If the Permatang Pauh by-election is decided by the Nomination Day turnout this morning, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Anwar Ibrahim would win hands down.
Never before in any by-election nomination in Malaysian electoral history has the Barisan Nasional been so-outnumbered and overwhelmed, whether in terms of supporters; publicity materials whether flags, buntings or banners; or sheer enthusiasm, morale and spirit of the supporters.
In the sea of humanity at the Nomination Centre this morning, Anwar’s supporters from the three Pakatan Rakyat parties of PKR, DAP and PAS simply drowned out the Barisan Nasional supporters from Umno, MCA, Gerakan and MIC, led by a very subdued Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak himself, Umno Youth leader Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and his deputy Khairy Jamaluddin.
There are those who estimate that the crowd was as big as 100,000 or more, with the Pakatan Rakyat supporters exceeding the Barisan Nasional supporters by a ratio of from 1:7 to 1:10.
UMNO Youth Hishammuddin yesterday played the sympathy card when he “begged” Permatang Pauh voters to support the Barisan Nasional candidate “because we are the underdog”.
The role of an “underdog” does not sit well with Hishammuddin as memories among Malaysians are still fresh that he was far from being an underdog when he wielded the Malay keris at the Umno Youth general assembly for three consecutive years, utterly insensitive of the sensitivities of a multi-racial Malaysia. Nor is the Prime Minister’s son-in-law best cast in the role of an “underdog”!
The impression the outnumbered and demoralized BN team gave at the Nomination Centre this morning was certainly not one of an “underdog” but of a Chinese description of the “rat running across the street”!
Anwar is right however in his caution to all workers and supporters not to be complacent and take the BN mechanism lightly, as the BN is fully capable of turning the table on polling day by snatching victory from the jaws of defeat with its tested “bag of dirty tricks”.
It is a sad commentary on Anwar’s total lack of confidence in the independence and integrity of the electoral system that Dr Mansor Othman, former Penang PKR leader, had to be nominated as an independent candidate as a “strategic contingency” move in case Anwar was unreasonably and unjustly disqualified – with Mansor announcing his withdrawal when Anwar sailed through the nomination process, forfeiting RM15,000 in the process!
Anwar had very good reason to take such a precautionary measure as the decision by the Election Commission to fix a Tuesday – August 26 – as the polling day for the by-election was clearly unfair and undemocratic, designed to discourage a high voter turn-out being a working day particularly for the high percentage of factory workers in the constituency and therefore unfavourable to Anwar’s candidature.
The battle royale of the Permatang Pauh by-election for the next ten days is on – with far reaching consequences not just for Anwar and the constituency, but for the nation and 27 million Malaysians.
#1 by Godfather on Sunday, 17 August 2008 - 10:41 am
They won’t drop the charges against Anwar, certainly not before Aug 26th. It would clearly mean the prosecutorial system is broken and totally incompetent.
#2 by Godfather on Sunday, 17 August 2008 - 10:45 am
For 30 years, UMNO has consistently applied the “heads I win, tails you lose” philosophy. They won’t change now.
#3 by max2811 on Sunday, 17 August 2008 - 11:26 am
May Lee Chong Wei win tonight. May DIGI send the TV2(Olympics)commentators home. Waste of money. Too much talking. Empty talk too. May Mr Anwar win.
#4 by badak on Sunday, 17 August 2008 - 11:40 am
Give me RM 100 MILLLION and a RM 800.OOOO a month job.I will also swear that DSAI SODOMIZED me.I won,t be as cheap as SAIFUL RM 1 million and Datukship in 3 years time.
Najib and Rosmah must also swear in the mosque that they are not involve in the ALTANTUYA MURDER.If not how to believe lahhh.
#5 by riversandlakes on Sunday, 17 August 2008 - 11:52 am
DSAI ’08!
