Domestic Workers - time to end discrimination based on nationality...

When we talk about the domestic worker and the one rest day per week - some wrongly believe that this is a response to the 'maid abuse cases' - it is not...

It is all about worker rights .... for these 'maids' are also workers, and it is really odd that they do not have this right to a rest day per week, which every other worker has. [In fact, in Malaysia, most workers have 2 days off per week - maybe domestic workers should also be getting 2 days off per week - same as all other workers in Malaysia..]

DISCRIMINATION based on nationalities should also end.

Migrant workers doing the same work are many a times paid different wages - and this is unjust - it is discrimination.

Why does this happen? Because wages many a time depend on agreements or Memorandum of Understandings(MOU) signed between the sending country and Malaysia (the receiving country)

For the same work - workers should be paid the same...

Wages could differ by reason of:-
a) Number of years of experience (i.e. a domestic worker with 5 years experience should be paid more than a worker of 1 year experience)
b) Skill & Capabilities - A domestic worker who can cook is paid more than one that cannot cook, etc..[Or a worker with the ability to speak/read 2 languages is paid more than one who can only speak 1 language]
c) Paper/Education qualification - a worker who has a diploma is paid more than one with primary school education only..

BUT, workers should not be paid less than another worker just because of the worker's nationality..

End this discrimination

MAIDS: No problems in Hong Kong with off day (NST)

In Hong Kong, domestic workers get TWO(2) days off plus holiday entitlement to go home... interesting.

And, here we do not want to give even 1-day off per week....shame on you Malaysians...

A letter from NST:-

AS a visitor to Penang, I am shocked to read some of the comments and reactions to the plan to give Indonesian maids a day off each week.

Firstly, how many employers of maids work seven days a week all year round?

If you only work five or six days a week yourself, you should extend the same courtesy to those who work for you.

Secondly, how can you say that if they have a day off, they should be prevented from leaving their employer's home, as suggested by B.T. of Manjung ("Day off is good for them" -- NST, July 3)?

The idea that they will run off or become pregnant only demonstrates the conditions they are being forced to work in.

In Hong Kong, where I live, we have maids from the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.

They all get one or two days off a week, plus holiday entitlement to go home.

None of the maids that I or my friends have used has ever run away or become pregnant.

At the end of the day, maids are people, too. If we treat them with some respect, knowing they are part of our household, then the trust will be returned. You may even come to regard them as part of your extended family, just as we do. - New Straits Times, 6/7/2009, MAIDS: No problems in Hong Kong with off day

It is not just a Muslim matter that requires Muslims to discuss 'deeper' - It is a matter of concern for all Malaysians irrespective of religion...

It is not just a matter for Islam ...or Muslims, and as such it is important for all Malaysians of different religions/culture be involved in all consultations with regard to laws that affect all Malaysians.

Is it only a matter for Islam ....and Muslims? Certainly not.

I hope that by other 'other relevant parties, Sultan Sharafuddin was talking about Malaysians from the other religious/cultural groups...

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has ordered that the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) and other relevant parties discuss in depth the proposed amendments to three Acts in relation to conversion.

This follows the decision of the Conference of Rulers recently to get the views of the state Islamic religious councils before making a decision on the proposed amendments to state enactments and the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) pertaining to the conversion of minors to Islam.

The three Acts are the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984 and the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993. - Star, 3/7/2009, Selangor Sultan calls for indepth discussion on conversion

Time for Ismail Merican to resign as DG of Health. Healthcare is not a 'business' - it a commitment an obligation to all in Malaysia..

It is time we ask Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican, Malaysia's Director General of Health, to resign...

WHY? Because this man is not concerned about healthcare for all in Malaysia - he is a 'businessman' - and he is interested in the 'healthcare business' ...

In line with strategies outlined in the third industrial master plan, the Government has set up the health industry section under the ministry to nurture the development and promotion of healthcare including health tourism.

