UMNO and its
supporters are making cannon fodder of the unsuccessful attempts by 8 Malay
DAP members to get placement in the 20-person
CEC. I wrote this article before the appointment of 2 Malays into the
CEC.
Lt Colonel Rosli
a former serviceman who is now practising as a lawyer in Seremban said it best.
The next person sitting to me asked for
my name, told him and he didn’t even know I was contesting. I wasn’t going to
campaign to him there and then.
Which means, the
unsuccessful bid for places in DAP’s CEC is more a case for being relative
unknowns. Malay DAP leaders if they wish to get into the CEC must catch the
attention and imagination of DAP delegates. Which means the Malays in DAP must
earn their keep and keep their peace. Don’t go doing a Tunku Aziz stunt.
The worse thing
any Malay DAP member or leader can do is to read what has just happened at the
16th DAP National Congress with an UMNO mindset. Yes, we shall continue
to talk about UMNO- because UMNO stands in our way to form the next federal
government. We must continue to expose the rotten system that UMNO leaders have
built up and that has caused misery to this country, especially to Malays.
The UMNO mindset
is that you deserve to get something just because you are UMNO. UMNO is built
on the idea, which says you can get ahead by cutting corners, leveraging on politics,
exploiting inherited status and so forth. The world does not operate on the
terms of a world by which UMNO operates. The world moves on, driven by people’s
abilities and on the basis on what they can contribute. That is NOT the UMNO
mindset.
Applied to the present
case of the absence of elected Malays DAP leaders- it means that you come into
an organization with its own internal dynamics, expecting to be served,
expecting to get ahead by way of cutting corners. Recognition, respect and appreciation must
now be earned instead of demanding into being accepted because of perceived
stature.
All of us, not
only Malays must now begin to think if we have not already done so, that we
move on in life being assessed by (1) what we can do rather than who we are.
That would depend on our abilities, resolve and single-mindedness. (2) We must believe
that anyone and not just specific persons with specific surnames can do
specific jobs. Today it’s Guan Eng who is SG. In a few years, maybe another
person with a another surname, judged by his peers as having the qualities and
abilities to do the job as SG will replace Guan Eng.
We must first of
all congratulate all those who earned their places in the 20-person CEC.
Maybe I have
missed out the news- but I have not heard any complaints yet from the Malaysian
Indian candidates. More Indians offered themselves in the contest but only Kulasegaran got in. if they did not
grumble and got gruffly, Malay DAP members must learn from them one thing or
two.
A few friends
called to ask, did you lose in the DAP elections? I said I did not lose nor did
I win. I did not contest. When the results were announced late evening, no
Malay candidates won any place in the 20-strong central executive committee (CEC).
A total of eight
Malay candidates contested for places in the 20-person CEC. These included
Zairil Khir Johari ( CM Guan Eng’s polsec), Zulkifli Mohd Noor (216 votes),
Senator Ariffin SM Omar (748), Johor DAP vice-chairman Ahmad Ton (347 votes),
Pahang DAP deputy chairman Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji (121), Desa Manjung
DAP branch chairman Solaiman Op Syed Ibrahim (98), Roseli Abdul Ghani (39) and
Harun Ahmad (28).
The DAP leaders
who won were:-
1. Lim Kit
Siang
2. Lim Guan
Eng
3. Karpal
Singh
4. Chong
Chieng Jeng
5. Loke Siew
Fook
6. Vincent
Vu
7. Tan Kok
Wai
8. Gobind
Singh Deo
9. Tony Pua
10. Teng Chang Khim
11. Fong Kui Lun
12. Nga Kor Ming
13. Chong Eng
14. Chow Kon Yeow
15. Liew Chin Tong
16. M Kulasegaran
17. Boo Cheng Hau
18. Teresa Kok
19. Teo Nie Ching.
20. Ngeh Koo Ham
Many friends text
me saying the results were disappointing
because not a single Malay candidate made it into the 20- person committee. Why didn’t any of them get selected? Perhaps
it’s the fault of the candidates and the delegates and also the DAP leadership.
How do we
explain what happened? First let’s set aside one issue first. This is not an
issue of the DAP leadership abandoning its agenda for inclusiveness. But it has revealed some weaknesses in
translating the agenda into practice.
It shows that
the leadership hasn’t done sufficiently in its efforts to educate the delegates
and DAP members of the importance of inclusiveness. Unless the DAP leadership
has resigned itself to forever be an opposition party as opposed to a party
that can be a partner in governing, then, the will not make efforts to
cultivate Malay DAP members.
I was at the congress
and listened to the speech given by party secretary general, Lim Guan Eng. It was
a as a matter- of- factly speech which did not require enthralling the
delegates with histrionics or banshee-like screaming. It would have been better
if he had left out bashing the UMNO/BN government and talking like an
opposition party at the periphery. He can speak as government now that PR has
control of 4 states and will likely evict UMNO from the seat in Putrajaya.
I thought there was
a little misreading of the mood of delegates. The majority of the delegates
were not accustomed to adjusting their thinking after years of being perceived as
Chinese chauvinists. It comes by as second nature if the majority of the
delegates felt it wasn’t necessary to be inclusive. If this mood was read correctly,
maybe secgen Lim Guan Eng could have applied some moderating influence.
This kind of
thinking, conditioned over the years by the baneful influence of race-centric
thinking could be have been moderated. The secgen missed the opportunity to
apply some leavening influence in his speech. If the secgen had mentioned that
in line with our agenda to evolve into a multiracial party for all Malaysians,
he would very much liked it if delegates in the convention also reflect that
agenda with their voting.
