Twisted Fate – Reverse Roles

Twisted Fate – Reverse Roles

Twisted Fate – Reverse Roles

Posted: 07 Jan 2010 01:56 AM PST

 Can humans ban a sacred word?

In an unplanned and unprepared manner, a religious controversy has slowly made its way into the fabric of our societal existence.

The current Home Minister must be cursing while saying it: "My idiot former colleague must have gotten Alzheimer when he brought on the ban with regards to the use of the word Allah in East Malaysian scriptural writings and publications"

How could an over-zealous former Home Minister decided unilaterally against the use of the word Allah when it has never pose a problem in East Malaysian society for the last 60 years. People have been singing praises and hymns to their beloved God by calling the almighty "Allah" but it has now degraded to letting a human decide who can call whom what!

And the current Home Minister must also be cursing in his mind … 9 months worth of smooth sailing and good image building (lets forget about the whole episode on the Keris-thing) since becoming the new Home Minister and now I should be the one to have to say to the NGOs that – you can protest, you can demonstrate, I have no objection! I'll be damned if I don't allow them and I'll be damned also if I allow them. But in the interest of 'votes', I'll just allow them to 'walk', no harm right? Wrong.

And in an unprecedented move by the Opposition Leader, Anwar has decided to say the thing which is most foreign to his lips, "Thou shall not protest tomorrow" – in an effort to stop his followers and symphatisers from joining the gathering of Muslim protesters in starting a march of protest from Kg Baru onwards after Friday prayers.

And to top up with the fun, PM today says he cannot do anything if the NGOs decide to protest against the High Court ruling by Justice Lau Bee Lan to allow the Herald to continue using the word Allah in their publication.

What will the rakyat out there think? First of, NO FACE to Lau Bee Lan. Its as good as giving her a slap on the face and saying, you don't mess with us! Might (numbers) is Right. Next off, by using the Home Ministry in applying for a stay-of-execution, this does not augur well with the already poor perception of how our Govt uses high-handedness when it is in their favour to do so.

And then what happened to 1Malaysia, Unity, Rakyat Didahulukan? Suddenly, it just vanished from our radar screen. 9mmonths of doing all the feel good thingy, and spending or 'going' to spend 1 billion a year to form the 'best F1′ team just does not explain how intolerant our society is!

Does this mean that the 'R'akyat in peninsular matter more than the 'r'akyat in Sabah and Sarawak. Are our Christian brothers and sisters over there any 'less'? Why does this have to be seen as a one-sided decision when the crux of the matter is: it does not even involve us, as no usage of the word Allah (in Christian publications) was ever involved here in peninsular Malaysia.

If I were you, stay away from Kg Baru again tomorrow. My heart goes out to the hawkers/penjaja (whom are predominantly low-income Malay folks) who makes a living along the roads of Kg Baru. If there is a walk of protest tomorrow, they will be the ones who will be most economically affected … and whom will they blame?

We must learn to move away from myopic ways of thinking and learn how to deal with problems wholistically. This "idiosyncracy" did not appear one fine day, and neither can we treat it as such. A true WIN-WIN way of dealing with it must be thought out to appease all angles now.

I don't think the Arabs agree that it was Nabi Mohamad pbuh that woke up one day and created the word Allah. It was all along there and were used interchangeably by the Arabs for centuries. If Nabi Mohamad did not 'trade mark' the word Allah, who are we to do so! Peace be upon us …
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A New Year, A New Home

A New Year, A New Home

A New Year, A New Home

Posted: 02 Jan 2010 06:34 PM PST

It was not too long ago that some of the National Leadership of our Party went to Sabah to welcome the joining of Raymond Tan Shu Kiah and Au Kam Wah (formerly of SAPP, Sabah ) into our fold. In an emotional speech, Raymond mentioned that after searching high and low, he has now found a new home, and together with his colleague, Au, they will endeavour to make Gerakan Sabah a stronger party and a better representation for the people of Sabah.

Yesterday, Pahang Gerakan State Liaison Committee chairman Dato' Dr Ng Keong Chye announced that Independent State Assemblyman for Tanah Rata, Pahang, Ho Yip Kap, has officially joined Parti Gerakan.

We are proud that Ho has decided to pick Gerakan as a new platform for him to serve the people, especially the constituents of Tanah Rata, despite him being approached initially by opposition parties. I believe we can work as a team for the benefit of the people. 

I was told that Ho's decision to join Gerakan was made after due consideration with his supporters and grassroots' views, and his joining Gerakan will make Pahang Barisan Nasional stronger to face opposition challenges.

In a ceremony together with other State leaders, Dr Ng, who is also Ketari State Assemblyman, accepted Ho's application with open arms. 

Ho was a former headmaster until his entry into Pahang politics. Since becoming independent, he has continue his efforts to fight for the welfare of his constituents, the majority of whom are farmers. And now that he has decided to use a greater platform to discharge his duties, we wish him the best for the year 2010.

