Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Ijok by-election - A dramatic night at Batang Berjuntai

Datin Wan Azizah was spoken to a crowd of about 200 people in Batang Berjuntai at around 8:30pm.


Police intervened at about 8:45pm - Reasons? No police permit! You can see LKS was speaking to him: "In my 40 years of participation in small and big election, there's no need to apply police permit. What permit you are talking about?"

After temporarily "dispersing" the police, LKS continued his short ceramah to explain what happened moments ago.


Po Kuan went on smoothly with her speech. Time: 9:15pm.


Police was gathering force. Heard that FRU had been called.


Looks like the person in charge was also coming.


Interuption started when LKS was half-way delivering his speech - Photos taken when police officers tried to ambush and surround him. No Fear!


FRU arrived. Altogether there were three trucks of FRUs. One folk told me :"Ini wayang saya 40 tahun talak nampak. Tangkap pencuri talak manyak polis. Ini ceramah apasal manyak polis?"


Nobody is leaving! They were not frightened at all!

In order not to be lamented as campaigning violently, Azmin told public to disperce and move to other ceramahs.

Khairy's mat rempit style campaigning style in Ijok?

The first question that came to my mind when I saw this photo, which was published on Monday 23rd April Berita Harian is that why those in the photos did not wear helmet as required by the law for motorcyclists?

Are Pemuda UMNO immune from laws? They do not need to wear helmet when they are on their wheels? Who gives them this right? Has the traffic police slapped them with traffic summons?

Their way of campaigning also remind me of Mat Rempit, the notorious name for illegal bike racers. Are they promoting such unhealtly culture among the constituents?

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

马接补选所看到的希望

马接补选已经落幕。国阵候选人赖明忠以4081张多数票成功为国阵守土。挑战者民主行动党廖政光则以比上一届更多的得票打了一场虽败犹荣的硬仗。

资源匮乏的行动党既然要面对财势雄厚的国阵,尤其是巫统,那么马接补选肯定不是一场好打的战。更何况,马接可说是马华公会在马六甲最为坚强的堡垒。行动党要在一场补选中攻克国阵的堡垒可谓是天方夜谭。

曾经观赏电影《300战士》的朋友一定能够想象行动党在这场补选的处境。公元前481年,波斯王朝带领前往大军犯境希腊。在温泉关战役,斯巴达国王列奥尼达一世以其本国精兵300人、700名底比斯人 和6000名希腊各其它城邦的联军,在温泉关抵挡百万波斯军队。

斯巴达国王列奥尼达一世率领的希腊联军紧紧锁住波斯军队三天,导致波斯军队死伤惨重。最后,经过一番激烈厮杀后,列奥尼达一世仅剩下300名斯巴达精锐部队。虽然他们最终全军覆灭,但却成功阻慢波斯国王薛西斯一世所统率的大军前进。

国阵候选人难产

在马接一战,虽没有电影《300》的血腥厮杀场面,但是行动党的助选团就好比300名斯巴达战士一样。

国阵虽然是大军压阵,但是一开始马华内部便出现候选人难产,形成最后出现罕见现象——行动党比国阵先公布候选人。如以以往行动党的作风来说,这是鲜少发生的,因为行动党的候选人往往要保留最后才公布,避免国阵收买行动党的潜在候选人。

此外,首长夸口扬言要行动党失去按柜金,后来更进一步夸口扬言要行动党在马华堡垒区,也就是马接巴鲁拿零票。马青总团团长廖仲莱随后也失言,称行动党对建国发展毫无贡献。结果引发一场从马六甲打到吉隆坡的口水战。我之所以这么说是因为廖仲莱不敢出席擂台,转而派其他从马六甲、森美兰、雪兰莪和吉隆坡的二三线的马青领袖应付这场口水站。廖仲莱的虎头蛇尾,足以让人质问到底他是不是马青历史上最懦弱的总团长。

补选提名日,发生国大党青年团打伤行动党党员的流血事件、警方在调查工作上的蜗牛速度态度让人民诟病。行动党以接力赛方式每晚举办一场又一场的座谈会、后来更倾巢而出,出动行动党重量级领袖挨家挨户的拜票访问。

这边厢的马华公会先来数场流水宴,请来歌星载歌载舞、后来发现流水宴行不通,就搞客家擂茶大会、接下来发现擂茶大会不能把村民稳住,最终被迫和行动党拼座谈会。要黄家定亲自领导马华公会的竞选机器,甚至在投票日还必须在马接巴鲁新村和马华高层呼吁村民出来投票,这显示行动党连日来在马接多个华人选区的轰炸已经动摇马华的基本票盘。

马华基本票盘动摇

成绩出来之后果然如此,马接巴鲁新村是马华在马接的最大票仓。在2004年全国大选,国阵在马接巴鲁新村获得78巴仙的选票,反之在这次的补选,行动党成功把国阵的多数票降低至63巴仙。其中该区最后两个投票箱(也就是选民年龄45岁以下的投票箱),国阵只获得50巴仙和62巴仙的选票,显示年轻选民和在城市生活的华裔年轻选民对政府政策的不满。

值得关注的是,行动党候选人在四个华裔选民总数占超过10巴仙的小选区中的三个小选区中所得选票巴仙率比2004年的还要高。除了乌丹必佳(即从2004年的10.3巴仙微跌至9.7巴仙),行动党在直望、马六甲宾拉以及阿依巴西等地区从2004年的11.7巴仙、12.9巴仙以及14.6巴仙纷纷上升至13.7巴仙、13.5巴仙以及19.5巴仙。

如果不是马接巴鲁最后一个票箱的投票率只有区区51巴仙,如果不是巫统的首席部长最后数天向马接翁武(马华势力相对弱的华裔选区)派延长地契的糖果,也如果不是马接两个华裔选民较为集中的选区(马接巴鲁和马接翁武)投票率只有63巴仙和75巴仙,马华的多数票肯定还要挨刀!

至于刚才我说这是一场行动党对垒巫统的选战其实不为过。巫统挟着强大的资源和竞选机关,成功在马接其他巫裔和印裔高度集中的选区一人盯人一对一的方式,以提高投票率来提高国阵多数票。行动党已经肯定地不过国阵的银弹政治,再加上巫统的以大量的人力进行人盯人的选战策略,行动党就好比电影《300》中的斯巴达军队。

虽然斯巴达300名精锐部最终还是壮烈牺牲,但是他们的奋力抗敌最后成功拖延波斯军队的速度,为最后希腊盟军的胜仗典下胜基。虽然行动党在马接补选还是败下阵来,但是行动党成功把国阵多数票拉低,并且还隐约地让人看到华裔选民的选票倾向。

Saturday, April 21, 2007

BN politics of fear, money and violent will repeat in Ijok

If voters want good governance and development all the time and not just during elections, then Ijok voters should support the opposition candidate to exert pressure on the government to perform.

