PITA POITIK (93): MENJUNJUNG LANGIT DI BUMI SENDIRI

Mesyuarat Raja-Raja Melayu di Kuala Terengganu, 17 Oktober 2008 yang lalu

Terima adat tempatan
Oleh ROHANI IBRAHIM

PETALING JAYA 19 Nov. – Raja Muda Perak, Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah menegaskan betapa pentingnya komuniti imigran di sesebuah negara menghormati dan menerima adat, sejarah serta sistem pemerintahan yang diamalkan di negara mereka berhijrah dan menetap sepanjang masa.

Baginda bertitah, mereka sepatutnya mempunyai garis sempadan dalam mempersoalkan sesuatu perkara yang membabitkan antara hak seseorang individu untuk memilih cara hidup pilihannya di negara mereka berhijrah atau keperluan untuk mewujudkan sebuah masyarakat bersatu padu.

Titah baginda, dalam membuat pilihan itu, masyarakat imigran yang datang daripada pelbagai budaya dan adat perlu berpegang kepada pepatah ‘di mana bumi dipijak di situ langit dijunjung.’

“Anggapan bahawa beban tanggungjawab hanya terletak di bahu negara penerima mungkin tidak tepat,” titah baginda ketika menyampaikan ucaptama pada Forum Isu Kepelbagaian Mengenai Diaspora di Kalangan Negara Komanwel di Universiti Monash Kampus Sunway, Bandar Sunway di sini hari ini.

Raja Nazrin bertitah, Malaysia merupakan contoh terbaik bagaimana diaspora atau penghijrahan besar-besaran orang Cina, India dan kaum-kaum lain yang membawa kepada sebuah bangsa yang makmur dan majmuk.

“Hari ini semua mereka menjadi sebahagian daripada landskap negara ini dan pada masa yang sama, warga Malaysia turut berhijrah ke serata dunia untuk meneroka pelbagai bidang,” titah baginda.

Baginda menjelaskan, proses integrasi di antara golongan imigran di negara yang mereka berhijrah berlaku dari semasa ke semasa dan melibatkan banyak generasi.

Bagaimanapun menurut baginda, secara umum, kemahuan dan keperluan imigran di mana-mana negara adalah sama iaitu makanan, wang, pendidikan untuk anak-anak dan kehidupan yang lebih bermakna, selain rumah dan perlindungan pada hari tua.

“Namun, generasi imigran yang seterusnya akan mengimpikan identiti dan semangat kekitaan yang lebih mendalam. Mereka juga mahu diserapkan dalam komuniti yang lebih besar dan tidak dilayan sebagai orang asing,” titah baginda.

Dalam hal ini, Raja Nazrin bertitah, usaha sesetengah kerajaan negara Komanwel untuk memperkenalkan polisi yang pelbagai dalam perkhidmatan awam adalah pendekatan yang tepat dan responsif.

“Dalam sebuah negara yang mempunyai budaya majmuk, masyarakat daripada pelbagai budaya perlu dibenarkan hidup bebas tanpa dipaksa melakukan perkara yang mereka tidak mahu,” titah baginda.

Menurut baginda, kehidupan yang demokrasi bermakna seseorang itu boleh memilih untuk lebih menyesuaikan diri dalam masyarakat, diserap atau diterima dalam masyarakat atau tidak menunjukkan sebarang minat.

“Pada masa yang sama, keperluan untuk mewujudkan masyarakat yang berkongsi nilai dan kepentingan tetap menjadi keutamaan,” titah baginda. (Utusan Online 20 Nov 2008)

Komen:

Masalahnya hanya orang Melayu sahaja yang ada peribahasa "Di mana bumi dipijak di situ langit dijunjung". Tak pasti sama ada wujud peribahasa yang sama makna dalam kalangan komuniti imigran. Kemudian tradisi dan adat komuniti imigran jauh berbeza. Jika nak jadikan Amerika Syarikat sebgai perbandingan maka komuniti imigran di negara ini terpaksalah melakukan apa yang, misalnya, Presiden-terpilih Barack Obama lakukan. Iaitu mengasimilasikan dirinya menjadi warganegara Amerika sepenuhnya, menerima budaya, cara hidup dan bahasa nenek moyang mereka yang tradisinya Anglo-Saxon.

Setidak-tidaknya komuniti Imigran di Malaysia terpaksa menerima slogan satu bangsa = Malaysia, satu negara = Malaysia dan satu bahasa = bahasa Melaysia, iaitu bahasa Melayu. Ini barulah satu perbandingan yang adil.

