Chunky Chubby C11byebye Raptor-ish Muddy-River-loving Moolah-Crazy Fei-Lo confused on the non-existent Penang 'Lease'

“Sanusi’s claims over Penang going wild, Putrajaya should rein him in”

By Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy



THE Kedah state government is inviting historians, academicians and others to prove the point that Penang was leased from Kedah by the British then for a sum of money in Spanish dollars.

Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammed Sanusi Md Nor said that if Penang was not leased from Kedah, then why should Putrajaya pay first RM10,000 and then later RM10 mil to the state.

He argued that no Government will pay such an amount without any historical basis.

Strangely, rather than ascertaining the truth whether Penang was sold or leased to the British by the Kedah Sultanate, the Kedah Government is trying to prove the point that Penang was indeed leased from Kedah.

This method to prove a point is nothing but subjective.

Wonder whether the professionals engaged in this project will simply try to do something that might be even contrary to the facts.

Sanusi has already made up his mind about the lease but merely wants it to be endorsed by team of experts to give it legitimacy.

But what if Penang was not leased but sold by Kedah to the British? Will the team of experts be brave enough to say this?

Anyhow, no right-minded experts will join this team to work in the Sanusi’s shallow-minded attempt to distort history. Would the team report their findings without fear or favour? Will their selection be determined by their loyalty to the Kedah government or their loyalty to their profession?

It is sad that Sanusi, by engaging professionals, thinks that they will report findings in favour of the Kedah government. Even if they prove the point that Penang was leased to the British, then the team must also consider whether the Kedah Sultanate still had sovereignty over the island.

Kedah was vassal state of Siam

bunga mas - Kedah's vassal-state-tribute to King of Siam

History points out that the Kedah Sultanate was a vassal state of Siam or Thailand. Penang, on that note, was indeed the vassal state of Siam rather than Kedah.

If this was the case, how could Kedah say that it had sovereignty over the two parts of Penang? There is evidence to indicate that Penang was unofficially ceded to the British by the Kedah Sultanate in return for protection against Siamese invasion.

Later attempts by Kedah to take over Penang from the British was rebuffed by the colonial power’s military might.

On that note, the federal government should clarify why it is paying an annual stipend to Kedah; was it due to the fact that Kedah had sovereignty over Penang or the stipend is meant to financially assist Kedah.

If Putrajaya thinks that Penang was the former vassal state of Kedah, then there is something clearly wrong.

And the federal government cannot distort historical facts just to please Sanusi’s imaginations. – Oct 31, 2021.


Ramasamy Palanisamy is the state assemblyperson for Perai. He is also Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang

Bekas Menteri Kereta Terbang sekarang sangat menyesal - ta'ada peranan di Melaka

Bersatu's ex-minister laments party's direction, to make major announcement

Former minister Mohd Redzuan Mohd Yusof, one of the early members of Bersatu, has lamented that his party "has changed".

Redzuan (above) revealed that he will be making an announcement next month but dismissed suggestions that he will be switching parties.

"Wait for part two, if you wait for November, I will put on a baju Melayu but what colour the sampin will be, I will make an announcement later on," he was quoted as saying by Melaka Hari Ini, the state government's official media.

Redzuan, better known as Pak Wan, had previously criticised the Muhyiddin Yassin government's management of the Covid-19 pandemic when he was the minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of special functions.

Muhyiddin is the Bersatu president. He was dropped as a minister when Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob took over as the new prime minister.

"Many asked Pak Wan should be someone who champions change and struggle but I can't say those things anymore because Bersatu's face has changed.

"Many asked why people who only joined Bersatu later are the ones being put forward - I don't know.

"The dynamics of Bersatu could be different... I don't know because I am not involved, even in the coordination of the Malacca polls," he was quoted as saying.

Malacca is set to go to the polls on Nov 20 after the Umno-Bersatu state government collapsed. The nomination day is on Nov 8.



Not involved

Redzuan said he will be making his announcement after nomination day, which will be during the Malacca polls campaign period.

He was formerly the Malacca Bersatu chief but faced resistance from grassroots members over his leadership style.

The reins were subsequently passed to Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen.

Since then, Redzuan said he had little knowledge of what was going on in Malacca Bersatu.

