Sunday, July 29, 2012

REVISITING A 2008 OPEN LETTER……

An Open Letter to all DAP Leaders and Members,

by Loi Bih Siang, Benjamin

Friday, 29 August 2008 17:20


The majority of the Malays support UMNO; and UMNO has plundered and mismanaged the wealth of this country with impunity. Therefore, to change the fate of our nation is to change the mentality of the Malays. This is the ONLY solution!

Without doubt, DAP has struggled and fought fearlessly and tirelessly over the past 4 decades aspiring to build a democratic and progressive Malaysia regardless of race and religion. However, I can only conclude that over the past 4 decades, DAP has completely failed to fight against the UMNO hegemony in the country.

DAP had never prepared itself to be the alternative of BN until 08 March 2008. And we have to acknowledge that DAP had been dragged and manipulated by UMNO to become or at least seen to become a Chinese-Chauvinist political party. The fact is that without PAS or Anwar Ibrahim, DAP will NEVER be able to engage the Malay electorate. The leadership of DAP has long been luxuriating in being recognized as the "Chinese Hero" or "Non-Muslims' Rights Defender".

Since DAP's inception in 1966, the Party has failed to recognize the basic and simple fact that it is the Malays who decide the sort of leaders they want and they have voted UMNO in for 12 consecutive General Elections.

UMNO had always been perceived as the sole defender of Malay supremacy with their special rights and privileges, even if it is at the expense of other ethnic groups. It doesn't require complex political analysis to understand that the MAJORITY of Malays had always been staunch supporters of UMNO. If they refuse to change their voting preference, the status quo is going to remain. The more we challenge it, the stronger UMNO will be. Thus, for DAP to directly clash with UMNO will further enhance its image as a Chinese-based party and provide UMNO with an opportunity to have more Malay sympathizers.

An example is, if they increase the number of scholarships for non-bumis, UMNO can easily tell the Kampong Malays that they have succumbed to the pressure of MCA, Gerakan and MIC. The Malays will immediately give their strong endorsement to UMNO to defend their rights. DAP, as one of the strongest opposition parties in Malaysia, is still failing to comprehend the racial game played by UMNO.

Instead of directly engaging the Malay electorate, DAP chooses to play the ZERO SUM GAME with MCA and Gerakan. These 3 Chinese-based political parties lack the basic political wisdom to survive independently in our multi-racial country where Malays/Muslims are the majority. At least we know UMNO can easily survive by means of communalism and form the government with smaller political parties.

No matter how hard DAP argues or debates with MCA or Gerakan, it won’t change the fixed mindset or mentality of the Malay electorate. Neither will MCA or Gerakan be forced to change the mindset of the Malays by DAP!

Remember the iron fact that the majority of the Malays support UMNO; and UMNO has plundered and mismanaged the wealth of this country with impunity. Therefore, to change the fate of our nation is to change the mentality of the Malays. This is the ONLY solution!

As our most respected Regent of Perak, Dr. Nazrin Shah put it, "The Malay mindset is a crucial factor in our nation's stability”. Dr. Nazrin further elaborated that, “racial prejudice can be erased if the Malay mindset is stable and comfortable towards forging harmony. It is a pre-condition to our nation's stability".

May I ask Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, Karpal Singh, or even the writer Liew Chin Tong, how much has DAP done over the past 40 years to change the mindset of the Malays? How much has DAP done to win the trust of the Malays? How many times has DAP challenged UMNO in open debate on the academic performance of Malay students?

Instead of getting closer and winning the hearts and trust of the Malay electorate, DAP has chosen to fight with MCA and Gerakan to play the role of Chinese Hero.

Worse still, after struggling for more than 40 years in Malaysia’s political history, DAP still doesn't have the slightest inkling of what "political courtship" is all about. Even the MOST STUPID salesman knows how to be courteous to customers and win their trust.

