Iraqis voted for their government just last year. Despite bombings occuring nationwide with some bombs jeopardising certain voting centres, Iraqis still came out to vote.
Reading: Millions of Iraqies defy bomb and rocket attacks to vote - The Times
Why?
In South Sudan, close to 3.5 million people went to vote despite hearing people being stopped or killed while coming back to South Sudan for the once in a lifetime vote.
Reading: Violence mars south Sudan vote - IOL News
Why?
People in this two countries wanted to see changes to their lifes and they have been deprived of their rights for so long. Now it's the time to change and decide for themselves and their future generations.
These people didn't take their single vote for granted.
But it's a totally different scenario in Malaysia.
Many Malaysians have not registered to vote and some who have registered don't intend to vote. Many of these people couldn't be bothered with the Malaysian political situation. Some thought that by not voting, they considered themselves neutral (how wrong are they).
Malaysians who don't vote took their single vote for granted.
Must Malaysia reach the point similar to those situations found in Iraq or Sudan before we decide to determine Malaysia's future destination. I always believe that what you have decided today, especially in your personal life, will determine the outcome of your future (notwithstanding your prayer to God of course). Though a prayer can move mountains, it all depends on your role in making sure the mountains move. Simple example would be praying for straight As in examination results but not wanting to study at all.
Malaysia's next general election i.e. the 13th General Election is rumoured to be forthcoming. For those of you who have not registered before, you can register yourself at the following places:-
(a) The Election Commission Headquarters
Ground Floor, Block C7, Complex C,
The Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62690 Putrajaya
Tel. No.: 03-88856686
(b) State Election Offices
(c) Computerized Post Offices
http://www.pos.com.my/WebsiteBM/MAIN2.ASP?c=/V1/Ournetworks/map.htm
(d) Outreach Programmes with Mobile Registration Centres (no activity for this at the moment)
(e) Embassies, High Commissions and Consular General Offices overseas
Please click http://www.kln.gov.my/bm/?page=mission
(f) Your nearest Assistant Registrar
For those of you who have registered and those who have voted before, please check your voting centre again at the Election Commission's Electoral Roll to ensure that the Election Commission has not secretly decided to throw you to another constituency or another school to cast your important single vote.
Even in the Election Commission's website, the following caption is flashing across their website "Election can happen at anytime. It is your responsibility to vote."
I'm proud to say that I have voted in the last four general elections (1995, 1999, 2004 and 2008). I was also involved in the 12th General Election as a Polling Agent and Counting Agent. I walk the talk!
Tags: Election Commission, Registered Voter, 13th General Election, Right To Vote, Malaysian Voter, Polling Agent, Counting Agent
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Paul The Octopus Has Chosen Again
Just before the the final game of the 2010 World Cup, Paul The Octopus went to work and decided to choose Spain instead of the team that I supported. And how true it was.
Seeing the unbelievable psychic power that it possesses, the politicians in Malaysia from both camps, decided to kidnap Paul and brought him back to Malaysia to conduct a once and for all kind of selection.
Our politicians trusted Paul more than the voters?????
Seeing the unbelievable psychic power that it possesses, the politicians in Malaysia from both camps, decided to kidnap Paul and brought him back to Malaysia to conduct a once and for all kind of selection.Our politicians trusted Paul more than the voters?????Well, looks Paul has done it again. He has chosen Pakatan Rakyat this time. With the next general election due on 2013, will Paul's prediction be correct again?
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Hanging On to Malaysian Politics
Posted by Hannah Yeoh, the state assemblywoman for Subang Jaya:-
So many people have been telling me just how frustrated they are with the current political situation in our country. Some have told me that they regretted voting for change because of the political instability now and would prefer returning to their old style of voting - vote for stability and forget about having a stronger opposition and greater check and balance. I shudder at the thought of this!
One needs to remember the reason why we are seeing such great resistance for change is simply because there is much to lose for those who have been in power for so long. For decades there has been so much abuse of power, unchecked misuse of public funds and plain dirty corruption. With a stronger opposition now, they stand to lose their illegal sources of income and some may even be charged and sent to prison if they are found guilty.
With this in mind, they will fight at all costs to reclaim back power and to ensure they can continue to steal public funds from the people for their own enrichment. We are not just dealing with differences in politics; we are combating evil forces who will not rest till they secure back their powers and illegal sources of income.
Sometimes I feel equally frustrated and disillusioned about the political situation too. Sometimes I lie awake thinking of how to effect change in this land. Some days I cry while driving in between meetings thinking of what's left for the future generation in this land if we give up now.
I have endured much verbal attack from political enemies, accusation after accusation of me not doing anything for my constituents and etc. No one truly understands the resistance we face daily in discharging our duties except for my fellow PR assemblymen.
Robert Kennedy once said ‘*Progress is a nice word. But change is its motivator and change has its enemies.*’ Our enemies are resisting change but we must stand firm and continue to push for a competent, accountable and transparent government.
At the end of each day, as I lay myself to sleep, I ask God for strength, wisdom and protection to face the next. I look forward to the end of the term when I can tell the people of Subang Jaya that I have remained clean and have not stolen any of the taxpayers' funds.
As reminded by Raja Petra in his blog "*Please continue your struggle to make Malaysia a better place for our future generation. This country belongs to them and it is for them that we struggle.*" All hope is not lost. Come the next election, vote out the corrupt once and for all. Hang in there supporters and friends, the best is yet to come!
Tags: Malaysian Politics, Hannah Yeoh, Subang Jaya
So many people have been telling me just how frustrated they are with the current political situation in our country. Some have told me that they regretted voting for change because of the political instability now and would prefer returning to their old style of voting - vote for stability and forget about having a stronger opposition and greater check and balance. I shudder at the thought of this!
One needs to remember the reason why we are seeing such great resistance for change is simply because there is much to lose for those who have been in power for so long. For decades there has been so much abuse of power, unchecked misuse of public funds and plain dirty corruption. With a stronger opposition now, they stand to lose their illegal sources of income and some may even be charged and sent to prison if they are found guilty.
With this in mind, they will fight at all costs to reclaim back power and to ensure they can continue to steal public funds from the people for their own enrichment. We are not just dealing with differences in politics; we are combating evil forces who will not rest till they secure back their powers and illegal sources of income.
Sometimes I feel equally frustrated and disillusioned about the political situation too. Sometimes I lie awake thinking of how to effect change in this land. Some days I cry while driving in between meetings thinking of what's left for the future generation in this land if we give up now.
I have endured much verbal attack from political enemies, accusation after accusation of me not doing anything for my constituents and etc. No one truly understands the resistance we face daily in discharging our duties except for my fellow PR assemblymen.
Robert Kennedy once said ‘*Progress is a nice word. But change is its motivator and change has its enemies.*’ Our enemies are resisting change but we must stand firm and continue to push for a competent, accountable and transparent government.
At the end of each day, as I lay myself to sleep, I ask God for strength, wisdom and protection to face the next. I look forward to the end of the term when I can tell the people of Subang Jaya that I have remained clean and have not stolen any of the taxpayers' funds.
As reminded by Raja Petra in his blog "*Please continue your struggle to make Malaysia a better place for our future generation. This country belongs to them and it is for them that we struggle.*" All hope is not lost. Come the next election, vote out the corrupt once and for all. Hang in there supporters and friends, the best is yet to come!
Tags: Malaysian Politics, Hannah Yeoh, Subang Jaya
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
All Malaysian School Kids Will Be Taught To Hate
In view of the Israeli actrocities against Palestine now, tempers are boiling all over the world that the attacks done by Israel is not coming to a stop just yet.
Malaysia's former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir (a person I revered), has called for a nationwide boycott on USA goods unnessarily.
I thought that the said boycott was bad enough until I read this piece of Bernama news that quoted what the Education Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, has to say about the Israeli actrocities.
Please check with your school going kids and help them unlearn what they are going to learn in time to come. It was reported that all school kids will somehow be taught on how to have this HATRED feeling against the Israeli atrocities on Palestinians.
It was mentioned that a particular mass movement will involve those in the teaching profession and education ministry staff to be 'brain washed' first before they instill it in the kids.
Please note that this mass movement has been approved by the Cabinet on 7 Jan 2009 (which involves only Barisan Nasional politicians).
Malaysia's former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir (a person I revered), has called for a nationwide boycott on USA goods unnessarily.
I thought that the said boycott was bad enough until I read this piece of Bernama news that quoted what the Education Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, has to say about the Israeli actrocities.
Please check with your school going kids and help them unlearn what they are going to learn in time to come. It was reported that all school kids will somehow be taught on how to have this HATRED feeling against the Israeli atrocities on Palestinians.
It was mentioned that a particular mass movement will involve those in the teaching profession and education ministry staff to be 'brain washed' first before they instill it in the kids.
Please note that this mass movement has been approved by the Cabinet on 7 Jan 2009 (which involves only Barisan Nasional politicians).
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Personally, if the Malaysian government wants people to be aware of such actrocities, just teach the positive way. The government declares the nation as an Islamic nation but now they are trying to instill HATRED into the school going kids (please read this statement with proper understanding, no malice & hatred were meant here before you even thought of commenting on this statement alone). A religion teaches us to HATE? What's wrong with the government?
Kids won't be able to differentiate which is correct or wrong unless with proper adult guidance. School kids will be thinking that whichever nation that attacks fervently and without mercy, that nation could be HATED later on.
If school kids so happened saw their relatives fighting but didn't know what happened actually (even though physical fight is incorrect), the school kids would have HATRED feeling against those relatives because they have been taught to HATE. They won't know how to differentiate in different circumstances.
Nothing better to do? What political mileage is there to gain when all school going kids' brains will be destroyed?
The government is really going too far with this mass movement! Do it the positive way!
Why can't the ridiculous Minsitry of Education teach what LOVE is all about?
Teach school kids on how to LOVE and touch other people's hearts irrespective of race / religion / upbringing. Am sure with this, wars won't happen but with HATRED feeling, it will happen right here in our own country itself if not guided properly.
Tell all your friends to check with the kids and instill the right teaching into their minds.
Reading: Students In Mass Movement Against Israeli Actrocities - Bernama
Related post - Besides Boycotting, Quit Too
Tags: Bernama, Israeli Actrocities, Israel, Palestine, Palestinian, Hatred
Friday, November 07, 2008
Indonesia Passes Anti-Racial Discrimination Bill
Indonesia, a vast Muslim nation in terms of its population, has passed a bill against racial discrimination. With the passing of this bill there is no ethnic or racial discrimination rulings in the country as they have learnt through the hard way in the late 90s riots that caught the world's attention.
