| AlJazeera 101 East - Anwar Comeback 28 Aug 2008 - AlJazeera In an exclusive interview after reclaiming his seat in parliament, Anwar Ibrahim talks to 101 East about how he plans to change 50 years of political consensus in Malaysia. |
101 East - Anwar Comeback 28 Aug 2008 Part 1 Part 2 |
August 31, 2008
AlJazeera - Anwar Comeback (Video)
August 26, 2008
Final Permatang Pauh by-election results
The final official results of the Permatang Pauh by-election has been announced by the Election Commission:
Anwar - 31,195 votes
Arif Shah - 15,524 votes
Hanafi - 92 votes
Anwar has won the by-election with a higher majority of 15,671 as compared to the 13,388 majority obtained by Wan Azizah in the March 8 election.
Anwar - 31,195 votes
Arif Shah - 15,524 votes
Hanafi - 92 votes
Anwar has won the by-election with a higher majority of 15,671 as compared to the 13,388 majority obtained by Wan Azizah in the March 8 election.
Prediction of Permatang Pauh by-election results
The Permatang Pauh by-election on 26 August 2008 has been billed as "the mother of all by-elections", "the dirtiest elections ever" and "a do-or-die by-election". Not only will it decide who will be the representative for the parliamentary seat of Permatang Pauh but it will also determine whether Anwar Ibrahim, the former Deputy Prime Minister, will re-enter parliament after ten years in the political wilderness. This in turn may also mean the possibility of a change of government which many Malaysians hope will herald in a period where there will be a better Malaysia for all Malaysians.
After 10 days of intense and tumultous campaigning, polling day started on a bright note with sunny skies despite the forecast of rain today. Very few people have doubts that Anwar Ibrahim will win this by-election but the question on many people's mind is the margin of victory. Will it surpass the 13,398 majority which Wan Azizah won during the March 8 general elections? Or will the persistent accusations hurled at Anwar persuade some of the voters to cast their votes for BN instead, thus reducing the majority which Anwar will get? A resounding win for Anwar will be an endorsement and a strong signal for him to lead the country.
A high voter turnout has been predicted for this by-election. The public holiday declared by the Penang state government will certainly more than offset the unusual decision of the Election Commission to fix the polling day on a weekday. The Permatang Pauh voters must realise how important this by-election is for the country. With the presence of the top leaders of both the Pakatan Rakyat and the BN canvassing for their votes and the constant media focus on the constituency, any complacent voter there will certainly be woken up from their slumber. In the March elections, the voter turnout was about 80%. The total number of voters for the by-election is 58,459. If there is increase of voter turnout to 85% there should be a total of about 50,000 casting their votes today.
The racial composition for the Permatang Pauh constituency is Malays - 69.4%, Chinese - 24.5%, Indians - 6% and others - 0.1%. Most observers feel that the majority, if not all of the non-Malays voters will vote for Anwar due the racial issues which were exploited by the BN recently and in particular the Malay supremacy stance taken by UMNO. It is interesting to note that out of the 3 state constituencies in Permatang Pauh, only the mixed state constituency of Seberang Jaya was won by UMNO represented by Arif Shah in the March 8 election. Perhaps, it is due to the habit of Penangites to vote for BN in the state constituency and opposition for the parliamentary seat which saved Arif in the general elections. He won by a majority of only 533! It is very unlikely that many of the non-Malays in Seberang Jaya will now vote for him for the parliamentary seat.
In the other two predominantly Malay state constituencies of Permatang Pasir and Penanti, PAS and PKR won the seats in the March elections with majority of 5,433 and 2,219 respectively. BN was trying their best to win back some support in these areas by using dirty tactics of playing up the unbelievable sodomy case against Anwar and showing videos of Saiful swearing with the Koran. Instead of winning them over, these tactics have probably alienated more of the Malays voters including some UMNO supporters. Many are not convinced by the sodomy allegation against Anwar. In a survey conducted by the Merdeka center, about 60% of the Malays surveyed do not believe the sodomy claims and agree that they are politically motivated.
So, what will be the results of this mother of all by-elections Malaysia? Out of the total of about 50,000 voters predicted to come out to vote, about 30% or slightly less of the non-Malay votes should go to Anwar. Lets say about 14,000. Of the remaining Malay voters of about 36,000, more than 60% of these voters should vote for Anwar which will be about 22,000 votes. The final outcome can be Anwar - 36,000 and Arif - 14,000 but due to unexpected events such as names not appearing in the electoral rolls or other reasons which can prevent voters from exercising their right, the predicted outcome is:
Results are expected to be trickling in by 8 p.m. although the final results will not be known until about 10 p.m.
FABM
5.31 pm
After 10 days of intense and tumultous campaigning, polling day started on a bright note with sunny skies despite the forecast of rain today. Very few people have doubts that Anwar Ibrahim will win this by-election but the question on many people's mind is the margin of victory. Will it surpass the 13,398 majority which Wan Azizah won during the March 8 general elections? Or will the persistent accusations hurled at Anwar persuade some of the voters to cast their votes for BN instead, thus reducing the majority which Anwar will get? A resounding win for Anwar will be an endorsement and a strong signal for him to lead the country.
A high voter turnout has been predicted for this by-election. The public holiday declared by the Penang state government will certainly more than offset the unusual decision of the Election Commission to fix the polling day on a weekday. The Permatang Pauh voters must realise how important this by-election is for the country. With the presence of the top leaders of both the Pakatan Rakyat and the BN canvassing for their votes and the constant media focus on the constituency, any complacent voter there will certainly be woken up from their slumber. In the March elections, the voter turnout was about 80%. The total number of voters for the by-election is 58,459. If there is increase of voter turnout to 85% there should be a total of about 50,000 casting their votes today.
The racial composition for the Permatang Pauh constituency is Malays - 69.4%, Chinese - 24.5%, Indians - 6% and others - 0.1%. Most observers feel that the majority, if not all of the non-Malays voters will vote for Anwar due the racial issues which were exploited by the BN recently and in particular the Malay supremacy stance taken by UMNO. It is interesting to note that out of the 3 state constituencies in Permatang Pauh, only the mixed state constituency of Seberang Jaya was won by UMNO represented by Arif Shah in the March 8 election. Perhaps, it is due to the habit of Penangites to vote for BN in the state constituency and opposition for the parliamentary seat which saved Arif in the general elections. He won by a majority of only 533! It is very unlikely that many of the non-Malays in Seberang Jaya will now vote for him for the parliamentary seat.
In the other two predominantly Malay state constituencies of Permatang Pasir and Penanti, PAS and PKR won the seats in the March elections with majority of 5,433 and 2,219 respectively. BN was trying their best to win back some support in these areas by using dirty tactics of playing up the unbelievable sodomy case against Anwar and showing videos of Saiful swearing with the Koran. Instead of winning them over, these tactics have probably alienated more of the Malays voters including some UMNO supporters. Many are not convinced by the sodomy allegation against Anwar. In a survey conducted by the Merdeka center, about 60% of the Malays surveyed do not believe the sodomy claims and agree that they are politically motivated.
So, what will be the results of this mother of all by-elections Malaysia? Out of the total of about 50,000 voters predicted to come out to vote, about 30% or slightly less of the non-Malay votes should go to Anwar. Lets say about 14,000. Of the remaining Malay voters of about 36,000, more than 60% of these voters should vote for Anwar which will be about 22,000 votes. The final outcome can be Anwar - 36,000 and Arif - 14,000 but due to unexpected events such as names not appearing in the electoral rolls or other reasons which can prevent voters from exercising their right, the predicted outcome is:
| Prediction of Permatang Pauh By-election results | |
| Anwar Ibrahim | 35,000 |
| Arif Shah | 15,000 |
| Majority | 20,000 |
Results are expected to be trickling in by 8 p.m. although the final results will not be known until about 10 p.m.
