Opportunistic JKKK Members of Kg Paya Taram Kerdau, Pahang.

Every kampong has a committee for its administration. They are called the ‘Jawatankuasa Keselamatan Kampung’ or the acronym JKKK. They are represented by members of that village chosen by the State Assemblymen. Therefore, their political makeup is determined by the party that rule the area.They are responsible in upkeeping the welfare of kampongs. The chairman of the JKKK is also the headman. In Pahang, they are known as the Tok Empat. As it is, they are not chosen democratically as the want of the Pakatan Rakyat supporters.

My kampong, Kg Paya Taram Kerdau are ruled by UMNO chosen committee members. The headman is an exteacher and UMNO strongman. They organize activities like gotong-royongs or religious ceramahs. Recently however, they had done something extraordinary, not to the kampong people, but to themselves. They sorted out a piece of land, originally pastoral land, and divided in between themselves. Each of them got 3 acres of land. Since the chairman’s wife is also a committee member, both of them got 6 acres collectively. Now, the current price of land in my area is about twenty thousand an acre. That makes them 40 thousand dollars richer. Land is hard to find these days.

On the other side of the kampong, is a low cost housing area, filled owners who are earning a thousand a month or even less. They had to pay about 70 K for a two room house. Compare that to the cost of land acquired by the JKKK committee member, shows that they, the JKKK committee members, are not sensitive to the needs of the kampong folk especially the younger generation. This also picture the insensitivity of the UMNO members to the plight of the poor.

This land, were a few years ago planned to be given to the people of Kerdau. The Penghulu then, had even collected the details for those interested in applying for that land. What has happened? Does UMNO think that all land under their control are theirs for the taking? Is UMNO Kerdau members aware of this ‘misdemenour’ and willing to forget it as it is their people?Things will not be taken lightly by the rest and UMNO will find that this issue will haunt them next election.

Mengapa Saya Menyokong Pakatan Rakyat

Pada suatu masa dahulu, saya pun ahli UMNO juga. Saya bukan hanya ahli biasa tetapi pernah menjawat jawatan Ketua Pemuda cawangan kampung saya. Semasa itu saya tenggelam dalam Mahathirisme. Saya menganggap Mahathir seorang pemimpin yang bukan calang-calang orang. Mahathir ingin memperkayakan orang Melayu, dan oleh kerana saya pun orang Melayu, ianya tidak salah bagi saya. Walaubagaimana pun, setelah mengkaji beberapa aspek pemerintahan negara, saya mendapati beberapa masalah dan kelemahan dalam sistem, terutamanya berhubung dengan hak rakyat. Oleh kerana saya banyak didedahkan kepada literatur atau tulisan atau bacaan dalam bahasa Inggeris, saya mendapati rekod hak asasi manusia Malaysia begitu buruk sekali. Kebebasan suara adalah satu perkara lumrah sekarang di negara negara maju. Di Malaysia tidak. Jika Malaysia ingin menjadi negara maju, maka ia juga harus menukar sistem yang mencengkam ini kepada satu sistem yang lebih adil dan terbuka.

Kerajaan tidak mahu kebebasan kerana ianya akan mendedahkan kelemahan-kelemahan yang ada dalam kerajaan sekarang. Lebih senang jika masalah-masalah di kekang dari pengetahuan ramai dan oleh itu masyarakat tidak tahu akan apa yang sebenarnya berlaku. Ini jelas dengan apa yang berlaku kepada pemberita The Star semasa Operasi Lalang dahulu. Media massa terbahagi dua, media arusperdana dan media alternatif. Sehingga sekarang Akta Mesin Citak masih lagi belum meluluskan sebuah lagi suratkhabar harian selain yang ada sekarang. Ini tidak menggambarkan Malaysia sebuah negara maju langsung. Alangkan Indonesia, walaupun miskin, tetapi rakyat diberi ruang untuk menyuarakan ketidakpuashatian mereka terhadap kerajaan melalui media yang bebas.

