Bukan senang merubah perangai orang politik

by Ong Tee Keat on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 at 4:55pm

Sejak tsunami politik pilihan raya ke-12, istilah transformasi semakin kerap disebut orang politik. Ia begitu popular kerana pengertian transformasi membawa harapan kepada masyarakat.

Namun pada hakikatnya laungan transformasi tidak akan membawa sebarang makna jika tidak disusuli pelaksanaan pelan tindakan yang berhasil.

Sebenarnya inilah senario politik semasa, yang terganggu-gugat bahkan tertewas dalam takuk minda yang sama. Mereka belum lagi bangkit dari trauma politik yang dialami. Amalan politik mereka yang sebelum ini dipertikai umum masih tebal dan terus berkekalan. Memang bukan senang hendak merubah perangai orang politik yang telah lama berakar-umbi dalam darah jiwa mereka. Umpamanya, mereka yang melobi projek kerajaan sebagai rezekinya, tidak mudah mengikis amalan itu walaupun ruang berbuat demikian semakin tersekat berikutan jatuhnya pemerintahan beberapa buah negeri.

Dalam keadaan demikian, kita jarang-jarang nampak sebarang usaha serius yang berupa transformasi di peringkat akar umbi parti. Istilah itu seolah-olah tinggal satu battle cry yang kosong tanpa pengikut. Komitmen orang politik terhadap transformasi tidak terasa.

Sesetengah orang politik atasan pula, tabiat politik untuk menjadikan diri jaguh bangsa melalui lemparan kata-kata perkauman tetap ada pasarannya. Malah banyak isu lapuk terus mereka ungkit tanpa sebarang hujah baru, semata-mata untuk kepentingan modal politik peribadi. Polemik kontroversial yang berusia dua tiga dekad subur kembali kebelakangan ini tanpa sebarang jalan keluar. Mungkin gelagat sebegini mudah mendapat tepuk sorak, namun risiko yang merugikan negara jarang-jarang mendapat perhatian.

Dalam perspektif ini, polemik kuota kaum, aliran sekolah jenis kebangsaan dan kata-kata mempersenda asal-usul sesuatu kaum tidak henti membara, sedangkan dalam menangani soal rasuah, ramai yang leka dalam takuk minda denial syndrome (sindrom penafian).

Sesiapa menyahut sentimen umum yang menuntut penyiasatan demi ketelusan, mudah dituding jari kerana persoal integriti pentadbiran. Keadaan bertambah buruk apabila pelbagai tuduhan, baik berasas mahupun tidak, khasnya yang luas disebarkan melalui laman web mengeruhkan lagi senario sebenar jika tiada sebarang penyiasatan meyakinkan.

Kita jarang sekali mengambil iktibar dari apa yang berlaku. Skandal BMF tahun 80-an dan kes PKFZ yang belum selesai setakat ini merupakan kes-kes profil tinggi yang klasik. Kita tidak boleh salahkan rakyat terpengaruh dengan pelbagai dakyah dalam kes-kes seperti ini, kiranya ia terus dibiarkan menjadi bahan gosip umum tanpa tindakan tegas.

Sesiapa dari parti pemerintah yang mencadangkan agar isu itu ditangani secara proaktif, mudah menempah padah. Pihak yang menuduh lazimnya gusar kerana pandangan seperti itu dianggap untuk mempopularkan diri dalam kalangan rakyat, dan bukannya untuk menegakkan budaya ketelusan dalam parti pemerintah.

Pada hakikatnya, parti pemerintah boleh membawa perubahan kepada dirinya bahkan seluruh jentera kerajaan secara proaktif dan bukannya atas desakan politik semasa. Iktibar boleh kita timba daripada peristiwa sejarah yang berlaku di sekeliling kita. Tiada pihak mahupun parti yang boleh menentang arus perubahan dibawa rakyat.

Dalam keadaan sebegini, tidakkah elok jika parti pemerintah proaktif membawa transformasi politik yang menguntungkan rakyat? Saya yakin, itu bukan sekadar dapat memberkati parti dan rakyat, malah memantapkan lagi daya saing negara dalam persada antarabangsa.

Malangnya segala ini bukanlah keutamaan orang politik yang berkepentingan peribadi. Bagi mereka, sebarang perubahan pasti mengandungi unsur-unsur ketidakpastian yang mungkin menjejaskan kepentingannya.

Apa pun motifnya, transformasi tidak akan berjaya kiranya tidak dilaksanakan dengan penglibatan rakyat dan parti.

* DATUK SRI ONG TEE KEAT ialah Ahli Parlimen Pandan dan mantan Menteri Pengangkutan*



ORIGINAL POSTING
http://www.facebook.com/notes/ong-tee-keat/bukan-senang-merubah-perangai-orang-politik/465792573131

MCMC shoots itself in the foot again

 Comments by RAKYAT of Malaysia

'These days, any criticism against the government or BN leaders is considered seditious. Are they gods or something? Maybe it's time we set up shrines for them.'

