Hoi beruk, anjing, babi ! (Bhg 1dari 4 bhg)

(Ucapan Dato’ Ibrahim Ali di Dewan Rakyat pada 19 Feb 2009)

Tuan Yang di-Pertua, pertamanya saya ingin mengingatkan diri saya dahulu Titah Ucapan Diraja, Ke Bawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku mengingatkan akan perilaku Ahli-ahli Dewan Rakyat supaya menjaga martabat Dewan Rakyat, baik dari segi perbahasan ataupun apa jua perbuatan supaya kita dipandang mulia di sisi masyarakat sebagai sebuah institusi yang dipertanggungjawab untuk mengurus hal ehwal negara.

Tuan Yang di-Pertua, dalam Titah Ucapan Diraja, yang ringkas tetapi padat, saya turut menjunjung kasih apabila Ke Bawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Agong kita telah menekankan antara lain membangkitkan soal asas Perlembagaan, peranan bloggers yang tidak bertanggungjawab dan suka membuat fitnah dan cerita-cerita sensasi, ingatan kita kepada Ahli-ahli Parlimen dan menyentuh soal kedudukan ekonomi negara.

Saya tidak bercadang untuk mengambil kesempatan dalam perbahasan ini dengan hasrat ataupun niat untuk menunjukkan kita sebagai juara ataupun hendak menunjukkan akan kebenaran kita semata-mata. Saya hendak simpulkan dalam mukadimah ini dahulu Tuan Yang di-Pertua saya sudah pun masuk usia 58 tahun...

Seorang Ahli: Hendak pencen sudah.

Dato' Ibrahim Ali [Pasir Mas]: Diamlah. Kalau kita hendak pencen, kita dahulu pencen. Jangan kata kat orang. Saya juga adalah bekas pemimpin pelajar yang melibatkan diri tidak baru dan mengikuti perkembangan negara dan mengenali pemimpin-pemimpin ini daripada dekat.

[Timbalan Yang di-Pertua (Datuk Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar) mempengerusikan Mesyuarat]

Saya simpulkan kadang-kadang Tuan Yang di-Pertua lima kali dua sepuluh, lima kali dua sepuluh. Kata dulang paku serpih, kata orang kita yang lebih. Jadi Tuan Yang di-Pertua, dalam soal isu yang dibangkitkan oleh Ke bawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Yang di-Pertuan Agong mengenai dengan asas perlembagaan yang saya percaya timbulnya masalah ganggu-gugat termasuklah kemuliaan institusi Raja-raja Melayu berlarutan daripada kenyataan yang
dikeluarkan oleh Majlis Raja-raja Melayu sebelum ini. Kemudian beberapa haru baru-baru ini kita melihat kenyataan yang dibuat oleh Ke Bawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Selangor yang saya percaya dirujuk kepada perkara-perkara yang sedang berlaku di mutakhir ini. Akan tetapi apabila perkara-perkara ini berbangkit sekarang ini maka timbullah cerita-cerita lalu.

Pada saya mudah sahaja, sesiapa yang menderhaka kepada Raja tidak kira Barisan Nasional, tidak kira pihak PR, saya sendiri pun kena turut dipertanggungjawabkan. Masalah sekarang ini tuduh-menuduh di antara satu sama lain. Jadi bila tuduh-menuduh di antara satu sama lain apabila saya mendengar ucapan sesetengah Ahli Yang Berhormat termasuklah Ketua Pembangkang saya menyimpulkan pepatah Melayu mengatakan kuman di seberang lautan kita nampak, gajah di depan mata kita tidak nampak. Waktu kita berada dalam kerajaan dengan menikmati kedudukan dan kemuliaan kita tidak nampak kezaliman-kezaliman berlaku malah kita turut mempertahankan kezaliman itu. Apabila kita hilang jawatan maka kita nampaklah kezaliman itu kerana kita yang menanggung dan jatuh di atas batang hidung kita sendiri.

Jadi Tuan Yang di-Pertua, yang kasihannya ialah rakyat. Rakyat yang tidak tahu apa-apa yang menanti kepimpinan daripada kita semua. Inilah harapan rakyat tetapi politik yang berlaku sekarang ini sampai turut menjejas Institusi Raja. Dalam banyak perkara bukan sahaja soal apa yang berlaku di Perak, kenyataan-kenyataan sehinggalah kata-kata. Saya hendak berkongsi dengan Ahli-Ahli Yang Berhormat dan sesetengah ahli yang tidak tahu adat berbahasa ini. Apabila kita membuat kenyataan-kenyataan dengan pihak akhbar ataupun seumpamanya bila kita merujuk kepada Institusi Raja, dia ada bahasanya kalau kita reti adat Melayu ini di mana langit dijunjung di situ bumi dipijak. Kita berbahasa patik. Bila kita sentuh batang tubuh Ke Bawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja-Raja Melayu kita kena sebut Ke bawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku ataupun Baginda Tuanku. Tidak boleh perkataan dia. Kita tidak akan saman dia di mahkamah. Bahasa itu adat itu. Ada budayanya.

