Monday, April 26, 2010

Winners and Losers in Hulu Selangor

After eight straight days of an all out campaign for the control of Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat the official results shows that BN candidate P. Kamalanathan upstage PKR's Zaid Ibrahim with a 1,725 majority to be elected the new MP for the large constituency.

Even though the by-election was a direct contest between the two candidates, there are many other victors and losers as well.

The Bosses

As expected the voters of Hulu Selangor were showered with goodies in the form of cash, development projects, land titles and PROMISES. For sure these are on top of the usual 10 KG pack of rice, Milo, cooking oil, drinking water, cheap T-shirts and caps and whatever that will make the day of the makciks and pakciks and the innocent kids.

The Towkays

From the popular kaya puff shop owner to the makcik who manned the roadside stall selling air sirap, these group will be hoping that by-elections will happen more often. Of course they are not cursing the newly elected MP to drop dead any soon but they can't be blamed if that aspiration is hiding behind their smiling face thinking of the flowing ringgits for the last two weeks.


The Candidates

P. Kamalanathan might have won the seat and will be greeted as YB but in the eyes of many including the community that he claims to represent he has lost his dignity and pride when he stoop so low to appease his political masters.

Zaid Ibrahim lost in this full fledge battle and having his personal matter stripped bare for the public view but his personal conviction for the interest of the people was given a strong endorsement. The people of HS will not be seeing the last of him yet.


The Commanders

Those in HS and outsiders who visited the place during the by-election has been wondering who is really the BN candidate? People noticed the large quantity of posters, billboards  and banners of his face in town might assumed Najib Razak is the candidate.

Najib Razak is actually the real winner here. He can now claim that the BN victory is an endorsement of his leadership and policies that he rolled out since appointed as Prime Minister a year ago. But then he need to reflect deeply on the 80% of Chinese votes that went to PKR, when translated meaning the Chinese actually still has doubts over his sincerity and policies.

Anwar Ibrahim has been in the forefront campaigning for his comrade since day one. Basing on the result, his popularity and support within the Malay community is not stable and if left unchecked it will be his Archilles heel in the next general election. On the other hand he  now knows he can count on the votes from the Chinese community and the support of DAP in mobilising election machinery within the community.

Muhyiddin Yassin is one big loser in this by-election. The usual Umno practice is for the party deputy president to lead the campaign in any by-election. Initially Muhyiddin was in charge but when the tide was favoring PR, his boss Najib decided to fly straight from Japan to HS to lead the campaign. This gives the impression that Najib has no confidence on Muhyiddin leadership and a slap on the face of his deputy.

Khalid Ibrahim as the Selangor Menteri Besar learn the trade to pull all the plugs as the state government to utilised all state facilities support this by-election from his predecessors but too bad that Felda is not under the control of the state government. Maybe he should be more a shrewd politician rather than a businessman when handling people from Umno.

Tok Guru Nik Aziz influence and endearment amongst the Chinese community is now gone beyond Kelantan. If he is still able to keep his momentum by the next election and campaign in BN stronghold like Johore, the Chinese voters there might shake some of the seats occupied by MCA/BN.

Lim Kit Siang is already a household name amongst the HS electorates, Malays included. Thanks to Utusan Malaysia for giving him the "coverage" from time to time. As for the Chinese voters, his presence in every political stops wstill accords him a star speaker status. With an increased of support from the Chinese, efforts need to be taken for him to penetrate the Malay electorates for the next election.

Chua Soi Lek the recently elected MCA president was not around in HS most of the time as he was said to be overseas visiting his daughter. He was only seen when Najib is in HS. His presence was nothing more than an extra in a show with Najib in the leading role. He must now dig out whatever reasons he can to explain to Najib the Chinese rejection of MCA, or is it more on Umno or he himself personally?


The Political Parties

MIC is the party of P.Kamalanathan but the party that really campaigned with whatever tricks of the trade is Umno. From the onset of this by-election it can be noticed and proven that it is Umno that called all the shots and decision making process, from the selection of candidates to whether MIC president Samy Vellu should show his face in HS. People are reminded that MIC is now Muhyiddin-In-Charge.

UMNO can now claim that the Malays are truly backing them and they have contained PKR and PAS especially PR supremo Anwar Ibrahim. But they will be barking at Chua Soi Lek asking for explanation why MCA failed to secure the Chinese votes. With millions of taxpayers money pumped into the pockets of the voters, the platform is now set for the mother of all battles - the 13th general election.

