Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Najib to face-off Anwar?
- Migrants in politics and the Borneo Xenophobia
- Deepak to sue Rosmah, government for RM3b over business losses
- Xenophon to be deported tonight, says Anwar aide
- Pakatan has psychological edge over BN
- Aussie senator Xenophon detained at airport
- Dr M keeps going at age of 88
| Posted: 15 Feb 2013 10:11 PM PST
The stage is set for an exciting encounter between two sworn political foes. Leven Woon, FMT Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim may come face to face with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak at a Chinese New Year open house in Kajang tomorrow — and deliver highly charged political speeches. The event is organised by Dong Zong, a Chinese education pressure group. Anwar today said he would not avoid meeting Najib if both were to share the same stage at the gathering. Both Najib and Anwar have agreed to attend the event. Said Anwar: "What's the problem [meeting him]? My battle is not personal, I'm not going to fight with him," he said when asked by reporters whether he would meet Najib. He was attending a Chinese New Year function at the Batu constituency here. The encounter will whip up a frenzy of interest as the two top leaders have never met outside of Parliament since 2008. According to media reports, Najib has informed Dong Zong about his attendance on Thursday. Yesterday, Anwar confirmed he would also be attending. The open house is scheduled to begin at 10am at the Dong Zong headquarters in the premises of the New Era College. Both Anwar and Najib are expected to deliver highly politically-charged speeches, should they appeared at the occasion at the same time. Anwar said he will not be worried if Najib were to announce that the government will recognise the Chinese independent schools' Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) at the function tomorrow. He said Pakatan has already pledged to recognise the UEC three years ago. "Recognising UEC is a common policy approved by the three parties in Pakatan three years ago. Najib will only now be responding to it, a month before the general election, and that is the big difference," he said. However, he added that the recognition of Chinese independent schools and UEC comes with the condition that the students must be able to master Bahasa Malaysia.
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| Migrants in politics and the Borneo Xenophobia Posted: 15 Feb 2013 05:37 PM PST
Logically, I would have assumed that as 25% of parliament was allocated to Sabah and Sarawak since 1963 to date, they would have increased the seats to 7% by the 2013 General Election. No other demographics have changed except the vast oil and gas potential of Sabah and Sarawak and of course the population size. So, you see, there really isn't any excuse to deny Sabah and Sarawak 35% of parliamentary seats in this country. Nilakrisna James Xenophobia is a morbid fear of foreigners. At the heart of Sabah and Sarawak lies a deep distrust of foreign people, foreign cultures and foreign intrusion. It has formed the backdrop of our policies and Federal-State relations the past half a century; a crippling phobia that may never end and which may mar the judgments of all present and future political representatives that we send to parliament. This will be the downfall of the Borneo states. It is this deep distrust of foreigners that made us afraid of Malaya in the first place but when it came to the White People ("Orang Putih"), we treated them as rajahs or masters. Yet, one of the same colour and stock can never be our superior and to this day the descendants of head hunters and migrants refuse to bow to a brown authority. These descendants will continue to demand autonomy and rights and a Borneo Agenda and some have gone as far as asking for a similar exit as Singapore, even going so far as thinking that our former colonial caretaker may still have pity for us and take our woes seriously. FEDERAL AGENDA VS. BORNEO AGENDA I was asked whether Malaysia is made up of three separate nations under one federation or a federation made up of 13 states. Good question but I ask humbly, what difference does it really make? I stand by the premise that the Malaysia Agreement stands paramount as the document which binds this nation together and gives the country, known as Malaysia, legitimacy. In its paramount status, it can neither be revoked nor amended nor breached. In the Malaysia Agreement, four separate territories stood on equal grounds to agree to an amalgamation that respected the equality of these territories, neither one being less equal than the other. Britain was merely a signatory to release her obligations as caretaker. Singapore eventually exited. Three separate territories remain, with the United Nations clearly recognising that these three territories have gained independence from Britain, with two independent territories—Sabah and Sarawak—gaining their independence by joining Malaya, a country that had already gained its own independence six years earlier. The United Nations and the Commonwealth now recognise these three separate territories as one nation, which in 1963 agreed to call itself Malaysia. Sabah and Sarawak were officially "swallowed" into one nation and henceforth lost their separate and independent status as territories in their own right. It is the Federal Constitution, which has been amended no less than 650 times, which makes Sabah and Sarawak merely "States" in the entire Federation. This officially