许崇信角逐金宝对撼李志亮

（怡保18日讯）入党4年经验的怡保专科医院心臟与臟肺外科手术专科医生许崇信，获得行动党领袖器重，在今届全国大选角逐金宝国席，对撼部长级的马华候选人拿督李志亮。

行动党霹州秘书倪可敏今日在怡保旧街场，举行甲巴央州选区大选行动室开幕典礼后，召开记者会，声称他获党中央领袖允许，宣佈许崇信出征金宝国席的候选人。

「医生除了有救人本领外，在国家有难当前挺身而出，例如已故的民主主义革命先驱孙中山医生，担起救国的重任。」

他也非议首相拿督斯里纳吉安排土著权威组织副主席，即原任居林万拉峇鲁区国会议员朱基菲里诺丁，上阵莎阿南国席，证明推动的转型计划乃是失败的。

「朱基菲里诺丁是在2010年，因言论种族课题不当，而被人民公正党开除，过后对方仍继续发表不少爭议的言论，例如对印度神像不敬的言论，开罪了整个印裔社群。」

他批评巫统、国大党和民政党，过去一直撇清与土权的关係，其实都是在欺骗大眾。反观民联遴选候选人的標准，派出拥有高级医生专业资格的许崇信，希望金宝选民给予许氏机会，行动党將全力支持他，成为他强大的后盾。

愿扛重大挑战

另外，值得一提的是，儘管民联霹州候选人名单定于週四晚8时陆续宣佈，惟倪可敏在记者会上，抢先声称本身获得党中央领袖的祝福，出战怡保西区国席属下的甲巴央州席。

他说，行动党在甲巴央州选区的形势，目前处在危急及不稳当之中，身为党领袖的他，为了落实民联的「新的希望，新的政府」，愿意扛起这个重大的挑战。

不过，记者在进一步向倪氏发出提问时，后者却婉拒回应。霹州女性协会（Perak Woman for Woman Society）主席莎丽法出席记者会给予同事许崇信百分百的支持。

其他出席者还有行动党霹州元老林子鹤、骆瑞珍、州署理主席西华古玛、副秘书黄文標、州財政林碧霞、组织秘书郑福基、副组织秘书西华苏巴马廉、副宣传秘书杨祖强、州委梁卓经及谢保恆、社青团州团长黄家和、副团长张志坚、副组织秘书郑国霖、改朝换代小组主任黄云龙、怡保东区社青团团长李存孝等。

爭取平衡发展

行动党金宝国会选区候选人许崇信表示，若本身在来届大选中选，除了会注重当地教育发展，也会全面注重其他领域的发展，要为金宝人爭取平衡的发展。

他今日在记者会上表示，虽然入党仅4年，对党务的付出和参与活动不很多，但他会尽力。

他形容国家的贪污腐败问题为癌症，但不等于无法医治，仍有希望「救活」。

出征说服人民心声

面对国阵马华金宝国席候选人拿督李志亮的强大对手，许氏指出，不会顾虑本身的胜算，即使他可能会败选，不过，至少让他有机会出征，说出国家的课题和人民的心声。

http://www.orientaldaily.com.my/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=51320:&Itemid=242

曾福仔冀守克兰芝突破「宿命」

史康振 报导 

（金宝10日讯）曾以「脚车撞到马赛地」的行动党克兰芝州议员曾福仔指出，若第13届全国大选得以被派继续守土，希望可以突破过往的记录，成为金宝市区首位蝉联2届的州议员。

他说，金宝市区在过去的12届全国大选中，包括他本身，也只有4名代议士成功连任两届的州议员。

他指出，如果这次大选依然获得党领导层的委托，他将全力以赴，以蝉联2届克兰芝州议席，刷新纪录。

「虽然国会宣布解散，但党领导层至今尚未宣布候选人名单，因此行动党将委派何人竞选金宝国席及克兰芝州席，仍是个未知数。」

曾福仔接受《东方日报》访问时表示，「其实早在1个月前，我已开始着手筹备竞选事宜，如印制党旗等，但如果最后代表党上阵的候选人非我本人，我将尊重党的决定，并将已印制好的竞选党旗交予来届行动党候选人。」

他也说，行动党的财力不敌国阵成员党，因此在大选期间，他只会象征性张挂一些竞选旗帜，而且他认为选民对行动党的了解已深，无需浪费资源去印刷过多的竞选旗帜，以博取宣传效果。

梁卓经料攻州席

行动党双溪古月服务队主席梁卓经则指出，若无意外事故，他将代表行动党上阵双溪古月州选区，所以在投票日来临之前，他将会频密前往双溪古月拜票，与选民进行交流。

另外，据金宝行动党基层党员透露，早前盛传国内知名商人陈昌的曾孙陈贞源将代表行动党竞选金宝国席一事，至今仍充满变数。陈贞源未获认同

他说，陈贞源贸贸然地以「行动党金宝服务小组协调员」身份现身在金宝国会选区，但至今仍未获得行动党霹州联委会的认同。

「此外，近期于金宝市举办的行动党政治讲座，陈贞源及其军师黄永安也有出席，但两人从头到尾都给主办单位所忽略，别说上台发表政治演说，连与其他嘉宾上台致谢的机会也没有。」

http://cnews.cari.com.my/news.php?id=370984

How will MCA fare in this coming election? — Lee Hwa Beng

MARCH 19 — In the last general election, the MCA fielded candidates in 40 parliamentary seats but won only 15 and lost the remaining 25 seats to the opposition in the political tsunami. This was by far the worst result ever for the MCA. 

Will the MCA be able to retain and perhaps increase the existing 15 seats, or will its position be further weakened?

Two years ago, MCA president Chua Soi Lek announced that the MCA will not accept any Cabinet positions if the party obtains fewer than the existing 15 seats. This statement was made nearly two years ago when he first became MCA president but has not been repeated since. 

