Sunday, July 21, 2019

周美芬辞职升学文告


感谢马华总会长拿督斯里魏家祥对我的信任,委任我出任马华总秘书并给予全力的支持与授权,让我在过去八个月担任总秘书期间得以投入推动党的重建工作,包括按总会长的竞选宣言草拟了“新时代马华,马华新世代”执行蓝图,并启动了蓝图下的多项计划,如“马华政府监察运动”、马华档案资料中心提升和抢救历史的“口述历史”工作、巡回全国与基层交流,草拟“国阵新宪章”草案、执行并带领或协助多个补选的工作和协助党处理了数项危机和与党机关各部门的改革工作。

然而,众所周知,出国深造是我在答应出任总秘书前已做的决定,因此按照我当初和总会长拿督斯里魏家祥的协议,我只出任总秘书至出国深造前,现9月开学日期将及,唯有以沉重的心情在2019713日的中委会上正式呈辞,并获同意于2019720日正式生效。

马华的重建是一项长远艰辛的工作,我虽因升学无法继续和同志们一起完成已启动的计划,但都已作出承续工作的妥善安排,我相信只要按蓝图方向,以既定模式为框架,在必要和适当的情况下调整、善化和推进,被委以重任担负各项职责的同志和党工都能不负众望,完成党交托的工作。

我要感谢总会长与党领导层对我的包容和对党内民主与言论自由的捍卫,即便在某些课题上偶有不同的见解和立场,依旧对我完全信任,让我得以专业的执行中委会的议决。

我也要感谢中委、同志和党全体职员谅解我急切希望在短短的几个月任内推动和落实重要和关键计划的“步步进迫”,包容我被形容为“硬邦邦”的处事方式。我享受担任总秘书的过程,也感恩能有机会扛起党这个非常重要的职位,让我得以亲自协助总会长,推动党需要和我个人希望和想推动的改革,让我的从政生涯没有遗憾。

环顾世界民主国家,执政党无法取得2/3多数议席和政党轮替是常态,从积极的角度看,马来西亚的政党轮替是国家迈向民主不可避免的过程,它提供了朝野换位思考,检讨和改革的机会,也让马华全党上下学习如何在执政体制外扮演监督与制衡的角色,为未来的重新执政奠定基础。因此,我希望马华同志们不要因为一时的挫折而泄气,因为积极投入政治服务工作才是目前的重中之重,才是重振雄风的应有态度。

服务国家、社会与族群对我而言是一生人的志业,我的前半生有幸因际遇通过参政实践,我希望我的下半生能够通过学术落实。

感谢所有曾经扶我、助我、监督与批评我的同志和人民,因为大家都在不同的时间,以不同的方式提供了我前进的力量。感恩。祝

马华重生
国运昌隆

周美芬
2019720


Press statement by Chew Mei Fun on resigning to pursue further studies



First of all, I must thank MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong for his trust and confidence in appointing me as MCA Secretary-General, and for his full support and authorisation thereafter, which had enabled me to embark on various party rebuilding projects for the past eight months, including drafting the  ‘A New Era, A Renaissance: MCA Execution Blueprint (2018-2021)’ based on the President’s election manifesto, and went on to launch many programmes under the blueprint; For instance, the MCA Government Affairs Monitoring Committee, upgrading of MCA Resource Centre, Oral History Project to recover the missing pieces of a puzzle of the party’s history, nationwide meet-the-grassroots roadshow, drafting of BN New Charter proposal, leading or assisting in by-elections, helping the party in handling crises, and participating in the transformation works of various departments in the party.

Nevertheless, as many have already known, my decision to pursue further studies abroad was made before the appointment. I had an agreement with the President that I would only assume the post of Secretary-General up until before my departure overseas. As the new semester will begin very soon in September, I had to officially tender my resignation with a heavy heart during the Central Committee (CC) meeting on 13 July 2019. It was accepted and will be effective on 20 July 2019.

Rebuilding MCA is tough and time consuming. Even though I am no longer able to work hand-in-hand with my fellow comrades to see through the various projects underway, the procedural guidelines I had put in place will come in handy. I am confident that any comrades entrusted with various tasks will be able to get the job done, guided by the Blueprint directions and operational framework, with adjustment and improvement every now and then when the need arises.

I would like to thank the President for his understanding, and for his upholding of freedom of speech within the party that even though we differed in views and stands occasionally, his trust remained for me to continue executing the decisions made by the CC professionally. 

I must also thank the CC, my fellow comrades and all staff for your patience with my insistent and uncompromising work style to rush through many important and critical programmes in this short span of a few months. I enjoyed my tenure as the Secretary-General and am thankful for this great opportunity to be entrusted with such a very important post, which had enabled me to assist the President, and to introduce and implement transformation programmes to the party and I desire, leaving no regrets in my political life.

If we look around, ruling without commanding a two-thirds majority and or a two-party system are the norm around the world. On a positive note, the change of government was an unavoidable process for Malaysia as a democratic nation. This has provided the opportunity for political parties on both sides of the divide to think from the opposite perspectives, to review and to reform. It has also made MCA learn how to play the role as a force of check and balance as an opposition party, as the foundation to re-emerge as a ruling party in future. Therefore, I hope my fellow comrades will not be disheartened by this temporary setback, but will continue serving diligently in politics as this is the most righteous attitude and key for our renaissance.   

To serve the nation and community is my lifelong commitment. I am lucky to have the opportunity to realise this through politics all these years, and am looking forward to serving through academia in my later years.

Lastly, I would like to thank my fellow comrades and all people, who have provided me with guidance, assistance, monitoring and even criticism in the past, for you have given me, in different ways and at different times, the energy so essential for me to march on. Thank you.

Long live MCA!
Long live Malaysia!


Chew Mei Fun
20 July 2019

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

“监督制衡,民意为先”
马华70周年党庆
总秘书拿汀巴杜卡周美芬讲词
201932日,马华三春礼堂

尊敬的马华总会长拿督斯里魏家祥国会议员
尊敬的署理总会长拿督马汉顺同志
尊敬的前任总会长拿督斯里廖中莱同志
前任署理总会长敦曾永森和丹斯里林亚礼同志
我的前辈前总秘书拿督斯里黄家泉同志
各位华团领袖、
各位马华中委和元老及同志们,
大家早上好

欢迎大家和我们风雨同路,出席今天这一项神父意义的马华70周年党庆。

英国19世纪著名的小说家狄更斯,在他著名的小说《双城记里有一段话,是这么说的:

这是最好的时代,也是最坏的时代
这是智慧的时代,也是愚蠢的时代;
这是信任的年代,也是怀疑的年代;
这是光明的季节,也是黑暗的季节;
这是希望的春天,也是失望的冬天;
我们的前途无量,同时又感到希望渺茫;
我们一齐奔向天堂,我们全都走向另一个方向...

