Tri-elections : My take...without regrets and beyond...

1. By the time this posting goes out, it will be less than 48 hours before the voters of 2 state seats and 1 parliament seat go to the polling stations. 2 deaths and 1 resignation cause the tri-elections. EC, with its own reasons, choose 7th April 2009 as the tri-election date.

2. Typical of BN, their central theme for the tri-elections is that of development. With Najib Tun Razak taking over from Tun AAB on 3rd April 2009, BN is pushing for "One Malaysia", in line with Najib's maiden speech on live TV.

3. If the supporters turnout on the nomination day is reflective of what to come, BN will be having problems in getting enough votes to win DUN Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat.

4. The campaign strategy, the claims of mass defections, the campaign leaflets and banners add colours to the tri-elections. BN has been on the offensive and so has PR.

5. As the polling dates is growing closer, both sides are getting to each other nerves with 2 incidences of near fracas for all in Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang. Fortunately, the police successfully defuse the tension with FRU's intimidating presence.

6. BN is using Mahathir Mohamed as their final campaign weapon. He is scheduled to make his grand entrance on 6th April 2009. Whether he still has the clout, support and charm to win over fence sitters is yet to be seen.

7. The MSN is still holding to their age old philisophy of paying glowing pictures to BN's chances. In contrast, the main bloggers are banking their support on PR.

8. As I will be going "underground" until election day, my hope for the tri-elections are as follows :-

i) Bukit Selambau - PR by a majority of 1500 votes. 10 independents losing their deposit.
ii) Bukit Gantang - PR by a majority of 3500.
iii) Batang Ai - PR by a majority of 450

9. That is my hope. My further hope is that the tri-elections is not a referendum to any particular party or person. It shall be a strong reason for Najib to seriously think of enganging PR in table talk for Perak's future and to break the impasse on Perak constitutional crisis.

10. However, anything can change. Reality may differ from hope. In life, good guys need not always win. I am a sentimentalist believing in idealism. Idealism of fair election, clean campaign, gentlemanly conduct of campaign workers, professionalism of police force and integrity of EC. Who can vouch that those machineries are totally unbiased?

11. Promises has been made. Promises of non-personal attacks against the opposing camps. Is this adhered to?

12. Malaysians need to be educated more on politics. Are we heading towards American democracy or Thailand democracy? Malaysians are not even sure of what the Perak legislation days with regards to the current constitutional crisis.

13. Our political leaders are still "self centred, egoist, power crazy, insensitive, hypocrites" who value their "political destiny" more than the welfare of Joe public. And the public is still blinded by the "sweet charming, fork tongued" politicians ala medicine sellers who come in droves to sell their hardwares in every elections.

14. Where are the righteous principled people the likes of Raja Petra, Sakmongkol, Wenger, Nobisha, Zorro, Lawyer kampung, Din Merican, Haris and others? Those who dare to call things as it is, without fear and favour? Are they, will they be ready to jump into the political arena as gladiators fighting for the public?

15. It may be hard and tough but if we want a better Malaysia for all Malaysians, efforts must be made to gather all of them together in a round table discussion and frank talk, to see what is wrong and what can be done to correct the wrong. It may not be the perfect solution but it will do for now.

16. And of course, some political leaders may have to go...are the politicians willing to go for the sake of 27 million Malaysians? Or are they still stuck within their over-inflated ego feeding on Malaysians misery and hope...

Are there others who has the same hope or are we sitting down accepting things as they are?? Think about this seriously.

Will be "officially" back after the tri-elections...

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

Sarawak N29 : Round 5...BN no show

Maybe to BN campaign workers, 50 is a small number.Too small for PBB senior Vice President, Awang Tengah Ali Hasan. That's what happen to one of the 21 Iban resettlement longhouses Rumah Jenggi near the Batang Ai hydro-electric dam.

After waiting in vain for Awang Tengah, the crowd listen to PKR's state assemblyperson for Ngemah, Gabriel Adit.

What BN seems to overlook is the fact that this particular longhouse is one of the 21 Uban resetllement longhouses near Batang Ai hydroelectric dam. Total electorate for the combine 21 Iban longhouse is 2000 or almost 20 % of Sarawak N29 electorates.

