2011年10月20日星期四

HIMPUN : 进退维谷的纳吉

HIMPUN 如此容易的得到警方的集会准证,与净选盟BERSIH2.0的待遇是南辕北撤。

更何况HIMPUN的动机是号召回教徒反改教,其矛头是暗指向其他宗教,极其可能会引起宗教冲突的。
反之,BERSIH2.0只是要求干净公平的选举,却被列为非法。

这难免让人民猜测HIMPUN有巫统政府在背后撑腰。

虽然巫统否认策划本周六在莎阿南体育馆举行的“百万穆斯林大集会” (Himpunan Sejuta Ummah,简称HIMPUN )大集会,可是没有几个人会相信的。


还有,HIMPUN 突出了不允许人改教的不民主作风,让国际社会看了,只会增加不良印象。

看来,HIMPUN 的发起人让纳吉陷入进退维谷的困境了。

2011年9月28日星期三

柯嘉逊揭官方独立史迷思 探真正多元族群合作起源

柯嘉逊揭官方独立史迷思
探真正多元族群合作起源

作者/本刊特约柯嘉逊 Aug 30, 2011 06:35:26 pm

【本刊特约柯嘉逊撰述】柯 嘉逊的新书《爱国者与冒牌者:马来亚人民的独立斗争》(Patriots & Pretenders: The Malayan Independence Struggle)从人民的视角检视马来亚的独立斗争史,其看法和“官方说法”相距甚远。继2007年畅销书《513解密文件》出版后,作者再次就马来西 亚最重要的历史篇章,为读者提供可能引起争论的论述。

就如《513解密文件》一书那样,这次柯嘉逊从英国档案局搜索到的文件,暴露了马來亚紧急状态时期 (尤其是在独立后)英殖民主义者在对付马来亚时所采用的战略思维。这些文件也揭露了,为组织联盟政党,英国最高专员作出种种努力,此鲜为人知的史实,将令许多人惊讶不已。

这历史的另一面,向马来西亚人民提出了下列数个问题:

  • 二战时期,到底谁才是为了国家解放的爱国者,而同英殖民者和日本法西斯主义者奋勇战斗?而谁又是冒牌者?哪一阵营真正捍卫多元民族主义?
  • 如果由各民族大联盟,即:“全马行动委员会 -人民力量中心”联盟(AMCJA-PUTERA)所建议的《人民宪法》,取得最后胜利的话,我国社会将会如何发展?
  • 在独立时所谈到的“社会契约”,和今天所提出的所谓“社会契约”,是不是一样的?
  • 长久以来困扰着马来西亚的种族政治,是如何产生的?

我国已独立了50 多年,但仍然深陷在种族主义政治的泥沼中。官方又极力否定真实的历史。《爱国者与冒牌者》一书呼吁,马来西亚人民应有所突破,提出以人民为中心的非种族性改革议程。本书作者勾画了我国人民來届大选诉求的正确方向。

官方历史推崇单一族群利益

虽然我国已独立了超过半个世纪,但是每当非土著提出合理的民权诉求,以消除种族不平等待遇时,巫统领袖总是经常向人民提起,“三大种族”共同立下的所谓“社会契约”。

本书尝试为新一代提供对待历史事实的正确看法,让他们了解在反殖民主义斗争中, 哪些阶级是被斗争的对象;让他们认识谁是真正的反殖民主义斗士,也让他们了解到, “独立契约”的性质是符合英国殖民主义者的政治策略的。

这 本新书出版适逢教育部最近宣布,將把历史一科列为马来西亚教育文凭(SPM) 的必修科。好多方面强烈反对这项決定,他们认为,“官方版”历史备受质疑。“513”事件,及“国家文化政策”颁布后,马来西亚历史就被篡改了。执政党巫 统从私利的观点出发,篡改我国历史,以迎合他们的民粹主义,即以马来人为中心的政治意识形态。

