Political parties, especially Pakatan should speak out against vandalism

It is appalling that within a space of a week, five political service centres have been vandalized, the first four being Penang DAP headquarters and three other DAP service centres on 14 September 2012, and the fifth being the Gerakan Pulai Tikus centre on 17 September 2012 in what can be construed as a tit-for-tat situation, especially when Malaysians are general regarded as peace loving and respectful people.

It is a sad sight to see that our political culture has descended into the mentality of ‘an eye-for-an-eye’ among Malaysians, especially since the 12th General Elections in 2008 or better known by its acronym 308. It is even sadder that while DAP was quick to condemn the attacks on their own headquarters, they remain silent on the vandalism of the Gerakan service centre.

Pakatan should stop constantly portraying themselves as victims and playing such issues up, as others in the Barisan coalition too have suffered similar fates, not them alone. All political parties should speak out on such acts, especially Pakatan, as in their silence, the perpetrators may misconstrue it as a silent approval which will then give rise to more horrible acts, similar only to the brutal tactics of a loanshark, or ‘ah long’.

They were silent on the vulgarities used by their members, like holding a mock funeral rite for me during campaigning in 2008 or hurling misogynistic gender stereotypes against me at a public forum a few months ago. Thus it is no surprise that Pakatan too indirectly is linked political physical attacks on office structures, while at the same time pandering to the public by making playing up their misfortunes.

Wanita MCA Penang on the other hand had immediately criticized the attacks at the DAP service centres. In the past, we had also spoken out against degradation of women, regardless of political affiliation. All parties must speak out against the usage of hate politics and violence to achieve their own political means, and Wanita MCA is proud to say that we have taken the first step in doing so.

Tan Cheng Liang
Wanita MCA Penang chairman

槟州行动党总部遭泼漆 陈清凉严厉谴责肇事者

马华槟州妇女组主席陈清凉针对槟州行动党总部和服务中心遭人泼红漆一事，严厉谴责肇事者的卑鄙行为，并促请警方尽快介入调查和逮捕肇事者。

“我们可能属于不同的政治团体并持有不同的意见，但肇事者的行为已经形成了一个对立的局面，更何况，暴力或恐吓手段是不能解决任何问题的。无论一个人对政党或该政党领袖有任何不满，应该通过理性的沟通，从根本解决问题。”

陈清凉指出，通过研讨会、对话、论坛或投诉信函都是当事人可以采取的方式，不应该把不满的兴趣诉诸于破坏行为。

“这种暴力和仇恨的行为同样发生在朝野政党身上，在敦拉萨镇国会选区一带张挂的蔡智勇和卡立肖像的横幅也遭人破坏，前者人头照被利刀割破、喷红漆、甚至被写上“欺骗”字眼，还有上个星期槟州国阵宣传车遭泼红漆等，除了对人身安全构成威胁，也破坏了国家的和谐的安宁。”

“破坏的举动是令人发指的行为，肇事者可能没有意识到，这是出卖他们懦弱的表现，也会造成反效果。”

陈清凉呼吁各界人士理性看到这件事情，并希望大家勿对此事采取过激的反应，并给予时间警方进行调查工作。

Vandalism against Penang DAP HQ denounced– Wanita MCA Penang

Without mincing our words, Wanita MCA Penang repudiates the vandalism against the Penang DAP Headquarters and the three DAP service centres. While we may belong to separate political ideologies, where there is harm to a structure or intended against individuals even from the opposite camp, Wanita MCA will condemn such vile acts.

Violence or intimidation is not the answer. Whatever dissatisfaction an individual has against any party or politician should be discussed in a rational manner be it at seminars, dialogue sessions with political leaders, forums or lodging any complaints in writing to the party concerned without resorting to desecrating the buildings.

The offenders may not realise, but such heinous acts which betray their cowardice may actually have the counter effect of winning their opponents sympathy.

Wanita MCA urges the police to investigate the matter thoroughly, and nab the culprits.

Meanwhile, we appeal for calm and urge the public not to over-react nor resort to retaliatory measures. Let the police do their job in probing.

Tan Cheng Liang
Wanita MCA Penang chairman

陈清凉：质疑警方处理方式 林冠英以受害身份为捞宣传

（槟城4日讯）马华槟州妇女组主席陈清凉今日针对林冠英发文告质疑内政部在处理集会上改国旗、踩踏首相夫妇肖像及露臀辱骂国家领袖的案件上，利用受害者身份捞取廉价的政治资本，并一竹竿打翻整船人指国阵秉持双重标准准则处理此课题，而实际上林冠英更应该扪心自问自己的良心去了哪里。

林清凉表示，林冠英也质疑，内政部会否秉持相同标准，对付在光大焚烧并踩踏其肖像，甚至在私邸外举办葬礼的土著权威组织成员，但是其实他自己也曾任由其支持者和党员做出抬棺材，举办葬礼以及点白蜡烛等行为，并未曾为此说过任何一句话。

“一旦国阵领袖遭受同样的事情，却又第一时间以过去曾是受害者的身份站出来博取同情，并把所有过错怪罪在国阵政府身上，因此实际上秉持双重标准处事才是林冠英本身。”

