GE14

Post GE14 - Hope for end to race politics

The 14GE, termed the Mother of all Elections, is already over with an unprecedented and overwhelming victory for the opposition Pakatan Harapan (PH).It was the most bitterly fought general elections in the history of the country which saw the fall of Barisan National (BN),the ruling party of over 60 years.

With the de-factor Opposition Leader DSAI in jail and with an disorganised and disunited opposition, the BN victory was a foregone conclusion like in all previous elections. It was fortunate to have the former PM, Tun Dr Mahathir(TDM) to join the opposition to lead the fatal attack on the BN. Despite his advanced age of 92, he managed to rally the masses behind him and became the main thrust of the opposition's assault on the BN. It was a medical miracle for a man of his age to endure such physical and mental strain of the arduous election campaigning, day and night with little rest and sleep.

For his relentless efforts he won the admiration of all Malaysians, young and old alike. Our prayers for the nation were answered as he was indeed a God-sent gift to save us and our beloved country at the right time.

The 14GE was not a fight among political parties but one of the people against the corrupt and out of touch ruling BN government. In this fight the social media played a vital role to take the message of change to every corner of the country, like never before resulting in the amazing unity of the all the people to go out in droves on polling day to vote against BN.

The success of PH in the 14GE is due not to any particular community but by all Malaysians, across  racial boundaries. It was reassuring to see for the first time Malays persuading their non-Malay friends to vote for PH. This never occurred before in the country. Clearly TDM became the people’s rallying icon for that unity.

This amazing unity of the masses of all races was unprecedented in our country which had become increasing divided along racial and religious lines for far too long. This unity was the most important outcome of the 14GE which must not be allowed to dissipate by our folly now that the PH is in power.

This exceptional, extraordinary and spontaneous unity of the people in the 14GE should be harnessed to create a multiracial Malaysia for the future generations. It should be capitalized to create a multiracial mind-set in the people of all races in particular the youth so that they will accept everyone as equal despite the differences in colour, creed and language. It is time to change the people's mind-set to do away with race-based parties and open up for multiracial ones as race-based politics is obsolete in totay’s competitive globalised world.

The people now have given the golden opportunity that must be grasped by all to get rid of race-based politics and religious extremism once and for all and prepare a mind-set that will freely adopt and accept meritocracy, fairness and goodwill to all Malaysians regardless of race and creed.

This is the most important task facing us today and ideally we should begin from our homes and schools, instilling in the minds of our young the importance of being colour-blind and accepting all citizens without distinction.

TDM  is the right person who can lead this mission to success. He has the wits, skill and determination and Malaysians have equivocally expressed in no uncertain terms their confidence in him. I am sure TDM at his age and his experience has the wisdom to realise this extraordinary unity of the people of all races and harness its effects for the future well-being of all Malaysians.

Time is running out and TDM is in a rush to rebuild the nation as are many are out there to derail his efforts at all costs. As responsible citizens we are all obligated to continue to give him our full and undivided support so that he succeeds.

Teachers Day 2018

Post -14GE hopes

We celebrate Teacher’s Day today. It is a day dedicated to honour our teachers at all levels but most importantly those in our early years in primary and secondary schools and in the universities. These teachers mean so much to us not for imparting their knowledge and skills      but also in in their role of guiding and moulding us when we were small. In fact in our culture and in most others as well, teachers are placed on a pedestal almost the level of our parents.

Today our country is in chaos due abuse of power and corruption. One of the major causes of the deteriorating values and morals in our society today is the fading influence of teachers on our children. Teachers today do not seem to command the respect like they used to do before and sadly they have ceased to be the role models for the children under their care.

Teachers today lack motivation and passion in their job. This may partly be due to the unappreciative and uncaring system that is governed more of consumerism and commercialisation rather the humane values.

We hope the positive changes that are taking place in the country now after the 14GE, help to restore some of the better days in our education system where teachers are rewarded, respected and appreciated for their contribution to our nation.

Let us together fight the racism that had become our way of life for so long. This fight must start in the homes and schools and we hope our teachers can once again take the lead in this noble battle against racism and hate that had torn our nation apart over 6 decades. Hope our teachers rise to rebuild the goodwill and comradeship among our children for a brighter future.

Happy Teacher’s Day

Nurse's Day 2018

Happy Nurse's Day to all the former and present nurses in BSC. I really miss those days in BSC.

With corporatization of the medical profession,nursing is not what it used to be as monetary considerations take priority over the human touch in patient care. it is not satisfying and rewarding like before.

As such nurses are working under pressure in an very unfriendly, uncaring and at times even hostile environment.

Despite these li.itation,I salute those who still work with passion and dedication in caring for their patients.

Wish you all the best and a really
Happy Nurse's Day.

Mother’s Day 2018

Give what wants not you want

Tomorrow we celebrate Mother Day.We celebrate this day in a variety of ways make our mother happy to know we care care for her.We give them money and gifts.We take them out for meals and spend some time with them.

These are undoubtedly noble gestures that we should undertake to show our love and gratitude to the woman who has sacrificed so much for us that no body else can or will be able to match.A mother is one who can stand in for anyone but none can ever take her place in our lives.

Often we give them what we think they like not what they really want.My 87year old mother says she doesn’t want money,food or presents.All she wants is to see me healthy and happy with my wife and children.All she wants is that I visit her often and spend some time talking about the past when we were young under her care.She might have been poor then but rich in love which she shared totally and unconditionally with us.