各位同志,各位马华的好朋友,这一段话不但为我党目前的情况作了最好的注解与说明,同时也给了我们深刻的启发!换句话说,如果我们选择继续失望、颓丧,这将是最坏的年代,但如果我们选择承认与接受过去种种,愿意反省与检讨,决定积极面对、克服和超越,那这将是一个我们重新起航,再度奋起的最好时代!

连续三届大选的挫败之后,我们不得不接受人民和许多党员背离我党的残酷事实,我们失去了执政权,失去了可以为人民直接服务与落实实体与政策建设的管道,但恰恰是这样,也给了我们痛定思痛,深刻检讨与自我反省的机会。让我们在政治角色更换后,在经历了在朝在野两个不同的角色后,蜕变成一个有实力面对任何挑战的全面性民主政党!

各位同志,没有低谷何来高峰?但高峰总有尽头,攀到了尽头就不得不下山,而下山也许是因为逼不得已,但绝对不能因此而选择歇息甚或放弃,而应该是为了攀越另一个更高的颠峰,而重新起航!

同志们,无论低谷高峰,无论是过去、现在或未来,马华的政治长征绝对不会是坦途,政治的生涯里没有蜜月期。如果我们希望在最短的时间内重回政治主流,确保党的长青不老,马华全党上下,必须在品德上坚持厚德载物;在态度上发奋图强,自强不息;在行动上走入基层,贴近民意,与群众同在,坚持履行政党为国为民的使命与任务。

509后马华输剩我们总会长一位国会议员,然而,因为他在心态上,在对时局的回应上作出了迅速的调整,他在短时间内就成功树立了鲜明的反对党角色!在国会里,在议会外,在网络媒体上,面对千军万马,他一夫当关!以至于有人把马华描绘成 “一个人的武林”!

各位,问问我们自己,这是我们想要看到的局面吗?

同志们,是不是?这是我们想看到的吗?

再问问总会长,这是他的意愿吗?

显然的,不是!

我们要的应该是一支成城断金的马华强军劲旅!而这,需要大家主动快速、积极、主动的投入“战围”,在这讯息秒传、正负面讯息都秒杀的资讯时代,快而准的回应,决定了党在群众的印象!总会长的急躁不是没有原因的。

所以,同志们!走过70年的跌宕起伏,经历了70年的荣辱和和毁誉,是时候了,让我们在自我检讨的时候, 把党的失败和弱点放大,诚实面对,深刻检讨,然后将它尘封,永不再犯!

让我们重温前辈建党初衷,坚定我们立足华社,造福全民的信念;让我们全面配合现任总会长和领导层经过6天闭关所拟定的“新时代马华,马华新世代”执行蓝本(20182021年),携手共进,在最短的时间内把“一个人的武林”发展成马华大军,让马华万马齐奔,军压布城!

各位,不要误会我要大家拿起大刀血腥杀敌!我们也不是要大家像行动党的超人般满口“星星月亮,有洞有叉”的说话方式,我们更不会要求党员像粗口超人般为行动党出卖“人品”后假装退党,然后为了接受高职的犒赏,为了要出任马中商务理事会那连九品芝麻官都算不上的CEO竟然不惜厚颜“道歉”!那种对高职垂涎欲滴的模样和哪一位有个选区叫“后门”的副国防部长刘镇东同出一辙,太像了!我也要顺道在这里告诉陈国伟,他巧立名目,硬硬在马中商务理事会里增设一个本来没有的“CEO”首席执行员职位来“报答”烂口超人,对外是向典当国家尊严,让国家在外人面前蒙羞的行为,对内则是“为老不尊,教坏子孙”的错误示范!

各位,我们拥有一个让世界 “瞩目”,可以名列“最多假文凭部长的政府--马来西亚记录大全”的内阁。除了冒牌剑桥大学“毕业”的副外交部长、默认毕业于新加坡国立大学很久,最近才如梦初醒的房屋地方政府部长、还有,还有那位马来文叫被pecat,英文叫被kicked out 马拉工艺大学的国防部长和冒充合格会计师多年,继续以一张“临时会员”蒙骗大众,至今尚未出面澄清的财政部长!最近还出现了在大年初一要用一纸文告“震一震”欧盟的原产业部长郭素沁,说什么他们杯葛我们的棕油,我们就杯葛他们的产品!马来西亚一个小国家,说人口比不上人家,说先进还有好长一段路才跟得上,要以一个马来西亚对着欧盟28个国家比谁的拳头大!她的勇气可真大啊!让人佩服,可惜的是,她的勇气也凸显了她的无知!

当然,我们也不能不提一提行动党的未来秘书长陆兆福携带夫人出席在中国举行的马中交通部官方会议的事,无论他如何回避,或他的助理如何尝试以陆夫人是官方代表团成员为由解套,都解释不了触犯官方礼节,贻笑大方的事实。

各位同志,这个希盟政府所犯下的笑话确实很多,而且是“锅锅新鲜,锅锅甘”。执政已超过9个月,连最长的6个月试用期都已过了还被自己人形容为L礼申,我们大家可以开一包花生,泡一壶茶像看周星驰的喜剧片一样的开心观赏,但这却不会为我们赢回议席。

乌拉港和金马仑两场补选,无论我们如何卯足全力,华裔选票的回流率还是让人感觉失望是最好的证明!除非经济继续放缓,生活成本继续走高和其他更重大的施政缺失,否则人民,尤其是华裔还是会给他们机会的。换句话说,希盟施政失败当然可以为我们增加胜选的机会,但我们不能无所事事只等着对方自己烂,我们必须自强,我们必须找出突破口,设定目标后我们必须上下一心,精诚团结,携手共进!我们必须把颓丧化为力量。我们必须把马华大军整顿起来,培育踏实服务,有理有据,能够据理力争,能够切中要害议政论证的政治尖兵!一个人的武林,总会长会感觉很寂寞,我们要很多人的武林,我们要政坛大军!