and legally makes us two separate States out of 13 in the Federation; an arrangement agreed to by our forefathers; men who were clearly not in any position to argue otherwise. Herein lies your answer. We are a federation made up of 13 states, nothing more, nothing less, because the Malaysia Agreement allows us the freedom to determine our status via a Federal Constitution in accordance with the recommendations made in the Cobbold Report of 1962. It is even more chilling to note that though the Borneo Agenda may have been a crucial part of the negotiation process in 1962, Appendix F of the Cobbold Report of 1962 reinforced the recommendation that the principle of a strong Central Government must never be prejudiced by the safeguards demanded by the Borneo territories and I quote directly from that Memorandum:- "The Committee, of course, is of the opinion that whatever safeguards might be provided for the Borneo territories must conform with the expressed wish of the Borneo people themselves but that such arrangements should not prejudice the principle of a strong Central Government or curtail the fundamental liberties of the nationals of the Federation of Malaysia." Therein lies the true motive of Malaya and the final scenario wherein the Federal Agenda must never be compromised or prejudiced by the Borneo Agenda. In this respect, we have deliberately drafted a Federal Constitution that would prioritise forever a situation that would be very much in line with Prime Minister Najib's 1 Malaysia concept. It hopes for unity on the premise that the rules of the Federal Government are complied with fully. WAY FORWARD: INCREASE BORNEO PARLIAMENTARY SEATS Of course, we could be romantic and start a process of wishful thinking and hope that the fragile nature of our Federal Constitution (which can be amended anytime) may one day create a scenario where a new Government could reverse that whole motive and bow to the demands of the Borneo States. That will only happen if the Borneo States end up in a better bargaining position because West Malaysia remains so hopelessly divided that they have no choice but to look towards Borneo for extra political leverage. We can't always bank on West Malaysian disunity though. At some point, West Malaysian leaders will tire of our Borneo demands and will learn to bridge their own divides to keep Borneo MPs under control. Politics isn't about holding your peers and opponents to ransom. It is about negotiating your values for the greater good. I asked what difference this all makes because ultimately the only way our fate in Borneo will take a turn for the better is if we increased our parliamentary representation significantly so as to be able to actually make a difference in policies and at least protect further erosion of Borneo's interests through unfair legislation. We need AT LEAST 35% of MPs to come from Sabah and Sarawak who could en bloc (it is hoped) exercise their power of veto and at least think in one mind when it comes to Borneo's interests. The current situation is this: 222 seats in parliament; 56 for Borneo (25%) and 166 for West Malaysia (75%). The total number of MPs from Sabah and Sarawak do not even make up 35% of parliament to allow us the right to veto a Bill or an Act of Parliament, even if such legislation to be passed were to the detriment of the two Borneo states. Even if we were granted 35% representation, our Borneo MPs are so deeply fragmented between political parties whose interests and loyalties are so fundamentally rooted in the Federal Agenda that it still ends up being a far-fetched dream. But it would be the first step forward. The Cobbold Report 1962 suggested that the number of MPs from Sabah and Sarawak, respectively, must be determined by taking into account the population, size and potentialities of the two States. In 1963, the population of Malaysia was 8.9 million. 13% lived in the Borneo States: 5% lived in Sabah and 8% lived in Sarawak. In 2010, the population of Malaysia was 28.2 million. 20% lived in the Borneo States: 11% lived in Sabah and 9% lived in Sarawak. 60% of the total land area of Malaysia is in Sabah and Sarawak but only 20% of the population live in Malaysia's Borneo States, an increase of 7% in population since 1963. Logically, I would have assumed that as 25% of parliament was allocated to Sabah and Sarawak since 1963 to date, they would have increased the seats to 7% by the 2013 General Election. No other demographics have changed except the vast oil and gas potential of Sabah and Sarawak and of course the population size. So, you see, there really isn't any excuse to deny Sabah and Sarawak 35% of parliamentary seats in this country. WILL THE BORNEO STATES SEEK INDEPENDENCE? I read it now often in various blogs and am often questioned by so many different people, who are so sick of the political situation and lack of prospects for their families in this country, if there is a way out of Malaysia. There was a time when nobody dared to raise this issue for fear of being thrown into indefinite detention without a fair trial under the Internal Security Act. Lately though, people have become bold, more vocal and more willing to risk their freedom to find a solution because nearly all the people who ask me this question want to migrate to another country but simply cannot afford it. So, when left in a rut without choices, these people feel angry, frustrated and dissatisfied. The majority turn their anger towards new migrants who threaten their political legitimacy and, probably, may also be doing better