By Clara Chooi
The Malaysian Insider
Mar 18, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 — Lim Guan Eng today called for extra vigilance from DAP members to counter Barisan Nasional’s (BN) vote offensive, reminding them that the party’s political survival would be at stake in the coming polls.
Predicting that the 13th general election would be the country’s “dirtiest” in history, the DAP secretary-general said it was crucial for party members to stay resilient in the face of attacks from the ruling BN pact.
“DAP urges all leaders and members to redouble efforts to ensure that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) wins the next general elections so that DAP can remain a party in power in state governments and hopefully in the Federal government too.
“The danger signals are evident that the 13th general election will be the dirtiest in Malaysian history,” Lim said in a statement here in conjunction with DAP’s 46th anniversary today.
The Penang Chief Minister took a swipe at BN leaders for allegedly using money politics and misusing government machinery to shore up political support, saying it was a classic replay of past tactics.
Even worse, said Lim, BN leaders have now resorted to using “menacing tactics” to cow the opposition.
As examples, he noted that PR leaders like Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu and himself have experienced threats of personal harm and violence during public events.
“Even PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar was threatened harm by a BN man in Pahang.
“It is not Malay culture but also not Malaysian culture for a man to threaten a woman with physical bodily harm,” he complained.
Lim also railed against the recent incident involving his 15-year-old son who was accused of sexually molesting a female classmate.
“Even though the so-called lady victim had publicly stated that this is false as she had never met my son or me, no action has been taken by the police against Umno Online and Umno bloggers who publicised these lies,” he pointed out.
“For this reason DAP leaders and members must remain vigilant against such BN’s shameless 4M (money, media, machinery, menacing PR leaders) and 4R (race, religion, royalty and rigging the Election Commission) tactics.”
#1 by Winston on Sunday, 18 March 2012 - 3:12 pm
The best defense is an offense!
So, the PR must also launch one of its own!
Okay, UMNO/BN has money (taxpayers’)on its side but the PR has right on theirs!
The onus is on the PR to get the message to the people, especially the rural ones that their future would be far better than one with UMNO/BN.
Examples of the “difficulties” faced by the people, especially those in Sabah and Sarawak are almost limitless!
Get all and sundry to spread the PR’s message to the people by whatever means possible.
This country simply cannot afford to give another term to UMNO/BN!!!
#2 by jpngoh on Sunday, 18 March 2012 - 3:48 pm
Please tell DAP chairman to let by gones be by gones and forget about the Ramasamy issue. We should put all our efforts for the coming election instead of coming with statements that criticised the disciplinary committee that has already made a decision. We have enough enemies outside so stop creating fractions or troubles within the party itself!!!
#3 by yhsiew on Sunday, 18 March 2012 - 6:48 pm
Yeah, the 13th GE is going to be the “dirtiest” in the nation’s history. Najib has already fired the first salvo of money politics – giving out money everywhere he goes!
#4 by Bigjoe on Sunday, 18 March 2012 - 7:36 pm
Honestly, the best thing DAP can do for PR now is to deal with the conflicting parties in Sabah. DAP Sabah is the only Peninsula based party with as much legitimate local claim as anyone in Sabah. DAP kept the flame of opposition going in these states in the bleakest of times even as Sabah & Sarawakian leaders were co-opted by UMNO-Perkasa/BN. DAP should have found the Sabah equivalent of Baru Bian long time ago and made him the defacto leader to replace all the clowns that now crowd the political space in Sabah..
#5 by yhsiew on Sunday, 18 March 2012 - 8:45 pm
#2 ref.
The DAP chairman should emulate the British, that is, give preference to preserving friendship rather than win an argument. While I was still a student in UK, an elderly British friend (in his late 60s) told me, “I rather save a friend than win an argument.”
