VOTING & DEMOCRACY

So, we're going to the polls on March 08. That's for the 12th time in our nation's history. It'll be my umpteenth time since 1969. Those were the good old days when the real form of democracy existed. I mean, you know, election campaigns where the contestants and their party leaders will hold public speeches.

I remember our Bapa Malaysia speaking at the Kuantan Town Padang during the 1969 GE. That's the year when MCA had some internal problems and any no-body could have won the seat against the MCA guy in Kuantan. One lawyer from outside Pahang stood on I think Party Rakyat ticket and won. Simply because the disgruntled MCA members voted for him.

But it was fun - the Tunku was a good entertainer with his light-hearted speeches. Others too took the opportunity to get across their messages with jokes and stories. Of cos, I mustn't fail to mention the film show before the political bigwigs arrived. The Information Department would screen films produced by Pathe News as well as their own on what the Government had achieved.

Elections are a bore now. Police permits must be obtained for rallies. Then again we fear that such rallies could turn violent. Sad isn't it? After 50 years of democracy, we still can't hold public gatherings to get across our message. I was quite amused to read that women in Jakarta gathered in front of Parliament building to protest against price increases earlier this year. And they were armed - with pots and pans and woks and created quite a din to draw attention to their plight as wives and mothers who put food on the table so to to speak. Well, democracy seems to thrive well across the Straits of Melaka after more than three decades of tight-fisted rule by the late President Suharto.

Now, the all important question of casting votes. I was with a group of neighbours one evening. The chat turned to the upcoming polls. Surpisingly, quite a few said they were not registered to vote. And they are the educated middle class! Others said they will not be casting their votes. Reason? They were not happy with the situation - political, business, etc. Hey, that's not democracy! In a democracy you make your choice - for or against. I suppose they "do not want to bite the hand that feeds them" by not voting for the opposition. I don't subscribe to that kind of thinking. For me, I always make a choice.

Democracy is a Greek word meaning "rule by the people". The candidates we vote in must never get into their heads that they are the masters once elected. No, they are the peoples' servants. The people are the masters. So, if we don't excercise our right to vote, then we can't blame others if the wrong person gets elected - a person without principle for example. One who cheats, one who accepts bribes, one who threatens the very people who are his master!

I must also express my indignation at money politics. And here I include within the term "money politics", all the handouts by the Government after Parliament has been dissolved. The Government is really a care-taker government and should have no right to dish out goodies. The same goes for control over the media. When bloggers write all kind of stuff in the numerous blogs which have cropped up, it's due to the fact that they have no outlet to voice their discontent. When politicians of the ruling parties deride, threaten and call names, bloggers are actually being encouraged to go even further. Maybe the media can create avenue for the opposition to put forward their messages. Hey, after 50 years, aren't Malaysians matured and educated enough to make decisions?

ELECTION EPIDEMIC

Democratic activities seem to be alive and kicking all over the world. We saw presidential elections in South Korea and Republic of China (Taiwan). Last weekend the Pakistanis went to the polls. And Kosovo - the Kosovans didn't vote but the government took the province out of Serbia to become an independent state with the support and blessings of the EU and US.

And here in Malaysia we'll be casting our ballots on March 08. That'll be the 12th General Elections since our Merdeka (independence) in 1957. No doubt the ruling National Front (BN) coalition will once again win - for the 12th time. But the talk is about by what margin. The last time in 2004, the BN garnered 92% of the 222 seats in Parliament. That victory came in the wake of the end of an era under Dr Mahathir Mohammad and a new beginning under current Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi or Paklah as he is fondly addressed.

I have had the honour of having interviewed Paklah for a radio programme. He was then Minister of Education. I found him to be unassuming and humble and very friendly. He apologized profusely as I had to wait 2 hours beyond the appointed time due to the stream of visitors to see him. He came into the room, kicked off his shoes, plomped on the settee and invited me to sit next to him.

He asked me how well our radio programmes were being received / utilized by the schools. When I told him not as well as expected, he said that was not what he was told in a briefing by the department head. Well, that's what little "napoleons" do - say what the boss wants to hear - everything is hunky-dory. I was proven "correct, correct, correct" years later when the Ministry of Education decided to shut down the Educational Radio unit. If the unit was doing that well (90% usage) why shut down? But the discontinuation of the educational radio service was indeed an illogical move as it was like "cutting off the nose to spite the face". One must improve the service to attract users.

