I will be in Singapore from Wednesday, the 24th of June until Saturday, the 27th of June 2009

Let me cut to the chase. I have been living in KL all my life, but in recent weeks I increasingly find that all this while, I have been ‘hidden’ from the truth of what really defines KL. I remain unsure whether this was intentional or otherwise. Coming from a middle class background, I never had to endure much hardship here at home. Housing, food, transportation was never an issue. 

In fact, the only hardship I ever confronted thus far in life was during my studies overseas. At one period of time, I worked as a cleaner sold nasi lemak to other students but if I am being honest, that was necessary to fund my lifestyle, not something borne out of necessity. 

The truth I mentioned earlier is that the urban residents in Malaysia is faced with a hard time. I had visited Kondo Rakyat in Lembah Pantai some weeks back and I am appalled at the conditions of living. The building was in need of a new coat of paint a decade ago. There was rubbish everywhere. In fact, in Kerinchi there is one housing area that has no rooms. Can you imagine that?. In the heart of KL, where the cream of KL go to their favourite haunts such as Bangsar Village and Bangsar Shopping Centre to shop for their imported beers, Malaysian families living in an apartment with no rooms?. 

I also met Malaysians living in squatters; wait for it – next to the majestic Telekom building, opposite the back entrance of another gint GLC, Tenaga Nasional Berhad. Right next to the main road that connects Bangsar-ians to the Federal Highway and other award winning building like Mid Valley. I had the opportunity to go into their houses and was greeted with kids running barefoot in their “backyard” filled to the brim with rubbish that must have been off the rubbish collection route for at least a year or two. One of them was sprayed by a king cobra….

Parking is a separate issue for another entry but don’t take my word for it, take a drive to ‘Bangsar South’ at night (when everybody is home) and you will see what I mean. How can they afford cars? why…how else would they go to work? public transport? they will be fired in a week for coming in late. 

There are also no recreational space to speak of. It might seem trivial but it creates an uneven playing field. Urban poverty and unacceptable living conditions is widening the gap. This will give rise to social issues that is beginning to creep up on us at an alarming rate. 

It is not a lost cause. Not by any means. I sense the Government of the day have accepted that the urban vote is crucial in the next elections. Take Lembah Pantai as an example, thousands attend Universiti Malaya but only a handful are voters in Lembah Pantai. The rest go back to their kampungs to vote. Greeted with sights like these on a daily basis, what do you think they tell people back home? 

UMNO Youth have also created the Sekretariat Hal Ehwal Bandar (SHEB) to address urban issues. It is a timely move, but time is what we don’t have. With my eyes wide open now, I firmly believe it is imperative we win the hearts and minds of the urban voters within two years. Its time to score the golden goal in the last 5 minutes of extra time. 

The rakyat don’t want to hear excuses, reasons, who did what and who didn’t do what, they just want someone to take care of business. Housing is just the tip of the iceberg…employment opportunities, business opportunities, public transport, preservation of green lungs, local council’s public service delivery, these are deal breakers. 

But more than votes, above politics, it is time for people as “blessed” as me to give something back. Let’s lead the way.. You know who you are….

Salam to all,

Have not been updating the blog regularly because of impossible schedule leading up to the UMNO elections and completing tasks post the elections. I have taken a break from wiriting in the Malay Mail (hopefully now I have more time to write in this blog).

Alhamdulillah, the hardwork and sleepless nights paid off and we now have a new UMNO Youth Head to take us forward. Congratulations to the succseful EXCO members and I must say it is quite a good line up. In terms of Federal Territories, eventhough my Ketua Pemuda, Sazali Kamilan narrowly lost (number 24) FT returned with 6 EXCO members, 4 coming from Putrajaya!!!!. With so much importance on urban voters for the next GE, the presence of these EXCO members can help shed some light on how to improve from our dismal performance. Rizalman Dato’ Mokhtar @ Joe has been appointed the FT Youth Head and I think he is the perfect man for the job. I know Rizalman personally and his charisma, experience, commitment will ensure FT Youth will have its place in the sun again.