financially, but quite a sizeable few are now taking their anger onto the streets, the NGOs and political parties, and they will vent this anger towards the ruling government of the day. The thought of Sabah and Sarawak being on their own in the hands of present leaders who are also accused of corruption and wrong-doing quite frankly scares me more than an annoying Malaysian environment. Within seconds of freedom, they would be at each other's throats trying to be the next Sultan! In any event, even if these angry people took their case to the International Courts, the United Nations and the Commonwealth, the demands for independence would require the mandate of the majority of the residents of Sabah and Sarawak by way of a State Government led referendum. This scenario may not be entirely impossible but is highly unlikely to succeed given the fact that the majority of the people of Sabah and Sarawak consider themselves to be secure, financially stable and relatively at peace in the system that Malaysia has built for them the past 50 years. We can be frustrated with the political chaos in this country but level headed people would understand that this is a natural evolutionary process in politics when a civilised bipartite system begins to form and not necessarily a situation that would justify an exit from a country they have grown to love. By nature, Sabah and Sarawak people are unwilling to challenge the status quo they have grown accustomed to since 1963 and though our native forefathers may have willingly chopped people's heads off, our natural instinct is to be a migrant like our ancestors and run away from revolutions and wars by jumping on the next boat out to sea. Ultimately, we just want to live a settled and prosperous life. We are no different to the aliens. In addition to this, the voices of those who are angry are moderated by the voices of new migrants who have happily settled down in the Borneo States. In Sabah, at least, the new migrants are now apparently in the majority and they will not be voting in favour of an exit from Malaysia. We are angry because it is alleged that these new migrants came through illegitimate channels in droves for a more sinister political reason aimed at neutering our local political voice. We can afford to be angry when these methods are illegal. So, in recent months, we have attempted to challenge their legitimacy in the Royal Commission of Inquiry, yet I frankly believe that even if their status is confirmed to be illegal, the Government would take years and millions of tax payers' money to resolve this situation. Their status as new migrants would probably not be resolved in time for the next General Election. And while we continue to complain and bicker and blame these new migrants, the Federal and State Governments would have amicably found a proper way to streamline and legitimise migration into Sabah and Sarawak for more people to settle permanently in the Borneo States. In the long run, new migrants will outnumber old migrants and they will have a legitimate reason to cast their votes in future general elections. Our best option in Sabah and Sarawak is to accommodate old and new migrants, legal or illegal, and increase the population and power bargaining status of our two States so as to eventually demand a reasonable increase in our parliamentary seats and our Federal budget. With so many mouths to feed in Sabah and Sarawak we could finally justify a bigger annual budget. Many natives would not want to be drowned by the political voices of groups from Indonesia or the Philippines but the reality is that as our borders worldwide become more porous, humans will move and migrate between various nations to seek a better life, more economic opportunities and better infrastructure. People only form political parties in this country when they feel their racial groups need representation or when they feel disenfranchised. So the more we reject new migrant groups and insult their very existence or their religion the more likely they are to retaliate and create descendants who are more than willing to form their own vocal NGOS and political groupings. By then the native population would have been reduced even further so as to render us completely irrelevant. This ultimately is where the real danger lies when it comes to native xenophobia in Borneo. The future of Sabah and Sarawak lies in peaceful co-existence with migrants. By treating them as stray animals we deny our own humanity and risk our own future legitimacy. If we therefore continue to see ourselves as being separate from the rest of Malaysia by drawing upon our racial divide, we run the risk of self-extinction. If we absorb new migrants as one of us, we become a stronger political force and can continue to exercise certain controls and demands even if the Borneo Agenda ceases to be relevant. THE END OF RACIAL POLITICS AND A NEW MALAYSIA With these realities, Sabah and Sarawak will remain in Malaysia and the racial demographics will change in the next 50 years as racial groups continue to inter-marry as a matter of economic and political survival. The new racial demographics will break down political barriers and eventually lead to a more acceptable form of civilised politics that can transcend beyond race and religion. One day only two parties will be acceptable to the Malaysian people who see themselves first as Malaysians, race as second. Those parties will have no necessity for component race based parties and will have no place for racism. They will be