JUNE 22 — I love reading the Hansard. There’s just so many bloopers and quotes that, if anyone actually bothered reading, would be so comedic you’d actually go into work every morning smiling from ear to ear.
While everyone is focused on headbands, armbands and whether the ruling of the Speaker was justified, I’d like to move on to the Question Time in Parliament. This is because I believe that since Parliament is only in session for half a month and there are nine Bills to be discussed and ratified (plus who knows how many questions), such displays are a waste of precious time.
The question raised by the MPs representing Tenggara, Ipoh Timur, Kapit, Mambong, Bukit Katil, Indera Mahkota, Seremban,Shah Alam, Bukit Gelugor, Kubang Kerian, Machang, Padang Besar, Pengkalan Chepa and Taiping was simple.
Just what exactly is the meaning and definition of the “1 Malaysia” concept that our dearly beloved Prime Minister has been promoting since his elevation to office?
According to his answer in Parliament to 14 MPs from across party lines, it’s not a new concept. In fact, he states that it’s the goal of national unity envisioned by past prime ministers of this nation with a different approach and method according to the current condition of the world.
The Prime Minister also states, on record, that the 1 Malaysia concept is the guideline on how to achieve “bangsa Malaysia”, which translates into English as a “Malaysian race”.
I’m not joking.
Now I’m just wondering while reading the Hansard, just how many DAP stalwarts perked up, and how many government MPs frowned?
Besides, is this not an objective for the DAP?
According to DAP’s website, one of its objectives is to establish a social democratic government based on “a Malaysian Malaysia concept by forging Malaysian race with universal moral values”.
This is later brought up by DAP stalwart Karpal Singh before he sidetracks with a question about an incident that may or may not have happened in 1987 before Ops Lallang.
Our beloved PM denies this allegation vehemently and even states that his 1 Malaysia concept is in line with the Federal Constitution, unlike DAP’s objective.
Our Prime Minister also states that the primary aspect of the 1 Malaysia concept has three core elements. These are:
• Mutual acceptance amongst the races and peoples of Malaysia
• Nationalism based on principles of the Federal Constitution and the Rukunegara
• Social justice
Three core elements, he says?
Now I can’t help but wonder which Asian leader in the past actually came up with three principles to unite the people of a nation.
Oh, by the way, have any of you read Dr Sun Yat Sen’s Three Principles of the People, also known as the San-Min doctrine?
It consists basically of three principles being Mínzú (nationalism), Mínquán (politics and governance) and Mínsh?ng (social welfare or justice).
Comparing the two, now isn’t that strange? It looks rather similar, doesn’t it?
The second aspect our beloved Prime Minister highlights are the eight elements needed in any society that wants to achieve and excel. Even this is not original since he’s promoting Lim Guan Eng’s CAT policy, W. Chan Kim and Renee’ Mourbogne’s Blue Ocean Strategy and even Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s 1982 policy of “Bersih, Cekap dan Amanah”.
It gets even better, though.
The MP of Tenggara, Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique, requests that the Prime Minister go into further detail about how the 1 Malaysia policy is to be explained to the common people. She also asks for the Prime Minister to explain in further detail on how the 1 Malaysia concept differs from DAP’s Malaysian Malaysia.
Our beloved Prime Minister’s answer to the MP is basically for her to go out and tell her constituents what she just heard. Not only that, he goes further by mentioning that MPs, government agencies, the mass media and even non-governmental agencies should go out and highlight the 1 Malaysia concept.
His final words in addressing this issue are:
“I don’t want this concept to be too rigid to the point that we do not accept the suggestions of others. However, the most important detail is that this concept is based on the principles I’ve highlighted just now.”
Please note that he didn’t answer just how exactly his 1 Malaysia concept differs from DAP’s Malaysian Malaysia concept in detail.
I’m hoping this was what Lim Kit Siang wanted to ask before the Speaker told him that no more supplementary questions would be entertained.
Personally looking at it, I still don’t understand just what exactly the 1 Malaysia concept is. I mean, even Mahathir’s Vision 2020 and Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s Islam Hadhari had better explanations.
If there was one thing our beloved Prime Minister has done, it’s to confuse everyone in Malaysia with a policy that isn’t “too rigid” but unoriginal, unexplainable and downright incomprehensible to anyone but himself.
Sources:
Hansard, June 15, 2009
Bersih, Cekap, Amanah, concept highlight, PMR
Lim Guan Eng’s Interview on CAT
Three Principles of the People, Dr. Sun Yat Sen
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The Prime Minister also states, on record, that the 1 Malaysia concept is the guideline on how to achieve “bangsa Malaysia”, which translates into English as a “Malaysian race”.
Our Prime Minister also states that the primary aspect of the 1 Malaysia concept has three core elements. These are:
• Mutual acceptance amongst the races and peoples of Malaysia
• Nationalism based on principles of the Federal Constitution and the Rukunegara
• Social justice
End quote.
Ok. I am bought. I am in. I am joining UMNO today.
Thanks.