How To Shoot Yourself In The Foot

[Adrian Wong]

It's amazing how some "intelligent" people can be counted on to keep shooting their own feet again and again... and again... and again. Even "common folks" like us can grasp the simple concept that shooting oneself in the foot is not only stupid but also incredibly painful. Yet, these "intelligent" folks keep doing it. Why????

I would like to refer to the recent meeting of 200 Malay NGOs which formed a coalition called "Majlis Muafakat Melayu Malaysia", purportedly to "defend Malay rights". Now, this is not a fake coalition of non-existent or fringe NGOs like what BN attempted to foist on a gullible public (or so they thought!) before the general elections.

This coalition includes Malay intelligentsia like Associate Professor Datuk Zainal Abidin Borhan, secretary-general of the Coalition of National Writers (Gapena) and Datuk Aziz Deraman, the former head of Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka. So, we are talking about at least some folks who have some active brain cells.

So what's wrong with them fighting for Malay rights? Well, it's fine and dandy if they are fighting for equal rights or against some kind of unjust discrimination. It's even understandable if they are fighting for their brand of racial apartheid. There will always be racists, even in modern times. Perfectly understandable.

What I do not understand is why they would also want to shoot the foot off their own people. It's really puzzling. I would understand if they want to fight for special rights to freebies and handouts. Heck, who doesn't like to be the favourite son/daughter of a generous and indulgent father?

What I do not understand is why they are insisting that their own race should be crippled against their will. Is it not enough that they be given special rights? Why insist on crippling them? Do you actually believe that crippling yourself will make your father pity you more and give you more handouts? Sheer stupidity.

Take a look at the list of demands that this new coalition "Majlis Muafakat Melayu Malaysia" has come up with :

• Challenging any amendment to the Constitution and judicial system aimed at weakening the sovereignty and position of the Malays.

• Demanding tight control on the building of places of worship for other religions according to size of the community and the location.

• Rejecting any move to bring multilingualism in schools.

• Rejecting the use of English in all tertiary institutions.

• Demanding that Mathematics and Science be taught in Malay.

• Rejecting the notion of multiculturalism.

Let me explain why these demands are stupid, and some are suicidal in nature.


Challenging any amendment to the Constitution and judicial system aimed at weakening the sovereignty and position of the Malays.

Harlo.... It's been years since I studied my General Paper but even I can tell you that it is NOT possible for non-Malay parties to change anything in the Constitution. To change the status of Bumiputras would require not only a 2/3 majority but also the consent of the Kings.

Until the recent general elections, only Barisan Nasional had the power to do that, and guess what, only Barisan Nasional has exclusively non-Malay parties!! Every party in the Opposition is now multi-racial. Even the Islamic party, PAS, fielded an Indian candidate (and a female at that) in the last election!

In any case, BN's loss of their 2/3 stranglehold has wiped out any possibility of the ruling coalition's ability to change the Constitution whenever they feel like it. It has also wiped out your first concern. In other words, your first demand is a stupid waste of your time to demand and for others to even consider.

Although it's amazing to see that such intellectuals would, at this age and time, insist on retaining racial favouritism in the Constitution, I'm pretty sure that our future generations will have a far more advanced mindset. I just hope they will not judge you too harshly for it.


Demanding tight control on the building of places of worship for other religions according to size of the community and the location.

Why stop there? Why not demand for practitioners of other religions to leave the country? Why not demand that all Malaysians must be converted? After all, that's what you really want, don't you?

Do you actually think God cares about who has more churches or mosques or temples? Do you think that God is so childish that He puts numbers above what's truly in your hearts? Yes, somehow I think that that is ultimately what you think God is.

IMHO, religion is a personal matter. It should NEVER be under the control of any government. What goes on between God and I are our PRIVATE and personal business. What gives you the right to decide how many places of worship should be built.. or where they should be built for that matter?

Why should other religions be restricted to a certain quota according to the size of their congregation and not YOUR religion? If we want to regulate places of worship, let's be fair. After all, God demands it of us. So, let's restrict EVERY religion to a certain number of mosques, churches and temples according to the size of their congregations.

