This photograph provides a snapshot of Malaysian politics from Mahathir’s vantage point.
This banner was put up outside the USM perimeter wall in Penang to promote the Perkasa forum ‘Transformasi Ekonomi dan Pelajaran Melayu Pulau Pinang’ held at the UiTM campus in Permatang Pauh on the mainland.
Someone then stuck a few ABU (Anything but Umno) stickers at strategic points on the banner.
If I was to interpret this, I would say Mahathir (and by extension Umno) has his back against the wall, stung by recent revelations such as the RCI testimonies about the granting of citizenship papers just before the Sabah elections in 1995.
As more and more scandals implicating Umno personalities are revealed, Mahathir can see the writing on the wall, especially the wave of ABU sentiment. This sentiment was especially evident in the huge turnout at #KL112, which must have given him even more cause for alarm.
He then uses racial and religious rhetoric to whip up communal support, in the process falling deeper into Perkasa’s embrace, as this banner eloquently illustrates. In this way, he hopes to keep Umno in power by continuing with the BN’s divide-and-rule rule tactics, thus securing his (and his former cronies’) rotten ‘legacy’.
In this instance, he uses the occasion of the Perkasa event to divert attention from Sabah by suggesting that people should look at how Tunku granted citizenship to those already in the country before Independence.
A classic case of comparing apples (a transparent, above board arrangement that was part of the negotiations for Independence) and oranges (a covert clandestine operation apparently aimed at undermining the democratic process). A classic Mahathir tactic.
Unfortunately for him, more and more people can see through this sort of diversionary tactic.
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Please watch this excellent video (first shown at Freedom Film Festival 2012) about the role of Project IC in the state election of Sabah. Directed by Nadira Ilana. Rusuhan Tersembunyi/The Silent Riot Now on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymTL8LiRn_U Synopsis: What happens after the end of a political reign? After serving two terms as Sabah’s government, Barisan Nasional led Parti Berjaya is unexpectedly toppled by newcomers Parti Bersatu Sabah, with the cooperation of the United Sabah National Organisation. On the night the 1985 state election results are announced, the secret coalition between PBS and USNO falls apart at the seams, leading to an… Read more »
20 years ago, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, was systematically granting of citizenship to illegal immigrants by giving them identity documents in Sabah. This so called Project IC a.k.a Project M is to alter the demographic pattern of Sabah to make it more favorable to the ruling government, namely Barisan National. There are at least 1,500,000 “Project IC citizens” in Malaysia by 2012. In other words, our fate is now decided by someone who does not belong to here. Our government “help” them to gain citizenship, and they “help” the ruling party to win the election. Najib… Read more »
If Tunku Abdul Rahman did not grant citizenships to non-Malays during Merdeka, Dr Mahathir Mohamad would not have been a Malaysian, claimed an NGO.
Malaysian Indian Progressive Association (Mipas) chairman A Rajaretinam made this known during a protest in Brickfields today against Mahathir’s call to probe citizenships given during Independence.
Umno’s samseng buat kacau at JB as evident in these youtube postings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMDJWzB5uKg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pUZ4d-l5tk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOIKzG7eNV8
ps: Anil, we could not access to your blog in JB the entire day yesterday. High traffic or kena clamped down by authority?
Keep up the good work!
sorry, #KL112 took a toll on my blog. Had to reinforce servers and then some glitch led to storage disk capacity overflowing. Hopefully, it’s been sorted out now.
Anil, your blog did overflow like a mighty river!
Not even the Perak River or Pahang River could match that during December rainy season!
Cheers Kopi-Susu kau kau!
(Kopi-Susu color like our overflowed rainforest rivers).
Haha, only just recovering now… Hope the new measures and capacity will hold out until GE13!
#KL112 was a good test for this blog and unfortunately, it (the blog) failed – though most of the action was already over when it went kaput.
Pari Pandan,
We suer have no issue about giving citizenship to people who has been here for generation but we have have an issue when people are only being here for only a few year or a year or so. And this is what is happening in Sabah and also Peninsula Malaysia
It just shows the outright lawlessness of the ruling regime, beginning with the
(mis)rule of Dr M.
(Clearly evident to all right-thinking Malaysian citizens.
In spite of all the “getting-your-knickers-into-a-twist” efforts of
apologists and propagandists for the regime to whitewash
(or greenwash in the case of the rare earth project) the regime)
Pari Pandan,
He is just simply saying that if we have no problem in granting a blanket citizenship to Chinese and Indians in the 1950’s, what’s the big fuss about giving citizenship to filipinos who have been in Sabah for generations. Why make it a big issue?
Do you have an issue about giving citizenship to people who has for generations been in this country?
Wel then, ServiceB4Self, why did Mahathir not respond in the way you suggested…? In any case, Mahathir’s response is so typical of him all these years since especially he became PM: he would say whatever to advance himself or save his hide. No paradoxes, no nothing about it. One would be a fool to try and read too much into what he has said or not said or deconstruct him. His is a clear case of someone without any principles, let alone ethics. Only now, more and more enlightened Malaysians have begun to see him for what he truly is.… Read more »
Kok Keong,
The best person to explain it is the person in charge of Sabah BN election.
