John Mallot : Why He Despised BN Government?

John Mallot and his Japanese wife is family friend of Anwar Ibrahim. It is coincident that Wan Azizah is also from Japanese and Korean origin. Mallot's wife  even wrote a book about Azizah, called “Struggle for Justice.”

WZWH find it strange when Former U.S. ambassador John Malott created a major stink here with a recent opinion-editorial entitled The price of Malaysia’s racism published in the Wall Street Journal earlier this week.

Malott reveals that he had offered to write an exclusive op-ed for NST to explain his stand since many BN politicians and NGOs bluffed Malott views as spinning to favour Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat.

The former ambassador sees the Pakatan Rakyat as a credible opposition. He also believes Malaysians are a "patient lot" and this is why a Tunisian or Egyptian scenario is unlikely to play out here. Implicitly Mallot like to see Malaysians go unrest to do same thing what Tunisia and Egyption people did to topple BN goverment.

He complains that Malaysia is now overly about image these days and what you see may not be what you get. He counter-accuses the Najib administration of "spinning", "condoning and even provoking" racial and religious tensions.

"If anyone is spinning today, it is the Malaysian Government. There are few foreign experts on Malaysia, and it is rare for the foreign press to report on Malaysian developments. I thought it was important for people outside Malaysia to know that there is a real gap between the image they are trying to convey overseas and the reality on the ground."

"There are religious and racial tensions in every country, but I wanted people to know that in the case of Malaysia, the Government itself is condoning and even provoking those tensions."

WZWH  seldom see this type of former ambassador saying bad and negative things about Malaysia. Fortunately the Obama administration had told that it was Mallot's personal view and US government has nothing to do.

Mallot clearly says his political stands...

I think that BN and PR present very clear alternatives for Malaysia’s future. Even between the two Malay parties, UMNO and PAS, I think there is a clear difference. All Malays are Muslims, but I think UMNO is more about race and being Malay, and PAS is more about being Muslim. Race is the starting point for UMNO, while Islam is the starting point for PAS.

Malaysia now has a credible opposition for the first time in its history. I think the Malaysian people will be given a real choice about their country’s direction. It is up to the Malaysian people to choose.

As an outsider, my concern is that the elections should be fair. I have seen and studied elections in many countries. I think it is hard for the opposition in Malaysia, because they have to campaign with one hand tied behind their back. The Government controls the airwaves, and opposition newspapers cannot be sold to the general public. The police can deny permits or harass political gatherings, as we have seen. The Election Commission is not truly independent, and so on.

I don’t see a Tunisia or Egypt scenario playing out in Malaysia. In general I think Malaysians are a very patient lot, and other than 1969 there is no real history of political violence. If anything starts to happen, I think the RMP would not hesitate to crack down, as they have in the past.

I agree with criticism that I did not focus on the attitudes that some Chinese and Indians have towards Malays. But that is all at the private level. We cannot stop people from believing what they believe. But what I was talking about, and the examples I gave, were the words and actions of the Government and its senior officials. They were not speaking as individuals or like a “man on the street.” They are the Government. In addition, the government, as a matter of policy, has institutionalized some forms of discrimination, like the two examples I gave -- the 30% set-aside for stock and housing discounts.

Toward the end of the article, I pointed out that there are now two clear and different visions of Malaysia’s future – are we a Malaysian country or a Malay country.

WZWH asks whose line is it? Same as Malaysia or Malaysaja by Anwar Ibrahim clan. Mallot definitely is the symphatiser of Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat.

When asked about  the struggle and sensitivities of the Malays, Mallot said... I have been following that discussion. But it seems that just as not everyone can agree on Malaysia’s future, people also cannot agree on Malaysia’s past. I don’t think I could contribute much by jumping into that kind of internal discussion. I am not an expert on that part of Malaysia’s history.

So if you John Mallot the former US Ambassador know nothing about Malaysia's history why you talk much about your half analysis on Malaysian politics?

Although Mallot replied... I am very concerned about developments in Malaysia. The growing racial and religious tensions are one part of that. I had something that I wanted to say, and I said it. I also think that the Malaysian economy should be growing faster than it is, that its competitiveness is declining, and it is losing its attractiveness for foreign investors.

John Mallot, you have good noble intention to look Malaysia well economically but the way you put the picture of Malaysian politics according to worldview/welschantung  Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat Agenda, therefore you further doom the Malaysian economy!