More good news, my Ketua Bahagian YM Dato’ Raja Nong Chik was appointed as a Senator and the Minister of Federal Territories. After so many years, Lembah Pantai has a representative in the cabinet!!. We have to win it back now.

In terms of national politics, to the dismay of many, the destructive brand of politics displayed by Pakatan Rakyat does not appear to ease. The problem is that the business of governing have to take the backseat when politics is at the forefront. Rakyat first. The fiasco seen in the Perak State Assembly is a testament of this brand of politics. Name calling, threats and sheer gangsterism has no place in Malaysian politics.

Today marks 60 years of the black day that in a way helped shape Malaysia today. The 1 Malaysia concept is evidence that the Barisan Nasional Government is sincere in our efforts to chart a new look for the country. May we learn from our past mistakes, may we appreciate and understand each other better. Insya-Allah

Malay Mail - February 26, 2009     

BY 2013, the country’s population will have approximately two million young Malaysians who have reached the age of 21, rendering them eligible to vote for the first time.

Taking into account the four million eligible but who did not register for the March 8 polls last year, there is a potential six million names which could be added to the electoral rolls for the 13th general elections.

These first-timers could very well provide new dynamics within the Malaysian political landscape – and make the difference between winning and losing.

That a good number of these voters are more politically aware, well informed and Internet savvy is well documented and accepted by many.

It is also reasonable to expect that based on current trends, the bulk of this segment would not join political parties but instead would choose to remain out of active politics, and vote for candidates whom they feel represent their aspirations.

The assumption that these young adults are not interested in politics because they are not members of a political party could prove to be fatal to competing political organisations.

Although they do not participate in political programmes and activities, they utilise other means such as Internet forums, Facebook groups, blogs and other Cyberspace facilities to discuss issues that are relevant to them. According to the web information company Alexa, Lowyat.net for example, a popular forum amongst youth, is the 24th highest ranked website in Malaysia.

This means firstly that campaign tools must evolve to accommodate the new communities brought about by the ICT revolution. The reliance on social networking platforms, Internet media and mobile phones is the reality of today, and one that politicians cannot afford to ignore.

That being said, wooing the young electorate over by campaigning and utilising new platforms alone would not be enough.

It is important that leaders need to understand and address issues that are central to the lives of these young people. No doubt these include the common matters pertaining to the economy, political stability, education, job opportunities and social problems, all of which cut across the

population.

However, manifestos that feature physical development and indebtedness to the quest for independence half a century ago are no longer the end-all and be-all factors that reckon in a big way with the new “now” generation.

The rhetoric has to change; it is no longer about track records; as it often construed with sports, you are only as good as your last outing or game.

Another important element that needs to be considered in gaining the confidence of this segment is

rapid urbanisation and its effects on youths. Currently, internal migration is dominated by Malaysians mainly in the age group of 15 to 34 years.

Data for urbanisation clearly shows the magnitude of this trend.

In 1980, the level of urbanisation was only 34.2 per cent; by 2000 it had reached 61.8 per cent.

The rate of urbanisation is estimated to reach 85 per cent in 2050!

With such urbanisation portended, the traditional definition of grassroots in Malaysian politics i.e

the rural voters, is fast evolving. This new segment will compete for everything in their daily lives, be it being the first in line for public transport, securing the best jobs in an increasingly narrow employment market or landing that great accommodation in the most convenient of locations at the lowest price.

As such, to capture the new grassroots, political parties must feature leaders that are empathetic and are able to provide solutions to common bread and butter lifestyle issues.

The  welfare theme hits a chord with the new grassroots.

In the next elections, the number of candidates representing this segment should also increase significantly.

However, lining up young parliamentary and State candidates alone may not be sufficient. To illustrate understanding of the changing political landscape, the political parties must be seen to be empowering the representatives of this generation at the highest level of policy making.

It would be ideal if the traditional Cabinet reshuffling post the Umno elections reflects the embracing of change. Umno can steal the thunder and claim the first mover advantage in the quest to win the hearts and minds of this new segment by appointing more youth leaders as ministers and deputy ministers, especially in critical ministries.

When Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad  Badawi hands over the mantle of leadership to Datuk Seri Najib Razak next month, it will mark an end of a generation of Prime Ministers that experienced first hand and participated in the nation’s struggle for independence. Significantly, the acknowledgment of generational progression should trickle down to the youth leadership.

After all, there is a new segment of grassroots that is waiting to be led. 

Malaysians do love their public holidays. Soon after the Chinese New Year holidays, it was another long weekend for those working in the Federal Territories. But more than just another day off work, Feb 1 is an important date in the calendar of KLites – the birth of Malaysia’s capital city.

The history of Kuala Lumpur is well documented, dating back to 1857, when tin miners settled in the area where the rivers Klang and Gombak converge. Personalities such as Raja Abdullah, the chieftain who pioneered the opening of KL, and Yap Ah Loy, the Kapitan Cina of KL who established law and order in this town laced with gang conflicts, provide some hints as to the character of this city.

KL always had “capital” quality. It was early on the capital of the State of Selangor and after that, the capital of the Federated Malay States. After Malaysia gained Independence in 1957, Kuala Lumpur was named the capital of the Federation of Malaya and subsequently of Malaysia in 1963. Then in 1974, Kuala Lumpur gained autonomy status from the State of Selangor and thus began the story of a new independent territory.

This year’s celebration was held at the Taman Tasik Titiwangsa. KL-ites and visitors from other States flocked to witness the performances lined up to usher in Federal Territory Day. With a theme that narrows in on the pursuit of happiness of its residents, Wilayah Maju Warga Sejahtera resonates with current prevailing political sentiments that the welfare and well-being of the rakyat is priority.

This year, we celebrate 35 years of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, 25 years of the Labuan FT and eight years of Putrajaya FT.

With the extended weekend, many chose to utilise the FT celebration break to head back to their hometowns but I decided to head to the Lake Gardens on Sunday morning for a walk and a breakfast picnic with the family.

Ah. The Lake Gardens in its entire splendor… I grew up cycling and spending vast amounts of time at the Lake Gardens. This was a time before KLCC, Pavillion and MidValley. While walking around the significantly improved park, nostalgic visions of my youth formed.

I lived the first 25 years of my life in the heart of Bangsar, which I assume qualifies me as a thoroughbred KLite. Jalan Telawi then is nowhere near what it is today. There were no shopping centres, trendy bars nor exotic restaurants. But Bangsar had its own history long before I was born. I often hear stories of how Bangsar evolved from a foreign-owned estate to what it is today, and how the early KL settlers made nearby Kampung Abdullah Hukum their home.

As for the future, the bigger picture indicates that the Federal Territories are central to the government’s vision of future development. This is evident from the formation of the Federal Territories Ministry on March 27, 2004. The Ministry, through its departments and cooperation with other relevant government agencies, must play the role of alleviating the problems faced by KLites. These issues include urban poverty, housing settlement issues and crime to bread-and-butter problems such as traffic congestion and flash floods.

At this year’s celebration, the Prime Minister outlined the drafting of our very own Rukun Wilayah, a set of principles to remind the people in the three Federal Territories of their roles and obligations to the cities. Many residents remain loyal to their “home” States, where they were born and still have families. The early settlers in venues like Petaling, Kampung Haji Abdullah Hukum and Kampung Baru came from their respective States on the back of dreams and aspirations for a better life. They built this city on sheer hard work and hope.

As the years go by, and ties that connect city folk to their home States become more obscure, many people, especially of my generation, know no other “home” apart from Kuala Lumpur.

We are part of the segment that should emulate the early settlers and shoulder the responsibility of carrying the torch of development and perfection for the Federal Territory.

My hope is that in 50 years, I would able to walk around the Lake Gardens, cherishing the memories of its past while witnessing the unfolding of its future.

Published in the Malay Mail on 25th December 2008 

I will celebrate New Year in Kuala Terengganu as my sister’s wedding is on Jan 1. 

