Rabu, 10 April 2013

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The Princess of Reform

Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:59 AM PDT

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/files/images/nurul_izzah_campaign_edited.jpg 

(Foreign Policy) - Last month, a young opposition member of Malaysia's Parliament, Nurul Izzah Anwar, was scheduled to speak at a university forum on the country's impending general election. You'd think that that wouldn't have been a problem: Malaysia's rulers, after all, routinely portray their country as a thriving democracy. 

In this case, though, the guardians of democracy weren't having any of it. Anonymous officials quickly intervened, pressuring the university to pull the panel and replace its members with speakers less inclined to criticize the government. But Nurul Izzah refused to leave it at that. She attended the event as a member of the audience, and then used the question-and-answer period to speak her mind. 

Nurul Izzah is used to fighting the odds. At the age of 32, she's spent a lifetime battling the powers-that-be. And now, as Malaysia embarks on awatershed national vote on May 5, she finds herself at the center of a vicious battle to defend her seat. The ruling party is pulling out all the stops to defeat her. But the question remains: Why would this mother of two pose such a threat? 

Nurul Izzah became an opposition member of Malaysia's parliament in 2008 after winning in a multi-ethnic, mixed-income Kuala Lumpur suburb where she plans to run again. How she fares in the coming election will mirror Malaysia's political journey from a one-party system, sustained by sectarian politics and ethnic patronage, to a competitive, multiethnic, and egalitarian polity. The People's Pact, an opposition coalition led by Nurul's father, the 64-year-oldAnwar Ibrahim, is up against the National Front (Barisan Nasional, or BN), which has ruled Malaysia for the past 56 years. BN is dominated by the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), a party that serves as a political vehicle for the ethnic Malays who make up over half of the country's population. (Malaysia also boasts strong Chinese and Indian ethnic minorities, both groups that are represented especially heavily in Anwar's coalition.) 

Cracking the dominance of BN won't be easy. During his four years in office, the current prime minister and BN leader, Najib Razak, has presided over strong economic growth (5.6 percent last year) and has attempted to placate discontent by implementing a few modest liberalizing reforms. But the biggest challenge facing the opposition is BN's deeply-rooted control over Malaysia's most important institutions, from the mainstream media to the national election commission. In the run-up to the national election, indeed, Nurul has seen fit to file a claim with the commission alleging tampering with the voter lists for her constituency. One of her party workers was also recently beaten up by unknown assailants. 

Despite these obstacles, however, she does have some powerful advantages on her side. An articulate and charismatic speaker, the U.S.-educated (and confessed Radiohead fan) Nurul Izzah has considerable appeal among the educated and globalized elements within her country's remarkably diverse society. (After getting her undergraduate degree at a leading private university in Malaysia, she earned an MA at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C.) As a headscarf-wearing Muslim, she combines her cosmopolitan credentials with both a sense of religious propriety and decorum that has put her in good stead with the staunchly conservative ethnic Malay society. 

She also enjoys excellent name recognition, thanks to the long political saga of her father. Anwar Ibrahim lost his position as deputy prime minister in September 1998 in a showdown against Malaysia's long-entrenched prime minister and political strongman, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Placed under arrest, Anwar was beaten while in police custody, and then charged with sodomy (a crime in Malaysia) and corruption. He spent the next six years in prison, and in 2004 was acquitted on the charge of sodomy and released. But the "sodomite" label stuck. Mahathir used it to justify Anwar's inability to be a leader, and today supporters of the BN government still use it to demonize the People's Pact. 

Read more at: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/04/09/the_princess_of_reform?page=0,1 

Kit Siang will lose in Gelang Patah unless ....

Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:56 AM PDT

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eaEDIZOelSY/UWFqiNv9WFI/AAAAAAAAAf0/72BzSG3tz1s/s280/gelangpatah.JPG 

Gelang Patah - not an easy nut to crack unless the Ghost of Johor issue is raised 

The Pirates of Putra Jaya 

Gelang Patah is one of the hottest seats right now in the country. UMNO is in full alert after the introduction of Lim Kit Siang into this area. After conducting a situation analysis on the ground, the Pirates is coming to the following conclusion

 

Situation Analysis

The results in 2008 should give UMNO a cause to worry. In N48 Skudai, DAP led by Dr Boo managed to overturn a 2,193 majority for BN obtained in 2004 into a  landslide 12,854 majority. This was a net shift of over 14,000 votes in 4 years that indicates the GE 12 tsunami did reach the shores of Johor. Dr Boo's giant killing feat in this regard should not be underestimated as well.

Elsewhere, in N49 Nusajaya, BN managed to hold the seat. BN's candidate YB Aziz Sapian managed to beat out PAS's Mohd. Shah Lamat with an over 7,000 majority. This however was still a far cry from the 14,000 majority BN obtained in 2004, to which people attribute it as being caused by Pak Lah.

Now here comes the interesting bit. If you add the number of votes obtained by PR component parties, namely DAP and PAS, it should add to 32,383. This would have allowed PR to gain a comfortable 5,000+ majority and take Gelang Patah away from BN.

However, it did not turn out that way. Instead MCA's Tan Ah Eng beat out Dr Zaleha Mustafa comfortably, obtaining 33,630 votes compared to the 24,779 votes obtained by Dr Zaleha's. 

This meant that on a net basis, over 7,000 voters who had voted for PR turned and voted for BN. If we add Malay voters who would have voted for BN in the state and PR in the Parliament in order to support a Malay candidate, this indicates that the actual number of Chinese votes lost by PR in Parliament could be as high as 8,500 to 10,000 votes.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LPr7E-LsMjk/UWFqz31JYgI/AAAAAAAAAf8/wcdpyTQgxVk/s280/kgpulai.JPG UMNO is very strong in this area and can easily deliver 80 - 85% of the Malay votes and up to 80% of the Indian votes if Ghani contests the seat.

Our assessment of this area is that UMNO support is around 80-85% of the Malays in this area. The net increase in Chinese voters for PR may be strong, but if a solid 80% turns out against Kit Siang, the situation may turn out to be more difficult than usual.

The key issue for DAP in this battle is to ensure that MCA's Jason Teoh is replaced by Ghani. From our observations, if Jason Teoh is repalced, then Jason's supporters will sabotage Ghani at the polls. If DAP can hold on to 80% of the votes secured in 2008, then he will still need 28% of the Malay vote assuming that only of the 30% of the Indian votes are cast in favour of the DAP.

As it stands 28% is touch and go for LKS. Our feel of Malay support for Kit Siang in Gelang Patah could be as low as 10% to 15%. Thus it is quite conceivable that Kit Siang would lose given the current circumstances.

The biggest difficulty for PR right now is its complete lack of a strategy in Johor. The big issue with the Malays in this state is Lim Kang Hoo.  But so far, PR has strangely avoided bringing up this issue.  Other issues surround the takeover of the land by PTP and this too has been avoided. 

This issue becomes critical given the choice of candidate. Right now, Dr Mahathir's factions are pushing for Ghani to vacate his state seat and contest in Gelang Patah against Kit Siang. 

Read more at: http://pirates-of-putrajaya.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/kit-siang-will-lose-in-gelang-patah.html?m=1 

GE13: Federal-state row threatens Pakatan's record in Penang

Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:54 AM PDT

http://fz.com/sites/default/files/styles/1_landscape_slider_photo/public/GuanEng_mainpanel_2.jpg 

(fz.com) - The current sentiment in Penang is that a majority of the people there expect Pakatan Rakyat to be returned to power in the island state for a second term in the 13th general election.
 
Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng said it is possible for Pakatan to retain the state but it needs to attend to certain pressing issues, including enhancing cooperation with the federal government to undertake development and provide key services.
 
He said at the moment there were still no long term policies being planned, implemented or executed "properly" because of a gap in the federal-state relations.
 
"Penang Paradigm requires the state government to work together with the federal government. This puts a lot of doubt on the execution of the state's plans if things remain at status quo. 
 
"They have to accept a new reality where both parties work together and include everyone in their plans," he said in an interview with fz.com recently.
 
Penang Paradigm is DAP's 10-year development master plan, launched in February this year, with the objective of getting Malaysia out of the middle-income trap.
 
Illustrating his point with the traffic congestion issue in Penang, Khoo said the state could not introduce additional bus services as the permits would have to come from the federal government.
 
All public transportation systems throughout the country come under the charge of the Land Public Transport Commission.
 
"With this situation, perhaps the state needs to change its engagement approach. I think, Penangites want to see a relationship where they will work together," said Khoo.
 
Khoo believed it would be a problem if the political scenario remains at status quo, with Penang firmly entrenched in the hands of Pakatan, while BN continues to hold Putrajaya, and both governments being hostile towards each other.
 
In this situation, he said, things will come to a "breaking point" when Penangites cannot take the uncooperative relationship between the two governments anymore.
 
"We're trying to gauge the breaking point. I don't know when or what will be the breaking point. It's difficult to conduct business after the general election if both sides bicker. 
 
"The whole atmosphere is not suitable for governance and I don't know if the people will see this as a risk," said Khoo.

While expressing confidence that Pakatan will hold on to the majority of the seats on the island, he warned the coalition not to be complacent as Penang voters might surprise them.

Read more at: http://fz.com/content/ge13-federal-state-row-threatens-pakatans-record-penang 

The new front-line states in GE13

Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:49 AM PDT

http://m.todayonline.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_300x225_webapp/public/14542983_0.JPG 

Johan Saravanamuttu, Today Online 

The 13th General Election of Malaysia to be held on May 5 promises to be the toughest ever to be fought between the ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional (BN) and the Opposition, the Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

What are the so-called new front-line states in the capture and defence of Putrajaya? I take "front-line states" to mean those that will be defended or won at the state level, and those that could deliver more parliamentary seats to the Opposition.

Kelantan, Kedah, Penang and Selangor are front-line states for the PR to defend, while Perak is an important front-line state for the BN to keep, since it was taken over after the 2008 General Election.

Added to mix now are Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Sarawak and Sabah, where the PR is targeting its state governments and, more importantly, the capture of parliamentary seats in new terrain.

The PR is banking on a continuation of the non-Malay swing of 2008 and a splitting of the Malay vote, which the 16 by-elections held since 2008 — in which each side scored an equal number of wins — appears to affirm.

 

NEGERI SEMBILAN

First, a brief word: In Penang and Kelantan, few back the BN's chances of a takeover, while in Selangor and Perak, the pundits are talking about 50-50 odds.

In Kedah, the Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) is said to be weak under Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak, with the party dogged by internal squabbles, a poor public policy record, and unpopular actions, such as the stopping of stage shows and karaoke lounges, which has irked non-Muslims.

The prospect of Dr Mahathir Mohamad's son Mukhriz as a potential Menteri Besar has also created a small stir. The BN would need to capture five more seats to overtake the PR in the 36-seat State Assembly, in which the PR holds 20 seats.

