Makkal Shakti at DAP Penang 06/03/2008

Lawatan Anwar Ibrahim

8:00am

Kebun Bunga - Padang Tembak - Public/Home Visit

12:45pm

Anwar: Solat Jumaat - Masjid Semilang, Seberang Jaya

3:00pm

Anwar: Permatang Pauh - Restoran RUBY, Seberang Jaya - Hubungi: Amir 012-5048386

4:00pm

Anwar: Balik Pulau - Bilik Gerakkan Sg. Batu. (Berdekatan Restoran Tomyan Sri Anjung) - Hubungi: Sazali 012-4740410

5:00pm

Anwar: N39 Pulau Betong, P53 Balik Pulau - 95 Jalan Besar, Balik Pulau (Berdekatan Pekan Kongsi) - Hubungi: Abd Rahman 012-4730650

5:30pm

Batu: Ceramah Umum - Tian Chua, Tarmizi Mohd Jam, wakil Hindraf - Taman Sri Murni - lawatan pasar malam Tmn Wilayah

WhenFri, Mar 7, 5:30pm – 6:30pm

more details» Add to Calendar

6:00pm

Anwar: N40 Teluk Bahang, P53 Balik Pulau - Rumah Mohd Amin Nordin, 729 Mk 2 Kg Rawai, Teluk Bahang - Hubungi: Mohd Shukri 016-4373212

8:00pm

Kebun Bunga - Padang Tembak - Public Speech

8:00pm

Anwar: N24 Kebun Bunga, P48 Bukit Bendera - Jalan Mount Erskine, Fettes Park (Mount Erskine Market) - Hubungi: Beh 012-5664400

9:00pm

Nibong Tebal - Sungai Bakap - Sungai Duri - Ceramah Umum

9:15pm

Anwar: N37 Batu Maung, P52 Bayan Baru - Bilik Gerakkan PAS Pagar Buluh, Sungai Ara (Berdekatan Sek Ren Sg Ara) - Hubungi: Azrizal 012-4984556

9:30pm

Sunway - Bilik Gerakan Sunway,No 120 Blok 2,Jln PJS 8/14 - Ceramah

9:30pm

Nibong Tebal - Sungai Bakap - Pdg Llg (Muda) - Ceramah

10:30pm

Anwar: N5 Sungai Dua, P42 Tasek Gelugor - Desa Murni

10:30pm

Nibong Tebal - Sungai Bakap - Jln Stesen - Ceramah

11:10pm

Anwar: N12 Penanti, P44 Permatang Pauh - Padang Ibu, Guar Perahu - Hubungi: Che Mat 019-4111007

Saturday, March 8

» 11:50pm

Anwar: N12 Penanti, P44 Permatang Pauh - Padang Ibu, Guar Perahu - Hubungi: Che Mat 019-4111007

Amazing. There is a win of change blowin in Penang as we start voting tomorrow. This is just behind my house and it was jammed like never before. It drizzled and there was no free food or famous singers, still 50,000 people packed the school field. Pretty exciting. But don't expect to hear anything about it in the main stream media.

TI-M: Pilihanraya jadi 'bahan lawak'

Mar 6, 08 1:42pm

Sistem pilihanraya di Malaysia boleh menjadi "bahan lawak" di peringkat antarabangsa jika kecacatan ketaranya tidak diperbaiki, kata presiden Transparency International- Malaysia (TI-M) Tan Sri Ramon V. Navaratnam. Dalam kenyataannya hari ini, Ramon berkata beliau mengetahui secara peribadi beberapa kes pengundi muda yang nama mereka dihapuskan daripada daftar pemilih dengan alasan "telah meninggal dunia." "Sebenarnya, saya sendiri tahu bahawa mereka semua masih hidup!" katanya, mengulas kenyataan pengerusi Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya (SPR) Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman di sebuah media asing bulan lalu. "Jika anda mahu pilihanraya yang bebas dan adil ... anda mesti mempunyai kuasa untuk meratakan padang persaingan," Abdul Rashid dipetik sebagai berkata. "Tanpa kuasa itu, maka keseluruhan sistem boleh ditertawakan orang," tambahnya. "Dalam sesuatu pilihanraya anda harus mewujudkan keadaan yang dinamakan pilihan (pengundi) berasaskan maklumat. Itulah prinsipnya. "Orang ramai mesti tahu siapa yang bertanding, jadi publisiti mesti diberikan kepada semua pihak, bukan hanya sebelah pihak. Dan memang wujud media yang melaporkan sebelah pihak sahaja." Sambil menyatakan sokongannya pada kenyataan Abdul Rashid itu, Ramon berkata keputusan suruhanjaya membatalkan penggunaan dakwat kekal malangnya hanya menambahkan lagi tanggapan umum bahawa pilihanraya 8 Mac ini sekadar "bahawa ketawa". "Alasan SPR pula tidak begitu meyakinkan," katanya. Dakwaan badan pemantau Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) bahawa wujud nama-nama pemilih yang dibenarkan mengundi beberapa kali (ada dakwaan sebanyak 40 kali) di banyak tempat menjejaskan lagi kewibawaan SPR, kata Ramon. Beliau menggesa dakwaan-dakwaan ini disiasat segera untuk memulihkan kredibiliti sistem pilihanraya. Ramon juga menyokong saranan Abdul Rashid agar sistem perundangan disemak untuk mewujudkan peraturan yang sama adil untuk semua calon dan parti bertanding. TI-M kini memantau perbelanjaan parti-parti bertanding, termasuk kos iklan di media cetak dan elektronik.

Dap Gathering in Penang

I just came from DAP Gathering in Penang Han Chiang School
wowowwoowwowowow more than 50,000.00 dap's attend

Great Makkal Shakti

karpal, limkitsiang, jagjit, rayer, jeffoii, lim and more was there.