"I am was not involved in the management, I was not even called even though I am an ex-officio in Alor Gajah Bersatu and its treasurer but I was not involved.

"To say that I am not slighted would be a lie," he added.

Redzuan, who is the Alor Gajah MP, said he remained consistent with the original roots of Bersatu.

"I question where Bersatu is heading because, in my head, the previous Bersatu was Mahathir Mohamad, Muhyiddin Yassin, and Mukhriz Mahathir," he said.

Bersatu had sacked Mahathir and Mukhriz after they opposed Muhyiddin's effort to form an alliance with Umno.

Mahathir and Mukhriz have since formed Pejuang.

Redzuan was previously speculated to have considered joining Mahathir's group after the latter was sacked but eventually did not follow through.

Tuan Ibrahim questioned for skipping UN climate change conference

Tuan Ibrahim questioned for skipping UN climate change conference

Environment and Water Minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has been questioned for not attending the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) currently taking place in Glasgow, Scotland.

In a statement today, DAP deputy secretary-general Teresa Kok said Tuan Ibrahim's (above) counterparts from other countries are currently at COP26 to discuss ways to tackle climate change.

"However, Tuan Ibrahim not only is not present at the conference, but his attention domestically is not climate change but the name of a local whiskey brand," said Kok, a former primary industries minister who worked on Malaysia's palm oil industry.

"What are the responsibilities of the environment and water minister? Does the name of a local whiskey brand contribute to reducing carbon emissions and tackling water pollution?"

COP26 is an annual conference where governments sign deals to keep global temperature by the turn of the century below 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.

Failure would be catastrophic due to rising sea levels, lower food security, lower fisheries output, and economic and social strife.

As a signatory to the Paris Agreement 2015, Malaysia has pledged to reduce carbon emissions by 45 percent from 2005 levels by 2030.

Meeting the Paris Agreement 2015 targets will qualify Malaysia for grants that can be used for other efforts to curb carbon emissions.

Yesterday, Tuan Ibrahim told the PAS Youth wing annual delegates meeting, or muktamar, that the cabinet has decided products capable of causing "public distress" cannot be sold.

"The cabinet has decided that there cannot be any production of goods that can cause distress among the rakyat including in the context of ethnicity and religion.

"This will be a policy. This is the result of what we (PAS) did, what we protested against.

"Today what we see is that they used this issue to attack PAS but in the end, it backfired on them," he told delegates.

Changing 'Timah' may give wrong impression

Meanwhile, DAP national legal bureau chairperson Ramkarpal Singh also took a swipe at Tuan Ibrahim, questioning whether PAS has anything to offer on other more pressing current issues.

“The Timah controversy ought not to have happened in the first place as it indicates sheer ignorance on the part of the government who, instead of educating those who are misinformed, further contributed to it becoming an issue from a non-issue,” he said.

The Bukit Gelugor MP said the Timah controversy has brought into sharp focus the extent of racial tolerance under the PN government, raising concerns over possible indications of things to come under the current administration.

“With the spotlight so heavily on Timah recently and the numerous explanations that have surfaced to explain that it has no connection with any religion, it is difficult to understand how anyone could be confused as to what it means, which raises the question as to why its manufacturers are even considering a name change.

“On the contrary, a name change may lead some to erroneously believe that there is some truth in the rhetoric of those opposing the brand, which defies common sense,” he said.

“I am also of the view that there is no need to go into the legality of the brand as I do not think any law has been breached when the same was incorporated and marketed in this country,” he added.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi on Thursday said Winepak had, during an inter-ministerial meeting this week, agreed to consider revamping its image through a name and logo change.

***

kt notes:

To be fair to the senior PAS cleric, he did attempt to put a stop to the Timah nonsense - he asserted that Timah is a metal and cannot be mistaken for Fatimah. The nonsense would have ceased if not for the PKR woman who wanted to be drunk (or licked).

slurp slurp slurpy slurp slurp 😜😀😁😂😃

However, I agree with sweetie Teresa that Tuan Ibrahim as the Malaysian Environment Minister should be in Glasgow for COP26, but then how would he have fared in an international meet? Apart from concerns over the Melaka elections he lacks confidence in his ministerial job. Ismail Sabri had truly sabo Tuan Ibrahim by allocating such an incongruous appointment for a cleric, wakakaka.

