Racist: Perak assemblywoman

Posted by Syah

Taken from the Star:

One by Hamidah Osman (BN-Sungai Rapat) particularly earned the wrath of the Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen when she asked whether Sivakumar “agreed to disagree” with the well-known fable of whether a snake or a man from a certain racial community should be killed first.

She has since apologized. Taken from Malaysiakini:

Sungai Rapat state assemblyperson Hamidah Osman, who caused a furore in the Perak legislative assembly on Friday with her racial slur, has publicly apologised for hurting the Indian community.

At a packed press conference in the Ipoh Country Club this morning, the Barisan Nasional elected representative issued the public apology before newsmen, saying that it was not her intention to hurt the Indian community with a racial slur.

“I have already retracted my statement in the House and now, I am offering my humble and sincere apology here to all Indians for uttering the racist remarks in the heat of the moment.

“I regret for saying that and promise not to repeat it anywhere anymore,” said a visibly moved Hamidah, who plans to embark on a ‘constituency road-show’ to explain and apologise over the incident to electorates in Gopeng, which encompasses Sungai Rapat.

But I’m not going to let her off the hook that easily.

Taken from the Star:

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional has been urged to take disciplinary action against Sungai Rapat assemblyman Hamidah Osman for insulting the Indian community at the Perak state assembly on Friday.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, in making the call, said the party condemned the state assemblyman’s action.

“We urge the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council to take action against her,” he said in a statement here.

Hamidah was reported to have asked Speaker V. Sivakumar if he agreed to disagree with the well-known fable of whether a snake or a man from a certain racial community should be killed first.

For once, I agree with Mr. Samy Vellu.

Was what YB Hamidah said a spur of the moment remark? Or was it a deliberate attempt to insult the Perak assembly Speaker by his ethnicity?

If it’s the former, it shows that she’s a racist who could not control her racism. If it’s the latter, it shows that she’s a racist and a malicious one at that.

Either way, by uttering those hurtful words, YB Hamidah has proven to all Malaysians that she is detrimental to national unity. And that she’s a racist.

We definitely have no place for racists in the Malaysia that we wish to build.

Damansara Kim Puts Up Spirited Fight

On 26 June 2008, a futsal tournament was organized by Gerakan Belia 4B Petaling Jaya Utara at FootyFutsal in Taman Megah. Syah, Khidir, Nasley, Zoel, Syaz, Chin Fah and Hilman participated in the tournament as a team to represent the cawangan. The team, aptly named Dam Kim, was managed by Faroze Nadar.

Dam Kim was drawn in Group B, along with 4 other teams, Belasahan, Awe Kawe, Silver Wings and Crazy Futsal. In their opening match, the team beat Awe Kawe with a convincing 3-0 victory; a brace from Khidir and a stunning goal from Chin Fah with a shot that hit the underside of the bar before going in.

In the second match, Dam Kim had to work hard against a tough Belasahan team. The Dam Kim goal was assaulted several times during the match, but resolute defending from the team and an impressive display by goalkeeper Zoel kept Belasahan at bay. Dam Kim’s patience was rewarded in the second half when the Belasahan keeper kicked the ball straight at Syaz, who then stroked the ball neatly into the net to give Dam Kim a precious goal and ultimately, the victory.

With two wins in two, the morale was high within Dam Kim going into their next game against Silver Wings. Having seen the team play prior to the match, the team knew that it would not be an easy game. Yet, knowing full well that they would qualify to the semi-finals should they notch just another win, Dam Kim went into the match determined to win.

Silver Wings proved to be a very difficult opponent for the team. However, against the run of play, Dam Kim scored; Nasley hit a shot that the appeared to have gone into the goal before the keeper palmed it away. Yet the referee called the goal and he was immediately surrounded by Silver Wings players who disputed his decision. But the referee was adamant and the goal was given. However, Dam Kim’s joy was short-lived as a few minutes later, Silver Wings equalized and they notched another goal in the last few minutes of the second half for a deserved victory.

As it stood at that time, Silver Wings had already qualified for the semi-finals. There was still another semi-final berth up for grabs, and the last game between Dam Kim and Crazy Futsal was to be the decider. Both teams had two victories each and both lost against Silver Wings. It was a must-win game if either team wanted to progress to the semis.

Both sets of players were already in the pitch when the organizers broke the news to them: there would be no semi-finals. Thus the top team in both groups would play in the final game, and since Silver Wings had already notched full points in their first 3 games, they would end up as the top team regardless of the results. The match between Dam Kim and Crazy Futsal, which at the onset was supposed to be an important one, was rendered redundant due to time constraints.

But despite their obvious disappointment, both teams agreed to play nonetheless. The result was a 2-1 victory to Crazy Futsal, both teams knew that the complexion of the game would be different if not for the change in format.