Postal voting secrecy compromised: polls watchdog

Athi Veeranggan | Mar 6, 08 7:35pm

During his observation, Mafrel northern region coordinator BK Ong discovered that all the army and police personnel were required to fill up a separate identity declaration form consisting of their name, identity card number and ballot paper' serial number prior to voting. Although voting was carried out privately, each voter was compelled to enclose together both his ballot paper and identity declaration form inside the postal vote envelope before putting it into the ballot bag. Upon checking the postal vote envelope, the identity declaration form will clearly reveal the identity of the voter and who he had voted for. "Voting secrecy is among the most fundamental principles of the democratic process. It should not be compromised," Ong said. Mafrel discovered this ‘tainted’ electoral process when observing postal voting at the Bukit Gedung army base in Bayan Lepas and Northeast District police headquarters in Georgetown. For the first time, the Election Commission has accredited Mafrel as the country's 12th general election watch observers. The commission allowed only 333 Mafrel volunteers as official election observers in polling stations this year. The accreditation seems to have paid off as Mafrel's four-man team led by Ong made this discovery. "We do not know whether EC, the police or army officials are behind the introduction of the identity declaration form. But the most important issue is voting and voter's secrecy has been compromised. This is an election offence," he asserted. EC's lack of enforcement of the election laws has compromised the confidentiality of one's vote and made a mockery of the country's democratic process, said Ong. Fears confirmed Under provisions stipulated in Section 5 Part II of the Election Offences Act 1954, one is prohibited from obtaining or revealing the identity of voters and their votes, such as names, identity card numbers and ballot paper serial numbers. "If convicted for such an offence, one faces a maximum one-year jail or a fine of up to RM3,000, or both. Suspicion has often been cast on the postal voting process conducted for army and police personnel. The country has 220,000 postal votes. Mafrel’s revelation today seems to confirm fears that postal votes have been manipulated and the secrecy of voters compromised. "The identity declaration form instills fear on the army and police personnel who want to vote freely without fear or favour," said Ong. Another serious flaw noted in the election process for army and police personnel is that the voting was managed and conducted by police and army officers themselves. Although EC officials and appointed agents shall handle the voting process, Ong expressed shock that this did not happen in the army and police bases. "EC officials and agents were nowhere around," he claimed.

Vandals 'paint' EC head's house red

Vandals 'paint' EC head's house red

Ng Ling Fong & Chan Kok Leong | Mar 6, 08 5:21pm

Election Commission head has felt the backlash of a decision against the use of indelible ink - vandals splashed the outside of his house with bright red paint early this morning. Abdul Rashid, who lives in Bukit Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, woke up at 7.30am to discover the paint all over the gate and external walls. Police responded to his call about 8am. “I don’t know when it happened,” he told Malaysiakini at his house, saying he had gone to bed at midnight. Asked if he thought it was politically motivated, he said: “Definitely! I think they got angry because we were forced to scrap the indelible ink. People don’t understand why we were forced to scrap it and (they) have resorted to this.” Abdul Rashid said that a section of his two-storey bungalow, built 37 years ago, is current under renovation due to a severe termite problem. He had announced the decision late on Tuesday, citing issues relating to the Federal Constitution and a purported plot to mark voters ahead of polls on Saturday. The use of indelible ink is yet to be legislated while, under Section 119 of the Federal Constitution, all eligible citizens are entitled to vote in a general election. Unless the Election Regulations 1981 are amended, the right to vote cannot be made conditional on the marking of voters' fingers. Despite knowing this, however, the EC had accepted the proposal last July and even proceeded to buy some 45,000 bottles of indelible ink from India at a cost of RM2.4 million. As recently as at a press conference in EC headquarters in Putrajaya on Feb 25, EC secretary Kamaruzaman Mohd Noor had confidently declared that the ink would be used in the upcoming elections. Meanwhile, according to a report posted on the Star Online this afternoon, Abdul Rashid will be given a police escort. It quoted a police officer, identified only as Muhammad Sabtu, as saying that samples of the paint have been sent to the chemistry department for analysis. Without attributing the information, the report further said three men in a dark-coloured car had been seen outside the house about 12.30am. One man alighted with three cans and dumped the contents on the gate and walls. The cans were recovered outside the house. No arrests have been made.

Kenapa BN Mahu Sangat Rampas Kelantan

Di perairan Kelantan terdapat simpanan GAS ASLI sebanyak 13 trillion kaki persegi yang sudah sedia untuk diterokai. (13,000,000, 000,000).

Ia cukup untuk 7 generasi rakyat Kelantan. (lebih kurang 500 tahun lamanya).

Ianya terletak di Blok-Blok berikut,

• Blok A18
• Blok B17 & C19
• PM3
• Sub-Blok Ular
• PM301 & PM302
• PM303
• PM311 & 312

Rakyat Kelantan menerusi kerajaan pimpinan Tuan Guru menuntuk hak Pendaratan GAS ASLI itu di buat di pantai Kelantan dan menuntut royalti GAS ASLI yang menjadi hasil bumi rakyat Kelantan di bayar kepada Rakyat Kelantan.

APA YANG BARISAN NASIONAL SEMBUNYIKAN DARI RAKYAT KELANTAN

Petronas mengesahkan bahawa operasi GAS ASLI di BLOK A 18 sudah bermula menerusi Syarikat Carigali HESS.

• Petronas memegang 50% saham di dalam syarikat tersebut menerusi Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd dan 50% lagi dipegang oleh Aremada Hess Inc.
• Sekarang ini, operasinya mengeluarkan 6,000 tong GAS ASLI sehari.
• Jarak Blok A18 adalah lebih dekat ke Kota Bharu daripada di hantar ke Kerteh dan Songkla.
• Kerajaan BN bagaimanapun memilih pendaratan GAS ASLI itu dibuat di Songkla walaupun kosnya lebih tinggi akibat jarak yang jauh itu.

