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The outcome of the last general election had everyone talking about the reawakening of people’s power. But how far has this political transformation resulted in the improvement of our lives as Malaysians?

The FreedomFilmFest is now accepting entries for video proposals with the theme “Real Change?”

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Keputusan pilihanraya umum tahun lepas telah mencetuskan perbualan hangat mengenai kebangitan kuasa rakyat . Tapi persoalannya, sejauh manakah transformasi politik ini telah membawa kepada perubahan bermakna dalam kehidupan seharian kita?

FreedomFilmFest kini sedang menerima kertas cadangan yang bertemakan “Perubahan?”

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pre-script: If you haven’t seen delCapo’s pics from Bukit Gantang, you really should :)

Almost all BN politicians had begun downplaying expectations as the Kuala Terengganu campaign began. And now, we see exactly the same thing! Perhaps we can look forward to the same result :P :)

Remember, people like Najib and gang have access to police (and some say military) intelligence reports the likes of us will never get to see. Basically, they tend to know something we don’t about voter trends.

Anything is possible, but I imagine if reports were favourable to bN, they would be posturing like crazy, either setting themselves up for a big win, or rallying the troops to clinch a tight victory.

It doesn’t quite make sense to me why they would say the following, if their chances were good. Najib:

Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the results of Bukit Gantang, Bukit Selambau and Batang Air by-elections may not necessarily be a good indicator of people’s support.

“The trouble of by-election is that it is very hard to say to what extent it reflects the national consideration.

“Of course the pundits will be quick to make conclusion one way or the other… the party members are highly motivated with the challenges ahead and we will do our level best,” he told reporters after the party’s general assembly here today.

He said the by-elections are not a referendum.

“The only referendum is only when the general election comes. You will know whether the people support you or not. By-election may not be necessarily a good indicator,” he said.

Ahaha, then call for a general electionLAH mr. pm in waiting.

Shabery Cheek:

Meanwhile, Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the Batang Ai by-election cannot be treated as a barometer for the coming Sarawak state election.

“There have been numerous by-elections in Malaysia’s history and the winners can be from the opposition and government but the result at the general election is another matter,” he told reporters at the nomination centre.

Loooooser talk.

In Bukit Gantang, there seems to be only one issue to play up:

Meanwhile, BN Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abd Kadir expressed confidence that Ismail will pull off a win, judging by initial feedback from voters.

Muhiyiddin:

“On the opposition side, they are going to play up national issues. But when it comes to Perak, they have to be very careful because it all boils down to the sultan,” he said.

“I believe that the voters would not be easiliy taken in because the Perak government is legal and received the consent of the Perak sultan…”

Aha, but the question is, my dear mr. dpm in waiting, did it receive the consent of the RAKYAT?!

I guess we’re about to find out.

Quick credit to Karpal where it’s due:

DAP chairperson, Karpal Singh, however were given a harder time by BN supporters who pelted his MPV with water bottles while he was on his way to the nomination centre.

“There were quite a few (bottles thrown)… Umno must stop this culture of violence. In any event, it will not hinder Pakatan from going all out to ensure a thumping majority,” he told reporters later.

Ironically, Karpal – who once sarcastically declared that there would be an Islamic state over his dead body – was seated next to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang at the nomination centre.

The wheelchair-bound presence of Karpal to support PAS in this election is significant as he has had several run-ins with the PAS leader.

Much better political maturity :D What a contrast to people who throw bottles at someone in a wheelchair.

So, I think we’re off to a pretty decent start, 13 independents notwithstanding :P Let’s watch close and try to do our part!

I thought I would do a post just quoting some of the things said at the Assembly.

I think the following quotes demonstrate a consistent pattern – corruption, racism and divisiveness come across loud and clear:

Musa Sheikh Fadzir, Bukit Mertajam, Penang (MK and MI) : When others question our religion, our special rights, who defends the Malays? Us, Umno. But when we try to defend ourselves, our leader gets a three-year suspension (referring to Ahmad Ismail)

People always say don’t play money politics. But this is a political organisation. If we don’t have money, how are we supposed to come to this AGM in Kuala Lumpur?

“Those days, an application for a taxi permit would require the endorsement of an Umno branch or division chief. If the branches and divisions are strong, then Umno will be strong again,”

Hasnoor Sidang Hussin, Bukit Katil, Malacca (NST and MI) said high-ranking appointments in government-linked companies and higher learning institutions should be reserved for Umno members.

