Here’s to a healthy MCA?

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We wonder why MCA and its programmes for political relevancy are always disregarded whenever members of its central committee fight to defend their territorial ‘rights‘ at different times of MCA’s lifetime.

Anyway, here’s something for MCA members to ponder about and its community of  stakeholders’ connection with today’s power tussle in MCA.

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Ong: Renew to be relevant

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA leaders and members have been urged to adopt the “automatic renewal system” to ensure that the party would be more effective, innovative and attractive.

Its president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said that under the system, office bearers at all levels would be encouraged to groom and train the new generation of members to be party leaders so that MCA would continue to move towards a new era.

“The people’s expectation of the party is higher nowadays and it is facing more complicated challenges. In order for the party to stay close to the community, we should continue the renewal progress so that MCA will always be relevant to the community,” he said in his speech at the party’s 58th anniversary at Wisma MCA here yesterday.

The theme of this year’s celebrations is Maju Seiring Era Baru (Together Forward Towards A New Era).

Ong said the party was not getting rid of its old guards but noted that it was its responsibility to nurture and groom the younger generation.

“If party leaders have occupied the party or government positions for a long time without realising that they have lost the enthusiasm to serve the people, it would only bring harm to the party.

“These leaders would only choose to hear praises from their supporters and not criticisms made from those outside the party. They would think those who have criticised them are their enemies,” he said, adding that this would cause factions to form within the party.

Ong, who is Housing and Local Government Minister, urged party leaders to work towards a healthy political culture.

Ong said the party, which has 1.09 million members, also focused on the development of small- and medium-sized enterprises, and would ensure that financial institutions and government agencies continue to provide loans to entrepreneurs regardless of race.

He said the Malaysian Chinese Economic Consultative Council – comprising the party and Chinese guilds and associations – would continue to work together and give feedback to the Government.

“MCA has also suggested during internal government meetings to recruit more talented non-Malays so that they will have an opportunity to contribute to the country,” he said.

On education, he said the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman main campus in Kampar would start recruiting students in May.

Ong also said the nation-building contributions of Tun Tan Cheng Lock, MCA founder and one of Malaya’s founding fathers, would always be remembered.

SUMBER : THE STAR, 12 MARCH 07

1Malaysia: The one time the Spartans had surrendered… and Spartan wit

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Malaysian politicians are incredibly lacking in local and international displays of diplomacy or wit to win over the hearts of their electorate.

Just look at the house politics of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat; sadly lacking in a touch of class. Malaysians are treated to coarse, KPI-less style of politics which seems highly unsuitable for today’s problem solving era.

In the interest of our children and nation, we will be kind enough to share some information to help upgrade the skills quotient of BN and PR politicKings.

Lesson 1:

There was one time the Spartans surrendered. Yes, in battle in Athens, but they surrendered because arrows were being fired at them from a distance.

It was not the hand-to-hand fighting they believed in. They would not engage in a woman’s approach to war so they handed in their shields.

They were kept in a prison and taunted by the Athenians, who put their shields around the temple of Athena on the Acropolis. “They glistened in the sun for miles around. But the Spartans were imperturbable. To them, firing arrows was not real warfare.

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Spartan wit:

Philip of Macedon sent them a note saying, “If I enter Lacedaemonia, I will raze Sparta to the ground.”

The answer from the Spartans was short: “If…”

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At Thermopylae, when the Persians boasted that their warriors had so many arrows they would black out the sun, and the Spartans said, “Then we’ll be happy to fight in the shade.”

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Note: Appreciation to Melvyn Bragg’s In Our Time Newsletter

Malaysian voters must punish and reject low quality Members of Parliament

We like below remark we found at anilnetto.com which commented on the silly speeches by Malaysian Member of Parliament.

In this Youtube instance, the antics of Mohamad Aziz (UMNO) is a perfect example of the sad standard of our MPs who consciously waste taxpayers’ money in Parliament.

May we advise all voters to seriously check and evaluate the quality of their MP candidates in the next General Election before crossing the ballot paper.

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Kam Cheng
October 31st, 2009 at 11.59am · Reply

I pity the Hansard, it has to record the rubbish that the Sri Gading clown spews each Parliament session.

Sri Gading and Kinabatangan are the UMNO appointed time wasters and court jesters in Parliament. Just look at what they bring up in Parliament. No policy matters, just kampung politics. To make matters worse, the venerable Lim Kit Siang also lost the opportunity to rein in the 2 jesters so that 1st world Parliament session can be have. Maybe because Uncle Lim couldn’t resist the dig at other political parties, even though Parliament session is not for that.

I suggest Sri Gading should learn some mandarin so that he can read for himself what the Chinese community said what it really wants.

All Chinese newspapers reported that the community wants Ong Tee Keat to continue as MCA President. They have only 1 hero left and apparently Ong is still needed.

This Sri Gading fella wasted 5 minutes of the rakyat’s money venting on his personal feelings but non on researched facts. Since when Parliamentarians are allowed to represent their personal likes and dislikes in Parliament? I thought they are supposed to amend and recommend policies in Parliament upon consultation with their constituents!

First world Parliament will take a very long time coming.

MCA: Hell breaks loose, happy hour time for warlords

This comment sums up nicely the feelings and repulse of rakyat Malaysia on the sheenigans by MCA ‘leaders’:

written by John Lee, October 14, 2009

Hell breaks loose, it is happy hour time for the war lords.

Most of them have nothing to lose after all they have been sidelined and this is the golden opportunity.

The GE voters out there know who they are and what they are up to.

Do not think that Malaysian have short memory.

MCA , you have just missed the opportunity to regain your glory when you made such emotional and immature decision to oust your president Ong Tee Keat who have the support of most Malaysians.

What do you feel towards these ‘leaders’?

Should voters feel safe with these vulture like behaviours waiting to feast even as their President has not officially resigned?

Valuing moral character is of great importance for MCA?

Is Ong Tee Keat trying to emulate the reform of Taiwan for MCA?

Will the MCA central delegates agree to Ong Tee Keat’s call to reform MCA or status quo with Chua Soi Lek?

Brickbats or praises will be reserved after the MCA EGM.

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Valuing moral character is of great importance

Speaking at the 63rd anniversary of the founding of Fuhsing Private School yesterday morning, President-Elect Ma Ying-jeou stated that attaching importance to moral character is very important to today’s Taiwan. The new government that is to be formed after his inauguration will put character above capability in appointing officials, he stressed.

Taiwan’s problems during this past period have stemmed from the lack of emphasis on moral character, education, breeding and the ability to do soul searching, Ma added.

Those are sensible words indeed. Over the past few years, neither the government nor our schools have put any emphasis on the importance of moral values. There has even been a tendency among policy makers to de-emphasize moral education.

One clear indication of this tendency is the fact that Confucius’ birthday — which used to be a national holiday — is no longer a holiday for the general public. There has been a deliberate attempt to banish Confucian values from school education.

Confucian values are the cornerstone of the moral system of the Chinese and that of many of China’s neighbors, such as Korea and Japan. These two countries owe their economic prosperity to the influence that Confucianism has had on their cultures.

Chinese dynasties that attached importance to Confucian values were almost all strong and prosperous, whereas those that ignored the sage’s teachings were inevitably weak and short-lived.

It is, therefore, little wonder that, over recent years, the government has been rife with corruption with many officials indicted or imprisoned for graft and other immoral deeds.

Taiwan cannot hope to have a vigorous economy unless it has an efficient government. And high government efficiency depends as much on policy makers having moral character as on their capability. Ma must live up to his promise with regard to the appointment of government officials.

The administration under Ma should make strenuous efforts to restore and promote traditional moral values. Out of this campaign will come a more stable and prosperous Taiwan society.

Source: The China Post

1st party within BN coalition is reforming by sacking ‘morally tainted’ Chua Soi Lek

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After the 12 General Election, we see the need for Barisan Nasional, especially its component parties to reform and reinvent themselves.

Without a doubt, for the wellbeing of rakyat, a strong Pakatan Rakyat needs a strong opponent in Barisan Nasional to balance each other in the political landscape.

We are pleased with latest development showed by Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) which demonstrates reform through the overdue disciplinary action against one of its member who has committed sexual acts which is unlawful in the eyes of the law. So far, there’s been no police report against Chua Soi Lek, so he’s spared from that. But some are grumbling “that doesn’t mean the whole of MCA need to condone his breaking one of the 10 commandments.”

How we wish Gerakan would also institute some form of reform before its disastrous campaigning in its home ground in Penang for the recently concluded Permatang Pasir by election.

[ We notice most bloggers blame MCA for low chinese support for Permatang Pasir UMNO candidate Rohaizat Othman (another tainted politician). We should be looking at Gerakan instead if it wishes to continue serving the people of Penang (Gerakan's home state) in GE13. ]

Anyways, to show leadership any political party must have political stand. MCA is doing just that.

MCA is showing Malaysians that is has a moral stand in the case of Chua Soi Lek.

Good luck to Chua Soi Lek as he prepares to file his appeal to the party he claims to love.

P/S: Chua Soi Lek is not about to give up his personal ambitions just yet. Looks like the party’s wellbeing will have to come AFTER his personal ambitions has been realised.

Read “Soi Lek urges MCA members to rise up” (The Malaysian Insider)

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Teoh Beng Hock’s death. Truth and law awaited.

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There are many questions arising over Teoh’s untimely demise.

Many are asking “Why?”

We however only have one question:

“Is there adequate law to safeguard the lives of those assisting investigation by MACC?”

Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia government must respond quickly to this.

Nazri Aziz must redeem himself.

We convey heartfelt condolence to the family of Teoh Beng Hock for their dear loss. To his wife to be, please stay strong.

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“The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) controversial probe into several DAP assemblymen’s activities was thrown into more turmoil today with the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock at the anti-graft authority’s Selangor headquarters.

The 30-year-old’s death will put more pressure on the MACC, which has been has been accused by the opposition of conducting selective investigations.”

~The Malaysian Insider

Ong Tee Keat and Lim Kit Siang: PKFZ Monday showdown in Dewan Rakyat

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What has Ong Tee Keat delivered so far:

We would like to applaud Ong Tee Keat for delivering on his promise to disclose Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) problems with the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report and organising a few task forces to heal the problem.

That’s definitely a first for BN and MCA. We also found that this action matches with Ong Tee Keat’s ‘courage’ slogan. And Najib’s 1Malaysia should not hesitate to encourage more of such resolute like this MCA President.

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What is Lim Kit Siang contributing so far:

We would also like to thank Lim Kit Siang and DAP for bringing to voter’s attention to the many questions raised through his blog, ranging from business dealings, accounting, accountability and many comments on feelings of betrayal.

As rational actors, we are concerned particularly with the questions on the PKFZ administrative and management problems. Lim Kit Siang is fully aware of Ong Tee Keat’s efforts and has mentioned his ministerial breakthrough in documenting and disclosing the PKFZ problems. We understand Lim Kit Siang’s unhappiness at the inaptness of the people in PKFZ which resulted in this fiasco.

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Suggestions for next step for MPs:

May we suggest perhaps for next step, Lim Kit Siang will consider to work on introducing a law at Parliament to ensure such GLC management problems will not arise again. He missed pushing for such a law following BMF scandal long ago. But now, with a stronger opposition bench, is a second chance for Lim Kit Siang to prove his ability to introduce such law in Parliament to upgrade Malaysian business environment.

May we the voters see a productive and progressive debate in Parliament coming Monday. Certainly, we will be closely following  the updated reports from Malaysiakini webportal.

Good luck to both Member of Parliaments.

P/S: Perhaps one of these days we may be able to bring our children to see this story as a blockbuster movie showing in GSC or TGV cineplexes. It would make a very good voter’s education and guide to voting for an effective lawmaker.

Both sides now: Use this simple tool to determine process of Perak DUN meeting/fiasco

Just watched the circus of the assembly on Malaysiakini video “The Great DUN Perak fiasco“.

It’s amazing how lacking is our lawmakers’ ability to play the rules of the house in lawmaking. And most importantly the disregard for decorum in the lawmaking process.

Anyway, we leave the politicking to the politicians. Us voters must be wise to see through the drama.

Did you know that there is an established fundamental to check validity of the process of lawmaking? With this tool, you can use it to check your lawmaker’s capability and sensibility too.

Here is 2 examples from the Perak DUN fiasco for you to test this out:

1. Sivakumar said he will not start the meeting until the suspended members are evicted. (Background story: The decision to suspend the members was taken under a tree, attended by some members of the house.)

2. BN members elected a new speaker Ganesan. (Background story: The ‘old’ speaker is still seated, note example 1.)

Apply only 2 questions to test the validity of the examples:

1. Is it constitutional?
2. Is it legitimate?

Remember, put aside any emotions, the people are supposed to be the judge.

Attention MCA’s Chew Mei Fun and Heng Sai Kie!

Congratulations to the new (old?) Deputy Ministers from MCA.

MCA seems to have persuasively got an extra boost in Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s cabinet.

Hope Chew Mei Fun (formerly PJ Utara, lost to DAP Tony Pua’s intellect) and Heng Sai Kie (the quiet Senator from Perak, Wanita MCA Secretary General) will be more than just rubber stamps or worse… yes women in this new government.

Remember 308 well… The rakyat expects more of the female politicians than just talking without using the brains on hot issues. Female politicians unable to speak out on issues of the day is another no no.

We dare you to take on the opposition female politicians in debate or even to stand up together on national issues.

Dare you take on the challenge to wow us voters?