同志们,让我们立刻投入工作,作为反对党,我们要做的是监督与制衡,监督地方、州和中央政府的政策、建设、执行和履行承诺,制衡政府的贪腐滥权。过去的马华“为民解困”,现在的马华是“为民请命,为民施压与督促政府”!这个工作其实比以往好做很多!试过的都喊畅快!不相信的话,问问总会长,当他质问财政部为什么油价没有随市场价格下降下调,而全民立时对希盟政府吹胡子,瞪眼睛的时候感觉好不好?更重要的是当政府不得不在他的施压下让油价浮动,同时明明白白的证明希盟违反承诺时,那种感觉畅快不畅快?否则,我们的总会长也不会乐此不疲,成了“一人武林”啦!所以,同志们,让我们和总会长一起成为政坛的武林高手,一起以民意为本,一起“监督制衡”!所以,我们必须认清:任何“失去政权后不能再服务,或失去政权后不用再服务”等言论,都是只是逃避的借口!
谈到基层服务,至今能与马华媲美的政党没有几个,这是我们的强项,如果我们因为败选而放弃,那等于是弃甲而逃,那又如何重回政治主流呢?何况我们正准备全面施压希盟政府坚守诺言,尽快落实地方政府选举呢?试想想, 如果今天我们因为败选而罢工, 大选到来的时候如何竞选呢?

我们的败选和他们的胜选正好提供了人民比较两个阵线的施政能力的机会,有了比较才会看到双方的优缺点,提供人民重新评价我们过去服务的机会.

同志们,从刚才大会播放的视频中,我们看到了在家国建设的70年里,马华的领袖在内阁所发挥的建国角色,领袖们领导部门,主导部门政策的制定与落实,他们参与国家政策的制定。从第一和第二任财政部长敦李孝式、敦陈修信成立中央银行,规划金融体系,发展实体经济,推广马来西亚货币,甚至一度让马币成为最坚挺的货币 ;敦林良实、丹斯里陈广才、翁诗杰、江作汉和拿督斯里廖中莱担任交通部长,为国家铺设运通脉络的海陆空运输线,从国际机场 、港口、 铁道、廉价航空、捷运系统;到丹斯里陈声新、李金狮、蔡细历、廖中莱照顾国人保健的公共卫生,建立完善、优质而最廉宜的公共医疗服务;敦曾永森、丹斯里陈祖排、黄家定、曹智雄、江作汉、拿督斯里黄家泉等制定健全的房屋发展政策,建立人民可负担房屋和组屋;丹斯里李金狮、林亚礼、冯镇安发展国家人力资源,建立国家技职训练体系,和丹斯里李三春、陈群川在内阁与国会推动教育法令的修改,促成大专学院如雨后春笋般百花齐放。这些不容抹杀的贡献揭穿了行动党长期以来抹黑马华,指责马华当家不当权的谎言,也印证了凡是认为马华的角色只是为了协助华社,马华所做的无论功过都只和华社有关,我们的部长在内阁的角色就只有华教,华社的中小企业和华社的经济发展和文化,除此之外别无其他可以提及的种种说法,都是对马华决策和建国角色的贬低,也是一项马华党员必须打破的迷思!

各位同志,掌握真相,才有底气!我们虽然立足华社,但我们更是国家的发展者,我们是华人政党,我们也是全民政党!

连续几届失去华人的支持,加上华裔选民人口比率下降,部分党员开始有了“反正华人不支持我们,我们要靠马来人票赢取政权”的想法,确实,没有马来民族的支持,我们无法重回政治主流是一项残酷的事实,但我们必须记得自己来自何方,“失去自己族群的支持”即便执政也没有尊严!无论你喜欢与否,在每一个选举中争取华人票的压力还是压在马华身上的,同样的,在希盟,即便是行动党如何想尽办法“去华化“,争取华人支持的那一块还是交给行动党去执行的,所以我们看到无论是金马仑或士毛月补选,行动党主攻的都是华人区,马华没竞选,但行动党还是对准马华火力全开。因此,我们不能为了讨好他族而激怒自己的族群。行动党可以为了执政而放弃华人的身份与认同,我们不能,因为我们相信,捍卫华族的权益也等同捍卫了其他少数民族的权益,捍卫了多元与中庸。

各位,自从希盟/行动党为了进入布城而接纳土团党,并把他们口中的种族主义和霸权者马哈迪捧成首相后,他们不断为大家描绘的非种族性政治愿景已不复存在,更可怕的是他们不但对土团党的土著议程全程静默,照单全收,还利用财政部长的权力打压华社,把应该拨给拉曼大学学院的三千至六千万令吉取消。过后,虽然林冠英分别拨了RM200万给三所华社民办的大专院校和RM1200万给独中,但是这些款项的总额却远远少于原本应拨给拉曼大学学院的数额。与此同时利用政府资源大力讨好土著,竭尽所能为行动党“去华化”,这就是为什么即便是林冠英是一位至今提不出财政政策,只懂得”取消大型计划、缩小计划和售卖国家资产“的财政部长,但精明如敦马却还是不断的赞扬他为最好的财政部长,因为为了争取马来人的支持而大力“去华化”的林冠英,已主动的向种族主义投降,主动的大力推动和落实敦马的土著议程,而且做得更为彻底!敦马袖手旁观,不费吹毫之力就达到了目的。

各位,在行动党的护航下,308505后的伊斯兰党已从区域性政党发展成全国性政党,从该党的各种言论和为了阻止华人主导城市而激烈反对地方政府选举的情况看来,伊斯兰党的真实面目除了是宗教也是种族极端的,加上敦马积极收编巫统议员,强化阿兹敏阿里的势力,土团进入砂拉越和沙巴的举措看来,敦马正在迅速的扩张土团势力版图和进行着马来族群大团结计划,行动党“去华化”的“非种族理想”将成为“伪议题”,已成了土团党推动土著议程的最大助力,换句话说,行动党正在带领我国走向一条单元,而且是“土著独大”的不归路!因此,阻止国家日益朝种族化方向发展是马华公会则无旁贷的责任。

各位同志,今天的大会,配合总会长待会儿即将推介的9个“马华内阁监察组”,我们大胆的增设了一个以VOCAL “我.可”为名的“马华青年演说平台”,选了640岁以下年轻党员,33女,有马青、有妇女组的代表,有说华语的,有说国语的,还有说英语的。让他们在8分钟内,通过自己的语言表达自己对这个社会、国家和各类议题的看法,过后,我们将进一步发掘更多青年,把这个演说平台带到全马各个州属和区会,希望通过这个平台培训青年论证议政演说人才。与此同时,我们也借着在党内推动多语使用,鼓励党员踏出去,和各族频密接触,做跨族群的沟通与合作。全面朝全民政党路线迈进。

各位同志,自从今年127日马华中委会通过了我们根据总会长的竞选宣言与理念草拟的“新时代马华,马华新世代”执行蓝本后,在总会长的指示下,马华总部秘书处已开始了各项计划的执行,我们的改革从党组织改造、党机关与人力资源改革到党形象和角色重塑三管齐下,希望这次的改革不只让党员感受到、党职员参与到,人民也看得到!