Ini yang saya percaya yang dimaksudkan oleh Ke bawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong termasuklah peristiwa-peristiwa yang sedang berlaku tuduh menuduh di antara satu sama lain. Tak apalah ringkasnya. Dalam ucapan Ketua Pembangkang tadi dalam menyentuh isu Perlembagaan yang paling besar yang saya hendak rujuk ialah dengan mengaitkan pula sekarang ini tentang ucapan. Saya percaya dia rujuk kepada mantan Perdana Menteri pada 18 Jun 1993 waktu pindaan Perlembagaan bersabit dengan kekebalan Raja-raja. Kemudian disentuh soal kedudukan bahasa dan saya agak senang hati dan menyambut baik apabila Ketua Pembangkang mengatakan kalau boleh perkara ini dipinda. Kalau tidak silap saya dengar tadi. Saya pun sama. Waktu pindaan ini saya tidak ada dalam Kabinet. Saya bukan anggota Kabinet. Ada pihak lain yang menjadi anggota Kabinet. Kalau ini yang dikatakan tidak betul kenapa waktu itu tidak dibantah. Sebab apa, kerana waktu itu aku menjadi Timbalan Perdana Menteri. [Tepuk]

Sebab itu saya tidak suka kepada manusia yang bercakap tidak serupa bikin. Sifat ketelusan kepura-puraan ini yang saya cukup benci. Saya cukup meluat Tuan Yang di-Pertua. Maka sebab itu Tuan Yang di-Pertua saya ingin mencadangkan...

Beberapa Ahli Pembangkang: [Menyampuk]

Dato' Ibrahim Ali [Pasir Mas]: Dengarlah orang bercakap ini! Lepas itu hendak cakap, cakaplah. Sebab itu Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya ingin mengusulkan kalau betul kita mahu mendaulatkan Institusi Raja walaupun ia dibuat di zaman mantan Perdana Menteri saya ingin mencadangkan supaya Ketua Pembangkang membawa usul persendirian sama-sama kita meminda balik undang-undang bagi mengembalikan kuasa Raja-raja Melayu. Apabila undang-undang dilulus di Parlimen ianya tidak akan menjadi undang-undang sehingga mendapat kelulusan Raja walaupun selepas 30 hari. Saya menyokong kerana dahulu saya tidak bersetuju walaupun waktu itu saya turut menjadi anggota Barisan Nasional. Jangan kita bercakap tidak serupa bikin. Hanya kita hendak menangguk di air keruh sekadar untuk menunjuk dan menutup segala kelemahan kita dengan kelingking yang semua orang nampak. Orang macam saya nampak, orang lain mungkin tidak nampak.

Jadi ini pokoknya. Saya sokong. Sama juga dengan isu PPSMI, pengajaran Bahasa Inggeris untuk mata pelajaran Matematik dan Sains. Enam tahun dahulu waktu dibuat tak ada siapa yang membantah, kementerian yang menganjur. Tak ada siapa yang membantah termasuk tokoh-tokoh bahasa, termasuk anggota kabinet. Saya waktu itu pun tidak ada dalam Dewan ini. Hari ini menjadi kecoh. Rujuk kepada perlembagaan di bawah fasal 152(1). Dalam fasal 153 Bahasa Melayu sebagai bahasa kebangsaan dan 152(1) mengatakan segala urusan rasmi kerajaan hendaklah di dalam Bahasa Melayu dan pihak GAPENA telah membuat laporan polis. Patutnya laporan polis ini dibuat enam tahun dahulu tapi tak apa baru dibuat.

Jadi saya hendak minta penjelasan dengan pihak kerajaan waktu menjawab nanti dari segi undang-undang apakah tafsiran undang-undang aliran bahasa mengajar di sekolah-sekolah juga merupakan urusan rasmi kerajaan. Kalau tafsiran ia mengatakan urusan rasmi kerajaan, tak payah kaji lagi sudah. Terus mesti diubah kepada Bahasa Melayu untuk mengajar Bahasa Inggeris, Hisab dan lain-lain mata pelajaran, tidak boleh dibuat dengan bahasa-bahasa lain.

Sebab itu Perlembagaan dan itulah asas Perlembagaan. Kalau tafsirnya begitu. Kalau tafsirnya begitu tak payah lagi dikaji sebab itu kehendak Perlembagaan tetapi kalau ianya bukan kehendak perlembagaan, tafsirnya tidak ada kena-mengena dengan bahasa apa yang kita hendak guna untuk mengajar di sekolah-sekolah maka pertimbangkan dari segi baik buruknya.

Saya juga berpendapat dari segi soal bahasa jiwa bangsa, bahasa mengenal bangsa, mendaulatkan bangsa memang saya pun di situ tetapi yang saya hairannya semua yang buat bising sebahagian besarnya dahulu semua terlibat dan hari ini menjadi isu politik dan masa depan anak-anak bangsa kita jangan kita politikkan. Jangan kita politikkan untuk mencari keuntungan parti politik masing-masing. Yang penting ialah masa depan negara, masa depan anak kita, tetapi asas Perlembagaan menjadi panduan. Kalau Perlembagaan mengatakan demikian, ditafsirkan demikian maka kita mesti ikut apa kata Perlembagaan – full stop!