Apabila mula-mula berlaku perpecahan di antara Mahathir dan Anwar, saya kebingungan. Saya tidak menyukai kedua-duanya kerana mereka adalah UMNO. Pada saya, Anwar pun berdosa juga. Tetapi, setelah sekian lama, saya mendapati Anwar telah kembali kepangkal jalan dan berjuang semula untuk rakyat. Ini jelas dengan penubuhan PKR itu sendiri. Musuh-musuh Anwar mengatakan bahawa PKR hanyalah satu kenderaan untuk Anwar menjadi Perdana Menteri. Jikalau benar PKR adalah semata-mata untuk cita-cita Anwar, maka apa salahnya. Tidak salah Anwar bercita-cita menjadi PM. Jika beliau hendak menjadi PM, beliau mesti ada parti.  PKR pula adalah satu parti pelbagai bangsa atau multi racial yang mana merupakan satu parti yang lebih Malaysian dari parti-parti Barisan Nasional terutamanya UMNO. Politik kebangsaan atau nasionalisme adalah satu sistem politik yang ketinggalan zaman. Sekarang, mereka yang mendokong sistem nasionalis dipanggil fasis, seperti apartheid atau lebih buruk lagi, Zionisme. Masyarakat Melayu secara ramainya tidak menyedari ini kerana mereka telah didedahkan kepada maklumat dimana Ketuanan Melayu adalah sistem kita dan tidak boleh diubah lagi.

Gabungan PKR, DAP dan PAS, atau Pakatan Rakyat adalah unik sekali. Ketiga-tiga parti ini adalah multirasial. Mereka tidak memilih bangsa dari segi ahli parti. Oleh itu mereka adalah parti yang lebih Malaysia dari BN. Ketiga-tiga parti ini juga telah menunjukkan mereka boleh bertolak ansur dan bekerjasama diantara satu sama lain dari PRU 12 lagi. Mereka tidak pernah bertelagah secara terbuka, terutamanya diantara pemimpin-pemimpin utama mereka. Hubungan mereka, dari luar, kelihatan lebih baik dari parti-parti BN. Mereka telah lama jadi underdog. Mereka ingin merubah hidup rakyat Malaysia, keluar dari kekangan dan terus maju dalam gabungan yang serba kekurangan ini, tetapi bukan kurang dari segi minda. Mereka terdiri dari mereka-mereka yang ‘out-of-the-box’, pemikir kritis dan analitikal.

Kebebasan bersuara adalah sesuatu yang diperjuangkan oleh PR. Ini memang satu ciri yang menunjukkan mereka berani berhadapan dengan sebarang kritikan dari mana-mana pihak. BN tidak membenarkan ini terutamanya dalam media arus perdana yang mereka pegang kuat. Media citak atau elektronik milik BN tidak pernah mendedahkan kelemahan dan sebaliknya hanya menggembar-gembutkan berita dakyah dari mereka. Ini propaganda namanya. Propaganda adalah amat penting dalam mana-mana sistem diktatorial atau fasis.  Propaganda ini sangat bahaya. Sebarang dosa pun boleh di bersihkan dengan hanya beberapa perkataan. Orang yang terbunuh pun boleh di halalkan oleh propaganda sehingga massa tidak menganggap nyawa seorang rakyat itu berharga. Masyarakat Malaysia, terutamanya majoriti orang Melayu, telah menjadi buta dan tuli terhadap penyelewengan-penyelewengan kerajaan diatas nama bangsa. Sebaliknya, kempen-kempen kerajaan seperti 1Malaysia mendapat tempat setiap hari, seperti atau seolah tiada masalah dikalangan rakyat berbagai bangsa dinegara ini.

Dasar Ekonomi Baru, Ketuanan Melayu, ISA, korupsi, kronisme dan yang lain-lainnya, adalah dipersoalkan oleh penyokong PR. Mereka maukan kerajaan yang lebih efisien, bersih, telus dan baik. Beserta dengan itu, terdapat ramai ekonomis-ekonomis moden dalam PR. Malaysia akan menjadi lebih makmur dibawahnya kerana kita menukarkan satu sistem yang telah berat di atas atau top heavy. Rakyat dilupakan. Kerajaan yang lebih moden dan lebih bersifat global untuk menjadikan Malaysia bukan sahaja maju disegi fizikal, tetapi juga disegi keintelektuilan masyarakat. The happiest country in the world kata Tunku.  Salam Reformasi.

