Sin Chew Daily today reported that Parliament would be dissolved on the eighth day of the Chinese New Year (i.e. 14th February 2008), with Nomination Day immediately after Chap Goh Mei (21st February) and polling on 2nd or 3rd March, 2008.
The probability of the next general election falling in the first weekend of March is very high, which would mean that a new Parliament could be elected within 40 days!
Earlier, speculation of the next general election focused primarily on March 15 or the weekend before it. However the option of March 15 for the next general election will have to be ruled out if the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is serious about his announcement in Spain last week for the First Alliance of Civilisations Annual Forum that he would be in Senegal in March to hand over the chairmanship of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). This is because the OIC Summit is fixed for March 13-14, 2008 for Dakar, Senegal.
With the 12th general election falling right smack during the Chinese New Year, all political parties, leaders and members will have very little time to celebrate Chinese New Year this year, which begins in a fortnight’s time.
I am very disappointed that there had been agonizingly little progress in the DAP-PKR talks for an electoral understanding to ensure a one-to-one contest with the Barisan Nasional, avoiding three-cornered fights which can only benefit the Barisan Nasional in the past two weeks.
Both parties had reached an electoral understanding on January 7, 2008 on the allocation of parliamentary and state assembly seats in Penang, which was announced in a joint media conference by leaders from both parties in Penang on 9th January 2008.
Leaders of both parties had hoped that the Penang agreement would act as a catalyst for the speedy conclusion of seats negotiations for all states in the country so that all energies and resources could be focused single-mindedly in cutting down the Barisan Nasional behemoth with its 91% parliamentary majority down to size in the next general election.
But this has not been the case, as precious little progress had been achieved in the other states in the past two weeks since the Penang agreement apart from Negri Sembilan.
Even for Negri Sembilan, where the state DAP and PKR announced agreement yesterday to take on the Barisan Nasional in straight fights, the announcement was only confined to the state assembly seats although agreement had earlier been reached by both state leaderships for parliamentary and state assembly contests as well. However, as a result of national PKR intervention, the announcement on DAP-PKR pact in Negri Sembilan was only confined to state assembly seats leaving the parliamentary seats unsettled.
I am particularly disappointed at the agonizingly slow progress in DAP-PKR seats negotiations for I had stuck my neck out to break the stalemate to ensure that the DAP-PKR electoral agreement for Penang was reached on January 7, although DAP was subsequently accused of compromising its position and yielding to PKR pressures.
Such accusation from Barisan Nasional parties and personalities are to be expected, but there are also PKR claims of this nature, like SMS which immediately made the rounds after the announcement of the DAP-PKR electoral understanding for Penang that it was achieved after public threats by a certain PKR leader.
Perak was meant to be the next state for an electoral agreement to be reached after Penang but the differences between the two state parties seem to be as wide as ever, with even the PKR National Vice President publicly reiterating PKR interest to contest in Ipoh Timur parliamentary seat.
I find such lack of progress most disappointing. By now, all parties should be making their final plans for the general election battle which will be over in 40 days – and not still bogged down by seats negotiations.
For instance, PKR should be helping the DAP in its plans to wrest another three parliamentary seats from the Barisan Nasional in Perak namely Bruas, Taiping and Teluk Intan instead of publicly laying claim to these and other seats which are the focus of DAP efforts in the coming general election, including Ipoh Timur.
Let me try to resolve the DAP-PKR logjam in the electoral talks in Perak. If Perak PKR leaders are so insistent in wanting to contest in Ipoh Timur, let there be an agreement where a three-cornered fight is allowed for Ipoh Timur involving DAP: and PKR provided full agreement on a one-to-one fight against the Barisan Nasional for all other parliamentary and state assembly seats is immediately reached for Perak.
There is no more time to lose. I will go one step further and call for full conclusion of the DAP-PKR talks on electoral agreement for all states by the end of January, i.e. in a week’s time.
If general election is held by the first weekend of March, there are only some 30 days left to fight the 12th general election.
Let 31st January 2008 be the deadline for the conclusion of the electoral talks between DAP and PKR. I hope both parties can reach an electoral understanding for a one-to-one contest against the Barisan Nasional in the forthcoming general election, but if we cannot reach agreement, then let this be decided and known instead of dragging it out indefinitely, which will not serve the cause of cutting the Barisan Nasional behemoth down to size in the 12th general election.
