ZAID IBRAHIM

From: http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/letterssurat/36079-zaid-oh-zaid
By Asam Laksa


What Malaysia really need is not strong opposition, third force or to kick UMNO out of power. I am happy with however is in charge of the country as long as they promote and protect fundamental rights of the citizens. What Malaysia really needs is a strong conscience to uphold justice.

Firstly let me start by saying that I am viewing Zaid Ibrahim’s involvement in PKR from far away, literally. I like Zaid Ibrahim’s political persona. I think he makes a good administrator and planner. However I think he is out of his depth in frontline politicking.

I am not sad when Zaid lost the PKR elections, nor am I upset that he is leaving PKR. What I am disappointed about is that his time with PKR made him appear disillusioned and bitter. (Whether he feels such, I do not know as I never met him.) I mean, if want to leave, leavelah, no need to make some point or set some future date. It is so unlike him to participate in gutter politics. PKR is wasted on him.



Yes, I am speaking up for Zaid Ibrahim even though I have never met him because:
1. He appears as a man with integrity and principles; voicing out against ISA while in government and quitting as pledged (how many takde bola you seen from BN?),
2. He gets things done; he said he would get Pakatan Rakyat registered and he did so, and
3. He has good ideas; his opinions are clear, easy to grasp, makes sense and doesn’t pander to unsupported rhetoric.

Where I think he would do well is in policy making.


Now, I don’t think he’s such a fool in running for office in PKR. I think it’s something that needed to be done because of the way PKR and politics work. Position is power. Position is mandate. What Zaid lacks in PKR are these two. He can be the party’s thinker all he wants but without position he can’t fix the rot in PKR. He is again trying to work from within to fix things. Maybe the reason he joined PKR is to try to fix it. If Zaid joined DAP, he would have easily gotten a position, heck they may even make one for him.

Rot in PKR, I said? Yes, rot. I never trusted PKR because firstly it’s too UMNO-like from the start. Not to mention that I never liked its early loudmouth leaders (including one I later learned the name as Ezam and that rascal Zul). I also saw no strong agenda from the party during its Keadilan days; it’s more like a free Anwar party. Today it speaks of social justice and whatnot but I still don’t feel that PKR really believe it themselves.

With DAP you know what they stand for and their notable leaders are usually first in to spot injustice and quickly say so regardless of popularity. PAS is a bit slow because it takes longer to get consensus before they speak openly and often miss the window of opportunity to act. PKR... well... no consensus and no direction. I am not surprised to hear of complaints of PKR’s poor leadership.

What Malaysia really need is not strong opposition, third force or to kick UMNO out of power. I am happy with however is in charge of the country as long as they promote and protect fundamental rights of the citizens. What Malaysia really needs is a strong conscience to uphold justice.

Many moan about injustice in Malaysia yet they themselves perpetuate it. Even my closest family members do it. For example if you hate Ketuanan Melayu then you should also reject Chinese or any other racial chauvinism because supporting it would inflame the other. If you want Malays to succeed as a community, then you should reject the current NEP mentality that only enriches the few.

Malaysians need to wake up that it’s their own lack of understanding that is the heart of the problem. Political affiliations, politicians, political priorities and so on change all the time but what should remain unmoving is the conscience. So I empathise with RPK’s article “The End Can’t Justify the Means”. It’s not about winning but how I play in accordance with my conscience.

Lastly, to Zaid Ibrahim, pick yourself up, cleanse yourself of the negativity that you have recently undergone and stay the course, my good man.

UMNO-BN retakes Hulu Selangor

From http://dinmerican.wordpress.com/

To Zaid Ibrahim:

All decent souls share your sadness and disappointment and we thank you for taking up the battle on our behalf. It was indeed a magnificent fight you put up and we continue to steadfastly back you up in all your political endeavors.
–Antares, Shaman in Chief, Magick River, Pertak, Hulu Selangor

PKR’s Zaid Ibrahim loses to P. Kamalnathan of UMNO-BN after a great showing. He said, “We lost because of votes that were bought. We faced Machiavellian politics. I accept my defeat. In any contest, there must be one who is defeated”.

All is not lost. “This is not the first time that we lost. This defeat will not dishearten us. PKR had once lost so much that we were left with one seat. We will continue to fight,” said Tian Chua, PKR Strategy Chief. Never give up. PKR must conduct a post mortem and plan ahead. –Din Merican

A By-Election Both Sides Must Win

http://www.malaysiandigest.com/opinion/48-commentary/3143-a-by-election-both-sides-must-win.html
Commentary by Kee Thuan Chye


ON nomination day at Kuala Kubu Baru (KKB), I bumped into an old schoolmate who told me he was analysing the data on the upcoming Hulu Selangor by-election. He predicted that if conditions remained the same on election day, PKR candidate Zaid Ibrahim should win by a margin of between 2,300 and 2,800 votes.

That was April 17. It has been some days since and the campaign for votes has been in full flight. Barisan Nasional has been trying to assassinate Zaid’s character to make him appear a flawed Muslim who imbibed alcohol. Despite Zaid’s forthright admission of his having done so in his younger days and his declaration that he has since stopped, this could well stick in the minds of the Malay voters, many of whom are from rural areas and know little beyond their small world and the idiot box that spews pro-Barisan propaganda relentlessly into their living rooms.

If that happens, my old friend’s prediction might yet go awry.

Conditions can indeed change in a matter of eight days, the period between nomination and election, on April 25. Zaid might have started with a slight edge, from getting to compete against a virtual unknown instead of the MIC deputy president, G. Palanivel, who prior to 2008 had been holder of the Hulu Selangor seat for four terms, but Barisan is already throwing everything in but the kitchen sink to ensure victory.


Umno has got Hulu Selangor PKR treasurer Halili Rahmat to defect at a suspiciously opportune time. And he’s singing the same tune as the ex-PKR representatives who left before him – that the party is being run by “little Napoleons”. Suddenly, to Halili, Barisan leader Najib Razak is someone “who wants to meet the needs of the people”. Did Halili think this way just a couple of weeks ago, when he was still being considered a possible PKR candidate for Hulu Selangor? Or has he radically changed his perspective because Zaid was eventually selected over him?


On another front, former Hulu Selangor MIC vice-chairman V.S. Chandran, who had defied his party to run as an independent candidate, has decided to pull out. When he announced his candidacy, he was full of fire against the party leadership for not choosing a local resident as candidate. Now he’s bowed out with a wimpy statement confessing his continued love for Barisan.


