Liberalism Is Mentioned In Vision 2020

Politicians and even ministers from the both sides have lauded the Sabah-born federal Minister, Joseph Kurup whom on last Friday have brought a long-awaited proposal to remove the "race" field seen in most official forms as an indirect effort foster unity among Malaysians. You can read last Friday's article here.

As far as I recalled, this "race" field is no longer a required field in Singapore on most official forms except on certain scenarios, for instance a Chinese translator. The Singapore Manpower has clearly specified that if there is a need to require the "race" field, clear and sound reasons are required to be given prior to the potential candidates for the job, lest to invite trouble of law from the Ministry itself. This practice has already been in place for many years though.

Two weeks ago, a group of people lodged a police report in response to the Malay NGO's chicken slaughter and slap offer gathering held at Jalan Tun Perak at the Brickfields police station. When submitting their report, they requested to have the race code replaced with "Anak Bangsa Malaysia". Although the computer form doesn't allow them to change, the police officers in charge of report taking that night were gracious enough to allow them to make that amendment. This was  documented in Haris Ibrahim's account here.

Muhyiddin Yassin responded that the idea will have to be presented to the Cabinet for consideration, while right-wing Malay NGO Perkasa's Ibrahim Ali has rejected outright, reasoning that it is equivalent to removing Malay privileges. You can read Ibrahim Ali's response here.The next day, ISMA, in addition to Perkasa showed signs of opposition to the idea, according to them inviting liberalism.

Do you think that Kurup's idea is likely to go through? High probability of no likely.

However, the "Mudah Lupa" syndrome rears its head here, not just the majority of Malays, but most of us Malaysians as well.

Looking back at a math's exercise book that I kept at home that states about the Vision 2020, the liberal society was listed as one of the nine challenges in facing 2020. This is what is said about Vision 2020's fifth challenge: (from Ministry of Education's website)

MEWUJUDKAN MASYARAKAT YANG LIBERAL DAN BERTOLAK ANSUR, DI MANA MASYARAKAT PELBAGAI KAUM DI MALAYSIA BEBAS MENGAMALKAN ADAT, KEBUDAYAAN DAN KEPERCAYAAN AGAMA MEREKA DAN PADA MASA YANG SAMA MELETAKKAN KESETIAAN MEREKA PADA SATU NEGARA.

We are six years away from 2020. Considering how the social-political-economical level in Malaysia, it is unlikely we can reach the target. In other words, we've broke the set philosophy that was set. The one who came out with this concept is none other than Perkasa's patron and ex-PM, Dr. Mahathir himself. 

The question, has Perkasa and ISMA as well as other NGOs involved in the Malaysian human-rights arena forgotten about this thing before shooting their mouths? To say no, implies that they are rejecting what the old man is outlined about the concept in 1991. At that time, it's about 30 years away. We're six years from the deadline - where are we now?

If Kurup's suggestion gets a go ahead and becomes a new law due to popular support from people from all races, from both sides of political divide, who is it that is going to die from it? It can be definitely assured that the races in the world will never go extinct at all despite various threats. Do bear in mind that any Constitution amendment that involves the main religion do require participation from the "Council of Rulers" even it has been passed in Parliament, so there's no way to be cowed by an non-existential threat.

The Myth of The Lazy Native Still Lives

Utusan last Sunday have attacked again the Chinese, warning them that the community stands to lose much by voting the opposition in the recent general elections. It is indirectly part of a series of attacks meant to alienate and hurt the community by the conservative and the extremist side of UMNO who still today are unable to understand why the community behaves differently from their expected follow the herd mindset. This is more of brainwashing those who have not been enlightened by the actual truths and misleading them into believing that one community is behind all the problems. This is however in contrast with the so called "call of reconciliation" that Najib makes weeks before.

The present set of problems faced by the country matches the hypothesis that I made a that there isn't going to be substantial changes despite promises by Najib. It's likely that it would be more or less a status quo with nothing to change more to appease the rural folks. One year ago, I have written my concerns in a posting detailing that it is high likely that the chances of change of government is unlikely because of one main factor excluding the gerrymandering factor: Malay votes. 

My view is that the cost of BN's win is acceptable but morally hollow. In the long run the ruling government will start to feel alienated with many voting for a refreshing change but with the smaller number of people were the eventual ones who decided on them forming out of  the new cabinet / government.

Base of the mindset and psyche of the Malay community, there are still those who are unwilling to change out of fear, uncertainty and victims of the fear mongering as well as the laziness of their attitudes / spiritual mentality. In the 1970s Mental Revolution analysis report, as again I've repeated over and over again:, the negative perception of the Malay community that many observers including former colonial masters noted is as follows:

1. Not truthful with themselves

2. Unpunctual

3. Looking for a quick buck using any means necessary sans hard work

4. Fatalistic attitude - always saying it is the fates of God vs working hard to decide their own fates

5. Spending very lavishly including having big feasts despite not having the sufficient budget to do so.

6. Getting emotional and sentimental too easily resulting in the inability to think logically and rationally.

7. Education that encourages submissive attitude with taking everything in without reasoning / questioning why.

As emphasized again, the scathing remarks no longer confines to one single race, but instead has already extended to every Malaysian, given that the limited scope referred by the analysis was made more than 40 years ago.

Let's put the first point above as example. Two days ago, Utusan has published a front line article saying that prices of cars have reduced between 2 to 11 percent on selected brands and models. Yesterday, car manufacturers, Volkswagen and Peugeout have denied this stating that the price still remained the same and not the one that was reported in the papers. Thus, was Utusan writing on their own imagination? And if people were expecting for a car reduction of 20% approximate across the board while it doesn't seem to happen now, it shows how the government is insincere. The real solution is to deduct a portion of the excess tax.

Utusan claims that the Chinese are emotional and greedy. However, by using the Revolusi analysis it is actually most Malays, they themselves included are actually emotional and greedy.

While the reasons of the voting trend for certain states like Kedah, Negeri Sembilan and Teregganu were known, and explained and understood to me by certain people who are familiar with politics, other states however do not have that factor applied in this reasoning, but instead, the ignorance is bliss attitude still adopted by many of these people will eventually prevent Malaysia from reaching the idealized Vision 2020 that Dr. Mahathir wanted more than 20 years ago. 

Many ministers in the government over the more mature world would definitely quit on admittance of committing a malpractice in government administration out of their sincerity. Sincerity is a key issue that is taught in each religion across the world. But not in Malaysia. Ministers, even committing physical assault, and other practices in conflict of interest will never sincerely quit because of the fear of humiliation and trend of Malaysian obsession with personalities over national interests.

