PR tasting their own bitter medicine, once prescribed to BN Selangor state government.

Temple demolition case again in Selangor.

It looks like only in Selangor hindu temples being demolished, no news of temples being demolished in other states. Ironically, this issue had been played to the most benefit by PR peoples before general election. And it’s fair to say that one of the main reason BN government was brought down is due to the successful PR campaign against the devilish and irresponsible previous government led by Khir Toyo.

I was in Malaysia and had a chance to meet the then Selangor MB. Samy Vellu was outraged that temples being knocked down by the local authorities furthermore with Deepavali was just around the corner. Pak Lah called Samy and Khir immediately to discuss on this matter.

Khir’s explanation when asked in that small meeting which I happened to attend was, the temple is built on private property, any structure built without permission by the landowner is an ‘illegal structure’ regardless whether the structure is a mosque, temple, shrine or even a palace. Pretty straight forward answer from him. Well few months after that, he was booted out of his office. Hindraf was on fire (read: angry)…

Promises were made by PR’s peeps that Hindu temples will be respected and protected and Indians will be given extra attention in order to bring Indians out of poverty line.

Today, few months after the infamous 85% Indian vote swings from BN to PR, which undoubtedly gave Selangor to PR to govern, another Hindu temple is destroyed. Should we call them liar now? Or was Khir telling the truth about too many temples built illegally? Who is telling the truth, and who is capitalizing the most by creating racial tension aimed directly towards previous Selangor state government?

I just couldn’t help but to notice this inconsistencies. Let’s have a look at statements made by PR leaders with regards to this issue. Note that some carried the same tone as previous BN government, and some just don’t know what they are talking about (read: clueless).

YB Zuraidah Kamarudin

When contacted by Bernama, Ampang Member of Parliament Zuraidah Kamarudin said the temple was not supposed to have been demolished and that there were certain procedures which had to be followed, prior to the demolition.

She said the council had demolished the temple without the state government’s consent. (aren’t those councilors appointed by PR government?)

“The Pakatan Rakyat government is very particular about religious issues, including mosques or temples,” she added. (rhetoric?)

YB Ronnie Liu

“State Local Government, Study and Research Committee chairman Ronnie Liu said the state government had issued an order asking all local councils to halt such actions against all places of worship.” (First, is there no one in your office to read the letter for you? And alert you immediately. Or are you bringing the whole office staffs for a holiday in China. Secondly, your reply is similar to BN’s reaction before GE-12)

YB Dr. A Xavier Jayakumar

“Initial investigations by the Selangor government have revealed that the “temple” demolished by the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council was actually a small shrine built on forest reserve land.

State executive councillor Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar said it was misleading to call the structure a “temple”. (shrine or temple, musalla or mosque)

HINDRAF replied.. We challenge Dr Jayakumar and his Pakatan Government to produce the necessary provisions of the state Law that stipulated the necessity of the so-called “format”. To add insult to injury he had the audacity to say this is not a Temple but a shrine. Is he trying to indicate that it was okay to demolish a shrine? How less is a shrine than a temple?? The problem with these politicians is they do not give a damn about the feelings of Hindus and the need to provide and gazette places of worships belonging to Hindus.

YB Manickavasagam

Member of Parliament Kapar says he is resigning as Deputy Liasion Chairman Parti Keadilan Rakyat Negeri Selangor with immediate effect. (Why so hurry to step down? Plus it’s not the party post that you have to give up, it should be your parliamentary seat, that will serve a blow to the current PR government. They made promises they failed to deliver)

S. Manikavasagam is expected to submit his resignation letter to Parti Keadilan Rakyat , Selangor Chief on Monday 29 Oct 2008.

It shows He is serious and committed in upholding the rights of all Human Being. When conveying this message at Kulai last night he says “I’m not like other leaders holding on position despite knowing Rakyat’s rejection” (Well maybe you are a man of your words. You have your own principles and you stand by them)

Manikavasagam disagrees, saying “not registered” is unacceptable as that was the excuse given by the BN government to demolish scores of temples in the state and across the country. (in response to Dr. Xavier’s remark)

YB Zuraidah Kamarudin.. again..

“The truth is: the temple was demolished by its own committee to make way for renovation and a facelift. They did this on their own accord and did not consult nor seek approval from the state government.”(note the inconsistencies, first she said council took action against state government directive)

HINDRAF

HINDRAF is taken aback with the statement that the MPAJ had ordered the demolition of the Temple without knowledge or directive of the state Government. If the statement of Dr.Xavier is true he should take the most responsible step by lodging police report and insist the police initiate criminal proceedings against MPAJ for their

The statement by Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin justifying the demolition of the temple on grounds of misunderstanding between MPAJ and temple management on renovation works and documentation is another mockery. Is it consistent with good Governance to demolish a place of worship should there be a “misunderstanding”. Would anyone in MPAJ dare demolish a mosque?