The irony for the BN is that the converse could happen in Negeri Sembilan, a new front-line state, where the BN has only a slim majority in a 36-seat state assembly. The PR, with 15 seats, is four seats short of assuming power in the state. The key factor lies in the weakness of the non-Malay coalition partners within UMNO — the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), Malaysian Indian Congress and the virtually non-existent Gerakan in this state.

State Opposition leader Mr Anthony Loke of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) will lead the charge in contesting Chennah, a seat which has a mixed constituency of 54 per cent Chinese, 41 per cent Malays, and 3 per cent Indians. In 2008, the MCA candidate had won this constituency by fewer than 1,300 votes.

It is in such seats that the DAP generally holds an advantage, with the swing of Chinese voters to the opposition. (It is worth noting that Mr Loke is an MP for Rasah, a constituency with a similar ethnic make-up which he won in 2008 by more than 13,000 votes against his MCA opponent.)

 

SHIFT IN JOHOR

This leads us to Johor. How could this state, in which the PR took only one parliamentary and six state seats previously, be now seen as "front line"?

The PR's fate rests mainly upon Chinese votes and the "battle royale" building between the DAP and the MCA in Johor.

The MCA has floundered as a party wracked by factionalism ever since Dr Chua Soi Lek won the leadership struggle in 2009. This explains in no small measure the erosion of Chinese support in the BN's erstwhile bastion of Johor.

DAP party strategist Mr Liew Chin Tong (who will stand in Kluang) describes Johor's seats as having become "dominos". Somewhat optimistically, he thinks that some 20 seats could fall to the PR. This is premised on the expectation of 35 per cent Malay, 80 per cent Chinese and 50 per cent Indian support in the state, and the fact that most Johor seats are of the mixed variety.

Only in eight out of Johor's 26 parliamentary seats do Malays make up more than 60 per cent of voters. No seat has more than 60 per cent of Chinese voters.

Johor has also been targeted by the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and the PAS. PKR's Johor party chief Mr Chua Jui Meng was formerly Vice-President of the MCA and BN Minister for Health, but he is now a firm PKR man who will run in Segamat. The PAS will send Vice-President Salahuddin Ayub to contest the Pulai parliamentary seat and the Nusa Jaya state seat, with the distant hope that he could be made the Johor Menteri Besar.

Read more at: http://www.todayonline.com/commentary/new-front-line-states-ge13

 

How the tide has changed in Kluang

Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:47 AM PDT

http://www.thesundaily.my/sites/default/files/imagecache/article/thesun/Catalogue/p3%20leekaw_c6_c658913_13411_732.jpg Lee Kaw 

A visible shift in public sentiment in this Johor constituency reflects how the battle is shaping up in what was considered a bastion of the BN.

N. Nadeswaran, The Sun Daily 

AFTER the DAP's announcement on March 30 that its elections strategist Liew Chin Tong would be the party's candidate for Kluang, a small group of party leaders including Lim Kit Siang walked nonchalantly into the Kluang Country Club. Members, who were having their beers after finishing their round of golf, gave a thunderous welcome and offered the visitors the hospitality usually reserved for VIPs.

Three days later, it was the turn of Johor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Ghani Othman to turn up at the club with trappings of pomp and protocol. But the response was subdued even though it is election time when you could get an unexpected windfall. Ghani announced a RM100,000 grant to the club from the state government.

These contrasting events reflect how the battle is shaping up in what was considered a bastion of the MCA and the Barisan Nasional (BN). The donation although welcomed, was met with cynicism – if he wants to give, why should we refuse?

One of the doyens of the club is Lee Kaw. He's 74 and was DAP's sole MP in Johor for just one term – elected in 1978, after which the BN through MCA has held on to the seat.

Last Saturday, he made his first political speech in a crowded shop house in Kluang after 26 years. But Lee Kaw still retains the fire in his belly despite staying away from politics since 1982.

Lee Kaw came out of "retirement" on a request to oblige an old comrade, Kit Siang, to assist the DAP in shoring up support for Liew to wrest the Kluang seat. And the thunderous reception and applause he got when he finally spoke at the launch of the party's operations centre was indicative of his influence on the people. It was not just from Chinese constituents. The response he received when he popped by for a coffee at the nearby Kopi Tiam showed his popularity.

"Those days, we campaigned for our voices to be heard in Parliament or the State Assembly. We talked about the cost of contracts, the issue of land and Chinese new villages. There were 86 such villages in Kluang which were in need of development," says Lee Kaw who was party treasurer when Kit Siang was the head honcho of the party.

Issues have since changed after all these years. Corruption, economic development and cost of living have taken centre stage. Locals say that Kluang has been left out of development. And of course, winning this seat is significant in Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) proposed march to Putrajaya.

"We have been 'colonised' for 26 years. While towns like Muar and Batu Pahat have enjoyed so much development, we can only say that our progress has been stagnant," says a local businessman.

Read more at: http://www.thesundaily.my/node/196886 

Najib demands BN unity in ‘explosive’ speech

Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:45 AM PDT

http://www.todayonline.com/sites/default/files/styles/photo_gallery_image/public/14618788_0.JPG 

(Today Online) - Malaysian PM drives home importance of fielding 'winnable' candidates in coming polls

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak yesterday demanded complete co-operation from all the leaders from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, pointing out it would be "impossible" to please everyone when drawing up the party's final candidates list.

The BN Chairman, in what leaders later described as an "explosive" speech ahead of the May 5 polls, repeated his message of unity to a hall of hundreds at the Putra World Trade Centre, reminding them that their most important goal is to form a strong government after Election 2013.

"I took the opportunity to tell them the few factors that we need to take into consideration in the division of seats and the identification of candidates, so that they understand that this is a complex and complicated process and we are unlikely to be able to fulfil the wishes of all or to satisfy every individual," Mr Najib told a press conference here after the briefing.

"It is impossible for this to happen," he firmly added.

Mr Najib and his close associates have kept the BN's candidates list a guessing game among even the pact's more senior leaders, believing that this strategy would help stop internal sabotage during the actual polls.

Read more at: http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/najib-demands-bn-unity-explosive-speech 

Malaysian general election set for May 5

Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:41 AM PDT

http://www.todayonline.com/sites/default/files/styles/photo_gallery_image/public/14602522_0.JPG 

(Today Online) - Nomination Day is on April 20, 15-day campaign period is the longest in three decades

Malaysians will head to the ballot box on May 5, for what is shaping up to be one of the most closely-fought elections in the history of Singapore's next-door neighbour.

While speculation was rife that Polling Day would be earlier, political pundits were not surprised by the 15-day campaign period — the longest in about three decades — decided upon by the country's Election Commission, given the expected intensity of the electoral contests.

Nomination Day is on April 20. There are 222 Parliamentary and 505 state seats at stake. Sarawak will sit out this round of state elections as it went to the polls in 2011.

Some 13.3 million Malaysians are eligible to vote this time around, with first-time voters making up about 2.6 million of this number.

Analysts have noted that the election is crucial to Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is seeking a mandate to carry on with the country's economic transformation after taking over in 2009 as the country's sixth Prime Minister.

Election Commission Chair Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said in a televised press conference: "We have checked and decided on May 5 as the date for elections, because the date is free from any important events."

While the political parties are only allowed to campaign from Nomination Day onwards, election fever has gripped the country since Mr Najib dissolved Parliament last Wednesday.

Yesterday's announcement was a prelude to a flurry of election activities in Malaysia's capital: The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition organised a closed-door session at the Putra World Trade Centre where Mr Najib gave an "explosive" speech — in the words of members of the audience — to hundreds of BN leaders.

About 1,000 United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) Selangor activists also gathered in Shah Alam, where they were asked by BN deputy chief for Selangor Noh Omar and BN's Selangor coordinator Mohd Zin Mohamed to support the candidates that Mr Najib puts up for the 22 Parliament and 56 state seats at stake in Selangor.

The Parti Keadilan Rakyat also held a rally last night where about 2,000 people turned up despite a drizzle.

Opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim, who was the star attraction at the rally, said the BN was "at a disconnect with the people". Speaking in Malay, he said: "UMNO leaders are blind with both their eyes and their hearts — they don't know the hardship of the people. I'm making promises ... but why is Najib making promises when he is the Prime Minister? He should just be doing (things instead)."

In the previous elections in 2008, political parties were allowed to campaign officially for 13 days. The results were described as a political tsunami, with the opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, capturing five states. The BN won 50.27 per cent of the popular vote, while Pakatan took 46.8 per cent.

Read more at: http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/malaysian-general-election-set-may-5 

Malaysia: Drop Sedition Charges for Opposition Leader

Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:38 AM PDT

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(Human Rights Watch) - "A top priority for the next government of Malaysia should be the immediate repeal of the Sedition Act, an anachronistic, rights repressive law that should have been scrapped long ago," Robertson said. "Malaysia should resist calls to replace it with a more cheerfully named yet equally oppressive piece of legislation, and trust in the existing penal code to preserve peace and order."

(New York) – Malaysian authorities should drop sedition charges against a political opposition leader that violate rights to free expression, Human Rights Watch said today. On April 12, 2013, a court in Kuala Lumpur will bring proceedings against Tian Chua, vice-president of the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People's Justice Party, PKR) and a member of parliament.


The charges against Tian relate to a statement he made in the media concerning recent violence in Sabah and the alleged role of the United Malay National Organization (UMNO), the largest party in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. Malaysia's sedition law has long been used by the authorities to silence peaceful critics and opposition party leaders.

"Charging an opposition leader with sedition for expressing his views in the media ahead of a general election is a direct assault on the democratic process," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director. "Prosecutors should end this charade and immediately drop their politically motivated charges against Tian Chua."

If convicted, Tian faces a sentence of up to three years in prison and a fine of RM 5000 (US$1,600). A conviction resulting in a sentence of at least one year or a fine of RM 2000 would disqualify him from standing for elections or holding office as a member of parliament. Any such disqualification would only cease five years after he is released from custody or when he pays the fine. He is currently free on bail.

The authorities charged Tian under section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948 for making seditious remarks over the phone on March 1 to a reporter at the Suara Keadilan (Keadilan Daily). He is accused of saying the February fighting at Lahad Datu, in Sabah, between Malaysian security forces and armed men from the Philippines was part of a "planned conspiracy" by the "UMNO government" in order "to divert attention and frighten citizens." He is also alleged to have raised concerns about the "UMNO government" engaging in a "shadow play" connected to an election registration conspiracy in Sabah.

The Sedition Act includes vague offenses such as uttering "any seditious words" without defining what constitutes "sedition" or "seditious words," Human Rights Watch said. Instead the act broadly outlaws any "seditious tendency" that would "bring into hatred or contempt or excite disaffection against any Ruler or against any Government."

Prime Minister Najib Razak has repeatedly called for repeal of the Sedition Act. In his April 3 announcement that he would seek re-election, Najib stated that he "look[ed] forward to repealing the Sedition Act and replacing it with legislation more suited to our times."

Human Rights Watch has sought repeal of the Sedition Act on grounds that it permits restrictions on freedom of expression beyond those allowed by international human rights standards.

