Stop BN's Shadowy Constitutional Amendment: Write to your MP NOW!!

To quote from Haris Ibrahim's blog, "There they go again, messing about with our constitution for their own ends."

Whats up you ask? A very serious issue that few people are likely to care about, when infact everybody should.

On 20th November 2007, Nazri 'the nazi' (aka bodoh!bodoh!bodoh! from his famous outburst in parliament) tabled the bill that seeks to ammend the constitution so as to change the mandatory retirement age of Election Commision (SPR) members from 65 to 66.

So what you say? Heck, you're probably even wondering why on earth would the constitution need to be changed for such a trivial thing? Am I really making a fuss over nothing?

Well I hope you've also realised that they want to raise the retirement age by just one year! Why go through so much of effort just to raise the retirement age by one year? Heck if its just a year it don't really matter does it?

Well heres the thing, the chairman of the EC, Rashid Abd. Rahman, is due to retire on 31st December 2007! As we all know, its widely expected that elections will be held sometime next year? Hmmm..... something fishy isnt it? Why is the Gov rushing to extend Rashid's term Now? that too by just one year??

Clearly BN wants Rashid in the SPR for the upcoming elections. My guess is that they need Rashid so that the SPR can continue to 'toe the line' and ensure yet another overwhelming 'victory' for BN in the coming elections. If Rashid remains head of the SPR next year, I think it's almost certain that there's gona be more dead people rising up from the ground to vote for BN, 'tutup-satu-mata' cases when it comes to missing votes, and most importantly, Gerrymanderring. (more on gerrymanderring below)

Anyway, its late, and I don't feel like elaborating too much on what's going on. Please read this article instead. http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/people-we-got-rid-of-fairuz-now-get-rid-of-rashid/

The point is that this is an unwarrented and unjustified change to our constitution, of questionable nature, and strongly suspicious intentions. This amendment can only be to our disadvantage, and that is why its been kept so hushed up and mysterious. As i understand id, the mainstream Msian media dunt really say anything about it do they? Nor do MPs talk about it. Funny how they go about trying to secretly change our constitution.

So what do you do? As said in the article above, please Write to your MP!! Demand that they vote against this stupid amendment. Remind them that they are wakil rakyat not wakil parti, and as such have a duty to do as you want, and not toe the party line.

Tell your family, friends and neighbours to do the same. Tell them to tell their family friends and neighbours to write to their MP. (and while your at it, consider sending a copy of these letters to 'The Peoples Parliament')

You can get all the info on MPs at http://www.parlimen.gov.my/DewRakyat_AhliDewan_2.php

if your not sure about which constituency your in you can check here http://www.spr.gov.my/index/parlimen_dun/senarai_parlimen_dunBM.xls

To make life easier, Im just gona list the constituency, the areas which fall in this constituency n the MP for a few places which I think will be relavent to you guys.

Melaka:

Bukit Katil: - Ayer Keroh, Bukit Baru, Bukit Beruang, Bachang

• Dato Dr. Mohd Ruddin bin Abd. Ghani (UMNO):
• Kementerian Sains, Teknologi & Inovasi,Aras 7, Blok C5,Parcel C,Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,62662 Putrajaya.

Kota Melaka: - Melaka Town , Banda Hilir, Kota Laksamana

• Mr. Wong Nai Chee (MCA) :
• 52, Jalan Melaka Raya 32,Taman Melaka Raya, 75000 Melaka.

Klang Valley:

KL - Cheras:

• Mr. Tan Kok Wai (DAP)
• NO 532A, Batu 3 1/2,Jalan cheras,56100 Kuala Lumpur.

KL - Bukit Bintang: - Maluri, Kampung Pandan, KLCC (i think plz double check)

• Fong Kui Lun (DAP)
• No. 20-A, Lorong Brunei 2,55100 Kuala Lumpur.

KL - Titwangsa: - Kampung Baru, Dang Wangi (maybe)

• Datuk Astaman bin Abdul Aziz (UMNO)
• Pusat Khidmat Wakil Rakyat,Ahli Parlimen Titiwangsa,No 93, Lorong Raja Uda 2,Kampung Baru,50300 Kuala Lumpur.

Selangor - PJ Utara: -Damansara Utama, Damansara Jaya, TTDI(i think)

• Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun (MCA)
• Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat,Aras 6, Blok E, Kompleks Pejabat Kerajaan,Bukit Perdana Jalan Dato' Onn,50515 Kuala Lumpur.

Selangor - PJ Selatan: - PJ Hilton, Bukit Gasing, PJS 1 - 4, SS17, Taman Medan

• Dato Donald Lim Siang Chai (MCA)
• Kementerian Pelancongan,Tingkat 36, Menara Dato' Onn,Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra,50694 Kuala Lumpur.
  

Selangor - Kelana Jaya:- Subang Jaya, USJ, Seri Setia, Bdr Sunway(i think)

• Mr. Loh Seng Kok (MCA)
• Pusat Perkhidmatan Ahli Parlimen Kawasan Kelana Jaya,No:1-61, Jalan PJS 9/1A,Lagoon Perdana, Bandar Sunway,46150 Petaling Jaya.

Selangor - Puchong: Seri Serdang, Bdr Kinrara

• Mr. Lau Yeng Peng (Gerakan)
• No. 26, Jalan USJ 4/1J,Taman Seafield Jaya,Petaling Jaya,Selangor.

Selangor - Klang: Klang town, Port Klang

• Datin Paduka Dr. Tan Yee Kew (MCA)
• Kementerian Perdagangan Antarabangsa & Industri,Tingkat 14, Blok 10, Kompleks Pejabat Kerajaan, Jalan Duta,50622 Kuala Lumpur

Selangor - Shah Alam:- City, Batu Tiga

• Datuk Seri Abdul Aziz bin Shamsuddin (UMNO)
• Kementerian Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah, Aras 9, Blok D9,Parcel D, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,62502 Putrajaya.
  

Unfortunately, my MP is an UMNO man (and he dunt look too friendly either!), but still as my wakil rakyat he has a duty to listen to what I have to say. And I say that a constitutional ammendment is a big deal, no matter how trivial it may be (in this case its very trivial, 1 year, but with far reaching possible consequences)

So please, please write to your MP. Make your voice count. It probably wont make much of a difference, but at least you didnt sit down on ur butt and do nothing. People have asked me if they can just have one letter with many signatures. Obviously you can. its up to you. But I feel that sending many individual letters would have a better effect. Politicians seem to need constant prodding and reminding for things to sink into their heads. One letter can be chucked away. But many letters will have the effect of a constant reminder!

This is our country, our constitution, and our rights that are being impenged upon. So rather than grumbling with family and friends, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!

Otherwise whatever you don't like about the government or the country is your fault.


PS: What is gerrymanderring? Im not gona quote wikipedia or anything, you can go look it up yourself. But basicaly, its where the boundries of parliamentary constituencies are tampered with, such that it creates an imbalanced electorate, with the aim of giving an unfair advantage towards a certain party. Obv in our case its done by, and for the benefit of UMNO/BN.

Generally its done by diluting the votes of the opposition-oriented constituencies (especially the non-malay urban areas which are typical OP strongholds). This is done by having a large constituency in such areas, and a small constituency in areas which support the ruling party. Because of this, an urban(opposition) constituency can have 100000+ voters, and only one seat in parliament, whilst a rural constituency of only 5000 voters (who support BN) also has one seat in parliament.
This is how the BN can get 92.1% of the seats in parliament even though only 60.3% of the Malaysians voted for them.