Asians in Monash

Posted to Letters to Editor, Monash Weekly on 2/7/2012 at 9:00 PM
Title: "Asians in Monash"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/content/letterstotheeditor/

Some of the 2011 Census data has been released. The make up of Monash leads to my following observation and raise some questions.

Asian population is definitely on the increase in the City of Monash. It is of interest to me to find out what attracts them to come to the City? What is the City going to do about the changing demographics in terms of their needs and wants, promotion of social integration, discouraging Tower of Babel building, etc.

Unfortunately, there is lack of proportional representation of Asians in the Council. I sincerely encourage all Asians to take an active role in Council matters, stand as candidates for the forthcoming Council election and be counted.

With such high Asian background population, predominantly from very competitive ethnic origins such as Chinese and Indian, also explains why City of Monash enjoy high employment.

Debate rages over Monash "racism"

Posted to Waverley Leader (22/3/2011) on 23/3/2011 at 11:15 AM
Commenting on "Debate rages over Monash "racism""
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/have-your-say-debate-rages-over-monash-racism/

The design of the preamble and the questions of a survey can greatly influence the way a surveyed candidate or respondent in making the decision.

Racism, whether real or perceived, is stemmed from suspicion, which in turn is the result of distinct differentiation and segregation from the norm or main stream population. Many immigrants hide behind the curtain of multiculturalism and expect to have special treatment or consideration. In almost all cases immigrants come to Australia are not by invitation, and they should be thankful that Australia open her hands to let them settle here for a better future. They should also be thankful that all who are ready here open their hearts and share this beautiful country for them to enjoy.

This is not a statement of immigrant bashing, because I am also an immigrant! I believe that the public is more sympathetic to indigenous Australians’ plight for equality than anti-indigenous. There have been 43 federal elections since 1901, and nothing much have been done by any government to improve the standard of living of the indigenous Australians.

Surprise blow to city

Posted to Waverley Leader (3/8/2011) on 3/8/2011 at 6:07 PM
Commenting on "Surprise blow to city"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/surprise-blow-to-city/

How interesting ... So without libraries, will kids sit and read and have a great time somewhere else like home?

I have seen many kids playing computer/internet games, singing, and adults Skyping, etc in the libraries. Entertainment and phone calls (including international ones) were not available free at libraries before, and therefore the provision of internet for games and Skyping should be viewed as unnecessary expense. The same goes to DVD of television series.

There is no evidence that our libraries have been served as "cultural reservoirs". To this end, I think our community centres are under-utilised. I come from the old school, and I enjoy going to libraries with quiet surround to read and research. On many occasions, I had to tell the users to keep quiet and be more thoughtful.

Council resolute on Kingsway footpath policy

Posted to Waverley Leader (27/4/2011) on 27/4/2011 at 10:53 AM
Commenting on "Council resolute on Kingsway footpath policy"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/council-resolute-on-kingsway-footpath-policy/

OK, outdoor diners, all civic conscious and sensible people sympathise with your plight. We understand that you are contented to smoke or breathe in second-hand smoke to be lung cancer suffers causing grief to your loved ones; be an inconsiderate nuisance to create hazards forcing parents pushing prams or shoppers with trolleys into the street and get knocked down by cars wanting to park at the bays; an environmental hypocrite wasting valuable energy during winter using very inefficient ceiling heaters; gulp down the dirty and silent carcinogens pumped out from vehicles which do not complement well with the presumably healthy food you are consuming.

Oops, I forget to mention about the filthy mess, including the cigarette butts that scattered on the footpaths. Yes, City of Monash is a multicultural city, I do not mean ethnicity related culture, what I mean is the practice of those who want to be seen as trendy and mindless.

$45,000 bill for Monash women-only pool sessions (Post 2 of 2)

Posted to Waverley Leader (14/2/11) on 21/2/2011 at 11:08 AM
Commenting on "$45,000 bill for Monash women-only pool sessions"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/comments/your-view-45-000-bill-for-monash-women-only-pool-sessions/

Who is going to pay for the on-going up-keep and maintenance of the curtain at the Clayton Swimming Pool? The ratepayers, of course!

Every dollar spent on the curtain is a dollar sacrificed on other items such as maintenance of roads, street lighting, tree pruning, rubbish collection, etc. Now that this matter is so publicised, the flow-on negative effects will outweigh the benefits. There will be additional financial cost on security in addition to cost stated above, and social cost such as racial/religious harmony.

The next DEMAND will be prayer room and special toilets in all public facilities in the City of Monash. Some larger organisations have bowed to pressure to provide special prayer rooms, and companies must make allowance for workers to pray during work hours.

While I was assisting in a project in a middle-eastern country, my colleagues and I were advised to be sensitive not to eat in front of fellow colleagues at lunch break during the fasting period!

Curtain falls, what’s next?

Posted to Letters to the Editor, Monash Weekly 21/2/2011
Curtain falls, what’s next?

Who is going to pay for the on-going up-keep and maintenance of the curtain at the Clayton Swimming Pool? The ratepayers, of course!

Every dollar spent on the curtain is a dollar sacrificed on other items such as maintenance of roads, street lighting, tree pruning, rubbish collection, etc. Now that this matter is so publicised, the flow-on negative effects will outweigh the benefits. There will be additional financial cost on security in addition to cost stated above, and social cost such as racial/religious harmony.

The next DEMAND will be prayer room and special toilets in all public facilities in the City of Monash. Some larger organisations have bowed to pressure to provide special prayer rooms, and companies must make allowance for workers to pray during work hours. Some religious believers DO NOT use toilet paper, but wash the soiled bottoms with water instead.

While I was assisting in a project in a middle-eastern country, my colleagues and I were advised to be sensitive not to eat in front of fellow colleagues at lunch break during the fasting period!

$45,000 bill for Monash women-only pool sessions (Post 1 of 2)

Posted to Waverley Leader (14/2/11) on 15/2/2011 at 12:50 PM
Commenting on "$45,000 bill for Monash women-only pool sessions"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/comments/your-view-45-000-bill-for-monash-women-only-pool-sessions/

I have written in various papers including this about my views on segregation, whether it is on businesses in Kingsway or the use of swimming pool.

Multiculturalism is not a one-way traffic. Australians are asked to be patient, tolerant, and acceptant with other’s cultures, and expected to learn about them, and yet many immigrants do not reciprocate. Unless there is a common unifying force to bind them together, the Australian social fabric will be torn.

To find out more about my other comments, follow the links
http://www2b.abc.net.au/tmb/Client/Message.aspx?b=114&m=49118&ps=50&dm=2, published 27/8/2009
http://www2b.abc.net.au/guestbookcentral/list.asp?numtoview=&GuestbookID=156&start=&sort=&filter1=Name&filter1val=CHAN, Sin Fong&filter2=Subject&filter2val=Speak English and Respect the Laws&filter3Remark=&filter3val=Tower of Babel&view=&advanced=&Action=&pagestart=, published 19/9/2006
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/comments/women-only-pool-float-for-monash/, published 19/10/2010
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/your-news/story/better-business-mix-in-kingsway/, published 7/1/2011
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/content/letterstotheeditor/, published 7/1/2011, 3/12/2010, 20/10/2010

Monash Council's move opens the Pandora Box

Posted to Letters to the Editor, Monash Weekly 15/2/2011
Title: Monash Council's move opens the Pandora Box

I have written in various papers including this about my views on segregation, whether it is on businesses in Kingsway or the use of swimming pool.

Multiculturalism is not a one-way traffic. Australians are asked to be patient, tolerant, and acceptant with other’s cultures, and expected to learn about them, and yet many immigrants do not reciprocate. Unless there is a common unifying force to bind them together, the Australian social fabric will be torn.

Just on language alone - as myriads of immigrants from different races and ethnic backgrounds reach our shore grow by the day, and more and more indigenous Australians joining the mainstream society at large, Australia will soon become a Tower of Babel. Not only does this create misunderstanding and suspicion among people, but also bring forth many workplace and road safety problems.

There are cases whereby expensive construction projects are delayed because initial design plans did not include facilities for certain religious groups and needed to be rectified. Many public hospitals have to provide special meals, not because of health reason, but of religious origin. Cultural and religious diversity will only increase, and segregation, special treatment and privileges have to stop now before they multiply like cancer cells.

Should Australia give special privileges to the indigenous Australians since their fore-parents were here before Captain Cook founded Australia? Neither an indigenous Australian nor an immigrant should be given special privileges. However, Australia has an obligation and responsibility to provide the opportunity to lift the standard of living of all Australians including indigenous Australians and immigrants.

Former Singapore Prime Minister, Lee Kwan Yew once said, “give a beggar a gold coin, he will ask for a second one”. In some countries where special privileges were given to a specific group, they soon rise to become a force that can exert strong political influence to topple any government attempting to remove the privileges. Do we want this to happen in Australia or in your City like Monash?

I firmly believe that multiculturalism should make way for uniform practice in many publicly funded organisations.

Proposed Monash 6-storey Development

Posted to Letters to the Editor, Monash Weekly 7/1/2011
Title: Proposed Monash 6-storey Development

There are concerning issues regarding the proposed six-storey development including a Karaoke bar with 3 am licence:

• Over concentration of restaurants / food premises will cannibalise existing businesses
• A lot more late-night alcohol-fuelled violence will be in the precinct
• More demand on police and council resources to ensure Monash residents peace and quiet enjoyment of their properties at night
• Possible organised gangs will be attracted and infiltrated to this area with early morning licence
• Non-existing by-laws to ensure balanced mix of business

Although I'm a Chinese by descent, I definitely do not like to see the Kingsway turned into a Chinatown like Box Hill, Springvale, Richmond in Melbourne, or Eastwood, Chatswood and Cabramatta in Sydney - almost filled with Asian restaurants or businesses.

Only a balanced mix of businesses and ethnicity in the City of Monash will ensure racial harmony in the near and long-term future.

Segregation spells the downfall of Equality!

Posted to Letters to the Editor, Monash Weekly on 20/10/2010
Title: Segregation spells the downfall of Equality!

Monash Council last week moved towards having women-only swimming and exercise sessions at the Clayton Community Centre once a fortnight.

I strongly oppose gender segregation whether it is religious base or otherwise.
This is a bad precedence for future argument about separate workplace offices, classrooms, buses, train carriages, taxis, restaurants, cinemas, hospitals and the list just goes on.

Imagine in a crowded train or bus, aren't women in closer contact with men? Will there be enough female gynaecologists to help pregnant women or deliver babies?

I'm a Chinese by descent, and there are a lot of differences between my beliefs, values and the Australian way of life. I choose to be an Australian, and therefore I can't be dogmatic expecting the country / fellow citizens to change for me. I have to adapt or compromise to some extent. In the worst case scenario, I avoid!

Some women chose to walk 10km each week to swim at Kingston Council's Don Tatnell Leisure Centre instead of using the Clayton pool, that's their prerogative. There are different modes of transport, or they can carpool with friends. On the positive side, walking is a good form of exercise.

It will cost City of Monash $45,080 to restrict views from outside the centre into the Clayton pool and exercise room during the program.

Who pays for the $45,080? All ratepayers including myself do. I don't expect the Mayor or the City to waste my money in such proposal.

Segregation spells the downfall of Equality!