Nazri’s replies to Awang Selamat's Alahai Nazri

Kuching
Tuesday, 21st September 2010

Awang is caught in the time warp of those days where government MPs do not only not engage them but hate and dislike them in all circumstances. Awang will never understand this because he is not an elected MP, put in the House by the voice of the people. Anyway did Awang ever think of how five PKR MPs could cross and be independents, if not for the civility shown by me to them as parliamentary affairs minister? The number of crossovers to the independent caucus has exceeded the single MP from Pasir Mas, this so-called Malay Hero worshipped by Awang.

I have read the comments by Awang Selamat on me in his column. I want to make some clarifications lest readers be misled into thinking what he wrote is correct.

Firstly, I am never afraid to be criticised by the opposition. I would like Awang to come to Parliament and see and hear for himself the vitriol and attacks I received whilst defending the Government on issues related to the Prime Minister’s Office.

In my 33 years in politics, I was never spared by anybody who makes criticisms against me — including the recent comments by Awang. I don’t know about Awang himself, because I don’t even know who he is. I hope he can be a man like me and prove that he is not scared of criticism by coming out in the open and not hiding behind the pseudonym that he uses.

I am also not anti-Dr Mahathir (Mohamad). To me, so far he is the best prime minister I have served. However, as an ex-premier, there is so much left to be desired.

Awang should get out of his time warp and face the fact that I am now in the government as a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and not vice versa. So it is Tun Mahathir who is criticising the Government and not the other way round.

Of course anybody, regardless of who criticises the government, will receive relentless attack in defence of the Government by me just as I had done in the past when Tun Mahathir and Tun Abdullah (Ahmad Badawi) were the prime ministers.

Having said that, I want Awang to know that I am always sure who my boss is. It’s not (Lim) Kit Siang nor (Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim) because they are not prime minister of Malaysia, the chairman of BN or president of Umno.

I am not too sure Awang knows who his boss is because he undermines the 1 Malaysia policy of the prime minister and promotes the narrow racism of (Datuk) Ibrahim Ali who is not even an Umno member. Awang should be asking himself the question he posed to me.

Being civil to the opposition is the right thing to do in a democracy, because just like me, they are also elected by the people. Of course, Awang is caught in the time warp of those days where government MPs do not only not engage them but hate and dislike them in all circumstances.

Awang will never understand this because he is not an elected MP, put in the House by the voice of the people. Anyway did Awang ever think of how five PKR MPs could cross and be independents, if not for the civility shown by me to them as parliamentary affairs minister?

The number of crossovers to the independent caucus has exceeded the single MP from Pasir Mas, this so-called Malay Hero worshipped by Awang.

Incidentally, Umno has never asked or needed for Ibrahim to help us but the association with him will only cause us to lose votes.

Tun Mahathir himself told us about his loss in Kota Setar Selatan seat — a 90 per cent Malay majority parliamentary constituency — in 1969 to Yusof Rawa, where it was reported that Tun said he didn’t need Chinese votes. There is a lesson to be learned from this.

Of course, Awang will never understand because not only has he never offered himself as a candidate for the General Elections but readers don’t even know who he is.

Politicians like me who has stood for four general elections and won clearly have to be very careful in what we say and not be reckless like Awang. We need to muster all the votes regardless of race and we do not stay in the comfort zone as Awang does.

He can write and say anything irresponsibly and recklessly, knowing that he will never be punished by the voters.

That is why, Awang, if you asked what my agenda is, I think even school children will know that it’s to win the next general election and that Datuk Seri Najib (Razak) remains as prime minister of Malaysia.

I do hope that Awang also has the same agenda, unless of course his boss is somebody else. Finally I would advise Awang to stick to what he does and knows best and not try to meddle in national politics, of which he has shallow knowledge and zero experience.

He should concentrate in increasing his paper’s dwindling readership. It speaks volumes of their poor standards and performance when Utusan has to refer to the news report of the new electronic alternative media when it should be the reverse.

That will be his KPI and the measurement of his success in the field that he claims he represent well.

Mine is, of course, to win the Padang Rengas seat for Barisan Nasional in the next General Election regardless whether I am a candidate or not. Until then we shall see.