Whatever the reasons are, this PR government will taste the bitter medicine. They once were in the attacking position while being opposition. Now they will understand how hard it is to be running the government. They will know now it’s impossible to satisfy all, and what they can do know is damage control. BN government failed to take adequate damage control actions maybe due to continuous attacks by the then oppositions including Hindraf’s threat.

This issue of Hindu temples must be taken seriously. There are more than 500 temples in Selangor, and safe enough to say 30 percent of them are built on private properties. There will be another temple demolished, I am sure of that. The matter is to address the possible controversies before it will be blown out of control by the current opposition. Fair enough to say that you can’t blame them since that’s just what you did when they knocked down temples. Did you give them chance to explain and rectify the problem? I don’t think so. So don’t expect them to be nice to you.

Release HINDRAF 5 now? so that they can teach Selangor PR state a lesson?

Related links.

Malaysiakini: Samy: Pakatan claims on demolition confusing

Hindraf: Demolition of temple in ampang, pakatan exco lost plot?

The Star: Officer act against state directive

MP kapar resigns

MIC’s walk: Temple demolishing issue

Let divisions decide on postponement

If ever UMNO wants to bring back the spirit of democracy back alive and kicking in the party, maybe now is the best time that is by giving divisions the power to decide on the postponement of the coming AGM. Nonetheless, the main mechanism of decision making processes in UMNO is still via the supreme council, divisions will appreciate this opportunity to decide for the sake of the party survival.

With due respect to the supreme council members, in order to gain grass root’s confidence and sense of belonging to the party, it’s paramount that they are included in party decision making.

Divisions meeting is just around the corner and this motion of postponement of AGM can be discussed in the meeting, and a secret voting can be taken.

Well, I guess it’s still not too late for the supreme council to rethink and reassess the pros and cons of pushing the date for the AGM to March 09. Plus, there are no concrete explanations by the top leaders on why this action is taken. Yes, indeed there are talks about power transfer, but that’s all that we know about it, nothing but just power transfer.

The last thing that UMNO wants to happen is to let the members feel unwanted, and left out within their own party. So better not leave them forever in the dark..

I guess I’m not alone in this, in fact two candidates for Youth Chief post expressed their concerns on this postponement issue. Check it out here http://malaysiakini.com/news/90509 and http://malaysiakini.com/news/90483.

PAU08: Tangguh ataupun tidak..

1. Mesyuarat Khas Majlis Tertinggi UMNO telah memutuskan Pemilihan Agung UMNO 08 akan ditangguhkan daripada Disember 08 kepada Mac 09. Usul ini telah dibawa oleh Presiden parti, Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi, dan disokong oleh Timbalan Presiden parti, Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Jawatan Perdana Menteri Malaysia akan bertukar tangan, persoalannya kepada siapa?

2. Siapakah calon-calon Perdana Menteri Malaysia ke-6. Mereka adalah YAB Datuk Seri Najib Razak, YM Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin dan juga tidak ketinggalan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (susunan adalah tidak mengikut keutamaan).

3. Konsep peralihan kuasa adalah satu amalan yang boleh menjamin keamanan, ketenteraman dan juga memastikan kelancaran proses pengalihan kuasa tersebut. Dengan adanya peralihan kuasa tertinggi eksekutif negara yang teratur dan lancar, maka perjalanan proses pentadbiran negara tidak akan terjejas. Tetapi, adakah peralihan kuasa secara ’suka sama suka’ diantara Perdana Menteri dan Timbalan Perdana Menteri adalah cara yang terbaik pada masa ini?

4. Kenapa saya berpendapat sedemikian? Pertama, peralihan kuasa kali ini adalah terlalu hampir dengan pemilihan pucuk pimpinan UMNO. Presiden UMNO akan menjadi Perdana Menteri Malaysia, soalnya Presiden UMNO bukan milik mutlak seseorang dan jika ada yang ingin mencabar dan bertanding jawatan tersebut, maka secara tidak langsung peralihan kuasa ini akan terbantut.

5. Tidak hairanlah kenapa Datuk Seri Abdullah tidak ingin jawatan Presiden dan Timbalan Presiden dipertandingkan, supaya perancangan peralihan kuasa yang pada awalnya dijangka berlaku pada Jun 2010 akan berjalan seperti dimahukan. Itu adalah kemahuan Datuk Seri Abdullah sendiri dan bukannya kemahuan ahli-ahli UMNO dan juga rakyat Malaysia yang lain. Oleh kerana itu timbul desakan, dan permohonan supaya peralihan kuasa PM-TPM itu diperincikan semula.

