Whether or not Najib uttered those words is moot
I feel most compelled to respond to Azmi Anshar's article titled "Karpal's poser an urban legend " published in NST (New Spin Times) as per link here http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/23297/84/
Vijay Kumar Murugavell
To begin with I find his description of Najib Razak's ascension to prime ministership as 'the most arduous in the nation's history" to be highly amusing. Despite all sorts of aspersions cast at Najib, he was victoriously elected UMNO President after a "fierce" challenge from Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. So arduous or tortuos it was that Tengku Razaleigh only managed one nomination.This is the first time I heard a walkover win described as arduous.
By convention or tradition if you like UMNO's President automatically becomes the Prime Minister, never mind if he does not enjoy the support of citizens at large, a handful of delegates decided for the rest of the country. The real litmus test of Najib's leadership has yet to come in the form of the 13th General Elections, he has yet to show the courage of calling a motion of confidence in Parliament as challenged by DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang. I cannot help wondering if such a motion was called, will there be another "coincidental" trip by backbenchers to Taiwan?
Much of the turmoil the writer speaks of can be traced to the shenanigans or inept governance by BN. This is nothing new, it is only exacerbated by the fact that we are now seeing a large and organized opposition like never before and BN is finding it difficult to cope with a more potent opposition who continuously expose the follies of the ruling government.
In one sweeping statement he dismisses the controversial links between Altantuya and Najib as a "viciously demonising campaign". The events connected to the murder of Miss Shaaribu are full of unanswered questions ranging from disappearance of immigration records, controversial statutory declarations, disappearance of witnesses, witnesses not called to give evidence (especially Musa Safri- Najib's ADC), an exposed SMS between Najib and the lawyer of ex murder accused Razak Baginda (Najib has yet to confirm or deny this).
The obvious question is, what were the motives of the two cops accused ? Murders do happen but why the involvement of the elite special action unit and not mere hitmen ? Najib has done little to assuage suspicions beyond mere denial. The fact that Gobind Singh was suspended for one year because he was seeking clarification on this controversy raised even more eyebrows.
The writer tries to reason that the attacks against Najib began even before he was Prime Minister for no reason at all. Under Najib's defense ministry there were numerous controversies like deaths in national service, Eurocopter deal,Scorpene Submarines, Sukhoi jets and the controversial patrol boat contract given to PSC a subsidiary of Penang Shipbuilding & Construction Sdn Bhd, owned by an UMNO crony, Amin Shah Omar Shah, who only built 2 boats out of the 6 they were supposed to deliver and that too in deplorable condition.
The auditor general attributed the failure to serious financial mismanagement and technical incompetence stemming from the fact that PSC had never built anything but trawlers or police boats before being given the contract by Najib and the Ministry of Defense. All creeds of cronies are perceived to be protected from prosecution from wrongdoings, in some cases very glaringly so. Meanwhile in Indonesia President Bambang Susilo's in-law Aulia Pohan (Pohan's daughter is married to Susilo's eldest son) is being charged for graft, and the good President did not use his power to meddle.
At the rate reforms are happening in Indonesia, if Malaysia continues on its current trajectory, I would not be surprised if their GDP overtakes ours and the situation will be reversed where Malaysian maids will seek jobs in Indonesia.
The fact that some mischievous people doctored images of Najib wearing a Hindu priest's garb does not negate all the other controversies associated with him. There are many doctored images on the internet even that of prominent opposition leaders, so what?
The question Karpal asked in parliament was on the mind of many Malaysians, myself included :
"What is a person who was involved in ethnic rabble rousing, now in all hypocrisy talking about 1 Malaysia?"
It was a direct and simple question, but the answer was not so direct : "I have never said that. The one who should apologise is the YB concerned, not me." The operative word here being "the YB concerned". Who is the YB concerned ? Does this mean that Najib confirms that though he never uttered those words, another elected representative actually did ? Who is this YB that Najib is talking about?
