HAPPY 51ST INDEPENDENCE DAY

First and foremost, I would like to wish all Malaysians Selamat Hari Merdeka. It has been 51 years since we gained Independence from the British and yes, we have come a long way.
Although there are many issues, especially those related to race and religion, that needs to be ironed out, we have progressed.

Now to more pressing issues at hand. During the Permatang Pauh by-election, it was reported that the Umno Bukit Bendera division chief Ahmad Ismail at a ceramah said that the Malaysian Chinese were "squatters or temporary residents" of the country, thus they do not qualify to be given equal rights. This statement had prompted a barrage of criticism from the MCA and Gerakan. The MIC Youth too have come out with statements slamming the Umno leader.
This is a typical Umno leader who wants to champion his or her own political cause especially with the looming Umno divisional elections just around the corner, by making provocative statement without thinking of the consequence.
Did he forget that this is Malaysia and this is also my "tanah tumpah darahku". We non-Malays too have put in our efforts, tears, sweat and everything we have for this nation. We are citizens of this country although our ancestors were Indian and Chinese.
Stern action should be taken against him. He should be suspended of his Umno membership and made an example to other Umno leaders who are thinking of using race and religion to further their own political career.
The Barisan Nasional leadership should use this opportunity to take action against this division leader and gain some support from the non-Malays, which was lost pre March 8.
Once again Selamat Merdeka.

ANWAR WINS PERMATANG PAUH

Anwar Ibrahim has made it to Parliament. Yesterday, he won the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat beating a BN candidate and an independent hopeful. He would be sworn in tomorrow and would make his return to Parliament after a 10-year hiatus on Friday, when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tables the 2009 Budget. The proceedings on Friday starts around 4pm and would be telecast live on national TV. The PKR leader has vowed that he would watch the budget with intent. All the best!

Below are results of the by-election.

Anwar Ibrahim (PKR): 31,195 votes
Arif Shah Omar Shah (BN): 15,524 votes
Hanafi Mamat (Ind): 92 votes
Spoilt votes: 447 votes
Turnout: 47,258 or 81% of the total number of registered voters in the constituency.
Majority: 15,671 votes (higher than the 13,388 vote majority obtained by Wan Azizah Wan Ismail at the March 2008 elections)

We Are Doing It Our Way

Below is a news report on the teacher who made racist remarks against Indians. We are working on it, as I have earlier said that we would get the bottom of the issue and send a clear message to the powers that be. This is despite, my own community saying whatever they like about me and the MIC over the handling of the issue. I know some people wanted me to be more vocal on this race based issue but I choose to handle it my way. This is just the start. We in the MIC are not going to take this lying down. We have our way of dealing with these issues. We are not in the opposition to just say whatever we like, throwing words etc.


KUALA LUMPUR: The teacher who allegedly used racial slurs on students in a school in Banting was temporarily transferred to another school pending investigations.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the 35-year-old teacher was moved to a school nearer to her house as the school needed a replacement Mathematics teacher.

Speaking at Parliament lobby yesterday, Hishammuddin said he had directed his deputy, Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, to handle the matter.

He said he would not tolerate racial abuse in schools, but did not want the teacher to be falsely accused.

MIC secretary-general Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said there was a misunderstanding among the Indian community that the teacher was "rewarded" as she had been transferred to a school closer to her home.
Subramaniam said: "The Indians feel like the government is not taking any action against the teacher.

"However, I've been told by the education minister that the transfer was made to ensure the teacher's safety.

"The teacher had allegedly told students in a Form Four class that she "wanted to test their patience" and began using derogatory words.
Source NST Online

A Three Cornered Fight

The nominations for the Permatang Pauh by-election went on well this morning. It would be a three cornered fight between PKR's Anwar Ibrahim, BN's Arif Shah Omar and Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia president Hanafi Mamat. Just a few interesting facts.
The seat has 58,459 voters, 69% of whom are Malays, 25% Chinese and 6% Indians and others.
The parliamentary seat was won by Wan Azizah Wan Ismail at the last election in March with a 13,398 vote majority.
The seat has three state assembly seats --Seberang Jaya, Permatang Pasir and Penanti.
Arif Shah is the only BN candidate who won in Seberang Jaya, while Permatang Pasir was won by PAS candidate and Penanti by a PKR candidate at the last election.
Arif Shah in winning the state seat secured only a 533 vote majority, while the opposition's majority in Permatang Pasir was 5,433 votes and in Penanti 2,219.
The BN faces an uphill task in this election but try we will!

The Stage Is Set

The stage is set. Late yesterday, the Barisan Nasional named Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah as its candidate for the Permatang Pauh by-election to face Anwar Ibrahim. The election is expected to be fiery one with both sides launching the best in their arsenal to win the seat, which had been in the hands of the opposition for the last ten years. Arif himself is not new to the constituency as he is the Seberang Jaya state assemblyman. The state seat is one of the three seats in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency. The 52-year old is expected to put up a fair fight against Anwar, who is favourite to win the seat. The nomination is on Saturday while polling has been fixed for Aug 26. The BN on its part will try its best to wrest the seat away from the opposition.

On another note, let me clearly state here that many of those who responded to my earlier post should have checked the date it was posted before commenting and using vulgarities. Judging from the number of anonymous posting, I feel that some people log in everyday just to use profanities against me in the blog. When I posted the last blog, news was that the teacher apologised and was transferred. At that time, I was not informed that she was transferred to a school near her house and it was a better school than Sek Men Panglima Garang. I did not update my blog for a week now due to busy scheduled. But this does not give any reason for anyone to use crude language, to the extent of using derogatory words against me. I have time and time again said that I welcome constructive criticisms. Even if comments are not constructive, I publish all comments. But of late I realise that some commentator or commentators have taken this to be the green light to write just about anything, especially using vulgar words. To these people all I can say is if you don't have anything constructive or proper, don't waste your time writting. Now about the teacher, I would handle things my way! For those who have been ardent visitors to this blog, they would know what I mean. Thank you and God Bless.