In my previous post, I listed the various critical areas that an incoming Sabah Government need to do during its first 100 days.
Such a list is long and some require more time than just 100 days. Further, each State or Federal constituency have their own needs & priorities.
Thus, how does a Government to decide which priorities are needed for each constituency? Ask the people, whom the Government is to serve.
A credible political party would have a desk at every polling station. Use this desk to seek the "advice" of voters, as they come in or when they are leaving.
Prepare a simple survey sheet with a list of possible priorities. Each voter is then asked which, he/she thinks, are their TOP THREE PRIORITIES for their constituency that they wish to see implemented.
The list could look like this:-
1. Educational facilities - preschool/primary/secondary/apprenticeship/university
2. Health care - clinic/hospital/mobile clinic/dental clinic
3. Clean water supply
4. Electricity supply
5. Better/more roads between ............ and ............
6. A public transport system
7. Market
8. Permanent Police presence
9. Mobile Phone/Data tower
10. TV/Radio reception
12. Bridges at ..................
13. Market building/Communal Cold Storage facility
14. Agricultural canals
15. Other .........................
Should the party win this constituency, you will know exactly their expectations from their representative (ADUN or MP).
Friday, April 7, 2017
Monday, April 3, 2017
Jumping the gun - Warisan's first 100 days
What I hope Warisan's first 100 days will be like?
I have asked this question, via one of my more active & political social media sites. However, no one, absolutely, no one responded. Is it irrelevant? Is it unimportant to them?
These are people, who, in their vigourous discourse on political news, have no view of what must come after a "new" Government is installed. Either at PutraJaya or in Sabah.
Does that infer that it is now up to the Government of-the-day to form policy, as-they-like? Do what they like? And, the citizens job is just to assess the progress or otherwise? Engagement is over until we approach the next elections? We, voters, will take them to task for not doing what we had hoped for but have never articulated any viewpoint. We expect them to be all-seeing Gods that know their minds & hearts.
If so, it is a tall order for any politician, who have no idea of the aspirations of the people they govern. Is this Sabahans' idea of democracy at work?
Far from it. The citizens are expected to constantly engage our leaders in the governing of our State or Country. To start, the first 100 days will determine the direction Sabah will take should Warisan take over Sabah. Here is my listing of a "to-do" list for Sabah, to progress towards a state of some achievement & provide hope for the future for our young generation.
*****************
POLICY OBJECTIVES
1. A greatest asset of a state is its human resource. Sabah must develop current & future human capital to have the skill sets required to engage & compete within Malaysia and the world.
2. Sabah needs to retain its talent pool within the state. To achieve this, it must provide jobs to its citizens with good prospects for advancement. The next step is to attract back to Sabah, its diaspora which would have additional talent and world experience to complement home-grown talent.
3. Enterprises are formed with hard capital investment. Sabah, with its largely depleted natural resources, need to seek out investment capital from outside the state. Sabahans must not be shy to court capital investment from any source, including West Malaysia, South-East Asia, China & the rest of the world.
4. Communications & connectivity is priority for the efficient movement of goods & services within the state. This is an ongoing project that must be made more efficient with added quality. Seek talent in the implementation of the latest technology to conquer our complex terrain.
5. Reliable utilities supply must continue to be extended into all parts of Sabah, utilising a mix of traditional methods and innovative methods developed over the years, embracing the use of multi-energy sources.
6. Food security is a very important concern for the world in the immediate future. Thus, the agricultural sector must not be neglected, rather, an urgent need to be expanded & made more efficient whilst using sustainable methods to retain the richness of the soil.
7. Unsustainable agricultural methods should be phased out. Monoculture should be re-assessed.
8. The tourism potential & durability of Sabah nature tourism means the preservation of indigenous eco-systems. Not a patchwork of forests but sustainable swathes of territory dedicated to its sustainability.
9. Other aspects of the tourism industry, with emphasis on quality rather than quantity should be initiated. Our diversity of ethnic origins & customs is a strength that is not being fully exploited by our tourism industry.
10. The final outlook that needs to be addressed is the role of industry in Sabah. Certain heavy & base industries are certainly required to sustain a modern economy. However, confining such naturally polluting industries to certain parts of the state is required. Other industry & manufacturing facilities should also be allocated appropriate zones. However, the main emphasis is the development of "future" & service industries in Sabah. These industries will lead Sabah to be an acknowledged player of the future.
I am sure that there are more priorities that Sabah needs to address & provide policy guidance on. However, the first 100 days must see action in the major priorities and those that can be implemented immediately.
