Hitch-Hiker's guide to Politicking.

It isn't a safe practice to pick up strangers and hitch-hikers these days. Those were the good ol' days when Hitch-hikers would thank you for the free ride.
These days, with the culture of Mat Rempits (with powerful patrons), snatch thefts, rape, robbery and murder, are the Thanks that you get.
Such is the case that we see with the Political parties that make up the Barisan Rakyat as we see it.

First we have our Old Man LKS saying that BR doesn't exist - he thought he was being very "politically savvy" by making that statement. He thought it was "cool" just because the people kept quiet in the heat of campaigning.
Now he raises a fuss when the Sultan of Perak selects a PAS candidate (of course he apologized, but the damage was done).

Not wanting to be left out, Syed Husin now decides to jump into the shit-pot so as to stir it further .... he wants to pullout for some crap - probably some poor orgasm he had last night!

Then in Selangor, we have the DAP trio, and the PAS candidate indulging in what one could almost call treasonous/ traitorous conduct that could derail the pact - that too, after they had knowingly signed the "People's Declaration"!!

One can almost hear the claps and laughter of the BN and their running dogs. Of course their twisted media would be having a field day casting doubts in the mind of the people on the viability of these state governments - which is definitely their intention.
This was made clear by UMNO Baru of Penang that made press statements, requesting that Federal aid for development in the state be suspended.
They wish to suspend aid to their own people simply becos they wish to punish the rakyat for excercising their constitutional rights!!
(Sigh ..... That is how much they care for their own citizens .)

In Yellow card for the opposition, Raja Petra writes that :
"In Selangor, Hassan Ali engaged in secret negotiations with Khir Toyo to explore the possibility of PAS forming an alliance with Umno to jointly rule the state. This alliance would of course exclude PKR and DAP who were going to be Menteri Besar and Deputy Menteri Besar respectively. The delay in forming the state government due to the disagreements and the DAP infighting about who should be the Deputy Menteri Besar meant that this would give Hassan and Khir time to come to an agreement. But they could not come to an agreement because both Hassan and Khir wanted to be Menteri Besar and none would back down in favour of the other.This is treason of the highest degree and Hassan Ali should be tied to a tree and shot."
RPK then goes on .....
"Is Kit Siang's 'stage-show' merely a distraction from what ails DAP in Selangor? Supporters of Teng Chang Khim, Teresa Kok and Ronnie Liu are locked in battle. Each has their clique that wants to see their candidate installed as the Deputy Menteri Besar of Selangor. But there is no Deputy Menteri Besar post and His Highness the Sultan of Selangor will not appoint one. So why bother to squabble over who should be the candidate to fill a post that does not exist? Yesterday, Teng's supporters held a demonstration to demand that their man gets appointed as the Deputy Menteri Besar. In spite of the announcement that there shall not be any Deputy Menteri Besar, today, they plan to hold another demonstration and MCA and Gerakan are going to send their supporters to help Teng mobilise a crowd of 10,000 to prove that his support is overwhelming........"
"And in other parts of Malaysia a couple of other PKR candidates were bought off as well, the going price being RM1 million per head. But it appears like PAS and DAP are bigger slime-balls than PKR. At least PKR did not try to sabotage the forming of the Kelantan, Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor state governments....."
"Let me tell you, my dear Kit, that Barisan Rakyat not only does exist but is also a very potent force."
==================
In response to the above I had written this letter to RPK in his comments section:

RPK Sir,

This was what I said long ago (as written in my blog – although targeting PAS more than DAP)- it is two idiotic oldies, PAS and DAP, that actually keep the BN in Power. They are ideological trojans to each other - favouring BN.
PKR is catching on too ....
They are both unwitting accomplices to the crimes committed by the BN regime.
The only difference is, they got shagged so bad for it all these years, that they've forgotten their true roles in society. (In fact, they've come to believe that it is their role to be just that!).

And also, they don't seem to know that it is the people who can and will decide if they are ready to rule.
All these years they've run their organizations as personal fiefdoms, in very much the same mold as that of BN parties - and they've come to believe that they're always right.
Both PAS & DAP have used the BR campaign as a political tool to gain power - an alliance of convenience to use the people, for their own interests.