PKR losing another parliamentary seat is a big blow not just to the party but also the Pakatan Rakyat as this has increased the BN potential to reclaim 2/3 majority in Parliament. The result also shows that PKR is losing grip on whatever balance of support they have since March 2008. This party really need to revamp their election machinery if they are serious of winning seats and capturing Putrajaya.

DAP rocketing growth in terms of membership and branches since March 2008 has been a boost to the PR by-election machinery. Even though PKR lost the seat but support for the DAP is on the rise. This can be observed from the numbers of self paying volunteers from all over the country helping out in the campaign and also the huge attendance in DAP organised events during the by-election.

MCA provided token support to the BN election machinery. This is not surprising since they just went through more than one year of internal strife. Their machinery are moving half heartedly and other than some cameo appearances by some of their ministers and deputy ministers, their presence are hardly noticeable. From the result, it is not surprising if many of the 8,000 MCA members in HS voted for Zaid Ibrahim.

PAS was initially slow in mobilising their party machinery in doing real campaign work to solicite for votes even though their presence during nomination day was huge. After few days of snail paced movement which cause the Malay heartland in Felda further entrenched with Umno, PAS began to push into the Felda areas. The arrival of Tok Guru Nik Aziz provided the confidence booster but just not enough to draw out the votes.

GERAKAN which once upon time a party to be reckoned with do not even make its' presence felt in HS. Maybe only during nomination when its' president Koh Tsu Koon was a given a cameo appearance.

IPF, campaign even in death?

PPP, who is the president?

The power-play and battle of wits in HS is now over. It is time for the locals to re-claim their life in this outback district. But life would not be the same anymore. The people there now must look through their checklist on all the promises and commitments by both side of the political divide.

First thing in the morning, the people of Rasa will be waiting in front of Najib's PM office door for their RM3 million as promised. A promise is a promise even if the people of Rasa did not vote for BN. But wonders if MACC will be there too? - Loka

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Nik Aziz man extraordinaire

It was about 10pm and the usually quiet town of Rasa was full of energy and vibrancy. For many people in this small town, it must be the first time in their life that they are meeting in flesh and blood the most influential Muslim leader in Malaysia. For those uninitiated, this turbaned small frame figure wearing long flowing robe covered with a vest and supported with a walking stick can be just another typical Muslim going to the surau nearby for his prayers.

But this Pak Haji is no ordinary Malay-Muslim that we usually sees around us. This man can easily sway at least 30% of the Muslims in this country  on any other issue of the day. Even at age 79 and sometimes troubled with fatigue he still traversed all over the country speaking and meeting with his staunched party supporters and followers of the Islamic faith. This extraodinary man is Nik Abdul Aziz or affectionately known as Tok Guru who is the Mursyidul Am or spiritual adviser of the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) and Chief Minister for the State of Kelantan for the last 20 years.

The mostly Chinese crowd of about 2,000 attending the PKR campaign dinner at the Dewan Serbaguna JKKK Rasa were very excited and curious to see and listen to the Tok Guru for the first time. Earlier outside the main road groups of men wearing turban or ketayap who are most probably PAS members and supporters had waited for their Tok Guru's arrival for his maiden speech to the Chinese community in Rasa.

The roofted open-air basketball court where the dinner was held provided the necessary shade from the short shower minutes earlier. Those who did not managed to purchase the RM30 a seat dinner encircled around the hall to listen to the speeches.

While other speakers spoke from a rostrum, Nik Aziz was seated on a plastic chair on stage. Having just returned from Mecca, he is still recovering from fatigue. The stage is now left to him to deliver his message to the voters of Rasa. Tok Guru in his stern and fatherly voice transmitted his message to the audience to support the PR candidate Zaid Ibrahim. The audience are those who are already converted, meaning already prepared to support Zaid but they came to listen anyway as it is not always the Tok Guru visits Rasa.

Tok Guru task in getting the Chinese support will not be much of a problem but he will be facing huge challenge to turn over the core Umno supporters in Ulu Bernam. It will be an uphill task but if he can convert 5% - 10% of the Malay-Muslim voters, Zaid should be able to scrap through with a small majority.

The day of reckoning will be on April 25 and the nation waits for the result of the most eagerly contested by-election in recent memory. The result will be a preview on the direction of the nation's political agenda in the near future.