FABM
5.31 pm
Anwar Ibrahim: The Final Push 25/08/08
| Anwar Ibrahim: The Final Push 25/08/08 Part 1 Part 2 (courtesy of MediaRakyat) |
Permatang Pauh: An appeal to voters
| Permatang Pauh: An appeal to voters 23 August 2008 - Aliran We were born as an independent sovereign nation, a secular democratic state on 31 August 1957. In a week’s time we celebrate our 51st Hari Merdeka. Actually, there is very little to celebrate. After 51 years of Alliance/BN rule we have sunk low on all fronts as a nation. It is time to take stock and evaluate intelligently why as a nation we are going downhill in all fields of national endeavour, says our special correspondent, in this message to the voters of Permatang Pauh. National Unity Despite the loyalty and patriotism displayed by the rakyat, the Umno-dominated government, despite its platitudes and pronouncements, has made a mockery of national unity, which is so crucial to our survival as a nation. After 8 March, Umno has unmasked itself and shown its true colours as a racist, Islamo-fascist party confirmed by its Ketuanan Melayu, Malay hegemony and Malay supremacy stance. Umno’s ideas of race supremacy and the importance of only one race seems to have been borrowed from defeated World War II western leaders. Their use of Islam apparently to deaden Malay intellect and rationality is what Karl Marx called “ the opiate of the people”. It is clear that the Malay rakyat must escape from the clutches of Umno, which for 50 years has exploited and manipulated them, to join other Malaysians to achieve national unity. Economic development The economy is not doing well at all because of BN’s screwed-up policies. A rich nation rich in resources, a multi-talented population and an industrious labour force could have placed us well on the road to economic progress and development - but it was not to be. Lack of international confidence has placed us sixth among 10 Asean nations in attracting FDI. Indonesia and Vietnam have overtaken us. Umnoputras hijacked the NEP to enrich themselves and amass great wealth at the expense of the poor rakyat while the so-called half-past-six PM initiated unsound mega projects, which literally bankrupted the country. Over-priced public projects awarded to the Umnoputras and their cronies without any tender process enriched them and earned huge “commissions” for the decision-makers or their cronies. Bad governance The Umno-dominated BN government has been bad, thoroughly bad. Bad governance is everywhere to see – many political leaders at all levels are deemed to be corrupt, unethical and immoral; the civil service is perceived to be, and in many instances, corrupt and inefficient; sections of the police force are not only inefficient and allegedly corrupt but brutal on the rakyat. An armful of draconian laws is used to protect the powers-that-be and there is the scandal-ridden judiciary to provide additional umbrage. There is a total lack of transparency and accountability in government. For example, Petronas accounts are not subject to parliamentary scrutiny. The privatisation of public utilities such as Telekom, PBA, Tenaga and Pos Malaysia has eroded the wealth of the nation. Some of these entities were grossly undervalued and sold to Umnoputras and their cronies for a pittance. Let me just quote an example – Telekom, a monopoly. Its shares were sold at RM4. When it was listed in the KLSE it went for RM14.50 a share – a clear profit of RM10 per share. We know where the 10 million shares allotted to MIC went. MCA was alloted 35 million and to whom did this go? Umno got 55 million and the Malay rakyat should find out to whom they went. Plus meanwhile is taking road-users for a ride with exorbitant tolls. The concession agreements are classified as official secrets and the rakyat will never know the terms. Corruption The implementation of the NEP created golden opportunities for Umnoputras and their cronies to enrich themselves. The NEP was successfully hijacked by Umnoputras and their cronies who cleverly masqueraded as champions of bangsa and ugama, pulled wool over the eyes of the rural Malays, and exploited and manipulated them to amass great wealth in the name of the Malay community. They ravaged our dear land mercilessly through generous pink form share allocations, APs, generous business and taxi licences, over-priced public projects, and privatisation of public entities. Voters of Permatang Pauh, indeed all Malaysians, must ask which Umno/BN cabinet minister, MB, CM, MP or State Assembly member is not rich. The relatives and family members of PMs became multi-millionaires. Some of them went into lucrative businesses apparently without knowledge and any business acumen. They took the profits; in many cases, when they failed taxpayers’ money was used to settle their debts! Some borrowed billions from the banks -which they did not repay. A half-past six PM conveniently got the banks to classify them as NPL (Non-Performing Loans). Bank Negara kept interest rates on savings very low to enable the banks to recover what was borrowed by the thieves. The banks could not recover the loans through litigation and the identities of the borrowers have been kept secret. Bank Negara’s annual report indicates a lump sum under NPL. It is the borrowers – real crooks – who did not perform! The losers – the rakyat. One just needs to look at their lifestyles - their palatial mansions, some indecently standing out like sore thumbs in poor kampung neighbourhoods, their expensive cars, their designer clothes and the overseas holidays they enjoy for confirmation of their crimes. For far too long the rakyat has tolerated the indecent flaunting of wealth acquired at the rakyat’s expense. It is time to kick the whole bunch of them out. The income differential in the Malay community among all Asian communities is the widest. What better confirmation that the Malay rakyat has been mercilessly shortchanged than the Minister for Rural Development (once caught for smuggling currency) promising the rural Malays basic amenities by 2011! Can you believe that this was the same promise made to the same people during the first general election in 1959? Umno politics is seriously money politics and it has become part of the DNA make-up of Umnoputras. Those who hold high office at all levels of government have bought themselves into those positions. This cancer of corruption has spread perniciously into every level of the political, governmental and social fabric of society. The loss to the rakyat is incalculable. Because it is beneficial to those who walk the corridors of power, this cancer is permitted to fester but it will ultimately destroy the nation if no change is brought about. Independent Institutions The Judiciary The judiciary is in a mess, indeed it is a joke by any standards. The Lingamgate affair revealed the corruption within and the horrendous Executive manipulation of the judiciary. An independent judicial commission to appoint judges will not happen unless there is a change of government. The BN leaders realise that an independent judiciary will sound the death knell of many BN politicians from top to bottom. The ACA This is another institution that is a great joke because of its ineffectiveness and selective persecutions. It is under the thumb of the Executive and has become a dreaded tool to be used against the opposition and against BN members who fall out of line. BN leaders such as Dr M, the currency smuggler, and compliant ex-chief judges are beyond the reach of the ACA. It has become another BN tool to intimidate and put fear in opponents and critics. If it becomes independent there would not be enough prisons to house these BN crooks! The EC The EC and its Chairman behave like imbeciles in asserting the powers granted to them under the Constitution to conduct free and fair elections. They have for a long time been allegedly manipulated to grant the BN unfair, indeed illegal, advantages be it gerrymandering, the use of non-transparent ballot boxes, mysterious postal ballots and the non-use of indelible ink to eliminate phantom voters. The Police The BN’s use of the police and now the army to ensure rule by law and not rule of law is frightening. The role of the Inspector-General and other top police officers in Sodomy I, which collapsed in court, is clear proof of this. Now we are witnessing the same thing in Sodomy II. A poor fellow was persuaded to do things like swearing on the Koran, which is haram in Islam! Dr M, who possessed a diabolical talent for apparently ruining the country and is now seen as a discredited and discarded politician, said that Malaysia has become a police state. For once he spoke the truth. In what way is our police force different from those in other dictatorships that persecute political opponents and their supporters? The police in Malaysia – when they get a whiff of a protest, real or imagined, put up road-blocks hours in advance of the supposed protest, causing massive traffic jams, inconveniencing the rakyat and disrupting business. The opposition is then blamed for all these! Can you imagine putting a police and military ring round Parliament House? Is Malaysia a democracy or dictatorship? They are supposed to maintain law and order and ensure equality of treatment under the laws. The brutality used on the ‘Bersih’ and ‘Hindraf’ peaceful protesters was appalling and it was there for the whole world to see. Their expertise appears to lie in the cruel use of tear gas and water-cannon on peaceful protesters and opposition supporters, not on crime prevention. The same expertise was not used on the many Umno-organised demonstrations or those organised by Muslim fanatics since 8 March. In the recent episode at the Bar Council forum, those who broke the law were escorted by the police to get the organisers to call off the forum – that was a real disgrace to our country. Isn’t it a shame that those who tell the truth have to flee the country but those in high places who tell lies and are allegedly involved in all sorts of immoral and criminal activities such as groping a bar-girl live happily ever after. I appeal to the voters in Permatang Pauh to not only save the country from ruin but also heal the many wounds inflicted on it by a power crazy, corrupt and inefficient Umno-dominated BN government. Education The education system is rotten to the core. “Education is an absolute disaster” and “racism runs deep” said Zaid Ibrahim, our law minister. The BN claims that our education system is advanced but the UN report on education indicated our low quality with a warning that compared to others around us we are bound to lose our competitiveness. Many children of our BN leaders are overseas, many on scholarship, thus robbing those who really need scholarships. The education system has adversely affected Malaysians, especially the Malays. Umno has brainwashed many Malays into thinking that meritocracy is disadvantageous to them. Competition is discouraged. The behaviour of the UiTM students opposing a 10 per cent non-Malay student enrolment is proof of what Umno can do to destroy quality. The mere mention of the word “ meritocracy” sends Umnoputras into a paroxysm of fear. Under globalisation, we need to produce global professionals to ensure economic survival. The Malays will be left behind if they do not wake up to what Umno is doing to them. Dear Permatang Pauh voters, there have been some important by-elections before but none as important as the one on 26 August. The Constitution has been amended about 600 times to take away the most precious provisions to ensure life, liberty, freedom and the rule of law. A vote for Pakatan Rakyat is a vote for change. Help the nation to reclaim its birthright – its inalienable rights destroyed by the Alliance/BN government over the last 51 years. A massive vote for Anwar will put this sad nation on the right path to unity, development and respectability among the proud community of nations. In Greek history, there was the Oracle of Delphi which was consulted before anything of national importance was undertaken. The Oracle always equivocated and those who consulted it had to interpret the prognostication correctly. Failure to do so would result in disaster. A man decided to prove the Oracle wrong on the spot. He clutched a little bird in his fist with only its beak showing between his thumb and forefinger and asked the Oracle, “Is the bird dead or alive?” If the Oracle answered “Alive,” he would squeeze the bird dead; if the answer was “Dead” he would let the bird fly to prove it is wrong. The Oracle’s answer was, “The bird’s life is in your hands.” Dear voters in Permatang Pauh, the life of the nation is in your hands. Never before and, I believe, never again will such a great honour, indeed such a great responsibility, be accorded to a single constituency to decide the political future of our nation. I hope and pray that the voters in Permatang Pauh will rise to the challenge and not let a hopeful nation down. A very huge vote for Anwar will be the best mandate for change. ...source |
