BN menang besar di Pengkalan Kubor

Mat Razi berjaya memperoleh sebanyak 9,961 undi manakala calon PAS pula, Wan Rosdi Wan Ibrahim meraih sebanyak 7,326 undi dan calon Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary sebanyak 38 undi.

PENGKALAN KUBOR: Calon Barisan Nasional (BN) Mat Razi Mat Ail berjaya memenangi Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) DUN N.01 Pengkalan Kubor mengalahkan calon PAS, Wan Rosdi Wan Ibrahim dan juga calon bebas, Izat Bukhari Ismail Bukhari dengan majoriti sebanyak 2,635 undi.

Pengumuman tersebut dilakukan oleh Pegawai Pengurus Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR), Mohd Sobri Ramli yang mengumumkan Mat Razi berjaya memperoleh sebanyak 9,961 undi manakala calon PAS pula, Wan Rosdi Wan Ibrahim meraih sebanyak 7,326 undi dan calon Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary sebanyak 38 undi.

PRK Pengkalan Kubor hari ini menyaksikan peratusan keluar mengundi sebanyak 73 peratus

Dalam sidang media selepas pengumuman SPR, Mat Razi mengucapkan terima kasih kepada pengundi di DUN N.01 Pengkalan Kubor kerana masih memberi peluang kepadanya untuk meneruskan legasi Allahyarham Datuk Noor Zahidi Omar.

“Saya juga berterima kasih kepada media kerana memberikan liputan sepanjang kempen PRK ini berjalan dan juga saya mengucapkan jutaan terima kasih kepada jentera-jentera daripada akar umbi hingga pusat serta kementerian-kementerian yang turut bersama membantu saya berkempen.

“Saya juga berjanji akan memikul amanah Allah yang diberikan kepada saya dan saya berjanji akan meneruskan legasi Allahyarham Datuk Noor Zahidi Omar,” kata Mat Razi.

Dalam pada masa yang sama, Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin turut menyatakan keputusan yang diterimanya adalah diluar jangkaan dan ini juga sebagai petanda baik kepada BN untuk merampas Kelantan daripada PAS.

“Ini merupakan gelombang baru rakyat BN untuk mengembalikan Kelantan kepada BN,” katanya.

Muhyiddin turut menyatakan antara faktor kemenangan calon BN adalah jentera BN berjaya menjelaskan isu-isu semasa kepada rakyat.

“Faktor lain pula adalah faktor calon itu sendiri. Calon BN merupakan calon yang baik dan bersesuaian untuk rakyat Pengkalan Kubor.

“Masalah dalaman Pakatan Rakyat juga antara faktornya. Terutamanya krisis Menteri Besar di Selangor. Selain itu, cara jentera kita berkempen serta menerima sokongan daripada semua kementerian yang terbabit,” ujarnya.

Manakala, Pengarah PRK PAS, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man mengucapkan tahniah kepada Mat Razi dan berharap akan memikul amanah Allah yang diberikan sebaik mungkin.

“Saya berpuas hati dengan gerak kerja yang diberikan oleh PKR dan PAS serta seluruh jentera tidak kira di dalam ataupun di luar kawasan yang banyak membantu calon PAS Wan Rosdi,” katanya dalam satu rakaman suara kepada pihak media.

Tuan Man tidak menafikan faktor utama kekalahan calon PAS berpunca daripada hari mengundi yang diadakan pada hari bekerja.

“Ia menghalang pengundi terutamanya pengundi luar pulang ke kampung halaman untuk mengundi. Saya juga akan mengadakan ‘post mortem’ bagi mengkaji dan meneliti tempat-tempat yang kita selalu menang sebelum ini tetapi kita tewas,” katanya.

Turut hadir di Pusat Penjumlahan Undi, di Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Dato’ Biji Wangsa adalah Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Ahli Majlis Tertinggi Umno, Tan Sri Anuar Musa, Pengarah Operasi BN PRK Pengkalan Kubor, Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Timbalan Menteri Kewangan, Ahmad Maslan dan juga calon BN, Mat Razi Mat Ail

Namun demikian calon PAS, dan juga calon bebas tidak menghadirkan diri ke tempat penjumlahan undi.

