Do Malaysians have hope for a better tomorrow with these racist UMNO members around? Najib's 1Malaysia to me is just an empty slogan. It appears that he has yet to garner all the support of His UMNO colleagues. Datuk Nasir Safar, his special officer is only one of his special officer who in his eagerness to please his master, has shownn his true racist colour. No doubt about it, thhere are still tens and even hundreds of UMNO politicians who do not subsctibe to Najib's idea of 1Malaysia like the UMNO Youth delegates mentioned in the article below.
Umno brings 1 Malaysia to the UK — Ahmad Naim Mazlan FEB 11— A student in the United Kingdom is exposed to many experiences. The apolitical learn to be political, the apathetic become aware, the previously anti-social join student-run clubs and harness talents they never knew they had.
And beyond these positive developments, I learnt a few days ago that a first-year student such as myself can also find that the Malaysian dream can be stomped even in the land that teaches us the values of democracy, freedom and equality.
I learnt of the impending arrival in London of a large delegation consisting Umno leaders from a few friends in Kelab Umno London.
There was to be a private session between the delegation and Kelab Umno leaders/members. For the record, I had contemplated joining the club which swore to be run solely for the purposes of the welfare of Malay(sian) students in the British capital.
But ever the student I am, procrastination is my middle name. In any case, I was not overly keen to meet with the Umno delegation, which included the Umno Secretary Datuk Rauf (something) and around six or seven Umno Youth Exco members (some look like post-graduate students, so I cannot tell the difference) and ladies, but because food was on my mind I decided to accompany my friends headed down to Malaysian Students Department, or MSD (located next to Malaysia Hall) anyway.
Respecting the private nature of the discussion, I sat outside the modest room housed by MSD gobbling away (self-paid) where the session was being held. Unknown to those inside the room, much said in there was audible from those sitting near the back partition. The window overlooking Queensborough Terrace where MSD is located also makes it quite easy to look into the hall. Armed with a book, I tried reading while sipping teh tarik, but I can't seem to bring my mind to concentrate on reading. Disturbing words of racist politics could be heard from the cracks of the partition.
The only person to take the stage was the quite sizeable Umno Secretary, Rauf whilst the Umno Youth exco members also fielded questions from the floor. I wasn’t eavesdropping, but the booming voices — especially those of Rauf and one Umno Youth member by the name of Megat — made it quite easy to make out the racist remarks which were spilling out of their primary orifice.
In his rant, Rauf called non-Malays “bangsa asing” who were trampling on the Malays in “Tanah Melayu”. I remember a direct quote, “Jangan biarkan bangsa asing pijak kepala kita”, as though the non Malays were interested in little else than seeing Malays fail for their sinister, selfish goals.
There was also a vigorous defence of Datuk Nasir Safar’s recent comments against non Malays which branded non Malays as beggars and prostitutes. According to one Umno Youth exco member present, those comments were not racist but quite contrarily, “just facts”. My oh my, I saw a Chinese couple next to me, trying to tune out the words and focus on their meals.
Throughout the session, non-Malays were treated as the enemy, and whilst they did praise Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, there was no mention of 1 Malaysia, unity or multiracial nation-building. During some moments in the session, they sounded nothing less than Vikings on the path to war — an Umno Youth exco said something to the effect of Umno willing to fight to the death the threats made by non-Malays. These threats were, strangely enough, never detailed.
Regardless, what I found most disturbing is the fact that these individuals, by all accounts, are (I think) high ranking Umno leaders. Rauf, for all intents and purposes, as I googled, is the COO of Umno. Whatever one thinks of Umno’s sloganeering via 1 Malaysia, the fact is that if even these individuals cannot help but promote the diametric opposite to what 1Malaysia is supposed to entail, then what hope is there for Umno and BN?