The other independent candidate, Johan Mohd Diah, a Shah Alam Umno Youth committee member, has also pulled out. Earlier in the day, he had announced at a press conference that he had chosen the hoe as his symbol and was hoping to win the votes of the agrarian young. Enigmatically, some hours later, he signed the papers to withdraw. No reason has been given, but speculation will be rife. The field is thus now down to just Pakatan versus Barisan, with the latter no longer having to fear the danger of split votes.





Some voters who gathered at Masjid Ar-Rahmah Kuala Kubu Baru


during candidates nomination day




As for the Barisan candidate, P. Kamalanathan, victory has become such an imperative that he has even stooped to defending the Malay right-wing group Perkasa just to court the Malay voters. This is so blatantly obvious that anyone who has half a brain would be able to see through him. What’s insidious about it is that he is following his Umno masters’ lead in playing the racial card, even at the expense of selling out the community his party supposedly represents. If he can be so impressionable, “lightweight” – a word that his own party president Samy Vellu labelled him with – cannot be more apt.


To be sure, losing this by-election is not an option at all for either Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat. It is a test of where both coalitions stand two years after the March 8 watershed general election. In those two years, Barisan has been trying to rebuild its tarnished image while Pakatan, especially component party PKR, has been riven by internal rivalry and reeling from defections.


PKR has more to lose if it loses this by-election. Public perception of it is likely to further diminish. What’s more, it is fielding one of its bigwigs in Zaid, a Supreme Council member and former minister while he was with Umno. To be beaten by a virtual David would be a monumental loss of face for both Zaid and his party. They may never recover from it. Worse, it could spark a new momentum for Barisan, which is also likely to win the next by-election in Sibu, Sarawak.


When Barisan deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin announced Kamalanathan’s candidacy, he was not merely being facetious when he said Zaid was not a “heavyweight” and described him as a “featherweight” instead. Zaid has not really faced a big battle at the hustings. He won the Kota Baru parliamentary seat in 2004 when Barisan was riding high. In 2008, he became minister in Abdullah Badawi’s Cabinet through the back door by being made a senator first.


It might actually be unfortunate for Zaid that Palanivel is not standing against him. At KKB, I found out from local residents that when Palanivel was MP, he was hardly seen in his constituency. The way they talked about him, anyone could guess he would probably have lost.


According to a Pakatan insider, Zaid needs to win at least 40% of the Malay votes plus 70% of the Chinese and 50% of the Indian ones in order to secure victory. This sounds tough when you consider that Saluran 1, which comprises mainly Felda settlers who are terhutang budi (owe a debt) to Umno, will almost certainly vote Barisan.


Some of the younger ones in this saluran may think differently but not the old-timers. A young Malay local expressed to me his frustration at attempting to convince his parents of the need to vote for Pakatan for positive change, but he is unable to get through to them. Their main means to information is the television. Whatever he tells them of the Barisan wrongdoing being circulated on the Internet cannot match the force of the TV propaganda.





Pakatan Rakyat supporters and Police force during the candidates

nomination day




Another Pakatan supporter confirmed this. “Most of the Hulu Selangor Malays do nothing but watch TV when they are off work. You can tell them they need to think about the ills being committed by the Government but it won’t sink in. They have been brainwashed by TV for decades.”


As for the Chinese equation, the Kuala Kubu Baru state seat is being held by an MCA representative, and there are 8,000 MCA members throughout Hulu Selangor. That alone accounts for half of the Chinese voters in the constituency. Already, Pakatan, through its control of the Selangor State Government, has made use of its office to win them over by offering the landless Chinese in new villages a 99-year lease, but will this secure the endorsement of 70% of the Chinese who will be voting?


What about the Indian voters? The test for the MIC now is whether it can close ranks, whether Palanivel’s supporters and those of V. Mugilan, who had been favoured by Umno but was vetoed by the MIC leadership, will throw their support behind Kamalanathan. At the time of writing, only four Hulu Selangor MIC branches have closed in protest. This is a small percentage of the 72 in the constituency of which nearly half had earlier threatened sabotage, so the signs may be hopeful for Barisan.


I asked an MIC supporter at KKB if Palanivel and Mugilan’s supporters were still angry with the decision not to field either of them. He said, “What’s there to be angry about? The seat is still given to the MIC.”


Whatever happens, this by-election is turning out to be the most interesting and the most crucial so far. Both sides need a victory to boost their image and morale. A local Chinese shopkeeper I spoke to sees it as 50-50. “And I prefer to keep it that way,” he added. Interpret the meaning of that how you will. A staunch Umno supporter, however, sees it as 60-40 in favour of Barisan.


A win for Barisan will bring it closer to regaining its two-thirds majority in Parliament. Goodness knows what may ensue when Barisan gets that close. A win for Pakatan, however, would retain the current balance, closer to the 50-50 wisdom of the KKB shopkeeper. A win for Pakatan would therefore better serve the cause of democracy. But whether the Hulu Selangor voters care for that is another matter. And they’re the ones who will decide which side wins.

Najib: Hulu Selangor By-Election a Referendum

From http://www.malaysiandigest.com/news/36-local/3182-najib-hulu-selangor-by-election-a-referendum.html

HULU SELANGOR: The by-election for the Hulu Selangor parliamentary constituency is not merely to pick a Member of Parliament but it is also a referendum on the new direction of the country, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.



He said that among the main consideration in achieving the national direction was the New Economic Model (NEM) which was precisely planned and it was hoped that within the next 10 years, Malaysia would succeed in becoming the most advanced nation.


"Malaysian news had travelled extensively to the extent that (United States) President Barack Obama (during the bilateral talks in Washington) had asked about the country's New Economic Model. I had given a very clear explanation on the NEM. This is a recognition for the BN (Barisan Nasional) government because we have a clear direction. We know the direction we want to take the country to".


Najib said this in his speech at a dinner at the BN Command Centre at Bukit Sentosa. Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, BN candidate P. Kamalanathan, the BN secretariat and the election machinery of the component parties.


He said Hulu Selangor was now the centre of attraction of the country and following past practice and tradition, the Prime Minister should not be going on the ground during by-elections.


"But there is a difference in the Hulu Selangor by-election because it takes place in Selangor where I am the Selangor BN head and chairman of Selangor Umno," said Najib who returned home this morning after accepting the invitation of President Barack Obama to attend the Nuclear Security Summit and an official visit to Japan.


"I share the responsibility when the by-election occurs in Selangor. I have asked the opinion of the Hulu Selangor By-Election Committee chaired by Muhyiddin. I had asked whether it was appropriate for me to come down and assist the BN machinery in the by-election," he said.


Najib said the committee felt that it would be good if he could also join in. Furthermore, the heat from the by-election was not only felt in Putrajaya but also in Washington and Tokyo. I felt the heat and could not wait to come down here," he said.


"I should have come back this afternoon but I had left early and arrived at dawn because I wanted to be together with the by-election machinery. Malaysia is now at the centre of world attention and this is apparent when I was given the honour to have bilateral talks with President Obama during the Nuclear Summit," he said.


Najib said if Malaysia were being belittled as claimed by the opposition, Malaysia would not have been given the opportunity to be among the 40 countries invited to the conference, and he was among the nine leaders to have had bilateral talks with Obama.


"If we were worthless, he (Obama) would not have met me, but now, the opposition said I was being subservient to the United States. If there was no opportunity for bilateral talks with President Obama, then they would have said that the US President had no time for us. But when there is (bilateral meeting), they would then turn around the story. They will turn around everything. I wish to state that we will not be submissive to the US. We are equal," he pointed out.


"We don't have to agree on every single issue, we can disagree and be cordial about it. President Obama had also met with the Chinese President, does this mean that China is subservient to the US?" he asked.


At the conference, Najib said he had also pointed out that the peace talks in the Middle-East must go on.


"Don't be an expert manipulator. This touches on Malaysia's image. Now his friends in the US know that he is a two-faced person because all this while there are leaders in the US, including Jews, who are his friends. He is too desperate to win in Hulu Selangor...he is hoping that the people will be taken in by his political game," he said.


On the by-election, Najib said there was only one major issue in the constituency and it concerned promises that had not been fulfilled.


"I want to tell the voters in Hulu Selangor that the Barisan Nasional will fulfil its promises. All this while, when we win in a constituency, we will fulfil what we promise," he said.


Najib also named Selangor Umno deputy chief Datuk Noh Omar as the man responsible for ensuring that all pledges made were fulfilled.


"If there is not enough allocation, I am prepared to approve it as the Finance Minister. This is the primary message I want to send to the voters here," he said.


Najib said he was also satisfied with the people's reaction towards Kamalanathan who had familiarised himself with the residents here.


On the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), he said it was in a chaotic situation now and he had now known the various secrets on the party from the Member of Parliament for Bayan Baru, Datuk Seri Mohamed Hashim Zahrain and the Member of Parliament for Kulim-Bandar Baharu, Zulkifli Noordin, who had also joined the Malaysian delegation to the US.


"Every night after the programmes had been completed, they would sit down with me and tell everything that had transpired. But I don't want to disclose them here. Let me be the one to know, they know and Allah knows all," he added.

Problem-plagued BN trailing surging PKR .

From http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/news/general/4834-problem-plagued-bn-trailing-surging-pkr

By Zainal Epi

KUALA KUBU BARU: With two more days to polling for the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat, Barisan Nasional is trailing PKR.

The BN still has to tackle numerous issues which its campaigners find it hard to do because these are policy matters which only the top leaders can decide.

Some of the issues concerned the Felda Sungai Buaya land mortgaged to a bank, uncertain future for Chinese in new villages with temporary occupancy licence and contradictory statements by BN leaders over 1Malaysia.

For example, a big banner in Kampung Assam Kumbang shows Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak with its 1Malaysia concept while his deputy MuhyiddinYassin talks about being a Malay first and Malaysian second.

In the BN camp, MCA supporters are finding it hard to penetrate Chinese new villages, while MIC is riven with internal problems. Umno is faring no better: it is depending largely on Najib’s charisma to do battle in “tough areas”.

It is truly becoming an uphill fight for BN although the three state seats in Hulu Selangor are held by them – Ulu Bernama and Batang Kali (Umno) and Kuala Kubu Baru (MCA).

The ruling coalition started off as a favourite to win back the seat it lost in the March 2008 general election. But by Wednesday, it found itself in an awkward position as its strategy of development did not seem to go down well with the 64,500 voters.

Strong PKR tide

In fact, the personal attack on PKR’s candidate Zaid Ibrahim seemed to have backfired; even the so-called “shocking” move by its division treasurer Dr Halili Rahmat to cross over to Umno has had little effect on the voters.

However, BN is now banking on Najib’s his walk-about campaign to reverse its fortune.

Najib was in Bukit Sentosa on Wednesday night and visted several places yesterday to push back the strong PKR tide.

“Najib’s presence will boost our chances as he is the only leader who is trusted by voters of all races,” said one campaigner.

In the meantime, PKR’s campaign is moving into top gear, with de facto chief Anwar Ibrahim leading the charge against BN on every issue.

Tomorrow night, PKR will stage a big show when PAS spiritual chief Nik Aziz Nik Mat delivers a speech in Felda Sungai Lenggi.

While the warring parties are trying to win the hearts and minds of the voters, local “political analysts” who themselves are voters are predicting that PKR is expected to retain the seat.

“We know this for sure: as of now, BN is still trailing and if it does not pick up fast, PKR will win with a big majority,” said a shopkeeper who wishes to remain anonymous.

From http://zaiduntukrakyat.com/?p=688#more-688

Serang Peribadi Sebab Umno Takut Kepada Zaid
Posted by Zaid Ibrahim

ShareSuara Keadilan: Calon Pakatan Rakyat, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim merupakan sosok yang paling sesuai untuk dinobatkan sebagai Ahli Parlimen Hulu Selangor kerana sikapnya yang jujur dan jiwanya yang patriotik dan bersifat Malaysia.

Serangan terhadap peribadi beliau membuktikan bahawa Umno-Barisan Nasional telah ketandusan hujah dan bankrap idea dalam usaha mereka untuk menawan Parlimen Hulu Selangor.
Demikian kata Ketua Umum Parti Keadilan Rakyat, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ketika berucap pada Ceramah Perdana di Pangsapuri Sri Tanjung, Bukit Sentosa malam tadi.

“Sekurang-kurangnya beliau jujur, ikhlas dan berterus terang dengan pengalaman silam beliau. Sebagai manusia biasa, kita tentulah melakukan kesilapan.”