#6 by AhPek on Sunday, 17 August 2008 - 12:52 pm
Jeffrey, you can be sure that the ordinary voters in PP will not be able to see the implications and the inherent contributions you have presented between (1)
using the criminal justice system to charge Anwar of consensual sodomy and (2)
Saiful’s swearing on the Koran on non-consensual sodomy done on him by Anwar,giving confidence for these UMNOPUTRAS to capitalise on.Perhaps these may be good points for PR to use to show that they are desparately trying to fabricate lies about Anwar so as to discredit him.They do that only for the sole reason of preventing Anwar taking over the Federal Government and if he succeeds a lot of them could find themselves in jail.
#7 by AhPek on Sunday, 17 August 2008 - 12:58 pm
Like what badak says Najib and Rosmah should also arrange (perhaps to be televised world wide) to swear before the Holy Koran that they are not involved in the murder of Altantuya. That will prove without a shadow of doubt that they are innocent.What do you think,Najib and Rosmah, it is worth taking it up and it will certainly save you people the trouble trying to convince the public that you people have nothing to do with Altantuya and in fact you do not even know Altantuya.
#8 by MPSPK on Sunday, 17 August 2008 - 1:34 pm
Rimas aku la dengan shamsul annuar tuh… takde kejer lain ke engko???? baper byk agaknya UMNO/BN bayau kau agaknya…. kalo nak influence kami ni nak nyokong UMNO… x payahlah gamaknyer… buang masa buang tenaga….. engko ni nulis nampak cam org pandai2… tapi tak cukup pandai sama lah macam org2 umno… sedih… analisis nko pasal politik tak cukup ampuh…. tu sebab org melayu tak maju2.. sebab ada org macam nko dengan vc uitm….
#9 by kanthanboy on Sunday, 17 August 2008 - 1:56 pm
Swear over the holy book to prove innocence as suggested by TDM?
This is a 3rd world mentality. You will never hear such stupid suggestion from political leaders of advanced countries like those of the G8.
#10 by Godfather on Sunday, 17 August 2008 - 3:07 pm
Someone asked TDM to swear on the Koran that he did not engineer the sodomy case against Anwar in the 90s. His moderator refused to publish the comment on TDM’s blog.
Such is the hypocrisy of the old thief.
#11 by imranj78 on Sunday, 17 August 2008 - 3:22 pm
`Someone who swears an S.D. is more likely to be telling the truth. Making a false S.D. is liable to 7 years imprisonment and you will be punished in this world, not the next.’
KennyGan
The likelihood of telling the truth whether it through a SD or swearing depends on the person who is actually undertaking it. For Muslims, punishment in the hereafter (as subscribed to a person who wrongfully swears) is very much more painful/serious then any punishment a person can be given in this world. Therefore, a Muslim should technically be more scared of swearing rather then making a SD. Hence I disagree that a SD is more likely to be true vis-a-vis swearing.
Before you jump on me, I am not an advocate of swearing. That is a person’s right and if Saiful has done it, then that is between him and his maker. Whether his action is right or wrong is up for debate but his action has sent ripples throughout the nation.
#12 by thepriest on Sunday, 17 August 2008 - 3:34 pm
Be careful of the Half chinese NO how good he is, He is still in the camp of dens of thieves, He might steal not only from malays but from chinese too ……..
Lets pray that DSAI will not only win the by election in PP BUT will win with BIGGER majority.
#13 by AhPek on Sunday, 17 August 2008 - 5:11 pm
imranj78,
I can see your arguments.No wonder the prospect of having 72 virgins waiting is enough motivation to hijack planes to ram into WTO building!
#14 by thepriest on Sunday, 17 August 2008 - 5:54 pm
The Permatang Pauh by-election: ‘sodomite’ versus brother to a ‘swindler’ by RPK what a crook too. Looks like a clean man like our pm otten inside.. yak..
