New Year message

New Year message
From the desk of the DAP Sarawak publicity secretary

A Year of upheaval
· 2007 has been an eventful year, in the domestic front, floods, dreadful crimes, high-profile court cases, Judicial and Administrative scandals, street rallies and the use of ISA thereof just to name a few.
· The world continued to face a daunting array of challenges, from the assassination of the opposition leader, Madam Benazir Bhutto, of the nuclear-armed Pakistan to the political instability in Thailand and to growing racial and religious tensions in many countries.
· One major hot spot was the Middle East. The war in Iraq and the instability in the mid-east had pushed the oil prices to an all time high hovering around USD95 per barrel. This has caused a vicious inflation spiral that affects the whole world. Malaysia, been a net petroleum exporter, has threatened to take away its domestic fuels subsidiary in the wake of pressure of the world oil prices.

Growing our Economy
· The economic outlook is negative. Malaysia on its eleventh (11)straight year of budget deficit will be hard hit to bring orders to its economy policies. Globally, there are some downside risks, including a slowing US economy, weaker global electronics demand, and high oil prices. In Asia, China and India will remain powerful growth engines.
· Good economic performance can only be sustained with constant effort, change and innovation. We need to transform the economy to compete on the basis of knowledge and ideas. Malaysia over dependent on the oil revenue (40% of government incomes) would create fear and uncertainty as where the country is heading with the depleting oil and gas reserves. The World is Flat as envisioned by Friedman is a must read for all politicians especially the ruling elites.
· To create more opportunities for Malaysia, we must change our mindset in the country’s administration. Malaysian should not be divided along ethnic and cultural backgrounds, there should not have any policy to elevate a particular ethnic group only and ignore the other ethnic groups in the country.
· At the same time, we must look further afield for global opportunities. One major advantage we enjoy is the multiracial population which has become an important asset in the Era of Globalization.
· More Malaysian is venturing abroad, not just to the major cities, but also to less familiar destinations. This trend is on the upswing due also to the lack of opportunities to compete on equal footing in the country and the much governmental interference on economic activities.
· Over dependent on the oil revenue, making up 40% of the government incomes, is a threat not only to the country but especially to the people as how the economy is going to cope when the oils and gas reserve run dry.

Preparing for the Future
· Overall, Malaysia is still in a strong position. But we must accept chances and be prepared for global competition. We must capitalise on the strength of our multiculturalism asset in the country, especially in capitalising on the emergence of China and India, and open up a decisive lead over competitors.
· We will strengthen our competitiveness in attracting direct foreign investments (FDI) by doing away the 30% Bumi-equity (NEP),such as those implemented in The Iskandar Development Zone. The government should think Malaysian First Policy instead of the Bumiputra Agendas as being promoted by the NEP.
· We must invest in the best education for all our children regardless of their backgrounds, improve our infrastructure and our city, and grow our capabilities, including through R&D.
· We must consolidate our social cohesion at a time when incomes are stretching thin. Globalisation has created prosperity worldwide, but it has also put more pressure on workers, especially those uneducated, in many countries. They must now compete against millions more from China, India and Vietnam entering the world economy and not only against fellow Malaysians. As a result, workers are receiving less than their fair share of the increase in their countries’ national output.

Conclusion, the next 50 years
· All the developments we enjoy today came from the hard work of all Malaysian. Fifty (50) years after Merdeka, all fellow Malaysians should be able to accept the need of a colour-free, religious-free and cultural-free country without any discrimination of any Malaysian in his/her pursue of a happy and prosperous life. Thus the abolition of all the policies that were carried forward in line with the NEP in term of allocation of resources, granting of government contracts, quota systems in the educational and recruitment policies.
· We need policies that will unite all Malaysian regardless of their ethnic and cultural backgrounds, reemphasize on the nation-building spirits, tackle corruptions, practising meritocracy in all spheres of the governance, enhance our competitiveness, our social safety net and strengthen our cohesion. They will enable us to grow and prosper, and to improve the lives of all Malaysian for many more years to come.
· The government must be able to accept criticisms and be able to abolish the infamous Acts such as the internal Security Act 1960 (ISA), the Printing Presses and Publications Act, the Official Secrets Act 1972(OSA) and the Press Publication and Printing Act 1984(P&PA). It should address the issues on hands by inviting dialogues and discussion with all the dissent groups instead. Repression would only lead to unrest such as the Pakistan experience.
· The Malaysian government must return the Independence of the Judicial to the people and what else better than to give a thorough investigation of the Lingkam Tape scandal and report the outcomes to the Parliament and publish them in the press without any “reservation”?
· The Election Commission must be revamped to conduct clean and fair elections in the future as the Malaysia’s parliamentary elections are characterised by vote buying, the use of public resources by the ruling parties, and gerrymandering. The Election Commission has also been accused of bias and no help from the present Chairman of the Commission either.
· The Malaysians must demand that the country shall continue to pursue the rule of laws and democracy least that we shall follow the path of Pakistan in the future. Every Malaysian must come out to cast their vote in the coming election to “grade” the BN government’s policies, just as what Tun Mahatir said on the 22nd December 2007 "If you don't like the ISA, you have to elect people who don't like the ISA.”

Indeed what better advise can we give than “vote for changes” in the coming election?

David Wong
30-12-2007

NEP, the root of all evils?

36 years after the implementation of the NEP, the non-bumi of Malaysia are fighting back to assert claims over their rights and equal opportunity. The Hindraf which is a power group of the Indian community has brought the issue on the open with demands and allegations that shock the Abdullah administration.

Indian wants a quota system as well
The Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) wants a quota to be created for Indians in the public service. This is equbilium to the NEP for the bumiputras, which is simply out of date and outlives its usefulness. Next would come the demand by the Chinese, the Kayans, the Dayaks, the Penans and the list goes on and on...

“The Indian community has lost hope and confidence as far as the public service is concerned. This has brought about a serious decline in the community applying for government jobs,” Miba president P Sivakumar told Malaysiakini.

However, the Public Works Department (PSD) director-general Ismail Adam said earlier this week that non-Malays are not interested in government jobs. This can not be the case as the quota system implemented by the NEP has caused much dissatisfaction and mistrust among the non-bumi and thus a serious decline in the application for the government posts.

Bumi made up for more than 86% of the 1.2 million strong civil servants
Today, only less than 3% of the civil servants are of the Indian ethnic group while the Malaysian Chinese comprise less than 2% of the approximately 1.2 million strong civil servants. The Indian and the Chinese made up for 8% and 25% of the Malaysian population. These two largest ethnic groups after the Malays are disgruntled about the domination of the Malays not only in politics, but also in the economic and educational fields.

Rising tension among different ethnic groups
The rising tension among the different ethnic groups has been on the rise since the 90s and the recent outburst of the Hindraff movement is seen as the torch that sets the dried wood burning. The UMNO as the backbone of the BN must address the issue and not use its political muscles to sweep the issue under the carpet.

The Crown Prince of Perak has earlier spoken out the need to allow the people to voice their unhappiness and discontent. This is a call that the PM must listen and heed to as he has vowed to be the PM for all, and not for the Malays only.

Set up a Malaysian First policy(MFP) to replace the NEP
The BN must abolish the infamous NEP and put in place an economy and education policies based on needs and merits instead of on ethnic and religious lines. As long as the NEP is still in place, there will be no equality and justice for all, period.

Remember the call by the MM of Singapore? That is Malaysia must give equal opportunity to all Malaysian regardless of their racial and cultural backgrounds if it wishes to progress and surpass the achievement of the City-State. And there is no place for the NEP in that formula!

David Wong
DAP publicity sec.,
27-12-2007

Latest Update! Three dead, one missing in Kapit landslide!

