A friend called up and asked about my views on the impact of KT by election.
I told him, change is now inevitable. Either BN takes the lead to change or the change will come when the 13th General Election is called, in 3 years time perhaps, or sooner maybe.
The writing is very very clear. Even in a constituency in Malay Heartland of Trengganu, a party championing ketuanan Melayu has lost because of the swing of Malay votes. The margin would be greater, had the young Chinese voters working in other towns and Kuala Lumpur returned home to vote and joined their Malay counterparts in rejecting UMNO.
When you are a party purportedly representing the Malays and the Malays vote you out, this means that you really need to examine and re examine yourself to see what is wrong. This loss can no longer be ascribed to ‘fluke’, as so many BN leaders like to think.
But the question is, will this party examine and re-examine itself, when so much of its chieftains are involved in the patronage system, and when these chieftains owe their riches and projects to the very system that is now threatening to undo the whole organisation? Human psychology would tell us, they would not.. They would point fingers at others but not theselves..
And if they do not change, they will be voted out the next time.. It is as clear cut as A B Cs..
Come next election, there will be one million more young voters which are now dead against BN. Whatever thing BN does , even things that may be good for the people, it will always be viewed as doing for its self interest, and viewed with suspicions..
SO much distrust the people have towards the coalition. They have only themselves to blame, just like the boy who cried wolf… After hearing wolf cries so many times, people will not bother even if there is real wolf appearing… This is exactly the same sentiments affecting BN.. No matter how good they try to reform, it will always be viewed with distrust…
The tsunami is certainly on course .
The view that nothing can be worse than now is so prevalent that it is not easy to change. Any real reform would need time to see effects, and time is really running out..
That is why Change is now inevitable.
Dr. Hsu's forum 
Jan 22, 2009 @ 15:30:07
Dr. Hsu, I enjoy your blog because you have a doctor’s ability to cut to the chase and identify the disease and recommend the appropriate medicine. Your thoughts are so crystal clear. I only wish you have more ambition because you can be sitting inside future Cabinet i/o blogging. I read Botak Hamid’s warning to the Catholic Church. Because he is so stupid, at the next election the entire Catholic Votes will swing to PR. Thank you Syed Hamid. He is a god-send to the opposition. Every action of his sends another 1/2-million to PR. The ISA issue, the RPK issue, the PRDM issue, the Vigil issue, the Herald issue, what more… that is about 2.5 Million votes in the bag for PR. What a joker!
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Jan 22, 2009 @ 15:49:33
Everyone knows that except the ostriches. Political patronage should not be the way for politics anywhere in the world. If PR comes to power, I will tell them the same thing.
Politics and business shouldn’t mix. You can choose one, but not both.
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Jan 22, 2009 @ 15:58:11
“Umno supreme council member facing graft charge”
Looks like UMNO is trying to sacrifice an old dispensable goat to appease the public. Wonder who this is. This is the reform they are talking about. This is the real change that KTK talked about
No wonder, we have so much distrust.
hmm. Wonder who will be offered as sacrifice by Gerakan. We already know MCA is sharpening the knife on Chua Soi Lek.
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Jan 22, 2009 @ 16:02:31
nick,
thank you for your comment.
I am only writing the obvious. But some times when you are very high up (like looking down from Penang Hill),, things can become very blurred, and things can become insignificant except maybe yourself. Even obvious things can become so small that you cannot see.
I , as a person standing on the ground, can see things on the ground clearly.. And I blog about these things…
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Jan 22, 2009 @ 16:02:48
UMNO have to change.the younger generations nowadays seems more tend towards supporting the opposition.furthermore even the professionals seems more keen in joing the opposition rather than UMNO and BN.
if UMNO want to survive,they better come up with fresh ideas and throw away all the snobbish act that UMNO associated with so many years.UMNO have to stand out and make their existence relevant especially towards the younger generation.
if UMNO allow the younger generations to keep supporting the opposition,then the possibilty for UMNO to die and rot is high.
