Hentikan menyalahkan komuniti lain atas prestasi buruk BN, kata Pak Lah

OLEH CLARA CHOOI

KUALA LUMPUR, 8 Mei — Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi hari ini menggesa agar semua percubaan untuk membangkitkan sentimen perkauman dihentikan yang menyalahkan komuniti tertentu di atas prestasi buruk Barisan Nasional (BN) di peti undi Ahad lalu.

"Ini tidak adil dan tidak membantu," katanya dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.

Bekas perdana menteri (gambar) yang meletakkan jawatan untuk memberi laluan kepada Datuk Seri Najib Razak pada 2009 selepas BN hilang majoriti tradisi dua pertiga di bawah kepimpinannya, bersetuju keputusan pilihan raya Ahad lalu memerlukan negara untuk melakukan perdamaian dan perpaduan nasional.

Beliau juga menggesa pembangkang menerima dan menghormati keputusan pilihan raya, walaupun mereka kalah dengan majoriti tipis dan mendakwa penipuan dan kesalahan pilihan raya besar-besaran dalam proses Pilihan Raya 2013.

"Rakyat Malaysia berhak untuk kestabilan dan kepastian yang hanya boleh dicapai dengan semua pihak menerima keputusan pilihan raya ini," katanya dalam mesej kepada pembangkang.

"Mari kita bergerak ke hadapan untuk kepentingan rakyat Malaysia."

Gun attack in Thailand's south leaves six dead

 A note left at the scene did not identify the group behind the attack

Six people, including a young child, have been killed in southern Thailand after a gun attack at a village shop, police say.


At least four gunmen fired bullets at the shop in Pattani province before escaping on motorbikes.

The attack comes days after a second round of peace talks between Muslim separatists and the Thai government.

More than 5,000 people have been killed since a separatist insurgency reignited in the Muslim-majority region in 2004.

A toddler was among those killed in the attack on Wednesday night. Another man was also injured, according to reports. All those killed were believed to be Buddhists.

A note left at the scene did not identify the group behind the attack, but said it was in retaliation for the deaths of some of their fellow members.

That may have been a reference to events nearly three months ago when 16 insurgents were killed during an attempt to overrun a Thai military base, says the BBC's Jonah Fisher in Bangkok.

This attack casts further doubt on the recently started peace process between the Thai government and one separatist rebel group, the BRN, our correspondent adds.

Two rounds of talks have been held in Malaysia. At the most recent last week, Thai negotiators urged rebel leaders to demonstrate their credibility by reducing attacks.

Thailand is a Buddhist-majority country, but Muslims are the majority in the three southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.

Muslim militants, who are fighting for greater autonomy, are believed to carry out the almost daily gun and bomb attacks against civilians and security forces in the area.

Thousands gather at Suara Rakyat rally

More than 100,000 people gathered at the stadium to hear Pakatan Rakyat leaders' post-general election ceramah.

PETALING JAYA: In a show of defiance, over 100,000 people gathered at the Stadium MBPJ in Kelana Jaya tonight to protest against the ‘stolen’ elections by the “illegitimate BN government”.

The crowd cheered and chanted to the cries made by every Pakatan Rakyat leader in attendance, led PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim.

Leader after leader repeated the now oft-heard cry of ‘Ubah’ and ‘Ini Kali lah’, only to be cheered loudly by the crowd which had overflowed the stadium.

A steady downpour and a massive traffic jam did not deter them from coming out in droves to support Anwar and Pakatan.

Present as of 9pm were PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli, party vice president Chua Jui Meng and Nurul Izzah Anwar, DAP’s Ronnie Liu and many others.

Starting the ceramah session, Rafizi said that he warned PM Najib Tun Razak and Utusan Malaysia not to victimise the Chinese community.

“Don’t you dare victimise the Chinese or you shall face the wrath of Malays,” he said.

He also promised that Pakatan leaders would devote their time to find the people responsible for “stealing” the election away from the people.

