pictures..

a few pictures of the Forum "Malaysia Baru: Senario Politik Masakini".

Selamat Hari Jadi.

Selamat Hari Jadi UMNO. Hari ini UMNO berusia 62 tahun. Dalam tempoh ini, UMNO telah melalui pelbagai cabaran dan dugaan. Sejarah UMNO mengajar kita supaya senantiasa mengekalkan perpaduan parti. Sejarah UMNO mengajar kita supaya senantiasa peka dan prihatin kepada suara serta hati jiwa orang Melayu.

Pada hari ini, marilah kita menilai semula sumbangan kita kepada parti, bangsa dan negara. Marilah kita mengambil ketetapan yang baru . Marilah kita membuat tekad yang baru. Taat setia kepada parti. Bukannya hamba kepada pemimpin. Berkhidmat kepada rakyat. Bukannya untuk diri sendiri. Semoga kita bersama dapat terus mendukung agenda serta aspirasi bangsa Melayu. UMNO itu Melayu.

Sempena Hari Jadi ini, saya secara peribadi ingin mengucapkan terima kasih kepada UMNO. Saya telah dapat meraih pelbagai ‘nikmat’, hasil usaha kerja UMNO.

Terima kasih kerana saya dapat menikmati kemerdekaan.
Terima kasih kerana saya dapat hidup di dalam sebuah negara yang aman damai.
Terima kasih kerana saya dapat menjalani kehidupan seharian di dalam suasana selamat dan tenteram.
Terima kasih kerana saya mendapat pendidikan.
Terima kasih kerana saya bangga menjadi rakyat Malaysia.
Terima kasih kerana saya dapat berdiri tinggi sebagai anak Melayu.

Hutang emas, saya boleh bayar (mungkin secara ansuran). Hutang UMNO, saya tidak mampu membayarnya. Apa yang terdaya ialah senantiasa bekerja untuk UMNO. Menjaga UMNO. Memperkasakan UMNO. Dan mengucapkan - Terima kasih UMNO!

mystory - 10 may 2008

news one.
The Star: UMNO to win back 'runaway' members.

UMNO will take steps to win back support for the party and make sure that members remain loyal, said PM Abdullah Badawi.

"We have to take steps to get support back and make sure those with us remain with us and those who have 'run away' return".

'To do this, we must make sure that our party is strong and united and there is no quarrel among us".

my comments:

Well and good Mr Prime Minister. UMNO must continue to listen and act on behalf of the malay community. we have lost a lot of ground. lost our credibility to represent the malays. some have even questioned the relevancy of UMNO in the new political order. as such, i welcome your call.

in general, i believe UMNO members have remain loyal to the party. there are no 'real' quarrels among party members, except for jostling for positions. which is normal in a political party. and i do believe UMNO members are united. the only thing is that, they are not united with the current leadership! until and unless that is resolved, UMNO is not going anywhere.

as a whole, UMNO is intact. altho morale is low, especially in the 'fallen' states, the party's machinery is still solid. members are ready and raring to work. what they need now is leadership.

my speech

this is my opening speech at the Forum "Malaysia Baru: Senario Politik Masakini".

As’kum w.r.t.h.

Salam Sejahtera.

Selamat datang ke majlis anjuran Sekretariat Melayu Muda.

Sekretariat Melayu Muda adalah satu perkumpulan informal yang didukungi oleh professional melayu muda. Sejak tahun 2000, kami senantiasa berusaha menyediakan platform untuk generasi muda berinteraksi dengan kepimpinan negara. Bersama berbincang mengenai agenda pembangunan bangsa dan negara.

Saya melihat banyak kawan-kawan lama. Ramai juga muka-muka baru pada malam ini. Terima kasih di atas kehadiran serta sokongan saudara saudari sekelian.

Kepada saudara-saudari ahli-ahli UMNO, saya ucapkan Salam Perjuangan.

Kepada saudara-saudari yang bukan ahli UMNO, saya ucapkan salam persahabatan.

Tetapi pada malam ini, itu semua tidak penting. Marilah kita buang dan tinggalkan label-label ini di pintu masuk. Kita berada di dalam dewan ini atas dasar persamaan. Iaitu bangsa kita melayu. agamanya islam. dan negaranya malaysia.