Sakmonkol, you are more high profile and outspoken and probably more well known by the delegates. Why didn't you offer yourself as a candidate. You could have gone some way in helping DAP cultivate an image of inclusivity. It is an opportunity lost.
ReplyDeleteHi Sakmonkol, a very interesting write up and a matured well thought process. Absolutely ! right to the point. The Malays have to start to show their capabilities if they want to be DAP and inclusiveness into a party should not be taken for granted like the bad practises of UMNO.I am a Chinese but I sure do love to see more Malays into DAP and get elected to the top rung as it will be a balanced collective decision making group irrespective of race or religion. It would have been better if the seasoned DAP top guns guide the new Malay members and prepare them in next CEC election. I am not saying to apply the Umno crutches behavior but DAP is charting a new course and new members especially the Malays are at loss in a party that they are not acustomed with.They need to have a sense of belonging and that will appeal to them if there are some form of extended arms just to prop them up but all walking by themselves.It is not much but if a new horizon is in sight it will do and it helps to shut up the verbal diarrhoea from UMNO.
ReplyDeleteAhmad Ton from Johor is also unknown to DAP members???
ReplyDeleteDato,like in all political parties with aspiration to be a member of the next federal government,like a multi racial party,it would be good for the DAP if some Malays get elected into the CEC.But the candidates for the CEC posts were very competitive.Lobbying of delegates were like crazy.Even veterans like Tan Seng Giaw lost too.
ReplyDeleteBut sone important things we can learn from the DAP elections.Candidates must be very active in party work,well known nationally and able to convince the delegates that they deserve to get elected.
The DAP has shown that at least in the party elections,it do not practised cronism.If it does Zairil Johari would have gotten elected.But it really surprised me as I thought that he would get elected,or at least get appointed to the CEC.Maybe he didn't get appointed because his boss thought that he is still young and new to the party.Maybe he needs more time for conditioning.
Racial polarisation has been such an integral part of Malaysians, that it is still unintentionally manifested in our behavior. Whilst the urban and educated masses are constantly talking unity and merit, realistically, it will take some time for behavior and actions to match rhetoric.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that PAS GA and DAP GA has been toned in moderation with a lot of centrist attitude, bodes well for the PR grouping. Compare this 2 GA to the recently concluded UMNO GA. All UMNO ever did was shout and condemn others while offering nothing concrete in terms of policies, visions, directions or even guidance on UMNO matters. The UMNO GA was purely Hitler/Nazism gathering, but with backstabbing and conspiracies overflowing behind the scenes.
Your observation of the DAP GA is noted, but should not be viewed a a lack of progress. People outside the party are comparing it against what is common behavior that has been entrenched for the last 50 years by UMNO through the media. UMNO has always been a dictator-style party where shouting and aggression are the norm. And name dropping and family association or ball carrying is the ticket to riches. So it is to be expected that people are just confused when you have nominations and results based on open concept and merits. Transitions are never easy to accept, let alone talk about it. But these are baby steps and communication between party committee and the members as well as outsiders must be constant. DAP and PAS has to continually project their idealism and expectations to forward Malaysia and compromise for the common good of future Malaysia. They must engage the public constantly. Not just during election period. They will be compared against the backdrop of traditional UMNO way of conducting business for the last 50 years, with media support. Its up to the people to listen, think, analyse and engage each other constantly, to draw up their own conclusions.
Everybody must be engaged. Gone are the days of party-centric rhetoric and actions. That is the idea of all-inclusiveness. Only then will Malaysia overcome the pain of transition into a more mature country. Politically and economically.
Dato,my mistake.Zairil Johari did get appointed into the CEC.My second last sentence should be "maybe he didn't get elected because his boss thought that he is still young and new to the party.
ReplyDeleteDato,more typos.Without my reading glasses I am more like a blind man looking for the walking stick.
ReplyDeleteIt should read,"The DAP has shown that at least in the party elections,it do not practised cronism.If it does Zairil Johari would have gotten elected.But it really surprised me as I thought that he would get elected,but at least he got appointed to the CEC.Maybe he didn't get elected because his boss and the delegates thought,that he is still young and new to the party,and needs more time for conditioning.
Any position elected, appointed, deputized or whatever, MUST be based on merits. Otherwise you cant produce good leaders. As for the Malays in DAP, they must earn their dues. Thus warrant dedication, performance and show of leadership quality. Once you have all these top qualities, when you offer yourself, then there WILL be people supporting you. Then people WILL be blinded with religion, race and color. God creates COMPASSION in human beings if you want and show compassion. Until then, Malays in DAP,do what you need to do in DAP. Dont listen too much to others.
ReplyDeleteIt takes time Dato, for mindset to change.
ReplyDeleteInclusiveness is good, and necessary, because we are a multi-racial country. However, like you rightly pointed out, we should not operate on the Umno model. One is not entitled merely on the basis of race or position. Otherwise, we will forever remain mediocre.
Umno doesn't care because it exits only for itself. It will use whatever means to ensure that it rules in perpetuity and the rest be damned.
What else but continue on the myth of championing race, religion and royalty when whatever Umno does, it does to ensure that ONLY it survives.
Fifty years of the same have not brought a change in the betterment of the Malays as a competitive and resilient lot who are able to stand on the own feet without the help of crutches. This is not something for anyone to be proud of, and certainly the Malays themselves are cognisant of this. Remember that the crutches Umno wants the Malays to rely on, come with a heavy price - subservience to their master, Umno.