Now - Syed Husin of PKR speaks like a Moronic “hero” to stir the shit ....... idiocy sure is infectious.

They did not see BR as a real & living entity, but as a marriage of convenience - they want all the credit for themselves!!!
They think it was a "trick" - an illusion.

They've actually come to believe that they were so "terror" in campaigning suddenly, or that "God" showered blessings on them miraculously.
They've become angkuh, sombong and bongkak so bloody fast! (either that, or they are just so shell-shocked by the scale/magnitude of their victory, that they've lost their minds).
They'd probably sneer at You, Haris and all bloggers/netizens if you told them otherwise.
They really don't deserve what they got - they got too much for too little (except in a few cases).

Maybe we should withdraw our support, give BN the state govts that they squabble over - only then will they realize that they had netizens campaigning for them for free, long before they even started their campaigns!
This is what happens when we give people a free ride - they try to rob you!
Give the word when the time is right, Pete - and we'll start the campaign to demolish them! Especially those turncoats who talk to BN parties (and seek their "support").
Let's show them that BR is Real.

I'm really sick of these lying fork-tongued maggots and faggots .... fighting for morsels like the stray "kurap" dogs that they are.

.............................................

But of course ....... the whole thing might've been a charade (aka wayang) so as to identify the traitors, and see the reactions from BN/ UMNO Baru and the rakyat ........

That seems a little far fetched - but should that be the case, hats of to all you guys for the perfect wayang.

But remember this DSAI/ LKG/ TGH - Barisan Rakyat does exist and is very much alive - even if it isn't formally on paper.

Intellectually Bankrupt & Shaky Govt in the Making?

This was an election that was "won" by the non-BN parties in cyberspace, with minimal financial capital - much of the credit, IMHO is due to our passionate cyber activists, RPK & Haris Ibrahim. But of course, the sound understanding between the leaders of the various parties, the economic factors and Anwar's manouverings completed the picture.
(Did you see Bangsar? It was so damn ugly - BN simply aided in global warming and destruction of rain forests of Borneo/ Johor/ Pahang, by burning precious money on toilet paper and ugly billboards for posters of their Party symbols and "iconic" bosses).

The recent events that translated into an "unprecedented rout" of the ruling BN "coalition" has set of numerous analyses and shaken up the political hierarchy of the nation.
There'll be more to come, amidst the wave of euphoria on the "opposition front" and the turbulence in the BN.

The "opposition" (which isn't exactly that, by vitue of the fact that it controls half of peninsular Malaysia) should now fine tune their "MOA" to create a formal coalition, without really upseting the delicate balance that is required, so as not to "offend" or "threaten" any sector of society - more so, that of the Malay majority.

Being more of an "intelectual and urban coalition" (relative to the BN, which only survived becos of rural/ heartland Malay votes), they should strive to penetrate and appeal to those in the heartlands, where the role of the internet is very much limited.

The "Chinese" dominated DAP should to do a lot more, to win the trust of the Malays, and reassure them that their rights wouldn't be trampled upon. It should try very hard to shed the image of a Non-Malay party - first and foremost, by giving due respect and prominence to the Bahasa Malaysia/ Melayu (or whatever you call it) and the Raja-Raja Melayu.

The same could be said of PAS (which is dominated by Malay Muslims), where the dominance of conservative Malay Muslim members may be a source of anxiety among the others.

PKR on the other hand, has to maintain its "non-racial" platform, play the role of a "centrist" party and thus make greater inroads into the heartlands, and refrain from taking up the narrowminded "race based ideas" of BN, that can easily break its bid for political dominance.
Despite my "fears" I'm quite certain that PKR has a fairly sound ideological foundation (that needs to be built on and reinforced from time to time), so as not to be a victim of the "R&R" rhetoric that it would be faced with in the near future.

It is also hoped that they wouldn't fall victim to the desire for cheap tin-can "honours" that propagates the corrupting elitist ideas of the "UMNO Baru", and thus allow themselves to be 'bought over'.
It would indeed be nice to have leaders being addressed as "Yang Berkhidmat" or even plain Mr./ Encik so-and-so, with no pretentious pseudo-elite titles to their name which makes a mockery of the royalty.

