MCA at Crossroads 2

Politics is always about gaining power.

The power to bring change to the people.

People which politicians draws the power from.

It's the people power.

The MCA election will boils down to who should be in power and sets the destiny of the party. Once in power, the MCA chief will carry the burden of uplifting the moral and relevancy of the party to the people especially the Chinese. To enable him or her to perform that task, a ministerial position will be an asset and tool to support the person to achieve his or her agenda.

What will be the scenario if any of these aspirants wins the MCA presidency on October 18?

Ong Tee Keat - If he wins the presidency, it will be status quo for him as Minister of Transport which is consider the senior most portfolio allocated to MCA. If he is defeated, his cabinet position will depends on who are the others that won senior positions in MCA.

Chua Soi Lek - If he wins, this comeback veteran will need to be appointed a Senator before taking up a cabinet post. Unless his son Tee Yong vacates Labis for him to stand in a by-election. If he is defeated, there is nothing much for him to lose anyway since his stake is very low indeed. He will still be very influential at least in MCA Johore.

Chua Jui Meng - If he wins, although very slim chance, he too need to be appointed a Senator to to become a Minister. He can't force any MCA MPs to vacate seat for him and nowadays not many Senatorship to be given to MCA since 5 states controlled by Pakatan Rakyat. If he is beaten then it will be the nail on the coffin for his political career.

Ng Yen Yen- If she wins, history will be created but it will be a dream that only she dared to dream. She already a full minister, maybe will be transfer to Health ministry. If she loses, most probably will be retained as minister since MCA do not have many female MP to count on but won't be retained as candidate for the 13th general election.

Fong Chan Onn- If he wins, this never let go old horse will return to cabinet as minister since he is an incumbent MP but another portfolio as his old post already given to MIC Subramaniam. If he got whacked, this will be his final term as MP.

Ong Ka Chuan - Very slim chance that he will contest the presidency but if he wins will remain as Housing & Local Government Minister. If he loses in a three corner fight, most probably he will be demoted unless re-appointed as secretary general by Ong Tee Keat (if he is the one who wins)

Whoevers winner of the MCA presidency are expected to shift gear and manouver the party machinery for MCA's battle for the next general election. If it fails again, it will be very very difficult to MCA to rise to it's previous glory days.-Loka

Next: Who is slogging for deputy presidency?

MCA at Crossroads

The real lobbying for support in the coming MCA central committee election starts the moment the list of all the central delegates were announced on Sunday 28 July 2008. These central delegates will be the target of all aspiring candidates for the various positions in the central committee. In the next two weeks, a flurry of candidates will be announcing their candidacy for positions which they assumed they are qualified and will obtain support from the delegates.

Some already place their stake on specific post while some is still analyzing the situation on the ground. Some are having serious discussion to establish alliances with other aspiring candidates.

The contest for the presidency has been thrown wide open since Ong Ka Ting declares he is not defending the position even though he is still qualified to do so under the revised rules that limits the presidency to nine years for each individual. Adding to the excitement was Chan Kong Choy's announced retirement as the deputy president.

If there is no compromise in the horse tradings and securing alliances amongst the main players, the contest for the presidency and deputy president will sees a crowded battle. Those expected to battle it out for the MCA chief are Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat who already declared his intention, two former Health Ministers Chua Soi Lek and Chua Jui Meng and possible the first female candidate Ng Yen Yen.

Those who are potentials to contest the deputy president post are Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai, Housing and Local Minister Ong Ka Chuan, former Information Minister Lim Siang Chai and former Housing and Local Government Minister Ting Chew Peh.

Once the dust of the divisions election settles, the bargaining and counter offers will produce two very clear alliances with a splinter group becoming the Independents. My hunch is that the "Incumbent Ministers Alliance" will team up Ong Tee Keat-Liow Tiong Lai-Ong Ka Chuan-Ng Yen Yen against the "Former Ministers Alliance" of Chua Soi Lek-Fong Chan Onn-Lim Siang Chai-Ting Chew Peh. Chua Jui Meng is expected to go it alone as an independent if Chua Soi Lek does not make way for him to challenge Ong Tee Keat. Former VP Yap Pian Hon is expected to try to claim back his previous position contesting as an independent although he is expected to throw his support for Ong Tee Keat as president.

In an organisation especially political party like MCA, any vacancy at the top creates a ripple all the way down to the grassroots. More people will seek the opportunity to move up the ladder and MCA's election this year will definitely sees many new faces fighting it out in the national body. The contests in the divisions level sees contest in 79 of the 191 divisions chairmen positions and those new faces who won in the divisions shows that the grassroots wants to see changes in MCA especially after the 308 voters backlash.