It was widely reported that in 1987, as UMNO Youth Chief, Najib vociferously defended special Malay privileges in a fiery speech featuring the Malay Keris (dagger) shortly before the government launched a crackdown on extremist elements termed Operation Lalang. At the same rally, banners were hoisted carrying phrases such as “revoke the citizenship of those who opposed the Malay rulers”, “May 13 has begun”, “SOAK IT (KRIS) WITH CHINESE BLOOD”. A Government White Paper entitled “Towards Preserving National Security” tabled in Parliament on 23rd March 1988 records this.
If I were YB Karpal, I would have probed further by asking "In 1987 as UMNO Youth Chief did you organize a rally against the backdrop of such incendiary banners?" Whether he actually uttered those words are a secondary matter, the fact remains that he was among the main players and did not rebuke those who went overboard, As they say tacit approval is a sign of culpability.
Let me put it another way: If Lim Kit Siang organized a similar rally and brandished a Wushu Sword against a backdrop of similar banners, then says that he never uttered the words emblazoned on the banners, will it be an acceptable excuse to UMNO? By similar inference, can Pol Pot (Saloth Sar) also say he is not culpable as he did not personally carry out all those killings?
Something else happened shortly after that incident in 1988 the Penang Butterworh Jetty collapsed and has been left as it is to this day metaphorically echoing the emotional wounds of that has been left in a similar state for the last 22 years.OPS Lalang So the point whether Ismail Kassim, Azmi Anshar or anybody else actually hearing those words being uttered is moot.
20 years from now if Azmi Anshar is still writing, I would not be surprised if the declares the PKFZ scandal an urban legend, coming to such a conclusion due to the fact that nobody was prosecuted.(Sorry for my pessimism but thats how I feel it will pan out)
Azmi then goes on to make this incredible statement:
"Even the masses who voted for the opposition on March 8, 2008 are regretting their impulsiveness and are ready to return to the fold, partly because Najib has taken over and partly because they are tired of the opposition's dogma"
It bears an uncanny resemblance to a quote he made in November last year in his piece titled " Anwar Ibrahim’s obsession with Najib the ‘Dictator’ may be good for the nation " published in NST (Nasty Spin Twister) referring to those who regretted voting for the opposition:
"However, these lemmings did not swim themselves to death hurtling down the cliff. They were merely in purgatory and could as well throw up in embarrassment if they were labeled as staunch Opposition believers. Reincarnated, the lemmings are now scaling back the cliff and returning to the warm, protective pouch of their party of choice".
Are you done laughing yet? Alright then, let me continue.
Azmi Anshar seems to be convinced that the voters are returning to BN, I wonder if it is by delusion, denial or maybe he was on a sojourn to another planet when Pakatan was toppling BN canditates like ten-pins in almost all the by-elections since March 08, 2008. By what fathom of imagination can such confidence be proclaimed when BN appears afraid to call fresh polls in Perak and dared not even contest in the Penanti by elections?
For healing to happen, past wrongdoings must be condemned, apologies tendered and graciously accepted, only the ignorant will quote phrases like the following one:
"Like all up-and-coming politicians then and now, talking to the massive mob of supplicants had always retained a measure of bluster and blowhardiness, better still if nationalism, glory of the race and enemies who try to stifle progress are added in the explosive mix. Ask Khairy Jamaluddin."
To me above is just a fancy way of saying : playing to the gallery, racist, seditious and irresponsible. We as citizens must not accept such boorish displays of politicking from UMNO or for that matter any other group. Make your voice heard by punishing the Party these rabble rousers are associated with at the ballot box.
A word to Azmi Anshar, you may want to consider writing for the food & entertaintment desk, where the superfluous words you use to try and mask "fuzzy logic" will not be scrupulously scrutinized , because political spin does not seem to be your forte.
My other writings reside here : http://www.facebook.com/group. php?gid=6778953884
