Picturing Pekida as part of an ethno-nationalist movement in the country and created to aid Umno's need for support, French researcher Sophie Lemiere (pic) claimed that the authorities, including the police will not take action against any harsh move my Pekida as long as it serves Umno interest.
The book was released a few months ago but not a single comment was made by Umno leaders or Pekida top people.
In the book titled “Misplaced Democracy: Malaysian Politics and People” released a few months ago, political researcher Sophie Lemiere wrote that these non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and Pekida specifically, are “connivance militants” whose discourse and actions serve the interests of the ruling party.It puzzled me, anyway.
Lemiere explained in the book that connivance militancy is a secret political arrangement by which a formal political actor – be it a political party, a government or a politician – sub-contract actions serving its interests to groups or individuals. These actions may be legal or illegal and can range from advocacy to demonstrations and use of violence.
The book, a compilation of essays by various authors and of which Lemiere is editor, contains a chapter she also wrote titled “Gangsta and Politics in Malaysia”.
In it, she wrote that Umno's ties to this ethno-nationalist movement are stronger than those of any other party. This is because the ruling party has created the need and has maintained a favourable context for its development.
In the Malaysian context, she said, connivance militants are like the “muscle” and “numbers” a formal political actor may need to face opponents, be it in elections, campaigns, demonstrations or controversies.
Why was she so obsessed to produce a book on Pekida and why not on other gangster-like organisations linked to other political parties? Why didn't she mention anything about Dong Zhong, Gang 8 or other groups.
Why the sudden interest?
Furthermore, she did not conduct any research. Most of the contents was based on hearsay, some that didn't come from Umno and Pekida but from people who don't have the precise information about it. In other words, she talked to so many opposition leaders and anti-government NGOs.
The book, to me, is a total lies and is meant to give a bad impression about Umno and Barisan Nasional - that the nation is being led by a group of gangster!. Who sponsors her, I am not certain but some ugly hands are behind her!