In addressing the needs of the urbanites, I hope that this new "coalition" Govt-in-waiting gives special attention to the real "Pribumis" - the "Orang Asli" - make sure they are not neglected or cheated by "crony capitalist developers". Compensate where necessary. Protect their unique way of life.
They deserve a great deal more, to be able to play an active part in Malaysian society - and they do not ask much.
Educate them. Have special schools for them. Help them integrate at their own pace.
You will be blessed by all caring Malaysians (more so, by those from Sabah/ Sarawak) for the Compassion that you show them.

As I read the numerous analyses, it appears to be that the BN needs to do plenty of soul-searching to reform the coalition and discard the outdated ideas that it holds on to.
Being reduced to a "rural" party, that has actually been propped up by votes in Sabah/ Sarawak and rural Peninsular Malaysia, it has lost control of all the developed and educated "goldmines" of the nation.
The leaders however come from a different backround of urban elites, who are actually aliens to their rural supporters .
The apparent "support" that they apparent got was the result of "overturned vote-bearing sampans", bad roads/ weather, sheer ignorance and gullibility to fear mongering (remember RPKs "oily man story"?) and the divisive political rhetoric of "Ketuanan Melayu".
As such, it is only a matter of time before the information revolution takes place in the heartlands, and threatens their so called "strongholds".
Perhaps there will be attempts to stifle the "K-economy" in these constituencies, and promote "conservative orthodoxy" so as to maintain their appeal in these areas.

Statistics show that BN had merely garnered 49% of votes in the peninsular - that too with the questionable conduct of the Election Commision (in various constituencies and the abandoning of the indelible ink, under suspicious circumstances - albeit, with newer conspiracy theories endorsed by the AG & IGP).

One could almost picture the physical, psychological and emotional trauma suffered by the members of BN (especially UMNO Baru), with the passing on of En Zakaria Deros and the public apology of his son on National TV.
I wouldn't be surprised if all the Psychiatrists/ psychologists in town would have booming businesses very soon ............ (Philip, Steven, Paul - you've got "durian runtuh" coming your way, boys!)

It is an open secret that there is a furious power struggle that is taking place within UMNO Baru, which chooses to demonize AAB for his "weak leadership", when in truth, it was the intellectually/philosophically bankrupt party created by his predecessor that couldn't withstand the onslought of the internet and more open policies that AAB introduced.
(In sexist culture of Wanita this & that of BN, the women of course don't really figure in the equation - although Azalina's rise may never be challenged as of now.)

TDM of course, now chooses to wash dirty linen in public, while aspiring for sainthood. Don't worry TDM - I'll e-mail the Pope to set you off on the fasttrack to canonisation - you're truly whiter than white!
And of course Mukhriz (of the Tongkah Medivest, fame) has plenty of UMNO Baru Pemuda support, and is worthy (at least more than KJ, the pseudo Malaysian) of more cookies and a higher post in the echelons of power - possibly even a ministerial post ...... and get the dynasty rolling.
Good plan TDM!!!

As for the other "partners" in the alliance, having been practically wiped out, one might wonder how they can maintain their relevence and remain players on the national stage.
Both leaders of the main component parties have declared that they wouldn't seek ministerial posts, but would "work towards revitalizing" the respective parties that cater to sectarian interests and "race politics" of a bygone era.
As for the "mosquito" coalition partners of the "divide and rule" ideology, they have been rendered irrelevant - so much so, that various ideologues have recommended that they merge to cover up their impotence, and support the "big guns".

I wouldn't be surprised should the turbulence have major repercussions on the "social contract" that has been questioned by the voters, with the current mandate.

Being ideologically bankrupt, and bereft of any intellectuals in all their component parties, it is quite possible that the new line-up of the new MPs & Cabinet, would be weak at best.
The weak ruling coalition, which has depended on the propagation of an ideology of hate, fear and apathy among the rakyat, had thus far depended on a huge mandate that stifled all forms of debate in parliament to rule the nation.
This culture has bred a generation of ignoramuses who rose to the highest echelons of power, and proudly displayed their idiocy while hiding behind their comfortable majority like cowards - more so after the purge of (practically all) intellectuals over the last 25 yrs.

