Hantu Laut
Keeping awake until the wee hours of the morning trying to make sense of the snail pace announcement of the election results over television and radio was nerve racking and made me rather cheesed-off at the stupidity of the Election Commission and government run media for trying to delay the delivery of the good news to the people and bad news to their bosses.
In the initial hours, I depended on phone calls to various friends in the inner circle of politics who gave me multifarious version of the results, some of which were figment of their imagination.
Malaysiakini, the not so government friendly internet news portal and deemed to be more reliable was slow in their updates.By about midnight my connection to Malaysiankini has gone kaput, either due to overloaded bandwidth or those goons at the ISP were told to bar the transmission. It was the same with Malaysia Today. It has disappeared from the world wide web.However, by about midnight I have got an inkling of where the BN was heading for.
The people have woken up.The electorates from the Klang Valley and to most of the northern states in Peninsula sent a serious message through the ballot boxes that inflicted a serious dent in the BN's armour. Its impregnable fortress is now shattered in humongous humility.
Not getting two-thirds majority is, as the Hakka Chinese in Sabah say "sap sap soi" (it's a small matter). The greatest humiliation was the loss of the five states to the oppositions. They haven't envisioned this at all.The oppositions have walked in through the back door while they were busy guarding the front door. They were more concerned about not losing the two-thirds majority and have completely forgotten the vulnerability of the states.
Some of its components lay in ruins and one was completely decimated.There were many factors that led to the massive swing to the oppositions. First and foremost was greed. Internal bickering and sabotage also played a wicked role.
Although Penang was expected to go to the oppositions particularly DAP, the loss would not have been that massive. The crushing blow in Penang was much due to Abdullah's refusal to name the Gerakan candidate who would take over from Koh Tsu Koon as chief minister. The Chinese community already disgruntled and unhappy by the poor treatment they getting from the government viewed Abdullah's silence as a ploy to give the chief minister post to UMNO, which they have tried to get before under Mahathir's tenure.The former prime minister warned UMNO, it's a no go zone and to lay off.
The other state that could have a Chinese menteri besar is Perak where DAP has captured the most state seats.It secured 18 seats, PKR 7 and PAS 6. The state constitution of Perak stipulated that the menteri besar must be a Malay and of the Islamic faith but the Sultan can waived this condition if he thinks it is expedient to do so.
If the rules of democratic process were to be used by convention than the MB position should be given to DAP. It would be a mockery of the parliamentary system if the position goes to PAS or PKR. The Malays have thrown their support behind the coalition of oppositions, it's time they bite the bullet and set aside this unfair system.
Perak has a high Chinese population and Chinese cultural practices and lifestyle are conspicuous throughout the state, a PAS styled regime would be untenable.
PAS has issued a warning that all new states they have captured will come under the same PAS styled rules. Kelantan can't be used as a barometer for other states. Each state is unique and should be treated differently. Kedah has a better chance of accepting PAS styled rule. It would be up to the Sultan of Perak to decide the most acceptable formula for his state.
The massive swing to the oppositions were the results of good work of propagandists, one of which is the accusation of phantom voters and tainted electoral rolls. The results has shown that there is little truth in its widespread and wholesale existence.
Now that the die is cast, let us wait and see where democracy would take us with greater dissenting voices in Parliament.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
SABAH AND SARAWAK SAVED PAK LAH
Hantu Laut
First of all I would like to apologise for not being able to update the election results last night as my internet connection was down.
The results has been one beyond expectations. A resounding victory for the oppositions and a new era for Malaysia.The people have spoken, the need for change by denying the BN two-thirds majority, which I have always espouse would be the best mechanism for check and balance of a corrupt regime.
The fall of the state government in Penang was expected but Selangor, Perak and Kedah was a shocker, an outcome that even the oppositions didn't expect.
This is a wake-up call for UMNO to stop taking the people for granted and stop marginalisation of ethnic minority races in the country.The poor showing is also a message that the people have had enough of corruptions and abuses of power. Losing five states in the Peninsula to the oppositions has made Pak Lah the only prime minister that have brought UMNO to its lowest level of support since its inception. He has also helped to kill MCA, MIC and Gerakan, the biggest trashing they ever had.
UMNO would have lost the federal government if not for Sabah and Sarawak. The excellent performance of the Sabah BN was another surprise. The politics of Anwar Ibrahim has not caught up with the people in Sabah and Sarawak. His party, PKR didn't win a single seat in Sabah and Sarawak.
The outstanding performance of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman who was rumored to be replaced many times before is par excellence, delivered almost 100 percent of the state and parliamentary seats, he lost only 1 state and 1 parliamentary seats. Almost all candidates won with strong majority.
In the Peninsula the only strong showing was in two states, Johor and Pahang. The DPM Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak won overwhelmingly with a massive of 24,464 majority.
The state that sprung a surprise for the BN was Trengganu capturing 8 parliamentary and 23 state seats. Many have predicted a strong comeback from PAS.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi won his Kepala Batas parliamentary seat with reduced majority.He collected only 11,246 majority compared to 18,122 in 2004. It is unthinkable that a prime minister can lose his own state. What can of grassroots has he got if he can't even get his own state to back him. Former prime minister Tun Mahathir will have a field day tomorrow.
In view of the poor showing and by convention Badawi should step aside and hand over the prime ministership to Najib. Ministers like Rafidah Aziz and Hishamuddin Tun Hussein should also be dropped from the cabinet. The APs and keris issues had done untold damage to UMNO's support from the big minority groups, namely the Chinese and Indians in the country. It has also eroded the Malays support for the party.
It would be perilous for UMNO if Badawi continued as prime minister.
First of all I would like to apologise for not being able to update the election results last night as my internet connection was down.
