It’s not often you get an apology from Najib, much less over racial remarks. But why isn’t Ahmad apologising? The next Supreme Council meeting will discuss what “appropriate action” to take against him. Don’t hold your breath. Anyway, this fiasco is not going to improve public support for the BN, is it?
Reading between the lines, the devastating impact on BN component parties must have been serious enough for Najib to come out and apologise.
This report from Bernama reproduced in The Star:
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno, the backbone of the ruling Barisan Nasional government, has issued a public apology over a remark made by Bukit Bendera Umno division head Datuk Ahmad Ismail during the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election last month.
“We hope that the non-Malays will not be too disturbed with the statement and we apologise if it has incurred the sensitivities or unhappiness over the statement.
“We apologise, Umno apologises although it is not our statement but it is a statement made by one of our division leaders. It is totally unwarranted and does not reflect the position and the attitude of Umno or the leadership of Umno. We regret it very much,” Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Umno deputy president, said here on Tuesday.
In the run-up to the Permatang Pauh by-election, Ahmad had said at a ceramah that the Chinese community were mere “immigrants” in the country and thus were not entitled to be given equal rights in Malaysia.
Contrast that with this article from Malaysian Insider and you will understand why the BN has lost so much support, even if some Malaysians may not really like Anwar:
AUG 29 — As the Permatang Pauh by-election fades into the recesses of our memories, there is talk of it being a turning point in our country’s history. Unfortunately, this talk habitually and routinely focuses on the possibility of changing the government by Sept 16.
It ignores a simple reality: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has already made history by being the first Malay politician to ever actually win more political support through an explicitly non-racial platform. It is practically impossible to underestimate how Anwar bucked the trend; he has completely turned our understanding of politics in this country on its head.
History has already made it crystal-clear; Malay politicians who try to unite the country by appealing to a common sense of Malaysian-ness inevitably wind up heading into political oblivion. Dato Onn Ja’afar’s political career went up in flames the moment he founded the first multiracial political party in the country, in spite of it having every conceivable advantage — it was literally the incumbent party of the time because of Onn’s towering status in Malayan politics. And it, of course, foundered completely.
Is this an indication that Sleepy is not going to be in control for much longer or is it that Sleepy just doesn’t bother?
Good for the apology though. Anyway, you lot will always be labeled as the BLOODY RACIST GOONS!
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Thanks Anil. Have added ya to my blogroll. Feel free to add me to yours – if you are cool with it, Thanks
A fan.
p.s. – Any movement on the “Penangites for Trams” initiative?
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“We hope that the non-Malays will not be too disturbed with the statement and we apologise if it has incurred the sensitivities or unhappiness over the statement.
En N****, Keep up your hope, we have our hopes as well…
En N****, Please also remember what you’d said sometime ago…we remembered it…
En N****, We are not too disturbed, ONLY VERY DISTURBED, with En Ahmad, En BAD-awi, SIL, Syed …, yourself and 50% umNO puteras!! (let the other half umNO members decide what is right and wrong)
En N****, there is no question “if we are unhappy…..”I know most of us are not happy with u….
Please don’t make sweeping statement that there are all rotten apples, I believe there are some good one in umNO……
Please help these people realize they are in the wrong side and ask them to make the right decision…..get out of umNO
I had a dream, a better Malaysia for all Malaysian…
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Once upon a time, not so long ago ……
A local UMNO warlord in Klang held the b…. of the almighties in UMNO in his hands and dared any of their ilk to defy him for he believed he held the world in his hands. In that small little world he built that palace, overlooking squatters. A minion, who believed that in UMNO, you can be one-eye blind and still be King. Arrogance has a price, yes?
May the chips fall where they may and let the events unfold as it rightly should for all right thinking Malaysians.
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like to the song chorus line “it’s too late to say goodbye”
indeed when the titanic leaks, the captain and co-capitain will say all prayers and forgiveness.
