Here a a piece: No reason to tick off voters by Wong Chun Wai to share with you.

Below is the full text.

STAND-UP comic Harith Iskandar is the product of Malay-English parentage. He has acted in plays and movies speaking in Bahasa Malaysia and earns a living telling jokes, mostly in English with some Malay and Chinese words thrown in.

He has been telling his audiences that he plans to get married soon with a woman of Chinese-Indian parentage. “I do not know how our children will fill up those forms. I think they will have to tick every box – Malay, Chinese, Indian and lain-lain.”

The predominantly Chinese crowd in Petaling Jaya roared when he asked when Malaysians could stop having to state their racial background. Then he delivered his punch line: “But I am a Malaysian first.” His listeners were on their feet by then, which goes to show how much the issue had struck a chord with urban Malay­sia.

With certain politicians asking the Chinese community to be “grateful” for getting their citizenship and Perkasa asking the community to “repent”, it does not need a political scientist or a sociologist to explain why many Chinese voters have refused to vote for the Barisan Nasional.

Yet, the Chinese electorate has often been pro-establishment, except for 1969 and then in 2008. In 1999, when Umno suffered badly in the hands of PAS, it was the Chinese voters who came to the rescue of Umno candidates.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak retained his Pekan seat with a 241-vote majority against unknown PAS challenger Ramli Mohamed.

Ibrahim Ali, who was then a deputy minister, lost his Pasir Mas parliamentary seat and certainly his predominantly Malay voters rejected him. We don’t recall him telling off the mostly Malay voters for being ungrateful despite being benefactors of the New Econo­mic Policy.

The Chinese voters backed the Barisan so strongly that even the DAP’s Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh lost their parliamentary and state seats in Penang. The Chinese voters were angry at the DAP-PAS electoral pact and wanted to send a strong message of disapproval.

The irony was that then PAS Youth chief Datuk Mahfuz Omar – now a vice-president – said Umno was increasingly dependent on Chinese votes.

“This would be very dangerous to the Malay sovereignty,” he said.

Fast forward 2010, we are hearing such similar statements from the likes of Ibrahim Ali, who have forgotten or chosen to forget that the Chinese votes can help Umno.

When the MCA and Gerakan were weak, it would be the Umno votes that helped these two parties. That has been the way since the Alliance under Tunku Abdul Rahman, who was aware that the inclusion of non-Malays in the government would be crucial to its legitimacy as well as to keep intact the politics of consensus and accommodation.

The power-sharing concept has worked so well that now the Pakatan Rakyat has adopted it via a PKR, DAP and PAS coalition.

Immediately after the 1999 electoral bashing, Najib, who was an Umno vice-president, said the voting trend of Malays – who favoured the opposition – was a signal for Umno to work harder in ensuring the party and Barisan success in future.

Umno, he added, must correct its mistakes and look at itself before pointing fingers at others for the defeat. That, however, seems to be the pattern of some politicians after the Hulu Selangor by-election which the Barisan won. Imagine how these politicians would have reacted had the PKR won the seat.

But it is encouraging for Najib to ignore these hollow calls by going to the Chinese school in Rasa with a RM3mil cheque to construct a building.

Najib is obviously looking further ahead. The RM3mil is a political investment for the next general election, not just for Rasa but for every Chinese majority constituency, as his gesture went down strongly.

There is no need to tell the community to be grateful. After all, the Chinese and Indian communities helped build the nation and the bulk of income tax is said to be from the Chinese community.

A political party is just like any company. It has to sell its product by convincing its customers why it is better than its rivals. In meeting sales targets, no company picks its customers according to their race. Every customer should be treated like a king and every effort should be made to win his heart and mind. So it is incredulous that one would ask his customers to be “grateful” and to “repent” or, worse still, even ask what more the customers want.

The electorate, like the customers, expect their sales persons to be nice to them if they still want to do business. If these salesmen disappear when their services are needed or act arrogantly, then we can expect the company to be out of business.

All is not lost for the Barisan because the scenario has improved. Besides, Najib’s increasing favourable ratings and the economy – a crucial key indicator for the Chinese – has seen some positive outlook starting with a stronger ringgit.

The feel good factor seems to be coming around and while the government’s expectations for the GDP growth is between 4.5% and 5.5%, others believe that 6.6% is possible.

Local companies have reported better market confidence in the first quarter results. In fact, monthly car sales reportedly recovered from a low of 33,000 in October 2008 to an average of 42,000 per month over the last six months.

The transformation plans would certainly have an impact on the country’s economy and the political scenario.

There is no need for anyone to play the racial card and Umno should distance itself from groups or individuals fanning communal sentiments. The fact that the MCA and the MIC put the word “Malaysian” first when they were formed is sufficient proof of their allegiance to this country.

Strangely, comedians like Harith are making sense while our politicians have become comics instead, often with their foot in their mouth.

