Archive for category Pakatan Rakyat
Malaysia after regime change
by Thomas Pepinsky
The Malaysian Insider
Mar 03, 2012
MARCH 3 — As Malaysia prepares for its 13th general election, due no later than April 2013, the long-standing competitive authoritarian regime will face one of its most difficult tests. The 2008 elections dealt a surprise blow to the incumbent Barisan Nasional (BN), and ever since, Prime Minister Najib Razak’s government has struggled to protect its now-fragile majority. After four years of renewed opposition activism, rumours of defection from Umno, and the recent acquittal of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysians will have the chance to vote the BN out of office once and for all.
In a post-BN Malaysia, observers will closely monitor the role of Islam in public life. Much of what happens will depend on the shape of the government that follows. In terms of the composition of a post-BN government, two outcomes seem most likely: (1) a multi-ethnic Pakatan Rakyat-based (PR) coalition in which PAS, PKR and the DAP all participate, perhaps along with one or more east Malaysian parties; or (2) an Umno-PAS “Muslim-Malay” coalition, again perhaps involving the co-operation of one or more east Malaysian parties. Either way, PAS — an explicitly Islamist party — will be part of the government. Read the rest of this entry »
My debate transcript
Posted by Kit in DAP, Lim Guan Eng, MCA, Pakatan Rakyat, UMNO on Thursday, 23 February 2012
— Lim Guan Eng
The Malaysian Insider
Feb 23, 2012
FEB 23 — First of all, I would like to thank the organisers for this live televised debate. Televised debates mark a new chapter in Malaysian political democracy because it is an important element in the democratisation process. I hope that from today onwards, televised debates will be a common phenomenon in the Malaysian democratic system just like in Europe and the United States.
Thus, I believe what Malaysians really want to see is a debate between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to see who really deserves to be prime minister. Whoever isn’t brave enough to debate, don’t hope to think of becoming prime minister.
Chua Soi Lek suggested that DAP is being used by PAS. If we observe Umno amongst the Malays, Umno claims that PAS is being used by DAP. Therefore, I believe this self-contradictory statement is a dirty tactic employed by BN. I wish to stress here that Pakatan Rakyat component parties, be it PAS, PKR or DAP, we never use each other. We are only prepared to be “used” by the people! At the same time, we are also not anti-Malay or even anti-non-Malay; we are merely against a government that is riddled with corruption! Read the rest of this entry »
Pakatan states proof of economic success, proper governance, say leaders
Posted by Kit in Lim Guan Eng, Pakatan Rakyat on Thursday, 23 February 2012
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
The Malaysian Insider
Feb 23, 2012
PETALING JAYA, Feb 23 — High investment figures, budget surpluses and reduction of debts in Pakatan Rakyat (PR) states are proof that the federal opposition is ready to take a shot at governing the country, its leaders have asserted.
PR leaders told participants at a DAP fund-raising function here last night that while Barisan Nasional (BN) could only resort to giving one-off RM500 aid to Malaysians while still pouring out billions of ringgit worth of taxpayers’ money in projects which are shrouded in secrecy, PR states have managed to save money as well as increase investment and productivity in less than four years.
Leading the fray was Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who gave the 3,500-odd crowd a blow-by-blow list of the state’s achievements and successes since 2008, and stressed that unlike BN, PR’s policies were not “divided by race” and that their goal was to help all Malaysians.
“Malaysia will become bankrupt because of cronyism, corruption. The (current) federal government debt is RM456 billion. If Malaysia goes bankrupt, who pays? Najib? Rosmah? It’s you and me, ordinary people,” exclaimed Lim to loud cheers from the Chinese-majority crowd. Read the rest of this entry »
Najib has completely demolished MCA lie that “A vote for DAP is a vote for PAS” when he decided to be a Chua Soi Lek clone with his own warning to Malay voters that “A vote for PAS is a vote for DAP”
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, DAP, MCA, Najib Razak, Pakatan Rakyat, PAS, UMNO on Tuesday, 21 February 2012
I am still intrigued what were the considerations behind the decision of the Prime Minister and UMNO President, Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Sunday to be a Chua Soi Lek clone, adopting the MCA President’s sophistry to warn Malays that “A vote for PAS is a vote for DAP” implying most falsely, irresponsibly and mischievously that DAP has an anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Malay Rulers agenda.
