Its Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said the full-time training would be in the Post-graduate Teacher Training Programme for primary schools (KPLI-SR), Tea­cher’s Training Course for SPM leavers (KPLSPM) or Post-graduate Diploma in Education (DPLI).

“The offer to take up these courses in IPGs depends on the conditions for teacher training which have been set by the Government,” he told Datuk Abd Rahman Dahlan (BN-Kota Belud) during Question Time.

Dr Wee also said 7,920 untrained temporary teachers had been reappointed as at Aug 18 this year.

Of this number, 1,258 were currently undergoing holiday courses while 862 did not report for duty

（From The Star Online  01.11.2011）

“MCA Youth has been consistently requesting for this. These students have the right to vote and be active in politics,” he said.

“So long as students are not unruly during their political activities and responsible freedom of expression is practised, MCA Youth fails to see why Section 15(5)(a) was even inserted in the first place,” Dr Wee said at the Parlia­ment lobby yesterday.

Dr Wee stressed the court ruling was not a “green light” for students to start rampaging on the streets under the guise of freedom of expression and association.

( From The Star online 01.11.2011)

This is to ensure the smooth implementation of the revised policy, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said.

“What is important now is to prepare for the soft-landing approach so that students who had studied the subjects in English would not be affected by the change,” he said after presenting prizes to student athletes at the MSSM-Milo Sports Awards ceremony here yesterday.

Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, had said Science and Mathematics would continue to be taught in both English and Malay up to 2015, when the final batch of students involved in the learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) programme had completed their secondary education.

The PPSMI was implemented in phases from 2003, beginning with Year One, Form One and Lower Six students.

In 2009, Muhyiddin announced that the Government would revert to teaching the subjects in Bahasa Malaysia in national schools as well as Chinese and Tamil in vernacular schools.

Dr Wee said parents and groups who had lobbied for Science and Mathematics to be taught in English had the right to voice their views, adding that there were also groups which had opposing views.

“If the Cabinet does not change the decision made in 2009, the policy to revert to Malay in national schools and Chinese and Tamil in vernacular schools, will be carried out next year,” Dr Wee said

( The Star 29/10/2011)

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“ONE HEART, ONE SOUL, TENACIOUSLY STRIVING FOR CHANGE”

GOOD MORNING, HONOURABLE DELEGATES. ON BEHALF OF THE MCA YOUTH CENTRAL COMMITTEE, I WELCOME ALL DELEGATES ATTENDING THE MCA YOUTH ANNUAL ASSEMBLY TODAY. I ALSO WELCOME LEADERS FROM THE BARISAN NATIONAL YOUTH, AND CHINESE YOUTH ORGANISATIONS WHO ARE PRESENT AS OUR GUESTS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE TO DATO’ SERI LIOW TIONG LAI, MCA  DEPUTY PRESIDENT, WHO HAS GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO OFFICIATE THE MCA YOUTH ANNUAL ASSEMBLY TODAY.

HONOURABLE DELEGATES,

THERE ARE MOMENTS WHEN WE FEAR CHANGE BECAUSE CHANGE BRINGS AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE. NEVERTHELESS, CHANGE IS A NATURAL PHENOMENON IN THE WORLD TODAY. WE WILL ONLY DRAW FRESH BREATH THROUGH CHANGE. RENOWNED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST DR. HENRY CLOUD WROTE THE BOOK “CHANGE THAT HEAL”  WHICH SUGGESTS ONLY THROUGH HEALING WILL WE BE ABLE TO DRAW A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

DOES ANYONE REMEMBER FORMER CHINA STATESMAN, DENG XIAOPING, WHO PIONEERED REFORMS IN CHINA? DENG XIAOPING INSTITUTED SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN CHINA AND INFLUENCED THE WORLD. DENG XIAOPING RESTORED PROSPERITY AND GLORY TO CHINA OF TODAY. DENG XIAOPING ONCE SAID: “CLUTCH WITH BOTH HANDS”, ONE HAND TO REFORMS AND THE OTHER TO FIGHT CRIME. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF ANY REFORMS DEPEND ON WHETHER THE PEOPLE’S STANDARD OF LIVING CAN BE IMPROVED. THE COURAGE AND DETERMINATION OF DENG XIAOPING IN PIONEERING REFORMS ARE SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD EMULATE.

CHANGE OR BE CHANGED

AN ANCIENT CHINESE PROVERB SAYS, “STAY UNCHANGED IN FACING CHANGE”. THIS ATTITUDE IS OBVIOUSLY MORE SUITED FOR TIMES OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY. TODAY, HOWEVER, WE ARE LIVING IN SEASONS OF TURBULANCE. IF WE DO NOT CHANGE IN TANDEM WITH GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS, WE WILL BE CHANGED AND LEFT BY THE WAYSIDE. 

EVERYTHING CHANGES IN THE WORLD TODAY. IN ENGLAND, WHICH IS AN ADMIRED DEVELOPED NATION, A HUGE RIOT CAME LIKE A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. LOOK ALSO AT AMERICA, AN ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE THAT HAD NO EQUAL IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD – IT TOO CAN BE BROUGHT TO ITS KNEES BECAUSE ITS CREDIT RATING WAS CHANGED.

