Speech by M.Kula Segaran MP Ipoh Barat and DAP National Vice Chairman at Ipoh City Country Club organized by DAP Ipoh Timur on a work shop entitled “orientation and election preparation”

Speech by M.Kula Segaran MP Ipoh Barat and DAP National Vice Chairman at Ipoh City Country Club organized by DAP Ipoh Timur on a work shop entitled “orientation and election preparation”

General Election sooner than later?

The nation’s last general election was held in March 2008.The 13th general election is therefore not due until 2013.

But since Datuk Sri Najib assumed the office of Prime Minister, there have been speculations that snap polls or early general election will be held.

So when will general election be held? This is a question not even Paul the Octopus can tell.

But when it is held, it may come as a surprise.

Parliament to be dissolved next year?

Recently, Prime Minister Najib had said the government would not dissolve parliament to make way for the general election based on one opinion that people favoured him, but the election date would in fact be a surprise to all.

Before the recent Sibu by election, there was speculation that Najib might hold Parliamentary and Sarawak state elections simultaneously. But the unexpected BN’s loss in Sibu has upset his plans.

So when will he dissolve parliament?

I believe that Najib will dissolve the Parliament not later than second half of next year due to three factors:-

1. Worldwide economic downturn expected in 2011
2. He will want to take advantage  of the people’s general attitude of  “give the new leader a chance” .Such advantage will decrease with long delay when his government is unable to deliver more than is expected of him.
3. He will want to seek his own mandate as the nation’s new Prime Minister

Sarawak factor

There is now strong speculation that if BN does well in the Sarawak state election, then Najib will dissolve Parliament early next year, probably in March 2011.

Sarawak state election is due by May 2011 but it is expected to be held this year.

However, if Sarawak state election is held soon after Hari Raya and BN performs well, I will not rule out the possibility of Najib dissolving Parliament even this year.

Of course, if Sarawak state election is only held next year, then Najib’s promise for a surprise election may come true, a simultaneous holding of the Parliamentary and Sarawak state elections.

March towards Putra Jaya

Next general election will be a most crucial election for the nation as it will be an election for the first time in our nation’s electoral history where many political analysts believe there exists the real possibility of a change of Federal Government.

In the past, it was always a foregone conclusion that BN would continue to rule.

Hence, we must expect BN to go all out in all aspects to stop the Pakatan Rakyat’s electoral objective of “March Towards Putrajaya.” It would not be surprising if BN uses all it’s resources in what ever way and tactic it can, namely money, threat and the media to win. We should expect the next election to be the dirtiest and the ugliest ever!

We need to be a lot more prepared compared to the 12 th general election. We must be better prepared in all aspects, including even to have better quality and winnable candidates.

In the next general election, a voter swing of 10 % will mean a loss of about 50 parliamentary seats either for  BN or Pakatan Rakyat. 

Lets work hard to ensure that the 10 % voter swing is in our favour so as to bring about a better government and a better Malaysia for all Malaysians, irrespective of race, religion, class and creed.

M. Kulasegaran (012-5034346)

Dato’ Ngeh Koo Ham - Perakians are mourning. Do not force us to celebrate. If forced to fly the flag, can we fly half mast?

I refer to the statement by the Mayor of Ipoh, Datuk Roshidi Hashim that shops that do not fly the national flag on National (Independence) Day, or the state flag on the Sultan’s birthday will risk their licences withdrawn.

Perakians are mourning as they can no longer choose their own government just like colonial days. Democracy is dead in Perak. Hundreds of police surround and take hold of the Perak State Assembly building whenever the Assembly sits. The legitimate speaker, Mr.V.Sivakumar was forcibly removed by the police from the State Assembly on the bidding of BN. The police broke laws with impunity because they carry out their actions according to BN’s instructions. Perak in virtually a police state. State Assembly is no longer a place to debate and discuss the affairs of the state. Elected representatives are no longer allowed to speak freely. Annual Budget is approved within 20 minutes and State Assembly is over within a day. For Perakian and Malaysians who symphatise with us, there is nothing to celebrate on this 31st August our national independence day.

