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Friday, July 31, 2009

Sex scandal complaint against Soi Lek dropped/三大理由撤销针对蔡细历控状, 黄清源:事过境迁,不合时宜

Extracted from New Straits Times, 31.07.09

Kuala Lumpur: The MCA division chief who lodged a complaint against party deputy president Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek over his DVD sex scandal, has withdrawn it.

In the wake of the withdrawal, it was not immediately known if the party’s disciplinary board hearing on the former minister’s case scheduled for Aug 4 will go ahead.

Simpang Rengam MCA division chief Eng Cheng Guang, who lodged the complaint with the disciplinary board gave thre reasons for his sudden change of mind.

They are:

  • He was upset that his anonymity has been compromised as the panel had revealed his identity to Dr. Chua;
  • The complaint was submitted in May last year to the board previously headed by former deputy president Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy; and
  • The board had sat on the complaint for more than a year without any action being taken.

"I had filed my complaint with the previous disciplinary panel and I decided to drop it now because I do not agree with the way the current panel is doing things," he told the New Straits Times.



Eng denied that he was pressured into withdrawing his complaint, saying that it had been more than a year since the scandal and circumstances had changed since.



Dr Chua was caught on hidden camera having a tryst with a woman at a hotel in Johor early last year. Subsequently, he quit his government and party posts. 

Last October, he was elected as MCA's deputy president in the party polls.

Eng said he had faxed his request to the panel last Tuesday (July 28) to withdraw his complaint but had yet to receive any response from them.

In his two-page letter lodged with the former disciplinary panel in May last year, Eng had complained that Dr Chua had committed adultery and oral sex.

He had also called the panel to take disciplinary action against Dr Chua for tarnishing the party's image.

When contacted, disciplinary board deputy chairman Datuk Jimmy Low said he had "just found out about" this development.

"It is news to me but I do not know the reason (for Eng's withdrawal of his complaint)."

Low declined to elaborate further, or on whether the board would continue its investigations.



Dr Chua was scheduled to appear before the board on Aug 4 at 2.30pm.

He said he had yet to receive any word from the board regarding this development.



"Until I receive something in black and white, I am prepared to attend the hearing. I am a party man and spent 25 years in MCA. 



"I am ready to appear before the board because I feel they will make a decision based on party interests," he said, adding that he had accepted the fact that his scandal would be continually raised to discredit him.



He called on members not to speculate, remain calm and united and continue serving the party.



"I hope the party can really close ranks and move forward. 



"People are watching us and we have bigger issues con fronting MCA and the nation.



"Leaders' behaviour should not be totally absorbed into party conflicts that we forget the bigger picture of helping the prime minister to achieve his 1Malaysia slogan."

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转载自当今大马, 30.07.09

by 李永杰

马华署理总会长蔡细历(右图)被纪委会传召风波将会出现峰回路转的局面?这是因为该党柔州新邦令金区会主席黄清源在两天前,突然向纪委会撤销他在一年前指责蔡细历涉及性爱光碟风波,破坏党形象的投诉。

他是基于三大理由撤销这项投诉:

(一)不认同纪委会将他的投诉函转交给蔡细历,认为这是不尊重投诉者的做法。

(二)当初是向陈广才为首的纪委会投诉,但是纪委会并没有采取任何行动。

(三)事情已过去一年多。

黄清源声称,再大的火头都有过去的时候,现在再追究过去的事情,已是事过境迁,不合时宜。

决定权在纪委会至今没回应

黄清源在接受《当今大马》电询时,证实本身是在本月28日以传真方式,将要求撤销投诉信寄给纪委会,但至今却一直没有获得任何回应。

询及在他撤销投诉之后,纪委会是否会撤销调查蔡细历时,黄清源仅表示,权力在他们手中,就看他们这么做

他也告诉媒体,本身是在没有蒙受任何压力之下做出撤销投诉信的决定。

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

H1N1 in Malaysia Getting Worse

A month ago, I posted in my blog that the H1N1 would spread rapidly in Malaysia. It started off with imported cases. It is now local infection that accounts for more than 50% of the total 1200 cases reported. This is to be expected since the local infected cases become the source of local transmission. I have always felt that we are not stringent enough in picking up imported cases at the point of entry.