HONOURABLE DELEGATES,

WE CANNOT ADOPT A DEFEATIST ATTITUDE WITHOUT FIRST TRYING. WE HAVE TO CHANGE SEASONALLY TO AVOID A RUDE SHOCK WHEN CRISIS PRESENTS ITSELF. IN RELATION TO THIS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO PLAY A POSITIVE ROLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE ASPECT OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE ECONOMY, BECAUSE ONLY A GOVERNMENT THAT IS ABLE TO GUIDE ITS CITIZENS THROUGH THE VARIOUS CHALLENGES OF TIME CAN BE REGARDED AS A GOVERNMENT THAT DESERVES TO BE WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORTED BY THE PEOPLE.

THE ECONOMIC REFORM FORMULA

AS SUCH, MCA YOUTH UNDERSCORES THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO ENDEAVOUR FULLY IN THE ECONOMY AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES THAT PRIORITISES THE WELFARE AND HARMONY OF THE PEOPLE. THUS, MCA YOUTH PROPOSES THE FOLLOWING  5 REFORMS:

(1)   MINISTRIES AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS MUST URGENTLY IMPLEMENT FRUGAL MEASURES AND AT THE SAME TIME, EXPLORE EVEN MORE SOURCES OF INCOME AND MANAGE THE NATIONAL FINANCES AND RESOURCES IN AN IMPROVED AND EFFECTIVE MANNER, ESPECIALLY THE MANAGEMENT OF GOVERNMENT LINKED COMPANIES (GLCs). THE GOVERNMENT MUST ENSURE THAT THESE BUSINESS ENTITIES ARE ABLE TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY REFORMS. IF THEY CONTINUE TO SUFFER LOSSES, THEN URGENT AND DRASTIC ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN TO STOP SUCH LOSSES, INCLUDING ENDING ALL SUBSIDIES.

ALSO, GLC COMPANIES SHOULD NOT ONLY PRIORITISE THE DOMESTIC MARKET, IT SHOULD ALTERNATIVELY STRIVE TO EXPLORE THE MUCH BIGGER INTERNATIONAL MARKETS AND AVOID ONLY COMPETING WITH SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTREPRENEURS (SMEs) OR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES.

(2)   OUR NATION HAS TO BLAZE ITS OWN PATH AND DETERMINE THE DIRECTION OF OUR GROWTH. WE OFTEN HEAR INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY DAP LEADERS, SUGGESTING THAT OUR NATION HAS TO LEARN FROM SINGAPORE. BUT WE SHOULD NOT FOLLOW BLINDLY. DAP LEADERS SAY THAT SINGAPORE’S ECONOMIC GROWTH RATE BREACHED THE 14.2% LEVEL LAST YEAR, BUT THEY ARE NOT BRAVE ENOUGH TO SPEAK UP WHEN THE SINGAPORE’S ECONOMIC GROWTH NOSEDIVED TO 0.3% IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR. THEY ALSO NEVER TOUCHED ON THE FACT THAT SINGAPORE’S DEBT IS CURRENTLY THE 8^TH HIGHEST IN THE WORLD. ACCORDING TO FORTUNE MAGAZINE, SINGAPORE AND GREECE, THE CURRENTLY BANKRUPT EUROPEAN COUNTRY, ARE AMONG THE 10 COUNTRIES WITH THE WORLD’S HIGHEST DEBT. ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE SAY THIS IS JUST A NUMBERS GAME, I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT WE SHOULD NOT ALWAYS ASSUME THAT THE MOON SHINES BRIGHTER IN OTHER PEOPLE’S COUNTRIES AS COMPARED TO OUR OWN.

WE CAN LEARN FROM SINGAPORE AND HONG KONG IN TERMS OF ADMINISTRATION, SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ATTRACT MORE FOREIGN INVESTORS, HAVE “ONE-STOP CENTRES” THAT ARE MORE EFFICIENT AND REDUCE RED-TAPE FOR FOREIGN INVESTORS, INSTEAD OF ONLY EMULATING SINGAPORE IN RECORDING A DOUBLE DIGIT ECONOMIC GROWTH THAT ONLY PRESENTED ITSELF FOR A SHORT TIME.

(3)    THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO EXTEND ASSISTANCE TO THE YOUTH FOR THEM TO ENTER INTO BUSINESS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET INVOLVED IN THE FIELDS OF RESEARCH AND THE INNOVATION OF NEW INDUSTRIES. IN THIS 21-CENTURY, WHICH PLACES A PREMIUM ON THINKING AND CREATIVITY, YOUTH ARE QUITE CREATIVE AND IMAGINATIVE BUT THEY LACK RESOURCES TO EXPLORE NEW INDUSTRIES. AS SUCH, THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO EXTEND FINANCIAL HELP TO ENCOURAGE CREATIVE YOUTHS TO PURSUE THEIR IMAGINATIONS. APART FROM THAT, THE GOVERNMENT ALSO HAS TO SPONSOR JOB FAIRS EVERY YEAR, OFFER MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES TO NEW GRADUATES OR THE JOBLESS AND BUILD PLATFORMS FOR THEM TO SHOWCASE THEIR TALENTS.

