Perak will show if Najib is the People’s PM

Observing all the political and legal rigmaroles for a while now, we can safely say that the situation has become absolutely absurd and convoluted.

Perak went from a rich state to a fool’s circus in the past few months.  We now have this ridiculous history etched into our minds, something to tell our grandchildren one fine day.

As more and more people voice up for a fresh election so that Perakians can show their decision as to who they want govern the silver state, we fail to see a possible solution to the deadlock unless something unthinkable is to happen first.

Wake Up, Malaysia!

If the BN Government can act in the same haste and fervor in the Perak “takeover” for the much needed action and support for the Malaysia economy, we the people of Malaysia will be much impressed.

For now, we are totally abhorred about the Perak situation and the total inaction of fixing our economy.  We have the BN Government on both sides of the continuum of reaction and for each end they are used wrongly.

It should have been inaction in the Perak situation to let the due process take place and to have total fervor and haste to rescue the economy.

Who is running the country?  What are the priorities of our voted government?  Who bothers about what the voters want?

We want a stable government to run a stable and growing economy.  What we are getting is just the opposite.  Their priorities are just set wrong!

Tengku Razaleigh is spot on in his comments on the Perak situation as well as our economy (read here).  He is showing great statesmanship and leadership of a renewed man.  His insights are sound and his advice is balanced.  There is a new sense of respect for this man whom Umno has written off.  He doesn’t shoot his mouth, he has respect for the Constitution, the law and the people.  He has displayed such wisdom that portrays hope to become the next PM of Malaysia.

If Malaysia can vote a leader to be PM, will it be Pak Lah, Najib, Anwar or Razaleigh?  At this time, all bets will be on Razaleigh for his round of objectivity and statesmanship.  We look forward to Umno to rally around such a leader than can bring hope based on the law and the Constitution.  He has remained as the people’s leader all this while and that is probably why he was rejected by Umno’s leadership.

Wake up, Malaysia!  We need leaders like Razaleigh.  Let the rest of the elected leadership take note.  Malaysia is a country for the people, not the leaders!

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Perak in Crisis or is it really?

Today, Najib brought his 27 Umno, 1 MCA and 3 Independent (2 ex-PKR, 1 ex-DAP) assemblymen to show to the Sultan of Perak that BN has the majority support of the State Parliament.  Thereafter, the Ruler gave his consent to the BN to form the new State Government and instructed Nizar to resign as the MB.

If YAB Datuk Seri Ir. Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin does not resign from his post as Perak Menteri Besar together with the state executive council members, then the posts of Menteri Besar and state executive councillors are regarded as vacant.

This statement is issued with the consent of Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Sultan of Perak Darul Ridzuan (read here).

To the BN, the takeover is a success (read here).

To the Ruler, he has satisfied himself with the proof Najib gave as having majority support of the Perak State Assembly by meeting the 28+3 assemblymen.

To Tun M, questionable assemblymen will taint Umno (read here).

To Tengku Razaleigh, Pakatan Rakyat remains the constitutional state government until they are defeated by a vote of no confidence by the BN and Independent assemblymen (read here).

To other legal authorities, they feel that the Ruler has made a mistake (read here).

To the Pakatan Rakyat, this is not over yet.  Nizar is refusing to resign and requests the Ruler to let the due process completes itself.  The court must decide if the 3 ex-PKR and DAP assemblymen’s resignations are valid or not.  Thereafter, a vote of confidence be carried out in the State Assembly sitting.

To the Police, the Pakatan Rakyat government is history.  They have locked down the State Secretariat Building (read here).  Such support for the Pakatan Rakyat elected state governments is unheard of.

Is there a real constitutional crisis brewing here or is it a figment of our imagination?

Malaysia Economic Forecast – Government vs The Rest

We have been talking about how bad the economic situation is turning out till this has become stale.  We all know it and feel it but the BN Government is adamant that we will be riding this out and we are OK.

Citicorp was the first to predict Malaysia’s GDP in 2009 will be 0.5% with a possibility of going into a technical recession even in this quarter (read here).

MIER predicts Malaysia’s GDP in 2009 to be either 3.5% or down to 1.3% with a possibility of going into a technical recession in the first half of 2009 (read here).

The Economist Intelligence Unit Country Report puts Malaysia’s 2009 GDP at 1.5% behind Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand (read here).

However, the EPU, Nor Mohamed Yakcop and Muhyiddin boldly defend the Government and believe we can defy the odds.  They believe with the initial economic stimulus of RM7B followed by another future RM7B the country can prop up the 2009 GDP to the 3.5% level.

Totally surprising was Razaleigh a.k.a. Kuli coming out with a sterling lunch lecture lambasting the state of economic affairs in Malaysia and that “we need a set of bold projects with an economic story behind it that will help Malaysia make the developmental leap we have been missing” (read here).

Najib’s Rise Amidst Allegations Uncleared

Najib is now the only nomination for the Umno President post and come next March at the Umno AGM, Najib will be officially named the next Umno President to succeed Pak Lah.  It appears that the passage for Najib is safe, for now.

Can there be anything that can throw off his equilibrium, detract him from his path to glory, obstruct his ambition to become the next Prime Minister of Malaysia?  With the historical “wasted” Altantuya case being the longest in Malaysian history, Razak Baginda was aquitted and nobody was found guilty.  150 days of trial down the drain and paid for by tax payers money.  Will the allegations return to haunt Najib?

Finally Pak Lah Says It

Today, Pak Lah finally said it.  He will not defend his Umno President post come next March.  The MalaysianInsider reported (read full article here)

“I will not stand for the presidency of Umno in the coming elections. My current term as Umno president ends in March next year,” he told reporters after the meeting.

What ifs in October

What if this happens or that happens?  There are a myriad of speculations in the month of hot October.  So let’s do some What-if analysis on possibilities, albeit hypothetical.  Beats reading the newspapers.

What if Badawi goes for the Umno Presidential election?

October Hot Month

October 2008 is the hot month for Malaysia.  This is the month to watch as many things that are going to happen during this time which have a longer term implication to us all.

Oct 1 & 2 – Hari Raya

Selamat Hari Raya to all Malaysians who are muslims.  This day marks the end of the Ramadhan fasting month and in Malaysia, there is the get together by all non-muslims to join our muslim friends in their festivities.

The open houses by various leaders especially the PM and Deputy PM at PWTC was attended by many people today, including those from Hindraf, Anti-ISA and Free RPK friends.  Alas, being an open house, there is little any security personnel can do to stop them and according to MalaysianInsider (read here) they managed to catch the attention of Pak Lah.  All ended well and with respect.

This Saturday at Kepala Batas, there is bound to be some interesting visitors to Pak Lah’s open house at his home constituency.

Razaleigh starts against Najib

As expected, right after Pak Lah‘s announcement on the postponement of the Umno election from December to March 2009 to facilitate the transition, Razaleigh now starts his campaign with his first shots (read MalaysiaInsider here).

“I reject this transition of power because it is extra-constitutional,” the veteran Umno member told reporters at his home here.

He criticised the transition plan for being unethical as “it is not stated within the party’s constitution”.

“This is not a game, because the leadership of Umno is also the leadership of the country.

“We have to be more responsible than that. Don’t allow people to laugh at us!” he said, noting that the flip-flop political agreement between Abdullah and Najib created great confusion among not only party members but among ordinary Malaysians as well and had turrned the whole country into an international laughing stock.

Yesterday’s posting to as reaction to Pak Lah’s announcement was “Handover to Najib – Will that Happen?” and we dabbled with the possibility that many things can happen between now and March.  The opposing forces will certainly not sit around quietly for sure.  It has started!

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.