Is the Selangor government's performance impressive?

Is the Selangor government's performance impressive?

In the wake of Pakatan Rakyat politicians patting themselves on their backs for ostensibly their 'good' performance in governing their states, while their cheerleaders at large trying their best to justify their leaders' ridiculous paychecks and new cars, I thought it would be fun to list down my own set standards, just for the fun of it. More so, since PR politicians & their supporters like to set their own standards with regards to their accomplishments and achievements.

The general perception is that the people of Selangor are very happy and satisfied with the performance of PR. Among the achievements touted by the PR state government are; 2 Billion of surplus funds, transparency, corruption-free, increased investment, free water, etc...

Despite all that, has any of those factors had any meaningful impact on the people's everyday lives?

All I've seen and heard throughout the 5 year before GE13, and continues till now, are promises, excuses, and accusation. Day in day out, it's more of the same, BN and Federal Government's weaknesses, corruption, racism, religion, etc. Is this all the people want to listen to year after year?

It seems to me that the people are more interested in the wrongdoings and negative news about the  BN government rather that their own welfare. Are Selangorians satisfied with what PR delivered so far? Do you still think PR politicians are still the victims, bullied by the big & powerful BN? Take a good look at the GE13 results... PR today is not the same as the PR in 2008. They have gained tremendous power, and today, we are starting to see the symptoms of arrogance brought about by having too much power.

The people believe everything they are told without question. Question! Always question! Don't let yourselves be led by politicians. Utilise your common sense and think!

There's a saying, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

The people should not make the same mistake twice.

For me, being a rather down to earth person, I would just focus on the very basic issues, Things that have a direct impact on the everyday lives of the people. The basic needs of modern human society:

1. Food & Water
2. Shelter
3. Clothing
3. Healthcare
4. Education
5. Sanitation

Water

Sure, free water is nice... but water is dirty with frequent disruptions. They predict that there will be water shortage in the future if additional treatment plants are not built. The reason they give is that the current water concessionaires are BN cronies and refuse to cooperate. Is that my problem? Am I the Mentri Besar? Stop giving excuses! You are supposed to solve the problem. It is your job. It will become the people's problem when you FAIL in your job! Why do the people vote you into office if you can't do anything? 5 years have passed...

Housing

Can the state government build affordable housing for the people? OF COURSE they can! States have land. They have PKNS. The people have waited 5 years for a concrete plan to address this basic need. But instead, we see more and more luxury housing mushrooming everywhere. None are even remotely affordable to the average person.

Healthcare

It is no secret that healthcare is already unaffordable in not just Malaysia, but countries worldwide. Healthcare has become highly commercialised. I've yet to see any initiative by the state to help the people. Can't they at least set up state-sponsored clinics and hospitals that charge minimal fees? Or mobile clinics? Community health centres? At least something, however small would be better than nothing.

Education

At the state level, can't the state provide assistance for education? For example, Chinese schools are always short of funds. They are practically privately funded. Every year, without fail, parents are requested to make donations for expenses, maintenance and expansion. Could the state provide some funding? provide land? subsidise school buses? subsidise student's uniforms or books?

Sanitation

This needs no further highlighting I think. Selangor is still as filthy as before. The level of cleanliness is still as bad as 20 years ago.  Partly to blame is the people's lack of civic-conciousness. Partly is the inefficiency of the states' municipal councils. Rubbish collection is inconsistent, drains are not maintained, pests not controlled, parks & gardens not well-maintained. However, they are very, very efficient when it comes to issuing compounds for illegal parking, illegal placement of tables and chair by coffeshop owners, basically, they are excellent in the collection of revenue.

Roads

States are responsible for non-federal roads, and the federal government has allocations for it. There are recent reports that says that Selangor has only used half of the allocation of more that 1 Billion (NST). Which explain the 3rd-world condition of the roads. Most neighbourhood roads have not been paved for more than 15 years. Sometimes, you can see them paving ONE stretch of road, and then disappear leaving the rest untouched. ONE stretch of road! Or they would just repaint the lines.