党员是党的资产,在党内党外”征才、选才、培才和用才”的人才培育计划,已逐步展开,我们正增加党员入党表格的党员个人资料,尤其是学历(温馨提醒,谢绝野鸡大学的学历)资料、语言、专长和参与党的计划与服务的意愿等。我们希望通过党中央分门别类的主动征才,我们将有效的把“沧海遗珠”找出来,我们也希望党同志能主动投入奉献。

各位同志,虽然这是一个最坏的年代,但也是一个最好的年代!因为这是一个迫使我们尘封过去,抛掉包袱,重新启航,全面奋起的最好世代!莫忘初衷,我们是纯华人政党,也是服务全民的全民政党,我们必须跨越族群,与全民同在!

最后,我也在此报告,我们收到了来自国外一些政党给予马华公会70周年庆的祝贺函,而这些政党分别是:
1.    尼泊尔大会党
2.    印度人民党(世界最大的政党)
3.    巴基斯坦参议院外事委员会
4.    日本共产党
5.    亚美尼亚繁荣党
6.    孟加拉民族党
7.    柬埔寨奉辛比克党
8.    库尔德斯坦民主党
9.    泰国前总理兼武装部队统帅差瓦立•永猜裕上将
10.   孟加拉国民党

各位,马华的朋友这么多,我们当然要以自强回报大家的信任与支持!

马华加油!祝, 马华万古长青,重回政治主流!

谢谢大家


“Provide Check and Balance, Prioritise Public Opinion”
MCA 70th Anniversary 
Speech by Secretary-General Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun
2nd March 2019, Dewan San Choon

MCA President YB Datuk Sri Dr Wee Ka Siong
Deputy President Dato’ Dr Mah Hang Soon
Former Presidents
Leaders of Chinese guilds and association
And my comrades,

Good morning!

Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870), a renowned 19th Century UK novelist, has this to say in his famous novel A Tale of Two Cities:

This is the best of times, it was the worst of times;
This is the wisdom of the times, it was foolish of times;
This is the era of trust, but also the age of suspicion;
This is the season of Light, but also the season of darkness;
This is the spring of hope, but also the winter of despair;
Our promising, while little reason for hope;
We are together toward heaven, we all go in another direction...

Dear comrades, and friends of MCA, the above quotation not only best describes the situation our party is in, but it is also deeply inspirational! If we choose to continue to fail and be depressed, this will be the worst of times. However, if we choose to admit and accept our past, and are willing to self-reflect, be determined to overcome obstacles and go beyond, this will be the best of times for our resurrection and renaissance!

After consecutive failures in 3 general elections, we have no choice but to accept the cruel reality of being deserted by people and members. We have lost the government and the channel to directly serve the people and implement various projects for them. Nevertheless, this has provided us an opportunity to self-reflect and carry out soul-searching. After the change of role where we now have experience at both sides of the divide, let us take the opportunity to transform ours into an all-rounder party capable of facing any challenges!

Dear comrades, there will not be mountains without flatlands. But there is a limit to a mountain’s height, and we may have no choice but to descend after the summit. However, there is no reason for us to slow down nor give up, but instead gear up to scale a higher peak next!

Dear comrades, we must realise that MCA’s political long march is never smooth sailing, whether in the past, present or future, and there is no such thing as a honeymoon. If we envisage to return to the political mainstream in the shortest time possible, and ensure our party is evergreen, all of us must persevere in good morality, self-resilience and be hardworking. We must also put ourselves in the shoes of the rakyat, and insist on realising our party’s vision and duty.

After the May 9th general election, we are left with only our President as the sole Member of Parliament. But he adjusted quickly in terms of mentality and response, and stands out as an Opposition figure in a very short time. In and out of Parliament, and in the cyber world, he alone faces it all. Some say MCA is now a ‘one man show’!

Ladies and gentleman, is this what we want to see?  

Dear comrades, is this what we want?

And we ask the President, is he happy about this?

Obviously, it is a big ‘no’!

What we want is a battalion of all-conquering MCA fighters! Towards this end, we need your speedy, aggressive and self-driven action to join in the battle, and our response with speed and accuracy in this era where information and news travel at light speed, will determine the party’s image among the general public! The President’s anxiety is not without reason.

Therefore, my dear comrades, after 70 years of ups and downs, it is about time for us to self-reflect and face our failures and weaknesses with all our sincerity, with a promise not to repeat the same, ever again!

Let us restudy out party’s founding vision, and reaffirm our commitment to be based in the Chinese community but to serve all Malaysians; Let us fully adopt the “A New Era, A Renaissance: MCA Execution Blueprint (2018-2021) formulated by the current leadership after a detailed and careful study, and build up a battalion from one man, to reconquer Putrajaya in the shortest time possible!

But please do not get me wrong. There is no blood-letting here. We do not want to emulate DAP’s Superman Hew in using vulgarity, what more getting his party into trouble, and then pretending to resign from it, and went on to make an insincere apology just to accept a lowly CEO position in the Malaysia-China Business Council. He is so much like the backdoor Deputy Minister of Defence Liew Chin Tong: Both are ever-ready to stoop to a low for the sake of being appointed to posts. And Tan Kok Wai, your action in creating the CEO post out of nothing just to reward Hew has exposed your true colours!