Now stop blaming Umno for Melaka collapse, says Najib

Now stop blaming Umno for Melaka collapse, says Najib

Najib Razak in Sungai Udang, Melaka, today with a supporter who waited to meet him. (Najib Razak Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: The people must stop blaming Umno for the collapse of the Melaka state government, former prime minister Najib Razak said today on news that the assemblymen involved had met opposition leaders beforehand.

“That’s it. Meetings and agreements before the four assemblymen withdrew their support. So, don’t blame Umno any more,” Najib said in a Facebook post that made reference to comments by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim earlier today.

In a separate posting, Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan said the people of Melaka must consider who was the mastermind behind the defections, given Anwar’s comments.

It was apparent that Pakatan Harapan was willing to work with some of the defectors, save for former DAP man Norhizam Hassan Bakti who has been rejected by the coalition.

Shahril said he had previously stressed that Umno should not have been blamed for the actions of its two former members, assemblymen Idris Haron and Nor Azman Hassan. “Umno was firm and swift in dismissing their membership,” he said. “Whatever (the party’s) weaknesses may be, no one can dispute that it took clear action within 24 hours.”

Shahril added it remained to be seen if the people will be asked to vote for the three former assemblymen on PH tickets. “If not, it seems PH values only their ‘services’ and only considers them as assets,” said Shahril.

Earlier today, Anwar had defended the defectors, saying the action of the Melaka four was to return the people’s electoral mandate to PH “which was previously stolen through betrayals” – a reference to the “Sheraton Move” of February 2020 which caused the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan federal government.

He was quoted as saying that Idris, Nor Azman and Noor Effandi Ahmad had met with leaders of Melaka Pakatan Harapan before withdrawing support for the chief minister together with Norhizam.

Anwar had said the understanding was that the three would back PH efforts to form a new state government.

Anwar, who is PKR president, said the PH central leadership was in the final stages of deciding on whether to accept the trio into the fold.

The four assemblymen had stated on Oct 4 that they had lost confidence in the chief minister, Sulaiman Md Ali. Their action led to the dissolution of the state assembly and to fresh elections being called for Nov 20.

Ramkarpal disappointed Winepak (Producer of Timah whiskey) giving way to noisy Lebais

How did a non-issue become so controversial, asks Ramkarpal

Ramkarpal Singh regrets that the whisky manufacturer is now considering changing the name of its product after pressure to do so from various quarters.

PETALING JAYA: The government should educate those who are misinformed instead of further contributing to the “Timah” controversy, says DAP’s Ramkarpal Singh.

In a statement, Ramkarpal said this controversy ought not to have happened in the first place as it indicated sheer ignorance on the part of the government, adding that a non-issue had been turned into an issue for some reason.

“It is most unfortunate that the issue has escalated into what it is with the whisky manufacturer now considering changing the name of its product after pressure to do so from various quarters, including the relevant ministry,” he said.

Ramkarpal added that he failed to see how the Malaysian-made whisky could cause confusion or touch on religious sensitivities as it was clearly related to the tin mining industry in Perak and the person depicted on the brand was a British officer during British colonial rule in Malaya.

“With so much spotlight on Timah recently and the numerous explanations that have surfaced to explain that it has no connection with any religion, it is difficult to understand how anyone can be confused as to what it means.

“This raises the question as to why its manufacturers are even considering a name change.”

Ramkarpal Singh.

Ramkarpal noted that a name change might lead some to erroneously believe that there was some truth in the rhetoric of those opposing the brand and this defies common sense.

“I am also of the view that there is no need to go into the legality of the brand as I do not think any law has been breached when the whisky was incorporated and marketed in this country,” he added.

In recent weeks, several parties had voiced their unhappiness over the award-winning Malaysian-made whisky, claiming it sounded like a shortened version of the Arabic name Fatimah and that the image of the man on the bottle looked like a person wearing a “kopiah” or a Muslim skullcap.

The word “Timah” refers to the Malay word for tin. Its manufacturer, Winepak, however, has said it plans to change the whisky’s name following a meeting it attended with representatives of various ministries.

PKR fined RM10,000 despite crowdless ceramah in Melaka

MM:

PKR fined RM10,000 for crowdless ceramah in Melaka

PKR information chief Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin speaks during the PKR Information Convention in Ampang July 26, 2020. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 — PKR was fined RM10,000 by the authorities after it attempted to hold a crowdless mobile ceramah in Paya Rumput, Melaka, last night, prompting protest from party leaders.