Is it beyond the political comprehension of Najib and his political strategists that the first consequence of Najib adopting the Chua Soi Lek sophistry is to completely demolish the MCA’s No. 1 political weapon against the DAP – falsely warning the Chinese voters that “A vote for DAP is a vote for PAS” resulting in an Islamic state and hudud Islamic laws? Read the rest of this entry »
BN political chicanery, mendacity and bankruptcy of first order with CSL warning Chinese voters “A vote for DAP is a vote for PAS” while Najib warning Malay voters “A vote for PAS is a vote for DAP”
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, MCA, Najib Razak, Pakatan Rakyat, UMNO on Monday, 20 February 2012
This is a disgraceful episode Malaysians must never forget, especially in the forthcoming 13th General Elections which holds out the possibility for the first time in the 54-year history of our nation of effecting a change of government at the national level.
The message of the MCA President Datuk Seri Chua Soil Lek in his debate with DAP Secretary-General and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on Saturday 18th February 2011 was his canard to Chinese voters warning that “A vote for DAP is a vote for PAS” resulting in an Islamic state and hudud Islamic laws.
Barely 24 hours later yesterday, the Prime Minister and UMNO President Datuk Seri Najib Razak decided to emulate the MCA President’s political chicanery and mendacity, producing his duly modified canard to Malay voters warning that “A vote for PAS is a vote for DAP” resulting in a “anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Malay Rulers” future for Malaysia – and which can only mean no Islamic State and no hudud Islamic laws!
Imagine the sheer political insanity of a Barisan Nasional campaign where MCA warns Chinese voters that “A vote for DAP is a vote for PAS” in the sense that DAP will just be a stooge of PAS while UMNO warns Malay voters that “A vote for PAS is a vote for DAP” in the sense that PAS will be a puppet of DAP!
And horror of horrors, Barisan Nasional leaders do not see the sheer illogicality, insanity and even idiocy of such a campaign line! Read the rest of this entry »
Debate idea set to bloom
Posted by Kit in DAP, Lim Guan Eng, MCA, Pakatan Rakyat, UMNO on Sunday, 19 February 2012
Terence Netto | Feb 19, 2012
Malaysiakini
COMMENT
The topic for the debate did not matter; in any case, it was too vague for the speakers to make much sense of it.
The moderator was not up to the task; in any case, allowing questions from antagonistic members of rival parties was an invitation to dishevelment.
Nevertheless, the speakers got off the hits they must have been honing all week; in any event, this was whole point of the exercise.
In sum, the principle of debate and of its utility between leaders of contending political parties came off well from the Dr Chua Soi Lek versus Lim Guan Eng televised clash yesterday.
Score one for the fledgling idea which may well come to be called the ‘Great Malaysian Electoral Debates’. Read the rest of this entry »
Pakatan vows to fix judiciary if voted into power
Posted by Kit in Judiciary, Pakatan Rakyat on Monday, 13 February 2012
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
The Malaysian Insider
Feb 13, 2012
PR lawmakers said it was essential to return to the courts the independence that was removed from it during the 1988 judicial crisis.
PETALING JAYA, Feb 13 — Pakatan Rakyat leaders today pledged to remove legislative amendments to restore the independence of the judiciary if the opposition pact wins the next general election.
Their remarks came as a response to former chief justice Tun Mohd Dzaiddin Abdullah’s claims that the judiciary has become subservient after former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed clipped its wings in the 1980s when he amended Article 121 of the Constitution.
“Pakatan Rakyat’s stand is that we want a free, independent judiciary,” Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told reporters here.
