Floods, Hudud and Whatever!

Idealistic Malaysians still cannot see how Pakatan Rakayt leaders have an unholy and disunited coalition their forced marriage of convenience – a mockery of the word ‘Pakatan’.

Never before has it being as glaringly clear as it is today that DAP, PAS and PKR have their own agendas and never have they agreed to disagree or to find middle ground.

The country is now facing floods in many areas and the status quo are trying their best to help the rakyat as effectively as they can but all Pakatan Rakyat leaders can do is to hide behind their party flag and condemn the government and worse still, condemn their supposed partners in PR as well.

Lim Kit Siang was born with one mission – to spew filth and to deride anyone who is not on his side.

Donning the thickest blinkers ever created, Lim Kit Siang has bungled big time with his senseless tweet about KLIA2 and despite facing the wrath of netizens, has continued his merry way to castigate anyone but his own party members.

As long as anything can put the status quo in bad light, LKS will jump at the opportunity to make baseless accusations, which supporters will cling to as if it were messages from heaven.

Today, LKS amplified the problems in Manek Urai, Dabong, Kuala Krai and many other places in the east coast. At no point in time, has Lim Kit Siang or his party leaders ever outlined or announced what DAP has done for flood victims. No and NEVER. They are NOT concerned about the victims.

Their main concern is two-fold – magnify the problem and to accuse the government of doing nothing or to put the Prime Minister and his leaders in very negative light.

DAP specializes in SPINNING myths and distorting reality via misperceptions. They are experts in diverting attention from real problems that DAP is facing – such as how they are losing the hudud war against PAS and how Chinese will finally realize that DAP is ever ready to make friends or enemies as long as they can reap benefits and mileage.

For example, when the CEC issue exploded and DAP faced the prospects of being deregistered, they were ready to contest under the PAS flag. DAP even convinced Chinese voters to support PAS using the rationale that PAS would not forge ahead with its hudud plan. In addition, what have we today?

PAS has announced its hudud amendment in Kelantan on Dec 29 and there has been little news about what it is doing in Kelantan for the flood victims.

In that respect, PAS and DAP are similar – both are not concerned about the rakyat, only about themselves. Both are ready to be friends today and enemies tomorrow whenever it suits them.

PAS is not ashamed that Kelantan is one of the poorest states in Malaysia nor are they worried about imposing gender segregation or how tourism and investments in the state have been dwindling.

As for PKR, where was the Kajang adun Dr. Wan Azizah when the flood broke out and what has she done since?

Conveniently, Lim Kit Siang chose to keep a holy silence about this because he needs to warp the perception of citizens. Truth, justice, being concerned and doing what they were ELECTED to do is never a priority. DAP supremacy is THE one and only priority.

Therefore, whether it is floods, hudud or whatever issue plagues the country, you can bet PR leaders will throw temper tantrums because each leader wants to be Frank Sinatra – to do it THEIR way, not the coalition’s way. No wonder, LKS threatened to quit Pakatan meetings if PAS insists on hudud.

However, why didn’t people ask – why quit meetings only? Why not quit the whole coalition and go solo if they always want things their way, if they always feel DAP is THE best party in this nation?

Why are they playing to the galley whenever it suits them? Why are they diverting attention from their failure in the hudud wrangle by slamming the government when DAP has done nothing for flood victims?

It is because they cannot do anything else as it is beyond their ken.

It is time Lim Kit Siang takes lessons from IKHLAS that has achieved milestones in the way they have helped flood victims in Pahang. Scolding, cursing and blaming is not the IKHLAS way (pun intended) – that is reserved for DAP. Real citizens reach out, turun padang and help victims but alas, Lim Kit Siang cannot get his shoes dirty – his mouth is dirty enough and he would like to keep it that way.

S'gor excos unveiled, PAS loses one to PKR

The new Selangor executive councillor lineup announced today sees PAS' representation slashed following the party's obstructive role in the Selangor MB saga.

With this, PAS' exco members are down from the previous four to three, with PKR taking up the spot to give it four.

However, the deputy speaker post will be given to PAS.
　
The PKR-DAP-PAS composition of the new lineup, which was approved by the sultan yesterday, was announced by newly-minted MB Mohamed Azmin Ali.

The lineup announced at the press conference this morning is as follows:

Elizabeth Wong (PKR)
Daroyah Alwi (PKR)
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (PKR) *
Amirudin Shari (PKR) *

Teng Chang Khim (DAP)
Ean Yong Hian Wah (DAP)
V Ganabatirau (DAP)

Iskandar Abdul Samad (PAS)
Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PAS)
Zaidy Abdul Talib (PAS) *
* newcomer

[More to follow]

Source: Malaysiakini

The apology that was an insult

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has apologised on behalf of DAP for insulting the Sultan of Selangor. PKR’s de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, too, has apologised in the event the Sultan felt slighted by the insult.

However, Anwar insists that he did no wrong in submitting only one name for Menteri Besar instead of three names as commanded by the Sultan since, if we follow convention, this is what Umno also does.

In short, if Umno can do it, why can’t PKR also do it? What gives Umno special privilege to be able to submit only one name while PKR is denied that same privilege?

This is almost like being asked to apologise for calling someone stupid and instead of saying, “I am sorry I called you stupid,” you say, “I am sorry you are stupid.” Is that an apology or a further insult?
The Sultan has been slighted, and the custom is for you to have an audience with him and ask for forgiveness. You do not issue a press statement like Lim and Anwar have done. That is not proper adat and protocol.

Instead of repairing the damage, Lim and Anwar have made it worse. They have just given the Sultan a second slap. Now, even if they request an audience, the Sultan will turn them down.

I am not sure whether Lim and Anwar are really that ignorant of proper protocol or whether they purposely wanted to insult the Sultan a second time. Whatever it may be they seem to not only want to close the door but they want to lock it and throw away the key.

Good luck to DAP and PKR in their effort to replace Khalid Ibrahim as the Menteri Besar of Selangor. If you do not even know how to be civil with the Sultan, how are you going to move forward?

By Roslan Bistamam, Free Malaysia Today

Forgive us for our Selangor MB trespass, DAP tells palace

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 — Though spared the full brunt of the monarch’s wrath, DAP formally apologised to the Selangor ruler today for offering only PKR’s Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as its nominee for the next Selangor mentri besar.

Its secretary-general added that it speak again with de facto leader of PKR, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, on the Selangor sultan’s previous decree that each of the three Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties submit at least three names to the palace for consideration—a request only their Islamist partner PAS has followed.

“On DAP’s behalf, I would like to seek the forgiveness of His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor Darul Ehsan for the disappointment over DAP’s decision to submit only the name of Kajang assemblyman YB Datuk Seri Wan Azizah binti Wan Ismail as the new Selangor mentri besar candidate,” DAP’s Lim Guan Eng said in a brief statement.

“DAP reiterates its undivided loyalty to the Constitutional Monarchy institution and will discuss with YB Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim about His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor’s decree as contained in the media statement by his Highness’s private secretary,” he added.

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said yesterday that he will weigh the names put forward by the three PR parties, but will not limit possible candidates to those proposed by the DAP, PKR and PAS in search of Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s replacement.

