Not now, but maybe later...when she completes her Ph.D!
Her current resume:
Grad Schools:
University of Essex '06
BA Politics and International Relations, Politics
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (IMPALLA) '07
MA Social Policy Analysis, Social Policy Analysis
KU Leuven '07
Colleges:
Gakushuin '01
ROTARY International Youth Exchange
H.E.L.P. University College, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia '03
Economics
University of Essex '06
BA Politics and International Relations, Politics
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (IMPALLA) '07
MA Social Policy Analysis, Social Policy Analysis
KU Leuven '07
Colleges:
Gakushuin '01
ROTARY International Youth Exchange
H.E.L.P. University College, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia '03
Economics
I came across Malaysiakini's article headlined, 'The rising sons, daughter and son-in-law' which was obviously about the children of well known politicians' children and I thought, what about children of non-politicians?
When my daughter, aged 12 then, found our autographed copy of Dr. Tan Chee Khoon’s 'Without Fear or Favour', she finished the book the same night. The next morning, she told us naively that she wants to be the first Madam Opposition! Well, after a year at HELP on the LSE programme, she decided to switch to Politics and International Relations at University of Essex in UK where she was top student in the Department of Government consecutively and got a First Class Honours and a prize for the best dissertation.
In Malaysia, her father was trying to lay the groundwork by getting involved with local politics, moving around with BG’s MP, Ms. Fong Po Kuan. He was thinking, it would be helpful if she could work as her assistant and if proven and given a chance, she could repeat her performance. With the benefit of hindsight, the timing could have been right if only she had listened to him! But she is more ambitious academically than he thought!
It may be too presumptuous of me to think that had she been Po Kuan’s assistant, she would be selected to contest. But judging from the public statements of DAP leaders (especially the fear of backlash if an unsuitable candidate is selected) and the sentiments of the public, a local girl, educated in Batu Gajah, if proven her worth and if endorsed by Po Kuan seems just the right ingredients to do a repeat of her debut! A lot of ‘ifs’ but I do not doubt her capability, only Po Kuan’s fantastic rapport with the constituents in particular and the public in general, which is unique, and which no one can just say, ‘I want to be like her’.
Though Cheng is now overseas, her mind is very much involved with the local political situation as her recent email (excerpt) suggests:
“I am proud to tell Pa that I first found out about the dissolution of our parliament from kosongcafe (note: pleasant surprise to know that Jeff Ooi will be standing for elections!). =.) … I wonder if it is partly the effect of the all-inspiring US primary elections (I am one Obama-supporter) but I have not been so excited over Malaysian elections.”
To me, the timing would have been right (not necessary to be able to stand for election because of her young age) but to work with her seniors like Wong Chin Huat and Yap Swee Seng; her predecessor in UKEC, Nik Nazmi and his idol, Anwar; her friend, Prof. P. Ramasamy and her political idol, Mr. Opposition, Lim Kit Siang; in this special General Election for good governance! Another 4 or 5 years’ time, the scenario and the people involved would be totally different.
Seriously speaking, I wouldn’t want my daughter to be unhappy and stressed out like Po Kuan, in spite of or because of the great publicity which can both be a boon or bane, and definitely not something one can control. On national television and the talk of the nation, and like the front page in The Star carrying a big picture of her – who wouldn’t wish to have that kind of publicity for free? But the “I’ve had enough!” seems a deliberate ‘added on’ rather than her actual quote. We all know that free publicity for the opposition means bad news blown up. Furthermore, since when has our DPM commended about opposition leaders?
I am actually reluctant to post this but then these are my thoughts of the moment and I cannot wait till some other time. Just hope she doesn't mind.
When my daughter, aged 12 then, found our autographed copy of Dr. Tan Chee Khoon’s 'Without Fear or Favour', she finished the book the same night. The next morning, she told us naively that she wants to be the first Madam Opposition! Well, after a year at HELP on the LSE programme, she decided to switch to Politics and International Relations at University of Essex in UK where she was top student in the Department of Government consecutively and got a First Class Honours and a prize for the best dissertation.
In Malaysia, her father was trying to lay the groundwork by getting involved with local politics, moving around with BG’s MP, Ms. Fong Po Kuan. He was thinking, it would be helpful if she could work as her assistant and if proven and given a chance, she could repeat her performance. With the benefit of hindsight, the timing could have been right if only she had listened to him! But she is more ambitious academically than he thought!
