Local Councillors - Are we taken as Fools?

The list of appointed local councillors in Selangor has been published in the local newspaper even though it was not officially announced yet. The question that people starts to raise now is whether those councillors that were appointed are really based on their NGO affiliation as claimed.

Some of the councillors representing the NGOs category are suspected to be nominees of the political parties in Pakatan Rakyat. Not many councillors were appointed from the representatives of residents associations although they represented a main chunk of the stake holders.

What really happened in the selection process? Is PR following the BN policy of appointing their own members as councillors albeit camouflaged as NGOs representatives? Is there a hidden agenda to appoint only their own members, supporters or sympathisers of PR as local councillors? If that is true, then it is not only a slap in the face for those who believes PR is different from BN but it is far more worse than BN because the people has been taken as fools! At least BN did not make any promises to appoint NGOs representatives as councillors.

Harmonious co-existence

It was full house at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center Plenary Hall during a recent dialogue on harmonious conditions featuring Venerable Hsing Yun of Taiwan's Fo Guang Shan and Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat. It was no doubt who the audience came to listen to.

I was invited as a guest of Fo Guang Shan Malaysia and I really enjoy and rejoiced on the chance to listen to Ven. Hsing Yun that night.

Ven. Hsing Yun's real life stories that he shared with the appreciative audience that night was very simple and easily understood by all. At one stage, the moderator of the forum even tried to camouflaged a political discussion on MCA succession plan in view of the rumour that Ong Tee Keat is MCA president Ong Ka Ting's anointed successor.

The discussion on the role of the number one and the number two in a family or organisation really makes the audience listening attentively to every single word by Tee Keat on any hint of him being the next MCA president. Tee Keat, who is known to be blunt yet very cautious with his words did not took the bait. The focus of the night remained locked on Ven Hsing Yun.

The audience during the dialogue includes the new Selangor State Assembly Speaker Teng Chang Khim and many MCA politicians in the VIP seats. After so much politicking since the 308 general election, at least a Buddhist event managed to bring politicians of both the political divide to sit down quietly and attentively listening to the Dhamma.

I really hope politicians from all sides will discard the old politics of boycotting an event or showing displeasure if the event organiser extends invitation to elected representatives from opposing parties. It will be a pity if those previously in opposition who suddenly found themselves governing a state government starts to act like prima donna's and reluctant to attend a rakyat's event due to the presence of another leader from the Federal government and vice versa. The people elected the representatives to work for them and not for the elected representatives to boss around with an attitude.

As Ven Hsing Yun advised that night, harmonious conditions is the most important of all that binds wealth, peace and positions together.

After SAPP, who is next?

Looks like Sabah Progressive Party president Yong Teck Lee is the man on the news. By declaring SAPP intention to support a no-confidence vote on the PM during next parliament seating next week is as good as saying goodbye to BN.

Maybe not. He just wants Pak Lah out, not for SAPP to get out from BN. Or is he bluffing, just like many politicians before him. Aren't we got use to having politicians announcing one thing today and doing the opposite tomorrow?

Or maybe Yong is just fishing. What is he fishing for will be clearer in next few days. People ought not be easily baited by the usual statements about Sabah not being treated fairly by the federal government. The fact on Sabahans needs being neglected and demands not taken seriously has the fair share of truth but at the end of the day, the bottomline is always about power politics. Politicians need to secure positions with political power to decide policies and influence decision making process to fulfill their agendas.

The statement on the vote of no-confidence on the PM is a means to the end. Everybody is jolted and talking about this bombshell isn't it? Yong and his SAPP is just hitting the iron while it is still hot. All the attention will be centred on him and his every moves and statements will be followed closely by both BN and Pakatan Rakyat.

If the "kiasu" syndrome also applies to all political parties, all the statements by Yong's comrades in BN denouncing his intention and declaring support to the PM need to be taken as a pinch of salt. Once these parties sensed they will lose out if still taking a safe or even neutral stand, they will shift their allegiance even before the cock crows the next morning. These people will be working very very late night until the wee hours in the morning to strategise the next step and have negotiations.

If this move creates domino effect in the BN, which party of the next 11 BN components ( except Umno and PBB)will make their stand? As mentioned, don't take too seriously on statements of support for the PM or BN by components parties or their leaders.

