16 September - Malaysia Day

The proposal for September 16 to be declared a national holiday in recognition of it's significance and importance to national unity and nation-building has been long overdue. But why is it there are certain people in BN particularly Umno who are reluctant to recognised that as a symbol of unity and goodwill gesture with our Sabah and Sarawak brethrens?

Is there an underlining fear in Umno that by giving Sept 16 it's due recognition will dilute or downgrade the contribution of the Malay nationalists' who fought for the nation's independence on 31 August 1957? What about the independence and nationalists of Sabah and Sarawak then? Both the states in East Malaysia did not joined Malaysia on 16 Sept 1963 since the nation called Malaysia did not exists before that. It was known as Malaya before 16 Sept 1963. Both the states were independent entity that decides to establish Malaysia together by merging with Peninsula Malaya and Singapore on equal playing filed and status. Brunei decided not to be part of the Malaysia at the last minute while Singapore seceded from Malaysia on 9 August 1965.

Why can't we have Independence Day on 31 August and Malaysia Day on 16 September? All independence fighters, whether in Peninsula or Sabah and Sarawak , will be fully recognised for their efforts and sacrifices.- Loka

Buddhists not allowed religious classes in campus

"It is hereby informed that the meeting of the Student Affairs Management Committee decided that any program or religious class activity other than the Nation's Official Religion ( Agama Rasmi Negara) are not allowed to be held within the vicinity of the university campus."

The above statement is an extracted translation from an official letter issued by the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Centre for Students Advancement to student bodies for religions other than Islam early last month. The same letter also withdraws approval given earlier to a student religious body to run religious classes which extends to April 2009.

It was a shock indeed to the student bodies of religion other than Islam when they received the letters from the said university. In the 38 years of UKM's existence, this must be the first time an official letter of this nature was issued to dis-allowed activities of the Buddhists, Christians and Hindus' inside the campus ground.

This irresponsible and unfair decision by the university authorities clearly contravenes the nation's constitution. As per Article 3 of the Federal Constitution it is clearly stated that "Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation. "

Ordinary folks can easily understand that the "any part of the Federation" includes any place within a university campus. Why is it so difficult for those "smart and educated" people in a university to understand this simple line in the constitution? Unless of course these people have other motives in their mind.

The student bodies who received this similiar letter reacted differently. While another two religious students bodies accepted the decision unwillingly, the Buddhist group decided to response officially to the university authority. The Buddhist group argued that the university directive contravened the Federal Constitution and requested that the directive to be retracted and all activities shall be allowed to resumed as usual.

When the Buddhist group asked for an explanation to the unjustified decision, initially a lower rank officer of the university said it was a directive from the Ministry of Higher Education. When check with the relevant people in the Ministry it was found out there was no such directive from the ministry. From there on it can be conceived that someone is playing with fire at the university level.

Since they are not getting any responsible respond from junior officers, the Buddhist group follow up the issue with the Student Affairs Deputy Vice Chancellor who by then already been called up for an explaination by the Director General of Higher education regarding this issue. During the meeting with the Buddhist students representative, the Deputy VC tried to tone down the matter by giving the excuse that the directive was issued due to some inexperience new officers! The DVC requested some time to have a re-look on the matter.

At the onset when the issue arises, the Buddhist student leaders already seek opinions and assistance from their existing networking. One of the network were seniors who were previously active in the university Buddhist group. One of the seniors referred the matter to the Ministry of Higher Education and from there on the powers-that-be in the ministry took up the issue with the university concerned.

The Deputy VC finally called a meeting with students representative from various religions other than Islam and announced religious classes and activities by religions other than Islam shall resumed as usual.

Those who read the first paragraph of this article might have felt very upset, annoyed, angry, disappointed, sad and etc etc. Some might have thought to call for a press conference and denounced the decision or even organised protests all over the country as what was done by the UiTM students recently. The Buddhist student leaders did seeked advice and opinions from many sources and they receives many views and also support.

Finally the students decided to approach the matter in a systematic and procedural way by engaging the authorities directly via discussion and persuasion. As the first step to resolved this matter amicably, they decided to contain the matter within a small circle while trying to solve the matter without any wide publicity or public protest. They seek to resolve the matter step by step in a very professional and calm mind by approaching the relevant authorities or persons. It it with this consideration that this article was only written after the matter was resolved.

At the end of the day, they managed to settle the matter in a good way without getting agitated or confrontational.

