Kuala Lumpur should be state-governed

There are 14 units under the Ministry of Federal Territories- of which 3 are directly related to administration of state matters- DBKL, Perbadanan Labuan, Perbadanan Putrajaya. Kuala Lumpur is governed by the following statutory laws- Federal Capital Act 1960, Local Government Act 1976 and City of Kuala Lumpur Act 1971. The Federal Capital Act 1960 places the federal government in charge of the DBKL which is in turn in charge of Kuala Lumpur. DBKL inspite being a form of local government, is prevented by the Local Government Act 1976 to be governed like the state councils in Selangor and other states. S8 in the LGA 1976 provides that the FCA 1960 shall prevail should there be conflict in the law. This means, whatever happens (despite the outcome of national election results), the Federal Government still runs Kuala Lumpur.



The power of FCA 1960 is very noticeable especially in the following sections:



-S4 gives power to the King to hire and/or fire the Datuk Bandar. This is contrary to popular belief that the PM selects the Datuk Bandar but it is noted that the PM holds significant influence over the selection of candidates. The same section allows the King to sack or determine the serving period of the Datuk Bandar as well. If the Datuk Bandar is unfit to act in his capacity, subsection 7 says the Ministry of Federal Territory could take charge.



-S10 gives the Datuk Bandar veto power over the Advisory Board. The Advisory Board is a panel of advisers appointed to assist the mayor in policy matters. The Advisory Board members, by law, are appointed by the King, save a couple of members who could be appointed by the Selangor Menteri Besar.



-S13(1) allows the Ministry of Federal Territories to give the Datuk Bandar instructions 'from time to time' eventhough the instructions are inconsistent to the FCA 1960. Subsection 2 further states that the mayor reports only to Ministry and no one else. S13 very clearly vests power in Pak Lah to control Kuala Lumpur.

The laws are highly dictatorial and undemocratic- it dissallows the 1.6 million people in Kuala Lumpur to be represented by the people they elected. Down on the ground the DBKL is notorious for its questionable enforcement of city law and other dubious practices which the city folk do not hold high regard for. This includes non/little -disclosure of accounts, budgets and city expenditure and revenue. The public, especially the 1.6 million KL residents, will never know the actual usage of ratepayers' funds.



The DBKL has been a political clout of the government and will always be part of the Government's political agenda unless the Acts mentioned above are repealed. The elected MPs of Kuala Lumpur should jointly fight for the change in law so that the DBKL is returned to the people's hands. For the MPs, even in their own constituencies, it is an uphill task for the MPs to ensure the DBKL carries out the garbage collection function properly; maintain pot-hole free roads and so on. That's because the Datuk Bandar, according to the law, does not answer to the people nor the person elected to represent them.

Malaysian PM Says He Underestimated Power of Blogs Before Suffering Big Election Losses

By Luis Ramirez

Bangkok

25 March 2008

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi says his long-ruling coalition underestimated the power of the Internet, in advance of this month's elections. Mr. Badawi's ruling coalition suffered its worst losses in its history, after members of the opposition used the Internet to vent their views, circumventing the country's tightly controlled mainstream media. Luis Ramirez reports from Bangkok.

Malaysia's mainstream media is tightly controlled by the government. Opposition leaders complain they did not get equal access to air time, in advance of the elections this month, while the ruling coalition of Prime Minster Abdullah Badawi spent millions of dollars on campaign ads.

In the end, the investment did not pay off for Mr. Badawi, whose Barisan National coalition in power for 51 years, lost its two-thirds majority in parliament and several states.

Speaking to an investors' conference, Tuesday, the Malaysian leader said his coalition "certainly lost the Internet war," and said it was "a serious misjudgment" for it to rely solely on government-controlled newspapers and television to get out its campaign message.

Many voters say they ignored the mainstream media and turned to independent blogsites like Malaysiakini.com, where they could see news on official corruption, religious and racial tensions and other issues that the mainstream media often does not report.

Observers say readership of the country's independent blogsites has surpassed that of mainstream print media. It was boosted even further ahead of the March 8 poll. Malaysiakini.com Editor in Chief Steven Gan tells VOA his website stopped charging subscription fees in the weeks before the election.

"We've been, really, surviving on our readers' paying a subscription fee of about $5 a month," said Gan. "But we have made the site free because we felt we had to also play a role in providing information to Malaysian voters so they could make an informed choice."

Malaysia's government does not openly censor blogsites, as part of promise it made in the 1990's to not interfere with the Internet. The promise was part of an effort to draw foreign investment in plans for a new high-tech industry corridor. The plans for the corridor have since stalled, leading media freedom advocates to worry about whether the government may soon start imposing restrictions on the Internet. Officials say they have no such intentions.

Malaysiakini.com's Steven Gan says it would be difficult for the government to try to impose restrictions on the Internet, at this stage.

"It's not going to be easy," he said. "I always describe like [this]: Press freedom is like toothpaste, in a sense. When you squeeze a little bit of it out, it's going to be very hard to put it back in again."

Media freedom advocates say Malaysian authorities sometimes pulled the licenses of newspapers and broadcast outlets that carried news that was unfavorable to government officials. Blog sites like Malaysiakini.com are able to operate because they are not required to have licenses.

Malaysian Opposition Leader Says Ruling Coalition Members Willing to Defect

By VOA News

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim says members of the country's ruling coalition are willing to defect and help form a new government.

Anwar said Wednesday that coalition lawmakers from Malaysia's eastern states of Sabah and Sarawak had contacted him about switching sides, a move that could help shift the power balance and unseat the government.

Anwar's three-party opposition coalition won more than a third of parliamentary seats and four states during the March 8 election.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi denied Anwar's claim that the ruling National Front coalition is falling apart and plagued by infighting.

His new 69-member Cabinet was sworn in Wednesday, nearly two weeks after the ruling coalition suffered major losses in the elections.

On Tuesday, the prime minister slashed the 90-member Cabinet in a bid to rejuvenate his administration.

Among those dropped was Home Minister Radzi Sheikh Ahmad. Radzi Wednesday resigned his posts as secretary-general of the National Front and head of the United Malays National Organization. The UMNO is the major party in the ruling coalition.

Learn to work together

The past one week or so has been a turbulent one.

Some say it has created a mark in Malaysian history.

Some people are excited, some are doubtful, some are scared and some are just frustrated and even angry.


Well, if you are a supporter of BN I understand why you are angry and upset. Perhaps you need to reflect why so many people do not share the same sentiment as you. Perhaps if you stepped out of your comfortable shell and realize that life is more than just looking after your rice bowl perhaps you will see where we are coming from.


On the other hand, we now have another bunch of angry people. People who chose new leaders, something that has not happened for the past 40 years. Now when these people choose new leaders, they do not expect to see those elected people acting like spoilt brats over candy! Buck up and start acting like leaders! Yes, there are many capable people in PKR PAS and DAP so of course there may be a few disputes as to who holds what post and how many exco members each party has. BUT do not forget the BIGGER PICTURE.


Work together well now, show the people your ability to lead, learn to give and take and eventually there may be a bigger mandate the next election which means you will have so much to govern there will be no problem in everybody having a bigger pie to share! This is of course provided the state governments of Perak, Kelantan, Penang, Selangor and Kedah actually doesn't tear themselves to pieces because some think that they have more authority to be there or because their party won more seats.


Well one wonders if they remember signing the petition for Barisan Rakyat agreeing to work together to deny BN a 2/3 majority. Perhaps they dont remember their promises? It goes beyond denying them a 2/3 majority, it is also about carrying out their manifesto and working for us the people!

So any grievances faced, why not bring it to the people? or let a neutral party decide? after all if isn't that what democracy is about? or is Malaysia still not there yet?

Khir Toyo Sudah Panik, Jangan terperdaya dengan serongan duit!

Khir Toyo Sudah Panik, Jangan terperdaya dengan serongan duit!



This was a caption of a banner I saw as I was driving home from work yesterday. It was hand painted a hung up in an obscure corner at a T junction from Au3 Keramat heading into Wangsa Maju Section 6.



Perhaps this suggests indications of bribery in the days to come? There have been concerns that with the BN only 10 seats or so away from gaining a 2/3 majority that they may try to get MP's from the opposition party to hop parties over to their flanks and thus allow them a gain a 2/3 majority. This is possible, since MP's are elected not based on their party but on their personal representation. How will they achieve this? Perhaps from the banner heading you get the idea.



We will see the true integrity of the MP's elected in the coming week and hopefully they do not disappoint us. Yes, money is a great pulling factor I will admit. However, we must remind the elected people that as Raja Petra said "the people can hire you, and the people can fire you".



Do not forgo your principles merely because someone gives you a huge sum of money to hop over to their party with promises of power and position. Remember that if you do, in the next election the people will pay you out for any disappointment you have caused them.



Do not forget what has happened to Gerakan. After the 1969 elections, they disappointed the people by joining ranks with the party that they were supposed to oppose forgoing all they claimed to stand for. Karma was late in paying them back, it took 40 years but it finally paid them back. Therefore, let this be a lesson to anyone who is tempted to accept the lure of money and power. Not only will it hurt what we Malaysians have achieved in this election, but it will also hurt your personal reputation, thus creating political suicide in the next election.



However, I am optimistic. I believe that there is good in people. Integrity and principles must prevail over the desire for greed and power. We are what we make ourselves to be, and we will reap the fruits of what we have sown, be it good or bad.

Bad political advice and bad advertising

Keng Yaik hits the spot by commenting in The Star that bad political advice was partly the cause to BN's losses. Whilst this pointed a lot to Khairy's fault, it was clear that Keng Yaik was either holding back his horses or missed the main point. Read on.