“Dan saya yakin Datuk Zaid akan menjadi seorang Muslim yang lebih baik, terutamanya apabila beliau menyertai kita di dalam Pakatan Rakyat”

Ceramah yang dihadiri oleh lebih 3,000 ribu orang itu turut membariskan pemimpin utama dalam Pakatan Rakyat, diantaranya Presiden PAS, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang serta Ketua Angkatan Muda KEADILAN, Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.

Beliau mengajak rakyat Malaysia khususnya pengundi di Hulu Selangor untuk menghukum Umno-BN di atas dosa yang telah mereka lakukan.

“Tanggungjawab utama bagi umat Islam antara lain adalah, untuk meilih pemimpin yang baik.

“Kalau kita silap pilih pemimpin, bermakna kita meletakkan nasib dan masa depan anak-anak kita dalam bahaya” tambah beliau.

Melengkapkan program Ceramah Perdana malam tadi ialah Ketua Parlimen DAP, Lim Kit Siang yang menyelar sikap hipokrit pemimpin Umno-BN terutamanya apabila berhadapan dengan isu moral.

“Saya berani katakan, sekiranya kita ingin membersihkan Umno-BN dari pimpinan yang korup dan bermoral rendah, kemungkinan kita akan kehilangan separuh dari barisan Menteri Kabinet”, seloroh beliau.

Beliau optimis dengan kemenangan Pakatan Rakyat di Hulu Selangor yang akan menjadi cerminan kepada keputusan pilihan raya kecil di Sibu kelak.

From http://merdekareview.com/bm/news.php?n=10734

Mabuk kuasa di Hulu Selangor
Mustafa K Anuar



Kisah calon pilihanraya kecil Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Zaid Ibrahim minum arak di masa beliau muda telah dijadikan isu hangat masa kini. Isu ini dilaporkan digembar-gembur oleh parti lawan, iaitu UMNO Baru/BN, yang bertujuan untuk meraih undi Melayu-Muslim di Hulu Selangor dengan harapan mereka akan merasa "mual" dengan perbuatan Zaid yang lalu itu.

Memanglah minum arak adalah satu perbuatan yang tidak direstui oleh agama Islam, dan sudah tentunya boleh "mencuit hati" orang ramai khususnya yang beragama Islam. Sesungguhnya, minum arak adalah antara "dosa" yang harus dielakkan oleh orang Islam sepertimana mereka perlu jauhkan diri dari perbuatan rasuah, menipu, menindas, membunuh dan memberi layanan berat sebelah (favouritism), antara lain, yang boleh menghasilkan sebuah masyarakat yang tidak adil dan porak peranda.

Tetapi Zaid telah bertaubat, dan mengungkit-ungkit amalan masa lampau beliau adalah sesuatu yang boleh diinterpretasikan, sepertimana yang telah dilakukan oleh beberapa pemerhati politik dan tokoh politik seperti Presiden Pas Hadi Awang, sebagai usaha untuk sengaja mengaibkan beliau di khalayak ramai amnya dan pengundi Hulu Selangor khususnya.

Lagipun, Zaid telahpun mengaku akan perbuatannya masa lalu itu, dan telah bersikap insaf.

Bukan itu sahaja, beliau tidak mahu "melancarkan" serangan peribadi sebagai satu respons terhadap ahli politik UMNO Baru khususnya walaupun beliau tahu siapa dalam UMNO Baru yang "berkecimpung" dalam "alam arak dan judi". Ini adalah satu pendekatan gentleman yang diambil oleh Zaid, dan harus dihargai.

Namun, nampaknya ini tidak melemahkan semangat pihak lawan untuk terus melekatkan label "peminum arak tegar" kepada Zaid. Perbuatan seperti ini hanya menebalkan lagi syak wasangka umum bahawa pihak lawan begitu terdesak (desperate) dan mabuk kuasa hingga sanggup berbuat sesuatu yang melampaui batas.

Harus juga disentuh di sini, iaitu perbuatan sebilangan penyokong PKR, kalaupun tidak Pakatan Rakyat, melawan balik "serangan peribadi" ini dengan kaedah yang sama adalah sesuatu yang bercanggahan dengan ketertiban politik Zaid. Lagipun, tidak perlu bagi mereka terjerumus dalam lembah politik murahan dengan pihak lawan.

Ini kerana perbuatan aib-mengaib ini mempunyai implikasi, antara lain, mengalihkan isu besar dan penting dari pandangan umum di Hulu Selangor khususnya. Seperkara lagi, perbuatan ini juga meletakkan mainan politik Malaysia di takuk yang lama, iaitu bercorak peribadi, remeh temeh dan primitif - dalam era globalisasi dan kemajuan teknologi maklumat dan komunikasi.

Kempen pilihanraya di Hulu Selangor ini seharusnya memperkatakan isu-isu yang harus diketengahkan dan ketahui umum. Misalnya, isu tempatan seperti tanah rizab untuk Orang Asli di kawasan Hulu Selangor, lebih-lebih lagi bagi mereka yang terpaksa berpindah dari tempat asal usul mereka disebabkan "projek pembangunan" tertentu. Bukan itu sahaja, perihal keperluan asas untuk mereka, seperti kemudahan perubatan, persekolahan dsb.

Selain dari itu, calon parti yang berkenaan perlu juga membincangkan hal pembangunan bagi orang Hulu Selangor secara komprehensif. Ini bukan sekadar memberi basikal atau mendirikan jalan bertar pada kadar sekelip mata sebelum berakhirnya proses pilihanraya kecil ini.

Ataupun, hal pembangunan yang seharusnya dilaksanakan di merata-rata tempat selagi ada penduduk yang memerlukannya tanpa mengira bulu, iaitu Pakatan Rakyat atau Barisan Nasional, dan tidak kira Cina, Melayu dan India, dan di Sabah dan Sarawak, Iban, Melanau ataupun Kadazandusun, antara lain.

Dalam konteks inilah seharusnya ditekankan betapa pentingnya keadilan bagi semua orang yang bermastautin di negara ini. Di sini juga boleh diselitkan isu amalan politik perkauman yang patut dikecam oleh umum kerana ketidakadilan lebih-lebih lagi dalam hal pembangunan negara yang berpaksikan etnisiti (atau kaum) boleh menimbulkan suasana dan corak kehidupan yang mengaibkan bagi sesetengah kelompok manusia.

