No end to race and religion in politics

'But if we talk about eradicating poverty irrespective of race, of uplifting the economy of a national agenda planned not along racial lines, then there can be fairness to all.'

Azizah rallies party faithful, trashes 'ketuanan Melayu'

Gerard Samuel Vijayan: The highlighting of Malay issues by PKR is necessary in the face of incessant attacks from Umno warning that the Malays will lose their rights and become second-class citizens in this country if Pakatan Rakyat wins.

PKR must emphasise four points to placate Malay fears and concerns:

1) the status of Islam remains unchanged;

2) the position of the Malay rulers will be respected;

3) the Malay language will be defended; and

4) affirmative action as defined in Article 153 will continue but will be needs-based as opposed to purely race-based, and in the process only the needy, poor and deprived Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak will be generously assisted by the government.

Malay political dominance will continue under Pakatan but fair, equal and just opportunities will be given to the non-Malays; their religion, language and culture will be respected and accepted. The economy will be made open, transparent, efficient and competitive based on merit, fairness and competence.

KSN: Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, here are some corrections to your 'facts'. The bumiputera equity quoted by independent and credible sources stands at 45% and that means the quota of 30 percent was achieved about 15 years back. If those bumiputeras sold their RM50 billion equity for short-term gains, who is to be blamed? They benefited nonetheless, right?

Regarding the RM2,000 household income, at least they make RM2,000. What about the poor Indians who are without any work, without any skills, and nobody wants to employ them? They have turn to theft and unlawful means to survive. It is a social problem. What about the poor Kadazans and Ibans in similar state?

You are the president of so-called Keadilan - why did you not talk for the poor of all the communities? Your argument and logic is along Umno lines. What about racial representation according to population in the full spectrum of the civil service? Why did you not talk about the 45 percent of the population who are non-Malays?

Monsterball: Azizah deserves to be PKR president, a true freedom fighter like her husband. How many times must Malays be reminded that Umno is using them with selfish and crooked ulterior motives to enrich themselves and the chosen few?

Proarte: "Wan Azizah urged the PKR faithful to continue to back Anwar, whom she said is a 'great man who has been awarded by God to all of us to be our leader'."

This statement is worrying. Did Allah speak to Wan Azizah and tell her that Anwar Ibrahim was ordained to be leader? Did the Hindu gods also appear to her and reveal to her this 'truth'? Did she have a vision of Jesus telling her this as well?

I would advise Azizah and her daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar not to introduce religion into politics. When you do so, you bastardise religion. Talking about Allah ordaining Anwar is reinforcing in people's mind 'ketuanan Islam'.

Religion and politics are unhappy bedfellows. They have been a source of division throughout history. Anwar Ibrahim is paying the price for his unscrupulous abuse of Islam during his political career. It seems to me the Ibrahim family just do not learn. They do so at their peril.

Armour Man: When we discuss richness and poverty in the context of race and religion, we can expect to argue no end. If we talk about eradicating poverty in Malaysia irrespective of race, we talk about uplifting the economy of the poor irrespective of race. If our national agenda is planned not along racial lines, then there can be fairness to all.

I don't get Wan Azizah - while she condemns Umno and the 'ketuanan Melayu' concept, she proceeded to reinforce the image of the 'disadvantaged' Malay population.

OZ: In raising the issue of poor Indians, don't forget that among the richest Malaysians is an Indian (Ananda Krishnan), while the majority of lawyers and doctors are Indians. Study the breakdown of the rich and poor within each race in Malaysia, I believe the Indians are not that bad in terms of economics.

The poor in East Malaysia are due to the results of the BN robbing their wealth; the oil, gas, and timber revenues are taken with the consent of the East Malaysian BN leaders. They themselves approve it. Look at Batu Sapi - even with rotten bridges, they still choose BN.

CarL: The sub-conscious mind was at work, and Azizah's speech was dominated by the issue on Malays. This is the "leader" of a multiracial party? She never touched on any of the hardships of the Indians or the Chinese. If the Malays are used by Umno, then the Indians are used by PKR.

Swipenter: Any party that looks an iota better than Umno/BN in governance has my vote. Just look at how Umno with their two major lackeys in MCA and MIC bastradised the country for themselves for the last 40-odd years. They divided us to rob us blind.

Rolls-Royce: Despite what we read each day of the gross excesses happening in the country, we continue to have a group of people here discussing about how PKR, DAP and PAS have deviated from their objectives, how the Penang state government has victimised the Indians and their shrines built on illegal sites, how the election process in PKR was in disarray, how the DAP is divided so much so they would not be able to govern, how 'ketuanan Melayu' is being undermined and how the mosquito parties from Sarawak and Sabah are being sidelined.

We continue to harp on all these non-issues when the country is being robbed dry, when some bumiputera communities in Sarawak and Sabah are almost being obliterated, when BN parties do not even have direct elections, and when there is not one single evidence of abuse of power or corruption in Penang.

When are these whiners going to wake up?