Anwar set to win Permatang Pauh by-election
| Malaysia's Anwar set to win Parliament by-election The Associated Press August 25, 2008 - IHT.com PERMATANG PAUH, Malaysia: After 10 days of racist insults, accusations of sodomy and oblique references to murder, campaigning drew to a close Monday in a key by-election to Malaysia's Parliament that opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim looks set to win. Anwar is pitted against Arif Shah Omar Shah of the governing National Front coalition in Tuesday's by-election in this semi-rural district in the industrial heartland of Penang state. "God willing we will perform well. We will manage against all odds, unless there is massive rigging. Any independent observer will concede we have an edge," Anwar, 61, told reporters Monday. A former deputy prime minister with an eye for the top job, Anwar sees his imminent entry into Parliament as the next step in his effort to topple the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi by mid-September. If Anwar succeeds and becomes prime minister, it would be a stunning political comeback for the man who was ousted from the ruling coalition in 1998 and served six years in prison for sodomy and corruption. Anwar has always said those charges were political frame-ups. Democrats try to heal bruises as convention kicks offGhosts amid the wreckage in MyanmarStocks fall as banks look fragileFew expect Anwar to lose, despite being charged anew with sodomizing a male aide in June, said Ibrahim Suffian, director of the independent Merdeka Center, which conducted a telephone poll of 544 voters from Friday to Sunday. Ibrahim said 57 percent of those polled believe that Anwar is "capable of bringing change that will benefit the people regardless of race." In general elections in March, Anwar's three-party opposition alliance won an unprecedented 82 of Parliament's 222 seats — 30 short of a majority — as well as control of five states. Among the seats won by the opposition was Permatang Pauh by Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. Anwar could not contest the March elections because of a ban on holding political office stemming from a previous corruption conviction. It was slapped on him in 1998 when he was also charged and later convicted of sodomy. The sodomy conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2004, and the political ban expired in April this year. In June, Wan Azizah resigned her seat to allow Anwar to contest it. But his campaign received an early setback when his former aide, Saiful Bukhari Azlan, swore on the Quran at a Kuala Lumpur mosque on Aug. 15 — a day before Anwar filed his candidacy papers for the election — that he was raped by Anwar. Anwar said the ruling party "orchestrated the entire malicious, dirty campaign in time for this election." The ruling coalition's campaign posters have also described Anwar as an Israeli agent who would allow American military bases in the country the minute he becomes prime minister. The opposition has delivered a few punches under the belt too. Anwar has called ruling party leaders stupid, idiots, scoundrels and damned. His party posters have shown images of slain Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu with the word "Justice" stamped on her forehead in red. Shaariibuu, 28, was shot in October 2006 and blown up with explosives in a jungle. Abdul Razak Baginda, a close friend of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, is on trial for abetting the murder. Najib also has been linked to the woman with allegations that he had an affair with her. Najib denies this vehemently, and recently took an oath in a mosque that he never knew the woman. ...source |
‘V’ for Rakyat, ‘V’ for Anwar Ibrahim
| ‘V’ for Rakyat, ‘V’ for Anwar Ibrahim August 25, 2008 - http://elizabethwong.wordpress.com On the ballot paper for P44, Anwar Ibrahim is the second candidate. For us, it symbolises ‘V’ - for victory - not just in terms of votes, but for victory of People’s Power. Even before a single ballot has been cast, Pakatan Rakyat has won for its commitment to multiculturalism and justice. The last ten days have seen the most racist and vilest campaign ever, launched by Barisan Nasional. I am too tired to upload photos of these publications. All that so-called reflection of BN after its devastating loss on 8th March was a whole lot of hot air. That so-called apology over the keris-waving of Umno Youth was as empty as Saiful’s ‘sumpah‘. Since 8 March, BN has not changed. There is no repentance, no remorse. Instead, this time round, they issue even more blood-curdling calls for vengeance against the Chinese and Indians. We have been called ‘babi’ (pigs), ‘bangsa asing’ (foreigners), amongst other derogatory terms. Leaders of MCA, MIC, Gerakan, PPP - buat tak tau aje. So this is the future that Barisan Nasional has in store for us. Anwar could have played to the gallery. He could have left out the bits about his vision about a truly multicultural Malaysia when he spoke in the Malay villages. He could have said, “You guys first, the rest second’. But he didn’t. He defended the right for all to coexist and work together for a better Malaysia. His courage to stand up for his vision humbles all of us. Kita percaya Malaysia yang makmur, adil dan perkasa untuk umat Melayu, orang Cina, kaum India, Iban, Kadazan dan lain-lain. Ini membezakan di antara kita dengan Kerajaan Barisan Nasional yang diketuai UMNO. (Anwar Ibrahim) Today, we wear our Parti KeADILan Rakyat badges with even more pride and hold our heads up high, come what may. All intelligence data coming in shows Anwar Ibrahim will win tomorrow. The only thing that can stop this are BN’s 6000 postal and phantom voters. By now, BN’s massive machinery would know how many outstation voters will not be returning and from its ‘cash-for-your-IC-details’ campaign drive. It has worked out the ‘winning’ formula for Arif Shah, who ran a lacklustre lonely campaign, yet was confident of a victory between 500-1000 as early as two days ago. Which is why, if anyone out there - in KL, Selangor, Johor, Kelantan etc - knows of any outstation Permatang Pauh voters, please urge them change their minds and return to cast their ballots. If they have transport problems, please help them out. If they don’t, someone else will be voting on their behalf for BN. And to please return to cast their votes as early as possible. Their one vote makes a difference. Of giving 27 million people a real future against Barisan Nasional’s corrupt racist rule. One vote can give 27 million people a chance of a lifetime. That one vote can save Malaysia and put us back on track. One vote to free us all. MERDEKA! Please pray hard too. ...source |
Permatang Pauh voters - you've gotta to do it
| Permatang Pauh voters - you've gotta to do it Kannan K Aug 25, 2008 - Malaysiakini Letters The result of Permatang Pauh by-election will definitely determine the future direction for Malaysia unlike no other ever in the past. A win for BN, though it seems unlikely, will maintain the status quo and Umno-led cronyism and negotiated contracts worth billions of ringgit will continue unabated draining away national resources permanently. It would be a step backward for Malaysia making Malaysians more race and religion conscious and dividing the people even further. Corruption and taking things for granted will continue happily since voters would have decided to support the ‘devil’ (BN) they knew. It would be sad if that happens and it would be a rare opportunity lost. However, if Pakatan Rakyat’s Anwar Ibrahum wins with a larger majority, Malaysia will have a rare chance to move forward after having stagnated for the last decade after being in power continuously for 51 years. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely and that was what has happened to the Umno-led BN government since they had absolute power for the past 51 years. Any chance they will change for better? There is no sign of change at all even after the recent general elections in which they lost their two-thirds majority. There were some talk about changes, but now everything back to old BN ways of doing things. Malaysians should not allow the situation to continue worsening. Malaysians’ only hope is for Anwar to bring about the much-needed changes in the way the government is run. Anwar has been consistent with his positive messages in recent years. If Anwar Ibrahim wins as anticipated, there is a real possibility of change of government in the near future. If PR comes to power with Anwar as the PM, we can expect some of the following to happen: - a decrease in petrol prices immediately - income from petroleum be utilised for long-term people-oriented projects such as public transportation - the release of all ISA detainees including the 5 Hindraf leaders - Ketuanan Rakyat Malaysia will be the order of the day, racial politics reduced - Transparency in all government tenders as is being practice by the PR state governments - Meritocracy in selection of students for local universities and the awarding of scholarships - Increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) which has been bypassing by Malaysia for several years now - There will be check and balance and transparency to curb corruption and abuses - Changes for better in the judiciary, the police force and civil service. Permatang Pauh voters have the rare opportunity to bring some positive changes to the political landscape of Malaysia if they elect Anwar as their MP. Malaysians elsewhere are hoping Permatang Pauh voters will be voting for Anwar this time and create history in doing so. ...source http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/88537 |
Why gazetted electoral roll not used in Permatang Pauh?