The lesson learned is that there is always a different way out for a situation, having demonstration or public protest is not necessary the only approach. There is still consultation and soft persuasion because truth is might. It's not that Buddhists don't know how to protest or have demonstrations but there is always a better option - peaceful mind, mindful solution. Hope the students of UiTM will take a leaf from this. - Loka

His dream turning into reality or nightmare?

Today is D-Day that decides whether Anwar Ibrahim's dream will turn into reality or the beginning of a nightmare.

He had a dream. He dreamt to be the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Will the people of Permatang Pauh grants him the passport to travel to Putrajaya to fulfil his dream? The signs so far seems to lead to a landslide victory for him.

Umno is banking on the 60% Malay votes as it is clear the 24% Chinese voters are not convince that Arif Shah will be the better man. Let's be practical. Without attaching emotions to the voting trend, choosing between an MP who might be future PM that can reduce the fuel price and another who will be duplicating his job as a current assemblyman, voters who are realistic and practical will surely opt for the former.

Mandarin is not an official language in Parliament isn't it? Does it makes any difference whether a Malay MP speaks Mandarin or not since he can't be presenting the people's needs in parliament in that language!

One thing for sure. The result of this by-election will be eagerly anticipated by not only people of Permatang Pauh but also the whole nation and the international community. The possible impact will be so great that the future of many depends on it. - Loka

Update : Anwar elected as the new MP for Permatang Pauh with increased majority of 15,671 votes compared to his wife Wan Azizah's majority of 13,398 in the March 2008 general election. He got 31,195 votes while his rival from Umno Arif Shah receives 15,524. Akim's Hanafi Hamat lost his deposit with only 92 votes.

Gerakan withdraws from BN

Should Gerakan, a member of the Barisan Nasional withdraws from the coalition?

This question has been playing in the mind of Gerakan members and the public since the 308 General Election. As junior partner of BN, many felt Gerakan has not been treated fairly especially by the dominant partner Umno. The general feeling is that Gerakan's is just playing a minor role in BN and after the lost of the Penang Government, there is nothing much left for Gerakan to stay on in BN. Furthermore, it will be more a liablity to them if Umno maintains its racialistic and Malay domination policies.

For more than 30 years Gerakan has been sleeping with Umno in the same BN room, not on the same bed but on the floor. Should Gerakan demands a bed of its own or just shift out from the room. If it does shift out, will it be sharing the room with Pakatan Rakyat or prefers to have a room of its own, meaning to be an independent "third force" in Malaysian politics.

The Perak Gerakan delegates already starts the ball rolling today by adopting a resolution calling for the withdrawal of the party from BN. This is not a small matter as Perak is the second largest stronghold of Gerakan after Penang. Furthermore this is the state of former president Lim Keng Yaik. The current state chairman Chang Ko Youn is also a national vice president and possibly the next deputy president of Gerakan.

The Gerakan leaders need to do the necessary to keep the party relevant to the people. If it makes the wrong move, the party will be relegated to just a footnote in the political history of Malaysia.- Loka

Wanna speak up, be a president

Politicians can be very hilarious sometimes, if we decides to take their statements as a joke.

One chap who is gunning for the MCA presidency was saying the other day that an MCA president must be able to speak out for the Chinese community and Malaysians of all races and religion. The funny thing is why does one's need to be a president of MCA to speak out for all Malaysians? Are they only able to gain the divine courage and vision if given a top position? That means all who are not MCA president can just sit down and keep their mouth shut. This statement endorses what the ordinary folks has been saying all this while - MCA politicians do not speak out for the people, maybe except the president!

I am not so sure about all the other leaders in MCA but based on his statement this aspiring president has not been speaking up in all his time spent as a State exco and minister since he was not the MCA president. I can't blame him for not speaking up for us since he was not the president. Also I have to accept any of his "apology" if is it forthcoming in the future since he is such a "gentleman" for admitting it.

As a person who professes a religion other than Islam, I can't blame him if he admits that he was not speaking up for the Buddhists when the construction of the Puzhao Buddhist Vihara in Air Hitam, Johore was stopped half-way since 1989 due to protests by people of certain religion and race. That is even if he was a State exco in Johore for a long period, so what? He can't speak up because he was not the president. So that means I only can blame the former president of MCA for not speaking up for the Buddhists.

It's funny but true. Some politicians can only speak up for us if they are the president (hopefully). Other than that they must be just a walking zombie! - Loka