Jui Meng:”I will not back down”
June 20, 2010
Jui Meng will not surrender his fight for Democracy, Freedom and Justice
By Stephanie Sta Maria (www.freemalaysiatoday.com)
PETALING JAYA: The Johor palace has asked Chua Jui Ming to return all three medals conferred on him by the late Sultan of Johor despite initially revoking only two.
Chua was last week stripped of his “datuk” and “datuk seri” titles and ordered to return both medals to the palace. No reason was given for this revocation, although speculation was rife that UMNO Johor had a hand in the palace’s decision. UMNO Johor has denied these allegations.
At a press conference today, Chua said that he had notified the secretary to the Royal Court of Johor, Abdul Rahim Ramli, that he had a third medal from Johor – the Pingat Ismail Sultan (PIS).
“I asked him whether the palace wanted that as well and he immediately said yes,” Chua said. “So I will make arrangements to send the medals back to the palace as soon as possible. And I am returning them open-heartedly.”
When asked when he would be returning them, he said that there was no urgency to do so. “I have already advised Rahim that all he needs to do is degazette the two titles and the medals will become mere metal as there will be no honours attached to it. But I will return them, not to worry.”
However, PKR vice-president Sivarasa Rasiah, who was also present, questioned Rahim’s authority in demanding that the third medal be returned.
“I am surprised that he was able to make such a decision on the spot without first referring to the palace,” he said. “So who is really wielding the power here? Who is behind the palace’s decision?”
The former health minister, who joined PKR last July, will retain his “datukship” as he had been conferred state awards by Pahang and Selangor, which carry the same title.
‘I will not back down’
Chua acknowledged that he knew from the moment he joined Pakatan that he would be taking the road less travelled and paid tribute to his colleagues who have been enduring hardships for the past 11 years in their efforts to bring change to Malaysia.
“I have been preparing myself for the struggles ahead but I didn’t expect to be penalised for my decision so soon,” he said. “But the loss of these medals is nothing compared to the sacrifices made by other reformists like Tian Chua, Sivarasa and PKR de facto leader Anwar (Ibrahim).”
Chua also marvelled at the outpouring of public support he received following the stripping of his titles and said it was “beyond his wildest imagination”. He noted that the magnitude of support clearly indicated that the people have had enough of “petty and vindictive politics” and a government that is “bankrupt of real ideas” to take Malaysia forward.
“UMNO has badly miscalculated this attempt to intimidate me,” he said. “They probably expected me to slow down my campaign for reform but this has only strengthened my resolve in this fight. I am standing on the right side of history and I will not retreat.”
Chua then drew on the analogy of football to further illustrate his belief that the people are clearly ready for change.
“In football, the people know when a player is playing the man instead of the ball. In 2008, the rakyat showed BN the yellow card. I am confident that in 2012, they will show UMNO the red card.”
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/politics/pakatan-rakyat/7020-chua-i-will-surrender-my-medals-but-not-my-fight
What choice has Chua Jui Meng, after abandoning MCA and Barisan Nasional, since he does not want to retire from active politics? None. The truth is that he is another froggie who is eying for a parliamentary seat in the next election. He is hopeful that he will be given a place in the Pakatan Rakyat Cabinet. Big dreams. Can he count on Anwar’s promises? Anyway I wish him all the best.
P Dev Anand Pillai - June 20, 2010 at 9:36 am
What’s wrong with our monarchy?
Involved in business is one thing but being seen, rightly or wrongly, as playing partisan politics… that’s entering into dangerous waters.
A constitutional monarchical system is very fragile. Once it sets itself in motion for destruction, it is irreversible. Now UMNO is making full use of the monarchy for its own political ends and the royal households are playing ball.
Is it mudah lupa… of the 1980s when the mamak- regime got UMNO to insult the Malay Rulers iin public so badly, and not only that, brought the Malay Rulers to their knees with the constitutional amendment on their role.
Today, the UMNO govt is using its incumbency to force self-censorship by the citizens with threats of DERHAKA and ISA, on any waywardness of the royal households.
As Raja Petra, a royalty himself, said, the relevance of the monarchy will be put in the front burner of Malaysians’ consciousness sooner than later.
Frank - June 20, 2010 at 9:43 am
P Dev Anand Pillai,
Your comments have no relevance to the issue of the stripping of the royal titles on Chua Jui Meng.
What is being discussed is whether the monarchy is playing partisan politics in stripping Chua Jui Meng’s awards. If not, it has to come out and explain itself. As it sends, every Malaysian smells a rat in the Johore Sultan’s decision to strip Chua Jui Meng’s award.
Your comments are irrelevant here on this thread . If you want to raise the issue that Chua Jui Meng is frogging, that is another kettle of fish. Even then, the debate should be whether the decision of the Johore Sultan to strip the title was because Chua Jui Meng decided to join the Opposition and leaving BN-MCA. That should the point of debate instead.
Don’t try to be clever by half here with your misplaced comments on this thread. SILLY!!
