Malaysians Say The Darndest Things!

Kicking the Wrong Horse In The Ass

February 11, 2008

My precious Chinese New Year holidays are slowly dwindling to an end. Come Monday, I will have to take the much dreaded drive from Ipoh back to the Klang Valley to continue the cycle of life called the rat race.

This past week, I was more relaxed and stress-free because I had already resolved not to bother thinking about politics and the elections. No Malaysiakini, no Lim Kit Siang blog, just me, my family, friends, and card games. So I was enjoying my quiet Sunday morning, taking a shit in the crapper with my family’s favourite ‘toilet’ paper, The Star. Then I stumbled across a letter written by a certain Victor Chew from Ipoh (stumble isn’t the right word. The letter header was in large font, and it was the ‘featured’ letter of the day. You can’t miss it).

The reason I will be featuring Victor Chew’s letter is not because he says the darndest things; in fact, he has the right message to impart, although some of his arguments seem flawed and super-contradictory, especially when he speaks about the development of Ipoh. Even the title of his letter is misleading. Take a read:

Vote for those who serve well

EVERYTHING points to another re-election of the Barisan to form the Government. I hope this will not lead to my fellow Malaysians not being bothered to take an interest in the election process. There are still a lot of reasons to ensure that the elections go on.

Whatever the eventual outcome, what is more important is that we practice a form of political system that allows us to vote for the people we want to represent us and to form the Government.

This we must cherish and ensure that it is continued. One sure way to see to it that this system is not abused and eventually taken away is for all Malaysians to register to vote when they come of age and to exercise the right to vote when the time comes.

Secondly, it is important that we exercise this right to vote wisely.

Malaysians, like those in democratic countries all over the world, face a dilemma of deciding whether we should vote for the party or for the individual candidate.

Very often we have heard the well-quoted statement that a particular party can nominate a buffoon who will get elected because the candidate contests on that particular party’s ticket! How true this is when we see how some members of our parliament from the government and opposition sides behave and speak!

The voting population of a nation with more than 50 years of election experience must be able to discern whether it should vote for a party even if the candidate is a buffoon! If we continue to blindly support incompetent candidates form a party we are only allowing ourselves to be ridiculed and insulted.

All political parties must note that the performance of their candidates in Parliament is open to scrutiny.

Thirdly, urban voters tend to feel that they are the keepers of democracy when they cast their votes to ensure a certain number of opposition members get elected to Parliament so that they can “make some noise.”

True, without them, how can this country claim to be among those in the world practising democracy?

(Me: So far so good. His arguments are really spot on. It gets worse from here.)

I have a special word for my fellow constituents in Ipoh. Ipoh used to be the opposition strong hold when the Peoples Progressive Party was in the opposition.

The DAP had a chance in the last four years to represent the people of Ipoh through Mr Lim Kit Siang and Mr Kulasegaran and I am sure we feel that very little has been done for us in Ipoh.

Maybe, it is time we give a chance to the MCA to prove to us that they can do more for us.

Just take a look at the stagnation we face in the last four years and you can see why I appeal to my fellow constituents to vote for a change.

Being apolitical, I merely want to see that our country is stable and progressing at a reasonable rate.

(Me: Did he just plump for MCA and call himself apolitical?)

When I vote in this coming election, I will not vote as a party member of any party but for the person who will represent me reasonably well in Parliament, bringing up issues that will benefit me and my fellow constituents and eventually my nation.

I will vote for someone who can influence my government to do something good for my laid back city of Ipoh and bring us some development and not merely for a name that excites and a person who is great to watch on TV when Parliament is in session.

Do not merely listen to the rhetoric of seasoned politicians during the campaigning, but look at the track records of individuals and parties. Vote wisely.

VICTOR CHEW,
Ipoh, Perak.

Victor Chew is right. It is imperative that we use our votes wisely. However, I think Victor’s special word for his fellow constituents in Ipoh is rubbish. Basically, he argues that Ipoh needs more development, and that Lim Kit Siang and Kulasegaran are not representing him well in Parliament, especially on such localized issues like the development of Ipoh.

Here are the some facts that Victor should Chew on (pun intended):
Ipoh Timur Parliamentary constituency: Lim Kit Siang (DAP)
Ipoh Barat Parliamentary constituency: M. Kulasegaran (DAP)

Canning state seat (Ipoh Timur): Vincent Hooi Wy-Hon (Gerakan)
Tebing Tinggi state seat (Ipoh Timur): Chew Wai Khoon (MCA)
Pasir Pinji state seat (Ipoh Timur): Su Keong Siang (DAP)

Bercham state seat (Ipoh Barat): Gooi Seng Teik (MCA)
Kepayang state seat (Ipoh Barat): Tan Chin Meng (MCA)
Buntong state seat (Ipoh Barat): Yik Phooi Hong (MCA)

Let me ask Victor, is Parliament the right place to champion the causes of Ipoh? If you were to sell the idea of investing in Ipoh to investors, what would be your selling points? How do you expect your MP to sell Ipoh in Parliament, which is a place that is supposed to debate national issues and pass laws, and not to hard-sell a particular city for development?

Last I checked, there are 5 MCA/Gerakan Perak state assemblymen representing Ipoh. Since Victor thinks that the Members of Parliament are responsible for bringing more development to Ipoh, and leave the ‘goyang kaki’ duties to the state assemblymen, it is my duty as a voter to ask one very important question for the state assemblymen representing Ipoh in the Perak State Assembly.

What have the state assemblymen done to prevent the on-going brain drain from the Kinta Valley?
It is not a secret. There are many talents in Ipoh, but for one talent that stays in Ipoh, there are countless other talents from Ipoh who have decided to make their living away from Ipoh. Why? Lack of exciting job opportunities that satisfy these talents, and also the comparatively low wages offered. So what is the state government and the elected state representatives doing to bring more development to the city? People like Victor would like to know, but he’s barking up the wrong tree by blaming the Members of Parliament.

Also, what type of developments do Ipoh and Victor need/want? Will Victor be able to let go of his lifestyle in the ‘laid back’ city of Ipoh with the advent of development?

Can he put up with the rising violent crime like snatch thefts, robberies, rapes, murder and child kidnapping that are synonymous with ‘developed’ areas like the Klang Valley and Johor Bahru?

Will Ipoh be able to maintain a ‘laid back’ facade once traffic jams of 2 hours or more become the norm?

Will Victor be able to put up with the inevitable construction of highways that will cause more traffic snarls?

Will Victor be able to put up with paying tolls with prices that will only increase while driving from Bercham to Old Town?

Will Victor be able to put up with the rising pollution that the number of cars on the roads bring?

If Victor is retired and no longer earning money, will Victor be able to accept that wanton mee will no longer cost RM2.50 but RM3.50?

So Victor, ask yourself, what type of development you want for your ‘laid back’ city of Ipoh? I have no choice but to dispute your letter in cyberspace, because your special word to your fellow constituents are misleading and your grouses misplaced. Your letter has reached thousands of eyes in Ipoh, while my meagre blog post will only reach about 20 eyes in Ipoh. But just as you feel it is your duty to tell voters to vote wisely, I likewise feel it is also my duty to tell voters to vote wisely. The difference between you and I is that I know the correct people to direct my grouses to, while you’re kicking the wrong horse in the ass.

For some further reading on the problems of voting a BN candidate for Perak state assemblyman, take a look here:
Chinese school in Bercham- Open challenge to MCA
Ka Chuan misguided, misinformed and blind to the needs of Chinese Education

People of Ipoh, if you’re reading this, what do you think? Victor, if you happen to Google yourself one day and read this, what do YOU think?

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