It was in fact on the Chinese winter solstice day last week when the news of Western Digital closing down broke to me by a former employee of this world’s second largest manufacturer of computer hard disk drives.
I had brushed off rumours few days earlier that this US company would be closing down as that was not the first time the rumours got into my ears.
In fact the rumour mongering had been going on since the end of last year, and it is for this reason that I remained skeptical whenever someone told me that it would be closing down.
But the duck rice lunch at Tracy’s Kitchen I had on the winter solstice with this WD’s former employee, who is now working with a government agency could not be any truer anymore, that I just had to believe the news.
Immediately I called my childhood friend who is an engineer with WD and as he picked up the phone, I asked whether his company was shutting down or closing down and the response was a firm CLOSING DOWN.
So the two words in no seconds sent shivers throughout my body of the plight of the 1,500 employees of this company who will be laid off in stages until March next year.
Of course such a big news travel fast like lightning and the next thing that we saw was of course the immediate response from the state government who summoned the top management of this US company to confirm the news.
The decision to close down the plant in the state is solely the discretion of the company and no one, including the state government could point fingers at the company for the drastic decision at this second Great Depression, as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned recently.
As a kind of solace to the affected employees of WD, politicians of course come to the rescue offering all sorts of statistical figure on the job opportunities available and the various training or retraining schemes offered by the government.
SCORE, for instance has been boasting of needing few millions of workers by 2030 and also another figure of 85,000 of engineers needed in the state.
Ah ha, what a relief to see such a figure but wait a minute, where and how did the state government get the figures from and do we really need such astronomical numbers of workers?
That again I hope is not a mere rhetoric by our politicians in this crucial time when everyone is facing potential lay-offs.
While it may be true that the state needs so many workers but what we want to know is what type of skills or expertise are needed rather than just a boastful figures.
I really do not have the answers on how to help the affected workers, not only those from WD but also the rest of the semi-conductor plants in Samajaya Free Industrial Zone which are also affected with some having to take pay cut or forced leaves.
In this crucial time, why don’t politicians come out and contribute something to lessen the burden of the people rather than holding press conferences?
I suggest the followings:
1. All politicians, regardless of ruling or opposing parties to take a pay cut,
say 20% or 30%.
2. Benefits like entertainment allowance and annual free overseas holiday for
ministers and assistant ministers to be forfeited.
3. The number of political secretaries which now stands at 20 to be drastically
reduced as I do not see the relevance of having so many people holding the
post.
4. The state administration to use cheaper cars instead of luxurious ones like
BMW and Mercedes Benz.
5. Car pooling to be exercised for senior officials and ministers going to same
place for functions.
6. All senior government officials to travel only in economy class rather than
business or first class or if possible, travel with Air Asia, whichever is
cheaper.
7. No more five or six stars hotels for these officials when making official
trips. Settle for affordable yet comfortable hotels.
Why not? After all it’s time for the politicians and government to walk the talk and take austerity drive to channel something back to the people.
I hope reprimands won’t get to me for the noble suggestions.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
No more safe seat
The drizzle did not stop thousands of people to turn up at the DAP anniversary dinner at 7th Mile on Sunday evening.
The 350-table dinner, attended by some of the hot shots of the party which made waves at the general election earlier this year is said to be overly crowded where it jammed the traffic at the adjacent areas.
National DAP leaders like Lim Guan Eng, Lim Kit Siang, Tony Pua, Dr Tang Seng Giaw and of course its state leaders like Chong Chieng Jen took on the rostrum to deliver fiery speeches to the crowd who had gathered as early as 6pm.
Contrary to SUPP which had earlier on just completed its two-day delegates conference which saw the status quo in its line-up for the next three years, the mood of its delegates at the conference was somber for apparent reason.
Looking at the DAP dinner, it was a wake-up call to Barisan Nasional, especially SUPP that the mood on the ground is so fervent that people want change.
Would the DAP dinner translate into votes in the coming state election and send its political nemesis, SUPP packing its bag?
The general sentiment on the ground, as one senior lawyer said is that people have grown tired with the many shortcomings of the current administration that they want something different.
With DAP having six representatives now in the State Legislative Assembly, it is a force to be reckoned with and many political observers are putting their bets on the party to make further inroads in the Chinese dominant seats in the coming state election.