Samalah kita dalam umat Islam kalau dalam al-Quran itu jelas, tidak boleh dibahaskan lagi, begitu jua hadis yang sahih tidak boleh dibahas lagi. Tidak payah kita kaji ada jawatankuasa mendengar pandangan atau seumpamanya; tapi kalau ia tidak tertakluk di bawah Perlembagaan seperti yang saya maksudkan tadi saya ingin mencadangkan cara penyelesaiannya. Ia ialah hendak meminta Kementerian Pelajaran buat referendum, mini referendum sebab ada PIBG, ada sekolah-sekolah. Dapatkanlah laporan sebenarnya daripada ibu bapa dan pandangan rakyat dan buat keputusan kepada asas proses demokrasi. Walaupun saya masih lagi berpendirian, bahawasanya saya juga turut dengan pendirian supaya pengajaran Ilmu Hisab dan Sains ini dalam bahasa Melayu. Walaupun ia buat dalam zaman Yang Berhormat Dr. Mahathir mantan Perdana Menteri dulu, walaupun orang kata saya ini penyokong kuat kepada mantan Perdana Menteri, ada yang saya setuju ada yang saya tidak setuju. Saya nyatakan pendirian saya dengan jelas. Cuma yang saya bangkitkan hipokrasi, kadang-kadang sifat munafik sesetengah pihak; ada waktu setuju, ada waktu tidak setuju. Ada waktu kata, ada waktu menguntungkan kita, kita setuju. Ada waktu tidak menguntungkan kita, kita tidak setuju. Sifat munafik inilah yang saya paling jijik dan benci sekali. [Tepuk]

Tuan Yang di-Pertua, sebab isu-isu ini membabitkan kepentingan agama, bangsa dan negara. Samalah juga dengan asas Perlembagaan, kemuliaan kedudukan Raja-Raja Melayu. Tadi ketua pembangkang membaca framework Almarhum Tunku Abdul Rahman, tetapi yang diambilnya dan ditekankan dalam perbahasaan ialah masalah kebebasan suara rakyat. Bahagian akhir itu tetapi bahagian depan tidak disebut kerana hendak justified dengan apa yang berlaku sekarang. Kita tengok di negara Thailand, bagaimana adab sopan santunnya rakyat Thailand dengan Raja mereka. Sekarang ini timbul macam-macam fitnah. Macam-macam fitnah, tetapi siapa yang rugi? Kita sudah tahu, kita sudah merdeka 50 tahun, negara berjalan dengan aman, pemimpin naik turun. Ada yang kena pecat, ada yang kena macam-macam hal. Saya pun kena gugur dulu! Kita lawan secara politik tapi ada adab, ada peraturannya. Akan tetapi kerana cita-cita kita seorang, kita hendak rosakkan semua sekali dan menuding dan menyalahkan orang 100% kononnya kitalah seorang yang bersih. Itulah satu pembohongan yang paling besar. [Tepuk]

Itu pandangan saya, saya tanggung. Kalau inilah kenyataan saya tidak betul, kalau itulah satu dosa, saya tanggung dosa itu. Ini adalah sebab saya turut terlibat. Saya tahu dan saya tidak tahan lagi melihat apa yang berlaku sekarang ini. Nasib baiklah alhamdulillah, belum lagi teruk tetapi akan sampai ke arah itu. Semua ini ialah kerana perebutan kuasa. Rakyat pula ikut sahaja dan rakyat pula dia akan tengok siapa yang pandai bercakap, siapa yang petah bercakap. Duduk di padang yang besar, duduk di dalam gelap, duduk di bawah pokok, saya pun pandai bercakap. Kadang-kadang saya pun boleh juga pusing kepala bercakap. Semua orang pandai bercakap. Apatah lagi yang hebat bercakap. Akan tetapi rakyat tidak tahu. Rakyat hanya menilai kepada percakapan, kepada pidato. Akhir sekali kebenaran belum tentu betul. Maka rakyat membuat keputusan. Inilah yang membimbangkan saya.

Saya cukup risau dan runsing Tuan Yang di-Pertua. Kes-kes yang disebut dalam perbahasan tadi; masalah demokrasi yang dikait dengan jenayah, memang betul. Kalau betul kita turut mendukung. Akan tetapi kita pun membuat kecuh. Kita cuba hendak lari daripada hakikatnya. Jadi sebab itu kadang-kadang kita tidak boleh hormat. Oleh sebab itu, saya hendak minta dan menyeru rakyat Malaysia dengan rendah hati kepada rakyat Malaysia demi masa hadapan Malaysia. Nilai seseorang pemimpin bukan hanya duduk kepada kepetahan bercakap. Nilai dan kemuliaan seseorang pemimpin kena lihat perilaku. Perilaku itu penting, sejarah itu penting sebab dari segi soal lemah atau tidak lemah, buruk atau tidak buruk, kita manusia bukan maksum, Tuan Yang di-Pertua. Kita bukan rasul, kita bukan nabi. Memang setiap pemimpin ada kelebihan dia, ada kelemahan dia, ada cacat-cela dia. Tidak ada sesiapa yang sempurna. Akan tetapi jangan kita meletakkan segala-galanya. Tahu semua yang salah.

Saya juga tidak bertujuan untuk mempertahankan mantan Perdana Menteri. Saya katakan tadi yang saya tidak setuju, saya tidak bersetujulah. Saya hendak supaya kedudukan kemuliaan Raja-raja Melayu, kuasa Raja-raja Melayu yang dahulunya walaupun kita berdasarkan demokrasi berparlimen dan Raja Berperlembagaan. Walaupun undang-undang diluluskan di Parlimen, ia tidak akan menjadi undang-undang selagi mana tidak ditandatangani oleh Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Ini saya bersetuju supaya dipinda balik. Itu zaman mantan Perdana Menteri dahulu. Sewaktu saya berucap dahulu pun saya mengatakan demikian juga, konsisten dalam bab ini demi memanjangkan kemuliaan.

Akan tetapi sekarang ini apa sudah jadi? Saya bercakap terang-terang, kalau ada bangsa asing. Bukan orang Melayulah. Maaf, bukan orang Melayu. Kalau ada pihak-pihak yang bukan orang Melayu, saya bercakap terus-terang. Kalau ada orang-orang seumpama ini, dari
segi tutur bahasanya menyebut nama-nama baginda dengan cara yang tidak betul. Memang
saya terasa, saya terasa.

