Malaysian Muse
Monday, July 23, 2007
Crackdowns will take place .. sooner or later
The government has stayed away from molesting the online news sites thus far. But for how long in the future, will the UMNO-dominated government play fair, we can never know for sure. Malaysia-Today, set up by the incorrigible Raja Petra Kamarudin, has gained a tremendous following of hundreds of thousands of Malaysians and widely read by overseas Malaysians and expatriates. Even the diplomatic community, I am sure, has Malaysia Today bookmarked amongst its favourite Malaysian websites.
RPK as he is known, is doing a great service to all Malaysians by daring to give insights into the inner workings of government and individuals who are widely believed to be at the controls of this ship called Malaysia. He has on many occasions embarrassed those in power by predicting certain events such as the Prime Minister's recent wedding and his detailed description on how a certain son-in-law of the Prime Minister had managed to rise like a phoenix from the ashes into a position of tremendous power and influence in this land. His recent expose on the alleged close cooperation between the country's top police chief and the chinese triads, could be the final straw. Something may happen soon, which would indeed be one of the blackest marks in the history of Malaysia.
Despite the negativity of such a move, desperate people will do desperate things ... ¶ 3:08 PM 0 Comments
RPK as he is known, is doing a great service to all Malaysians by daring to give insights into the inner workings of government and individuals who are widely believed to be at the controls of this ship called Malaysia. He has on many occasions embarrassed those in power by predicting certain events such as the Prime Minister's recent wedding and his detailed description on how a certain son-in-law of the Prime Minister had managed to rise like a phoenix from the ashes into a position of tremendous power and influence in this land. His recent expose on the alleged close cooperation between the country's top police chief and the chinese triads, could be the final straw. Something may happen soon, which would indeed be one of the blackest marks in the history of Malaysia.
Despite the negativity of such a move, desperate people will do desperate things ... ¶ 3:08 PM 0 Comments
Friday, July 20, 2007
The method behind the madness
Malaysia has been declared an Islamic state by none other than the Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, at a time when racial and religious suspicions have seen a marked increase in the public space. Ever since Tun Dr Mahathir decided to irresponsibly proclaim Malaysia as an Islamic state after 9/11, politicians with their agendas have seen it fit to continue on the Islamic state bandwagon.
What is different this time, I suspect, is that the timing of Najib's statements may have been deliberately timed to deflect attention from the interesting developments elsewhere. With opposition politicians teasing the media with statements that they are "looking" for photographic evidence linking Najib with the murdered Mongolian Altantuya, it would no doubt be a jittery time for Najib if he indeed knew the poor girl, despite his strident public denials.
Perhaps a statement about an Islamic state, bound to raise emotions and public outcry may be the right thing to do, in order to deflect attention about any photographs that may lying in someone's drawer.
The other possibility is that UMNO is betting that despite the party's failures, the non-Malays will only sigh and continue to back the devil they know than the devil they don't. After all, elections are bound to be called this year and there is no other reason for Najib to bring up the Islamic nation issue, so soon after Lina Joy and the Revathi episode, except to declare to all that UMNO do not give a damn about the feelings of the other races, taking a calculated risk that none will dare to give the Islamist party a chance to rule Malaysia.
Now whether, the Chinese BN component parties will be routed in the next elections, well, that remains to be seen .... ¶ 5:26 PM 0 Comments
What is different this time, I suspect, is that the timing of Najib's statements may have been deliberately timed to deflect attention from the interesting developments elsewhere. With opposition politicians teasing the media with statements that they are "looking" for photographic evidence linking Najib with the murdered Mongolian Altantuya, it would no doubt be a jittery time for Najib if he indeed knew the poor girl, despite his strident public denials.
Perhaps a statement about an Islamic state, bound to raise emotions and public outcry may be the right thing to do, in order to deflect attention about any photographs that may lying in someone's drawer.
The other possibility is that UMNO is betting that despite the party's failures, the non-Malays will only sigh and continue to back the devil they know than the devil they don't. After all, elections are bound to be called this year and there is no other reason for Najib to bring up the Islamic nation issue, so soon after Lina Joy and the Revathi episode, except to declare to all that UMNO do not give a damn about the feelings of the other races, taking a calculated risk that none will dare to give the Islamist party a chance to rule Malaysia.
Now whether, the Chinese BN component parties will be routed in the next elections, well, that remains to be seen .... ¶ 5:26 PM 0 Comments