Malay leaders in DAP should shoulder on and show that they are not expecting handouts or privileged positions by the mere fact of race like Umno members and leaders expect as if they are entitled to them by the mere accident of birth.
The mere fact the even LGE's assistant Zahril did not manage to get into the CEC shows that DAP delegates expect to see that their leaders are committed to the party's cause over a period of time before they are comfortable with trusting them. I think that this is a good thing in the long run, and so unlike the Umno culture of privileged entitlement that has only worked to corrupt and weaken the party.
I am sure that sooner or later, the Malay leaders in DAP will come into their own, and I personally would be most happy when that happens.
All those leaders who received the most votes have been long time warriors in the party.
But perhaps like you said, the Sec-Gen could have helped speed up the process a little with a speech that reminded the party that it needed to show that it is not only a Chinese based party.
Just don't lose heart. Any fight worth fighting is arduous. Just because a Malay DAP member is not voted into the CEC does not mean that we Malaysians won't vote for him/her.
We will, because a critical needed change of government is long called for and we do know that there are capable Malay DAP members we can trust to do their job.
Malay candidate have to be vocal then members will recognize them and get elected.
ReplyDeleteNot by sitting there and waiting to be elected.
In a year or two , Im sure things will change.
All the best on malay candidate.
You can do it.
Whatever the reasons for the inability of the Malay leaders in DAP to get elected to the CEC, that is the REAL situation of the party. In a party that practices meritocracy, the Malays should not be selected to the CEC as that is not the wishes of the delegates. If the Malays in DAP have any self respect they should decline from being selected. If the delegates is not willing to elect their leaders from among those that represent the largest segment of Malaysians so be it. The Malays should not be selected as tokens just to show that DAP is an inclusive party. The leaders should not just try to resolve the problem with a stroke of the pen. They should take the difficult but necessary route of making the delegates realise that they have to change if they want to change the country's leadership.
ReplyDeleteMany comments have been made on the MSM about the DAP GA and how it has been made out to be a Chinese Chauvinistic party. As many before me have commented, it takes time and I truly believe my fellow malay brothers and sisters of Malaysia are more inclined to be known not because of their racial background but for their ability and capabilities.
ReplyDeleteEstablishing one's self as a capable leader takes time and hard work. No corners can be cut to achieve the ultimate goal. It's through hard yards that we put in that will make us savour our victory more. So to cut a long story short, let us all MALAYSIANS strive and achieve our goals based on our merits not on our racial background.
Sad but true, many Msians are still miles behind of how they think, compare to the developed countries.
ReplyDeleteAfter 55 yrs of living together, still the same mentality of perceiving issues or situations via the racial angle, which only means BN leaders have succeeded with their divide & rule policy to segregate the races to be exploited & manipulated by them to rule perpetually.
To compete economically in this era of globalization and for a new Msia to be achieved, this archaic thinking shouldn't be still lingering in our brains anymore.
Getting something or status awarded because of race inclination, families and relatives connection, and powerful friends influence or persuasion but not on merit is analogous to dictator or communist countries’ culture, which is prevalent in BN.
For Msians and the nation to move convincingly forward; trustworthy, integrity, intelligent, dependable and other good ethics should be our benchmark.
Those who are humble that can perform to their maximum capabilities, most reliable, reasonable and judicious for all races must be elected to lead us, unless its religious matters - individuals are to be chosen from the same faith.
This is the way forward for Msia’s future to be a developed and prosperous nation.
The energetic throbs of the nation’s heart and its healthy spirit lie on the inspired, positive and progressive thinking of its people...
~~~
There is nothing wrong about Malays not getting elected to the DAP CEC.
ReplyDeleteThe competition was very competitive and was made up of many veterans and up and coming young turks.Even veterans such as Tan Seng Giau and Ronnie Liu lost.And Teresa Kok was knock down many notches.
There are many professionals who are proving to have lots of potential as future leaders.That was the reason of intense competition and lobbying for delegates.
All aspiring candidates for future party elections,whether they be Malays,Indians,Chinese or others must work harder to ensure that they be selected.
Dear Datuk Sak
ReplyDeleteThe DAP should place primary emphasis on its guiding principles of Social Democracy and tell the people of Malaysia that we want our nation to progress and become like Norway and Sweden, nations with powerful social democratic movements and which, as a direct consequence, rank high on all socio-economic indicators.
DAP, like PAS should also work to keep its lunatic fringe in check.
(These being Chinese ultranationalists and hardline Islamists respectively). If necessary, by expelling them.
In my opinion, it is perfectly OK to appoint people from under-represented groups into its CEC.
But these people must be committed to the principles of social democracy and must also be persons of ability, be hard-working and have integrity. No more of the type who leave the party and then engage in vindictive attacks on the party because of bruised egos (and even lend support to the opposing, neo-fascist camp).
Phua Kai Lit
Dear Datuk Sak
ReplyDeleteContinue with your writings on the
serious moral decay and gross corruption within the UMNO Baru of Dr M. (Example: a former Minister under a heavy cloud of scandal is featured as a main speaker!)
And keep continuing to recruit Malays into the DAP.
Ignore the bile from your
"anonymous" attackers. It just shows that your writings are very effective. Cheers !
Phua Kai Lit
Dear Sdr Sakmongkol,
ReplyDeleteThe DAP Malay candidates didn't get elected into the CEC. What does that translte into?