News portal Malaysiakini reported that the Pakatan Harapan lynchpin had planned speeches delivered from a makeshift stage on a lorry parked in the middle of residential areas, through loudspeakers, to avoid a gathering as part of efforts to comply with Covid-19 protocols.

“There is no meeting or gathering (in these ceramahs) that would cause new (Covid-19) clusters and the programme cannot be considered a social event,” Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, the party’s information chief, was quoted as saying at a press conference held this morning.

“When we were holding our programme at Taman Krubong Jaya last night, the police issued a compound stating that the party had violated the Covid-19 SOPs by holding an election-related event,” the PKR leader added.

Shamsul criticised the fine as unreasonable because there was no actual physical gathering.

Public health authorities have banned all forms of physical campaigning or large social events at the Melaka state election. Campaigning period for the November 20 polls will last just under two weeks.

The Health Ministry earlier this week fined Barisan Nasional (BN) RM10,000 after the coalition held a programme in Kuala Lumpur to launch its election machinery.

Shamsul alleged that BN leaders held gatherings nearby last night despite the penalty.

The ban on physical campaigning has prompted protests from both sides of the divide.

Shamsul, a local and MP for Hang Tuah Jaya, said the party was trying to be creative in cognisance of the limitations and concern for public health safety.

“This is something regretful and I urge the Health Ministry to review more thoroughly the details in the context of not being able to hold any gatherings or social events throughout the election,” he was quoted as saying.

“It is unreasonable if we cannot campaign in this election.”

PKR is expected to convey its protest to the Home and Health Ministries through an official letter.

The party is mulling to take the matter to court, Shamsul suggested.

What shall I call Bah-Kut-Teh?

Hats off, says CAP to ban on ‘offensive’ brand names, but some are unhappy

NV Subbarow (left) says the Timah whisky issue shows all sensitivities must be respected while N Marimuthu says consumers have the right to choose what they want.

PETALING JAYA: The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP), the first organisation to speak out on the Timah issue, has called the Cabinet decision to bar brand names that offend racial or religious sensitivities a “very good move”.

Yesterday, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the Cabinet had decided to bar brand names that could offend racial or religious sensitivities.

NV Subbarow, education officer at CAP, said the Cabinet decision had been long awaited by the group, which had spent the better part of a decade advocating for more regulation of labels.

“There must be a multiracial, multi-faith committee formed to deliberate on product labels,” he told FMT.

"They must be empowered to study the imagery and words on labels to ensure they don’t insult any group.”

Asked how one defined the word “offensive”, he admitted that this was a “tricky” matter.

“There can’t be any word or name that has reference to the culture, race or religion, for one. There should also not be any person like scholars or historical figures, for example, as that may offend some groups.

“Look at brands like Guinness, they had used a bulldog earlier (now a harp) and Tiger beer obviously has a tiger. These are fine. And you have wine labels that just tell you where they are from, like Germany or France, and the year it was made. These are also not a problem.”

Not everyone was a fan of the decision, however.

Shaun Edward Cheah, executive director of the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the government should not be interfering with businesses “unless (the branding) is really offensive”.

“There should be no vague policies, like ‘brands that offend sensitivities.’ It’s so unclear, as any segment of the community can take offence to something.”

He added that creating a business environment laced with uncertainty would send the wrong message to foreign investors about the country’s decision-making process.

“If something like the Timah issue, which only a small group is politicising, can lead to a Cabinet decision like this, it does not reflect well on national policies.”

Marimuthu Nadason, president of the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations, said while he had no issue with the government dictating advertising and marketing material, it should not go any further by restricting any products entirely.

“If the government wants to set rules on advertising and marketing, that’s up to them and for the producers to adhere to them.

“But consumers should be able to choose whether they want to use a product or not. They have the right to make that decision, nobody else.”

Hated by Indra

Saw this old post of mine in FB and thought I might republish it:


Hated by Indra

Yesterday when I was in a barber shop waiting for my turn, I read bits of an old book lying on the magazine table. The barber gave it to me as he saw me so engrossed in its pages. It's a 1993 novel by Martin Booth titled ‘The Iron Tree’.