Who I wonder would be the chief whip in parliament, that will face the formidable line-up of intellectuals in the "opposition" bench!
Could Najib, Rafidah, Azalina, Pak Lah, Nazri, Khairy, Nor Mohd Yaakop, Shaziman Mansor, Johari Baharom, Mukhriz, Hishamuddin, Bung Mokhtar or any one else measure up to the formidable & dynamic line-up of DSAI, TG Hadi, LKS, LGE, Tian Chua, Karpal, Sabu, Gobind, Jagdeep, Azmin, Ramasamy, Santiago, etc etc etc?
Seriously - I have my doubts - they'd probably be torn to shreds before they can say "Altantunya", "Ketuanan Melayu" or "Social Contract"!!! Sure would be good fun to watch - no wonder Semi Value and OKT don't wish to take up ministerial/ senatorial posts!!

Cabinet line-up would be shaky at best with "outsiders" stating their agendas in their attempts to "revitalize" their selfish interests!
Hope the rakyat don't fall for the bribes that would soon flood the nation, and sell their rights and souls once again to the devils in disguise (alright ... some only have plastic surgery, toupees, liposuction or "stem-cell" infusions).

Having said all these, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of a mid-term election that would be "organized meticulously" by the "revitalized" alliance under a new & "terror" leadership. That would definitely be quite a C4 to the people's ears ......
This may pave the way for a crackdown on all dissent and intellectual debate (maybe even "cyber-terrorize" with troopers, the critically acclaimed blogs/ internet) ala "Ops Lalang" of the good ol' dynamic, stable & economically robust days of TDM.
With Pak Lah alone (sans KJ) this possibility would be minimised. No wonder, the call for him to quit!
The "neglected ones" are probably just itching to get their dirty hands into the cookie jar ..... not that the current crop of hands are clean anyways!

We just have to wait and see the fallout of this elections on UMNO Baru, and all the pieces will fall in place .......

NOTE: All opinions expressed above are personal perceptions (aka "Cruzin Thots") - and as such, they are very much "debatable".

More than meets the eye?

Today I heard the news that En. Zakaria Deros, the former UMNO Baru stalwart with a mansion to his name, had passed away due to a "heart attack" at his home.
According to the MSM, the story goes that he had just returned from PWTC (UMNO Baru HQ?) when the incident occurred.

My condolences to the bereaved family. May his soul RIP.

After a very long time, I had decided to watch the MSM news on television, and I was perplexed to see in the above clip, an adult Malay Muslim man crying ....

I watched with surprise, as two guys sort of "mercilessly and unceremoniously dragged" (not literally) by his shirt, a man mourning the death of his father, in front of the national television camera - he then apologized to the world for whatever wrongs that his father might have done!!!!

The man was so totally "broken", and was REALLY sobbing like a baby .....

The above was the scene at the funeral of En. Zakaria.

I'm quite certain that En. Zakaria's son didn't volunteer to do so in such an emotional state.

If it wasn't voluntary, What kind of man would compel someone who's in mourning for a loved one do do as such?

Is it the "body snatching" kind? Or is it the "Hadhari" kind?

Is there no compassion left for their own brethren?

I've seen many deaths, and the most "emotionally controlled" ones are those of Malays/ Muslims - never have I seen such emotional outbursts - that too a man!!

Whatever the Man might have done, he at least deserved to be treated with respect - at least during his funeral. The family shouldn't be forced to make emotional statements of apology on national television at that very moment!!

I wouldn't want to hazard a guess, as to the motives of the guys for doing this to En. Zakaria's son, nor would I wanna guess who were the ones who wanted this done.

Whatever Zakaria has done, is now between him and God - but to humiliate a family member on national television in such a manner, is so totally beyond me.

Is there more than meets the eye?

Your guess is as good as mine ......

