tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30997807864972141842009-12-28T18:49:37.845+08:00Chamber of OpinionsA blog to discuss about Malaysia's new politics and everything that is connected to itpragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-90211195134876756142009-09-14T03:09:00.006+08:002009-10-09T16:24:23.559+08:0063rd MIC AGMSept 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 pragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-5846346132372135402009-09-03T23:41:00.003+08:002009-10-09T16:22:05.336+08:00Campaign for change in the MIC pollsUS 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 pragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-71945896604332386122009-09-20T11:11:00.001+08:002009-09-20T11:13:50.865+08:00ISA is abusiveThe 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 enoughpragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-8580683412237513882009-08-30T00:04:00.004+08:002009-08-30T00:12:00.110+08:00Reviewing the Indian community empowerment dream Hindraf activist and Human Rights Party pro - tem secretary general, P Uthayakumar’s book is the first to be under scrutiny. Going by its title, there appears to be a huge masterplan laid by Uthayakumar in his 109 pages of English and Tamil bilingual book. For a book with a grand plan title I am disappointed that the author only has one point to empower the Indian community politically. Gerrypragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-8312009389732080112009-08-28T23:43:00.002+08:002009-08-28T23:51:20.499+08:00On the cow head protestsI pity the Islamic faith and my Muslim brothers in light with the actions by a minority few Muslims who protested the moving of a temple to Section 23.Their actions would create a negative perception of the Muslims in general and the Islamic faith itself.Worse still, they did it after Friday prayer session during Ramadan.The video of their short mindedness can be seen here.Based on my rather pragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-26757812638038829282009-07-22T16:26:00.005+08:002009-07-22T16:34:19.979+08:00Dad's name vacant because no marriage registeredThe National Registration Department is at it again. They are not allowing Teoh Beng Hock's child to have a father's name.It is high time for NRD to understand that fathering a child doesn't require registration.pragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-32278004548269485342009-07-21T16:33:00.003+08:002009-07-21T16:40:48.460+08:00Ending tug-of-war of corpses between Muslims and non-Muslims<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:pragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-78541373747370930172009-07-05T17:32:00.003+08:002009-07-05T17:43:45.283+08:00The one term used by politiciansI watched 'Tiger' - a Malayalam movie yesterday.In a scene, the protagonist played by actor Suresh Gopi says the following:"The one word used by politicians to cheat people - development."Looking at the statement from a Malaysian context, certain parties does actually use the term in every election campaign.And yet, where is the development for the poor? Why are there underdeveloped areas?pragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-41506387461015354172009-07-04T23:53:00.002+08:002009-07-05T00:36:38.683+08:00Predictions for the 13th General ElectionI am aware that I am writing this piece rather early. The 13th general election which is the first under the Najib administration will not take place until 2012 - 2013.However, using the events of the past fifteen months as a yard stick, I think that the following would take place.DAP would continue to rule Penang but would lose considerable majority votes.PAS would lose the inroads that it had pragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-42493453101260798622009-06-27T21:08:00.003+08:002009-06-27T21:14:25.438+08:00Palanivel throws left right jabs on SubraWith the MIC election for the deputy president post being less than 2 months away, incumbent G Palanivel has countered S Subramaniam with left-right jabs on the face.Subra started the ball rolling by terming Palanivel as a deputy in the shadows to which Palanivel countered with the left-right jabs.He questioned Subra's two decade tenure as deputy president as can be seen here.pragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-25056361088329866512009-06-27T00:39:00.004+08:002009-06-27T00:55:55.510+08:00Backing president's men a hindrance to flourishing democracyThe Malaysian Indian Congress has a democratic system where delegates can choose whomever they want to be their leader. There are no minimum nominations needed as seen in Umno or position sharing amongst those who have won the largest number of votesUnfortunately there seems to be the culture of backing all the president's men. As a result of which was the defeat of M Muthupalaniappan in his pragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-8552111873333499812009-06-24T17:53:00.003+08:002009-06-24T18:00:09.863+08:00What's wrong, Mr PMOne minute, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak says that BN is fine if Hadi Awang's proposal for unity government does not materialise as seen here.Now he turned the plot and says it is religious duty to have unity government.Odd, isn't it?What's wrong, Mr PM? Disappointed that BN can't take over other Pakatan Rakyat administered states?pragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-32363486105221028772009-06-22T22:50:00.003+08:002009-06-22T22:58:06.127+08:00No to unity governmentI am glad that the Pakatan Rakyat has jointly turned down the Umno-PAS idea for a unity government as seen here.I mean why is there calls for Malay unity whenever Umno seem or perceives to itself to be weak in the arena of Malaysian politics.Had the unity government become a reality Pas may have been the biggest losers in the next general election since non -Malay support did jolt them into pragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-82663020770757139322009-03-06T19:14:00.005+08:002009-03-06T19:32:24.142+08:00On beards and protestsIn the past, Sultan Idris of Perak spotted a beard as a sign of protest due to his unhappiness with his then Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Ghazali Jawi.On a similar note, former