Some say DAP is an ally of the PAP. Even if it is true, so what?
Yes, I am aware that PAP championed Malaysian Malaysia back in the 1960s, and was blamed for Singapore’s expulsion from the Federation of Malaysia. I also understand the politically correct term now is not Malaysian Malaysia, but instead a totally different, not straightforward meaning, not fully embraced concept of 1 Malaysia.
I am also very well aware that PAP led a Chinese-majority republic as opposed to an Umno-led majority Malay Malaysia.
Now, why is that a problem to us? Why did one newspaper dedicated its last weekly column to painting a racist picture of PAP, also insinuating a repeat of August 1965 in Penang?
Okay, first let us assume that PAP is racist and DAP is also racist by association, but which political party here isn’t? 1 Malaysia Barisan Nasional or the Muslim-Malay majority PAS who is bent on implementing hudud? Or perhaps MCA, MIC?
Who is the one supporting Perkasa and Pekida?
One BN minister even said that they are not ready for non-racial politics even if Malaysians are. Who is the pot calling the kettle black now?
So what if PAP and DAP are racist?
Leaders from PAP have visited Penang and have established cordial economic and social ties with the current state leaders. To be frank, I would want Malaysia to emulate Singapore, Australia, Japan, and Korea when developing the country instead of constantly comparing this country to Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Singapore has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, with first-class infrastructure and an economy that is very resilient to the global climate. They are home to world-class universities, such as Nanyang Technology University and National University of Singapore that produces top notch graduates, who are sought after even before they graduate.
So why the egoistic stance towards PAP? And secondly, to insinuate that Penang may leave the federation of Malaysia because of the good relationship between PAP and DAP is just plain stupid.
We have witnessed our leaders shake hands with George Bush, Tony Blair and even Bashar Assad of Syria. Just because we maintain good working relationships with their leaders, does it mean we will bomb the innocent and fabricate evidence to support one war? Does maintaining a good working relationship with foreign powers spell a traitorous end on our part?
If no, then why such connection between PAP and DAP? But let me play the devil’s advocate and assume that it’s true. Don’t we have a Federal Constitution that will never allow a repetition of August 9,1965? Even back then, wasn’t it our Parliament that voted 126–0 in favour of a Constitutional amendment expelling Singapore from the federation?
Those with evidence and proof to suggest such a treasonous act should step forward and lodge a report so that these leaders can be put to trial and punished before the court of law.
Otherwise, enough with conspiracy theories and let’s get back to developing the country.
I read recently that the Chinese have succeeded in docking a spacecraft to another in orbit. Sometimes I wonder if the average school-going child out there even knows what a spacecraft or an orbit is, while our leaders bicker about who is more Malay/Chinese/Indian.
DKA
This first appeared in The Malaysian Insider on July 4th, 2012
9 Responses to “Enough with the conspiracy theories.”
You have just knocked some sense into me,and said what I had in mind. Keep it coming.Will be following your career closely,as will many others I’m sure.
I’ve been reading your articles in TMI,surprised to see your blog when I googled your name!Cool blog btw.I hope you wont run out of prescription as there are many ‘ill’ people out there!
Salaams,
I was shocked to read
your article today. I beg of
you to please not be naive
and so idealistic, simply because
a lot of people read your
articles. We all dream of a
perfect world, a perfect
society. But seriously, open
your eyes and see the world
for what it really is. Ask yourself,
we are dealt with a set of cards,
how are we going to play our
hand?
Sure we still have race-based
political parties and will
continue to do so for the
foreseeable future. The issue
with PAP and by extension DAP,
is that they actually believe in the *inherent superiority* of
their race/ethnicity. Do you not
remember what happened the
last time a political party held
such racist beliefs in modern
history? We are not talking about a fringe lunatic group, we are
talking about the dominant party of
the Federal Opposition coalition.
http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/
groups/public/documents/
APCITY/UNPAN004070.pdf
http://yoursdp.org/index.php/
news/singapore/3336-lee-
kuan-yews-remarks-deeply-
offensive-to-malays
Salam Iqraq,
Let me preface by saying that I am not a member of any political party.
That aside,I don’t think I am too idealistic, and whatever idealism I have I assure you is not because of my readers. What you read is not written to please a crowd,but in fact,whether you choose to believe it or not is an actual piece of my mind.
Be that as it may, idealism is not a bad company to have in the current political climate. Just like hope,it is the single most important commodity that keeps us going day after day.Without idealism where would we be? Perhaps running on the street asking for the resignation of the so many ministers, responsible for the sad state of affairs we are in right now.
Home affairs, education, higher education,defense, health, and other ministries are found wanting time and again.
I accept your plea not be simplistic in my judgement and thinking,and in fact most of our woes today are due to simpletons making decisions that is affecting the lives of millions of Malaysians.If only they use their god given brain to govern this country, we would perhaps be even more developed than where we are right now.