P.S. - While writing this article on the Tok Guru, I can't avoid from thinking of another religious man extraordinaire which I had the affinity to know personally, i.e. the late Venerable Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Maha Thera who is also fondly known as "The Chief" by his devotees and those close to him. These two great men of religion truly provided the platform and cultivate the landscape that reflects the true meaning of living in a multi-religious Malaysia. - Loka

Saturday, April 24, 2010

P#94 Hulu Selangor Snippets 3

Snippets 3 - Kerling hotter then the hot springs

Before the North South Expressway was built to connect Johore to the north, travellers who is driving up north to Penang or Kedah will need to take the Federal trunk road. This trunk roads are narrow, winding and passes by many towns and villages, which means many stops due to local vehicles, pedestrian and animals crossings, traffic lights and etc.

The good point is travellers will have the chance to savour local delicacies and fruits from stalls set up at the road side. On top of that there are many local attractions which tired travellers can take a rest and enjoy the nature offerings.


Kerling hot springs is one of them but I did not visit to the place until now. During the campaign trail, one of the stop is the Kerling Chinese new village which I was informed the local DAP branch has been surviving there thru thick and thin for so many years.

Basing on the banners and posters strewn all over, this must be a hot spot to be fought over, just like the hot springs further deeper inside the village.

Maybe will take a dip in the Kerling hot springs after all settled down. - Loka

P#94 Hulu Selangor Snippets 2

Snippets 2 - From 80 to 20
The Asam Kumbang new village in Kuala Kubu Baru has been MCA's stronghold for many years. The previous KKB assemblyman C'hng Toh Eng served there for many terms. The current assemblyman MCA's Wong Koon Mun won the seat with 448 majority against DAP's S. Ramu in the 2008 general election.

MCA is so strong in this village that 80% of the adult villagers are known to be members of the party. That's truly a remarkable feat until the 2008 Political Tsunami when the Selangor state government changes from BN to PR. This means the right to appoint the village chief are in the hands of the new government and a new village chief was duly appointed to replace the previous one.

The new village chief, Mr. Goh Tian Lai

Interestingly the new village chief, Goh Tian Lai, is also a life-long member of MCA! He divulged that after the PR government took over and provide the necessary support and assistance to the village, the support for MCA dropped from 80% to the current 20%! On the day I met him, he and some other villagers were busy making preparation in the village multipurpose community hall for the night's DAP event to campaign for PR candidate.

DAP dinner at the Asam Kumbang new village multipurpose hall

The pride of the village i.e. the multipurpose hall is managed by the village security and welfare committee headed by the village chief. The hall has been fully used for PR events during the by-election period. The MCA ends up have to set up tents at the road side and other open space for their events. Now they know how it feels to be in the opposition! - Loka

P#94 Hulu Selangor Snippets 1

Snippets 1 - Not too old to change

Mr. Hong, the Hainanese owner of the Yoot Loy Coffeeshop in Kuala Kubu Baru is 80 this year. He started his coffeshop more than 30 years ago with the support of his friends. He was a former Homeguards security member during the Emergency period ( 1948 - 1960). He is still waiting for a letter of commendation from the government for his service to the King and country.

Photographs of both Prime Minister Najib Razak and Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim having a drink (only black coffee, not Johnnie Walker Black Label ) in different occasions are pasted on opposite walls of the shop. Hong junior was disappointed when he saw Lim Kit Siang outside the shop few days ago but Kit Siang did not walk in. As a businessman he welcomes all to his shop, disregard of their political affiliations. As long as they pay for their bills!

His crypted response and body language tells that even if he is a card carrying member of MCA, which is part of the BN coalition, his vote on April 25 may not necessary goes to the coalition. The claims of 8,000 MCA members amongst the 16,000 voters in Hulu Selangor may be true but turning that into votes for BN is another matter altogether.

By the way, the toast with home made kaya spread and butter is one of the most popular item in this shop.- Loka

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Legitimate and capable Buddhist reps

Since the announcement by the Minister in the PM Department Koh Tsu Koon on the formation of an interfaith committee now known as Committee to Promote Inter-Religious Understanding and Harmony, as expected voices of dissent are heard from the usual group of detractors.

While preliminary meetings has been held to look into various issues and setting up of sub-committees to address them, questions still lingers on especially amongst the Buddhist community on who shall be the two persons representing the community in the said committee.

Recently the Deputy Minister of Information, Communications and Culture Senator Heng Seai Kie in her speech during the launching of the Sound of Compassions in aid of the Haiti earthquake victims had urged the Buddhist representatives in the said committee to play active and constructive roles to convey the views and needs of the Buddhist community.

