ABU : Anas Zubedy & Haris Ibrahim by monyet king

Those of you who have been following this ABU (Asalkan Bukan UMNO) thingy, Anas Zubedy posted an article yesterday stating why he does not agree with ABU. Haris Ibrahim today posted an article why he disagrees with Anas.

Please read both articles

Why I disagree with ABU – by Anas Zubedy

With all due respect to those who are promoting ABU (Anything But UMNO/ Asalkan Bukan UMNO) especially Haris Ibrahim, someone who I have high regard of; a genuine change agent – I do not see ABU’s approach as the right way to go. I would like to offer an alternative point of view.

Let me explain.

When we try to use an all-or-nothing approach, we are essentially giving license to the other side to slack. An effort like ABU takes the assumption that everyone in UMNO is bad and everyone in the opposition is good; but what if the UMNO candidate fighting for the same seat is a better candidate, who should we vote?

An all-or-nothing, blanket approval or dismissal for any party is like giving a blank cheque to the candidates and the party. I see it as an irresponsible, unthinking way to choose our MPs and ADUNS.

Continue reading here

Why I disagree with Anas Zubedy by Haris Ibrahim

In a letter to Malaysia Today, Anas Zubedy, who I have never met but heard much of through mutual friends, proffers the view that the approach of the Asalkan Bukan UMNO initiative is, to borrow his words, not the ‘right way to go’.

I do not share Anas’s viewpoint, not because I am directly involved in the ABU initiative, but because, with the greatest of respect, his rationale for his take is not only fundamentally flawed but, often, bordering on the ridiculously hilarious.

The ABU initiative looks to displace UMNO / BN from Putrajaya through the 13th General Election, by ensuring that the people wisen up to the wholesale looting of the national wealth that has taken place throughout UMNO / BN’s rule, particularly beginning since the days of Dr M up to the present and, to not allow them the requisite number of MPs in parliament so as to form the next federal government.

Continue reading here.

Monyet King says
I am with Anas on this one. Anas’ approach is more sustainable. I want to see great candidates from both sides. ABU will lead to a monopoly on the other side – and create exactly the same conditions that allowed for rampant abuses in the past.

If we are serious about having a robust two-party system, we must insist on both sides only field their best. Therefore voting the best candidate regardless of their party is my way forward.
[p.s. While I am perfectly aware of the abuses by UMNO, I also know that Pakatan folks are no angels either]

Feel free to disagree

BTW

Which side do I belong ? Read here.

Monyet King also says

How about another campaign ABAM – Anything But A Monyet ?

click here for the full article

Zubedy event write up: Presenting the book ‘I don’t know you but let me save you’ to Chinese vernacular secondary schools

We are featured in few local newspaper today.

Below are the link to the writeup:

The Star: Organ donor seeks to inspire others via book

Nanyang: 蔡细历：若要解除禁令 可指定地点燃放鞭炮

Sinchew: 蔡細歷：20年前已解決‧鞭炮課題應保持現狀

Guang Ming: 蔡細歷建議特定地方燃鞭炮

for those who missed the event, click here for the recorded version

Why I disagree with Anas Zubedy by harimsibrahim

In a letter to Malaysia Today, Anas Zubedy, who I have never met but heard much of through mutual friends, proffers the view that the approach of the Asalkan Bukan UMNO initiative is, to borrow his words, not the ‘right way to go’.

I do not share Anas’s viewpoint, not because I am directly involved in the ABU initiative, but because, with the greatest of respect, his rationale for his take is not only fundamentally flawed but, often, bordering on the ridiculously hilarious.

The ABU initiative looks to displace UMNO / BN from Putrajaya through the 13th General Election, by ensuring that the people wisen up to the wholesale looting of the national wealth that has taken place throughout UMNO / BN’s rule, particularly beginning since the days of Dr M up to the present and, to not allow them the requisite number of MPs in parliament so as to form the next federal government.

Implicit in Anas’s assertion is the erroneous assumption that ABU is anti-UMNO and pro-opposition.

ABU is determined to see UMNO /BN removed from Putrajaya post the 13th GE, not because we are pro-opposition, but because we are pro-rakyat.

And anyone who sincerely has the interests and welfare of the rakyat at heart knows full well that until the cancerous UMNO /BN is removed from Putrajaya, we, as a nation, are well on the way to becoming a banana republic.

Anas opines that not all in UMNO are bad. What if the UMNO candidate is better than the opposition? Who should we vote for?