#15 by limkamput on Sunday, 17 August 2008 - 6:41 pm
imranj78,
Use your logic a bit. I person who is not fearful of committing crimes in this world will NOT be fearful of life thereafter. If swearing works, there is no need for criminal justice system, no need for science of evidence, and no need for detective work.
When mamathir was PM, some thought he was so clever. He is now so anxious that DSAI could actually become PM. This mamak is no more than a third world tribal primitive leader totally devoid of any grey matter. He is a stupid person and Malaysia was unfortunate to have him as PM for more than 20 years.
#16 by Godfather on Sunday, 17 August 2008 - 6:48 pm
“Whether his action is right or wrong is up for debate but his action has sent ripples throughout the nation.”
The only ripples it has sent to the voters of PP is that many are rolling about on the floor laughing until their sides have split.
#17 by Malar on Sunday, 17 August 2008 - 9:10 pm
I wish Anuar all the best. I was so surprised with the announcement of Datuk Arif Shah’s command of Mandarin. It is good to know that at least there is one Umno man with good command of chinese. Why is UMNO making headlines with his command of Mandarin now. When there was so much of uproar about non-bumis entry to Uitm, what is so special now that they are making headlines of this. Fishing for chinese voters right? If he can speak Mandarin well, can that be a criteria for him to allow chinese in Uitm? If Mandarin was the most important criteria in the election of Permatang Pauh, then might as well put an MCA or a Gerakan Chinese candidate there? Umno wants the chinese and indians votes but they should not ask anything more in this country. They right is only to vote for BN but to reject their rights is UMNO. What a philosophy to be practised by BN in this country.
#18 by ekuarater on Sunday, 17 August 2008 - 10:34 pm
What’s the point of a Mandarin speaking Malay… are we interested to elect an MP just to confirm a Malay FREAK is running for Parliament?. There are also so many Malay speaking Non-Bumi Malaysians… but can they be eligible for 10% UiTM? Speak Mandarin, Russian English all languages in the world.. works in other country but not in Bolehland.
#19 by imranj78 on Sunday, 17 August 2008 - 11:58 pm
AhPek,
WTO? You are way off the topic my dear AhPek. I shall not even respond to such ludricous comments.
limkamput,
I agree with your logic. But by the same logic you are prescribing, a person who is law abiding, would also be scared to make a false swear. Am I right? Hey man, I am not saying swearing is the way to go. Nothing should circumvent our justice system.
#20 by Malar on Monday, 18 August 2008 - 12:04 am
I just saw the talk show on the dispute of non-bumi joining UITM on Channel 502. The chinese and indians should have their conscious clear if they had voted for opposition. You should have seen how one of the politician who was an ex-uitm spoke and he even used the word ‘orang asing’ referring the non-malays. He was addressing the bumiputras as ‘pribumis’ and for a moment I thought he was addressing himself as orang asli. The MIC, MCA, Gerakan and PPP, shame on you. In the show all the way he mentioned that it was the malays who fought for independence and the malays had welcomed the orang asing into their homes but we are encroaching their homes now. Lucky, there was one caller by the name of Quah who made a call and made his question clear. The politician claimed that the pribumis are still behind the other races so there is no way they can allow non-bumis into uitm but the only thing that is not clear is – why even after 50 years of merdeka the malays are still behind. The malay rights have been there all these 50 years and the government has pampered them till now but the other races have managed to make their way without any special privileges. So where is the problem or with whom is the problem?
#21 by undergrad2 on Monday, 18 August 2008 - 12:53 am
If the problems of the world could be solved with leaders of nations swearing on their holy books, then we should just go ahead. Fine with me!
#22 by NewDAP on Monday, 18 August 2008 - 9:11 am
Malar,
The government has to preserve the malay rights as most non-malays are smarter, better and more hard working than most malays. Therefore our government has to be fair to them by giving them special privileges and protection.