Wait.. Now, wouldn't that result in a severe shortage of places of worship for the "other religions"? That's just it. The status quo is already severely AGAINST the "other religions". If you push too hard, they may very well start pushing back and insisting on parity according to your own words, "size of the community and the location".


Rejecting any move to bring multilingualism in schools.

In this age of globalization, people are trying to learn MORE languages to better compete. To insist on teaching FEWER languages in our schools would be tantamount to crippling our children. Now, that is not only stupid, it's suicidal.

Hey, if you want your children to learn only ONE language and no other, it's YOUR perogative and THEIR loss. But don't insist that everyone else must follow you off the cliff. We are not THAT stupid.


Rejecting the use of English in all tertiary institutions.

And you wonder why multinational companies (MNCs) do not want to employ our "graduates".

Compare the quality of the English language in our education system and the demand for our graduates by MNCs and you will see a remarkable correlation. Who wants to employ a graduate who cannot understand what you are asking him/her to do?

Our government's stupid exercise at national pride has already cost us almost 3 decades of damage to our command of the English language when they insisted that students be taught in Bahasa Melayu at the tertiary level. Never mind that our students were also forced to read books that are several years out of date by the time they are translated from English!

It is UNDENIABLE that the English language is the de facto language for science and technology. The latest information is usually available first in the English language. By insisting that English not be used in tertiary institution would be akin to asking all our students to read outdated textbooks.

Maybe you prefer to be treated by a doctor using an outdated treatment methods, as long as he/she can only speak or read Bahasa Melayu. Go ahead. It's your right. Just leave the rest of us ALONE.


Demanding that Mathematics and Science be taught in Malay.

See how stupid they are. They cannot even group this demand and the previous one together, even though they are virtually the same demand. I'm not going to repeat myself.


Rejecting the notion of multiculturalism.

How to reject a notion of the truth? We are a multicultural society, period. There's no way to reject the truth of that.

Well, if you want a single "pure" culture, then you will have to kill or chase all non-Malays out of the country. That includes your fellow Bumiputras in Sabah and Sarawak.

After you do that, just make sure you also banish non-Malay food like roti canai, taufu, putu mayam, fried rice, tom yam, assam laksa, chicken rice, all kinds of koay teow, all kinds of noodles, burgers, pizzas, etc.

Then you can also banish all non-Malay vehicles like that shiny Bimmer or Merc in your garage, your wife's Honda Accord, your son's Mazda and your daughter's Volkswagen. It's time for you to adopt pure Malaysian cars like the Proton Perdana or Proton Waja. Wait... those were based on Japanese cars, so you will have to scrap that as well.

After that, cut off Astro's license so that other cultures cannot pollute your pure culture. Just be prepared to miss your favourite episodes of Desperate Housewives (yes, I know you watch it too!), Prison Break and all other multicultural drivel on the Discovery Channel, National Geographic and even CNN.

Never mind about us. We, of the "other race, other religion" category, will long be gone because we value multi-culturalism, multi-linguism and equality under the law and God's eyes. Just make sure you get rid of everything that remotely smacks of multi-culturalism, multi-linguism and equality. Yeah la.... that includes your Benz and roti canai. Deiii... Just how stupid are you??

[lee_what2004]

Originally Posted by Adrian Wong

And you wonder why multinational companies (MNCs) do not want to employ our "graduates".

I like this part

These people,really

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by lee_what2004

I like this part

These people,really

LOL! Well, it's true. Even my father, who was the HR manager for a steel manufacturer, always had a hard time finding candidates who can really meet their requirements.

[lee_what2004]

Originally Posted by Adrian Wong

LOL! Well, it's true. Even my father, who was the HR manager for a steel manufacturer, always had a hard time finding candidates who can really meet their requirements.

Well, then I'll work hard to surpass those requirement
don't want to follow these generation

[belikethat]

sounds like our ex-vice president

on the humour side ,i would like to add something to the list..