Koh Tsu Koon was quoted in the media that the non-muslims representatives, which includes the Buddhists, will be represented by the MCCBCHST. Hopefully the Buddhist representatives as mentioned by Senator Heng will have the capabilities and legitimacy to shoulder the responsibities as the voice of the community.

It will be advantageous if these representatives knows and understands the issues well and has a good grasp of the national language and English so that they are able to convey the community's views eloquently and effectively as they will be having discussion with representatives from the government agencies and other religious groups. Furthermore it must be emphasised that these representatives must be committed to provide the world view of the Buddhist community as a whole, not just the need and views of their base association, temple or tradition that they originated. - Loka

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Hulu Selangor level playing carnival

While passing through the dark and dusty roads in the Bukit Beruntung area, rows after rows of abandoned houses and commercial shoplots hardly can be missed. It was the eve of nomination day for the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat by-election. My friends and I were travelling to Kuala Kubu Baru to have first hand experience of the Hulu Selangor by-election.

Bukit Beruntung is part of the Hulu Selangor constituency and I don't think those people staying there really "beruntung" (benefited). Most of the shophouses are vacant and any building materials like the window and door frames, metal trusses and grilles has been stolen to be sold as scraps. Lalangs had taken over in most of the vacant houses. Some who bought houses and shoplots there are still servicing bank loans on their abandoned and dilapidated properties.

On the corner of the main T-junction to Rasa,  no one will miss the command centre of Barisan Nasional on an elevated open space. There were many white tents and marquees surrounded by BN flags. This is the venue where the name of BN candidate P. Kamalanathan was announced. Interestingly, the selection of this location as BN's choice for their main operation centre in a township saddled with problems traced to the time when BN ruled Selangor was a paradox.

If BN still rules Selangor, it would have used a better location with better facilities owned by the state government. But since BN now is the state opposition, it have to make do with whatever their money can buy. Based on the huge marquees that BN is paying for at least two weeks, their war chest must be bottomless.

On the other hand, the Pakatan Rakyat are gleefully using the state and local council facilities which were denied to them pre-March 2008. Now BN is having a taste of their own medicine. The battle of space and facilities is on level playing field now. While state and local council facilities like community halls are easily available to the PR State government, BN is making use of facilities and location managed by federal agencies like the schools, agriculture centres, the newly built fire and rescue complex etc. The event to announce Zaid Ibrahim as PR's candidate was held in the Dewan Komuniti Serendah which can accommodates more than 2,000 persons.

The locals seems to know how deep each of the contesting parties will be able to dig their pockets to rent a place for their operation centres and accommodation for their campaign workers. It is very obvious that the locals are aware that BN can afford to pay double for any places for rent. For instance, while PR will be asked to pay RM1,000 for the rental of an empty floor, BN will be charged double the amount for the same place. If BN thinks this is unfair, they need to soul search why the Hulu Selangor people assumed BN has deep pockets!


Arriving at the Kuala Kubu Baru Kumbang new village, we were ushered to our "reserved" seats which were already occupied by other guests but the organiser was able to settle that quickly. But due to our late arrival, the dinner already half way through so we missed some of the dishes and speeches. At RM 30 per head for a Chinese sit down dinner, it was considered cheap for people staying in Klang Valley but cheaper price comes with smaller serving size.

Some of the speakers that night were top guns in Pakatan Rakyat including Anwar Ibrahim, PAS deputy president Nasharuddin and Lim Guan Eng. The Pakatan candidate Zaid Ibrahim spoke earlier and already left by the time we arrived. The others that spoke includes Tony Pua, Hatta Ramli, Charles Santiago, Lau Weng San and etc.
The presence of Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Guan Eng was received excitedly by the locals. There is no doubt who they supports in this by-election.
A quick glance shows that most of the audiences are elderly Chinese village folks. Maybe most of the younger ones are working in the city. Their votes will be critical to PR and they are expected to be contacted and encourage to return to execute their right on election day.

Most of the speakers focused on national and Selangor issues while Guan Eng provide some notes on Penang's latest development.


Having overnight at Ulu Yam Bahru, we start early the next day at about 6.40am for Kuala Kubu Bahru. Arriving at about 7.15am the traffic is already getting congested. The Election Commission already fixed specific directions for respective party supporters to follow to designated assembly locations. We were lucky to secure a space to park our car beside a building belonging to the local school alumni.

We took a short walk to DAP's Main Operation Centre at Jalan Kamaruddin. The crowd already swelling and it looks like everyone were having a carnival-like atmosphere. There were stalls selling foodstuff, political paraphernalias, T-Shirts and medicines. PAS supporters really knows how to go for the kill as most of the stalls are obviously own by them based on the goods sold in most of the stalls.



