Higher Chances for Undergrads to Know Politics

Words of Vivira ~ Getting in touch with politics doesn't mean one must be directly involved in it. It allows us to open our minds to understand how it will affect the entire development of the country. Kudos to MCA Youth for advocating greater political freedom

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Undergrads in politics

By ROY SEE WEI ZHI AND AISYAH SULAIMAN
KUALA LUMPUR
news@nst.com.my

MCA Youth has welcomed the government's move to allow undergraduates to join political parties.

MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said the move had realised one of the Barisan Nasional coalition member's longest struggles.

"Democratic politics and its policies affect every segment of our lives, it is fitting that the brightest and youngest group of our communities are given the chance to learn more about it," he told a press conference, here yesterday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced on Thursday that Section 15 of the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) would be be amended to allow university students aged 21 and above to join political parties.

"We strongly believe in the maturity and wisdom of our undergraduates," Najib said about the move.

However, this newfound freedom has a condition: students cannot bring partisan politics into the campuses.

Wee said however cautioned that the new found freedom to join political parties must be practiced sensibly.

"We cannot have 'ceramah' in university campuses every other day, academic studies still take precedence," Wee who is also the deputy education minister, said.

Gerakan also echoed similar sentiment on the move.

Its vice-president Datuk Mah Siew Keong said the party, through it's youth wing, had been persistent in the fight to affect the change.

"University students are the future leaders of the country, so they should be given the liberty to be involved in politics."

"We must respect their political awareness, maturity of thought and wisdom," he said in a statement.

He hoped that the Prime Minister would reconsider the decision to appeal against the Court of Appeal's judgment on the UUCA case involving four Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia students.

The four students, now popularly known as the "UKM 4", were embroiled in a series of legal action after being found at Hulu Selangor during the by-election there last year, which was against the particular section of the act

Meanwhile, university student associations had assured that students were matured enough to balance their participation in politics and their academic studies.

Perak student representatives council secretary general Mohd Hafizuddin Khan Norkhan said undergraduates were capable of adapting to the culture of poli-tics.

"However, some guidelines will be needed to help students stay mindful not to get carried away," he said.

United Students chairman Akmal Saufi Mohamed Khaled said the public should be confident that students were able to navigate through the country's political environment.

"The only danger is if students cannot distinguish fact from go-ssip and get entangled in political forays. But that scenario is unlikely."

Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) board of directors chairman Tan Sri Dr Wan Zahid Mohd Noordin said that the move would allow university students more room for intellectual develop-ment, but hoped that university grounds would remain politically neutral.

Source: New Straits Time

MCA Awarding RM100 to All its Older Unsung Heroes

Another good news from MCA for its elderly members, as the party will be giving a sum of RM100 to all its members aged over 60 and above.

This showed the party's appreciation for their contribution and their loyalty to the party over the last few decades since Independence.

The elderly are a great asset to the country, for they had contributed their best of youth to the development of the nation in their very own ways.

At party level, many members had not abandon the party when fingers of blame are pointed at MCA for not looking after the Chinese communities.

Having been through thick and thin with the party, the elderly members have faith in MCA that one day, the party will be revived with a new mission to serve the people with greater sincerity.

No doubt, the elderly group in the party is worthy of being rewarded. Though it is just a small sum, the appreciation the party will surely be valued by the unsung heroes from MCA all over Malaysia.

'Playing with Fire'?

By JOSEPH SIPALAN

KUALA LUMPUR - MCA Youth has warned PAS that it is treading on dangerous ground in its defense of 13 suspected Islamic militants arrested in Tawau recently.

MCA warns PAS against defending 13 suspected militants arrested under ISA

MCA Youth secretary-general Datuk Chai Kim Sen said it was a worrying to see PAS Sabah commissioner Aminuddin Aling defending the suspects who are believed to be local Islamic missionaries and activists allegedly linked to terror sect Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).

Coupled with PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu's alleged pro-communist speech last August, it raised the question of whether they were in contact with Islamist militant groups in neighbouring Indonesia and the Philippines such as the Abu Sayyaf, who kidnapped tourists from Sipadan island in 2000, and JI, who committed the Bali bombings in 2002, Chai said.

"... it should be left to the police to decide whether the persons detained are missionaries or terrorists, based on their investigations as the police had reason to believe that Tawau was being used as their transit point for weapons from the Philippines," he said in a statement Thursday.

The 13 suspects were arrested by a Bukit Aman counter-terrorism team between Monday and Wednesday, and are believed to be detained under Section 73 of the Internal Security Act.

