Isa scores landslide win, majority 5,435 - Malaysiakini

8.05pm: Official Election Commission's results (final)

Mohd Isa Abd Samad (BN): 8,013
Zulkefly Mohamad Omar (PAS): 2,578

Majority: 5,435
Spoilt votes: 223

As returning officer Abdul Wahad Samsuddin made the…

More ► More ▼

8.05pm: Official Election Commission's results (final)

Mohd Isa Abd Samad (BN): 8,013
Zulkefly Mohamad Omar (PAS): 2,578

Majority: 5,435
Spoilt votes: 223

As returning officer Abdul Wahad Samsuddin made the official annoucement at the tallying centre, jubilant Umno supporters cheered.

7.31pm: Umno's Isa Samad claimed victory. He thanked party workers for their effort and voters for their support.

Asked if he had expected a landslide win, he said: "I didn't expect it to be that massive but I knew the majority would be bigger than 2008 (general election)."

He said his victory showed that Malays, Chinese and Indians have all returned to give their support to BN and Umno.

Asked to comment on the criticism by Umno veterans Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah over his candidacy, Isa said: "I just smiled."

7.17pm: Official Election Commission results so far:

Mohd Isa Abd Samad (BN): 5,746
Zulkefly Mohamad Omar (PAS): 1,505

Majority: 4,241

Dejected PAS supporters have left the party's operations centre in Bagan Pinang. There were 150 people an hour earlier, now there are no more than 10.

7.15pm: Unofficial - with all votes counted, Umno's Isa won by a whopping majority of over 5,000 votes.

In the 2008 general election, Umno won the state seat with 2,333 votes.

Mohd Isa Abd Samad (BN): 8,013
Zulkefly Mohamad Omar (PAS): 2,578

Majority: 5,435
Spoilt votes: 222

7pm: Official Election Commission's results so far (with 5,318 votes counted)

Mohd Isa Abd Samad (BN): 4,377
Zulkefly Mohamad Omar (PAS): 941

Majority: 3,436

▲

LIVE: Bagan Pinang by-election results

Live coverage of developments from the Bagan Pinang by-election.

skirmishes in Bagan Pinang

Altercation at polling

Ku Li: Better if Umno lost today - Malaysiakini

Victory is crucial for BN, says Khairy

Former Umno vice-president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said a victory for Isa Samad in the Bagan Pinang by-election would translate into an endorsement for…

More ► More ▼

Victory is crucial for BN, says Khairy

Former Umno vice-president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said a victory for Isa Samad in the Bagan Pinang by-election would translate into an endorsement for corruption.

"Much as the likely win by Isa would be welcomed by the leadership after the string of losses Umno has suffered, I am afraid what the nation needs is for Umno to lose again. This is because again we have fielded a candidate proven to be corrupt.

"A win by Isa would translate into an endorsement of corruption-as-usual within the party and the government that it leads," he said.

"For the good of the party, the dignity of the Malay community it claims to represent and for the sake of the nationwide reform in governance and politics that we must undergo, it would be better if Umno lost today, and used the loss to begin internal reform.

"Corruption is the scourge of the country. Umno is a step away from being identified with that scourge," added the veteran politician.

From the onset, Tengku Razaleigh had voiced his dissatisfaction against Umno's decision to field Isa, the former menteri besar of Negeri Sembilan.

Isa was suspended from Umno in 2004 after being found guilty of money politics during the party polls.

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad was also unhappy with the choice.

▲

Selangor PKR Indian Mandore’s wayang kulit at Jenjarom hindu temple demolishment.

PKR EXCO Member cum Indian Mandore for Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid’s show time. The demolition of the 130 year old temple to be put off -Maha Mariaman Temple…

More ► More ▼

PKR EXCO Member cum Indian Mandore for Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid’s show time. The demolition of the 130 year old temple to be put off -Maha Mariaman Temple in Janjarom, Selangor. (The Star 9/10/09 at page N55 and also Makkal Osai 8/10/09 front page). This PKR Indian mandore comes to the temple and does the usual wayang kulit, which the previous MIC Indian EXCO Member cum UMNO Mandore had been playing for the previous 50 years until 8^th March 2007.

It is the HINDRAF inspired people power residents of Jenjarom that stopped this demolishment. This PKR Indian mandore has done this very same wayang kulit at least two times before (and specializes in getting them published in the three Tamil newspaper)when this very same hindu temple previously came up for demolishment by the PKR led Selangor state government.

By the stroke of the pen the PKR led Selangor Menteri Besar, Anwar Ibrahim, DAP and PAS can stop this plantation’s historical and heritage hindu temple from being demolished by compulsorily acquiring this land and handing it over to this temple by virtue of Section 76 of the National Land Code (NLC). But UMNO or PKR, DAP and PAS would never save this or any other hindu temple for that matter. But they would all call themselves multi-racial parties.

Why doesn’t any surau or Masjid come up for demolishment like these hindu temples? The answer is that all suraus and Masjids which were previously on state and private land had been acquired converted and gazetted into Masjid and surau reserve land futher to Section 76 of the NLC by UMNO, PKR, PAS and DAP. But a different rule applies when it comes to hindu temples in Malaysia.

P.Uthayakumar

HRP Secretary General

▲

UMNO rejects Indian widow’s welfare dept aid for 6 years. No Deepavali for 10 years.

This 40 year old widow A.Parameswary has been applying to the Penang state welfare department for assistance since 2003 (6 years). But she is yet to receive any response (NST…

More ► More ▼

This 40 year old widow A.Parameswary has been applying to the Penang state welfare department for assistance since 2003 (6 years). But she is yet to receive any response (NST 10/10/09 at page 27) Also in Makkal Osai 10/10/09 front page (See both newspaper below). This is just the tip of the iceberg of this UMNO’s racist and religious extremist policies excluding even the poor and working class deserving Indians from receiving Welfare help. To add to her misery, Parameswary has a 19 year old son who is mentally and visually disabled. She needs RM 250.00 a month to buy adult pampers and special milk powder for this son.

Had Parameswar had been a Malay muslim, the UMNO controlled Malaysian government would have given her the due welfare department help she and her son needed. But poor Parameswary happens to be born an Indian which she had not asked for!

These extent of racism and religious extremism does not happen in any other part of the world except in UMNO Malaysian Prime Minister’s One Malaysia.

P.Uthayakumar

HRP Secetary General

▲

UMNO won’t promote Kalu Malai Hindu Temple, Ipoh as a tourist attraction

Perak won’t promote Kalu Malai Hindu temple as a tourist attraction. But would do so for the Paloh Koo Mui Chinese temple (The Star Metro 10/10/09 page M40) This…

More ► More ▼

Perak won’t promote Kalu Malai Hindu temple as a tourist attraction. But would do so for the Paloh Koo Mui Chinese temple (The Star Metro 10/10/09 page M40) This is because the Perak Chinese have both the political and economic clout which the Indians do not have. This is a political reality.

