It’s a double-edged ‘apology’. He apologises not only to the non-Malays but also the Malays. Why? How had he offended the Malays? Well, perhaps some right-thinking Malays would have been offended by his insensitivity -- fair enough. But he doesn't mean that. That's not his premise.

Instead, he says he apologises to the non-Malays because of the fear his act had brought to the symbol. "And to the Malays for not being able to uphold their symbol of heritage.”

What? All right, I'm not going to quibble over the faulty syntax. He did hold up the keris three times and nobody stopped him all those times. What is insidious is the point he's making. He’s indirectly blaming the non-Malays for not understanding the symbol of wielding the keris and thereby preventing him from using it.

What kind of an apology is that? He's not really admitting a wrong with grace. He's still deflecting the blame onto others. And to add insult to injury, he's blaming the very people he offended in the first place.

Not only that. What he's saying could cause uneasiness between the Malays and the non-Malays. He's politicking, playing racial politics. The elections are over. Now's the time for nation-building, not politicking. In that respect, working towards racial harmony should be top priority, not undermining it.

Hishammuddin is not sincere. The fact that he took such a long time to admit that his offensive act was one of the reasons for BN’s poor performance at the elections indicates that. Given that Umno is now desperate to regain public support, his current statement seems aimed at that purpose.

Asked if the keris would still be waved at the next Umno Youth Assembly in December, he said, "This is not the proper forum to discuss it." When will there be a proper forum? What, indeed, is the proper forum? Is he not man enough to state his stand in front of the public here and now?

Where is his sincerity then? If he were truly sorry, he should come right out and say no, he will not wave the keris.

He is just posturing. This is just another wayang performance by the keris-wielder.

Sincerely,

Kee Thuan Chye

Comments (53)

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written by Nirmala, April 26, 2008 | 22:16:38

I totally agree with writer.Some people take a very long time to apologize because they were not confronted with the issue, hence the delay in apologizing. But in Hishamudin's case, the very first time he wielded the keris, the Chinese withdrew their money. There was much dissatisfaction among the Chinese and they were never short of showing it. But did he apologize? NO! Then the following year, he did it again much to the disgust of the non Malays. Again there was a wide media coverage on this. Did he apologize? NO! Round 3 -again. Did he apologize? NO! Now he wants to apologize when the Chinese are fed up and will not hear of it.Is he sincere?
Someone who is sincere in apologizing would have done it the first time when there was public outcry. Its a little too late.

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written by sjeevan, April 26, 2008 | 22:21:14

Double apologies like double-edged swords (kris) intended to double the votes in the next election.

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written by foresight, April 26, 2008 | 22:22:18

Sometimes, saying 'sorry' does not mean apologising.

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written by CM Lam, April 26, 2008 | 22:23:28

Hisap Morphine is a disgrace to his forefathers.

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written by FuLinYu, April 26, 2008 | 22:24:49

What kind of an apology is that? He's not really admitting a wrong with grace. He's still deflecting the blame onto others. And to add insult to injury, he's blaming the very people he offended in the first place.

This insincere keris-wielding ular (snake), speaking with forked tongue, is taking the rakyat as fools. With headlines like this, "Hisss...apologises for kris-waving incident", the MSM is assisting in the deception.
Mr Kee, I fully agree with your comment.

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written by Daryl, April 26, 2008 | 22:25:42

At first I thought he is sincere about asking forgiveness but all this double take on it make me think again. Insincere apology just make the matter worst for him. But, from my point of view it is good riddance when these UMNO politicians doesn't even know how to cheat or politic correctly. This is not only the minor leaders but also the higher up. Are we running out of good Malay leaders or just the UMNO system was busy teaching their leaders to steal rakyat's money and not good leadership? Or they equal good leaders with having a lot of money......

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written by padhma, April 26, 2008 | 22:26:32

Did anyone think that Hishamudin is going to make a sincere apology? He did it 3 times, and he was so arrogant to the extend of being stupid.
It is just another political stunt. One one hand he apologises and on the other he renders a provocative apology.
Let not let Hisham fool us. People ahould show him that now things are different. People are wide awake and he has to try harder to fool them. He should realise that people are aware of such tricks already.
Well Hisham, try harder.