The most often answer of why people in Singapore or other first world countries are socially more successful in every aspect is because of the emphasis of real nation building, with emphasis of religion factor out from day to day affairs. Some critics say that Turkey is like Malaysia today, but with one main difference: religion factor is out of the nation governance aspect.

The New Economic Policy could have made many Malay and Bumiputera people richer by the time the original program period ended in 1990. Instead, there are still 40% of 29 million Malaysians are in the poor class catergory, while many are still unable to get a better pay with the salary market still stagnant. Had the policy got executed perfectly minus loopholes, we would have seen many people driving better cars, say Mercedes, got better houses with the percentage of the poor reduced to around 5%. Instead, we are still seeing situation of the 80s despite better facilities and improved technology.

Criticism is very essential in every religion. Absolute control is equivalent to a man trying to play God is against the mission of man in the world. 

Menang tersorak, kampung tergadai - merely to hold on to 56 years of power, they unadmittingly brought in foreign workers from other states to vote in areas (videos recorded and put up on Youtube /facebook to prove it) at the expense of forsaking the national sovereignity. And when the disaster strikes, as what I have said sometime back, many people would eventually realize, but it will then be too late and the cost learnt from the disaster would be very very expensive and painful.

A Promise That Is Warm As A Fowl's Manure

One of the views that were shared by the Dutch, English and even the Portuguese on the natives of the land from the 16th century until now is still relevant today and it has still been proven that the myth of the lazy native still exists. Negative perceptions, describing about the natives have been documented by an UMNO research paper in the early 1970s entitled the "Mental Revolution."

Of course, I definitely would like to find time to comment on why majority of Malaysians are still unwilling to change, apart from a few identified factors that have been identified that have been commented by other people such as from the election campaigning perspective and the mindset of people in certain states, but given that this piece has been written at a public location, I might find some time to comment on one attribute that is hindering overall national progress.

The negative view that was given by our then colonial masters to describe the attributes of the Malays was that the Malays have the tendency to make promises as describe by the Malay idiom "hangat-hangat tahi Melayu" or the translation in English would be "as warm as the fowl's manure". What it means is that once it has been promised, a party would do it well at the beginning but efforts undertaken by them would be diminished in the subsequent period / years after the original undertaking. And given of the latest case of car price talk, I felt it is appropriate to frame that problem to the issue just as to state my point.

Out of the desparation to get it's diminishing urban and possibly a certain small percentage of rural support, BN added in at the very last moment of one of the PR's manifesto cases to be implemented, which was the gradual reduction of the car excise tax. Base on the parliamentary-seat results of the election, it seems that together with the die-hard old timers that refuse to change, many fence sitters fell for that promise.

So we thought that we could see the same thing that PR promised that BN would do before the year is over that they would reduce the car prices. After all, one of the problems that many people face is replacing their worn and torn cars that have aged more than seven years for newer and more efficient cars. To compound the existing problem, the car insurance premium has gone up by another 15% across the board. It means that more people face problem with the money in the pockets since you need to have an insurance before you are allowed to renew your vehicle road tax. 

Presently, things are not going well. And from what Tok Pa said about only reducing car prices by 2017/2018 at most, as what Tony Pua said in his letter in Malaysiakini, it is indirectly signalling to the lower-level people in particular to forget about buying newer cars. But hold on, didn't Najib Razak promised about reducing car prices in stages? 

Excerpt from Malaysiakini and Bernama

“As promised, car prices will be reduced in stages until 2017. Insya Allah, I will ensure that every promise is fulfilled." - Najib on 28 May

 
"Car prices will not be reduced (at one go). Prices will be reduced in accordance with market forces" - Mustapa Mohamad on 28 May

Sounds contrasting isn't it? Now it's almost a month since the general elections and the new cabinet has been sworn in the presence of the King, so where's that happy hamper that every car buyer is waiting for? 

Maybe to show that promise is a equivalent to an Indian capati, I would suggest people who are buying a new car to pay according to the actual price minus the additional excise tax. You are already paying for service and import tax already together so why pay extra when that money has been found to be misused? Let's give an example: a Mazda 3 selling at RM 100K, 1.6 is actually selling at RM 56K, with import and service tax included, and insurance counted in. $44K balance should been used to pay as a deposit for an average apartment in Kuala Lumpur that sells around RM 450K.

Motor scrapping and old motor exporting is actually a lucrative business, especially that Africa now needs a lot of those vehicles for those poor natives to afford it so, I don't see why there are more excuses of not reducing car prices except to enrich the fat cats whose income "solely" depend on those exorbitant cash.

So it seems that people who voted for BN have either been mislead about that promise or are actually as what Mental Revolution said: not truthful of themselves. If any of the people that belongs to the latter, there's something wrong with the logic. Why pay two times to buy one car whereas you can actually use the extra money for investment, or for those young and working professionals use it as deposit to buy a new house to stay? I just would hope that whoever defends BN with such crazed would suddenly rant about having a hard time of getting one car like that when you don't earn that much money as the rich would do and yet being willing to be manipulated by the wily old man Mahathir for his own personal ends indirectly.

I am sure many nay sayers would definitely come out with the conventional argument of "closing off one source of income" with that excise tax, but since Proton is still yet to perform at the satisfactory level on their own despite plenty government assistance, stripping them of the assistance would psychologically get them to think and work hard on putting their foot on their own on the global level. There are some of us who would gape in awe over shiny and prestigious cars that our Singaporean friends drive into the country but yet showed their other side of themselves by defending what is illogical and incorrect without being honest with themselves.

What Tok Pa said about that matter is exactly the problem that our previous English colonial masters described of the natives: promises as warm as a fowl's manure. In plain English, it is called as not walking your talk, since Tok Pa is part of the current incumbent government. But that commentary was written over 100 years ago, still relevant but it no longer confines to just one race of people in Malaysia but instead everyone of us.

Excerpt of Tony Pua's letter in Malaysiakini:

Umno president, Najib Abdul Razak announced that, if the BN is returned to power, it would “revamp the National Automotive Policy to gradually reduce car prices by 20-30 percent and increase the competitiveness of the national cars”.

Yesterday, however, International Trade and Industries Minister Mustapa Mohamed - who is in charge of automotive policies - announced that car prices will only be reduced after another five years and not in the near term.

In effect, the BN government is telling Malaysians that they can stop dreaming of cheaper cars for the next five years, and if car prices drop at all, it will be after the 14th general election.

LGBT's Numero Uno Question Remains Unanswered

If a student is taught to identify signs that a person is a gay / lesbian or otherwise - that is a wrong way of teaching people. It is also a wrong way to solve a problem because it is the matching pattern that is included there is not specific in nature. Putting that in will not solve the problem because the causes of this problem does not lie on just one source, but most of the sources are naturally exterior factors. Interaction with people is dampened or severely limited by the taboo that might go irrelevant as society ages.

