Despite the many insinuations by the likes of Anwar Ibrahim of PKR or even Nik Aziz of PAS about the downfall of dictatorships in the Arab countries and about the possibility of these things happening here in this blessed country.
I have bad news for them. Malaysia is no Egypt, Tunisia or Jordan or Algeria or even Saudi Arabia or Bahrain. Granted they are Muslim countries but they are Arabic countries with their own unique culture, history and problems.
Furthermore the Arab countries are dominated by Arabs who are majority Muslims who make up more than 95% of the population. Here in Malaysia we have three major races the Malay/Bumis, The Chinese and the Indians practising Islam, Buddhism, Christianity and Hindu.
Though we have our unique sets of problems but because of our multiracial and multi religious diversity, the problems would not reach the threshold level like in the Arab countries where people are united to go to the streets to demand the ouster of the sitting Government. The Malaysian Government knows that the rakyat put them where they are and likewise the rakyat can show them the backdoor every five years if they do not perform or start to become tyrants.
I have bad news for them. Malaysia is no Egypt, Tunisia or Jordan or Algeria or even Saudi Arabia or Bahrain. Granted they are Muslim countries but they are Arabic countries with their own unique culture, history and problems.
Furthermore the Arab countries are dominated by Arabs who are majority Muslims who make up more than 95% of the population. Here in Malaysia we have three major races the Malay/Bumis, The Chinese and the Indians practising Islam, Buddhism, Christianity and Hindu.
Though we have our unique sets of problems but because of our multiracial and multi religious diversity, the problems would not reach the threshold level like in the Arab countries where people are united to go to the streets to demand the ouster of the sitting Government. The Malaysian Government knows that the rakyat put them where they are and likewise the rakyat can show them the backdoor every five years if they do not perform or start to become tyrants.
PM: No parallels between Egypt and Malaysia
Malaysia has long made "people first" a central feature of government policies.
KUALA LUMPUR: Parallels cannot be drawn between Egypt and Malaysia, where “people first” had long been a central feature of government policies, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday.
“We must understand that not all problems can be solved immediately but we are taking steps to address them,” said Najib after meeting Umno divisional leaders at Putra World Trade Centre here.
Read the full article here.
KUALA LUMPUR: Parallels cannot be drawn between Egypt and Malaysia, where “people first” had long been a central feature of government policies, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday.
Najib, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, said the needs of the people were the most important.
“I believe that the people are with us.
“I believe that the people are with us.
“We must understand that not all problems can be solved immediately but we are taking steps to address them,” said Najib after meeting Umno divisional leaders at Putra World Trade Centre here.
He was asked to comment on the power transition in Egypt following the resignation of president Hosni Mubarak and whether there would be any similar moves in Malaysia.
“We are hoping to have good ties with the new Egyptian leaders and work closely with them.”
He said the power transition in Egypt had proceeded smoothly.
“We are hoping to have good ties with the new Egyptian leaders and work closely with them.”
He said the power transition in Egypt had proceeded smoothly.
“It is up to the people in Egypt to decide on their future and I believe that this can be managed well until their next general election.
“The people there will then get a new government that can cater to their needs and aspirations and bring changes to their country.”
Asked about the possibility of groups in Malaysia rallying against certain issues using Facebook or other social networking mediums, Najib said Malaysians were mature and rational and knew what was right and wrong.
“I have said this before that despite the situation in Egypt, BN’s majority in the Tenang by-election had increased and this shows that the people believe in our government.”
He said that the government could either close Malaysia to global changes in information technology or to manage it.
“We have a society that is techsavvy, so, the government must manage this new political environment.
“We do not exercise a monopoly on the dissemination of information.”
He said there was a need to engage the people so that they understood the government’s policies.
“What is different between an 80-storey building and a 100-storey building? Malaysia in 2020 will be different.
“What is more important is whether the project is viable and the fact that it does not involve taxpayers’ money.”
He was referring to objections in Facebook on the plan to build the 100-storey Menara Warisan at RM5 billion.
To a question on whether this meant the government was looking into guidelines to govern social networking sites, he said: “No, I am a part of Facebook and I tweet, although some people do not believe that it is me who is tweeting.”
“The people there will then get a new government that can cater to their needs and aspirations and bring changes to their country.”
Asked about the possibility of groups in Malaysia rallying against certain issues using Facebook or other social networking mediums, Najib said Malaysians were mature and rational and knew what was right and wrong.
“I have said this before that despite the situation in Egypt, BN’s majority in the Tenang by-election had increased and this shows that the people believe in our government.”
He said that the government could either close Malaysia to global changes in information technology or to manage it.
“We have a society that is techsavvy, so, the government must manage this new political environment.
“We do not exercise a monopoly on the dissemination of information.”
He said there was a need to engage the people so that they understood the government’s policies.
“What is different between an 80-storey building and a 100-storey building? Malaysia in 2020 will be different.
“What is more important is whether the project is viable and the fact that it does not involve taxpayers’ money.”
He was referring to objections in Facebook on the plan to build the 100-storey Menara Warisan at RM5 billion.
To a question on whether this meant the government was looking into guidelines to govern social networking sites, he said: “No, I am a part of Facebook and I tweet, although some people do not believe that it is me who is tweeting.”
Read the full article here.
Even as the Malaysian Opposition tries to capitalise on the Arab uprising the Algerians and the Yemeni are going to the streets as we speak. I wonder how long will this go on in the Arab world?
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