Lee Chean Chung

5 hours ago

𝗦𝗼𝗸𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗸𝗮𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗦𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗶 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
𝗞𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝘄𝗮𝗿 “𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗸𝗮𝗻 𝗞𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗮𝗻” 𝗝𝗮𝗱𝗶 𝗨𝗷𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿

Saya menyambut baik gesaan Pengerusi DAP, Gobind Singh Deo agar Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim kembali melaksanakan janji dalam Manifesto Pakatan Harapan (PH) pada PRU15 menyediakan Dana Pembangunan Kawasan Pilihan Raya (CDF) kepada semua wakil rakyat parlimen tanpa mengira parti.

Namun, persoalan yang lebih penting ialah sama ada Anwar bersedia mendengar gesaan tersebut dan “membetulkan keadaan”, atau akhirnya ia sekadar menjadi gesaan politik DAP tanpa sebarang perubahan pada peringkat kerajaan.

Saya berpandangan bahawa tindakan DAP untuk sekali lagi membangkitkan janji PH mengenai peruntukan sama rata, termasuk menggesa supaya perkara ini diperundangkan bagi memastikan setiap kawasan Parlimen menerima peruntukan secara adil, merupakan satu perkembangan yang baik.
Namun, isu peruntukan kawasan hari ini tidak lagi boleh dilihat semata-mata dari sudut “sama rata”. Persoalan yang lebih penting ialah bagaimana peruntukan itu diuruskan dan siapa yang diberikan kuasa untuk menguruskannya.

Ambil contoh Parlimen Petaling Jaya, Ampang dan Subang. Pendekatan terbaru Anwar adalah untuk tidak lagi menyalurkan peruntukan melalui Ahli Parlimen yang dipilih rakyat, sebaliknya menggunakan saluran atau mekanisme penyelarasan lain untuk melaksanakan projek rakyat.

Ini bermakna, walaupun kerajaan melaksanakan peruntukan sama rata, Anwar masih boleh menggunakan sistem “proksi” untuk mengetepikan peranan Ahli Parlimen yang dipilih rakyat.

Sekiranya kerajaan mengatakan bahawa sesebuah kawasan masih menerima peruntukan, tetapi kuasa terhadap peruntukan tersebut kekal di tangan Perdana Menteri atau pihak eksekutif yang boleh melantik penyelaras atau proksi pilihannya untuk menguruskannya, maka apa yang disebut sebagai “peruntukan sama rata” itu masih merupakan reformasi palsu.

Peruntukan kawasan ialah dana awam. Ia tidak sepatutnya menjadi alat kerajaan untuk memberi ganjaran kepada sekutu, menghukum mereka yang berbeza pandangan, ataupun membina sistem proksi politik.

Justeru, inti pati peruntukan sama rata tidak seharusnya terhad kepada persoalan berapa banyak yang diterima oleh setiap kawasan. Kita juga perlu menentukan sama ada peruntukan tersebut harus diuruskan oleh Ahli Parlimen yang dipilih rakyat, atau terus diserahkan kepada penyelaras dan proksi politik yang dilantik kerajaan.

Saya juga ingin membangkitkan pengumuman Anwar ketika Kongres PKR baru-baru ini mengenai tambahan peruntukan RM1 juta, yang menurut beliau akan memberi manfaat secara langsung kepada rakyat.

Namun, sekiranya peruntukan tersebut akhirnya masih disalurkan melalui penyelaras atau proksi yang dipilih kerajaan, ia bukan sahaja gagal menyelesaikan persoalan utama mengenai akauntabiliti dalam sistem sedia ada, malah boleh memburukkan amalan proksi politik menguruskan wang pembayar cukai.

Pengumuman tambahan peruntukan dalam sebuah kongres parti itu sendiri mempunyai unsur ganjaran politik yang cukup ketara. Lebih penting, ucapan tersebut juga tidak menyatakan bahawa peruntukan berkenaan akan disalurkan melalui Ahli Parlimen yang dipilih rakyat.

Oleh itu, peruntukan yang secara keseluruhannya mencecah ratusan juta ringgit ini berkemungkinan disalurkan melalui proksi politik. Jika ini berlaku, ia hanya akan memperluaskan amalan pihak yang tidak mempunyai mandat rakyat menguruskan peruntukan awam, dan jelas bertentangan dengan reformasi yang pernah dijanjikan PH.

Bagi saya, reformasi sebenar ialah apabila kita memperundangkan perkara ini dengan jelas termasuk peranan Ahli Parlimen yang dipilih rakyat, mekanisme kelulusan dan penyaluran peruntukan, sistem penyelaras politik, serta kuasa pihak eksekutif dalam menentukan peruntukan kawasan.