Even though they did not make it to the final, Dam Kim can still hold their heads up high. It ended in terrible disappointment for the team, but they gave it their all and put up a spirited fight in the tournament. Yet they could not help but wonder what could have been if time constraints had not forced the organizers to do away with the semi-final matches.

Begone, May 13 1969

Posted by Syah

I was born into a Malaysia that was peaceful. A Malaysia in 1983 that was growing. In a decade or more, Malaysia would be one of the rising ‘Asian tigers’. I grew up in a multi-cultural Malaysia, a Malaysia that for the most part tolerates and accepts, if not celebrates, the differences between it’s citizens.

I was not around when May 13 1969 occurred. Yet the fear conjured up by May 13 can be felt even today, decades later.

But no one really knows what really happened that fateful day. Yes we’ve heard stories. Yes, there’s the official version of events. But ‘official history’ is a fallacious concept written by those in power. The fact of the matter is, whilst the ‘effect’ of May 13 is quite clear, we don’t quite know it’s ’cause’.

Yet time and time again, I have been told of the atrocities of the racial riots of 1969. A time when Malaysians turned on Malaysians, when countrymen fought on the basis of race. I have been told, time and time again, of what would occur should the fragile balance of the races is tipped. If the status quo is questioned, I have been told that the streets of Kuala Lumpur will once again see blood.

Enough is enough.

May 13 was a tragic time. It was an important lesson on nation-building for our young country. Yet I want to move forward. I do not want to be shackled by the past.

It’s time we as Malaysians come together as one. Not as a homogeneous society, but as a multi-cultural, multi-religious society that celebrates its diversity. Let us accept each other for who they are, regardless of whatever differences they may have compared to us. Each and every Malaysian has a rightful place under the Malaysian sun, and by God, let us defend that rightful place.

No, of course we cannot deny May 13. Nor can we forget it. But let it no longer haunt us. Let no one use the fear of it for their own advantage.

Let us together say that come what may, we will never resort to violence to resolve our sectarian differences. Let us confidently tell each other that the proverbial ‘parang’ will never be used. Far too long have we lived with each other, laughed together, cried together, cheered together, got angry together, loved together, worked together, ate together, drank together, struggled together, traveled together and called each other ‘countrymen’ that we swear that we will never ever let May 13 be repeated on our tanah air. Our tanah tumpahnya darahku.

39 years later, let us together banish the specter of May 13 1969 to the annals of history.

Memorandum on Forum Belia Y2Y (24 May 2008)

Gerakan Belia 4B
Petaling Jaya Utara
Cawangan Damansara Kim

Forum Belia Y2Y
24 May 2008
“After the 12th General Elections: Our Hopes for the Future”

MEMORANDUM

We, participants of the above-mentioned forum, hereby agree on the following:

We believe that the results of the 12th General Election were a positive step forwards for Malaysia.

We applaud the government’s proposals on reforms announced after the 12th General Elections and we hope that there is political will to ensure the implementation of those reforms.

We wish to see changes in certain aspects of the country’s education system in order to equip Malaysian youths with the necessary repertoire to face the challenges of an increasingly globalized world and to contribute to the betterment of the nation.

We hold the view that each children of Malaysia has a home and a place under the Malaysian sun. We want Malaysians to accept one another, regardless of race, religion, colour, and creed. We want Malaysians to stand united with each other. In line with this desire, we hope that there will be robust efforts from all parties to improve the unity amongst Malaysians.

We hope that the ‘political tsunami’ of the 12th General Elections will be the catalyst of change towards making a better Malaysia.

Participants of Forum Belia Y2Y
“After the 12th General Elections: Our Hopes for the Future”
24 May 2008

The Haunted Generation

Posted by Faroze

The laughter has stilled. The smiles have stopped. The heart is aching.
The fists are clenching. And the whispers begun….

4 years ago, we gifted a rousing welcome, so unprecedented, so euphoric,
so easily. We celebrated. Morale was sky high, the future beckons, we
wont be oysters anymore, we will be pearls! If we only knew. Fast
forward 4 years, the dashing shades of hope have faded so deep into the
background. The taste of progress wound down to bitter shards. The sound
of life strummed from a dying heartbeat. What have we done?

How many of us now holds our head up high? How many walk with a brisk
step? How many sing a merry tune? How many cry?

The air around us seems drowned in morale. Of morale being drained day
after day after day and tried to be resurrected with half baked measures
that would make many a court jester envious at its humour. We live like
zombies, stretching meager earnings to last the nightfall and at dawn to
worry again if there will be enough for our spouse, our parents, our
children, ourselves too see another dawn. Yet we are showered with
scenarios of how much worse it could be, that we are in denial, that we
need to move with the times, that we need to take two jobs, that we need
to sacrifice the moral fibres of society we cling on so proudly to in
order for us to ensure our pocket jingle with change. We are the
Haunted Generation.