BN's Win Due To Effectiveness Of Election Machinery - Muhyiddin

TUMPAT, Sept 25 (Bernama) - Barisan Nasional's (BN) win in the Pengkalan Kubor by-election is due to the effectiveness of its election machinery and the good background of the candidate.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the win was surprising because the majority of votes received by the BN candidate was more than the votes received in the general election last year.

"Contributing factors include good handling of issues including the oil royalty. Pakatan Rakyat's internal problems made many voters to become fed up with them," he told reporters after the announcement of the win by the BN candidate, Mat Razi Mat Ail at SMK Dato Biji Wangsa here, Thursday night.

Mat Razi received 9,981 votes to beat PAS candidate Wan Rosdi Wan Ibrahim (7,326 votes) and independent candidate Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary (38 votes).

The BN won with a majority of 2,635 votes compared to a majority of 1,736 votes in the general election last year.

Pengkalan Kubor by-election was held following the death of Datuk Noor Zahidi Omar (BN) on August 20.

Muhyiddin said BN had already communicated the win to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is now in New York.

"The Prime Minister congratulated the BN election machinery and the candidate, Ustaz Mat Razi on the win."

He said BN would like to thank the voters in Pengkalan Kubor as the party only lost in three of the 12 polling district centres.

The win was also because BN by-election director Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed succeeded in repelling PAS attacks on issues including the petroleum royalty.

Muhyiddin said BN would deliver all the promises made such as upgrading of infrastructure adding the win was a catalyst to capture Kelantan from PAS.

He urged Mat Razi to serve the electorate regardless of race, religion and political affiliation.

Meanwhile, Mat Razi said he was grateful for the win and promised to continue the good work of former state assemblyman, the late Noor Zahidi.

"I would like to thank all those who helped me including the family of the deceased."

He said the win was beyond expectation adding that he would like to see Pengkalan Kubor properly developed.

PAS Picking On BN Candidate's Ustaz Title In By-Election Campaign

By Mohamad Bakri Darus

TUMPAT, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Mat Razi Mat Ail has become the subject of PAS' grouses as the Pengkalan Kubor by-election campaign period enters its fourth day.

The PAS' by-election machinery seems uneasy over the candidacy of BN's respected 48-year-old candidate, who also founded and owns the Maahad Tahfiz Pondok Simpangan religious school, regarding him as unworthy of being called an ustaz (religious teacher) and asked that villagers stop calling him that.

PAS candidate Wan Rosdi Wan Ibrahim, 56, said Mat Razi was ineligible to be called ustaz because he was once a civil servant and dressed formally when carrying out his religious duties.

In response to this, Mat Razi said he never asked to be called ustaz but the term was given by villagers after he opened up a madrasah (religious school).

He set up the religious school on his land where 50 students are currently studying for free.

Mat Razi, formerly Tumpat district education officer, remains calm amid such allegations as he only wants to focus on solving the people's problems and to plan additional development for the area.

Today, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin slammed PAS' insults against Mat Razi and described the party's action as a desperate attempt because it has no real issues to play up.

However, he said, the personal attack would not affect voter support for BN.

"I don't see any big issues here and PAS is attacking our candidate because they know our candidate is well-liked and excellent.

"One of their (PAS) strategies is personal attack against the (BN) candidate. Even I myself did not attack the opposition candidate in my speeches. Nevermind, they are scared, perhaps," he told reporters at Mat Razi's house in Kampung Simpangan, here, today.

Pak Din, in his 70s, was one of the PAS supporters met and asked why Mat Razi's ustaz title was being questioned.

"He is not an ustaz, he (Mat Razi) is a school teacher and he teaches the Quran," he told reporters at a coffee shop in Pengkalan Kubor.

Meanwhile, Kampung Simpangan resident Mohamad Asri Ismail, 51, said the opposition were not living in reality and loved to use slander to mislead voters.

"I've known Mat Razi since we were small and we studied in the same school. I know where he is after office hours too. He teaches the Quran and imparts religious knowledge."

He said Mat Razi also gave religious talks after Maghrib prayers at the Mukim Simpangan Hilir Mosque next to his home and that was why he was called ustaz.

