The Haze n PAS

On this quiet second day of Syawal, I sit looking out into a hazy sky.

Over coffee and a slice of cheese cake, I reflect upon the leaked PAS Whatsapp group message. It is disturbing and is not something to be taken lightly.

However, it is also not something for leaders to start giving irresponsible responses without first thinking twice. It would be utterly irresponsible for iindividuals to start picking political points with insensitive responses.

I begin with the person who leaked the message. It is irresponsible and a breach of confidence. He or she is a part of a closed group and owes it to the group to keep confidential the exchanges.

PAS must immediately begin an internal investigation to find out who leaked it and take appropriate action.

In this electronic and cyber era, every user must take extra precaution in what we type and what we share.

I recall the incident in Selangor where the former speaker sent out a message to the EXCOs not knowing a sacked EXCO's number was not deleted from the group.

So yes, damage done and PAS must take the necessary action which is the least expected of the party. We cannot fault PAS for what an individual member did but we can fault the party if they choose to be silent.

Now lets look at the content of the leaked message. It is a very negative message but by and large it is certainly not a new revelation.

The opinion expressed is very much something many are thinking too. I repeat, it is an opinion and in this case an individual's opinion.

What is sad though, it is from a leader of a PR component party. 

It is certainly not a Party position and the leadership must immediately distance themselves from the opinion. This is similar also to an earlier personal opinion of no less than the president himself. For the Party, an elegant silence is not an option, it is like pouring salt on the wound.

PAS must immediately clarify their stand and take disciplinary action against the individual if necessary. I repeat, "if necessary".

I believe that the individual is entitled to his personal opinion, now made public. He expresses his opinion to his peers and they can discuss it and perhaps convince him otherwise. We as the public, cannot and must not dictate how PAS manages their Party.

However, we have the powerful right of a vote during the elections. If PAS chooses the put this same individual as a candidate and the people chooses to vote for him, than GOD help us.

Likewise, the same goes for the lady MP who spoke during the special Parliament session on MH17, that its the wrath of GOD in action. Surely her Party would not be fielding her at the next election but if they do, let the voters speak.

The next step that must be taken is for PAS top leadership to explain to the top PR council. The council should jointly release a communique and put the matter to rest.

I pray for an immediate joint PR press release because any delay is like blowing into a smouldering fire. It creates smoke adding to a hazy situation.

As with the haze, it will go in a few days. Meanwhile we wear a mask.

Similarly, in the political scenario, I pray PR component Party members will cover their mouth too and speak less but listen more to what the "opponents" are saying. We arm ourselves with more information and watch the action taken by PAS.

In a few days the political haze should clear too. If it does not, than we take the next step, we make rain to clear the skies. We exercise our democratic rights to clear our political haze.

Stay indoors, read and research. Brighter days are ahead.

Syawal 1435H

Wishing a blessed Eid Fitri to everyone. Here is a pictorial tribute to all.

My thoughts for July

Midway through Ramadhan and we celebrate Germany winning the World Cup, with dark rings round our eyes.

We also read about the atrocities in Gaza, the killings and are reminded of the evil that men can do.

Indonesia rides through the rough sea of uncertainty following a nail biting election with both sides claiming victory.

Closer to home, a new group Negara Ku is set to stir patriotism and to bring unity back to Malaysia. This same group is also getting certain groups agitated claiming NegaraKu is out to create problems and not unity.

And of course I celebrated my 51st birthday with family and friends over a few separate occassions. Each celebration being unique and special. I also managed a visit to Wat Arun amd Wat Po in Bangkok.

So whats my thoughts for July. Whats my reflection?

July always bring back memories of TeohBengHock and all those who died in custody. I am particularly touched and affected with TBH's case. In particular I am concerned with the welfare of the assisstants and officers of the PR elected representatives, of which I am one of them.

These PAs, are being paid meagre allowances for a difficult responsibility. Those working in the State Secretariat in the EXCO offices are perhaps better off. Those serving in the service centers are mostly living below minimum wage allowances.

They continue to serve because most are dedicated to the struggle to see CHANGE, to build a better Malaysia.

What is sad to see is how the community sees and treats the assistants. They see us as servants to shout at, to hassle and to vent their frustrations. The civil servants too show little respect to these PAs.