LATEST UPDATE AT 7:00 PM, 26th December 2007
LANDSLIDE IN KAPIT CLAIMED 3 LIVES AND ANOTHER ONE MISSING.

RELIABLE SOURCE TOLD THE UNDERSIGNED THAT THE YOUNGEST ONE, AGED 12, IS STILL MISSING, BUT THE ODDS IS AGAINST HIM.

THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AT A SQUATTER AREA NEAR KAPIT TOWN. THE YOUNG BOY (STILL MISSING) WAS REPORTED TO BE VISITING THE GRANDMA FOR THE Xmas AND WAS SUPPOSED TO RETURN HOME TODAY.

There are many such squatter areas (without planning approval) in Kapit where the authorities found them prone to such disaster, the landslide, following years of logging activities. However, a local council employee who refuses to be named, told the undersigned that resettlement is the only choice left for many such squatter areas but resettlement would have political consequences because some of these people have live there for more than 20 years.

Years of deforestation has taken a heavy toll on the natural environment of Sarawak and landslides have become more frequent because of the over-felling of the primary forest in the upper Rejang river basin. Erosion along the upper Rejang banks due to these timber-felling activities has turned the Longest river in Malaysia into a muddy and sick river, just like the Yellow river (Huan He) in China.

The erosion over the years has caused heavy siltation to the Rejang river in Sibu and other coastal towns along the river's banks. as per my earlier posting http://davidwongsblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/one-and-half-inches-in-3-days-imagine.html

and

http://davidwongsblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/our-proof-rejang-river-and-sibus-flood.html

The state government had over the past decades given out timber concession licences to many timber giants who are closely linked to the BN's based politicians and political parties without due regards for the natural environmental and the natural habitat that were affected by the over-felling of the trees. Now the people are left on their own to live with what the BN's politicians called "natural disaster" that strikes ever so often.

David Wong
Boxing Day, 2007

p.s. The youngest victim is a relative of mine, a nephew in fact. Let us pray for a miracle, a miracle that Xmas might bring!

Season's greetings!

With quotations like the followings, what else is there left for me to say except to wish each and everyone

"Merry Xmas
&
Happy New Year!"

David Wong and family
Eve of Xmas 2007

W. J. Tucker, Pulpit Preaching
For centuries men have kept an appointment with Christmas. Christmas means fellowship, feasting, giving and receiving, a time of good cheer, home.

Hamilton Wright Mabie
Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.

Dale Evans
Christmas, my child, is love in action.

Matthew 1:21
And she will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.

One and half inches in 3 days! Imagine what 30 years have done to the Rejang river!

Photo (Jalan Khoo Peng Loong)shows the mud measuring some 1 1/2" left behind after 3 days of flood, imagine 30 years of siltation caused to Rejang river bed ! The Rejang river bed has never

Fong Pau Teck and the undersigned inspecting the left behind mud after the flood.

迄今未見治水大藍圖黃培根：很遺憾08:08:49 MYT
（詩巫18日訊）行動黨砂聯委會宣傳秘書黃培根指出，在這次水災中，數千間屋子被水入侵，車輛遇水損壞，人民損失約几百萬至1千萬。但是國陣政府仍讓水災的悲劇一次又一次重复。“2004年的水災過后，詩巫市議會損失了1千萬，不知在此次的水災中，又得面對多大的損失。”

黃培根是今早在新聞發佈會上，如此表示。他說，詩巫水患問題已困擾了人民10年之久，若是詩巫國陣發展宏願隊伍仍以同樣心態去面對水患，那10年后水患問題仍會存在，政治人物仍在原地演戲。

“詩巫治水問題已經講了超過10年，特別是在水災之后及選舉之際。國陣政府或詩巫國陣發展宏願隊伍在選舉的時候，都會邀請一些專家來詩巫談治水，在報章大做文章，指詩巫治水方案已出爐，派希望予人民。”

黃培根指出，2004年3月16日丹斯里陳康南表示中國專家來晉巫治水；拿督斯里黃順舸在2005年5月時透露已聘請專家來詩巫治水。另外他也在3月18日指行動黨藉漲水課題來撈選票。“我遺憾的是在2007年12月的現在，詩巫國陣發展宏願隊伍仍沒有把真正的治水藍圖展現在人民眼前。我也沒有看到被邀請來詩巫治水的中國專家及台灣逢甲大學教授的治水大藍圖。”

黄培根：10年治水 水患问题悬而未决
（本报诗巫18日讯）行动党砂州宣传秘书黄培根说，宏愿队伍的治水问题已经讲了超过10年，但是往往只是在水灾过后，朝野政党各说各话，没有结果。
“特别是在选举来临的时候，国阵宏愿队邀请专家前来诗巫，大作文章，给人民一种希望，认为诗巫的治水方案已经出炉了。”

他透露，在2005年，黄顺舸在报章上说“聘请专家治拉让江水”；在2004年3月16日国会选举前3天，陈康南说3个月里研究结果，中国专家晋巫治水；2005年5月，黄顺舸说考虑接纳中国专家建议；2004年3月17日，黄顺舸指责行动党制造课题，趁机捞取选票。

“黄顺舸指责我们利用涨水来捞取选票，行动党是在捞取选票吗？2007年12月的今天，国阵宏愿队还没有推出治水大蓝图。”
治水大蓝图

他说，以前中国专家前来砂州，没有看到治水大蓝图，台湾逢甲大学教授也被宏愿队邀请过来，大蓝图也没有看到，如果宏愿队还是以这种心态来做事，10后还只是做戏而已。

“在这次水灾中，受影响的人民有多少？私人界损失至少有千万令吉，在2004年大水，市议会曾宣布说花了千万来维修道路，这次私人界的损失加上市议会的耗费，诗巫的损失至少超过2000万，有几千间的房屋受影响。”

【砂州水灾报导】拉让江河床淤泥沉积严重性，黄培根码头测量积路上泥浆深度
　　（诗巫18日讯）为了证明拉让江河床淤泥沉积的严重性，民主行动党砂州宣传秘书黄培根在诗巫大水消退后，到邱炳农路码头测量沉积在路面上泥浆的深度，竟然深达1寸半，因此拉让江河道狭窄且浅是无庸置疑的事实。
　　今天上午在新闻会上，黄培根表示，民主行动党领袖在2005年也曾经到拉让江测量江中的水位，结果水深7尺，也足见河床淤泥的沉积有多严重。
　　黄培根指出，不只是民主行动党领袖知道拉让江河床浅，全诗巫的人民在这次大水来袭，也看到了造成诗巫水灾的祸首，即使是国阵宏愿发展队伍，也明白这个事实，为什么政府却看不到问题的症结所在？
　　他认为，拉让江的淤泥沉积问题不能再等了，当务之急是要挖深河床，这也是解决诗巫发生大水的方案；同时也将开采泥沙的执照开放，不要再被垄断。
　　此外，在拉让江岸边经过长年累月的累积下，也形成了沙丘。
　　黄培根说，诗巫的治水计划已经讲了10年，也曾经邀请外国专家展开研究及作出报告，惟人民却没有看到真正的治水方案落实，如果政治人物持续以这种“做戏”的态度，即使再等10年，诗巫水灾问题还是继续存在。
　　“每一次的大水所造成的财物损失是几百万到千万令吉计算，在2004年的大水中，财物损失估计千万令吉，这次大水，有上千的房屋进水，车辆抛锚，道路损坏。”他补充。

Our proof! Rejang river and Sibu's flood

The photos shown here were taken in 2005 when DAP leaders took a tour of the Rejang river to prove to the government that the siltation of the river is the main cause of the serious flood in Sibu.

The photo shows the depth of the Rejang river, a mere 7 feet deep at the center of the river. The bamboo stick in Wong Ho Leng's hand is proof of the discovery. The DAP chartered a boat in 2005 to prove to the government that the siltation of the Rejang river has caused the river banks to be over-flown so easily and frequently. The situation is getting worst by the year and yet the government is not doing anything about it.