The story centred around an Irish Catholic priest in China of yonder days (1900). I came to the page which described the priest strolling along a road beside the river that flowed past Wuchow, the village he was stationed at. He saw Chinese coolies (labourers) hauling blocks of stones from a barge to the town. These were the lines I was drawn to:

The blocks were several feet square and each took two men with a substantial bamboo pole slung between their shoulders to lift it. These pairs of men struggled up the steep bank with the blocks, their breath coming in starved gasps by the time they reached the road, their horny bare feet kicking up dust as they staggered off into the town.

Pausing for some minutes, I watched the procession, wondering what life expectancy might be of these near-slaves. They could not be able to look forward to long lives and it was of no surprise to me the British had found it so easy to addict the Chinese to opium. Anyone with such an existence would want frequent release into a better world.

Opium has always been associated with the Chinese. But not many people, especially westerners, are aware that it was the British who forcefully brought large quantities of the drug (from its Indian colonies) into China, leading to two wars with China, appropriately called the Opium Wars, when the Chinese authorities attempted to bar the imports of the dangerous substance.

The Chinese lost both times and were heavily punished by the British with severe bank-breaking amounts of monetary compensation. Naturally British supplied opium continued flowing into China, and the rest is history.

The British Parliament, British merchants and the Royal Navy were collectively the world's original (and probably BIGGEST) drug cartel.

But I return to Martin Booth’s most observant two sentences of

They could not be able to look forward to long lives and it was of no surprise to me the British had found it so easy to addict the Chinese to opium. Anyone with such an existence would want frequent release into a better world.

Nearly five years ago I wrote The Toddy Syndrome where I stated:

Probably the most deprived and marginalised ethnic group in Malaysia, a land of bountiful plenty, is the Indian community. […]

The typically hardworking but unskilled Indian struggles at the lower scale of employment, earns enough to live from hand to mouth day to day, has no or little after-hours amenities, has many children as a result of their sole entertainment (not unlike Chinese farmers in remote rural areas), at the end of work dashes off to the local ‘pub’ for several tin mugs of watered toddy, gets himself pissed drunk to blank out his agonizing frustration, apprehension, worries, physical/mental pain, hopelessness and anger at his-fate-decided-by-the-gods, ... [...]

The evil toddy ... has become the straw to hang on for many socially-drowning Indians. Its devastating effect produces the syndrome, but the disease is hopelessness in an increasing competitive world that is rapidly leaving many Indian Malaysians behind.

Their children are born into immediate disadvantage. Their community is looked down upon. They are assigned ownership of Malaysian crimes which cannot be attributed to foreign migrant workers. They have become the debris, flotsam and garbage of Malaysian society.

Such is the unhappy lot of the chronic poor, impoverished people who would be exploited for the economic and sensual gratification of the ruling class and the rich.

These unfortunate people include Filipino or Indonesian maids in Malaysia and the Gulf countries, (once) poor Vietnamese in the old USSR and East Germany, underage Thai prostitutes, semi-naked Chinese women demeaned into cavorting with hundreds of snakes in glass cages in restaurant in southern China, illegal migrant prostitutes in Malaysia, and as for India, the world’s biggest democracy, one only needs to read Aravind Adiga’s Man Booker Prize winning book ‘The White Tiger’ to realize the evils of class-caste exploitations and persecutions in India.

We can bet 100% that when society has a class system, whether this was determined by religion as among Hindus and orthodox Jews (Cohanim, Leviim, and Israelites), or social strata as among the English and (earlier) Japanese, the culprit who developed and propagated the system would undoubtedly have come from an upper Brahmin class.

As French philosopher Claude Levi-Strauss said:

“The only phenomenon with which writing has always been concomitant is the creation of cities and empires, that is, the integration of large numbers of individuals into a political system, and their grading into castes or classes. It seems to have favored the exploitation of human beings rather than their enlightenment.”

But thousands of years of (religious or/and societal) indoctrination have convinced the lower class, despite their modern education, to accept their man-assigned positions. I recall an Indian friend, a Dalit, who lamented he couldn’t marry the woman he loved (and who loved him too) because she was from a higher caste.