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written by mikewang, April 26, 2008 | 22:28:42

Apparently UMNO still cannot understand why the non-Malays were so offended with that Keris act.
Looks like they'll never learn or they simply refuse to learn.

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written by LC Teh, April 26, 2008 | 22:31:59

I still think he's bad example to school kids. I'm not changing my mind, especially after that kind of apology.

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written by babakl, April 26, 2008 | 22:32:19

He did it for his on political survival. No sincer.True as the writer says, blame it on those who can not accept it and not his doing that he apolgise. To make it worse, he too start playing with racial remarks about others can not accept and he can't do it for his people, it is not he do not want to do , but others do not want him to do. Shameful mca youth leaders already quickly hail him as good but stupid enough not knowing the true meaning of what he said. Even blaming them, mca already accept that they are to accept the blame and very happy to take the blame as apology.

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written by aimster, April 26, 2008 | 22:34:03

too little too late

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written by Jan, April 26, 2008 | 22:35:06

Kerismuddin is indeed the EPITOME of UMNO Youth arrogance.
From the very first time he waved the keris he has lost tremendous amount of goodwill from the non malays. Arrogant people rarely learn and he's a good example.
Another dungu has to be his side kick. Mat Rempits are a menace to society yet this side kick fraternise with them and even supported them. All the Oxford education seems to go to waste.

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written by ez24get, April 26, 2008 | 22:35:46

Fully agreed!

If the kris had been encased in a box or glass casing and he merely bowed to the kris, the non-malays can accept that the kris is a symbol of malay heritage.

But he unshielded the kris and stabbed it into the air, shouting, face contorted and almost foaming at the mouth.

And he expected the non-malays to believe him that he had meant the kris to be a symbol of malay heritage?

This man is double-speaking as an ular! I don't accept his apology!

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written by malsia1206, April 26, 2008 | 22:38:35

You punch your fiend and 2 years later you apologise after realising all your other friends had deserted you in your moment of need. Then you further said there's nothing to say you would not punch the poor chap again. In this same scenerio, take the apology with apinch of salt and force it down his own throat to digest on it. The apology is as good as never any apology. If Hisham thinks he can pull the wool to cover the eyes of those he had offended, he better think again seriously. If anything, that apology is tantamount to an insult in the manner it was presented. Take it back. The offended had nothing else to lose.

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written by Jack Hui, April 26, 2008 | 22:42:59

Menteri pelajaran???...Fu*k off....lah.... shames......

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written by binarytan, April 26, 2008 | 22:44:21

Next time don't kiss the Keris, kiss the nation Ass is better.

I do not see his speech was with sincere apology. There is no apology.

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written by smeagrooo, April 26, 2008 | 22:53:09

we shld all uphold that piece of tool at the orifice located at the behind where the sun doesnt shine for him.

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written by smeagrooo, April 26, 2008 | 22:53:55

He shld be our menteri pertahanan la. Instead we got a menteri pertahanan that cant even control the wife.

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written by chanatak, April 26, 2008 | 22:55:36

The poison is hidden. Underneath the veneer of his s0 called apology to the non Malays is the venom he is injecting into his own mindless followers to stir up their animosity - to incite them into a violent response.

This is wickedness in its utmost. We condemn you. We reject you.

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written by Agahdemo, April 26, 2008 | 22:57:50

Hishamuddin's apology is as good as no apology at all. He is hiding his wrongs on account of malay heritage......

The waving of the keris to me has nothing to do with Malay heritage but downright arrogant of UMNO, intended to demonstrate to general public UMNO's supremacy......

By waving the keris, Hishamuddin thought that would transform him into an instant Malay hero......garnering support from the rural malay especially.....

He is an opportunist, a cheap politician who is trying to push himself up the political echelon without respect and sensitivity to Rakyat Malaysia.......

I say again, his apology equal NO apology at all.......

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written by ChanRaj, April 26, 2008 | 23:02:08

No, he is not sincere in his apology. It is sad that this small boy is void of any substance his great grandfather and father had and had to resort to racial politics to gain support to achieve his greedy objectives i.e. to amass ill gotten wealth one day when he can be PM. He has no desire whatsoever to dedicate himself to building this country. Once the PR government takes over this country we will get rid the likes of such armatures. The Education Minister needs to be educated. No I don’t think that would work. He should be canned instead……good ole British discipline and make a man out of him.

