This surprised even the opposition, who had to scramble, trying to form a government in the states they netted (the opposition now controls five states, up from the previous one they held). One thing clear though, the votes that swung significantly in the opposition’s way was not because the opposition was particular great: in fact, it is a case of strange bedfellows, with Chinese-dominated social-democratic Democratic Action Party (DAP), Malay-dominated, populist-liberal People’s Justice Party (PKR) and Islamist Pan-Malaya Islamic Party (PAS) under the Barisan Rakyat (People’s Front).

This is why I’m not as optimistic about Malaysia’s political future as many other commentators. The opposition is under a significant burden to perform not even the best of them could do, especially where states have little autonomy in Malaysia, no less when it comes to economic and racial issues in which the government lost significant support. One of the opposition’s rallying cry in my constituency was local elections (local governments are presently appointed by state governments) – something that requires federal support.

And in many ways, they kind of lost the first test. The DAP, for one, has to tightrope two expectations - not to seem to be bedfellows with Islamist PAS (which non-Muslims, especially Chinese, distrust heavily) yet on the other hand maintain opposition unity. And in Perak, PAS probably dealt an effective blow to DAP’s hopes in the following elections.

In states with Malay sultans, like Perak, the Mentri Besar (first minister) has to be Muslim bar a special waiver by the Malay ruler. Perak’s regent refused such a waiver, despite DAP being handily the biggest winner in Perak (all of DAP’s assemblymen are non-Muslims). A compromise candidate would be from somewhat-secular PKR, where the mentri besar for Perak’s southern neighbour, Selangor, came from. Instead, the regent appointed a PAS candidate.

More than hurting DAP, PAS hurt their chances too, especially if the mentri besar is incapable of maintaining the coalition. PAS instead now seems politically opportunistic - putting its name forward despite having a tiny representation in the state’s legislative assembly. Hopefully, PAS’ true colours would be apparent through this. This election, they drop their raison d’être (an Islamic state) from their campaign, trying to win moderate Muslim and non-Muslim vote.

PAS campaign shift also marked another troubling aspect of the opposition’s win – its populist campaign. Far too often, the opposition has used rising cost of living and principally, petrol prices, to show how the government has dropped the ball. Yet inflation seems to be a global phenomenon, something no amount of price controls would change.

Anwar Ibrahim, on the campaign trail, touted his record as finance minister in the 1990s in keeping petrol prices stable (petrol price is subsidized and controlled by the federal government) – not a particularly fantastic achievement considering global oil prices then. If anything, it was Anwar’s failure to wean Malaysia from its fuel subsidies when global prices were low and economy growing rapidly.

But Anwar sees this record as good enough reason to be Prime Minister sooner rather than later. While BN may have won a handy 30-seat majority in the federal Parliament, much of is thanks from East Malaysia’s disproportionally overrepresented Sabah and Sarawak states. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi repaid this by giving the two states scant representation in his Cabinet.

East Malaysia is no stranger to crossing the floor. 14 years ago, then-opposition Sabah People’s Party (PRS) won Sabah’s elections. Their state government, however, lasted for a mere two weeks as most PRS representatives crossed the floor to Barisan Nasional (few years later, the much smaller PRS joined the ruling coalition). Anwar Ibrahim, who becomes eligible for public office in mid-April, seems – at least to the rest of us – to be banking on this to make him Malaysia’s 6th prime minister.

It would be tad premature to elevate the opposition to government now. With the exception of Kelantan (which has been ruled by Islamist PAS since 1990), the opposition is just learning the ropes of governance. While Anwar may have experience in that department (seemingly questionable by some account), few others in the opposition do.

More than that, the backdoor way of getting into government will cast a pall over Barisan Rakyat’s future electoral chances – unless a new Barisan Rakyat government exceeds voter expectations in a global economic downturn. Yes, elections in authoritarian Malaysia is significantly skewed towards the ruling Barisan Nasional but kicking Barisan Nasional out not through the ballot box but by enticing disgruntled MPs to cross the floor would not go so well with Malaysians.

After all, Malaysians in the four new opposition-ruled states have greeted their new overlords with guarded and wary optimism. Let shell-shocked Malaysians deal with this Teutonic shift in political realities.

