Monday, September 07, 2009

Of NS N31, imported maids and ...

It must be Ramadan ! When one is supposed to build up one's piety and shore up one's patience in the month of Ramadan, for some that is not the case. Few names have been circulated as potential BN candidate soon after Allahyarham Azman Mohd Noor's burial.

For the time being, Isa Abdul Samad, ex-NS MB and ex-cabinet minister, is the forerunner together with his son Mohd Najib. Sensing victory this time, even wanita UMNO vice head, Kamelia Ibrahim, is urging the party leadership to allow wanita UMNO to be UMNO/BN candidate. It is expected that UMNO Teluk Kemang division will submit its candidate list for NS MB's consideration after the divisional meeting to be held on 10th September 2009.

Meanwhile the EC will meet on 14th September 2009 to fix the dates for nomination and polling for Bagan Pinang by-election.

As I see it, the chances for Isa Samad ending up as UMNO/BN candidate for this by-election is remote or rather very remote). Although Isa is currently the Telung Kemang division head and Bagan Pinang is part of Teluk Kemang division, choosing Isa Samad as UMNO/BN candidate will be another unnecessary suicidal move by UMNO/BN. Unless someone out there relishes the idea of killing Isa Samad's political life in NS.

This is a seat that UMNO cannot afford to lose. Not because the seat is critical to the state government but it should be a seat to be won by BN. A seat where BN leaders can start trumpeting the victory for days to come. For such a long time, BN has been facing defeat after defeat that maybe some of BN leaders has forgotten how to trumpet victories.

For that reason, UMNO cannot afford another Rohaizat nor UMNO has the comfort of putting "tunggul kayu" as their candidate. As it is, Isa and his son, Mohd Najib, can temporarily shelve the idea of becoming UMNO's candidate for Bagan Pinang. If both of them still insist, then they are doing PR a big favour by giving PR the political ammunition to shoot them and UMNO down, as proven in Permatang Pasir.

With Isa and his clan out of the way, UMNO NS will be left with 4 chieftains to deal with ie Mohd Hassan, KJ, Rais and Ishak Ismail. Rais may want to promote himself in NS but his past association with semangat 46 and his past relationship with one Mokhtar Hashim will weaken him. So, again, it is best for Rais to sit this one out.

As for Ishak Ismail, consider him as one of the vanishing dinasours of UMNO's past. Although he is the UMNO Seremban division head, he has lost his aura when he was not chosen to contest in 2008 GE. It is better for him to head for the nearest retirement home.

KJ should play smart this time. His win in Rembau in 2008 is suspect so it is better for KJ to play second fiddle in Bagan Pinang. Let the big boys slug it out and KJ to reap their fruit of labour. With the major players out, Mohd Hassan will has the liberty to push forward his choice. And Mohd Hassan's choice will not come from Wanita UMNO wing nor will it be from the UMNO youth. Unless, MOhd Hassan purposely named a youth leader to stand in Bagan Pinang and pass all the bucks to KJ should UMNO/BN lose the seat.

Mohd Hassan is sitting on a sure-fire situation and he can't afford to lose Bagan Pinang. Not when KJ is looking hungrily at the MB seat.

Enough of that. Let's go to another issue which will be haunting most of the middle class household. That of foreign maid.

Of late, our friendly southern neighbour across the Straits of malacca is demanding tha maids from their country should be paid a minimum of RM 800 per month wage. This is outrages.

Maybe the government can tolerate it but it is doubtful that average Malaysians can afford to pay the minimum wage. And since malaysians could not afford to pay the minimum wage, why not open the doors for Myanmar, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Bangladeshis to come in as maids? Their pay is lower, and with training they can outperform the maids from across the straits. Vietnamese are fast learners and they can adapt to Malaysian household in no time.

The point is, if they are playing "hard to get", then why not shift our focus to other frienly nations? I am sure they will be more than willing to provide training for the maids before they are sent over to Malaysia.

This way, one day in the future, noone can claim that Malaysians are brought up by them. Some cases are sensitive and before the sensitivities hit us, why not we take the preventive measure and source our maids elsewhere.