Indonesia passed this bill in accordance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination ("Convention") that was enacted in 1999 in the United Nations, currently monitored by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, joining a host of other nations that has adopted the Convention.
Today, the Indonesian citizens are free from this bondage. If found guilty of any form of ethnic or racial discrimination in Indonesia now, it will certainly land you in jail. Yeah, jail term is there.
Sadly, Malaysia is not a party to this Convention. May I know why? Maybe, have to build lots of prisons prior to adopting this Convention here. Economy down, so can't construct the prisons.
Reading: Bill against racial discrimination passed - Jakarta Post
Tags: Indonesia, Racial Discrimination, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, United Nations, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR
Indonesia passed this bill in accordance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination ("Convention") that was enacted in 1999 in the United Nations, currently monitored by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, joining a host of other nations that has adopted the Convention.
Today, the Indonesian citizens are free from this bondage. If found guilty of any form of ethnic or racial discrimination in Indonesia now, it will certainly land you in jail. Yeah, jail term is there.
Sadly, Malaysia is not a party to this Convention. May I know why? Maybe, have to build lots of prisons prior to adopting this Convention here. Economy down, so can't construct the prisons.
Reading: Bill against racial discrimination passed - Jakarta Post
Tags: Indonesia, Racial Discrimination, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, United Nations, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
USA Presidential Election
Barack Osama ............. oops I mean Barack Obama ....... won the USA Presidential election (even though some places are still counting). Why did I bother with this election? Well, for one, when USA sneezes the whole world catches the flu at the same time..jpg)
These are the states that Obama's camp has declared victory:-.jpg)
Not only the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, an Illinois senator, has won his election but the Democratic Party has won the majority votes in both the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. This will allow Obama's office to draw the political map much easier but certainly not without challenges that are awaiting them. Oh my, the Republicans are licking their wounds now and the Democractics are partying away.
Some people said that with this win, it has transcended over racial issue, that people of other races could have a chance of becoming the president of the United States of America. I'm sure some of the Malaysian politicians will harp on this point as well.
The Obama camp had to thank the virtual world in partly helping them on its course. $$ Millions were raised via the internet. During Bill Clinton's time, there were not many dedicated political linked websites ....... nowadays, you wished that you wouldn't bump into one. George Bush's era does not have many blogs or bloggers didn't realise what they can do then. Nowadays, who doesn't blogs or haven't heard of a politically linked blog. Something similar with the Malaysian scenario.
If you are an United States' citizen, care to share your viewpoint on whether this election was what the people wanted or it should have been otherwise.
What do you know .......... the Malaysian public held a mock USA election in a public forum held last Thursday in Kuala Lumpur (topic of discussion for the forum was - "US Presidential Election 2008: Race, Religion and Economics”) and Obama Barack won by a wide margin. Result was Obama 126 votes; John 16 votes.
Tags: Barack Obama, United States Senate, United States House of Representatives, USA Presidential Election, Illinois Senator, Democratic Party, Republican Party, Bill Clinton, George Bush Jr, USA, United States of America, US Senate, US House
.jpg)
These are the states that Obama's camp has declared victory:-.jpg)
Not only the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, an Illinois senator, has won his election but the Democratic Party has won the majority votes in both the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. This will allow Obama's office to draw the political map much easier but certainly not without challenges that are awaiting them. Oh my, the Republicans are licking their wounds now and the Democractics are partying away.Some people said that with this win, it has transcended over racial issue, that people of other races could have a chance of becoming the president of the United States of America. I'm sure some of the Malaysian politicians will harp on this point as well.
The Obama camp had to thank the virtual world in partly helping them on its course. $$ Millions were raised via the internet. During Bill Clinton's time, there were not many dedicated political linked websites ....... nowadays, you wished that you wouldn't bump into one. George Bush's era does not have many blogs or bloggers didn't realise what they can do then. Nowadays, who doesn't blogs or haven't heard of a politically linked blog. Something similar with the Malaysian scenario.
If you are an United States' citizen, care to share your viewpoint on whether this election was what the people wanted or it should have been otherwise.
What do you know .......... the Malaysian public held a mock USA election in a public forum held last Thursday in Kuala Lumpur (topic of discussion for the forum was - "US Presidential Election 2008: Race, Religion and Economics”) and Obama Barack won by a wide margin. Result was Obama 126 votes; John 16 votes.
Tags: Barack Obama, United States Senate, United States House of Representatives, USA Presidential Election, Illinois Senator, Democratic Party, Republican Party, Bill Clinton, George Bush Jr, USA, United States of America, US Senate, US House
Sunday, October 12, 2008
No Inglish But Can Deputy Prime Minister
Traditionally, the top two ranking persons in the UMNO political party would also be the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia.
It's very important to see the outcome in each UMNO party election that could also decide the fate of Malaysia. The next UMNO party election will be held in March 2009. The present Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has offered himself for the position of UMNO President since the incumbent President, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, has decided not to defend his position.
As Datuk Seri Najib Razak is moving up the political ladder, the number two position, Deputy President, will be empty. This position has been eyed by a number of aspirants who are as follows:-
* Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib
* Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam
* Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
* Jazlan Mohamad
Nothing personal against Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib but this was the same guy that was acquitted in a Brisbane court of Australia in 1998 for failing to declare foreign cash when entering and leaving Australia. One of the reasons that he was acquitted - "I know no inglish so ahhhh I dunno and cannot read signs or rules that said must tell people how much I got."
Now, he's going for the number two position that could make him the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. His reason for offering himself, I like it lah - "because I want to help the party president strengthen and rebuild Umno.”
Uncle, we are talking about the nation here .......... not just your political party.
Reading: Umno may see big battle for No. 2 slot - Star
Tags: Muhammad Muhammad Taib, UMNO Party Election, UMNO Deputy President
It's very important to see the outcome in each UMNO party election that could also decide the fate of Malaysia. The next UMNO party election will be held in March 2009. The present Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has offered himself for the position of UMNO President since the incumbent President, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, has decided not to defend his position.
As Datuk Seri Najib Razak is moving up the political ladder, the number two position, Deputy President, will be empty. This position has been eyed by a number of aspirants who are as follows:-
* Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib
* Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam
* Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
* Jazlan Mohamad
Nothing personal against Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib but this was the same guy that was acquitted in a Brisbane court of Australia in 1998 for failing to declare foreign cash when entering and leaving Australia. One of the reasons that he was acquitted - "I know no inglish so ahhhh I dunno and cannot read signs or rules that said must tell people how much I got."
Now, he's going for the number two position that could make him the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. His reason for offering himself, I like it lah - "because I want to help the party president strengthen and rebuild Umno.”
Uncle, we are talking about the nation here .......... not just your political party.
Reading: Umno may see big battle for No. 2 slot - Star
Tags: Muhammad Muhammad Taib, UMNO Party Election, UMNO Deputy President
Monday, September 08, 2008
Learning Agriculture in Taiwan
Forty nine Malaysian Members of Parliament ("MPs") have agreed to board their planes to Taiwan for a field trip to learn more about agriculture and industrial sectors.It was fun reading the news when I first heard about this field trip. The places that cropped up were New Zealand then Australia, followed by Macao and China too. Lastly, all ended up in Taiwan as the visa requirement was much much easier. China ain't going to be happy with the Malaysian government for allowing forty nine lawmakers travelling to the land of their nemesis.
I have nothing against people who wanted to learn more stuff in beefing up their knowledge in all aspects of life especially when it was mentioned that the forty nine of them are paying for this trip out of their own pockets. True? Nobody can proof this but we give them the benefit of doubt.
In reading Taiwan - Agriculture, the agriculture sector from year 1973 to 1987 has only seen the crop production growth rate increased on average only 0.1% per year. In year 2001, the agriculture sector contributed only 2% to Taiwan's GDP. The agriculture industry's high cost of production and low returns have caused farm households to decrease by 6%.
Their top crop production is actually rice. The Taiwanese government is encouraging farmers to go for soybeans, wheat, and corn which are more profitable now owing to the growth in biotech industry. If rice was the main reason that the Malaysian MPs went for, ain't Thailand a better choice as they are the considered the main rice producer of the world.
Unless the government has better ideas in developing our nation into a world class flower producers in which Taiwan is embarking on it too. In reading Taiwan's Council of Agriculture, Taiwan is aiming to develop itself into a world–class flower island.
On the street itself, the general public is laughing at the MPs who are going for the field trip. The rumours of Pakatan Rakyat taking over the Malaysian government on 16 Sept 2008 could have prompted this last minute trip. But the organiser, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, said it was not but just co-incidental. All of time, it has to be co-incidental with the 16 Sept date. And it's in the middle of the fasting month, the Ramadan period. I don't think you can find any halal certified dishes in Taiwan itself especially when you have to go for field trips.
Even though they are paying for the trip on their own, why did they choose Taiwan. I'm very sure that the agricultural plans put up by the Ministry of Agriculture was equally good or even world class standard. In a field trip of such importance to the nation as a whole, ministry staff were not called up to tag along??????? Will all the forty nine MPs give special lectures individually at all Ministry of Agriculture's offices throughout the nation when they come back?
The one statement that caused me to fall down from my chair while reading it was this -
"The trip was supposedly for MPs to update themselves with the latest information about agriculture and high-tech food production so that they could debate better on the Budget when Parliament sits again in October."
So after all the questionings about the trip in linking it with the 16 Sept 2008 defection of MPs from the ruling government to the oppositions was just a rumour. The MPs are equipping themselves in answering questions during debate time in the parliament. Told you to give them a benefit of doubt.
Looks like there will be lots of overseas trips in the year to come till the debate on the Budget is over. MPs will travel all over the world in order to understand the mechanisms of how those things functions before they can debate in the parliament. There will be issues like:-
* public transportation nationwide (Germany has autobahn and top train services)
* public amenities in rural of sabah and sarawak (Australia's rural is quite huge)
* food security (Argentina's national plan on providing food at stable prices)
Reading: 50 Barisan MPs begin eight-day study trip - Star
Tags: Agriculture, Taiwan, Malaysian Politics, Council of Agriculture, Tiong King Sing, Ministry of Agriculture
Friday, July 04, 2008
Students Caught in Politics
How many of you has attended school reunion parties before? I haven't. Not that I don't have any friends from my previous schools, just that each time the function was held, it clashed with prior appointments. Anyway, not that it was a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig function, just a few of them that I have been in contact with ............ hehe
Imagine that you have been invited to a school reunion and you were supposed to give a speech. Just when the actual day was getting nearer, you have been told not to attend the function. Reason given was the students who had been organising the function have been threatened. What? Threatened? Gangsters controlling the school? What happened?
