Category: Activism

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Activism Politics & government

[1569] Of Elizabeth Wong for Bukit Lanjan

Need I say more?

Fair use.

Apart from blogging, Eli is actively involved in human rights NGOs. I will just quote her about page:

ELIZABETH WONG (黄洁冰) has been involved in human rights since her student days in Sydney and subsequently during her work in Nepal. She was the secretary-general of the National Human Rights Society (Hakam) (全国人权协会)from 2000-2006 (now sitting as a member of the Ex-Com), a member of the Suaram (大马人民之声) secretariat and was a human rights fellow of Carnegie Council for Ethics and International Affairs (2002-03). She is also a political consultant and has been involved in the setup of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus for Democracy and Solidarity Campaign for Human Rights in Aceh. [About. Elizabeth Wong. Accessed March 2 2008]

Categories
Activism Politics & government

[1566] Of Tony Pua vs. Chew “May 13” Mei Fun

Are you voting for another May 13? Vote for Chew “May 13” Mei Fun!

If you are voting for a better future, vote for Tony Pua.

[youtube]6QXAVZF1Zuk[/youtube]

Remember, we must learn from history but history should not fully dictate the future. In front of us a path of boundless possibilities. Tony Pua is able to walk together with us to a better future. Mrs. Chew only brings us to a miserable past.

Indeed, for Islamic state, vote for MCA! MCA does not have the courage to speak up against UMNO. If you are a fan of Islamic state, vote for Chew Mei Fun!

This blog endorses Tony Pua for Petaling Jaya Utara Parliamentary seat whole-heartedly (although at a forum, he side-stepped my question on power of the state. And skillfully at that!)

In fact, tomorrow, both Nik Nazmi and Tony Pua, two candidates which this blog explicitly endorses, will be giving speeches together tomorrow at Kelana Jaya. In fact, they are speaking at a function together, tonight. Well, what can I say?

This blog endorses the working relationship Nik Nazmi and Tony Pua maintain with each other!

For tomorrow, both will appear at:

Venue: C-G-05, Dataran Glomac, Jalan SS6/5B, Kelana Jaya (Map)
Time: 21:30
Date: March 2, Sunday

For more information, visit Nik Nazmi’s blog.

If you are wondering why a libertarian like me actively supports Nik Nazmi and Tony Pua, whom are probably social democrats, despite some policy disagreement, come to the event and talk to me!

Remember, vote for change. Vote for Nik Nazmi for Seri Setia state seat! Vote for Tony Pua for Petaling Jaya Utara Parliamentary seat!

Categories
Activism Politics & government

[1565] Of send Nik Nazmi into public office

Malaysian politics is immature and most politicians of older generation do not have the maturity to develop Malaysian politics. Our political scenario is one of bankruptcy. It is stuck in the 1960s and 1970s. Our policies are outdated and if we continue on this path, the whole world will leave us behind. South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore have left us behind when once, Malaysia was in the same league with these countries. Unless we change, we will find others like Vietnam up ahead while we will be left languishing behind, competing with Ghana and the likes. Even the Arabs are catching up when once, Malaysia was instantly recognized as the most modern of countries with a Muslim majority along with Turkey. The horrifying thing is, these seasoned politicians, especially from BN, are proud that we are competing with backwater African countries instead of modern East Asian and European states!

First world infrastructure, third world mentality, they say. Indeed.

Ironically, it will take younger generation politicians with fresh ideas to give our politics the maturity our country urgently needs. It will take new politicians to develop first world mentality by implementing good policies to cope with the changing world.

This is why this blog endorses the candidacy of Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

Public domain.

Enough of politicians whom are stuck in the past, with their outdated mode of thinking, with their inflexibility. Enough of politicians that still resound the specter of May 13 to gain support. We are the future and we deserve better. We need new policies to meet new challenges and achieve greater height.

We want ideas, not threats, not freebies, not feel good news but ideas.

Categories
Activism Liberty Politics & government

[1563] Of Nik Nazmi’s manifesto and putting bloggers into office

Friend Nik Nazmi is running for election and he has produced a video articulating his agenda for his constituency.

[youtube]QE0qA8H-g60[/youtube]

At the Malay College, we used to joke that he would be the first among our class to be thrown into prison, courtesy of ISA. We did not joke about him being the first among our class to run for public office.

