Thursday, May 2, 2013

Jom Balik Undi! (Come, Let's Go Back To Vote!)

It seems that ABU (Anything But Umno) has put up banners and buntings near poling centers and places where immigrants are commonly seen to frequent, warning foreigner workers not to vote.
The Article

Such an effort should be lauded by Malaysians concerned about cheating at the polls.

It does not help that despite complaints of irregularities in the electoral roll, the Election Commission seems impertinently impervious to calls for rectifying the irregularities.

Foreigners should have no place in determining the future of Malaysians which should rightly fall on the shoulders of citizens of the country.

It is indecent and criminal if not treasonable to empower foreigners to vote in Malaysia's elections to determine who the citizens of the country want as their government.

Those responsible in granting blue identity cards to foreigners to enable them to vote just so the the ruling coalition can remain in power, must be held accountable for their despicable act when Pakatan comes to power.

Malaysians have had enough of the shenanigans.

We are sick of the silly excuses of the Election Commission for their baffling inertia.

There are only 4 days left to polling day and every vote counts.

For Malaysian voters working or studying abroad, please return to cast your vote.

Every single one counts.

Below, I reproduce in full, the article published in the April 2013 edition of "BunyaRaya" (Risalah Daripada Rakyat, Oleh Rakyat dan Untuk Rakyat  - Newsletter From The People, By The People and For The People) entitled "Jom Balik Undi!"

Jom Balik Undi!

"Malaysia rumah anda. Jom balik mengundi.", "Jangan biar pendatang asing menentukan masa depan kita", "Malaysia memerlukan undi anda"

Anda mungkin tidak terbayang betapa terharunya, apabila terserempak dengan warga Malaysia yang menjulang kad dengan mesej diatas. Mereka tidak mampu membeli ruang iklan dalam media. Maka mereka mundar-mandir di stesen pengangkutan awam di luar negeri, menarik perhatian warga Malaysia yang belajar mahu pun bekerja di situ dengan mesej yang tertulis pada kad yang dijulang.

Ini bukan soal beberapa orang yang terpujuk dengan kelakuan sedemikian. Jika hanya seorang pengundi tersentuh dan bertindak pun berbaloi kerana setiap undi dikira, setiap kerusi penentu dalam PRU 13.

Persoalannya, mengapa mereka yang mencari rezeki di luar negeri, sanggup berdiri di bawah terikan matahari di Singapura, mahu pun pada malam yang sejuk di Taiwan, semata-mata untuk menyeru  agar saudara warga Malaysia pulang mengundi?

Malaysian semakin ketinggalan

Dari segi ekonomi, Malaysia mendahulu Taiwan dan Korea Selatan pada zaman 1970-an, 40 tahun kemudian, bumi yang dilimpah sumber ini ketinggalan di belakang. Dari segi politik, Malaysia kononnya mahu menjadi "negara demokrasi terbaik di dunia". Namun kita dipintas Burma, negara yang terkenal dengan pemerintahan kuku besi regim tentera untuk sekian lama, apabila Ketua Pembangkannya Aung San Suu Kyi diberi ruang untuk berkempen melalui televsyen di Burma.

Di bumi ini kita dilahirkan, dan di bumi inilah akan kita disemadikan. Negara kita semakin parah, tetapi ia tetap ibu pertiwi kita. Hutan digondolkan oleh penguasa yang rakus. Rakyat cuba digula-gulakan dengan BR1M RM500 sementara hutang negara melambung melebihi RM500 bilion.

Harta dan aset generasi masa depan dipunggah begitu shahaja, meninggalkan masa depan yang tidak mempunyai masa depan.

Apakah makna untuk balik mengundi? Supaya satu hari nanti apabila kita pulang dan memijak di bumi ini, kita masih mengenali kampung asal kita. Saudara-mara yang mesra. ikhlas, ceria, beradab dan cintakan keamanan. Bumi yang bersih, indah, tanpa dinodai sisa buangan nadir bumi yang beradioaktif. Kita bersenam dipadang pada waktu pagi, kita bersiar-siar dengan keluarga pada waktu petang - tanpa rasa takut dan bimbang dijadikan sasaran peragut.

