UMNO has lost the plot on a story called "Malaysia"

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA Youth will demand an apology from Bukit Bendera UMNO chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail over a racist statement he supposedly uttered when campaigning for the Permatang Pauh by-election. [The Star, 27/8/2008]

Chinese groups led by MCA Youth today slammed UMNO division chief Ahmad Ismail for allegedly making racist remarks against the minority community during the recent Permatang Pauh by-election campaign. [Malaysiakini, 28/8/2008]

There was no mention by the mainstream media of what was exactly uttered by Ahmad Ismail. However according to Kwong Wah e-Newspaper and Malaysiakini, it was alleged that the Bukit Bendera UMNO chief said, "Orang Cina hanya tumpang di sini (The Chinese here are squatters)" in a BN campaign speech at Permatang Pauh.

Malaysians can only ask why wasn't the Sedition Act activated this time and charge Ahmad Ismail for his reckless and racist statements.

Ahmad Ismail was later challenged by former Deputy Home Affairs Minister Tan Chai Ho,

“Some people are very extreme and narrow minded. Instead of forging stronger relationships, they are splitting unity. I hope this is the last time we hear such things,” he responded in retaliation to Ahmad's Ismail's comments. [Malaysiakini, 28/8/08]

However, claims of UMNO being a racially-motivated fascist party was rejected by the party Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak (below):

"We have not been racist. Umno has never been a racist party and it will forever not be a racist party. UMNO is a party that stands for all Malaysians." [The Edge Daily, 16/8/2008]

and

"If you go to other places in the region, the Chinese had to change their names and couldn't go to Chinese schools. But here, we let everyone practise their culture. The name Lee Chong Wei is still Lee Chong Wei. This is BN's policy until today," he addressed a 700-strong Chinese audience at the ceremony to hand over a cheque for RM300,000 to the Beijing Olympics silver medalist. [Pemuda UMNO, 21/8/08]

Here are two things worth considering:

1. If UMNO is a party that stands for all Malaysians, then shouldn't it be called United Malaysians National Organisation?
2. Najib was clearly using Lee Chong Wei as his political tool to spread the BN ideology at an award ceremony which had nothing to do at all with politics .

So Datuk Seri, is this how your UMNO stands up for the other races?

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Unfortunately, it was the Indian community that felt the sharpest pain of racial polarization and discrimination practiced by the government. In response to many years of marginalization, a group called HINDRAF (Hindu Rights Action Force) held a rally on 25 November 2007 to make their voices heard. They claimed that their community had been "pushed aside" by the government for far too long and their basic constitutional rights had been denied. This also came in the wake of mass Hindu temple demolitions carried out by the government - some of which were over a hundred years old. In reply, the UMNO-led government had a total of 240 people detained along with several of their leaders under the ISA (Internal Security Act). Apparently, HINDRAF had links to terrorist groups outside of Malaysia and were planning to "attack".

"Of late there have been indications that Hindraf is trying to seek support and help from terrorist groups. The police are concerned over Hindraf's activities and will not hesitate to take harsh action to guarantee the nation's peace and security." said Tan Sri Musa Hassan, the Inspector-General of Police. [Taipei Times, 8/12/07]

However, when asked for evidences for such allegations, the police could not produce any.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi have since called the actions of ethnic Indians involved in the demonstrations as "treachery" and warned the rest of the community to stay away from HINDRAF. [Express India, 14/12/2007]
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On 28 June 2008, UMNO's narrow mindedness was again evident when one of their elected Perak state exco assemblywoman, Hamidah Osman insulted the Indian community of this country by making racist statements in the legislative hall. Again, the mainstream media did not reveal the details on the incident but as Malaysiakini reported, she made the offensive statement that "when you meet an Indian man and a snake, you hit the Indian man first." She was bombarded with protests from angry Opposition exco members who demanded that she retract her racist statements. She refused to back down and continued to press on with her innocence. Hamidah Osman was then eventually "ordered" by top UMNO leaders to apologise to the Indian community. [Malaysiakini, 28/6/08]
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Racial sentiments were also stirred up at the UMNO General Assembly 2007 when Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein who is also Youth Chief wielded a keris and kissed it, which was interpreted as a gesture of Malay supremacy. In his speech he said with great passion,

"I am giving a warning to all MCA leaders to stop questioning the fact that Malaysia is an Islamic State. I am adamant that I am not a naive leader that allows such things to go on. My warning is this: Stop!" [Berita Harian, 21/7/07]

He was not the only one to make such statements. The following were what the other leaders and members said in their respective speeches:

"UMNO is willing risk lives and bathe in blood in defence of race and religion"
- Malacca delegate Hasnoor Sidang Hussein.

"...when tension rises, the blood of Malay warriors will run in our veins."
-Umno Youth exco member Azimi Daim.

"The rights of the Malays should never be challenged. If so, the Malay people will take to the streets and we will see a repeat of the May 13 tragedy. It will be far worse than it was in 1969 and we will make Kuala Lumpur a charred field."
- Information Chief of Umno Youth Razak Idris

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On 6 August 2007, the government again reminded Malaysians that UMNO is not a racist party. And this time it was UMNO Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaludin who reassured the public,

"I don’t understand how the accusation come about – calling us racist. In fact, Umno always emphasises on the power-sharing concept and history has proven it." [The Star, 6/8/2007]

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After major defeats at the March 8 Elections and recently at Permatang Pauh, it is clear that UMNO had failed to learn their lesson and therefore must abandon their racist policies if they really want to save their sinking ship. Our leaders must also realise and accept the reality that Malaysia is not only for the Malays but also for the Chinese, Indians and the other races that make up population.

To conclude and in the spirit of Merdeka, here is a quote from Tun Dr. Ismail, an influential UMNO politician of the 1960's:

"Why did we fight for Merdeka? So that the different races can be divided? That can’t be the way, right?… Something is wrong… Why are we building Malaysia? What Malaysia are we building? What kind of symbol is Malaysia supposed to be?"

Happy 51st Merdeka Day, my fellow Malaysians.

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