My dear friends,

Malaysians have finally made their statement and it is clear: their determination towards a change was real, sincere, and indeed had a stroke of devotion in it.

The 14^th General elections has been a fight, a struggle between the people and the mighty Barisan Nasional (BN), which, unleashed manifold obstacles against peace loving voters, and voters who had wanted to exercise their democratic rights. BN had actually gone on a spree to devise various methods to cause inconvenience, pain and frustration to voters, hoping these irritating elements will prevent them from exercising their constitutional rights. That was a very wicked devise on the part of BN.

In fact, BN itself was the author for its own downfall as it miscalculated the people’s mind. It thought by being harsh, rude, and aggressive it could frighten the voters; nay, the people were ready to face the ordeal and inflict a knock-out blow, which is what had happened. In the fight between the people and BN, the people won. In a democracy the oppressors must eventually lose. That is the norm.

The results of 9^th May 2018 is a lesson that every leader needs to remember. Abuse of power and oppressive measures to secure victory including bribing the voters will not work in this age of science and technology. BN had dreamt that it could succeed as it had in previous elections by falsities, threats, and inducing fear. They failed to read the people’s mind which was akin to a volcano waiting to erupt, which it did on 9^th May.

BN believed, the fear culture it had created and nurtured were enough to keep it in power; UMNO on its own thought it could retain power by encouraging and being part of corruption. Malaysians, in general had put paid to these cultures and had opened a way for a NEW MALAYSIA.

My dear friends, you have been the cause for this meaningful and wonderful change. You have demonstrated that race, religion and language cannot; and are not, barriers to unite the people when freedom is at stake, and when it is threatened. The courage you have shown, the agony you had gone through over so far had been properly rewarded. You valued freedom and showed you are determined to protect it at any cost.

Thank you for your support. MERDEKA.

K. Siladass

11.5.2018

My dear friends, 

I was hoping to meet you and talk about our country's current problems.  Because of the short time allowed for election campaign I was unable to see you for a meaningful chat.

The short period allowed for election campaign is a vicious scheme devised to deprive the opposition to put their case for voter's evaluation and enable them to form an educated opinion.

 In this regard the role played by the Election Commission cannot be construed as being fair and it can only be looked upon as a calculated conduct to help BN. 

The attitude of some of the Majlis Bandaran too seems inconsistent with law. Barisan seems prepared with the unusual interpretation of the Majlis rules. BN seem to discourage dissidents from voting i.e. if you don't vote for us then don't vote at all. Very cynical though. These are few instances, but there are countless ones. Conducts like these indeed cause concern as to whether there will be fairness.

We cannot simply keep on complaining.  We have to take the bull by its horns. We have to look for solution.  Yes. Encourage everyone to vote. The more voters cast their votes against BN, the better.

Be part of the historical change.

Be part of the country’s future.

Let our posterity feel proud about us,

who braved towards the change

against all odds.

You are the wind of change.

So please vote for a better and non-corrupt Malaysia. Clean and efficient Malaysia. Vote for hope …Harapan.  Thank you.

Transformasi Malaysia baharu

K.Siladass

Pilihanraya yang ke-14 ini sedang menunjukkan masyarakat di satu penjuru manakala, golongan mata duitan, golongan penerima rasuah, golongan yang bersikap ketidakadilan dan gila kuasa di satu penjuru yang lain. Peperang antara kedua-dua puak inilah dikatakan sebagai pilihanraya. Secara tuntasnya, ia boleh dikatakan sebagai perlawanan diantara keadilan dan ketidakadilan. Parti Pakatan Harapan mewakili masyarakat dan keadilan, manakala, parti Barisan Nasional pula mewakili kuasa wang, keangkuhan, sikap gila kuasa, penyalahgunaan kuasa, ketidakadilan, dan penindasan.

            Perlawanan ini merupakan suatu perlawanan yang melibatkan  keadilan. Masyarakat harus menang dalam perlawanan ini. Kemenangan masyarakat sudahpun terbukti. Oleh yang demikian, Barisan Nasional mula menggunakan taktik kotor mereka bagi memastikan kemenangan mereka dalam PRU ke-14 ini.

   Mereka menukarkan kawasan mengundi pengundi dalam  kawasan  mereka secara tiba-tiba. Tindakan itu akan menyebabkan para pengundi menghadapi gangguan semasa  mengundi. Dengan muslihat sebegini, mereka dapat menghalang masyarakat daripada mengundi.

