Sunday, September 20, 2009

ISA is abusive

The Internal Security Act cannot be used as a pre-emptive strike weapon to whomever that the state sees as a threat.

Technically the Federal Constitution is subservient to the ISA as legislators willingly molested the Federal Constitution.

What shocks me even more than that is the authorities unwillingness to release a ISA detainee simply because he can’t sing Negaraku. Its ridiculous.

Oddly enough the Singaporean terror suspect, Mas Selamat Kastari, happens to be more comfortable in detention under Malaysia’s ISA rather than the Singaporean one.

Doesn’t this prove that the government is holding on to false premises that is irrelevant to current times.

Hence, instead of getting more feedback from the so called public, it is best that the government provide the bite for Suhakam and implement their recommendations as a first step.

Monday, September 14, 2009

63rd MIC AGM

Sept 13 and 14 2009 would be forever hatched in my mind as I covered the first party elections as a journalist. It was the MIC elections.

The first thing that struck me as I entered the hall in PWTC is the large number of beautiful women who were clearly lobbying delegates to vote in favor of deputy presidential candidate S Subramaniam.

The party itself is 63 years hence I was surprised to see MIC president S Samy Vellu playing the role akin to a teacher as he personally ensured that no one apart from delegates were in the hall after Prime Minister Naji Razak officially opened the the party’s annual general assembly.
I mean, for a president who leads a 63 years old party it definitely says a lot about the type of members that the party have.

An observation that I made on day two revealed that grass root leaders are unaware of national issues and vice versa.
Similarly I also found out that certain grass root leaders are unaware of what is happening in their localities. This is something detrimental that needs to be arrested immediately if MIC is ever interested of achieving their KPI which is regaining the Indian community support.



I also had a chat with deputy Puteri MIC chief, Mrs Shaila Nair Vell Paari (see above with husband, S Vel Paari) who comes across as a friendly person.

She promoted her event management company as the company to contact if I were to settle down.
In response I told her that as a Puteri MIC she should organise Cupid Club a la MCA so that I can meet someone as I am currently single, available and not having much time to spare.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Campaign for change in the MIC polls

US President Barack Obama got into White House after campaigning for change. After being elected on Nov 4, 2008 he was sworn in Jan 20 2009.

His campaign not only made Americans want to believe in change. The whole world believed that change can be brought upon for the betterment of the society.

His campaign for change ‘bug’ has infected the MIC party polls. The party polls would take place on September 12, 2008.

All three deputy president candidates - incumbent, G Palanivel, former deputy president, S Subramaniam and current vice president S Sothinathan, are all campaigning for change.

They have also raised their stakes into the cyberspace. Apart from the party president’s candidate, the other two have websites. Sothinathan’s campaign site can be seen viewed here whereas Subramaniam’s site is here.

The Tamil press highlighted the fact that party president S Samy Vellu is also chanting the change mantra to ensure his preferred one - Palanivel - to win this three cornered tussle.

My question therefore, are simple.

If change is so important to MIC, why didn’t Samy step down to make way for newer crop of leaders to helm the party?

If Palanivel and Subra want change, why did not they execute the change after becoming deputy president at different point of time?

What rebranding exercise is MIC looking at if they can’t even bring the new generation of leaders to helm the party.

Another point to be noted is the fact that, Sothinathan and Palanivel lost in the March 2008 elections, whereas Subra was not listed as a candidate.

As such, how can they bring about change to the community without having the power to execute?