▲

Tee Keat still MCA boss for now

Wong has asked Ong Tee Keat not to make any hasty decisions. — Picture by Jack Ooi

By Debra Chong - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 — Datuk…

More ► More ▼

Wong has asked Ong Tee Keat not to make any hasty decisions. — Picture by Jack Ooi

By Debra Chong - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 — Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat remains MCA president for now, party secretary-general Senator Datuk Wong Foon Meng told reporters today.

He repeated his advice to Ong not to make a decision until the central committee sits on Thursday to resolve the current crisis.

Ong is currently on leave until Wednesday after being delivered the vote of no-confidence by the party’s delegates yesterday.

▲

Najib hints that Ong should go

By Clara Chooi - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 - Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today dropped some not-so-subtle hints that MCA president Datuk Seri…

More ► More ▼

By Clara Chooi - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 - Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today dropped some not-so-subtle hints that MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat should step down as MCA president.

The prime minister told a press conference that since the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) was the highest meeting authority in any party structure, the MCA leadership was confined to accepting the results of yesterday’s controversial meeting.

In a nutshell, Najib is telling Ong to go and make way for a new leader, whomever he or she may be.

During yesterday’s dramatic EGM, MCA central delegates did the unexpected – they booted out both Ong and his estranged deputy Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek by voting on three resolutions.

Ong had lost the vote of confidence against his leadership and Dr Chua had successfully gotten his sacking annulled but failed to retain his deputy president’s post.

Despite the decision, Ong still has the choice of clinging to his post as president since the party constitution stipulates that he can only be removed if two-thirds of the party’s central delegates voted against him.

In the EGM, Ong lost the confidence motion by 1155 against 1141 votes, a wafer-thin majority of 14 votes.

As such, the straight-talking president did not do what most had expected him to do and step down graciously from his post immediately. Instead, he said that the party’s CC would first meet (this Thursday) to deliberate on the matter before delivering its decision.

Najib’s statement today however, delivers a big blow that would surely further dent Ong’s already bruised ego. If anything, Najib has clearly indicated that Ong is no longer the right person to lead the second biggest component party in the Barisan Nasional (BN).

“I really hope the MCA leadership would make a decision quickly to repair the party and return the confidence of its members and the people in it.

“Hence, whatever decisions that the CC plans to make later, must be based on the decisions made in yesterday’s EGM,” he said after launching the book “Helming the Times”, a compilation of his speeches on Malaysian politics and the weaknesses in Umno, in Mid Valley Megamall here this morning.

When asked however if he was directly telling Ong to resign from his post, Najib cryptically said:

“What I am saying is that whatever it is, the decisions from the EGM has the highest authority within the MCA or any party – it must form the basis for the leadership solution in the party.

“I believe and trust that the leaders of MCA know that is needed to restore the credibility and confidence in the leadership of MCA.”

Without being specific, Najib also firmly reprimanded MCA leaders for allowing their internal party bickering to drag on and further tarnish BN’s already blackened image and said the party needed to straighten up and fly right, real soon.

He said that it was important for MCA to become a strong force in the BN and to do so, the party’s leadership needed to be credible and effective.

“The MCA leadership also has to be capable of maintaining the support of the Chinese community in backing the BN.

“As such, the leadership must settle its problems and internal matters in such a manner that they would not be repeated,” he said.

Najib also said that all parties within the BN should respect the results of the EGM for it was based on the decisions and actions taken by MCA’s members themselves.

“If we take a course of action that is based on our wisdom and we put the importance of the BN and the MCA at the forefront, then I believe that the MCA can return as a strong and stable friend in the BN,” he said.

Najib brushed aside speculation MCA would soon become like the MIC, which is widely speculated to soon be replaced by the newly launched Makkal Sakti party to represent the Indian community.

“No, no, no, no, no. I never said Makkal Sakti would replace the MIC. All I said was that we in the BN are willing to work with any party or non-governmental organisation that is in support of the government,” he said.

In fact, Najib added, Umno was also willing to help MCA to settle its problems but would do so only if the Chinese-based component party wanted its help.

“We are willing to help only for as long as they want us to help out. I don’t want Umno to be misinterpreted as interfering in the affairs of the MCA,” he said.

▲

With Makkal Sakti, it’s advantage Najib

Najib is placing high hopes on Makkal Sakti president Thanenthiran. — Picture by Choo Choy May

By Baradan Kuppusamy - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 — The launch…

More ► More ▼

Najib is placing high hopes on Makkal Sakti president Thanenthiran. — Picture by Choo Choy May

By Baradan Kuppusamy - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 — The launch of the Malaysian Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was a grand and colourful event attended by about 3,000 Indians, mostly working class Tamils bussed in from across the country.

It was a costly affair but the new party — only a few months old — did a good job organising the event, showing ordinary individuals can achieve much if they have official blessing.

The mantra “Makkal Sakti” or Peoples Power in Tamil that was once the rallying cry of Pakatan Rakyat has now been co-opted by Najib and successfully used by party president R. S. Thanenthiran to rally the Tamil masses.

Najib has placed high hopes on Thanenthiran and his party to bring back the Indian voters who had backed Pakatan Rakyat in 2008 out of anger against Umno’s excesses, MIC’s failures, and the arrogance and rejection of its president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

Makkal Sakti party put up a grand show on Saturday but beyond that, can it deliver the Indian votes in the next general election?

That’s the question that Umno desperately wants a clear answer to, but is not getting in the confusing flux that is minority Indian politics today.

With the unpopular Samy Vellu unable to give it up, the MIC in denial, and the Indian community enraged by Samy Vellu’s final plan to hive off the MIED from the MIC, there is little chance of the party winning over the Indian support it had lost.

Even if Samy Vellu leaves, it remains an uphill task for the MIC because other players — including PR parties — have entered the arena and are contesting with the ailing MIC for the hearts and minds of Indian voters.

The time when MIC can say “we are the sole representatives of the Indians” was over with the March 8, 2008 political tsunami.

In addition to backing new players, Najib is also forging ahead with messianic zeal to win over Indian support for his government, with numerous measures that are all independent of the MIC.

By launching the Makkal Sakti party, he has signalled that he is not waiting for anyone — no matter how close they were with Umno before.

He is not putting all the eggs in the MIC basket like before.

The PM is no longer placing all his bets on Samy Vellu and MIC. — Picture by Choo Choy May

Najib repeatedly told the audience he is ready to support any individual, NGO, organisation, or political party — as long as they subscribe to his 1 Malaysia concept and support government policies to give each citizen his or her due.

He has also co-opted the famous phrase used by opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, “Your daughter is my daughter; your son is my son”, and is putting it to effective use.

He rattled off one by one all the actions he has taken since coming to power — RM100 million given to upgrade the 523 Tamil Schools and the promise of a second RM100 million, the RM1 billion unit trust reserved for Indians, and the increase of Indian employment in the civil service.

He had his audience on their feet, cheering.

While Anwar thought up the emotive slogan that stirred the hearts of the long discriminated Indian and other minorities, he failed to put it into practice as the Kampung Buah Pala disaster shows.

Najib, on the other hand, has the power, resources and zeal to put the money behind the slogan and is seeing the long disadvantaged community starved for help and attention warm up to him.

The launch of the Makkal Sakti party, then, is part of Najib’s grand plan not to risk all the eggs in one MIC-basket but to diversify, encourage reform and competition, and eventually win in the numbers game.

In the new political paradigm it does not matter how many parties Indian leaders want to form as long as they all compete to bring Indian voter support for Barisan Nasional.

In this context, the new Makkal Sakti is relevant in its own right and niche but is not and cannot replace the MIC as potentially the premier Indian party in the community.

The new party does not have a charismatic leadership, institutional network and memory, or a Tamil linguistic and intellectual base — all of which are enjoyed by the MIC.

The MIC minus Samy Vellu and his coterie of yes-men can still evolve into a party of choice for the Indians, provided it can reinvent itself under a new inclusive leadership.

Such a leadership would give a place to long-time critics like Datuk S. Subramaniam and other leaders expelled from the MIC over the last 30 years — including those who populate the IPF and PPP.

Until such a time, the MIC will have to stop blaming others and start competing with new players like the Makkal Sakti Party for Indian voters.

This is especially so with another big player in the game directly wooing the Tamil masses — Najib himself.

▲

Bagan Pinang by-election is another “no-winner” for Barisan Nasional for second consecutive day

By Lim Kit Siang,

The Bagan Pinang by-election is another “no winner” for Barisan Nasional (BN) for the second consecutive day after the MCA Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) yesterday which…

More ► More ▼

By Lim Kit Siang,

The Bagan Pinang by-election is another “no winner” for Barisan Nasional (BN) for the second consecutive day after the MCA Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) yesterday which booted out the two MCA contenders, MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and the MCA Deputy President Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek.

If the BN candidate Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad loses in the Bagan Pinang by-election or is returned with a smaller majority than the 2,333-vote won by the previous BN incumbent in the general elections last year, it is a clear defeat for Umno and BN as the by-election will be a mini-political tsunami by itself.

But even if Isa wins the Bagan Pinang by-election with a bigger majority than last year (and Isa is boasting about a 5,000-6,000 majority), it is an even bigger defeat for Umno and Barisan Nasional for it will be a loud, clear and unmistakable message to all Malaysians that Umno and BN are totally irredeemable and incapable of internal change and reform and there is choice or alternative whatsoever for Malaysians in the next general elections to sweep Umno and BN out of power in Putrajaya.

I cannot agree more with Tun Mahathir and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah in their public objections to Isa’s candidature.

Mahathir said Umno and BN can win the battle in Bagan Pinang but they will lose the war in the next general elections.

Tengku Razaleigh has been more direct when he said today that it is better if Umno lost today in the Bagan Pinang by-election as Isa’s victory would translate into an endorsement for corruption-as-usual in UMNO and the Barisan Nasional government.

Razaleigh said: “For the good of the party, the dignity of the Malay community it claims to represent and for the sake of the nationwide reform in governance and politics that we must undergo, it would be better if Umno lost today, and used the loss to begin internal reform.

“Corruption is the scourge of the country. Umno is a step away from being identified with that scourge.”

This is why the Bagan Pinang by-election is a“no winner” for Umno/BN as it is a Umno/BN defeat if Isa wins with a smaller majority but an even bigger defeat with a bigger Isa majority!

▲

Growing Number Of Malaysian Women Envoys

By Tham Choy Lin

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysian women diplomats are often an unsung force but behind the scenes, their numbers are growing steadily and more are making…

More ► More ▼

By Tham Choy Lin

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysian women diplomats are often an unsung force but behind the scenes, their numbers are growing steadily and more are making it to the top rung as ambassadors.

The latest in the line that traces back to the much often mentioned Datuk P.G. Lim is a Kulim-born economics graduate who will head for the world's fifth largest country and one of the most watched global emerging market.

Meet V. Sudha Devi, career diplomat, wife and mother of two teenagers.

Sudha Devi received her letter of appointment from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Oct 7 to replace the retired Datuk Ismail Mustapha as Malaysia's ambassador to Brazil which is gearing up to host the 2014 football World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.

"I am honoured with the appointment, it's a big trust by the government. I am excited; there will be challenges because Brazil is a big player in Latin America and an emerging economic power in the world," said the 49-year-old envoy who has had postings to Switzerland, Singapore and Germany in her 23 years so far with Wisma Putra.

The first-time ambassador told Bernama her appointment underlined the equal opportunities for women in the Malaysian foreign service, which she joined in 1986 after undergoing the elite Administrative and Diplomatic Corps (PTD) training.

Debunking the perception that a career with Wisma Putra was for single or divorced women, Sudha Devi said there were many like her who had supportive spouses and juggled the job successfully with a family.

"I have my two children with me throughout my foreign postings but I would not have been able to do it without the support of my husband," she said, crediting spouse Art Thamboo, a former journalist turned media practitioner.

The Internet and Skype enabled their children, a son and a daughter, to speak to their father in Kuala Lumpur daily when they were abroad.

Women now make up a third of officers in the ministry and 15 per cent of the top posts in over 100 Malaysian missions and consulates worldwide, she added.

Currently, woman envoys are heading missions that include The Hague, Poland, Romania, Vietnam, Senegal and Croatia.

"The number of Malaysian woman ambassadors may seem small compared to those in some countries but this has nothing to do with a lack of opportunities. The foreign service here was very much male-dominated before but the number of women have more than doubled since I first came here," said Sudha Devi.

A former student of St Anne's Convent and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Badlishah in Kulim, Sudha Devi takes to her new post a depth in multilateral and bilateral affairs and an economics degree from University Malaya.

"Unlike in the past when politics dominated, economic matters have become a key part of our duties to help boost trade for the country," said Sudha Devi.

For that, she is making it a priority to learn Portuguese, the dominant language in Brazil, to help her network and add to her knowledge of French and German.

Prior to Brazil, she was the deputy director-general of the Malaysian secretariat for Asean.

Sudha Devi had also served as second secretary at the Malaysia's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, first secretary at the Malaysian High Commission in Singapore and minister counsellor with the Malaysian Embassy in Berlin.

During one of her home stints, she was dubbed the "Queen of Sheba", a nickname that still tickles her.

"I was handling the African desk for countries south of the Sahara and there were 42 countries, all under my watch," she said.

"But it has been good training, in Wisma, it is all about training. We are taught not only diplomatic skills but to hone our knowledge and adaptability for all kinds of situations," she said.

The Malaysian embassy in Brazil was established in 1981.

▲

PM Wants MCA To Resolve Leadership Crisis Immediately

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wants the MCA to resolve the leadership crisis before the position of MCA president…

More ► More ▼

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wants the MCA to resolve the leadership crisis before the position of MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat in the cabinet can be decided.

Najib, who is also the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said what was important now was for the MCA to arrive at a comprehensive solution so that the problem would not recur.