multi-racial, multi-religious, multi-ethnic and above all, progressive and issue-based. If mosquito parties should exist, they, too, will be issue-based to represent policies which perhaps the two main parties are unwilling to resolve or discuss. By then political racism will be passé, illegal and completely unacceptable. If we continue with racial polarisation and refuse to react to the pulse on the ground and pacify the budding seeds of discontent, this country will descend into anarchy and revolution. Everything we have worked so hard to achieve will be demolished within a decade. It is this fear that has driven millions of Malaysian talents to seek their fortunes overseas and, ironically, it would be Malaysians who end up roaming the planet as new migrants. This country will one day grow up and embrace the reality of happy citizens who were all once of migrant stock; of white, of black, of brown, of bloods that bear one colour: Red. We will eventually also honour the reality of their dual love and dual citizenship for their country of origin and their country of adoption. Until such time as we have leaders of integrity and worth, the road continues to be a rocky one. "Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists." –Franklin D. Roosevelt Copyright 16 Feb 2013 and published with permission from the writer. Nilakrisna James is a Sabah-based lawyer, writer and activist who co-founded the apolitical NGO United Borneo Front (UBF) in 2010. She left the group in 2011 and remains a member of the ruling Barisan Nasional. |
| Deepak to sue Rosmah, government for RM3b over business losses Posted: 15 Feb 2013 03:52 PM PST
(TMI) - Carpet dealer Deepak Jaikishan will file a RM3 billion lawsuit against Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and the federal government next week in a bid to reclaim losses suffered from a series of business projects that have soured. Deepak (picture) revealed his legal action plan in an interview with a news portal that was also uploaded to YouTube yesterday, a move that could hurt Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition's chances in Election 2013. He told The Malaysian Insider today that his lawyer, Sivarasa Rasiah, would provide more details on Monday. "We are launching a legal case against Datin Seri and the government of Malaysia," he said in the nine-minute clip, referring to Rosmah. The businessman was recently tangled in another court suit with Senator Datuk Raja Ropiaah Abdullah's firm, Awan Megah (M) Sdn Bhd, which he had accused of cheating him out of millions of ringgit in a land deal. Deepak's Astacanggih Sdn Bhd had agreed to buy three parcels of land in 2007 for RM13 million and a RM72 million bank guarantee for a land bond from Raja Ropiaah, who was awarded a RM100 million privatisation deal for the development of the defence research centre called Pusat Pengajian Pertahanan Nasional (Puspahanas). The land was supposed to be placed in a special purpose company called Cebur Megah as government rules does not allow land in privatised projects to be sold by the winning party. The land is still in government hands as the defence project has yet to take off. The Selangor Wanita Umno chief had allegedly sold one parcel for RM2 million in cash and a RM16 million overdraft facility in a "joint venture" with Guppyunip Sdn Bhd, a company specialising in plasticware, prompting the carpet dealer to put a caveat on the land in Bukit Raja and lodge a police report last July.
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| Xenophon to be deported tonight, says Anwar aide Posted: 15 Feb 2013 03:49 PM PST
Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider Australian Senator Nick Xenophon, who is now being held by Immigration officials as a "security risk", will be deported tonight from the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal here, an aide to Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said. Anwar's chief of staff Ibrahim Yaacob told The Malaysian Insider that Home Ministry officials have met Australian High Commissioner Miles Kupa at the airport and have decided to send Xenophon (picture) back to Australia on a 10pm flight. "He'll be deported tonight. No reasons given," Ibrahim said. He added that other Australian MPs including Mal Washer, John Williams and Steve Georganas, who were due to arrive here tomorrow, have cancelled their plans. Ibrahim had earlier said Xenophon had flown in this morning to meet Anwar as well as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz and Election Commission (EC) officials next week to discuss the country's electoral system. Australia's Foreign Ministry has expressed its disappointment with Xenophon's detention and demanded his release. News of Xenophon's detention has also been picked up by the Australian press. "I am effectively a prisoner here," he was quoted as saying in the Australian newspaper The Sunday Mail. The paper reported the Australian lawmaker managed to slip through a phone call when he was left unattended in the interrogation room. "I'm being held in an area with all these holding cells which are full of women. They have basically told me I am an enemy of the state. They are trying to get me on the next plane out of here and back home. "I was even meeting members of the government, I mean, the whole situation is ridiculous, we are meant to be the closest of friends with Malaysia," he told the paper. "We are meant to be having a people swap deal on asylum seekers but so far it looks like the only person being swapped is me," he was quoted saying.