       Selain itu, tindakan mereka yang bermotifkan menghalang rakyat Malaysia yang sedang berada di luar negara daripada mengundi merupakan suatu kealpaan dari segi demokratik dan bertentangan dengan rang undang-undang pilihanraya. Ia menunjukkan hak pengundi untuk menunaikan undi terjejas.

      Parti Barisan Nasional yang sedang berada dalam ambang kekalahan akan mula menggunakan pelbagai taktik kotor mereka. Tetapi, masyarakat harus berpegang teguh pada parti Pakatan Harapan dan harus memastikan kejayaan mereka. Masyarakat harus tekad dalam menghentikan ketidakadilan, kegiatan rasuah dan kerajaan yang tidak jujur.  Kita harus bersatu memberi peluang kepada kerajaan baharu yang lebih efektif dan jujur. Semoga pendekatan kerajaan baharu akan menjamin kehidupan rakyat Malaysia yang berhemah. Ayuh kita melihat tranformasi Malaysia yang baharu.

செய்தி:  (7.5.2018)            

               புது  மலேசியாவை  காண்போம்.

      இந்த  பதினான்காம்  பொதுத்தேர்தலில் மக்கள்  ஒரு  பக்கம்,  பண  வெறியர்கள்,  ஊழல்வாதிகள்,  அநீதிக்கு  முதல்  இடம்  தருவோர்,  அதிகார  வெறியர்கள்  போன்றவர்களை  உள்ளடக்கிய  சக்தி  மற்றொரு  பக்கம்.  இந்த  இரு  தரப்பினருக்கும்   இடையே  நடக்கும் போர்தான்  இந்தப்  பொதுத்தேர்தல்,  குறிப்பாகச் சொல்ல  வேண்டுமானால்  நீதிக்கும்  அநீதிக்கும்  இடையில்  நடக்கும்  போராட்டமாகும்.  மக்களைப்  பிரதிநிதிப்பது  நம்பிக்கை கூட்டணி.  நீதியை  பிரதிநிதிப்பது  நம்பிக்கை  கூட்டணி.

  பணத்தை,  அகங்காரத்தை,  அதிகார  வெறியை  அநீதியை,  அடக்குமுறையை,  அதிகார  துஷ்பிரயோகம்  போன்ற  சக்திகளைப்  பிரதிநிதிப்பது  தேசிய  முன்னணி..

   இப்பொழுது  நடப்பது  அறப்போர்.  மக்கள்  வெற்றிகண்டாக  வேண்டும்.  மக்களின்  வெற்றி  உறுதியாகிவிட்டது.  அதை  உணர்ந்துவிட்ட  தேசிய  முன்னணி  கீழ்த்தரமான  நடவடிக்கைகளில்  இறங்கிவிட்டதை  காணலாம்.

   தேர்தல்  தொகுதிகளில்  வாக்காளர்களை  வேறு  வாக்குச்சாவடிக்கு  மாற்றியது.  இப்படிச்  செய்ததால்  வாக்காளர்களுக்கு  தொல்லை  தருவது.  இப்படிப்பட்ட  சூழ்ச்சியால்  வாக்காளர்கள்  வாக்களிப்பதை  தடுப்பது.

  வெளிநாடுகளில்  இருந்து  வாக்களிக்க  வரும்  மலேசியர்களைத் தடுக்கும்  நோக்கத்தோடு  பல  இடைஞ்சல்கள்  ஏற்படுத்துவது  போன்ற  நடவடிக்கைகள்  ஜனநாயகத்திற்குப்  புறம்பானவை.  தேர்தல்  சட்டத்திற்கு முரணானவை.  வாக்களிக்கும்  உரிமையைத்  தடுக்கும்  நோக்கத்தை  வெளிப்படுத்துகிறது.  தோல்வி  விளிம்பில்  ஊசலாடிக்கொண்டிருக்கும்  தேசிய  முன்னணி  மட்டமான  நடவடிக்கைகளில்  துணிந்து  இறங்கும்.  மக்கள்  மனம்  தளராமல்  நம்பிக்கை  கூட்டணியை  ஆதரித்து  வெற்றி  காண  வேண்டும்.  அநீதிக்கு,  அதர்மத்திற்கு,  ஊழலுக்கு,  நாணயமற்ற  ஆட்சிக்கு  முடிவு  கட்டுங்கள்.  புது  அரசியல்  சகாப்தம்  உருவெடுக்க  வழி  காட்டுங்கள்.  எல்லா  மலேசியர்களும்   தன்மானத்துடன்  வாழ  புது  அரசியல்  கோட்பாட்டை  காண்போம்.  புது  மலேசியாவை  காண்போம்.

