Government must listen! PR BN listen up, please

We are in a new era of the world. Everyone grows up, learns something new and gains from experience and move on in life more maturedly.
Just like human, all industries go through a cycle of learning curve too. From fishing and farming for own family, to barter trade and then trading, human has grown more complicated. From agriculture to industry based country too and in future knowledge and the brains will rule the country.
Thus, all human should also grow up and learn. We have seen how hard labour does not bring much values anymore. Our great grandfathers depended on an era what called 'hard work' is now gone. As long as you worked hard, tanam your own sayur, you survived.
Then we see people who could trade the more wins. And from fishing for the family, the industry became huge with more sophisticated vessels and some people trying to get bigger cut by issueing permits or licences and introduced forms of taxes.
Thus, human see a need to pay the 'master' although they worked hard and survived. Yet, the complexity of human society evolved and therefore adaptation is important. Failing to adapt to change brings disaster.
From trading either products or services, we also see that the industry evolve. More and more people doing the same thing ie coffee shops booming like mushrooms, the business depends on good customer service as their asset. All staffs are trained to listen to customers' needs and forced to get feedbacks to improve. Gone are the days where sellers shout 'nak beli, beli! Taknak beli, sila blahh!'
Working in corporate shows no difference. Businesses now face staff turnover more times higher than a decade ago. Employees see no problem getting a job from another company if this current company does not listen to their employees.
Employers then start to build better relationships with co workers, offer gyms, yoga classes, variety-filled pantries, 5-day work, work from home, etc etc perks and benefits. More companies are going flat management system and every staff is a partner policy.
AirAsia listens to their employees. Even its boss, Tan Sri Tony Fernandez goes to the level of luggage handler to find out their needs and listen. Now everyone can fly, not just that everyone can reach their dreams working in AirAsia.
Even on micro level, a family too has changed. Gone are the times where the father holding a cane instilling fear will work. Parents now need to sit and talk to their children more often to understand them better and listen.

Coming back to our government. People see a need to voice out. As a professional speaker, a decade ago after a presentation, questions are minimal or none at all. Now people do not only ask questions but ask intelligent questions which need some thinking to answer. Some are wondering why all the while people say our education system does not encourage questioning yet people now start to voice out so much?
People start to 'show' their voice by raising up issues, hold intelligent debates, call in to radio stations to give comments, start Facebook groups and march in the streets for a certain cause.
Because people's voice are not taken into account for too long too many times. Too many times people say corruption is rampant, since Tun Dr Mahathir's time till now. Tun Abdullah Badawi promised change in battling the corrupt won him a historical landslide win. But he failed. Now Dato Sri Najib tried yet people see corruption as rampant as before. For too long too many times people's voice in this matter has not been heard, taken into real action or shown results.
Therefore the rakyat thinks the government is not listening. New media also allowed 'voicing out' - blogs, facebook, Twitter and other social media combined the voice of many and examples of other countries successfully change for the better have all in one way or another encourage proactive actions among the rakyat.
Human has a basic nature instinct. They help the less fortunate and speak for the underprivileged as a nature call. When someone is beaten or being bullied, will you help the bully or the one being bullied? Human instinct says help the one being bashed.
The PR is good in understanding these among the rakyat. They monopolized on these issues and promised change too. They also play the one being bullied, capitalized on Beng Hock issues, Bersih's voice being unheard and suppressed, and even some minor injuries may need a CT scan in the hospital. The voice is 'I'm being bullied, help!'
BN on the other hand still hold the 'I'm the boss mentality', 'dengar cakap bapa!' kind of ruling. Refusal to listen to certain demands also costs BN a whole lot, evident in a few rallies.
Human also has basic instinct for revenge. Although is easy to quote 'an eye for an eye the whole world will be blind' most people hold grudges and waiting to revenge. So your mainstream media whacked the opposition, the opposition says 'my media paper also whack the government.' The opposition has tried very hard to be heard, many would know that oppositions are the one 'being bullied' in this case therefore the support goes to opposition again. BN continued to suppressed by confiscating properties and assets of those seen to be pro opposition, evident in the Malaysiakini case.
Having cited a few examples, these 'I'm being bullied' situations are great issues played by the PR and of course their manifesto buku jingga will include freedom of media, eliminate corruption among others.
ISA was also seen as a BN tool to suppressed voice of people and again, who is being seen as being bullied? And of course it is again included in the buku jingga.
While people want to voice out and start helping the one being bullied, don't forget human is also an intelligent species. Some issues played too much in the same manner irked the public and backfired evident when Beng Hock issue being dragged to a by election.
In my opinion, both BN and PR always use issues and playing drama too often. I'm a little tired of it and feel there should be a need for long term consistent plans for our country in every issue.
For example, the recent Bersih was wanting fair and clean election. As mentioned in my previous blogposts, I support the cause but not a rally. I also said a rally today does not mean a fair and clean election tomorrow. Now I love the fact that now more people are aware of a need of a fair and clean election. But what's next? I feel there's a need to understand the roles of our election commission, more awareness on how other democratic countries are holding elections, perhaps a comparison or analysis of people's views from all walks of lives, more dialogues and eventually a true reform of a fair electoral system.
For me the word 'fair' itself is very subjective. Something fair to me may be seen as unfair to others and vice versa. I really hope both BN and PR can come out with fair and clean election, fair to both, not only fair to one side and most importantly fair to the rakyat.