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Jan 22, 2009 @ 16:12:53
Chua soilek is abit too powerful at the moment, , so to kill him first, they have to do in some of the people around him.. Sharpen the knife on his supporters one by one, and then at last, pew, CSL will be …you know what i mean…
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Jan 22, 2009 @ 16:17:58
Dr. Hsu, when someone is promoted to a high level position, that of a cabinet minister, he or she would have been selected or chosen over many candidates. Basically, the person selected have the talents, the brains, the leadership, the wisdom, proven results, etc etc. There is no more excuse for inaptitude. A weak leader have a tendency to surround himself with even weaker underlings. That is what has happened here. AAB has assembled propably the weakest and the most inapt group of Ministers. I wonder how they make decisions or discuss issues inside the weekly cabinet meetings. For example, how did they gave the go-ahead to the AA-SD airport project. Irrespective of whether it is the correct decision, how can Khazanah now questioned the Cabinet????? Are we going to see another flip-flop or may I copy from Najib, Kluk-Klek decision? The educated intelligentsia and the younger IT-savvy crowd will not forgive this type of leaders. I can’t see how UMNO can ever change? They are now beyond redemption. And how in the world can Gerakan (with most members above average IQ) continue to cling onto a loser party? Join a grouping that makes sense, for goodness sakes!
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Jan 22, 2009 @ 16:26:11
Well said, Nick. That is why I am asking what is Gerakan doing supporting a group that is perpetuating divisive policies and bad governance . It is better to die as a party standing tall outside than to survive and be subservient to one that is doing so much harm to the nation and the rakyat now.
Unfortunately, most of them have spent their political lives inside BN that to cut the umbilical cord needs more than IQ and education status..They need to believe in themselves that they can survive as a group outside, and follow the path that the founders have charted, a fair and equal society….
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Jan 22, 2009 @ 16:50:52
If the mother-ship is infected with an incurable virus that is now afflicting every organ, what do you need to do?
Btw, along the same line of argument, just look at how LGE tackle the Wifi issue in Penang. I salute him and his “cabinet”. This is what I call “decisive leadership”. But this is what I am already accustom to in my Company and Group. Day-in Day-out our Singapore-led Management is mostly on top of issues. We trash every important topic thoroughly before issuing a Policy. We act decisively and ensure the Company gets stronger, not weaker.
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Jan 22, 2009 @ 16:55:23
Obama embrace change, alternative media, and the youngsters. He read the trend well and he succeeded. Lim Kit Siang also read the sign well ahead of any other local politicians and he may be the first who blog. This is call foresight and vision, one of the basic attribute a leader must possess.
Timely respond is so essential nowadays in whatever field it may be. Failing which you may push off the mainstream of development. You will become redundant and obsolete. Just look at how quickly Singapore and Hong Kong admitted the downtrend is coming and reacted. They took all the adversaries heads on and not adopt denial mode. This is up to date management skill.
On a lighter note, even the feng shui master embrace change and predicted younger people will be focus and tend become more successful for next 20 years. So, everybody must in order to survive and progress. What are you waiting for, Gerakan and Dr. Hsu. It is an era where the fittest survive, the dead wood who refuse to change will be left behind and is best they move aside and not blocking the path of others.
May the year of ox bring some fresh air into our country’s political scene, perhaps with Dr Hsu leaving Gerakan.
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Jan 22, 2009 @ 17:27:13
Like it or not change is upon us.
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Jan 22, 2009 @ 18:51:33
“Change is now inevitable”.
I would say “Change of Federal Government to PR in now inevitable”.
Even if Umno and whole BN are sincerely repent, and wish to change for the best (not better), I don’t think rakyat would want them to govern the country again for a long long time to come. Simply because, their creditability are no more there.
But still, “change is now inevitable” not later.
After watching the mkini video clip “Youth dies in police custody” in horror,
http://www.malaysiakini.tv/video/16623
Malaysian police, “Change is now inevitable”.
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Jan 22, 2009 @ 19:33:46
nick, your opinion on Botak Hamid is spot on.
Actually we do need people like him in UMNO,
that way, we don’t really need to do much to get
support for the PR. Just like Botak Hamid destroys
BN from within.
You never know, next on his list could be ISA detention for the Catholic priest.
That will be the icing on the cake for him,
since everybody now is Extremist, except UMNO,
of course.
With the Hindus (Hindraf) and the soon to be Catholics locked away, what next ?
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Jan 22, 2009 @ 19:53:05
Dear all,
For our common continuing education…
http://www.iceagenow.com/Time_to_pray_for_global_warming_says_columnist.htm
http://www.iceagenow.com/Top_Scientists_say_global_warming_is_a_lie.htm
Do follow the link for the sources.
There are significant affect where cooler global temperature is concerned. One of it that I have come across is food production. Food production here means staple food growing like corn, wheat, soya bean. Rice? Dunno the affects…anyone want to hazard a guess?
