Obama & “Orang Malaya”

 By Awang Buntak

Allow me to give my two sen worth on this very interesting debate
on "Orang Malaya” which you have started.

A.G. Mustakim has stirred the proverbial hornet's nest when he talked about Orang Malaya. To me, he is doing everybody a favour by being openly honest about the undercurrents in Sabah. There is a method in his madness. I salute him for bringing into the open how Sabahans feel about certain things. Look at his number of hits your blog has been getting to show how spot on he's been.

He clearly stated that he is not against Orang Malaya per se; I can't imagine him or other right thinking Sabahans going against the poor souls in Malaya who appear on TV3's "Bersamamu" programme. He's pissed off and rightly so with Orang Malaya who are sent to Sabah thinking they are above everybody else and they can rip off the place as they please. You know the "Ketuanan Melayu" mindset and all that.

Let's get real. There are many Sabahans who have inter-state marriages in the family. So, this is not what he is talking about. There are also many from Malaya who have settled here way back before Malaysia, some can even trace their family history back to Brunei rule, so, this is not the issue here.
These people are as Sabahans as anyone else, they came here on their own merit...

Sabah is the most accommodating state in the country, look at the Chinamen from China who married local women, their off-springs are automatically given Bumi status and accepted as such by the people.

How open and tolerant we are, somehow, things changed with the arrival of new Orang Malaya after Malaysia, things are made worse with the coming of UMNO .We are now a mere state instead of an equal partner in the federation.

We have lost control of our political direction in our own land. The Chief Minister has to be approved by KL, even though our state constitution says otherwise. He has to dance to the tune played by KL, even if it's against local realities or interests. Like Mustakim said, the greed of these people is insatiable. They have taken 95% of our oil, now; they want our body and soul.

So, what upsets the average Sabahans about Orang Malaya?

Basically, their political culture is not in tandem with ours. Sabahans are well integrated, regardless of ethnicity or religion. So, the orang Malaya mantras of Melayu, China and India are alien to all of us here, or for that matter untuk "Bangsa, Ugama dan Negara". When you have Muslims, Christians and Buddhists in the same family, you tend to accept people as you find them, and religion is very much a personal matter.

Orang Malaya use religion as a political weapon to screw up the country. It's" them and us”, in Sabah we tend to be more inclusive.

Personally, I have problem with the way Orang Malaya talk Malay, I don't like "I" and "You" business. If you think these speakers could string a proper English sentence, well, think again.

Orang Malaya doesn’t know their own geography and history.

Ask them where Malaysia is, the answer is "between Thailand and Singapore". Ask them when Malaysia came into being, the answer is 1957!

Muslim as I am, I detest the way they practice Islam. Around them, they don't make you feel comfortable with your own belief unless it's approved by them. By doing so, your passage to Heaven is guaranteed!

They can be so intolerant, what's justice and fairness to them?

I don't want to talk about those with skullcaps, when they come here they think they are God's gift to our more liberated local women.

On top of that many Orang Malaya get confused between being "Muslim" and being "Arab". To many of them being Muslim is to forget your own culture and try to be as much an Arab as you can. Even the Arabs don't want to know. For goodness sake, 10% of the Arabs are Christians. Tell these Arab Christians not to use the word ” Allah".

There is one Orang Malaya female singer, an Arab wannabe, who was supposed to have got engaged to an Arab guy, but she was not accepted by his family. This is Arab racism at work. Talk to the KL taxi drivers about these people.

Yet, the Orang Malaya prefers "Khinzir" to the real and original Malay word of "Babi".

I admire the Jews for what they have achieved for themselves after the Holocaust. Have they blown up any German in a restaurant? They march on with their knowledge; it's something we all can learn from when faced with adversity.

Between being practical to the ways of the world which bring success and primitive emotionalism, I know which one I prefer.

I don't like Putrajaya, maybe it reminds me too much of Karachi. What's Mughul domes got to do with Malaya? The Chinese Muslims in China show creativity with the architecture of their mosques, at least they stay true to their own cultural heritage.

I don't want to talk about UMS, SESB, and the Police et al because I am sure Mustakim is better informed than me. Let me say this, the so-called federal setups run by them, are they any better or are they better managed than some of the institutions run by Sabahans? Or, are they just as sloppy or as inefficient?

To me, the biggest trick played by Orang Malaya on the country is the switching of English to Malay in schools.

I accept we have to learn Malay, but, why at the expense of English? Who is suffering now in terms of global competitiveness?

The hypocrisy of the politics of language in schools irks me tremendously, while the Keris waving Minister sends his daughter to study in Australia, the bulk of our people here get their university education in Malay and end up as cashiers in the supermarkets. Or, if they are smart enough, they become drug couriers!

My strange relative said this to me the other day, ” I know what I'll do, I'll vote for Obama. I want to vote for change. I don't know about you".

A Malaysian voting for Obama? Go figure.

How wise is Vote Wisely this time?