                                                   கி.சீலதாஸ்.

OPINIONS CAN DIFFER.

CITIZENS RIGHT TO COMMENT.

by

K Siladass

The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has stated that he and the palace would be neutral on politics. This is a correct stand. When the country is in the course of electing representatives to Parliament and State legislative assemblies, such an announcement will keep mischievous groups from spreading false rumours to the effect that the palace favours a particular political party.

When a ruler, or heir-apparent, makes statements which may reflect upon political issues, or make statements which would be construed as an indication of support to a particular political party, adverse opinions could emerge, and not all of them will be elegantly expressed.

The point is, politics can be a dangerous game; besides, there can be lot of Siamese boxing, meaning hitting below the belt. Thus,when political opinions are expressed there is no assurance that they will always enjoy positive reception, nor will there always be generous criticisms and evaluations on opinionsso expressed and the status of the person from whom the opinion surfaced would mean nothing: except the decorum of the language used on the criticisms would be seriously looked into.

When people have seen and experienced disappointments and are actually dissatisfied and disillusionedwith a party that had ruled for far too long, expression of dissensions cannot be ruled out; and when such a situation emerges it is obvious that should not be lightly treated. When a situation arises where opinions could differ it would be prudent for those who are protected, and who seek protection under the laws of sedition or other laws, to be careful in what they say, and more particularly when they enter into the arena of political conflicts. Ignoring this would lead to a situation wherethey would be subjected to the same treatment that isaccorded to politicians generally: not a nice situation though.

Any attempt to save a system which is totally rotten and beyond cure would be critically viewed; it would then become an issue which would attract heated comments from the people. When such happens, the people’s mind too will begin to harbour suspicion, and their language would not be so elegant. This is what the palace should guard against.

There was an incident in England, in the nineteen seventies, when the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip, the husband of the reigning Queen Elizabeth II wrought statements critical of the trade Unions, it earned the ire of a trade Union leader, and whose description of Prince Phillip was neither charitable nor gracious. There was no rejoinder from Prince Philip. Malaysians always respect the rulers and those appointed as the next in line to the throne, and they should exercise greater caution so that they are not made the source of controversies.

Some politicians talk without thinking; some think after talking, some never stop talking as they like the sound of their own voice; yet there is another type which talks incessantly and arrogantly caring little for facts; and even if they are familiar with the facts they would distort them in a way to conform to his or her way of thinking.

Politicians have fertile cerebellum for the storing of illogical, fake, and ridiculous suggestions. And rulers should not get into arguments with politicians as it may affect their dignity. It is for this reason,Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first prime minister, advised the rulers to maintain the distance from politics and remain apolitical.The late TunSuffian, the former Lord President of the Federal court,pointed outthat the wisdom of the rulers would be to keep away from politics. The royal institution must be revered and the fountain of justice must be unsullied;the springs of fairness and uprightness should not be polluted by political thoughts which can be full of venom, hatred and abuse.

We must also remember that there are strict laws shieldingrulers whose actions cannot be challenged or criticised, any comment against them with obvious seditious tendency could result in prosecution in a court of law.It would be expected that those who are protected should not themselves indulge in any action that could attract comments from the public which may be critical, or purely advisory, or simply opinions. As citizens they are entitled to such a right as any other person. There is, therefore, presumably, animplied dutyimposed upon the rulers and the privileged class to ensure that the defenceless and vulnerable citizens are not provoked into making statements which may not be to the likingsof the privileged.

The police have indicated that there will be investigations against those who had gone above board about the criticism against the privileged class. Does it mean that the opinion of the people prompted by some controversial statements will be vetted and the tone of the critics language evaluated to ascertain the logic of the comments and the language used? Would the defence of fair comment, justification, absolve the citizens who made the comments in good faith? Interesting though. Are we to assume that the freedom of expression only allows the people to agree whatever is said by those who wield power or are in a privileged position but disallows any form of criticism? It must be remembered that every citizen is entitled to comment, criticise any statement or opinion expressed by whosoever it may be provided such criticisms and statements are made with decorum.

The fact that an opinion is expressed, notwithstanding the status of that person, the public have every right to agree or disagree with the opinion. Opinions are opinion. Political opinions always evoke emotional outbursts and this should be borne in mind by everyone.

It has been said that resisting change of a system, which is rotten, would be treated as supporting the rotten system.