Najib should not appologizes on behalf of Ahmad, he should instead appologize for his “keris gimmick and bath… blood incident.” They(uMno) will only appologizes when they are truly desperate. an act of a desperado.Najib was in the audience when it happen , he could immediate comment the next day in the media. however not. after countless pressure , he gave in , on the behalf on an idiotic ambitious race card raiser.
should UMNO wins an by-election, no appologize will be given , only sheer arrogances. i am shock MCA, Gerakan raises this issues , they should have pack their bags earlier. wonder what happen after that silly appologetic event. it’s beginning to like swearing ceremony.
a cornered … behavior prior september 16.
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BN….charge him for sediction or ISA…Maybe no need already as PR will release all detainees….
Amat memalukan.
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Ahmad Ismail made the irresponsible racist remarks. He should be man enough to apologise sincerely and without reservations to the Chinese community. Anything short of a full apology is not good enough.
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Politically, Najib’s apology is a fake. He wants to draw the wrath and anger of the Malays as to why the dear leader got to apologise to the chinese. Well, this could be a ploy but I hope that the Malays will not circum or be drawn into this false act and think on the bright side that the old thinking of “ketuanan melayu”, the NEP and the Umnoputera are no longer viable for Malaysia. The Melayu, who are our saudara2/saudari2 will be better off if a new regime, a new Malaysia under the Pakatan Rakyat will be much, much better for them, the Malay poors, including the Chinese poors, the India poors and all the other poor and marginalised fellow Malaysians. I subscribed to a better Malaysia, a better tomorrow for all the rakyats. Hidup Bangsa Malaysia, Hidup Rakyat. May God Bless Malaysia
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Aiyah~! If Najib could easily swear on the “holy” book that he had nothing to do with “that” mongolian lady, I’m sure he could “apologise” for his colleague’s stupid racist statement.
Just be grateful that a “TUAN” apologised to the “Slaves”. Hey! If you Slaves don’t accept TUAN’s apology, TUAN may raise another RM1.00 on the fuel price and then we’ll see who is sorry.
Thank you, BIG Najib for being so good to the Squatters/Immigrants. Now, …. off!!!
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What action has been taken against Zulkifli Nordin?
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Anil,
I have commented in Dr. Hsu’s Forum that if one day I decided to contest in a GE, I will choose a Malay majority seat of at least 51%. This kind of seat maybe not safe for me, but at least I drive a point to the voters to look at multiracial angle.
We have been brought up in a racial divide environment and logically we think likewise, which is not good for the country in the long run. We should look not at skin colours, but on merit of a person, which is all about Pakatan Rakyat now. A race that in position of power does not mean he or she would look after your race. All things should fall back on conscience and merit.
So, who knows in future we can see Anwar contests in Ipoh Timur and Lim Kit Siang in Permatang Pauh?
Based on the current mood, both of them can still win, I have no doubt about this. So, lets not kill such mood but to gain more momentum.
So, racists, what are you waiting for?
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ya … i am an opposition supporter but i think to be fair … we need to also take action against zul
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Dear Anil,
I think you are taking censorship of the comments in your blog too far. Lest you be accused of being another RTM or Star or NST, I suggest that you review what you should and should not censor. I fully agree that profanity and vulgarity ought to be deleted. There can never really be an excuse to use such language.
However, you seem to have taken it upon yourself to censor even acknowledged references to comments uttered by BN stalwarts in the past. You have also edited out personal opinions of commentators that may be less than flattering of certain personalities. Thats just NOT on mate! Come on give us a break!
Cheerio!
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That is the most insincere apology that I heard, and bringing the whole party ( means everybody ) of UMNO into it. Now, the UMNO… will be mad and said that the MCA and Gerakan forces it upon them. Good work Najib in bringing further divide.
Najib was there, he kept quiet.
Najib apologizes, belatedly and “if the non Malays felt hurt”.
Ahmad have a happy holiday and went about preaching his ketuanan.
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Thank you Raja Musa (8.54 PM, 2 Sept); well said. I hope more Malays will stand up and send similar message of solidarity. What we want is for all races to live in peace and prosperity. It must be a win-win package. No party should be made to lose out.
