… of coming elections …

** Originally posted 3rd August 2007 **
** Edited 20th December 2007 **

While blogging is still legal in Malaysia I shall say this:

I have been pushed both by logic and emotions to align myself against the incumbent administration. I have too many reasons to hate the ruling party I can’t even begin to express myself. I’m just gonna ramble on about the most current thing that has irked me.

“The (coming) general elections is not about politics but the future of the Malays.” – KJ, as quoted by The Star 3rd August 2007

KUALA KANGSAR: Umno Youth has labelled Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – who was once head of the movement – a traitor to the Malay cause.

In making the declaration, Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaludin said: “The (coming) general elections is not about politics but the future of the Malays.”

ingve:
Was that a whiff of racial play? I thought the GE was about the nation as a whole. I can imagine if any of the other component parties saying “It’s about the future of the Chinese,” or “It’s about the future of the Indians,” – heads will roll following another keris wielding moment.

“Anwar is a puppet of the United States and the Jews, thus he must be hounded until there is no more place for him to run to,” he told a state Umno Youth gathering on Wednesday night.

Among the 5,000 people present were the wing’s former chief Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Deputy Information Minister, and Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali.

Khairy said the movement was angered by Anwar’s persistence in wanting to do away with the New Economic Policy, a cause close to the hearts of the Malays.

“He wanted to abolish it simply because he wanted to win the support of the non-Malays,” he said.

Barely a week and a half ago this was released :

The Star, July 24 2007
Political parties should enforce a ban on the race card, and not depend on the Government to crack the whip on members who fanned racial sentiments.

ingve:
One – Who’s been playing the race card all this while?
Two – I’ve never heard the whip crack. Ever. Saw a waving keris though.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said he had suggested that such a Code of Ethics should not only cover all leaders of political parties, MPs and state assemblymen, and party leaders, but also “all players and speakers in the field, including the rank and file.”

ingve:
I wonder if this covers the fella in the picture above too. Unless he’s been exempted through special protection, of course.

“We must not depend on the Government to enforce such a ban. We are looking into the possibility that the main political bodies be the ones to enforce this code on all their members, whether during private meetings or at annual general assemblies.”

He was speaking to reporters after presenting letters of appointments to Institute for National Integration Studies and Training (Iklin) members of the advisory board here Tuesday.

Dr Ongkili was elaborating on the proposal by the Parliamentary Select Committee on National Unity and National Service to introduce a code of ethnics, so that politicians would air their views responsibly rather than fan racial sentiments.

He said the Parliamentary Select Committee had tabled such a proposal to the Members of Parliament recently but had yet to receive any feedback or response.

“However, we have fixed a meeting with MPs on Aug 6 and I look forward to listening to their views.

“We have received encouraging response from the public. In fact, many have complained that it is usually the politicians who utter such irresponsible comments,” said Dr Ongkili, adding that he hoped such a code could be put into place before the next general elections.

ingve:
Again, I don’t recall hearing the crack of the supposed whip.