The V-neck and sleeveless clothes is not really an appropriate symptom of someone being a gay or something for it can also represents a fashion trend. To augment the inappropriate diagnosis, V-neck jumpers form part of the school uniform for schoolchildren in other countries, including UK. Anyone who have seen the movies featuring schoolchildren in the UK will notice that this is a norm, with nothing unusual in nature.

Why or what makes a person behaving like an LGBT still remains unanswered until today despite all the broohahas from people and scum like Puad Zakarshi. 

The answer to that is a secret and a private matter that only the person themselves would only answer and know about it.

Most of the LGBT things that surfaced in a person generally happened at the approximate range of at around the end of the teen years and mostly a person goes that at adulthood. The most notable factor that can put them into that would be the present society pressure where these people are totally ignored, despite crying out for attention and the need to help. If these people were not helped but instead alienated them more and more, then we are no better than the Nazis or the KKK clan that discriminate people. 

Just because of one dominant religion, people that are under that religion are subjected to huge amount of pressure that touches and invades their privacy from various moral quarters while others who are citizens of the same country and yet they are given a different treatment or let off without a warning. The apostate and this LGBT is similar in problem dealing except that the latter is bigger in scope.

Malaysia claims that it respects the human rights as defined in the UN charter. However, if examined closely, it only respects and ratified certain clauses of the human rights charter for example for women and children. But the rest of it were never ratified. Why would there be cases of death in custody or assaulted while being detained by the police and etc..? Why would there be space for idiots to talk that these kind of LGBT people should be chucked aside like trash? If UN human rights watch, assuming they are doing their job happens to do the job - thousands of letters including suspension from the council - could await Malaysia should they have ratified the human rights charter in entire but yet violating it.

What kind of people are actually worst of the lot? People who committed various atrocities like murder or robbing against people who have decent proper conduct  and courtesy but may or may not be LGBT? So what the hell is this Muslim lawyer talking trash about?

These practices are actually demonstrating hypocrisy but more importantly, activities committed by a person are actually in private and not required to be known by the moral police. It actually allows a person to make their own choices and choices that are made will only be answerable to God himself when man and woman stood before the presence at the end of their lives. Therefore, it is wrong for those people and parties to act as if they represent God. 

Who are they to interfere with personal lives of people's privacy whereas on the other hand if the same is done on them at an alternative scenario they would scream? It's their own business, not yours, not Puad's, not those Malay NGOs who have been questioning Ambiga recently on the same matter.

I once was told the reason why one of my uncles decided to become a pastor after being in an engineering profession for almost 10 years. He once said he felt a "calling from God" to go full time and minister. The phrase "calling from God" has actually piqued in me in wondering whether this could be one of the reasons why there are people who would decide to become LGBT. Supposed if you asked someone the question and he / she said of a calling from God then what will you do then? Chuck them into a hole or beat them up like a vicious criminal who have just killed an innocent victim - all that falls under the religious fanaticism?

Supposed if someone like Puad who screams of LGBT problem happens to eventually learn in someday in future that his child / grandchild admits or declares that he / she is one of those under the LGBT - what will he then say except to put his palm in his face? Anything will come around sooner or later as what most religions or people who are aware of this would definitely acknowledge? At that point of time, I would rather not hear a rambling from a demented old man who could be shell-shocked to see a kin of his doing what he's stamping at this time. 

Having this kind of measure to fight the problem is actually making the society more naive and mundane not to mention a weaker way of life compared to interacting with more people to get more exposure and self-discovery along the way. Puad should have spend time understanding the problems with real people that deal with this issue including psychologists / psychiatrists rather than basing this whole problem on the religion scholars as it is not addressed in a realistic and hands-on manner. 

I admit that as another friend shared my view, the present government is run by too many incompetent people who have too many titles but yet can't even think big. And if you look at the cabinet composition structure - the present cabinet - there are mostly formed of people who are from the south. The idiom "gone south" could also be coincidental - things have gone haywire in Malaysia. How funny.

The famous American Reverend / human rights activist Jesse Jackson recently made one simple statement that actually solves it all, rather than impeding on other people's affair like it's someone's grandfather's business: "If you don't believe in it, then don't do it." It's an elegant statement yet a simple straightforward solution to the problem.

Addendum (from RPK's My Beliefs are My Business)

Why are the Malays so kaypoh? Why are they so concerned about what other people believe and don’t believe? Even if Ambiga believes in the tooth fairy or Father Christmas or whatever that is her business. Malays should take stock of their own beliefs and do some soul searching as to whether what they believe in are fact or fiction.

That is the trouble with most Malays. They like to jaga tepi kain orang lain. Just so that Tengku Amalluddin Sani Raja Ahmad Sufian is aware, I too am a strong supporter of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) rights. I too, just like Ambiga, believe that LGBTs have a rightful place under the Malaysian sun. That is my right to believe what I believe.

There's No Country For Old Men

The old fossil by the name of Abdul Aziz from Sri Gading has a mouth faster than the brain (equivalent to Ibrahim Ali and other MPs under that characterization), calling for Ambiga's hanging. This dinosaur believes that Ambiga's leading of Bersih is an attempt to topple the Najib administration. Such claim is equivalent to what was spoken in Europe 500-700 years ago where accusing a person of heresy. Ambiga was doing her duty on behalf of the people asking for the rights to have a level playing field in elections -  a win-win situation.

In whatever Ambiga talks in the run up to Bersih 3.0 , Ambiga has never referred once to the Agong on her speeches and talks.

All the time in the context of Bersih, UMNO has perceived this as a threat to their sole right to run Malaysia. It is a norm for governments to change, so defeat in an election is no strange matter. Any government must have an opposition front. Utusan and Berita Harian, as adding fuel to fire or adding a drug to the present hallucination tends.

The people in Sri Gading should boot him out in the next elections. Stop believing that elephants can fly if you know what I'm saying.

If this is the case then elections should have been outlawed since they are unwilling to make it accessible to all sides and instead keeps believing that they would capitulate like the provisional IRA. 

Yesterday, the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail said that Najib is one of the few leaders that are false democrats - holding elections  but have no intention of giving up power” and their “serious political rivals are jailed and their parties are outlawed on legal technicalities

Even repeated denials by Wisma Putra cannot save this. It is actually true but it is to save themselves from being shamed. In Japan, there is a code of honor where disgraced people would immediately leave or resign. The fear of shame and the fear of inability of people to handle truth are the main reasons of constant flurry of denials by the ruling administration

The only sympathy I have for the old men is that they have been mislead from the start. Their newspapers will not have the guts to show anything that says opposite because it would make them upset. This however, makes them clueless, in the blue and complacent. In other words, they are actually lying to themselves as well.