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This is what happened when a rent seeker falls off the gravy train.
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This “apology” sounds somewhat familiar to our Education Minister’s “apology” for the kris kissing during UMNO’s meeting. On the surface, it looks like an actual apology to the “immigrant” races, but in fact, it’s actually saying “I don’t see what’s wrong with it, but if ‘immigrants’ r so sensitive, then sorry lor”.
another undertone of this “apology” is a message to the Bumiputras: “This is wat we get when we are not united. ‘Immigrant’ races can make demands of the ‘Bumiputras’ and we have to apologize to these ‘immigrants’.”
Final word of caution, the Rakyat has to be very careful when dealing with racial issues. GOD knows what these guys are capable of.
POWER TO THE PEOPLE
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Lets take a look at History. Malaysia’s old name was Ganga Negara. So (many of) the people of Malaysia were …Hindus those days. They were … sons of indian princes. People like Dharma Raja laut were … indian descent. Also the word Malay or Malai comes from the indian word mountains.
… there used to be a sungai melayu in southern sumatra…
Indians and hindus, and thais and chinese and orang asli have been in ganga negara…
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I want to apologize to Najib on behalf of all non-malays about:
1-Defeating BN in the recent election and making Anwar leader of the opposition.
2- Allowing UMNO and BN in losing their two thirds majority at the Malaysia elections so now pakatan trying to cari pasal and form new government.
3-Implicating Najib of having knowledge about a recent murder case when his own personal elite bodyguards and close friend are being charged for murder. As Najib said:” I know nuthink, see nuthink
and say nuthink”.
4- Implicating Najib of having prior knowledge in a recent sodomy case when the alleged victim met Najib in his palatial home the night before he lodged a police report. So next time anyone get sodomised please meet Najib the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia before you make a police report ok.
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Anil, what about Najib apologising for the racist statement he made in 1987…? Does it not warrant an apology from him specifically?
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Don’t get too excited.
The “apology” has been blacked out of the government-controlled Malay Language press.
So its not sincere.
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According to Lim Kit Siang’s blog, Najib’s apology was blacked out in all the Malay mainstream papers and Bernama Malay edition did not carry the news.
So what is this apology worth? It’s only for the consumption of non-Malays while nothing is impressed on the Malay community that it is wrong to utter such racist slurs.
BN still thinks racial divide and rule is the way to go. When will they ever change? Perhaps a period of reflection as the opposition will change their views.
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The problem with some UMNO politicians is arrogance. They play the racial card to show that they champion the Malays. This is how they come to power. This arrogance has been very conspicuous for the past 10 to 15 years. With power comes arrogance. With power comes ‘do what we wish’ attitude. The people are now smart. There are alternative political parties for the Malays. If they are not happy with UMNO, they can join PAS or PKR. The trend is obvious now. UMNO will soon be left with only the heads. The people will go for the Opposition. The more they misbehave the earlier UMNO becomes a dinosaur. They can never learn. DSAI will show the right path to a progressive Malaysia. Support him.
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Terima kasih Datuk Ahmad for showing your through colour.
Look at the positive site guys, Ahmad’s racist statement came out of his UMNO save box to attract our fellow Malay voters, but they fail to understand that P.Pauh people are wise la & at the same time the statement triggered some sense to leaders of MIC & MCA, Gelakan, etc. Well what the F… are they doing in BN with this racist UMNO people. “Race & Religion is the opiate of any human being” said by a leader in olden days. You can use that and divide the people, you will be the King for life.
Divide & rule is the only tactic of UMNO which Running out of resouces.
There were some damaged/expired goods displayed on stage at P.Pauh i.e Ezam, Nala, Ahmad, Budak Tkt 4, adik Saif etc to humuliate & bring down(kuburkan)DSAI but than what we saw was more damage to BN. The more they talk, the more damage to UMNO/BN, let them talk la.
These people are desprados who is running out of idea.
Joc
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why only now apologise?..Think before u speak…
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