Nomination: Jan 6, Election: Jan 17

P36 KUALA TERENGGANU

The election commission announced Kuala Terengganu by-election held on Jan 17 (Saturday) while the nomination day would be on Jan 1 (Tuesday). This undoubtedly will become another great contest election in the Malaysia’s politics history. The moment will soon change the politics agenda of our country once again, more like a new revolution in the political agendas in our country. Kuala Terengganu constituency 80 299 registered voters. This is the second election after March 8 General Election.

Today, the Election Commission announce the date of a by-election in Terengganu, which was called after Umno MP Datuk Razali Ismail died last Friday The polls will be seen as a bellwether of the Malay heartland vote. The Kuala Terengganu constituency is 88.2 % Malay, with nearly 11 % Chinese. Indians 0.6 % of the electorate, and other races such as the Orang Asli are the remaining.

This by-election will reflect the believes of Malay voters towards the party politics whether BN or PR. Hope clean tactics used by the party politics that contesting in the election in order to respect people's rights to vote and protect the democracy system in Malaysia.

Joke From Kuala Terrengganu For You!

MAIMUN BINTI YUSUF

At 89, Maimun Yusuf was Malaysia's oldest candidate in the March 8 General Election. I heard that she is considering to stand for the by election that will be held in near time after the death of Kuala Terengganu Member of Parliament Razali Ismail.

Maimun contested in the strong constituency which is witnessing a three cornered race. She has spent around RM30 000 of her savings on the deposit and posters. The 89-year old independent candidate in Kuala Terengganu stood against bigwigs Dato Razali Ismail of UMNO and Mohamad Sabu of PAS.

She secured enough votes to deny Mat Sabu the victory in the area;helped BN to win the constituency for the second consecutive times. And she may caused BN lost. We don't know actualy where the votes came from. Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Razali Ismail who polled 32,562 votes won the seat with a 628-vote majority, beating Maimun and Mat Sabu who garnered 31,934 votes. In order not to lose a deposit, a candidate must obtain 1/8 of the total votes cast. So its clear that Maimun lost her deposit too.

685 votes out of more than 60 000 votes was not an achievement. The votes that she obtained only from the sympathy of the local residents, not because she fit to represent them in the parliament. I don't think she will win the one of the biggest constituency in the nation with sympathy votes. Do you think? Even if she win in the Kuala Terengganu, she not able to stand firm against the BN and opposition MPs in parliament to deliver her opinions and speeches. Hahahaha... Even young MPs are having troubles to deal with the issues around, and she is going to settle it?

I think in her old age, she should stay at home and take care of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren rather than stressing herself and the contesting candidates too. Nothing much she can contribute to Kuala Terengganu constituency specifically and the people of Malaysia generally. I hope she is not out once again to make everybody laugh!

MAIMUN'S ELECTION POSTER

She is Telling What I Feel As a True Bangsa Malaysia

She is a true Bangsa Malaysia, my heart sincerely touched with her speech in parliament. I'm glad that our parliament has such politician to deliver a quality speech for minority rights. Minorities in Malaysia especially Chinese and Indian always labeled as Bukan Bumirutera despite they born here, grown up here, contributed for this nation in every aspect of development. What is Ketuanan Melayu actualy is? I admit that it's only for Yang Dipertuan Agong as a leader of nation, but what's happening now? The politician using it for personal agenda. I feel discriminated and intimidated by the word. Why I can't question for my rights in Malaysia? What's wrong? Each time when I eager to voice out my opinion, I worried about the feedback from my Malays friends, fears haunting me from time to time.

Watch this video:

Seal The Tamil Schools (Vernacular Schools) With Conditions (Part Two)

Before I start writing on this issue again, I know that there will be a group of people to attack my view. I welcome them to discuss but no personal attacks please. Let us make a healthy discussion in order to exchange our view to create a better Malaysia. In my first part of this post, I have only written about the significant obstacle to form the one education system is the different dialects of Malaysians. If the demand of vernaculars fulfilled, then the forming of one national school will be easier. So, make the Tamil and Mandarin as compulsory subject to Indian and Chinese students. Read my first part- Seal The Tamil Schools With A Condition (Part One)

I become more interested to write about second part of this issue after Jerlun MP Mukriz released statement that the vernacular schools must be closed down. (malaysiakini) He was of the opinion that the disunity in the community arose from the different education system and proposed that a single education system is implemented to foster greater unity. I’m glad to hear that young leader like Mukhriz has such a good thought. Yes, he is true at this point.