SUPP deputy president, Tan Sri Law Hieng Ding in his speech at the party delegates conference had said that the old guards should ship out and make way for the younger leaders to take over the helm of the party.
He even acknowledged that many of the party leaders were already in their 60’s and 70’s and in political term, this may not be a healthy sign, as one political scientist said before.
Delegates and political observers were keeping a close watch on the two-day event but as news broke up on the final day that there would be no changes at the leadership, many were seen leaving the hall heading back home.
In 2006 state election, the party lost eight seats out of the 19 seats it contested with two assistant ministers namely Datuk Sim Kheng Hui and Datuk Alfred Yap Chin Loi being the casualties.
And now that the party had done with its party election and with many of its leaders had gone on year-end holidays, what does the two-day conference entail in the coming state election?
The DAP, judging from the huge crowd at its dinner at 7th Mile, is seen as a formidable force which could grab more seats from SUPP to further add on to the current six YBs it has.
The Chinese electorates have always been practical and demanding and with the current gloomy economic atmosphere, the state election would be seen as a survival battle for SUPP to keep its relevance.
Politics, as the outgoing SUPP Youth Chief, Alan Sim said is all about perception and that to a certain extent, speaks of how important change is not only as a mere rhetoric but to be seen as done and showed to the people.
No seats in the coming state election should be taken lightly by BN with the PKR and DAP already forming state government in five states in the Peninsular.
With the available resources on its side, the fight between the BN and the Opposition will be equal with the electorates holding the joker.
The 350-table dinner, attended by some of the hot shots of the party which made waves at the general election earlier this year is said to be overly crowded where it jammed the traffic at the adjacent areas.
National DAP leaders like Lim Guan Eng, Lim Kit Siang, Tony Pua, Dr Tang Seng Giaw and of course its state leaders like Chong Chieng Jen took on the rostrum to deliver fiery speeches to the crowd who had gathered as early as 6pm.
Contrary to SUPP which had earlier on just completed its two-day delegates conference which saw the status quo in its line-up for the next three years, the mood of its delegates at the conference was somber for apparent reason.
Looking at the DAP dinner, it was a wake-up call to Barisan Nasional, especially SUPP that the mood on the ground is so fervent that people want change.
Would the DAP dinner translate into votes in the coming state election and send its political nemesis, SUPP packing its bag?
The general sentiment on the ground, as one senior lawyer said is that people have grown tired with the many shortcomings of the current administration that they want something different.
With DAP having six representatives now in the State Legislative Assembly, it is a force to be reckoned with and many political observers are putting their bets on the party to make further inroads in the Chinese dominant seats in the coming state election.
SUPP deputy president, Tan Sri Law Hieng Ding in his speech at the party delegates conference had said that the old guards should ship out and make way for the younger leaders to take over the helm of the party.
He even acknowledged that many of the party leaders were already in their 60’s and 70’s and in political term, this may not be a healthy sign, as one political scientist said before.
Delegates and political observers were keeping a close watch on the two-day event but as news broke up on the final day that there would be no changes at the leadership, many were seen leaving the hall heading back home.
In 2006 state election, the party lost eight seats out of the 19 seats it contested with two assistant ministers namely Datuk Sim Kheng Hui and Datuk Alfred Yap Chin Loi being the casualties.
And now that the party had done with its party election and with many of its leaders had gone on year-end holidays, what does the two-day conference entail in the coming state election?
The DAP, judging from the huge crowd at its dinner at 7th Mile, is seen as a formidable force which could grab more seats from SUPP to further add on to the current six YBs it has.
The Chinese electorates have always been practical and demanding and with the current gloomy economic atmosphere, the state election would be seen as a survival battle for SUPP to keep its relevance.
Politics, as the outgoing SUPP Youth Chief, Alan Sim said is all about perception and that to a certain extent, speaks of how important change is not only as a mere rhetoric but to be seen as done and showed to the people.
No seats in the coming state election should be taken lightly by BN with the PKR and DAP already forming state government in five states in the Peninsular.
With the available resources on its side, the fight between the BN and the Opposition will be equal with the electorates holding the joker.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
May the best person win
The SUPP Headquarters has never been so carnival-like atmosphere on Wednesday if not for the nomination for the party’s Youth and Wanita wings.
The hollow state of the headquarters had suddenly come alive with delegates from both movements, which will be holding its delegates conference today, submitting their nominations to vie for the central committee.