Allow Perakians to mourn for this may be soothing to their souls. Allow them to wear black coloured shirts or even fly black coloured flags on 31st August, if that will help to alleviate the injustice that they are subjected to.

Has the Mayor of Ipoh been directed by BN Government of Perak to enforce the above said ruling? It sounds like imperial masters of the past forcing patriotism on the conquered subjects. It is like the Japanese who conquered the then Malaya and using force on the people of Malaya to host the Japanese flag and swear allegiance to the Imperial Japanese Government.

If the BN government and the Mayor of Ipoh insist that shop owners must fly the flags, may I ask if they are allowed to fly half mast?


Dated this 17th day of August 2010.

DATO’ NGEH KOO HAM
(MP for Beruas & State Assemblyman for Sitiawan)

M. Kulasegaran : Let me remind Dato Veerasingam that if MIC is not able to help in protecting the DIA land, it should at least not hamper or criticize the DAP‘s efforts to do so

It is reported today that Perak MIC chief Datuk Veerasingam has slammed Pakatan Rakyat for allegedly inciting the Indians in Sitiawan over the Government’s decision to take over the Dindings Indian Association (DIA) land to build a school.

The report says, “Giving assurance that the MIC would ensure that the prime land remained with the association, state party chairman Datuk S. Veerasin­gam said Penang Deputy Chief Minister Dr P. Ramasamy and Padang Serai MP N. Gobalakrishnan should stop inciting Indians in the town to hold a demonstration on the matter”.

Veerasingam also said there were other areas available nearby which the Education Ministry could also acquire to build the school.

Apparently Veerasingam was saying that MIC is against the acquisition but only has issue with the holding of a demonstration. 

Let me make it clear that DAP or Pakatan Rakyat do not engage in the business of inciting the people.

It is our duty and responsibility to make the people aware of the issue involved and to mobilize them to show their clear and public stand .

While MIC only believes in talking, we believe that it is the people’s right to air their legitimate grievances and state their stand via all democratic, legitimate and peaceful avenues, including the holding of a peaceful gathering.

If Datuk Veerasingam is truly opposing the land acquisition, he should respect the people’s right to peacefully gather and support DAPS’s call that the Indian community should turn up in full force at the Hearing scheduled on August 25, 2010. 

If MIC is truly opposing the Federal government’s acquisition move, then its Cabinet member Datuk Subramanian should raise the issue in tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting to get the proposed acquisition immediately rescinded.

Empty talk like “giving assurance that the MIC would ensure that the prime land would remain with the DIA”convinces no one.

In fact, if MIC was effective and BN government had learned its lesson from the 2008 general election results, such proposed acquisition which is insensitive, unfair, unnecessary and unjustifiable will not have taken place at all.

Let me remind Datuk Veerasingam that if MIC is not able to help in protecting the DIA land, it should at least not hamper or criticize the DAP‘s efforts to do so.


M. Kula Segaran
012-5034346

M.Kula Segaran : DAP has been calling on the Election Commission to make it automatic for all citizens reaching the eligible age to become registered voters.

Speech by M.Kula Segaran MP Ipoh Barat and DAP National Vice Chairman  at the meeting of "Assistant Registrars" at Perak DAP HQ on 14August2010

New voters will be a significant factor in the Pakatan Rakyat’s battle to capture both Perak and Federal power in the next general election.

According to statistics released by Election Commission, there were about half a million eligible Perakians who had yet to register themselves as voters.This constituted about one third of the 1.3 million eligible voters in the state.

Nationally, about 3 million eligible citizens had yet to register. It is pathetic that for a nation which has had 13 general elections, the majority of these unregistered voters have not signed themselves as eligible voters.

Registration of new voters is an important responsibility of the Election Commission (EC). Hence, the only conclusion we can make is that EC has failed to do its job.

It should not be the job of the political parties, but DAP has tried to play its part in registering new voters.59 DAP Assistant Registration Officers were appointed, and DAP Perak has been carrying out new voter registration campaign over the last few months.  .

Sad to say, though DAP has been very aggressive in carrying out the campaign, the number of new   voters we have managed to register is still minimal compared with the half million Perakians who ought to register themselves as voters.