The ruler expressed disappointment with PKR and the DAP for submitting just one name, despite having requested for more than two names from each PR party.

PAS had initially submitted two names — Dr Wan Azizah and PKR deputy President Azmin Ali — but their list has since been overtaken by a list of three undisclosed names personally submitted by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang late last week.

Thirty Selangor assemblymen — all 28 from PKR and the DAP, as well as two from PAS — had signed statutory declarations in support of Dr Wan Azizah, comprising the majority of the 56-seat legislative assembly.

The Malay Mail

Penang critic claims state security assaulted him

Ong Eu Soon, a vocal critic of the Pakatan Rakyat government, claimed he was physically assaulted by several men wearing the state’s voluntary patrol unit uniforms in Farlim, Penang, last night.

Ong said the attack took place about 10.45pm while he was attending a Chinese temple dinner held in front of the Farlim market.

“Suddenly, several men wearing the voluntary patrol unit (PPS, Pasukan Patrol Sukarela) approached me and attacked me with their helmets,” Ong said in a police report he lodged at the Bandar Baru police station.

The report was received by Corporal Ravesh Nair Prabagaran at 11.05pm last night.

“I was kicked and punched, there are bruises on my body, my eyes are swollen and my spectacles were broken,” he added.

“It was the public who eventually came between us and stopped their attacks,” said Ong, 51, without specifying how many men attacked him.

Ong immediately lodged a report and urged the police to probe the matter thoroughly and act promptly on his aggressors.

PCM comes to aid

Meanwhile, Parti Cinta Malaysia vice-chairperson Huan Cheng Guan, who is assisting Ong in the matter, said the state government should disband the PPS if it could not control the team.

“How come a uniform unit beats people up? I urge police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi and the Home Ministry to look into this matter seriously,” Huan (right) told Malaysiakini.

Ong is known for questioning the state government on environmental and development issues, including reclamation exercises, hill slope development, the state’s transportation policies and traffic woes and the feasibility study of the proposed RM3.6 billion undersea tunnel that will link the island to Butterworth.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng continues to defend the project, which includes three connecting highways, saying it was awarded by an open tender to Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd.

Penang executive councillor for welfare and caring society Phee Boon Poh said, “Since a police report has been lodged, we will let the police investigate.”

DAP Paya Terubong assemblyperson Yeoh Soon Hin, who looks after the constituency where the incident took place, is expected to hold a press conference on the matter.

When contacted, Northeast district police deputy chief Supt Rahman Abdul said nobody has been arrested yet.

“We are looking for these unidentified men. The victim also did not specify how many were involved in attacking him,” Rahman said.

He said the case is being investigated under Section 147 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt.

Malaysiakini

The forgotten and forsaken driver

In the midst of deep mourning and intense sorrow after two lives were lost in a tragic road accident, one man was forgotten and forsaken.

Judged even before he was tried in court, C. Selvam from India was left high and dry in Taiping Prison after he was charged with reckless driving and causing the deaths of Karpal Singh and his assistant Michael Cornelius.

Languishing in prison where no one visited him or bothered to post his bail, he was consumed with sadness until Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) vice president Huan Cheng Guan did so on humanitarian grounds.

Kindness and compassion costs nothing. It is simply a matter of having the will to do it.

DAP, on the other hand, has been defensive of its failure to help Selvam.

According to its Legal Bureau chief, Gobind Singh Deo, DAP was unable to offer legal assistance to Selvam because the party is representing the families of Karpal and two others.

While that is true, I cannot fathom why it is wrong, impossible, even immoral for DAP or the families of the victims to at least visit Selvam, a man who faithfully served the late Karpal till his demise.

Was it completely impossible to arrange for legal aid from PKR or PAS?

Well, it appears that DAP uses a selective process when it comes to offering gestures of goodwill.

Just look at how Lim Kit Siang jumped at the opportunity to milk free publicity and political mileage by offering free legal service (even though she did not ask for it) to a a certain well-off but rude woman who assaulted an old man on the road.

How can anyone leave a faithful and loyal employee in the lurch to suffer in prison for almost a month with the lame excuse that it would be unethical to legally assist him?

There are other alternatives, but none was explored by DAP.

Such cold-heartedness clearly indicates that DAP has already judged Selvam and passed the verdict of guilty although he has yet to be tried in court.

Selvam was employed by the late Karpal’s family. If the court finds him guilty, then the family members themselves can be tried for the driver’s negligence. Clearly, they have chosen not to acknowledge this.

After the tragic accident, few if any interviewed Selvam.

The news focus was first on the demise of Karpal Singh, and then it switched to the lorry driver, who was found to be high on drugs and who switched lanes without flashing his indicator.

Later, the Attorney-General chose to charge Selvam for reckless driving and, from then onwards, the loyal driver was forsaken and forgotten.

Well, it’s good to know that there are angels among us after all. Not only did Huan post bail for the driver, he also took him for a good KFC meal and followed that with a trip to Tesco.

Huan bought the driver new clothing, toiletries and a luggage bag. He also bought him a handphone and all the neccesary accessories so Selvam could get in touch with his family in India.

Selvam’s mother also spoke to Huan and cried throughout the telephone conversation.

Touched by his kindness, Selvam thanked Huan from his heart and promised he would never forget his gestures.

Huan also made arrangements for accommodation for Selvam and helped him renew his visa.

Here is a man of compassion, a man who saw another man’s plight and decided to help, even to the extent of staying on in Kampar until Selvam had engaged a lawyer to defend him.

Syabas!

Everyone deserves kindness and justice, both of which can be offered freely if one chooses to do so.

The burning question is why DAP chose to forsake Selvam by using legalities?

If DAP can be cold and callous even towards an employee of its former chairman, can the party be expected to fulfil the roles and responsibilities of governance with care and compassion?

Written by Arundati Chopra in Free Malaysia Today

Top Ten Reasons Why Pakatan Rakyat is a Failure

1. A coalition is a group of people/parties/organizations who share common interest in reaching the same goal and work together harmoniously by regularly meeting and resolving issues/differences. Pakatan Rakyat does not do this. 

Although PAS, DAP and PKR share the same goal of toppling BN, they do not have common interests, philosophy or methodology in reaching that goal.

2. A coalition draws inspiration and direction from citizens/members/regional population. This does not apply for Pakatan Rakayt.

PAS, DAP and PKR each get direction from THREE DIFFERENT party leaders who do not co-exist for the same goal.

3. A coalition works to build a healthy community. Pakatan Rakyat thrives by sowing the seeds of dissent.

PAS, DAP and PKR work for self-interest. Decisions made by leaders are usually for THEIR PERSONAL interests.

A good example is the Kajang by-election and MB issue in Selangor.

4. A coalition draws up guidelines and work towards achieving their goals by following guidelines. This does not apply to Pakatan Rakyat.

Pakatan Rakyat had differences when drafting their Buku Jingga and even when completed, it remains A BUKU - A MERE BOOK for show. All else is forgotten!

5. A coalition must have members which respect member parties/organizations but not Pakatan Rakyat.

Pakatan Rakyat coalition party leaders have no qualms about asking other parties to leave when their ideology or methodology do NOT match.