PITA POLITIK (92): THE TUN WITH THE "MUDAH LUPA" SYNDROME

Once upon a time, they were close and almost inseparable. What went wrong?

Thursday November 20, 2008
Dr M to name those involved in money politics


PUTRAJAYA: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has promised to name Umno members implicated in money politics on his influential blog www.chedet.com.

He said he was willing to be sued for defamation and even risk arrest by the authorities because he was not afraid to expose the truth and the identities of such errant members.

“I can’t do anything about the complaints except to hand these over to the Umno disciplinary committee. I will put these names up in my blog.

“I am not afraid of being sued for libel or being arrested by the police. If they can release (blogger and Malaysia Today editor) Raja Petra Kamarudin, won’t they also be able to release me as well?” he said in his dialogue with a group of Umno members and leaders, ex-ministers and Malay student groups at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here yesterday.

Earlier, an Umno member from the Parit division had complained of money politics in his area and had asked for Dr Mahathir to look into the list of names of those implicated in the division.

Since its launch a year ago, Dr Mahathir’s blog has achieved nine million hits.

Earlier, in his speech, Dr Mahathir said voters would continue to reject Umno or Barisan Nasional if its new leader continues with the present policies and does not come down hard on corruption and money politics.

“Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has mentioned that he will continue with the teachings of Islam Hadhari. This is not a good sign as it shows that the transition is only in the person, and not in terms of policies.

“The voters did not like the policies that were put into place by the current Prime Minister, so they will still reject Umno. So, there is no point in having such a transition,” he said.(The Star Online)

Comment
Former Prime Minister, Tun Mahathir Mohamad uses his blog to comment on anyting UMNO. Rightly so, he is now telling UMNO people to be wary of money politics. He dares UMNO members to remove all those involved, irrespective of their rankings. Indeed, a novel thing to do for an ex-UMNO member who suddenly is so concerned with the current UMNO situation. And suddenly too Tun seems to become a kind of UMNO power broker of some sort, trying to celan the UMNO house. He has the ability to to rid of the "antah" from the "beras".

A public opinion in the UMNO circle suggests - thanks to Tun's tireless efforts to create such political atmosphere - that UMNO candidates in the coming March UMNO election should and must be been "clean" by this power broker. So it seems that everyone, vying for every post in UMNO is trying to jump into the bandwagon. it is not surprising , then, we often see some candidates, especially one from the deputy president's list continue to enjoy Tun's company, rather than beeing seen in the company of the current UMNO President.

Probably these cndidates are taking risk not to toe the party line, no matter what the outcome might be. After all Tun's recent remarks about UMNO and clean politics are by no means alien or strange to the majority of UMNO members.

With Tun revealing names of candidates alleged to be involved in money politics in his blog soon, many analysts expect no surprise as the list of names is already an "open secret list". The real surprise would be if Tun names otherwise.

It is fascinating to see Tun is so energized and obsessed with the current plight of UMNO and wonder why he takes him so long for him to rejoin the party he once and still loved. Tun, why wait until March 2009 to rejoin and with conditions attached. Won't it be much wiser strategically to act now rather than later?

Yes, Tun you can bet that the Malays, especially UMNO members, are a bunch of people, still plagued by the famous "mudah lupa" syndrome! Which reminds me of your recitation of "Melayu Mudah Lupa", not that long ago. How nice it would be if UMNO candidates can place their track record cards on the table for all to see.

Fo example for the post of the Deputy President, a simple question can be asked: Who was Tan Sri Muhyiddin before? who was Dato' Seri Ali Rustam before? Who was Tan Sri Mohamad Mohd Taib before?

PITA POLITIK (91): MAHATHIR VS ABDULLAH = MUKHRIZ VS KHAIRY

Battle of proxy

Agence France-Presse - 11/16/2008 3:44 AM GMT
Party feud grips Malaysian politics
A new generation of leaders in Malaysia is fighting for control of the ruling party -- in disarray since heavy election losses -- with the premier's son-in-law battling his predecessor's son.

The successors of current leader Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and former premier Mahathir Mohamad are shaping up to continue hostilities that have raged between the two veterans for the past few years.

After disastrous election results in March, Abdullah has been forced to stand down early next year, unleashing an unprecedented contest for top posts in the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).

Drawing intense interest is the tussle for the influential role of youth wing chief -- a nurturing ground for future leaders.

Abdullah's son-in-law is pitted against Mahathir's son, in a fight that could determine which of the rival clans will control Malaysia's future.

The two patriarchs have had a very public falling-out since the 2003 leadership handover, and Mahathir's constant sniping is one of the major factors behind Abdullah's impending departure.

