by Koon Yew Yin

Former DAP vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz was a conservative and pro-establishment figure right from his early days but tried to be cultivate himself as an independent and neutral public figure.

He was in fact an insider in the corporate world who had benefited from opportunistic moves in advancing his career. It was not ideals that motivated the man but really his super-sized ego and concern for status.

Thus it was was not surprising that after a short stint in the opposition, he quickly moved back to the political centre right where he has always belonged.

But what most Malaysians find completely unacceptable, objectionable and disgusting is Tunku Aziz’s transformation from being the DAP vice-chairman to being Prime Minister Najib Razak’s cheerleader.

He has now gone on record to say: “What the prime minister has done now is the right thing and we need to support him”.

He has also said that Najib’s transformation process for change and improving the democratic process would certainly take time.

Earlier, Tunku Aziz was one of those who said that more than enough time had already been given to Barisan Nasional and Najib in ruling the country. Now, he has changed his tune.

This political somersault is unprecedented in the annals of Malaysian political history. It is tantamount to saying “Vote for the BN” despite all the corruption and abuses of human rights and democracy from someone who claimed that he was anti-Barisan.

No wonder Najib, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad are praising him to the sky and using him as part of their anti-DAP and anti-Chinese rhetoric

However, given that these same BN leaders and media have condemned him so strongly in the past, Malaysians can see through the double talk and hypocrisy of the BN and Tunku Aziz.

It is time for everyone to move on and Tunku Aziz can tend to his ornamental fish. The public should focus on the many serious problems that plague our society. Tunku Aziz warrants only a small footnote at most when the final report comes in.

Cynical Old Man vs Young Idealist

Many Malaysians had thought that they had heard the last of this sorry character whose political integrity has been in tatters. They were wrong.

Tunku Aziz has now emerged from his ornamental fish pond to denounce Dyana Sofya who recently stood as the DAP candidate in the recent Teluk Intan by-election.

He is, of course, not the first Malay critic of Dyana whose entry into the political world has electrified the Malay community.

Is there any thing new or original in what Tunku Aziz has to say of a young Malay who has made the momentous decision – as he did some years ago – to join the opposition instead of taking the easy route to political leadership by jumping on the bandwagon of the ruling coalition?

Basically nothing as he is simply repeating the same line of racist attack used by Umno leaders and other right-wing Malay leaders.

However, in doing so and in attacking Dyana for suggesting that the university she graduated from – UITM – be opened to young Malaysians of all races instead of making it an Malay and Bumiputra enclave, he is showing the racist side of his character, previously cleverly concealed beneath his facade of superficial cosmopolitanism.

Those who knew Tunku Aziz previously have always known that his Malay supremacy mindset is not much different from that of Perkasa’s. Now it is out in the open for all Malaysians to view.

Dyana’s response to Tunku Aziz

The emperor has paraded again without his clothes; and who better to expose him than Dyana herself, the present source of his nightmares.

In her response entitled “You are wrong, Tunku Aziz” she acknowledges that she is young but as she puts it “I know who are the hypocrites, who are racists”.

On why she joined the DAP, she writes: “I understand and admire the struggle of its leaders, and its principle of multi-culturalism. I appreciate its consistency in standing up for all Malaysians, regardless of race and religion. I believe in its principle of doing what is right, despite the risks and repercussions.

“I joined without the intention of being appointed into any position. I simply wanted to be with like-minded people, sharing a vision and mission, and partake in the struggle for a better Malaysia.”

On Tunku Aziz’s attempt to question her Malayness, Dyana had this to say.

“I am proud to be Malay. I am proud of my roots and heritage. However, I don’t believe in abusing it at the expense of other Malaysians.”

And in a reversal of role, like a mother lecturing to her young son, she chided someone three times her age (though her junior in wisdom!) in the following fashion.

“I have never felt truly Malaysian until after I joined DAP. Perhaps if Tunku Aziz spent more time with us in the grassroots, he would have agreed, too. We might have our differences, but that doesn’t mean one should leave the family every time disagreements emerge.

“Unlike some, I have far more conviction than to simply quit because I failed to get elected, or appointed, or because of dissatisfaction over a wedding kenduri.”

Tunku Aziz: A Lost Cause

Unfortunately, Tunku Aziz is a lost cause. Unlike Dyna and her friends, he does not “share the same love for our nation, vision, mission, principles, and understanding” Unlike her, he is not able to see that “if all Malaysians focused on our similarities rather than our differences, then we could all see the world the same way Standard 1 kids do – skin colour blind.”

He is a frog whose whole world revolves around his Barisan well. Except for that brief span of time he spent away from it, he has lived in it all his life and cannot think of a world without the hypocrisy and racism that is synonymous with the BN. -The Rocket

* The views expressed in this article are the personal opinion of the columnist