Political observer, Universiti Utara Malaysia Adjunct Professor Datuk Hasan Haron said BN chose the right candidate because of his religious knowledge and work experience which made him close to the community.

He said it was normal during by-elections for local issues to be highlighted, but it must be remembered that in a state governed by PAS, the party had a role in addressing the issues.

However, the question is what has been developed by the state government because most of the projects in Pengakalan Kubor and Kelantan in general are contributed by the federal government.

"In the by-election campaign, PAS is seen trying to divert voters' attention to other issues to hide their weaknesses," said Hasan.

The Pengkalan Kubor by-election will see a three-cornered fight between Mat Razi, PAS candidate Wan Rosdi Wan Ibrahim and independent candidate Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary.

It is being held following the death of its incumbent, Datuk Noor Zahidi Omar, 57, from liver cancer on Aug 20. The Election Commission has set Sept 25 for polling.

In the 13th General Election last year, Noor Zahidi defeated PKR candidate Saharun Ibrahim and Izat Bukhary (Independent) with a 1,736-vote majority.

BN Machinery Should Not Be Disappointed With Sungai Limau By-election Results - Muhyiddin

From Nurulhuda Che Das

PARIS, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional (BN) machinery should not be disappointed with the results of the Sungai Limau state by-election as despite the loss, the majority votes obtained by the opposition had been reduced, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

"I wish to thank the entire BN machinery for their hardwork in Sungai Limau and despite not winning, we managed to reduce PAS' majority.

"This means, efforts undertaken by all party leaders and machinery have increased the support of voters for the BN," he told Malaysian journalists here Tuesday.

He said BN members at all levels should take lessons from the defeat and be prepared to work even harder in the future.

"The area, despite being touted as a PAS stronghold, has been penetrated by BN, and I am confident that a larger portion of those who gave us their votes were fence-sitters who may have supported the opposition but are drawn to us, this time around," he noted.

Muhyiddin said the support of the Chinese community in the area had also improved as compared to the general election in May, based on the results of the Polling District Centre (PDM).

"I am confident that during our campaign, we managed to repel all sorts of propaganda and attacks made by the opponents on national issues, that BN is corrupt or the growing inflation, and so on.

"Some of the issues relating to the 2014 Budget have been explained but I believe we need to continue the effort as the situation could change in future," he added.

He said BN might need to look at the aspect of campaign effectiveness and study the capability of the machinery, including from the angle of logistics, information and so on, in a by-election post-mortem.

On the performance of Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir, he said according to a report he received, voter acceptance of Mukhriz was excellent.

"They saw him as a young leader, friendly to the people and he also reached out to the grassroots, and villagers. I believe he could also look at development in the state," he said.

Muhyiddin said, what had been promised during and after the by-election by both the federal and state governments, should be implemented.

"I did not say the promises were conditional, whatever we have announced, we will carry them out," he added.

He did not deny the influence of the late Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak (former Kedah menteri besar) was still strong in the area.

"But it was inevitable that the PAS leader still has a hold over the people but I do not think it will continue as we have managed to chip away their majority," he noted.

PAS retained the Sungai Limau seat with a reduced majority of more than half in the by-election yesterday.

BN candidate Dr Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim who obtained 10,985 votes, lost to Mohd Azam Abd Samat by a 1,084 majority. The PAS candidate received 12,069 votes.

In the 13th General Election in May, (former Kedah menteri besar) Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak (PAS) won the state seat in a four-cornered fight, with a majority of 2,774 votes.

Muhyiddin is currently in the French capital for a five-day working visit to attend the 37th United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) General Conference, beginning today.

Official: PAS retains Sg Limau with smaller majority

SG LIMAU The polling stations are now closed and ballots are being counted. Official results are expected by about 10pm but Malaysiakini will be keeping tabs on the unofficial results until then.

The Sungai Limau contest is between BN's Ahmad Sohaimi Lazaim, 53, and PAS' Mohd Azam Samat, 37. The seat is considered a PAS stronghold because it was won by the late Azizan Abdul Razak for five elections in a row.