The ministry will soon launch “Malaysia Healthcare” as part of its branding exercise to promote the country as a choice destination for international medical care.

The ministry, in collaboration with several government agencies undertakes programmes and activities to promote the local health industry overseas via specialised marketing missions for healthcare products in targeted countries in Asean, the Middle East and Europe. - Star, 4/7/2009, Healthcare business on the rise -By TAN SRI DR ISMAIL MERICAN, DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE HEALTH MINISTRY

We need a DG of Health that is committed to getting free universal healthcare to all persons in Malaysia...not some person interested in making 'profits' by selling healthcare...

We cannot even cater to the needs of the local population - and here, he is talking about marketting Malaysian healthcare overseas...

Health...healthcare is not a product to be marketted - it is an obligation of the government that the Malaysian government must provide all persons...

We do not have enough doctors and nurses for our government hospitals/clinics - and inadequate healthcare has been the cause of 1,300 deaths amongst undocumented migrants in 6 years [see:- 126 groups:- Death of 2 Burmese Indicative of State of Detention Places in Malaysia - Denial of Healthcare Is a Violation of Right to Life]

What about the number of other persons in Malaysia who died by reason of poor and inadequate healthcare? How many lives have been lost?

Malaysia should be looking at Cuba, France, United Kingdom, Canada, Thailand with regard to free universal healthcare for all...

But alas, the poor is not Malaysia's concern - they are more interested about the money they can extract from the rich...

In line, with that 'capitalistic thinking' there is a move to increase the charges (which is already unaffordable for the poor and/or normal Malaysian) of heart healthcare in Malaysia...BN wants to increase fees for heart healthcare - STOP it, and make it free healthcare for all not just the rich..

I remember also reading that the DG of Health (or Minister of Health) complaining that there was still about RM12 million in unsettled medical bills in government hospitals. The government should just absorb this - for most likely, those who have not been able to pay cannot afford it.

Our hospitals should not be charging people for healthcare. In fact, to assist further, maybe we should also be re-imbursing cost of travel to and from hospitals. Maybe, we should also be having incentives for all to have regular medical check-ups. After all, prevention is better than cure.

People - their health and their well-being must be the priority - not the money that we can make from health/healthcare...

We need a new DG of Health who understands this...

Worker Safety is not a BN priority - Occupational Safety and Health is no more important - 90% Transportation Companies...90% Estates..

Occupational Health and Safety seems to be no longer important...and did the 746 workers who died in industrial accidents in Malaysia in 2008 because occupational safety and heath requirements and standards were not met?

Now, we are told that about 90% of transportation companies in Malaysia are not even bothered about Occupational Health and Safety matters...

A few weeks ago, we were told that 90% estates in Malaysia fails to meet Occupational Safety and Health standards ...

I wonder why the UMNO-led BN Governments just shut down these companies until they comply with the required Occupational Safety and Health standards and requirements.

Remember the 7 workers who died in the Jaya Supermarket Demolition - was also a case of 'illegal' demolition - done without getting the required approval of the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (see also PJ Local Council's responsibility in the death of 7 Jaya Supermarket incident cannot be ignored...)

The Department of Occupational Safety and Health did not give approval for the demolition of the Jaya Supermarket in Petaling Jaya, said Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam...Dr Subramaniam said the department began its investigations on Monday and it would take about two weeks to complete.

“If there is any element of negligence, the engineers, contractors and the proprietor of the building can be fined RM50,000, jailed up to two years, or both, under the Occupational Safety and Health Act for each offence,” he told a press conference after launching a Small-Medium Enterprises training fair at a hotel yesterday.

On May 28, the five-storey portion of the supermarket building collapsed right to the basement during demolition work.

Seven workers died in the incident. - Star, 3/6/2009, Jaya Supermarket demolition done without approval

- Have the company been charged yet? Have they Directors been charged? - They have also been 'protected' - the names have been kept 'secret' away from the press...

