Pembuka Kata

Saya sedikit malas untuk memberi komen mengenai telatah GPMS. Lagipun kita bukan tidak tahu Suhaimi Ibrahim sudah lupa daratan dan asyik berkereta mewah memanjang. Beliau tidak layak untuk memperjuangkan ketuanan melayu, kerana hidupnya yang tidak berprinsip dan oportunis selalu. Pejuang tulin adalah pejuang yang sanggup ke penjara untuk membebaskan orang melayu dan hak mereka, bukannya buat tak tahu bila tanah rizab melayu dirampas oleh kerajaan dengan sewenang-wenangnya. Atau ketawa riang bila Putra Jaya hilang dari peta negeri Selangor dengan sekelip mata sahaja tanpa bersidang dan tanpa berperang. Pejuang apakah ini kalau tidak pejuang duit semata-mata?

Isu Suqui timbul tenggelam

Seperti yg kita maklum Rayuan Suqui telah diterima dengan baik oleh semua pihak sebelum pemilu 1999 lagi. Sejak itu rayuan tersebut senyap sehinggalah pada 31/8/2000, dimana Mahathir kembali sewel dan melabel Suqui sebagai ekstrim ditengah-tengah ucapan hari kemerdekaan dihadapan ribuan rakyat termasuk beberapap pemimpin parti pembangkang. Ucapan biadap itu disambung oleh akhbar tempatan beberapa hari sebelum ia tenggelam kembali. Agaknya mereka mahu rakyat melupakan hukuman terhadap Anwar (8/8/2000) yang telah memilukan rakyat sehingga sambutan hari kemerdekaan di alaf baru itu tidak bermaya sekali, walhal sudah 23 hari ia berlalu.

GPMS Benamakan Suqui atau Mahathir?

Sekali pandang nampak seolah-olah GPMS mahu berperang 'tuntutan'. Malangnya Suqui adalah satu rayuan lembut yang tidak mencabar mana-mana undang-undang. GPMS jangan cuba berlagak mejadi satu jagoan, kerana jika tersilap langkah boleh membawa padah. Bukan Suqui yang akan tenggelam, tetapi Mahathir dan Umno yang mungkin semakin terkelam. Ini adalah kerana kaum Cina memang sudah lama memerhatikan telatah kebudak-budakkan pemimpin umno dan talibarut mereka. Pemuda umno hanya berani memanjat pagar kerana polis FRU tidak kacau. Dan mereka berjuang macam bermain-main sahaja, sampai Lunas yang diwarisi berzaman itu akhirnya terbakar dan Aziz Sheikh Fadhir terketar-ketar. Dia letak jawatan tapi tiba-tiba dengan mudah menukar pendirian tak sampai pun 24 jam. Bengap juga pemuda umno... pemimpin seperti itupun masih lagi disayang...

Malang Oh Malang!! Nampaknya makin cepatlah umno baru(a) terbenam. Isu Suqui itu tentunya mempercepatkan proses itu berjalan kerana kaum cinalah harapan untuk undi menang.... BN kini cuba hendak berperang, gara-gara Mahathir yang mulakan.

Siaplah kau orang.... Mahathir juga akan memudahkan kapal umno karam dan tidak kembali lagi ke daratan.

Gerakan bidas GPMS:

Seorang pemimpin Gerakan P. Pinang, Dr Toh Kin Woon menyatakan adalah tidak wajar GPMS cuba berperang tuntutan kerana rayuan Suqui tidak terbatas kepada satu kaum sahaja, tetapi ia lebih mewakili semua kaum. Kita petik kata-kata beliau:

1. "Rayuan Suqui, antara lain, termasuk cadangan untuk membasmi kemiskinan tanpa mengira polarisasi kaum, penagihan pendapatan yang lebih baik, keadilan soasial dan ruang demokrasi yang lebih untuk SEMUA rakyat Malaysia."
   
   

2. "Tidak ada sepatah pun Suqiu menuntut dihapuskan hak keistimewaan kaum Bumiptera seperti yang tercatat pada Artikel 153 Perlembagaan seperti yang di tuduha oleh banyak pihak"
   
   

3. "Oleh itu, bukan tujuan Suqui untuk menidakkkan hak sebarang kaum".

Straits Times Singapura

Kita heran baru setahun rayuan Suqui itu diterima dengan baik sebelum pemilu lepas itu ditolak dengan kasar pula sejak BN kalah di Lunas. Apakah ini satu sikap bersyukur pemimpin BN akan kekalahan tersebut? Atau ia sengaja bersandiwara untuk mencari sokongan di saat rakyat sudah tidak percaya lagi dengan BN? Jawapannya sudah ada.... Mahathir hanya seronok bercakap menuduh bukan-bukan sahaja, sedangkan tidak ada seorang pun wakil Suqui dikenakan tindakan sampai hari ini! Kalau mereka betul-betul ekstrim, mengapa tidak ditangkap sahaja dan dibicarakan? Nampak jelas BN sebenarnya berani bila tidak ada pilihanraya kecil sahaja. Kalau ada satu pilihanraya kecil lagi diwaktu terdekat, saya pasti isu Suqui ini akan cuba ditutup rapat-rapat. Jika tidak BN akan terus nahas dan terbabas!

