Tag: opposition

  • They (PAP) wanted to disrupt our plans, but God have a better plan for us (SDP); Damanhuri Abas

    They (PAP) wanted to disrupt our plans, but God have a better plan for us (SDP); Damanhuri Abas

    “Greetings friends and thank you for coming. What a nice place.. this is. We didn’t plan for this.”

    “They wanted to disrupt our plans, but God have a better plan for us.”

    Epic round of applause.

    That was how Damanhuri Abas started his speech at the SDP’s Campaign Kick-Off 2019 where he spoke on National and Malay issues. Close to 2 years ago if you remember, the man responded to an accusation that he uses religion to incite some ‘untoward things’. Yet today, this opposition politician who is driven by religion is standing on that stage. 

    You can watch more here.

    At the end of his speech, Damanhuri recited a Malay pantun that he wrote sometime after joining politics. 

     

    tanah liat, asal usul ku
    jasad dicorak, Tuhan yg satu
    siapa gerangan, anak melayu
    khazanah silam, sejarah lalu

    pulau ujong, dikenal dahulu
    bumi temasek, pantai membiru
    kota singa, nama negeri ku
    sergam indah, jasa ayah ku

    tempat melabuh, pedagang lalu
    gagah berani, laksmana melayu
    armada cheng ho, pernah berlalu
    duduk penjajah, haram bersatu

    kini merdeka, warga negara ku
    suratan takdir, kita disatu
    bangsa cina, india melayu
    minda penjajah, jadi seteru

    pelbagai kaum, berkah yg satu
    kibar bendera, bangga selalu
    merah putih, lambang jiwa ku
    kita rakyat, engkau dan aku

    maruah dibela, bukti cinta ku
    sumpah setia, ikrar sepadu
    berbeza acuan, tetap bersatu
    langit ku junjung, bumi pertiwi ku

    [English translation]:

    From clay, I’m made,
    shaped, by the One
    who is he, the Malay lad
    untold heritage, history’s past

    Tales of old, isle at the end
    Temasek’s soil, with azure sea
    lion city, my country’s name
    awe and majestic, with my father’s hardwork

    A port of call, to traders’ past
    courageously brave, the Malay warrior
    Cheng Ho’s armada, sailed nearby
    colonials came, begins the divide

    Free again, my countrymen
    destiny’s fate, gathers us
    we are Chinese, Indian and Malay
    colonial’s divide, we detest and fight

    Our racial mix, blessed by One
    forever proud, flags raised high
    red and white, embodies my soul
    we are citizens, you and I

    Honour protected, for you my love
    loyalty promised, unity pledged
    our molds differ, remains united
    the sky above I raise, on this land of mine

  • Commentary: I Am An Opposition Supporter But I Don’t Think They Are Ready, So I’m Stuck With PAP

    Commentary: I Am An Opposition Supporter But I Don’t Think They Are Ready, So I’m Stuck With PAP

    What do you think?

    My dilemna and also dilemna of many including the fence sitters. I am an opposition supporter, but I don’t think they are ready to govern but also we shouldn’t give the current government monopoly in Parliament to prevent abuse of power. I think, we should vote in credible oppositions in bit by bit into Parliament and in the future who knows, we will have a more credible oppositions that is ready to govern. Being in a country with only 1 credible political party is dangerous, then we will be at that mercy of that party, which is happening right now. We don’t like the policies that PAP is churning but then we don’t have another credible party to take over, so we stuck with PAP.

     

    Reader’s Contribution

    Firdaus

  • Mahathir Hits Back At Dig About His Indian Roots

    Mahathir Hits Back At Dig About His Indian Roots

    Former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad has been trading barbs with Prime Minister Najib Razak over the last two years over the scandal involving state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), with Datuk Seri Najib defending his record and mounting counter attacks.

    In the past week, however, the attacks against Tun Dr Mahathir have also come from Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, as the government tries to weaken the standing of the 92-year-old politician among Malay voters.

    Dr Mahathir was a feared strongman during his 22 years as prime minister until 2003, but it is now open season for him as he leads the opposition alliance into the next election.