It's the same modus operandi as before, those visible will be dealth with. Those out of sight, is out of mind.

So, the question is, have they performed up to expectations like they claim they have. Have they improved the people's quality of life since 2008? Are they delivering the results they promised? I've not heard of a single enthusiastic comment from the common folks about how efficient state councils have become, or how tremendously their neighbourhood has improved, or initiatives that improved the people's welfare and alleviated their burden... something that the common people can be proud of. Perhaps the people's expectations are low...

Well, to me, to be honest, I have seen and felt little difference since Pakatan Rakyat took over the state. Perhaps I'm staying in the wrong part of town...

To be fair, it has not deteriorated badly either. It's just that why take credit which are not due and blow your own horns. There is so much that can be improved.

Let face it. PR took over developed and rich states. It does not take any effort at to administer it on their part. Where else in Malaysia will development take place if not in Selangor? If they can turn Perlis into Selangor, then I will be impressed.

Malaysia's Economic Outlook for 2014

Nomura: Subsidy cuts, GST will weigh on Malaysia’s economy for two years

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 - Source

Extract:
1... forecast gross domestic product (GDP) growth rates of 4.5 and 4.0 per cent in 2014 and 2015 respectively...

2... more optimistic about Malaysia’s economy than others, claiming Putrajaya is on the right track to restore foreign investor’s confidence in the long run...

3... Malaysia is among the nations which appear most vulnerable against the US Federal Reserve’s scaling back of its investment in the region, or quantitative easing

4... increase Malaysia’s inflation rate up to 3.5 per cent in 2014, and a whopping 5.2 per cent in 2015 due to the start of Goods and Services tax (GST) in April that year.

5... assumption that fuel prices will go up by another 10 per cent in the second quarter of 2014

6... prediction today that BNM will increase its overnight policy rate (OPR), a benchmark rate set by the central bank, from 3.0 per cent to 3.5 per cent in the second half of 2014...

7... stop subsidising sugar by the current 34 sen per kg...

8... electricity tariff in the peninsula will also increase by 14.9 per cent or 4.99 sen to 38.53 sen for every kilowatt per hour (kWh), and 5 sen for Sabah and Labuan.

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Basically, it's time to be prudent with spending. The days of carefree consumption & easy credit are over. Through the years, subsidies have enabled Malaysians to enjoy a relatively comfortable life. Subsidies have also made us complacent. Is Malaysia ready to do without subsidies today? My opinion is no. But unfortunately, it can't go on forever either. But the savings should be used wisely, for education, medical care, social security, infrastructure, etc. But instead, the savings will be used to reduce government debts. It's payback time for the years of spending.

What is the ROI for all the spending? the hundreds of billions that we have to repay?

Realistically, I would put the inflation rate at double of those estimate, at 7% in 2014 and 10% in 2015.

Subsidies should have been gradually reduced during the economic boom in the 90s. But it was not done because the government could afford it. Besides, it would be a politically suicidal thing to do. The population was also smaller then. In 2013, Malaysia's population has grown to 29 Million, from 21 Million in 1998. That's 8 Million extra citizens to subsidise. That works out to an average increase of about 530,000 every year for the past 14 years. It is predicted that Malaysia's population will reach 35 Million by 2020, which is merely another 7 years from now.

If you think that resources are stretched today, with 29 Million people, imagine what it will be like with 35 Million.

You'd better pray hard that the economy grows at a faster rate than the population.

Will there be enough jobs for the people? Will the people have the necessary skills for those jobs? Will their income be sufficient to survive on? Does Malaysia have a favourable environment for businesses and to attract foreign investments in terms of stability, safety, infrastructure, human resources, costs, etc?

What we do today will determine our future.


What is certain is that the coming years will definitely not be easy. Best that we are prepared for it.

Always spend less than you earn.

PM announces 11 measures to slash public sector spending

PM announces 11 measures to slash public sector spending

PETALING JAYA: The Government has announced 11 cost-cutting measures for the public sector in line with its intention to practice more prudent spending in 2014.