Dalam usaha mempertahankan hak rakyat Kelantan dan memperkasakan hasil bumi Kelantan untuk rakyat Kelantan, Kerajaan Kelantan pimpinan PAS telah meluluskan pembinaan Terminal Pendaratan Gas Asli dan juga Supply Base untuk Petroleum.

Menerusi penerokaan GAS ASLI di Blok A 18, setiap hari, Petronas sepatutnya membayar rakyat Kelantan royalti yang bernilai RM512,000.00 (RM512 ribu) sehari dan ini bererti Kerajaan Kelantan seharusnya mendapat pendapatan tambahan dari royalti GAS ASLI yang bernilai RM186,880,000 (RM186 juta) setahun.

• Menerusi hasil terbaharu ini, PAS Kelantan sudah berjanji untuk memberi subsidi gas memasak sebanyak RM3.00 se tong bagi rakyat Kelantan.
• PAS Kelantan juga akan menggunakan hasil pendapatan baru itu untuk tujuan kebajikan dan mempertingkatkan taraf hidup rakyat Kelantan serta membasmi kemiskinan.
  

PERANCANGAN OPERASI TELAGA-TELAGA GAS ASLI LAIN DI PERAIRAN KELANTAN

• Blok A 18 Fasa 2 pada tahun 2010
• Blok B 17 dan C 19 – Operasi bermula suku ke tiga 2009.
• Blok PM301 dan PM302 – Operasi bermula 2011 dan 2012
• Blok PM3 – Operasi bermula suku ke tiga 2008

Sebab itulah BN berusaha sangat merampas semula Kelantan kerana tidak mahu royalti GAS ASLI ini digunakan oleh Kerajaan PAS membangunkan Kelantan sehingga mengakibatkan Kelantan semakin pesat membangun dan membuat mustahil bagi BN untuk merampas Kelantan semula.

BERAPA BANYAK ROYALTI GAS ASLI YANG MENJADI HAK RAKYAT KELANTAN

Apabila semua telaga-telaga GAS ASLI ini beroperasi Royalti GAS ASLI yang akan diterima rakyat Kelantan ialah bernilai RM1,000,000, 000 (RM1 Billion).

Sebab itulah BN mahu perampas Kelantan sebelum telaga-telaga GAS ASLI ini mula beroperasi.

ROYALTI GAS ASLI HAK RAKYAT KELANTAN

• PAS komited dan akan memperjuangkan habis-habisan bersama rakyat Kelantan untuk mendapatkan royalti GAS ASLI ini.
• Jika BN merampas Kelantan, royalti GAS ASLI tidak akan menjadi milik rakyat Kelantan dan rakyat Kelantan akan menerima nasib yang sama seperti Terengganu.
• Terengganu menikmati royalti minyak dan GAS ASLI sebanyak RM1.2 billion setahun di dalam bentuk wang ehsan.
• Wang Ehsan tidak diberi kepada kerajaan Terengganu tetapi disalurkan kepada orang tertentu seperti Patrick Lim untuk digunakan untuk projek seperti Monsoon Cup dan Pembinaan Taman Islam Hadhari yang tidak mendatangkan hasil terus kepada rakyat Terengganu.
• Jika BN memerintah, rakyat akan terus hidup dibelenggu kemiskinan dan ekonomi negeri akan semakin teruk seperti di Terengganu.
• Walaupun menerima RM1.2 billion setahun, rakyat Terengganu lebih miskin dari rakyat Kelantan.
• Hutang tertunggak Terengganu, lebih RM300 juta sedangkan hutang tertunggak Kelantan semenjak pemerintahan PAS hanya tinggal kurang RM12 juta.

Subject: Penting !! Fakta Tentang Minyak Yang Semua Kena Tahu

Subject: Penting !! Fakta Tentang Minyak Yang Semua Kena Tahu

Baru baru ini dalam akhbar tempatan, kerajaan telah keluarkan satu
statistik kononnya harga minyak di malaysia adalah yang paling rendah
di rantau ini.Kemudian mereka membandingkan harga minyak malaysia
dengan hargi minyak di Thailand, Singapore, Filifina dan
vietnam.Persoalan sekarang apakah asas perbandingan tersebut sedangkan
negara negara tersebut bukan pengeluar minyak?Hujah seperti inilah yang
di gunakan oleh barisan nasional untuk memperbodohkan orang kampung.

Ok, disini fakta yang semua orang kena tahu.Pertama sekali sila lihat
perbandingan harga minyak malaysiadan negara negara pengeluar minyak
yang lain:-

Negara Harga minyak seliter (dalam RM)

MalaysiaRM1. 92
IranRM0.29
VenezuelaRM0. 16
Turkemenistan RM0.39
Arab Saudi RM0.19
Mesir RM0.81
;
Dari data di atas, membuktikan propaganda kerajaan adalah palsu dan
tidak benar.Kesemua negara pengeluar minyak di atas, harga minyak
adalah di bawah RM1.00 seliter.Ada sesetengah alasan mengatakan
keluaran minyak kita tak sebanyak arab saudi yang mengeluarkan sejuta
tong sehari.Menurut kerajaan, pengeluaran minyak kita adalah dalam
lingkungan 700 ribu tong sehari.Oleh itu kalau berdasarkan ratio
pengeluaran minyak antara arab saudi dan malaysia 1 juta : 700 ribu,
sepatutnya harga minyak malaysia dalam lingkungan RM0.30 sen
sahaja.Kenapa arab saudi boleh kekalkan harga minyak pada 0.19 sen
seliter tapi malaysia pada 1.92 sen?Bukan kah jauh bezanya?Bagaimana
pula dengan venezuella yang jumlah penduduk hampir sama dengan malaysia
boleh kekalkan harga minyak pada 0.16 sen seliter sahaja?Ini
menunjukkan ada sesuatu yang tak kena dalam menguruskan hasil minyak
dalam negara.

