Speech by CHENG YI,SUPP Batu Lintang Branch SUPP TGM 2008 14th December 2008

This TGM is a crossroad for SUPP. We come here from all over the State because we care for the future of SUPP.

We are here to set our Party’s policy direction and to give our mandate to the leaders of our Party.

I come here today bearing a hope:

HOPE: for SUPP to strengthen itself and be the voice of the people!

HOPE: that SUPP can truly be the People’s United Party!

Sekarang sudah tiba masanya untuk parti kita bangun semula dan membuktikan bahawa parti kitalah yang benar-benar dapat memastikan hak-hak rakyat.

We must regroup and rise above regional power struggle and re-direct our selves be to our Party’s objectives: ie. to sincerely defend a fair & just society. We must engage all our members in this direction.

Change – NEW SUPP CULTURE
Change comes in many forms – change in ideology & policies. We have wise leaders and most important thing is that SUPP must adopt radical change in our Culture:

1. Independent Political stand
SUPP must have our independent political stand within the context of Barisan Nasional, so that we can be seen to be a party with principle to meet the expectations of the people.
We must have a culture of being open and frank with our Barisan Nasional partners.
I suggest we set up a Think Tank comprising of our Party Elders, private sector, members & NGOs to deliberate on current issues & put up recommendations to the Party at every CWC monthly meetings.

2. Systematic Grooming Process
SUPP must have a human resource (HR) development policy – to headhunt for potential leaders, groom them – give these young leaders the confidence that when they perform, we will promote and defend them with all sincerity. The Opposition are doing it – if we don’t, we will lose out, they can throw a 20+ year old out there into the deep end. You can see that over these last 2 years, these young politicians have learnt and grown with the job. We must be courageous and be generous with our guidance – this the test of real leadership. A successful leader is one who is able to bring up a ready team of next echelon leader.

3. Reject Regional Politics
As Lee Kuan Yew (Mentor Minister of Singapore) said, we Chinese are marginalized in Malaysia. Chinese political strength is dispersed as we are in so many political parties. Today, it is unfortunate that we in SUPP, are still indulging in regional politics, thereby further eroding our strength. It is time to be truly united – get the best from our State wherever they are from, irrespective of which branch they are form – practice meritocracy.
One of the weakness maybe that our Party leaders’ are concentrating too much in their own constituencies’ activities. Party leaders should engage with all our Branches. During dialogue with branches, they have been calling out for guidance and direction.
Our leaders must adopt an all inclusive attitude & show our members that you are our Party leader (not just local DUN representative)– that is one way to unify our Party.

4. Amendment of Party Constitution
I support the motion to amend our Constitution so that we can meet the current expectations of our members, the election process must be one where money politics and regional politics be avoided. The antiquated system of 2 tier election may not be suitable to today’s environment. Our Delegates’ can’t even vote for the person they want as the leader, they are voting for a group of CC whom some of them don’t even know! We should set up a special task force to undertake this exercise, give them a time frame – we can’t wait for 3 more years to the next TGM. All branches should be given an opportunity to present their views. The recommendation can then be deliberated and adopted at a special purpose Delegates’ Conference.

This TGM is a test for us, the public is watching us – there’s no point of winning in the house and losing the public. We must now have the courage to re-affirm our convictions towards our Party’s cause: to strive and defend a fair & just society for all races. Don’t just talk – we have to do it! Do it right!

People are losing their patience with us – instead of tackling peoples’ issues, we have since 2006 engaged in internal power play even up to now. It’s time to clean up our act – we must prove to the people that we are a NEW SUPP :
A party with integrity, one which the people can put their trust & confidence in us .
It will be this NEW SUPP which will have a chance to retain our seats and regain our lost seats in the next State Election.
Kami ialah SUPP BARU dengan budaya baru - satu parti yang pemundi boleh harap.

Sekian Terima Kasih.