Di atas dasar persamaan inilah kita akan membincangkan topik forum pada malam ini iaitu – ‘Malaysia Baru : Senario Politik Masakini’.

Dan bersama kita untuk mengupas topik forum ini, ialah :

1. YB Datuk Mukhriz Tun Mahathir – Ahli Parlimen Jerlun, EXCO Pemuda UMNO Malaysia, Ketua AMAN Malaysia.

2. YBhg Saudara Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi – Pengerusi Pro-Tem Alumni Melayu UK (AMUKE), Ahli Dewan Profesional Muda Malaysia (Promuda), Blogger.

Terima kasih Datuk Mukhriz dan Saudara Akhram kerana sudi hadir pada malam ini.

Sebagaimana yang kita sedia maklum, pada 8 march 2008 telah berlaku tsunami politik di negara kita ini. Tidak pernah di dalam sejarah negara kita, kerajaan yang memerintah hilang 2/3 majoriti di Parlimen. Tidak pernah di dalam sejarah negara kita, 5 negeri dikuasai oleh kerajaan alternatif.

Rakyat telah bersuara. Dengan suara yang amat kuat dan jelas, mereka menyatakan tidak lagi sehati sejiwa bersama kerajaan memerintah. Mereka menuntut perubahan. Mereka mahukan sebuah kerajaan yang benar-benar bersih, cekap dan amanah. Bukannya sebuah kerajaan yang hanya melaung laung slogan tersebut.

Keputusan pilihanraya ke-12 ini telah menimbulkan pelbagai persoalan. What happened? – apakah telah berlaku ? what went wrong ? dimana silapnya ? what next? – apa seterusnya?

Keputusan pilihanraya ini juga telah menimbulkan keresahan. Bukan sahaja rakyat Malaysia. Malah para pelabur. Pelabur-pelabur sekarang merasa agak bimbang mengenai kestabilan politik di negara kita ini. Kerajaan memerintah dilihat sebagai goyah. Parti memerintah dilihat mengalami krisis kepimpinan. di tambah pula, kepimpinan Pakatan Rakyat menyatakan mengenai kemungkinan segelintir ahli-ahli parlimen akan lompat parti dan mereka bakal mengwujudkan kerajaan baru di dalam masa terdekat.

Oleh kerana itu, para pelabur mungkin mengambil pendirian ‘tunggu dan lihat’. Kita tidak boleh salahkan mereka. Dan ini boleh menjejaskan prestasi ekonomi negara kita. Kerana selama ini, kestabilan politiklah merupakan tarikan utama pelabur ke negara kita.

Jadi samada kita suka ataupun tidak, samada kita sedar ataupun tidak, keputusan pilihanraya ke 12 yang baru lalu akan mempunyai kesan ke atas negara kita dan kehidupan rakyat Malaysia. Sudah pasti, kita mengharapkan keputusan tersebut akan menghasilkan kebaikan. Tetapi kita juga perlu bersedia sekiranya ia membawa kesan yang buruk. “We hope for the best. and we prepare for the worst.” Mengharap yang terbaik, bersedia untuk yang terburuk.

Saudara-saudari - Siding hadirin

Saya menghantar jemputan ke forum ini kepada rakan-rakan melalui emel dan sms. salah seorang daripada mereka membalas emel saya. dan Emel tersebut berbunyi : ‘The last election, the concept of Bangsa or Ketuanan Melayu has been rejected. Especially if you're young. Does anyone in UMNO "get" that??"

maksudnya: ‘Pada pilihanraya yang lalu, konsep bangsa ataupun ketuanan melayu telah ditolak. Terutamanya jika anda orang muda. Adakah orang UMNO dapat mesej tersebut?’.

Walaupun saya telah mendengar ada yang mengatakan demikian, saya terkejut. Namun saya hormati pandangan beliau yang jujur.

Maka timbul 2 Persoalan. pertama – benarkah generasi muda menolak sama sekali konsep ketuanan melayu? Dan kedua, kenapakah generasi melayu muda sendiri menolak konsep ketuanan melayu ini?