However, when they see the elected representative, they treat the YB like semi God. These same people who hassle the PAs and expect the PA to listen and run around for them.

It should be remembered that YBs were elected by the voters to represent them and to serve the community. The YBs are paid a salary and allowance for their services. Not all PAs and assistants  are full time salaried staff. Many are volunteers out to make a contribution to society.

Our communities should learn to respect all who serve in whatever position they are at. YBs should be given due respect but not treated like God. We should remember, its the team that ultimately determines how well the YB serves.

So this July my thoughts are for the services of the PR representatives personal assistants and officers. May they have the strength to continue their services with or without any appreciation from society.

I pray for peace for the soul of TeohBengHock, a political assistant who paid the ultimate price for his services.

Punishing beggars and soup kitchens?

Beggars on the city's streets are indeed an eyesore. Likewise, homeless sleeping on five foot ways and park benches are a reality in cities all over the world.

However, it is only in Malaysia where we attempt to bring beggars and the homeless to court and fine them instead of solving the underlying social problem. Adding salt to the wound, we are also contemplating penalising and arresting the volunteer care givers and the soup kitchens.

The excuse given is to "clean up" the city especially the tourism belt.

Take a walk down Jalan Bukit Bintang, from Pavilion towards Federal Hotel after dusk. What greets you on your journey?
On your left, one is left with a narrow uncovered passage way. Taking up what should have been a safe comfortable pedestrian way are cafes and money changer kiosks etc. These should not have been allowed by DBKL in the first place.

On the opposite side of the road, families with very young children are there all along the pavements selling fake "branded" watches. Unattended children are moving in and around the cars selling roses. I would guess many of these families are illegal immigrants forced onto the streets by circumstances or probably even by syndicates. Is this issue being looked at and addressed?

Take a look at the shops and you cannot miss noticing that almost all are middle eastern restaurants with not a single Malaysian face on their staff.  How could this even be allowed by DBKL licensing department and the Immegration authorities?

Your walk from Pavillion to Federal Hotel has only just started.

Cross the traffic lights over to Macdonalds amidst the MRT construction site in the middle leaving just a small passage for pedestrians.
You now have to struggle through a maze of scantilly dressed ladies of all ages, each waving a pieces of laminated paper into your face. And into your ears, each of these foreign ladies will be whispering "masas sir, masas. good masas".

You succeed out of the maze and you have men walking alongside you offering, " beautiful girls, can choose: have thailand, china russia, all have, young girl"

You ignore them and continue walking. The men having been ignored will ask, "mister, you no like girl, we have boy, strong muscle boy, lady boy, anything you like". You are now close to losing your patience and wanting to tell the guys to leave you alone.

On the opposite side of the road, you notice every shop is a reflexology center but here you do see a fair share of Malaysian faces.

On the right side you have either budget hotels or middle eastern restaurants. Your pathway is again a maze of scatilly dressed ladiea waving that familiar laminated sheets of massage menu.

You do wonder if you are in Malaysia or in some cosmopolitan city somewhere else on the planet. Suddenly you are brought back to Malaysia as you see the familiar PappaRich cafe.

Opposite that, you have reached your destination, the Federal Hotel an iconic Malaysian landmark, built to house our VIP guests at our Independence Day celebrations in 1957.

That walk from Pavillion to the Federal Hotel brought you the mixed and vibrant life of Bukit Bintang. It also exposed you to the many ahortfalls of our authorities in enforcing the laws. Or perhaps, its deliberately ignored to allow enforcement officers the opportunity to "improve" their income. Surely they cannot be blind to all that is going on around them.

The mushroomig of budget hotels too are a great source of income. Im guessing that more than half of the rooms are taken by foreign sex workers both male and female as their work places.

So to the Federal Territories Minister talking about "cleaning up the city", there, thats your work cut out for you. Sort out the illegal businesses, illegal foreign workers.

The homeless and the soup kitchens and volunteer care givers should not be your target. Do not seek cheap publicity by "bullying" your own people but kow towing to illegal exploitative foreigners.

Or worse still do not attempt to create a smoke screen around DBKL's failures in building a safe , clean tourism belt that all Malaysians can be proud of.

Go take a walk down Bukit Bintang this weekend.