Ketika dato seri anwar ibrahim menjawat jawatan menteri kewangan
malaysia pada tahun 1991-1998, harga minyak di kekalkan pada 1.10 sen
seliter.Bagaimana beliau boleh mengekalkan harga minyak selama lapan
tahun sedangkan harga minyak dunia naik mendadak ketika perang teluk di
iraq?Pada masa yang sama juga pembangunan dan projek projek banyak juga
di jalankan dalam negara tanpa perlu naikkan harga minyak.Tapi pemimpin
kerajaan beri alasan untuk naikan harga minyak supaya duit tersebut
dapat tampung projek pembangunan. Masalah sekarang projek pembangunan
untuk faedah siapa?Rakyat atau kroni?Berepa kerat orang yang dapat
faedah dari koridor pembangunan di sana sini?

Subsidi minyak yang di tanggung kerajaan mencapai 35 billion
setahun.Barisan Nasional bersungguh sungguh untuk mengurang kan subsidi
minyak ini kerana kalau harga minyak tidak di naikkan dengan segera
ianya akan mengganggu peruntukan kerajaan bagi membangunkan koridor
koridor di seluruh negara yang bernilai ratusan billion.

Yang orang asyik berhujah ialah harga minyak perlu di naikkan kerana
harga minyak dunia telah naik.Ada yang mengatakan ia masalah global.So
yang kita kita fikir ialah kenapa nak risau tentang harga minyak dunia
yang melambung naik kerana sepatutnya sebagai negara pengeluar minyak,
malaysia seharusnya gembira kerana bila harga minyak dunia naik,
pendapatan petronas jadi berlipat ganda.So apa masalahnya?Walaupun
malaysia ada mengimport minyak dari luar untuk kegunaan tempatan, tapi
bila dah net off dari pendapatan export, masih untung besar lagi.

Adakah negara akan bankrupt kalau turunkan harga minyak??

Periasamy: I'm no Lembah Pantai spoiler

Fauwaz Abdul Aziz | Mar 5, 08 11:36am

Former MIC leader N Periasamay may be seen by Barisan Nasional and opposition parties as the spoiler in the three-way contest for the Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat. Periasamy, however, said he is only “blazing the way” to provide voters with an alternative in the elections. “I wish to be seen as a launch pad for independent candidates. Whether you’re a student or a worker or a missionary, I’m an example to prove that anybody can stand for elections,” he said when met in Bangsar. “If you have an expertise in or passion for a certain thing, you, too, can be a candidate.” He argued that the rise of Independent candidates will give voters the option of expressing dissent while avoiding the polarising and paralysing effects of partisan politics, as well as the ‘government versus opposition’ system. As an Independent, he said he would be unencumbered by party dictates in that he can voice opinions or act according to his conscience or that of his constituents, if he is elected. His decision to run in Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, has to do with his belief that voters are also looking to elect representatives who will articulate their concerns but not hinder government action “when necessary”. “Often, the opposition will reject a policy merely because they are opposition. In such a case, and especially if the government enjoys less than two-thirds majority, Independents are the answer (to fair consideration of laws),” he said. Periasamy, 48 and a father of two, also noted the downside of leaving any party without a two-thirds majority, saying this could lead to instability and a snap election a few months down the road. Or, opposition representatives could be enticed to cross the floor. Value of freedom Periasamy was a MIC member from 1986 up to 2002 when he resigned as Bukit Bintang division deputy chairperson. He quit due to restrictions and limitations he faced when trying to voice dissenting views. “I don’t hate the party. I just hate the system of restrictions that exists within every party. You’re told you cannot go to the press, you cannot go against this person, you cannot say this or that,” he said. “As an Independent, I can say anything I think is right without worry. Once you’re in a party, it’s as if all your freedoms as an individual are lost.” Freedom, incidentally, is the cornerstone of Periasamy’s campaign, which narrows down to the abolition of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the creation of Speaker’s Corner in Lembah Pantai. “The youth increasingly want to exercise their freedoms and stretch the limits. When young, they ask for greater freedoms (within the family). As they get older, they’re going into the streets to demand other freedoms. “Our minds should not be dictated by the laws of the previous century such as the ISA. We should not be suppressing dissent by dismissing this as being merely seditious.” However, he rejected claims that he is a supporter of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) or its five leaders who were detained under the ISA last December. Periasamy said he is speaking up for the rights of all ISA detainees. “The ‘Hindraf 5' were only detained recently. The Malays have more than their fair share of ISA detainees, Of the more than 100 in Kamunting, at least 70 percent are Malays, about 27 percent are Chinese,” he said. He also denied he had been planted as a candidate by any party or organisation. “I have earlier sworn in front of the press and I swear now. I am not a proxy or influenced by any political party. This is my own stand,” he stressed. Campaign to continue Asked about his chances of winning, Periasamy said he has “a lot of supporters”, particularly those who believe that Independent candidates can play a role in national politics. He said he would continue to campaign in the next general election and encourage others to contest as Independents. “I foresee as many as 10 such candidates running in the next election. I myself will try to help them to come up with the RM10,000 deposit for a parliamentary seat.” Asked to comment on the comparative sparseness of his posters, compared to glamorous posters of his rivals - BN’s Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and PKR’s Nurul Izzah Anwar - Periasamy took a swipe at his opponents. “It may look like it, but we’re not carrying out a beauty contest here. People should vote based on the capability of the candidates, not on how they look,” he said.