Was he trying to blackmail the Chinese community into considering carefully before voting against the party? Was he more confident of a better performance then? His subsequent silence may mean he has either regretted his statement or that he is less confident of his party’s performance in the upcoming elections two years later. 

According to the chart in this article, out of the 15 seats won by the MCA, only four seats have a majority, i.e. more than 50 per cent of Chinese voters — Kampar, Kluang, Gelang Patah and Kulai. Two other seats have marginally more Chinese than Malay voters i.e. Bentong and Labis. This shows that the MCA won these 15 seats with more support from the Malay community than the Chinese. Furthermore, out of the 15 seats, seven were won from the DAP, six from PKR and two from PAS. Interestingly enough, the other 25 seats where MCA lost were all Chinese plurality seats.

How then will the MCA fare in the 13th general election? Having exited the political arena, I will attempt to answer this objectively in spite of the fact that I was an MCA leader and also a victim of the political tsunami in 2008.

In general, most people think the MCA will obtain fewer than the 15 seats it garnered in 2008. As to the extent of the loss, this will depend on the following crucial factors that will decide the MCA’s fate:

1) The increase of the number of voters in the electoral roll will be a decisive factor. Generally these new additions are young, first-time voters who are anti-establishment and will normally vote against the incumbents. In other words, they will not be voting in favour of the MCA.

2) Out of the 15 seats won by the MCA, seven are located in Johor. Pakatan Rakyat has declared Johor as its frontline battle state in its plan to capture Putrajaya. Hence it will definitely concentrate on the seven MCA seats and also the sole MIC seat (Segamat) in the state. They will also be led by heavyweights like Salahuddin Ayub, one of the three vice-presidents of PAS and current MP for Kubang Kerian, Chua Jui Meng, also a PKR vice-president and former Bakri MP, and very likely Lim Kit Siang himself, who will move from Perak to Johor, the state where he was born. Another DAP central executive committee member and national leader, Liew Ching Tong, has already announced his intention to move from Penang.

3) Will Chor Chee Heung, who won marginally by 184 votes in Alor Star, and Kong Cho Ha with 298 votes be able to retain their seats ? Alor Star and Lumut have many more Malay voters than Chinese. In the last elections slightly more than 50 per cent Malays voted for the MCA/BN across the country. A slight decrease in Malay votes will make these two seats vulnerable. This potential decrease in Malay sentiment for BN will inevitably impact all the seats contested by the MCA that have more than 40 per cent Malay voters as nobody can deny that Chinese support for the MCA and BN is worse now compared to the last elections.

4) Of the 15 incumbents, at least five to eight will either be dropped by the MCA or will retire. Who will be replacing them? Will winnable candidates be fielded or will only the president’s men prevail? Chua Soi Lek has announced that Ong Tee Keat, a winnable candidate and current Pandan MP, will be dropped. Will Najib over-rule Soi Lek and retain Tee Keat? Ong Ka Ting, who won with a majority of 14,895 votes, has declared a few times that he is stepping down from his seat in Kulai. His successor would be hard pressed to retain this 59 per cent Chinese-majority seat. Ong Ka Chuan, Ka Ting’s older brother, will win in Tanjung Malim if he stands again. But will he be retained knowing the bad blood between Soi Lek and the Ong brothers?

5) Will Ng Yen Yen be able to retain her Raub seat after the Bukit Koman cyanide poisoning issue, the Psy “lou sang” incident and “Yes No Yes No” episode in Malacca?

6) How will Liow Tiong Lai fare against Himpunan Hijau’s Wong Tak standing on a DAP ticket? Will the change of candidate from a PKR to DAP one have any effect in this 47 per cent Chinese-majority seat?

7) Will the ongoing PKFZ trial of former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik have any effect on all the MCA candidates? In particular, will it impact Kong Cho Ha who replaced Ong Tee Keat as transport minister?

8) Finally the key question: Will Soi Lek stand in this coming elections? If he stands, which seat will he choose? Will his sex scandal affect him only or have repercussions on all the MCA candidates? Without a doubt, all Pakatan candidates who are standing against Soi Lek and other MCA members will liberally remind voters of this sex scandal.

Pakatan knows MCA candidates will be the most vulnerable and hence will capitalise on this in its aim to win the election. They also know the DAP will be their best weapon to take down MCA candidates.

Hence, the Bentong seat that was previously contested by PKR was given to the DAP. Chua Jui Meng’s request to contest in his hometown and previous seat in Bakri when he was still a member of the MCA was also not considered and has been retained as the DAP’s. Lim Kit Siang recently announced Gelang Patah, a Chinese-majority seat, will be contested by the DAP although it was a PKR seat in the last election.

I am convinced that Pakatan will give seats to the DAP in whichever area it has a better chance to win.

In conclusion, while it would not be appropriate for me to pinpoint exactly which seats the MCA will retain or lose, I estimate that MCA will obtain somewhere between 5-10 seats out of these 15 seats.

In my next article, I will look into how the MCA will fare in the 25 seats it lost.

* Datuk Lee Hwa Beng is the former MCA state assemblyman for Subang Jaya (three terms from 1995-2008). Stood as the BN candidate for the Kelana Jaya parliamentary seat in 2008 and lost. Appointed Port Klang Authority chairman to investigate the PKFZ scandal from 2008 to 2011 and the author of “PKFZ: A Nation’s Trust Betrayed.”

