Ijok by-election – BN “kiasu” despite worst electoral corruption and most undemocratic campaigning in 50 yrs

Last night, together with other DAP MPs including Dr. Tan Seng Giaw (Kepong),  Chong Eng (Bukit Mertajam), Fong Po Kuan (Batu Gajah), M. Kulasegeran (Ipoh Barat), Fung Kui Lun (Bukit Bintang), Chow Kon Yeow (Tanjung) and Lim Hock Seng (Bagan) as well as Thomas Su Keong Siong  (Perak DAP State Assemblyman for Pasir Pinji),  I campaigned in Batang Berjuntai and Pekan Ijok  for Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)  candidate for the hotly-contested  Ijok by-election for the Selangor State Assembly on Saturday, 28th April 2007.

I left Ijok last night with the  predominant impression – that the Barisan Nasional (BN)  is  “kiasu” despite masterminding  the worst electoral corruption and the most undemocratic campaigning in 50 years.  What a shameful way to commemorate our 50th Merdeka anniversary in 2007!

It is because of this new emergent Barisan Nasional “kiasu” mindset that my speech at the first ceramah last night at Batang Berjuntai was sabotaged — by the Barisan Nasional making use of the Police.

A police party  had earlier  tried to intervene to stop the ceramah when PKR President Datin Seri Dr. Wan Azizah binti Wan Ismail was ending her speech, leading to arguments between PKR leaders and DAP MPs Fong Kui Lun and Lim Hock Seng on the one hand  and the police on the other when the police party approached the make-shift rostrum.

After a short while when the commotion continued without resolution, I  went up to the police officer leading the police team to ask what was the problem.  When I was told that the ceramah was an illegal assembly, I was most surprised, as it was clearly a most unwarranted interference by the police in PKR by-election campaigning.

Unlike  one occasion the  previous night at Taman Pancaran, Bestari Selatan where the PKR ceramah featuring Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was deemed by the police as being “too close” for “security comfort” to the BN one featuring Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak being separated by only 50 metres, and had to be cancelled, the PKR ceramah at Batang Berjuntai town last night posed no such problem as there was no other  BN ceramah anywhere else in sight.   Furthermore, the crowd was very peaceful, controlled and very good-natured.

I told the police officer that in my 40 years of election experience, the Police had never tried to stop a ceramah during election campaigning on the ground that it was an illegal assembly when the police had earlier been given notification, as the normal practice of requiring two-week notice to apply for  police permit for holding a ceramah was suspended as it was no more  practical in election campaigns which are invariably less than 10 days between nomination and polling dates.

I told the crowd that the Police was being unfair and one-sided, and there was thunderous support from the people at the ceramah. I asked the Police to be fair and to withdraw (undur) from the rostrum area and not to interrupt the ceramah.

I then saw the police party withdrawing and I was quite impressed that the police was amenable to reason demonstrating their dedication to the  Rukunegara objective of maintaining  a democratic way of life and to be guided by  the Rukunegara principles of “Rule of Law” and “Good Behaviour and Morality”.

But I was to be disillusioned in a matter of some 20 minutes later. When I started speaking after Po Kuan and the PKR candidate, Khalid had given their speeches, the police returned with three FRU truckloads of riot police.

A police party led by another police officer approached me to stop me from speaking, when I was just warming up, but he  refused to reply when I asked him about a dozen times to identify himself, as to who he was and his police rank — causing me to berate him  repeatedly for lacking in the most basic courtesies.

He was just interested in wanting to get hold of the mike, which led  me to ask him as to why the police did not have their own mike and  what had happened to the hundreds of millions of ringgit approved every year by MPs to purchase equipments for  the police.

It was only after a dozen times of demand for him to identity himself that I was told that he was Kuala Selangor OCPD Ibrahim, evoking my  parting shot as to why he was ashamed to identify himself earlier.

I told the crowd that the incident showed that BN was “kiasu” compelling the police to act so unfairly, one-sidedly and undemocratically to stop PKR ceramahs, which elicited repeated roars “BN kiasu” from the crowd!

The ceramah standoff  ended when PKR Vice President Azmin Ali was allowed five minutes to disperse the crowd.

I had in the earlier incident told the police that by being so unfair blatantly and flagrantly, they are only stoking public outrage  which will only result in more votes for the PKR candidate — the opposite result of what the BN wanted.

My second ceramah at Pekan Ijok went off without any police problem.

During question time in Parliament this morning, I posed the question  why the BN is so “kiasu” in Ijok that the police are being forced to act so partially and unfairly as to harass PKR ceramahs while  giving a blank-cheque to BN to do whatever  they like in Ijok.

There was of course no answer from the Deputy Internal Security Minister, Datuk Johari Baharum who was replying to  the question from the MP for Maran about the problem of VIPs like MPs being targeted by criminals and “whether there is any plan to take general protective measures in order to protect these group of people from being the target of criminals”.

I raised a protest at this question and I expressed regret that BN MPs were only interested in the welfare of VIPs like themselves, while were quite indifferent to the plight of ordinary Malaysians who are increasingly victims of crime in the escalating crime waves.

As example, I cited the case of the latest crime victim,
Lim Hoon Hwa
, 21, clerk, who was robbed and brutally stabbed to death in her home in the crime capital of the nation, Johore Baru in Taman Skudai Baru on Sunday.

However, when I tried to raise the issue in Parliament on Monday night during committee stage debate of the Internal Security Ministry on the 2006 Supplementary Estimates, BN MPs including those from Johore were just unsympathetic,  indifferent and did not want to listen — as they only wanted to go back on the ground that the Parliament meeting was too long already.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 25 April 2007, 11:41 am and is filed under
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How can a law-abiding cybercafe operator survive in corruption-rife Malaysia?

I have received a heart-rending appeal for help as to how a law-abiding cafe operator could survive in corruption-rife Malaysia.

The cybercafe operator J  is “almost at the end of the  road”  after being in the business for the past five years and is regretting that he had “picked the wrong country to live and grow by doing business and earn a living”.

He had ventured into the cybercafe business for the last five years after he lost his job as a IT hardware/software salesman. With 2nd class honours degree in Business information System in a UK university, he never got any better job which paid enough commensurate with his qualification.

He had paid for his entire studies right from local college to university in UK, working since in high school till university  as a part-time technician in computer shops, selling self-build computers from home, etc.

While in UK, he saw cybercafes as  a booming industry and dreamt of owning such a  business one day.

But now, he his staring at the stark possibility of having to close down his business with debts of bank  loans near to RM1 million – all because a licence  is required to run such a business.

Back in 2002, when he started with 30 computers in his hometown, he took him more than a year to get a licence to operate the business. Why the one-year wait?

J explained in his email:

“because in bolehland if you don’t pay those people, they can’t sign the papers to approve anything. even though you have followed all the guidelines and rules and regulations.

“i had no choice but to pay RM2000 to get an approval after waiting for a year for a license which only cost RM280, at the same time there were also others exploiting these cybercafe license to be used as gambling outlets.

“for the past 5 years those people who misuse the license for gambling industry got more and more license with them to open multiple outlets in entire state while i struggled just to get my only one license to run a completely healthy business.

“my parents have advice me never ever get into illegal business, for this i even paid up for all the copyright license such as Microsoft, Blizzard, EA and so on. which cost more than 4-5k a month on installment plan in yearly basis. but then to get  a RM280 town council business license was a nightmare.

“over the years, i expanded my business from 1 outlet to 3 outlets with more than 250 computers, but getting the license to operate such business was on going issue. from RM2000 coffee money to get a license approved the price tag when up as high as RM15000.

“even after paying i never got my license then. and it got delayed from day to day…”

J also poured his heart out about his other nightmares in the cybercafe business:

“next my nightmares started one of my outlet was raided for not having entertainment license and charged in court with computers taken away by the corrupted cops asking for cash and high end computers as settlement. and god knows if the computers are still in one piece after so long.

“till today DPP still insist that i should be be charged under the entertainment license act even after the YDP has given press statement that cybercafes do not require entertainment license but only business license where i was advice by a license issuing officer …that they (the police) can only compound for such case with maximum fine of RM2000 and have the no right to take my computers away. I’m still fighting for it but again god knows when its gonna end as the police has taken similar action against other outlet owners and they plead guilty on the charges and carry on with business. some of them did this in hurry hoping that they could get back their computers faster and run business as usual.

“later to find out, they only got back empty computer casing with all the internal components removed.

“last 3 weeks more and more such raids are taking place … police are going all out to shutdown such outlets. i was given warning as well.”

Lamenting that “its the end of the road for me”, he cried out in protest:

“bolehland is now more corrupted then ever. when the police run out of gambling outlets to collect their pocket money, we cybercafe owners are victimised…

“Bigger cafe owners …are spared, may be they have more cash to spare to pay off the police and town council to avoid raids. small outlets are victimised to show that they are doing their job.

“its very unfair with the government not taking full action. if this industry is illegal then cybercafes in the entire country should be wiped out.

“we have set our own rules and regulations to keep this industry healthy. but if the government says its illegal they should make a public announcement to shut down this industry.

“bolehand technology industry is going down the drain, comparing this industry with other countries such Singapore, Taiwan, China, Korea etc.