“It is essential for the restoration (of the judiciary) to pre-1988 (conditions)… restoration of judicial powers means a removal of amendments to Article 121,” added DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang. Read the rest of this entry »
On changing horses midstream and the man who can walk on water
Posted by Kit in Najib Razak, Pakatan Rakyat, Penang, UMNO on Saturday, 21 January 2012
— Sakmongkol AK47
The Malaysian Insider
Jan 21, 2012
JAN 21 — The prime minister told the people not to change horses midstream. So we asked, don’t we change even if the horse is limping and is running on three legs? In endurance races, riders change horses in order to arrive at the destination. Malaysians should be pragmatic when it comes to deciding their future.
Midstream for Barisan Nasional and Umno is already over 50 years. Since 1955, when the first elections took place until now, from Perikatan to BN, we have had more than 50 years of BN rule. What do we have?
We have development, for sure, but are also damaged by rampant corruption, utter disregard for the rule of law, abuses of all kinds, political manipulations, deception and lies and gross mismanagement of the economy. To all that, the PM says, we don’t change? If we don’t, we shall have another 50 years of unchecked corruption, emasculation of the judiciary, thugs running the legal institutions, abuses and gross mismanagement.
At another point in his speech, the PM says we don’t know whether the opposition knows what to do if they come into power. We don’t know whether, under Pakatan Rakyatwe, we can achieve developed status by 2020 with the fabled per capita income of US$15,000.
Of course Pakatan knows what to do. In the short years since they came into power, direct investments have been highest in Pakatan led states of Penang, Selangor and Kedah. These states have achieved balanced budgets without doing arithmetic tricks.
In Penang, which is led by a non-Muslim, grants to Islamic religious institutions have reached RM30 million a year. Compare that to Negri Sembilan, which is led by a good Muslim, where the grant is only RM 12 million a year. How is that possible? Because the state coffers have been managed better in one state than in the other managed by BN and Umno. Read the rest of this entry »
‘Anxieties engulfing BN camp’
Posted by Kit in Anwar Ibrahim, Elections, Pakatan Rakyat, UMNO on Thursday, 19 January 2012
Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz | January 19, 2012
The Malaysian Insider
Gemas, now infamous for the National Feedlot Centre and the double tracking railway project scandals, is poised to be the epicentre of another political tsunami.
COMMENT
Usually those who are pressing for an early election are those from within Umno itself and who think they will contest as candidates replacing the incumbents.
In Umno replacing incumbents is not difficult – just mobilize 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 Umno division head.
Never mind if he was the Deputy Prime Minister then and now Prime Minister.
I was in Gemas for the Rapat Rakyat programme on Jan 15. Anwar Ibrahim was there.
I would estimate the crowd to have been around 10,000 people. The local guy standing next to me in the crowd confided that he had never seen such a big crowd before attending a political gathering. And he’s been staying in Gemas since the 60s.
Umno will of course trivialize this observation by saying the opposition has always attracted large crowds to their rallies. But in the end, the Barisan Nasional will win. Read the rest of this entry »
Make Gemas the epicentre of a political tsunami
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Elections, Pakatan Rakyat, UMNO on Wednesday, 18 January 2012
— 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. Read the rest of this entry »
Bring it on, Pakatan tells Umno
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. Read the rest of this entry »
Umno inciting power struggle with dominant DAP role, says Pakatan
By Melissa Chi
The Malaysian Insider
Dec 04, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders scorned Umno’s latest strategy to portray DAP as the dominant party in the opposition pact as an attempt to incite a power struggle among the three political allies.
“They say that PAS is being used by DAP, this is the strategy they use among the Malays, Muslim. With the Chinese, they say that PAS is using the Chinese. “They have used that for some time now but people know that even in terms of figures and numbers, DAP is stronger but we work collectively,” PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali told The Malaysian Insider over the phone yesterday.
DAP Parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang pointed out that Malays will continue to be the majority population in the country but Umno is creating the fear that DAP is anti-Malay, anti-Islam, and anti-ruler.
He reiterated his support of the constitutional monarchy.
“Nobody has undermined the Malay rulers. It is Umno and Umno leaders themselves,” he said, adding that BN leaders are contradicting themselves in their attacks against PR.