The Prime Minister in a statement Monday said the decision to undertake the measures was made after discussions with his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa.

“Other savings measures for the public sector will be announced from time to time based on needs and the current situation,” Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said in the statement.

The measures include cutting the entertainment allowances of Minister and Deputy Ministers by 10%; requiring all government ministries, agencies and premises to cut their electricity bills by 5%; cutting the toll payment facilities for senior government officers by 30%; and reducing the use of event management companies and door gifts for conventions and government functions involving public servants.

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In the coming years, the people will feel the pinch as expenses and cost of living increases. I foresee that jobs will be hard to come by, salaries, bonuses and perks will shrink as businesses have to contend with rising costs. In other words, the people will be angry.

What the PM has announced so far will not make any impact in terms of cost savings. But it will be seen as an act of empathy.Hopefully, he has plans to implement measures that will actually address the problems.

The people will be watching very, very closely on the actions of the government, both state & federal, in the years to come. These days, it is no longer possible to hide behind official reasons or excuses. This should be applied to the State level as well. Pakatan Rakyat supporters should keep a close eye on the doings of the Pakatan ADUNs & MPs. They are just as fallible. Some of them were ex-BN, mind you.

We should not be distracted by rhetorical issues. Focus on real, tangible issues. Issues that have a direct impact in our lives. Don't let the politicians make use of you to fulfill their agendas.

Instead of them asking us what we can do for the country, from now onwards, WE should be asking them what they can deliver/do for us, the people. Why must the people let themselves to be led by the nose?

1. THE PEOPLE should be setting the benchmark for THEM!

2. THE PEOPLE should set THEIR agendas.

3. THE PEOPLE should demand TANGIBLE results from THEM.

4. THE PEOPLE should not let themselves be USED.

5. THE PEOPLE should be proactive, not wait for THEM to get things done.

Lets get back to basics, shall we. A few examples:

Rising Prices
There is actually nothing much that can be done. The only way to reduce prices is through subsidies. But since everyone supports the removal of subsidies, (which I don't agree fully), increase minimum wages, then you have to accept rising costs. You have a choice. Either you cut your expenses, or you work harder to earn more. Back in the days, it is common for people to hold 2 or more jobs or side business for extra income, and are prudent with their spending. These days, workers demand high pay, short working hours, long vacations and even longer loans to enjoy first world lifestyle. Well, like they say, there's a price for everything.

Education
Everyone gripes about our lousy education system, but the more they meddle with it, the worse it gets. Since we know it will be ages before we see any improvements, if any, it's about time parents themselves take on the responsibility. Which should be the way in the first place. Why are educated parents outsourcing their responsibilities to others in the first place? The basic role of parents are to provide food, shelter, and guidance for their children. Impart values and ethics and the skill to seek knowledge, so that they will grow up to be independent and responsible adults. When your kids grow up to be undisciplined spoilt brats, it's your fault.

Medical Care
Medical care is getting out of reach for many people. Why are the people not concerned about this? They are so preoccupied with freedom of speech, democracy, corruption, and a host of other issues, while totally oblivious to those that have a direct impact on their well-being. The truth is, globally, people cannot afford to get sick. Getting sick is expensive. But the people have forgotten that affordable medical care is a basic human right. As you get older, this will be your major concern. So, wouldn't it be better if the people ensure that the government provides this to all?

Housing
It is obvious that housing is getting out of reach for the average population. If nothing is done, our future generations will be homeless. There must be a system in place to address this problem. Governments cannot put the responsibility on the developers. Housing developers are businesses. The responsibility rests with the government. In Penang & Selangor, for example, prices are skyrocketing. The developers are building expensive houses that give them higher profits.

Common Sense
Humans are driven by the herd mentality. It's human nature. It is the number one force that drives politics, stock markets, or any type of speculation, and even public rallies & protests. Why? Because humans react differently in different situations. That is why politicians like to put the people in a state of panic. When human are in panic, their brains reacts accordingly. They will follow the herd and do what they are told. Common sense and critical thinking shuts down.

