Real Meaningful Bicameral Parliamentary System for Malaysia

This is only an idea but what if we elect our senators?

Considering that we only elect our MPs which occupy the Dewan Rakyat and that any legislative bills approved by the Dewan Rakyat are thereon, out of formality, passes through Dewan Negara and His Majesty the Agong, wouldn't that make Dewan Rakyat rather powerful?

Source: http://malaysianguide.blogspot.com/2008/06/malaysianparliament.html

Surely if power concentrate in one house where we only have one chance every five or so years to appoint our MPs and more than 10 million (ever increasing btw) making individual choices, events like March 8 will only happen once in a blue moon.

With the ill-conceived proposed DNA Identification Bill 2008 (lessons from Francis Udayappan case seemed forgotten by this Government) and the "morality" issue related to party hopping, perhaps it is high time our law makers consider amending the Constitution to allow for senators election. Yes, it will be costly and time consuming to have another regular election but this will give voters a chance to consider if the elected makeup of the Dewan Rakyat is what they wanted and also serve as a barometer to approve what the current government is doing.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/index.html?curid=4046750

The lawmakers should also ensure that in the Constitutional amendments, dissolution of Dewan Negara must be at least a year (or two) away from the recent Dewan Rakyat election in order to do so. And with two Houses directly elected, power would certainly be diluted in the legislative where more checks and balances would emerge.

Perhaps passages of bills would be approved slower but at least all consultations are seen to be fully performed. And if it is really against the Constitution, that is where an independent judiciary would be needed to reject such bills.

But considering these ideal situations, one must not leave out for a voter to make a fair and informed decision, we would need to ensure that we have truly free and fair press and institutions like Election Commission, ACA, Police, Attorney General office and such directly accountable to the Parliament.

I know I am only dreaming of a fairer system of governance but I also dreamt before this that someday BN be denied of their 2/3 majority stranglehold over the Dewan Rakyat representation and they get booted out of office.

The first part has been realised on 8th of March 2008. Will the second part be realised on 16th of September 2008? This we will know in less than 2 weeks time. As for the senator appointments, I hope the new Government, if they truly believe in accountability, would consider devolving the powers held in Dewan Rakyat.

Why Uncle Kit? Why DAP? Why?

I am sad. The winds of change have hit a snag. Honestly, I know where Uncle Kit is coming from. I know DAP has tirelessly defended the Constitution and the notion of secular state. It is hard for them to justify to the mainly Malaysian Chinese supporters why they are working together with PAS and let alone install a PAS Menteri Besar to govern over them. It would seem to backtrack from their stand made earlier.

Importantly, it would appear that DAP has backtracked from the idea of meritocracy when being the party with the largest representation among the opposition alliance, it is only right DAP should be allowed to lead the pack.

Yet, this is a unique situation DAP has never entered into before. It is about governing a group of people with diverse backgrounds, cultures, creed and religions. For as long as one can remember, DAP only loosely govern its own members. Yet here, DAP is asked to govern a nation. Hence, there will be minorities (including their currently unpopular political opponents), requiring care and support, which may hold dissenting views from DAP's. Hence, when DAP is given the option to work together with others who share the greater vision of creating a Malaysian Malaysia, yet have different ideology on how to achieve unity, should DAP reject it outright due to ideology difference?

Source: http://americanrevolution.wordpress.com/2007/02/08/disunity-on-display/

Prior to 8 March 2008, no one expect the outcome to be as drastic as the one presented in the night of 8 March 2008. The people, believing in a vision of lasting change where a better, unified, cooperative and understanding nation will emerge from the decadent ways of the past, have given their resounding yes by gambling their 5 years for an untested coalition to govern for them. Though not everyone is ready, those who delivered these votes did the unexpected. The rakyat is tired of race based politics, of segregation and rule. They are tired of feeling insecure and watching only their own backs to the exclusion of others. Deep down, everyone wants to have some measure of trust from which a more civil and friendlier society can be built upon. They want to trust the stranger on the street when he/she said yes means yes and a no means no. The rakyat is tired of being labelled by skin colour and dealt according to such stereotypical assumption.

There are much to be done to break the chain of distrust and fear and the least we need is jockeying for positions of power. Ultimately, the ones elected are heading those who willingly lay down their lives to serve the community. So when to serve is better than be served, can those who volunteer to serve put aside their difference and work together to serve well? Work together, let the results speak. There is little need to placate the few who distrust PAS come the 13th general election if PAS succeed in proving themselves to be far more moderate and understanding compared to BN.