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/how-will-mca-fare-in-this-coming-election-lee-hwa-beng/

朝野逐鹿金宝4席 民联派精兵挽民心

（金宝5日讯）隨著全国大选的跫音近，朝野政党即將角逐金宝1国3州议席的候选人也逐渐明朗，目前除了朝野政党的克兰芝州席仍传出有其他人选以外，其余的朝野国州席候选人，几乎已经断定。

因此，在朝野准候选人在不同选区的走动趋势下，选民已看出端倪，並相信民联在来届大选极大可能將派出3名法律系出身的政坛新兵，强攻勤于服务的国阵候选人。

据悉，国阵在金宝国会选区下的3个州议席，于308大选时，在反风狂吹的情况下，饶幸地守住金宝国席及督亚冷锡加州席，但却痛失马华中选3届的双溪古月州选区。

惟事后，前行动党双溪古月州议员吉舒荣特星宣布退党，成为支持国阵的独立议员，导致行动党于金宝选区的组织及形象受挫。因此，据悉民联在来届大选料將派出3名拥有法律系学士资格的专业人士，以挽回民心。

目前，依民联內部所传出口风进行分析，在308大选以高票卫冕克兰芝州席的曾福仔料继续守土，而行动党及公正党將派出陈贞源、梁卓经及宝迪星，上阵金宝国席、双溪古月州席及督亚冷锡加州席。

国阵方面，贵为內政部副部长的拿督李志亮，逢週五即定时前往金宝市区设立柜檯，勤于服务选民，並获民眾冠上「街头部长」的称號，所以在其功绩有目共睹的情况下，料其他国阵领袖也不敢打其金宝国席的主意。

因此，近期才开始在金宝选区跑动的行动党金宝服务小组协调员陈贞源，若欲挑战李志亮，绝非易事，毕竟陈贞源只有27岁，年纪尚轻，並且不諳华语、广东及客家话等方言，难以取得金宝老一代选民的支持。

但是，拥有专业形象的陈贞源也並非完全没有优势，皆因他出身豪门，是森州知名商人陈昌的曾孙，並出动行动党前金宝国会议员黄永安助阵，將吸引「反」心迫切的年轻选民，所以陈贞源对上李志亮，料將引起金宝老轻选民的对决。

此外，支持国阵独立州议员吉舒荣特星，因退党事宜严重的影响其形象，朝野人士一致认为其代表国阵出征双溪古月州选区机会渺茫，该州席將保留给马华金宝区会署理主席张国强竞选。

內斗分配不均

据知情者披露，原本已准备在308大选披甲上阵的张国强，却因党內派系斗爭，导致竞选席位分配不均，迫于將服务多年的选区拱手相让，所以李志亮此次已向首相及马华总会长力爭其出线机会。

因此，极大可能將与张国强爭夺双溪古月州席的行动党双溪古月服务队主席梁卓经，其律师形象良好，出线机会深得反对党支持者的认同，目前只在部署著最后的竞选策略。

至于，拥有庞大巫裔选民的督亚冷锡加州选区，国阵估计將继续派出现任州议员诺丽守土，以迎接公正党宝迪星的挑战，惟外人一般看好诺丽能替国阵保住此席位，除非该区的诺丽敌对巫统派系扯后腿。

天兵友党插一脚　克兰芝生变

朝野政党于金宝克兰芝州选区的准候选人，至今仍存有一定变数，目前积极服务的朝野准候选人，可能將分別面对「天兵下降」及友党候选人代为出阵的局面。

民间传出，过去2届全国大选，马华于克兰芝州选区屡战屡败，因此，在首相拿督斯里纳吉所推行「胜算高者上阵策略」下，巫统区部建议马华金宝区会让出该州议席，由声望较高金宝民政区部主席拿督朱树濯上阵。

惟金宝马华区会主席拿督李志亮却有意力保该党的出线该区机会，向选民强力推荐其年轻助理胡伟豪，並在他无法出席的活动上，都让胡伟豪代为出席。因此，马华若是继续角逐克兰芝州席，胡伟豪的机会算是最高。

虽然，民间数度传出金宝民政已在克兰芝选区物色大选行动中心的言论，但民政基层领袖认为，该党区部主席竞选克兰芝州席的意愿不大，而且金宝民政党区部至今仍未获上层指示进行部署，即使是获得出线机会，胜算也不高。

此外，于308大选成功保住克兰芝州议席的曾福仔表示，有信心继续获得党中央的信任，以卫冕克兰芝州席，为民联「改朝换代」的目標而尽力，但若是最终候选人不是他，他也会尊重党的决定，全力支持该党候选人。

但是，行动党內部却传出，行动党在来届大选將大打「专业人士」牌，因此只有中学学歷的曾福仔將可能被取代，而民间也数度传出，代替曾福仔出线的可能会是「女天兵」。

Source: http://www.orientaldaily.com.my/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=45215:4&Itemid=242

率亲信守金宝1国2州 李志亮对垒民行新兵

独家报导

　（金宝28日讯）来届大选，金宝1国3州议席，预料將由马华现任国会议员李志亮及其亲信，迎战来势汹汹的行动党专业新兵和“脚车老將”。

　金宝国会属下共有3个州选区，分別是双溪古月、加兰芝和督亚冷锡加。308大选时，国会选区由李志亮以2697张多数票胜出，除了督亚冷锡加州席由巫统胜出，双溪古月和加兰芝州选区皆落入行动党候选人手中。