Malaysiakini reported that Lim Guan Eng said "the biggest issue after Aidilfitri celebrations is whether the two party system can continue in Malaysia. The breaking up of Pakatan Rakyat on the refusal of one component party to respect and hold on to views arrived at together, could not be discounted according to his Hari Raya statement today."

6. A coalition must have member parties/organizations that respect and honour the decisions and opinions of other members. 

Recently, PAS frustrated PKR and DAP when it said that there was no reason to remove Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim from his post. According to Lim Guan Eng, "if the decisions we have achieved together in the Pakatan highest leadership council is dismissed just like that by one party, the survival and credibility of Pakatan will be continue to be undermined."

What future is left for Pakatan Rakyat, what hope is there for its supporters when Lim Guan Eng himself has PUBLICLY acknowledged that the survival and credibility of Pakatan Rakyat is at stake? Zilch.

7. A coalition makes and keeps promises but not Pakatan Rakyat.

Over the years, Pakatan Rakyat has CLAIMED it can govern if it is given the mandate by the rakyat. They promised to show their shadow cabinet which today has been in the shadows, never ever seeing the light of day! Are they capable of governing Malaysia when they cannot even keep a basic promise?

8. A coalition must show and develop its abilities and competence to foster healthy relationships with member parties/organizations to sustain efforts to reach their mission. Sorry, this does not apply to PR.

Pakatan Rakyat leaders almost always issue individual press statements without consulting/considering or acknowledging the views of other leaders of member parties.

Is this effective cooperation or destructive individualism?

9. To succeed, a coalition must show progressive or interim victories because its members work together in unity. Pakatan Rakyat does not have any such consistent record except only in their wishful fantasies.

Since 2008, we have seen PKR, PAS and DAP fighting over seats, limelight and a host of other issues. Self-interest rules, not party cohesion. We see Anwar Ibrahim trapising all over the world to shame the country in international media whereas other leaders HAVE NO COMMENT about such actions.

Who is in charge? Is there unity?

10. A coalition can only succeed if leaders show consideration for the greater good of the country by pooling resources, ensuring proper communication flow to sustain an alliance that unites members to achieve goals and empowers leaders to share power for long-term social and political change. Pakatan Rakyat has never, will never and can never do that.

It is a marriage of convenience that never worked from Day 1. It is a threesome kind of menage a trois whereby three leaders only see themselves and not the other two leaders nor do they see the Trinity kind of leadership depicted by its name. It is never THREE-IN-ONE leadership but each screaming and fighting to be NUMBER ONE.

So there you go....this is the crux of why Pakatan Rakyat has failed and can never serve the rakyat because its leaders are self-serving giants or dinosaurs in the political sphere of Malaysia!

Ex-CJ: Islam under threat in DAP-ruled Penang

Former chief justice Abdul Hamid Mohamad has highlighted the problems faced by Muslims in Penang, which he warned could spread if left unchecked.

Among others, he said a former Penang mufti told him that it was difficult to secure allocations for Islamic activities in the state as various religious groups wanted their fair share.

"If this is not stopped, it will spread to the whole of Malaysia. Maybe Islamic programmes will have to be shared with other religions.

"Government departments and campuses may be required to not only prepare surau but also churches, gurdwara and temples," he added.

Such a scenario, he said, would render the special position of Islam as the religion of the Federation meaningless.

Hamid was speaking at a buka puasa event with several Islamic NGOs in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

A copy of his speech, titled "Protecting the constitution as the basis of the country", was also uploaded on his website.

The former chief justice, who hails from Penang, revealed that the mufti also informed him about an incident during the launching of a building in the state, which was attended by the deputy chief minister.

At this event, he said, prayers were done by a Christian priest, a Hindu priest and the imam of the state mosque.

"I am puzzled why would the imam participate in such a ceremony. Can't he think?" he asked.

"I am saddened to see Malays and Muslims behaving naively where they are made as tools and shout 'Allahu Akbar' while lying on road when it is non-Muslims who benefit," he added.

Hamid was referring to the protest that followed BN retaking Perak in the aftermath of the 2008 general election.

Commenting on the "Allah" row, Hamid said he is puzzled that some Islamic scholars did not see the "hidden agenda" of the Roman Catholic Church.

He claimed that the church was disappointed for not being able to turn the Malays into Christians five centuries ago.

MORE TO FOLLOW FROM MALAYSIAKINI

The Heartless and Mercenary Political Party

Humans have the capacity to think and to care. But what happens when you have a political party led and populated by heartless politicians who are #BusukHati?

You would have a whole bunch of heartless members of a political party who think of themselves FIRST and FOREMOST instead of loyal members/supporters, citizens and others.

To such #BusukHati politicians, helping members in dire straits or at the brink of death is something beyond their natural human abilities.

Once a particular leader is inflicted with a terminal disease, the whole party would stamp a "SHELF-LIFE EXPIRED" chop on that suffering member because his/her utility is deemed to have expired long before death strikes. From thence, it is unlikely for the party to officially reach out to aid that victim in any form be it in extending financial, emotional or social support unless it was for 'show'.

This scenario happened to the late Tham Weng Fatt and Wong Ho Leng.

Part A: Tham Weng Fatt

For many years, Tham Weng was a former Penang DAP grassroots stalwart (DAP Action Team chief) who went beyond the call of duty to serve the rakyat, not the DAP masters. He fell out of favour with the DAP masters for highlighting weaknesses of MPPP and even suggesting many reforms for the benefit of ratepayers. By March 2009, Tham was dropped as MPPP councillor and Ong Ah Teong (DAP) took his place. Disillusioned with DAP, he joined Parti Cinta Malaysia shortly thereafter. 

On the day he died, Tham was scheduled to hold a press conference to question if a hotel in Georgetown could construct a swimming pool near the heritage zone. He had been suffering from a kidney ailment prior to his death.

Tham went all out right till his last breath to serve the rakyat even though this cost him his MPPP councillor position, even though he lost favour with the DAP warlords and even though he was literally abandoned by his former party mates when he was ill. The loss of his MPPP position meant that he could not enjoy free medical treatment for his kidney ailment. When he died, bills from his treatment at a private hospital had yet to be settled. He soldiered on unwaveringly till his very last breath. How many can match his steadfast commitment to put people's interests above his own?

Here's a selection of his past statements:

Oct 16 2004 (http://tinyurl.com/paxkgml): He highlighted the problems caused by a developer that impacted residents of Changkat Tembaga residents in Penang.

Nov 22 2004 (http://tinyurl.com/k7h9koh): He slammed the state government for the delay in the project to rehabilitate the Sungei Pinang river.

Nov 23 2007 (http://tinyurl.com/mgjb97u) : He highlighted the appalling attitude of Penang Rapid Bus drivers

See this report.

March 7th 2011 (http://tinyurl.com/qx6xy6b) : He called for LGE to be removed as CM and to be replaced by Chow Kwon Yeow whom he believed had better understanding of Penang’s aspirations, needs and demands.

For all his service, loyalty to DAP, when Tham Weng Fatt passed away, LGE and LKS did NOT attend the funeral. Neither did either of them make any statement of condolence. Instead, someone else did:

"Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s special officer Jeffery Chew said he has lost a good friend and that DAP extends its condolence to the family and his party comrades. 

