From The Laments of a Broken Hearted Silhouette II

Another article from Kyel's website

Open Letter to MCA Central Delegate(s)

The internal MCA election is drawing nearer and as said in the previous post, changes have to be made within the party to revitalize the aspirations of the Chinese community in Malaysia and also for the nation. Promises are often made to gain vote of confidence from the people but in the end those words mean nothing and end up broken.

I would not deny that I am one of the strong supporters for Dato’ Chua Jui Meng and not being biased towards the other candidates but he is not contesting for the Presidency on a level field because as we all know the world is unjust in its own ways and it is the same when it comes to politics in this country. In order to have a committed party and members, the first step to walk is practice equilibrium in all departments.

The irony behind this is – do you see any balance in the party and are the leaders as dedicated as they endorsed themselves to be?

From my own point of view, in the 2005 internal MCA election, Ong Ka Ting was chosen by the members to preside over the party but clearly he had proved and given nothing to the Chinese community and this statement is not a pun because those whom can see clearly through the tunnel of truth realizes that the aspirations of the Chinese community in the nation has not been heard in the corridors of power. Sad as it may seem but reality sunk in and obtaining the power to reign was the main agenda.

Time has come again for the Central Delegates to make a choice for the future of the party and the Chinese community in the nation. Every delegate has their own thoughts and a candidate whom they think is suited to take over the reins of leadership. One of the candidates said that that there is no need for a manifesto and a team but today the candidate is doing otherwise and dancing with the tune. Sounds contradictory, no?

Take a moment to ponder; which is better – a leader who said one thing but is doing the opposite instead or a leader that has visions for the party and the community?

It was mentioned that Dato’ Chua Jui Meng should retire because of his age but whenever it comes to revitalizing a party or visions to benefit a community, age is not a factor and is often limitless. One of the best examples that can be looked upon is our neighboring country – Singapore. Though Lee Kuan Yew has retired from being the leader of his country, he is still the minister of mentor – advising and at the same time guiding the younger generation about the nook and crannies about running a country. Furthermore, Deng Xiaoping of China is another good example because he is founder and father of modern China because he took over the reins of leadership when he was way past eighty years old.

Does this not prove that age is not a factor when it comes to leadership?

Honestly said – age can be a contributing factor when it comes to politics and leadership because as a person grows older maturity sinks alongside the experiences in life. Looking back in the past – what changes has been made in the Youth movement when members were throwing chairs at each other? Is this even called maturity?

Reforming and revitalizing a party with the necessary core changes is a Herculean task because vast experiences in the field are needed and to compare a youngling in politics with a senior candidate is unacceptable because through age and maturity only then experiences in various departments can be encountered. Along the way, dealing with veterans in other parties is needed and to do so certain level of knowledge, nerves, facts and figures are considered necessary.

A political party is a team and without the needed team working skills, a leader will not be able to lead properly. Considering the fact that Dato’ Chua wants to reform and revitalize the party it shows that he has a plan and visions to make MCA work together hand-in-hand and as a team. Setting aside the notion of MCA being a party, why not grant him an opportunity to lead the members and community to achieve greater heights so that everyone will feel at home like one big happy family rather than having a team filled with loggerheads?

Leading a party and community deems vast experiences in politics and life in general and besides having a vision of how the party would become in the near future helps to nurture the community and objectives towards the long-term goals that has been mapped out on the agenda. The reason why Dato’ Chua is the best candidate for the post of Presidency is because he has stood against many odds in 2005 and he is doing it again this time because of his will and how strongly he believes that he can contribute to the betterment of the Chinese in Malaysia.

I hope that the Central Delegates will choose and vote wisely. They have the power and ability to grant this man the mandate to lead the party and its people to victory. He stands alone, brave and strong to reach out to you, the Central Delegates because he has neither access nor information to reach to you whereas the other candidates have.

With great powers come great responsibilities. Choose wisely for the benefits and goals of the party in a long-term view and not short-term or for your own personal benefits and greed. Always vote responsibly and think of the community and nation rather than one’s own advantages - as voting is another form of power which has to be used conscientiously.

Once again - click on the title or HERE to go to her site.

From The Laments of a Broken Hearted Silhouette

While going through the web, I did come across a blog entry of which is relevant as well as heartwarming...

Calls For Transformation

On March 8th this year, the National Front (Barisan Nasional) was delivered a stinging rebuke by the nation and its people. From this reprimand the party should already be on the verge of waking up from their deep slumber and start to examine the critical aspects of their actions towards the country and community that caused the furor during the General Election.