“In Barisan Nasional, it is very obvious that Umno is the hegemon and now they say that DAP is the dominant party. What has Chua Soi Lek been saying? MCA has been saying? That DAP is the puppet to PKR, to PAS, that the rights of the Chinese would be completely lost (in our hands).
“Now you have Umno saying the rights of the Malays will be completely lost. Who is lying?” he said. Read the rest of this entry »
Rough politics in 1 Malaysia
Posted by Kit in DAP, Pakatan Rakyat, UMNO on Wednesday, 30 November 2011
— The Malaysian Insider
Nov 30, 2011
NOV 30 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak wants a high-income and united nation under his 1 Malaysia concept, which is a continuation of the Vision 2020 idea and going back as far as 1971, the Rukun Negara or National Principles.
The Rukun Negara has five principles, namely 1) Belief in God 2) Loyalty to King and Country 3) Upholding the Constitution 4) Sovereignty of the Law and 5) Good Behaviour and Morality.
Number 5 is the basis of what is expected of all Malaysians, more so politicians.
But not today.
Today, Umno state youth chiefs took turns attacking Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties with a specific focus on DAP, using foul language to accuse the party of systematically eroding the rights of Malays in states like Penang and Kedah. Read the rest of this entry »
Pakatan walks out, will not vote on Assembly Bill
Posted by Kit in Human Rights, Pakatan Rakyat, Parliament on Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Malaysiakini
Nov 29, 2011
Pakatan Rakyat MPs walked out of the Dewan Rakyat during the debate on the Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011 and will not participate in voting on the Bill.
The MPs said that they were disgusted that the speaker had only allowed three Pakatan Rakyat MPs – one from each party – to debate what they consider to be a very important piece of legislation.
The three who were allowed to speak were Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim (Permatang Pauh-PKR), Lim Guan Eng (Bagan-DAP) and Abdul Hadi Awang (Marang-PAS). Read the rest of this entry »
Pakatan says will back constitutional changes to allow indelible ink
Posted by Kit in Elections, Pakatan Rakyat on Tuesday, 15 November 2011
By Shannon Teoh
The Malaysian Insider
Nov 15, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 — The federal Opposition said today it will support amendments to the Constitution to allow the use of indelible ink in future elections.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told reporters today that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will back such a proposal if it is tabled in Parliament during the current session.
“The Attorney-General (AG) has said it cannot be done without amendments. This is just a trick to delay.
“But PR agrees to support the amendments if they are done immediately and tabled within this sitting,” the opposition leader said. Read the rest of this entry »
Poetic justice for Guan Eng
Posted by Kit in DAP, Lim Guan Eng, Pakatan Rakyat, Penang on Thursday, 3 November 2011
by Jeswan Kaur
Free Malaysia Today
November 3, 2011
The glowing words of praise heaped by the auditor-general in his latest report stand as proof that DAP is no fluke and has what it takes to turn Penang around.
COMMENT
The recently released Auditor-General’s Report comes as poetic justice for Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in particular and Barisan Nasional’s nemesis, Pakatan Rakyat in general. The report is full of praises as to how the state has successfully improved its financial position.
According to the report, Penang last year improved its financial position over 2009.
“The audit analysis found that consolidated funds of 2010 had improved compared to previous years and is at the highest level compared to the previous five years,” the report stated.
Lim took over the state’s top post in 2008 after DAP, a member of the Pakatan coalition, nudged Gerakan out in the 12th general election and took charge of Penang.
In the three years, despite all brickbats from his BN counterparts, Lim remains steadfastly focused on improving the state’s performance. The result? Words of praise by the auditor-general.
Still, like all hardworking people, Lim faced and continues to experience stinging criticism from Umno and BN which have left no stone unturned in belittling and condemning his efforts in transforming Penang for the better. Read the rest of this entry »
Attack on Guan Eng’s son is ‘gutter politics’, says Pakatan
Posted by Kit in Crime, Pakatan Rakyat, UMNO on Tuesday, 18 October 2011
By Shannon Teoh | October 18, 2011
The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 — Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) top leadership came out in full force today to defend Lim Guan Eng, calling allegations by Umno against the DAP secretary-general’s son “the lowest gutter politics” seen in decades.
Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told a press conference after a PR presidential council meeting that the accusations showed that Umno leaders “know no limits when it comes to clinging on to power.”
“Attacking not just leaders but their families … it is disgusting,” the PKR de facto leader said.
DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang called the allegations, which centre around the alleged conduct of Guan Eng’s son in school and allegations about the subsequent use of his father’s name to escape punishment, “gutter politics of the lowest I have seen in over 40 years of politics.”
Read the rest of this entry »
Pakatan Rakyat Budget 2012 (Part 10 of 10)
Posted by Kit in Budget Debate, Economics, Pakatan Rakyat on Wednesday, 5 October 2011
9 2012 Allocations
9.1 Auctioning APs, enhancing collections and higher oil prices will grow revenue
Pakatan Rakyat notes that prospective economic turbulence may reduce revenues from existing sources. However, Pakatan Rakyat also recognises that the ineffectiveness of the Barisan Nasional government provides headroom for revenues to be raised without further increasing the burden on honest, tax-paying citizens. For example:
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The full value of government concessions and permits is not always extracted. These are instead offered at low valuations or prices to favoured parties who then reap super-normal and rent-seeking profits;
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High levels of illicit activity are tolerated. For example, it is estimated that nearly 4 out of 10 packets of cigarettes consumed in Malaysia are illicit43 – taxes have not been paid. This illicit trade has soared by 67% in the 7 years between 2003-10. Illicit trade results in direct opportunity losses to the government from revenue foregone. In addition, it also impedes private enterprise and employment opportunities as legitimate tax-paying businesses grapple against the illicit traders. Read the rest of this entry »
Pakatan Rakyat Budget 2012 (Part 9 of 10)
Posted by Kit in Budget Debate, Economics, Pakatan Rakyat on Wednesday, 5 October 2011
8 Public Finance Strategy – the Pakatan Rakyat budgetary framework
8.1 Rationalising Expenditures, Efficiency and Value for Money
The Pakatan Rakyat government will strive to contain expenditures with the ultimate objective of ensuring the long-term sustainability of public expenditures while supporting the continued growth of the economy and the achievement of a high quality of life for all the rakyat.
Rationalising expenditures will restore fiscal space for Malaysia to face future adversities from global perturbations and ameliorate the uncertainties from the accelerating debt burden facing future generations of Malaysians.
In the short-run, while limiting expenditures, Pakatan Rakyat will put in place resolute policies to improve the efficiency of public outlays and simultaneously generate greater value for money. This will bring immediate and direct benefits to the rakyat in the form of better public services (education, health, education and social services), employment prospects, security, and infrastructure. Read the rest of this entry »
Pakatan Rakyat Budget 2012 (Part 8 of 10)
Posted by Kit in Budget Debate, Economics, Pakatan Rakyat on Wednesday, 5 October 2011
7 Thrust 3: Empowering Malaysians
7.1 Political Reforms- Democracy Now
Five decades on, democracy as practised in Malaysia today is little more than a shade of its former glory as various key public institutions have been routinely compromised by an unchecked Federal Government. Thus, Pakatan Rakyat is committed to immediately implementing the following reforms:
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To revoke all existing emergency proclamations and repeal all laws that provide for detention without trial, as outlined in the draft Emergency Revocation Act (Akta Pemansuhan Darurat) submitted by Pakatan Rakyat in the March 2011 parliamentary session.
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To restructure the Public Complaints Bureau (Biro Pengaduan Awam) into an Ombudsman institution.
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To place key public institutions including the Auditor-General’s Department, Department of Statistics, Judicial Appointments Commission, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (SPRM), the Election Commission (SPR), and the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM), and an Ombudsman institution under the purview of Parliament.
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To ensure freedom of the media by removing all discretionary licensing requirements via the repeal of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984. In lieu of this, an independent and self-regulating media council will be put in place. Read the rest of this entry »
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