Talking About Soldiers on Paper

A new MCA leadership has been elected on Oct 19 with a mixed of characters and players. Ong Tee Keat as expected by political observers beat Chua Jui Meng for the presidency. Dr Chua Soi Lek dramatically pipped Ong Ka Chuan to be the new deputy president while Dr Ng Yen Yen created MCA history when she secured a seat as the vice president. As an initiative for reform and planning for the future, many new and young faces were given the opportunity to be elected as central committee members.

What will be MCA's future under the new leadership of Ong Tee Keat, the so-called "lone-ranger" ? He is now the numero uno of the 3rd largest Chinese political party in the world. What can the Malaysian Chinese and people of other races expected from him?

Tee Keat is a survivor in MCA's politics of patronization and "with us or against us" culture. His differences with former MCA president Ling Liong Sik is well-known to all. He climbed the political ladder step by step, having tasted his first public office election during the Ampang by-election in 1989 which he won by beating former MCA's Selangor leader Dr Lim Ann Koon. When he was first elected MCA Youth chairman in 1999, he was not in the cai tan (menu) or the preferred choice. He beat Loke Yuen Yow, a close associate of Ling Liong Sik.

Being tri-lingual, he was appointed as Parliament's Deputy Speaker after he won the Ampang by-election. After the 1999 general election he was appointed as Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports and the minister that time was Hishammudin Tun Hussein. His boss in the ministry was changed after the 2004 election when former Umno Puteri head, Azalina Othman was appointed as minister. It is well-known amongst the ministry officials and youth leaders at that time, the short stint reporting to Azalina was not a comfortable one for both of them.

After being elected MCA vice president in 2005, a cabinet re-shuffle in 2006 moves Tee Keat to the Higher Education Ministry under Umno's Mustapha Mohd. His position in the Youth Ministry was given to the MCA Youth head then Liow Tiong Lai. It was during this time that Tee Keat had a war of words with the Education Minister Hishammudin, his former boss in the Youth Ministry, regarding allocation for a school. He was asked to apologized but he stuck to his grounds.

Now he is elected MCA president, his seniority in the Cabinet will be trajected to third in terms of seniority in the Barisan Nasional government. It will be interesting to know how is Hishammudin and Azalina going to feel now. Their former deputy is now their senior in Cabinet!

Another person to look out for is the just elected to first placed vice president Kong Cho Ha, the current Deputy Finance Minister. Based on convention, will he be appointed as full Minister? If he is, will it be the minister position currently held by Ong Ka Chuan, the defeated candidate for deputy president? Or Chua Soi Lek will demand for a senatorial appointment and go back to the Cabinet via the back door by clamouring for Ong Ka Chuan's position?

One thing is for sure, the Cabinet re-shuffle is imminent. Latest expected to be early April 2009 after the Umno's general assembly in late March 2009 where many current ministers are expected to be dumped by Najib and replace with the president's men.

No matter who is appointed as ministers, it will be of no consequence if the rhetorics during the MCA's AGM is not follow through and translated to actions and results as expected by not only their members but most important of all the people of Malaysia.

Ong Tee Keat is now in the driver seat. He have the chance to turn his linguistics aspirations into reality. He has been vocal on various issues when he was the MCA Youth chairman, demanding answers and accountability on every opportunity. Now everyone will be focusing on him, demanding the same that he once expected others to do.

Tee Keat, keep to your words and conscience. Translate your dreams to actions. Many of those that once work together with you for the well-being of the young people of Malaysia will be watching with high expectations.

As you once said to me, " There is no use of talking about soldiers on paper". I am now returning those same words to you! - Loka

Plans are made to be challenged

It may looks illogical for Rafidah Aziz to hand over the Umno Wanita chief position to Sharizat Abdul Jalil three months after the Umno election in March 2009. There is a conspiracy theory that says Rafidah are not confident to win if there is a challenge fron Sharizat and one of the way to maintain her position is to convince Sharizat not to contest the top post.

On the other hand there is a possibility that the no-contest and hand over arrangement is a grand design to deter one person from moving up the Wanita ladder. That person is Tourism minister Azalina Othman. If most of the wanita divisions sticks to the plan and nominated only Rafidah and Sharizat for the no. 1 and no.2 posts, that will ensure the former Puteri leader Azalina will not obtain the necessary nomination quota to contest the posts especially the deputy Wanita post.

It is well-known that Rafidah and Azalina does not moves on the same turf and do not sees eye-to-eye since the formation of Puteri Umno. This arrangement is to derail the ambitious Azalina from securing the deputy Wanita position this time around.

Whether this works will depends on the number of nominations Azalina getting for the deputy post and if Sharizat will obtain enough nomination for the chief post. If Azalina qualifies to contest, that will be a direct challenge to Sharizat's position and makes her political future shaky. That will leave her with no choice but to go all the way to secure enough nomination to fight it out for the Wanita head position.

