You tell me, please …
Saturday, August 26th, 2006 | 11:36 pm @ SK
The andrelina rush keeps going, void of sign of slowing down.
The comedy show
First, when Umno Deputy Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin remark that the Chinese Malaysian community would take advantage of infighting to make demands to advance their interests went to the public, leaders from MCA and Gerakan condemned the statement, calling it unwanted and insensitive.
Almost immediately, Khairy, who is also the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s son-in-law, quoted by Bernama as saying MCA and Gerakan’s leaders has misconstrued the message in his speech, which means, all leaders who condemned him were interpreting his incorrectly that he didn’t mean to be so.
Then, medias reported that MCA Deputy Youth Chief Ling Hee Leong has a private meeting with KJ and reached a "consensus", by clarifying that Khairy had no intention to hurt the feelings of the Chinese Malaysian community, and that the two of them had agreed to "look forward to the greater interest of the nation".
Apparently, that’s not the end of issue when MCA Youth secretary-general Wee Ka Siong said the matter should be sorted out through the proper channel while MCA Youth Chief Liow Tiong Lai said KJ must be sincere in solving the controversy created and explained why he was misunderstood as quoted.
KJ’s boss Hishamuddin Hussein, who is also the Barisan Nasional Youth Chief, then came out to the protection of KJ by saying that issue has been resolved and not to play up the issue anymore.
"Only great leaders will do great things"
Today, during the MCA Youth 43rd annual general assembly, MCA Youth wanted KJ to apologize for this remark as his statement has not only hurt the MCA’s feelings but also that of the Chinese community.
MCA Youth Chief Liow Tiong Lai condemned KJ’s statement, saying that there is no market for such heroes in this globalised world.
"There are people claiming that shares of a company cannot be sold to non-bumiputeras … some claimed that (whenever) Umno (is in a weak position), the Chinese would take advantage and make demands. […]
"I want to remind them, such actions are a form of myopic racial sentiments, meant to create self inflated heroism to exaggerate a community’s insecurities. Such actions have no market in the globalised era," Liow said to thunderous applause. […]
"Those who spread such sentiments, if not meant as a distraction, are out to gain political mileage.
MCA deputy president Chan Kong Choy congratulated Liow for his speech and saying that MCA leaders must voice their stand and opinion as one in order to let the people know their duties and challenges.
"We must be united and defend the rights of multi-ethnic Malaysians via the principles, cooperation and increased competitiveness that have been agreed on."This is the only way for all the ethnic groups and the nation to have a future. "Our effort is to defend our nation and face the world."
The REALITY
Apologize or not is one issue, but more importantly, sincerity of the intention is which matters most. To put that aside, what make me wonder is, firstly, there are other paths and means which are more acceptable, civilised and noble in achieving fame and glorious success, but why a brilliant oxbridge graduates who represents a new generation of Umno leaders has chosen to cling the old ways of ethnocentrism?
Second, as 49th Merdeka Day is merely a few days down the road, unfortunately, we’ve not grown any wiser. Instead of connect and collaborate well to prepare the nation for a globalized world, our young politicians are occupied with playing up racial issues, which leads me to the next question: How can someone whose political ideology runs along these lines lead the next generation of UMNO in the face of the challenges of globalisation?
Now, you tell me.
August 27th, 2006 at 8:30 am
The cozy relationship (not the same as close working relationship) between the top MCA and UMNO leaders makes the Chinese uncomfortable. Semua boleh kowtim. The MCA leaders will just say a few things to make it look like they are doing something about it and then presto! everything’s settled. Cannoot mention the issue anymore or there will be racial uneasiness.
Who the heck gave KJ the idea that what he said would no cause racial tension? He started it. Let him apologise publicly. MCA should press for the apology. If his father in law saves him by telling everyone to stop it, then only let it be. How many times can his father in law do this?
August 27th, 2006 at 8:31 am
Your concern about the next generation of leader of UMNO is very valid but let me postulate that its NOT just UMNO but BN future generation that should be of concern.
While it appears that MCA young leaders are taking a stand to defend the original ideals of Malaysia, its likely to be weak in its foundation. The truth is MCA particulary MCA Youth are backed against the wall now. The young leaders lack real grassroot credibility unlike the past group. What KJ has done with this weak group is to further undermine them. In other words, these young leaders have no choice but to respond strongly back to KJ or they might as well leave politics. In other words, the response of MCA now is an act of desperation not a noble cause.
In other words, BN component parties of the next generation are in danger of being more and more irrelevant. This has been happening for nearly 40 years already but its near political bankruptcy soon.
BN component parties have not become totally irrelevant simply because the opposition cannot get its act together not because of its political capital and even then, they have done a decent job. In the next election, its clear they will gain much more only.
The political dynamics of the last 49years is in flux. It not about to completely reverse and likely not for many more years to come but BN component parties will find that they are at the frontline of changes that will affect them first before UMNO and it may come much much faster than they think.
August 27th, 2006 at 9:54 am
Chan Kong Choy will make a stand, he’s from Team B ,the rebels.
Liow Tiong Lai will make a stand, this dude is different from his deputy which can do no shit as ling got black history. MCA youth & Umno youth seldom look eye to eye, its the big bros that make them to stop asking questions to the good for nothing puteras as they don’t know how to counter already.
The main key is, Ong ka Ting will not say anything. End of story.
August 28th, 2006 at 8:26 am
Consensus, not concensusb
[SK] My bad.
November 20th, 2006 at 7:37 pm
[…] Scrap the proceedings live in the future? By all means, scrap it. Malaysians have had enough of ethnocentrism talks, we can live without it. […]
December 19th, 2006 at 1:11 am
[…] Last August, the SIL Khairy Jamaluddin remarked that the Chinese Malaysian community would take advantage of infighting to make demands to advance their interests went to the public, leaders from MCA and Gerakan condemned the statement, calling it unwanted and insensitive. […]
August 7th, 2007 at 1:05 am
[…] said the Chinese Malaysian community would take advantage of infighting to make demands to advance their interests went to the […]