#1 by azam on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 1:16 pm
Dearest Fort and Alaneth
I still do not understand why you cannot accept PAS as the partner. I’m quite sure that PAS understand your struggle for Malaysian and yet they never against it. At least tey never ask you to change your mission and your party’s constitution.
But some people keep on asking PAS to change this and that which are beyond their capability.
You can see how much they changed since the past few years. You yourselves cannot change in a day. How you expect the other to do so.
Still you judge PAS based on main stream media. Why don’t you talk to Kelantan Chinese or Indian or even Thai? Or you yourselves have a visit to Kelantan. Our Great Father LKS has publish in this blog how Kelantan Chinese feel under current government. May be you realised that no single chinese killed in Kelantan on 13th May. They very safe under the protection of PAS Ketua Kampung that time.
PAS is very transparent. I don’t know any of the goverment in the world make public dialog before table the state’s enacment. PAS make it in Kelantan.
I think Great people like LKS should think seriously to work with PAS. May be you felt pain after loosing in 1999. But that is part of the struggle for the country. If you success, you will be remember forever as a stateman. And you are true leader of unity.
If you can not work with PAS this time, may be they will go beyond the Malay majority seat next election.
#2 by Loh on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 1:27 pm
The Chinese and Indian candidates in PKR want to have a chance at the next GE. Without them joining the election, PKR would look like a third Malay party after UMNO and PAS. But PKR should not demand for seats that are currently held by DAP. PKR should file their non-Malay candidates against the BN non-UMNO candidates. Surely there are sufficient seats for PKR and PAS to share against UMNO candidates.
#3 by pkrian on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 2:37 pm
i believe that the majority are upset of what is going on, and everyone would like to see a 1 on 1 fight against BN. However, if you have knowledged of what the PKR are doing during the past few months in kinta valley especially then you would not wonder why the PKR should not be given even a seat.
they have appointed one of their youth “leader” to so-called adpot IPOH BARAT (DAP incumbent) and alleging that the people of Ipoh hardly see their MP, that’s why they came in. How can they do like that on a party which suppose to be a frinedly party to them?
flyers were being distributed by PKR in Ipoh Timur and Ipoh Barat indicating to vote PKR over DAP, though they never name it. The PKR flyers said they have the chance to become Government, unlike some party which always be an opposition. PKR also said even if they remain opposition, they will be “good opposition party”, on the other hand DAP will “only forever be opposition”. There is total no respect from PKR over DAP! And this is being distributed in DAP-incumbent-seats!
Co-operation is a mutual respect, and not keeping hammering on others. i respect the DAP leader, especially the Perak one, despite PKR’s attack, they did not react over the PKR’s act (which will definately make the situation worse).
Bravo, DAP Perak!
#4 by pkrian on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 2:41 pm
And the PKR always claimed they can become Government… What? They might have forgotten they have only ONE MP and ONE SA throughout the whole Malaysia! The Chinese PKR leader might have forgotten they have lost deposit in 2 of the 3 state seats they fought in perak, and came third with 1/8 votes in the 3 corner fight in the remaing seat?
#5 by boh-liao on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 3:07 pm
Wait n see if this is true: 2008 GE came and was over – and BN won again by more than 2/3 majority, while the oppositions lost again fighting each other – oppositions then went back to the Internet for more cyber-self-shiok, complain, complain, complain – that’s all they can do for another 5 years or forever!
#6 by dawsheng on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 3:28 pm
I don’t see any problem with three corners fight. If PKR wants to go Ipoh Timur let them go, if they wants to go to all DAP’s strongholds let them go too. I don’t think DAP candidates fear losing a few votes to PKR. What is important about the consensus between DAP and PKR on seats allocation is that it represents an opposition with a united front, which opposition’s supporters would like to see, that’s all, whether or not it is useful strategy against BN remains to be seen, but one thing for sure, it does not appear to me should DAP and PKR reached consensus makes the oppositions stronger. There’s only one way, Anwar should severe ties with PAS then disband PKR and all its members join DAP, Lim junior should be chairman and Anwar be SG, Uncle Kit retired.
#7 by Jong on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 3:53 pm
Dawsheng, your suggestion may be a little too late but for matter of interest, may I know :D
1. Why should PKR disband and join DAP? Why not
under a new “united front” name.