Only 10% of the 267 transportation companies audited by the Occupational Safety and Health Department (DOSH) last year paid heed to occupational safety and health issues.

DOSH director-general Datuk Ir Dr Johari Basri described the situation as dismal and viewed as serious the low awareness level among transport operators, especially those running express buses.

“All operators and drivers must bear full responsibility to ensure that their co-drivers, passengers and the public are safe,” he added.

He said this in his speech read by DOSH deputy director-general (policy) Zabidi Datuk Md Adib at the opening of a seminar on enforcement of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 and Safety, Health and Environment Code for the road transport sector here on Monday.

“The majority either did not have a system or were unaware of the need to develop a safe working culture while managing their companies,” Dr Johari noted.

Companies with more than 40 workers were required to form a safety committee, he added.

Speaking to reporters later, Zabidi said the department had issued notices to companies that had yet to draw up policies or set up safety committees so the management and workers could discuss safety issues.

“They were given a month to do the necessary, and I am happy to note that they have been cooperative,” he added.

Zabidi said 10% of the 23,087 vehicles involved in road accidents in Pahang were public transport vehicles such as stage and express buses, lorries, tankers and taxies.

To a question, Zabidi said although the link between the number of accidents and lack of awareness on safety issues was vague, undesirable things could still happen if workers’ health and vehicle safety were not managed properly. - Star,

We must protest US indiscriminate extra-judicial kiiling of at least 440 persons since August 2008..

The US has done it again - kill people using un-manned drones...this time, 7 were killed..

The last time,Obama's un-manned drones kills at least 45 people attending a funeral service in Pakistan...

See also earlier post:- Obama 'murders' another 22 in Pakistan

In fact, 'since August 2008, at least 44 such strikes have killed more than 440 people.'...

And, why do we not see this news being covered as a big story by the CNN, BBC, Al-Jazeera,...

Why do we see no 'public outrage' at these extra-judicial indiscriminate killing ... In fact, there is also no follow-up news telling us how many confirmed 'terrorists' were killed...and how many innocents were killed... All gets swept under the carpet rather quickly - the rewards of being able to control media organisations, internet, other countries...

Where are the protests against the US?

These incidents are far worse that the Malaysian police's 'shoot to kill' cases - but alas, we keep silent - not protesting...

US says that they believe that these persons are 'terrorists' - then arrest them, and try them in an open court. We remember US using 'weapons of mass destruction' as a justification for the attack of Iraq - and there was none. We remember that US's reason for getting involved in the Vietnam war was also a lie. US has no credibility. All the more, that these attacks, which like 'suicide bombs' , kills many innocent people...

Rule of Law....

"It was a US drone attack. We have checked -- no Pakistani aircraft was involved in this incident," another Pakistani military official said.

The United States military does not, as a rule, confirm drone attacks, but its armed forces and the Central Intelligence Agency operating in Afghanistan are the only forces that deploy drones in the region.

Washington has branded Pakistan's rugged northwest tribal belt as the most dangerous place in the world for Americans, saying Al-Qaeda and Taliban rebels are plotting attacks on Western targets from militant hideouts there.

Pakistan publicly opposes US strikes, saying they violate its territorial sovereignty and deepen resentment among the populace. Since August 2008, at least 44 such strikes have killed more than 440 people. - AFP, 3/7/2009, US drone attack kills at least seven in Pakistan

BN wants to increase fees for heart healthcare - STOP it, and make it free healthcare for all not just the rich..

Free Universal Healthcare - that is what we must be striving for in Malaysia.

Every person should be able to go to government clinics and hospitals and get the necessary healthcare for free (or for a token RM1 or RM5...), and this we could get before for all aspects of healthcare...

Then, the government 'privatized' heart healthcare - and created the National Heart Institutute (Institute Jantung Negara). It started closing down heart healthcare facilities in all other government hospitals..