The announcement by Yong is a calculated move which is not necessary solely decided by him alone. If there is a hidden hand, who might it be? And it might not be the person which is in everyone's mind now.

Excuse me, I am not a NON!

Nearly half of this country's citizens has been recognised as a Non for many decades. It was so ingrained into our lives that it even attracts opposition from those who themselves are associated with such a term if there is any effort to change it. We are addressed as such by the authorities, our teachers, our colleagues, our classmates, politicians and of all persons, ourselves!

Does it ring a bell?

For those who are searching to gain their spiritual enlightenment in a serene place of worship, they need to pray hard to ensure a suitable piece of land is provided and approval to construct the place of worship or their house of gods for the Nons are given the nod by the authorities in a reasonable time. Even then, the Nons will toiled in the name of the almighty through days and nights to raise enough funds to build the structure. It will be a blessing if there is a windfall from the authorities.

We are getting used being called the Nons. But it does not mean the Nons need to be addressed as such. Just because the term has been in use for such a long time, it did not mean it is right to do so continuosly. There are Nons who are actually not comfortable to be addresed as such. Why must a person be declared as a non-entity of such and such community?

Can we have a re-look on this matter? Does the constitution in any way written with such a term?

Article 3 of the Federal Constitution says;

"Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practice in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation".

The Constitution was adopted and in use since independence in 1957. If the intention and spirit of the Constitution is to create a clear division between two entity of citizentry, it would have used the word Islam and Non-Islam. But in reality our forefathers of independence acknowleged there were many religions and their adherents in this land, which is the reason for the word other religions which recognises the existence of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and natives and folk religions during that time.

This clause is not the over-rated social contract term that many political animals has been fond of over using it. Article 3 is a very important statement in the most important instrument that defines and governs the nationhood of Malaysia and its people.

It is with this understanding that during a recent meeting in a committee formerly known as Jawatankuasa Hal-Ehwal Bukan Islam Negeri Selangor, I proposed that the term be changed from "Bukan Islam" (Non-Muslim) to "Selain Islam" (Other Than Islam). This suggestion was in response to many objections from representatives of religions other than Islam on the term "Bukan Islam" during the meeting.

Will the Selangor State Government be the first in Malaysian modern history to refrain from using the term "Non- Muslims" (Bukan-Islam) when addressing people of religions other than Islam. If the Selangor State Exco accepts the proposal of the Jawatankuasa Hal-ehwal Keagamaan (Selain Islam) Negeri Selangor to use the term "other than Islam" (selain Islam) instead of "Non-Muslim" ( Bukan-Islam), it will surely be the first state to do so.

All on board, except UMNO and PBB?

So much talk about Anwar Ibrahim's Pakatan Rakyat taking over the federal government since March 8. I am getting bored with all this cheap talk. Where is the action, man?

Yes, Anwar has been siad to be going around the world talking to BN MPs and even a cabinet minister. In a battle for the prime prize of the federal corridor of power, it seems it was Anwar that is keeping the attack on the BN fort but as shown in many historical wars - physical and political, while a warring army or party are launching the attacks, it need to be aware of counter attacks. No one knows for sure who will triumph until the last count.

If Anwar is too over confidence and arrogant himself as UMNO did before the 308 Tsunami, he might as well be swept out by defections from his own coalition! He can't denied that UMNO still controls the government machinery and also the GLCs that can dole out sweets and honeys to many of his people to cover ever rising expenses to keep their own cronies afloat.

Anyhow if the BN MPs who are neither UMNO and PBB decided to jump ship within this few weeks, Anwar will be drilling all the way to Petronas to reduce the petrol price! Is it possible for MCA's (15 MPs), MIC (3 MPs), Gerakan (2 MPs), Sabah's SAPP (2), LDP (1), PBS (3), UPKO(4) and PBRS(1) and Sarawak's SUPP(6), SPDP (5) and PRS(4) joining the Pakatan Rakyat coalition government? With 46 seats defection from these non UMNO or PBB parties, a new coalition will be formed with Pakatan Rakyat 128 seats versus UMNO-PBB alliance's 94 seats. BN would have been irrelevant by then.

As many would realised by now, there is no permanent loyalty or friends in partisan politics. We shall wait then. Patience is an virtue.