Happy Merdeka Day! – though some of you may not exactly be in a celebratory mood.
Anyway, if you are feeling a little bored on what is a sunny day here in Penang, why not hop over to your local news-stand and pick up a copy of Off the Edge magazine for some ‘fun’. (The magazine does not come with The Edge weekly tabloid; you have to buy the magazine separately.) This week’s cover story is a remarkably frank and hard-hitting interview with Gerakan adviser Dr Lim Keng Yaik, who even accepts partial blame for the 8 March BN setback.
He is not a happy man though and, horrors, utters an expletive during the interview.
I just hope interviewers Ho Kay Tat and Jason Tan were sitting a safe distance away, if you know what I mean. 
He says he has spoken out before - to Dr M and within BN circles, about the prevalence of money politics. (“It’s all money, money, money, money, money.”)
Just to give you a flavour of the interview:
Where did the BN and Umno go wrong especially in their response to Anwar’s ‘branding’ of Ketuanan Rakyat?
The more they hammer Anwar, the more they popularise him. I was also part of it, hammering Anwar, telling all the stories about Anwar.
Didn’t work. [The people responded by saying], ‘Lu kong si ha mi ah? Lu boh aneh cham ah, lu boh eong eh lang, sway lang, chau lang lai.’ (In Hokkien: ‘what are you all in BN talking about? Aren’t you so bad yourself? BN is useless, a pox on the people, and a bunch of rogues.’)
I blame this purely on the arrogance, abuse of power and non-transparency of Umno, the interference of the ‘Fourth Floor’ boys who think they know best, and the inability to keep the civil servants at bay….
About problems involving an uncooperative and “racially biased” civil service:
We have a damn bloody serious problem, you are right!
And about Umno leaders saying they want a multi-racial government:
They don’t mean what they say (laughs). We realise that we’ve been bloody led up the garden path!
What about the dubious land deals in Penang?
(Koh Tsu Koon) was not strong enough to stop the Umno fellas. Let’s see the land cases coming up; you’ll find an Umno arm all over the place. Yes, and Guan Eng is saying, “You did not stop it.”
All the same, Keng Yaik thinks that Anwar is not the right leader and says he will never be PM because of his “impatience”.
Meanwhile, there’s already a debate within Gerakan on whether they should stay on in the BN. If a vote was to be taken today among party leaders and members, what would it be?
“Out,” responds KY, but then adds that no vote has been taken because “they are not ready”.
Ai-yah, still not ready, ah? (From the poll on this blog, 36 per cent of you feel Gerakan should join Pakatan.)
Go get a copy of Off the Edge and read the full interview. It’s worth a few laughs – good value for RM6!
As far as I am concerned, LKY is obsolete, and so are his other…..Guess who?
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Look here guys I can see that gerakan is no more relevant. Dissolve and resolve to PR for better govt…hopefully. Make a change at least for one term. Has not these last 50 years taught you enough losses and lessons. We have have got our innocent and helpless generations in front of us. Think,,think.
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Keng Aik
– l.
…You and all your Gerakan Leaders as well as MCA leaders Apologize to all of us for knowingly and complicitly being led up the garden path. Apologize to all Chinese Malaysians for marginalizing us for generations to come
Apologize to us for your own …
Don’t blame UMNO because you let them roll over you all for some minor bucks…
You and all your collegues are all sad excuses of human beings…
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aiyoh keng yaik, how long were u in the BN govt as a minister, ex-co and then minister and yet we do not hear u complaining about unmo arrogance. now i guessed we all can understand the calibre of people that has beeen hanging around you all these years. they just follows the leader carrying and polishing what u hv taught them. ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaa
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There are many political vultures and hyenas out there.
They start to gather round when they see and smell a winner. Much like those bloody UN-social parasites. And when they sense the ooportunity, they will … in your back and take over!
That’s why Gerakan now cannot dcide to stand up to UMNO for the sand conitually being kicked in their face. It is now stocked with the kind of slef-centred ……. as in MCA and MIC.
A disgrace…
A pox on these low-lifes!
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LKY is an old … who never learns anything.
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its sad to be a malaysian. a very sad tale indeed. yes we can walk tall and talk tall. how nice to be a malaysian multi race multi religion. blah blah so oin n forth but lets face reality. Non malays are yee tang gong mun(2nd class citizen) yes unless PR can really proof that it will lead us in a new beginning and bring back hope to us as Malaysian otherwise lets sing Sam Hui song of peopole exiting Hong Kong b4 communist China took over coz of fear for communist government. So as malaysian its no fun and also no hope unless DSAI can really put his words into action. No need to write long history here.
