Politicians stealing race to be village champs

Jahabar Sadiq Jahabar Sadiq Updated 7 years ago · Published on 20 Nov 2018 1:00PM · 15 Comments

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (left) and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang at the unity gathering to oppose ICERD in Pasir Salak on Saturday night. Both opposition leaders are now playing the Malay and race card in a bid to stay politically relevant. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, November 20, 2018.

THEY might have lost the battle to be government but a number of politicians are winning the war to keep race relations a divisive issue in Malaysia.

Their plan is simple – stoke the embers of race, add the spectre of religion into it and distract the nation from the main issue that has left our economy souring again – the plunder and theft of money, land and concessions since Merdeka.

Two politicians stand out in this regard. PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi – both of whom are now together in the opposition bench after the May 9 general election.

One wanted to be the kingmaker in the elections while the other suffers the ignominy of being the first serving Umno president to face criminal charges – 45 related to criminal breach of trust and corruption and none linked to the biggest scandal of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Despite their failure to form the federal government, the duo and their parties have seized on the one issue that has kept Malaysia from being a nation of happy people as envisioned by founding prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.

This is the only game that PAS and Umno know how to play all these years. That the Malays are oppressed and any attempt to eradicate discrimination or promote equality and equity will threaten the social fabric or contract of the country.

That is complete and utter nonsense. 

And Malaysians must not fall for this provocation by them. Their statements these past few days illustrate their lack of knowledge about the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and Malaysia’s move to ratify the pact.

Read what Hadi said last night in Kuala Terengganu.

“Unfortunately, there are Muslims who don’t understand or pretend not to understand… they want to fight for equality by making Islam the same as other religions.

“We must oppose (ICERD) because it is compulsory for Muslims to say that Islam is correct. We can give rights to other religions but to say that other religions are the same as Islam is unacceptable,” he said.

Opponents of ICERD at a gathering in Pasir Salak on Saturday night. Many PAS and Umno supporters fear that Malay rights will be trampled upon if Malaysia ratifies the human rights convention. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, November 20, 2018.

Perhaps he cannot tell the difference between race and religion. Or perhaps he doesn’t care except to push his agenda of exclusivity rather than inclusivity. It is a wonder that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has always said PAS is a divisive force in the country.

If that isn’t enough, Zahid’s threat of trouble if Malaysia ratifies ICERD has made the Malays into a community that can only resort to riots when things do not go their way.

“Don’t wait for the Malays to run amok. If Hadi Awang’s warning is not heeded (by the government), Umno and PAS will unite.

“We are not just giving a warning. We will show that if ICERD is not rejected, Umno, PAS, and Malays will unite and fight against it nationwide. Don’t push us to do that,” he said at a rally to oppose ICERD in Pasir Salak on Saturday night.

If the Malays did support Umno and PAS, wouldn’t both parties have formed the federal government now instead of Dr Mahathir and his allies in Pakatan Harapan (PH)?

Suffice to say Hadi and Zahid’s remarks are nothing short of threats that can divide the country and undermine its peace and security.

Dr Mahathir should take off his kid gloves and treat them the same way other threats have been handled in the past.

Ratifying ICERD, if that is even possible now, will not make anyone poorer or disadvantaged in this country. 

What has made Malaysians poorer and disadvantaged is politicians who have whispered sweet nothings all these years while looting the treasury. They can be found in the opposition bench and on the criminal prosecution lists.

They now want to steal Malaysia’s harmony to distract from their misdeeds. Reject them and consign them into the rubbish heap of history. – November 20, 2018. 

* Jahabar Sadiq runs The Malaysian Insight.

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Comments

  • well written JS

    Posted 7 years ago by Simon Wong · Reply

    • They will profit greatly by incorporating the practice of meditation in their lives? Or yoga at least..

      Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • Agree With Jahabar,
    These 2 politicians only stir racial and religious sentiments to arouse the rural folks.
    Hadi made a mockery of Islam with his interpretation of exclusivity and superiority.
    Zahid continued to arouse fear and inferiority of the race.
    Those who who stole from the Malays and misled the muslims are from UMNO and PAS.
    They suppressed and confused simple minded Malaysians with their rhetoric.

    Posted 7 years ago by Manfredd Ng · Reply

  • Let's help Tun and his PH to realize the true Malaysia Baru. He is kind of bogged down by this ICERD initiative too. He has the heart to do it but he is afraid of chaos.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Again jahabar sadiq. U r very good in talking kok stories. Kudos to u

    Posted 7 years ago by Rizal Harris · Reply

  • Again jahabar sadiq. U r very good in talking kok stories. Kudos to u

    Posted 7 years ago by Rizal Harris · Reply

    • Rizal, looks like you only understand kok stories

      Posted 7 years ago by Watchdog Watchdog · Reply

  • amok is a malay word

    Posted 7 years ago by Choo nai kwong · Reply

  • Excellent article by jahabar sadiq.
    For the country & it's people to progress meaningfully, umno and pas must be banished to the dustbin of history as they are truly two destructive elements.

    Posted 7 years ago by Gabriel Chelliah · Reply

  • Once he remove that kid gloves yall go back to accuse Tun M as mahazalim la, dictator la, authoritarian la. Hate speech has always been a fabric in democracy. Look to the west.

    Posted 7 years ago by Aizat Ahmad · Reply

  • All this concerns arises because PH Government did not lives up to what they were selling pre GE14. Complacency and the unwilling will in the guise of political correct ethics hold sway in their undertaking. If only they were intolerable and unyielding in matters that rock the pillars of racial unity , all these nonsensical incitement will be halted and deem trivials. The previous administration of Umno have zero intolerance to dissent and never tasted their own medicine that they dished out to others during their regime. Let them now experience the bitterness of it. To save the many from catastrophy some high handed methods have to be employed to skin the few trouble makers. "Kill the cockrel to to teach the mischievious monkey". Why now Umno and PAS allow to roam free will in their evil and devious intentions with the excuses of race and religion. Infact the latest incident of a road sign in a differnt language should be thoroughly investigate and also why of a sudden that the royal household only stirr from palace slumber when they should have a quiet discussion with the authorities to deal with the situation and keep their apolitical status. Smell of Umno involvement in their hideous incitement with somekind of support from certain quaters.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

    • I agree with you Lee Lee.UMNO n PAS are very happy that PH did not send them to the gallows yet.I do wonder how long will it take for PH to.banish these people.

      Posted 7 years ago by Mohamed Zakir Sahib · Reply

  • JS is right. Zahid and the old goat are only doing all this as a diversionary tactic from what is going to hit them between their legs

    Posted 7 years ago by Watchdog Watchdog · Reply

  • By reading this article, it is the reporter who instill hatred and fear among the malaysian by projecting false intrepretion and image of the political scenario in our beloved malaysian.The honest way in doing the publication the report JS should spell out clearly the statement or the content in the ICERD so that people will see the true picture of ICERD.

    Posted 7 years ago by Judge Dredd · Reply

    • You are either part of Rip Van Winkle associates or being naively devoid in comprehending the much publicised ICERD contents. What are you getting at ?? Good try but fool hardy ???

      Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply