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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MCA on Ong Tee Keat’s watch: About your aides

Dear Dato’ Seri Ong Tee Keat,

I have this uneasy feeling about you and those leaders helming the MCA national bureaus.

Chua Soi Lek, Lee Wee Kiat, Wong Nai Chee, Gan Ping Sieu …

Competence is clearly trumping ideology in the Ong Tee Keat’s new administration, and God knows after two terms of Ong Ka Ting & Co., it’s time to get back to the idea of streetwise smart, capable people advising the MCA president and executing his policies.

What I wonder is whether the members of your administrative team and staff aides, in addition to their grasp of the issues and success at achieving power, have a real feel for the needs of the people they are supposed to be representing.

I don’t doubt that they have the best of intentions. But the people near the pinnacle of power in MCA are encased in a bubble that makes it extremely hard to hear the voices of those who aren’t already powerful themselves.

There is no underestimating the challenges facing MCA, and you will need a strong administrative team and staff aides in your Presidential office NOW to help back you up with intelligences (internet and grassroots) and execute necessary actions at the grassroot level to get MCA started on the long road to re-connect MCA with the voters, both Chinese 25% and non-Chinese 75%.

Will your staff aides / administrative officers follow a new course, reaffirming plans to remove deadwoods of the previous administration?

We wish MCA all the best on your watch.

~Femalevoter

** I took the liberty to paraphrase a little from that excellent piece Bob Herbert wrote for The New York Times

cc: Malaysiakini.com

A question for MCA members… thru Malaysiakini

We believe in governance and a good government made up of good people with strong principles of life.

As we have received many queries from members concerned about the upcoming MCA party election, we would like to throw these questions to you to assist members to make the best decisions this October.

It is worrying that the female MCA members do not seem to regard this as a big question of concern for the party or think of its impact on the Confucian family values which the women wing claim to represent.

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Questions to ponder for MCA’s future and the 13th General Election. And we would love to hear input from readers of Malaysiakini also:

• What sort of persons would you want to be leading the party and represent your voice?
• Do you want your candidates to tell you about their principles in life?
• Since they would like to represent the community, would you want them to possess some moral standing?
• Would you be contented to just let them be what they naturally are?
• And they, being what they are, can they just simply represent you and your community to interface with the global world?

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A penny for your thoughts: See below * a concern from a commentator (we think he/she is an MCA member):

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When you were caught you resigned immediately cause you said you don’t want to bring trouble to BN and MCA. I truly respected your act at that time. However, now you say you want to come back? What responsibility you were talking about? Is this what politician all about? Don’t you think you bring the mud back to BN and MCA?

I think many people don’t want to talk about your video story and people already forgive you when you had resigned. Why must you still want to show your existance all the time? Why don’t you let MCA members be proud to have a leader who dare to take up the responsibilities and walked out?

I do not know what is your agenda and what unfinish plan you have. Or you just want to make a revenge on certain group in MCA regardless you would tainted MCA image again.

Dr., I strongly believe MCA can do without you at top leadership. There are still many ways to contribute. Please don’t bring disgrace back to MCA. This will definitely will be a burden to BN and MCA at next general election if you won in MCA election.

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* Extracted from Malaysia Today’s article ‘Datuk Chua Soi Lek -Ahli Politik‘

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MCA Talents Race To Raise The Bar And Issued Challenge To Debate

A media associate alerted us of this interesting incident at an MCA Division at yesterday’s nomination.

Apparently a challenge to debate ala ‘Anwar vs Shabery’ has been issued by challengers to the incumbents of the top positions of Division & Deputy Chairmen and Youth & Deputy Chairmen. The reason for debate challenge was to allow delegates to make informed decision based on the vision and leadership ability of candidates. Sadly, incumbents waved away the challenge as they felt that it is not important (!) However, the challengers will be waiting at the appointed venue for the debate.

The most interesting fact is that the challengers are not your typical Ah Pek MCA members. These are young men in their prime, articulated, keeps up with new politics and speaks better in Bahasa Malaysia rather than in Mandarin only (!).

If its members have no problem engaging thoughts and opinions in our national language, MCA’s place under the new Malaysia political sun is further uplifted. The new MCA President (Ong Tee Keat?) better get these chaps into his team to lead the way, to thwart the negative prediction of MCA’s demise next GE.

Here’s the press statement issued by the new wave politicians:

-Press Statement For Immediate Release-

22 July, 2008

Subject: Contest for top posts in MCA Lembah Pantai Division: The Talented Race To Raise The Bar And Issued Challenge To Debate

KUALA LUMPUR: Lembah Pantai MCA Division witnessed a challenge for the top positions today and the challengers issuing a call for debate between incumbent and contestants at the close of this evening’s nomination day.

The posts of Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Youth Chairman, Youth Deputy Chairman and Youth Secretary are being contested by members from Bangsar branch. Ho Soon Hee, a futures market specialist (age 35) who is the incumbent secretary in Youth Division will be attempting a giant leap to the main body to contest the post of Divisional Chairman. Wong Weng Foo, a well known public accountant will go for the Deputy Chairman position.

For the Youth wing, Loo Chan Bond, a vibrant sales manager will be gunning for Youth Chairman post. James Tan Kok Kiat, an engineer will contest the Youth Deputy Chairman and Chia Teck Wooi, a sales manager will challenge the Youth Secretary post.

Known for their initiatives to push for internal reforms through successful programmes on leadership training and people’s dialogues, the IT savvy and unconventional ‘think and do’ tank said, they are called to stand and issued the debate challenge because this is the time MCA will need brave, thinking voices that resonant with rakyat Malaysia’s aspirations.

“A debate is a healthy and practical way to help the delegates arrive at an informed decision on each candidates’ ability to deliver results to MCA’s objectives,” Ho Soon Hee said.

“As the incumbent Dato’ Dr. Lim Chee Shin has indicated clearly of his retirement during the previous term, we are now offering our best team to rejuvenate the Division,” added Weng Foo, who was a senior committee in the Division.

“I ask myself, ‘When I look back five years from now, what have I done to contribute for MCA to remain relevant? What are the things I’m going to look at and wish I had done?’ That forces us to offer our best people and most importantly, the necessary skillsets to positioning MCA towards that objective,” said Ho Soon Hee.

“As shown in the General Elections, Lembah Pantai as a modern city constituency is ready for leaders who possess affinity to engage intelligently with voters who are information hungry and internet savvy. We believe our track record to attract members and train future leaders can bring a new spirit to MCA Lembah Pantai,“ explained Loo Chan Bond.

“In tandem with the impending leadership change at national level, we believe the division is ready for transformation and be uplifted by suitably talented leaders possessing the necessary values as indicated by the Chinese community’s thoughts and wish for multi-racial engagement,” emphasized James Tan Kok Kiat.

“We believe that until and unless change is effected at divisional level, it will not be able to contribute solidly to MCA’s commitment to voicing and expressing the concerns and problems facing the rakyat,” Chia Teck Wooi added.

The contestants pledge to all branches that fairness, transparency and teamwork in the Lembah Pantai Division will be enhanced. The team further pledge to commence by this November, a plan of action on leadership programmes and people’s dialogues to ensure the MCA members remain in touch with people based politics.

The contestants are confident that MCA Lembah Pantai delegates will exercise their wisdom and vote on their commitment to transform and reform the Division to keep up with the new Malaysia political landscape.

-Ends-

Did the Star lie? Demand for your goodies quick

The Star did not tell a lie and Malaysiakini was busily reporting to balance up with the opposition’s news.

The Barisan Nasional was on a roll in Penang yesterday, with top guns from its component parties making the rounds and distributing a lot of goodies to orang Penang.

Orang Penang were promised some new/relocated Chinese schools, jobs and given money (8 Indian NGOs received 10k each).

It is interesting second Finance Minister Nor Mohd Yakcop was in charge of handing out money to the Indian NGOs and promising to secure jobs for Indians. Maybe he will be running as a candidate in the GE after all.

Total goodies promised:

Chinese Schools – MYR3.8 million

8 Indian NGOs – MYR80,000 (handed out already)

Extra pocket money for 9,514 disable persons (registered with Community Rehab Centres PDK nationwide) – MYR951,400

Increased allowance for 1,479 PDK teachers – MYR443,700

Monthly allowance for new posts PDK supervisors – MYR1,200 x total numbers to be hired

We have no quarrel to increase necessary allowances for deserving Malaysians. But to announce all these goodies at one go in 1 day? Why could it not have been done sustainably or in good taste or with a bit of class during the past 4 years?

It’s too much for the stomach to bear.

It’s too much for the conscience to fathom.

It’s too much for the thinking voters to believe.

Poor orang Penang. We pity them for being overwhelmed by all these assaults on their emotions at one go.

There should be laws to disallow this kind of behaviour. So that campaigning can be more fair and can be judged on the strength of future policies, plans and real leadership.

What are you doing about it, SPR and the National Unity and Integration department?

Johor state assemblyman shot dead

Tenggaroh state assemblyman, Dato’ S. Krishnasamy was found shot dead this afternoon. His body was found inside a lift in the Johor MIC HQ. The MIC vice president was on his way to attend a meeting.

S. Krishnasamy was also the MIC chairman for Labis Division.

Labis was in the limelight lately, where Chua Soi Lek announced his resignation as Minister of Health, Labis MP and MCA Vice President.

Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya chairman, Tan Sri Abdul Rashid has announced that no by-election will be held for the Tenggaroh vacancy.

This is another affirmation that the General Elections is coming soon.

Go vote, people.