(4)   IN LINE WITH THE POLICY OF PRIORITISING THE PEOPLE’S INTEREST, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD USE PETRONAS’ PROFITS TO HELP THE CITIZENS WHO NEED ASSISTANCE. OUR NATION IS RICH WITH NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TO EXTEND FINANCIAL HELP TO THOSE IN THE LOW TO MEDIUM INCOME BRACKETS, ESPECIALLY BEFORE THE NEW SCHOOL SESSION BEGINS AT THE START OF THE YEAR. I PROPOSE TO THE GOVERNMENT TO EXTEND A SUBSIDY OF RM100 TO EACH SCHOOL STUDENT, BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY, FOR PURPOSES OF BUYING SCHOOL UNIFORMS AND OTHER SCHOOL NECESSITIES SO THAT THE BURDEN OF THE PEOPLE CAN BE REDUCED.

(5)   MCA YOUTH WHOLLY SUPPORTS THE GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH THE FIRST HOME SCHEME TO ENABLE YOUTH TO BUY THEIR FIRST HOME. BUT, IN LAUNCHING THIS SCHEME, THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE YOUTH. IF A NEW HOUSE COSTS MORE THAN RM200,000, I FEAR THAT MOST YOUTH WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT. EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE GIVEN A 100% HOME LOAN, THEY WILL BECOME ENSLAVED TO DEBT AND IN THE END, WILL CARRY THE DEBT FOR A LONG TIME AND SUFFER FINANCIAL DEFICIT EVERY MONTH. AS SUCH, I URGE THE GOVERNMENT TO BUILD MORE HOUSES PRICED BETWEEN RM150,000 TO RM200,000 WITHIN THE SCHEME TO REALISE THE HOME OWNERSHIP GOAL. APART FROM THAT, THE HOUSES ALSO HAVE TO BE BUILT IN STRATEGIC AREAS, FOR EXAMPLE, WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO MASS RAIL TRANSIT (MRT) STATIONS UNDER THE “GREATER KUALA LUMPUR” PLAN TO MAKE IT CONVENIENT FOR FUTURE RESIDENTS. IF NOT, HOME OWNERS WILL FACE TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS AND END UP BORROWING MORE MONEY TO BUY CARS. THIS WILL NOT JUST ADD TO THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF THE YOUTH BUT WILL ALSO WORSEN TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THE TOWN AREAS.

WE MUST NOT FORGET, ONLY A GOVERNMENT THAT IS SENSITIVE TO ITS CITIZENS’ WELL BEING WILL GARNER THEIR SUPPORT. I HOPE THAT THE MCA CABINET MEMBERS CAN REFLECT ON THE DIFFICULTIES FACED BY THE ORDINARY CITIZEN AND HELP ASSIST THE GOVERNMENT IN IMPLEMENTING POLICIES THAT BENEFIT THE PEOPLE. IF NOT, IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR US TO ASK THE PEOPLE FOR SUPPORT WHEN WE ARE NOT ABLE TO HELP THEM.

SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRATIC REFORMS

APART FROM THE ECONOMY, THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES IN OTHER ASPECTS, ESPECIALLY ASPECTS THAT CAN HELP THE COUNTRY BECOME MORE DEMOCRATIC AND JUST. MCA YOUTH TAKES 3 STANDS IN THIS RESPECT.

(1)   MCA YOUTH CALLS FOR THE ELECTION COMMISSION TO ENSURE THAT THE PRINCIPLE OF FAIR VOTING, I.E. ONE PERSON ONE VOTE, CAN BE PRACTISED AND THE PROBLEMS OF PHANTOM VOTERS AND UNQUALIFIED PEOPLE BEING MADE VOTERS BE RESOLVED. THE USE OF INDELIBLE INK OR BIOMETRIC SYSTEM ARE STEPS THAT CAN BE USED. WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT IS ENSURING THAT DISTORTIONS IN VOTING ARE CHECKED. WITH THAT, THE OPPOSITION PARTIES CAN HAVE NO MORE EXCUSES TO RAISE TECHINICAL PROBLEMS AS WELL AS ISSUES AND CLAIM THAT THE BARISAN NASIONAL GOVERNMENT HAS COMMITED ELECTORAL FRAUD.

I AM CONVINCED THAT AS LONG AS THE BARISAN NASIONAL CAN EXTEND SERVICES THAT ARE HONEST AND SINCERE TO THE PEOPLE AND IF THE GOVERNMENT IS ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS FACED BY THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE WILL STRONGLY SUPPORT THE BARISAN NASIONAL AND MAKE THE WISE CHOICE DURING ELECTIONS TO ENSURE THAT THE BARISAN NASIONAL CONTINUES IN POWER. WE NEED NOT USE UNDERHANDED TACTICS TO WIN ELECTIONS. THE BARISAN NASIONAL HAS THE STRENGTH TO FIGHT PAKATAN RAKYAT TO THE FINISH IN THE COMING ELECTIONS.