And whistt we are at it, why didn't our neighbour from across the straits stop and think for a moment - is this what they want? Are they implying that Malaysia is dependent on them? Malaysia has choices to make and why ot Malaysians make a choice to stick by the present rate and that means RM 800 minimum wage will be returned to our neighbour.

Malaysia has so many untapped labour and maybe with a litle bit of diffiulty, we can still get local maids to do the chores.

NS N31 or imported maids, the issue is simple and the solution is out there in front of our eyes...

Till then...G'nite M'sia...wherever u are...

19 comments:

sunwayopal said...

I wonder if the ultimate bad candidate say Rohaizat Version II is fielded in Bagan Pinang, can UMNO win Bagan Pinang?

This will truly test the adage, even if field a monkey also can win.

nightcaller said...

sunwayopal

That's what one UMNO youth leader said in Astro Awani when they lost Permatang Pasir. He said "Kalau dulu BN letak tunggul kayu pun menang, kali ini PR letak batu pun menang".

Let's see whether BN dare to put Isa Samad as their candidate in Bagan Pinang.

Anonymous said...

Nightcaller,
Hehehe.....Thought off using winner's curse strategy.....However, just in the old testament (oops, I am in christian mode again), lets create confusion among UMNO goons whereby they would finish off each other. We just stand still & see the total destruction of this UMNO

nightcaller said...

Looes74

We just can't stand there 'cos they might need help. Maybe all they need is a little push to start things rolling...and they will not know what hit them this time.

Just in case u r in Cowboy mode..is this the Alamo for BN/UMNO or is it Custer's last stand?

Fi-sha said...

Sir

Do you still remember what the China govt and many more out there did to the melamine-tainted milk powders? They destroyed them all, tainted or not, if they are produced by the same factory under probed.

May conscience prevails!

Anonymous said...

Nightcaller,
I prefer the Custer's last stand thingy. Alamo not good analogy lah.....Remember though Alamo was totally annihilated, Texas was given a breather to recover from the Mexican's onslaught. Hehehe, been to Mexico....Good food.....Yes, in Mexico, you are not allowed to carry beer bottle outside strolling....The only catholic country I knew that alcohol not allowed outside.
Hey, KJ looks like Cluster

nightcaller said...

Fi-sha

That's a little bit cruel, isn't it? U mean the rakyat is going to wipe BN clean the next time around? There goes a healthy 2 party system down the drain, before it can even materialise in Malaysia :)

Looes 74

KJ as Custer? Then who will be Sitting Bull? Whatever i is, this will be the BN (oops Custer) last stand in Bagan Pinang.

The initial feelings thus far is , it is going to be a tough fight for Bagan Pinang and if the voter turn out is less than 85 %, PR may has a slim chance of taking Bagan Pinang with a majority of more than 68 (manek Urai) but definitely far less than Permatang Pasir (4551). The numbers that keep coming up is 133 in PR's favour. However, if BN can convince 85 % of postal voters to come out, BN may win by a majority of 310.

It is going to be a close, close fight. Now, let's see what KJFC's number 1 member predicts :)

Of course, the numbers will change once the candidates are finalised and clear the hurdle on nomination day...

Anonymous said...

No sir its the Battle of Midway, when the combined forces of the Setiakawan bloggers and YB KJ leads the Allies into a major victory against the Imperial Pakatan Army.

sunwayopal said...

The Battle of Midway had more than an element of luck.

We shall see.

For the first time in all of the by elections so far, I think...........Pakatan this time starts as the underdogs and its Pakatan it is with all to do.

We need BeeEnd to shoot themselves in the foot .....seriously.

Anonymous said...

Wenger,
Allies....Battle of Midway.....Betoi kah ni....Yang saya ingat 3 komponent parti dalam Pakatan Rakyat lebih similar dengan The Allies in the Western Front.
The Allies got US, GB & Russia. PAS to me sounds like Russia. DAP is like Great Britain & PKR macam USA

Nightcaller,
Would you agree????How I come to such analogy? PAS got strong machinery like Russia. DAP got long history & experience & inherited the legacy of PAP. PKR like USA, new kid on the block. Macam2 orang ada

Anonymous said...