Bagi saya, ketuanan melayu bermaksud melayu kekal berkuasa. Kenapa tidak? Bangsa melayu adalah penduduk majoriti. Dan sebagai penduduk majoriti, ia perlu memainkan peranan utama di dalam kepimpinan serta agenda pembangunan negara. Untuk melayu kekal berkuasa, bangsa melayu mesti memiliki salah satu daripada kuasa ini - kuasa politik ataupun kuasa ekonomi. Bangsa melayu tidak mempunyai kuasa ekonomi. Jauh sekali. Pegangan ekonomi kita masih sedikit berbanding bangsa bangsa lain. Oleh yang demikian, bangsa melayu mesti memiliki kuasa politik. Dan kuasa politik ini bukannya kuasa mutlak yang dimonopoli oleh bangsa melayu. Bangsa melayu memerintah bersama dengan bangsa bangsa lain. Ini penting kerana ianya menjamin kestabilan dan keharmonian negara kita.

Ketuanan melayu tidak sama sekali merendahkan bangsa lain. Ketuanan melayu tidak sama sekali menidakkan hak bangsa lain. Ketuanan melayu ialah satu doktrin untuk mengingatkan kita tentang perpaduan. Tentang maruah bangsa. Tentang sejarah bangsa. Kita tidak boleh lupa. Kita telah hilang kuasa politik dan juga kuasa ekonomi selama lebih 400 tahun. Pisang tidak boleh berbuah dua kali. Sekiranya kita hilang kuasa, kita tidak boleh salahkan bangsa lain. Kita adalah racun kepada bangsa sendiri.

Bangsa lain tidak perlu takut akan ketuanan melayu. Melayu bukannya bahaya. Malah melayu dalam bahaya. Lihat sahaja statistik statistik yang ada. Penagih dadah. Kes HIV. Siapa di atas? Bangsa melayu. Mat rempit. Siapa di atas? Budak budak melayu. Siswazah menggangur. Siapa yang ramai?! Anak-anak melayu.

Saya tidak percaya generasi muda menolak sama sekali konsep ketuanan melayu ini. Kenapa mahu ditolak? Ianya sesuatu yang mulia. Sesuatu yang baik. Untuk memartabatkan maruah. Meningkatkan daya saing bangsa melayu.

Saya berpendapat bahawa generasi muda bukannya menolak, tetapi merasa malu. Malu kerana Ketuanan Melayu telah dipolitikkan oleh sesetengah pihak. Dipergunakan untuk kepentingan peribadi. Hinggakan bangsa melayu dipandang serong. Hinggakan bangsa melayu dilihat sebagai perkauman.

Kita memakai pelbagai topi. We wear different hats.

Kita memakai topi sebagai seorang professional – sebagai peguam, petani, jurutera dan sebagainya.

Kita juga memakai topi sebagai ahli keluarga – seorang bapa, anak, ibu dan sebagainya.

Kita juga memakai topi sebagai seorang berbangsa melayu.

Kita juga memakai topi sebagai rakyat Malaysia.

Kita juga memakai topi sebagai seorang beragama islam.

Pelbagai bagai topi. Dan setiap topi ini mempunyai prinsip, pegangan serta pemikiran tertentu. Jadi apabila kita berdepan dengan sesuatu isu, kita akan merujuk kepada topi-topi ini.

Apabila bercakap mengenai isu islam, kita memakai topi islam. Apabila berdepan dengan masyarakat dunia, kita memakai topi rakyat malaysia.

Mungkinkah di dalam Malaysia Baru, kita tidak perlu lagi topi-topi ini? Kita hanya perlu memakai satu topi sahaja – dimana topi ini dapat merangkumi kesemua pegangan, prinsip serta pemikiran tersebut?

Di dalam senario politik masakini, apa yang pasti ialah bangsa melayu, terutamanya generasi melayu muda, memerlukan satu payung di mana kita boleh bergerak sebagai satu pasukan. Di mana kita boleh bersama di dalam agenda pembangunan negara.

Persoalannya - apakah wadah perjuangan tersebut ? UMNO ? Keadilan ? PAS ? atau perlukah satu wadah baru diwujudkan untuk menerima idealisma dan pemikiran generasi muda ?

Sekian. Terima kasih.

mystory - 7 may 2008

news one.
"The Star: Finance Ministry plays major role"

The Prime Minister holds the Finance Minister's portfolio as the ministry plays a major role in the Govt's daily administration, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Dept DS Nazri Abdul Aziz.