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Things just happen, the rest is up to us to make it GREAT!

Hoong Ling
+6016-3310325
www.hoongling.com

Sent from my BlackBerry® Smartphone

Fair and Clean Election, yay!

Anyone has clear vision here by now? Or still wearing a Bersih specs and Patriot shades?
First thing first, I am always wanting a clean and fair election. Who with a right mind wouldn't? So if the objective is to have a clean and fair election let's examine what can be done.
Yes I too agree that our democracy system has its flaws but which democracy country does not? Ok that's not a good excuse though so I'm still FOR a clean and fair election.
I agree with Syed Akbar Ali in his blog here http://bit.ly/ouyfxB suggesting maximum term for PM, fixed election date, be open with all electoral expenses and cooling off/ campaign period. I guess there are suggestions like these that either party will feel is fair and another will feel is unfair.
PR may say BN had had Tun Dr Mahathir there for so long, why must you now limit PM tenure to only 2 terms? BN may say fixing election date is not favourable and should not be taken into consideration. I'm just imagining the response and reactions.
So Bersih wanted a fair and clean election. Is it really so or just using a general statement to trap us rakyat into the game?
I was at first very supportive of the movement and asked why was it deem illegal and no permit granted for a peaceful demonstration.
Frankly, the prolonged 'fight' among various parties showed many weaknesses of ALL parties.
1. If the objective of fair and clean election, why must be a rally? And it was very suspicious when the rally must be in KL town which was said to pass a memorandum to the Agung. Why a Shah Alam stadium was suggested and yet so adamant to have it in KL? Why meeting Agung finally, a rare opportunity, and yet never pass the memorandum? I then start to place my support a benefit of doubt and stood back at the center to see BOTH sides, or perhaps all sides to see the whole drama.
2. The police and federal government should have allowed a rally at the very beginning, I think. It was a noble cause and majority of the people will really march peacefully. Perhaps there were already hidden agendas but let the cat out from the bag by itself, no need for some reactions now deem unlawful, unfair and even violence to occur. It was because of the illegality and refused of a permit that rouse the anger, support and spirit of Bersih, indirectly making a supposedly peaceful assembly turned rally for an angered crowd. I also agree it can be likened to a marathon and the organisers have agreed on only a 2hr march.
3. Is it really exhaustive measure and a final action of rally was needed? All dialogues and discussions were already futile? In this aspect I felt that the organiser should have continued a few more rounds of discussions with relevant parties to achieve a fair and clean election. Bringing the issue to the streets will make things worse. Many peace-loving people now put all the blame on Bersih for the traffic jams, loss of incomes and making KL like a deadlock during a weekend. People like me would love a movie or coffee at peaceful places but do not mind a peaceful march but things got worse and I chose to stay home.
I'd think that a rally is the very last resort to make things work. Do you think the next election will be clean and fair now that a rally is already done? Rally today, clean and fair election tomorrow? Having a clean and fair election is a journey. A long journey and Malaysia, I too hope will embark on that journey. Some said a discussion was done with Election Commission and various parties but no one listens. Out in the NST, the EC chairman was awaiting another dialogue with Bersih and answered all demands by Bersih as well as more reforms than the 8 demands. Yet, no one also sees this?
To some extend, I do agree when people say a dialogue here and there is only a show to display that all efforts have been taken so a rally is a must. But yet, I support that there are efforts towards a clean and fair election and after a rally, I really hope that the Bersih group continue with their fight for a clean and fair election. I'm sure to support when everyone comes to their senses.
4. The events taken place do not only show weaknesses of both BN and PR but also revealed weaknesses in supporters of BOTH. Bersih supporters even resort to names calling - apparently those who were at the streets participated in the rally were fighters, those got caught were heroes! Those staying at home are named cowards and those who did not support a rally were said to have shallow thinking. Those who supported Patriot are called Pak Turut. I agree that Bersih has the right for a free assembly but do respect the rights of NOT having a rally, too. Earlier on, Datuk Ambiga was vilified and slandered with all words that could be used on her. I opposed to that, too. These names calling just show that we are all emotionally controlled and easily be carried away.
If our country continues to be emotionally carried away, the country could be easily manipulated by outside parties, the biggest threat to the nation.
5. These situations also benefited and brought disasters both to BN and PR.
- People who at first support PR tend to be on the fence now, fearing if PR takes over the country, Malaysia will not be peaceful anymore. Is sad that whenever a rally or some drastic demands happen, it is always PR who gets the name - for good or bad.
- People who supported BN again witnessed how (can I say 'stupid'?) the Home Minister and the police again suppressed what the people see as a peaceful noble cause. I guess many also switched sides.
- People now see clearly. Some said PR kept on putting news of how they were suppressed in order to get people sympathize them - sympathy votes in action! I think people now think more rationally and start to analyse too.
- Peace-loving people only want peace, survival and make money or the family peacefully and will condemn to both PR for holding a rally and BN for making such a big fuss in controlling one.
Yet, the PR kept harping that there were so much support, so many people turned up despite controlled situation and that people start to support them. BN too thought they have done all they could in the name of safety keeping for the rakyat and when in functions, kept saying people do not attend rally because they support BN.