Isu pertanggungjawapan atau accountability dalam kalangan ahli politik dan pemimpin politik juga perlu diketengahkan kerana tanpa prinsip ini, banyak salah laku seperti rasuah dan ketidakadilan oleh ahli politik akan masih berleluasa. Harus ditekankan di sini bahawa rasuah (yang lazimnya dilakukan oleh orang Islam-Melayu) melibatkan wang rakyat yang dibazirkan demi kesejahteraan beberapa kerat kelompok politikus, wang yang seharusnya digunakan untuk kebahagiaan rakyat jelata.

Tidak juga kurang pentingnya ialah isu kebebasan bersuara dan media, kerana tanpa kebebasan ini rakyat tidak akan dapat ketahui dengan lebih rapi bagaimana wang mereka dipergunakan oleh orang yang dipertanggungjawabkan untuk memerintah dan membangunkan negara ini. Lagipun, rasuah akan masih berleluasa selagi media tidak bebas untuk menjalankan kewartawanan siasatan dan membuat pemimpin politik bertanggungjawab terhadap tindakan dan dasarnya.

Isu-isu seperti apa yang dibentangkan di atas seharusnya tidak ditenggelami oleh arus kemabukan politik dan kuasa yang telah melanda masyarakat kita masa kini. Apakah mereka yang masih kemabukan kuasa dengan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) layak untuk mengkritik Zaid Ibrahim, yang telah menjauhkan diri daripada "dosa ini" sejak September 2008?

*Mustafa K Anuar ialah seorang pemerhati budaya, masyarakat dan slogan.

From http://merdekareview.com/bm/news.php?n=10733

PAS Selangor optimis Zaid menang Ahad ini



PAS Selangor optimis setakat ini calon Pakatan Rakyat mendahului calon BN dari sudut sokongan rakyat khasnya para pengundi di Hulu Selangor. Kerja-kerja kempen yang dilakukan secara bersepadu antara para petugas PAS, PKR dan DAP terus-menerus mendapat sambutan yang menggalakkan dari penduduk tempatan.

Dari tinjauan didapati bahawa rekod buruk perkhidmatan wakil MIC dari Barisan Nasional sebelum pilihanraya umum 2008 lalu telah menyedarkan rakyat untuk tidak lagi memberi peluang pada BN. Ini ditambah dengan pencapaian memberangsangkan kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat Selangor di bawah kepimpinan Khalid Ibrahim.

Program Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor (MES) ternyata menyentuh hati rakyat jelata. Dan ini memberi kesan langsung kepada harapan Zaid Ibrahim hari Ahad ini lantaran rakyat selesa dengan kesungguhan dan keikhlasan pimpinan dan kerajaan PR Selangor sejak berkuasa Mac 2008 lalu sehinggalah hari ini.

PAS Selangor menjangkakan jumlah para petugas PAS khasnya dari seluruh negara akan terus meningkat menjelang fasa terakhir tempuh berkempen dan pada hari mengundi bagi menyokong dan membantu jentera PKR.

PAS Selangor mengambil kesempatan menyeru seluruh pengundi berdaftar di Hulu Selangor agar keluar beramai-ramai pada hari mengundi Ahad ini dan memberikan undi kepada calon PKR yang mewakili Pakatan Rakyat bagi memberikan isyarat kesungguhan rakyat mahu melihat PR terus memerintah negeri Selangor ini. Begitu juga pada para pengundi pos yang berjumlah 799 orang itu, PAS Selangor mengharapkan agar mereka nanti akan berani menyalurkan suara melalui undi masing-masing demi membina sebuah Negeri Selangor yang maju, bersih dan berkebajikan buat semua.

*Kenyataan media oleh Roslan Shahir bin Mohd Shahir selaku Ketua Penerangan PAS Selangor Badan Perhubungan PAS negeri Selangor.

From http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/4/15/nation/20100415124910&sec=nation

BN to field Kamalanathan for Hulu Selangor by-election (Updated)


KUALA KUBU BARU: MIC information chief P. Kamalanathan is the Barisan Nasional candidate for the Hulu Selangor by-election, Barisan deputy chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced Thursday.

Muhyiddin, who is the Deputy Prime Minister, made the announcement at the Barisan command centre for the by-election at Bukit Sentosa, near here.

"The choice was based on what the people in Hulu Selangor wanted. They wanted change," he said.

He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had called him from the United States on Thursday morning, and told him that the Barisan machinery must work hard to win the by-election for the parliamentary seat.

Earlier in the day, the MIC agreed to field Kamalanathan (pic) as the Barisan candidate for the parliamentary seat.

Source said party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu met Muhyiddin to endorse MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel as the sole candidate for the seat but Muhyiddin had objected, saying that reports from the ground were not favourable to Palanivel.

"Muhyiddin had inquired about MIC youth deputy chief V. Mugilan for the seat but Samy Vellu objected strongly, saying that Mugilan was unacceptable as he had betrayed the interest of the party," said a source.

Sources added that Samy Vellu had also indicated that the MIC was prepared to give the seat to Umno if Palanivel was not chosen.

Samy Vellu later received a call from Muhyiddin, asking him to consider Kamalanathan as a candidate and for Palanivel to be appointed a Senator and later made a deputy minister.

At the three-hour emergency central working committee meeting on Wednesday night at the MIC headquarters, it was unanimously decided that Palanivel should be the candidate and those who were offered the seat had agreed to reject it.

Kamalanathan, 44, is a public relations manager who is married to S. Shobana, a senior public relations manager at a private hospital.

He started his career as a clerical staff in Associated Pan Malaysia Cement Sdn Bhd in 1985 before becoming a public relation officer with Malaysian Palm Oil Promotion Council for six years. He was the Public Relations Manager for Carotino and another government owned company from 2001.

He obtained his certificate in public relations from the London Chambers of Commerce and Industry in England and also a diploma in language translation (Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka), Public Relations (Institute of Public Relations), and Bachelors in Mass Communications from Edith Cowan University in Australia.
Kamalanathan was a Selayang municipal councillor from 2004 to 2006 and the national coordinator for Putera MIC and party information chief since last year.

From http://sakmongkol.blogspot.com

Hulu Selangor- kempen orang UMNO

Apa gambaran yang kita boleh bentuk apabila sebuah parti orang Melayu yang gagah seperti UMNO memerlukan bantuan Ibrahim Ali untuk menang? Apa pula anggapan orang kepada UMNO kalau cara kita nak menang ialah dengan mengumpat Zaid sebagai kaki minum dan kaki betina?

Yang pertama menyatakan UMNO sudah berada dalam keadaan sangat genting. Kita ni dah begkrap pemimpin ke? Dan besek?

Yang kedua, mendedahkan UMNO sebagai parti yang yang klas bawahan, tak ada isiu yang hendak di jual kepada rakyat. Jika pihak PKR buat perkara ini, ia tidak menjustifikasikan tindakan kita.

Kedua dua cara bukan lah gaya sebuah parti yang hendak menang pilihanraya secara bermaruah.

Saya telah menulis beberapa artikel memberi pandangan saya mengenai PRK HS. Setakat ini ramalan saya mengenai pilihanraya kecil semua betul walaupun ada pihak special branch yang menyatakan sebaliknya.

Saya akan membuat ramalan saya dalam dua tiga hari lagi setelah saya meninjau sendiri dan secara lansung apa yang berlaku di barisan depan. Tapi saya tahu keadaan di KKB tidak memihak kepada BN. Keresahan peneroka Felda jika tidak di atasi, akan membawa padah kepada kita.

Saya telah menyenaraikan beberapa perkara yang boleh menyebabkan kekalahan UMNO dan BN. Saya juga telah menulis mengenai bagaimana kita mendekati PRK Hulu Selangor ini dengan kaedah yang salah.

Jika orang tidak keluar mengundi, itu pun satu lagi bencana kepada kita. Di kalangan orang Melayu, mereka mahukan calun yang boleh menyedekahkan fatihah bila mereka mati. UMNO sekarang berkerja keras untuk Kamalanathan supaya di terima oleh pengundi Melayu.

Antara kaedah yang salah ialah berkempen menyerang peribadi lawan. Rata rata nya pemidato UMNO mengatakan Zaid kaki minum dan kaki betina. Ini tuduhan yang melantun semula kepada orang UMNO. Hampir semua pemimpin UMNO minum. Ada menteri yang saban malam berkelana di kelab malam hotel Shangrila. Yang kaki judi, bukan kepalang ramai nya. Sebab duit yang mereka dapat duit yang amat mudah di perolehi.

Saya orang UMNO tapi yang tidak betul, kita mesti dedahkan. PM mahukan UMNO di susun semula- penyusunan semula bukan hanya melibatkan penstrukturan nya, tapi juga mesti melibatkan amalan, perbuatan dan nilai murni yang mesti di dukung oleh parti UMNO.

Kita mesti menuntut standard yang sama keatas parti kita seperti yang kita mahukan dari pihak lawan. Barulah rakyat akan yakin kepada kata dan ucap kita.

Saya amat gembira bila Dato Ishak dari Negeri Semilan kata- kita mesti tolak semua kaki minum. Tapi gesaan itu mesti lebih di perlakukan keatas UMNO sendiri agar dimasa hadapan, kita akan bersihkan UMNO dari kaki mimun, kaki judi dan kaki betina. Kalau boleh kita nak UMNO ini parti malaikat. Dato Ishak mesti menyatakan dengan lantang dan tegas mengenai syarat ini di dalam perhimpunan agung UMNO tahun ini.

Orang UMNO pun lupa bahawa walaupun ada sifat sifat ini, Zaid pernah di pilih sebagai calun UMNO untuk kawasan parlimen KB dan pernah di angkat jadi menteri. Bererti ketika itu, UMNO tidak memandangkan sifat Zaid ini sebagai amat penting untuk tidak di pilih. Zaid di lantik menteri pada zaman Pak lah, seorang PM yang mempunyai ilmu agama yang tinggi dan bukan setakat melafazkan selawat untuk mukadimah ucapan.

Kenapa boleh terjadi demikian?- yakni walaupun kita tahu Zaid kaki itu dan ini, dia masih di pilih sebagai calun dan jadi menteri pula? Sebab Zaid yang ada sifat sifat tersebut berada dalam kumpulan yang sama- kaki minum dan kaki betina dalam UMNO. Orang macam Zaid biasa dalam dunia orang UMNO- ia luar biasa jika Zaid berada dalam jemaaah PAS. Bukan sedikit pak menteri kaki minum dan kaik joli dalam UMNO. Amat mudah kita tengok perangai matlaon UMNO ini- iaitu ketika perhimpunan agung UMNO. Seminggu sebelum PAU , semua GRO di kelab kelab dangdut di sekitar PWTC- Jalan Raja Laut dan Sentul habis di tempah. Siapakah yang 'booking' mereka? Tidak lain dan tidak bukan perwakilan UMNO dan kadang kadang yang menjadi kepala dang booking GRO ini ialah ketua bahagian dan menteri.

Maka nya, jika kita mendedahkan aib orang yang bersifat peribadi kepada khalayak umum, orang lain pun boleh mendedahkan aib pimpinan UMNO untuk pengadilan rakyat. Dan kita akan lihat bahawa kaedah yang kita bawa ini lebih banyak mendatangkan kerugian daripada keuntungan.

Kedua, UMNO silap besar jika membenarkan Ibrahim Ali berkempen untuk UMNO. Dia bukan UMNO dan Melayunya Ibrahim mustahil lebih dari Melayunya Zaid Ibrahim atau Melayu nya kita. Perkara yang bersangkut paut dengan orang melayu, kepentingan bangsa Melayu- tidak memerlukan Ibrahim Ali sebagai juara dan jurubicara orang Melayu. Itu kerja2 UMNO. Jika pimpinan UMNO 'sub-contract' tugas mereka kepada Ibrahim Ali, ini bermakna, pimpinan yang melakukan demikian harus sama di singkirkan dari UMNO seperti kaki mabuk dan kaki betina.

Kenapa kita mesti jemput Ibrahim Ali yang memperjuangkan sesuatu yang bertentangan dengan fikiran dan wawasan PM Najib? Ibrahim Ali juara dan juricukap kelas penindas dan kumpulan Melayu yang terbilang sedangkan PM Najib mahu merungkai semua amalan pilitik dan ekonomi yang di wakili oleh Ibrahim Ali.

Agenda kepartian, ekonomi dan politik PM Najib yang mesti di terangkan kepada rakyat Hulu Selangor untuk meyakinkan mereka, mengapa UMNO adalah pilihan yang lebih baik dari parti Zaid Ibrahim.


Posted by sakmongkol AK47 at 4:28 PM

Hulu Selangor Zaid & 1Malaysia From http://www.malaysia-today.net/

Did it matter to the Malays in Kampong Raja Uda that Charles Santiago is Indian? Should it matter to the Indians of Hulu Selangor that Zaid is Malay? Or are the Malays more matured than the Indians?