"It is obvious that the person who wins will determine whether the party's future will be more aligned to Abdullah or Mahathir, as they have each got their favourite proxy in the race," said Tricia Yeoh from the Centre for Public Policy Studies.

Mukhriz Mahathir, a sophisticated 44-year-old businessman, is the front-runner for the youth chief job.

His father will forever be remembered as the man whose two-decade rule brought prosperity to Malaysia, transforming a tropical backwater into one of Southeast Asia's most prosperous nations.

But Mukhriz says he is his own man and is looking to reform the youth movement, which along with the ruling party has lost much support and credibility over the years.

"One of the reasons we were rejected in the last general elections and recent by-elections was the perception that we misuse, worse still abuse, our positions in government for political purposes," he told AFP.

"So I want an arm's-length relationship between the party and the government."

The UMNO-led coalition, which has run Malaysia since independence in 1957, suffered its worst-ever setback in March elections, losing five states and a third of parliamentary seats -- effectively ending Abdullah's career.

Abdullah had been criticised as weak and ineffective, but many Malaysians believe a major factor in his downfall was the antics of his 32-year-old son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin.

The Oxford-educated Khairy was an aide to Abdullah before marrying the boss's daughter in 2001, sending him on a meteoric rise that landed him the deputy youth chief position in 2004.

Eloquent and expensively dressed, Khairy cuts an impressive figure but his naked ambition and alleged influence with his father-in-law have seen him vilified on political websites and in water-cooler gossip.

Mahathir has accused Abdullah of pandering to the demands of Khairy, whom he said was influencing government policy, contracts and appointments -- charges he denies.

"I've gotten used to it. As far as I'm concerned, nobody has substantiated any of this innuendo with any facts or evidence, I have consistently denied it but people persist on perpetuating this perception," Khairy told AFP.

Khairy, who also has big reform plans for UMNO youth, says his reputation has been unfairly smeared.

"I'm not merely up against Mukhriz. There looms behind him someone, something, much larger. That is exactly what I'm up against," he said.

"Mahathir has... openly campaigned for Mukhriz, has repeatedly criticised and denigrated me and who am I when compared to Mahathir? He is a statesman and a PM of 22 years and I'm just starting off in politics."

With Abdullah almost out of the picture, Khairy's star may be fading but analysts say that in the arcane business of UMNO internal politics, Mukhriz cannot yet count on victory.

"But whatever the outcome, it will finally determine whether Mahathir or Abdullah has the last say," said Yeoh.

Comment:
A foreign-based media analysis of the UMNO youth wing diemma. A battle of two proxies, one a former Prime Minister and another the current PM. One was a former UMNO member and another the current president of the party.
One is said to be famous for his paradoxes, another is said to be too straight forward but famous for his open-ness, though said to be weak.

And yet, Mahathir is said to be just a sniper, targeting Abdullah and UMNO from outside the party, while Abdullah is just denying every allegation against him and therefore defending his son-in-law. So the story goes: It is a son pitted against a son-in-law. it's betwwen Mukhriz Mahathir and Khairy Jamaluddin.

Whoever wins or loses, the reasons are already being prepared. Believe me!!

PITA POLITIK (90): MELAYU-UMNO-MAHATHIR =DILEMA!!

Sultan Perak terima memorandum orang Melayu di Kuala Kangsar 6 November 08 yang lalu (foto Utusan)

Kukuhkan politik Melayu

Oleh FAIZAH IZZANI ZAKARIA

KUALA LUMPUR 16 Nov. – Politik Melayu perlu diperkukuh dan diperkasakan melalui penyatuan kaumnya yang ramai bagi mengelak daripada terus dicemuh dan dipersenda oleh pihak lain yang hendak mengambil kesempatan.

Menteri Luar, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim berkata, kebelakangan ini, terlalu banyak penghinaan yang dilemparkan terhadap orang Melayu seolah-olah mereka telah hilang punca dan maruah.

“Fakta dan sejarah seolah-olah menjadi alat mainan politik lalu Melayu dan pribumi ditempelak, dipertikai, dicemuh dan dihina.

“Ramai orang Melayu terasa tersinggung dengan luahan-luahan yang mempersenda bangsa mereka. Tetapi ramai pula yang terus dalam keadaan tidak kisah lantas membiarkan sahaja polemik pribumi ini dipermainkan di arena politik kelompok masing-masing,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika menyampaikan ucaptama pada Program Wacana Isu Perundangan dan Hak-hak Pribumi Dalam Perlembagaan anjuran Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) di Memorial Tun Hussein Onn, di sini hari ini.