"I am counting on the MCA leadership to make an immediate decision, to rehabilitate the MCA and regain the confidence of its members and that of the general public in the party," he told reporters after launching the bilingual book 'Helming the Times', written by him, here on Sunday.

"I believe they (MCA leaders) have taken into consideration the decision made at the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) yesterday," he said.

Najib said the BN respected the decision made by the MCA delegates and believed that if the interests of the BN and the MCA were given priority, the party could become strong and stable again and be an important component in the BN.

▲

Unfair To Blame MIC For Bn's Defeats, Says Palanivel

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 11 (Bernama) -- It is unfair to blame the MIC for the Barisan Nasional's (BN) defeats in many seats in the 2008 general election as…

More ► More ▼

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 11 (Bernama) -- It is unfair to blame the MIC for the Barisan Nasional's (BN) defeats in many seats in the 2008 general election as the party is only a "minority" which could not have brought the downfall of the coalition, MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel said.

"On accusations that MIC had failed the Indians and that is why we lost many seats in the last general election, may I say that we are only a minority and how can we alone bring the fall of the strong BN governments in Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor.

"Are we also responsible for the PAS victory again and again in Kelantan?" he said in his blog.

He added that in the last general election, there was "an across-the-board multi-racial anger against the BN."

"So it is unfair to make MIC the scapegoat."

Commenting on the Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP), launched on Saturday, he said the MIC "was not a new baby" like Makkal Sakti but a 63-year-old party born in a Hindu temple.

The MIC, he said, was created out of an intense fire, which still burned in the heart of every MIC member, and that it was born out of nationalism and a party which is a signatory to the Merdeka Agreement.

"Indians have an emotional link with the MIC. Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj (the country's first Prime Minister) once said 'even if there was only one Indian in the MIC, I would only talk to the MIC'," he said.

Palanivel also said that the party had been going around in the Bagan Pinang (by-election) campaigns.

"I am sure Umno will know who the real workers on the ground are. The Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, saw for himself the work of the MIC at the Sua Betong estate (in Bagan Pinang) and who the real 'sakti' (power in Tamil) is," he said.

▲

Polling begins in Bagan Pinang

PORT DICKSON, Oct 11 – Voters began streaming into polling stations at 8am for the Bagan Pinang by-election that appears to be Barisan Nasional’s to lose after Pakatan Rakyat struggled…

More ► More ▼

PORT DICKSON, Oct 11 – Voters began streaming into polling stations at 8am for the Bagan Pinang by-election that appears to be Barisan Nasional’s to lose after Pakatan Rakyat struggled through the campaign period to get its message across in a constituency where one-third of the electorate are postal voters.

The ruling Barisan Nasional state government is fielding the popular Tan Sri Mohamed Isa Samad, who as Negri Sembilan mentri besar for 22 years, brought development to the seaside resort town dominated by a large army base. The dimunitive leader is making a comeback after a three-year party suspension for vote-buying.

Pakatan Rakyat, which has won seven by-elections in a row in the peninsula, is likely to face its first-ever defeat despite fielding PAS Negri Sembilan commissioner Zulkefly Mohammad Omar as its ground network is weak and national issues have little traction in the coastal town.

BN and PAS supporters outside SK Kampung Baru Si Rusa a polling station with 1,553 civilian voters. – Picture by Adib Zalkapli - The Malaysian Insider

The Election Commission (EC) has opened eight polling centres with 18 polling streams for the 9,060 registered normal voters while another 4,604 have cast their ballots through the post last Thursday and Friday. PAS has claimed that most of the postal voters are actually retired servicemen but the EC says the onus is on the ex-soldiers to re-register as normal voters.

Voting begins at 8am and ends at 5pm and with a weather forecast of rain, the EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof has appealed to voters to turn up early. He also expected the results to be announced by 8pm tonight.

“If all goes well, we should be able to know the result between 7.15pm and 7.30pm. But it’s better we announce it after the Maghrib (evening) prayers at 8pm when the supporters of both parties will be present,” he told reporters after visiting polling centres in Ladang Sua Betong here Saturday.

The Bagan Pinang by-election is a straight fight between Isa and Zulkefly when the seat fell vacant on the death of state assemblyman, Azman Mohd Noor of the BN, on Sept 4. He had won the seat in Election 2008 by 2,333 votes.

Barisan Nasiona currently rules Negri Sembilan with a simple majority and a victory will slow down Pakatan Rakyat’s efforts to take over the state government by the next general election. The opposition currently controls 15 seats in the 36-member state assembly.

Isa is expected to win as Teluk Kemang, within which Bagan Pinang is situated, is his stronghold and he had been an elected representative in the neighbouring state constituency of Linggi since 1978.

The former Umno vice-president, whose candidacy was opposed by party veterans including Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has been credited with Umno’s revival of spirits despite the fact that he was indicted for money politics by the party.

But PAS remained confident despite fighting in an unfamiliar territory, where it lacks local machinery.

“There has been no response from the other side,” said Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad the campaign operation director for PAS, referring to the issues brought up by the party’s campaign, specifically, the alleged failure of Isa’s administration.

Across the Teluk Kemang parliamentary constituency, the Islamist party only has 4 branches, three in Bagan Pinang and one in Port Dickson town with total membership of about 600. Umno has 12 branches in Bagan Pinang alone.

For the final two days of campaigning, PAS was relying on the presence of Anwar to mount a high profile campaign, after days of focussing on local issues.

“We started from inside out, touching on issues close to the people before we embark on high impact programmes with Datuk Seri Anwar and Tuan Guru Nik Aziz,” Dzulkefly told The Malaysian Insider in response to criticism to the party’s campaign strategy.

Dzulkefly, who is the party strategist, remained confident when met on the last day of campaign.

To win, party officials hoped to increase its share of postal voters, where it obtained 25 per cent of the total votes from the members of the security forces. PAS is also relying on more than 1,000 outstation voters mostly residing in the Klang Valley to vote for Zulkefly, who had contested three times in the Lenggeng seat and lost.

▲

Tinjauan pendapat pengundi pilihanraya kecil di Bagan Pinang.

Ong accepts party's decision

DESPERATE FOR VICTORY MILLIONS OF RINGGIT MAKING INROAD

The Bagan Pinang State Assembly by-election campaign is about to over tonight where the clear signal of act desperate can really be seen.

I had personally visited few Estates beside…

More ► More ▼

The Bagan Pinang State Assembly by-election campaign is about to over tonight where the clear signal of act desperate can really be seen.

I had personally visited few Estates beside other areas where part of Indian voters are believed to be. However in real situation most of them already retired or their family migrate to nearby housing estates. A situation similar which I encounter at Bukit Selambau, where majority of their houses reside by Indonesian workers.

However, Barisan Nasional leaders trying to eye wash the general public with the assistance of pro government medias that they are most caring human beings ever exist in the world. After more than 150 years of been conquered into jungle colonies the Malaysian Indian had already migrated out of estate where most younger generations works at factories or struggling with their own business.