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峇都林當支部黨員代表鄭儀講詞
人聯黨第21屆黨員代表大會@14-12-2008

這一屆的黨代是黨的一個交叉路口，我們都因為關心黨的前途而從全砂各地到這裡來。我們齊聚在這裡來制訂黨的方向並把黨托付給我們的領導。
我帶著希望來到這裡：
希望：壯大和鞏固我黨並為人民的喉舌！
希望：我們的黨是真正的人民聯合黨！

現在是時候讓我黨重新站起來，證明我黨是真真正正能確保人民權益的政黨。我們要重新組織起來，拋開區域分歧並重新定位，以能迎合我們的宗旨：即捍衛一個公平和諧的社會。我們每個黨員都要厘清這個方向。

改變─新的人聯文化
改變有很多形式，包括了觀念和政策的改變。我們有精明的領導層，更重要的是人聯黨的文化需要彻底的改變。
1. 獨立的政治立場
即使是在國陣內，我黨必須也要有自己的立場，唯有這樣我們才能成為一個真正有原則並達到人民期待的政黨。我們要有一種可以和友黨坦誠和開明的文化。我建議我們可以召集一些黨的元老、私人領域代表、黨員和一些非政府組織的代表一起來，針對一些時事課題進行討論和提議建，然後把這些想法和建議帶到常月會議中。

2. 有系統的領導傳承
我黨必須要有一個人力資源發展制度，找出那些有濳能的領袖並培養他／她。讓年輕的領袖有信心並認清只要他們肯努力付出、積極表現，就會被黨待以真誠的提拔。反對黨不就是這樣做嗎鎮? 他們尚且如此，我們怎能不及之？我們看到反對黨的領導中甚至才20出頭的年紀，他們就被推薦到最前線去。可以看到這兩年來，這些年輕的政治人物都從他們，這才是真正領導的一種考驗。一個成功的領導人是可以帶起一個完全準備就緒的團隊者。


3. 拒絕山頭主義政治
正如新加坡資政李光耀說的，華人在大馬是被邊緣化。華人政治力量都因為參與的政黨不同而給分散掉了。很不幸的，今時今日，我們的黨還是存在區域政治(山頭主義)，因此更削弱了我們的力量。是時候讓我們真正團結起來了，選賢與能，不要去管他／她來自那一個支部，我們要的是人才統治的制度。
其中一個弱點就是，我們的黨領袖們太過於只專注在個自的選區，黨領袖是應該和所有支部都能打成一片的。上次和各支部對話時，他們都吁請黨領導層能給其他支部多一些引領和指示。
我們的領袖應該要讓黨員們看到你們是黨的領導，不只是代議士，黨領導是要對全體黨員負責的，這是其中一個可以團結黨的方法，否則只能論為空談。

4. 修改黨章
我支持有關修改黨章的提案，以達到黨員們的期待。選舉的過程一定要消除金錢政治和區域政治。舊有的复選方式已不適用於今天的政治環境了，代表們連欲投票給自己想支持的領導的權力都沒有，而是投給一群可能連他們自己也不認識的中委代表。我們有必要設立一個特別執行小組來處理，我們不能再等三年後的黨代才來正視這個問題了。所有的支部都有表達各自想法和意願的機會。然後，所有的提議可在特大中商議和通過。


這次黨選對我們是一種挑戰，民眾都在看我們。如果贏了黨選而讓外人笑話而輸掉了人民的信心，又有甚麼用? 我們要下定決心遵從黨的宗旨，爭取和捍衛一個公平 和諧的多元種族社會。不要只是用講的，要真的去做，去做對的事。
人民對我們不耐煩了，除了民生問題，我們從2006年開始一直飽受內部鬥爭的影響。現在是時候讓我們搞清楚它，向大眾證明我們是一個新的人聯黨，一個有自主性、一個值得人民信賴的政黨！
唯為這樣的一個新人聯才能確保我們能在來屆州選時收复失地。我們是一個擁有新文化的新人聯黨，是選民可以寄望的政黨！