He told Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) that the Finance Ministry was an influential portfolio responsible for agencies like Bank Negara and the Securities Commission as well as GLCs, among others.

He said the PM could run the country effectively by holding on to the Finance's Minister's post.

my comments:

I disagree. as a rakyat, i strongly believe the Prime Minister should not at the same time hold the post of Finance Minister. it is a matter of governance and transparency.

as mentioned by DS Nazri, Finance Ministry is indeed very influential. not only in its role supervising agencies like Bank Negara etc. but also in its role as guardian of the country's treasury. and in its role in project planning and implementation. it has a big hand in determining who gets what - either through open tender or direct nego.

in the private sector, we would not see a CEO doubling as a Finance Director or CFO. it is just not accceptable. the separation is essential to provide some form of check and balance in the running of an organisation. so similarly, the Prime Minister as CEO of Malaysia Inc, should not hold the post of Finance Minister. He should appoint a professional to manage and safeguard our treasury. The Prime Minister should then concentrate to provide overall leadership as a CEO. setting vision for the country.

some might say, even Tun M held the post while he was the PM. so why not? my answer is simple. at that time we were still in a crisis mode. adjusting to the effect of the financial crisis. plus he held that post only for a short while. assuming the post after Tun Daim resigned.

If Malaysia is to be run as Malaysia Inc, then it must adopt best practices. all the way to the top.

The Star: 4 may 2008

Youth wing faces new dilemma

INSIGHT
By JOCELINE TAN

Umno Youth’s two top leaders are struggling with their own demons as the wing struggles to find its direction in the new political landscape.

DATUK Mukhriz Mahathir was recently featured on the cover of a lifestyle magazine alongside Nurul Izzah Anwar.

The two newly elected MPs, one for Jerlun and the other for Lembah Pantai, were photographed standing back-to-back, in James Bond poses, with the caption, “It's our turn”.

Mukhriz is definitely in demand these days.

He is seen as a voice going against the political conventions in Umno and there is much interest in and curiosity about what this Jerlun MP has to say about politics and Umno.

On Wednesday, he was the prime speaker at a Sekretariat Melayu Muda gathering in downtown Kuala Lumpur. The other speaker was Akhramsyah Sanusi, an oil and gas engineer who also has a famous father, namely, former Umno strongman Tan Sri Sanusi Junid.

The warm reception accorded both men was also because of who their fathers are, given that the audience hailed from the “Mahathir generation”, people who grew up in the Mahathir era.

Both men were essentially speaking to a home ground kind of crowd because the Sekretariat Melayu Muda membership comprises youngish, well educated and, more important, thinking Malays. They are not into yes-men type of politicians and they appreciate critical thinking.

The crowd that evening was essentially seeking answers to the future of the country's Malay leadership after the March 8 results. And because quite a number of those present were Umno members, there was also an unmistakable concern about the sort of political culture surrounding Umno and the future leadership of Umno Youth.

“When you sit down and listen to what people say about Umno these days, it can be a painful experience,” said Akhramsyah, 34, an Umno member since age 20.

Many of them are watching developments in the Youth wing, especially the unfolding contest for the Youth leadership.

There is no doubt that Mukhriz appeals to their notion of a young political leader. They are quite critical of Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo and even more critical of Khairy Jamaluddin, the two other potential candidates.

But the trouble is that young Malays like them are not part of Umno's realpolitick and, thus, have little say on who leads the Youth wing.

And that is Mukhriz's dilemma. His appeal outside the party is greater than his appeal within. For instance, his attempt to meet up with Umno Youth division heads in Kedah resulted in only the Youth heads from Jerlun, Pendang and Merbok showing up.

But as some have pointed out, the Youth wing itself is facing its biggest crisis since the debacle of 1998.

Outgoing chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein is still reeling from the backlash from his apology of sorts over the keris.

The Umno rank and file basically find little wrong with Umno Youth's use of the keris, however offensive it may have been to those outside Umno. They regard Hishammuddin's apology as a sign of weakness.

Malay blogs have slammed him mercilessly and his aides have been deluged by critical smses.

To be fair, Hishammuddin had apologised to non-Malays as well as Malays. To the non-Malays, he said his intention was not to cause fear and that he regretted it. To the Malays, he was sorry he had been unable to defend their cultural symbol.

