"Power-Sharing, Tolerance Basis For Nation's Success." How Accurate Is This Najib Statement?

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak says power-sharing and the exercise of tolerance in a multiracial society, practised by the government, are the basis for political stability and the nation's success.

The deputy prime minister said all component parties of the Barisan Nasional (BN) had the responsibility to safeguard the existing cooperation and collaboration among them to ensure that the country achieved greater excellence in the future.

"Surely, we cannot develop the country if we cannot maintain political stability," he said in his message in the souvenir programme published in conjunction with the 12th annual general assembly of Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) which he is scheduled to open tomorrow.

Najib said solidarity and political stability had enabled the BN government to bring about development and enhance the quality of life of the people, including those in the rural areas.

"The government will continue to step up efforts to assist the rural people, particularly in Sabah," he said. (Bernama)

***** How so very nice Najib's speech sounds! But alas, there are a few crucial points that our revered DPM conveniently omitted. For one, he did not tell us that in our country the much hyped word tolerance has different 'functions' for different people. In the umnoputera lexicon, there are two types of 'tolerance'; one for the Malays and the other is the tolerance expected and often demanded of the non-Malays.

For the non-Malays it means that they are required to unquestioningly accept the Never Ending Policy (NEP) and all the injustice and discrimination which comes along with it. They have to acquiesce and passively support any and all plans or programmes of the government even if there is nothing in it for them or it places them at a distinct disadvantage. They have to smile, cheer on the Umno pemimpin and vote for the BN at every election.

In return for this laudable display of patriotism, 'tolerance (non-Malay)' and gratitude, the government on behalf of the Malays (or so they claim) will exercise the second type of tolerance. This 'tolerance (Malay)' is an implied one and which surfaces at every Umno general assembly and its direct meaning is the refraining from actively sponsoring/inciting/participating in bloodbaths and May 13 style pogrom.

The same 'democratic' principles apply for the other much hyped claim, namely 'power-sharing'. As long as Umno gets a disproportionate, lion's share of parliamentary and state seats, government posts and every single ministerial portfolio of consequence/importance and provided that the rest of the BN 'family' wholeheartedly agree to and merrily applaud every major decision and appointment made in the name of bangsa, agama dan negara, the country will continue to be stable, successful and populated by happy citizens who display true 'solidarity'.

So you see our 'formula' for political stability and the nation's success is pretty straightforward. All it requires is remarkably thick non-Malay skin coupled with a commendable degree of humble servitude towards Umno, of which there is a surfeit in the BN 'family'.

If in the occasional event you get a maverick like Gerakan's S. Paranjothy who complained of race discrimination, he will be branded a traitor making 'baseless' allegations, be hounded out of the party and made such an example of, that other 'mischief-makers' would be convincingly discouraged from telling 'malicious lies' about the benevolent Umno leadership.

And finally, when Najib continues to make such nice muhibah speeches all over the country, the step-siblings of the BN 'family' would be expected to nod vigorously in grateful agreement and shout joyfully in unison, "Malaysia Boleh!"
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