By Din Merican
I joined Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim on his visit to the rural heartland of Negri Sembilan on December 28, 2007. The journey took my colleagues (Sdr. Azmin Ali, Dato Kamarul Bahrin who is the KeADILan Chief for Negri Sembilan, Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Sdr. Saifuddin Nasution, and others) and I to Felda Pasoh 4 in Jelebu, Felda Palong 10 in Jempol, Pekan Rompin, Pekan Kuala Pilah and Pekan Linggi (near Port Dickson), Negri Sembilan. We criss-crossed the state,meeting interesting Malays, Indians and Chinese, who showed genuine concern about the economy, and the state of our national and local politics.
It was my first extensive trip to Negri Sembilan since 1967 when, as a central bank officer, I was exchanging old Currency Board notes for the new Ringgits issued by Bank Negara Malaysia. At that time, I was living in Seremban Rest House (from June-September, 1967). I was surprised that I could still recognise the places I visited and operated in some 40 years ago. This means that the much touted progress or development, corridors and what not, has not come to the people in the places we visited, and their lives and economic status have not changed very much. In stead, they have been burdened by rising cost of basic foods and services. That much for UMNO-BN propaganda!!
In his speeches during his various “politik berjiwa rakyat†sessions, the de facto KeADILan leader was candid and open. He brought a message of national unity, racial harmony and hope. His voice was one of moderation and temperance. He appealed to his audiences to vote for change and to make a difference. He then urged them to restore the honour and dignity to our country.
Let us move forward, he said, rather than dwell on the past. There is no time for bitterness (referring to years he spent under the ISA in 1974 in Kamunting and 6 years in Sungei Buloh) and revenge. He wanted to focus on the future and actions that should be taken to make Malaysia a truly great nation.
He explained, like he did in Penang and Kedah, to them that he was a target of a vicious UMNO campaign which sought to tell the Malays that he had become an Indian leader and a traitor to his own people. He was not worried about this, because as a Malay and a Muslim he sought justice for all. The rights of all Malaysians as guaranteed by the Constitution, he said, would be respected. He was for Malay rights (as embodied in Article 153 of the Constitution), Bahasa Malaysia, and Islam (not Islam Hadhari); he would support Indian rights for a better life, for respect of their place of worship, culture, and language, for better housing and schools ; and he would ensure that the Chinese community rights are equally respected. Under his leadership, the economy will be strong and vibrant. His government will be committed to maintaining high standards of good public governance with fiscal discipline.
Corruption, nepotism, and the blatant abuse of power must no longer be tolerated. These social ills have resulted in our loss of competitiveness with countries like Taiwan, South Korea and Taiwan, and our moral degeneration. The politics of ethnic division and animosity under UMNO-BN must cease as it would only lead to political instability and racial discord. It is now the time to vote for a government “yang berjiwa rakyatâ€Â, he told the enthusiastic and cheering Malays, Chinese and Indians who turned up in signficant numbers (in Linggi, he spoke to some 5,000 Malaysians) to listen to his speeches.
In Linggi, he praised the members of the Civil Service, the Police and the Military for their stellar service to our country over the last 50 years. He was sure that these services would again rise above petty politics.With ethical and competent leadership, they would be able to better serve the people. He looked forward to their support so that together and with the Blessings of Allah we can begin to rebuild the country.
The marathon sessions which began at Felda Pasoh 4 after immediately Friday prayers on December 28 and finished in Linggi at 12.15 am on December 29, 2007. It was a fitting end to this eventful year. The message from the people of Negri Sembilan is unequivocal. They want change now.
Credit must go to Dato Kamarul Bahrin and his team for an excellent and useful programme. Everything went according to schedule and the people of Negri Sembilan are ready to, and will vote for change in the coming elections.
Harap nanti adakan Ceramah Umum di Kuala Pilah. Malam hari tu semasa Perasmian Bilik Gerakan Kuala Pilah masa terlalu singkat sangat.
Inilah masalahnya DSAI, dah dekat sangat nak PRU baru betul-betul masuk kampung. Bukan salah DS, or Abang Din dan juga rombongan, sebab masa 1967 tu KeADILan pun belum ado laie. Tapi jenguk-jenguklah selalu kami ni, kalau sekali setiap 10-15 tahun baru buat lawatan menyeluruh macam ni, susah juga nak ‘menang’ di hati rakyat. Malaysia pun bukannya besar sangat. Walaupun DSAI sibuk, yang lain-lain mesti boleh turun padang sekali sekala.
Den ni bukanlah anak jati Pilah ke dsbnya, tapi jalan-jalan dan kampung-kampung kat situ bolehlah ’short-cut’ sikit-sikit, InsyaAllah. Buat pengetahuan, orang sini time ceramah dia pergi dengar, tepukan memang gemuruh, tapi bilo maso kiro peti undi nanti baru tahu ke mana sokongannya. Yang 5000 tu entah ke mana hilangnya nanti.
Jiwa dan semangat orang sini dah sebati sangat dengan UMNO dan BN. Sampai bawa sticker parti lain pun kereta boleh kena gores, orang kampung tak nak bertegur sapa, kalau tak kena tempat kenduri tidak bertamu. Bisik-bisik ‘Dia tu orang PAS/KeADILan’ bagai serakah yang menakutkan. Harap selepas lawatan, parti buat susulan. Kalau saya boleh petik azam Dato’Zahid Hamidi, jenguk kembali dalam 44 hari, InsyaAllah rakyat boleh berubah dan mengubah.