(2)   MCA YOUTH FULLY SUPPORTS THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND ASSEMBLY THAT IS ENSHRINED IN THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION. THE PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO ENJOY THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND ASSEMBLY AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT JEOPARDISE THE PEACE AND SECURITY OF OUR NATION. WE SUPPORT ALL FORMS OF MARCHES OR ASSEMBLIES THAT ARE CARRIED OUT PEACEFULLY. IN A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY, THIS SHOULD BE PERMITTED SO LONG AS IT IS CARRIED OUT IN AN ORDERLY MANNER AND DOES NOT DISTURB THE DAILY LIVES OF THE PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES SURROUNDING IT. MCA YOUTH SUPPORTS THESE KINDS OF MARCHES OR ASSEMBLIES AND THE POLICE SHOULD ALSO GIVE THE NECESSARY ASSISTANCE IN THIS REGARD.

HOWEVER, MARCHES OR ASSEMBLIES THAT INTEND TO SABOTAGE OR SPARK CHAOS BY IRRESPONSIBLE PARTIES MUST BE BANNED BY THE GOVERNMENT. THE SAME GOES FOR THOSE WHO MAKE STATEMENTS THAT GO OVERBOARD OR ARE SEDITIOUS BY NATURE. THE GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE STRONG ACTION AGAINST THEM. THERE CANNOT BE DOUBLE STANDARDS OR COMPROMISE OR PUNISHMENT THAT DOES NOT COMMENSURATE TO THE CRIME. IF THE PEOPLE ARE NOT SATISFIED OR WISH TO MAKE KNOWN THEIR FEELINGS, IT IS BETTER THAT THEY DO SO BY WAY OF MEMORANDUMS THROUGH THE VARIOUS BODIES THAT REPRESENT THEM. APART FROM THAT, THEY CAN ALSO BRING THEIR PROBLEMS TO THE STATE ASSEMBLY OR TO PARLIAMENT THROUGH THEIR RESPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVES. IF MARCHES OR DEMONSTRATIONS ARE ALLOWED WITHOUT DUE REGARD OR CARE, THIS WILL RESULT IN US SUFFERING THE SAME KIND OF RIOTS THAT RECENTLY TOOK PLACE IN ENGLAND.

(3)   MCA YOUTH FULLY SUPPORTS THE DECISION MADE BY THE PRIME MINISTER YAB DATO’ SERI MOHD NAJIB TUN RAZAK TO ABOLISH THE INTERNAL SECURITY ACT (ISA) AND THE PRINTING PRESSES AND PUBLICATIONS ACT. THE DECISION IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF IMPORTANT REFORMS THAT WILL BENEFIT THE NATION AND ITS PEOPLE IN OUR JOURNEY TOWARDS A MORE DEMOCRATIC DIRECTION. MCA YOUTH HOPES THAT THE HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER WILL CARRY ON WITH REFORMS AND WORK TOWARDS DEVELOPING OUR COUNTRY INTO A NATION THAT IS MORE DEMOCRATIC AND LIBERAL. THIS INCLUDES ABOLISHING THE PRINTING PRESSES AND PUBLICATIONS ACT 1984 TO GIVE LOCAL MEDIA MORE DEMOCRATIC SPACE AND REPLACE MEDIA MONITORING WITH THE SPIRIT OF DISCIPLINE AMONG THE LOCAL MEDIA. APART FROM THAT, MCA YOUTH CALLS ON THE HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER TO REVIEW THE UNIVERSITY AND UNIVERSITY COLLEGES ACT IN ORDER TO GIVE MORE FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY TO STUDENTS FROM COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. THE BASIC RIGHTS OF STUDENTS IN UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES HAVE TO BE PROTECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESTRICTIONS LIKE THESE ARE NOT DEMOCRATIC AND WILL BRING ABOUT GRAVE REPERCUSSIONS.

RATIONAL CHANGE BASED ON CORRECT PRINCIPLES

HONOURABLE DELEGATES,

THE CHANGE WE SEEK IS BOTH RATIONAL AND WISE, NOT JUST CHANGE FOR THE SAKE OF CHANGE OR CHANGE WITH THE INTENTION OF BRINGING THE DOWNFALL OF CERTAIN PARTIES. WE ARE READY TO FACE CONSTRUCTIVE AND SINCERE CRITICISM. WE REJECT ALL ACCUSATIONS THAT ARE BORNE OUT OF SELFISH AGENDAS. FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE PLAY THE POPULAR GAME “ANGRY BIRDS”, WE HAVE TO HIT THE TARGET AND CANNOT SIMPLY SHOOT AS WE LIKE.

MANY PEOPLE ASSUME THAT WHOEVER IS BRAVE ENOUGH TO CRITICISE BARISAN NASIONAL AND THE GOVERNMENT IS A HERO, EVEN IF THEIR CRITICISMS ARE OF A WANTON NATURE. THIS TYPE OF DEVIL-MAY-CARE ATTITUDE THAT IS UNCONCERNED WITH WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG OR WHAT IS BLACK AND WHITE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE. THIS TYPE OF ATTITUDE IS INTEMPERATE AND WILL BRING ABOUT NEGATIVE REPRECUSSIONS TO THE NATION AND ITS PEOPLE. I AM NOT PREPARED TO SAY THAT OUR BARISAN NASIONAL IS PERFECT, BUT THE COALITION IS NOT REDUNDANT. I AM ALSO NOT PREPARED TO SAY THAT THE OPPOSITION IS USELESS, BUT NOT EVERYTHING THEY DO IS RIGHT. IF THIS SITUATION IS LEFT UNCHECKED, WE WILL FINALLY LOSE THE PRINCIPLES OF RIGHT AND WRONG, AND THE FUTURE OF OUR NATION WILL ALSO BE JEOPARDISED.