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

My comrade-in-exile, private investigator P. Balasubramaniam, has bet that Datuk Zaid Ibrahim will win the Hulu Selangor by-election with a majority of 5,000 to 6,000 votes. I, in turn, have bet that Zaid’s majority will be between 3,000 to 5,000 votes. I will not reveal what the bet is but it looks like we both agree that Zaid’s majority will be around 5,000 votes, plus-minus.

Looking at the smear campaign that Barisan Nasional is embarking upon it appears that they have really nothing much to throw at Zaid. He has deep pockets. He has baggage. He is an outsider and a ‘parachute’ candidate. Why a Malay and not an Indian candidate? And all such trivia and petty issues.

So what if Zaid has deep pockets? Does this not prove that he is a self-made man? How many road or construction projects did the government give him? How many APs or permits did he get? How much sand or timber concessions was Zaid awarded?

Zaid used to head the largest law firm in Malaysia. So that made him rich. Is that not good? Should Perkasa and Umno not sing his praises and stand tall and be proud that there are at least some Malays who can make it on the ‘open market’?

So it looks like not all Malays need crutches if you go by Zaid’s success and track record. Does not Umno want more Malays like these, Malays who can succeed even when faced with stiff competition?

Earlier today, in a keynote speech to commemorate the 44th anniversary of Mara, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Malays must not be proud of always getting aid from the government. “Aid is like a crutch... to be given when we are weak. It is better if we can stand firmly on our own feet. Do not be proud with such aid. In truth, we are not masters because of aid,” said Dr Mahathir as he lamented the attitude of the Malay community who always looked for the easiest way of getting rich.

Even Dr Mahathir, the man who supports Perkasa, said that the Malays should not be proud of their crutches. This can be rephrased to mean we should be ashamed. Should this not also mean we should be proud of Malays who can make it without crutches? And in that case, going by this argument, should we not be proud of Zaid who made it without crutches?

So why are they whacking Zaid for having deep pockets? Why are they not singing his praises instead? Zaid did not rob the rakyat? Zaid did not pilfer the government’s coffers. Zaid did not steal the taxpayers’ money. Zaid worked hard to put bread on the table. And that is a crime?

Hundreds of other Malays have also become successful lawyers. I can name dozens whom I personally know and who are now very rich. I know many more Chinese and Indians who are now rich because of their successful law practice. And this is supposed to be a bad thing?

When Malays get rich the wrong way we lament and sigh. But when they get rich the right way we whack them. So what is it that we want? Ini pun salah. Itu pun salah. Tak pahamlah minda Melayu.

Actually, Malays are like crabs. They can’t walk straight and they are trying to teach others how to walk straight. Then, when you place crabs in a basket, they will bring down those who try to climb out. So, in the end, not one crab gets to climb out of the basket because they would pull each other down every time someone tries to climb out. I suppose this is why most Malays are basket cases.

And this is the real issue here. Malays just can't bear to see other Malays become successful. PHD: perangai hasat dengki.

So Zaid is Kelantanese. So what? Why can’t a Kelantanese stand for elections in Selangor? Terengganu once had a Kelantanese as the Menteri Besar. When it comes to Malays we worry about which state or which town they come from. Were Lim Guan Eng, Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh, Gobind Singh, and whatnot all born in the town they contested in?

Mat Sabu of PAS has contested in Kedah, Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu and all over the place and won most times. No one asked him where he was born or accused him of being a parachute candidate. If I wanted to contest the general election then where would I contest? I was born in Surrey, England. Does this mean there is no seat for me anywhere in Malaysia?

Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was not born in Permatang Pauh. Yet she not only won that seat but became the Opposition Leader in Parliament as well.

We need to break away from this old pre-Merdeka culture where you must be born in that town to be able to contest a seat in that town.

In the old days it took five days and four nights to travel from the tip of the East Coast to Kuala Lumpur. Today, it takes only an hour. In the old days it look a week for a letter to arrive. Today, we can communicate in real time.

Times have changed. We now live in a global village and a borderless world. You can be born in the UK, like me, and still contest in Hulu Selangor, Ulu Kelantan, Ulu Terengganu, Kuala Kedah, or wherever. It does not matter. What matters is that you can serve your constituents.

And I believe Zaid Ibrahim can.

Zaid is not concerned about race. He is concerned about human rights and justice. He worries about the underdog.

In short, Zaid is colour-blind. And that is what matters. That is what we want the New Malaysia to be about.

For more than half a century since Merdeka the Malays in Kampong Raja Uda in Kelang, Selangor, voted ruling party. They never once voted opposition. For the first time in history, on 8 March 2008, the Malays of Kampong Raja Uda voted for Charles Santiago as their Member of Parliament.

Today, Charles Santiago is a Member of Parliament.

Did it matter to the Malays in Kampong Raja Uda that Charles Santiago is Indian? Should it matter to the Indians of Hulu Selangor that Zaid is Malay? Or are the Malays more matured than the Indians?

Yes, Zaid will help the Indians. But he will help deserving Indians and not Ananda Krishnan. Yes, Zaid will help the Chinese. But he will help deserving Chinese and not Francis Yeoh. And Zaid will also help the Malays in the Felda settlements and the Orang Asli in their reservations.

Maybe it is good that PKR finally fields a candidate with deep pockets. Then Umno can’t pay him RM2 million to cross over. Maybe that should be the criteria in future. Make sure that the candidate is not bangsat and therefore can be easily bought.

Zaid should be the new benchmark that the opposition uses in what the candidates should look like. That would ensure we will not see ‘cheap sales’ every month of the year.

Hulu Selangor From http://myzaidibrahim.wordpress.com/

As the shootout for Hulu Selangor draws near, the dirty campaign of UMNO has begun in full swing. Predictably, UMNO are not focusing on the issues of the rakyat. UMNO are focused on the only thing they know, and that is: to spread lies and misinformation.

According to The Deputy Prime Minister and his hired hands, one of the issues plaguing my candidacy is my disciplinary record, specifically of being suspended by UMNO for money politics. As a result of that, they conveniently use this to accuse me of everything under the sun: corrupt, greedy, wealthy, etc.
As always, the truth will set you free. It is perhaps something UMNO is unfamiliar with. Time and time again, they continue to underestimate the intelligence of the rakyat and try to confuse them with fiction, but the rakyat knows better.