Kerdau ADUN In Serious Condition

Temerloh    May – Kerdau ADUN, YB Zaharuddin Abu Kassim 64,  was admitted to the Temerloh Hospital last Sunday after having seizures during dinner in Mentakab. His condition is reported to be serious. He has undergone surgery during the week for ulcer and later had a stroke during recuperation. He has  been transferred to the Institut Jantung Negara yesterday afternoon and his condition was reported to be stable.

Felda Lembah Klau Settlers Unsettled

Spokesperson Nordin Darus

Tuesday, April 13, Temerloh – A media conference was called upon by the Pakatan Rakyat West Pahang Section, a show of force by the combined effort of PAS and PKR. DAP was missing but in these areas of Pahang, DAP is almost non-existent. The meeting was to highlight the plight of Felda Lembah Klau settlers who is facing economic conflict with the Land Office over who gets ‘tapping rights’ once most of its land will lay covered underwater with the building of the Klau Dam. The water of the Klau dam is going to be siphoned off to Selangor.

The settlers have already received the price of their land. Although parts of the Klau valley will be underwater, a big part of it is kept intact. As a buffer zone. The palm oil will not be cut down. Instead of giving the spoils of the oil to the ‘old owners’, a contract was given out to ONL SB by the Felda JKKR, or the settlement’s working committee, for the production. This was argued out by the settlers claiming that the JKKR has no right doing business and it is not registered to any financial governing body in this country.

Action committee  spokesperson, UMNO turned PKR Nordin Darus, related their meetings with the Land Office and the settlers, which finally turned a democratic process of negotiations to a dictatorial ruling that settlers must oblige. No two ways about it.  Nordin argued that the ‘tapping rights’ i.e. the right to return to harvest on the old land is not practised.

PKR Temerloh Chief, Lawyer Nizam also mentioned incongruencies in the running of the PTG or even the Forestry Department in the State. Land matters need to be settled fast and just. Action, meaning a suit, will be taken against the PTG and he has agreed to represent them.

Elizabeth Wong on Why PKR Is Going To Win Hulu Selangor.

Met her last Sunday while she was taking a break from a briefing held at PKR stalwart Hj Suhaimi Said’s residence in Temerloh. Earlier, she took centrestage at the briefing and mesmerized her audience with her candidness and almost informal presentation. This feisty lady, Selangor state Exco and Bukit Lanjan assemblyperson, gave me a chance of an interview. Not many chances like this for me, here in the backwoods, to an interview with someone of Eli’s fame and stature. Unlike the CJs in the Klang Valley or Penang.

I didn’t get to know of her being at the meeting until I reached Hj Suhaimi’s house. I was unprepared. ‘Now’, said I,’ what am I going to ask her?’ It was obvious to her, to my embarrassment. Instead of giving me a piece of her mind, she thought up of a question that she would like to answer. I cringed in agreement.

The question is, ‘Is PKR going to win Hulu Selangor?’. ‘Definitely’, she answered with gusto. ‘Why?’. She then detailed out a list of things that PKR has done within two years. To her, PKR is getting better than it was two years ago. She mentioned the term ‘Merakyatkan Ekonomi’ or ‘Peopleizing of the Economy’ created by the State Government has channeled or distributed State’s wealth to the rakyats of Selangor. Whatever the State Government gets, it will distribute to its citizens. One is termed as a citizen of Selangor, or anak Selangor, after they have stayed in Selangor for at least five years.

The State also pays its senior citizens, or people above 60, RM2500, regardless of race, religion or party. This practice is called ‘Mesra Usia Emas’ or literally translated, Loving Golden Years. Selangor also provides a fund for health purposes, for citizens with health problems like for a cataract operation, dialysis or for small surgery.

There is also a program for the children of estate workers in getting a better education. And talking about education, there is also an allocation of 12 million ringgit building fund for national and vernacular schools. There is also allocation for those who manage to get into the university.

‘The MB is approachable, by anyone.’ This is not like before, I guess. She told me that he even received an unrehearsed show of support when he was given a standing ovation by a group of people when he was casually visiting a town.

She cited an example where, an old mining town of South Kinta Company which has closed up for the last twenty years, whereby the workers had been living in the quarters without land titles. This was solved by the present State Government. ‘This place is an UMNO territory, mind you.’ The distribution of wealth is for everybody, from any political party, she said.

Another point she mentioned that all state agencies practices transparency and accountability. Even the NGOs are accountable to the State.