Nightcaller,
Sidetrack a bit. I have watched Yes, Minister all over again. Perhaps, you might enjoy the whole session. It's the Big Brother

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vF3LDRy7CI&feature=related

nightcaller said...

WJ, Sunwayopal, Looes74

Are we in operation rooms now working out on which battleplans to follow for Bagan Pinang?

Setiakawan bloggers and KJ as allies? I think on the word go, PK will go shooting WJ in the back, leaving KJ with one less able lieutenants.

As for Looes74 analogy of allies equal to PR, to some extent it holds true and carries weight.

I tend to believe that Battle of Midway has the element of luck working in allies favour. So,let's brush up the tactical skills and go into Bagan Pinang with BN having the advantage.

Will WJ joins hands with KJ on the ground this time? the past few victories doesn't taste that sweet without WJ around...:) Afterall, Bagan Pinang is only a stone's throw from KL...

And that goes for u too, Looes74. It's just 3 hours leisure drive from the second link...good time to enjoy the weekend with a tint of competition...something to do to get out from the regimented life down under...

Anonymous said...

Nightcaller,
Looking forward towards it. Anyway, looking at your analysis, you might be right. Quick calculation.....Civilian vote turnout last time (8th of March, 2008) is 70%. Don't think it would go below it. Pakatan Rakyat's strategy would probably adopt BG's strategy. Bukit Gantang's strategy.
To use WWII analogy, Battle of Berlin, USA/UK attacking from the west & Russia thrusting into Berlin from East. Pakatan Rakyat must garner at least 70% of civilian votes (including malay votes). PAS strength in garnering malay votes is important
The magic number is above 4000 votes. As for the army votes, PAS should maintain 1000 - 2000 votes. That would get you a majority of about 500 votes for Pakatan Rakyat.
Thought of having PKR such as Kamarul as candidate but then again, PAS is still better this time. That person must be more people friendly (civilian).
For the benefit of Wenger's knowledge, once the Rhine has been breached, the end for BN. Najib consistent attack on Selangor/Perak/Kedah reminds me of Extended Battle of Bulge.


Nizar Jamaluddin is General Anthony Clement McAuliffe.....Ooops....Nizar is a PAS hor.....Don't know any prominent Russian Generals except Zhukov who leaded the final attack on Berlin. Like AcAuliffe, de Germans/ BN asking Nizar to give up. To BN, Nizar, Nah.......Nuts! The rest is history......

Wenger,
Read the Battle of Bastogne lah.....WWII history is ma favourite....Next besides rise, split & dominant of PAP history

Anonymous said...

Nightcaller,
Well, seems like Isa is chosen. Hee Ha Hee Ha. Well, Pakatan Rakyat should not let down the guard & step up the attack. Put to in WWII node, we need the blood, guts & glory of people like General S Patton. Hey, Hey, Hey, foul mouth Patten is....He is man of strong conviction......Strong christian value.....His weather prayer turn the tide against De Germans.....
Would Bagan Pinang be the Custer's last stand? Napoleon's Waterloo? Last breach across the River Rhine (Aaaa....just to make wenger piss) before De Batatile de Berlin
Pakatan should stick to PAS....Civilian.....while the PAS (armed forces) can infiltrate in camp to convince key personnels. Come on.....PAS gagner mille cent quarter vingt neuf vote d'armee.......Gain 1189 army votes......Tell Zorro not need to fret......Lets get the magic votes.....Above 4000 civilian votes.
That translates into 70% total votes in all 8 districts.

nightcaller said...

Looes 74

WJ has gone for diversion. He is now into football tactics and strategies. Ssssshhhh, he's also admitting that UMNO only has strikers (no midfields, no defenders, no keeper). That will only mean one thing...just soak in their attacks and retaliate with fast breaks. That will break UMNO's hearts.

