I was right about Limpeh FT’s air of self-superiority and one track mind

Racism, not religion, has been the Number One threat to peace and security

Seng Han Thong perpetuating racism

MP Seng Han Thong’s “explanation” on the recent SMRT fiasco is so PAPpy like. Always thinking that the minority races are backward. I can’t believe that after more than 50 years of PAP rule, their MPs are still living in the 1960s, where PAPpies believe that the only educated ones are Chinese. Malays to them are the sweepers and cleaners while Indians are the security watchmen. Only Chinese work as managers, engineers, doctors and laywers.

MP Seng Han Thong: SMRT’s unpreparedness also due to Malay and Indian staffs English language inefficiency

But then again, you really can’t blame MP Seng when the very top leaders of the PAP are racists. The number one culprit is of course and old man, who thinks minority races are inferior to Chinese.

MP Seng’s words reflect the perpetuating racism that’s part of PAPpy’s policies.

Let’s stop this Chinese clannish stuff

I read with a mixture of bemusement and disgust that after all these years, the MSM still plays fiddle to PAPpy’s idea that a clannish, sectarian, elitist group of Chinese represents the main populace of the Chinese community.

Chinese community honours Lee Kuan Yew & Goh Chok Tong

Nope, it isn’t the content that’s in the link that got my eye. That’s why I give you no excerpts from the link. It is the title itself. What “Chinese Community” talking Channel News Asia, when only two organisations, which are sectarian in their own niches are involved?

I have written an article before to show that the Chinese race is not homogeneous. However, due to the Chinese elitists in the PAP, as well as their lappydogs, these sectarians believe that they are the gods of the earth, and examples of what every ideal Singaporean should be – including upholding Chinese (or should I say Han) Culture. PAP’s Racist MT Policy, Part 2 – PAP is forcing Han Culture, not Chinese Culture, on us

Personally, as an ethnic Chinese minority (Peranakan), I don’t give two hoots about Chinese (or rather Han) Culture. Neither do I worship the 2000+ year history many of these Han elites uphold. Nor do I worship Mandarin, which I see it nothing more than a language for communication, but somehow these elites see it as part of their 2000+ year culture that’s so holy, it is blasphemous to them if you ridicule the language.

In fact, these Chinese elites are so elitists, it has come to the stage where it even bars other races from taking Chinese as their Mother Tongue in schools. Such exclusivity, such pomposity, such feeling of superiority that the Chinese Language is only for the Chinese!

It is this sense of Chinese elitism that is fragmenting society in Singapore. SAP schools, which is an extension of this elitism, has roots in this Han Culture worship. Many non-Mandarin speaking students are deprived of the funds that has been poured (a huge chunk comes from your taxes) all in the name of promoting “Chinese Culture”.

I have nothing against Chinese Culture, or rather Han Culture. Go ahead and practise it if you wish. Everyone has a right to practise what he wants in a free society.

But to have SAP schools that segregates and deprives the non-Mandarin speaking students; to force non-Mandarin Mother Tongue Languages on the non-Chinese; to act as if a sectarian clannish group of elite Hans represents the whole Chinese race, that is nothing short of racism.

Think there’s no racism in Singapore? Wrong. The difference between Malaysia and Singapore is that the Malaysians admit they have racist policies. Other than that, there is no difference when it comes to implementation of the racist policies.

Minorities need to speak up for their rights

I came across an interesting article from a fellow blogger about why she thinks it is more effective for the majority to speak up for the minority. Man Enough to Speak up for Women in Parliament

The only way to achieving any equality is for the more powerful side to agree that equality is important.

It is more powerful for straight people to fight for gay people’s rights.
It is more powerful for the dominant group/race to fight for minority rights.
It is more powerful for able-bodied people to fight for handicapped rights.

Er…let me give my input.

Brief background -

Before wisecracks say I am just an armchair critic penning down thoughts and not an “activist”, let me give you a brief idea of my “experience” on the ground. I did represent a section of people in society and that was through the ballot box. I was elected into office as the Secretary to an organisation (NGO). It was from here that I got to work with the ground as well as with the top.