The family breathed a sigh of relief when we heard that nomination day for Kuala Terengganu was scheduled for Jan 6 with polling on Jan 17. It would be difficult to manoeuvre the streets of Kuala Terengganu flapping with banners and posters, and the anticipated massive traffic jams caused by all the campaigning and ceramah.

Imagine the canvassing for the 80,229 votes to be cast at 38 polling centres in the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary constituency.

Given the razor-thin majority of 628 votes in the March 8 general election, Kuala Terengganu is definitely no Permatang Pauh, a bastion of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat which its favourite son was expected to win, anyway.

The capital of Terengganu is anyone’s game. The seemingly neverending saga between incoming Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak and opposition supremo Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to continue with much gusto commencing Jan 6, the first Tuesday of 2009.

On this perceived neutral ground, Najib’s resolve and leadership abilities will be tested. He will need to crack the whip to ensure that party leaders currently jockeying for positions in the coming Umno party elections in March will not use this by-election as a platform for personal campaigning. He will need to rally the troops to focus on the bigger picture of retaining Kuala Terengganu – and hopefully soundly.

He can take comfort in the fact that his nemesis Anwar had taken a serious beating with the failed “takeover” promise of Sept 16, which is expected to have an adverse impact on the PKR coalition this by-election.

PKR also has to come to terms that although prices of goods generally remain a problem, the government’s proactive steps in handling the fuel issue has already watered down its main campaign message of calling for a reduction in petrol prices. The economic crisis that affected the greater part of the world has not been truly felt yet by Malaysians at large.

The cracks in the coalition too are widening and PKR will need to quell the trouble brewing with hudud-bent Pas, in addition to the cold war existing between the pro-Anwar camp and the traditionalist faction.

An important element in this byelection is the support of the Chinese voters who form 11 per cent of the electorate; they are a crucial group. (Malays represent 88.2 per cent of the electorate, Indians form 0.6 per cent while other races, make up the remaining 0.2 per cent.)

Barisan Nasional gained a sizeable segment of the Chinese votes the last time. Its candidate, the late Datuk Razali Ismail, garnered 32,562 votes over Pas vice-president Mohamad Sabu’s 31,934. Grandmother Maimun Yusof, 89, the oldest candidate in the general election, lost her deposit, polling 685 votes.

However, things may not be as clear cut this time as MCA is currently affected by infighting at the top echelon. The relationship with Umno post the Ahmad Ismail fiasco is surely to be fully exploited too.

But PKR too has a problem with this segment of the electorate. Its hope lies in the DAP machinery, but the fragile relationship reared its ugly head after the Husam Musa hudud admission in a debate with Umno Youth deputy head Khairy Jamaluddin. DAP’s role in quelling the fears of the non-Malay voters is a crucial one. Many believe that Pas lost control of Terengganu in 2004, after having alienated voters with its extreme measures, including its hudud stance.

This by-election will provide a real-time feedback of how recent developments have affected the confidence in and support for both coalitions. 

For Barisan Nasional, it will be an indication of how its various reform agendas are accepted by the voters. This is especially true of the 20,000 young voters in the constituency.

Many analysts believe that the Barisan Nasional’s development and progress message can still resonate with the younger generation. The election would illustrate whether the various amendments to the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971, the new Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission, the steps towards judiciary revamp and such, will translate into votes.

Given this scenario, Terengganu Umno Youth, with the assistance of youth delegates from across Malaysia, will be on an all-out offensive to charm the voters and to convince them of Barisan Nasional’s progressive branding.

Terengganu Umno Youth head Mohd Sabri Alwi has already announced it will organise programmes to ensure that young voters can relate to their message.

More than a seat in the august house, this by-election will illustrate whether Umno and Barisan Nasional have digested the hard lessons of the 12th General Election, and whether PKR can sustain its march, all the way to the Sarawak polls.

As tradition dictates, the beginning of January will see many striving to observe New Year resolutions. 

It will be interesting to see which of the two coalitions is granted theirs.