The land in the photo should not be there at all, it was built up by the sand and the siltation caused by erosion and neglect by the authorities. Imagine the effect on the water-flow and the volume it takes away from the Rejang river. This is disastrous!

Behind me is the massive sand bank built-up a few hundred feet from the original river bank. We can see trees and other vegetation on the sand built-up area as well, this will transformed into part of the river bank replacing what is supposed to be part of the river.

Years of neglects and erosion brought by the over deforestation in the up-stream of Rejang river has brought disaster to the river. The people of Sibu are paying for the environmental destruction caused by the government's policies and a few timber conglomerates. The original river bank is almost a kilometer from the presence one.

The photo here shows the sand dunes built-up by the Rejang river's bank because of siltation.The sand dunes the actual river bank, it became part of the land instead of the river!

Are the photos sufficient proof?

Anyone looking at these photos would see for themselves the reason why Sibu is so easily flooded and why the situation is getting worse in the past 7 years. We have published these photos in the press in 2005 and i am sure the SUPP leaders in Sibu know about these, then why the hell they did not act?

Indeed, why didn't they act?

The SUPP simply does not have the political will to stand up for the people of Sibu. We all know that there is a company who obtained the monopoly license to collect royalty from those who excavate sand along the Rejang river here.

I have personally request the SUPP leaders to declare the persons behind the company and why its interest is over-and-above all the 220,000 peoples' in Sibu. But the SUPP leaders did not dare to declare the facts to the people and kept on misleading the people that they are taking steps to mitigate the flood in Sibu.

Where were the expects' reports

The Wawasan team had earlier paid expects from China and Taiwan to come up with a master blueprint of the flood mitigation plan for Sibu. Years had passed without any concrete effort and we have yet seen them published the blue print at all. One professor from Taiwan was reported paid no less than half a million ringgit for her consultation work!

Where is the road ahead for Sibu?

In deep and trouble water, my fellow brothers and sisters!

David Wong

DAP publicity sec.,

16-12-2007

The evacuation by the DAP

Sibu has been submerged under water for the past 2 days and the situation is not getting any better in the next day or so. The pictures above were the perfect reflection of the seriousness of the flood and the efficiency of the authorities especially the agency in-charged of the flood's rescue and relieve team.

Yesterday, when more than 1/2 of the Sibu township was submerged under water, the whole Special Relieve Center ( set up by the government and among them were the Resident of Sibu, the Adun for Dudong, the Adun of Parlawan, the deputy chairman of the SMC) was still having their meeting in Wisma Sayang by 11:30 am!How did i knew about this? We were at the Rejang Medical Centre when we saw a SMC's truck dropped by with a patient on board and was told by the truck driver that they were sent there as the Special Relieve team was still having the meeting at that time. A few staffs of the Rejang Medical center also overheard our conversation. That was the most unprofessional and unaccepted standard we would expect from the agancy in-charged of the rescue operation as they should operate immediatelywithout having to wait for meeting or discussion by the members, it should work like the Bomba who reacts immediately with a phone call.

Today, when i tried to contact the Special Relieve Center today, there were much difficulties and even when the phone got through, i could not find the person in-charge. It seems that the center is not an emergency relieve center but just a normal government office. There was only a single line phone with the operator who spoke Bahasa Melayu only.

The same thing also happened to the old woman's family when they tried to request assistance to evacuate her from their single-story residence at lane 8, Jalan Tekam. As the water started to pour in last night(12/12) at about 10pm, the family members called 999 for assistance, the call for help was not answered.

Today (13/12)at 11:30pm, the family called the Special Relieve Center to help to evacuate the old lady. They waited until 2:30pm but no help came to them, so they called again and was told that the help would be there within half an hour, i.e at 3:00pm. But what happened? Was it an empty promise or simply a cruel joke?

Fate interfered,luckily for them and the Special Relieve Center, the team of DAP went to the site this afternoon for our rounds, the team headed by the undersigned included Fong Poh Teck(DAP Miri Chairman) , my own wife and wong Leong Kok and another supporter. We were approached by the granddaughter of the old lady who shouted "Help us!" Upon inquiry, we immediately took up the responsibility to evacuate the old lady who suffers mild stroke yaers ago. Luckily everything went smoothly and the whole operation ended in 15-20 minutes.

I must express my thanks to one of the residences of Jalan Tekam who offered us the sampan(small boat) in the first place without which we would not be able to evacuate the old lady immediately and that could brought much anxiety for our team and the family members of the old lady.

The Bar Council sets a new sub-standard!

The Bar Council has called off its annual human rights day march on Sunday, ostensibly due to pressure from the authorities to obtain a police permit and it being branded as an ‘anti-government’ rally although it will proceed with other festivities.Its chairperson in a press statement said the council’s decision was made after “anxious consideration to the present circumstances that surround the event, particularly the interests of the public and the Malaysian Bar".

The decision of the Bar Council to call off the march is most regrettable since this is an annual event of the Bar Council. The decision is a surely not in the interest of the human rights in the country and against the basic right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (on December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ).

Article 20 (1) Everyone has the right to the freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
and
Article 30 Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

Malaysian being a member state should be reminded that it has to act according to the Declaration. The Bar Council should know what the Declaration means and it is its obligation and responsibility to remind the BN government of the consequence of non-compliance. Instead of giving in to the pressure of the BN government like calling off the annual human day march, it should go ahead with it with or without the police permit.

The Malaysian public have look upon the Bar Council as the "symbol of justice" and there is a high calling for the Bar Council to keep the spirit of "freedom and justice" alive under any circumstance. As the officers of the Courts of Malaysia, the members of the Bar Council should be "fearless" in discharging its duty to safeguard the fundamental rights of the people and not to treat the profession as a money-spinning machine.

To say that i am disappointed by the Bar Council decision to call off the March is an under statement as the decision has a prolong effect on the country's democracy and set a new sub-standard for the human rights in this country.

David Wong
Dap sarawak publicity sec.
05-12-2007

Sue the Brition!

I fully support the right group, Hindraf, for bringing the class action lawsuit against the Great Britain for exploiting the Indian community and left them behind without giving them a thought when they granted independence to the Malays Federation.

History is behind the claim by Hindraf and the British brought with them Hindu migrants to work in the plantations of the British Malaya. This hardworking ethnic group was exploited and treated inhumanly by their colonial masters for more than 100 years but were left behind when the Britain surrendered the country to the locals.

The Great Britain as it was formerly called must be responsible for the state of the Indian community in Malaysia and it selfishly left them behind without consider the community's well being as a minority in term of ethical and religious backgrounds.

The Reid Commission forgot its very duty to safeguard the interests of the minorities in Malaysia by allowing the Malays majority has almost all its say about how the Malaysian Constitution ought to be drafted. There wasn't true representation by the minorities in the Commission and as such the British government must be held accountable for any defects and omission that gave rise to the marginalization and discrimination of the minorities in Malaysia.

What the Indian community demanded was what the British omitted and in the Common Law, there lies the tort for want of care of duty and the resulting breach of that duty. There shall be no defence such as the policy consideration or "floodgate" consideration. What ought to be "fair, just and reasonableness" is what the British omitted and it has to be "righted" by the represent British government.

Although the Malaysia is not in the European Community, the Britain got to realise that its law has to give effect to the Community's human rights chapter such as right to life and right not to be inhumanly treated and right not be discriminated etc.