Tens of millions of ringgit in development projects were promised and spent in Machap and Ijok is no exception. RM 36 million of development projects were promised by Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Khir Toyo a few days ago.

With 12,272 voters, this vote-buying would come up to nearly RM 3,000 per person. There could be more money in the pipeline as Federal projects have yet to be announced by Works Minister Datuk S. Samy Vellu. Voters are reminded that such generosity from BN is only available during elections.

In Machap BN was caught giving RM 100-200 to voters on polling day for voting BN. If BN can not succeed in buying off voters, then they will resort to other dirty tactics of deception, fear or violence. All these are a complete repeat of what happened during the Machap by-election.

During nomination day for Machap on 3 April, BN leaders and members led by MIC Youth President and Parliamentary Secretary for Youth & Sports, was involved in bloody incidents where two DAP members were assaulted viciously, a Tamil Nanban reporter was threatened and a Makal Osai photograhper was manhandled. To-date no action has been taken by police against the BN leaders responsible and there appears to be a cover-up.

DAP Selangor condemns such violence and the Election Commission for condoning such violence and vote-buying by BN in refusing to take any action under the 1954 Election Offences Act against such wrong-doings.

Voters from other places from Selangor must also join force by demanding the government to be accountable first before they go to fish votes from the people with various election goodies. These issues are:
1. Hindu temples – when Hindu temples in the state are demolished at an alarming rate, that is averagely one temple in three weeks nationwide and averagely one temple in four week in Selangor, there is no public clarification on all allegation of marginalization against minority thrown upon the State Government
2. SJKC Damansara – When is the school to be re-opened when the school has been closed by more than 2000 days?
3. Highway concessionaire agreements – motorists in Selangor are burdened with high petrol price and increasing toll rate. While the government has agreed to declassify all highway concessionaire agreements, why is there still no action to date?

Khir Toyo has been denying claims that the RM 36 million development funds are not election goodies. If that is the case, can Mentri Besar do the same in every state constituency right from today – that he announces the same amount of allocation in each and every state constituency in Selangor, including his own constituency, Sungai Panjang.

If Khir Toyo is sincere to his word, can he order all local councils in Selangor to work 24-7, 24-hour-a-day-7day-a-week, to patch up all the potholes in Selangor or at least in Petaling Jaya? Most of the roads in Petaling Jaya are in deplorable conditions since the last general election, what is urgently required is to get the authority to work as effectively as those in Machap and Ijok.

国阵将在依约区州议席补选,重施在马接补选时的恐吓、暴力及金钱政治的伎俩

若依约区选民要求良好施政,以及不要只是在选举期间、并希望持续得到发展,那他们应支持在野党候选人,向政府施压,要政府有所表现。

国阵在马接补选时许下数千万令吉发展计划的承诺,在依约区也不例外。这可以从雪兰莪州务大臣基尔日前已答应提供3600万令吉作为依约区的发展计划用途看得出来。

依约区有1万2272名选民,而这项买票动作,平均等于每个选民获得将近3千令吉。更多的拨款将接踵而来,因为工程部长三美威鲁还没宣布联邦政府的发展计划拨款。选民应清楚了解,国阵如此大方的举动,只不过在选举时才会出现。

在马接补选时,国阵被揭发在投票日支付100至200令吉给选民以便投国阵一票。若国阵无法用钱买通选民,那他们将诉诸其他肮脏手段,如欺骗、恐吓或暴力。

在4月3日的马接补选提名日,国阵领袖和以国大党青年团团长兼青体部政务次长为首的国大党党员,诉诸暴力致伤了两名行动党党员。他们甚至威胁一名《淡米尔南班报》记者,并对《马卡奥赛》淡米尔报的摄影记者动粗。但是,警方至今却没采取行动对付滋事的国阵领袖,让人觉得他们企图掩盖这项丑闻。

雪州民主行动党谴责这种暴力行为,以及谴责选举委员会纵容国阵的暴力与买票手段,因为选委会拒绝援引1954年选举犯罪法令对付触犯法令者。

与此同时,雪州其他地区的选民也应该联手通过这次依约补选向政府施压,在拉票之前就以下多项课题展现应有之公信力。这些课题就是:

1. 兴都教庙宇——正当我国的兴都教庙宇遭人以惊人的速度来拆毁之际,即全国平均每三星期就有一间兴都教庙宇遭政府拆毁,以及雪州平均每四个星期就有一间间兴都教庙宇遭政府拆毁,政府迄今尚未针对我国兴都教徒不满政府的拆庙行动作公开解释,虽然我国的兴都教徒事少数族群。
2. 重开白小——八打灵再也白沙罗华文小学原校已经遭政府关闭超过2000天。政府和马华公会应该把白小重开之后才来在依约补选在华人选区为国阵候选人拉票。
3. 私营高速大道私营化合约——雪州的驾车人士对政府以不公平的方式跳高过路费而感到不满。政府虽然已经同意公开合约内容,为何到现在为止政府一份合约内容也还没有公开?

除此以外,州务大臣基尔一直宣称他日前颁布的3千6百万令吉拨款并不是补选的糖果。如果他真是如此,那么州务大臣能否在雪州其他55个州议席,包括州务大臣本身选区双溪班让,每个州选区宣布3千6百万令吉的拨款?

如果基尔并不是在派糖果,他是否能够下令州内所有地方议会以24-7的方式工作,那就是每天24小时、每星期7天的方式来填补州内所有大小公路的窟窿?或者至少是八打灵再也的窟窿,尤其是灵市多条道路窟窿处处、路面状况令人跳脚,导致许多驾车人士必须左闪右避。其实八打灵再也市内的道路自2004年大选以来就没有重新修补,当局又是否能够把马接和依约惊人的铺路速度搬来八打灵再也吗?

DAP PJ Dinner on 27th May

行动党把打灵再也火箭行动队将会在2007年5月27日晚上7时正在八打灵再也双溪威新村鸿记酒家开设筹款晚宴。这也是我们首次在双溪威举办宴会,因为以往的筹款晚宴大多在灵市其它地方举行。此次晚宴的主题是“大马人优先——打造一个更美好的PJ”。

举办这场宴会也是为了要提供一个更直接的平台来让双溪威村民和我党领袖针对各项时事进行交流。自阿都拉在三年前成为我国首相以来,全国人民和灵市居民一直面对许多问题。除了必须面对日益沉重的生活费,灵市居民也面对治安日益败坏、市政厅运作不透明的问题。要解决这些问题,灵市居民所扮演的角色是非常重要的。

我们届时将会邀请行动党秘书长林冠英、社青团团长倪可敏、国会反对党领袖林吉祥等中央领袖成为我们的主讲者。公众人士如有任何疑问可联络刘永山(016-3231563)或吴炳顺(016-2393635)。

The DAP PJ Action Team (PJAT) will be holding a fund-raising dinner at Restaurant Hoong Kee, Sungai Way New Village, Petaling Jaya, Selangor on 27th May 2007, 7pm.

