Our answers to our commentators

Some questioned us why do we only target SPEAK. Reason being:

SPEAK, as everyone probably knows by now, won the majority of the seats on the MSC during the last elections. The actions that were carried out by the MSC 2008 were mainly tabled by members of the SPEAK party. The actions of the current MSC, reflects the ideology that the party SPEAK has as a whole. As SPEAK have re-registered their name for this current election, we fear that the same action would be continued again. We fear that SPEAK's actions this year may be reflected next year should they get elected. As quoted by former MUSA in our comments, legacy will continue.

We believe it is OUR student rights to voice out our concerns. We are dissatisfied with SPEAK. And we've seen some of the worst power abuse cases in MUSA history committed by none other than the leaders of SPEAK. Either this year or last year.

And our arguments on this blog thus far are not 'baseless accusations' without facts. Information on issues such as laptop purchase can all be found in the meeting minutes, which ironically was only put up once we noted that minutes have been missing throughout the year till now. And to be honest, I would also doubt the authenticity of the meeting minutes since it's put up only as of late. We never know if the reports have been edited and modified to suit and favor SPEAK's position in this situation. The reports should have been put into pdf format. Where is the transparency promised every year by SPEAK?

Just like how accounts on student funds without professional auditing can be easily manipulated.

Finally, we would like to clarify that we are independent from all political parties involved in MUSA Elections 2008. We have no connection with ANY candidates of SPEAK, SMILE, Election Committee, or individual candidates. We are a group of students who are greatly dissatisfied with the SPEAK governance, and believe that these power abuses should be made known to students. They have a right to know what's going on especially when transparency is lacking, and we believe that together we may exercise our power and rights collectively to push for an improvement in OUR Student Council!

One thing SPEAK hasn't learned

If there's one thing SPEAK hasn't learned, it is this: Talking can only go as far, but people are not blind. Students have eyes to see where our student government is moving towards, and talking does not justify everything!

Lessons SPEAK should learn:
1. Corrupted politicians won't go far trying to justify themselves through only talking. All the while, the saying 'Actions speak louder than words' is as true as ever.
2. People are not blind and have eyes to see.
3. People should not fear the government, in fact the government should fear the people.
4. There will always be students who will be dissatisfied (such as us), but how the matter is handled says a lot. When a problem arises, which is more effective - talking and telling people everything is alright, or standing up and take action to find solutions?

In short, SPEAK should really open up their eyes. I suggest that SPEAK should start serving the interests of students properly instead of own selfish gains first.

Furthermore, why is SPEAK using the MUSA Blog? MUSA if i am not mistaken is all students, the MUSA Council (MSC) is the student council who represents MUSA. The opinions expressed on MUSA Blog does not represent the views of ALL students but rather the views of SPEAK. SPEAK should not be using MUSA Blog (owned by us students!) to rebut any arguments made on this website. SPEAK does not own MUSA and should not be using the MUSA Blog for ＡＮＹ political views as this contains the views of a FEW people of MUSA not all students of MUSA. Should the MSC want to defend their decisions, they should be using their own independent website, not the MUSA Blog.

Are we going to allow these people to exploit such channels?

Is the appointment of the DRO fair?

Is SPEAK trying to cheat in this upcoming election???

MUSA General Secretary, Lim Cze Wien, who ran under SPEAK party at last year's MUSA Elections, appointed Desmond Chin to be the Deputy Returning Officer.

Now, what does Desmond and Cze Wien have in common?

The fact is that both of them are in a relationship!!

By being in a relationship, could there be some personal interest between Desmond and SPEAK?

Furthermore, there was no official notice put up for potential returning officers to be interviewed. And these returning officers are paid, once again, using our student funds.

Another case of unequal opportunity, except this time, involving student funds?

We leave it to you to decide... Is this appointment fair? Will this contribute to SPEAK's potential of cheating in elections?

You decide!

What happened to OUR money? Gone to the pockets of selfish individuals?

When people are given power to control an estimated council funds of RM 200,000, we need honest people to serve as stewards to those funds.

All Monash students pay compulsory student council fees every semester (be it RM50 or RM30), just like how responsible citizens pay taxes to the government. Which we expect whichever party who governs these funds to be responsible over our money to ensure that every single cent is spent wisely for the benefits of students.

But what happens when funds get misused? Which is exactly what is happening right now under the governance of the SPEAK party.

During the very first council meeting of the year, MUSA President Darren Ng Peck Yun proposed that laptops be purchased for use during council meetings. Stating that using laptops save papers.

Maybe laptops do save papers. But the question is, why do they need to specifically purchase new laptops to fulfill such needs? There are so many ways laptops may be obtained other than using students' money to purchase new ones. First, a laptop can be borrowed/loaned from our uni facilities department. Let's say facilities department isn't opened, they can still use the desktops available in every tutorial room. Or in any worst case scenario, they can just bring one of their own laptops to use during their meetings!

And when the new laptops are purchased, another thing which caused suspicion is this: Darren (President) proposed that the laptop be brought back to his home daily due to security reasons.

Security is not a valid reason as we know, there are tons of other more valuable things stored in the MUSA Offices, such as tens of thousands of cold hard cash.

Bringing home a laptop meant for office means allowing space for personal use.

Furthermore, why did Darren need to take the laptop home? Was he writing the minutes? I think not, only the General Secretary does.

And what is going to happen to the laptop after the year of reign ended? We won't be surprised if it mysteriously disappears.

We want to know, why is our money being used this way, wasted on unnecessary purchases which may be brought home for personal use?

Last year, SPEAK promised greater transparency, and the most basic way to do this would be to release the council meeting minutes and accounts, to reveal what decisions were made and how OUR money was spent.

Apparently, they did not do so. No meeting minutes. No accounts. Nothing.

For the past year, it was common practice to release meeting minutes through the MUSA Online website. Not this year. All that was displayed was "under construction".

Who knows how much of OUR student funds have gone into their personal pockets for selfish gains. There may be more than just laptops.

But we students have the right to change this. Say NO to misuse of funds and abuse of power, say NO to SPEAK today!

Basic voting rights violated: 4 to decide for 3000+??

4 to 3000+ is big. Ain't it? Apparently that's how big it gets when power is abused the way MUSA history has never seen before.

Since when in the name of student democracy OUR rights been violated in such way?

While the MUSA constitution stated that a council member may be appointed within 3 months from the election, however, why do so when the position isn't vacant?

We're talking about the appointment of Mohd Ikmal bin Mohd Nasir (or in short, better known as 'Icky') as MUSA Vice President. If the fact that he's appointed out of nowhere without an open nomination among students doesn't amaze you, probably the way he's appointed as VP may do so.

Which is all a play of power by MUSA President, Darren Ng Peck Yun, in order to ensure the continuance of SPEAK legacy.

Normally, council members are elected into positions by students through voting during elections. If council members resign from their positions and result in vacant positions, a by-election will be held to elect someone new, or a new member is appointed with approval from the whole council.

Therefore rightfully, appointment of a new council member should be approved by all council members and when position is vacant. However in this case, Darren enforced the policy of appointing Icky into position without open nomination, with the approval limited only to top 4, and when VP position isn't vacant.

We question... Why appoint a new VP when the current VP is still in position? And why is the decision to appoint Icky as VP only limited to the top 4, instead of the whole council?

Since when the MUSA constitution allows only the top 4 to decide who our student representatives should be? That's totally violation of OUR student basic rights to vote and decide! 4 to decide for 3000+! If that's the case, it's equivalent to not needing to go through elections to vote for our representatives, just have our friendly top 4 to round up their friends and 'shoe polishers' to appoint them into power. Convenient isn't it?

No open nomination means unequal opportunity for students.

Top 4 deciding for all students, that's total violation of the MUSA Constitution and YOUR basic voting rights!

That's how far misuse of power has gone to, and this has never happened before in any MUSA history one can find.

Power corrupted and inappropriate, do you want a student leader who will continue to violate your rights?

You have the right to decide, say NO to SPEAK today!