Perhatikan bagaimana sejarah merekod kenyataan dan sikap BN sebelum pemilu tahun lepas:

1. "Suqiu had presented its proposals to all political parties prior to last year's general election, and it was accepted by the opposition parties and three Barisan Nasional component parties, including MCA.
   

   [Suqui telah membentangkan cadangan (rayuannya) kepada SEMUA parti politik sebelum pemilu tahun lepas, dan ia telah diTERIMA oleh BA dan BN, termasuk komponen MCA.]
   
   

2. MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik was quoted as saying in September last year that Suqiu's demands, which he described as appeals, were universal and would benefit all races."
   

   [Presiden MCA, Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik dilapurkan berkata pada September tahun lepas bahawa tuntutan Suqui, yang beliau huraikan sebagai RAYUAN Suqui sebenarnya, adalah universal dan akan memberi manfaat kepasa SEMUA KAUM.]
   

Cukuplah dengan komen ringkas dari sejarah itu. Gelagat GPMS hari ini menunjukkan ada sesuatu sedang dirancang oleh pihak tertentu untuk menegeruhkan keadaan. Apakah ia satu loceng amaran satu Ops Lalang yang baru akan dilancarkan? Itu kita tidak tahu... tetapi kita pastinya cukup arif dengan telatah pemimpin BN yang semakin menjadi-jadi ini sejak tewas di Lunas. Mereka gagal menyekat kemarahan itu sehingga ia mencemarkan kesucian bulan Ramadhan yang mulia ini.

http://www.nstpi.com.my/z/Current_News/NST/Friday/NewsBreak/20001215120000

Gerakan objects to GPMS demands

by Noor Adzman Baharuddin (Penang Bureau Chief)

15 December 2000

Gerakan has cried foul over the intention of the Federation of Peninsular Malay Students (GPMS) to submit a memorandum containing about 100 proposals on a broad range of issues affecting the country, to the Government.

A member of the party's central committee, Datuk Dr Toh Kin Woon described the GPMS's intention, which also includes holding large-scale demonstrations in every State until and unless Suqiu withdraws its demands, as wrong.

GPMS's plan is apparently in response to a memorandum submitted by Suqiu to the Government on the eve of the last general election.

Its spokesman hinted that the GPMS would submit the counter memorandum unless Suqiu withdraws all its demands, Toh, who is also Penang Gerakan vice-chairman, said in a statement today.

Alluding that Gerakan supported Suqiu's demands, he said the Malaysian Chinese Organisation's Election Appeals Committee's requests were made on behalf of all Malaysians, including Bumiputeras.

He said the requests, among other things, included suggestions at eradicating poverty, irrespective of race; improving income distribution to achieve social justice and providing more democratic space to all Malaysians.

At no time did Suqiu demand for the abolition of the special position of the Bumipteras as provided for under Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, as alleged by some quarters.

It is, therefore, never the aim of Suqiu to deny the rights of any community.

Its demands are made in the larger interest of all Malaysians, or for that matter, against any one community, he added.

Toh, who is also a State Executive Councillor, also said that Suqiu had the support, at least in principle, of the ruling coalition and all Opposition parties.

Given that these demands are just, there is no reason for Suqiu to withdraw them.

Instead, Toh said, the GPMS should not be prompted by Suqiu's actions into submitting a counter memorandum or to hold demonstrations.

If the group has concerns, it has every right to raise them and to submit recommendations for their remedy and improvement.

However, the proposals must not be racially divisive, he said, but must be constructive and aimed at promoting the common interests of all Malaysians.

"We must allow for more democratic space for the full realisation of the talent of all Malaysians," he said.

All Malaysians should also renew their pledge to reject racial politics and to pursue a non-ethnic but democratic, socially just and economically sustainable policy approach, he said.

Media Statement by DAP National Chairman Lim Kit Siang in Petaling Jaya on Friday, December 15, 2000:

GPMS extremist demands - a prelude to escalation of ethnic tensions to justify another Operation Lalang mass crackdown to shore up Mahathir and UMNO's tottering position?

The extremist demands of the Federation of Peninsula Malay Students (GPMS) yesterday immediately after breaking-fast with the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad at Putrajaya the previous night is most ominous and raises the question whether it is a prelude to escalation of ethnic tensions to justify another Operation Lalang mass crackdown to shore up Mahathir and UMNO's tottering political position.

GPMS president Datuk Suhaimi Ibrahim said that if Suqiu refuses to withdraw its demands, it would submit 100 demands which would include:

· the post of the country's Prime Minister to be the exclusive rights of the Malays.

· increase the Bumiputera quota in public and private institutions of higher learning (IPTA and IPTS) to 70 and 60 per cent respectively.