Confidently she mentioned that the candidate will the best that PKR can offer, without mentioning who, even as I tried to trick her into telling me who it was. She also stated that there are data proving that people of Hulu Selangor are going to  support PKR.

I really admire the confidence that she has  and it was infectious among party workers in Pahang even. I had to cut the interview short, though I really would love a longer one, to be in Kuantan in two hours. Looking at how relaxed she was, without a trace of stress milling about her, maybe she will be right. That belongs to the future to know.

Advanced Course for Citizen Journalists part II.

The class listening intently.

For 20 Malaysians from all walks of life, all of them Citizen Journalists, were selected to join the advanced course held at Malaysiakini’s hq at Bangsar from the 3rd to the 14th March recently. The CJs themselves comprises a scientist, a dance instructor, a postgraduate student, a photographer, an environmentalist, a businesswoman and the suchlikes. However varied they were in term of career or personality, everyone blended in as all are voraciously hungry for CJ knowledge. For a week, this intense course was conducted smoothly thanks to Mr Maran Perianen.

Citizen Journalists, or CJs, were taught from video editing to writing classes. These are tools for a journalists in these days of the Internet. After the course, CJs are required to go back to their places of stay and send reports to  Komunitikini.com. Local issues will be highlighted and good articles will be brought forth for publication.

Presentations of the big guns in the likes of  Steven Gan and Premesh Chandran, were received with enthusiasm by the participants. Other presenters and speakers were also spellbinding. According to Amirul, 30, a professional photographer from JB has nothing but praises for all the speakers. However, sometimes, with classes held from 10 am to 8.30 at night, did tire some of the us. All in all, a lot of new knowledge transpired and were lapped up by the CJs as their media tool in the future.

Erna talking about social media

Among others, they were taught video editing, news reporting, eLaws and photography. One class was exceptionally lively when Sean instigated the question, ‘Are we really descendants of monkeys?’. The latest technology in blogging was also disclosed but some were too technical to comprehend, for me that is.  I also had the opportunity to follow Journalist Vasugi to a protest by a few handicapped in Subang Jaya to witness how the live action is like.

One thing in particular is that Malaysiakini is going to introduce is Komunitikini.com, also a news portal, run by CJs all over the country. Komunitikini will highlight local news in written and video format.

The most interesting happening everyday is, at 6.30 in the evening,  the editorial session of Malaysiakini is done. Here, CJs get to see how news are scheduled for Malaysiakini journalists for the next day. For the serious outlay of Malaysiakini, we got to see they are not so serious all the time. Most times, it was humorous and lively.

More CJs are needed actually and they are the hoped of opening up the press freedom in this country. They took a break on Saturday and a group was even seen entering Waikiki, a popular open air club in PJ, till early morn. Sunday was the final day and CJs  head home to Pahang, Johor, Kedah and even Sabah. Everyone has the same thoughts of improving their blogs and news reports. Tired but happy, they bid their goodbyes and headed off into the sunset.

Sharyn presenting to the class.

The Team In Temin

Temin – The PKR did a great pr move in Temin, Jerantut in Pahang today. The solid group of PKR leaders consisting of Anwar, Zaid, Chua Jui Meng and Fauzi Rahman was present officiating the close of the Felda settlers and the second generation settlers convention, held in Temin itself. They have presented the outcome to Anwar Ibrahim and, in return, Anwar says that he is ready to present it again to the Parliament House, even with the help of DAP eventhough they do not have Felda members.
Almost 5,000 people from near and far came and listened as the PKR’s speakers make their presentation. The first was Zaid Ibrahim. The crowd was charmed with his unassuming manner. Then, it was Chua Jui Meng. He was a definite hit with the crowd, mostly Malays, as he delivered his cynical satire of a disease of the kidneys, referring to Malaysia of course. Fauzi Rahman was not bad but he communicates well and a fluent Mandarin speaker. He also mentioned of the rape and abuse to the state of Pahang. However, Anwar was not his usual self tonight. He prefers to mention of issues already known to the audience. Somehow, everybody was waiting for his comment on Hadi’s stand on the Australian ‘interference’ of the judiciary.
The feeling of the multiracial brotherhood was there as there were Chinese and Indians presence. The leaders sitting on the stage signifies the strength of Malaysian brotherhood in the air, and this is only the beginning.
Looking at the audience, I can see that they represent the sad but helpless group of rakyat, who have been left behind in progress, and willing to fight. It strengthens the soul when one sees that I guess. Good job PKR.

