《马华需要的是方向与坚持》

星洲日报 2013年12月14日《允执厥中》第八篇

505后的马华党选并没有因为马华处在有史以来最低潮的时刻而比过去平静，总会长职至今出现了三角战，加上蠢蠢欲动的丹斯里李金友，出现四角对垒的情况并非不可能，加上目前已宣布，随时可能由八名增加到十名的副总会长人选和预料至少会有八十人角逐的廿五个中委职，竞选气氛炙热几达前所未有。从正面看待这种热闹的情况，显见马华党员并未因为大选的惨败而放弃马华，反而争相欲为马华的改革与重建贡献力量者多。

 

然而，党选固然激烈，党选后如何重振马华的挑战却不容小觑，其挑战之严峻非以往任何时候可比拟。原因是505大选后的多个政治板块出现了重组与移动，包括，马华的华裔支持率跌破30%至平均只有约18%；华人选票首度出现了全国不分城乡、年龄与社会阶层一致投选民联的情况，过去非常注重和候选人的互动与感情，同时对提供良好基层服务者投桃报李的华裔乡区选民的投票心态已出现了转向；在国阵赢得的133席中，东马占了47席(35.34%)，加上马华不入阁的情况下，总数56名政府部长的现任内阁中，东马议员占了20名，即12名部长(总数30名)和8名副部长(总数26名)相等于35.71%。许多对马来西亚半岛人民而言相对陌生的面孔突然出现在内阁里，其中以掌管向由马华部长管理了数十年的华人新村事务，来自沙巴的城市和谐、房屋与地方政府部长拿督斯里阿都拉曼达兰的例子最为明显。东马政治人物在马来西亚政治的影响力与能见度前所未有的提升，马华与民政在沙巴势力微弱，在砂拉越没有选区，加上印度国大党保持2名部长，2名副部长，一名人民进步党和非政府组织兴权会主席瓦达慕迪，印裔在内阁有6名成员，华裔代表不仅最少，仅有的两名也是不谙华语，对华裔文化习俗认识不深，甚至打从一开始就不以华裔代表自居的英语圈华人，未来马华即使赢回308时的15席，甚或赢得更漂亮，要取回原数额的内阁人数将面对成员党“拿到了就不放手”的挑战。

与此同时，国阵或巫统虽然在民族性有别和“恩庇”政策等因素下稳住并成功吸引回不少的巫、印裔乡区票源，但城乡巫、印裔的投票倾向出现分道扬镳式分裂的情况却不容忽视，随着城市化的发展，未来是否还能以“惠民”的“恩庇”政策牢控乡区巫、印裔选民的选票值得关注。巫统在不敢寄望华裔与城市选票的情况下，为了生存必然想尽办法稳住现有的支持，“土著经济政策”的推出也许只是更多照顾土著政策的第一项。从副首相兼教育部长慕尤丁不以奋力求学争取优良成绩勉励土著学生，反而以研究让未考获一等学士学位的高等教育贷学金土著学生也享有奖掖回应巫统党员的要求；凯里在在最近巫青大会上致辞时也一改过去数年以开明形象示人的态度，不从绩效反从种族角度对私人企业呛声，要求委任土著主管等，足以证明巫统正以“讨好”回报土著的支持，以扩大“恩庇”稳住土著票源。

另一方面，在宣传口号上对准巫统，强调巫统的霸权，实则绕个圈子打击并凸显马华与其他国阵华基政党“当家不当权”的民联，尤其是行动党则势必因离执政尚欠箭步之遥而继续加强火力，马华目前的情境可说是背腹受敌，四面楚歌，“屋漏偏逢连夜雨”的情况在未来将让领导层疲于奔命。

换言之，马华已不能像过去一般，以过去曾经为国家和华裔立下的汗马功劳要求人民的支持，改革与重建马华也不能单靠一人，而需一组人，而这一组人除了即将产生的中委会成员，也必须包括中委会外的贤人能士。

 

未来的马华总会长除了必须有丰富的实战经验，还得有接受自己并非万能，能容人、用人的胸襟；有冷静、容忍与耐力的特质。当选的马华总会长的第一件事当然也绝对不能是其中一位候选人所说的“与林冠英辩论”，因为总会长不是辩论队队长；一党之尊更决不能表现的犹如“斗鸡”，更不应该以“口舌”之争为首要工作，反应是实实在在的扮演运筹帷幄，启动改革与重建马华的角色，否则马华只需从大学中把所有的金牌辩手都网罗进党即可，还需大费周章的投选下一任的领导吗？