This will be the first time we have our dinner in Sungai Way as previous dinner are mainly held in other places in Petaling Jaya. The theme of the dinner this time is “Malaysian First – Let’s Make PJ A Better Place”.

The purpose of this dinner is to provide a platform for the people in Sungai Way to interact with our leaders. Various issues have plagued the nation in general and PJ in particular for the past three years since Abdullah took over the premiership. Besides increasing cost of livings in PJ, the city is also seriously plagued with security problems and poor governance of local council. PJ folks in particular are playing a vital role in ending the rots.

DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng, DAPSY Chairman YB Nga Kor Ming, Parliamentary Opposition Leader YB Lim Kit Siang and others are the invited spekaers to the dinner and members of the public are encouraged to call Lau Weng San at 016-3231563 and Thomas Goh, 016-2393635 to enquire on the details of the dinner.

PJAT Community Centre Open!

八打灵再也行动党火箭行动队社区中心将会在每周三晚上8点半至11点开放接受公众投诉。我们也为新选民提供登记服务。那些已经登记的选民也可以前来我们的服务中心查询登记资料。

社区中心的电话号码是03-78738017以及03-79574724。公众人士也欢迎联络刘永山,电话号码016-3231563。

我们的社区中心地址是雪州八打灵再也百乐花园第20区9路门牌77号。我们欢迎公众人士每周三莅临我们的社区中心。

The community centre of DAP PJ Action Team (PJAT) will open every Wednesday night from 8:30pm to 11pm to receive public complaints. We also provide new voters registration service at our centre, as well as voters registration status in our centre.

The telephone number of the centre is 03-78738017 and 03-79574724. The public is also welcome to contact Lau Weng San at 016-3231563.

Our centre is located at No. 77, Jalan 20/9, Taman Paramount, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. We welcome members of the public to visit our community centre every Wednesday.

Machap Baru villagers thanked DAP!

A group of villagers from Machap Baru New Village thanked DAP in an advertisement published in Sin Chew Daily yesterday for contesting in the Machap by-election as DAP's participance had brought all sorts of facilities and infrastructure that the villagers will never be able to have and enjoy in their life time. These facilities and infrastructure road upgrades, new parks, new lamp posts etc.

What an irony when villagers thanked DAP and not BN when it was BN who won the by-election!

Friday, April 20, 2007

Family broken up by JAIS again


It was another sad story when family is broken up by JAIS just because the mother of a family is belived to be a Muslim. Rubber tapper Marimuthu Periasamy, 43, has today filed habeas corpus writ for the release of his wife Raimah Bibi a/p Noordin and six children, Yoogneswary 12, Paramila 11, Hariharan 8, Ravindran 5, Shamala 5 and Keberan 4 from detention by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department for the past 17 days. Periasamy, who filed the action through DAP National Chairman Karpal Singh as counsel, is seeking to be reunited with his wife and six children who were forcibly separated from him on 2nd April 2007 on the ground that they were Muslims. Below are a brief account of what happened on Marimuthu:
  1. Seven officers from Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (JAIS) came to raid Marimuthu a/l Periasamy’s house in Kampung Baru Tambahan Hulu Yam Lama Selangor on 2nd April 2007 in the morning and told him that his wife, Raimah Bibi a/p Noordin is a converted Muslim and she has to be sent to rehabitation centre together with their six children (Yogneswary, 12 years old daughter; Paramila, 11 years old daughter; Hariharen, 8 years old son; Shamala, 5 years old daughter; Ravindran, 5 years old son; Kuberan, 4 years old son). Raimah Bibi and Marimuthu have another eldest son name Myuvaneswaran, 14 years old.
  2. Mr Marimuthu, a rubber-tapper, was also threatened by one of the Ustaz from JAIS to convert to Islam, else he will be charged as having khalwat with Raimah. He could not do anything but to let JAIS officers to take his wife and children away.
  3. Raimah Bibi then returned to his house on 5th April to help him on his rubber-tapping work. She also told him on what happened to her and the children. He was told that JAIS has rented a house in Muslim Malay populated area in Kampung Melayu Liga Emas so that the neighbours can keep an eye on her daily activities and prevent her from meeting with any outsiders, with particular her Hindu husband.
  4. On 7th April, Mr Marimuthu went straight to her house in Kampung Melayu Liga Emas and tried to talk to her. Raimah Bibi was very afraid and refused to came out and talked to him. Mr Marimuthu could not do anything but to leave.
  5. On 13th April, without Mr Marimuthu’s knowledge, Raimah Bibi brought all her children back to his house and they had a reunion dinner before she and her six children left him again.
  6. Raimah Bibi is an Indian who is a practicing Hindu. She was once adopted by a Indian-Muslim family when she was small. Her IC had never indicated that she was a Muslim until when she applied for her MyKad and that her name was changed to Rahimah Bibi bt Noordin and she is indentified as a Muslim. Both Marimuthu and Raimah did not apply for correction with the National Registration Department (NRD).
  7. Birth certificates of all Marimuthu’s children also indicate that Raimah is an Hindu Indian.
  8. It was suspected that the authority comes to know about Raimah’s Muslim identity in her Mykad (which is a mistake) when Raimah and Marimuthu enrolled their children to study in Sekolah Kebangsaan Bandar Baru Batang Kali when copies of parents’ identity cards were submitted to the education department.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

What a shame!

On The Beat

Again and again, we hear of shoddy workmanship of public buildings using public funds. Are threats to blacklist errant contractors seriously carried out?

IT’S a fiasco. The seven-storey RM200mil Immigration Department is barely two years old but a pipe burst last week forced daily operations to be suspended.

Poor design, shoddy workmanship and bad supervision and maintenance have been cited as the causes. But what was more shocking to taxpayers was the statement by Putrajaya Public Works Department director Abdul Rahim Ahmad that “this was a problem waiting to happen”. In short, it was a problem that needed fixing and everyone was waiting for an incident to take place.

Abdul Rahim went on to say that he had seen similar shoddy workmanship at several other buildings in Putrajaya.

Strong words indeed. Malaysians would certainly like to know the names of the contractors who had carried out such lousy jobs. They have plenty of explaining to do and Public Accounts Committee chairman Datuk Shahrir Samad has correctly asked PWD officers to explain as public funds were used. But we all know that this is not the first time and we can be sure that it won’t be the last.

Just two years ago, Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein Onn revealed to the press that he was shocked to find six of the seven computer laboratories in schools in his constituency still unusable, two years after they were built.

Again, it was due to extensive shoddy workmanship of the buildings, which included instances whereby repairs were going on after more than six months.

In one case, the computer laboratory of the school was found to be useless after it was discovered that the contractor had failed to notice that it was built on top of a main water pipe, it was reported. This led to the floor of the building reportedly being soaked in water.

Some of us remember when then Education Minister Tan Sri Musa Mohamad revealed that about 1,200 computer laboratories nationwide were deemed unsafe due to shoddy workmanship by the private contractors involved in the project.