That is how people are made to do terrible things to other people. For every kind of conflict, wars, killings, clashes, involving large groups of people, the participants are always in a state of panic, hysteric even. The way soldiers are trained reaffirms this concept. They are trained not to think, and only to obey orders. Which is why, when these soldiers return after their missions, many require counseling, suffering from guilt and depression.

So as the New Year is just around the corner, I would like to wish all A Happy New Year!

And my new year wish for Malaysians is to take a step back, calm your minds and see things as they really are. Not what you think they ought to be. Choose the middle way.

Zaid: Crackdown on conversions the way out of ‘Allah’ impasse

Zaid: Crackdown on conversions the way out of ‘Allah’ impasse

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 — Stronger anti-conversion and proselytisation laws will let Putrajaya address Muslim apostasy and allow the Christian use of “Allah” to end a growing standoff over the Arabic word, former minister Zaid Ibrahim said today.

Accusing Putrajaya of having taken the “lazy way out” in 1988 by banning non-Muslims from using the Arabic word for God, Zaid said the government could still return religious ties to how they were before the now-soured interfaith relations and “widespread animosity” between the Muslim majority and the Christian community here.

“If Christians say ‘Allah’ is integral to their Scriptures and their faith, then let’s accept that and move on. Equally, Christians should affirm that they will respect the rights of Muslims to practise their faith undisturbed,” the former Umno leader wrote in a blog posting today titled “The way to end the ‘Allah’ row”.

“No one should engage in deceitful, coercive or unlawful activities to convert anyone else — it’s not only illegal but morally repugnant,” he added, acknowledging fears by the Muslim community of alleged conversion attempts directed at them.

Earlier in his blog post, Zaid said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should recognise that “Christians consider the use of ‘Allah’ to be integral to their faith despite the ‘finding of fact’ by the Court of Appeal that it was not”.

Najib should also have a special sitting with the Malay rulers to solve the “Allah” controversy and revisit the 1988 decision to ban non-Muslims from using the Arabic word for God, Zaid said.

Pointing to the “repeated public display of utter confusion” by the government on the effects of the ban, Zaid said the conflicting opinions amounted to “international embarrassment” and needs to be stopped with clear discussions by the country’s leaders.

“The prime minister and the Malay rulers must discuss this issue with detachment and clarity. They should begin by returning to the pre-1988 status quo,” he wrote.

The former law minister said that a review of the then Home Minister Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar’s reports and consultation of the religious departments in different states would show that there was “real concern” prior to the 1988 ban that certain Christian evangelists “were aggressively converting Muslims”.

The ban only served to treat the symptoms rather the real problem of Muslim conversion, he said, referring to the federal government and the state religious authorities' ban.

“It merely gazetted a few regulations banning the use of some words and thought the problem would go away. The state religious authorities took a similar route by passing laws to prevent ‘Allah’ and other words of Arabic origin from being used by non-Muslim. They thought this would stop the process of conversion,” he said.

Anticipating the outrage of the Muslim community over the reversal of the 1988 ban, Zaid suggested that the prime minister bolster his move by beefing up anti-conversion measures.

“The prime minister and the Malay Rulers can make this point to Muslims: that in exchange for the use of the word ‘Allah’ by the Christians in their prayers, publications and the Malay Bible, Christians in turn will support the enactment of special laws and enforcement mechanisms to protect the Muslims from any conversion,” Zaid said.

Earlier, he said that most Christians respect the country’s laws and would likely not mind a “special task force” by the government to look into conversions of Muslims.

The tussle over “Allah” arose in 2008 when Catholic newspaper The Herald was barred by the Home Ministry from using the Arabic word. The Catholic Church had contested this in court and won a High Court decision in 2009 upholding its constitutional right to do so.

Putrajaya later appealed the decision and successfully overturned the earlier decision when the Court of Appeal ruled this October that “Allah” was not integral to the Christian faith.

Since the ruling, churches in Sabah and Sarawak have become more vocal in pressing for their right to use the term that they say is entrenched in the 20- and 18-point agreements with the two states, insisting they will continue their age-old practice of referring to God as “Allah” in their worship and in their holy scriptures.