This was the case for Hannah Yeoh, the state assemblyman for Subang. She was invited to her former school's (of SMK Subang Utama) prefects' reunion that was to be held at a venue outside of the school premise. Present and past prefects were invited. She was to grace the event. Then out of a sudden, she was told that she has been barred from attending.
School prefects were warned not to allow her to attend. By whom? By teachers of the same school. What has gotten into the brains of these teachers? The teachers are so caring that they do not want their school's students to be corrupted at a young age? Maybe, maybe not.
One reason could be due to the function which comes under the school's prefects. Even though it was held outside of the school's premise, the school's name is being used. Unless of course, this was a private function, solely borne by the past and present prefects. Only then it's different story.
In that case, if we see any other 'politicians' involved in any functions involving school students, we will highlight it to proof that there was biasness against Hannah Yeoh. You know which group of 'politicians' I'm referring to.
I'm sure the students would be very confused by all this rulings or threats. You mean to say that all students are not supposed to deal with any politicians in their schooling years?
Or the school teachers received threats too from even higher authorities?
Reading: Banned From School Reunion? - Tony Pua
Related post - Opposition MPs Cannot Officiate School Functions
Tags: Hannah Yeoh, School Reunion, Prefects' Reunion, SMK Subang Utama, Malaysian Politics
Imagine that you have been invited to a school reunion and you were supposed to give a speech. Just when the actual day was getting nearer, you have been told not to attend the function. Reason given was the students who had been organising the function have been threatened. What? Threatened? Gangsters controlling the school? What happened?
This was the case for Hannah Yeoh, the state assemblyman for Subang. She was invited to her former school's (of SMK Subang Utama) prefects' reunion that was to be held at a venue outside of the school premise. Present and past prefects were invited. She was to grace the event. Then out of a sudden, she was told that she has been barred from attending.
School prefects were warned not to allow her to attend. By whom? By teachers of the same school. What has gotten into the brains of these teachers? The teachers are so caring that they do not want their school's students to be corrupted at a young age? Maybe, maybe not.
One reason could be due to the function which comes under the school's prefects. Even though it was held outside of the school's premise, the school's name is being used. Unless of course, this was a private function, solely borne by the past and present prefects. Only then it's different story.
In that case, if we see any other 'politicians' involved in any functions involving school students, we will highlight it to proof that there was biasness against Hannah Yeoh. You know which group of 'politicians' I'm referring to.
I'm sure the students would be very confused by all this rulings or threats. You mean to say that all students are not supposed to deal with any politicians in their schooling years?
Or the school teachers received threats too from even higher authorities?
Reading: Banned From School Reunion? - Tony Pua
Related post - Opposition MPs Cannot Officiate School Functions
Tags: Hannah Yeoh, School Reunion, Prefects' Reunion, SMK Subang Utama, Malaysian Politics
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Don't Approach Your MPs Said Government
The Malaysian government has advised the Kuala Lumpur folks not to approach their respective MPs. The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Federal Territories, Datuk M. Saravanan, said that the need for the MPs was not required as his Ministry was in good rapport with the community, residents’ associations and NGOs.
He said "all matters brought up would be discussed by a committee chaired by him and forwarded to Zulhasnan (the Minister)."
This fella never learn from the political tsunami.
Hello sir, out of 11 parliamentary seats in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, 10 seats were won by opposition parties. Please wake up to this fact! How could you say that we don't need our MPs. Actually we don't need you right from 8 March 2008 (general election day) onwards. You were appointed into this Ministry by the government. The MPs were elected by the Malaysian citizens.
And you dare to say that your Ministry would discuss all issues??????? The area and condo that I'm staying in have problems where the government couldn't care less. Writing to and meeting with different but specific government authorities didn't even receive any positive response, what more to your Ministry that would have to handle anything under the sky, just like the City Hall Council.
Datuk Saravanan, you have mentioned that residents’ associations and NGOs were having close relationship with your Ministry, please name them so that we, the lousy ones, may learn from those residents’ associations and NGOs. Don't just simply mention the words "residents’ associations and NGOs".
Tags: Malaysian Politics, Residents’ Associations, NGO, Ministry of Federal Territories, Datuk M. Saravanan
He said "all matters brought up would be discussed by a committee chaired by him and forwarded to Zulhasnan (the Minister)."
This fella never learn from the political tsunami.
Hello sir, out of 11 parliamentary seats in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, 10 seats were won by opposition parties. Please wake up to this fact! How could you say that we don't need our MPs. Actually we don't need you right from 8 March 2008 (general election day) onwards. You were appointed into this Ministry by the government. The MPs were elected by the Malaysian citizens.
And you dare to say that your Ministry would discuss all issues??????? The area and condo that I'm staying in have problems where the government couldn't care less. Writing to and meeting with different but specific government authorities didn't even receive any positive response, what more to your Ministry that would have to handle anything under the sky, just like the City Hall Council.
Datuk Saravanan, you have mentioned that residents’ associations and NGOs were having close relationship with your Ministry, please name them so that we, the lousy ones, may learn from those residents’ associations and NGOs. Don't just simply mention the words "residents’ associations and NGOs".
Tags: Malaysian Politics, Residents’ Associations, NGO, Ministry of Federal Territories, Datuk M. Saravanan
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Tourism Ministry Cancelled Tourism Plans???
With the appointment of a new minister, Malaysia's Tourism Ministry has terminated a number of Memorandums of Understanding signed between contractors and operators of tourism activities and the Tourism Ministry itself.
Reason given was these tourism activities would be held at states governed by the opposition camps. Due to this, the Tourism Ministry thought that the opposition state governments can't jive with the federal government's vision and plans.
Wow, sore losers showing their fangs!
The Tourism Ministry had terminated plans where they thought were wonderful then, those that could enhance the tourism industry in the nation and/or states. I was sure that they would have done proper studies before entering into those MOUs, then why did they cancel it right now?
Imagine this headline - Tourism Ministry terminated plans to promote tourism.
By terminating it, it reduces events planned for months and years to come and Malaysia was on the footing to draw more tourists to our nation. Moreover, the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 had been extended to 31 Aug this year. Somehow, all this nonsense seems to contradict each other. And the Tourism Ministry has wasted every single person's time who was involved in planning for those events earlier.
The ruling party which had placed their representatives into the government has still not learnt from the political tsunami in the recent general election and was still repeating their same style over the years.
Is the federal government inflicting more hardships on the state governments (those governed by the opposition parties) as the termination of such MOUs were done for events to be held in the five states only i.e. Kelantan, Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor.
Instead, the Tourism Ministry has decided to deal with 'individuals' to implement future tourism activities in this five states under opposition camps. Who are these 'individuals'? Why 'individuals'?
So, what do you do with those staff employed just for those events? Sack them now? Keep them in cold storage? (not referring to the supermarket you numskull). Maybe from those MOUs, many more contracts have been signed to effect the planning, get sued for terminating those contracts? At whose costs? Taxpayers?
Why can't the federal government's ministries work with this five state governments?
Impression given was the federal government purposely did it to punish voters in this five states or those signed MOUs were not beneficial to that five state governments and have to be terminated to cover-up any discrepancies. I really don't know. Hopefully this nation will turn out well in months to come. The world's economy is heading downwards and yet our government is playing a fool.
This is your federal government!
Related post:-
* Opposition MPs Cannot Officiate School Functions
Tags: Tourism Ministry, Federal Government, State Government, Kelantan, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Memorandum of Understanding
Reason given was these tourism activities would be held at states governed by the opposition camps. Due to this, the Tourism Ministry thought that the opposition state governments can't jive with the federal government's vision and plans.
Wow, sore losers showing their fangs!
The Tourism Ministry had terminated plans where they thought were wonderful then, those that could enhance the tourism industry in the nation and/or states. I was sure that they would have done proper studies before entering into those MOUs, then why did they cancel it right now?
Imagine this headline - Tourism Ministry terminated plans to promote tourism.
By terminating it, it reduces events planned for months and years to come and Malaysia was on the footing to draw more tourists to our nation. Moreover, the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 had been extended to 31 Aug this year. Somehow, all this nonsense seems to contradict each other. And the Tourism Ministry has wasted every single person's time who was involved in planning for those events earlier.
The ruling party which had placed their representatives into the government has still not learnt from the political tsunami in the recent general election and was still repeating their same style over the years.
Is the federal government inflicting more hardships on the state governments (those governed by the opposition parties) as the termination of such MOUs were done for events to be held in the five states only i.e. Kelantan, Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor.
Instead, the Tourism Ministry has decided to deal with 'individuals' to implement future tourism activities in this five states under opposition camps. Who are these 'individuals'? Why 'individuals'?
So, what do you do with those staff employed just for those events? Sack them now? Keep them in cold storage? (not referring to the supermarket you numskull). Maybe from those MOUs, many more contracts have been signed to effect the planning, get sued for terminating those contracts? At whose costs? Taxpayers?
Why can't the federal government's ministries work with this five state governments?
Impression given was the federal government purposely did it to punish voters in this five states or those signed MOUs were not beneficial to that five state governments and have to be terminated to cover-up any discrepancies. I really don't know. Hopefully this nation will turn out well in months to come. The world's economy is heading downwards and yet our government is playing a fool.
This is your federal government!
Related post:-
* Opposition MPs Cannot Officiate School Functions
Tags: Tourism Ministry, Federal Government, State Government, Kelantan, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Memorandum of Understanding
Saturday, March 15, 2008
My Experience Being a Polling & Counting Agent II
Continuing from where I left off on the blog entry posted on 11 March 2008. Time didn't permit me to post this topic earlier as I left the country the day after election for Abu Dhabi and came back on Thursday afternoon. Managed to log on to the internet on Thursday evening and by the time I finished my dinner, I was totally knocked out at 8.30pm due to jet lag.
Was on leave on Friday as needed to attend to personal stuff and went to see my new house which was still under construction, I went to the showroom instead to note down details on where I could improve/renovate. Need to plan from now onwards even though I might get the keys next March 2009.