As much as what Najib says and does count above all else, it is most shameful that his generals are doing their best to derail the Malaysian dream. Najib’s decision to fire his aide only last week was commendable, but he was just an aide. Will he take similar measures against people with positions in the party who speak out against 1 Malaysia? I may be just a kid yet, but if Najib is to succeed as a reformist, then he must make sure the entire — or at least much of the party — follows suit.
Otherwise, even the son of a lifelong Umno member will think twice about voting BN. Sigh. Shaken I was despite not sitting for the meeting. Umno propaganda is indeed powerful.
*Ahmad Naim Mazlan is a first year accounting and finance student in the UK
* This article is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified
By Neville Spykerman 
Umno will lose if it fails to reform, charges the Kelantan prince. — file pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 — Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has predicted that Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) will be voted out of power if concrete reforms are not introduced. “Mark my words. If they don’t change in the next three years they are going to lose the next general elections,” the Kelantan prince and Umno veteran told
The Malaysian Insider in an interview earlier this week.
The Gua Musang MP, whose views seem increasingly at odds with his own party, pointed out that following Election 2008, BN remained in power only because of support from politicians in Sabah and Sarawak.
In Election 2008, the Umno-led coalition suffered its worse result since Merdeka. It managed 140 parliamentary seats, with Sabah and Sarawak accounting for 55, while the opposition Pakatan Rakyat took 81 seats.
However, the parliamentarian said BN may not always have the support of MPs from East Malaysia.
“They can sway either way, and will support the winner,” said Tengku Razaleigh, who added that Umno was established in Sabah only between 1988 and 1989 while Umno did not exist in Sarawak.
He was also of the view that politicians from East Malaysia joined BN because it was strong and could assure them of their rights.
“Why should they continue to back us? We’re dependent on them,” he said, before adding that they would “watch and see”.
According to him, BN was also facing an uphill battle to regain the support from Malays who were divided, as well as the Chinese.
Right-wing Malay Nationalist group Perkasa’s association with Umno was not helping BN, Tengku Razaleigh pointed out.
“There’s no place for rabid racism,” he said, and claiming that even young Malays were rejecting it.
“The more hard line you are, the more frightened people are.”
As for the opposition, Razaleigh said it “appears to be in disarray” but he has been told that such impressions were because of the way Pakatan was being portrayed in the media.
While on the opposition, Razaleigh also voiced his respect for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“It’s admirable that he has done so well,” he said, adding that the opposition leader had fired up the imagination of voters, particularly with the young.
Despite the bleak outlook for his own party, Tengku Razaleigh said all was not lost for Umno, provided they listened to the people and introduced reforms.
“It’s not too late. The people are crying for change, not just housekeeping.”
Tengku Razaleigh has been described as the conscience of Umno but when asked about this, he responded “I don’t know if I am.”
The maverick politician said he was only doing what was right and reminisced about previous Umno leaders, such as Tun Hussein Onn, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, who were respected even by non-Malays.
As for the first prime minister, he said “Tunku (Abdul Rahman) was not only respected but revered.”
He said these past leaders gained the respect of the people, and even of opposition politicians like Lim Kit Siang, by being fair and upholding the Constitution.
“So it’s nothing new, I am just emulating them.”
Umno veteran and Gua Musang MP, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah laments the state of affairs in the country. - Picture by Choo Choy May
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 — Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah is concerned that even Malays are getting disillusioned with the state of the nation and leaving the country.
“Something must be wrong in this so-called Malay Land (Tanah Melayu) when they (Malays) are leaving.” said the Kelantan prince during an interview with
The Malaysian Insider.
The Umno veteran and Gua Musang MP said people, especially the young, are feeling uneasy over developments in the country and didn’t mince his words when he pointed out that there are signs of decline everywhere.
“There are many Malays in London who are professionals, making good money, who will not return because the environment is not right in Malaysia.”
He added that the negative publicity generated by the caning of three Muslim women and controversy surrounding the use of the word “Allah” is not helping the country.