Tuan N. Gobalakrishnan [Padang Serai]: Tuan Yang di-Pertua...

Dato’ Ibrahim Ali [Pasir Mas]: Saya tidak bagi jalan, masa tidak ada. Tidak payahlah bahas. Hendak jawab, jawablah nanti.

Tuan N. Gobalakrishnan [Padang Serai]: Saya minta diperbaiki itu bangsa asing.

Dato’ Ibrahim Ali [Pasir Mas]: Tidak payah, tidak payah. Saya kata saya tidak bagi. Saya tidak pernah ganggu orang bercakap. Ini waktu saya bercakap, dengarlah. Kalau hendak jawab, jawablah.

Tuan N. Gobalakrishnan [Padang Serai]: Tidak ada, tidak. Bahasa itu kurang sopan.

Dato’ Ibrahim Ali [Pasir Mas]: Masa mana kurang sopan?

Tuan N. Gobalakrishnan [Padang Serai]: Apa itu bangsa asing?

Dato’ Ibrahim Ali [Pasir Mas]: Apa salahnya saya kata bangsa asing?

Tuan N. Gobalakrishnan [Padang Serai]: Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya minta dia tarik kerana...

Dato’ Ibrahim Ali [Pasir Mas]: Saya kata bangsa asing. Apa itu salah bangsa asing?

Tuan N. Gobalakrishnan [Padang Serai]: Itu adalah satu kesalahan Tuan Yang di-
Pertua.

Dato’ Ibrahim Ali [Pasir Mas]: Saya kata bangsa asing, apa...

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar]: Jangan buat
keputusan sendiri Yang Berhormat Padang Serai, duduklah.

Dato’ Ibrahim Ali [Pasir Mas]: Biar saya buat penjelasan Tuan Yang di-Pertua kerana
saya hendak rujuk...

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar]: Duduk Yang
Berhormat. Saya dengar ucapan Yang Berhormat Pasir Mas.

Dato’ Ibrahim Ali [Pasir Mas]: Dengar dahulu!

Tuan N. Gobalakrishnan [Padang Serai]: [Bercakap tanpa pembesar suara]

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar]: Saya dengar
Yang Berhormat.

Tuan N. Gobalakrishnan [Padang Serai]: Saya tidak bersetuju dengan apa yang dia
cakap.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar]: You tidak
setuju, duduk cakap tidak setuju.

Dato’ Ibrahim Ali [Pasir Mas]: Nanti saya bagi penjelasan.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar]: Duduk Yang
Berhormat.

Dato’ Ibrahim Ali [Pasir Mas]: Saya maksud bangsa asing Tuan Yang di-Pertua macam orang-orang asing, reporters luar negara. Ini yang kita kata bangsa asing. [Disampuk] Tak retikah? Ini yang saya katakan bangsa asing dan juga orang-orang bukan Melayu seperti saya.

Tuan N. Gobalakrishnan [Padang Serai]: [Menyampuk]

Dato’ Ibrahim Ali [Pasir Mas]: Itu sahaja maksud saya!

Tuan N. Gobalakrishnan [Padang Serai]: Inilah! Tadi you gunakan perkataan ‘munafik’. Ha, kamu munafik sekarang ini. [Dewan riuh]

Dato’ Ibrahim Ali [Pasir Mas]: Saya tidak ada, saya kata perkataan umum. Saya tidak sebut sesiapa pun melainkan saya katakan umum. Ini soal prinsip perbahasan umum. Kamu jangan kurang ajar! [Tepuk] Hei Bangsat! Kamu jangan kurang ajar!

Tuan N. Gobalakrishnan [Padang Serai]: Pasir Mas kurang ajar, Tuan Yang di-Pertua.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar]: Yang Berhormat!

Dato’ Ibrahim Ali [Pasir Mas]: Orang Melayu masih majoriti di negara ini.

Tuan N. Gobalakrishnan [Padang Serai]: Kita tidak pernah pertikaikan itu. Kita tidak pernah pertikaikan!

Dato’ Ibrahim Ali [Pasir Mas]: Ya, betul!

Tuan N. Gobalakrishnan [Padang Serai]: Kita bersetuju bahawa...

Dato’ Ibrahim Ali [Pasir Mas]: Betul!

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar]: Yang Berhormat Padang Serai, tadi saya cakap duduk. Tak payah dulu.

Tuan N. Gobalakrishnan [Padang Serai]: Tuan Yang di-Pertua...

Dato’ Ibrahim Ali [Pasir Mas]: Dengar dalam konteks apa yang saya maksudkan. [Disampuk] Jangan terasa. Makan cili, kita rasa pedas. Saya tidak pernah ganggu orang. Saya ambil ingatan Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong. [Disampuk] So, don’t try to provoke tak tentu pasal. [Disampuk]

Tuan N. Gobalakrishnan [Padang Serai]: [Bangun][Menyampuk]

bersambung ke Bhg 2....

Youth vote: BN losing battle to opposition

Thursday, 22 January 2009 08:23
The Straits Times

It was bad enough for Barisan Nasional to lose the Kuala Terengganu seat, but even worse news for the ruling coalition is that voting patterns show more young people are leaning towards the opposition.

Detailed voting data from last Saturday's Kuala Terengganu by-election shows BN has lost the most support from among those aged below 35.