The question is: Why do these problems keep cropping up and who are these bad contractors? Were they engaged for these government projects because of their competency or because of their political links?

These are justifiable questions and certainly taxpayers do not want to see their money wasted.

We have grown familiar with warnings from politicians threatening to blacklist errant contractors but we wonder if they are really carried out or were these remarks made just to appease angry voters.

In 2004, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi directed the PWD to take over 16 schools and five community colleges nationwide, which had serious structural defects. Some did not even have amenities like access roads, it was reported.

Last year, it was reported that a RM48mil school in Sabah was under serious threat from landslides, endangering the building’s structure. In cases like this, we wonder who the consultant engineers were and whether the authorities had given approvals for these institutions to operate when there are structural faults. It’s not just lousy workmanship but equally bad inspection by the authorities concerned, who did not take into account the safety of the people.

Repair works do not come cheap these days. Last year, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu queried why RM100,000 had to be spent on repair work and termite treatment in seven classrooms.

It’s a shame that we continuously read of such problems as they would only give the impression that we tolerate such abuses of public funds.

Should DAP contest in Ijok?

Gone Machap, come Ijok, and another question comes: Should DAP contest in Ijok?

DAP contested the seats in 1999. Our candidate Krishan Veeriah lost to Sivalingam by 3,166 votes. Ijok was then a 16,847 voters state seat in Selangor.

In 2004, DAP gave it to PKR and PKR's Abdul Rahman Moharam lost to Sivalingam with a majority of 1,649 votes. Another independent candidate Mohamed Sharif Nagoorkani garnered 313 votes. Sivalingam technically won the seat with a majority of only 1,336 votes.

The DAP has three branches in Ijok, but going by tradition that the DAP will participate in any by-election where by the party had participated in the previous by-election, then DAP is not suppose to contest but to give way to PKR. This is the same logic applied in Machap by-election. It will reflect very bad on the party if it were to violate this logic.

However, I believe that for all opposition parties, Ijok by-election is not only a by-election for PKR but a by-election for all opposition parties.

Being a semi-urban-semi-rural constituency, Ijok has a different political impact as compared to Machap.

While Machap is considered as a BN stronghold in Malacca, Ijok does not hold the same water. As Malays in Selangor are less insulated from urban higher living cost and are more politically enlightened, it will be quite interesting to see how they will cast their vote this time, when the 12th general election is around the doorstep.

More so when it is a place close to PKR Selangor Chairman, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim's hometown, Kuala Selangor (Ijok is one of the state seats under Kuala Selangor Parliamentary Seat). There are already some internal discontentment between UMNO MP for Kuala Selangor Tarihep Daud and UMNO Jeram Assemblyman Amirudin Setro.

The moment when I knew Sivalingam passed away in Chennai, the most immediate thing that comes to my mind is Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

The real test for BN has come, and it's Ijok, in Selangor!

Protest by Bdr Bkt Puchong residents - removed UMNO's cabins now




Residents of Bandar Bukit Puchong gathered in their fieeend this morning to stage a strong protest against Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) for granting approval to UMNO Bandar Bukit Puchong Branch to locate two cabins in front of their house in the field.

I had earlier blogged on this issue on 15th March 2007 when free local daily, The Sun reported this issue.

It was later discovered that UMNO ADUN for Sri Serdang, Satem Diman, a councillor of MPSJ was one of the black hand behind the scene.

If you have missed out on reading theSun, I've attached the relevant links. I think your disappointment will turn to anger as you read each subsequent report

25 Jan Hands off public land 30 Jan Council orders cabin to be removed 31 Jan Testing the rule of law
7 Feb Free lesson on free land
8 Feb A different law for politicians
27 Feb Bandar Bukit Puchong Umno defies MPSJ
02 Mar Let the rule of law prevail
15 Mar About-turn slammed Residents ask MPSJ to rethink legalising illegal cabins
16 Mar Silently condoning a wrong
19 Mar Restore faith in local government 21 Mar 'No TOL' decision made 15 years ago
Padang is padang, cabin is cabin. Nobody can claim any part of a public field for his own purpose no matter how powerful or influential he/she is. We are a country of rule-of-law, not rule-by-law or rule-of-the-jungle. My collegue, Ronnie Liu, has more write-up on this.

反对大道起价传单——万绕



雪州民主行动党主席欧阳捍华今日表示,万饶的人民是雪隆区五条大道涨价受害者之一,因为从万饶通往沙亚南的牙直利大道,其收费从原本的1零吉上升至1零吉40仙,涨幅为40巴仙。

他是在雪州民主行动党秘书刘永山、州财政巴都马莱以及数位地方支部党员陪同下,于上午8时30分前往万饶巴刹推展“反对大道收费涨价运动”,并向民众解释大道收费涨价不合理的原由。

他指出,牙直利大道的总建筑成本是5亿1百万零吉,于2005年正式启用,按照和约规定将实行收费至2035年,为期30年。

“如果政府没有按照和约内容允许大道公司涨价,政府必须赔偿大道公司。因为根据大道公司的说法,这是它们的“损失”。

欧阳透露,工程部长拿督斯里三美曾经多次表示,政府赔偿给大道公司不让它们涨价,是体恤人民的表现。他反问工程部长拿督斯里三美,难道政府的钱就不是人民的钱吗?政府只是从人民的另一个口袋拿钱赔偿给大道公司,和人民自行掏腰包还收费站其实是一样的道理。

“根据估计,政府目前每年必须向国内有关的大道公司赔偿1亿5千万零吉至2亿零吉,这是一个非常惊人的数目。如果政府有能力以巨额赔偿给大道公司,为何政府不能自行建筑高速大道,免费让人民使用?这是令人感到费解的。”

再者,人民拥有车辆的数量将会逐年增加,按照这样的逻辑推论,大道公司的收入也将会逐年增加,而理应是逐年调低大道收费。但是,目前的情况却与正常逻辑背道而驰,大道公司的收费不但没有降低,反而逐年增加,这是非常不合理的事情。

他呼吁工程部长拿督斯里三美实现他的承诺,不要空口说白话,公布所有私营化大道合约的内容,让人民进行检视,以让公众的利益获得保障。

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

此外,欧阳捍华也针对国能从万饶新村到邓普勒公园建造高压电缆的事件发表评论。

他表示,当地的居民从2005年开始反对高压电缆跨越新村住宅区到今天,2年多来并没有获得政府的关注,他对此事表示失望,同时认为这是国阵政府妄顾人民利益的最佳证明。

“当地居民已经向国能建议替代的高压电缆的路线,就是将路线该道至双溪沙末(九头山),因为当地人烟稀少,不会威胁到居民的安全。”

他认为,能源、水务及通讯部长拿督斯里林敬益应该马上着手处理此事,与当地居民展开对话并拟定解决方案,不应该继续视若无睹。

他说,如果居民认为有必要采取法律行动,雪州民主行动党的律师团将准备提供法律援助,协助当地居民争取他们的利益。

Friday, April 13, 2007

Opposition struggling to make headway in Chinese-majority district in Malacca

WITH voting just a day away, Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders have expressed confidence that its candidate in the Malacca by-election will score a big win.