Perkara yang sama berlaku apabila diri ini pertama kalinya merentasi Lautan Pasifik yang luas. Sekali lagi perubahan berlaku dan rutin kehidupan dimusnahkan tanpa belas kasihan. Ketakutan menyelubungi tubuh memikirkan apa yang bakal didepani. Amat berbeza daripada Kuala Kangsar, di Amerika adalah satu masyarakat asing tetapi jauh lebih matang dan moden, tatkala dahulu terbiasa dengan satu dunia di bawah tempurung, di mana kita kononnya tuan. Tetapi diketahui, di sebalik perubahan itu wujud satu peluang untuk dikecapi. Perubahan itu harus ditempuhi. (more…)

“Yes, religion is important, but there is no point talking about religion when you cannot develop the people and the state, Khairy Jamaluddin said.

“PAS Tok Guru had run the state for a long time but did not know what was going on as he ‘privatises’ everything to Husam Musa.”

“So Husam is not accountable to anybody but Tok Guru and Tok Guru doesn’t understand what Husam is doing,” Khairy said.

These statements are mirror image of the speaker. It must have being his self-reflective attitude of which his unconscious mind must have said it out loud.

So, it could be read as: “Pak Lah had run the state for 4 long years but did not know what was going on as he ‘privately empowered everything to his son-in-law. His son-in-law id not accountable to anybody but the sleeping beauty and the sleeping beauty doesn’t understand what the toy boy is doing.

Yes, we now hear what is Islam Hadhari … there is no point talking about religion when you cannot develop the people and the state.

But I thought Islamic knowledge helps develop the people of the state and the people is the state, for without people, there is no state.

Fong Po Kuan decided to break up with us. We sent two of our buddies (LKS and LGE) to go and talk to her to try to get her to change her mind, and it looks as though they did try their best. But she remains firm… she thinks we should just be friends.

When we first heard the news, many of us were in denial. I can imagine hardcore DAP uncles across the country running repeatedly to their PCs to check for updates, desperately hoping to see that it was a miscommunication or something like that, then going back to the living room and bemoaning the situation to their wives and children who really have better things to do, but they lend an ear anyway.

Next came the rage against the machine various parties. Anger had been directed at DAP Perak for being a mess (3-way in Sg. Siput, now this?), LKS/LGE for not stabilizing the situation, and even at FPK herself for dropping this bombshell so close to the day.

Her repeated reassurances that her commitment to DAP remains came as a consolation prize readily accepted by those bargaining their way out of anger, so they can justify continued support for the party’s various campaigns.

But then the reality of the timing of this wipes out whatever consolation we may have gotten out of her continued commitment to the party. If she felt the relationship didn’t have a good future together that’s fine, it’s just that breaking up with us now, so close to the big game… leaves us with depressed feelings about the game itself.

But in truth, the Malaysian electorate is not that emotional, and although FPK was the darling of the nation (in particular the younger lot) her impact on the election beyond Batu Gajah would not be tremendous. The young lot are pretty much voting opposition anyway. She’s made her choice; the timing could have been better obviously, but who knows what is in her heart… for her to hold on until now, she must have *really* wanted to stay on, but in the end a Batu Gajah seat defense simply did not materialize, for reasons that I doubt we will know of until at least March 9th 2008.

But the thing that we really need to accept is the messy internal politicking prevalent in the DAP. The DAP’s weakness is not an ideological one or a lack of ability to generate solid world-class policies, and I even suspect that Malay voters (urban in particular) are less antagonistic towards DAP now (a theory that we would be able to test with the election outcome this year, based on the election results from different polling areas)… the problems are all to do with form rather than substance. Dr Hsu has even gone so far as to suggest that had this problem not been so rampant within the party, Malaysia would be a two-party system by now.

Be that as it may, the choice for voters is still clear. If this election was one to select a government, then there would be legitimate reason to view the DAP with scorn because it would be prudent to question if it can provide a stable government. But for now, that’s not an option on the table… in my opinion even breaking 2/3rds majority is not on the table… what is on the table is crossing the psychological 45% popular vote threshold, which is less than the popular vote secured by the opposition in 1969, but more than in 1999. The effect of that will be a genuine change in national policies and direction, and even if that doesn’t get the message through, it will provide the opposition with much needed cash (MPs and ADUNs give a piece of their income to their parties to organize research groups, newspapers, common campaign materials etc) to develop into a genuine alternative. This would require significant support for DAP, PKR, and PAS.

As for the DAP in particular, a big win in my mind would be if one of it’s Malay candidates gets into Parliament.

This from our Prime Minister: (bold, my 2 cents take)

“Please trust us – we are your government. (Not for long we pray.)If you look at the economy, we are doing well. That is a fact proven by figures.(4th floor figures?)But people still claim otherwise because of increasing prices. (which will jettison after elections, unless BN is ousted).This is a very simplistic way of analysing the economy. (Simpleton’s way or simplistic way?)

