Intro
[1]
I feel that Lim Kit Siang’s
offer to hold reconciliatory talks between BN and PR leaders was insincere or
badly managed. As someone who wants to see positive political growth, maturity on both sides and national unity, this proposal was a beacon of hope, only to be put out like Luke Skywalkers dreams to be reunited with his dad.
[2]
Why? Because if you look at the
wordings of the 5 Issues (link here)[1]
that he proposed to discuss, they were phrased in a highly accusatory and
biased manner. The 5 Issues were phrased to place blame and to basically put
all fault on the BN.
[3]
I am no negotiation expert, but
I do feel that if you want to enable talks aimed as national reconciliation,
especially on a political level where both sides are essentially blameworthy of
playing up the rhetoric, then you shouldn’t begin by saying “Hey, it’s your
fault. Let’s talk to discuss how we can solve the problems y-o-u created”. That’s
what school kids would do.
[4]
So what do I mean? Let’s take
the 5 Issues and point out examples from them.
Issue
1: “The crisis of nation building and national unity highlighted by the worst
racial and religious polarisation in the nation’s history. It is urgent and
imperative that the Cabinet today should re-affirm the 10-Point Solution
endorsed by the Cabinet in April 2011 to resolve the Bible controversy, especially
as the Deputy Prime Minister and another member of the Cabinet at the time seem
to have broken ranks from the 10-Point Solution”.
[5]
The first problem with the
phrasing:
a.
He asserts that racial and
religious polarisation is at its worse, in history! That’s a bold claim to make.
b.
So, on what authority or research
is this based? For all we know, he may be correct but all he achieves without
tangible proof (aside from alternative and social media users going bezerk over
the issue) is influencing the readers of his blogs and his supporters that we
are facing such a crisis! It is irresponsible and dangerous.
c.
I think that the fact that
violence has been on a low or is nearly non-existent is a sign that unity is at
a high, and that these divisive issues are actually bringing most people
together.
d.
If at all, this is a contradiction. He and many Pakatan
Rakyat leaders claim that Malaysians are more united than ever (he himself cite
his victory in Gelang Patah as a “Malaysian victory”).
e.
Fine, things appear bad, but to
say “worst”, that’s just the politics and sensationalism at play.
[6]
The second problem with the
phrasing:
a.
He picks at the DPM and another
Minister in respect of the positions they took.
b.
Fine, we all know it happened.
Ministers don’t communicate very well.
c.
But don’t la go putting it in
your statement. Makes LKS appear like such a batu api!
d.
Again, highly opportunistic attempt
at cheap jibes against BN for his own political gain.
Issues
2: “The Deepening Economic Crisis Caused by a series of price hikes and looming
avalanche of more price hikes... culminating in the introduction of the GST at
6% in April 2015”.
[7]
“Looming avalanche of price
hikes”. I understand that money and livelihood are highly emotional matters and
that’s why LKS and PR are milking the hell out of it. But to say that it is a ‘crisis’
is scare-mongering, something he blames the BN of doing too much of, but is
himself doing!
[8]
Granted, price hikes and the
GST will be a pain for many, myself included, considering salaries aren’t going
up as quickly, but what’s with the over exaggeration?
[9]
Let’s be fair: Many essential
items (chicken, sugar, flour, etc) will not increase in prices, any most daily
needs will still be affordable. Shops (Mydin, Petronas kiosks, Kedai Rakyat 1
Malaysia, etc.) have also pledged to maintain certain prices. The Consumers
Ministry and the Competitions Commission will be on high alter for
opportunistic profiteering. If at all, consumers
and workers need to pressure their private sector employers to increase their wages!
Not everything is within the Government’s control.
[10]I think
the economic reality is that Malaysia’s economic growth hasn’t been too bad.
Just ask Bloomberg[2].
According to Bank Negara, our economy is expected to expand between 5 to 5.5%
in 2014 (and I’d like to think that Bank Negara is one of the better run bodies
in the Malaysia).
[11]It may just be a sentence Mr LKS, but you’ve clearly set
out to attack, rather than to heal.
Issue
3: The Crisis on the corruption front with no signs that there will be a
serious campaign to fight “grand corruption” and end the colossal waste,
extravagance and misuse of public funds.
[12]The yearly
fiasco that is the Auditor-General’s Report and the inefficiency of the MACC is
something that frustrates many Malaysians. I can feel LKS’s frustrations too.
[13]But again,
LKS has taken a highly confrontative instead of reconciliatory tone in the
wording.
Issue
Four: The crisis of deteriorating national education standards to the extent
that both the PM and DPM have studiously avoided talking about Malaysia’s poor
performance in 2011 TIMSS and 2012 PISA.
[14]It’s so
bad it’s worth reproducing. Ahem... “both
the PM and DPM have studiously avoided talking about Malaysia’s poor
performance”.
[15]These are
the guys you want to talk to! Don’t go attacking them in the statement. We all
know you’ve already said it, and said it many many times in the media that the
PM and DPM have been ‘deafeningly silent’, among others.
[16]If BN had
said “to discuss the consistent, inflammatory, provocative, and seditious statements
made by Lim Kit Siang to the media”, would you, dear Mr LKS want to hold the
conciliation talks? (You still might. But i’m sure the ‘issue’ would make you
blood boil for a bit).
Issue
5: the crisis of security and safety of citizens, investors and tourists as the
police has still to transform itself into an efficient, independent,
professional world-class police service dedicated to “democratic policing” and
not just “regime-protection” even if it means gross violation of international
human rights norms and standards
[17]It’s a
long one, but in summary, LKS accuses the police of being bias, that it
protects the BN and disregards its service to the society and connected
thereto, that the police are, have, and will grossly violate human rights.
[18]If you
expect a hug at the start of the conciliatory meeting, if it at all happens, I
can tell you that you certainly won’t be getting one. Perhaps you were a little
angry when you wrote this statement?
Conclusion
[19]Again, Mr
LKS, I laud you for your proposal and your many years serving the country.
[20]But I am
aghast at the way your statement was phrased. Politics is politics, and
unfortunately, you are part of the problem as much as the next politician in
line is.
[21]Until and
unless you choose to strike a sincere tone, conciliation will not happen.
[22]You’ll
just continue to win supporters with such statements, Malaysian polarisation
will continue, and nothing will improve thanks to the politics and arrogance
from both sides.
[23]Lastly, and
yes, I am angry. And yes, i’d be happy to help draft an alternative statement,
just ask.
[1] http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2014/01/08/open-letter-to-pm-and-cabinet-the-first-cabinet-meeting-today-should-send-out-a-clear-and-unmistakable-message-to-end-the-drift-and-loss-of-leadership-and-direction-to-create-an-united-harmonious/#more-26271
[2] http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-15/malaysian-economic-growth-accelerates-before-fiscal-tightening.html
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