Back to my main topic, to finish off my experience in being a polling agent.
............ Was it raining? Nope, almost but the sky cleared up again with the hot sun ray shining down on earth, maybe my area lah. As the classroom had only 3 ceiling fans, we could feel the blistering heat and was sweating too. I wonder how I survived such classroom atmosphere last time and moreover, kids nowadays have more comfort at all compared to me. And they didn't complain about such heat in the afternoon. Phew!
More shameful events (shameful to those who didn't register or registered but didn't vote):-
a) My mom walked more than 1km to vote
As I need to leave house so early to report for duty as a polling agent, I can't fetch her for election for the first time. We vote at the same polling station. As my mom needs to go off for work in the morning, she went ahead to walk to the polling station at a nearby school. Estimated 1km from my house. She was born in the year 1943.
b) A man with a walking stick
At my polling centre where I was on duty, a man between the age of 59 to 65 (can't recall the age but he voted in my classroom which was this age range) walked into the classroom with a walking stick.
He needed to pause while walking as I presumed, either his leg was painful or he was tired walking all the way into the school. Nevertheless, he made it. He crossed his ballot paper and tried walking to the ballot box. He walked slowly with the pain or tiredness. Could see his face changed the moment he cast that ballot. A duty done as a Malaysian citizen and walked out of the school compound slowly without help.
Just found out that a blogger friend has registered herself as a voter just this week itself and she would be eligible for the next election. Well done Huei! Proud of you.
Other weird happenings in my classroom:-
i) this voter (a chinese guy) came in and the Election Commission officer read out his reference number. He asked the officer to wait for a while, took the officer's pen and wrote something down on a white piece of paper. That officer looked him, looked at us 2 polling agents and suddenly the voter said "nak ambil nombor bagi 4 ekor" [taking down the number to buy 4 ekor - a kind of gambling similar to lottery where you predict the 4 numbers (1 to 10 in any arrangement) that would be the winning number].
I nearly died sitting down there hearing that statement. All of us in the classroom smiled (trying very hard not to laugh) but we laughed after he left the classroom.
ii) this voter (another chinese guy) walked in and showed the Election Commission officer his driving licence. Of course and naturally, the officer asked for his identity card. This fella, if law permits I would have whacked the daylight out of him, said the following sentence "Why driving licence cannot ah? It's allowed what! International passport also can".
The Returning Officer nodded his head and the Election Commission officer read out his particular. He thought his 1 vote was so valuable that he could be throw his knowledge on what could or could not be accepted in identifying a voter.
iii) a voter (I think an eurasian this time) strolled in during late afternoon and stood there quoting us his reference number. The officer asked for his identity card and this man said "I have already shown my identity card just now to those people out there".
You see, some people tried to show how smart they were but didn't know that it was their stupidity that they were carrying at that point of time. If this fella was voting for the first time, I would excuse him for it.
iv) Carol Chew, the other election candidate that was challenging the incumbent at Seputeh, walked into my school compound in the late afternoon. Suddenly, the school was abuzz with many people. As there were lesser voters in the afternoon, we could relax a bit and see the commotion outside our classroom which was facing the main school gate.
Reporters came along too plus some of Carol Chew's supporters at both of her sides. She chit chat with those Election Commission officers seated at the canteen area who checks voters details. Out of the canteen and nearer to the school block where the voting classrooms were situated. An Election Commission worker was pushing in a wheelchair bound voter towards the walkway where Carol Chew was standing. I saw one of her aides signalled to Carol Chew to help out.
She quickly walked over and actually put her 2 hands on the armrest/handle and actually stood there for a while for the reporters to take pictures of her doing that "good deed". I called my leader and told him of the situation and was told to report to the Head of Election Commission ("EC") team in my school.
I told him that I wanted to protest on an event and he actually followed me as I explained to him of the situation. I said to him quite loud just outside the classrooms and told him that it was unfair of Carol Chew doing such a thing in front of so many voters who were still walking in to vote. I said that such act could just turn a voter's decision into her advantage. I also said that if she wanted to do it, couldn't she do it outside the school compound.
The Head of EC agreed but said that he was not informed of her coming in with so many outsiders. I replied even louder this time "You mean the police didn't know about this rule even though all of them were standing around the school compound area?".
Hehehehehehehehe............ the reason I said that loudly while pointing at the Head of police contingent (a Sergeant rank) was because he was already standing besides the Head of EC at that point of time. That policeman was stunned actually. He looked at me and I stared at him with a disappointed face shaking my head (left right left right). I also noticed a reporter taking my picture ........... without asking my permission?????
Not letting go of the opportunity to talk, I continued with "the reason I chose to be a polling agent was to see fairness in the election and this is what I'm seeing with my own eyes". The Head of EC apologised to me straightaway and both of them proceeded to Carol Chew's group and talked to them where they moved out slowly.
My leader came back in a short while and called me out of my classroom and enquired what happened......... hehehehe. He went out fetching another guy to another school for duty replacement purpose.
My Barisan Nasional ("BN") polling agent counterpart has a substitution. Another guy came in to replace the lady who started in the morning. He was from Kajang. From our conversation during free time, he did say that it was wasting time to watch over the polls in Seputeh area knowingly DAP would win for sure. I asked why did he come then and he said it was his friend (the leader) who requested for his help.
As time passes by, the group of us in classroom 3 kept reminding each other "45 minutes to go", then "30 minutes to go". One of them joked "nobody will come at this hour". To our surprise 2 more came in within the last 30 minutes and we smiled at each other. At 4.58pm, one voter walked into the classroom but her reference number doesn't appear in our listing. We told her to run to the next classroom. When we looked at the main gate, there were people running to whatever classrooms they were supposed to vote. Typical Malaysians?
Ok ........ 5pm, everyone in the classroom agreed to close the classroom doors. Each classroom has an assigned policeman and he stood guard in our classroom too.
more tension later on ....................... to be continued ..................
Related posts:-
* My Experience Being a Polling & Counting Agent I
* I am a Polling and Counting Agent in GE12
Tags: Polling Agent, Counting Agent, Malaysia, 12th General Election, Barisan Nasional, BN, Democratic Action Party, DAP, Election Commission, Returning Officer
Was on leave on Friday as needed to attend to personal stuff and went to see my new house which was still under construction, I went to the showroom instead to note down details on where I could improve/renovate. Need to plan from now onwards even though I might get the keys next March 2009.
Back to my main topic, to finish off my experience in being a polling agent.
............ Was it raining? Nope, almost but the sky cleared up again with the hot sun ray shining down on earth, maybe my area lah. As the classroom had only 3 ceiling fans, we could feel the blistering heat and was sweating too. I wonder how I survived such classroom atmosphere last time and moreover, kids nowadays have more comfort at all compared to me. And they didn't complain about such heat in the afternoon. Phew!
More shameful events (shameful to those who didn't register or registered but didn't vote):-
a) My mom walked more than 1km to vote
As I need to leave house so early to report for duty as a polling agent, I can't fetch her for election for the first time. We vote at the same polling station. As my mom needs to go off for work in the morning, she went ahead to walk to the polling station at a nearby school. Estimated 1km from my house. She was born in the year 1943.
b) A man with a walking stick
At my polling centre where I was on duty, a man between the age of 59 to 65 (can't recall the age but he voted in my classroom which was this age range) walked into the classroom with a walking stick.
He needed to pause while walking as I presumed, either his leg was painful or he was tired walking all the way into the school. Nevertheless, he made it. He crossed his ballot paper and tried walking to the ballot box. He walked slowly with the pain or tiredness. Could see his face changed the moment he cast that ballot. A duty done as a Malaysian citizen and walked out of the school compound slowly without help.
Just found out that a blogger friend has registered herself as a voter just this week itself and she would be eligible for the next election. Well done Huei! Proud of you.
Other weird happenings in my classroom:-
i) this voter (a chinese guy) came in and the Election Commission officer read out his reference number. He asked the officer to wait for a while, took the officer's pen and wrote something down on a white piece of paper. That officer looked him, looked at us 2 polling agents and suddenly the voter said "nak ambil nombor bagi 4 ekor" [taking down the number to buy 4 ekor - a kind of gambling similar to lottery where you predict the 4 numbers (1 to 10 in any arrangement) that would be the winning number].
I nearly died sitting down there hearing that statement. All of us in the classroom smiled (trying very hard not to laugh) but we laughed after he left the classroom.
ii) this voter (another chinese guy) walked in and showed the Election Commission officer his driving licence. Of course and naturally, the officer asked for his identity card. This fella, if law permits I would have whacked the daylight out of him, said the following sentence "Why driving licence cannot ah? It's allowed what! International passport also can".
The Returning Officer nodded his head and the Election Commission officer read out his particular. He thought his 1 vote was so valuable that he could be throw his knowledge on what could or could not be accepted in identifying a voter.
iii) a voter (I think an eurasian this time) strolled in during late afternoon and stood there quoting us his reference number. The officer asked for his identity card and this man said "I have already shown my identity card just now to those people out there".
You see, some people tried to show how smart they were but didn't know that it was their stupidity that they were carrying at that point of time. If this fella was voting for the first time, I would excuse him for it.
iv) Carol Chew, the other election candidate that was challenging the incumbent at Seputeh, walked into my school compound in the late afternoon. Suddenly, the school was abuzz with many people. As there were lesser voters in the afternoon, we could relax a bit and see the commotion outside our classroom which was facing the main school gate.
Reporters came along too plus some of Carol Chew's supporters at both of her sides. She chit chat with those Election Commission officers seated at the canteen area who checks voters details. Out of the canteen and nearer to the school block where the voting classrooms were situated. An Election Commission worker was pushing in a wheelchair bound voter towards the walkway where Carol Chew was standing. I saw one of her aides signalled to Carol Chew to help out.
She quickly walked over and actually put her 2 hands on the armrest/handle and actually stood there for a while for the reporters to take pictures of her doing that "good deed". I called my leader and told him of the situation and was told to report to the Head of Election Commission ("EC") team in my school.
I told him that I wanted to protest on an event and he actually followed me as I explained to him of the situation. I said to him quite loud just outside the classrooms and told him that it was unfair of Carol Chew doing such a thing in front of so many voters who were still walking in to vote. I said that such act could just turn a voter's decision into her advantage. I also said that if she wanted to do it, couldn't she do it outside the school compound.