　李志亮也是內政部副部长。他在来届大选中，预料受到行动党新兵陈贞源单挑，而于2009年退出行动党，支持国阵的双溪古月区州议员吉舒荣特星，不再上阵。

　一直追隨李志亮左右的马华金宝区会老將张国强，將受命上阵双溪古月州选区，迎战行动党新兵梁卓经。

　尽管上述1国1州席是由马华老將迎战行动党的新兵，但马华极可能派出新人胡伟豪在加兰芝州选区，单挑素有“脚车议员”之称的曾福仔。

诺丽守土督亚冷锡加

　虽早前有传闻指曾福仔基于个人学歷未达专业人士的要求，有可能不再受委派上阵，可是在求胜大前提下，已2度中选及作风亲民的曾福仔，可能再度受命守土。

　曾福仔在308大选中，以4435张多数票，击败获4024张票的马华的章文华。

　另一州议席督亚冷锡加，则是巫统堡垒区，相信仍由现任议员诺丽出征守土，迎战人民公正党的新兵宝迪星。

　诺丽在上届大选中，以1569张多数票击败公正党的印裔候选人纳拉拉惹。

双溪古月料没三角战

亲国阵的双溪古月区州议员吉舒荣特星，基于曾退党及现无党派的尷尬面局下，预料不会以独立人士身分上阵，因此，该州席將不会出现三角混战。

　若无意外，预料將由同是初试啼声的马华现任加兰芝州选区协调员张国强，直接对垒民主行动党双溪古月服务队主席梁卓经。

　现年54岁的张国强，也是马华金宝区会署理主席，追隨李志亮多年的他，一直勤于跑动金宝区，从未间断。

　反观行动党的专业新兵梁卓经，现年44岁的他，为执业律师，于2008年加入行动党，自上届大选后，一直活跃于双溪古月区。他最广为人知的是一直参与霹州政权转移期间的法庭诉讼。

“街头部长”老树盘根

確確实实为民服务的李志亮，贏得“街头部长”的外號！

　在金宝可谓是老树盘根的李志亮，除了形象亲民与无爭议性，也一直致力发展金宝区，为金宝子民带来诸多实惠计划。

　现年55岁的李志亮，经歷308政治海啸时，適逢已连任4届州议员的他，弃州攻国，尽管当时反风炽盛，但他仍以2697多数票击败行动党的龚明勛，受委为內政部副部长。

　他充分运用其副部长职权，改善金宝软硬体措施，並于每週五在巴剎旁的服务柜台为民服务，因此被民眾称为“街头部长”。

　从政逾20年的李志亮，在1990年中选为督亚冷州议员，之后在1995年中选成为双溪古月区州议员，过后于1999年和2004年的大选皆中选，並在2008年弃州攻国。

陈贞源矢爭取更大民主

现年27岁的陈贞源深信，可通过民主行动党落实对国家爭取更大的民主，以及为各界层人士建立更亲民与惠民政府的承诺。

　出生于新加坡的他，在2007年毕业于英国诺丁汉大学法律系，並于同年回国，在制造和包装环保產品公司担任產品出口行政人员，目前是该公司的高级经理，负责各类环保或绿色產品的出口和市场开发。

　陈贞源对国內外的政治、经济和社会课题有浓厚兴趣，在2008年加入民主行动党，目前是金宝服务小组协调员，近期开始活跃于金宝区，如出席一些政治讲座会及新春团拜等。

曾福仔若守土
遇新兵胡伟豪

有“脚车撞倒马赛地”之说而贏获“脚车议员”雅號的议员曾福仔，若再次受命捍卫加兰芝州选区，可能会遇上马华新兵胡伟豪！

　现年25岁的胡伟豪，自毕业于国民大学经济系后，于2010年开始担任內政部副部长李志亮的特別助理，在金宝活动已將近3年，近期更频频代表未克出席的李志亮，出席金宝区各场合的晚宴。

　出生于彭亨州文冬的胡伟豪，虽非土生土长，但其母亲出生于金宝，而母系亲人更一直居住于双溪古月，故可称得上是半个金宝人。

　已连接2届中选为该区议员的曾福仔，于2004年大选击退马华的拿督张华医生，並于2008年大选以4435多数票轻取马华的章文华。之前一直骑脚车跑动选区的他，因此贏得脚车议员的外號，而于2004年大选时，骑脚车的他在击退当时驾豪华房车的张华医生时，也令当地传出“脚车撞倒马赛地”之说。

李志亮为金宝区所爭取的主要发展

　1）金宝新街场通往督亚冷大道。

　2）金宝新医院。

　3）火车站安装升降机，方便残障人士到对岸乘搭火车。

　4）在金宝大学城增设移民局。

　5）將旧的登记局搬迁至大学城区。

　6）重建破旧的东兴港巴剎。

　7）爭取拨款维修金宝县內多个巴剎。

Source: http://www.chinapress.com.my/node/399075

Pakatan Rakyat: Life Beyond Anwar Ibrahim

By Ooi Kok Chin

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim flirted with his smartphone throughout the 4th Pakatan Rakyat Convention on Monday. The fact that he took the convention so nonchalantly and let others run the show is a sign of how much things have changed in the opposition camp. Back in 1999 when DAP, PAS and Keadilan first formed a pact, the Barisan Alternatif, he  was the shadowy overarching figure behind bars. Anwar Ibrahim, the man, was the glue, the purpose and the Messiah.

Anwar is so deeply intertwined with the very existence of Pakatan and its predecessor that many people couldn’t imagine how Pakatan can move together when Anwar is no longer around. However, while the former Deputy Prime Minister is still a very influential leader, Pakatan has outgrown the man.

The Making of Anwar and Pakatan

To know how Pakatan can take on a life of its own beyond the PKR de factor leader, we have to understand why Anwar is so important at first. He’s able to play the mediator role like no other politician and in no small part this is due to the fact that he and Tok Guru Abdul Hadi Awang has known each other for more than 30 years since their days in Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM). In fact Anwar was so closely associated with PAS in his youth days and him joining UMNO was seen as an act of betrayal by some. But the bond they once shared was not broken, in fact resurrected in 1999.

Anwar’s relationship with PAS is a clue to understanding his political journey. He understands PAS’s ideology, its values and its history. He knows how things work according to the party’s tradition. Hence he is able to fit in and accepted by most leaders and members, discounting those who have personal feud with him or find his history in Barisan Nasional too much to swallow. The same principle applies to his association with DAP. Anwar’s ability to churn out verses from the Koran is as good as his ability to quote Shakespeare and Edmund Burke. He’s incredibly informed about secular and democratic principles which are cherished by the DAP. DAP’s leaders and supporters have no better representation of an ideal Muslim-Democrat than Anwar, the Newsweek‘s Asian of the Year in 1998. This is no small matter in demonstrating why he’s able to fit in. He understands them and they accept him as a man who knows their tradition and values. This is someone they can trust.

