Walk the talk, Tee Keat!

My Opinion in red

MCA president Ong Tee Keat has made a bold declaration in his New Year message that he would be ready to lead the party in standing up to injustice, and engage in any other like-minded forces to seek redress on issues of public concern.

"We have to be bold and we have to be loud if and when we have to. We need to transform and energise the MCA that will be fearless in championing equal opportunities and a level playing field, not only for the Chinese community, but for all Malaysians," Tee Keat said in his message.

Brave words, indeed, but can Tee Keat really meet such a tall order he has set for himself and the MCA?

Since he was elected MCA president in October 2008, many major issues concerned with the civil liberties and human and constitutional rights of the people have emerged, but has he or the MCA taken any firm and principled stand on them?

Should the MCA concentrates on issues affecting ALL Chinese in Malaysia or should the MCA just just wastes its effort on some slip shot issues like these ....as posted by Thomas Lee ?

Take the case of the "Allah" issue. The matter basically concerns the fundamental human and constitutional rights of the people to freely use, without restraints or restriction, Bahasa Malaysia, the national language, in their worship and practise of their faiths. Correct , however sad to say why only it only affects the Catholics and not other religions in Malaysia ? Why not the Buddhists and others ? What about the First Assembly of God and the Born Again Christians who preaches that only those who accept Christ as their saviour goes to heaven while those who do not accept him goes to hell . And then what about those who prays to idols are devil worshippers ? Shouldn't they be banned for these teachings ? Where's the DAP and the PKR on these issues ? What's their stand ?

It is contended that Bahasa Malaysia rightfully belongs to all citizens of Malaysia and there should be absolutely no monopoly on the usage of any Bahasa Malaysia word by any one particular race or religion. While trying to fault the govt on these issues , which UMNO doesn't want to take it as an issue for fear of losing Malay votes or the non Malay Christian votes . Similarly the Pakatan Rakyat has been silent on this too for fear of losing Non Malay Christian voters in many constituencies like in Subang and PJ if they were to support the banning of the word "Allah" and losing the Malay voters for supporting its usage . Its a no win situation either way . And it looks like Thomas lee is trying to draw MCA into the quicksand and into a helpless quagmire position .

So it looks like god is not great as in Britain they have been saying there is no God while Buddhists tend to say God is in oneself by your actions and by your deeds . Is it so difficult having the word Allah replace by Tuhan when most in the congregation speaks either Mandarin or English ? as long as it means the same thing and as long as one's heart , thinking and deeds are pure ? rather than fighting over the usage of the word Allah ? May I ask ? since I am not a Christian ?

Oppressive ISA should be repealed

What has Tee Keat and the MCA done to fight for this fundamental citizenship right of the people? Has Tee Keat or the MCA make any stand concerning this issue?

Take another case, this time concerning the long-standing oppressive legal instrument called the Internal Security Act or the ISA in short.

What is the view of Tee Keat and the MCA on the use of this harsh law to detain opposition politicians and human right advocates by the authoritarian regime of which the MCA is a part? ISA is in the process of being rewritten and until it comes out for debate in Parliament by all MPs , I would leave it at that . I am still of the opinion that ISA should not be repealed but changed into an act specifically for terrorism , acts that would be of concern to the nations security and not for use against political dissent . ISA should also be used against those forgerers of Malaysian passports and Identity Cards . Smuggling of firearms and explosives and perhaps serial robbers , rapists who uses firearms . Pehaps I would like Mr Lee to tell me his opinion on this .

Tee Keat has boldly stated that he will lead the MCA to fight injustice. I challenge him to make a public stand that he will support the revocation and repeal of this diabolical and repugnant legislation. Why should it be only Tee Keat ? What about all those in Parliament since it is under passage in Parliament and due for hearing in the next seating ? Trying to make a monkey of MCA again as usual !.

Another serious matter concerns the comments by Senior Federal Counsel Mohamad Naser Disa, who was quoted in theSun on Wednesday Nov 25 2009, on the proposed amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 dealing with the situation where one spouse in a non-Muslim marriage converts to Islam.

If Naser is correctly quoted, then it seems that the Federal Government is mainly concerned that a man who converts to Islam is "cruelly treated" because he cannot break his previous marriage contract and get a divorce.

What has Tee Keat and the MCA to say about Naser's comments which, if they accurately reflect the proposed amendments, show that the gross injustices currently being committed against non-Muslim spouses, mostly women, by their husbands who convert to Islam, by the syariah courts and syariah authorities, and by the civil courts will likely continue?

The worrying thing is that the proposals, if accepted, could indirectly result in Islamic law being enforced on the non- Muslim spouses, especially the wives. What does the current law says about this ? anyone ?

If Tee Keat is truly concerned about fighting injustice, let him come out with some concrete actions on the matter.

Let him and the MCA ministers in the cabinet ensure that the non-Muslims will not be put at a disadvange by any amendment to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976.

These are just three of the major issues. There are many more. If Tee Keat is truly sincere and honest in wanting to "stand up to injustice, and engage any other like-minded forces to seek redress on issues of public concern", then he must come out and make a clear stand on these fundamental issue.

If he is not prepared to walk the talk, he should shut up, pack up and go into oblivion.

Why don't you for a start say something constructive instead of giving ultimatums ? Do you think one person can move the Earth when he is not the PM of Malaysia and neither was Rome built in a day . Sometimes some people has such a big swollen head and ego that they think they can write anything under the sun just simply they have retired as a deputy editor . I am just a blogger maybe I should apply to work in Star as the editor .

THOMAS LEE, who retired as a deputy editor in The Star, has been a socio-political analyst since he returned from studies in Australia in mid-1975.