6. Pertandingan merebut jawatan adalah amalan asas demokrasi, melainkan jika ahli sebulat suara tidak bersetuju pertandingan diadakan.

7. Setiap jawatan hendaklah dipertandingkan tanpa sekatan ataupun kuota, saya percaya jika kuota tidak digunapakai sekalipun, tidak akan ada pertandingan melebihi 10 penjuru bagi jawatan ketua cawangan. Jika ada sekalipun, jarang-jarang. Tidak bermakna sistem kuota yang ada sekarang tidak sempurna dan tidak harus dipraktikkan, mungkin kaedah ini sesuai 20tahun lepas namun tidak lagi sekarang.

8. Pak Lah sudah memaklumkan kepada umum bahawa beliau adalah outgoing Prime Minister, dan keputusan samada untuk bertanding jawatan Presiden UMNO ataupun tidak akan menentukan perjalanan peralihan kuasa yang sebenarnya. Adakah ianya mengikut prinsip demokrasi yang sebenarnya ataupun tidak?

9. Jika Pak Lah bertanding, maka lawannya boleh jadi Tengku Razaleigh DAN Najib Tun Razak. Kenapa? Jika ditakdirkan Tengku Razaleigh menang jawatan Presiden UMNO, sudah tentu segala perancangan peralihan kuasa antara Pak Lah-Najib akan terkubur begitu sahaja. Pemilihan UMNO kali ini adalah konsep peralihan kuasa yang sebenar-benarnya, tiada lagi perjanjian ’suka sama suka’ antara dua individu, sebaliknya ini adalah suara ahli-ahli UMNO peringkat akar umbi.

10. Jatuh bangun, halatuju UMNO akan ditentukan dalam masa terdekat ini. Pak Lah akan membuat keputusan yang akan menyaksikan UMNO terus kekal relevan ataupun hilang bersama-sama kareer politik Pak Lah. Jika satu ketika dahulu, ahli-ahli UMNO pernah berkata ‘Kami sayang Dato’ Onn, tapi kami lebih sayangkan UMNO’, mungkin kali ini nada sama juga yang akan dipalu oleh ahli-ahli UMNO, cuma nama Dato’ Onn sahaja ditukar dengan Pak Lah.

11. Sebagai seorang insan, Pak Lah akan diingati sebagai pemimpin yang mementingkan kualiti dalam diri setiap manusia, memperlengkapkan diri dengan keperibadian tinggi, untuk mengisi nikmat dan kemudahan yang dikecapi selepas era pemodenan Malaysia. Apalah gunanya jika Malaysia mempunyai bangunan-bangunan canggih-manggih, tetapi tiada modal insan untuk mengisi dan memanfaatkan kewujudan infrastruktur moden tersebut.

12. Pemimpin datang dan pergi, pemimpin yang baik adalah pemimpin yang akan pastikan generasi akan datang mendapat manfaat daripada pentadbiran beliau pada masa kini.

Kolum Ringkas: He who cried wolf!

1. Pernah dengar cerita ‘a boy who cried wolf ‘?. Tentu pernah. Tanpa disangka-sangka sebuah kisah teladan yang diceritakan dizaman tadika menjadi begitu signifikan dalam kehidupan pada hari ini. Teladan yang cuba disampaikan adalah, jika seseorang itu berulang kali bercakap bohong, lama-kelamaan orang ramai tidak akan lagi percaya kepadanya.

2. Saya pernah mendengar seorang ahli politik itu berkata pada 16hb September, beliau akan menjadi Perdana Menteri Malaysia yang ke-6. Saya menunggu dengan penuh minat kedatangan tarikh tersebut, namun tiada apa yang berlaku. Bilangan keseluruhan Perdana Menteri Malaysia sejak merdeka masih lagi 5. Arakian, beredarlah orang kampung apabila mengetahui mereka ditipu oleh budak lelaki yang mendakwa serigala cuba membahamnya.

3. Sidang akhbar dibuat kerana ada ‘berita besar’ yang ingin dimaklumkan kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia. 100 orang wartawan dilaporkan hadir. Kata ahli politik yang sama pada malam ambang 16hb September, esok akan diumumkan senarai mereka yang akan berpindah kem, maka tidak hairanlah berbondong-bondong wartawan datang bergegas ke ibu pejabat parti, bimbang jika tak dapat ’story’, chief editor akan marah.

4. Sekali lagi, tiada satupun nama diumumkan daripada senarai tersebut, sebaliknya sidang akhbar tersebut hanyalah untuk memberitahu rakyat, ahli politik itu hendak berjumpa dengan Perdana Menteri ke-5. Maka, beransurlah wartawan-wartawan yang hadir dengan penuh kecewa apabila menyedari pengumuman senarai tersebut hanyalah umpan. Tiada serigala, budak lelaki itu tertawa kepuasan.

