spend accordingly and would be transparent and accountable, said Ng. The money would be used on air tickets and meetings.

Ng said that Tourism Malaysia had yet to spend the allocation for Todt.

“This budget is not for his pocket. This budget is for expenses incurred when he needs to go (and) meet people such as top media people or top television people,” she said, adding that Todt also arranged for her to meet top film producers while she was in Paris.

She said the appointments would not have been possible without his help.

Ng also dismissed Azmin’s allegation that Todt and his fiancee Datuk Michelle Yeoh were offered a piece of land in Pulau Besar, Terengganu.

Earlier, Azmin had raised the question in the House during the question and answer session but Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Sulaiman Taib Mahmud had refused to answer as it was not related to the original question.

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Tony Fernandes and Michelle Yeoh named as Malaysia Brand Ambassadors

(January 2013) - DAVOS: AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Datuk Seri Michelle Yeoh have been named as Malaysia Brand Ambassadors at the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos, Switzerland.

The Malaysian Night held on Friday was the highlight of Malaysia's participation in this year's World Economic Forum in Davos.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak attended the function, which highlighted Malaysia's best success stories and potential for the international market to see.

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Jean Todt (the then General Manager of Scuderia Ferrari) and his fiancé (at that time), Michelle Yeoh -- guests-of-honour of Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Seven years ago back in 2006, Malaysia Today published the photograph above that proved the close relationship between the Ferrari boss, Jean Todt, and his then fiancé, Michelle Yeoh, with those that walk in the corridors of power (at that time Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi). Malaysia Today also revealed that the couple had been appointed Malaysia’s ‘unofficial tourism ambassadors’ with a generous fee that included fully paid expenses, which was expected to run into millions of ringgit.

Many whacked me for that expose and alleged that the only reason I am raising this matter is because Michelle Yeoh is Chinese and a Malaysian Chinese heroine to boot. Hence it is all about race, alleged my detractors.

I understand that the best form of attack is to make allegations of racism. That will cause most people to back down. So I decided to back down and allow this matter to rest since everyone was not concerned about the millions that were going to be spent but rather the fact that Michelle Yeoh is Chinese.

Even the issue of why Jean Todt and Michelle Yeoh should both receive the title of Datuk Seri (meaning what have they done for the country?) when they were already being handsomely rewarded with great sums of money for the ‘ambassadorial’ work they are doing was regarded as ‘nitpicking’. (And note that Michelle Yeoh has her own Datuk Seri title and she is not Datin Seri by virtue of her husband’s Datuk Seri title).

Anyway, now it seems that the Chinese are upset with Michelle Yeoh after all. And this is because she attended Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s dinner in Kelang last night (but it is okay for her to attend Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's dinner). And this, I suppose, is because the Chinese view this as a boost to Barisan Nasional and hence a setback for Pakatan Rakyat.

I am not concerned about who Michelle Yeoh supports politically but more whether the millions she spent is productive and brings benefit to the country’s tourism industry. If it has resulted in a boost in tourism then well and fine. But we will need tangible figures to convince us that the millions spent were well worth it.

At the end of the day, the reason for the objection does not appear sincere. Why were the Chinese not upset seven years ago back in 2006 when clearly she not only supported the government but was also well paid for that support as well? And why now when she continues to support the government, as she always has, has it become an issue? Is this not her democratic right to support whoever she wants to support?

Take the Kamilia Ibrahim and Jenice Lee issues as another example.

Kamilia Ibrahim of Umno has been hailed as a heroine for defying her party and for contesting as an independent candidate in the coming general election on 5th May 2013 while Jenice Lee of DAP is being called a traitor for defying her party and for contesting as an independent candidate.

That is what many of you are commenting in Malaysia Today. Some comments that I deleted were downright nasty -- such as you wanting to insert your dick into her mouth, and so on. I just don’t understand why many of you are so crass and uncouth in your comments. It is like you never went to school and yet the Malays from thekampong who also did not go to school are not like that at all.

I suppose what Tun Dr Mahathir said in June 2006 in his speech in the dialogue that Malaysia Today organised explains everything. You can read the text of the speech below.

Do you know that many of the top leaders from DAP, PAS and PKR attended that dialogue and even went up to Dr Mahathir to shake his hand and joined him for tea afterwards? They even invited Dr Mahathir to other events that the opposition was planning.

Yes, in 2006 Dr Mahathir opposed Umno and the Prime Minister and the dialogue session that Malaysia Todayorganised was the platform for him to launch his attack and declare war on Umno and the Prime Minister -- that eventually resulted in Barisan Nasional getting a beating two years later in March 2008. Hence the leaders of DAP, PAS and PKR supported Dr Mahathir and attended the dialogue session.

What about the 22 years of draconian rule under Dr Mahathir? What about the 22 years of corruption and abuse of power under Dr Mahathir’s rule? What about the damage to the legal system and judiciary that Dr Mahathir did? Are all these no longer issues?

Apparently they are no longer issues now that (meaning in 2006) Dr Mahathir is attacking Umno, the government and the Prime Minister. Hence he is now a friend -- and therefore the DAP, PAS and PKR leaders have no problems attending the dialogue session and treating him as a friend.

Such is the concept of an enemy of my enemy is my friend while a friend of my enemy is my enemy. That means this is no longer about freedom of association. It is about no matter how bad you are but if you are an enemy of my enemy then I can forgive all your evil deeds and take you as my friend.

Is this what 5th May 2013 is all about?

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Saya dulu pun pernah dapat sokongan macam itu. Ada yang cium tangan, banyak. Dia sokong, tapi sekarang barulah saya tahu, sokongan itu tidak ada kualiti sama sekali.

Kata Shahidan Kassim, kata Tajol Rosli, kami sokong pasal dia Perdana Menteri. Jadi saya jadi Perdana Menteri, mesti sokong, kalau saya buat apa pun sokonglah?

Saya ingat, dulu, mereka sokong kerana apa yang saya lakukan untuk negara. Itulah sebabnya mereka sokong saya. Itulah pendapat saya. Tapi sekarang, baru saya tahu, mereka sokong saya pasal saya Perdana Menteri. Saya buat apa pun kami sokong.

Saya baca Hikayat Hang Tuah. Dalam Hikayat Hang Tuah, apabila sahaja Raja memberi arahan, titah, maka jawab Hang Tuah dan lain-lain juga, Bendahara pun jawab, mana titah patik junjung. Mana titah patik junjung. Saya macam dengar yang ini. Bila menteri saya sokong, mana titah patik junjung.

Sebab itu entahlah Hang Tuah suruh bunuh kawan dia pun, dia bunuh. Dia begitu sekali taat. Kita taat pada-padalah. Saya dulu pun, tahulah masa Tunku pun saya tak begitu taat. I am not a very loyal person. I am loyal only to what you do, not what you are. I am sorry. Buat benda yang betul saya sokong, buat benda tak betul saya tak sokong. (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad).

TEXT UCAPAN

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

Dialog Bersama Malaysia Today

Kelab Century Paradise

Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur

24hb Jun 2006

READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE SPEECH HERE: http://kasitarukaje.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/teks-ucapan-tun-dr-mahathir-mohamad.html