It will be a colourful showdown between so-called "sworn sisters". - Loka

U-Turn for Gerakan?

This weekend will provide signals on the direction of the BN component members when Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia have their national delegates convention. Gerakan will be the first BN component party to have their party election since the political tsunami of March 8.

Basing on the long list and variety of candidates lining up to contest, the coming party election provides a platform for Gerakan members to voice their views and feelings after the 308 debacle. With more candidates offering themselves for the posts, it shows that they still want to give their last shot to serve and change Gerakan for the better. It will be the right place for Gerakan delegates to thrash out whatever dissatifactoriness against the leadership, BN government policies and specifically Umno's arrogance and don't care less about other components attitude.

It will also be a turning point for Gerakan to change or in reality to U-turn to their original objectives and direction when it was first established. Everyone, including many in Gerakan acknowlege that Gerakan need to make a decisive decision on their future role in the nation's politics. The many years in BN had makes it a "beggar of BN" where it depends on Umno to justify their existence in Malaysian politics. Whether Gerakan exists in BN or not makes not much difference. The worst of all it makes Gerakan begging to Umno to maintain it's relevancy. Gerakan becoming the "sick man of BN". The Malay proverb says,"Hidup segan, mati tak mahu".

After March 8, Gerakan lost it's one and only "senior" ministerial position previously held by former president Lim Keng Yaik. The position was given to Umno. What they got is just two deputy ministers positions. If history is to repeat itself, do not expect Gerakan to get back the position even if they are able to increase their parliamentary seats the next round. MCA held the Finance minister portfolio until the 1970's before it was taken away by Umno. Now MCA are happy just to be given the Deputy Finance Minister 1, not even Finance Minister II. MIC even held the Education portfolio once and now their traditional Works Ministry was also taken by Umno after the last election.

Gerakan need to decide. To be in or out of BN. To be able to decide in a more mature way, they need to reflect on the original intention of the formation Gerakan by their forefathers. Gerakan was never meant to be a racial based party; it was never intended to be a surbodinate of another party; it was never the party just for the educationist; it was never set-up to promote a political dynasty; it was never there to condone any corrupt practices and land grabbing.

It was to be the champion of people of all races, all religion, all stratas of society- without fear or favour. Can Gerakan still do all these? The delegates to the National Delegates Convention must decide wisely. An unwise decision will make Gerakan irrelevant and unwanted by the people and sent it to the footnote of the Malaysian political history. - Loka

What will be Abdullah's legacy?

When Abdullah Badawi replaces Mahathir Mohamad as the fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia in 2003 there were many high hopes on him to perform and govern the country to a greater heights. Many have good words for him as the Mr. Nice Guy who ascended the highest political office of the country with a remarkable and untainted records.

The expectations were indeed sky high which Abdullah is expected to deliver during his term of office. The result of the 2004 general election when BN secures 92% of the parliamentary seats was an endorsement of his premiership. After 22 years under the strong willed control of Mahathir administration, the rakyat expected a change towards a more open and freer society.

While many exhibits their confidence for the new PM that period of time, there is also some who are keeping their fingers crossed. I was one of them. Only time will prove whether a person will deliver whatever he promises and fulfilled the needs of the people. Especially for those who live the life of a politician where there is no permanent friends or foes. For some promises is not always equivalent to commitment, dignity and honour. Whatever happens in the past may not guarantee the future political direction of the person will be the same.

Abdullah promises a lot and now he is left with only less than six months to deliver them before he calls it a day and retires as PM. Whether he can fulfilled all his promises within this short period is indeed a huge question since he had 5 years to do it but met with many stumbling block especially from his own Umno people. The results of the 2008 general election provides the drawing on the board that Abdullah and BN fails to understand the happening on the ground. Their supporters deserted them in droves. Maybe they were still enjoying the extended 2004 honeymoon. Some still dreamt of being in honeymoon and having the denial syndrome. When will they wake up? Maybe next general election when they won't be having their bed to lie on to dream anymore!

Knowing that he won't be Umno president and PM by March 2009, akin to a lame duck PM, what makes Abdullah thinks that he can overcome all those obstacles in the next six months to fulfil his promises and leave a legacy in Malaysian history?

No doubt about it, Abdullah premiership did brought change in the democratic process especially in comparison to previous PMs. The rise of NGOs and community groups in voicing their comments on the state of the nation and seeking justice and equality for the people which is unseen of during the previous Mahathir's adminstration shows that Abdullah initailly governed the country with a big ear approach . He listens.

