Messaging the true friends of BN

Interesting report from Berita Harian:

“Dr Mahathir percaya dakwaan bahawa masyarakat Cina tidak menyokong BN adalah benar kerana ia dapat diketahui berdasarkan sistem pengiraan undi mengikut saluran di pusat pengundian.

Bagaimanapun, beliau berkata, terpulang kepada kerajaan untuk mengkaji punca pengundi Cina menolak BN kerana sokongan semua masyarakat adalah penting.

Dalam pada itu, katanya, faktor lain yang turut menjejaskan BN ialah pengundi keliru kerana masalah dalaman yang dihadapi parti komponen masing-masing.”

Full article here

…

Like it or not, the good doctor has made very valid observation.

I say that’s why BN got to go back to the drawing board.

Think, Think, Think (don’t feel shy to learn from lovable Winnie The Pooh & friends).

…

Work hard on your messaging:

Don’t just deploy the backstabbing style of messaging/blogging/tweettering. It is so passe, politically unsavvy and unpalatable to the refine tastes of our new voters and mature voters who have attended school before.

Get help from those in BN who are well experience in listening and messaging.

Lest your Archilles heels will cause BN to limp home in next General Election. (ouch, ouch, ouch)

Thaipusam visit: What say you, my friends?

.

Dato’ S. Sothinathan’s letter published in Malaysiakini “Najib trendsets with Thaipusam visit” highlighted the following:

“… This gesticulation of the premier to be there at this propitious ceremony is to be commended and to be emulated by leaders at all levels. It is a timely gesture, especially at this time in Malaysian history when religious and racial insensitivities and intolerance are ubiquitous.

It goes a long way to show that the PM cares about what happens to the Indian community. It is extremely symbolic in promoting mutual religious appreciation and understanding. On the same note, it allays the fears and apprehensions of the younger generation and imbues new hope and faith.”

Nice positivism from one of a formerly bright MIC star. I wonder if he will be given the chance to have another go to contest in the next General Election to defend his Teluk Kemang parliamentary seat.

But then, commentator Rajendra Veluppillai gave this feedback on PM Najib Razak’s visit:

“Please do not hijack religious occasion and convert it into a political show. I am really offended and angry that this occasion for spiritual journey of self discovery, penance and enlightenment had been trespassed and defiled. Hindu”

What say you to this point of view, my friends? Do the rakyat really need to see Najib attending every religious ceremony in order to be convinced of his sincerity to be the PM for all races? Is this the job of Malaysia’s Prime Minister?

Dreaming of a high income economy? Legislate 1Malaysia now

Malaysia now has to deal with legal complexities which were never there before in 1963 but now affecting our livestyles because of economic progress.

Prime Minister Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia concept was supposed to unite all races, specifically, bring Sabah and Sarawak closer to Peninsula Malaysia as 1Malaysia.

The people welcome the overarching concept of unity in diversity, a 1Malaysia happy family, happily connected to each other, to and fro the Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsula – to work, to play, to live in peace.

It got Air Asia Berhad flying 1Malaysia back and forth more busily than a bee. LRTs, Monorails, KTM Komuter and Rapid KL buses are moving more and more 1Malaysians back and forth kampungs to towns and cities daily.

This pot has melted so that now we cannot easily distinguish easily who is a Peninsula Malay/Chinese/Indian or a Sabahan, a Sarawakian or even an Indonesian anymore.

Multicultural 1Malaysians living in harmony, each assured of their right to practice religions as appropriate as safeguarded by customs and customary rights agreed upon since 1963.

And then it happen, with a High Court ruling on 31 Dec 2009 which ruled that the Herald can use the word ‘Allah’ in its Bahasa edition.

News reported of hurt feelings of Muslims of Peninsula Malaysia, with anecdotal evidences like, “My friends all never use Allah in their prayers.”

Is that the situation with our Sabah or Sarawak friends?

UPKO President, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok testified it has been customary for Sabah and Sarawak Christians using word Allah in their prayers.

“With the greatest of respect to those who may feel uncomfortable with me mentioning this, the Christian community, not unlike the Christians in Indonesia and the Arab world, has been using this word for a long time. And it will be a herculean task for the government, if indeed it wants, to enforce the prohibition of the word in Christian worship.”

We read news of groups representing rights of Muslims of Peninsula Malaysia appealing to the Agong and Sultans to protect their rights to exclusive use ‘Allah’.

Aren’t the states of Peninsula Malaysia already doing it?
The State enactments have been protecting Muslim rights for a very long time already.

Malaysia has the Federal Law and State Laws and we live them, yes?

But then we hear politicians Datuk Jamil Khir Baharom (PM’s office) and Datuk Clarence Bongkos Malakun (Justice of Peace, Deputy President of Sabah Kadazandusun Culture Association) advising non-Muslims who are using the term ‘Allah’ to stop doing so in the name of preserving peace and to placate hurt feelings.