No More Slap-happy Teachers In Malaysian Schools

Two days ago was our Sports Day. A teacher slapped a student till blood gushed out his nose. He was dressed wrongly for the occasion, that was the reason. Everybody was talking about it in the staffroom, at t he canteen or even behind the canteen, where smoking teachers congregate secretly. But not in front of the teacher of course.
I talked to one of the counselors about the incident. He agreed with the punishment but regretted the outcome. I just couldn’t believe my ears. A counselor? Someone who has been taught and studied the ideas of humanism, psychology and all that, agreeing with slapping a little kid? Is this guy for real? What if the student becomes deaf or brain damaged. How about the trauma the kid faces whenever he is in school. Surprisingly, I have encountered three counselors who believe in corporal punishment. Were they taught that at the Uni?
Being a kampong school, the parents, out of respect for the teachers, decided not to report to the authorities. They wanted to settle it amicably which means that the teacher go scot-free and the matter swept under the carpet. However, one ustaz made a complaint to the police. This has turned the school topsy-turvy.
However, the school and parents are not to be blamed wholly whenever this kind of incident crops up. I think the Ministry of Education must also share this tragedy as they have never outwardly declared that teachers are not to hurt students, or even touch them. The Ketua Pengarah would let the matter die down and the whole thing forgotten in time. When I was at the teaching college and the universities where I studied Education, this problem have never been discussed openly. Silently, the majority of lecturers of education in this country too believe in giving the recalcitrant kids ‘a tight slap’ to teach them a lesson. They, therefore should also shoulder the blame. I remember one lecturer who taught me how to gain class control. He told us, to gain class control, to bang a desk violently on the first day.
To me, a school is a place where kids should be sheltered from harm, either from teachers or other students. It should be a haven or sanctuary from hate and spite. School is a sacred temple where kids become humanised. Most times, they are demonised by sadists.
Teachers should be revered as knowledge masters. Teachers are also mind engineers. Methods to teach should stay away from negative conditioning. The students must be turned into truthful and compassionate learners who dare question anything they disagree upon. Teachers must also be compassionate and understanding in their approach. After all, to the students, teachers are their pillar of strength and adulation.
This matter is still hush-hush in the school. I decided to write about it because I think enough is enough. I belong to the oldest generation of teachers in my school. I believe I have the right to my opinion too, given the experience and years taught. Therefore, I think its high time the Education Ministry do something about hurting students, not only at my school, but also the whole country, be it boarding schools, co-ed, hostels, SAR and so on. Even in yesterday’s paper, a teacher caned a group of students mercilessly just because the students did not wear a name tag. The students will be traumatised and even hate all teachers. The Education Minister must come down hard on these ’sadists’ before a kid becomes brain damaged or even die because of teachers. God save us all.

PKR Kerdau Established

3rd February 2010.

It was a historic day, I think… well, for me at least. I started the initiative and this is the end result. It was after my 50th birthday, when I started thinking about what I must do before ‘leaving’. Not that it’s that important, but, as they say ‘The tiger dies leaving his stripes, a man dies leaving his name.’ I have thought about being a passive supporter, but it’s not me. I have always been an active something. I think I have ADD, attention deficit syndrome. Wait. That’s for kids, but then again I am a kid.  I think I’ll try this again.

It was a historic day for Kerdau. For the first time since a very, very long time, a new party was born here. Before us, it’s the usual fare of UMNO… well, you know the rest. At first I was excited. By 8.30 pm, only two were present. Only ten minutes later three more arrived. Then Haji Suhaimi and his partner Man Kadir appeared at my gate. The meeting was held at my house of course.

Haji Suhaimi Said or Aji, was his usual self, a picture of optimism. He was the DUN Jenderak candidate but lost to Mohamad Jaafar of BN by a constricting majority.  Aji told me he had only a few weeks to get working. If only… Anyway, he was happy at the number of those wanting to join PKR. Eventhough, there were only eleven (I think) people, but they were the brave ones. Not many dare to be out in the open.

We asked Aji a few questions that’s been niggling in our minds, like the special rights to the Malays issue or the latest news about certain controversies happening right now. Aji was all too happy to share his ideas and answered all the questions. We only had air kosong for our ‘jamuan ringan’.