This Mother’s Day let us give our mother what she really wants,not what we think she wants.Let us visit her not just today but often as we can with our spouse and children.Let us show to her we are happy and what come may we will always have a permanent place for her in our hearts.

Let us pray for her wellbeing,good health and happiness.If we have hurt our mother in anyway,this is the time to seek forgiveness.If we doing something hurts her,this is the time to reflect and change.Let us treasure her now and not after she is gone.

“The best gift you can give your mom is to stop doing what hurts her most”

Happy Mother’s Day

GE14 – A defining moment

Tomorrow, May 9.2018, we Malaysians go to the polls to choose the government for the next 5 years.

This GE14 is a defining moment for our nation and our people.
Our choice on May 9, could bring about the dawn of a new era in Malaysian politics or the continuation of the same old and failed policies that is plaguing us. Obviously the only logical choice for us is to bring change and that is what we must vote for on May 9.

As we step into the voting booth all we have is a couple of minutes to mark the ballot papers and what we do in those decisive minutes will determine the future of our country, our children and may be even our grandchildren.

We are given a golden opportunity to change and we must be wise to never let this golden moment to elude us. Let’s for once change to give Pakatan Harapan a chance this time to form the next government.

In order to bring this change we need a massive turn out. Therefore let us make time on polling day and go in large numbers to vote. Our destiny is in our hands and ours alone.

Let’s vote wisely for change. Vote Pakatan Harapan

The 14 GE – Change is not an option but a duty

In less than 48 hours, we as citizens, will be tasked to perform a very sacred duty to our people and our nation. We will be making our choice for the government for the next 5 years, not just for ourselves but also for the 30 million fellow Malaysians, in the most crucial 14th. General Elections (14GE).

As we prepare to go out on this 9 May to perform that sacred duty, let us recall on the unfavourable situation prevailing today in our country. 

1. Incompetent leaders at all levels. We have leaders who are all out to make money but with little or no real interest in the well-being of the people at heart. Corruption and abuse of power have become major tools in this “Cash is King” policy adopted by them.The 1MDB is just one of many such scandals that are affecting us. There is total loss of touch by the elite leaders with the suffering by the ordinary man on the street. 
2. Declining standards in all areas – education, healthcare, sports and moral values
3. Subservient civil service and judiciary that seem to serve those in power and not the ordinary citizens, whose rights are not upheld when it matters most
4. Poor financial planning and management that has led to extremely high cost of living and which seem to have gone beyond control. This together with the poorly implemented GST has made life for the ordinary citizens an unbearable burden.
5. Escalating crime rate has led to the people living in a climate of fear for their safety and the safety of their families.
6. Rule of law and the Federal constitution is disregarded and soon we may have a state of lawlessness.
7. Racial and religious polarisation is becoming worse by the day 
8. Loss of freedom of speech and expression. Law- abiding and concerned citizens and whistle-blowers are penalised and the criminals go free.

In short, instead of joining the advanced countries like many who started with us, we have are indeed going backwards to join the ranks of poorly developed countries of the third world.

We are in fact heading to become a failed state that can no longer deliver physical security, a productive economic environment, and a stable political system for our people. Our hopes for a bright and peaceful living for us and our children is fast eluding us with every passing day with the present governance.

We want a change of government although we do not know whether that change will be better. But we know for sure that will at least arrest the rot that is going on now and begin a new era of better planning and governance. As true masters of our country, we have no option but to must seek the best for our nation and our people.

So let’s vote wisely, vote for change for the dawn of a new Malaysia.

BGIS Reunion Fellowship 2018

                                                   A reflection and sharing

                              The participants at the BGIS First Reunion Fellowship

 Saturday 10 March 2018 was a historic day for us, the residents of the small village once called Indian Settlement in Changkat of  Batu Gajah,Perak. It was a day when about 50 us,past and present members of Indian Settlement(IS) came together in our first ever reunion fellowship, meeting very old friends many of whom we could not even recognise. 

We gathered in the Gopeng Hall of Riverfront Hotel, Ipoh to celebrate our humble origins from a small village called Indian Settlement (IS) in Changkat, Batu Gajah. Today it is renamed Desa Changkat,a name that does not reflect the true greatness of the IS where we grew up spending much of our childhood. 

Our origins may be humble but the products of that simple origin may be seen all over not only Malaysia but the world and Dr Francis Jayaraj  from the US, who was with us, is just one example of that greatness. In fact, IS has produced many illustrious sons and dayghters who have done pride to all of us.

Our parents were just poor illiterate farmers, peasants, and cowherds but they were men and women of steel. By their hard work, resilience, dedication and sacrifice they produced illustrious citizens in us in almost every field. Today we are the testimony of the success stories of our poor but far-sighted and wisdom of our parents decades ago. Many of them are not here anymore but we take this opportunity to salute them for all they have done for us.

As old residents we are extremely saddened and disheartened to see the pathetic state of our once vibrant kampong that used to be a hive of activities for us as, children and adults. We excelled in almost everything, academic and sports. We were a name to be reckoned in hockey, athletics and cricket. In the field of academic excellence we had many outstanding people heading almost all the government departments.

We may not be able to return our IS to the days of its past glory but we hope our children and grandchildren will understand our great past and continue to carry on with the legacy of our village and what it stood for in the history and development of our nation. We can describe the motto of IS as:

                                   “Humble in origin, proud in achievements”

Let’s reignite the flame of our comradeship of the past and make special efforts to organise many more reunion fellowships and activities for the underprivileged people of Desa Changkat.

         Humble in origin,proud of achievements