DAP kini telah menyatakan bahawa mereka mahu membawa reformasi ini. Maka, apa yang berlaku selepas ini akan menjadi satu ujian yang sangat nyata.

Sebagai salah satu sekutu terpenting Anwar dalam Kerajaan Perpaduan, persoalan akhirnya kembali kepada Perdana Menteri:

𝐉𝐢𝐤𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐤𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫-𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐧, 𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐣𝐚𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐤 𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐢 𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐠𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐬𝐢 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐤 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐤 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐡𝐥𝐢 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐡 𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐲𝐚𝐭, 𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐚?

𝐉𝐢𝐤𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐤, 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐡 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐀𝐏?

LEE CHEAN CHUNG
Ahli Parlimen Petaling Jaya ... See MoreSee Less

Lee Chean Chung

21 hours ago

Had a meaningful conversation with TARUMT Master’s student Si Ning, who interviewed me for her dissertation on media freedom in Malaysia.

It was an insightful exchange. Besides sharing my own observations, I also had the opportunity to hear how a Gen Z postgraduate views Malaysia’s media landscape and press freedom. An interview is not always just about answering questions, it can also be a space to exchange perspectives and learn from one another.

I was told that it is not always easy for Master’s and PhD students to get politicians to “layan” their interview requests. As a PhD student myself, I can definitely relate to the struggle of finding the right interviewees. Academic knowledge also grows through the willingness of others to share their time, experience and perspectives. So whenever students knock on my door for their research, I will try my best to say yes whenever time permits. Because trust me, completing a thesis is not easy! 😆

All the best, Si Ning,wishing you a smooth journey towards graduation! 🎓

#interview #mediafreedom #LeeCheanChung #PJLestari ... See MoreSee Less

Lee Chean Chung

2 days ago

She sings better Chinese songs than me! Very talented, multi-lingual young artist.

👍🏼Layla Sania 蕾拉 莎妮娅 #petalingjaya #海阔天空 #leecheanchung ... See MoreSee Less

Lee Chean Chung is with Wong Chen.

1 week ago

Wong Chen’s resignation and departure leave me with a deep sense of loss.

I respect his decision. But respect does not make the sadness any less.

When I was first elected as an MP in 2022, Wong Chen, the MP for neighbouring Subang, was one of the senior parliamentarians I looked to for guidance. Parliament can be an overwhelming place for a newly elected MP, and I was fortunate to have an experienced “neighbour” whom I could turn to — to exchange ideas, compare notes, and sometimes simply remind each other why we were there in the first place.

Over the past three years, we worked closely on parliamentary and public policy matters. We debated issues, exchanged views, reminded each other of unfinished work, and shared the sometimes difficult responsibility of providing checks and balances as government backbenchers.

Not everything was politics.

Together, we started a sports club for Members of Parliament. We organised badminton and football sessions that brought together MPs from both sides of the aisle, diplomats and civil servants.

On those courts and fields, titles mattered a little less. Political differences became less important. People talked, laughed, competed and built friendships.

Those are memories I will cherish.

And today, my neighbour has chosen to leave.

Parliament will lose an experienced voice, someone known for asking professional, substantive and sometimes uncomfortable questions when those questions needed to be asked.

And, on a much more personal note, I suspect the badminton courts in Parliament will feel a little quieter too.

I respect Wong Chen’s decision, but I cannot pretend that I am not saddened by how we arrived here.

An experienced parliamentarian saw his constituency allocation abruptly frozen, without formal notice or explanation. At the same time, despite his stewardship of MDV seeing the organisation turn from losses to profitability, he was replaced from his position within a matter of days.

Perhaps in politics, people will say these things are normal.

But they should not become normal.

Because behind every position is a person. Behind every disagreement are years of friendship, sacrifice and shared struggle. And behind every departure is a question we should have the courage to ask ourselves: could we have handled things better?

A political party does not become stronger simply by having more seats, more positions or more power.

Its true strength lies in whether it knows how to value its people, especially those who have given years of their lives to the cause.

It lies in whether there is still room for different views.

Whether people can speak honestly without fearing the consequences.

Whether disagreements can be handled through proper, fair and professional processes.

And whether, when we finally hold power, we still remember the principles that brought us together when we had none.

Thank you, Wong Chen my neighbour, my senior colleague, my badminton kaki, and my friend for walking this journey alongside me over these past three years.

I am sad to see this chapter end.

But I wish you well as you begin the next one.

May you continue to stand by the principles you believe in, speak the truths you believe need to be spoken, and walk the path you believe is right.

Because positions come and go.

Power comes and goes.

But principles must remain from beginning to end.

Take care, Wong Chen.

You will be missed.

#Parliament #WongChen #Subang #PetalingJaya #LeeCheanChung #PJLestari ... See MoreSee Less