Another Soi Lek Rant

MCA President Chua Soi Lek has a knack to say the darnest thing. Today, it was reported that he accused the DAP of fostering a 2-race political system instead of a 2-party political system.

Read the report here.

His trend of thought appears totally skewed and off tangent. Nobody saw that coming and is totally illogical.

Why is it that he must see things from a race viewpoint? He seems to feel that as an extrapolation of the recent Sarawak election results that the Chinese community is voting DAP and abandoned MCA but strangely MCA never stood for election at that time. How can this conclusion be made?

Why does he make such sweeping statements that ignore all non-Chinese voters who voted DAP and Pakatan Rakyat for that matter?

Did he not realise that Chinese also voted BN too or now that they are considered non-Chinese all of a sudden?

Soi Lek’s Strawman
Soi Lek loves to create the impression he is tackling a major issue where it is totally non-existent. It exists only in his skewed mind.

General sweeping statements are intended to cause friction and does not help in nation building.

If he thinks stirring this angle helps Malaysians vote MCA, then he must have his head in the sand. Look at all the Malaysians of all ethnic communities who voted MCA and BN. Why must it be Chinese vs Malay? This is very mischievious indeed.

His strawman that he is beating serves no benefit to the country and talking out loud of a myth doesn’t make it true.

His statements in this case belittles all Malaysian voters. There are no constituencies with only Chinese voters voting DAP. It just simply doesn’t exist but perhaps it can create a sensational topic for this MCA President.

Focus on Country Building Ideas to Swing Votes
Instead, Soi Lek should put his thinking cap on to tell Malaysians why they should vote MCA and BN.

It should be for the reasons they are more superior in ideas and execution to bring about dramatic growth and prosper all Malaysians.

It should be for the reasons that uphold justice and eradicate poverty and corruption.

Unfortunately, MCA has fallen prey to staging strawman arguments that drives voters away instead.

Bankrupt of Ideas?
MCA had lots of brilliant people or was that in the past such that they resort to racial slants?

Soi Lek should get himself a bunch of economic advisors who can prop him up as a country growth champion instead of saying such wild rantings and ravings.

MCA should look at how to help all Malaysians prosper instead of blaming one section of Malaysians for their failings.

He is much ado about nothing really!

Of Hindraf, HRP and the so-called 3rd Force

The Free Malaysia Today reported that BN has “upstaged Pakatan Rakyat in wooing the outlawed Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf)” (read here).  It is said that there is also a movement towards forming a so-called 3rd Force after the BN and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) together with the Human Rights Party (HRP) and other civil rights movement particularly from Sabah and Sarawak.

All this makes for interesting political reading but is it feasible and plausible to embark on such a major feat?  What are the merits and how will the average Malaysian voter view this new political play?

The Beginning of an End?

The inevitable has happened.  Najib made a press conference with the presence of Nasarudin Hashim, Jamaluddin Mat Radzi, Mohd Osman Jailu and Hee Yit Foong proudly declaring that BN is ready to form the next government in Perak.

(These four assembly men and woman will go down into history and be remembered as the cause of turmoil in Perak).

Earlier, Perak MB Nizar went to inform the Sultan of the dissolution of the Perak Assembly and sought his consent for fresh elections.  It appeared that the Ruler wanted to have more time to think about his decision and perhaps meet with Najib before coming to any decision.

The Perak crisis is now at boiling point.  What is going to happen next?

Pakatan in turmoil?

After a brief celebration of the defection of Bota Assemblyman from Umno, Nasarudin Hashim, to PKR last month, we now have 2 PKR Assemblymen from Behrang and Changkat Jering (Jamaluddin Mat Radzi and Mohd Osman Jailu) go “missing in action” and supposedly “bought” over by Umno, according to the rife rumors circulating.

In a pre-emptive strike, these 2 assemblymen “resigned” from their seats through a fax to the Perak State Assembly Speaker.  Then they purported no to have resigned but the letters were “undated” letter of resignations signed by them last year after the March General Election.

Today, after the Perak State Assembly Speaker referred to the Election Commission on the “resignations” of these two assemblymen, the EC decided that the “resignations” were not valid and hence, there will be no by-elections (read here).  The reason given was that the 2 assemblymen had written to the Perak State Assembly Speaker claiming that their resignations were invalid.  This EC decision may have gone beyond their jurisdiction and overturned the State Assembly Speaker’s decision.  Tian Chua claims that “in the absence of any court decision or injunction, the duty of the EC is merely to set the dates and hold the by-elections, and not decide on the validity of any resignations.” (read here).  Tommy Thomas has an excellent dissertation on this matter and very readable for the layman (read here).  If you signed a blank cheque, you are liable!

In an immediate reaction, Pakatan Rakyat gave the EC 48-hours to reverse this decision (read here) failing which the Perak State Government will take necessary actions.

As the 2 PKR assemblymen had announced they were not leaving the party and they did not submit any resignations from the party, there is no change in the balance of power in Perak (although it was purported that Jamaluddin has quit the party – read here).  However, in reality,

KT By-Election Fever is On!

January 5 was nomination day and we now have 3 candidates – Umno, PAS and Independent.  What seems to be interesting is the way reporting was done to estimate the number of supporters from each camp.