While the caning may have been in accordance to Syariah laws, Razaleigh said it still negatively impacts the country when it makes headlines around the world for the wrong reasons.
“Investors and tourists are wondering what’s happening in Malaysia, at a time when we need investments, capital and jobs for our young who are also increasingly finding it difficult...”
He said even the non-Muslims are being hauled up for holding hands and cited a case where Islamic authorities barged into a room where a foreign couple was staying.
Razaleigh also decried that race relations are getting increasingly strained because of divisive policies.
He said the government can stage as many open houses as they like but there’s no warmth.
“Of course people will come if there’s free food but it’s not genuine.”
He pointed out that despite the recent assurances on the crime rate coming down, people are still insecure about their safety.
“Even my wife is afraid to go out. Why should we be afraid in our own country?”
He lamented the corruption in the country and how Air Force jet engines that weigh a ton can go “missing” or how the nation’s first submarine, which cost billions, could not initially dive.
“Now that it can dive, we’re not sure if it can come up again.” he said, adding that it may sound comical but it is alarming.
On the streets, he said, corruption have allowed drugs to flow in.
“Malaysia is only a small market compared to New York, but because people are corrupt they allow drugs to flow in.” he said, adding that young minds and lives are lost because of it.
“These are signs of decline which were never here before,” he concluded.
And now look at the ULTRA MALAYS stand! IT makes me sick! 
By G. Manimaran
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 — About 50 groups today launched the Malay NGO Consultative Council (MPM) to defend Malay rights and Islam at the historic Sultan Sulaiman Club here, where a similar gathering nearly 60 years ago led to the formation of Umno.
Among the prime movers are Perkasa, ex-Umno lawmakers council Mubarak, Peninsula Malay Students Confederation (GPMS), Malay Professional Thinkers Association and Cuepacs.
The Malaysian Insider was barred from reporting the event but a media release said among those who spoke were Perkasa president and Pasir Mas MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali (picture), Mubarak chief Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang and Malay Professional Thinkers president Professor Datuk Dr Kamaruddin Kachar who is a former director-general of the National Civics Bureau (BTN) which the opposition claims spreads hate ideology.
The MPM was launched by GPMS president Jais Abd Karim followed by a dialogue and a signing ceremony to form the body.
The MPM press release said “following several discussions by several Malay NGO leaders, there was a desire for a consultative council to bring together as many Malay NGOs concerned about current developments faced by the Malays”.
“It is apparent that there is pressure on Malay rights and privileges in their own country, towards the position of Islam as the official religion, the position and sovereignty of the Malay Rulers that is always being questioned, the New Economic Policy that is being sidelined despite the lack of achievement by the Malays and also national security,” it said.
These are among several “sensitive” issues for the Malays which have become provocative matters by those who want to destroy the security and prosperity of the country, the statement added.
The statement said the consultative council is not a platform for confrontation unless they are forced by parties described as those “inciting” racial tension.
“The main function of this council is to act as a medium to gather Malay NGOs that share the same stand to handle pressures faced by the Malays, Islam, Malay Rulers, national security, public order and other related issues,” the statement said, adding the idea to form the body was made early last month.
The MPM will form a task force that will be chaired by council members in rotation.
The statement also said the MPM had resolved each member should jointly study issues important to the Malays, Islam, Malay Rulers, national security and public order that is brought up or questioned by others, or to be championed by the community.
Others include the preparation and implementation of action plans to handle or oppose provocations against issues that relate to Malays and Islam, or issues seen as inciting or hateful.
The resolutions decided by MPM are:
- Resolutions must be based on facts and documents tabled at lawful MPM meetings;
- MPM members who disagree with the resolutions must accept the decision of the majority and be prepared to sign the agreed resolutions;
- MPM members who refuse or abstain from resolutions or decisions can choose not to sign off without affecting their membership; and
- If any MPM member opposes any of its resolutions or decisions, they will automatically cease to be members.
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