“Nobody is happy to see prices rising (Stop fibbing…Petronas oil barons, not happy?) but this is out of our control(so says you). The question is not how to bring down prices but how to help the rakyat cope. (with pre-election freebies ? Najib says 40,000 houses will be built….WILL BE….if BN wins?)

“Every country in the world is faced with rising oil prices except maybe Brunei (scroll down and we prove you wrong)but you cannot compare (then on what basis can we compare). The RM40bil oil subsidy we give out can be used to build better schools, roads, hospitals and infrastructure (like all your corridors ….whilst corridors of poverty fringe all states in the country) but we don’t want to burden the people,”(but you burdened us when you give “soft loans” to resuscitate failed projects by your government people) he said, adding that education and medical treatment was also heavily subsidised by the Government.(that my dear PM is the duty of any elected government….so stop bringing this up during election time!)

“We subsidise even water and electricity, yet people are angry when they hear the word ‘toll’. We try to subsidise as much as possible but we still need to impose toll charges because we need to build roads,” (why dont you put aside the OSA and reveal to us how much the concessioners are making….if you have nothing to hide…..we protest because you cannot come clean with this revelation.)

Anyway, here is some bedtime reading for the very hard working PM:

Prices of oil around the world (by litres and USD):

Norway (6.82); London (5.96); Rome (5.80); Brussels (6.16); Hong Kong (6.25); Japan(5.25); Brazil(4.42); Buenos Aires (2.03); Mexico City (2.22);Sydney (3.42); Johannesburg (3.39); New Delhi (3.71)……and here is the SHOCKER!!!!!

CARACAS (O.12)
KUWAIT (0.78)
RIYADH (0.91)

Let us do some simple calculation here. [below measurement is taken from internet metric converter, so no doubt on the figure given]
1 Barrel = 158.98756 Liters
1 Barrel = RM 217.62 (as at today, 1 barrel is USD62 & 1USD=RM3.51)
1 Liter = RM 1.36878
In Malaysia 1 Liter = RM1.92 & government call this as SUBSIDY ??? !!!!

The fact is we are subsidizing the government for RM0.55 per liter!!!!!

SHOULD ANYONE FEEL THAT THESE FIGURES ARE PLUCKED FROM THE BRIGHT MALAYSIAN SKY, I STAND CORRECTED.
BUT THE BIG QUESTION IS: WHO IS SUBSIDIZING WHOM?

19 hours ago AP reported:

Light, sweet crude for March delivery rose 40 cents to $95.90 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by midday in Europe.

The Nymex crude contract rose 4 cents Friday to settle at $95.50 a barrel after alternating frequently between positive and negative territory. Oil prices have risen more than $8 in little more than a week.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi condemned those Indians who wanted to sent roses to him. He said they are illegals and are holding a Hindraf rally.

So far, we had observed, the prime minister had accepted flowers and roses from Puteri UMNO and some other women.

We don’t know why the prime minister had conjured the present intention of the Indians as something sinister. Is it the Indian thing?

No, it’s not the Indian thing. The reason is, it spoilt his mood.

Inspirasi dah sampai, NST exclaims. This gathering to present the PM the red and yellow roses must have spoilt his mood and hurt his inspiration. He may never had another inspiration again, just like those emotional stress encountered by dysfunction sexual partners.

Those Indians should have sent the flowers through Samy Vellu or Michelle Yeoh or Puteri UMNO. I’m sure the PM would have accepted it.

But the Indians chose to sent it themselves. They even applied for a police permit to gather as a group to meet the prime minister. But the police would not grant the permit because they have sinister feelings, just like the PM’s feelings. As such, the gathering becomes illegal, not because it is illegal, but because it was made illegal.
Why did the PM and police thinks the flower presentation is bad?

Because the PM thinks these Indians are bad for polls; that it was a mockery to the democratic process.

But democratic process means the people have rights of expression and rights to assemble peacefully?

The PM don’t think so. To him, democratic process means citizens must agree with whatever the government and the ruling party do and act. It include agreeing to what the PM thinks, and what he desires, which he thinks is good. For example, he thinks his MPs are clean, therefore we must accept his MPs as clean; he thinks the police and ACA are efficient and clean, we must also agree. He thinks Lingham is drunk and mad, we also will agree. He thinks there’s no corruption and his children did not benefit enough as yet, we also will agree. He thinks and that’s why he sleeps at meetings and conferences, and we must understand that he is not sleeping but thinking in his sleep which is still thinking, and not sleeping. So, please don’t think he sleeps; he’s thinking in his sleep, and that’s thinking, not sleeping. 