Anwar rocks Perak, Pak Lah no-show

Andrew Ong | Mar 5, 08 2:36pm

As campaigning entered the crucial final lap, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim blazed through Perak yesterday to rally voters. At every stop, large crowds waited for hours to greet the former deputy premier, who started his tour in Tanjung Malim in the morning before making his way up north through Bota, Bidor, Tapah, Gopeng, Sungai Siput and finally Bagan Serai. The crowds were wooed by his populist messages which included reducing fuel prices, providing free education and the release of the five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA). By about 7pm, Anwar had arrived at Simpang Pulai, Gopeng, where he was greeted with a hero’s welcome and rapturous chants of reformasi from a racially-mixed crowd of more than 2,000. Despite spending the entire day on the road, Anwar showed no signs of fatigue and rallied Gopeng voters to back PKR candidates Lee Boon Chye (Gopeng), Chan Ming Kai (Simpang Pulai), Chang Lih Kang (Teja) and PAS candidate Radzi Zainon (Sungai Rapat). He also launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission for aborting the use of indelible ink at the eleventh hour. He lamented that "phantoms" would now roam on polling day. "Barisan Nasional is scared of losing. That’s why they aborted the use of indelible ink," said Anwar to loud cries of "betul" (correct) from the crowd. What's wrong with helping Indians? An hour later, Anwar arrived at a small Malay village in Batang Kulim near Kuala Kangsar where he urged supporters to step up efforts to dethrone Sungai Siput incumbent S Samy Vellu. "This is the focal point for Malaysians because the Indian community wants to see Samy out. The only ones supporting Samy is Umno Sungai Siput (division)," he told the crowd of more than 1,000. Anwar even addressed the Hindraf issue and explained to the Malay majority crowd that Hindraf was not anti-Malay but merely fighting for better economic conditions and education. "What wrong with helping the Indians? They are opposing government oppression and the demolition of their temples. Shouldn’t we help them?" he asked to which the more than 1,000 people replied with a resounding ‘Yes’. The crowd also welcomed Anwar’s call for the five Hindraf leaders to be released from ISA. Pak Lah not coming? Unlike Anwar, Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Najib Abdul Razak have not set foot in Perak since nomination day. However, rumours have been circulating among journalists that the duo would be visiting the area to rally support for BN candidates in various "dangerous" seats. The seats include Taiping, Beruas, Gopeng, Sungai Siput, Tapah, Ipoh Barat and Bagan Serai. In the Kinta Valley, it was also observed that posters featuring Abdullah, which normally accompanied the posters of BN candidates in the last general election, were hard to come by in the Chinese-majority area this time around. Such posters are more visible in areas which have a substantial Malay voter base such as Sungai Siput. Asked about the absence of posters featuring Abdullah in the Kinta Valley, MCA’s Ipoh Timor candidate Liew Mun Hon did not provide a direct answer. "The posters were provided by the national party headquarters. I’m sure they have their reasons. As a BN candidate, we work as a team. We have a manifesto that is drawn up by the prime minister," he said. Opposition parties in the Kinta Valley have been attacking Abdullah’s credibility as a leader and his alleged inability to keep corruption and inflation in check.

Malay votes decisive for PKR

Premesh Chandran | Mar 4, 08 1:49pm

analysis No party is more dependent on the outcome of the general elections than Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). Formed a decade ago in the wake of the reformasi protests against the ousting of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, PKR must gain electoral ground or risk being labeled “irrelevant”. In 2004, a wave of optimism for newly-minted prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi delivered a crushing defeat to PKR, with party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail clinging on to the party’s sole parliamentary seat of Permatang Pauh by a razor-thin majority of 590 votes. Nevertheless, the political ground has shifted drastically in the last four years. Abdullah’s popularity has dropped drastically as he is perceived as ‘soft’ and unable to deliver on his promises to halt corruption and bring necessary reforms. In urban areas, his administration has come under severe criticism for the big leap in petrol prices, tolls and other basic products. Escalating crime in the face of an inefficient police force has also become a hot topic among voters. BN has also lost support among Indian and Chinese voters for its tacit support for legal precedents - allowing Islamic law to undermine the rights of non-Muslims - as well as open threats against non-Malays at Umno meetings. PKR also received a major boost with the release of Anwar Ibrahim from prison. The veteran politician has been able to strengthen the party machinery and provide a clear policy direction. In public, Anwar has been wooing massive crowds across the country with his call for change. Loud cheers echo his condemnation of the BN as incompetent and corrupt as he promises to provide free education, lower petrol prices, deliver a minimum monthly wage of RM1,500 to workers and do justice to the Hindraf 5 detained under the Internal Security Act, which allows detention without trial. With DAP fighting in Chinese-dominated seats and PAS taking the bulk of Malay constituencies, PKR has positioned itself as a multi-ethnic party appealing to a broad spectrum of voters. PKR is running in the Malay heartland states of Kelantan and Terengganu as well as in mixed constituencies in the west coast. Seats targeted by PKR PKR candidates contesting 13 parliament and 23 state seats in Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu. Should there be a 5% swing among Malay voters, PKR can hope to pick up four parliament seats - Machang, Tanah Merah and Ketereh (Kelantan) and Dungun (Terengganu). In the west coast, PKR is expected to retain Permatang Pauh in Penang. And with a 5% swing among Malays and Chinese, coupled with a massive swing among Indian voters, it is possible for PKR to win up to nine seats in Kedah (Kulim Bandar Baharu and Padang Serai), Penang (Nibong Tebal), Perak (Sungai Siput and Tapah), Selangor (Subang and Kapar) and Kuala Lumpur (Batu and Lembah Pantai). Although faced with massive majorities, top PKR leaders could also create upsets elsewhere. These seats include Gopeng (Dr Lee Boon Chye, majority 14,260), Gombak (Azmin Ali, majority 13,207), Pandan (Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud, majority 14,112), Bandar Tun Razak (Khalid Ibrahim) and Teluk Kemang (Kamarul Bharin Abbas, majority 17.777). Nevertheless, none of the battles will come easily. BN will be focused on denying PKR and Anwar any inroads in Malaysian politics. BN’s machinery will swamp the marginal constituencies to drown out PKR’s campaign. They will also be reminding voters that only BN elected representatives will receive development allocations up to RM2 million a year, a severe punishment for those who vote for the opposition. The key to PKR’s victory will be Malay voters. If they come around to accepting PKR’s premise that bumiputera privileges under the New Economic Policy is only benefitting the Umno elite, and if they are prepared to abandon their dependence on Umno, they will trigger a political tsunami that could permanently change the country’s political landscape. By winning at least 10 parliament seats in the peninsula, as well as perhaps an equal number in Sabah and Sarawak, the party can gain the much-needed political momentum, and along with its opposition allies, be able to position itself to mount a credible challenge for government in 2013. That’s the best case senario. And achieving it will be a tall order for PKR.

