'How can Malays be more ‘Tuan' than Dayaks and Kadazans in Sarawak and Sabah? Dayak and Kadazans as bumiputeras are equal to - if not ‘more' so than - Malays.'
Shahrir: Reality behind 'Ketuanan Melayu'
Hovid: Umno should have stopped using ‘Ketuanan Melayu' since Malaysia was formed with the joining of Sarawak and Sabah back in 1963. Maybe they see Malays as being ‘higher' and more ‘core' to Malaysia than other races in Peninsular.
But how could Malays be more ‘Tuan' than Dayaks and Kadazans in Sarawak and Sabah? Dayak and Kadazans as bumiputeras are equal to - if not ‘more' so than - Malays.
Maybe they can try proclaiming Ketuanan Melayu in the coming Sarawak state election.
Ferdtan: Shahrir Samad, you were once a leader who had idealism and were daring and outspoken. That's heroism, and many in the past loved you for it. I remember how you fought in the Johor by-election as independent against the mighty BN machinery - and won. Many common people, especially taxi drivers, came out to support you.
Well, you have now lost the fire. You are history, though not your brother (PAS' Shah Alam MP Khalid). One thing Khalid has is sincerity. That's sincerity that not many politicians from either side, including you Shahrir, can emulate!
Singa Pura Pura: All the talk and fluff about the politics of altruism and service is well and good, but it is not going to get the people anywhere we have not already been to.
Shorn of ‘Ketuanan Melayu', ‘Allah' and Altantuya Shaariibuus, the only real issue staring a politician like Shahrir (and, possibly, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah) straight in their eyes is whether it is still tenable to maintain Umno as the 'teras' (backbone) of the Malays, Malaysians and Malaysia.
The answer is embedded within your soul, but clearly you feel it not. Half a century of unspeakable pillage and plunder has been wrought upon this nation and its beloved people. Is it still not time yet to let that metastatic cancer known as Umno die of itself?
Wong Mun Kong: I believe Shahrir is genuine when he touches on altruism and service in politics. Unfortunately for the rakyat, the rest of Umno does not subscribe to Shahrir's views, which makes him the exception rather than the rule.
The word 'ketuanan', just like the word ‘slavery', undoubtedly has negative connotations. There are no two ways about it.
Johorian: Why can't Malaysians fight for ketuanan rakyat Malaysia? What is 1Malaysia for if we can't accept all Malaysians as equals? Change must prevail. We let BN rule for 50 years why it can't be fair and let the opposition rule for a change? If they fail, then we'll boot them out. The power of the nation lies in the hand of the rakyat. Khalid Samad, on the other hand, brings hope.
Habib RAK: Shahrir, like Musa Hitam and Rais Yatim, you are a sorry letdown. Instead of holding on to good value system, you got bought over by the dark side. Your brother, Khalid, on the other hand has seen the light and is the torch bearer for moderation, fairness and civility. Your brother did not crumble under pressure, whilst you did.
All said, I still respect you for your past good deeds. I only hope that you will join Anwar Ibrahim, Zaid Ibrahim and Razaleigh to save our beloved country from slipping further.
SKT: ‘In fact, if everyone switches off and let politicians work it out you'll find out that, 'hey, after five years, my business has grown, the market is there, my parents are happy, my in-laws are happy, even when no MP or party hack has come to see me.''
That's what most Malaysians did. They ‘switched off' for 20 years until March 8, 2008. In the meantime, BN politicians destroyed our public delivery system, the judiciary, the education system, national security, and so on.
Chan Kwee Chye: The tuan is a slave of the people, my foot! With millions of ringgit jingling in their pockets, I also want to be a slave!
SusahKes: ‘Yes, but you have to decide what you are and what you stand for.'
Shahrir, it seems to me that you're the one having difficulty in deciding and standing for something. You were once part of the team that stood against Umno's excesses. That was evinced in your joining Semangat 46, then standing as an independent candidate. Now, you're back in the Umno fold. Has Umno changed for the better or for the worse?
Just like Rais, you have changed. Rais was once critical of the Internal Security Act. Then, upon rejoining Umno, he changed his mode.
This is the clash of cultures: between the old forces that want to remain in power, and the new forces that want a responsible government.
It ain't about Ketuanan Melayu per se. How can you be ‘tuan' when your resources have depleted and your best brains have migrated? Maybe you can be tuan of your own kampung .
The Malay generations that Umno has produced are losing out because they were never prepared for globalisation. And you/Umno are proud of that?
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