Dr. Tan Yee Kew:

Lau Tek Hai:

“The rights of every individual must be respected and taken care of by everyone else.”

KUALA LUMPUR: Former minister in the prime minister’s department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said true Malays need not be afraid, or feel lack of a sense of security.

“Take myself as an example. I’m a pure Malay, but I have a sense of security. I feel proud of my own race and culture.”

However he said, the problem is that many people do not understand or respect history. Indians, Chinese and Malays have been participating in the nation-building process since a few centuries ago. The Indians used to work in the estates, while the Chinese and Indonesians have all made valuable contributions and sacrifices for the nation too. But we have all forgotten this.

Zaid Ibrahim quit his Cabinet post because he did not agree to the government’s decision of detaining civilians under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

He said during an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily that the Chinese used to work here as miners, and they made great sacrifices during the confrontation with the communists, adding that we must understand history and what they have done for the nation.

“We are only talking about Malaysia as the 19th largest export country in the world, and that we have the twin towers and are a developed country… Do you think we have done all this ourselves? You’re wrong. This achievement has been made after so many people from different ethnic groups have sacrificed for the nation.

“We are not talking about the positive things, but instead discussing how we should get worried because the Chinese have opened how many more new stores here.

“As a matter of fact, the first feeling we should have is not about worry. We should work harder to keep up with them instead.

“I’ve never been worried about the Chinese. In my legal firm, my partner is a Chinese, and we trust each other. Do you think I have built up my success all on my own?

“I’m not scared that the Chinese are smart, for I’m also very smart. I’m not scared that the Chinese are hard working, for I’m also very hard working. We have bad guys in every ethnic group, and you’re cheated simply because you’re not smart enough. We must educate young Malaysians to look at things from a positive perspective.”

Zaid said certain people have kept on mentioning May 13 to blackmail the people. However he felt that given our current situation, this thing would never happen again.

“I am thinking, for a better future, all Malaysians should stand up and speak out bravely. The Chinese must defend the rights of the Malays, and the Malays must also defend the rights of the Chinese. Everyone must be properly taken care of here.”

He felt that we should not rely on a single political party to take care of a particular community. It should be that the rights of every individual must be respected and taken care of by everyone else. (By HOU YALUN/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)

1) In Chinese - Part 1

2) In Chinese - Part 2

3) In Malay - Part 1

4) In Malay - Part 2

As requested, here is the list of the 60+ detainees under the ISA. Courtesy of Aliran.

continue reading » »

1) Elizabeth Wong:

2) Teresa Kok:

3) Sivarasa Rasiah:

4) Tian Chua:

1) Marina Lee Abdullah, Raja Petra’s wife:

2) Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, Bar Council President:

3) Nurul Izzah, MP For Lembah Pantai:

Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin was sent to the Kamunting Detention Centre in Taiping, Perak this morning to begin his two-year detention without trial under the Internal Security Act.

Wife of deputy prime minister Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor said, the Altantuya Shaariibuu case should not become a stumbling block for the political career of her husband Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. She said those were slanderous remarks made by his rivals in a bid to kill his political future, and were not the facts.

However, she was worried that people would choose to listen to rumours instead of facts.

She said, as long as her husband is working hard, sincere, responsible, persistent and confident, he will win the trust of Malaysians. She said she was very clear that her husband is a good guy, who is not easily battered or shaken.

“Why should his political future be affected by this incident? That is not the truth! I am only worried that people will choose to listen to rumours instead of facts.”

She pointed out that Malaysians know how to discern between facts and lies. Even if the online media continue to come out with false and unjust reports, Malaysians will still find out the truth in the end, she added.

“Although some people keep on spreading venomous rumours, by comparison, people are more concerned about their jobs, incomes, and their children’s education.”

During an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily at her house in Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor talked about her feelings on the implication of Datuk Seri Najib in the murder case of Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu.
“I really don’t care how people misunderstand me. The important thing is that my conscience is clear.”

She stressed that her conscience is clear in the face of rumours and slanders targeted at her, and that it was not necessary for her to prove anything.

“I have not done anything wrong or hurt anyone. Why can’t I lift up my head and walk with confidence? I really don’t care how people misunderstand me. The important thing is that my conscience is clear.”

She emphasised that her relationship with Najib is not as vulnerable as what others might have thought. They understand and support each other. Najib also keeps on reminding her that as the wife of a politician, she may have to encounter all kinds of rumours and verbal assaults.

“We understand and support each other. Please tell the whole world that I am not a dumb. I’m well aware of my husband’s characters, just like he is well aware of mine. If there is anything I don’t like about him, I’ll talk to him in private. The same thing for him.”

Most worried that people can’t tell between what’s right and wrong

Rosmah went on to say that politics sometimes made her shudder with fear. However, what she is most worried about is not her husband or herself, but the young generation of Malaysians.

She said, it is worrisome what kind of values young generation of Malaysians, who are raised in an environment filled with all sorts of doubts and bewilderment, will possess, adding that the noble values and merits passed down from our forefathers will have to be lost forever.

“It is not wrong to have political ambitions, but will you be pleased with the discarding of moral values and principles, as well as the destruction of those excellent values that could have been inherited by our children, just because of some personal gains?” (Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)