Manusia dilahirkan dengan haknya untuk menghambat kebahagiaan masing-masing. Maruahnya dijaga di bawah sistem politik yang berwibawa dan berintegriti. Kita mingidamkan masyarakat Malaysia yang terjalin dan dibina atas integriti atau amanah yang kukuh sesama kita. Sudah pasti kita akan berbeza pendapat, tetapi semestinya ia disudahi dengan muafakat. Kita mungkin begaduh untuk puluhan tahun yang lalu, tetapi inilah masanya kita membina negara dan masyarakat supaya cucu-cicit kita berdamai untuk puluhan tahun, malah ratusan tahun akan datang.

Masanya sudah tiba. Cina mahu saudara Melayunya berasa dirinya selamat di Malaysia. Melayu mahu saudara Cina dan Indianya berasa dirinya diiktiraf di Malaysia. Rakyat Semenangjung mahu kaum asli di Malaysia Timur dilindungi dan dijamin hak tanah adat mereka. Kita megah tetapi bukan angkuh. Kita bangga sebagai warga Malaysia kerana bersama mengangkut martabat diri kita sebagai manusia yang bermaruah dan berperikemanusiaan.

Lebih 55 tahun kita merdeka dari penjajah British. Masanya tiba untuk kita membubuh noktah kepada babak sejarah politik kotor, jijik, saling bermusuhan dan syak wasangka. Kita mampu  membangunkan semula Malaysia baru di atas robohan kerajaan lama Barisan Nasional.

Pilihan di tangan kita, Undilah untuk masa depan generasi baru Malaysia.

Ini kalilah!

No comments:

Post a Comment

Kluang's Little Bangsar

Kluang's Little Bangsar
Click To Visit

Kamini's Indian Wedding - Click To Visit

Kamini's Indian Wedding - Click To Visit
I attended my neighbour's daughter's Indian wedding dinner at the Sentul HGH Convention Centre. Click for a peek

Yasmin Ahmad - Click To Visit

Yasmin Ahmad - Click To Visit
Yasmin Ahmad was arguably Malaysia's best story-teller, filmmaker and advertiser. She was well known for her Petronas commercials and had won numerous international awards including the Golden Lion award for the 'Tan Ming Hong In Love' commercial. Her feature film Sepet not only garnered her several international awards including for Best Asian Film but also drew multi-racial audiences that rarely happens for a local film.

Genting Highlands - Click To Visit

Genting Highlands - Click To Visit
Genting Highlands Is A Popular Retreat With A Casino

Batu Caves - Click To Visit

Batu Caves - Click To Visit
Malaysia's Famous Landmark. Note The Statue Of Lord Muruga And The 272 Steps To The Temple Cave In The Background

Petronas Twin Towers And KLCC Park - Click To Visit

Petronas Twin Towers And KLCC Park - Click To Visit
Petronas Twin Towers Are Still The World's Tallest Twin Towers

Some Early Morning Views Of KL City Skyline - Click To Visit

Some Early Morning Views Of KL City Skyline - Click To Visit
Some early morning views of the KL city sykline I took from the 3rd floor of the KL Court with a low-pixel hand-phone camera

Kluang Town - Click To Visit

Kluang Town - Click To Visit
Kluang was a sleepy hollow, but is fast becoming a bustling town. You can't miss the bust-shaped gunung Lambak lording over the place and the town is well known for its tv brand coffee powder

Kluang RailCoffee

Kluang RailCoffee
The Kluang railway station coffee shop, now re-branded Kluang RailCoffee, is well known for its cuppa of coffee and the charcaol grilled piping hot buns oozing with butter and kaya...It used to attract standing-room only crowds. It still does, but the last time I was there it wasn't a good experience for me. The famous coffee had somewhat lost its oomph and even the buns...The shop has a long and noted history being first opened for business in 1938 and the place is now run by the 3rd generation LIm family. I hope the next time I return, the coffee would regain its oomph. Click to read more...