“So, just like the president said about returning Umno to its roots, let’s bring Umno back to its glory days where we controlled everything,”

Musa’s call was also echoed by a Malacca delegate, Datuk Hasnoor Husin, who also urged the government to ensure that only Umno loyalists be appointed to senior positions in public universities.

“Please make sure the faculty members are all Umno men, and the same goes for other civil servants,” said Hasnoor.

Johor Umno Wanita chief Halimah Sadique (MK) today suggested that those who abused the Internet to lie and make baseless accusations should be harshly punished by the government.

However she charged that there were some quarters that used the medium as a “licence to lie”.

“Therefore, Wanita is suggesting these ‘cyber criminals’ should be punished accordingly,” said Halimah.

The Tenggara MP added the party would not want the people to use the Internet as a tool to “insult and humiliate us with all the baseless accusations”.

“There have even been so many attempts since the past few years, when the people were still not ready to accept this freedom and democracy without border.

“But then, many have considered our (media) openness and freedom a weakness,” she said, adding that some quarters have become bolder and ruder in criticizing Umno leaders.

“They have questioned the social contract, Malay rights and Malay rulers’ privileges, and the lies do not stop there,” stressed Halimah.

Kelantan delegate Mohd Affendi Yusof (MK), when taking his turn to debate, said Umno has been very lenient and patient towards Pakatan’s antics.

He also touched on the Perak fiasco and blasted ousted Perak menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin for his now legendary statement: “Mohon maaf tuanku, patek mohon derhaka.” (Your highness, forgive me for I plead to commit treason).

“In Islam, there is no forgiveness for those who commit treason against the sultan,” he said, claiming that the sultan is considered as God’s representative on earth.

“When he faces God, he will have no excuse when God asks him why he had committed treason against the sultan. He would not die as a man, but would die as a bangkai (rotten corpse),” he added.

Instigating the crowd, Affendi said now is not the time for Umno to be soft and patient, and said it was time the party uses force to crush its Pakatan rivals.

“We cannot be soft anymore. We must use force. And we will use it immediately after the annual general assembly ends,” he said.

Ah, there are those threats again. As usual, it is only the truly insecure and threatened that resort to force.

So, has Umno changed? Will it change?

I think Malaysians will demonstrate in the next general elections that they are a wise and reasonable people, unwilling to put up with such blatant abuse of power.

I think we will not achieve change without effort though. If we really want to rid ourselves of this scourge, it is imperative that we get more people registered to vote, and spread the message of hope to those still sitting on the fence.

I leave you with one of the few voices of conscience in a defunct and dying party:

Haslina Halim, a delegate from Perlis (MK), said she could not bear the ‘humiliation’ when Umno was seen as a ‘corrupt party’ from the majority of the people.

She recalled an incident which she had with a taxi driver on her way to attend the meet in Kuala Lumpur recently.

“When I was going to pay him for the fare, the taxi driver asked me, ‘Are you going to pay me with corruption money?’ What else could I say to that? I was so embarrassed by his remark,” she said.

pre-script: FYI, apparently another ceramah at Bukit Selambau tonight was broken up because of FRU harassment.

It’s almost embarrassing to say I’m shocked. You’d think we’d be used to it by now. But maybe it’s a good thing that we still cannot abide by these discrepancies between word and deed; let us never come to tolerate it.

Excerpts from and comments on Najib’s kononnya nak jadi Obama speech (here and here) tonight.

Incoming prime minister and Umno president Najib Abdul Razak said the new media cannot be regarded as an adversary.

“We were lulled by the massive mandate given to us to the extent that we made no preparations for battle within the cybersphere. In the end, we were rudely awakened in 2008 when we suddenly realised the folly of not understanding the power of the new media,” he added.

Like it or not, Najib said: “We cannot regard the new media as our enemy.”

Fact: Barely hours prior, Umno banned almost all online media from covering their assembly. Suara Keadilan and Harakah also suspended. Sounds like enemy-making behaviour to me.

“Umno, or for that matter any party or organisation will be destroyed if its leaders are enshrouded in the evils of money politics. Leaders of good standing who do not indulge in corruption will be sidelined in favour of those who bribe. The party will be led by those who will bring their culture of corruption in the way they lead,” he added.

