Discoursing general election outcome in UKM

The UKM seminar held this morning on the recently concluded general election was really thought-provoking and the debates exciting. From left: panel speakers Associate Professor Ghazali Mayudin (Programme of Political Science of the Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities of UKM) as well as Dr. Mavis Puthucheary (IKMAS' Associate Fellow), and myself, Professor Dato' Dr. Abdul Rahman Embong (PSSM's President) and moderator Professor Norani Othman (Principal Fellow of IKMAS). Some 100 academics, students, members of PSSM and invited guests attended the seminar conducted in both Bahasa Malaysia and English.

New language to conceptualise new situation

Cultists in Russia believe world to end in May

According to a report in BBC, "fresh talks are under way to persuade 28 doomsday cult members in Russia to end a five-month cave siege after seven sect women came to the surface". These doomsday cult members believe that the end of the world will occur in coming May and they entered the cave in October and have refused to come out.

Gibbon on decline & fall of old Roman Empire

Two top, pressing tasks for new governments

Politics in Malaysia has undoubtedly opened up a new chapter with an avalanche of ideas surging into the public domains and there are also many open clashes of partisan personalities. However, for the newly installed governments, at both the Federal and State levels, the most pressing post-election tasks should be (1) to combat crimes to ensure that ordinary people do not live in fear anymore, and also (2) to find all the available, practical and viable ways and means to relieve the rakyat jelata of all races of the daily pressure of rising cost of living. Politics, however exciting to politicians, journalists, writers, lawyers, analysts, academics, observers and polemists, has no meaning at all to the majority of people if these two concerns are not addressed as matters of pressing priority and with tangible and verifiable results.

Social freedom for positive self-improvement

New language to conceptualise new situation

A journalist in her 20s and with a sharp mind recently consulted this blogger whether it is actually right to describe Penang, Kedah, Perak, Selangor and Kelantan as "Opposition-led" or "Opposition-controlled" states (or state governments"). The answer given to her is that it is more appropriate and accurate now to conceptualise and characterise these entities as states or state governments "led (or controlled) by the Federal (or Parliamentary) Opposition". The current situation in Malaysia is certainly more complex than the old and simplistic divide.

UKM' s academic seminar on general election

Proposal to criminalise making May 13 threat

In response to the call of Lt. Kol (R) Mohd Idris bin Hassan to "bury the ghost of May 13", fellow citizen Daniel K.C. Lim also wrote to the editor of The Star suggesting that it should be made "an offence to threaten people with a 'repeat' of that black chapter in our history".

Strive to preserve, enhance people solidarity

UKM' s academic seminar on general election

I have just received an invitation to attend a an academic seminar on the general election, to be held in the Bangi campus of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) on 31 March (Monday). The seminar is organised by Persatuan Sains Social Malaysia (PSSM) and UKM's own Institut Kajian Malaysia dan Antarabangsa (IKMAS). I am certainly looking forward to listening to what learned academics have to say about the "political tsunami" that still excites and depresses many.

Sixth dimension of current political situation

Sixth dimension of current political situation

On 24 March (Monday), I summed up the current political situation in Malaysia with five characteristics but now it is clear to all that there is a sixth dimension, viz. the internal conflicts and tensions within BN in Sabah and Sarawak. Indeed, Malaysia's political situation is in flux.

Government-Palace discords not new in M'sia

New Perak MB fluent in four major languages

According to Harakah Daily, the new Menteri Besar of Perak Ir. Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin is fluent in four major languages and two Chinese dialects. He is an engineering graduate from UK and a hockey player.

Short history of Ipoh & other Kinta townships

Social freedom for positive self-improvement

Last evening, I was interviewed by a very young feature writer of the Chinese-language Oriental Daily and one of the important points I put forward to her was that the social freedom or the sense of it that the people have gained since the 1998-99 Reformasi, and which has been consolidated in the recently concluded general election, can be used for positive improvements for individuals, families or communities, especially in terms of acquisition of many forms of useful knowledge. I also pointed out that social freedom could be misused by some for economically unproductive or socially undesirable activities and that the civil society must always be vigilant against antisocial 'liberalism'.

Tribute to forerunners of progressive politics

Farewell to past with truths & reconciliation

Yesterday, I met Tim who is an English TV documentary film-maker from Britain and we had a really thought-provoking conversation on many subjects on history and society. Holding progrssive views on world and British history, Tim told me that he is dedicated to telling British youths and children true but unpleasant stories of the British Empire and I told him that while many of us, especially those of the elderly generation, would also like to learn more about those stories in the past and to see that grave injustices are acknowledged and, if possible, rectified, we still admire many dimensions of British culture and society. We agree that it is the time for truth and reconciliation for a better world for youths and children of all nations and societies.

