Are We Really Stronger Than Before?

Another year has passed, another dissolution of the Board of Directors, and another installation and induction of Board of Directors and members respectively - it has become so frequent that these words are being drummed into our ears. True enough, new faces are up except for some positions in the Lions Cabinet and the one-year-old District Leo Cabinet. There should be a certain level of creativity and innovation in the eyes of expectation from various quarters. And with the theme - Stronger than before by District Chairperson for Leo Club, Lion Alan Thoo (assuming the officer for another fiscal year), there are certain matters that need to be addressed before it can really be realized.

In the midst of Lion Alan Thoo's explanation, he asked "what do you all understand about the theme?" There were various answers shouted out and one that caught his attention was "to learn from past mistakes" by the Immediate Past President of Leo Club of Penang (City), Leo Saw Zhang Hao. No doubt, this fiscal year would be the second chance for him to prove that he is a District Chairperson for all, not only for his cronies or certain clubs in his hometown, Perak.

Yes, to answer to his call to eradicate the past mistakes and not to repeat them, I think it is appropriate for him to address to the following matters or problems, viz:

1. To be fair and just to all, regardless of Leos from which region.

There have been rising and growing discontent and unrest among the alpha Leos without his knowledge. Reason is simple and pellucid, he is acting as a District Chairperson for his cronies hailed from Ipoh and selected clubs based in Ipoh like Leo Club of Anderson High School, Leo Club of Sam Tet High School and so on. For example, in a joint project between a club from Region 1 and a club from Region 4, when there is blunder from the Region 4 club, do not exercise your more senior position to put the blame on the Region 1 club. When alpha Leos do not voice out, do not take it for granted that you have successfully distributed the pie in a fair manner! Do not practise double standards!

2. Be more transparent in recognizing the contribution of every single Leo during the annual Leo Forum.

Though there are guidelines set in the beginning of every fiscal year, but when it comes to recognition, they are not parallel. It is not that they put awards upon service, but they should get what they deserve as the dictum goes "we reap what we sow". Recognition should be merit based but not on the notion - owh, this club has gotten all the Tops last year and this year they would not be getting it no matter how committed they are.

3. Be more rational in post-mortem meetings

There have been many times where he 'reprimanded' Leos for the so-called reasons of not adhering to his 'instructions'. The Leo programme is designed as a platform for the youths to express their thoughts and creativity into actions by organizing a series of events and projects. Undeniably, sometimes they may have done things not up to his level of expectations, but do not forget that everyone is learning and gaining experience. Harsh words should not be shouted out from the vibrations of his vocal cords, not because that Leos are not courageous enough to face his words! Be more rational, just like he always sells the idea of thinking before making an action.

4. Respect the rights of an Organizing Chairperson of a project.

Count yourself, the number of times where he assumes the position of chief advisor but yet acting on behalf of the organizing chairperson. For instance, he was smart enough to embed the clause in the rules and regulations of the Leo Idol Project in Penang where he holds the absolute power for final decision making. This defeats the purpose of having an Organizing Chairperson with vested power by convention to make decision based on the 'bloc voting' of the organizing committee.

5. Be able to take criticisms positively, may it be from an alpha Leo or omega Leo.

He has been sending wrong signals to the Leo arena where Leos are taught to fight back aggressively (more commonly known as Tiao by him) when you are being given constructive criticisms. Just look at the Leo Forum held in Ipoh recently, Leos from other Districts filed some complaints and look at how the Leos from District 308 B2 responded? He is acting like a dictator when only he can say No, and you must say Yes.

If he is able to make amendments to the various calls above, especially the fifth one, the theme Stronger than before will not take a long time to be a success, or even a fiscal year to be remembered by the Lions and Leo Clubs from all over the map.

The Unseen Problems in Leo

I wanted to pen this post for a long time but it failed. I tried to suppress the emotions, giving myself the excuse of avoiding unnecessary troubles.

After much consideration, I decided to blurt out whatever that is encompassed in my mind. It would be a post much centred on the Leo Club organisation, which I have been indulged in since 2003. An amicable solution has not surfaced after speaking out my concerns about the directions of Leo Club of Penang (City) to the president, Leo Saw Zhang Hao.

What people witness is just only the tip of the iceberg. There are so many problems being swept under the carpet and they do not want to accept the fact there is a need to address the matters. For the matters written below, you may think it is not appropriate to be divulged openly as it may 'hurt' a few so called prominent figures in the arena.