Question: Why was Najib-linked Razak Baginda’s company Perimekar paid RM 500 million during the purchase of submarines? Is it reasonable to believe that Perimekar provided services worth that much? Is it reasonable to believe that Najib did not benefit one bit from said payment?

I suspect Najib has made more money corruptly possibly than any person living in Malaysia.

“We must ensure that we as a party cease and desist from the deplorable acts of eliminating and blocking talented members from making progress in the party. Such despicable behaviour only serves to alienate those who sincerely wish to contribute to the struggle.”

Fact: Ali Rustam, Norza.

“Umno holds sacred the position of the Federal Constitution as the supreme law of the land. The Malay rulers and the monarchy are an essential part of the constitution. Even though in our system the monarch reigns but does not rule, the state governments and the federal government rule in the name of the Malay rulers as the head above the executive arm of government.

“Therefore if the Malays themselves fail to show the utmost respect to the Malay rulers who have all this time served as the symbol of unity and stability, then who else will?

“Therefore let no one twist the facts of history in recounting Umno’s actions to amend the law with regard to the rulers. It was never done in bad faith, but rather with the noble intention of preserving the royal institution and upholding the doctrine of the separation of powers which is the basis of any democratic government,” he added.

Fact: Mahathir did more damage to the royalty than any man living. Umno has consistently shown absolutely no hesitation in trampling and besmirching the royalty anytime they do not behave the way Umno wants them to – take for instance the constitutional crisis of the late 80′s and the Menteri Besar dilemma of Terengganu.

“Now, we see that the Malays seem lost and weakened. Because of that, there are those who dare question what has previously been agreed to and entrenched in the Federal Constitution. There are even those who have the audacity to accuse us of apartheid, when history will show this is far from the truth.

“Let it be known, that the policies introduced by the government in aid of the Malays are not formulated because we feel that the Malays are better than everyone else. Rather, we create these policies precisely because the Malays are left behind compared to others.

If we feel that Malays have been left behind in Malaysia, I charge that Umno has been more responsible for this than anyone, far and away. An entire generation poisoned by feudalistic patronage politics, where every effort is made to keep the poor in their place so as to continuously ease oppression and exploitation, has robbed both Malays and Malaysians from the opportunity to realise their true potential.

I think Najib has a real hard on to be just like Mahathir. He seems to have adopted not only his racism and penchant for heavy handedness, he is certainly taking to heart TDM’s noteworthy ability to completely – in a manner that flies spectacularly in the face of readily available facts – divorce word from deed, and rhetoric from reality.

We remain hopeful for upsets over the coming weeks, and prepare ourselves to persevere for what may lay beyond.

Wow. If Abdullah doesn’t do something to defend his people, he’s sure gonna be spat on when he leaves.

Norza seems the latest victim in an early effort to ensure that Najib has everyone ‘in power’ under his thumb. If I were in Umno (haha), I’d be wary of so much power in one man’s hands.

Sure, Najib loyalists may be rubbing their hands in glee. It’s never a problem to watch other people getting persecuted.

But one day, if your boss decides to hang you out to dry for whatever reason (and these are easier to come by than you think), you’ll be sorry you let that one man amass so much power.

So, Abdullah has days to show whether he has any kind of consideration for loyalty. If he doesn’t do anything to protect his people, I wouldn’t be surprised if they became only too happy to cooperate should Najib decide to take some extra steps to make sure Abdullah doesn’t come back from retirement.

The clock is ticking Abdullah. Do the right thing.

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I managed to make it to the book launch of Zaid Ibrahim’s Saya Pun Melayu and a biography of Tok Guru Nik Aziz today. The two gentlemen launched each other’s books, and Anwar was there (literally in between Batang Ai and Bkt Selambau – still the superhuman worker) to share some literary ruminations (something I think he quite enjoys).

I’m not sure I’ve heard Nik Aziz speak before, but he was fun to listen to. He reminds of other religious figures who seem to transcend religion – like a statesman in politics; people like the Dalai Lama or the Pope. The word ‘venerable’ comes to mind.

Tun Salleh Abas was there, and Anwar questioned when we were going to follow in the steps of Pakistan :) But no special announcement from Zaid (who also spoke entertainingly), if that was what you’re looking for.

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