PAKATAN RAKYAT ALWAYS CLAIM THAT THEY WANT CHANGE AND ALSO WANT TO LEARN FROM THIS AND THAT COUNTRY, BUT THEY ADOPT POLICIES THAT ARE NO LONGER BEING IMPLEMENTED BY THE BARISAN NASIONAL. THE CHANGES THAT ARE REFERRED TO BY THE PAKATAN RAKYAT DO NOT MOVE US FORWARD; INSTEAD, THEY MOVE US BACKWARDS.

LOOK AT THE STATE OF KEDAH THAT IS RULED BY PAKATAN RAKYAT. THE BUMIPUTERA QUOTA FOR THE PURCHASE OF HOMES IS IMPLEMENTED VERY RIGIDLY. THEY EVEN SOUGHT TO MAKE ALL ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES ILLEGAL DURING THE RAMADHAN MONTH. THE KELANTAN STATE GOVERNMENT, ON THE OTHER HAND, MADE THE SALE OF LOTTERY ILLEGAL. APART FROM THAT, THE PAS EXCO MEMBER FROM SELANGOR, DATO’ HASSAN ALI, SUPPORTED THE JABATAN AGAMA ISLAM SELANGOR’S (JAIS) RAID ON A PLACE OF WORSHIP. THIS IS THE CHANGE THAT THEY REALLY MEAN.

WHEN THE KEDAH STATE GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS CONTROLLED BY PAS, IMPLEMENTS POLICIES THAT PLACE OTHER RACES AT A DISADVANTAGE, THE KEDAH DAP PARTY THREATENED TO LEAVE PAKATAN RAKYAT. THE CENTRAL DAP LEADERS FINALLY HAD TO INTERVENE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS KIND OF THING NEVER HAPPENED IN STATES UNDER THE CONTROL OF BARISAN NASIONAL BECAUSE EVERY POLICY THAT IS IMPLEMENTED BY THE BARISAN NASIONAL TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE FEELINGS OF ALL RACES AND THE VIEWS OF THE COMPONENT PARTIES.

THE MENTERI BESAR OF SELANGOR TAN SRI KHALID IBRAHIM, WHILE PRESENTING THE SELANGOR STATE BUDGET FOR 2009, SAID THAT THE ANNUAL REVENUE OBTAINED FROM SELANGOR STATE MINES WOULD REACH RM150 MILLION. HOWEVER, IN THE END, THE ANNUAL REVENUE FROM THIS SECTOR ONLY REACHED RM20 MILLION. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THIS IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY, TAN SRI KHALID DENIED EVER MAKING THE STATEMENT AND ATTEMTED TO AMEND THE TEXT OF HIS SPEECH ON THE INTERNET. HIS ACTIONS WERE EXPOSED BY THE MEDIA. IF AS A MENTERI BESAR, HE WAS WILLING TO BEHAVE IN SUCH A MANNER, HOW THEN CAN THE PEOPLE PLACE ANY TRUST IN HIS LEADERSHIP?

IN ANOTHER EVENT THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE SELANGOR STATE ASSEMBLY RECENTLY, THE HONOURABLE REPRESENTATIVES FROM BARISAN NASIONAL PROTESTED AND LEFT THE ASSEMBLY HALL. ONE OF THE PAKATAN RAKYAT REPRESENTATIVES PRESENTED A MOTION THAT BENEFITED THE INDIANS AND CHINESE IN RESPECT OF EDUCATION AND RELIGION, BUT THIS WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY ANY OF THE LAWMAKERS FROM PAKATAN RAKYAT UNTIL THE SAID MOTION COULD NOT BE DEBATED AT ALL. THESE INCIDENTS TELL US THAT THERE IS NO HARMONY AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG THE PAKATAN RAKYAT LAWMAKERS WHEN IT COMES TO IMPORTANT POLICIES. CAN WE ENTRUST OUR FUTURE TO THEM?

THE CHANGE THAT IS MEANT BY PAKATAN RAKYAT DOES NOT AIM TO DEVELOP THIS NATION TO BECOME BETTER OR INCREASE THE LIVING STANDARDS OF THE PEOPLE; IN REALITY, IT IS ONLY A POLITICAL GIMMICK AND A LIE.