The people I met was right down from the ground, to mid management to top CEOs of MNCs. I also had the chance to meet MPs, ministers and had a few lunch meetings with the two incumbent DPMs then.

That was the period when I was in my late twenties to mid thirties. I no longer am involved in such work, so technically, it is correct that I am NOW an armchair critic. You could say an armchair critic with experience.

My duty (I was not paid but a volunteer) was to run the organisation like any Secretary of an organisation is supposed to do. The reason why I didn’t run for President in the organisation is that the duties of the President is restricted to domestic matters. It is the Secretary’s duty to interact with outside third parties. No need to tell you where the power of influence comes from.

There’s a limit to what majority can do for minority -

There were two sets of minority groups that I felt that should be helped when I was in office.

- Minority membership interests.
- Minority race groups.

I will talk only about #2.

In case you don’t already know, I am a Chinese. That means I am from the majority. From experience, here are the limitations when a majority speaks for a minority.

Reason 1 – If the minority themselves remain silent, it looks like you are a “kaypoh” bringing up issues nobody does. It also looks like you are currying favour “to buy votes” – (please remember that I was the Secretary through the ballot box).

In fact, that was what happened in my early days as the Secretary. It was only when there were opponents who tried to dislodge my position as Secretary (through the usual mudslinging) when I decided to sit through re-elections for a second term, that’s when the minorities woke up and realised that if I was gone, so would their spokesman.

It was campaigned (by my opponents) that I was a traitor to my own race. It was campaigned that I was only interested in minorities and I didn’t care for the majority. Dirt was even thrown at my family. It was campaigned that since my wife was a minority, I was only interested in minorities etc, etc, etc..

It was obvious that opponents who were vying for the Sec’s position tried to dislodge me through dirty politics and backstabbing methods. But through this incident, out of nowhere, the very silent minority I have been fighting for all along during my term earlier, made a very strong appearance and impact. It occurred to these minorities that if I was displaced, their spokesman would also be gone – and god knows when the next pro-minority Secretary would come along.

So suddenly, these opponents who thought I was easy meat met a barrage of counter attacks from the minorities. It was from here that I formed a strong bond with the minority races then.

Remember that I was just a young punk then. My opponents were far more experienced and senior than I was. If the minorities had not spoken up, I would have been finished. There is a limit to how much a majority party can speak for a minority. The minorities have to speak up as well.

An interesting point is that the most vocal among the minorities who saved my skin were the Indians. They were considered the minority of the minority but they outdid the Malays on that one!

Reason 2 – A more practical reason why the minorities should speak up is that the majority person who speaks for the minority will NEVER be able to understand minority needs fullest. At most, he can empathize. But he will NEVER be in the position the minority is and he will along the way, miss some details when it comes to campaigning for minority rights.

Regular readers here know that I have been writing about racial discrimination in Singapore. However, whatever I put down in words cannot match with someone’s words who has been discriminated himself. Below (in the hyperlink) is an article from a minority race (a Malay). Note how well he presents his case, compared to what I have been putting up.

Doesn’t this show that even if a person from the majority who has been campaigning for minority rights for years, he will still never be able to match the thoughts of a minority who is discriminated?

Hear it from the discriminated party himself -

Racial discrimination is well and alive in Singapore!

A very long article, but very well worth reading if you want to know about race discrimination against Malays. Have yet to find another such article from other minority races.

The above article is presented in Q & A format and each issue is addressed in detail and can only be expressed from someone who has gone through the actual discrimination. The only Q he could not answer is the part he did not experience himself. Here is the excerpt:

Many Malays are also exempted from serving national service, what is your view on this?

I’m not familiar at all with the situation with the Malays as far as NS is concerned in the 60s and 70s. Perhaps some of the more experienced readers on this blog could shed some light on this.

I believe I can answer better than him on that one, because although like him I did not go through that discrimination, I got it from Malays who went through that era.

Here it is…..

Effect of “exemption” from NS for Malays in the 1960s and 70s -

First of all, let’s clear up some misconception. The Malays were NEVER exempted. They were just not called up. But legally, they were still liable. That means they could be called up at any time even in their twenties. In the 60s and 70s, while other races had completed their legal obligation by age 20 or 21, Malay youths were left dangling in limbo on their NS status even in their mid to late 20s. The term “exemption” is a misnomer.

