I'm refering to a few news articles in recent days - MAS's continuing losses, YTL's couch criticism, Johor's palace intrigue, GST's bad publicity, and UMNO's affirmative action. The substance for these isn't new. The spin is. And all relate to Malay politics.
UMNO was born out of the Malays' demand for a say in their own government of the day. Having secured political power since Independence, UMNO has survived both external and internal threats to its dominance right through 13 General Elections. Sure, the last two saw its position being cut down spectacularly, but the basic Malay support has given UMNO continued control at the polls. Remarkably, the obvious loss of a solid Malay backing didn't destroy enough Malay support for it to be toppled from power.
The internet and all the media have put the political battle in Malaysia in a totally new and volatile environment. Fact and fiction have never been more blurred. And the damage more instantaneous. The key now is who gets to exploit the new media more.
The GLCs are supposed to help the Malays/Bumiputra gain position in the economy. But if the GLCs lose money, how can that be ? Airlines all over the world have lost money before. But the airline industry is here to stay. Lost operators have remodelled. Airlines became leaner and meaner. MAS should learn from this.
YTL can talk now. Could it, would it, before ? Talk is cheap. Gratitude isn't.
Johor answers to the same constitution as the rest of the country. Getting close to the "Constituional" monarchy doesn't mean folding before it. UMNO fought for the continued and proper position of the Malay Rajas, but the elected government calls the shot. Any member of a royal household who wants to weild political power must stand for election, pure and simple.
If only three countries in the world cannot implement GST, then they must lack something everyone else has. Balls.
You can't rationalise history. It's a done deal. This is "Tanah Melayu". But the Malays have never rejected "outsiders". They have benefitted from the growth of the economy because of immigrant enterprise and labour. And the immigrants have benefitted, and have become responsible citizens. They made a choice to come. They were enterprising, and because of the enterpreneurship, the country has progressed, and the Malays appreciate that. And they should. "Affirmative action" is about giving room at the dining table, not stealing from Ah Chong to pay Ahmad. And the table has grown. Let's move forward from there.
............................................................................................................
No comments:
Post a Comment