Sibu By-Election

Sibu by-election is going to be a tough fight between two Chinese candidates in this urban area. DAP named its Sarawak chief Wong Ho Leng, while BN will be represented by Robert Lau Hui Yew from SUPP.

The Hulu Selangor by-election went to BN and this is no doubt a boost for BN in Sibu by-election. However, with the 53,679 (60%) of Chinese voters, the ball game is entirely different from Hulu Selangor.

By understanding the Chinese mind, we can safely conclude that whoever wins is no big deal as long as the people’s needs are looked into. However, if it is for the state seat, a very high percentage will go to BN to win.

It is a practical way to make the “adun” work for the benefits of the people in that constituency. And as for the parliamentary seat, it is wise for the candidate from the opposition to be voted in for stronger voice in the august house. This is a plus point for Pakatan Rakyat since Sibu by-election is for parliamentary seat.

Robert Lau unlike Kamal (Kamalanathan), who has won the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat with the help of the Indians to create the tip and the Malay voters who felt threatened by the power that may be. So the candidates have to work into the mind of the Chinese why he deserves their votes.

There is a need to see at least 45,627 (85%) of the total eligible Chinese voters coming out to vote for Pakatan Rakyat in order to be in a safe margin. It is going to be tough but not impossible.

The Chinese in Sibu may be the kingmaker to determine who should win or otherwise. Their crucial decision is how well-informed they are on the disheartening issues happening in the peninsula.

Like the Indians, the Chinese too have been insulted despite how they had toiled in this land to make it a truly a multi-racial country since pre and post independence.

Today’s economy plays a critical role. The impact on their businesses is downright the deciding factor and with the education policy not in favour to the masses will definitely see what they will do in the polling day.

The Chinese people are spread throughout the world and to be able to read the Chinese way of thinking will have the added advantage. The way how they think is their survival instinct and the way how they are going to act will definitely be without reservation.

To get the Chinese for whatever support it should be followed by the question of physiological needs, and harness it with proper education policy (which is in a dire need for revamp) then the influencing factor will start to lurk within.

This is stark in the Chinese way of thinking and for Sibu, the Chinese works with their clans is the influencing factor to determine the yardstick who they want to represent them in parliament. So, strike while the iron is hot and on the right nerve, then the Chinese thinking faculty may work in a wondrous way.

In this Sibu by-election, the speculation is that the punters and bookies may call the shot, but I beg to differ. Whoever can speak their “mind language” has the advantage - the language of truth that brings fear to their very own existence to help shaped their decisions.

We may see a high possibility of paradigm change in this Sibu by-election because the Chinese have felt the impact of marginalization too. Their ability to be sustainable financially and to see themselves through is from a small percentage of the able Chinese and what about those who are wage earners?

The petty traders struggling for a living may have their licenses revoked and such threat (if PR wins) is uncommon from the power that may be. When their livelihood is at stake, the chances to garner their support will become more difficult.

A bowl of noodles now may cost RM5.00 and what is to come when GST (Goods and Services) tax is enforced, then the spending power will be drastically reduced leaving pittance to stay afloat. This is painful indeed, so is the courage to make the change.

Barisan Nasional, on the other hand, will keep pounding on with their unethical ways, be it threats, goodies and promises like what had happened in the last two by-elections.

And in this Chinese majority area, the Sibu voters will give Barisan Nasional a run for its money.

- We have to see at least 85% of Chinese voters coming out to cast their votes. (Very much depended on those above 35 years of age because the younger ones have left for greener pastures).

- Independent candidate(s) to lose deposit.

If the majority of the Chinese allows Pakatan Rakyat to lose by a close margin, then expect what to come with apocalyptic consequences. By then, don’t have to look around for someone to blame because the people to be blamed are those who keep looking around.

To which way will the wind blow is much depended on the voters’ wits. “Sibuhans” have to play their cards right to rid the “fixed deposit” trademark and dare for a change.

It is better to embed the benchmark to create history rather than such trademark to stay belittled!

An Unsuccessful Break-in

This video clip was given by the office manageress where her work place was safe from the attempted break-in.

Thanks to her CCTV installed and the grill door secured by additional harness to make it impossible for the attempt.

Two hours later, an office in Taman Limbongan, some four kilometres away had being a fallen victim.

Both reported to the police and finger prints were dusted.

They were courageous enough but too stupid to look into the CCTV camera.

Peaceful Vigil Turned Ugly

On the 11 January 2010, lawyer Mr.Francis Peirera asked Hakim Mahkamah Puan Balqis Hini to recuse herself from the hearing over the 23 peaceful vigilers arrested on 09 November 2008. Lawyer Mr. Gobind Singh Deo concurred.

Today, the 23 people “accused” of defiance have their case postponed to 3rd.June in PJ Session Court instead.

