masterwordsmith-unplugged

With all the time, money and effort spent on 1Malaysia and other nation-building efforts, it is highly probable that our Prime Minister must be very concerned about the statements allegedly made by his aide Datuk Nasir Safar as reported HERE and HERE.

According to a statement from the premier's office this evening, Datuk Nasir Safar, the special officer to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who stirred a hornet's nest with his stinging 'racist' remarks will resign.

His remarks have sparked an outrage as reported HERE. Scores of MIC and MCA members as well as representatives from non-governmental organisations at the event staged a walkout.

This incident reminds me of Howard Becker's Labeling theory which focuses on the linguistic tendency of majorities to negatively label minorities or those seen as deviant from norms.

The theory is concerned with how the self-identity and behavior of individuals may be determined or influenced by the terms used to describe or classify them, and is associated with the concept of a self-fulfilling prophecy and stereotyping.

At the same time, the alleged act can be regarded as name calling that reflects a cognitive bias and a technique to promote propaganda.

According to this LINK:

Propagandists use the name-calling technique to incite fears and arouse prejudices with the intent that invoked fear based on fear mongering tactics will encourage those that read, see or hear propaganda to construct a negative opinion about a person, group, or set of beliefs or ideas that the propagandist would wish the recipients to denounce. The method is intended to provoke conclusions and actions about a matter apart from an impartial examinations of the facts of the matter. When this tactic is used instead of an argument, name-calling is thus a substitute for rational, fact-based arguments against an idea or belief, based upon its own merits, and becomes an argumentum ad hominem.

Some thought-provoking questions:

• Did he say those words? If he did, will he apologize to all who were present? Granted that the statement from the PM's department offered an apology but it is via written communication and may not be strong enough to mend bridges.

• What are the short-term and long-term measures to mend the bridges that were broken as a result of this incident?

• Will he be charged under the Sedition Act (as advocated by MIC President Samy Vellu HERE) for saying those words?

• What are the effects on the PM's efforts in establishing 1Malaysia, especially since this was supposedly the words of his special aide? How will he and his Department carry out damage control?

• Will our PM put his foot down and make a firm statement warning all his aides, Ministers and subordinates not to make ANY statement that can incite feelings of our rakyat? It seems that of late, this has been a very disturbing and most disconcerting trend that does NOTHING for nation-building.

Until our PM grabs the bull by the horns and puts an end to such destructive habits, his effort, time and resources in his 1Malaysia dream may be left ripped, torn and tattered by those in his camp who are not supportive of our Prime Minister's vision. Could such overtures, statements and actions from various quarters be seen as sabotage or even disloyal acts? What a tragedy!

In many ways, the Prime Minister of a country is very much like a conductor in an orchestra. A PM has to keep the country together via a hierarchy of ministries, civil service and other organizations that give the support to keep law an order in a country. Similarly, the conductor is much more than just a time-beater who keeps the orchestra together. But what happens when someone is playing a melody that demonstrates angst-filled strains of dissent which goes against what the conductor has specified for the orchestra? Worse still, what happens if that out-of-tune musician is a former conductor of that very same orchestra and succeeds in getting some responses from his former subordinates who are intent on singing/playing a different tune?

Each musician is has a heavy responsibility for his/her part. The conductor has studied the full score for all the instruments - otherwise, he has no business to be in control! Of course, sometimes, the conductor needs to listen to the other sectional heads such as the concertmaster, or principal violin to decide how the sections should bow, up or down, for uniform bowing, and other details of string playing. For example, musicians may request for the conductor's assistance in certain spots of a piece. Often, the conductor may provide cues for musicians for them to make their entry or exit so that the whole piece is presented in perfect harmony.

In the same manner, the various Ministers, UMNO divisional heads, civil service departmental heads, IGP etc. are answerable to our PM who holds the final say in decision-making. Open communication is necessary for all to play their roles. Any dissent/dissatisfaction should be raised via proper channels of communication.

At the same time, professional orchestral musicians can be very naughty at times. They could test the new conductor by making deliberate mistakes via wrong notes and playing out of tune deliberately - just to test the conductor's abilities! Is this what is happening in our country?

