Dear friends, I have attended the dialogue organised by Nanyang Siang Pao at Puchong a few days ago.
When the dialogue was going on half-way, a man named Subramaniam went to the microphone and scolded me loudly and emotionally on the appointment of municipal councilors. He said Indian folks have voted for the DAP and Pakatan Rakyat parties, but we did not put that many Indians in municipal councils.
I let him aired his anger and then I replied to him and others on the appointment of councilors. I said in each municipal council, we need to accommodate representatives from three parties of Pakatan Rakyat. Each party nominate NGO reps to be councillors too.
We can’t interfere in the people and race that each party nominates, and there are too many people qualified to be councilors. This made our selection and choice become very difficult. So, most of the time we don’t really look at race of the councilors but we made our decision base on their qualification and representation.
I cited the example of Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya (MPSJ). MPSJ covers three Parliamentary constituencies, i.e, Puchong, Subang and Serdang. That means each party in these constituencies must have representatives as councilors, besides, PR also have a say in the appointment of councilors. This means that the choice of DAP is limited. This made us look at qualification and experiences of each candidate rather than their race. In fact, I have tried to push at least three Indians as MPSJ councilors, but none of them were from Puchong. Again, I tried to nominate them not because they are Indians, but because of their qualification and experiences.
This trouble-maker Subramaniam refused to listen to me, while I was explaning, he and his gang held placards at the back of the audience and they created commotion in the hall.
Some audience quietly left the hall for afraid of fight and quarrels after that. The organiser, Nanyang Siang Pau’s top management and editors also looked panicky and worried. However, I was quite cool and calm, I am not afraid at all. I told my staff to call the police to come in.
The dialogue was then halted at about 10pm before everyone able to ask their questions and present their views to us. The chair of the forum quicily ended it due to the commotion.
I was very cheesed off by what had happened in the forum. I was then told by my members that Subramaniam has applied to be councilor but he did not get it. He has printed his name card and handed them to many before the PR government announced the councilor list. He was pretty upset for not getting the appointment. This guy has been a DAP member for some years, he has since joined PKR. However, he has been kept scolding DAP for not appointing Indian to be municipal councilors, and I wonder why didn’t he scold PKR since he is a PKR member? Why does he want to create trouble for us?
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“However, he has been kept scolding DAP for not appointing Indian to be municipal councilors, and I wonder why didn’t he scold PKR since he is a PKR member? Why does he want to create trouble for us?” – Teresa
It’s just as well that nobody appointed him!
What with his logic, he is clearly not a suitable candidate.
So, did the police come and arrest him?
Hi Teresa,
I must say although I disagreed the view of race-based appointment… I’m not that comfortable with the municipal councilors appointment…
Too controversial I would say… The appointment is tough enough… but the “perception” (or maybe truth) that the appointment is employed as a tool in building a comfortable foundation for the coming party election, DAP in this case, just can’t be brushed off…
It is obvious that some appointed his/her own assistant… Some were surprisingly appointed from a far-away branch etc etc…
Noone can please everyone… but some actions or decisions make people more unhappy than the others… 😉 and as a supporter and a voter for DAP… I feel rather shaken over these actions… 🙁
Well done Teresa! You handled it firmly and well.
PKR should be informed of Subramaniam’s disruptions and should be reprimanded by them. He is definately not good material for any political position and should be told so. We do not want this kind of disruptors in any opposition party. That is MIC kind of politics. Perhaps he belongs there.
The Indian community is perhaps expecting too much from DAP in too short a time. But I don’t think so. I think they are quite aware of limitations and constraints and could not quite care much for race representation (anymore). I think he and his gang is acting alone.
Well done again and I’m glad to stand by you on this one (as in the roast pork and pig farm issues in the recent past).
Helor Teresa,
I’m pity on your situation.This kind of people was taking chance to sabotage in public conference because of his disqualification to become a councilor. I think PKR is doing the right choice by not having this rude people to be leader in party.I believes party leaders are elected based on ratio, not that all the Indians vote for the PKR and DAP, hence all of them must be from Indians.
This Subramaniam guy must be having NUTS in his head! Maybe that why he was not appointed! Being a member from a multiracial party, (be it PKR or DAP) and fighting for one particular race, He should have join a raced-based party. This are NUTS which spoils Pakatan Rakyat’s image.
Well done, Teresa! I’m glad no violence happened. I’m also glad that guy wasn’t a councilor. We need to forget about race and concentrate on abilities/qualifications.
Hmm, First things first….
The dude….is sooooo……old minded leh…
Dei macha….look at our generation lah….. do we need to care of such things??? In real world reality, its a dog eat dog world where meritocracy is prioritized…..so no biggy.
And also…… could you have been say….. more in control when you started your ‘rant’? It makes one to seem like a fool when one is provided an answer that is logical.
Quote “He has printed his name card and handed them to many before…”
Ok… that’s a bit TOO EARLY isn’t it? Assumption is a very destructive force in life…seen it, been in it…
In addition, Quote
“He was pretty upset for not getting the appointment.”
So…..you were not chosen for there were more qualified people….Well…there’s a bigger fish in the world whether it may be in the past, present or future…..so…..WHAT THE **** DO YOU HAVE TO GO ON IN A RANT LIKE THAT??! YOU LOST SO DO WE CARE?! WE NEED THE BEST QUALITY AND SHE ALREADY TRIED TO WORK SOMETHING OUT. I KNOW THINGS LIKE THESE ARE A HECK OF A PROBLEM TO DEAL WITH. LIFE IS HARSH YEA BUT DON’T CHERISH YOUR PRIDE AS THAT. IT IS WHEN THINGS ARE LIKE THESE THAT PEOPLE SEE YOUR TRUE SELF.
Woooh….chill xP. Well Maam Teresa, I believe that those were the best tactics to use under the circumstances. There is the soft and the hard of warfare… One must know the power of diplomacy and reasoning and when finally forced to be able to push back in a counterattack hard and fast as the tip of lightning.
My 2 cents =p
Hello Teresa,
He should really join BN who is in need such talent. Look at that ‘Bung’ fellow in Parliament. He would have used placard if he could. Anyway, you did well to let him speak his mind before giving him an explanation. That move could have saved the day for you.
I hate to be crude, but you’ve got nuts bigger than his. Might be a good idea to introduce this ‘municipal councilor’ wannabe to Saiful Bukhari. Such an aide would be helpful with a ‘rejoinder’ whenever he needs BACK-up.
Hang in there girl. You make going to the petrol kiosk a little easier. It has grown rather tedious of late, to spew curses at Pak Lah whenever I need to fill up the car.
Teresa,
you come out of this better than Mister Subra
Whehter he has a point or not, he loses out morally by virtue (?) of his behaviour
If he can behave like this not being a councillor, one wonders how his performance is if he is appointed.
Gracious in defeat is what Malaysians need to learn.
Mr Subramaniam,
if you are reading this, please consider adopting a more positive approach.
find out why you are not in the list, do good deeds and work (or continue to do so), sow positive PR network, eventually you get noticed and a deserved place
No use banging the door and asking for a post if we want governance base on merti and capability.
all the best and you have said your piece. Maybe time to think and assess?
YB Teresa Kok,
What you did is right. Talk about race and you DAP plays into the hands of UMNO, MCA, MIC and other racial parties in the BN. I’m glad that you acted like a true politician. You must make people respect you not because you are a lady but a politician with unwavering principles, like Margaret Thatcher.
Regards
Yeah…you did fine in this case. One thing that we cannot escape is the reality that power corrupts but the lust for power really makes people nuts. The Alternative Front should make a point that all talk of racial politics should be avoided at all. Let it be known that the AF is all for a Malaysia when every man and woman can have her share of the pie according to his or her contribution and ability.