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Posted: 25 May 2013 06:48 PM PDT

The gathering on Saturday has been described as the climax of a series of massive rallies that began at the Kelana Jaya Stadium on May 8, followed by similar events in almost all the states in the peninsula. All these events underscore the sentiments of voters that the reports of electoral irregularities must be thoroughly and impartially examined so that the people's will is accurately reflected in the election results. That point is already unmistakably clear.

fz.com

THE sea of people who turned up on Saturday night at Padang Timur, Petaling Jaya to protest against alleged fraud in the 13th general election have shown that public disquiet over several controversial aspects of the polls is not to be underestimated.

The sizeable turnout for the event, despite being the umpteenth public rally since the national vote was held on May 5, is also significant because it comes on the heels of a testy statement by new Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that there would be no more warnings before the authorities act against those who disrupt public order.

Furthermore, the rally-goers who flooded the protest venue despite the arrests of several political leaders, activists and peaceful protesters in the preceding days were more concerned to show that they want action on the reported irregularities than they were worried that the assembly was deemed illegal.

So, enough is enough. The general election is over and the government has been formed. The country must move ahead. Last Wednesday, the Election Commission gazetted the official results of the election. Under Malaysia's laws, the result of an election can only be challenged by an election petition which must be filed within 21 days of the gazettement. So let the aggrieved parties prepare their evidence and file their petitions. Present the cases in the court and let the judiciary play their role in upholding the rule of law. After all, the ultimate avenue for redress in a democracy is the court of law.

The street protests and rallies must stop. The constant attempts to whip up the emotions of the people through grandstanding and rhetorical speeches will only tend to create an atmosphere charged with tension and confrontation.

Let's focus on building the country instead. There is a great task ahead for all of us to bring positive changes to our national institutions and strengthen governance. Pressing for greater transparency, checking corruption and preventing abuse of power is a responsibility of all Malaysians. These challenges will take systematic work and unwavering commitment to democratic ideals.

If the opposition and its allies continue to push the people towards extra-judicial measures that can paralyse the country, they will run the risk of developing "protest fatigue" and may come face-to-face with a public backlash.

Should that happen, they will only have themselves to blame for pushing their luck with the people that they claim to represent.

Chinese politics in Malaysia: What's next?

Posted: 25 May 2013 11:27 AM PDT

A new generation of young Chinese do not want to play it safe. To them, Malaysia is their homeland and they do not see why they should be treated as second-class citizens when it comes to politics. To them, what is wrong in Malaysia is best exemplified by the ethnic-based approach of the BN.

James Chin, Straits Times

From the time the Chinese landed in Malaya in large numbers in the 19th and 20th century, the political question has always been the same: What role will the Chinese play in local politics?

During the British colonial era, the answer was simple: no politics. All issues were channelled through a Chinese appointed by the British to act as a liaison person and known as "Kapitan China". All dealings with the Chinese community went through him.

This "no politics" rule was to last a century; many forget that when MCA, the Malayan (now Malaysian) Chinese Association, was established in 1949, its aim was Chinese welfare, not politics.

It was only when Britain granted self-rule in 1955 and when MCA became a member of the Alliance that it became political. Back then, the MCA could count on its Malay partner Umno to treat it as an equal.

The rules were simple: Umno represented the ruling elite Malays while MCA had the funds to keep the Alliance going. MIC, the Malayan (now Malaysian) Indian Congress, came on board to represent the Indians.

But it was clear that Umno-MCA ruled the country. The Malays wanted to control the government while the Chinese wanted the economy - a perfect match. MCA always kept the finance and trade ministries in the first decade of independence.

This cosy relationship expired in the 1969 racial riots. In 1974, the Alliance was reconstituted as Barisan Nasional (BN) and the relationship was fundamentally changed. Umno was now numero uno while MCA and the rest were merely part of the larger coalition.

MCA's status as co-driver ended when its Tun Tan Siew Sin lost the finance portfolio in 1974. Worse, two other Chinese-based parties, Gerakan and Sarawak United Peoples' Party, joined the top table in BN. MCA was no longer the sole voice in the coalition when it came to Chinese affairs.