2. Why Uncle Kit should retire? ..to take care of his
grandchildren? Do you realise how important
and YB is to his Malaysian supporters? Even those
in BN privately acknowledge and respect his
contribution.
#8 by Jong on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 3:54 pm
oops, sorry should read:
“Do you realise how important and popular YB is to his Malaysian supporters? “
#9 by dranony on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 3:56 pm
I think the only common call that DAP+PAS+PKR has to come out with,
is simply to “vote against BN”,
ie to “deny a 2/3 majority to BN.”
The “manifesto” would simply be:
“Make the government more responsible!”
A call to overthrow the BN government, and install a PAS-led government, might actually scare off Chinese voters who fear PAS coming into power. The overthrow of BN is very unlikely anyway, as Mahathir himself admitted recently. The only question is the margin by which BN wins.
Denial of a two thirds majority by BN would be a HUGE success for the opposition.
Of course, 3 corner fights would have to be avoided at all costs.
Every 3-corner fight is effectively giving the seat away to BN!
Imagine, if out of 100votes cast, BN gets 45, DAP 30 and PKR 20 Ind 5 –
together, DAP+PKR might have gotten 50, and win the seat.
Contesting in a 3-corner fight and coming in second highest votes, is as good as having 3rd highest votes – BOTH second and third place contestants are losers. By yielding to the one with the highest chance of winning, at least they stand a chance of winning in some of the seats.
DAP+PAS+PKR should analyse from previous 3-corner fights to see which party got more votes in the last GE, and the party with lesser votes in 3-corner fights should simply yield.
After all, the main aim is to deny BN of such an overwhelming majority that it becomes more accountable to the rakyat.
In fact, another strategy which might be considered would be to willingly give walkovers to BN to _a select few_ seats. If analysis of past GE results show such seats “unwinnable” the Opposition should NOT bother to contest these seats, thereby giving the electorate less hesitancy about voting in a stronger opposition ELSEWHERE.
This would not be unlike by-elections, where some fencesitters may be more tempted to vote opposition, simply because the BN government is already in place, and there is less of a fear of the unknown, or of a major overthrow of the ruling government, and hence of the unknown.
#10 by dawsheng on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 4:10 pm
Ok lah! Ok lah! Uncle Kit should be made Minister Mentor lah! As for why should PKR disband and join DAP and be known only as DAP and not any other name? It will only be bigger and better! Unless bigger and is not better, then it should be the way it is right now.
#11 by pkrian on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 4:55 pm
dranony, i agreed with what you said but some views to share:
“is simply to “vote against BNâ€,
ie to “deny a 2/3 majority to BN.â€
The “manifesto†would simply be:
“Make the government more responsible!â€
- would PAS and PKR agreed to it? bearing in mind the political realistic in Malaysia, denying 2/3 majority should be the goal: again, PKR will be accusing DAP will forever be an opposition with PKR having the chance of becoming Government with only 1 MP!!!
“Of course, 3 corner fights would have to be avoided at all costs.
Every 3-corner fight is effectively giving the seat away to BN!
Imagine, if out of 100votes cast, BN gets 45, DAP 30 and PKR 20 Ind 5 -
together, DAP+PKR might have gotten 50, and win the seat.”
- again i agreed we should avoid 3 corner fights but if we see what PKR is doing and shouting then we can see they are not going towards the same directions. Even the seat of Ipoh Timur they also asked for it, whatmore to the rest? PKR kept on asking DAP to give way for them, but had DAP ever asked anything from the PKR’s existing seats?
#12 by pkrian on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 5:05 pm
just read the reply from Ipoh Timur PKR Chief on merdekareview. He said kit is challenging them for a 3 corner fight. i can’t see in any way from the statement kit is challenging. He was just giving a solution to the negotiations.
This man accused kit of talking about the issue where the DAP-PKR leadership has given a directions not to publicly talk about negotiations. But who started it? it is PKR and Lee Boon Chye.
Did kit say any bad words on PKR? i couldn’t see. All Kit wants is a 1 on 1 fight, and willing to tale the risk himself in Ipoh Timur.
This man also said DAP and PKR should go together in Ipoh Timur 1 Parliament and 3 State Seats. Had the PKR leaders ever on the ground in Ipoh Timur since 2004 except for the past few months where the election heat is already on?
Too much, PKR… PKR, you sploit the thing…
#13 by k1980 on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 7:09 pm
Beware of the failed pseudo-politicians in PKR— They are sly, untrustworthy, and ready to stab you in the back or bite you in the ass, whichever is easier.
