‘Umno outsourcing racism to Perkasa’

Humayun Kabir

An opposition leader claims that Umno is the hidden hand behind Perkasa, which has been tasked with raising racial issues.

TAIPING: Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) alleged that Umno, after coming under pressure from its Barisan Nasional component parties, has outsourced its racist agenda to Perkasa.

PSM leader and Sungai Siput MP Dr D Jeyakumar recalled how former Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein once held and kissed the keris, uttering seditious words against the Chinese community.

Jeyakumar said this did not go down well with the non-Malays, and many turned their backs on BN.

“Now Umno is outsourcing this kind of racist posturing to Parkasa which is totally outside the party to hoodwink the people into believing that Umno is a changed, moderate party,” he told FMT.

“Umno is being double-faced in using racism and religion on one hand through Parkasa to get the support of the Malay community while (Prime Minister) Najib (Tun Razak) on the other hand is singing the 1Malaysia unity song to the non-Malays to get their support.

“The policy of using a balance of racism and religion and talks of unity is to make the people hostage to the status quo of power. But this will backfire on BN in the next polls,” he added.

Worried about Bersih rally

Jeyakumar said Umno’s claim to be the saviour of the Malay community for the past 50 years does not hold water after the 2008 general election as the race has woken up to the reality that they are not on equal
economic footing like the Umno cronies.

He said the Malay community no longer subscribes to Umno’s political propaganda of divide and rule as the economic rift between the Umno cronies and the community continues to widen.

The PSM leader reasoned that the silence adopted by Umno with regard to Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali reveals the party’s tacit support for the hardcore Malay movement.

Ibrahim recently said that he will lead a counter rally against election reforms group Bersih 2.0′s planned rally on July 9 and Perkasa should not be blamed for any untoward incidents.

Jeyakumar claimed that Umno is worried about the Bersih rally, and are using fear tactics to discourage people from lending support.

Religious and Racial tensions the political trump card for Umno?

By Dullie Haji Marie

Another twist emerged by Utusan Malaysia, by sensationalizing on the issue that unsubstantiated with facts; the Christian leaders were conspiring to replace Islam as the official religion and install a Christian Prime Minister. It is incomprehensible when Islam is constitutionally the official religion of the nation.

Unfortunately, this deluge of lies was further dramatised by Datuk Ibrahim Ali, by waging a crusade against Christianity. The result of Sarawak election is sending a strong message to make UMNO in a panic mode. It will be the likely trend to continue in the coming GE 13. Just make a guess if this incident happens by coincident or is it crafted to destroy DAP directly and indirectly PKR and PAS by begging for the Malays to rally behind UMNO.



However, Malaysians in the West are so much immune on the issue of religion and race. They had been indoctrinated with the issue for almost half a century. The tactic is basically to garner the support from the Malays. Malaysians is now more civil and in general possess the highest level of tolerance and the maturity on the issue of religion and race.

This was well reflected on how they handled the incidents of cow head; the arson of churches over the use of Allah. They are very much aware that the instigation primarily as a political ploy to garner the support of the Malay in the name of Ketuanan Melayu. It is undeniable that the support of the Malays is so vital to keep UMNO in power.

It has been the norm whenever the election is around the corner the same issue is manifested. Usually the issue is non-issue but it was manufactured that the treat is seen to be real. The most flagrant example, on how the same issue, race and religion, was capitalized back in 1990. The incident when Tengku Razaleigh was seen as Christian just only by wearing a Kadazan’s headwear. Normally in Sabah such an act is considered merely as a sign of respect and gesture of friendship. But it was blown up out of proportion in Semananjung with the end result Semangat 46 was trashed. This incident should have been noted seriously by Sabahan and should treat it as a wake-up call on the danger of racial polarization.

Sabahan in generally is not too sensitive on the issue of religion and race. This was proven and reflected by the political history of Sabah. During the Sabah Alliance it was governed by three major parties representing the Bumiputras Muslim/non Muslim and the Chinese.

The tolerance and harmony prevailed until to the era of PBS rule. It was the moment when UMNO making its presence in Sabah politics. It was the beginning when Sabahan indoctrinated on the issue of race and religion. It is an effort to make a smooth way to the entrance of UMNO. Since then, UMNO capitalized on the issue, to divide and rule along the race and religious lines. That lethal strategy is so glaring through gerrymandering and invoking on strategy of giving My Cards to the foreigners.

In reality Sabahan do not subscribe to the ideology of Malay Supremacy as propagated by UMNO. However, most of Muslim Bumiputras are now considered themselves to be as Malay just because they are Muslims as stipulated by the Malaysian Constitution.

The indoctrination is beginning to bear fruit but in the end these Muslim Bumiputras no longer carry the stigma of their origins. This is of a great concern to the future of our generation.

In a long run the Muslim Bumiputras will be marginalized and outnumber with the emergence of new groups creeping into our society. The impact will be horrendous besides the lost of languages and cultures.

Generally, we don’t have the problem on the issue of religion and race. But because of UMNO in Sabahan are willingly sung along and embraced ourselves on the problem imported from Semananjung. But in reality we don’t have the problem here.

We in Sabah had been living in harmony and the issue of race and religion has never been our problem and it has never been our agenda towards the formation of Malaysia.

Sabah is truly a typical example of homogenous society that richly endowed with cultures and creeds and that diversification bonded our unity.

The reality in Sabah is very much mix, we are able to sit together in coffee shops and enjoyed our foods by respecting each other although of different ethnics and creeds.

In most instances, although we are of different religions but most of us are related either through our ancestors or through marriages.

Although we are of different backgrounds but we are related and usually we are often mingling with each and talk over on our problems.