DJ Jamal demands apology from MCA chief

Sarawakian: Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) cannot extricate itself from the controversy. They started the ball rolling. They are acting like cowards by saying that they did not sack the DJ Jamaluddin Ibrahim.

In their haste to polish PM Najib Abdul Razak's apple, they sent a threatening letter to the radio station. And like a good boy, the station bosses or those in MCA want Najib to pat them on the head over their knee-jerk reaction.

Now the public are up in arms, and the musical chair blame game has started. What a weak bunch of sycophants. These days, any criticism against the government or BN leaders is considered seditious. Are they gods or something? Maybe it's time we set up shrines for them.

SayaAnakBangsaMalaysia: The MCMC (read: Umno) and MCA shoot themselves in the foot again over the DJ Jamaluddin Ibrahim issue. So what's new? Racial discrimination is endemic in Malaysia thanks to Umno-BN and the Biro Tatanegara's efforts to propagate and institutionalise racial discrimination.

As usual, instead of trying to rectify the fundamental problem of institutionalised racism, they try to shoot the messenger who highlights the problem but end up shooting themselves in the foot - yet again.

Writer: According to the letter from MCMC, Jamaluddin and the 'Hi Malaysia' programme were suspected of "threatening national security" and "compromising race relations".

Silly isn't it? Especially when you compare that with outright racist remarks by Ahmad Ismail, Ibrahim Ali, Utusan Malaysia, and several teachers and principals who, over the past years, have made racist remarks.

Gunena: MCMC says it did not axe Jamal. The question is, who lodged the complaint to MCMC? Could it be from the MCA, someone who thinks Jamal is in the wrong camp? Jamal seems to support Ong Tee Keat. Is this the preclude of an MCA internal war?

Whatever it is, the removal of Jamal has angered thousands of his loyal fans. What do you think these angry fans would do come the next election?

Anonymous: What is so wrong with the topic of 'racism'? It should be discussed openly nationwide, especially when we have leaders who are encouraging, or at best keeping silent, on racism and racial hatred in schools and in our daily lives.

Non-racist: Discussing and exchanging ideas on the issue of racism does not constitute an act of racism.

Lim Chong Leong: Jamal should turn to Internet radio, just like Raja Petra Kamarudin with his blog. I am sure there will be more than enough listeners to get advertisements. Just feature more of NameWee's hits. Zunar can post all his comics there as well. It can be pay per view or pay per listen.

At least we get to hear the truth and have honest discussions about how Umno treats their own race and other races as if they were milking cows. They want to drive us underground, then they shall have us underground. After all, jazz and blues came from underground.

Perkasa, MPM want Soi Lek arrested under ISA

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
August 22, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 22 — Malay rights groups Perkasa along with the Malays Consultative Council (MPM) demanded today that MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek be arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for “disregarding national interests”.

Perkasa economic bureau director Dr Zubir Harun said Dr Chua’s insistence in pushing for the removal of the 30 per cent Bumiputera equity quota was against the spirit of the federal constitution.

“Chua Soi Lek, through the resolutions passed during the MCA Chinese Economic Congress, had caused much distress and worry among Malays in this country. Chua Soi Lek should be placed under the ISA for making these unwarranted demands,” said Zubir.

He added that Perkasa viewed the matter very seriously, and threatened to punish all MCA leaders at the ballot box.

“If MCA continues like this, we will not vote for any MCA candidates in the coming general election,” said Zubir.

During the MCA-sponsored Chinese Economic Congress last weekend, Dr Chua had urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to abolish the 30 per cent Bumiputera equity rule and to open up the boards of government-linked companies (GLCs) to non-Bumiputera talent.

This led to a war of words between Umno and MCA that involved Umno leaders Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who both reminded Dr Chua not to forget about Barisan Nasional’s (BN) struggles while fighting for the rights of the Chinese community.

However, Dr Chua has now denied questioning the New Economic Policy (NEP) at the congress, saying he merely suggested ways to increase the country’s competitiveness and achieve the Najib administration’s high-income goal.

His denial was carried in an interview with Berita Minggu today, the Sunday edition from the Umno-controlled The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd.

“I never touched on the NEP... Look at my (Chinese Economic Congress) speech, I didn’t touch on one thing,” Dr Chua said in the interview.

“What I raised had to do with reality, how non-Bumiputeras can help the government to achieve the aims of the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) and New Economic Model (NEM).”

MPM secretary-general Dr Hasan Mad, however, said he was not convinced with Dr Chua’s explanation.

“This is what we call someone who has a forked tongue. How can Soi Lek deny saying it, when there is proof in written form, as reported by news reports quoting him as saying that?

“Soi Lek just wants Chinese support, because he knows he barely has nine per cent support right now,” said Hasan.

Hasan also questioned Umno’s silence on the matter, adding that Umno should respond to the 13-point resolution inked during the MCA congress.

“Our leaders are too compromising. If they are firmer, people won’t say such things. This is because of a weak leadership.

“There has to be action taken against those who question what is already provided for in the constitution. Umno has to respond to MCA’s economic congress,” said Hasan.