“YB, I’m almost at end of the road. at the age of 30 i think i picked the wrong country to live and grow by doing business and earn a living. i hope you can highlight this matter.

“i find its very hard to fight for rights in this country. any business which the bumiputera’s can’t venture into big time means illegal in bolehland.

“please advice.”

I have omitted or deleted references which identified the location of the cybercafe, the town council, state and federal authorities involved. Should the location, town council, state and federal authorities involved be fully identified?

How can you and I help J.  Should J fight or succumb to the corrupt system?

In my reply to J, I suggested that he be a “public test case of how law-abiding cybercafe operators are to survive in  corrupt and busines-unfriendly atmosphere (which extends to all small businesses as well) and to drive home the point that local, state and federal govts have responsibility to assist and facilitate such businesses rather than to hamper, smother and kill them off”.

Do you think J should go public and are you prepared to give every help to secure blog and public support to make it into a “cause celebre” not only for J but also  the many silent victims in his shoes in all businesses in the country?

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 26 April 2007, 12:01 pm and is filed under
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Ijok – Bolehland’s Electoral Circus

Bolehland’s Electoral Circus

by Martin Jalleh

Santa Khir blatantly buys and bribes with

the rakyat’s money.

Samy Vellu crows, clowns and croons

the same old tune.

Shortchanged Indians are mickeyed

by the MIC, MGR and MGP.

Stunted UMNO Youth sends in thugs

– they do not have “towering Malays”.

Stultified MIC Youth unleash their

goats, geese and goondas.

Servile police lapdogs bow, bend

and do the bidding.

Slanted media spins, spews and sells

one-sided news.

Self-serving politicians proudly play the

parrot, puppet and prostitute.

Supine Election Commission chief swims

in his septic sham.

Shameless BN — a party of the greedy,

gutless and godless.

Welcome to a land of scaremongers,

shallow characters and stunted minds.

(26 April 2007)

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 26 April 2007, 3:34 pm and is filed under
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Ijok by-election: Are we in Hutu-land?

Are we in Hutu-land?

by Azly Rahman

As we were finishing our lunch, Khalid Ibrahim was approached by a youth in Pemuda BN attire, and intimidating words were used on him soon after. malaysiakini has a good account of the incident, titled: BN group roughs up Khalid, photographers.

… We are not party to their ideological differences in partisan politics, so we steered clear of their ‘conversations’ and prepared to leave. Our casual attire for comfortable photographing also ensured that we are not wrongly mistaken as Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s cadre. We were there merely as men-at-work, photographers on assignment… . We were wrong. We were surrounded by over 20 rowdies, and the long and short of it, my colleague, who wound down his window to inch carefully his way out from the besieging scene, was smashed at close range with the sharp portion of the mineral water bottle… He tried to evade but still broke his glasses, bleeding. Without the glasses, he drove the both of us out of the danger zone until some PKR members escorted us in another vehicle to safe ground in Ijok town centre. (Thanks Cikgu Li.)…  We kept our cool and tried hard to avert any eventualities as we didn’t want this incident to be spun as an ugly chapter of over 20 Malay youths attacking two Chinese photographers in Malaysia.

Nevertheless, the unasked question must get answered some days when the fanatical election fever is over – Jeff Ooi narrating on Ijok, Screenshots.

If what we are seeing and reading about the campaigning process in Ijok these last few days, what is the meaning of “voting” to the voters?

If votes can be bought and sold, for whatever reason of “economic necessity”, and if gangsterism and political violence is going to be the regular feature of elections, where are we heading towards?

If what’s at stake here is power that will create billionaires out of the few, and every means necessary is used to buy power, are we and our generation doomed? Democracy is for sale – wholesale.

T.I.A. – “This is Africa”!?

What have 50 years taught us? What then must we do?

Dangerous trend

From slogans to songs to scenes of chaos, we see the increasingly dangerous trend of campaigning.

It is not issues that are brought to the platforms but most violent ways to assassinate characters.

The image of Malaysia’s minister of education, yelling and screaming is even a scarier one if we consider education as a gentle profession. How do we make sense of one entrusted with the education of the children in our multicultural Malaysia being a major player in the trumpeting of a race-based and rage-based politics?

And what is the image of our youth at these sites of campaigning? It seems like we are degenerating into incivility, not befitting the supposedly political maturity we ought to have acquired after 50 years of merdeka.

And why do we read of incidences of “attacks” on political candidates? Who controls these crowds? Why can’t the leaders tell their followers to behave and to show the world how a “first class” kampong-styled political campaign looks like? With the “first class” infrastructure we build with the blood, sweat, and tears of the rakyat and the cheap labour of those we invite in, why do we have a “fourth-class” campaigning in Ijok?

The meaning of a “vote”

What is a “vote”? What goes into a “vote” What is the psychology of voting these days? How much does a vote cost?

What have 50 years taught our children what a “vote” — that special rights of an individual /of a free human being in a democracy/sovereign country — means?

50 years ought to have given us a solid foundation of the freedom to choose — intelligently. This generation ought to have been wise enough to vote out a corrupt regime, peacefully, without having to listen to inflammatory campaign speeches and being harassed and thrown bottles and planks at. We should have matured.

It ought to have taught us that a vote is a precious thing to be used to delegate power to the citizens to bring down corrupt-to-to-core governments that instill fear in the citizens and institutionalise a clever system of patronage and patrilineage politics styled after the feudal culture of symbolic and political-economic gift-giving. We should have been more ethical.

It ought to have taught our children the essential tools of critical thinking so that they may recognise the styles of propaganda derived from race-based politics shoved into their minds through the ideological state apparatuses such as the media and educational institutions. We should have created a nation of creative and critical thinkers not easily bought off by state propaganda.

50 years of merdeka ought to have this generation in each constituency being empowered enough to determine the political destiny and choice they are to take – without taking bribes and being bought over by those the robber barons who visit every four years or every time a local politician dies. We should have spread wealth equitably and not use the wealth of the regime to control and manipulate voters.

We have made a wrong turn. Worse – we are being brought to a wrong turn – to the point of no return. We are evolving into a “demono-cracy”. Into a culture of gangsta politics.

Gangsta politics?

The youth in Harlem, The Bronx, Detroit, and East Los Angeles, have their gangsta rappers. We are breeding ours. Ijok is its birthplace.

Adolf Hitler had his youth brigade running around creating chaos and institutionalising terror.

I hope we are not seeing The Mat Rempit Brigade being used to abuse our youth that are being used in ways that the robber barons are finding useful. This will be the worst form of injustice we are doing to our youth who are supposed to be educated into the future generation of leaders that will continue to renew society through systematic and peaceful en-block replacing of corrupt-to-the-core regimes.

Our “North Pole bound” Mat Rempits or “Mat Cemerlangs ” as they are fondly called/”nobat-ized” should have better things to do than to be involved in a gangsta-rapper type of politics. They should not be used to “ram” our already ailing political culture into the “pits” of our political alleys. We should have not produced them en-mass and batch-processed through our conveyor-belt styled education system.

Can the police handle worse situations come the general election? We might have to institutionalise nationwide online-voting systems if we fear bigger chaos — only to perhaps discover how rigged those machines will be. Whoever controls technology controls the means of reproducing power.

We have seen how the students are being reduced to become obedient followers in our public universities through the work of Biro Tata Negara. We have seen how the National Service, borne out of an urgent need to feed our cronyistic needs, plagued with irresponsible designs of safety, is used to create a cadre of followers. We have even seen how the mouth and the mind of our university lecturers are being “duck-taped” to so that they may think about and speak of the ideology of the ruling party and still be affiliated with “world-class” Malaysian universities.

Unbelievable – for a country that is not yet Africa. But the signs are there – from the rampant corruption to the “rempitisation” of our election process.

We not only are inviting another wave of colonization – one without armies and colonies. But worse, the new mandarins and maharajahs are in our midst. They are yelling and screaming for votes, bringing offers the voters can’t refuse. Shame on the voters too!

Is this Ijok–or Hutu-land? We must decide and redefine our destiny.

Dr. Azly Rahman,

Educator & Adjunct Professor;

Foundations of Civilizations, Education, & Politics

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 26 April 2007, 10:11 am and is filed under
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Will Najib, Khir Toyo or Samy Vellu resign if Ijok becomes “second Lunas”?

Among the three — Umno Deputy President and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Umno Selangor chief and  Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Khir Toyo and the MIC President and Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu — will anyone of them resign if Ijok becomes a “second Lunas” on Saturday with Barisan Nasional (BN) losing the seat despite  the worst electoral corruption and most undemocratic campaigning in the 50 year history of the nation?

Electoral corruption and money politics in Ijok and the recent Machap by-elections have been  the most blatant and fragrant-ever in the nation’s electoral history — even worse than during the previous four Prime Ministers, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak, Tun Hussein Onn and Tun Dr. Mahathir Moahamad.

This is most ironic and tragic as these two by-elections should be even cleaner if not the cleanest in the nation’s 50-year history as they are held under a Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who had pledged to wipe out corruption and money politics as the top priority of his administration.

The electoral corruption in Machap and Ijok are so blatant and flagrant, flooding the constituencies with tens of millions of ringgit development projects when they had been completely ignored in past decades, that many Malaysians regardless of race,  religion or territory are now cynically saying that “A good BN MP/SA is a dead MP/SA”.