The Head of EC agreed but said that he was not informed of her coming in with so many outsiders. I replied even louder this time "You mean the police didn't know about this rule even though all of them were standing around the school compound area?".
Hehehehehehehehe............ the reason I said that loudly while pointing at the Head of police contingent (a Sergeant rank) was because he was already standing besides the Head of EC at that point of time. That policeman was stunned actually. He looked at me and I stared at him with a disappointed face shaking my head (left right left right). I also noticed a reporter taking my picture ........... without asking my permission?????
Not letting go of the opportunity to talk, I continued with "the reason I chose to be a polling agent was to see fairness in the election and this is what I'm seeing with my own eyes". The Head of EC apologised to me straightaway and both of them proceeded to Carol Chew's group and talked to them where they moved out slowly.
My leader came back in a short while and called me out of my classroom and enquired what happened......... hehehehe. He went out fetching another guy to another school for duty replacement purpose.
My Barisan Nasional ("BN") polling agent counterpart has a substitution. Another guy came in to replace the lady who started in the morning. He was from Kajang. From our conversation during free time, he did say that it was wasting time to watch over the polls in Seputeh area knowingly DAP would win for sure. I asked why did he come then and he said it was his friend (the leader) who requested for his help.
As time passes by, the group of us in classroom 3 kept reminding each other "45 minutes to go", then "30 minutes to go". One of them joked "nobody will come at this hour". To our surprise 2 more came in within the last 30 minutes and we smiled at each other. At 4.58pm, one voter walked into the classroom but her reference number doesn't appear in our listing. We told her to run to the next classroom. When we looked at the main gate, there were people running to whatever classrooms they were supposed to vote. Typical Malaysians?
Ok ........ 5pm, everyone in the classroom agreed to close the classroom doors. Each classroom has an assigned policeman and he stood guard in our classroom too.
more tension later on ....................... to be continued ..................
Related posts:-
* My Experience Being a Polling & Counting Agent I
* I am a Polling and Counting Agent in GE12
Tags: Polling Agent, Counting Agent, Malaysia, 12th General Election, Barisan Nasional, BN, Democratic Action Party, DAP, Election Commission, Returning Officer
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
My Experience Being a Polling & Counting Agent I
On the polling day that was held on 8 March 2008, I woke up at 6.30am and went to a nearby mamak restaurant for my breakfast.
Reported myself at the Sri Mega primary school and took the stationaries required for my work as a polling and counting agent, representing Democratic Action Party ("DAP").
The leader of my school gave me a listing and said that I would be in classroom no. 3. When I saw the list, I said aiyoh leader ........ why la this list/classroom.
If you didn't know, classroom 1 is usually the oldest folks in a particular school (same procedure for all schools). And classroom 2 would be, say another 10 years younger's batch and so forth as it goes down the classroom numbers. My classroom 3 was for those born in the year 1943 to 1949.
No leng lui for me to see lah. All uncles and aunties......aiyoyo. Even though it was supposed to be a serious job, got leng lui to see will make me more alert ma. Other people got those born in the year 1986 to early 1990s. I got those born in the 1943 to 1949, goodness me ............
Reported to the classroom and found that I was to be seated on a chair and table used by the primary schoolkids. Imagine a 6 feet guy having to fit into it. At any one time, both my legs couldn't be put under the table. The classroom has 3 ceiling fans only.
I got to know the Election Commission's Returning Officer in my classroom together with his 3 colleagues.
At 7.30am, we could see Malaysian citizens queueing up in front of Election Commission officials to check their names and which classes to cast their votes. Old, young and babies that came along too.
At 7.45am, the Returning Officer showed me the empty box and subsequently asked me where is MCA's Polling Agent. How would I know? They don't they would lose out if there were any discrepancy. He tied up the box at its handles with a fine wire that were tighten with a small lock and a short white cloth too. The 1 foot long cloth was then stucked to the box with a sticker and I counter-signed on the sticker with the Returning Officer to prove that the box is empty and properly locked. I didn't take any picture as I respect the importance of this work.
At 8.00am, Malaysian citizens were trickling into the school. The Returning Officer checked with his 3 colleagues and me before we allow the first voter to come in.
Hehehehehehehe, the MCA rep came quite late.
9.00am, 10.00am, 11.00am - time passed so slow. All you do is just to ensure that whatever names being read out by the election commission clerk would be striked off in my listing. This is for double checking purpose. In case someone has came in to vote before and the clerk forgot to strike off, I would protest saying this voter came in to vote before.
Two incidents in the morning:-
a) an auntie came with her identity card. The clerk read out the identity card ("I/C") number and her name. Me and the MCA polling agent found that the I/C was different. I noted on my list that this person was supposed to be a guy with I/C number ending with the odd number (ending with even number indicates a female, you didn't know???). We called the Returning Officer to check. Upon checking, he found that the lady's I/C indeed has a different number. So, was this a phantom voter?
So happened she brought along her photostated old I/C that showed the same I/C no. with our listing. She claimed that her I/C was replaced with a different no. Why la you didn't go and change your I/C and kept carrying this I/C with the wrong number.
I could only protest but the Returning Officer would have the last say. He allowed her to vote upon signing a declaration stating what she has told us and he took the photocopy of that I/C as proof.
b) A man pushed a lady into the classroom. Pushed what? This lady was on a wheelchair. The man claimed that he was her husband and that he was a registered voter in classroom 2. Now, actually a person on a wheelchair has no problem but then the husband said "She can't speak or write or move".
Ok, now how is she going to vote? My Returning Officer called for the Election Commission Head based at our school and the Head told us (the 2 polling agents) that he would get the husband to sign a declaration form and the husband would be voting on behalf. We two agreed.
In my heart I was crying. Why?
The husband did the followings in order for her vote to be counted:-
i) took the trouble to dress her up
ii) carried her into his car
iii) drove to the polling centre
iv) carried her out and put on wheelchair
v) pushed her to classroom for voting
vi) pushed and carried her back into his car after voting
iii) drove back home
iv) carried her back into the house
One surprise:-
Saw a lady in her bridal gown with her bridesmaid and friends following behind. Peeped further and found out that the bride came to vote in her bridal gown. Of course, she got all the attention. What a dedication! Young girl but she knew what was more important, the 1 vote.
AND SOME MALAYSIANS COULDN'T CARE LESS TO COME OUT TO VOTE! IF YOU AS A MALAYSIAN WHO DIDN'T REGISTER OR VOTE EVEN THOUGH ELIGIBLE, SHAME ON YOU!
This husband knew the importance of that 1 vote. This blog entry is dedicated to this couple and I respect your love for the country and ensured that both of you carried out the responsibility as a Malaysian citizen in whatever circumstances. Was it troublesome for him and the wife? Oh yes!
The lady who got married, no matter how tight was her schedule, squeezed that voting time in between. Was she busy? Oh yes!
Around 11.30am, my lunch box came. Hehehehehe, the Returning Officer asked "Itu saja ke" (english - is that all?). No time to eat as voters kept coming into the classroom. By 12noon plus, my leader called me out and said that he got a temporary replacement for me so that I could take my lunch and rush over to my voting area to cast my vote.
Swallowed my lunch and went back to Taman Desa secondary school. Didn't get to be on duty near my house here as I registered quite late so I was sent to other areas which has lesser workers. Took me 30 minutes to cast my vote (drive there, park, walk into school, check classroom, go to classroom, got ballot paper, knew whom to vote for, drop in ballot paper, walk out of school and drove back to my school).
When I got back, 4 of us sat at the school canteen to chit chat while resting. Our leader told us that in the morning, the classroom 1 has a phantom voter incident.
The old uncle that came in around 9am plus was said to have voted earlier. What happened? He said he was the named person in his I/C. Sorry uncle but you can't vote. Apparently, nobody could recall the phantom voter's face but that phantom voter was guaranteed an old man too. Classroom 1 was for those above 80 years old. Can you believe that? The phantom voter can't be a young guy as that room's listing was for those above 80 years old.
I got back in around 2pm plus. Could see that the dark clouds were forming up in the sky.
to be continued ......... lots more.............
Related post:-
* I am a Polling and Counting Agent in GE12
Tags: Polling Agent, Counting Agent, Malaysia, 12th General Election, Democratic Action Party, DAP, Election Commission, Returning Officer, Phantom Voter
Reported myself at the Sri Mega primary school and took the stationaries required for my work as a polling and counting agent, representing Democratic Action Party ("DAP").
The leader of my school gave me a listing and said that I would be in classroom no. 3. When I saw the list, I said aiyoh leader ........ why la this list/classroom.
If you didn't know, classroom 1 is usually the oldest folks in a particular school (same procedure for all schools). And classroom 2 would be, say another 10 years younger's batch and so forth as it goes down the classroom numbers. My classroom 3 was for those born in the year 1943 to 1949.
No leng lui for me to see lah. All uncles and aunties......aiyoyo. Even though it was supposed to be a serious job, got leng lui to see will make me more alert ma. Other people got those born in the year 1986 to early 1990s. I got those born in the 1943 to 1949, goodness me ............
Reported to the classroom and found that I was to be seated on a chair and table used by the primary schoolkids. Imagine a 6 feet guy having to fit into it. At any one time, both my legs couldn't be put under the table. The classroom has 3 ceiling fans only.
I got to know the Election Commission's Returning Officer in my classroom together with his 3 colleagues.
At 7.30am, we could see Malaysian citizens queueing up in front of Election Commission officials to check their names and which classes to cast their votes. Old, young and babies that came along too.
At 7.45am, the Returning Officer showed me the empty box and subsequently asked me where is MCA's Polling Agent. How would I know? They don't they would lose out if there were any discrepancy. He tied up the box at its handles with a fine wire that were tighten with a small lock and a short white cloth too. The 1 foot long cloth was then stucked to the box with a sticker and I counter-signed on the sticker with the Returning Officer to prove that the box is empty and properly locked. I didn't take any picture as I respect the importance of this work.
At 8.00am, Malaysian citizens were trickling into the school. The Returning Officer checked with his 3 colleagues and me before we allow the first voter to come in.
Hehehehehehehe, the MCA rep came quite late.
9.00am, 10.00am, 11.00am - time passed so slow. All you do is just to ensure that whatever names being read out by the election commission clerk would be striked off in my listing. This is for double checking purpose. In case someone has came in to vote before and the clerk forgot to strike off, I would protest saying this voter came in to vote before.