Just to spend some easily RM30million or more and for the of having “Recycled New Menteri Besar “ for Negeri Sembilan the BN election machinery pouring their financial resource into wrong basket. Beside usual election campaign materials Neon Lighted Billboards too pave ways at Bagan Pinang. Yes, we can predict Barisan Nasional very much desperate to retain their Bagan Pinang Sit as losing it may open door for The State Government been shown similar exit door to Perak Pakatan Government. Surely there is “FROGS” at their camp too and some precedent already been set by themselves.

Forget about the Army votes as they already cast theirs, while PAS and PKR confident in gaining more Malay votes , DAP continue to gain the Chinese voters support but the Indian votes looks set to swing again to BN based on perception at Bagan Pinang . It’s merely because Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) , Mutton Curry and Briyani , Hampers, Sarees and Ang Pow knocks their door every day.

But what a pity, the Intended Indian Votes are not there at the estates. Surely some of them are there which BN managed to hijack them from PR camp by inducements. Even , they instructed toblock Estate fields for BN uses where we can easily estimate about RM30,000- RM40,000 been spend just to set up canopies and stages alone a dinner, entertainment cum political speeches function. Look at their mindset cann’t even spend few thousand to the Tamil Schools, Temples or even to poor households but for sake of winning a State Seat they can throw easily RM200,000 for a night. Who get the Benefit? The estate worker could probably receive max RM300.00 worth of goodies , while other end up where?

After 52 years of ruling Federal and State government Barisan Nasional suddenly set their eyes towards estates workers not because it’s majority Indians there but with another hidden agenda of converting those Indonesian workers as Malaysian then as Malay voter for future election campaign purpose . This happening not only at Bagan Pinang but other estates nationwide too. The estates owned by GLC companies like Sime Darby need real workforce not trouble makers as per their dictionaries. That’s why suddenly RM35,000 housing project not for those put their muscles at work for generations but for the Indonesian based at these estates.

I believe the coalition parties with BN able to sense the political ploy by their supremo’s and will not continue to mislead the poor voters for the sake of winning an election or try to prove something in order to retain their positions.

The voters cann’t be fooled simply with KFC , Mutton Briyani , sarees or pledges for future development. Why not last 52 years or since last 12th General Elections but why now? Simply becuase the Opposition parties getting strong, the amount of ang pow and goodies increases too.

I do agree on their claim that BN and it’s coalition members making Inroads into Estates but in road in terms of dollar $$$ , food and promises may not last longer. It happens at all the by-eleaction but how do you capture the voters mindset? Wish you goodluck BN should the FAKE victory sided to your camp while for PAS/PR it’s job well done since we managed to poke their noses with Chili Padi. My Congratulation to PAS /PR incase God sided us and crown us the Victory or even if HE don’t.

▲

MCA sharply split ahead of Bagan Pinang poll

The BN was dealt a demoralising blow on the eve of the Bagan Pinang by-election after contradictory motions passed during the MCA’s extraordinary general meeting today threw the party into…

More ► More ▼

The BN was dealt a demoralising blow on the eve of the Bagan Pinang by-election after contradictory motions passed during the MCA’s extraordinary general meeting today threw the party into disarray and left it bereft of top leadership.

Photos by Jong

Before today’s EGM, a couple of political scientists/analysts I know who visited Bagan Pinang last night got the impression that the BN had the edge. They observed that the Pakatan’s campaign was missing some of the earlier by-election “spirit” and felt that Isa would win comfortably.

That shouldn’t come as a surprise. Bagan Pinang has traditionally been a BN stronghold, and Isa Samad, as a local boy, enjoys conspicuous support – similar to what Anwar receives in Permatang Pauh. The Umno presence is noticeable, and much money would also have been splashed around. At one BN ceramah yesterday, close to a thousand supporters turned up – which is quite unusual for BN ceramahs! (The most recent large by-election BN ceramah I can think of was when Mahathir drew a crowd in Bukit Gantang.)

Also in the ruling coalition’s favour, the BN was probably not banking on the MCA making much headway among Chinese Malaysian voters in Bagan Pinang in any case – so today’s EGM proceedings are unlikely to have a major impact on the result.

The Kampung Buah Pala fallout may have eroded some of the support for the Pakatan among Indian Malaysians. To what extent, it is hard to tell. And for what it’s worth, the Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party is supposed to be launched by Najib today.

And then, there are the postal votes…

But at lunch-time today, a contact in Bagan Pinang reports that the campaign had become dirtier and senses that Pas will win: the party was looking good and sounding convincing and confident at its latest press conference.

This blog will carry live coverage of the close of polling and the results from 4.00pm tomorrow (Sunday).

▲

BN or PR? It’s still going to be only a 1,000-vote majority

Anyway, so that no one can accuse me of chickening out, I shall predict the…

More ► More ▼

Anyway, so that no one can accuse me of chickening out, I shall predict the by-election result for tomorrow. And my crystal ball says to go with the Indians. So it shall be PAS within a 1,000 or so vote majority.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

My Chinese ‘underworld’ connections tell me that Umno is going to win the Bagan Pinang by-election tomorrow. But it is going to be within only a 1,000-vote majority, they tell me.

My Indian ‘underworld’ connections say this is rubbish. They assure me that PAS is going to win, but still within only a 1,000-vote majority.

My Malay ‘underworld’ connections say they will give me their prediction tomorrow night once the results are announced. At this stage they don’t know who is going to win but they do agree with both the Chinese and Indians -- in that the majority is going to be within only 1,000 votes.

Shit! Thus far I have been able to predict the election results with not too much trouble. In February 2008, I was able to predict that the opposition will win between 80 to 100 parliament seats and will grab five states in the March general election. I could even name the five states. And my predictions for the by-elections since March 2008 have also been almost spot-on, sometimes out by a mere 100 votes or so. But this Bagan Pinang by-election is a real teaser.

Anyway, so that no one can accuse me of chickening out, I shall predict the by-election result for tomorrow. And my crystal ball says to go with the Indians. So it shall be PAS within a 1,000 or so vote majority.

I just hope the Bagan Pinang voters do not disappoint me and break my thus far perfect score. But I suppose one can’t always be right.

*************************************************

Umno Youth: BN's rise from the ashes is in Bagan Pinang

Written by Chua Sue-Ann, The Edge

Umno Youth leaders yesterday proclaimed the sleepy beachside town of Bagan Pinang as the site of Barisan Nasional's (BN) rise from the ashes, in an apparent show of confidence that victory in the by-election is within reach.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, in a rousing half-hour speech to some 2,000 people here last night, said he was confident Bagan Pinang would be remembered in history as the place where Umno "rose again".

"We have no choice but to let Barisan Nasional win in Bagan Pinang. This is where we will stop the political tsunami before we drown in the opposition's politics," Khairy told to an attentive, youth-dominated audience.

The ruling coalition is betting on former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad to put a stop to Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) winning streak in Peninsula Malaysia since the general election last year.

PR only lost the Batang Ai state seat contest in Sarawak, sweeping the seven seats in Peninsula Malaysia up for grabs since March last year.