官方版的历史推崇单一族群的利益,损害其他族群的利益,这是为了达致他们分而治之的隐议程。结果它否定了许多人士在我国历史中所应占有的一席之地。最近备受争议的《连环扣》小说,就是巫统议程的最新样本。

为了说明事实真相,本书以阶级观点分析反殖民主义斗争,并确认各族群中具有爱国主义思想的各个阶级为国家独立与建设所作出的贡献。

英 国档案局的文献明确显示,分而治之的策略是英殖民政府的歪主意。所谓的“联盟方案”,一开始就矛盾重重。我们至今仍在探索这些矛盾。“人民的历史” 是德高望重的学者们学术研究的成果,却一直受到官方的抹杀。认识这段历史可以让我们了解到, 我国种族两极化的根源,并为非种族国家建设方案奠下基础。

真正多元民族的模式

作 家兼革命家法农(Frantz Fanon)认为,去殖民化,即铲除殖民主义势力,争取民族解族,是个无可避免的暴力现象。马来亚在1948年至1960年所实施的紧急狀态是马来亚历史 上的暴力事件,其规模与镇压行动的殘暴仅次于越南战争。许多人失去性命与自由,成千上万人士从我国国土消失。有些受难者家属(如在紧急狀态时期 Batang Kali屠杀民众事件中失去亲人的家属)仍在寻求正义,讨回公道。

马来亚人民独立斗争是一批准备牺牲性命与自由的爱国者为反 殖民主义剥削和压迫而进行斗争的刻骨铭心的故事。反殖民主义运动中的人民要求自治,各民族大联盟 (即:AMCJA-PUTERA联盟) 提出了《人民宪法建议》。如果《人民宪法》在我国独立时成了 《联邦宪法》,如今马來西亚又会是怎么样的一个国家呢?

各民族大联盟(AMCJA-PUTERA)是个真正多元民族组织的模式。相比之下,联盟是由三个以种族为根基的成员党所组成的。它所提出的“种族方案”一开始就矛盾重重。联盟(如今的国阵)的成员党公开宣称,自己是种族主义的政党,并自始就由巫统主导。

如果我国实施《族群关系法》,或者正式签署联合国的《消除种族歧视公约》,国阵存在的合理性,将备受质疑。

马 来亚工人运动和激进的知识分子在反殖联盟AMCJA-PUTERA中,显现出其组织强大,各民族互相支援,多元民族之间团结无间。这段历史是当今马来西亚 多元民族真正合作、互相鼓舞的模范。经历过这场斗争,他们发展了民族主义和反帝国主义的意识,并且有所醒觉,愿意走上社会主义道路,建设各民族平等的社 会。

英殖民主义者采用种族策略,分化反殖民主义运动。他们玩弄非马来人公民权的课题,但却背信弃义,剥夺各族群的民权和自由。如果所有马来亚人民都能获得真正的政治平等权利与公民自由权利,我国將会是多么美好的国家!

反殖运动会受到挫败,主要是因为缺乏马来农民的参与。他们被排除在反殖运动主流之外,同时免受当时资本家在园丘、工厂及城市工业中所进行的剥削。英殖民政府毫不手软地利用种族和宗教宣传,以便对付和分化反殖运动。

513事件扭曲宪法

虽 然英殖民主义者制定1957年的《联邦宪法》时,在民权课题上作了某些妥协,但是,我们如今所享有的民权却受制于后來的修正法令,而不是独立时期的宪法所 赋予的。我们所享有的基本自由权都罗列在《联邦宪法》中。宪法赐予每个公民基本人权,这些基本人权是我们作为公民所应享有的。如今所保障的公民权利却远远 不及1957年独立当年所赋予的。1969年5月13日所发生的种族骚乱改变了这一切。

1969 年的“513事件”和马来资产阶级的崛起,促成了巫统统治阶级获得了国家的绝对主导权和霸权统治。“513事件”后颁布的紧急狀态所造就的既成事实,加上 国阵成立较为广泛的联盟,导致了”马來主权”的錯误观念。这种錯误观点驱使巫统领袖与马来极端右翼分子在“马来主权”幌子下为非作歹,但却消遙法外。

