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.

A Total Disaster in Perak – Reflective of Future Malaysia?

Each day we read of the political tussle in Perak with more disdain and disbelief.  The silver state has been plunged into a constitutional crisis that may be reflective of the possibility of future Malaysia.  What is happening in Perak, if not checked and constitutionally restored with full democracy, will show what the federal Parliament can eventually become.

Tengku Razaleigh a.k.a. Kuli has become the lone Umno voice that reflects the sentiments of all Malaysians.  His views depart from the Umno stance in stark contrast to the current Umno leaders.  His belief that the Perak crisis must be stopped is not shared by Umno.  His urge to respect the law and constitution and return to the people to obtain a fresh mandate did not go well with Umno (read here).

We now have moved from a frog jumping power takeover by BN to the use of Police and the court to interfere with the state parliament.  The separation of Judiciary, Executive and Legislative has been replaced by the power of the Police and lightning speed court injunction against the Speaker.  The state secretarial clerk now wields more power than the Speaker himself.  The Police listens to the clerk and act against the Speaker.

The misguided interpretation of the Perak Constitution leading to a sitting under the tree with an FRU blockage of the state secretariat building preventing the MPs from entering all shows the circus is in town.

In the haste of obtaining an injunction against the Speaker, BN forgot to check if Ridwan‘s tenure was still valid.  The judicial commissioner’s 2-year term ended last Saturday, 28 February 2009.  This will make any of his declarations and granting of injunction to the BN yesterday (3 March 2009) null and void (read here).  Some believe that he has acted in contempt of the Parliament (read here).

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.

What will tomorrow be?

A peek into the future is what every Malaysian wants now. What are some of the things that can happen from hereon? What will our beloved country, Malaysia, become? Who will be taking our Malaysia forward? Will there be a storm brewing, or a hurricane for that matter? Is there going to be a silver lining? Can we see the sun coming up on Malaysia? Or the night is going to be long?

Tomorrow D-Day Pematang Pauh

This by-election is perhaps the MOST hotly contested, dirtiest mud slinging contest the country has ever seen.

It is also perhaps the by-election with the HIGHEST stake, the possible return of Anwar to Parliament which supposedly starts another tsunami of sorts in the country.

No matter which side you are on, we can’t deny the grave ramifications of Anwar winning this by-election if he continues this path towards the Parliament.

For now, let’s hold our breath.  Tomorrow awaits Pematang Pauh and the entire nation.

Stay tuned!