The by-election in the Chinese- majority district of Machap has been touted as a gauge of the community's voting sentiment, but the opposition seems to have been struggling to make headway, said observers.

'The opposition parties are at their wits' end struggling to raise local issues, but there is none for them to capitalise on,' Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who is spearheading the BN campaign, said on Sunday.

'I am confident Barisan will achieve its target of retaining the seat with a higher majority.'

The Machap state seat, with 9,623 voters, fell vacant when Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) assemblyman Poh Ah Tiam, 55, died recently of kidney failure.

Datuk Poh won the seat in 2004 with a strong 63.9 per cent majority, beating opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) candidate Liou Chen Kuang.

The voters will decide tomorrow, after a nine-day campaign, whether to pick the MCA's Lai Meng Chong or Mr Liou, who is standing again.

The MCA is the largest Chinese political party and is a member of the ruling BN, a coalition of 14 parties led by Umno.

The by-election comes at a time when the Chinese community is said to be unhappy with the slower economy and amid running controversies over race and religion.

About 45.6 per cent of Machap's 9,623 voters are Chinese, with 38.3 per cent Malays, 15.3 per cent Indians and 0.7 per cent other races.

But small-town elections are often decided by bread-and-butter issues, not national ones.

Machap, although just 30km from Malacca town, is a rural constituency. Most of its residents are farmers or owners of small businesses.

'DAP is not going to win, that is for sure. So the important thing is how many votes it can get,' independent political analyst James Wong told the malaysiakini online news site. 'It will serve to indicate the trend leading up to the general election.'

BN leaders have been going around speaking about continued development for the district and the country.

To raise Chinese voters' interest, the DAP has been showing a video clip of comments made by an Umno MP several months ago that those who do not like living in Malaysia should leave - an indirect reference to the Chinese community.

The DAP has also been distributing pamphlets on speeches made at the last Umno general assembly which it claimed smacked of racialism.

'The response to our political talk and house-to-house campaign has been positive. Although it is difficult to know whether it will translate into votes, the response is better than that of the 2004 general election,' said DAP Youth election strategist Liew Chin Tong.

Responding, Datuk Seri Najib said yesterday that speeches by 'one or two individuals' do not reflect the BN's stand and cannot be used as a yardstick.

In a speech yesterday, Datuk Seri Najib said: 'We cannot be emotional. We must use cool heads to better ensure our future.'

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK, BERNAMA

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

翁诗杰应该收回他对行动党所作出的不实指责

高教部部长拿督翁诗杰昨日在国会大厦走廊宣布高教部已经承认拉曼学院共33项文凭课程。

翁诗杰也通过报章指责行动党利用马接补选来炒作拉曼文凭课题除了是翁诗杰本人一厢情愿的说法之外,也是非常不负责任的指责。

除非翁诗杰能够证明我们所说的是不正确的,也就是公共服务局已经承认拉曼学院所颁发的高级文凭、文凭和证书课程,要不然翁诗杰应该收回他对行动党所作出的指责——急功近利!

行动党要带出的讯息就是,马华公会一手创办的拉曼学院,其学术文凭资格不获公共服务局承认。

这是铁一般的事实,即使是翁诗杰本人也不能否认这点。既然如此,翁诗杰如何能够不仁不义地把‘急功近利’这顶帽子套在行动党身上?

明显地,翁诗杰做出这项宣布显然是为了避免影响马华公会候选人在马接补选的表现。

这在某种程度上证明在野的行动党再一次施压成功。如果没有行动党的监督和施压,如果没有行动党把这个课题带出来,拉曼学院毕业生可能不知道自己遭边缘化,更不知道原来马华公会一手创办的拉曼学院原来不获公共服务局承认。

用‘某种程度’这个字眼,是因为翁诗杰昨日的宣布基本上还没有解决最根本的问题——即拉曼学院的文凭课程不受公共服务局承认。

众所周知,如果拉曼学院毕业生的高级文凭课程、文凭课程和证书课程不获公共服务局的承认,那么拉曼学院毕业生依然不能投入公共服务,包括加入警察部队。

翁诗杰不应该以‘露出曙光’、‘希望能够寻求突破’等等字眼来模糊公众人士,尤其是马接选民的视线。

由于公共服务局并不隶属于高教部而是首相署。再加上马华公会在首相署没有任何部长、副部长和政务次长,那么我们要问,马华公会将如何在内部解决问题?

如果公共服务局不承认拉曼学院文凭,即使拉曼学院的所有文凭获得隶属高教部的学术鉴定局的承认,那也是于事无补,因为任何要加入公共服务的马来西亚公民必须持有公共服务局所承认的学术资格。

作为副高教部长,我呼吁翁诗杰能够全面公开高教部所承认的33项文凭课程,依然家长和学生作参考,不必等到4月下旬才来等待公共服务局的开会决定。

Friday, April 06, 2007

Govt project shelved coz of fengshui

This must be the most funniest thing that I have ever heard in my life: Government project shelved because of some supernatural beliefs that the project will disturb the Feng Shui of an ADUN's property.

Read the story by Z. Ibrahim:
Z. Ibrahim
Klang

MB ill-advised to scrap project

I read with interest Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo's decision to stop the construction by an international conglomerate of a RM400 million hospital in Teluk Gadong, Klang.

Apparently Khir was "advised" to do so by his political comrade-in-arms and Klang Municipal Council (MPK) councillor Datuk Teh Kim Poo on the scientifically questionable grounds that "it would be bad feng shui for his neighbourhood, himself included, and that they feel the value of their homes will drop".

Because of this superstition and without a proper debate by MPK itself, yet again Teh appears to have single-handedly shooed away a significant foreign investment which would have given many in the Klang area work in the proposed 14-storey hospital.

The cowboyish antics of Klang councillors never seem to amaze the public.

Despite his belief in supernatural forces, Teh had no such coyness when he bulldozed his way into building a Perpaduan (unity) building with open-air pit toilets on a children's playground in Southern Park, Klang, three years ago despite all the protests by residents whose homes face the project.

Indeed, even before a proper plan was drawn up, Teh accelerated the construction of the building. There was no mentri besar or Teh or MPK to listen to the residents' grouses and eventually the courts came to the rescue of the residents.

The decrepit building with its overgrown shrubs and open-air pit toilets right in front of residents' homes on a pristine green playground has been left abandoned, and is a danger to children playing in the vicinity and a dengue hazard. It should have been demolished swiftly in the interests of public safety but this was not done.

Teh appears to show no remorse save to hide behind the phrase sudah jadi kes mahkamah ("the case is before the courts"). His dreams of conducting cooking and aerobic lessons at his personalised Perpaduan building at the children's playground appear to have diminished.

