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Muhyiddin supports 1Malaysia?

By Ding Jo-Ann | April 6, 2010 8 Comments

“The goal of 1Malaysia is to make Malaysia more vibrant, more productive and more competitive — and ultimately a greater nation: a nation where, it is hoped, every Malaysian perceives himself or herself as Malaysian first, and by race, religion, geographical region or socio-economic background second and where the principles of 1Malaysia are embedded into the economic, political and social fabric of society.”

WRITE-up on the Government Transformation Programme (GTP), which was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in April 2009. The government’s official website states that the GTP’s objective is to transform the government to be more effective and accountable. It also declares that the GTP is aimed at moving Malaysia to becoming an advanced, united and just society with high standards of living for all. (Source: www.transformation.gov.my)

“I am Malay first. I am a Malay first, I want to say that. But being Malay doesn’t mean you’re not Malaysian. It is not a race issue, it is a gagasan. I don’t think (Lim) Kit Siang understands what gagasan Malaysia is all about.

“How can I say I’m Malaysian first and Malay second? All the Malays will shun me and say you’re not proper. Every Indian is Indian first. Can Kit Siang say he’s Chinese last and Malaysian first? He acted more Chinese than anything else.

“Parti [Kit Siang] parti chauvinist. Parti kita parti kebangsaan.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, responding to the challenge from the DAP’s Lim for him to resign for failing to state he was Malaysian first, in line with Najib’s much promoted 1Malaysia concept. (Source: Muhyiddin: I’m Malay first, malaysiakini.tv, 31 Mar 2010)

“Saya Malaysian first, Chinese second!”

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang during the Parliament debate on the Royal Address on 18 March 2010. (Source: Hansard, 18 Mar 2010, page 109)

“Orang Cina rasa sekarang, walaupun mereka kumpulan minoriti, merekalah menentukan kerana kelompok masyarakat Melayu sudah berpecah tiga kumpulan. Masyarakat Cina tidak berpecah, mereka bersatu, setidak-tidaknya dari segi semangat apabila bersama-sama membuat sesuatu keputusan.

“Dalam keadaan ini, mereka boleh menentukan keputusan sesuatu pilihanraya dan apabila kesan itu dapat dilihat dalam pilihanraya umum lalu dan beberapa pilihanraya kecil, mereka fikir sekarang mereka lebih ada kuasa penentu, bukan sahaja Cina malah masyarakat India pun begitu …”

Muhyiddin, commenting that non-Malay Malaysians now perceived themselves as “kingmakers” due to the three-way split in the Malay Malaysian vote. He had called Malay Malaysians to unite under Umno to ensure that Malay Malaysian political power was not diluted. (Source: Kuasa penentu Melayu hilang jika terus berpecah, Utusan Malaysia, 12 April 2009)

“[Championing Malay Malaysians] has been our cause in the past, present and in future, insya-Allah. This is most important and we cannot ignore it.”

“I want to stress that we will not abandon or ignore our responsibility … that we will continue to defend the policy and the spirit of the New Economic Policy.”

Muhyiddin, pledging that Umno would continue championing the cause of Malay Malaysians. He defended the party from critics of the government’s economic liberalisation, saying bumiputera had to make an effort to be self-reliant.

Muhyiddin, however, pledged that the party would never abandon its responsibilities to uphold the special privileges of Malay Malaysians, which would continue to be protected as long as Umno remained in power. (Source: Umno will always protect Malay rights: Muhyiddin, Bernama, 18 Jul 2009)

“… In Malaysia and in many parts of the world and in all Muslim countries, Allah is the only God for Muslims.

“We cannot equate Allah to God in the other religions and even in Christianity, which believes in the concept of the Trinity.”

Muhyiddin, speaking at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies in the United Kingdom. He said he had received many messages from non-Muslim friends in Sabah and Sarawak on the issue of the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims.

According to Muhyiddin, his non-Muslim friends felt the whole crisis could have been avoided if Christians would just refrain from using “Allah” to refer to God. (Source: ‘If only we Christians would not use Allah,’ friends tell DPM, Malaysiakini, 14 Jan 2010)

“Saya mahu bertanya kepada kerajaan Pulau Pinang khususnya (Lim) Guan Eng. Adakah dia mahu menunjukkan satu sikap baru bahawa dia tidak lagi bersama mendukung hasrat dan cita-cita umat Islam di negeri berkenaan?”