Islamic groups and authorities have of late also stepped up their “vigilance” against non-Muslims over their use of the word “Allah”, with a closed-door Christian event in Selangor now reportedly the subject of an investigation by the state Islamic religious department.

The Catholic Church has since appealed to the country’s top court for clarity on the religious row that has drawn deep lines between Malaysia’s non-Muslim minorities and its 60 per cent Muslim population, with the Federal Court fixing February 24 next year to hear the application for appeal. - SOURCE

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Islamic groups and authorities have of late also stepped up their “vigilance” against non-Muslims over their use of the word “Allah”, with a closed-door Christian event in Selangor now reportedly the subject of an investigation by the state Islamic religious department.

1. The only non-Muslims insisting on using "Allah" for their worship are the Christians (and Sikh community? or so I heard). People, especially politicians are fond of using general terms whenever it suits them. "Non-Muslim" means people from all other religions other than Muslims. I don't remember Taoists, Buddhists, Hindus, Jewish, Animists, and others ever making such demands. So, it is sometimes prudent to be more specific.

2. I am in full agreement with the banning of conversion and proselytisation of ALL religions. In Malaysia, it also includes Taoists and Buddhists and perhaps others as well. Everyone should be protected against each other. Proselytisation and conversions, sometimes not done willingly and even abused, have caused untold amounts of problems to the people. The Christians have been doing it for years. So have the Muslims. There are many such incidences past and present if we care to search.

3. There have been numerous cases, especially child conversions in the past. Read my previous post

Religion: Children's Conversion

There's one particular case not too long ago, in 2010/2011, which hardly got much publicity. It's the case of Tan Yi Min, a 7-year-old Chinese girl, secretly converted by her mother to Muslim without the father's knowledge.

Tan fails to obtain temporary custody of daughter

GEORGE TOWN (Jan 4, 2011): The George Town High Court here has rejected the application of assistant marketing manager Tan Cheow Hong, 36 to obtain temporary custody of his seven-year old daugher pending the disposal of the custody case.

High Court judge Justice Datuk Yaacob Md Sam, in reading out his decision today, said that the interim custody of the child, Tan Yi Min, is given to her mother, Fatimah Fong Abdullah @ Fong Mee Hui, while Tan is granted access to his daughter.....

.....Tan claimed that the incident occurred on Nov 8 when Fong showed up at their daughter's school in Butterworth, accompanied by the police and Islamic Affairs Department officials, to take away the child.

Now, why didn't Zaid offer this solution then? How come it is only seen as a problem only when Islam is viewed to be under threat?

Of course there are even more cases of Chinese as well as Hindus converting to Christianity as well. The Chinese & Indian community has been living with this for years. And more and more are being converted each year, especially the young.

The fact is, conversions to another religion from the one born into, more often than not, will create problems for the families. Both Christianity & Islam are proselytising religions. And people of other faiths should be accorded the same protection too.

I would also strongly suggest we prohibit religion in politics. Political parties should not be allowed to be associated with any type of religion at all.

If only we left each other alone and keep religion personal, it will be a much peaceful world.

Fukushima: Surge in cancers among young

Surge in cancers among young in Fukushima, but experts divided on cause

Anti-nuclear protesters gather at a rally in Tokyo. Photo: AP

Fifty-nine young people in Fukushima prefecture have been diagnosed with or are suspected of having thyroid cancer, but experts are divided about whether their illness is caused by nuclear radiation.

All of them were younger than 18 at the time of the nuclear meltdown in the area in March 2011. They were identified in tests by the prefectural government, which covered 239,000 people by the end of September.

At a meeting hosted by Japan's Environmental Ministry and the prefectural government on Saturday, most experts were not convinced radiation leaks from the Fukushima nuclear plant could trigger thyroid cancer in children so soon, the Asahi Shimbun reported yesterday.

Among those who voiced alarm was Toshihide Tsuda, a professor of epidemiology at Okayama University. He called upon the government to prepare for a possible increase in cases in the future.

