Happy Chinese New Year

On behalf of DAP Sarawak I would like to wish all Malaysian Chinese a

"Joyful and peaceful Chinese New Year"

Chinese New Year is a time for reunion and for thoughtful discussion about the rot in the country. Spring is a time for change and Lunar New Year signifies the beginning of something better to come. That something must be the social-political situation of the Chinese in the country.

Hindraff made an impact that MIC didn't and couldn't for half a century and the Chinese votes in the coming election will make an impact that the MCA and SUPP couldn't in the same way.

Vote opposition if you want your voice to be heard by Abdullah!

God bless all Malaysian!

David Wong and family

Eve of CNY

6-2-2008

Money for your vote?

The SUPP has not respond to the call by the DAP to assure the people that they will not resort to money politics in the coming election. We need a clean and fair election and not an election where the results could be hijacked by certain quarters who resort to all kinds of dirty tactics for their personal gains. The SUPP failed to understand that the people demand for clean and fair election and the 40,000 strong turn up for the Bersih march in KL last year speaks for itself. The people in Sibu are awaiting the decision of the SUPP and we received many phone calls from the public as when will the joint press conference be called.

By Philip Bowring
HONG KONG: Malaysia is in a political cul-de-sac, resulting in an erosion of national institutions and the entrenchment of corruption. Recent events show that awareness of these problems is growing, but Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi is politically too feeble to implement his good intentions, increasing the difficulty of reconciling the interests of the Malay/Muslim majority with the non-Muslim Chinese, Indian and indigenous groups that make up 45 percent of the population.

Public disquiet and Abdullah’s own weakness were on display in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday when some 40,000 people, headed by the leaders of the three opposition parties and including former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and representatives of a wide range of NGOs, defied a government ban to march to the palace of the king, the titular head of state, to petition for clean and fair elections

It is an open secret that money politics is rampant in malaysia and Sibu has been put on the national spotlight in the 90s for a high profile court case because money politics. It brought to light how corrupt practises was used to solicit for votes.

In one of general election in Sibu, a big crowd gathered outside a timber firm's office the day- after the election as there were rumor of money been distributed. It was reported wildly by the print media as riot police were called in to disperse the crowd.

Lately, we ahve seen certain religious body urging their followers not to be "bought" or sell their "soul" in this coming election. This does not come without the sentiment on the ground that certain political party or parties are trying to use money politics to influence the outcomes of the election.

Money politics in the West has been generally taken to mean receiving illicit funds for political campaigns. It had been a major issue in US with the Clinton administration taken on trial for receiving campaign funds from overseas. In Malaysia, it had been frequently mentioned during the elections with the different political parties accusing each other of engaging in money politics. However, in Malaysia, money politics also includes using money, gifts, and contracts to "buy" supporters or voters, usually during election.

The rot in Malaysia will continue like a tumour(cancer) in a human body and it is up to the Malaysian to decide whether we should let it grows or whether we should take the necessary action to "contain" or "get rid" of it. The answer is obvious and i am confident that they will rise to the challenge.

David Wong
6-2-2008



針對不用錢買選票火箭指人聯仍未回應
(詩巫5日訊）行動黨砂聯委會宣傳秘書黃培根指出，如果一星期之后，人聯黨國選候選人還是沒有針對該黨所提的“召開不涉及金錢政治聲明新聞發佈會”提議做出回應，那就表示他們將會利用金錢來操控選舉。

他說，許多人民致電行動黨探聽，到底人聯黨會否與行動黨共同召開新聞發佈會，公開保證在國選中不會涉及金錢政治。“人民認為若政黨繼續以金錢來操縱選舉，那選舉根本沒有意義。人民所要的是清潔、公平及公正的選舉。但是目前為止，人聯黨兩位國選候選人，仍未做出回應。”

他指出，詩巫人民特別是教會人士非常關心選舉的公正，有些牧師呼籲教友們不要被金錢收買，把靈魂出賣給魔鬼。黃培根今早召開的新聞發佈會上，如此表示。邀公開辯論被拒絕他說，行動黨邀請人聯黨參與辯論會，將各課題如土地、油價、通貨膨脹等帶到台上公開辯論。行動黨給了人聯黨一個機會，但是卻被拒絕。“人聯黨指行動黨不能帶來發展，只會誤導人民，那我們就到台上去講個明白。

SUPP says "NO!"

The SUPP's top leaders in Sibu have all turned down the challenge of the DAP for a public debate in the coming general election.

When questioned by the press regarding the invitation by DAP Sarawak publicity sec., David Wong, for a public debate, its Sibu branch Chairman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh said "The SUPP will not accept such an invitation."

Its deputy Chairman, Datuk Robert Lau and its candidate for the Sibu Parliamentary seat,
meanwhile replied "What is there to debate? Ask DAP to work hard and show the rakyat their report card."

Its candidate for the Lanang Parliamentary seat, Datuk Tiong Thai King, replied that he has no comment but added "I feel that it is better to be low-profile."

The above replies were expected by me as i knew that they would not dare to face the DAP leaders and the rakyat and they knew that they have failed to represent the people of Sibu in the Parliament and in the BN.

No respect
The replies also revealed that they did not respect the people of Sibu and treat them with contempt. How could a political party represent the people when they despised the people wished to be "informed" by the political parties about thier political agendas and policies matter? They simply can't face the people with the BN race-based policies just like the MIC can't face the Indian community after Hindraf.

The people want "change"
No, the people in Sibu and Lanang will see through the "fear factors" of the SUPP and they will send the political cowards a clear message in the coming election "No vote without accountability and true representation!" and they will seek for "change" which the SUPP dreads.

