When I read this the Star report, I couldn’t believe my eyes:
Warrior’s welcome for Ahmad Ismail of ‘pendatang’ infamy
GEORGE TOWN: Suspended Bukit Bendera Umno chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail was given a warrior’s welcome, complete with presentation of regalia such as a keris (traditional Malay sword), when he turned up for the division’s delegates conference.
…
Upon entering, Ahmad was adorned with a yellow tengkolok (headdress) by division adviser Azmi Merican, a yellow selempang (scarf) by Umno veteran Saakyah Mat Isa, and presented with a keris by Umno veteran Abdul Rahman Lazim.
Ahmad raised the keris briefly to his lips in reverence, then lifted it high before proceeding on stage, while the emcee ammounced that all three traditional items were presented to Ahmad as a true pahlawan Melayu (Malay warrior) of Bukit Bendera.
So now, Ahmad Ismail is a pahlawan?
For saying what he said? For refusing to apologize? For defying the prime minister and his deputy? For prompting his konco-konco to tear a harmless picture?
Seriously, if doing all the above qualifies you to be a Malay warrior, then I am simply speechless.
“The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them that they are being attacked and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”
Hermann Goering at the Nuremberg Trials….
The Nazis mastered the formula for playing with people’s irrational fears. You gotta give them credit for that.
Take the quote above and run it with ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ and ‘Zaid Ibrahim’ and you’ll see the Malaysian picture unfold!
The quote, probably said some sixty years or so ago, still rings true today…
Talking about ‘Ketuanan Melayu’, have you read the calls by some UMNO warlords telling Zaid Ibrahim to ‘keluar rumpun Melayu’?
Amazing.
Yeah, I heard about that. I’m just waiting for Zaid to make one more smart comment and for the Umno warlords to actually literally say:
“Ini negara Melayu, kalau you tak suka, you boleh keluar Malaysia…”
I bet you, in this country, these days, they’re more than capable of saying it…