The Federal Constitution is available at Popular and MPH Bookstore for RM 10.

That is also the main reason Anwar Ibrahim is Pakatan’s Prime Minister candidate as agreed by Tok Guru Nik Aziz, Lim Kit Siang and well, Datuk Seri Wan Azizah. Hadi Awang is the preferred candidate by some in PAS but that’s precisely the limit of that claim. Lim Guan Eng is even more unlikely. This is something worth clarifying. It is not that a non-Malay cannot become the Prime Minister. It is constitutionally legal as Article 43 makes no prohibition on this matter. But the Prime Minister must be someone trusted not only by the majority in Parliament but also by his or her political allies from the top to grassroots level. The leader of the coalition must be able to act as the glue and rallying point. A non-Malay or/and a female will only become Prime Minister when he or she gains such trust on a large scale, like Barack Obama. And of course, good governance, fluency in the national language and appreciation of Islamic values improve one’s chances.

Beyond the man

On December 2010, Anwar did not speak at the 2nd Pakatan Rakyat Convention. The rejuvenation process has started without many of us noticing. Anwar was planting trees under whose shadows he would not sit. It seemed that his colleagues and him agreed that it was necessary to not be over-dependent on him and hence let others take to the platform and shine. Over the last four years, we have seen the result of such deliberate strategy through the younger batch of leaders like Rafizi Ramli, Tony Pua and Mujahid Yusof Rawa who are playing more important roles. Faces which we barely recognize years ago are now the key spokespersons for their parties.

Just like how Anwar, Hadi Awang and their cohorts first developed their association, Pakatan’s next generation leaders are having the same, in fact more opportunity to cultivate trust and bonds. After five or more years of working together in their 30s and 40s, the crucial years in which one’s political career, they must have established at least a working, if not a much appreciated relationship. More of such cross-party collaboration, understanding and unity are catalysts for creating trust among those young leaders. Indeed there are much more dynamic cross-party interaction and cooperation in Pakatan than ever before, especially in Selangor.

Article 43 dealing with the Executive makes no mention of race as a factor in choosing the Prime Minister.

At the Shah Alam Convention Center, Rafizi, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and M.Kulasegaran presented the coalition’s new election manifesto. Pakatan’s decision to let the next generation leaders craft and deliver the manifesto is a clever one. Indeed this is something Barisan must learn.

Celebrated football coach Jose Mourinho said “Individuals don’t win you trophies. Teams win you trophies.”  Pakatan has an impressively talented and youthful team with the likes of Rafizi, Kulasegaran, Dr Zul, Guan Eng, Hadi Awang, Nik Nazmi, Nurul Izzah, Tony Pua, Anthony Loke, Ong Kian Ming, Mujahid Yusof Rawa, Liew Chin Tong, Hannah Yeoh, Baru Bian, Jeff Ooi, Teresa Kok and of course Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim. From young professionals to religious scholars, highly educated intellectuals to civil rights lawyers, financial consultants to GLC executives, they have much variety. These individuals cannot compete with Anwar but as a team, they can fill in his shoes. The whole team is bigger than the sum of individuals.

In addition, new members and future politicians from my generation do not have deep loyalty and attachment to figureheads. Many of the new cohorts join Pakatan not because they idolize Anwar. They do so because they want policy changes in the government to represent and enhance the interests of the Rakyat. They want better education, affordable housing schemes, economic growth, crackdown on corruption, secure border control and a more inclusive, united Malaysia. In short, it’s not for Anwar though he may be the means for those ends. This is in contrast with Keadilan 15 years ago when most of their members were Anwar’s political friends, family members and hardcore supporters. The coalition still needs Anwar, Kit Siang and Hadi Awang to lead the way for the next few years. But it is definitely bigger than the personalities now.

Perhaps it is by fate that when I first saw Anwar, he said to the audience “Men come and go. But the river stays.” As such, after laying the foundation and painting the vision for the coalition to move forward, Anwar can congratulate himself for kick-starting a wheel of change that will keep on rotating. As the clock ticks, new waves of men and women are emerging and grasping the meaning of democracy. Pakatan will survive beyond Anwar and the wheel of change, that spirit of Reformasi and new politics, will survive beyond Pakatan.

Source: http://neoconversation.wordpress.com/2013/02/26/pakatan-rakyat-life-beyond-anwar-ibrahim/

Psy gig a SELF-INFLICTED DISASTER for Najib, Umno-BN

Written by  Lim Kit Siang

Instead of being a multi-million ringgit coup for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the Barisan Nasional, it has turned out to be a multi-billion ringgit disaster for Najib and BN in the run-up to the 13th General Elections.

Completely forgotten are the millions of ringgit lavished by unknown sponsors with unknown motives who brought Psy and his troupe in a direct 20-hour flight from Brazil to Penang, the thousands of 1Malaysia flags which littered Penang island for Najib's two-day Chinese New Year visit to Penang or Najib's latest "I help you, You help me" offerings.

Worse damage to the BN than Bersih or even HRK rallies

What will forever be remembered about Najib's CNY do in Penang is the one-minute video which has gone viral and an even hotter sensation than Psy and Gangnam Style - when Najib asked the crowd at Han Chiang School grounds whether they are ready for Psy and ready for BN.

In fact, the thunderous three "Yes" to Najib's questions whether the crowd was ready for Psy followed by the equally thunderous and spontaneous three "Noes" when Najib asked thrice whether they were ready for BN have destroyed Najib's elaborate edifice of supreme confidence of winning handsomely in the 13GE , which has collapsed like a house of cards.

It is even more devastating to Umno/BN's electoral prospects in the 13GE than Bersih 2.0, Bersih 3.0 or Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat KL112 - especially as it is a completely self-inflicted disaster.

