— Sakmongkol AK47
The Malaysian Insider
Jan 16, 2012
JAN 16 — If the crowd at the Rapat Rakyat yesterday night in sleepy Gemas is an indication, Negri Sembilan will fall to the opposition at the next GE. It does not matter whether the elections are held in the next few months or later nearer a full five-year term. It will not make any difference on the outcome of the elections — Barisan Nasional will suffer massive losses and lose its mandate.
Those politically untutored, of course, will chide others who are wishing for an earlier election date. Usually those who are pressing for a quicker date are those from within Umno itself. Especially those who think they will contest as candidates replacing the incumbents.
In Umno, replacing incumbents is not difficult — just mobilise a few dissenting and envious voices to create the necessary “public” opinion. Elevate personal anecdotes and personal sob and frustrated stories and exploit those as generalizations. Then package all the lies and present it to a nervous and insecure division head. Never mind if he is the DPM then and now PM.
I would estimate the crowd yesterday to be around 10,000 people. The local guy next to me confided in me since staying in Gemas since the late 60s, this is the first time he sees this big a crowd attend a political gathering.
Umno will of course trivialise this observation by saying, the opposition has always attracted large crowds to their rallies. In the end, the BN will win. I hope for their sake, that simplistic response is true. This time I think, the usual knee jerk response is just for self-assurance for the anxieties engulfing the BN camp.
The first three speakers spoke about local politics not about the big issues concerning and relating to Anwar Ibrahim, who was the last speaker. The three who spoke first found unison in the voice from the crowd who were clearly primed up to eject Mat Hassan and his team from Negri.
Gemas is special, or should I say infamous, for two things actually. The NFC cattle farm is located in Gemas. Shahrizat Jalil, whose family members are currently embroiled in the financial scandal surrounding the National Feedlot Cattle project, chose Gemas as the site for the project. Gemas has since gained the moniker of the cattle capital of Malaysia. The NFC is clearly a blatant case of corruption involving many more people within Umno than the figures now under public scrutiny.
Gemas is also the site chosen to be the starting point for the double tracking rail project from Gemas to Johore Baru. That project is shrouded in much controversy too. The original project was given to China Railway Engineering and Construction (CREC) on account of the company being a GLC of the Chinese government and also on account of its specialization in the construction of rail projects.
The Malaysian Cabinet approved it. Curiously later, this decision was rescinded and the project was given to China Harbours. Now it seems, another private Chinese company has been given the project. In between companies, rumours abounded about large amounts of money changing hands.
So Gemas appears to be at the epicentre of financial scandals. It is fitting for Gemas to herald the wave of change that will soon snuff out the life of the corrupt and the mediocre in Negri Sembilan.
But you watch this space. Syed Mokhtar is taking over KTMB. The double tracking project is for use by KTMB. What’s stopping KTMB from telling the government, it can do the Gemas-JB double tracking job? Gamuda made lots of money for the northern portion of the double tracking job so why can’t KTMB under Syed Mokhtar do the same?
To the people of Gemas, Negri Sembilan, my hope is they make Gemas the epicentre for political tsunami in Negeri Sembilan.
Don’t make Gemas the black hole of financial scandals. — sakmongkol.blogspot.com
#1 by Godfather on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 - 11:34 am
“Fidlot” is the UMNO term for the Gemas cow project. From now onwards, use the Engish equivalent – Feed-a-Lot.
#2 by fairobserver on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 - 12:19 pm
A fresh-faced Gerakan town councillor in Perak has recently delivered an anti-PR speech.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=argjmZEzivw&feature=related
There are many misleading statements and problems in this speech. First, she accuses DAP of unfairly blaming UMNO’s corruption on MCA. She has forgotten that MCA is embroiled in the PKFZ scandal.
Second, she talks as if the current political scenario of Malaysia is such that PR’s Chinese and Indians are fighting BN’s Malays. She conveniently ignores the substantial Malay support for PAS, PKR, and to a lesser extent, DAP, and the Chinese’s desertion of the Chinese-based/dominated MCA & GERAKAN.
