Batu Arang
Jun 22nd, 2007 by Tian
On 21 June night, Sivarasa and I was invited by Selayang divisional chief Rahim Abdul Wahap to visit Batu Arang.
The program was organized by the Selayang Division and hosted by a new member of the party. Fazlan joined KeADILan during Ijok By-election. He was impressed with speeches delivered in our ceramah and convinced by the objective of our party’s struggle.
Fazlan was a descent of Pakistani migrant and a suhad lived in Batu Arang for more than 17 years. His family is probably one the wealthiest in Batu Arang. Fazlan offered his big mansion to be the venue of our talk.
Siva, Rahim and I gave speech to a group of 50-60 members and supporters of the party. Fazlan has recruited many of his neighbours and local residents. Among them were residents of all ethnicities.
I told the people: We all love our children and grandchildren. We want our future generations to live in a free society, a democratic political system and wealth shared by all. That’s why we join the struggle for justice to strive for change.
The leaders of Umno-BN too love their children and their offspring. However their method is different from us. For the love our children, we struggle and sacrifice for them. They love by giving their children a lot of projects and businesses.
Batu Arang is within the state assembly seat (DUN) Kuang. As its name suggests, Batu Arang was a coal mining town. In fact coal mine was established early in 1910s. Majority of the residents in the township were Chinese miners and labourers in related industries.
During Mohd Taib as the Chief Minister of Selangor, the township was threatened by severe erosion due to dropping water tables. The CM even tried to instruct an evacuation of all residents from the town. However the order was resisted by the residents and the vast majority remained.
A Chinese who attended this function said that this area used to be a stronghold of the opposition. He himself witnessed a lot of changes in the political scene of the place. He too was active as activist of the Socialist Front/Labour Party, then DAP. Yet he regretted that the young generation is no more interested in politics.
As I recalled Batu Arang has a proud history of struggle. Once it was also a base for the communist anti-British forces.
The coal mine was closed down in the late 1950s and the town too lost its past glory. Nowadays, as I was informed by the locals, Batu Arang has fast developed from a almost totally Chinese town into a multi-ethnic plural society.
Tian Chua just look at all the pictures that you posted, do you understand why there is almost no Chinese? A friend of mine, who know you personally, told me you are a pretty smart. I can see it here from USA, why can’t you?
Hi Semuaok,
I don’t quite understand your point about no Chinese (you mean no
Chinese join KeADILan?). FYI, besides myself, there are 3 other
Chinese in the picture.
If you mean no Chinese would join KeADILan, your info is inaccurate.
A substantial number of the party leaders are Chinese, Indian, Kadazan-Dusun, Iban and others. Actually is growing fast on the non-Malay membership.
Thanks & best regards,
Tian
hi…i am nasri..
i want to thank keadilan leaders for their help..
i just called 1 time straight away keadilan leader came to help us and fight for us about the right..thank you keadilan..thank you
ya.to comment about nasri comment.i also feel keadilan leader are helpful.they willing to help us no matter what happens.give them 20% of the seats so that they can have check and balance.they can help us to control the price of toll and the price of goods.they can also control the price of petrol.lastly wish keadilan good luck in the coming election.all rakyat,give keadilan a chance to speak for us and fight for our right
You are right. There is only 3. I repeat only 3. You are right again, Indian, Kadazan-Dusun, Iban are non-Malay but they are not Chinese. Please look at all the pictures again (not just Batu Arang). A picture is worth a thousand words.