Liaison with the High Com

In the last issue of Salient there Is repeated charges that the former WMSA executive added an additional clause of 'maintain liaison with the Malaysian High Commission' into the MSA constitution. If Rob Pui and company would bother to check it out, this clause was in the constitution of WMSA since the association was founded.

A motion moved by Rob Pui to get rid of this so-called 'new clause' was defeated heavily. In his election speech Pui changed his mind and agreed that there is nothing wrong with the clause; presumably this change in attitude was to try to gain votes. Now that he has lost the election, he turned sour and attacked this clause once again. Last year, when WMSA sought affiliation to VUWSA Rob Pui was at the meeting to express his stand against the move because he claimed it would mean WMSA losing its independence, he even pointed out this 'liaison with High Comm' clause in the old constitution to the VUW Student Exec, in the hope that MSA would not be affiliated. I'm disappointed that Pui should have such a bad memory and indulge in this sort of double talk.

The 'demonstration issue' was brought up on the night before the demonstration. There is a desire to put up a joint statement on this matter and hence I would have to make a judgement of WMSA members opinion because the time factor does not allow me to call for a MSA special general meeting even if i wanted to.

At the AGM the "Demonstration Statement" was rejected by a vote of 72-45. But, included in those who voted against the statement are over 50 last minute members. As these people were never before members of WMSA. at the time when I made the statement I would definitely not take into consideration the opinion of these non-members. I did not speak for them and do not pretend to spea k for them as they were not members of WMSA then! Hence I do not believe that I made a wrong analysis of members opinion at that time.

The motion condemning the past executive of WMSA for their so-called secretive manner of forming the NZMSEC was defeated despite the support of the last-minute members. The council formed is not a controlling body but an informal one and there is certainly nothing secretive about it, we have informed the members of the intention by our newsletter which is sent out to all financial members. If people like L.C. Goh do not choose to read it, don't blame us. The most ironical thing is again that the over 50 last-minute members should also vote to condemn us, being non-members surely they don't expect us to inform them of our actions or to seek their worthy opinion on it? Furthermore, I feel that it is pointless to talk about 'democratic rights' if people choose to deny the executive the simple right of holding meetings with fellow Malaysian student bodies.

Roben Pui's claim of an attempt to exclude him from the meeting is simply not true. Here is a clarification sought as to who should be welcomed at such a meeting simply because if the numbers attending such a meeting gets to large, the meeting could well drag on for a much onger time than intended. Pui however thinks that we are trying to bar him and claims his right to attend on the grounds: firstly, he is a member of WMSA, secondly WMSA being affiliated to VUWMSA is under the jurisdiction of the latter, and he, being the coming year secretary makes it 'doubly sure' of his right to attend.

Pui's second reason was rejected and the CMSA President made it clear to him we dislike the way he tried to throw his weight around by his 'coming year secretary of VUWSA' title. We welcomed Pui to the meeting because he was a member of WMSA and he was even given full speaking rights.

Lastly, I would like to comment that there are a lot of people who keep shouting for unity but make no genuine attempt to unite the people or to consider others viewpoint. Their notion of unity simply means follow them, endorse their actions. Well, if that is the meaning of unity, I would rather not be united.

WMSA must not be a puppet of the Malaysian High Commission nor be manipulated by NZUSA.

Best wishes to all Malaysians in their coming exams.