Two incidents in the morning:-
a) an auntie came with her identity card. The clerk read out the identity card ("I/C") number and her name. Me and the MCA polling agent found that the I/C was different. I noted on my list that this person was supposed to be a guy with I/C number ending with the odd number (ending with even number indicates a female, you didn't know???). We called the Returning Officer to check. Upon checking, he found that the lady's I/C indeed has a different number. So, was this a phantom voter?
So happened she brought along her photostated old I/C that showed the same I/C no. with our listing. She claimed that her I/C was replaced with a different no. Why la you didn't go and change your I/C and kept carrying this I/C with the wrong number.
I could only protest but the Returning Officer would have the last say. He allowed her to vote upon signing a declaration stating what she has told us and he took the photocopy of that I/C as proof.
b) A man pushed a lady into the classroom. Pushed what? This lady was on a wheelchair. The man claimed that he was her husband and that he was a registered voter in classroom 2. Now, actually a person on a wheelchair has no problem but then the husband said "She can't speak or write or move".
Ok, now how is she going to vote? My Returning Officer called for the Election Commission Head based at our school and the Head told us (the 2 polling agents) that he would get the husband to sign a declaration form and the husband would be voting on behalf. We two agreed.
In my heart I was crying. Why?
The husband did the followings in order for her vote to be counted:-
i) took the trouble to dress her up
ii) carried her into his car
iii) drove to the polling centre
iv) carried her out and put on wheelchair
v) pushed her to classroom for voting
vi) pushed and carried her back into his car after voting
iii) drove back home
iv) carried her back into the house
One surprise:-
Saw a lady in her bridal gown with her bridesmaid and friends following behind. Peeped further and found out that the bride came to vote in her bridal gown. Of course, she got all the attention. What a dedication! Young girl but she knew what was more important, the 1 vote.
AND SOME MALAYSIANS COULDN'T CARE LESS TO COME OUT TO VOTE! IF YOU AS A MALAYSIAN WHO DIDN'T REGISTER OR VOTE EVEN THOUGH ELIGIBLE, SHAME ON YOU!
This husband knew the importance of that 1 vote. This blog entry is dedicated to this couple and I respect your love for the country and ensured that both of you carried out the responsibility as a Malaysian citizen in whatever circumstances. Was it troublesome for him and the wife? Oh yes!
The lady who got married, no matter how tight was her schedule, squeezed that voting time in between. Was she busy? Oh yes!
Around 11.30am, my lunch box came. Hehehehehe, the Returning Officer asked "Itu saja ke" (english - is that all?). No time to eat as voters kept coming into the classroom. By 12noon plus, my leader called me out and said that he got a temporary replacement for me so that I could take my lunch and rush over to my voting area to cast my vote.
Swallowed my lunch and went back to Taman Desa secondary school. Didn't get to be on duty near my house here as I registered quite late so I was sent to other areas which has lesser workers. Took me 30 minutes to cast my vote (drive there, park, walk into school, check classroom, go to classroom, got ballot paper, knew whom to vote for, drop in ballot paper, walk out of school and drove back to my school).
When I got back, 4 of us sat at the school canteen to chit chat while resting. Our leader told us that in the morning, the classroom 1 has a phantom voter incident.
The old uncle that came in around 9am plus was said to have voted earlier. What happened? He said he was the named person in his I/C. Sorry uncle but you can't vote. Apparently, nobody could recall the phantom voter's face but that phantom voter was guaranteed an old man too. Classroom 1 was for those above 80 years old. Can you believe that? The phantom voter can't be a young guy as that room's listing was for those above 80 years old.
I got back in around 2pm plus. Could see that the dark clouds were forming up in the sky.
to be continued ......... lots more.............
Related post:-
* I am a Polling and Counting Agent in GE12
Tags: Polling Agent, Counting Agent, Malaysia, 12th General Election, Democratic Action Party, DAP, Election Commission, Returning Officer, Phantom Voter
Friday, March 07, 2008
I am a Polling and Counting Agent in GE12
With all the rubbish going on in the political arena, I might as well walk the talk rather than just talking about the injustice, biasness, unfairness and so forth at a mamak stall only.
I'm now a polling agent plus a counting agent for the coming 12th General Election ("GE12"). Just want to be a part of my nation's general election and get to experience the election fever. In each polling place, normally a school or educational institution, various classrooms are being used. And in each respective classroom, there would be a number of people in it, monitoring and ensuring the polling goes on smoothly.
There would be a Election Commission clerk/officer who would check your identity card against a name list. Upon checking, a voter would be given a ballot paper and move on to the ballot box. Meanwhile, me being a polling agent would need to cross check this voter's name on my copy of name list. I'll be seated together with the polling agent from ........ ???? Barisan Nasional of course. I'm the polling agent representing DAP for Seputeh parliamentary area. Another person in the room would be the Election Commission's Returning Officer who would have the last say in any disputes (wow, there are many kinds of objections/disputes that I could raise up with the Returning Offier if I suspect anything on a particular voter from the point of handing over the identity card till the exit by the voter).
Our head told us that we will be seated with BN's representative who would be doing the same thing as me. Our enemy? hehehehhehehehehe...... he said you better be friendly with the other rep as that would be the person that you would be facing the whole day, from the start of polling time till closing - meaning 8am to 5pm.
Moreover, if you need to go to the toilet, you would require the other rep to inform you which voter's name had been called so that you could cross out that name too. Our head said you should do otherwise when the other rep needs to go to the toilet. Don't lah say "Sorry, who asked you to go to toilet?" and left the other rep stranded.......... hahahahaha. We are supposed to be professional polling agent so need to act as one too even though it's from another political party.
Interesting part would be the counting time. We need to monitor whether there were any spoilt votes or properly done votes. There would be some funny ballot papers where various markings would be marked, crossed, ticked, with numbers, names & other words may appear. And we really laughed over those samples.
Need to report at a school in Overseas Union Garden (forgotten the name but I knew which school they were referring to). Can't get a place at my place of stay/voting place as I registered quite late. Never mind, it's only about 5 minutes or so from my area. A friend of mine, a polling agent too, would be on morning duty only and would replace me temporary so that I could go back to vote first before returning to resume my duty.
Would be a long day but a day where we need to open our ears and eyes realy wide. Can't afford not to pay attention.
As for all Malaysians, happy voting and vote wisely!
Another blogger, that blogs for positive change, put this picture to show where the polling agents would be seated.
Tags: Polling Agent, Counting Agent, Election Commission, Overseas Union Garden, 12th General Election, Barisan Nasional, DAP
I'm now a polling agent plus a counting agent for the coming 12th General Election ("GE12"). Just want to be a part of my nation's general election and get to experience the election fever. In each polling place, normally a school or educational institution, various classrooms are being used. And in each respective classroom, there would be a number of people in it, monitoring and ensuring the polling goes on smoothly.
There would be a Election Commission clerk/officer who would check your identity card against a name list. Upon checking, a voter would be given a ballot paper and move on to the ballot box. Meanwhile, me being a polling agent would need to cross check this voter's name on my copy of name list. I'll be seated together with the polling agent from ........ ???? Barisan Nasional of course. I'm the polling agent representing DAP for Seputeh parliamentary area. Another person in the room would be the Election Commission's Returning Officer who would have the last say in any disputes (wow, there are many kinds of objections/disputes that I could raise up with the Returning Offier if I suspect anything on a particular voter from the point of handing over the identity card till the exit by the voter).
Our head told us that we will be seated with BN's representative who would be doing the same thing as me. Our enemy? hehehehhehehehehe...... he said you better be friendly with the other rep as that would be the person that you would be facing the whole day, from the start of polling time till closing - meaning 8am to 5pm.
Moreover, if you need to go to the toilet, you would require the other rep to inform you which voter's name had been called so that you could cross out that name too. Our head said you should do otherwise when the other rep needs to go to the toilet. Don't lah say "Sorry, who asked you to go to toilet?" and left the other rep stranded.......... hahahahaha. We are supposed to be professional polling agent so need to act as one too even though it's from another political party.
Interesting part would be the counting time. We need to monitor whether there were any spoilt votes or properly done votes. There would be some funny ballot papers where various markings would be marked, crossed, ticked, with numbers, names & other words may appear. And we really laughed over those samples.
Need to report at a school in Overseas Union Garden (forgotten the name but I knew which school they were referring to). Can't get a place at my place of stay/voting place as I registered quite late. Never mind, it's only about 5 minutes or so from my area. A friend of mine, a polling agent too, would be on morning duty only and would replace me temporary so that I could go back to vote first before returning to resume my duty.
Would be a long day but a day where we need to open our ears and eyes realy wide. Can't afford not to pay attention.
As for all Malaysians, happy voting and vote wisely!
Another blogger, that blogs for positive change, put this picture to show where the polling agents would be seated.Tags: Polling Agent, Counting Agent, Election Commission, Overseas Union Garden, 12th General Election, Barisan Nasional, DAP
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
EC: Indelible Ink Will Not Be Used
The Election Commission has cancelled the use of indelible ink for this general election, citing public order and security issues.The stunning announcement was made at a press conference in Putrajaya this afternoon - four days before polling.
The announcement was made by EC chairperson Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman. Also present at the press conference were Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail dan Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan.
The indelible ink was to be introduced for the first time in Malaysia as part of efforts to enhance transparency. In line with this, along with the introduction of the ink, the EC had also allowed for the casting of postal ballots to be observed by polling agents and the use of transparent ballot boxes.
The EC believed that the changes would quell some of the allegations that Malaysian elections are not free and fair. In preparation for the use of the indelible ink, the EC had previously said that it would buy approximately 48,000 bottles of indelible ink worth RM2.4mil from India.
Women voters were also repeatedly reminded to remove their nail polish before going to the polls on March 8, as it would be difficult to apply the ink otherwise.
Fears of multiple voting
However even prior to today’s shocking EC back track, questions were being asked as to how the EC can compel voters to apply the ink as elections laws have not been amended to include the provision for the use of the indelible ink.
The EC overcame this burden by stating that voters who were against the use of indelible ink would have to fill out a form seeking to be excused before the cast their vote.
The opposition has two days ago ticked off the EC for appearing to have second thoughts on the introduction of the indelible ink.
