DO YOUR CHILDREN PROUD AND REGISTER AS A VOTER TODAY.

Whatever one’s personal inclination or as the case maybe non-inclination politically it cannot be denied that politics permeates almost all aspects of daily life. From the taxes we pay to our educational policies, from the price of food to the price of oil, our financial well being, healthcare and even security and safety, all these factors are directly decided by politicians through the policies they set and its implementation. 

That being said it’s alarming that almost 25% of eligible voters in Malaysia have not registered as voters in our country. In a nutshell about 16 million citizens are eligible to vote but only 12 million are registered. This number is alarmingly high especially when we consider the importance of doing ones responsibility as a citizen and the dramatic impact election results could have for a country. One man one vote will lose its strength if many eligible citizens don’t take their role seriously. If we are not careful eventually the will of the minority could shape the future of a majority.

In the democratic process elections remain the barometer to decide the wishes of the people; it’s the proverbial litmus test that will determine the future of a nation and which leaders the people feel have the experience and character to ensure the future of a nation. It’s not only a right and a privilege but also a duty, in fact in some Scandinavian countries it’s even legally mandatory to exercise the right to vote and criminal charges brought against those who do not. All over the world countries have fought wars and lost lives in the pursuit of this democratic principle to choose their leaders, the Arab spring is a testament to this phenomenon that demonstrates the extent citizens will sacrifice to have the right to choose their leaders and have a say in the direction a nation is to take.

Malaysia has a proud democratic tradition. Since 1957 the elections have been largely fair, just and independent. Many will be surprised to note that even African Americans who have been in the United States for hundreds of years only got their full unhindered suffrage in 1965 while multi racial Malaysia granted voting rights to all its citizens since independence. Even the critics of the process have to agree that the ruling coalition losing 2/3 in majority and 5 states in the 2008 general election cannot be the product of an unfair and bias electoral process. Besides that the opposition also won the first eight by elections in Malaysia which shows the vibrancy of the democratic spirit in the country.

Being part of the bipartisan Parliamentary Select Committee for electoral reform I also know the commitment of the government to increase transparency and the aspiration of the government to meet the expectations of the people in regard to electoral reform. But all these reforms are not enough to ensure the success of a democracy unless the people play their part. One crucial role they have to fulfill is to exercise their right to vote by registering as voters and using that right responsibly to chart the future of the country. I urge all unregistered voters to please step up to the plate and do their duty to country and nation by taking a little effort and time to register themselves and vote in the upcoming elections. 

Though I have no idea when it will be held yet even those who register tomorrow will be able to vote if the elections are held 3 months from the day they register. Elections are the platform of the people to decide who governs the nation for the next 5 years and those who don’t use their rights would have failed the future generations of Malaysian. Do your children proud and register as a voter today.

UCAPAN SAYA MENYOKONG USUL YAB PERDANA MENTERI - MENGECAM KEGANASAN ISRAEL TERHADAP PALESTINE

Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua kerana sudi memberi peluang kepada saya memberi sokongan kepada usul bagi pihak MIC. 

Yang Berhormat Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya menyokong usul yang dibawa oleh Yang Amat Berhormat Perdana Menteri melalui Yang Berhormat Menteri, mengecam sekeras- kerasnya serangan ketenteraan Israel ke atas Wilayah Palestin di Gaza. Menyekat usaha membunuh wanita, kanak-kanak dan orang awam.

Kekejaman Israel wajar dan mesti ditamatkan segera demi menghormati hak kemanusiaan sejagat. Malaysia perlu bersatu hati, bulat muafakat menyarankan Majlis Keselamatan Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu bertindak tegas mengarahkan Israel menghentikan serangan maut serta-merta termasuklah proses gencatan senjata. 

Presiden Amerika Syarikat yang berada di Myanmar semalam menyatakan tentang isu kebebasan demokrasi dan juga masa depan malangnya tidak tersentuh langsung tentang kematian orang awam di Gaza. Kita harus menyeru masyarakat dunia termasuk Presiden Amerika Syarikat Barack Obama sekali lagi bertindak tegas mendukung kukuh panji-panji keamanan dengan mendorong semua negara khususnya kuasa Barat bersama mengutuk peristiwa berdarah ini. 

Malaysia sentiasa berdoa dan mencadangkan Perhimpunan Agung Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu segera menjalankan sesi tergempar khas perhimpunan Agong Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu, Uniting  For Peace di bawah resolusi 377 A5. Sekiranya Majlis Keselamatan Pertubuhan Bangsa- bangsa Bersatu gagal jalankan tanggungjawabnya.