BN shatters own false image of confidence

It has put paid to the glowing picture painted by Umno/BN leaders and propagandists that Umno/BN will win big in 13GE, not only with a two-thirds parliamentary majority but even winning back the presently-held Pakatan Rakyat states including Penang.

In retrospect, when the history of 13 GE is written, the Psy and Gangman Style appearance, with the three "yes" for Psy and the three "Noes" for BN, may mark the watershed of Malaysian political history signifying the beginning of the end for Najib and Umno hegemony in Malaysian politics.

Although Najib and Umno/BN have suffered a major self-inflicted blow in the final lap to the 13GE, Pakatan Rakyat leaders, members and supporters must not be over-confident and regard that the race to Putrajaya as won.

I have always held the view that the outcome of the 13GE is going to be a toss-up, that although Umno/BN have the edge because of the advantages as well as the abuses of incumbency, PR can still win the 13GE to form the Federal Government as the election campaign period will hold the critical and final key as to who will emerge the winner.

Lim Kit Siang is the DAP adviser & MP for Ipoh Timur

PR WASN'T DREAMING: Free education is possible - economists

KUALA LUMPUR - Free tertiary education is possible if we cut down on "unproductive" spending, Malaysian economists have suggested.

Their comments were solicited by theSun in the wake of national debate on the issue that has been stirred by an exchange between undergraduate K.S. Bawani, and Suara Wanita 1Malaysia (SW1M) president Sharifah Zohra Jabeen, at a forum in Universiti Utara Malaysia. The video of the exchange has gone viral on the internet.

Chief Executive of Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), Wan Saiful Wan Jan said the current government is capable of reducing the cost of tertiary education.

"If the government wants to do it, they just need to stop wasting money on things like BR1M, free tyres, RM100 for school children, petrol subsidy, and divert the money to tertiary education," he said.

He noted that the recent "free tyres and cash rewards" seemed to take precedence above cushioning the cost of tertiary education.

It is only a matter of re-juggling priorities and putting tertiary education as priority above other "unproductive" spending, he said.

"The cost will be removal of the wasteful spending and we will not receive the cash handouts and subsidies anymore," he added.

The national education budget has been slashed from RM50 billion in 2012 to RM37 billion in 2013, which is a drop from 20% of the total national budget to 15%.

Economist, Khoo Kay Peng, speculated that this is largely associated with government cash handout programmes such as BR1M and BR1M 2.0, and the RM200 rebate for smartphones.

"The cut is unnecessary. Funds spent on one-time cash handouts and rebates do not create a lasting impact on the economy," he said.

Ideally, Khoo sees that education funding should occupy 20% to 22% of the GDP.

Another suggestion by economists to fund free tertiary education is to cut the defence budget.

The director of Centre for Policy Initiatives, Dr Lim Teck Ghee, said the expenditure used in defence can be cut back to cushion the cost of tertiary education.

"If we cut back expenditure in sectors such as the defence sector where the rationale for large budgets is not sustainable and reduce the cost of doing business due to rent seeking, patronage and opaque government procurement, it can generate tens of billions annually," he said.

While it woud be great to have blanket tertiary education, economists argue that it is not a civic obligation to provide free tertiary education for all, neither is it economically-wise in the long run.

Wan Saiful pointed out that we already have a deficit budget and blanket free tertiary education will increase the deficit.

"I must add at this point that making tertiary, or any other level of education free, is not a good move in the long term. It may not have a disastrous adverse impact now, but in the longer term the country will not be able to afford it.

"The deficit spending incurred by the Najib administration will be a burden on society long after Datuk Sri Najib (Abdul Razak) and his ministers have left us," he argued.

On civic-responsibility, he said education is ultimately the responsibility of parents and individuals.

"It is immoral to pass that responsibility to others through the machinery of government and taxation. If we want society to help each other, than we must encourage voluntary help, not coerce people through taxation.

"Our society today has become overly reliant on government so that voluntary help is diminishing," he said.

Dr Lim does not favour blanket tertiary education as he said not everyone cannot afford university fees.

"Students from rich families can afford to pay a portion of the tuition fees and they should be made to do so," he said.

Along with easing tertiary education fees, Lim also suggested reform of the higher education sector.

He noted that 10% of government expenditure is presently allocated to higher education. "We have to ask if we are getting value for our tax money being spent on higher education," he said.

He highlighted large numbers of unemployable graduates, the low academic standards, and the poor quality of research especially in public colleges.

Instead of free tertiary education for all, funds can be used to enhance the quality of public tertiary education system.

"Free tertiary education should be for those whose parents earn a low income," said Khoo Kay Peng, who is also a political commentator.

He highlighted that the government allocates RM200 million annually to retrain unemployed graduates.

"It speaks volumes of a need to revamp the tertiary education system if an undergraduate has to be retrained after just spending four years on his education," he said.

-thesundaily

Sourced from:

http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=47801:pr-wasnt-dreaming-free-education-is-possible-economists&Itemid=2

'BN won't get two-thirds majority in polls'

'BN won't get two-thirds majority in polls'

2:17PM Jan 21, 2013

It will be "impossible" for the BN to get a two-thirds parliamentary majority in the next general election - and this could lead to BN head and prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s resignation, to a study says.

The Universiti Malaya Centre for Democracy and Elections (Umcedel) cited previous electoral records and current developments in arriving at this conclusion in its study.

Umcedel director Mohammad Redzuan Othman (left) told Malay daily Sinar Harianthat the BN would only maintain the status quo in the 13th general election “unless there are extraordinary things that we don't see such - as phantom voters - which we as researchers cannot study” 

“In the past general election, BN only garnered 47 percent of the popular vote in the peninsula, while Pakatan Rakyat won 49 percent. Nationwide, the BN only received 50.2 percent support,” Redzuan is quoted as saying.

“Former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's(right) popularity was over 70 percent when he entered the (2008) general election but Najib's popularity now is only 58 percent. So, it will be impossible for Najib to do better than Abdullah.”