“We will find and expose them. From the Election Commission (EC) officers to the bus drivers that ferry the foreigners, all of them,” said Rafizi, to the thunderous applause of the thousands.

Anwar meanwhile said that Najib was leading an illegal government as his victory was the result of massive cheating.

FULL STORY TOMORROW

Take the blame, MIC leadership told

Embattled Palanivel meanwhile found an ally in his vice president Saravanan who urged detractors to stop attacking the president.
UPDATED

PETALING JAYA: The current MIC leadership, led by president G Palanivel, should take full responsibility over the party’s dismal election result, a renowned political analysts said today.

“It must be the current MIC party leadership (to take responsibility over the poor results). The tsumani is an urban one and many (MIC) seats were lost with big majorities and in a number of cases to Indian MPs from the opposition.

“In five parliamentary constituencies MIC candidates met Indian candidates from the opposition. These seats are Sungai Siput, Tapah (both in Perak), Cameron Highlands (Pahang), Subang and Kapar (Selangor). Out of the five, MIC only won two — Cameron Highlands and Tapah.

“It must be noted that as in 2008, there are more opposition Indian MPs in parliament compared to MIC’s representation.

“In light of the national shift in the urban voting, it might have been difficult for MIC to capture the urban seats with very new professional candidates. This is an overall issues faced by MCA and Gerakan,” Dr Denison Jayasooria of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia told FMT.

Jayasooria was the former director of Yayasan Strategik Sosial, the social arm and think tank of the MIC.

MIC contested nine parliamentary and 18 state seats in this election. It only managed to win four parliamentary and five state seats, making it the party’s worst electoral performance in its history.

Attracting urban Indians

On the future for the party, which boasts to have 630,000 Indians under its wings, Jayasooria said the party must now review its membership and repair party image to appeal more to urban Indians.

“There has to be dramatic changes at the division levels of the party to identify younger people to take leadership in the party. MIC must win back the confidence of not just Indians but also other communities such as Chinese and Malays.

“One major task is to establish some effective delivery and monitoring teams for the delivery of the BN election promises made in the BN manifesto. The document of promise with Hindraf must be implemented effectively.

“MIC must also engage with the community through direct dialogues and dissemination of information…it is necessary to be transparent of all funds received and disbursed,” he added.

He said it was time for the party to do some soul searching and have meetings with all Indian civil society and community groups.

The party, he said, must make itself relevant even if it requires MIC to formulate new aims and objectives.

Pick sensible leaders

MIC must also have frequent consultation with other BN friendly organisations not only on politics but also culture and religion, he added.

“The PM has been more inclusive and responsive to different Indian groups. MIC could play a key role by working with others as equal partners,” he added.

He said since the party is due for its internal elections, party leaders and members must make a sensible choice in picking credible leaders who deliver.

“It is up to party members to determine who should lead the party and who should form the central working committee. The MIC general assembly must take into account the changing political situation in Malaysia and reorganise itself early in time for the 14th general election

“There must be some major review of new people at all levels at the national, divisional and local levels. In addition there must be a review of the youth, women and other sections of the MIC,” he added.

Saravanan defends MIC chief



In another development, MIC vice-president M Saravanan has defended Palanivel who is facing fresh calls for him to relinquish his post from various MIC leaders and members.

Saravanan said it was unfair to ask Palanivel to vacate the position “just because something does not go according to plan.”

“The call asking Palanivel to step down was made because MIC fared badly in the general election. This is unfair. If a party president is changed just because the party runs into trouble, then there will be no continuity.

“Every political party needs continuity for it to be stable. I am not saying members can’t criticise but we have to be fair in our criticism. In this case, Palanivel deserves a chance. He has been president for barely four years,” he told FMT.

Yesterday, former Pahang MIC Youth chief CK Chandran told FMT that Palanivel should take responsibility over the party’s dismal performance at the just concluded general election and resign the party post although he has been elected as a member of parliament.