Surely you don't want the old men to hold leash for another 5 more years don't you?

This Is Not Democracy. It's Dictatorship

"This is not democracy. It's dictatorship. I am the law." - Herman Boone, Remember The Titans

Remember the Titans was one of my favorite sports-themed movies where in the first part of the film, Coach Boone (Denzel Washington) was saying that line above to his team before they started pre-season training of college football. The line held me dearly and after reading through quickly the first reading text of the Peaceful Assembly Bill, I see that things are getting from bad to worst.

From my several observations these new measures seem to imply that we are no longer heading towards democracy and in the line of the real reform that Najib Razak was promising about. Instead, it was heading towards the other end, turning it into a police state. Think of the whole idea as the Big Brother system, which is actually happening right now. Everything you wish to do, has to be done way ahead, one month ahead. According to the draft, there are 8 conditions that must be fulfilled by any organizer before a permit can be issued. And to make it worse, the police, with its given powers will ultimately say either yes or no and like a dictator, their word is law.

Remember that not all human conventions and declarations mentioned in the UN Human Rights charter. So far, Malaysia only ratified two. They are articles against discrimination of women and another for children. But others were never ratified at all. In fact, Malaysia especially United Malays National Organisation has not acknowledged and even ratified the Human Rights Declaration. This is why till today there is still detention without trial, cases of third-degree interrogation in police stations resulting with people dead in custody, cops refusing to accept the IPCMC recommendations (see Malaysiakini's Dzaiddin Recommendations Ignored) and even people / authorities responsible for beatdowns walking away scott-free.

One paragraph from the Bar Council's statement can say how bias the tone can be in setting up:

This Bill, like section 27 of the Police Act, vests wide powers in the police, who are empowered to impose restrictions and conditions, and to disperse assemblies and arrest participants. The police’s past consistent and atrocious conduct in suppressing assemblies shows that it is crucial that the police change their mindset and abandon the culture of impunity in managing freedom of assembly. In other jurisdictions, the power to impose restrictions and conditions vests in the local authority or a procession commission.

The summary is that the bill is merely separating Section 27 of the Police Act out and making it as an independent act. Nothing more. Same wine, different bottle like the replacement to the ISA.

It is natural to see street protests everywhere throughout the world. To forbid such thing is to suppress people dissatisfaction when they are unable to voice through channels or all avenues of venting their problems have been exhausted. If you say no to protests, how can you answer the question of why the Bolshevik Revolution happened more than 80 years ago or why is there the phenomenon of Occupy Wall Street? You can't go against the nature. But the caveats, drawbacks and everything seem to point for one reason - an ulterior motive, I would say. As Aspan, my friend said sometime back, change is natural, no one can run away from it. (see here)

The powers vested to the Home Minister, the custodian of the bill in adding / subtracting prohibited places coupled with the discretion by the police in approving the permit or otherwise can be considered as dictatorship. So whoever says that Malaysia is a democractic place now seem to have been misled by those claims as it is actually more or less a guided-democracy and slowly heading towards a failed state.

The Bersih 2.0 rally has already terrified many people in pro-government, particularly those who screamed most - from United Malays National Organisation. The biggest fear, and the main factor of motivating them to clampdown is the fear that it could alter the existing political landscape. That's it and that's the main reason. Altering the political landscape means they ultimately end up playing second banana and losing the power they have been holding for the last 55 years. Otherwise, what could explain why have some people became paranoid with unfounded things, figments of their own imagination like Ibrahim Ali? 

Who actually came up with the bulk of those things? AG? Cabinet? Nazri alone? Main party? Najib alone? 

This is one of the "projek pembodohan" that is in the play. Many people saw this as an insult of intelligence from Najib thinking that the conditions and laws drafted in this bill will make people happy, but many think otherwise. It's not surprising that we can see many "butter boys" and "pembodeks" that will say sweet and nice things of the bill tomorrow in the papers and the online mainstream press. In fact I am ready to see it coming and it's likely that many naive people will fall for it, in the process become a bonsai plant.

I would like to repeat this question again. Can anyone of you imagine if you are among the 30000 people that ended up in prison for doing something that is part of your basic human right, doing something of a crime that is not written in stone or doing something that is morally right but considered wrong by the oppressors?

The Question That Was Never Answered

I have refrained from talking over the matters of the apostasy or the recent sexuality issue over the past few weeks because there is nothing much to say about apart from reading things of one party bashing the other party left and right that everyone has been talking about via press conferences, press releases and so forth. In fact, what Raja Petra wrote two days ago in his Cure The Cause, Not Symptoms piece actually underscores what I have been trying to say about in regards to the two problems above.

Most of you are focusing on and talking about the symptoms of the problem. All the comments you post are about the signs of the disease. And all your suggestions are about trying to cure these symptoms rather than getting to the root of the problem, the cause of the disease.

What both of them share in common is this both things: first, we Malaysians are very much of busy bodies in minding people's personal affairs and privacy until we have totally forgotten of the bigger problems we have. And then when disaster strikes, only we start to realize that we have been giving ourselves the wrong priorities. If people do not believe of the more bigger and evil problems at now, it is only after disaster that people would realize eventually. By that time, though it would already have been too late as a blot of oil / ink will have spoil the container of milk. I suppose this is already ingrates part of our local culture and while this is done, it also serves as a distraction to cover up bigger problems we should know about, not of keeping in the blue.

I am sure that many of us have seen how people react to the alleged apostasy case in the DUMC or the Sexuality Merdeka festival in a very nervous, kan cheong manner. There are people who claimed to be pious and deeply religious opened their mouths and screamed that apostasy is not allowed and those who did it should be punished..bla.bla..bla. Likewise those on the moment the Sexuality fest gets covered in the press, zealous people started screaming of why is there gays and lesbians in Malaysia, where there should not be one.

Equally the same thing as those who scream about is about the high handed actions by the authorities on those involved. For example, our number 2 cop immediately declares a ban on the Seksualiti festival and Hassan Ali for instance wanted the apostasy thing to be declared as a criminal offense outright not to mention on the extremes of those who wanted people involved in this to be stripped of citizenship and so forth.

Surely along the way, as I recalled these lines by Raja Petra: 

What happened to live and let live? And why must everyone live according to your value system?

The trouble with both Christians and Muslims is: 1) they always think they are right and everyone else is wrong; 2) they always think they are pious and take on a righteous attitude; 3) they refuse to live and let live and everyone must live according to their standards; 4) they do not tolerate differences of opinion and regard those who disagree with them as the enemies of Christianity/Islam.

-- Small Things For Small Minds

No matter the claim of how pious people claim to be or the big mouth small brain thing, there's a question that people ought to answer but to this day remains unanswered: Why or What made would a person want to do that?

I once asked this question way long back when I said that there are flawed policies introduced because there is a lack of understanding of the human psychology there. If I am to ask you a question in that context, maybe I can ask you questions like why is online piracy still rampant or why is still vandalism on the phone booth? These kind of questions can go on and on. But we still have yet to give an answer.

Occasionally, I would come across or listen to replies with the phrase "God willing", or  "God wills it" if you put it that way.  In the context of the apostasy, is that problem happening because a person feels that God wills them to do it that thing? It can be that way or, as what Dr. Mohd Asri said before, was this alleged problem happening because we have been ignored by those from our own religion that we have no choice but to look for help from others not in our religion? What must be addressed if the answer is either one of the two above?

The basic foundation of any religion is that any religion actually does not force their ideals on to others. It just answers what the Small Things excerpt said above. Compulsion is a no no, so to speak. So, when I thought of the aftermath of the Himpun rally, which drew only a meager 5000 people, I was asking myself, are those people really got a big mouth but a small brain?

On to the Sexuality Merdeka thing. As what Marina Mahathir said in reply to the detractors, the goal was to help and educate those groups of people that have been discriminated or having problems in the context of the law, not to promote it as what the detractors have alleged. Why are they behaving or What made them to do it was never answered before the open their mouths. And so, when Ambiga, Maria or Marina responded back to the allegations made by TV3 or Ibrahim Ali, they are unable to respond to the three women. Now do you notice that a big mouth but a small brain like those two will put you in a hesitant result?

I know there are people who would not take kindly to such opinion and critique, insisting that what they see of the religions are right. But we got to ask ourselves first and put ourselves in the A.A mode before you start doing rash things like the persons would announce, okay? If you are able to provide a very very good answer (carved to stone grade) to those above, you then have a likelihood of curing the cause.

Note: see also Let's Get This Straight

The Overprotectiveness of PAS

In light of the statement that Elton John is performing in Malaysia, PAS has been making statements of popular singer figures coming in to Malaysia and perform for the past all these years as somewhat promoting the "western culture that is wrong (in their definition)" among youngsters here. Elton John is not the only one that is also the target of PAS Youth, but past figures including Gwen Stefani for instance and a few others. To most people including fans in the world, the adjective of gay as what Elton John publicly declares is eclipsed by his popularity in pop culture given by his array number of hit songs / music that was performed in over more than 30 years.

What I am trying to point out is that PAS is in this case over protective of the people. It is like a overbearing mother who tries to keep a child inside a shell although it clearly defies the nature of curiosity inhabited in each and everyone of us. What is also underscored by their actions is that PAS still has yet to let people able to make their own decisions and having them to use their own discretion. This in one way is best to encourage people to think for themselves, not to show that "I know best, and I do it for you" thing.

To say that this is from the western culture is not entirely accurate. It is actually part of the capitalism culture - to make money, profits from it. Famous people come and perform here because of the demand from fans, with firsthand knowledge of how popular they themselves are. Simply use this on the Far Eastern artists that come here to perform. Aren't they on the same capacity as these famous artists do, until to the point where PAS has to bark up on that?

It is best for PAS to say "I let you decide" but they should not have a strong hand of intervention on this case. The more positive statement that they might say is "Look, we don't really encouraged you to get spoiled by their rowdy behavior but you make the final choice".  What PAS do not understand that many youngsters are willing to pay extra money, like in Singapore dollars to go down the causeway to watch their favorite concerts, if there happens to be none performed in Kuala Lumpur. Since having performed here is cheaper than going down (considering the cost of food, travelling and lodging, not to mention the high exchange rate between the hosting currency vs our currency).

It's very hard to see a celebrity coming down once in a blue moon to perform here. To shoo a famous person off, in spite of noble intentions and despite a person with a famous popularity and reputation is to give a slap as the first impression on the artist performing here. As the saying goes, people don't forget on how you make them feel, even though they may forget and forgive what you would do to them. So, the real bottom line is that PAS Youth in particular should start moving away from its overprotective attribute of themselves and encourage people to let them think.

If it is not already enough with our present education system which churns out people to think and behave like a robot instead of encouraging a creative and inquisitive mind who is able to make better judgements and learn more by its curiosity. This culture, with the ulterior being to prevent a person to go rocking the boat because of the curiosity nature (a.k.a suppression) has stop here, if Malaysia wants to have a level up in its society, since we still have many lazy and submissive natives around.

PAS should go around and ask everyone, not just their own Malay youths on whether they like for instance Elton John music or they like people to come here or not. This is not the 1980s, but we're in the 21st century. Already PAS has taken a lot of brickbats from its hudud saga and they should not give more info for the enemy to hit them with such kind of issue. Aren't they aware of traps to make people's support for them to wane already?

It's Comes Overdue Already

Najib announces repeal of ISA, three emergency declarations

Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced tonight the repeal of the Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA) and the three Emergency Declarations when both the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat have their next sitting.

The prime minister said that new laws will be enacted to protect the peace, harmony and security of the country.

He also announced that the government will do away with annual printing and publishing permits with permits that can be cancelled if regulations are flouted.

Najib acknowledged in his address to the nation on the eve of Malaysia Day that the move to increase civil liberties was “risky, but we are doing this for our survival.”

“No individual will ever be detained simply due to political ideology,” he said in his speech that was broadcast live on all local television stations.

The move to scrap the law has been hailed by ex-ISA detainee and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng as “an epochal move.”

The Barisan Nasional (BN) chief said that two new security laws would be introduced for preventive detention which would be limited only to cases of terrorism and “ensure that basic human rights are protected.”

Najib said that under the new laws, detentions could only be extended by the court and therefore “the power of detention will be shifted from the executive to the judiciary, unless it concerns terrorism.”

Before a studio audience of 800 including his entire Cabinet, he also announced that the Banishment Act would be repealed while he will do away with the need for annual publishing permits under the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA).

 -- The Malaysian Insider

I once said before that it takes a disaster for the country to realize its mistakes. And by the time they realized that there's the need of having a reform, it is already far overdue already. For instance, when Bersih 2.0 decided to launch it's campaign to make a statement to the government of the necessity of election reforms, many - especially the government's butter-up boys do not really believe in their claims and instead, misguided by the MSM papers including Utusan were made to believe that they are about to start another 13 May 1969 incident.

And that allegation came unfounded. But it is only after they noticed that 1700 people arrested and how the cops handled the situation, with the directive from they themselves, they realized of the terrible mistake that they have committed. They only then also realized that they cheated themselves into believing that there was to be another riots or so. They didn't even trust themselves, like a dog being duped by it's own reflection on the pool..and so decided to embark on the reforming thing that they've spewed out on the news.