Another factor is that Najib is the only premier who will be calling a general election without a redelineation exercise.

“Umno obtained the majority of its seats due to redelineation, not votes. This was proven when Abdullah obtained 64 percent of the popular vote but won 90 percent of the parliamentary seats (in 2004),” Redzuan said.

He noted that the convention in Umno is for a prime minister to resign should he fail to lead the BN to a two-thirds majority in the general election.

“It had happened to the first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, and to Abdullah. The same thing will happen to Najib...”

Merdeka Centre executive director Ibrahim Suffian, who shared this view, revealed that a survey by the independent pollster has similarly shown that it would be an uphill battle for BN to get a two-thirds majority this time around.

Source: www.malaysiakini.com

Listen, listen, listen! Have we gone overboard? — Douglas Tan

JAN 18 — In this day and age, there are YouTube sensations which catapult little known individuals to fame. The K-Pop star, Psy, went from a virtual unknown outside Korea into an international sensation, with his music video “Gangnam Style”, garnering 1.2 billion views on YouTube and setting a Guinness world record and spawning masses of parodies including local favourites such as “Oppa KL Style” and “Georgetown Gangnam style”.

On the local scene, 2012 was the year of cows in condos, with Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil being lambasted by political leaders and online media, and most prominently being featured in yet another “Gangnam Style” parody, “Ubah Rocket Style” released by the DAP. In 2013, the word of the month seems to be “Listen”.

Respect?

For those who are unaware or oblivious of the background, a little known leader of an NGO called Suara Wanita 1 Malaysia or SW1M was propelled to fame when a YouTube video of a woman berating a student went viral on social media circles.

 Sharifah Zohra Jabeen reached notoriety, which is almost unparalleled in local politics in terms of ridicule and attention, from a video made at Universiti Utara Malaysia entitled “Forum Suara Mahasiswa Part 4” (translated into “Voice of the Students Forum Part 4”). This virtually happened overnight when she cut off second-year law student Bawani KS mid-way through her question by saying “Listen” 10 times and “Let me speak” seven times despite Bawani’s protests.

The crux of Bawani’s question was whether Malaysia would be able to move towards a system where university education could be provided for free. This is reflective of a promise being made by Pakatan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to abolish PTPTN and provide free tertiary education to Malaysians. What proceeded from Sharifah Zohra’s interruption was ludicrous.

She then thanked Bawani for “having the guts” to ask the question, before turning to ask the students whether she had accorded “respect” to Bawani. At this point in the video, I began to feel sick inside because what she proceeded to do was nothing short of humiliating. She mocked Bawani’s attitude, said she is less “pendidikan” compared to her, asked her to leave the country if she is unhappy with the government’s policies, and then proceeded to say the now famous “even animals have problems”.

If there was anyone who was being disrespectful, it was Sharifah Zohra. Her reply was not only “kurang ajar”, it was a classic red herring. For many online netizens who vented their frustrations, she epitomised the Barisan Nasional government: arrogant, out of touch, emotionally cold and vindictive. Bawani, on the other hand, achieved hero status by being the underdog, standing up for her beliefs and daring to question the authorities.

Neitzen’s revenge

Although the forum itself took place on December 8 last year, the outpouring of wrath and ridicule only culminated in the past week. The parodies, Photoshopped pictures and even music “re-mixes” have all gone viral, especially on Facebook, with countless “likes” and “shares”. There has also been a Facebook page opened dedicated to asking Sharifah Zohra to apologise to Bawani.

Eventually this was highlighted on Yahoo! News and then the mainstream media just a couple of days ago. The controversy has also given birth to a slew of marketing opportunities. Yes 4G, DiGi and Nandos came out with their own “Listen” campaigns to great effect, catching the wave of emotion crashing against Sharifah Zohra. I admit that I also got caught up in all of this, going so far as to order a “Listen, Listen” T-shirt!

There seems to be no end to the scorn poured on Sharifah Zohra and Barisan Nasional from this sordid episode. What is apparent is that there is a lot of pent-up rage which is being poured out, which is far larger than Sharifah Zohra herself.

There is the anger at the BN for attempting to brainwash university students. There is also the arrogance and oppressiveness of the party which is personified in how Sharifah Zohra attacked Bawani. Subsequent to all of this, there is also the unrepentant recalcitrance by Sharifah Zohra not issuing an apology and with the SW1M Facebook page posting updates defending their president.

It may be an understatement to say that this may be worrying to Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his colleagues with the general election looming.

Gone too far?

However, in the midst of all this emotion, there were two of my friends who kept their heads to ask some very logical questions about the situation. Kelvin Yii posted a very meaningful video blog, providing a logical commentary and asking crucial questions as to the state of affairs transpiring from the event.

Another friend, Tai Zee Kin, proceeded to ask a very honest question, as to whether all the persistent mocking, joking and parodies would make us any better than Sharifah Zohra herself? Have we gone too far?

Politics, it appears, finds its basis on emotional hyperbole rather than constructive, rational discussion. Taking a step back, are we being excessively harsh on Sharifah Zohra? Perhaps so, especially where there are individuals in high political positions who had made blatantly racist or arrogant statements in the media in the past.

Sharifah Zohra perhaps is a victim of circumstances. Was what she did acceptable then? No it was not. Shall we feel too sorry for her then? Maybe not. But then again, have we as netizens allowed for emotion to usurp logical and pragmatic discussion? Yes, but I believe that it mostly down to the fact that we are guilty of jumping on the “bash Sharifah Zohra” bandwagon.

An omen for Barisan Nasional

 For the past half year I have been on the ground as a political worker, listening to the voices of the grassroots. The grumblings seem to grow louder as the election approaches and the discontent is reaching boiling point. Last week’s Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat’s tremendous success did not just add confidence to the opposition parties and pro-opposition NGOs, but it has also galvanised many supporters and fence sitters to firmly believe that a change of government is possible.