"doing programming"

[The_YongGrand]

They sure have the most defeatist mindset in the whole world... why want to deny and restrict everything??

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by The_YongGrand

They sure have the most defeatist mindset in the whole world... why want to deny and restrict everything??

The thing is what they are suggesting is SELF-defeating. It's like shooting the kneecaps off their own children.

[The_YongGrand]

Originally Posted by Adrian Wong

The thing is what they are suggesting is SELF-defeating. It's like shooting the kneecaps off their own children.

Breaking the legs and get the crutch too?

Oh man, how on earth did they get such thinking? Isn't that usual that everyone have to work, do our best and hope for the best? Why want to 'close' down on themselves, calling them 'handicapped' and then refuse to even stand up even with a good opportunity??

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by The_YongGrand

Breaking the legs and get the crutch too?

Oh man, how on earth did they get such thinking? Isn't that usual that everyone have to work, do our best and hope for the best? Why want to 'close' down on themselves, calling them 'handicapped' and then refuse to even stand up even with a good opportunity??

Well, I don't think the others feel the same way. It's just that they "claim" to represent everyone else.. and they want to apply "their demands" on everyone. I think it's grossly unfair (and unkind) even to the people they claim to represent.

[Adrian Wong]

For those who think that these people really represents the Malays, well, let's see what some of them think about their new "reps"...

Malay lordship being devoured by pieces! Who did it?

Saya memang menanti resolusi yang dibuat oleh Majlis Permuafakatan Melayu pada Ahad, 4/05/08. Usaha ini memang baik, kiranya cuba hendak merungkai permasalahan yang kelihatannya Melayu telah berpecah.

2100 orang hadhir, tambah dengan persidangan meja bulat. . Namun tidak berapa nampak ahli korporat ternama yang hadhir. Jika betul tak ada, itu dikira tak cukup 'kuorum'. Maksudnya, ahli akademi, sasterawan, seniman, budayawan diwakili oleh 'top figure', wakil korporat juga mesti lah yang 'top' juga. Faktor penguasaan ekonomi adalah antara tiang paling utama dalam survival bangsa.

Namun, saya kira ia kelihatan tidak menyeluk sampai ke dasar nya. Tidak menyentuh 'the crux of the matter'. 'Holy grail' nya tak jumpa.

UMNO ditubuhkan pada 1946, PAS 1955, PKR 1999. Inilah 3 parti politik yang bernaungnya orang Melayu. Melayu di Malaysia bukan setakat bangsa, tapi ia lebih bersifat institusi.Tapi mengapa sekarang timbulnya isu ketuanan Melayu. Mengapa tidak selepas pilihanraya 1999, atau 2004 ataupun 1987/88 dulu,atau masa 'Ku Li and the gang' selesai 'membakar jambatan'. Apa fasal ramai sangat yang 'paranoid' sekarang ini.

Mengapakah isu ketuanan Melayu timbul??
Isu ketuanan Melayu tidak timbul jika 100% rakyat Malaysia ini Melayu.
Jadi isu ketuanan timbul sebab Malaysia ada berbilang kaum, maka itu, perspektif kaum lain terhadap Melayu itu amatlah penting.
Sebab apakah selama ini Melayu telah berperanan dan berfungsi sebagai 'tuan' yang ideal?

Berbalik kepada mengapakah isu ketuanan Melayu timbul?

Ooooh...mungkin sebab banyak orang Melayu undi calon Cina. Kawasan Parlimen saya pun berpenggal-penggal Cina yang jadi wakil. Cuma sekarang Cina DAP, dulu Cina Gerakan.Tak ada banyak beza lah.

Malahan orang Melayu UMNO sendiri yang suruh undi wakil Cina Gerakan itu. Jadi bukanlah sebab Melayu undi Cina yang menggugat ketuanan Melayu.
Tapi saya tengok sekarang, Cina DAP ini, lepas menang mahu juga dia datang tengok keadaan kawasan rumah orang Melayu. Cina yang dulu, bila dah menang, tak pernah pun datang.


