Once again, Umno Deputy Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin a.k.a the-son-in-law shot to the front pages of major Chinese-language newspapers – Sin Chew Daily, Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press – being condemned by MCA and Gerakan leaders, all for wrong reasons. Both the English and Malay dailies have ignored KJ’s remarks.
(SOURCE: Sin Chew Daily, 20 August 2006)
(SOURCE: Nanyang Siang Pau, 19 August 2006)
(SOURCE: China Press, 20 August 2006)
Excerpt via Malaysiakini:
"The internal split within Umno will weaken the party’s position and this will pave way for the Chinese Malaysians to make various demands to benefit their community," Khairy was quoted as saying by Chinese newspaper Sin Chew Daily.
"The MCA ministers who have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) earlier this year to demand for Chinese community’s rights was the result of Umno being in a weak position," the report added.
Khairy also argued that Umno woes have created a similar situation as in 1999 – when the Malaysian Chinese Election Appeals Committee (Suqiu) made a set of "demands" when Umno was divided following a fallout between then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his deputy, Anwar Ibrahim.
The embattled Umno Youth No 2 told party members that while they could not blame MCA and Gerakan for making such demands, it was a weak Umno which opened up the opportunities for the two parties, both partners of the ruling coalition, to advance their interests.
Leaders’ reaction
MCA vice-president Chua Soi Lek saying that the rising politician’s views were "unfair and wrong".
"Judging from his statements, he doesn’t understand the Barisan Nasional spirit. Maybe, he is still young and therefore he doesn’t understand the 55-year-old history of MCA as a component party within the BN."
MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan advised Khairy not to create more opportunity for the opposition parties to gain political mileage out of his unwarranted remarks.
"Khairy’s political strategy is outdated. His remarks are uncalled for and immature."
MCA Youth Chief Liow Tiong Lai said KJ’s is a narrow minded politician.
"Why is there a politician who still raises this kind of win-lose theory after so many years of our country’s independence? This is a form of narrow thinking and MCA Youth feels disgusted by it."
Gerakan deputy secretary-general Lee Kah Choon and Gerakan Youth Chief Lim Si Pin also ticked off Khairy and described the remark as inappropriate. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng also came out to refute KJ’s insensitive statement.
Love messages from UMNO leaders
Coincidentally, in a separate event, Rural Development Minister Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin said unity was the key to Malaysia’s harmonious society since independence was achieved 49 years ago, and he hoped that the various races and religions could continue co-existing.
"Let’s not go our separate ways just because differences of race and religion. Jagalah hati (Be sensitive to the feelings) of our friends. Do not let (differences in) religion cause the country’s downfall."
The Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi a.k.a the-father-in-law also carried a similar message, which I reckon carries the most weight among all reminders.
Love for the country is the force that unites all Malaysians .
There shall be no fear of one another. We can eat and sleep together under one roof.
Bottomline
First, Khairy went overboard on Israel with high level invasion, to be followed by a call to boycott of goods produced by companies that support Israel which was later rejected by no other than Pak Lah. Now, he brought Chinese community to task of being a bunch of big-time opportunists?!
Being a oxbridge graduate, the son-in-law to PM and a political star in meteorite rise, he must recognize the fact that he is living in Malaysia which is a multiracial country. He must tread his words with care and not to play with fire, albeit the known desperate attempt to gain attention and portraying himself as a new hero.
If strong support expressed by the people towards Pak Lah is a motivation to grow the country, not only he has to do the right thing, he must fix the right thing too, or to be exact, fix from within.
By the way, in a latest report by Bernama, Khairy was quoted as saying that the leaders has misconstrued the message in his speech. Amazingly, all leaders misunderstood him, can I safely conclude that they’re nowhere near the oxbridge level? Another huge setback.
Meanwhile, I’m desperately looking forward to the coming 49th National Day celebration, the time when every Malaysians celebrate irregardless of cultures, ethnics, skin colors and most importantly, nothing racial related similar to such extent.
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