How Should We Now Vote, Malaysia?

MALAYSIANS DESERVE THE GOVERNMENT THEY VOTE FOR!

The Umno General Assembly is now over. The well coordinated and choreographed presidential meeting of Umno has done the job. Its members are feeling confused to what they swore, some feeling humored and most couldn’t figure out what they are supposed to swear on as the words came out of Umno President Najib’s mouth.

The final verdict seems to contend that Umno was trying to create a perception that it has changed, it is now more united under Najib, it can stand strong to fight in what is probably the mother of all General Election in Malaysia, it has stamped out dissent, it can show that Umno remains the backbone of BN and also the defender of the Malays, and the focus is on the enemy Pakatan Rakyat and Anwar.

Yes, that is what the media will want you to believe. It is what Umno wants you to believe and they did a rather good job at that. All the toned down rhetorics and crocodile tears shed along the way shows that Malaysian show business is not dead at all. And Umno is a natural at this gauging from the conduct over the past few days of the Umno General Assembly.

So kudos to Najib and the Umno leadership for the perception generated. Umno is ready for a bruising battle for sure.

But such attracts controversial comments from opponents like Lim KS, Anwar and Hadi Awang. Fear mongering, they say. No vision and substance to lead the country. No focus on what matters for the rakyat. Etcetera etcetera…

We watched the PAS Congress in November demonstrate that it is now stronger than ever and ready to tackle hard issues and people centric issues. PAS is focusing on a strong leadership display and invoked a controversial prayer on the failing of Umno in the coming GE13. That obviously drew disdain from Umno who retorted in the recent General Assembly.

But such is politics in Malaysia. Umno with its own recipe of rhetorics on race, religion and royalty against the opposition on economics, people well-being, eradicating corruption, better governance, lowering the economic burden, etc now resonate across the country.

Absurdities in Malaysia – Signs of GE13 round the corner

There are many absurd things happening in Malaysia that baffles the man on the street. Why are things that matter not being worked on? Like inflation, corruption, jobs, etc? Here is a round up of absurdities this week.

1. Lie Detector Test

MIC Welfare and Social Bureau deputy chairman R Ramanan was reported to have called for Penang MB Lim GE, his wife and a woman alleged by MCA that he had an affair with to take the lie detector test (read here).

What will politicans dream of nowadays? First, they make wild allegations in Parliament. Then it is presumed to be true by the MSM. The lie detector test is novel and perhaps all BN politicians should take it. Are we living in a “you are guilty until you prove your innocence“? And MCA Gan dare not repeat that allegation outside of Parliament. So who is the scardy cat now? Abusing the Parliamentary freedom of speech with unfounded allegations only for political mileage. Gutter politics is a sign of politicians impoverished of focusing on things that matter. At least

Vell Paari, who is also the party’s public relations and communications chief of MIC, had the decency to disapprove of Ramanan’s crap but stopped short of censuring him.

2. Polls Expenses from 40m to 700m

This must be the age of Malaysian Government printing money where our PM Najib is going around behaving like Santa Claus giving away RM100 there, RM500 here. Then the quarterly request for budget increase for 2012 over what was tabled last year, 30B here and there.

So the Election Commission must have caught the vision from Najib that they too can do the same. They have requested RM700m to conduct the next General Election, the most expensive in history. Obviously, poor Malaysians are not aware that the EC is trying to get into the Malaysian Guinness Book of Records for spending the most in Malaysian history. Malaysia Boleh! (read here).

Who stands to benefit from this out-of-the-world increase in expenses? EC should declare to all Malaysians because they are paying for this.

3. Crime Awareness on the Rise

Najib: You can deliver, We will Deliver!

July 30 – Datuk Seri Najib Razak pledged to do all he can to bring the Indian community back into the “mainstream of development” but asked that MIC redouble efforts to secure the community’s vote.

The prime minister said there must be “quid pro quo” between Barisan Nasional (BN) component party MIC and the ruling coalition if both wished to benefit from their relationship as “loyal friends”.

“There must be an understanding. Can you all deliver for Barisan Nasional? You can deliver and we will deliver,” Najib told delegates at the 65th MIC general assembly here today.