This is why DAP has been calling on the Election Commission to make it automatic for all citizens reaching the eligible age to become registered voters.

But for obvious political reasons, neither the Election Commission nor the BN government is prepared to implement such a plan.Hence, DAP and PR component parties will have to treble our efforts to ensure more Malaysians sign up as voters before the next election.

Undoubtedly, new voters will be a significant factor in the Pakatan Rakyat’s battle to capture both Perak and Federal power in the next general election.

Therefore, I call on all PR supporters to help the voter registration campaign by getting their next of kins, neighbors, friends and colleagues who are eligible to sign up as voters to immediately do so that they can help bring about PR’s victories in the next general election.

M. Kula Segaran
012-5034346

BN Perak Menteri Besar does not want the State Assembly to function properly

Media Statement

Dato’ R. Ganesan, the chairperson of the Perak State Assembly sitting on 3/8/2010 acted against the fundamental purpose of a legislative assembly and breached the legislative assembly convention when he ordered Dato’ Seri Nizar Bin Jamaluddin out of the State Assembly.
Dato’ Seri Zambry, BN Perak Menteri Besar does not want the State Assembly to function properly.

The media were not aware of the events in the Perak State Assembly before Dato’ Seri Nizar Bin Jamaluddin, as opposition leader stood up to speak during the 3/8/2010 sitting. This is because they were not allowed into the State Assembly (except the pro BN media) and were placed in a glass enclosed area where they cannot hear the proceedings unless BN appointed technicians turn on the microphone in the State Assembly.

Dato’ R. Ganesan had ruled that Dato’ Seri Nizar as opposition leader be given 15 minutes to speak and the other elected representatives be given only 10 minutes to speak. He also ruled that the sitting will only be for one day. This has sparked protest and objection from Dato’ Seri Nizar and PR elected representatives as this ruling make a mockery of the legislative assembly. The microphones were switch off so that the media cannot hear the protests and the hansard will not record the request by the PR elected representatives to have at least 4 to 5 days’ sitting.

The fundamental purpose of a legislative assembly is to allow elected representatives total freedom to speak before any enactment or bill is passed. The elected representatives are also expected to bring out all issues that affect their constituents. This is the place where elected representatives are expected to speak their minds. Laws have even been passed to protect elected representatives from being sued so that they are free to speak. Dato’ Ganesan’s rulings go against the fundamental purpose of the legislative assembly.

By convention, the Perak State Assembly does not limit the time an opposition leader can address the house. The only limitation the State Assembly imposed is that the speech of the elected representatives must be relevant and relate to the State of Perak.

In 2004 when I was the opposition leader, Dato’ Seri DiRaja Tajol Rosli of Barisan Nasional who was then the Perak Menteri Besar allowed me to speak as long as I like and my speech normally takes about 3 hours to cover the various issues affecting the people and the State of Perak.

In 2008, when Pakatan Rakyat was in government with Dato’ Seri Nizar Bin Jamaluddin as Menteri Besar we also did not limit the time Dato’ Seri Tajol Rosli who was then the opposition leader to speak and he took about 2 ½ hours to deliver his speech.

It is the duty of Dato’ Seri Nizar and Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives to protest and object to the ruling by Dato’ R. Ganesan to limit speeches to 10-15 minutes which is ridiculous.

The Pakatan Rakyat representatives would have failed in their duty if they allow this ruling to stand as the people who elected them expect them to discuss and debate all issues affecting the people.

Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives have submitted more than 200 questions for the BN Government to answer. The 1 ½ hours allocated for Question and Answer session per day of sitting normally see only about 10 questions being answered. It is the intention of the BN Government not to answer the questions submitted by PR elected representatives.

The BN Menteri Besar, Dato’ Seri Zambry and his Exco must be willing to be questioned like the Prime Minister and his cabinet in Parliament. If they do not want to be accountable to the people, then they should resign honourably. They cannot be allowed to take high pay and enjoy all the perks which are paid by the people and yet not be accountable to the people.

