The wrong DNA

Malaysiakini first reported the now infamous Ahmad Ismail will not apologize for his racial remarks. NST then further reported that the flip-flop ‘Prime Minister of all Malaysians’ had changed his mind and asked Ahmad to apologize.

In the meantime, Najib apologized, probably speaking for himself, and probably also as the BN Whip, as it was reported that he was in fact at the meeting where the recalcitrant spoke. But, Najib said he apologized on behalf of Umno. My question: why not Barisan Nasional also? Is not Najib the Deputy Chairman of BN and also her party ‘big whip’?

If my memory is right many other BN members have been punished for much less, even though they spoke the truth on the matter, and even though they had parliamentary immunity when they spoke?

But, Ahmad Ismail says he has not done anything wrong; although many newspaper reporters and their management have now spoken against Ahmad on the facts of the case. Who then is right? Is there an absolute truth in a matter like this?

Or, like it is usual within the Umno culture, can we all simply close one eye on this matter. On this specific matter it seems even Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad wrote to support Ahmad Ismail, maybe because he also spoke in more or less similar vein in Johore. It took the honesty of our Negarakuku friend, to clarify even to Dr Mahathir that he had in fact apologized for the possible hurts he had caused unintentionally.

What is the real big deal about saying sorry, if you made an honest mistake? Or, when you make a statement which is politically insensitive and then realize your predicament? Is it ‘loss of face to say sorry’? How then can Anwar Ibrahim say he can forgive, although not forget, when he was wronged and cleared even by the courts of law and the courts of human life?

How can Obama overlook the sins of the American forefathers, against the blacks in America as he seeks to lead America in yet new directions? Or, how could Nelson Mandela come out of jail, after 27 years, and still walk tall as a man? How else then can such a one go on to win the Nobel Prize?

I would like to reflect on the DNA of such racial remarks? Is it true-blooded DNA of Malaysia? Are these comments based on a true blue Malaysian DNA, or really, a foreign DNA, premised on some other ethnicity and form of bigotry?

Why do such comments reveal the ‘political bankruptcy of all such politicians or political animals’? Only bigots make generalized statements which cannot be proven or defended in any logical or rational ways.

Debate, discourse, dialogue

Therefore if I were Ahmad, I would either apologize or request a debate with anyone who would want to dialogue or discourse the real issues of substance if I feel I have done nothing wrong. But, I would never want to become the coward to retreat into group-think phenomenon and show strength merely in numbers, for such is only behavior from the animal kingdom.

God has given man much more dignity than that.? And then, breaking and tearing up the former CM’s photograph is the ultimate in animal behavior. He therefore deserves the three year ban and I hope that the police do in fact find him guilty of sedition And charge him; given that the law exists in Malaysia.

There is a similar and interesting dialogue and discourse going on in Singapore right now whether their silver medalists were ‘truly Singaporean’. Another like dialogue is happening in Tanzania where another 3rd generation ethnic heritage from India has won the beauty pageant. The question remains though whether this beauty is a really Tanzianian.

If the government of Malaysia is wise enough and self-confident of the foundation and history of this nation, we could quite easily convert all this negative energy (or ‘negative entropy’) of such disruptive world views and turn them into a positive dialogue. I propose we have a National Roundtable Dialogue on who really is a Malaysian?

If agreed in principle, there can first be a debate of what language we should use in the dialogue? I say, let it be in Malay for all those below of 45 years of age and maybe, in English for all those above 45 years, because Malay can and must define our Malaysian-ness ultimately.

Next, let selection for participation be based entirely on meritocracy and rational considerations; not the traditional racial construction of Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans and Ibans of the Malayan design. Any Malaysian can participate. To do any less would be to promote bigotry after 51 years of ‘so-called independence’ because we are not really independent when talking about ourselves.?