-Opportunities are so close and yet so far.

• No one would question about your past contributions to the club. We highly appreciate it. But did you notice on the other hand, you are still taking control of the club? Even the president nodded that he is just a puppet, listening to commands and orders from you.

• Citing the previous president as an example, nobody would disagree with this fact. Please give room for the president and office bearers to express their leadership and capabilities.

-Be clear of your status in the club.

• You have to accept the fact that although you are a Past President of the club, you no longer hold any power in deciding the matters in a BOD meeting. You have to be clear that you are not even in the Board of Directors for this fiscal year 2009-2010. But you can still give your views and opinions during the Business Meeting designated for members.
  

• If you still remember the BOD meeting in July 2009, when I spoke about the application of being part of the Leo Cabinet, you were the first to object it though other BODs did not say No. I would like to know for what reasons that you held at that time to say No and everyone has to adhere?

• I asked Zhang Hao about this that day and he agreed that there were no conditions stating that to be part of the Leo Cabinet, one must be a past president.

• And since you are no longer a BOD, why the third signature right should fall to you? The first being the right of the Treasurer, second being the right of the President and third should be the right of a Vice President or the Assistant Treasurer!

-What's the point of having constitutions and regulations?

• Speaking about the Leo Cabinet, I remember that Lion Ong Lai Peng told me the need for an election for the key positions. But did I see this?

• The Lions Club International set the Leo range for alpha and omega and too lions. What's the point of having this if one can be a Leo and a Lion at the same time? We are now not talking about a Lion-Leo Club which does not exist in Penang.
  

• Isn't that a contradiction to what you have been speaking that you want to follow the regulations?

• And since you are a Lion of the New Century Lions Club of Penang Island, it would be more paradox for you to hold the third signature right!

-Walk the talk and not merely smearing others.

• You complained that Vice President Leo Lee Cheng Yee did not show the proper and appropriate conduct. I am now wondering how do you define a proper conduct?

• I do not think you would forget you stamping on a car in Ipoh, right? Is that how you defined good conduct with the signs of violence?

-It's time for a new mindset, not restricting change.

• It is such a coward act that you do not have the courage to speak it out loud during the meeting. I proposed using English as the medium of meeting, viewing it as a benefit not only in the Leo business and also job opportunities in close future.

• I am being treated as a scapegoat that you thought I was looking down on you. That's just your own betrayal of soul, I shall say.
  

-Last but not least, I am no Beggar.

• You insinuated my capabilities when you said "I ask Fiona first, if she doesn't want then I give you".
• I do things based on my capabilities and not to 'polish people's shoes'.

Remembering Teoh Beng Hock

[Adapted from the Nutgraph]

By Teoh Nie Ching, MP for Serdang

THERE are some people whom we have known for a long time yet it feels like we only met them yesterday. And then there are some people that we only just met, yet it feels like we have known them for a long time. My friendship with Teoh Beng Hock fell into the second category.

I got to know Beng Hock during the March 2008 general election. To be honest, the first impression he gave me was that he was rather cool and unfriendly. But that impression was soon overtaken by his support and convictions.

I was still a newbie in politics then despite being a DAP candidate for the Serdang parliamentary seat. At that time, I was unfamiliar with the problems Kajang and Serdang residents faced. Beng Hock, who was an experienced reporter, immediately recognised my problem. He pulled me aside during one ceramah and gave me a run down on every problem in my constituency, as quickly as he could during the time we had. It was then that I realised that the tall and thin reporter may have looked unfriendly, but the flame for justice burned bright and deep in him.

Hard work, low salary

When I met Beng Hock again after the general election, he had already become political secretary to Ean Yong Hian Wah, the Seri Kembangan assemblyperson from the DAP. We would meet up often after that.

We always discussed political and constituency-related issues. Sometimes, we could quickly think up of solutions for these issues but at other times, we were unable to because of various limitations. Then Beng Hock would tell me, "Nie Ching, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) must take over the federal government. State government's power is too limited. Only with the federal government power in hand can we come up with radical changes."

A political assistant's work is normally tiring. These assistants usually have long working hours, including during the weekends. When we were organising an event or activity, Beng Hock regularly had to work overtime until 3am or 4am at the service centre.

But despite these long hours, an assistant's salary is not high. We used to ask him all the time when he would marry his girlfriend. His joking rejoinder would always be: "First, you tell my boss to raise my salary. The salary working for the state government is so low, how to get married?"