R Sivarasa, the candidate for Selangor's Subang, said that the ink would stop possible incidences of multiple voting." They misled all Malaysians, not only yourselves, the voters of Malaysia and us, that they would implement the (use of) indelible ink - they also issued numerous statements about how much indelible ink would cost and they said they would buy it." - M'kini
Your guess is as good as mine for the non-usage of the indelible ink. You can't blame me for thinking like that and I'm sure the majority will agree. Election Commission - you have disappointed all Malaysians.
And you as a Malaysian still choose not to vote ?????????????????
Tags: Election Commission, Indelible Ink
The announcement was made by EC chairperson Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman. Also present at the press conference were Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail dan Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan.
The indelible ink was to be introduced for the first time in Malaysia as part of efforts to enhance transparency. In line with this, along with the introduction of the ink, the EC had also allowed for the casting of postal ballots to be observed by polling agents and the use of transparent ballot boxes.
The EC believed that the changes would quell some of the allegations that Malaysian elections are not free and fair. In preparation for the use of the indelible ink, the EC had previously said that it would buy approximately 48,000 bottles of indelible ink worth RM2.4mil from India.
Women voters were also repeatedly reminded to remove their nail polish before going to the polls on March 8, as it would be difficult to apply the ink otherwise.
Fears of multiple voting
However even prior to today’s shocking EC back track, questions were being asked as to how the EC can compel voters to apply the ink as elections laws have not been amended to include the provision for the use of the indelible ink.
The EC overcame this burden by stating that voters who were against the use of indelible ink would have to fill out a form seeking to be excused before the cast their vote.
The opposition has two days ago ticked off the EC for appearing to have second thoughts on the introduction of the indelible ink.
R Sivarasa, the candidate for Selangor's Subang, said that the ink would stop possible incidences of multiple voting." They misled all Malaysians, not only yourselves, the voters of Malaysia and us, that they would implement the (use of) indelible ink - they also issued numerous statements about how much indelible ink would cost and they said they would buy it." - M'kini
Your guess is as good as mine for the non-usage of the indelible ink. You can't blame me for thinking like that and I'm sure the majority will agree. Election Commission - you have disappointed all Malaysians.
And you as a Malaysian still choose not to vote ?????????????????
Tags: Election Commission, Indelible Ink
Monday, March 03, 2008
Disappointed with McDonalds Malaysia
Received this pamphlet that was inserted into The Sun newspapers. Everyone in Kuala Lumpur / Petaling Jaya would have seen this today.
A colleague of mine disagreed with this advertising method employed by McDonalds saying that it has no respect for Malaysia who would be having its election day on coming 8 March.
I said that they took the opportunity and was an advertisiing gimmick. This would capture the Malaysians' eyes easily since we were in the midst of an election fever now.
But upon seeing it properly, I was so shocked with this advertisement.
It was well understood that the voting requirement in Malaysia was to mark the ballot paper with a big X for the election candidate that you wanted to vote for but McDonalds chose to display this misinformed advertisement that is totally in contrast with what is required of a voter. Bearing in mind that first time voters or those illiterate citizens would be disillusioned by this advertisement.
Please, McDonalds Malaysia or Golden Arches Restaurants Sdn Bhd (license holder), make it right and apologise to the public for such an advertisement that was done soooooooooooo close to the election date. Will somebody tell them to rectify the situation. Only if McDonalds USA's Corporate Social Responsibility is being practised by McDonalds Malaysia.
This ridiculous advertisement would make all efforts put in by the Election Commission and local political parties in educating the Malaysian citizens to vote / mark correctly redundant / useless /futile (you name it!).
Hellooooooooooooooooooooooo, this is no joke at all!
Tags: McDonalds, McDonalds Malaysia, McDonalds USA, Corporate Social Responsibility, Golden Arches Restaurants Sdn Bhd, Ballot Paper, Malaysia Election, Election Commission
A colleague of mine disagreed with this advertising method employed by McDonalds saying that it has no respect for Malaysia who would be having its election day on coming 8 March.
I said that they took the opportunity and was an advertisiing gimmick. This would capture the Malaysians' eyes easily since we were in the midst of an election fever now.
But upon seeing it properly, I was so shocked with this advertisement.It was well understood that the voting requirement in Malaysia was to mark the ballot paper with a big X for the election candidate that you wanted to vote for but McDonalds chose to display this misinformed advertisement that is totally in contrast with what is required of a voter. Bearing in mind that first time voters or those illiterate citizens would be disillusioned by this advertisement.
Please, McDonalds Malaysia or Golden Arches Restaurants Sdn Bhd (license holder), make it right and apologise to the public for such an advertisement that was done soooooooooooo close to the election date. Will somebody tell them to rectify the situation. Only if McDonalds USA's Corporate Social Responsibility is being practised by McDonalds Malaysia.
This ridiculous advertisement would make all efforts put in by the Election Commission and local political parties in educating the Malaysian citizens to vote / mark correctly redundant / useless /futile (you name it!).
Hellooooooooooooooooooooooo, this is no joke at all!
Tags: McDonalds, McDonalds Malaysia, McDonalds USA, Corporate Social Responsibility, Golden Arches Restaurants Sdn Bhd, Ballot Paper, Malaysia Election, Election Commission
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Newest Country in the World - Kosovo
Kosovo, one of the latest place on earth where its government representatives broke ranks from their main government, Serbia, and has declared independence. Another new country being added? No notice was given by Kosovo prior to that with USA and the major European countries (Britain, France, Germany and Italy) supporting Kosovo's cause.
This is their flag. Officially, the six stars were to represent six ethnic groups.
Kosovo's profile:-
* Population about two million
* Majority ethnic Albanian; 10% Serb
* Under UN control since Nato drove out Serb forces in 1999
* 2,000-strong EU staff to take over from UN after independence
* Nato to stay to provide security
In my schooling days, I would take the initiative to read up on all countries' names and also trying to remember their capital city. I think I have lost count with the number of new countries springing up every now and then. The former USSR and Yugoslavia have broken up into so many countries.
For Yugoslavia, it has given birth to the following countries:-
* Slovenia
* Croatia
* Bosnia
* Serbia
* Montenegro
* Macedonia
* Kosovo
Rumours were strong that following areas may break away when possible - Republika Srpska / Vojvodina / Sandzak / Northern Kosovo Presevo Valley / Western Macedonia. What a mess therein.
Certain countries have opposed Kosovo's declaration of independence, namely, Russia / China / Cyprus / Romania / Slovakia / Spain. Taiwan declared their support for Kosovo where it got China fuming.
Kosovo is basically populated by ethnic Albanians and the minority Serbs are really not happy with this surprise independence.
Imagine overnight, someone in the government changed your citizenship.
Tags: Politics, Kosovo, Albania, Albanian, Serbian, Serbs, Yugoslavia
This is their flag. Officially, the six stars were to represent six ethnic groups.Kosovo's profile:-
* Population about two million
* Majority ethnic Albanian; 10% Serb
* Under UN control since Nato drove out Serb forces in 1999
* 2,000-strong EU staff to take over from UN after independence
* Nato to stay to provide security
In my schooling days, I would take the initiative to read up on all countries' names and also trying to remember their capital city. I think I have lost count with the number of new countries springing up every now and then. The former USSR and Yugoslavia have broken up into so many countries.
For Yugoslavia, it has given birth to the following countries:-* Slovenia
* Croatia
* Bosnia
* Serbia
* Montenegro
* Macedonia
* Kosovo
Rumours were strong that following areas may break away when possible - Republika Srpska / Vojvodina / Sandzak / Northern Kosovo Presevo Valley / Western Macedonia. What a mess therein.
Certain countries have opposed Kosovo's declaration of independence, namely, Russia / China / Cyprus / Romania / Slovakia / Spain. Taiwan declared their support for Kosovo where it got China fuming.
Kosovo is basically populated by ethnic Albanians and the minority Serbs are really not happy with this surprise independence.Imagine overnight, someone in the government changed your citizenship.
Tags: Politics, Kosovo, Albania, Albanian, Serbian, Serbs, Yugoslavia
Friday, February 22, 2008
Oldest Man Still Alive and Kicking in Malaysia
Didn't I tell you all Malaysians to check the electoral listing. Have you checked, be it whether you have registered to vote or not, it doesn't matter.
Just key in your Identity Card number and check. If it shows "REKOD TIDAK DIJUMPAI" (record not found) then you are alright. But if you knew that you haven't register but somehow your name appeared in the latest listing, please do report to BERSIH or the Election Commission (doubt they would or could do anything).
In one of the latest random check, this Identity Card number was provided - 810422016825. If you key in this number, it would show a person by the name of Md Melahtu B Bungkus that was born in the year of 1881. He would be 127 years old today, still alive and kicking at the vicinity of Taman Dato' Harun, somewhere off Jalan Kelang Lama.
I'm very sure that officials from the Guinness World of Records would like to interview him and list him as the oldest man or person that is still alive and kicking and would be making his way to the polling centre on 8 March 2008. Somehow, this man has not 'bungkus' yet. Anyone can verify whether this man is still alive and kicking? Interesting electoral list indeed!
Just key in your Identity Card number and check. If it shows "REKOD TIDAK DIJUMPAI" (record not found) then you are alright. But if you knew that you haven't register but somehow your name appeared in the latest listing, please do report to BERSIH or the Election Commission (doubt they would or could do anything).
In one of the latest random check, this Identity Card number was provided - 810422016825. If you key in this number, it would show a person by the name of Md Melahtu B Bungkus that was born in the year of 1881. He would be 127 years old today, still alive and kicking at the vicinity of Taman Dato' Harun, somewhere off Jalan Kelang Lama.
I'm very sure that officials from the Guinness World of Records would like to interview him and list him as the oldest man or person that is still alive and kicking and would be making his way to the polling centre on 8 March 2008. Somehow, this man has not 'bungkus' yet. Anyone can verify whether this man is still alive and kicking? Interesting electoral list indeed!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Shophouse Churches Must Get Permits
Churches in Subang Jaya which have been operating out of shop and factory lots have not been asked to close down, said incumbent Subang Jaya assemblyman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng.
“We have not asked them to close down, but to submit their application for permits,” said Lee, adding that such churches have to get a permit to operate from business premises.
He said many of the churches which are not on religious land have not applied for these annual permits costing RM1,000.
Lee was responding to a statement by incumbent Seputeh MP Teresa Kok that churches in MPSJ need to show concern about the municipality’s draft local plan.
According to her, only one church (First Baptist in SS17) is deemed to be legally on religious land in Subang Jaya, and that all others are officially illegal.