Universally, elections are a symbol of change. As Malaysia hurries towards a 12th General Elections come March 8, calls for change ring loud and clear but for those who listen.

People rarely vote for stagnation, continued failures, or a dictator for that matter. People vote for progress, change, and new directions when old ploys just do not work.

For Obamacans in the USA, which is building up to her 56th presidential elections, change is something they believe in, something real. (more…)

There is clearly much truth to this matter, but it began to occur to me that perhaps being treated like 2nd class citizens is largely a symptom of behaving like 2nd class citizens.

Much has been said about the migrant mentality. How, for instance, the Chinese care most about survival, earning a living and making sure we don’t rock the boat. (more…)

Not going to take the words of the Devil anymore? But many others would still do.
“So, what difference can you make?” The cynic in you asks.

Making meaningful changes in politics is far more easier and safer than many people imagined.

Here is one way that you can make a difference by staying at home. Your weapon to advance the cause for clean, free and fair elections? Just your television and video recorder (VHS/VCD/DVD).

(photo: wikipedia)

Do you remember Tengku Razaleigh’s Kadazan headwear that cost him perhaps the premiership? The newspapers and television showed the images again and again into the voters’ mind.

(Those were the days of Wan Zaleha, whose picture was chosen here just to refresh our memories of the 80s and the 90s, not to implicate or suggest that she has played any active role in those spinning.)

Media, especially the broadcasting media, in Malaysia are highly monopolized. All free-to-view private television channels - TV3, NTV7, 8TV and TV9 - are owned by Media Prima, which is in turn controlled by UMNO.

You can expect these channels to be very biased. RTM too is unlikely to remember the fact that at least 36% of its funders are opposition supporters that it has a duty to provide fair reporting.

What can we do?

We can gather evidence of their bias, document it and even measure it.

In 2004, according to a study by a media scholar Wong Kok Keong, 73% of news items on TV1 prime time English news, 64% on TV3 and 53% on NTV7 were focused on or positive towards the BN.

Why? What differences does media monitoring make?

Firstly, it provides pressure on the media outlets. Hard evidences embarrass them that they may be forced to at least appear a bit more professional.

Secondly, it may enlightens the voters that the news they receive from TVs are confirmed - scientifically if you like - to be biased. This reduces the credibility of the biased outlets. Measurement allows the public to differentiate different media outlets by their degree of bias and to penalize them via moral sanction or boycott accordingly.

Thirdly, it serves as the basis for long term reform. The more hard evidence of media biases are collected, the more powerful the advocacy for media reform will be. Reform is a marathon, not a 100-meter sprinting. If you want reform, you must collect as much hard evidence as possible.

How? Can I do it?

Yes, you can. As said in the beginning of the post, all you need is a TV set, a Video Recorder and you. Charter2000-Aliran, CIJ and WAMI are working to do media monitoring for the coming elections. If you are willing to help, we will provide simple training. Since we are recording the news clips, the actual rating/coding can be done later if there are uncertainties.

If allowed by resources, the monitoring groups may issue a daily report with figures on media reporting in the previous day. So we will have something like a next-day index. And of course, individual monitors can publish their qualitative comments at the media monitor website and their own blogs.

What? How many television channels are we targeting?

We would like to aim as many (channels and languages) as possible but we are realistic. It would be great if you can help us to monitor one TV news programme a day which normally would not take more than one hour.

It is a very small investment of your time and effort but we would need some commitment. Selective monitoring will have little credibility so our volunteers must commit their time throughout the 2-3 weeks (beginning on the dissolution of the parliament or its announcement, ending on the polling day).

That’s all? Really?

Yes, it’s just that simple. You can remain anonymous (to the public) if you like.

Making a difference by sitting at home, no rain, no traffic jam.

And 10 years down the road, you may point to professional TV news and tell your children, nephews, nieces, grandchildren proudly: “I helped bringing about the changes.”

So, would you put your TV and Video Recorder up to make a difference?

Would you like to be part of the history like many unsung heroes who “contribute a verse” of their own when “the powerful play goes on”?

Would you seize the weeks that come only once every 4-5 years?

If you would, drop a comment or write to me at chinhuatw@gmail.com.

I’m frankly pretty tired. I just want it over and done with. Unlike America with their state preliminaries and presidential elections where you get to know the candidate and party well, here it is just feel-good Barisan Nasional brainwashing every single day in the newspapers.

I have been following the American 2008 elections recently with what little free time I had and Democrat presidential candidate Obama Barack was inspiring when he spoke about hope at his party’s convention in Washington. I haven’t heard anything remotely inspiring from any of our politicians. Not from BN and not from the opposition.

(more…)