By-election thought

Our by-election is already set to hold in April 1 and all participating political parties are busying with their campaigning across the regions in which there are vacant seats. Most visibly, popular NLD lead by famous lady ASSK is doing well in their campaign trip to almost every eligible regions. With the power of ASSK, wherever they go, people follow them. It doesn't matter how big barrier block the way, full house audience are granted. This manner never change by different state/division. So does ethnic minority. Without any single doubt, people will vote NLD this time and we believe NLD is going to win all 48 seats this time if by-election is transparent and fair. But the problem is who will know what's happening behind sense? Election commission is not as powerful and fair as we think because they are just look like ruling party's puppet. They would take action once they are being pulled or pressed by someone.

The current concern with upcoming by-election is that there are no exact population who are eligible to vote. Recently, NLD has found some suspicious moves made by ruling party. Most highlighting one is that there are some people names in the voting list who are already dead. Another opposition party also found out that people are unfairly allocated to different region to vote in order to avoid unwanted outcome. Also the existing government staffs are apparently put under pressure to vote military back party rather than what they really wanted. For those civil service staffs, their job is on the steak if they are going against the wills of their superior. Now election committee is censoring the speeches of all parties leader that are suppose to transmitted by state own television media to spread their message. It seem a little bit against democratic movement.

Wherever NLD goes, they got truck-load of flowers that are given by people on the way. It show how much people want to support NLD and how eager they are willing to change political landscape. NLD has several blockage on their campaign trip and have successfully overcome those barriers. With the sign of people's support and talent of ASSK, who else able to win over NLD in this April-1 by-election? If the election is free and fair, definitely we don't need to wait for the result of by-election. It's already known by heart.

Wages Matter ?

ONE month ago, our lower house president who is no.2 leader in the newly civilian government proposed to raise government staff's salaries. The news was gladly welcomed by all civil service people. However those happy didn't last long because our FM's explanation said it won't be achievable due to limited budget. At the same time, FM suggested it can be done on next year budget earliest. No.2 leader seems don't want to give up to his fellow cabinet minister despite his professional advice and explanation was also correct. The original proposer pointed out at character of office staffs due to insufficient salary. He added, it would be difficult to transform clean government without having clean staff. To achieve clean staff, the government have to provide enough income so that the government staff needs not corrupt/bribe. Sound quite right but there is no end result on this matter. The matter is apparently put on the agenda of parliament meeting to be reviewed. The no.2 leader come back second time proposal with minimum wages to be given out to save our staff. His proposed minimum gross salary is 100,000 Ks (S$156) and it should be retained at least 80,000 Ks after paying all sort of taxes.

We very often heard that our authority highlights how our country's living cost is cheap compare to regional countries. The problem is they never told how much other countrymen are earning. For instance, our people are paying world's most expensive for used cars as well as mobile sim cards. The telecommunication charge are among world's highest despite the people are deep in poverty. The fuel prices are no longer subsidies like in our past days. It make all commodities price up that make living cost severely raised. Nowadays, working person could able to earn for himself if he/she is working for private company. It doesn't cover for his/her health-care. If anything wrong with health, he/she may have to borrow money and those debt may not be paid for long time. Recently worker protest at local garment factory, workers got only Ks 75 per hour and they wanted their wages to be raised to Ks 100 per hour to match always increasing living expenses. It show how foreign investor has taken benefit from our labour forces. Once such matter raised, our labourer have no place to notify for. It lead them to protest which is yet to settle after month long. Our authority should let form labour union to protect our labor rights.

Today news state, Malaysia parliament has approved minimum wages for its worker between RM 800 (S$333) and RM900. On April 1, Thailand will also increase the minimum wage to 300 baht (S$ 12) a day in Bangkok and six provinces, and by an average of 40% in the rest of the country. In recent 2012 budget, Singapore has increased its lowest income workers (cleaners) to S$1,000. For those cleaners who needs to perform blocks washing service can even expect up to S$1,400 a month. I know our workers cannot expect the same wages that their counterparts from regional power house nation. But I think they deserve at least half of them because our living expenses is not necessarily cheap against those matured nations. May our leaders look into regional wages trend and review our workers' earning. Otherwise building our nation's development won't be as quickly as we are expecting.

Stop Human Trafficking

TODAY news said Chinese police rescued more than 24,000 abducted women and children across the country last year, the Public Security Ministry's statement was quoted. Trafficking in women and children is a big problem in China, where traditional preference for male heirs and a strict one-child policy has driven a thriving market in baby boys, who fetch a considerably higher price than girls. Girls and women are also abducted and used as labors or as brides for unwed sons. Exact numbers of victims are difficult to obtain as China's vast size, rural poverty and population of 1.3 billion mean many such cases never get reported beyond local areas.