《宪法》 153条经修改后,完全改变了1957年的“社会契约”。宪法修正后,所谓的“固打制”变成了既成事实。它一直延续至今,导致严重的族群歧视与不平等现象。

柯嘉逊在本书结论勾画了这么一个愿景: 如果马来西亚要开创具有持续性的未来,拥有崭新、涉及所有马来西亚人民利益的改革议程,那么马来西亚就必须实现公平、具有社会正义、平等与民主,尊重人权的国家愿景。

柯嘉逊是人权组织马来西亚人民之声(Suara Rakyat Malaysia, SUARAM)创办人兼董事,曾著有《513解密文件》等书。

2011年9月16日星期五

纳吉的“政改”:太少、太假

纳吉的“政改”:太少、太假
冷眼
2011年9月16日
上午 10点28分



更重要的一点是,纳吉没列出落实各项“改革”措施的时程。人们记忆犹新的是,前首相马哈迪如何在1999年大选前“接受”《华团诉求》,胜选后却翻脸不认账的鬼伎俩!人民如何能确信,奉行“马哈迪主义”的纳吉不会效尤呢?

首相纳吉15日晚在马来西亚日献词中,宣布将 废除内安法、撤销印刷媒体每年更新出版准证的规定、检讨限制集会自由的警察法等等,声称“政府了解到马来西亚已改变,也了解人民期待这个国家更开放,重视 人民的概念和想法,让世界民主标准,即民有、民治和民享的理念起步”。这番话引起了很大反响,人们不禁在想:雷声是够大了,雨点会不会也一样大呢?

在 宣布废除内安法之前,政府一直不肯松口,纳吉的亲信内长希山慕丁甚至一口否定废除内安法的“揣测”,并表示内政部对内安法等6项法律的修改已进入尾声,即 将提呈给内阁云云。那么,为何突然有此戏剧性转变?是不是跟纳吉的民调支持率下跌有关呢?是不是大选前的又一场大型公关秀呢?

笔者注意到,纳吉还提到将以两项新法律“保护公共安全”,但却没深入说明。到时政府会不会以新瓶装旧酒呢?

首 相说要撤销印刷媒体每年更新出版准证的条文,只需申请准证一次,就可以使用到撤销为止。然而,由于批准和撤销出版准证的大权依然操控在内政部长手中,不受 司法审查,其松绑作用想必有限。再加上印刷媒体拥有权都集中在执政党或亲执政党集团手中,新闻尺度因自我审查而不可能会有太大的改进。

首 相也宣布将检讨警察法第27条文以及联邦宪法第10条款对集会自由的限制,但政府仍坚决反对街头示威。集会示威的其中一个目的是要向外传播诉求或主张,如 果集会只能在体育场里举行,那么这种“松绑”有何意义可言?如果纳吉真的关注自由与人权,就应该全面重修警察法,拿掉警察的过度权力,并成立“警察滥权投 诉独立调查委员会”(IPCMC)。

更重要的一点是,纳吉没列出落实各项“改革”措施的时程。人们记忆犹新的是,前首相马哈迪如何在1999年大选前“接受”《华团诉求》,胜选后却翻脸不认账的鬼伎俩!人民如何能确信,奉行“马哈迪主义”的纳吉不会效尤呢?

必 须说,首相所宣布的措施原则上是好的,缺的只是诚意、力度、广度和公信力。人民要的是有诚意的、全面的、不可逆转的改革步骤,而不是快熟面式的随兴措施。 首相如果真的有心还政于民,就应该提出一个严谨的路线图,从净选盟的8大诉求开始,逐步落实政治改革,在初见成效之前决不举行下届大选。

http://malaysiakini.com/letters/175980

2011年7月29日星期五

被压迫的人,没有选择的奢侈!

被压迫的人,没有选择的奢侈!
周小芳
2011年7月29日
下午 1点44分
最近我时常郁闷到想哭,我甚至试过夜晚放工回家,边驾车边哭,因为我们活在一个让人会发疯的国家啊!