But was I being simple?Just because the article made sense doesn’t mean that it is simple.And if something sounds complicated it doesn’t mean it is always the truth either.
Let us be impartial and decide issues based on merit and call a spade a spade. Not all in the government is good, and not all in the opposition is bad.
The inherent superiority of their race?Okay assuming that I agree with you, which race does not believe so? The Arabs, Jews believe they are better than the rest of mankind, and lately so do the Indonesians against Malaysians.
I understand where you come from after reading the links you attached with your comment,but have you not heard or read what our politicians say lately?Are they really that different?
Are neighboring politicians in other countries also different for that matter? UK and Ireland,USA and Mexico,Canada and USA, China and Japan. The rhetorics they peddle to their constituents have the same ingredients as the Singaporean and Malaysian politicians to their crowd.
We need to focus on issues affecting this nation of 28 million,instead of who is more Malay/Chinese/Indian, and who is more superior than who.
DKA
Well said.
Salaams Kamal,
Something that sounds complicated might not be the truth but we must not see things so simply that we ignore the context. Malaysia is one of the most complex societies on the planet with an extremely short history which has not had the chance to evolve to what we aspire it to be. By all means maintain ideals and hopes, we all do, but don’t forget that wrecking something is easy and quick but building something is difficult and time-consuming.
Not all in the government is good and not all in the opposition is bad. Unfortunately, in the echo chambers of the Malaysian Insider with their cyber troopers pressing the ‘like’ (or dislike) button a kajillion times, people are so blinded by hatred for the government that they don’t stop to think that not all the government does is bad and not all the opposition does is good. I wish we had a better opposition, I really do because I believe BN must be taught a harsh lesson. However, DAP are not an acceptable alternative, period. They are dangerous. We cannot let our country be in the hands of racial supremacists.
I take your point about Arabs (they obviously have forgotten the Prophet’s last sermon, PBUH), the Jews (you contradict your own point by bringing them up, do we really want another apartheid state in Malaysia, another Occupied Palestine?), the Indonesians do not really believe they are racially superior to us (their grievances are different, legitimate ones which are chronic problems: a wife who is abused by her husband for 10 years suddenly snaps and stabs him because he walked in with muddy shoes- it’s not the muddy shoes, it’s the 10 years of abuse). Perkasa also do not believe in the ethnic/genetic superiority of the Malays, they are territorial no doubt, like dogs peeing on their turf and in truth they are a reaction to DAP’s Chinese chauvinism (Newton’s third law), but you can’t say they are inherent racial supremacists.
PAP however, are documented in literature as well as their track record to be inherently racist. They *believe* in their ethnic or genetic superiority. Just read LKY’s recent statements about Singaporeans needing to accept immigration from mainland China to maintain their racial composition.
No matter how much I hate the corrupt in BN, I just cannot bring myself to support any coalition that includes DAP. I make du’a every day for an alternative, for leaders who fear our Creator and the Last Day.
I know I cannot convince you right now. I just hope I have made a little dent which maybe you can explore further on your own. Understand the context. Venture out of your echo chamber. Realize the responsibility you hold as a writer in the public sphere. Peace be with you my brother.
Salam Iqraq,
Thank you for your reply.
The dent that you mentioned was already there and my faith in the current political system is at its breaking point, and the only thing that keeps me going is the hope for a better tomorrow.
My article on choosing between the two evils is a reflection on how and what I feel. BN or PR, I don’t think we will see light in the foreseeable future.
You can read the article here http://drkamalamzan.com/?p=848
For your information, I refuse to choose between the two.
Substituting one for the other would be a funny scenario if it is not just too stupid and painful.
I am not advocating a vote for DAP nor BN. I wrote this article because part of the reason we fall behind is our fixation on issues that should be a none issue. We are busy competing with ourselves, forgetting that we are all Malaysians while our competitors, enemies, are actually watching gleefully out there.
If only the same competitive energy can be focused on the well being of Malaysians instead of determining who is more racist, who is more religious, we may be at par or even better than our southern neighbour.
Why is it your concern when their minister wants more Chinese in Singapore? Haven’t you noticed that our leaders have been systematically favouring the Indonesians, and Bangladeshis over the (non-Malaysian) Chinese? Would you call that a coincidence, pragmatism, or racism on our part?
Does geography, religion, common language, play a role in their selection?
To each country his own, and instead of spending time minding them,we would do well minding our own business governing this country. Nigerians, Iranians, Pakistanis and other nationals are making this country their’s while we worry about Singapore and PAP’s racist policy.
Yes, I agree that our views are different but we both love this country. We both want what is best for Malaysians. Perhaps we can set aside our differences, and agree to disagree for now.
Our goals must be clear and not swayed, distracted by racial, partisan and gutter politics that is so common today.
DKA
*standing ovation* for DrK.
I don’t support DAP either and I understand you, crystal clear!
Its always great to see conspiracy news!