Since it has a low mortality rate, there is a tendency by healthcare providers and also patients to treat it like common flu. Out of the 1200 cases, we have 4 reported cases of death. So far, the mortality rate is 0.5 percent. With such low mortality, there’s a tendency to let our guards down and throw cautions to the wind. However, I am glad to note that the Director General of Health seems to be very committed in this battle against the H1N1. However, like all infectious disease control, it involves many healthcare providers, what we call the chain of command from the nurses, doctors, lab technologists and etc. The lack of sensitivity and commitment by any of the healthcare providers would render the whole effort to contain the transmission a failure.

What was puzzling is that the Minister of Health one and a half months ago said that the Ministry has ordered H1N1 vaccine to be given to healthcare providers who are front liners. In fact, the H1N1 vaccine is now on trial. So I wonder how he ordered one and a half months ago! Maybe the healthcare providers in Malaysia are part of the H1N1 vaccine trial on human being.

Most of the patients who succumbed to the H1N1 infection seem to have underlying illness, which rendered them more prone to death. The pregnant, the elderly, the very young age group and those with underlying illness seems to be the high risk group. Pregnant ladies are four times more prone to infections.

I am surprised about the death involving a 42 years old man reported in the papers yesterday. This is a classical case of lack of awareness by the attending doctors. This patient falls sick on 6th July. After a series of visits to clinics and finally private hospital, the diagnosis was made only on 22nd July. By then, it was too late. We lost a middle-aged man in his prime of life. One can speculate that if the diagnosis was made much earlier, he could be saved. A total of 16 days were wasted and all we need was the patient’s throat swab. I wonder why after seeing so many doctors, none of them even give a thought to the H1N1 despite batteries of test and a declared pandemic by WHO. Doctors can only make a diagnosis if they keep in mind diseases which becomes the current epidemic. Hence, many doctors also failed to make a diagnosis for dengue until it is too late. There should be no excuse since there is enough publicity to alert doctors that the H1N1 and dengue fever is staring at us everyday. Maybe practicing doctors should attend a refresher course to remind them to think of these 2 diseases. A late diagnosis would be fatal for both dengue and H1N1.

While the H1N1 is highly infectious, one should not lose track of dengue fever which is endemic in this country. With the epidemic going on, I will not be surprised that the number of death this year may be more than 120 cases. The number of dengue cases recorded could also be more than 50,000. Both the figures are the highest ever recorded in this country. It is an achievement of which we are not proud of.

---------------------------

大约一个月前,我在布落格写道国内的H1N1流感疫情将迅速蔓延。我国的疫情始于外国传入病例,但目前,本土感染病例与日俱增,已占了H1N1流感总数的一半。本土感染是集体感染的源头,所以本土病例增长是可预见的。但我始终认为,我们在入境处检证外国传入病例不够严格迅速。 由于死亡率偏低,医疗人员以及病患本身往往视发病为普通流感来进行治疗。我国目前有1千200宗确诊病例,4宗死亡,死亡率为0.5%。以如此低的死亡率来看,国人容易松懈防范。但我欣慰卫生总监非常尽责致力与H1N1流感抗战。然而,像其他传染疾病控管程式一样,这场疫战需要各医药单位的紧密配合,既我们所谓的指挥链:从护士、医生到化验技术人员等,缺一不可。任何一方缺乏敏感度或责任心,都将导致抗疫努力失败。

让人费解的是,卫生部长月前声称,卫生部已经为前线的医护人员订购H1N1流感疫苗。但事实上,该流感的疫苗还在试验阶段。我奇怪他何以能在一个月半前订购疫苗?也许我国的医务人员接受试验

目前的病例看来,大多数不幸染上 H1N1流感的病患几乎同时都患有其他潜在疾病,而增加死亡的风险。孕妇、老、幼以及潜在疾病患者都属于高风险群体群体,孕妇感染的机率比一般人高出4倍!
我对42岁患者死亡的病例感到惊讶。那是一宗主诊医生疏忽的典型个案。病人在7月6日病倒,并数度到私人诊所求诊,最终在22日送往一家私人医院时才被诊出病因,但为时已晚,失去性命的男子正直壮年。人们纷纷推测若及早诊断,该男子或能保命。浪费了16天,医生需要的不过是病人咽喉的拭样。我不能理解,世界卫生组织既已宣布H1N1大流行,多名曾为死者诊治的医生,难道没有一名医生想过从此病着手?