Dalam hal ini, Rais yang juga ahli Majlis Tertinggi UMNO mengingatkan orang Melayu bahawa mereka tidak boleh terlalu bergantung kepada konsep ketuanan kerana ia lebih merupakan perasaan atau ego politik yang tidak disokong oleh kekuatan dalam perjuangan atau peruntukan Perlembagaan negara.

Katanya, laungan ketuanan Melayu seharusnya dilihat daripada sudut kebolehan dan kemampuan, merit dan dedikasi terhadap tugas serta tanggungjawab mahupun disiplin politik.

‘‘Setakat mempunyai hak-hak keistimewaan seperti terkandung dalam peruntukan 153 Perlembagaan atau setakat kedaulatan terhad Raja-Raja Melayu, bahasa Melayu sebagai bahasa kebangsaan, perkhidmatan awam yang majoriti Melayu, agama Islam sebagai agama rasmi – ini semua belum menjamin kekuatan semula jadi, jauh sekali mendaftarkan kekuatan Melayu itu sendiri,’’ tegasnya.

Justeru Rais berkata, orang Melayu perlu menghindari imej yang melemahkan perjuangan dan pada masa yang sama, bertindak apabila Melayu dan UMNO dicerca oleh politik luaran.

Rais berkata, fakta sejarah boleh dianggap sebagai faktor utama yang meneguhkan hujah bahawa orang Melayu adalah yang mula-mula mendiami Semenanjung Tanah Melayu.

Katanya, ia sama seperti India adalah negeri orang berketurunan India, Arab di Timur Tengah dan seperti negeri China dinamakan sedemikian lantaran bangsa Cina yang mendiami negara itu.

“Struktur dan susunan seperti ini terpakai dan diiktiraf di kebanyakan negara dan bangsa di dunia ini,” katanya.

Daripada aspek ekonomi, menurut beliau, keistimewaan orang Melayu dan bumiputera harus dilengkapi dengan perolehan dan kepakaran ilmu secara berterusan.

“Ekonomi bumiputera kini melebihi paras 30 peratus daripada segi perolehan aset. Malangnya, bumiputera masih dikatakan berada di tahap kurang 20 peratus. Mungkinkah kaedah atau cara kita membuat perkiraan silap?

“Mungkin juga kaedah pengumpulan data tidak memasukkan fakta-fakta wajib lain. Sebagai warga Malaysia, tidak salah jika cita-cita politik UMNO misalnya ingin mencapai 50 atau 60 peratus sejajar dengan populasi Malaysia diwakili Melayu dan pribumi,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, dari sudut berkenaan, jelas bahawa penggunaan kuasa politik selama ini kurang berjaya memperjuangkan kaedah dan mekanisme penyampaian Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) walaupun daripada segi pembangunan, banyak kemajuan telah tercapai.

Justeru katanya, orang Melayu perlu menolak nisbah “sekurang-kurangnya 30 peratus” dan menggantikannya dengan setinggi-tinggi mungkin nisbah kekayaan negara untuk dimiliki oleh bumiputera.

Mengenai bahasa Malaysia sebagai bahasa kebangsaan, Rais berkata, ia harus dijadikan bahasa ilmu, bukan setakat bahasa komunikasi dalam konteks kedudukannya sebagai bahasa rasmi negara.

Katanya, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) boleh menjalankan usaha pemantauan dengan menguatkuasakan undang-undang berkaitan penggunaan bahasa kebangsaan dengan segera.

Sementara itu, hadir sama pada program wacana tersebut ialah Presiden Perkasa yang juga Ahli Parlimen Pasir Mas, Datuk Ibrahim Ali dan Presiden Persatuan Peguam Muslim Malaysia, Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang.

Pembentang kertas kerja dan pembahas ialah Penasihat Perundingan Kebangsaan Melayu, Tan Sri Abd. Aziz Abd. Rahman; Pensyarah Undang-undang Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Profesor Dr. Shaik Mohamad Nor Alam; peguam Zainur Zakaria dan Abdul Halim Abdullah. (Utusan Malaysia Online, 17 Nov. 08)

Komen:
Sayang sekali, apabila ada desakan untuk Melayu bersatu dan ketepikan aliran politik dan segala macam, UMNO pula sibuk pula dengan anggotanya masih juga mahu berebut jawatan dalam partai. Macam-macam taktik dan strategi dilakukan. Fitnah memfitnah, hentam-menghentam dari belakang dan segala macam cara digunakan untuk berebut tempat dalam parti. Lihat sahaja apa yang sedang berlaku dalam Wanita UMNO. ihat sahaja apa yang berlaku dengan politik wang dalam UMNO. Nampaknya orang Melayu dalam kalangan UMNO ini tak serik-serik. Agaknya mereka belum terantuk lagi kot.