However, any BN MP/SA dying will not result in any by-election as the legal bar for by-elections during the two years before the next general election have come into force for all legislatures except for Kelantan (May 5), Kedah (May 20) and Parliament (May 17).

This is undoubtedly one of the reasons which have prompted former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir to make his
extraordinary public call
to the voters of Ijok to vote wisely on Saturday.

Although Mahathir did not outright call on the Ijok voters not to vote for the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate, his message is very clear that the Ijok  voters should vote against the BN candidate.

Mahathir told
Malaysiakini
that the Ijok by-election on  Saturday is the right time for the voters to shatter the government’s propaganda that all is well.

He said that unless the voters “send a signal” to the government that, “Look, if you don’t behave yourself, you may not get my vote at the next election,” then the government will say, “You see? The people are voting for us. We are doing well”.

He added that if the Ijok voters got swayed by the by-election goodies in the form of new development in the state constituency, they will only have themselves to blame if a “rotten” government is voted in.

Mahathir said: “If you vote (BN) because you get a lot of money or because you get a lot of projects, you may get a rotten government which uses money in order to buy your vote.”

On all the three critera  listed by Mahathir, (i) to shatter the government’s propaganda that all is well; (ii) to “send a signal” to the government that it would not get the votes of the voters in the next general election; and (iii) that goodies in the form of new development cannot be at the expense of a “rotten government”, the Ijok voters have only one option — to vote against the Barisan Nasional and ensure the election of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat candidate, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as the Ijok Assemblyman on Saturday.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 26 April 2007, 2:10 pm and is filed under
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1987 Ops Lalang and Chinese primary school crisis – will Cabinet own up to historic wrongs?

Veteran Chinese educationist Sim Mow Yu has said that Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser and former Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim  should apologise for what he had done over the 1987 Ops Lalang mass arrests under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the controversy over dispatching of staff unversed  in Mandarin to hold senior posts in Chinese primary schools.

As one of the Ops Lalang  ISA detainees served with a formal two-year detention order and incarcerated at Kamunting Detention Centre, Sim is most qualified to speak up on these subjects.

The Ops Lalang detention was my second ISA detention, which lasted 18 months as compared to 17 months in my first ISA detention  in 1969-1970.

DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng and I were the last two of the  Ops Lalang ISA detainees incarcerated in Kamunting Detention Centre to be released in April 1989 —  serving the longest Ops Lalang ISA detention after all the other 49 Ops Lalang detainees had been earlier released from Kamunting  in various batches.

Anwar
 has admitted that  he was wrong in 1987  in the dispatch of staff unversed in Mandarin to become principals and senior assistants of Chinese primary schools which resulted in the subsequent Ops Lalang mass arrests.

Anwar has now taken a stand on mother-tongue education which is in accord with justice and fair play for mother-tongue education in plural Malaysia as well as the higher national  interests of enhancing Malaysia’s international competitiveness, which should be commended and supported.

However, are  all the current  Barisan Nasional Ministers and leaders who had been collectively responsible for the 1987 Ops Lalang mass arrests and controversy over dispatch of staff unversed in Mandarin to senior posts in Chinese primary schools prepared to follow the example of Anwar and  admit that what they had done twenty years ago were wrong?

Such Barisan Nasional Ministers and leaders would include the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the Gerakan chief and Minister for Energy, Water and Communications, Datuk Seri Dr. Lim Keng Yaik, the MIC President and Works Minister, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and the Minister for International

Trade and Industry Datuk Paduka Rafidah Aziz.

Najib was in 1987 the Umno Youth leader and what he did in 1987 was even more infamous than the  keris-wielding incidents involving the current Umno Youth leader, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein  in the context of extremist and communal demands in utter disregard of the rights and sensitivities of all races in a plural nation.

What did Najib do in 1987? A Government White Paper  entitled “Towards Preserving National Security” tabled in Parliament on 23rd March 1988 recorded that in an Umno Youth rally led by Najib on 17th October 1987, banners bearing strong words were displayed, including one which said: “SOAK IT (KRIS) WITH CHINESE BLOOD”.

Are MCA and Gerakan leaders prepared to ask all  Umno and Barisan Nasional Ministers and leaders to emulate Anwar’s example and admit that they had acted wrongly in the crisis of 1987?

Is the next Cabinet meeting prepared to end the historic wrongs in 1987 by adopting a formal Cabinet decision to openly and publicly admit that what  the  various Barisan Nasional component parties led by Umno   had done in that year in these two episodes had been  wrong?

Are the other Barisan Nasional component parties and leaders prepared to demand that both Najib and Hishammudin admit that they were wrong — the former for the “SOAK IT (KRIS) WITH CHINESE BLOOD” slogan at the Umno Youth rally in 1987 and latter for the keris-wielding at Umno Youth general assemblies in circumstances threatening the multi-racial fabric of our nation?

                This entry was posted on Friday, 27 April 2007, 5:09 am and is filed under
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It grieves my entire being but does it bother Pak Lah and Cabinet?

I have received an email which grieves my entire being but does it bother Pak Lah, our Prime Minister and the Cabinet?  If they do not understand the cry deep from the heart and soul of “J”, who sent the email, then the 50th Merdeka anniversary celebrations this year are completely meaningless, waste of time and money.

Read this heart-rending email:

Dear Mr. Lim,

I have utmost respect and admiration for your tenacity in remaining in Malaysia to champion the cause of justice and equality and fight for a Bangsa Malaysia. My heart broke when I read about your article regarding the honest cyber cafe operator especially when he wondered if he “had chosen the wrong country” to start and operate his business.

I see my situation summed up in that phrase. You have said before that the best and brightest are leaving this country. Well, I am making every preparation to leave. I have consistently scored straight As in every public exam and placed among the top 3 of my form. In university, I studied medicine and am among the top scorers. I have just graduated and scored near perfect results in a medical licensing examination that will enable me to work abroad and further my studies.

I was born a Malaysian yet I cannot see myself as a Malaysian. As a chinese, I feel that I am being discriminated against. I feel that the government is trying its hardest to sideline me just because of my race. I look around and see this discrimination manifested in various forms. From the issue regarding religious conversion to the  allocation  of places in local universities, the stench of discrimination is sickening.

It was horrifying to note in my batch of medical students, there were a substantial number of malay students who actually did not apply for medicine but were sent to study it. It is disgusting to think that many STPM straight A scorers are deprived of a chance to study medicine while the government gives the places to people who are not even sure that they want to study medicine.

I have seen how racial politics sully the environment in the university and how unqualified people are in high posts at the expense of far more intelligent and qualified individuals just

because they are malay. I have heard the terrible statements made by delegates at the recent UMNO General Assembly about revoking my citizenship rights should I question their special rights. I have seen the videos on YouTube where UMNO MPs have the audacity to ask us to “keluar” of the country if we don’t like what they are doing to it. And I see the pathetic attempt by the PM to “discipline” these racists. I hate the fact that Gerakan and MCA have done NOTHING to fight for my rights instead of

just kow-towing to UMNO for their own gains.

Patriotism isn’t about singing the national anthem or raising the flag. It isn’t about accepting at face value everything the government says. It isn’t about attending merdeka celebrations. It is about feeling accepted as part of your nation. It is about knowing that your nation accepts you as a son or daughter. It is about realizing that being a part of a nation entails certain responsibilities. That is my definition of patriotism. And right now, as a Malaysian, I am feeling anything BUT patriotic. 50 years of independence? So what? What has it done for me? Whoopee.

I have a chance to change my life. I will change my destiny. I could not choose the country where I was born but I can very well choose the country that I will swear my allegiance to. I want a country that will recognize me as a citizen and grant me rights equal to that of all other citizens. I want a country that has the wisdom to recognize my potential and talents and reward me accordingly. I want a country where the government fears its people and conducts itself in a manner worthy of respect and honor.

This is not my nation. I am leaving. Mr. Lim, I salute you and all those like you who can find the strength and energy to fight for an ungrateful bunch of people. How many actually held mass protests, hunger strikes or rose up to defend you and your family when you or your son was imprisoned for fighting for us? How many did more than just shake their heads and move on with their petty little lives? None that I know of. Yet you continue to defend their rights. You are an amazing man, Mr. Lim and I truly admire you for that. Unfortunately, I have a bright future ahead and I will not waste it in this country. It is not my nation.

Thank you for fighting the good fight.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 28 April 2007, 4:04 pm and is filed under
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An Indian boy on his first day at school in the US

May be we need light relief, and here goes:

An Indian boy on his first day at school in the US

It was the first day of school and a new student named Chandrashekhar Subrahmanyam entered the fourth grade.

The teacher said, “Let’s begin by reviewing some American History.

Who said, “Give me Liberty , or give me Death”?

She saw a sea of blank faces, except for Chandrashekhar, who had his hand up: “Patrick Henry, 1775” he said.

“Very good!” Who said, “Government of the People, by the People, for the People, shall not perish from the Earth?”

Again, no response except from Chandrashekhar.” Abraham Lincoln, 1863″ said Chandrashekhar.

The teacher snapped at the class, “Class, you should be ashamed.

Chandrashekhar, who is new to our country, knows more about its history than you do!”

She heard a loud whisper: “F**k the Indians,”

“Who said that?” she demanded.