It seems that BN is handing N29 Batang Ai to PKR on a silver platter. BN don't care of the sentiment of Ibans. BN is sending a message that the longhouse dwellers can wait till kingdom come, BN just don't give a hoot of their needs and requirements.

Bye-bye BN...if you feel that Ibans are not important to you, let Ibans show their collective strength. Give PKR a chance. Vote PKR !

Round 5...goes to rakyat..

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

Sarawak N29 : Round 4...BN's unfulfilled promises...

As said, the numbers are not much. Just 8006. But this 8006 can either make you or break you.

For the past 25 years, BN has keep on promising them development, compensation, resettlement deals, land titles etc. Where are the promises? Are they fulfilled by BN?

The Star, in its report dated 3rd April 2009, told of the plight of 5000 odd Ibans who were displaced by the Batang Ai hydro-electric dam 25 years ago who are still waiting for BN to fulfill their promises.

Year after year, BN keeps promising them the same thing. And year after year, teh promises are not kept. And what are those promises?

1. Land title - outstanding since 25 years ago;
2. Compensation deal of 11 acres per family - outstanding since 25 years ago;
3. Infrastructure woes (electricity and disrupted water supply) - still not done;
4. Toilet leaks and wall cracks - government allocation of RM5000 per longhouse per few years is not enough;

The longhouses are not getting any bigger, the families are. Right now, the young ones have left the longhouse for accomodation as the longhouse has no space for them.

The displaced family do not have enough land to cultivate due to this unfulfilled promises.

5000 odd Ibans may be chicken feed for the Government but this 5000 odd Ibans with their immediate families can send BN tumbling down in Batang Ai...

5000 odd Ibans are much better than 300 odd Spartans. 5000 odd Ibans can rewrite the history of Sarawak. 5000 odd Ibans can start the ball rolling. Soon 5000 odd Ibans can create an avalache to drown BN.

Unfulfilled promises. Promises not kept for the last 25 years. There is only 1 remedy for that. Send a strong message to BN on 7th April 2009. We want change!! Vote for PKR !!!

BN may come running now, but believe me...once they win Batang Ai, if they win...the promises will again remains unfulfilled for the next 25 years...

Say good bye to BN, say good riddance to BN...

5000 odd Ibans lead the way to Sarawak's future...the journey starts from Batang Ai...

7th April 2009...history will be created. BN will be defeated...

Round 4...goes to the rakyat...

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

Sarawak N29: Round 3...Battle of the generations...and locations...

It may not mean much to BN Sarawak. Not for now, at least. Anwar Ibrahim is in town and he is making the rounds in Lubuk Antu.

Malaysiakini reported on Anwar's campaign trail. Whilst in Kampong Nanga, the upper longhouse, with tiled floors and brickwall declined PKR's request to hold a ceramah there but did not stop PKR from holding the ceramah in the lower longhouse, built with poles and wooden planks. Except for the upper longhouse chief, the rest of his wards gathered at the lower longhouse to hear what Anwar has to offer. This is frightening news to BN Sarawak.

The response is good for Anwar which is doubly good for PKR. Now, just to translate that into votes.

It seems that BN Sarawak, particularly Alfred Jabu, is getting restless with the bloggers. Jabu has termed bloggers as "specialist instigators". This clearly show that Sarawak bloggers are making good inroads into the voters minds. And that also means that the more IT savvy readers are passing the information down to the other potential voters. And this is scaring the hell out of Jabu and BN Sarawak.

Star reported that BN is trying to make inroads into "danger areas" seeking for support and voters. BN is worried that the younger generations of voters may be more inclined to make "drastic decisions" read vote PKR come 7th April 2009. BN is getting worried with the more urban based voters.

BN still believed ythat the traditionsal longhouse dwellers shall be voting for them. If the Kampong Nanga longhouse is made as a barometer, BN may be left with only the longhouse chiefs voting for them whilst his wards may be voting PKR.

To all Sarawak bloggers...Jabu is panicking and that means your blogging is effective. Continue blogging...never let up. Put BN on the defensive...