Ooooh...mungkin sebab PAS dan PKR tak memperjuangkan agenda Melayu secara khusus. PAS perjuang Islam universal, PKR perjuang rakyat Malaysia . Kalau di Malaysia, Melayu itu Islam lah, Islam itu majoritinya Melayu lah. (Kita akan bincangkan asimilasi Islam dialam Melayu dalam ruangan lain). Kemudian, kerajaan sendiri yang mempromosikan Bangsa Malaysa, tak kira bangsa lagi, semuanya sama.

Jadi bukanlah sebab 'larut'nya agenda Melayu yang menggugat ketuanan Melayu.

Atau sebab UMNO kalah teruk.

Kalau begitu, cubalah baca beberapa cerita dibawah yang sering berlaku di sekeliling kita. Cerita dibawah menjurus kepada tergadainya ketuanan Melayu. Barah yang memakan dan membaham dengan terang-terang ketuanan Melayu. Ibu kepada segala penyakit yang merebahkan ketamaddunan manusia. Inilah yang meratah hidup-hidup ketuanan Melayu.

Kaya
Dalam sekitar tahun 1998, saya naik teksi dengan kawan saya sebab dia baru mula bawa teksi, dia minta saya tunjukan jalan-jalan di PJ. Kemudian ada seorang perempuan muda menahan teksi dan kami pun berhenti mengambilnya. Dia hendak pergi kawasan sekitar PJ. Penumpang wanita itu peramah, dia yang memulakan perbualan. Lepas itu dia kata orang Melayu banyak yang kaya sebab makan rahsuah. Dia bukan Melayu.Kemudian dia tanya apa fasal orang Melayu suka makan rahsuah, dan menjurus menuduh Melayu ialah bangsa yang makan rasuah. Berlaku sedikit ketegangan dan kawan saya berhenti tepi jalan dan menyuruh perempuan muda itu turun teksi.

"Hidden Procedure"
Pernah saya dan kawan saya cuba mendapatkan TOL untuk aktiviti perniagaan. Apa juga prosedur atas buku kami tunaikan. Apa juga dokumen dan surat menyurat kami dapatkan. Tak ada lagi yang kami tak buat. Orang pejabat tanah kata permohonan kami dah cukup cantik, tak ada masalah, semuanya ada. Keputusan mesyuarat, permohonan kami ditolak atas sebab tak cukup dokumen, padahal dokumen itu tak pernah di minta dari kami.

"macam ini lah, cara yang senang, you jumpa YB dan minta dia tolong luluskan permohonan company you 'secara dasar'. Dan kalau dia nak 'further discussion', you discuss la".

Kata seorang kakitangan kerajaan yang simpati dengan kami.

Saya kerap juga membantu untuk buat business plan permohonan dan bantuan kewangan dari agensi kerajaan dan swasta. Juga melibatkan 'middle man' dan seperti biasa memang sudah ada sejumlah mark-up yang dibuat untuk komisyen dan portion tertentu.

Komisyen
Seorang saudara saya bagitahu dia cukup marah dengan seorang ahli politik di kawasannya.

"dia lah yang repot kat DBKL sebab saya tak bagi lori jalan kat tempat saya, sebelum itu dia pernah warning saya kalau DBKL datang saya yang susah"

"DBKL datang aku bagi tahu kat diorang," Encik, jalan ini jalan kereta, bukan jalan lori, tanah jalan ni masih tanah saya, tengok geranlah..saya ada hak buat palang nak kawal kederaan apa yang lalu kat sini . Dulu saya buat komplen pasal longkang tepi jalan ni pecah sebab lori ni ulang alik...satu orang pun tak datang... sekarang saya buat palang, encik datang pulak"

"developer tu bagitahu, ahli politik itu minta 50 ribu, dia boleh settlekan" sambung saudara saya itu.