Read more at: http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/04/10/malaysia-drop-sedition-charges-opposition-leader 

Malaysians in Britain eager to vote

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 07:37 PM PDT

(Bernama) - LONDON: More than 70,000 Malaysians are now residing in United Kingdom (UK). Some are studying in colleges or universities and mostly working. Many have brought along families and have been staying in UK for more than a decade.    

With the polling date for the 13th General Election (GE13) set on May 5, and Malaysians overseas for the first time allowed to vote as postal voters, Malaysians in Britain are eager to exercise their rights as voters.     

Bernama's writer had the opportunity to look into the preparations being made by Malaysians in London for the GE13 as postal or absent voters.   

 "As of 24 March 2013, a total of 839 Malaysians have registered as postal voters in UK to vote during GE13," explained Malaysian High Commissioner to Britain Datuk Seri Zakaria Sulong to Bernama when met in London recently.         

This is the first time in the country's election history, Malaysians have been allowed to vote from another country. Previously, only civil servants stationed overseas had the privilege of voting in absence but not the other employees and students.     

Zakaria expects the number of Malaysian voters in London to increase on the run up to the election.     

"Those who have registered as voters have to be at the High Commission office to certify their identity through their IC or passports before they are handed over their voting slip, on the polling day meant for postal voters,"explained Zakaria.     

The Election Commission (EC) has set an early polling date for postal and absent voters on April 30.     

The postal voters voting for the first time in UK will be receiving voting slips based on their respective parliament and state assembly seats.

Yet there are other loyal Malaysians who are planning to return home for the GE13 to vote at the respective polling centres.     

Nevertheless, the postal vote facility helps to save cost as they don't have to waste money on air tickets to return home and there is no need to take long leave to be back home to vote in GE13 and the subsequent elections.     

Moreover, postal voters need not have their fingers marked with indelible ink according to Zakaria because of the limited numbers of voters and as there is only one voting centre in London, the Malaysian High Commission.           

A Malaysian, Wan Nur Suryani Firuz Wan Ariffin when met at the Kings College campus at The Strand, London, pointed out how easily she registered as a postal voter.     

"It just took me a short while. I went into the EC website as required and submitted my application, received a message that my submission has been received in less than 10 minutes," explained Wan Nur who is into her sixth month of her Phd degree in telecommunication engineering at the prestigious college that boasts for 25,000 undergraduates and postgraduates.       

When asked if her application to vote was successful, Wan Nur nodded with asmile.     

"Alhamdulillah. I definitely want to vote in PRU13. Me and my husband who works at the immigration section of the Malaysian High Commission here will exercise our rights as citizens," he added, while walking to a restaurant for a tea break.               

Meanwhile, S.Devina from Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, who continued her stay in Britain after completing her studies also concurred with Wan Nur that registering as a postal voter was easy.       

"When is the election? I have been waiting all this while, and have been asking on the date. When ever I meet fellow Malaysians, I ask the same question," said Devina with a giggle.     

Devina, who is fluent in the Malay language, is attached to the Southeast Asian and African Studies (SOAS) Department at the London University in Bloomsbury, got to know of the postal voting and the registration process involved through social websites.     

"I welcome the opportunity to vote given to Malaysians overseas. This is a wise move of the Malaysian government. As soon as I heard of the announcement, I was exhilarated and waited for the postal voting registration to be activated,"added Devina when met at the Brunei Gallery, located right opposite of the SOAS building.     

Malaysians working for locals or multi nationals in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia also underwent same registration process recently.

While the returning officer is in charge of the polling centres, the polling centre at the High Commission will be managed by an official and his assistant both appointed by the EC.     

Apart from that, the agents for candidates also given the opportunity to observe the voting process like back home.     

A clerk will be appointed to counter check the voters list at the polling centre in London and hand over to the voters the respective ballot papers.     

After receiving the ballot papers, the voter then proceeds to the polling booth to make his choice and the marked ballot is then cast into a bag.     

After the voting is closed, the bag will be taken by the official back  to Malaysia using the fastest route.     

"From London's Heathrow, there are two return flights to Malaysia daily, therefore the ballot papers can be dispatched speedily," explained Zakaria.     

After the ballot papers arrive in Malaysia, they will be sent to the respective Parliament and state assembly polling centres.

Those who have registered as postal voters should take advantage of this opportunity introduced recently by the Malaysian government.     

Malaysia is among a handful of countries that now allows its citizens to vote from outside.     

Apart from that many of the outstanding contention that haunted the voters hither to will be over once they mark the ballot papers.     

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had signed a MoU with Transparency International to monitor and ensure GE13 freely and fairly to fulfill the Malaysians aspirations

 

Bersih, Pakatan accused of using dirty tactics

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 07:04 PM PDT

Former Transparent International-Malaysia president Tunku Aziz claims election agents and voters have been trained to create chaos on polling day. 

Alyaa Azhar, FMT

Former Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) president Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim today urged Bersih and Pakatan Rakyat to state their stand on the purported strategies designed to create "chaos" on polling day.

"We have received related documents that appear to indicate that there are plans by certain parties to disrupt the 13th general election by creating chaos and besmirching the Election Commission [EC] to undermine the public's confidence in the integrity of the democratic electoral process.

"Training sessions, known as PACABA, have been conducted for polling and counting agents by the NGO Tindak Malaysia. One particular aspect of such training sessions is to teach the voter to guard the secrecy of his or her vote," he said.

He further claimed that people are being trained to demand for random ballot paper in order to guarantee the secrecy of their votes.

Tunku Aziz said asking for random ballot paper means that a voter will demand for a ballot paper from the middle or bottom of the pile and not the one on the top.

"The people attending such training are encouraged to challenge the election clerks on duty of committing an electoral offence if they refuse to issue a random ballot to the voter, while polling agents have been trained to support such a request by the voter.

"These people are specially trained to cause trouble and when the police have to intervene and remove the people involved, this would make it look like the election is dirty and video recordings of such instances will attract a lot of international attention," claimed Tunku Aziz.

He said that such training sessions have been conducted at various places, in "certain state-owned venues under the administration of the Pakatan state governments."

"They are teaching people to make a mockery of the democratic system. These are also strategies to demonise the EC and to make Malaysia look like a country run by a bunch of dictators.

"We have also seen an internal PKR document dated Dec 15, 2012 which lists out various steps to create chaos and dissatisfaction against the EC on polling day by raising repeated protests at the polling station so as to cause the other voters waiting in the queue to be unhappy and dissatisfied with the EC," he said.

Negative perception

He said this is to delay the entire voting process thereby causing long queues at certain designated polling stations.

"All these are designed to cast a negative perception on the EC and stir public outrage against the EC, bringing it into disrepute.

"The PKR document and what that has been promoted by Tindak Malaysia show how easily chaos can be created at polling stations on polling day," he said.

Tunku Aziz also urged Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga to state her stand in the issue.

READ MORE HERE

 

Fong not contesting in GE13

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 06:23 PM PDT

The Batu Gajah MP cited personal reasons for her decision and said that she had informed of her intentions to Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh in September.

G Vinod, FMT

Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan will not be contesting for any seat in the 13th general election.

She cited personal reasons for her sudden departure from mainstream politics.

"I have informed party adviser and chairman, Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh, of my intention way back in September itself," Fong said in a statement.

However, she vowed to play her role as a DAP leader to ensure Pakatan Rakyat captures federal power in the general election.

She also conveyed her appreciation to the party and voters of the Batu Gajah parliamentary constituency for giving her the opportunity to serve them since 1999.

"I would like to thank reporters and civil servants who have assisted me in serving my constituents over the years," said Fong.

On what is her future plans, Fong said with a chuckle, "Look for a job."

Fong won the Batu Gajah parliamentary seat for the first time in 1999 general election,  held after  the sacking of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Not only was she the youngest elected MP then, Fong also won the seat with a majority of over 2,000 votes.

Since then, Fong has made her mark as an outspoken MP and even earned the monicker "cili padi".

However, Fong almost quit politics in the run-up to the 2008 general election but was persuaded to stay on by Lim.

It was said that she made the decision after having a fallout with the Perak DAP leadership.

On March 25, several DAP members, on condition of anonymity, alleged that the Perak DAP leadership would be sending Fong to contest in Johor, in an attempt to bury her political career.

 

EC: GE13 not dirtiest, but the best

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 06:11 PM PDT

EC chief Abdul Aziz Yusof says contrary to the opposition's claims, the coming polls will be the best ever.

Leven Woon, FMT

Election Commission chairman Abdul Aziz Yusof has dismissed the opposition's claim that the 13th general election will be the dirtiest polls ever, saying that the EC has put in place various reforms to ensure the integrity of the contest.

Commenting on the claims that the frequent occurrence of political violence is a sign that the country is heading towards the dirtiest polls ever, Abdul Aziz said detractors failed to see EC's efforts of introducing 19 new rules to improve the conduct of the polls.

The regulations included the indelible ink, registration of advanced voters and postal voters, allowing advanced voting for military personnel and spouses instead of postal voting, abolishing the process of protest on nomination day, and allowing the disabled to bring a companion to help them to vote.

"I disagree that it will be the dirtiest. We have put in place so many changes… So we hope it will be the best election ever held," he said.

Abdul Aziz was addressing media queries at a conference after announcing the nomination and polling dates.

He contended that the level of political violence "is not very serious" and hoped leaders from various political parties can advise their supporters and members to be rationale.

Using government asset to campaign

On the concerns of the caretaker government using state assets to campaign for party interests, he said each state by right should abide by the code of ethics imposed by respective state administrations.

"However, the code of ethics is only a guideline, it is not a form of stipulated laws which can be tendered in court," he said.

READ MORE HERE

 

BN faces formidable opposition

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 06:08 PM PDT

The United Malays National Organisation (Umno), which has controlled Malaysia through coalition governments since independence in 1957, faces a formidable opposition that promises to end corruption, cronyism and authoritarian rule.

by M. Jegathesan, AFP

Malaysia today announced a general election for May 5, setting a long-awaited date for polls tipped to be its closest ever as the long-ruling government seeks to hold off a surging opposition.

Speaking a week after Prime Minister Najib Razak dissolved Parliament, Election Commission chairman Aziz Yusof said the two-week official campaign period would kick off on April 20.

The United Malays National Organisation (Umno), which has controlled Malaysia through coalition governments since independence in 1957, faces a formidable opposition that promises to end corruption, cronyism and authoritarian rule.

Under Umno, multi-ethnic Malaysia became a regional economic success story while enjoying relative harmony between majority ethnic Malays and its sizeable minorities.

Najib hopes to extend the government's unbeaten run in the polls by focusing on his steady economic stewardship and a torrent of cash handouts and other sweeteners to the public.

"This election is a choice between sticking with a competent, reform-minded government and risking our prosperity on a fractious, inexperienced opposition," a spokesman for Najib told AFP after the polling date was announced.

But the opposition has won support with pledges of clean, transparent governance and respect for civil liberties, enjoying unprecedented freedom to get its message past state-controlled mainstream media via the Internet.

The three-party opposition surged to its best showing ever in the 2008 vote, shattering the ruling regime's decades-old aura of invincibility.