Click the picture to see clearly

A.G.Mustakim

“Opposition parties may raise a lot of issues but they are unable to come out with adequate solutions”, he said “they are long on promises, but short on delivery unlike Barisan that delivers what it promises”.

Deputy Prime Minister at the award ceremony of world affiliates and world prize winners of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant – January 27, 2008

The opposition is not obliged to come-up with any solutions. By all counts, it is the duties and responsibilities and the trust that they people have given the incumbents to seek the most appropriate solution. The opposition has their duties and responsibilities to point out where the incumbents have gone wrong. In this context, the government needs to be transparent so that all the stakeholders (the opposition included) can assist the government to deliver its promises to the people. Unless, the government has something to hide then it becomes opaque.

However, most often than not transparency and accountability is a rare virtue. Hiding facts from shareholders become the norm. After all without information all stakeholders are blind and the one-eye jack is king of the hill. The opposition being industrious will use all means in their disposal to extract the facts from the government. This often led to tensions between the two opposing parties. On party may say it is facts whilst the other may insist that it is just speculations, heresy and rumors. Is it not obvious for everyone’s sake that the government should come clean and let all facts be known?

After all after 44 years of independence how do we really judge whether the people have been short changed or not? If Malaysian wants to use Singapore as a yardstick then is it obvious that Malaysian have really been short changed. At the very least we could be at par. I really could not believe that because of the NEP, Malaysians could not progress to be at the same league as Singapore. This is a blatant excuse for all the inefficiencies, ineffectiveness, mistakes, wastages that we have made. Why can’t we come clean and admit to all these? Why do we insist on living in delusions, cheating ourselves on what we could have achieved?

Whether the opposition believes that there are short comings or inconsistencies between what the government is claiming and what is in reality. It is the duty and responsibilities of the opposition to highlight these issues. It is for the sake of the country and welfare of the people rather than just to score points.

As an alternative, it is the right of the opposition to tell the people what they can do when they form the government. The incumbents often respond to these criticisms as empty promises that the opposition cannot keep. But without giving the opposition a chance to govern, how will we the people ever know?

It is actually a choice between going forward with the devil that you know and the devil that you don’t know. If you choose the devil that you know then you can anticipate the type of life and future for your children that you are going to get. The question is, can you live with that, or will there be always a question in your mind that things could have been better.

If there is always a doubt, why not make a change now. After 44 years, it’s a long time to still have doubts in your mind. It’s high time that there should not be anymore regrets. After all choosing the opposition does not mean that the world is going to end in a clap of thunder when you make your choice. That is in the movie, in real life mistakes will take time to manifest itself. There is still opportunity for you to make adjustments. But 44 years of mistakes and adjustments is way too long, it is therefore high time real change should take place and the people play their part to make it happen.

Take a good look at the United States, between the Republican and the Democrats. Take a good look at the United Kingdom, between the Labor Party and the Conservatives. I have not seen these countries reverted to the stone ages when changes were made. In fact they make changes when the policies of each of them are not acceptable to the people anymore. In this way, they manage to maintain their competitiveness and their standing in global matters.

Fear of failure is not an option, if we want to progress further in this highly competitive world. It is the same as falling in love with a girl from a distance. You will never know if she feels the same way as you do unless you have the courage to approach and talk to her. Imagine living all your life regretting that you should have spoken her when you had the opportunity. Yet you did not because you fear of being snub or turned down. These are unfounded fears, even if she did snub and turn you down; you are not going to drop dead in front of her because of that. A little embarrassed may be but you won’t die. Perhaps it may make you a better and a stronger person. I can assure you after a while the embarrassment can turn to humor and life is worth living after all.

After living for 44 years with the devil you know, obviously you know what to expect when you make your choice. Do they really deliver what they promise? Can your life be better? Have we been short changed or they are also giving you empty promises over and over again? The choice is yours VOTE WISELY.

Mr. Prime Minister Sir, I beg to differ.

In response to the maiden speech made in Johore during the launching of Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandariah on 13^th June 2007

By A.G. Mustakim

“Let me stress that this is my idea. It did not come from anyone else. It is my own vision & plans to create this super corridor in South Johore to make it the nation’s premier growth centre”. Mr. Prime Minister Sir, I beg to differ. No matter what your advisors or backroom boys have told you. You did not do anything new; the Development Corridor Concept has been in our five year national plan since 1970. As the saying goes “plagiarism is the highest form of flattery”.

Perhaps all your advisors or boys did not read or understand the history of this country; after all they are mostly Oxford trained. Talking about history lets rewind this story back to the 1970’s. It was right after the 13^th May incident and the Malaysian Premiership has just been taken over by Tun Abdul Razak Hussein from Tengku Abdul Rahman. This is the period of the first Outline Perspective Plan (OPP 1970 – 1990), a development goal for Malaysia to achieve in 20 years. Yes, no point in guessing, this is the birth of the New Economic Policy (NEP). As caveat, the Sabahans and the Sarawakians did not enjoy any special preference during the NEP period. Even when our rights are protected in the Malaysian Constitution, the reality is that enforcing the Constitution is subject to the whims of the delivery system. Sabah and Sarawak were marginalized from the national main stream development right from the start. In order for us to get any Federal funded projects and programs we have to give concessions to Malaya.