Azizan eventually rose to become the Kedah menteri besar in 2008 but his party lost grip of the state after the 13th general election.

PAS is looking to expand the 2,774 majority won in May while BN is looking to finally wrest the seat from PAS with their "Dare to Migrate" slogan, with the help of newly minted Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir.

An estimated 85.5 percent of the 27,222 voters in the constitutency have cast their ballots as at 5pm.

LIVE REPORTS
8.50pm: Official results - PAS' Mohd Azam Samat wins.
PAS - 12,096
BN - 10,985
Majority - 1,084

Muhyiddin: Peluang BN tawan Sg Limau cerah

Mukhriz: Alternative media as capable as mainstream to influence

Titiwangsa MP Dr Lo’ Lo’ dies of cancer

Her remains will be taken to the Masjid Al-Akram in Dato Keramat for prayers at 8am tomorrow.

PETALING JAYA: Titiwangsa MP Dr Lo’Lo’ Mohd Ghazali of PAS died at about 10.25pm today after suffering from breast cancer.

A tweet message, sent out from her twitter account by an admin at 10.28pm, read: “Dr Lo’ Lo’ has just breathed her last moments ago.”

This was confirmed by PAS Dewan Muslimat chief Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff, who is also the Rantau Panjang MP.

SMSes sent out to PAS members are saying that her remains will be taken to the Masjid Al-Akram in Dato Keramat for prayers at 8am tomorrow.

Lo’Lo’ had undergone treatment at the Selayang Hospital and was in a critical condition earlier today.
The news of Lo’Lo’s death made its round in the micro-blogging twitter site earlier today afternoon but her family had denied the news, stating that the parliamentarian was in critical condition and seeking treatment in Selayang Hospital.

Even Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim had tweeted at about 2pm about her death. He later retracted his tweet and apologised to her family.

The first term MP won the Titiwangsa seat in 2008.

While her seat will be declared vacant now, there will however be no by-election as the Parliament has served its three-year mandate. PAS will have to nominate someone to look after this constituency until the next general election.

Sukar menang di kubu BN

Kekalahan di Kerdau kerana kegagalan SPR membanteras rasuah, pembelian undi, penggunaan jentera kerajaan dan ugutan oleh BN.

KERDAU: PAS kini mengaku sukar untuk menang di kawasan yang menjadi kubu kuat Barisan Nasional (BN).

Naib Presiden PAS dan juga Pengarah Pilihan Raya PAS Pahang, Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man berkata, kawasan Felda dan kampung tradisi masih menyokong kuat BN.

Bagaimanapun kekalahan di Kerdau menurutnya disebabkan kegagalan Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya (SPR) membanteras rasuah, pembelian undi, penggunaan jentera kerajaan dan ugutan oleh BN.

“Tetapi ini kekalahan sementara. Keputusan keseluruhan Kerdau menunjukkan peningkatan undi yang diperolehi PAS. Ia sama dengan Ijok, PAS kalah pada pilihan raya kecil tetapi menang dalam pilihan raya umum 2008.

“PAS juga mendapat peningkatan undi di tiga kawasan Felda di Kerdau,” katanya dalam sidang akhbar di sini malam ini.

Calon PAS Hasanuddin Salim pula berkata, beliau kecewa tetapi hanya sementara. Malah Ketua Penerangan PAS Pahang itu bersedia untuk bertanding sekali lagi jika parti memilihnya.

Manakala Pengerusi DAP Pahang Leong Ngah Ngah berkata kekalahan PAS kerana politik wang yang melampau di Kerdau.

Undi majoriti BN meningkat, petanda kejatuhan pembangkang

Kemenangan itu satu petanda adalah memberangsangkan malah majoriti undi diterima BN adalah seperti yang dijangka.

MERLIMAU: Kemenangan Barisan Nasional pada pilihan raya kecil Dewan Undangan Negeri Merlimau (Melaka) dan Kerdau (Pahang) disifatkan sebagai kejayaan cemerlang dan ia isyarat jelas bahawa pengundi kini menolak perjuangan pembangkang.

Menurut Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, kemenangan itu satu petanda memberangsangkan malah majoriti undi diterima BN adalah seperti yang dijangka.