| 710 may not be able to vote tomorrow Beh Lih Yi Aug 25, 2008 - Malaysiakini With just a day left for polling, confusion reigned over the electoral roll that is to be used for Permatang Pauh by-election with at least 710 voters may be unable to cast their votes tomorrow. The problem came amid dispute over two sets of electoral rolls - one gazetted and one ‘updated' - adopted by the Election Commissions (EC) for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat. A heated argument broke out between EC secretary Kamaruzaman Mohd Noor and a group of journalists as he attempted to clarify the matter at a 90-minute press conference in Penang today. He was met by reporters during a meeting and final preparation works by the EC workers at the Tuanku Bainun Teachers' Training College, which will be used as the counting centre tomorrow. At the end of the press conference, he suggested to the media to take him to court if they are not happy with the explanations he provided to quell doubts raised by opposition PKR yesterday. The heated argument however did not stop at the media session as it continued in a separate 40-minute meeting between Kamaruzaman and PKR leaders R Sivarasa and Fuziah Salleh later. ‘This is a lie' The controversy began with claims from PKR yesterday that there are a total of 868 names which could not be found in the electoral roll which was ‘updated' on July 31 - to be used tomorrow - as compared to the roll which was gazetted on June 19. Usually, a gazetted electoral roll will be used as the official roll in the conduct of an election. The gazetted roll is final and cannot be questioned in court even if there is any dispute. However, strangely, the EC has decided to use the ‘updated' roll on July 31 - and yet to be gazetted - for the by-election tomorrow and led to questions over it. Apart from that, PKR also claimed the electoral roll was tainted with over 400 doubtful postal voters and argued these defects could eventually affect about 2,000 votes in total for the party. Explaining on the 868 names which went ‘missing' in the ‘updated' roll, Kamaruzaman clarified today that there were only 158 names which were removed in the latest roll. The reasons why these names were removed among others include ‘wrong' voters registration, deaths, those who aged above 100 and deemed fit by the EC to remove their names from the roll on the presumption that they have passed away. Hitting out at the PKR's claim, a visibly annoyed Kamaruzaman said: "This is a lie. This is done to tarnish the good name of the EC." There are a total of 58,459 eligible voters who can cast their vote tomorrow, an increase of 10 new voters compared to the March general election. Temperature at the press conference ran high as journalists repeatedly attempted to clarify the discrepancy in the figures provided by the EC secretary, which could not be tallied. Pressed on why a non-gazetted roll was being used in the by-election, he shot back and said: "Can you show me which provision of the law (which requires) me to gazette the roll?" "Those names which I have deleted (from the roll) was done under the power given to me as a chief registrar, I don't need to display (the new roll)," he argued. The press conference ended after 90 minutes with the group of journalists leaving in an utterly confused state. High turnout expected At the separate 40-minute session with the two PKR leaders later, Kamaruzaman insisted that the EC has come clean and complied with laws in the election's conduct including the electoral roll. As the two parties insisted on their own stand, the meeting ended with the PKR agreed to submit the 868 names which they have found to be removed to EC this afternoon for verification. Requests by the journalists to have another EC press conference this evening to clarify the matter was not entertained when Kamaruzaman repeatedly replied that he will check the matter first. Nevertheless, upon the repeated requests by Fuziah and Sivarasa, Kamaruzaman retracted his earlier claim at the press conference that the PKR was lying. Meanwhile, Kamaruzaman said he expected a high voters' turnout at the polling tomorrow. In the March general election, it recorded a 81 percent voters' turnout. The polling result is expected to be announced between 9.30pm and 10.30pm. PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim faces BN's Arif Shah Omar Shah and Akim president Hanafi Hamat in the three-way fight. ...source http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/88553 |
Permatang Pauh: 'Forgive, not forget'
| 'Forgive, not forget' vs Sodomy 2.0 Joe Fernandez Aug 25, 2008 - Malaysiakini Anwar Ibrahim’s campaign theme in the run-up to the Aug 26 by-elections in Permatang Pauh - Forgive, Not Forget - has struck a resounding chord with the constituency’s multiracial electorate. The eve of voting mood among the electorate makes Anwar, the self-proclaimed prime minister-in-waiting, a virtual shoo-in for Parliament. It’s all systems go. The opposition has pulled out all stops to ensure the logistics of getting their voters to turn up in droves at the polling stations. They are leaving nothing to chance. The aim is an even bigger majority than the last time when Anwar’s wife, party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, came in with a thumping majority. permatang pauh by election candiadtes anwar and arif shah hanafi hamatThe energetic and charismatic Anwar - who has put in stints as a visiting professor at two American universities - has an unassailable lead over challenger Arif Shah Omar Shah from Umno. The electorate, meanwhile, was tickled pink by media disclosures that Arif Shah, who holds a diploma, once signed up for a bogus PhD programme at a foreign ‘university’. The contrasts could not be greater. He also had to fend off allegations in the media that he was linked with a company run by his scandal-tainted brother. The main Umno theme was the second sodomy allegations against Anwar by an ex-coffee boy, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan. On the eve of nomination, the Uniten dropout came out of weeks of hiding and swore on the Quran at a mosque - an attempt to support the veracity of this claims. He followed this up the next day with a much publicised visit to the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Religious Department, in the words of a veteran opposition leader, “to discuss his infamous anus”. Economy, not sodomy Here is a sampling from various campaign watchers including several veteran political observers and analysts in cyberspace, by email, SMS and Skype: lewd vulgar sodomy stunt display by umno bn puteri umno supporters at permatang pauh nomination day 180808 03“Umno was petty, personal, trivialising the important issues and even more childish than usual.” “People are not concerned about a person’s sex life, their sexual preferences, or the lack of it.” “”The voters are more savvy now and are interested in the big issues, the state of the nation and local issues, not what Umno had to say.” “Umno should not say things like: ‘Anwar is prepared to even destroy the nation in order to achieve his personal ambition of being prime minister’. So, it’s okay for someone like Najib to want to be prime minister but not Anwar. Why? Najib should not see himself as the heir apparent or crown prince.” “The Chinese are saying: Let’s give Anwar a chance.” “No Indian will vote for Umno. That’s why they arrested the Hindraf activists in the area and even sponsored a bogus group claiming to be a splinter Hindraf faction.” The government, in an attempt to turn the tide, lowered the fuel price. Traders refuse to lower their prices in response, leaving consumers with an even more “bitter taste in the mouth” at best and “fuming” at worst. Inflation is 8.5 percent and raging, is at its worst in over two decades and Bank Negara, the central bank, continues to sit on the Overnight Policy Rate of 3.5 percent. There are sharp criticisms amongst the weary citizenry that the federal government is in panic mode. “One day, Consumer Minister Shahrir Samad says that the fuel price will only be reviewed in December, Prime Minister (Abdullah) Badawi contradicts that it will be reviewed Sept 1 and the very next day he hurriedly lowers the price without any explanation whatsoever,” points out a analyst who detects an uncertain note in the stock market. “These kinds of flip-flops are not good for the government. This is the second incident of its kind - shifting dates - involving the fuel price. It’s a PR disaster” The consensus is that the Abdullah government wanted to take the wind out of the sails in the opposition’s re-current theme, ‘Hari ini bentuk kerajaan, esok turun harga minyak’ (Today form the government, tomorrow down with the fuel price). The opposition - 81 compared to BN’s 140 – had pledged to wrest the reins of the federal government in Putrajaya by Sept 16 - the anniversary date of Borneo’s entry into the federation. In the midst of campaigning and leading the charge in Permatang Pauh, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, swore in a local mosque that he “did not know the Mongolian woman” - alluding to the Altantuya Shaariibuu whose murder trial in ongoing. Time to leave behind the past In the end, what appears to matter is the long-promised prospects of change pledged by the opposition Pakatan Rakyat, a coalition of PKR, DAP and PAS with present support from Hindraf. PKR pledges ‘ketuanan rakyat’ (supremacy of the people); PAS wants a government free of racism which is prohibited by Islam; DAP pledges a Malaysian Malaysia; and Hindraf, under its ‘makkal sakthi’ (people power) platform, wants equal rights as guaranteed under the Federal Constitution. “‘Forgive, Not Forget’ sums up the mood of the opposition and the people,” says a PKR insider. “We want to move on and leave behind the baggage of the past. Still, there must be a proper accounting of the past. What we need is a complete re-making of Malaysia and the re-building of our national institutions which have been destroyed and compromised during the 50 years of BN rule. We need to come together as a people and as a nation. We can’t be side-tracked by petty politics and politicking.” Adds a ranking PAS insider: “The Malays who voted for Wan Azizah will all vote for Anwar as they voted for him before. There’s no reason to vote for Umno which has become irrelevant. They don’t have an ideology. In the past, they used to harp on development and threatened the voters with it. “Surely, you don’t expect the Indians and Chinese to vote for Umno when they keep talking about ‘ketuanan Melayu’ (supremacy of the Malays) and waving the keris. BN is looking more and more like an unholy collection of race-based parties thriving on the old colonial tactics of divide-and-rule. This is not surprising since they stepped into the vacuum created by the British when they left.” ...source http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/88556 |
Countdown begins in Permatang Pauh