医生必须对当前流行的疫症有足够认知,才会有确诊结果。在一些时候,许多医生也因同样态度,而没有及时诊出骨痛热症,发现时已束手无策。医生们没有任何借口开脱,因为我们有足够和广泛的宣传提醒他们,H1N1流感以及骨痛热症肆虐我国。也许,他们应该参加进修课程,提醒自己对这两项疾病的认知,因为延诊H1N1流感及骨痛热症随时可以致命!

虽然H1N1病毒的传染性很强,但我们也不能停止追踪骨痛热症疫情。由于骨痛热症持续流行蔓延,我对今年的死亡人数或会超过120例不感到惊讶,而骨痛热症病例也可能破5万宗,成为例年来最高的骨痛热症记录,惟并不值得我们感到自豪。

Helping The Poor

This is one of those KRAs set by the Prime Minister that all the recipients will receive their cash aid on the 1st of each month. Beginning this year, under the CARI program by the Ministry of Welfare, families with the income of less than RM720 can apply for cash aid. Each family will receive RM100 – RM300 per month.

In each Parliamentary seat, contract officers were employed in order to identify those who qualified for the aid. It was a good program and the response was tremendous. However, like all programs where money is involved, then you have a lot of people who do not qualified but insist in applying. These are selfish people who never give a thought that by receiving when they don’t deserve it, they are depriving the rights of other person who required such aid. I personally encountered a case where the applicant was staying in a residential area where all the houses located in that residential area are valued no less than RM350,000. This particular lady who co-owned the house with the husband claimed that since the death of the husband, she has gone into poverty level. She claimed that her two sons who are graduates do not take care of her financially. I find it difficult to support such applications. She probably wanted more pocket money rather than really needing financial aid to tie over her needs.

The contract officers, while doing good work however are very poorly paid. They are only paid RM35 per working day with travelling allowances. The contract officer’s workload can be heavy since each Parliamentary seat will have at least 2000 to 6000 applicants. To do home visits and verifications is a onerous task. I met contract officers who while committed are frustrated with the low remunerations. The Ministry of Welfare should review the remunerations for the contract officers. It will attract better quality contract officers.

The time has come for the government to give grant directly to the poor. It is easier to monitor, more equitable and better appreciated by the rakyat. Of course the initial phase of identifying the beneficiary may be tedious and voluminous but it is one-off.

In Malaysia, a lot of the goods and services are heavily subsidized by the government. This is not equitable as the rich also benefits from the subsidy. Today, we have a heavily subsidized educational system, healthcare system, gas and fuel, and a lot of other essential goods are also subsidized. Because of the subsidy, all these are artificially maintained at a lower price rather than the real market price. Not many Malaysians are aware of this. We take it for granted.

We should move away from this subsidy mentality. With the money saved from the subsidy, it can then be channeled to help the poor. It will create a more efficient economy with market forces determining the prices of the subsidized goods and services.

The direct grant will have a greater impact on the poor compared to subsidized good and services because:

a) Direct grant is quantifiable;

b) Direct grant is received directly by the beneficiary;

c) Direct grant empowers the people to prioritize their spending according to their requirements;

d) Direct grant is more fair as only selected people received the benefit.

The government needs to create the WOW factor for the direct grant to be welcomed and properly distributed to the poor.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Six National Key Results Area

I welcome the government’s announcement on setting targets (KRA) on six important areas ranging from crime rate to improving public transportation.

Crime Rate

The KRA is to reduce street crime including snatch thief and unarmed robberies by 20% by the end of 2010. The police have 18 months to achieve this. It’s not an easy target to achieve. Petty crime is a big social issue in all the major cities in this country. The police have always been on the receiving end for their unprofessional conduct. In order to reduce crime, there is a need to instill:

a) Better discipline among the police forces;

b) Be professional and committed in their work;

c) Place more police on patrol. Their sheer presence will often deter petty criminals. I understand that often more than 40% of the police personnel are involved in administrative work. More police personnel should be released onto the street.

Of course there will be accusation that if more policeman are on the streets, then there will be more arrest for minor traffic offences. There will be more cases of corruption.

15 years ago, New York was a city infested with crime. Rape, murder and armed robbery was a daily occurrence. It became New Yorkers’ daily item in their newspapers. The mayor Rudolph Guliani adopted the blue ocean approach. What he did was to identify the hot beds of crime. Then, he decided to place police personnel in all these “hot areas”. Within 3 years, crime dropped dramatically. Their success rate in solving crime went up. All the major streets of New York have police constables on the beat and police patrol cars were parked at strategic junction. When you cross the Brooklyn Bridge that joins the city to the Long Island, you will see patrol cars parked at the beginning of your journey to cross the bridge, at the middle of the bridge and at the other end of the bridge. This was enough deterrence to prevent crime and speeding. Today, New York is regarded as a safe city.

