Rules are rules

Sunday was the first meeting of the state Pemuda liaison commitee. In a pincer crab movement, Pasir Gudang and Sri Gading questioned the appointment of an AJK without prior approval from CWC. Saudara Steven Au was appointed AJK to take up a CC national position, however in their haste, the state leadership has not made an application to the CWC. Well, rules are rules. There should not be any short cut, no matter who you are. In an unrelated matter, Treasurer Liang Chi publicly questioned former Ketua Pemuda and present Adviser Sdr Koh Kian Siang about the cash in the bank. He wants to know why there is a drastic reduction in the last moment of the previous administration. A suggestion has been brought forward to visit the Parliament this year. YB Liang has promised to make arrangement. New Ketua Pemuda Saudara Yap Cheng Heng declared that the priority for the first half of the year will be recruitment and training. Sdr Kian Hwa from Gelang Patah has been appointed as the coordinator for the recruitment drive.

Unscientific experiment

A friend called up JB Sin Chew office and asked for Dr Boo's( DAP Skudai ADUN) handphone number. The person from Sin Chew was very defensive and did not want to reveal Dr Boo's number. She said Dr Boo is a very busy person, serving the community and working in his clinic. She added that we should not disturb him. Wow! The vernacular press is really in love with their leaders from DAP. They are also very protective of them even when negative news arises. The DAP leaders are never taken to task for any boo-boos. Nanyang were more accomodating, giving the number without any fuss.

What holds the shoe together

A secret agent had problems with his latest high tech shoe issued by Q, the technical expert in charge of equipment. So what is the problem,doc asked the agent. It keeps coming off when I run. Hmmmm, Q replied, it seems to be matter of the quantum of shoelace.

The most expensive curry chicken mee

Today I almost had a heart attack before I ate a cholesterol laden curry chicken mee. It was at Ka Poh noodle house at Dedap, near the Pan Mian shop. I ordered the large curry chicken noodle with chopped chicken. I told them to hold the roast pork and prawns because I did not want the curry chicken noodle to be contaminated with alien stuff. It came in a large bowl. Well, the bowl was large, content was adequate. Then I paid the girl with a ten ringgit note. The girl stood there waiting. Funny, I thought it would be enough, so I asked her. Sebelas ringgit she said. Wow! I haven't eaten but i choked anyway. Ten for noodles and one for the kopi o. Why so expensive? Peha, tuan. I am going to buy Ayamas stock after this, I thought as I savored the most expensive chicken curry noodle ever.

BN direct membership- will it work?

Pak Lah was thinking aloud when he mentioned direct membership in BN. Apart from Gerakan I don't see any support from any other party for it. Sdr Mah Siew Keong has been peddling this idea for some time but as soon as it came out from Pak Lah's mouth, Shabery from UMNO shot it down as an UMNO killer. Imagine this, if BN was to recruit directly then it would logical for its members to be eligible for Prime Ministership. Now, this and the deputy PM's post have always been UMNO's and if a non-malay under BN membership were allowed to be even deputy PM, that will be the end of UMNO. The reason many Malays join UMNO is because of its historical link with power and privileges. With the loss of 5 states recently, UMNO is not seen as invincible after all and no longer guarantees access to the seat of power. It is getting complicated and more so as time goes by. To change or to remain the same. Decisions, decisions...

The aftermath of NDC 2008

In the aftermath of NDC 2008, a well worn story of lies, betrayal and hatred lays in its wake. The saga of Paul Yong's betrayal was played out in full view of the youth delegates. NS ex ketua pemuda thought he was in the money, as the saying goes. He was in the same team as the anointed leader of the youth, sdr Lim Si Pin and a bunch of his people was in the dream team as well. As the results rolled out that day, a slow realisation dawned on him as heads rolled one by one. His people was going by the wayside faster that a kangaroo in heat. When his name was announced as the best loser in the timbalan ketua pemuda category, he knew that he was betrayed. Betrayed by the very same person he has supported and partnered all the while. The knife was still sticking to his back as he made his way out from the dewan. He feels hurt but also anger. Probably angry for being so stupid and greedy enough that he lost sight of the game at hand. This is politics. Betrayal was always on the menu.

Si Pin won but at a price

Sdr Lim Si Pin won the Ketua Pemuda Gerakan post easily. However the team has to sacrifice a "queen" for the victory. Sdr Paul Yong lost the Timbalan Ketua Pemuda post to Sdr Oh Tong Keong who is in the same team as Sdr Chai Tek Loong. In any event, Naib Ketua Pemudas was a mixed group. Sdr Liang Teck Meng, Sdr Vincent Hooi Wy Hon and Sdr David Ang came in ahead of Sdr S.Vijaya Kumar and Sdr Stephen Doss.

One surprising result is the rejection of the non-chinese candidates at the Naib Ketua Pemuda level. I am sure the leadership must be scratching their head over this development when they are trying to promote multi racialism in the party. Sdr Dr Teng Hock Nan even withdrew from the VP race for this reason. Maybe the youth needs more time to accept multi racialism or are we just practicing meritocracy. Either by multiracialism or by meritocracy, we need to get more people from non chinese races to join Gerakan. The party needs to reflect the nation's aspirations and sadly, color, before we can say we are the Party for Malaysians.