PM, who're the extremists? Name them!
YoursayPublished: Feb 27, 2014 12:32 AM | Updated: Feb 27, 2014 12:36 AM
YOURSAY ‘His silence portrayed Najib as a hostage to the forces of hate.’
Don't give extremists publicity, says PM
Anonymous #20513663: Wow, this is brazen. What PM Najib Razak’s statement means is: “Look, we are trying to portray a 'clean' image internationally while fanning the flames behind the scenes at home.
“Right and left hand are doing different things, but both are working well together. However, all this will not work if you all keep on exposing that the two hands are connected to the same body.”
No, the media must not keep silent. They must continue reporting on extremism and exposing the links various extremist groups have to political interests. The media have done some work on the second part, but more journalistic effort is needed here.
And no, the Malaysian people must not keep silent. They must continue highlighting extremism, rejecting it and rejecting the parties responsible for promoting it.
Ipohcrite: A case of the lame duck PM offering lip service. Do you really think the mainstream media under the control of Umno will listen to Najib and not continue with their racial baiting and divisive actions?
Or is Najib blaming the opposition and alternative media instead for focusing on the real culprits? Either way, the rakyat will not take him seriously.
Sirach: The PM’s call is welcome and laudable. But in truth, it should have come much sooner. His failure to rebuke Perkasa and Utusan Malaysia, when they regularly engage in inflammatory and racist rhetoric, has been a great pity.
He passed up the opportunity to show that he was truly a leader of all Malaysians. Instead, his silence portrayed a weak leader held hostage to the forces of hate because it was politically inexpedient to stake out the high moral ground.
To sound statesman-like now, whilst certainly useful, tends to evoke a certain cynicism when viewed in the context of the imminent Kajang by-election, and former deputy minister P Waythamoorthy’s recent resignation.
Quigonbond: Najib, your call for reconciliation was artificial because you immediately blamed the Chinese tsunami in the wake of GE13 results.
Your call for publicity not to be given to extremists will also ring hollow if you as Umno president cannot even rein in Utusan.
Anonymous #20513663: The 'reconciliation' called for by the BN is a fake reconciliation which is actually just a 'topeng' (mask) for all kinds of hidden violence and repression.
Just because someone uses the word 'reconciliation' doesn't mean they are sincere. Their only goal might be to create a feel-good perception for a while and lull people into complacency so that they can stay in power.
Next thing you know after being lulled into complacency is that you will be stabbed from behind by the Sedition Act, 'Peaceful' Assembly, etc.
Malaysians, speak up now before it is too late. Resist all efforts to silence us and put the genie of true democracy back into the bottle.
Clever Voter: No one disagrees to what PM Najib espoused in his speech. But it remains an illusion without the necessary actions. Words are cheap - the public demand a tough but fair action against these extremists.
Najib must be bold and have the courage to stand up even to his friends.
Ksn: Najib, this is not the way a PM of a country should reassure the people. You must say clearly and boldly that Malaysia has no place for extremists and you will take care of them, pulverise them, neutralise them, and put them away for good.
We cannot allow the extremists to run free, destroying our racial harmony in a multiracial country like ours.
Then you direct the home minister and the PDRM (Royal Malaysian Police) to get rid of the extremists in our midst, no holds barred. It is my view that the extremists should get the publicity they are getting now so that the PDRM can easily identify them and nab them.
Najib, are you up to it?
Limfly: “We don’t have to condemn them, just ignore them," said Najib.
We cannot just ignore them. These instigators only get bolder when nothing is done to stop them.
As the PM of Malaysia, Najib must name them and shame them; identify them and bring them to task; get the police to nab them and throw the book at them!
Anonymous_40a7: Funny you should say that, Najib. Ever try reading the Utusan columnist known as ‘Awang Selamat’? He spits out venom each time he writes, yet nothing was done in the end. Why?
Doc: I think in the Malaysian context, "extremists" can be interpreted differently by different groups of people.
The educated Malaysian rakyat may define "extremists" as groups such as Perkasa, Isma, Jati, Jakim or individuals like Ibrahim Ali, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Hasan Ali, etc, who promote racial segregation and aim to cause social unrest for their personal gain.
On the other hand, Umno sees "extremists" as groups like Bersih, Pakatan Rakyat, Malaysiakini, Himpunan Hijau, Hindraf, Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia, Gerakan Turun, etc, or individuals like S Ambiga, Teresa Kok, Rafizi Ramli, etc, who fight for the right of the rakyat and in turn paint Umno for what they really are - corrupt, stupid, arrogant, power crazy and desperately trying to hold on to power at all cost.
So, I would really like to know what or who PM Najib refers to as "extremists".
Cry, My Beloved Country: Unable and unwilling to contain the racists and religious bigots supportive of BN's thrust, facing potshots taken by ‘apanamas’ on the sidelines, yet recognising how dangerously and increasingly counter productive their belligerence, vitriolic provocations, threats of violence really are, there comes the call on Malaysians to ignore them!
Why, on earth, action is not taken to bring perpetrators to book is the 64 million dollar question that rankles.