I have a whole lecture series on these issues, so I will not waste yours or my time to dwell on these issues at this point in time.

The first OPP long term plan have 2 main objectives, firstly to eradicate poverty irrespective of race and geographical location (this is where the Regional Development Concept were to play its part) and secondly, to restructure societies such that they will not be identified by economic function.

The first five year plan within the OPP was the 2^nd Malaysia Plan or RMK2. If anyone cares to read this plan, Regional Development Planning Concept (RDPC) was introduced. This should not be confused with the the Regional Development Authorities (RDAs) that is found mostly in the East Coast States of Malaya. The RDAs were formed as part of the industrial dispersal strategy and New Land Development strategy. The idea of RDPC covers an area larger than RDAs. All together there exist 6 Development Regions, supposedly to address economic imbalance in Malaysia:

• Southern Region which is made up of Johore only;

• The Central Region made up of Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor;

• The Eastern Region made up of Trengganu, Pahang and Kelantan;

• Northern Region made up of Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Perak;

• Sabah Region covers the whole of Sabah;

• Sarawak Region covers the whole of Sarawak.

At a glance we see a lot of similarities between the Regional Development Region and the current Corridor Development. Therefore, is the Corridor development a new thing or just old wine in new bottle? So who is copying who? Therefore Mr. Prime Minister Sir, I beg to differ at your claim that the Corridor Development is your idea or that it did not come from anyone else.

Now, if these plans have existed since 1970, why was it not been properly implemented? What difference does it make then and now? Or is it your intention just to create the feel good mood which will only last until the election is over, and then everything is back to business as usual.

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written by Lim Lim, February 10, 2008 | 21:01:52

ask any right minded malaysian,this suck is where he is today not becos he posesses any righteous charisma of a top gun or stateman,it is becos he has poked his head into the right.....!! (u name it for him)

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written by asguard, February 11, 2008 | 12:11:51

Well... the monkey should be staying in forest rather than giving comments about state affairs of Sabah... since he has monkey brains.. should remained in the jungle ...

MR Prime

Now, if these plans have existed since 1970, why was it not been properly implemented? What difference does it make then and now? Or is it your intention just to create the feel good mood which will only last until the election is over, and then everything is back to business as usual.
……………………………………………… ……………………………………………… …………………
Ini corridor thing action saja! It is part of the RMK5 thing. Kalau RMK5 lain, corridor lain, Malaysia mana ada wang?

Dollah is interested only to show the development mock-up replica placed on the table for the feast of the haprak TV1 and TV3. Bila rakyat tengok dalam TV, “Huh! Dollah terror le, dia punya project ada keretapi roda getah, masuk laut, keluar atas gunung!”
Ini serupa cerita itu Mamak Kutty bila dilancar itu Cyberjaya dulu. Sekarang pergi tengok apa ada? Lalang penuh tepi jalan banyak la!
Begitu juga itu WETLAND Dengkil – Floridan everglade of the east!. Puh! Tapin apa ada? Buaya kurus tak cukup makan ada la!

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written by oknyua, February 12, 2008 | 14:54:22

I can only guest that his boys found the "corridor" papers all dust-covered and got excited over it - after all they were not born then. Then they put the papers into "power-point" to make it impressive - not forgetting getting a consultant firm to do it, paying them a few million.

What is obvious now, if the papers were presented in 1970, found (re-discovered) in 2008, it will take another 38 years before someone dig it up again because I don't have the slightest belief that AAB is capable of implementing it. If Tun Razak can't do it, what makes AAB better?

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written by Flex Tan, February 12, 2008 | 17:22:43

"..... THE DEVELOPMENT CORRIDOR CONCEPT has been in our five year NATIONAL PLANS SINCE 1970S. As the saying goes “PLAGIARISM (COPYING)IS THE HIGHEST FROM OF FLATTERY (CHEATS/ LIE TO ONESELF)”.

AAB'S ANSWER: ERR ... LET ME LOOK INTO MY NOTES.

THEN HE ANSWERED BACK: WHO IS YOUR PM NOW ??

HAHAHAHAH

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written by Debbie, February 12, 2008 | 18:52:56

nobody is going to waste this guys time...coz he is always snooozing...siesta time every 20 mins..so dont bother yrselves

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written by Nonama Nomane, February 12, 2008 | 22:53:03

“plagiarism is the highest form of flattery”
Bukan plagiarism tapi revised and update version.
Sebab author dah tak ada, so AAB pun claim stake lah.

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written by Badaksumbu, February 13, 2008 | 01:02:12

Bukan revised or updated version, tapi hijack which can amount to stealing dia kena permission dulu from the author before allow to revise or update.Shortly means these people don't read or if they read they can't remember, that is why they forget everything easily after general election.