By Neville Spykerman | The Malaysian Insider
SHAH ALAM, March 7 — Veteran opposition leader Lim Kit Siang today predicted the Pakatan Rakyat will have an easier time at the next general election if the government jails Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for sodomy.
“If he is jailed, our motto will be free Anwar, vote PR!” said the DAP stalwart during the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Convention.
Anwar, the de factor PKR and PR leader, is facing his second sodomy charge in more than a decade after he was sacked as deputy prime minister and later jailed for sodomy and corruption offences.
The next election is not due until 2013 but pundits expect Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to call for snap polls after the Sarawak state elections, which are due by July 2011.
The Ipoh Timor MP said the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government was courting trouble by continuing their persecution of the Opposition Leader, who has denied the sodomy charge and called it a political conspiracy.
Lim lashed out at the government for what he claims was a move to subvert democracy and cited the example of the police crackdown on a DAP dinner at Kepong last night.
Lim reiterated PR support for Anwar to continue to remain as Opposition Leader.
“He will continue to be Opposition Leader until he becomes prime minister.”
But Anwar’s PKR has been hobbled with crisis after three MPs, Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim (Bayan Baru), Tan Tee Beng (Nibong Tebal) and Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri (Bagan Serai), quit the party over the past month while Zulkifli Noordin (Kulim-Bandar Baru) was sacked, reducing the party to 27 Parliament seats.
DAP currently has 28 seats while PAS had 23 seats. By convention, the Opposition Leader comes from the party with the most number of seats in that bench but PR has maintained its support for Anwar.
Umno Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin pointed out recently that Lim should assume the helm as he is the DAP Parliament leader.
“I thank Khairy for his concern but he should be more concerned over why he has not been made a deputy minister,” said Lim sarcastically.
By convention, the BN government appoints the Umno Youth chief to a ministerial position but Khairy is the second in recent history not to get a Cabinet post.
The other was Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was not appointed in the 1990s when Umno and BN was chaired by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Zahid is now the Defence Minister.
#1 by All For The Road on Sunday, 7 March 2010 - 9:03 pm
Has the UMNO-dominated BN seen the looming signs that it will be booted out of Putrajaya and PR will march to Putrajaya to form the next Federal Government in the next GE, the 13th GE that is?
PR, onward forever!
#2 by king cobra on Sunday, 7 March 2010 - 9:09 pm
most important is voters in East Malaysia swings in favour of Pakatan Rakyat , 13th GE will be a shock wave tsunami swinging BN into South China Sea……once & for all ,
#3 by stanleytan.net on Sunday, 7 March 2010 - 9:13 pm
that’s a good slap to khairy, “…he should be more concerned over why he has not been made a deputy minister”
#4 by democrate on Sunday, 7 March 2010 - 9:21 pm
Malaysia has no natural disaster but we have human disasters bcos of the double standard behaviour of Bn and the corrupted Penjaga Keamanan ( police ) and the MACC. Yes, stop harass Anwar, Lim G ing and Nik Aziz,
OTHERWISE, BN AKAN habis in the next GE.
#5 by k1980 on Sunday, 7 March 2010 - 9:31 pm
Another motto for GE13: “No more GST, Vote PR!”
Why is Ah Khai Jamaluddin so concerned over DAP’s welfare? Planning to cross over to DAP with his bapa mertua?
#6 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Sunday, 7 March 2010 - 9:34 pm
I think Najib will sooner than he expects enter into the history books as a par-iah PM if Anwar is jailed on trumped up charges. That will be a shameful legacy for his children and grandchildren to come.
#7 by johnnypok on Sunday, 7 March 2010 - 9:36 pm
Jail or no jail, PR will win many more seats, while all the component parties of BN will suffer heavy loses.
Sarawak will take the lead to kick BN, and save Sabah from going to the dogs.
#8 by yhsiew on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 12:07 am
Many Malays voted for the Opposition in the 2008 GE because after the court exonerated Anwar from Sodomy crime, they realized that they had been deceived by the BN government and what outraged them further was that Pak Lah deliberately fixed the polling date early to prevent Anwar from going back to politics.
If Najib were to fool them one more time this round (i.e. send Anwar to jail again), I think many of them will get mad and boot him (Najib) out of Putrajaya!
#9 by Thor on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 12:57 am
Yeah, sick of those BN bullies!
Sick of those liars!
Sick of those mamak!
Sick of those racist buggers!
Sick of those born losers!
Sick of that fat mamma!
Sick of that pink hulk!
Sick of all those were-frog!