How each of these 10 general guidelines may be brought to fruition will follow with the next posting. In the meantime, constructive feedback is welcome.
I have asked this question, via one of my more active & political social media sites. However, no one, absolutely, no one responded. Is it irrelevant? Is it unimportant to them?
These are people, who, in their vigourous discourse on political news, have no view of what must come after a "new" Government is installed. Either at PutraJaya or in Sabah.
Does that infer that it is now up to the Government of-the-day to form policy, as-they-like? Do what they like? And, the citizens job is just to assess the progress or otherwise? Engagement is over until we approach the next elections? We, voters, will take them to task for not doing what we had hoped for but have never articulated any viewpoint. We expect them to be all-seeing Gods that know their minds & hearts.
If so, it is a tall order for any politician, who have no idea of the aspirations of the people they govern. Is this Sabahans' idea of democracy at work?
Far from it. The citizens are expected to constantly engage our leaders in the governing of our State or Country. To start, the first 100 days will determine the direction Sabah will take should Warisan take over Sabah. Here is my listing of a "to-do" list for Sabah, to progress towards a state of some achievement & provide hope for the future for our young generation.
*****************
POLICY OBJECTIVES
1. A greatest asset of a state is its human resource. Sabah must develop current & future human capital to have the skill sets required to engage & compete within Malaysia and the world.
2. Sabah needs to retain its talent pool within the state. To achieve this, it must provide jobs to its citizens with good prospects for advancement. The next step is to attract back to Sabah, its diaspora which would have additional talent and world experience to complement home-grown talent.
3. Enterprises are formed with hard capital investment. Sabah, with its largely depleted natural resources, need to seek out investment capital from outside the state. Sabahans must not be shy to court capital investment from any source, including West Malaysia, South-East Asia, China & the rest of the world.
4. Communications & connectivity is priority for the efficient movement of goods & services within the state. This is an ongoing project that must be made more efficient with added quality. Seek talent in the implementation of the latest technology to conquer our complex terrain.
5. Reliable utilities supply must continue to be extended into all parts of Sabah, utilising a mix of traditional methods and innovative methods developed over the years, embracing the use of multi-energy sources.
6. Food security is a very important concern for the world in the immediate future. Thus, the agricultural sector must not be neglected, rather, an urgent need to be expanded & made more efficient whilst using sustainable methods to retain the richness of the soil.
7. Unsustainable agricultural methods should be phased out. Monoculture should be re-assessed.
8. The tourism potential & durability of Sabah nature tourism means the preservation of indigenous eco-systems. Not a patchwork of forests but sustainable swathes of territory dedicated to its sustainability.
9. Other aspects of the tourism industry, with emphasis on quality rather than quantity should be initiated. Our diversity of ethnic origins & customs is a strength that is not being fully exploited by our tourism industry.
10. The final outlook that needs to be addressed is the role of industry in Sabah. Certain heavy & base industries are certainly required to sustain a modern economy. However, confining such naturally polluting industries to certain parts of the state is required. Other industry & manufacturing facilities should also be allocated appropriate zones. However, the main emphasis is the development of "future" & service industries in Sabah. These industries will lead Sabah to be an acknowledged player of the future.
I am sure that there are more priorities that Sabah needs to address & provide policy guidance on. However, the first 100 days must see action in the major priorities and those that can be implemented immediately.
How each of these 10 general guidelines may be brought to fruition will follow with the next posting. In the meantime, constructive feedback is welcome.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Revolutionary assemblies are not held in Government buildings
On 15 June, 1215, the highly unpopular King John of England, negotiated and signed the Magna Carta on Runnymede MEADOWS, along the River Thames and not far from Windsor Palace. The Magna Carta proclaimed the principles of a Constitutional Monarchy that is still applied in England & throughout the world's Constitutional Monarchies. This assembly was not held in some sumptuous building but in an open field!
This democratic tradition continued in France when in 1789, King Louis XVI of France sought to forbid the so-called "Third Estate" or representatives of the people from meeting to discuss urgent national business, they convened on a Paris TENNIS COURT.
That, too, was presumably seen as an "insult" to the ruler, King Louis XVI.
May history record that this meeting be listed among one of the revolutionary political assemblies in the world NOT held in an officially designated Government building.
"Magna Carta required King John of England to proclaim certain rights (pertaining to nobles and barons), respect certain legal procedures, and accept that his will could be bound by the law. It explicitly protected certain rights of the King's subjects, whether free or fettered—most notably the writ of habeas corpus, allowing appeal against unlawful imprisonment.