Oxford Street in London used to be the hot bed of snatch thieves and pick pocket. When the police flooded the Oxford Street and its main tributary of roads with CCTVs, the crime rate dropped dramatically. In all the car parks, CCTVs were installed and there was close monitoring. Oxford Street again became a shopping paradise for tourists. London city has a reputation of having the most CCTVs installed and it used to be a joke that you are the most photographed when you are in London city. The second is Singapore.

Singapore reduces crime also by combination of putting more police on patrol and installing CCTVs in crime prone areas. Most of the car parks also have CCTV installed at every level. It is not easy to commit a petty theft in Singapore without being caught in one of the CCTVs.

All the major towns in Malaysia should be installed with more CCTVs. This should be closely monitored by the police. Most Malaysians do not report petty crime since they do not want to go through the hassle of reporting and often the police will file the report with very little investigation done and regard it as their daily routine work. However, the police in all their briefings will always claim high success rate in solving crime, a rate higher than that set by the Interpol. I suspect that Malaysia police are able to achieve this when criminals caught red-handed are asked to admit to other crimes committed, hence, the higher success rate of solving crime. I hope I am wrong in drawing such conclusion.

The public of course should cooperate. Police work will never succeed without public cooperation. I know most Malaysians are skeptical of our policemen. The policemen need our cooperation to reduce crime. Let’s hope that the KRA target of 20% will be achieved.

Monday, July 27, 2009

I am not after Ong's posts, says Chua/ 从没想过要取代翁诗杰当交长 蔡细历促自我反省开特大传闻

This is the summary of my press conference held in Penang yesterday. Below are extracts of the press conference from the New Straits Times dated 27.07.09.

By Audrey Dermawan

GEORGE TOWN: MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek took a swipe at party president Datuk Ong Tee Keat yesterday, saying he is not after Ong's political and government posts.

He said Ong, who is also transport minister, should stop "playing victim" and have confidence in himself.

Dr Chua said Ong should cease doubting his sincerity in wanting to work together for the betterment of the people and the country. 

"I want to stress here that I am not interested in becoming the next transport minister or any minister. Ong can keep it for himself or others.

"If my name is being recommended, I will turn down the offer," Dr Chua said.

His comments followed a claim by Ong on Saturday that outsiders were using the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) issue to subvert the MCA and oust him as party leader.

Dr Chua said if what Ong claimed was true, then he should share it with his colleagues in the cabinet.



"He should not be projecting an image that he is alone in this and under tremendous pressure. 

"If at all there is an anti-Ong movement, there is an anti-Chua movement as well, which is even more strident.



"I am prepared to help him lodge the police report on the threats he had received. 



"Even the inspector-general of police has advised him to report. Why is he reluctant? 



"Is he like the opposition who has no faith in the police?"

Dr Chua asked after a meeting with Bukit Gelugor Ba-risan Nasional component party leaders here.



Dr Chua, who is also the BN chief co-ordinator, said if the PKFZ matter was not handled properly, it would affect the image of MCA and BN. 



He said Ong should separate his duties as the party president and as minister.



He also touched on rumours of an extraordinary general meeting being planned by certain quarters to discuss Ong's position.



"I heard that four months ago. It is highly surprising that Ong should be subjected to such an EGM.



"Tun Ling Liong Sik served for 17 years, Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting for five years, but there was no such thing as an EGM.

"Why Ong? The time has come for him to re-evaluate himself." 

He added that the MCA, after having performed badly in last year's general election, should close ranks. 

"I don't think this is what our supporters want. We do not have the capital to play politics and be divided.



"We should be fighting towards unity and not self-disruption." 

He said just as Ong demanded respect, the party president should also accord the same respect to other party leaders.

