by Nigel Aw
Malaysiakini
Dec 5, 2011
A day after the Umno general assembly concluded with the beating of war drums and vows to wrest back Pakatan Rakyat-held states, the federal opposition went on the offensive as well.
PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, the star at a rally of 5,000 in Shah Alam last night, said Pakatan will not only defend Selangor, but improve its electoral performance in the state.
“(Prime Minister) Najib Abdul Razak said he wants to recapture Selangor (but) we tell him that he can keep dreaming about Selangor – and that we will capture Putrajaya,” declared Anwar.
He picked apart Umno’s Malay credentials which the party has attempted to project in the run-up to a looming general election.
“Do you believe that Umno defends the Malays? If they defend the Malays they would not sell Malay land.
“The last bastion of Malay land in Kuala Lumpur (is Kampung Baru). They (the government) wants to hand it over to (Federal Territories Minister) Raja Nong Chik under the Kampung Baru Development Act.”
Also present was DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang who moved to deflect Umno’s relentless attacks on his party during the general assembly.
“They (Umno) have accused DAP of being anti-Islam. Is that true?” asked Lim, to which the crowd thundered: “No!”
He went on to list out the accusations levelled against his party by Umno, each time eliciting a roar of “No!”
Lim reiterated the party’s acceptance of Islam as the religion of the federation, as well as the concept of the constitutional monarchy, a pledge that proved popular among the largely Malay crowd that cheered.
PAS president Hadi Awang poked fun at Umno delegates who had publicly backed a leader who is embroiled in National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal. The project was intended to be the primary domestic supplier of beef.
“Umno says ‘PAS diperkudakan’ (is being a mule of) DAP, but what is clear is Umno has memper-lembu-kan (made a fool of) the people. Horses are meant to go to war, but cows are meant for slaughter,” he quipped.
‘We have a good track record’
Aside from drowning out Umno’s election messages, Pakatan amoved to demonstrate its credential as a credible and competent government in Selangor.
“Since Pakatan took over the state, its revenue has increased significantly. But do you see Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim buying a diamond ring for his wife?” posed PKR deputy president Azmin Ali.
“Do you see him building a mansion like former Selangor Menteri Besar (Dr Mohd) Khir Toyo?”
Taking the stage, Khalid listed the welfare policies implemented to date and the state government’s prudence in managing finances.
“Selangor has a ‘Jom Shopping’ programme for senior citizens. We give them RM100 for shopping and the federal government tried to emulate us by giving out hampers to senior citizens.
“I’ve checked with my contacts in supermarkets. For every RM100 hamper that it gives out, the federal government spends RM200. In our programme if you’re suppose to spend RM100 and you spend RM115, I will sack that officer immediately.”
The strongest statement was the fact that the rally was held in the middle of a major agriculture carnival organised by the state government.
As the nearby ferris wheel lit up the night and the bazaar bustled with customers, Pakatan leaders tried to make their point in Anwar’s words: “We do not only govern, we strive for excellence.”
Also present were PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and national laureate A Samad Said, accompanied by several exco members, state assemblypersons and MPs from Selangor.
#1 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Monday, 5 December 2011 - 11:44 pm
YBs Anwar, Hadi, LKS,
Just stay true and clean, guard your integrity with jealousy and love the Rakyat. Nothing will ever beat the last bit.
DON”T:
Don’t lie like UMNO, najib, muhyiddin, zahid and the geng umnoputras who betray the Malays for their own benefit.
Don’t ever…. no, never ever steal from the Rakyat like BN for cows and condos.
Don’t ever cheat the Rakyat’s money…like BN does whether it is to buy submarines or cameras through siphoning or “commissions” that are nothing but bribes and kickbacks.
Don’t ever ….no, never murder anybody for whatever reason. remember TBH, Altantuya and the long list of people who were framed, beaten, tortured and disposed becos they were unimportant or were a threat to UMNO.
Just do the RIGHT THING….The Rakyat will be behind you. We hear your voice… we will march with you to Putrajaya.
#2 by monsterball on Tuesday, 6 December 2011 - 3:54 am
All the King’s men fired at will at those bunkum UMNO b liars.
The crowd roars and support.
#3 by yhsiew on Tuesday, 6 December 2011 - 7:44 am
The complete absence of racial politics in Pakatan’s gathering was laudable – cheers.