The election results served as a wake up call to every politician in this country and the actions that they must take to reinstate the country and its people to its original form that can inadvertently bring benefits to the three races – Malays, Chinese and Indians. Come what may, everyone has to fight for his or her survival because that is the core that holds our existence.

From the point of view of a young adult - I daresay that everyone has to abolish the fear of commitment and to accept changes in the country and also the existing parties because when there are nagging apprehensions transformation can never happen no matter how hard the bandwagon of change is being pursued. The mind is a powerful tool and if our mindset has been strictly limited to a certain perimeter; fear encompasses us, thus the lagging change in every division – be it in the country, within the community or the parties.

Due to the General Elections earlier this year, the Malaysian Chinese Association or fondly known as MCA has been labeled as irrelevant because of alienation not only in between the party and the benefits of the Chinese community in this country but also the nation as a whole. The voices of the people are no longer heard within the corridors of power even though the party was and still is a platform between the Chinese community and the Government in Malaysia.

The internal MCA elections will be held on the 18th of October and there is a need for change within the party. One of the candidates for Presidency is none other than Datuk Chua Jui Meng. In 2005, he campaigned for Presidency (as well), hoping that winds of change would happen within the party and for the people but sadly the platform of renewal was not approved. However, he did not give up his hopes – to see transformation in the party and its current mindset and to be the voice of the community within the corridors of power. This year, Datuk Chua Jui Meng is back on the track as one of the candidates for Presidency with a different manifesto and the core of his hopes for the party is to see renewals in every aspect that would give advantage and chances to the community and to rejuvenate the mindset of the party.

In his manifesto, Datuk Chua hopes to revitalize the party so that the Chinese community will not lose their confidence – again and to restore the lost dignity within the party. Also, at the same time, he is vying to rebuild the image of confidence in the eyes of the Chinese community especially those who lost faith knowing that there is no accountability and transparency in the party of how they served the community.

It is a known fact that MCA has to be rebuilt because it has been completely out of touch with the aspirations of the Malaysian Chinese community in the society and the nation itself because of the party’s inability to influence major policies in the country that can benefit the people – regardless of race, religion and creed. Moreover, the party has neglected vital matters that are important to the community by keeping mum and thus abolishing the transparency for the people - indirectly.

The mission statement for Datuk Chua Jui Meng’s campaign for Presidency is - “Rebuild The Party, Return To Relevance, Realize Vision 2020”. From the proclamation and his visions for the party and community, one can concede that he is none other than the most suitable person or leader to control the reins of leadership. Through his manifesto, Datuk Chua can restore the accountability and transparency within the party and its members once again and to uphold the glory of the community and the revitalized party in the eyes of the Malaysian Chinese.

As a Malaysian Chinese, I strongly believe that everyone should give Datuk Chua a chance to re-establish MCA and bring back the glory that it once had so that the desires of the community can be voiced through the corridors of power without fail and to see changes for the people and of course – the nation. Moreover, allowing fear of transformation to haunt oneself is unhealthy because as the country goes through developments to make it a better place for the people, inadvertently the society will evolve and change together.

Transformations are inevitable and unavoidable. The same goes to evolution in human beings. It is definitely time for a drastic transformation within MCA.

So, if the community can embrace reformation without having fear nagging at their sleeves and hearts, give Datuk Chua Jui Meng the vote of confidence so that he can bring in his visions to rebuild the party and to restore its dignity and all the more – its old-time glory.

Grant Datuk Chua Jui Meng the power to be the stronghold and leader of MCA. Let him be the new President and the new leader that everyone is seeking for!

For more information about Datuk Chua Jui Meng’s manifesto, visit his website.

A well written piece - click on the links above to directly access the article her blog or click here

Jui Meng: MCA must stand up to UMNO

From the Malaysian Insider dated 3rd October 2008

Oct 3 – The MCA needs a president with a track record of standing up to Umno, says presidential candidate Datuk Chua Jui Meng.

Chua, who has called for an end to NEP-type policies, said the MCA will suffer an even heavier defeat at the next general election if a strong leader is not elected.

He said that in the three years since he lost in his first attempt at the MCA presidency, circumstances have changed tremendously.

And this is why he is making another tilt at the No. 1 post despite coming up against what is basically the incumbent leadership.

Despite repeated denials, frontrunner Datuk Ong Tee Keat is effectively the handpicked candidate of outgoing president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, who defeated Chua in 2005.

Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan, Ka Ting's brother, who is running for deputy president, has publicly backed Tee Keat.