We can't say that he did not try. The question is whether did he tried hard enough? He listens but did he courageously take actions after he heard the voices of unhappiness from the people. Later during the sunset of his premiership, he still listens but to those who asked him to used the big stick. How is his performance in managing not only the country but also his own people especially in Umno and his close associates and relatives? History will be the witness to his legacy. Will he utilised the last six months as PM to leave a legacy for the many generations to come or it will be something else?

I am not superstitious, but as usual I will keep my fingers crossed. For the outgoing PM Abdullah and also the incoming PM, whoever he is. - Loka

A Call For Peace

The following article is a reflection from a fellow Buddhist activist K.V. Soon , on the latest development afflicting the community and the our beloved country. If I am not mistaken, his centre is the only Buddhist centre that organises a Puja and meditation for the ISA detainees at the height of the recent ISA swoop on a journalist, politician and a blogger.

When we closes our eyes to meditate, do we shut our hearts and ears too?-Loka

A Call for Peace
A Reflection on Buddhism, Freedom and the ISA

By K V Soon (September 2008)

The political events over the past months in Malaysia has create much uncertainty. Compounded by economic uncertainty arising fallout of large financial institutions, gives more reasons for concerns. Amidst all this, what is most fearful in the heart of many Malaysian is the unstable political environment. What concerns and upsets most is the manner so-called dissidents and oppositions are dealt with. In particular, the detention without trial - selected individuals accused of being threats to the peace of the nation. Their detention is known as Section 73(1) Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960. This act states that:

"Any police officer may without warrant arrest and detain pending enquiries any person in respect of whom he has reason to believe that there are grounds which would justify his detention under section 8; and that he has acted or is about to act or is likely to act in any manner prejudicial to the security of Malaysia or any part thereof or to maintenance of essential services therein or to the economic life thereof."

Further in Section 8 ISA: Power to order detention or restriction of persons.
"(i) If the Minister is satisfied that the detention of any person is necessary with a view to preventing him from acting in any manner prejudicial to the security of Malaysia or any part thereof or to the maintenance of essential services therein or the economic life thereof, he may make an order (hereinafter referred to as a detention order) directing that that person be detained for any period not exceeding two years."

As of today there are 64 known detainees were detained since 2001, not given a chance at all to defend themselves through due legal process. (A full list is available at http://www.aliran.com/oldsite/monthly/2001/3e.htm). Some are alleged terrorists; some are accused of being spies while at one of them are a blogger. Some held for more than seven with no freedom in sight.

I know many Buddhist friends are greatly aware of this topic of discussion. Many of my friends take these discussions to the coffee shops, or even at private corners of Buddhist temples. One thing we cannot deny is that this issue has a greater implication to our society as a whole. To most of us, it much more than we want to know and to accept. Being a Buddhist, this Act represents a direct contradiction to the teachings and principles of the Buddha Dharma.


The overcoming of dukkha and the spirit of Siddhartha's Renunciation

As a Buddhist it pains me to see this dukkha inflicted unnecessarily to individuals. It pains me to see one of these detainee did not get to see his daughter at her deathbed. With two daughters of my own, my heart cried to the story of Shahrial Sirin, detained for 7 years WITHOUT TRIAL under the ISA. The authorities delayed the decision to allow him to return to visit his daughter who was in coma at the Kajang Hospital. She died 3 1/2 hours after her father arrived. This is just one story. I asked myself, how can we continue to recite the following every week (daily in some cases). Yet continue to go on with life as if nothing is happening?

Jatipi dukkha jarapi dukkha maranampi dukkham
Soka.parideva. dukkha domanas. supuyasapi dukkha

(Birth is suffering, ageing is suffering, and death is suffering;
Sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and despair are suffering;)

Is this the thought Prince Siddhartha experienced when he saw the Four Sights that was so powerful that led him to leave the palace? Is it doing something about the dukkha in line with the spirit of renunciation? If this is the spirit of renunciation of Siddhartha, how can we, as followers of the Buddha's teachings, sit and be quiet and continue to focus inward into our vipassana practices oblivious to what's happening outside. Did the Buddha not speak of compassion?

There is even Pali word for it, it's "karunā". Karunā is one of the four "divine abodes" (brahmavihara), along with lovingkindness (metta), sympathetic joy (mudita) and equanimity (upekkha). In the Pali Canon, the Buddha recommends cultivating these four virtuous mental states to both householders and the monastic. When one develops these four states, the Buddha advises radiating them in all directions, as in the following stock canonical phrase regarding karunā:

"He keeps pervading the first direction — as well as the second direction, the third, & the fourth — with an awareness imbued with compassion. Thus he keeps pervading above, below, & all around, everywhere & in every respect the all-encompassing cosmos with an awareness imbued with compassion: abundant, expansive, immeasurable, free from hostility, free from ill will." Kālāmā Sutta (AN 3.65)

In the Pali commentaries Karunā is the desire to remove harm and suffering (ahita-dukkha-apanaya-kāmatā) from others (SN-A 128).
We should do what we can to show compassion now. Show the detainees (and their families) the Buddhists do care.

