Friday, September 22, 2006
Najib's hollow reactionary statement to LKY
The second most powerful man in the Badawi administration (no, i am not talking about the Prime Minister!) said he was offended by Singapore strongman Lee Kuan Yew who in clear unequivocal words, said several days ago that the Chinese community in Malaysia was being marginalized systematically.
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he did not appreciate such comments and with a straight face (I am sure) said Malaysia do not discriminate against non-Malays. Never mind that most non-Malays including myself, are numbed by his proclamations when the reality on the ground suggest, not suggest, but scream out otherwise.
What Lee Kuan Yew said is true and non-Malays in this country know that it is true. The current leadership trend is to deny the very obvious and spew contrarian views.In times like this, I am uncomfortably reminded of Josef Goebbel's infamous statement - "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it." Our leaders are apparently fans of Goebbel who was Adolf Hitler's chief propagandist. Fortunately in the 21st century, there is all likelihood that Najib's reactionary statement to LKY will be consigned to the dustbin, as far as right-thinking Malaysians are concerned. However, it is certain to satisfy Malays who wish to perpetuate the current policy of keeping the Chinese "in their place."
Why should Najib react to LKY if there is no such national policy to marginalise the Chinese? If the government's second most senior official could be goaded into denying LKY but refrains from giving evidence to the contrary, wouldn't his statement come out hollow and without any meat? I for one, just read the newspaper report with a sad shake of the head. ¶ 11:35 AM
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he did not appreciate such comments and with a straight face (I am sure) said Malaysia do not discriminate against non-Malays. Never mind that most non-Malays including myself, are numbed by his proclamations when the reality on the ground suggest, not suggest, but scream out otherwise.
What Lee Kuan Yew said is true and non-Malays in this country know that it is true. The current leadership trend is to deny the very obvious and spew contrarian views.In times like this, I am uncomfortably reminded of Josef Goebbel's infamous statement - "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it." Our leaders are apparently fans of Goebbel who was Adolf Hitler's chief propagandist. Fortunately in the 21st century, there is all likelihood that Najib's reactionary statement to LKY will be consigned to the dustbin, as far as right-thinking Malaysians are concerned. However, it is certain to satisfy Malays who wish to perpetuate the current policy of keeping the Chinese "in their place."
Why should Najib react to LKY if there is no such national policy to marginalise the Chinese? If the government's second most senior official could be goaded into denying LKY but refrains from giving evidence to the contrary, wouldn't his statement come out hollow and without any meat? I for one, just read the newspaper report with a sad shake of the head. ¶ 11:35 AM