也是马华中委及妇女组副总秘书的陈清凉续称，如果林冠英是如此的正义凛然，那为何当初不站出来指责这些公然对我做出不敬行为的支持者和党员呢?相反地，当这件事发生在林冠英身上，我甚至不顾大家阵营不同，挺身而出做出严厉谴责。既然林冠英本身是这样的人，因此他根本没有资格站出来指桑谩骂。

“究竟林冠英跳出来谩骂是安什么心，而他的道德立场和标准又是什么？而他简直是假扮正义讲一套做一套的人。”

Guan Eng doesn’t practise what he preaches – He too turned mute when his supporters performed a mock funeral

To score nothing else other than political mileage, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng should be chided for casting doubts on the method in which the Home Ministry is investigating allegations of Janji Demokrasi rally goers who allegedly intended to replace ourJalur Gemilang, stomping on and exposing one’s rear to the portrait of our Prime Minister and his spouse.

Guan Eng has expressed doubt over the standards deployed by the Home Ministry to conduct a probe on individuals who had stepped on his portrait or Perkasa members who performed a mock funeral rite at his residence. However, Guan Eng overlooks the fact that he too closed an eye when he allowed his supporters to carry a coffin, holding a mock funeral ceremony by burning white candles and then kept quiet over these incidents during previous GE campaigns.

When such actions were committed against BN leaders, Guan Eng quickly appeared expressing regrets in hopes of seeking sympathy from the public. He craftily pinned blame on the BN leadership. In reality, he himself adopts double standards.

When Perkasa conducted a mock funeral rite at his residence this year, I immediately issued a press statement reprimanding Perkasa for their uncouth behaviour. However, when this DAP Secretary General’s supporters behaved likewise against me in previous GEs, Guan Eng chose to keep mum. This shows his double standards.

It is lamentable that Guan Eng is only acting a performance and holds no intention whatsoever to abide by any code of ethics at all.

Tan Cheng Liang
Wanita MCA Penang Chairman

DCM Mansor Othman’s unhappiness with Guan Eng’s dominance proves Pakatan’s unity a fraud

It seems that Pakatan’s display of unity, co-operation and good relationships are finally falling apart as mutual dissatisfaction underlines their alliance, proving that all these are just a political show. 

The leaked minutes of Penang PKR’s general elections strategy meeting which was uploaded unto a blog has exposed the fact that PKR is secretly allocating their own candidates for DAP-held seats in Penang, as well as the fact that the state PKR head and Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman is unhappy with the one-party dominance of Penang by DAP and the arrogance of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Thus, it is no surprise that suspicion and hatred has arisen due to all this dissatisfaction felt by PKR towards DAP.

Mansor Othman’s dissatisfaction can be proven by members of the media as the Penang chief minister can be overbearing at times, and he has single handedly attempted to prevent freedom of speech by imposing a media blackout or ban, using the excuse of unfair reporting by the media.

Guan Eng is a good actor, so much so that he has managed to portray himself as a ‘deity’ to the people of Penang, and able to convince people that media which reports him in a negative light are BN lackeys and reporter who sell themselves like ‘prostitutes’, and the people follow him blindly thanks to his tactic of playing down of his faults while leaving the people in the dark and clamping down on the media.

Therefore, I urge Guan Eng to try to be a good and wise leader to Penangites, working and improving to rid himself of his practise of double standards and to open his mind. He should also listen to public opinion and learn to accept criticism instead on continuing his cat and mouse game with PKR in Penang.

Tan Cheng Liang
Wanita MCA Penang chairman

24-8-2012

Another gag order – “No comment” is all MPPP can say on Penang turning into a concrete jungle

The simplest method to avoid addressing any issue affecting the public is to just seal up one’s lips. This is often demonstrated by DAP on intra-party debacles or on issues involving state policies.

The latest decision undertaken by the Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP) to not comment any further on hillslope development in the Pearl of the Orient smacks of the typical gag order practices spearheaded by the Rocket which now has spilled over to local authorities. Wanita MCA implores on MPPP to act and serve independently free of external subtle pressure by DAP. 

Malaysiakini (9 Aug 12) reported that state exco Chow Kon Yeow that MPPP will from now cease to make any statement in view of cases filed with the Appeal Board. Chow has missed the point that the wanton depletion of Penang’s green lung most particularly in Sg Ara, Mount Pleasure, Mount Erskine is major cause for concerns not only in terms of soil erosion, turning Penang into a concrete jungle but also a contributory factor towards a warmer climate.

Release minutes on hillslope development, pronto!

Wanita MCA Penang urges MPPP to heed the Penang Barisan Nasional’s call to be honest and not selectively reveal or hide some facts pertaining to hillslope development in the name of transparency since DAP came into office under CAT promises i.e. competency, accountability and transparency.

While it is commendable that MPPP met the journalists, MPPP should also take the effort to directly meet the residents affected by the rape of the hills and listen out to their grouses. If the DAP-led state government feels that they do not have to address the electorate’s voices of discontent, at the very least, it should hear out its own member cum state legislator’s representing Tanjung Bungah Teh Yee Cheu who has voiced concerns over excessive hillslope degradation.

We beseech DAP not to deploy the typical gag orders to silence critics or deflect addressing the issue hoping that it would be swept under the carpet. MPPP must serve the rakyat’s interest.

Tan Cheng Liang
Wanita MCA Penang chairman