http://opinions.sinchew-i.com/node/19773
2011-06-17 19:17
兩週前我率領檳州行政團隊，到中國考察。從中國2200年前的兵馬俑，到近代由北京城建興建的水立方、奧運鳥巢，我們見識中國過去的輝煌世代，以及目前逐漸恢復的光輝。
參觀兵馬俑，再考察西安如何保護古跡，我們不只是參觀一個景點，而是閱讀那個朝代的精華。早在2200年前，也就是秦始皇的朝代，中國已經以鉻鹽氧化處理技術（Chrome Plating）製作兵馬俑，這是一個防腐性高、避免兵馬俑生銹的技術。
在人類史上，德國在20世紀初才真正被科學家發現的技術，原來中國早在秦始皇年代就採用了。當時中國的輝煌，或者說秦始皇的著名，並不只是因為他的殘忍，也不只是他統治中國的功夫，而是它的科學發明，兵馬俑和萬里長城，寫下了中國歷史的里程碑。
看回今天的中國，他的“元氣”恢復了，眼前的水立方和鳥巢，見證了中國建築技術上的進步。今天的青藏鐵路—一條從青海銜接至西藏首都拉薩，目前世上海平線最高的鐵路，也是中國創下的歷史。
給我印象最深刻的，就是實地考察興建中的北京9號線，從軍事博物館站到東釣魚台站的地下隧道工程。這條建在一條河、兩個湖底下的隧道，深30公尺、全長1.2公里，目前只剩下200公尺的路未竣工。
我們近距離巡視工程，看著工友們一邊以高科技機械挖掘泥土，才騰出空間，另一批工友就快速給“新鮮”挖好的隧道，貼上隔水牆壁，絲毫不像我國那動不動就漏水的精明隧道。
也因為我們距離太近，所以大家都被噴得滿身黃泥。不過，這是值得的，親眼考察工程，也對北京城建的技術充滿信心。
中國當今在全球的影響力，除了是它的“硬實力”之外，潛藏著那一股人才潮中的“軟實力”，才是中國當今強大的理由。
說回檳城，我們放眼栽培人才、鼓吹創業及企業家精神。我們不只是用嘴講，我們在短短3年內，先成立檳城科學理事會，鼓勵學生接觸科學發明；接著成立中小型企業中心（讓科技新秀以低於市場租金創業），以及教導下一代科學家、展示州內高科技產品的科技中心。
外資固然重要，因為他給你開路，但是，真正能帶動、進而讓你更上一層樓的，其實是集中在中小型企業裡的科技和人才這些“軟實力”。上述的中心花費不少，但想到：若我們要掌握未來，我們就得投資未來，不投資就沒收穫，尤其是軟實力這種千金難買的內涵。（星洲日報／言路‧作者：林冠英‧檳州首席部長）
Showing posts with label THE CORRIDORS OF POWER. Show all posts
Showing posts with label THE CORRIDORS OF POWER. Show all posts
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Love is more powerful than hate
http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/39824-love-is-more-powerful-than-hate
If the opposition wins 35% of the votes, Barisan Nasional will win 90% of the seats. If the opposition wins 45% of the votes, Barisan Nasional will still rule with a two-thirds majority. If the opposition wins 50% of the votes, Barisan Nasional will still rule with a simple but large majority. If the opposition wins 55% of the votes, Barisan Nasional will still rule with a very slim majority. If the opposition wins 60% of the votes, then Barisan Nasional would probably lose the government. If the opposition wins 65% of the votes, then Barisan Nasional will for sure lose the government.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
BN needs to study why it lost Chinese backing, says Khairy
(The Star) -- Barisan Nasional must continue to look after the interests of the Chinese community despite losing their support in the Sarawak election, said Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said Barisan needed to study why it lost the support of the Chinese community and take remedial action.
“I don’t agree with the argument that Barisan need not take care of the Chinese because they are not supporting the coalition.”
“We must pay attention to the needs of all races and demonstrate our intentions through action. We have to be fair to everyone,” he said after attending the Selangor MCA Youth forum here yesterday.
Khairy said Barisan had to admit that the Sarawak election results were poor compared to the last state election despite retaining a two-thirds majority.
This is because the Opposition had managed to capture more than double the seats compared with the seven seats it won in 2006, he said.
“The state election is a wake-up call. It will have an effect on the general election and we have to do more,” he said.
Khairy also said PKR could no longer call the shots in Sarawak after it was overtaken by the DAP as seen by the number of seats won by the two parties.
***************************************
The aftermath of the Sarawak state elections are questions/discussions about why Pakatan Rakyat could not deny Barisan Nasional its two-thirds majority in the Sarawak state assembly, why the Chinese swung to the opposition but not the others, why Pakatan won 45% of the popular vote but only 21% of the seats, how come the people do not hate Barisan Nasional and/or Taib Mahmud enough to kick them out, how come the crowds at the opposition rallies were enormous but it still could not translate to votes, and so on.