Race Politics Rears its Ugly Head - Yet Again

"It will not do to cling to the cause and wish the result away.
Reality does not play mind games.
What is more - to anesthetize the mind in order to abort what comes to birth,
when wrong ideas are conceived and borne in the womb of culture,
will only kill the very life-giving force of the nation that nurtures the idea.
We must learn, in the words of one cultural commenter, 'to live as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves'." -Ravi Zacharias

------------------------------------------------

The following was a letter from a reader published in Malaysia Today.

Why I don't support a non-Malay for deputy Mentri Besar

For the first time in history, all Malaysians have come forward in large numbers to support the non-BN parties. This support has translated into the sacking of BN into the opposition in Penang, Kedah, Perak and Selangor.

What the Malays have done, is to make a an attempt to work with the other races to support reformasi. It is important that non-Malays do not push the Malays too hard. For them to open up the political space and increase the number of non-Malay, non-BN Parliamentarians and State ADUNs, has taken them courage. Let us be patient and wait until the Malays learn to be comfortable with the genuine sharing of political power.

Meanwhile, those who have the expertise or skills should help the less-fortunate Malays by teaching and sharing our business knowledge with them.

PY Wong

=============

This is an excerpt from RPK's "The Aftermath Of 'The Bloodbath'" :-

"The government must not be race-based, and certainly not religion-based. People chosen to head the agencies in any of the five states must be based on capabilities and not because that person is Malay, Chinese or Indian. Granted, the Federal Constitution of Malaysia may state who can be Menteri Besar while the election promise was, if the opposition wins Penang, then a Chinese shall be the Chief Minister. But that must be as far as race considerations prevail. For thereon no positions should be filled because we want more Malays or more Chinese or more Indians in the government.

If qualifications and capabilities become the criteria, then Malays, Chinese and Indians would automatically be represented at all levels of government. Just give him or her the job because he or her is the best person for the job and the racial balance would automatically happen. You do not even need to try too hard."

===============

Generally speaking, the above to observations and opinions, should be the way forward for the nation, with few exceptions in certain cases, as and when it may arise.

Yesterday, I had received an SMS that has probably been circulating among "Indians" of Malaysia - and it went as follows, (verbatim):-

"Dear all indian pls send sms to Mr.Lim Kit Siang to appoint an indian as MB for Perak.His no is 012-2812828. pls do it right now..."

I'm quite certain that this sms would've gone far and wide, and spammed LKS's inbox endlessly. I wouldn't wanna hazard a guess as to where this sms originated from - could've been anybody, even Hindraf or MIC, for all I know!

[Anyway, I copied the message down and deleted the message ASAP, so as not to be judgemental upon the sender (whoever he was), who was just passing it on .....]

After the earlier sms that circulated about the superiority of a certain party over another, by virtue of the apparent "pluralism" that it practised, I wasn't caught off-guard - and so didn't forward this message nor did I bother to give Mr. LKS a tinkle or sms.

When will Malaysians change in their mindset?
Haven't the racist "Social Contractors" done enough damage, for them to see how this attitude contributes towards racism and chauvinism?

Is it not possible for them to trust another Malaysian to take care of their interests, regardless of "R&R"?

To tell you the truth, after 50yrs of indoctrination and racism, and a gullible public, I'm not so sure myself ......

But I'm quite certain of one thing though - that there will be more "agent provocateurs" who'd try very hard to provoke these sentiments, and create more racists, fanatics, kris fetishists and semi values - and destroy what we fought for, thus far.

The new Opposition under the leadership of DSAI has to be on guard at all times for those who play up the divisive issues of "R & R", to hijack the nation once again.

DSAI, TG Hadi and Mr. LKS have to work hard at reform of the institutions of state, and "reeducating" Malaysians, so as to build trust and understanding. They also shouldn't dwell too long on their "victory", and start a witchhunt or persecuting "enemies" - we need to move on to greater things, although justice should be served as well.

I appeal to all Malaysians to wake up and see the new hope for a united Malaysia, under a new leadership of intellectuals, as opposed to that of racists, gangsters and thugs.

The economy and sectarian interests of "R&R" have to be divorced from politics of nation building at all cost, so as to make room for choice in political leadership.

I call upon all race based NGOs to refrain from making calls for race based "privileges" in political representation. This chauvinism will only plant the seeds of hatred and suspicion. Let us give the nation a chance at leadership without racism.

