When Little is also a Plus

How would you vote if your constituency have a BN representative and a PAS representative?

In university days, the non Malays were saught by both the pro-government and Islamists. I suggested lately to an email that I would not vote for PAS due their Islamic nation tendency and a close friend wrote back for me to find out more. " Just ask around and you will be surprised". I guess he is right. Chinese in urban Malaysia are also rethinking this issue. Which is the lesser of 2 evils. Would PAS behave the same when they have more power? Many will risk that potential for realities that is happening from our BN management - manipulation, racism, religious intolerance, flip flop etc.

I will not vote for MCA ditto. Gerakan was a promise of multicultural party that has gone downhill since the appointment of 'spineless' Koh Tsu Koon. MIC is ... Sam Same. UMNO is racist. Heck, lets see how things goes..

A Chinese In Kelantan Speaks Out
January 8, 2008

Most non-Muslims, when you ask them about PAS, probably fear them more than they fear the evil BN. That fear is not entirely misplaced, because of PAS’ previously stated ambitions to make this country into an Islamic state. But I would say, non-Muslims should fear the BN more, especially since BN is no longer an equal coalition, but one that is led by UMNO and UMNO Youth, followed by “dan lain lain”. In a bid to out-Islam the PAS, we have got UMNO politicians releasing statements to try to show the Kelantanese voters that they are also very strong in Islam. In the near term, non-Muslims should certainly fear BN more since BN has all the power, and PAS has limited power.
First, UMNO politicians claim that this country is an Islamic country, just to win some votes.Then, Badawi introduces Islam Hadhari, which honestly, could probably have just come out from a Pendidikan Moral textbook.Recently, Najib promises Kelantan that the government will build many many mosques, and will turn Kelantan into an Islamic civilization hub (Malaysiakini, subscription needed). How that will help Kelantan, he didn’t say. And whatever an Islamic civilization hub really means, I don’t know either.
Right now, it seems like in UMNO’s zealousness to prove their Islamic credentials and win back control of Kelantan, the interests of non-Muslims in this country has been ignored or sidelined. So if it came down to it during the elections, if it’s BN vs. PAS for the parliamentary seat, how would you vote?
Perhaps this letter from Richard Teo, taken from Lim Kit Siang’s blog can open up some eyes.
Yes the tide is turning in Kelantan but certainly not in favour of BN but for PAS. As a kelantanese I can safely tell Najib the true current political situation in Kelantan. How could Zubaidah Abu Bakar speculate in the 6th Jan.2008 NST that “there are many in Kelantan who want to see a change of government”?
This is farthest from the truth. The Malay psyche in Kelantan is vastly different from the psyche of Malays from the other states. The Malays in Kelantan are astute when it comes to politics. That explains why it is the only Malay state where the opposition party other than UMNO has ruled for a substantial period since Merdeka.
During BN’s tenure, pork sellers in the Chinese market were harrassed daily. They were confined to a small inconspicous space where pork could be sold hidden from public view. There was conditional and restricted time when pork could be sold. When PAS took over the government in 1990, they improved the Chinese market and pork was sold without any restrictions. Inshort they were not harrassed.
Again, during BN’s tenure, Chinese could not buy houses built on Malay reservation land. Since most of the land come under the purview of Malay reservation, most Kelantanese Chinese could not own a home. But all these changed when PAS came to power.
Under the able DUN of Kota Bharu, Dato Annuar Tan, 30% of houses built on Malay reservation land were allocated for sale to the Kelantan Chinese.
Any doubts where the Chinese loyalty lies can easily be dispelled by visiting the Chinese enclave in Jalan Kebun Sultan. Ask any Chinese business community there and they will brazenly tell you that they will vote for PAS. Yes the Chinese votes in Kelantan are solidly behind PAS.
It is also a fact that the Chinese miniority’s vote in Kelantan are insignificant and confined to only few seats where their votes are crucial for victory or loss. But in a state where a lot of seats are won and lost by a handful of votes this becomes immensely important where in the final analysis the fate of the government could merely depend on the margin of one or two seats.
The Malays in Kelantan were generous in giving Pak Lah a resounding victory in 2004. But this was partly due to PAS over-zealous Islamic reforms which persuaded the Malays to vote for Pak Lah’s Islam Hadhari. Further they were captivated by Pak Lah’s assurance of tackling corruption which was beginning to be rampant in all branches of the government. But alas, Pak Lah was a disappointment. Instead he took it as an opportunity for his relatives and family to plunder the nation’s wealth by giving contracts to his son and son-in law.
There is a saying among the Malays in Kelantan that UMNO can fool the Malays in the other states with their rhetoric of ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ but they cannot fool the Malays in Kelantan. They are aware that BN has introduced many programmes and development projects.
According to Datuk Annuar Musa “RM2 billion worth of projects are flowing into the state”. But the local malays will ask you who are the beneficiaries of these projects? Yes, its the UMNO cronies and the UMNO connected politicians who will secure all the major contracts.
Of late, the sprinkling of Indians are also behind PAS not due to Hindraf’s effort but because of the awareness that it was under PAS rule that a prominent land in Jalan Hamzah was approved for the Hindus to build a temple when the same approval was rejected by BN four times before.
Because of centuries of close proximity of Kelantan to Thailand and the close rapport between the Chinese and the Kelantanese Malays, the local Malays are not only intelligent and well-versed in commerce but they are very conversant with local and federal politics. This perhaps explain why UMNO with their brand of politics can never fool the Kelantan Malays.
In the coming general election BN will not only lose in Kelantan it will lose as badly as in 1990. This is not only a fact, it is a promise.

