More On The Utusan Malaysia Question

“Apa lagi Cina mahu”? This was the question posed by the pro Government Daily, the Utusan Malaysia, on the heels of the result of the 13th Malaysian General Election. The result had indicated that most Malaysian Chinese had voted for the opposition.

The question attracted great attention and comments, probably partly due to its stark rudeness in nature. Looking at that in English, it almost went like “What does the Chinaman want now?”

Of course Utusan Malaysia could have gently put that question as “Apalagi rakyat Malaysia keturunan Cina hendak lagi?” In English that would sound close to “What does the Malaysian Chinese want now?” Which is more diplomatic. Looks like Utusan Malaysia wantonly did that to get the people, and especially, the Malaysian Chinese to take notice.

And why not? Look at the Malaysian Chinese, now. They are owners of most of the businesses in Malaysia; shops, factories and business services of every kind. In fact, they control the Malaysian economy. Every town in Malaysia is a Chinatown! Of course, this just did not happen out of the air. The Malaysian Chinese worked hard for it, they being inclined or guided towards business since very young. All this happened during the past 55 years’ rule of the ruling party, the Barisan Nasional (initially known as Alliance). Fundamentally, the Malaysian Chinese are well off.

So, actually, it is not wrong for Utusan Malaysia to ask “Apa lagi rakyat Malaysia keturunan Cina hendak lagi?” The question arose, probably, due to some rumblings from the Chinese community of malaysia, both before and after the election.

GE13-Poor Najib

In the 2008 GE(General Election), the ruling coalition party of Barisan Nasional did badly, and it just skidded through to rule the country. The then Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Badawi was blamed for the loss and he was hastened to resign, by the constant demeaning words said to the media, by his predecessor, the evergreen Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad.

The next in line man, Dato Seri Najib then took over the reins. Since then, Najib, to win over the citizens to his side, with the next election of May 5, 2013 mainly in mind, implemented a lot of seemingly beneficial programs for the populace. He rose up the salaries of all the government servants, including that of all the uniformed personnel, like the army and the police. There were the many 1Malaysia stuffs, the most well known of which are the Kedai 1 Rakyat or people’s shops and the 1Malaysia clinics. And several other programs. He gave cash outs which he called as Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia(BR1M). People were smiling and were happy with him. And they knew fairly well that all those 'presents'  were election winning exploits. But they did not mind, as long as they were getting something! And Najib was happy to see, hear and read all the accolades that the media, mostly linked to his Barisan Nasional party, dished out. He was confident he will win the 13^th General Election (or commonly called as GE13) with a remarkable majority. Well, he should be. He, really, planned and worked hard and tirelessly.

Came Election Day! And the votes counting time! Najib was excited with high expectation! But lo! Najib’s Barisan Nasional did win the election but did not get the majority that Najib expected. It got less Parliamentary seats than 2008! In fact, on the popularity count the party fared worse than 2008.

Just imagine what would have happened if Najib had not done all those cash and kind handouts, and implemented all those programs, and the many facilities and financial provision that he had made for the people; Barisan Nasional would have, clearly, lost the election, and the Opposition party would have taken over the country.

Politics is really funny.

Malaysian election quips

It pains me to hear some election candidates say that the grassroots support them. What a pity! I wish they were supported by humans.

*****

 

Journalist and online portal readers had a good time giving comments on the picture of an Indian MIC party member, kissing the cheek of UMNO candidate for Shah Alam, Zulkifli Noordin. Zulkifli had angered the Malaysian Indians for degrading Indians and Hinduism, in one of his speeches. He had since apologized. In a show of conciliatory act, he then allowed the MIC member to kiss him. ‘Kiss and make up’, I suppose. Only that while the MIC member was kissing him, his right hand was holding Zulkifli by the neck, in a strangling position! And it did not go unnoticed by the gleeful news seekers! They were declaring, joyfully, that it was not a conciliatory kiss at all!

One reader said it was a ‘kiss of death’! Ha ha ha!

*****

Almost all the friends that I talked to said they want the ruling party, Barisan Nasional, to win, but not with a two-third majority. They want to clip its powers. And that is why they are going to vote for the opposition. 

I am going to vote for Barisan Nasional because if everyone votes for the opposition then how is Barisan Nasional going to win at all! Great thinking…eh? (wink!)