Tham was relentless in his quest to highlight problems faced by the residents here and for that, the DAP respects him, Chew said." (http://tinyurl.com/m4kph5l)

Even if Tham had left DAP for PCM, one would have thought LGE could have had some COMPASSION to express his condolences via a press statement in recognition of his service to Penang or to DAP. Did he?

Did he attend the funeral?

Chow Kon Yeow and Liew Chin Tong attended Tham's funeral.

Did they extend any financial aid to Tham when he was undergoing dialysis? Yes, apparently it was a token amount. Regardless of political differences, we are all fellow humans in our transient journey on earth.

But then again, for heartless and mercenary ones, a person is redundant once his usefulness has expired. Thereafter, it is a lonely journey. 

Part B:

Wong Ho Leng

This artwork says it all...

So what can we all learn about DAP?

You are only of value if you can add value to their iron grip and quest to extend their territory.

Once your usefulness has expired, once you have fallen from grace, it is over even before death strikes.

Heartless and Mercenary. That is who they are.

And to think many rakyat think DAP cares for them?

Think again!

Rayer arrested - likely to be charged with sedition tomorrow

Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer was arrested today and is expected to be charged with sedition tomorrow over his "celaka Umno" remark which he made at the Penang state assembly last month.

Rayer surrendered himself to the police at the Northeast district headquarters at Jalan Patani at about 3.30pm. He was accompanied by state housing exco Jagdeep Singh Deo and lawyer S. Raveentharan.

District police chief assistant commissioner Mior Faridalatrash Wahid said Rayer will be charged at the Sessions Court tomorrow for sedition over what he said in the state assembly.

"There is no immunity even if he said it in the assembly. There is no immunity if it involves sedition," he said.
Mior on June 11 told The Malaysian Insider that Rayer was probed under Section 4A (1) of the Election Offences Act, which states that it is an offence to promote ill-will or hostility.

Rayer courted controversy on May 20 when he uttered the words “celaka Umno” in the House during the state assembly, which the next day led to a protest by a group of Umno Youth members outside the assembly building.

The protestors, who identified themselves as Umno Youth members, got rowdy and 12 people reportedly broke through the main gate and entered the House, which is a restricted area, looking for Rayer.

The intrusion into the House, which was the first incident of its kind ever seen in the country, sparked a huge outcry, and Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno faced heavy criticism.

The situation worsened when Federal Territory Umno Youth members protested outside the DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on May 22. Some of the protestors were heard threatening to burn down the DAP headquarters.

As the DAP and BN traded barbs over the controversy, police reports were also lodged against Rayer after he was alleged to have repeated the same remarks in ceramah during the Bukit Gelugor by-election outside the House, where he enjoyed no immunity as a legislator.

Mior also said 14 people will also be charged tomorrow at the George Town's Magistrate's Court under Section 448 of the Penal Code for trespassing into the state assembly building. – June 18, 2014.

- The Malaysian Insider -

Who Is Playing Hooded Political Stunts?

On June 12, 2014, the Speaker for Selangor Assembly approved the motion to discuss implementing the Islamic penal code in the country's most developed state. ( http://tinyurl.com/puqhc4x)

Why would someone from a party that supposedly opposes hudud do such a thing? 

DAP Damansara Utama assemblywoman Yeo Bee Yin then questioned if MCA would be able to stand up to Umno on the issue of hudud in the recent motion submitted by Umno Sungai Air Tawar assemblyman Kamarol Zaki Abdul Malik for debate in the coming state assembly sitting. (http://tinyurl.com/n4j9lkz)

Why would a representative from a party that supposedly opposes hudud APPROVE a motion to discuss hudud and then allow other members to talk down to MCA?

MCA has since demanded that Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak punish the Selangor representatives who submitted the motion and demand that it be withdrawn. (http://tinyurl.com/knndssb)

Today, DAP’s Tony Pua asked today if MCA was admitting to be nothing but a voiceless “flower vase” in Barisan Nasional (BN) when its leaders called on the DAP to trash the hudud motion even though it was tabled by its own allies in Umno. ( http://tinyurl.com/q4kau9f)

Why are DAP members picking on MCA regarding hudud when its Speaker herself allowed the motion for the debate? 

Why didn't DAP members themselves speak up in tandem with their supposed stand on hudud?

PJ Utara MP Tony Pua has come forward in defence of Selangor State Assembly Speaker Hannah Yeoh saying motions from all representatives would be heard in a proper democracy. (http://tinyurl.com/k9svl6v)

If that be the case, why did Tony Pua refer to MCA as a flower vase in BN if he believes in 'proper' democracy?

This afternoon, The Star said: Selangor Barisan Nasional has withdrawn a motion to debate the possibility of implementing hudud law in the state. (http://tinyurl.com/nja2aoq)

Lo and behold, what happened?

The Selangor Speaker has put Barisan Nasional (BN) on notice, telling the coalition to stop playing political games with the state assembly after Selangor Umno withdrew a motion on hudud.

Hannah Yeoh, who received a lot of flak over her decision to table the motion, said she felt the move was a political stunt. 

“The State Assembly is not a place for any member to play political games. I view this move by the assemblyman from Umno as a blatant political stunt. 

“If an assemblyman is not ready or prepared to debate or stand by his motion, he should never have wasted the state assembly’s time by tabling it in the first place,” she said. 

Yeoh said that every assemblyperson had an inherent duty to uphold the integrity and preserve the sanctity of the state assembly by not treating it carelessly and haphazardly. 

“No reason was provided for his decision to withdraw the motion. A member may, by notice in writing to the Clerk, withdraw any notice of motion previously given by him, as per Standing Order 29 (1). (http://tinyurl.com/kzuxdv2)

If she has such strong feelings about the motion, why did she approve it in the first place??????

Democracy? 

Lawyer Tommy Thomas yesterday said he was shocked that she allowed the debate as it was unconstitutional, arguing that state assemblies have no business discussing a criminal issue outside their legislative competence.

Thomas said hudud is a revolutionary concept that should be nipped in the bud, instead of encouraged.

BN component party MCA also joined the fray and urged Yeoh to reject the motion, with its state deputy chairman Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai saying the debate on hudud is not important and a discussion on the possibility of implementing it in Selangor is a waste of time.

(http://tinyurl.com/kzuxdv2)

And now the latest news:

 MCA today claimed “victory” over Selangor Umno’s withdrawal of a motion to debate on hudud in the state assembly sitting scheduled to reconvene on Monday.

“With the withdrawal of the motion which was straightforward, MCA has proven its mettle in functioning as a gatekeeper to ensure the spirit of Barisan Nasional (BN),” MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said.

“Similarly, we hope DAP in Pakatan will play a more prominent gatekeeper’s function on hudud law issues to prove that DAP has some form of power within and outside Pakatan.”

Wee said, however, DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang’s move in rushing to Kelantan to clarify that DAP did not blame PAS nor hudud for the defeat of the party’s candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud at the Teluk Intan by-election, showed that DAP was so powerless that it was unable to defend its own words and position.

“In the same vein, I urge DAP to play a bigger role within the Pakatan coalition, ie, DAP must curb PAS from its plan to table a Private Member’s Bill during the September session of the Dewan Rakyat to formally implement hudud in Kelantan,” Wee said in a statement today.