当皇委会说赵明福是自杀的,当我看了那小说般的报告内容,我的心情顿时跌入谷底。

NONE我们在沙登做签名运动,只需要说出赵明福三个字,除了那些完全不了解时事的欧巴桑,大家都会二话不说地签名。有人质疑我们之前做的签名运动难道都是没有用的,我也如此质疑,难道我们都做了傻子?

我一想到赵丽兰,她的心结永远都不会被打开,我明白那种受害者情意结,还有那失去自由的六名社会主义党党员,明明是为人民斗争的勇士,却背负莫须有的罪名,想到这,我的眼泪就不能停了。

曾经宁愿孩子们不知情

想到这些受害者的家属,我终于明白当年学长在大学时对我说过的一句话:“被压迫的人,没有选择的奢侈!”

我曾经认为,让内安法令扣留者的小孩从小就接触政府的不好,让他们出席集会,对他们不好。我情愿告诉他们:“你的爸爸现在在远方工作,他很快会回来的”,就像肥猫的妈妈欺骗肥猫,他的爸爸去了行船那样。

我会情愿让他们快快乐乐地渡过童年,像常人一样生活,不会觉得自己和别人的小孩有何异样。如果我是他们,我也不愿意这么快知道真相,我情愿天真无邪多几年。

只能教导孩子如何面对

结果学长说:“幸福的人,当然可以‘安排’适合的时间,去让孩子循序渐进地去接触社会的阴晦和黑暗。但是,当阴晦和黑暗在你‘安排’的时间前出现时,对不起,你没有选择……你只能教你孩子如何面对,或示范给他们看如何逃避现实(不让他知道)”

如今,我终于深切体会,被暴政压迫的人,原来真的没有选择的余地。没有人会在压迫来临前,就准备好受压迫,但当压迫来敲你的门的时候,你只能勇敢去面对。

突来横祸只能坚强面对


NONE正如赵丽兰本来可以当一个相夫教子的小妇人,但却因为哥哥遭遇不测,需要抛头露面,不断向政府施压,不断泪洒人前,甚至被马青仔诅咒她去死,只为了一个所谓的真相。

6名扣留者的家属本来可以一家团圆,享受天伦之乐或与爱人甜蜜相聚,但却因亲人被无理扣留,需要不断奔波警局,每天晚上风雨不改的在警局前点蜡烛,只为了盼望家人早日归来。

脑海突闪过709万人潮

我当然知道不能放弃的道理,我当然知道斗争还是要继续下去,但是我真的很伤心很伤心很伤心……

当大家都依然沉浸在709的自豪,依然在为自己上街感到沾沾自喜的时候,我很纳闷,就因为社会主义党看起来是“印度人党”,就因为那6人是遭紧急法令扣留,不是恶名昭彰的内安法令,就因为他们被逮捕看似和大家毫无关系,所以就没有什么人关注他们?

最近我出席该党在怡保九洞的烛光会,只有区区70人出席,可是我的同事却告诉我,这样的人数已经算很多了,那一刻,我的脑海闪过7月9日当天数之不尽的人潮。

为何只有百人烛光会?

NONE安碧嘉说,709成功举行了,但是我们不能庆祝,当他们被释放的时候,我们才可以庆祝。

我实在很纳闷,为何在如此高压的情况下,有成千上万的人涌上街头,但是在6人被逮捕后,却只能有百多人支持那看起来较为安全的烛光会?

我实在太焦急,我只能一直在网上不断呼吁大家关注此事,只能出席他们的烛光会,即使特地出城只为了出席一场烛光会,这些小小的事情,是我可以做的,也是大家可以做的。

不要等悲剧发生才悲恸

最后,再也古玛甚至选择了绝食抗议!到底是什么原因,要让已经有病在身的再也古玛选择走上绝食这条路呢?必然,那已经是斗争的最后战役了!