Magna Carta was arguably the most significant early influence on the extensive historical process that led to the rule of constitutional law today in the English speaking world. Magna Carta influenced the development of the common law and many constitutional documents, including the United States Constitution." (Wikipedia)This democratic tradition continued in France when in 1789, King Louis XVI of France sought to forbid the so-called "Third Estate" or representatives of the people from meeting to discuss urgent national business, they convened on a Paris TENNIS COURT.
That, too, was presumably seen as an "insult" to the ruler, King Louis XVI.
They passed their "Tennis Court Oath" that they would not disperse, adjourn or relent until their right to convene and discuss important public matters as the people's legitimate representatives was acknowledged.
It was the beginning of the French Revolution and of the entire drama of modern representative democracy and popular sovereignty. (Clive S Kessler is Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at the School of Social Sciences and International Studies at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia contributed to "The Nut Graph")
The Rowlatt Act, also known as the Black Act, vested the Viceroy's government with extraordinary powers to quell sedition by silencing the press, detaining the political activists without trial, and arresting any individuals suspected of sedition or treason without a warrant. In protest, a nationwide cessation of work (hartal) was called, marking the beginning of widespread, although not nationwide, popular discontent. The provisions of this act probably formed the basis of our own ISA.
Gowalia Tank Maidan (now also known as August Kranti Maidan) is a PARK in central Bombay where Mahatma Gandhi issued the Quit India speech on 8 August 1942 decreeing that the British must leave India immediately or else mass agitations would take place. The call mobilised the citizens to a huge Civil Disobedience movement as the British refused to grant independence till the 2nd World War was over.
The First Continental Congress of the United Colonies of North America met at Carpenter's Hall from September 5 to October 26, 1774, since the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall) was being used by the moderate Provincial Assembly of Pennsylvania. At this meeting, Congress organized a boycott of British goods and petitioned the king for repeal of the Coecive Acts 1774. Here, also, Congress resolved to ban further imports of slaves and to discontinue the slave trade within the colonies, a step toward phasing out slavery in British North America. Carpenter's Hall is a Guild House for Carpenters NOT a Government building.
Closer home, Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, was formerly the headquarters of the Chinese Revolutionary Alliance in Southeast Asia known as Wan Qing Yuan (meaning “a haven of peace in the twilight years”). It was here that Dr. Sun plotted his revolutionary efforts that toppled the Qing dynastic rule and heralded the start of modern China. Sun Yat Sen held meetings at this mansion from February 1906 until the successful Xinhai Revolution in 1911. This mansion was originally built by a rich Chinese for his mistress, Bin Chan, NOT a Government building.
May history record that this meeting be listed among one of the revolutionary political assemblies in the world NOT held in an officially designated Government building.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Sabahan's letter of woe - Lim Kit Siang's blog
As a new arrival to Sabah, I know that the conditions described are true.
However, I shall like to say that:-
1. Sabah do not have effective leaders, who could outplay those from the Peninsula. Total lack of exposure while living in their coconut shells.
2. Sabahans are generally too laidback to want to make a difference in their own state. Again, quietly remaining within their coconut shells.
3. The greatest mistake that the writer accepts as virtue, is to bar West Malaysians from Sabah. This has resulted in this lamentable situation where Westies have no inkling of Sabah or Sarawak. Is it the fault of West Malaysians, that to travel within our own country, we are subject to the indignity of undergoing immigration checks and then allowed to remain in the state for only 3 months? Unable to seek jobs or even to set up a legitimate business? Are West Malaysians aliens in our own country?
How are we to get to know you, understand you and help you grow economically, when we are not even welcome to Sabah?
This has been put into the thinking of Sabahans for 45 years that Westies are threats to their economy. See what has happened? Sabah has become rich exploitation grounds for UMNO and their friends. Free from competition, they forage without fear and damn the whole state to poverty.
This is not the fault of the ordinary West Malaysian out to create mutual wealth in Sabah.
It is Sabahans believing their corrupt leaders and the Federal Government, who returned only 5% of the state’s wealth to the state. Who accepted this trinket payout and gave away Labuan? You, Sabahans, did through your very own leaders that you elected into power, time and time again. And for what did you get in return? Interrupted water supply, electrical blackouts, floods, high prices of all consumer goods, potholed and untarred roads and more.
Yet, at the same time, they boosted their demographics agenda by importing illegal Filipinos and Indonesians. These work in their industries and plantation and logging plants. While the Sabahan urbanites exploited them as coffeeshop workers, cooks, road sweepers and even as steady suppliers of your seafoods and vegetables! Yet you now choose to complain and continue to keep legitimate citizens of our country away from your shores.