Aminuddin slammed the police over the arrests, demanding an explanation as to why the individuals, whom he claimed were respected Islamic missionaries and PAS members, were detained.

Chai urged PAS not to jump the gun and allow the police to complete their work.

"I hope that in the meantime PAS and its allies in Pakatan Rakyat do not politicise the issue further by making up lies and distorting the truth. The security of our country is at stake here," he said.

Source: The Star

Pas' persistence in enforcing hudud a worrying trend

'Hudud stance predates pact'

By Ili Liyana Mokhtar
KUALA LUMPUR news@nst.com.my

Pas leaders adamant in enforcing hudud in Kelantan despite DAP’s objection over move.

Pas leaders are steadfast in their opinion of wanting to implement hudud.

Its youth chief, Nasharuddin Hassan Tantawi, said the implementation of hudud, especially in Kelantan, was the party's right.

"We respect the views of DAP, but we do not have to agree with it," he told the New Straits Times yesterday.

Its central working committee member, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, said the party's position on hudud was determined before Loose opposition coalition was formed.

He said the implementation of hudud was not part of the opposition's common policy, but the coalition had agreed to disagree on the matter.

"DAP can give their opinion on the matter and we respect it, but the enactment of the law, especially in Kelantan, predates the formation of our coalition."

Both were commenting on DAP chairman Karpal Singh's statement on Saturday, where he advised Pas against the implementation of hudud as it could impact negatively against the opposition coalition.

Karpal said Pas' persistence in enforcing hudud was a worrying trend and it troubled his party.

It was reported that Pas would continue its pursuit to implement hudud in Kelantan although its Pakatan colleagues in the DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat had a different stand on the matter.

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had repeatedly stressed that the implementation of hudud was not part of the coalition's policy.

Pas vice-president Salahuddin Ayub and election director Dr Hatta Mohd Ramli, when contacted, declined to comment on the matter.

Source: News Straits Time

Chua: DAP senator should apologise to Indians

By ELWEEN LOKE

BIDOR: DAP Senator S. Ramakrishnan should apologise to the Indian community for implying that they can be bribed, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said.

He said Ramakrishnan had insulted the community when the latter claimed that the votes of the Indians could be bought over by money.

Let there be light: Dr Chua lighting up an oil lamp at the 1Malaysia Deepavali celebration in Bidor Monday.

“The accusation is baseless. He should understand that votes cannot be bought,” Dr Chua said of Ramakrishnan's article, which appeared in an online news portal alleging that the MCA was turning to the Indians as it could no longer get the support of the Chinese.

Dr Chua said the purpose of the MCA going all over the country to visit the Indian community was to help them solve their problems.

“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has not questioned the MCA's involvement in the affairs of the Indian community because it is our responsibility to work towards the common good of the rakyat,” he said during the 1Malaysia Deepavali celebration organised by the Tanjung Malim MCA division here on Monday night.

Dr Chua added that Barisan Nasional component parties had always defended the welfare and rights of the Indians in Sungkai despite having lost the state seat in the last general election.

“Has Pakatan Rakyat fulfilled its promise to the Indian community in Sungkai after winning the seat?

“Initiatives such as the 1MCA Medical Foundation and 1MCA Education Loan Scheme carried out by us are examples of how we have put the 1Malaysia concept into action.

“These initiatives are for everyone, regardless of their race or religion. Anyone needing financial assistance can actually apply for these,” he added.

Dr Chua said he had also instructed the party's division leaders to organise functions to celebrate the festivals of each community in the country.

He later received 36 memorandums from the local Indian community, promising to look into their requests.

(The Star)

Politicians, also Representatives of the People

While some leaders in the country, who have been overtaken by senses of ego and pride, he chose to listen to the voices of the people.

Not only did he sternly rebuke the attitudes of these politicians, he also called on them to come down from high horse to serve the people, as they are the representatives handpicked by their voters.

Through dialogues with various communities, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek heard woes of the people. They were the ones who have accompanied MCA through thick and thin.

When some Chinese communities have given up hope on MCA, these loyal supporters stood by the party as they believed it will rise up even stronger to protect the rights of not only the Chinese but also other communities.

Yet at the same time, they were disappointed with a small group of MCA leaders who has lost themselves in the realms of power and failed to serve the rakyat.

Dr Chua did not side his men. He admitted that leaders of such kind do exist in the party and he knows them by their names.

One must get right to its root to cure the problem. As a MCA top leader, Dr Chua has demonstrated the virtue of admitting flaws in the party. It was indeed a commendable effort.