Another way to look at the issue is whether the 20 who got in deserved to be in.
I had a good look at those who got in and except for Vincent Vu, the others were all elected MPs or ADUNs and had been long in the struggle for DAP for some time.None of them were undeserving winners.
In my opinion, one really have to be deserving of being elected in and had to do some hard yards before getting a crack at being elected.You need to have a reasonably good track record of slogging it out for the party first.
Mind you people like Seng Giaw and Ramasamy didn't get elected. What message can be discerned from here?
At the end of the day,all candidates must first of all have a good product to sell to the delegates and that product must be relevant to the audience. Lastly,the holder of that product have be in the limelight. In other words, to be in the news constantly for the right reason.
Pro-inclusivity, that Dato did not offer himself as a candidate is a measure of how he sees himself vis a vis the other veteran DAP leaders. Many things in life hinge on timing, when to start, how long to grip on to something, and when to loosen the grip. The lesson from a Malay silat master is that in defeating a rival it is not just the moment of the final throw but how long the grip should take to allow one's body to be in the ideal position for the defining move.
ReplyDeleteOn this count, Dato, true to typical traditional Malay decorum, unlike most UMNO aspirants to high office, did not want to be seen as a man in a hurry. Still, as he says, LGE could have, and I add, should have, felt the pulse of the new reality within DAP. But, but then, he is after all the son of the father.
I agree with most of the entries, those by Bruno, Patrick, kamalampang, Hussin, Feekry and Cahaya Qalbu.
We are at the cross-roads and as many have articulated, mind-sets take time to change, but I hasten to ask how much time do we have left.
Like Mahathir, who seems to have left, my view is Kit Siang has overstayed.
First Walter Loh and Richard Ho left DAP in the early 60s. Others followed. Some key players were Goh Hock Guan, Fung Keat Wing, Yeap Gim Guan, Sim Kwang Yang, Hu Sepang, including the quadruple jump champion, Wee Choo Keong, (MCA>DAP>SDP>PKR>Ind) leaving fellow Kelantanese, Ibrahim Ali, behind by a mile.
If there is anyone in DAP today who could have mattered in slowly weaning party members away from race politics it is Kit Siang. He failed and so did Mahathir on an even grander scale.
Many years ago, there was a debate in Parliament where someone in government mooted the idea of making the Straits of Melaka sovereign territory of Indonesia and Malaysia, I think it was Kit Siang who voiced his opposition. It was for all practical and legal purposes a non-issue. On the part of the government there was near fatal logic to equate the Straits as Malaysia's Suez Canal: the Opposition's response was an empty fatuous denunciation. That incident glaringly showed the difference between plain Opposition member and Oppositionist. And so I began a wary watch.
Or was the assembly going the way it did because half the participants were affected by the mystical number 8, here the 8 mortal sins of contemporary Chinese society as classified by two professors of Chinese social anthropology from China and HK, even if they represent the views of only two Chinese out of a billion plus. The discussion was anchored by Young Ming over Asian News Channel on 13 Jan 2004 and summarised provocatively under, ‘Bad Behaviours of the Chinese.’
Here they are, roast or toast on them:
1. Ill-educated, impolite and no social ethics
2. Self-centred, no consideration for others
3. No class, lack of cleanliness
4. Always rushing to be the first
5. Speaking loudly in public ignoring the presence of other people
6. Too subjective, unhappy to accept criticism
7. Talk too much
8. Always envy others and fail to find out why others succeed
Someone is still toasting the departure of a Chief Judge of our good country. The dismissal took effect on 8-8-88. Cultural osmosis rubs both ways: to joint celebration of life or to cynical humiliation of a good man.
As a Chinese, I am toasting too.
Thank you Dato, Hussin and Cahaya Qalbu.
‘Dixi et salvavi animam meam’: I have said it and have saved my soul.
Karpal Singh and Gobind are sikhs and they got elected. Why? because they are real 'fighters' for the party.
ReplyDeleteWhy did Tony Pua win? Because he has shown his capability and finesse.
Tan Seng Giaw and Ronnie are very capable Chinese and contributed immensely to the DAP cause -- but they lost.
There some Malays who have in the party for many years but they have NOT shown their leadership qualities. Ahmad Ton is a dedicated DAP man but lacks leadership.
Zairil is doing a job and a very bright man. I think he should have made it but I hope he will be elected the next time around.
Dear Dato' Sak,
ReplyDeleteWhilst there are many reasons as to why no Malay candidate was elected, I am sure one is that the members are afraid to get burnt again, as one Tunku Aziz is enough for them to stomach for a long time to come.
I am sure delegates were trying to figure out who among these Malay candidates were Trojan Horses under the direction of UMNO.
Sak!
ReplyDeleteI think those members voted with much thoughts but it got better of them....Those real malay members were in it on the wrong time...after that Tengku Aziz's frogging over umno support....it was kinda hard on them not to vote those malays...That duke gave those malays a bad rap...
Timing for them was plain lousy.
They need to work now and sell themselves and expose themselves....You know those noisy ones and bright sparks to sell dap.
Datuk Sak stand to be corrected. 3 Indians got elected to CEC ie Karpal, Gobind and Kulasegaran. Only in Malaysia a Punjabi is not considered an Indian. The Punjabi's came to Malaysia from India, not another country. Punjab is just another state within India, just like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh or Kerala. This is due to ignorance and the divide and rule mentality that still persist.
ReplyDeleteDatuk Sak, allow me to correct the general misconception that still persists in Malaysia. Punjab is just another state within India, just like Tamil Nadu, Kerala or Andhra Pradesh. So, Punjabi's are as much Indians as anyone else originatiing from India. Therefore, the CEC has elected 3 Indians into it namely Karpal, Kula and Gobind.
ReplyDeleteDato,
ReplyDeleteDid anyone notice that all the elected 20 members of the CEC r high profile activists?
Even for that, their activities involved must be in tune with the THINKING of the delegates. Teresa Kok elected but number of vote obtained reduced. Ronnie Liu was dropped. Teng Chang Khim elected, though being a non-conformist within the party. Tan Seng Gaik, party elder & yet has to be a appointed member. Then all those up-&-coming young turks WHO r being elected, r all high profile activists.
This is where the DAP Malays fall short on their credibility. Not high profile & not well known within the party. Zairil Johari might be a ‘menu-ed’ candidate but he is still short on ‘gamed’ political activities that the grass root DAP members can resonated with. Outside the right circus, Senator Ariffin SM Omar can be a total unknown, due to his subdued political nature. His high score in the CEC vote, perhaps indicate the growing maturity of the DAP delegates to under that DAP must have some caliber Malay M’sian in the CEC. Unfortunately, that thought is only a baby step, no help by the fact that Ariffin SM Omar is so low key that he ONLY became a ‘known’ person after his replacement for T Aziz’ senatorship.
So, ‘In a party that practices meritocracy, the Malays should not be selected to the CEC as that is not the wishes of the delegates.’, the DAP Malays have to do a lot of soul searching. For them, it’s an uphill task, 1st as most of them r facing their own community’s wrongfully ostracized – for working with their race sworn enemy. There is just limited scope for them to champion any issues of substance without any of their communal backslaps. 2nd, the DAP Malays have to be more vocal, just like those young turks, to earn their keeps. Perhaps, Dato, ith yr background & educational knowledge u could be a good pioneer?
All in all, despite of the non-inclusivity of any elected DAP Malays within the CEC, it’s a waking call that any position elected, appointed, deputized or whatever, MUST be based on merits. Otherwise you cant produce good leaders.
Whatever Article 153 mentioned, it is further from the truth. That mentality has poisoned the Malay M'sians mind for far too long.
No body owns anyone anything, without first contributing something FIRST, whether it’s in the DAP CEC or any govt appointment.
U win yr recognition through yr own input, period.
To be honest,one hardly hears of a Malay DAP leader or member speaking out and be heard aside from yourself and Zairil.And that only through articles you've both written.I'll be hard-pressed to re-call names of Malay members in the DAP.The lack of exposure and anonymity of Malay members as far as the general public is concerned must surely be a cause that led to them not getting elected.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest,one hardly hears of a Malay DAP leader or member speaking out and be heard aside from yourself and Zairil.And that only through articles you've both written.I'll be hard-pressed to re-call names of Malay members in the DAP.The lack of exposure and anonymity of Malay members as far as the general public is concerned must surely be a cause that led to them not getting elected.
ReplyDeleteAs an observer, I'm glad to note the DAP top leadership saw it fit to rectify the situation in quick time by appointing deserving personalities to the CEC. Indeed a good step in right direction though delegates's choice of vote must be respected.
ReplyDeleteBut one Zulkifli Mohd Noor who obviously didn't get into the 20s, was unsportingly frothing through his mouth when interviewed by umno's tv station. DAP don't need enemies with members like him! This guy needs to be watched closely.
ariff sabri is right , the secgen should throw some direction on the what the party wants, don't assume. merit...there is no such thing as merit in politics, its pragmatism. dap must proved it is a malaysia-malaysian party , by choosing all chinese elected into cec, it gives the opponent ammunition to shoot. even appointing non-chinese after the selection is not good enough.so dap is still parochial and not pragmatic......
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeletethey should have appointed you, even you did not contest, you have done enough to assist them, how many malays will thumbs up if this is done, missed opputunities DAP................
ReplyDeletealthough you and aspan alias did not offer to contest for cec , if appointed will be a good public relation excercise for DAP, belom savvay lagi lah................
"it means that you come into an
ReplyDeleteorganization with its own internal dynamics, expecting to be served, expecting to get ahead by way of cutting corners. Recognition, respect and appreciation must now be earned instead of demanding into being accepted because of perceived stature"
Spot on Dato.
This is the UMNO attitude most malay politician need to change.
You are well known for your rational thinking and would have won the top 10 seats. Which delegate do not know Sakmongol AK47?
Melayu DAP in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/melayu.dap/?fref=ts
ReplyDeleteDear Dato Sak
ReplyDeleteIt was in late June that I had my first experience on the net...came across your site after reading Mr Hussein Hamid and to tell you the truth it occur to me, "Wow, another Malay !!" . But then the more I read the more I understand how DIFFERENT MALAYSIA AND THE PEOPLE ( IRRESPECTIVE OF RACE ) COULD BE WITHOUT UMNO...IT IS NOT EVEN ABOUT ANY PARTY ANYMORE BUT ABOUT THE PEOPLE..
I can't thank you enough for OPENING OUR EYES AND FOR ARTICULATING OUR THOUGHTS...
YOU SEE even non Malays are being brain-washed NEGATIVELY by the very leaders who are SUPPOSED TO Bring the people TOGETHER...So Dato don't stop writing...for the sakes of ALL MALAYSIANS. Thank you and God bless you !!