Konsep juang DSAI dan rakan-rakan saya hargai dan kagumi, Teruskan Sampai Berkesan. Rakyat dah muak, kualiti hidup dah makin senak, kita jangan berganjak!!
Terima kasih.
KeADILan bukan saja sebuah parti politik, tetapi juga perjuangan yang berjiwa rakyat untuk kepentingan rakyat.Selagi KeADILan tiada di negara kita, perjuangan kami belum selesai. Yang sedih ialah rakyat terutama sekali orang Melayu masih sokong UMNO sungguhpun ada banyak bukti yang nyata bahawa parti politik itu hanya mementingkan hak diri sendiri,hak keluarga dan hak kroni.
Orang Melayu mungkin tidak sedar bahawa negara menghadapi krisis kepimpinan. Mengapa orang Melayu begitu sentimentalis sekali dan tidak berani berubah pendirian mereka? Itu lah yang menjadi cabaran yang amat besar bagi PKR and rakan rakan kami.
Media urus perdana hanya siarkan propaganda Barisan Nasional, bukan informasi tentang keadaan ekonomi, politik dan sosial yang sebenarnya. Semua nya baik, kerajaan sekarang ini perfect…tipu rakyat pun baik, korupsi pun mulia, dan macam macam cerita donggeng pun okay. Kalau begini lah keadaan nya, Melayu akan hilang di dunia.
Sungguhpun demikian, kami tetap berjuang dan lawan tetap lawan. Selamat tahun baru.
Akum, pak din, kena translate laporan ni…masuk dalam suara keadilan…negeri sembilan ni sama dengan melaka kena gasak lebih sikit…
Sam
assalmualaikum dan salam sejahtera buat semua pendukung keadilan.sekarang bukan masa untuk bersedih.kita teruskan perjuangan ini.’mereka merancang,allah juga merancang.perancangan allah itulah yang sempurna’.memang di akui bukan mudah untuk kita dekati hardcore2 umno dkt kampung2.tapi itu bukan masalahnya.niatkan segala usaha kita kerana allah.moga kita dapat kejayaan di dunia dan akhirat.
Abang Din,
Perlu adakan kursus kepimpinan antara pimpinan Melaka dan Negeri Sembilan dengan segera.
Sekurang-kurangnya dapat mengurangkan segala kesulitan dan masalah. Jurang tidak kesefahaman sekiranya tidak dibendung akan memusnahkan impian rakyat…. kearah perubahan..!!!
Pastikan ketua AMK tidak ponteng…. dan panggil Tuan Hj Mustaffa Kamil Ayub membantu Abang Din….
Maklumat dari Pasir Salak….. Tuan Hj Mustaffa Kamil Ayub telah berkampung hampir 3 bulan disana….
Tenaga dan pengalaman Tuan Hj Mustaffa amat diperlukan untuk mengukuhkan dan mengurangkan segala permasalahan yang ada….
Ayuh Abang Din…..
Ganjaran segala usaha Abang Din… bukan diwaktu ini….. Tapi Allah menjanjikan kepada mereka yang ikhlas setelah kita menghembuskan nafas yang terakhir….!!
It has been sometime since my last note here which I feel has been of no value. Anyway, everyone has a right to an opinion that varies from another…..accepted. I remember some few months back I went for an operation at a private hospital, performed by a very skillful Chinese doctor, ….Malaysian of course. He gave me my health back and my heartfelt thanks goes to him and his team of dedicated nurses of all Malaysian races. During the operation, I had a blood transfusion and now I have blood from all races flowing in my veins responsible for giving me life just like my mother did. This is why I look at people as a human race and as individuals with individual thoughts and opinions. I also remember watching a documentary called ‘The journey of Man’. I hope you Mr Din has followed that documentary aired by Astro on the National Geographic Channel. In this programme, it is concluded that Man has a common ancestory proven through DNA testing. Our physical, mental and emotional evolution is the result of an ever changing environment. Our cultural, social, political, religious and traditional evolution are also the effects of a changing environment. We too have to evolve along with the flow. In short, I should say all of us are born to appreciate one another no matter what faults we make.
Wah Pak Din Merican kita nampak bersemangat, sebelum ni entah dimana dia berada, Allah sahaja yang mengetahui..
Itulah hakikatnya, hari ini ada muka baru bersama dengan semangat yang berkobar kobar, sedangkan orang semalam sudah jauh menghilang !! Muka berganti wajah, dari Candra Muzaffar, Abdul Rahman Osman, Mantan YB Pak Rahman, Nik, Anuar Shaari, Roslan Kassim, Hamdan Taha, Zahid Mat Arif amongst the “Dirty Dozen”, Lokman Adam, Dr Halili, Nalla Karuppan, Berhim Ali Datok Kaya Parti, Zunar dan ramai lagi…. sudah hilang dari pandangan dan hampir pupus dari ingatan .. Lalu disambut pula oleh para pelabur baru mencuba nasib menjelang pilihanraya yang akan datang ..
Datang dan pergi, dtg bersama semngat dan pergi bersama tokak dan nanah !!!
Kita lihat … giliran siapa pula selepas pilihanraya ini akan melintasi ‘balai berlepas” !!!!!