I seldom end a blog without conclusion. I feel we should get back to our senses, be calm and analyse situations. But past is past, now let's move on. I always feel that the objectives are important and that's what move you on till you achieve them. Since the main objective of Bersih is for a clean and fair election, let's do whatever we can (opt out a rally, please) towards a nation with clean and fair election. I hope to participate in a way without a drop of blood to achieve this. Yes, Buddha has done it, Tunku Abdul Rahman did it and of course the Rakyat Malaysia can do it too.

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Bersih or not? And why?

The first time a rally was done, the government has to open their eyes and ears to see and listen to various quarters and appeals by the public. It was not done for a long time and the people feel that their voices were unheard. A lot of things were happening within the government where the rakyat felt a need to save the country. And therefore, a rally.

Though the intention was good and a lot of people felt that the government finally listens to some grouses, the rally brought huge damage to Kuala Lumpur town. Almost everywhere in Kuala Lumpur were jammed in traffic, roads were closed or blocked, people wasted much time in the car, and business owners losing money due to business coming to a standstill. Worse thing got worse, the poor who depend on daily wage got nothing and they were foreign workers or poor daily wage earner who depend on their daily piecemeal for living.

Impact done - people understood it, got the message but never expected such disturbance to the public. In a sense the public agree to the rally but when it comes to disturbing their lives as well as their money for living, then the people start to think otherwise. Yet, deep inside many people, they feel the need for the rally and it was done.

Now, Bersih is thinking of a second rally. This time for a fair and clean election. Negotiations done with the Election Commissions and not much were achieved accordingly. Therefore bringing it to the streets is the best, some think. I have met three groups of people.

First the goreng nasi group. This group comprises of those who worked for it, making the dishes and even goreng the nasi to get the outcomes. They want it their way and only their way is the only and only way to have a fair and clean election. When the head says we go to the streets, they will bring their nasi, their kuali and sudip to the streets. When the head says OK we now go to the stadium, they will follow. When someone oppose to the idea of having a rally, they see these people as opposition and should not talk to them. They will only do one thing - goreng nasi - do the rally at whatever cost or whenever called by the head. They think if they go down the streets, they are the fighter, the sacrificial lamb and they have did something in history for the country. The more Bersih badges they have, the more they shout about bersih and the more yellow they have, the better.

Second is the makan nasi group. Whatever it is just take it. Yeah fair and clean election is needed, but a rally will actually bring fair and clean election? Makan nasi je la... These people will be more practical in a sense. Some said that whether or not there is a rally, the election will still be unfair and politics is already dirty so why rally? Some also felt for the people who will lose their wages and therefore oppose to the rally. Some may be rational in their thinking to ask what are the steps towards a fair and clean election instead of a rally?

The third I call the tengok nasi group. People goreng nasi or makan nasi, they will only watch. They have no opinions of themselves. A rally is there - they watch, no rally - they watch too. Some are opinionated but never voice out their concerns. Deep inside they know they want a fair and clean election but deep down inside they do not want a rally which could make the country looks bad in the eyes of the world.

Sensible THINKing 
Listening to so many quarters, I finally asked a few questions but yet unanswered. I am neither for nor against Bersih. I am of course supportive of a fair and clean election (who wouldn't?) but not a rally at KL town. Perhaps some people could help me here.
1. First, does the government really do not have a fair and clean election? If the election is thus unfair, how can Kelantan fell into the hands of opposition for so long? If it is unfair, then at any point of time during election, no states could be placed at the hands of opposition parties.
2. Second, assuming the election is really unfair and dirty, do we need a rally and right in town to create an impact? Why not at the stadium? Or some suggested Putrajaya since CNN will do coverage and is good chance to show the beauty of Putrajaya.
3. Is Bersih itself really bersih and harbor no other thoughts or self benefits? If it is so bersih, and the objective is to create an awareness on a fair and clean election - why not do nationwide roadshows, get to know the rakyat and inspire them to voice up? Why MUST be a rally and MUST be at KL town?
4. Who funds Bersih? Self funded? Bersih t-shirts, plans, transportation, perhaps to ferry rally participants to KL town.
5. Is it really true that Bersih has ties with foreign countries which really want to see Malaysia fall in disgrace and stop direct investments to Malaysia? Why would someone who loves the country so much by asking for a fair and clean election be involved with foreign agencies to bring down the country?
6. What makes Datuk Ambiga so ambitious and adamant in organising such a big scale rally and specifically wanting it to be in KL town? I have respect for this woman but her adamant and to me irrational requests made me wonder why.
These are all questions unanswered in my mind and perhaps I am sometimes so "stupid" to understand issues like this. SO for now I am the makan nasi group. Have a good lunch.
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Things just happen, the rest is up to us to make it GREAT!
Hoong Ling
+6016-3310325
www.hoongling.com
Sent via my Samsung Galaxy Tab