Rekayasa UMNO ~ Ref Malaysiakini

Pertama kali saya mendengar ayat ‘rekayasa’ digunakan adalah pada perhimpunan Agung UMNO tahun lepas iaitu didalam ucapan Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak. Perkataan ini, jika tidak silap saya, diterjemahkan daripada perkataan Inggeris, re-engineering. UMNO perlu direkayasakan, begitulah mesej Timbalan Presiden UMNO ketika itu.

Jelas sekali, ucapan orang nombor 2 dalam hierarki UMNO ini juga adalah merupakan satu retorik yang boleh juga diumpamakan sebagai masuk telinga kanan, keluar telinga kiri. Kenapa saya berfikiran sedemikian? Jika ahli-ahli UMNO cakna dan responsif kepada saranan tersebut, sudah tentu UMNO tidak akan terjerumus dalam situasi kacau bilau ini. Bukan pula niat saya untuk menuduh ahli-ahli UMNO, sebaliknya seluruh gerak kerja UMNO mempunyai saham dalam merangka kejatuhan UMNO.

Usah dibicarakan peranan Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, Husam Musa dan lain-lain pemimpin PR, kerana sudah menjadi tugas mereka untuk memastikan kejatuhan UMNO.

Apakah  intipati proses merekayasakan UMNO?

Saya kategorikan kepada 3 perkara iaitu; 1. Pembersihan UMNO daripada najis rasuah, 2. Merakyatkan UMNO , dan 3. Peremajaan UMNO.

1. Membersihkan UMNO daripada najis rasuah

Seorang sejarawan ulung pada awal kurun ke-19, Lord Acton ada menyebut;

“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.”

UMNO dan parti-parti komponen lain dalam Barisan Nasional telah memerintah negara selama lebih 50 tahun lamanya. Tidak semestinya  tempoh pemerintahan yang lama itu dikaitkan dengan kuasa mutlak (absolute power), akan tetapi setelah sekian lama berada di zon selesa, tentunya ada yang mula merasakan kuasa yang ada itu merupakan kuasa yang mutlak. Maka, tidak hairanlah jika korupsi, dan rasuah begitu berleluasa didalam BN kerana mereka yang memegang kuasa.

Perkara yang sama juga dapat diperhatikan di negeri-negeri yang diperintah pembangkang, contohnya di Perak, belum cukup setahun PR diberi mandat, sudah ada beberapa tangkapan berprofil tinggi berkaitan rasuah dan salahguna kuasa. Bukankah kuasa ini precursor kepada korupsi seperti yang disebut oleh Lord Acton? Maka ironi sekali jika ada sesetengah pihak yang ingin berkuasa untuk menghapuskan rasuah, kerana kedua-duanya datang dalam bentuk pakej, beli satu, percuma satu.

Mungkin ada yang berhujah, korupsi dan rasuah wujud sejak zaman kegemilangan Rome, jadi tidak seharusnya UMNO-BN dipersalahkan dalam hal ini. Saya pula bertanggapan, dengan tidak menafikan amalan korupsi dan rasuah ini akan terus wujud dalam mana-mana jua kerajaan di dunia ini, satu mekanisme untuk mengawal amalan tidak bermoral ini hendaklah dipraktikkan bukan hanya melalui badan kehakiman, perundangan, penguatkuasaan sebaliknya hendaklah juga dijadikan tertib serta etika wajib dalam parti masing-masing.

Penubuhan SPRM diharapkan dapat mempercepatkan lagi proses pembersihan ini. Konsep hukuman ini tidak bermakna menangkap semua yang melakukan kesalahan, tetapi ianya juga bertindak sebagai peringatan buat mereka yang berniat untuk melakukan rasuah, ataupun mereka yang mengamalkan rasuah tetapi terlepas.

Saudara Novandri mengulas penuh mengenai topik pembersihan UMNO ini didalam blog beliau.

Makanya seperti kata penulis, isu pendakwaan beberapa pemimpin dan ahli UMNO membawa harapan yang positif. Akan tetapi, penulis juga ingin menyarankan agar mereka yang didakwa itu bukan hanya ‘ikan-ikan bilis’ di dalam UMNO. Yang sama pentingnya ialah ‘jerung-jerung besar’ juga patut didakwa tanpa rasa takut!

2. Merakyatkan UMNO

Intipati ini tampak mudah dan ringkas, tetapi pada pandangan saya, inilah yang paling sukar, lebih sukar daripada usaha membanteras rasuah.