Speculation over a date for fresh polls has been at fever pitch in the past two years but Najib set the stage last week by dissolving Parliament just ahead of its expiry at the end of the month.

The Umno-controlled Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition had romped to victory in every election before 2008, when it lost its powerful two-thirds majority.

It now faces the fight of its life against the Pakatan Rakyat (People's Pact) opposition led by Anwar Ibrahim.

The charismatic Anwar was handpicked by authoritarian ex-leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad as heir to Umno but was ousted from government in 1998 and jailed in a power struggle between the two men that left Malaysian politics deeply polarised.

"For Pakatan Rakyat it is the best possible chance to offer a viable alternative for democracy and a more responsible government. I think the chances of winning are very good," Anwar told AFP.

With a tight contest forecast, both sides have competed to lure voters with a range of electoral promises, stoking debt fears.

Najib upped the ante on Saturday, pledging more cash for the poor and other handouts.

Pakatan has promised free primary-to-university education, policies to boost incomes, and other measures.

The opposition and electoral reform advocates complain the contest is not free and fair due to a system skewed in the government's favour, and have warned of outright fraud, alleging widespread irregularities in voter rolls.

But the government rejects the charges, citing recent reforms such as the introduction of indelible ink to prevent multiple voting, and EC chief Aziz said anti-corruption authorities would monitor polling.

Najib took the helm of the ethnic Malay-dominated ruling coalition in 2009 after his predecessor resigned amid pressure over the polls setback the year before.

Seeking his first mandate from voters, Najib has launched reforms to strengthen the economy and improve civil liberties. The economy grew a steady 5.6 percent last year despite the global malaise.

But the opposition calls Najib's reforms half-hearted window-dressing and has harped on recurring corruption scandals linked to the government.

BN holds 135 of Parliament's 222 seats and nine of Malaysia's 13 states, while the opposition has 75 seats and control of four states.

 

Opposition ‘spoilers’ giving Sabah BN quiet wins

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 04:15 PM PDT

STAR and SAPP have reminded Sabah DAP and Sabahans that voting for Pakatan would be a case of jumping from the frying pan into fire situation. 

Luke Rintod, FMT

KOTA KINABALU : Opposition parties DAP, SAPP and STAR have a common enemy in Barisan Nasional. Yet they seem unable to hold it together, constantly kniving each other instead of plotting against their enemy.

This in itself is intriguing and is telling of Sabah's layered opposition politics which runs deep on distrust.

Yesterday, DAP's sole parliamentarian Hiew King Chew, accused both State Reform Party (STAR) and Sabah Progressive Peoples Party (SAPP) of being "useless" parties that cannot do anything.

"It is a waste to vote STAR or SAPP," he had said in statement that lumped the two parties as "spoilers" in the 13th general election.

Hiew's statement was featured prominently in Sabah local dailies, spiking the heat in what will be an all-time 'do or die' elections for some groups.

SAPP information chief, Chong Pit Fah however shot Hiew's view as "arrogant" and merely promoting Pakatan Rakyat to replace BN, at the expense of Sabahans' real aspiration to restore glory to state autonomy.

"Let me remind Hiew that it is his boss Lim Kit Siang who admitted that DAP cannot win Sabah.

"So if (Pakatan) cannot win Sabah, why must contest here and become a spoiler?" Chong retorted.

Chong was referring to Lim's recent interview with Sin Chew Daily in which he had said that Pakatan was set to recapture Perak, retain Kedah, Penang, Kelantan and Selangor and take over only Perlis and Negeri Sembilan.

"It is also strange that Hiew is always complaining about SAPP flags being flown everywhere including near his office, when he never complained about Umno or BN flags," said Chong, who accused Hiew of feeling threatened by surging support for local parties like SAPP.

Who's greedy?

Chong also said that Hiew's argument that should SAPP form a state government it would run into trouble just like previous Parti Bersatu Sabah's state government was "lame and outdated".

"PBS time was different as Umno was very strong then under Dr Mahathir Mohamad, but now the landscape has changed with both BN and PR equally strong or weak, in need of continuous support from Sabah and Sarawak," he said.

He also called on Hiew to reflect on Lim and Pakatan leader Anwar Ibrahim's persistent statements that the country is going bankrupt.

He said it was Malaya that was going bankrupt and because of their greed, it was bankrupting the whole nation.

"Bankrupting Malaysia is not the doing of Sabah and Sarawak. In fact Sabah and Sarawak are cushioning the economic impacts of Malaya's border-less greed and unrepentant plundering the country," he said.

Chong, who is poised to stand as SAPP candidate for Kepayan state seat near here, argued that Hiew has no right to accuse state parties of greed.

"Unlike DAP, SAPP has always been here for the single reason that it fights for Sabah and Sabahans, and of course we are looking at seats within Sabah of which there are only 25 parliamentary seats and 60 state seats

"There are more than 400 state seats in Peninsular and 165 parliamentary seats over there that the DAP and Pakatan can lay their hands on, so why is still the greed to grab the few seats in Sabah too?

"Seriously now, who is greedy?" asked Chong.

READ MORE HERE

 

PKR, PSM jostle for Kota Damansara seat

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 04:13 PM PDT

Selangor PKR chief Azmin Ali has apparently given the green light to a lawyer to campaign in Kota Damansara which is held by PSM. 

K Pragalath, FMT

Parti Sosialis Malaysia's (PSM) sole state seat in Selangor, Kota Damansara, is likely to be taken away from it.

Its ally PKR wants the seat and apparently a lawyer, Razlan Jalaludin (not Razlan Hadri as reported earlier), has been given the green light by Selangor PKR chief Azmin Ali to start campaigning in Kota Damansara.

This could stem from the fact that PSM chairman Nasir Hashim won the seat under the PKR banner in 2008. He did so because PSM was only officially recognised by the government recently.

In 2008, Nasir defeated Zein Isma Ismail of Umno. He polled 11,846 to Zein's 10,771, and won with a majority of 1,075 votes. There were 29,701 voters of which 56% were Malays, 30% Chinese and 14% Indians then.

Nasir meanwhile is at a loss on why PKR wants the seat.

"We're friends fighting together against a common enemy. I don't know why PKR is fussy about us.

"To say that PKR has an issue with our socialist ideology doesn't make any sense… we never had any problems for the past five years," said the 66-year-old founding chairman of PSM.

Razlan is also known to be close with Taman Medan state legislative assembly member and deputy speaker Haniza Talha of PKR.

Kota Damansara is one of the three seats under Subang parliamentary constituency. The other two are Paya Jaras and Bukit Lanjan. The Subang parliamentary seat is held by R Sivarasa of PKR.

Kota Damansara state seat comprises areas such as Ara Damansara, Subang airport, Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia, two new Chinese Villages, Sungai Buloh army camp and Dataran Sunway. It also has the second largest Malay village – Kampung Melayu Subang.

Currently, there are 44,000 voters and the Malays make up 55% of them. There are 35% Chinese and 10% Indians.

PKR unhappy with PSM logo

Sources meanwhile told FMT that PKR, at the decision-making level, is claiming that the people are uncomfortable with PSM's fist logo. PSM has a red flag with a white fist.

There appears to be a lot of pressure from PKR for Nasir to use PKR's double white crescent logo instead of the white fist.

"We know that they [PKR] want us to run for elections under their ticket. Why should we when we have our own party with our own logo?

"Putting a PKR candidate here would only create a three-cornered fight with PSM and PKR going against BN. I am the incumbent. PKR's presence would serve as a spoiler," said the white-haired, bespectacled Nasir who spots a goatee and walks with the aid of a walking stick.

There have also been rumours spread via e-mail that Nasir is suffering from cancer.

"I have only underwent a whole knee cap replacement surgery about two months ago, which requires me to use a walking stick. I have been given a clean bill of health… no heart problem, cancer, or diabetes," he said.

When asked whether PSM's presence would dampen ambitions of certain PKR leaders in the event that Pakatan forms the next federal government, Nasir dismissed the notion.

"Two of us can't make a dent or any major difference," said Nasir in reference to his party secretary-general S Arutchelvan who is contesting the Semenyih seat.

READ MORE HERE

 

GE13: Intense horse-trading among PKR hopefuls

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 04:11 PM PDT

(The Star) - With just less than a day until the Election Commission (EC) announces the polling and nomination dates for GE13, PKR saw intense horse-trading by candidate hopefuls.

The PKR headquarters here was abuzz yesterday with potential candidates jostling and doing some last-minute lobbying for a place in the general election.

Journalists had also taken to camping out below the headquarters, waiting for any announcement from the party over the finalisation of their seat allocations as well as the candidates' list.

Party deputy president Azmin Ali had previously said that the seat negotiations between Pakatan Rakyat parties would conclude earlier this week before the the EC's announcement of the nomination and polling dates today.

However, it was not to be as it is understood that several seats in Johor, Sabah and Sarawak are still in contention.

This has not stopped many of the party's elected representatives as well as potential candidates from lining up to meet PKR's top guns president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, her husband Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Azmin.

Both Anwar and Dr Wan Azizah, who were seen leaving the building together, were tight lipped over the candidates, with the president blaming her sore throat for declining to answer questions.

"This is just PKR's meeting on the general elections," said Anwar.

Meanwhile, Azmin told reporters that Pakatan should conclude their talks today, adding that they were already "so close" with less than 10 seats still in contention.

"That I think is already quite an achievement. We only have less than 10 seats left out of all the 222 parliamentary seats and 505 state seats in the country," he said, playing down talks of discord within Pakatan.

However, he expressed surprise when told that PAS had announced most of their candidates.

Negotiations with former Barisan Nasional men Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing's Angkatan Perubahan Sabah and Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin's Pertubuhan Pakatan Perubahan Sabah had also concluded and they would announce their candidates on Thursday and Friday, added Azmin.

 

'Anwar's religious image just a political front'

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 03:50 PM PDT

Former Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement president Dr Yusri Mohamad says Islamic groups have never been in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's inner circle. 

Yusri said the concept of 'Anwarism', which had been established in Abim much earlier than in Pas and Parti Keadilan Rakyat, had resulted in those who were not in Anwar's camp being sidelined.

Hariz Mohd, NST

Another former staunch supporter of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has come forward to reveal the latter's true colours.

Former Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim) president Dr Yusri Mohamad said Anwar, the opposition adviser who portrayed himself as an Islamic figure, did not have a firm stand on matters pertaining to Islam.

Recently, a close acquaintance of Anwar had given a damning assessment of the de facto Parti Keadilan Rakyat leader, saying that Anwar was not fit to lead the country.

Academician and former International Islamic University Malaysia deputy rector Prof Datuk Dr Sidek Baba, who has known Anwar for more than 30 years, said Anwar lacked the credibility to be prime minister.

Sidek said he realised the person Anwar really was when he did his own research on the latter for three years and met 28 people who were close allies of Anwar.

Yusri, who is also chairman of the Coalition of Malaysian Islamic non-governmental organisations (Pembela) and president of the Islamic and Strategic Studies Institute, said he had his fair share in opposition politics, especially during the early years of Reformasi.