APART FROM TAN SRI KHALID, THE SELANGOR STATE DAP ALSO ONCE PROMISED THAT THE SELANGOR STATE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALLOCATE 10 PLOTS OF LAND FOR TAMIL AND CHINESE PRIMARY SCHOOLS, BUT HAVE THE SAID ALLOCATION OF LAND BEEN APPROVED UNTIL TODAY? IN COMPARISON, THE JOHOR STATE GOVERNMENT APPROVED LAND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHINESE AND TAMIL PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND NEVER SOUGHT ANY PUBLICITY FOR THIS. IN ANOTHER EXAMPLE, THE SABAH STATE GOVERNMENT AWARDS SYSTEMATIC ALLOCATIONS TO CHINESE SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS EVERY YEAR. WHAT EFFORTS HAVE PAKATAN RAKYAT TAKEN FOR SCHOOLS LIKE THESE?

BARISAN NASIONAL MUST BE COURAGEOUS TO CHANGE

HONOURABLE DELEGATES,

COMPARED WITH THE CHANGE MEANT BY PAKATAN RAKYAT, BARISAN NASIONAL HAS TRULY MADE PLENTY OF CHANGES. WE SEE THE STRONG WILL OF OUR PRIME MINISTER TO CARRY OUT REFORMS WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT, AND THIS CLEARLY PROVES THAT BARISAN NASIONAL IS BRAVER AND MORE DETERMINED COMPARED TO PAKATAN RAKYAT. BARISAN NASIONAL’S PERFORMANCE IS ALSO FAR BETTER AND MORE POSITIVE AS COMPARED TO PAKATAN RAKYAT IN ASPECTS SUCH AS ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION, GOVERNMENT TRANSFORMATION OR POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION AND REFORMS OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.

THE EFFORTS OF THE HONOURABLE PRIME MINSITER IN ESTABLISHING A DIPLOMATIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MALAYSIA AND THE VATICAN ALSO SHOWS THAT HE IS AN EXEMPLARY ISLAMIC LEADER. SINCE BECOMING PRIME MINISTER, THE LEADERSHIP OF DATO’ SERI NAJIB HAS BEEN INCREASINGLY LIBERAL AND ALWAYS SENSITIVE TOWARDS THE WELFARE OF OTHER RELIGIONS, AND ENSURES THAT THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION IS PROTECTED.

HOWEVER, THE EFFORTS OF THE HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH. ALL COMPONENT PARTIES WITHIN BARISAN NASIONAL HAVE TO BE COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO CHANGE AND NOT BE TIED DOWN BY OLD MINDSETS. BARISAN NASIONAL LEADERS OUGHT TO APPRECIATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF EACH AND EVERY COMPONENT PARTY AND SHOULD NOT AIM TO REPLACE ONE COMPONENT PARTY WITH ANOTHER FOR THE SAKE OF ENSURING THAT THE BARISAN NASIONAL REMAINS IN POWER.

I AM OF THE VIEW THAT THE BARISAN NASIONAL OUGHT TO HAVE THE FOLLOWING MINDSET WHICH WILL HELP IT ACHIEVE VICTORY IN THE GENERAL ELECTION:

(1)    THE REACTION OF BARISAN NASIONAL LEADERS TOWARDS ISSUES MUST BE QUICK AND PRECISE. IF THERE IS A DELAYED REACTION, A NEGATIVE GENERAL PERCEPTION WILL TAKE ROOT AMONGST THE PEOPLE.

EVEN THOUGH WE MAY HAVE MANY REASONS TO GIVE THE REQUIRED CLARIFICATION, IT WOULD BY THEN BE TOO LATE AND POINTLESS.

(2)    THE BARISAN NASIONAL HAS TO FOCUS ON EXPOSING THE LIES OF THE OPPOSITION PARTIES AND DEMONSTRATE THAT THE PROMISES GIVEN BY THE OPPOSITION PARTY TO WIN FEDERAL POWER ARE EMPTY ONES. IN REALITY, EVEN THE PROMISES THEY MADE DURING THE 2008 GENERAL ELECTION, AFTER WHICH THEY TOOK POWER IN SEVERAL STATES, HAVE STILL NOT BEEN FULFILLED.

(3)   ALL BARISAN NASIONAL COMPONENT PARTIES MUST WORK TOGETHER AND BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE WELFARE OF VOTERS FROM EVERY RACE. APART FROM THAT, ALL BARISAN NASIONAL COMPONENT PARTIES HAVE TO HELP ONE ANOTHER DURING CAMPAIGNING FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION IN ORDER TO GET SUPPORT FROM EACH AND EVERY VOTER. THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS FOR BARISAN NASIONAL TO REMAIN IN FEDERAL POWER.

MCA MUST COURAGEOUSLY STEP FORWARD

HONOURABLE DELEGATES,

WHILE BARISAN NASIONAL HAS TO CHANGE AND MOVE FORWARD, THE MCA ALSO CANNOT PROCRASTINATE IN THIS RESPECT. THE MCA HAS TO COURAGEOUSLY STEP FORWARD AND BECOME EVEN BETTER IN EVERY ASPECT SO THAT THE RAKYAT CAN SEE THAT THE MCA HAS CHANGED AND HAS, AFTER THE 2008 GENERAL ELECTION, RETURNED TO BECOMING A PARTY THAT IS RESOURCEFUL AND PROGRESSIVE.