As Sabah slipped into poverty, most of you continue to vote in those orchestrating your demise, in the last General Election. There was no excuse since PR fielded many able candidates to you to choose.
Don’t blame others for your predicament. Do the right thing NOW and move to REFORMASI. Sabah has indeed the potential to be a shining state for eco-tourism of Malaysia.
Do it!!!! Tell your leaders in no uncertain terms "Time for change is well & truly OVERDUE!"
Of HINDRAF and Raya Open House
I am most annoyed by Wong Chun Wai's latest blog comments under the above title. Here is my comment left on his blog. I hope he will allow it to be published.
Quote:
You agree with the official tagline that HINDRAF politicised Hari Raya Open House. Yet, in the next breath, you say that that Open House is paid for by the taxpayers. I believe HINDRAF members are also taxpayers? Further, if the Open House is not political, then, the expenses should be borne from the private pockets of the hosts.
Please do not say the event is non-political but the taxpayers foot the enormous bill.
Besides what is wrong to ask for a favour during Hari Raya? Here we have women and children deprived of their loved ones during this "happy" and forgiving festival. Is it wrong then, to ask for some sympathy and forgiveness?
Forgiveness because their loved ones have NOT been proved guilty or even been charged in a court of law. Only that the people they are begging for help say so.
What exactly is so wrong that HINDRAF detainees' family members and friends have done that they should be chastised by the Government and, now, you? What is wrong for anti-ISA members to ask for release of the other detainees? Most of these detainees will not be with their loved ones. And for what crime? May I ask you that they have committed? When the authorities cannot find sufficient evidence to produce in a court of law?
Answer this! to justify your reprimand.
Another thing is this comment:-
Malaysia is probably one of the few countries where you can actually walk to the PM and asked for a photograph to be taken. This is the only place I can think of where there is a Raya open house and thousands would patiently line up for their turn to shake the PM's hand ..
I wonder what does Mr. Wong sees whenever he goes overseas? Does he look but do not see? All over Europe and the Americas, in law abiding & democratic nations, the nation's leaders reach out to shake the hands of their fellow citizens. Who do you think are shaking Obama's hands as he travel the nation? Only invited guests? Or senior journalists like himself?
Give me a break with all this crappy nonsense!
Perhaps, during this forgiving festive period, I should write it off as jet-lag and possibly still awestruck after meeting ex-President Bill Clinton and have had his photo taken with him.
Quote:
You agree with the official tagline that HINDRAF politicised Hari Raya Open House. Yet, in the next breath, you say that that Open House is paid for by the taxpayers. I believe HINDRAF members are also taxpayers? Further, if the Open House is not political, then, the expenses should be borne from the private pockets of the hosts.
Please do not say the event is non-political but the taxpayers foot the enormous bill.
Besides what is wrong to ask for a favour during Hari Raya? Here we have women and children deprived of their loved ones during this "happy" and forgiving festival. Is it wrong then, to ask for some sympathy and forgiveness?
Forgiveness because their loved ones have NOT been proved guilty or even been charged in a court of law. Only that the people they are begging for help say so.
What exactly is so wrong that HINDRAF detainees' family members and friends have done that they should be chastised by the Government and, now, you? What is wrong for anti-ISA members to ask for release of the other detainees? Most of these detainees will not be with their loved ones. And for what crime? May I ask you that they have committed? When the authorities cannot find sufficient evidence to produce in a court of law?
Answer this! to justify your reprimand.
Another thing is this comment:-
Malaysia is probably one of the few countries where you can actually walk to the PM and asked for a photograph to be taken. This is the only place I can think of where there is a Raya open house and thousands would patiently line up for their turn to shake the PM's hand ..
I wonder what does Mr. Wong sees whenever he goes overseas? Does he look but do not see? All over Europe and the Americas, in law abiding & democratic nations, the nation's leaders reach out to shake the hands of their fellow citizens. Who do you think are shaking Obama's hands as he travel the nation? Only invited guests? Or senior journalists like himself?
Give me a break with all this crappy nonsense!
Perhaps, during this forgiving festive period, I should write it off as jet-lag and possibly still awestruck after meeting ex-President Bill Clinton and have had his photo taken with him.
Friday, September 26, 2008
The Political Stalemate drags on
It has been decided that UMNO will take longer to select their next leaders. It was postponed due to the Elections in March 2008, to December 2008. Now, the election date has moved again, to March 2009. Is there a time limit whereby an organisation/society MUST hold their AGMs?