He said he was worried with what had become of Anwar now.

"Anwar only maintains an external 'Islamic' image for political reasons, but does not have any firm stand on religious matters.

"Anwar is (politically) clever -- he maintains his contact with Islamic groups, including Abim, and figures like Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, but these are his contacts only at face value and to a limited extent.

"The Islamic groups have never been his inner circle.

"He might have consulted them for opinions, but they have no influence in his decision-making," Yusri said in an interview with the New Straits Times.

"At the same time, Anwar is trying to please everyone and (in doing so) contradicting himself.

"When he is with the liberals, he would support their cause.

"When he is with the Muslim groups, he would say something totally opposite.

"What is his real stand?"

On Abim's close relations with Anwar, Yusri said the movement should distance itself from partisan politics.

He claimed that Abim had lost influence in the country's Islamic dakwah for focusing too much to politics.

"After Anwar left Abim, the movement's focus still tends to be with him instead of core business, like education.

"I used to rebuff when some people jokingly referred to Abim as 'Anwar Bin Ibrahim's Movement', but if you look at its track record, it is true to some extent.

"Abim has not been able to divorce itself from the individual.

"Too much (of its) attention and imagination (are) coloured by Anwar. This is unfortunate as Abim can be bigger than Anwar or any political leader by contributing to education and societal development, among others."

Yusri added that despite riding on the image of an Islamic leader because of his background in Abim, Anwar had not extended much help to the organisation throughout his political years.

However, Abim leaders, who valued the sense of camaraderie, still stood behind Anwar when he was fired from the cabinet.

Yusri said the concept of 'Anwarism', which had been established in Abim much earlier than in Pas and Parti Keadilan Rakyat, had resulted in those who were not in Anwar's camp being sidelined.

"That is why people like me and former Abim secretary-general Datuk Sidek, who adopt a different and more critical approach, are not welcomed in the organisation's circle.

"It can be said that we are ostracised. I am also the only former president who has not been invited into Abim's Syura council."

Yusri also said the future of Islam in Malaysia would be in danger should Pakatan Rakyat be given the mandate to run the country.

"In issues like apostasy, religious pluralism and the use of the word 'Allah', the people cannot help but notice Pakatan's tendency to be too liberalist or pluralist.

"This is worrying because from a religious perspective, if one is willing to compromise in matters of faith and is disloyal to the teachings of Islam, one is courting disaster."

Yusri, who was the sixth Abim president from 2005 to 2009, said Barisan Nasional had a good track record in maintaining peace and stability in a multireligious and multiracial nation.

"A good thing about Umno leaders is that although they are not ulama (Islamic scholars), they are able to carry out their main responsibility, which is to drive the country forward.

"Knowing that religion is not their forte, they also do not try to be smart when it comes to religious matters.

"Umno leaders will listen to and have respect for Islamic scholars.

"They have humility and accept specialisation and authority.

"However, this is not the case with some Pakatan leaders, including Anwar, who tend to be too adventurous in Islamic affairs."

 

Ansari tests PKR's sincerity

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 03:46 PM PDT

PRE-EMPTIVE MOVE: State PKR leader names candidates early as a show of 'autonomy'

Ansari's move appears to pre-empt the likely possibility that incumbent Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing and incumbent Beaufort MP Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin, who threw their weight behind the PKR last year, might have their own list of prefered candidates for the seven seats.

Joniston Bangkuai, NST

WHILE the Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) is raring to face the 13th General Election as a united and cohesive team, the opposition appears to be fragmented despite their common objective of unseating the ruling coalition.

As it stands, the election is expected to see two opposition camps -- one comprising of peninsula-based parties and the other Sabah-based parties -- taking on the BN in the land below the wind.

This follows the failure of the loose coalition of opposition parties made up of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), DAP and Pas to reach a compromise with local-based Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and the Sabah chapter of the State Reform Party (STAR) on a single candidate to fight BN in every seat.

After being rejected as "small parties without much support" by PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee-led SAPP and Sabah Star headed by political nomad Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, have agreed in principle to cooperate in the election.

There is also a possibility of a fourth force made up of PKR leaders who will likely leave the party if their demands to be fielded as candidates are ignored by the PKR leadership.

State PKR stalwart Ansari Abdullah had last week announced the names of divisional leaders as candidates in seven parliamentary constituencies, contending that they have been working very hard for the party over the last five years.

Ansari's move appears to pre-empt the likely possibility that incumbent Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing and incumbent Beaufort MP Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin, who threw their weight behind the PKR last year, might have their own list of prefered candidates for the seven seats.

Word has been making the rounds that Anwar had given Bumburing and Lajim the power to choose PKR candidates for several parliamentary and state seats as part of the deal for them to ditch the BN.

It is learnt that the seven parliamentary seats eyed by divisional leaders aligned to Ansari are said to be seats Bumburing and Lajim have asked to be given a say on who should be the candidate.

The seven included Ansari, who declared himself as the PKR candidate for the Tuaran parliamentary seat which Bumburing as its former MP hopes to defend.

Bumburing and Lajim are said to have started scouting for potential candidates long before they announced their decision to hop into the opposition.

Many PKR divisional leaders, who claimed to have been working very hard to strengthen the party at the grassroots level, had from the start feared that the alleged power given by Anwar to Bumburing and Lajim might mean they would be sidelined and not considered as candidates.

"I had sensed it from the beginning that Bumburing and Lajim's move to support Pakatan may throw a spanner in the works of the opposition's hope of making an impact in Sabah," said a PKR divisional leader who spoke on condition of anonymity.

When revealing the names of the seven proposed candidates, Ansari had boldly said that he expected Anwar and the party leadership of Pas and DAP to honour their commitment and assurance that matters involving Sabah will be decided by Sabahans.

"In line with the promise for autonomy (by Pakatan Rakyat leadership), we have taken the liberty to release the names of the seven candidates that have been picked by the respective divisions.

"This is a test of whether the Pakatan Rakyat party leadership is sincere in its promise to give us autonomy," Ansari said, claiming that the candidates have long been identified, as far back as two years ago.

Speculation is rife that Ansari and his group may either contest as independents or align themselves with SAPP if their demands are ignored by the PKR leadership.

As for the BN, it is all systems go in its quest to keep Sabah as the the ruling coalition's fixed-deposit, although it may face some tough challenges in several constituencies.

 

GE13: Fernandez: Segamat surrender an act of treachery

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:58 PM PDT

(The Star) - An "act of betrayal and treachery." That's how DAP state deputy chairman Norman Fernandez described the surrender of the Segamat parliamentary seat to PKR.

"(DAP secretary-general) Lim Guan Eng must be answerable to party members in Segamat and Johor for this," he said when commenting on the announcement by PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that Johor PKR chairman Datuk Chua Jui Meng would be the opposition front's candidate in Segamat.

Norman's remarks came after the disbanding of Johor DAP candidates' selection committee, of which he was a member together with state chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau and secretary Tan Chen Choon.

Segamat which has more than 47,000 voters and encompasses the state seats of Jementah and Buloh Kasap, is regarded as DAP's "traditional" seat in Johor.

Norman said the hand over of Segamat to PKR proved that the decision of the selection team to disband was correct and justified.

It is understood the panel had faced criticism over the way in which the party leadership "parachute" candidates at the expense of diehard local campaigners.

Among those who opposed the move were Johor DAP vice-chairman Ong Kow Meng and Mengkibol assemblyman Ng Lam Hua, who was reported to be dropped to make way for state Youth chief Tan Hong Pin.

Tan, who was earlier slated for the Pekan Nenas state seat, is expected to be moved to Mengkibol to help secure votes for prospective Kluang parliamentary candidate Liew Chin Tong, the incumbent Bukit Bendera MP in Penang.

Norman said Chua had no desire to contest a state seat, proving that he was a state chairman who had neither the confidence nor the gumption to contest any seat allocated to his party.

"Instead, he only covets DAP seats. This speaks volumes about the candidate for Segamat," he said.

Human Resources Minister and MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam has been the MP for Segamat Barisan Nasional since 2004.

Dr Boo said PKR should give up one of its parliamentary seats as a replacement for Segamat.

He said DAP would only contest six parliamentary seats in Johor compared with 12 by PKR, with PAS taking eight seats.

A total of 26 parliamentary seats and 56 state seats are up for grabs in Johor.

Among the parliamentary seats PKR would be contesting are Johor Baru, Tebrau, Batu Pahat, Muar, and Segamat while Gelang Patah and Kluang would be contested by DAP.

 

RPK’s articles hurt my reputation, says lawyer

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:33 PM PDT

(The Star) - Lawyer Datuk Seri Mu­­hammad Shafee Abdullah contended that his reputation was tarnished due to the publication of three defamatory articles by Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin.

His lead counsel S. Ravindran said Muhammad Shafee had given evidence of his reputation during the hearing on assessment of damages in his defamation suit in chambers yesterday.

Speaking to reporters later, Muhammad Shafee said he had also given a copy of his curriculum vitae to the court.

"The CV shows what sort of reputation I have," he said.

Muhammad Shafee added that the articles were still available on the website although the court had held it was defamatory.

Raja Petra's lawyer Jadadish Chandra said he had asked Muhammad Shafee on the appointments and awards he had obtained after the publication of the articles on Aug 6, 7 and 11, 2008.

"He continued to get awards. He even got a Datuk Seri award in 2009. There was no damage (to his reputation) as alleged," he said.

Senior assistant registrar Farah Hana Hashim ordered parties to send written submissions by May 9 for assessment of dama­ges.

In February 2011, Muhammad Shafee succeeded in getting a judgment against Raja Petra over three defamatory articles.

High Court judge Justice John Louis O'Hara held that the offending words in the articles were false, malicious and defamatory of Muhammad Shafee.

Muhammad Shafee made an application on Jan 26 for the disposal of his August 2008 suit based on a point of law without going for a full trial.

 

Malaysian Police Ready Two Election Plans

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:29 PM PDT

One if Anwar wins, the other if Najib does

Other sources say that the mood inside the "war room," or election headquarters at the United Malays National Organization is brimming with confidence. "I don't know why," an independent source said. "They must know something."

John Berthelsen, Asia Sentinel 

For the first time ever, according to sources in Kuala Lumpur, the Royal Police have formulated two contingency plans for the night of Malaysia's 13th general election, expected to be on April 27 or after.

The first, a source said, is "how to whisk the Prime Minister from the Putra World Trade Center where the Barisan Nasional is holding its election night celebration, back to Sri Perdana, the Prime Minister's residence, safely in the event that the Barisan Nasional loses, or if there is trouble." The second, the source said, is how to bring Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim from his home to the palace to be sworn in if the opposition were to win.

Implicit in both of those plans are questions whether there will be violence started by the losing side. 

Both plans are unprecedented because there has never been a time in the 57-year history of the country when anybody thought the opposition might actually win. It still may not. But the fact that the plans are in place is an indication that even the police think the election is too close to call. 

A call to ACP Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf, the assistant director of management for public relations at the national police headquarters at Bukit Aman in Kuala Lumpur, to ask about the plans went unanswered. 