Coming back to democracy and elections - Kenya is a terrible example of democracy gone wrong - when there is no transparency and free and fair voting - chaos will be the result. Hundreds have died in post election violence and the situation continues without agreement between the opposing parties.

In Malaysia, we expect a violence free General Elections on March 08. We have learnt our lesson from what happened in 1969. There are laws to prevent political parties from going overboard with their speeches which can cause tension between the various ethnic communities.

But the mother of all elections must be the upcoming US presidential election. Do you follow the ongoing political circus in that country? Frankly, I enjoy watching it. Have I taken sides? Well, of cos! Simply because Barrack Obama is not only a non-white but also he appeals to the common man and the young. He is seen as one of them. Has the charisma and the ability to get across the message of Change! MacCain will be the extension of George Bush's terrible and horrible presidency. Hillary Clinton - apart from being touted as the first female contender - nothing much there.

We'll be bombarded with plenty of "I'll do this" and "I'll do that" from nomination day till ballotting. Let's take that with a pinch of salt. I don't have much trust in politicians, really. Can't blame me for that, can you? Look at the crooked ones - the 'close one eye' guy and the guy who built a palace without approval from the authorities, the list is endless.

SPEND MONEY - MAKE MONEY!

I read in today's The Sun newspaper that Kuala Lumpur City Hall is in the process of replacing all road signages to include directions in Jawi. This is in efforts to promote Islam Hadhari (civilisational Islam) and tourism. According to City Hall PWD director Siti Saiffur Mansor the move will help non-Muslims to know and learn Jawi and enable tourists from the Middle East to identify places in the city.

What crap!

Promoting Islam can be done in so many ways other than by spending millions on road signs. If the signs are costing between one and two thousand ringgit each as reported then one wonders whether the contract with the production company is above board and was it done through open tender. Malaysians are always wary when huge amounts are spent for no apparent reason than to generate kickbacks.

Islam can be promoted in so many other ways: through honest governance, good work ethics, integrity, etc. Jawi is a "dead" language in the everyday life of Malaysians. Even for the majority of Malays the daily working language is the Romanized version of Bahasa Melayu (Malay language). Furthermore, why the need to master Jawi to learn more about Islam Hadhari?

Jawi for tourists? I have come across road signs which include Jawi/Arabic within KL city centre. That should be sufficient. Visitors to Malaysia don't go into housing estates in search of tourist attractions. In especially communities with majority non-Malay/Muslim populations you can have road signs in Jawi or Mongolian or Urdhu - the people couldn't and wouldn't be bothered. So how is Islam Hadhari being promoted?

KL City Hall can't even get its act together in English and it wants to promote Jawi. I came across a sign near Hotel Istana which shows the direction to "Twin Tower". I can't imagine a twin tower. The error has come about because the way English is spoken - the lazy way - with no effort to pronounce ends of words. Take another example: "Brickfield" - it never was that from the colonial days - the correct, correct, correct identity should be Brickfields with an s. Well, I suppose the attitude is as long as "it sounds like it" it's okay-lah.

Now, coming back to the road signs in Jawi - please KL City Hall, that money can be better spent. But then again who the hell are we to comment. You City Council members know best, yah?

WHAT'S OUR DIRECTION IN SPORTS?

I have been glued to the TV screen lately - first the Australian Open 2008, then the jAfrican Nations Cup. Of cos, when we talk of tennis at that level, forget it, we can never in the next 20 years hope to have a Malaysian competing even as a wildcard. But of cos, we can bring tennis greats for exhibition matches in Kuala Lumpur. But who gets to watch such matches? The well-healed of cos. And who reaps the benefits of organising such extravaganzas? Some well- connected business guy.

Talking of football, we just had Footsal KL World 5s 2008 at Stadium Negara. I would have loved to have watched Brazil and Argentina in action. But the price of tickets at Rgt12 - not within my means. And soon, we'll be holding the World Under 19 Cricket in KL.

Now, what I'm trying to get at is this. We are such good organisers. And we have so much money to throw in holding such events - to attract tourists? The Under 19 World Club football last year - how many tourists flocked to Malaysia I wonder! And we had to spend millions just to get the right to organise that event! And then spend millions on transport, airfare, food, accommodation, etc. The same will apply to the upcoming Under 19 cricket.