Struggle against distortion of history in Japan

M' sian FM on diplomats' language proficiency

With all honesty, I must say that new Foreign Minister Rais Yatim has finally conceived the indisputably correct and right idea of upgrading the language skills of our diplomats who represent us and project the nation's image to the world of many languages and cultures out there.

Rudd' s Mandarin impresses Chinese president

Government-Palace discords not new in M'sia

Latent discords or even open conflicts between the sultans and their respective royal courts on one hand, and the Federal Government and the Menteri Besar and their state administrations it supports on the other, is actually not new. Dr. Harold Crouch's Government & Society in Malaysia (New York, Cornell University Press, 1996) have recorded and also analysed some such major cases and the causes in the past. What is new in the current situation is that the re-assertion of royal powers happens at a moment when Umno has been weakened on an unprecedented scale in the general election concluded two weeks ago. Government & Society in Malaysia, a very insightful discourse of the fundamentals of Malaysia's political system or polity, is still publicly available for sale in major bookshops like Kinokuniya and Borders.

Time to bury ghost of May 13 for a new M' sia

Five characteristics of new political situation

Like it or otherwise, in the 2008 General Election, BN has not only (1) lost four state administrations to opposition parties but also (2) been denied its two-third majority in the Dewan Rakyat for the first time. It is also now confronting with (3) publicly expressed discontents of non-Umno allies such as MCA and Gerakan against Umno, (4) a highly factionalised Umno and (5) the evident reassertion of royal powers in the formations of state administrations in Perlis, Perak, Selangor and Terengganu. Seen in negative light, the post-election situation could be characterised as a very classic breakdown of the central authority, but if read and seen in positive perspective, it has opened up a new scenario of power decentralisation and restored checks and balances.

Umno's strategic choice affects BN allies' fate

Time to bury ghost of May 13 for a new M' sia

The letter of Lt-Col (R) Mohd Idris Hassan to the editor of the New Straits Times today is certainly very refreshing and enlightening, and it should be welcome by all right-thinking Malaysians of all races who have opted di mana bumi dipijak dan maka di sana langit dijunjung.

Said Zahari confident of a better M' sia for all

Short history of Ipoh & other Kinta townships

When I travelled back to Ipoh last Friday for Qingming, I brought with me for leisurely reading the 157-page Chinese-language oral history of Ipoh published in Kuala Lumpur in 2007 by Promethuus Enterprise. I have actually already started perusing it since late last year, but, on and off, some other events intervened and delayed the completion of the reading. Besides Ipoh, the oral history also covers other historical towns and major settlements in the Kinta Valley such as Mengelembu, Falim, Papan, Pusing, Tronoh, Batu Gajah, Kampung Timah, Kampar, Gopeng & New Kopisan, Pulai, Gunung Rapat, Pasir Pinji, Kampung Kuchai, Simee, Tambun, Tanjung Rambutan, Chemor and Jelapang.

Tomb-sweeping reflection in hometown Ipoh

Tomb-sweeping reflection in hometown Ipoh

For my family, Qingming is not only a day to pay respect and express gratitude to our ancestors, but also for reminiscence and, above all, introspection reflecting upon whether our own selves and the living environment have been stagnant, or changed for the better or worse. For me, I am always particularly grateful to grandmother and father for preserving and transmitting to our family the positive values in the Chinese tradition as well as the modern, humanist, progressive and scientific spirit of the 1919 May Fourth New Culture Movement for personal cultivation as individuals or members of larger groups. May all of them as well as their friends and neighbours rest in peace.

Delivering lectures to China's undergraduates

Remembering a pioneer of modern Ipoh town

Because today is not the exact date in the Chinese lunar calender for Qingming, the Guangdong Public Cemetery in Ipoh, which is situated just beside the Tambun Inn, was not crowded and our tomb-sweeping exercise took only two hours. The very first and paramount tomb we swept belongs to my great grandfather Wong Siew Meng who was laid to rest in 1923 AD (or the 11th Year of the Republic) after he, having accumulated sufficient resources by working in Califonia ("Old Golden Mountain") in the US during the Gold Rush and also engaging in petty trade in Thailand, opened up the part of Ipoh's New Town centred on Clare Street, transforming it from tropical bush to a hub of business. The inscriptions on the tomb stone record that my great grandfather Wong Siew Meng was born in the Panyu district in China's Guangzhou.

May Mrs. Sybil Kathigasu's spirit shine forever

In deep memory of Chairman Yong Yoke Sang

About 1,000 Chinese community leaders, teachers and students gathered at the New Era College in Kajang this morning to pay heartfelt tribute to the late Yong Yoke Sang (1938-2008) who was the ex-Chairman of the Save Our School (SOS) Committee of SRJK(C) Damansara. In 2001, the 78-year old Chinese primary school was ordered to be closed by the authorities sparking off a social protest movement which finally led to the inauguration of SOS.