Not having our breakfasts yet we went to the coffeshop next to DAP's centre in search of food. It was filled with DAP members including Teng Chang Khim and Tony Pua having a cuppa and wan tan mee there.

Disregard of who wins this by-election, I think the coffeeshop owner and the noodles stalls proprietor just like other food vendors will be laughing all the way to the bank.

At about 8.20am we moved along with the DAP's group towards the nomination centre at Dewan Serbaguna Kuala Kubu Baru. A short distance away, DAP's group merged with the huge PKR's delegation. The crowd went into high decibels when PR's candidate Zaid Ibrahim and all the top guns make their way through the PR's supporters. There were a lot of chanting of "Reformasi", Lawan Tetap Lawan", "Hidup Malaysia" and "Hancur Umno". 

At 8.40am the PR supporters reach the police barricade and couldn't proceed further. The shouting and chanting continues while a police helicopter was seen hovering above and recording the crowd below. The morning sun was getting hot and just many others we decided to look for a place to have a cold drink. We found a corner mamak shop nearby and managed to secured some seats occupied by some PKR supporters. We were later joined by DAP Adun for Teluk Datuk, Philip Tan.


By 11.00am the crowd were thinning and we decided to walk back to the DAP operation centre. After obtaining the latest information on the candidates contesting, we decided to have our lunch. We went to a hawker centre for porridge. We  noticed that most of the customers there are PR supporters. Maybe BN supporters are having free meals at "higher" end restaurants! We have to pay from our own pockets for food, transportation and accommodation.


After lunch it was time to drive home but it was not to be as when we reached our parked car, the whole town of Kuala Kubu Bahru already turned into a huge parking area. It was a terrible traffic congestion which lasted for more than two hours.
We decided to take a rest at the school alumni building which top floor was rented to PR for accommodation. Some of the DAP volunteers were staying there. (The picture on the left was taken from the alumni building.)

After waiting for more than two hours, we walked to town centre to buy some local delicacies from the Teng Wun Bakery which has been in business since 1979. Their specialties are kaya puffs, cup cakes and butter cakes. After the free tasting, all of us were convinced to buy some home. The traffic by then already eased up and the journey home was a smooth one.



It has been an enjoyable event and eye opener for many of us who participated in this by-election nomination day. - Loka

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Only Islam has problem?

The Government finally decided to established a "special inter-faith committee" to promote better religious understanding between Islam and other religious faith. The committee will be headed by Ilani Ishak, a former MP for Kota Bahru when she was with the now defunct Semangat 46 party which was a breakaway from Umno. This was announced by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Koh Tsu Koon on Wednesday.

There are some points which need to be highlighted here.

1. Why it is still a special committee if the government felt inter-faith understanding is very important in the context of harmony living amongst the people in the country? Why the half-hearted approach?

2. Why only look at religious understanding between Islam and other religions? Are they saying only Islam having issues with other religions and there is no problem amongst the "other religions"? Or the government planning to have another "special committee" to look into these problems only when problems getting more difficult to manage within the other religions?

3. By saying that they don't want active politicians in the committee, then Ilani Ishak should not be there too. If she is not an active politician and supporter of Umno, would the government brought her to serve in the PM department and tasked her with this responsibility. How to define active politicians? Some officers in government agencies represented in the committee might be active members in their respective party divisions or representatives from the other religions might be also an MP or assemblyman. Can their right to represent their religion be curtailed due to their active participation in politics?

4. Those representing the "other religions" are from non governmental organisations but those from Islam are represented by Jakim and Ikim which are government related agencies. What happens when the Islamic views from the government agencies are not agreeable or endorsed by other Muslims/Malays NGOs, like ABIM, Sisters- in-Islam or even Perkasa? Will this special committee meet the same faith as the previous initiatives?

5. How sure and informed are the government that the representatives from the MCCBCHST has the locus standi to represent the religion that they claimed to represents? For instance, the Buddhist community has three representatives from three different individual organisations in the MCCBCHST which membership are limited only to certain segment of the Buddhist community. Does these representatives really represents the voice and sentiments of the community and other 700 Buddhist associations or centres not affiliated to any of these three selected organisations?

6. Quote from The Star "The committee is not a legal structure; it's not a rigid structure. It's a framework to provide exchange of ideas on religion". - Koh Tsu Koon, Minister in the PM Department

If that's the case, it means this committee is just a talk shop. If it is set up by the government, why not provide certain level of authority so that its decision can be respected and abided by all? After all, all the major religions "great minds" are represented in the committee!