"sekarang developer tu bayar bulan-bulan kat aku..kira bayar sewa untuk guna jalan lah...hari itu aku bagi diorang besarkan sikit jalan..diorang bayar kos dan sewa berapa besar tanah yang dipakai...developer pun setuju macam tu..sekarang ok dah"

Saya cakap bagus lah dan memang patut macam tu sebab kita kena tunjukan hak apa yang kita ada.

Kuasa lambakan duit
Dulu saya kerja dengan sebuah MNC, kilang pengeluar makanan ekspot. Tapak kilang itu disewa bersebelahan dengan pengusaha kilang ais yang beroperasi di situ juga. Satu hari berlaku kebocoran gas ammonia di kilang ais itu dan gas nya masuk ke kilang saya. Kejadian berlaku tengah malam. Penyelia bertugas di kilang saya telah menelefon bomba dan insiden itu melibatkan beberapa pekerja saya dan pekerja kilang ais itu masuk hospital.

Pemilik kilang ais itu telah mempersoalkan mengapa penyelia kilang saya menelefon bomba. Hairan, kerana itu melibatkan nyawa pekerja, mestilah talipon bomba. Hasil siasatan bomba rupanya kilang ais itu tidak memenuhi piawaian yang ditetapkan dan tiada rekod penyelengaraan. Sebenarnya, selagi boleh mereka tak mahu libatkan pihak berkuasa.

Beberapa bulan kemudian, kilang ais itu mendirikan dua bangunan baru. Saya memang prihatin tentang pembinaan bangunan. Bila saya cuba cari mana signboard pembinaan, peliknya, tiang pun tak nampak. Sewaktu kerja pembinaan berjalan, salah satu tingkatnya terbakar, boleh kata kesemua staf pentadbirannya turun melihat, tapi tak satu kereta bomba yang datang. Kebakaran itu dipadamkan oleh pekerja mereka sendiri.

Pelik tapi benar, macamana situasi diatas berlaku.Paling menarik, dalam insiden kebocoran ammonia itu, pihak bomba telah buat quarantin bangunan yng terbabit, salah seorang pengarah kanan kilang ais itu boleh menarik dan mencampakan tali rentangan bomba itu. Macamana dia boleh bertindak berani dengan melanggar kuasa pihak bomba.

Pada fikiran saya dia mungkin fikir tentang kuasa duit yang telah dia lambakan pada orang-orang tertentu.

Cerita-cerita diatas biasa berlaku di bumi yang pernah dikenali sebagai Tanah Melayu . Ada beratus malahan beribu cerita yang sama boleh dicatit jika ditemuramah orang Melayu kebanyakan di setiap pelusuk bumi Melayu ini.

Maknanya, dengan kita tak perasan orang Melayu telah membudayakan rasuah. Dengan "slow and steady" , ia telah menjadi salah satu set nilai dalam budaya Melayu. Lebih tragik lagi, halal haramnya dah bertindih satu sama lain.

Tak perlu saya panjang-panjang kan topik ini. Fikirkan lah masak-masak. Siapa sebenarnya yang merosakan nilai-nilai orang Melayu Islam. Siapa yang menjual ketuanan Melayu.

Janganlah kata hanya parti politik saja yang boleh menjamin ketuanan dan penyatuan orang Melayu. Dah namanya parti politik, mestilah ada yang membangkang, mesti ada musuh, mesti ada cantas mencantas. Orang Melayu hanya boleh bersatu dengan payung Islam saja. Malahan kalau semua orang Melayu 100% menyokong PAS , PAS sendiri pun akan rosak sebab terlalu dominan, tiada chk n balance. Sebab bila kita sembahyang dimasjid, kita tahu Kuasa yang disembah, tidak melihat parti politik kita. Hanya penyatuan dengan nilai-nilai yang betul saja yang boleh menyelamatkan orang Melayu.