The Malaysian public has to exercise caution, or simply disregard comments from self-proclaimed pseudo-intellectual political heroes of the past, who today, would like to ride on the popular wave "against PM AAB" - which is actually against the failure of the perpetuated preexisting policies, that has "bloomed" today. AAB WAS SIMPLY "RIDING ON A CONDEMNED CAR", the workings of which, he was ignorant.

Let us ask - who the culprit was, in setting the precedent for the damage to the nation (despite all his "goodies" in the past).
Do not be flattered or be taken in, by those "VIPs" currently courting bloggers in general, so as to make his case, with vested interests - thus hijacking the rational debates among bloggers/ netizens on the web, just as was done to the MSM in the past.

Please be aware that AAB the diplomat, was set up and is just the "fall guy" for past failed policies - not that he's blameless, though .....

It was simply an opportunity presented to us Malaysians in general, although there was a different agenda for some "players".

Let us not squander this opportunity.

Let us strive for a New Malaysia, with the help of intellectuals, instead of turning to political deadwoods for "opinions & guidance".

Let us reject political "dynasties", unless the person has proven his metal - as Mr. Lim Guan Eng. We also hope to see the honorable and graceful exit of the "old guard", who would take an advisory role in due time, in future.

Last but not least, I call upon all parties in power at present, to court more intellectuals and encourage debate, reject authoritarianism, nepotism and have a fully functional democratic succession plan in place, so as not to destabilize the relevant parties and nation at large, in future - as seen in certain cases today.

Let us not be fooled once again, and be foolish enough to surrender our Voice, Human Dignity and Rights, at the altar of Materialism (in the guise "Economic Prosperity")
- for "man does not live on bread alone ...." .

P.S.
I would like to thank Pak Lah for his polite letter, requesting for support in the recent election campaign. It is very much regretted that the letter reached me very late .... i.e. after the results were out.
;-)

And now, .............. a message from Comedy court:

THANK YOU, MALAYSIANS!

Thank you one and all - for saving Democracy in Malaysia!

I'm truly humbled by the level of awareness created by our leaders.
A special THANK YOU to our dear RPK/ Malaysia Today, Haris Ibrahim/ The People's Parliament, Ahirudin Atan/Rocky's Bru, Jeff Ooi/ Screenshots, all the NGOs, DSAI, TG Hadi, LKS and all those who worked hard with limited resources to give us all hope, and make this dream a reality!

Last but not least, thank you to all brothers and sisters of the blogging community -

This was a victory of the alternative media over MSM!

I'm humbled by the response of the Malaysians towards matters of national interest!

This was a victory for all Malaysians - regardless of color/creed or partisan politics.

Let us now go forth and work with the State and Federal Governments of the day as partners in Nation building!

Truly - Malaysians Boleh!!!!

"Barisan Rakyat", Raja Petra, Haris Ibrahim

"In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery?"
-Saint Augustine

Here's a clip from the Forum on the ISA arrest of the Hindraf 5:-


We were brought to understand that our Leaders - Raja Petra, Haris Ibrahim and Ronnie Liu - dynamic bloggers/ speakers were prevented from speaking on Penang Island.
Raja Petra then spoke on the Mainland ..... and so he writes,

"Yesterday, I was in Penang. There were numerous ceramahs organised all over Penang. The police granted the organisers permits for these ceramahs but on condition that I would be barred from speaking. Haris Ibrahim and Ronnie Liu were also banned from speaking. I still spoke nevertheless. I spoke at Jalan Raja Uda. I was waiting for the police to come a calling and if they shout, “Hoi, you think this is your grandfather's road or what?” I would have replied, “Yes it is, my grandfather was Raja Sir Tun Uda.”"
- Raja Petra, Malaysia Today, No Holds Barred, "Melayu Umno dan Cina DAP bodoh"

"Tunku Abdul Rahman, Bapa Merdeka, refused to join Umno Baru in 1988, as did Tun Hussein Onn. Both these founding fathers of Malaysia died outside Umno. They wanted to have nothing to do with Umno. They went to their graves despising the new Umno, which they said no longer represented what Umno stood for......."