Dood: Funny. This is the first time I've heard of the leader of Umno telling people to ignore his own party. Good advice, though.
Has Najib lost control of Umno?
The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.
Don't give extremists publicity, says PM
Anonymous #20513663: Wow, this is brazen. What PM Najib Razak’s statement means is: “Look, we are trying to portray a 'clean' image internationally while fanning the flames behind the scenes at home.“Right and left hand are doing different things, but both are working well together. However, all this will not work if you all keep on exposing that the two hands are connected to the same body.”
No, the media must not keep silent. They must continue reporting on extremism and exposing the links various extremist groups have to political interests. The media have done some work on the second part, but more journalistic effort is needed here.
And no, the Malaysian people must not keep silent. They must continue highlighting extremism, rejecting it and rejecting the parties responsible for promoting it.
Ipohcrite: A case of the lame duck PM offering lip service. Do you really think the mainstream media under the control of Umno will listen to Najib and not continue with their racial baiting and divisive actions?
Or is Najib blaming the opposition and alternative media instead for focusing on the real culprits? Either way, the rakyat will not take him seriously.
Sirach: The PM’s call is welcome and laudable. But in truth, it should have come much sooner. His failure to rebuke Perkasa and Utusan Malaysia, when they regularly engage in inflammatory and racist rhetoric, has been a great pity.
He passed up the opportunity to show that he was truly a leader of all Malaysians. Instead, his silence portrayed a weak leader held hostage to the forces of hate because it was politically inexpedient to stake out the high moral ground.
To sound statesman-like now, whilst certainly useful, tends to evoke a certain cynicism when viewed in the context of the imminent Kajang by-election, and former deputy minister P Waythamoorthy’s recent resignation.
Quigonbond: Najib, your call for reconciliation was artificial because you immediately blamed the Chinese tsunami in the wake of GE13 results.
Your call for publicity not to be given to extremists will also ring hollow if you as Umno president cannot even rein in Utusan.
Anonymous #20513663: The 'reconciliation' called for by the BN is a fake reconciliation which is actually just a 'topeng' (mask) for all kinds of hidden violence and repression.
Just because someone uses the word 'reconciliation' doesn't mean they are sincere. Their only goal might be to create a feel-good perception for a while and lull people into complacency so that they can stay in power.
Next thing you know after being lulled into complacency is that you will be stabbed from behind by the Sedition Act, 'Peaceful' Assembly, etc.
Malaysians, speak up now before it is too late. Resist all efforts to silence us and put the genie of true democracy back into the bottle.
Clever Voter: No one disagrees to what PM Najib espoused in his speech. But it remains an illusion without the necessary actions. Words are cheap - the public demand a tough but fair action against these extremists.
Najib must be bold and have the courage to stand up even to his friends.
Ksn: Najib, this is not the way a PM of a country should reassure the people. You must say clearly and boldly that Malaysia has no place for extremists and you will take care of them, pulverise them, neutralise them, and put them away for good.
We cannot allow the extremists to run free, destroying our racial harmony in a multiracial country like ours.
Then you direct the home minister and the PDRM (Royal Malaysian Police) to get rid of the extremists in our midst, no holds barred. It is my view that the extremists should get the publicity they are getting now so that the PDRM can easily identify them and nab them.
Najib, are you up to it?
Limfly: “We don’t have to condemn them, just ignore them," said Najib.
We cannot just ignore them. These instigators only get bolder when nothing is done to stop them.
As the PM of Malaysia, Najib must name them and shame them; identify them and bring them to task; get the police to nab them and throw the book at them!
Anonymous_40a7: Funny you should say that, Najib. Ever try reading the Utusan columnist known as ‘Awang Selamat’? He spits out venom each time he writes, yet nothing was done in the end. Why?
Doc: I think in the Malaysian context, "extremists" can be interpreted differently by different groups of people.
The educated Malaysian rakyat may define "extremists" as groups such as Perkasa, Isma, Jati, Jakim or individuals like Ibrahim Ali, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Hasan Ali, etc, who promote racial segregation and aim to cause social unrest for their personal gain.
On the other hand, Umno sees "extremists" as groups like Bersih, Pakatan Rakyat, Malaysiakini, Himpunan Hijau, Hindraf, Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia, Gerakan Turun, etc, or individuals like S Ambiga, Teresa Kok, Rafizi Ramli, etc, who fight for the right of the rakyat and in turn paint Umno for what they really are - corrupt, stupid, arrogant, power crazy and desperately trying to hold on to power at all cost.
So, I would really like to know what or who PM Najib refers to as "extremists".
Cry, My Beloved Country: Unable and unwilling to contain the racists and religious bigots supportive of BN's thrust, facing potshots taken by ‘apanamas’ on the sidelines, yet recognising how dangerously and increasingly counter productive their belligerence, vitriolic provocations, threats of violence really are, there comes the call on Malaysians to ignore them!
Why, on earth, action is not taken to bring perpetrators to book is the 64 million dollar question that rankles.
Dood: Funny. This is the first time I've heard of the leader of Umno telling people to ignore his own party. Good advice, though.
Has Najib lost control of Umno?
The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.
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