The question that MCA leaders and members need to ask themselves is not who will be elected as the central committee members but whether MCA can stays relevant to the Chinese community in Malaysia. The Chinese in Malaysia had sent a clear message to the party that MCA need to do more that just claiming to represent the 6 million plus Malaysian Chinese. It is not a question of either Ong Tee Keat or Chua Soi Lek as president but to ensure and convinced the people that the nation's progress and wealth accumulations benefits each and every citizens of this country. -Loka

BN members, you can re-marry

Umno president says it is within the party's right to form the Selangor state government by having PAS as it's partner since Umno has the numbers to do that.

Is he giving the green light to MCA, MIC, Gerakan, SAPP, LDP, PBS, SUPP and other non-Umno BN coalition by saying "go ahead and form the Federal government with PKR since all of you has the right and numbers to do that"!

Those non-Umno BN members that are currently or already had secret discussions with Anwar should by now openly declare to the public if they had any intention to set up an enlarged Pakatan Rakyat Federal government. These parties do not have to consult or reports to Umno since it is within their right and are just following the "leadership by example" of Umno's.

It just does not make any sense for MCA, Gerakan and others who are still adamant and loyally holding on to the so-called BN power-sharing and consensus spirit when the big brother himself is planning to sleep with the common enemy. BN always claimed during each general election campaigns that opposition initiated coalition like Gagasan Rakyat and Barisan Alternatif are just marriage of convenience and all the partners are strange bed-fellows sharing the same bed but having different dreams.

Now it is clear that Umno is also having the same intention - having a marriage of convenience and sleeping on same bed with strange bed-fellows but having different dreams. If this marriage really materialised, how will the baby looks like? Will they ever have the opportunity to consumate the marriage on the same bed or marriage conditions and divorce settlements already pre-signed before they consumate the marriage?

Umno failed to woo PAS after the 308 election. Maybe the "wang hantaran" or dowry is just not attractive enough to have the hand of PAS. If Umno offers bigger dowry like the deputy PM, Minister in charge of Islam, Information, Education, Agriculture and Rural Development Cabinet portfolios plus the MB posts in Selangor and Terengganu, on top of Perak and Kelantan, maybe PAS will agree to the marriage.

Maybe the lady is still waiting for a better dowry , so the marriage is still possible. I am curious, what will Anwar/PKR offer to PAS and DAP if he is to be PM?- Loka

A Story of Two Roads

Along the roadside in a street lined with houses of worship of different creeds and religions, the adherents of each religion were having teh tarik break at their usual hawker centre. They shared the roti canais, char kueh tiaw and apam balik ordered from the various stalls. This hawker centre is the usual hideout for these religionists to take a weekly break from their daily religious duties at their respective places of worship. It was an opportunity for them to discussed and shared many stories they heard from their devotees for the past one week. Everything under the sky can be raised in this weekly teh tarik session - except religion.

The main topic of this week was on the impact of the fuel hike on the numbers of devotees visiting their church, gurdwara, mosque, temple and vihara. Due to drastic increase of fuel price recently, many of people already cut down their visits to the shopping malls and sight seeing. Visits to these places of worship were affected too. The numbers of devotees to these places not only did not decreased but in contrary it had increased two folds or even more.

It may not be logical for a secular and atheist statistician but for people who has faith in their respective beliefs, they are left with one important facet of life - Hope . When people are faced with challenges which is not of their own doing and which policy makers and politicians unable to offer any viable solutions to alleviate their financial and social constraints, they seek out divine help. More had visited the places of worship to pray for solutions to the problems in confronting them. That's the reason behind the sudden increase of devotees thronging the place of worship.

In the meantime, on the next road from the places of worship, a row of shops also saw the increase of another type of devotees and also hap hazard parking. The sign boards on the shops reads - Magnum, Sports Toto and Da Ma Cai. The queues at these outlets are always snaking out to the main road at least thrice a week because the punters in these places are attracted by the offers which the other places of worship on the next road can't offer in writing - GUARANTEED return in Full.

Yes, all payments are guaranteed in full. That's a good bargain isn't it. Well, if only the punter place the bet on the number that strikes. How many punters actually strikes on each draw? My bet is for every 10,000 punters, there will be only ONE person that gain in each draw. The guarantee is therefore for only one person.

Back to the teh tarik session, after discussing the issue of the two fold increased of visitors, these religionists came to a conclusion - no matter what differences with each other respective religions, as long as it provides solace and peace in the devotees heart, religion is still relevant and helpful to human kind.