When asked by The Malaysian Insider why he felt he had a chance against Tee Keat, Chua replied: "The party is in crisis after being rejected by its own community. Somebody has to save the party, to give it hope to turn the situation around and make it relevant again."

During the interview, he added that he had foreseen what would happen while campaigning three years ago.

"I warned that even in the aftermath of a great victory in the 2004 general election, Umno's hardening and arrogance in not being mindful of the sensitivities meant that, if MCA did not effect real change, it would become increasingly irrelevant," said the former five-term vice-president.

"I wish I hadn't been right so I can continue to be retired happily, but now I am forced back into national service. Now I am telling the central delegates again, if there is no senior leader with a track record of standing up to Umno leaders, then we're going to go down in the next general election."

The former health minister had recently incurred the ire of four Umno supreme council members when he called for the scrapping of the NEP at the launch of his campaign manifesto.

"They called me a racist but they don't realise the NEP is not a programme for just one race but a national programme that affects all Malaysians.

"I am surprised my opponent dismissed the NEP as an old issue," he said referring to Ong's statement that they had both aired their views on it decades ago when they sat together on the National Economic Consultative Council.

"It has impacted millions over the decades and it must come to an end," he insisted and added that the "racial dichotomy" of the NEP would alienate the 800,000 new voters in the next general elections.

Also a five-time consecutive Bakri MP - he did not run this March and subsequently, MCA lost the seat to DAP - he agreed that it was "very clear" that the Oct 18 party polls was crucial.

"It is absolutely important. It is practically a mission for the central delegates. If they choose wrongly, you will see the same old thing. To become relevant again, we need a senior leader who has experience in the Cabinet and Parliament to negotiate with Barisan Nasional especially Umno by coming to them and saying, 'Look we have transformed, so must you.'"

He said that by the next general election, BN had no alternative but to change and stop being race-centric.

"The obvious answer is no," he answered when asked if race-based parties could still be relevant in the future.

However, he added: "If MCA becomes multiracial now, will Malays and Indians join?"

He said the idea of BN merging into one multiracial party depended on "the capacity to change, then we can move towards being multiracial," but he said he could not speak on behalf of Umno or any other component party on this issue.

But he warned that if the status quo remained, "increasingly MCA will feel it does not serve a purpose," adding that there was already a determination at the grassroots for change, and members were prepared for the party to leave BN.

If this were to happen, Chua suggested that the party "call an EGM to collectively make a decision" on its future in the coalition.

Mud fight! MCA candidates take potshots at each other

From the New Straits Times dated 6th October 2008

KUALA LUMPUR: The contest for the MCA presidency has taken a nasty turn as the two candidates took potshots at each other yesterday.

Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat criticised his opponent, Datuk Chua Jui Meng, for evading a commitment to participate in a live televised debate.

Chua deflected the accusation, saying that Ong was not telling the whole story.

Ong, at a press conference, implied that his rival had rejected an invitation for a debate due to his poor command of Mandarin.

"Two months ago, the Chinese media had suggested a televised debate on Astro between myself and the other candidates, which I agreed to even if there were no clear opponents at the time.

"However, it did not materialise because my opponent rejected the debate as it was to be done in Mandarin," Ong said without naming Chua, who is English-educated.

Ong stopped short of accusing Chua of wasting time in deciding whether or not there should be a debate.

"I have already indicated that I have time in early October. After that, I will have my hands full with the approaching MCA elections and my responsibilities as a minister.

"Coincidentally, from Oct 13 to 16, we are hosting the Routes International Conference for air carriers and airport managers from the world over, and I have been asked to settle the issue of landing rights (in Malaysia).

"With all that in mind, I end up having to follow (the schedule of) a person who is retired.

"Retirees would have a lot of time on their hands," he said.

Chua, contacted by phone in Kota Kinabalu, said he pulled out because Astro could not agree to having the debate in both Mandarin and English.

He said he could not accept the condition of exclusivity set by the company, which would bar him from accepting debate invitations from other media organisations.

"Although I am English-educated, I can debate in Mandarin, English and Malay.

"In today's Malaysia, the party (MCA) cannot communicate in only one language.

"Tan Sri Wong See Wah (MCA disciplinary board member) has said that our command of English must improve to match that of the Pakatan Rakyat.

"Our standards are too low, so the opposition overwhelmed us.

"Even in the cabinet, English is used 95 per cent of the time," said the former health minister.
Chua noted he had agreed to a debate invitation from Sin Chew Daily a month ago. "However, they have not come back to me and I don't know how he (Ong) responded to them," he said.