#4 by k1980 on Tuesday, 6 December 2011 - 8:23 am
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/06/world/europe/russian-parliamentary-elections-criticized-by-west.html?ref=global-home
Beware of the coming 13 GE. Don’t just say, ‘Bring it on’. We must ensure it won’t turn out to be like Russia’s.
The observers, from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said their main concerns were about an overall flawed framework that marred the campaign, including no separation between the government and the main political party; the lack of independence for election administrators and the absence of a free, independent mass media.
Some opposition parties were prohibited from running in the elections at all, the observers said. Those that could run faced huge disadvantages as United Russia employed government resources in support of its political aim, the observers said.
…election observers said the violations were widespread. In observations at 115 polling stations, officials said the vote counting was assessed as “bad or very bad” in 34 cases, and “there were also serious indications of ballot box stuffing in 17 polling stations during the count.” Observers were restricted in doing their work in 17 polling stations, according to a preliminary report, and in seven cases they were expelled during the vote count.
#5 by Bigjoe on Tuesday, 6 December 2011 - 8:53 am
Honestly, I am concern – the demands and pressure on Anwar is showing. In the past, the man has been capable of making huge timely perfect oratorical leaps. But you see him refering to past data to his arguments these days as if he has not been able to keep up with all the latest changes. He is not out of it but the challenges and changes are mounting and he is not ahead of the curve he once was.
Talking about selling out Malays and refering to Genting and Berjaya is losing relevance. There is a new selling out and its just as bad but the old stories is not going to fly.
#6 by Loh on Tuesday, 6 December 2011 - 11:17 am
Talk about selling out Malays one should refer to Najib’s speech on who are Malays. Malays are those who are placed in the special position to receive special assistance. Najib includes all those Muslims of unknown origin as Malays, compared to the constitution definition that Malays are the descendants of Malays who were already residents of Malaya and Singapore in 1957. Najib now allows more persons who are non-Malays as Malays and these power NEWMalays cornered the opportunities reserved for Malays. That is selling out to the Malays. That is especially so when the political parties which is supposed to look after Malays’ interest is hijacked by Mamaks. Now Mamaks controlled the party even though a non-Mamak is the president.
Surely the 250 million Ringgit cattlegate funds could have helped the true Malays who are truly in need. Of course if UMNO has really helped the Malays, then there would be no story to talk about some poor Malays in the rural areas.
Najib wants Malays to believe that all those Kajang-Sg Buloh MRT projects in the billion ringgit given out as Malay agenda would go to Malays and Malays who are from rural areas.
Rural Malays are the most unlucky. They are looked upon as weak, and in their name the not-so-Malays get easy money from the government because UMNO, the party they are made to feel obliged to support, is creating tycoons out of some so-called Malays so that rural poor can feel proud and be happy and thus would forget their misery. UMNO really has their interest at heart.
#7 by Ray on Tuesday, 6 December 2011 - 11:26 am
PR maintains yr oneness and integrity …Be humble and wise…dont corrupt by all means..we are behind you with solid supports…
If Umno say they concern the rakyat by using $$$$$ handouts ,$100 giveaway to students, promises of new road ,bridges to be built etc … before every GE….do we want to be care or love in this way >>its totally decieving tempting Rakyat to buy votes for their Politics of Corruption, Oppression and theocracy ruling in Darkness …
>>NO WAY will Rakyat be fooled by their empty promises in this Digital age today.
Rakyats, its all our responsible to help PR thro this only hope of coming 2012 Gen ELCETION BY ENSURING PR VICTORY THROUGH OUR UNITED STAND AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT by all means … its really Now or Never!!!!
Election so near the corner, BN Umno started to hand out Big Ang Pows of all forms to these poor rural citizens especially in sarwak sabah to buy VOTES ….to fish for votes
Rakyat MAlaysia…Do you think these Umno BN Politicans have sympathy for you ???? No way !!!
Impossible !!
Malaysia is very far from being a truly developed ,neither Economically successful country by world standards yet with all the corrupted civil servant( top to bottom )and much more ……
What is The Root Cause>> its all becos of the UMNO leaderships /cultures of Corruption Power Greedy and Extremely Poor managment of all all Govt Institutions.
Umno Unthinkable mis-spending abberant economic misbehaviour that has already wiping out rakyat hard earned salary
So Lets NOT glorifiying these Umno BN mediocre mega gamblers !