The unwritten guarantee provided is as long as you have faith and understanding of your own religion and practice it with wisdom, the guarantee will be there for everyone who strive to seeks peace within themselves in this life. Why leave life to one chance in ten thousands when we can decide to be or not to be the person we aspired to be. If is to be, it is all up to me. - Loka

Status Quo for Bodhi Park

Goh Seng Chai explaining the Bodhi Park project to Shah Alam MP Khalid Abdul Samad

The Bodhi Park project will proceed as planned.

This was decided after some residents from Desa Alam housing estate who protested during the ground breaking ceremony last Sunday met the MP for Shah Alam Khalid Abdul Samad at the Shah Alam Mayor's office today.

The residents accepted the fact that land for Bodhi Park was allocated years before any houses were built at the site and approvals were given by the local and state authorities. On top of that at the point of purchase, all purchasers of houses at the residential area had been duly informed by the developer and aware of the proposed site for the Bodhi Park.

The representative of the protesters from Desa Alam Residents Association, Ahmad Shakri and other residents who met Khalid Abdul Samad accepted the explanation by the MP and other officers from the Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam.

Both the chairman of the Bodhi Park Building Committee, Goh Seng Chai and Ahmad Shakri later shook hands in front of the Shah Alam MP as a sign of mutual respect and harmonius co-existence.

Present during the meeting were representatives from the developer and also MBSA councillors responsible for the areas. The project will proceed as planned and construction expected to begin in September.

What is there to object?

July 20, 2008 15:05 PM

Residents Say Proposed Bodhi Park To Close To Housing Area
SHAH ALAM, July 20 (Bernama) -- The Desa Alam Residents Association is objecting to the upcoming construction of the Bodhi Park in Section U12 here, claiming that it would be located too close to the residential area.Its chairman, Ahmad Shakri Tarmuchi, handed a memorandum from the residents to Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan at the ground-breaking ceremony of Bodhi Park on Sunday.

Remarks : The land for the Bodhi Park project was purchased from PKNS years before any development took place when the land was still covered with palm trees and swampy land. There was no residential area until recently. The project only manage to take off now due to the protracted delay in getting approvals from the authorities. The fact is that this particular site was a replacement for the original site in Section 24 as decided by the Selangor state government.

The Bodhi Park is to be located on a 0.68-hectare site, and will comprise an auditorium, a centre for Buddhist research and studies, a multipurpose hall, and a main shrine for devotees. The project is undertaken by the Malaysian Buddhist Youth Foundation.Ahmad Shakri told reporters the residents were not informed of the project by the City Council and there was no notice board at the site announcing the project from the time they had occupied the housing estate in December 2006.

The housing model layout of Desa Alam displayed at the developers office to potential purchasers clearly shows land already alloted for building of places for worship. (pic above)

Remarks: Relevant approvals already given by the authorities. Those who purchase houses at the residential area knew before hand from the developer that there will be places of worship for non-muslims at the area.

Malaysian Buddhist Youth Foundation Director Goh Seng Chai told reporters the Bodhi Park was meant for Buddhist education as well as to guide youths who had strayed back to the right path.He said the land for the project was bought from the Selangor Economic Development Corporation for RM95,844 and the sale-and-purchase agreement was signed in April 2004.

In the early 1990's, the foundation bought a 0.6-hectare piece of land in Section 24 for the project but the state government found it unsuitable for religious use and offered the alternative site in November 2002, he added.Goh said the development order for the project was approved on April 24 this year and construction was scheduled to commence in September.-- BERNAMA

Remarks : The Buddhist community has been very patient and accommodative for the sake of harmony but are the Buddhists patience and peace loving approach has been taken for granted too frequently?

Bodhi Park Ground Breaking

( Bodhi Park ground breaking site)

(Ven. Saranankara (2nd from left) and Ven Chek Huang (centre)

were present at the ground breaking)

(Chanting by monks from the Vajrayana traditions)

The sound of chanting vibrates and envelopes the surrounding of the 1.7 acre land at Section U12 Shah Alam. The chant was conducted by monks from different traditions to bless the spot where a new Buddhist centre will be built - the Bodhi Park. It has been a relief for many of those involved in the struggle to build this centre.

(Ground breaking ceremony by all the dignitaries)

The Bodhi Park Groundbreaking ceremony was performed by Dato' Seri Ong Ka Chuan, Minister of Housing and Local Government Malaysia on 20th July 2008. Also participated in the ceremony were deputy ministers Datuk Tan Lian Hoe and A. Kohilan Pillay and scores of Buddhist leaders and sponsors.