Finally, the meeting ended with nobody holding any posts. We have to find 19 more people to be valid. So, it is not there yet, the establishment of Parti Keadilan Rakyat in Kerdau. However, people are aware of our presence. We are like the cili padi, the hottest chilly but yet the littlest. Or so we think.

To me, it was established already by the presence of the soul embodying the intention. Good luck to us.

p.s. my being partisan in one party, would not stop my neutral stance in reporting. i hope so. that is what i aim to do and be.

Original People and Original Ideas

I received a call from Haji Suhaimi Said, that famed rebellious lawyer of Temerloh, about a meeting with the Orang Asli, or lately renamed Orang Asal or Original People at Penderas, Kuala Krau sometime in the afternoon. Penderas is about twenty km away from where I reside. Haji Suhaimi Said or Haji, contested this State seat of Jenderak at the last election. He lost. However, he managed to cut down the majority by half. He lost by less than a thousand votes, so he has to garner about five hundred more votes to supplement the votes he had to win. Penderas is in the parliamentary boundary of Kuala Krau. He is working very hard to cut down more votes from BN for the next big one. He had been working especially hard this past two weeks along the Krau Valley, whose inhabitants are mostly Orang Asals. So, its off to Penderas.

Left my house at two thirty, I picked up Dide (pronounced dee-dur) to escort me there. It was drizzling as my Satria weaved through the zig-zagging road of Penderas. At three, we reached our destination. Orang Asal is the PR’s term for all the indigenous people of Malaysia, like the Orang Aslis or Kadazans or Ibans or any other earliest settlers of Malaysia. According to Jim Baker in his book ‘Crossroads: A Popular History of Malaysia and Singapore’, the Orang Asal first inhabited Malaya about forty thousand years ago. The Malays only came about two thousand years ago. Therefore, the Malays can be called a ‘kaum pendatang’?

Upon arrival, denoted by a few PKR flags stuck on a fence, we noticed that no one was around, I asked this guy about the whereabout of the meeting. He was hesitant to answer, as if there was a CCTV focused on us. He just said I don’t know. Then I saw Fahmi, Kuala Krau’s Youth Wing head honcho, busy setting up the PA system. He told me that Haji is waiting for Felicia Ling. Felicia is the Cheras Division head. She’s supposed to give a speech. Okay, we’ll wait said I.

I went straight to the meeting hut and there were about fifteen people waiting. We had a chat, and me, trying to be pro-active, start writing down their grouses. A bit later, Felicia, Haji and two others arrived. Immediately they headed to the hut and greetings were quickly hurled. At first I thought that Felicia is going to give a boring speech about human rights and those sort of topics. As it turned out, she was asking the ladies about pandan woven bags. The Orang Asal are good at weaving bags, mats or even their own version of a backpack. She told them that since the PR states of Penang and Selangor had banned the use of plastic bags on Saturdays, she was thinking of having the Orang Asal weave pandan bags for shopping use instead. The ladies were interested. Felicia then told them that she is going to organize a bag weaving competition soon. The best bag gets some monetary reward plus it is going to be a prototype for the others to follow. The rest of the kampong is going to copy the winning bag and Felicia is going to buy them and later market it in Selangor and Penang. The ladies were delighted. Instead of hoping for some government body to set up a promotions and marketing arm to sell the bags, Felicia did it on her own initiative. I thought this was a novel idea.

There was also goodies for the kids. On the day of the competition, there is going to be a story-telling competition for Jahut children. The best thing is, the narration is not going to be in Bahasa Malaysia, as usually the norm, but in Jahut language. Everyone smiled in approval.

It was almost four. I had to go off early because there was football practice at five. The kids will run me down if I failed to be at the school padang. So it was goodbye to the PKR people and the Orang Asals and I left. On my way out, I noticed this 4WD full of people. As it turned out, according to Haji, later, there were more than fifty people gathered and some even filled in PKRs enlistment forms. Driving along the wet road leading to civilization, I couldn’t help but admire at how Felicia managed to give them boats and nets instead of giving them fish. Also, the steadfastedness of Haji, trying to win the hearts and votes of the Orang Asal, are also commendable. Working hard with limited resources and assistance. Well done to two people with originality.