Mahathir gave a most extraordinary response when asked by the press as to whether GPMS demands would create racial disunity. Claiming that he had not read them, he said such a situation was expected. He said "When we set aside what had already been agreed, there will be people who will oppose" and warned that by making irresponsible demands, all the efforts put to foster racial understanding for the past 43 years would go to waste. (NST)

Mahathir seemed neither surprised or concerned about the GPMS extremist demands. In fact, one should ask whether GPMS action was the result of the "inspiration" given by the Prime Minister when he spoke for more than an hour to some 2,000 GPMS members on Wednesday night - and which was attended by other UMNO leaders including the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr. Abdul Hamid Othman and the Minister of Internatonal Trade and Industry, Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz.

I am reminded of the pre-Operation Lalang scenario in 1987 and in particular the escalation of ethnic tensions by UMNO and UMNO Youth leaders resorting to the most provocative racist slogans to justify mass arrests under the Internal Security Act.

The Government White Paper tabled in Parliament on 23rd March 1988 entitled "Towards Preserving National Security" to justify the Operation Lalang mass arrests five months earlier referred to the escalation of ethnic tensions by the UMNO Youth rally on 17th October 1987 which displayed banners with the words:

"REVOKE THE CITIZENSHIP OF THOSE WHO OPPOSED THE MALAY RULERS" "MAY 13 HAS BEGUN"
"SOAK IT (KRIS) WITH CHINESE BLOOD"

Is GPMS now playing UMNO Youth's 1987 role in the run-up to another Operation Lalang crackdown?

Mahathir should be forewarned that the escalation of ethnic tensions to justify another Operation Lalang and mass arrests of Opposition leaders and personalities of dissent is no answer either to the multiple crisis of confidence facing the country or the salvation of UMNO.

Malaysia at the beginning of the 21st century is very different from Malaysia of 1987, and this time, those who cynically play with communal fire can end up in putting their entire political legacy to the flames.

In the final analysis, the country hopes that the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi, as the Home Minister as well as successor- designate to the premiership, would have the strength of character to prevent the repetition of the build-up to another Operation Lalang scenario - whether by UMNO Youth or a new proxy organisation like GPMS.

- Lim Kit Siang -

From The Singapore Straits Times
16th December 2000

Malay group issues own list of demands

In a face-off with Suqiu, the Chinese body, it threatens to push its demands on Malay supremacy if Suqiu does not withdraw calls to scrap Malay rights

By Wan Hamidi Hamid
IN KUALA LUMPUR

A DANGEROUS game is being played out in Malaysia.

A 400,000-strong Malay student group has come up with a 100-point demand for greater Malay supremacy, and a direct challenge to a Chinese pressure group.

It will go ahead and submit its laundry list of demands to the government if the Chinese Election Appeals Group, or Suqiu, does not withdraw its proposals calling for the scrapping of Malay rights. It has given Suqiu until Jan 14.

This new development has prompted Malaysian Premier Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad to ask both groups to stop making such demands.

'I read in the newspapers that one of the demands is that the Prime Minister must always be Malay. I suppose that is a direct reaction to demands made by the other party.

'Once you make demands, others will also make demands,' he told reporters yesterday.

The Federation of Peninsula Malay Students (GPMS) has demanded that the post of prime minister be gazetted as an exclusive Malay position, despite the Malaysian Constitution being silent on the matter.

GPMS President Datuk Suhaimi Ibrahim said the federation would submit the demands to the government if Suqiu refused to withdraw its 17-principles agenda with 83 points, which among other things, called for the abolition of the bumiputra and non-bumiputra distinction.

It also called for affirmative action to be based on the protection and enhancement of the status of the weaker sectors and not on race, social background and religious belief.

Dr Mahathir had attacked Suqiu, saying it was an extremist group making irresponsible demands that would undermine efforts to foster racial understanding.

He said the government had worked hard for the past 43 years after Independence to bring all races together.

'We have achieved a degree of harmony which is not found in any other multi-racial country in the world.

'But this small group insists on demanding things only for themselves. They provoke others to make similar demands.

'Now we will be back to square one if we keep on...'

GPMS secretary-general Syed Anuar Syed Mohamad told The Straits Times that the federation is giving Suqiu until Jan 14 to withdraw its demands, failing which, GPMS would submit its demands to the government.

'If the government has to accept Suqiu's demands, then the same privilege must be accorded to us.'

On whether GPMS' demands are as 'extreme' as Suqiu's, Mr Syed Anuar said that the Chinese group started it first.

Suqiu had presented its proposals to all political parties prior to last year's general election, and it was accepted by the opposition parties and three Barisan Nasional component parties, including MCA.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik was quoted as saying in September last year that Suqiu's demands, which he described as appeals, were universal and would benefit all races.

Last August, Umno Youth demanded that Suqiu apologise to the Malays for allegedly insulting them with the call to abolish Malay rights, but the matter was left hanging with no concessions from anyone.

Asked for its reaction to the Jan 14 deadline, a Suqiu official said yesterday: 'There is no change in our stand. There is also no plan to call for an official meeting to discuss the GPMS challenge.'