(Chairman of the Bodhi Park Building Committee,

Goh Seng Chai delivering his speech)

It was a breakthrough indeed for the Yayasan Belia Buddhist Malaysia who owns the land which the project is taking place as the struggle to build this Buddhist centre has been pending for close to 20 years. And it looks like the challenge to build this centre will still be there as there were some misinformed people who hang banners at a nearby area to protest the building of the centre.

Scholarship - Why Not Me?

Parliament turns into a stadium yesterday. The shouting match between two opposing teams in a football match in a stadium was replicated in our august parliament by both side of political divide. The catalyst of the shouting match - scholarships from the Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA). The JPA recently decided to allocate scholarships based on the quota of 55% Bumiputra and 45% other than Bumiputra.

I am not going to debate on the percentage allocated but to reflect on what happens during my schools days. Related to scholarships of course.

I never did receive any scholarship from the government, neither from my home state Perak nor the Federal government. I did submit applications but to no avails. I can't blame anybody if the selection process was based on results. I was never a straight "A"s student, so that excludes me from the list of those "cemerlang" students. But then if it is based on need basis, I should have been strongly considered for a scholarship.

When I was in primary school, I was always curious when without fail each month the same group of my classmates were called to the headmaster's office. Are they being punished for being naughty or had broken the school rules. It was neither. I only found out what they got for being summoned to the headmaster's office - not the rotan but to collect disbursement from the biasiswa persekutuan (federal scholarship). If I am not mistaken it was $30 per month. I did not know why they were selected....

That was a lot of money then. I only have 5 sen as my daily pocket money. I usually use the 5 sen to buy a piece of local cake during recess. When my water container dries up, my drink for the rest of the day will be from the school tap water near the washroom. There was no water dispenser/cooler in my school then.

I wondered why I was not summoned to the headmaster or gurubesar's room each month. I will be happy to do that if I am treated the same as the selected group of classmates. I never understand the reason even after I left primary school. I was just too naive or just plain ignorant on what is happening. No one ever tells me that I was different from the group of lucky classmates.

Secondary school was a new beginning of my life as a Malaysian. I starts to read and love history. The new syllabus for history textbooks for secondary schools was launched when I was in Form One. Most of the contents focuses on Malaysian history. I would prefered the old syllabus which covers even Genghis Khan and Atilla the Hun. I explored world history by reading those phased out history books used by my older siblings.

From the school textbook on the Malaysian history, I then realised the reason why I was not invited to the headmaster's room during my primary school. I am a Malaysian but of different stock. I do not fall into the "privilege" category. So no scholarship for me even though based on my family economic situation, I was deemed "qualified" to receive four gantang of rice each month from a local charitable board founded by a local Chinese tycoon.

Admission into a local university later on was a rite of passage for a Malaysian of my kind. Most of the first year students applied for the JPA scholarship. I was having high hopes that I will be offered one to cover my tuition and daily expenses. When the lists were out, I scan the list again and again few times. My name was not there. It was not even close. Malaysian of my stock were so few that we might misses it and I wondered why they asked us to applied for the JPA scholarship at the first place.

The howling and shouting in parliament about scholarships will continue until the day when all accepts the fact that Malaysia need to move on. The people need to be help because they need it, disregarding the stock origin or colors of the skin. Those who wants to lead must have the heart to help those who need it and deserved it. Other criterias should be secondary.

The Anwar saga

More than a week ago I told a friend there will be exciting development on the political front in this few weeks. Recent events, especially the arrest of Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday will be the hottest topic in town after the live telecast open debate on Tuesday. More exciting developments expected to be forthcoming. Expect a by-election to be called soon as PKR will surely take the opportunity to ride on the peoples sympathy for Anwar.

Interestingly, is there any co-incidence in Anwar's swift arrest and his statement to the ACA in the morning which implicates the Igp and the AG? We can only guess. To ensure the arrest and legal process taken on Anwar are seen to be fair and just, shouldn't that the persons implicated in the ACA statements which are the Igp and AG take leave from office to avoid any possible conflict of interest? This case should be handle by those who do not have any connection or interest whatsoever on Anwar's possible banishment to jail again.

Anwar Vs Shabery, the verdict is......

Picture by Choo Choy May (Malaysian Insider)

Last night's open debate between PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim and Umno's Minister of Information Ahmad Shabery Cheek created history in Malaysian political development. This is the first time that an American styled debate was telecast live on national television with the audience and supporters from both political divide. Surprisingly the audience attending the debate were reacting in a civilised manner and behave better than some of our MPs.