The Star and even The Malaysian Insider quoted a police spokesperson who said that the police estimated about 30,000 BN supporters and 15,000 PAS supporters.  Strangely, their reporters were there to cover the story and yet they never quoted their first hand coverage.  Is there an intent to skew and mislead their readers on the facts of the matter?

Evidently, photos don’t lie, or do they?  Certainly, although a picture paints a thousand words, it can be made to say anything you want.  For now, we shall leave the judgment to you to conclude from the photos taken at KT during the nomination period courtesy of Haris Ibrahim and Bernard Khoo.

Enjoy!

Pakatan Rakyat Supporters for PAS Candidate

Barisan Nasional's Supporters for Umno Candidate

P/S  Do not be fooled for a even a minute that such photos say that PAS will win.  This merely shows a formidable support for the Opposition very similar to the Pematang Pauh nomination day scenario.  And that’s all to it!  Campaigning has just begun.

Turn Your Eyes on Kuala Trengganu

January 17 is the next important date for Malaysians.  The Kuala Trengganu (KT) by-election has turned out to be another mother of by-elections so to speak.  The Parliamentary seat is now up for grabs and PAS has Abdul Wahid Endut against Umno’s Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh.

However, in light of the bigger picture, it is Pakatan Rakyat‘s advisor Anwar Ibrahim verses Barisan Nasional‘s Deputy President and Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak.  This is a classic clash of the giants and much is at stake.  It is a Parliamentary seat as well as a moral victory for whichever party that wins it.  It may herald a new watershed of events and become a growing force of disenchantment against the Government or it can become a major stumbling block to a vision of replacing the Government.

Either way, this by-election has all the makings of a historic event.

Sarawak is Pivotal to BN and PR

Ever since Anwar won the Pematang Pauh by-elections, Pak Lah has kept Taib close to him.  Pak Lah knows Sarawak is the last bastion for the BN that cannot shake lest it sounds the death knoll for 50 over years of rule.

It was rumored that Pak Lah flew from Penang to JB to meet with Taib on the early evening of the Pematang Pauh election day when Pak Lah knew that the constituency was a lost cause.

For a while, Anwar had tried to quietly woo Taib and other component parties in Sarawak but to no particular success.  Taib knows his position and understands the peculiar position Sarawak plays in the possible fall of BN and the possible rise of PR.  It’s Sarawak that will tip the scales either way.

Even now, Sarawak, not Sabah, remains the crucial tipping point

PM Surprise Move, Now over to Najib and Anwar

It appears that Pak Lah will defend his presidency this December.  Judging from today’s MalaysianInsider report here, Pak Lah seems to have risen above the detractors in the Umno Supreme Council meeting last week.  Instead of caving in to Muhyiddin, Rafidah, Hishamuddin and Apdal Shafiee who were reportedly going for the jugular pressing for Pak Lah to handover to Najib, Pak Lah took a deep breath and shocked them by doing just the opposite.

Will Najib want to go against his boss?  Will his backers push for the prize now?  Does Najib want to defy Pak Lah?  Pak Lah today knows who is for him and who is against him.

September 18 – The Next Move

With Anwar establishing a beach head on September 16 by declaring that the Opposition has more than enough MPs to back them and growing by the day, he further pushed Pak Lah by requesting for a meeting to discuss a peaceful transition. This really shows the audacity of Anwar, very serious looking and launching the final push with the symbolic 916. Anwar’s move is now made.

Pak Lah maintains his grip on power and brushes aside Anwar’s move as a mirage, a dream. There will not be a meeting until Anwar reveals the names of those BN MPs who is said to want to support Anwar. And Anwar can’t reveal without a guarantee of their safety and freedom. The deadlock begins. But writing off Anwar is the wrong thing to do. He is adamant that this is not a joke, that it is real and the push to Putra Jaya has just begun. If it’s true, the momentum will grow. Otherwise, the fizzle will be seen.

September 17, a day after 916 and a day before September 18, is a day of anticipation. The next move to watch is Umno’s. September 18 is the Umno Supreme Council meeting. It will be closely watched by all parties as Anwar has since made his move. How should Umno react?

D-Day September 16

LATEST @ 8:00 pm

September 16 is the start of clear and concrete steps to take over the government. This was announced by Anwar in a press meeting this afternoon.

Anwar revealed that there are at least 31 MPs who have agreed to crossover. What does that mean? It implies that there is the minimum number required but is there more than sufficient to shore up the strength of a new and stable government?  These are serious representations to Pak Lah.

He will reveal the names only when Pak Lah agrees to meet with him on the request for a smooth and peaceful transition. This presents a pressure to concede but can Pak Lah even take that from Anwar? This is a “show hand” move but in a confidential manner to protect the MPs.

Pak Lah retorted to name them and says that Anwar is seeing a mirage (read MalaysiaInsider here). He said he is not under pressure and brushed aside Anwar’s claims. But the general concerns will be that these MPs will be incarcerated or hindered in ways that will prevent them from publicly making this stand which is a very easy action by the ruling BN Government. Then the MPs will be neutralized by a stroke of a pen.

Anwar today outlined 4 things requested of Pak Lah (for the press release, read MalaysianInsider here).