With Ho joining Gerakan, Barisan Nasional now has 38 seats out of the 42 in the Pahang State Legislative Assembly. PAS and DAP have two seats each.
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Responsibility is Shy

Responsibility is Shy

Responsibility is Shy

Posted: 29 Dec 2009 07:50 PM PST

 (This resemble a failed attempt by an autobot to transform but only if it was just a story)

10 bus passengers were killed on boxing day (26 Dec 2009) while travelling on the North-South Expressway. The tragedy also claimed the life of a 14 year old boy together with his sister 9 years her senior.

Thus far only the bus driver has been charged. No bus operator have come out to issue apologies nor claim responsibility.

So did the 10 died in tragedy and the event to be forgotten very soon.

Let's review the history:

In August 2007, a Bukit Gantang bus crashed on the North-South Expressway claiming 22 lives, including the driver. Syarikat Kenderaan Bukit Gantang Sdn Bhd's entire fleet of 38 buses were grounded the following day.

In April 2008, one person was killed and 16 others injured when the express bus they were travelling in crashed into a safety railing and overturned at Kilometer 265.1 of the North-South Expressway, at 3.45am. The bus was carrying 27 passengers from Johor Baru to Kuala Lumpur.

In June 2008, two people were killed and seven others seriously injured when the express bus they were travelling on overturned after hitting a divider at Kilometer406 of the North-South Expressway near Lembah Beringin.

In December 2008, an express bus driver lost control of his bus near Tangkak-Pagoh stretch on the North-South Expressway at 2am. Four men, four women and two girls, aged 9 and 12, were killed instantly.

In April 2009, five passengers and the driver of a double-decker express bus died, and five others were injured after the bus skidded and hit the divider at Kilometer 443 of the North-South Expressway near Rawang.

The record shows only 2 previous years of bus passengers whom have died while traveling along the North-South Expressway and on private bus companies. But this does not include the hundreds of others that have perished stretching back to the 90s, 80s and 70s. All forgotten and the dead never mentioned again in the annals of history.

So what has gone so wrong that these kinds of tragedy kept appearing again and again.

In August 2007, right after the Bukit Gantang bus accident tragedy, several measures were introduced by the Malaysian Transport Ministry:

1. Express bus drivers must rest for 15 minutes every Two and a half hours.

2. Bus drivers can only drive a maximum of 8 hours a day.

3. A second designated driver must take over the wheel every four hours.

4. Road Transport Department officers must inspect the tyres, brakes and engines of express buses at all 32 terminals nationwide.

5. Transport Ministry to have safety records of all express buses.

6. RTD and National Anti-Drug Agency to carry out random urine checks on express bus drivers.

7. Express bus companies to comply with the Safety, Health and Environment code.

These regulatory measures are well and good but thus far which State RTD as well as the the corresponding private bus companies have abide by the rules. Sadly maybe only a few. And yet I have to stress that many innocent passengers died because these rules were not strictly followed.

Are there any additional measures that needs to be introduce to curb the accidents from happening again. I dare say NO. Because no amount of rules and regulations are good enough if they are meant to be pasted only on the walls of RTD, bus companies and buses but were never meant to be followed.

The time has now come for a review of the NKRA as provided for in one of the 6 sectors proposed, namely Transport, to address the issue of – "Rule IMPLEMENTATION".

Without which, no amount of rules and regulations will work.

So anybody for Responsibility?
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Angels & Demons, Enemies & Friends

Angels & Demons, Enemies & Friends

Angels & Demons, Enemies & Friends

Posted: 08 Nov 2009 10:37 PM PST

I always like to look out for things that people have to say about my Party and me, and this has always been in the spirit of open-ness that my website/blog has dedicated itself to.

Recently I came across this website that is both 'drama-tic' and 'plot-ful' to read, and which I would like to share it with all of you.

The URL is http://www.gerakan4u.com/en/blog/article/teh-tarik-forum-kampung-buah-pala-unplugged/#post-comment

I recommend that you read the comments found therein and analyse it with an open heart. My attitude towards those whom have used a Gerakan-based website to criticise its leaders is inappropriate and in these times of great challenges, it is not in the spirit of 'Satu Hati' to openly criticise one's leader whom you have chosen and voted for.

Even if they are not (the Leaders) the ones you have chosen for nor voted for, in the true spirit of democracy, one should at least respect the wishes and wisdom of the others whom have voted them in, at least for the term while they are in office.

The detractors are many and there will never cease to be more to come in the days ahead. Instead of trying to call for me to resign or for any other National Leaders to step down, it would be more fruitful and appropriate to think of strategies and ways to help the Party move forward in these trying times. And when you have succeeded in doing that, there will be no shortage of people who will rally behind you and vote you in as the new leader post-2011, when the Party will see a new term of leaders to helm the Party.

If at these times, your intention is to do maximum damage to the Party by criticising and sabotaging what the leaders are trying to do, in the end, it will be harder for the Party to rise from the ashes and make a come back.