BN's ceramah, dubbed "Pentas Pemuda", drew one of BN's largest crowds during by-election campaign season.

Umno Youth deputy chief Datuk Razali Ibrahim, who took the stage before Khairy, echoed similar assurance.

"Bagan Pinang will be the place where BN blooms (berkembang mekar) again. It will erase all our previous losses," said Razali, who is also Deputy Youth and Sports Minister.

Khairy, Razali and the other BN youth leaders also trained their guns on opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who had arrived in Bagan Pinang yesterday for campaigning.

Today is the last day of campaigning before Bagan Pinang goes to the ballot box on Sunday.

PAS candidate Zulkefly Mohamad Omar faces an uphill battle against Isa, who is a political veteran and local strongman.

▲

Last day of campaign, Pakatan courts Bagan Pinang Indians

More ► More ▼

“What have MIC or Umno ever done for you? We need real change for a better future. Never ever vote for them again,” said Anwar to an audience at a ceramah in the predominantly Indian town of Siliau. — Picture by Choo Choy May

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid - The Malaysian Insider

PORT DICKSON, Oct 10 — With just hours to go before campaigning ends, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) heavyweights made a vigorous final attempt to overturn what is likely to be a certain victory for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the Bagan Pinang state vote.

They kicked off with a ceramah programme at Siliau, a predominantly Indian populated oil palm estate town some 20 km from here. Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was leading the PR charm offensive to court the Indian electorate.

Indians make up quite a significant chunk of the Bagan Pinang population and both BN and, especially PR, have been bidding hard throughout the eight-day campaigning period to pull them into their respective fold.

Up until the 2008 general elections, BN has enjoyed much support from the Bagan Pinang Indian electorate but the failure by both the federal and state government to aid this poverty-stricken community resulted in a vote swing that gave PAS not an electoral victory, but a symbolic one when the party slashed BN’s vote majority by half.

Most of the Indians in Siliau live below the national poverty line.

They make between RM250 and RM600 a month.

They are not given nor can they afford proper health care services.

Public transportation is almost mythical while their children have to walk almost three kilometres to the nearest school.

Politically, these locals have no freedom to express themselves. They are often intimidated by alleged MIC thugs, or their employers. Open confrontations will and have

resulted in sackings, as claimed by a local.

Anwar, fully aware of the poverty that surrounded him, was quick to capitalise on it and blamed the plight of the Indian community here on Umno and BN’s corruption.

“What have MIC or Umno ever done for you? We need real change for a better future. Never ever vote for them again,” said Anwar.

The PKR de facto leader, very much aware of the sensitivity surrounding the issue, accused MIC of being a party full of “yes men” and said they should be held responsible for all the Hindu temple demolitions done under BN’s governance.

“So what did they do when Umno demolished the temples? (Prime Minister Datuk Seri) Najib Razak punya pasal, kuil kasi picah pun tapa (Because of Najib, you can go ahead and demolish them) ,” said Anwar in a Tamil accent which drew laughter from the crowd.

Prior to Anwar, PR heavyweights like PAS Kelantan exco and former vice-president Datuk Husam Musa, Selangor exco Dr. Xavier Jeyakumar all gave speeches blasting MIC as impotent in representing the interest of the Indian community.

“The only option there is for all this to stop is to vote for PR. We have proven this in all states we rule in,” said Anwar in a final message to the Indian voters before they head for the ballot boxes tomorrow.

▲

Indians in Negri neglected by BN, says DAP - Malaysiakini

The DAP says that BN has not rewarded the Indian community in Negri Sembilan for their contribution and role in the economic development of the state. Instead, it chose to…

More ► More ▼

The DAP says that BN has not rewarded the Indian community in Negri Sembilan for their contribution and role in the economic development of the state. Instead, it chose to marginalise them from the mainstream of progress for the past 52 years of BN rule.

Party national labour chief A Sivanesan (left) told Malaysiakini today that Negri Sembilan was basically a plantation industry whereby 95 percent of the workforce was the Indian community.

He claimed that only about 20 years ago, the state went into high industrial gear and many of the plantation estates were fragmented.

Plantation workers were displaced, he claimed, and lost in the mainstream of progress that other races received and enjoyed.

" The Indian community that worked their backs off in building the state's plantation economy were not rewarded for their contribution but BN instead chose to marginalise them from the mainstream of progress in their 52 years of rule of the state," he said.

"In 1972, the BN government came out with a face-saving national "estate workers home ownerships scheme" whereby such workers will get to buy houses built by the plantation management," he said.


Promises vanish into the night

However, he claimed that many such schemes did not take off in the country due to several factors including the prices of houses which were beyond the means of the plantation workers and besides, these workers were unable to get housing loans from financial institutions.

"So, what (Deputy Premier) Muhyiddin ( Yassin) announced recently in the Bagan Pinang by-election campaign that BN will provide housing for the plantation workers, is nothing new as the promise dates back to 1972 and is actually old wine bottled in a new bottle."

"This is how BN hoodwinks the Indian community with its endless election promises made during every election that normally do not see the light of the day."

Sivanesan said that many of these estate workers are aged above 40 years and over and will face difficulties in getting housing loans from financial institutions.

He threw a challenge by saying "If Muhyiddin is the saviour of the Indian community as he claims to be, why does he not make the government to stand as either guarantors or offer interest free loans for the proposed houses?"

"At the end of the day it is back to square one when the by- election is over and BN lip-servicing the Indian voters with election promises vanishes into the night," he pointed out.

Unreachable economic equity

"BN had promised that the Indian community economic equity in the country will increase from the 1.3 percent to 3 percent by 2010 and now it has moved the goal post to 2020 and the never-ending political game to hoodwink the oppressed and suppressed community goes on," said Sivanesan angrily.

"Education, schools and places of worships are the fundamental rights of every Malaysian citizen but how come such issues are only highlighted when each time a election comes along ? he asked.

"There is also talk now that Umno members want Malay majority voter areas to be given only to Umno representatives and not to members of the BN component parties as was the practice in the past," added Sivanesan.

As to the recent BN propaganda on the electronic control media in run-up to the Bagan Pinang by-election, that Pakatan is the cause of the Kampung Buah Pala tragedy, Sivanesan said rational thinking people will know that it was the BN government that decommissioned the Brown Estate Trust(present Kampung Buah Pala) and took control of the site to be later sold to a co-operative at a give-away price by BN and Gerakan state government.

▲

Dr M believes a weak BN will not benefit Malays

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani - The Malaysian Insider

PETALING JAYA, Oct 10 — Former Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad admitted today that Barisan National (BN) is weak and…

More ► More ▼

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani - The Malaysian Insider

PETALING JAYA, Oct 10 — Former Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad admitted today that Barisan National (BN) is weak and Umno has failed the Malay community.

“Today Umno is weak, MCA is weak, Gerakan is weak, MIC is weak and because of that Barisan Nasional is weak. And when Barisan Nasional becomes weak, the Barisan Nasional government will be weak.