DAP chooses to shun Malay electorate and frighten them by:

a) Refusing to wear songkok,

b) Raising the issue of Social Contract,

c) Immediate abolition of positive discrimination policies

It's made me wonder whether DAP is paid by UMNO to strengthen their grass root supporters! If I were a DAP leader, I would ostentatiously wear the Songkok to pro-actively court and seek Malay support for DAP. I would put aside the issue of the Social Contract and would clearly and carefully pinpoint the weaknesses of the NEP to the Malay masses before revising it.

If the Umnoputras liken the fate of the Malays in Penang to the Malays in Singapore, how is YAB Mr. Lim Guan Eng going to answer this question or "accusation"? What YAB Mr. Lim Guan Eng will do is to imitate his predecessor Dr. Koh by keeping his mouth shut and be speechless. Silence means consent!

DAP should pro-actively and sincerely urge the Malay masses to look beyond the tiny island of Singapore and focus on the plight of Malays in Batam, Bintang, Karimun and even the slum areas in Jakarta. Ask them to compare whether Singapore Malays are better off or Batam Malays are better off.

I can help organize special tours for all the Malays/bumiputras in Malaysia to visit all the Indonesian islands surrounding Singapore to see for themselves how the Malays there are living in abject poverty and sordid conditions. Many young girls in Batam, Bintang and Karimun have to prostitute themselves to feed their family. They are also deprived of the opportunity to receive basic education and training. And we know many of them have to leave their families to become maids in Singapore and Malaysia.

We should challenge UMNO – NOT to protect the Malays in Singapore, but the Malays in Batam, Bintang and Karimun! We are not defending Singapore, but we have to speak the truth to the Malay masses. Enlighten them and so they won't be blinded and misguided by UMNO. Shame on our Education Minister who expressed the need to travel to the UK to save "our" so-called prodigy Sufiah. He should go to Batam Island to join the UN's efforts to curb child prostitution!

For DAP’s information, Singapore Malays have progressed very well. Over the last 15 years, they have improved significantly in their academic performance. Singapore Malays have the highest percentage of home ownership as compared to the Malays in Malaysia and Indonesia! DAP does not have to defend PAP, but I would encourage YAB Mr. Lim to invite Dr. Mahathir for a telecast debate on the plight of Malays in Singapore.

Dr. Mahathir always reminds the Malays in our country to look at the Malays in Singapore, how “miserable” they are without firm control in politics. For Mahathir's information, the Singapore Parliament Speaker is a Malay and the Finance Minister an Indian Muslim like Mahathir. And so far, I have not heard of Singapore Malays being maids in Malaysia or Indonesia, and neither have I heard of a large number of young Malay girls in Singapore prostituting themselves to feed their family.

As Islam is the official religion of Malaysia, DAP leaders should openly and publicly support the teachings of the Quran in our country. I voted for PAS on 8th March to close down casinos, horse-racing, 4D and TOTO. Non-Muslims have long been paying a second tax to the UMNO government by "gambling-off" their whole family savings and children’s education to win the trust and respect of Malays and Muslims.

DAP should advocate the closure of casinos, 4D, TOTO, and horse-racing as all these vice activities operators are UMNO agents. They take gambling money from non-Muslims and pay it to their UMNO Master. To cut off this source of revenue for UMNO, DAP should explain to the non-Muslim community how this gambling system works in Malaysia – and teach UMNO a lesson as we must expose UMNO’s hypocrisy!

Unfortunately, DAP leaders don't appear to have the intelligence, wit, courage and political will to have the paradigm shift and think out of the box politically. As mentioned earlier, DAP is just a political party helplessly manipulated by UMNO. By just simply advocating the banning of gambling, DAP could win the respect and trust of Malays and Muslims plus save many non-Muslims from bankruptcy and family problems. But most importantly, it cuts off a large chunk of revenue from UMNO. ONE stone killing 3 birds.