Apakah perlu orang luar parti untuk menjadikan keadaan "dah terantuk baru nak tengadah" ini? Payah betullah orang UMNO ini. Sekarang nampaknya orang di luar UMNO yang bersungguh-sungguh bercakap tentang UMNO. Akhir-akhir ini Tun Mahathir Mohamad bercakap banyak tentang keadaan UMNO sampai ada yang kata Tun Mahathir bagaikan "sudah gila talak." Kadang-kadang nak percaya juga sebab Tun dilaporkan sebagai berkata beliau akan kembali masuk UMNO semulaselepas Mac 2009. Ertinya apabila pemilihan UMNO selesai dan Dato' Seri Abdullah Badawi berundur memberi laluan kepada Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak. Aneh juga mengapa mesti tunggu sampai Pak Lah berundur baru nak sertai UMNO semula?

Pada Sabtu 22 November nanti Tun dijemput oleh GAPENA membincangkan "Dilema Melayu di Rumah Gapena bermula 10.00 pagi. Perbincangan ini adalah dalam siri Wacana Gapena Ke-5. Turut diadakan ialah Pameran Karya Persuratan Dr. Mahathir Mohamad di Dewan Gapena.

Ketika hadir di majlis meraikan seorang kawan yang akan naik Haji minggu ini, seorang yang hadir bertanya, " Nampaknya Gapena nak lawan Pena ke?" Betul juga pertanyaannya itu. Pena ini asyik-asyik dengan puisi minggu pertama setiap bulan saja. Kegiatan lain tak ada. Gapena kelhatan lebih mennjol sehingga telah mengadakan lima kali Majlis Wacananya.

Barangkali salah seorang orang kuat Gapena Dr. Ahmad Razali dalam diam-diam mengatur rancangan atau sedang bertarung mendapat tempat dalam pemilihan PENA nanti. Bagi saya sebaiknya PENA dan GAPENA eloklah berkerjasama, bersatu dalam menghadapi dlema Melayu hari ini.

PITA POLITIK (89): MENUNGGU PERDANA MENTERI BUKAN MELAYU DI MALAYSIA!

Menteri Luar, Dato' Seri Dr. Rais Yatim: "Singapura lebih realistik."
Bukan Cina tak boleh jadi PM Singapura realistik – Rais

Oleh ZULKIFLI JALIL

PUTRAJAYA 10 Nov. – Pendirian kepimpinan Singapura yang menegaskan republik itu belum bersedia memilih Perdana Menteri bukan Cina dalam tempoh terdekat menunjukkan penduduk negara itu sebenarnya bersikap realistik terhadap politik majoriti dan perkauman.

Menteri Luar, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim berkata, berdasarkan pendirian itu, seluruh rakyat Malaysia juga seharusnya menerima hakikat bahawa majoriti yang memegang tauliah politik di negara ini ialah orang Melayu.

Menurut Rais, sejak tertubuhnya UMNO yang menjadi tulang belakang politik Malaysia pada 1946, orang Melayu merupakan kaum yang mempunyai kuasa politik terbesar.

‘‘Perdana Menteri Singapura (Lee Hsien Loong) sendiri mengakui belum sampai masanya orang Melayu (di Singapura) menjadi Perdana Menteri. Di Malaysia, inilah juga hakikat yang perlu dilihat.

‘‘Saya berani katakan bukan Melayu pun belum sampai masanya menjadi Perdana Menteri di Malaysia dan ia tidak akan menjadi kenyataan sebab majoriti tenaga politik di sini ialah Melayu,” katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Calon Naib Presiden UMNO itu ditanya pandangannya mengenai kenyataan Hsien Loong bahawa Singapura yang mempunyai penduduk berbilang kaum berjumlah lebih 3.5 juta orang belum bersedia memilih Perdana Menteri bukan Cina dalam tempoh terdekat.

Hsien Loong membuat kenyataan tersebut kelmarin semasa dialog dengan anggota masyarakat Melayu di republik itu sebagai menjawab soalan sama ada pemilihan Barack Obama sebagai Presiden kulit hitam pertama Amerika Syarikat (AS) bermakna anggota kaum minoriti di Singapura turut berpeluang menjadi Perdana Menteri.