Chandrashekhar put his hand up. “General Custer, 1862.”

At that point, a student in the back said, “I’m gonna puke.”

The teacher glares around and asks “All right! Now, who said that?”

Again, Chandrashekhar says, “George Bush to the Japanese Prime Minister, 1991.”

Now with almost a mob hysteria someone said, “You little shit. If you say anything else, I’ll kill you.”

Chandrashekhar frantically yells at the top of his voice, “Gary Condit to Chandra Levy, 2001.”

The teacher fainted. And as the class gathered around the teacher on the floor, someone said, “Oh shit, we’re fucked!”

And Chandrashekhar said quietly, “George Bush, Iraq , 2005.”

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 29 April 2007, 4:40 pm and is filed under
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Open Letter to Tawau MP – resign before May 17

I issued an  Open Letter to the Barisan Nasional Member of Parliament for Tawau, Shim Paw Fatt, today asking him to resign before May 17 to position  Tawau as  the centre of state, national and international attention,  end the decline of Tawau into an economic backwater and spur super-development with hundreds of millions of ringgit allocations  that will be poured in  by Barisan Nasional as demonstrated by Machap and Ijok by-elections.

In my Open Letter to Shim, I wanted him to know that my suggestion at a press conference at Sin Onn Market in Tawau yesterday that he resign as Tawau MP was no  political game or “child’s play” but a deadly-serious proposal after serious consideration as to how to end the long-standing neglect of Tawau by the Barisan Nasional, whether at the state or federal level, transforming it from a stagnant economic backwater into a vibrant and dynamic growth centre for the region.

I told Shim that nothing in his political life could achieve greater results for the super-development of  Tawau than to make a personal sacrifice by resigning as MP for Tawau before May 17, the deadline when any vacancy for a parliamentary seat would have to be filled by a by-election, causing a by-election to be held.

My Open Letter to Shim reads:

YB Shim Paw Fatt,

MP for Tawau,

Tawau.

Dear YB Shim,

Proposal that you resign as MP for Tawau before May 17 to give Tawau the unprecedented opportunity to transform itself from stagnant economic backwater into vibrant growth centre with Barisan Nasional pouring in hundreds of millions of ringgit of allocation for super-development in a by-election

I am taking the unusual step of issuing an  Open Letter to you   today for two reasons:

Firstly, to underline that my suggestion at a press conference at Sin Onn Market in Tawau yesterday that you resign as Tawau MP was no  political game or “child’s play” but a deadly-serious proposal after serious consideration as to how to end the long-standing neglect of Tawau by the Barisan Nasional, whether at the state or federal level, transforming it from a stagnant economic backwater into a vibrant and dynamic growth centre for the region; and

Secondly, that the best way to achieve this objective is to cause a parliamentary by-election which will turn Tawau into the cynosure  of state, national and international attention,  end the decline of Tawau into a stagnant  economic backwater and spur super-development with hundreds of millions of ringgit allocations  that will be poured in  by Barisan Nasional as demonstrated by Machap and Ijok by-elections.

I want to assure you that in making this unusual proposal, I am not being personal but being fully professional, as you would yourself agree that nothing in your political life could achieve greater results for the super-development of  Tawau than to make a personal sacrifice by resigning as MP for Tawau before May 17, the deadline when any vacancy for a parliamentary seat would have to be filled by a by-election, causing a by-election to be held.

For over a decade, the soco-economic and urban woes of Tawau have kept increasing and worsening, as illustrated by the following:

	Lack of job opportunities forcing the young people of Tawau to leave the district to go to other parts of Sabah and Malaysia to find a living.

	Although Tawau is a major contributor of the state revenue from its oil palm FFB (Fresh Fruit Bunch), the district has not received proper returns from the revenue to ensure the proper and planned development of Tawau as a thriving urban and economic growth centre.

	Decline of Tawau as a centre for tourism.

	People of Tawau have lost their  fundamental right to be free from crime and the fear of crime as a result of rocketing crime rate, turning Tawau into one of the worst centres  of crime in Sabah and Malaysia.

	Unchecked and spiraling influx of illegal immigrants. I am told that illegal immigrants had worsened in the past decade from one to four to one to three, when taking into consideration the illegal immigrants who had been given false identifications including voting rights.

	Deplorable infrastructure facilities which discourages business and investment like the shocking state of power supply, with power disruptions as often as 10 times a day.

	Deplorable water supply with frequent disruptions, poor quality and abysmal management issuing billings going back to 20-30 years.

	Deplorable road and drainage conditions, traffic  jams, lack of car parking lots, poor refuse disposal service and street-kids problems.

	Lack  of municipal good governance as illustrated by the Sabindo open space scandal, with the Tawau municipality teeming with “Little Napoleons” defying the Prime Minister and the Sabah State Cabinet in depriving the fundamental right of the people of Tawau to open spaces and recreational grounds.

The Machap and Ijok by-elections have shown that if there is a by-election, there will not only be an outpouring of development funds, even problems which had been impossible to resolve would be soluble overnight.

This is an unprecedented opportunity for you to spur super-development by bringing in funds to Tawau not in terms of millions, tens of millions but  in the hundred-million ringgit bracket.

If you have doubts, you should seek public opinion from the people of Tawau whether your resignation as MP before May 17 to cause a by-election to be held would spur super development and unprecedented opportunity for the resolution of the catalogue of urban and socio-economic woes of the people of Tawau.

If necessary, I am prepared to meet you to discuss my proposal. Let me end my assuring you that I have nothing personal against you in making such a proposal, but you would agree that if there is no better way to ensure the instant attention of the State and Federal authorities to spur super-development of Tawau, this is an option which must receive your serious, immediate  and selfless consideration.

Yours sincerely,

(Lim Kit Siang)

Parliamentary Opposition Leader

29th April 2007

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 29 April 2007, 10:17 am and is filed under
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Curses of 2Cs and 2Is in Sandakan  and Sabah

For 12 years from 1978 to 1990, Sandakan was represented by the DAP in Parliament and the people of Sandakan were in  the political  vanguard in the state and nation in the battle for justice, equality and democracy.

In the past 17 years from 1990 to 2007, the people of Sandakan withdrew from this front-line role for political change in Sabah and Malaysia.

Last year, the wind of political change blew strong and hard in  Sarawak when six DAP representatives were elected into the Sarawak State Assembly, fundamentally altering the culture, quality and direction of Sarawak State Assembly proceedings and Sarawak politics.

Many are hoping that this “Sarawak wind of political change” will also blow in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah come the next general election, which is most likely at the end of this year or early next year after Barisan Nasional’s surprise result in the Ijok by-election in Selangor yesterday.

The time has come for the wind of political change to blow again in the “Land Below the Wind” as Sabah was known.

Earlier today, together with the Sarawak DAP Assemblywoman for Pending Violet Yong and Pahang DAP Assemblyman for Triang Leong Ngah Ngah, I visited the new Sandakan  market which had been operating for four months.

It was a grandiose “white-elephant” which cost RM34 million or over 60 per cent cost overrun from the original estimate of RM21 million  — an outstanding symbol of the lack of municipal good governance in Sandakan and Sabah as well as the lack of accountability, integrity and effective democratic representation.

The cries of the majority of the stallholders in the new Sandakan market that they are sandwiched between high rentals and poor business as a result of bad siting, lack of supportive infrastructure like proper bus service and sub-standard construction despite exorbitant construction costs, had been totally ignored by all the three tiers of government –  local, state and national.

The Sabah State Assembly had just concluded its meeting last week but nobody raised the scandal of the RM34 million new Sandakan market in the Sabah State Assembly.

I am shocked at the total lack of accountability and integrity over the scandalous RM34 million new Sandakan market.  I had not heard this issue ever raised in Parliament by the Independent MP for Sandakan, Chong Hon Min, demanding that the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) for instance should  conduct a thorough probe and to arrest and prosecute those involved in corrupt practices.

The curses of 2Cs and 2Is are crime and corruption for the 2Cs and illegal immigrants and infrastructure failures for the 2Is.

The older generation of Sabahans can still remember the times half a century ago when Sabah earned the appellation of “The Land Below the Wind” — not only because of its location below the typhoon belt around the Philippines but because it was regarded as a “human paradise” where one can keep the doors open without fear of crime.

Today, even if the house is  doubly or trebly  locked, there is no guarantee of personal safety or property security in the privacy of homes, let alone in the streets and public places.   Topping crime incidence in the country, Sabahans have long lost their innocence — with crime and the fear of crime among their top curses, fears and preoccupations.

This is the curse of the  first “C”.

The curse of the second “C” is worsening corruption.  Sabah  came into Malaysia 44 years ago as one of the most resource-rich states  but it has now become one of the poorest states in the country with one Chief Minister after another bleeding it dry.

In my speech in Parliament on April 16, 2007 where I spoke about the plight of the Kadazandusun and Murut  (KDM) communities becoming the new underclass in Sabah, I quoted a newspaper article five years ago, which said:

Ask politicians and journalists about the rotation system, and they will jokingly say: ‘One CM took the hills, one gave away the sea, one signed off the valleys and another bet on watery deals.’

They cannot help but compare what veteran politicians say about the Usno-Berjaya-PBS governments: ‘Usno took the meat of the timber, Berjaya the bones and PBS the crumbs with Barisan looking at leftovers.’