Chairman Yong (above) had been at the forefront of the nationwide efforts to demand the reopening of the school at its original site. He passed away on 10 March 2008, only two days after he witnessed the defeat of former MCA MP Chew Mei Fun in the PJ Utara constituency (P.106) where the original and historical site of the school is located. My wife and I also attended the memorial service for Chairman Yong.

Umno's strategic choice affects BN allies' fate

Going back to Ipoh to sweep ancestors' tombs

Mother has just called to fix this coming Saturday (22 March) for our family's Qingming Day. So, my younger brother and myself have to go back to Ipoh to pay respect and express gratitude to our dear father, and also great grandparents, grandparents as well as their childless friends and neighbours who died in our hometown as revolutionaries in exile, refugees of wars or indentured labourers or coolies from Old China. But, I have first to get a plumber to repair the washrooms in my house, clean up the reading room and bring my wife for a movie. By the way, the new and only email address of this blogger from now on is jameswongwingon@gmail.com and both my computer setup and human faculty read writings in Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and English.

'Creationism' in old Chinese New Year legend

Watching US presidential election in Malaysia

This morning, I attended the IKMAS-IKON Roundtable on The 2008 US Presidential Election held at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in its Bangi campus. IKMAS is the well-known acronym of UKM's Institute of Malaysian and International Studies while IKON stands for Institute of Occidental Studies. The non-partisan conference, held specifically for observers and analysts of international relations in the academia, military and foreign service, featured Mr. Philip Hoffman of the US Embassy in KL, Professor K.S.Nathan, Professor Joseph Stimpfi and Professor Lee Poh Ping, and it was open by Professor Dr. Tham Siew Yean and chaired by Associated Professor Dr.Rashila Ramli. I am also very happy to have met Professor Rahman Embong again and joined him as well as other for the official lunch in my capacity as the Vice President of the Malaysian Association for American Studies (MAAS).

American views on world politics, 1989-2001

Umno's strategic choice affects BN allies' fate

Whether MCA, Gerakan and MIC could rebuild themselves and regain the ground lost in the 2008 general election depends to a very large extent on whether Umno, at both the national as well as state levels, decides to moderate its attitudes and positions or render itself even more extreme in response to the now credible challenge posed by the progressive PKR-PAS which are also more inclusive and enlightened. The real problem for Umno is that, as shown by the result of the 2008 general election, at least 50% of the Malay/Muslim voting population have intellectually and morally outgrown its ideology and propaganda.

Manage power transitions with responsibility

NEP row : MCA & Gerakan in historic dilemma

While Umno is launching its attacks against PKR, DAP and PAS for the latters' more critical view and progressive position on the race-based programme of political economy known as the New Economic Policy or NEP, other non-Umno BN component parties, especially the MCA and Gerakan, are caught in an historic dilemma or even existential crisis: how to continue to be close allies of Umno while attempting to regain the support of their natural constituents who are critical of the NEP ? There is certainly now a very great divergence of values and interests between Umno on one hand, and its so-called BN allies on the other. Correspondingly, the values and interests of Umno's BN allies such as MCA and Gerakan now converge with those of PKR-DAP-PAS position.

MCA's "traitors" answer Umno's "running dogs"

'Old boy' of ACS Kampar sworn in as Perak MB

According to malaysiakini, Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin was sworn in as the Menteri Besar of Perak at the royal town of Kuala Kangsar this morning. Like my old friend and Kuala Selangor's new MP Dr. Zulkifri Ahmad, Ir. Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is also a graduate of world-class scientific course from Britain in the First World. DAP's veteran MP, Lim Kit Siang reportedly attended Nizar's swearing-in ceremony. Clare Street would like to seize this historic opportunity to wish the people's unity government of Perak successes in many years to come.

Long live M' sian people' s unity in diversity !

Long live M' sian people' s unity in diversity !

Many of Tian Chua's non-Muslim friends and comrades, both males as well as females, also gathered in Batu Muda to share the jubilation of Makka Sathi ! and all of them are conversant with Bahasa Malaysia. It augurs well for the building of a truly progressive and organic society. With people of all ethnic communities always truly united in diversity, sectarian plotters and splittist reactionaries are merely 'paper tigers'.

Thaipusam's best wishes from James & family

Islamic prayer for a Chinese who fights for all

In Batu Muda earlier this afternoon, an elderly imam was seen at Tian Chua's victory celebration and he led Muslims like Nora to pray for the well-being of all races. The new MP was also presented with a garland of honour by the Indian community in the parliamentary constituency, and many still shouted in unison in the Tamil language: Makka Sathi !