Ladies and gentlemen, we now have a Cabinet fit to enter the Malaysia Book of Records as the one with the biggest number of Ministers holding dubious degrees. We have this Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs who holds a “fraudulant Cambridge University degree”, a Minister of Housing and Local Government who used to pretend to have graduated from the National University of Singapore, a Defence Minister who was actually kicked out from UiTM and a Finance Minister who claimed to be a Chartered Accountant but was only able to produce a ‘provisional certificate’ without any explanation until today. And we also have a Minister of Primary Industries who had the guts to threaten on the first day of the Chinese New Year, to retaliate tit-for-tat against the 28-member European Union. Think about our strength and theirs. We salute her guts, but are also saddened with her naivety!

And we must also not forget to mention DAP’s Secretary-General in-waiting Anthony Loke bringing his wife along to an official meeting between the Ministers of Transport of Malaysia and China held in China. This is a big joke and a breach of protocol, no matter how he and his aides try to justify it.

Dear comrades, the Pakatan Harapan government has committed many mistakes and jokes we have never heard of. Even after coming into power for over 9 months now, way beyond the longest probation period of 6 months, it is still being described by its own leader as being L-licenced. We may watch such comedies with laughter and a cup of tea, but this will not help us recover our seats.

This is evidenced from the Balakong and Cameron Highlands by-elections, where the return of Chinese votes is still disappointing despite our all-out efforts. Unless if the economy continues to go downhill, cost of living continues to climb up and other grave administrative blunders befall, the people, especially the Chinese, will continue to give them chances. In other words, even though PH’s administrative failures will undoubtedly increase our chances of winning, we cannot be sitting still and waiting for them to rot by themselves. We must be strong ourselves and constantly look for the point to cut in, set our target, be united and march forward together, hand-in-hand! We must convert our disappointments into energy and build up the MCA army, be strong, pragmatic, fact-based and articulate, and be a strong political force in complementing the President, so that he shall no longer be lonely.

Dear comrades, let us go into action immediately. As the Opposition, we must check and balance: check the government’s policies, development, implementation and, balance it to ensure the government keeps to its promises, and, root out power abuse and corruption. From our role in ‘solving people’s problems’ previously, MCA today is ‘voicing out for the people.’ We will pressure and check the government, for the people. Actually the job is much better now, with many giving their thumbs up. You may ask the President, how did he feel when he questioned the Minister of Finance as to why petrol prices did not decrease according to the down trending of its market price, and everybody with his/her watchful eyes was waiting for PH to answer?  

But more importantly, the government had to cave in to his pressure and let the petrol prices float, clearly proving that PH had breached its promise. So how was the feeling? Surely it felt good as the President is doing a good job. My dear comrades, let us prioritise the people’s voice, and check and balance the government together. We must always remember that, the loss of government should never be an excuse to not serve the people!

Talking about the quality of service at the grassroots level; Till today, not many parties can come near to MCA’s level. This is our strength. If we choose to give up due to defeats, we will become losers. How then will we be able to return to the mainstream? More so when we are eager to pressure the PH government to keep to its promise to implement local council elections as soon as possible. If we had chosen to stay away now, how are we going to face the elections then? Think about it.

Our defeat and their victory have provided a timely opportunity for the people to compare the capability of both to govern. Through comparison, people will get to see the good and bad of both, and be able to re-evaluate our past performance.

Dear comrades, from the video clip just now, we have seen the Cabinet role MCA’s past leaders undertook in the past 70 years of nation building. They helmed Ministries, set the policies and ensured their implementation. They participated in formulating national policies. We saw the first and second Ministers of Finance, Tun H S Lee and Tun Tan Siew Sin’s effort in setting up Bank Negara Malaysia, regulating the financial system, developing a tangible economy and promoting our Malaysian currency and even made it the strongest it had ever been; Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy, Tan Sri Ong Tee Kiat, Tan Sri Kong Cho Ha and Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai were once Ministers of Transport. They laid the backbone for the national sea, land and air transportation networks, from international airports, seaports, railways, budget airlines and Mass Rapid Transit. Tan Sri Chan Siang Sun, Tan Sri Lee Kim Sai, Tan Sri Dr Chua Soi Lek and Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai took care of public wellness and health, where complete, quality and affordable public healthcare services were put in place; Tun Michael Chen Wing Sum, Tan Sri Dr Ting Chew Peh, Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, Tan Sri Chor Chee Heung and Tan Sri Kong Cho Ha formulated healthy housing development policies and constructed affordable houses and apartments; Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek and Tan Sri Dr Fong Chan Onn developed our human resources and established the technical and vocational education training system; while Tan Sri Lee San Choon and  Tan Sri Tan Koon Swan pushed through in the Cabinet and Parliament, amendments to the Education Act, paving the way for the subsequent mushrooming of tertiary education institutions. All these contributions, among others, are testament to MCA’s influence in the government, contrary to DAP’s long-time slander that MCA was powerless and functioned only for Chinese-related education, small and medium industries, economy and culture. We, as MCA members must endeavour to dispel such myths created over the years by DAP.

Ladies and gentlemen, our grasp of the truth begets our confidence! Even though we are based in the Chinese community, we co-developed the nation. We are a Chinese-based party, and a party for all!

After losing the Chinese support for consecutive terms, and considering the decreasing Chinese population ratio in Malaysia, some members started to have the idea that, since we do not get support from the Chinese, we should then depend on the Malays to win the government. It is the cruel fact that we cannot return to the political mainstream without support from the Malays. But we must also remind ourselves as to our roots. Without the support from our own community, we would be governing without dignity! Whether we like it or not, we must shoulder on the pressure to obtain Chinese votes in every single election. Likewise in Pakatan, no matter how DAP tries to neutralise its Chinese image, it is expected to deliver the Chinese votes. Therefore, we can see that whether it was Cameron Highlands or Semenyih, DAP’s main battle grounds are still the Chinese-majority areas, and DAP aimed its gun at MCA even though we were not contesting.

As such, we should never offend our community in our effort to woo other communities. DAP can abandon its Chinese identity and commitment in order to govern, but we can never do this, as we believe, safeguarding the rights of the Chinese community is also tantamount to safeguarding the rights of other ethnic minorities, and safeguarding multi-culturalism and moderation.