Everyone in Sabah knew what was meant by the cynical comment that “One CM took the hills, one gave away the sea, one signed off the valleys and another bet on watery deals” except for the ACA, which seemed to be the only one ignorant about its implications.

Although the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had ridden on the hopes of the people in his promise to spearhead an anti-corruption campaign to secure an unprecedented landslide victory in the 2004 general election, winning 91% of the parliamentary seats, the general consensus in Malaysia and internationally is that Malaysia and Sabah today are even more corrupt than before Abdullah became Prime Minister some 42 months ago.

It is not just me who is saying this. The world is saying it, as testified by Malaysia’s seven-point drop in the Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) from 37th to 44th ranking from 2003 to 2006. There is the danger that Malaysia is heading south towards 50th ranking in the TI CPI on the occasion of the 50th Merdeka anniversary in 2007 — with  the recent crop of  bad news about corruption including the allegations of serious corruption against the ACA director-general himself as well as against the Sabah Chief Minister.

Even former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has come out publicly to say that corruption under Abdullah is even more serious than corruption during his 22-year premiership!  How ironic!

The curse of the  first “I” is illegal immigrants.  During my visit to  Sabah in the late seventies, I had  raised the warning that the problem of  illegal immigrants would haunt generations of Sabahans if not resolved resolutely.

Tragically, I had been proved prescient and right.  At that time, I had talked about 140,000 illegal immigrants in Sabah, and I was accused by the then Chief Minister of being reckless and  irresponsible in using such a  figure. Today,  the number of illegal immigrants in the state is more than 10 times this figure, with Sabah politicians  talking about 1 — 1.7 million illegal immigrants totally altering the political, economic, social and demographic picture and future of the state.

Last week Parti Bersatu Sabah President Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan led a PBS delegation to Putrajaya to present a memorandum on illegal immigrants in Sabah to the Prime Minister.  This is pathetic play-acting as Joseph Pairin is the Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah.

Is he suggesting that the Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman is ineffective and useless as far as addressing the problem of illegal immigrants in Sabah? If so, why does he want to continue as the Deputy Chief Minister? If Joseph Pairin is serious about addressing the worsening problem of illegal immigrants in the state, and not just PBS play-acting and a “Public Relations” exercise, he should convince Musa to lead a Sabah State Cabinet delegation to meet the Prime Minister on a blueprint to resolve the problem of illegal immigrants in Sabah.

The curse of the second “I” is infrastructure failures — as testified by the acute and perennial problem of breakdowns of  infrastructure services and basic utilities like power, water and municipal good governance.  All this add to the cost of doing business and drive away investment, local and foreign.

Malaysia is talking about becoming a first-world developed nation but from the frequent disruption of the most basic utilities like power and water, and their  poor-quality services in Sandakan and other parts of the state, Sabah should be compared with African states than with developed nations of the West.

This year the country is celebrating its 50th Merdeka anniversary although Sabah and Sarawak would only be marking 44 years of Malaysian nationhood.

Let us  resolve that the most meaningful way to mark these occasions is to end the curses of the 2Cs and 2Is which have increasingly added to the miseries and sufferings of the people of Sandakan and Sabah.

(Speech at a DAP Sandakan dinner-talk at Tyng Garden Hotel Restaurant, Mile 5, Sandakan on Sunday, 29th April 2007)

                This entry was posted on Monday, 30 April 2007, 6:38 am and is filed under
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Tourism Minister should support the world’s tallest Mazu (Goddess of Sea) statue project  in Kudat

The Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor should support the world’s tallest Mazu (Goddess of the Sea) statue project in Kudat as it will be economically good for Sabah and Malaysia by enhancing the nation’s international tourism competitiveness.

Although Tan Sri Chong Kat Kiat has yet to publicly disclose the reasons for his  shock resignation as Deputy Chief Minister and State Minister for Tourism, Culture and Environment on April 13,  his oblique reference to resigning over “a matter of principle” raises the question as to whether his resignation concerned the interests of the state, his party or individual self.

Public  speculation  over his resignation had zeroed on two issues, viz:

Firstly, his being forced to “eat dead cat” or unfairly to take the blame for the development of Pulau Sipadan which damaged the unique coral reef of one of the top five diving spots in the world. As a result, it attracted public criticism of the Prime Minister when the Federal Government was embarrassed by the despoliation of the fragile ecosystem of Sipadan which was first exposed and reported internationally  by environmental groups. However, it was the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Aman, who must bear responsibility for the plans to develop Sipadan.

Secondly, Chong’s differences with Musa over the former’s plan to build the world’s tallest Mazu (Goddess of the Sea) statue in Kudat which will be a tourist and economic boon for  the district, Sabah and Malaysia in enhancing our international tourist competitiveness by drawing tourists from China, Taiwan and Japan.

I understand land for the world’s tallest Mazu statue as well as donations exceeding RM5 million have been pledged, and that parts for the construction of the Mazu statue are being shipped to Sabah.

Although the world’s tallest Mazu statue in Kudat had been mooted by Chong, it is a project which is bigger than one person when it is for the good of the larger community — whether Kudat, Sabah or Malaysia.

For this reason, I propose to meet Tengku Adnan to urge him to support the project to build the world’s tallest Mazu, which will not only be a bonus to Malaysia’s campaign to promote tourism but will also be a symbol of the “Instant Asia” publicity which had been the staple of Malaysia’s tourism promotion in the world.

[Speech (2)  at  DAP Sandakan dinner-talk at Tyng Garden Hotel Restaurant, Mile 5, Sandakan on Sunday, 29th April 2007]

                This entry was posted on Monday, 30 April 2007, 8:41 am and is filed under
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Ijok and the eclipse of reason

Ijok and the eclipse of reason

by Azly Rahman

In Ijok last Saturday, did the people vote wisely?

Or did they vote for the continuation of the use of totalitarian instruments such as the Internal Security Act, Universities and University Colleges Act, irrational preferential treatments, unsolved mysteries of massive corruption cases, rise of dynasties, political violence, postponement of trial of hideous political murders, abuse of “at-risk youths”, political-economy of controlling interests, age-old vendetta, hideous nature of the separation of power between the executive, legislative, and judiciary, and an ever-growing range of complex “rational” acts that have become our “political culture”?

What does “wise” mean? Is the level of wisdom dependent upon the levels of consciousness of the different “class” and “caste” of people?

Looks like the middle class is co-opted to support the dominant political group, the lower-class is busy making ends meet, and the lowest class is now the unsung heroes of the postmodern indentured slavery.

We do not have yet have a critical mass that can think critically to effect critical change.

Beginning or end?

Is Ijok the end or the beginning of a better evolution of a system of check and balances? Is it a Hegelian-styled emergence of political consciousness that saw the power of sophisticated blogging and Prime Media spinning and raw kampong-styled voting realism as a creative play of election hypocrisy?

If the Opposition actually brought “instant and irrational development projects” to Ijok, will this trend continue? Will the presence of the Opposition drain the ruling party of goodies – just like how the American Empire is drained off of resources with the presence of massive, subaltern forces of resistance in the case of Iraq?

These are some questions that we will need to answer, as a nation. Ijok was a beginning of an end — end of an ignorance of how campaigning work, of how politicians behave, or how promises are made, and how many millions are spent to buy votes.

Our road to political wisdom is long and winding. Man is defined by the economic condition they are in, Marx would argue. Could this be the definition of the voters in Ijok? In this electorate we read so much about instant political gratifications given by the government, as if the regime is spending its last dollar to appease the masses that have actually learned what a “protest vote” means. Very sophisticated voters we have who now know how to play with authority and to counter-hegemonize.

But where does ethics and morality lies both in the giver and the receiver? What have all the slogans — from “bersih, cekap, amanah” to “bukan harta dunia yang ku cari ” — done to the masses when elections such as Ijok come? Where are we going as a nation when we no longer have any shame through all the sleek, sophisticated, selfish, soul-less, and slimy strategies we read concerning the choosing of a leader in a sleepy-constituency-turned-case study of the semiotics of power/knowledge and signs, symbols and signification of “Boleh-land”?

Where is truth?

What was that by-election about? Can we ever know the truth? Is this “truth”, like the “Butterfly Effect,” multiply in the next General Election?

Any changes in the system, however random and small it is can create major shifts in the ecosystem, as such as the flap of a butterfly wing in the Amazon some ten years ago that will have created hurricanes and thunderstorms in New Orleans — such is a “Butterfly Effect”. Of the impact of randomness and chaos in creating turbulence.

Apply this notion of Complexity Theory to Ijok and we may predict what the Malaysian general election may look like. Will there be utter chaos when in Ijok — a battleground to settle old scores between ancient foes — become patterns of syntagmatism and like Mandlebrot Set turn into prism-like patterns of randomness and chaos will bring about revolutionary changes in the ideological landscape of Malaysian politics?

How will the impact of dissatisfaction in Ijok play in the next general election? What if there is a boycott of the election? What if there is an election but massive lawlessness would force our nation to be under Emergency rule? What will happen to our nation in the eyes of the international community? How will that impact us economically? Will we see another MAGERAN — Majlis Gerakan Negara – this time one sane enough to install leaders who will bring peace and not those who will bring violence through the philosophy of gangsta politics?