Muhyiddin, challenging Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for jeopardising Muslim interests in Penang after reports emerged that the state government had cancelled a Maulidur Rasul procession. Muhyiddin said Muslims in Penang should “open their eyes” to the truth of the state government’s attitude towards Islam. Lim denied that any such cancellation had occurred. (Source: Maulidur Rasul: Rakyat P. Pinang perlu buka mata, Utusan Malaysia, 12 Feb 2010)

“I’ve been in politics for over 40 years and the people know what I’ve said and implemented; there is no need to prolong the issue.”

Muhyiddin, defending his “Malay first” remark, arguing that people could see for themselves who was racist. (Source: Muhyiddin refuses to be dragged into polemics over 1Malaysia, New Straits Times, 1 Apr 2010) favicon

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Filed Under: Found in Quotation Tagged With: Allah issue, bumiputera, Chinese, Indians, Lim Guan Eng, Lim Kit Siang, malay malaysians, Muhyiddin Yassin, race issues

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sean says

    April 6, 2010 at 8:38 am

    I realise politics is all about catchy nonsensical phrases to capture the attention of the easily distracted masses, but I think there’s only a Pyrrhic victory in “are you a racist first or second?”. In the great race to beat racism into second place, what kind of lead does nationality currently have? Will we have to watch the video reply to place a hair between them both dipping for the line?

  2. Neptunian says

    April 6, 2010 at 10:53 am

    In a rather wealthy family, the teenage child has been spoilt rotten. One day, when he turned 42 years old – no longer a child one would say – the parents decided that he should start to be a little bit more independent and do some work himself. He will be working in the father’s company, so would still enjoy the benefits of being a family member, but would only be at mid-management leel and would have to perform to move higher. NO NO NO, screams the son, if I have to work, I want to be at least a VP in charge of a department. AND you cannot take away my credit card. How am I going to survive without my supplementary credit card? You can work son, and get your own credit card like everyone else in the company. Being family, I will still give you your free car! No other employees at your level have that. NO NO NO, I want my VP position, supplementary credit card and a nice car! I am family, I am family. The other employees will take over the company and turn us into labourers and clerks. Son, that’s not possible, the board of directors are all family and so are all the senior managers – all family. I just want you to learn the ropes and come up to senior management position on your own effort. You can then be proud and the company can grow. NO NO NO – you cannot take away my supplementary credit card!

  3. thokiat says

    April 6, 2010 at 1:13 pm

    Semua peminpin BN, termasuk menteri2, seperti semua kanak2 dan murid2 sekolah akan menunjukkan 1 jari yang kini sebagai simbol 1 Malaysia. Tapi, di mananya semangat atau sekurang2nya tingkah laku yang membuktikan mereka ini betul2 menyanjungi 1 Malaysia yang sudah lebih 1 tahun dilaung2kan.

  4. matfrost says

    April 6, 2010 at 2:43 pm

    In any company, a subordinate who blatantly contradicts his or her boss will likely face disciplinary action. Why is Muhyiddin not punished for contradicting his boss so blatantly?

  5. somethingStirring says

    April 6, 2010 at 3:45 pm

    There never was a 1Malaysia.

    Najib and his deputy and Umno are merely playing games with Malaysians.

    Non-Malay Malaysians foolish enough to trust Najib will vote for him, and therefore their votes go to Umno. The Malays who are foolish enough to think Umno is their guardian angel will vote for Muhyiddin and therefore their votes still go to Umno. Umno will stay in power and loot the country.

    It’s in fact Umno first.

  6. Osama says

    April 7, 2010 at 12:19 am

    [Muhyiddin] has other matters on his agenda. He has been contradicting the prime minister on too many occasions. Really, it is no secret that both do not see eye to eye. One man because of his supposed baggage and having to constantly look over his back for fear of being backstabbed. The other extremely ambitious who would not hestitate to pounce on his boss […]

  7. Azizi Khan says

    April 7, 2010 at 10:54 am

    It is interesting to observe that Muhyiddin says he is Malay first but not a Muslim. Considering Islam does not condone racism in any form, the fact that Muhyiddin put his race first makes him a munafiq / hypocrite.

    And there you go, ladies and gents. This is the calibre of our leaders. This is the Malaysia Boleh! quality that is the envy of other nations. This is the 1Malay(sia) concept that the prime minister is spending millions on.

    With leaders like this running the country, we don’t need enemies, we don’t need Israeli spies. This Najib/Muhyiddin dream team can singlehandedly run Malaysia to the ground.

    Look on the bright side. Since Perkasa is demanding 67% — 67% of nothing is still nothing.

  8. ahoo says

    April 7, 2010 at 1:16 pm

    We need more than a miracle when such a man is given the top post of a nation. Politics is like prostitution to some politicians and selling themselves is no qualm. We need more than mere slogans to bring this nation to be on par with our neighbours. Stop the gravy trains of corruptions and we may be there on time by 2020.

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