Mukriz’s suggestion to close down vernacular schools is only welcomed by some Malaysian. It’s because most of the Malaysian fearing that their identity and dialect may lost due to the one education system. Before that, there are few things to emphasis on and needed to reform before new education system introduced.

Please allay the fear on Malays by removing ketuanan melayu ideology. It can be done by restructuring the syllabus stated that everyone has equal rights in Malaysia. Eradicate the policies in schools that only favour to one group students. Mara should open to all Malaysian regardless of race and religion. The universities and government job intakes must be given on merit not by quota system or based on the race or religion.

Some parents are worrying that their children will be a victim of racial abuse in national schools. This excuse are acceptable, there are numerous cases that highlighting our local dailies that shows the teachers misbehave to the non-Malays students. In such cases, the teacher that inciting racial sentiments in class should be suspended; education ministry must take firm action on these teachers.

Muslim students in primary and secondary schools attend compulsory Islamic-studies classes several times a week, while non-Muslim students are divided out to study secular-based morals. As results, non-Muslim student never get the opportunity to increase their awareness in their own religion. Let the students from various religions and believes attend their own religious classes.

The role of vernacular schools are undeniable, however the schools are not relevant for current and future Malaysia. As we know the gaps between races are far more worrying. We must bring one system which only with national schools. This will make our education system become competent. All races combined in National schools striving towards one direction and vision with unity guaranteed.

Yes, it's a great effort to unite all Malaysian under one education system. This system even supported by Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, few other NGO leaders and politicians. We Malaysian should think rationally and look the reformation in positive factors. It’s doesn’t matter if the suggestions comes from UMNO, MCA, PAS, PKR, DAP or others, as long as it bring unity among the peoples of Malaysia and generate a competent education system.

Any Malaysian Linked to Mumbai Attacks?

Former CNN reporter, Maria Ressa, has quoted unnamed Indian intelligence sources as saying that one of the gunmen, now under police custody, has said that the terrorists pretended to be students, stayed in Mumbai apartments and allegedly carried Malaysian identity cards. They were also believed to be linked to Al-Qaeda. The Times of India reported that the terrorists posed as Malaysian students.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar explained that there are no Malaysian linked to Mumbai attacks. Malaysian IC found in Mumbai, the card could belong to a Malaysian tourist as a number were staying at the hotels affected. But we sure don't want to hear another Malaysian appear as world terrorist such as Azahari Husin (2002 Bali Bombing) and Noordin Mohammed Top ( 2002 Bali bombing, the 2003 JW Marriott hotel bombing in Jakarta, the 2004 Jakarta embassy bombing and the 2005 Bali bombing).

If yes not any Malaysian involved, so why the terrorist using the Malaysian travel document? Malaysia was before linked to few terrorist organization for example, al Ma'unah, al Qa'eda and Jemaah Islamiah. So no doubt if any Malaysian involved in the attacks. May be the travel document found in Mumbai is a single mention but certainly it is a serious allegation indeed. Malaysia should give full cooperation to Interpol in order to prove that its a false allegation.

Malaysia Struggling With Financial Crisis

At least 18,000 Malaysian factory workers have been retrenched this year. Malaysian those working in factories around nation making up more than 20% while foreigners from Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, Philippines and few others are the rest which is almost 80% of total workers.

The retrenchment of workers is due to the shutdown of factories, restructuring of production line, trimming workforce, reducing operational cost and so on. It's no doubt that Malaysia facing tremendous economic crisis due to this retrenchment. Some of our ministers and economic experts including governor of Bank Negara Zetty Aziz are claiming that Malaysia is not facing economic crisis, and we are save from the next years crisis that predicted by world analyst to be a disaster.

Zeti Akhtar Aziz: “We have no large-scale retrenchments. We are creating jobs. We are in an economy where there is no asset burst."- malaysiakini Nov 28. NST Nov 30 - KUALA LUMPUR: At least 18,000 Malaysian factory workers have been retrenched this year. Just compare both, his statement and the news released in the New straits times. Can you see that some Malaysian can't accept the reality that we are financial crisis. They are try to cover up the issue so that there will be no pressure on them to face the issue.

As a true Malaysian, I hope government take effective measures to fight the financial crisis that we are facing today. It will be more worst situation in the coming year if we keep on relax and satisfied on what we have now. Even the American leaders are worried about world, but Malaysian leaders able say that 'everything is fine in Malaysia'.