But wait - to go and get healthcare at the Institute Jantung Negara - we have to PAY - and pay a lot. [And, if you cannot pay - you can go and die....]

Only free for Government workers and their families - Federal,State,Local Government - also the ADUNs and the MPs(as they are also considered Public Servants). Is that why MPs and ADUNs are not fighting for free good universal healthcare for all in Malaysia...

It is about RM35,000 for a by-pass...I heard. Who can afford this?

Go watch 'SICKO'(now showing on ASTRO) - and we certainly do not want to follow US when it comes to healthcare. We must look at UK, France, Cuba, Canada...

Malaysia, at one time wanted to even privatize all hospitals - and then they stopped and started going back to building government hospitals, specialist hospitals, etc...

The primary objective is to be able to provide free (affordable) healthcare to all persons in Malaysia - not to make money (and certainly not to attract and cater for medical tourists...)

Guess what? The government want to increase IJN fees - they are complaining that they spent a lot of money subsidizing IJN - hello, this is people's money, and this subsidy was for public servants (& family) only not the private citizen...

FREE for all persons in Malaysia - citizens, foreign spouses, foreign workers...any person in Malaysia.

STOP Medical Tourism - we still do not have the capacity to cater for the heart healthcare of those in Malaysia.

Stop trying to make money (generate income) through healthcare...it is so inhumane..it is so un-Malaysian..

Patients at the National Heart Institute (IJN) may be paying higher fees soon under a review that comes in the wake of a RM215 million government payout to the centre last year.

The money was used to subsidise treatment for government servants and poor patients.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the government would decide on the new fees for citizens while IJN could do the same for foreigners.

"We may allow IJN to decide on the fee for foreign patients," he said after opening IJN's 24 outpatient clinics and international patient centre at its new wing yesterday.

The last review was in 2000 but was only implemented in 2003 because of the economic downturn.

Liow said the hospital had catered to more than 1.5 million patients since its inception 16 years ago with more than 41,000 heart surgeries and 95,000 interventional procedures performed.

Built in 1992 at a cost of RM151.5 million, the institute has become the country's premier institution for cardiac treatment.

The hospital has undergone a RM230 million expansion programme since 2005 to cater to the increased patient load besides buying more equipment and building a new wing.

Liow said the ministry would open eight regional cardiothoracic centres in collaboration with IJN in Penang, Alor Star, Serdang, Johor Baru, Kuantan, Kota Baru, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu to cater to the increasing number of heart patients nationwide.

"Some of them will be built under the 10th and 11th Malaysia Plans while some existing centres will be upgraded to be regional cardiothoracic centres where open heart surgeries will be performed."

He advised IJN to help the government to train and produce cardiothoracic surgeons to meet the demand when the centres became fully operational.

Admitting there was an acute shortage of cardiothoracic surgeons in the coun-try, Liow hoped that more could be produced with IJN's help.

He will also look into IJN becoming a centre of excellence for Heart Lung programmes.

Earlier, Liow, who visited the outpatient clinics which can cater to some 600 patients a day, was impressed with the new wing which he described as patient-friendly and equipped to provide the best care to patients.

IJN chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Radzif Mohd Yunus, who briefed Liow on facilities at the six-storey new wing, said it would be opened in stages from this month.

"We will eventually have 438 beds to meet the needs of patients," he said, adding that this would include 54 at the intensive care unit, 40 at the Coronary Care Unit and 26 at the day-care centre.

The centre will also have six catheter laboratories, seven operation theatres, a hybrid Cath-OT, 59 specialist clinics, a rehabilitation centre, special counters for executive screening programmes and an international patient centre. - New Straits Times, 1/7/2009,Govt to review IJN fees

Look at IJN website - If I am not a 'Government Patient' - I fall in that other class. I need to pay RM500-00 deposit. I need to a Guarantee Letter from my boss or my insurer - before they are going to provide me with healthcare. -- It is really impossible for the ordinary Malaysian to get heart healthcare in Malaysia - what more others in Malaysia..

CARING Malaysia - I think not.

GOVERNMENT PATIENT

• Government patients include officers and their dependents (spouse and children) and pensioners of Federal Government departments
• State Government departments
• Local Authority / Statutory Body departments whose treatment charges and hospitalisation bills are borne by the departments.

Criteria

• Must be referred by a specialist / physician from a government hospital
• Present Guarantee Letter / Pension Card during registration

Required Documents

• Identification Card, birth certificate (if below 12 years old)
• Referral letter from referring hospital Latest Chest X-Ray & Cine Film (if any)
• Pension card and its copy Guarantee letter* (GL) from Head of Department (for government officer/Statutory Body/Local Authority/State Government)
• Certification letter* from college/university (if patient is below 21 years old and uses parent’s GL from government office
• Service book for an ex-army who had served more than 10 years
• Certification letter** from Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam/Jabatanarah Rekod dan Pencen/Jabatan Hal Ehwal Veteran ATM/Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri
  

Should you have any inquiry and/or need further information on the above, kindly contact us.

Note :
* All documents must be original. GL should clearly indicate patient’s medical entitlement.

** This document is required if the patient’s name is not stated in the pension card or service book.

PRIVATE PATIENT

Patients who pay their treatment charges and hospital bill or borne by their employers or covered by their insurance policies.

Required Documents

• below 12 years old)
• Referral letter from referring hospital
• Latest Chest X-Ray & Cine Film (if any)
• Insurer's/Company's guarantee letter* (if hospital charges are borne by the company/employer/insurer)
• Deposit for private paying patient RM500.00
• Utility bills copy for certification of current address
• Income Tax J Form / Latest salary slip / EPF Statement

Should you have any inquiry and need further information on the above, kindly contact us.

Note :
*All documents must be original. GL should clearly indicate patient’s medical entitlement. - IJN Website

They advise persons above 35 to do regular screening, and the 'selling price' is - yes, that is exactly the term that is being used by the Malaysian Government National Heart Institute - it should be free. RM1,399 - For many, this means 2 - 3 months salary.

Therefore, now the rakyat will not go for heart screening - and heart ailments that could have been prevented is not - and more Malaysians will die... Najib and the UMNO-led BN is after all more concerned about MONEY that they can make - not the health and life of human beings in Malaysia. [see earlier post:-More will die sooner because of lack FREE government-provided heart healthcare in Malaysia] Remember, Najib was for selling the IJN to Sime Darby...

Selling Price : RM 1399

Optional:

64 slice MSCT calcium scoring - RM 350.00

64 slice MSCT coronary angiogram - RM 2.500.00

Cardiac rehab programme phase II - RM 30.00

Najib is now PM - and sadly, the human concern for healthcare of sick is not his priority..

Najib today said the proposal would have some advantages for IJN as funding would not be a problem for Sime Darby and doctors would also receive better remuneration.

"Given the need for better treatment of heart diseases and the competition from new hospitals coming up, it is possible to pinch doctors from IJN," he said. - Malaysiakini, 18/12/2008 - Gov't gives green light to IJN privatisation

And what about the poor - the DPM wants a pledge..., and it is something so vague...and maybe they will take in a handful of poor, and that would be a fulfilment of that pledge. What about the rest of the poor and middle-class? Do we just die sooner by reason of the government's failure to provide the required healthcare for its people?

Najib said Sime Darby must pledge its commitment that the poor would not be marginalised if IJN is to be transferred to it.

"Whatever the position of IJN, it is important for the social programme to be given high priority," said Najib, who is also the Finance Minister.- Malaysiakini, 18/12/2008 - Gov't gives green light to IJN privatisation

16 Months Later - PR sets up 25 'Cabinet Committees' - Better late than never...

March 2008 - the date of the last General Elections..