According to Malaysiakini, the Hindraf wishes to send a petition to Queen Elizabeth II. The planned protest is to support a US$4-trillion (RM14-trillion) lawsuit by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) against Malaysia's former colonial power for bringing Indians to Malaysia as indentured labourers and exploiting them for 150 years. Furthermore, the suit sought a declaration that the Reid Commission Report 1957 failed to incorporate the rights of the Indian community when independence was granted, resulting in discrimination and marginalisation to this day. For the grivances of the Indian community, pls refer to one of my earlier postings on The Deepavali Gift was at http://davidwongsblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysia-truely-land-of-malays.html

I would support the lawsuit of the Hindraf as a fellow Malaysian and a fellow human being, what is right ought to be "righted"! History should not be left where it was or else it would only be good for the silver screens of the Holi-Boly-woodlands, wouldn't it?

David Wong
DAP Sarawak publicity sec.,
24-11-2007

The Jalan DAP in Sibu?

The sign on the left would be the road sign of "Jalan DAP" in Sibu if the BN so permits.

Shortly from now, there will be a road named after DAP in Sibu. Can't believe that, can you? But it is true as long as Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh and Datuk Lau Hui Chiew admitted that they are not able and not willing to repair and upgrade Jalan Sui Lai in the west bank of Sibu and agree to the changing of the name to Jalan DAP.

The road captioned is located in Bawan Assam state constituency and Sibu Parliamentary constituency. The YBs of the area are none other than Datuk Seri Wong SK, the cabinet minister of Sarawak and the 3rd terms Adun and Datuk Robert Lau, the 4th term parliamentarian and the deputy minister of Housing and Local Government.

A local resident, Mr. Lee, came to our weekly PC today and told the press that the road in question has never been repaired or upgraded since the 2004 parliamentary election and portholes the size of a truck have caused much hardship to road users and posed dangers to travellers there. The road does not have street lighting or lamp posts.

Mr. Lee told the press that when he met one of the SUPP leaders and requested that the roads be repaired and the reply from him was "this is the Rocket stronghold, there would be no development here!"

I can't imagine what kind of person would gave such a remark but i do know that whatever inside his skull must not be "brain" as the remark not only insult the people living there but the leadership of the SUPP. But i don't blame them as their leaders are not much better and they learnt from their leaders on how to respond to people who are suspected of supporting the Rocket.

By the way, the SUPP leader who answered that was reported to be one Mr. Wong and if memory serves me well, he is the right hand man of WSK and was the seconder for WSK's nomination before. So, i would assume that WSK should know about the whole episode after all.

Anyway, the two SUPP leaders and ministers got to be ashamed of themselves for not even upgrade the infrastructure of the constituency they served for the past decade. But no, they still go on to boost about how much development they have brought to the area and how the people have to be thankful of the BN government for bringing development there.

I do know for sure that WSK campaign did distributed truckload of gravel to all the houses there in the 2001 and 2006 state election and did win the heart and soul of the poor fellow living there. Although we called that "corrupt practise" but the SPR and the ACA would never bother to investigate the BN's candidate, or would they?

Come back to the "Jalan DAP", as long as WSK and RL are willing to admit that they and the BN are not willing and not able to upgrade that road and the government gazetted that the road shall be named as "Jalan DAP", DAP is willing to go on to upgrade the road at our own expense.

Just hope that both the BN YBs can come to their sense that development is the duty and responsibility of the government and the money does not come out from their own pockets. As politicians, they must have the basic knowledge how a democratic society functions and who are the real boss. If not, then they shall retire from their offices immediately.

So, should there be a Jalan DAP? Let the BN decides.

David Wong

DAP Sarawak publicity sec.,
20-11-2007

The EC is on the leash!

Election Commission (EC) chairperson Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said that he knows when the next general election will be held but he cannot reveal the date.

Commenting on the criticisms levelled at the EC, he said elections in the country were free and fair and transparent, in accordance with existing laws. “We are using the same laws which had been in existence (for a long time) and if certain quarters are not happy with that, they shouldn't blame the EC.

Rashid should know his position and that of the EC before he opens his mouth. By telling the press that he knows when the election date, he was trying to impress the people how close he is with the PM and reveal how powerful he is. In any case, the independence of the EC has been is open to question.

Rashid should answer the allegations of the NGOs and the opposition about the lack of fair and clean election in Malaysia as contains in the Memorandum submitted to the King by Bersih. Rashid got to understand that as the Chairman of the EC, he should address the issues of reform.

I remember i did openly attacked Rashid in the press for his political remarks about "the success of the BN". He has overstepped his boundary by going to the press lobbying for the BN's system. He did it again this time by telling the press that he did know about the election date as if he is the instrument of the BN.

To say that the EC is on the leash of the BN is definitely fitting as long as it Chairman acts like Rashid's and as long as the call for reform was not acknowledged by the EC. The Election Commission has brought shame to the people of the country and the BN has turned the EC into its pet instead of an independent commission as prescribed under our Federal Constitution.

Malaysian must speak, and speak they will in this coming general election!

David Wong
19-11-2007

The Ostriches in Malaysian

The politics of ceremonies
From earth breaking ceremony to project completion ceremony to official opening ceremony and then the first usage ceremony, theses show us how hard working are the BN leaders in Malaysia. It takes 4 ceremonies for a project to be completed. Don't we wonder how much resources and money was spent becuase of these ceremonies with VVIPs such as the PM and he CM gracing the occasions and thousands of civil servants and privetae sectors employees forced to attend the ceremonoies. The reason given for the attendant was to show the VVIPs how important they were and how "popular" they were.

Third world mentality creates third world coutry
The third world mentality of the BN leaders made them think that the development projects were gifts to the people when in actual fact those are the reponsibility of the governmnet of the day as custodian and trustee of the people. But we frequently see BN Logo being displayed prominently on the signboard "another project by the Barisan Nasional." It is a shame to the country that the leaders have no shame and know no integrity.

YBs work for their parties' boss only
Now when we complain that the BN YBs are not working and the delay in completion of the projects, think again! They are working their butts off attending ceremonies because they have to accompany their bosses around and that is the "real" job of the BN YBs, that is to please their political boss of the BN and not the rakyat who elected them.

No transparancy
Now, stop and think about the process of awarding the projects; there are so much bureaucratic red-tapes that it would suffocate most civil servants and professionals in any of the G7 nations. There are government directives (mostly secretive) and policies (such as the quota system under the NEP) matters to consider and then there are the political patronage( muscles from the federal to the state and then the locals) to be contended with.

Open tender is fast becoming the thing of the past
Then there are the so-called closed-tender system whereby the negotiations can take place even after the datelines (many of them). Most of the licencees hold more then 3 Ali-baba licences and submitted them under different company names to block-off others. Sometimes they will form packs so that they can make sure that the projects would be given to them at the "right price'. But these licencees are normally not the one who undertake the project at all and they simply subcontract out the project at 40-50% of the awarded price.

The Auditor-general reports, 2006
The Auditor-general's reports for 2006 speak volume about the corrupt practises of the governmental ministries and we are still waiting for the ACA to act accordingly. But if the recently concluded UMNO general assembly is any indication at all, the government is not serious about declaring war against corruption as the topic escapes the attention of the PM. Even the UMNO's supremo like Tengku Razaleigh commented “he did not say a word on corruption."

All is not well for Malaysia
Malaysia Boleh is a slogan the ruling elites use as the tool to fool the people. And if you ask me "does it work?", the answer is "yes, certainly!" and the fact that the country has been governed and ruled by the BN since Merdeka is proof to my theory. The BN says "everything is fine, tomorrow will be better." But for how long can the country substain under such a mentality of denial and corrupt practises? Your answer is as good as anyone's!

David Wong
DAP Sarawak publicity sec.
14-11-2007

March on,stop the rot!

news

March on, Stop the rot!

To all who participated in the rally organized by the opposition-backed Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih), we should give them the biggest salute for their courage and love for a fair, clean electoral system and judicial system and their desire for true democracy in Malaysia.