THE MCA WAS IN A TERRIBLE STATE AFTER THE 2008 GENERAL ELECTION. AS SUCH, WE CANNOT ALLOW THINGS TO GET WORSE. I AM NOT BRAVE ENOUGH TO SAY THAT THE MCA WILL RECOVER IN THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION, BUT WE MUST STRIVE HARD TO ENSURE THAT WE WIN MORE SEATS.

I AM CONVINCED THAT THE PEOPLE WILL GIVE MORE SUPPORT TO THE MCA ONCE THEY SEE THAT THE PARTY HAS TRULY CHANGED. THE PARTY MUST WORK TOGETHER IN FACING THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION AND THE DIRECTION OF THE MCA MUST BE BASED ON THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE.

AS SUCH, THE MCA MUST BE COURAGEOUS TO CHANGE IN THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION BY CHOOSING CANDIDATES THAT HAVE A HIGH CHANCE OF WINNING, AND ALSO GIVE A CHANCE TO NEW FACES IN ORDER TO BUILD A NEW IMAGE FOR MCA AND TO NURTURE THE NEXT LEVEL OF MCA LEADERS. I WISH TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY HIGHEST APPRECIATION TO THE CENTRAL MCA LEADERSHIP FOR CHOOSING AN MCA YOUTH LEADER AS SENATOR RECENTLY. I CALL ON THE CENTRAL MCA LEADERSHIP TO GIVE MANY MORE CHANCES TO MCA YOUTH MEMBERS TO STAND IN THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION.

MCA YOUTH HAS MANY MEMBERS OF CALIBRE. MANY AMONGST THEM ARE PROFESSIONALS WHO WISH TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE NATION AND ITS PEOPLE. THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN THE TRUST BY THE CENTRAL MCA LEADERSHIP TO CARRY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF RETURNING THE MCA TO ITS GLORY DAYS. I CALL ON THE CENTRAL MCA LEADERSHIP TO CHOOSE MORE MCA YOUTH AND MCA WANITA YOUNG MEMBERS TO DEVELOP MCA’S IMAGE AS A PARTY THAT PUTS A PRIORITY ON THE YOUNGER GENERATION. THIS WAY, MCA WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN MORE SUPPORT FROM YOUNG VOTERS AND THE PARTY STRUGGLE WILL BE CONTINUED BY THE YOUNGER GENERATION.

HOW MANY DECADES DO WE HAVE TO LIVE?

THE ASSUMPTION THAT “THE YOUNG STILL HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES, THEY CAN STILL WAIT” MAY CAUSE THE PARTY TO LOSE BECAUSE IF THE YOUNGER GENERATION ARE NOT GIVEN CHANCES, THEY WILL GIVE UP AND LEAVE THE PARTY – THE TRUTH IS THAT WE DO NOT LIVE FOR THAT MANY DECADES.

BECAUSE OF THAT, THE SELECTION OF CANDIDATES HAS TO BE BASED ON ABILITY. IT SHOULD NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT FACTIONS WITHIN THE PARTY AND IT SHOULD NOT BE USED ONLY AS A REWARD TO SUPPORTERS. THE EMERGENCE OF YOUNG LEADERS SHOULD NOT BE SEEN AS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN. YOUNG LEADERS SHOULD NOT BE LOOKED AT AS COMPETITORS AND OPPONENTS BECAUSE THIS ATTITUDE WILL BRING THE PARTY TO A DEAD END. THE PARTY WILL BE CAST ADRIFT BY THE TIDES OF TIME AND BE BURIED.

LEARN THE SPIRIT OF THE “TRANSFORMERS” CHARACTER

HONOURABLE DELEGATES,

AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 2008, WE WERE IN A DISAPPOINTING SITUATION, BUT WE DO NOT BLAME ANYONE. IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGE, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE PATH THAT WE WILL WALK THROUGH AND THE DIRECTION OF OUR FUTURE.

REMEMBER THE FILM “TRANSFORMERS 3”? REMEMBER THE STORYBOARD OF THE FILM? IN THE FILM, THE AUTOBOTS LOYALLY FOUGHT FOR AND DEFENDED THE HUMAN RACE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF THE DECEPTICONS, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUMANS AND THE AUTOBOTS WERE AFFECTED AND HUMANS REACTED BY CHASING THE AUTOBOTS AWAY. HOWEVER, THE AUTOBOTS DID NOT LEAVE THE HUMANS – NOT OPTIMUS PRIME NOR BUMBLE BEE, THEY STAYED AND FOUGHT TO THE END FOR THE HUMANS AND MANAGED TO DEFEAT THE DECEPTICONS.

I AM NOT SAYING THAT WE ARE “TRANSFORMERS”, BUT WE DO HAVE THE SPIRIT THAT IS POSSESSED BY THE AUTOBOTS IN THE MOVIE. EVEN THOUGH MANY VOTERS DID NOT SUPPORT US DURING THE 2008 GENERAL ELECTION, OUR SPIRIT WAS NEVER BROKEN. WE NEVER LEFT THE PEOPLE BUT WE CONTINUED TO FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE. MORE THAN 3 YEARS HAVE PASSED AND OUR HEARTS REMAINED WITH THE PEOPLE.