What on earth am I talking about? Read Neville Spykerman's Dr M: Perkasa riding on Malay angst. He highlighted a few alarming and disconcerting points. I applaud our Prime Minister's patience and level of tolerance (and that of the Home Minister) for not reacting to the following statements he made when launching Perkasa Selangor in Ampang Jaya on Saturday:

• Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that Malay nationalist group Perkasa was gaining popularity because the community was feeling threatened and forsaken
• Malay political parties, including Umno, were appeasing non-Malays, groups like Perkasa should make their influence known at the ballot box.
• Dr Mahathir added the NGO’s popularity was because Malay parties, including Umno, had forsaken the community while appeasing non-Malays in order to get support.“For 48-years under Umno, Malays never felt threatened but they feel threatened today and that is why Perkasa exists,” he said.
  
• He lamented how Malay’s were weaker now because their vote was divided between Umno, PAS and PKR, whose leaders were not listening to the grouses of the community.
• Dr Mahathir also painted a bleak picture of Umno, which he described as a party filled with “contractors” out to make money, compared to previously when it comprised of teachers.
• “They want contracts for themselves and that’s why they can be controlled with the promise of contracts.”
• He added he was concerned for the Malay community, because such politicians will sell out the country and a message must be sent to the top leadership of the party.
• “If we fail to make them listen, we will face the outcome.”

The above statements were extracted from The Malaysian Insider HERE. A few questions lurk in the deep recesses of my mind.

1. Well, I don't know about you but I am a tad confused. Isn't TDM STILL a member of UMNO? If so, why is he not singing in harmony to our PM's 1Malaysia overture being played 24/7 by the 1Malaysian Orchestra so to speak? Why is he launching another organization that does not seem to be moving in harmony with what UMNO is doing?

In another article by Shazwan Mustafa Kamal HERE, Malaysian Insider reported:

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad believes the Malay nationalist group Perkasa is popular within the community because Umno is being seen as incapable of protecting their rights.

But the former Umno president said his party is still stronger than Perkasa, which is led by Pasir Mas MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali who was a deputy minister in his administration.

“Among the majority of Malays, there is a feeling that Umno is, by itself not quite capable of protecting them (Malays),” Dr Mahathir told reporters after an event at the National Library here.

“This has in turn resulted in a lot of NGOs being formed,” he said, referring to the various Malay non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The former prime minister also affirmed that Perkasa’s popularity among the Malays was increasing because they represented a significant number of Malay opinion.

He however stopped short of stating that the Malay nationalist group was formed as a pressure group to Umno.

“Well, it (Perkasa) is the biggest among Malay NGOs throughout the country. But it is not as strong as Umno.”

Perkasa, which began as a one man band after Election 2008, has been shaping up as a national pressure group to Umno that represents those seeking to defend the constitutional position of the Malays and the social contract.

For the past two months, the Perkasa national leadership has been going on road shows to officiate state level launches and to organise massive recruitment drives.

2. The myths of threats against Malays are being recited again. We hear the same choral refrain of "Malays are weakening, Malays are under threat, Malays are divided, Malays under siege etc" with no clarification as to what are the threats, how are Malays threatened and no justification as to why after so many years of "protection and special rights", the Malays are still so "weak, threatened, divided and under attack".

3. Despite being at the helm of the government for over 22 years, I would have thought that our experienced former TDM would be advising our fellow Malay countrymen to develop and forge forward to compete and excel globally. I would have thought that an elderly man like him would be preaching a message to remind Malaysians to be tolerant and sensitive to other Malaysians instead of using divisive messages such as reported by MSM and so many online news portals.

4. "Angst" is defined as a feeling of anxiety, apprehension, or insecurity. Why is TDM implying HERE that there are those in our midst who are feeling anxious, apprehensive and insecure?

What is his true intention? Should he not ride quietly and elegantly in the sunset since he has already/supposedly retired?

As a former PM, should he not be going all out to support our Prime Minister's nation-building efforts?

Half-truths spun by those who may have serious attitude problems who are out to gain popularity and stardom among their sympathisers and audience must not be entertained and should be brought to task.

5. One may deduce from Tun's remarks, UMNO is in a predicament. Does that not build up the angst-filled melody to a rising crescendo?

I am very surprised that nothing has been said by the higher-ups in response to all that is happening in this arena and all that has been said. My respect for the leaders' forbearance.

In the light of such developments, all the more right minded and silent Malaysians must exercise their right to vote in the coming GE13 to make their voice heard. That is the best antidote that Malaysia needs to stop the angst-filled strains of dissent that do nothing for the harmony and unity of this nation.

Further reading

RETHINKING THE POLITICAL PARADIGM

In Perkasa, a voice for alienated Malays

The New UMNO Dilemma

Ibrahim is heading the Perkasa National Leadership
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Thanks for reading, dear reader. Do leave a comment if you wish. Have a nice day!