This group includes youth from BN's traditional voter base. While the Chinese in the Terengganu constituency continued to show steadfast support for BN, the area's youth preferred the conservative Pas.

“We are on a rising tide,” said opposition DAP MP Tony Pua.

Some 25 to 30 per cent of Malaysian voters are expected to be below 35 by the next general election, due in 2013, said political analyst Ong Kian Ming.

Another concern for BN is that the younger generation did not mind voting for Pas, whose Islamic ideology traditionally appeals more to the older generation.

BN won the seat in Kuala Terengganu, or KT, in the general election in March last year partly because many young voters there had shunned Pas.

But the tide seems to be turning now. Pas won the KT by-election with a credible majority of 2,631 votes. And according to Ong, the level of support for BN fell the most among those below 35. It dropped by 4.4 percentage points, against a fall of less than two points for other age groups.

“This is significant when one considers the larger number of unregistered but eligible voters in Malaysia,” he said.

Most unregistered voters are believed to be young, having just reached the minimum age of 21 to become eligible. Data from the Election Commission shows that unregistered voters number about four million to five million, and many do not bother to register. Malaysia has 11 million registered voters.

The sole bright spark for BN in the Terengganu by-election is the increase in support from the Chinese community. It rose to 68.4 per cent from 67 per cent in the March general election, showing the rural Chinese are still a strong voter base for the 13-party BN coalition. But even among this group, support had fallen among the youngest voters.

The analysis of the KT by-election confirms that the pro-opposition trend of the March general election is growing, despite BN's attempts to stem the tide.

With Malaysia's youthful population and rapid urbanisation, this could be a greater challenge to BN in the future. For the opposition, the KT result represents a big stride ahead.

“It shows that BN, in its current form, is no longer viable. But it also shows that the alternative is still in its infancy. We have won just half the battle,” said DAP MP Liew Chin Tong.

He was referring to the persistent wariness among older Chinese voters of the puritanical Pas agenda.

The young voters have consistently shown that they are more concerned with issues such as justice, governance and equality.- MI

WOW! UMNO HAS TO WAKE UP

Thursday, 22 January 2009 09:57

THE STAR

SO, it seems that Umno has lost its “wow” factor, according to party vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

I don’t think so. For one thing, for the past 10 months I have been saying to myself, “Wow! It still hasn’t learnt the lessons of March 8!”The result of the Kuala Terengganu (KT) by-election, and more importantly the reaction of some of the top Umno leaders after the defeat, also left me saying “Wow!”

“Wow” because I did not think it would lose. KT was different from Permatang Pauh (PP). In PP, the people had already chosen PKR, and Datin Seri Wan Azizah had won with a huge majority.

Furthermore the PKR candidate for that by-election was Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the constituents’ old MP and favourite son.

In KT, Umno had won in March. Sure, it was by a slim majority (just over 600 votes), but basically it was the incumbent party and it had the entire Barisan Nasional machinery at its disposal for this campaign.

What with all the goodies that the people of KT would be presented with, plus the postal votes, it seemed unlikely Umno would lose that seat. Boy, was I wrong.
The swing came to over 3,000 votes, which means Umno really should be very concerned.
I am sure they are, but when t he leadership makes statements saying this was not a reflection of people’s loss of faith in Barisan Nasional, well, again I had to say “Wow!”

How can it not be a statement against the ruling party and the present government? If it were a state seat in question, perhaps the personality of the candidates, their appreciation of local issues, would be the primary factor.

But this election was for a Member of Parliament. It was about having a voice in Parliament, which is situated in Kuala Lumpur.

I don’t think the good people of KT are so simple-minded that they did not realise the implication of their vote.

The only thing that can help Umno now is to change fundamentally, and I wonder if that is a possibility. Umno was traditionally a party of teachers. I have a soft spot for teachers, so perhaps I am biased, but in the decades before and after Merdeka, teachers had a lot of clout.

They were respected and supported not because they were wealthy but because they were knowledgeable and educated.

That is why up until fairly recently, the education portfolio was considered so vital and a stepping stone towards the premiership. Work with the educationists and you had your grassroots support for the job of Prime Minister.

Now Umno has become a party of businessmen. The vast majority of division heads are businessmen.

That cherished value of knowledge and education has been replaced with wealth and the ability to obtain contracts.

This means there is no strong foundation of principle (whether I agree with the principle or not is not the point here) and idealism.

Being part of Umno becomes like being part of a business opportunity.

This has the further effect of making the holding on to such posts an economic consideration. This in turn means that challengers will not be viewed favourably.
Therein lies the problem. Maybe there are new Umno members who can climb the ranks and provide them with that “wow” factor. But they will be inhibited by their youth and their lack of wealth.

Idealism and new ideas will be seen as a threat by the old guard who would want to maintain their lucrative status quo.

And when I talk about the young, I don’t mean the rabble-rousing Mat Rempit stylings of Umno Youth. I mean new blood with fresh idealism and ideas, those who are more in touch with the needs and the demands of Malaysians in the 21st Century.

And perhaps those who are not beholden to racist ideas for their political collateral.

Considering that political analysts have pointed out that the swing in KT was due primarily to young voters, Umno has now to be more open and allow its young members to move to the fore. This should be done based on merit and ability, and nothing else.

I do not want to see the destruction of any political party. A diverse group of parties is what makes for a healthy democracy, no matter what we may think of them. And so it is with Umno.

However, unless it truly gets its act together, eject its dinosaurs and their outmoded way of thinking, there will be many more KTs, and in time people will be saying, “Wow! Whatever happened to Umno?”