July 2009 - 16 Months later, and finally the Pakatan Rakyat has decided to set up Cabinet Committees (not a 'shadow cabinet') - 25 different Pakatan Rakyat(PR) Cabinet Committees.

Better late than never, and I think that this is a good move...

When is the implementation date? Who are the members of the different committee? Maybe, this information should be immediately made available on the Pakatan Rakyat website.

Each of these 'cabinet committees' should also have an e-mail address, which will enable us also to write to them...make proposals, seek clarifications, etc..

It should not just be a 'Respond Committee' - responding to matters brought up by the BN government, but it should also be a committee that formulates also PR proposals for dealing with certain concerns/issues affecting Malaysia and its peoples...Tell the BN how to deal with the issue - and not stop at just opposing BN proposals.

It seems that this PR decision is only with regard to Parliament - what about the State Legislative Assembly..

Pakatan Rakyat today announced the setting up of committees to correspond with the 25 ministries in the federal cabinet.

"There are 25 ministries and each ministry will have a member of parliament from PKR, DAP and PAS.

"And the committees will also have specialists in respective fields to help the Pakatan MPs," said PKR vice-president Azmin Ali at a press conference in Parliament today.

He however stressed that this was not a shadow cabinet.

He added that the committees were established to enhance the quality of debate in the Parliament as the MPs would be better prepared.

"For the time being this is enough," he said.

Azmin said the first task of the respective committees would be to be well-prepared for the budget session in October.

DAP MP Tony Pua who was also at the press conference said Pakatan had not formed a shadow cabinet as it was not recognised by the Parliament as was practiced in other countries.

He said that in other countries the shadow cabinets were recognised and assisted by the Parliament to help with research to provide constructive feedback.

"In our case we will never get such a recognition... committees are more practical," he said. - Malaysiakini, 2/7/2009, Pakatan forms 'cabinet' committees

Re-defining the relationship between the MP/ADUN and the people should be TOP in Pakatan Rakyat's Agenda...

The UMNO-led BN has created a 'culture' of dependence on BN and its component parties, through its MPs and ADUNs, over the 50 plus years they have been in power...

They have also created a 'norm' as to what is and should be the relationship between the 'peoples' representative' and the people in the constitution...
- Want donation or sponsor - go see MP/ADUN
- Want support to get project/Tender of business - go see MP/ADUN
- Want scholarship or student loan, go see MP/ADUN
- Want help, go see MP/ADUN
......


We need to change this - EMPOWER the people to be independent and capable of resolving their own problems.

Do not make the people DEPENDENT on Wakil Rakyats.

More consultations with the people to get their views on various matters of concern - not just meet people to hear their 'problems'.

What is the people's opinion on healthcare - do they want it to be nationalized and made free for all, or do they want it to be privatized - an example of the things that MPs/ADUNs should be discussing with their contituents. BN told the people their decisions - and how they are going to implement these decisions. Pakatan must be different - they must 'consult, discuss, debate ...' with the people before making decisions... Remember - you are 'peoples' representatives'

In the BN days, when the people have a function/activity, then they go see their 'wakil rakyat'(the peoples' representative), who will then hand the people a 'donation' (usually cash) to help out in the activities/function. Now, when they go to Pakatan Rakyat MPs/ADUNs, they find that no such 'donation'/'help' is forthcoming - and there is a disappointment with the 'wakil rakyat'. What many did not know, was the fact that the money /help that these BN reps were dishing out was not from money in their pockets - but was with government money, that was channelled to all BN reps for their usage for their area. (This money that the BN was dishing out was not their personal money at all - now the PR reps, when they give donations many a time are using their own personal money...). I belive every BN MPs had about RM2 million per year for him to spend in his constituency - but non-BN MPs did not get anything [I wonder why the non-BN MPs did not take this matter to court, for I believe that is clearly discrimination and it goes against the constitutional guarantee of equality...]

- Hence, what Pakatan Rakyat needs to do is to educate people about this fact, and also how this practice was unjust - as mainly BN people got the benefit of these monies, and that many of these monies may actually have been 'embezzled' for the benefit of the BN wakil rakyat and/or his family/cronnies.

- The Pakatan Rakyat must 're-educate' people as to the REAL role and functions of the 'wakil rakyat'. They have to re-define the relationship - and this must be done at all levels. Anwar, Kit Siang and Hadi must also talk about this. Education here may involve 'brain-washing' to liberate minds from wrong understandings of the relationship between the people and their reps..

- The Wakil Rakyat is not the source of 'donations' and 'trophies' - He is not the 'big man' who is to be invited to officiate all functions... (The 'wakil rakyat' is the peoples' representative...he is the worker of the people...the people are the boss, and the MP/ADUN are their servants - they are public servants...As such, what is needed is that there be more and more dialogues, for people to be able to vent their OPINIONS and VIEWS about things - not just their grievances.

- "Tell us your problem, and we will take care of it" - is not the kind of relationship that PR must encourage between its people and its reps.

- In fact, when people have problems, wakil rakyats should get the people to solve it themselves. Maybe, guidance as to where they should go, etc -- in short, wakil rakyat should empower people. Only, if there is a 'hitch', i.e. the relevant department is causing problems or creating unnecessary obstacles should the wakil rakyat intervene...

- The wakil rakyat is not and should never be the 'HERO" that solves all problems - but alas some Pakatan Rakyat people's reps are also still doing that. Empower the people to solve their own problems, by going to the relevant public authority/private company and solving it.

- 'Go back, do not worry, I will solve your problem...' is not what a MP/ADUN should be telling the people - but alas, that is what many are doing... they like to make the people dependent on them, and they are doing what the BN has been doing all these years..

In fact, maybe we should be writing a 'dos and and don'ts list for wakil rakyats...'

Only 4,000 - An indication that Anwar has become boring? Pakatan losing support..

4,000 ONLY for a well-publicized gathering of Pakatan Rakyat that was targeting 100,000 is very disturbing...

4,000 ONLY when all the Pakatan Rakyat 'big guns' are there to speak - "...PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, DAP's veteran leader Lim Kit Siang, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and Selangor Menteri Besar Mohd Khalid Ibrahim..."

4,000 only in a Stadium in PJ in the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat governed state...

Question:-

Is this an indication that the Pakatan Rakyat is fast losing the support of the people? Maybe.

Is this an indication that the people are getting bored with "...PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, DAP's veteran leader Lim Kit Siang, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and Selangor Menteri Besar Mohd Khalid Ibrahim..."? Maybe. This happens when people who go to hear you are forced to hear the same old things over and over. UMNO talks do not find many going because they know exactly the issues and the positions, etc from the newspapers, tv, radio - has it also become the same with Pakatan Rakyat? [Some say people attend these gatherings for its 'entertainment value' - they like to hear government bashing...new stories, etc...]

What are the Pakatan Rakyat talking about these days? Corruption, PKFZ, Unity Talks, Manek Urai, Anwar's case, Perak cases, ...

Corruption here...corruption there - Is it not the same story over and over again? Really, wonder how many people are really interested in that 'Port Klang Free Zone' scandal, and all the minute details. A summary would suffice for the majority. What concerns people today are the real concerns about the impact of the economic crisis on their lives, and their future in Malaysia. There is concern about 'healthcare' and risk of rising costs. There is anger about having to repeatedly make monthly visits to the government clinics to get monthly supply for medication... There is concern about 'toll rates' ...and the fact that they still pay the same in the PR States today...There is concern about Khalid and the fact (or the perception) that he administers the State just like a BN MB...

By-Elections - Manek Urai...These by-elections, really, has become the focus of PR over the past months. After they win, one wonders what that 'good person' everyone was asked to vote for is really doing?