HONOURABLE DELEGATES,

I AM CONVINCED THAT AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE SPIRIT OF THE AUTOBOTS, AND WE ARE ALWAYS TOGETHER WITH THE PEOPLE AND WORKING HARD FOR THE NATION AND THE PEOPLE, VOTERS WILL EVENTUALLY GIVE US ANOTHER CHANCE TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THEM.

FINALLY, I CALL ON EVERY MEMBER OF MCA YOUTH TO WORK TOGETHER AS WE DEAL WITH FUTURE CHALLENGES, AND TO ALSO HAVE THE WILL TO CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR THE SAKE OF THE PEOPLE AND THE CHINESE COMMUNITY, BUILDING A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU.

Time : 9am to 1pm

Venue : MCA Auditorium, 3rd floor, KL

             163, Jalan Ampang, 50450 KL

This is an open event, and registration can be made by email to kahwin4.0@gmail.com or by calling tel: 03-2161 5621/6201, fax:03-2161 3701

It had been the practice by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government all this while, and the education development in Sarawak would continue to be on the Federal government’s priority list, he told reporters here Saturday.

Earlier he attended the opening of SJK Chung Hua Pangkalan Baru’s new RM550,000 building block, which consists of six classrooms which will accommodate 173 students, by Works Deputy Minister Datuk Yong Khoon Seng, near here today.

Wee said the Federal government’s allocation on education for Sarawak, which was one of the largest budget allocation compared to other states, could be seen under the 10th Malaysia Plan.

“This is a commitment from the federal government. We give priority to Sarawak because it is a big state,” he said.

Also present was the BN candidate for Batu Kawah Tan Joo Phoi.

Wee said the RM20 million from RM73.7 million allocation for 197 Chinese schools in the state announced by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the Education Minister, last month, was part of the budget under the 10th Malaysia Plan.

“Since 2009, I have been coming down to Sarawak to meet with the board of managements of Chinese schools to discuss the condition of the schools. Our analysis is that there are four categories of conditions that need attention.

“They are unsafe schools, schools that need major repair, expansion and in need of furniture,” he said and added that, allocation would be given according to the needs.

Wee said there were some 60,000 students in 187 Chinese primary schools in Sarawak, and an estimated 25 percent of them were non-Chinese students.

KUALA LUMPUR: A proposal will be submitted to the MCA central committee on Monday seeking approval for female members to join the MCA Youth.

MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said the legal bureau would look into the movement’s by-laws and make amendments once the central committee endorsed the proposal.

“They (women) will also have more opportunities to be leaders in the party,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

Dr Wee said the amendments to the by-laws would be applicable for two party election terms — 2011 and 2014.

He said 30% of its exco positions from the branch level would be allocated for its female members to allow them to adapt to the movement.

However, he said, from the 2017 election term, there will no longer be 30% reservations or any form of quota for women candidates.

“Every level of the MCA Youth, from the office-bearers to delegates, will be open for election,” he said.

Currently, MCA Youth is made up of members below the age of 45.

However, Dr Wee said the movement was targeting at amending the party constitution and Youth by-laws to reduce the age of its membership to 40 by 2013.

Under the new amendments, those who become office-bearers in the 2011 election term will continue to stay in the movement until the next election in 2014.

However, ordinary MCA Youth members who have passed the age of 40 in 2013 will have to leave the movement.

Meanwhile, Wanita MCA chief Datuk Yu Chok Tow said the MCA Youth would provide a learning platform for its women members and train them for future leadership.

“Women below the age of 45 will automatically become members of both Wanita MCA and MCA Youth when they join the party once the amendments are made.

“However, they have freedom to choose if they want to be active in Wanita MCA or MCA Youth or both,” she said.

“The demonstration shows the kind of extremism practised by the party,” said MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong.

He also expressed regret that PKR and DAP, allies of PAS in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, had chosen to remain silent on the matter.

A large group of Muslim youths, including PAS Youth members and students representing the All-Malaysian Islamic Students Coalition (Gamis), protested against Lambert, a self-confessed homosexual, outside the Stadium Putra in Bukit Jalil, while the singer gave a highly-charged performance before 10,000 screaming fans inside the stadium.

The group was led by PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan and an exco member, Mohd Firdaus Jaafar, who is also the Jerai MP.

PAS had objected to the concert, claiming that Lambert’s show advocated homosexuality.

The group gathered at the entrance after the maghrib prayers and passed anti-Lambert flyers to those queuing to buy tickets.

KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA Youth has urged the Barisan Nasional to draw a clear line with the extremists or extremist groups in order for the coalition to win the support of all Malaysians.

The call by MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong at the opening of the movement’s annual general meeting (AGM) came in the wake of racist utterances by two teachers and a civil servant recently.

The utterances has also compounded the acts of Perkasa – a Malay rights group- which fought along racial lines.

Dr Wee in reiterating the movement’s support for the various programmes under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, said the 1Malaysia concept would unite multi-ethnic Malaysians, and create a more harmonious and progressive society to lead the country.

He also highlighted the need to have a serious look at the policies which hindered the country’s economic development, and the determination to check them.

A total 888 or 51% of the 1,736 Youth central delegates attended the one-day AGM.