These are actually very old issues/topics/questions and I have spoken/written about them many, many times, even on the eve of the Sarawak state election in my Radio Australia interview, which you can hear at this link: (http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/no-holds-barred/39762-my-12-minute-interview-with-radio-australia).
In 2000, I wrote an article that was published in Harakah, the party newspaper of PAS: “The wakeup call that did not wake us up”. (http://www.freeanwar.net/April2004/Harakah_030404.htm)
In February 2003, I wrote an article that was published in the Free Anwar Campaign website: “The opposition needs to get its act together”. (http://www.freeanwar.net/june2002/facnews230802a.htm)
In September 2003, I wrote an article that was published in the Free Anwar Campaign website: “Tawan Kedah: Pipedream or pipeline?” (http://www.freeanwar.net/July2003/1999_Election_Analysis.htm)
In January 2004, I wrote an article that was also published in the Free Anwar Campaign website: “Only a revolution and not evolution can bring about change”. (http://www.freeanwar.net/Jan2004/facnews260104.htm)
In March 2004, I wrote an article that was published in the same website: “Crowds don’t translate to votes”. (http://www.freeanwar.net/Mar2004/Harakah_100304.htm)
Those were just some of the many articles I wrote and which were published in Harakah, Berita Keadilan (later called Seruan Keadilan) and the Free Anwar Campaign website.
I really don’t know whether I should repeat everything I have said before. Anyway, if you want to know what I have been saying from way back in 2000, just click those links and read on.
For those who do not like to read, which is basically the majority of Malaysians, let me summarise what I have been saying all these years.
First, don’t be fooled by the crowd turnout. In so many general elections and by-elections, the opposition attracts crowds in the tens of thousands while Barisan Nasional struggles to attract 100 people. But when the votes are counted, Barisan Nasional is the one who wins.
Second, you can’t hope for the voters to vote for you merely because they hate a certain leader or a certain party. You have to get them to vote for you because they love you and/or trust you. It must be a unity of love, not a unity of hate.
Third, if you depend on voters to vote for you because they are Chinese and you are also Chinese, or they are Muslim and you are also Muslim, then you have a very small market. You need to cut across racial and religious boundaries and get universal acceptance.
Fourth, as Peter Shroeder, the political adviser from Germany, said in 2001: voters the world over -- whether in Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, or Asia -- are all the same. The majority of them are selfish. They will want to know what they get for voting for you. It is not about ideals. It is about “what’s in it for me?” -- lower taxes, more money in my pocket, free education and medical benefits, better employment opportunities, welfare if I am not employed, housing, lower utility costs, etc.
Fifth, if the opposition wins 35% of the votes, Barisan Nasional will win 90% of the seats. If the opposition wins 45% of the votes, Barisan Nasional will still rule with a two-thirds majority. If the opposition wins 50% of the votes, Barisan Nasional will still rule with a simple but large majority. If the opposition wins 55% of the votes, Barisan Nasional will still rule with a very slim majority. If the opposition wins 60% of the votes, then Barisan Nasional would probably lose the government. If the opposition wins 65% of the votes, then Barisan Nasional will for sure lose the government.
Sixth, it is almost impossible for the opposition to win 60%-65% of the votes.
So there you have it. No, this is not an “I told you so” article. This is a “is the opposition on the right track” article. Granted the playing field is not level and there is extreme fraud and gerrymandering. But so was there in the last election and every election since Merdeka and every election from now till the end of time.
As Lee Iacocca said: don’t get mad, get even. The question is: what will the opposition need to do to get even? Hey, I am not the politician. Let the politicians answer that one. But whatever it may be, time and time again it has been proven you can’t win the election through ‘normal’ means. You will need a Tsunami. Only when you get a Tsunami will the swing be big enough to offset all the obstacles and handicaps that the opposition is faced with. If not, then the opposition is going to remain the opposition for a long time to come, except maybe in a few states.
If the opposition wins 35% of the votes, Barisan Nasional will win 90% of the seats. If the opposition wins 45% of the votes, Barisan Nasional will still rule with a two-thirds majority. If the opposition wins 50% of the votes, Barisan Nasional will still rule with a simple but large majority. If the opposition wins 55% of the votes, Barisan Nasional will still rule with a very slim majority. If the opposition wins 60% of the votes, then Barisan Nasional would probably lose the government. If the opposition wins 65% of the votes, then Barisan Nasional will for sure lose the government.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
BN needs to study why it lost Chinese backing, says Khairy
(The Star) -- Barisan Nasional must continue to look after the interests of the Chinese community despite losing their support in the Sarawak election, said Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said Barisan needed to study why it lost the support of the Chinese community and take remedial action.
“I don’t agree with the argument that Barisan need not take care of the Chinese because they are not supporting the coalition.”