Frank - June 20, 2010 at 9:52 am
CORRECTION
As it STANDS, every Malaysian smells a rat in the Johore Sultan’s decision to strip Chua Jui Meng’s award.
Frank - June 20, 2010 at 9:52 am
The Johore royalty should learn from the Constitutional crisis of 1980′s because UMNO/BN stripped them naked in public revealing all the misbehaviour and getting the Malaysian public to look down on the royalty.
Perhaps the present Sultan is in the same preditcament and thus have to bow to UMNO/BN or be stripped naked again. The palace should issue a statement explaining the reason for the withdrawal of the awards to Chua Jui Meng. Usually stripping of the awards tantamount to serious and grave mis conduct and bringing shame to the royal institution or the award itself. To date Chua Jui Meng had not been tried or convicted of any such behaviour. Thus it leads the public to conclude that the Sultan was doing it at the hest of UMNO/BN.
semper fi - June 20, 2010 at 10:53 am
Its odd that Datuk has still other datuk awards to be used. Its more than obvious the sultan and other heads of states are indebted to the government. I know what Datuk and others in his predicament will do if I was in their shoes,return all awards. In fact all opposition members should do so. What is wrong with Mr., Encik.
___________
Titles are hangovers from a feudal era. To me the sweetest title I got is what my parents gave me. It is just a simple “Din Merican”. Even an Encik or Mr does not gell with that name. –Din Merican
Brian` - June 20, 2010 at 11:10 am
Jui Meng is a gentleman and has done nothing against Johor or our country to deserve this kind of treatment. UMNO Johor is probably the instigator of the Istana Johor move to strip the former Minister of Health of his titles. I know Jui Meng well, and do not think he will abandon his fight for Democracy, Freedom and Justice. He joined PKR after serious reflection and consultations with his friends, associates and his supporters.–Din Merican
dinobeano - June 20, 2010 at 11:12 am
Datuks are dimes a dozen.
It is so cheap that you can get discounts in basement sale.
Datukships are awards meant to symbolize a citizen’s civic contribution to society and to the Ruler’s subjects at large.
Today, you can buy datukships either through the Govt in power or through UMNO or directly.
I know of some civil servant friends who were given datukships who whispered to me, not to address them as datuk. He said it is too embarrassing because of how the word DATUK carries a bad reputation.
I asked why? He said people will give him a look wondering whether he bought it or he was given because he knows somebody in the royal palace.
It was that bad.
So if the Johore Sultan wants to take back. I think many Malaysians are more than willing to do so.
Frank - June 20, 2010 at 11:44 am
When I was a younger, I remember asking my parents why some people have Datuk in front of their names and why my grandfather doesn’t have any eventhough he is a datuk himself. I thought it might be because they have a lot of cucus. But my parents told me Datuk, Tan Sri and Tun are given to the people who have contributed to the country. Nowadays I begin to question what kind of “contributions” do some of these people give to deserve those titles. Michelle Yeoh? Shah Rukh Khan? Why???
didi - June 20, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Is the rakyat, never mind an former minister not allowed to ask questions? To me it’s quite unbelievable that in 21st century Malaysia and the age of mass communication, transparency and the internat the government still treats the rakyat like idiots who are not supposed to see evil, hear evil or speak evil, just obey. If that’s what the government wants then why bother with giving the rakyat education at all?! Saves tons of money too!
mo ha lim - June 20, 2010 at 1:01 pm
What’s wrong with our monarchy?
They live comfortable lives and are well taken care of by UMNO. Do you think they want to rock this comfortable boat.
They fear Pakatan may clip heir wings so ……………….
Sam01 - June 20, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Chua should not return the 3rd medal. What power does this Rahim have to demand for it even without being told by the Ruler.
Remember Rahim was the former state sec and he is an UMNO lackey.
Sam01 - June 20, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Without the medals, what is there to worry. After all he has got nothing to lose, except for losing the stigma of him being a sometime BN minister.
knk - June 20, 2010 at 4:28 pm
All those titles and medals are meaningless as there are 14 factoyr lines 1 Agong, 9 sultans and 4 governers)minting them and for sale ( ok some for whatever service or services rendered ).As a student in London I collected some specimens from Portobello Street !!. The sad part in MALAYSIA is that the medals are MINTED AT TAX-PAYERS EXPENSE and quite PRICEY with silver, gold and platinum content depending on the TUN, TAN, TING , TONG !!!!!
khem - June 20, 2010 at 6:35 pm
Frank – June 20, 2010 at 9:43 am
Frank, Mario Puzo believes that behind every great empire lies a great crime !
I agree. These descendants of lanuns are no better than the Mafia.
It is as it has always been about the acquirement of power – the power to pull the strings to control the puppets.
There is only one difference between those who walk the corridors of power in the dark and those who walk in the open – the ones who remained hidden, once their transition to legitimacy is complete, even their shit will smell like roses because as always, money talks, bullshit walks .
ocho onda - June 20, 2010 at 8:59 pm