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转载自当今大马, 26.07.09

by 刘嘉铭

马华署理总会长蔡细历表示,他从没想过取代翁诗杰当交通部长,只想做好本身的国阵总协调与马华署理主席的工作,因此翁诗杰不必提心吊胆,害怕有人欲取而代之。

我根本没意图成为交通部长,他若推荐,我仅能说声谢谢。不过,他还是将该职位保留给自己或其他人选好了。

他更自嘲说,仅希望翁诗杰容许他扮演好一名有名无实且被打压的署理总会长和国阵总协调的角色。

他应该有自信,不应怀疑我们不支持他。我没官位和影响力,他为何不谈论党内更有影响力的人士,而以为我威胁他的地位。

他是今午在槟城贵都酒店与槟州武吉牛汝莪区国阵协调员会面后,召开记者会如此表示。出席者包括被指在北马酝酿倒翁的郭家军领袖,如郭家骅、骆福汉、黄秀金与陈来庭。

翁诗杰日日前在接受988电台早点说马访问时坦言,不担心倒翁势力,更表示如果有关势力得逞,那么蔡细历可接任他的党职。而他也愿意腾出交通部长职,并由继任者决定是否继续追查巴生港口自由贸易区课题。

不阻止党员召开特大挽救党

针对召开特大推翻总会长的说法,蔡细历表示,若林良实和黄家定分任总会长17年和5年相安无事,那翁诗杰应对当选后9个月就传出特大的消息,自我反省与检讨,何以其领导引起基层不满。

我承认,造访每个阶级领袖时都听闻(召开特大的说法),甚至早在4个月就出现。但希望党员保持冷静与理性,因为召开特大非同小可,我也不支持随意召开。

不过他补充,不会阻止党员召开特大,但若真落实,则必须是以挽救和团结马华为出发点,不是因私利推翻总会长。

反击党内有反蔡医生运动

他也反击翁诗杰声称党内存有倒翁运动的指责,声称党内其实更明显存有一股反蔡医生势力,长期破坏他身为党老二的公信力。

他本身就在我当选后质疑我的道德,称我是有污点的再循环政治人物。

他接着举例,光碟风波重现和警方接获新的投报、翁诗杰政治秘书等人士施压他辞职、一家与马华有关的英报5度报道一宗影射他滥权的土地案件以及下个月纪委会传召他出席的听证会。

难道以上不是反蔡,而是爱护蔡细历的运动?为何要制造这些恐惧?党内人士担心被列入黑名单而视我为敌,不敢与我交往。

若真被威胁愿代翁诗杰报警

他促请,翁诗杰分清楚总会长和部长的职责,每天不断评论巴生港口自由贸易区课题,将制造只有一人勇于担当的假象。

总会长出任交通部长是我党的一个传统,自贸区风波处理不当虽会影响马华和国阵形象,但这不该与党务混为一谈。

我感受不到党内外存有多股包括财力在内的力量欲推翻他。若有恐吓等恶势力威胁其性命,身为交通部长的他应向内阁反映。若所作所为是为党、国家和人民,我担保,首相与副首相等必充当后盾。

他不认为翁诗杰需单独承担,何况全国总警长已要求他报警,但不见行动。

我愿意帮忙他报案,难道他像在野党一样,不信任作为我国主要执法机构的警方?

尊重票选领袖降低特大呼声

蔡细历表示,若翁诗杰妥当履行职责,众人必给予支持。而他本身也仅要求后者给予空间,履行受支持者委托的职责。

他若懂得尊重票选领袖和与基层合作,那也有助于减少要求召开特大的声音。

他提醒,马华已经没本钱分裂,党员与选民对内斗内耗感到厌倦,要党团结一致协助首相落实一个大马的概念,以人民而不是权位为先。

否则不必等在野党出手,马华已自我摧毁。

纳吉关心但非干涉马华党务

当被一名记者询及马华总财政郑福成指某方人士或不满性爱光碟听证会结果而欲召开特大时,蔡细历则要求记者向发言者求证消息来源。但他认为,若一名高层领袖要在党内制造紧张气氛与不怀好意,则不是一件好事。

蔡细历也表示,早期党内安排的多次调解都未取得成果,但他感激纳吉两个月前劝勉两人要密切合作。

不过慎言的他不忘提醒说,纳吉的关心不可被解读为干涉马华党务。

他被询及时坦承,召开记者会是要媒体做证,当我与纳吉在中国时,他(翁诗杰)在房内见我说要好好合作,不过一周后一切皆打回原型。

从没想过要取代翁诗杰当交长,蔡细历促自我反省开特大传闻


(malaysiakini.com)

马华署理总会长蔡细历表示,他从没想过取代翁诗杰当交通部长,只想做好本身的国阵总协调与马华署理主席的工作,因此翁诗杰不必提心吊胆,害怕有人欲取而代之。

“我根本没意图成为交通部长,他若推荐,我仅能说声谢谢。不过,他还是将该职位保留给自己或其他人选好了。”

