Tussle for MB post a test of Pakatan survival

--> Time for Anwar to call it a day

With PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s support for Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim, he has indicated openly his refusal to support Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to replace Khalid with his wife and PKR president Datin Seri Wan Azizah.This stand by the PAS leader may and backed by Tok Guru Nik Aziz virtually puts a stop to Anwar’s “Kajang Move” that is aimed at strengthening the Selangor government and using the state capture Putrajaya in the 14GE.Hadi’s support for a ‘Umno MB’ over his Pakatan allies may indicate the reviwal of old interests of the Islamist party with Umno that could lead to the breakup of the opposition coalition. 

Moreover Khalid’s refusal to step down despite not getting the support of his party and his likelihood of resorting to royal support may help him hold on to power at least till the next GE.The significant result of such a scenario will be a great setback for Anwar from which he, at age of 66, may never be able to recover and that may put an end to his political ambitions. There are already many close to him abandoning him and if he loses in this bid to oust Khalid he may once again become a resident of Sg.Buloh,this time a lonely one.

The battle to replace Khalid,initially seen as a simple party process has become a crucial test for Pakatan's unity and probably even survival.The collapse of Pakatan will have serious consequences as it would not only mean the return of Umno-BN which the people rejected in two general elections but also the loss of a strong opposition.

Most fair minded Malaysians will agree that Khalid should have the integrity to step down from the post having lost the confidence of his party as it was the party that put him up there in the first place.How can a  BN-aligned administer a Pakatan-ruled state? 

 
Despite Pakatan having ruled five states since 2008,it is unfortunate that is no proper system of selecting the MB is in place. Selection by consensus may be ideal but it is not possible all the time. This lack of say from component parties led to the fall of Kedah in the last elections. As to the replacement of Khalid Ibrahim this time in Selangor, there must be a vote among Pakatan leaders on the choice of candidate from those nominated by their parties. PKR may have nominated Wan Azizah and she may be a good choice but that must be decided by a democratic process among Pakatan leaders and not by any individual including Anwar. 

Looking at the developments in Pakatan on a more positive view will reassure many that with PAS out of the coalition,new forces may may realign to make Pakatan Rakyat stronger as PAS,in particular the Ulama faction, has always been looked on with suspicion by other two partners.As the new forces realign the old ones led by Anwar and Kit Siang too must exit to make way for younger leaders to adapt to changes and new realities on the ground today.

As for Anwar, while we appreciate what he has done so far in creating a formidable opposition, but time has come for him to leave the centre-stage to the younger leaders. I am sure he has the wisdom to realise that he, like all leaders, is not indispensable and failing to leave at the right time may end him losing all he has gained over these years. All his sacrifices will come to naught if the bickering over the MB post leads to the breakup of Pakatan Rakyat.

Anwar must see the ongoing ‘Khalid experience’ as a clear sign that soon everyone close to him will desert him. In fact the choice of his wife for the MB’s post itself speaks volumes of the mistrust he has for anyone else in the party. This is indeed a very sorry state for a leader who managed to accomplish the unprecedented feat to garner the people’s support and almost became the PM after the13GE.

The signs are showing that Anwar must leave and he must do so gracefully. It will be for his own good that that of his wife and family. At 66, there are much more beautiful things in life for him than politics where he is increasingly seen as becoming irrelevant. Those who admired his courage, supported his ideals and stayed with him loyally during thick and thin do not like to see him leave beaten, disgraced, disappointed and a broken man. 

They will miss him but will never forget him as he will go down in history as the man who dared to stand up to an abusive, unjust and corrupt regime and one who created a formidable opposition called Pakatan Rakyat which many others before him failed.

Tomorrow a second chance in life

 

 

Something useful to think about.

If you make a mistake today, there always tomorrow to correct yourself. If you let that tomorrow slip by, you will feel sorry one day. You may never get another tomorrow if you are so stupid to let go of this tomorrow. So be wise to take advantage of this tomorrow before it is too late for another.

City vagrants and image problem

The warning by the Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor to penalise soup kitchens and round-up the homeless in KL city only goes to show that the minister is totally out of touch with the plight of the poor, especially the urban poor, who are finding it extremely difficult to make ends meet with the high cost of living in the City.

 Most of poor and homeless in the city are old, sickly, ex-drug addicts or are abandoned by their families for their unacceptable behaviour earlier in life. Most of them have changed and want to lead normal lives but are not able to do so as they are penniless and jobless for various reasons. There may be some foreigners among them but most are our own locals who seem to have been marginalised from the mainstream of development.

 The warning by Tengku Adnan that soup kitchens in Kuala Lumpur have to move out of the city centre or face getting punished is very shocking. What crime have these kind-hearted Samaritans committed? What type of punishment is he referring to and under what laws will they be charged? It is ironical that those who are willing to go out of the way to help the poor are being warned not to do so.It is extremely ridiculous that those who want to do good are punished but real criminals go scot-free. What type of culture are our leaders promoting? What message are they sending to the young?

Distributing food to the urban poor is not the real problem but not doing anything to address the increasing urban poverty is. Homelessness is not the real problem but ignoring the need for basic housing for the poor is. Vagrants living on the streets of the city is not the real image problem but having citizens, in particular leaders, living is great luxury but with no heart for the pain and suffering of the poor is the real image problem.

 It is shocking that many of the poor have been homeless for years, living on the pavements and fed by concerned fellow Malaysians of all ethnicity. It is encouraging to know that just as the vagrants come from all races so are those who are managing the soup kitchens that feed them. The love of ordinary citizens to help their fellow men in need transcends race and creed unlike those in power, who are more concerned with who they help

Ku Nan seems to be worried about the image problem created by poor vagrants roaming the streets of the city. But in actual fact that is not the real image problem but having citizens, in particular leaders living in luxury, but with no heart for the suffering of the poor is the real image problem. Apathy to the pain of others is the biggest image problem we face today in our country.