Triumph of inter-cultural respect & exchange

Lion dance greets multiethnic Batu' s new MP

The new MP for Batu Tian Chua was greeted and graced by a pair of dancing lions in Batu Muda this afternoon. All the adik-adik present were excited just like I was thrilled by camel-racing in the desert of Arabia. Ten years of Reformasi have made us all more broad-minded.

Time to start reading Dream of Red Chamber

Joyful celebration of people' s empowerment

At the thanksgiving kenduri held earlier this afternoon in Batu Muda within the Batu parliamentary constituency, I met the lawan-tetap-lawan Nora (second from left) and our other common friends again. Nora, a petty trader and young mother, had been at the forefront of the Reformasi protest movement since 1999. After the multi-cultural performances of kompang, lion dances as well as Nathaswaram and Thaval, a people's imam led an Islamic prayer to express the people's gratitude to One True X for the election of Tian Chua as the new MP.

Strive to preserve, enhance people solidarity

Sharing hope for new governance in Selangor

Last night, the electoral machineries of PKR and DAP for Kelana Jaya, Subang Jaya and Seri Setia held a multi-ethnic dinner to celebrate the victories of the parties in the areas. Both Raja Petra Kamarudin and I were invited to share the people's joy of ending BN's rule in Selangor. I did not speak because I wanted to listen to the campaign managers and staff who had many personal experiences, episodes and opinions to share and enrich the collective knowledge of political participation.

Embrace changes for better tomorrow for all

Kit Siang requires world-class transformation

As I told the online Chinese-language Merdeka Review yesterday in an interview with sharper language that, while I acknowledge that there was indeed a pocket of people in the Kinta Valley and Ipoh who held reservations over a PAS MB, and that Kit Siang was just expressing their anxiety, I also maintain my post-1995 argument that Kit Siang really needs to be re-conditioned from being a nomadic conquerer on the horseback to a settled statesman with an establishment. He must now believe that he is a winner and Dr. Lim Keng Yaik, a loser. By the way, when I called my dear mother in Ipoh just now to ask her what she feels about the situation there, she said everything is normal and she also would like me to convey her congratulations to Kit Siang and Guan Eng for all the injustices against them have now been rectified. She also reminded me to go back in April for the Qingming Festival.

PAS' Dr. Siti Mariah won Muslim-minority seat

PAS' Dr. Siti Mariah won Muslim-minority seat

Dr. Siti Mariah Mahmud, a women leader of PAS and an acquaintance of mine, actually won the Muslim-minority parliamentary seat of Kota Raja (P.111) in Selangor with a rather convincing majority of 20,751. I am also glad that another female acquaintance of mine in PAS, viz. Dr. Lo' Lo' Mohd Ghazali has also been popularly elected last Saturday in the multiethnic parliamentary constituency of Titiwangsa (P. 119) in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. I am sure they would serve the rakyat of all races well and become their lidah in the Parliament.

Triumph of inter-cultural respect & exchange

Manage power transitions with responsibility

I joined some friends in KL's international diplomatic community just now for lunch to compare our observations and analyses on the post-election situation, and we share the view that while the majority of the people are generally mature, some politicians and a segment of the mainstream media should be more prudent in making statements so as to preserve social stability and harmony in this period of power transitions so that the climate of investment would not be adversely affected for the entire country. The world is watching Malaysia now.

Triumph of inter-cultural respect & exchange

Among the 31 PKR Members of Parliament (MP) elected are Selayang's William Leong Jee Keen and Ampang's Zuraida Kamaruddin who have been working very hard and with patience on the ground to promote inter-cultural respect and exchange among rakyat jelata of all races. Civilisational dialogue is no more just an academic course or subject in universities but a form of practical activities in the everyday life of the ordinary people in ibu pertiwi Malaysia which is multi-cultural.

Cultural exchange amid electoral hurly-burly

Said Zahari confident of a better M' sia for all

I just visited Pak Said in the neighbourhood as usual to see what he needs that I can help, and naturally we bersembang-sembang on the current situation. According to Pak Said, the outcome of the general election is "good for the people to progressively bring about a freer, fairer and more just society for all in a multiethnic nation" and some "hiccups" in the formations of new state governments at the moment would only be "temporary" as much more mature counsel and rational thinking would prevail among the winners and losers in days to come. Pak Said also expressed to me his confidence that the rakyat are now smarter and wiser as readers of mainstream newspapers like Utusan Malaysia. I am happy that Pak Said is still healthy and bersemangat.

Strive to preserve, enhance people solidarity

Khalid Ibrahim to be sworn in as Selangor MB

Very soon, former CEO and educated economist Khalid Ibrahim will be sworn in as the Mentri Besar of the people's government of Selangor. Khalid has also won the contest in the parliamentary constituency of Bandar Tun Razak ( P.124 ) in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.