Imej UMNO sudah bersebati dengan status bangsawan, golongan kelas tinggi dan semakin hari, semakin jauh daripada capaian rakyat yang mengangkat pemimpin-pemimpin UMNO ini. Saya sentiasa membayangkan terdapat 3 golongan manusia dalam sesebuah parti politik, kumpulan kecewa, kumpulan berkepentingan peribadi, dan juga kumpulan yang ikhlas. Malang sekali, jumlah didalam dua kumpulan pertama yang disebut jauh mengatasi jumlah didalam kumpulah akhir itu. Maka tidak hairanlah jika kumpulan ikhlas ini tidak diberi platform dan peluang sewajarnya untuk berbakti. Natijahnya, UMNO sudah tersasar jauh daripada jangkauan rakyat biasa. Ini belum lagi kita buka cerita mengenai sikap sesetengah pemimpin yang liat untuk turun padang, dan hanya tahu untuk makan gaji buta.

Kerja merakyatkan UMNO ini memerlukan sokongan akar umbi yang sangat kukuh. Ianya memerlukan komitmen daripada semua merangkumi pucuk pimpinan dan juga akar umbi. UMNO perlu dilihat sebagai satu enjin yang mempunyai bunyi deruman yang sama, memacu pada kelajuan yang sama, dan yang penting sekali menuju ke satu destinasi yang sama. Sehingga ke hari ini, masalah dalaman UMNO tidak henti-henti melanda, tiada peluang langsung untuk UMNO bertindak, ataupun mungkin peluangnya tiba, tetapi tidak dimanfaatkan atau tidak disedari oleh pimpinan tertinggi. Kesibukan melobi dan berkempen untuk jawatan mungkin mengkaburkan mata calon dan juga perwakilan.

Kuala Terengganu telah menjadi saksi, apabila calon UMNO yang dilihat sebagai elitis dan tidak mesra rakyat ditolak dalam pilihanraya kecil parlimen Kuala Terengganu. Bukan seorang atau dua pengundi yang tolak, tetapi 2000 lebih. Jika UMNO tidak dilihat bersama rakyat, BN perlu bersedia untuk mengambil alih peranan Pakatan Rakyat dalam Parlimen pada pilihanraya umum ke-13 kelak. Isunya bukanlah menjurus kepada kesediaan atau kemampuan PR untuk memerintah ataupun tidak, sebaliknya untuk memastikan kedua-dua pihak pembangkang dan kerajaan sama-sama bersedia untuk berkhidmat, dan bukan hanya menangguk di air keruh atas kelemahan pihak lawan.

Bagaimana untuk merakyatkan UMNO, perkara pertama adalah memecahkan halangan status yang menjarakkan pemimpin dan rakyat. UMNO ditubuhkan oleh rakyat, paksi kepada perjuangan UMNO adalah marhaen. Tiada istilah ‘I know best’ dalam politik. Merakyatkan UMNO bermula dengan proses merakyatkan diri setiap pemimpin terlebih dahulu.

3. Peremajaan UMNO

Dalam pilihanraya umum ke-13, hampir 50% pengundi adalah terdiri daripada golongan muda. Kecenderungan muda-mudi sekarang adalah bukan kepada UMNO ataupun Barisan Nasional, buktinya boleh dilihat pada pecahan pengundi mengikut saluran pada data pilihanraya umum ke-12, pilihanraya kecil Permatang Pauh dan juga pilihanraya kecil Kuala Terengganu. UMNO tewas dialam siber, alam yang menjadi tempat lepak terbaru golongan muda-mudi.

Terdapat pelbagai punca UMNO gagal diremajakan. Pertama, dasar langit tertutup peringkat cawangan, kedua, kekurangan daya penarik pada dasar dan prinsip UMNO, dan ketiga, kegagalan untuk mengetengahkan serta memberi peluang kepada pemimpin muda untuk meningkat dalam parti mahupun di peringkat nasional.

Dasar langit tertutup pada peringkat cawangan adalah titik permulaan kepada hilangnya sokongan orang muda kepada UMNO. Ramai graduan universiti tempatan mahupun luar negara yang dinafikan peluang untuk berbakti melalui UMNO cawangan. Menyedihkan sekali apabila golongan cerdik pandai muda ini dilihat lebih sebagai ancaman berbanding rakan yang boleh memberikan lebih manfaat kepada komuniti secara khususnya. Untuk memastikan Ketua Cawangan kekal sebagai Ketua Cawangan dalam pemilihan parti, mungkin kehadiran ahli yang lebih pandai akan dapat menggugat posisi mereka, maka mereka mempraktikkan prinsip ‘cegah sebelum parah’. Sayang sekali, prinsip tersebut tidak terpakai dalam situasi ini.

Jika kita lihat, PKR mengetengahkan Nik Nazmi sebagai ADUN paling muda dalam pilihanraya yang lepas, dan diikuti pula dengan ramai lagi calon-calon bawah paras umur 40 tahun yang bertanding. Tentunya calon-calon ini akan mendapat lebih sokongan golongan muda, atas sebab hanya orang muda yang mengerti keinginan orang muda. UMNO pula masih giat meletakkan muka-muka lama yang ada diantaranya yang sudah 5-6 penggal menjadi ahli parlimen untuk sesuatu kawasan. Memang benar, undi golongan berusia masih menjadi milik UMNO-BN, namun rancangan jangka masa panjang perlu difikirkan, jika pada peringkat bahagian lagi khidmat orang muda sudah dinafikan, mungkin UMNO akan mengalami proses penuaan yang kekal – akan nyanyuk.

Daya penarik UMNO diakui sudah tidak begitu menarik lagi. Ini dinyatakan juga oleh calon Timbalan Presiden, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Di sini saya meletakkan kesalahan pada bahu sayap pemuda yang ternyata agak kurang berkesan dalam menarik perhatian pengundi-pengundi muda. Pendekatan yang diguna pakai mungkin sudah obsolete serta ketinggalan zaman. Kehendak utama golongan muda tidak dipenuhi, kegagalan UMNO berubah mengikut peredaran masa akan terus menenggelamkan UMNO daripada menjadi pilihan golongan muda. Pemuda hendaklah lebih cergas, lebih tangkas, serta lebih responsif kepada isu-isu yang menjadi perhatian golongan muda masa kini. Mereka lebih berminda terbuka, mereka mahukan kebertanggungjawaban dan etika dalam pemerintahan, mereka juga mahukan keikhlasan.

Attack is the best form of defense

UMNO sudah sekian lama berada didalam gear undur (reverse) yang nyata tidak menguntungkan parti itu dan juga rakyat keseluruhannya. Sudah tiba masanya untuk UMNO mengambil langkah yang lebih proaktif dan responsif serta menukar gear kepada menyerang. Mengikut kata pujangga “attack is the best form of defense”, maka semestinya kegagalan untuk menyerang akan membuka peluang buat lawan untuk terus memberi tekanan, dan sepertimana yang kita boleh jangka, a crack will open wider under pressure.

Saya menulis mengenai UMNO adalah bertujuan untuk memastikan parti ini terus ada di arena politik tanahair. Di samping ingin melihat Pakatan Rakyat mengukuhkan tapak di persada politik tanahair, saya juga ingin melihat BN berada di tahap yang tinggi, supaya benchmark yang perlu dicapai oleh PR juga tinggi, vice versa. Kerajaan yang kuat adalah kerajaan yang mempunyai check and balance yang juga kuat. Melalui politik sebegini, Parlimen Malaysia akan mengeluarkan akta-akta dan dasar-dasar yang terbaik dan berkualiti. Kesannya akan dapat dinikmati oleh rakyat dalam bentuk kesejahteraan, keamanaan dan keselamatan.

http://malaysiakini.com/news/97107

Kolum Ringkas: K.Terengganu, Senyum, Labu, & Obama.

1. Sudah lama saya tidak menulis dalam ruangan kolum ringkas, mungkin atas alasan kesuntukan masa kali ini, cukup sekadar semuanya diulas secara ringkas.

Kuala Terengganu

2. PAS berjaya merampas kerusi p.36 K.Terengganu daripada BN dengan majoriti seramai lebih 2 ribu orang. Tahniah!

3. Berbeza betul pertembungan BN-PAS jika dibandingkan dengan BN-PKR, kenapa ya? Tidak timbul isu-isu keganasan, penyokong yang bertindak liar dan sebagainya. Kedua-dua membawa imej parti yang mana kewujudannya sudah melebihi separuh abad, matang.

4. Sebaik sahaja menang, PAS memuji SPR atas kelancaran proses pilihanraya kecil, PAS memuji pihak polis kerana berjaya mengawal keadaan, dan PAS juga telah meminta Abdullah Badawi kekal menjadi Perdana Menteri Malaysia.