“We must pay attention to the needs of all races and demonstrate our intentions through action. We have to be fair to everyone,” he said after attending the Selangor MCA Youth forum here yesterday.
Khairy said Barisan had to admit that the Sarawak election results were poor compared to the last state election despite retaining a two-thirds majority.
This is because the Opposition had managed to capture more than double the seats compared with the seven seats it won in 2006, he said.
“The state election is a wake-up call. It will have an effect on the general election and we have to do more,” he said.
Khairy also said PKR could no longer call the shots in Sarawak after it was overtaken by the DAP as seen by the number of seats won by the two parties.
***************************************
The aftermath of the Sarawak state elections are questions/discussions about why Pakatan Rakyat could not deny Barisan Nasional its two-thirds majority in the Sarawak state assembly, why the Chinese swung to the opposition but not the others, why Pakatan won 45% of the popular vote but only 21% of the seats, how come the people do not hate Barisan Nasional and/or Taib Mahmud enough to kick them out, how come the crowds at the opposition rallies were enormous but it still could not translate to votes, and so on.
These are actually very old issues/topics/questions and I have spoken/written about them many, many times, even on the eve of the Sarawak state election in my Radio Australia interview, which you can hear at this link: (http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/no-holds-barred/39762-my-12-minute-interview-with-radio-australia).
In 2000, I wrote an article that was published in Harakah, the party newspaper of PAS: “The wakeup call that did not wake us up”. (http://www.freeanwar.net/April2004/Harakah_030404.htm)
In February 2003, I wrote an article that was published in the Free Anwar Campaign website: “The opposition needs to get its act together”. (http://www.freeanwar.net/june2002/facnews230802a.htm)
In September 2003, I wrote an article that was published in the Free Anwar Campaign website: “Tawan Kedah: Pipedream or pipeline?” (http://www.freeanwar.net/July2003/1999_Election_Analysis.htm)
In January 2004, I wrote an article that was also published in the Free Anwar Campaign website: “Only a revolution and not evolution can bring about change”. (http://www.freeanwar.net/Jan2004/facnews260104.htm)
In March 2004, I wrote an article that was published in the same website: “Crowds don’t translate to votes”. (http://www.freeanwar.net/Mar2004/Harakah_100304.htm)
Those were just some of the many articles I wrote and which were published in Harakah, Berita Keadilan (later called Seruan Keadilan) and the Free Anwar Campaign website.
I really don’t know whether I should repeat everything I have said before. Anyway, if you want to know what I have been saying from way back in 2000, just click those links and read on.
For those who do not like to read, which is basically the majority of Malaysians, let me summarise what I have been saying all these years.
First, don’t be fooled by the crowd turnout. In so many general elections and by-elections, the opposition attracts crowds in the tens of thousands while Barisan Nasional struggles to attract 100 people. But when the votes are counted, Barisan Nasional is the one who wins.
Second, you can’t hope for the voters to vote for you merely because they hate a certain leader or a certain party. You have to get them to vote for you because they love you and/or trust you. It must be a unity of love, not a unity of hate.
Third, if you depend on voters to vote for you because they are Chinese and you are also Chinese, or they are Muslim and you are also Muslim, then you have a very small market. You need to cut across racial and religious boundaries and get universal acceptance.
Fourth, as Peter Shroeder, the political adviser from Germany, said in 2001: voters the world over -- whether in Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, or Asia -- are all the same. The majority of them are selfish. They will want to know what they get for voting for you. It is not about ideals. It is about “what’s in it for me?” -- lower taxes, more money in my pocket, free education and medical benefits, better employment opportunities, welfare if I am not employed, housing, lower utility costs, etc.
Fifth, if the opposition wins 35% of the votes, Barisan Nasional will win 90% of the seats. If the opposition wins 45% of the votes, Barisan Nasional will still rule with a two-thirds majority. If the opposition wins 50% of the votes, Barisan Nasional will still rule with a simple but large majority. If the opposition wins 55% of the votes, Barisan Nasional will still rule with a very slim majority. If the opposition wins 60% of the votes, then Barisan Nasional would probably lose the government. If the opposition wins 65% of the votes, then Barisan Nasional will for sure lose the government.
Sixth, it is almost impossible for the opposition to win 60%-65% of the votes.
So there you have it. No, this is not an “I told you so” article. This is a “is the opposition on the right track” article. Granted the playing field is not level and there is extreme fraud and gerrymandering. But so was there in the last election and every election since Merdeka and every election from now till the end of time.
As Lee Iacocca said: don’t get mad, get even. The question is: what will the opposition need to do to get even? Hey, I am not the politician. Let the politicians answer that one. But whatever it may be, time and time again it has been proven you can’t win the election through ‘normal’ means. You will need a Tsunami. Only when you get a Tsunami will the swing be big enough to offset all the obstacles and handicaps that the opposition is faced with. If not, then the opposition is going to remain the opposition for a long time to come, except maybe in a few states.
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