Constitutional right denied by the BN government

No power could deter them from taking their constitution right to freedom of speech and expression and the right to assembly peaceably and without arms [Article 10(1)].
Those who condemned the right of others given under the Federal Constitution are coward who are afraid the truth being revealed and heard and these are normally those who are associated with the ruling elites.

The BN's Cowards attacked the opposition and the media
The biggest cowards among them are of course none other than the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz who lashed out at the opposition, calling them among others, “pondan” (wimps) and the information minister Zainuddin Maidin whose ministry will be sending an official warning letter accusing Al Jazeera of being one-sided when reporting the Bersih rally on Nov 10. These two should know their action are bringing shame to the country and tell the world that we are no better than Pakistan and Myamar.

Police under siezed
The use of physical aggression, violence, spraying chemically-laced water and tear gas at a non-provocative crowd unfolded in front of thousands of local and international observers and press. The events led to the revelation of the ugly face of the Malaysian BN government and totally destroyed PM Abdullah’s image as a loving PM who wants to hear the truth. The PM earlier statement to the Malaysian“ work with us, not for us” was also under doubt as the use of force on peace-loving Malaysian surely did not fit into his projected image of a “kind and learned Muslim scholar”.

Long live democracy
However, events from around the world revealed that the Bersih march was supported all around the world with protest at Malaysian embassies in London, Dehli, Bangkok, Manila, Seoul and Jakarta. The protestors also chanted slogans like ‘Hidup Rakyat’ (long live the people), ‘Daulat Tuanku’ (long live the King) and ‘SPR (Election Commission) reform now’.

The Malaysian Bar council

In Malaysia, the crake-down on the peaceful rally was criticized by the Bar Council who reiterates it position that citizens must be allowed the right to peacefully assemble in exercising their democratic and fundamental human right.

Sarawak Bar under attack

However, the Sarawak Bar got to be ashamed of it for not making a clear stand on the Bersih rally event after it had been criticized for not supporting its counterpart in West Malaysia for the “Walk for justice” on September 26th. Not only is the appointment of judges under the watchful eyes of international community but the integrity of the lawyers are open to question.

Democracy is alive

Bersih march is more than electoral reform; it is about the rescue of the democratic institution in the country which has been hijacked and sabotaged by the BN since Merdeka. The 40,000 strong participants have created history with a well-planned and disciplined rally that make the country proud and show the BN and the world the “people power” in Malaysia.

I would like to believe that Malaysian would open their eyes and souls to the rot in Malaysia and pray that they would use their heads to vote for what is right for themselves, their children, their grand-children and the country.

Finally let me share with all my humble presentation at DAP Sarawak’s brainstorming session in Kuching on the November 11th 2007 with the following calling:

Towards the next 50 turbulence years
—-The choice is yours; a stronger opposition for a secured democracy or a stronger BN for a corrupt and authoritarian society.
-The decision is yours; votes DAP for a Malaysian First policy or the BN for a Ketuanan Melayu (Supremacy of the Malays) policy.

-The answer is obvious; it lies in your heart and soul.

David Wong
DAP Sarawak publicity sec.
13-11-2007

Speak through the tongue and think through the penis?

An Umno Youth chief from a division in Selangor, Ismail Ahmad, told opposition parties and their supporters to leave the country if they are not happy.

“These people, they come to a Malay area and they tell me that our country is not doing well and people are still suffering. Well, I’ll tell you, you can apply for citizenship in Singapore,” he said. Ismail, who helms the Youth wing of the Gombak division, was referring to an opposition claim that the economic pie is not shared equitably with all races.

“This is my house and those who do not live in my house have no right to tell me how to decorate it,” he told delegates. "Well, I’ll tell you, you can apply for citizenship in Singapore,” he said.

He then raised the issue of demolition of Hindu temples in Selangor, saying that the issue is “a small matter”. The most recent incident in Kampung Rimba Jaya had triggered outrage among non-muslim Malaysian across the country. Even Uncle Sammy could not put a stop to the demolition of the 100 years temple in Selangor even after he successfully met the Prime Minister who was accompanied by the Menteri Besar of Selangor at that time.

Ismail said Islam promotes harmony between religions but ended his statement by saying: “We understand that they too have gods. Thank God they do, if not they’d be worse off.”

But "No!" this kind of racist statement would not get the authority to charge our dear Ismail under the seditious Act or get any warning from the nation's leaders like Pak Lah and Najib. We all know what will happen if a non-bumi shouted seditious statement like that, don't we?

Afterall, the raising of the Keris or Malay dagger by the UMNO youth chief in the past few years UMNO's annual meeting has been defended by Najib who spoke of the symbolic nature of the Keris and commented “this is the last resort, and is usually not necessary as the previous two methods (tongue and penis) would have been sufficient to resolve disputes.”

Najib was commenting about the three prong solution in ancient warrior Bugis philosophy for conflict resolution, which can serve well in present efforts to resolve disputes: The first is the tip of the tongue - to solve conflicts through discussions, dialogues, and consultations. The second is the tip of 'anunya' (the penis) - to strengthen family and friendship bonds through marriage. And the third is the tip of the 'keris' (Malay traditional sword) - by going to war.

At 50, the country is truely at the crossroad if politicans "speak through their mouth and think through the 'anunya' (the penis)." I hope Najib knows the implication and so does his boss, Pak Lah.

David Wong

07-11-07

Deepavali 2007 “Gift” ?

According to Malaysiakini, MIC president S Samy Vellu has banned all Deepavali events by the party’s elected representatives as a mark of protest against the demolition of a 100-year-old temple in Shah Alam last week. The tearing down of this temple is the latest in a series of demolition exercise undertaken by the Selangor state government on Hindu temples in the state, causing much frustration and a sense of dejection among the Indian community.

In India, Bajrang Dal's Bhopal District chief Vishal Purohit threatened countrywide protests if their demands were not met."We demand the protection of the Hindu temples of the world and request the Central government to reprimand the Malaysian ambassador and send him back otherwise the activists of the Bajrang Dal will take out countrywide protest," he says.

Another headline says "Here is the Deepavali 2007 “Gift” for Us" on http://raajarox.com/?p=137

Samy Vellu was a total failure in protecting the dignity and rights of the Hindi community when he could not do anything to stop the slaughter of cattles in the Parliament compound to celebrate the second marriage of the Prime Minister earlier this year. That incident has shown the precarious position of the Hindi community in Malaysia and the insensitiveness of the ruling UMNO in respecting the culture and religion of other communities in Malaysia.

"Malaysia, truely Asia" is the slogan used by the tourism board in promoting the country but the BN government does not seem to understand what is the essence of being Asian. Being Asian means being a multi-cultural and multi-religious Malaysia and how could we connect the demolition of temple and slaughter of cattles in parliament as being "Asia".

All Malaysian irrespective of race and culture should condemn the demolition of any temple, church, mosque or any religious building by any party without the consultation and agreement of the community which it serves. We should also condemn the UMNO for turning the Parliament into a slaughter house in total defiance of other communities in the country.

At 50, we need to ask ourselves "who owns Malaysia?" and "who are Malaysian?" or else the tourism board should changed the slogan to "Malaysia, truely the land of the Malays'"

David Wong
Dap sarawak publicity sec.
05-11-2007

The speech by David Wong-a 30 minutes reflection on 50 years of the Malaysian education system

The following was the extract from my speech and presentation which even my own comrades said was boring but its importance could not be trade-off with any speech i ever made or any others for that matter. To present it in 30 minutes was itself a challenge as there were simply too many important historical and political theories to touch on with emphasis on facts and figures.

David Wong's speech and presentation on "Chinese Youth and Education" organized by the UCA's youth of Sibu on the 28th )ctober 2007.