他更自嘲说,仅希望翁诗杰容许他扮演好一名“有名无实”且被打压的署理总会长和国阵总协调的角色。

“他应该有自信,不应怀疑我们不支持他。我没官位和影响力,他为何不谈论党内更有影响力的人士,而以为我威胁他的地位。”

他是今午在槟城贵都酒店与槟州武吉牛汝莪区国阵协调员会面后,召开记者会如此表示。出席者包括被指在北马酝酿“倒翁”的郭家军领袖,如郭家骅、骆福汉、黄秀金与陈来庭。

翁诗杰日日前在接受988电台“早点说马”访问时坦言,不担心“倒翁”势力,更表示如果有关势力得逞,那么蔡细历可接任他的党职。而他也愿意腾出交通部长职,并由继任者决定是否继续追查巴生港口自由贸易区课题。

不阻止党员召开特大挽救党

针对召开特大推翻总会长的说法,蔡细历表示,若林良实和黄家定分任总会长17年和5年相安无事,那翁诗杰应对当选后9个月就传出“特大”的消息,自我反省与检讨,何以其领导引起基层不满。

“我承认,造访每个阶级领袖时都听闻(召开特大的说法),甚至早在4个月就出现。但希望党员保持冷静与理性,因为召开特大非同小可,我也不支持随意召开。”

不过他补充,不会阻止党员召开特大,但若真落实,则必须是以挽救和团结马华为出发点,不是因私利推翻总会长。

反击党内有“反蔡医生”运动

他也反击翁诗杰声称党内存有“倒翁运动”的指责,声称党内其实更明显存有一股“反蔡医生势力”,长期破坏他身为党老二的公信力。

“他本身就在我当选后质疑我的道德,称我是有污点的再循环政治人物。”

他接着举例,光碟风波重现和警方接获新的投报、翁诗杰政治秘书等人士施压他辞职、一家与马华有关的英报5度报道一宗影射他滥权的土地案件以及下个月纪委会传召他出席的听证会。

“难道以上不是反蔡,而是爱护蔡细历的运动?为何要制造这些恐惧?党内人士担心被列入黑名单而视我为敌,不敢与我交往。”

若真被威胁愿代翁诗杰报警

他促请,翁诗杰分清楚总会长和部长的职责,每天不断评论巴生港口自由贸易区课题,将制造只有一人勇于担当的假象。

“总会长出任交通部长是我党的一个传统,自贸区风波处理不当虽会影响马华和国阵形象,但这不该与党务混为一谈。”

“我感受不到党内外存有多股包括财力在内的力量欲推翻他。若有恐吓等恶势力威胁其性命,身为交通部长的他应向内阁反映。若所作所为是为党、国家和人民,我担保,首相与副首相等必充当后盾。”

他不认为翁诗杰需单独承担,何况全国总警长已要求他报警,但不见行动。

“我愿意帮忙他报案,难道他像在野党一样,不信任作为我国主要执法机构的警方?”


尊重票选领袖降低特大呼声

蔡细历表示,若翁诗杰妥当履行职责,众人必给予支持。而他本身也仅要求后者给予空间,履行受支持者委托的职责。

“他若懂得尊重票选领袖和与基层合作,那也有助于减少要求召开特大的声音。”

他提醒,马华已经没本钱分裂,党员与选民对内斗内耗感到厌倦,要党团结一致协助首相落实一个大马的概念,以人民而不是权位为先。

“否则不必等在野党出手,马华已自我摧毁。”

纳吉关心但非干涉马华党务

当被一名记者询及马华总财政郑福成指某方人士或不满性爱光碟听证会结果而欲召开特大时,蔡细历则要求记者向发言者求证消息来源。

但他认为,若一名高层领袖要在党内制造紧张气氛与不怀好意,则不是一件好事。

蔡细历也表示,早期党内安排的多次调解都未取得成果,但他感激纳吉两个月前劝勉两人要密切合作。

不过慎言的他不忘提醒说,纳吉的关心不可被解读为干涉马华党务。

他被询及时坦承,召开记者会是要媒体做证,“当我与纳吉在中国时,他(翁诗杰)在房内见我说要好好合作,不过一周后一切皆打回原型。”

Friday, July 24, 2009

The Allocation of Grant by Wakil Rakyat

All MPs and state assemblymen have a fixed peruntukan to be given out as grant. The objective of this is to:

1) Help local development;

2) Strengthen the relationship between the local community and the wakil rakyat;

3) Helping class F bumiputra contractors;

4) Boost up the image of the government elected by the rakyat.