I am reading the news excitedly by thinking how many of our women and children have been involved in the trend. Definitely there would be less or more fraction of the report since we are poorer than Chinese. We have often heard such report in Myanmar and our authority seem doing insufficient against the offense. We can't point at poverty alone to prevent such cruel act, some prevention can be done if we have some kind heart for our people, I think. Our ethnic people have been spending their hard life amid civilian wars and those unwanted wars might have forced them flee home and cross border. Such scenario might have made trafficker's job easier and put them on the cheap market. We might not bear if we are exposed to a real figure with regard to this case. Some childs are being sold for their organs, some young women are used as world's oldest profession, both of them are hell-living. It'ld be better die than living such life.

May our authority take necessary measure to minimize such offenses throughout the nation. It might be big task for our staff. But why not if we put our best efforts together in fighting? Lets hope there would be no room for those mastermind behind the cruel cases. May all innocent people free from human trafficking.

China is calling

AGAIN, China is calling by urging Myanmar government to restart China-funded Myitsone dam project which is reportedly cost at US$3.6 billion (S$4.5 billion). The dam is currently suspended by our civilian president on last September 30 following people and activists' nationwide protests. There have been leaking some secrete information through online and our less knowledge people have been concern by the increasingly report and campaign by nationalists from all division both inside and outside country. We all happy so much by the time our president suspend the dam apparently without notice last year. It drew people's love considerably for the newly elected president. It was highlighted as a one of big move/surprise by even hardest critics.

The Singapore local paper quoted Mr. Zhang Guobao's saying that "the dam is a good project that will bring local residents a better life." It also quoted Mr. Lu Qizhou, president of CPIC which is providing the financing for the project, as saying the company will do all it can to avoid negative environmental impacts. The officials of China also said the dam would produce badly needed electricity for Myanmar and raise living standard. I rate them all rubbish for our people. We all know that China won't do anything unless there are considerable profit. China has taken all benefits from Burma by taking our precious natural resources with scrap price. But they ever highlighted how our historic tie are strong and maintain for the interest of both countries. The whole world know that China is dirty-minded country especially when it come for trade. Even US and EU countries are suffering from unfair trading rules created by Beijing.

It would be so kind if China do not import electricity generated by the dam. Quite ridiculous, right? Who will invest huge amount without getting interests? Understandable. But fact said, 90% of the electricity the dam would generate would be exported to China, while the vast majority of Myanmar's citizen have no power. Our people will keep oppose this project even if China do not export the electricity at all. Because the dam project would displace many villagers and upset the ecology of the Irrawaddy River which is invaluable for us. It would also submerge a culturally important site in the ethnic Kachin heartland.

Both Mr. Lu and Mr. Zhang are members of the Chinese People's Consultative Committee, an advisory body to the annual National People's Congress being held in Beijing. No wonder they'll protect the interest of Chinese company CPIC and Chinese people. They know better than us on how badly they had spoiled their own rivers due to their crazy three main George dam. Then they are dare to say that they'll do what they can to protect our environment is complete cheat and lie. We have to show our unity this time and let them understand we are no longer foolish like outgoing Junta. I doubt the Chinese leaders might have pushed to our lower house president who recently visited to Beijing. Because the trip was just happened on few weeks ago and suddenly China urged Myanmar to restart the project. Our president has promised to our people that he will suspend the project until his term is finished. It means at least for 5 years as our election come every 5 years time. Nevertheless, I sincerely hope our leaders will be wise enough to response China's last calling to protect our beautiful environment.

The choice is to made by our civilian government between China & People. It would be another major test for them to show their commitment to the world. We don't mind if we have to live in the dark without electricity. But we'll severely unhappy if the government shows green light to China to spoil our invaluable environment. It would affect the current peace process between KIA and the government should the government proceed the project. CPI might be hero for China while we could easily rate it as an enemy. Lets united and oppose those modern gold digger. I pray for the best shield possible by our long sighted leaders through diplomatic way.

Visa Headache

EARLY next month, my daughter will come visit to Singapore together with her aunty. We are of course busy with the preparing for her comfort stay. She is as young as 19 months old and this trip would be her first ever traveling to outside country. We start counting days to welcome our little princess. Every step closer, we are relief. First, getting passport and she got it without much trouble. Second, applying online visa for the permission to enter lion city. Yesterday, my PR brother helped me applied online visa for my sister and daughter. It took 15 minutes to get wanted result for my 50 years old sister while my daughter's application is pending. From experience, I knew that it's not necessary to come out result on the same time for the same time application. But I feel a little bit uncomfortable to learn the outcome which is being told by my cousin brother. My brother said he never tried online visa application before. It make him to seek help from his experienced friend for application. Just worrying on whether he made some typo.

Hope it's nothing special but a bit delay. I couldn't able to check the status of outcome. I can't imagine why little baby has delay result while mature adult got almost instant result. Hope sister's application meets basic requirement and result generated by computer. Meanwhile, my daughter's application will have to hurdle through manual checking by officer. We have booked air-ticket and time is ticking close to reach deadline. We have to purchase ticket within a week time. Wish my daughter will get green light to enter world's 3rd most wealthiest nation. We can't wait to reunite full family members. As usual, Singapore least corrupted staff will expertise to issue the result soonest possible. Perhaps I am too worrisome or impatient regarding this case.