Ladies and gentlemen, ever since PH and DAP admitted Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) into their fold in their quest to conquer Putrajaya, and propelled the presumably racist and dictatorial Tun Dr Mahathir as Prime Minister, the vision of non-racial politics which DAP had all-along been promoting has gone up in smokes. Even more horrifying is their deafening silence over PPBM’s Bumiputera Agenda, and the Minister of Finance’s abuse of power to suppress the Chinese community by axing the annual matching grant ranging from between RM30 million to RM60 million for TAR University College. Although allocations are given to 3 tertiary university colleges and independent high schools, the amount allocated is far lesser than that which should be allocated to TAR UC. In the meantime, government resources had been used to aggressively pacify the Bumiputeras and help DAP discard its Chinese characteristics. That is why we observe that, even though Lim Guan Eng is still unable to come out with any sound financial policies and only knows how to cancel or reduce the scale of major infrastructure projects and dispose of national assets, the crafty Mahathir still repeatedly praises him as the best Minister of Finance, all because Guan Eng in his eagerness to secure Malay support and discard his Chinese image, had taken the initiative to realise Mahathir’s Bumiputera agenda. Mahathir has realised his wish hands-down.

With DAP’s backing, PAS has evolved from a regional party to a national entity after the March 8, 2008 and May 5, 2013 general elections. From the party’s various narratives and its strong objections against local council elections in order to stop the Chinese from helming town councils, the true colours of PAS, apart from being a religious extremist party is also a racial extremist. On the other hand, Mahathir is aggressively taking in UMNO members and strengthening Dato’ Seri Azmin Ali’s influence, and PPBM has spread its wings to Sabah and Sarawak. All these point to the fact that Mahathir is aggressively expanding PPBM’s power base and embarking on a grand design to unite the Bumiputeras, and DAP’s non-racial politics narrative will no longer be an issue. Instead, DAP is of greatest help to PPBM’s agenda as it is leading the nation towards the journey of no return of mono-racialism and Bumiputera-dominance! The duty to stop such development has, therefore, befallen upon the shoulders of MCA, and all of us.

Ladies and gentlemen, in conjunction with the President’s launching of the Government Monitoring Group, we would like to add in an “MCA Young Speakers Platform” named “Vocal.” We have selected six young adult members aged below 40 years whereby 3 males and 3 females from MCA Youth and Wanita MCA, will speak in either Mandarin, Bahasa Malaysia or English to express their thoughts about society, the nation and various issues, for about 8 minutes each. Thereafter, we will recruit more young talents and expand our platform to all states and divisions, with the aim to nurture more young talents to have a political sense. At the same time, with the promotion of multi-lingual usage within the party, we are also encouraging our members to venture outside and establish more frequent inter-ethnic contacts and co-operations, in our march towards a party serving all races in its truest sense.

Since the Central Committee had on 27 January this year, adopted the Execution Blueprint themed “A New Era, A Renaissance” which was formulated based on the President’s election manifesto and vision, under his instructions, the MCA Headquarters Secretariat has started to implement various related programmes. Our reform is three-pronged, from

1.           Organisational restructuring
2.           Agencies and human resources revamp
3.           Reshaping of party image and role

Hopefully the transformation this time around will not only be felt by members and participated by staff, but also witnessed by the people at large!

Members are assets of the party. We have started a talents incubation programme to recruit, select, groom and entrust talents from within and outside of the party. We have increased the columns for personal data in the application form for new members, especially for academic qualifications (a kind reminder: no certificates from diploma mills please), language ability, talents and commitment to participate in party programmes and services and others. Through the Central leadership’s initiative to recruit such talents, we hope that we can discover talents that had been inadvertently left out, and we also welcome self-nomination from members.

Ladies and gentlemen, even though this is the worst of times, it is also the best of times! Because this is the time we are forced to abandon the past, unload our baggage, restart our journey and strive for our renaissance! Forget not we are a pure Chinese party, but also a party serving all people. We must go beyond our race and community, to be with every Malaysian!

Lastly, I am pleased to announce the congratulatory messages we received from political parties overseas, including:

1.           Nepal Congress
2.           Bharatiya Janata Party, India
3.           Senate of Pakistan Foreign Affairs Committee
4.           Japanese Communist Party
5.           Prosperous Armenia Party
6.           Jatiya Party Bangladesh
7.           FUNCINPEC Party, Cambodia
8.           Kurdistan Democratic Party
9.           General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, Former Prime Minister, Kingdom of Thailand, and
10.        Bangladesh Nationalist Party

Ladies and gentlemen, with so many friends around the world, we must be strong to repay their confidence and support!

Go MCA go! I wish MCA longevity and hope for its speedy return to the mainstream!

Thank you.








Monday, March 4, 2019


马华妇女组第43届中央代表大会
马华总秘书周美芬开幕讲词
2018121日,9
马华三春礼堂


尊敬的马华妇女组主席拿督王赛之同志,
各位马华妇女组中委
各位姐妹,

大家早上好。

感谢妇女组的邀请,让我今天有机会在久违多年后,再度地站在马华妇女组常年代表大会的讲台上和大家讲话。

我从加入马华的第一天开始,接触的就是马华妇女组,参加的就是妇女组女青年工作坊的成立、推动与计划。这一路走来,是马华妇女组孕育了我,是马华妇女组和马华给了我机会,能够在政坛实现服务族群,国家的理想。

为了出席今天的大会,我曾经为了自己应该穿上黄色的妇女组党服,还是白色的马华党服而感觉纠结,我知道姐妹们如果看到我穿上和大家一样的服装会很开心,会感觉贴心,但我最终还是选择了白色的马华党服,原因是,我想和所有姐妹,重申我对妇女姐妹在社会与党国内的定位,那就是,姐妹们从政的平台并不局限在妇女组,党的章程并没有歧视女性,党的章程甚至提供了女性比男性更宽广的空间与机会。我们拥有比男同志更多的发挥平台,四十岁以下的女青年可以选择参与妇女组、马青,甚至马华!四十岁以上的姐妹则可以选择在马华母体活跃或在妇女组服务,这是男同志所无法享有的机会!所以,摆在我们眼前的天地如此宽广,蓝天如此蔚蓝无际,没有人可以限制我们的前进与发展,如果今天我们原地踏步或匍匐难行,那是因为我们自己限制了自己。

姐妹们,今年的代表大会是别具意义的,首先出身于马华妇女组女青年的王晓婷同志,在激烈的马青选举中突围而出,成为马华有史以来的第一位女团长;其次,三十一岁的陈君儿,凭着初生之犊不怕虎的精神竞选马华中委,结果中选!她是马华建党有史以来通过选举中选的最年轻马华女中委!这说明了只要我们愿意,只要我们做好了准备,同时敢于突破,我们不只能在马华妇女组发挥,我们也必然能够在马华有所表现!英文有一句话说:“sky's the limit,姐妹们飞吧,全力以赴!让我们以智慧应对,让我们以实力进入主流!