Muhyiddin berkata kemenangan itu disebabkan sokongan rakyat terhadap BN tidak berbelah bahagi.

Malah katanya faktor jelas kemenangan BN disebabkan pengundi Melayu tidak melihat PAS memperjuangkan nasib mereka tetapi lebih kepada perjuangan parti.

‘Feel good factor’ dapat diteruskan dan diulang malah momentum kemenangan ini dapat ditingkatkan lagi.

“Ini satu lagi petanda yang memberansangkan terutama kejayaan kedua-dua pilihan raya di Merlimau dan Kerdau dengan peningkatan majoriti mengatasi pilihan raya lalu.

“Kemenangan ini signifikan kerana apa yang diperjuangkan PAS ditolak rakyat termasuk perkara-perkara membabitkan perjuangan rakyat, konsep negara Islam dan tohmahan yang dilemparkan,”katanya dalam sidang media di Dewan Platinum, Politeknik Merlimau sebentar tadi.

Katanya, undi BN di kawasan Melayu menggalakkan termasuklah undi kaum India.

Undi kaum Cina katanya wujud peningkatan walaupun tidak sebesar undi Melayu.

Calon yang berwibawa

Mengenai kriteria calon BN pada pilihan raya akan datang, beliau berkata calon yang berwibawa serta bersih daripada skandal akan menjadi keutamaan.

“Calon muda menjadi salah satu faktor kemenangan. Kami akan letakkan calon yang sesuai untuk meningkatkan sokongan pengundi.

Kita ambil semua perkembangan dan ia jadi pendorong untuk kita bekerja lebih keras,” katanya yang juga Naib Presiden Umno.

Di Merlimau, BN memperoleh 5,962 undi manakala PAS 2,319 undi dengan undi majoriti 3,643 undi.

Manakala di Kerdau, BN memperolehi undi majoriti 2,727. BN memperoleh 5,060 manakala PAS 2,336 undi.

Sementara itu, Roslan Ahmad pula pula berkata beliau berikrar untuk menjadi wakil rakyat yang terbaik.

“Saya berikrar akan berkhidmat sebaik mungkin selaras dengan hasrat Ketua Menteri agar Melaka negeri maju.

“Saya akan berkhidmat dengan baik dan berterima kasih kepada seluruhjentera parti daripada seluruh Malaysia dan saya akan bantu pastikan BN mendapat kejayaan cemerlang,” katanya.

Turut hadir Menteri Besar Melaka, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam , Presiden Parti Progresif Penduduk(PPP), Datuk M Kayveas dan Menteri Pertahanan, Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi.

PRK Merlimau: PAS eksploitasi kanak-kanak

Adik-beradik terbabit ditemui memegang bendera PAS dan sepanduk bertulis "Pemimpin Bela Kroni".

MERLIMAU: Kehangatan suasana hari mengundi pada pilihan raya kecil di Dewan Undangan Negeri Merlimau, Melaka hari ini dicemari insiden kurang enak apabila PAS didakwa mengeksploitasi kanak-kanak bawah umur untuk meraih undi.

Kanak-kanak terbabit yang merupakan adik-beradik dan seorangn kenalannya ditemui di Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina Merlimau bagi peti undi Pengkalan Samak.

FMT bertemu adik-beradik terbabit di tepi jalan berdekatan pusat pengundian dan sedang memegang bendera PAS dan juga sepanduk bertulis “Pemimpin Bela Kroni”.

Menurut Mohd Fahmi Asri, 10, mereka berada di situ kerana mengikut ayah yang sedang bertugas. Difahamkan ayah beliau merupakan petugas PAS untuk meraih undi di kawasan itu.

Dua beradiknya yang lain dikenali sebagai Mohd Fahim Asri, 11, dan Fatin Farhana Asri, 7 tahun itu datang ke Merlimau seawal 8 pagi bagi mengikuti ayah mereka yang sedang bertugas.

“Kami ikut ayah (Asri) dia sedang bertugas. Kami bukan dari sini kak, kami datang dari Batu Berendam, Melaka.