Frankly I am inclined to praise both the debaters for carrying themselves well with decorum and presenting their views in a respectful and professional manner. The only blurb which I thought that was off tangent was during Shabery Cheek's personal attack on Anwar's past history as a student leader in the 1970s and Umno's finance minister in the 1990s. Maybe Shabery Cheek take this debate too personal i.e. between him and Anwar, not between a BN government minister and the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader.

Generally this round of debate went to Anwar. He still has the oratical skills that awed many in the past but as the law of impermanence, age had caught up with him. The many years spent behind bars and many issues besieging him currently especially the sodomy case had taken the toll on him. He is no more the 1990s Anwar that I heard when he was the deputy prime minister. Not withstanding the age, his presentation was laid out with simple arguments which I think many laymen will tend to absorb easily. Corruption, financial leakages and cronyism is still a weapon for him to tear the government argument for not being able to stop the fuel price hike. His argument on revising the contract between Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and the Independent Power Producers(IPP) as a method to increase the government coffers may looks reasonable but implementation is questionable. How many of the IPPs are related to politicians or nominees of political party?

Shabery Cheek when cornered was desperate enough to use personal attacks on Anwar to support his arguments which I think for this sort of debate, it is akin to hitting below the belt in a boxing match. Putting that aside, Shabery's questioned on why Anwar only promised to reduce 50 sen from the current $2.70 per litre of petrol but not from the pre 308 general election price of $1.92 per litre if Pakatan Rakyat forms the government since the promised was there since the pre-election. If it is the case, the price of petrol if PR forms the government tomorow after reducing 50 sen should be $1.42, not $2.20 which is still higher than the pre election price. On this matter, Shabery clearly claimed his marks here.

Shabery's claimed on Anwar singing a different tune when he was with Umno/BN and another tune now when he is in opposition was a slap on Shabery's own face. Shabery too sings a different tune when he was with the now defunct Semangat 46, a splinter Umno group led by his political mentor Tengku Razaleigh. Now he is Umno/BN minister, surely he is now dancing to Umno's tempo. Many politicians with background like him should not point finger at others. It smacked of hypocrisy. Just accept that politicians survival depends on the capability to sing to the tune of their political master or policies. If after switching parties especially in opposing camps, a politician still holds to the former party approach, what then is the difference they wanna offer to the voters.

Hopefully this debate will set a precedence and create a healthier political culture which give more credence to enhance the democratic process in this country.

Senior monk charged in court

The Straits Times of Singapore reports today.

July 15, 2008

Monk and two others charged
By Elena Chong

THE long-time head of Ren Ci Hospital, the Venerable Ming Yi, was charged in court on Tuesday with 10 criminal counts including forgery, misappropriation of funds and under the Charities Act.
Charged along with the monk whose actual name is Goh Kah Heng, 46, were two others, Raymond Yeung Chi Hang, 33, and Phua Seow Hwa, 47.
Goh is said to have conspired with Yeung to falsify a paper belonging to the hospital in 2004 and provide false information to the Commissioner of Charities earlier this year.
Chua faces one charge of scheming with Goh to give false information to the Commissioner.

"Venerable Ming Yi is a well known monk in Singapore whom uses unorthodox approach to raise funds for the Ren Ci Hospital like climbing a high rise building and soaking in large quantity of ice. He is also the Abbot of Kwan Yin Teng in Petaling Jaya.

Coincidentally a police report was lodged recently against a well known senior monk in Malaysia in relation with misrepresentation in the collection of funds. Will he be charged in court too?"

Anwar VS Shabery

Barring any last minute withdrawal of either speaker or due to police intervention, tonight's debate on the fuel price hike between PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim and Umno's information minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek will attract even those who are uninterested in politics. Fuel price hike affected everyone and I am sure everybody is waiting for fuel price reduction the very next day if possible.



Will Anwar thrashed Shabery in a debate between a political old hand and an Umno rising star ? What will be Anwar's answer to the spiralling fuel price? Can Shabery defends the government/Umno policy? This debate is more than the fuel price. It is about political mileage and survival. Anwar is surely taking a high risk in having this debate with an "lowly" ranking Umno official while Umno's confidence on Shabery will be shaken if he can't argue for the government's recent increase of the price of fuel.



Everybody knows about Anwar's background and his mesmerising oratorical skills. Many young Umno leaders in the eighties and nineties were aping his style in public speaking, to the extend of keeping a goatee as Anwar's!