We can not build a real strong economy at the gambling table …we need a smart and prudent leaderships to build a vibrantly social fiber based on equality , meritocracy and fairness regardless of race religion .
#8 by Godfather on Tuesday, 6 December 2011 - 11:34 am
When we go into the voting booth, we need to ask ourselves this question: Where is the moral fibre of BN candidates ? How can there be moral fibre if UMNO steals whatever it wants, and the other component parties all keep quiet for fear of losing their jobs ? Is this what is to become of this country ?
#9 by dagen on Tuesday, 6 December 2011 - 12:53 pm
“Melayu” exist only as a term of convenience in umno’s heavily umnoputra-biased policies. This is known to everyone including the malays themselves. Nothing new really. Loads of malays are unhappy with this tactic actually but umno somehow managed to get themselves elected term after term. Of course it is also known to all that umno depended on crooks who used all sorts of hooks during election time to secure victories. This time round jibby jib will go big time with those crooks and hooks – in fact, super big time. That is quite obvious.
We are prepared to ABU you anytime anywhere. So yeah bring it on umno.
#10 by Jeffrey on Tuesday, 6 December 2011 - 4:25 pm
Bring it on, Pakatan tells Umno means PR is calling a bluff as if UMNo were underdog. Question is – is it (with its well oiled election machinery)? Whether BN does well is now not measured by whether it wins election by simple majority but whether it would do better than last election 308. So one has to ask what has it done from 308 until now to recover lost support to do better than then? There are two courses to take. One is the incumbent’s re-invention theme of making ruling party inclusive and liberal with 1 Malaysia, Economic Transformation/Liberalisation repeal of draconian ISA & EO. Here’s where traditional party’s factionalism becomes the spoiler. Because to compete with incumbent, one has to invariably articulate a position alternative to and opposite of his – ie the traditional thumbing of the chest to champion race even more stridently. To which a strong incumbent will oppose it or or a weak one, play footsies and flow with the alternative and be seen as ‘cakap tak serupa bikin.’ In the latter situation the whole party will recoil back from change / re-invention to revert to race politics with renewed vigor.
#11 by Jeffrey on Tuesday, 6 December 2011 - 4:25 pm
The interesting part is if race baiting did not work in 308 why would it be presupposed to have greater political efficacy now? The logic of greater chest thumping is (i) it will recover Malay votes significant enough in Peninsula, with the help of East Malaysian fixed deposit votes, to rule comfortably (ii) not to thump chest will, given UMNO’s raison de etre of Malay Agenda, also not secure compensating return of Non malay votes; (iii) in worse case scenario if this ploy does not secure return of 2/3 majority, it will at least secure a comfortable simple majority for party to rule with added bonus of a justification that the incumbent may be retired off. This strategy (a necessary imperative arising from factionalism) is however playing a risky game: what happens if the calculation of BN losing 2/3 but still winning with reasonable majority does not happen? What happens if there’s miscalculation, the simple majority is very close or more states are lost, worse still what happens if BN loses parliamentary majority by a few seats?
#12 by Jeffrey on Tuesday, 6 December 2011 - 4:26 pm
The objective to ease out an incumbent arising from factionalism will be phyrric victory if the whole party / BN loses in a GE! This race thumping and all kinds of allegations about DAP’s Christianisation etc is a strategy to go all out for Malay votes with the caveat that if, in the process, Non malay votes for MCA, Gerakan etc are sacrificed, so be it as they are good to have but not essential. Will this strategy pay off? If it didn’t pay off in 308, will it now with Cattlegate & so on? For such a one sided strategy has its limits & costs – limits in the sense that it may to rural constituents be discounted with issues like CattleGate that cannot be and hasn’t been satisfactorily explained, and costs in sense that it alienates more of the minority Non Malay, Christian and East Malaysian votes that BN had and PR didn’t have in 308. How will this tip the scale? There’s no point winning Federal Power by slim parliamentary majority (thanks to East Malaysian) Fixed Deposit support but with more of the states in Peninsular falling to PR. Surely this cannot be a real victory at all. It is a pyrrhic victory.
#13 by monsterball on Tuesday, 6 December 2011 - 4:45 pm
“Bring it on”…talk talk talk so much..mumbo jumbo..what for?
Bring it on…..voters also tell Najib.
Bring 13th GE on….or shut your stinking mouth.