The Malaysian Insider

JAN 16 — Many relationships have changed in Malaysia over the last week, and most of them for the worse.

The attacks on churches throughout Malaysia — nine so far and counting — have shocked Malaysia-watchers throughout the world as much as it has stunned Malaysians of all races and religions.

What had seemed a problem with largely East Malaysian significance — since most Malay-speaking Christians live in Sabah and Sarawak — became a West Malaysian one when the first church was set on fire in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 7.

DEC 19 — One more Pandora’s Box was recently opened in Malaysian politics.

The Youth Wing of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) managed beyond its own expectations to draw public critical attention to the highly dubious nature of courses organised by the Biro Tata Negara (BTN, National Civics Bureau).

Selangor’s Pakatan Rakyat government decided to stop civil servants and students who had won grants and scholarships to attend BTN courses where they purportedly endure lectures extolling the inherent superior status of the Malay race and the permanent sojourner status of all other Malaysians. This move was followed by the Penang government, and Kelantan state is considering the same.

Nov 8 — It may be saying too much to claim that Malaysia’s major political parties are self-destructing. But they are certainly not in the best of health.

The recently-ended National Delegates Congress of Parti Gerakan Rakyat was a lacklustre show where a well-timed, sassy challenge to resign issued to Gerakan president Koh Tsu Khoon by an Umno backbencher, Mr Mohamad Aziz, had to be brushed aside.

The main news from the congress was the proposal — quickly rejected — raised at the Gerakan Youth meeting to discuss the party’s withdrawal from the Barisan Nasional coalition.

OCT 24 — The crisis within MCA is different from earlier ones because, no matter how it is solved, not having an inspiring message for the young is a greater and more damning one.

This goes for Umno as well. The fates of the two are inextricably intertwined.

Fifty-seven years ago, the fortunes of Umno and MCA took a quantum leap. In the municipal elections in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 16, 1952, leaders of the two parties at the municipal level decided to cooperate against the Independence of Malaya Party (IMP). In the process, they managed to beat their opponents soundly and the Alliance was born.

SEPT 19 — Aftershocks of the dismal showing by Malaysia’s ruling coalition in last year’s general election continue to reverberate through the political landscape. Slowly but steadily, structural reforms are becoming undeniable.

It is now not so much about whether the Barisan Nasional (BN) will reform itself or not, but whether it can stay whole during its painful transformation.

What phoenix — or phoenixes — will rise when the dust settles is the key question? What will never rise again?