Please ask DSAI.
Anil, I think it was a compromise between the Federal Govt and Sabah Govt.
The Federal Govt noted the sensitivities of outsiders owning Sabah land and Sabah govt needed more Federal funded development in the interior of Sabah.
To float granting of citizenship of tens of thousands of stateless Sabahans to the Parliament, would definite cause an uproar.
At the end of the day, look at the realities. These stateless people has been in Sabah for generations. They don’t know any other country other than Sabah. Whats wrong with giving them citizenship?
Nobody is saying that genuine cases should not be given citizenship. But this clandestine operation stinks.
Anil,
Considering that the allegation of the clandenstine nature of the granting of the citizenship is linked to the 1994 State elections, the proper person that all these question should be directed to would be to the Home Minister and the Sabah BN Election Director at that time.
I believe, DSAI should be in the better position to explain since he was the DPM, Home Minister and the Sabah BN Election Director.
DSAI should come out and explain why it happened (assuming it did happen)!
When was DSAI Home Minister? From what year to what year?
Anil,
I accept your perspective and likewise, I humbly disagree with you.
Please see my take on the Sabah naturalisation in my comment below.
Anil, I honestly can’t impute anything more as to why such clandestine operation in relation to Sabah. What I know, in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s FELDA was asked by the State government to open up land for development for the people of Sabah. The only criteria was that the Settlers in Felda Sabah must be Sabahans. When Felda did open up the land, they realised that there was not enough legal Sabahans and multiple requests by Felda to allow “orang semenanjung” to settle the scheme were rejected by Sabah State Government. Sabah realised that there were tens of… Read more »
You are saying that it was the Sabah govt/immigration that decided. So why were Mahathir’s henchmen at the federal level involved?
Anil,
Its more of DSAI’s henchmen that you should refer to.
Please remember, despite PBS winning the Sabah state election in 1994, DSAI (allegedly) maneuvered to have PBS ADUN to jump to BN and thus making BN the Sabah government.
This idea of frogs in the legislature is morally wrong but unfortunately, our Federal Constitution guarantees the freedom of association which is a basic human right, thus making it legal.
Who was responsible for the removal of the anti-hopping law?
Serviceb4Self must have read too much Utusan and watched too much TV3 Buletin 8pm. Sad for him.
Mahathir went to the extend of equating the granting of citizenship to immigrants (read: predominantly Chinese and Indians) to the clandestine citizenship for vote in Sabah during his time as PM. Does he realise or even care that he was belittling and diminishing the greatest achievement of the two of BN’s main component parties (MCA and MIC). Even more baffling is the absence of response or protest from these two parties.
Anil,
My great grandfather came to Tanah Melayu in 1930’s from China. He brought my grandmother with him.
I can’t imagine if my grandmother wasn’t given the citizenship of the Federation of Malaya notwithstanding she was only been to Tanah Melayu for only a few years, otherwise, today I suppose I might still be an illegal immigrant?
I think you are comparing apples and oranges. See the difference between the two in the blog post above.
b4, You are not an illegal immigrant is because the British set out the conditions before granting independence to Malaya
Therefore the granting of citizenship was truly a political reason!
Anil, You said “If I was to interpret this, I would say Mahathir (and by extension Umno) has his back against the wall, stung by recent revelations such as the RCI testimonies about the granting of citizenship papers just before the Sabah elections in 1995.” The reality on the ground in Sabah is that the porosity of the border of Sabah and Philipines. The people has been for generations moving between the borders and many have no papers. The basis of granting citizenship in many developed countries is by the period such person has been staying in that country. In… Read more »
So why was it a clandestine top secret operation with no transparency – unlike 1957? Why was Parliament kept in the dark? Why were “temporary receipts” issued, as reported, to some of these foreigners – to enable them to vote?
Why were some of these officers detained under ISA?
Why is Mahathir only admitting it now?
Why are there stateless people on the peninsula, who have lived here for a generation or more, and still unable to get citizenship?
Giving ic without knowledge of the people is correct for you is it? As a elected leader by the rakyat he has all the responsibilities to inform the people. Giving without transparency is where the culprit is. Further more Indians and Chinese living in peninsular malaysia also don’t have a valid ic and they stayed her more then the fillipino people you talk abt. Please get the facts right
Anil,
Please explain why you conclude that TDM has his back to the wall the mere fact someone vandalise a banner?
I am just using the banner against the wall as an analogy. I am referring to the larger political scenario where he has openly admitted issuing large number of identifications to foreigners, and it conveniently happened before the elections in 1995. So now he is under tremendous criticism, putting him on the defensive – i.e. he “has his back to the wall”.
The Ibs Kataks (dibawah tempurong) are not happy. And they cause others not to be happy. Maybe they should learn from these happiest countries on earth. Quote: Indeed, most of the top 20 “happiest” countries according to the index are in western Europe. So what gives? What do these nations have in common that can somehow explain their prosperity? Being an electoral democracy is virtually a given – of the top 20 most prosperous countries, only Singapore and Hong Kong aren’t democracies. Being small also seems to help. Big countries with heterogeneous populations are more unwieldy; disparate groups make it… Read more »
Only one I don’t agree is: (consider decriminalized drugs and prostitution). Other civil liberties are human rights.