Koh defends Motorola deal

Beh Lih Yi | Mar 4, 08 3:56pm

Acting Gerakan head and outgoing Penang chief minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon stands by a letter in which he struck a controversial deal to get American telecommunications giant Motorola to retain its manufacturing presence in the state. “I am surprised that a confidential letter written to the prime minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) has been leaked. I have asked for a thorough investigation,” he told a press conference at the Gerakan office in Penang this morning. Koh confirmed the contents of the letter, which had been highlighted in a Malaysiakini exclusive report on Sunday. “I believe I did the right thing to protect the interest of the people of Penang,” he stressed. The three-page letter, dated Dec 3 last year and signed by Koh, was addressed to Abdullah seeking the federal government’s ‘help’ to retain Motorola in Penang, which has a manufacturing facility in the Bayan Lepas Industrial Zone. He resorted to this as Motorola was mulling possible relocation from Malaysia. According to the letter, the government would offer a RM1 billion project to Motorola involving the upgrading of the police force radio network, in exchange for the multinational staying put in Penang and pumping in an additional investment of RM350 million over the next five years. Motorola announced a RM350 million investment in the state last Tuesday. Not to ‘save face’ Elaborating on the letter, Koh said it was vital to retain Motorola in Penang as it provides about 10,000 jobs for Malaysians. Furthermore, if it pulled out, there would be an impact on local companies. He also said Motorola has invested RM5 billion over the last 40 years in Malaysia and that its system is well-established. “The RM350 million investment that was announced was only one of the investments, there are more to come,” he said, rebutting criticism that his intervention amounts to a ‘lopsided’ deal. He also denied that this was a move to save face for the state government in the wake of an ongoing opposition attack on the falling economic competitiveness of the state. “It is not because of the erosion of competitiveness,” Koh said, insisting that other countries would have taken similar action in wooing foreign investors. Koh vehemently rejected any notion of ‘bribery’ being involved in the deal. “There’s no bribery. Bribery means that the money goes into the company or pocket, not in payment for anything (when the deal involves) actual equipment, system, network and the whole infrastructure to be built,” he argued. Koh also said the decision to retain Motorola was not politically motivated, rather than based on a business strategy, pointing out that he had only mentioned the political factor in one sentence in the three-page letter. He had warned Abdullah about the “catastrophic impact”, saying it would be “politically very detrimental” especially in the run-up to the general election. 'Disappointed with Malaysiakini'

Shock reversal: Indelible ink plan erased

Mar 4, 08 4:55pm

The Election Commission has cancelled the use of indelible ink for this general election, citing public order and security issues. The stunning announcement was made at a press conference in Putrajaya this afternoon - four days before polling. EC chairperson Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said the commission was obliged to make a "firm and final decision to ensure the smooth conduct of the 12th general election". "Following legal advice and looking at the issue of public order and security, the EC... has decided not... to introduce the use of indelible ink," he said. "The EC views these issues seriously, as the election process and public order and security cannot be compromised," he added. "The EC deeply regrets its decision." Abdul Rashid said the use of indelible ink would not be effective as the country's constitution allows those who refuse to have their fingernail marked with the ink to still be issued with a ballot. He added that the use of the indelible ink could infringe the constitutional right of a voter to cast his vote, especially if the commission tries to bar someone from voting for having an ink marked in his finger. "From a practical point of view, the issuance of a ballot paper to such a voter would render the EC's proposal meaningless and will not bring about a positive result, whilst having the potential to create misunderstanding as well as altercations and arguments at polling stations," he said. He added that the Federal Constitution gives Malaysians the right to vote and a black mark on the fingernail should not bar people from exercising this right, he said. The loophole can only be removed with a constitutional amendment, which requires a vote by parliament, which has been dissolved for elections to take place. Also present at the press conference were attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail dan inspector general of police Musa Hassan. Police reports lodged Abdul Rashid also said there were reports made to the police alleging that certain quarters had purchased indelible ink from abroad with the intention of creating confusion and suspicion as to the status of voters. He added that police reports were lodged in Kelantan, Perlis and Kedah between Feb 16 and 21 and as a result four individuals are being questioned by the police. "Their intention is to create confusion and suspicion as to the status of such voters," he said. "This may cause chaos at polling stations which, if widespread, may be difficult to control." "The EC views these issues seriously as the election process and public order and security cannot be compromised," he said. The indelible ink was to be introduced for the first time in Malaysia as part of efforts to enhance transparency. In line with this, along with the introduction of the ink, the EC had also allowed for the casting of postal ballots to be observed by polling agents and the use of transparent ballot boxes. The EC believed that the changes would quell some of the allegations that Malaysian elections are not free and fair. In preparation for the use of the indelible ink, the EC had previously said that it would buy approximately 48,000 bottles of indelible ink worth RM2.4mil from India. Women voters had also been repeatedly reminded to remove their nail polish before going to the polls on March 8, as it would be difficult to apply the ink otherwise. Fears of multiple voting However, even before today’s about-turn from the EC, questions were already being asked as to how the commission can compel voters to apply the ink as the Election (Conduct of Election) Regulation 1981 has not been amended to include the use of the indelible ink. The EC responded by stating that voters who were against the use of indelible ink would have to fill out a form seeking to be excused before casting their vote. The opposition has two days ago ticked off the EC for appearing to have second thoughts on the introduction of the indelible ink. R Sivarasa, the candidate for Selangor's Subang, argued that the ink would stop possible incidences of multiple voting. "They misled all Malaysians, not only yourselves, the voters of Malaysia and us, that they would implement the (use of) indelible ink - they also issued numerous statements about how much indelible ink would cost and they said they would buy it."