#14 by ckloh on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 7:24 pm
Too much, PKR… PKR, you sploit the thing…
Sadly, this is the case.
What i see from Kit remarks are he aware that elecation is a 5 years once thing, better focus on something more important, the seats arrangement must be settled asap, so that now can start to do the necessary. Kit has gone through alot of elections before, he knows what to expect. Fair play.
What i see from PKR rmarks are they see Perak is a big piece of cakes that are up for the takings, and they want a giant share from it. No trust in partners, they want the cakes themselves. They think highly on their capabilities and their supports more than the actual facts despite doing poorly in 2004 in the same areas. They thought BN will lose ground this time, and they will gain this time, and see DAP is a bigger obstacle in getting the cake, instead of let the partner have it, and focus on the more important issues. But they chosse to do small little things to make DAP give up the cakes, so that they can have it.
The more important issues are, they must unite, showed the public that they are there and they are better candidates than BN which even they have the experienced to run what MP should, they usually succumb to greadiness for money and power, which led to corruption.
What PKR really shows alot of fence sitters base on the Perak incident, wanting a bigger shares of cake, shows that they have no difference with those from BN, greed for money and power. Only difference is they have less experienced. BN representives has better experienced overall.
I am trying to convince friends about how corrupt/useless/incapability the BN members are and supports PKR/PAS, but base on this incidents I can’t answer query from them, if the query is how different PKR from UMNO, why vote for a less powerlful/experienced one?
And yet DAP needs Malay votes, either partner with PKR or partner with PAS. PAS ideology will make the partnership not possible and PKR are just another UMNO, arrogant, all rubbish talks but no action, and highly estimated their own capability without knowing what actually they capable of. This is the time to gain advantage over BN, yet they are more interested on their personal gains rather than the public cry for change. The only change they want is instead of BN getting all the benefits from public, they want it to be PKR instead of BN.
Bless you, Malaysia! I am very sad.
#15 by jus legitimum on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 7:53 pm
Besides gerrymeandering,BN also resorts to phantom voters resulting in the presence of centenarian and underaged voters in the electoral rolls.Comparing Bukit Bintang or Cheras as examples with constituencies like Putrajaya and those in the rural areas of Sabah and Sarawak.The former comprising 70,000 or more voters each and the latter only less than 6000.That is the reason why we need BERSIH to clean up the election commission.In view of such problems,the opposition especially DAP is fighting a colossal battle to end the 2/3 majority of BN.Anyway,all opposition parties must cooperate and be united in the coming GE.
#16 by DarkHorse on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 8:53 pm
I don’t the many postings here which call for the parties to avoid 3-cornered fights! I say, “It depends”.
Say a constituency has a Malay majority. If both DAP and PKR were to contest at the same time against BN, the presence of PKR helps split Malay votes that would have gone to BN. If DAp were to contest alone, those who support the opposition but are loathe to give their votes to the DAp, would vote BN.
#17 by DarkHorse on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 8:55 pm
Do you think issues or race that dominates the thinking of Malay voters?
#18 by DarkHorse on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 8:58 pm
“Of course, 3 corner fights would have to be avoided at all costs.
Every 3-corner fight is effectively giving the seat away to BN!” dranony
Nonsense!
#19 by dawsheng on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 9:53 pm
“just read the reply from Ipoh Timur PKR Chief on merdekareview. He said kit is challenging them for a 3 corner fight.”
You know “tin kosong” make the loudest noise.
#20 by dawsheng on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 10:02 pm
“Yes, let us force the opposition to unite. And if they don’t then let us boycott the opposition. Let us show them we mean business.” RPK
I think it should be the other way round. Let’s teach the people a lesson, the opposition should boycott the election and let the people see how it is going to be like without any opposition in business in the next four to five years with Abdullah Badawi as Prime Minister, I bet it is going to be great, great disaster that is.
#21 by dawsheng on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 10:11 pm
“Do you think issues or race that dominates the thinking of Malay voters?”
Yep! It will be the same old greedy Chinese that robbed them poor till this day.
#22 by dawsheng on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 10:22 pm
“I still do not understand why you cannot accept PAS as the partner. I’m quite sure that PAS understand your struggle for Malaysian and yet they never against it. At least tey never ask you to change your mission and your party’s constitution.”