Steadfast

Beng Hock (right) witnessed many injustices as a journalist. Nie Ching is on the far left.

Despite the low salary, and his family's protest and their advice to him to change profession, he remained steadfast and chose to stay on with the DAP. Part of this, I know, was because as a journalist, he witnessed many injustices and unreasonable incidents which caused him much anger.

In fact, he chose to join the DAP and to become Hian Wah's assistant because of the frustrations he faced as a journalist such as the limitations on the freedom of information. He used to tell me that his biggest ambition as a political aide was to cleanse Serdang of the Barisan Nasional's influence and make it a safe seat for the DAP, placed under the PR's governance. It was that vision that made him willing to endure the long hours to continue serving the people.

This was who Beng Hock was — a responsible young man full of ambitions.

To Beng Hock

On 30 Aug 2009, a day before Independence Day, a group of members from Pusat Perkhidmatan DAP Serdang, together with Serdang's DAP Socialist Youth and I, went to Malacca just to pay our last respects to you on the sixth day of the seven-day prayers for you.

Your family was still in deep sorrow, especially your mother. You had just left us for a month and a half, and yet she seemed ten years older than her age. Your brother told us she lived in tears every single day, no matter what she was doing; whether eating, washing or ironing. And that was what I saw as well, a mother with nothing left but devastation.

I hugged her tightly to comfort her but it did not help. She did not want anything but her son. She kept murmuring to herself, "Why did he walk in healthy but could not walk out from there?" "How could they do this to him?" "You promised to come home by Friday, how could you leave like that on Thursday?"

I know that deep down inside her heart, she is still hoping that her son will come home one day to dine with her. But that day will not ever come.

During our 52nd Independence Day this year, instead of distributing the national flags on the streets like I did last year, I wrote about you instead, to commemorate you, your spirit and soul, everything that you did to contribute to your country.

DAP comrades, Beng Hock and Nie Ching

I can imagine the kind of conversation we would be having now, if only you were still here. I can even predict your reactions and expressions. However, you are but a memory now.

There are some people whom we only know for a short time, yet he or she becomes part of our lives. Beng Hock died for a better Malaysia for all Malaysians. It is time for us to carry on the work he left behind.

Change We Did, What's Next?

Pulse of the Nation

During the occurrence of a profuse bleeding, the immediate measure that should be taken is no other than arresting the bleeding. The reason is simple, clear and pellucid - to stop the lost of blood which encompasses plasma, erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes and the likes. The matters happening around us can be synonymized with our internal environment. We need an environment that is regulated within a range, named homeostasis.

Before moving on further, allow me to clarify two terms in case of any confusion, viz:

1. homeostasis: a state of equilibrium or a tendency to reach equilibrium, either metabolically within a cell or organism or socially and psychologically within an individual or group.
2. hemostasis: the stopping of bleeding or hemorrhaging in an organ or body part.

The above two words sound the same. Basically both have the same objective - for the betterment of our body. How can we correlate homeostasis with the happenings in daily context? Let me point out a typical example. May 7, the day of infamy at Perak where it brought much of shame to our country in the eyes of other country should be tabled as the main agenda in bringing out an amicable solution for the sake of Perakians, restoring the 'homeostasis' they once used to enjoy.

I wonder why the Federal government, led by the Barisan Nasional coalition is not keen at 'arresting' the 'bleeding' faced by the Perakians. Instead, the police force was misused, arresting hundreds of innocent people. What have they done wrong? We have lost our most basic human rights. We are not allowed to wear black shirts, hold peaceful gatherings, and even candlelight vigil.

The people are just like the blood cells, they contribute to the thick and thin of the development of the country. Without any single of them, there would not be any state of homeostasis. In other words, our beloved motherland - Malaysia will never achieve the tag of World Class Country and the people will forever be embedded with the label of third world mentality. Ask yourself, do we want this?

When the country's economy is not improving or in a stagnant state, what should be done is we shoulder the burden together. But not rubbing salt to the wound, throwing baseless allegations and 'push' the responsibility-balls here and there. All the member of parliaments are given the mandate by the people to ensure that any deviation would not hobble out of the range of homeostasis.

My call to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, please stop all the nonsense and do what you do - the honourable things. As what you said, listen to the pulse of the people, but sincerely. Not by listening through a opaque glass, but through a stethoscope. The pulse of the nation lies on you heavily.

To address the 'bleedings' is what we rakyat aspire from all the member of parliaments. Nobody wants to be sidelined. Please do not play the racial cards in splitting us again.