Kok said most of the churches were unaware of the draft local plan and it was now too late to submit their objection as the objection period was over.
She had however filed an objection on the issue, and called for more religious land to be allotted for non-Muslim places of worship.
Lee, when contacted, said the opposition was twisting the issue as the council had not asked the churches to close down but asked them to apply for permits.
Asked if this was the same requirement imposed on mosques, suraus and temples, Lee said: "If they are on their own land then there is no need for them to apply for the permits for their religious houses, but in the cases of the churches, they need to apply for the permits because they are operating from out of the shoplots in business centres and factory lots in industrial areas." - Sun2Surf
---------------------------
How in the world will churches get to have a land reserved for them in a housing estate? If the churches can't get any land, other options would be at shophouses or even at warehouses / industrial/factory lots (like my church). When churches submit their application for one, it took umpteenth years (literally) for one to be approved.
Tags: Permit, Religious Land, Draft Local Plan, Place of Worship, Religious House, MPSJ, Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya, Subang Jaya
“We have not asked them to close down, but to submit their application for permits,” said Lee, adding that such churches have to get a permit to operate from business premises.
He said many of the churches which are not on religious land have not applied for these annual permits costing RM1,000.
Lee was responding to a statement by incumbent Seputeh MP Teresa Kok that churches in MPSJ need to show concern about the municipality’s draft local plan.
According to her, only one church (First Baptist in SS17) is deemed to be legally on religious land in Subang Jaya, and that all others are officially illegal.
Kok said most of the churches were unaware of the draft local plan and it was now too late to submit their objection as the objection period was over.
She had however filed an objection on the issue, and called for more religious land to be allotted for non-Muslim places of worship.
Lee, when contacted, said the opposition was twisting the issue as the council had not asked the churches to close down but asked them to apply for permits.
Asked if this was the same requirement imposed on mosques, suraus and temples, Lee said: "If they are on their own land then there is no need for them to apply for the permits for their religious houses, but in the cases of the churches, they need to apply for the permits because they are operating from out of the shoplots in business centres and factory lots in industrial areas." - Sun2Surf
---------------------------
How in the world will churches get to have a land reserved for them in a housing estate? If the churches can't get any land, other options would be at shophouses or even at warehouses / industrial/factory lots (like my church). When churches submit their application for one, it took umpteenth years (literally) for one to be approved.
Tags: Permit, Religious Land, Draft Local Plan, Place of Worship, Religious House, MPSJ, Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya, Subang Jaya
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Why Should You Register Yourself as a Voter in the First Place
The Malaysian Prime Minister has dissolved the parliament yesterday afternoon, triggering the 12th general election which would be held within 60 days from today. That was also after a big 90 degree turn on his words that he wouldn't dissolve it on Wednesday in an interview with reporters on Tuesday. A colleague said that's what we call a politician. Another rebutted by saying if that was a lowly ranked politician then it's alright but not when he was the prime minister. He's really lousy with his choices of words at times.
A number of colleagues immediately checked their names again to ensure that their names are properly registered at the same constituency / area of voting. (check via this website: http://daftarj.spr.gov.my/daftar.asp)
I did a little survey on a number of colleagues who haven't register to vote even though they were way beyond the minimum age of 21.
Outcome? Of the 4 colleagues who haven't register, one of their names appeared to have been registered. That was a 25% statistics. This colleague was so shock! What do you call this? This is a case of phantom voter. It has always been in the newspaper where oppositions claimed the electoral roll was a farce. The so-called independent Election Commission always maintained that it was clean and updated. I would be conducting more survey on this to see how many persons have been affected.
Good thing that this colleague's name was registered to vote at the Gombak area and the colleague may need to take a short journey there to vote. I said that she should be there early to vote. After that, get the police to stand with her at the names checking counter to nab the phantom voter who would be there to vote as her.
I also reminded her that this phantom voter was also carrying her fake identity card. For those who have not voted/registered, you need to present your original identity card to proof that you were the actual person being present to vote. So, if my colleague has voted while carrying her original identity card, the phantom voter would be shocked when notified that "you have voted earlier". Bear in mind ok, your identity card has another copy out there if it has been used as a phantom voter.
Just when you thought that you won't make a difference with just one vote, those candidates gunning for a win would go all out to secure every single votes available, including this unscrupulous way of using phantom voters.
My point here - even if you were a lazy fella who wouldn't want to line up to vote or couldn't care less about your country, just go and register your name to vote after this election. This move is to avoid your name being manipulated by other parties. Even if you don't intend to vote after that, it's up to you but at least register first. Go to a large post office outlet and you should be able to do so.
Thereafter, I did another survey with some chat friends who were online. I just sent one statement "Are you a registered voter?". Many did respond with some saying they haven't register. For those who did I said "Love you for you had carried out your responsibility well". Some didn't respond with reasons only known to them.
Of those that had responded 2 responded pathetically and if you are reading this blog posting of mine, you know who you are.
What were the responses from this 2 unregistered persons?
- aiyah, my one vote won't make a difference
- whether I vote or not nobody will notice or it won't add/subtract anything
- as if the person I vote for would do something for me
- as if the person I vote for would make a difference at my area
- the country is bad already so no point voting
- if I vote, would it change anything
- even if I did vote for the opposition, the opposition can't rule the country as a whole
Yeah you may tell me off "it's none of your business whether I register to vote or not". Good point there but then think about the followings:-
- you are not qualified to voice out your dissatisfactions against the state government or the federal government as you didn't even vote
- you have to accept whatever that are happening in this country as you didn't vote
- the people that have been elected would actually administrate your country. any wrong moves by them would indirectly affect you personally including your family/relatives/friends too.
My viewpoint: Do carry out your responsibility as a Malaysian citizen wisely.
By the way, the nomination day of candidates standing for election will be on 24 February 2008 and election day will be on 8 March 2008, Saturday.
Another thing, the TV would be airing a short clip telling people to be quiet on whom they would be voting for stating that such thing is a secret. What a crap indeed. Today's Star newspaper has full blown pages showing selected Malaysian citizens being interviewed which also did state their political party choice. The issue about political parties going out to woo voters to vote for them made this so-called secret thing redundant. When people asked me, I do tell them.
If you think it was a secret in the last few elections, just note that your ballot paper has an electoral number linked to the stub being held by the election officials (you didn't know???). In simple lay man words, they knew whom you were voting for all this while. Who needs to know? Those people that uses phantom voters of course.
But for this coming election, the Election Commission shall remove such electoral numbering.
My 2 cents (using all my cents before they are untradeable in March 2008).
Tags: 12th General Election, Election, Malaysia, Phantom Voters, Election Day, Nomination Day, Election Commission, Malaysian Election
A number of colleagues immediately checked their names again to ensure that their names are properly registered at the same constituency / area of voting. (check via this website: http://daftarj.spr.gov.my/daftar.asp)
I did a little survey on a number of colleagues who haven't register to vote even though they were way beyond the minimum age of 21.
Outcome? Of the 4 colleagues who haven't register, one of their names appeared to have been registered. That was a 25% statistics. This colleague was so shock! What do you call this? This is a case of phantom voter. It has always been in the newspaper where oppositions claimed the electoral roll was a farce. The so-called independent Election Commission always maintained that it was clean and updated. I would be conducting more survey on this to see how many persons have been affected.
Good thing that this colleague's name was registered to vote at the Gombak area and the colleague may need to take a short journey there to vote. I said that she should be there early to vote. After that, get the police to stand with her at the names checking counter to nab the phantom voter who would be there to vote as her.
I also reminded her that this phantom voter was also carrying her fake identity card. For those who have not voted/registered, you need to present your original identity card to proof that you were the actual person being present to vote. So, if my colleague has voted while carrying her original identity card, the phantom voter would be shocked when notified that "you have voted earlier". Bear in mind ok, your identity card has another copy out there if it has been used as a phantom voter.
Just when you thought that you won't make a difference with just one vote, those candidates gunning for a win would go all out to secure every single votes available, including this unscrupulous way of using phantom voters.
My point here - even if you were a lazy fella who wouldn't want to line up to vote or couldn't care less about your country, just go and register your name to vote after this election. This move is to avoid your name being manipulated by other parties. Even if you don't intend to vote after that, it's up to you but at least register first. Go to a large post office outlet and you should be able to do so.
Thereafter, I did another survey with some chat friends who were online. I just sent one statement "Are you a registered voter?". Many did respond with some saying they haven't register. For those who did I said "Love you for you had carried out your responsibility well". Some didn't respond with reasons only known to them.
Of those that had responded 2 responded pathetically and if you are reading this blog posting of mine, you know who you are.
What were the responses from this 2 unregistered persons?
- aiyah, my one vote won't make a difference
- whether I vote or not nobody will notice or it won't add/subtract anything
- as if the person I vote for would do something for me
- as if the person I vote for would make a difference at my area
- the country is bad already so no point voting
- if I vote, would it change anything
- even if I did vote for the opposition, the opposition can't rule the country as a whole
Yeah you may tell me off "it's none of your business whether I register to vote or not". Good point there but then think about the followings:-
- you are not qualified to voice out your dissatisfactions against the state government or the federal government as you didn't even vote
- you have to accept whatever that are happening in this country as you didn't vote
- the people that have been elected would actually administrate your country. any wrong moves by them would indirectly affect you personally including your family/relatives/friends too.
My viewpoint: Do carry out your responsibility as a Malaysian citizen wisely.
By the way, the nomination day of candidates standing for election will be on 24 February 2008 and election day will be on 8 March 2008, Saturday.
Another thing, the TV would be airing a short clip telling people to be quiet on whom they would be voting for stating that such thing is a secret. What a crap indeed. Today's Star newspaper has full blown pages showing selected Malaysian citizens being interviewed which also did state their political party choice. The issue about political parties going out to woo voters to vote for them made this so-called secret thing redundant. When people asked me, I do tell them.
If you think it was a secret in the last few elections, just note that your ballot paper has an electoral number linked to the stub being held by the election officials (you didn't know???). In simple lay man words, they knew whom you were voting for all this while. Who needs to know? Those people that uses phantom voters of course.
But for this coming election, the Election Commission shall remove such electoral numbering.
My 2 cents (using all my cents before they are untradeable in March 2008).
Tags: 12th General Election, Election, Malaysia, Phantom Voters, Election Day, Nomination Day, Election Commission, Malaysian Election
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