I have defended myself from these accusations many times, but will do so again.

So here it is…

In 2001, I won the contest for the post of UMNO Division Chief for Kota Bharu. Took me three attempts and 10 years to do that but I did it.

That position left them with no choice but to field me as a candidate for March 2004 General Election. I won a hard fought contest for the Kota Bharu Parliamentary seat, although the 3 State Assembly seats in that parliamentary constituency was won by PAS. (Somewhat similar to the present situation in Hulu Selangor where the 3 State seats were won by BN in 2008, and now I am trying to win it again for PKR). I expected a more supportive reaction from UMNO considering the significance of the victory — it was the first time after 15 years of PAS rule, that BN at last won the Kota Bharu seat.

But it was not to be. They were ready to knife me again. By June 2004, there was again another contest for the UMNO Kota Bharu Division. Fortunately, I was able to retain the seat as Division Chief, uncontested.
But other positions in the party were up for grabs. During that contest , certain individuals issued complaints by way of signing false statutory declarations that I had given money to “my agent”, the late Datuk Zahari Wahab in exchange for votes, purportedly on my behalf.

On the 16th of October 2004, I was charged for money politics. I found this charge to be utterly ridiculous, because I won the seat uncontested. There was no opponent. So, how could I be charged for money politics, when there is no contest? But within UMNO, I guess anything is possible.

For the charges to have any merit, there must be a witness to support the charge of money politics. If accusations against my friend Zahari Wahab of giving money for votes had any merit, how were they certain it wasn’t for Zahari’s own campaign? At the time, Zahari himself was contesting for the Vice President of the Division. Even if it was true that Zahari had indulged in money politics, he might have done it for himself as he was the one contesting. By the time the 1st hearing came up before the UMNO Disciplinary board, Zahari Wahab had unfortunately passed away. Incidentally he too, was charged with money politics which I believe was also false.. But with his demise, the UMNO Disciplinary Board could not put forth Zahari to support their claims. They did not put forth any other witness to support these accusations, other than the false statutory declarations which I had no opportunity to challenge the maker of these statements. I described the proceedings as a sham and that upset them. They were determined to pass this judgment on me without any basis whatsoever.

It was clear that I was being framed. I challenged and questioned the system of how the Board arrived at their decision without any supporting proof or evidence.

In the end, the UMNO Disciplinary Board ruled that I was guilty of money politics. But, they were indeed willing to spare me any punishment, on the condition that I apologize to the UMNO disciplinary board for questioning their process and authority.

Under no circumstances was I ever going to apologize to the board. Any apology for my alleged actions to the board would implicitly be admitting my guilt, and I was not going to compromise on the principle of the matter and my innocence. When I refused to apologize, that was when the UMNO board suspended me for 3 years.

In 2008, when I was made a Minister, I did not wish for there to be any doubt as to my character and credibility as I undertook this important responsibility in what I consider to be a reformist Government. I wanted to clear my name of any suspicion of those charges. So, I requested the then Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) to investigate me further, to clear my name once and for all. Till today, they have not come forth with any outcome. If I was really as guilty as so they claim, why did they make me a Minister? Because the truth is, I did not do anything as claimed by my opponents in UMNO; that is why I was made a Minister.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin suggested today that I was picked as the candidate for Hulu Selangor supposedly because of my deep pockets. My lovely wife and daughter, Alysha are very excited now; they asked me where did I hide my wealth and they insist that I take them out shopping. Now, I’m in trouble!

I suggest it is best for the DPM to hold his tongue. It is certainly not befitting of a DPM to stoop so low and make such claims. If he were to make such claims, then he must stand by those statements..

I was never wealthy, unlike other UMNO Ministers. I was a Minister for only 6 months. And before that I was never a crony of any one, nor obtained any concessions or APs or even blocks of shares. In the interest of transparency, I would be prepared to disclose to the public my possessions and my so called ‘wealth’; and that of my family and my children as well, on the condition that the DPM and his colleagues in Cabinet are willing to do the same of their own possessions, of their families, of their children, and their nominees.

During my brief tenure as Minister, (Tun) Pak Lah and I suggested that Cabinet Ministers should declare their assets. To show that BN Ministers are clean and not afraid of full accountability and transparency in their dealings . Many senior ministers opposed this idea. They opposed everything good that Pak Lah wanted to do. I wonder what the DPM has to say about this now.

If he hasn’t got anything useful to add, I suggest to the DPM that we move on and address the issues I have raised for the people in Hulu Selangor. And the issues facing the country. Lets have a fair fight and see who has the support of the people!

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One Comment on “Hold Your Horses, Mr Muhyiddin”
bigjoe99 Says:


April 15, 2010 at 7:26 am
With MIC in disarray, its clear the non-Malay votes of Hulu Selangor will go to you. That leaves only the Malay votes for you to tackle. Given that they are pre-disposed to think in terms of archaic electioning ways, they are under the impression you can’t reach the rural voters being urbane and intellectual. So its nothing surprising they will resort to dirty ways.

The first shot Muhiyiddin fired was that you were chosen because you were rich – from the man Mahathir called the ‘richest man in UMNO’. This campaign is full of LOL moments even before it really gets down to it.

This campaign has so much symbolism in it. You represent the vision of Tunku Abdul Rahman while Muhiyiddin, who is up and center for the first time in a by-election, represents the vision of Mahathir. You represent reform and what is possible for this country while Muhiyiddin represent old and no real future for all. There is just too much at stake.

The fight is only going to get dirtier. You can expect in the end, they will get Perkasa out in full force and call you names even Anwar would whinced at. Some old enemies will be brought out and stories spin such as ungrateful, dirty deals, unMuslim, associate with heretics, etc..You name it, they will dig and fabricate.

You represent too much hope for too many and destruction of old order for too many. Not stopping you this round is like hara-kiri for them. Whatever you feel that you have paid a heavy price in politics so far, those people, ridiculously, feel that they have more to lose from you and you have no right to take it from them. They are willing to go further, farther because they are desperate and scared people who fear losing the easier way they are used to.

I have always thought your ace in the hole is just your personality – you are easy going way whether its in the board room or among the less fortunate. Keep to that. Resist showing the intellectualism you good at and keep to the simple message – why would you want to hurt any Malays? What is there for you to do so? You are rich, successful, you help the less fortunate. Are you dumber than Muhiyiddin and Najib? Are you less Malay than Mahathir? All the answer is no – no to BN..