A RM400 million investment is something this town would definitely benefit from and the MB must seriously review his decision as this may negate efforts by our Ministry of International Trade and Industry in getting investments to come to Malaysia.

The MB should perhaps also review his association with self-centred politicians. The other MPK councillors must debate this decision and bring development to the people of Klang. And this they must do soon lest they are yet again caught in publicity nightmares not unlike the infamous Zakaria Deros affair.

No service, just rude delivery

By No Help Rendered
Petaling Jaya

Yesterday, at 9.30am, I tried to call the Immigration Department at Putrajaya at the number 8880 1000. I dialled the number 10 times and on each try the phone rang for 30 times without anybody answering. I gave up.

At noon, I tried again for five times before someone answered. I could not get to the person I wanted. I called another number which I got after seven tries. I politely asked the operator if she knew whether the person I wanted was on leave or working ...The rudest reply I got was ... "Encik ingat operator boleh nampak ke kalau dia cuti atau tidak?"("What, you think we operators can see if the person is on leave or what?") and she just put the phone down. What have I done to deserve this?

Where is the delivery system the government is proudly talking about? If the operator does not like the job, she should quit and look for another job and not spoil the image of the government service. There are many other people who can take over her place. They forgot that we are paying their salaries. When can they ever learn or realise this?

I finally decided to drive from PJ to Putrajaya as I think it would be faster and less stressful.

Land clearing brings gloom to flood-prone TTDI Jaya

For those who moved into the neighborhood of Taman TTDI Jaya in the “planned” city of Shah Alam 15 years ago, little did they realize that it would be a non-ending nightmare of recurrent flooding.

The trust they had in the developers and all those promises that the land had been adequately raised to sustain a 100-year rain forecast obviously in retrospect was nothing more then a “con” to entice innocent house buyers to part with their hard-earned money to buy these homes. Worse affected were the shop-owners who today have to face floods almost on a monthly basis. How is this possible?

Despite all the technical explanations by the developers, DID, MBSA and the Menteri Besar himself it appears plain to anyone with common sense that the area indeed is topographically the lowest point in the entire locality and water undoubtedly whether from the area itself or drainage upstream from KL would indeed overflow and stagnate at this Taman.

After the horrific floods of last year, the State government came up with an interim plan to raise the river bunds to prevent overflowing but the floods keep coming with even greater speed.

You see, despite knowing that this place is already flood prone, the area between TTDI Jaya, Bukit Jelutong and the TUDM air force base has been stripped bare to make way for industrial development.

The entire area does not possess proper drains and even a kid will tell you the massive run off during heavy rain will of course pool at this housing estate located beneath – Taman TTDI Jaya.

But this common sense appears to have slipped through the minds of authorities who allowed this massive land clearing without a thought to parents, the infirm, children, businesses and schools who occupy this housing estate.

Is this just plain negligence, or even deliberate with a touch of sadism on the part of the MBSA? It is not possible that the MBSA who seem to know this area well would not know this simple detail.

But nothing in Malaysia surprises anyone anymore, for our institutions are clearly staffed with incompetent personnel with very much a third world mind-set.

The country as acknowledged widely is rudderless.

Whoever approved this massive land clearing for these industries without first safeguarding the lives of the people downstream must be irrational, unsound or quite possibly paid off.

Whoever it was, at most he/she would be transferred. But for the people who need to face these repeated calamities the nightmares continue.

How an elected government can ignore such incompetence to inflict such profound damage – repeatedly, to its very own people is unbelievable.

Adakah wengsan.blogspot perlu didaftarkan?

Tuan Lim Kit Siang [Ipoh Timor]: Yang terakhir. Oleh kerana sikap ini sangat penting iaitu sikap anti IT, anti maklumat yang boleh kita lihat semalam. Ada seorang ahli Parlimen Barisan Nasional kata bahawa Malaysiakini fitnah, fitnah belaka. Ini anti-information, anti IT, anti Malaysia. Akhirnya kalau tanpa IT tanpa maklumat, tanpa masyarakat maklumat, Malaysia akan tertinggal di belakang. Ini anti IT, anti-information, anti Malaysia, anti nasional, sikap macam ini perlu semua
dihakiskan.

Dato’ Shaziman bin Abu Mansor: Terima kasih atas pandangan Yang Berhormat. Kita akan pertimbangkan pandangan Yang Berhormat mungkin satu hari nanti kita akan mendaftar segala bloggers yang ada di negara ini. Mekanisme pengawalan Astro dan stesen TV swasta yang lain...

Thursday, April 05, 2007

让薪金和工作素质成正比

今年政府将会为全国超过100万名联邦政府公务员加薪。

就在公务员今年准备领取更高的薪金时,首相署公共投诉局刚发布的《2006年投诉分析报告》却让我们更能深思到底公务员加薪是否合理。

报告指出,政府部门被投诉的原因当中,高居榜首的是“效率慢和没有采取行动”,其中这项投诉占总数39.4%,或者是总数3千397宗投诉的731宗投诉。

在2005年,该局一共接获2千707宗投诉。2004年则是2千792宗。

公共投诉局总监蔡奉泽博士指出公共投诉局每年所接获的投诉节节上升,成功解决或处理的个案数量同样也有所提高。

蔡奉泽指出,该局在2006年成功解决3千397宗投诉中的2千936宗,即86.4%。在2005年,公共投诉局接获2千707宗投诉,已处理的个案占83%(2千247宗)。

没有举报的案件

蔡奉泽博士的分析显然过于乐观。作为一名经常和各政府部门工作和协调的政治工作者,我国公共服务素质的提升与下降并不能完全从成功解决的案件评估。就好比虽然警方表示破案率超过国际刑警所订下的标准,我们不能说我国的治安良好。

妇女权益工作者经常表示,在每一宗向警方报案的强奸案中,背后有3宗强奸案是没有被举报的。同样的,在每一宗向公共投诉局投报的投诉案中,背后肯定有一定数量的投诉并没有提呈予公共服务局审核。

当然,公共投诉局也并非是唯一能够处理公共投诉的政府部门。许多政府部门内部都设有一定的投诉处理机制,以面对和处理公众人士的投诉。

因此,我们不能单纯通过公共投诉局的数据来武断地衡量人民对公共服务的满意程度,但是我们更不能对公共投诉局所处理的投诉数量逐年增加而掉以轻心!刚恰这就是我们正观察得到的现象。

虽不能一口断定投诉数量的增加反映公共服务素质的下滑,但是就在政府准备为总数超过100万名公务员加薪时,公共服务局的数据刚好提醒我们公共服务尚存有的许多弱点。

副首相今年曾经表示,政府肯定会在今年为公务员加薪,但是政府会选择在‘适当’的时间公布。到底这‘适当’的时间是几时?会不会是大选前夕?如果是的话,那么涨幅是多少?会不会是公务员职工总会所提出的涨幅——40巴仙呢?如果是,政府必须从国库付出多少纳税人的钱?这又会否是政府派给公务员的糖果呢?薪金提高之后,政府能不能够保障服务素质会获得提升呢?或者我们可以问,公共投诉局每年发布的投诉数据会不会降低呢?