赵明福在被扣留其间坠楼,一切发生得太突然,我们无法做什么来挽回他的生命,但这6名已经被扣留35天的人,是活生生的生命啊!是我们可以拯救的人,希望大家不要等到悲剧发生以后,才来为他们悲恸。

我一想到这些事情也可能随时发生在我认识的朋友身上时,就惊觉那双无形的手原来是如此的靠近。

这些受暴政逼迫的家属没有权选择自己的家人何时遇害或何时被扣,但我们大家却有权选择是否要伸出援手。

当你认为事不关己,己不劳心的时候,你真的能保证这样的事情永远不会发生在你的身上吗?

http://malaysiakini.com/news/171409

2011年7月16日星期六

BOB DYLAN - Blowing in the wind


BOB DYLAN – Blowing in the wind

2011年5月6日星期五

[转贴] 纳吉不可躲的抉择:极右或中间?

纳吉不可躲的抉择:极右或中间?
白云山
2011年5月5日
傍晚 7点33分
分享 49
纳吉和马华以要挟的方式,发出最后通牒给华裔选民:民联马华,两者选一,当家作主的选民应当 “以子之矛,攻子之盾”,给纳吉和马华发出最后通牒。

今天,极右派的跋扈气焰冲天,把一个马来西亚熏烤得天昏地暗。纳吉贵为首相,贵为 “一个马来西亚”中庸治国理念提倡者、推动者,竟对这群公然捣毁其 “理念”的“破坏王”袖手旁观,实属荒谬。

假如纳吉不是具有“理念喜欢被人破坏”的特殊嗜好,那么上述理念只不过是虚假理念,否则应当竭尽所能捍卫其理念。因此,作为混淆的选民,我们有必要要求纳吉公告其政治取向——偏向极右,抑或靠向中间?

纳吉不能继续躲在“一个马来西亚”的龟壳里自欺欺人,蒙混过去 。如果他偏向极右,就不要再到处推销象征中庸的“一个马来西亚”,就像卖的是葡萄酒,就别说那是葡萄汁,否则就是欺骗。

如果纳吉偏向中间,那么就必须站在极右份子,包括副手慕尤丁、恩师马哈迪、土权组织的对立面,至少说服他们放弃极右立场,尤其是规劝副手慕尤丁以马来西亚人优先,而非马来人优先,否则有违 “以民为本”(rakyat didahulukan)的“一个马来西亚”精神。

同时,纳吉如果真的拥护中间路线,那么应当对屡屡发表仇视华裔和非马来人言论的极右团体土权组织和极右报章《马来西亚前锋报》,予以谴责,并警告对方勿破坏其宣扬的“一个马来西亚”理念。

迄今为止,纳吉对极右势力的崛起和胡作妄为保持优雅的沉默(elegant silence)。如果他想要继续当“一个马来西亚”的首相,重获人民,尤其是非马来人的支持,就必须打破缄默,与极右集团决裂——极右或中间,两者选一。

至于马华,虽然表面上与极右势力针锋相对,彼此暗渡陈仓、默契十足,马华议员和领袖曾经与土权组织同台示威就是最佳佐证。明知华社厌恶极右团体,却与之相亲,马华勿怪华社唾弃自己。

马华亲近极右团体,后者不以礼相待,反而不时羞辱马华,但马华依旧逆来顺受。最近,土权组织变本加厉,直捣马华总部示威,力挺《前锋报》的“一个土著论”。

对于土权的挑衅和羞辱,马华继续忍辱偷生扮演文告政党的角色。所谓的高调问政就是文告问政,发发文告,聊以自慰。马华作为一个号称拥有百万党员的全球第三大华人政党,虽在朝54年,面对一个仅成立3年的小组织的无理取闹,竟无力还击,任其欺凌,实为耻辱。

正是马华的懦弱,迫使华裔陆续离弃。“知耻近乎勇”,马华若要绝地反击成功,此时就必须鼓起勇气向极右集团宣战,但不是文告战,而是以行动展示马华对极右路线的厌恶,对实现“一个马来西亚”平等理念的热诚——极右或中间,两者选一。