Enjoying a multiethnic Malay marriage dinner

Kit Siang apologises to Perak Sultan & Regent

In a brief statement, DAP's veteran MP Lim Kit Siang has offered his apology to HRH Sultan of Perak and Regent for an earlier statement 'ordering' boycott by DAP's elected State Assembly representatives in Perak of the swearing-in ceremony of the new Perak Menteri Besar. As the people's government of Perak has made decision to appoint a Chinese and an Indian deputy Menteri Besar, I am very confident that political stability and social harmony would continue to prevail and all the rakyat would live in mutual respect for each other's rights, honour and dignity in our common endeavour to built a better society for all.

Cultural exchange amid electoral hurly-burly

Kit Siang lacks arts of statesmanly expression

In my personal opinion, it is certainly not wise for DAP's elected State Assembly representatives in the Perak state to boycott the swearing-in ceremony of the new Menteri Besar later today as opined by DAP's veteran MP Lim Kit Siang who is only a policy adviser now. There are other more equanimous and statesmanly manners of reiterating one's position or registering reservation in a situation of power transition.

Speaking on DAP platform tonight for Hannah

M' sian poll observations in Chinese & English

According to some friends and acquaintances in Singapore, they had already watched the MediaCorp News' English-language interview with me yesterday. The second and final portion of malaysiakini (Chinese edition) video interviews with Tan Ah Chai and myself, as well as the online Chinese-language Merdeka Review's telephone interviews with Anil Netto and me, have also been published just now. At the same time, the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) of the National University of Singapore (NUS) is sending its research team over soon to explore with me and others on the influences and impacts of information and communication technology (ICT) on the general election in Malaysia. My new and only email address now is jameswongwingon@gmail.com and my setup reads writings in Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and English.

Dr. Koh Tsu Koon as praiseworthy gentleman

Cultural exchange amid electoral hurly-burly

One very memorable moment for me during the 13-day campaigning is a makcik in Sentul who approached me, shook my hand and asked for my telephone number, saying that when her 4-year old grandson has reached the school-going age, she would like me to recommend a really good Chinese-language primary school for him, and, according to makcik, now that younger generations of Chinese Malaysians like me have already mastered Bahasa Malaysia, the time has come for future generations of Malays to seriously learn the Chinese language. In future elections, we may see MCA candidates beaten by Chinese-speaking Malays from PKR or PAS in Chinese-majority constituencies or Umno candidates thrashed by Malay-speaking Chinese from PKR or DAP in Malay-majority areas in Johore, Pahang, Kedah or Trengganu.

Nurul Izzah now a trilingual voice for M' sians

Dr. Koh Tsu Koon as praiseworthy gentleman

At a diplomatic cocktail party held in KL last night, many learned and very knowledgeable friends agreed with me that Penang's former CM Dr. Koh Tsu Koon is certainly a praiseworthy gentleman who has set a very good and mature example to all by accepting political defeat and transferring state power with truly admirable equanimity and dignity. By the way, the malaysiakini (Chinese edition) video interviews with me and Tan Ah Chai on our analyses and observations of the causes of BN' s debacles and politics of power transition has been published. The interviews were conducted last Sunday by editor Yong Kai Ping.

Strive to preserve, enhance people solidarity

Strive to preserve, enhance people solidarity

When I looked at a sea of people from the platform as I spoke to the 10,000-strong PKR public rally in Sentul last Thursday evening, I saw Malay, Chinese and Indian faces all expressing the hope for changes for a better society for all. Now that the dream of rakyat jelata have come true, it is the responsibility of all of us to preserve and enhance inter-ethnic solidarity and to be prepared to confront and defeat any reactionary attempts to derail, halt or reverse the historic progress.

Named extremist in Umno defeated in Kedah

Time to start reading Dream of Red Chamber

Hopefully, I can now find time to peruse The Dream of Red Chamber which I wanted to start but the crisis that began in 1998 had derailed my plan for ten very long years until the early morning of last Sunday.

Neo-feudal politics defeated in Gopeng, Batu

My views on M' sian poll in S' pore newspaper

Hazlin Hassan of The Straits Times in Singapore interviewed me on the telephone yesterday on the implications and repercussions of the recently concluded 12th general election in Malaysia and some of the salient points I put across to her has now been published in a report. Indeed, as Hazlin Hasan herself has observed, "many are keen to see the new Cabinet line-up following such a large-scale cull" on 8 March.

' Heavenly ' economic picture of BN backfires

Named extremist in Umno defeated in Kedah

Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzil, the BN candidate for the parliamentary seat of Kulim Bandar Baharu (P.18) in Kedah who was publicly named as an Umno's extremist has been 'slaughtered' by PKR's Zulkifli Noordin by a majority of 5,583. One of the Umno's nonsensical character Zainuddin Maidin has also lost in Sungai Petani (P.15) to PKR's Johari Abdul by a majority of 9,381. Meanwhile, two very close friends of mine, Khalid Ibrahim of PKR and Dr. Zulkifri Ahmad of PAS have won their seats.