Not all the King's men got elected and even some of them have their votes reduced, is that not a good sign?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I heard you have been given a job with a big responsibility at DAP hq. You have been made the Chief Toilet Cleaner.
ReplyDeleteAs a Chinese, I am toasting too, not for Tun Salleh Abas's dismissal, but for the self-critical assessment by the two professors.
ReplyDeleteSome things need to be said even they hurt. Denial in the long terms hurts even more.
...And honestly as a KL resident I have NEVER HEARD the name, ( no offence / disrespect meant ) Ahmad Ton...in fact, if someone mentioned Sakmongkol, I KNOW I WILL ASK IF THAT IS THE SAME GUY AS THE WRITER FROM THE NET...even the name Ariff might not ring a bell UNLESS I am shown the website - love you, Dato !!!
ReplyDeleteIf any member have any REAL self respect, pride and dignity, one will be very careful to offer oneself as a candidate......let alone complaint of not being elected.
ReplyDeleteAre they there for self interest and short term gains - position, status and benefits?
This is a step forward.
So long as the members subscribe to the principles of DAP, it doesn't really matter what colour or creed they come from. Secondly, it augers extremely well for DAP as there are a few new and young faces in the make-up of CEC. Thirdly, compared to 8 Malays contesting in DAP, no Chinese or Indian or Lain-Lain did so in UMNO's cry baby contest. Potong can, contest tak.
ReplyDeleteAnon14:02:
ReplyDeleteKau takde kelas lah! Sama dengan mereka di Putrajaya, tapi dia orang hidup senang, kau makan apa tiap hari?
Stop pretending la.u knows all malays have been bullied by the orang cina dap..melayu bodoh macam hang je yang dah terlajak..2008 tu hanya undi protes aje..cina dap jangan ingat hang tu kuat sangat..pru 13..melayu akan bersatu kecuali sak n aspan..melayu bodoh yang terlajak
ReplyDeleteBetter an angel among true-blooded Malays I know and respect than the devil who has been instigating racism during his 22-year rule as PM ....
ReplyDeleteBetter an angel among true-blooded Malays I know and respect than the devil who has been instigating racism during his 22-year rule as PM ....
ReplyDeleteStill want to defend it. Huh.
ReplyDeleteThe Chinese are straight forward thinking people. They never trust.
PAS and UMNO should be united before it's too late.
Dear Sakmongkol
ReplyDelete“It comes by as second nature if the majority of the delegates felt it wasn’t necessary to be inclusive. This kind of thinking, conditioned over the years by the baneful influence of race-centric thinking could be have been moderated.”
I spent two days mulling over the implications of the DAP election results. What did the results mean in terms of a DAP that wants to become a component of a ruling coalition? What did it mean for a party that wants to be true to its multi-racial philosophy? What did it mean for a party that wants to broaden its appeal to Malays in the coming GE13?
I cannot get into the minds of the delegates; I wasn’t there to gauge the mood of the congress. I had the benefit of reading Ong Kian Ming’s excellent reporting of the event and his analysis of the results. And I appreciate your measured reaction and reading of the event.
The DAP has doubled its membership since 2008. This shows that it has appeal. Its stature has grown tremendously, and so has its ambition. Did the delegates appreciate all this, that the party has grown and that it must therefore be more inclusive? Can the under-representation of Malays be explained away be saying that to get into the CEC, one must struggle for decades like Karpal and Kit Siang did? Can it be explained by saying that a CEC member must be an activist and have a high national profile? Can it be explained that a Malay candidate must be well known to most delegates? If a Malay candidate did not meet all the above criteria would it mean then that he has no hope of making it into the CEC, and if this were so, is this good or bad for the DAP?
To understand all this, we need to remember that the DAP is first and foremost a political party, albeit one with its set of principles and political philosophy. There must be many Malay DAP members who fervently subscribe to these principles, otherwise why would they be members for years? But because the DAP is predominantly Chinese in membership, it would be very difficult for Malays to develop a power base, that is, a base of Chinese supporters. He can only do so with a Malay DAP base. But how does he recruit thousands of Malays when the Malays are wary of the DAP?
The way around this is therefore to make a concession to promising Malay leaders. I agree that perhaps LGE or LKS or Karpal could have said something to this effect. The DAP does not subscribe to UMNO’s racial quotas. So it finds it hard to say the DAP must have x% of Malays in the CEC. If it did that then its decades-long struggle for meritocracy would be ended. Yet there are special circumstances to make some concessions. Politics, after all, is the art of the possible. And the DAP is in the end a political party. There is no point being doctrinaire about one’s principles if that means being out in the political wilderness forever. Some critical thinking is needed.
I like this comment from a reader in Malaysia Today:
ReplyDeleteIt is tokenism gone wrong or gone Wong here! You can trust Malaysian Chinese to do this kind of thing - put up Malay candidates whom they would not vote, then further humiliate them by saying they have not enough "merits"! The ultimate humiliation is to then go on to bring them back in by the back door, pick the poor sods with no merits and patronise them by plugging them into their unelected posts!
Isn't this what the UMNO genius have been doing about the Malays "with no merits"? How is it that Malay candidates haven't enough work done on them that when they are put up, they get nearly no votes? Surely, the department that deal with the Malays ought to have its ass whipped if the DAP is not able to bring its Malays up to scratch! Surely, they look pretty awful standing side by side with those Chinese "with merits" Even worse, when they are now displayed as the unelectable brought in by rather disingenuous methods that are without merits!