It is also clear that BN is getting worried with the younger generations of voters. To this, let's all the urban based voters make a small sacrifice and return home to cast your votes.

Remember...a small step today leads to a giant step tomorrow...All for the name of a better Sarawak and a better Malaysia...

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

Sarawak N29: Here ye hear ye...come collect your titbits...

It has been said before here and here. Star reported that basic necessities are not available for Batang Ai.

No public bus transport, not enough telephone lines, poor electricity supply, frequent water-supply interruptions, not enough health and medical facilities, roads in bad shape, poor mail services, no banks, few job opportunities - these are just a small portion of the long list of socio-economic woes of the 18,000 folks in the Batang Ai state constituency. It has been like this for a long time, even though the Batang Ai hydro-electric dam has been running since 25 years ago.

Some of these issues are currently being addressed by BN. BN, through JKR, has tar-sealed numerous stretches of these roads.

Rumah Labi elder Dunstan Jelin's statement may proof detrimental to PKR's campaign

As long as they (politicians) deliver, we do not care which party they come from. We are fed up with the lack of basic necessary facilities

This statement indicates that batang Ai voter's can be bought. BN can deliver some of the promises upfront which will derail PKR's campaign. Once BN win the seat, it will be bussiness as usual for Batang Ai folks. At least until the next election.

If that happens, how much more NCR lands will be plundered? The choice is there for the voters. They can opt for short term gains or they can sacrifice for long term benefits. As for now, the shift is back to BN. Advantage...BN

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Sarawak N29: Round 2...here comes the the calvary

The numbers are not much. Just 8006 voters. However, to reach them is another matter. Here is where the present Government has clear advantage, using their available resources and full range of their administrative machinery and electioneering hardware – the helicopters, the boats and the ‘tuai rumah’.

PKR is fighting an uphill battle in Batang Ai. That was before. Now, the eqution has changed with Dayak NGO activists coming out to openly support PKR in this by-election. Malaysiakini reported that the biggest-ever presence of non-governmental activists in an election has start to descend in Batang Ai.

Thus far, the NGO involvement has benefitted PKR, closing the gap with BN. This is going to be close because NGO has some influence in the longhouses. How the sympathy and prodding from NGO can churn voted for PKR is yet to be seen. And yet, a swing is still a swing, no matter what.

To cover the vast and remote areas, PKR has also change its strategy. BN is also facing internal bickering amongst the PRS leaders and this might be advantageous to PKR. James Masing accusing Sng Chee Hua of secretly funding PKR is going to split BN further. BN needs to patch the 2 together fast, failing which BN can say sayonara to Batang Ai.

Call me a sentimatalist, if that's what you want. Round 2...goes to PKR.

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

Sarawak N29: Care for broken record?...That of development...

These are the true warriors. The ones who fights for their customary land...

46 long years under Malaysia and Batang Ai with electrical transmission lines run above their wooden dwellings are still waiting for electricity supply. The Iban-majority natives lives on average family monthly income of RM 650.

And now with by election around the corner, all eyes are on Batang Ai. Mong Dagang, PRS youth chief, came visiting and promised a grant of RM5,000 to one of the longhouse, Rumah Beranda Aluk, Nanga Bengap. A total of RM 2M to help repair the longhouses in Batang Ai. What is BN doing? Promise of development?

What about BN's candiate, Malcolm Mussen? Is he too detach with his lineage that he forgot how to act and speak Iban? Understand that his first public duty is to open the Lubok Antu branch of Sarawak Bumiputra entrepreneurs association on 3 April. And what will he promise this time?

Mussen would be accompanying federal Ministers at the upper reaches of Ulu Batang Ai between April 3 and 6 to inspect the possible sites for road constructions in Lemanak and Engkari in Lubok Antu and will be briefing them on the other needs of the people there. How much development cost this time?

But most of all, it is not the development promise that is important, it is when the development will arrive Batang Ai is more important. BN, in the past, have made promises after promises during election campaign period. 46 years down the road, Batang Ai is still remote.

Promises are easy to made but it is harder to fulfil...and BN has thus far fail to deliver its promises..Maybe, it's time to change. The first time is hard, the rest will be easy....

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