David Wong

“火箭勿演口水秀” 黄顺舸：脚踏实地做事
（诗巫3日讯）针对行动党黄培根邀请人联党两位大选准候选人公开进行辩论，身为诗巫支部党魁拿督斯里黄顺舸部长劝告行动党勿做口水秀，不要多此一举！　黄顺舸在接受电访时表示，人联党不会接受如此不必要的邀请，并劝请行动党要多做事情，脚踏实地工作，不要多此一举，更无须口若悬河。冀黄培根多为民服务　同时，他希望黄培根多为人民服务。　

此外，该党诗巫选区准候选人拿督刘会洲在电话访谈中激动地表示：“辩什么论？叫行动党要脚踏实地工作，将所做出的成绩交给人民评估。” 　刘会洲说，人联党绝不像行动党那样做口水秀，基此人联党根本不需要辩论。　

另一名关键人物南兰选区准候选人拿督张泰卿则表示对此事不欲置评。他仅说：“我认为还是低调一点较好。”

Heaven and hell

Repost from Malaysiantalk.com. It was one of the finest stories that i came across lately. What a story that was and how the author uses heaven and hell to compare the treatments the rakyat get during campaigning and after the poll.

Vote Wisely Posted by The 4th party on February 03, 2008

While walking down the street one day a Malaysian Boleh Minister is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you." "No problem, just let me in," says the man. "Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity." "Really, I have made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the Yang Berhormat

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules," says St. Peter.And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down,down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle ofa green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is very happy and dressed in the finest batik there is. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then indulge themselves on lobsters, caviar and the mostexpensive food there is.Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises.

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him. "Now it' s time to visit heaven." So, 24 hours pass with the Yang Berhormat joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They havea good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St.Peter returns. "Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now chooseyour eternity."

The Yang Berhormat reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think Ai yam better off in hell." So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and puttingit in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. "I don't understand," stammers the Yang Berhormat. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?" The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning just like you during an election...... Today you voted."

VOTE WISELY IN THE COMING ELECTION

DAP calls for public debate (mandarin text)

讓選民看清局勢火箭挑戰人聯辦辯論會
（詩巫29日訊）行動黨砂聯委會宣傳秘書黃培根指出，非政府組織如華團應舉辦數場辯論會，邀請人聯黨及行動黨參與，闡明兩黨的黨網、理想、如何為詩巫、砂拉越及馬來西亞服務等。“另外，治安、土地、種族治國、國家經濟政策等課題，都需要辯論。這辯論會將給予兩黨表現的機會，讓人民看清楚局勢，并解決問題。”

他說，國選即將來臨，因此朝野政黨最近頻頻在報章上發表言論，或談各課題或人身攻擊，火藥味非常濃厚。“與其大家在報章上你講你說的，不如舉辦幾場全人民都在期待的國會選舉辯論會，讓人聯黨及行動黨參與其中。”他挑戰人聯黨在一星期之內做出答覆，若是人聯黨不敢答應行動黨的要求，那人民就清楚知道人聯黨的不敢及不要。

“如果人聯黨願意參與此場辯論會，那行動黨非常樂意繳付場地的租金。”他是於今早召開的新聞發佈會上，如此表示。他也說，人聯黨的兩位國會議員到底為人民做了甚麼？拿督劉會洲及拿督張泰卿國會議員掌握資源及權力，但是卻沒針對詩巫的水災及基本設施問題做出改善。

“行動黨呼籲全詩巫的選民，在國選之時踴躍出來投票，至於那些身在外地的選民，也應該回來，為詩巫的政治下一個新的定位。”他指出，全民的參與將可以決定到底是行動黨或是人聯黨，才是可以代表華社的政黨，可以講出人民心聲。

“行動黨高喊‘改變’的口號，我們要徹底的改變許多事物。”此外，他也透露，如果行動黨是執政黨，那行動黨今日就會馬上公佈更新地契無須還更新費。

A challenge to the SUPP and its candidates

Open Debate
I have on the 29-01-2008 posed a challenge in the press to the SUPP(BN) candidates for Lanang and Sibu, Datuk Tiong Thai King and Datuk Robert Lau, to a public debate with me and Wong Ho Leng to let the people know the political agendas and policies of both the DAP and the SUPP. The dabate is much needed in a democratic society as the voters would be able to make the correct chioce after hearing what the candidates and the political parties have to offer. No political party and candidate can refuse this kind of political debate if they want the mandate from the voters.

Clean and fair election
I also challenged Datuk Tiong Thai King(BN-Lanang) and Datuk Robert Lau(BN-Sibu) to hold a joint press conference with myself (DAP-Lanang) and Wong Ho Leng(DAP-Sibu) to pledge that both camps would not resort to money politics and would run a clean and fair election in the coming general election. I can not imagine how any candidate or any political party could refuse such a challenge as it would be like admiting that they are against clean and fair election and thus would resort to whatever means necessary to win. I want both the SUPP and its candidates to know that they can not deny the voters the rights to clean and fair election.

Meanwhile, Abdullah said he supported Mahathir's campaign to have clean and corruption-free candidates for the election. I believe that Malaysian in general can not trust that the PM would really champion a clean and fair election as Bersih Rally last year had been met with police water cannon and abuse. I would like to see Malaysian standing up and tell the PM that simple promises would not be enough this time around.

Dateline
The dateline for the SUPP to accept the challenge is the 5th of Feb. 2008 failing which the voters in both Lanang and Sibu would presume that the SUPP and its candidates do not dare to accept the challenges. The peoples in Lanang and Sibu are waiting anxiously to the debate and the pledge and i hope both candidates of the SUPP would not fail us.

David Wong
DAP Sarawak publicity sec.,
01-02-2008

P.S. This is a sequel to the 2004 general election as the candidates of both camps remain unchanged but we are confident that this time around the results would definitely be quite different.