我要恭喜马华妇女组在拿督王赛之的领导下一团和气,在党处于低潮的今时今日,无论是州或全国大会,妇女组的动员力量还是强大的,出席依旧踊跃,这种气象证明了姐妹们对党的高度忠诚,无论甘甜酸苦,姐妹们对党不离不弃,这股精神是重建马华,是确保马华在最短的时间内重回政治主流的力量。

虽然如此,我们必须居安思危,妇女组应严肃与正面的看待组织日益老化的问题。至今,最活跃的依然是资深党员,无论是大选或补选时,撑着伞在烈日下沿家挨户为候选人拉票的大部分依旧是我们这些老干部,有些甚至脚已没力,但依旧坚持!这种精神让人钦佩,但也同时让人心生怜悯而心有戚戚焉。换句话说,我们依然依靠着许多资深党员在苦苦支撑。

姐妹们,如果希盟政府没有再度违背承诺的话,下一届大选的选民投票年龄将下降到18岁,加上三年内可能举办地方政府选举,无论是基于和年轻选民的联系或是发掘更多人才参与地方选举的需要,全党上下,包括妇女组都必须全面配合当前的发展加速组织的年轻化、先进化和专业化,塑造青年参与马华是一项潮流的趋势,并让有才华,愿意投身政治,为民服务的精英在不受限制或打压的情况下,尽情发挥。

各位,年轻化组织可以从数量和素质两个方面着手,在数量上40岁以下女青年只占妇女组总党员人数的13.68%,显示我们的组织严重老化,因此亟需提供平台激活女青年,让她们推动充满活力与符合时代潮流,让青年感觉先进、新鲜和可发挥的计划,进而吸引年轻党员的加入。

在素质上,以目前马华妇女组有62千余名40岁以下的女青年而言,内里卧虎藏龙者必然不少,因此对内发掘人才,畅通晋升的管道,把具备潜力,可塑性高的女青年专才推上舞台,让她们发挥,将有效刷新马华妇女组的清新形象。

各位,如果希盟政府果真履行承诺在3年内举行地方政府选举的话,根据2017的数据,全国共有154个地方议会,包括13个市政局,39个市议会,97个县议会和5个同类型管理单位,加上华人新村则有450个,地方政府选举的规模之大可想而知。

依据现行1976年地方政府法令,每一个地方议会可拥有8-24名议员,单以现有154个地方议会的平均值来计算,全国将有超过2500名的地方议会议员。虽然依据目前所查证的2010年报告中的148个地方政府里面,华裔人口占多数的只有9个,但以每个地方政府都应有各族代表的原则计算,我们可以想象马华需要派出参选的人数是高达数百人的。因此,无论我们如何提供青年机会,党内资深党员的角色依然是最吃重的。换句话说,未来地方政府选举的候选人必然是长、中、青的结合。当然,除了候选人的能力和对党原则与方向的坚持是不容妥协的之外,人选也必须是符合时代要求,已做好准备全面奉献与获得地方上认同的。

姐妹们,509之后,我们已经从执政党沦落为反对党了,我们必须反思与调整,必须顺应时代角色的变换全面革新,为地方政府选举和未来的大选做准备。

支、区、州和中央各级妇女组在方向与角色上应有分别,支会可继续以联谊为方式,巩固基层的活跃度与力量,但也必须为即将到来的地方选举,累积监督与制衡地方政府,倡导议题的服务经验;我们必须激活支会,通过支会联系地方人民。我们虽然不掌权,难以直接解决人民的问题,但我们可以代表地方人民监督与制衡政府,这个角色不只是马华领导的工作,也是马华妇女组和马青的角色。

在区会与州会方面,我们必须把从政治格局拉高,我们必须关注地方中央与州政府的施政与发展,专业从政,掌握议题,有效的监督与制衡。

近年来我国社会运动发展蓬勃,女性领导表现特出,扮演了倡导与领导社会舆论及改革的角色,因此马华中央妇女组应主动接触与加强和社会运动分子,尤其是女性社会运动分子的联系与合作,互相借力,相辅相成!

姐妹们,在需要的时候,让我们一起走上街头,为国家人民的利益与福祉,以和平但坚决的方式表达立场!联谊性质的活动可以联系感情,但有理有据的行动却能强化理念与使命,让大家一起义无反顾的为理想而奋斗。
  
姐妹们,既然身为反对党,我们就必须扮演好反对党的角色,我们有义务监督好当今的希盟政府,在全面复兴马华公会的长征路上,我们必须彻底地回归政治,成为高效率的建设性反对党,贯彻有效监督、理性制衡的批判精神,开创建设性批判的政治新功能,对国家的政治、经济、文化、教育、社会、安全、生存与发展的问题有足够的了解,不平则鸣,而且要提出具有建设性的改善意见。

希盟政府第一次提呈的财政预算案,让人失望。明年的经济增长预期只有4.8%,遭到国际货币基金组织(IMF)的降级。经济增长放缓,意味着人民收入、百姓衣食住行都会受到影响。可惜的是希盟并没有提出有效的策略和措施以改善经济现状,反而一味的将问题推卸给前朝政府。

我国经济放缓的主要原因在于原产业领域的贸易受挫,棕油、橡胶和食品的价格严重下跌,其中食用油售价更跌至自20094月以来的新低点,我国人民的收入,特别是这些原产品生产者的小农户经济来源大大缩减的窘境是不难想象的,但是我们的原产业部长郭素沁除了喊口号声称积极出国招商,并没有看到什么具体的成效。

国际原油价格猛挫,布蘭特原油价格甚至一度大跌12.1%至每桶58.8美元,我国收入因此大大受损,但政府还是没有提出任何方案,更没有提出考虑降低国内汽油的零售价,只说如果原油价格持续下降,也许会因为国家收入减少而要检讨财政预算案。