It may be too presumptuous of me to think that had she been Po Kuan’s assistant, she would be selected to contest. But judging from the public statements of DAP leaders (especially the fear of backlash if an unsuitable candidate is selected) and the sentiments of the public, a local girl, educated in Batu Gajah, if proven her worth and if endorsed by Po Kuan seems just the right ingredients to do a repeat of her debut! A lot of ‘ifs’ but I do not doubt her capability, only Po Kuan’s fantastic rapport with the constituents in particular and the public in general, which is unique, and which no one can just say, ‘I want to be like her’.
Though Cheng is now overseas, her mind is very much involved with the local political situation as her recent email (excerpt) suggests:
“I am proud to tell Pa that I first found out about the dissolution of our parliament from kosongcafe (note: pleasant surprise to know that Jeff Ooi will be standing for elections!). =.) … I wonder if it is partly the effect of the all-inspiring US primary elections (I am one Obama-supporter) but I have not been so excited over Malaysian elections.”
To me, the timing would have been right (not necessary to be able to stand for election because of her young age) but to work with her seniors like Wong Chin Huat and Yap Swee Seng; her predecessor in UKEC, Nik Nazmi and his idol, Anwar; her friend, Prof. P. Ramasamy and her political idol, Mr. Opposition, Lim Kit Siang; in this special General Election for good governance! Another 4 or 5 years’ time, the scenario and the people involved would be totally different.
Seriously speaking, I wouldn’t want my daughter to be unhappy and stressed out like Po Kuan, in spite of or because of the great publicity which can both be a boon or bane, and definitely not something one can control. On national television and the talk of the nation, and like the front page in The Star carrying a big picture of her – who wouldn’t wish to have that kind of publicity for free? But the “I’ve had enough!” seems a deliberate ‘added on’ rather than her actual quote. We all know that free publicity for the opposition means bad news blown up. Furthermore, since when has our DPM commended about opposition leaders?
I am actually reluctant to post this but then these are my thoughts of the moment and I cannot wait till some other time. Just hope she doesn't mind.
7 comments:
Dear Mr. Cheah,
Luckily you did not managed to convince your bright daughter to follow Cili Padi's path. Its not worth the salt if you are in the know of the local opposition politics especially in Perak now. A lot of people were disappointed by empty promises right after elections but when the next elections came, all of a sudden, these so called local capable potential candidates just disappear from the politician minds.
If we do a reality check on Fong Po Kuan, the reality of the situation to all her so called difficulties is all created by her if she can understand that in physical existence all our energy, translated into feelings, thoughts and emotions, causes all experience. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.
You make your own reality: your dreaming reality, your waking reality, and all realities in which you have existence. There are no accidents. Your joys come from you, and your successes, and your failure, or what you think of as failure.
You create your own reality. You form your experience according to your thoughts, emotions, and beliefs. Whatever you focus on in your mind will be materialized in your life. If you want to change your reality, you must first change the thoughts and emotions that you focus upon.
As Sin Chew daily has put it
“Politics is about power and vested interests. Which political system or political party that do not fight for power and interests? If politicians do not understand the political reality or cannot face calmly the various subtle political maneuvers, then they don't understand politics”
If you become so frightened of realities that are not your own; if you take upon yourselves tragedies that do not exist in YOUR reality, in your moment, you weaken your position in life. So don’t worry about her bad experience, it won’t affect everyone. More details at
Go H E R E
I am baffled how anonymous got my surname as Cheah! Anyway, thanks for the comment.
I may be naive, but I still believe that one can be a sincere politician for a number of years. If the going gets tough, as in dirty, then it is wise to leave the scene. In Po Kuan's case, she had wanted to quit since 2004, so we should empathise with her personal feelings instead of just 'for the sake of party, etc. etc.'
Years ago, my generation knows only Alliance, then BN, and the political route seems to be - naturally BN. But over the years, many people got so disillusioned with the fight for power and wealth and the endemic corruption among the ruling party that no principled person would want to be involved with it.
Thanks multidimid. I still maintain that one can be involved in politics, yet not involved in power and vested interests. For example, those involved in research in the back room. But then again, as Dr. Lim Teck Ghee found out, what use is your research if a Vice President of the ruling party can just 'rubbished' it?
I say GO FOR IT!
Thanks Bayi! I shall buy Toto to follow your advice!
I think I know why 'anonymous' thought my surname is Cheah - because of 'Cheah Pah Siu Eng'! This phrase in Hokien is in memory of my late mother who used to say 'Cheah Pah Siu Eng cher sit lai cho' which translates into "having eaten full and has nothing to do, looking for work (but the innuendo is actually 'looking for trouble')"
I am Hokkien and my mother used to utter the very same phrase, "Cheah Pah Siu Eng!"
I am very much at home with Eng Choon Hokkien.
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