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Aiyoyo LKY;…. now no chance to makan baru mau cakap!
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Hi Anil,
My apologies for not being able to mark down my comments earlier as I had a death in the family. Nevertheless, it pisses me off to read/ hear this old … bringing this up over & over again. There is no point crying over spilled milk and he should just downright request for KSK and his Gerakan comrades to just stamp their feet and make the decisive move to leave the BN camp.
I received word from my friends in MCA that this move is seriously being discussed at the top level in their party and God willing, it would materialize within the next couple of weeks.
Till later… God Bless.
Christopher
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UMNO, MCA and MIC need to close shop and become a multi-racial party. Another word we need to removed all the race based party and learn to share power and resources for the best of the country. This will allow the rakyat to have an option to choose the best and smartest to lead our country not diluted by too many parties and power struggle. Better leaders lead to better decision making and planning. This will lead to appointment of better educator, civil servant, PDRM and others to serve the country.
Another word we need to get rid of ALL RACIST REGARDING OF RACE…. UMNO, MCA, MIC and all other race based party..
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Leopard never change its spots. The BN policy is very clear – Privilege for the Majority so is Pakatan. Only in Malaysia, the Majority gets the Privilege. Minority are all Pendatang – History wrote it too bad for them. All man made law can be changed in relation to dynamic of time but not the Quran. The Powerful must look after the Weak irrespective of colour, creed or religion – this is universal value. Whichever the Party that can take care of the Majority equality of wealth distribution and the Minority as Malaysian not Pendatang is worthy of becoming the Government of the days. Pakatan looks promising and worth considering if there is no drastic change in the present BN Policy and Performance in the next few years. Come 13th General Election, the People will be the ultimate Judge!! The 2 Party System is taking shape – healthy competition….no more Puspakom Monopoly!
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It is interesting to note that Gerakan is claiming that UMNO fellas had their arms all over the place on the dubious land deals in Penang.
I feel that the only way for Gerakan to redeem themselves is to leave BN; and become independent or to join Pakatan Rakyat. Thereafter, spill the beans.
If they don’t, it is an admittance of their involvement; fully or partially – taking a piece of the forbidden ‘cake’.
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For Gerakan to keep on staying in BN it may suffer the same fate as PPP.
PPP lost its relevance to Umno about 20 years ago when it lost its power base in Perak but since then it has been hanging on to BN’s coat tails in the hope of being allocated seats and positions in the government.
For many elections, PPP was not even allocated a single seat to contest. Then in 2004 after much begging, they were given a single seat in Taiping which Kayveas won and even this seat was borrowed from Gerakan and supposed to be returned in 2008. This did not happen and Kayveas lost the seat in the last G.E.
Before the last G.E., PPP held their annual dinner in Melaka in which Ali Rustam was the guest of honour. He proceeded to berate PPP for asking for more seats to contest and told PPP to get out of BN if they are not happy.
What did Kayveas do? He did not walk out of the speech despite the humiliation. He did not take his party out of BN.
Gerakan members, beware. Your party may suffer the same fate as PPP. KTK looks set to be another Kayveas with his culture of subservience to Umno.
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In every state in this federation prior to Mar ’08, the land portfolio comes under the direct charge of the Menteri Besar or the Chief Minister except in the state of Penang.
Land is a big deal for ANY STATE in the federation because without control over land, the state government might as well don’t exist.
It is also the biggest source of income for the state.
How could KTK control UMNO … of the state land when the land portfolio had been surrendered to UMNO ?
I am glad we kicked Gerakan out in the last GE.
In a way, we also kicked the … hands of UMNO from this cash register.
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the first step to true repentance is accepting that you are not perfect. UMNO still think that they are the gift of perfection to mankind.
keng yaik is from old school who can and dares to speak.
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THIS GUY AT ONETIME LIKE APPLE POLISHER, NOW WHAT HAPPEN HE IS AGAINST HIS POLITICAL MASTER.