Journalists covering the nomination process must have a long day, but thanks to the IT, they were able to e-mail back their news write-up to the editors and could call it a day to hit the traffic jam right on time.
As the nomination closed at 5pm sharp, the SUPP Youth received 127 nominations, far exceeding the 72 central committee posts, thus paving way for an election.
Nomination for the SUPP Wanita meanwhile is seeing 100 aspirants vying for the 49 central committee posts, meaning the women will also see a contest.
SUPP Sibu branch Youth Chief, Chieng Jin Ek, 33-year old and Batu Lintang Youth Chief, Sih Hua Tong, 44, will slug it out for the post of Youth Central Chairman, after former Pending Youth Chief, Alan Sim Yaw Yen, 44, announced that he would not be defending the post recently.
As for the SUPP Wanita, Batu Lintang Women Chief, Cheng Yi and Piasau Women Chief, Suzanne Lee will lock horns in the battle for the Women Central Chief post, vacated by Sibu Women Chief, Datin Janet Lau.
The two tier system will be practised in the election for both wings as stipulated in the constitution, meaning the first round of election will see the delegates electing the central committee members.
In the second round, the elected central committee members will elect the office bearers who will helm the movements in the next three years.
This method of election will have no doubts compel both camps to come out with their “cai tan” or menu to the voting delegates who will determine the new line-up.
Whatever the outcome of the election which I foresee to be a close fight between the two hopefuls, both in the Youth and Wanita wings, the new lineup will be seen as the next echelon of leaders who will take over the party leadership, many of whom are already in their twilight years.
Being perceived as the next echelon of leaders, these young aspiring politicians would have an uphill task to face the electorates in the coming state election, if and only if they are fielded as candidates, with the current political scenario and the weak perception of the party in the eyes of the public.
How this new breed of politicians will rejuvenate the party, only if they were given ample opportunities by the top leadership, will remain to be seen.
How are they going to win back the heart of the voters and be seen as the voice of the people, championing for the people’s interest, without both hands tied is best left answered by the new line-up.
The past six years have seen the SUPP Youth, under the leadership of Alan Sim creating a change of its image.
But the various initiatives undertaken by the movement, in particular its education project, which has won accolades from many parents and students, could not withstand the onslaught of the people’s unhappiness over the government’s many shortcomings, resulting in the Sim’s incomprehensible defeat to DAP’s Chong Chieng Jen in the Bandar Kuching parliamentary election, despite his good and clean records.
The new leadership of both wings must be a force of change for the party.
The task, seen by many political observers, as extremely difficult with the current set-up in the party may be the first hurdle for these young aspiring politicians.
Many politicians have said enough about Obamania but how many are ready to do the necessary change other than the admiration being a mere rhetoric?
Change is imminent but at a cost and it takes a great leader with strong political will to effect the change.
Whatever it takes, as you read this column, the delegates of both SUPP Youth and Wanita will be casting their ballots to elect the new leadership of the movements.
To whoever is the victor and loser, both are the winners of this party election as democracy is at least being practised and the election process duly exercised and experienced by the members.
May the best man win.
The hollow state of the headquarters had suddenly come alive with delegates from both movements, which will be holding its delegates conference today, submitting their nominations to vie for the central committee.
Journalists covering the nomination process must have a long day, but thanks to the IT, they were able to e-mail back their news write-up to the editors and could call it a day to hit the traffic jam right on time.
As the nomination closed at 5pm sharp, the SUPP Youth received 127 nominations, far exceeding the 72 central committee posts, thus paving way for an election.
Nomination for the SUPP Wanita meanwhile is seeing 100 aspirants vying for the 49 central committee posts, meaning the women will also see a contest.
SUPP Sibu branch Youth Chief, Chieng Jin Ek, 33-year old and Batu Lintang Youth Chief, Sih Hua Tong, 44, will slug it out for the post of Youth Central Chairman, after former Pending Youth Chief, Alan Sim Yaw Yen, 44, announced that he would not be defending the post recently.
As for the SUPP Wanita, Batu Lintang Women Chief, Cheng Yi and Piasau Women Chief, Suzanne Lee will lock horns in the battle for the Women Central Chief post, vacated by Sibu Women Chief, Datin Janet Lau.
The two tier system will be practised in the election for both wings as stipulated in the constitution, meaning the first round of election will see the delegates electing the central committee members.