"The rate at which children in Fukushima prefecture have developed thyroid cancer can be called frequent, because it is several times to several tens of times higher," the newspaper quoted him as saying.

He compared the figures in Fukushima with cancer registration statistics throughout Japan from 1975 to 2008 that showed an annual average of five to 11 people in their late teens to early 20s developing cancer for every 1 million people.

Tetsuya Ohira, a professor of epidemiology at Fukushima Medical University, disagreed. It was not scientific to compare the Fukushima tests with cancer registry statistics, he argued.

In November, prefectural officials deemed it unlikely that the increase in suspected and confirmed cases of cancer was linked to radiation exposure.

In the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, it was not until four or five years after the accident that thyroid cancer cases surged.

"It is known that radioactive iodine is linked to thyroid cancer. Through the intake of food, people may absorb and accumulate it inside glands," said Dr Choi Kin, a former president of the Hong Kong Medical Association.

Children might absorb more of it than adults because they were still growing, he said, but it remained to be proven that the radioactive iodine came from the nuclear disaster instead of the normal environment.

The 2011 earthquake and tsunami crippled the Fukushima plant, causing the meltdown of three of its six reactors. More than 23,000 people were killed. - SOURCE

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It's been 3 years since the accident, and people are still clueless as to the real impact it will have on the people of Japan and the rest of the world. Why has so many countries across the world developed & used this technology for so many years, not knowing about the dangers & consequences? Or perhaps they know, but chose not to acknowledge and instead deny it.

Are governments taking the easy way out by advocating nuclear plants? Populations & cities are growing, and they require more and more energy. Developing countries especially, are starting to turn to nuclear power for their energy needs. But only for those who are not deemed as a threat to western powers. One such country is Malaysia.

Malaysia has plans to build not one, but 2 of these things. There's already the Lynas plant built & despite protests, has already started operations. I have a feeling that the people will live to regret the decision... one day. Just like the people of Fukushima.

The fact is, developing countries have become a dumping ground for these highly polluting & dangerous facilities which all western and developed countries are trying to get rid of. Bear in mind, the cost to run & maintain these plants are very high. And these developing countries have to rely on foreign companies & expertise to run and maintain these nuclear plants. Which translates to billions and trillions of dollars in the long run.

Anyway, back to Fukushima. Scientists predict that we will only see the effects on those affected 20-30 years from now. By then, those responsible will not be around anymore. Moreover, it is difficult to ascertain the real cause of the cancer in a person and link it to nuclear radiation.  So, in the meantime, the government & the nuclear providers pretend everything is fine and it's business as usual. Life goes on.

I wonder, currently, how safe are Japanese food in Malaysia & other countries? Since most of the ingredients are produced in Japan and assuming that some parts of the country will be contaminated with radioactive fallout, especially the water and land.

Personally, although I like Japanese food a lot,  I would rather err on the side of caution.

Syed Ali to Wee: Don’t try to be a champion

PETALING JAYA: Former MCA Youth leader Wee Ka Siong was ‘advised’ by Umno Cheras division chief Syed Ali Alhabshee over the former’s remarks made at the MCA Youth annual general assembly yesterday.

“Having been a deputy minister, he should know better that whatever he’s not happy about can be brought up during Barisan Nasional (BN) meetings.

“Don’t try to be a champion. He’s trying to show that he’s championing the Chinese. However, he’s saying it for his self-interest without thinking about the people,” Syed Ali told FMT....

.... “Umno is a fair party. Although we are a Malay party, we have never neglected the Chinese,” he said.

Syed Ali said it was instead MCA’s responsibility to explain matters to the Chinese community.

“We know how most of the BN component parties did not do well in the last general election. But they must find ways to tackle the people,” he said..... etc... etc...

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“We know how most of the BN component parties did not do well in the last general election. But they must find ways to tackle the people,” he said.

You know, looking at both UMNO & MCA these days, I wonder how long BN would last. Many, especially those hardcore Malay UMNO supporters failed to comprehend that they are part of the contributing factors towards the near demise of UMNO's partners. Gerakan, MIC, and now MCA. It's a matter of time before the others would be forced to take the same path.

