The Real Underlying Reason Behind Extreme Government Action

Whenever the government takes extreme actions such as bundling people off to Kamunting under the ISA or banning organisations seeking the human right to assemble, I wonder if the underlying reason is a bunch of very vociferous government supporters.

Analysts can give a list of arguments for or against the action but I suspect the real reason is that these supporters raise such a ruckus of a hue and cry, that government leaders, notably top Umno leaders, have no choice but to give in to their demands. If they didn't, their own positions might be at risk.

So, it was not surprising that the government took a few days after the Prime Minister's Hari Raya open house before it decided to ban Hindraf for attending the open house to advance their cause. It took the leaders a couple of days to take in the ear-bashing they probably got. And then they decided, they had better act on it before they lose support and be thrown out in the next party elections!

It was a couple of days after the open house when Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak came out with his hard-hitting comments on the Hindraf presence at the open house. Calling them "biadab" (rude), with the strongest emotions, he said that "we" would not tolerate such behaviour.

This was followed by Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid's explanation for banning Hindraf. He said the government considered all aspects before banning Hindraf, adding that there had been calls from certain quarters who wanted immediate action.

That proves my point! Who are these "certain quarters" and why are they more important than public opinion?

The answer is simple. These are the very vocal Malay -- mostly Umno, I think -- supporters who -- very loudly --make an issue of what they describe as non-Malay ingratitude. They see Hindraf's action as just that. What they want to see is non-Malays knocking their heads on the ground as they walk past them. They can't bear to see non-Malays rise up to assert themselves as equals, walking shoulder to shoulder with everyone else.

When these "certain quarters" get upset -- for reasons which sometimes are beyond my understanding -- others had better back off because you just never know what they might do. So, it was not surprising that Umno leaders quickly backtracked and took "immediate action" and banned Hindraf.

If they didn't, who knows what might have happened. The leaders, definitely, would have lost the support that put them in the leadership positions in the first place. So, between risking the wrath of these "certain quarters" and their own leadership positions, and banning Hindraf, of course, the latter was a better and "softer" course of action.

Quite apparently, Umno leaders are unable to appease these "certain quarters". And that is the truth of the state of Umno Malay politics. The leaders have lost control of their base support. Some of these "certain quarters" could be a lot of people -- not necessarily Umno members -- out there somewhere who, when incensed, can resort to irreversibly regrettable actions.

Before they take things in their own hands, it might be better -- for the sake of "national security" -- to nip the crisis in the bud by packing off the more manageable of the problem-makers. In this case, between the "certain quarters" and Hindraf, the latter would be the lesser of the problems.

This, I believe, is the reason why the ISA is still used and legitimate organisations are banned. There are "certain quarters" -- everyone knows some of them are in Umno and others out of it -- who cannot be managed and controlled. To pacify them, other Malaysians must suffer.

This seemingly gross injustice will not end, not until these "certain quarters" are taught to magnanimously accept fellow Malaysians as equals. Only Umno can teach them that. Until they do, this "certain quarters" will be the unseen hand which will keep non-Malays as second-class citizens subserviently in check.

More Readers! Thank You!

How, wonderful! Michelle -- the only girl in the only TC class I am teaching this semester -- has become a reader of this blog. I take that as a compliment and hope you will find the postings here interesting!

And, Mengleong, yes, I read your comment but I wanted to talk with you personally but, somehow, I didn't see you. Yes, I was disappointed, too, that you didn't get an A. But that's the thing with exams. Sometimes, some things are beyond your control and you don't get what you worked for and expected. But, don't be too disappointed. Yours is a strong B so it would have affected your CGPA only marginally.

Rumour-mongering

Now, tell me, Brian, whoever started this rumour that I was going to the UTAR Kampar campus to teach English on the degree programme? Some people seem to see things that are not there! My degree is not in English and I don't have a Master's to teach on the degree programme. So, this rumour is just a rumour. Infact, it has been competely cooked up! There is absolutely not even an iota of truth in it!

But, I am glad you asked me directly about it. At least, you get the correct picture. I like city life. I am not going anywhere -- at least, for the moment.