We were once proud of the image we had in the world, united and harmonious despite our diversity, peaceful, courteous and extremely helpful even to strangers. But today can we claim to have that same image that we can all be proud of as Malaysians?

 

Fathers must be responsible too

 Fathers must love the mother of his children

As we celebrated Father’s Day there was so much praise and thanksgiving being showered upon fathers for all they have done and are continuing to do for the children. It is indeed fitting and right to shower them with such praise as the vast majority of them really deserve such praise and gratitude. Most fathers are good, loving, caring and will do anything for their children.

In the midst of these great fathers are some who continue to be irresponsible and cause so much heartache and sorrow in their families. These arise due to the problems between fathers and mothers that leads to separation, divorce and bitter breakup of families. In this process the major losers are the children. Although there are many causes for these separation and divorce the saddest reason is religion differences. Of late there have been a number of cases where the father converts to another faith and in the process forces the conversion of their under aged children without the consent of the mother. This has caused tremendous uncertainties for the wife and children.

Although these cases are pending in the courts for an amicable solution but the problem of child custody remains a real issue for the children as they are torn between two people whom they love most in the world - their father and mother. It will be unfair to ask them to make choice between the two parents at that tender age as both of them mean the world to them. 

The underlying cause of this problem is the lack of love between father and mother. If only the father loves the mother which he promised whole heartedly when they got married, he will be able to compromise and come to an amicable solution of their marital disputes at least for the sake of their children. Why invoke the courts when the problem is your own making? Why the hatred and cruelty to the wife who he married out of love? Why the heart to cause so much misery for the children? 

In this regards a recent quote that impressed me goes like this, “The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” We can understand that at times separation and divorce are inevitable for many genuine reasons but why go through it with so much hate for the spouse? Can’t that be done in a more civilised away where all parties are agreeable and solved peacefully?

On this Father’s day it may be timely for such fathers to reflect on what they are doing to their wives and their children. All that is needed is a little love and consideration for the person whom they loved. All that is needed is a considerate mind and loving heart not to cause hardship to the children they love. 

 

 For the healthy development of a child to become a good and useful citizen later he needs            good parents and a family united in love. A father who loves the mother of his children will lead to the creation of a united and harmonious family. Embattled parents with broken families lead to problematic children who become a burden and threat to society.

A father can give his children all the money in the world, the expensive gifts, the best education and the most luxurious lives but above all these the more important thing is to give them good parents to make their lives more meaningful. He can only do this for his children by showing love for their mother whom they love most. The children are watching the way their father lives his life which will go a long way to determine how they will live theirs.   

Father's Day 2014 - A dad's love 40 years ago

I missed my father and he missed me too

by Joice Malathi

My parents sent me to India after my SPM in 1975 to pursue a degree in Pharmacy. Despite my reluctance to leave home for a foreign country, I finally agreed to go. My father managed to save enough to sponsor my studies in India. Little did I realize then that it was all he could afford at that time, having to educate seven of us.

The day which I dreaded most finally came and I left home with my father to India. We reached my uncle’s house in Trichy where we stayed and made further arrangements to enroll me in the college there. When everything was done it was time for my father to leave me and return home. I was so sad that I couldn’t control and broke down. He too looked very sad but kept himself composed as he bid me farewell. As he left me I could see the pain in his face, the image of which I still remember so vividly till today. That look on his face revealed the love he had for me in his heart.

As the days passed I felt better but the sadness continue to g haunt me. The sad picture of my dad leaving kept coming back to my mind which made me very disturbed and sad. The College I enrolled was not the best and the facilities there were far below standards especially in the hostel where I stayed. They were rather poor and most of the students there came from very poor rural families.

I found the conditions unbearable and to make matters worse I was homesick missing my parents back home where they gave me the best they had, although they did not have much. They gave us the best meals, decent home to stay and drove me to wherever I needed to go. I particularly missed my father who takes me wherever he went and spent hours talking to me about politics and social happenings in and outside the country. I missed my siblings especially my brothers and their playful antics.

After about 3 months in the college, I couldn’t bear the situation anymore. I started to pester my parents to take me back home. My father seemed to understand my problem better than my mother and was more sympathetic to my ‘sufferings’ in India.

Without my mother’s knowledge he finally he sent me a return ticket with which I was so pleased. I am grateful to him for that brave move till today. At that age I thought he was just feeling sorry for me but later I realized he too missed me and was wanted me back. Yes, the agonizing look on his face when he left me in the college was real and represented how much he loved and missed me.

Today my father is sick and bedridden and all alone after the death of my mother but he continues to remind me of his love for me and my siblings. He worked very hard to give us the best he had. In fact he gave us everything he had without having to ask for them. He is a self-made man of success, rose from the poverty stricken village of Puthukottai in India to become the head of a respectable family in Ipoh. He did only not help us but everyone in need who crossed his path. As I watch him lying quietly I see the greatness in him which many may not be aware or refuse to acknowledge.

I continue to cherish the loving memories of my dad in my heart. The painful sight of him leaving me in India 40 years ago keeps reminding me of his goodness which makes me eager to keep him longer with me. I continue to pray for is health but deep in me I know, at 90 and in coma, he must go. All I ask God is to take him home peacefully and with the respect and dignity he deserves. My father will always be in my heart wherever he may be. 

Happy Father’s Day Appa.