The overzealous police arrested them on the 09 November 2008 was a clear act of intimidation to create fear among the people who exercised their democratic rights.

On the 11 January 2010, lawyer Mr.Francis Peirera asked Hakim Mahkamah Puan Balqis Hini to recuse herself from the hearing over the 23 peaceful vigilers arrested on 09 November 2008. Lawyer Mr. Gobind Singh Deo concurred.

Today, the 23 people “accused” of defiance have their case postponed to 3rd.June in PJ Session Court instead.

The overzealous police arrested them on the 09 November 2008 was a clear act of intimidation to create fear among the people who exercised their democratic rights.

I caught up with lawyer Francis Peirera for his updates.

First Citizen Journalists Convention

Writing articles and letters of complaint to the mainstream media by the readers is one of the features of citizen journalism.

With the emergence of internet, blogs and web-related innovations have made citizen journalism to be attractive.

Citizen journalism gives the people the avenue to transmit information globally and this gives them the satisfaction to have their stories told without having to go through extreme censorship or total rejection by the mainstream media.

When they chance upon any breaking news, they can take it upon themselves to report by becoming a reporter, editor and publisher all in one.

Citizen journalist is often considered to be people without journalism training reporting the news to a wide audience. And looking at it in a wider perspective, they are actually complementing the regular media.

The beauty in citizen journalism is that they have the advantage to choose their subjects and topics unlike the mainstream journalists who have their specifics and deadlines to meet.

When Malaysiakini opens its door to train citizen journalists, it is actually opening up a whole new world of daring ideas to train man, woman and child to take up the challenges. Since then it was no turning back.

The first convention for citizen journalism was held on 1st. May 2010 at the Annexe (adjacent to Central Market) and we saw newcomers and trained citizen journalists congregated to mark the meaningful occasion.

GST Protest 01 May 2010

May Day in Malaysia

Another history is made – May Day in Malaysia.

As the world celebrates the International Workers Day, the workers in Malaysia (the backbone of Malaysia’s economy), are deprived of their fundamental rights.

The first of May 2010, is a historical day in Malaysia for the wrong reason.

Are the politicians and police not workers too, may I ask? Why the discriminations against the citizens who want to celebrate the workers day peacefully? Is the country so bankrupted with reality and choose to be blind to her people’s rights? It is evidently so!

The deprivation of the avenue with the intimidating presence of the police to seal off Dataran Merdeka is too much for the people to swallow.

Bravo to the courageous people who detoured to the Chinese Assembly Hall passing through China town with a simple message – Down With GST!.

Exhuming The Truth

The events that had taken place in Hulu Selangor by-election cannot be incinerated just like any other past by-elections. We are seeing totalitarian regimes hang onto power by fear and when anything does not work to their favour, they resort to corruption.

From the tenure of the previous prime minister, the modus operandi to suppress the truth remains. Today, we still see the fear the government has, to admit who is responsible for what.

The truth is important because it affects our lives intimately and collectively as a nation but the leaders we have do not adhere to this view. When situation does not allow us to trust anyone anymore, then we have to demand for the answer by exercising that right by being a registered voter and cast that right in the ballot box.

When will the day be when we can rely solely on the mainstream media for unbiased information? We know that the mainstream media is not honourable or brave enough to give us unbiased information.

Perhaps I have spoken too quickly. Judging from what Joshua Wong (NTV7) and Chou Z Lam (RTM 2) being intimidated, there is still a hope for the mainstream media to redeem its trust to the people. However, “two” swallows do not make a summer but their act of defiance is indeed honourable.

With the government clamping down on freedom of speech by unwarranted interference, we are actually losing our freedom and privacy. This has become our biggest threat.

What stories the government is going to spin and expecting the public to hear are over because the filths are too huge to substantiate the truth what more to the known scandals.

There are many gutless politicians elected by the people have failed miserable. They hold on to power and too afraid to speak out by playing the dumb game. The worse of the pack are those who are willing to bite the hands that feed them by jumping ship at the scheduled time. Such politicians may have too many dark secrets so to speak and have to remain servile.

This is how such politicians started their careers after the 2008 general election. They are the politicians who have helped corrupt our nation and are willing graduates of betrayal to their party and electorates, come what may, just to save their own skin.

The coming Sibu by-election will face with the same predicament. So, the first thing we need to consider is which news source is reporting whatever lies and whether they have reported them truthfully or put their own spin on them.

In reality, SPR is carrying the big stick and is not afraid to use it on the Opposition but very accommodating to their master. The expected level playing field will never see its day for it has turned into a mud patch.

We are seeing the dark art has taken on a more sinister dimension. The act beyond its rightful power that do injury to liberty, justice and individual rights over the people it supposed to protect is made evident of a corrupt government.

We are not powerless and should not allow the government to act wrongfully against us. By knowing how far the government has strayed, it is the “number” that counts to send the message that we have enough of it.