希盟政府撤除了消费税(GST),以我们所谓的销售税SST2.0取而代之,不仅仅使到国家收入锐减210亿令吉,实际上更影响到整个国家的永续发展。为了填补税收的缺额,政府只能从官联公司(GLC)榨取更高的股利,来支撑惊人的3130亿令吉的政府开支。国油公司再次做出最大的贡献,除了派发总额540亿令吉的股息给政府,更发出300亿令吉的特别股息。然而,由于2019年度财政预算案的收入是以原油每桶70美元的价格来计算,但如今跌至每桶58.8美元,政府有什么对策吗?要知道,如平均降价1美元,政府就会减少3亿令吉的收入。这个缺额要如何填补?显然的,政府没有解决方案,当人民要求政府降低物价,首相的回复竟然是要求降低工资,希盟政府能够提供的对策,竟然是要求人民勒紧肚皮。令人不解的是,他们竟然在同一个时候,调动部门资金,启动不切实际的第三国产车计划。
我们的党必须要有更多的同志挺身而出为人民发声,监督政府、向政府施压,以求改善现状。我们不要只会讲的政府,我们要能做、能承担、能为百姓谋出路的政府。让我们提醒希盟政府,你们已经掌权了,请拿出实际的施政表现来。

姐妹们,根据国际货币基金组织的研究报告显示,女性就业对经济发展有利,因此全球几乎所有国家都注重女性人力资源的开发, 2010年至2016年马来西亚女性就业人数以每年4.5%的速度成长,比男性就业人数每年以2%增长要快。近年来女性就业对马来西亚经济增长的贡献增长速度更快2001年到2008年平均从实际GDP增长的4%增长到2011年至2016年的14%。 与此同时,男性工人的贡献从占GDP7%左右增加到GDP13%左右。 如果女性劳动力参与率自2012年以来没有变化,2016年实际GDP将比当年低大约1%。

各位,女性不介意为了国家的经济发展而努力,因为我们要我们的家人和孩子能够享有高素质的生活,但我要提醒政府,尤其是财政部长林冠英的是,女性在国家经济发展的角色日益吃重,并没有因而减轻女性在家庭方面所扮演的角色和责任。在经济总体条件不佳,政府施政不力的情况下,人民生活面对困顿,国家经济发展不好,第一个在家庭支出和心理上承受最大压力的是女性,是妈妈!

可惜的是,我们多位希盟部长却总是放着正经事不干,每天只想着如何怪前朝,如何逞英雄。我们的教育部长马智礼只关心学生校鞋的颜色和要求酒店开放游泳池供学生学游泳,但却不履行承认统考的诺言;说了减轻老师的文书工作却推出“学生阅读兴趣评估”资料输入工作;我们的副教育部长张念群则成了只会在教育部长身旁一直点头的“椰BOTOL”;我们的原产业部长郭素沁对棕油和橡胶价格直线下滑一筹莫展;联邦直辖区部长卡立沙末不解决吉隆坡的交通和人民住房问题,却热衷于推出以捆绑选民,确保希望联盟下一届继续胜利的希望币。而更令人发指的是财政部长对如何解决马币贬值、股市下滑的问题视而不见,反而滥用职权取消拉曼大学学院的行政拨款,以牺牲学生利益来打压马华公会。

林冠英把国阵政府白字黑字批准给拉曼大学学院的每年行政拨款降格为巫统和马华两党之间的契约、把马华总会长批评他违背政府承诺的言论当成是他和拿督斯里魏家祥的私人恩怨,说什么他已和魏家祥撕破脸,所以不会见他,把国家大事当成了玩“家家酒”,其“幼稚”和“意气用事”的态度让人惊讶!

他一再的威胁马华,说不允许拉大调涨学费,因为这是财政部的最后红线,而一旦马华踩红线牺牲学生福利调涨学费,财政部将会采取一系列的行动对付马华。林冠英把黑的说成白,自己是鬼却喊抓鬼,他那种野蛮霸道的行径,明眼人一看就穿,让人不齿,但他却还洋洋得意,自我感觉良好。

他在以拨款要胁马华失败后,就离间拉曼大学学院校友会和马华的关系,更尝试以拨款利诱其他华社民办大专院校随地起舞,这种千方百计要拉大和马华切割的行为和教人背信忘义的小人有什么不同吗?他连政府白字黑字批准的行政拨款都可以漠视,连大选宣言承认统考的承诺都一拖再拖,竟然还有人相信他的话,也真让人纳闷!
姐妹们,拉曼大学学院今天所面对的问题,其实就是政府对华社民办教育的拨款问题,是林冠英滥用职权公然违背政府对拉曼大学学院承诺的问题,既然林冠英不断的提到制度性拨款给华校,也表明要拨款给南方、新纪元和韩新,那我呼吁华社利用拉曼大学学院这个事件的契机团结起来,让我们一次过一劳永逸要求政府和林冠英解决政府对华社民办非盈利教育的拨款,我们要求林冠英推动国会立法清楚列明拨款的制度,即款项如何拨,拨多少,是一对一还是仿效给MARA 37亿令吉,或一半?因为按林冠英过去翻来覆去,一时一样的处事方式,不立法不足以取信,不列明方式也不能称为制度化拨款。

各位姐妹,最近whatsapps有一则短讯在广传:“拉曼的同业赞成拉曼跟马华脱离关系,并劝告拉曼转型。我的同事看了新闻冷笑一声說道:這就像比你醜的人劝你去整容醬.....”,我不敢附和这则短讯的看法,但这样一则短讯可以如此热烈广传,显然已引起了共鸣!

各位,拉曼大学学院虽然是马华所创立,但马华不曾以政治干预,学校行政完全由学术人员专业管理,反观有些民办大学虽然不是由政党所创办,但政治活动不断,因此学术与政治分离到底看的是现实情况还是单就创办人是谁决定?答案是明显的。因此我呼吁林冠英把更多的时间放在如何振兴国家经济,而不是用公权力来扭曲是非,打压政敌!

姐妹们,很显然的林冠英在利用拉曼大学学院的课题来打压马华,用强权来威胁我们,用霸权来尝试把马华创办的学校和马华切割!他在欺负我们,因此我们必须自强,我们不能泄气,我们要有士气;我们不能斗气,我们要争气!姐妹们,让我们一起站在总会长的身后,给与他全力的支持,我们要看跋扈专横的林冠英到底还能笑多久!

马华的重建需要大家,让我们大家一起努力!祝大家会议收获满满,生活愉快健康。谢谢