在还没有加薪之前,请政府先回答这些问题!

Full text of Raja Nazrin's keynote address at the Bar Council

Full text of Raja Nazrin's keynote address at the Bar Council

KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY DULI YANG TERAMAT MULIA RAJA MUDA PERAK DARUL RIDZUAN RAJA NAZRIN SHAH IBNI SULTAN AZLAN MUHIBBUDDIN SHAH AT THE 'YOUNG MALAYSIANS' ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON NATIONAL UNITY AND DEVELOPMENT IN MALAYSIA: PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES FOR NATION BUILDING

DATE: 3 APRIL 2007 TIME: 8:45AM VENUE: BAR COUNCIL, KUALA LUMPUR

Ladies and Gentlemen:

1. It is my pleasure to be here to deliver the keynote address at this Roundtable Discussion on National Unity and Development in Malaysia: Challenges and Prospects for Nation Building. I am always happy to take part in an event where there are many young informed Malaysians. I find that this is time well spent. Not only does it give me a chance to share my thoughts, but it also lets me do a bit of opinion research among the younger generation. We like to say that our youths are the future of this country, but then we proceed to ignore or marginalise them. We want our future generations to be able to think and act wisely, but then we do not give them sufficient opportunities to do so.

2. In my view, this is not a good way to prepare those who will take our place. If the young are to be good leaders and citizens, they must be exposed to more than just abstract concepts. Even those nation states which have failed miserably have had great political ideals. I believe that good and upright leadership must be demonstrated. It has to be both taught and observed at work. Then, those who are found to be able must be mentored by those who are capable. In this way, success can be learned and replicated. Finally, the young must be given responsibilities they can handle. They should be allowed to make mistakes along the way as part of their overall learning process. If we do these things, our actions will echo loudly into the future.

3. My address this morning is on the challenges and prospects of nation building, a topic that is of the greatest and gravest importance. Nation building is essential to national unity which lies at the heart of what this country was, is and will be. With the passage of time, it seems that we are starting to forget this and it is imperative that we do not. In the time available, I hope to say enough to provide some fuel for the discussions to follow. It is my earnest wish that you will gain some further perspectives on the nature of nation building and that you will also deliberate on specific actionable ways to further it in this country.

4. Confucius insisted that language must be properly used if things are to get done, if justice is not to go astray, and if people are not to "stand about in helpless confusion." He disapproved of those who misused words to hide their true intentions and actions. So what exactly is nation building? Not surprisingly, there are many definitions, some which differ by a little and others by quite a lot. In his book, The Making of a Nation, for example, Professor Cheah Boon Kheng defined it as "both economic progress and socio-political integration of a nation, i.e. prosperity and national unity." This captures what are hopefully the two end results of nation building, but it makes no mention of its nature and process. I prefer the more common understanding, which is that it is the use of state power across different dimensions to ensure that a country is politically stable and viable in the long term. These dimensions include ethnicity and religion.

5. As a brief footnote, it should be noted that nation building is a heated and even hated notion in some parts of the world. The main reasons for this are, first, that it is taking place in the midst of great domestic turmoil and, second, that it is primarily initiated and managed by foreign powers. Trying to cobble a functioning state by papering over deep social and political rifts is, of course, easier said than done. History has shown us time and again, that it is much easier to break down, rather than build up, nations.

6. In the case of Malaysia, nation building has occurred in generally peaceful circumstances. It was not imposed by another country. And it is undertaken mainly by collective choice rather than compulsion. The fact that we have been able to forge a nation without resorting to the rule of the gun has made us something of a rarity and a case to be studied, if not emulated. It has allowed a relatively effective system of governance to develop. Our track record at development and resolving problems such as illiteracy, poverty and poor health has been good.

7. There is, of course, much more that can be done. Our institutions of governance are far from perfect and quality improvements will probably occupy us for at least the next fifty years, if not longer. Nevertheless, for all the criticisms that have been made, it is only common sense that we could not have survived, let alone prosper, these last 50 years if government institutions had not been responsive or effective.

8. So what are the central challenges to nation building going forward? Let me speak first more generally about the world, and then move specifically to Malaysia. To my mind, there are many challenges, but the one that stands out most is that of having to balance the need for change with that of continuity. Globalisation, in particular, has unleashed sweeping economic, political, social and cultural transformations that have weakened national institutions, values and norms. It is as if all the boats on the ocean had suddenly lost their anchors, rudders and compasses overnight. Naturally, this has produced a strong reaction in the form of a desire to preserve identity, character and tradition. These are among the strongest motivations known to mankind and have been at the foreground or background of practically every conflict that has ever been waged. Add to this, a deep sense of deprivation, powerlessness and injustice, both real and imagined, and the tension between change and continuity mount greatly.

9. Managing change on a national level is never easy, and certainly not on the scale and speed that we are witnessing. Multi-ethnic countries have to be especially watchful, and particularly if they have a weak sense of national collective identity. In the absence of a strong binding nationalism, they are prone to polarisation and competition along ethno-religious lines. The state, which may well start out by being a relatively honest broker, can become increasingly pressured to act in ways that favour the interests of one group over another. If the pendulum swings too far in one direction, dissatisfaction and frustrations will inevitably result. These can be expressed in ways that range from passive non-cooperation to active opposition and even violent conflict. To a large extent, this has led to the fragmentation of states.

10. Countries need to recognise the larger macro forces at work and understand their implications. They have to engage creatively to ensure that there are sufficient investments in social capital and cohesion. They must create and capitalise on co-operative systems within societies. In recent times, it has become usual to try and place the blame for the disintegrating state of world affairs on the doorstep of religion. This is a misunderstanding of the first order. Religion is not the cause of societal dystrophy; it is the antidote. It is a social stabiliser that allows believers to reconnect to values that are fast being lost in today's ever more materialistic and self-centred world.

11. What does Malaysia have to do to ensure that it continues to be successful at nation building? Psychologists say that our short-term memory can only hold seven items. Let me outline seven guidelines that I think will have to be borne in mind in future national building efforts.

12. First, Malaysians of all races, religions, and geographic locations need to believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that they have a place under the Malaysian sun. Only when each citizen believes that he or she has a common home and is working towards a common destiny, will he or she make the sacrifices needed for the long haul. In Malaysia, the Federal Constitution, the Rukun Negara and Vision 2020 encapsulate the rights, hopes and aspirations of the population in a way that no other documents do. The integrity of these documents must be defended and promoted, especially the first.

13. Second, when we seek solutions to problems in nation building, we must be careful not to assume away problems. Nation building is required precisely because there are stark differences within society. If we all walked, talked and thought the same, it would probably not be needed. There will therefore be chauvinistic groups in this country, just as there are in others. They will fight the idea of national unity, block social change and try to be politically dominant. The existence of these groups, however, does not mean that nation building is a futile exercise. It does mean that we must be prepared to negotiate our way through and around these differences. We can, for example, create social movements that aim to enlighten and dissuade popular support being given to them.

