Major National Issues Affecting GE13

With GE13 around the corner on 5 May, there are a number of issues that affects voters across Malaysia. This election is no longer the same old traditional styles but is seeing Pakatan Rakyat mounting the strongest challenge ever against the BN. Amidst the ceramahs around the country and regardless of how pundits will forecast the wins, there are still key issues that voters are grappling with.

This posting attempts to allow readers who are voters to voice out their concerns and opinions on such issues.

Here is a list of issues that many Malaysians are seeking some answers to and will be updated regularly to reflect readers comments. Please share your thoughts before 5 May. Thank you.

1. Fair Press
2. Water Crisis in Selangor
3. Vernacular Schools
4. National Debt
5. Lower Petrol Price
6. Lower Car Price
7. Free Education
8. Abolishing BTN
9. Fighting for All Malaysians
10. Communal Politics and Society
11. Lower Food Prices

Nomination Day Surprises

Last Updated: 23/04/13 @ 8:30 pm

Today is Nomination Day and we see a number of surprises indeed. By noon time, the announcements will be officially made. Here are some news around the Internet and comments accorded. It will be updated when the Official information is made available.

1. Pandan

Incumbent Ong Tee Kiat has stayed out of the nominations but his ex-private secretary (ex because he apparently resigned last night) filed his as an Independent. Malaysians can see that this is brewing to be a proxy fight against PKR’s Rafizi and MCA’s Gary Lim.

2. Pasir Mas

Perkasa’s Ibrahim Ali confirmed his nomination as an Independent after being left out of the BN list. However, Umno’s Che Johan refrained from filing his nomination papers making this a straight fight with PAS Nik Abduh. So, Umno had to do this longwinded way to save face to avoid direct linkage to Perkasa’s Ibrahim Ali and stepping aside for him in acknowledging Tun M’s endorsement of this man. There are two Perkasa men in the election this time, the other being Zul under Umno’s banner.

Update: Che Johan has been called to answer an internal Umno investigation as he did not submit his papers. It was understood that he may be sacked for not filing his papers under Umno.

3. DAP uses Rocket with RoS Approval

Lim GE tweeted that RoS hand delivered a letter stating they have no objections to the Rocket symbol being used in the GE13. All EC posts appears to have accepted the DAP nominations with the Rocket symbol. DAP was ready to use PAS and PKR symbols.

4. Teratai

Incumbent Jenice Lee stepped in as an Independent after she was dropped by DAP in favor of a relatively unknown Tiew Way Keng. She tweeted that she was willing to rejoin DAP if she wins.

Updated: Jenice apologizes to Karpal Singh as she is determined to stand as an Independent to defend her seat. She is duly sacked from DAP.

5. Large number of Independent Candidates

There were a very large number of Independents who filed their nomination papers by the close of the session. Only a very small number of seats will see a straight fight. Time will tell if most of them will withdraw soon enough.

6. Kota Laksamana

A DAP parliamentary candidate for Kota Melaka submitted his nomination to stand as an Independent for the Kota Laksamana state seat. He is the second DAP member to defy the leadership and stands to be sacked. This is quite unbecoming of Sim and has thrown a spanner into the DAP and PR’s position to win more seats.

Updated: Sim announced that he has pulled out as an Independent for the Kota Laksamana seat.

7. Kuala Kangsar

Umno Wanita Deputy Chief resigned and submitted her papers to stand as an Independent for this Parliamentary Seat. She had publicly disagreed with Najib’s recommendation for her to stand in a state seat. She will fight Umno Wan Mohammad and PAS Khalil Idham Lim.

Updated: Kamilia denied that she was ever offered a seat as claimed by Najib. She is duly sacked from Umno along with a number of others who also filed to run as Independents.

8. Mas Gading

Incumbent Dr Tiki Lafe filed his papers as an Independent and poised to fight against BN/SPDP Anthony Nogeh and candidates from PKR and STAR. His declaration that he is BN-friendly has been rubbished by SPDP who kicked him out a while back.

9. Alor Mengkudu

Fadzil Hanafi of Umno filed his papers as an Independent candidate this morning causing ripples in the State Umno office. He will fight against the Umno and PAS candidates.