| Countdown begins in Permatang Pauh Commentary by Regina William 25-08-2008 The Edge A visually-challenged man was seated in his usual place between the hawker centre and wet market in Seberang Jaya, playing a portable organ and singing under the already scorching morning sun, oblivious to what was going on around him. He had two very important people stopping by to talk to him, while he kept entertaining the weekend market crowd. Two “prime ministers-in-waiting”, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is contesting the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat, had come a-calling. Thanks to their generous contributions to his kitty, he made more than he would have singing his heart out every day for at least three weeks. The presence of both Najib and Anwar literally brought the traffic around Jalan Tenggiri to a standstill and policemen were kept busy getting it flowing again. Anwar had been scheduled to arrive at the market at 8am to take advantage of the weekend to greet shoppers, but it was Najib who beat him to it, arriving shortly after 8.30am. Najib spent about half an hour at the food centre and wet market. PKR supporters who were at the market distributing leaflets, played audio recordings of Anwar’s speeches while Najib was making his rounds. At one point, a PKR supporter shouted “Hidup Altantuya” while his fellow PKR campaign workers chuckled just as Najib walked out after meeting voters having their breakfast. The hopes of journalists, who were smacking their lips in anticipation of the “supremos” bumping into one another at the centre were dashed when Najib left, just as Anwar arrived at the hawker centre located about 100 metres away. As he was getting into his car, Najib was seen looking in the direction where Anwar had alighted. It is obvious to all and sundry that the battle for Permatang Pauh is not about the Barisan Nasional (BN) or PKR or even about the BN candidate Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah who seems to be completely out of the picture. The fight is about these two men, who have made it their battle to outdo each other as much is at stake for them. One is the anointed one, waiting in the wings to take over the prime ministership in 2010 from Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, while the other has great ambition to be the prime minister by Sept 16. For Najib, who is heading the BN onslaught to wrest the seat, it has been a tough campaign. Having been associated with the sodomy accusations against Anwar, Najib was kept busy explaining that he had nothing to do with the allegations by former Anwar aide, 23-year-old Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan. Rumours linking him to the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shariibuu also made their rounds at PKR ceramahs, with references often made about his part in her being “blown” to bits. In what can only be described as an attempt to clear his name, on Friday night, Najib swore, at a mosque in Permatang Pauh, that he did not know Altantuya. For Anwar, meanwhile, Saiful’s act of swearing on the Quran at the Federal Territory mosque on the eve of nomination, saying Anwar had sodomised him was enough to wreak havoc on his plans to win the Permatang Pauh seat, hands down. Ever since then, he has been inundated by calls from BN leaders, including Najib, to swear on the Quran to prove his innocence, something which Anwar has vehemently refused to do. With the Malays forming 69% of the population and with swearing on the Quran seen as something sacred, he has been trying to put forth the views of religious scholars whom he says have advised him against doing so. Anwar scored some points among voters when over the weekend at a ceramah attended by thousands, PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang pledged support for Anwar to become the prime minister, while PAS spiritual leader Dauk Dr Haron Din explained at length why Anwar need not swear on the Quran. Going to great pains, Haron quoted incidences in the days of the Prophet Muhammad. The explanation, which kept the crowd rooted despite a drizzle, is evident how much of a factor the sodomy and swearing-on-the-Quran issues were in the by-election. The PAS leaders refuted the need for Anwar to swear on the Quran to justify himself in the eyes of the Muslim community as it contravened what is stated in the Quran. Whether that would have cleared the doubts in the minds of some voters, especially the older generation, will only be known via the ballot box. As the final hours descend upon the 58,459 voters of Permatang Pauh with the nation watching, it is anyone’s guess what must be going through their minds. If any word can describe the events of the past 10 days in a nutshell, it would be “incredulous”. For journalists covering the happenings right from day one, from the “tumultuous” nomination day until today, the eve of what has been dubbed “the mother of all by-elections”, it has been an exhilarating ride. For one, the by-election would certainly live up to its dubbing as the most “dirty” by-election in recent years. ...source |
Golden opportunity for people of Permatang Pauh
| No one loses if Anwar wins Dr Chris Anthony Aug 25, 2008 - Malaysiakini Letters The most awaited political battle is finally around the corner with Barisan Nasional’s Arif Shah Omar Shah taking on Pakatan Rakyat de facto leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency. Many have described the battle as the mother of all by-elections. It has indeed stimulated tremendous interest, not only among the locals in Permatang Pauh but the nation as a whole. The whole nation is focused on this battle, set to take place on Aug 26. With the campaign picking up steam, everyone is talking about Anwar and his impending return to Parliament. Will it happen? If it does, will it be for the better? Can Pakatan take over the federal government as claimed by Anwar? Can he become the next prime minister? These are the questions in the minds of most Malaysians. This by-election is very different from all previous ones. The voters of Permatang Pauh are faced with a very important task, a national duty that must be executed with great wisdom and discern, for they may not only be electing a member of parliament, but the new opposition leader who could be the next prime minister of the country. Anwar in his speeches all over the country has outlined the problems that plague the nation and its people - killer inflation, corruption, judicial crisis, and abuse of power and above all, misappropriation of the country's wealth by an elite few. He has pledged to put a stop to all these, promised to bring down fuel price and introduce a more balanced economic policy for all Malaysians regardless of race. Anwar’s pledges may sound too good to be true but nevertheless we see some hope for change that is so badly needed. He seems to have understood the plight of the ordinary man on the street in this time of financial crisis and willing, if given the chance, to introduce reforms to meet these challenges. He consistently speaks of the need for all races to unite as Malaysians and outlined his vision of a developed and progressive nation where all citizens regardless of ethnicity are treated equally and fairly so that they live together in peace and harmony. He advocates the concept of ketuanan rakyat and says he is an agent for the Malays, Chinese and Indians alike. In short he is the people’s agent. He talks of Malaysian unity, not Malay, Chinese or Indian unity. These are sentiments that are rarely heard from our politicians these days, when race politics have become the norm. The BN on the other hand is still reeling from its losses at the last general elections. Umno has yet to come to its senses and accept the peoples’ verdict and introduce reforms demanded by the people. The power struggle within the party is threatening its unity and in this state of disarray, Umno is not in a position to effectively lead the other members of the coalition, particularly MCA, Gerakan and MIC. The recent steep hike in fuel prices has resulted in marked inflation, which had thrust a tremendous burden on the people who are already finding it hard to make ends meet with their meager income. The BN has yet to offer tangible economic policies to overcome these financial woes. Corruption and wastage of public funds needs to be checked more aggressively so that the people will be able to see the BN is seriously concerned about their plight. The present action of the ACA against some senior officers is a positive sign but much more has to be done to convince the people that the BN is committed to fight corruption. At the same time, reforms aimed at restoring the integrity and independence of the judiciary, police force and civil service has to be accelerated and implemented boldly without fear. Politicisation of these institutions must be stopped immediately. The other major problem is the escalating ethnic polarisation. Our inter-ethnic and inter-religious harmony, which was the envy of many before, is fast deteriorating and the BN must quickly address this before it leads to a disaster. Serious efforts must be made to overcome the grouses of the various communities by dialogue. A multiracial approach is needed to address the various problems faced by the various races. Race-based policies of the past are becoming obsolete in the present highly competitive global world where the talents of all citizens must be fully tapped if we want to succeed. The BN, in its campaign, should address these pressing problems that plague the nation. It is not a time for Anwar bashing, as his personal problems are not the issues in this by-election. Instead it is a time for concrete policies to tackle the economic crisis, promote genuine racial integration and tackle corruption. Anwar may be contesting in this by-election but the election is just not about Anwar alone. It is about the reforms that he is pledging to undertake. The people want reforms and the BN is in a position bring those changes but does it does not seem to have the political will to do so. Unless it finds that will soon, it may be too late. The world has advanced tremendously, so has Malaysia. Voters are more educated and better informed now and they are more concerned about good political governance, inflation and corruption that have affected their daily lives. They are not going to be tricked into being distracted by the personal life of one individual. The voters of Permatang Pauh have been given a golden opportunity to send an effective opposition leader to parliament, who could work towards creating a two-party system of democracy to offer an effective check and balance for the government. He could well become the next prime minister of the country. After 50 years of failed policies, it may be time we give him a chance as we have nothing to lose even if he fails. The people of Permatang Pauh have this simple but important decision to make, a decision on behalf of all Malaysians, present and future – do they want a change or continue with obsolete policies that are doomed to fail in a world that is highly competitive and where only the best succeed. ...source http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/88543 |
Appeal to Permatang Pauh voters