The ISA abolishment was also another thing overdue. When the anti-ISA movement decided to protest in the streets August last year (that's to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its inception), the government refused to believed in that thing and the GMI's demands, thinking they can handled on their own terms. Scores of people arrested, roadblocks here and there, well of course I've kept some pictures as to remember that incident. With more and more people pressuring the government, it became imminent and evident that even amending the ISA is totally impossible. But it took more than 20 years since the cession of arms against Malaysia by the CPM to realize that ISA is already irrelevant.

Many people still do not understand why ISA has to go and in fact some people including those in Perkasa think that ISA is still needed for something that is illogical like Malay rights. However, many are not aware that there's no such thing as abolishing ISA without something to compensate, right? With the specter of 9/11 around us, of course there has to be something to replace it and of course people have proposed a new Anti-Terrorism bill in its place. As what Nazri said, the bill is for real terrorism. This missing piece of information is one of the causes of bro ha has that foam in the mouths of those people who complained about removing ISA.

With people getting angry over the EO6 episode, what is much more necessary of putting the EO 1948 off coupled with the close to the 80 year old Restricted Residences (a.k.a Banishment) act for good? What...applying a more than 60 year old laws into the 21st century scenario? Somewhat doesn't fit like big engines into a small car?

Connecting the dot from that above is the official end of three declarations of emergency. I suppose that many people and politicians have forgotten about it, with many assuming that the 1989 ceasefire automatically ends it, but there were no proclamations until 22 years later where they finally realized that they have overlooked that matter. It took lawyers and civil movement pressure to get them to come into their senses.

In spite of all that, there are still things neither never mentioned or partially mentioned that raises questions from other quarters. For instance, the publications permit - whether it can be challenged in court after the annual renewal condition is removed. However, people still bash Pornstar Chua over the need of having online publication permit - this guy is one hell of a jester in this point.  Talk about another Rais Yatim thing that is.

I am bit unclear about this amendment to the notorious Section 27 of the Police Act. Demos usually happen if whatever statements that is to be sent out are totally ignored by the government of the day, so generally it is theirs to be blamed. Bersih rally happened because of government ignorance, otherwise how would those unnecessary police ruckus happened on that day? I would definitely would want to see and read more of the amendment ideas before talking more.

Unfortunately, the AUKU 1971 act was never mentioned and this has raised dire questions from university students who felt the need to have more active participation in the present issues. They were asking "what about AUKU". Sedition Act remains one of the archaic laws that has yet to be asked then.

I look at some of the statements and thoughts by other people in regards of this in online avenues. Some good, some disagreed but I have the thought that this could be one something else that motivates the reason of Najib Razak doing such thing, that would be discussed later. Since these things are to be brought forward to the Parliament when it reconvenes next month, I have the feeling that it could be well opposed by some of the MPs in his front, who are also UMNO warlords and those who have a different opinion of his statements. If most of the Cabinet ministers were in the studio where he made the statement, it's likely that most of them have already agreed to follow the ship's directions, albeit a few, probably.

Ibrahim Ali has also been making noises but when the government finally realizes their mistakes and started doing things, he has been quiet over this subject or so. It's my gut feeling that he could be making noises tomorrow to show his disagreement over what Najib would say.

Anyhow, it's about time, too long already.

Now That Bersih Is Over, What's Next To Do?

I have been listening to many people talking about things post 9 July with many sharing their stories and experiences about the event, many groused at the mishandling and brutality of the police doing their duty in their day and of course the government's constant state of denial of the mistreatment of detainees and contradicting claims to witness testimony over the raid at hospital or BERSIH was given the opportunity but not squandered it, and many things to say.

Of course, I understand that as part of keeping the spirit of the fateful day, there will be those flash campaigns like wearing yellow, meeting up for impromptu chat and meals and of course candlelight vigils for the 6 PSM party members who are still being held in the EO ordinance. From what I understand, the vigils will be on until the hearing of the habeas corpus on 22 July (next Thursday).

To this day, the state of denial strategy is still being played by the government in order to satisfy the curiosity of the simple-minded people, particularly those in the rural area. Manufacturing consent is still the key in getting those kind of people in supporting the present government in spite of clear cut evidence of mismanagement and constant backstabbing over one another.

Yes, I do agree that flash campaigns, talk over meals and vigils do play a part in keeping things going on. However I opined that this is more or less a short-term work. But where is the long-term goal to keep this on? There's one thing to know is that from what I listened during a forum with Bersih and the EC in Petaling Jaya earlier of the year, reforms in the present system will be very hard, under the present laws, because most proposals will be in the mercy of the cabinet who decides whether it's a yes or no.

Chances are no likely because surely a level playing field would be disastrous for Barisan Nasional to maintain their win by dirt way. As many of us agreed that if on a level playing field in 2008, Barisan Nasional would become the opposition coalition instead of the ruling coalition. Many, particularly those die-hards would definitely scream this as a loss of political power of the Malays, blah..blah.blah and all sorts of excuses to say that only BN can run Malaysia.

That's the present situation right now. 

I've seen many people on tweets, Facebook and on the street, particularly the young ones ranting about Bersih, ranting about the need to revamp the elections, fraud corrupt practices by politicians and so forth. Ranting alone will not take you far enough. What's really next to do, on the long-term go is to turn the rants of a people into the vote into the ballot box. That is one sheet of paper, place an X on the party you want to select and just put it into the box. It's just a plain 10-15 minute job that is done once every 5 years. 

Sure, many have read and heard that if there are another 400 000 votes in 2008, there would be more PR MPs than the existing numbers they have. I suppose that I do not need to repeat the same points mentioned by other people as well.

Under the present game rules, there is no automatic voter registration, so people may not realize that when you hit 21 years old, you can already have the right to cast a vote into the ballot box. So recently, there have been numerous voter registration exercises to get more people to become voters. Actually, waiting for roadshows like this is WRONG. You do not wait. What you have to do is that the moment you hit 21 or you realize you didn't vote at all, go and barge into a post office or best of the state EC office and tell a personnel there that you want to register. Ask them when can you be under the electoral poll.

You don't know where the state EC office is, please use Google and do some searching. That's what modern information technology is all about. It's also about using your own brain to think and not do anything. I tweeted earlier of the day in response to someone that when I reached 21, I went straight to the state EC office to register and 1 month later, my name is in the electoral roll. Signing at roadshows will take longer, if you understand what I believe.

The present rules can be unfair to some quarters but with the numbers it is possible to overcome the disadvantages in the game. Sometimes one vote can determine the outcome of a contest. For example in Pengkalan, Perak, the margin of win was only merely 18 people.