By the way, are Brian and Fish the only ones who read my blog? O dear! Yet, I have about 290 profile views. Surely more people are reading? If you are, do drop in a comment once in a while. If you prefer to comment via email, then send your comments or questions to my following email: marygp23@gmail.com

In your email, indicate if you wouldn't mind if I published your comment, questions or content or parts of it and my response in my blog. If you do mind, I will respond via email. If I don't respond, it would be because it is mail I trash. If your comments or questions are sincere and legitimate, you can be sure of a response.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

These conversational posts will more or less end now. The proper posts will resume from next week. I hope it will include readers' comments and questions as well!

Personal Journeys

Hmmmmm! I read both your blogs, Brian and Fishie. And they are both good. Fishie could write a book on anime later on. Brian's is quite communal with some nice pix. Like they way you positioned your pix. You should teach me some day! You have a number up there, too, Brian. What does it mean? You have that many hits? Wow! Mine's nothing in comparision! Keep it up, both of you! They are both good diaries! They give me a glimpse of the kind of people you are.

That's what makes blogs so interesting. They are personal histories or personal journeys. We are all journeying, aren't we?

And, thanks, Fishie, about how to do the links. I will do that once I get some time and feel a bit more settled to try this "new thing". Will start on it after I have settled into the new semester.

Have some thoughts. Will write on it this Thursday.

May 2008 Writing for Mass Communication batch! Well Done!

Brian, Brian! A- is good! Your batch gave the best results so far. Your average was about the same as previous groups but only because most of you didn't do too well in Question 2. And, you are not entirely to be blamed for that because this was the first time I included filling in the blanks questions that tested for knowledge of mass communications jargon and you may not have been sufficiently prepared for what to expect despite me telling you all to learn off things by heart. You had to understand and know the terms precisely.

Yet, none of you failed. And, even better, the majority of you got into the B grade which says quite a bit about yourselves! Previously, the students were more or less equally distributed across the grades. But, this trimester, most of you got into the B-grade. That means you have proven to yourselves that you are capable of bettering yourselves! You all did very well! Congratulations!

Writing for Mass Communications is not an easy course. You need to understand content and have a good grasp of language in order to express yourselves. Yet, despite a difficult question in the exam, you maintained the course average!

If you want to know your true grades, just add about 5 - 10 marks to your final exam total and that will accurately reflect what all of you are capable of! All of you did very well. I am very proud of you! You have now set the bar and are a hard act to follow!

Don't worry too much about your grades. Remember this is only the foundation course where you learn to handle new things. If you can better your average in foundation, just think what you can achieve in your degree?! Be confident of what you are capable of and do better every next time!

You did well! Go, celebrate!

Comments on Comments!

Hey, that's cheating! Three of the comments by the same person -- Brother Bear!

Glad you are getting over the heartbreak. Being in a murderous mood is fine, but, please -- for everyone's sake -- don't express it!

I tried to get into your blog but for some reason couldn't. Why don't you and Fishie spell out your blog addresses. I will read it and comment. There must be some way we can read each other's blog from this blog. Any of you know how to do the link-up? If you do, please help out! You know what a dud I am when it comes to technical and mechanical things!

Just read your comments, Fishie. Good points of view. Well, Brian, if Fishie thinks you are strong, then, you are OK. She knows you better than I do. Ya, my blog suddenly turned into a counselling board -- but, just to help Brian out! But, he seems to be OK.

Well, Brian, you have to get used to people lining up to be with her. There are a lot of other fish in the sea. And you have the same chances -- and choices -- she has!

Love your comments, Fishie. I tend to agree with you -- our politics is geting smellier by the day!

By the way, there must be three different comments by three different people on Kenny's comment before I will give my analysis! That's the deal! So, hurry up with the comments!

Shinigami San!

So, Shinigami Iino Taiki-sama, what does your name mean? You are not Japanese, are you? If you are why don't you tell me who you are? You know who I am!

You have some good points. What is Anwar up to? Well, if four more people will make their comments on this blog, I will give my analysis after that!

My analysis may be worth waiting for! So, hurry up with the comments!