5. Terbukti peluang PAS untuk menang lebih banyak kerusi meningkat selagi Abdullah menjadi PM, mungkin kerana itu PAS mahu Abdullah kekal. Ingat, PAS juga merupakan sebuah parti politik.

5. Sekali lagi tahniah YB Wahid Endut dan PAS.

Senyum

6. Cerita senyum ini timbul diawal kempen pilihanraya kecil K. Terengganu. Calon BN, Wan Ahmad Farid menjadi sasaran lawan kerana kurang senyum dan elitis.

7. Maka terpaksalah Najib dan Ahmad Said memberikan tuisyen khas kepada Wan Farid, bagaimana untuk senyum dengan sempurna. Kata Najib kena jadi macam pengantin, terangkat kening Isteri Wan Farid.

8. Sebelum mengundi Tun Mahathir kata ‘a very bad choice’, samada telahan Tun tepat ataupun Tun juga menyumbang kepada kekalahan calon tersebut.

9. Kali terakhir Tun beri kenyataan negatif pesimis terhadap BN ialah pada Pilihanraya UMUM ke-12, dimana BN telah kalah di 5 buah negeri.

10. Sebaik sahaja keputusan diumumkan, ramai yang menyalahkan pemilihan calon yang tak sesuai, saya percaya puncanya bukan sekadar pada calon semata-mata. UMNO-BN tidak perlu menipu diri sendiri.

11. Keputusan Pilihanraya kali ini tidak lah menunjukkan yang rakyat tidak sabar-sabar untuk melihat Anwar (atau Hadi Awang) menjadi Perdana Menteri, sebaliknya rakyat terus mengingatkan BN akan mandat yang telah diterima pada Mac lepas.

12. Wan Farid tidak daya lagi untuk senyum, apatah lagi setelah diumumkan tewas. Senyuman bukanlah faktor utama penentu prestasi seseorang calon. Kalau senyuman lah yang jadi penentu utama, kambing lebih layak untuk menang.

13. Kredit harus diberikan kepada kedua-dua pihak, yang menang tidak angkuh, yang kalah tidak pula melenting.

Labu

14. Adakah kita betul-betul memerlukan sebuah lagi lapangan terbang kos rendah? KLIA masih belum digunapakai dengan maksimum.

15. Rujuk laman blog Tun Dr. Mahathir dan Rockybru untuk ulasan lanjut mengenai projek ini. Walaupun ianya dibiayai sepenuhnya oleh swasta, satu kajian menyeluruh perlu dilakukan terlebih dahulu agar ianya tidak menjadi satu “midnight regulation”.

16. Pembangunan perlu untuk memacu ekonomi negara, memberikan peluang pekerjaan baru, dsb. Maka kesungguhan Sime Darby perlu dimanfaatkan jika perlu.

17. Kerajaan British baru sahaja meneruskan cadangan pembinaan landasan ketiga Heathrow walaupun mendapat tentangan sengit daripada penduduk setempat.

18. Tiada pula cerita kedengaran yang sebuah lapangan terbang baru berjarak 2km daripada heathrow akan dibina.

Gaza & Obama

19. Selasa ini, Obama akan diisytiharkan sebagai Presiden Amerika, menendang Bush keluar daripada White House.

20. Masihkan ada harapan pada Obama? Saya ambil pendekatan berhati-hati, terutamanya dengan orang yang bermulut manis.

21. Beranikah Obama untuk memberikan harapan buat penduduk Palestin?

22. Berjuta-juta rakyat Amerika dijangka akan menyaksikan pengisytiharan tersebut, lebih separuh daripada mereka akan putus harapan sepertimana Israel menghancurkan harapan penduduk Palestin melalui pembinaan tembok pemisah.

23. Obama ingin menutup Guantanamao Bay, satu langkah yang sangat bagus. Obama lupa, Guantanamao Bay terbesar adalah di Palestin, dibina oleh puak Zionis.

24. Semoga dapat menjalankan tugas dengan baik Mr. Barrack Hussein Obama.

In KT, we can find signs of great desperation ~ Ref: Malaysiakini

I have to admit, it is very hard not to talk about Kuala Terengganu by-election, especially when everyone back home in Malaysia seems to be talking about KT rather than atrocities caused by Israeli invasion in the holy land of Palestine. That’s why I try to flood myself with information on the situations in Gaza, write about Gaza and feel for the sufferings of the Palestinians in Gaza so that I will not write about KT. They say, politics is a disease, it’s chronic and highly contagious. And my attention is not excluded from being distracted by the hypes and sensations of KT by-election.