    Dr Mahathir still has some influence among older Malays, as his leadership brought economic prosperity to Malaysia and lifted many Malay families from poverty.

    Mr Najib has attacked Dr Mahathir in recent weeks by reminding the public that many scandals happened during the Mahathir era, including the foreign-exchange losses incurred by the central bank in the 1980s, which ran into billions of dollars, local media has reported.

    Mr Najib also claimed that the MRT system should have been built long ago to boost public transport, but Dr Mahathir instead threw billions of dollars away setting up a national car industry through Proton.

    Datuk Seri Zahid joined the attacks last weekend when he took a dig at Dr Mahathir’s ancestry, saying the veteran politician’s identity card (IC) showed he was Indian because his name was stated as Mahathir a/l Iskandar Kutty. The “a/l” refers to “anak lelaki”, or “son of”, a naming convention used by Malaysians of Indian descent. Malay men on their ICs carry “bin”, which refers to “son of”, in the patronymic style used in Malaysia.

    Mr Zahid also read out the full IC number of Dr Mahathir, which alarmed some observers as this was supposed to be confidential information.

    The former PM called Mr Zahid, who is also Home Minister, a “big liar” as there was no such IC.

    “This is good enough to show that Zahid is a big liar. A big liar because he cannot show the blue-coloured identity card,” Dr Mahathir said on Monday, in a video on the Facebook page of his party Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia. “I can still remember the first identity card I received. I was still in university at the time.”

    Dr Mahathir’s daughter Marina Mahathir said Iskandar was the name of her father’s grandfather.

    While not denying her Indian heritage, she said the late Iskandar had married into a prominent Malay family.

    Mr Zahid’s deputy at the Home Ministry, Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, defended his boss yesterday, saying the IC is a public record and there was nothing wrong in sharing that information with the public.

    Dr Mahathir, in the same video, made his own explosive claim about Mr Zahid. The Deputy PM – not long after he was elevated to the position by Mr Najib – had asked him for support to become the next prime minister, said Dr Mahathir.

    “Zahid should remember, when he became the DPM, he came to see me to try and seek my sympathy, my support,” Dr Mahathir said in the video. “I told Zahid the truth. Even if Najib were to resign, which is impossible, Zahid must still wait for Umno to decide who should replace Najib.”

     

    Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/

  • Gilbert Goh: Parliamentary Debate On Oxley Road House Is A Circus

    Gilbert Goh: Parliamentary Debate On Oxley Road House Is A Circus

    We probably will hear a one-sided account tomorrow in Parliament by the Prime Minister as LYH and LWL alluded.

    94% of Singaporeans polled also suggested that Parliament is not the right place to discuss a domestic spat that involves three siblings.

    Its a international disgrace and truly we have more urgent things to talk about nationally than the familee home.

    #ownselfcheckownself

     

    Source: Gilbert Goh

  • Open Letter To Lee Wei Ling And Lee Hsien Yang From Non-PAP Voter: Enough Is Enough

    Open Letter To Lee Wei Ling And Lee Hsien Yang From Non-PAP Voter: Enough Is Enough

    Enough is enough please. This is my final posting ever on this family dispute that should have never gone public, and should either be in the court, or just private.

    Yes, you both seem to be on the Singaporeans side recently. You spoke out against the evil government, and stated your stand that you have lost confidence in your brother, and also in his capacity as the Prime Minister of Singapore.

    Firstly, where were you both, when Singaporeans needed people of immense influence like you both? Where were you both when your own late father tried to fix the opposition figures, and did many things, which may not be as democratic as we want him to be? Now, you appear to be on the side of people who once you never even bothered (at least from the public sphere). We were told you both intended also to bring up this issue during the previous General Elections, but you both did not? Why? Didn’t you say you were on the side of the Singaporeans, and in this case, people who are against such “evil” government? Why now? It is a little too late. I cannot see, feel, or understand the sincerity or genuine concern for Singapore or Singaporeans. I only feel you are doing this for selfish reasons which got nothing to do with Singapore or Singaporeans. You felt the heat like any other who went against the government. Just because you have the luxury of being associated as LKY’s children, does not mean, you will be spared from the same treatment as any other people who are opposing the government. So, please leave the kitchen, if you can’t bear the heat.

