Christmas message

On behalf of DAP Sarawak, I would like to wish all Malaysian a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. As the year 2008 draws to its end, we need to pause and look back to the events that happened and history that has been made and hope that mistakes are avoided and triumphs be repeated in the New Year ahead.

Malaysia has seen the better days in the first half of 2008 as the world crude oil prices hit recorded high with its peak at USD 147 per barrel and Malaysia has seen the bountiful as well in the commodities prices of rubber and palm oil. But the October financial crisis in the US that spread like wild fire to the rest of the world had hit Malaysia like a curse as oil prices tumbled and commodities prices fell to recorded levels and we finally found ourselves in hot-water financially while the inflation that was triggered by the fuels price hike in June has yet been redressed.

2009 seems to be a year of uncertainty as many Malaysian are facing many huddles ahead with the BN government not doing anything to address the concern of the people as the biggest political party, UMNO, is too busy preparing for its March party's polls. So far it has only used the EPF money to inject RM 5 billion into Valued Cap Sdn. Bhd. as its only solution to the financial crisis facing the country and we do not even know whether it causes any ripple at all in the stock market.

More important to Malaysian would be the 916 effect on the mindset of Malaysian, the 916 has created a burning desire among the majority of Malaysian to see a change of the Guard. They were so intense in their desire that they cursed when the promise by Anwar to bring about the change of federal government did not materialize. But whet they did not know that without that promise, many Malaysian would never dream about the demise of the BN and the changing of the guard at the federal government.

So with the many set backs and triumphs behind us now, lets stand united as fellow Malaysian regardless of the color of our skin, the diversity of our cultures and the different faiths that we embraced, to face the challenge in the year ahead. The spirit of Christmas should lead us ahead in making a Malaysia for all Malaysian and a country that is equally shared by all Malaysian. After all, the spirit of sharing and giving is what X'mas is all about.

Marry Ximas & Happy New Year

David Wong
DAP Sarawak publicity secretary
24-12-2008

Dad, my shoes have become smaller!

Last week, my youngest kid told me "Dad, my shoes have become smaller!" as we were getting ready to go out. My immediate respond was "It is not that they are getting smaller but rather because you are growing up fast!"

Then it hit me that they are growing up fast and i have taken it for granted that they will always be the kids that they are and i can compensate them for the lost chance/time whenever i feel like it as simple as a push on the time-machine button just like in the movie "Back to the future" by Micheal J Fox.

Then an idea came up as i have to attend the DAP state committee meeting as well as the annual convention on the 13rd and 14th of December to be held in Kuching, i asked them whether they would like to go to Kuching with me. The answer is of course a foregone conclusion as i am writing this in the house of my in-laws in Kuching.

Today,we visited the Muzium in Kuching and did some window shopping around Cat city. To our delight was we ran into the mascot of the KFC at the restaurant and my wife did not miss the opportunity to arrange the photo session and was happily clicking away. Fortunately the digital age save me a lot of money as we can appreciate the photos without having to develop the films and it is also more enviromental friendly as well.

I am glad that i have spent some quality time with them although most of the time they have to go their own way as i was too busy attending the DAP's meeting and convention. At least we can mix official businesses with family outings if we want to. At least the next time my kid tell me "Dad, my ..." i would know that it is another sign of time passing by fast but i do not have to have a sense of guilt.

火箭吁人联党代声讨 二小事件扩至华小独中

新闻 08 12月 2008 20:53

（本报诗巫8日讯）砂民主行动党宣教秘书黄培根表示，行动党劝人联党把二小事件扩大到整个华小及独中的问题。 他说，行动党呼吁人联党在本月12日至14日的党代上，应该在党代上面声讨联邦国阵政府或州首长，为何使二小事件变成今日人联党之痛。

他续称，行动党也做出呼吁，如果人联党不能在这次的党代上解决二小事件，不能得到首长或者全国国阵主席（首相）的解决，那么人联党应该在党代上面检讨在国阵的地位。

“若人联党不能做到上述我们讲的话，那么在来届州选时，人民将会要人联党知道，他们已经不能为人民争取任何利益。” 他於今午的新闻发布会上表示，古晋二小的事件在今年选举中被人联党用来影响选民手中一票，人联党在选举中代表国阵，因此人联党的承诺就是国阵的承诺。

“砂人民可以看到，学校及学生都是国家的资源，既然抽税是政府的权力，我要问人联党，建校是谁的责任？” 黄培根认为，人联党已经失去了方向，他们现在把整个事件推给反对党。

他强调，全马人民包括砂州人民可以看到，在民联执政的几个州，民联政府在短短半年内已经做出了国阵政府43年执政以来所不能做的，那就是制度化地拨款给独中，或以地养校的方式来帮忙州内教育，几个州属已经做到了。

“如果今天砂州的政府是行动党组成的政府，那么古晋二小的事情不能得到解决的话，人联党才可以攻击行动党，问题是砂州政府是谁？”

他表示自己听说了首相将出席在人联党党代上，若人联党不趁这次机会把砂州的母语教育问题、独中拨款的问题提出，就不要在报章上作戏。 “只要首相在党代的一句话，就可以解决二小的事件。”

黄和联：人联无履行承诺 另一方面，砂民主行动党主席黄和联律师也针对二小事件表示，人联党的承诺就是要建中华二小，作为选举的承诺，没有履行的承诺，是为不该。 他强调，解铃人还须系铃人，系铃人就是人联党，不应该扯到行动党身上，作了承诺就该履行承诺，并表示人联党该醒觉，即刻要求联邦以及州政府公平对待各源流学校，包括常年系统化拨款。