Why are lawmakers asking rakyat of the states of Sabah and Sarawak (who has been assured of their customary practices in 1963) to give up their customary rights?

It also begs the question, is it legal to ask Sabah and Sarawak Malaysians working in Peninsula Malaysia, who are exercising the customary usage of “Allah” in their prayers, to relinguish their right in religion when in Peninsula?

We remember the guarantees which Sabah and Sarawak asked for, from the Cobbold Report which recorded:

“The non-Muslim communities are most insistent that there should be complete religious freedom as to worship, education, and propagation, in the Borneo territories.

We recommend the insertion in the State Constitution of a specific provision to this effect.

“There remain the provisions in the existing Federal Constitution of Malaya that Islam is the national religion and that certain public expenditure may be incurred for Islamic purposes. All Muslim communities would welcome the provision that Islam should be the national religion of the Federation. But even with guarantees of freedom of religion for the Borneo States, we have met with strong resistance from many non-Muslim communities to the idea that these Federal provisions should apply to the Borneo territories. We consider that this is a matter for the peoples of the Borneo territories (which have a non-Muslim majority) to decide for themselves at a later stage when fully elected representative bodies have been constituted. We recommend therefore that the Federal provisions should not be extended to the Borneo territories in the meantime.” “

Malaysia laws needs serious attention and ministration by its legislators to conduct regular maintenance and fine tuning the health and position of the laws of Malaysia.

Our Yang Berhormats cannot continue to dodge the effects of modernity or to abdicate its duty to provide a legislative framework that works to protect personal and business rights.

Legislation, not rhetoric is crucial to the Malaysia aspiration to transform herself into a high income economy.

Back up the legislation as an unflinching assurance to foreign investors that their investments will be safeguarded by the Laws of Malaysia if they take their business to Malaysia.

Legislate for 1Malaysia transformation now.

By: Ho Aoi Ling
The writer was a former Senior Research Executive with MCA think tank, INSAP.

.

Reference links:

http://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/storydetails.php/Daring-speech-by-Tan-Sri-Bernard-Dompok/3346-2-1
http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/political-news/157199-jamil-khir-other-church-leaders-should-adopt-same-approach.html

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/49845-four-reasons-for-controversial-allah-ruling

In Malaysia politics, it pays to be clear, be very, very clear

In politics, it doesn’t pay to have an ambiguous stand.

The danger in the inability to align your party stand to your coalition government’s stand will give a perfect ammunition to your political opponents and non-fans.

The poor constituents will be mighty confused and will remember to link these incongruities together with wild juicy stories that does somewhat hurt your image as a believable politician. Think of the wastage of a lot of unnecessary energy and PR fees to dislodge stings from political opponents aplenty in the media, when you could have spent it on outreach campaigns.

Let’s take a look at a very real case, which has been a subject of debate and name callings between a lecturer supporter for SSS (Satu Sekolah Untuk Semua) and a politician who highly support vernacular schools and also happens to be a Deputy Minister of Education for the ruling government which was supposed to uphold the national education system.

My friends like to roll their eyes upwards to heavens for such case of what they call ‘a dumb debate’.

But I digress…

The politician’s party has this item in its aims and objective:

“To preserve and sustain the use and study of the Chinese language,

and to ensure that its use, teaching or learning shall not be prohibited or prevented in the conext of Article 152 of the Malaysian Constitution;

Generally to do all such acts and things not enumerated in the preceding sub-Articles for the well-being of the Party and its members.”

That maybe absolutely the right thing to do before 1957.

But, oi, wake up… it is 2009 now and soon to be 2010.

The generation of Malaysian Chinese today is no longer as scared as their forefathers of workers or coolies herded in by the triads in charge of tin mines.

It is 1Malaysia now.

Why don’t the political party just update or make current its party constitution to fight for a quality education system for all?

For all those who cares for the future of Malaysia in the war of global talents, why not fight to let forth a flotilla of schools to unlock the combination keys to hidden talents yet unable to be achieved by the national and vernacular schooling system? Get out of your cave now.

Malaysia desperately needs schools to unlock talents of multiple intelligences. It just doesn’t work anymore to have a student excel in memorising or vomit out what has been indoctrinated into his/her cave, ooops, brain.

Instead of indulging in mindless debates and dares, why don’t Malaysian Chinese Association take the lead and fight for an education system that will result in specific cognitive abilities that will be sought and cultivated by leaders in the years ahead: the disciplined mind, the synthesizing mind, the creating mind, the respectful mind, and the ethical mind?

Dare you, MCA to break away from your self imposed chains and reach out to 1Malaysians meaningfully before the 13th General Elections?

Will MCA Central Committee dare to show some guts?

Some strange things happened on 10 October, 2009:

My friend’s mom cried.

My lawyer’s tongue went numb.

My Pakatan Rakyat supporter bro wished MCA members good luck and fun with the line dancing Ng Yen Yen.