如果纳吉和马华无法以强硬姿态对付极右集团,无力捍卫自身倡导的“一个马来西亚”理念,那么就别奢望华社支持,别怪罪华社不支持。

为了实现平权的愿景,华社连“恐回症”(islamophobia)都能克服,投票支持回教党,所以“种族两线制”并不存在。当下逐渐成形的是“极右/中间两线制”,而大部份华裔选民和城市选民都是中间路线的拥护者。

鉴此,纳吉和马华必须在极右和中间路线之间做出抉择,不然将面对政权倾覆之虞,这是华裔选民给你们的最后通牒。

后记:


2007 年11月9日的巫统代表大会上,前首相阿都拉警告准备参与“浄选盟大集会”(Bersih Rally)的人民说:“Saya pantang dicabar”(我忌讳被挑战)。结果两天后,万人涌上街头展示rakyat pantang dicabar的力量,间接催生了来年的308政治海啸,进而结束阿都拉庸庸碌碌的政治生涯。

纳吉没有吸取历史 教训,以威胁口吻警告华社,这或许是他自断江山的伏笔。人民和从政者应以电影 《V for Vendetta》的一句对白奉为圭皋:人民不该畏惧政府,应是政府畏惧人民 (People should not be afraid of their governments. Government should afraid of their people)。



http://malaysiakini.com/letters/163370

2011年4月20日星期三

A case of too little too late!

A case of too little too late!

by Dr Hsu in Malaysia

Ironically, both BN and PR leaders are happy with the Sarawak election results. The only exception is SUPP but even their own leaders knew about their fate long before election was called..

BN leaders have expected something even worse. In fact, just a few months ago some of them have privately expressed the fear that they may lose more than one third of seats. So to them, to be able to secure more than two third, despite losing more seats than 2006, is a good result. The fact that PM was there for the whole week was due to this fear of losing the two-third.

PR of course is happy since they double their representation, even though it has fallen short of their one third target.

The results reaffirms what we know all along: that the urban votes are now dead against BN, not just the urban Chinese, but urban Dayaks, and in West Malaysia, even some percentage of urban Malays and Indians too.

A reader whom I suspect is a BN member since he uses the BN sales pitch wrote the following comment in my blog in the last post:

Just think rationally, if the rest of Malaysia is still with BN, won’t you think chinese will be sideline even more than before. All the remaining 5 chinese mayors and all the state ministers post – how many will remain?

As a former member of a component party, I have heard this sales pitch many many times before.

Let us not just argue but look back at recent history.

In 1999, the Malay votes turned against BN because of the Anwar factor, and what saved the day was the Chinese and Indians votes, which helped BN to pull through. In 2004, Chinese votes were generally behind BN and Pak Lah, after he has uttered the famous (or infamous depends on which side you are on) phrase ” work with me, and not for me”. 2004 election was also the one election that BN won the highest percentage of popular votes ever.

So since 1999 till almost 2006, the Chinese sentiments were with the government of the day. They have a relatively high representation inside then.

What did the urban votes get in return? More racism even to the extent of keris raising, more extremist views ( and more double standard when it comes to uttering extremist views) , more marginalisation, more corruption, more so-called pirate-isation privatisation where billions were lost as leakages and wastage, more abuse of power by our various institution to the extent that ISA was used to ‘protect’ a journalist. These were real happenings that occurred during the period when the government of the Day enjoyed relatively high support of the urban people (eg. in KL Gerakan won 2 out of 3 urban seats in 1999 and 2004, seats where there were Chinese majority but with sizeable Malay and Indian voters, and nationally it won 10 of 12 Parliament seats contested).

AT that time, there were many elected Non-Malay Ministers inside the cabinet. The representations were there, but things worsened. The perception is that these people talked outside but dared not voice out inside.

The truth is there were actually 2 types of representations of these component parties inside. One was the quiet type, agreeing to whatever policies decided, and dared not object very strongly, since many of them put their self interest above all else. There was another type that spoke out quite strongly inside too, but being a small voice, the voice was totally ignored. The latter was also the one that would not be allowed to rise up to a high position, since anyone who dared to speak out were chopped and sidelined in every component party without fail.

