From: Teh, Ian
Sent: Friday, 14 March 2008 1:37 PM
To:
Subject: RE: Not heard from you
I would obviously have to defer to your views. Quite apart from the fact that I am so far removed from the scene (for over 3 years now!), I recall you always had the knack of reading a situation accurately.
I had wanted to see a fresh start, and I would have thought the non BN victors of this election would seize the opportunity the push through such a fresh start. I have met numerous Malays who have started to accept that special treatment is not going to work and that by resorting to a level playing field, everybody wins in the long term. The example of how an average Malay in Singapore compares to that in Malaysia, is often cited as proof of this. I’m not saying the MB has to be a Chinese simply because DAP has the clear majority in the coalition. DAP has said it is not a Chinese party and has rejected race based politics so it has no business insisting on that, and I don’t think it has said that or would say that. I’m saying though, to start with a premise to say an MB must be a Malay, is to a step back to the old ways. That would be to squander an opportunity which Malaysia has been presented, to start re-building on a more equitable basis. If we start to worry about whether the Malays would feel threatened and use that as a basis for our decision, we are not seizing the opportunity. I believe it has to be more robust than that and Malaysia has lost too much time to pussy-foot around.
I believe there is a mandate now for change. People like Anwar must stop his old tendencies to play up racial and religious based bigotry for this mandate to be effective.
You know what? I’m enjoying this “discourse” – tired of listening to boring Kevin Rudd and Brendan Nelson accusing each other of backflips and spendthrifts. I think Malaysian politics is one of the most interesting in the world and no Monster from Arkansas/Obama/Vietnam Veteran Hero can put up a show to come anywhere near.
Best regards
Ian Teh
Assistant General Counsel
AIG Life
Level 3, 549 St Kilda Road
Melbourne Victoria 3004
Ph: 03 9009 4525
Fax: 03 9009 4149
P Please consider the environment before printing this email
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From:
Sent: Friday, 14 March 2008 12:49 PM
To: Teh, Ian
Subject: RE: Not heard from you
Well, I take a slightly different stance. An old friend told me just yesterday after an intense discussion of the political landscape post-March 8 that I’m more of a “realist” than she is.
I really believe March 8 could be (and that’s the operative term) – could be – a watershed. However, how far it takes us really depends on how the leaders of DAP/PKR handle this new-found opportunity. Forget about PAS.
Remember – what was achieved would definitely not have been possible without the Malay vote. And PKR and DAP should be cognizant of this – and not move too quickly to frighten off the Malays into thinking they have made a mistake. The Malays voted UMNO/BN out – not DAP/PKR/PAS in – that’s a critical point. And it’s because the pie has obviously become smaller and the ordinary Bumiputra is losing out to the UMNO-putra. Of course they are also fed up about corruption etc.
Thus it is critical that DAP/PKR tread slowly and exercise their new found power wisely especially in relation to ensuring they do not frighten off the Malays. The strategy will be to continuously send a message to the Malays that they do not have to worry about losing their rights etc. Remember, the non-Malays did not vote BN out because they were fed up of the NEP – I really believe that they have accepted the special rights of the Malays – however grudgingly. The non-Malays just want more equitable distribution of wealth and are really fed up of the corrupt practices of BN politicians, erosion of independence of institutions etc.
So if the DAP/PKR leaders play their cards right there’s a great chance they will further improve their chances in the next election – because the Malays will believe they can still get their rights (enshrined in the Constitution mind you) without having the corrupt BN leaders in govt. The non-Malays will see that their economic future is not threatened, continuous economic growth, foreign investment etc and the great thing is that corruption has been reduced – at the very least we won’t have BN leaders acting with impunity.
And this will slowly but surely see the decline of race-based politics, especially if PKR and DAP can institutionalize their partnership and eventually nudge PAS out of the equation.
I must say I am surprised at the way Kit Siang reacted to the perak MB episode by calling for a boycott of the swearing in by DAP elected reps. Even his own Perak DAP chief spoke against Kit Siang’s suggestion. All this just feeds into BN’s fear-mongering that it is a “coalition of the opportunists” – they are playing right into BN’s hands. I expected more of Kit Siang – symptoms that they were, and still are, unprepared to take advantage of the winds of change blowing towards our shores.
But – I am still hopeful – losing hope cannot be an option!
Cheers mate
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From: Teh, Ian [mailto:Ian.Teh@aig.com]
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 5:19 AM
To:
Subject: RE: Not heard from you
Actually my friend – I sent you probably 3 emails, all bounced back. Some domain related thing – don’t understand, obviously.
I’m just disappointed with what’s happening in Perak. The premise is wrong. We have proven racists like Anwar who start on the premise that the constitution of the state requires a Malay MB. What kind of starting point is that? Surely change is what the people have voted for and Anwar the purported leader of the people, should look to that. Instead, when it comes to protecting the status of the Malay, he said nary a word about change and is happy to abide by the constitution.
Race based politics would remain in Malaysia for a long time, unfortunately. TO that extent, it is just a case of people having enough of UMNO/BN, not them wanting fundamental change. Looks like that, anyway.
Best regards
Ian Teh
Assistant General Counsel
AIG Life
Level 3, 549 St Kilda Road
Melbourne Victoria 3004
Ph: 03 9009 4525
Fax: 03 9009 4149
P Please consider the environment before printing this email
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From:
Sent: Wednesday, 12 March 2008 6:33 PM
To: Teh, Ian
Subject: Not heard from you
Hi
I’m surprised I still haven’t heard from you following the weekend’s political tsunami in Malaysia. Still in a state of orgasmic stupor?
xxxx yyyy
General Manager, Malaysia
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