Melahirkan kekesalan dan kekecewaan berulangnya kronologi serangan Israel terhadap Gaza yang beberapa kali terpahat dalam lipatan sejarah sejak 15 tahun dahulu. Saya ingin memetik kenyataan kejam dan zalim beberapa pemimpin Israel.

Dengan izin, Gilad Sharon anak kepada Ariel Sharon menulis dalam The Jerusalem Post dengan izin, “We need to flatten entire neighborhood in Gaza, flatten all of Gaza”. 

Seterusnya Timbalan Perdana Menteri Israel pula Eli Yishai menyatakan kepada The Yeshiva World News, dengan izin, “We must blow Gaza back to the middle ages destroying all the infrastructure including roads and waters. The goals of operation is to send Gaza back to the middle ages,” dengan izin. 

Presiden Perez pula dengan izin menyatakan, “We are trying our best not to hit any civilian on the other side but war is war, what can we do”, dengan izin. 

Inilah kenyataan iblis, kenyataan seorang manusia yang tidak bertanggungjawab langsung dan kita harus mengambil tindakan yang sewajarnya kalau perlu seperti mana yang dikatakan oleh Yang Berhormat Marang sebentar tadi kita harus kemukakan mereka di criminal court.

Tuan Yang di-Pertua, bersatu idea bersama Yang Amat Berhormat Perdana Menteri kita gesa pihak-pihak terbabit menyambung proses perdamaian dan juga mematuhi resolusi yang ditetapkan oleh PBB berkaitan isu Palestin dan konflik Arab-Israel ini. Justeru marilah kita bersama menjulang piagam PBB dalam menangani konflik ini. Kerjasama Malaysia bersama negara-negara anggota Pertubuhan Kerjasama Islam, Pergerakan Negara-negara Berkecuali Liga Arab dan negara-negara sependapat untuk ambil tindakan konkrit.

Malaysia negara bebas merdeka. Bertitik tolak dari sini kita harus mendorongkan sokongan kepada rakyat Palestin yang berjuang di negara mereka sendiri, yang merdeka dan berdaulat. Keharmonian rakyat menjulang prinsip 1Malaysia, hidup aman lebih 55 tahun selepas kemerdekaan menjadi contoh negara dan kuasa besar di dunia. Kita seru rakyat Palestin bersatu-padu pertahankan hak merdeka. ‘Berat mata memandang, berat lagi bahu memikul.’

Di Dewan yang mulia ini satu suara, satu tekad perlu dilahirkan bersama, marilah kita hulurkan bantuan keamanan kepada penduduk Palestin dan Gaza kerana Kerajaan Malaysia sentiasa prihatin, ke depan untuk membantu masyarakat dunia. Contohnya mangsa-mangsa di Rohingya, bantuan Kerajaan Persekutuan kepada rakyat Sri Lanka berketurunan Tamil terus diberi bantuan. Pasukan-pasukan MERCY Malaysia, Kelab Putera 1Malaysia sentiasa menghulurkan bantuan. Saya ingin mencadangkan bahawa kita teruskan perjuangan kita dengan bantuan kerjasama-kerjasama untuk memastikan kita membina semula Gaza dengan sokongan padu Kerajaan Malaysia.

Mahkamah Keadilan dituntut oleh warga Malaysia. PBB wajib menjalankan siasatan dan mendakwa penjenayah dan tindakan kejam yang dilakukan ke atas rakyat Palestin. Resolusi yang dicadangkan oleh Perdana Menteri disokong penuh, disampaikan kesemua dewan perundangan dan Parlimen di beberapa negara khasnya Amerika Syarikat, Britain, Kesatuan Eropah dan PBB.

Tuan Yang di-Pertua, bagi pihak parti MIC, Barisan Nasional, rakyat Hulu Selangor dan rakyat negeri Selangor menyeru seluruh dunia yang cintakan keamanan dan toleransi wasatiyyah Malaysia akan bersama kita dalam isu ini atas nama cintakan kedamaian. Saya mohon menyokong resolusi suci setulus ikhlas ini. Sekian, terima kasih. 

AES SAVES LIVES. We should not only support it's IMPLEMENTATION, but, also OBEY the TRAFFIC LAWS.