Instead of shouting and arguing with ridiculous Umnoputras in Parliament, I urge DAP to instruct each of their members to befriend at least 10 Malays to explain to them the challenge of this ever-changing globalized economy and how we have to work together regardless of race and religion for a better Malaysia. When the Malay mindsets change, Malaysia will change; and vice-versa.

DAP, hear me and hear me well. You may be sincere, but you are sincerely wrong in Malaysian politics. Go and study what made UMNO strong. Do your political analysis. Also, DAP, you must remember that PAS is your true friend, even though they talked with UMNO. They are righteous and godly people that won't succumb to the temptation of money. That is not the case with Keadilan. Except Anwar and a few top leaders, many Keadilan people are still carrying the UMNO-DNA, as we have witnessed with the running dog Ezam and Nalla betraying the party.

DAP, you should acknowledge the fact that the special rights and position of Malays/bumiputras are enshrined in our constitution. You have to respect it. You must have a complete and comprehensive Malay agenda to compete with UMNO. For example, the Penang state government can provide free but compulsory tuition for Penang Malay students at schools. DAP must cultivate and nurture the Malays in Penang to excel in academics and be able to compete on equal footing with others. Penang Malays must be the locomotive change of mindset to the rest of the Malays in our country. If DAP fails to change the Malay mindset in Penang, DAP will never be qualified to be addressed as a "National" party.

Lastly, DAP, you still have a long way to go and you really have to learn again who's given UMNO power. Go to their power base, seize their power and cut off their power supply! For a progressive and better Malaysia, wearing the songkok is a trivial matter.

If necessary, let Anwar’s new cabinet be full of capable Malays like Dr. Syed Husin Ali, Dr. Azly Rahman, Dr. Bakri Musa, Tuanku Abdul Aziz, etc. to prove to the Malay masses that we, Chinese, are not power hungry; we don't choose to "pegang" so as to destroy their livelihood as UMNO has claimed. We can prove to them that even though there is only 1 Chinese Minister in the Cabinet, it is still okay to us if the highly capable and honest Malay leaders can lead our country to greater heights and serve the rakyat wholeheartedly regardless of race, language and religion!

Please learn, understand and even master the UMNO's Art of War in Politics.

"Know your enemies and know yourself, hundred battles hundred victories" – "Sun Tzu’s Art of War".

FOR A BETTER MALAYSIA

Hidup Malaysia...

Mr. Loi Bih Siang Benjamin

Political Scientist

21 comments:

najib manaukau said...

There is a saying that if the cows do not want to drink there is no way anyone can try to make the cows do. Not even Benjamin Loi, the Political Scientist therefore the future of Malaysia cannot depend on these cows. Just be prepared to go bankrupt and only then will they realise and learn from the lesson !

Anonymous said...

I wholeheartedly agree with this Mr. Benjamin's analysis. DAP pls read this and change.

Anonymous said...

DAP have become big headed after 2008. They need to be taught a lesson in the coming GE.

Bedul said...

Touche. Good one Benjamin. You think like a Malay unlike 99 per cent of Chinese including Uncle Zorro.
For a start, just wear the songkok for Muslim functions, investitures and Parliament and Dewan sitting.
It's just a head-dress and wont change your religion or your race!
Just look at the CNN reporters when they are covering stories in Muslim countries, they wear scarves.

Anonymous said...

Insightful, well thought of, and a very detailed observation.

Unfortunately, Benjamin Loi has made some flawed assumptions on the DAP. No Benjamin, DAP are not sincere, DAP are indeed power hungry and want to snatch power from the malays and turn Malaysia into Singapore. Thats where the problem lies. Benjamin, you have a very romantic view of the DAP. Do you really think DAP politicians will ever think like you ? Think again Mr Loi. No way! They have proven one too many times over 40 years to be anti malay and champions of the chinese. 40 years!

The very reason that DAP has given you to write this very article is the same reason why we all think that DAP is indeed anti malay.

Think about it...


-Suffian-

Jong said...