The 3/8/2010 sitting clearly show that Dato’ Seri Zambry, the Menteri Besar together with his Exco who were rejected by the people but gain power through despicable means and assisted by the court do not actually want the State Assembly to function.

The majority of the people who do not trust Dato’ Seri Zambry and his Exco have been proven right as Zambry and his Exco do not want an open debate which will expose them.

To the small group of the people who have asked us to give BN a chance to operate, the events on 3/8/2010 sitting and the earlier sittings clearly show that BN Perak does not want the Perak State Assembly to operate.

Dated this 6th day August 2010.


DATO’ NGEH KOO HAM
MP for Beruas and
State Assemblyman for Sitiawan

Media Statement by Dato' Ngeh Koo Ham on 04-08-2010

Media Statement

Perak Menteri Besar, Dato’ Seri Zambry and the Perak State Secretary, Dato’ Dr Abdul Rahman must explain who instructed the State Assembly doors be pad locked and who gave instructions to  prohibit laptop computers from being brought into the Perak State Assembly when Dato’ Ganesan a/l Retanam who chaired the State Assembly yesterday has stated his stand otherwise.

Dato’ Ganesan a/l Retanam who chaired the Perak State Assembly yesterday upon my query ruled that laptop computers can be brought into the State Assembly and he also ordered that the doors on the opposition side that were pad locked be unlocked.

Prior to the sitting yesterday, the Perak State elected representatives had received a notice from Rumaizi Bin Baharin @ Md Daud, the secretary to the State Assembly that laptop computers and video cameras cannot be brought into the State Assembly. Rumaizi Bin Baharin @ Md Daud unfortunately is a civil servant employed by the state government seconded to the job.

I have queried Dato’ Ganesan why when it has been the policy of the State Assembly to encourage elected representative to bring laptop computers to the State Assembly have now been prohibited from doing so. In fact the State Assembly has in 2004 and 2008 budgeted and gave each elected representative a new laptop computer to enable State Assemblyman/ women quick access to information. The State Assembly has wireless internet connection for easy access to internet information. Dato’ Ganesan replied that laptop computers are allowed in the house.

I also queried why when the letter from Rumazi stated that video cameras are not allowed, BN has position people to openly video shoot the whole proceedings to which Dato’ Ganesan has no answer. When I complained that the doors of the State Assembly on the opposition side are pad locked, Dato’ Ganesan ordered the doors to be unlocked.

In the last sitting the doors on the opposition side were also pad locked and the opposition elected representatives have no choice but to walk across the Assembly hall to the other side to exit from the House. Some pro BN media have labeled us as rude and uncivilized for walking across the hall. I believe it is BN’s strategy to use this method to produce materials to paint PR elected representatives in a bad light.

Media representatives (except those appointed by BN) have no access to the Stated Assembly. They were quarantined in an glass ‘aquarium’ where they can hear only what BN wants them to hear i.e the microphone is switch on or off at the dictate of BN employed technicians.

Unless Dato’ Ganesan dare to cite Dato’ Seri Zambry and the State Secretary, Dato’ Dr Abdul Rahman for contempt of the august house, he should step down immediately rather be humiliated like a cow with its nose hooked and led by Zambry and Abdul Rahman.

Zambry and Abdul Rahman must answer to the public for the contempt they showed to the Perak State Assembly and putting it into disrepute.

Dated this 4th day of August 2010.
 
DATO’ NGEH KOO HAM
MP for Beruas & State Assemblyman for Sitiawan    

Program Prelude Hari Kemerdekaan

We, Sekretariat Wanita Pakatan Rakyat, is organising Program Prelude Hari Kemerdekaan.

Pls refer details below:

Date    : 8 Ogos 2010
Time    : 2 pm – 6 pm
Venue  : Dewan Taming Sari
      Silveritage, Medan Gopeng
      Jalan Raja Dr Nazrin Shah ( Jalan Gopeng )
      Ipoh, Perak

Charges : RM 5.00

PARTICIPANTS : ONLY FEMALE

This is a 'Hi-Tea' program where 3 prominent ladies from each party will be giving speeches on selected topics respectively.


V. Shasha
012-5599 104