He had said Palanivel should be blamed for the party’s lethargic performance in the polls.

Chandran had also called on the prime minister not to give any cabinet position for Palanivel.

Responding to this, Saravanan said cabinet positions were the prerogative of the prime minister.

“It is the same with the ministerial positions. It is in the hands of the prime minister who is also the BN chief. So let time take its course and not put undue pressure on the PM with demands. He will know what to do,” said Saravanan.

Don’t blame the Chinese, says Dr Subra

The MIC deputy president says voters have the right to choose and this must be respected.

PUTRAJAYA: MIC deputy president Dr S Subramaniam today said the Chinese should not be called racist for voting against Barisan Nasional.

The Segamat MP told a press conference that the community merely switched their support from BN to Pakatan Rakyat.

“Taking their support to PKR and PAS into account, it is crystal clear that the Chinese are not racist,” he told reporters here.

“Before this, they backed the Malay candidates in BN but this time, they decided to support the Malays in PKR and PAS,” he added.

Subramaniam claimed it was similar to 2008, where the Indian community rejected BN which caused the coalition to lose four states and its two third majority in parliament.

According to him, the Chinese community are the decision makers in 165 parliament and state seats where all these seats comprise more than 40% Chinese voters.

“It is really sad to know that from the total of 165 seats, 96% was won by the Pakatan coalition and the remaining 4% was clinched by BN,” he said

“But, we have to accept reality. It was their right to choose. And it is not right to blame them for voting the opposition,” he added.

‘Don’t reject Cabinet posts’

Subramaniam also suggested that MCA and Gerakan should hold a roundtable meeting with prominent Chinese-based NGOs to identify the community’s problems and their anger against the BN government.

He also expressed concern on MCA’s decision not to take up any government posts.

“They must not leave the Cabinet. This is the time for them to fight and win back the hearts of the Chinese,” he added.

Subramaniam claimed that the lack of Chinese support was one of the main reasons that MIC failed to achieve its target.

“Originally, party president G Palanivel’s target was to win at least seven parliament and 15 to 16 state seats. But, we ended up with four parliament and five state seats only,” he said.

MIC maintained its four parliament seats but lost two additional state seats – Sabai in Pahang and Puteri Wangsa in Johor.

Six held over alleged riot

150 arrests are expected over the detention of a bus said to be transporting phantom voters.

PETALING JAYA: Police have arrested six Klang residents over an alleged attack on a bus believed to be carrying foreigners to a voting station in Pandamaran on polling day last Sunday.

They have been released on bail and Klang MP Charles Santiago told a press conference he would be helping them defend themselves.

Santiago said he expected many more arrests over the incident, in which a large group of local residents allegedly threw objects at a bus, forced it to a stop and told the passengers to leave it.

It was reported that police eventually escorted the bus and its passengers to the Pandamaran police station.

The six men, aged between 20 and 25, are being investigated for alleged rioting under Section 148 of the Penal Code.

Police have an arrest warrant for another individual who is out of town, according to Santiago.

“As far as I know, it wasn’t a riot,” Santiago said. “The people of Malaysia were just fighting for clean and fair elections, but the police claim it was an illegal gathering.

“Police have said they are going to make 150 arrests linked to this incident. I think this is really absurd.”

Santiago accused the police of trying to instil fear in the public. He said they should instead be using their resources to reduce the crime rate around Klang.

“The OCPD has been informed of the high crime rates in Klang. They say they don’t have enough manpower, but are yet able to make these arrests within 24 hours.

“These young men did not hurt anyone. They were only protecting democracy.”

Santiago demanded that the police explain what action they had taken against the suspected phantom voters and the organiser of the bus trip.

“They have the responsibility to clarify what actions they took. They need to tell us if a police report has been made and if they have been produced in court.

“They also have to explain why those foreigners were given police protection and escorted away.”

