Hishamuddin, minus the keris for the time being
Tuesday, April 29th, 2008 | 11:33 am @ SK
Before the GE 2008, he brandished the keris.
He insisted that the keris does not necessarily imply Malay supremacy but carries multiple significances such as unity, wisdom and knowledge.
He took the whole event into such a delicate manner, despite the uproar from our multi-ethnic community.
That was before the GE 2008.
Now, he is aware that the aftermath of election is too obvious not to be taken seriously.
He apologized.
He denied he is an arrogant person.
He vowed to take full responsibility but refused to step down.
But I’m especially bewildered when he gave no guarantee that he would not repeat the keris-waving again during this year’s Umno annual general assembly?
For as long as he has been seen indulging in the keris-wielding act for the past three Umno annual meets, he as a cabinet minister for several terms should have known that brandishing the keris could hurt the feelings of other races.
My take is that, ostensibly, he wanted to be seen as retracting his own words, doesn’t mind the riddle on the part of his half-apologetic statement.
Unmitigated evil? Undeniably, he looks like one.
But please, take the Ketuanan Melayu, Ketuanan Cina, Ketuanan Indian crap elsewhere while we’re embarking on a new journey of Ketuanan Rakyat, something which I don’t have to further elaborate on.
However, having said that, no matter how vicious he is as shown based on his track records, I’m willing to give him the benefit of doubt and yes, let’s bury the hatchet too, at least for the time being until the coming Umno AGM, whether he is going to uphold his pledge.
As for Hishamuddin, it’s timely for him to learn some tips from blogger Rocky on how to wave a keris on all proper occasions, and in every proper manner.
April 29th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
yes, he did apologize and we should accept it as just. What’s done is done, and everyone deserves a second chance to prove themselves or right their wrongs. So, forgive and forget, there are other important things to discuss apart from the keris issue people! :)
April 29th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Go keris go keris go! Posters 2 and 19.
http://scottthong.wordpress.com/2008/03/26/malaysian-politics-motivational-posters/
On a more serious side, it must have taken a lot of guts to actually apologize like that (not th ‘I’m sorry you feel offended’ kind of apology), especially when the Malay ultras will see it as cowardly and weak betrayal and the Chinese cynics will see it as insincerely trying to gain back lost ground from GE2008.
April 29th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
i second
April 29th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Yeah, I second you guys, Scott and pipitart. I believe that the sincerity in Hishamuddin’s apology depends on what action he takes next. Will he raise the keris again? Will he make his war cries without considering other parties involved?
Let’s give him a chance to prove himself clean. Our nation is watching!
April 30th, 2008 at 1:35 am
Let’s see what he do after this. So I believe the apology is a good thing.