The ghosts of ineffectiveness, of bad judgment, of greed, of
carelessness, of lack of will, of sub ordinance, of lies infiltrate our
dreams, wailing, forcing us to believe a painted picture. A picture with
a thriving economy, with increasing GDP, with soaring investments, with
mega corridors, with open media and increased transparency. But a
picture remains a picture. A pretty box, with pretty colors, texture and
fake make-up. And the real world continues to spin. The real world with
burdens of ever increasing prices of goods, with stagnating wages, with
expanding crime rates, of Mat Rempits, of unwinding social values, of
mind poisoning media, of eyes wide open corruption, of unlimited tales
of the super rich and the rest of us, of ever deepening despair on the
faces of more and more Haunted Malaysians.

Prideful words of advice are thrown at us, always so much easier said
and mind boggling to be actually done. The ghosts of public
transportation laughs out loud as they send more and more undeserving
souls to the pits of its hell, the ghouls of corruption become fatter
and fatter as they feast upon the ever worsening and ever bold wastage
of public funds, the vampire of the quality of life does a merry jig as
she feeds with almost unlimited litres of sorrow and despair of the
millions of parents who will see their heart break from not being able
to provide even the second best to their children. And those of us who
dare stand up to exorcise these madness and hauntings, are pressurized
from those that are fed from the right hand of ridiculousness. They
twist your words, they cry malice, they refuse to see. They shift the
blame on the oil corporation and on our future generation. They compare
apples to cabbages and expect us to swallow the foul concoction without
question. They fall back on racial lines, using what they know best,
divide the Malaysians so that we can take advantage of them.

But as dark as a day manifests, as evil as a plight may seem, as
ineffective as a sleep-on-the-job PM may be, shafts of light shall
always filter thru. But we must believe in hope. We must act for just.
We must not forget! We must remember to be Malaysians again! Of people
who are proud of our diversity, of our heritage and our envious records.
Into the annals of history we must delve and learn, never has a nation
achieved empire hood in a span of a hundred years, never has a nation
come where we have without annihilating cultures of others into another,
never has a nation count on another who looks, believes and speaks
different as their brothers. We should do what we can to change the rot
that has set. We should voice out our dissatisfaction. We should reach
out for what could be. We should never forget and accept bleakness as
fate. We must believe again in the power of one….

If we drift away in the haze of contentment and the lull of
forgetfulness, we will forever be haunted. Over these 50 years, we have
grown much as a people and there has been no better time for us to awake
from our slumber. Let us arise as people of a great nation that is being
pillaged and raped by unworthy leadership. Let us – her faithful
citizens deliver her from this horrid fate that is plaguing her. Let us
do our part, no matter how small to make a difference to our beloved
Malaysia. If we sit and wait for another 4 years, who knows what more
evils and hauntings shall befall us. Let us not whisper anymore. Let us
tell of our hearts content – that we want better leaders for a better
Malaysia.

Forum Belia Y2Y – Reformasi pendidikan: Satu keperluan?

Forum Belia Y2Y
“Reformasi pendidikan: Satu keperluan?”

Tarikh: 21 Jun 2008

Masa: 2.00 petang hingga 4.30 petang

Tempat: Dibta Malaysia, Suite C-10-3, 10th Floor, Wisma Goshen, Plaza Pantai,
(stesen LRT Kerinchi)

Forum akan dijalankan selama 2 jam dan akan dikendalikan oleh seorang facilitator. Ianya dijalankan dalam bentuk perbincangan tidak formal di antara para peserta. Peserta akan memberikan pendapat dan pandangan mereka dalam mengupas isu yang dibangkitkan. Forum akan dijalankan di dalam Bahasa Melayu dan Bahasa Inggeris.

Pada 30 minit terakhir, sesi rumusan akan diadakan terhadap apa yang telah dikeutarakan. Segala cadangan, pandangan dan penyelesaian yang dicapai di dalam forum akan dihantar kepada pihak-pihak yang berkenaan. Satu salinan juga akan dihantar ke laman sesawang YAB Perdana Menteri.

Forum ini dibuka kepada semua rakyat Malaysia, khususnya para belia tidak kira bangsa, agama mahupun umur.

Untuk maklumat lanjut, sila hubungi:

Syahredzan Johan
Tel : 013-3324301
E-mel : syahredzan@yahoo.com

Notis Mensyuarat Luarbiasa – 14 Jun 2008

Gerakan Belia 4B
Petaling Jaya Utara
Cawangan Damansara Kim

NOTIS MESYUARAT LUARBIASA

Tarikh: 14 Jun 2008
Tempat: Wisma Goshen, Plaza Pantai
Waktu: 2.00 petang

Agenda:

1. Ucapan pembukaan dari Pengerusi

2. “Kenyataan Umum” Gerakan Belia 4B PJU Cawangan Damansara Kim

3. Lain-lain perkara