PITA POLITIK (74): WHAT SAY YOU - OPRESSION OR OBSESSION IN PERMATANG PAUH?

Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim and wife Dato' Seri Wan Azizah Ismail after the victorious campaign in the Permatang Pauh by-election 26 August 2008 (The Star-pix online by Asri Abd. Ghani)

Wednesday August 27, 2008
Anwar: Win a sign voters want change


BUKIT MERTAJAM: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has described his triumph in the Permatang Pauh by-election as “the second political tsunami” and said it was the people's victory.

“This election has been won due to the commitment and courage shown by the people.

“People want change for freedom and justice. They want the economy to benefit all,” Anwar said while addressing supporters after being declared winner of the parliamentary by-election yesterday.

“They have rejected oppression and they are saying they do not want to be taken for granted any longer.

“The people have sent a strong message to the Government,” he said, adding that the people have rejected the unfair distribution of the country's wealth.

He said his victory brought new meaning to the word “Merdeka”.

Anwar added that Pakatan Rakyat was bringing new hope to the people with its reform agenda.

“We will stick to our promise that the price of fuel will be reduced when we form the government.”

During a press conference later, Anwar said although the date of his swearing-in was at the discretion of the Speaker, he hoped to be in the Dewan Rakyat for Budget Day.

“I have promised the people that I would scrutinise Budget 2009 which will be tabled on Friday and as such, I should be sworn in tomorrow.”

With regards to Pakatan forming the government on Sept 16, Anwar reaffirmed that the planned takeover would materialise. (The Star Online 27 August 2008)

Comment:
Another wake-up call for the ruling party. Probably leaders of the ruling party really need shake-up from bottom up to ensure continued support by the Rakyat (will someone define what rakyat means literally). Now it is between the government and the opposition in Parliament, between Adullah and Anwar. Anwar's keyword in his campaign is "change", the very word used by Barack Obama in the campaign fot the USA Election '08. And meanwhile the word "conspiracy" runs thick in the mind of the people who oppose the government. A sticky word it is and the government leaders should be well aware of its implication and effectiveness in propaganda warfare.

Now what is next for Anwar. The 16th September deadline, perhaps?

PITA POLITIK (73): BOIKOT-MEMBOIKOT JUGA ADALAH AMALAN DEMOKRASI?

BISIK-BISIK AWANG SELAMAT
‘‘KENAPA DAP dan PKR terus memboikot Utusan Malaysia. Apakah kerana kedua-dua parti itu memang anti institusi Melayu dan apa sahaja yang berkaitan dengan suara utama masyarakat Melayu ditentang?”

‘‘Sepatutnya DAP dan PKR tidak mengambil pendirian yang bercanggah dengan demokrasi dan kebebasan yang mereka laung-laungkan selama ini.”

Itulah antara e-mel yang Awang terima sebagai respons kepada tindakan terbaru DAP melarang Utusan Malaysia membuat liputan persidangan tahunan parti itu.

Awang tidak berhajat menjawab soalan itu. Biarlah para pembaca khususnya orang Melayu menilai sendiri.

Yang pasti parti-parti komponen BN malah Pas yang baru mengadakan muktamar parti itu, jauh lebih bersikap terbuka dengan membenarkan semua wakil media membuat liputan.

UMNO sendiri tidak pernah memboikot sesetengah akhbar bahasa Cina dan Inggeris yang lantang mengkritik parti itu dan dilihat membawa aliran perkauman sempit.

Pada Awang, tindakan DAP dan PKR itu hanya menampakkan belang mereka sebenar. Kalau mereka memerintah negara ini, entah bagaimana nasib Melayu nanti.

Sesungguhnya itulah kebimbangan orang Melayu.

Awang– Nampak motif. (Utusan Online 25 Ogos 2008)

Komen:
Jika diteliti lebih mendalam, sebenarnya tindakan boikot-memboikot adalah juga satu amalan demokrasi juga. Mereka bebas memilih membaca atau tidak membaca akhbar yang mereka pilih. Contohnya, ramai tidak membaca akhbar-akhbar yang diterbitkan pelbagai parti bukan kerajaan. Dan ramai pula tidak begitu berminat membaca akhbar arus perdana kerana mereka menganggap akhbar-akhbar itu "milik" parti yang memerintah dan dianggap berbau propaganda. Walaupun sebenarnya akhbar milik parti-parti bukan kerajaan adalah juga bersifat propaganda.

Hanya kadang-kadang bagi yang tidak memihak kepada sebarang parti, mereka barangkali ingin membaca kedua-dua aliran akhbar ini. Setidak-tidaknya mereka dapat melihat dua perspektif yang saling bertentangan. Dan mereka boleh menilai yang mana satu "news story" yang layak dipercayai. Tanpa pamrih dan prasangka.