In the second round, the elected central committee members will elect the office bearers who will helm the movements in the next three years.
This method of election will have no doubts compel both camps to come out with their “cai tan” or menu to the voting delegates who will determine the new line-up.
Whatever the outcome of the election which I foresee to be a close fight between the two hopefuls, both in the Youth and Wanita wings, the new lineup will be seen as the next echelon of leaders who will take over the party leadership, many of whom are already in their twilight years.
Being perceived as the next echelon of leaders, these young aspiring politicians would have an uphill task to face the electorates in the coming state election, if and only if they are fielded as candidates, with the current political scenario and the weak perception of the party in the eyes of the public.
How this new breed of politicians will rejuvenate the party, only if they were given ample opportunities by the top leadership, will remain to be seen.
How are they going to win back the heart of the voters and be seen as the voice of the people, championing for the people’s interest, without both hands tied is best left answered by the new line-up.
The past six years have seen the SUPP Youth, under the leadership of Alan Sim creating a change of its image.
But the various initiatives undertaken by the movement, in particular its education project, which has won accolades from many parents and students, could not withstand the onslaught of the people’s unhappiness over the government’s many shortcomings, resulting in the Sim’s incomprehensible defeat to DAP’s Chong Chieng Jen in the Bandar Kuching parliamentary election, despite his good and clean records.
The new leadership of both wings must be a force of change for the party.
The task, seen by many political observers, as extremely difficult with the current set-up in the party may be the first hurdle for these young aspiring politicians.
Many politicians have said enough about Obamania but how many are ready to do the necessary change other than the admiration being a mere rhetoric?
Change is imminent but at a cost and it takes a great leader with strong political will to effect the change.
Whatever it takes, as you read this column, the delegates of both SUPP Youth and Wanita will be casting their ballots to elect the new leadership of the movements.
To whoever is the victor and loser, both are the winners of this party election as democracy is at least being practised and the election process duly exercised and experienced by the members.
May the best man win.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Oops you did it again, YB!
Our politicians are at it again this time.
With party elections just around the corner, what can we expect from them other than making certain statements which could uplift their popularity at the expense of racial harmony in the name of votes.
Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, the front runner for the Umno Youth Chief post, had recently caused uproar when he called for the Government to abolish the vernacular school system to enhance the unity among the people and to check racial polarization.
As expected, his statement invited politicians from any divides coming out in droves to point fingers at him, questioning his rationale for making such a statement to score some political mileage.
I am amazed with the numbers of politicians, especially those from the Barisan Nasional who also took a shot at Mukhriz for his gaffe for they know for sure what the consequences would be should they remain tight lipped.
The result of the March 8 general election is still lingering in these politicians’ mind. So, I do not really blame these politicians for taking up almost all the news space, leaving some more deserving news in the back page.
Mukhriz then came out with clarification few days later for his earlier statement, a trend which it seems to me so popular among our YBs when met with criticisms.
He clarified that he did not call for the vernacular schools to be closed down, but that the system should be one and brushed aside that the issue of closing school arose for that is the last thing he wants.
He was quoted as saying that the school would remain the same physically and it is the system that needs changing where the medium of teaching would eventually be one, which is Bahasa Malaysia, except for Science and Mathematics.
But I am glad that all these have been put down to rest when Prime Minister designate, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak assures that all vernacular schools will continue to exist as long as the Chinese and Indian communities need such a system.
But coming back to the issue, have we ever thought why racial polarization exists in this country which is made up of multi racial and cultural settings?
Is the education system to be blamed for the polarization?
I beg to differ if I may, Mukhriz or any of the YBs! And you know the answer too.
We have to go down to the basic to analyse what is actually going wrong and not to be so quick to sink into opinions that education is the sole factor leading to racial disharmony.
Many of us, when we were young had been told that so and so is a Malay, Chinese or Indian.
Our mind has been preset with this stereotyping that it becomes almost impossible to change, thus making it hard for every Malaysians to connect with each other.
Of course, the protectionist policies which have been seen as double standard by the non-bumiputras, which I do not wish to elaborate further for I do not want to do a RPK, has also contributed to the racial polarization as the non-bumiputras feel that they have been ill treated despite pledging their loyalty to this country.