We are a people made up of individuals with free wills and minds of our own. We are capable of being different on many things yet in one accord we want to live with one another in peace and harmony, accepting our differences as gifts, not curses. If we, the rakyat, have risen above racial and rhetoric politics, why can't our leaders, empowered by us, do the same? Must our hands be forced to do the unnecessary just so that the winds of change will continue to blow strongly?

No one is indispensable. If we must sacrifice the self righteous who forgot the real needs of the nation, then we must part ways. This will be painful because we are in one accord only until a few hours ago. But if we must, we must.

The Aftermath Realisation

I am still euphoric about the outcome of the whole 12th general election. Seriously, is it possible? Is this a dream? Has the mighty BN finally been humbled? Yet, from what I am reading from MSM and Malaysiakini, there is no real acceptance of reality and worse still, a lot of yes men and women instead yelling their "whole hearted" support.

I can see why they are still happy though. The art of governance is different from the art of criticism. Just like when we see how someone could play football well, we can even compare the different players and the best style in scoring the ball, it doesn't mean we can play it well. So will Barisan Rakyat succeed? Can they finally be the alternative the rakyat so yearn? The real change?

Source: http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/object/3655597_super_hero.php?id=3655597

We all love heroes. It doesn't matter if it is fictional, so long as it is believable. We may be adults as we grow old, become more cynical of the reality we perceive, yet we do look for heroes. Afterall, heroes inspire us in some way. To act in a manner we ourselves, on our own, may not be able to perform. I must say, from this election, I have found my fair share of political and/or social justice heroes. People like RPK, Haris Ibrahim, Malik Imtiaz (really admire him during the Al Jazeera interview), Nurul Izzah, Tony Pua, Jeff Ooi, Po Kuan and Teresa Kok to name a few.

So, when some, if not all, of our heroes are given the power and authority to bring changes, wouldn't we be euphoric? Yet, our heroes are but human. My immediate concern is whether can they perform up to expectation of the rakyat? I know that in relation to toll rate hikes, this is under the purview of Federal government. The ability of any of the opposition-led state governments to seek reduction, let alone abolishment, of such toll rate hikes would be impossible. Also, when it comes to petrol, gas and diesel prices, only the Federal government can decide whether to continue to subsidy or not.

Our federation, unlike USA or even Australia, has largely succeeded in centralising wide ranges of power. From my limited understanding, the only prominent roles the States held where Federal government will beg are matters relating to land, appointment of city councillors and Islam. Hence, this begs the question, how far can our opposition-led state governments fulfill all their pledges? I believe, in every area under their purview like introduction of local state elections (if possible), reorganising city council appointments, streamlining the service provision, cutting unnecessary costs and enhance revenue collection, renegotiating contracts, use of open tender system and such would help.

Source: http://www.looklocally.com/10907.htm

But how will they help the security issues especially with the increasing crime rate? I am cracking my head as well trying to figure out how the limited powers of state government can help in this matter. Can they intervene in the affairs of the state police? Somehow I feel they are powerless. Perhaps by helping one another, the five states can form a Coalition of Five to request for assistance from the Federal government? This present a whole new working relationship the opposition must have as they practice their G2G skills.

Yet the pospects of governing a nation is daunting. I believe, even the opposition members themselves are fearful. I believe many asked themselves, "What if we fail?" To be honest, failure is not an option. Because deep in our hearts, we know BN will never reform unless it loses the seat of power i.e. the Federal government. It might be disappointed with the present result, but it is not badly hurt. They still control the oil producing states. They control the nation's purse. They control the civil service and defense forces. They freely appoint judicial members and enact laws within the confines of the Constitution.

The opposition-led state governments face a trying time. Perhaps Kelantan balanced development suffices for them, but will the other states be content?

Like Tan Sri Khalid indirectly hinted in relation to funding, which requires cooperation and understanding, for the betterment of this nation, the Federal and state governments shoul not forget who the real bosses are. We strongly yearn for a change and we had a tsunami. Don't make us desperate.

Oh Conscience, Where Art Thou?

Before we willfully commit a sin, say lying, don't we feel a pang of hurt in our chest? Or when we already committed something terrible like accusing your friend of cheating you and later finding out he/she is innocent, don't we also feel the same pang of hurt?

