Commentary by Wan Hamidi Hamid, Malaysian Insider.
OCT 2 — Teresa Kok must be wondering why some Malays are adamant in portraying her as a Chinese chauvinist, villain of peace and enemy of Islam. With her impeccable record as the most hardworking wakil rakyat and the Member of Parliament with the highest majority votes in the country, she must be at a loss to fathom the attempts to assassinate her character.
From the blatant lies that she had opposed the azan (the Islamic call to prayer), to her wearing a skirt inside a mosque, the Seputeh MP has to live through the nightmare of racial politics almost on a daily basis.
Despite repeated denials of the azan issue — for which she was detained under the draconian Internal Security Act for seven days — Kok is still being chastised by some quarters linked to Umno, including the Malay daily Utusan Malaysia.
For the three-term MP, who is known among her close friends as a devout Catholic and a staunch believer in multiracialism, the detention without trial-ISA was not enough for her detractors. After her release, some extremist elements threw a Molotov cocktail into her parents’ house.
To make matters worse, a whole lot of text messages were sent around justifying the violent act. The saddest part of the story is that some Malays actually believe that Kok is guilty of insulting Islam — which she is not.
The problem is those who believe the lies probably read one particular newspaper that is prone to promote racial supremacy. There are other Malay-language newspapers with higher circulation than the one espousing racist tendencies, yet they are not keen on resorting to false news. They seem to know the danger of playing up baseless racial accusations.
So what gives? Despite the many possible answers, it is likely that Umno, particularly in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, which suffered one of its worst election defeats, is venting anger in the only way some of its leaders know — racism.
Already many Barisan Nasional component parties are unhappy with recent racial episodes.
Now that the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has left BN and Gerakan is mulling a similar move, the situation is critical for Umno-led BN. The fact that Umno is more concerned with its leadership transition, thus ignoring its partners, is likely to be a push factor for component members in the federal ruling coalition.
The tussle for the top leadership in Umno is expected to bring out the nastiest and dirtiest of tactics, especially when the party divisional meetings – the real backbone of Umno – begin next week.
As reflected during the branch meetings of the last three months, Ketuanan Melayu, or Malay supremacy, was the keyword among the grassroots leaders and members. Although top leaders have defined it as the struggle for the betterment of the Malays, others took it literally to mean the superiority of the Malays over other Malaysians.
This is especially true in the case of Teresa Kok when attempts to demonise her, despite being based on slander, continue to spread among the racist political element of the usually moderate and fair-minded Malays.
To this racist minority, Umno hegemony is their game, never mind that the basis of BN is racial harmony. They couldn’t care less about muhibbah so long as their supremacist definition of the Malay is accepted by all.
Their only problem is that they are in the minority. Even Kok acknowledges it. She knows many more Malays accept her, not only as an MP or a Selangor state executive councillor, but also as a fellow Malaysian.
But spending a stint under the ISA and suffering the trauma of her parents’ home being fire-bombed is not an easy experience to live with. She is hoping that more Malaysians, especially the Malays, speak up against racism and those who perpetuate the dangerous trend.
Even in high places she has good Malay friends. Former de facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim quit the government in protest against Kok’s arrest under the ISA and has even written an open letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to abolish the cruel law.
Kok has always been a popular figure with the Malay grassroots in the Klang Valley.
Immediately after she was released from the ISA, she attended a number of breaking-of-fast ceremonies, including at the Cheras Baru mosque, the one which she was accused of going into wearing a skirt.
The truth of the matter is the event was organised outside the mosque and Kok was wearing a long skirt covering her knees, similar to skirts she wears in Parliament, the Selangor state assembly and her state government office. She did not even enter the mosque.
But racists with agendas do not let facts get in the way of a good distortion in their favour. It’s never too late, however, for some of these people to reflect on the good month of Syawal to ask for forgiveness from those who have been wrongly accused.
Maaf zahir batin.
“Their only problem is that they are in the minority. Even Kok acknowledges it. She knows many more Malays accept her, not only as an MP or a Selangor state executive councillor, but also as a fellow Malaysian.”
That’s right!
Don’t be cowed by such people; there’re more sane and good people out there who admire you.
As the Chinese goes, “A big tree will attract wind”!
You’re now a big tree in your own right and it’s not easy for those little devils to harm you.
Carry on with your good work and admiration for you will surely grow!
[Supremacist Minority or Supremacist Evolution?]
Race, racist and ethnicity and what color bar and subsequently privileges and opportunities.
It does sound interesting toward the political arena those days in the 1960’s when the urge of trade race and colonial times in respective to the supremacy of the British and European counterpart.
Nowadays with the emerging of the concept of Democratic ideology and implementation of freedom in the awe of human ideology supremacy over all his dominance throughout his inheritance, but yet there is still a conquering nature deep down in a human soul.
Lo, behold long time has passed where the land was conquer, ideology being promoted to instill believe of freedom, suppressing the connotation of evil within the concept therein. We conquer feminist, our belief, our religion and paganism ways. We conquer laws, wisdom of industrial application, mechanics and structure behind them. We conquer food and multiplication application. Enhance the human intelligence with superior learning techniques, speech advancement, and growth capability and to even certain extend be acting God ourselves with the development and fusion of DNA structure and research.
Even though we have conquered our dominance and all the world application and yet we still want to conquer ourselves human being itself the number one superior. As in who is the supremacy of all? Who is the most intelligence? Who is the most survival race in the nature? In situation and circumstances? In concept, ideas and intellectual? The race to be the frontier and first in matters of life in our daily domination in our activities and chaos.
The absolute dilution of acceptance as human beings or “homo sapiens”, in preview as an existence in totality throughout history will crumble and destroy itself with the factors such as:
• Exertion of Religious dominance.