This is a wake up call for the DAP party leadership. I believe it will only get better in the future with more inclusiveness.
ReplyDeleteDato, DAP is still a racist party. Why don't you try and get a post in CEC since you are a member of DAP. All i can say is "Good Luck".
ReplyDeleteMalaysia is at a juncture where we badly need big picture thinkers capable and willing to take a stand against the business as usual. For that, Zairil and you will have my support.
ReplyDeleteIt may take time but I think your work and those of other deserving Malay candidates will be duly recognized and appreciated if not already so.
OneMalaysian, I am with you all the way and with the remark by Anon (21:59) put gently that,'The Chinese are straight forward thinking people.
ReplyDeleteAnon's statement mirrors your fourth para, which I shall summarise as the besetting sin of all political parties in Malaysia — playing to the gallery — and in addition, here in this case, applying a simple 'straight forward' clinical solution to something extremely complex to which DAP too has contributed in no small measure over the years.
The five questions you pose in quick succession explains why straight forward, black and white issues were dealt the way they did at the Election, in the manner when the Head over rules the Heart, like what I had written earlier — more on this later.
Hence,'a concession to promising Malay leaders' (last para) was exactly what was missed over the week-end; not surprising when a party's whole mind-set has been skewed for so long by someone who proudly announced about making no concessions to those things the Party holds dear, and of course the Party holds dear to many things if only everyone knows exactly what they all are at any moment.
I see an underlying contributing factor to this divide between 'reality' on the surface engendered by what the eyes and the ears on the head see and hear, and the 'reality' below the surface by what the heart feels.
Simply put: those of us who are condemned to grow up and function in urban settings have little choice but to use the head to survive, while our rural cousins, given their setting, just have that little extra time to look at issues not in a straight forward manner but in a more roundabout way — being contemplative means using the heart to 'think'.
What is wrong with stepping back once in a while, despite the pressure of urban life, to reflect on issues in a larger context, i.e. what is it that we should do, as a minimum, now, to help us move closer to each other? DAP stands in the best position in its history, with a doubling of its membership, to look beyond race, and to be seen to be doing so in tangible ways, not by mere platitudes and rhetorics but by mature reflective guidance from party elders.
I have of course given up on one like I have given up on a few in UMNO.
DAP can choose to ride on the crest of the virtuous wave, blind to the causes which create the waves, the support from 'the other side', for lack of a better expression, or, it can choose to settle on hard earth when the waves hit the shore and do 'some critical thinking'.
A few days in the poorer rural areas would do some good
Last Para:'There is no point being doctrinaire about one’s principles..'. It was worse than that, it was being doctrinaire with a smirk on the face. So the 'tokong' moniker was not totally out of place.
While one party froths with fire and fury, the other gives us a clinical cold shower.
This is after all Malaysia Boleh.
We live in the best of times, we live in the worst of times.
DAP is a great party. Unfortunately, UMNO has frightened the gullible Malays into fearing the party.
ReplyDeleteBut I believe one day DAP will become a truly multi-racial party, perhaps even with a Malay as its Sec Gen or Chairman.
Evolution takes time. Give it 10 years provided more people like Arif and Aspan join the party.
Kenapa bising-bising pasal DAP punya result?
ReplyDeleteIni UMNO = Cina members = 0. MCA = Melayu members = 0. MIC = Melayu members =0.
DAP = 100% Chinese = NO.
PKR = 100% Malays = NO.
PAS = 100% Malays = NO.
Ini UMNO baru punya bangang pasal Matematik PMR pun gagal.
Ini puak bodoh patut ambil kursus "Introduction to Statistics for Non-Statisticians".
You must be joking Dato.....they are a chinese chauvinist party and will always be...you won't stand a chance.join Pas instead....
ReplyDeleteDon't you think Dato Sak deserve after salivating and foaming at the mouth for his beloved party DAP for so long.So much for plurality and inclusiveness.I' m sure he'll be another Tunku...
ReplyDeleteI am sure delegates were trying to figure out who among these Malay candidates were Trojan Horses under the direction of UMNO.........is dato ariff a possibility.you never know mate
ReplyDeleteDear Sakmongkol.
ReplyDeleteAgree totally with your last 2 paragraphs.
As a Chinese who has experienced soft of discrimination by the ameno-government, I wouldn't like the same thing done by the DAP. I would always say DAP must walk the talk - a multiracial, inclusive and care for the people party...not just rhetoric. DAP must do everything to discard its chauvinist and arrogant label painted everyday since its inception by its enemies. DAP must do it by action not just by words to rebut enemies' perception. I would say the leadership and the delegates have missed the golden chance, more with the 13GE around the corner.
Never before had I read such a self deluded post in my entire life.
ReplyDeleteThe failure for even ONE MALAY candidate to be in CEC via election is excused as being unknowns.
WHAT A JOKE.
1) This is the 16th DAP convention and not the first. No Malays after 16 conventions..?
2) Ahmad bin Ton was the sole Malay in last CEC exco. Malays are excluded for A LONG TIME and not just this year.
Lim Kit Siang has been in power for 40 over years longer than Tun Mahathir and longer than most North Korean dictator.
You know what...the Kingship will be passed to Lim Guan Eng and guess what..?? He has more family members in DAP right..??
Nothing more pitiful than a Malay being a house servant serving his Chinese overlords and not realising it.
What fool you are. Good luck kissing ass.
