Flap over MM's remarks on non-Malays

**Warning: This is political entry**
This entry has been way overdue
It is a response to an article
Written by Carolyn Hong
Malaysia Bureau Chief
On how Singapore's Minister Mentor
Lee Kuan Yew's remarks
That Malaysia could do better
If it tapped the talents of its minorities
To further improve the talent pool in Malaysia
It seems that this irked some Malay leaders
Yet at the same time received support
From non-Malay politicians
Oh, the irony
This would just make things worse
For it futher reinforces the idea
That the non-minorities might want to usurp
The place of the Malays
Oh my Lord, just keep it
At this rate...
Anyway, these are some of the exerps of what
Some Malay leaders had said

Better than Singapore
Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad

"We are better than Singapore. For instance, in education,
we allow the existance of various streams of schools.
Singapore has no chinese schools. They closed down
Nanyang University."

My thoughts:

Goodness gracious me. That clearly explains
why Singapore's education ranks top 10 in the world, how
many people from all over the globe rushes in to get
themselves and their children educated in Singapore.
Well, of course...the fact that Malalysia's top university
had been voted off the top 100 list in the world says
something too. I wonder...why?

Door closed to Singapore
Mr Syed Anuar Syed
Deputy President of the Federation of
Peninsular Malay Students Union

"I dont see our people accepting Singapore back. They,
especially Kuan Yew often belittle us. Should we
re-accept Singapore as part of our territory?"

My thoughts:

Hmmm. Let's see, and not be subjective. Herein, MM Lee
SUGGESTED that the government harness the talents that might
benefit Malaysia, and that is belittling them? Mmm.
If constructive feedback had been misconstrued as personal
attacks...then it doesnt take a rocket scientist to understand
why Malaysia ain't developing as fast as Singapore, even
though the country has been blessed with much much more
agricultural and natural resources. As leaders of a country,
we must see, and always want to better ourselves and our
countries, states, societies and families. Why cant we
accept feedback with objectivity, for the betterment of
the larger community? Why take it personally? How to grow,
without getting feedback? And when you get feedback, you'd
just react and retaliate?

How stupid. Why dont we ask ourselves how such a small
country can be such a powerhouse in the world? It is not
blessed with many raw materials, yet it makes an impact.
And a country, blessed with so many natural resources, can
be so stagnant. Dont we wonder?

Such arrogance, to ask whether Malaysia wants to re-accept
Singapore. First, ask if Singapore even wants Malaysia as
part of their team. Honestly speaking, Malaysia, given its
current track records, might slow down the development
of Singapore. I'm not undermining my own country, I'm
merely stating a fact.

On top of that, I myself wont be very keen to join forces
with someone or become a part of a group that has closed
mind, unable to accept constructive feedback, and is so
personal with everything. Please.

Unease at Malaysian progress
Utusan Malaysia

"Kuan Yew's remark is borne out of unease at seeing
Malaysia's growing competitiveness, which in some aspects
have surpassed Singapore."

My thoughts.

Oh my. This is Malaysia's national newspaper, of course
they'd want to save face by having a national retort at
Singapore's MM Lee. Okay, let's see things a little more
objectively, which aspects does Malaysia have which is
so-called growing competitiveness? Perhaps, Malaysia
which have more natural resources, can export more
of its natural resources, such as rice, petrol and the
like. This is of course natural lah, Singapore has not
much land to begin with in the first place!

Overall

Hmm. From reading the newspaper article, we can tell
that the few Malay leaders quoted are just retaliating
MM Lee's words, as a reaction made out of anger. They
were not objective, and their retorts more than not, were
off the mark. How to grow without being able to receive
feedback and working on it? Why threaten Singapore that
Malaysia dont want to merge with them? Of course, these
may be just a minority of the Malay leaders with such
mindset and attitudes, but if they can come out into the
media, with the people not saying anything, meaning which
they condone it, then i wonder...Secondly, the two Malay
leaders and Malaysia's national newspaper seem to not
have any respect for MM Lee. They do not even address him
by his designation, which is MM Lee, but instead, they call
him Kuan Yew.

At this rate...Malaysia will stagnate further. They dont
seem to understand that the non-Malays minorities have no
interest in usurping their throne in Malaysia, oh please,
you can keep them. We just want progress, for our future
generations, our children and their children, we want life
to be better for them. The importance of leaders are that
they lead the people, and when i say to lead the people,
i mean to lead ALL the people. No nonsense of minorities
come second and that their bumiputeras come first. All these
giving them priority and bonus points and places in
schools and non-Malays organisation, what have they come out
to be? Creating people who do not deserve to be where they
are now. I dont mind having them in my organisations in
the future, but they need to show me that they deserve to
be there, not simply by grace or by the color of their
skin, but by meritocracy and their own ability. And i know
i wont judge them second class just because of their
race, as i have many friends, Malays, who are of good
calibre.

I am looking forward to seeing a revolution, a change.
It is not yet, but is soon to come. Change is imminent.
People who stay stagnant, and are comfortable where they
are, be they Malays, Chinese, Indians and the other races,
WILL be left behind. A country governed by leaders with
these mentality, will only be left behind in the world
which embraces change and urbanisation. Of course i'm
not suggesting that we drop all our moral senses and
our cultural heritage, but to adopt a mentality of
proactivity and of being able to see, anticipate and
plans for the growth and development of people and
societies within and without a country.