Regards
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Jan 22, 2009 @ 20:30:38
Mahadtter wrote a very good article published in Malaysiakini titled “Najib is not the solution, he is the problem”.
http://malaysiakini.com/letters/96987
I reproduce some extracts here:-
“Umno has become its worst enemy. There are two things it can do. Reform or ransack. If it wants to stay in power and stave off a total defeat and lose power in the next general elections, it must change its culture of corruption, and abuse of power and bring the country back onto the road of a higher civilisation respecting the rights of the citizens and the rule of law. It must undo all that it has done wrong.”
“Anwar is right – the rakyat want change and it is not something he invented. It is time for change indeed. No matter what Umno does, it can only lessen the loss. It is headed for a colossal loss because the rakyat have had enough of 51 years of corruption and croynyism and Najib Razak is the least likely person capable of turning things around.”
“I would not fear PAS if I were a non-Muslim because they can’t do worse than Umno. At least, PAS is open about its intentions and that is honest. Umno speaks with a forked tongue. Right Mahathir he is the best weapon Pakatan Rakyat has for tearing Umno to bits.
And by supporting Najib Razak whom he called ‘a coward’ it sums up the nature of Umno. Why call someone a coward and then support the coward? If this is not double-talk, then what is?”
“The real credit goes to the voters of KT. I hope KT voters and voters everywhere will get their friends to vote the next time and make sure there is no doubt about who they support. Umno is finished. PAS is rising. DAP is thriving. And Pakatan Rakyat will win the government eventually.”
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Jan 22, 2009 @ 21:51:46
Don’t put a good crisis to waste
====================
This phrase by Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s Whitehouse Chief of Staff, is appropriate of the time in us. Its also appropriate of the time in Malaysia. I borrowed this phrase as the heading of my comment.
There is a feeling of crisis and this feeling is increasing day by day. The crisis feeling was started by Pakatan. It was built on the ” I had it up to here” feeling with BN and UMNO in particular. Now add to this is the global financial crisis. the oppressive measures taken by the Government – ISA, Hindraf, Vernacular schools, the Catholic magazine, and now infighting and uncertainty in UMNO and it just keep piling up. I think we are about the bursting point.
We are all sensing change in the air. we can all feel the strong shift against BN.
Let us not put this crisis to waste. Pakatan. Now is the time to make your move.
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Jan 22, 2009 @ 21:57:05
Dr Hsu,
tks for your forum whereby your readers comment on various issues. Very enlightening
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Jan 22, 2009 @ 22:01:05
Wow., BN have to make a better choice or else BN will be change in time to come. Rebranding, integrity, approachable and service oriented BN representatives are need to counter the political tsunami.
Younger voters are better educated, well informed and IT savvy. This is group will decide the next 50 years of New Malaysia. BN need to convince them that BN can brings a fair and just society. Are PR government really competent, accountable and transparency? Look at how PR have governed the state under them. Time will tell us whether the people have make their right choice or wise choice. With this situation maybe the people can make their judgement.
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Jan 22, 2009 @ 23:21:02
Tedewin,
welcome to the blog. You are a Borneo Warrior and you have a nice blog yourself. Keep it up..
Cheers!
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Jan 23, 2009 @ 00:24:31
I am still wondering why there is so much talk, recommendations and demands that UMNO/BN must go for some drastic and radical changes for it to be relevant to survive in the new Malaysia.
Lets not forget that UMNO/BN is what UMNO/BN were, is and will be. Otherwise it would not maintain its name in the first place. Its core beliefs ( or what it wants its supporters to believe ) is the very reason for its being in existence.
To me, UMNO/BN is an out dated handphone model, no longer capable of delivering the Wishes and services expected by mobile phone savvy consumers.
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Jan 23, 2009 @ 00:51:01
Dr Hsu,
You captured the sentiment on the ground exactly with this posting.
I hope you don’t mind me offering a suggestion about Gerakan’s continued participation in BN and perpetuating an evil empire.
You had said that the party’s leaders have spent their entire political lives in BN and do not have confidence to cut the umbilical cord.
My suggestion is very simple. Since Lim Chong Eu was the one who brought Gerakan into BN and he had said that NEP was with a time limit only and he is still alive today, has anybody thought to seek his opinion today?
I met him a couple of months back and he is still of sound mind and I’m of the opinion that he commands more respect than that spitting other ex-president (now advisor) amongst Penangites in particular and Malaysians in general.
Just make sure that proponents of Gerakan leaving BN should also be present when getting Tun’s views so that the leaders cannot spin otherwise.