“Mak tidak datang ada di rumah dengan tiga adik kami yang lain,” kata Fahmi kepada FMT.
Namun penulis yang sedang menjalankan tugas menemubual adik-beradik itu, tiba-tiba didatangi dua lelaki yang mula kelihatan curiga.

Salah seorang daripada lelaki itu difahamkan ialah ayah kepada tiga beradik itu.

Seorang lelaki yang lengkap berpakaian sebagai petugas PAS dan mempunyai logo parti itu mengugut penulis dan akan menyaman akhbar (Sinar Harian?) sekiranya berita itu disiarkan.

Beliau yang menyangka penulis ialah wartawan Sinar Harian kurang senang dengan tindakan penulis yang mengambil gambar dan menemubual kanak-kanak terbabit.

“Kamu dari Sinar ya? Kalau awak siarkan cerita ini, kami akan saman Sinar Harian,” katanya kepada penulis.
Lelaki terbabit turut bertindak melihat tag media penulis, namum tiada kata-kata kesat dikeluarkan.

Notis Rakyat Pada Najib Razak

Live updates - Merlimau and Kerdau

Live updates and discussion of the last-minute campaigning and the results of the Merlimau and Kerdau by-elections.

Biawak if lucky: No goodies for Merlimau poor

Where are our cows?

Jatuhkan pemimpin Umno – Khalid Samad

Setelah jatuh, baru rakyat tahu harta kekayaaan mereka.

MENTAKAB: Rakyat perlu menjatuhkan pemimpin Umno untuk membolehkan rakyat mengetahui harta kekayaan mereka, gesa seorang pemimpin PAS di Kerdau malam tadi.

“(Tun) Dr Mahathir Mohamad, (Datuk Seri) Najib Tun Razak dan (Tan Sri) Muhyiddin Yassin, kita kena jatuhkan baru kita tahu jumlah harta mereka,” kata Ahli Parlimen Shah Alam, Khalid Samad.

Pemimpin PAS bersuara lantang itu berkata demikian dalam ceramahnya membantu calon PAS, Hasanuddin Salim di Kerdau malam tadi.

Beliau menambah, mereka (pemimpin Umno) takut apa yang berlaku kepada Presiden Tunisia Zine El Abidine Ben Ali dan Presiden Mesir Hosni Mubarak kerana setelah jatuh, rakyat baru tahu harta kekayaan mereka.

Ceramah Khalid di Desa Murni, Kerdau diadakan bersebelahan dengan ceramah Barisan Nasisonal (BN) yang menurut beberapa ahli

PAS, ceramah BN itu tidak lain tidak bukan sekadar mahu menganggu ceramah PAS.

Hanya beberapa kerat sahaja yang berada di kawasan ceramah BN walaupun disediakan sate, mi dan nasi briyani manakala ceramah

Khalid yang juga Ahli Jawatankuasa PAS Pusat dihadiri sekitar 400 hingga 500 orang.

Umno ganggu ceramah PAS

“Umno cuma nak ganggu ceramah PAS kerana mereka takut kepada kita di Kerdau,” kata Khalid secara berseloroh.

Khalid juga menjelaskan betapa pentingnya PAS menang di Kerdau dalam pilihan raya kecil kali ini.

“Kita perlu menang di sini untuk membolehkan kita menjawab
tohmahan-tohmahan yang dikeluarkan kepada Pakatan Rakyat.

“Kerajaan (Pakatan Rakyat) yang hendak kita buat dengan PKR dan DAP adalah kerajaan anti rasuah, bukan seperti Umno yang menipu rakyat,” katanya.

Dalam ceramah tersebut, Khalid menyelar sikap isteri Perdana Menteri, Rosmah Mansor yang berbelanja besar dan membeli pakaian- pakaian mahal di luar negeri.

Beliau mengaitkan Rosmah dengan Imelda Marcos (isteri Presiden Filipina, Ferdinand Marcos) dan Leila Ben Ali (isteri Presiden Tunisia), yang membeli pakaian-pakaian mahal di Perancis dan Itali dengan menggunakan wang rakyat.

Pilihan raya umum Kerdau esok menyaksikan calon BN Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad menentang Hasanuddin dari PAS, dengan jumlah pengundi 8,999 orang.

Free gifts to woo Indian voters

In the race to lure the Indian community, BN throws dinner parties, while Pakatan Rakyat shows off its achievements in the states it rules.

MERLIMAU: Going into the final lap, both Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat are still working hard to woo over the Indian community.

To ensure it locks up the Indian vote bank, BN has established seven command centres to concentrate on the 1,567 Indian voters.

As usual, the BN is using the same, old tactics – throwing dinner parties, holdings concerts, distributing uniforms to students and sarees to women, showing movies and giving out small financial assistance.

And the Merlimau Indians rushed to attend all these events – and they get paid too.

For example, it is alleged that every Indian voter who attended a dinner organised by an anonymous 1Malaysian NGO supporters’ club received RM100, 1Malaysia T-shirts, and food with a lucky draw thrown in.

BN is confident it can net about 75% to 80% of the Indian voters.

Not to be outdone, Pakatan is also working the ground, going from door to door to fish for votes.

In their walkabouts, the Pakatan campaigners never failed to highlight the achievements of the party in the states it controlled, namely, Selangor, Kedah and Penang.

A local PKR Youth leader M Sivakumar said that Pakatan is optmistic that PAS can garner 50% of the Indian votes.

“I have been working on the ground since last month, and from what I see, the Indians are unhappy with BN,” he told FMT.

For example, Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam said that there are no poor Indian
families in Merlimau. But in reality, 50% to 60% of the Indians are living below the poverty line.

But he admitted that although the Indians are rushing for free gifts, it does not mean they are favouring BN.

“I can say that Merlimau Indians will become a ‘silent killer’ to the BN,” he added.

Nik Aziz Admits His Statements Create Factions Among Muslims

KOTA BAHARU, March 4 (Bernama) -- PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat Friday conceded that his political statements in by-election campaigns could create factions among the Muslims in the country.

He said in his struggle to defend the party, he might have issued statements that created a group of people who supported the statement and another group who were against it.

"In fact, factions had emerged among the Muslims since the era of Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Adam," he said while delivering the Friday sermon at Medan Ilmu, here Friday.

Nik Aziz caused a controversy when he issued his own fatwa (edict) during the campaign for Tenang state by-election in Johor, that Barisan Nasional's (BN) supporters were the people of Jahiliyyah (Ignorance) because they rejected PAS, the party he claimed to be upholding Islam.

Responding to the statement, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Nik Aziz's struggle was only to win the election and not to uphold Islam.

Tun Dr Mahathir said Nik Aziz, who is also Kelantan Menteri Besar, had said that his wish was to win the general election and rule the country with DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

The Mufti of Perak, Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria had also slammed Nik Aziz when the latter said that Umno or BN supporters would go to hell and only those who voted for PAS were bound for heaven.

Nik Abdul Aziz said he would continue to use the same approach in explaining the concept of halal and haram in choosing a leader in an election even if his actions were to be slammed by religious scholars in the country.

"In religious term, the approach is called dakwah and in politics and elections, it is called campaigning. So, if I use the approach in any of the election campaign, it should not be a problem," he said.

Kereta Anwar dikepung dan dibaling batu

(Harakah Daily) - Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) hari ini mengecam tindakan ganas yang didakwa dilakukan petugas Umno BN dengan mengepung dan membaling batu ke arah kereta yang dinaiki Datuk seri Anwar Ibrahim semalam.
Menceritakan kejadian itu, Ketua PKR Cabang Temerloh, Ahmad Nizam Hamid, berkata, kira-kira 30 orang pemuda, memegang sepanduk dan bendera BN menyekat kereta Anwar di Jengka 22 sambil menjeritkan perkataan lucah kepada ketua umum parti itu.

Dari kelibat dan gaya percakapan mereka, Ahmad Nizam berkata beliau yakin kesemua mereka adalah orang luar dan bukan masyarakat tempatan.

"Ini budaya baru yang dibawa, kerana dipahang tak pernah berlaku sebelum ini" kata Nizam pada sidang media di markas induk PAS bagi Pilihan Raya kecil Kerdau.