He said he would wait 48 hours for the police to explain what they had found out about the alleged foreigners on the bus.

Analysts: Indians have found no place in Pakatan

Political observers have attributed the swing in Indian votes back to the BN to perceived uncertainty about the community's place within PR.

PETALING JAYA (May 8): Political observers have attributed the swing in Indian votes back to the BN in the 13th general election to perceived uncertainty about the community's place within Pakatan Rakyat.

The Opposition found itself stumbling badly in rural constituencies with high numbers of Indian voters, suffering setbacks in a number of seats.

KS Balakrishnan, a political analyst with Universiti Malaya, noted that BN attracted 60% of Indian votes this time round although Pakatan still retained its hardcore Indian supporters.

Balakrishnan put the swing down to the absence of the anger that had driven Indians away from the BN in 2008 and the community's exclusion from Pakatan's manifesto.

"Pakatan doesn't have anything for the Indians but it isn't brave enough to admit that aloud," he said. "It is living its own myopic idea of democracy by trying to accommodate Islam while promoting liberalism".

He said that if Pakatan truly championed liberal democracy, then it would be critical of PAS' concept of an Islamic state.

"But it dares not say that there is no place for religion in politics otherwise it will lose the support of the people and possibly a coalition member," Balakrishnan said.

Monash University's well-known political analyst, James Chin, observed that the Indians are more forgiving and less united as a community, compared to the other ethnic groups.

He pointed out that unlike the Chinese who had DAP veteran and newly-elected Gelang Patah MP, Lim Kit Siang, as their iconic leader, the Indians had no one to rally behind.

"They can't even call Hindraf their leader anymore," Chin said. "The moment (Hindraf chairman P) Waythamoorthy signed that (Memorandum of Understanding) with BN, the ground was polarised. The Indians have no middle ground anymore".

Waythamoorthy inked the MoU with BN on April 18 to signal BN's commitment to uplifting the Indian community.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was seen as making a stronger effort to engage the Indian community with the BN manifesto when he set up a special unit to oversee Indian affairs.

Some of the concessions agreed to by Najib are believed to have come from Hindraf's five-year blueprint.

"What is important to see now is whether Najib will keep to his promise to roll out the concessions in that blueprint and if Waytha is appointed to head the special unit," Chin said.

"If he doesn't get that job then it is obvious that Najib has made a fool of him," he said.

Chin also observed that Najib could be judged on how serious he was about bringing the nation forward by the size of his new Cabinet line-up.

"A smaller Cabinet means Najib is serious about getting things done," he stated. "Status quo or a bigger Cabinet means he isn't. The bigger the Cabinet, the more deputy ministers and the more political patronage."

Another political analyst has called for cooler heads to prevail in aftermath of the GE13 and to restrain from inciting further anger and hatred.

Allegations of electoral fraud have prompted Pakatan leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to call for a rally tonight in a bid to reform the country's electoral system.

Independent political observer Khoo Kay Peng has however cautioned that the rally would not be an absolution of the alleged offences, nor would it change the election results.

"It will make people even angrier," he said. "What is more important is for Pakatan to produce evidence in order to prove the claims of irregularities. Already reports are surfacing that some of the allegations are untrue".

One such allegation is of a blackout at the Bentong Municipal Council building, which was the counting centre for the Bentong parliamentary seat and four state seats.

People posting on social networking sites had claimed that the blackout resulted in an extra ballot box being introduced and the eventual defeat of DAP candidate Wong Tack to caretaker Health minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai.

However journalists and DAP's Ketari assemblyman, Lee Chin Chen, have refuted these claims.

"We are moving towards a tipping point and Pakatan should not incite more anger and hatred among its supporters towards BN and the Election Commission," Khoo said. "Otherwise where is it going to end?"

There was no blackout says DAP

The Star - Ketari DAP assemblyman Lee Chin Chen has condemned those using social networking sites to spread allegations of a blackout during tallying of votes on Sunday.