    Secondly, how can you both do this to your elder brother? If you feel you are afraid of him, and his misuse of the state’s organs, and you really want to leave Singapore, then leave Singapore. Why bring us into this family dispute? You certainly did not do this for Singapore or Singaporeans. So you should have left Singapore, or go to a Court in Singapore, and settle this. Then, today, you brought up Mdm Ho Ching (a very respectable woman who I admire her humble ways) as someone representing the PMO. Isn’t she also the daughter-in-law of LKY and the wife of the Prime Minister of Singapore? If this is how you both younger siblings behave when you have a family dispute, I can only imagine how bad it could be to be your eldest brother for both of you to turn against him. It is so shameful for all of us Singaporeans, that now, the children of the late LKY are doing this in public and on the world stage. You both may not be politicians or statesmen, but can you think for Singapore and Singaporeans a bit? Your father chose to be the first prime minister of Singapore, and he was so successful that today, we are having these issues because of how inspiring and successful he was as our first Prime Minister. Whether, he manipulated the laws, the media, or whatever, he succeeded to make Singapore what it is today. I always feel so proud of the Singapore he and our pioneering leaders have built. Yes, I never voted for PAP, because I want the government to do more. They have the best people, and they should do even more for the people, and I simply want them to do that. It is like a teacher not wanting to give full marks to a child, because the child is not maximising his potential.

    Thirdly, do you know where your brother live? Can you pay him a visit? Have a cup of tea, play the chinese chess again, and speak to him. I do not think he is such a bad person. Yes I know he at times fixes the opposition, does all the dirty politics, but he is a politician, isn’t he? Most important thing to ask is, did he at least try to do his best for the country? Yes I think he did. His team did, but of course, nobody is perfect. I still cannot understand why the three of you all cannot just sit down in a room, and talk like you three are actually born from the same pair of parents. The most saddening part is, you three are the children of a man, not only I respect and deeply appreciate a lot, but many people around the world do too! When you take this public, for whatever reasons, you are slowly eroding the legacy left behind by your dad. It is sad for him to watch this from above – watching you both going against your eldest brother. I know, yes, PAP government can be “evil” at times. It was worst during LKY and Mr Goh Chok Tong’s tenures as PM. I would say your eldest brother is milder, and he is opening up more, and I would say, even though, this is not the best leadership we have, they have their strengths and weaknesses. For me, I only care for what’s best for Singapore and Singaporeans. The politicians can do the politics as much as they want. PAP is not the only party with undesirable politicians. I can fairly say, all political parties share the same features.

    Lastly, I would rather you both leave Singapore, than to remain in Singapore and do this to Singapore. Do you seriously believe suddenly the government of Singapore is going to change, and suddenly you no longer feel the heat? Do you not know the government of Singapore enough? They already decided everything before they bring out any issue to discuss in Singapore. Now that you are on the receiving end of this government, you want to save us from this government? Sorry. No thanks. I still prefer this government that I am opposing for issues that I think they should work on. The government is not perfect, will never be. Your brother, our Prime Minister, is not perfect, will never be. But at least, he has given his life to politics, what have you both done for Singapore lately? Posting on Facebook information which should be in the court now. Your actions have swung me more to the side of your eldest brother though. Poor him.

    Side Note: I had sent an email to the three siblings, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Dr Lee Wee Ling and Mr Lee Hsien Yang. Only PM has responded, through the PMO staff that he had received the email. The other two siblings, did not respond. My email was sent with the intention of getting you all three to be a family again. Do you not want to deal this as a family, than this mess? I think highly of your parents’ children. They had a part to play to make this wonderful Singapore. And they I know have raised you three siblings well, and for me to witness this, is breaking my heart into pieces, simply because I am a human being who cares for harmony in a family. What more your family.