Third, whilst attempting to justify discrimination against the minority by urging us to face up to the reality of our minority status, she completely ignores the serious moral problems of racial preferential treatment and its adverse economic consequences. The latter is why even Najib was talking about abolishing NEP at some point (Though Anwar has been more consistent on this post 1998 and is more likely to succeed).
Fourth, whereas she attacks the opposition for sending out contradictory messages to different ethnic communities (she has yet to establish this point), she completely ignores the fact that BN has been on top of this game: UMNO tells the Malays that PAS is a puppet of DAP whilst MCA tells the Chinese that DAP is a puppet of PAS.
Fifth, We agree with her that PAS’s theocratic ideology is inappropriate and we are aware of PAS’s intention. But we also know DAP’s position against theocracy and the fact that PR’s structure does not allow this ideology to be incorporated into its common platform. Of course, there is always a possibility that PR may change (just as there is a possibility that UMNO will ditch MCA and GERAKAN for PAS). When that happens, we’ll make sure DAP leaves PR or be ditched.
Sixth, whereas the presence of PAS makes PR less than an ideal coalition, it is much better than BN. She urges us to face up to the reality of the racial distribution in Malaysia, which makes it impossible to have a utopia here. There is some grain of truth here. But if we must opt for something less than ideal, we should get the better non-ideal deal. And PR is obviously a far better non-ideal deal than BN. One of the many reasons is that PR is a coalition of equal partners whilst BN is UMNO.
#3 by fairobserver on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 - 12:20 pm
Seventh, her analogy on gambling is weak. The rational thing to do in a gambling scenario is to opt for an action that has the highest expected value, which depends on the probability of particular scenarios, their associated utilities (good or bad consequences), and those related to an alternative course of action. While there are some risks involved in voting PR into Putrajaya, a costs-benefits analysis shows that it is a much better bet than voting BN. She ignores the risk of voting BN.
Eighth, While I completely sympathise with her distaste of foul language used in DAP’s seminars and think that DAP shuold have known better, it’s obvious that this and the unproved allegation of Nga Kor Meng’s involvement in corruption are what upset her. Why is there no outrage against the illegal outflow of fund (is it RM1 trillion?), the compromise of the integrity of national institutions (judiciary etc), BN’s role in aiding and abetting racial and religious extremists, mismanagement, etc?
#4 by waterfrontcoolie on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 - 12:27 pm
With the recent FREE FLOW of cash which MIER has pronounced would bankrupt the nation by 2019, Malaysians have very little time for another trial run with BN. Failing which we will go bankrupt. In just scenario, it is the duty of every rational and thinking Malaysian to inform the dire situation the country is in, to those who are still unable to fathom the impact of such calamity facing the nation. This Cow-gate gives the impression that They too foresee the outcome of their actions. There is no other explanation. They know for a fact that General Election is imminent and yet they wantonly did what they did. this can only come from people who have given up hope on their chances hence they quickly divide the whatever they could grab! Malaysians who care for their next generations must stop such wantonness; there is no two-way about it. All thos ehuge projects have been rip-off but without today’s communication, many were ignorant but today with facebook, twitter and what have you; we can inform the less informed and stop this calamity!
#5 by yhsiew on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 - 12:55 pm
Yeah, make Gemas the epicentre for political tsunami in Peninsular Malaysia and Sibu the epicentre for East Malaysia.
#6 by Godfather on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 - 1:36 pm
What is equally glaring is the “see no evil, hear no evil, say no evil” attitude of MCA. Gerakan and MIC. Big brother UMNO makan, and tell the BN minors to sit quietly in a corner.
#7 by dagen on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 - 1:41 pm
Yeah. Let the party begin in gemas!
#8 by monsterball on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 - 2:38 pm
I wonder what will be the surveyors from UMNO b translate that huge crowds into what.
They will think of all sorts of lame excuses and make sure their bosses will not have indigestion and sleepless nights.
