Busy weeks ahead...all related to Bagan Pinang

For Najib, nothing else is important except for a thumping victory in Bagan Pinang. Najib may think that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully, for Najib's sake, it is not another mirage - courtesy of PR

Whilst all eyes are focusing on Bagan Pinang proper, let's take time off to see what's coming up during the busy "Visit Bagan Pinang week".

1. First up will be the expected explosive MCA EGM slated to take place on 10th October 2009. The EGM will discuss on the following resolutions :-
   • Move a motion of no-confidence against Ong Tee Kiat;
   • Declare as null and void the decision of the Presidential council to accept the recommendation by the Disciplinary board to expel Chua Soi Lek (he had since been suspended for a period of 4 years);
   • Reinstate Chua Soi Lek as MCA's Deputy President;
   • Revoke any appointment made prior to the EGM;
   • Dismiss all possible disciplinary actions and sentences against the requisitionists;
     

   News are surfacing that there is the "third force" in MCA who are working on installing a new team to replace both Ong Tee Kiat and Chua Soi Lek as President and Deputy President respectively. Bear in mind that the MCA EGM will be held just a day before Bagan Pinang by-election and it will be hawkishly scrutinised by the approximately 1,490 Chinese voters. As it is now, the Chinese voters are swaying towards PR and the MCA EGM results will reinforce their commitments to vote PR, this time around.
   

2. On the same date, Najib will be launching Parti Makkal Sakhti Malaysia (PMSM) in Taman Pameran Pertanian Malaysia, Serdang. Although MIC wont accept PMSM as an alternative Indian-based party, Najib may has his own ideas on this.

   And that leads to another pertinent question. Why is PMSM so important to Najib? Remember IPF (Indian Progressive Party) which was formed by the late Pandithan in the mid 90's? Even with open support from IPF towards BN, the party is still waiting in the wings to join BN. Further, how does IPF felt when their GA was only officiated by Tg Adnan's replacement. Not only Najib did not officiate their GA, even Tg Adnan failed to show up...and yet IPF is still begging to join BN ranks. What happen if PMSM were to be accepted into BN? Will MIC cry foul? Will IPF still stands behind BN?
   

   If 1,490 Chinese voters are tuning in on MCA's EGM, approximately 2,824 Indian voters in Bagan Pinang will be following Najib's speech during PMSM's launching. So far, Indian voters are still seething with the "moo-head" protest in Selangor. (I have to abide to Murugiah's warning not to mention the sacred word, as it is forbidden in Bagan Pinang).

   That leads to 1 question. Will Najib officiate MCA's EGM? If he will, he will be a busy man indeed on 10th October 2009 (10 10 10) rushing from MCA EGM to launching PMSM to monitoring Bagan Pinang final preparation before polling day. And what will Najib use to boost his energy? 100 plus? Or does he need to steam off in PD, someplace reminiscence of the many escapades some people do in PD? And who will be his partner to steam off this time? Will it be Zahid Hamidi, Mooyidein or Moorugiah? Or will it be someone fairer this time around?
   

3. In the spirit on 1Malaysia, it is impossible to leave the other race out of discussion. Yes, the Malays. Najib is banking on Isa Samad to win Bagan Pinang so that he can drool on 13th October 2009. It's UMNO GA time then and Najib need the feel good factor by then.

   Remember that whilst all eyes are looking Bagan Pinang direction, Najib managed to slip in Omar Ong as Petronas board director member. Blogger Big Dog has posted his reservations way back in May 2009. Another and A voice covered Omar in his October 2008 posting. And both bloggers are "big boys" in blogosphere ! Looking on, the following needs to be addressed properly by BN media spinners :-
   

   • When did Omar Ong paid his RM 120,000 penalty for supposed breach in Petronas scholarship? Was it done when his name was put up to sit in the Petronas board? If that is so, is it ethically correct? Is it morally acceptable?
   • Is it true that he is an UMNO treasurer in one of UMNO divisions in Johore? Is his appointment has anything to do with his father, Mustapha Ong, who was a former private secretary to Mohamed Rahmat (former Minister of Information)?
   • If Omar's appointment is due to his leadership skill gained from his working experience and studies in Oxford, will his appointment diminish the other Oxford's garduate, whom I just learnt graduated in History from the same prestigous college? (Hint : He hails from the same state as Isa Samad)
     
   • Is Omar Ong's appointment a teaser to Hamid Albar's possible appointment as Petronas Chairman? If this is true, then Mooyiddein will be happy because two Johoreans will be leading Petronas. By coincidence, Petronas has explorations in Terengganu, Kelantan and Sabah but no oil platforms in Johore and yet 2 Johoreans may control Petronas and its funds. One up for Mooyiddein?
   • Since we are in this subject, Najib can fare better if he choose to appoint Idris Jusoh to warm Petromnas chair. If Najib do that, he can appease the 10 black boys of Terengganu and stabilise Ahmad Said's position. Will Najib do that or is he too afraid of Hishamuddein, another Johorean who happens to head Terengganu UMNO?
     
