Unity Goverment - Anticipate or Participate

The past few weeks saw the media buzzing with reports and comments from various leaders on the idea of the so-called 'Unity Government'.

For those who follow the politics of Malaysia closely, must realize that this has not been the first time talks on a Unity Government came from the quarters of PAS.

About a year ago, the buzz was on the 'muzakarah' issue between a few prominent PAS leaders with the then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Badawi. The muzakarah was quickly translated by the BN influenced media as the possibility of PAS-UMNO securing ties for the good of Muslim/Malay.

Tok Guru Nik Aziz shot down the whole idea by saying that any sort of a merger with UMNO would mean being bitten by the same snake, from the same hole, twice.

He likened the secret meeting between Tun Abdullah and a few PAS leaders to a 'muqabalah', meaning a mere discussion.

The statement from PAS spiritual leader, Tuan Guru Nik Aziz managed to simmer down the issue. Therefore, it was most unfortunate that PAS Party President, Tuan Haji Abdul Hadi brought about the issue of a Unity Government at PAS 55th Muktamar recently.

As much as the top leaders of PKR, PAS and DAP reaffirm their commitment to Pakatan Rakyat, the possibility of PAS merging with UMNO is still very real. After all, PAS and UMNO are the two biggest Malay/Muslim based political parties in Malaysia.

After the political tsunami in March last year, Malaysians had a taste of what politics based on idealism and principles feels like, instead of falling back to the same voting pattern based on race and racial sentiments.

Malaysians plucked up enough courage to change the political landscape of this country. We see now, no longer do the Malays fear DAP, and the sight of non-Muslims waving PAS flags proudly, was something almost unimaginable, more than a year ago.

Malaysians are ready for changes, but are the politicians ready as well?

Parti KeADILan Rakyat has a platform ready for Malaysians who believe in justice, equality and politic beyond racial line can be achieved.

I, for one, like to toy with the idea of a 2-party system. The 2-party system is made up of Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional. No more PKR, no more PAS, DAP and no more UMNO, MCA, MIC.

No longer would any quarters be using race and religion to divide Malaysians for their political survival.

No longer would keris wielding be acceptable to anyone.

Instead, the debate would then be based on good governance, transparency, idealism, economic plans, the list could go on but it would not include things like - any particular race supremacy and quotas.

Maybe, only then would Malaysians be truly united. But it certainly will not happen with a Unity Government.

Siri Jelajah ke Kg Sengat

Bersama-sama Ketua Kampung lantikan Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat Perak, Tuan Haji Zainuddin, saya telah pergi dari rumah ke rumah dengan berjalan kaki.

Ianya memberi peluang saya melihat dengan lebih dekat keadaan infrastuktur kampung tersebut. Permasalahan ketiadaan longkang atau longkang yang tersumbat menjadi antara aduan utama penduduk.

Selain daripada memberi penerangan tentang isu-isu politik semasa di Perak, saya juga sempat bertanyakan khabar para penduduk dan berkenal mesra dengan mereka.

Dalam siri jelajah ke Kampung Sengat juga, saya berkesempatan menziarahi sebuah keluarga yang baru kehilangan orang tersayang.

Majlis Pelancaran Kutipan Derma Pesakit Kanser, Loke Sai Keong - 26 Mei 2009

Loke Sai Keong adalah seorang muda yang baru mencecah usia 22 tahun. Dalam usia semuda itu, beliau terpaksa menanggung penyakit kanser paru-paru.

Apabila disahkan menghidap kanser paru-paru kira-kira 3 bulan yang lalu, Loke Sai Keong tergamam memikirakan bagaimana orang semuda dirinya boleh mendapat penyakit tersebut. Beliau tidak minum arak malah tidak pernah merokok.

Kesakitan yang ditanggungnya menyebabkan beliau terpaksa berhenti kerja. Buat masa ini segala perbelanjaan perubatannya adalah tertanggung dibahu abang ipar beliau.

Ibu bapa Loke Sai Keong sudah berusia dan tidak mampu lagi bekerja.

Atas keprihatinan penduduk Kampung Baru Simpang Pulai, satu majlis bagi mengutip derma telah dianjurkan bertujuan meringankan beban yang terpaksa ditanggung Loke Sai Keong dan keluarganya.

Ahli Parlimen Gopeng, Dr Lee Boon Chye dan Adun Simpang Pulai, Sdr Chan Ming Kai telah turut hadir ke majlis tersebut bagi menunjukkan sokongan moral.

Semangat kejiranan dan permuafakatan penduduk Kg Baru Simpang Pulai wajar dijadikan contoh.

Adalah diharapkan Loke Sai Keong dan keluarga dapat bersabar dalam menempuh saat yang getir ini. Kepada Loke Sai Keong didoakan semoga cepat sembuh.

Hunger Strike - 26th May 2009 to 29th May 2009

Pakatan Rakyat launched a hunger strike in a bid to get the dissolution of Dewan Undangan Negeri Perak. We believe that the only way to end the fiasco in Perak is by calling in a fresh election.

According to Wikipedia, hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Most hunger strikers will take liquids but not solid food.

Because of religious belief, our Muslims friends could not participate in hunger strike but in order to show support, they fast according to the Islam teaching instead.

The mainstream media attacked our move, calling the hunger strike 'haram'. Non-Muslims are not obligated to the Islamic teachings, whereby our Muslim participants fast instead of going on hunger strike. It made us wonder how the word 'haram' apply to any of us.

The police attacked us too. What was supposed to be a peaceful and non-violent protest received violent treatment from the police squad. We were merely walking in groups to the courthouse to give our support to the 817 village head chiefs who filed suits against Dr Zambrey for untimely termination of their contract.

Since when was walking in groups an offence? Because we wore black? That was our uniform colour for the hunger strike.

What about the national parade march? They walk in groups and in uniforms too. Should they be arrested?

Every year on Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) birthday, Muslims all over the world and in Malaysia too, walk in groups to the streets singing praises for him. Should they be arrested?

Or we can take the easy way out - ban walking in groups. Hence, no more National Day parade. Saves money, saves time , saves energy and the school kids need not miss any school days for rehearsels and government staffs need not miss precious hours learning how to march.

If I dared to suggest that, I would be called unpatriotic. The extremists would then link it to my origin and condemn me on my ungratefulness that I was made a citizen of Malaysia.

I was arrested along with many others. My right hand was pulled to the back and twisted and left me with pain for a few days. I was'nt the only one who received harsh treatment from the police.

With the many crimes happening daily, mat rempits and snatch thieves roaming our city, hurting and killing civilians, the police found it fit instead to spend enormous time and personnel to watch our every move.