Wee added although Selangor Umno’s motion only required a debate on the study on the probability of implementing hudud law, Pakatan leaders had deliberately distorted the motion likening it to an intention to implement, which Wee said was not the case.

“Pakatan leaders had deliberately twisted the truth while Selangor Umno had no desire to implement hudud law.”

He added DAP which held the largest Opposition bloc in the Dewan Rakyat with 37 seats, should play a better role on national issues.

This, he said, was to prevent the country falling under a theocratic regime through the implementation of hudud.

“DAP should implore PAS to abandon its hope of achieving a theocratic rule. The first step is for PAS to give up its proposal to table a Private Member’s Bill to implement hudud law in Kelantan.”

Today, Selangor BN assemblymen agreed to withdraw the motion asking the state government to study the possibility of implementing hudud, the Islamic penal code.

Opposition leader in the state assembly, Datuk Mohd Shamsudin Lias, said the move was to allow the 15 PAS assemblymen to table the motion themselves as implementing hudud was in PAS’ agenda.

(http://tinyurl.com/jvkbjug)

Well done, MCA!

So, after this series of unfortunate events, who is the one playing hooded political stunts on hudud?

You be the judge!

*Haden Hoo is NOT a member of MCA or any political party.

Botched campaign strategy failed DAP in Teluk Intan

A botched campaign strategy that focused more on urban areas in Teluk Intan was behind DAP candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud's loss in the May 31 by-election, as the party failed to compensate for her political inexperience and unfamiliarity with voters, according to a new survey by the Merdeka Center.

The survey of 404 Teluk Intan voters over the weekend showed that Barisan Nasional (BN) reached out to almost all segment of voters while DAP and its allies reached out to more men in urban areas, and less women.

Dyana Sofya lost by 238 votes to BN's Datuk Mah Siew Keong, the Gerakan president who had served two terms as Teluk Intan MP before losing in 2008.



"Election results show voters cannot be taken for granted and would teach parties a lesson given the opportunity," Merdeka Center director Ibrahim Suffian told The Malaysian Insider.
"The DAP still has a long way to endear itself to the Malay community but the slight rise in support shows that it is doing some things right," the respected pollster added.

In the survey commissioned by The Malaysian Insider, the Merdeka Center found that 13% of respondents voted for a different party compared with last year, with 29% of them saying they did so because they wanted to see more changes.

According to the survey, voters viewed development politics and the famous local candidate of BN as the key reasons for BN’s victory.

It discovered that 14.7% felt that the DAP lost due to Dyana Sofya's inexperience while 9.4% said it was because she was not a local and 11.7% believe that many young voters did not go back to vote in the by-election.

The survey also found that DAP also did not cover enough ground to explain its move to field a political novice, while BN campaigners were nearly twice as prolific in the online arena, and nearly blanketed the electorate in Teluk Intan.

Some 72% of the respondents surveyed from June 6 to June 8 said they received messages from the BN campaign team through their mobile phones or social media, as opposed to only 31% from the DAP.

"When trying a novel idea or approach or even a candidate, massive information campaign is needed to explain the rationale to voters; here the election communications outreach is critical. Online alone is not enough," Ibrahim added.

Meanwhile, 35% of voters said they had interacted with BN campaigners in Teluk Intan, while only 23% said they had encountered DAP’s campaigners.

The survey found that DAP was already handicapped by Mah’s familiarity among the people of Teluk Intan.

Nearly half (45%) of the survey respondents who voted BN last month said Mah, as opposed to BN, was the reason behind their choice.

The Gerakan president was born and raised in the constituency but Dyana Sofya was a virtual unknown before she was fielded; the young lawyer’s role in politics prior to the campaign had been as DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang’s aide.

Some 65% of the respondents who had voted for Dyana Sofya did so because of her party, rather than the candidate herself.

This was despite DAP touting Dyana Sofya as the face of “new politics”, saying if she won, she would represent youths and women in Parliament, and that her win would signal the end of racial politics.

But Mah won in spite of his party and coalition’s unpopularity in the constituency – garnering 20,157 votes against Dyana Sofya’s 19,919, despite analysts predicting DAP would retain the seat.

Being the federal government, BN and Mah were able to pledge government-backed development for Teluk Intan and 13.5% of the respondents said they believed BN won because it provided social welfare assistance.

Among Indian respondents, 27.9% said they believed BN boosted their campaign with goodies, financial aid or goods to voters.

BN leaders such as Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had promised free uniforms for Rela members in Teluk Intan, and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek had said free wireless Internet could become a reality, should Mah win the May 31 by-election.

Some 55% of respondents also felt BN spoke about issues that the people of Teluk Intan wanted to hear, as opposed to 33% who felt that way about the DAP.

The survey found that cost of living and local issues affecting the public motivated voters a great deal more than issues such as hudud or corruption scandals.

Dyana Sofya’s manifesto relied heavily on national issues such as the goods and services tax (GST), the rising cost of living and corruption.

She was noticeably silent on local issues affecting Teluk Intan voters, such as development and infrastructure issues, despite 65% of the electorate being involved in agriculture-based industry.

Mah had taken the opposite route, promising Teluk Intan a university, as well as pledging to turn it into an agro-based industry and tourism hub.

He evaded reporters’ questions on his position on national issues, and instead said he wished to focus on Teluk Intan’s needs.

In its ceramah around Teluk Intan, DAP had argued it was pointless to vote in a leader who would ultimately bow down to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s unpopular policies such as the GST.

But 26% of those polled said they were more concerned about who could bring development to Teluk Intan.

Dyana Sofya’s message of how she represented non-racial politics resonated the most with the Indian respondents (41%); only 14% of Malay and 17% of Chinese respondents cared for the issue.

The survey respondents were selected through random stratified sampling along the lines of ethnicity, gender, age and polling districts. They were polled by telephone.

Some 43% of the respondents were Chinese, 38% were Malay, and 19% Indian. Men and women were equally represented, and all were above 21 years of age.

The Teluk Intan seat has 23,301 Malay voters (38.6%), 25,310 Chinese voters (41.9%) and 11,468 Indian voters (19%). – June 12, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/botched-campaign-strategy-failed-dap-in-teluk-intan-survey-shows#sthash.SyYWBkp0.dpuf

Family of latest death-in-custody victim astonished at official reason given Read more: http://www.fz.com/content/family-latest-death-custody-victim-astonished-official-reason-given#ixzz34DgImigj

BUTTERWORTH (June 10): The family of Agin Raj Sunmarkkan Naidu, who died while in police custody on June 7, is astonished that the official report on his death issued by the authorities has attributed it to epileptic fits, since the 26-year old never had such a condition in his life.

His sister, Regina Devi, 23, today said the family members were taken by surprise after being informed of this following his death at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital.

Regina said she and her mother Sivapakiam Palchamy, 47, had seen Agin Raj's hands handcuffed and his legs tied to the hospital bed when he was warded in custody.

They became concerned as they did not see him being administered with any form of intravenous feeding, and had wanted to give him some 100 Plus isotonic drink, but this was refused.

They were further shocked and hurt when they approached the doctor, who they described as an Indian woman, about his condition.

