On the New Year’s Eve, Chinese Minister Ong Ka Ting gleefully announced the RM10 million "bonus" give out by the Government to Chinese schools nationwide to usher in the new year while a Chinese "national senior politician" fate is in jeopardy.

On top of that, rumors are rife that petrol price is expected to increase starting from tomorrow, hence putting petrol stations nationwide in chaotic situation, made worse by irresponsible and brainless parties who spread the rumors via SMS!

How I wish those are among the millions of unregistered voters lining up to register as one and participate in the next imminent General Election.

Anyway, here’s wishing all Malaysians a prosperous Year 2008 blessed with abundance of health and wealth, hopefully the God bless Malaysia too.

… goes to Ya, ya, ya… Correct, correct, correct!

(SOURCE: Malaysiakini, 28 December 2007)
Suffice to say, I’d assume this is a coherent choice among the rakyat too!

A few weeks ago, the Election Commission Chief Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman retorted that he is not a coward and needs more time to think about it when asked whether he would extend his tenure as chairman of the Commission.

"The general election is getting nearer, how could I run away? The critics would say I am a coward. I am not scared. I am also not scared if there are people wanting to stage riots but they have to face the law if they do that," he said.

For those who’re uninitiated, Abdul Rashid as the EC Chief, someone who is supposed to execute his role as a fair and nonpartisan candidate, shows his support towards the Government.

"A lot of people are anxious to determine the type of regime that is going to handle Malaysia in the coming years. They are always talking about regimes. I never talk about regimes. There is only one regime in this country that is capable of running (the country)," he said.

Before that, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) urges the Parliament of Malaysia, which consists of His Majesty the Yang diPertuan Agong, Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara to reject the proposed bill to amend Article 114 of the Federal Constitution.

Subsequently, the Dewan Rakyat passed the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2007 to extend the retirement age of EC members from 65 to 66, hence led to the extension of Abdul Rashid’s tenure as the EC Chief for another year before this retirement.

“It is my pleasure to continue serving the people. I will do my best to ensure yet another fair election is held. I’ll do what the framework of the law permits me to. I am happy to extend my service as the commission chairman for another year, or at least to see the next election through."

Now, his pleasure to continue serving the people with the promise of yet-another fair election?

Absurd.

Christmas is an annual holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus, which refers both to the day celebrating the birth; as well as to the season which that day inaugurates, and which concludes with the Feast of the Epiphany.

Here’s wishing all Malaysians a splashing Christmas!

If 3 days ago Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi asking for another 5 years with more responsibilities is a joke, what about when the Indian minister S Samy Vellu vows to continue fighting for Indian community?

"I will continue to fight for the betterment of the (Indian) community. The question of the MIC (Malaysian Indian Congress) being dented from recent incidents does not arise […] I have always stood by the MIC and will continue to stand by the party. I will continue to fight for the community to ensure that Indians in the country continue to rise socially and economically," he said.

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Hari Raya Haji, the day when Muslims reaffirm their faith in God, giving thanks for the many blessings that He has bequeathed to them.

It’s an occasion celebrated about two months after Aidilfitri, on the 10th day of Zulhijah, the 12th month of the Muslim calendar, which marks the end of the haj pilgrimage period (about two weeks), hence the name Hari Raya Haji (festival of the pilgrimage).

Aidiladha also commemorates the sacrifices made by the prophet Abraham (hence the word "korban" which means sacrifice), who demonstrated immense faith when he was put to the test by God.

Wishing all Malaysians Selamat Hari Raya Haji.

During the campaign period in the 2004 General Election, Barisan Nasional spearheaded by the newly appointed Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi crushed oppositions with a landslide victory with a 92% seats in the Parliament.

His infamous slogan are like "Work with me, not for me" and "It’s time for you Chinese community to have a Justice Bao".

I was so impressed and I thought, I have no other way but to concur with him, hence I decided to give this Pak Lah a chance and voted him in Kepala Batas parliamentary seat. Yes, you’re absolutely right, I was born and grew up in the same hometown as Pak Lah and I’m here to confess my sin that I voted him in 2004!

Probably that was my first time and being a naive teenager, I was harboring mountain high hopes towards the new administration with new bloods and so bloody convinced (I swear!) that he is going to be the one to bring this country to a greater height, surpassing every achievement accomplished by his predecessor Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and rectifies the many wrongs in the previous administration.

Unfortunately, as we’re drawing closer to the year 2008, which is more than 4 years after the unprecedented feat, it’s already bad enough that we’re not moving forward, we’re indeed experiencing retrogressive progress!

Talk about corruption, talk about cronyism, talk about transparency in governance, talk about judicial independence, talk about human rights, talk about global competitiveness, talk about inflation, talk about public safety and I mean, you can really talk until the cows come home and you’re still talking about what he should have done but unfortunately, that’s not the ideal case that you’d have expected from him after plethora of promises made.

