YOURSAY | When ‘optics’, pride more important to politicians

YOURSAY | Demonising DAP seems to be the SOP for Malay parties.

COMMENT | Vilifying Chinese for participating in democracy

For a Better World: A well-written, superb piece on present-day Malaysian politics, with the six state elections just around the corner.

Columnist S Thayaparan's facts and recollections or incidents that he revealed to support the primary issue of his narrative are extraordinary.

I believe a theocratic state here would lead to a failed state. Look at Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, etc.

Look at the economic and financial situation in the two PAS-ruled states of Kelantan and Terengganu, and compare that with the prosperous states of Penang, Perak, Selangor and Johor.

Thousands of young Malays have migrated to the west coast in search of jobs and decent earnings.

Let democracy, secularism and both non-Malays and Malays, thrive and strive for progress and prosperity in a beautiful, bountiful, peaceful Malaysia.

OceanMasterII: The future of democracy in Malaysia is intimately tied to the country's demographic composition.

Indeed, the Malays, as the majority, will continue to be instrumental in shaping political outcomes as long as they exercise their voting rights.

However, it's worth noting that the influence of non-Malays appears to have reached its peak and is slowly waning.

Nonetheless, the true risk does not stem from this demographic shift, but from the potential perpetuation of an educational system that instils the belief that Malaysia solely belongs to Malays.

Apa pun boleh: The irony in this country is that it is the Malays that are in power from day one and it is the Malays that set the bumiputra special rights and entitlement policies.

It is the Malays that enjoyed the bulk of government revenue and resources until now.

It is the same Malays that now claim that Malays have lost political power and dominance and remained poor despite their absolute control of power and resources in the country.

All this while the power struggles have been among the Malay ruling elites in various combinations.

The non-Malays have always worked along with these Malay parties whether it be Umno, PAS, Bersatu or even PKR.

Those that demonise DAP whether it is Umno, PAS or Bersatu have all sought DAP’s support at some time or other to take on their Malay rivals.

A good example is former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He demonised DAP all through his 22 years of Umno/BN rule.

When he was snubbed by Umno he came with a begging bowl to DAP. He then betrayed DAP for the Sheraton Move.

Now he moves in with Bersatu and PAS and demonises DAP.

This passing of the buck to the DAP whenever the chips are down, seems to be the standard operating procedure in the playbook of the Malay parties.

Vijay47: Why this continuing focus on Mahathir?

He has ensured that he is a spent force relegated to the back pages of history, a has-been remembered by none and loathed by all.

Commenting on him, even criticising him merely adds to his delusions of self-importance, unwilling as he is to consider the humiliating debacle that befell him and his running mates in the last elections.

The new danger we face is from the very person we hold in such high regard, Anwar Ibrahim.

Of course, many insist that he is the preferred alternative to PAS and that his fresh religious policies are merely concessions necessary to keep that religious party at bay.

Nobody wants to admit the presence of the revived elephant in the room, to admit a new PAS is in the making.

Nobody denies or objects to the need for the sudden gifts he has chosen to strew at religious schools and such, they represent the trinkets that would count much to please and distract the multitudes.

But is it necessary to elevate the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) to almost heavenly heights? How did Jakim even come into the picture?

From a body already enjoying a princely budget, Anwar has transported Jakim directly into the government itself, whose opinion and approval must be obtained before life can go on.

This is immediately after he informed us that improvement of that miserable experience known as our education system is by way of injecting more religion into it. Anwar now does not even bother to disguise himself as a Greek-bearing gift.

LimePanther5220: Contrary to what Anwar and many think, this country has already gone to the dogs.

We have lost out miserably to many of our neighbours.

What is the strength of our ringgit compared with that of our neighbour, Singapore? They had no natural resources to start with.

Why is it that multinational corporations have relocated or are relocating their operations away from our country to the neighbouring region?

Why is it that, for such a small country, we are renowned as the greatest kleptocracy the world has ever known, and a segment of the population still sees it fit for the kleptocrat to be released?

How about the rampant corruption affecting all levels of the civil service and businesses?

Furthermore, is it alright for this country to continue practising racial discrimination and flaying the minority races at every turn, blaming them if they do and blaming them if they don’t?

The list of sins continues…. too tedious to enumerate.

Optics and ‘maruah’ (pride) are important to this country (or rather to the politicians).

They want our people to project a pious exterior - sack clothes for women so that body shapes are not seen, no alcohol, no gambling, no rainbow lest we are seen as LGBT, no concerts, etc.

That ‘maruah’ is so important that a certain comedian who derided Malaysia must be traced and caught by Interpol.

What optics do we cast of ourselves that we see fit to have a kleptocrat released, justifying that it is only a small change?

What optics do we cast when we incessantly flay the minorities for all political ills, trot and trample and impose on their rights?

The big question is, if our national pride is so important, why don’t we feel ashamed that we are a fractured nation that has lost its way, and has lost miserably to our neighbours?

Instead of incessantly playing up race and religious issues (which present poor optics anyway), why don’t we, Malaysians, accept each other's differences, unite and work together to rebuild this country so that we can stand tall amongst our neighbours?

apanama is back: While Mahathir used to say that 90 percent of the Malaysian taxpayers are Chinese, which is a truth, this is a patient and hard-working community.

Reading Thayaparan’s opinion piece is a testament to this community's perseverance.

Yes, the Chinese could survive anywhere in this world. They could adapt and thrive in any challenging environment. It is in their genes.

I hope that one day Malaysia will have a Chinese prime minister, at least as a justice to the Chinese community who in this country has contributed a lot over the centuries.

Of course, not in my lifetime.

Proarte: Ultimately, the Malays need to realise that they have been duped for so long by their religious and political leaders. Nobody else can help them.

As long as the non-Malays can prosper in Malaysia and find ways to become increasingly self-reliant, they will be in a position of strength.

There will come a point when the purveyors of "ketuanism" will come with their begging bowl to the non-Malays.

This is when there must be an insistence on constitutional amendments to guarantee true equality before the law for everyone and an independent MACC answerable to parliament amongst a whole host of other radical changes to our sick governance.

The non-Malays must just ignore the Malay political shenanigans be they in Perikatan Nasional or the Madani brigade.

Dummies Dhimmi: I am old enough to experience the bane of religion when it mixes with the majority of Malays.

Even the staunchest of liberal Malay leaders or rulers will bend given enough time.

Towards the end, it will not matter whether it is universal human rights, plain fairness or common sense, only the religious tilt favouring the masses will.

Focusapp: Islamic-governed states are and have always been living in the past, riddled with war, infighting, corruption and poverty.

The vast majority of Malays are easily deceived by their leaders who are only interested in maintaining power and position while building their political dynasties.

All with the help of reverse affirmative action policies built around race and religious fears.

After more than 60 years of independence, has their welfare been better despite all the crutches and assistance?

Time to wake up and stop looking at other races with envy.

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