Chua stressed that personal attacks would do nothing to help rebuild the party.

"The next (MCA) president will have to build up the party from a position of crisis and this is the biggest challenge that will face a party president in 60 years.

"The party cannot be saved by criticising your protagonist.

"Let's go back to what is important, that is to rebuild, restore and revitalise and this is in both our manifestos," he said.

ISA & Ahmad Ismail Press Statements - Ignored and 'Buried'

Once again, I would like to highlight the unfair and unprofessional actions of the press. On the 13th of September 2008, Dato' Chua issued a press statement to all the major mainstream media plus a few alternative media.

This press statement was duly ignored and as a result some opinion makers both here in blogosphere as well as the public have a wrong perception on the stand of Dato' Chua on many issues.

Thus I would like to present a press release by Dato' Chua that reflects his stance on the ISA and its recent application.

PRESS STATEMENT BY DATO’ CHUA JUI MENG ON THE ISA ARRESTS
13TH SEPTEMBER 2008

I am alarmed at the news of the arrest of YB Teresa Kok, Sin Chew journalist Tan Hoon Cheng and Raja Petra Kamarudin.

Certain sections of the Government still fail to grasp the new political scenario that has been unveiling itself since 8th March 2008. With these actions they further alienate the electorate and cause unease amongst the governing coalition.

I am especially dismayed at Tan Hoon Cheng’s arrest since she so recently did the nation a favour by exposing racism. Did not the Deputy Prime Minister, who was at the scene at the time apologise for Ahmad Ismail’s statement? Hasn’t UMNO also expressed its opposition to racism by meting out a 3-year suspension to Ahmad Ismail?

Why then is this poor 23-year old girl being detained under the most draconian of laws in Malaysia where she cannot even claim trial? It is blatant discrimination that the man who made seditious statements still walks free while the person who reported him is disproportionately and inappropriately punished.

Rather than closing an embarrassing chapter we have now exacerbated the situation.

The rationale of arresting a sitting Member of Parliament under the ISA must also be explained swiftly by the Prime Minister if he wishes to retain the confidence of the rakyat and that of a nervous and anxious Parliament.

I also note the flip-flop in regards to the restoration of the Malaysia Today website and the subsequent arrest of its editor Raja Petra Kamarudin. The Government is sending mixed signals to the rakyat displaying confusion within its ranks.

I both applaud and support Datuk Seri Rais Yatim when he says that these people should have been charged in the court of law where they have the ability to defend themselves, rather than detained under the ISA.

I believe it is time for Parliament to review and limit the powers of the ISA to ensure that we do not repeat the errors of our past.

I also wish to voice my concern regarding the show cause letters handed to 3 newspapers recently. It is actions like these that cause our Press freedom rankings to be one of the worst in the world. The Government must realise post-March 8 the rakyat of Malaysia will no longer tolerate the suppression of their right to know.

I am also attaching another ignored press statement - this time on Ahmad Ismail.

Ahmad Ismail must be expelled

The Ahmad Ismail issue must be brought to a close. His attempt to excuse his racially divisive rhetoric is a slap in the face to all Malaysians, regardless of party allegiances, race or religion.

His act of violence is not only an offence against Koh Tsu Koon and Gerakan, but against the entire Barisan Nasional.

His actions are a direct challenge to the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Malaysian Government. With his arrogant outbursts he dares to hold the whole country to ransom.

The seditious statements he makes are in direct contravention of Article 8 of the Federal Constitution that makes all Malaysians equal before the law.

This is the time for firm action, the Prime Minister must show that he is the leader of all Malaysians and expel Ahmad Ismail from UMNO.

The Prime Minister and the Cabinet must also discuss Ahmad Ismail’s statements, one of the most seditious I have ever encountered, and have him charged under the court of law.

I urge the UMNO leadership to be firm, put out this fire before it becomes uncontrollable.

They must decide now whether it is better to sacrifice one man or to risk the entire Barisan Nasional coalition.

"Buried by the Press"

Back in 2005, the Aliran Blog wrote a post that claims that Dato' Chua has been buried by the press. The article entitled "Chua Jui Meng buried by The Star" was posted up on the 19th of August that year during Dato' Chua's 1st run for the MCA Presidency.

I quote the article in full

Now that nominations to the MCA elections have been made, “officially” kicking off the campaigning, how has the MCA paper, The Star, covered the politicking leading up to the elections starting today? Have things improved since our blog entry of 9 August 2005, when we found the paper failing its readers and basic journalism miserably?