In terms of political consciousness, we are already in a coma. We are a vegetable. The closing of the Malaysian mind is complete. In fact, was it ever open — when hegemony and totalitarianism has been a feature of our “politics of compromise” and “cooption and cooperation” and other nice-sounding names we give to “Bolehland”?

But, is there a short-cut way to justice?

I do not know. But butterflies have flapped their wings in this Amazon called Ijok. Some have had theirs clipped. We will not know how the shape of this “fair” general election will be when it comes.

But for now, let us see if Ijok will no longer be an eclipse.

Dr. Azly Rahman,

Educator & Adjunct Professor;

Foundations of Civilizations, Education, & Politics

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 1 May 2007, 7:17 am and is filed under
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Ijok – Raja Nazrin has answer for swing of Chinese voters to  Opposition

The front-page headline of
Sin Chew Daily
today blared:
“Chinese in Ijok support Opposition — PM wants to know why from MCA and Gerakan”
.

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the other Barisan Nasional top leaders especially MIC President Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu are elated by the Barisan Nasional victory at Saturday’s Ijok by-election with a bigger majority than in the 2004 general election — but whether the country has anything to be jubilant about over the Ijok by-election on the occasion of the 50th Merdeka anniversary of the nation is a subject which should engage the serious debate of all thinking Malaysians.

Abdullah’s public puzzlement as to the reasons for the swing  of Chinese voters to the Opposition in  the Ijok by-election and wanting to be enlightened by MCA and Gerakan  bear testimony to the validity of  my question as to whether the country has anything to celebrate over the  Ijok by-election –  whether, for instance, Najib is right that the  Ijok by-election  is  proof that Malaysian democracy is
“vibrantly alive”
 or whether it is the symbol of the worst culmination of electoral corruption in the past 50 years of Malaysian election history.

But what cannot be in doubt is that the Ijok  by-election represents  a great failure not only for MCA and Gerakan but also of  Pak Lah as Prime Minister who had pledged to “hear the truth” when  the reasons for the swing  of Chinese voters to the Opposition in the by-election continue to  elude them.

In the first place, how can Abdullah hear any “truth” from the MCA when the MCA supremo  in the Ijok by-election, MCA Secretary-General
Datuk Ong Ka Chuan
had only a day earlier publicly denied that there was any swing  of Chinese voters to the Opposition in Ijok by-election?

Screenshot
blogger Jeff Ooi had pointed out within the hour of the announcement of the Ijok by-election result on Saturday night: “One thing appeared to be indisputable. The Chinese are voting against the government.”

But this swing of Chinese voters in Ijok had escaped the top MCA leaders although it was evident to everyone not in the top MCA leadership — including the Prime Minister and UMNO leaders.  But the politics of Barisasn Nasional in 2007 has become such that what UMNO leaders see, MCA leaders (as well as Gerakan and others) will also see!

Will MCA and Gerakan leaders dare to tell Abdullah that this is one of the root causes for the swing of the Chinese voters in Ijok to the Opposition — that the Barisan Nasional (BN) is not a coalition of equals as Umno exercises political hegemony completely marginalizing all the other component parties.

I am surprised that Abdullah does not know the reasons for the swing of the Chinese voters in Ijok to the Opposition. What has he been doing in the past 42 months as Prime Minister when he had promised to “hear the truth” when assuming the highest political office in  the land in October 2003?

If Abdullah had paid attention to the speeches by DAP leaders in Parliament and outside, he would have known the reasons for the swing of the Chinese voters not only in Ijok but also in Machap by-elections.

Alternatively, Abdullah can refer to the speech by the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Nazrin on “Prospects and Challenges for Nation Building” on April 3, 2007 on the seven steps towards successful nation-building,  in particular the first principle — “Malaysians of all races, religions and geographic locations need to believe beyond a shadow of doubt that they have a place under the Malaysian sun.”

In a nutshell, the fundamental reason for the swing of the Chinese voters in Ijok to the Opposition was precisely because they are not convinced “beyond a shadow of doubt” that they have an equal  place under the Malaysian sun — a citizenship right that no amount of money can replace?

Can Abdullah expect MCA and Gerakan leaders to tell him the truth now , when they had been hiding the truth all these years and decades  from Umno leaders as their political second-nature  for their political survival in BN?

It will be most unfortunate if the Umno and Barisan Nasional leadership are not prepared to re-examine larger nation-building policies affecting Malays and Indians just because they have secured majority support of these  two communities in Ijok — for there are deep-seated and legitimate grievances and discontents among both the Malay and Indian communities which must not continue to be ignored and neglected if the government is serious in wanting to build a united, strong, harmonious and competitive Bangsa Malaysia.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 1 May 2007, 1:33 pm and is filed under
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Public  building mishaps – once is accident, twice is coincidence, thrice is systemic government collapse

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was angry yesterday.  He ordered an
immediate inspection
of all government buildings for defects.

He said:
“I feel angry. I feel ashamed. What the hell is this? It’s so new and such a thing happened.

“Something must have gone wrong somewhere. We need to know. I can’t be jumping all over the place!”

The Prime Minister was referring to a spate of embarrassing defects in new government offices — the collapse of a ceiling due to a leaky sprinkler system at the
Entrepreneur and Co-operative Development Ministry in Putrajaya
on Saturday, the ceiling collapse in a secretary’s room at the world’s largest court  complex at the
Jalan Duta court complex
yesterday and on April 11, the Immigration Department headquarters in Putrajaya had to be closed after water flooded the seven-floor building following a failure in plumbing, turning and evacuating more than  1.000 people.

On March 22, Abdullah reacted in disbelief when what he never expected happened — a landslide in Putrajaya (Precinct 9) only inches away from three 15-storey government apartments, damaging 25 cars and  evacuating more than 1,500 people from Blocks A, B and C in Phase 11 of the government housing complex.

The Prime Minister  said he was angry and he “can’t be jumping all over the place”.  But there were no  signs that he was really either.

The disgraceful episode of the ceiling collapse of the multipurpose hall at the ground floor of the Entrepreneur and Co-operative Development Ministry (MEDC) Building in Putrajaya occurred on Saturday but Abdullah was not angry enough to say anything immediately or for  the next 24-36 hours — as he only expressed his anger after the Umno supreme council meeting yesterday.  Was Abdullah “advised” by the other Umno leaders to be “angry” over the string of government mishaps?

Yesterday, Abdullah said:  “Maintenance is very important. I have said this many times but these people, as long as nothing happens, they don’t care.”

A “third-world culture of maintenance” had been the favourite whipping-boy to explain away government mishaps, but when  new buildings costing more than their counterparts  in first-world developed countries break down even before being fully operational, like what happened at  the largest court complex in the world in Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, the problem must be  fundamental and deep-seated.

What we are seeing is the decay and disintegration of a public service delivery system which had rightly prided itself  of being world top-class in the first decade of Independence — another sobre reminder of how far behind the country had gone backwards in public service quality and efficieincy.

Of late, more and more government  mishaps which had been quite  unthinkable and unbelievable seem to have entered into the  realm of the possible during the 42-month premiership of Abdullah.

The tag line that “once is accident, twice is coincidence, thrice is enemy action” for completely different circumstances could  appropriately  be modified to “once is accident, twice is coincidence, thrice is systemic government collapse” in reference to the spate of government mishaps under the Abdullah premiership.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 1 May 2007, 4:22 pm and is filed under
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Singapore Malays better off than Chinese in Malaysia

Singapore Malays better off than Chinese in Malaysia

by Richard Teo

It is rather ironic that Baki Aminuddin could venture to write in
Malayisakini
 that
“S’pore Malays  worse off than Chinese here”
when in fact the opposite is the truth.

Before I begin to answer his fallacious argument I would like to pose one very simple question to him. If S’pore Malays are really worse off in Singapore why is there no exodus of Malays from S’pore to Malaysia? Instead the opposite is happening where the Chinese are making a beeline to Singapore for work and education?

Baki is naive to deny that LKY’s statement that the BN govt is systemmatically marginalising the Chinese and non-Malays. Before condemning the S’pore govt of marginalising the Malays and their education Baki should support his assertion with facts rather

than spurious allegations.

There is no official policy to deny the Malays the chance to further their education till tertiary level provided they have the abilty to compete on a level playing field. Can Baki honestly say that the Chinese and non-Malays in Malaysia are given the same opportunity in education? Is it not a fact that Malays are exclusively given places in Mara schools where with their one year matriculation exams they can hop into any of the local universities whereas non-Malays have to undergo the more rigorous two year STPM exam to gain admission?

Baki must be living in a different planet if he does not know that the NEP is a policy marginalising the non-Malays. Can he pin-point any specific policy in S’pore where there is such a policy of blatant discrimination against the Malays?

Baki fails even to understand that S’pore practices meritocracy and if a Malay is capable he can hold any post and this is vindicated by the post of President being held by an Indian.Similarly, the post of foreign minister and finance are also held by Indians.

It is really sad that people like Baki who are so used to the easy life with all the perks they enjoy in Malaysia that they tend to forget that what they abundantly get is at the expense of the non-Malays.

I would strongly urge Baki and those Malays who accept his illusory perception of the S’pore Malays to read a letter written by an illustrous Singaporean Malay, Dr.Syed Alwi, who wrote an article about the “The Malaysian Malay”.