"She said he is an alcohol addict and if he did not take alcohol this would not have happened," Regina told a press conference with Sivapakiam at the service centre of Deputy Chief Minister (II) and Prai assemblyman Prof P Ramasamy.

She added that when her mother told the doctor that Agin Raj had not taken food, the doctor refused to allow any food from the family or even intravenous drip to be given.

A furious Ramasamy called for both the doctor and the police investigating officer who was handling Agin Raj's case to be suspended.

"Who is this medical doctor?" he asked, describing her alleged behaviour as irresponsible and inhumane. "The safety of patients is of paramount importance."

Sivapakiam had earlier today lodged a report at the Seberang Perai Tengah police headquarters on Agin Raj's death while under custody.

She said in the report that Agin Raj was healthy when he was arrested but had later mentioned to her when he was brought to court that he was unwell and had been roughed up and beaten.

Agin Raj had been arrested with his friend under the suspicion of stealing metal at the Prai Industrial Area on June 3.

Regina had said although he was charged on June 6, no plea was recorded and the magistrate has set the bail at RM8,000. But the family only managed to raise RM4,000.

Agin Raj was then locked up at the police headquarters where he was remanded between June 3 and 6, but on June 5 he was said to have suffered epileptic seizures and was taken to the hospital where he died two days later.

"My son had also told me that he had not been given any food or drink after a day past when he entered the hospital. My son was also not given glucose injection (drip), even though the police and hospital were aware that my son's body was very weak after being hit by epilepsy," Sivapakiam said in the report.

She added that the family was later only informed of Agin Raj's death by an unknown woman who called them, and till today there has been no information communicated to them by the police.

Ramasamy said he will write to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam to investigate the hospital, as well as Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and the Attorney General for an independent inquest into the death.

He added that he would also get legal advice on behalf of the family.

"He was in police detention for four to five days. What happened that led to his condition?" Ramasamy asked, stressing that there seemed to have been fundamental neglect at the police station and in the hospital.

By Himanshu Bhatt, FZ

MPPP Sends FOUR Notices Asking Residents To Object To Project!!!! Why???

ONCE TO MANY: Over 200 households in Lorong Pykett receive a fourth notice from the Penang council following alleged amendments to planning bylaws

GEORGE TOWN: RESIDENTS in the serene Lorong Pykett neighbourhood are seeing red over repeated notices issued by the Penang Island Municipal Council to them to object to a  twin-block condominium project.

The 294-unit medium-cost project was slated to commence in 2010 but it has never taken off due to a series of alleged amendments in planning permission, causing the residents to be in the dark about the status of the project.

Non-governmental organisation Citizen Awareness Group (Chant) legal adviser Yan Lee, who is also the spokesman for the residents, said over 200 households received a fourth notice last month.

The first notice was issued in 2010.

"The residents are confused about the proper channel to object against the project. Why are they being asked repeatedly to state their objections against the same development?

"The high-density project right in the middle of the housing estate is going to cause massive traffic congestion," Yan said at a press conference here recently.

In addition, he said the high-rise development would lead to worsening flood in the area including Lebuhraya Pykett and Jalan Khaw Sim Bee.

Lorong Pykett is a quiet upscale neighbourhood with about 220 semi detached houses located a mere five-minute drive to the heart of the city.

Yan also questioned the proposed density within the 1.32ha area where the condo will be built at a ratio of 100 units per 0.4ha surpassing the limit of 30 units as allowed in the by-law.

"The surrounding houses are only two-storey high. It is unthinkable to see a concrete jungle built next to the row of houses," said Yan.

In a related development, Yan said Chant wanted the Penang government to speed up the gazetting of the Penang Local Plan.

"The plan is aimed at protecting the wellbeing of the people to ensure that new development does not encroach on the housing estates," said Yan.

He said it was also important for Penangites to have a say in the development of their neighbourhood before the local plan is gazetted.

-NST -

Teluk Intan - The Omen for Pakatan Rakyat

KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 — Unresolved issues within Pakatan Rakyat (PR) such as PAS's renewed hudud bid and the mounting discontent in Selangor could leave the pact with just Penang and handful of federal seats in urban areas in the next general election, according to political observers.



PR leaders told The Malay Mail Online that DAP's performance in Teluk Intan — going from a 7,313-majority win in 2013 to a 238-vote loss — is an indication of potential losses in the future if PAS, DAP, and PKR do not settle its conflicts and maintain its common policy framework.

Issues such as growing public anger towards Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim's handling of the Kinrara Damansara Expressway (Kidex), the seizure of Malay- and Iban-language bibles by the Selangor Islamic Department (Jais) and allegations of voter manipulation and result delays in PKR's on-going party elections are but a few examples of issues facing the PR state government.

Another pressing concern is PAS's unilateral push for hudud to be implemented in Kelantan, which critics have pointed out went against PR's Election 2013 manifesto.

“If this goes on, we might see a repeat of what happened to PAS in Kedah in 2013 and Barisan Nasional (BN) in Selangor before 2008.

“If voters decided to punish Pakatan in Selangor for not listening and addressing their concerns, like in the Kidex and bible issue we could very well lose the state come GE14,” former political analyst and DAP election strategist Dr Ong Kian Ming told The Malay Mail Online when contacted.



He said PAS's insistence on its hudud bid was costing the opposition pact support among non-Malay voters whom he said feel let down by the Islamist party's departure from its previous “PAS for all” agenda during GE13.

“Because PAS has pushed hudud, which is not part of PR's common manifesto, voters feel betrayed because it goes against our election promise — no hudud,” Ong added.

Adding to that concern, Ong said was PKR's leadership crisis and internal strife in its party election.

“The fact that the elections have dragged on longer than it should is distracting the party from addressing its problems with the Selangor administration.

“The other worry is that PKR's election problems may affect Pakatan's agenda for free and fair elections.... how do we promote that when there are serious concerns as to the transparency of elections on a party level,” he said.

PKR’s internal polls have been mired by allegations of corruption and impropriety, forcing the party to conduct fresh balloting for 35 branches and indefinitely postpone the results.

Selangor DAP deputy chairman Gobind Singh Deo agreed with his party colleague, stressing that PR had a “moral obligation” to uphold all of its Election 2013 promises.

A vocal opponent of Kidex, Gobind said that MB Khalid's support for the highway as well as PAS's hudud push contravened the opposition pact's common agenda.

Kidex is a proposed 14.9km highway that will cut through densely-populated parts of Petaling Jaya that is meeting with increasing resistance from residents.

“Promises made during elections must be kept, there is no other way around this.

“In the case of hudud, Malaysia is and must always remain a secular state,” he told The Malay Mail Online when contacted.

In 1993, the PAS state government passed the Kelantan Shariah Criminal Code Enactment (II), allowing it to impose the strict Islamic penal code in the state. But the laws have not been implemented.

PAS is now looking for parliamentary approval to implement hudud. It plans to put forward two private members’ bills in Parliament.

“What will happen if these things go unaddressed is that people will be reluctant to come out to vote.

“Because if they support DAP and PKR, it means they support PAS as well,” the Puchong MP added.