(Read here)

Some Background
The 2010 census showed there are 1.9 million Indians or 7.3 per cent of the 28 million population, far less than the 2.3 million foreigners in the country.

Indians are one of the main ethnic groups in Malaysia who has contributed significantly to the early developments of the country since pre-Independence times. They are hardworking and have been somewhat sidelined by the BN Government since the first General Elections.

However, many Indians have progressed by themselves with little or no government help to become excellent professionals. There are a pronounced number of good doctors and lawyers who are of the Indian ethnic group.

The MIC was one of the parties who worked on the Independence of Malaya with Tunku Abdul Rahman alongside Umno and MCA.

And after 54 years of independence, our Malaysian PM is still bargaining with MIC on community development of the Indians.

How sad has things become in this country?

Isn’t the development of every community the entrusted responsibility of the government of the day? Regardless of how they may have voted, still a sizeable number voted the BN.

So if after 54 years of pathetic Indian community development, Najib claims that this can all change for the better with a “quid pro quo” with MIC bringing back the Indian votes to BN?

Anyone who believes this can be done when after 54 years of BN rule couldn’t will believe in santa claus bringing gifts down the chimney (even when don’t have chimnies in Malaysia).

This is all fine political rhetoric to garner support for votes with little thought into how to execute the promise of development. If the BN Government has seen the importance of non-partisan development, the Indian community would not have walked the streets in 2007 with the rise of Hindraf demanding for better treatment to their plight.

Wishy Washy
Najib said he will do all he can to bring the Indian community back into the “mainstream of development” implies a few things:

A. that sometime in the past, the BN Government had sidelined the Indian community

B. that Najib will only try all he can and that gives no guarantee even after the votes come in to the BN.

Essentially, the offer really means MIC do your part and we’ll see if I, Najib, can do anything in return. Najib is the PM. He is the very man in power. Of course he can do anything for the Indian community if he so wanted. But making statements like “I will do all I can” implies there are others who can block his efforts. Then he is really not the PM, is he?

Instead, Najib should have said “I will give development to the Indian community” without a shadow of hesitance or doubt, but alas, he said weak words that can otherwise mislead.

Political Rhetorics even for Development
Why must everything done by the PM be a political play? Najib has not stopped playing politics since he became PM. The sense of insecurity must be there because he inherited the office from Badawi.

Why can’t things be done genuinely for the betterment of the country, for all Malaysians? Najib keeps playing each community and blatantly allows people like Ibrahim Ali and Utusan Malaysia to stir racial strife without repercussion.

Why can Najib be the PM of all Malaysians? After all, he said to have come up with the 1Malaysia slogan. But his deputy keeps contradicting him declaring he is first Malay then Malaysian.

Why must development come with a “vote for me” condition? When Najib develops the country for all Malaysians, they will vote for him, but not the other way round.

Malaysians will support any government who focuses on the good of all communities. Najib must do what he says and say what he must do for all Malaysians!

Hulu Selangor: A Buy-Election of Many Tales

P. Kamalanathan of MIC defeated Zaid Ibrahim on Sunday 24 April 2010 in the Hulu Selangor by-election by 1,725 votes.  This is history.  BN took the better of PR in this by-election, no doubt about it.  This is a fact.  How it was won is not of particular importance to those who won.  But to those who lost, the reasons to explain are aplenty.

Summary Results of the 2010 Hulu Selangor By-Election

Kamalanathan – 24,997

Zaid – 23,272

Majority – 1,725

Total = 48,935

Spoilt – 731

With all the post election analysis coming out, every man and his dog have a theory about why BN won and why PR lost.  However, there are a few pertinent points that are worth looking at.

What to think of the 3B results?

It is 8 April, the day after a historic 3 simultaneous by-elections in Malaysia – Batang Ai, Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau.  This has never happened before but these by-elections were specially timed to be after the Umno Presidential Election that saw Najib take over the helm of Umno and shortly thereafter as the new PM of Malaysia.

At the end of yesterday, we saw the obvious happening again.  Pakatan Rakyat took the 2 Peninsular Malaysia by-election seats while Barisan Nasional retained their Sarawak seat.  This was expected given the growing sentiments in West Malaysia while Pakatan Rakyat was attempting to score a first beach head in Sarawak which they failed.

