MAKKAL SAKTI PARTY - AND WHAT NEXT?

On November 26th 2007, the Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP) led by Dato Nalla was formed and it quickly vowed its support for the BN. I remembered that at the launch of the party a month earlier, Dato Nalla had Izam Noor, the one time aide to Anwar Ibrahim by his side. Dato Nalla who was also a staunch supporter of Anwar Ibrahim's PKR, disassociated himself from the PKR, supposedly due to some political differences with the PKR leadership.

Now, we have another Indian based party i.e. the Makkal Sakti Party (MSP) scheduled to be launched on October 10th 2009 by non other than the Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak himself. If one could recollect, Makkal Sakti was the slogan used during the Hindraf anti-government rallies in 2007. MSP is therefore a splinter of the outlawed Hindraf that still has a large number of followers.

By having PM Najib for the launching, one can assume that the MSP is aligned to the BN, though the party is yet to be formerly recognised as a component party of the BN. The same can also be said of the MIUP. However, should both the parties seek to be a component party of the BN, this I suppose will not go well for the MIC as it can no longer claim to be the rightful representative of the Malaysian Indian community, and for which the BN leadership can now willfully ignore. And I suppose too that by having more than one Indian based political party within the BN's ambit, neither can anyone claim that the Malaysian Indian community is now united. On the contrary, I foresee dissension among its leaders will continue to persist. This has been the case between the MIC and PPP, although the latter does not represent an all Indian based political party.

The launch of the MSP on October 10th 2009 comes a day short of the Bagan Pinang by-election day. This may be a coincidence, but to most political observers, it is designed to boast the Indians dwindling support for the BN, especially where the Indian voters accounts for almost 20% of the total eligible voters in Bagan Pinang. Acceptance of the MSP by the BN leadership will portray to the Indian voters that the BN is willing to reconcile and to extend their hands of friendship, even to all those who had once opposed the government through their association with Hindref.

One cannot discount the little known MIUP's role in the by-election, as well as M. Kayveas People's Progressive Party (PPP) in their attempt to woo the Indians to vote for the BN. Mr. Samy's MIC that proudly claims to represent the Malaysian Indian community would not want to be left out in its quest to remain relevant and to draw Indian voters support for the BN, and indirectly the support for the MIC. Mr. Samy now needs the support of the Indian community more than the rival MIUP and MSP, because of the growing pressure for him to step down as the MIC chief from within and outside the party, notably from elder stateman Tun Dr. Mahathir himself.

Clearly, the Indian community is more divided now than ever before, and this does not auger well for the future of the community. The issue of Hindraf will remain a thorn in the flesh of the government, and the creation of smaller Indian based political parties is no guarantee that the community can be united. The problem actually lies in its leaders, and the sooner they get their acts together and to set aside their ego, self centered and selfish beliefs, the better it will be for their community.

And to Mr. Samy, your days are numbered and you very well know this. It is better to leave when you still have some semblance of support from the party. It will be worse if the party so decide to oust you and for you to be treated like a pariah. Please take the cue from the departure of our former PM Tun Dr. Mahathir and Tun Abdullah Badawi who are still treated with honour and respect.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

CHUA'S APPOINTMENT AS BN'S COORDINATOR IN THE FOUR OPPOSITION CONTROLLED STATES

MCA Deputy President and former Health Minister Chua Soi Lek has been appointed the BN coordinator in the four (or is it five) opposition controlled states. This was announced by PM Najib at the BN Supreme Council meeting held today.

With the appointment, Chua Soi Lek is suppose to coordinate all BN activities in Kedah, Pulau Pinang, Selangor and Kelantan supposedly, with the view to strengthening the coalition's effort at gainning back popular support for the BN. The question asked is why Chua Soi Lek? Why not another person? Or is this a way of making Chua Soi Lek look important, after having been sidelined for a Senatorship, despite being MCA's Deputy President?

I just do not know how the BN party members will react in the four opposition controlled states. But one thing is clear to me i.e. Chua's 'smeared past' can be exploited by the opposition, who would claim that the BN is already 'scrapping the bottom', and can no longer find a 'cleaner person' to lead the charge in the four opposition controlled states. And I am quite certain, the opposition will be mocking Chua during his rounds in the states.

Personally, I think the appointment of Chua as BN's coordinator is inappropriate and untimely. Will the BN give a thought to my comments, or is the BN fully confident of Chua's ability to perform in his new found appointment?

I was told that Chua left the meeting without saying a word.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

POLITICS AND POLITICKING

When will politicking among our revered politicians end. We voted them not to start the blame game, digging into the faults of others, accusing one of 'derhaka' and getting the royalty into the muddle. The major issue that is affecting the people today is the 'bread and butter' issue, unemployment, murders, corruption that is rampant among civil servants, rising costs of living and many other social and economic woes.

And speaking about corruption, haven't you heard that a senior deputy public prosecutor was detained for alleged corruption recently. And this guy works for MACC. And a few days later, some policemen, immigration and forest department officers were arrested too.

What is happening to these people who are suppose to be good public servants, but are blinded by greed, thinking that they can become millionaires overnight. I suppose, some like the immigration officers must have learnt to be corrupt from their bosses. Remember, a few months earlier, the Immigration Department Director General (DG) and his deputy were both arrested for alleged corruption. And mind you, the DG had large sum of money kept in his house. Just wonder where are they now...........no news is bad news. Hope they don't disappear like PI Bala.