1. Do you honestly think that these component parties just lost support out of the blue? Their non-Malay electorates had it up to their eyeballs with the constant threats and insults to their community! The truth is, they lost faith in you guys!

2. Although MCA is a mess to begin with, it is also unfair to put the blame squarely on them. It takes both hands to clap. Do you mean Gerakan, after donkey years ruling Penang, lost everything just like that?

3. Politicians...and I mean both BN & PR, please don't patronise the public. Don't talk as though the people are idiots, although many are indeed borderline. For the other thinking ones, it's just insulting.

4. Wee Ka Siong is plainly playing to the gallery. There is a Chinese saying, "Do not wear a hat that is bigger than your head".

5. With leaders such as these two in BN, the circus is complete.

6. Since UMNO can win on their own, please do the Chinese a favour... stop the charade of "winning" back the Chinese votes with your silly antics. If this is all you guys are capable of, at least spare a thought and save your time, and let the Chinese keep whatever little dignity they still have.

Enough of the empty rhetorics and sideshows already. The Chinese are not stupid, so stop all these condescending acts.  It's the Malays you should be more concerned about... They are the ones who will determine the fate of BN.

Focus instead on the economy and Chinese schools. The Chinese schools are in a mess. Funds are short and not used efficiently. The poor quality of teachers and the ever changing system & syllabus causes much hardship to the students and parents. Parents are very, very unhappy!

Our education system is failing!

Race on for MCA leaders who can stand up to Umno

Race on for MCA leaders who can stand up to Umno

That headline speaks volumes about the the delusional leadership & members of MCA. This is testament to how far the party is disconnected with the community it claims to represent.

1. MCA is a part of BN. UMNO is the leader of BN.

2. If you need to stand up to the leader of your group, who happens to be the dominant partner, then what is the point of staying in BN?

3. MCA will never be on par with UMNO within BN. It is unrealistic.

I would like to ask the MCA leaders, and to a certain extent the delegates, members and supporters:

1. What have you guys been smoking?

2. Ask yourselves this: What benefits/contribution can you offer the Chinese community and the nation? What is your role in BN and the government? If UMNO is seen as a big bully in BN, what makes you think that you have any clout over them? What is your role in the government anyway?

3. Next, please take a good look at your candidates, especially for the top 2 posts. Do you really expect anyone with a normal functioning mind to believe that they are even close to this? ->

4. Most importantly, do you guys actually think that it is all about you, standing up to big brother?

Honestly, I see the MCA's prospects getting dimmer by the day. If this is all you guys can muster, there is no hope. Among the contenders for the top 2 posts, Ong Tee Keat has the most appeal to the Chinese electorate in general.

What drives 95% of a community to throw their support to a coalition comprising of a Chinese party led by Christians, an Islamic party, and a personal cult party? It seems to me the people in MCA haven't the slightest clue. MCA is grasping at straws, looking out for their own interests. The ministerial, government positions and party assets are too tempting to pass over.

I believe MCA's grassroots support is still intact, up to a certain degree... but national issues tend to eclipse party loyalty and traditional voting trends. The keywords are still education & economy, both which are apparently in a mess.

MCA should not take up minister posts!

It's called having a backbone... At least one of the 3 contenders have openly declared his intention of doing so. If they do, this will be their last term.

The result of the years of blaming & using the Chinese as a scapegoat by UMNO especially with the intense and vicious Chinese bashing after the 13th GE which continues to this day, is irreversible. The days of MCA even trying to stand up for the Chinese is long gone. We have crossed the threshold. The politicians have done it in. In my mind, I have no doubt that the original spirit of BN, or whatever was left of it, has officially died. UMNO does not want you anymore...

The consequence resulting from the current political developments appears to escape most people in the country. The future Malaysia will be one which religion, Islam specifically, will play a central role in government as well as politics. The Malays, as opposed to popular assumption of being more united, will actually be more divided, politically & socially. When the Malays are divided & fight among themselves, the minorities will suffer. Religious & social class differences will be the undercurrent driving national issues. As usual, the Malays will blame the Chinese, and vice versa, with the Indians positioned at the ringside.