5. Sambil wartawan beredar meninggalkan ibu pejabat parti, ada kedengaran suara-suara yang menyatakan dalam masa 2 hari jika PM ke-5 tidak mahu bertemu ahli politik itu, Istana Negara akan jadi sasaran selepas ini. “Adakah ini satu lagi umpan?”, monolog salah seorang wartawan yang hadir.

6. Jika diikutkan jalan cerita teladan itu, budak lelaki itu akan bercakap benar setelah 2 kali mempermainkan orang kampung. Kita sekarang bukan lagi di alam fantasi, bukan lagi kanak-kanak. Jika sekali ditipu pun kita sudah berhati-hati. Seperti kata pepatah Inggeris “Shame on you if you fool me once, shame on me if you fool me twice“.

7. Kali ketiga sidang akhbar dipanggil, selang 48 jam setelah sidang akhbar pertama dibuat, masih tiada berita rombongan ke Istana Negara, juga tiada berita tentang buah tangan rombongan “headhunters’ mereka yang dihantar ke Taiwan. Yang diberitahu hanyalah, desakan (baca: ugutan) kepada PM ke-5 untuk membuat sidang Parlimen tergempar sebelum 23hb September, untuk memberi laluan kepada PM ke-6 yang nampaknya sudah tidak sabar-sabar lagi untuk memerintah Malaysia.

8. Sepertimana yang dirasai oleh orang-orang kampung, saya rasa ramai juga dikalangan kita yang sudah penat dengan jeritan ‘SERIGALA!!’ ini. Ambil sahaja teladan daripada peristiwa ini, apa yang kita dengar semasa kecil yang dianggap hiburan untuk kita sudah menjadi guru yang berjasa kepada kita ketika dewasa.

9. Merujuk kepada wikipedia, pengajaran daripada cerita tersebut ialah;

Even when liars tell the truth, they are never believed. The liar will lie once, twice, and then perish when he tells the truth.

10. Never cry wolf!

Let’s talk: The effect of power struggle on economy

What have 16th September rhetorics done to Malaysia’s economy?

American Government is doing all things possible to avoid another major economic slump. But it looks like all is not enough. Freddie and Fannie buyouts will not save the world as told by the great American economist. World is expecting another round of economic downturn.

Britain’s Gordon Brown assure Britons he can single-handedly save Britain from this recession, now he’s having a leadership crisis in Downing St.

Brian Cowen, Taoiseach of Ireland, brought forward the tabling of Budget for next year two months ahead for proactive and extra measures to fight and to save the Celtic Tiger reputation, now many jobs have been cut off, retrenchment is nothing uncommon to hear everyday in Ireland.

Malaysia is still not awaken from General election mood, we are still talking about who’s going to be Prime Minister, some may do anything possible to clinch the PM’s seat. On economy? We just don’t care, we don’t want to miss this political drama of power struggle featuring so many potential ‘kermits’ (the frog). 16th September had passed, let’s talk about economy now, yes I understand that there’s one PM-in-waiting have the numbers, but I’m afraid the numbers are not enough to take Malaysia out from incoming economic slump. Plus 10 years ago he failed to help Malaysia, can he do it this time around?

Let’s talk about this!

Excerpt taken from Malaysian Insider.

The rising cost of living and the slowing down in economic growth have become a major issue affecting politics, with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s government swiftly losing popularity due to high oil prices.

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s constant threats to topple the ruling Barisan Nasional government, and challenges from within Umno against Abdullah, have also undermined investor confidence.

Earlier this month, financial services group Credit Suisse told investors worldwide in a report to avoid buying stocks in Malaysia.

Credit Suisse pointed out that the power struggle between Anwar and the government was heightening risks to the Malaysian economy.

Tricia Yeoh, an economist attached to the Centre for Public Policy Studies, said Malaysia needed a leader to get rid of institutionalised weaknesses.

“The best leader is the leader who can get rid of corruption and one who can transform the economy in light of the current slowdown.”

Another market analyst said Abdullah’s reputation for “flip-flop” – policy reversals – also did not inspire confidence.

“This kind of flip-flop does not bode well for investors with regards to strategies,” he said.

The only thing that appears certain at this point is that Abdullah is no longer seen as a viable candidate to remain as prime minister for much longer.

Said Dr Ooi Kee Beng, political analyst with the Singapore-based Institute of South-East Asian Studies (Iseas): “Where Abdullah is concerned, he should retire. He was given the mandate five years ago and he failed.”