Umpan BN gagal santau pengundi Kuala Terengganu

Friday, 23 January 2009 17:03
Oleh MAT ZAIN MAT ISA, Harakah

"Pemberian ini bukan bertujuan memancing undi. Ia telah lama diluluskan, cuma kebetulan diumumkan ketika ini (sewaktu kempen Pilihan raya Kecil Parlimen Kuala Terengganu)," begitulah lebih kurang hujah 'loyar buruk' beberapa pemimpin BN.

Jika anda seorang yang mengikuti dan mengamati perkembangan kempen pilihan raya kecil itu yang baru berakhir Sabtu lalu, tidak munasabah anda terlepas dari mendengar atau membaca ungkapan itu. Ia pertama kali disebut calon BN, Dato' Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, lebih seminggu sebelum proses penamaan calon. Beliau mengulas pengumuman peruntukan RM6.1 juta untuk kaum Cina Kuala Terengganu oleh Menteri Besar, Dato' Ahmad Said.

Peruntukan itu tidak termasuk sejumlah lagi untuk beberapa persatuan agama, persatuan ibu bapa dan guru sekolah Cina serta bantuan dana khas sempena Tahun Baru Cina. Meskipun menganggap bantuan itu tanggungjawab kerajaan untuk rakyat, Pesuruhjaya PAS Terengganu, Dato' Mustafa Ali, menilainya ada tujuan politik.

Ekoran kenyataan itulah Wan Farid, yang sebelumnya telah diisytiharkan bakal calon BN, menafikan pemberian itu bermotif politik. Beliau malah mendakwa peruntukan tersebut telahpun diluluskan sewaktu Allahyarham Dato' Razali Ismail masih hidup. Ia hanya "kebetulan" tidak sempat disempurnakan Razali. Hujah serupa dipinjam Ketua Penerangan Umno, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib, ketika mengulas bidasan Timbalan Presiden PAS, Ustaz Nasharuddin Mat Isa yang menyifatkan beberapa projek segera dilaksanakan BN dalam kawasan pilihan raya adalah rasuah politik.

Di antara projek segera dimaksudkan ialah pembinaan jalan raya dan jambatan di beberapa kampung di bawah peruntukan Kementerian Pembangunan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah. Seperti Wan Farid, Muhammad selaku menteri berkenaan juga mendakwa peruntukan bagi projek-projek tersebut telah lama diluluskan kementeriannya. Cuma "kebetulan" ia dilaksanakan ketika kempen pilihan raya berlangsung.

Bertolak dari situ, "kebetulan" demi "kebetulan" datang silih berganti ke Kuala Terengganu. Hampir tiada kementerian, jabatan kerajaan, agensi mahu pun pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang condong kepada BN yang tidak terlibat sepanjang lebih sepuluh hari kempen itu. Secara "kebetulan" semua mereka sudah lama merancang program masing-masing di Kuala Terengganu barangkali?

Timbalan Menteri Sumber Manusia yang juga Ketua Puteri Umno turun ke Kuala Terengganu menyampaikan cek Socso. Muhammad membahagikan beg dan pakaian sekolah untuk kanak-kanak Tadika Kemas. Menteri Pengajian Tinggi buat program kerjaya di sebuah politeknik di pusat bandaraya itu. Peletakan batu asas Kompleks Psikiatri Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah bernilai RM115 juta juga "kebetulan" berlaku di saat itu.

Begitu juga pelancaran Tabung Kecemasan dan Kebajikan Nelayan dengan peruntukan RM1 juta. Pengumuman pakej RM900 juta untuk kontraktor kelas F dan pengundian projek infrastruktur juga dibuat di Kuala Terengganu. Timbalan Menteri Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan mengumumkan peruntukan RM100 juta untuk membina 1,000 rumah kos rendah di Padang Hiliran. Menteri Perpaduan, Kebudayaan, Kesenian dan Warisan pun saat itu jugalah bermurah hati menyampaikan set tenunan kepada lebih 200 penenun songket di Terengganu.

Waktu itulah juga Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri menyampaikan cek bantuan modal ratusan ribu ringgit untuk pengusaha industri batek, keropok lekor dan tembaga. Jadual lawatan Menteri Pertanian membahagikan bungkusan kueh kepada pengunjung Pasar Tani Padang Hiliran pun "kebetulan" jatuh pada minggu itu. Apa lagi? Nak tukar nama sekolah menengah dan institut pendidikan guru kepada nama Datuk Razali, nak rasmikan UDM Kampus Kota juga ketika itulah. Nak bertemu pelanggan TNB pun Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif turut hadir.

Gotong royong RELA cuci sampah juga melibatkan kehadiran Ketua Pengarahnya. Ahh!! Boleh termuntah rasanya jika disenaraikan kesemua puluhan program "kebetulan" sebegitu. Apa BN ingat rakyat Kuala Terengganu bodoh sangat sehingga tidak dapat memikirkan itu semua? Akhirnya, terbukti hujah 'loyar buruk' BN itu tidak lagi dapat menipu rakyat.

Segala 'umpan' ditabur gagal menyantau pengundi Kuala Terengganu. Calon PAS, Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut merampas kerusi dari tangan BN dengan kemenangan bergaya 2,631 undi majoriti, 17 Januari lalu.

KT CHINESE WISDOM

Friday, 23 January 2009 17:24
By TAY TIAN YAN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily

I would like to give a thumbs-up to the Kuala Terengganu Chinese voters and say: "You are so great!"