Rais yang merupakan pakar Perlembagaan Persekutuan berkata, hakikat bahawa orang Melayu adalah pemegang kuasa politik Malaysia tidak boleh dilenyapkan begitu sahaja.

Kata beliau: ‘‘Pihak-pihak lain mesti akur dengan apa yang telah diehsankan oleh kontrak sosial.

‘‘Kita sudah ehsankan hak-hak mereka (kaum-kaum lain), maka tidak harus ada pihak yang seolah-olah bersikap buta tuli tentang perkara-perkara sensitif yang harus dilenyapkan hanya semata-mata kerena mereka menjangkakan UMNO telah lemah ketika ini.”

Kemenangan Obama di AS mencetuskan analisis politik di kalangan pihak tertentu di negara ini sehingga ada suara pemimpin bukan Melayu yang mahukan bukan Melayu diberi peluang menjadi Perdana Menteri.

Khamis lalu, Presiden MCA, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat berkata, sudah sampai masanya bagi rakyat Malaysia membebaskan diri mereka daripada belenggu isu perkauman.

Dengan mengambil Obama sebagai contoh, Tee Keat berkata: ‘‘Sedihnya di Malaysia, kita masih berbalah dalam soal remeh berhubung pelantikan seorang wanita Cina sebagai Pemangku Pengurus Besar Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS).”

Tindakan kerajaan negeri Selangor yang diterajui Pakatan Rakyat melantik Low Siew Moi sebagai Pemangku Pengurus Besar PKNS dipersoalkan banyak pihak kerana dikatakan tidak memenuhi aspirasi penubuhan PKNS bagi membantu meningkatkan taraf ekonomi bumiputera.

syarat bukan melayu jadi perdana menteri
permintaan kaum bukan Melayu untuk memegang jawatan tertinggi dalam Kerajaan Persekutuan Malaysia bukan isu baru.

Beberapa tahun lalu, kaum itu juga pernah meminta dipertimbangkan supaya jawatan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Kedua diwujudkan untuk diisi oleh pemimpin bukan Melayu. Tetapi permintaan itu akhirnya ditolak.

Kini dengan kemunculan Barack Obama sebagai Presiden Amerika Syarikat yang pertama dipilih daripada keturunan bukan kulit putih, tiba-tiba ia menjadi inspirasi kepada pemimpin bukan Melayu untuk membangkitkan semula isu jawatan tertinggi negara.

Tetapi sekarang bukan meminta kerusi nombor dua, sebaliknya jawatan Perdana Menteri.

Sebelum permintaan itu dibuat, kita minta pemimpin dan penyokong idea itu memikirkan hakikat dan latar belakang pembinaan negara bangsa Malaysia dengan negara lain.

Malaysia adalah sebuah negara yang unik dan sukar untuk dicari persamaannya di dunia.

Memang ada negara membangun mahupun negara maju telah mempunyai Presiden atau Perdana Menteri daripada kaum minoriti dan bukan penduduk asal negara itu.

Hal ini boleh berlaku apabila pemimpin bukan pribumi negara itu dapat mengasimilasi dengan menerap budaya, bahasa dan adat resam penduduk majoriti. Tetapi, bagaimana sikap pemimpin dan kaum bukan bumiputera di negara kita apabila usaha untuk mewujudkan dasar satu bahasa dan usaha mengagih kek ekonomi negara dengan saksama.

Kita percaya, orang Melayu tidak ada masalah untuk menerima kaum Cina misalnya, sebagai perdana menteri. Tetapi ia ada syarat.

Syaratnya kaum bukan Melayu itu perlu bersedia sepenuhnya untuk menerima dan mempertahankan dasar-dasar yang termaktub dalam Perlembagaan dan menjadi bangsa Malaysia sejati seperti yang ditunjukkan oleh kaum Cina di Indonesia dan Thailand.

Seperkara lagi, selagi masalah penyusunan masyarakat negara ini belum tercapai, agak sukar hasrat membuka ruang untuk melantik Perdana Menteri daripada bukan Melayu boleh menjadi kenyataan.

Malaysia perlu mencari pemimpin bukan Melayu yang ikhlas memperjuangkan ataupun sekurang-kurangnya mengekalkan apa yang termaktub dalam Perlembagaan negara. Maknanya, beliau perlu memahami jiwa orang Melayu dahulu.

Orang Melayu perlu diberikan keyakinan bahawa perkara yang menyentuh masa depan kaum bumiputera tidak boleh diganggu gugat.

Selagi keyakinan itu tiada, jangan letakkan harapan tinggi bahawa orang Melayu akan merelakan masa depan mereka diterajui oleh kaum lain.