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| Pakatan has psychological edge over BN Posted: 15 Feb 2013 03:38 PM PST
BN's scare tactics is an admission of fear of Pakatan's growing strength, claims Penang DAP. Athi Shankar, FMT GEORGE TOWN: With the 13th general election just weeks away, Pakatan Rakyat has already claimed a psychological political victory over Barisan Nasional. Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the scare tactics employed by BN was an admission of Pakatan's growing strength. He added that Pakatan needed to win at least 130-odd parliamentary seats to form a stable federal government. His said BN's repeated attempts to instil fear of possible chaos if the people voted for change is a psychological boost to Pakatan. This terror tactic is actually a confession of BN's own anxiety over Pakatan's growing political strength, support and ability to take over the federal reins, he said. "BN leaders actually fear and acknowledge that Pakatan can capture the government although we ourselves are sceptical about it. "This has given Pakatan a psychological edge over BN," said Chow, who is also a DAP central executive committee member, when launching the Jelutong parliamentary constituency election operation centre here today. Present were DAP Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun and the constituency's three assemblymen – Jagdeep Singh Deo (Datuk Keramat), Koid Teng Guan (Sungai Pinang) and Danny Law Heng Kiang (Batu Lanchang). Also in attendance were state DAP secretary and Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik and PKR Jelutong division secretary Khairil Annuar. Chow, however, admitted that Pakatan's goal of toppling BN was not easy given that BN is not a pushover but a formidable opponent. He said Pakatan comprising of DAP, PKR and PAS must increase its current parliamentary tally to between 40 and 50 seats in the polls. "If Pakatan can win at least some 130 seats, we can have a stable and comfortable government. "More seats won, the better it is," said Chow, a state executive councillor, and also the Tanjung MP and Padang Kota assemblyman.
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| Aussie senator Xenophon detained at airport Posted: 15 Feb 2013 03:02 PM PST
The Independent senator Nick Xenophon arrived here for meetings with Minister in Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz and the Election Commission. K Pragalath, FMT Independent Australian senator Nick Xenophon who flew into Malaysia early this morning was denied entry and is being detained for "security reasons". He arrived at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal at Sepang at 6.40am and was stopped by immigration officials. "He was denied entry on security grounds and will be deported to Australia," said Ibrahim Yaacob, who is Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's chief of staff when contacted. He added that the senator is expected to be deported at 10pm. Ibrahim and Australian High Commissioner Miles Kupa have met Xenophon who is in a detention facility at the airport. According to Ibrahim, Xenophon and three other Australian parliamentarians are scheduled to have a meeting with Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz, the Election Commission (EC) and non-governmental organisations that would be observing the upcoming 13th general election on Tuesday. "He has an appointment with Nazri on Tuesday at 3pm. Since Xenophon has been denied entry, three other parliamentarians who were originally supposed to arrive here tomorrow have cancelled their trip," he said. Xenophon is no stranger to Malaysia. He previously led an international fact-finding mission to observe the Bersih 3.0 rally on April 28 last year. The delegation found that the protest was peaceful until it was provoked by the police. The group also criticised the mainstream media for their biased reports. Subsequently, Xenophon lodged police reports against three Umno-linked newspapers – New Straits Times (NST), Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian – that described him as anti-Islam based on a critical speech he made against Scientology in 2009. Utusan Malaysia had replaced the word "Scientology" with Islam when reporting on the matter. Utusan's report was also reported in NST and Berita Harian. 'Gross abuse of power' Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim condemned Xenophon's detention, saying it is a violation of international protocol and an abuse of power. "This act of detention and deportation for partisan political reasons is a gross abuse of power. It is also clearly a violation of international protocol in the treatment of visiting law-makers from abroad, particularly from member countries of the Commonwealth," he said in a statement. He also took Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to task for the detention.