Flip Flopping Abdullah Government

The government has decided to go against its initial decision, so ALLAH is again exclusive to Malaysian Muslims. If you are a non Muslim or a non-Malaysian Muslim, you should not use this word. Wait, you can say it but not write it down or read it. (huh!?)

Actually, am tired to continue writing about this issue. It is like a yo-yo of emotion. When you think that the country management has got the facts right ( from expert inputs etc. ) , they let you down again. This time, the raison de taire is paraphrased to "since the law is already there, we need to uphold it". Wow, since when Malaysian government cared so much about its law or even constitution!! We just changed our constitution to allow an 'independent' Election committee chairman to last till he conducts the next General Election.(oh, he even knows the date of the election even though the PM does not) We even have a law that outlaws oral sex. Are we going to uphold that against Chua Soil Lek?

Christians: Allah ban hurts Malaysia’s moderate Muslim image
“Allah” may mean “God” everywhere else, but not in Malaysia
Anger over Malaysia 'Allah' ban

Double shame
Christians in Malaysia are shamed!!

Last Christmas it was the small issue of turkey that happens a week before Christmas creating an artificial shortage. Yes, the cry was against imported turkey that does not have "HALAL" certifications ( what?!) so this year turkeys cost 3x more since nobody wants to import them anymore. This is chicken feed.

So, the government decided to go one better this year!
1. Prior to Christmas 2008 - Ban on the usage of Allah word, hold the Catholic church and East Malaysia Evangelical Church to ransom. These 2 churches decided to ask for justice through our blameless courts.
2. In public Christmas message, Gerakan lap dog acting president Koh Tsu Koon asked "Those who celebrate Christmas" to "respect Islam as the official religion".
3. On Christmas day, Prime Minster Abdullah Ahmad Badawi did one better by reiterating the ban on the word "Allah" in a Christmas muhibbah open house organized by the Council of Churches Malaysia.
This is textbook PR faux pass.

In YOUR Face!
Who cares about what Christians think or feel? And they keep thinking aloud!
The government will now show you the Ketuanan Melayu, chew your Christian bones and spit it out! :)
That is too strong but that is about it.
Thanks for treating your citizens in this honoured way. In fact, we would not know of this flip flop if not for internet. As our belated Christmas present, would like to issue a call to all Christians in Malaysia to use the next General Election as a referendum AGAINST the ruling party. The ruling party will do all the best to shower you with promises and gift but remember this moment when you cast the vote. The fact is shown that promises will be broken & rules / laws/ constitution will be bent when they got your vote. This Caesar does not deserve our vote and support.

Here we go again...

KUALA LUMPUR: A husband filed an interim injunction application at the High Court yesterday to stop the Federal Territory Islamic Council from claiming the body of his late wife who he claimed was a practising Christian at the time of her death.

Ngiam Tee Kong, 53, filed the ex-parte application, which also named the director of Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM) as the first defendant.The application filed through Messrs Karpal Singh & Co yesterday is expected to be heard today.The body of Wong Sau Lan, 54, who died on Dec 30, is at the HUKM mortuary.In his affidavit, Ngiam said when he went to HUKM to claim his wife's body, he was informed that it would only be released to him if he confirmed that she was a Muslim at the time of her death.

He was also told that the body would be released to him only for having Christian rites to be performed, after which it was to be returned to the hospital for it to be buried according to Muslim rites.Ngiam claimed that on Dec 31, a day after Wong died, he received a declaration of conversion dated the same day signed by the Federal Territory Religious Department director, stating that Wong converted to a Muslim on Dec 24 at a flat in Jalan Siakap, Cheras.Ngiam, a manager of an entertainment outlet, said the letter given to him did not state his wife's Muslim name. He said she was a practising Christian at the time of her death.He said the letter of conversion was not in compliance with the provisions of Section 90(1) of the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act, 1993, as it was not given to Wong before her death.Ngiam is seeking, among others, declarations that:- Wong was a Christian at the time of her death;- she did not fully embrace Islam before she died; - she was not a Muslim at the time of her death.He also wants the court to issue an order that he had the right to his wife's body and for the hospital director to release it to him immediately.

Check for your voter registration

Update: Check out this hilarious write up about the same issue. Another Malaysian World Record - World’s Oldest Living Person . I did not understant the Election Commisions answer that these are dead voters from 1800s. Do they have IC then?

The Election commission Chairman decided that there is no need to do a by election to fill up the seat of the Labis MP Dr Chua Soi Lek who have just resigned. The Sun's write up of his interview is more candid on his feeling about the about-turn from his bosses up there. I think he felt betrayed hence relinquished all his posts inclusive of those that is won in his party ( MCA) and even as a member of parliament. Something must have triggered it & his rantings on "holier than thou" should give some clue. The most interesting aspect of the interview is his decision to challenge the incumbent president to the top post as well as to challenge him to live up to his 'live a clean, healthy life". This signals undercurrents in MCA.

Anyway, it also points out to our EC chairman's knowledge of the date of the election ... or erection ( aftermath of Dr Chua's sordid affair). So, do verify if your name is in the list of voters.

Click here: http://daftarj.spr.gov.my/daftarbi.asp

If an 10 year old kid can be a voter, why not you?