That's the first long-term thing. It's your ethic and behavior that dictates what has to be done in the case above. The other one, the second long-term thing is to make your folks and friends realize their mistakes. They may not understand the implications but the effect is on their children, grandchildren and so forth...in issues like inflation, can't buy houses, brain drain, etc.. Sometimes a nudge or an insult to those who won't believe it is necessary to get them to realize their mistakes of making the wrong decision. Maybe it's their fear of repercussions that influence their thinking but in the end, it's all bullshit.

That's the second long-term goal, if real reforms to the election system is to be implemented. 

Bersih 2.0 Rally Pics

As I have promised at the start of the live coverage in the previous post, I will providing high-resolution pics that I have captured throughout the event, in places that I have covered. If the locations are not included in the areas of coverage, you can look at other picture galleries (Note: Malaysia Today has some other locations).

I must admit that two worst events occurred yesterday was how the cops beat protesters with a rotan until one got KOed at Puduraya. The second one was firing tear gas cannisters at the Tung Shin hospital, and cops violating private premises by going in and arresting those who can't come out. 

I overheard a cop telling a Malay detainee: "Kau orang Melayu kah? Orang Melayu bukan macam begini." which gives me a picture that the cop got brainwashed with BTN shit, and the holier than thou picture. 

As the saying goes, a pic tells a thousand words, so I am pretty exhausted now that it's time for me to hit the sack now. Thanks for those helping to comment on the coverage as well the well wishes. If I am to comment on key pics, I would go back and comment it later.

Note: One of the hot spots was Tung Shin hospital and Kota Raya, which I covered as well. 

More pics can be viewed here.

The Magic Flute And Its Relevance

This year marks the 220th year since The Magic Flute, Mozart's final opera first premièred in Vienna. In fact, this was the money-making opera for Mozart since he's beset by financial difficulties, owing many people money. I actually planned to write this to commemorate it on its premier date, 30 September, but the recent situation involving how the government reacts to the planned Bersih rally, which I admit that they have gone bonkers and delusional coupled with throwing bewildering accusations at Bersih, including arresting many people in accusation of supporting it somewhat makes it fun to put some relevance to Mozart's masterpiece. 

By November 1792, the opera has been conducted 100 times, but sadly Mozart died before that time, in December 1791.

The opera was largely influenced by Enlightenment philosophy and it is an allegory to absolute enlightened absolutism. The narrative progression goes from chaos through religious superstition to rationalistic enlightenment  by trial and error culminating in the creation of a kingdom of heaven. 

What is interesting is that the key characters in the opera represent the many facets of society. The characters are simplified as follows:

The Queen of the Night - a representation of obscurantism , in other words, the practice of deliberately preventing the facts or the full details of some matter from becoming known. This is ironically what is happening right now, where people are denied the knowledge of what they want to know. Instead, they were threatened with a charge of the Official Secrets Act if information is to be revealed. And this is why many people to this day has either no clue or they acted foolishly without the proper and sufficient knowledge. The aristocracy's obscurantism of the social problem's is the main factor the start of the French Revolution.

The three ladies of the Queen - Represents the agents that will carry out her order. The mainstream media has been ordered to do a smear campaign of Bersih. The main goal is simple: manufacturing consent, to create a consent among the simpleton minded (those like Papageno) that Bersih is a no good thing, without presenting the reasons why Bersih would do such thing. They would also twist to include statements from leaders who are opposed to the idea of clean elections.

Ironically, like Tamino, the trials that are facing the people is how to march and protest in peace without having the consistent troublemaking from the police. It's a pity that many policemen were programmed to do as ordered, without using their common sense and even if the orders are in conflict with morality grounds.

Sarastro - a representation of the enlightened sovereign who rules according to principles based on reason, wisdom, and nature. The complete anti-thesis of the Queen of the Night. He reveals that she attempts to bewilder people with superstition and groundless fears. The first model that serves the influence of the character was Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II - an ultimately flawed figure despite his attempt on using the principles above.

Pamina - daughter of the Queen of the Night, representing people. Sarastro refused to let her return to her mother because she was not properly guided. As what Mozart and Schikander put in - the people must be guided proper, even if there are mistakes apart.

Tamino - the main protagonist - representing the trials that mankind must go through. At the start of the second act, Sarastro declared that Pamina must be guided by man, Tamino represents the trials that Pamina will faced or in other way round, the people.

Papageno - Tamino's companion, Papageno represents the foolish and the error of the people. These people are mainly simpletons, those who do not really bother about enlightenment and wisdom but just food, drink and companionship. In Act II Scene 5, the priests scolded Papageno because he will never know the enlightened bliss of the gods, but instead Papageno said, there are many unenlightened but happy. This is the danger of being susceptible to the danger of superstition and groundless fears. 

The are three famous numbers for this opera:

1. Hell's Vengeance Boils In My Heart - The most difficult aria, performed by the Queen of the Night. She orders Pamina to kill Sarastro, or risks being disowned in pain by the mother. The pitch notation of this aria can reach up to F6. A few sopranos could perform at such degree, and currently the modern day soprano that could perform that is Diana Damrau. 

2. A Girl Or Young Woman - Papageno's number representing his desire for a young woman as a wife, but it is already that he refuses enlightenment, as mentioned at the start of Act II. 

3. Papapapa duet - Papageno and Papagena stammer at each other that they started to warm up and eventually got their wish of love.

The storyline or whatsoever is not quite important. The metaphor of the story is. Looking back at the story, and coupled of what is happening right now, it is clear that the government's paranoia over the matter of people demanding for fair and clear elections is akin to what the Queen of The Night would exhort to do. The police, and some ministers like Hishamuddin Hussein are like the Queen's three ladies, doing her bidding. They would harass people, simply arresting people, do all the silly things instead of catching the real scum out on the streets.

It's the government's paranoia - the fear of losing power, to divert the internal fighting among themselves, and all the things that are considered to be a bane as well as how the society will go against them prompted them to be in such obscurantism. 

The mainstream media, like one of the three ladies have been on the smearing Bersih campaign. The main goal is obviously to manufacture consent among the audience, particularly simpletons and those in the rural land area. They are the ones ignorant or do not have alternative access to other channels. Manufacturing consent is one of the things the acclaimed Noam Chomsky spoke about in several of his books. I am very critical on the attitude of many Papagenos online. I have seen many people who seem to be very ignorant of those and have yet to understand the realities of the fragile present election system. Many claimed that Bersih is opposition. On the contrary no. It is natural for them to support for they have been victims of fraud. The instance of fraud in Sarawak or Hulu Selangor is the case in point.

Monostatos is the big henchman of the Queen of the Night. Perkasa can the example

Obviously, Pamina is representing the people themselves and the actions of trial and error will determine whether she would either go back to her mother or follow the guidance of Sarastro and the marriage of trial / Tamino. 