• Profound concept of ethnicity belief and race supremacy.
• Sexology dominance in adjacent to male and female.
• Nationality superiority and identity.
The concept of “Unity”, always in the matter of years in the history and even existing survival is the ideal of primitive, being one without any division in the matters aspect of dominance, belief, religion and ethnicity. It always stated with a nation as “one nation one dream one belief”. With this be conclude with acceptance of a singular identity and ethnicity evolution to begat ultimate superiority and union of that particular mass identity. I belief the above factors as explained above need to co-marriage and co-fusion of belief and concept to merge a singular and stronger identity in the metamorphosis of better competitive and survival of the human being.
Transformation is eminent in the prevention of war and conflict within the evolution of foundation of the new ethnicity.
So in the frontier of political scenario with many happening, corruption of ethnicity, betrayal, unwantonest of aggression, dilution of democratic application and confusion of race and representation is part of the evolution of transformation towards our nation Malaysia.
It is good though to see the better of a totality of all races being convert as one race in common identity as “Bangsa Malaysia”. Which long has being recommended?
In summary, let us be more open in all manners of perspective in life to advance our “Bangsa Malaysia”!
Dear Theresa,
I wish you peace and carry on with your responsibilities as a wakil rakyat without fear or favour and discharge your duties in the most transparent and just manner.Treat everyone equally with love and care.That would be your ultimate weapon against the ruling elites who are all out to tarnish your reputation.I think Malaysians at large have matured enough politically to buy all those lies spewed by the racist UMNO regime day in and day out.
I feel embarrased to say that my family,friends and I were once upon a time`good’supporters of BN at least until the 11th GE.Not because I was blind towards their discriminatory policies and corruption but was merely hoping that one day this regime will change and treat all Malaysians equally.Sad to say It never did.With the advent of Hindraf the Indians have become more united as never before,at least thats what I see,and was instrumental in the major political overhaul of our beloved nation.Though I personally may not have been affected so much by those instituitanlised discriminations,nevertheless I have seen many ordinary citizens who are poor suffer in various ways due to these discriminatory policies of UMNO esp in terms of tertiary education and employment in the public sector, all because they were only championing the cause of one group and marginalized the others..This explains my notion for a change of govt.So now it is up to you all in PR to prove to the rakyat and reinforce the faith the rakyat has for PR.
I really dont have any idea how long and what it may take to realize the idea of bangsa malaysia,but I am ever ready to contribute in any small way that I can,just to see our poor brethren and also the future generation live in harmony,peace and camarederie irrespective of race,religion and color.I may be a domicile of another land now but my heart is still there in my motherland.One day after seeing my 2 kids through uni,I hope my wife and I can retire proudly in a land called Malaysia which would recognize all her citizens as Malaysians and not `pendatangs’.
My best wishes to you.
democles,you have used the most appropriate Chinese saying “a big tree will attract wind”
YB Teresa Kok and all her Pakatan Rakyat colleagues do not have to worry about the false accusations hurling against them. The millions of people in Selangor, Perak, Kedah and Penang have never had it so good under the rule of corruption-free government these past few months. At least we are aware an authentic government is in charge, and there is hope that things will get better as the years go on.
People who previously opposed PR are now being won over as they can see that there will not be a bright future if we Malaysians of all races continue to be trapped in racial politics.
YB, I believe people who oppose you now will be won over by your sincerity and dedication to serve Selangor and the country. Remeber, there is no permanent enemy in politics.
“I feel embarrased to say that my family,friends and I were once upon a time`good’supporters of BN at least until the 11th GE.Not because I was blind towards their discriminatory policies and corruption but was merely hoping that one day this regime will change and treat all Malaysians equally.” Dr Suresh Kumar
51 years is a very long time to hope for a government to change!!
I think that Malaysians should already be wise to the ways of the BN, especially UMNO during the regime of TDM.
In fact, the real rot started with him. And the writing was very plainly written on the wall during this time.
Even then there are still enough voters who still don’t see the light and put the current PM in power.
And we are even in a worse mess than ever before.
It is a truism that some Malaysians never see anything!
Perhaps, like the PM, they are in a state of perpetual denial.
As the saying goes, “We deserve the government that we have”!
Dear Teresa,
Everyday a small group of people are finding ways to create, to find fault and to fabricate fault at you. So far your team has managed to reply to all the accusations. The end result is your team is exhausted and can only find less time to do actual constructive work for the people. This means the cowards have won!
I would strongly suggest you ( or DAP or PKR) to set up a task- force of capable and diplomatic staff to handle these accusations. Note that every accusation must be replied promptly and widely in all blogs so as to neutralize the effect on all targeted readers. Generally one says, there no smoke without fire. Unfortunately one have tell everyone that the smoke comes from these minority group.
You and your team must concentrate on your planned constructive work to fulfill your voters expectations. Remember , you must do your job instead of wasting time on these miserable souls whose sole purpose is to stop or delay your good work.
I wish you success.
Erik
Dear YB,
have bever really been to any real gathering, ceramahs and whatnots.
Have never really make any efforts to support any cause part
from just some donations.
Now am going to attend all rallies, gatherings that I am aware off.
Never really notice you YB at all, till that day when I saw you at the RPK trial.
wanted so much to shake your hand and extend my most sincere thanks
for what your service to our nation.
Please keep it up maam, please,
The great injustice of the ISA act have caused so very much hardships and anguish to those detained and most of all , to their families,,,its just so cruel, so very sad,
Please maam, please, on behalf of the nation, the victims of this despicable act, I beg of you to continue your fight to see this Act abolish.
Please maam.
thank you, so very much, thank you.