Reza
Reza,
ReplyDeleteThe Malays are worse under UMNO. They are slaves forever...
In early days...it was DAP that I voted to have a voice opposing the Umno government...sort of supporting Malaysia to be democratic.
ReplyDeleteAs time passed by....Lim Kit Siang exposed corruptions with no fear and earn the respect of Malaysians being the champion of human rights and exposing corruptions...to the extend of being jailed for years...to shut his mouth.
PAS was fighting the battle against Umno more on religion and race....who is the hypocrite...who is the real lover of Allah.
For 22 years ...Mahathir governed as the leader of the Rouges and Thieves.... stealing billions with no fear....and his spinning ..acting...made him the dirtiest politician .Umno members love him like a God...for all can get tenders...big and small..to be rich with no fear.
All tenders are having products...services quotations with huge huge over priced quotations...all approved.
The Ali-Baba style of businesses went to greater heights.
To cut the story short..Mahathir made one biggest mistake and that is framing Anwar with Sodomy and had him jailed for 6 years.
Released....and the Malaysian politics changed totally.
12th GE was the sign Malaysians gave to Umno b.
We have been waiting 4 years...the longest delay from an unelected PM...refusing to be elected by the People.
Now ..besides corruptions...murders and murders are walking free and that will be the 13th GE main issues...ignoring so many stunts..ideas done by Najib to lure voters supporting him...without success.
The discussion was anchored by Young Ming over Asian News Channel on 13 Jan 2004 and summarized
ReplyDeleteprovocatively under, ‘Bad Behaviours of the Chinese.’
Here they are, roast or toast on them:
1. Ill-educated, impolite and no social ethics
2. Self-centred, no consideration for others
3. No class, lack of cleanliness
4. Always rushing to be the first
5. Speaking loudly in public ignoring the presence of other people
6. Too subjective, unhappy to accept criticism
7. Talk too much
8. Always envy others and fail to find out why others succeed
Sumpitan Emas, it is admirable that you are courageous and truthful to the core...whereas umno melayu will flip and be self- denial and perkasa and umno trolls and troopers will run amok ! Hopefully, both the educated Malaysian Chinese, the elite Chinese in gated community and those in the lower income segment will take note, and as a community, through self- awareness and determination; a revamp of their Chinese press to include your post and come up with meaningful articles and programs to gear towards a shift away from such behavior. To be fair, I personally have many wonderful Chinese friends who have finesse, through they themselves making better choice, their family upbringing instilling fine character, regardless of the level education. This percentage has to increase in impressive proportion, to be more civil, I hear yays ?
Merry Christmas to Walla, you and all who celebrate Christmas over caroling, light makan- makan and Happy New Year to all !
Anon - 20 December 2012 14:46
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your kind words.
We have enough people around to build a truly great country.
We will get there with the help of all races, that's for sure.
Thanks again.
Reading the headline and Sak's article, taking a close look at the DAP's recent CEC elected members, whom I am for its decades-long struggle for meritocracy, voted DAP in the last two elections by decisive choice from long observation of the political scenarios and leadership across the board and many unsolved scandals after scandals propped up with wearisome racial and religion cards to divide to rule into infinity, DAP top leaders should have taken that one far-sighted and more mature measure that is to make inclusiveness of DAP Malays in at least one CEC post to begin with, and appealing its members to move along to support the move of inclusiveness. Alas even one particular supporter of umno, though a consistent good friend to fellow Malaysians for decades, having studied and grew up with them, his view about DAP leadership seems justified now, regrettably.
ReplyDeleteTo be true democratic, fair and just, leaders must be inclusive as in a multiracial nation, it is not an option, it is a demonstration of self maturity, strength, For those who are about to sneer, they need take a secret look at themselves, reflect deeply about their own perceptions about inclusiveness and socializing with fellow Malaysians, how much, how little, non existent, or non issue as an exemplary color blind like many hundreds of Malaysians or a bit of every attitude on a bad day. " John Lenon, regrettably, you were discovered months back that you are a racist in another blog. Maybe you have matured, no ?
I will reschedule work to coincide with GE13, fly back to vote for Sak or Ahmad Ton or Johari ( ? ) Bersih Malay so long they are not from umno, not penyanggak seumur hidup, not bigots.
Hence, it is not an option to be inclusive, it is progressive and future looking not be exclusive; speaking afar from the continent down under with the most outstanding Malaysians being voted into the parliament, worth deep refection on by DAP leaders and its supporters ? INCLUSIVENESS, taking from personal experience, all of my American friends in their late 20s and early 30s decisively spoke up for their President, against the republicans and their supporters. And re- voted for Obama on meritocracy for being a most hardworking President, consistently inclusive, tenacious on finding solutions and solving issues fast, unafraid to make positive changes and lead fellow leaders and citizens by example, deal hard and fast against any fellow defaulters, sincere, empathetic and without corruption.
I certainly agreed when my bro, Sak inferred that the DAP has it's 'own internal dynamics'. While talking to a person sitting next to me (during the convention), I was shocked when he showed me the 20 names that he's going to vote as the name of Lim Guan Eng was not in his list. After shifting my seat, I discovered another 'dynamics', from another group, that the name of Karpal Singh was also missing from their list. With that I rest my case and walk out to have a good smoke ...
ReplyDelete... also Sak has got a point. Most of the Malay contestants are 'relatively unknown' within the party. Perhaps they've not done enough in condemning UMNO. But again, is it morally right to condemn the old products while trying to sell a new one!!!
ReplyDelete