Many a times members of these component parties were told not to ‘rock’ the boat. In one of the National Delegates’ conference, I actually argued that it was not the members who rocked the boat, it was the ‘ineffective’ leadership and the ‘dare-not-voice-out-too-strongly’ attitude of the top leaders of these component parties that not only rocked but also sank the boat. The voting patterns of 308 and 416 show that what i have uttered is generally true.

So the perception among the urban people is that even with these people inside , their grouses had not been heard.

As a consequence of getting huge support, the government of the day became so arrogant that the some ministers could not even take fair criticism in their stride and acted as if they could never be wrong, since they believed that most people, even the urban ones , were behind them.

It was only after 308, when many of the component parties suffered huge losses and humiliation that the government of the day began to appear to want to seek change. That is how the slogan of ’1Malaysia’ came about. They are forced to seek change not because they wanted it, but because they knew that if they don’t, they would get booted out. It becomes a case of either change or be changed.

It is this fear of losing their power and perks that makes them soften their stand and, and outsource the more extreme parts to their associates in certain NGO.

Ironically, only when the representation of the urban area was at its lowest, did the government of the day realise that there is a need to change. But given the warlord culture, it is a mammoth task.

So when the urban people all voted for the government, they were taken for granted. There were few scholarships, there were few opportunities to get government contracts etc etc. Members of some law enforcement agencies were more busy tending to their own ‘cari makan’ than to catch criminals. Crime rates soared.

These all happened when urban people voted for the government. So i would not blame them if they got fed up and seek to change.

I will quote a true example to show how timid these leaders were inside. When some of the BN chairmanship of parliamentary kawasan of some component parties were taken away by Big Brother last year, I raised the point that if the component parties cannot even fight to retain their own seat allocations, how are they going for fight for the interest of the people? The answer I got from the Top leader (and our representative to Supreme council) was that even CSL (the DVD actor) did not say anything, so he just kept quiet. He then put the blame on his predecessor, the adviser ( note: I canceled the 2 words because the advisor resigned some time back). When a representative who is supposed to represent a component party inside the ‘Supreme Meeting’ cannot even utter the word “No” , how can he effectively represent the people? CSL, as told by my own Top leader, was not vocal at all inside; but outside, he appears to be another man, vocal in quite a number of issues. A typical case of 2 face.

The comment of the our ‘wise’ reader above is actually standard BN sales pitch, and people in the urban areas would not buy this sale pitch anymore. If the government is serious to win back urban votes, they need to do more than sales pitch.

What the government needs to do is not to punish the people who voted against them by withholding development. What they need to do is to find out WHY people voted against them, and tackle the problems at its roots: Be more equal and fairer, be more transparent, be more people orientated, be less corrupt. Adopt policies that are inclusive and will not marginalise any group.

Go direct to the people, even if the urban people have no more representations inside. Listen to the people. They have eyes and ears everywhere, so feel the pulse. .

The fate of the Indians was a good example. While they have voted time and again for BN and MIC, they became the most marginalised group. Only when the NGO Hindraff appeared on the Horizon, did their plight get noticed . But sadly what was being done for them is still not enough, still very far from uplifting this community from poverty.

The Chinese community has asked that the UEC exam be recognised. They have been asking this for many many years. Only now, after the community has shifted their support against the government, did the government come out with some changes to let some of those who pass UEC be admitted into main stream universities. This could not even be achieved during the time when their representation was relatively high inside the government. I think this example speaks plenty for itself that ineffective representation is even worse than no representation.

Tan Sri George Chan has finally hit the nail at its head when he attributed the cause of the routing of SUPP and his own defeat to this : whatever change that was being done was ‘too little and too late”.

Unfortunately, He paid the price for realising this ‘too late’.


http://hsudarren.wordpress.com/2011/04/18/a-case-of-too-little-too-late-2/