Independent political analyst Khoo Kay Peng said that PR's inability to honour its common policy agenda showed that the three-party pact was still a “loose coalition” and that not all of its leaders were on the same page.

This, he said would do little to inspire voters to come out and support PR in the next general election in the numbers that gave the pact the popular vote victory in Election 2013.

“What you are going to see is a trend of voters who may be Pakatan supporters but who will not want to go back to their home states to vote,” he told The Malay Mail Online when contacted.

Low voter turnout was cited as among the factors that saw DAP lose in Teluk Intan.

Khoo added that the issues in Selangor and the hudud push in Kelantan will also affect how voters viewed PR as a whole.

“When you oversell on reform, you have to back it up.

“What is happening in Selangor and Kelantan is not a good example of good governance,” Khoo said.

In Election 2013, PR won 89 of the 222 federal seats, building on the 82 it took five years before and again denied BN its customary supermajority in Parliament.


- Malay Mail -

DAP needs to change its play

Its failure to understand the Teluk Intan terrain shows that it needs to move on from its old ways.

DAP must face the reality that some Chinese voters are returning to BN. They showed this not only in Teluk Intan recently, but also in Sungai Limau last November and in Kajang last March.

The shifts were slight, but they cannot be dismissed as coincidental or unimportant. DAP must dig deep to find out the reason or reasons.

In the case of Teluk Intan, at least one reason is obvious. DAP did not correctly read the ground sentiment in the rural constituency. To borrow an expression from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, DAP failed to “understand the terrain”.

The Chinese voters believed that Gerakan’s Mah Siew Keong could bring development to Teluk Intan because federal funding would be available to him. After all, he had not stopped working for the constituency even after losing in the 13th general election.

Furthermore, the Chinese did not want Mah to lose face by being defeated by a young girl, and a political newbie at that.

As for DAP’s Indian supporters, they wanted M Manogaran, who served Teluk Intan from 2008 to 2013. Indeed, they considered the seat his.

Said Manogaran: “The Indian voters were upset that I was sent to Cameron Highlands for GE13, but when Seah Leong Ping passed away, there was a golden opportunity for me to come back. The Indians told me they were unhappy with DAP. Some of them vented their anger at the ballot box.”

Throughout Perak, in fact, many DAP grassroots members think Dyana was too young and inexperienced to be sent to a rural area. They feel she should have waited to contest for an urban seat in the next general election.

Of course, Dyana’s performance was impressive. She lost to a veteran by only 238 votes. And the loss could also be explained by citing the low voter turnout of 66%. Low voter turnouts always put the opposition at a disadvantage.

Nevertheless, the thought of BN being able to take a seat that the late Seah won so handsomely just about a year ago should give us pause. And DAP must keep this in mind as it plans for the 14th general election.
The first thing that the party must do is set up a think tank consisting of corporate planners, journalists and independent pollsters. Ideas from the grassroots and opinions in urban as well as rural areas need to be taken into consideration.

DAP needs a think tank from which the leadership can cull ideas generated by a team dedicated to the business of analysing political trends. It needs to move away from depending merely on the opinions and suggestions of one or two MPs.

Having a think tank will enable DAP to source for ideas and suggestions from a wider range of people.

Politics is a game for the fast and furious, and DAP must certainly change its style of play. It can begin by admitting that it made a tactical blunder in Teluk Intan. The great thing about mistakes is that you can learn from them.

FMT

Teluk Intan: Why DAP did not ask for a recount

PETALING JAYA: DAP Secretary General Lim Guan Eng has written to the Election Commission (EC) Chairman Abdul Aziz asking for an explanation in the discrepancy of the total number of voters announced before and after the results.

“The EC had announced a total turnout of 39,850 voters at 5.30 pm when polling ended, Along with 392 early votes, the total number of votes should be 40,242, if the EC’s announcement is correct.

“However, when the final results were announced the total number of votes tallied was 40,619.

“Barisan Nasional (BN) obtained 20,157 votes, DAP obtained 19,919 votes and there were 543 spoilt votes.

“There is a discrepancy of 377 votes between what the EC originally announced and the final results.

“This figure is more than the winning majority of the BN candidate which was 238 votes,” said DAP election strategist Ong Kian Ming.

Currently, DAP is still waiting for an official reply from the EC before they proceed with further discussions with their lawyers.

According to Ong, the Penang Chief Minister is intent on pursuing the matter with the EC but the party will not be saying anything until they hear from the EC.

On the issue of why DAP did not request a recount for the by-elections in Teluk Intan, Ong said that this was because the request can only be made if the total number of votes for the first two candidates is less than 4% of the total number of voters as in accordance with the Elections (Conduct of Elections) Regulations 1981, Article 25, Section 13.

“Given that our counting agents at each polling station were experienced individuals, there was no directive to each of them to ask for a recount if the difference was less than 4%, even though there were seven polling streams with a difference of 4% or less.

“We were and are confident that our experienced polling agents carried out their responsibilities in ensuring the transparency and accuracy of the vote count at their respective polling stations.”

“In addition, a recount at the polling station, according to Article 25, Section 13, cannot include spoilt or rejected votes. They can only involve the valid votes which means that the chances of changing the final vote count is very slim and probably not enough to overturn a 238 majority.

“Also, when conducting such a recount, the results could easily go the other way i.e. more votes could be obtained by the BN candidate.

Teluk Intan had held a by-election on May 31 following the death of DAP MP Seah Leong Peng in which Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong had lost the seat in the 2013 by-elections by 7, 313 votes.

Mah reclaimed the seat in the by-election which was contested by DAP first time contender Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud.

FMT

Dyana's Shortlived Fame

TO DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud's candidacy in Saturday's by-election in Teluk Intan was a brilliant idea to give a semblance of Malayness to the party's Chinese DNA.

It is a decision that Kit Siang is likely to regret making although he won't publicly admit it.

For the past two weeks during campaigning for the parliamentary seat, Dyana was the pretty face of Malaysian politics and she was popular with press especially the online portals. But her fame was shortlived.

After losing the parliamentary seat by a majority of over 7,000 votes in the general election just a year ago, the Barisan Nasional represented by Gerakan, wrested it back from DAP. Although it was by merely a 238-vote margin, it was a huge swing never before seen in any general or by-election, especially within just a year.

DAP's sense of buoyancy and its confidence that it would retain the seat even if it fielded a young Malay woman was boosted by the notion that this was the way forward for Malaysian politics as the political tsunami in the last two general elections was triggered by Generation Y.

Most observers, too, had predicted an easy win for DAP, with the by-election taking place a week after the party's overwhelming victory in the Bukit Gelugor by-election. And especially against the Barisan Nasional candidate from Gerakan, the party that was virtually wiped out in last year's general election.

To them it counted little that Dyana was a political novice contesting against the Gerakan president himself, Datuk Mah Siew Keong, who at 53 was twice her age.
Mah had also lost twice in Teluk Intan previously although it is his home town.

Despite initial reservations and against the backdrop of Gerakan's humiliation in the last general election, the choice of Mah has turned out to be a masterstroke.
But as the election campaign wore on, it became apparent that an upset win by Barisan was on the cards, especially with Dyana's obvious fumblings and blunders in dealing with issues.

It was the double-edged sword of hudud and Perkasa that did her in.