Lee said those responsible should stop spreading such allegations and advised the public against believing the purported incident.

“None of our aides or myself are involved in sending out any SMSes or uploading the incident of a blackout in the tallying centre.

“This is not the work of the DAP and I urge the police to investigate the matter,” he said.

Lee said that besides him, there were many other officials including police personnel and journalists who could verify the actual situation.

He said that together with several aides, they arrived at the centre at about 9pm and left after 2am on Monday.

“The returning officer announced the winners for the state seats shortly after midnight and at about 1.30am, the result of the parliamentary constituency.

“There was definitely no blackout and I would like to reiterate that neither the party nor I had anything to do with stories of the alleged incident spread by certain quarters,” he said.

However, Lee said the DAP might file a petition against the results for the parliamentary seat due to other irregularities such as phantom voters but not on the incident of a blackout.

Meanwhile, Bentong OCPD Supt Mansor Mohd Nor said he was present during the entire process and there was no blackout.

“We will look into the matter if there is a report lodged against those spreading such allegations in social websites.

“The public should not believe such allegations as it could cause uneasiness and tension among the voters,” he said.

‘Stop blaming one community for BN’s bad performance’

Abdullah agreed that following Sunday’s polls results, there was a pressing need for the country to undergo the process of national reconciliation and unity. - File pic
KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today demanded a stop to all attempts at racialising last Sunday’s polls by blaming a particular community for Barisan Nasional’s (BN) poor showing at the ballot boxes.

“This is unfair and unhelpful,” he said in a statement here.

The former prime minister, who stepped down in favour of Datuk Seri Najib Razak in 2009 after he led BN to lose its coveted two-thirds parliamentary majority in Election 2008, agreed that following Sunday’s polls results, there was a pressing need for the country to undergo the process of national reconciliation and unity.

He also called on the opposition to accept and respect the election results, despite the fact that they had lost by slim majorities amid claims of fraud and widespread irregularities in the polling process.

“Malaysians deserve stability and certainty that can only come with finality and closure from this election,” he said in his message to the opposition.

“Let us move on in the interest of all Malaysians.”

The just-concluded Election 2013 saw the ruling BN pact recapture federal power but with an even slimmer majority than in Election 2008, polling only 133 seats to Pakatan Rakyat’s 89 in the 222-seat Parliament.

It had been a nail-biting race from start to finish between both powerful pacts and although BN emerged the winner, the vote trend that saw a large majority of the Chinese community backing PR has sparked a mini racial war between those across the political divide.

In his first response at the close of the polls, Najib termed the results a “Chinese tsunami”, even saying that if not handled carefully, the nation could see days of unrest ahead.

He mooted the idea for national reconciliation, saying efforts to unite the country through the introduction of fair and moderate policies were necessary to ensure Malaysia maintains its stability.

But in defiance of the prime minister’s words, analysts and opposition leaders disagreed with Najib’s reading of the election results, pointing out that PR had won the popular vote by a signficant 51.4 per cent to BN’s 48.6 per cent.

They said that this showed that it had not merely been a “Chinese tsunami” that caused BN to bleed seat but a massive swing in the urban and middle-class electorate towards the federal opposition.

The analysts also said that despite the clear increase in Chinese support for PR, the political tsunami had also swept with it “large numbers of the Malays”, many among them forming part of the country’s middle- to upper-class voters.

Adding salt to an alreay festering wound, Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia published on its front page yesterday an article headlined “Apa lagi Cina mahu? (What else do the Chinese want?)”, a phrase which has turned viral in the internet’s social sphere.

The newspaper came immediately under fire and angry netizens and politicians across the political divide railed against Najib and Umno for allowing the media to run riot with such incendiary headlines.