Sebelum itu katanya, sejumlah paku turut ditaburkan di atas jalan raya khususnya di jalan jengka 22 menuju ke tapak ceramah ketua pembangkang itu menyebabkan kira-kira 50 buah motorsikal dan beberapa kereta mengalami kerosakan tayar.

"Kami mengecam perbuatan biadap dan tidak bertamadun penyokong Umno BN tersebut yang jelas bukan sahaja melanggar tatasusila bangsa malah bersalahan dengan undang-undang.

"Pilihanraya sewajarnya diraikan sebagai pesta demokrasi namun Umno kelihatannya tidak menjadi matang dan meletakkan diri di tingkat paling bawah," jelasnya.

Bagaimanapun katanya, walau apa sekalipun provokasi yang dibuat pihak lawan, petugas Pakatan Rakyat tetap tidak akan termakan.

Belaiu turut berterima ekoran tindakan pantas pihak polis menyuraikan para penyokong BN yang menunggu rombongan Datuk seri Anwar Ibrahim keluar dari jengka 22.

Don't Play With Fire, Muhyiddin Warns Opposition

TEMERLOH, March 4 (Bernama) -- Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has warned the opposition not to play with fire by instigating the people to topple the government similar to the uprising taking place in some Middle Eastern countries.

The deputy prime minister said the attempt by opposition leaders to compare Malaysia with the situation in the turmoil-hit countries was smacked of irresponsibility.

"This act of provocation by the opposition, to me, is irresponsible, undemocratic and deliberately done to create chaos when everyone knows the actual situation is peaceful and the country is prosperous and progressing rapidly.

"The people are also enjoying a higher level of development compared to those countries," he told reporters after attending a get-together with the people in Kampung Badok, here.

Muhyiddin's comment came in the wake of a series of ceramah by opposition leaders during the campaign for the Merlimau and Kerdau state by-elections in Melaka and Pahang respectively, which appeared to be attempting to rally the people to demonstrate against the government like those in the Middle East.

Muhyiddin said the opposition should be sincere when comparing Malaysia with those crisis-stricken countries.

"They can compare, but theirs are not a correct comparison; it's more like engaging in act of provocation, like playing with fire, instigating the people to rise against the government," he said.

Muhyiddin said the BN government had always been practising policies which allowed the people to convey their views or draw the government's attention on matters which the government should address.

"Ours is a vibrant democracy where every five years we call for an election. They (the opposition) are also able to win seats, and then there are by-elections which we won and they lost, and there are also those that we lost.

"It has also been amply proven that this country of ours is a democratic country, a country which is not govern in any autocratic or dictatorial way; so if the president of another country is to be compared with Malaysia's leader, we really cannot make the comparison," he said.

Muhyiddin said the opposition should be sincere when comparing Malaysia with those crisis-stricken countries.

"They can compare, but theirs are not a correct comparison; it's more like engaging in act of provocation, like playing with fire, instigating the people to rise against the government," he said.

Muhyiddin said the BN government had always been practising policies which allowed the people to convey their views or draw the government's attention on matters which the government should address.

"Ours is a vibrant democracy where every five years we call for an election. They (the opposition) are also able to win seats, and then there are by-elections which we won and they lost, and there are also those that we lost.

"It has also been amply proven that this country of ours is a democratic country, a country which is not govern in any autocratic or dictatorial way; so if the president of another country is to be compared with Malaysia's leader, we really cannot make the comparison," he said.

Asked what the government would do to deal with the matter, Muhyiddin said the country had its security law to ensure the situation would not worsen.

"We are warning them, don't play with fire. We have a system as well as the authorities to maintain the country's peace and security ... these are established institutions.

"Notwithstanding this, we wish to remind the people not to destroy the country because of provocations by the opposition.

"The opposition's objective is to create disorder, nothing else. They fancy seeing the country breaking into pieces, seeing racial clashes; so they provoke, an utterly irresponsible attitude," he said.

Earlier Muhyiddin performed the Friday prayers at the Kampung Badok Mosque in Kerdau state constituency.

The Kerdau by-election on Sunday is a straight fight between BN's Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad and PAS' Hassanuddin Salim.