So what should we think about the results?

Kugan and the Real Issues

Today, Kugan was honorably buried at the Hindu Cemetary at Kg Baru Batu 14, Puchong.  The public statements by those present were clearly made against alleged police brutality.

The opposition obviously were present but interestingly the MIC were inconspicuously missing or annonymously present.  Either way, the MIC will be between the rock and the deep blue sea.  If they were present, they can be construed as acting against the BN Government standing with the Opposition parties.  If they were not present, they will be construed as not a power concerned for the Indian community.

The Muslim NGO, Pewaris, appealed to MIC President to urge the Indian community not to get involved in any protest demonstrations during the funeral of Kugan.  Two deputy ministers were chided by Syed Hamid Albar.  Samy Vellu reiterated support to these deputy ministers for legal defense if needed.

Kugan was arrested on Jan 15 in suspicion for luxury car theft.  He died on Jan 20 while in custody at the Taipan Police Station (read here).

With all these as background, did we suddenly become ignorant of the real issues?

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.

Countdown to September 16

UPDATED 16/09 @ 9:00 am

Yesterday night was electrifying. Today? More on D-DAY SEPTEMBER 16 here.

1 day to go – It was the eve of Malaysia Day. The mood was upbeat. The moment the National Anthem “Negara Ku” was sung, the atmosphere became electrifying. It was the Pakatan Rakyat celebration of Malaysia Day and filled with speeches from leaders of the PR. Notable was Lim Guan Eng, Kamaruddin Jaafar and Anwar.

It was anticipated as an historic event by the Opposition bloc and the turnout was exceptional. More than

The tens of thousands who went to hear Anwar waving the Malaysian flags

20,000 thronged the stadium peacefully to hear what Anwar has to say about “916“. Each of the PKR, DAP and PAS leaders that spoke referred to Anwar as the “PM in waiting“.

Kit Siang referred to it as a “sky changing” event. Guan Eng pointed out that never has a BN minister resigned not because he was ill or involved in a personal scandal but Zaid Ibrahim was applauded as one that has his principle to stand against the misuse of ISA. Furthermore, he chided those BN ministers who only dare whisper their dissent and challenged them to do what Zaid has done – QUIT, if it goes against their principles, don’t just talk!

Kamaruddin underscored the fact that September 16 will show much clarity on concrete steps of change, not necessary the very change of government itself. He alluded to the points that PR has what it takes to become the next government and Malaysians will learn more tomorrow.

More importantly was Anwar’s much awaited announcements. What does September 16 bring to Malaysians tomorrow?

Anwar and September 16 – A date with hope?

Anwar had the audacity to link September 16 (Malaysia Day) with his political agenda for the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to assume the mantle to form the new government of Malaysia.  The critical link is Anwar’s ability to obtain committed support from at least 30 MPs to join Pakatan Rakyat in some way.  The SMS rumors are rife.  The speculations are growing.  The BN Backbenchers Club (BNBC) are “inviting” all “interested” 75 member MPs to a study trip possibly down under (Australia or better still Timbuktu) with a return date of September 17.  Arguably the coincidence of coincidences and rated a better coincidence than the timing of Saiful swearing.

The Malaysian Insider has reported that Pak Lah is not wanting to give Anwar the opportunity to form a new government by September 16 and stressed that this BNBC study trip has nothing to do with his intention to block Anwar which seems to make this action a total joke.  Read here for the report.

Does the date of September 16 really matters? What do you think?  What does Anwar think?  Read

Sarawak-Sabah to the Fore!

Pak Lah is surely focusing on securing Sarawak and Sabah MPs support to maintain status quo in the control of Parliament.  At the same time, do not be surprised that Anwar is working overtime to gain their trust and support as well.  Sarawak and Sabah will be the focus in the foreseeable future especially in light of Anwar’s constant reminder that September 16 is a virtual certainty now that he’s finally back in Parliament.

With Shafie Apdal trying to win points for Pak Lah and himself in his attempt to garner support from 20 MPs from East Malaysia (read here), this is the beginning of the patronising of East Malaysia all the way.