In support of Khalid Ibrahim & Zulkifri Ahmad

Interviewed by Singapore' s TV media on poll

I was interviewed earlier this morning for about 30 minutes in KL by G. Manimaran, the Producer of Tamil News & Current Affairs of the MediaCorp of Singapore, on my analysis of the outcome of the 12th Malaysian General Election. In essence, I clearly pointed out that the popular sentiment of the people and the final results of the general election have fairly clearly shown that the BN's race-based paradigm of politics and its propaganda themes have been considerably diluted as three major races in Malaysia cohered at one decisive moment to swing against the ruling BN coalition on common concerns or cross-ethnic issues like rising prices and crime rate. I also opined that all these mood and issues were quite systematically articulated and also effectively expressed with the "Anwar Effect" that Basrisan Nasional has evidently failed to contain or roll back in the 13-day campaign.

MCA, Gerakan GE campaigns trivialise politics

Neo-feudal politics defeated in Gopeng, Batu

My dear friends Dr. Lee Boon Chye and Tian Chua (above) have finally 'slaughtered' the beloved sons of Dr. Ling Liong Sik and Dr. Lim Keng Yaik in Gopeng and Batu respectively. Outside the counting center of Batu last night, I saw hundreds of the true sons and daughters of the Malay, Chinese and Indian working people cheering their new Member of Parliament for Batu with shouts of Reformasi ! and Hidup Rakyat !

Embrace changes for better tomorrow for all

Speaking on DAP platform tonight for Hannah

At the kind invitation of DAP's campaign machinery for the Selangor's State Assembly constituency of Subang Jaya (N.31), I will be speaking in solidarity with Hannah Yeoh Tseow Suan tonight at 9.00 pm at the padang of PJS9 Sunway. My wife and I are voters in the constituency but we have certainly not forgotten the many 'strangers' who poured in from all over the Kinta Valley to assist in my campaign in 1990 and to ensure my election as the DAP's Kampar MP at the age of only 28.

Oppose BN leaders' politics of family fiefdoms

Oppose BN leaders' politics of family fiefdoms

Addressing in both Bahasa Malaysia and Cantonese the 10,000-strong PKR public rally held in Sentul last night in solidarity with Tian Chua, I categorically and unequivocally called on people of all races to oppose the neo-feudalist and dynastic politics of BN's leaders such as Dr. Lim Keng Yaik, and I also said that Lim Guan Eng and Nurul Izzah are not Lim Si Pins because both Guan Eng and Nurul dare to face the people as independent and responsible adults and both of them join politics with only the prospect of being persecuted awaiting them. Moreover, both Guan Eng and Nurul actually suffered once as innocent children, simply because of the activism, ideal and conviction of their parents.

2004 experiment with strong BN gov' t costly

Meeting Captain (Rtd) Asma in PKR Batu Rally

When I arrived at Bandar Baru Sentul's Padang Bola Fasa 8-Fasa 9 at about 8.20pm yesterday, I met a long 'lost' army friend Captain (Rtd) Asma Abdul Kadir again and we naturally bersembang-sembang for a while reminiscencing those exciting days of Reformasi in 1998-1999 held along Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman. Asma was very active then in organising the peaceful protests and she has been a member of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) ever since its inception. Time has really flied.

Nurul Izzah now a trilingual voice for M' sians

Tribute to forerunners of progressive politics

In my public speech in Rawang last night, I also paid tribute to all the Lau Chongs who built the foundations of a patriotic and progressive Opposition in the Chinese community in the early 1960s and still hold fast and true to the noble principle like a light house, which continues to inspire and guide the great Voyage, in dark, cold and stormy seas.

Anwar speaking in Batu tonight for Tian Chua

Anwar speaking in Batu tonight for Tian Chua

According to Tian Chua, former DPM Anwar Ibrahim will visit the Batu parliamentary constituency this evening and deliver solidarity speech.

MCA, Gerakan GE campaigns trivialise politics

MCA, Gerakan GE campaigns trivialise politics

After the stopover at Taman Tan Yew Lai in Lembah Pantai, I had to leave quickly to deliver more solidarity speeches for Elizabeth Wong and Gan Pei Nei as well as their Opposition running mates in other constituencies. On those occasions, I pointed out very clearly that ruling BN's Chinese-area campaign themes have trivialised the 2008 general elections and politics as such as if Chinese Malaysian voters in the 21st century still only appeal for some "efficient social welfare workers or officers" - not unlike those "Chinese protectorates" of the colonial regime - who can really take effective care of clogged drains and filthy toilets, whereas the truth or reality is that many Chinese are now equally, if not more, concerned with the true states of our country's economic well-being and competitiveness, judicial integrity and the conducts of judges, monopoloy and manipulation of the mass media, constitutional rights of all citizens, professionalism of the police and many other issues of domestic "high politics", expecting their wakil rakyat to be able and willing to speak up for them vocally in Parliament and State Assemblies as well as other public platforms.