“A weak government will not be able to bring benefit to us,” he told party members at a function organized by Umno’s Petaling Jaya Selatan division.

Dr Mahathir asserted that Umno leaders were now preoccupied with personal interests instead of that of the community’s.

“This is the situation that we face today because we only emphasize personal interests rather the interest of race, religion and country.

“What we forget is that when our race is successful, a small group of us will also benefit. It is not possible for one race to be successful but their people not to get any benefits,” he said.

Dr Mahathir added that the people are no longer scared of Umno and BN.

“Back then when there was an election, our party will get two thirds of parliamentary seats and when we get two thirds majority, our strength is very strong so that we can if we wanted to amend the constitution.

“When we are strong, people will not dare to challenge us, people will not dare to make harsh statements that will raise tension among the different races,” he said.

The former prime minister pointed out that Malaysians no longer respected the government and had no fear of the law.

“Now it seems that nobody cares about the law because they assume that this is a weak government and the government cannot do anything.

“If they all break the law, what is the government going to do? And the government also knows that they cannot do anything. If they arrest anyone, tomorrow they will have to release them because of pressure,” he said.

Dr Mahathir also took the opportunity to lash out at his handpicked successor Tun Abdullah Badawi.

“Because he only prioritized himself, his family and he is involved in corruption so all of his family are involved in corruption. So today we can see that almost everything was destroyed when he became prime minister for five years,” he said.

Dr Mahathir said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak now has to compromise with the demands of different races because of the weak coalition he inherited from Abdullah.

“He is forced to entertain demands from other races. He now has to take from one race to give another race but this will not add support to the government.

“If we have to take what is rightful from one race to give to another race because we want to get support then we might get the support from this race but will certainly lose support from the other race,” he explained.

Tun Dr Mahathir also took a jab at Pakatan Rakyat and accused them of pretending to be “more liberal.”

“They encourage public discussion of sensitive issues which have caused tension among the races. The friendship and cooperation of the different races in the past no longer exists.

“Not only that but support for the ruling party which has been successful in developing the country has declined due to false accusations made by Pakatan Rakyat saying that we do not fight for the rights of our people,” he said.

▲

MCA showdown: Blow to both Ong, Chua - Malaysiakini

In a dramatic vote at today's MCA extraordinary general meeting, party delegates dealt a blow to both feuding leaders - party chief Ong Tee Keat and his suspended deputy, Dr…

More ► More ▼

In a dramatic vote at today's MCA extraordinary general meeting, party delegates dealt a blow to both feuding leaders - party chief Ong Tee Keat and his suspended deputy, Dr Chua Soi Lek.

Ong lost the vote of no-confidence against him while suspended Chua was reinstated as a party member but not as the deputy president.

The 2,304 party delegates effectively ended Ong's presidency - eight days short of a year since he took over as party chief - by passing a motion of no confidence against his leadership with a tissue-thin majority of 14 votes.

The margin was so close that a recount was ordered.

The delegates also voted to reinstate Chua as a full party member with a majority of 109 votes, but at the same time voted against bringing him back as party deputy president with a smaller majority.

The unprecedented results mean that the shadowy Third Force has prevailed in getting rid of both leaders.

The Third Force, which is not aligned to the two factions, has ostentiously paved the way for new leaders to take over the party.

"In the event that both are voted out, two members of the central committee would be appointed to replace them while their positions (in the CC) will be filled by ordinary party members," said MCA secretary-general Wong Foon Meng.

According to Wong, who is aligned to Ong, based on today's EGM results, Chua is now an ordinary member and no longer deputy president.

As for whether Ong should step down, Wong said that the CC would make a decision on the matter.

When pressed on whether Ong is still party president, he said: “It will be decided by the CC.”

It was later announced that the CC will meet on Oct 15.

Meanwhile, Ong supporters argued that there was no need for their leader to quit as a two-third majority is needed to remove the party president under the MCA constitution.

The results of the three resolutions are:

1) Motion of no confidence against Ong

For: 1,155
Against: 1,141
Spoilt votes: 8

Majority: 14

2) To annul the party's decision to expel/suspend Chua

For: 1,204
Against: 1,095
Spoilt votes:5

Majority: 109

3) To reinstate Chua as MCA deputy president

Against: 1,184
For: 1,110
Spoilt votes: 10

Majority: 74

Will Ong quit as MCA chief?

Ong and a number of the CC leaders entered vote-counting hall just before the results were announced.

The delegates, and supporters of both factions who had packed the San Choon Hall in the party's headquarters in Wisma MCA since 2 pm, erupted into cheers and boos soon after hearing the result.

After the announcement, Ong went up to the 9th floor of the building where he held a press conference.

Flanked by his key supporters including vice-president Liow Tiong Lai, Ong appeared a little disappointed but calm.

Asked whether he was shocked by the results, he said: "I'm still what I'm, did you see any expression of shock?"

"From Day One since we determined to resolve party crisis through the EGM, this is it, and we accept the decision."

As if hinting that the battle may not be over, Ong added the matter of the EGM vote still needs to be brought up for discussion in the central committee and presidential council.

Meanwhile, Chua is believed to be in a nearby hotel. His supporters are demanding new party elections to resolve the crisis.

In a brief two-sentence press statement issued 90 minutes later, he thanked the party delegates for their support in reinstating him as MCA member.

"I accept the decisions made by all central delegates and I hope that the MCA central leadership will respect decisions made by the central delegates in the MCA EGM."

He is apparently suggesting that Ong should step down as party president after losing the motion of no confidence against him.

No need for two-third majority to 'boot me out'

Ong has previously vowed to resign should he fail to get the backing from the delegates.

"The first resolution, the vote of no confidence, we know that a simple majority once carried, I will be left with no choice but to bow out and step down," he told the Star in a Sept 19 interview.

"Anyone who argues that I do not need to do so, that only a two-third majority is required to boot me out, I think that is a great lie.,"

Ong also argued that the 22-member presidential council (PC), which include top ministers, should quit as well.

"If he (Chua) were to be reinstated by a simple majority, this tantamounts to casting a vote of no confidence against the entire PC.

"If this were to happen, then by democratic principle, the whole lot would have to go, the entire PC, as it was a collective decision and not a one-man decision."

Deja vu for MCA

This is not the first time that MCA is facing a leadership crisis.

In 2002, the party was also involved in a leadership tussle between its then president, Ling Liong Sik, and his deputy, Lim Ah Lek, over the purchase of Nanyang Press Holding Berhad.

The crisis caused both leaders to step down and they were replaced by Ong Ka Ting as president and Chan Kong Choy as the deputy.

Today's EGM decisions may open another front in the proxy war between the Ong and Chua camps as they may now start to line up their allies and supporters to fill the void.

▲

Will it be the end of it?

My SinChew (Used by permission)

The decisive battle of MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and suspended Deputy President Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek will be held on 10…

More ► More ▼

My SinChew (Used by permission)

The decisive battle of MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and suspended Deputy President Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek will be held on 10 Oct.