Now, holding such galas is, I s'pos, good for Malaysia's image. But the real question is: How does it benefit our youngsters in efforts to raise the standard of football, tennis, cricket, etc? The footsal at Stadium Negara was played to practically at empty stadium on most days except for the semis and final. Of cos the organisers couldn't have lost in terms of revenue as there was 'live' coverage. And the Ministries of Sports and Tourism would have pumped money into them generously - remember it's Visit Malaysia Year 2007 - 2008! So, we are relegating sports to business entities to reap a bundle.

I think there should be specific undertakings by those who wish to organise international sports events in future:

1. They should hold coaching clinics before and during the events for kids chosen from around the country

2. Venues should be filled by selling tickets at affordable prices for school kids

3. Organisers should make available free tickets to sponsors/ advertisers/sports associations for
distribution to school children,

We should undetake any step that will ensure our children gain the maximum from exposure to such events. Don't just put money as top priority. For the business community money is always the target.

So, coming back to the African Nations Cup - did you see the standard of football displayed by Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Ghana, etc? How does our Malaysian football team stack against them? Ghana is coached by Claude Le Roy - I remember he was once upon a time with us - but we dumped him - not because he was no good but because we:

- want instant success

- we don't put stress on grass-roots development

- we, above all, politicise everything including sports!

When will we ever learn!

CAN WE EXPECT A LITTLE MORSEL BEFORE GE?

The General Elections are around the corner. As usual politicians will be making their rounds fishing for votes. Several writers predict a tough time for the ruling BN. I won't go into the merits or demerits of voting for the BN / Opposition.

But I have a grouse. In fact all my neighbours have the same grouse. The Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ) is not providing us our money's worth of services.

In July 2006 I complained to MPAJ that the open area behind the row of houses along Jalan 1/1 in Taman TAR had not been attended to. I remember I complained in July because that's when branches from the trees behind my house came down due a thunderstorm causing minor damages to my house. In fact to TNB's credit, the cables that fell on the road were reinstalled within one hour of my complaining.

In December 2006, I received a card dated 26th but posted on 16 Jan 2007 acknowledging my complaint with the usual "aduan ......diambil perhatian".

Today 18 months after my complaint, the situation is still the same - where we had no unwanted trees, there are several, unsightly shrubs cover the whole area. We have had creepy crawlies in the area.

The Head of the Civil Service has visited MPAJ twice to create a change in the attitude / mindset. We pay our assessments as demanded but wither the service, MPAJ?

Maybe, the coming GE 2008 will bring us a windfall - better services - but I hope that comes b4 the GE.

POINTS TO PONDER

I came across a posting in Malaysia Today taken from AMDE Sidik's Journal. The following para caught my eye:

"Personally, I have nothing against orang Malaya per se. But I am against the injustice, unfairness, discrimination and condescending manner that they have shown to Sabah and Sarawak ever since the formation of Malaysia 44 years ago. It appears that these people are willing to change history, for their own convenience, every year they insist on celebrating 50 years of Malaya independence rather than 44 years of Malaysian independence."

I quite agree with the writer as that sentiment has been expressed to me by other Sabahans. Maybe we in the Peninsula ought to take note when we next celebrate Merdeka - prominence must be given to September 16 (birth of Malaysia) rather than to August 31.

Why do I say that? Well, those of the Merdeka generation are on the way out so to speak. Malaysia is for the post September 16 generation. If we want the present and future generations to be proud of and be loyal to Malaysia then let us emphasize the birth of Malaysia and push August 13 into the pages of our history books. AMDE Sidik also opines that the Peninsula must never treat Sabah and Sarawak as foster children. Lets take note of that too.

JOINING THE BANDWAGON

Hi guys!

Have finally joined the growing list of bloggers after procrastinating the last couple of years. Sometimes it takes a little push to get people moving and I suppose I am guilty of that.

BotBot Thots will allow me to say my piece but I shall endeavour never to touch on others' sensitivities. If I am critical then bear with me as that will be my view and everyone is entitled to his or her views. You may comment on what you find in this Blog but I reserve the right to publish it wholly, with editing or not at all.

So, to all who access my Blog - thank you and let common sense prevail.