Perhaps it would be appropriate for me to quote some words of wisdom from this great Singaporean Malay,”No one owes Malaysian Malays a living. Let me assure you that should Malaysia fails- the Malaysian Malays will suffer enormously.”

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 1 May 2007, 7:56 am and is filed under
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Ijok – full Parliament debate next week if PM wants to know reasons for Chinese swing to Opposition

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should honour his promise to be Prime Minister of all Malaysians and allocate time for a full debate on the meaning of the Ijok by-election on Saturday before the current Parliamentary meeting  adjourns next Thursday after a four-day resumption beginning on Monday.

Two days ago, Abdullah conceded that there was a swing against the Barisan Nasional among the Chinese voters in the Ijok by-election and asked the MCA and Gerakan to explain why the Chinese had supported the Opposition.

However, MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting still disputes that there is any significant swing, claiming that while  “there was a certain extent of swing in the votes but as a whole, Barisan still obtained a substantial number of the Chinese votes”.

With such hidebound denial syndrome with the classic complex of the ostrich hiding its head in the sand, how can the Prime Minister expect to get any truthful answer from MCA and Gerakan leaders as to why there was a swing of the Chinese voters to the Opposition in Ijok?

MCA leaders are quite united in publicly pinning the primary  blame for the swing of the Chinese voters to the Opposition in Ijok on the MIC and the poor service record of  its former Assemblyman Datuk K. Sivalingam.  Ka Ting said a secondary factor was the unhappiness of the Chinese with “certain statements which had hurt their feelings”.

This has further reinforced public doubts about the ability of the MCA and Gerakan to tell Abdullah the  truth as to the reasons for the swing of Chinese voters in Ijok to the Opposition, especially when:

	Ka Ting and MCA leaders are trying to play down the “unhappiness” of the Chinese voters by confining themselves to “certain statements which had hurt their feelings” when the unhappiness embrace a much larger front, covering not only “certain statements which had hurt their feelings”, but actions and Barisan Nasional government policies and failures in the past three years;

	MCA and Gerakan leaders dare not even publicly mention who are the leaders who had made “certain statements which had hurt their feelings” let alone to ask the guilty leaders to make a public apology for their “hurtful statements”; and

	MCA and Gerakan leaders dare not boldly and frankly state the truth to the UMNO leaders  — that the primary reason for the swing of Chinese voters to the Opposition was because of the “hurtful statements” and actions of Umno leaders and unfair  Barisan Nasional government policies and failures rather than deflecting attention to MIC and Sivalingam.

However, the Prime Minister must also take pains to find out the reasons why the Malay and Indians voters had voted against the BN in Ijok, although Umno has managed to secure majority  Malay support for the BN candidate in three districts which had gone to the Opposition in the 2004 general election — namely Jaya Setia, Bukit Badong and Simpang Ijok — while MIC President Datuk Seri Samy Vellu had locked up the overwhelming bulk of the Indian votes.

Abdullah had promised to be Prime Minister of all Malaysians and that must include the 40.1 per cent or 4,034 Ijok voters of all races who had supported the Opposition in the by-election.

As Parliament will resume on Monday for another four days before adjourning its current session which was officially opened by the Yang di Pertuan Agong on March 19, Abdullah should agree to have a full parliamentary debate on the Ijok by-election as the entire Federal Cabinet, including the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, had descended on Ijok transforming it from a mere state assembly by-election into a major test of the 42-month Abdullah premiership — with many Cabinet Ministers guilty of “ponteng” from the parliamentary meeting during the last week in April.

The Ijok by-election result will have the most significant impact as compared to the four previous by-elections of Kuala Berang, Pengkalan Pasir, Batu Talam and Machap in determining the timing of the 12th general election — bringing it earlier rather than later.

The country must be prepared for the next general election to be held as early as in five months’ time.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 2 May 2007, 11:52 am and is filed under
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Tip of iceberg? More disastrous public building mishaps to come?

Transparency International Malaysia President
Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam
has said  that the recent collapse at three new government buildings is symptomatic of the state of deterioration in standards, quality, productivity and efficiency in the country.

He said that there’s too much concern to make a quick buck and too little attention given to professionalism and warned that this could be “tip of the iceberg”.

Ramon is eminently qualified to pass such a stricture on the public service delivery system as he was one of the last top  non-Malay  civil servants, at a time when the Malaysian public service was still identified with quality and world-class standards.

The question posed by Ramon is  uppermost in the minds of Malaysians — whether the trio of mishaps of three brand new government buildings in the past three weeks  are mere “tip of the iceberg” which portend  even more disastrous mishaps in the near future  with grave consequences to life, limb and property?

In actual fact, there had been quite a catalogue of construction mishaps in the past three months, as apart from the recent trio – the flooding of the seven-floor Immigration Department headquarters in Putrajaya because of plumbing failure, the collapse of a ceiling at the Entrepreneur and Co-operative Development Ministry in Putrajaya and the ceiling collapse in a secretary’s room at the world’s largest court complex at the Jalan Duta court complex — other mishaps involving brand-new government buildings and public projects or those under construction included the Parliament (ceiling collapse as a result of pipe leakage),  Matrade Building, MRR2, fungus in new hospitals, the navy complex fiasco, smart lab fiasco, etc.

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has called for the Public Works Department to inspect all government buildings nationwide while the Works Minister, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has welcomed the call and praised the Prime Minister’s for his wisdom!

This is most ridiculous and outrageous.  How did Malaysia descend so quick and fast in the past three years down the slippery slope of a third-world nation, not only in the maintenance culture but in the deterioration in standards, quality, productivity and efficiency in the public service delivery system?

One important reason for such a shocking state of affairs in the public service is the deplorable culture of impunity for negligence, failure and even corruption — as testified by the scandal that no one had been hauled to the courts to pay  the price for probably one of the longest government list of failures for public buildings and constructions for a country reputed to  have “first-class infrastructure” and for a time the world’s tallest twin towers!

Can Samy Vellu, for instance, give  an iron-clad guarantee that there will not be another collapse in brand-new government buildings or public construction projects or he will resign to accept responsibility for the shocking fall in standards, quality, productivity and efficiency in public works directly under his charge?

Visitors to my blog on
“Public building mishaps — once is accident, twice is coincidence, thrice is systemic government collapse”
have made very pointed and pertinent comments and analysis superior to all the comments which have been made by Cabinet Ministers, and the Prime Minister and the entire Cabinet are well-advised to keep in touch with the pulse of the nation by diligently and conscientiously following developments relevant to their ministries in the Malaysian blogosphere.

Unfortunately, despite the government promotion of Information and Communications Technology, we have Cabinet Ministers who are so antediluvian as to want bloggers to be ignored if not silenced.

The following are a sample of some of the perceptive and pertinent comments on this subject which deserve the attention of the Prime Minister and his Works Minister and should be the basis for discussion by Ministers in their next Cabinet meeting on this subject:

1.
 Collapse of structures in new buildings are not due to poor maintenance. New structures should not disintegrate so fast. The problems are due to poor construction, simple. And poor construction are due to poor workmanship. Poor workmanship are due to bad contractors. Bad contractors are due to bad systems of awarding contracts. And bad system of awarding contracts are caused by a bad public delivery system. And bad public delivery system are due to a bad Govt which practises NEP cronyism and corruption which breeds the bad system of contract awards. Matrade Building, MRR2, fungus in new hospitals, the navy complex fiasco, smart lab fiasco, shit, the list is endless.

2.
They are looking at the wrong end of the problem.

It all starts when you award a turnkey project without open tenders to a crony who does nothing except sell it off at a reduced price so that instant rewards are attained.

Now it is a major situation as there is little you can do about substandard foundations and pipe fittings and substandard equipment.

Expect more disasters.

3.
 It is a shame to have such adverse reports on poor quality of work done in government buildings. If such things happen in the private sector, there will be rolling of heads.

The people responsible should be held accountable and the government should punish those responsible and review the overall tender system. This is clearly a result of mediocratic policy and a practice of patronage which have caused wastages, danger to lives, bad image to the country and worse… the rakyat suffers as their tax money is being used to pay for such sloppy work instead of generating for more productive use.

4.
 With all these water leakages causing so much havoc, dare anyone use the up to 12km SMART tunnel when it is soon open?

Will the storm water causes the ceiling and walls of the tunnel to break and flood the whole tunnel and causing havoc within it?

Will such a catastrophe ever occur? Normally, no. But given the standard of our technology and our poor workmanship, where highways crack open, overpasses are not safe, ceilings collapsing etc etc, there might be a very good chance the tunnel might not be safe. Will and can Samy Vellu and the government guarantee it?

When Parliament reconvenes on Monday, Samy Vellu should present a Ministerial statement to respond to all the pertinent and pointed criticisms about the deplorable plunge in public service standards,  quality, productivity and efficiency pertaining to the Public Works Department and to lay out his ministry’s strategy to ensure that the trio of recent government building mishaps would not be the  “tip of the iceberg” paving the way for   even more disastrous mishaps in the near future with grave consequences to life, limb and property!

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 2 May 2007, 3:20 pm and is filed under
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World’s tallest Mazu statue in Kudat – What is Sabah CM Musa’s stand?

