Welcome aboard, Jeff

I'm happy to hear that prominent blogger Jeff Ooi is set join the DAP. With the sizeable following of his blog, and being a somewhat local boy, I believe he can do well should he contest in the Puchong constituency in the next election. He may not actually win, but should pose as a commendable contestant.

However, a political career is long term, and it is with this in mind that I am curious to see how Jeff Ooi fares. Sprouting opinions and solutions on the web is one thing, surviving in the real world "politics" of the political arena is another. Granted, many survive. But many failed as well. And I don't even mean surviving battles against the opposite politicians. It is surviving within one's own political party, fending off such probable back-stabbers/arch enemies/the enemies within.

One of my favourite local politician of current times is Dr. Chandra Muzaffar, formerly from Keadilan. This is one man who can make sense of Malaysia's social, religous, race, economic and political issues cum problems which the ruling Ministers find it hard to grasp at the basic level. His analysis of issues is at an astounding level. This is one man who no longer speaks, he articulates. With the exception of Lee Kuan Yew, I don't think many in this region is able to reach such levels. But sadly, Dr. Chandra Muzaffar resigned from Keadilan, and from active politics sometime back. I believe it was from the strain of "politicking", he just couldn't survive the backstabs and onslaughts existing from his own chosen party. It's a pity really, there is so much Keadilan could have tap on this man.

I remember years ago, being a new lawyer on town, the then Dean of University of Malaya, Professor Dr. Visu Sinnadurai was made a Judicial Commissioner of the High Court (later Judge). It was a generally welcomed decision, as Professor Visu is touted to be able to bring with him the academic brains into the judiciary. But alas, politics within the judiciary played its part, and the poor Professor was victimised and bundled to the outpost Muar High Court. All this is hearsay of course, but to have the great Visu Sinnadurai in the outback (no offence to Johoreans in general) make no sense at all. The then Chief Justice should have picked his brains. Have him promoted to the appellate courts for the dear Professor to make jurisprudential decisions that can push the frontiers of the law. But what followed was of course the resignation of Dr. Visu. Incidently, Professor Visu Sinnadurai took the post of Judicial Advisor/Specialist to the World Bank (at New York, I believe) thereafter. I rest my case.

It is this two examples of Dr. Chandra Muzaffar and Professor Visu Sinnadurai which I wish to highlight how one can be annihilated within one's own circle. Let's see how Jeff Ooi settles within the DAP in the years to come. Incidently, another from the academia, Associate Professor Dr. Badariah Sahamid was made a Judicial Commissioner of the High Court recently. I had the occassion to be Justice Badariah's student some years back. Her area of expertise is securities law. Which I am glad to note that Justice Badariah is now sitting in the commercial division of the High Court, where she is able to dispense justice within her area of specialization. Let's hope that Justice Badariah's stay in the Bench does not eclipse that of her predecessor.

Wassalam