#23 by ahkok1982 on Monday, 18 August 2008 - 10:40 am
on the sodomy case, since the gov is changing the charge to one of “sex against the order of nature” and it was consensual, then why is Saiful also not charged? isn’t letting someone else poke your arse also considered as “sex against the order of nature”? Why only charge DSAI and not Saiful?
Once again, the gov is protecting Saiful because he just a tool to help BN frame DSAI. If they were to also charge him, lets see if Saiful will turn the tables and confess that it was all a sandiwara with BN as the director.
#24 by cheng on on Monday, 18 August 2008 - 11:36 am
Do the Thai Malay, Spore Malay, Indonesia Malay, Cambodia Malay, S.Africa Malay, Brunei Malay, etc, need special privileges and protection too? If Yes, Can Msia teach them how to do it?
#25 by Emily Pratt on Monday, 18 August 2008 - 12:20 pm
The end result should be Anwar being elected as MP of Permatang Pauh (P44), who gives a darn whether Anwar wins by a one vote majority or 20,000 majority. Anyway, Parliament.. here he comes.
Abdullah Nincompoop… the rakyat is telling you’re fired.
EP
#26 by Toyol on Monday, 18 August 2008 - 1:53 pm
Permatang Pauh voters…you have the power now in your hands whether you want to live with a corrupt and bankrupt government or vote for change. Yes, we start all over again with Pakatan but do you still want to continue with the present regime? Pakatan is for the people, by the people. You think BN can lay claim to that? With their closets full of rotting carcases, your vote for BN is a vote for doom for your children and your children’s children.
#27 by PSM on Monday, 18 August 2008 - 3:35 pm
Just wondering? Can the State Government declare a holiday so that the Voters can vote without worring about their work commitments?
It’s so clear that the EC & BN Government together!
#28 by Emily Pratt on Monday, 18 August 2008 - 4:37 pm
Actually IIRC, employers cannot obstruct eligible from voting. I think declaring State Public Holiday is not necessary, from a larger picture, PP is still after all, just a by-election.
The voting process only takes less than half an hour… if you skip lunch or take an hour off from your employer, I think it is no problem.
EP
#29 by Emily Pratt on Monday, 18 August 2008 - 4:39 pm
I have to add… 50,000 ++ voters to determine the direction or well being of 27Million inhabitants of this country… PP voters are truly the king-make this time.
EP
#30 by Vidya Young on Monday, 18 August 2008 - 10:19 pm
Dear friends, after S**fool’s ‘comic’ with the Quran, we cannot ask every Tom, Dick and Harry to swear on the Quran to prove their innocence. There are some who will be prepared to swear on the Holy Book (any holy book) and stake their life on it without fear of being struck dead by God. And of course there are others, the unscrupulous, deceitful and immoral ones who will swear readily, only because they are unprincipled, compulsive liars and have never spoken a truth in their life. They will swear on a stack of Quran if you want because lying comes easy to them.
And we all know in which category TDM, Bodohwi, Najis and their cronies fall into. Ask yourselves why have these s*n-o*-a-bi*ch not performed the Haj? Especially TDM, who is what 80+ now? Because they do not have the fear of God in them. They know, it is in Mecca they will face their Maker.
#31 by shamshul anuar on Wednesday, 20 August 2008 - 11:40 pm
DEar Vidya,
For your info, Dr Mahathir performed haj way back in 1970s. I knew as I saw his picture then. Around year 2000, He went for pilgrimage again.
My advice to you is that do not be so jugdemental . WE mere mortals, do not know what transpited between Anwar and Saiful. With due respect to you, Muslims are waiting for Anwar to swear. What is he afraid of?
I heard the accusation 10 years ago from Mohd Sabu, current Vice President of PAS. He condemned Anwar and challenged Dr Mahathir to sack Anwar. It was published in Harakah itself. But again, now they are friends.
We give Anwar benefit of the doubt. Now, why not do what Muslims worldwide considered the act of ultimate truth. Swear in God’s name and like Saiful, ask divine punishment should he lie.
How about that?