First, I would like to congratulate the Youth Wing of the UCA, Sibu, for its 20th year formation. The 20 years would not been possible without the commitment and support of all its affiliate members and the Chinese community as a whole. The UCA youth has a paramount role to play as the "pioneer" or "wing" of the mother association as it dictates the aggressiveness of the association in tackling many sensitive issues such as the social-political issues like the land issues, education, economy, society and crimes and meritocracy.

The central theme, the"transformation of the UCA youths", of the 20th year celebration has been most fitting as it shows the mentality of its current leadership in seeking and tackling changes and challenges ahead. The theme is timely as Malaysian Chinese community is at the crossroad as where it is going and heading with so many "worrisome" social-political issues like education, economy, religion, crimes and security and rising racial tension within our multi-religious and multi-cultural society.Tonight I would like to ask everyone presence here to give the UCA youth a big hands as it has taken the very first step to change by inviting leader from both the ruling and opposition political parties to address issues of importance to the Chinese youth and Chinese community as a whole. It shows its determination in taking a stand that while it cares about politics; its position is "above politics". It is taking its leadership role that the Chinese community is demanding and waiting eagerly.

Education and Chinese Youth
Chinese with a 5000 years old history is regarded as a race rich of cultural heritage and wisdom. To understand the Chinese culture is to know the Chinese. However, one has to know Mandarin in order to understand the philosophy and culture of Chinese.History has shown how much weight the Chinese put on education. It is this unwavering attitude and believes in education and how education determines the success of a person and no richness or material well-being can replace education as the yard-stick of success. Even the Ch'ing conquerors were overwhelmed by the great Chinese culture and assimilated themselves with the Chinese.

The Chinese cultural heritage can only be maintained and carried on through mother-tongue education; the root of the Chinese would be up-rooted and its culture will be destroyed totally without its own mother-tongue education. The questions we need to address are as follow:Without our roots, who would we be? Who are we? How would we address and position ourselves? How to protect our roots and ensure that our rights are protected by laws?

Chinese youth cannot be the passive on-lookers in addressing the issues of how the national education policies affect and influence them and thought that everything is OK and that there are organizations like the UCA, Dong Jiau Zong and political parties to take care of them. The Chinese youth are the future leaders of all these organizations and it is high-time that they take a more proactive stand in all the issues that not only affect them but the country's future developments.

A) History of the national education policy and the national education system
Before we can fully understand the national education and how it affects the Chinese youth, we need to understand the national education policy as well as the national education system created under the policy. For this purpose it is necessary to understand the development of the national education policy implemented before and after Independence and its further development under the BN governmnet.

1) What is the national education policy?
The national education policy implemented by the present BN Government is in substance a policy of mono culturalism with the aim of achieving "one language, one culture" as the end objective. The mono-ethnic approach of the ruling elite as evident in the New Economic Policy [NEP] is well entrenched. It has been implemented and propagated by the ruling elite after the May 13 incident in 1969. The NEP was enacted in the 1970 as part of a bold blueprint to reduce income disparity among different ethnic groups. However the policy of the NEP permeates all spheres, including the educational field, which saw the implementation of the quota system till now.

2 What are the main characteristic of the NEP policy in our national education policy?
Among other things, they are as follows:(a) Endlessly pursuing the 'ultimate objective' of the national education policy;(b) Implementing ethnically-based quota system since the early seventies;(c) Practicing discrimination in the giving of educational funds to the educational institutions of other communities; and(d) Discourage the development of mother tongue schools.
The origins of "ultimate objective"
ii Abdul Razak Report 1956

The Abdul Razak Education Report 1956 was introduced just before Independence.The 1956 Razak Report was of dual character. The ruling elite intended to go ahead with the mono-ethnic policy by introducing the term "ultimate objective" for the first time in the history of education in Malaya:"... the ultimate objective of education policy in this country must be to bring together the children of all races under a national education system in which the national language is the main medium of instruction"

The political consensus prior to Merdeka
Consequently, the Abdul Razak Report 1956 dropped the proposal for the "ultimate objective", and instead recommended a national education system acceptable to the people. It recommended the establishment of:" ... a national system of education acceptable to the people of the Federation as a whole which will satisfy the needs to promote their culture, social, economic and political development as a nation, having regard to the intention of making Malay the national language of the country whilst preserving and sustaining the growth of the language and culture of other communities living in the country."

Education Ordinance 1957- the true multicultural educational policy based on the spirit of Merdeka
The 1957 Ordinance came into force on 15 June 1957, shortly before the attainment of Independence on 31 August 1957.

s3 of the Ordinance provides: "The education policy of the Federation is to establish a national system of education acceptable to the people of the Federation as a whole which will satisfy the needs to promote their culture, social, economic and political development as a nation, with the intention of making Malay language the national language of the country whilst preserving and sustaining the growth of the language and culture of peoples other than Malays living in the country."

The broken bow or "after-marriage" theory?
I would described the turn-about of the multi-cultural policies to a mono-cultural one as a "cheating" partner who went back against his promises before the marriage.

Rahman Talib Report 1960
In 1960, the then Education Minister Abdul Rahman Talib headed a committee to:
However, the Rahman Talib Report 1960 performed a complete about-turn by way of re-introducing the "ultimate objective". "For the sake of national unity ... to eliminate communal secondary schools for the national system of assisted schools and to ensure that pupils of all races shall attend both national and national-type secondary schools."

Communal secondary schools are against "national unity"?
The national education policy proposed in the1960 Report was designed to eliminate mother-tongue secondary schools under the pretext of achieving "national unity". Pursuant to the 1960 Report, the Education Act 1961 was enacted the following year.

Education Act 1961
Within a short span of hardly 4 years, the national education policy based on multiculturalism as embodied in the Education Ordinance 1957 was re-converted to one of mono-culturalism under the Education Act 1961.
It reads: "3. The education policy of the Federation is to establish a national system of education … which will satisfy the needs to promote the culture, social, economic and political development as a nation, with the intention of making Malay language the national language of the country …" The end result was without the "preservation and substaining of the growth of the language and culture of other ethnic communities."

The Education Act 1996, replacing the 1961 Act, came into force in 1997. This piece of legislation retains the mono-cultural nature of the 1961 Act. However, on the other hand, it still harps on a national education policy based on mono-ethnic culturalism "to be executed through a national system of education which provides for the national language to be the main medium of instruction...".

s 17(1) of the 1996 Act- the final blueprint of the BN government.
All schools to use Bahasa Malaysia as main medium of instruction.

A provision with far-reaching ramifications can be found in s17(1). Under this section, all schools [including kindergartens] must use Bahasa Malaysia as the main medium of instruction, allowing only 2 exceptions: one, all new national-type [ mother tongue] schools yet to be established under the 1996 Act; and two, any school granted exemption by the Minister of Education. s17(1) provides: "17 (1) The national language shall be the main medium of instruction in all educational institutions in the National Education System - except a national-type school established under section 28 "

B) The quota system and the affirmative action plan
The quota system
Quota system is the by-product of the NEP's affirmative action plan since the 1970. It is a concrete form of the national education policy and is the most controversial one as well . The legality of the manner of its implementation is open to question under the Federal Constitution .

[Note: the term "bumiputras" was introduced after the 13 May 1969 incident by the ruling elite after the end of the National Operation Council (NOC). It is not to be found in the Federal Constitution that came into force at Independence in 1957.]