Often, if your watch movies, cold blooded murderers are often identified as heartless beasts. Ever wondered why? Yet, we somehow readily identify what heartless mean. To many heartless carry the connotation of cruelty, evil, disgust, injustice and such. Ever wondered why?

Source: http://www.safe-nz.org.nz/Articles/conscience.htm

When we see poor, helpless people in trouble, we again sense this pang. Somehow, we realise deep down inside, the right thing to do is to go out and help. Very good example is when you see someone falls down and have difficulties getting up, would we not quickly go and try to offer aid? Or when a pregnant lady has to stand in a bus, would we not stand up and offer them a seat? Why do I do it? Have you ever asked?

So, if you and I can have this pang once in awhile, don't you ever wonder why many members in Parliament don't have one? When they were informed about PKFZ scandal, many just turned a blind eye. When they were also informed about Gerbang Perdana getting a RM100 million for free, they don't even bother raising complains in Parliament. Somehow, they can give numerous excuses without blinking an eye and smiling as they said it. They can even turn the table around and start calling people stupid, penyangak and goblok.

So then, where is their conscience? Yes, that's the word. Conscience. Conscience oh conscience, where art thou? Have thee forgotten thy voice?

Perhaps, maybe, all it needed to drown the small still voice is merely a sincere excuse....

I need this job because I need to support my family.

Or an attachment excuse...

I have worked so hard to be where I am, am I so stupid to throw it away?

Or mere indifference...

This is not my problem. Let the leaders figure it out.

Or pure fear...

Shit! Its' the Whip!

Day in and out they probably face heart wrenching issues requiring remedial. It doesn't have to be grand. It also doesn't have to be loud. But it requires to be hear. It is a start which should then be followed by a call to debate, to move a motion, agreement, brainstorming and finally, implementation. To ensure effectiveness, measurement of success should be determined, KPIs if you would like, with results recorded, examined and benchmarked against the measures set.

But has that been done? Has justice be rendered to the poor, weak, helpless and downtrodden?

Or has the daily routine numbed them to the point of ignorance? Will the poor, weak, helpless and downtrodden continue to be exploited by racial division cursed to remain a non-issue only to be an important issue at the eve of every single election?

The poor, weak, helpless and downtrodden need a voice. Not just any voice, importantly, a strong, vocal and principled with fairness, equality, justice and brotherly love. It may have been buried in those who downplay and deny its existence yet we should allow it to manifest. That's right even in Parliament, conscience should assume a physical manifestation.

Source: http://www.coolamon.org/three_streams.htm

Will we on March the 8th allow a representation of our collective conscience to assume its rightful place in the August House? A wave of Nays in the sea of Yeas?

Or will we just accept the sins of the incumbent ruling coalition and brush aside their blatant disregard and contempt shown towards their good conscience as though nothing happened?

Our Greatest Fear

Lazying around because today is a public holiday, I decided to watch a movie over Astro entitled, "Coach Carter". This movie has been repeated many times and what I find very profound each time I watch it is an excerpt from a book recited by the character Cruz to show his reformation to his coach, Kenneth Carter, who was on his way leaving the basketball gym touched by how the players voluntarily uphold his tough stand on his players required to be have a minimal GPA of 2.3 despite the school board deciding against his decision to close the gym until these players buck up.

Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,
but that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

- Marianne Williamson, A Return To Love

As I read this passage, I felt that perhaps it is true, our greatest fear in life at times is not so much on our abilities but rather the fear of the unknown, disappointment and lost. Perhaps we fear that by sticking out our head, we look weird and out of place and we feel compelled to keep quiet so as we remain faceless in a crowd. I know I fear to a certain degree hence I hesitate in revealing my full identity.

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7152940@N04/1250653688/in/photostream/

Yet interesting times such as this requires that one speak up and put a foot down when injustice are abound. Before I went for the BERSIH and People's Walk rallies in the previous months, I had nagging fear of "what ifs". But I am there not so much bent on destroying properties and lives of others, it was merely peaceful venting of frustration with a system that failed us and showing support to a cause that I felt worthy of pursuing. Which is why this blog was born in the days after 10 November 2007 as my response to the denials and wrongdoings that continue to be perpetrated (though it also took on the role of an open personal diary). How long will this blog be up is something I am not sure since things may pan out in a manner totally unexpected. My only hope is that in the days ahead, I can be less cynical. Will I be an agent of change? This is something I think I will leave it aside. Oh well...