My drinking friends cursed the MCA central delegates with the most colourful epithets. (trust me.)

#@$%…

With a little help from the brave doctor Chua Soi Lek who hung MCA’s party constitution out to dry, here’s the list from a blogger which me thinks will kill and will help Pakatan Rakyat bury MCA for good:

1. Too many factions (warlords?).

2. Too many mediocre personalities.

3. Too many rent-seeking personalities.

4. Too little effort in engaging the real community.

5. Too much effort in engaging associations filled with rent-seeking personalities.

6. Too much parochialism borne from an education system that is detached from the mainstream of the nation.

7. Too little effort in recruiting the best minds.

8. Too much effort in rewarding sycophants.

MCA’s history is based on wheeling-dealing. Genuine reform cannot take place unless the apex leaders disengage with the moneyed class. But how does one turn on one’s own genetic parentage?

This is the fundamental reality that the MCA needs to deal with. Can the existing leadership and membership do so?

And so, after the departure of a rare MCA species ‘dare to be a hero’ Ong Tee Keat, I hazard to predict that MCA’s future will be back to bland lapdog life.

Comatose existence with daily bland routine of licking the master’s hands.

tsk, tsk, tsk…

Unless, the MCA Central Committee accidently chanced upon an iota of courage within their bosoms to stand together and defy big brother UMNO and Tun Dr. Mahathir‘s wish to get rid of the Chinese community’s preferred President.

It’ll be fun to find out how UMNO deals with a biting rather than licking MCA.

But let’s get back to real life, now.

The real D Day will be on Thursday 15 October, 2009. Not the EGM as some central delegates were led to believe by their handlers.

Theng Bok, are you campaigning for Chua Soi Lek or for money?

.

According to Malaysiakini, Theng Bok who heads the Save MCA campaign is a maverick.

On checking my little kamus of Oxford dictionary, ‘maverick’ also means an undisciplined person.

Maybe Malaysiakini knows something about Theng Bok that the public do not?

Anyways, I was surprised at a Merdeka minum-minum session yesterday when a friend who happened to be an MCA Central Delegate (CD), asked me if I heard of rumours that Theng Bok is using the Save MCA campaign as a front.

“Huh? What front? Isn’t it to save Chua Soi Lek?” I asked.

“You, ah. So straight. Never question, one. Always take at face value what newspapers analysts write. When are you going to learn to read between the lines, friend? Aiyoooooo,” said CD while shaking his head disapprovingly.

Eager to shift his disapproval elsewhere, I soothed him. “Why do you think he has an ulterior motive?” I asked.

“You think Theng Bok is so selfless, meh? Think! The last time he ‘saved MCA‘, Ong Ka Ting got booted out. Why?”

“Think! Why is he saving MCA again and calling for EGM? Why?” CD is really getting excited now.

“Please tell? I’m really lost now.” said I, defeated.

CD rolled his eyes towards heavens and got himself together. “Benefits, my friend.”

“Huh?”

“Aiyooooo. Got people do something for nothing, meh?” “Theng Bok is a lawyer, right?”

“Yes?”

“Theng Bok is having lots of construction developer friends wanting clearance for this and that from ministries. The minister don’t give, he’s in shit la, deal cannot get done, no approval, no money in, understand?”

“Last time minister no give, this time also no give, he’s more in shit, business more worse, developer friends no more confidence in him, his cable tak boleh pakai, lor,” CD made a thumbs down sign.

“But Theng Bok said its for MCA he is saving.”

“Ceh! Where got people do something for nothing?” CD exclaimed.

“Got people sponsor a campaign for him to get famous and can somemore help get back his developer friends confidence, like luck falling from the sky, lar.”

Hmmmmmm…..

P/S: I think Theng Bok should quickly make an SD (Statutory Declaration) to save himself. Cannot do like Andy Lau hiding under those umbrellas. And its very ungentleman to take advantage of Chua Soi Lek’s predicament.

Shame on those depriving Teoh Beng Hock’s loved ones privacy on their dear loss

I am asked why I refused to comment on the death of Teoh Beng Hock at the MACC Selangor.

I am asked why I refused to participate in guessing the cause of the death of Selangor EXCO Ean Yong Hian Wah‘s political secretary.

I am also asked why I didn’t turned up at the Kelana Jaya Stadium rally organised by Pakatan Rakyat.

Here’s my reply, friends.

1. I do not know the irrefutable facts beyond that a young man was found dead.

2. It is for the coronor’s court to determine whether it was a homicide, accident or suicide. I do not have knowledge nor expertise to arrive at the irrefutable facts.

3. I do not know if my presence would be used as a political tool. I do not want to listen to hearsays.

What I am doing in my silence is to allow Teoh’s loved ones some dignity, space and privacy in their grieve.

I will not parrot calls to serve political expediency of any particular party.

I just want to respect the family’s right to grieve in privacy.