"How it will pan out is something else - whether Anwar is allowed to be sworn in if he wins, etc." a source told Asia Sentinel. "But the fact that they have these contingency plans in place would suggest that despite the confidence shown by Najib and UMNO leaders, it is going to be a very close race."

Other sources say that the mood inside the "war room," or election headquarters at the United Malays National Organization is brimming with confidence. "I don't know why," an independent source said. "They must know something."

Read more at: http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5324&Itemid=178 

 

Undecided candidates?

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:21 PM PDT

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(Sin Chew Daily) - Candidate selection has always been a problem for the ruling and opposition parties in election. The situation in the BN, however, is more complicated than Pakatan Rakyat, particularly the BN is adopting the strategy of fielding only candidates with high winning odds this time.

It is puzzling that the BN has started from a relatively easier task, namely vote canvassing, and leaves the thorny problem of candidate selection until the last minute. Deciding the candidates first can at least leave room for remedy if they receive strong rebound from local members or an outbreak of factional problem. However, deciding the candidates only when it is close to the nomination day will leave no space to save the situation once there is an error.

Finalising the candidate list earlier also allows them to start the election campaign earlier, instead of leaving component party leaders and their grassroots to keep guessing.

It is unusual this time. BN leaders Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin have respectively met retired civil servants and education practitioners on Monday. Najib had also visited Perak on Tuesday. The previous practice was, BN chairman would call for a meeting with component party leaders to decide on candidates once the Parliament was dissolved.

Uncertainty is detrimental for the BN. For instance, it was widely rumoured that the People's Progressive Party (PPP) leader M. Kayveas, instead of a Gerakan member, would contest for the Kepong parliamentary seat. In this case, Kepong Gerakan would stop canvassing for the candidate.

Similar situation takes place in Gerakan's Kota Alam Shah (Selangor) and Jalong (Perak) state seats, as well as MCA's Kuantan (Pahang), Wangsa Maju (Wilayah Persekutuan) and Gelang Patah (Johor) parliamentary seats, and Kota Laksamana (Malacca) and Tronoh (Perak) state seats.

It is chaotic in Bandar Tun Razak even before the election. Banners opposing MCA's Datuk Seri Tan Chai Ho and his son can be seen in that area as the candidate has not yet been decided. The DAP has decided to field Liew Chin Tong to contest for the Kluang parliamentary seat, while there is no official announcement yet from the MCA on whether to field Datuk Dr Hou Kok Chung or Gan Ping Sieu.

If undercurrent within the party is not subsided as soon as possible, dissatisfaction emotions would be brewed and spread. It could then lead to an obstacle and thus, it is necessary to immediately pacify and appease them. The BN has not done enough in this part.

Of course, Pakatan Rakyat also faces the candidate selection problem, particularly in the front-line state of Johor.

After missing for 18 days and claimed he was homeless, Johor PKR chairman Chua Jui Ming returned and was named the PKR candidate for the Segamat parliamentary seat. And now, it is Johor DAP's turn to be unhappy. State DAP deputy chairman Norman Fernandez lashed out at secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and demanded him to explain to party members in Segamat, while describing the surrender of the Segamat parliamentary seat to PKR as an "act of betrayal and treachery".

It was reported that Johor DAP candidate selection panel chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau has quit, along with Norman Fernandez and Tan Chen Choon. Sources said that they were unhappy when state DAP youth chief Tan Hong Ping was fielded by party central leadership to contest in Mengkibol state constituency.

In addition, Johor PKR is facing a problem, too. For example, the grassroots are not happy with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's decision to field former army chief Jen Tan Sri Md Hashim Hussein to contest for the Johor Bahru parliamentary seat.

However, there is still time to calm down and Pakatan Rakyat's candidates for Johor state seats have gradually unveiled, while the BN's candidate list is still undecided.

If the nomination day really falls on 20 April, the BN would then have only 10 more days to finalise its candidate list. In politics, one day could be one year. It is a misstep of the BN.

 

Monopolizing Indian Future?

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:15 PM PDT

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Hindraf is not the only organisation working towards the empowerment of ethnic Indians.

Charles Santiago 

Hindraf's illusion is dangerous and nonsensical. I am referring to its unyielding stand that the DAP Gelang Patah Declaration is plagiarised from Hindraf's manifesto.

It's commendable that Hindraf has come up with a manifesto to uplift the socio-economic status of ethnic Indians.

But other Indian based organisations such as the National Indian Rights Action Team (NIAT) have put forward a-68-page exhaustive Indian empowerment plan and policy reforms to uplift the Indian community.

Clearly, Hindraf is not the only organisation working towards the empowerment of ethnic Indians.

But the insistence by Hindraf's leaders that the DAP Declaration copies Hindraf's aspirations for the Indian community only goes to show their ignorance about the long-standing grievances faced by the minority community.

During the 1999 election, a group of NGOs under the umbrella of the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC), first put forward a political document entitled 'Demands of Indian Malaysians: For a Better Future'. It was endorsed by political parties such as DAP, PAS, PRM, PAS and KeAdilan (now PKR).

Thus the aspirations of the Indian community are not a monopoly of any one group and there is enough room for all to contribute in the struggle.

I started working with the Indian community, and particularly the plantation workers, from the early 80s. The Indians were largely poor, did not have the necessary skills to survive in an urban environment and marginalised in terms of education, employment and business opportunities.

We fought alongside the Indians for the implementation of a minimum wage, the right to Tamil education and to have their inherent rights met.

We fought for better infrastructure in Tamil schools and higher intake in universities, among other issues.

Fast forward to 2013, nothing much has changed under Barisan rule.

Malaysian Indians are facing the same dilemma. The MIC, which was then the self-proclaimed custodian of the community, took it upon them to look into the welfare of the Indians.

The MIC's many schemes, including Maika shares, to uplift the community ended in disasters. Their only feat was successfully disengaging the Indians from the decision-making process of the government.

Hindraf leaders must bear in mind that many of the leaders in Pakatan Rakyat have been working with the Indian community long before Hindraf was even formed. We understand their issues and are not strangers to their aspirations.

Some of the points raised in the Gelang Patah Declaration were already raised in Pakatan Rakyat's manifesto. The Declaration itself is a work in progress.

My party, DAP, has put forth the Gelang Patah Declaration to PKR and PAS. We will reach a consensus as deliberations are currently underway.

The Pakatan state governments of Selangor and Penang have provided millions of ringgits in support of Tamil schools including computer labs.

Money has also been given to temples and other programs including interest free small business loans and programs for single mothers.

Pakatan Rakyat has walked the talk although more needs to be done. However delivery aspects of these programs can be more efficient.

But the structural problems facing the Indians can only be addressed in a comprehensive manner with the commitment of the federal government.

Given what Hindraf claims to represent, its natural ally would be Pakatan Rakyat. As such, it would be prudent on the part of Hindraf leaders to stop acting like children.

We are not at war with each other here.

 

 

Najib sets up Malaysian poll thriller

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 01:45 PM PDT

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Anil Netto, Asia Times 

Malaysians are gearing up for what are expected to be the most closely contested general elections in the country's history. Prime Minister Najib Razak announced the dissolution of parliament on April 3, ending nearly two years of speculation over when the polls would be held. The Election Commission meets this week to set a date for polls, which must be held within 60 days. 


Najib's earlier reluctance to call an election likely reflects his ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition's hesitation faced with the resurgent challenge of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) opposition coalition. Parliament's current five-year term expires on April 28; no previous premier has ever dissolved the legislature so close to the end of its term. 

Some political analysts believe the opposition is poised to make historic gains, or even win the election outright. PR won five of 13 national states at the 2008 general election, notching nearly 47% of the popular vote for federal level parliamentary seats. The result denied the BN a two-thirds parliamentary majority needed to change the constitutional and represented the BN's worst yet electoral showing. 

The then prime minister Abdullah Badawi took responsibility for the slippage and handed the premiership to Najib the following year. Najib, who has not yet faced the electorate as BN's leader, has fared well in opinion surveys, despite a significant erosion in public perceptions of the wider BN coalition and its associated politicians. A Merdeka Center poll from February showed that popular support for the ruling coalition had fallen below 50%. 

Najib has governed under the heavy shadow of former premier Mahathir Mohamad, who ruled with an iron fist for two decades from 1981-2003 and publicly sparred with Badawi during his tenure. Despite certain reforms, including abolishment of the notorious Internal Security Act (only to have it replaced by a new security law that also allows detention without trial), Najib's administration is viewed by many as carrying much of the legacy of Mahathir's old order, characterized by corruption, patronage and environmental destruction. 

At the same time, Najib has notably shied from public debates with PR leader Anwar Ibrahim, who was famously sacked as finance minister and later imprisoned on corruption and sodomy charges under Mahathir after the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis. 

In the wake of the opposition's 2008 electoral gains, Anwar vowed to bring down the BN government through parliamentary defections that never materialized. He faced down new charges of sodomy - a criminal offense in predominantly Muslim Malaysia - that many analysts believed were politically motivated to drain his coalition's political momentum. 

Najib has warned that voting for the opposition would represent a step backward for economic reform and that a PR-led government would subvert the US$400 billion Economic Transformation Program (ETP) his government launched in 2010. The policy aims to lift Malaysia to high-income nation status by 2020. 

Officials have pointed to rising household incomes, up from 4,025 ringgit (US$1,315) per month in 2009 to 5,000 last year, as indication of the policy's early success. Those income gains have been padded by a series of government hand-outs, including pay hikes and other financial perks for civil servants and employees of government-linked companies and agencies, that critics have said are tantamount to vote-buying. 

Higher household incomes, opposition critics argue, mask the net economic pinch of faster-rising costs of living, including inflation in the prices of basic foods, education, health care and rental properties. They argue that the ETP policy is ultimately unsustainable and has wholly failed to address the still yawning income gap between rich and poor. 

Over the weekend, Najib promised a raft of new handouts if elected, including direct cash payments to unmarried Malaysians of voting age, reduced car prices and a 20% reduction in Internet service charges. He also promised a pan-Borneo highway project to match the one on offer by the PR. 

For its part, the PR has vowed to scrap the New Economic Policy, a race-based affirmative action program to uplift the economic position of the majority Malays and other indigenous groups known as bumiputras, long championed by the BN. The NEP expired in 1990 but its race-based philosophy has continued to underpin BN's economic policies. 

Minority ethnic groups, including Chinese, who make up 25% of the population, and Indians, who represent around 7%, believe the policy has purposely discriminated against them. Only 34% of the Chinese population now supports the BN, according to the Merdeka Center poll. The PR has said it will replace the NEP with a non-ethnic, needs-based approach that will broadly assist the poor, including many bumiputras. 

The PR has targeted the BN's history of official corruption and political favoritism, promising a more clean-hands approach to governance. By plugging corruption and leakages and reducing gas subsidies to independent power producers, the PR promises to save 46 billion ringgit lost each year to leakage. 