I’ve been following the build up to the KT by-election polling day from the nomination process through many lenses, mainly from blogs and newsportal, be it mainstream media, or independent (debatable) online newsportal. From the choices of candidates, the campaigns, the issues and the extra attention that the KT’s Tionghua community is getting display the dynamics process of Malaysia’s politic.

Candidate and timing factor

BN’s decision to announce Wan Farid as candidate two weeks earlier from nomination day permits the ruling party to assess any internal dissatisfactions, thus allowing the party to do a damage control drill. This strategy comes handy to BN this time, as to compare with Permatang Pauh’s blunder, which cost BN dearly. PAS, in the other hand, revealed it’s candidate a day before the nomination day, 4 days later from the promised date. Inevitably, the delay created gossips and talks which suggest that PAS leadership is having headache in choosing the most ‘acceptable’ candidate that pleases all pressure groups in the party, as we can boldly named ‘Erdogan’ fraction and PAS Terengganu team.

Hadi Awang, the current PAS President went for YB Wahid Endut, 5 terms Wakaf Mempelam State Assemblyman to run for KT MP, sidelining the favourite Syed Azman, Batu Buruk State Assemblyman. Certainly, the choice was a major surprise, as many eyebrows were raised at the night of announcement. Wahid Endut is claimed to be unpopular outside KT, but well-known to the locals, so they say.

Both parties, BN and PAS, face many difficulties with regards to their choice of candidate. Wan Farid of BN is reported or claimed by oppositions to be ’sombong’ and very less generous with his smile. Tun Dr. Mahathir, not a member of any political party currently, in a statement said that Wan Farid is a bad choice, just to be quickly brushed aside by Pak Lah’s strong words claiming that what Tun think are irrelevant.

Meanwhile in PAS camp, there are talks on ‘Erdogan’ fraction, boycotting the campaign for Wahid Endut. Few PAS insiders broke the news, and further commented on Syed Azman’s half hearted ‘ceramah’ in one of many rallies. There are also talks about the disappearance of few leaders highly linked to Anwar Ibrahim in KT, in comparison to Permatang Pauh by-election, where the so-called Erdogan team leaders in PAS were everywhere to be found during the whole campaign duration of Permatang Pauh by election, Anwar’s home ground. Harakah, PAS media organ, has been ordered to minimize the damage by this ’cause’, however so far, it is not a major issue to PAS as they say that those who are dissatisfied are only limited to individuals, not groups.

In the end of the day, the decision is in the hand of the voters, they will pick the one that can be trusted to bring their voice to the Dewan Rakyat, and also bring a sustainable development to Kuala Terengganu, to suit its’ state capital status.

Internet as agent of news, lies and perceptions

Among the first step taken by pro-PR bloggers is to run a campaign to boycott Mainstream Media for the duration of the campaign for reasons such as to prevent voters from being misled by the likes of Utusan, TV3 and The Star, and to ensure people will only listen to them. I don’t know how successful is the campaign since I don’t know the total number of newspaper sales in KT, I suppose it will increase since the number of people in KT maybe double the original number by now, filled with BN and PR people.

Is it true that people are relying on Internet as their main source of information? Well, it certainly hold for places like KL and Penang, but in this case, maybe less than half of KT voters read Malaysiakini, and what more Raja Petra’s Malaysia-Today. I know it is my wild guess but I would think mainstream medias are still relevant and being highly used by people in KT.

We can write anything in Internet, as exampled by the blog that insult our beloved prophet Muhammad s.a.w and at the same time trying to implicate a Malay, Muslim Malaysian woman as the person behind the blog. And do you remember Surind? He is the chap who think Muslim is wasting our time by performing Hajj, of note, he is taking a ‘long holiday’ from blogging after creating such chaos in the cyberworld.

And I wrote an article about how picture can be doctored to at least thinly implicate someone with negative message, and guess who admitted of having doctored a picture of ‘dinner for three in Paris’, an Opposition Member of Parliament of Malaysia. How low could we go to spread perceptions into voters mind, to propagate lies so that people may believe you, and in return will vote for you. Is that how low you will go for a vote.

