The brief discussion below is possible in the Malaysian context. As a non-Malaysian, I personally have a different viewpoint. But it seems interesting to learn how some Malaysians discuss this issue in spite of the fact that there is no diplomatic ties between the both countries.
As for this topic, please refer to my previous postings dated 30 December 2007, 7 August 2010, 19 December 2010, 30 January 2012, and 1 February 2012 respectively. (Lily)
Malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com)
Anwar and the Jewish conspiracy, 6 February 2012
YOURSAY 'There is a difference between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism. One is about racist policies, the other is about racism.'
The fiddlers on Anwar's roof
Joe Lee: Another insightful piece by S Thayaparan. Thank you, sir. You are spot on about the complicity of the non-Malay parties in BN.
Our imperative is to expose their complicity so that they are rightly destroyed, so that even if Umno retains power, the non-Malays can stand the middle ground with moderate Malays and force Umno to negotiate. MCA, Gerakan, MIC and the others have to be obliterated.
Secondly, the Arabisation/Islamisation has caused many Malays to ditch their own unique culture, of which I am sure is regretted by many Malays themselves.
Can anyone imagine the current cultural settings producing a modern P Ramlee, who is loved by all Malaysians? Impossible. And we are poorer for it. What about our ‘joget' (Malay dance)? It has practically disappeared.
Cocomomo: Being anti-Jewish sets Umno out as being racist. Being anti-Jewish and not agreeing with certain aspects of how Israel conducts itself (though Israel is still the most democratic country in the Middle East with Arabs represented in Parliament) are totally different matters.
Pakatan Rakyat should get evidence of the BN government's backdoor dealings with Israel and make it public.
We need to disagree with the negative policies of Israel and condemn their atrocities (as well as those committed by Arab governments against their Arab citizens).
Not Convinced: There is a difference between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism. It is much like the difference between being anti-Umno and anti-Malay. One is about racist policies, the other is about racism.
We need to able to make the distinction - that while we are against the racist policies of both Israel and Umno, we are not against the Jews or the Malays.
Otherwise, we are no difference from them.
Pemerhati: The writer said, "It is the greatest of ironies that Anwar (Ibrahim) was himself part of the state mechanism that facilitated this shift many years ago as an activist in the Islamic youth group Abim ... and then in his various cabinet roles."
The shift referred to is the Islamisation and Arabisation of the political and social landscape by Umno. Take the example of the dresses of Malay women as an example.
Within a generation, nearly all Malay women, who previously wore clothing suited for the tropical climate, were forced to cover themselves in this hot and humid climate in the garb meant for Arabs who live in a sunny and sandy environment.
This was achieved through religious indoctrination, coercion and peer pressure. The very few who resisted this attempt at covering up the Arabic way were the spouses and children of the royalty, the ministers, top Malay public and private sector employees and some strong-willed and well-educated financially independent Malay women.
Swipenter: Umno is using fringe groups like Perkasa to frighten the moderate Malays into compliance and to keep the non-Malays in their place.
What they want is total submission to Umno and their way of doing things. No dissent is tolerated from any quarters.
They know they are playing a very dangerous game, but what is more dangerous is that they think they can control the outcome by controlling these fringe groups.
Islam is also misused by Umno in our foreign policies to counter the ‘evil' West and Jews. So what we get is a government which, on one hand, projects its full support for the brotherhood of Islam in the international arena and the other, providing ‘soft' treatment of Islamic extremist elements domestically.
Anonymous_3f68: These detractors, who belong to festering Umno and whose primary goal is to defile the very face of the opposition and its leaders, especially Anwar, so as to render them ineffective and useless in the eyes of their supporters, is hoping to make it big in the coming elections.
What these bums from Umno do not understand is that no amount of spin-doctoring is going to pull them out from their eventual demise as the rakyat are impervious to any more of their fictitious claims.
For this, we have to single out former Selangor exco Hasan Ali and Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali for doing the dirty work for Umno.
Ranjit Singh: Everybody with a sane mind knows what Umno represents and how it operates so what is the use of harping on it.
I think we are more interested in how the opposition can form a formidable working force, besides just being an Anwar or Pakatan apologist.
We are with the opposition, but we need to put them in place as we are definitely not interested in creating another monster like Umno. Anwar and Pakatan can only be the solution if they address real issues.
Anonymous_40f4: Knowing the racist government and their media, Anwar must always politely refuse to answer questions on Israel, Jews and sodomy.
His answer will definitely be twisted and Umno will go to town with it to cover their own billion ringgit corruption and the plundering of the rakyat's money. The mainstream media in Malaysia is the biggest traitor to the rakyat.
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