The next GE, the Chinese voters will be much lesser than the last one. Many will not even bother to vote. I don't expect the Chinese to participate in any rallies or protests in large numbers anymore. They are fed-up.

The Chinese, if they are smart, should be neutral and not take sides. Place more emphasis on your spiritual well-being. Reconnect with your culture & religion. Think rationally rather that emotionally.

Take the middle way. And hopefully, things will find a balance. 

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KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 — The hunt for a strong, decisive leader in MCA kicked off today with delegates seeking a chief who is able to rise from under the shadow of Umno and place the Chinese party on par again with its Barisan Nasional (BN) partner, after a humiliating performance in the 13th general election this year.

At the close of nominations, three hopefuls were confirmed to be in the running for the president’s hat: maverick one-term former chief Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat; incumbent deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai; and incumbent vice-president Gan Ping Sieu.

The results of who will take the top post will only be known after the party votes this weekend, but delegates at the large nomination hall within the MCA’s headquarters with whom The Malay Mail Online spoke with today seemed to have firm opinions on the man who can revitalise their flagging spirits and put a fresh wind in their ship to win back support from Malaysia’s sizeable Chinese community.

“In these challenging times, the best pair would be Ong Tee Keat, with number two, Wee Ka Siong.

“My view is that these two are the most articulate... strong, decisive and they are fighters,” Tan Foong Luen said, when approached.

The Negri Sembilan MCA legal bureau chairman voiced the sentiment that has been bubbling beneath the party’s surface these past few month since the May polls, and which its grassroots members have found to have chafed their pride.

“A lot of Umno people have ventilated very damaging statements against MCA,” he said.

He added that whoever among the trio was picked as captain should be able to stand up to both Umno leaders to the opposition force.

The Pakatan Rakyat (PR) bloc, especially the Chinese-dominant DAP, had succeeded in wresting bigger support this year, especially from the ethnic Chinese voters who resided mainly in the cities.

This is despite Datuk Wee Ka Siong who is nominated as the deputy is a strong backer of Liow, while Datuk Donald Lim, another contender for the number two post is aligned with Gan.

Wee was outspoken in his support for Liow especially during outgoing president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek’s attempt to censure his estranged deputy in October.

Another delegate however said both Liow and Gan have 45 per cent chances of winning the top post, while Ong only has 10

He was also hopeful that the new leadership would unite MCA members, while admitting it would be an extremely challenging task.

Meanwhile, the Wanita chief race is between Datuk Heng Seai Kie and Tan Ching Liang.

Heng is Perak Wanita Chief while Tan lost in her bid for the Penang Wanita chief post last month.

The race for the Youth chief is between Chong Sin Woon and Datuk Goh Gaik Meng.

Chong is the national youth education bureau chief while Goh is the Batu Youth Chief.

The Youth election will be on Thursday, while Wanita elections will be on Friday.

The MCA election for the top leadership will be on Saturday, followed by the annual general assembly the next day.

All eyes will be on the race as one of the outcomes could be the reversal of the previous presidential council’s decision to reject Cabinet positions.

Delegates who spoke to The Malay Mail Online said it is crucial to have MCA representatives in the Cabinet to be able to look our for the interests of the Chinese community.

One party leader who declined to be named lamented, however, that the Chinese should have voted for the party in the 13th General Election if they truly wanted representatives in the top Cabinet posts.

The party’s political fortunes has been on a decline since 2008 but eyes continue to watch developments at the head of the party as it entails control over the billions of ringgit in assets and shares that include Malaysia’s best-selling English language newspaper, The Star.

MCA only won seven of the 37 federal constituencies it contested in Election 2013 with two of these coming from Wee and Liow.

Dr Chua sat out the polls although his son, Tee Yong, won the Malay-majority Labis federal seat.

The Chinese, Malaysia’s second biggest community voted for the opposition.

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