This money saved, the coalition says, would be used to raise oil royalty payments to the oil-producing states where many of the poor in Malaysia live to 20% from the current 5%. The PR also wants to abolish highway tolls and study loans while providing free education and more affordable housing. 

Despite these campaign promises, the PR is no shoo-in to win. ''It is going to be very hotly contested but hopefully we can go for a change,'' said Abdul Rahman Kasim, information chief for PR's PAS party in Penang state's Tasik Gelugor division. ''But it is very unpredictable… They are told if they vote for other parties they will lose [ethnic] Malay supremacy.'' The Islamic party PAS is one of PR's three component parties, the other two being Anwar's People's Justice Party and the Democratic Action Party. 

 

Read more at: http://atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/SEA-01-080413.html 

'400 armed sultanate supporters arrive in Sabah'

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 01:43 PM PDT

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ARMED. A captain of the Royal Security Force displays his bladed weapon inside their camp in Simunul, Tawi-Tawi. File photo by Karlos Manlupig 

(Rappler) - At least 400 armed men from Mindanao arrived in Sabah to help the Royal Security Force (RSF) of the sultanate of Sulu who are faced with a full military offensive by Malaysian authorities, a member of the sultanate said on Tuesday, April 9.

Princess Jacel Kiram, daughter of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, said these men volunteered to pursue the fight not just for the Sabah claim but also for Filipinos who allegedly continue to suffer from human rights abuses there.

"These are not members of the RSF. They volunteered to fight," Kiram said.

Kiram said the reinforcements reached Lahad Datu in two batches -- on March 20 and April 5.

Kiram's claim could not be independently confirmed at this time.

There have been no reports from Malaysian media about this arrival - a contingent that is twice the number of RSF members, estimated to be about 200, that first sailed to Lahad Datu in February.

On April 1, Malaysia activated the Eastern Sabah Security Command, a body tasked to watch the 1,400-km coastline of Sabah villages Lahad Datu, Kudat, Tawau, Kunak, and Sandakan.

After violence erupted between the Sabah claimants and Malaysian authorities in Lahad Datu, Malaysian security forces launched a crackdown on RSF members in Sabah -- setting up checkpoints and arresting those without proper documents. This caused a mass evacuation of Filipinos over fears of getting caught in between the conflict.

Sabah evacuees recounted stories of human rights abuses against Filipinos, especially against Tausugs.

At least 70 people have been killed since violence erupted in Lahad Datu, according to Malaysian authorities. As of April 7, a total of 135 individuals have been arrested under the Security Offences Act of 2012, state news agency Bernama reported.

 

Misleading Results

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 01:39 PM PDT

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The Malaysia Airlines 4Q results are misleading to say the least. While the results look positive, on closer examination, it shows that the 4Q net profit of RM50 million was largely attributed to forex gains and lower impairment charges.

Edmund 

The impending rights issues are a massive disservice to Malaysians who have throughout the years been called upon to bear the burden of the bailing out MAS to the tune of billions. That's a whole load of schools, hospitals and better service delivery lost in opportunity costs.

This latest 'corporate restructuring' sees MAS requiring Khazanah Nasional to subscribe to the RM 3.1 billion rights issue. As the largest shareholder, Khazanah will be forking out a whopping amount of tax payers' money to take up the offer. That's our money, good money, being thrown after bad money again. This comes soon after Kumpulan Wang Persaraan, the nation's pension fund, took up RM 1 billion of sukuk issued by MAS. We should remember that the bonds were not guaranteed and carried a 6 percent coupon rate. At those yields, one wonders why there wasn't a long queue of foreign investors at the door.

We should not lose sight of the fact that both KHazanah and KWAP is the guardian of the Rakyat's wealth. Whatever happened to reducing Government's Role in Business (GRIB) that requires GLCs to divest stakes in companies once it hits a 'trigger' price. Khazanah's entry price to MAS shares was approximately RM 3. Does it hope that MAS will surpass that mark in the near term before it divests at a profit?

Interesting that the under the ETP, a key focus NKEA is reducing Government's Role In Business (GRIB). That's why we had Khazanah divesting IHH in monster IPO and selling its stake in Proton and Pharmaniaga. Looks like all this will be wasted on MAS.

As right thinking Malaysians, I think we have has enough of the shenanigans in MAS over the past 10 years at the tax payers' expense. Bottom-line is there is something not right with this rights issue.

 

Fraud in Malaysian politics never-ending

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 01:21 PM PDT

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If the 1987 Umno presidential election is taken as one yardstick, the response of the Court may not be in favour of a novel development of the law or, as some would allege, making law.

The Indians are united by Hindraf Makkal Sakthi, the Chinese are united by their bank drafts, and the Malays by their overdrafts. The makkal sakthi – people power in Tamil – cries of Interlok Pariah Umno is being heard again as the seatless Indians rail against the ruling party.

Joe Fernandez

In that party election, the Court discovered that votes from 30 illegal party branches may have contributed towards Mahathir Mohamad's narrow 43-vote victory over his challenger Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. It was alleged that the 30 illegal branches were aligned towards Mahathir. Even so, in a surprising ruling, Judge Harun Hashim declared the entire party unlawful. Had the Judge concluded that the illegal votes may have gone in the direction of Razaleigh, that ruling would not have arisen since the outcome was not affected!

 

Harun Hashim bought kamikaze arguments and denied Razaleigh

The Court did not take into consideration that the presidential election was only unlawful to the extent of the illegal votes and the party unlawful to the extent of the illegal branches. The Jury may still be out on the question of whether the Judge could have discounted the illegal votes and handed the presidential victory to Razaleigh. Many will argue that he could have but unfortunately he didn't. The good judge has long gone to meet his maker. Dead men tell no tales.

Even if Mahathir had won by one vote, and it was determined that his victory was due to one illegal voter, the outcome had been affected. Both Mahathir and Razaleigh, the one illegal vote removed, had tied.

One mitigating circumstance against the party being declared unlawful was that it had helmed the country since independence for Malaya in 1957 and steered the birth of Malaysia in 1963.

That approach could not be misconstrued as judicial activism using the fig leaf that our system of justice is adversarial.

Alas, the Judge bought the kamikaze arguments in Court that he had no alternative but declare the entire party unlawful if the Court concluded that illegal branches had participated in the presidential elections and illegal votes had also been counted. Again, the Court is not about the truth, justice or moral values but the law, no matter how much weighted against the public interest.

 

Court no help in awarding victory to the real polls winners

In another case, on 8 June, 2001 Election Court Justice Muhammad Kamil Awang made a landmark decision declaring the March 13, 1999, Likas election result null and void after upholding two election petitions filed by losing PBS candidate Dr Chong En Leong and former Chief Minister Harris Salleh of Parti Bersekutu. Justice Kamil had affirmed that the Likas electoral roll was tainted with more than 5,000 phantom voters. But who obtained those votes?

Former Barisan Nasional-rotated Sabah Chief Minister Yong Teck Lee, who polled 9,110 votes against 4, 962 by Dr Chong, lost the seat. Yong had won by 4, 962 votes. Harris drew 3,576 votes.

Even if all of the Likas-resident Harris' votes came from the illegals, a likely possibility but nevertheless strenuously denied by those in his camp, that still left over 1,424 votes from the illegals for Yong since these people wouldn't vote for PBS, then in the Opposition. If these 1,424 votes are discounted from Yong's margin of victory, he still won by 3,538 votes. Only judicial activism could have saved Yong unless the ballot boxes were opened up and each voted recounted.

In a 15 June, 2001 media statement, then Dap National Chairman Lim Kit Siang lamented the subsequent disclosure that the Judge had received a telephone directive from someone at the top of the Judiciary to strike out the Likas petition without a hearing. Lim's beef was that the Judge did not disclose the telephone call in Court.

So, not much can be placed in the case of proven electoral fraud, on the Court stripping the winner of a disputed victory and awarding it to his nearest challenger.

 

Never ending go back to India, China cries from Nusantara people

There should be a system in place for the Court, in case of election petitions alleging fraud, to scrutinize the ballot papers and determine who collected whose vote. That would be the most efficient way to determine polls winners instead of a re-poll which would necessitate the cleaning up of the electoral rolls, a process which has been bitterly disputed in the past.

Still, the bottomline may not even be the extent of electoral fraud.

It comes back to the system again.

The greatest fraud perpetrated against the people of Malaysia is the formation of pre-polls coalitions. These coalitions circumvent the democratic process by endorsing elite power-sharing and denying the grassroots majority meaningful participation in the electoral process. The formation of coalitions should only be allowed, by law, after the elections are over.

Coalition government need not be inevitability.

The party with the most number of seats in Parliament, for example, can share the Federal Cabinet and Government posts with other political parties without entering into coalition government.

If coalition government is the option exercise, such a coalition must disband on the eve of the next elections to ensure a free for all at the ballot box. That by itself would spell the end of political parties based on narrow considerations like race and religion.

Politics can then be fought on issues and these may be urban, suburban, rural, coastal, from the interior or the high mountain country. No longer would anyone be identified by his race or religion in politics or whether he's an Orang Asal, recently or long arrived or the descendents of those recently arrived or long arrived.

No longer would anyone be told to "go back to India or China", for example, if they are "not happy in Malaysia".

 

No pledge from Dap not to fraudulently embrace Umno

Every election, and in the run-up to elections, the Indian community in particular are subject to all sorts of indignities, racial abuse and derogatory remarks in the struggle to confine the national cake to a smaller number of people.

The Indians are united by Hindraf Makkal Sakthi, the Chinese are united by their bank drafts, and the Malays by their overdrafts. The makkal sakthi – people power in Tamil – cries of Interlok Pariah Umno is being heard again as the seatless Indians rail against the ruling party.

The Opposition is a marriage of convenience united by Malay hatred in particular for the BN in general and Umno in particular. The marriage appears to be less unholy now than when it was first formed.

The BN in Malaya, apart from Umno, has fallen apart and will crumble under a united Opposition assault come this 13th GE but will continue in Sabah and Sarawak, mauled and bruised in the latter in particular but still taking power.

In the absence of a public pledge, it's being speculated that the urban and Chinese-based Dap would not hesitate to abandon its Malay and Islamic partners, PKR and Pas, in the aftermath of the 13th GE and team up with Umno to share the Federal Government provided the MCA and Gerakan are removed. That would be like the Pap of Singapore fraudulently achieving by the backdoor what it failed to do in Malaysia.

 

People of Borneo given the short end of the stick in Malaysia

The greatest fraud perpetrated in Malaysia was to weaken the voice of the people of Borneo nations in Parliament.

The two countries, Sabah and Sarawak, have a combined 57 seats in Parliament, less than the at least one third plus one promised by the 1963 Malaysia Agreement. This is 18 less seats than they should have out of 222 seats.

To add insult to injury, many of the 57 seats are held by Malaya-based parties across the political divide, thus further weakening the voice of the people of Borneo in the Malaysian Parliament.

The Registrar of Societies (ROS) is a party to these political parties being in violation of the Malaysia Agreement. It facilitates Putrajaya ruling Sabah and Sarawak through rogue elements – Projek IC operatives, Moro National Liberation Front, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Abu Sayyaf – local proxies (local Muslims and illegals) and their stooges (Orang Asal).

