ARE THE KADAZANS BACK TO THEIR OLD ELEMENTS ?

Hantu Laut

Sabah will see one of the biggest tussle between BN, PKR and DAP.The biggest headache for BN is not the Mazu issue or the Chinese voters, it is the KDM (Kadazan Dusun Murut) electorates.

The three Kadazan based parties are not expected to do well in the coming polls due to widespread dissatifactions with their leaders for failure to address crucial issues. The loss of customary rights to their land, the perennial issue of illegal immigrants and the issuance of citizenship papers to illegal immigrants.

These contentious issues of illegal immigrants have made the local populace uncomfortable and suspicious of the motives of the Federal government for its refusal to find a permanent solution to resolve the problems. The state government had little power over the matters and the thorn have been in the flesh since the days of the USNO government.All subsequent governments including PBS, the Kadazan dominated government previously, had been unable to address the problem. The natives in Sabah consider the inaction of the Federal government as an exercise to further Malay hegemonic control over the state.

The issues of large tract of land given out to big companies is not a new issue but are problems created by the Kadazan leaders when they were in power. Thousands of acres of land earmarked to be given to smallholders by the then BERJAYA government were sold to Peninsula Malaysia based companies with financial benefits taken by those in power. Economic generators started by the BERJAYA government like SFI Paper Mill, Sponge Iron Plant and many others were sold to private companies from the Peninsula.

Yet the very man who destroyed Sabah's future together with his big brother when they were running the state and reputedly stole billions is now seen as a saviour of the KDM people through PKR, a Peninsula based party.

Sabah is now the biggest producer of palm oil and most big plantations are owned by Peninsula based companies giving the state very little left in term of cash revenue and investment resources. All financial transactions relating to this trade are done in Kuala Lumpur. Most Sabahans felt left out and deprived of the chance to enjoy the economic boom of the oil palm industry.

Most of the Kadazan leaders have little integrity and principle, with aptitude for kampong cunningness, rather than political shrewdness. History would repeat itself and the KDM will return to their old element of abandoning the BN through stealthy manipulations. The October 1990 state election was reminiscent of the brand of politics inherent in this community. PKR may win some seats in Sabah but are likely to lose all of it later to katak lumpat (party-hopping) if they can't form the next state government, which is an almost impossible task given the gerrymandered electoral boundaries.

The case of Jornah Mozihim, the assembly woman for Matunggong was an example of lack of integrity and principle of its President, Datuk Seri Pairin Kitingan who has written to her and confirmed in writing her candidacy.She was kicked out the last minute without her being given prior knowledge of the last minute change. The same goes with Tan Sri Bernard Dompok who shifted his party stalwart Donald Mojuntin, the incumbent for Penampang to Moyog and kicked out Philip Lasimbang from Moyog to ensure a safe seat for himself in Penampang.

The President of PBRS, Tan Sri Joseph Kurup must be the luckiest candidate.He went unopposed due to disqualification of the other two candidates. Kurup abandoned his constituency of Sook where he won by a slim majority of 395 in 2004 to escape from being slaughtered by Jeffery Kitingan in the forthcoming polls.He kicked out Bernard Maraat and took his seat. He was expected to lose if the seat was contested.

SUPP President Yong Tet Lee may have shot himself in the foot when he said he will retain all the incumbents of his party as they have done a good job and expected to get the Api-Api seat for himself which he failed to secure. He could have forced anyone of his boys to vacate a seat for him.He has shown chivairous principle by not doing what Dompok and Kurup did.

The political soothsayers predicted almost all the Kadazan leaders from the BN component parties including Joseph Pairin will have an uphill battle to retain their seats.

The KDM are back to their old elements. PKR is expected to capture significant number of seats from the Kadazan heartland but they are also predicted to abandon PKR for greener pasture.

NOMINATION DAY UPDATE

Hantu Laut

The BN is currently leading with some uncontested seats.