Best is to talk like Samy..”It’s God’s will” or “whatever will be will be.”….50/50 chances get sacked by Najib..or stay as they are..for trusted replacements are difficult to find.
Najib not sure who is loyal to his party anymore.
Keep playing dirty tricks….he has what’s coming to him …that he deserves.
#9 by jus legitimum on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 - 3:08 pm
Now Gemas besides being well known because of Feedlot and the ensuing cowgate.It also pricks us about how the rakyat being so very tolerant with our 60 years never change KTM.60 years ago,a train journey from KL to Butterworth or Singapore took 8 to 9 hours,today the same journey after more than half a century still takes almost the same time to cover.What a shame? Taiwan 1/3 the size of Peninsular Malaysia with 24 million population prides with its fast train from Taipei to Kaoshiung(almost the same distance from KL to JB or Penang) in an hour.Malaysia is still backward in so many aspects.The rakyat now begin to know why and hopefully cowgate will start to usher in a new era for the nation.
#10 by sotong on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 - 5:09 pm
If you don’t speak out, as long as you could make another $……..you can’t blame others for treating you like ‘ pendatang ‘.
#11 by Winston on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 - 6:02 pm
Fidlot or fiddle-a-lot!!
#12 by undertaker888 on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 - 6:34 pm
Make BN Cemas in Gemas. And then let them Lemas in Gemas.
#13 by monsterball on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 - 7:26 pm
Imagine…a sleepy town with 10,000 turning up to hear Anwar speaking.
If that’s Najib speaking…front page with huge photo in all papers.
#14 by monsterball on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 - 7:33 pm
But I guess most Malaysians think that will be the last time seeing Anwar speak before going to jail.
It turned out to be a blessing in disguise…for Anwar….freed ..found not guilty…shaming the schemer Najib.. …and stool pigeon..Saiful.
#15 by Bigjoe on Thursday, 19 January 2012 - 7:20 am
BN really got to go because I can’t figure out two things.
1) How is it Negeri Sembilan is in such a mess when its profile suggest it should be a cake walk for UMNO/BN if it was doing even just a decent job. The fact its such a mess really such screams UMNO/BN screw-up, sheer incompetence.
2) How can a young articulate young Chinese in Gerakan Ceylyn Tay still think what she is doing is even worth her time given the state of flux of her community in this country? Her very bold voice screams sheer desperation of a person who has little faith. With more like her, the Chinese community is hopeless and eventually this country too..
#16 by fairobserver on Thursday, 19 January 2012 - 8:34 am
Ninth, it’s incredible that she attempts to justify the unjust racial preferential treatment in Malaysia with the equally unjust and unjustifiable favouritism in family life. That a lot of people practise it does not justify it. She urges us to ensure that there are Chinese representatives in the government. But if what GERAKAN or MCA representatives can do is only to try to persuade the people to accept injustice as a fact of life, what can we gain from having these representatives?
Tenth, she says that a lot of people have a wrong idea of justice, insinuating that many people (wrongly) assume that justice requires equal distribution of gifts (she asks this rhetorical question: If I have 10 apples, does justice require that I give 6.5 to Malays, 2.5 to Chinese, 1 to Indians?). But who assumes that? Certainly not the people who ask for justice in Malaysia. They just think that if a non-Malay works hard and gets good results, she shouldn’t be denied a university place when a Malay with much poorer grade has it. The scenario of deciding how many apples to hand out as gifts to ten people of different ethnicity is completely irrelevant to the issue of justice when it comes to who merits a university place, scholarship, promotion, etc. Someone who has worked hard to get the above is not asking for a gift. If I’m the owner of 10 apples, I’ve got the right to give them to whomever I like. But the government, which does not own our country’s resources and wealth, has no such right.
#17 by clnt on Tuesday, 24 January 2012 - 1:27 am
Do you know that Gemas has a lot of chinamen apek who are strong MCA’s moneybag supporters? Try winning them over and maybe the opposition will stand a chance of taking over Negeri Sembilan by storm.