The origins of quota system
The New Economic Policy [NEP] is a policy introduced after the 13 May 1969. The ruling elite have attributed the cause of the 1969 racial riots to Non-Malay dominance of the economy.However, academic observers have interpreted it otherwise:"… the May 13 Incident was a form of coup d'état directed against Tunku Abdul Rahman."
[Subky Latiff, Southern Asian Affairs 1977] [Suaram: Malaysian Human Rights Report 1996 at page 195]

Enrolment of bumiputra students in educational institutions
The quota system in the educational field is implemented pursuant to the NEP. Scholarships and loans 1980 -1990The scholarships and loans given out to bumiputras from 1980 to 1990 for certificate, diploma and degree courses are shown below:
1 Loans for polytechnic certificate courses -90%
2 Scholarships for Diploma of Education courses -90%
3 Local degree courses near -90%
4 Overseas degree courses almost -100%
The statistics on the highly divisive quota system were revealed in the Ministry of Education's written answer to MP Petaling Jaya, Dr Kua's Parliamentary question in December 1990.[Dr Kua Kia Soong: Reforming Malaysia 1993 at pp.257-268]

When the NEP came to an end in 1990, the ruling elite have introduced the National Development Policy [NDP] in its place, endlessly pursuing such senseless and discriminatory policy.Other ethnic groups such as Indians and the indigenous people of East and West Malaysia are marginalized in the field of education. They hardly receive sufficient financial assistance from the government, even though the NEP is claimed to eradicate poverty irrespective of ethnicity.
Quota system vs affirmative action
The quota system has always been described by the ruling elite as a form of affirmative action put in place after the 1969 May 13 incident which they claimed was aimed at uplifting the social, economic and cultural standards of the Malays. However, the term "affirmative action" has been misinterpreted by the ruling elite purely on ethnic basic, and such erroneous interpretation fails to meet the criteria of affirmative action under the international law.

What is affirmative action?
Affirmative action can not be a racially-based quota system. Apart from ethnicity, other factors such as need, social deprivation, merit, qualification, social skills and gender ought to be taken into account. Ethnicity should not prevail over other factors or else it would not be an affirmative action."
[Dr Boo Cheng Hau 1998: Quotas versus Affirmative Action ¨C a Malaysian Perspective, at page 7] "If preferential treatment only recognized the need for help along ethnicity classified along "indigenous" status alone, it would not only be discriminatory by itself. It would also defeat that actual end of affirmative action to create a just society.To transfer socio-economic domination from one ethnic group to another would only conceive a newly repressive social injustice.

Interpretation of Article 153(8A) of the Federal ConstitutionSoon after the end of the administration under the NOC, the Federal Constitution was amended to introduce the quota system in institutions of higher learning. A major change took place under the amendment introduced by Article 153 (8A) in 1971. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is to give directions to any university or college to reserve a certain proportion of places for Malays and natives of the Borneo States for any course of study. The reason for introducing the amendment was spelt out by the then Prime Minister, Tun Razak: "The intention of the amendment is to reserve places in those selected courses of studies where the number of Malays and natives of the Borneo States are disproportionately small..."

Legality of the implmentation of the quota system
From the legal point of view, the quota system ought to be applied on a faculty basis, and every faculty is to reserve places for students of every ethnic group. "Article 153(8A) does not authorize the administrator of any university to refuse admission to any student of a particular race. It only allows a proportion of the places to be reserved for Malay students ...
... On such a reasoning, the legality of the manner of implementing the quota system is open to question. Up till now, there seems to be no trace of any order made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for the manner of reservation of places in universities. There is no evidence of such order having been gazetted. It appears that the manner of implementation was adopted pursuant to an administrative directive, and not an order of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The directive was made by the officials of the Ministry of Education. [The Constitution of Malaysia, Further Perspectives and Developments" edited by F A Trinidade and H P Lee 1986, at p49]

Ridiculous results of the quota system
In recent years, a considerable number of top achievers scoring 9As - 12As in the SPM examinations were not given appropriate places in local institutions of higher learning. Massive media coverage has been given to such unfortunate incident.Such scandalous incident is the direct consequence of the discriminatory implementation of the race-based quota system and turned away the brightest students from our university. The brain drain resulted could not be quantified but could be felt even by the government. So long as such system exists, this country is going to lag far behind the other world communities in the race or competition for achieving knowledge-economy. Vision 2020 would be just a dream out of reach because of the quota system.

Failure to achieve its main purpose But, in reality, it has now come to light that, after a long period of 30 years of its implementation, the quota system has failed to achieve its main purpose, i.e. to help enhance the ability of the Malay students to catch up and eventually compete "on a level playing field" with students from other communities. It has been revealed in the mass media by some academics very recently that, after 30 years of implementing the quota system, Malay students are still not in a position to compete with students from other communities 'on a level playing field'. There was a 'shocking discovery'. Less than 20% of the total population of Malay students in tertiary institutions may be able to compete with those from the other communities after 30 years of affirmative action

Ultimately quota system benefits the privileged few
The quota system appears to benefit the Malay community as a whole, but a close scrutiny of the quota system reveals that ultimately it benefits more the privileged few within the Malay ethnic group. Its implementation operates to the disadvantage of not only the underprivileged non-Malays, but also the majority of the underprivileged Malays. The statistics available are testimony to this.
Malay students of lower income families constituting about 63% of the Malay population, received only 14% of the university scholarships; but Malay students from the top income group of 17% [the privileged few] received more than 50% of the university scholarships. (Thomas Sowell1990: Migrations and Cultures ¨C a World View at page 57)

This would mean that the majority of the lower income Malay families, who really deserve and need such financial assistance, are not given university scholarships; but a tiny minority of affluent top Malay income group is receiving most of the university scholarships. Does this fit in with the moral basis of affirmative action? Certainly not. It has become the 'special privilege' for the privileged few of the Malay community. "would take away the benefits from the other needy Malay and non-Malay students. Evidently, the race-based quota system has not only ripped off the non-Malays' equal opportunities to higher education, but also threatens the underprivileged Malays' future." [Boo Cheng Hau 1998: Quotas versus Affirmative Action ¨C A Malaysian Perspective, at page 56]

The argument for the quota system introduced under the NEP is necessary in the Malaysian context. The reason given is that, without quota system, they will be marginalized like the Red Indians or the Blacks in America. This is totally baseless and senseless as the Red Indian are a minority in the US in total sense while the Malays are the majority which govern in Malaysia.

Discrimination in providing financial assistance
Discrimination exists in the giving of financial assistance to the different sectors and language streams. According to the statistics given by the education minister in Parliament, the allocations of development funds for the different language streams of primary schools are as follows:
96.6% of the development funds for education is given to national [Malay] primary schools
2.4% to the national type [Chinese] primary schools and
1% to national-type [Tamil] primary schools.
[Note: The above statistics were given by the then Education Minister Najib Tun Razak in reply to parliamentary question by the MP for Kota Melaka on 5 November 1996]

In terms of dollars and cents, out of every 100 ringgit of financial assistance granted to educational institutions, 96,54 ringgit is for Malay schools; only 2.44 ringgit for the Chinese schools, and 1.02 ringgit only for the Tamil schools. [Suaram: Malaysian Human Rights Report 1996 at page 211]

Retarded development of schools mainly providing mother tongue education
A good example can be found in the retarded development of Chinese primary and secondary schools since Independence.40 years after independence [1957 ¨C 1997], the Chinese population grew from 2.3 million to 5.3 million approximately, an increase of 3 million people [i.e. more than doubled], but the number of Chinese schools had been reduced. The number of Chinese primary schools, instead of having a proportionate increase, was reduced from 1,342 to 1,281 - a decrease of 61 primary schools; whilst the number of Chinese independent secondary schools was reduced from 86 to 60 - a decrease of 26 secondary schools. [Kua 1990: A Protean Saga ¨C The Chinese Schools of Malaysia (2nd Edition) at page 141]

Acute shortage of qualified teachers in National-type schools
The ruling elite has paid little heed to the serious problem of the acute shortage of qualified teachers for national type [Chinese] primary schools for years. There is a shortage of nearly 3000 qualified teachers for the Chinese primary schools throughout Malaysia today, but there is a huge surplus of 6,000 Malay school teachers.