For N. Gogilaah, 16, this year's Deepavali will never be the same again. Last March, her 41-year-old father was tragically killed in a road accident. In fact, there will be no celebration at all for the family for a year as Hindu customs forbid the bereaved family to do so.

Gogilaah is among thousands of other children going through the physical, psychological, emotional and economic devastation that results from accidents on our roads. The loss of loved ones - especially in road accidents - leaves deep emotional scars for people regardless of age. Talking with Gogilaah and her mother about the experience, it is clear that they're using the grief to develop a whole new appreciation for life and learn to treasure every second they have on earth.

The young family stays positive. They are tough, warm-hearted, loving and accepting. A bright student at her school, Gogilaah now takes care of her little brother and sister while her mother, Shanthy, runs a small food stall in Puchong. It took some time for them to adjust to this new life. Her late father was a mechanic and sole breadwinner for the family, and his untimely passing brought the ultimate shock to the lives of the four people he left behind.

He was driving home from work when the accident happened. Gogilaah received a phone call at 5 pm from her mother informing that her dad had been involved in an accident. When she arrived at the hospital one hour later, she was told that her father was in serious condition. At 7 pm that fateful day, her father had left her forever.

The family tries to put themselves together despite all this. "My father was a good man. He was a good father to me, and a good husband to my mother," said the teenager in fluent English. Scoring 8As in last year's PMR, Gogilaah is undoubtedly the pearl of the family.

"My father always told me to be the best at what I do. I was deeply sad when he left us, but I know I should be strong and help my family to go through this experience," she added.

"She wants to help out at the stall but I told her to stay at home and concentrate on her studies," said her mother Shanty, 36, with a gracious smile. She could not hide her admiration and hope for her first born who wants to become a paediatrician.

"She's already doing a great job in taking care of her little brother and sister at home," Shanthy added.

Despite the positive spirit the family shows in the aftermath of a tragedy, one could not ignore the tinge of frustration heard in their voices.

"There are too many cars on our roads today," Gogilaah lamented, "and a lot of people are driving dangerously."

Her mother concurred. "We have the best roads in our country, but sometimes we also have the worst drivers. They are endangering other peoples' lives."

With the arrival of the Festival of Lights, the two strong individuals I met recently called upon all Malaysians to put safety on top of their list. By sharing their experience, they hope that other people will always obey traffic laws and be responsible behind the wheel. They do not wish for other people to experience what they have gone through.

According to the statistics provided by The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) on their website, there were 20,188,565 registered vehicles in Malaysia in 2010. There were 414,421 road accidents with 6,872 road deaths reported the same year.

Most of these accidents happened around festivities. It is ironic that people die around the time that families gather around to share joy and laughter. I remember reading The Star last week when it reported three people were killed on a Deepavali shopping trip in Kedah.

How can we stop all these tragedies? How can we reduce traffic accidents? These questions have been around for ages. To say that there’s really nothing we can do about it is defeatist talk; and I am always the one who opt for optimism.

The recent implementation of the Automatic Enforcement System (AES) by the Government is nothing but timely. It is not the 100% solution to ensure road safety, but at this point, I will take the measly 5% if it is proven to save lives.

I sincerely do not understand why it seems that half thepopulation of this country are against it. First and foremost, we want safer roads and we do not want people to lose their lives on the road. The Occham's razor applies here, in my opinion; the simplest explanation is sometimes the best explanation.

Malaysians only obey the law when we know we are being watched. We don't litter when we see enforcement officers around. We quickly put away our phones or buckle our seatbelts when we see traffic police in front of us. We quickly go back to work when our bosses walk in the office.

With cameras watching us, and with the fear of being caught instilled in us, we function as better citizens. Sure, that sounds like oppression but it works on the roads. It is not wrong to be afraid of the law when it could actually save lives: Our lives, and other peoples’ lives.

The story of Gogilaah and her mother and two siblings made me realize how fragile life can be. One simple mistake - sometimes it's not even ours - and our lives are forever changed.

There is really nothing more to this. The AES is a positive move, and we should accept it in a positive way. We whine and complaint all the time and want to Government to provide us with better things, and while doing that, we often compare our country with other developed countries.

But then when the Government does bring improvements, and bring in technologies from the developed countries (e.g. AES), we carry on complaining. As if we know better ways of doing it. But let’s face it; we’re only good at complaining.

The AES saves lives, and we should not only support its implementation, but obey the traffic laws as well. Remember, there are people out there who love and depend on us.