Anwar's cases - mmm

Perak -

UNITY Talks - well, this is new & the suggestion of such talks by PR personalities has really 'pissed' a lot of people off. There is a sense of having been betrayed. Are they any different - BN and PR, and many are concluding that there is no difference, or maybe even that the BN was better.

Pakatan Rakyat must re-evaluate itself - maybe the time has come for new leaders to step forward. Maybe, it is time to be 'revolutionary' in all PR states - get rid of toll & parking charges, declare that State Scholarship and Student Loans will have NO ethnic/religious quatas anymore - but there will still be a preference in favour of the poor, change the Board of all State-owned entities to reflect that it is 'Malaysian' - not just a board of one ethnic group, maybe even appoint a Mayor or 2 who is not a Malay Muslim, Local Council Elections..., Amanah Saham Selangor for all - capped maximum, Clear Pakatan position for the abolition of ISA and ALL Detention Without Trials - and a promise that all will be set free in 1 month after PR takes over Federal Government, Free Healthcare for all in Selangor - state will assist the poor as well [may re-imbursement for travel to and fro for the poor, elderly, unemployed, etc...]

About 4,000 people turned up at the Stadium MPPJ in Kelana Jaya at last night's Pakatan Rakyat 'unity' rally in the bid to project a united front.

The two-hour ceramah, which kicked off at about 9.30pm, attracted a much smaller crowd compared to previous similar rallies despite the appearance of top leaders from the opposition coalition.

All major Pakatan leaders were at the ceramah - aimed at explaining their stand on unity talks with Barisan Nasional which had apparently fractured the loose coalition. Other hot topics included the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal and Pakatan's preparations for July 14 Manek Urai by-election.

Among the leaders who spoke were PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, DAP's veteran leader Lim Kit Siang, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and Selangor Menteri Besar Mohd Khalid Ibrahim.

Also present were many other key Pakatan leaders such as Syed Husin Ali, Zaid Ibrahim, Azmin Ali and Hatta Ramli.

The leaders took pains to squash rumours of cracks within Pakatan as a result of PAS' flirting with Umno on the unity talks issue.

They also fired potshots at Najib Abdul Razak's 1Malaysia - a motto coined by the newly-minted leader after taking over as prime minister two months ago.

Lim, who was the first speaker to take the podium, did not waste time in tearing apart the 1Malaysia concept.

"1Malaysia is already cracking as there is no unity in Perak," he said in reference to the political chaos in that state following BN's power grab in the state.

Khalid followed suit by charging that Najib's 1Malaysia would not unite but instead segregate Malaysians.

Anwar is the main draw

PAS chief Abdul Hadi, who was in the forefront in mooting the unity talks with Umno until it was shot down by many in his own party and Pakatan, appeared to have turned his back to the proposal.

"Islam encourages unity as all men are equal. PAS is a model of unity. But Umno has failed to unite even its own party," he said to thunderous clapping from the crowd.

The main draw for the night was Anwar and he did not disappoint.

The opposition leader spoke about the weaknesses of the BN government, especially in combating corruption. He also charged that the Umno-led BN was selective in helping the needy and the marginalised.

"PKR however supports affirmative action to help all. And we know that corruption burdens the rakyat," he said.

He also lashed out at Umno and MCA for the PKFZ scandal and its huge financial cost to the government.

"There is no political will among the top leadership in BN. Pakatan leaders differ from BN. We find solutions to all problems," he promised.

He also hoped the federal government would speed up the construction of a second bridge in Penang.

"Otherwise, we will see a repeat of the PKFZ-type scandal in Penang," said the Permatang Pauh MP.

Organisers had billed the event as a gathering of 100,000 people but the size of the crowd was very much lower than what they had expected.

However despite the turnout of only about 4,000, the organisers were happy that the event ended without any incidents as the police maintained a distance to monitor the crowd - Malaysiakini, 1/7/2009, Najib gets bashed at Pakatan 'unity' rally