And yes I am a Malaysian first and Malay next. Does any bigot have a problem with that? - (Nazri Aziz is the Minister in the PM's Department)

This article was originally published in Malaysia Chronicle

Mupok Aku

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

Pakatan Rakyat Slams Utusan Malaysia For Criticising Sultan of Selangor

KUALA LUMPUR
Wednesday, 24th March 2010

Pakatan Rakyat Assemblymen Are behind Sultan of Selangor who are against the Racist Organisation like PERKASA...DAULAT TUANKU!

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state lawmakers here are demanding that the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia apologise for criticising the Sultan of Selangor.

In the Malay daily’s weekend publication, Mingguan Malaysia, its editorial columnist, writing under the pseudonym Awang Selamat, questioned Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah for cancelling his plans to officiate right-wing Malay group Perkasa’s inaugural assembly on March 27.

The lawmakers also accused Awang of inciting racial hatred in his article.

“We would like to ask Awang who he was referring to with his statement ‘Why call yourself a Malay if you are too scared and following the lead of those who are eroding the position of Malays?’

This newspaper is no longer relevant to current Malaysian backdrop. It demised with the cancellation of Malayan Union. Utusan Malaysia=UMNO. For all Malaysians..DON'T BUY Utusan Malaysia and DON'T VOTE UMNO

“He also played up racial sentiments with his statement ‘They (Perkasa) have championed for the interests of Malays and Islam in accordance with the country’s constitutional framework. However, they are facing resistance from many parties, especially the non-Malays.’

“It seems that Awang Selamat is trying to show that his actions, together with Tun Dr Mahathir (Mohamad), to attend Perkasa’s first annual general assembly is better than the decision made by the Sultan of Selangor to cancel his attendance,” said Batu Caves assemblyman Amirudin Shari (picture), on behalf of a group of PR assemblymen, today.

In his Sunday column, Awang Selamat praised Perkasa for defending the rights of Malays and Islam.

"Who has become the shield to defend the Constitution of being challenged and rewritten if not for NGOs such as Perkasa. In fact, Perkasa under the leadership of (Datuk) Ibrahim (Ali) has sparked a new sense of confidence among the Malays.

“Do not forget Perkasa’s service. Don’t be trapped with the deception of those who want to threaten the status quo based on motives which are unknown.

“Awang is very thankful and grateful because Perkasa and several other NGOs have helped save the Malay political backbone in this country from collapsing. This was a result of a great conspiracy from the last general election which almost reached the summit,” Awang Selamat wrote.

The PR lawmakers also accused Awang Selamat and Perkasa of being disrespectful by using the monarchy for their political propaganda.

“We find that efforts to include the monarchy in the midst of a political crisis, with their narrow interpretation of the Constitution, is an act which is rude and pollutes the glory of the monarchy,” Amirudin added.

The state leaders also accused Awang of being hypocritical.

“We would like to ask Awang Selamat and Perkasa where were they when Bahasa Melayu was threatened and Malay reserve land increasingly eroded while only a few Malay politicians plundered the country for their self interests.

“We urge Awang Selamat to stop prostituting journalism for the specific interests of certain parties that deliberately want instability between different religions and races,” Amirudin said.

The lawmakers will table a motion in the state assembly’s next sitting on April 12 and identify what action can be taken against Awang Selamat and Utusan.

Amiruddin said that they would not be lodging a police report.

“We think it is better if we brought this issue to the assembly rather than lodging a police report because it can be discussed rationally,” he said.

If government keeping quiet and afraid to take action against Awang Selamat and Utusan Malaysia, there will be another Rwanda or Bosnia in this part of the world. People like Ibrahim Ali and Awang Selamat are not fit to live in this multi-racials country.Being the responsible citizen of this county,and who had sweat to ensure the freedom of this nation...I am appealing to this country to dispell those two , the frog and the monkey to pulau jerjak....Bukittunggal 

Perkasa was formed soon after Election 2008 and has turned into a strong pressure group representing those seeking to defend the constitutional position of the Malays and the ‘social contract’.

It has been at the forefront of lobbying the government to retain the affirmative action policies favouring Malays in the New Economic Model (NEM) scheduled to be announced at the end of this month.

Perkasa is worried that the NEM will increase Chinese dominance of economy.

The director of its economic bureau, Dr Zubir Harun, has said that Perkasa is worried that the NEM will have a Chinese agenda and warned that the Chinese community will use the next general election to take over the country.

Mupok Aku

Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban