Calling tolerance and mutual respect a little too late?

Analysing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Raza’s statement to Muslims: Learn tolerance, mutual respect, it should be directed more towards the UMNO leaders of greed and who sow the feeling of hatred rather then all Muslims. For years the feeling of hatred were nurtured with a single race supremacy call have been promoted by UMNO for 20+ years and would require a herculean task to undo.

I have many Muslim friends where our friendship remained cordial and mutual as ever. They had equally condemned the “mad cow” protesters of Shah Alam and taking place in the holy month of Ramadhan is definitely un-Islamic. The acts are totally uncalled for and the proper channel arranged for the residents to voice their grouses turned into a shouts and threats hurled at the State Government officials.

As to why Najib had to stress tolerance and mutual respect is shocking! Has he come to an agreement that Muslims are extreme and inconsiderate individuals? I don’t think so but particularly Muslims seating in the higher echelon of the UMNO party and those “paid” to execute the despicable acts as in Shah Alam.

Opposition "tasting own medicine"?

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the opposition was now experiencing the discomfort of being on the other side of the fence as the rakyat began to question its policies and decisions.

1. Well to begin with, Najib has to be in the clear if he is referring to his position in the FederalGovernment or merely in the position of BN as OPPOSITION in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) controlled states.
2. Judging from his statement, he is obviously referring to the states under PR. He needs to realize that BN IS THE OPPOSITION and not the Government in those states. Is he still not accepting actuality or he is so confident of his plans to topple the PR controlled State Governments?
3. Rakyat asking questions on PRs policies and decisions is healthy if compared to UMNO’s policy in imposing “tow the line” on it’s BN coalition parties and party members (though this might defer if the decision to open party elections to all members do happen).
4. Criticism and questions are signs of maturity, true democracy and freedom of speech of the citizens of the nation. It’s more damaging when freedom of speech is suppressed in the name of religion, national security and much more hideous manner before finally sweeping the issues under the carpet e.g. sending the person away from country.

5. Make right decisions? Since when the BN Government always makes right decision? Stadium Gong Badak, Terengganu and PKFZ among it, right decisions?
6. If BN had claimed they had been serving the rakyat well ever since, then why the sudden need for KPIs? KPIs should have been formulated long ago to improve the delivery mechanism and operations of the various Government agencies. KPIs don’t mean anything if the virtues of a truth, responsibility and tolerance rules the person’s mind.

Being fair and honest, PR should be given another term for the rakyat to evaluate as well as deliver the promises since 4/5 years is insufficient given that the State Government under PR are still laden with BN’s Little Napoleons. These well disguised and positioned provocateurs or destructive agents are inherited from the BN government and reflected in the Perak Government takeover and Selangor MACC.

In actual fact, the recent election results just reflects that the PR are gaining strength after the March 2008 General Elections and chances of BN winning the states back (in fact it looks like BN would be losing more now) from PR are diminishing with each passing day. BN had realized this and not confident of regaining the states through the polls but resorted to illegal power grab at all cost.

It’s good to see the handful UMNO Ministers whom had come to their senses (just a little) judging from their attire in some official functions minus the coat, tie and fanfare. However, the moment they make a comment/statement, we rakyat realized that it’s the same old UMNO story disguised.

I would foresee another General Election would be called sooner then the 5 year term allowed and can only happen if Najib’s Government regains strength and the peoples’ confidence. With the Sarawak state election imminent, it will be interesting to watch if the BN support from West Malaysia (Semenanjung as the Sabahans and Sarawakians refer) is required there.

Based on the going-ons since his ascent as Prime Minister of Malaysia, nothing seems rosy and the 65% rakyat confidence poll earlier on can easily erode after the Teoh Beng Hock’s mysterious death, PKFZ, Khir Toyo’s MYR24million palace, the Shah Alam “mad cow” incident, petrol price hike to name few.

Given this scenario, chances are BN would find the going tough in any elections especially in city/town areas whilst they can still convince the remote villagers that they are God sent to provide them development once every 5 years! The “messiah” turns into “magicians” once they won!