Hishammuddin was supposed to move on from the Youth wing in a blaze of glory but the general election losses have turned things topsy-turvy.

And with the apology backfiring in his face, he is probably at the lowest point in his political career. As the Malays say, it is truly a case of keris makan tuan (the keris has stabbed its owner).

He is quite aware of that and a few days ago, he said that he was willing “to sacrifice my political career for the party.”

He probably took a calculated risk in biting the bullet.

“I asked him about it and he said it was better to state it now than later. It is now up to the grassroots to evaluate and react to what he had said and done. He is prepared for the consequences,” said Penang Umno Youth chief Datuk Salim Bari.

Hishammuddin, as some have pointed out, is basically an urbane and civilised person at heart.

“He knew people were unhappy with him and he is trying to put the issue to rest so that people can move on to focus on the real issue,” said Umno Youth secretary Datuk Rahman Dahlan.

Hishammuddin is not alone in his dilemma. His deputy Khairy has also been badly damaged.

Actually, public opinion had not favoured Khairy even before the general election but like many political leaders, they seem cushioned from the real world outside and it took the March 8 results to drive the reality home.

It is ironic that groups like the Sekretariat Melayu Muda do not identify with him for he is basically of their generation.

Khairy's problem is the reverse of Mukhriz’s. He has support within Umno Youth but enjoys little respect outside the party.

Many people have noticed how Khairy has taken a much lower profile since the elections. He has in a way lost the mandate to comment on public issues and the next few months will see him concentrate on his role as a parliamentarian.

In that sense, most of the obvious candidates for the top Youth post are imperfect in their own ways.

But the bigger dilemma is that with the two top Umno Youth leaders struggling with their own demons, the wing is finding it hard to play its role or find its way out of the election aftermath.

Hishammuddin has been going down to meet the wing's grassroots leaders in states where the Barisan Nasional lost. He has been to Kedah and Penang and the feedback has been fierce and demanding. But underlying the complaints voiced, there was also a sense of confusion about where Umno Youth was heading.

The Youth wing is not as resilient as the Wanita wing and those in the Pakatan Rakyat-controlled states are probably feeling quite lost.

Whoever takes over will have to seriously revamp the wing and bring in a new political culture.

Umno Youth has become rather too pro-establishment over the years. It has to try to reflect young Malay priorities rather than constantly defend the top leadership's stand on issues.

The next Youth chief also has to realise that he cannot be a Malay ultra in the party and still hope to be seen as a national leader to those outside. He will have to learn how to strike a balance.

It is also a known fact that many young people were turned off by politics because they see politicians as self-serving and politics as dirty and corrupt. Many of the Umno Youth politicians probably do not realise how off-putting it is to see young politicians arriving for village functions in a convoy of expensive SUVs.

Given that, many young Malays if not Malaysians, are likely to be drawn to the idealism and less conventional style of the new and young faces on the Pakatan Rakyat side.

These new wakil rakyat from the other side will be Umno Youth's biggest rivals for the support of Gen X.

Umno Youth will have to match the new talent from the other side if it wishes to re-establish itself among a wide spectrum of young Malays, be it rural youth or thinking professionals like those in the Sekretariat Melayu Muda.

Malaysia Baru: Senario Politik Masakini

Alhamdullilah. the forum went well last nite. in fact it was better that expected.

firstly, the turnout. about 150 people registered to come. then yesterday noon, we heard more would be coming. so we added more chairs. and yet last nite, some guests had to stand. based on what i saw, my estimate would be 300 people attended. thank you everybody.

secondly, we had a lively discussion during the Q&A session. from the questions raised, it was evident that we had guests from both 'sides'. and it was good that altho we have different affiliations, we could still discuss issues rationally and openly. at the end of the day, we want the Malays to be strong and stay united.

special thanks to YB Datuk Mukhriz and Sdr Akhram for attending the forum.
thank you also to the organising committee. job well done.

i provide here a link to a blog belonging to Sdr Zakir. he attended the event last nite.

http://bigdogdotcom.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/mukhriz-kelemahan-pm-flip-flop-abdullah-tangani-masalah-sebab-no-1-rakyat-tolak-bn/