For MPs, peruntukan is approved by the Prime Minister and in the case of state assemblymen, it is approved by the MB. However, this power is often delegated to the federal or state development director.

The allocation of peruntukan is often a challenge to wakil rakyat since the amount allocated to each wakil rakyat is limited. For MPs, it ranges from RM500,000 to RM1.5 million. For state assemblyman, it is normally only about RM75,000 to RM250,000 depending on the state. A Wakil rakyat needs to allocate peruntukan according to needs. However, there is tendency to give people who are supportive and known to you. Some wakil rakyat regard peruntukan as the means to strengthen their position within the party. Hence, they only give priorities to applications from their own party members and this often give rise to dissatisfaction among some NGOs who have no political affiliations to the Wakil Rakyat.

Most Wakil Rakyat cannot rise above politics; hence they do not give to opposition members. BN Wakil Rakyat is unlikely to give peruntukan to any organizations run by PR. In the same way, it is unlikely that the PR Wakil Rakyat will give peruntukan to organizations run by BN leaders. This is politics.

While the Wakil Rakyat has fixed peruntukan, they have no right to approve. They can only make recommendations to the state or the federal development officer. There are projects that are not allowed to be given:

1) Projects that have been executed before the peruntukan is approved;

2) Projects/programs for political body or associations;

3) Projects/programs to entities that carry out commercial activities and benefits from it.

Wakil Rakyat has to constantly monitor the peruntukan given so that there is no duplication and no grants given to projects that are not allowed as mentioned above. Basically, all peruntukan should be given fairly with the focus on the needs of the rakyat.

If peruntukan is handled wisely by Wakil Rakyat, it will definitely boost up the image of wakil rakyat. It will go a long way to strengthen his relationship with the local community. However, if it is not handled properly, it can be the Achilles’ heel on his popularity, both within the party and the community.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Letter of Support to MCA President

I was approached by the media in regards to the joint press statement issues by MCA Ministers and Deputy Ministers to support the MCA President Ong Tee Keat in the PKFZ controversy.


The people do not attach much importance to such show of support.


As the President of MCA, he can get all the Ministers and Deputy Ministers to sign the statement. They are all appointed by the Prime Minister on the recommendation of the President.


As a political party, the rakyat is more concerned whether we are doing things right.


What is important is that the people wants to see whether the cost of the PKFZ project is justifiable, whether it is viable and whether there have been abuse of public funds. We have to ensure that the rakyat's money is well spent.


In short, how do we move forward so that the PKFZ controversy can be put to an end without affecting the image of the BN government.


The MCA President always emphasize that we must work hard to meet the expectations of the rakyat at all times. This is more important than just fulfilling the needs of MCA members.


I believe that as long as the MCA President does the right thing, all MCA members will fully support him.

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马华正副部长今天发表支持总会长的联合声明后,我接获多个媒体电询我对这项举动的看法.

这项做法并不会得到人民的重视。

身为一党之首,总会长当然可以得到马华所有部长和副部长签署和发表有关声明。马华正副部长的人选,也是经马华总会长推荐,由首相委任。

巴生自贸区事件发展至今,人民关心的是我们的政党是否在做该做的事。

人民要了解真相。人民关心的是巴生自贸区的款项是否使用得当?这项计划在未来是否还可行?最重要的是,人民公帑是否被滥用?

简言之,马华接着要如何发挥效力,在不影响国阵政府形象的情况下,协助解决巴生自贸区事件?

总会长过去不断强调,马华在任何时候都必须秉持“民意大于党意”的原则办事。在巴生自贸区事件,人民的期望肯定比党员的意愿更重要。

我相信,只要总会长做得正确,全体马华党员都会全力支持他。

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Lesson learnt from Teoh Beng Hock’s case

The incident of Teo Beng Hock who falls down to his death from MACC building has stirred up much anger and emotion from the public. Many speculations have been made towards the MACC with accusations and blame.

This incident definitely does not look good to MACC. This is not the time for the opposition and the government in power to argue about who should be taking the blame, I would rather everyone to be focused on resolving the case. I have said in the press that I agreed for a Royal Commission to be set up to investigate the matter so that a convincing explanation could be given to Teoh’s family as well as to the public.