Hal ini bukan sahaja dirasai oleh Malaysia tetapi juga Singapura. Perdana Menterinya, Lee Hsien Loong sudah menyatakan kelmarin bahawa republik itu belum bersedia untuk memilih Perdana Menteri bukan Cina dalam tempoh terdekat.

Di sana, bukan sahaja peluang untuk melihat orang Melayu dipilih menjadi Perdana Menteri jauh panggang daripada api, malah untuk muncul sebagai wakil rakyat pun wujud banyak halangannya. (Utusan Malaysia Online, 11 November 08)

Komen:

Di Amerika Syarikat yang dianggap sebuah negara pelbagai peluang (the land of opportunities) proses asimilasi dianggap pra-syarat untuk membolehkan warganegaranya menjawat apa sahaja jawatan awam, tidak terkecuali jawatan presiden. Dan ini dijamin oleh Perlembagaannya.

Di Malaysia jangankan hendak melaksanakan proses asimilasi dalam kalangan rakyatnya yang berbagai kaum begitu sukar dilakukan proses akomodasi juga tidak begitu berjaya. Setiap kaum terlalu tebal dengan semangat perkauman masing-masing. Apa sahaja aspek kehidupan semuanya dilandaskan kepada kaum.

Dalam Perlembagaan, misalnya ada pasal tentang penggunaan bahasa kebangsaan untuk tujuan perpaduan. Tetapi siapa peduli dan siapa yang benar-benar ikhlas untuk patuh kepada pasal itu. Apatah lagi dalam hal-hal yang melibatkan politik, budaya dan pendidikan.

Selagi aspek-aspek politik dan sosial-budaya ini masih berlandaskan kaum, selagi aspek-aspek ini tidak diberi perhatian, maka tidak usah mengharaplah rakyat Malaysia akan mampu mencontohi rakyat Amerika Syarikat. Jangankan hendak melaksanakan proses asimilasi malah hendak melaksanakan proses akomodasi pun begitu sukar.

Singapura telah bersuara seperti yang dijelaskan Perdana Menterinya, bahawa tidak mungkin suku kaum bukan Cina boleh memegang jawatan perdana menteri. Malah hendak menjadi wakil rakyat pun susah. Indonesia yang rakyatnya hampir homogen dan proses asimilasi dalam kalangan rakyat lebih dominan, itu pun amat sukar mencontohi Amerika Syarikat. Apakah Malaysia boleh!

PITA POLITIK (88): "BAGI SALAH TAK BAGI KALAH" DILEMMA

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (left) greeting Tun Mahathir at his recent Hari Raya Open House. 2008/11/09

It's a disgrace, says Muhyiddin

PAGOH: Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasssin is "worried and ashamed" about money politics in the run-up to party polls in March.

He said Umno Disciplinary Board chairman Tan Sri Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail's statement that the board had received over 900 complaints of money politics so far should raise concerns.

"It shows that the problem is still rampant and that we have failed to deal with the problem," he said after attending Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Bhd's (MIDF) corporate social responsibility programme yesterday.

Also present were MIDF chairman Tan Sri Mahmood Taib and managing director Mohd Najib Abdullah. Eight families in Muar received new houses under the company's Rumah Murni programme.

"It is as if the people who are involved have ignored the efforts of party leaders to rid this problem."

Muhyiddin said every party member should take the matter seriously as money-politics, could see members choosing leaders based on how much they could pay.

"If the problem continues, it will hurt Umno's image and will cause people to lose faith and trust in the party. This will result in Umno suffering in the next general election."

Muhyiddin said he fully supported the board's efforts to cooperate with the Anti-Corruption Agency.

On nominations he had received for the post of Umno deputy president, Muhyiddin was grateful for the trust members had in him.

Comments:
Yes, it's a disgrace, Tan Sri. And every member of UMNO MUST BE WORRIED AND ASHAMED. Everyone should and must cooperate with the Anti-orruption Agency to avoid further loss of faith and trust in the party. Just to remind Tan Sri about one of the remarks made by one of the aspirants in the last UMNO election for one of the top posts. This aspirant said roughly in Malay, "Bagi salah tak bagi kalah." I do not what this aspirant means. Perhaps then he was referring to money politics.

PITA POLITIK (87): TEE KEAT'S PARTY SHOULD START THE BALL ROLLING!!

Barack Hussein Obama and family in Chicago on the night he was elected the 44th President of USA.

Published: Thursday November 6, 2008 MYT 9:47:00 PM
Ong: Time to be free from racism


KUALA LUMPUR: With Barack Obama becoming the first African American to be elected president of the United States, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said it was time that Malaysians free themselves from the shackles of racial issues.