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written by myke, April 26, 2008 | 23:08:14

As far as this idiot is concerned, he is still playing things to his fancy. He did not apologize with his heart but his butt.

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written by Angela Ooi, April 26, 2008 | 23:08:24

This idiot Education Minister just doesn't get it. He riles the non Bumis more with this insincere apology. Maybe I should vent seditious talk against the Malays while raising and kissing my sword just so that 'they' will know how it feels to be on the 'receiving' end. Bloody useless shithead Minister

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written by MobyDick, April 26, 2008 | 23:10:06

He may not do it again but the next UMNO youth leader will continue with this because it's party policy.

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written by mykantree, April 26, 2008 | 23:12:21

In fact what was stated was no apology at all. It was an insult to both the non malays and malays through and through.Just reread his so called apology more carefully and you should see what I mean.

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written by uncleleow, April 26, 2008 | 23:14:26

An closed door apology is never a public apology. It is done for show. We did not hear it form his mouth. We only read it in the media. He is playing Fool You game. Better BEWARE of this krismuddin he is extremely dangerous. He is turning EXTREME ULTRA. If you analyse his apology to the malay properly, his message is only he can fight for the bumi and only if he voted in. Careful of those who hide message in his speech.

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written by ez24get, April 26, 2008 | 23:22:24

There was once a school bully who slapped his friends for 3 years in a row.

His friends asked him, 'why do you slap us when we are your friends"?

The school bully replied, "because I'm big and powerful! You better get used to my slapping. Don't worry, after your faces are slapped many times, your face will be desensitised to my slapping!"

His friends soon all deserted him. Realising he has no friends left to give him his daily ration of sweets, he apologised to his friends.

His friends then asked him, "Ok we are willing to become your friends again but will you slap us next year?"

The school bully then scowed, "I only want your sweets! But I won't promise you I won't slap you next year!"

Only a handful of retarded boys named Samy, Lim and Ong remained as his friends...

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written by goman2k3, April 26, 2008 | 23:23:05

Kerismudin should have his DNA tested

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written by DOITNOW, April 26, 2008 | 23:27:37

I agree totally with Kee. Hishamuddin's supposedly apology is pathetic to say the least. My retort to him is this. You can keep your apology and I will keep my sanity. He still hasnt got it. He thinks the populace is as gullible and as naive; his pre election posturing. He also is trying to deflect the blame to others. His crime is not just the waving of the kris. His words, the exhortations that flowed from his gutter are the seditious intonations and stiring up that if uttered by the PR reps would have resulted in their being charged for sedition. Where is the justice and fair play. where is the consistency? I say to Hishamuddin again, GET OUT OF MY FACE!!

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written by Agahdemo, April 26, 2008 | 23:31:13

The is what Hishamuddin is doing:

To the Non malay, he says: Sorry that waving the keris has offended you all
( Obviously not sincere...he would not have said that if not for the 12th GE results)

To the Malay, he says: Sorry I have not been able to defend Malay heritage symbol, that is by waving the keris ( Effectively telling the malays because of the non malays, he was unable to defend the malay heritage symbol............)

What is he trying to do, pitting the malay against the non malay????? just to make himself a malay hero....

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written by kenny, April 26, 2008 | 23:34:12

Only idiots still think Malaysians are easily fooled.
And when cornered, these crooks standard deflections would be along these lines:-

Hisham will say, 'This is not the proper forum to discuss it'.

Najib will say, 'We shouldn't talk about this anymore. Stop it! '

Badawi will say, "I am the Prime Minister'.

Mahathir will fix on a false grin and blame the Jews and Gautanamo.


I am impatiently awaiting the day that should rightfully befall these purveyors of crime and disunity.

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written by Krazee, April 27, 2008 | 00:11:27

Two wrongs will correct the wrongs ??
If not sincere, just let the matter die down and being forgiving Malaysians, the incident will slowly be history....
such apology shows arrogance and immaturity....
My 2 sens says that the apology will cause more damage than good.
How he became an education minister...or for that matter how he became a minister is a mystery. Stupid arrogant fool even after the rap on his fingers still do not realise that he is the main culprit behind BN's poor outing.

