'There was a time when Umno provided a moderate centre. But that was some time ago. The centre has since moved.'
'Malays should be worried with Ibrahim as champion'
David Dass: This has always been the way of politics in this country. Find someone like Ibrahim Ali to preach the rhetoric of extremism so that Umno will seem reasonable by comparison. In the past, there was always PAS who could be counted on to say and do things which would terrify non-Muslims and send him/her scurrying for the cover provided by Umno.
There was a time when Umno provided a moderate centre. But that was some time ago. The centre has since moved. Umno has embraced a policy that has Malay dominance as a prerequisite. That has left the MIC, MCA and Gerakan in the lurch. They have nothing to offer their respective constituencies.
Umno must change and acknowledge the changed circumstances in the world. People of talent are mobile. They will be accepted virtually anywhere as nations struggle to meet the challenges of a new economic order where competition for limited funds is intense. Malays do not need Ibrahim Ali.
A Malaysian: He is shouting now, but when he gets contracts and becomes rich, he will keep his big mouth closed. He is king of the frogs: from PAS to Berjasa to Umno to Semangat 46. Now he wants to go back to Umno.
Ibrahim Ali: Malaysiakini causing 'unrest'
Avatar: What a shallow-thinking politician Ibrahim Ali is? His politics is only for himself and a manipulation of Malay and Islamic issues. His thinking is 50 years behind. I am beginning to think he is the mouthpiece of ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad in every sense.
Mahathir was the most vocal critic of free-market economics, democratic freedoms, and what not. His style of governance was to suppress all freedoms in the name of national security, national development, etc.
Ibrahim is replicating that old dictator in this modern times. Every single speech and action of his is seditious and can cause racial unrest but, in the name of Malay rights, he claims otherwise.
I hope someone reports him to the police. I am sure the police will not respond, but at least the pressure will see him fade away.
SusahKes: "If people lambast me, I don't care." Then are you so upset with Malaysiakini ? Please, don't tell tales. Since you say you follow Malaysiakini , here's something I hope you read: Get lost, racist. The last thing this country needs are people like you. Find where (Australia's right-wing One Nation leader) Pauline Hanson is, go and be friends with her since you "can make friends with everyone."
Karma: He has taken to the streets to protesting against the Penang chief minister. He is the one who is causing unrest. Malaysiakini 's just the messenger. Why shoot the messenger?
Ordinary Worker: This fella can't take the heat after all. Truth hurts, huh? Don't change the subject and blame Malaysiakini for your mistakes.
Daniel Tan: Ibrahim, at least Malaysiakini gives you the platform to voice out your sentiments. Would Umno's mouthpieces such as New Straits Times and Utusan Malaysia dare to allow opposition views to be published?
Lucia: I've always look to Malaysiakini as my source of news and information. Never once did I spy on something that can cause unrest. This ‘katak' Ibrahim is forever blaming everyone except himself.
Mangodurian: Some may say why is Malaysiakini giving such a character a forum to speak on. After all, even The Star , New Straits Times and Utusan Malaysia will probably not publish the things this guy says as they are more 'responsible'.
I'd say, thank you Malaysiakini for publishing a racist side of the story, and their (or his) arguments. Or else we will not understand how anyone can walk around thinking he is right. This is exactly how our press should be.
Lee Heng Soon: People cannot even ask questions about future events? Then how are we to anticipate the future? How is science going to progress? How are we going to progress? Shall we ask questions about how our cavemen forefathers lived?
This Ibrahim is the low-class politicians we have in Malaysia, yet he wants us to follow him? Does he think we are idiots living as cavemen?
Not Confused: Very soon, we will see him and those of his ilk, suggesting repatriation of the so-called immigrants, regardless of how many generations they have been in Malaysia or what they have contributed to its development and economy.
I find his views totally repugnant and disingenuous. Heaven help Malaysia if his like have any say in the future development of Malaysia.
Gk: Ibrahim Ali confirmed that pro-Umno groups taking their protest to the streets are their 'rights and freedom'. We pro-Pakatan can also take our protest to the streets as we have equal 'rights and freedom' under the Federal Constitution.
It's just that we have not reached that stage. Betulkah ? This guy speaks without using his 'akal'.
Lim Mun Leong: Guys, he's just a frog. Stop commenting and reporting on this racist, regressive-minded creature. You are giving him unnecessary coverage and attention. When we stay united as Malaysians and deny him the political platform and capital, he will fade away.
Lvbala: Indirectly, you are asking for Malaysian (media) to be more secretive and to hide the truth. But you must remember that what you hide will be revealed eventually, and it will come out different when that happens.
Why don't you suggest to the government to stop providing Internet services?
Perak Boleh: Forty years ago when I just entered secondary school and there were others who came from Malay medium and Tamil schools. After the first week, among our new-found group of 27 - eight Malays, seven Indians, three Punjabi and the rest, Chinese - all got along very well and shared common interest without any single one claiming to be the supreme race.
Thirty years ago, during the Mahathir NEP era I married a Malay girl from our group and became a Muslim and all our old friends came to the wedding reception at a public hall with Muslim and Chinese food served at the same venue. All races could happily mixed around and I told myself, how lucky I was to live in Malaysia.
Twenty years ago, Mahathir & Co started all this racial segregation and marginalisation of the non-bumi. I told myself, never mind I still loved this country. The last 10 years, with people like Ibrahim Ali, TDM (Tun Dr Mahathir), Najib Razak, Muhyiddin Yassin, Hishammuddin Hussein, etc, I am having doubts whether I have made a big mistake all my life.
Loyal Malaysian: "I do not share the euphoria surround the formation of Perkasa" - Neither do I, and I would like to believe that all fair, rational-thinking Malaysians don't. Those who do must be the Umnoputras who must have been instrumental in the set-up of Perkasa to enable it to get a publishing permit at lightning speed.
Sick Malaysian: Well said, AB Sulaiman. Malays are not as stupid as Ibrahim Ali. He paints a picture of Malays as beggars in need of government. Why not question the government on the implementation of the New Economic Policy and where it went wrong and the many other scandals.
Perbuatan mereka memalukan Melayu macam saya yang berdikari . (Their behaviour shames me as a Malay who can stand on his own feet).
The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only Malaysiakini subscribers can post comments. Over the past six months, Malaysiakinians have posted 50,000 comments. Be part of the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .
