Masing Warns Not To Accentuate May 13th In Sarawak

Kuching
Wednesday, 26th May 2010

THE COWARD AND THE STUPID DAYAK MINISTER!

Represent the Iban young generation, I am reminding  James Jemut Masing not to accentuate May 13th ethnic unrest in Sarawak,just because our friends from Semenanjung helping us to kick you and the rest of the coward Ibans member of the state councill from DUN. No matter of what,  May 13 incident will not be happened  in sarawak as long as UMNO or PERKASA  is not coming to Sarawak.

May 13 is a term for the Sino-Malay sectarian violences in Kuala Lumpur (then part of the state of Selangor), Malaysia, which began on May 13, 1969. The riots led to a declaration of a state of national emergency and suspension of Parliament by the Malaysian government, while the National Operations Council (NOC or Majlis Gerakan Negara, MAGERAN) was established to temporarily govern the country between 1969 and 1971.

As a result of this worst ethnic conflict in Malaysia, 196 people were killed between May 13 and July 31 as a result of the riots, although journalists and other observers have stated much higher figures. Other reports at the time suggest over 2,000 were killed by rioters, police and Malaysian Army rangers, mainly in Kuala Lumpur. Many of the dead were quickly buried in unmarked graves in the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital grounds by soldiers of Malaysian Engineers.

May 13 incident was a clashed between Malay and Chinese as many people believed was started by some extreme UMNO members.

James Jemut Masing as qouted by Borneo post in it today publication said that the Peninsular based party should not bring the style of campaign that they used in Peninsular to Sarawak as it may cause another May 13 incident in the state. Based on his statement it was seem to me that this "coward minister" did not use his brain but instead used the one that located on his "knee" when making such comment.
Remaung6Renjer has this question for Masing, in which way will the Peninsular campaign style may cause ethnic riot in Sarawak? Being the dayak himself, he should thanking  Lim Kit Siang, YAB Lim Guang Eng and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for defending the right of the dayaks especially in protecting their NCR lands, the roles that he and the rest of the coward Iban leaders had  failed to do.

Being the young dayaks/Iban myself, I look down at the dayak  ministers but they should not put a blame on me but instead they must blame themselves for their failure to serve the dayak therefore not accepted by my generation. If PM Najib check  the Iban/dayak minister's KPI, he should be given them the "Not Meeting Expectations" rating. They are on  their comfort zone and  no bother to fight for their communities.

Just look at what happened in Miri. As reported by the local newspaper, the big companies have been using thugs or gangsters to rob the Ibans of theirs NCR lands. Although few police reports have been lodged by the land owners, but so far no action has been taken to protect the land owners or to prosecute their NCR lands robbers. As normal the only feedback that they gave to the land owners is that their reports are still under investigation. For how long is the investigation going to be closed ? Is it until some one being killed or the "ngayau" taken place?

Masing what have you done to help the Land Owners to fight for their NCR lands against the gangsters hired by the big companies? And What Wrong with PR action in helping the Iban to fight for their Lands? Are you happy to see your people of being robbed of their NCR lands?....COWARD MASING

If Masing and all the arrogant Iban Ministers are sincere in helping the Iban/dayak why don't they do something about it? And why blame PR for helping the dayak/Iban?

We Warn You Masing and all the Iban Ministers Under Taib mahmud Regime

I would like to advise Masing to secretly do the survey on the support of the young Ibans ( Below age of 55 years) for  BN (Be End). I am not surprise that they will get the unexpected result. Based on my own survey, I discovered out of 10 people that I asked, I got the following result:-

1) 70 % support PR

2) 20 % Support BN

3) 10 % Support PR but afraid to show their support openly to PR due to he still working with government

So Masing, even though the sample taken was very minimum but the sample clearly indicated that the majority of the educated and young Iban prefer PR compare to BN.

Once again I repeat here that May 13 will not going to happen here in Sarawak UNLESS the government allows UMNO or PERKASA  thugs to campaign or expand to Sarawak.

To the young Iban..move on brother..LAWAN TETAP LAWAN...

Mupok Aku

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

PM Najib will be Investigated but Will MACC Dare Enough to Prosecute It own Boss?

Kuala Lumpur
Sunday, 23rd May 2010

Well Done MACC, But Will They Dare To Charge Their Own Boss?

The national anti-graft authority has agreed to investigate claims that the prime minister committed an election offence during the Sibu vote, with his pledge to solve flash floods there if Barisan Nasional retained the Parliamentary seat.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamed said today that the body would probe any and all complaints.

“All complaints against money politics will be investigated by MACC. We will investigate as long there is a complaint related to money politics,” he told reporters after attending a forum by Transparency International Malaysia.

The Election Commission (EC) had sidestepped the issue brought up by the DAP’s Lim Kit Siang, saying the MACC was the right body to carry out investigations.

“That is our responsibility. We have to investigate whoever comes in front of us and complains about... money politics or whatever that is related to corruption,” Abu Kassim said.

MACC investigation director Mustafar Ali added that complaints had been lodged against Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s statement.

“Yes, we have received complaints from several quarters during the by-election. So we have started investigating. We will investigate any party. We have two (complaints), one in Hulu Selangor... and [another in] Sibu.

During a last-minute pitch on the eve of the by-election, Najib announced an allocation of RM5 million for flood-mitigation projects in Rejang Park provided the BN candidate was elected.

“If Robert Lau becomes the MP on Sunday, on Monday I will ask [for] the cheque to be prepared. Do we have a deal or not? We do! You want the RM5 million, I want Robert Lau to win,” Najib told the crowd.

Mustafar said that the MACC may consider calling Najib in for investigation.

“Not at the moment, but if need be of course we will call whoever [was relevant] to testify,” he said.

He also stressed that MACC was “colour blind” and would not be biased in its actions.

“Yes, we take actions against both parties and as mentioned always, MACC is colour blind. We are really colour blind so we will take action whenever we receive information.

“After [an] investigation, whether or not there is a case... depends on the Attorney-General’s office,” he said.

During the forum, which also doubled as a book launch, Umno’s legal counsel Datuk Hafarizam Harun defended Najib’s actions and claimed that the prime minister had not broken the law.

The lawyer also said that it was the duty of the government to bring development to the public.

“This promise is nothing but politics of development, that Umno and Barisan Nasional is bringing development to the people. If you look at Section 10 in Election Offences Act, [it] states that bribery only applies to all of us as individuals, but not the government,” he said.

I am in the agreement with Datuk Hafarizam that it is a government responsibility to bring about development to the people but why bring the development during the election. One point to think about is about Najib position. When he made the promised, he gave altimatum to the people by saying that he will sign the check the moment BN candidate declare as winner. Remember he being the Prime Minister has a power to approve the check. If someone has a power and with his power he ask something from someone isn't that considered as abused of power , and can be charged as bribery? We hope the action of MACC to investigate Najib not to be end here alone, people knew that Najib had abused his power....even the whole world knew about it, therefore we dont expect to hear from MACC that Najib has no case to answer...We, the rakyat want him to be prosecuted!...Bukittunggal

He argued the Act only referred to a “natural person,” and therefore, Najib was not guilty as he was speaking on behalf of the government.

“So this is the problem, the law only recognises [individuals] but not the government,” Hafarizam said.

However, PKR’s Selayang MP William Leong disagreed and said that Najib was not campaigning as the prime minister but as the president of Umno.

“Sometimes we forget to differentiate between Umno and [the] government. So when a person stands on the podium and campaigns, he is an individual and should be charged,” he said.

Mupok Aku

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

Barisan Nasional “Promise the Moon” Tactic is Always Effective In Iban/Dayak Majority Areas

Kuching
Saturday, 22nd May 2010

Introduction

Promise the moon is an American idiom , which means promise that isn’t likely to be fulfilled. To majority of Malaysian, promise the moon or “janji kosong” or translated as an empty promise , is synonym with Barisan Nasional (BN) campaign tactic especially during the by-election.

"Promise the Moon" is a part of BN most deadly weapon to fight against the opposition in Malaysia especially during the by-election. They will make promises to the voters that if they win the by-election they will given the development worth millions of ringgit . And most of it, if not all were not fulfilled.

This tactic had been very affective in the Malay majority areas in the Peninsular Malaysia, and the Dayak/Iban majority areas in Sarawak. This can be seen during the Hulu Selangor by-election in the Peninsular Malaysia,  and in Sibu-Sarawak by-election  which had just concluded recently.

In Sarawak for example , in the nine (9) Iban majority areas in Bawang Assan,  “promise the moon” tactics by BN had been very successfully in fishing for Ibans' vote.

In my posting today, I am going to concentrate on the effectiveness of the "promise to the moon" tactic by BN in the Iban majority areas during P212-Sibu by-election which was held last week, and also the Lubok Antu by-election held in April 2009.

Dayak Easily Cheated By BN’s “Promises the Moon”

How true is the above statement. Let's examine the result of the two by-elections held in Sarawak since the GE 12. First is the by-lection in Lubok Antu, second followed by the Sibu by-election, and thrdly the promises made by BN during their all year around campaign to the longhouses in their efforts to mentaining  the supports of the Iban.

1) Lubok Antu By-Election (6th April 2010)

Before the by-election, most of the political observers predicted that the chances for BN and PKR to win the by-election were at 50%-50%. But after promised with RM 80 millions worth of project they turned their supports to BN. This is the real mentality of our people in which we must and ought to find ways how to overcome them.  In the by-election, because of chawat mentality of the Iban voters in LA, BN had not only won the by-election but their majority was increased to 1,854 votes compared to the 860 votes that they won through late YB Dublin Unting.

2) Sibu by-election (22nd May 2010)

The just concluded Sibu by-election had also prooven that the  Iban are easily cheated or manipulated by BN. In Bawang Asan, for example, despite the intensified campaign made by the top Ibans' leadership in PR, but there were no significant increase in the number of votes secured by DAP/PR Candidate.

Of the ten (10)  polling centres, only three polling centres had the support of Iban voters to PR/DAP  increased whereas seven centres indicated that Iban votes to PR were declining.

According to the information recieved from the ground, the PR campaign teams to the long houses at the beginning were well recieved, but why was PR lost in the longhouses? Accordingb to the unconfirmed source, during the campaigns, BN had distributed an "ang pow" worth RM 600 per voters plus the distribution of the MRP projects to all the longhouses.

But the Chinese in Sibu who were also promised with worth millions of projects but majority of them still voted for DAP in the election?.

Why can't the Iban just followed what our Chinese friends in Sibu town  did, by taking their RM 600 "ang pow" but vote for PR. But the Iban in Bawang Assan had sold their dignities by throwing their votes to  BN.

3) Another Empty Promises By BN to Longhouse Folks

The longhouse where I came from is situated in N25-balai Ringin and P202. During their recent visit to the longhouse, YB Snowdan Lawan and YB Masir Kujat, had pledged the MRP grants to the longhouse totalling more than RM 75K, but until now nothing have been awarded to the longhouse.

Not only these two liar YBs, in 2008, Jabu the beloved CM blue eyes boy had also promised to provide gravel for Kpg Empaling, Isu and Gayau road worth more than RM 200K, but until now not even any single stone had been given by him. One of the JKKK committee members even suggested to start a "Liar Dumping" or Tugong Pemula for Jabu at Simpang Ubah as a punishment for his "promise the moon" ( Note: Tugong Pemula is a kind of punishment awarded to a  person who lied . Everyone who past by the dumping or tugong will throw what ever rubbish or wooden stick that one can found and throw them into the tugong while saying " bulak Jabu" ..Jabu for example is a name of a person that tell lie, in thisexample I used Jabu....)

How Important is the Iban Areas to PR

If PR is serious enough to taking over the government from BN in the coming state election in sarawak it must take the above weaknesses of the Iban seriously. Without winning the Iban majority areas, PR intention to wrest Sarawak from BN will be remained as a dream.

In order to win the Iban majority areas, another point to consider by PR is in the selection of candidate. The candidate of whose loyalty to the the party is questionable must not be choosen as a candidate. For example, one of the ex-YB who was not selected by his party to defend his sit in GE12 had recently joined the party,  in order to be selected as a candidate. After series of defection by party members in Peninsular, PKR must be matured enough in selecting it best candidates for the election

Conclusion

In order to take over Sarawak government from the Barisan Nasional, PR must first be able to win the Iban majority areas. In order to win the votes of the Iban, following problems that can influent their supports must be addressed ; easily manipulated and recieved bribe by BN , and to avoid  selecting candidate whose loyalty to the party and party leaders are questionable, i.e ex-BN YB that joined the party after he was kicked out by the BN, in order to be selected as a candidate. 

Mupok Aku

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

Politic Of Development Has Caused Iban Dayak to Live in Poverty:By Tunku Abdul Aziz

Kuching
Wednesday, 19th May 2010

Although I have in my travels seen abject poverty in such diverse places as Addis Ababa, Dhaka, Dar es Salaam, Kolkata, Mumbai and Manila, I must confess to a feeling of utter revulsion and anger when confronted by stark deprivation in our supposedly well-governed and prosperous Malaysia.

The pockets of rural poverty in the Malay heartlands of Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu are islands of prosperity compared to the scene that churned my stomach and assailed my sense of guilt and outrage when I first ventured into the Iban long houses on the majestic Rejang.

It is not enough that we have robbed them of their ancestral lands and impoverished them in the process, but we also felt constrained to strip them naked of any residual personal dignity that they might still have by introducing policies that have succeeded in reducing them to the fringes of mainstream economic life.

The Orang Asli tribes and the Orang Hulu, the Malays from the interior, have a great deal in common with their Dayak friends. For all we care, they are Malaysia’s forgotten people, but not quite. Whenever an election is underway, be it a by-election or a general election, they find themselves the centre of attention, in great demand by the rich and powerful, all claiming to love and care for them.

Before the day is out, they are the proud possessors of a handful of crisp 50 ringgit notes. Four or five hundred ringgit is a princely sum to them, a king’s ransom, no less, in exchange for their votes. If some of them have become cunning, manipulative supplicants and sacrificed their values for a fistful of ringgit, remember it is we who have corrupted them.

Is this what we call 1Malaysia..Without electricity, clean water and access road....???PM Najib must be kidding..People First is just another jokes from BN

Years of exposure to extreme poverty and unbridled exploitation have rendered many of these once proud and noble people, nature’s gentlemen, inured and insensitive to their own traditional values and value systems. They are reduced to living from hand to mouth, on handouts, from day to day.

What a tragedy to befall a people whose only sin is to trust those sworn to protect their native rights. They are bewildered to find themselves dispossessed, as their land is taken away without as much as “by your leave” for commercial exploitation by the towkay friends of the powerful.

Talking to many of them, the Ibans, I mean, I believe the only way we can restore their pride and dignity is by providing opportunities for regular employment. We are dealing with an ancient people with a distinctive culture. Even those among them whose lives have taken on an urban aspect continue to cling strenuously to their traditional practices. We who are strong have a duty to help the weak by not foisting on the Ibans and others our culture of corruption and other despicable practices.

Some years ago, an Indonesian anti-corruption activist friend of mine visited our country during the 11th general elections, as part of a privately funded election observer mission. His group spent a great deal of time in Sarawak and Sabah and told me that he was shocked by the scale of vote buying.

I was greatly embarrassed by his revelation because at an anti-corruption conference in The Hague at which I was invited to speak and he was a participant some two months earlier, I had said that while vote buying was rampant in party elections, the practice was unknown in general and state elections.

I was unbelievably naïve to believe the Barisan Nasional government propaganda. The scale of vote-buying must have been so massive as to shock my Indonesian anti-corruption fighter, used as he was to living and working in a corruption-infested nation. It is not that easy to shock an Indonesian over a corruption issue. But unlike Malaysia, Indonesia is on the mend as far as fighting corruption is concerned. In Malaysia, on the contrary, it is in indecently robust health.

Malaysia is blessed with rich natural resources and poverty as we have seen in Sabah, Sarawak, Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu can only be explained in terms of governance grounded on corruption and political excesses. When we look at the personal wealth accumulated by Chief Minister Taib of Sarawak at one extremity and the Ibans at the other, one begins to wonder what the future holds for Malaysia. I am not at all sanguine.

The thieving and plundering by those in power must stop because, as history tells us, it is only a matter of time before the forbearance of the long suffering poor takes on an ugly aspect, with consequences too dreadful to contemplate. The Government of Malaysia and the state governments of Sabah and Sarawak in particular can alleviate poverty by governing in the sole interest of the people. Najib’s people first is under close public scrutiny.

Mupok Aku

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

Dominique Ng and Chong Chieng Jien slapped with 12 months' suspension-An Act of retaliation By BN Over P212-Sibu By-Election Defeat

Kuching
Tuesday, 18th May 2010

Dominique Ng (PKR-Padungan) and Chong Chieng Jien (DAP-Kota Sentosa) were today slapped with 12 months' suspension from the state assembly, effective immediately, for contempt.

Barisan Nasional Assemblymen have been using the (Privileges and Powers) Ordinance 2007 since it approval by DUN in 2007. The main purposes ofbthe ordinance is to curb opposition's assemblymen from criticizing the BN government.  

I wrote about this last year.

The ruling means that this will be the two opposition assemblymen's last appearance at the current assembly as its term will officially end on July 24, 2011.

The Sarawak state assembly sits twice a year, with the first session starting in May and the second, in November, usually for state budget tabling.

YB Dominique Ng (PKR-Padungan)

Ng was the first to be suspended by State Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar after 53 assemblymen voted in favour of the suspension, seven against and one abstained.

He was suspended for his "kangaroo court" remark in May sitting last year during the debate on the motion to adopt the findings and recommendations of the Committee of Privileges regarding Wong Ho Leng (DAP-Bukit Assek).

Ng had said: "This is a kangaroo court. Let's count the kangaroos. Come hop, hop, hop."

Speaking to reporters soon after his suspension, Ng said he was disappointed with the ruling as it meant that he would not be able to voice out the problems of his constituency for a year and would have to wait for the new term of the new state government to begin.

YB Chong Chieng Jien (DAP-Kota Sentosa)

Later, Chong, who is Sarawak DAP secretary, received similar punishment after 54 assemblymen voted in favour of his suspension and six against.

Chong was found to be in contempt of the august house in May last year for disputing and challenging the decision of the house regarding the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) engaging Chinese experts to study the flood mitigation project for Kuching city.

The second charge aginst him was for imputing improper motives towards Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Department Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman for allegedly indirectly causing a Gambier street hawker to commit suicide.

Mupok Aku

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

BN Defeated By DAP In P212-Sibu By-Election

Sibu
Sunday, 16th May 2010

Congratulations to DAP

Despite being promised with projects worth millions of ringgit but the voters in Sibu humiliated BN by voting them out.

The result of the election was announced by Wong See Meng at 10.58PM.

The Official Result

1) Wong Ho Leng (DAP) - 18,845

2) Robert Lau Hui Yew(BN-SUPP) - 18,447

3) Narawi Haron (Ind.) - 232.

Spoiled Votes : 395

The result of this by-election signalled two things. First, the support by Chinese against DAP in Sarawak is increasing but no change in  bumiputeras as they  still supporting BN. Secondly, SUPP is losing its Chinese support-thus next state election they risk of losing all their  seats to DAP.

As for me the result indicates clearly that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) plan  to wrest Sarawak from BN in next state election is brighter. What PR need to do now is to concentrate on  the dayaks and Malay majority areas. Issues that effect them most  such as the NCR problem can be used to fish for their votes.

Let's work from now to prepare for the state election which will be held by next year! And to all the dayaks, let's learn from our Chinese friends by VOTING BN OUT!

Mupok Aku

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

Who is the First Lady of Malaysia

Kuching
Saturday, 8th May 2010



Hot News : Rosmah mansor Commted Treason!

Invitation Clearly addressed Rosmah Mansor as First Lady.. MENDERHAKA!

I am confused now with who is the right person to be called the first lady of Malaysia.

First lady mean someone who married the no 1 man in a country. In Malaysia, the number 1 man is supposed to be the Yang Di pertuan Agong, therefore  the first lady of Malaysia should be given to the Agong's wife.

But according to Malaysian Today report, Rosmah mansor has been addressed herself as the first lady of Malaysia. The latest ocassion where she has been addressed as the first lady was during her visit to USA recently accompanying her PM husband.

The invitation card dedicated for her was clearly written that Rosmah Mansor was a first lady of Malysia. 

Should Ghani Patail recommended for Rosmah Mansor prosecution for TREASON?

But this is Malaysia...............

Mupok Aku

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

PKR P202-SRI AMAN LAUNCH IT FACEBOOK

KUCHING
Monday, 26th April 2010

PKR P202-SRI AMAN

In it effort to win the support from the young and professional voters and members, PKR P-202 Sri Aman had launched it facebook on Monday, 26th April 2010.
With the launching of it Facebook, which is the most popular Social Networking Site, the party particularly in P202 will be able to attract more young voters or those below the age of 50 years to support the party struggle. So far the PKR P202-Sri Aman facebook has recieved few visitors even as far as the Peninsular.
For PKR party members in P202 they are encourage to visit and register themselves as member of the PKR P202-Sri Aman facebook. As for the other members from the other branches, their visits to PKR P202-Sri Aman facebook is very much appreciated.
Please click here for PKR P202-Sri Aman facebook

Mupok Aku

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

P212-SIBU By-Election A Show Case Between Sarawak DAP Chief and SUPP Sibu Assistant Treasurer

SIBU
Wednesday, 28th April 2010

In year 2008 General election Democratic Action Party (DAP) candidate was defeated by Sarawak United People Party (SUPP) with more than 3000 majority. In the election Richard Wong of DAP gannered 15903 votes compared to Datuk Robert Lau with 19138 total votes.

In the coming by-election Richard Wong of DAP is going to take on Robert Lau Junior as he is called by SUPP. Robert Lau junior real name is Robert Lau Hu Yiew. He is a second cousin to the late datuk Robert Lau.

Compare to year 2008 election, the coming by-election look much easier for Richard Wong. In the 2008 electionhe  fought Rober Lau who was very popular among the Sibuans. But in this coming election he is going to fight the novice politician who is not well known by the people of Sibu particularly among the Hawkers. So that the reason, since the demised of Datuk Robert Lau,Lau Junior accompanying by Datu Wong Soon Koh, has been visiting Sibu market almost everyday. His visits to the market were covered by his family newspaper the Borneo Post.

For Pakatan Rakyat, Sibu by-election is a vital ground for them to test their presence in Sarawak especially when the state election is approaching. The last time that they compete in the election in Sarawak was in April 2010, when their candidate ex-YB Jawah Gerang from PKR was defeated by Mussen Lamoh from Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).

To the voters in Sibu, please select your representative wisely. Remember that if you vote for SUPP candidate you may consider endosing Sibu to be controlled by Lau's clan.
I only have this for all of you, the voters in sarawak "Abandon SUPP and jump into our boat" by throw your VOTE FOR PAKATAN!

Mupok Aku

AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN

BN WIN IN HULU SELANGOR IN SMALLER MAJORITY COMPARED TO MAHYUDDIN PREDICTION

KUALA KUBU BAHARU
Sunday, 25th April 2010

"BE-END" PROUD MOMENT - WHO IS THE REAL CANDIDATE, IS IT KAMALANATHAN OR ROSMAH?

Barisan Nasional’s (BN) P Kamalanathan has won a hard-fought Hulu Selangor by-election in what will be seen as a boost for Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s administration, but Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is expected to take heart from the close margin.

BN won today’s poll by just 1725 votes, recouping spoilt votes which contributed to its defeat in Election 2008, but failing to convincingly bury a strong PR.

Earlier today, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had set a target of winning by up to 6,000 votes as observers had noted that BN needed to win big after pulling out all the stops during the campaign to justify Najib’s personal involvement and its pork-barrelled spending.

The ruling coalition had thrown everything and the kitchen sink at the campaign in an attempt to to put it on track to recovery after a string of by-election defeats since Election 2008.

BN had lost in all by-elections in the peninsular since 2008, except for its stronghold of Bagan Pinang in Negri Sembilan, which it retained in a by-election last October.

In today’s vote, Kamalanathan obtained 24,997 votes while Zaid received 23,272.

The results suggest BN and PR are still neck and neck in the battle for support from Malaysians, particularly in the peninsular.

PKR blames poor turnout on BN intimidation and hanky-panky

PKR has expressed disappointment in the poor voter turnout for the crucial polls today and blames it on Barisan Nasional’s (BN) steady intimidation on voters and hanky-panky in the electoral roll.

Besides the “illegal” change of voting stations for 13,488 voters in the large constituency, PKR said they have also received more than 50 complaints from voters who claim their names were suddenly removed from the electoral roll.

“We are still tallying the number of complaints we have received but it is safe to say that there are more than 50 of them,” PKR election director Fuziah Salleh told The Malaysian Insider.

She added that the practice of intimidation by rowdy BN supporters and dubious campaign methods employed by the BN faction had also caused a large portion of the electorate to shy away from today’s crucial polling.

“We cannot say for certain why this is happening... We are still wondering why ourselves. However, we believe that this was largely due to the politics of intimidation used by them,” she said.

As at the close of today’s polls, a total of 48,935 voters out of the total 64,500 voters or 75.8 per cent have cast their ballots.

While today’s voting process concluded successfully without overly violent clashes, the small voter turnout despite the importance of the heavily-publicised by-election comes as a surprise.

PKR views the election as crucial for it badly needs to patch up its tattered image as a solid opposition party in view of the spate of damaging defections that rocked the party of late.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the meantime has already labelled the by-election, the country’s tenth since Election 2008, as a referendum to his administration which has been embarking on a more liberalised stance.

The BN has pitched first-time candidate P. Kamalanathan against political heavyweight from PKR Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, who was formerly Umno’s Cabinet minister of law.

“According to our figures, the voter turnout in the Felda areas were a little less than 70 per cent. The Chinese that came out to vote were only about 75 per cent and for the Indian voters, the turnout in the estates were lower than those in the towns. For the Malays, only about 70 per cent turned out,” said Fuziah.

She pointed out that the PKR was suspicious of the method that the by-election was run, adding that in Serendah, the returning officers in three schools had refused to sign the Form 14 of the counting agents.

“By failing to sign, it means they can do anything they want with the forms and we cannot do anything to claim it was a fraud,” she said.

She added however that the PKR’s orders to all its counting agents was never to leave their posts until the forms were signed.

“We told them to lock themselves in the stations and never leave until the forms are signed. This is a matter of life and death,” she cautioned.

Meanwhile, early indication show that PKR may just have a chance to clinch the polls.

An observer told The Malaysian Insider that the poor voter turnout was largely due to the intimidating campaign style used by the BN to buy over support to their side.

“Maybe they are afraid to vote against the BN so they decided to take the goodies and stay away from the polls,” said the observer.

Former candidate V. S. Chandran told The Malaysian Insider that the BN would likely lose in areas like the Kerling polling district, Rasa and Kuala Kubu Bharu town.

“The sentiment in those areas are strong against the BN... people are unhappy with what happened before with our previous candidate,” he noted, in reference to MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel, who was the MP for Hulu Selangor for four terms since 1990.