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opinion
features
about us
Welcome to the new Socialist Malaysia website, with
information about socialism and issues related
to the Malaysian political scene.
We believe socialism is the best way for Malaysia. So,
we are not associated with any political party although
we do give our critical support to the Socialist Party of
Malaysia, as long as they stay true to socialism, equality,
democracy, freedom and secularism.
We believe socialism is the best answer for the people of
Malaysia. Our brand of socialism is the one that ensures
there is equality, democracy, freedom and secularism in
the country.
We reject any form extremism, either in the name of race or
religion. We neither subscribe to the simplistic idea that
Malaysia will be a peaceful and harmonious country if Dr
Mahathir Mohamad is kicked out from the government nor a
dangerous suggestion that justice will prevail if the country
is run by groups of ulamaks, clerics or monks of any religion
or belief, or by a bunch of racists proclaiming dominance of
one race over the others.
We reject violence, even in the name of revolutionary violence
and any form of authoritarian control.
We believe in the electoral process but at the same time we want
Malaysians to work towards genuine change, and not just an empty
cry of reform without any substance.
Having said that, we believe the current system has almost eliminated
real democracy in our political life. Such a situation has led to most political and non-political leaders to behave in an undemocratic ways.
Just because they are against the government does not mean they can
behave exactly like the people they are opposing.
Therefore, if democracy is to be real, we accept the fact that
differences among people, such as race and religion, must not be
allowed to oppress them. If everyone has what she or he needs, then
people can talk to one another as equals.
Our stand is that all people must have the basic rights to adequate
food, safe and clean housing, health care, education, affordable
public transportation and effective participation in both the
political and economic lives of our country.
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THE LUNAS
LUNACY
By dotcommissar
between the ideal and the ideologue is a gulf of difference. the lunas by-election
is a good example of that with the racist idealists in parti keadilan nasional
triumphing over the ageing ideologues of the democratic action party.
november 29 2000, exactly a year after the 10th general elections in 1999, will
determine whether keadilan's choice of candidate will boost their coalition's
efforts to rub further insult to prime minister mahathir mohamad's ruling
coalition.
with ideology thrown to the wind, and with it the democratic action party, both
coalitions are seeking to win over the hearts and minds of the lunas voter -
each for their own ends.
for mahathir, its to retain the two-thirds majority in the kedah state assembly,
and for the full moon coalition of parti islam se-malaysia, parti keadilan
nasional, democratic action party and parti rakyat malaysia - to maintain
their momentum of people's disgust and disquiet over anwar ibrahim's
sacking in september 1998.
it has been that long.
but the lunacy of lunas will remain. voters have a choice of two evils - a
coalition that has been in power for so long that it has taken things for
granted and is being taken for granted or a coalition that takes it for
granted people's support due to disquiet over government policies.
lunas, as scribes and sages say, means to settle debts in bahasa malaysia. will
mahathir's coalition settle its debts to the people, bringing in physical
development to entice voters, or will the full moon coalition settle its
debts for racial insults - disenfranchising indian malaysians from
standing for public office.
its a pity that after forty-odd years of nationhood, the choice of standing
for public office boils down not to qualifications but as the locals would
say, kulitifications.
and our socialist siblings in democratic action party can forget about ever
fighting for a malaysian malaysia as their partners are obviously not
interested in that concept.
the liberals in parti keadilan nasional and parti rakyat malaysia can make
all the right noises but it rings hollow and they sound like empty barrels
with empty promises.
this happens, of course, because there is not an iota idealogy in these political
parties. at least, if they had an ideology, one could respect their stand,
no matter how racist or fundamentalist they are.
and of course, mahathir's coalition's ideology is just for an increase of power
and profits.
we renew our call again. time for socialism!
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quotable quotes
the internationale
Stand up, all victims of oppression
For the tyrants fear your might
Don't cling so hard to your possessions
For you have nothing, if you have no rights
Let racist ignorance be ended
For respect makes the empires fall
Freedom is merely privilege extended
Unless enjoyed by one and all.
chorus:
So come brothers and sisters
For the struggle carries on
The Internationale
Unites the world in song
So comrades come rally
For this is the time and place
The international ideal
Unites the human race
Let no one build walls to divide us
Walls of hatred nor walls of stone
Come greet the dawn and stand beside us
We'll live together or we'll die alone
In our world poisoned by exploitation
Those who have taken, now they must give
And end the vanity of nations
We've one but one Earth on which to live
And so begins the final drama
In the streets and in the fields
We stand unbowed before their armour
We defy their guns and shields
When we fight, provoked by their aggression
Let us be inspired by life and love
For though they offer us concessions
Change will not come from above.
- billy bragg, circa 1990
the story behind this song: bragg complained that the traditional lyrics to the internationale were somewhat dated. pete seeger said: why don't you write new ones? so bragg did.
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announcement
for those of you who think socialism (hopefully not the hero-worship
type of communism) is the best (or at least one of the best) solution
to racially divided malaysia, please feel free to submit your
articles to us.
sorry! no remuneration.
for those of you who think socialism is crap, please forward your stuff
to any one of those misguided reformasi websites, berita e-umno, pas or
harakah and other authoritarian belief websites. (no reason for us to
even help you get there.)
no apologies, thank you.
for those of you who are in the dark, well, switch on the lights please.
socialism is fun, socialism is boring, socialism is good, socialism is
evil.
who cares...
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