If it is UMNO against PAS in JB, there’s nothing to choose from. All non-muslims should just boycott the election. If PAS understood non-muslims struggle for freedom of religion, they should immediately disband as a political party and transform itself into a NGO, like Sister in Islam, they can then call themselves Brothers in Islam.
#23 by dawsheng on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 10:33 pm
Non-muslims must not vote PAS. There are things I will not compromise, my beer, Bah Kut Teh and most importantly, miniskirt! Will you?
#24 by Godfather on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 10:38 pm
dawsheng:
“That is why you fail.” Master Yoda.
#25 by BoDo Singh on Thursday, 24 January 2008 - 11:59 pm
“Non-muslims must not vote PAS. There are things I will not compromise, my beer, Bah Kut Teh and most importantly, miniskirt! Will you?”
You’re not voting for PAS. You’re voting for the Opposition. There’s a world of a difference.
#26 by Jeffrey on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 12:37 am
Dawsheng: Right on with your “beer, Bah Kut Teh and most importantly, miniskirtâ€.
The ultimate object of PAS is to turn Malaysia to a theocratic Islamic state in the purest sense of the word in which “ beer, Bah Kut Teh and most importantly, miniskirt†will be denied to Dawsheng and the hedonistic likes of some us! This is its raison de etre and there are no other moderate course or compromises. You know why? The laws of God and His State cannot be denied or subordinated by any other concerns.
Right now, PAS is putting on a show – that it is more moderate than UMNO, allow non Malays to erect their places of worship etc. This is anyway no big concession because a party like PAS premised on religion has to give importance to religion which includes not just Islam but also other religions worshipped by non muslim minorities that it seeks to govern one day.
Right now PAS’s priority is to show that it is tolerant because it needs to court and canvass non muslim votes to get to power by constitutional means via the ballot box.
More radical means of seizing power are eschewed at this moment because of the overwhelming military and police resources of the incumbent government that may be applied against any unconstitutional and more radical initiatives on its part, besides the fact that the majority of mainstream Malaysians are, at least at this moment, not supportive of the kind of “intolerant, punitive, bigoted, misogynistic and joyless Islam†(to borrow SIS’s Zainah Anwar’s words) it stands for.
It is only a temporary smiling face of tolerance put forth as a means to an end for expedience. Once it attains power through assistance and on the back of PKR/DAP, and is in a politically dominant position, then it will show its true face.
Once ensconced in power, it will use its dominant position in government to systematically eliminate all values inconsistent with what to them is purist Islam – values of pluralism and liberalism of the West, liberal democracy, gender equality, separation of secular law from religious laws, separation of the sexes and so on until in the end only the Islamist ideological conception of Islam in its purest form prevails.
Politics is an art of deception. Don’t be so easily deceived and blinded by hatred and disgusts for UMNO/BN and the imperative to dislodge them as to not see reality beyond the wool and veil that PAS places before your eyes.
#27 by Jeffrey on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 12:42 am
Sorry typo mistake in 2nd para from bottom – “separation of the sexes” should be replaced by “separation of public and private morality…..”
#28 by Godfather on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 3:19 am
Jeffrey:
It is very clear that you are in the camp that will perpetually be barking dogs in an Opposition that the thieves know is simply toothless. It is simply mindboggling that those who profess to know what is clearly wrong with this country espouse views that do nothing but help perpetuate the injustices created by BN.
Kit will continue to be nothing more than an Opposition leader, and the DAP perhaps will have 15 – 20 seats. Carry on barking. The thieves are going to have a field day stealing, and you guys can continue to have your bak kut teh and miniskirts plus moaning about how the country is going to the dogs under BN.
#29 by sotong on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 6:45 am
Write a book on Malaysian dilemma in general…….you could become the next PM.
#30 by Jeffrey on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 7:19 am
Godfather:
First of all, you have no way of knowing that when a PAS dominated Opposition takes over, it won’t equally steal, assuming that there is anything then left to steal.
Secondly, on a personal level, I am not to sure that I am more comfortable and that we’re all better off with a government dedicated all the time to prayers than one to stealing. I guess I could tolerate corruption and racism better than religious fanaticism, but that’s a personal view.
As I look around the world, the elites within governments world over steal under different guises and forms though admittedly here is blatant. Peoples in some countries (eg Iran under the Shah), fed up of corruption and abuse of power succumb to the blandishment of theocracy promising purity of religious ghovernment. Even here majority of such peoples are Muslims. What happens thereafter – in terms of freedom of personal life and choice?