For a Muslim to come out openly to say that she's against hudud, the Islamic penal code, is surely a no-no among Malay voters.

There must have been plenty of PAS supporters in Teluk Intan who would have voted for her had she only kept her mouth shut on such a religiously sensitive issue. Who is she anyway to oppose hudud?

A columnist from The Star, Joceline Tan, wrote on Monday that Dyana's stand on the issue had offended PAS supporters and some of them had sent text messages, attributing the loss to her objection to hudud and implying that she had been punished not only by voters but by Allah.

I cannot put it better than Joceline.

Another fire the young woman had to put out was on Perkasa, the Malay NGO, of which her mother is a member.

As Joceline put it, "DAP had demonised Perkasa and condemned anyone remotely connected to Datuk Ibrahim Ali (who is Perkasa president)."

A picture of Dyana and her mother with Ibrahim at a Perkasa event also went viral on the internet.

While the Malay voters who had wanted to vote for her didn't do so because of what she said about hudud, the Chinese similarly felt the same because of their repugnance towards Perkasa.

The low voter turnout, only 66.7% as against 80.7% a year ago, also showed that many who took issue with her on these two matters simply stayed at home during the weekend instead of troubling themselves by going to the polling stations.

And why were there so many spoilt votes, one might ask, which at 543 is bigger than the Barisan's majority.

The turnout was definitely disappointingly small for an urban constituency such as Teluk Intan but it was not unexpected.

Many outstation voters did not think it worthwhile to return to their hometown because it was only a by-election where the stakes are not as high as during the general election.

Political analyst Prof Dr James Chin of Monash University of Malaysia explained that normally those living outstation need to have much stronger reasons to return to places where they are registered as voters in a by-election, unlike in a general election.

He said voters take a general election more seriously because they realise there could be a change of government.

I found it amusing when DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng blamed the party's defeat on "voters intimidated by the threats of development politics and gangster politics".

Since when has development politics not been part and parcel of Malaysian elections? By the way, who's playing gangster politics?

And when Guan Eng said the party had no regrets in fielding Dyana – clearly the choice of his father Kit Siang as she is his political secretary – I don't know how many would believe him.

By Azman Ujang, The Sun Daily

Falling flat on a pretty face

Preliminary analyses of the Teluk Intan by-election indicate a silver lining in DAP’s loss of the seat as there seems to be a 3% increase in Malay support for the Chinese-dominated party compared to the outcome in the 13th general election.

Nevertheless, an important question to ask is: Why did so many voters from the other major races decide to vote for BN this time around? Chinese support for DAP plunged by 15% and Indian support by 10%.

At first sight, the strategy of fielding Dyana Sofia Mohd Daud for the race seemed a brilliant move to prove that DAP is indeed a multiracial party. Although a political greenhorn, Dyana was the ideal Malay candidate to win a seat that the party was already confident of retaining, considering the large majority it got in the general election. Who could be more Malay than a graduate of UiTM and a member of an Umno household? And she’s pretty to boot.

Unfortunately, that face alone was not enough to help her win the seat although it must have mesmerised some of the attendees at her campaign rallies.

More unfortunate still, DAP did not seem informed enough about her past affiliations.

For starters, the ambitious young woman started getting involved in politics as a member of the BN Supporters’ Club and her decision to switch sides could be construed as lack of loyalty. In this connection, it must be highlighted that Perak is unique in that voters there have learned to be extra vigilant because they paid a hefty price for choosing perfidious characters in the 12th general election.

Additionally, Dyana was observed to be inconsistent in responding to allegations that she played an active role in Perkasa. After vehemently denying that she was not affiliated with the group, she admitted that her mother was a member.

Not many voters have forgotten that Ibrahim Ali won his former Pasir Mas seat on a PAS ticket and Zulkifli Noordin was a founding member of PKR.

A vague manifesto

Dyana and DAP might have taken the by-election for granted for several reasons. It assumed that it already had the Chinese votes in hand. All it needed was about half of the Malay votes or even less. Thus, fielding a Malay woman seemed safe enough.

This over-confidence could have been the reason for its lacklustre manifesto. With Dyana pitching issues such as the GST and other national issues to a predominantly agrarian society showed a huge disjoint with sentiments on the ground.

She can be forgiven for she is still a newbie, but it is rather disappointing to see the DAP and Pakatan machinery’s lack of commitment to the cause. This could have been because of disgruntlement over the selection of the candidate.

There could be a variety of reasons for this attitude, but one sticks out like a sore thumb. Two weeks after Dyana joined DAP in 2012, she was appointed to the high profile position of political secretary to the top man himself, Lim Kit Siang. In less than two years, she became a candidate for a parliament seat. That must have irked some people in the party.

Most important, members of DAP in Teluk Intan might have preferred a candidate who has exhibited loyalty and dedication to the party, not one who is merely a token of DAP’s claimed multiracialism.

DAP and Pakatan have to realise that Malaysians have moved beyond pretty faces, recycled rhetoric and Malay tokenism.

By Kevin Fernandez, FMT
Dr Kevin Fernandez is a senior lecturer at the Political Science Centre for Language Studies and Generic Development, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan

Pulau Tikus Pays the Price

GEORGE TOWN (June 3): Overzealous development and focus on motorists' rights without consideration on the needs of the people in Pulau Tikus can slowly chip away the sense of community.

Pulau Tikus assemblyperson Yap Soo Huey said the "council knows best" culture or the "top-down approach" does not work anymore because it has failed to take cognisance of people's plights.

"Pulau Tikus has 95% built-up space. Developers can come and uproot shoplots but if they are not replaced elsewhere, the sense of community would be lost," she said at a press conference today.

She also rued that there are no traditionl parks in the area, and people do not sit in the back alleys to chat with their neighbours like before.

She said developments have taken over not just street space but also small tradings such as sundry shops, watch repair businesses and news vendors, basically the type that serve communities within an enclave.

Yap said shophouses and small traders provide an unrecognised service to the city through which they encourage communities to become less aloof. It allows people would interact with others in their neighbourhood, thus developing a sense of community.

"Developing a city with thriving small and local businesses will provide both opportunities for people to meet," said Yap.

While commending the local councils for being proactive on collecting feedback from taxpayers so annual budgets could be planned, she remarked that it was not "comprehensive" enough to understand people to ensure good town planning.

"According to a survey we conducted on 459 people in October last year, it was learnt that about 50% of Pulau Tikus denizens want less cars on the road. They also stressed there were no proper pedestrian walkways which made it difficult for them to walk to nearby places," she said, adding that the survey including cultural mappings covered areas between Gurney Drive and Jalan Macalister.

"This has instead forced them to use their cars."

Yap added that the Pulau Tikus business district on Jalan Cantonment was an example of the failure of Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) to listen to the needs of the people due to lack of public space.

She pointed out that pedestrian crossings are installed at MPPP's discretion such as the one across Jalan Burmah.

She proposed a collaboration project with MPPP where a team of officers take part in public consultation sessions to learn about community needs with the aim of developing people-centric infrastructure and re-designing the Pulau Tikus business district to address the problems.

"Due to development pressures and poor planning, there is a need for comprehensive study and proposal," she said.



FZ