If the public sees that our own members cant even agree and work together to make the Party 'work', then who will in their right mind still believe in the struggles of the Party.

Yes, I certainly feel your frustrations that you are feeling, just because you did not voted for me nor did you want to see me at the helm. The reality is that, many others have voted me in and you should now let the rule of democracy take its course. If I'm no good, then by all means, boot me out in 2 more years, other wise, lets rally together so that our ship remains sailing and that we reach our destination together. I have said it over and over again that I'm all ears and is willing to listen. Would you be willing to at least give me honest and open opinion as to how we can make Gerakan Youth better!

There is no 'wisdom' is trying to burn the boat down before we even reach halfway point. Now is our greatest 'turning-point' and we must take this window of opportunity to make good.

Comrades, whether you like me or not, please work together so that when 'you' eventually take over the Party, it would be in the strongest that we can be, not at its weakest! Do you see my point?

In the end, I cannot stop you from further criticisng the leadership or me personally, but I sure hope you do have the Party's future welfare in mind and will do your best to keep it alive.

"Men should never shit in his own compound, only idiots do that!" (Edward Blake, 1833-1912)
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Feedback on our Gerakan National Youth Delegates Conference

Feedback on our Gerakan National Youth Delegates Conference

Feedback on our Gerakan National Youth Delegates Conference

Posted: 04 Nov 2009 07:19 PM PST

2 days after the conclusion of our 2009 National Youth Delegates Conference in Kuala Lumpur, I received numerous feedback either through personal sms or emails from various quarters. Some of which were very painful to swallow and some were downright nonsensical. Some border on pure personal attacks and others were "self-jacking".

I have to sieved through the barrage of mixed signals but decide to publish one of them in the following reproduced piece. It is verbatim except for the name of the sender which I have deliberately left anonymous to protect his/her identity.

The background of this particular case is that, during the Youth Delegate Conference, we have mooted 10 resolutions for the Delegates to consider and if found appropriate accepted as our official stand for the year 2009.

8 of the proposed resolutions were accepted and passed unanimously. 1 was amended with regards to the length of office an Office Bearer can hold for each position within the Party. The 10th resolution was about reviewing our status in the Barisan Nasional and if found neccessary to leave BN within one year.

This particular resolution was 'hotly' debated but in the end it was rejected unanimously because it was found to be against the spirit of us remaining in the BN coalition.

However in my winding speech for the Conference, I drew the analogy of us (the Party) travelling in a car going at 110kmh and should not jump out of the window until and when the car comes to a halt upon reaching our destination.

The feedback in the form of an email is as follows:-

Dear Mr Lim,
Whatever the reasons for Gerakan Youth to reject the motion to leave BN (and since it is a closed door affair we will never know), the analogy you used is inappropriate.

You suggested that the passenger should only get out when the car reaches the destination. Fair enough; but you have not said what the destination is. What is the destination the BN car is heading to?

And what if the driver (in this case UMNO) has lost his bearings and is now heading to a destination not agreed on by the other passengers in the car?

What if the driver has somewhere along the journey decided that the destination agreed on by his fellow travellers is no longer where he wants to go?

What if the passengers fail to convince the driver he has taken a wrong turn or that he should stick to the agreed destination?

Would you then not jump out of the car in desperation rather than go to a place you have no wish to go?

After over thirty years of trying to "change BN from within" it is time Gerakan took desperate measures. The fact that it hasn't can be interpreted by the public as the following:

1. Gerakan has not the cojones to stand up openly to UMNO. This is a fair perception considering how many times UMNO has humiliated Gerakan and its leaders. This humiliation is not a recent thing – remember Gerakan and the other minor partners in BN sent a memo to the PM and almost immediately had to retract it when the PM showed his displeasure?
Remember Gerakan said nothing when Mahathir declared M'sia an Islamic State – when the Constitution clears states that we are a secular nation? We can go on ad nauseam about the issues Gerakan failed to stand up for but that would take volumes.

2.  Gerakan leaders are too used to the perks of office and have no wish to remove their snouts from the gravy train.

3.  Gerakan is not able to challenge UMNO on many issues when its leader depends on UMNO's generosity for positions. They have essentially been bought and paid for.

I won't go on. Suffice to say that it is rather disappointing that you seem to have lost the idealism often associated with the young. The old are jaded, tired and mostly resistant to change but then it seems that Gerakan Youth has grown old before its time.

If the young have lost their appetite for change, or are afraid to query conventional wisdom or challenge the status quo where is the future? I am not politically aligned to any party. I am just a Malaysian who despairs for the nation – the direction the BN Car is heading.

–End of the email–

This is a painful lesson that all Youth Leaders in Gerakan have to swallow and take heed. We, as perceived by this reader (and hence the public) have lost our direction and should review our stand and position.

I'm willing to listen and will look out for new ideas to rejuvenate our Youth. Do you, the readers, have anything else to add that may help us reach our chosen destination?
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