It is to be borne in mind that currently there are 65,000 non-Chinese students [Malays, Indians, Ibans, Kadazans, etc.] studying in national-type [Chinese] primary schools. The number of such non-Chinese students constitutes 12-15% of the total student population in the national-type Chinese primary schools. [Annexure to the Declaration on Mother Tongue Education 1999 ¨C Dong Jiao Zong]

C) CHALLENGES AND EXPECTATIONS
The challenges to the national education and the Chinese youth are closely linked to the reform to be made to the national education policy and system. In order to bring about reform, we have to make a serious study of the problems created by the policy and the system as embodied in the existing Education Act 1996.

1 ) Mother-tongue education of various communities is at a crossroads. It is in a precarious position. That is the insecure legal position of mother-tongue education today. Mother tongue education is no longer a basic human right enjoyed by every citizen, but a "privilege" only, granted solely at the discretion of the ruling elite in the form of "exemptions" given by the Minister of Education.This is totally against international recognition of mother tongue education as a fundamental human right and against the spirit of a multicultural society..

2 ) Problems posed by the 1996 Act are as follows:
(a) Threat to growth of language and culture of other communities The Education Act 1996 constitutes a threat to the mother tongue education of the various ethnic communities. The 1996 Act stresses that " the national language shall be the main medium of instruction in all educational institutions in the National Education System¡".The mother tongue education is apt as the pig in the slaughter-house; its existence is at the mercy of the power that being. It is up to the Minister to grant or not to grant the exemption from the application of the Act.

(b) Survival of national-type [Chinese and Tamil] primary schoolsS28 of the existing 1996 Act creates serious doubts about the survival of the existing national-type [Chinese and Tamil] primary schools. It provides: "Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Minister may establish national-type school and shall maintain such schools".

(c) The Minister is endowed with discretionary powers to de-register educational institutions and teachers, and to dismiss school committees. There are provisions in the 1996 Act ousting the jurisdiction of the courts. The Minister's decisions cannot be challenged in court, thereby eroding the judicial power of the courts. Malaysian would then lose any chance of appeal by law under the 1996 Act.

(d) The Malaysian Chinese Independent Secondary Schools [MCISS] cannot conduct the Unified Examinations unless exemptions are granted by the Minister under s143 of the Act. [See ss67-67] With the announcement of the Minister of Education on the 23st October 2007 that the government is not going to recognize the Certificate of the unified Examination conducted by the Chinese Independent schools, the Chinese community hope that the BN government has come to its sense was finally trashed.

(e) The 2008 UPSR exam is the high water-mark of the Chinese mother tongue education.Until today (28-10-2007), the Ministry of Education has yet decided whether the Science and Maths subject in the 2008 UPSR exam will be in English only or bi-lingual. If it is in English only, then that would be the beginning of the end of Chinese mother-tongue education in Malaysia as then only 2 subjects in the Chinese primary school will be taught in Mandarin, i.e the Chinese and the moral study.Educationists and political observers believe that the BN government would decide the matter in a political-sense and not on grounds of education.The Independent Chinese Secondary school will lost its supply of new students' intake if the Chinese primary schools lost its ground as will be determined by the 2008 UPSR exam.

3 ) Mother tongues is a basic human rightLearning and developing one's mother tongue is a basic human right. No one should be deprived of such fundamental right by legislation or administrative direction from the authorities. Mother tongue education is the basic right of all ethnic communities. It is recognized internationally. Such basic human right can be found in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 and other related international covenants. The Mother tongue is the soul of any ethnic community, and the means to transmit its cultural heritage. Any attempt at "forced assimilation" of languages, cultures and education system will invariably lead to communal conflict . On the other hand, the respect for diversity and tolerance guarantees genuine unity among peoples of all ethnic communities.[Dong Jiao Zong: Declaration on Mother Tongue Education 19994)

4)Globalization and language The globalization process is fast taking place. It will have an immense impact on the national education in any country. Proficiency in the English language is an asset while proficiency in Mandarin is a dream for many who wish to deal with the emerging of China as the 4th economy power house. It is high time for us to discard the old perception of English and Mandarin as aliens' languages, but to look upon them as an international language for advancement.

In the New Era of the 21st century, multiculturalism will be the order of the day. The world community adopts multiculturalism in all spheres, including education. The mother tongue will be the most effective tool for achieving the purpose of discovering one's roots.On the other hand, the policy of "forced assimilation" rooted in mono culturalism, is "fighting a losing battle".

DR. M acknowledged the existence and failure of the "ultimate objective"
Even our ex-Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir, in an interview with the Time Magazine on 9 December 1996, when asked for his view on the policy of assimilation, had to admit it, and he said:"The idea before was that people should become 100 per cent Malay in order to be Malaysian. We now accept that this is a multi-racial country. We should build bridges instead of trying to remove completely the barriers separating us. We do not intend to convert all the Chinese to Islam, and we tell our people, the Muslims, not to try to force people to convert."-Dr. M admitted the existence of the Ultimate Objective which was to turn Malaysia into "one language, one culture "nation.

Conclusion
Education's Rocky Path to National UnityEducation system is a subset of Malaysian institutionalized , racial and oftentimes, racist politics. Any serious attempt to deal with national unity should start with breaking that down as only a fair, just and multi-cultural educational policy will turn Malaysia into a developed nation.

A former education director-general Tan Sri Murad Mohammed Noor said in an interview years ago, "The Malays say they don't want to give up their privileges. But the Chinese say: 'With these privileges, your children can go to university, you don't have to worry. I've got to sell my house to send my child to university. But I am a citizen like you. I pay taxes like you. What integration are you talking about?' That's the Chinese view. The Malays say, 'This is in our constitution, before we got our independence. This is what we agreed on.' -What he didn't say was that there was no affirmative action plan and no NEP and no Bumiputras status prior to 1970 (before and after Merdeka).

My question is why can't we stick to the social contract as agreed by all parties prior to Independence? " Why can't we have a Malaysian First policy after 44 years of nation building?
Why, indeed?

The social contract agreed and formulated by our forefathers should be the basic of our education policy which can preserve and sustain the growth of the language and culture of all the communities to reflect our multi-racial and multi-cultural society.

Only a visionary educational policy can promote national integration and solve any mistrust among the people and prepare us to face the challenge in this "Global Era". Let us go back to the Education Ordinance 1957 as it was molded with the Merdeka spirit in mind. I personally do not see any reason why the BN, especially the UMNO can't accept the 1957 Ordinance as it was drafted and accepted by all parties prior to Merdeka.

The "ultimate objective" of all Malaysian-rivival of the 1957 Education Ordinance
May be the Chinese community and other non-Bumi communities did not send the ultimatum to the government yet and the voice has been lost over so many years of consultation and "collusion" by the political parties within the BN.
s3 of the 1957 Ordinance provides: "3. The education policy of the country (amended) is to establish a national system of education acceptable to the people of Malaysia(amended) as a whole which will satisfy the needs to promote their culture, social, economic and political development as a nation, with the intention of making Malay language the national language of the country whilst preserving and sustaining the growth of the language and culture of peoples other than Malays living in the country."

The Chinese community should have its own "ultimate objective" in the national education policy. All the political parties (from both spectrums), Dong Jiau Zong, UCA, all gilds and associations must create a united front and send the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education a joint Memorandum to restore the 1957 Ordinance to solve this long standing issue one and for all.

Only when the 1957 Ordinance replaces the 1996 Act shall there be true integration among all Malaysian.The Chinese youth have an important role to play as they are the members of all these political parties and associations; they have to act as the locomotive for-change or pressure-group within their own associations for the above-mentioned "Ultimate objective" to crystallize.

David Wong on 28-10-2007