Your thoughts on YB Karpal Singh
Posted on April 30th, 2008 by Nathaniel Tan
I couldn’t have said it better than Polytikus, re: today’s first session - lol!
I’m curious how the general public views YB Karpal’s recent statements and positions - constructive? not? Leave a comment, have your say :)
ps: the views expressed in the comments section are just that - views of the general public. they do not reflect my own, and most certainly not any institution. any seriously inappropriate comments will be deleted without second thought.
pps: no seriously, go read polytikus! hehe
surely it is important to find out who you are dealing with and so the questions is warranted
Both are personally attacking one another .. Not surprised but not supporting such usage of words as well.
I appreciate Karpal as a very outspoken candidate. He dares to challenge authorities, speaking against those that claim certain privileges or rights are unquestionable.
Admire that spirit but there are always two sides on a coin. For example, the fiasco with PAS over the Islamic State issue made public.
It is not wrong for him to express himself in public but politics is all about perception. For all we know, certain speeches are made to create disarray and we should not fall for it. Hope everyone catches the drift.
Regards,
http://sagaladoola.blogspot.com
Karpal Singh,
If I want to know about Sikhism do I ask you or do I ask Sikhism Scholars and read their authentic books.
By the same token, if you SINCERELY want to know about Islam then, go ask their Scholars or read the proper books.
Same goes to you Nat. If I want to know about Christianity , Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism I would consult their Scholars and read their books.
Don’t ask Ibrahim Ali lah.
Happy questioning those BN fellows particular Pak Lah otherwise he goes to sleep !
I think there should be Code of Ethics for our beloved elected MPs.
Name calling definitely should not be condoned. they should act with dignity and respect as elected members of the parliament instead of behaving like school kids!
What a shame and a bad start!
BRAVO TO KARPAL SINGH! That’s the kind of politicians I genuinely have respect for; who speaks the truth as it is! Rakyat don’t need to hear sweet but empty promises and false politeness; when it’s about barbaric injustice! As a Malay, I’m so glad we have such fiery but honest politicians who are not afraid to challenge such social injustice including on the issues of “Islamic State” and the supposedly untouchable royals (they’re not God for goodness sake!) and not to sweeten social injustice issues for the sake of staying in power! As I can see how many elitist/capitalist leaders including from the PR are doing it and backing off from fulfilling their promises to fight for social justice all the way; when their position and power are threatened!
So please Karpal; as a rakyat, a Malaysian and our leader, you have every right to criticize any issues that promotes injustice to anyone especially to the rakyat, regardless of the perpetrators’ status, race or religion; and to those who thinks some issues or perpetrators are untouchables despite of the injustice; shame on you then! Where is your belief in true democracy and justice; so let’s support Karpal, Guan Eng and Anwar for daring to challenge the elitist/capitalist/fascist/sexist/racist status quo and truly liberate us. Such barbaric social injustice have long been imposed on the rakyat! We want justice all the way; not half-baked ones! And that will be a true PR, and true democracy for this sorry nation-state then!
NOOR AZA OTHMAN.
Personally, and speaking from the point of view of someone who’s never really seen how the Parliament works, Karpal Singh felt like a liability. (Then his son go and step in to help also … within his rights, but it just sends the wrong message, ya know?) I keep wondering where the political value is in his questioning small matters multiple times even after the poor Speaker ordered so many times for the man to stop, with strained politeness and a gavel. I still don’t see it.
Oh, the question is about the name-calling? I hear it happens a lot anyway. It looks like the MPs are thick-skinned enough and what’s more important, it’s fun for us to witness that, really. (Distracts from the main issues though, doesn’t it?)
Karpal sounds like alawyer, act like a lawyer. Of course he is a lawyer and he will always talk like a lawyer, in or out of Parliament.
This is what they highlight on the first day? I think Karpal needs to learn that he’s not alone anymore, there are 80 others (or 81, make up your mind Ibrahim!) behind him, to support him. As for Bung, what do you expect from Mr Bocor himself? Guy need a kick in the nut.
If I want to know about Sikhism do I ask you or do I ask Sikhism Scholars and read their authentic books. - ghenjis khan
You can also do it at:
allaboutsikhs.com
Ditto for others.
I’m rather disappointed that a lot of people are going to ignore the good points Karpal has been making because of the way he presents them. I agree with a lot of what he’s said on the subject of Malay privileges/rights, the position of the royalty, and the standing orders in the Dewan, but the way he articulates these viewpoints effectively guarantees nobody but the most partisan DAP/PR supporters will pay him heed.
as regards to the not carrying the righ hand while swearing, the bn people still thinks that they are going to have their way.thats the way they forgot to respect the flag.during my time when its starts raining the head prefect has to rush to get the flag down to avoid getting it wet.these day the flags are left to rot withered.slowly you dont even have to raise hands for t hats unmo ‘ CULTURE.perhaps on the mind of the umno”s mp is project and contracts.