Perak DAP secretary the late P Patto vowed not to shave until the DAP supremo, Lim Kit Siang was released from ISA detention after getting detained during the Ops Lalang.On that note I am thinking of spotting a beard as a sign pragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-31758220864132174422009-02-19T16:10:00.002+08:002009-02-19T16:25:03.904+08:00Constitutional crises in the pastSarawak 1977Sarawak presented the first constitutional crisis in Malaysia.H.P Lee in Constitutional Conflicts in Contemporary Malaysia related that Stephen Kalong Ningkan was appointed as Chief Minister of Sarawak on 22 July 1963. On 16 June 1966, Sarawak Governor, Abang Haji Openg called for the resignation of Stephen with support from majority members of the State Legislature of Sarawak also pragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-71407601109918702682009-02-11T11:10:00.003+08:002009-02-11T11:13:05.084+08:00The battle for two hillsThe battle for the two hills - Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau is an opportunity for BN to regain the seats that was previously won by Pakatan Rakyat candidates (though V Arumugam in Bukit Selambau won as an Independent before joining PKR).Bukit GantangThe Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat would witness a stand – off between UMNO and PAS. Election campaign issues may most likely to be raised is pragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-81506339541449209762009-02-10T14:34:00.002+08:002009-02-10T14:36:41.768+08:00Adopting Indian anti - defection law in the context of Perak crisis and Federal ConstitutionProposals for anti-defection laws have been made in Malaysia in 2008 by the then Minister in Prime Minister’s Department, Zaid Ibrahim. The urgency for anti-defection law in the Malaysia is imminent due to defections that led to the fall of state government. Anti - defection laws are currently used in countries such as India, South Africa, Zambia and Portugal.In India, provisions for anti – pragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-34011404468543261902009-02-04T11:44:00.002+08:002009-02-04T11:54:19.944+08:00PAS: Antara retorik, persepsi dan realiti<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:536871559 0 0 0 415 0;} /* Stylepragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-55083715697056151842008-12-01T18:19:00.004+08:002008-12-01T18:30:34.612+08:00Polemics of Ketuanan MelayuMukhriz Mahathir, an UMNO Youth head aspirant has called for the closure of vernacular schools in response to Dr Chua Soi Lek's definition of ketuanan Melayu In addition he defined ketuanan Melayu as the following:"The term Ketuanan Melayu simply refers to the sovereignty of our Malay rulers. When we address them, we call them Tuanku (your highness) and all the races do acknowledge this and they pragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-1226083146390682652008-12-01T17:54:00.003+08:002008-12-01T18:07:25.297+08:00Gerakan Graduan Melayu Muda - A dishonor to young mindsToday a group of Malay graduates, GGMM, claiming to be championing Malay rights marched to MCA HQ to demand public apology from MCA No 2 Dr Chua Soi Lek following a statement in his speech where he claim to accept Malay leadership and reject Malay supremacy. Further details can be seen here.In my opinion the action taken by GGMM is shallow. GGMM you should be bothered about increasing the numberpragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-57189398545080073692008-10-24T10:51:00.003+08:002008-10-24T11:02:29.214+08:00Zulkifli Nordin - A Liability to PKR and PRI am of the opinion that Kulim - Bandar Baharu MP (PKR) Zulkifli Nordin is fast becoming a liability to the political survival of PKR and PR coalition.The failure of PKR in shaping this misfit MP has led him to come out with statements like seen here. Pakatan MPs must be united in issuing statements such as these. From my point of view, Islam has never been weak. It has moved from strength to pragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-39824515120925840412008-10-20T17:40:00.003+08:002008-10-20T17:44:20.693+08:00The Party ElectionsBeginning with the prelude of the immediate past president Ong Ka Ting trying to build his dynasty via immediate past secretary general who happens to be Ka Ting's brother, Ka Chuan. The contest for the top 2 posts ended up as the Ongs vs the Chuas.The verdict given by MCA members were indeed refreshing. Ong Tee Keat beat Chua Jui Meng for the presidency whereas Ong Ka Chuan lost his bid to Chua pragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-40203117745123046252008-08-27T01:06:00.004+08:002008-08-27T01:18:45.169+08:00P44 Permatang Pauh, Anwar winsAug 26 has made it into the current history of Malaysia as it marks the return of Anwar Ibrahim into Parliament after trouncing his BN opponent Arif Shah. The results are as follows:Anwar - 31,195 votesArif Shah - 15,524Hanafi, 92.Majority - 15,671.Voters - 58 459Voters turnout - 47 410 or 81.1%Racial breakdown: Malays 69.4% Chinese 24.5%pragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-20883444226333893832008-08-24T10:13:00.003+08:002008-08-24T10:25:13.311+08:00Flip-flop government for a flip flop prime ministerAs we all know, premier Abdullah is famous for his flip-flop decisions whether it involved dissolution of Parliament or the reduction of fuel prices. Now he must be happy to note that a ministry is also following suit.Ministry of Culture, Heritage and Arts have suddenly made an about turn in its decision. So, the Avril Lavigne concert is back on schedule.This is definitely bad for the image of pragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099780786497214184.post-75058629650701060182008-08-14T16:10:00.000+08:002008-08-14T16:57:47.447+08:00UiTM brouhahaI am appalled by the reaction of the UiTM students to march and express displeasure to Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim's office following suggestions made by the latter. Even the UiTM Vice Chancellor was riled up.A report on Malaysiakini stated the following:In a TV interview, the vice-chancellor warned unnamed parties not to look for trouble and pledged to defend the university as "the last pragalathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775462903167070435noreply@blogger.com0