Who is Ahmad Shabery Cheek then? If people thinks that this guy is gonna be "swallowed" by Anwar, they will be in for a surprise. Shabery is not new in putting across his political views and analysis in public platforms. This former UM lecturer has been doing that since the late 80's when he was in his early 30's. He was a popular speaker amongst the undergraduates during that time. He was also a understudy and blue eye boy of veteran Kelantan politician Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and was a former leader of the now defunct Semangat 46 party led by Tengku Razaleigh.



If you have some time to spare tonight, do catch this exciting debate live on TV. Unless of course someone chicken out with whatever reasons or the plug pull off by the ever "hard working" police.

Wan Azizah as Prime Minister?

Many school children at one time or another has come across or given the task to write an essay on "If I am the Prime Minister of Malaysia" or "Why I want to the Prime Minister of Malaysia". These students, in the most highest level of idealism plus a grade of innocence and naiveness would have written a heavenly lists of things he or she wants to do when the coveted position falls onto their lap.

Well, by now most of us, the former primary students after realising the reality of becoming the prime Minister of Malaysia need more than a dream and writing an essay. We had awaken to the real world and pursued our own career and live an ordinary life.

Maybe not all though. At least now we have at least two possible prime minister-in-waiting who still holds to their childhood essays close to their heart. One is the current deputy prime minster Najib Razak and the other a former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim. Even so, at this stage I think we should not dismiss and set aside some other possible candidates who is also holding on to their primary school essays. These guys includes the Kelantan prince Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and son of the Malay power base in Johore Muhyiddin Yassin.

The current PM had set his retirement to be in June 2010 and anointed Najib as his successor in UMNO and with that the prime ministership. Maybe Abdullah Badawi managed to secure the word from Najib not to challenge him in this December's Umno election by promising him his job in two years time. This sort of arrangement between the two UMno top politicians may work to the dot before this but time had changed.

Tunku Abdul Rahman hand over to Tun Razak was as planned and expected. So is Hussein Onn's to Dr Mahathir. The dramatic announcement by Dr Mahathir to pass the reins to Abdullah Badawi proceeded smoothly more than a year later. There was no real challenge to this hand over processes.

But can we say the same about the proposed hand over of power to Najib from Abdullah?

It will be a different ball game this time. There was no Anwar and Pakatan Rakyat factor breathing over the shoulder of both Abdullah and Najib. There is also Tengku Razaleigh who was narrowly denied the prime ministership more than 20 years ago. The Kelantan prince still harbors the hopes to be PM as the crown in the jewel in his political career. Furthermore, other component parties of Barisan Nasional might have a different view this time around on the PM position.

As for Muhyiddin, as the current longest serving Umno vice president, this will be possibly his last shot to lead the country. Once he miss the boat this time around, he can kiss the prime ministership goodbye. There are many leaders who are younger than him who is waiting to claim the coveted position after Najib(if he ever becomes PM), especially Najib's cousin Hishammudin Hussein who is also from Johore. If Muhyiddin defends his vice presidency, he will be fighting over split support for a Johore candidate if Hishammudin also contest for a vice president seat. Not forgetting other Johore leader like younger Khaled Nordin and old horse Syed Hamid Albar.

It looks like the stake is very high and Muhyiddin may go for broke by contesting for the presidency or deputy presidency in December, if he secures enough nomination. This might not be difficult if he teams up with certain states and work out his dream team.

But then all of these are based on assumptions that the PM will "always" from Umno. Can any other person hold the position? Yes, if an elected MP can secure the majority supports of the members of the Dewan Rakyat. That person can be Anwar, if he first secures his "licence" i.e. to be elected a member of the Dewan Rakyat and then obtained majority support from the MPs. Finally he need to show that he has the confidence of majority of the MPs and seek the King's consent to appoints him the PM. In politics, the tide changes very fast and the opportunity not taken will not be valid in the next tide. And time is not in favour of Anwar. In the meantime, maybe the MPs can give a thought to the possibility of creating history by electing Wan Azizah the first woman prime minister of this country. Politics is an art of the possible. Maybe Wan Azizah did wrote the same essay during her student days?

While the politicians are fighting it out for the pinnacle of power, did anyone up there care to seek and listens to the opinions and feelings of the ordinary folks. Did anyone bother to ask us if we wants Najib, Anwar, Razaleigh, Muhyiddin or even Hishammudin as our prime minister? Are the public's views are not important anymore even though every public policy the PM decides affects all of us. Maybe they are so be busy politiking that they forgotten there are still 26 million of other Malaysians watching and living in this country.