For example

This picture is taken from Malaysian Insider news portal, and it also appears in Raja Petra’s Malaysia-Today latest posting (link). Raja Petra captioned this picture with this statement “Children are very much in the thick of the campaigning”.

However, Malaysian Insider clarified that the boys found the flags on the football field blowned by wind, and picked them up and flagged it on their bicycles. Raja Petra intentionally leave this clarification behind to implicate that BN is 1. exploiting children in their campaigns and 2. practicing double standard against children who cycled for Jerit few weeks back. It is undeniably true that no one can match Raja Petra’s ability in using words and imaginations as their strongest weapon. I can just compare and leave the deciding job to the readers.

Do I need to remind you about the article showing “Najib’s picture” performing a Hindu ritual published in that very Malaysia-Today? Read my article here.

In another report by BERNAMA, Friendly Khairy-Wahid Encounter, I quote few statements from the report.

Khairy was also heard telling Mohd Abdul Wahid that he hoped PAS would not resort to personal attacks and some of the others present responded with “Let the best man win”.

“It was a friendly encounter. He (Mohd Abdul Wahid) said BN’s approach and campaign were good because no personal attacks were made on the candidates. We also congratulate him because both campaigns are mature and conducted in a good manner.”

He said there were PAS supporters who were not comfortable with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s presence and strategy of using personal attacks in the campaign.

“Some found it unacceptable for Anwar to liken Umno to Israel,” he added.

That shows political maturity of PAS and UMNO, that goes along with the past half a century age for both parties. Both are matured enough not to resort to personal attacks, character assassination and cheap politics to win voters heart. And this is a sign of political maturity. Well, to some, the only signals that are remitting are signals of desperation. Attacks were concentrated to personal traits like ‘muka sombong‘ and also trying to drag candidate’s family member into the campaign to taint candidate’s image. And we all know who practices that and we all know them well.

Some also tried hard to put pictures of big houses in KT, and simply link the bungalow owner with corruptions and monsoon cup and compare it with houses of the poor and unfortunate in KT. I suggest you not too do much cherry picking, you might mistakenly put a picture of PAS leaders’ houses instead of UMNO. Most of them drive Mercedes too.

Chinese as kingmakers, and UMNO as Israel?

Since we just talked about some ‘act of desperations’, by some of the hopefuls or should I say PM aspirant, sometimes the true colour surfaces. They can no longer hide behind their sweet talks and pity faces. What kind of a leader it is to likened a Muslim Malay ex-comrades similar to the cruel, unforgiving regime of Zionist Israel. Or is it because you think this can boost your chance to be the numero uno in the country, you are willing to do or say anything in your favour? In his defence, his loyal warrior, Tian Chua (the guy who doctored threesome in Paris picture, and lied about Anwar’s crossover bid (got a warning from Sivaji the Boss for that)) later denied that Anwar did mention UMNO is like Israel. Of course he didn’t mention in verbatim UMNO is Israel, but come on, KT people are not stupid, Malaysians can read and think. At least we know you lied when you say Anwar is going to be the Prime Minister on 16th of September.

Attempting to touch a sensitive chord among the mainly Muslim constituency here, he accused Umno, the main party in the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, of acting like Israel.

“The leadership is busy collecting wealth. While Israel is punishing the Palestinian people for choosing Hamas, it is no different from Umno punishing Malaysians for choosing the Pakatan Rakyat,” he told a ceramah here on the first day of campaigning for the Kuala Terengganu by-election.

The flag-waving crowd cheered loudly during Anwar’s speech, punctuated with shouts of “Allahu Akbar”, which translates as “God is Great,” the standard clarion cry of the Pas faithful.

Anwar Says UMNO is like Israel, Malaysian Insider

And shortly after that….

Tian Chua: Anwar did not say UMNO is like Israel

Should I say more?

Speaking about Raja Petra’s harping on Tionghuas as the real kingmaker behind this by-election, and PAS concentrated campaign at Kampung Cina area, in Bandar State Assembly, I think this strategy might backfire, though it can also be working perfectly well too. It depends on campaign to win the hearts of the Malays too, since Hudud issue is not a non-issue among Malay community, especially when this debate on Hudud is widening the existing crack in PR to a point which may surpass a beyond repair point. DAP walked back on Barisan Alternatif, a coalition with PAS, after PAS announce it’s declaration on Hudud few years back. Will they do that again? It’s a little bit harder this time, much will be taken into consideration since doing so, they DAP (PR) will lose Perak and maybe Selangor. The question now is, who will sacrifice it’s fundamental principle (Islamic country vs Secular Democratic) in favour of taste of power.