In the coming Sibu by-election - lead the change is the appropriate battle cry. We should see at least eighty percent (42,943) turnout against the last recorded sixty-seven percent (36,379) out of the 53,679 registered voters in the coming showdown.

Is eighty percent a far-fetched figure or otherwise, it is the ideal yardstick to give a clear indication what the people want. Change is at the doorstep and it depends on how responsive the electorates are going to be.

Our election history has proven this beyond a shadow of doubt that “numbers” is the benchmark for the edge.

Say what you like but remember - the change is just over the hill.

What Has Become Of Our Society

I have to qualify myself from all prejudices when writing this article. Reflexology is a well-known therapy that helps the body to do its own healing.

However, the authenticity of such health business is doubted where unscrupulous operators have brought a bad name to this industry.

Just take a ride around any new township and you will never miss the emergence of foot reflexology, promulgating health services.

Karaoke lounges stand sedentary decorated with faint multi-coloured lights have their days numbered. They have lost their appeal to the new breed of so called “health seekers” flocking surreptitiously to such avenue for their salacious journey into the forbidden world to satisfy their lecherous desires.

Thanks to the “China Dolls” who have landed on our shores to bring a world of new adventure for men to explore a new horizon of sexual escapade. “Health seekers” my foot, it is all about sexual indulgence to be precise!

Well, our debate could go on and over again with same old tune sang to please oneself. Jug after jug of beer is flowing like a cascading waterfall and as usual one “drink-too-many” syndrome ruled the evening. That was what I was hoping for to hear their tales of their cheating ways.

The blessing is that I am allergic to alcohol, and glass after glass of coke on the rock kept me sane enough to be amused by their high-octane adventures with traces of hilarity.

Man is promiscuous by nature. I wonder are there ways for women to keep their men from cheating on them? Of course there are, but man is one step ahead most of the time except for those “dumbos” who are literally caught with their pants down.

In this contemporary, catching one’s spouse (especially man) for cheating is merely a waste of effort. It is unlike yesteryears where the look out signs to catch infidelity through her spouse’s demeanour, sudden change in grooming, the tell-tale smell of perfume and his excuses for coming home late, and thanks to reflexology, it has significantly reduced the level of suspicion.

China dolls and with no string attached, is the best great escape from any suspicion for infidelity.

For the worst case scenario when confronted or seen emerging from such “paradise” one can easily substantiate his innocence by claiming foot massage, yeah – foot massage that is, my foot!

For some, they can afford to “own” a sweet young thing to satisfy their sexual gratifications. And to be in the trendy mode of rent-a-wife scheme, this has become a dangerous trend to break marriages.

The danger lies in obsession deriving from sexual fantasy and such compulsive sexual behaviour seems to be morally accepted sexual norm that is wantonly displayed in public because no one questions its legality.

Sometimes people find themselves in periodic situations where they discover that they are sexually attracted to the opposite gender. When the obsessive desire for the person grows beyond the boundary of sanity, then the libido will go awry.

What about women whose spouses who go under the pretext of seeking foot massage but with a hidden agenda are known to them?

Then the knots of trusts are broken which threaten the institution of marriage to be smashed asunder. The sensible women will not risk the future of their children and choose to live with it silently, but the capable women without financial constraints will choose otherwise – as single parent.

Children from single parent will become more difficult to up-bring and the toll on the mother will become more unbearable. She has her career to look after, her children to nurture and her own sexual needs to be appeased.

Sex is never pre-planned, an innocent hug with teases seem to be the norm but what the eyes see and how the body feels will remain hidden. When the willing body responds to trigger the drifting pleasure on the other, the inevitable sexual feelings will pirouette with the sensational thrills to pamper the libido.

Say what you like, the age-old taboo is never thought to happen even when there is a chance of being discovered, yet it cuts through the taboo to the core.

Sex among willing adults will never be felt wrong. What people do within the four walls is meant to be private even sinfully indulged between two willing partners. In any situation of a person’s life that falls into such unfortunate category, the unforgiving sexual gratifications will even supersede the tenacious beliefs of any God fearing individuals.

Come what may, when libido must be appeased, what the eyes see, the mind will desire the impeccably crafted anatomy. The physical attraction will cloud the mind and lead to the threshold of more daring attempts for physical contacts will inevitably make the body speaks with only one language – Sex.

In this fast changing society where environment changes people’s outlook and behaviour about sex, no matter in what disguises, is frightening indeed. It is a game played by two willing individuals and the risk of being caught is the additional element in the excitement to thrill the libido or is it for one’s needs?

Be it infidelity or extra-marital affair that is commonly indulged by cheating partners, it comes from various situations especially when opportunities prevail.

Such illicit indulgence will keep sailing into the uncharted waters of sexual gratifications and with men piloting the ship, reflexology outlets in disguise will stay perennial.