message from keadilan

Further to my post yesterday, Aloysius Francis Pinto – political secretary to Sivarasa Rasiah, emailed the KeADILan Power e-group with this message:

Dear Aneel and All in keadilan-power group,

Thank you for asking. What we are witnessing is nothing more that teething problems that all new relationships experience. But because it is in the sphere of politics, and the mainstream media has its own agendas coupled with the coming KT by elections the BN has been quite successful to upset those in the PAKATAN and supporters from the rakyat.

As mentioned in my earlier email (pre-Congress 2008), unplanned success since March 8 will surface such incidents. The whole PR have been quite overwhelmed with the responsibilities entrusted to them.

The Napoleons and Napoleonettes in the Local Councils have been fairly successful in creating havoc for MPs, ADUNs and even Councilors. Groomed over decades by the BN culture, they have responded by non-cooperation. These civil servants have abused the kind gestures by the Pakatan Wakil Rakyat and Councillors who have been treating the many corrupt and incompetent Napoleons/ettes with kid-gloves.

But watch in early 2009, the kid gloves are off, and we will come fighting them hard and fast and with ‘their rules and laws. The truth will prevail.

Mike (Manickavasagam) will not quit PKR. He is just overwhelmed with the responsibilities and unfair non-allocations for opposition MPs. Mike is in a delimma and is just crying out for help. Because he is serious about his job, and the learning curve everyone in Pakatan/Keadilan is going through, Mike has acted such. Keadilan wants to keep the good guys and Mike is one hella of a good guy.

Don’t worry too much about what you read in the main-stream media. Maybe more of us should translate our words in cyberspace by actually going to the ground to help the Pakatan MPs, ADUNs and Councilors. There won’t be a shortage of work and I believe the Wakil Rakyat will welcome positive contributions by all.

For the moment, just remain calm and not be distracted in this period of uncertainty, the leaders in PKR are meeting tonight, give them the chance to sort the issues raised. I am sure the wisdom of the leadership will prevail and KeADILan and PAKATAN will emerge from all this stronger, wiser and more determined to counter the BN strategists (very disunited themselves at the moment)

Aloysius Francis Pinto
Political Secretary to
YB R Sivarasa, MP for SUBANG
&
National Vice President
Parti KeADILan Rakyat

what the hell is going on?

It has been a while since I wrote my last post, and the reason was simply that NOTHING HAS BEEN GOING ON in the political arena. All the hot air over Sept 16 has dissipated into cynical sniggers. Petrol prices are down to normal again. The Altantuya saga is in-between seasons. The ISA and protests against it predictably continue with the cops doing their predictable job.

So, nothing much to report here, sir …

Until …

The Star has been splashing across their front page almost daily that Pakatan is in deep trouble. Indians in Pakatan led by one Kapar MP Manicavasagam are doing a Hindraf, if you believe all that you read there.

PAS are huffing their hudud hullabaloo once again in the run-up to the Terengganu by election [where they will be the  Opposition's stars of the show].

What the hell is going on?

I just wrote the to my KeADILan Power e-group, in hope that at least one of the MPs, ADUNs or their political secretaries would furnish some much needed answers:

___________________

I am hoping for a clarification from someone in PKR/Pakatan -
Do tell – because people [outside this e-group] are asking me what the hell is going on?
 
1. What the hell is going on with this current ”Indian dilemma”? What’s the story behind the alleged disgruntlement of Indians in Pakatan led by this Manickavasagam?
 
SIVARASA RASIAH [or at least his political secretary] – where the hell are you when we need answers?
 
2. What the hell is going on with PAS and their persistent claim that THEY would bulldoze hudud if WE come into power?
 
WE bloody hell put them where they are NOT because we LIKE them, we just hated BN. Now they’re telling us WE gave them the mandate for them to run riot with their hudud law? What bloody arrogance – they must be resisted in equal measure – kick them out of Pakatan I say!!
 
What the hell has ANWAR to say about all this?
BADAWI used to maintain a so-called “elegant silence” whenever shits hit the fan; I honestly do not think ANWAR is of the same ilk, so why the hell is he also silent?
 
I am still holding fast to his words he went on record as saying in an interview with CANews magazine in 2004 [I still have the recording], when he said, the Islamic State was only applicable “in classical times”, but in this day and age, “I am tied to the Constitutional framework.”
 
Who the hell in Pakatan/PKR can shed some light on the above 2 questions, so that we can carry some message to the people whom we come into contact with in order to explain and clarify what the hell is going on???
 
Hell-y new year to you all!
__________________________________________________________________________

Almost immediately, the e-group received a reply from MP Tian Chua:

Dear friends,

First of all, there is no “Indian” issue. Manikavasagam has never claimed to lead Indian disgruntlement. He raised the issue of Klang Bus Station.

There was an disagreement between Manikasagam and Charles Santiago on one side and Teng Chang Kim on the other. The STAR exploited it to blow everything out of proportion.

In democracy, and a party that grew out of people’s struggle, disagreement and argument are common phenomenon. The party does not have an authoritarian centralist power structure like Umno.

However over time, settlement of disputes in a civil way need to be developed.
I believe that we are evolving towards that. We need not be too uptight with internal debates.

Anwar and Siva are both overseas. Dr Syed Husin Ali as Deputy President is handling this. We have full confidence that he is capable to resolving the problem.

We are a NEW party, not replica of Umno. No need for Anwar to deal with everything.

All wakil rakyat should also learn how to handle discussion in a mature way. All of parties involved must deal with the issue themselves, we should not rely on ‘authoritarian’ figure to mediate.

In this case, if they cannot handle well, they should pay a price and get punished by voters.

PKR is a collective of people, not Anwar. Anwar should not be dragged into every single conflict of the party. From these conflicts and disagreement, we build mechanism for conflict-resolution and problem solving. Then party will grow and mature.

Tian Chua

________________________________________________________________________________

Thanks Tian. As you say, “if they cannot handle well, they should pay a price and get punished by voters”

I say, if PAS continues to push for their Syariah, Hudud and Islamic State, they should pay the price and get punished by voters!

Also, since Syed Husin in manning the wheel, I believe he should come out with an official press statement, at least on the Manicavasagam issue.

 And even if you say “No need for Anwar to deal with everything,” – he MUST come out and lay out his stand once and for all regarding the forming of an Islamic State should Pakatan gain power.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

In the meantime, Lord Najib is definitely watching the all fun, rubbing his hands in glee and counting down the days when he rises to take over on March 9 2009 …

Watch this space …

Let’s admire and emulate the Thais

Thai Protests End After Court Ousts Govt

Pawaaa to da peepaal!!

Thai anti-government activists on Tuesday agreed to end protests that have paralysed Bangkok’s airports, after a court stripped Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat of his post and outlawed the ruling party.

The royalist People’s Alliance for Democracy movement said it would lift its siege of the airports, and halt a 192-day campaign that has seen off two prime ministers allied to exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

 The crippling airport blockade left 350,000 passengers stranded in the self-styled “Land of Smiles” and caused massive economic losses to the tourism-dependent kingdom.

 ”We have won a victory and achieved our aims,” media mogul and PAD founder Sondhi Limthongkul said, reading a statement to reporters. “All protests will stop as of December 3 at 10:00 am (0300 GMT).”

 But he warned that the movement would “take to streets if people from the Thaksin regime return.”

 **read the rest of the story here:

http://news.my.msn.com/topstories/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1817130

The Thai experience is something we should admire and emulate. Alas, we Malaysians are too complacent, conscientious and cowed. 

 ”People should not be afraid of their governments; governments should be afraid of their people.” – V