Translations of the Female Language to help men to better understand women
Fine: This is the word we use at the end of any argument that we feel we are right about but need to shut you up. NEVER use Fine to describe how a woman looks. This will cause you to have one of those arguments.

Five minutes: This is half an hour. It is equivalent to the five
minutes that your football game is going to last before you take out the trash, so it's an even trade.

Nothing: This means something, and you should be on your toes.
Nothing is usually used to describe the feeling a woman has of wanting to turn you inside out, upside down, and backwards.
Nothing usually signifies an argument that will last Five Minutes and end with the word Fine.

Go Ahead (with raised eyebrows): This is a dare. One that will result in a woman getting upset over Nothing and will end with the word Fine.

Go Ahead (normal eyebrows): This means "I give up" or Do what you want, because I don't care. You will get a raised eyebrow Go ahead in just a few minutes, followed by Nothing and Fine and she will talk to you in about Five Minutes when she cools off.

Loud Sigh: This is not actually a word, but is still often a verbal
statement very misunderstood by men. A Loud Sigh means she thinks you are an idiot at that moment and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you over Nothing.

Soft Sigh: Again, not a word, but a verbal statement. Soft Sighs are one of the few things that some men actually understand. She is content. Your best bet is to not move or breathe, and she will stay content.

Oh: This word followed by any statement is trouble. Example: "Oh, let me get that." Or, "Oh, I talked to him about what you were doing last night." If she says Oh before a statement, RUN, do not walk, to the nearest exit. She will tell you that she is Fine when she is done tossing your clothes out the window, but do not expect her to talk to you for at least 2 days. Oh, as the lead to a sentence, usually signifies that you are caught in a lie. Do not try to lie more to get out of it, or you will get raised eyebrows Go ahead followed by acts so unspeakable that we can't bring ourselves to write about them.

That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements that a woman can say to a man. That's Okay means that she wants to think long and hard before paying you retributions for whatever it is that you have done. That's Okay is often used with the word "Fine" and used in conjunction with a raised eyebrow Go ahead. At some point in the near future when she has plotted and planned, you are going to be in some mighty big trouble.

Please Do: This is not a statement; it is an offer. A woman is giving you the chance to come up with whatever excuse or reason you have for doing whatever it is that you have done. You have a fair chance to tell the truth, so be careful, and you shouldn't get a That's Okay.

Thanks: A woman is thanking you. Do not faint; just say you're welcome.

"Thanks a lot": This is much different from Thanks. A woman will say, Thanks a lot when she is really ticked off at you. It signifies that you have hurt her in some callous way, and will be followed by the Loud Sigh. Be careful not to ask what is wrong after the Loud Sigh, as she will only tell you Nothing.

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A Letter from Men to Women

To all women,
On behalf of all men I would like to clarify a few points:

* The floor is considered an acceptable clothing storage location.
* Never ask me to purchase feminine products. Assume that I will come home with the wrong thing.
* When watching TV hugging is always fine because I can still see the screen. Kissing should only be done during timeouts and commercials. Questions should also be limited to this period as you stand a much better chance of getting an immediate response.
* When we are watching your show and I change the channels during a commercial do not hassle me that they are over to change the channel back. I always know when the timing is right. Also, when we are channel surfing do not ask me to go back, there was a good reason why I skipped it.
* If you need help with the laundry, I am more than willing to carry it from the bedroom to the washer. In my mind this is half the chore and I am now free to return to the couch.
* If I mention that a male friend of mine is allowed to do something it is not necessary for you to call his wife/girlfriend to discuss it.
* If you don't like the way I am driving close your eyes. And I would appreciate it if you would refrain from making that reverse inhaling alarmed noise. I haven't hit anything yet and if I do it will be your fault.
* I go clothes shopping to buy, never to look.
* Just tell me what you want me to wear before I get dressed. And remember that this takes me less than ten minutes no matter what the occasion is. After all I am getting dressed, not getting ready.
* Don't ask me if I prefer one outfit over another or if a certain accessory should be worn or not. I consider this a no win situation and would rather just wait for you to get dressed while watching TV.
* If you want me to put the seat down when I am finished then you should leave the seat up when you are finished. It's only fair. And stop giving me a hard time about missing the bowl. What do you expect from an organ that has a brain of its own.
* I will cook anything as long as it is on the BBQ.
* Yelling to me across the house sounds exactly like stadium crowd background noise to me. I am not ignoring you.

Thank you for your understanding,
From all men.

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