This non-calling up had (and still has to some degree till today) a very heavy economic-social impact on Malay families.

The 1960s and the 1970s were the industrial boom years. Jobs were aplenty. To top it up, assets like HDB flats and cars were dirt cheap. I recall my uncle got married in 1972 and got a 3 room flat in Toa Payoh for just a dirt cheap $3000!

But to enjoy those economic goodies then, you need to have a job. The non-calling up of NS for Malays was stonewalling their economic progress. For an employer to hire you, what they want from you is “employability”. The last thing they want is to have you working for them and three months later, you get called up for NS.

Those who have served NS found that they got jobs easily. There were plenty for the picking. Those who have not served NS, will be left in the lurch wondering when they will be called up. This is the scenario for the Malay youth in the 1960s and 1970s.

Scenario 1

Boss: Have you served your NS?

Malay job applicant: No.

Boss: When will you be called up?

Malay job applicant: I don’t know.

Boss: Thank you. We will contact you when we find you suitable for the job.

Scenario 2

Boss: Have you served your NS?

Non-Malay job applicant: Yes.

Boss: When can you start work?

Non-Malay job applicant: Immediately.

Boss: Good. Come back tomorrow at 8 and I will get my secretary to prepare you a letter of offer.

Non-Malay applicant: Thank you, Sir!

Now folks, tell me, even if you have the best of the boom in the 1960s and 1970s, with jobs aplenty, with things so cheap that you can afford to stack your assets sky high, how the heck are you going to enjoy all that if you cannot even get a st*nk*ng job?

To add insult to injury, when these young Malays in the 1960s and 1970s could not find jobs and loafed around the streets, they were called “lazy”.

Social Impact of “exemption” of NS for Malays on the generations after -

The saddest part for Malay Community about this totally unjustified non-calling up of NS by the racist PAPpy govt is that it did not just affect the Malay youth of the 1960s and 1970s. The effect carried down the generations thereafter.

By the time Malay youths were getting called up in the 1980s, the biggest and juiciest part of the economic boom was over. We had the first economic crisis in 1985. We had another in the 1990s – and another more crippling one the last decade, which we are still trying to get out from.

Things were more expensive in the 1980s than in the 1970s. Even without COEs I remembered that in the 1980s, every quarter, the HDB prices for NEW flats rose by about $30,000!

For those who have secured cars and houses in the 1970s, their assets have also risen. Those who have not, and those who tried to “catch up” in the 1980s, have less assets to offset the new higher prices.

The Malays, as you can see, have been lagging behind because they missed out the 1960s and 1970s boom years. That means that they could only afford smaller flats and smaller cars, or no cars.

Those who have flats and cars earlier in the 1970s, could easily upgrade. They also have higher CPF savings due to the very cheap HDB houses.

Stock Boom Years -

That wasn’t all. The CPF was released to buy stocks and insurance in the 1990s. The Malays who only started to have real jobs in the 1980s could not match the savings in their CPF with the non-Malays who had accumulated sky high assets since from the 1960s and 1970s era. No need to be a genius to conclude that many CPF approved stock holders were non-Malays.

Then when the stock boomed through the 1990s, these CPF stock holders boomed even more, leaving the Malays behind even further!

This is not even talking about the fact that CPF was released for private housing and again, who else but those who had saved since 1960s and 1970s were able to afford that? This pushed the private property up, which meant HDB flat prices were also pushed up – including the 3 and 4 roomers!

And mind you, this was in the 1990s!

Alas, again when the Malays thought they have “caught up”, the prices rose out of their reach – all because of the discriminatory practice of not calling up Malays for NS in the 1960s and 1970s!

Isn’t this social injustice a cruel economic hit against the Malays through no fault of theirs, caused by the racist PAPpies?

My final words on the Malay Community today -

It is true that the Malay community have come a long way since the 1960s. Many Malay families now have decent houses and cars. But it must be remembered that because of one single mad policy from the mad PAPpies in the 1960s and 1970s, these Malays had to fight a long battle to be where they are today.