7. Finally, why appoints a "junior" officer to head the committee. The action reflects the intention. If the government is really putting strong emphasis on this committee, it should be headed by Koh Tsu Koon as the Minister in charge of unity. Or the least another with Ministerial level position like Idris Jala who may knows better the meaning of inter religious understanding since he is from Sarawak which multi religious society and inter religious marriages records speaks for itself. - Loka


Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Noose over Mei Fun's head

After I delivered my speech during a youth program at Universiti Malaya, I returned to my seat beside hers at the VIP row. Then she asked me in Mandarin," Are you a comrade"? What she meant was whether I am a member of her party, the Malaysian Chinese Association. I replied in the negative. The conversation happens few years ago when I was still the Malaysian Youth Council vice president.

A couple of weeks later, when I met her again on some other religious related matters, she suggested that I should get myself involved in the newly established Crisis Relief Squad of MCA which she was the founding head. I just listened without giving any response to her. At that period of time, I was comfortable running programs for the youth via the Malaysian Youth Council. Joining a political party or its community service arm was not an option then.

Now the person who asked me whether I am her comrade is staring at a possible change of political life in the next few days. Chew Mei Fun the MCA Wanita Head already put her head in the noose when she declared last year she would quit her post if the sex DVD tainted Chua Soi Lek becomes MCA president. Soi Lek was elected the president in the recent AGM. Politics is an art of turning the impossible to possible and vice versa.

The noose on Mei Fun's head are getting tighter by the day. It is now up to her to decide whether to be a person with integrity who honours one's word by pulling the rope or be known as a typical loose-mouthed politician whose words are just worth a pinch of salt when she unleashed the noose by giving all sorts of excuses!

By pulling the rope and make her breathless, will it be the end of her political career? Will she lose out on her political clout and influence if she quits as the Wanita head and also deputy minister's position? Not necessarily if we gauged MCA politics especially basing on recent events. What's the fuss all that about if MCA delegates can even voted in a person who quits all positions due to a sex scandal two years after the incident?

While quitting all her positions will reduced her influence and authority, she may as well be looking at a bigger role for herself in the next party election. By that time the delegates will be reminded that she is a person with integrity and trustworthiness who did what she committed to the people. Her stature might just grow higher by the next election.

On the other hand, if she decided to keep her positions with whatever reasons she might cooked up with she might as well lost her dignity and respect that other people especially her members had on her. She may reasoned that her Wanita members wants her to stay because her position is elected by Wanita wing and not appointed by Chua Soi Lek. Whatever her reasons, the stain will be there.

The delegates might forgive a person for his sexual indiscretion as a personal misadventure. But for the Chinese community, trust and integrity are two very important aspects which once lost will be very difficult to reclaim back. Mei Fun knows that. Her political foes knows that too. But the rope is in her hands. To pull or not to pull, it's all up to her. - Loka

Friday, April 2, 2010

Cheng Beng and 1Malaysia

Cheng Beng is when the Chinese visited the graves to sweep the tombs and offer prayers to their departed parents, grandparents and other relatives as an expression of fillial piety, respect and gratitude to their ancestors. As traditions dictates, offerings and prayers items are offered and burned for the departed needs in the other world.

Many of our ancestors and dead relatives were holders of the blue identity cards or the latest MyKads that determines their status as citizens of Malaysia. In the spirit of once a family always a family, it will be apt to keep the belief alive that the departed ones will always be remembered as part of the family, part of Malaysia...dulu kini dan selamanya.

On top of the Mercedes Benzes, gold ingots, trillions notes, bungalows, international passports, Jimmy Choos', Armanis', Ipods', shopping vouchers, mahjong sets and other types and shapes of paper offerings, maybe for this season of oneness, those going to the cemeteries can opt to bring one of the latest hype in the nation.

Do bring along a 1Malaysia logo as offerings to the departed ones. This is in the spirit on one nation and to tell the departed ones that they will always be remembered as Malaysians first, even though they may be residing in a different world now. Their sacrifices and deeds in bringing up other fellow Malaysians and patriotism for the country will always be remembered, disregard of their current place of domicile as long as they regard themselves as Malaysians first when they were still eligible voters in this country.

Don't be too worried if you can't find any 1Malaysia logo to be offered for your departed love ones, shops selling joss paper and other prayer's paraphernalias will be able to help you to create one. - Loka