我們會照顧你的 "kami akan jaga kamu" (we will take care of you)

以下是一篇 MOHSIN ABDULLAH的文章, 他是很风趣的，他这篇文章非常有新意，虽然是写给巫统领袖和党员看的，不过马华党员和华人社会领袖，阿狗阿猫（华人社会才有吧了）也非看不可！今天，看到马华的一些年轻领袖个个神采飞扬，面对记者，听说他们的问题因为获得巫统领袖的插手，终于可以解决了，所以个个眉开眼笑，我也被感染到那种欢乐的气氛，只差没有开香槟庆祝！因为1128不用投票计票，只要汇报就行了，也不用担心出席人数，因为现在谁都可以出席了，更不用担心特大不合法！真是开心死了！

这么一篇好文章，跟你分享：

When UMNO takes on MCA’s role

Attention all UMNO members. Yes, including you leaders.

你好嗎？is Mandarin for "apa khabar?" or how are you? 我們會照顧你的 "kami akan jaga kamu" (we will take care of you) and 請投我們一票 "tolong undi kami" or please vote for us.

That should do it for now. There's lots more to it though.

Mandarin to you, at your age, won't be easy. Any mispronounciation can give totally different meaning.

Be careful. Now how you wish you had gone to study in Chinese schools long time ago right? Still it's not too late. But you've got to work hard. Learn Mandarin well.

But if that's not hard enough, then there're the dialects--Cantonese, Hokkien, Hakka, Teowchew and many more.

Why you might ask must you endure or rather put yourself under all this "hardship"? Well, your Deputy President said recently that UMNO might take the role of "helping the Chinese community if MCA continues to be embroiled in crisis."

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said if MCA "is in such a state, obviously the Chinese community would not be happy and we don't want them to abandon the Barisan."

"So maybe there is no other recourse for UMNO to play that role (i.e. the MCA's role) for the time being to assist them," Muhyiddin went on to say as quoted by English daily The Star recently.

So there you have it. UMNO leaders and members must know Chinese well if they are to carry out the words of your Number Two man. Learning Mandarin and the other dialects is just the start. You must know what's dim sum, chee cheong fun, loh see fun, Mooncake Festival, Holy Ghost Festival, Chap Goh Meh, Zong Zhao Dong. The list goes on and on.

In short, you must know the Chinese culture, food, custom, etc. Again, how you wish you had gone to Chinese schools. (Come to think of it some UMNO folks weren't keen on Chinese schools in the first place and that's putting it mildly. Ask Zong Zhao Dong. Anyway put all that side and for the sake of the BN and Deputy President Muhyiddin get yourself ready.

Also please brace yourself to attend the many ceremonies and events. Including religious ones in temples. And you must attend events where non-halal food is served. Let's be blunt. When pork is the main dish.

You don't have to eat it of course. Nobody's going to force you to take it anyway. But just attend the ceremony, sit at the same table with other guests and respect those enjoying the food. And drinks. (You must know what yam seng means.)

Of course there's more. But you get the picture. You need to feel and live the community. You must realise the Chinese hold education very close to their hearts.

In short, you've got to be as Chinese as possible to understand and appreciate the Chinese. Only then you can "mendampingi" (get close to) the Chinese. Only then you get to carry out your task as envisaged by your Deputy President.

Still that's the easy part. The going will get tough when the Chinese community brings out issues which they want resolved.

There's no need to be specific, as being seasoned politicians in a big party like UMNO, you all know what the issues are, or at least can expect what will be raised.

Suffice to say equality is one. My two sen worth of advice is--get your answers ready.

Only then you can say with confidence 我們會照顧你的 ("kami akan jaga kamu," we will take care of you) and 請投我們一票 ("tolong undi kami," please vote for us). (By MOHSIN ABDULLAH/MySInchew)
MySinchew 2009.11.26

这里有华文翻译的：莫辛阿都拉‧如果巫統要扮演馬華角色

Whether you agree or not, he has a point worth pondering upon:-

BN's choice - lose Perak or the peninsula? by Dr Neil Khor Jin Keong who blogs on kultural khorner.

Umno, BN tak perlukan pengkhianat(Berita Harian)

Berikut ini adalah rencana daripada Pengarang Berita Harian yang disiarkan pada 28/1/2009.
Terjemahan rencana tersebut juga dapat dibaca di Oriental Daily News pada 29/1/2009.

Umno, BN tak perlukan pengkhianat

Pada pandangan saya, pemergian YB ADUN Bota Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim menyertai PR menunjukkan masalah lebih kepada pergolakan politk dalaman parti daripada kekurangannya yang akan dinikmati sebagai ahli pembangkang di Dewan Undangan Negeri Perak. Sama ada kekurangan atau lelebihan yang akan dinikmati itu bukan satu perkara yang menjadi penentu dalam membuat keputusan tersebut.