Bad? Just when you think it’s bad enough that he (the PM) is not going to be that bold in this coming GE, he caught me with surprise (not sur about you) when openly asking for support and promises not to disappoint anyone who support him, seemingly oblivious and unfazed by his lousy administration.

I’d say this latest confession by Pak Lah is a historical moment and is absolutely an unforgettable one, hence would love to give him maximum fanfare as well as to ensure that no one is going to miss the great article with the header "PM: I won’t disappoint the people" as published by The Star on 18 December 2007 (Tuesday).

(SOURCE: The Star, 18 December 2007)
My conclusion? The greater responsibility he is going to have, the more disappointed you’re going to be.

Don’t say that I’m not giving you my final caveat.

When Indian non-governmental organisations had a private meeting with PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last Friday, various issues were brought up as well as to convince the premier that Indian communities in Malaysia are facing a serious crisis.

Now, you must be wondering what MIC president S Samy Vellu has been doing all this while for the past few decades he is at helm as the self-proclaimed Indian communities representative?

Is he up there to stifle his own communities?

Is he up there to watch with own eyes on how his Indian friends continue to be grinded?

Is he up there doing absolutely nothing, notwithstanding the fact that his own marginalised Indian communities continue to retrogress in term of socio-economics standing in this country, unequal education opportunities and many other issues?

Suffice to say, he is incapable and useless beyond doubts. That doesn’t augur well for his position as the sole representative in the cabinet ever since he was appointed as the MIC president, so put him under internal scrutiny within MIC, eliminate him via democracy means, after all, I believe MIC representatives do not elect him out of a sudden whim, do they?

Now what, talk about "Non-Muslim Affairs Department", do we really need to create a new breach to address sensitive issues pertaining to religion? If ever there is a need for this, the right thing to do is for the people fighting for the cabinet to enshrine those issues during the weekly cabinet meeting instead of fighting for the establishment of yet-another-feeble department, don’t you think so?

Then, the imperative questions to ask are, does Pak Lah the PM with the big ears willing to commit to this concept? Do the likes of Ong Ka Ting, S Samy Vellu and other non-Bumi ministers ever have the guts to stand up and fight for what they claim to be rather than kowtow-ing to protect their own rice bowls?

It’s disheartening that after 50 years of independence, as we’re moving into 50+1, when the others are preparing to embrace a new wave of globalisation, not only we’re still pursuing the infighting to determine a national identity, but continues to be plagued by another prolonged racial crisis?

Wake up, you people, when are you ready to harness the people’s power and tell the morons that enough is really enough??!!

I’m sick of it.

The Chinese Minister Ong Ka Ting is optimistic about Malaysian Chinese’s future in this country, with assurance from the coalition boss that the status-quo as of now will remain intact in the future.

The Indian Minister S Samy Vellu hails Indian immigrants worldwide for being successful Indians in their adopted countries while his role as the Indian representative in the Cabinet is significantly reduced to as an observer and a note-taker when his Indian friends in this country are struggling and fighting hard for socio-economic balance.

On paper, they enacted their roles to appear like a coherent combination of officious representatives for their communities, but god knows, it’s imperative for us to get rid of the menace in this coming election, notwithstanding promises made by them over the years!

Once again, Minister Information Zainuddin Maidin a.k.a ZAM went berserk, if I may put it this way.

This time, he went extra miles to assert claim that arresting five Hindraf leaders under the Internal Security Act (ISA) is what people want.

He alleged that the Government was acting on behalf of the people and shows the sincerity and seriousness in safeguarding public order and national security.

"The people have been waiting for such an action to deal with the case, and after it has been taken they are generally in support of it," retorted ZAM.

His oblivious absurdity doesn’t augur well for his position as the Information Minister, where he was pointing out something based on his own perception or the misperception created by a few hundreds of NGOs and millions of members under the umbrella of Damai Malaysia, led by Bukit Bintang MCA Lee Chong Meng based on a bloody thick book and millions of unverified signatures, if there is any?

Besides, the claim of the alleged silent majority factor is no less controversial too. The 20 persons representing Damai Malaysia claimed to have 1.5 million members out of 23 million plus of Malaysians out there, where the entire scenario ended in 15 minutes, not forgetting the PM was captured on the photo flipping the memorandum and hence the conclusion - silent majority?

Even if one to conclude that as silent majority, I find it amusing to understand which walking creature on earth putting up their arms throwing support behind the ISA?

I’d love to remain unfazed, however at this critical moment amidst the country’s dark moment, knowing and seeing how politicians thrusting themselves to the top with foolish thoughts and statements, I hope this would serve a chilling reminder to many of us on how essential an administration reform is required in this country, for one simple fact, if you wish - we don’t need lousy and low-quality representatives to rule us.

Better still, if you can bear in mind for the rest of your life - it’s we, the people, like you and I, who put them up there, so do not give them the slightest chance to turn against you.

Once bitten twice shy, twice as wise or forever smitten, that’s me.