There are just too many issues which lead to this fiasco which I believe would take a great leader in this country to correct, which I am doubtful that we could see one emerging in any near future.
While the March 8 general election may give some reprieves that racial politics may be diluted further, I am not so optimistic anyhow as the political system in this country is still very much dominated by racialism.
Even a minor issue concerning road signages could be blown up into brouhaha when to many of us, it does not even warrant any of our attention.
But alas, what can we do except to hope for the emergence of a new breed of politicians who could understand what the new generation of Malaysians wants.
Of course, change cannot be done over night but it must start from somewhere, even if it means to let go of certain privileges which have long been enjoyed.
The world is moving at high speed with nations over taking each other mercilessly and it is just so childish and naive of our politicians if they continue harping on communal issues such as education, which is fundamentally the right of every single Malaysians as enshrined in the Constitution.
I am longing to see one day when our politicians could rise to the occasion, not for the wrong reason but for fighting for every Malaysian regardless of one’s background, who could make lives much easier in this trying time of economy recession.
Till then, let us hope that our nation could weather the looming recession in this sorry state of political gaffes.
With party elections just around the corner, what can we expect from them other than making certain statements which could uplift their popularity at the expense of racial harmony in the name of votes.
Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, the front runner for the Umno Youth Chief post, had recently caused uproar when he called for the Government to abolish the vernacular school system to enhance the unity among the people and to check racial polarization.
As expected, his statement invited politicians from any divides coming out in droves to point fingers at him, questioning his rationale for making such a statement to score some political mileage.
I am amazed with the numbers of politicians, especially those from the Barisan Nasional who also took a shot at Mukhriz for his gaffe for they know for sure what the consequences would be should they remain tight lipped.
The result of the March 8 general election is still lingering in these politicians’ mind. So, I do not really blame these politicians for taking up almost all the news space, leaving some more deserving news in the back page.
Mukhriz then came out with clarification few days later for his earlier statement, a trend which it seems to me so popular among our YBs when met with criticisms.
He clarified that he did not call for the vernacular schools to be closed down, but that the system should be one and brushed aside that the issue of closing school arose for that is the last thing he wants.
He was quoted as saying that the school would remain the same physically and it is the system that needs changing where the medium of teaching would eventually be one, which is Bahasa Malaysia, except for Science and Mathematics.
But I am glad that all these have been put down to rest when Prime Minister designate, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak assures that all vernacular schools will continue to exist as long as the Chinese and Indian communities need such a system.
But coming back to the issue, have we ever thought why racial polarization exists in this country which is made up of multi racial and cultural settings?
Is the education system to be blamed for the polarization?
I beg to differ if I may, Mukhriz or any of the YBs! And you know the answer too.
We have to go down to the basic to analyse what is actually going wrong and not to be so quick to sink into opinions that education is the sole factor leading to racial disharmony.
Many of us, when we were young had been told that so and so is a Malay, Chinese or Indian.
Our mind has been preset with this stereotyping that it becomes almost impossible to change, thus making it hard for every Malaysians to connect with each other.
Of course, the protectionist policies which have been seen as double standard by the non-bumiputras, which I do not wish to elaborate further for I do not want to do a RPK, has also contributed to the racial polarization as the non-bumiputras feel that they have been ill treated despite pledging their loyalty to this country.
There are just too many issues which lead to this fiasco which I believe would take a great leader in this country to correct, which I am doubtful that we could see one emerging in any near future.
While the March 8 general election may give some reprieves that racial politics may be diluted further, I am not so optimistic anyhow as the political system in this country is still very much dominated by racialism.
Even a minor issue concerning road signages could be blown up into brouhaha when to many of us, it does not even warrant any of our attention.
But alas, what can we do except to hope for the emergence of a new breed of politicians who could understand what the new generation of Malaysians wants.
Of course, change cannot be done over night but it must start from somewhere, even if it means to let go of certain privileges which have long been enjoyed.
The world is moving at high speed with nations over taking each other mercilessly and it is just so childish and naive of our politicians if they continue harping on communal issues such as education, which is fundamentally the right of every single Malaysians as enshrined in the Constitution.
I am longing to see one day when our politicians could rise to the occasion, not for the wrong reason but for fighting for every Malaysian regardless of one’s background, who could make lives much easier in this trying time of economy recession.
Till then, let us hope that our nation could weather the looming recession in this sorry state of political gaffes.
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