So before any of you crack that racist joke that Malays are lazy or not hardworking, please know that they have gone through a lot of discrimination from the govt in the 1960s and 1970s. And that discriminatory practice still has its effect till today on later generations.

Finally, like I said, the minorities have to speak up too. You cannot expect the majority to speak up for you and you remain silent.

After all, I have my own interest to look after too. If you don’t care, why should I?

>Xenophobia in S’pore? You only realise it now after nearly 50 yrs?

>Introduction -

As more Singaporeans, both students studying abroad and adults working overseas, are exposed to foreign culture, more are speaking up against their fellow citizens about the xenophobia that’s happening in Singapore.

The claim from them is always the same. It is always “having studied/worked abroad, I am appalled at the treatment of foreigners in Singapore….”

It is as if you need to have been abroad to know that. It is as if you had not travelled far, you won’t notice it. What self-righteous attitude that contains a smack of arrogance and elitism. 

>Alexandra Wallace racist comments issue takes a turn

>Yesterday, I posted about Alexandra Wallace, the white American girl from UCLA, who posted some racist comments about Asians. She targeted the Chinese, but bungled when she confused the Chinese with the Japanese. ULCA’s Alexandra Wallace’s (racist) statements on (Chinese) Asians

The issue has taken a turn for the worse. She has since received death threats for those comments.

Alexandra Wallace, UCLA student who ranted against Asians, receives death threats, apologizes

A UCLA student whose racist rant about Asians went viral over the weekend has received multiple death threats, school officials said.

Alexandra Wallace, a junior political science major, has sought the protection of campus police after she received several calls and emails from people threatening revenge for her recording the tirade, titled “Asians in the Library,” UCLA’s Daily Bruin newspaper reported.

“She recieved numerous phone messages and emails,” school spokesman Phil Hampton told the Daily News. “Police are investigating to determine whether a crime was committed.“

Wallace told political science Prof. Phil Gussin she was terrified after the locations of her upcoming exams were posted online, the paper said.

Campus cops advised her to reschedule her exams in light of the threats.

In the video, posted Friday, Wallace fumes about “the hordes of Asian people” at UCLA as well as their families, whom she claims invade her apartment building every weekend to pamper the spoiled students.

Wallace also trashes Asians for talking on the phone in the library and imitates a student by babbling, “Ohhhh! Ching chong ling long ting tong!”

A university spokesman called the video “repugnant” on Sunday, and hundreds of outraged students and alumni flooded Chancellor Gene Block’s Facebook page with comments slamming Wallace.

The video hit the Web on the same day that an earthquake and tsunami rocked Japan, killing thousands and leaving millions without food, water or shelter.

Wallace apologized for the video in a letter to the school’s Daily Bruin newspaper on Monday, the paper reported.

“Clearly the original video posted by me was inappropriate,” she said in the statement. “I cannot explain what possessed me to approach the subject as I did, and if I could undo it, I would. I’d like to offer my apology to the entire UCLA campus. For those who cannot find it within them to accept my apology, I understand.”

Block called the incident “a sad day for UCLA.”

“I am appalled by the thoughtless and hurtful comments of a UCLA student posted on YouTube,” he said in a statement. “I believe that speech that expresses intolerance toward any group of people … is indefensible and has no place at UCLA.”

It is always sad when hate speeches, posts or hate deeds are responded with more hate. The vicious hate cycle will spin out of control if this is not addressed.

However, there is a side point that has come out of this episode. That’s the “Is this free speech or hate speech?” issue.

The article continues below.

Wallace has not been kicked out of the school, Hampton said, but the dean of students was considering disciplining her.

“The dean of students has been in touch with her and is balancing her First Amendment rights and rights of freedom of expression in weighing whether there was a violation of the code of conduct,” Hampton told the Daily News.

An article by the The Asian Pacific Coalition at UCLA published in the Daily Bruin on Sunday called the video “hate speech” and “harassment,” but also called for tolerance.

“As a community, we should respond with the grace, sensitivity and civility afforded us through the manners we learned from our parents, and their parents before them,” the coalition wrote.