"“We can't abolish postal votes. If we do, then not a single Cabinet member would be able to retain his or her seat,” argued Rashid during one meeting that was held to discuss how to reform Malaysia's election system.

Postal voting was introduced at the time the soldiers spent nine months on end deep in the Malaysian jungles at the height of the Communist insurgency known as The Emergency. Of course, The Emergency has since ended with the signing of the Peace Treaty between the Malaysian government and the Communist Party of Malaya. But the postal voting system remains.

The assembly was taken aback and flabbergasted that such a bold admission would come out from the mouth of the head-honcho of the Elections Commission. At least lie. At least pretend. But to tell the assembly direct to its face that postal voting is not about allowing the security forces to exercise their right to vote but about ensuring that Ministers stay in office is like telling you to your face 'fuck you'.

Is it not the job of the Elections Commission to run a free and fair election? No, said Rashid. The job of the Elections Commission is to ensure that the Malays do not lose political domination. With that second 'fuck you' to your face there was no point in continuing with the meeting. The assembly of opposition politicians just stood up and walked out of the room. It was clear that not only was the job of the Elections Commission to rig the elections and ensure that the ruling coalition stays in office, but they will do so boldly and will admit it to your face while telling you to shove off and go screw yourself."

-Raja Petra, Malaysia Today, Corridors of Power, " Why we are voting tomorrow"










"Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand."
-Saint Augustine

Democracy, Mind Games, and Voter Apathy by Design.

"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both. " -Dwight D. Eisenhower


A letter to the Editor of Malaysia Today entitled " Never insult the people!" (written by Naruto) said, "Have they not insulted the people enough? Perhaps the DAP has come up with the perfect slogan – Just change it! This is excellent and the timing is perfect - it’s time to change the opposition. Malaysia is in serious need of one strong opposition that can measure up the formidable BN for a better and healthy democracy. That is the way forward toward better future."

This was my reply to Naruto:-
"While I may agree with you that the constantly highlighted differences between the fractured opposition that plays along with the divisive politics of the ruling BN is an insult to the people, I believe that you have missed out on the bigger insults dished out by the Racist politicians of the Ruling political bullies.

BN/ UMNO, by virtue of its actions by curtailing the freedom of the media, gerrymandering and abusing the postal votes for the sake of consolidating their power and securing the 2/3 majority is the bigger insult.
The hundreds of amendments to the constitution - that's the real Insult.
Subverting the Judiciary - That's an insult!
The 2/3 majority in parliament, stifles debate and lends a hand to the corruption that you propose, would determine "better future for all Malaysian with continuing Security, Peace and Prosperity." - That's an insult!

The ISA, Printing presses Act, OSA, stifling of student politics, subservient academics and pseudo-intellectuals, "kangkung" professors - These are Insults that you are possibly blinded to.

Expression of dissent isn't.
Freedom of thought and belief isn't.
A weak Opposition struggling to seek common ground, ISN"T!

Wake up Naruto!!!
Your ideas are laughable at best!!"

Indeed - Malaysia is in dire need of a more credible opposition that does not play along with the corrupt methods and ideas of the power brokers, who are bent on amassing wealth and consolidating power, in the name of Racial/Religious Hegemony and fascism (aka - Security, Peace and Prosperity).
Hence, the efforts by the people at beating the "divide and rule policies" with the "People's Declaration", where the people dictate the terms to their "wakil".

Tun Musa had an interview published in NST, (and yes, I did buy NST last Sunday - My apologies to Haris Ibrahim), to read what he had to say about Human rights, Democracy, elections, and the much deplored "apathy" of the 5 million unregistered voters in Malaysia.
Tun Musa now stays out of active politics after having compromised on his principles and had joined UMNO Baru of his one time "nemesis", after the real UMNO was dissolved. It is probably understandable that the temptations that TDM laid before him were too much for some "patriots" to handle - the privileges of a "Tun-ship" accorded to giving up his principles were possibly too much for mere mortals as Musa Hitam. TDM rightfully quoted, "Every man has his price" - and Musa had his too.
He is however very much courted as a "statesman" - and his "intellectual views" are apparently much desired in order to lend credibility in an administration that is hard-pressed for it.