It is pointless to say anything now. Only the central delegates' votes will determine the fate of Ong and Chua, as well as the future of MCA.

The option of reconciliation has been denied during the muckraking party struggle.

The Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) has nothing to do with national or racial issues. Instead, it is a personal fight. The central delegates need only to decide whether to keep Ong or Dr Chua, or sack them both. It is just as simple as that.

To put it simple, a great man cannot brook a rival.

The central delegates must make a decision.

After touring around the countries these days, Ong has lost weight while Dr Chua has turned gaunt.

"It is definitely possible for them to win the party election, but lose the people's support."

It is a political mobilisation that involves all the party members. Inevitably, the two confronting factions criticise and muckrake each other.

Sadly, instead of revealing the truth, they have shown us the terror of political cannibalism through mutual destruction and the life or death battle.

Will the battle really end on 10 Oct?

For MCA, its future is unclear regardless who will be the winner and who is the loser.

Wise MCA central delegates should understand that the party's internal contradictions will not automatically disappear after the EGM. Instead, it may be the start of another unpredictable disaster. If that is the case, the future of MCA will be in greater danger.

In fact, the future of MCA relies on the Chinese community. If the Chinese community no longer trusts MCA, it will be all in vain no matter how sincere Ong pledges or how impassioned Dr Chua is.

The fact is, readers have been tired of the overwhelming news coverage of the party crisis. Some even see is as a farce.

It is definitely possible for them to win the party election, but lose the people's support.

Therefore, it is going to be a more difficult task to restore the people's support compared to reintegrate the party after the EGM.

Of course, nothing is impossible for politics. Another confrontation expected after the EGM may dramatically end up in reconciliation.

It is not impossible to see the confronting factions to put on a smile and temporarily put aside their grudges for their own political needs and the next general elections (the best rhetoric will be for the future of the party, as well as the Chinese community).

After all, they need to know when to advance and when to retreat, as well as when to compromise in order to go further.

In fact, most of the politicians are not lack of strategy. Instead, they are lack of tolerance and the ability to have self-reflection. They always think that they can bring unity to a party, society and country as long as they have eradicated dissidents. In fact, the more they wish to unite “all of the same colour” and intolerable with the slightest differences, the more likely they will create split.

If they are not able to tolerate, they will keep on fighting with each other! (By LIM MUN FAH/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)

▲

Fitnah RM3 bilion

Dari Sinar Harian

Polis perlu juga siasat pemimpin BN yang punya ‘kekayaan melampau’

PORT DICKSON – Penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sedia disiasat berhubung dakwaan mempunyai…

More ► More ▼

Dari Sinar Harian

Polis perlu juga siasat pemimpin BN yang punya ‘kekayaan melampau’

PORT DICKSON – Penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sedia disiasat berhubung dakwaan mempunyai simpanan sebanyak RM3 bilion seperti mana didedahkan bekas Penolong Gabenor Bank Negara, Datuk Abdul Murad Khalid beberapa tahun lalu.

Anwar yang juga Ketua UMUM Pakatan Rakyat (PR) berkata, beliau tidak gentar dengan dakwaan itu, tetapi mahu siasatan turut dijalankan terhadap beberapa pemimpin Barisan Nasional (BN) yang memiliki ‘kekayaan melampau’

“Sila siasat, saya tidak takut, saya juga minta diwujudkan satu suruhanjaya bebas untuk menyiasat kesemua harta yang hilang secara bebas termasuklah siasatan terhadap diri Khairy (Ketua Pemuda UMNO) sendiri terutamanya.

“Fitnah ini dibuat sejak 1998 lagi tetapi sehingga sekarang mereka tidak boleh membuktikan apa-apa pun,” katanya kepada Sinar Harian selepas menghadiri program bersama masyarakat India di Estet Sua Betong di sini, semalam.

Ahli Parlimen Permatang Pauh itu turut menolak dakwaan Khairy bahawa beliau memiliki simpanan dalam beberapa ‘master accounts’ dan pernah disiasat Badan Pencegahan Rasuah (BPR) tetapi tidak menemui sebarang bukti.

“Selama 11 tahun dakwaan seperti ini dibuat, saya tidak takut kerana saya tidak bersalah, yang perlu berasa takut adalah Khairy sebab beliau mampu mengumpul kekayaan sehingga beratus-ratus juta, di mana beliau dapat kekayaan tersebut?” katanya.

Khairy sebelum ini meminta polis menyiasat Anwar susulan kenyataan Datuk S Nallakarupan yang mendakwa Anwar mempunyai pelbagai sumber kewangan yang besar seperti mana didedahkan Abdul Murad Khalid dalam kenyataan pada tahun 1999.

Diminta mengulas peluang calon Pas, Zulkefly Mohd Omar memenangi pilihan raya kecil Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Bagan Pinang, Anwar yakin dapat menembusi kubu kuat BN kerana sokongan yang ditunjukkan pengundi di situ amat baik sekali.

Sila lihat laporan ini:

PKR cabar Khairy, Kamaluddin isytiharkan harta

▲

Indian Community Will Not Be Sidelined

SERDANG, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- The Indian community in the country will not be sidelined in any development by the government because they are Malaysians and will…

More ► More ▼

SERDANG, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- The Indian community in the country will not be sidelined in any development by the government because they are Malaysians and will always be given priority, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said on Saturday.

The prime minister said Malaysia was a fortunate country because it was blessed with all sorts of riches and the Indian community, like the other communities in the country, had contributed to this wealth.

He said the early arrival of the Indians in the then Malaya as estate workers and their direct involvement in building the railway tracks had greatly helped in developing the country.

"So it's only fair that we give the Indian community their dues. We will give the Malays what they should have, we will give the Chinese what they should have and we will give the Indians what they should have. This is the government's intention," he said when launching Parti Makkal Sakti Malaysia here.

He said the government under his administration would always be guided by the 1Malaysia philosophy when drawing up programmes that would do justice to all strata of the society.

In this matter, he said, various measures had been implemented to raise the social and educational status of the Indian community, including raising the status of Tamil primary schools and increasing the percentage of Indian workers in the public sector.

"We have done a lot for the Indian community, like giving an allocation of over RM100 million recently to raise the status of Tamil schools, RM15 million for the economic fund for small businesses to provide micro-credit for the Indian community, 15 per cent allocation in the Amanah Saham 1Malaysia and training 2,635 Indian youths in various skills.

"The latest is that the government will build a 1Malaysia hostel for students of all races to live together and be sent to the best schools in the Klang Valley, especially those in Kuala Lumpur," he added.

All these marked the start of the aid for the Indian community which would continue as long as they were willing to help and support the government, he said.

This was a promise that he would fulfil as a prime minister who was guided by the principle of justice for everyone, he added.

Najib also said that the best way to help the Indian community was by cooperating with and supporting the government of the day, not be holding street demonstrations or gatherings.

"The best way is to cooperate with the government through Makkal Sakti and we can sit down to discuss what needs to be done. This is the best way to build the future, to make the country strong, successful and respected," he said.

▲