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Jan 23, 2009 @ 09:33:28
romerz, that is a good idea. I will raise it with KTK and probably other leaders as well.
I do not know whether the top leaders, especially those from Penang , are in touch with Tun Dr LCE, but since KTK was once his political sec, it should not be a problem seekig his advice.
As far as I know, After his retirement in 1990 when he was ousted as CM ofPenang, he was still invited to oour yearly National Delegates’s Conference, but i was told he had never interfered in party affairs, like a true gentleman would do.
there were however some regretable incidents involving his son and Gerakan. I was not in the party then, so I do not really know the details. Nevertheless, I agree with you that his opinion should be sought, as he was the one that brought the party into the coalition..
Some of his cadets in penang are still witht he party and are life members
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Jan 23, 2009 @ 09:39:31
romerz. I think that is an excellent idea.
Lim Chong Eu brought Gerakan into BN. A word from him saying that now that NEP has pass its shelf life, it is time for Gerakan to move on. If the leadership do not want to move out of BN, the the members should.
It is his duty and legacy to restore the pride and believe in Gerakan’s ideology. This can only be done outside BN.
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Jan 23, 2009 @ 09:51:42
Dr Hsu. I dont think it is a good idea to have KTK involvement. He is part of the problem and not part of the solution.
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Jan 23, 2009 @ 09:52:08
Dr. Hsu,
BN’s component party leaders have spoken of change since the last GE, that was almost one year ago. What form of change do we see? It is just all talk. They do not practice what they preach.
I just read in Anil Netto’s blog about this:
‘Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s directive that federal departments and agencies in Perak should not attend meetings organised by the state government’.
Is this what we call change? Maybe they are changing to widen the gap between BN and the rakyat. Changing to drive the nail deeper into it’s coffin!
Dr. Hsu, don’t you see that BN does not realise what ‘change is now inevitable’ means. And it is such a shame that the MCA and Gerakan are both too weak to initiate any real change.
A friend just told me, ‘There is no more hope in this country.. unless the opposition takes over’. This is what the rakyat feels. We have lost hope in BN. BN leaders should stop talking about changing, instead they SHOULD START CHANGING!
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Jan 23, 2009 @ 10:13:08
peng,
That was what i had written. many people thought that nothing can be worse than the present. And this thought is so prevalent.
And for the past 10 months, there were no real reform. And time is really running out…
That is why change is now inevitable, as I have mentioned above…
As for LIM Chong Eu, his son, if i am not mistaken, formerly a YB in Gerakan and National Youth Chief, is now in MCA. I am not sure whether he is still in MCA? If he is still in MCA, I wonder what sort of advice the father would give the son? It could have some bearing on how he sees the whole situation.
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Jan 23, 2009 @ 10:51:09
Malaysian Insider – Catholic priest among 21 charged in PJ court .
==============================
Looks like the BN govt is opening another front. A little voice at the back of my head is asking whether BN and UMNO, or is it Najib, deliberately escalating the crisis level so that they can do a Mugabe takeover. Is this the change ?
In sync with the time, I am seeing devil everywhere.
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Jan 23, 2009 @ 11:24:53
Who is the real devil or creating an evil empire? Time will tell us. Look and study history. Changing
environment and circumstance will brings a new leaders to lead BN. Are PR is ready to take the
challenge? The voters will decide their right choice and right people to lead the country.
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Jan 23, 2009 @ 11:26:41
romerz & Dr. Hsu,
Resign in exodus is the only option left for Gerakan members. There are multiracial ideology political parties for Gerakan members to join instead of harping on convincing the leaders to pull out from BN.
No point seeking Tun Dr. LCE opinion on this. If he says ‘Yes’ so what? He may tell you, sorry, I shouldn’t bring in Gerakan into BN last time.
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Jan 23, 2009 @ 19:23:37
Dr. Hsu
UMNO will never ever change.
Currently UMNO leaders those in the no mans land are slowly shifting to PKR/PR either clearly or otherwise.
Please observe UMNO’s culture from bottom up.
UMNO leaders from the Ketua Bahagian post has been thriving upon popularity and support from the grassroots kampung people who UMNO has made them stupid ever.
These kampung people revered them off course by they drove in the kampung with BMW, MERC. AUDI…waaaaaaa….after “provisions” like free bas rombongan trip to KLI/Nilai/etc, free trips to Medan, gave lembu for the masjid to sembelih during raya or aidildha, kenduri one after another, so called religion activities like Yassin Tajlil recites….
All these do not benefit any one bit to the kampung people in this generation or next, proven 38years.