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written by OrdinaryMan, April 27, 2008 | 00:17:17

The frightening part is he's the Minister of EDUCATION.

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written by InEffective, April 27, 2008 | 00:23:14

Yes another divider - no value or contributions created by this racist minister.

Ddon't count on this politician to change his dysfunctional value systems - at best he may cloak it for temporary gains and perception management of the rakyat.

No society has ever flourished on a racial platform of governance.

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written by Malaysia Digest, April 27, 2008 | 00:23:58

What is he trying to do, pitting the malay against the non malay????? just to make himself a malay hero....

That might be his plan. Just hope he don't use the Keris on real people.

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written by noyawns, April 27, 2008 | 00:31:21

This was no apology - he just wanted the MSM to put him upfront since KJ got his name upfront regarding the Rembau recount issue! He cannot tahan to be so upstaged by his Deputy UMNO Youth leader!

Take back your non-apology; we won't forgive you! Insincere and shameful!
I cannot say how your father and grandfather must be so ashamed of this bigoted scion. Go...try to rise within UMNO - the better to lead UMNo to its demise!

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written by DanDan, April 27, 2008 | 03:39:01

Krissmuddin,
You are making your grandfather and father turning in their graves. You better jump in and join them. There is no place for a slimeball hypocrite like you here in this earth.

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written by Fire_walk_with_me, April 27, 2008 | 04:07:49

How can a person who wields a keris repeatedly like someone running amok on an imaginary war path be appointed AGAIN to the august office of the Ministry of Education? Is the appointment underpinning the fact that there is so much violence in the schools these days? As the Minister of Education has set the example by waving the keris in live telecast for the whole nation to see, is it a wonder that people have actually lost faith in the education system? Pak Lah, can you explain your wisdom (or the lack of it) to re-appoint the same samseng as the Minister of Education?

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written by power2u, April 27, 2008 | 09:21:52

What kind of Education Minister do we have?
Can't even solve heavy school bag problem,corruption of HM's wanting 10% for workbooks,CD.VCD,Education officers makan rasuah organising this and that to waste teachers time attending useless courses???
What happened to the smart school????All failure but big money siphoned off.
Look at Singapore,they are so proud of their Education Minister,intelligent,and talented guy charting good and sucessfull edu policies for Spore.
It 's time Msia import talents from Spore since the best that we can find here is only interested waving a keris.

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written by Oyster, April 27, 2008 | 10:16:23

The crappy MS media is making this dipshit to be such a great guy for making his so called apology.If the fool hadn't done it in the first place he wouldn't have to apologize. IMHO still owes a huge apology to the non Malays but he should be made to grovel esp.in front of the Malays for trying to make them all look stupid.He has offended us all and i for one cannot accept his fake apology.

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written by taxi90, April 27, 2008 | 10:39:57

That 'apology' is no apology. It is a veiled insult to the chinese that they cannot accept symbolic gestures. He deliberately left out the fact that it is his RACIST RHETORIC and THREATS following his phallic symbol acts that made people pissed off. Apart from that, he is also trying to provoke anti-chinese sentiments among the malays by saying that the chinese forced him to stop displaying malay iconic symbols.

If that is all he has to say, he should have remained silent because now the chinese are even more put off with his defiance and 'apologetic' arrogance.

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written by Kaber, April 27, 2008 | 12:02:36

In a sense, Malays are stupid indeed for continuously raising the keris. Do any of us the Malays ever wonder why the Europeans managed to wrest control of Malay States. Its because the Malays with keris against the Portugese pistols & Canons. So why bother to keep kissing the keris. Have the Malays not realised their mistakes and weakness all these while ? Being colonized for hundreds of years just because we cannot invent something better against the pistols & canons. I think its not too late for Malays to create a kris with hidden bullets in it.

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written by Kaber, April 27, 2008 | 12:05:03

The olden Chinese are no different to the Malays. They keep on practising and praising the Kung Fu. How to fight the Europeans guns with Kung Fu ?