Dangerous trends in politics of MCA, Gerakan

Nurul Izzah now a trilingual voice for M' sians

Last evening at about 4.30 p.m., I received a telephone call from old friend Karen Goh, who is a campaign manager for PKR's Nurul Izzah in the parliamentary constituency of Lembah Pantai (P.121), asking me if I could deliver a Cantonese ceremah at the children's playground in Taman Tan Yew Lai. I agreed and when I reached there, I met Nurul Izzah (second from right) and her dear husband Raja Ahmad Shahril Iskandar (second from left) as well as another old friend and DAP MP for Cheras Tan Kok Wai (left). Later, I fired off a 30-minute speech in Cantonese and Bahasa Malaysia saying, in essence, that people of all races must now present a multi-ethnic united front to stop the BN rots and that the now trilingual (Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin as well as English) Nurul is their better choice as a lidah rakyat in Parliament.

To speak in support for Eli Wong, Gan Pei Nei

BN' s smear against Anwar Ibrahim intensifies

Well, although Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said at the outset of the 2008 election campaign that he has "forgotten" Anwar Ibrahim, he has now to join in the orgy of Anwar-bashing in the BN-controlled mainstream media such as Umno's New Straits Times and MCA's Star. People like me who knows Dr. Chandra Muzzafar personally for many long years certainly do not feel very good to see how the once respected as well as admired 'conscience of the nation' has degenerated onto the same 'standard' and 'level' with Kalimullah Hassans and Zainuddin Maidins.

BN's serious strategic blunder & vulnerability

To speak in support for Eli Wong, Gan Pei Nei

Tonight, I will be speaking in Subang and Rawang in solidarity with Elizabeth Wong, Gan Pei Nei and also their running mates who have contributed to inter-ethnic solidarity and national unity and also been working hard for the conscientisation of the rakyat jelata or lao bai xin in the past several years. May the indomitable spirit of Uncle DR and incorruptible principle of Lao Chongs always guide me and all the sons and daughters of the working people in our common and united endeavours for the betterment of our kampung, society and nation.

Heart & mind of an upright Chinese character

Dangerous trends in politics of MCA, Gerakan

In my one-hour public speech last night in Batu's Taman Wahyu, I also expressed my very deep concern for the future as well as direction of the politics of Chinese Malaysians as both the MCA and Gerakan have been very seriously infected by what I termed the moral pestilence of neo-feudalism whereby parliamentary constituencies can actually now be 'bequeathed to' or 'inherited by' the sons of Dr. Ling Leong Sik, Dr. Lim Keng Yaik and Dr. Chua Soi Lek, just like any traditional family-owned jewellery shops. Moreover, unlike DAP's Lim Guan Eng or Lim Kit Siang's son who can and dare to speak up for the community and nation even at the risk of losing personal freedom, the dear sons of these MCA and Gerakan elders do not seem to be able and willing to even engage their electoral opponents for free and open debates or public dialogues. What then can we expect from the next generation of MCA and Gerakan leaders in the Umno-dominated ruling alliance ?

Belly set aflame again for our nation' s future

James' challenge to son of Dr. Lim Keng Yaik

As I said in Bahasa Malaysia, Cantonese and English last night in my public speech in Batu's Taman Wahyu in support of Tian Chua, as a 38-year old adult, BN's candidate Lim Si Pin should be independent and responsible enough to face the voters of Batu and to engage his electoral opponent in public debates or dialogues so that the people could judge for themselves whether Tian Chua or Si Pin is a better choice as MP. I also proudly said - to the approving applause of the audience - that I myself was elected as a DAP Member of Parliament for Kampar at the age of 28 in 1990 after my father had passed away five year earlier and also without my own beloved mother or siblings ever appearing in the mass media or the constituency to dictate or dominate the agenda or themes of my own campaign. I fought and won purely on political ideas and arguments, and I brought honour to my late father, dear mother and family but not the other way round.

Heart & mind of an upright Chinese character

Keng Yaik: my son " good " in three languages

In this evening's edition of tomorrow's Chinese-language China Press, Gerakan's adviser and former BN minister Dr. Lim Yaik Yaik is quoted as claiming that his son Lim Si Pin is "very good" in Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and English and "even better" than him. The question that arises now is why Si Pin still declines Tian Chua's standing invitation to hold public debates or dialogues in Batu so that the people of the parliamentary constituency can judge for themselves whether what Dr. Lim Keng Yaik has opined about his son's language proficiency is right or wrong. Moreover, that Lim Si Pin's command of languages is "even better" than his father does not necessarily mean that the son is definitely better than Tian Chua for the latter's command of Malay, Mandarin and English could be even better than Dr. Lim Keng Yaik's.