In the case of UMNO, this continual postponements augur badly for Malaysia's political situation. In our current situation, UMNO contributes the Prime Minister to the nation, any continued delay in confirming the President of UMNO, delays the permanence of the nation's leader. This delay is translating to over ONE year after the last elections! Is this acceptable to the Rakyat?
51% of the electorate re-confirm BN as the party to rule Malaysia. To address the economic meltdown happening in the world. To have strong & permanent leadership to consider and implement strategies to counter the economic distress. Never mind the racial, social, judicial, infrastructural problems besetting our nation. How can we have a focussed leadership in Government when they are busy trying to decide who will lead UMNO and nation? We don't even know who will be the 2nd line leaders and the 3rd line implementors of any policy, if any, to address and simply run the country.
It is becoming a farce of a country SIX months after elections. Where no firm leader or cabinet is confirmed.
What new policy has been issued to address our distress? Raising petrol prices to unprecedented highs and recently, pushing it down again. An announcement of the fiscal Budget just before Parliament took recess? We see the debates and re-considered modifications only in the middle of October, onwards. When, will any, if any, of the policies be implemented? One year after the budget proposals? Afterall, we are not sure who will be Prime Minister, at least, until March 2009! In the meantime, we have a lameduck PM, still fighting for his survival SIX months after the Elections.
I am no expert on Constitutional law or Government. After SIX months, I am still waiting to read a proper discourse, from our Constitutional experts, on what the Rakyat can do to push through, or force the present Government to act or replace it with another who will. Obviously, the present Government is not ready to get down to the business of governance and the Opposition is unable to do so either.
The only avenue I am able to discern is sitting in Istana Negara and his Conference of Rulers.
I strongly feel that THEY must act quickly before our country goes to the "dogs" (written figuratively, of course).
In the case of UMNO, this continual postponements augur badly for Malaysia's political situation. In our current situation, UMNO contributes the Prime Minister to the nation, any continued delay in confirming the President of UMNO, delays the permanence of the nation's leader. This delay is translating to over ONE year after the last elections! Is this acceptable to the Rakyat?
51% of the electorate re-confirm BN as the party to rule Malaysia. To address the economic meltdown happening in the world. To have strong & permanent leadership to consider and implement strategies to counter the economic distress. Never mind the racial, social, judicial, infrastructural problems besetting our nation. How can we have a focussed leadership in Government when they are busy trying to decide who will lead UMNO and nation? We don't even know who will be the 2nd line leaders and the 3rd line implementors of any policy, if any, to address and simply run the country.
It is becoming a farce of a country SIX months after elections. Where no firm leader or cabinet is confirmed.
What new policy has been issued to address our distress? Raising petrol prices to unprecedented highs and recently, pushing it down again. An announcement of the fiscal Budget just before Parliament took recess? We see the debates and re-considered modifications only in the middle of October, onwards. When, will any, if any, of the policies be implemented? One year after the budget proposals? Afterall, we are not sure who will be Prime Minister, at least, until March 2009! In the meantime, we have a lameduck PM, still fighting for his survival SIX months after the Elections.
I am no expert on Constitutional law or Government. After SIX months, I am still waiting to read a proper discourse, from our Constitutional experts, on what the Rakyat can do to push through, or force the present Government to act or replace it with another who will. Obviously, the present Government is not ready to get down to the business of governance and the Opposition is unable to do so either.
The only avenue I am able to discern is sitting in Istana Negara and his Conference of Rulers.
I strongly feel that THEY must act quickly before our country goes to the "dogs" (written figuratively, of course).
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Prayer for Permatang Pauh by-election
O God, we acknowledge You today as Lord, not only of individuals but also of nations and governments.
We thank You for the graces you have given us to exercise our political charity in Malaysia
We also thank You for the opporutnity of free choice offered to the people of the constituency of Permatang Pauh for electing a leader.
Lord God, give them the courage to exercise their solemn duty as citizens of Malaysia to vote on behalf of the whole nation!
Guide those voters with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit so that they may choose a suitable and trustworthy candidate to become the next Member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
We thank You for the graces you have given us to exercise our political charity in Malaysia
We also thank You for the opporutnity of free choice offered to the people of the constituency of Permatang Pauh for electing a leader.
Lord God, give them the courage to exercise their solemn duty as citizens of Malaysia to vote on behalf of the whole nation!
Guide those voters with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit so that they may choose a suitable and trustworthy candidate to become the next Member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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