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Only the heads remain in Gerakan, MCA and MIC now. The members have left them in droves. Everyone knows this, but they want to deny this fact. Whether Gerakan leaves BN or not, it makes no difference. Come the next general election, they will win no seats. MCA and MIC will face the same fate. As for DSAI becoming the PM, it’s not for Gerakan or Lim to decide. The people will decide. If God wills it to happen, it happens. PR has many talented leaders to become the PM. Nurul, DSAI’s intelligent daughter, is now in the limelight. She can at anytime take over DSAI based on her popularity – if charisma is the factor in politics. If it does not happen so soon, it will happen one day. Again, it’s the people who will decide just like what happened in the just concluded by-election in Permatang Pauh. The Malays, Chinese and Indians voted for DSAI, and the voters were inclusive of UMNO, Gerakan, MCA and MIC members. It’s no more impossible for this to happen come the next general election. UMNO should realise that playing the racial card may only win less than 50 per cent of the Malay votes. The other huge block goes to other Malay-based parties such as PAS and PKR. UMNO cannot solely depend on the Malays. They need Chinese and Indian support to stay in power. Some UMNO leaders (like Rustam and a few others)are still blind of this. For one, the economy is not going to favour BN in the coming years and this will be the crucial factor in the demise of BN, not necessarily DSAI. The grassroot fever in Sabah and Sarawak is for a change. If the present leaders decide not to move on to PR, then DSAI could always plan out a new strategy to get new and credible leaders to stand under PR tickets in the next general election. PR will make it based on the present sentiment in these two states. The fact is, the country is moving towards a two-party system and this is good for the people. BN or PR, prove to us that you can deliver. No one is indispensable. No leader should feel that his job is for keep.
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LTH
LKY, don’t just give such a candid interview to show you got b…. to now speak your mind frankly. What is your motive? to gain publicity and shiok sendiri and the public?
If LKY really means what he said, the honourable thing for him to do now is to call a press conference and publicly apologize to his GERAKAN members (for allowing GERAKAN to be ‘led up the garden path all these years), and to all the other non-Malay Malaysians (for allowing UMNO to turn all of them into ‘beggars’—- i.e. second class citizens).
Just see the effect this press conference will do!!
He will not only able to REDEEM himself,he can even be the catalyst to bring about righting all the wrongs of the past years!
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Hello Tun LKY
Come join me fly kite in Kepong/Selayang.
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christopher
MCA will never leave BN now. Too much to lose. Its just a matinee show.
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I wonder what he was doing behind the rubber trees when UMNO was leading him away???
we all knew what UMNO was doing all the way…yes yes depan
no no belakang…
KEINSAFAN ???aya this fellow was at the pinnacle of power in Gerakan ..he was blinded like the former PM building castles in the air…and then when it crashed..he moved away quietly like a wily fellow…….for he knew like the former PM..his days were numbered…
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Dear Anil.
Thanks for your highlight of this interview.
http://romerz.blogspot.com/2008/09/reform-or-perish.html
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Dear Anil
Happy Merdeka
By the way 0n the 30th August 2008 we celebrated our 50th
WEDDING ANNIVERSAY – such long trek ups and downs and I have made it.
KENG YEK now says:
“”I blame this purely on the arrogance, abuse of power and non-transparency of Umno, the interference of the ‘Fourth Floor’ boys who think they know best, and the inability to keep the civil servants at bay….”" Now only he realises.
MALAYSIAN INDIANS
At the time of obtaining Independence in 1957, the Malaysian
Indian Population was, according to the Annual Report of that
year 12 percent.
COLOURING
After they brought in Sabah and Sarawak, they coloured the population and now they say, Malaysian Indians are only 7-8 percent. Actually Malaysia Indian Population today is between 14-15 percent. They should fight for jobs, education police jobs etc. along these lines.
MALAYAN HISTORY
Children should be taught the Malayan History and how the country
was built at the earlier stage – it was Indians and Chinese who
toiled AND DIED IN THOUSANDS to bring the country to this stage.
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TODAY
Who is building these tall buildings in Kuala Lumpur and other places. It is THE foreign Labour; mainly INDONESIANS; and how they live – and everyday you can see the police
raiding ‘kongsis’ – they are treated like slaves by … loading them into BLACK MARIAS… The Stupid Indonesian govt is not doing anything. Without the Indonesian
Labour, the CONSTRUCTION Industry will COLLAPSE. They bring
Indonsians because it is cheap labour – exploitation by the Malaysian Construction Industry towkays.
The same thing goes with Indian workers from the Great India;
they are paid very low wages and get worst treatment.
Malaysian government is not complying with UN Directives on
Immigrant Labour. They are exploting foreign labour by paying
low wages. Do you see any local bumis working hard in the
consturction or dirty jobs – no.
We have a verty funny looking Labour Minister. He is a
medicine man – what does he know about Labour Laws. First he
must undergo a course on Labour Laws and Human Rights.
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These “angrifies” me:
“They don’t mean what they say (laughs). We realise that we’ve been bloody led up the garden path!”
Why hang around for so long and cause the innocent people like us into this s*** troubles, *******
It’s because of the goodies … ACA should check…
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Gerakan should expel LKY and Koh Tsu Khon first; then dissolve itself.
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