Lance Armstrong told Oprah that ‘the truth has set him free’ after years of denial in doping cheat.
Many young people ‘want to break free’ from the clutches of regime BN.
The only way to set us free is to vote Pakatan into power such that all the truth could be unveiled to us.
BN possibly buying more shredding machines now to destroy evidence at Puterajaya as its contingency plan?
Did Lance win any medal. If he did and did not return these medals it shows that his telling of the truth is nothing but a farce
The International Cycling Union UCI agrees to strip Lance Armstrong of 7 Tour de France titles, bans him for life
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/uci-agrees-strip-lance-armstrong-7-tour-de-france-titles-article-1.1189166#ixzz2InDTJQQ9
Notice something here, every time when this shenanigan Mahathir is mentioned there are bound to have so many derogatory comments about this atrocious old man. Why ? Doesn’t he know or care about why so many millions Malaysians think of him or he is by now immune to all these ? Has he got an armoured skin !
@ Gerakan K I agree that we shouldn’t make conclusion into the final outcome of RCI but Mahathir is the one that is paranoid about the on-going inquiry. The Inquiry has not even come close to suggest that Mahathir is wrong, then he “jumped onto everyone’s throat” and “attack” Tunku’s good name and Merdeka legacy. Mahathir is the one who started about it and being paranoid. About “blown-up” Pas-led state governments issues on non-muslims. If Pas-led State Governments like in Kelantan for over 20 years of oppresssion against the non-muslims, I believe Kelatan SHOULD BE 0% of NON-MUSLIMS now. No… Read more »
My daughter’s babysitter who was from Kelantan told me living in the east coast state as a Chinese was more peaceful & safe than elsewhere. It is still the same today. You don’t worry if you forget to lock the front gate at night. Such assurance of the state of security & good neighborliness. Only a few rules to abide in a majority Muslim state but the ‘price’ is worth the peace, respect & racial harmony one gets staying in Kelantan. I surmise this state of inter-racial cohesion extends way back to the Sultanate period before the East India Dutch… Read more »
tunglang made better points than Prof KKK and Chandra Muzafar. He should speak more at the 1M4U forum.
Joshua,
I think the RCI will implicate DSAI more than TDM. Just wait and see.
M… can do all divrrsions he wants but change is coming. No politicsal party is immune from it.
Here we go again. While the whole world is uniting to propel their countries to greater heights, here we are trying our best abilities to pull down the whole nation and if possible bury it for good. Great, our dear leader….give yourself a pat on the shoulder for job well down. You guys are the greatest and we are so proud!
M… first must answer how his family who migrated to Malaya at the height of the troubles between Indian Hindus & Indian Muslims in India,got their citizenship…. M… hides behind racist chants to hide his (wealth). We should also hold a RCI on how this Opportunist … made his (wealth). M… hides his (wealth) by hiding behind Racist Chants. No wonder he cling on to his Petronas post… Fortunately we have Good Muslims in Pakatan who can see through his DECEIT and cunning operator & manipulating mode. We should … turn his book ‘Dr in the house ‘ or any… Read more »
The ultra-Malay movement were largely a post-independence anarchist movement which Mahathir is a key member. Its original leaders were the likes of …, … who had a long long history of LYING and ridiculous proposal as well as being infamous for corruption and failed projects one after another. Much of what the ultra-Movement arguments were NOT BASED ON FACTS – they argue what they want first, create principles for it AND then MADE UP THE FACTS TO FIT….. THEY WERE ALL MADE UP and its every telling hey are still in charge because they are STILL MAKING UP the facts..… Read more »
Din Mercian wrote these comments at bottom of an article about Singapore PAP and changes which it faces: The winds of change hitting the PAP? To me, it is pertinent to ask whether the winds of change will come to UMNO, and bring truly winnable and competent candidates of modest backgrounds for the next GE-13. Not likely, since UMNO is no longer a party for the average Malay. Orang2 bangsawan dominate its ranks. All its bases are covered and loaded ( to use baseball parlance) and there is no room at the top. Elitism is what is reflected in its… Read more »
Anil, the RCI has not ended, why pre-judge too soon ???
I thought ABU = Anil Backs Ulama Pas
So far only media blackout on your blog regarding to “Pas islam for all” rulings in Kelantan and Kedah. Why like that one anil ???
Because of those Talibanistic rulings, where is the justice for non-muslims there ??? Again, no comment anil ??? Or sudah kena GAG ORDER from ORANG ATAS ???
Anil, at least shows some accountability since this public money supported blog and not pakatan $$$ supported blog.
For the past 54 years there is no problems with the usage of Allah when UMNO is on a winning streak. After 308 it become a problem because Ah Cheap, M … kutty UMNO and their sycophants knew they are on a losing edge in the next GE and so start spewing religious and racial hatred to make sure that they stay in power. This shows that Ah Cheap, M … kutty etc , UMNO and their sycophants have been hypocrites these past 54 years. Yes a real 1Malaysia joke and hypocrisy with the facts that Ibrahim can get away… Read more »