Seperti tertulis diblog ini pada 4/4/08. "Protecting Malay is to nationalise Malay"

"Ketuanan orang Melayu hanya dapat dipertahankan dengan semangat kebangsaan bukan semangat bangsa. Mempertahankan ketuanan orang Melayu bukan terletak pada dasar dan polisi kerajaan. Ketuanan orang Melayu bergantung pada bagaimana orang Melayu hendak dilihat dari kacamata orang bukan Melayu. Penghormatan bukan suatu yang diwarisi tetapi diperolehi dari masa kesemasa."

Semangat kebangsaan pula mesti dipupuk dengan strategi dan kualiti yang betul iaitu seperti yang tertulis dalam perenggan awal.

"Bersatu nya orang Melayu untuk menjadi lebih berilmu, bijak, berhemah, rasional dan berugama itulah yang akan menjamin ketuanan orang Melayu. Kualiti-kualiti itulah yang mengangkat martabat orang Melayu dan menjadikan mereka dominan."

Dominan yang dimaksudkan ialah dominan dari segi pengaruh. Ketuanan Melayu memang dah jelas dalam perlembagaan. Tapi untuk pengekalan institusi Melayu dalam konteks Malaysia , Melayu mesti menunjukan kualiti tertentu. Sebagai bangsa yang mengaku dirinya tuan, mestilah mempunyai 'attribute' seorang tuan, teguh, 'independent', 'consultancy', bijak buat keputusan.

Mengaku tuan, tapi mengapa sering saja meminta bantuan dari kerajaan, jatuh lah martabat seorang tuan.

Mengaku tuan, tapi mengapa sering saja minta perlindungan itu dan ini, hilanglah 'independent' itu, macamana bangsa lain hendak memandang tinggi pada Melayu.

Tambah, kerajaan pula yang cakap bangsa Melayu harus terus dibantu untuk bersaing dengan bangsa lain. Eh..eh...tapi mengaku tuan.

Jika mengaku tuan, tapi hak dia saja yang mesti dituruti, macamana bangsa lain nak mengakui Melayu itu tuan yang bertoleransi dan prihatin.
Laungan "Hidup Melayu" dibolehkan, tak apa. Tapi "Hidup Cina" atau "Hidup India ", dikira perkauman.
Aiyoyo... itu macam ka....apa la dey.
"Misti mau cakap "Hidup Malaysia " loh, baru butut mah"

Haaa.... Yang ini kelakar sikit.... mengaku tuan, tapi makanan nenek moyang, belacan dan kaya, orang lain yang keluarkan dan lebih 'establish' pula tu, apa lagi nak cakap. Belum kira kuih Melayu yang dikormesialkan oleh kaum lain. Cuba lah tengok di pasaraya.

Sebab nak menunjuk dia lah tuan, tanah habis dijual dan dipajak, malas nak usahakan. Dapat kontrak habis di 'sub' kan saja. Nak kerja senang, makan komisyen saja. Sampai bila Melayu nak ada 'entrepeneurship skill'. Sedang kan orang lain dah jauh maju.

Hal-hal diatas lah yang mencorakan bagaimana orang Melayu akan dilihat dari kacamata orang bukan Melayu di Malaysia khususnya, dan seluruh dunia, amnya. Disitu lah terletak nya ciri-ciri ketuanan. Kalau nak bincang fasal ketuanan, mesti lah dalam 'real world'. Kalau cakap nak mengembalikan kegemilangan Melayu, itu tak realistik lah.Yang dah sudah mana boleh dikembalikan. Yang sudah jadikan sempadan, yang didepan jadikan haluan.

Usaha penyatuan Melayu bukan suatu yang 'straigt forward' seperti formula matematik,1+1=2, tapi macamana nak jadikan 1+1=10 atau 1000 atau sejuta.

Melayu kena perangi 2 benda yang hampir sangat dengan mereka dan yang mereka kenal sangat, rahsuah dan mental block.

Sepatutnya bukan hal ketuanan dan kedaulatan Melayu yang dibincangkn tapi gejala-gejala parasit dalam alam Melayu yang mesti dibongkar dan dihapuskan kerana itulah yang meratah ketuanan Melayu.

Written by Motro