Thirdly, I don’t drive a Faustian bargain (ie of embracing theocratic Fascism in order just so to rid an ethnocentric corrupt administration) in an act likened to jumping off slowly boiling water to what I perceive to be a frying pan. Though barking dogs do not stop the thieves, I rather risk my money being stolen than soul being taken.
I don’t accept at all your proposition that one is either with or against a PAS dominated Opposition in an the apocalyptic world of good versus evil, there being no neutral ground possible in the uncertain future, and that we all have to decide now to be either in total agreement with the corrupt and racist government of the day or have to go down the slippery slope towards a state of affairs where what happened (say) in BU4 School is just “starters†of more to come which cannot be rectified or reversed.
#31 by Jeffrey on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 8:01 am
And if “the country is going to the dogs under BN”, will it be going to Heaven with PAS? :) Go do a swot analysis, a grid of pros and cons and weigh between corrupt and racist govt on one hand and a Theocratic Fascist one on the other, and see which is lesser of two evils or rather which is easier to ameliorate in terms of their respective evils.
#32 by dranony on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 8:12 am
I’ve realised that Darkhorse is right, about 3-cornered fights being beneficial to DAP+PKR+PAS in _some_ constituencies, and depending on the electoral mix.
I think my earlier statement about 3-corner fights to be avoided totally, needs to be amended – 3-corner fights should be avoided where the likelihood of splitting the Opposition vote is great.
But, as Darkhorse points out, it should be encouraged where splitting of the Barisan vote is very likely, such that it benefits the Opposition.
#33 by limkamput on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 9:02 am
No, Darkhorse is WRONG. The issue is not really 3-cornered fight when it suits the oppositions. The issue is whether or not the oppositions will be able to forge genuine co-operation among themselves. If they have 3-cornered fights among themselves and some constituencies and cooperate against the BN in other constituencies, what messages are they sending to the voters in general?
#34 by limkamput on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 9:05 am
Who said we are going to go for BN or Pas. We are going to split them in the middle and we be king makers. So vote for Pas when necessary. No need to use SWOT analysis. I use plus minus framework.
#35 by limkamput on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 9:13 am
you have no way of knowing that when a PAS dominated Opposition takes over, it won’t equally steal, assuming that there is anything then left to steal.
Taking about hypothetical argument, this is the epitome of that. May I know how useful is this argument? May be if Pas have governed this country, by now Malaysia has disintegrated and each group would have its own enclave to govern, like former Yugoslavia. You have no way of knowing that also.
#36 by limkamput on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 9:21 am
Contemplate, Contemplate, Contemplate, procrastinate, procrastinate, procrastinate, waiting, waiting, waiting for some perfect information so that we can make a perfect decision. High hope! This kind of argument can best go without.
#37 by limkamput on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 9:23 am
No, Darkhorse is WRONG. The issue is not really 3-cornered fight when it suits the oppositions. The issue is whether or not the oppositions will be able to forge a genuine co-operation among themselves. If they have 3-cornered fights among themselves in some constituencies and then cooperate against the BN in other constituencies, what messages are they sending to the voters in general?
#38 by limkamput on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 9:28 am
You’re not voting for PAS. You’re voting for the Opposition. There’s a world of a difference. BODO Singh
For once the bodo is a genius
#39 by limkamput on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 9:34 am
Do you think issues or race that dominates the thinking of Malay voters? Darkhorse
Now this is confusing. Is race an issue? Are issues, among others, including race? By the way, I sekolah attap lah, bukan kampong attap. So help me to understand.
#40 by dawsheng on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 9:41 am
May be if Pas have governed this country, by now Malaysia has disintegrated and each group would have its own enclave to govern, like former Yugoslavia. You have no way of knowing that also.”
Yeah! Possibility what you said limkamput, yours a scenario of a civil war. Now anyone still wants to vote for PAS?
#41 by dawsheng on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 9:45 am
A vote for PAS is a vote for Islamic State and a possible civil war that will destroy Malaysia forever!
#42 by dawsheng on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 9:54 am
“Thirdly, I don’t drive a Faustian bargain (ie of embracing theocratic Fascism in order just so to rid an ethnocentric corrupt administration) in an act likened to jumping off slowly boiling water to what I perceive to be a frying pan. Though barking dogs do not stop the thieves, I rather risk my money being stolen than soul being taken.” Jeffrey
God bless you Jeffrey! God bless!