Parliamentary seat candidates who won uncontested
1. Datuk Azalina Othman Said - P157 Pengerang, Johor (Umno) 2. Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh - P191 Kalabakan, Sabah (Umno)
3. Norah Abdul Rahman - P206 Tanjung Manis, Sarawak (PBB)
4. Aaron Ago Dagang - P210 Kanowit, Sarawak (PRS)
5. Joseph Entulu Belaun - P214 Selangau, Sarawak (PRS)
6. Alexander Nanta Linggi - P215 Kapit, Sarawak (PBB)

State seat candidates who won uncontested
Sabah
Datuk Ramlee Marbahan - N54 Bugaya (Umno)

Selangor
Datuk Abdul Rahman Palil – N43 Sementa (Umno)

PAS got 1 seat unoppossed in Kijang, Kelantan.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman challenged by 3 others in Sibuga, PKR, Bersekutu and 1 independent candidate.

Rafidah Aziz disqualified(yet to be confirmed).

Merotai, Sabah 7 cornered fight.

PM Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi straight fight with PAS candidate Subri Mat Arshad

Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz straight fight with BN/UMNO candidate Datuk Dr Nik Zain Omar in Chempaka, Kelantan.

PKR Wan Azizah against BN/UMNO Datuk Pirdaus Ismail in Permatang Pauh, Pinang.

DPM Datuk Seri Mohd Najib against PKR Khairul Anuar Ahmad Zainudin in Pekan, Pahang.

Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin (BN-Umno) against Mohd Rozali Jamli Al-Hafiz (PAS) in Pagoh, Johor.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein (BN-Umno) against Lee Sang (PKR) in Semrong, Johor.

Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Khir Toyo (BN-Umno) against Mohd Fadzin Taslimin(PAS) in Sungei Panjang, Selangor.

Melaka Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam (BN-Umno) against Bakrin Sidek (Pas) in Buki Baru, Melaka.

Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (BN-Umno) against Che Nordin Che Ahmad (Pas) in Tambun Tulang,Perlis.

Sarawak CM's son, Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abdul Taib (BN-PBB) in 3 cornered fight
against Hussain Abg Apok (PKR) and Abu Bakar Awang Dawos (Ind) in Kota Samarahan, Sarawak.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim (BN-Umno) against Norman Ipin(Pas) in Jelebu, Negri Sembilan.

PM son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar (BN-Umno) against Badrul Hisham Shaharin (PKR) in Rembau, Negri Sembilan.

Minister Datuk Seri Samy Vellu in 3-cornered fight against PKR Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj and IND Nor Rizan Oon.

KEADILAN CONTESTING 58 SEATS IN SABAH

Tan Sri Joseph Kurup uncontested in Pensiangan, Sabah.

BN now has 7 MP and 2 State seats uncontested.

Datuk Seri Pairin Kitingan(BN/PBS) against his brother Datuk Dr Jeffery Kitingan(PKR) in Keningau, Sabah and against PKR Mozes M Iking in Tambunan state seat.

BN has obtained 2 more seats making a total of 9 parliamentary and 2 state seats captured uncontested.

Scary moment for Rafidah due to unsigned nomination form.She wasn't disqualified as reported earlier.

Most seats in Sabah heavily contested between BN and PKR. The opposition pact between PKR and DAP are not in place here. A number of seats are contested by both DAP and PKR against BN.

Tan Sri Joseph Kurup won the Pensiangan parliamentary seat uncontested after two other candidates were disqualified for submitting their papers late.A man supposedly PKR supporter tried to punch him but missed. PKR and 1 independent candidate were disqualified.

In Tenom BN supporters burnt BN flags to show their dissatisfaction over the choice of candidates.BN fielded incumbents for (Tenom Parliament) Tamie Unggi, (Kemabong) Datuk Rubin Balang and (Melalap) Datuk Radin Malleh.

Tanjong Kapur saw 8-cornered fight.BN,PKR,BERSEKUTU and 5 independents.

Visit this site for update on campaining in Sabah.