10. List by @tiewnama

1. Naib Ketua Wanita UMNO, Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim – Parlimen Kuala Kangsar

2. Bekas Timbalan Menteri Pertanian, Datuk Seri Mohd Shariff Omar – Parlimen Tasek
Gelugor,

3. Ketua Pemuda UMNO Sepang, Suhaimi Mohd Ghazali – Parlimen Sepang

4. Ahli Jawatankuasa UMNO Sepang, Hanafiah Mohamed – Parlimen Sepang

5. Ketua Penerangan UMNO cawangan Sungai Besi, Mokhtar Salahudin – Parlimen
Bandar Tun Razak

6. Setiausaha Kerja UMNO Bandar Tun Razak, Mohamad Sukeri Abdul Samat – Parlimen
Bandar Tun Razak

7. Ahli UMNO cawangan Bukit Persekutuan, Rusli Baba – Parlimen Lembah Pantai

8. Ahli UMNO Subang, Datuk Edros Abdullah – DUN Kota Damansara

9. Ketua UMNO cawangan Sungai Buaya Selatan, Mustaf Talib – DUN Batang Kali

10. Bekas Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Tanjung Seri, Datuk Fadzil Hanafi – DUN Alor
Mengkudu

11. Ahli UMNO Sungai Cawangan Limau, Sobri Ahmad – DUN Sungai Limau

12. AJK UMNO Bakri, Md Ghazali Salamun – DUN Bukit Naning

13. Timbalan Ketua UMNO cawangan FELDA Adela, Mohd Azaman Johari – Parlimen
Pengerang

14. AJK UMNO Ledang, Mohd Zan Abu – DUN Gambir

15. Ketua UMNO cawangan Parit Rabu, Yunos Mustakim – DUN Gambir

16. Ahli UMNO cawangan Kampung Banggol, Bekas Ahli Parlimen Setiu,
Mohd Yusop Majid – DUN Permaisuri

17. Bendahari UMNO cawangan Pekan Kertih, Zulkiflee Salleh – DUN Kemasek

18. Ahli UMNO cawangan Bukit Perah, Mohd Nuhairi Muhammad – DUN Ajil

19. Ahli UMNO cawangan Kampung Kubang Panjang, Ja’afar Jambol – DUN Alur Limbat

20. Ahli UMNO cawangan Kampung Ibol, Md Ali Mustafa bertanding – DUN Seri Menanti

21. Ketua UMNO cawangan Kikangsa Kayul, Jusbian Kenneth@Kini – DUN Kuala Penyu

22. Ahli Pemuda UMNO cawangan Sungai Sibugah, Mohd Arshad Abdul – DUN Sungai
Sibugah

23. Penyelaras BN Batu Kawan, A Mohan – Parlimen Batu Kawan, DUN Bukit Tengah

24. Penyelaras DUN Machang Bubuk, Ooi Suan Hoe – DUN Kuala Kubu Bharu

25. Ketua MCA cawangan Bandar Kuala Kubu Bharu, Yoong Tham Fook – DUN Kuala Kubu Bharu(?)

What can we expect AFTER GE13?

With the GE13 date set for May 5, we will see the culmination of Malaysia’s longest campaign period in our history. Although the formal campaign period is 15 days from Nomination Day, the unofficial campaigning started since PM Najib took over the reins from Pak Lah. For the past 4 years, Malaysians have gotten all kinds of goodies shoved at them with little economic fundamental progress. Whether they be budgets, programs, policies or expenditures, they are all short term designed to create the impression of strategy but with the intent to make the people feel good about Najib.

Well, the time will soon come for the day of reckoning if all that is said by BN and PR are well understood by Malaysians to translate into real votes for either of these political alignments.

Every political party is on the campaign road knowing full well nobody will stop them anymore regardless of the fact that the official campaigning period is not yet here. Everyday on TV, we will see how Najib pronounce the fact that BN is the savior of Malaysia and everybody else is rubbish.

Then, again, no Govt linked media will ever say anything bad about the ruling parties so that Malaysians will believe anything the media says and BN can do no wrong and there is everything wrong with the Opposition.

Thanks to the Internet and the alternate media, Malaysians can now assess for themselves both sides of the story. It appears that the Opposition has made significant inroads to the Internet savvy voters but those who are not so savvy may be missed out. More work to be done, obviously.

Fast forward to after GE13 and *&^%#$ has won the elections and now the Federal Govt.

We have two very distinct eventualities to consider. Many people are unaware that both BN and PR offers Malaysians two different destinies. Their manifestos may be incomplete but their general sense of direction are diverging. Furthermore, there are many intentions of both BN and PR that are not mentioned in their manifestos.

BN Destiny

Najib promises to fight graft if re-elected: Too Little, Too Late?

Najib promised more specialist graft courts and greater public disclosure of government contracts if BN is allowed to extend its 55 years of unbroken rule, according to a manifesto he unveiled at his first election rally since dissolving Parliament on April 3.

“My sincere apologies to all Malaysians IF we have done anything wrong,” the caretaker prime minister said in his speech, which had been broadcasted live on national television.
“At the end of the day, we are ORDINARY humans. IF we are given a strong mandate, I can assure you that we will do better in the NEXT five years. (emphasis mine)” This was what PM Najib said during the controversial live broadcast of the BN manifesto last Saturday night (read here).

Too little, too late, Mr Prime Minister. Way too little.

For 56 years when BN (read Umno) and now Najib is ruling, nothing much was really done but much said about graft and doing their best for the Rakyat.

Here is a gentle reminder to the NEXT Government.

YOU ARE VOTED BY THE PEOPLE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE FOR THEIR BEST INTERESTS. Malaysia is supposed to be governed by the people and for the people. Not for self interests.

What Najib should be saying is as follows:

3 April: Malaysia Parliament Dissolved, GE13 In 60 Days

PM Najib finally announced the dissolution of Parliament this morning in an 11:30 am televised broadcast. The Election Commission has 60 days to arrange for GE13. Meanwhile, all states with the exception of Sarawak (last state election in 2011) and Negri Sembilan (already expired) are now expected to proceed with their own dissolution immediately to enable the GE13 to conduct both Federal and State elections at the same time.

This is the end of the 4th year of Najib as PM and today will also mark the last Cabinet meeting.

Malaysians sigh a relief as this has been the longest guessing game to call GE13 and the country has been on campaign mode since Najib took over from Pak Lah in 2009. All projects and activities have been short term aimed at appeasing the voters to ensure a good feel to encourage a stronger support of BN in the election. That is why there has been so much giving away monies to the public and the last being to the Petronas staff yesterday.

But finally, the time has come for Malaysians to reckon with their future again at the ballot box. Will they give the mandate back to BN or go for a change in Govt with PR? We shall soon know.

Some interesting things to consider.