“Sadly in Malaysia, we are still bickering over the appointment of a Chinese woman as acting general manager for the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS).

“It is time for us to break free from the orthodox way of doing things. In the United States, it took more than 200 years for a black man to be elected president in a predominantly white country.

“Ironically, the very people in Malaysia who cheered for Obama do not think that a Chinese is deemed fit to lead PKNS,” Ong said in a statement.

Ong said the reaction from certain politicians from both sides of the divide on the appointment showed that they were still “stuck in their own racial cocoon.”

In Parliament, Kubang Kerian MP Salahuddin Ayub said Malaysia should follow the American way of choosing their leaders without looking at his skin-colour.

“Obama won not because of black votes but due to the support of the majority white voters. I can see that the Americans want to create just policies for everyone in their country,” said the PAS Youth chief.

Padang Besar MP Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid said that time would tell if the new US Government would be willing to change its pro-Zionist policies and negative attitude towards the Palestinians.

“PAS was not happy with the idea of appointing a non-Malay deputy prime minister. You have to look at yourselves first before pointing blame at someone else,” said Azmi. (The Star Online, 6 Nov. 08)

Comment:
USA took 200 years to elect a non-white president. Probably Malaysia would need another 150 years to elect a non-Bumi prime minister. After all Malaysia is just about 50 years old. I think the MCA president should know better.

In USA, people of all races, even though diversified in languages and cultures, have one thing in common: One official language - American Engslih. No other languages are made official, meaning, the administrative language is English. And every citizen who dares to dream of becoming the American Presidents or States' Officials must be loyal to the American Constitution.

Moreover if we are in USA today, we do'nt see their road signboards written in many languages except the accepted English language. Can we, as loyal citizens follow that small example?

PITA POLITIK (86): KHAIRY OUT OF TOUCH WITH OWN KAMPUNG FOLKS??

Monday November 3, 2008
Khairy lags in third position


KUALA LUMPUR: Khairy Jama­luddin, once seen as the favourite for Umno Youth chief post, is now lagging in third place.

The Rembau MP did not receive any nomination yesterday and is stuck on 50 nominations.

As the deputy Youth chief, Khairy is seen as the “natural” successor for the post being vacated by Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

However, Khairy, the son-in-law of the Prime Minister, is still in the running for the post as he has passed the 39 nominations eligibility mark.

“Do the numbers really matter? He already has the ‘licence’ to contest,” said one of his aides.

Meanwhile, the third and last candidate to qualify in the race, Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo, has sailed past Khairy with 56 nominations.

Dr Khir’s latest nominations came from Kudat, Sungai Besar and Pengerang.

Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, the son of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is still leading comfortably with 71 nominations.

He bagged three nominations from Kangar, Sungai Petani and Temerloh yesterday. Divisions have until Nov 9 to hold their meetings. (The Star Online, 3 Nov.2008)

Comments:
From a "natural successor" and an underdog to a "miserable" third placing in the race for the top UMNO Youth post!! It did sound impossible once, especially during the initial stage of nomination. Not any more.

Many people, interested in UMNO politics, are kept wondering, whatever really happens to Khairy's chances in the coming days towards the 24th March 2009 UMNO Election?

Yesterday, at Khairy's own kampung in Rembau, I met an elderly grandmother, 80, who was an UMNO member as ealy as the UMNO's symbol of Kapal Layar and once a former UMNO Branch committee. She told me frankly that Khairy was almost out of touch with the average kampung people. In this small Kampung Gadong with a population of 500 people, (Khiary was not even born here,unlike his father,uncles and aunties), Khairy was almost a stranger until he joined politics. That being said, Khairy wasalleged said to be too dependent on certain individulas in one small circle of the kampung community, which she terms as the Ulu Gadong factor, closely related to the Gadong Darat (southern sector), where his ancesstors came from). He has not given the Gadong Baroh (northern sector) people due attention.

This veteran UMNO member said, "Khairy picked aides from the Ulu Gadong sector.And
Lately I have not seen him that close to his "kerabat" cousins, like the Haji Hashim or Haji Mahmood's Families." The late Haji Hashim and the late Haji Mahmood were Khairy's father, Jamalddin's brothers-in-law.

"But Khiary seems to be close with his other cousin, Datuk Shaiman Abu Mansor, currently a csbinet member in the Federal Government of Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. thw late Shaziman's father, Abu Mansor, was the elder son of Abu Bakar, a former Penghulu.

What story lies ahead for a bigger picture nationally, is an interesting one to ponder with!!