PITA POLITIK (72): THE BLAME GAME CONTINUES TO ROLL

Former Menteri Besar of Perak Dato' Seri Tajul Ghazali talking to some BN state leaders after the 8 March 08 General Election.

Wednesday August 20, 2008 MYT 4:16:04 PM
ACA detains 6 over housing project kickback


PUTRAJAYA: The ACA has arrested six people including two Perak state exco members for alleged graft, involving a housing project worth RM180mil.

Perak ACA director Samsiah Abu Bakar confirmed the arrests on Wednesday.

Five of them, including one exco member, were arrested on Tuesday in Perak following a report lodged by a complainant. The second exco member was arrested this morning.

Three of them were said to have collected RM100,000 as kickback to help process the housing application.

They are believed to have helped expedite and approve the application.

Five of the detained have been remanded for three days. (The Star Online)

Comment:
Another conspiracy by the BN Federal Government? So. the list of "BN conspiracies" is getting longer. And the blame game continues. What an exciting five-month wind of change in the Malaysian political arena.

PITA POLITIK (71): OF MEDIA AND SELANGOR MB

Selangor MB, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim

Monday August 18, 2008 MYT 12:47:03 PM
No reason for PKR supporters to attack journos: Selangor MB
By DHARMENDER SINGH


SHAH ALAM: Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has voiced his doubts that PKR members were involved in Saturday’s incident where two journalists were attacked outside the nomination centre in Permatang Pauh.

Khalid, who is also the Selangor PKR chairman, said he was worried over the consistency of the attacks on journalists and agreed that they should be protected and those identified should be stopped from repeating such incidents.

However, he said he felt that the party’s supporters in Permatang Pauh were generally well disciplined and had no rational reason to resort to attacking journalists as Pakatan Rakyat realised the need for media support in its fight against Barisan Nasional.

He said there was also no question of any ill feelings being harboured by party members as the media had been supportive of PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who enjoyed a close rapport with pressmen.

“Press photographers have been vital in showing the public and the Federal Government the large crowds that turned out to support PKR at events including the Bersih Rally and the nomination of candidates in Permatang Pauh,” he told reporters Monday after the monthly meeting with state government officials here.

On Saturday Berita Harian’s Siren Hafiz and Halim Berber of France’s HBL press news were allegedly attacked outside the nomination centre at the Tuanku Bainun Teacher’s Training College in Jalan Penanti-Mengkuang Titi in Penang. (The Star Online)

Comment:
Selangor MB was right when he said "he felt that Parti Keadilan Rakyat's supporters in Permatang Pauh were generally well disciplined and had no rational reason to resort to attacking journalists as Pakatan Rakyat realised the need for media support in its fight against Barisan Nasional." Journalists hope that the Selangor MB was sincere when he mentioned the need for media support to fight BN. The journalists also hope the Selangor MB would talk to the media on issues which benefit the majority of the Rakyat, and not just the political minority. Which means that the Selangor MB hopefully understands the meaning of the words "majority" and "minority", according to the widely-acclaimed Oxford dictionary.

PITA POLITIK (70): SIAPA SEBENARNYA MEWAKILI RAKYAT MAJORITI ?

Dtuk Seri aNajib Tun Razak (tengah) dan Tan Sri Rahim Tamby Chik (kiri) di majlis perasmian pameran dan konvensyen hartanah di PWTC hari ini(gambar Utusan)

Jangan cuba ungkai Perlembagaan Persekutuan

Oleh SAIFULIZAM MOHAMAD

KUALA LUMPUR 10 Ogos - Semua pihak diingatkan tidak cuba mengungkai perkara yang telah menjadi asas dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan terutama menyentuh isu sensitif kerana ia boleh menggugat kestabilan negara.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berkata, kedegilan Majlis Peguam untuk membatalkan Forum Memeluk Islam semalam merupakan bukti bahawa program itu telah mengundang tindak balas di kalangan masyarakat Islam kerana berang dengan tindakan badan tersebut.

Beliau berkata, kerajaan sendiri telah menjangka keadaan seperti itu akan berlaku apabila Majlis Peguam berkeras untuk terus membincangkan isu sensitif berkenaan secara terbuka.

''Saya sudah katakan, jangan buat secara terbuka. Apabila ini yang mereka putuskan, tentu akan ada reaksi daripada kumpulan yang lain tetapi mereka berdegil. Mereka teruskan juga.

''Perkara seperti ini memang sensitif dan kita telah jangka keadaan seperti ini akan berlaku,'' katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Pameran dan Konvensyen Hartanah Bumiputra 2008 di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC), di sini hari ini.

Beliau mengulas mengenai forum kontroversi Memeluk Islam anjuran Majlis Peguam yang diteruskan juga semalam.