In Hinduism, the highest three castes of Hindu society are known as the twice-born (Sanskrit द्विज : Dvija) because they have undergone the sacred thread ceremony (Upanayana), in which male members are initiated into the second stage of life (ashrama) of a Vedic follower. This sacred thread ceremony is considered to be a type of second birth.

Traditionally, twice-born Hindus belong to the first three groups of the Hindu caste-system: 1) Brahmins, 2) Kshatriyas, and 3) Vaishyas. However, in many Hindu scriptures the word Dvija refers only to Brahmins in Hindu texts who possess mythical, religious superiority.

The doctrine of the "twice-born" has been criticized for promoting hierarchy and elitism in Hindu society but its supporters see it as a type of initiation and purification into a higher state of existence, analogous to baptism in other religions.

Socio-religious Context

The Hindu doctrine of the twice-born castes arose from the fusion of a number of interrelated doctrines that provided ideological backing for this teaching. These affiliated doctrines are known as the Varna System, the ashrama system, and the purusarthas (four aims of life).

I looked at him in shock and asked why in today’s world he and his sweetheart would even accept such social discrimination. All he did was moan and groan and cry out in despair that it was impossible to break free from the shackles of the Hindu caste system. Of course with such an attitude, he didn’t marry her.

There is no greater evil than the caste-class system, especially one instituted by so-called religion:

Indra

He gained possession of the Sun and Horses, Indra obtained the Cow who feedeth many. Treasure of gold he won; he smote the Dasyus [dark skinned people], and gave protection to the Aryan color

- Rig Veda III.34.9

Blowing away with supernatural might from earth and from the heavens the swarthy skin which Indra hates

- Rig Veda IX.73.5

MCA vows to intervene in suit to nullify vernacular schools, but DAP?

2 years ago

MCA vows to intervene in suit to nullify vernacular schools

31 Oct 2019

MCA will apply to be an intervener if the Federal Court hears a suit to challenge the constitutionality of vernacular schools.

The party’s secretary-general Chong Sin Woon (above), who described MCA as the "bastion of vernacular schools", expected this suit to end the debate on the legal position of vernacular schools once and for all.

"MCA is of the position that such schools are not only constitutional, but also suitable for our plural society,” he said in a statement today.

Chong added that the party had shown, “in its long history, that it is the bastion of vernacular education and (supports) the teaching of the national language in all vernacular schools”.

"We will continue to do so, unlike Pakatan Harapan which has done nothing," he said.

On Oct 23, lawyer Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz had sought a declaration that Parliament had no power to formulate Section 17 and Section 28 of the Education Act 1996.

He argued that doing so was in violation of Article 152(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution, which states: "No person shall be prohibited or prevented from using (otherwise than for official purposes), or from teaching or learning, any other language".

On Nov 4, the Federal Court will decide whether to allow Khairul Azam's suit to proceed.

+++

kt notes:

DAP diam diam?

as FM under the Mahathir govt, he allocated RM100 million to Tahfiz schools while begrudging annual matching grant for TARUC

compelling by then-FM LGE's hostile attitude towards TARUC, Penang hawkers donated part of their earnings to TARUC in traditional Chinese community spirit of donation a la "If govt won't help, let's help our own brothers and sisters" 

***

Malaysia-Today:

Are You Still Not Convinced That Mahathir Hates The Chinese?

6 Dec 2016



Raja Petra Kamarudin



I have always said we should not just focus on the brushstrokes. We should look at the entire tapestry because the entire tapestry gives us the full picture. The brushstrokes do not reveal anything and you would not even know what you are looking at. And this is the same when you want to get a clear picture of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. You must look at his entire 50 or 60 years political career and not just look at ‘one day in the life of Mahathir’.

Some say the Mahathir of 1966 and the Mahathir of 2016 are two different animals. Since 1966, which is 50 years ago, Mahathir has mellowed, matured, changed and whatnot. If you believe that then you can believe that on the night of the 24th of December Santa is going to crawl down your chimney to deliver your Christmas present.

The Mahathir of then is still the Mahathir of today. His opinions have never changed. His tactics have never changed. His desires have never changed. His prejudices have never changed. His hates have never changed. In fact, because he has less time now than 50 years ago, the Mahathir of today is a more desperate animal than the Mahathir of then.