MIC may lose up to five seats

K Kabilan | Mar 4, 08 1:24pm

analysis For three consecutive general elections, MIC has an almost perfect record in winning the seats it has contested. It may be handed a beating, by its standards, come Saturday. As in 2004, the Indian-based party will contest nine parliament and 19 state seats, but it can no longer take the community’s support for granted. Across the country, Indian Malaysians have shown their anger at MIC, especially at its veteran president S Samy Vellu, for the party’s failure to uplift the community’s economic and social status since Independence. Even worse, they have openly challenged Samy Vellu to admit his failures and step down immediately. He, though, has put on a brave face, telling anyone who is prepared to listen that only the MIC can safeguard the community’s interests. He obviously doesn’t believe in gloom and doom, insisting that the 14 new faces being introduced as candidates will win. However, the parliamentary seats of Kota Raja, Teluk Kemang and Sungai Siput look shaky at the moment, with Kapar ripe for an upset. The state seats of Bukit Selambau, Lunas, Prai and Bagan Dalam seem almost out of MIC’s grasp, and the prognosis is critical in Seri Andalas and Batu Caves. MIC seems to be on the way to retain all the other state seats, especially those in Johor, Pahang and Malacca. The first signs of trouble for MIC appeared in Penang and Kedah last October, when Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders went on a nationwide tour lambasting the demolition of Hindu temples. Thousands of Indians attended their road shows in parts of Kedah and Penang. A MIC state representative was booed vehemently when he eulogised the work of Samy Vellu and his party. Further anger was provoked by the forcible dispersal of the Hindraf rally on Nov 25. A different form of dissent was triggered against the MIC when Hindraf leaders were detained under the ISA and the movement was labelled as extremists. Last week, Samy Vellu was heckled and mobbed in Kulim, while complaints have emerged about several MIC candidates' conduct. Red alert: state seats In Kedah, MIC is contesting the Bukit Selambau and Lunas state seats, which have a substantially high number of Indian voters - 29.5 percent (or about 9,000 voters) in Bukit Selambau and 22.5 percent (about 6,600 voters) in Lunas. In 2004, the margin of victory was 7,695 in Bukit Selambau and 4,299 in Lunas, but it will be difficult for the MIC to repeat its success this time around. It may find solace in the fact that it is facing an Independent in Bukit Selambau, and thus may well pull through by moving into high gear over the final days of campaigning. In Penang, Indian sentiments are against the MIC, which is also wracked by internal bickering. But the deciding factor could be that its candidates are facing fellow Indians in the Bagan Dalam and Prai state seats, thereby giving the voters in the community a real choice in the communal stakes. Both seats also have a high number of Indian voters - 22.3 percent (about 3,900 voters: 2004 majority 1,967) in Bagan Dalam and a whopping 35.8 percent (5,050 voters: 2004 majority 583) in Prai. Prai looks dead set to be gone, especially when the DAP candidate P Ramasamy has been well-received by voters. There is a local Independent candidate to contend with as well. MIC is also struggling to convince voters in Batu Caves and Seri Andalas, in Selangor, to retain its candidates as state representatives. In Batu Caves, MIC’s T Mohan is a new face with ample grassroots work behind him. However his candidacy is not welcomed by the local MIC divisions as he is an outsider. More importantly, it is an open secret that Malay voters were not happy with the incumbent who was dropped. The PKR’s Malay candidate and another Malay Independent will hope to take advantage of this. Mohan, though, expects to pull through. In Seri Andalas, incumbent A Kamala Ganapathy faces PKR strongman A Xavier Jeyakumar in a straight fight. There are about 12,800 Indian voters (33 percent), all affected by the Hindraf factor. If Jeyakumar can capitalise on their sentiments, he is assured of their votes but he must be mindful that he is up against an incumbent who had the support of other races as well in 2004. This will be a close fight but the MIC should win it. A surprise result is being predicted in Sungkai in Perak where MIC vice-president S Veerasingam takes on DAP’s A Sivanesan, a Hindraf lawyer. However, Veerasingam is a known face with a good track record. He is expected to win, but Sivanesan could take most of the 3,000-odd Indian votes. Big shots who could fall Five of the parliamentary seats that MIC is contesting look like they are in the bag. These are Hulu Selangor (deputy president G Palanivel), Tapah (new face M Saravanan), Cameron Highlands, (incumbent SK Devamany), Segamat (secretary-general and incumbent Dr S Subramaniam) and Subang (newcomer S Murugesan). Kapar looks most vulnerable at the moment where incumbent P Komala Devi, who heads the MIC women’s wing, faces a straight fight with PKR’s S Manikavasagam. Once again the Hindraf factor will have to be watched. Manikavasagam is a Hindraf coordinator and became the face of the movement after the arrest of key leaders under the ISA last December. Indians make up about 15,000 of the 112,224 voters in Kapar. Manikavasagam’ s camp is quietly confident of winning enough popular support to breach the 14,588-vote majority which Komala obtained in 2004. Komala’s walkabouts in the constituency have been disastrous in the Indian areas, whereas voters have embraced Manikavasagam as one of their own. If this trend continues, Komala looks set to lose her seat. Similarly in Kota Raja, incumbent SA Vignesan, the MIC Youth chief, is coming up against voters who want answers for the community’s plight. He takes on Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud of PAS in a straight fight. She has had greater success among Indian voters, many of whom have openly professed support. Vignesan, who won with an emphatic majority of 8,239 in 2004, is expected to win, albeit with a reduced majority. MIC vice-president S Sothinathan may also be looking at defeat in Teluk Kemang, not only because of Hindraf, but because of increasing anger among Malay voters.There are some 24,000 Malay voters (40.6 percent) and 13,300 Indian voters (22.2 percent). PKR strongman Kamarul Baharin Abbas will hope to capitalise on the situation, while an Independent could well split the votes. It will be a close call, but Sothinathan had a massive 17,777 majority in 2004 and, with sufficient support from Umno, he should retain his seat. Battle for Sungai Siput Samy Vellu has held the seat since 1974, but his ability to command the Indian vote has never been so low as at present. He attracts unwanted attention everywhere he goes. He has been mobbed by angry crowds in Selangor, Penang, Kedah and Perak over the past three weeks. But is this likely to unseat him in Sungai Siput? His challenger Dr D Jeyakumar has been edging closer with every election and has built up grassroots support, especially among the Indians. If Indians desert him, however, Samy Vellu will count on the votes of other races - and not for the first time either. In 2004, he readily conceded their role and expressed gratitude to them for the majority of 10,235 votes. There are 18,816 Chinese voters, 16,991 Malay voters and about 10,000 Indian voters in Sungai Siput. The battle is raging to capture their hearts and votes. Samy Vellu may well emerge victor, but bloodied and with his reputation in tatters.