Respectfully, Anas overlooks that today UMNO has become a whorehouse and a sanctuary for robbers and thieves. No decent soul would care to be associated with this lot for even one more day than they have to.

Kuli, I hope you are reading this.

Good men in UMNO?

They swear to defend, uphold and preserve our constitution before they take their seats in parliament, then shamelessly pass laws that would be struck down as unconstitutional if this nation were served by judges who feared God more than they did UMNO.

Remember the Peaceful Assembly Act?

Click here to read more on this article

Why I disagree with ABU

With all due respect to those who are promoting ABU (Anything But UMNO/ Asalkan Bukan UMNO) especially Haris Ibrahim, someone who I have high regard of; a genuine change agent– I do not see ABU’s approach as the right way to go. I would like to offer an alternative point of view.

Let me explain.

When we try to use an all-or-nothing approach, we are essentially giving license to the other side to slack.

An effort like ABU takes the assumption that everyone in UMNO is bad and everyone in the opposition is good; but what if the UMNO candidate fighting for the same seat is a better candidate, who should we vote?

An all-or-nothing, blanket approval or dismissal for any party is like giving a blank cheque to the candidates and the party. I see it as an irresponsible, unthinking way to choose our MPs and ADUNS.

While I support the ideals ABU wants to promote, it is the approach I find questionable. For the change we want we cannot be in a hurry. Some may see that we need to reduce UMNO’s influence in order to change our nation for the better, but we must be careful with our action, lest we throw the baby out with the bathwater.

This is why a more balanced approach is needed. We ask people to be thinking voters, to scrutinize individuals from all parties, and choose the best among them, not the party. If the non- UMNO candidate is better, by all means choose him or her. But if the UMNO candidate is better, he or she deserves our vote.

We must understand that while the backing of a good structure, processes and systems (of political parties) can help an MP/ADUN perform well, an excellent candidate without a good party will still be able to serve the rakyat with heart and soul. It is like an excellent teacher in a school without amenities and support. That is why we must give foremost consideration to the individual calons, not his/her political party.

Instead of taking an all-or-nothing blanket approach, an approach that is based on reason, conscience and the Constitution is recommended. We must not allow any candidate or party a free ride. A ‘No Free Rides’ campaign is the better approach. In that way we will get only the best people as MPs and ADUNs.

We need to change Malaysia in the right way towards the right goal. It will be slow but sure. Let’s do it one MP at a time.

Finally, the ABU campaign has a longer term danger. It promotes the kind of unthinking decision making process that is potentially destructive. This campaign may be the catalyst for more unthinking divisive positions like ABC – Asalkan Bukan Cina or Asalkan Bukan Christian, or ABK - Asalkan Bukan Kafir, etc etc.

Is this the way we want to go?

Anas Zubedy

Kuala Lumpur

Sepuluh Tahun Sebelum Merdeka by fahmi reza

October 20th, 1947 was a historical day in the rakyat's constitutional struggle for independence from British colonialism. This short documentary film chronicles the events that culminated in the Malaya-wide 'Hartal' day of protest against the undemocratic Federation of Malaya Constitutional Proposals devised by the British Colonial Government and the UMNO, and the rise of the people's democratic movement in Malaya, ten years before independence.

click here for the video

Zubedy special event: Presenting the book ‘I don’t know you but let me save you’ to Chinese vernacular secondary schools

We will be having a presentation ceremony to present zubedy ideahouse’s publication, ‘我把肝脏给了一位陌生人’ (I Don’t Know You But Let Me Save You) by Chew Hoong Ling, to all Chinese Conforming Secondary Schools in Malaysia.

What?

A press conference and presentation ceremony to present one of our publications to all Chinese Conforming secondary school libraries in Malaysia. We hope that Hoong Ling’s experience will add value to and inspire the generations to come. ‘I Don’t Know You but Let Me Save You’ (‘我把肝脏给了一位陌生人) is a story about selflessness. In the book, Hoong Ling describes her journey as an organ donor who chose to give away part of her liver to a young girl in 2009.

Who?

The guest of honor for this press conference is Dato’ Sri Dr. Chua Soi Lek, president of MCA.

When?

Date: 17 January 2012 (Tuesday)

Time: 2.45 p.m. – 4.00 p.m.

Where?

zubedy (m) sdn. bhd.,

3^rd floor, Wisma W.I.M.

Jalan Abang Haji Openg

Taman Tun Dr. Ismail

60000 Kuala Lumpur.

You are welcome to join us, or to follow a live streaming online, go to www.livestream.com/zubedyevent

because kindness keeps the world afloat

something for us to reflect on :)