Bodhi Park 2

[Building committee chairman Goh Seng Chai (center) explaining the project to the press ]

A press conference was held today by the Bodhi Park Building Committee to invite devotees and members of the public to attend the Bodhi Park ground breaking ceremony. The ceremony will be officiated by the Minister of Housing and Local Government, Dato' Seri Ong Ka Chuan at 9:00am, 20th July 2008 (Sunday). A Devotion of Lights and Chanting of Parittas by members of Maha Sangha will also be held on Saturday night 19 July at 8:00pm.

Present during the press conference includes Most Venerable B. Saranankara Maha Thera, Chief Adhikarana Nayaka Maha Thera of Malaysia, members of the Bodhi Park Building Committee and other devotees. The Bodhi Park chairman, Goh Seng Chai also urged all devotees and members of the public to support this project. For details on how you can help, visit the project website at http://www.bodhipark.org/

The committee members later surveyed the site in preparation for the ground breaking ceremony.

[ The site for the Bodhi Park project at Seksyen U12, Shah Alam, Selangor D.E.]

[Goh Seng Chai briefing Ven Saranankara at the project site]

Bodhi Park - Rejoice

July 20th will be a significant day for all of us who hold in confidence the sanctity of the constitution that guarantees religious freedom for all. That will be the day the ground breaking ceremony will be held for Bodhi Park (http://www.bodhipark.org/.), a project by the Yayasan Belia Buddhist Malaysia to build a Buddhist centre in Shah Alam.

This project was delayed for 16 long years due to problems in securing a fair and reasonable development order from the State government of Selangor. The approval process went through the doors of at least four Menteri Besar's, many State Secretaries and heads of Shah Alam local authority, now known as Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam. Politicians from state and national level were approached to assist YBBM in solving this ridiculously long overdue issue. Not forgetting those who took the opportunity to create publicity and political mileage for themselves in the press.

The development order without any limitation on the height of the temple was finally approved on 24 April 2008. The earlier approval on 31 July 2005 had limited the height of the temple to 30 feet and two storey which the Bodhi Park building committee had rejected and submitted an appeal.

Just in case some people might have the assumption that the final approval was given by the new state government, let it be known that the preliminary approval was already in place on 4 March 2008, four days before the 12th General Election. In the many months before the general election there are already many behind the scenes efforts by the Bodhi Park Building Committee led by Goh Seng Chai to obtain the final approval. Meetings after meetings, telephone calls and short message services with political leaders from MCA and Gerakan were some of the efforts put in to get the project moving.

Those who strongly believes in the freedom of religious practice and building our respective places of worship might tend to raise these questions. If there is religious freedom why the need to go through so much difficulty and unnecessary obstacles in building a temple of our choice? Why the need to go through politicians to solve this issue when this is an administrative matter?

There is a need of a policy which clearly states the right of every religious community to build and manage their places of worship as per the nation's constitution and not at the discretion of politicians and narrow-minded civil servants. A law must be enacted to deter any person or persons from taking any measures, directly or indirectly, that will hinder the development of legally constituted places of worship. Those who flout this law should be charged in the court of law for dishonouring the nation's constitution.

All are welcome to rejoice the occasion of the ground breaking ceremony at 9:00am, 20 July 2008 at the site, No. 1A Persiaran Serai Wangi, Seksyen U12, 40170 Shah Alam. A Devotion of Lights and the chanting of Parittas by the members of Maha Sangha will be held on Saturday, 19 July 2008 at the site at 08:00pm.

A Buddhist Wedding

Wah lang lai kiong hee sin neoh kar sin neoh koh.

Well, that was "lets us together congratulate the bride and the groom" in Hokkien. Last night I was asked to lead the toast during the wedding dinner of my juniors from UKM, Sim Keong and Phaik Loo. Since both the bride and groom families and many of their close friends speaks the Hokkien dialect, it will be more "culturally correct" to use Hokkien on top of English and Mandarin.

After been together for many years, Sim Keong and Phaik Loo decided to join the married club. Earlier in the morning they had a Buddhist wedding ceremony that was consecrated and blessed by the Chief Adhikarana Nayaka Maha Thera of Malaysia, Most Venerable B. Saranankara at the Chempaka Buddhist Lodge.

It was a very a meaningful and spiritually enveloped Buddhist wedding with the presence of the Maha Sangha, relatives and many kalyana mitras (spiritual friends), mostly from our former university. As a Buddhist couple, it is very encouraging indeed to have wedding vows in front of the Buddha and members of the Sangha to begin their new chapter of life.

For a married couple, the support for each other as the closest kalyana mitra in walking the path of the Buddha is a requisite in developing a Dhamma-based Buddhist family.