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| Posted: 15 Feb 2013 02:58 PM PST
The former prime minister is still very active on the domestic stage despite having retired 10 years ago. Free Malaysia Today Dr Mahathir Mohamad is still active and continues to work although already having retired almost 10 years as prime minister of Malaysia. Although his age is almost reaching 88 (he was born on July 10, 1925), the former prime minister goes to his office each working day while on weekends, delivers talks when invited to do so. He also actively writes, in his Che Det blog besides contributing articles to The News Straits Times and Utusan Malaysia. In an interview with Bernama journalists Abdul Aziz Harun, Massita Ahmad, Zairulliati Mali and Prem Kumar Panjamorthy at his office here recently, Mahathir shared his thoughts and hopes on the importance of unity among the races in Malaysia, the upcoming general election, economic matters and the future of national automobile maker Proton, of which he is the adviser. Below is the full transcript of the interview: Question: You appears to be very healthy. How are you keeping up because after 10 years of retiring, you are still very active? Question:There are some people who, upon retirement, retire completely but you are still active. Do you still have targets yet to be achieved? Before, when I was a practising doctor I used to advise anyone who was retiring to continue to be active because once we retire and don't do anything, we will be susceptible to fall sick. This is what I observed. A lot of people on retiring withdraw from society, this is not healthy. That is why I took my own advice, that on retirement must remain active and my passion is still in the realm of politics, that's why I am still active in politics. Because I want to take care of my health and I'm still interested in political developments in our country. Question:Any other activities besides politics? I read a lot of books, I write this and that, I have a blog, I also write articles for (The New) Straits Times, Utusan Malaysia, and I get many letters from abroad which I try to reply. In addition, many people come to see me from within and outside the country and as far as I can, I try to meet them. These are my activities. I also try to exercise a bit, do the treadmill, sometimes lift dumbbells, go horse riding, walking, these are normal for me. Question: In every (general) election, the situation for the contesting parties is 'do or die'. In the next election, is it the same? The situation is different. Cracks in our society in general have become so much deeper. In my time there was also division especially among the Malays, who belonged to different parties, but support for Umno was very strong and the general populace was more interested in supporting Umno than other parties. Even when there were splits like when Tengku Razaleigh (Hamzah) set up the Semangat 46 party, they were not able to draw many Umno members. Datuk Seri Anwar (Ibrahim) was a bit more successful but still could not defeat Umno. That is why the Barisan Nasional's victory in 1999 was still very big although there were many Malays who thought that Anwar had been persecuted and thus withdrew their support (for Umno) but the Chinese were solidly behind the BN, we still got two-thirds (majority). But later, we got an administration that did not focus on the people's needs, but instead they were more interested in enriching themselves and things like that. The leaders were also the same; leaders at all levels were also looking for opportunities from politics to line their own pockets. Because of this the people began to lose their trust (in the BN). But (Prime Minister Datuk Seri) Najib Tun Razak has taken steps to correct the situation and has somewhat succeeded. Question: Voters under the age of 40 are young voters. How was the scenario before this? Because there are some who say 40% of the voters now are aged under 40. Before this how was the young voters' support for the government? Before, young people went through the early days (of the country) to now. For example, the young people first went through the time when there was not much development in Malaysia, in fact we were considered a backwater country then. Then they saw rapid changes taking place during their time and they appreciated the changes. But the youth now were born after the country had developed. For them, this is the country they know. They did not experience the situation when the country was poor, when they did not have opportunities to work, did not get a chance to get a good education, did not get the chance to become professionals. Before, no. Now this But they were born at a time when our nation was already advanced and for them this was something normal. So they do not appreciate it and instead are exposed to influences from the West such as freedom and much more, and they feel they are not quite free. Still restricted in this and that. They see in the West everyone is free to do what they like, and this causes them to be dissatisfied. They want more freedom and so on, so they want to see change happen. For them change will come only if the opposition wins in the general election. Because the opposition has promised to bring about change. But whatever is said by the BN, for instance, is not effective. Although it is true and real but not effective because they are obsessed with the belief that a change in government will make a difference in their lives. This is the reason why the situation is different from the past. There is some success but not enough because of situation of the party, according to the people's perception, is not so good. Question: Perhaps there is much to be done by (Datuk Seri) Najib? He does not have much time left, very soon there will be the general election, how much more can be done. Anytime (the general election), so we have to go down to the ground, see as many people as possible and so on, (it's) difficult. So, it's a problem. New problems will arise and to address