Public domain.

Friends. Remember to blog about Nik Nazmi tomorrow as part of an initiative to put bloggers into public office!

While I am at it, allow me to touch a criticism directed at the effort made by Siber Party of Malaysia. They wrote:

While we read blogs and we do operate a blog, it is only our platform and website to inform the good citizens of Malaysia about our views and policies on matters that concern all Malaysians.

Which also means we are not going to support a blogger because he or she is a blogger. we want to know their stand, their approach, their policies, philosophies, politics on all things Malaysian and the world. [Between axes. Siber Party of Malaysia. February 25 2008]

I absolutely agree that we should not support a candidate just because the candidate is a blogger. Yet, I need to point out that the criticism misses the whole point of the initiative: the initiative at its heart is about freedom. I wrote ‘liberty’ or ‘freedom’ no less than 4 times in emails that I sent out to probably 100 bloggers and the entry which introduces the initiative.

The idea behind the effort is to put those that embrace freedom of expression into public offices. From these offices, they have opportunities to defend their and our freedom from tyranny. I honestly believe the bloggers whom I have listed believe in freedom of speech, which is essential to blogging. Elizabeth Wong has probably been doing something for liberty when I was in diaper (okay, that is an exaggeration). Jeff Ooi knows what freedom of expression is, especially when it revolves around blogging and I know enough of Nik Nazmi to know that he appreciates freedom. TAs for Badrul Hisham a.k.a. chegubad, well, he is up against the son-in-law.

The crux of the message is freedom. Indeed, supporting a candidate just because he is a blogger does not make sense. I would certain not support a religious extremist‘s candidacy for public office just because he is a blogger.

So, Siber Party of Malaysia, are you willing to reconsider your position?

Categories
Activism Politics & government

[1558] Of putting bloggers into public office

Are you tired of politicians bad-mouthing us bloggers? Are you tired of our Information Minister calling us bloggers with unfaltering names? Or the son-in-law of an ineffective Prime Minister calling us monkeys?

I am. I have enough of that. Too long have I been patient, enduring insults from these politicians. I am angry and I want to get back at them.

The election is just around the corner and we bloggers have a rare opportunity to flex our muscle and show those folks that we are serious about in getting back at them. No, I am not talking about we — as they say — bashing these folks on our blogs. No. Instead, I am talking about bashing these folks in the Parliament as well as in various state assemblies.

Imagine, bloggers in the Parliament! These folks panic whenever we talk about them. I bet they will piss in their pants if bloggers challenge them in live debates! Enough of proxy wars. It is time to get out of the trenches, overcome the standoff and take the war to them. We are coming for them!

Remembers, these folks want to curtail our freedom of expression. They want to impose licenses on us, they have voiced suggestion to force us to register before we could blog. They want to control us!

The crucial battle for our freedom will be in the legislature. With bloggers in these halls, we could kill any ominous intention to rob us of our liberty before it could even gain momentum.

But first, we need to elect bloggers into the legislative halls. There are several bloggers running for office and they need our help. They need us to spread words of their candidacy. For our own sake, we must help them out and this is the game plan.

In the next few days, emails and messages will fly across the blogosphere, urging bloggers to blog about a blogger candidate on a particular day. With enough participants, we will create enough buzz for the candidate and with effort and a little bit of luck, see the effect spills into the real world. One candidate in one day.

These message could be anything, be it a one liner like “Vote Blogger X” or an endless epic essay on Blogger X. In the end, what we want is an endorsement of blogger candidates from as many bloggers as possible. Remember also to link to the Blogger X.

Here are the blogger candidates that I have identified for this initiative. Date of action is listed in the corresponding parenthesis.

  1. Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Friday, February 29)
  2. Tony Pua (Saturday, March 1)
  3. Elizabeth Wong (Sunday, March 2)
  4. Jeff Ooi (Monday, March 3)
  5. che’GuBard (Tuesday, March 4)

Is there any other blogger candidate? Do propose but remember, we are highlighting bloggers whom are running for offices, bloggers that identify with the blogosphere, not candidates with blogs set up just for the election. Bloggers whom are bloggers before they’ are politicians!

So, are you in or are you out? Netroot arise !