On Isa Samad, my understanding is that Teluk Kemang UMNO division will only nominate Isa Samad as UMNO's potential candidate. This is a clever strategy on the part of Isa Samad to trap Hassan, KJ and Muhyiddein. If UMNO's candidate is not Isa Samad, then UMNO could not blame UMNO Teluk Kemang for the loss. In short...bijak, bijak...

As for the army personnel, I see that PR will get 30 to 40 % postal votes and that should be enough to carry them through. One thing is sure, watch for professional political analysts trying to help BN by mapping UMNO strategy. These group consist of Uni lecturers, independent consultants and senior media editors.

This time around, let's do the "braveheart" strategy...a Mel Gibson film.

sunwayopal said...

How come so much confidence??

We can even overturn 5000 postal votes in a small state seat where theres only total 14000 votes???

This is like Malaysian Tigers vs ManU ........

Just being real folks. But of course, hope u fellas correct !!!!

zorro said...

Herr General Wenger....since when are you fighting ALONGSIDE the Kari and Piggy under Setiakawan Bloggers. Best to watch your back Herr General.

Nightcaller....tough battle ahead and none of you thoought about the Battle of Slim River!

Looes74....still fretting over the 5k postal votes....they are so real...such an angpow offered to UMNO.

nightcaller said...

Sunwayopal

Well, the central letter of the word confidence is "I". Why can't we be optimistic? Something like Malaysian Tigers vs ManU? Sorry, ManU is not my cup of tea. I would rather go for the gunners (yeah...Arsenal).

Z

WJ choose to live dangerously ala James Bond. As long as WJ stays one step ahead of Parpu, he will be fine...but herr general WJ has been out of field action too long (the last being in KT by-election).

Battle of Slim River? This I got to go back to history books.

C U in Bagan Pinang...

Anonymous said...

Sunway,
De Koreans made to semi quarter in World Cup. Hence, anything is possible. Of course, at the present moment is only design on paper. Must put it into practice
Though postal votes are huge, still civilian votes are critical. Last check, it's 50 - 50. To beat phantom & postal votes, you need to have overwhelming massive landslide votes. Or if you are into the Korean War, human wave attack by the Chinese. Catching the Allies unprepared.
Hence, my reply to Zorro.....Get that magic votes. Over 4000 votes. By the way, I am not favouring PAS putting military candidate. They can be of better use. Call it the Mesra Tentera strategy.

Zorro,
Just share with you this from wikipedia

Siege of Bastogne

On December 22, 1944, through a party consisting of a major, captain, and two privates under a flag of truce that entered the American lines southeast of Bastogne (occupied by Company F, 2nd Battalion, 327th Glider Infantry), General Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz sent the following ultimatum to Gen. McAuliffe:

To the U.S.A. Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne.

The fortune of war is changing. This time the U.S.A. forces in and near Bastogne have been encircled by strong German armored units. More German armored units have crossed the river Our near Ortheuville, have taken Marche and reached St. Hubert by passing through Hompre-Sibret-Tillet. Libramont is in German hands.

There is only one possibility to save the encircled U.S.A. troops from total annihilation: that is the honorable surrender of the encircled town. In order to think it over a term of two hours will be granted beginning with the presentation of this note.

If this proposal should be rejected one German Artillery Corps and six heavy A. A. Battalions are ready to annihilate the U.S.A. troops in and near Bastogne. The order for firing will be given immediately after this two hours term.

All the serious civilian losses caused by this artillery fire would not correspond with the well-known American humanity.

The German Commander.

According to various accounts from those present, when McAuliffe was told of the German demand for surrender he said "Aw, nuts". At a loss for an official reply, Lt. Col. Harry Kinnard suggested that his first remark summed the situation up well, which was agreed to by the others. The official reply: "To the German Commander, NUTS!, The American Commander" was typed and delivered by Colonel Joseph Harper, commanding the 327th Glider Infantry, and his S-3 Major Jones to the German delegation. Harper had to explain the meaning of the word to the Germans, telling them that in "plain English" it meant "Go to hell."

Zorro,
Always though Nizar is like General Anthony McAuliffe