马华眼前的路不会是坦途！需要的是方向与坚持、稳健，一步一脚印，慢慢的从谷底爬出来！

有一个老鹰的故事说，老鹰一生寿命可达70岁高寿，要活那么长，牠在40岁时必须做出困难却又十分重要的决定。因为届时牠锋利的爪子开始老化，无法有效地捕抓猎物；牠的喙变得又长又弯，翅膀开始变得十分沉重，振翅高飞的雄风不再。这时的老鹰只有等死或接受痛苦而漫长的150天“修炼”两个选择。牠必须费尽全力飞到一个绝高的山巅，筑巢停留于悬崖之上，开始过苦行僧般的生活，首先用牠的喙用力击打岩石直至完全脱落。然后，静静地等候新的喙长出来。新喙长出后，老鹰就用牠新长出的喙把脚指甲一根一根的拔出，新脚指甲长出后，老鹰再用指甲把沉重的羽毛一根一根拔掉，5个月后，新的羽毛长出来了，老鹰“脱胎换骨”，再次振翅高飞。马华诸公也许可以老鹰的故事自勉。

周美芬 2013年12月13日

 

 

 

周美芬宣布竞选马华副总会长文告

 

是非分明，大我先行；信守承诺，讲到做到！

 

由于肯定马华的斗争目标与为国、为民、为族群曾经作出的贡献，加上难舍同志情，2010年4月当我辞退所有的官职与主要党职后，我依旧保留了马华党员和支会主席的身份。

我虽然因为对某些原则的无法妥协与对信守承诺的坚持而离职，但我尊重民主票选的领袖，衷心的希望党能走出308的阴霾，因此在没有担任重要党职与官职的日子里，我以“局外人”的身份聆听民意；以党员的身份关注我党的每一个发展；我重回校园，以硕士生的身份翻阅了一些有关马来西亚独立前后百年历史的书籍。过去的三年里，我的心情随着党的起伏时而振奋，时而低落，振奋的时候少，忧虑与痛心的时候多。

马华作为国内代表华族的主要执政党，党的目标是赢取大选，取得执政权，因此505大选前的8个月，我低调的投入了为党与国阵属下数十个国州选区的基层助选工作，没有参选的我在提名后的15天竞选期和候选人一样工作至5月4日凌晨，当天从柔佛回到家已是5月5日的凌晨三，四点。

在一般人眼中风光的当官时期我选择了离开，今天，在马华陷入建党以来最低潮的时刻，我却选择了重回马华。享受了三年轻松而免于公众检验的生活后，这个决定并不容易，但，身为马华党员、自诩为知识分子的我在这个时刻又如何能独善其身？改革马华，重建马华的工作已是当仁不让应该全情投入的事情。否则读书何用？从政何为？

参与党选是一项非常严肃而庄重的事情，竞逐党职是为了取得“在其位，谋其政”的授权与合法地位，以落实协助党、重建党，进而捍卫族群、建设公平、民主、进步的马来西亚的目标。今天，我决定参加马华党选，竞逐马华副总会长的职位，正是带着愿意献身为党的重建贡献一己力量的决心，希望有机会把过去所累积到的经验、观察与思考所得，落实在我党的改革与重建工作上。

我认为，马华主要领导层和中委，除了应该在总会长的领导下，和其他中委会成员结合成一个团结且目标一致的团队，也同时应该是一个有见地，有独立思考、有策划力、有执行力，也有监督力的党代表，中委会里的每一个成员必须紧记自己是在获得同志们的委托下进入领导层去协助落实健党、建国、爱民、护族理念，与此同时在必要的大是大非情况下，发挥监督与确保中委会作出正确决策的角色。因为党的终极目标是为党、国、民族，因此党领导层从总会长以下全体中委的终极目标一样是为党、国、民族，最终一切应以党、国、民与族群的大我利益为重。

除非我们对候选人有深刻的认识，否则，中央代表投选中委与领导层时往往参考他们所提出的参选宣言。因此每一届党选，竞选总会长者总会提出洋洋洒洒的竞选宣言，可惜的是，往往这些宣言在党选后就被遗忘了，很少党员把候选人的竞选宣言保存下来进行检验，导致宣言的功能往往只是为候选人粉饰，这是荒谬与不能被接受的。因此，我们必须落实“讲到做到”的精神，而我若获选，我的主要工作之一就是密集跟进，确保总会长所带领的领导层履行竞选宣言，落实承诺。