Karpal is very senior to many politicians. His credits include speaking truth regardless of how sensitive it is. However, it would be most appropriate for him to evaluate issues carefully before issuing public statements, especially if it involves PR members. Should there be any negative remarks by members of PR he should then take it up with top leadership. I believe if this approach were to be adapted, the others may also think twice to utter words that could be sensitive in nature and therefore may emulate his good example.
Finally the name calling such as Big Foot and Big Monkey should stop as I regard these terms as unparliamentary. I expect our MPs to behave properly.
Karpal is karpal, either you love him or disgusted of him….
amy
could it be that bung actually has big feet or foot? but i can’t think of a reason why karpal was called a monkey. and why is monkey a word of choice these days? why not cabbage or turnip while they are at it? to be fair, at least he did not call bung a hoe… like most of us do.
I always say that I value very much Karpal Singh’s contributions as a steadfast defender of our democratic rights during the Opposition’s decades in the wilderness.
But times have changed (a gross understatement, I believe) and he has to change as well…
Communicating effectively is a mixture of the message content itself, the messenger, and the delivery.
Karpal’s message is usually pretty solid in content. The delivery is rubbing a lot of the non-partisan public the wrong way.
(nat: edited this somewhat for proprietry and respect to colleagues)
DAP is an outdated, Chinese chauvinist party.
Just wait and see how PKR MPs will behave in Parliament. They will set the example for sure since Anwar emphasise on high quality and sharper arguments while magnanimously till even the BN is not left with any choice but to respect.
This DAP ah..This what happens when they were given all these years to dominate Parliament.
Funny isn’t it? Mr LKS keeps saying about having a First World Parliament and yet he has people like Karpal Singh uttering such words.
I have so much respect for MR KS but his actions yesterday was just too much lah!
Cant he leave the name calling, shouting and other behaviours usually related to animals to the 140 MPs on the other side?
The live telecast is actually an opprtunity for the opposition to steal the hearts of those watching. How?
Just by growing up!
I agree with Karpal’s continued insistence on obtaining clarification from PAS on its “Islamic State” policy. This is something PKR should also start doing. It is only a matter of time before another religious freedom dispute comes up and the PR must make sure their response is not mere PR.
And when is PAS going to wake up and realize that Malaysians from all walks of life will support them wholeheartedly if only they give up this Islamic State business (and genuinely give it up rather than just rebranding it).
nat: i see what you mean boss, but what if to Pas, an Islamic state (a concept which i think is still too poorly defined to facilitate informed dialogue) is as central to their party’s soul as say secularism is to many movements?
Although this may sound like a big dichotomy, I again stress that if we go into the details, we *may* find that the differences are not as insurmountable as some think.
These points are not advocacy for any one position, mind.. :)
Karpal is a poor communicator, his arguments lose traction because of bombastic delivery. Can he change for the better or is he stuck in Jurassic mode forever? An old dog needs to learn new tricks if the prize is control of Parliament . An old dog should not need to bark indiscriminately to be heard . Karpal was not constructive the other day in Parliament, he really must shift gear in this day and age and learn to use his time more effectively and productively.
I admire Karpal for hi tenacity and no-hold-bar approach in the political arena of Malaysia that is still somewhat skewed to that of BN’s side.
I think politician like Karpal are crucial in ensuring that someone from the opposition stand up to fight for thruth and justice. In his capacity as a lawyer, Karpal has all the experience and skill required.
I’m thankfull that he does not have to resort to the level of ‘politicising’ that politician like Bung Mokhtar subscribe to. Time and time again Bung has lept to harass the opposition with nothing credible to add and only demeaning and un-parliamentary words as his usual methods of attack.
I have said that thinkers and doers like Karpal are the diamonds in the rought while those like Bung are the proverbial dime in a dozen. Yet Karpal is only human and can succumb to stress or whatever else reason - hence his word-parley with Bung that saw same some names flying in the august house.
Therefore it is also my hope that Karpal can take more effort in the future to ensure that he does not fall down the path that Bung has obviously embraced whole hartedly. Do not fall to their level and throw around words that are unbecoming a parliamentarian!
To Karpal I say: Keep on standing up and fighting for us!
Really,
The August House demands respect. I personally believe that Karpal Singh did not treat his fellow members with respect. As such, he received nothing more.
Having said this, I don’t think BN members gave anyone respect. So, a house that offers no respect, receives none either.
My thoughts were correct when I predicted mayhem in the parliament for the first few sittings. huh..