While I agree that the extent of voter apathy in Malaysia is at epidemic proportions, and needs to be rectified, no amount of talk from "intellectual statesmen" would change anything unless there is any political will within the ruling party.

Tun Musa Sir - How could one expect voters to be enthusiastic about elections should they be paranoid about persecution?
How do you, as one who has compromised on principles for privileges, point a finger at the electorate who only do the same?

And then you go on to say, "Bigots and dictators rose when there was apathy among those who love democracy" - rightfully so. And you argue that, if one doesn't vote, one is "anti-democratic".

How ironic ...... coming from you, who stands by the methods of UMNO Baru that undermines democracy within itself, in return for the privileges accorded to you. These are the "guardians of democracy" in Malaysia!
Dear Sir, UMNO is dead - what we have now is UMNO Baru.
You now applaud the very organization that you once stood against when righteousness was raped, and that which its own creator says needs to be corrected from the outside!

Your membership and support for this organization that extends the tenure of the EC Chairman by subverting the constitution,through abuse of the 2/3 majority in parliament does not augur well for you, Tun!
And you call yourself a "critic of the Government"?
That is surely is a new definition of the word, Sir! Greater men such as Tun Hussein and the Tunku have instead chosen to die outside the fold of these "political elite", who have become dictators, little Napoleons and bigots in their own right.

Dear Tun Musa Sir - you had also said in the interview," ...-if there is any "-ism" that you want talk about that really needs attention, it is not ...... It is "stomach-ism" - the issue of the stomach".
Not necessarily so, dear Sir-
This actually underlines the lack of spirituality on the part of the current crop of warlords in our political hierarchy.
If that isn't an insult, I don't really know what is - it was probably this idea that drove you to join UMNO Baru after being humiliated by your nemesis.

It is more than than, Dear Sir!
Allow me to quote a wise sociologist - "Man does not live on bread alone ....".
To justify stripping man of his dignity in return for wealth, reduces the recepient to nothing more than an animal - and this is what the ideology and doctrine of UMNO Baru is all about.

UMNO Baru and their "chamchas" seek to strip the Malaysians of human dignity, intimidate them, and corrupt their values in return for "financial incentives", scholarships, sewing machines, "kain pelikat", contracts, shares, money, glamour, pride, chauvinism and rewards for mediocrity and every conceivable sin.

Is it any wonder that many have sought refuge in "religion"?
The leaders of these exploitative policies on the other hand have resorted to "religiosity" to make up for their lack of spirituality, through attempts at repressing & subjugating the religious minorities, sometimes violently so.
Is it any wonder that there has been a public backlash through Hindraf, Bersih and the Blogs with the rise in awareness via the new media of internet which the Government appears to detest and attempts to suppress through intimidation, confiscation and harassment?

If anything is true - it is the fact that, it is the "state machinery" that encourages this "voter apathy" that you speak of, Tun. It is be design that they have been frustrated in their attempts to for human dignity. It is by design that they have been indoctrinated to believe in racial supremacy, political docility, bigotry and stripped of their human dignity. It through the propaganda tools that is called the mainstream media that dissenters are painted black and humiliated - and the ideas of fascism propagated under the guise of democracy.

It is also true that the people are subjected to a campaign of lies and deception for the benefit of bigots and fascists who rob the nation's wealth.
They are also told repeatedly that it isn't within their right to be human beings with dignity - so much so that the gullible man on the street believes in it.

The citizen that put the "leaders" in high offices are reduced to workhorses that just supposed to only work to fill their bellies - oblivious to their human rights and dignity.
Just like you, they too have come to believe that life is "better" when you surrender your soul and human rights at the altar of material gain- that righteousness, ethics, philosophy and all the values that make you a man, isn't worth the price.

That is what "Voter Apathy" is all about, dear Sir.
It is what the power brokers need to perpetuate their rule. It is what "you" desire, despite all your verbose morality.

Did I read that you said, "it is fantastic that the leadership is admitting and trying to rectify it (their mistakes)?"

Yeah, right! Maybe there are pigs flying around town, Tun Musa- just maybe!