Read what Mahathir said just before the previous general election, as reported by Malaysiakini on 8th July 2012, which you can read below (the previous general election was held ten months later on 5th May 2013). The salient points to note would be:

• Malay stupidity had resulted in a major ethnic group (Malays) bowing down to the demands of minority groups (Chinese, Indians and ‘others’).
  
  
• Malays have failed to exploit its majority since Independence to consolidate power.
  
  
• The government now has to accept diplomas from from TARC all because they need Chinese votes and this has occurred because of the stupidity of the Malays.
  
  
• Because the Malays are now divided into three groups, the government has to bow to the demands of the other races to be able to win votes.
  
  
• It was agreed during Independence that the Malays would be the majority so that they would continue to be in power. But now the Malays have destroyed their majority by dividing into three groups and have to depend on the other races to remain in power.
  
  
• If the non-Malays demand so much and want Malay privileges to be abolished, then they should stop using their mother tongue and vernacular schools should be closed down.

Chinese need to be put in their place and Umno must be chided for bowing to the Chinese

That and more was what Mahathir said ten months before the previous general election. And then, soon after the 5th May 2013 general election, Mahathir again whacked Najib and accused him of pandering too much to the Chinese when he should have instead concentrated on the Malays.

Najib wasted his time with the Chinese, said Mahathir, and yet they still did not vote for Barisan Nasional. After giving in so much to the Chinese they still voted for the opposition, lamented Mahathir. Najib should have instead just focused on the Malays, who are the main support base for Umno.

Mahathir used this same strategy 50 years ago when he wanted to oust Tunku Abdul Rahman. He accused the Tunku of giving in to the Chinese and of being a Chinese lover. It worked in 1969 and due to the pressure from Umno the Tunku resigned in 1970. Mahathir’s plan was to again use this anti-Chinese platform to get Umno to oust Najib from office by alleging that he is giving the Chinese too much face.

But then that is vintage Mahathir. For 50 years he has been doing this: play the race card and the anti-Chinese card as a political weapon. In fact, when Mahathir first took over as Prime Minister in 1981, the Chinese were terrified because they viewed Mahathir as a super-racist. Later, of course, he proved that he was a super-capitalist and instead of killing off the Chinese he used them as trustees, nominees and proxies to make tons of money.

Today, the Chinese, in particular the DAP Chinese, view Mahathir as their new opposition leader and the man who is going to save Malaysia. The DAP grassroots, however, have not forgotten and are not fooled by the so-called ‘new’ Mahathir. They still view Mahathir as a pimp and a snake, as you can see in the video below.

Mahathir is a pimp and DAP is his prostitute

Actually, it is not that DAP has forgotten or forgiven Mahathir. They know that the Mahathir of today is no different from the Mahathir of the May 13 era. It is just that DAP sees Mahathir as a good weapon to use to split Umno. Only if Umno is split would there be any chance of defeating Barisan Nasional in the next general election.

Basically DAP is applying the ‘use a thief to catch a thief’ strategy or, as ‘Superman’ Hew Kuan Yau said, use Malays to fight Malays. DAP does not love Mahathir. DAP does not think highly of Mahathir. DAP does not think that Mahathir has changed. In fact, the Mahathir of today is worse than the Mahathir of before because the Mahathir of today is a more desperate animal than the Mahathir of before. But if Mahathir can split the Malays and destroy Umno then why not work with Mahathir to do that?



We both need to save our sons so let’s work together

However, DAP realises that they can only go so far with Mahathir so they will not be inviting him to their party convention. If they do then Mahathir would be given a certain VIP status and DAP has not yet decided whether Pribumi or PPBM is going to be invited to join Pakatan Harapan.

DAP realises that by allowing Pribumi to join Pakatan Harapan it may actually backfire and may cause many people to abandon Pakatan Harapan in disgust. No doubt DAP only wants to use Mahathir to split Umno and destroy Malay political power but there are many supporters who are not prepared to discard their principles and to reduce themselves to political prostitutes just for the sake of winning elections.

If you look at the Pribumi lineup you can see that most of their leaders lack morals and principles. It is like a band of pirates. And is Pakatan Harapan that greedy for power that they would work with prostitutes and pirates just to gain power? This is what the grassroots are lamenting about. Pakatan Harapan is now prepared to play gutter politics in the pursuit of power and they have come to an all time low by anointing Mahathir as their new ‘Reformasi’ leader.