Part of this group is an increasingly vocal Netizen community, which continues to aggressively pounce on any kind of anti-BN fodder it can devour. Poor national policies, immigration issues, institutional corruption and incompetence all become secondary issues. Rational discussion goes out the window as raw emotion takes over, and the objective is clear: take down Barisan Nasional at any cost. Sharifah Zohra, despite all her shortfalls, has fallen victim to this sentiment.

I am reminded of a scene in the film “Les Misérables”, when the young revolutionaries whisper the lyrics “do you hear the people sing? Singing the song of angry men? It’s the music of a people who will not be slaves again!” Though there will not be a revolution as our country is already a democracy, finally being free after 56 years of a BN government is now the idea of a people’s victory in Malaysia.

With unresolved scandals, the Selangor water issue and additional government handouts going into Chinese New Year, it has been a tumultuous start to 2013 for the BN. Brace yourselves ladies and gentlemen as “Listen-gate” is just the beginning.

With the election date edging closer and closer, do not expect the return of reason. I believe that the 13th general election will be the most emotionally-charged election in our nation’s history.

 * Douglas Tan is an active DAP grassroots worker. *

This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.


Published on: 

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/listen-listen-listen-have-we-gone-overboard-douglas-tan/ 
(sourced 20.01.2013) 

http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=46740:listen-listen-listen-have-we-gone-overboard?&Itemid=2 
(sourced 20.01.2013)

http://malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/guest-columnists/53950-listen-listen-listen-have-we-gone-overboard
(sourced: 21.01.2013)

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/01/21/listen-listen-have-we-gone-overboard/
(sourced: 21.01.2013)

Channel News Asia: Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat

500,000 turn up at KL122 Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat

video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Z4dBDVDRZ1c

visuals: http://www.flickr.com/photos/freemalaysiatoday/

An aerial shot of the mammoth crowd outside and inside Stadium Merdeka.

SOME 500,000 people took to the streets of the federal capital Kuala Lumpur to make a clarion call for change and, a clean and fair 13^th General Election.

With the 222-seat Parliament due for automatic dissolution on April 28, the country’s largest ever display of the Peoples’ Power is sending the shivers down the spine of the Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders who have ruled Malaysia for 55 uninterrupted years.

Corruption, racism and exploitation of religious sentiments have been the hallmark of BN (previously Alliance Party)’s rule till today.

The March 2008 political tsunami was the rakyat(people)’s wake-up call to the Umno-led BN to buck up on its governance.

The rakyat had in 2008, for the first time in Malaysia’s electoral history denied the BN its traditional two-thirds majority in Parliament.

They also opted for the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to rule four states – Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor. PR retained its grip on a fifth state - Kelantan - through PAS.

Fortunately for the Anwar Ibrahim-led Opposition PR, BN-Umno remained arrogant and refused to reform and renew its political relevance to the people.

Here’s a first person account of what happened today:

500,000-people assembly for Change!

By Chua Jui Meng

IT WOULD have required a venue at least five times the size of Merdeka Stadium and its surroundings to accommodate the sea of people who turned up in droves for theHimpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur Peoples’ Uprising Assembly) or KL112 today (Jan 12, 2013).

Some 500,000 Malaysians had started marching to the stadium as early as 8am for the historic KL112 that was scheduled to start at 2pm.

It was the peoples’ clarion call for a change in the federal government in the coming 13^th General Election. In short, dump the super corrupt and evil racist Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) on polling day.

However, by noon the stadium was packed to the brim with no more standing space on the field. The crowd is estimated at 100,000 inside the stadium.

By 2pm, even the stadium car park and its surroundings were inaccessible, locking out some 400,000 disappointed multi-racial multi-religious Malaysians.

They had marched towards the stadium from seven popular gathering points that include the Petronas twin towers, Jalan Tun Perak, Brickfields and the National Mosque.

All three roads leading to the stadium were inaccessible to the marchers by 2pm.

We started marching towards the stadium from the National Mosque at 1.30pm.

The turnout was electrifying, taking us almost an hour to inch our way to the stadium. This assembly by the people, for the country, is such a huge success and incident-free.

The atmosphere was carnival-like with constant chants of Change! We must also give due credit to the police who performed professionally this time.

There were no intimidations, only smiles and excellent traffic control. The absence of roadblocks that saw the federal capital locked down previously ensured smoother traffic flows in and out of the city.

The intimidating armed Federal Reserve Unit force and its armoury of water cannons and tear gas canisters were also absent.

This shows the police can discharge their duty professionally to serve the rakyat when they remain apolitical or when there is no pressure from the ruling coalition to clamp down on the rakyat. Syabas, Polis di-Raja Malaysia! (Congratulations to the Royal Malaysian Police Force!).

It also proves that Malaysians are very mature in public gatherings and they are peaceful when there is no agitation or physical force used to cow them.

Today’s peaceful and successful KL112 augurs well for Malaysian unity and a progressive Malaysia.

Here’s a pictorial blow to blow account of the march from the National Mosque to Merdeka Stadium:

  

Chua, former deputy minister Tan Yee Kew (in cowboy hat) and PKR supporters in pirits at the National Mosque.

 

A section of the crowd at the National Mosque.

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AA section of the The march from the National Mosque to Merdeka Stadium begins … With little standing room, they inch towards the stadium, chanting all the way …

 

Slowly and peacefully, the thousands head for the stadium for their clarion call for Change!

 

On top of an elevated section of Jalan Kinabalu, they see thousands of others emerging from below near the Jalan Bandar traffic police station.

They are locked down near the Chinese temple at Petaling Street because there is no more room for the people to go uphill to the stadium.

 

Unable to proceed to the stadium, the marchers loiter around with some taking a rest on the Petaling Street foot path.

These Chinese youths are sending a message to MCA … we have no fear for PAS or hudud.

 

Two foreign journalists seized the opportunity to interview the iconic Aunty Bersih.