UMNO leaders should think long term to upgrade the per kapita of the kampung people the least via kooperasi (what the point having MECD? only to cater for UMNO top cream to pirates, is it?)
When UMNO division heads do not look into the needs to the supporters until today, do not expect any change in UMNO.
How many UMNO divisions you have in Malaysia?
Maybe around 160. Please look at their monthly reports what do they do? If they do have one.
UMNO failed from all angels including to understand from root as to why Malay kids end up into matrempit. That KJ failed, he did not tackle problems from the roots but glorified Matrempits o the brink of destruction.
At least today some Life members of PKR are looking into this and working with DUNs/PR. When this is being done, UMNO at cawagan level and low end kampung people cannot accept PKR’s intention trying to help everybody but boycott. This is UMNO, very bad attitude.
The danger in the long run is the culture of UMNO the disease of UMNO the materialistic of UMNO may creep into PKA/PR if these UMNO division people go into PKR/PR becoz these are die hard behaviour. Soon if these culture sets in PKR/PR’s future, it will end up like a BN today.
Dr. Hsu, please observe, UMNO leaders easy get into PKR then DAP and PAS why?
In short Dr. Hsu, UMNO will bever change.
Gerakan must reform work harder than BN in making its party survival. Please tell KTK, what he does now isnt felt the vibes. Dont waste time making friends w UMNO that will capsize soon.
UMNO will never change.
UMNO will be the next KuoMintang.
Thank you.
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Jan 24, 2009 @ 02:25:48
A true Malaysian,
What you say is true but unfortunately politics and voter psychology is far more complex than that.
I, like you know there is no hope for BN since UMNO is incapable of change. Therefore the only way to force change upon them is to put them in opposition for a few terms.
And to put them in opposition, you have to attack and weaken BN by whatever means possible (within reasonable and legal means).
I choose to attack Gerakan because I already know that the party is pretty much split within those wanting to remain in BN or out of BN.
Think of the psychological blow to UMNO if Gerakan chooses to leave the BN. It could pave the way for other smaller components to do so. SAPP tried but it didn’t have that much of an effect as it was seen as a local Sabah party.
Gerakan on the other hand is considered the 3rd largest component amongst BN and is ‘supposedly’ a national party not to mention drawing its support from economically strong states of Penang, Perak and Selangor.
Gerakan’s leaving BN will have a far greater impact on the other components than SAPP.
I have no doubt that Gerakan is as good as dead come the next GE but think of the effect if we could persuade them to leave BN now. It sure is better than letting them sit where they are right now which does nobody any good least of all themselves.
It is all about strategy and smart politics. Logic and emotions alone will not suffice.
Let me address your suggestion of asking the members to just resign and join other multiracial parties.
It will not have the same impact on BN as if the entire party quits BN. Imagine the posturing that will occur which will only bring more negative exposure to UMNO/BN.
There is no need to resign in exodus. I believe half of the names still on the party membership roll are no longer there in spirit. You can check with Dr Hsu the huge numbers of members not renewing their membership annual subscriptions.
I have no doubt that UMNO/BN will be put in opposition within the next 10 years but I’m hoping that if by some miracle, if they leave BN now, it might just might bring the process forward.
As I said before, the party leadership is both clueless and gutless and they are at their most vulnerable now and if we use the correct strategy, we may just get them to help our cause.
UMNO is no small fry to go to open battle with and every number not with them can be construed as with the Barisan Rakyat! UMNO is a formidable opponent by itself not to mention when they use the others to convince “not so committed PR voters” of their legitimacy to rule.
Please don’t take this the wrong way as I agree with your conviction that UMNO/BN must be taken down, no 2 ways about it if democracy is to flourish in Malaysia.
We may have only one shot at it if we wish for it to happen within our lifetime!
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Jan 28, 2009 @ 12:08:38
romerz,
I am still in doubt Gerakan will ever pull out from BN but I wish they have the ‘bull will’ to do so in this Chinese new year of ox, with yours and Dr. Hsu’s hard work to convince KTK to do so.
The whole team of Umno, MCA, Gerakan & MIC need to change completely to offer rakyat another ‘healthy’ alternative. If not, these teams with same set of people will not act like ‘opposition’ but will still continue to be ignorant that they are still ‘in government’ after PR takes over. Simply because they are in power for far too long. Just look at one good example in Khir Toyol in Selangor. He still act as if he is in power.
Having said the above, resign in exodus is the best alternative. A huge tree will collapse without its roots.
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