Wind of Change

Anwar Ibrahim won a landslide victory in Permatang Pauh by-election held on 26 August 2008. His huge majority gave him the legitimacy much needed for him to walks into the Parliament to officially lead the opposition Pakatan Rakyat. It was a watershed by-election to mark the Pakatan Rakytat unification under Anwar Ibrahim.

It was indeed an alarming signal to the Barisan Nasional that the Chinese and Indian votes are still very much favoring PR and Malay votes are no more strong hold of UMNO. This is the sentiment - the people just want to Change the Government!

Chinese and Indian voters do not care whether Anwar is involve in the sodomy case, they don't even care if PAS getting stronger and will continue pursuing for Islamic State. Because they are frustrated with the racial policy, especially National Economic Plan (NEP) carried out by BN led by UMNO. They are disappointed by the quota in giving out scholarship, they are angry with UiTM not open up for "Non-Bumi", they are sad that chinese and tamil schools were not getting enough fund to run the school, and the list continue...

As for the Malay voters, they are sick of the NEP that is suppose to help them but end up only helping those politician and their close cronies. Those arrogant politicians who so used to visit their constituency by a convoy of Mercedes and Harrier should feel shame of themselves.

The Permatang Pauh by-election had created a wind of change. And if BN does not change, fast, then the government will be changed.

UiTM Only for Bumi?

I do not understand, after 51 years of independent, we still have education institution that recruit student base on race! Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), a race based higher learning institution, fully funded by government, has openly declined to allow other Malaysian, such as Chinese and Indian to enter the university for further study, what a shame!

Yes the institution was set up to help the Malays and other bumis, but that was 50 years ago, when Malays and other bumis were left far behind. Things had changed for the past 50 years. We claim that we have come so far to achieve so much, yet some are still champion a race based institution. One may challenge me for we are also having some Chinese based institution in this country, e.g New Era College, Southern College and Han Jiang College, but bare in mind that this are private colleges supported by community, and they do not have rules that only Chinese can enter these institutions, unlike MARA.

Government has allocated RM3.2 billion in 9th Malaysia Plan for UiTM, benefiting more than 100,000 bumi students. The government budget comes from the tax paying people, that includes Chinese and Indian and other "Non-Bumi". So what is there to proud of UiTM when using Malaysian money for just one race? Even shameful when UiTM said they are not eying to making the institution more international, because they want to keep it for the bumis. Nevertheless, UiTM does open up for foreign student. Now that sound even more ridiculous when they are ready to accept foreign student but not fellow Malaysian.

We are going to celebrate the 51 National Day soon, but is there anything to celebrate of? We are so proud to be a Malaysian, yet we are not treated as Malaysian, not all of us. Why are we still filling up forms, whether in a public or private sector, that have column to indicate your race? Why should we separate our peoples based on race, religion and language? Does a Malaysian Chinese that speak Chinese make him or her less Malaysian? We are tired of this racial governing system in this country.

Think out of box! To make this country a great country, we must first break the racial policy. Get rid of separating Malaysian into different race group. Look at Lee Choon Wei, he plays for the country and cheered by all Malaysian regardless of race. If he brings back a first Olympic gold for the country, would we consider him as Malaysian hero or Malaysian Chinese hero? That's the beauty of sports, human being is competing not base on political belief, race or religion.

My wish for the Merdeka Celebration this year: Eliminating all racial policies and institutions and accept all Malaysian as Malaysian.

Happy Merdeka Day.

Quit After Lost in Party Election?

MCA is having its party election starting from June 2008. As predicted, many of those who lost in the election choose to leave the party and join PR, especially PKR. I wonder how these people could just leave a party and join the other simply because they lost in the election, which is very normal in an election-either you win or lose.

Well, a very good example is a group lead by Leong Kok Wai, who contested for Pandan Division Chairman, and lost by 4 votes. He refused to accept the result, choose to threaten to leave the party if his request to announce the election void has not been fulfilled. I am really disappointed with the way he handling party election and if this is the attitude, i think he better leave the party than making more damages within the party.

Among those who "betrayed" their party, Datin Paduka Tan Yee Kew is the most high profile politician, who reportedly lead a group of "2,000 MCA members" to quit and join PKR. On the glorious welcoming ceremony attended by Anwar Ibrahim, she openly criticised MCA and BN for not able to deliver and help the people. Looks who talking? A MCA member who has been given chance to be 2 term Klang MP and once holds a position of Parliamentary Secretary and who got the title of "Datin Paduka" now says she found a new life in PKR and condemning BN! Datin Paduka, you have your absolute freedom to choose your political path, but please don't be like the famous "Changing Face" from Sichuan and be graceful of who gave you the opportunity that make you you.

MCA is sick, really sick because having too many phantom members. Just ask around, how many of them really know that they are MCA members? For those who know that they are MCA member, how many of them really loyal to the party? or joining because they want to get something from the party. To be able to go further to the higher position in the party, you need to have a lot of member in your branch (preferably your relatives and friends so that you will not be challenged and to make your branch become your family treasure), so that you could have more divisional representatives and hence make you more powerful and have more bargain power in the division.

This is why MCA has more than a million members but suffered a huge defeat in the recent general election. The huge numbers is a liability for the party. Most of them were brought in to make someone more powerful with more representative, others were here for personal interest. I think it is time to clear the party from these members. Those who wish to leave the party and join PR, let them go, i think it is good for the party as those who stay during the hard time is the one who really loyal and love the party.

I know is hard to see so many leaving, but this is the reality. Only in time like this, you will see the real face of those hypocrite. MCA need to stand up again after the party election! No matter who lead the party, a drastic reform in needed to bring back the party.