PKR’s stand on Hudud is Karpal’s dissapointment. PKR as usual will try it’s best not to appear to be in favour of anyone, well didn’t I always say that this pact is a marriage of convenience, not fundamental agreement and trust.

I shall leave this Hudud debate for KT voters to decide, the way I see it is, well it might not be written in the constitution that such law can be implemented unilaterally i.e bypassing parliament, and I sincerely think that this debate is going to be for many many years to come. And there’s nothing wrong in having a debate, of course without unnecessary labeling one party or another as anti-Islam etc. At least this Hudud issue shows that there are more works needed to be done by PR in order to be seen as a viable alternative to Barisan Nasional.

In few more days to come, there will be more signs of desperations displayed by both sides to win this battle. It may not be a do-or-die fight, but surely the result will bear a high implications on both winning and losing parties. Malaysia will change course post 17th January 2009. It’s either BN will regain people’s confidence and learn from the mistakes or PR’s continuing it’s distorted effort to topple the government to materialize ‘harapan baru’ of one man. A new hope after his previous hope to become PM was crushed by Dr. Mahathir Mohamed.

I’m critical of Anwar’s aspiration because I think he has a lot to answer to the people way before he ever think of taking over Putrajaya.

I know it’s such a unpopular move, especially in this world of blogs, but I am not a populist.

<END>

Related articles:

Malaysiakini

http://malaysiakini.com/news/96223

http://malaysiakini.com/news/96226

Free Gaza: Azzam Tamimi rubbished Israeli PM aide, on air

A debate between..

1. Mark Regev, Israeli PM Spokesperson

2. Mr. Azzam Tamimi, Political Analyst and author on ‘Hamas’, and

3. Chris Davies, Member of European Parliament

Watch, listen and digest..

Part 1 of 2

Part 2 of 2

Free Gaza 1: This blog condemns Zionist extremism on people of Gaza

This blog pledge to write as much as possible about the attack on Gaza, with only one objective in mind, that is to ensure Gaza is given it’s freedom and solidarity.

The attack on Gaza has entered the second week, the Israeli army is marching in, killing more civilians in each step they take. Ground invasion started today, a mosque filled with people praying was bombed, 10 were reported to be killed in that blast ~ this news was reported from a journalist directly from ground zero, thru a phone call made during Free Gaza demonstration in Dublin, which I attended.

No words can describe the sufferings shouldered by the Palestinians, as Israel will definitely aim to finish Palestinian in one sweep. No signs of slowing down, act of terrorism solely driven by evil intentions. Heartless.

Protesters marched towards O’Connell Street from Dame Street in a chilly Saturday where the sun is shining rather very brightly, the weather is still as cold as ever. In Palestine, people there could hardly see sunshine, the smoke from the explosions of the bombs on their land turn the blue sky, grey. The heat they are feeling is of the gunfire and the blaze caused by Israeli bombs and grenades.

Israel targeted this attack on Hamas, with civilians casualties as ‘cost of war’. The price Palestinian is paying is way too much. An Israeli was killed, 40 innocent Palestinian children were slaughtered in return. Hamas is a democratically chosen by Palestinians to lead the country, and Israel doesn’t seem to be able to respect the voice of Palestinian people. They rammed as they wish, terrorist don’t know democracy or whatever. They feast in blood, their joy is other’s suffering.

America, the most democratic nation in the world, supported Israel terrorizing Palestinian land. They want Israel to finish up Hamas. The most democratic country in the world doesn’t seem to be respecting the choice of Palestinian people via democracy. They condone such act by Israel, when most of the countries in the world condemn.

A united International voice is need to condemn this act of terrorism by Israel on Gaza, this war must stop now, the only war that exists is war on terrorism, in this case Israel.

Not denying the fact that there maybe some section of Israeli citizens that condemn this attack, I didn’t direct this criticism to them, but to their Zionist-extremist government.

Free Gaza..

Please generously donate to a good cause, to alleviate the sufferings of Gaza people.

Donations can be made via the following bank account details.

BANK NAME: AIB Clonskeagh

ACC NAME: Federation of Student Islamic Societies

ACC NO: 18102047

SORT CODE: 93-11-87

And please enter statement as ‘For Gaza’

InsyaAllah, I will write more on Gaza from time to time.