Very, very sick man!!!
Can’t wait any longer to boot them out!
Arrrrrrgh……………..!!!
#10 by ablastine on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 1:15 am
I don’t see how BN can prevent Anwar from becoming the next PM. Isn’t he long overdue? How many times do the voters want him to be set up by the evil regime and go to jail before assuming the position? Who really in UMNO or BN can match him in oratory skill, charisma and Statemenship? Isn’t it already fairly clear that he has very strong support from the minority groups and right thinking Malays who want the best for the country and its rakyat? His support is broadbase. He even seem to have overwhelming support and sympathy from foreign governments. The only answer the UMNO government has to all these I suppose is to fix him up and get him jailed hoping to cut him off from swaying voters. This won’t help one bit because he probably has recorded a great number of rousing speeches to be telecast in U-tube and during PR campaigns in the next GE by now.
#11 by penang lim on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 7:21 am
uncle Kit Siang ,
Even if Anwar is not found gulity , pakatan will still win convincingly in the next general election , as the public is getting fed up with this current govt , tainted with so many garbage , can feel a very much stronger wind of change is blowing , there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel , keep up the good work to realise this historic win coming this 13th GE
#12 by Godfather on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 8:00 am
It is clear now that BN has neither the desire nor the means to meet the rakyat’s expectations of a transparent and meritocratic government. Look at what has transpired on scandals like PKFZ, stolen F5E engines, former MB’s RM24 million mansion, current MB’s multi-million ringgit funds transfer through money-changers, etc. etc.
Soon they will come up with a new economic model that will be a rehash of the old NEP, diverting billions back into the hands of UMNOputras. These people will never learn. They will never reform themselves. They have to be booted out.
#13 by Bigjoe on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 8:16 am
The only benefit of jailing Anwar is to cause a fight between the second line of leadership of PKR. While there is still a risk of that happening, given the close relationship of top leaders of DAP and PAS with Wan Azizah, its not going to happen that easily. In addition, PR is quite close to taking over Putrajaya that it will take a lot cause that.
Short of a fight within PKR, jailing Anwar is a negative for UMNO/BN. It just gives even firmer evidence of ‘Selamat Malaysia’ campaign.
However, not having Anwar around is a lost in terms of driving the campaign machinery important for PR to win. Anwar is still the best orator that PR has. He stills capture the crowds and imagination of the people across the widest spectrum better than anyone. Only Nik Aziz come close in terms of charisma.
It is urgent that PKR find someone who is as good oratory wise that can capture the imagination of the people. It would be best if that person is Nurul Izzah but she does not appear to have the same talent as the father.
#14 by Godfather on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 8:29 am
Oops, after just saying that they will soon be coming up with a new economic model, they are now saying that the model will be delayed “for fine-tuning and tweaking”.
The rakyat knows what that means. They are all checking their bank balances, and they want some more.
#15 by dagen on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 8:55 am
Come up with the alternative cabinet.
Formally recognise anwar as the alternative prime minister. So that if these idiots should jail anwar (which they of course would) then they would not be jailing “an” opposition leader merely but “a” prime minister actually albeit an alternative prime minister!
Furthermore, realistically we now have a two-party system in the country. Pakatan can (and in fact it would) take over the running of the country from umno. So move on and show the people the alternative team.
#16 by Comrade on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 9:19 am
BN/Umno must not forget the pain
That the 2008 political tsunami gave
If Anwar the Opposition Leader is jailed again
BN/Umno will be digging its own grave
#17 by newchief on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 9:25 am
your motto ‘ to free anwar, vote pk’ may work but i propose a better motto ‘barang turn,vote pk’ .
the real reason as you know why bn is holding government is because of their ‘pre-maggie mee’ presents particulary to the rural people of east malaysia.
as such, dtk should adpot this attitude nder the disguise of giving out counter presents plus future presents to these people should pk comes into power.
franly speaking, giving petty presents to them should be enough to convince them to vote for pk….they have very simple lives so just talk of simple life to them. no need to talk about mega economics to them because they are more appreciatable to people who can give them petty presents !!!
#18 by sotong on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 9:57 am
Kit, you stand to fully support Anwar as Opposition Leader and the next PM will probably ensure a close fight for PR to form government in the next GE.
Politics are games played by ugly people…….you are one of a few exception.
#19 by Ridzuan Aziz on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 10:06 am
“Free Anwar, Vote PR”??
hmm..you can come out with something way better than this to convince the people.