The New Economic Policy (NEP) caused the Chinese community to ask: Should we support MCA or the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP), formed in 1964, to show our frustration with NEP's ethnic discriminatory policies?

While the Chinese towkays decided that they had to support BN to "do business", ordinary Chinese wanted it both ways.

They essentially split their vote; a smaller portion voted for the MCA/Gerakan while the majority supported the DAP. Another way was to vote for MCA/Gerakan at the state level while giving the parliamentary vote to DAP. This "split vote" tactic lasted more than two decades - until the 2008 General Election.

In that GE, the Chinese, including the usual apathetic middle class, decided it was time for change and threw their support behind DAP. In this year's May 5 polls, the Chinese hardened their attitude and basically wiped out MCA/Gerakan in all 22 Chinese majority constituencies.

And for the first time in Malaysia's political history, Chinese majority constituencies in Sabah and Sarawak voted en bloc for the DAP.

What role will Chinese politics play now in Malaysia?

Having it "both ways" no longer works. A new generation of young Chinese do not want to play it safe. To them, Malaysia is their homeland and they do not see why they should be treated as second-class citizens when it comes to politics. To them, what is wrong in Malaysia is best exemplified by the ethnic-based approach of the BN.

Political rebranding needs guts, ideas

Posted: 25 May 2013 11:14 AM PDT

MULTIRACIAL PARTY: The need to refresh the BN brand is seen to be more vital after the recent polls

Ahmad A. Talib, NST

A PIECE of news from Phuket, Thailand, has started a fresh round of debate. It started when Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin responded to an idea that Barisan Nasional be developed into a single party.

By this, it means that all 13 component parties in BN should be merged into one national party. Of course, this is not automatic. The components in the national ruling coalition will need to think through this carefully, weighing the pros and cons.

Earlier, Datuk Chang Ko Yuon, the acting president of Gerakan, a BN component which did badly in the May 5 general election, had initiated the idea of a single party union. If adopted, Chang said, BN would become the single biggest multiracial party in the country.

The idea of merging the components is not without merit. Component party leaders had, at some point and privately, broached the idea among themselves. The idea is not totally new in that suggestions for a multiracial party had once been suggested by an Umno leader.

Its founder president, Datuk Onn Jaafar, had suggested that Umno open its doors to non-Malay members, an idea that was strongly objected at that time. This was in the late 1940s, soon after Umno was founded. His idea was seen by Umno members as to be too ahead of the time then.

While the idea didn't gain support, the three major political parties then -- Umno, the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) and the Malayan Indian Congress (MIC) -- instead formed a coalition representing the three major ethnic groups. Hence, the Alliance.

Today, the need to refresh the brand is seen to be more vital after the recent polls. Even though BN was returned at the federal level, and wrested back Kedah from the opposition, many in the coalition want BN to be given a fresh, new look.

Not just in look and feel, but in substance as well. BN, which replaced the Alliance as more components were added, is a strong brand, having been at the helm of national administration since Merdeka. A rebranding exercise may appear to be the answer, but this has to be holistic, deep and meaningful.

The idea will not get automatic support. As Muhyiddin rightly said, many would agree and many would disagree.

"This is something big, but I think it's important because I don't know if we can sustain our position for a period of say, five years... looking back at the recent elections, support at certain levels was not encouraging despite BN winning and forming the government.

"Many in the BN leadership believe it may be time to review the coalition from the current coalition make-up," said Muhyiddin, the Umno deputy president.

Having a lab to study and debate various aspects of BN is an excellent idea. There really is no harm in having some frank debates on the matter. Various reforms have already been undertaken in the BN components. To continue to be relevant and appealing, more needs to be done though.

There are talents in BN. Fresh ideas can come from younger voices, and there are many. The coalition has tradition but that needs tampering to go with the times.

A rebranding exercise will not be complete without tearing the brand apart and building it up with renewed passion, boldness and clear vision.

Let's see what happens next.

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

Ahad, 26 Mei 2013

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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