#43 by DarkHorse on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 10:16 am
“But, as Darkhorse points out, it should be encouraged where splitting of the Barisan vote is very likely, such that it benefits the Opposition” dranony
I thought so. I thought you missed something in your original statement – just like I missed mentioning something in mine earlier i.e. in a Malay dominated constituency, fielding a PKR candidate along with another from the DAP, could help split the Malay votes that are likely to go to BN in the absence of a candidate from PKR, and I must add, assuming the PKR candidate is a Malay.
So we can agree that there is no hard and fast rule. It is safe to say that the decision to avoid having 3-cornered fights or to have 3-cornered fights would have to depend on the racial profile of the electorate of that particular constituency, and the race of the candidates being fielded ceteris paribus.
#44 by Jong on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 11:36 am
Let’s keep our fingers crossed, let good sense prevail and wait for success at the DAP-PKR negotiating table that they will come out with a solution that is agreeble by all concerned.
PKR Perak chieftan has done enough damage by going public to antangonise DAP, let’s not create more issues and problems for them.
#45 by Godfather on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 12:33 pm
Jeffrey said:
“…I don’t drive a Faustian bargain (ie of embracing theocratic Fascism in order just so to rid an ethnocentric corrupt administration) in an act likened to jumping off slowly boiling water to what I perceive to be a frying pan. Though barking dogs do not stop the thieves, I rather risk my money being stolen than soul being taken.”
That is the standard comment of all naive Chinese. Tell me, how could PAS (or the DAP) by itself win an election ? How many candidates can you field that will enable you to form the next government ? Can PAS win the two-thirds needed to amend the Federal Constitution ? Even if the Opposition can win 51 pct of the seats and form the next government, what domination would PAS have to take your soul ?
The reality is that we have to work together to deny the BN the two-thirds majority which would hopefully then reduce the stealing, the removal or stupid and unjust policies. UMNO will implode once the BN loses the two-thirds majority and Big Ears will simply be sent into retirement.
This is the opportunity to deny BN the two-thirds majority, not for the Opposition to win the elections. As any bookie on Petaling Street will tell you, the odds of the Opposition forming the next government are virtually negligible.
Those who tell us that PAS is taboo are simply BN agents trying to “split” the Opposition vote to prevent the loss of their two-thirds majority.
#46 by Godfather on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 12:44 pm
Of course, if all the DAP wants is 15 – 20 seats, and the leadership of the Opposition, and the continuing barking of all the injustices perpetuated by the ruling coalition, then by all means treat PAS also as “the enemy”. Many of us harbour hopes of the Opposition being able to deny BN the two-thirds majority, but I guess it is not to be with supporters like Jeffrey and dawsheng. So we shall all have to sit back and wait for the thieves to steal until there is nothing left to steal before they would implode.
#47 by mycroft on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 12:51 pm
If you choose to sleep with dogs, you’d get up with fleas.
#48 by Godfather on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 12:53 pm
Regime Change is not about toppling BN at the next elections. Regime Change is about routing MCA and Gerakan in key states like Penang, Melaka, Perak, Selangor. It is also about PAS winning more seats in Trengganu, Kedah and Perlis. Together, the Opposition can deny the BN its two-thirds majority. When that happens, the leadership of the various BN parties will be held accountable for the “loss” and new leadership will come in, hopefully with more transparency and accountability in their governance.
#49 by dawsheng on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 1:09 pm
How can PAS help DAP to win more than 20 seats? Remember it was the other way round many years back? Say we deny BN 2/3 majority in parliament with the help of Chinese voting for PAS, when it comes to the issue of religion, guess where PAS will stand? We achieved nothing by helping PAS to increase their political base whether at state level or in the Parliament, we are increasing the chances of Malaysia becoming and Islamic state faster. Taking a shortcut to deny BN’s majority by voting for PAS you will find yourself walking in a maze with no exit instead. None of the problems we faced is solved!
#50 by dawsheng on Friday, 25 January 2008 - 1:17 pm
There maybe one hundred differences between PAS and UMNO but having that one similarity is enough to tell you “DON’T” because nobody can ever changed that similarity, what more when we have two. Non-muslims must not vote for PAS!