these problems it will take time, and he now is running out of time. But I think he has done his best. He works very hard. Question: How was Tun's own experience? With the election nearing, there appear to be many demands from within the party and outside the BN. They are just taking advantage of the election to make all sorts of demands? During my time the people will not know when the election will be called, so before they make any demands the election will be upon them. But if we wait till the last minute to dissolve Parliament, there is no longer the surprise element. So the closer the election the more the demands. Question: But Datuk Seri Najib needs time? Yes, I believe he needs time. Question: Quite drastic demands from the non-Malays, how do you see him to be able to balance these demands with those within the party and also from outside parties? We are in a quandary. For instance, demands made by opposition parties that touch on the position of the Malays. If the Malays want to answer, if they don't answer well, they will look like racists. They place more importance on race than a Malaysian race, so we find the Malays do not want to answer for fear of being accused (of various things). Thus they only feel angry. They cannot fight back, they get angry but this is not so effective. This is a problem for the Malays and also a problem for other races because we see now there is greater polarisation compared to before. Question: Perhaps this is a touchpoint that needs to be addressed by Datuk Seri Najib, striving for greater unity? Yes, we have 1Malaysia and so on but it's a slogan. We should get acceptance from all races, but I notice that the response is coming more from the Malays only. Question: So much more remains to be done for the non-Malays? When more is done for the non-Malays, demands from within the party (Umno) also peak. I think the demands of non-Malays've have been entertained a lot. But when they think they will be the kingmakers in the (upcoming) election, they will come up with all sorts of demands. Question: What about unity in Umno, because before it seems that the BN fared badly in the last general election due to internal weaknesses rather than the strength of the opposition? I think the situation has eased a bit. Before, of course if not chosen as a candidate, the person replaced would make sure the candidate selected will lose. But I see now this has cooled down a bit. They have made pledges that they will not sabotage, but we have to wait until the election to know whether they will hold to their promises or not. Question: Tun's advice to them? They should remember that if this practice of sabotaging continues, even if they are the candidates they will also lose, they will also be sabotaged as well. The important thing is not their winning, it is important the party wins. For the party to win, the party's candidates must be given victory. Whether we like the candidate or not that is other question, if we don't let him win, the party will lose. If the party loses, our position will obviously come under threat. Question: What is your message to the Chinese voters? Since we became independent in 1957, the cooperation among the Malays, Chinese and Indians through Umno-MCA-MIC-Gerakan had brought a lot of progress to our country. It made our country stable. Because these three races agreed to share power. Because we shared, not Umno took all for Umno or MCA took all for them, but we were willing to share.Because we were willing to share (power) our country did not exhibit chaos and with that the country was able to be developed. If today, every race wants everything that they demand, this will result in other races not feeling satisfied, hence the country's stability will be affected and if it is affected, progress will not be achieved, the economy cannot grow and all of us cannot enjoy the benefits. All races should understand this especially the Chinese who do business. They cannot do business in a situation where racial riots are happening. Question: In Kedah, how do you see BN's chances? We have never lost in Kedah until 2008. Usually we won two-thirds (majority) in Kedah. But disappointment and dissatisfaction cropped up among a majority of the people of Kedah who are Malays. They were disappointed and they made a decision not to support the BN. They voted for opposition parties even though they said they 'felt painful' to do so. But I found out that now they have faith again in the BN and I am confident that there is a big possibility that BN can win in Kedah. Question: So now arises the question of who will become the Kedah Menteri Besar? Who will become the MB, that is not important. What is important is winning. If we do not win no one can become the MB. If we continue to sabotage, the party will lose which means there will be no MB. Can become the opposition leader, now we already have an opposition leader in Kedah. If you want him to remain as opposition leader, then go ahead and sabotage. Question: Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister is said to have met you in Langkawi for finding a peaceful solution to the conflict in southern Thailand. Did the meeting really take place? I met with the governor (of southern Thailand) but I did not discuss specifically regarding this matter. We (my delegation) learnt that their government wants peace in southern Thailand but it will not be easy because the rebels there are split. Even if there are parties who agree to cease the insurgency, others might not agree. So while one party might sign an agreement (for peace), the others might do bombings and the like. This is the problem in southern Thailand. If there is only one body fighting for their cause and the decision is to made by that body, then we can end the insurgency, but so far, what I know is that they are split into factions and sometimes individuals act Question: But did representatives from the Thai government side also come to see Tun recently? Yes.
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