Why else then did the Hindraf have to appeal to the British Government to undo what the independent Malaya and Malaysia should have done over 51 years of their history. In fact, the original appeal was in fact handed over to the PM’s Office and personal representative, after the first gathering of more than 1,000 people at Putrajaya. The rest is now history.

Malaysian DNA

When it is plain, simple, straight forward and obvious bigotry, I call it the wrong DNA; it is not Malaysian DNA. Although, any citizen in Malaysia has the freedom of choice and freedom of speech given by the Almighty to say anything at all, such freedoms are actually limited by the federal constitution and consequent privileges defined by the Sedition Act.

Therefore, while the law can review, and the police can investigate, it is simply folklore unless appropriate charges made against such bigoted individuals. Whether it is theft of public lands as in the case of Zakaria Mat Deros or blatant bigotry as in this case, the rule of law must prevail and we cannot and should not tolerate the close one eye culture!

What to me has been sickening and appears extremely political about our enforcement bodies is that, up till now, they can choose to close one eye or shut the other as they so choose and wish! Please see my three-part column about the close one eye culture.

Now, regardless of whether this bigot called Ahmad Ismail is in fact charged with sedition or not, what does Umno really say about people like him? Is Umno going to close one eye again?

Does Umno know the majority of the people of Malaysia, as an electorate, have rejected the racial and ethnic debasement of other Malaysians? Was that not partly what the general election was all about, and then repeated at Permatang Pauh? Or, do they have to still wait for the so-called Sept 16th to be declared a holiday for a true Malaysian DNA to be revealed?

If Umno is really not convinced, I suggest they should call for a new general election to settle this once and for all. I believe the majority of Malaysians will reject the counterfeit DNA of ‘ketuanan Melayu’.

Simply ask the question whether we want a Malaysia to exist and continue, as provided for under the federal constitution and based on the original social contract of 1957? In fact, we should no more even call it a social contract but make this a referendum issue and therefore make this subsequently a legal contract. Let us see who will really vote against it.

You see, unlike the promoters of Sept 16th crossover, I think that corrupted Umno and the discredited BN should be allowed to continue to shoot themselves in their foot in anticipation and preparation for the next general election. Then the real changeover becomes not just a cosmetic makeover.

It will be the Barisan Rakyat Malaysia saying clearly, and once and for all, as they did in Permatang Pauh, that enough is enough! Let us move on to build this nation into greatness and those who do not have such a vision should stand aside! Malaysia indeed ‘boleh’ but never through the ‘boleh-land’ antics of the last 15 years or so!

A clear definition of the DNA concept identifies who we are as real Malaysians. It cannot be that one bigot and another group of thugs can hold an entire Umno to ransom. Even now, there are still voices on the ground who support such thinking.

Weakened Umno

Pak Lah’s first big mistake was not disciplining Zakaria Mat Deros for gangsterism and theft of public lands by the brute force of political expediency. That was Umno’s greatest weakness today.

There is therefore the lack of true and real leadership. Pak Lah was not able to say No? before. I was sad to read the newspapers and find out that the PM even lost his cool with Ahmad Ismail; but why, are you not also the spokesperson of Islam Hadhari? Is such thug-like behavior reflective of true Islam Hadhari, if not, then action to discipline must be taken; clean and simple.

Mar 8 fundamentally changed the politics of this nation; and the nation will never be the same. The old Titanic-way of thinking has sunk; what remains of the BN are the hangers-on who are clinging on to dear life, upon whatever is left of the broken portions of the Titanic.

Now it is apparent one or two MCA and Gerakan sections of the BN have also bailed out of the remaining broken portion still afloat.? Is Umno, then, as so-called leaders of the BN going to wait for the complete abandon of the remains of the Titanic because you choose, like the captain of the Titanic, to go down with the ship rather than rather than to bail out or even admit failure of derailment from the original objectives of the BN?

To err is human and to forgive divine. Apologizing for wrong-doing is a Godly trait, not a sign of weakness. Well done Pak Lah and may God continue to bless Malaysia!