Credit must be given for Benjamin's good observation and thank YOU Zorro for revisiting this 2008 letter though a little 'basi' with situation changed since 2008, the mention of Nazrin Shah, Tunku Aziz and Syed Husin Ali tak boleh pakai lagi dah.

Yes, I agree DAP must seriously do some soul searching especially your 'team perak'! You need to stay connected with your constituents and supporters not only when an election comes along and you need their votes.

Remember 'Rakyat yang Raja' and recall the Perak Powergrab, who were there for you when at your lowest ebb, when the palace gate was closed?

Anonymous said...

Dear Buttercup, oops Bedul,

Of course to some one SO BTN-ised like you, of course DAP and the Chinese cannot think like a Malay.

I really hate to talk about race (this is UMNO's and its supporters' domain for the past few decades ).....but which race and from which party came out to defend a MALAY girl re the statutory rape and went to jail for it ?

When DAP captures Penang, I read that more deserving malay contractors received jobs which previously went to UMNOputeras.

And for the last 2 years, DAP was the party that gave the largest monetary allocations ever ( compared to UMNO) to muslim mosques ? And their people wear shawls and 'proper' muslim attire when they attend muslim affairs, esp those religious events and charities ?

All these I happened to glean through some snippets of reading while surfing the net. Sheesh, I don't even read their Rocket newsletter as I am not a DAP member. I am pretty sure if you avail yourself some of DAP's newsletters and their latest policy statements, you might be surprised to find there their concrete plans on how to get the coverted malay penangites votes.

The very fact that mamak UMNO opposition rep in Penang had been making so much noise and petty baseless troubles almost on a daily basis there is testament of their fear that DAP is making inroads into the Malay voters.

And LGE does speak commendable bahasa to better communicate with the malay grassroots eh ?

It is always easy to come out only NOW, after 22 years of Mahathir with how to win the malay hearts....why only now ? Aren't Benjamin also sleeping all this while ? Ada hindsight, tak da foresight ke ?

DAP is not perfect, and so were other parties, but the political climate of those times, in an era without internet, is vastly different from now. Stop being simplistic.

Anonymous said...

Suffian, do be very careful when u are using a simple and convenient to cross the river!

Anonymous said...

I am chinese and I rather see UMNO-BN in Putrajaya than DAP. I prefer to deal with the devil I know than the devil I dont know.

najib manaukau said...

It is wrong very wrong for the what DAP has done so far but what else can one expects from a mad dog like LKS. What did he run away from Malacca ?
This LKS does not realsie that in 2008 DAP wasn't voted for their policies but the voters then just wanted to vote against the corrupted Umno/Bn. Just a protest vote against the corruption that was and still is going on
As a consequent a lot of the DAP got elected, period.
But it is just wrong so very wrong, if not worse, for those to suggest that the Chinese must bear the songkot just to be accepted as a Malay.
Why must the Chinese become a muslim or a Malay when the image of a Malay muslim is so negative to say the least ? Why are there Chinese becoming Christians,Jews and Hindus and become muslims by enforcement in Malaysia ?
In other words don't demand to be respected just learn how to gain to be respected, got it ? Remember how to lead by example.

bumi-non-malay said...

Mr. Loi Bih Siang Benjamin

I think you are living your life to to fullfill others dream and not your own....How sad!!

This country is for Malaysian and everyone born in malaysia and Orang Asli are the True bumiputera...the malays stole their rights and its people like you that continue the lies of UMNO Malay Born Islam as written in constitution that makes Malaysia the way it is.

Songkok = malay = muslim = born malay....

Can you suggest to Sultan-Agong-UMNO-PKR-PAS Malays to drop the Lies of Born Malay = Islam and that they are not true bumiputera?

So must all Chinese, Indians, orang Asli wear songkok to convince you that we are Finally Malaysian and working for a better Malaysia??

I will not live my life serving other people belief and lies...and that is the entire Malaysia UMNO malays+ BN + Agong + Sultan....who believe born malay = Islam or they were here the same time as Orang Asli......