Forum itu terpaksa ditamatkan kira-kira pukul 10 pagi iaitu tiga jam lebih awal daripada jadual bagi mengelakkan kejadian tidak diingini ketika bantahan keras daripada pelbagai pihak semakin memuncak.

Forum yang bermula pukul 8.45 pagi di ibu pejabat Majlis Peguam di Lebuh Pasar Besar di sini, pada awalnya berlangsung dalam suasana tenang dengan sesi pertama melibatkan tiga wakil keluarga bukan Islam dengan penuh emosi menceritakan 'penderitaan' mereka.

Di luar bangunan, kira-kira 1,000 ahli Majlis Angkatan Antara Pertubuhan Bukan Kerajaan Islam (Mapan), UMNO, Pas dan Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) mengadakan demonstrasi dengan membawa sepanduk menentang program berkenaan.

Pada sepanduk berkenaan tertera perkataan 'Hidup Islam, Batal Forum', 'Jangan Cabar Islam' dan 'Majlis Peguam Jangan Bermain Api'.

Mereka juga mengancam untuk menyerbu masuk ke dalam dewan sekiranya forum itu tidak ditamatkan segera.

Najib berkata, sebagai sebuah negara pelbagai kaum, asas yang menjadi kekuatan hingga berjaya mengelakkan permusuhan dan salah faham adalah wujudnya sifat toleransi dan hormat-menghormati.

Beliau berkata, dengan adanya sifat sedemikian telah membuatkan rakyat di negara ini hidup rukun dan damai.

''Hubungan (pelbagai kaum) juga berpandukan kepada Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Oleh itu, jika ada cubaan mempertikaikan perkara-perkara asas (dalam Perlembagaan) sudah tentu akan timbul timbal balas dan reaksi daripada kumpulan lain.

''Usaha untuk mengungkai balik (Perlembagaan) hanya akan mencetuskan satu perbalahan yang akhirnya boleh menggugat kestabilan dalaman negara,'' katanya.

Ketika ditanya sama ada tindakan Majlis Peguam itu boleh dikenakan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA), Najib berkata: ''Itu terpulang kepada polis dan Kementerian Dalam Negeri.'' (Utusan Malaysia Online 11 Ogos 2008)

Komen:
Sudah berbuih mulut. ingatan, amaran nasihat dan segala bentuk buah fikir diberikan tapi depa tak peduli. Sebenarnya ada orang nak tengok sejauh mana kebebasan bersuara dibuka oleh pihak berwajib. Sejauh mana hak asasi dibenarkan. ada yang bercakap tentang hak asasi individu. ada yang bercakap tentang hak asasi orang banyak. Ada yang memperjuangkan kebebasan bersuara individu dan ada yang bercakap tentang kebebasan bersuara majoriti rakuyat. ada yang bercakap dengan mengatas namakan rakyat, walaupun mereka tidak meawakili majoriti rakyat. Contoh, sebuah parti politik hanya mempunyai seorang dua perwakilan rakyat di parlimen tetapi apabila bercakap mereka mengatasnamakan rakyat. Kononnya "kami berjuang untuk rakyat".

Dan inilaha demokrasi yang mereka perjuangkan. padahal demokrasi bererti tunduk kepada kuasa majaoriti. Nah persoalannya sekarang siapa sebenarnya yang berhak mewakili rakyat; yang majoriti atau yang seorang berdua ini. Nampak gayanya BN kena fikirlah dam cadangkan supaya tukar nama "Barisan Nsional" kepada "Barisan Rakyat" kerana kumpulan pembangkang di partlimen "Pakatan Rakyat" sudah sesuai dengan namanya walaupun belum boleh dianggap mewakili rakyat majoriti.

Kalau perlu eloklah diberikan definisi baru kepada istilah "takyat" ini supaya tidak ada yang terkeliru. Dalam hal ini cuma nak tanya bagaimana kedudukan Majlis Peguam. ia bukan pertubuhan politik tetapi caranya bertindak macam pertubuhan politik.

PITA POLITIK (69): ANWAR THE PRIME MINISTER IN WAITING?

Sunday August 10, 2008
Nik Aziz wants PAS delegates to remember Umno ‘betrayals’


KOTA BARU: PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat wants delegates to the party’s annual gathering to remember history where PAS was victimised twice by Umno.

Nik Abdul Aziz said that in the 1970s he supported a proposal for PAS to became part of Barisan Nasional.

“Then, the party was evicted from the coalition and in the early 1990s, PAS forged an alliance with the (now defunct) Semangat 46 party. Again, it was left on the side when Semangat dissolved,” he said.

Nik Abdul Aziz said he had experienced twice the feeling of being betrayed, and stressed that he did not want PAS to go through the same situation again. He urged delegates to reflect on what the party had to go through.