The problem with Malaysia is there are lack of enlightened leaders to lead the way. By the antics of how they deal, Najib and his most team of ministers are mere showman, but not with people with quality. They could have handled the situation well, give Bersih 3 hours for the day and solving the problem. Unfortunately, because of paranoia, they decided to play hard. Can Anwar be under the group of enlightened leaders like Sarastro? No, given of the present skeletons in his closet. 

The Saturday's rally will be a trial that Malaysians who have realized the importance of fair playing field of the election game that will determine the outcome in generations to come. It will be one step towards enlightenment or one step backwards to obscurantism as what the present government of the day is advocating, by playing dirty. And it has already attracted an international audience, with human rights groups in particular paying attention. 

I am certain that the Vatican and London is also watching as Najib will be visiting these places from tomorrow and next week. Many said that Najib is a laughing stock now given of his handling of the situation. I bet it would be.

The Way Forward That Ibrahim Ali Doesn't Faham

Perkasa kicked off its Bersih 2.0 counter-protest here in Kampung Baru today by burning images of Bersih chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and issuing a warning to the Chinese to stay indoors as “anything could happen”.

 

Perkasa Datuk Ibrahim Ali, who earlier appointed himself “war general”, said if electoral reform coalition Bersih goes through with its July 9 rally, he will not be held responsible for any untoward incidents which may occur.

“Imagine if chaos erupts. If the Bersih rally is not cancelled... I believe the Chinese community will have to stock up on food.

“Yes, anything can happen. And so I ask the police to act and use whatever powers are at their disposal,” he told some 500 supporters who gathered at Kelab Sultan Sulaiman here for the launch.

Ibrahim stressed, however, that Perkasa and the other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) opposed to the Bersih rally would not resort to violence as they were only interested in safeguarding the nation’s peace and prosperity.

But the Malay rights leader added that he would not be held responsible for the actions of those who might use the rally as a cover to commit crimes.

Ibrahim also suggested that Ambiga — described in a flyer being passed as “a dangerous Hindu woman” — was working for foreign powers seeking an excuse to interfere in Malaysia’s internal affairs.

He cited the former Bar Council president’s defence of Lina Joy’s right to convert from Islam and her involvement in the interfaith council as examples of her repeated “illegal actions”.

“Perhaps she is an agent of the Jews,” he said.

The Pasir Mas MP also repeated a claim made by Utusan Malaysia today that the opposition will use the rally to trigger an uprising similar to the ones seen in Egypt and Libya before forcing their choice of prime minister upon the people.

Read more here.

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Ibrahim Ali was trying to talk as if he is a military leader or something whereas he is actually trying to play hero to show everyone in Malaysia that he's a somewhat a big ace in the hole. However, if he tries to play head to head of maybe vs Obama or Putin, he'd be a good laughing stock of Malaysia in the eyes of the world because the foreigners can hardly understand things that are "jaguh kampung". He wants to wipeout Bersih but whatever he says has proven that Perkasa is thumbing with their chests so high and mighty in contrast in Bersih that never talks big and does thing in a very professional manner.

Of course, in the way of today's Perkasa launch, Ibrahim was playing bomoh telling other races to stay home to avoid another May 13. But May 13 incident was already 42 years ago. Of course at that time it happened because people are poorly informed, but today's game is different because there is Internet to thank for. One of my Malay friends, did pointed out that Ibrahim and Perkasa are like salt in the soup. Too much, soup, and it will be too salty, in metaphor speaking, damaging the image of BN along the way if he goes too deep.

I told some people that I think that if Ibrahim Ali wants to march out to the streets, then fine by me, but he better watch out for himself because having done a heart surgery last year, he better not overstressed himself on that day including hollering that loud on a bullhorn, if Perkasa happens to carry it, lest he could find himself in a physical precarious situation. 

The one thing that Braheng doesn't get it is that the May 13 scenario will never happen. Simple. PAS has pledged at least 100000 of their own people to come down on 9 July to help things out for BERSIH, voluntary and no money required. Just like the first edition. They would be the first line of protection indeed.

Back in October 2010, RPK wrote about something which mentions that May 13 version 2 will not be Non-Malays vs Malays, but it will be two groups of Malays fighting one another. I reproduce below second half of the article - The Confused Way Forward just to refresh our minds and as to point out that the way going forward that Braheng Ali doesn't get it at all.

Umno could not even get 100 Malays onto the streets of Kampong Baru in the aftermath of the 2008 general election. But the opposition can get 50,000 Malays onto the streets any time. So, if the handful of Umno Malays want to start trouble, they will have to face tens of thousands of other Malays.

No, if riots do start it will not be a la 1969. The next riot, if it happens, will be Malays facing Malays. The Indians and Chinese need not participate in this May 13 Version 2. They can just stay at home or go to Singapore or Thailand for a short holiday. Let the Malays handle this matter.

The Indians and Chinese need not fear anything. Dr Hatta Ramli has already issued a challenge. PAS will form a human shield. The Malays from PAS will emerge in great numbers to face those Umno Malays who want Indian and Chinese blood. As Dr Hatta said, “Over our dead bodies.” The Umno Malays would first have to slaughter all the PAS Malays before they can reach the Indians and Chinese.

And let me assure you: many other Malays not from PAS are also issuing this warning. The Indians and Chinese are our brothers and sisters. And if the Umno Malays want to harm them then they will have to first deal with the non-Umno Malays.

And this is because the non-Umno Malays are Muslims first and Malays second. This is what Islam demands of Muslims -- to be Muslims first and last while racism is haram or forbidden

.

And in Islam justice must prevail and the non-Muslims must be protected even to the extent that Muslims go to war with Muslims to protect the life of the non-Muslims. This is Islamic justice. And in Islamic justice no one must be persecuted or discriminated against because of his or her race.

So, is it not good that PAS is an Islamic party? Notwithstanding the fact that there are some in PAS who aspire to see Malaysia transformed into an Islamic State (which can never happen unless PAS wins more than two-thirds of the seats in Parliament), an Islamic party like PAS is good for the non-Muslims because this party upholds Islam, which means the non-Muslims receive protection against persecution and discrimination.

Umno does not know what it is getting itself into. It had better tone down that race riot rhetoric lest it backfires on them. If they think the Indians and Chinese are going to react like they did in 1999 -- they reluctantly voted for Barisan Nasional out of fear -- then Umno is going to be in for a surprise.

Today, the Indians and Chinese have faith in their Malay brothers and sisters. They know that May 13 Version 2 being bandied about by Umno is not going to be a Malay versus non-Malay incident like back in 1969. May 13 Version 2 is going to be a Malay-versus-Malay affair with the non-Malays standing on the sidelines as mere spectators.

And if you think this is not so then go ask the non-Umno Malays in Pakatan Rakyat. Hear it from their own mouths. And they will tell you exactly what I have just said.