This morning, I just got to know Chong personally over breakfast and the main topic was Fong’s sudden shocking decision to give up and that her decision was final. His family runs the coffee shop opposite our usual one where the ceramah was held on Friday night.
After lunch, I walked past a coffee shop in Batu Gajah and the young proprietor called out to me to stay a while. His wife made a cup of tea and refused to accept payment. I told him I don’t have any more information than what everyone gets to read in the papers and yet he was eager to know what comments I have on what was happening. I can honestly say that I did not contact her at all, knowing her state of mind and the pressure from people all round. It is quite amazing how people can speculate and postulate over an MP’s political decision and I do not underestimate the information about the possible effects and backlash which can be expected from it. Without being too patronizing, based on feedback on the ground level, this is what I have:
that there are a disproportionately small number of actual DAP members in Batu Gajah (I would put this to the fear factor where most businessmen and government servants would not risk joining an opposition party) compared with the overwhelming support Po Kuan received in the last election, which caught many by surprise, including myself, as in the classroom where I was, it was only 50-50;
Assuming Po Kuan could not get along with Perak state DAP chairman, Ngeh and secretary, Ngo, as widely published in the papers, either of them should not take the place of Po Kuan in Batu Gajah, as there is a possibility of backlash from supporters who would act based on real or imaginary enmity between them;
The best person to take her place would be Thomas Su as they have worked well together, and she had openly recommended him, a fact which her supporters would take note in the coming election;
But I remember the quotes: ‘politics is the art of the impossible’ and 'there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics'. While there is a very slim chance of changing Po Kuan’s mind, I would venture to suggest what I have posted earlier: that she be given a state seat to contest in Batu Gajah as well as a sweetener or compromise to make her change her mind, especially now that she is married, she has to consider her husband's views as well.
Like everybody else here in Batu Gajah, we will be terribly disappointed to lose her as an MP, as well as to give such a bonus to Barisan Nasional.
I hope Malaysiakini can pick this up for more exposure to my blog on this matter. Thanks.
Government fed by the people
Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.
Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?
When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.
Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)
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