对于那些一再催促我表态竞选的同志们，我迟至今天才作出宣布，让大家久等了，我谨此致歉，这是因为我必须很慎重的自我检验，检验自己是不是有这个决心在党最低潮的时刻和党同志们同甘共苦；我是不是有一套协助党和重建党的理念，而最重要的是不是有足够的和我一样愿意为党服务的同志。个人力量小，众志却可成城。通过了无数次的自我检验和对时局的分析后，我今天庄重而谦虚的宣布竞选马华副总会长职，希望同志们给我机会在党的改革与重建中扮演一个重要的角色，我承诺，我将竭尽所能委身奉献。

 

周美芬

2013年12月10日

Chew Mei Fun Contesting for MCA Vice President Press Statement

 

Distinguishing right from wrong; People before self;

Keeping promises; and walking the talk!

 

When I resigned from all government and official party positions in April 2010, I remained as an ordinary member and branch chairman of MCA in recognition of the goals for and contributions of MCA to the country, the people and community; in addition to a heavy heart which made it difficult for me to leave behind the relationships I have built with fellow members.

I resigned out of principle and to keep my word, but I have always maintained my respect for the leadership elected by the central delegates through the democratic process, with a sincere hope that the party will rise out of its low ebb of 308. During this period when I have not held any important positions in the party, I have been listening to public opinion and have also paid attention to every development in our party. I went back to University and in my post graduate studies read somewhat with regards to the history of Malaysia pre and post-independence. In the last three years, my frame of mind has fluctuated in accord with the party; sometimes I felt very excited and other times I felt rather depressed; there were less exciting moments too, but for the most part I just felt worried and distressed.

Being one of the main Chinese representative parties within the ruling coalition, MCA’s goal was to win in the General Election. With that in mind, in the eight months leading to the last 505 election and including the 15 days after nomination in which I was not named, I worked hard and contributed quietly on the ground in many of the MCA and Barisan National constituencies’ election campaigns. On the day of the election 5^th of May, I only reached home from Johor after three in the morning.

I chose to resign at a time one would consider high office, and today, while MCA is at its lowest point since the days of our founding fathers, I have chosen to make a return. After enjoying a season of relaxation out of public scrutiny, this decision has not been easy. However, as a member of MCA, and from what I have learnt and experienced, how can I just stand aside and watch all that is happening to the party?  The work of reform and rebuilding MCA should rightly be my whole hearted focus. Otherwise, why study? What’s the point of politics?

Participating in the party elections is a very serious and solemn matter. To contest is to obtain a legitimate mandate from the delegates to help reform and rebuild the party, which leads to protecting the people, and building a fair, democratic and progressive Malaysia. Today, with a heart ready to devote myself to the party, I humbly offer myself to contest in the coming MCA party elections for the post of MCA Vice President. I hope to have the opportunity to play an effective role in the rebuilding of our party through the experiences, thoughts and observations I have accumulated.

To me, each of the leaders and the central committee of MCA should not only form a united leadership and work towards a common goal; they should also represent the party as one who has wisdom, independent thinking, planning ability, and management, implementation and supervisory skills.  Every member of the central working committee must remember they are entrusted by their colleagues as representatives of the leadership to strengthen the party, develop the country, work for the people, and protect the community. In major issues, the central committee must oversee and ensure that they make the right decisions. The party exists for its members, for the nation and its people, so the ultimate goal of the party leadership and all its members is none other than the nation and the people. The people and nation’s interests must always come first.

Unless we have a thorough knowledge of the candidates, we will otherwise vote with reference to the manifesto the candidates present. Therefore in every party election, those campaigning for the President’s post always make eloquent manifestos.  Unfortunately, we often forget their manifestoes after the election. There are very few who would save their manifestos and do an audit, which has led to a situation where the manifestoes become the candidates’ personal whitewash. This is ridiculous and unacceptable. Instead, we must uphold and practice the "walk the talk" motto. And if I am elected, one of my main tasks will be to implement intensive follow up and ensure the leadership under the President fulfill and realize the election manifesto and commitments.

For those who have repeatedly urged me to declare my intentions in this election, I apologize for keeping you waiting for so long. I have taken the time for self-reflection, to ask myself whether I’m ready to go through the thick and thin in this difficult moment of our party. Would I have any ideas to contribute to our rebuilding? Are there colleagues who share the same vision and are willing to work together? Personal strength is limited but together we can build a nation. After endless self-evaluation and analysis of the current situation, today, I solemnly and humbly announce my decision to contest for the MCA Vice President post. I hope you will give me the opportunity to play a role in rebuilding the party. I promise I am committed to do everything I can to contribute.

 

Chew Mei Fun

December 10, 2013