During my three-day political visit of Tawau, Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan last week together with DAP Pahang State Assemblyman Leong Ngah Ngah and DAP Sarawak Assemblywoman for Pending, Violet Yong, one of my consistent themes was calling for support for the tourist-promotion   initiative of former Sabah Deputy Chief Minister/Minister for Tourism Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat (and which is bruited as one of the two main reasons for his shock resignation) – the world’s tallest Mazu (Goddess of the Sea) statue project in Kudat.

I am glad that there is growing public support for the project in Sabah as illustrated by the
Sabah Daily Express
report
“CM urged to reconsider”
which is reproduced below.

I had intended to meet up with the Federal Minister for Tourism Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor next week during the resumed meeting of Parliament to urge him to support the world’s tallest Mazu project, which will not only be a triple bonus to the tourism promotion campaign for Kudat, Sabah and Malaysia but will also be a symbol of the “Instant Asia” publicity which Malaysia is promoting worlwide.

There would be no need for me to meet up with Tengku Adnan if the Sabah Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Aman and the State Cabinet announce their support for the Mazu project in Kudat, especially as land and public  donations exceeding RM5 million for the Kudat Mazu project  have been pledged, and parts for the construction of the  108-ft 10-storey-high Mazu statue are being shipped to Sabah.

What is the stand of Musa on the Kudat Mazu project?

Is the world’s tallest Mazu project on the agenda of the Sabah State Cabinet at its next meeting, and if not, is there any Sabah State Minister who is prepared to make a public pledge to raise it at the next Cabinet meeting?

CM urged to reconsider

Daily Express Sabah

3.5.2007

Kota Kinabalu: Several Chinese associations in the State as well as the Sabah United Chinese Chamber of Commerce (SUCCC) have come out in support of the proposed world’s tallest Mazu (Chinese Goddess of the Sea) statue in Kudat.

The 10-storey high statue was already approved and was in the process of completion until ordered to stop by the local authority.

They said the structure also complements Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi’s Islamic Hadhari (civilisational Islam) concept of respect and tolerance for other faiths and which Malaysia upholds.

SUCCC President Datuk Seri Sari Tan said the project is good for Malaysia’s multi-racial and religious image and that those against it are the ones who are being insensitive towards others.

“I can assure that Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman was never against the construction of the statue.

“The CM never objected to it although rumours are circulating that he was against it and former Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Chong (Kah Kiat) resigned because of that.

“Those against it are a few narrow-minded people. They should stop objecting for the sake of objecting and think of the damage it can cause to Malaysia’s international image.

“They should also think of the good it would do for tourism in a place like Kudat which not that many people go to,” he said.

He said Musa is always known to be magnanimous and would surely not allow the persuasion of a few to override the legitimate interests of another community.

“I am sure he will clear the air once and for all,” he said, adding that it is better that the matter is resolved now and fast rather than be used as ammunition by the opposition during the coming elections.

“There is no need to wait for the opposition to enter the fray, more so when work on the project had actually long started.”

Sari was responding to the statement by DAP Adviser Lim Kit Siang, who is also opposition Parliament leader, who said he plans to meet Federal Tourism Minister Tengku Datuk Mansor Adnan over the shelved project.

Lim had said the project should be supported by the Federal Government because it would be economically good for Sabah and Malaysia by enhancing the nation’s tourism competitiveness.

Lim also said the project was consistent with Malaysia’s “Truly Asia” image as a tolerant and harmonious society.

President of the Sabah Taoist Association, Wong Kok Leong, said his Association supports the idea of meeting Federal Tourism Minister Tengku Datuk Mansor Adnan over the shelved project for the nation’s larger interests.

However, he stressed that his association’s view should not be misconstrued as a show of support for DAP.

“I am a supporter of the Barisan Nasional (BN) Government and I am speaking purely from the tourism promotion perspective. The statue project would definitely benefit the tourism industry, in particular,” he said.

Wong said the people of Sabah, particularly the Chinese, would be eternally grateful to Musa as well as Sabah BN and the Federal Government if the project is allowed to continue.

“Having said this, it is clear that approval would depend on the Government, particularly Musa (since it is purely a State matter).”

He also said he appreciates Chong’s persistent efforts to promote Sabah to the outside world.

President of the United Sabah Chinese Communities Association of Kota Kinabalu, Datuk Lau Kok Sing is confident that Tengku Datuk Mansor would be able to persuade the Sabah BN Government under Musa to allow the project to continue.

Managing Director of Popular Express Travel, Dewi Chen said: “As tour operators, we support the statue project because we are talking in terms of selling a new tourism product in Sabah.

“We consider this a good product to sell to overseas travel markets. It’s nothing Taoist, nothing political, but purely a tourist attraction. Like the Petronas Twin Towers, it’s straightforward and down-to-earth.

“We will not hesitate to support if there is a Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or Christian project that also helps our tourism as a whole.”

Chen believed the statue would be another selling point for Kudat as a tourist destination, in addition to its now famous Tip of Borneo.

Based on Chinese belief, she said the Mazu faces the sea because it is meant to protect marine life, sea travellers and people who make a living from the sea such as fishermen.

According to her, Macau has a Mazu statue which draws millions of tourists unlike 20 years ago when it was not a well-known tourist destination.

“I therefore hope the Federal Government will consider the proposed Kudat statue project favourably.”

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 3 May 2007, 4:17 pm and is filed under
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Ijok/Machap – Umno more concerned than MCA about swing of Chinese votes to Opposition?

It would appear that UMNO is more concerned than MCA and Gerakan over the swing of Chinese voters to the Opposition in the Ijok and Machap by-elections.

MCA national leaders continue in their denial that there is any significant swing of Chinese voters to the Opposition in Ijok and Machap by-elections, continuing to attribute the “little swing” of Chinese voters in Ijok to dissatisfaction with the former MIC State Assemblyman, the late Datuk K. Sivalingam.

In contrast, the Umno-owned
New Straits Times
 have come out with an editorial today,
“Wooing back the Chinese”
which said:

“Based on the two recent by-elections in Machap and Ijok, the mood on the Chinese ground should be of concern to the Barisan Nasional.  In Machap, a semi-rural area, MCA won in its traditional stronghold, but with a reduced majority.  In Chinese polling districts, there was an estimated five per cent vote swing in favour of the opposition. In Ijok, the signal sent by the country’s second-largest ethnic group was more apparent.”

The  NST editorial added that  the outcomes in Machap and Ijok “appear to accord with the Merdeka Centre’s research findings earlier this year, to the effect that two to three Chinese would vote for the opposition in the next polls”.

The independent opinion research firm Merdeka Centre conducted a poll between October and December last year involving 1,025 respondents aged 16 and above  in an attempt to examine the voting trend in the next general election.

According to its findings, two in three Chinese are likely to vote for the Opposition in the next general election while 32 and 33 per cent respectively of the Malays and Indians are likely to vote for the opposition.

While continuing to deny that there was any significant swing of Chinese voters to the Opposition in Ijok, MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting continued to  put the blame primarily on Sivalingam’s track record while acknowledging that a secondary factor was the unhappiness of the Chinese with “certain statements which had hurt their feelings”.

But what Ka Ting failed  to explain is why the these “hurtful” statements and actions were defended by top MCA leaders and Ministers during the Ijok and Machap by-elections?

As a first step, is Ka Ting prepared to take action to ensure that all the top MCA and MCA Youth leaders who had publicly defended these “hurtful” statements and misconduct  in the Ijok and Machap by-elections should retract their apologia and tender public apologies?

One of the MCA Ministers who had defended these “hurtful” actions is the MCA National Vice President and Health Minister, Datuk Dr. Chua Soi Lek.

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah has asked MCA and Gerakan to explain the reasons for the swing of Chinese voters to the Opposition.

Are MCA and Gerakan   leaders prepared to tell Abdullah that one powerful testimony of such unhappiness is a new exodus of the best and brightest non-Malay talents overseas, after one to two million Malayaian “brains” had emigrated to foreign lands in the past three decades as a result of the injustices and abuses  of the New Economic Policy?

Most important of all, are MCA and Gerakan leaders prepared to tell Abdullah and the Umno leadership that the swing of Chinese votes in Ijok and Machap to the Opposition is  not merely an expression of ethnic unhappiness and grievances but their sense of disaffection and alienation as Malaysian citizens at the failure of the Prime Minister to deliver his 2004 general election pledge to lead a clean, incorruptible, accountable, transparent, efficient ,  democratic and people-oriented government at all times and not just during by-election or general election time.

A month ago, the Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Mohd Khir Toyo told the Selangor Barisan Nasional Assembly members that the next general election will be held in March next year before Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim becomes eligible to stand for elective office in April 2008.

The Ijok by-election result would have changed the dynamics and timing for the next general election, as Umno has found that it cannot be so certain of support of the Malay voters — as illustrated by the fact that Abdullah had to make a last-ditch visit to Ijok by-election to salvage Barisan Nasional’s fortunes as the by-election at that  time was too close for call despite the  pouring of some RM100 million goodies  by the Barisan Nasional by-election machinery.

With the Ijok by-election result, the case is now stronger for Barisan Nasional to have an earlier general election than in March next year, which may fall in October.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 3 May 2007, 9:23 am and is filed under
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