The reference appeared to be a subtle dig at the buxom blond, who ranted that Asian students needed to “use American manners” and described herself as a “polite, nice American girl that my momma raised me to be.”

Gussin said he was frustrated by the campus’ violent response.

“What Wallace did was hurtful and inexcusable, but the response has been far more egregious,” he told the Bruin. “She made a big mistake, and she knows it, but … they responded with greater levels of intolerance.”

So is this free speech or hate speech?

There is a poll that can be found in the link above. I took a screenshot the results of that poll at about 1300h SGT on 19 Mar 2001. Here are the results.

This brings up yet another point. It looks like to Americans, “freedom of speech” is more important than respecting other cultures. But the Arabs are bigger targets of hate than Asians in America.

However, when it comes to Israel, note how Americans will defend Zionists tooth and nail and call you an anti-Semite, forgetting all about this so called American Freedom of Speech?

Double standard American hypocrites.

>ULCA’s Alexandra Wallace’s (racist) statements on (Chinese) Asians

>Alexandra Wallace, the white girl from ULCA, recorded a clip of herself and made some (racist) comments on how Asians behave. Her main target appears to be the Chinese but she bungled by confusing the Chinese with the Japanese. Her video has gone viral.

In response, Chinese Americans have made their own clips. And those too are heading towards the viral zone.

This guy is an American Asian. Sounds more Japanese than Chinese. But he’s actually Chinese. His name is David So. He’s an amateur stand up comedian residing in the US. You’ve got to see his clip to love it.
Vlog #4: Asians in the Library – UCLA Girl (Alexandra Wallace) going wild on Asians

This guy is another Chinese American. His twitter account is twitter.com/jfwong, which can be seen at the end of the clip. This guy does it with a song. Incidentally, like David So, he sounds more Japanese than Chinese as well. Hmm. No wonder Alexandra got confused between the two ethnic races.
Asians in the Library Song (Response to UCLA’s Alexandra Wallace)

This is Alexandra’s speech that started it all.
Re-Post: Asians in the Library – UCLA Girl going wild on Asians

>After all these years, Malays in Sg still treated as punching bags

>Looks like the MM goof doesn’t seem to go away. Now Cat Lim joins the fray.

Introduction -

A few years ago, the Straits Times featured an article by a Malay journalist about how Malays are treated as the “least favourite child” in Singapore. That article was picked up by Ng E-Jay – Nur Dianah Suhaimi: Feeling like the least favourite child

The gist of the article is that the author feels the Malays are treated as second class because society (yes, society and not just PAP) does not trust Malays.

I am not a Malay. So I don’t wish to comment if her statement is representative of most Malays or not.

What I do know is that a section of Malays feel they are not trusted by society. How big this section is, or how deep this emotion is, I can’t tell. I just know that such a section exists.

That article was written in 2008. However, the point about “Malays can’t be trusted” is played up over and over again. In fact, it is played up so often that even today, we still see sections of society distrusting Malays. Here’s my argument to support that.

Malays the unwitting victims of MM’s gaffe -

We all remember how MM had to do a double flip, triple twist, backturn to repair the damage on his latest boo-boo that the Malays have problems integrating with the rest of society – Old Man Lee backtracks on Malay integration

Almost immediately, many political bloggers slammed MM Lee for his half-baked retraction and non-apology. Personally, I feel that MM knew that his statement was damaging enough, but his ego prevented him from an outright apology.

For once, one may be forgiven if he feels that society is backing the Malays up. But if you look closely, is that really so? Seriously, I doubt.

Firstly, the political bloggers are more interested in capitalizing MM’s goof, rather than showing backing for the Malay community.

Secondly, and more glaringly, there is a small section of the crowd who feels that the Malays don’t deserve the explanation from Old Man Lee, and the old man should have just left his controversial statement be – never mind that MM’s words were a direct affront against the Malays.

This article is from redbean of MySingaporeNews.

Why is there a need to apologise?

LKY has made a statement that he stood to be corrected on his comment that the Malays should loosen up a little in their observance of Islamic norms. He was just being polite. As an elder statesman, he was being generous to offer his advice for the Malays to integrate better with the other communities.