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written by Dominic, April 27, 2008 | 12:29:11

If not for PR to deny BN the 2/3 majority, you think `Hisshame` would come out with that double edged apology ? Whatever it is , its non relavant anymore ! It has passed the `expiry` date ! Fit for the dustbin !

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written by truegrid, April 27, 2008 | 12:35:30

Kee is SPOT ON with this analysis. Even in this so-called apology, this cheap racist rabble rouser is trying to divide the races. He speaks out of both sides of his mouth.
On the side that speaks to the non-Malays he says "I'm sorry you didn't understand the symbol of my race and got offended"
On the side that speaks to the Malays he is saying "sorry I have not been able to uphold the keris against these orang asing who insist on being offended." Maybe somebody more able to stand the stink in the gutter such as Khairy Jamaluddin can take up the Panca Warisan again against the kafir.

This debate is not about whether or not Malays/non-Malays understood the keris differently. That was a another racist red herring introduced by Kerisammuddin.
Kerisammuddin's action has hurt ALL MALAYSIANS because racist manipulation and biadab behaviour hurts the entire community, whatever our race or background. This man, backed up by UMNO Youth and given permission by Abdullah Badawi, set back race relations to near 1970 levels. THAT is OFFENSIVE

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written by lynn, April 27, 2008 | 13:31:35

Thank you Mr Kee for pointing this minister's double-speak to everyone here - I doubt he is feeling sorry at all. He is probably insane with rage that his keris threatening has been blamed for Umno's loss in 5 states 1 WP. Good, rakyat shld tell this political trash to shaft his so-called apology up his anus, and keep wielding his keris. Voters won't forget 1987 either, and certainly not this pathetic minister of education's arrogance.

Come next election, we will give BN the biggest tight slaps on all their faces!

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written by mijoan, April 27, 2008 | 14:32:31

Hishamuddin must resign. Najib, Ali Rustam, Khir Toyo and Mohd2Taib too must resign or be sacked, if UMNO is to prove its sincererity to all the races in Malaysia and especially to the Malays of UMNO, PKR and PAS. Pak Lah Lah too, is too weak and is frighten and scared of them. If Pak Lah Lah, is an upright and honest PM and a leader for all Malaysians then he should have sacked them and charged them on seditious Act. Therefore, Pak Lah Lah too MUST RESIGN. Where is the ethics in a Government with leaders of this nature. Anyway we are not forcing them to resign. They will know the end result shortly. Then again it will be too late to realise that this is due to their unfair, injust, pride, arrogance and prejudice towards the Races and Religions of Bangsa Malaysia.

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written by KKchan, April 27, 2008 | 15:12:09

Mijoan, your wish might come true. Star reported that some 25 divisional and 90 branch heads are asking for his resignation. I say those who egged him on should also resign, i.e those idiots who asked him when was he going to bathe his keris in blood! UMNO needs a grassroot revolution if the kepalas can't do, for obvious reasons.

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written by ukaymelaka, April 27, 2008 | 20:06:59

How do explain two people of such fine pedigree, Hussein Onn and his wife, producing a kerismuddin?? It disproves everything we know about heredity and genetics.

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written by roadbarra, April 28, 2008 | 06:02:06

Aiyoh, Mr Kerismuddin who is supposed to set a good example to millions of young students should do the needful and resign. Not being to being able to live up to the minister portfolio, just resign and get lost somewhere. You are a bad example to my children, others children and millions of Malaysians, an utter disgrace. I wonder how our bloody component parties can ever tolerate this horrendously disgracely act of racism.

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written by panca, April 29, 2008 | 18:10:08

Hishammuddin is not sincere

he is not sincere, he is a Scoundrel....is there such a word? if there is such a word, is it befitting?

How could such word be used on a person?
But how could such a person become a Minister? An Education Minister?

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written by panca, April 29, 2008 | 18:14:39

yes there is such a befitting word!

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/scoundrel

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written by Kcc, April 30, 2008 | 23:34:33

in simple English, "sorry no cure" - the damage has been done. UMNO has lost, BN has lost. We can forgive, but we won't forget your stupidity and arrogance for the rest of our lives.

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