Malay 'sacrifice', Chinese 'sacrifice'

Yesterday I posted Hishamuddin Hussein rendered much 'weeping & gnashing of teeth' over at my other blog BolehTalk.

I discussed the lamentable behaviour of UMNO delegates at their party’s annual assembly, where ambitious delegates or those worried about their party positions would strive to prove their ethnic credentials.

Their favourite whipping boy has been (usually) the Chinese Malaysians - to them, a suspicious group of Non’s who still need to prove their Malaysian credentials despite 50 years of citizenship and more than 200 years of domicile. And UMNO leaders had/have thus far done very little or even nothing to correct that impression.

Malaysiakini reported an example, that Ismail Ahmad, UMNO Youth chief from the Gombak division in Selangor, told opposition parties and their supporters, all Malaysian citizens, to leave the country if they are not happy.

He declared in his ethno-centric speech: “These people, they come to a Malay area and they tell me that our country is not doing well and people are still suffering. Well, I’ll tell you, you can apply for citizenship in Singapore.”

Get it? 'Malay area' and 'apply for Singapore citizenship' - without any question of doubt, his bigoted insult was directed at Chinese Malaysians!

And then Malaysiakini provided another example - Noraini Ahmad, a young ambitious woman from Puteri UMNO obviously wanted to make her mark at the assembly by attracting attention and hopefully support. She relied on a proven and popular formula, criticising Chinese Malaysians.

As use of the keris would be out of the question for a woman, she would have cast her eyes/mind around and decided to dig up an old chestnut that had already outlived its use-by-date for bigoted railings – oh yes, she must have believed she could still squeeze a few more drops (of blood?) out of it. She declared that Puteri UMNO won’t accept the Namewee’s apology.

Namewee? For f-sake, couldn’t she be more original and contemporary? But contemporary or not, I might just have to concede she had probably succeeded in displaying her ‘patriotism’.

Patriotism - remember this dangerous word? Samuel Johnson instructed that 'Patriotism is the refuge of the scoundrel' while Oscar Wilde sneered at it as '... the virtue of the vicious'. But Aldous Huxley said of it best:

"One of the great attractions of patriotism - it fulfills our worst wishes. In the person of our nation we are able, vicariously, to bully and cheat. Bully and cheat, what's more, with a feeling that we are profoundly virtuous."

Obviously she has learnt fast how to become one of UMNO ethnic heros – and probably which Alakazam-ish magic words to toss into the ring to attract the worst but highly desired attention of the UMNO assembly, like bangsa, agama dan negara, keris, tebuans, May 13 threats, 'Malay sacrifice', 'don't test Malay patience', 'Malay generosity', 'pivotal race', and of course for her, Namewee.

And just where were these young punks when Chinese servicemen were serving the nation on the fields of combat, and recognized for their sacrifice (the real type) by being awarded Malaysia’s highest gallantry honour, the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP)* – people like Superintendent Paul Kiong and Deputy Superintendent Sia Boon Chee, whom the nation owes incredible debts for their sheer and unsurpassed bravery in infiltrating and living for years with the communist terrorists in order to break the insurgents apart.

Then there were those awarded the Pingat Gagah Berani (PGB)* - the late Lt Choo Yoke Boo (awarded posthumously), late Lt Chang Tatt Min (awarded posthumously) of the RMAF, and 2nd Lt David Fu Chee Ming of the Rangers.

* Indian Malaysians had also been awarded the SP and PGB for combat

This was the citation for David Fu. He was the Platoon Commander of 8th Platoon of C Company, 4th Battalion Royal Rangers. He was tasked and placed in the Tanah Hitam area of Perak to track and destroy the enemy in his sector of operation.

On the 27th August 1970, his platoon of 24 men made contact with a group of about 70 enemy combatants. The enemy unknowingly had entered his sector. Thus started a heavy and intensive battle lasting 7 hours. Under his unwavering leadership, the men fought on, successfully killed 4 of the enemy. His patrol did not suffer any casualties.

For his outstanding gallantry and bravery in the finest traditions of the Ranger Corps he was bestowed with the Pingat Gagah Berani, by the King. He left after exemplary service as a Captain.

But alas, the Chinese can continuing ‘proving’ themselves for the next 500 years, but will never achieve acceptance by UMNO …

… for one simple reason ...

The Chinese must continue to serve UMNO as its whipping boy so that its leaders or wannabe leaders can use the fabricated threat, questionable loyalty and insinuated ingratitude of Chinese as convenient mounting steps to the top of their party.

In this regard, maybe one day in the future, 500 years from now, the Chinese Malaysians may collectively be awarded the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa for their ‘sacrifice’ to the well-being of UMNO leaders ...

… but then, shall still be required to prove their ‘loyalty’ … as the greed task of 'sacrifice' never ends.