The results has been one beyond expectations. A resounding victory for the oppositions and a new era for Malaysia.The people have spoken, the need for change by denying the BN two-thirds majority, which I have always espouse would be the best mechanism for check and balance of a corrupt regime.
The fall of the state government in Penang was expected but Selangor, Perak and Kedah was a shocker, an outcome that even the oppositions didn't expect.
This is a wake-up call for UMNO to stop taking the people for granted and stop marginalisation of ethnic minority races in the country.The poor showing is also a message that the people have had enough of corruptions and abuses of power. Losing five states in the Peninsula to the oppositions has made Pak Lah the only prime minister that have brought UMNO to its lowest level of support since its inception. He has also helped to kill MCA, MIC and Gerakan, the biggest trashing they ever had.
UMNO would have lost the federal government if not for Sabah and Sarawak. The excellent performance of the Sabah BN was another surprise. The politics of Anwar Ibrahim has not caught up with the people in Sabah and Sarawak. His party, PKR didn't win a single seat in Sabah and Sarawak.
The outstanding performance of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman who was rumored to be replaced many times before is par excellence, delivered almost 100 percent of the state and parliamentary seats, he lost only 1 state and 1 parliamentary seats. Almost all candidates won with strong majority.
In the Peninsula the only strong showing was in two states, Johor and Pahang. The DPM Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak won overwhelmingly with a massive of 24,464 majority.
The state that sprung a surprise for the BN was Trengganu capturing 8 parliamentary and 23 state seats. Many have predicted a strong comeback from PAS.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi won his Kepala Batas parliamentary seat with reduced majority.He collected only 11,246 majority compared to 18,122 in 2004. It is unthinkable that a prime minister can lose his own state. What can of grassroots has he got if he can't even get his own state to back him. Former prime minister Tun Mahathir will have a field day tomorrow.
In view of the poor showing and by convention Badawi should step aside and hand over the prime ministership to Najib. Ministers like Rafidah Aziz and Hishamuddin Tun Hussein should also be dropped from the cabinet. The APs and keris issues had done untold damage to UMNO's support from the big minority groups, namely the Chinese and Indians in the country. It has also eroded the Malays support for the party.
It would be perilous for UMNO if Badawi continued as prime minister.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
SABAH RESULTS: LIVE UPDATE TONIGHT
Hantu Laut
Malaysians will cast their votes today. Local and foreign analysts predict the BN to retain its two-thirds majority.
In Sabah there are 60 state and 25 parliamentary seats up for grabs.The BN won 2 state and 2 parliamentary seats uncontested, giving it 4 seats lead before polling day. There are some vulnerable seats in KDM and Chinese areas. The parliamentary seats hotly contested are Keningau, Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan. The state seats that will see hot contest with the oppositions are, Merotai, Tanjong Kapur, Banggi, Kuala Penyu, Tambunan, Sri Tanjong, Karamunting, Tempasuk and Karamunting. However, BN is predicted to tip the scale in many of the areas.
The state seats of Banggi and Tempasuk which have always been considered safe seats are rumored to being sabotaged by followers of UMNO incumbents who were dropped in favour of new faces. The two constituencies have seen very little in term of progress and development.
In spite of a burgeoning economy, dissatisfaction among the electorates are still widespread over price increases of fuel oil, essential goods and corruptions.
There are strong feeling of uncertainty among voters whether to keep the old shirt on or get a new one. The pundits have given BN the edge over the oppositions and it looks like Malaysians may have to carry on using their old and smelly shirt.
Visit this site tonight for live update of Sabah and National results.
Sabah scoreboard click here
National scoreboard click here
Malaysians will cast their votes today. Local and foreign analysts predict the BN to retain its two-thirds majority.
In Sabah there are 60 state and 25 parliamentary seats up for grabs.The BN won 2 state and 2 parliamentary seats uncontested, giving it 4 seats lead before polling day. There are some vulnerable seats in KDM and Chinese areas. The parliamentary seats hotly contested are Keningau, Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan. The state seats that will see hot contest with the oppositions are, Merotai, Tanjong Kapur, Banggi, Kuala Penyu, Tambunan, Sri Tanjong, Karamunting, Tempasuk and Karamunting. However, BN is predicted to tip the scale in many of the areas.
The state seats of Banggi and Tempasuk which have always been considered safe seats are rumored to being sabotaged by followers of UMNO incumbents who were dropped in favour of new faces. The two constituencies have seen very little in term of progress and development.
In spite of a burgeoning economy, dissatisfaction among the electorates are still widespread over price increases of fuel oil, essential goods and corruptions.
There are strong feeling of uncertainty among voters whether to keep the old shirt on or get a new one. The pundits have given BN the edge over the oppositions and it looks like Malaysians may have to carry on using their old and smelly shirt.
Visit this site tonight for live update of Sabah and National results.
Sabah scoreboard click here
National scoreboard click here
Saturday, March 8, 2008
WILL SABAH CHANGE SHIRTS IN THE MALAYSIAN ELECTIONS ?
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| Photo by Derrick Chang |
The tiny constituency of Senellang in Malaysia covers a small portion of the northern Borneo mainland and a number of outlying islands in the coastal waters of the Sulawesi Sea. It has 12,998 registered voters, mainly ethnic Bajaus and Suluks of the Islamic faith, traditional fishermen who eke out their livelihood from the sea.
In the days of the British North Borneo Chartered Company and later under formal British colonial rule, this was one of the most pirate-infested areas in the region. As recently as the early 1990s, attacks on remote villages were still being reported. With better roads and accessibility to bigger towns and enhanced security along the porous sea border with the Philippines, however, the threat of pirate attack from the sea has diminished. Read more.....
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