Malaysiakini :: Letters

Public rally is just as important a right as voting

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 02:50 AM PDT

There are times in our life when we just know we have to say it; we just have to do it.

I am one vote and I want to stand up and be counted.

The upcoming Bersih 2.0 rally will be a watershed moment in Malaysian civil society movement's history. For the first time in history, Malaysians from all corners of life and from all parts of Malaysia will congregate in Kuala Lumpur on July 9 to support the demand for a truly independent and free electoral process.

This movement may have been conceived by NGOs but now it has taken a life on its own; beyond the command of the respectable S Ambiga or any politicians be it from BN or Pakatan. It has now morphed into a true rakyat movement.

The common perception is that we Malaysians are afraid to express our disappointment or anger vide a public rally. There is of course some truth in this but this should not be used as an excuse to hold us back from coming forward.

Indeed, participation in a public rally is one of the two most civic methods of expressing one's displeasure on a particular public issue that affects our individual rights. The other one of course is voting.

Bersih 2.0 is an important movement because without true electoral reform, what is the point of voting in an unfair and tainted system? Nobody is saying by implementing the reforms that Bersih seeks, the opposition will definitely win the election.

What these reforms will change however is the perception of the public towards not only the independence of the Election Commission but that true democracy is indeed well and alive in our country.

By demonising a just cause, the Barisan Nasional government and Election Commission have inadvertently admitted to the world that all is not right in our electoral process.

Certain quarters have criticised the Bersih rally as alien to Malaysian culture and we Malaysians would not have the courage to attend this rally.

For the cynic, let's look at the Americans phrase, 'White man can't jump' referring to basketball and the white man's seemingly inaptitude for the game. Well, recently Dirk Nowitzki, a Caucasian German, almost single handedly led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA championship and was voted the Most Valuable Player of the series.

If Dirk Nowitzki can prove that white man can jump, then certainly there is no reason why we cannot prove to those Perkasa thugs that Malaysians too have the courage and heart to attend Bersih 2.0 and participate in this momentous civic right gathering.

So, Ibrahim Ali, don't think that the Chinese will sit back and lock their doors fearing another May 13 incident because of your threat.

I will be there, together with my Malay and Indian brethren, because we are all anak Malaysia seeking the same agenda, and that is a free and independent election process.

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Tourism ministers, officials, need overhaul

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 11:00 PM PDT

First, the Botanical Gardens fiasco, then the Penang Hill train fiasco, then the Shanghai Tourism Expo, and now the 1.8 million for a Facebook campaign.

Let's look at the recent Auditor General's report summary of the Tourism Ministry's audit.

No proper guidelines have been issued by the Ministry with regards to the management and the role of the host for Homestay Programme.

Many renovation works to upgrade the facilities by contractors for Homestay Programme did not follow the specifications provided.

The Ministry issued many Certificates of Registration for Homestay Programme without proper checks and supervision.

For example, many Homestay houses were given certificate of Registration without attending the required courses provided by the Ministry.

Many Homestay houses are with poor bathroom and toilet facilities and so on.

The government must suspend the tourism minister and Ministry top officials. What happened to the investigations of the auditor's report?

I urge all Malaysians dissatisfied with the Tourism Ministry to write to their lawmakers, requesting them to push for the suspension of the Minister, top officials of the tourism ministry pending investigations and at the same time pressure the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) for the status of its investigations into the AG's report.

List of MPs and their contact details can be accessed through www.parlimen.gov.my.

As much as I have lost faith in our institutions along with many Malaysians. At least until the next general election that is, when we have an opportunity to make a decision, we must spread the truth around to our friends.

Dalbinder Singh Gill is from Parti Kita Penang.

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Kredit: www.malaysiakini.com

Selasa, 21 Jun 2011

Malaysiakini :: Letters

Malaysiakini :: Letters

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