Recently Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said the Chinese in Malaysia and Indonesia were being "systematically marginalised", needless to say Lee's comments irked the UMNO led Malaysian government. The Prime Minister demanded an apology, and as usual the entire UMNO leadership were up in arms against this "inciteful and racist remarks". In the ensuing drama they have so conveniantly forgotten the Prime Minister's son in law Khairy Jamaludin's remarks in august agaisnt the Chinese community. In case you have forgotten yourself, he said the Chinese here would take advantage of the Malays in the event of a weaker UMNO.
Khairy has of course refused to apologise saying he was merely "defending his race". Sadly Khairy is not the first UMNO politician to utter such inciteful remarks. Lets take Badruddin Amiruldin the MP for Jerai for example, he has used racial slurs in Parliament and in one UMNO general assembly he threatened ethnic minorities against questioning Malay special priveleges saying that doing so is a kin to stirring up a hornets nest and the hornets will destroy the country..clearly threatening those who disagree with him with violence. He of course got away with it, and when he refered to Indian Malaysians as Kelings he refused to apologise.
The point I am trying to make is, UMNO as an organisation has consistently failed to reprimand its members who utter such remarks, And now with Lee Kuan Yew's comments, who are they to take the moral high ground? If anything this statement has once again touched UMNO at a very raw nerve...UMNO uses racial politics to stay in power. They go on talking about the Chinese bogeyman, creating a climate of insecurity for Malays, who in turn vote for them. Their affirmative action policies has [roven to be a failure with only the elite and well connected benefiting from it. Lee may be right to a certain extent, but he had forgoten to mention the fact that Indians, the Orang Asli and other minorities are also being severely marginalised. But nonetheless these comments should be viewed positively, it has opened up debate unnofficialy while UMNO continues to live in denial. Should Lee Kuan Yew aplogise? I really don't think so...he after all just spoke up his mind which is the truth. Why are UMNO leaders furious about this comment? Theres this Malay saying "siapa yang makan chili, dialah yang merasa pedas"...enough said.
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