MOSQUITO PARTY NOMINATED ALL NEW FACES

Hantu Laut

The smallest politicial party in Sabah, LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) formerly headed by former Chief Minister Chong Kah Kiat has fielded all four new faces. The biggest surprise was that of incumbent Liew Yun Fah, the assemblyman for Merotai, who was dropped in favour of a newcomer.Liew who is very popular with the electorates in Merotai is expected to stand as independent against the LDP choice. Due to his popularity, many has given him an edge over his opponent, if he takes up the challenge.

As reported in the Daily Express:

Contest as loners? Keningau: The State Barisan Nasional faces the prospect of dropped incumbents contesting the 12th general election on March 8 as Independents. At least two have so far hinted they would consider such alternative as an act of retaliation against their respective party presidents over their exclusions. Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Liew Yun Fah arrived to a rousing welcome by some 2,000 supporters at the Tawau Airport, Friday. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership had earlier dropped him from the party candidates' list for the Merotai state constituency which he won in 2004. He had barely warmed his seat as Youth and Sports Minister several months ago. LDP President Datuk VK Liew had announced party secretary Pang Yuk Ming for the seat, instead. While declining to specifically reveal his next cause of action, Liew said that in the event he decides to contest as an Independent, it would not mean that he would be against the Barisan Nasional, "but against any outsider trying their luck in Merotai". Liew said he was still toying with the idea and that his fortune would depend on the wisdom of the electorates in the area. He regretted at not being aware of the decision to drop him from the fray, contrary to a statement by VK Liew. While stressing that he had nothing to lose for having been dropped, he regretted that the party seemingly does not appreciate the level of support accorded by the electorates in the Merotai area. Supporters turning up at the airport displayed banners expressing their support for Liew as their elected representative. Balung candidate Datuk Syed Abbas Syed Ali, Nilwan Kabang (Kunak) and Datuk Haji Harman Haji Mohd (Sulabayan) arriving at the same time at the airport, were also given a rousing welcome by their respective supporters. In Keningau, Pensiangan Parliamentary incumbent Datuk Bernard S Maraat declared his stand to contest both the Pensiangan Parliament and Sook State seats as an independent candidate. Bernard, who is also Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) Secretary-General, told supporters gathered at his Taman Jutaya residence, Friday, that he would be relinquishing all positions in the party and the Government. As speculated, the PBRS list showed party President Tan Sri Joseph Kurup contesting the Pensiangan seat, while Deputy Datuk Ellron Alfred Angin has been allocated the Sook seat. Both constituencies were secured by PBRS in the 2004 general election. Friday's gathering included 50 local community leaders, comprising village heads and native chiefs. Bernard pointed out that his winning the Pensiangan seat in 2004 was the result of solid support from the BN component parties, his supporters and family members. In Kinabatangan, parliamentary incumbent Datuk Bung Moktar Radin warned that the BN would not hesitate to take stern action against any BN or Umno leaders contesting as independents. They would be dubbed as traitors acting contrary to the struggle of the coalition and party, he said. Bung Moktar, who is Kinabatangan Umno chief, urged all members of the BN component parties, including Umno, to accept the decision of the BN leadership in the choice of candidates. Foremost on their minds would be to ensure a convincing electoral victory for the coalition, he said.

YES PRIME MINISTER ! I AM RIGHT.

Hantu Laut

You don't have to be an economist to get correct economic figures that have been published in economic journals.

Our PM had three attempts and came out with completely different and outrageously wrong figures. In my post 'Of Chillipadi And Buah Keras' I highlighted the mistakes. His latest figure is nearer the truth but is still wrong.

The following are excrepts from his speeches:

1.PUTRAJAYA 28 Jan. – Kecekapan kerajaan Malaysia semakin meningkat dan kini diletakkan sebagai yang keenam terbaik di dunia, kata Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.(Utusan Online)

2.“We are a population of over 20 million and we rank eighth in the world in terms of our competitiveness.(The Star)

3. He said recognition of Malaysia in the global competitiveness index also improved from 25th position to 21st place.(Bernama)

The last one is an improvement but is still wrong. The true figure is 23rd down from 22nd in 2006.

I believe he was misquoted. Otherwise, what explanation can he gives for the inconsistency.