#6 by boh-liao on Sunday, 18 March 2012 - 8:46 pm
Ah CHEAT kor boasted: Lu got lui bo? Lim pek got lots of lui leh
Busy ‘Gua kasih lu, lu kasih gua’ – now orang India very happy lor, lots of pr omises given 2 them recently, so too orang Perak, Selangor, Kedah, Penang, etc
Almost everything kow dim, only lack EAST WIND 万事俱备，只欠东风 2 announce d date of GE13 (must consult d loktor char bor lor, d real pee em)
#7 by monsterball on Monday, 19 March 2012 - 12:02 am
Najib asked 500 samsengs on motor bikes..”Are you ready to battle?”
The respond was”YES”
OK….that been said…lets go to battle la.
Why keep talking talking…..no 13th GE date announced?
Dirties election expected..or not….the show must go on.
#8 by GodIsWatching on Monday, 19 March 2012 - 12:02 am
Distasteful how Najib gets the bikers on the road to prove a point. LGE’s reminder must resonate throughout the nation and penetrate those hearts that would settle for temporal short term quick wins like a couple of measly hundreds of ringgits. The time is now, if Malaysians want to uphold truth, democracy, freedom and justice and to be victorious against the corrupted, the proud and the evildoers, we must have the fear of God and to pray for strength and wisdom upon the leaders and those in the forefront to face the battle amidst all the dirty tactics that will be unleashed by BN. The battle is not the leaders’ alone, but every responsible Malaysian who MUST VOTE and MUST turn the tide of corruption and unfairness and violence that is happening in this country we love!
#9 by k1980 on Monday, 19 March 2012 - 7:13 am
//no action has been taken by the police against Umno Online and Umno bloggers who publicised these lies//
Who said no action has been taken? Those bloggers already got their big angpaus from their masters
#10 by k1980 on Monday, 19 March 2012 - 8:58 am
It was announced last weekend that Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Malaysia’s minister for women, family and community development, had been forced out of her position as a result of what has become known as the “cowgate” scandal and will step down on April 8 when her current term ends.
On Mar. 13, the day after Sharizat’s husband, Mohamed Salleh Ismail, was charged in court in the alleged misuse of RM250 million of government money in scandal, Zuraidah Kamaruddin, an opposition member of parliament sought to bring up the matter, only to be told by the speaker, Amin Mulia, that the matter is now in court and is therefore sub judice – Latin for under judicial consideration and therefore prohibited from public discussion elsewhere, taking away a potent campaign issue for the opposition.
On the same weekend Shahrizat was put out to pasture, Malaysia’s Securities Commission announced after months of controversy that the embattled chairwoman, Zarinah Anwar, would step down at the end of the month in the wake of a blatant conflict of interest involving her husband’s trading in shares.
Arguments in the appeal of the two convicted killers of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu, first expected to be held on Feb. 10, then delayed until March 9, have now been put off until Aug. 27 and 28.
On Jan. 9, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim was declared not guilty in his long-running and widely publicized trial on sodomy charges, only to have the case appealed on Jan. 25. The government’s appeal of the not-guilty verdict is expected to be held far into the future.
There are a variety of other controversies hanging fire as well, including the trial of former Malaysian Chinese Association boss Ling Liong Sik over a massive scandal in the construction of the Port Klang Free Zone, in which the government could lose as much as RM12.45 billion (US$3.93 billion) in the botched construction of the Port. The prosecution finished up its case against Ling several months ago but only recently announced that he must put on a defense. It is uncertain when he will be called to do so.
What these cases have in common is all of these matters are being pushed forward into the future or taken care of in other ways, say observers in Kuala Lumpur.
umno is trying to push everything after June or July because the 13 GE polls are going to be in June
#11 by mauriyaII on Monday, 19 March 2012 - 10:51 am
#2 & #5,
Your points should be noted by all those concerned in that unfortunate fiasco. Not only DAP but also PKR and PAS should settle internal squabbles amicably for the sake of Pakatan Rakyat and the nation. Only a strong and cohesive opposition can put up a credible fight and bring about an even bigger tsunami.
Let bygones be bygones. Rise up to the occasion. It takes a gentleman to recognize and respect another. Don’t wash dirty linen in public. Brownie points gained through such exercise only exposes ones true nature.