But despite the criticisms, Najib came to the paper’s defence yesterday and even appeared to blame the DAP, claiming the predominantly Chinese opposition party had misled the Chinese into greater racial polarisation by making them think that voting the party would lead to a change of government.

“You blamed Utusan but you don’t ask about the Chinese papers,” Najib told a press conference when asked how is he to achieve national reconciliation if Utusan kept harping on race issues.

He did not say what was objectionable in the Chinese-language newspapers.

Joining Najib, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he was shocked BN’s poor performance in Election 2013, and laid the blame on ‘ungrateful’ Chinese and ‘greedy’ Malay voters.

Press Release: There should be No Space for Racist Rhetoric in Malaysia

 This item has been updated since initial publication.

The Malaysian Bar is troubled by the racially-charged comments reported in the media in connection with the recently concluded federal and state elections.  Such divisive rhetoric has the effect of demonising Malaysians by virtue of their race, fostering ill will, and causing disharmony and disunity, and is a potential precursor of conflict.  This is wholly irresponsible and should have no place in Malaysian politics and public discourse.   

We ask that the Prime Minister show leadership for the country, and we welcome his call for national reconciliation.  As a nation we must move away from racial divides; instead, we should emphasise commonalities and promote a shared Malaysian identity. 

Malaysian leaders should not resort to reprehensible and dangerous gimmicks as a convenient camouflage for perceived weaknesses or shortcomings, or as comfort for disappointments.  Only those bereft of ideas and leadership abilities would resort to such tactics.  It serves no good purpose, but only self-interest, to speak of and emphasise the elections results along racial lines. Former leaders should retire graciously and gracefully, and refrain from expressing views that serve to fracture rather than build the nation.  They should strive to nurture peace.  Spewing venom and spreading discord must not be the Malaysian way, and right-thinking Malaysians must reject such practices.

The media also have a responsibility to refrain from writing and publishing articles that would foment racial discord.  Whether as politicians, journalists, bloggers or netizens, those who participate in the public sphere should exercise freedom of expression responsibly and respectfully.  Our leaders must not, and should not be seen to, endorse the publication and dissemination of racist messages.  Ultimately, it was Malaysians who were substantially the electors.  

The Malaysian Bar commends the police for their prompt response and action in investigating such publications, in particular their investigations of a national newspaper for its publication on 7 May 2013 and of comments on blogs.

 

Christopher Leong

President

Malaysian Bar

Khaled Expected To Be Sworn In As Johor MB Next Week

JOHOR BAHARU, May 8 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin is expected to be sworn in as the Johor menteri besar next week after getting the consent of the Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar Wednesday.

The newly elected Permas assemblyman confirmed this after an audience with the Sultan at Istana Pasir Pelangi here during which they discussed the date of the oath of office of the menteri besar as well as the state executive council line-up.

Speaking to reporters later, Khaled said Sultan Ibrahim told him to go over the state executive councillors list before having another audience to present the line-up again.

"In Johor, the menteri besar swearing in is held together with that of the state executive councillors. So, this will take some time. I will finalise the list this week," said Mohamed Khaled.

Present were Johor Council of Royal Court secretary Datuk Abdul Rahim Ramli and State Secretary Datuk Obet Tawil.

Mohamed Khaled said the 10-member Johor executive council would be made up of seven Umno assemblymen, two from MCA and one from MIC.

However, he said, he would have to consult the MCA over the party's representation since it had decided not to accept any position in the federal or state governments following its dismal performance in the just concluded 13th general election.

Mohamed Khaled said Sultan Ibrahim wanted the state executive councillors to be made up of assemblymen who could work and think in the interests of the people of Johor to enable them (people) to get the best service possible.

On the strong presence of the opposition in the state assembly, he said there was nothing to be afraid of if BN assemblymen carried out their responsibility to the best of their ability.

The BN retained Johor with a two-thirds majority by clinching 38 out of 56 state seats while the opposition secured 18 seats, 14 of them from the DAP, three (PAS) and one (PKR).