If one were to read the newspapers and listen to the news on TV and radio, not a day goes by without a reported case of murder, theft or rape. Even bus drivers are getting crazy these days, and the bus company does not even know that their drivers are persistent traffic offenders. Who do you blame in this instant.......the driver or the bus company? I think both, and for that reason, the operations of the bus company has to cease, until a thorough check is made to ensure that the remaining drivers are clean of any traffic or drug offences. Life is precious, and we could only sympathise with the families of those who have died in the recent bus accident, and will the bus company compensate the grieving families?

Another interesting personality that has been silent from the news is former Tourism Minister Azalina Othman. I am told that the staffs of the ministry celebrated her departure, and for good reason, I suppose. Now, will the MACC proceed to investigate her for alleged money politics, or have they decided on a 'no case to answer'?

And in Malacca, the opposition wants to table a vote of no confidence on the Chief Minister Ali Rustam. The reason being that he was found guilty of money politics, denied from contesting the party election, but is allowed to retain his post as the Chief Minister. Of course, the speaker of the state assembly threw out the vote, and Ali Rustam is save. But will he be save in the next general elections? My guess is that he will be ask to go into hibernation.

But it was even funnier in the case of Khairy Jamaluddin. Found guilty for money politics but allowed to contest in the party election and he won, mind you.! Had he not been found guilty, Khairy would have been a minister, and will get closer to realising his ambition of being the youngest PM, before he attains the age of 40.

In the case of Ali Rustam and Khairy, if this isn't selective punishment, what else can we call it?

Najib has set the 'tone' for all his ministers and deputy ministers to get into their job responsibly. Certainly, politicking is not what Najib wants of his ministers at a time when the nation is confronted with a serious economic problem. And Muhiyudin was even more direct when he said that the BN government has only two years to prove its worth to the people. Otherwise, BN will be history.

So please get cracking ministers and deputy ministers, as there are lots of work to be done, and stop un-neccessary politicking, for goodness sake.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

WHO ARE THEY TRYING TO CHEAT?

MP for Wangsa Maju, YB Wee Choo Keong has exposed two startling reports that is tinted in suspicion and impropriety by the federal government and its agencies, in his blog http://weechookeong.wordpress.com. The report states the following:

1. That Air Asia has incurred a debt of RM 110 million to MAHB since 2002, against a sum of RM 60 million as claimed by the CEO Air Asia, Tony Fernandes. It was reported that the Deputy Minister of Transport had confirmed the the debt of RM 110 is the correct amount, and not RM 60 million as claimed by Tony. Now..who is cheating who? A difference of RM 40 million is a huge amount, and this will give rise to a lot of speculations. Don't blame people if they begin to speculate that the money has gone into the pockets of so and so. What puzzles me most is that suddenly the Minister of Finance has absorb himself of any responsibility, despite knowing that MAHB is a GLC, and is under the purview of the Ministry of Finance. With the shoving of blame, who then will be responsible to ensure that Air Asia pays up its debt? If it is too difficult for the federal government to solve the problem, I would suggest they invite the Menteri Besar Selangor to solve the problem for them.

2. The government has awarded a contract for the upgrading of LCCT to the tune of RM 123.9 million to Fajarbaru Builders Group Bhd. YB Wee contends that the company may not be suitable to undertake the job because its core business is Investment Holding & Provision for Financial Services. By merely looking at the company's stated core business, the company does not reflect a company that is involved in the construction business. Would you not sense a rat in this deal? And is it wrong to seek clarification to ensure that public money is well spent? The public has had enough of the failures of the BN government in awarding contracts, and what YB Wee is trying to do, is to put things right the first time.

As a concern citizen, the government must be honest with itself and to immediately stop the rot, that has caused the loss in confidence of the people towards the BN government.

KAMPUNG DATUK KERAMAT NEW MARKET READY SOON

At long last……Folks of Kampung Datuk Keramat will finally get their new market scheduled for opening this August. My mother whose home is a short walking distance away from the new market, can now sigh in relieve after a wait of more than a decade. This, I suppose is the longest period taken by any Malaysian contractor to complete a project. I think, the construction of the Penang bridge took a much shorter period to complete, than this.

I don’t really know the reasons for the long delay in completing the market. One can come up with several guesses, but I think DBKL should assume full responsibility for the delay, for reason that they were the authority to award the contract. However, in the Malaysian scenario, it is fairly normal for the authorities not to accept blame for any failure of projects. Normally, fingers will start to be pointed at others, and even if the resultant failure involves a huge lost of public funds, this is of little concern to the authorities.

I was told that the YB Dr. Lo Lo Ghazali, Member of Parliament for Titiwangsa recently visited the market, as part of her tour of her constituency. It was reported that the visit had the full knowledge of BDKL, and as an MP, Dr. Lo Lo had expected officers from DBKL to be present to brief her. However, no officers were present, which clearly reflects poorly upon DBKL, as administrators of the project. I suppose, had YB Dr. Lo Lo been a BN MP, I am not at all surprise if the Mayor himself will be present.

From the above, one can expect the other 10 opposition MP’s within the Federal Territory to suffer a similar fate i.e. the lack of support from the authorities of DBKL, who now seem to be acting like politicians. I wish to reiterate that the actions of DBKL not to lend support to the people’s elected representatives in their constituencies, may be counter productive to the BN government itself.

And clearly, if this is to be the attitude of DBKL authorities for the remaining period prior to the next General Elections, I can bet that the losses to the BN will be even more catastrophic.