Tian Chua still awaits Si Pin for public debate

' Heavenly ' economic picture of BN backfires

To 'prove' that Malaysia still continues to 'progress', some 'heavenly' figures of economic growth have been released but for the ordinary people of all races, even if the figures are accurate, the question of why they remain to experience financial hardship in everyday lives is still very popularly raised (mengapa negara kaya tetapi rakyat masih miskin?). So, these 'rosy' economic figures could backfire in real life causing even deeper and more widespread discontents that would last long after the polling is over. Of course, the accuracy of these figures and the contexts of their presentation can still be critically assessed and contested by learned oppositionists and people's intellectuals.

BN's serious strategic blunder & vulnerability

Heart & mind of an upright Chinese character

After I finished delivering my speech in Batang Berjuntai in solidarity with Khalid Ibrahim and Dr. Zulkifri Ahmad, Lau Chong came forward and warmly greeted me in Cantonese telling me that he comes from a family of tin-mining workers in Kampar where I was its MP from 1990 to 1995. According to him, he always gives support to and votes for candidates of the Opposition, whether they are Chinese or Malays or Indians, so that "the government cannot cheat and bully the people". So, my speech is hereby dedicated to all the Lau Chongs who built the foundation of a patriotic and progressive Opposition in the Chinese community in the early 1960s and still hold fast to the noble principle.

Old Ipoh honours D.R. Seenevasagam' s legacy

Belly set aflame again for our nation' s future

In the public speech delivered in Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and also a few words in Tamil on the kaki lima of Restoran Lai Fatt Seafood in Batang Berjuntai, I pointed out that Malaysia has indeed arrived at a crossroad in its 50-year history where the choice is between progress and regression in the country's moral order, judicial integrity, socio-economic justice and societal security. From the very supportive and encouraging response of the audience, it seems to me that the skills of my public speaking, always guided by Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed, still boleh pakai lagi in spite of a 13-year leave from active politics. There is, to be very sure, still a litte fire in my belly.

Tian Chua still awaits Si Pin for public debate

In support of Khalid Ibrahim & Zulkifri Ahmad

Just came home from Batang Berjuntai located in the Selangor State Assembly constituency of Ijok (N.11) where my friend Khalid Ibrahim (second from left) is contesting under the banner of PKR and another friend Dr. Zulkifri Ahmad (second from right) makes his debut in the Kuala Selangor (P.96) parliamentary seat on the platform of PAS. We all delivered our public speeches in Restoran Lai Fatt Seafood and its surrounding streets to a multi-racial and multi-religious crowd which refused to disband despite heavy downpour. Dr. Zulkifri Ahmad, 52, holds a doctorate degree in Medical Science (Toxicology) from UK's Imperial College (St. Mary Hospital). Both Khalid and Zulkifri support multi-culturalism and non-racial approach to economic development and management as the true way forward for motherland Malaysia.

First Umno extremist named by Chinese NGO

Tian Chua still awaits Si Pin for public debate

A Member of Parliament, whether in the ruling or opposition parties, is supposed to be articulate and able to speak up for the people but BN's candidate for the Batu constituency (P.115) Lim Si Pin does not seem to think so as the dear son of Dr. Lim Keng Yaik still declines to accept his PKR opponent Tian Chua's invitation for a public debate or dialogue so that the voters in the area can have better ideas of who is more suitable and effective to be their Wakil Rakyat. My personal observation is that adik Si Pin's proficiency of Mandarin and Bahasa Malaysia is problematic but then if he chooses to engage Tian Chua in English, I do not foresee there is any problem at all as the latter is also an Australian graduate like so many other fellow countrymen. By the way, many Malay, Chinese and Indian hawkers in Sentul told me last night that they know Tian Chua very well by now because he has been serving the constituency for many years even though he lost the contest in 2004, and that it is time for them to reward Tian Chua for his sincerity, hardwork and dedication to the causes of rakyat jelata.

Ex-CEO Khaild Ibrahim fights on in opposition

Indian business group endorses PKR Manifesto

According to a report in malaysiakini, "the Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) has given the thumbs up for PKR's (2008) election manifesto which features the slogan A New Dawn for Malaysia". The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) has also urged the post-election government to "cautiously manage" fuel price and inflation. William Cheng was also quoted as saying that while ordinary people are concerned about the rise of the cost of living and inflation, businessmen in general are also worried about the chain reactions (or spiral effects) of fuel price increases.

First Umno extremist named by Chinese NGO