14. Third, nation building requires accommodation and compromise. In our haste to be prescriptive, we should not be so idealistic that we are incapable of also being practical. We should not allow perfection to be the enemy of the good. Yes, we should seek the best solutions and expect the highest standards of performance. But we should also be prepared to sacrifice some part of our positions for the good of the whole. The virtues of pure self-interest are largely a myth. What seems to be a reality is that individuals end up worse off when they act out of self-interest, as opposed to acting in their collective group interests.

15. Fourth, if nation building is to be successful, enforced solutions must be avoided. Nation building is effectively rendered null and void by coercion or the threat of violence. 'Might' cannot and must not be shown to be 'right'. If solutions cannot be found within the political and social structures, there will be a strong temptation to resort to illegitimate ways and means.

16. Fifth, nation building occurs when society is open, tolerant and forward-looking. So important are these values that they are embedded in Vision 2020's nine strategic challenges, as are those of mature democracy, caring society and innovation. Only by being inclusive and participative can the various sectors of our society be productively engaged. It follows that all forms of extremism, chauvinism, racism and isolationism must be guarded against. They must be soundly sanctioned socially, politically and, if necessary, also legally.

17. Sixth, nation building is a process rather than an outcome. When Malaysia started off 50 years ago, there were no examples to study. There were no manuals to follow. Mistakes were made and, to a greater or lesser extent, lessons have been learned. While a sense of impatience is perhaps fully understandable, nation building takes place over a period of time and only with persistence. Where there is no trust, trust has to be built. Where there is no cooperative network, one has to be established. Building on layers of foundation is the only way to ensure that the process is solid and sustainable.

18. Seventh, the political, social and economic incentives must reward good behaviour and penalise bad. I know that this statement is virtually self-evident, but it is a fact that many countries are as likely to punish good behaviour as to reward it. After all, if there are benefits for corruption, then there is a real cost to being honest. The incentives for building up a nation must be greater and more compelling than breaking it down. The price of racial and cultural intolerance must be made prohibitively high.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

19. I believe fostering national unity is the responsibility of every Malaysian. However, schools, institutions of higher learning and sports centers have a very special role to play. This is because the sense of national unity is best inculcated in the young. Through textbooks, sports and interaction, educators should eliminate ethnic stereo-types. Through the imaginative teaching of the history of Islamic, Chinese and Indian civilisation, educators could foster greater understanding among different ethnic groups.

20. It is said that it takes a village to raise a child. I believe this is true. To me the village comprises three main institutions - family, school and community. From birth we should be taught to respect and honour each other's culture and heritage. Learning to interact with others is part of this process. Playing with children of other races on the play ground and in friends' homes, we learn to go beyond the colour lines early in life. In school we should be taught about other cultures and beliefs under the same roof as others of different ethnic groups - once again cutting through the colour lines.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

21. I am aware that there are many Malaysians who are deeply troubled at the state of national unity in this country. What I have tried to do today is disabuse you of the notion that there are any 'quick fix' solutions in nation building. If you look closely enough at any country, even ones that are regarded today as highly successful such as Japan, you will find there have been episodes in its past where events were very tenuous. I hope we will do our best to guard against cynicism and hopelessness. And I hope we will all stay the course. Failure, may I remind you all, is a costly option.

22. I wish all speakers, facilitators and participants a constructive and fulfilling day ahead.

Anti tol hike demo at Feb 4, 2007 Puchong



MIC Youth Brigade violent act during Machap by-election

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

马接补选——行动党党员被攻击

周二马接补选提名顺利完成,但朝野党员却发生肢体冲突,令马接补选留下污点。

这起流血事故,相信是一批国大党青年团团员,不满全国主席三美威鲁被民主行动党党员骂为骗子所引起,结果提名结束后,涉嫌高喊“三美威鲁下台”、“三美威鲁是骗子”的行动党党员,被一批怒火中烧的国大党青年团员殴打。

图中可见,国大党青年团员(左)怒气冲冲,持着挂上国大党党旗的木枝,攻击行动党党员,而行动党槟城柑仔园支部主席郭源庭见状,即介入解围。

Kompleks IPD Baling terbengkalai

It is surprising and saddening to witness another story about government project abandoned. This time is a Headquarters Complex of Baling Police District which cost about RM39.5 million dan was abandoned two years ago.

Nobody knows the reason why it was abandoned and when it will be completed.

You have the write-up as below from Utusan Malaysia:

Kompleks IPD Baling terbengkalai

Oleh OPAT RATTANACHOT

Seorang penduduk menunjukkan Kompleks Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Baling bernilai RM39.5 juta yang terbengkalai sejak dua tahun lalu di Baling, Kedah, semalam. – Gambar OTHMAN YAHAYA.

BALING 2 April – Kompleks Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Baling yang dianggarkan menelan belanja RM39.5 juta terbengkalai selepas gagal disiapkan mengikut jadual.

Utusan Malaysia difahamkan Kompleks IPD seluas 3.67 hektar yang terletak di Lot 3319 dan 4662, Charok Nau, Mukim Pulai itu terbengkalai walaupun hampir 95 peratus daripada projek itu telah disiapkan.

Keadaan tersebut menyebabkan sebahagian besar pegawai dan anggota polis di daerah berkenaan bertugas dalam keadaan ruang pejabat yang kurang selesa.

Pengarah Jabatan Logistik Bukit Aman, Datuk Zainal Tahir ketika dihubungi mengesahkan masalah yang menimpa kompleks tersebut.

Bagaimanapun, beliau enggan mengulas lanjut kerana katanya, masalah itu di luar bidang kuasanya.

Berdasarkan perancangan asal, projek yang mula dibina pada Mei 2003 itu sepatutnya disiapkan menjelang 4 Mei 2005.

Bagaimanapun, ia terpaksa dilanjutkan sebanyak dua kali dan sehingga kini masih belum menunjukkan tanda ia dapat disiapkan.

Projek yang terletak kira-kira dua kilometer dari pekan Baling itu dilengkapi blok bangunan pentadbiran, balai polis, stor barang-barang kes dan 177 unit kediaman untuk pegawai dan anggota.

Sementara itu, Ketua Polis Daerah Baling, Supritendan Mat Daud Mat Hassan ketika ditemui berkata, projek berkenaan kini diletakkan di bawah pengawasan Kementerian Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (KKDN).

“Memang benar projek Kompleks IPD terbabit terbengkalai sejak dua tahun lalu dan saya sendiri pun tidak tahu bilakah ia akan dapat disiapkan.

“Keadaan ini menimbulkan kesulitan bukan saja kepada anggota polis tetapi juga orang ramai yang berurusan di IPD lama yang kini mempunyai ruang amat sempit,’’ katanya.