The Malaya-based parties have not even been locally-incorporated in Sabah and Sarawak to comply with at least the letter, if not the spirit, of the Malaysia Agreement.

If politics is all about the re-distribution of power and resources, the people of Borneo are being given the short end of the stick in their already disputed participation Malaysia.

There could be no greater fraud than this.

 

Joe Fernandez is a graduate mature student of law and an educationist, among others, who loves to write especially Submissions for Clients wishing to Act in Person and tutor at local institutions. He feels compelled, as a semi-retired journalist, to put pen to paper -- or rather the fingers to the computer keyboard -- whenever something doesn't quite jell with his weltanschauung (worldview). He shuttles between points in the Golden Heart of Borneo formed by the Sabah west coast, Labuan, Brunei, northern Sarawak and the watershed region in Borneo where three nations meet. He's half-way through a semi-autobiographical travelogue, A World with a View.

 

Mere ‘fraud’ not consideration in 13th GE

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 01:12 PM PDT

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No election anywhere in the world is without an element of fraud. 

What's more important to consider in the post-GE period is whether fraudulent practices in terms of vote count at the ballot box were of a magnitude which affected the outcome; what would be the response of the Court if indeed fraudulent practices had determined the outcome.

Joe Fernandez

Malaysians by and large worry that "fraudulent practices" by way of the electoral rolls and at the ballot box will cheat them out of the Government they want in Putrajaya and in the states. This should not be read as having a Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Government in the Federal Administrative Centre instead of one formed by the Barisan Nasional (BN).

Fraud can work both ways although the outgoing BN, revamped from the Alliance Party in the wake of the searing Sino-Malay race riots of 13 May, 1969, has ruled the country since 1957 when the British left Malaya.

In the absence of proof in the form of the proverbial smoking gun, indefinite BN rule by itself should not be seen as having been facilitated by fraudulent electoral practices. The formation of the BN itself stretched out the welcome mat for the Alliance Party.

The system itself is at fault.

The playing field is not level.

The Court should not allow the gazetting of tainted electoral rolls even if evidence of such fraud, for example Projek IC and the like, was discovered well after the public display and objection period for such rolls is over.

The delineation of constituencies is another issue since it facilitates gerrymandering.

 

Winning by default not evidence of fraud in elections

Putrajaya, for example, is a parliamentary seat with less than 6,000 voters. There are many Putrajayas in Malaysia which are all BN territory. Indeed, it has even been estimated that with as little as 18.9 per cent of the votes cast, the BN can still obtain 112 seats in Parliament to form the Federal Government. There are 222 seats in Parliament.

Meanwhile, Opposition strongholds have anything up to 100,000 or more voters. So, BN can still lose the popular vote and form the majority in Parliament, for example. In that case, only its moral right to govern can be questioned by the Opposition and the people. The Court is not about the truth, justice or moral values. It's about the law.

To digress a little, the Congress in India at one time, before the advent of coalition government, was able to form the Federal Government single-handedly with less than 30 per cent of the total votes cast. 18.9 per cent in Malaysia would be even more shocking!

There's a case for limiting the number of registered voters in any parliamentary seat to 50,000, plus or minus either way, within a 10,000 range. So, Putrajaya by itself will not qualify to be a parliamentary seat.

Even so, the Opposition has not been able to get its act together in recent years until the watershed 12th General Election of 2008.

 

Defection of Opposition after May 13 fraud perpetrated on the people

So, the ruling party can still win by default as it has been the case in Sarawak except for one point in time in 1987 known as the Ming Court Affair. After that, the Malay-based Permas disbanded and its ally, the Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) joined the state government in coalition, only to find itself deregistered several years later. That set back Opposition politics in Sarawak until 2009 when the Malaya-based Opposition, despite not being united, made a credible showing in the state election.

This time the same Opposition is more united than ever in Sarawak but it is only the parliamentary seats are at stake. Seven to eight parliamentary seats, out of the 31 at stake in Sarawak, are already in the bag for the Opposition. It does not have any local Opposition parties to contend with apart from the mosquito Sarawak Workers Party (SWP), bankrolled curiously among others by Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud to do in a coalition partner, the rising Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), the part successor party to PBDS.

The people of Sarawak appear to be willing to place Sabah opposition strongman Jeffrey Kitingan's Borneo Agenda on the backburner for the moment as they wrestle with the Herculean task of removing the Taib Dynasty from power. They are willing to enter a temporary marriage of convenience with the Malaya-based Opposition parties for this singular purpose. The Borneo Agenda is explained as being against everything that the parti parti Malaya in Borneo stands for and their local presence.

The 10 May, 1969 General Election became an aberration when the Opposition fled to the newly step up BN to replace the Alliance Party.

Part of the blame for the political weakness of the opposition in Malaysia can be placed on the since discarded International Security Act (ISA) which hung like the proverbial Sword of Damocles over the Opposition and also struck fear in the people at large.

 

Majority right to rule, minority right to be heard

Mass civil disobedience was not employed by the Opposition as a weapon in their arsenal. There were no hungry stomachs to march. People still had food on the table. It's not like in France when Marie Antoinette, the Austrian-born Queen of France during the 1789 Revolution, infamously remarked, "If the people have no bread, let them eat cake". This was her response to news that the peasants were starving. King Louis XVI was beheaded on 21 Jan, 1793 for treason, "trying to get help from royal supporters in England, Prussia and Austria". Marie Antoinette was beheaded on 16 October, 1793 for the same crime.

The first past the post system should be reviewed to allow for the voices of the losing voters to be heard in the legislature, through non-constituency based seats, if a party which failed to win even one seat in any legislature managed to muster a minimum five per cent of the votes cast nationwide. While the majority – as reflected in the legislature – has the right to rule, the minority i.e. the losing votes in elections, has a right to be heard. That's true democracy!

 

Effecting the outcome the principle in determining election fraud

The BN, thick-skinned as they are when it comes to corruption issues, are extremely sensitive when it comes to any hints of any element of fraud in the quest for power. It's aware that the eyes of the world are on it and besides there's the question of the Malay maruah – self-respect – and the issue of legitimacy to consider on such issues, if not in corruption.

This maruah/legitimacy factors, the Malay Achilles Heel, has seen the BN Government setting up the long-awaited Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the extraordinary population explosion in Sabah and its reflection in the electoral rolls. The same factors, maruah and legitimacy, has seen the BN wrestling with the issues of statelessness, and the marginalisation and disenfranchisement of the Indian Nation in Malaysia, the legitimacy of Malaysia in Sabah and Sarawak, and the right of Malaysians abroad to vote.

Legitimacy by itself has wider implications, embracing security considerations, and its reflection on valuation in the economy in several areas driven by investor and consumer confidence viz. the strength of the currency, value of stocks, property prices, credit risk, credit rating and the like. When politics comes in through the door, economics will fly out the window with widespread security and other implications which will render any quest for political power either pointless or a phyric victory.

When it comes down to brass tacks, mere fraudulent practices in the GE, abominable as they are to those who claim the moral high ground, are not the main consideration in law.

No election anywhere in the world is without an element of fraud.

What's more important to consider in the post-GE period is whether fraudulent practices in terms of vote count at the ballot box were of a magnitude which affected the outcome; what would be the response of the Court if indeed fraudulent practices had determined the outcome.

 

Many options for people to act against fraud in elections

The respective share of the popular vote is immaterial except for the Opposition and the people taking to the streets and demanding fresh polls, free and fair, under an Interim Government or the inclusion of the Opposition in the division of Cabinet and Government posts without resort to coalition government.

A 3rd alternative is a Revolutionary Government formed by the people. Revolutionary Government would also be the option if the people conclude that there's no way that the BN can be dethroned through the ballot box.

 

Joe Fernandez is a graduate mature student of law and an educationist, among others, who loves to write especially Submissions for Clients wishing to Act in Person and tutor at local institutions. He feels compelled, as a semi-retired journalist, to put pen to paper -- or rather the fingers to the computer keyboard -- whenever something doesn't quite jell with his weltanschauung (worldview). He shuttles between points in the Golden Heart of Borneo formed by the Sabah west coast, Labuan, Brunei, northern Sarawak and the watershed region in Borneo where three nations meet. He's half-way through a semi-autobiographical travelogue, A World with a View.

 

Indians in Pakatan: Tradable or disposable?

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 12:56 PM PDT

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSY0ukeLf7x8P51nwAMD2a8jlc3F34wmbDVX_0VoHGPP0kRbCccDQ 

When the Chinese and Malay Pakatan elephants fight, it is the Indian grass that gets trampled.

P.M. Sivalingam 

Pakatan Rakyat leaders regard Indian candidates as tradable commodities at best and disposable merchandise at worst.

Anwar Ibrahim had been dropping names of candidates in a staggered fashion during nationwide road shows but had never mentioned a single Indian candidate. Until today that is, when he named N.Surendran as PKR candidate for Padang Serai in Kedah. 

Still in the balance are the candidatures of Kulasegaran, Xavier Jayakumar, Sivakumar, Sivarasa, Ramasamy, M. Manoharan, Charles Santiago and S. Manickavasagam. The Indian community is watching to see who will be traded and who will be disposed. 

Kulasegaran seems to be Pakatan's first fall-guy. Word had leaked out that he would be moved from his comfort zone in Ipoh Barat to Segamat. He was seen as a thorn in the side of the Ngeh cousins, and therefore disposable.

Kulasegaran had indicated that he would be willing to be sacrificial lamb for the sake of his party, the DAP. However, Anwar had other plans. He had to find a slot for PKR's Chua Jui Meng. And so he blocked Kula's move down south and named Chua as the Segamat candidate instead.

The political hopes of other Indians in Pakatan are also hanging on a thread.

It is common knowledge that the jostling for seats in the Pakatan coalition is continuing with great intensity. Since launching its manifesto on February 25, the Pakatan leadership had repeatedly said that parliamentary seat allocation had been finalised, with minor changes. But to date, the full list has not been announced.

That's because of last-minute jostling and intra-party rivalries.

The Star newspaper said in a report today, as follows:

In Terengganu, the announcement of PKR state chief Azan Ismail last Wednesday that the party would contest 11 state and three parliamentary seats was contradicted by PAS commissioner Abdul Wahid Endut...

 

In Penang, PAS central committee member Datuk Dr Mujahid Rawa said that a PAS candidate would contest the Sungai Acheh state seat. This was refuted by Penang PKR vice-chairman Datuk Abdul Malik Abdul Kassim...

 

In Perlis, PKR and PAS have locked horns over the Kangar seat, traditionally contested by PKR...

 

In Sabah, the Pakatan leadership is trying to hammer out a formula to share seats with its allies Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS) and Pakatan Perubahan Sabah (PPS)...

 

Problems can also be seen in Johor and Negeri Sembilan.

 

When the Chinese and Malay Pakatan elephants fight, it is the Indian grass that gets trampled.

 

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net
 

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