Because we are related it has been the tradition to celebrate social and religious events together. In Sabah, it is very common to see some ethnics embraced different religions. Religion only as barrier to separate them but in reality they are related to each other.

Sabah perhaps is the highest number of mixed-marriages. This is the most unique and the beauty of our culture in Sabah. This precious culture was inherited from our ancestors and it is our duty to protect and preserve them from being destroyed in the name of religion.

Actually our aspiration joining Malaysia is very basic and clear that we want to be treated equally; that is when our rights and autonomy as promised should be respected; that we never dream when religion will be used as a barrier to divide us.

We should not be naive and must be awakened to the political realities. We have to be realistic on pertinent issues that confronting our daily life and on issues that will have tremendous impact to our generation.

The immediate issues that confront us now and that need to be addressed are the increase on the cost of living; rampant corruptions and abused of power; high unemployment and poverty rates and the impact on social problems by the PTI.

The issue is real; we must not derail ourselves from the real issues. The issue of religion is very much superficial and only subscribed by the old school of thought. We should not be trapped with the issue; because it is not real but merely as tool to perpetuate political agendas to hang on power.

This issue will soon be over taken by time, proven by what is happening in the Middle East. We should not subscribe to an outdated ideology that will bring us to the brink of destruction.

The world is borderless awaken ourselves and see on the reality happening around us. The nation and the people will suffer and there will be no gainer, even the perpetrators themselves will also suffer.

The dream to be a progress nation is only realized when the society live in harmony, peace and united. This only can be achieved not through feudalism but through democratic process.

This is the struggles that motivated SAPP for the better future of Sabah.

Dullie Hj.Marie,Vice President of SAPP

Sabah doesn’t need a politician like Ibrahim Ali

Importation and escalation of extremist racial and religious politics into Sabah.

Race and religion have been made used to stir up people's sentiment from time and time again by politicians. This is very disturbing political trend in the country.


We in SAPP must say it loud and clear; we totally disagree and abhor with the way of new trend of politicking taking shape in the country and must not be imported to Sabah.

Malaysians in Sabah don’t find it amusing being not used to it, brandishing hatred of others’ races and religions.


We taught our young at school to behave and treat each other equally and with respect but out side school compound our leaders were scaremongering with all sorts of slogan even lifting kris in the air to show how mighty they were.

On the issue of race superiority, take for example, our Deputy Prime Minister who said, his is Malay first, Malaysian comes second, and how do we reconcile this with the promotion of 1 Malaysia?

The motives of using race and religion as political bashing are non other than to score political mileage to attract followers on one side, whilst destroying the long established harmonious culture on the other.

Constitutionally all citizens are guaranteed of their right of religious freedom in this country, why are we restraining them from practicing their right?

Race has never been a problem in Sabah, we never quarrel about it, neither we quarrel over religion, no exhuming dead body.

Ibrahim Ali is talking about jihad-crusade against other religion, which is very offensive in nature. Why is the government taking it lightly? The Utusan Malaysia is continuingly harping to create racial and religious tension by publishing something, which was untrue such as Christian, is plotting to take over Islam.

Publishers and printing presses in the past were penalised for behaving in the manner they did today. Their licenses revoked, editors and writers were made to resign. Is this not a double standard treatment?

Sabah people are among the most harmonious society in Malaysia, no history of aggressiveness. No experience in racial conflict. For example, we only knew there was a 13th May incident in Peninsular after it was already over. No single communist in Sabah found even during emergency era. That’s the proof.

In Sabah today, especially in urban areas it’s difficult to find a family in a house that make up only by one race. I can quote from my own experience there are sisters and brothers who are Muslim while the mother or father are Christian or other religions. Or among the brothers and sisters they’re practising different religions yet still living under one roof. Do you expect them to hate each other?

Ibrahim Ali is talking about crusade –jihad against Christians, even the most idiotic man wouldn’t do it let alone the normal one. It's really is seen that desperate fight resorts to desperate behaviour!

Ibrahim Ali should talk more about corruption, injustices, abuse of power so on and so forth.

UMNO leaders are the least concerned about Ibrahim Ali's rhetoric, they keep quiet because PERKASA is doing the job for them.

Sabah doesn’t need a politician like Ibrahim Ali.

Wonder also how and what do the Sabah leaders in BN component parties think about this issue?

Haji Amde Sidik

Perkasa imaginary war against Christians

Perkasa, Utusan Malaysia are Umno's tools to win Malay votes at all costs

Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali is trying to wage a war against the Christians in the country by alleging that Islam' position in the country is under threat.

Common sense tells us Malaysians that how in the world can Christianity threaten Islam in this country where the majority of the races are Muslims.

This conspiracy game was first created by Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia, by a ridiculous claim that a group of pastors were plotting to make Christianity the official religion of the nation and appoint a Christian prime minister.

The Perkasa president in his attempt to spark flames told the Christians in Malaysia, "If they want a crusade, so be it. If they say that the peace that we enjoy is not good enough ... we shall take up the challenge. Don't take the silence of Muslims as a sign of fear,” he warned to cheers from about 150 people at a ceramah last night.

“Before our followers fall in this battle, (Perkasa) leaders will first lay down their lives and die sprawling in blood,” he thundered.

Speaking at a function organised by the Komuniti 1Malaysia group of Kampung Kerdas and Kampung Changkat in Gombak, Ibrahim accused the Christians of “challenging the sovereignty and dignity of Malays and Muslims.

Apparently what Ibrahim Ali was a tool under the umbrella of Perkasa to help Umno in their political strategy to unite the Malays in the country by creating fear and hatred among the races.

Previously, he had used race as an issue but religion was used as it happen now a second attempt for maximum effect.

By Jericho