Well, they have not. In fact, its coverage has become even worse in yesterday’s report of Chua Jui Meng, who is taking on Ong Ka Ting for the post of MCA President.

Both the New Straits Times and theSun each gave a report to Chua’s press conference at Corus Hotel. And both led with Chua’s complaints about the current MCA, calling it “undemocratic”, among other things. Both papers also touched on why Chua had to call for the press conference and what he thought of the three-page “report card” issued jointly by Ong and Chan Kong Choy following nominations.

The NST gave more attention to Chua’s reason for calling the press conference. He was reported as saying that he was forced to do so as he had no other avenue to get through to delegates and explain his stand. He said he believed the delegates were told to avoid him.

Chua also said he knew who instructed the delegates to avoid him but he apparently did not say who it was; both the NST and theSun did not mention any names.

Meanwhile, theSun gave more emphasis to Chua’s view of Ong and Chan’s “report card”. Chua reportedly said that he was “flattered” by it because it was actually based on his manifesto, issued early last month, soon after he declared his intention to run for the presidency.

Indeed, soon after Chua came out with his manifesto, Ong was asked whether he would also issue his. Ong reportedly said he did not see the need for it. Chua took a swipe at Ong’s change of mind in coming up with the report card with Chan a few days ago.

Blacked out
So, how did The Star cover the above issues? It deliberately blacked out important relevant facts, thereby skewing its coverage.

Chua’s press conference was mentioned in one of the three election-related reports today; but it was obviously buried. It took up the last four paragraphs of a 11-paragraph piece entitled “Candidates in last dash campaign before polls”.

While there was mention of Chua’s manifesto, it was skewed only to show him saying he was prepared to spend a lot of time working on it to deliver on his promises. The report blacked out Chua’s contention that Ong and Chan’s report card was based on his manifesto.

Furthermore, The Star had a statement on Chua’s claim that delegates were told to avoid him, but not about how Chua said he knew who had been issuing the instruction. Instead, the paper immediately stated that Ong and Chan had told delegates they were free to meet any candidates.

The Star also ran an analysis (as opposed to news report) by Wong Chun Wai (a news editor) entitled “VP race results hard to predict”. Of the 22 paragraphs, only paragraphs 14 and 15 deal with the race for the posts of president and vice president.

Wong was confident that Ong and Chan would win their respective contests. Then, he abruptly stated that Chua (and Ting Chew Peh) had held a press conference—but nothing on any of Chua’s controversial claims reported by the NST and theSun.

Given Wong’s confidence, it would have made some sense - or at least it would have made his writing less glaringly deficient - to state why Chua had the press conference. But then again, that would probably get in the way of his paper’s apparent intention of blacking out certain facts.

Quite clearly, The Star’s coverage reflected its own “cai dan” or preference for Ong to fill the top MCA post. While it is acceptable for any paper to have a preference, they should also strive to be fair to all the candidates. They should restrict their stand only to their editorial column and try their best not to let it skew their news reporting of the different candidates.

And so, by deliberately blacking out certain pertinent facts, The Star continues to fail its readers and basic journalism miserably…

Fast forward to 2008 - just today The Star had an article entitled "Chua Jui Meng unveils his manifesto". The text of the article is a follows:-

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA presidential candidate Datuk Chua Jui Meng has pledged to rebuild the party, restore the party to relevance and realise Vision 2020.

In unveiling his manifesto on Sunday, he said it would not be right for the party to leave Barisan Nasional at such a critical moment despite calls by MCA delegates to do so.

He said that as one of the founding partners of the ruling coalition, together with Umno, and both parties should sit down and discuss issues if one was unhappy with the other.

“The fact that we place the burden of our losses on Umno is a clear indication of the root cause of MCA’s illness -- we have lost our direction and conceded our influence and rights as a Barisan partner to be involved in the decision- and policy-making processes of Government.

“I stand as the presidential candidate that seeks to remind the MCA what its original purpose was, I aim to set the direction for the party,” said Chua, who will be contesting against MCA vice-president Datuk Ong Tee Keat for the president's post in the party polls next month.

Party president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting has said he would not contest the post.

This article shows that The Star is once again up to its old tricks! What is amazing about this article is the total lack of facts of the actual speech from the manifesto launch and the contents of the manifesto. The reported focused all her attention on a supplementary question - not on the actual manifesto itself!

It mentions not Dato' Chua's ideas to reform the party, his plans to let the MCA regain the trust of the people and his vision for Malaysia and all Malaysians. Truly, by once again blocking out the important and pertinent facts, The Star continues to fail its readers and basic journalism miserably…