“PAS has always been invited by parties who are skinny initially and when we help them to get fat we are then considered excess fat and removed,” he said.

In a related development, PAS secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar said the party would proceed with its gathering although the dates clashed with Nomination Day and the campaigning period for the Permatang Pauh by-election. (The Star Online)

Comment:
Datuk Nik Aziz reminds PAS members of UMNO betrayals in the 70's and 90's? Interesting. Just a day ago, Nik Aziz said something like Pakatan Rakyat members should not be envious of Anwar. And Anwar should be given a chance to be elected as MP.

Nik Aziz should not forget many of the current PAS and PKR leaders were former UMNO leaders, such as Kamaruddin Jaafar, Azmin Ali, Khalid Ibrahim or Hassan Ali. They were part of Anwar Ibrahim's inner circle. Now Ezam Mohd Nor has returned to UMNO, and is trying to reposition himself as a leader to be reckoned with.

So, Datuk Nik , where are they now? Kamaruddin is PAS Secretary General. Azmin is PKR Deputy President. Khalid Ibrahim is now the Menteri Besar of Selangor with Hassan as one of the senior EXCOs. In UMNO itself, Ahmad Zaid Hamidi, a former Anwar loyalist and right hand man is going strong and vying for the Vice-President post in the December UMNO Election. Fauzi Abd Rahman has left UMNO and might consider joining PKR. Political analysts insist on saying that all major political Malay parties have been cleverly infiltrated by Anwar's former and current loyalists.

SInce the return of Ezam to UMNO there is lot of talks about the Trojan Horse. Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin hasa reminded UMNO of the danger of a Trojan Horse in UMNO. But some analysts have been saying such trojan horse has been with PAS, without their leaders knowing it. Is Nik Aziz aware of this? Some people might be thinking that this is part of Anwar's political strategy to gain power.

The Malaysian politiacal playing field is not that complicated if people caan read Anwar's mind, and Wan Azizah is playing beautifully to fit into Anwar's plan. She gave way to allow her husband to contest the Permatang Pauh parliaamentary seat she vacated. Chandra Muzaffar said this was a short cut for Anwar's entry into the politcal mainstream. which is through the back door. Once Anwar becomes MP, he would take over the PR leadership from Azmin.

And the political showdown is set between two rival camps: Abdullah Ahmad badawi on the BN and Anwar on the PR. With Tun Mahathir out of UMNO and Abdullah at his weakest point in terms of public opinion and influence some people say the rest is a forgone conclusion. And the 16 September deadline is still intact. So Anwar is the next prime minister in waiting.

Nobody knowa what is in the mind of Nik Aziz. He is a straight talker but is he thinking straight too? Probably Nik Aziz should consider all these former loyalists in order to enter the straight talk in which he is familiar with! Another betrayal, Datuk and this time by whom??

PITA POLITIK (68): ONCE AND FOR ALL

LET'S FIGHT IT OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL
The Election Commission has set Aug 16 for nomination and Aug 26 for polls for the Permatang Pauh by-election. The seat became vacant July 31 after PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail resigned from her Permatang Pauh MP’s post to make way for her husband Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to contest in the by-election. (The Star Online, 6 August 08)

Comment:
Forget the underdog tag. And fight it out and come out a winner, irrespective whether the winner is from Pakatan Rakyat or BN. If it's the Malay unity that is at stake here then we are seeing a kind of Malay Unity in action, at least phisically. Both potential candidates for the by-election are Malays.One, a Malay, was a former UMNO member and another, also a Malay, is still on the party membership. So why bother?

PITA POLITIK (67): FOREIGN COVERAGE FAVOURS ANWAR MORE...

Saturday August 2, 2008
Paper: Anwar planning no-confidence vote
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is gathering support to file a no-confidence vote against the Government in six weeks, the Financial Times reported yesterday.

Anwar, who is fighting allegations of sodomy with a former aide, played down speculation that he would soon be formally charged.

“With all the evidence that is now before them, I don't see any reason why the authorities should continue with these investigations of alleged sodomy,” Anwar was quoted as saying by Financial Times.

“In any other system where there is justice and fairness, the powers would have by now shut down the investigations and cleared my name.”

Sodomy, even between consenting adults, is punishable by up to 20 years in prison in Malaysia. – Reuters (The Star Online)

Comment
Some media analysts say overseas news coverage on former Malaysian DPM, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim favours him more. On the same day opinion poll conducted by an independent organisation says PM Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad badawi's popularity is at all-time low (about 23%). Not sure whether there is a co-relation between the two news coverage. Hopefully not!

On another note how will Anwar plan aa no-confidence vote against the government when he is yet to become an MP, unless of course he will use someone from the Pakatan Rakyat to act as his proxy. So politically the war of attrition between Anwar and Abdullah goes on.