There you go try another tactic to win a war without having to degrade your own dignity!!

zorro said...

Jong, how are the Fuchow cousins doing?Go campaign in Lenggong,can?

Anonymous said...

Zorrow!
This guy thinks he knows best for DAP but atlas he knows nuts....He sounds more dangerous if let loose with his thinking...Just because we chinese can have a serious party that talks to the government and fight for our rights is good enough...Let me tell you Mr.Benjamin its difficult to please the malay mindset or understand them. Do you ever experience their ways of bullying you chinese and when we correct them they say we aRE DEMANDING especially that moronic ex pm half breed indian.
Do you know what "kETUANAN " IS ?
vERY SURPRISED that Zorrow let you slip through this blog...a sheer waste reading such trash!
If DAP were to listen to this bugger its better we bag our bags and head for China on a slowboat!

Anonymous said...

Well said .It opens up a sensitive scenario . There are more factors than these arguments.Like life styles,education,traits of thoughts,
foods,mentality tendencies ,perceptions of other races & wealth ,political thoughts and child-hoods education , brother-hood,kampong-hood,faith pride & belief in religion,who help them in time of difficulties
......can they see things logically
as we do...the truth ..nothing but the truths .....or ..there are hidden agendas...associated with.....

wandererAUS said...

Let's not be too patronizing to the peeled dicks!!...when the black gold runs out, they can then, fu*k each other. Yes the strategy DAP uses may not be appropriate for men who prefer to seek comfort using clutches. UMNO bastards can continue to milk these poor ignorant souls but, for how long? Whether DAP gets the support of the Malay will not change the political landscape of Bolehland, let PAS and PKR do the courting and DAP concentrate on good governance.

Jong said...

Sure Bernard, will be glad to contribute. Let me know when you have a date so that I can plan. Email me.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...

You must be the fuckng celup Chinese cunt!!!

July 30, 2012 7:59 AM

Anonymous said...

Why must one wear songkok? Original malaysian culture include those traditional dresses from sabah and Sarawak. Why malaysia is only Malaya? Does it not include Sabah and Sarawak? DUMNO has spill poison and change the History of only Malaya and ignore those from sabah and Sarawak. DUMNO has changed Malaysia to Malaya-ese and those Bumis are from East Malaysia are lesser than those in the Wild West.

Raj said...

I would agree to a certain extent the writer's strategy on winning the Malays. Unfortunately, as you read on the article crumbles on the inadvertant path of Islamizing the nation to win the Malays over denying our basic civil rights. This i clearly misguidance. As it is DAP has made much improvements in becoming mulilingual in its ceramahs and addressing national issues. We to follow the writer's proposa 100 % woul mean leading Malaysian don a rather narrow path into a dead end. Islam, considers non-muslims as infidels and non-existant as far as the religion foccuses. Can someone explain in all fairness how a multi billion fortune left by a non-mulim tycoon be inherited by the clandestine muslim wife and son, ignoring the wife and children (about 20 inheriters) of the main non-muslim wife under sharia law ? Get answers to these before you go further down the road.

charleskiwi said...

One and only reason why I don't want to wear the songkok is because I do not want to be tainted with being lazy and corrupted !

Org Singapura said...

Dear Zorro
Bingo! Mr.Benjamin Loi has got it, I wouldnt dare say the whole picture, but he's there alrite. LKY did it for the sake of Singapore as a whole and the Malays swallowed their pride. In the end we're much stronger by it.

Being muslims racism is abhored.
The Prophet's remind us abt racism in his last sermon -
..... all mankind are from Adam and Eve. No Arab has superiority over non-Arab ....... (go google lah dont be lazy)
To the non-Malay, I'd say - bearing the songkok in parliment or anything official is a must but other than that it's plain superficial. Lagi pun tak nampak hensome kalau tak sincere, dont force yrself k.

Those anons against Benjamin Loi's view - what happen to the much hype 1Malaysia huh? Now thats hypocricy in the highest order.