25 Million People Taken For A Ride

We have to congratulate ourselves, the 25 million people (including those who don’t vote), Rashid is finally with us to continue as Election Chairman, particularly for the coming elections. Thank you parliamentarians for a job well done and a bird twittered to me another bill may come up, for him to be allowed to hold the post until he dies, and the Parliamentarians will vote yes. Congratulations Parliamentarians, you have proved beyond any reasonable doubt that you are the eyes and ears of the voters. The voters are grateful to you and now you can plan for the next 5 years without any misgiving because the voters have lost confidence in the opposition. In addition to this you are blessed with Rashid and I would suggest you ring up and congratulate him less he crosses your name with red ink. There is no Hansard to tell us the outcome of the debates each parliamentarian carried out when this bill was passed, but I suspect your love for Rashid is so great that you refused to debate. Are you comfortable that you can tell him I was with you through and through and please oh please don’t forget me. The people are with you.

You don’t have to worry. Some people, a small group of less than 10, may make it awkward for you by asking questions like:

What is so important that only Rashid must head the Commission?
Is it not correct that a bill is passed just to accommodate Rashid?
Can a bill be passed to say that the PM must remain PM until he says he had enough, because he has proclaimed he is not a one term leader?
Are you not treating Parliament like an institution without principles?
Is it true because you have the two third majority and so anything goes?
Parliament is nothing, only Rashid is important?

Forget about them. I mean the ones who don’t see eye to eye with you, they are a small group of dissenters. They are insignificant. You have 25 million people (including people who don’t vote) minus the small group of dissenters, at the back of you. Be happy Parliamentarians, minus those who walked out, you are the winners. You may not even have to convince the voters Big Brother Rashid will do it for you.

Kuala Lumpur December 11, Day of Arrests

I have been perturbed by the number of arrests that have taken place today. I am wondering what is happening to this country. This is something so un-Malaysian which only happens in countries like Pakistan.

Malaysiakini has been overwhelmed by visitors and people are anxious for news. Bernama is not much help. I don’t watch TV or listen to the radio, are there announcements on the latest or arrests.

PM assures as “Public safety before public freedom” but I don’t know public safety is in jeopardy. The only inconvenience the people are undergoing are the huge traffic jams around Kuala Lumpur.

The Bersih petition is “Say No To The Save Rashid Amendment of the Constitution”. The Constitution is a valuable instrument of Government and it cannot be fooled around with according to our whims and fancy.

As a layman I think the Constitution is being tinkered with to help in the continued presence of Rashid as Election Commission chairman. The arrogance and ‘you cannot do this without me’ cock-sure attitude is surprising coming from a civil servant. Does the Government want to alienate the people because of Rashid? Or, is Rashid going to take away secrets necessary to win an election is he retires.

I would have appreciated if the PM had explained the Rashid issue rather than generalising on public safety.

My Day

Today was my appointment with the Dental Clinic at HUKM Cheras. In the morning my wife tells me today is holiday and enquires are you sure the appointment is for today. Checked calendar, yes holiday. It was 6 am. Two choices were open. Wait until 8 am and telephone HUKM or drive staraight away avoiding traffic, get a parking space and be the early bird to finish my business at the hospital.

Decided to drive hoping against hope HUKM will treat me. Yes it is open. Very happy.

Returned to the car park, the rear tyre was flat as a thosai, and had to change to the spare. H’m when was the last I changed a tyre, many moons and suns ago. Tried removing the jack, it was stuck. Used force and hit my hand. Rang the house no reply. A Malay gentleman watching this came to assist. In a jiffy he removed the jack, not stuck, but I had safely tightened the spiral of the jack and it was smuggly sitting on the groove which was its home. Silly me, if you don’t unwind the spiral the jack cannot be taken out. Encik Azlan who works in the ETN department of HUKM went out of the way to help me. Though I thanked him profusely, I feel I should see him again and thank him again.