Buddhism & the Overcoming of Fear

Why are we not expressing our Karunā? I organized a Puja and Meditation for the ISA detainees and hardly a handful of people turned up? No big temples or Buddhist organizations have organized such Puja at the point of writing this reflection. I spoke to some Buddhist friends and two answers came out the most. The first is often, "I am not affected (so do not need to bother)". I will talk more about this later. The more common respond is "aren't you afraid that YOU might arrested under the ISA too? In other words, FEAR.

If Siddhartha feared for his life and feared the loss of his lifestyle, he would not have left the comfort of His palace. We would have NO Buddhism today! This article and magazine would not exist! The Buddha said that fear is an obstruction to the development of calm and insight.
Let me share this article. Taken from a lecture entitle The Psychology of Emotions in Buddhist Perspective by Dr. Padmasiri de Silva:
Fear is often caused by strong desires (ta.nhaaya jaayati bhaya.m) [Dhp 216] Strong desires and attachment to either persons or things cause fear because if we cling to some precious and valuable object, ................

………… It is the same with the attachment to one's own self: a threat to one's life, sickness, the threat of losing one's job or reputation — all these situations are conditions for the emergence of fear. It is due to the strong self-preservative drive (bhavata.nhaa) which in turn is fed by the bhavaraaga anusaya (the lurking tendency to crave for existence) that fear becomes such an agitating condition........

....Thus restlessness and worry blind one's vision of oneself, and form an obstruction to the development of tranquility and insight. [AN 5.193]

Source: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/desilva-p/wheel237.html

We cannot stick our heads in the sand believing everything is okay, hiding in the thought that our private meditation practice is more important. This mindset is call delusion. We must strive to overcome FEAR.

Buddha Dharma = Freedom

The Dharma that the Buddha discovered expounds several important principles beginning with freedom and the cessation of dukkha. The ultimate aim of Buddhism is to achieve absolute freedom from the cycle of life and death, this freedom is known as Nirvana or Nibbana. Achieving this means have the right conditions.

Hence, I personally feel that it is our right to speak up, support and provide some form of solidarity to people who have been detained under this Internal Security Act (ISA). We need to strive to create the right conditions for our practice now, we cannot wait for these conditions to appear. How can we truly practice when there is fear. Some have argues with me that, “look we are free to practice and have our temples, why stir up problem”. My response is simple, this called “being selfish” and against the teachings of the four brahmaviharas.

We must do something. Making an effort is “karma”. Karma is not waiting for something to happen to us – and we decide if it is good or bad karma.

It is very clear that making effort to change is a blessing. The Buddha in the Maha-Mangala Sutta advised us that Patirupadesavaso ca (To dwell in a suitable locality is a supreme blessing). If any of our detainees are relatives, we will think and act differently - what if they are our relatives, brothers and sisters in this same house called Malaysia. We would do something for our relatives. In the same Sutta, the Buddha also advised that Naatakaana~n ca sa"ngaho: Helping one's relatives is a supreme blessing.

We do not help our relatives by taking to the streets and cause chaos, we just need to focus on our minds and send METTA to those who are detained - and to make it known that our Buddhist brothers and sisters are in support.

In the same way, we must not forget the people who signed the arrest orders including the people that executed the orders. They too need our METTA. There are no enemies according the Buddha’s teachings – just people who have not seen certain wisdoms yet. In the Maha-Mangala Sutta as well, we are reminded of Khanti: Patience and Tapo: Energetic self-restraint. That’s the way we show, support and solidarity.

There is so much more to write about this as it is the topic right now. Suffice that as Buddhist, we are also citizens of this country that wants a country to be ruled by the rule of law and justice and there is way to do it. This message is even more powerful in the Mahayana tradition, where a Bodhisattva vows:

I vow to liberate all beings, without number 眾生無邊誓願度

Let’s begin by looking at our own backyard in a place called Kamunting. In this place, people are detained and held with no opportunity of justice bestowed upon them.

What we do nor indeed affects our future, our children and their children. Doing something today is Pubbe ca katapu~n~nataa: Having made merit in the past. What we do today is the past that affects our future. This is the land where we and our children (and their children will be). Doing something can make a difference!

Lastly, I leave you with this prayer:

Evoking the presence of the great compassion, let us fill our hearts with our own compassion - towards ourselves and towards all living beings.

Let us pray that all living beings realise that they are all brothers and sisters, all nourished from the same source of life.
(Buddhist Prayer on World Peace Day, 2007)


May all Beings be well and happy always, may all being find RELEASE.