One cannot deny that this Elections hold one of BN's worst advertising campaigns. Billboards proclaim loudly of BN's 'proven delivery mechanism'; BN's 'manifesto' of 'security', 'peace' and prosperity; and the 'safety promise'. The public knows these are all akin to lies and the billboards became a big joke in our everyday life. Thanks for entertaining us, PM. Yes, the political advice was bad and the advertising campaign was the worst. The advertising was self-defeating- it highlighted all the promises that failed to be delivered under the Badawi administration during the last 4 years. The billboards, TV and radio adverts reminded the public the undelivered deliverables for a solid 2 weeks.



Badawi should kick himself in the head for operating in a vacuum and allowing such an advertising campaign be launched. It was not just bad political advice, but bad judgment and leadership on Badawi's part for allowing this to happen. So Keng Yaik missed the big picture- it wasn't just bad advice, it was bad leadership as well. It's quite expected for BN and BN component parties not to be holistic anyway.

The whole country wins

Welcome, YB Wee. This is the beginning of a new era, not only for Wangsa Maju but for the whole entire country. There is much work to do... and my mind goes beyond Wangsa Maju- this country needs fixing up badly- the judiciary, the police force, the election commission, the government departments, the public service. I'm glad the first hurdle is over as we have denied the BN 2/3 majority. We have almost removed the first obstacles to change in this context- the unfit 'leaders' domineering Malaysian politics to as far back as over 20 years.

We must not rest, but continue the onslaught for reforms. The winds of change are strong... capitalize on the momentum. Together we shall make this country a better place to live in.

A Proud Malaysian

I am proud to be a Malaysian!

Yesterday, the 8th of March 2008 is a historical landmark for all Malaysians.

Finally, my fellow comrades, our fight is not in vain!

Excitement and thrill is what I feel now as I write this post. Words cannot describe how I feel but firstly congratulations Wee Choo Keong!

You fought hard, and now you represent our hopes and dreams for a better community. I have high hopes for you,and for all of us.

My fellow blogger R.WM, thank you for allowing me to be part of this life changing experience. I now feel that life has hope. Achieving what people term as IMPOSSIBLE is POSSIBLE! And we have done so.

We must also give credit to SPR for carrying out their job fairly and justly. This is the dawn of a new beginning. This shows that the term Makkal Sakthi is very much alive and felt in our country.People Power!

However, we must carry on with awareness and not be indolent at this point of time. Yes we have done it! But now it is up to you, PKR,DAP and PAS to show the people you are worthy of our mandate and will practice what you preach.

Your slate is clean, now is the time to show us Malaysians what a true democracy is like.

Bangsa Malaysia may just come true, and I look forward to it!

Live blog: Victory pics

YB Wee waves to supporters who have been waiting for the 'official' news. Most of them have been waiting for 3 hours for the recount.

Mobbed. Excited crowd rush to shake Wee's hand.





YB Wee addresses crowd after winning the Wangsa Maju and Parlimentary seat. Crowd goes frenzy. Democracy is alive!

Live blog: It's confirmed

Yes, It's confirmed. Wangsa Maju wins. I'll post the pics later.

Live blog: Anxious wait

All quiet now. Crowd's getting bigger, but quiet, keeping vigil outside the counting station. I'm comfortable, having banana chips opposite the site. Made new friends today, not friends only but brothers and sisters of all races.



Believe it or not there was not a single BN supporter nor flag outside the counting station.

Live blog: Wangsa Maju wins

Official result's not out- but according news on the ground, Wee Choo Keong's won.

Live blog: Waiting for count results

The drizzle's just stopped, laptop battery's fizzled out. Managed to get some help from the kind folks staying near the counting station here. Recharging battery.



Got a few calls from my friend Watch3r- DAP's set to sweep Penang and Klang.



The flag-waiving crowd's quiet now. No updates so far.

Live blog: PKR leading

Leads

Danau Kota - 326 majority

Tmn Ibu Kota- 98 majority

Sekolah Mun Yee- 177 majority

Sekolah Agama Sg Mulia- 438 majority

Section 2 - 609 majority

TAR- lost 152

Wangsa Melawati - 111 majority

Postal votes- lost 1065



Drizzling now. Crowd's excited.

Live blog: Counting station

I'm blogging live from Pusat Komuniti Ibukota, the counting station. It's drizzling now, after an hour of searching the place, I managed to drive in the convoy of cars following the ballot car heading here. They were driving fast and I pulled a quick maneuver at the junction.



I parked my vehicle behind the building, booted up my laptop and my wireless internet connection. Nothing happening here yet except for the crowds and police roadblock. Public access is denied at the main entrance.



Appears to be some sort of big makan inside the building perimeter- many police seated there. Not a BN flag in sight. Will keep you all posted. Hope my laptop battery stays.



Sorry about the date in the pics. In the excitement I did not realize my camera date needed resetting.