   • As Omar Ong has been known to be an ardent supporter of Najib, is there any "behind the scene" drama coming in? More cash outflow from Petronas to certain selected companies and individuals, perhaps?
     

   Say what you want but Omar Ong's appointment as Board member of Petronas will not ruffle any feathers in Bagan Pinang. The Malay votes will remain status quo at 55:45.
   

4. If the first three paragraphs above touches on the three major races who will be playing a major role in Bagan Pinang by election, there is the fourth factor which is BN's safe haven - that of postal voters.

   Najib has started courting the postal voters by naming PD as "Port Dickson - Army Town". His rationale is simple. PD housed a large number of army camps and training centres. Well, that is fine. If that is the case, will Taiping (with apology to Zorro, Looes74 and CS Cheah) be known as "Taiping - Prison town"? I mean Taiping has one of the oldest prisons in Malaysia and is the home of ISA detainees who has prominent "graduates", amongst them Lim KS, Karpal, Anwar Ibrahim, Ibrahim Ali, Zahid Hamidi etc.
   

   Then, will we have "Tg Malim - Proton city", "Nilai - Education town", "Kerteh - Petronas town", "Gurun - Perwaja town" coming soon?
   

   By the way, what do PD residents feel naming PD as army town? Are they warming up to Najib's idea? Why not just named PD as "PD - 1Army town" since Najib is so fond of naming everything as 1x ?
   

This, in a nutshell is distance politics. It may not happen directly in Bagan Pinang but the ripples will reach Bagan Pinang. It also shows that Najib is desperate for a BN win, and he wants a thumping victory so that he can drool himself silly on 13th October 2009. Never mind what Tun Mahathir said about selecting Isa as the candidate, forget about Abdullah's disdain against Isa Samad.

For Najib, nothing else is important except for a thumping victory in Bagan Pinang. Najib may think that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully, for Najib's sake, it is not another mirage - courtesy of PR...before the all important Federal court sitting on 5th November to determine the righful MB of Perak.

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

Clamouring for Indian's support : MIC, PPP, IPF, MUIP and

1. First, there is MIC (Malaysian Indian Congress) formed in 1946. Next come PPP (People Progressive Party) formed in 1953 followed by IPF (Indian Progressive Front) then MIUP (Malaysian Indian United Party) and now MMSP (Malaysian Makkal Sakhti Party).

2. Looking at the number of Indian based parties, one may think that Indians make up a sizeable population in Malaysia. However, a quick look into factbook indicated that Indians make up of only 7 % of 25.7 million ie. 1.8 million of the total population.

3. Assuming that 70 % of them are within the voting age bracket, that will be 1.2 millions. Cutting down further and assuming that 70 % (that is a very high figure) are active members to political parties, that will be 840,000.

4. Now, MIC claimed that their membership stands at 630,000. That leaves 210,000 active members shared within the balance 4 Indian based parties.Wooaa! That comes to approximately slightly above 50,000 per party. And yet, IPF claimed that they have 380,000 members.

5. Although PPP claimed that they are a multi-racial party, PPP's core supporters are Indians. That said, unless the Indians are multi-party practitioners, it's getting crowded for Indian based political parties.

6. The latest boy in town, MMSP, whose party got its registration approved last week will have a lot of catching up to do. First, it has to come out of the original Makkal Sakhti movement and made clear that Makkal Sakhti movement of Waymoorthy is not the same as Thanenthiran's MMSP. Second, Thanenthiran should be seen fighting for the Indians and not for his own political survival. For the record, Thanenthiran unsuccessful lobby to be PKR's candidate for Bukit Selambau led him to leave Makkal Salkhti proper to form his own political party.

7. Thanen's statements sounded like a sore loser. Rejected as Bukit Selambau, he is pinning his hopes on "Makkal Sakhti"'s slogan. So far, he has not offered anything different. His indication is that he is unhappy with PR.

8. Whatever it is, it is too crowded in there. The cake is small and the players are one too many. Someone will soon bite the dust. And before doing so, that someone is hoping to score big with BN. Maybe, some cash in line in return for short temporary fame on Penanti's stage?

9. Thanen can do it, Nalla can do better. Both of them combined can shave few millions from BN's rich coffers. Samy cannot do it, Kayveas can only think about it since both of them are already in BN's payroll. IPF? Still in limbo rock....

10. In the end, who will the Indians turn to in Penanti? BN or PR? Maybe Waymoorthyu will show the way....

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