A press statement endorsed by Malaysians of all walks of life.
Gift or nightmare for Najib?
Kee Thuan Chye dissects the ongoing Sabah crisis.
The ongoing Sabah crisis could turn out to be the gift Prime Minister Najib Razak was hoping for to help his Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition to victory at the impending general election, which he has yet to call, or a ticking bomb instead.
In rejecting the ceasefire proposed by the Sulu Sultan whose followers landed in Lahad Datu more than three weeks ago to reclaim Sabah as their ancestral homeland, Najib has scored much-needed positive points. Already, even his detractors have expressed support for his stand. They now declare that for once, he is saying something “sensible”, that they are agreeing with him “for the first time”.
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Some, however, are saying this is “the only right thing” he has done during the whole crisis. Nonetheless, if he manages to pull off a decisive victory over the intruders, votes, especially from fence-sitters, might actually drop to BN.
But Najib has to do it before the general election has to be held, the absolute last date for which is June 28. If the crisis is not resolved before the general election, his ineffectiveness as prime minister would be exposed. He needs to win the conflict decisively, like Margaret Thatcher won the Falklands War in 1982 and went on to resuscitate her flagging popularity at the UK general election the following year.
On that score, if there was indeed a conspiracy to stage the Sabah crisis as a gamble on the part of either BN or the Opposition, Pakatan Rakyat, it would seem to have favoured BN more than it would have Pakatan. There’s nothing like a war – or, in this case, armed conflict – to unite the people behind the Government against the common enemy. And victory would bring it even greater rewards.
(Continued)
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98Comments
Mar 7, 2013 11:59PM
Project IC a master piece of work by Dr. M. really bring dilemma to Sabahans and also jeopardize Sabah security to the terrorists! What an idiot idea of simply letting foreigners from area that has been infested with freedom fighters!
Besides the above project this Dr. M also opened door to Irans and countries from Africa.....at the end a lot of drugs smugglers from these countries smuggled drugs into Malaysia.....this is another idiot's idea that almost causing great harm to the nation and citizens!
So in here I just wondering how much harm this Dr. M had done to Malaysia?Countless or a few?
Mar 8, 2013 2:12AM
Mar 7, 2013 11:31PM
This matter would not change my mind at all, the country have to change, to those that's going to vote for BN, i have no objection, it was your choice but REMEMBER all the situation we going through, one right doesn't make all the wrong thing right! What have happen already happen, either you too stupid to understand or just plain naive.
One more fact, if the current goverment have been "doing" their job, this kind of situation wouldn't happen at all.
One more fact, if the current goverment have been "doing" their job, this kind of situation wouldn't happen at all.
Mar 8, 2013 4:29AM
Mar 7, 2013 8:00PM
Mar 7, 2013 10:21PM
Mar 7, 2013 7:02PM
Congratz Najib, you just made a right decision (as of now) after so long. But better late than never
Next is to walk the talk, and show the public you meant what you say. May I suggest that you should seek advice on this war from veteran generals rather than your indecisive cousin or those inept commading officers who wish only to score points/fame.
After the situation is settle, we would wish you would investigate how the invaders are able to breach our defense that easily and get those officers like you mean business. But due to cases where you blatantly ignoring the wish of the public or go after top guns in your party, this will be difficult to achieve
However sincere kudos to you this time (for your firm stance on asking to "laydown arms or die" part only)
Mar 7, 2013 8:09PM
Mar 8, 2013 3:45AM
Mar 8, 2013 10:01AM
Doubtful and lots of unanswerable questions poised to the govt. Why intruders easily enter East Sabah and bypass all the nations security forces and agencies? Initially the police handle them provide foods and medical aids as per reported, and yet don't know much on them. whats up? what was the airstrike or bombing result to the intruders? No report internally unless from proclaim Sulu Sultan. Why nobody cleared the air when Philippines President claimed that 800,000 of his citizen were in Sabah? Numbers of new media highlighted that the intruders being invited by someone for a political mileage, opposition leader voice out and take action once the blame on him, whereas PM keep on silent from the new media highlighted that involved him. Lot more unanswerable question if highlighted will give a Back Blast Effects to BN and govt. of the day.
Mar 7, 2013 6:43PM
Mar 8, 2013 4:17AM
Mar 7, 2013 11:44PM
Mar 8, 2013 3:48AM
Mar 8, 2013 10:44PM
I f i am not mistaken i can still recall that these Sulu muslim militants, gunmen, terrorists were even supported by our present govt even when they were in their own country, Philippines at one time and they were also even invited here as guests at one time too. I am totally SHOCKED!! So this is the way they thank us for the support and hospitality....So "Good on you" supporting the wrong cause or group. Good job well done....I THINK NOT!!! OMG!!! Simply sheer stupidity on our part!!
Mar 10, 2013 12:47AM
These are all very crystal clear signals and indication that we Malaysians of all creeds, races and beliefs must hold our hands together to vote for a change. We cannot allow anyone anymore from this very corrupt regime to rule our beloved country. We must send each and everyone of them out because all of them have been very sick and dangerously infected with serious diseasese detrimental to us all. By that we will be sending a very strong signal to whoever become our leaders in the future that we, the citizens of this country, do not tolerate scoundrels to rule us anymore. Let us put in a totally new machinery in the Administration in this coming GE. Long live Malaysia and her straight-thinking citizens!
Mar 10, 2013 9:14PM
Why does it sound so surprising to all, specially on how people come in and out the country so freely....Go and see for yourself at all entry point between Malaysia- Thailand (Rantau panjang, Danok, padang besar etc etc AND Malaysia Indonesia along sabah/sarawak and even locations like Pontian.....Some notable possibilities that gang style execution in the northern states are result of all these "freedom"....
However go and see Singapore- Malaysia border...tell a opposite story right?...
My opinion is that it is all about "being too flexible and suffer later" OR "stick to rules strictly and incur the complaint from rakyat"
However go and see Singapore- Malaysia border...tell a opposite story right?...
My opinion is that it is all about "being too flexible and suffer later" OR "stick to rules strictly and incur the complaint from rakyat"
Mar 8, 2013 3:45PM
No matter what he is, X-IGP Musa Hassans comment makes sense especially when he said Najibs finally made the right decision, although a little late to storm those armed idiots. Not many people knows what General ZZ meant when he said "certain explosives were used.." during air strike by the FGAs, not many of us understand what he meant by "to neutralise the enemy.." and only a few people could catch what he meant when he said "the enemy is not that strong but technically, they are quite good". ZZ has probabl****entified the militants with their strength and advised IGP / Najib appropriately before determining the fire power required for the operation. Worries of MNLF leaders that M'sian security forces would storm militants into pieces had lead to several warning 'uncalled for' made by MNLF leadership (as quoted by Manila based Philippine Star, March 05, 2013) which was directed to Najib and Putrajaya. MNLF warned all of us M'sian..?! Who's MNLF to warn our govt, our PM..and how the hell they are involved?! Who invite them, who instigate them and who pay them for their service that has finally trapped 'some' of their subordinates into a suicide mission in Sabah would definately be identified later, insyallah.. One more thing, don't forget...the Armed Forces Chief Gen ZZ was once the military Commander-in-Chief of the MILF-Philippine Forces Cease Fire Monitoring Team in Philippine when he was a two star general. So, don't be surprise he knows the 'enemy' better..! which an asset to Najib in this particular scenario. I'm just imparting some knowledge to some M'sian so that they would be able to look at issues, better.
Mar 8, 2013 11:52AM
Mar 8, 2013 2:27AM
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