Both of them are indeed blessed to have so many family members and spiritual friends to rejoice, help and support them in planning and organising the Buddhist wedding and the dinner.

Anyway, other than those in the above thirties, I am not sure whether those younger ones understands those words I spoke in Hokkien. Are we gonna miss the dialect in 50 years time?

Hokkien lang teoh ai kong hokkien wah. Kiong hee kiong hee knor eh sin lang. Lu lang ai hor hor cho lang! (Hokkiens need to speaks Hokkien dialect. Congratulation to the newly wed. Both of you need to be/make good people!)

I will be awaiting for the next round of Buddhist wedding of my kalyana mitras who are still undecided. (Those who are reading this and knows I directed to you, if you act fast I will be your Hokkien toast master!)

Two sides of history

The school project requires the primary school students to write about the history of Melaka and my son duly asked for my help. He is seeking for a book on history of Melaka as a reference. I asked him to pick a specific book from my collection in the book shelves. That particular book was one of the reference I used during my studies in university many years ago.

It is a good reference on history of Malaysia and the authors had updated it since then. The book , "A History of Malaysia" by Barbara Watson Andaya and Leonard Y. Andaya was published by Macmillan Press Ltd.

Being a history buff and a degree in History, for sure I was very happy to help out my son for his school history project. What happens next was something unexpected from a primary school kid. After he read some parts of the book I picked for him, he commented that the facts in the Andaya book is inaccurate and not the same as what he read in his school books!

I was startled initially but then I told him, in reality it was the facts in his school books which is misleading!

This is serious matter and not a small matter indeed especially when there are people who is still insisting the country's independence was fought by only one particular race and other than the Malays, all Malaysians are pendatang or immigrants!

Many people has the tendency to assumed that Malaysia's history started from Melaka since 1400 and this had also gives credence to those who linked the starting point of Malay history with the beginning of the Melaka Sultanate. Factually this is arguable. The Andayas wrote in the book mentioned above,

"But Melaka's rise from a quiet fishing village to a world-renowned emporium and centre of Malay culture cannot be explained unless one realizes that behind the splendour of its court and vigour of its commerce lay traditions of government and trade which had evolved over centuries. The story of Malaysia does not therefore begin at Melaka but stretches back deep into the past. An examination of Melaka's heritage provides not only the context essential for an understanding of later events but throws up themes which continue to be relevant as Malaysian history unfolds."

If certain people intentionally re-intepret and re-writes history with the purpose of glorifying their own kind and at the same time denies other people's contribution and historical background with this country, it will be a sad day indeed for our nation building process and more than 50 years of nationhood.

Changing lifestyle, what's next?

Its about a month now since the last petrol and diesel monstrous price hike. The man in the streets lifestyles already changed but I am not so sure about those in the corridors of power or those power maker wannabes.

Last few weeks has been a economically and socially challenged indeed. I will leave politically challenged aside to those politicians with their stage shows or sandiwara.

I was shopping around for new household items and the usual statements from the shops sales people or shop towkays or '"seetaopor" (wife of the boss) is," You better buy or order now or the price of these items will increased next month." Some even showed me circulars from their suppliers on the impending price increase from 1 July onwards. So being the usual "kiasu" or should it be "kialiau", deposits were paid to put caveat on the "old price" for those desired items.

On the other hand, the petrol price increased had also socially challenged those who seek out donors for their fund raising projects. It is getting tougher nowadays to ask for donations for our community projects. My children's school PTA which was raising funds to pay the balance owed to the contractor that built the school hall and auditorium were hard pressed to sell tickets for the 600 seats musical show at the new auditorium. The show was presented by the acclaimed Dama Orchestra featuring lead singer Tan Soo Suan. Understanding the current financial climate, I just couldn't hard sell the tickets to my friends.

Another fund raising project which I was involved also faced the similar trend, the donors are just not taking out their wallets as easier as last time. The increasing cost of living already affected the generosity of Malaysians in supporting community and welfare projects. I can't deny this may also due to people already contributed to the disaster funds linked to the Szechuan earthquake in China and the Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar.

With the petroleum price per barrel still increasing, greater challenge is still awaiting all the men in the streets. At the end of the day, no one will bothers who sodomized who; or who will be the PM; whether a politician wife watched a girl blown away by C-4; who will be the president of which party; who is snooping at who; whether a pu'er tea is better than whisky; to wear or not to wear the songkok and et cetera et cetera.

The question lingering in many heads nowadays is, how can we manage the rising cost of living?