In the meantime, the MACC should give their fullest cooperation to the police in providing accurate information without any hidden details. MACC has started their operation earlier this year replacing the Anti Corruption Agency in order to increase efficiency in curbing corruption and to improve on transparency in executing MACC tasks. Hence, they should be transparent in their investigation. Unfortunately, transparency is unclear here. There were no CCTV in the MACC building and up till now, no one knows what was the exact interview procedure in Teoh’s case, whether it was taped, recorded, written down in black and white or nothing at all.

Therefore, I see that this case is the reason to call for a review on the interview procedures on suspects and witnesses involving cases of corruption. Jurisdiction and scope of MACC should also be revised.

Apart from that, the police have the responsibility to investigate the case without any prejudice. They have to carry out investigations in a professional manner and be transparent, including the interrogation. Meanwhile, rakyat and politicians from both the political divide should calm down in order to allow the police to carry out their investigation professionally.

I wish to convey my deepest condolence to Teoh’s family and his fiancée.

Monday, July 20, 2009

What's Next for MCA?

Finally, Chua Jui Meng decided to join PKR. In a democratic country, we have a freedom of choice and that includes political affiliations. When a senior party leader joins another party, they may have their reasons, some of which may be apparent, some of which may not be so to us. As a MCA leader, I view any senior MCA leaders leaving MCA as a cause for concern. I wish him good luck. Jui Meng says that he left MCA because of his belief in the 2 party system. Within the party, he did not have any problem or pressure that ultimately influenced him to join PKR.

The MCA President talked frequently about external pressure and forces that prevent him from discharging his duties. In politics, leaders are always subjected to pressures from various parties. My pressures are from within the party and also external forces. I take it that it is part of my occupational hazard. I don’t complain openly. I do not try to paint the picture that I am a hero that can face all these pressures. I am just human and regard all these pressures and forces as part of my challenge in the discharge of my duty.

If the President has a lot of external forces that prevent him from discharging his duties effectively, then as the most senior leader in MCA and as a minister, he should know what to do. MCA practices collective leadership and if he faces problem either within the party or outside the party, then he should share with all of us. Together, we will share his burden.

During this difficult time, people want to see leaders solving problems confronting the nation and the party. They want to see us do more work and less talk. The Prime Minister has unveiled a series of new policies in his first 100 days. It is up to the leaders of the component parties to help to realize his 1 Malaysia with priorities to the rakyat, hence, not just talk but do work. After all, we are judged by our performance. Otherwise, we will be condemned.


蔡锐明最终决定加入公正党。在一个民主的国家,人们有自由作出选择,包括政治党派。当一名资深的政治领袖另求去处,他必定有自己的理由,其中原因有些或许明显不过,也有些让人无从理解。身为马华领袖,我认为资深领袖退党值得我们深切关注和探讨。对于蔡锐明的决定,我祝他好运。锐明也表明因为相信政治两线制所以离开,而非党内的问题和压力迫使他最终投奔公正党。

马华总会长近来频频指出,自己在履行职责受到许多外来势力和压力的阻扰。我想,政治和领导的工作,本来就会面对多方的压力。我在党内党外面对的压力也不少,但我视之为一种职业挑战,也不公开抱怨。这么说,不意味我是一名万事无惧的英雄。我也是一位普通人,但我宁将这些压力和困扰视为挑战和磨练。

如果总会长执行任务时面对排山倒海的外力阻扰,身为马华最高领导人兼部长,他应该很清楚应该怎么做。马华一直以来强调和重视集体领导,如果总会长在党内或党外遇到困难,他应该和我们商讨,让我们替他分担。

在这艰难的时刻,人民要求领袖“多做事,少说话”,实实在在为民解困。首相在他百天任内已宣布系列的新政策,各成员党领袖应该协助他推行和实现目标,而非空谈不做。否则,我们将会被谴责。


Friday, July 17, 2009

Notification letter and complaint letter

I have received a notification letter issued by MCA Disciplinary Council. Kindly click into thumbnails below for full size images and detailed information.







Welcome to my Blog

As a concerned MCA member, I am trying my best to help in the process of rebuilding and repositioning of the party.

Therefore, I welcome party members and members of public to post your constructive suggestions and opinions on my blog on how to rebuild and reform the party, eventually enabling MCA to regain support from all party members and the community.


Thank you for your suggestions.