After the by-election result was announced, BN said: Chinese support BN; at the same time, Pakatan Rakyat also said: Chinese support Pakatan Rakyat.

KT Chinese were in fact having a laugh at it all. They have successfully pleased both sides. This is the highest life skill of Chinese.

Both the parties were gratified and they would believe that all their efforts paid off. This could help KT Chinese avoid facing revenge after the by-election and at the same time, the parties would keep pleasing them. KT Chinese are really brilliant.

In fact, KT Chinese's situation was very awkward originally. Even though it was only 11%, both BN and Pakatan Rakyat still regarded Chinese votes as the key of the by-election. They believed Chinese voters were "King makers". Thus, the little China Town was crowded like a playground, in which both parties tried to persuade Chinese to vote for them.

BN offered various benefits and funds, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak even had a closed door talk with Chinese community leaders. They could just voice out any dissatisfaction or request.

Of course, no one mentioned about sovereignty, nor did someone mention about "squatters". Chinese are first-class citizens, how touching.

As for Pakatan Rakyat, leaders of the three member parties took turn to pay visits and passionately spoke in every assembly and election campaign dinner. They walked down every street and alley and shook hands with every Chinese.

PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat and adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim got along with Chinese in non-halal restaurants while the party's president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang was gentle enough not to touch on Hudud, the Islamic criminal laws.
That was how KT Chinese had a fun-filled, exciting and great few weeks.

Until the eve of the polling day, both BN and Pakatan Rakyat had confidence in Chinese votes. But, they were really unsure how things would turn out. Both the parties believed that their success or failure lies with the Chinese votes.
However, KT Chinese knew that they do not need to be the "King makers". For them, such a role was too heavy, it was in fact a burden.

If they gave their full support to BN, it would affect the political process; if they fully supported Pakatan Rakyat, they would encourage the arrogance of the conservative group in Pas.

Intelligent KT Chinese voters had agreed by mere coincidence to bring their collective wisdom into full play. Generally, they kept their vote ratio at 6:4, 60% for BN and 40% for Pakatan Rakyat.

At the same time, voter turnout was low as many refused to vote, which meant to tell BN and Pakatan Rakyat that: "You have done not good enough, do better in the future."
Then, they just passed the problematic role of "King makers" to Malay voters.

Don't you think KT Chinese voters are brilliant?

Questions on Kuala Terengganu

Wednesday, 21 January 2009

Raja Petra Kamarudin

If you were to look strictly ‘on the surface’, this is what you would see.In the 8 March 2008 general election, PAS won the Wakaf Mempelam constituency with a 2,193-vote majority. In the 17 January 2009 by-election, PAS’s majority decreased to 2,061.In the 8 March 2008 general election, BN won the Bandar constituency with a 1,142-vote majority. In the 17 January 2009 by-election, PAS won this constituency with a 160-vote majority.In the 8 March 2008 general election, PAS won the Ladang constituency with a 31-vote majority. In the 17 January 2009 by-election, PAS won this constituency with a 357-vote majority.

In the 8 March 2008 general election, PAS won the Batu Burok constituency with a 1,161-vote majority. In the 17 January 2009 by-election, PAS won this constituency with a 1,006-vote majority.More voters came out to vote in 2008 compared to 2009, which saw lesser voters. Wakaf Mempelam saw a reduction of 138 voters, Bandar 460 voters, Ladang 241 voters, and Baru Burok 569 voters.

The total reduction of voters in 2009 over 2008 comes to 1,408.The areas where the Chinese form a fair percentage (or majority) of the voters are Pulau Kambing, Kampung Cina, Pejabat Bandaran and Paya Bunga -- all from the Bandar constituency -- and Batas Baru and Gong Kapas -- from the Ladang constituency. PAS lost in all these ‘Chinese’ areas.The drop in voter turnout was higher in these ‘Chinese’ areas compared to the ‘Malay’ areas. In some ‘Malay’ areas, the voter turnout actually increased slightly.

Figures do not lie, as they say, but there is a story behind these figures. What appears to be so is that the voter turnout reduced and that the Chinese voted BN. But there is more to this than the figures show.First of all, many Chinese did not come home to vote. It is estimated that at least 3,000 of the 8,000 Chinese voters work and live outside Terengganu. This was something very visible when we did our walkabouts in the Chinese areas. The Chinese we met were mostly in the 40s and older. It looked like we were walking through an old folks home.

Understandably, these outstation Chinese are those who could not find work in Terengganu. Many are, in fact, educated and there are no employment opportunities for them in a state that has no factories or multi-national companies. They, therefore, need to earn a living outside the state.

The Kuala Terengganu by-election was held too close to Chinese New Year. If they came home to vote then they would have to stay the whole stretch until after Chinese New Year -- which was not possible -- or go back to wherever they came from and then come back a few days later. This too would be very difficult for those who do not have leave to spare or are employed in a sales job where a day off would mean one day less income for them.

Our worry was that the outstation Chinese would not come home in the numbers needed to make an impact. MCA too would rather they not come home because they would certainly vote opposition if they did -- like their Malay and Indian counterparts from the East Coast who vote in Terengganu and Kelantan but work and live in the West Coast.

Many young Malays came back to Kuala Terengganu to vote. The young Chinese, however, were missing. Even up to Friday, the eve of the by-election, we hardly saw any young Chinese in our walkabouts. We did, however, meet many young Malays who had come home specifically to vote. Many young Malays we met stopped to shake our hand and to take photographs with us and they told us they had come home so that they can vote on 17 January and that they would be voting Pakatan Rakyat.