I don’t think Anwar will ever go to jail after the first ‘jail episode.’ I am pretty convince he will do everything in his power (and this is verified by his team of lawyers, international supports, road shows) to ensure that he is free forever.
PR cannot afford to play around with this Anwar’s issue any longer. At the end of the day, people want more than just talks. They want to see actions. If PR envisions taking over Putrajaya, they have to make sure the other leaders are prepared to take over too and lead. I can only see the likes of Anwar and LGE as potential leaders. The rest are followers so unsure of themselves that their leadership abilities need to be brushed. Even so, Anwar is slowly losing his leadership abilities now, in my opinion. Maybe he is being burden by a lot of personal issues.
PR is like a ship with many passengers aboard, and these passengers have different opinions and preferences. It is not easy to navigate this ship. The ship is PR, the passengers are the leaders, and the navigation is the top leaders. PR has to find a way to solve this navigation before they can move forward. BN has been doing this for 5 decades and are still striving to do the best they could.
#20 by Godfather on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 10:23 am
“BN has been doing this for 5 decades and are still striving to do the best they could.”
Hahaha, which planet are you from, Ridzuan ? “This” in your statement refers to stealing. BN has been doing “this” for 5 decades and they are still striving to do their best to steal. The rakyat’s eyes are opened following March 2008, and no amount of propaganda from the mainstream press is going to help BN now.
Leaders ? There are many leaders ready to step in if necessary. Leaders who are clean, who are not tainted. When the time comes, you will see these leaders. Passengers on the PR ship will know these leaders.
#21 by Godfather on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 11:03 am
A further retort to Ridzuan Aziz. Just look at the credentials of BN leaders:
1. Najib and the Scorpene commissions.
2. Zahid Hamidi and the F5E engines
3. Toyol and the RM24 million mansion
4. Mat Hassan and the multi-million ringgit transfer out of the country
5. Tiong and the PKFZ scandal
6. Semi Value and MIC
7. Moo-hee-din and his right wing pronouncements
I think we can get better leaders by going to the Chow Kit market for volunteers.
#22 by Godfather on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 11:04 am
..and of course if CSL becomes the president of MCA, then BN will have a Chua Soiled Lek.
#23 by Godfather on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 11:19 am
While we are still on the subject of PR leadership and BN leadership, you should all read this:
http://msian-spring.freevar.com/ranking.htm
#24 by Black Arrow on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 11:26 am
Pakatan Rakyat has many good leaders. I can name you a few excellent candidates who can be the Finance Minister, not like BN’s Finance Ministers who know nothing about economics.
But Pakatan Rakyat MPs and ADUNs who are truly committed to the struggle and ideals of Pakatan are not ambitious power-grabbers. And that is why Ridzuan Aziz does not seem to recognize these potential leaders. Maybe his eyesight has been tainted by BN lens.
#25 by johnnypok on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 12:28 pm
BN is a refugees camp for the rejects from PR, and very soon will be full of rotten garbage, causing the vessel to sink, and bringing the era of a mafia-government to an end.
#26 by frankyapp on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 1:01 pm
PR’s target is to remove BN.So guys please first thing first okay. Only cross the bridge when you reach it. The PR ship is loaded with abundant of talented and professional passengers.And once the target is achieved,just ask and seek,you would find all the talented people you want. Right now,what’s important is to ensure the safety of the captian(Anwar) and the two vice captians ( Nik Aziz and LKS) .Also ensure the mother of all cannons is well and properly loaded and its position adjusted to aim at the BN ship at 100 percent accuracy to hit it and sink it once and for all when the battle begins. You know guys,politician just like general also needs the art of war to win general election.
#27 by dagen on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 1:10 pm
Ridzuan (comment #18) may be right. “Awww. Not again!” That is the sort of reaction umno could be provoking. First time fresh. Second time stale. So lets kick up a stale issue on purpose and let pakatan channel all their energy and efforts to pursue the stale issue. Of course umno knew well that the issue is as stale as can be and that therefore it would be bad for them to kick it up, again. But hey, the purpose for doing so could be well served in the end. That could be what they hoped for anyway.
I dont think they are that smart, fortunately (wheeew!). They are all products of (-)meritocracy. Then again, we are not stupid. And in any case umno has tragically been putting a lot more balls past their own goalie and into their own goal posts. They are sinking themselves. They are shooting themselves in the foot. They are doing all the wrong things all the time. Even on a “do nothing” basis (on the part of pakatan), the “mv umno” would capsize.
So sit tight and watch.