Anak Malaysia or Anak Laos?

Anak Malaysia or Anak Laos? From the surface view, it seems that both do not differ except in terms of nationality. But when it comes to the aspect of social concerns, there is a wide gap that is sandwiching both.

Few days ago, I was approached by a volunteer from the Spastic Children's Association of Selangor and Federal Territory (SCASFT). I had a thought in my mind - is the Community Service Overseas Trip to Laos relevant? The anwer is definitely a No for the time being. I stress again, for the time being!

The Singaporean Najib is playing all the irrational cards again. Have you ever come across the situations in Sabah and Sarawak? I bet most would only know the existence of the states and have the perception of both the states are occupied by the orang asli. I have nearly forgotten that Singaporean Najib is from Singapore. How on earth would he understand the problems faced by the people there?

Have you heard the cries of Sabah and Sarawak? We never experience blackout of electricity or shortage of water supply so frequently where it could be four or five times a week. We never think of their standard of living. We never see their niche, the environment that they live. Don't you think that Sabahans and Sarawakians deserve more than anyone else? What more in such a trying time, where we are facing one of the worst ever economic crisis in a century.

I concur to what Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said "Anak Melayu anak kita, Anak Cina anak kita, Anak India anak kita...".

And I now say Anak Selangor anak kita, Anak Sabah anak kita, dan Anak Sarawak juga anak kita!

He has put his personal agenda above the national interest. Obviously, even a dumb can tell that to travel to Laos would cost more dearly than to travel to Sabah or Sarawak. But the question arises when they have difficulty in raising the amount needed, and yet they insist on going to Laos.

Perak? Negeri Sembilan? Why not consider these states? Has the state government achieved zero poverty and ensured that every single disabled person gets the full support and backing from the concerned departments? Answer me!

Travelling locally is definitely cheaper. And for the accommodation, I am sure that the local authorities can lend a helping hand. So why sell keropok so desperately?

From an internal source, it says "So, I really wish to develop in each of you the CSC's spirit (impacting lives, imparting love), by giving out the best of us whole-heartedly in every visit, just like the difference which Melissa is trying to make in the coming visit to Tmn Megah. I can tell she is truly spirited and passionate in contributing to the lower society."

Now I understand that only the person above is trying to make a difference and has put every single soul into the visits and the others are just embedded with prima donna attitude. Try to make it simple, it indirectly means that if you do not attend the weekly visits, and you will be slapped with the not-spirited-and-not-passionate tag!

Tell me people, any scale to measure how passionate a person can be in contributing to the society through weekly visits?

All in all, Anak Malaysia is still the one that needs the utmost support and backing. for the time being. Conjecture about it!

JPA Scholarships – Seeking A Fair & Equitable Policy

An Email received from Erica Hew Li Huang, Special Assistant to YB Tony Pua.

Read about all the renewed controversy over the JPA scholarships recently?

Well, in the light of the neverending controversy over the award of government scholarships by Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) of the Prime Minister's Department, DAP will be holding a forum/dialogue session to obtain feedback from:

• aggrieved students
• current and former local and overseas scholars
• academics
• the general public

The forum/dialogue will be held as follows:

JPA Scholarships – Seeking A Fair & Equitable Policy
Venue: KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
Date: 19th May 2009 (Tuesday)
Time: 8.00 pm

The panelists will include:

• Lim Kit Siang, DAP Parliamentary Leader and MP for Ipoh Timor,
• Anthony Loke Siew Fook, MP for Rasah and DAPSY Chief,
• Tony Pua, MP for Petaling Jaya Utara,
• Dr Dzulkifli Ahmad, PAS Research Centre Director and MP for Kuala Selangor
• Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Selangor ADUN for Seri Setia

Dr Goh Cheng Teik, eminent academic, former deputy minister and interviewer for Harvard University admission programme in Malaysia will also be a special guest for the evening.

In addition, for students and scholars who are not able to make it for the forum (e.g., if you are overseas or if you live outstation, you are welcome to submit written submissions to the panel. Please write to: dapscholarship (at) rocketmail (dot) com.

Please put up on your respective blogs or forward details of the above forum to all parties concerned, especially those who have failed to secure scholarships despite outstanding results. We will be making a compilation of the complaints, appeals and suggestions made during the evening.

For further reading:

• I will be fair to PSD director-general but he must be fair to all PSD scholarship applicants

• The unfair PSD scholarship awards