| An honest appeal to Permatang Pauh voters Masterwordsmith Aug 25, 2008 - Malaysiakini Letters Elections can occur without democracy but democracy cannot endure without elections. This democratic process allows voters to choose the best candidate with the most wisdom and virtue to pursue a common good. As we draw closer to the Permatang Pauh by-election, more than ever, voters must look at the three candidates objectively and choose the one with soul and conscience. Permatang Pauh voters must not fall prey to the materialistic offers and temporary benefits offered insincerely just because they want to win the elections. Permatang Pauh voters must look beyond their constituency and look at the common good of the whole nation. Now, the risk is too great to vote for the third candidate who has no track record whatsoever to assure you of a better Malaysia. Who is the best candidate then? Think and vote wisely. Dear voters of Permatang Pauh voters, you are akin to 'king makers' because you hold the key to the future of Malaysia. You all are the determinants of hope for our country because you are the ones who must select the leader with direction, a new paradigm and the capability to train and lead a new breed of selfless leaders to steer Malaysia to a better future. You all will go down in history as the ‘angels’ who brought change to Malaysia because you voted wisely. I appeal to every single registered voter of Permatang Pauh, please, take your voting right seriously and take leave or time off to vote because every single vote counts. We cannot slip into complacency and think that all will be well because the enemies will be there, ready to poison minds, lure the innocent with false promises, empty talk, baseless accusations and nonsensical controversies. Do not take any risk at all. Think and vote wisely. This by-election is critical to bring our dream, prayers and hopes for a better Malaysia to reality. The March 8 euphoria was just a prelude to change. Dear Permatang Pauh voters, you all are the conductors of the orchestra of change in Malaysia and you will bring the rhapsody of transformation to a climax. Vote for change and the change must come now! Think and vote wisely. Look at the three candidates. Who is the best candidate? Who can bring about change in Malaysia? Think and vote wisely. - Instead of incompetent leaders who rely on manipulators to make decisions, let us vote for the one who has the experience, capability and courage to bring about change so that capable leaders can deal with issues of governance, economic management and corruption competently. Think and vote wisely. - Please vote wisely for the best candidate to select and lead the correct leaders who can deal with internal institutions which are being 'used' to benefit those in power and make others vulnerable against the might of the ruling clique. Think and vote wisely. - Who can lead other leaders on a reform agenda of freedom and democracy, a New Economic Agenda, an independent judiciary, a free media and many other issues that our country needs desperately? Only one of the three candidates can do that. Think and vote wisely. - Who can bring about economic change and pull this country out of its pathetic state caused by haphazard and poor economic management? Obviously, only one of the three candidates can do that. Dear Permatang Pauh voters, our economy must be corrected and issues of cronyism, procurement and contract policies that favour sons and son-in-laws and family members must be terminated.You have the power to ensure that this can happen by voting that candidate. Think and vote wisely. - Who is articulate in international circuits and highly respected as a charismatic orator who has high intellect and the clout to help our country to ‘shift from the obsolete New Economic Policy to a more vibrant, competitive Malaysian Economic Agenda? That means a market economy but tempered with a strong dosage of definitive justice. Only one of the candidates can do that. Think and vote wisely. - Who is the leader who said this: ‘I just want to make sure Malaysia cherishes its freedom, has a vibrant democracy and economy, and is a country that brings all races together to feel the benefit of the vast resources the country can offer.’ Only one of the three candidates has the love and passion for Malaysia said that and you must vote for him. Dear Permatang Pauh voters, I appeal to you as you go out and vote tomorrow. Think and vote wisely. We are depending on all of you to choose the one who can lead Malaysia and have the support of the majority. Thank you very much. ...source http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/88548 |
Permatang Pauh: This Merdeka, make Malaysia proud.
| Pmtg Pauh, do something for M'sia this Merdeka Weng Thye Foundry Aug 25, 2008 Tomorrow, the people of Pematang Pauh will cast their votes. I hope that they will return Anwar to parliament. It is to their advantage to elect Anwar as he is touted to be the potential PM of Malaysia. Why choose a mere low-ranking Umno as member of parliament (MP) for your constituency when you can have a potential PM as your representative? Putting aside mere selfish interests, the election of Anwar will be a logical step to the changes that have taken place to the political landscape of Malaysia. The Pakatan Rakyat coalition awaits the arrival of its leader to parliament to take charge. The rakyat awaits the arrival of its symbol of change and hope. For too long we have been deceived by Umno. Actually this ruling Umno is not the Umno of our founding fathers. The original Umno was for and had the welfare of all Malaysians at heart. It was populated by men of integrity and vision. The likes of Onn Jaafar, Tunku,Ismail and Hussein Onn etc. The present is actually the Umno Baru which is the creation of Dr Mahathir Mohamad. It was created for the sole purpose of protecting his political career and those of his cronies. In the process of guarding his power and ascendency and destroying his political rivals and enemies, he thought nothing of manipulating our democratic institutions to further his interests. Once, our judiciary was a proud institution. They were led by judges of integrity and honesty. Men of honour like Tun Sufian. Fearless and independent in their judgments. And their judgments were respected and accepted by all. But now, if you lose a case in court, you wonder if it has merit or whether justice has been bought and sold. What about our police? Where are the proud professionals dedicated to their job and keeping our streets safe so we can walk safely late at night and sleep soundly? They have deteriorated so badly that they even steal from their own stations. We really have a hard time differentiating who is the cop and who is the robber. All of these things are the result of one man doing everything to preserve his political power. This Umno Baru changed to Umno again is nothing but an evil machine sapping our country's strength. This Umno Baru did not deceive our Tunku and Hussein Onn. They would rather remain outside Umno (B) till their last breath. But certainly deceived the likes of Najib and Hisham. Shame on them. But now there is hope. There is a remedy in the horizon. We cannot depend on Umno and the BN to change their evil ways. The culture of corruption and arrogance is too ingrained in them. Their interests are too vested to rock the boat. But we can. And it is in our interests to do so. We can clean house and throw out Umno (B) and their props in BN which have been so toxic to our democratic instituitions. Anwar Ibrahim is our hope for a new beginning. I therefore hope that the voters of Permatang Pauh will vote for Anwar. Help us to usher in the next prime minister of Malaysia. Help make history by choosing the first non-Umno PM. Send Umno and BN to the garbage heap of history. Help Malaysia move to the next level instead of being stuck in this mess. This Merdeka, do something that will make Malaysia proud of you. This Merdeka, make Malaysia proud. This Merdeka, make Malaysians proud again of their democratic institutions. This Merdeka, let us usher in the next PM of Malaysia. People of Permatang Pauh, please vote for Anwar Ibrahim. ...source http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/88549 |
Anwar in Kubang Semang, Permatang Pauh 24/08/2008
| Anwar in Kubang Semang, Permatang Pauh 24/08/2008 Part 1 Part 2 (courtesy of MediaRakyat) |
August 25, 2008
Permatang Pauh: Tian Chua (in Chinese) 23/08/2008
| Permatang Pauh: Tian Chua (in Chinese) 23/08/2008 Part 1 Part 2 (courtesy of MediaRakyat) |
Do-Or-Die Permatang Pauh By-election
| Anwar — Do-Or-Die By-election Jed Yoong 25 August 2008 - Asia Sentinel Malaysian voters will decide tomorrow if Anwar Ibrahim will return to parliament. If he wins, will he be the next prime minister? Voters in northern Malaysia tomorrow will decide the political future of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who has claimed that he will win a seat in parliament and then topple the federal government by September 16 to become the country’s prime minister. Anwar, who leads the opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat, announced that he would contest the by-election in the Penang area shortly after a 23-year-old former aide accused him of forced sodomy in June. The former deputy prime minister claims the charge is part of a political conspiracy to thwart his plans to wrest power from the Barisan Nasional, the coalition which has ruled the country since independence in 1957. Since the initial accusation, however, the government has backtracked and charged Anwar with consensual sodomy, which is still punishable by up to 20 years in jail. For Anwar, the election is a homecoming of sorts. He first won a parliamentary seat in Penang in 1982. He was then a rising Islamic student activist who had served time in prison under the draconian Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without trial, after leading demonstrations in support of poor farmers. Mahathir Mohamad, who became prime minister that year after campaigning under the slogan "Clean, Efficient and Trustworthy," invited Anwar into the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the biggest ethnic party, to boost the party's Islamic credentials and fend off the rise of political Islam, as UMNO was widely seen as a liberal party. Anwar rose through the ranks but was eventually sacked by Mahathir and later hauled into court and jailed on charges of corruption and sodomy in 1998. Since then, the seat has been held by his wife Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who vacated it in August. Those were overturned in 2003. Anwar was then released after serving his corruption conviction. The by-election, analysts and observers say, is essentially a referendum on whether Anwar would be an effective prime minister at the helm of an unwieldy coalition that includes his own predominantly ethnic Malay and middle-class Parti Keadilan Rakyat, or People’s Justice Party; the largely Chinese Democratic Action Party and the fundamentalist Islamic Parti Islam se-Malaysia, or PAS. Anwar has presented himself as the "prime-minister-in-waiting" and said that about 30 Barisan lawmakers will jump over to the opposition by September 16, effectively transferring power. The Barisan, on the other hand, has mostly dismissed Anwar's claims as ludicrous and said he trying to destabilize the government. Currently the Pakatan has 81 lawmakers to Barisan's 140. In the March 8 general election, the Barisan lost its 50-year grip on a two-thirds parliamentary majority as well as five states, including the most developed ones, Selangor and Penang. It also lost the federal territory of Kuala Lumpur, the capital, and won only one out of 11 parliamentary seats in the area. The disastrous electoral showing under Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi intensified the infighting within UMNO and decimated other large component ethnic parties – the Malaysian Chinese Association and the Malaysian Indian Congress. The Barisan now faces leadership crises in all its constituent parties. As if that was not messy enough, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor have been linked in some reports to the gruesome 2006 murder of 28-year-old Mongolian translator Altantuya Shariibuu. Despite considerable evidence in court and statutory declarations outside it pointing to Najib, he has neither been questioned nor named in court On Saturday, Najib swore on the Koran that he has nothing to do with the murder and never met Altantuya. In the by-election, it is crucial for Anwar to gain a convincing number of Malay votes, which make up about 69 percent of the constituency. Failure could cost him his legitimacy as a Malay leader and making any federal government under him shaky, as in Perak state, where the Pakatan won only marginal Malay support and formed a coalition government based on the strength of the Chinese-backed Democratic Action Party. Traditionally, with Malay politics, the cards to play are race and religion. In culturally segregated Malaysia, race and religion matter. Malays are defined as Muslims by the Constitution and sodomy is a sin in Islam as well as being a statutory offense. As expected, the election has turned into a pseudo trial on the sodomy allegation, with UMNO showing nightly screenings on large screens of Anwar’s accuser, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, swearing on the Koran that the 61-year-old politician raped him in an apartment in Kuala Lumpur. In a country where the Chinese and Indians are regarded as immigrants no matter how long they have been there, UMNO has championed Malay rights and privileges. Under Mahathir, Malay supremacy became a mantra that promised to elevate Malays from socio-economic backwardness. The country’s New Economic Policy, a race-based affirmative action policy that sets quotas for Malays in education, government service and economic opportunity has become sacrosanct. UMNO has labelled Anwar a traitor to Malays for proposing to replace the NEP with an income-based poverty eradication program. Anwar has retaliated by saying that UMNO betrayed the Malays because the system has enriched only a rent-seeking elite. It remains to be seen whether racial and religious rhetoric will overshadow more pressing concerns like inflation, public discontent over a 40 percent hike in fuel prices and UMNO's plummeting credibility. But local bookies are giving good odds of Anwar winning the seat, Reuters reported, saying that odds makers favour Anwar 3 to 1 to win with a majority of 15,000 votes in the by-election. ...source |
Voters of Permatang Pauh to save this country
| BN, the Indian Ocean beckons! Haris Ibrahim August 25, 2008 - The People's Parliament Man, did RPK kick ass at the ceramah at Sembilang last night! I think what must have really pissed him off was when he was told by one of the ceramah organisers that technically he could not speak as he was not covered by the police permit issued for the ceramah. He reminded the crowd of about 2,000-2,500 ( and the police ) that his grandfather, Raja Sir Tun Uda, was once the governor of Penang. “This is my grandfather’s state”, he roared to the loud approval of the crowd. He reminded the crowd that we would not have achieved independence from the British if the UMNO leaders were not allowed to travel the length and breadth of the country to spread the spirit and message of ‘Merdeka’. “The Constitution guarantees us the right of speech and expression”. No concerns of a lack of a permit was going to stop this anak Bangsa Malaysia tonight. “Is this the government that we now have after we got rid of the British? If so, I would rather have the British back”. RPK was on fire. He reminded the crowd that this was not a by-election to enable them to choose a representative in Parliament. “26 million Malaysians have placed the solemn responsibility on 58,000 registered voters of Permatang Pauh to save this country from total ruin. You will decide if after 26th August, we will be sending a new Prime Minister to Putrajaya. You will decide if after 26th August, we are one step away from a new Pakatan Rakyat federal government, or whether future generations must continue to suffer under the BN rule. “ “You, the voters of Permatang Pauh, have the power to send BN into the Indian Ocean on the other side of Penang. Send UMNO, MCA, Gerakan, MIC, PPP and all the BN components to hell!” The crowd loved him. Before I leave you with a pictorial of RPK interacting with the crowd at Sembilang, I ask you to note this poster displayed at the same ceramah and ask you to ponder on this question : Until these men and more than 70 others are freed from Kamunting, can we in all good conscience find a reason to celebrate Merdeka this 31st August? ...source |
Anwar in Permatang Pauh 22/08/08
| Anwar in Permatang Pauh 22/08/08 Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 (courtesy of MediaRakyat) |
Imam explains in Permatang Pauh, we rest our case
Ustaz puts BN campaign in tatters (courtesy of Malaysiakini) |
Permatang Pauh: The end game
| Permatang Pauh: The end game By N Shashi Kala 25 Aug 2008 - The NutGraph IT has been a long, bruising battle, filled with attacks and parries of increasing intensity that seem straight out of Sun Tzu’s fabled Art of War. Every day has brought new, sometimes disturbing developments in the campaigning for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election The voters in this predominately rural Malay constituency, and the public at large, have been treated to a “dirty tricks” campaign that has thrown in everything but the kitchen sink. Take your pick from slander, swearing, sex, assaults and harassment, to allegations of electoral fraud, vote buying, a dubious doctoral degree, and even death threats. The main personalities contesting the by-election, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)’s Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and the Barisan Nasional (BN)’s Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah, couldn’t be more different. One is a charismatic former deputy prime minister who is desperate to re-enter Parliament; the other is a chubby, likeable state assemblyman who prefers to let voters judge him by his service record. Nearing the final stretch, both candidates appear confident of victory, but on the ground, it is hard to gauge for sure which way the wind will blow come polling day on 26 Aug 2008. Complicating matters is the part that may be played by the third candidate, Hanafi Hamat of Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia (Akim), a PAS splinter group. Umno, BN and PKR flags vie for attention in Kubang Semang in Permatang PauhSince nomination day on 16 Aug, both the BN and PKR have been aware of the very high stakes involved in this by-election. For Anwar, who was Member of Parliament (MP) here from 1982 to 1999 when he was convicted and jailed on sodomy and corruption charges (the Federal Court overturned the sodomy conviction in September 2004), it would be the first step towards realising his dream of forming a new government and becoming prime minister. For Arif, winning here means, in his own words, “an end to the 10-year curse of Permatang Pauh”, referring to what he says is a lack of development in the decade that this Penang constituency has been under PKR rule. Anwar’s wife and PKR president, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, won the seat in the 1999 general election and retained it in 2004 and 2008. Her resignation on 31 July paved the way for the by-election. Stepping stone In a press conference at his home in Seberang Jaya on 24 Aug, the white-haired, 52-year old Arif explained that there was only so much he could do as a state assemblyman in a Pakatan Rakyat-controlled state. “As an MP, I would have access to federal allocations and funds. I can also call upon my personal relationship with the Prime Minister to channel funds into the constituency, which has been neglected in the past 10 years,” said Arif, who runs a “friendly” campaign that prefers to be non-confrontational. PKR, aided by the election machinery of its Pakatan Rakyat partners, DAP and PAS, initially held the upper hand in the election campaign. Anwar’s well-practised stump speeches put out a consistent and catchy message of Memerdekakan Rakyat and From Permatang Pauh to Putrajaya — focusing on the core issues of corruption, national unity, stability, justice and the economy. And of course, the imminent change of government — from the BN to Pakatan Rakyat rule if a majority of voters pick Anwar. Anwar portrays himself as a national leader ready to take the main stage; Arif, on the other hand, refers to his opponent as one who wants to be a global leader. “He is only using Permatang Pauh as a stepping stone,” Arif tells The Nut Graph. “The voters don’t want leaders who are national or global. They want someone who can attend to their needs.” Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, who has been leading the BN campaign machinery here, also pooh-poohs Anwar’s Putrajaya ambitions. During his visit to the BN operations centre in Simpang Tiga, Kubang Ulu on 23 Aug, Najib said he did not see how this one by-election alone could catapult Anwar to the federal government administrative centre of Putrajaya. To Anwar’s claims that BN MPs from East Malaysia would hop over to the Pakatan Rakyat if Anwar wins, Najib reiterated that the Sabah MPs would stay put. Art of discrediting Still, the prospect of Anwar leading a parliamentary revolt to oust the BN from more than 50 years of power has scared Umno. The dominant party in the ruling coalition has resorted to using base issues to appeal to voters and discredit Anwar. From the very start, the name of Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan has been on the lips of Umno leaders — including Najib, Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin, and one-time PKR Youth chief turned Umno member Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor — and thus on voters’ minds. A leaflet distributed by BN campaigners goading Anwar to follow Saiful’s example of swearing on the QuranA former Anwar aide, 23-year-old Saiful lodged a report on 28 June that he had been sodomised by Anwar, in what seemed to the nation to be a replay of the 1998 charges against the once rising star of Umno. Anwar was subsequently arrested and charged with sodomy on 7 Aug — thickening the theories of political conspiracy in coffee shops and among serious pundits — but was released on personal bond. The video clip of Saiful swearing on the Quran has been widely circulated, and is shown at every BN ceramah. Innuendos and downright crude jokes, some uttered in ceramahs, others appearing in BN leaflets, have been made at Anwar’s expense, riling his supporters. Luckily, the overwhelming police and Federal Reserve Unit presence in Permatang Pauh has so far ensured that both camps don’t resort to violence. Still, Anwar has been forced to deal with the Saiful issue, even as he refuses to do what Khairy and Najib have goaded him to: do his own bit of swearing on the Quran. Reaching out to PAS With Muslims making up about 68% of voters in Permatang Pauh, Anwar knows the Saiful issue could prove decisive. And with Akim’s Hanafi possibly stealing votes away from PKR, the BN could well end up edging ahead. To shore up his credibility, Anwar has reached out to PAS — which enjoys strong support in the area — to neutralise the liwat allegations. A number of its leaders, including spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and his deputy Datuk Dr Harun Din, have spoken out against the validity of swearing on the Quran. Harun, especially at the ceramah perdana on 23 Aug at Taman Guar Perahu, held the 3,000-strong crowd enthralled with his detailed and clear explanation of when, where, and under what circumstances such swearing is required in Islam. The message was clear: for the sodomy accusation to stand, four witnesses are required by syariah law. Anything less is unacceptable. The BN has also tried to play up a possible rift between PKR and PAS over the choice of Anwar over PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang as leader of the envisioned Pakatan Rakyat government, if and when it is formed. Indeed, at the PAS muktamar from 15 to 17 Aug 2008 in Ipoh, PAS delegates called for Hadi Awang to head the government, arguing that he was more qualified. But at the 23 Aug ceramah perdana in Taman Guar Perahu, Hadi Awang seemed to snuff out any question over who would lead the Pakatan Rakyat government. He ended his 10-minute address by asking voters to support Anwar as MP, and as the nation’s future leader. “Gone through worse” Anwar is surrounded by reporters after his walkabout at Tokong Kebun Sayur in Permatang Pasir on 24 Aug 2008Anwar himself, both on stage and at impromptu media conferences during his walkabouts, has kept to his message and remains focused on the issues. Speaking to reporters after a campaign stop in the Chinese area of Tokong Kebun Sayur in Permatang Pasir, a relaxed-looking Anwar told reporters that he is not going to change his campaign strategy in the light of the BN’s personal attacks. “I’m going to keep focusing on my message, and I have directed my campaign workers to do the same and keep explaining the issues to the people,” he said. “In my time, I have gone through far worse. I’ve been beaten, stripped, persecuted and deprived of my liberty. This is nothing,” he added, referring to the personal attacks. He refused to speculate on his chances of winning, but said the level of support from all races and groups has been encouraging. However, Anwar complained that his campaign workers had been harassed by police, and alleged that the BN used money to buy votes, and utilised the mass media to push its message across. This made it extremely hard for PKR, he said. Anwar was also worried about possible low voter turnout on polling day. But Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s 24 Aug declaration that polling day will be a state holiday should give PKR campaigners a boost. Lingering issues Two other looming concerns may have an impact on the by-election long after polling is over. One is the flap over the electoral roll being used by the Election Commission (EC); and the other is Arif’s admission that he paid money to locals for “intelligence work”. PKR says the electoral roll being used for the by-election has yet to be gazetted, and has written to the EC and is awaiting a reply. As for “intelligence work”, electoral expert Wong Chin Huat argues in his blog that there are no provisions for payment for such work under Section 21 of the Election Offences Act 1954. It is left to be seen if Arif’s admission will land him in hot water. Many other complaints abound, from damage to campaign paraphernalia to fake posters, and even attacks on campaign workers’ vehicles, all of which have been recorded by the Malaysian for Free and Fair Election. The end may be in sight for Anwar, the BN and the nation when the results of the Permatang Pauh by-election are announced on the night of 26 Aug. Then again, it just might be the beginning of more to come. ...source |
Permatang Pauh - Arif admits breaking election law?
| Arif Shah admits breaking election law? August 22, 2008 - chinhuatw.wordpress.com BN candidate in the Permatang Pauh by election Arif Shah Omar Shah yesterday admitted the BN machinery has been giving RM100 to RM 500 to the locals. While he claimed that the money was payment for “intelligence work” and not to buy vote, he might have unwittingly admitted his commission of an “illegal practice” under Section 21 of the Election Offences Act 1954. This is the partial translation of the headline story on today (August 22) Sin Chew Daily titled “Arif Shah: Employing Locals As Campaign Workers; BN PAYS INTELLIGENCE FEES, NOT BUYING VOTES”: (Butterworth, August 21) BN candidate in the Permatang Pauh by-election Datuk Arif Shah admited that the BN election machinery had been giving away money in the constituency, but that was “intelligence fee”, not the money to buy votes. He said, BN gave money to the locals to employ some of them to be campaign workers, but others who were not arranged to help in campaign would be listed as BN’s “covert intelligence agents”. He said, BN employs a large number of intelligence agents as getting the intelligence about the local people was very important to BN winning the by-election. After attending the celebration of 25th Anniversary of the Penang Regional Development Agency, Arif Shah said so in response to questions regarding Anwar’s statement that the latter would complain to the Election Commissions regarding BN giving away money in Permatang Pauh. Asked why some people did not know what happened after receiving money, Arif Shah explained that the persons in-charge of the BN campaigning team would later contact them to ask for information after recording their addresses and telephone numbers. He stressed that Anwar’s allegation was unreliable and false because BN did not use money to buy votes. He said, voting was secretive. As no one could control whom the voters would vote for, therefore BN was not stupid enough to buy votes, since that was not possible. Distributing RM 100-RM 500 to campaign workers He also admitted that BN distributed RM 100 to RM 500 in cash to campaign workers. The payments were made according to the size of the areas in-charge and the type of transport used. …. Now, Section 21of the Election Offences Act 1954 categorically prohibits employment of anyone “for the purpose of promoting or procuring the election of a candidate at any election” except for one election agent, one polling agent per polling station and “a reasonable number of clerk and messengers“. (See below for the full text of the Section.) Also, remember that a parliamentary candidate cannot spend more than RM 200,000 under Section 19 of the same Act. (see below for full text of the Section). Now, three things are clear: 1. There is no provision for intelligence work. Clerk and messengers are intelligence agents. 2. The “large number” of recipients clearly go beyond “a reasonable number”. 3. The expense of “intelligence fees” may easily exceed the legal cap of RM 200,000 (which is enough for only 400 “intelligence agents” if each is paid RM 500). In more than one way, Arif Shah might have committed an illegal practice, which may cause him to be fined RM 5000 and disqualified from voting and being elected. (Section 27) Shouldn’t someone do something now? Excerpts of the Election Offences Act 1954: Expenses in excess of maximum to be illegal practice 19.(1) Subject to such exception as may be allowed in pursuance of this Act, no sum shall be paid and no expense shall be incurred by a candidate at an election or by his election agent, after the date of publication of the notice of the election in the Gazette, during or after an election, on account of or in respect of the conduct or management of such election, in excess of- (a) two hundred thousand ringgit in the case of an election to the Dewan Rakyat; (b) one hundred thousand ringgit in the case of an election to a Legislative Assembly; (c) ten thousand ringgit in the case of an election to a local authority other than a local council; (d) three thousand ringgit in the case of an election to a local council: Provided that paragraphs (c) and (d) shall have no application in Sabah and Sarawak. (2) Any candidate or election agent who knowingly acts in contravention of this section shall be guilty of an illegal practice. Certain employment to be illegal 21.(1) No person shall, for the purpose of promoting or procuring the election of a candidate at any election, be engaged or employed for payment or promise of payment for any purpose or in any capacity whatever, except for the purpose or in the capacities following: (a)one election agent and no more; (b)not more than one polling agent at any one time for each polling area or polling district: Provided that where more than one polling station is provided in any polling area or polling district, an additional polling agent may be employed in respect of each polling station; and (c) a reasonable number of clerks and messengers having regard to the area of the constituency or electoral ward and the number of electors on the register or list of electors for such constituency or electoral ward. (2) Subject to such exception as may be allowed in pursuance of this Act, if any person is engaged or employed in contravention of this section, either before, during, or after an election, the person engaging or employing him shall be guilty of an illegal practice. Punishment for conviction for illegal practise 27 (1) Every person who commits an illegal practice shall, on conviction by a Sessions Court, be liable to a fine of five thousand ringgit and, subject to any specific provision to the contrary in any written law relating to any election, shall by conviction become incapable of being registered or listed as an elector or of voting at any election under this Act or of being elected at any election, and if at that date he has been elected at any election, his seat shall be vacated from the date of such conviction. (2) A prosecution for an illegal practice shall not be instituted without the sanction of the Public Prosecutor. ...source |
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