How should we judge a government?

In Malaysia, if you don't watch television or read newspapers, you are uninformed; but if you do, you are misinformed!

"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." - Malcolm X

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience - Mark Twain

Why we should be against censorship in a court of law: Publicity is the very soul of justice … it keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial. - Jeremy Bentham

"Our government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no
responsibility at the other. " - Ronald Reagan

Government fed by the people

Government fed by the people

Career options

Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?

When there's too much dirt...

When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.

Prevent bullying now!

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.)

Saturday, November 08, 2008

YB Liew Chin Tong and what comes to mind

Recently, I met up with a former colleague, Pet and in the course of conversation, the mention of DAP brought up the names of Liew Chin Tong and Ean Yong (pronounced in their Mandarin names). They were together in New Era College.

I have read Liew’s article 'Speaking for the reformasi generation' in The Malaysian Insider and this part of a sentence more or less confirmed ‘he is the one’.
‘With friends from New Era College, where I was a student of Chinese Literature…’

I always associate New Era College with Dr. Kua Kia Soong, a one time DAP MP who was disqualified on technicality when submitting his nomination form to stand for re-election. Once, I read about his background, still remember him as a graduate from Manchester University and originally from Batu Pahat, Johore. Again, by association, I cannot help thinking if he is a brother of Mickey Kua, our former lecturer in TAR College.

Many years ago, I attended a forum in MTUC building in Jalan Barat, PJ where Dr. Kua was one of the speakers, and I was sitting next to Dr. Tan Chee Khoon. On the way to the hall, my offer to help Dr. Tan up the stairs, was politely refused as he preferred to be independent.

I did a transcript once for Dr. Tan’s interview with Tan Koon Swan, Lee Lam Thye and Dr. Tan Chee Beng, if my memory serves me right. Having to listen to the tape over and over again to get what was actually spoken was difficult especially when it was an informal discussion.

My impression of Dr. Tan Chee Khoon was that of an impatient man. For example, when it was agreed that it would be ready on Friday, he tried on Wednesday hoping it was done!

I was invited to one of Dr. Tan’s book launches at the then Merlin Hotel. It was officiated by Sultan Azlan Shah and Tun Suffian was there too. Anyway, as I was standing next to Dr. Tan’s assistant, Ms. Wong, his daughter came over to introduce herself probably eager to find out who was this stranger, maybe wondering if I was Ms. Wong’s boyfriend!

Anyway, Dr. Kua Kia Soong's position as Principal of New Era College is in the balance with a group led by Dr. Yap trying to remove him, while a group of students are trying to stop the move. More than 10 years ago, Dr. Yap was in our housing development office to buy a shophouse from one of our purchasers. I still remember Pet got so excited knowing his standing in Chinese education movement.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dr Yap Tin Sian's ideas are out of sync with time. He is highly theoretical, no more. I was once his colleague and was most unimpressed with his performance.

KoSong Cafe said...

Thanks Bayi. Dr. Yap Sin Tian, if I'm not mistaken. I have no idea about the various Chinese educational bodies. Performance as a leader or as a teacher?

bayi said...

Yes, Dr Yap Sin Tian. My typo error. He was a senior manager on projects in China. No inkling about commercial sense.