Kadang-kadang, saya pun tak rasa apakah kelebihan yang saya menikmati sebagai ADUN, cuma mungkin kelebihan yang saya akan menikmati sebagai ADUN apabila membantu menyelesaikan masalah rakyat, termasuklah menjalankan tugas sebagai wakil rakyat, melanjutkan permintaan dan rayuan saya kepada pihak kerajaan dan agensi kerajaan dapat layanan dengan sewajarnya, ini pun sudah cukup baik bagi mereka yang datang mengadu atau memohon bantuan.

Dalam kehidupan manusia ini, kadang-kadang perasaan dan seterusnya pandangan terhadap sesuatu isu dan perkara akan menjadi penentu bagi kita membuat keputusan. Ini termasuk majoriti undi yang telah diberi kepada YB Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim apabila beliau bertanding atas tiket BN/Umno.

Sekarang soal moral politik, Should he relinquish the post as ADUN Bota since he won the seat on BN/Umno ticket?

Are you ready for change?

Menjelang Tahun Baru Cina 2009 ini, terbacalah percakapan YB Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar di Kota Tinggi bahawa Umno mesti berubah sebelum rakyat mengeluarkan 'hukuman mati' terhadapnya, seperti yang dilaporkan di Berita Harian Online dan media massa elektronik lain.

Bagi orang Cina, memang sebutan perkataan "mati" itu adalah satu pantang larang pada masa perayaan ini. Ramai mesti setuju termasuklah ahli Umno sendiri pandangan YB Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar tersebut bahawa apa yang dipertuturkan itu adalah satu hakikat, "UMNO MUST CHANGE".

Ini baru lepas berapa jam ADUN Kawasan Bota, Negeri Perak, keluar dari Umno dan menyertai PKR. Kita tak tahu sebab apa ADUN Bota itu meninggalkan Umno, tentu beliau fikirkan itu pilihan lebih baik baginya. Kerajaan negeri itu memang kerajaan PR, tentu beliau dapat menikmati kelebihannya sebagai ADUN parti Kerajaan.

Kita tak nak debat mengenai isu moral lompat melompat ini, adalah menjadi tanggungjawab YB Bota menjawab kepada mereka yang telah memberi undi kepadanya pada 308 supaya beliau menang atas tiket Umno/Barisan Nasional.

Isu pokoknya adakah YB Bota begitu hampa dengan UMNO sehinnga beliau kena buat keputusan sedemikian? Atau beliau lebih mementingkan kelebihan yang beliau akan menikmati apabila beliau menyertai PR, kerajaan Negeri Perak. Adakah beliau memang memerlukan kelebihan wakil rakyat kerajaan negeri sedemikian untuk membantu rakyat kawasannya? Ini pun kena disemak oleh mereka dalam kawasannya.

"UMNO MUST CHANGE". begitu juga MCA dan parti komponen Barisan Nasional yang lain. Betapa cepat kita boleh berubah dan berapa "banyak" kita dapat berubah akan menentukan nasib Barisan Nasional pada masa akan datang.

Saya terlintas satu formula di Wikipedia: D x V x F > R yang kita boleh sama-sama merujuk dan merenung.

D x V x F > R

D = Ketidakpuas hati terhapap keadaan sekarang(Dissatisfaction with how things are now);
V = Visi mengenai apa boleh dilakukan(Vision of what is possible);
F = Langkah konkrit yang pertama yang boleh dilakukan ke arah merelisasikan Visi itu(First, concrete steps that can be taken towards the vision).

If the product of these three factors is greater than
R = Rintangan terhadap perubahan(Resistance, then change is possible).

"Because of the multiplication of D, V and F, if any one is absent or low, then the product will be low and therefore not capable of overcoming the resistance."

"Are you ready for change?" We have to ask ourselves and our people!

Selamat Tahun Baru Cina! Happy 牛 Year!

Dalam mesyuarat MCA Bahagian semalam(11-4-2008), salah satu agenda ialah perbincangan mengenai kekalahan Barisan Nasional di beberpa buah negeri.

Banyak telah diperkatakan sebelum ini diberbagai jenis media termasuk akhbar, blog dan siaran radio dan TV. Sebab-sebab kekalahan ini tidak dapat lari daripada isu yang wujud lama seperti isu rasuah, harga barangan yang semakin naik, ketidakpuasan rakyat termasuk kaki tangan kerajaan, keangguhan sesetengah pemimpin UMNO dan sebagainya.

Selain daripada isu-isu di atas, yang penting sekali ialah isu dalaman parti dan isu calon sendiri. Memang kali ini tsumnai politik ini kuat, tetapi BN masih dapat mempertahankan pemerintahan di peringkat Federal, dan kurang daripada 2/3 majoriti.