For him to have made the statement, the reason is obvious. If the Malays have integrated at a pace and level that he found comfortable, he would not have to say this.

The Malays may think otherwise and feel that they have integrated very well and no need further advice. It is just a matter of perception from two different perspectives. Some may agree with him, some may not.

Note the cold, terse message implicating the Malays should not expect any apology from MM because the Malays are to be blamed for the non-integration, as what MM claims. Never mind the fact the MM has indeed retracted that statement, albeit no apology.

So why is this author so eager to blame the Malays, even when MM himself has retracted that statement? Btw, if you thought the author’s main article has a condescending “holier than thou” attitude towards Malays, you should read the first two posts in the comments section to see the real extent of the racism that is embedded within.

The whole irony of it all is that the Malays are not the ones making the noise when MM retracted his words.

The first group that makes the noise did it for political reasons, while the second group reacts to the noise that the first group makes, and blames the Malays for that noise – the very noise the Malays did not make in the first place!

This episode reminds me of a particular Lunar NY celebrations in the Year of the Pig. McDonald’s decided to do away with the pig from the Chinese Horoscope out of respect for the Malay/Muslim community. Some sections of the Chinese Community then hurled insults and abuse at the Malays, who were not even a party to that decision to withdraw, yet left McD totally untouched!

Don’t the Malays always get kicked and punched for the deeds of others? Nur Dianah does seem to have a point.

Summarizing my points -

Just as there are sections within the Malay community who keep feeling they are being treated as second class citizens, there are also some sections of the non-Malay community who feel that the Malays should be labelled what MM has labelled them – ie inability to integrate.

This is not going to work out. For society to be integrated, there has to be trust and mutual respect.

As for the latest fiasco, I believe that the Malays have done well. In fact, after MM retracted his statement, they have been very silent indeed. Only two other groups have been howling.

First, the political bloggers who are out to seize any opportunity on any of MM’s or PAP’s boo-boo.

Second, the racist section who feels that no matter what, the Malays must be punched, kicked and take the flak for any “integration problems” – not that there are such problems in the first place.

My Conclusion

Personally, I feel that the second group is the much more dangerous one. While the first plays the “let’s get the PAP” card, the second group has embedded in them an innate dissent for someone who is not their race. That is at best, being a race chauvinist. At worst, it is racism based on ignorance and disdain for a particular race.

Looks like Nur Dianah Suhaimi’s claim that the Malays are being treated as “least favourite child” is still valid three years after her article was published.

Finally, after all these years, the Malays are still the punching bags of a small section of society.

Yes, what integration?

What integration not because the Malays “can’t fit”, but because a small section still has this innate and embedded disdain for the Malays.

>The Racist says all races treated equally

>MM Lee: All races in Singapore treated equally

He has no shame, does he?

Wasn’t he the racist who claimed that Singapore is not ready for an Indian PM, because the majority of Singaporeans are Chinese? Never mind the fact that S Dhana then was a threat to his son as heir to the throne.

That statement by Racist LKY shows that he has no shame, when he claims all races are treated equally, no? That racist statement was later repeated by Racist Jr, 15 years later, when he did ascend to the throne.

Has the old man no shame, when racism in Singapore is promoted by his very own Dynasty?

The HDB quota which purports to integrate all races, is undone when the govt promotes Chinese elites through SAP schools.

The racially divisive funds (CDAC, Mendaki, Sinda, Eurasian Funds) are polarizing races too. The Chinese, having the largest fund of course will have economies of scale, which other races don’t get to benefit.

The immigration policy is designed to keep the Chinese race the majority.

SAF has an unwritten policy that is disadvantageous to Malays.

In fact, racism in Singapore is endorsed by the Singapore govt. Racism in Singapore is institutionalized. It is part of govt policy.

All races are treated equally. But some are more equally treated than others.

=========

Related posts

More crap from Old Man Lee – what integration talking he?

Not ready for non-Chinese PM? Who is PM to speak on our behalf?

Racial Quota for HDB is for PAP to stay in power – and it is racially discriminatory

If I told you Singapore has racist policies, would you believe me?