#28 by chengho on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 2:52 pm
All along PR is all about Anwar , without Anwar PR is nothing . Rakyat will never give a 2nd tsunami . PR do not know how to manage success or half success.
#29 by Winston on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 4:03 pm
“I thank Khairy for his concern but he should be more concerned over why he has not been made a deputy minister,” said Lim sarcastically.
Good one, Uncle Lim!
Your support for Annuar also shows that the PR is really united, unlike UMNO/BN, where all the Judases will draw their daggers to stab each other in the fight for the best spot in the government!
Not that anyone of them are any good at governing!
They are more interested in the dough then anything else!
#30 by johnnypok on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 6:13 pm
If Anwar goes to jail, US will invade bolehland, like what they do to Iraq.
Australia and all the European nations will join America to finish United Monkeys National Organisation.
#31 by DCLXVI on Monday, 8 March 2010 - 11:59 pm
chengho on Monday, 8 March 2010 – 2:52 pm : “All along PR is all about Anwar , without Anwar PR is nothing.”
Yes, Umno-BN believes that with Anwar politically disabled and out of the way, Pakatan Rakyat will fall.
It must be very grateful to Saiful for being able to pin Anwar on that penetrationless sodomy charge…
chengho on Monday, 8 March 2010 – 2:52 pm : “Rakyat will never give a 2nd tsunami . PR do not know how to manage success or half success.”
As long as Pakatan Rakyat shows that it can properly administer those states which it now governs, it still has a good fighting chance…
#32 by DCLXVI on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 12:35 am
Ridzuan Aziz: “Free Anwar, Vote PR??
hmm..you can come out with something way better than this to convince the people.”
Yes, sloganeering can get tiring, doesn’t it, especially after much of Najib’s ‘1Malaysia’ campaign?
But as long as Pakatan Rakyat proves that it is capable of good governance while administering its respective states, I think that can go a long way too in winning the hearts and minds of more people…
Ridzuan Aziz: “I don’t think Anwar will ever go to jail after the first ‘jail episode.’ I am pretty convince he will do everything in his power (and this is verified by his team of lawyers, international supports, road shows) to ensure that he is free forever.”
Stranger things have happened and can happen in our courts, like 2 elite cops being convicted of blowing up a foreign woman with military explosives without any clear motive, or the ousting of an opposition state government without the people’s mandate and with the help of some ‘muscle’ from the ruling coalition controlled federal government, being declared legal.
Ridzuan Aziz: “PR cannot afford to play around with this Anwar’s issue any longer. At the end of the day, people want more than just talks. They want to see actions. If PR envisions taking over Putrajaya, they have to make sure the other leaders are prepared to take over too and lead. I can only see the likes of Anwar and LGE as potential leaders. The rest are followers so unsure of themselves that their leadership abilities need to be brushed. Even so, Anwar is slowly losing his leadership abilities now, in my opinion. Maybe he is being burden by a lot of personal issues.”
Sometimes leaders are not purposely groomed, as they may appear in the heat of the (political) battle, like the ousted Perak MB, Mohd. Nizar…
Ridzuan Aziz: “PR is like a ship with many passengers aboard, and these passengers have different opinions and preferences. It is not easy to navigate this ship. The ship is PR, the passengers are the leaders, and the navigation is the top leaders. PR has to find a way to solve this navigation before they can move forward. BN has been doing this for 5 decades and are still striving to do the best they could.”
No political party/coalition is perfect.
Pakatan Rakyat has its share of problems because a number of its disgruntled elected representatives have decided to ‘jump ship’.
BN is not free of problems either, with MCA and PPP each experiencing a tussle over the party leadership.
We’ve just have to see which is worse; a bunch of renegade elected representatives, or no clear and proper hierarchy of leadership…
#33 by Godfather on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 10:51 am
Najib is not in control. He can’t control Awang Selamat, he can’t control Ibrahim Katak, he can’t control Moo-hee-din, he can’t control Husni, he can’t control sh!t.
All he can do is pay people like chengho RM200 for each nonsensical posting.
#34 by johnnypok on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 11:11 am
He is now suffering from stomach ach with numerous internal problems, and will soon shit blood.
We are heading for a man-made tsunami.
Look out for sign of an external attack on the stock-market.
#35 by good coolie on Thursday, 11 March 2010 - 12:03 am
Should not we give the Prime Minister a chance to explain himself (on the One-Malaysia Policy, New- New Economic Policy, and so on)? So far, he seems to be saying the right things, and seems sincere in mitigating the worse effects of the Old-New Economic Policy.