The MPM committee member said that the council will be meeting top Umno leaders as well as Cabinet members soon to seek some “clarification” over the matter.

The Haven Lakeside Residences

LOCATION
The location is at Tambun, Ipoh, situated next to Sunway City which is an up-market development complete with shops, restaurants, recreation centre, hot spring spa, hotel, college, supermarket, etc. It is a stone’s throw away from the Banjaran Spa and Resort, a hot spring retreat, by the same developer.

The location is easily accessible from the North-South Highway via the Tambun Interchange. It is just off the Tambun / Tg Rambutan Road.

 

THE SITE
The site is situated next to nature, with a 4 acre ‘flowing’ lake. The hillside, possibly with underground springs, continually exude water, keeping the lake pristine. There is no industrial factory or activity in the vicinity. The air is thus, fresh and pure.

The present ecology and the flora and fauna will be preserved. Professional hard and soft landscape will be added to enhance the ambience and beauty of the development.The site sits on 13.8 acres and is surrounded by a further 10 acres of nature in our own land.

THE PROJECT / PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
The condominium development will be the highest and possibly the most luxurious in Perak, towering 26 storeys made up of 489 apartments/suites/penthouses. The development will harvest from nature all possible renewable resources of wind, solar and water, within a sustainable budget, to generate heating and/ or lighting for the common areas.

 

It will include all facilities of an up market condominium, including a club house complete with a well equipped gymnasium, sauna, a café / restaurant, a 60 metre designer pool, spa, children’s playground and ample car parking facilities.

It will have its own ‘wooded’ jogging track, a private 4 acre lake and picnic areas.

Panoramic View Suite West  Mirrored East 1,972 sq ft

Panoramic View Suite West  Mirrored East 2,840 sq ft

Lake View West & Mirrored East 1,172 sq ft

Central Lake View Suite1,418 sq ft

 

Central Lake View Suite 2,072 sq ft

Bangalow In The Sky 2 bedroom 893 sq ft

Bangalow In The Sky 3 bedroom 893 sq ft

Haven Lakeside Residence website

The Haven Lakeside Residences Facebook Page


Video
Video II

MCMC disavows involvement in 98.8FM axings

By Clara Chooi
August 20, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 — The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) explained today that it was not responsible for the removal of several individuals from Mandarin radio station 98.8 FM and was merely investigating it for allegedly breaching licence conditions.

In a media statement this evening, the MCMC said its investigations had kicked off following complaints that the station had allegedly aired content that may “upset the sensibilities and sentiments of races in the country”.

“Following several complaints received by MCMC on the morning programme, the radio station, Star Rfm Sdn Bhd (98.8 FM) is being investigated for breach of licence conditions.

“MCMC has also informed the station regarding the complaints received,” the commission said.

It added that Star Rfm, a subsidiary belonging to The Star Publications (M) Bhd, holds the Content Applications Service Provider – Individual (CASP-I) which requires its compliance to licence conditions.

“This includes prohibition on providing content which may upset the sensibilities and sentiments of any race or religion in this country,” it said in the statement.

It also explained that the MCMC had received complaints against the content broadcasted by the station on August 13 this year, with claims that it had contained sensitive material.

“Accordingly, MCMC evaluated the complaint and proceeded to investigate the radio station. The purpose of the investigation is to establish whether there is an offence committed,” it said.

The statement did not specify when it would conclude its investigations but assured that once this was completed, it would hand over the matter to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for further action.

“Any decision with regards to this investigation will be communicated in due course, in accordance with the provision in the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 or other relevant laws,” it said.

The commission also gave its assurance that its only concern in the matter was on the station’s compliance with the licence conditions and to ensure that there would not be any future breach.

It then stressed that staffing issues resulting from the investigation was purely the jurisdiction of the station’s management and not the MCMC’s.

“Issues relating to staffing of any licensee is an internal matter within the organisation. The MCMC is unable to comment.

“Any actions taken by the MCMC will be in accordance with the licence conditions for radio stations and provisions under any relevant laws,” it said.

Deejay Jamaluddin Ibrahim, who hosts the “Hello Malaysia” breakfast programme, was told by the station to take a leave of absence on Wednesday following a letter from the MCMC.

He was alleged to have touched on racially sensitive issues during the programme last week when popular columnist Oyoung Wen Feng was invited to speak on issues pertaining to racial discrimination.

Following his removal, Jamaluddin’s colleagues on the station caused a bigger stir yesterday when they wept openly on-air while discussing the issue.

They also turned the programme into a tribute to the popular host, the son of Malaysian freedom fighters the late Shamsiah Fakeh and Ibrahim Mohammed who both lived in exile in China due to their involvement in the Communist Party of Malaya.
Since then, the breakfast programme’s remaining three deejays have also been removed, while its chief executive officer Wong Lai Ngo and senior programme manager Tan Chia Yong were suspended.

It was speculated that the MCA was the silent hand behind Jamaluddin’s removal for the deejay was known to be supportive of the party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek’s predecessor, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

Dr Chua has, however, denied this.