E Contrario

Chair: Dr Lee Boon Chye (R2), Speakers: Chan Ming Kai (L1), Azmin Ali (L2) and Tian Chua

KeADILan Ipoh held a talk on 28 November 2006 at Yuk Chai Alumni Association. The focus of the talk was on the arrogance and racialism of Umno as we saw in its annual assembly, and what happens to multiethnic consensus?

The speakers of the evening were: Chan Ming Kai, Azmin Ali and I. The event was primarily for Chinese public but it was attended by all ethnic communities. So I ended up delivering a bilingual speech.

The first speaker was Chan Ming Kai. Ming Kai is KeADILan young leader. He is currently the deputy head of Bahagian Gopeng. In fact this was the first time he delivered a speech on a public talk. Such practice was part of our effort to encourage the new generation to assume leadership.

Azmin Ali, KeADILan’s Vice President

Azmin contrasted Umno annual general assembly with KeADILan Congress held in last August. We are a party with new vision: bringing all Malaysians together in constructing a free, democratic and prosperous society that ensure all ethnic communities have a fair sharing in this nation. On the contrary, Umno is backward, myopic and unwilling to change. Due to weak leadership and lack political will, the government is unable to root out corruption. Under Pak Lah nepotism has indeed become worse than Mahathir. The PM made no effort to prevent his family members engaging in business contracts and government projects.

Umno has no other prospect but to use racism and intimidation. Azmin warned, if Umno tries to threaten Non-Malay communities, KeADILan will stand firm against any attempt to play up racial sentiment. KeADILan, a multiethnic party, will ensure all communities are safe and live harmoniously in this country.

I raised three reasons why Umno being so racist in the last general assembly:
First, Umno is losing support among Malay community; its records and outlook are less and less convincing to the Malays.
Second, racialism is a way to cover up wide spreading corruption and abuses of power in the administration.
Third, and probably the most crucial point, is that it was a designed plot to divert public attention away the intense power struggle between Abdullah and Mahathir.

What lies our future? If we wish to see the next generation lives free and dignified, we must go all-out now. Change will only come if we join hand to unseat Umno from its throne.