Anwar Ibrahim Visit

Below is the schedule for today's events in Kelantan. Tomorrow Dato Seri Anwar will be in Perak and Kedah and on Wednesday he will be speaking south of Selangor in Johor and Melaka.

March 3, 2008 - KELANTAN

Guchil, Kuala Krai

Time: 12.15 pm – 1.30 pm
Location: Masjid Al-Juhal berhadapan Caltex, Bandar Kuala Krai
Contact: Tuan Zamri – 019-9774506

Gua Musang ( Gabung: Kuala Balah, Nenggeri, Paloh )

Time: 2.30 pm – 3.30 pm
Location: Pejabat Keadilan Gua Musang, Paloh.
Contact: Riezal Rahim – 012-9660770

Ketereh

Time: 5.00 pm – 6.20 pm
Location: Padang Majlis Daerah Ketereh
Contact: Abdul Aziz Kadir – 019-9588439

Tumpat

Time: 7.20 pm – 8.30 pm
Location: Masjid Bendang Pok Yong, Tumpat
Contact: Hj Hassan – 019-9574679

Tanah Merah

Time: 9.45 pm – 10.30 pm
Location: Padang Majlis Daerah Tanah Merah
Contact: Amran Ghani – 019-9619595

Machang

Time: 10.45 pm – 12.00 pm
Location: Padang Majlis Daerah Machang
Contact: Saifuddin Nasution – 017-9813608

10,000 at indoor stadium to hear DAP, PKR speakers

Athi Veeranggan | Mar 2, 08 8:06pm

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng took a swipe at the state's ruling party, Gerakan, for ‘dancing to Umno tune’ if it selects Padang Kota incumbent assemblyperson Teng Chang Yeow to be the next Penang chief minister. Speaking to a packed rally at the Han Chiang indoor stadium in Penang last night, he said if the speculation was true, it was clear that it was ‘big brother’ Umno and not Gerakan that was in total control of Penang’s Barisan Nasional. Political observers had noted that Gerakan acting president and outgoing Penang chief minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon had wanted Pulau Tikus state seat candidate and Gerakan vice-president Dr Teng Hock Nan, 62, as the next CM while Umno preferred Bukit Bendera incumbent MP Chia Kwang Chye, 58. However, speculation is rife that Koh (right) has bowed to Umno pressure, agreeing to appoint a third candidate as ‘a political compromise’. Thus, the younger Teng emerging as the frontrunner in the race for the coveted post. "Gerakan could not decide on their own leader so Umno decided for them. Teng Chang Yeow will be a de facto Umno chief minister," Guan Eng told a cheering crowd. Lim then hit out at BN component parties such as Gerakan, MCA and MIC for `kowtowing' to Umno's hegemony. "Do you want a DAP elected representative who can stand up and fight against Umno’s political hegemony or those who bow to it?" he asked, prompting the crowd to start chanting ‘DAP, DAP...’ Judging from the size of the crowd at this DAP-PKR joint rally, the general election heat is reaching a fever pitch on the island with just five days left to polling on Saturday. More than 10,000 people from all races braved a heavy downpour to flood the 5,000-capacity indoor stadium to listen to the DAP and PKR speakers who included Anwar Ibrahim and Karpal Singh. The size of the crowd made this the biggest rally organised by BN’s opponents in Penang thus far. Turnout not a guarantee Guan Eng said he thought that Penang voters were not too keen on the opposition due to the low attendance registered at DAP rallies over the past week. "I thought Penangites were not interested. But now I know you are with us to initiate changes in the country's system of governance," he said. Anwar (below), who spoke earlier, told voters that they had no choice but to vote for Barisan Alternatif to safeguard their future. "The imminent hike in oil prices and other essential household items will eat into your pockets while the ruling elite will continue with their luxury lifestyles. "Do you want a government which does not care a bit for the people or the good governance of Barisan Alternatif which will protect and enhance the people's rights, interests and benefits," he said to wild cheers from the crowd. The crowd’s enthusiasm for the opposition speakers was clearly evident judging by their frequent interruptions of the speeches to cheer and clap each time a speaker either drove home a point on justice, freedom and democracy or took a swipe at BN for corruption and disorientated policies. If the crowd's vocal support were to be translated into votes on March 8, observers note it would not be an exaggeration to say that the opposition would win big at the polls. However, electoral history has showed - especially after DAP's Tanjung 3 campaign in 1995 which drew mammoth crowds - that large turnouts at opposition ceramah in Penang did not necessarily translate into votes. Whether or not DAP and PKR have finally caught the imagination of voters here still remains to be seen. It would not be a shock if Penang voters, predominantly Chinese, were to ignore the opposition and support BN. "They have done it before and they can do it again," said a DAP local leader.

DAP Gathering

DAP Gathering 01/03/2008 Kudiimagan was there