This was also true in Permatang Pauh where most ‘saluran 1’ saw an almost 50:50 split between Ariff Shah and Anwar Ibrahim, whereas in some ‘saluran 4’ Anwar garnered more than 400 votes against Ariff’s mere seven. It was the young or first-time voters who gave Anwar his 15,000-vote majority in Permatang Pauh. Wahid Endut would have seen a majority of about 5,000, plus a win in the ‘Chinese’ areas, if the 3,000 outstation Chinese had come home to vote in droves.

On Saturday, Polling Day, we did a tour of the Polling Stations and saw only the ‘old folks’ coming out to vote. Where were the younger Chinese? We did not see them. That was when I sent SMSess to various friends and told them to revise the PAS majority to 2,000-3,000. No longer would a 5,000-majority be possible. The younger Chinese are not coming home to vote.Some of my Chinese friends placed bets with bookies for a 2,000-vote majority for PAS and won the bet hands down.

On Friday, I walked into one Chinese coffee shop and a total stranger held my hand and asked, “Boss, PAS boleh menang 2,000 undi ke?” I smiled at him and said, “5,000 undi pun boleh.”“5,000 tak boleh,” he replied. “Cina ramai tak balek undi. 2,000 undi boleh menang.” He told me he planned to make some money for Chinese New Year and had placed a bet on a 2,000-vote majority for PAS.

Last night, a Chinese businessman who had placed a bet on a 2,000-vote majority for PAS invited me for dinner. He had ‘won big’ because of my ‘tip’, he told me, and he wanted to belanja me makan. He never told me how much he had won but I believe it must have been sizeable seeing that he was beaming from ear to ear.

Another Chinese from Kuala Terengganu phoned me on Monday to congratulate me. He too had won his bet. I told him I was actually quite disappointed with the result and had hoped for a 5,000-vote majority. “No way,” he replied.

“The Chinese did not come home to vote because the by-election was too close to Chinese New Year. If not then your 5,000-vote majority would have been possible.”As they say, if you want to know what the outcome is going to be, ask the gamblers. They know what the score is going to be because they place money on the probable outcome. And they do their research and maths before parting with their money.

But the ‘Chinese factor’ is not the only factor that influenced the result. At 3.00pm on Polling Day, the police set up ten roadblocks all over town. Kuala Terengganu was practically cordoned off and no one could get in or out. We tried to make our way to the PAS IT Centre in Kuala Ibai but were turned back. We tried another route and were turned back again. We just went around and around town at slower than walking pace trying to find a way to get out.

In the meantime, those who wanted to get to the polling centres were also turned back and diverted away from town. No one could reach the polling centres and those of us stuck in town could not get out either.

At 4.00pm, voting almost ground to a halt. The voter turnout was only 74% and this was very worrying. The low voter turnout means they can pad the ballot boxes with ‘phantom voters’. One hour later, when polling ended, the voter turnout spiralled to 79%. We were perplexed. Where did the extra 5% come from? This represents about 4,000 votes. Traffic was at a standstill and no one could enter or leave town. How did these 4,000 voters get to the polling stations?Three days before Polling Day, we were told that the 1,100 postal votes had been counted and that more than 300 votes had gone to the opposition. The Elections Commission issued a statement denying this and said that the postal votes had not been counted yet. When the official results were announced, 1,039 votes went to BN and only 86 to Pakatan Rakyat.

What was more alarming was that if you added the BN votes to the PR votes, the sum total does not tally with the total number of postal votes cast. This issue was raised with the Elections Commission who promised to look into the matter. Rest assured there will be NFA (no further action).

Around mid-morning of Polling Day, the PAS workers discovered the back gates to the polling stations all unlocked. Suspecting that this may be the route the ‘phantom voters’ would use to get into the polling stations, they locked the gates and stood guard the whole day. Invariably, the ‘phantom voters’ somehow got in between 4.00pm to 5.00pm to boost the voter turnout from 74% to 79%.

So, there is more to the Kuala Terengganu by-election than what the figures show. Sitting in Kuala Lumpur and analysing what happened based purely on figures does not give you the real picture. You have to be there to see the Chinese ‘old folk’ voters as opposed to the younger Malays who came home to vote to understand what happened. You have to be caught in the traffic gridlock where no one in town could get out and those outside town could not get in to also understand what happened.

Officially, Pakatan Rakyat won with just 2,631 votes and the Chinese voted BN. Unofficially, the figure is much higher and what BN got was only the votes from the older Chinese residents of Kuala Terengganu who had been threatened by BN. The younger Chinese from outside the state who would have told BN to go to hell did not come back to do just that.

Note that Ahmad Said told the Chinese: if you are nice to me, I will be nice to you, and if you are not nice to me, I will be ten times more not nice to you. And Rosmah Mansor reminded the voters that the government knows whom you voted for. While her husband, the Deputy Prime Minister, told the Chinese, you must show your gratitude to the government. And without the 3,000 outstation Chinese to ‘balance’ the votes of the ‘old folks’ who remember only too well the aftermath of the 11 May 1969 general election, the ‘Chinese’ areas ‘fell’ to BN.

A major corner stone is laid for Barisan Rakyat

(humblevoice.blogspot.com)

I have been glued to the computer for the past few days reading every bit I can find about the Kuala Terengganu by-election. Needless to say I was elated, almost overwhelmed to see a convincing win of 2631 votes for Pakatan Rakyat Candidate.

To me the KT by-election is much more significant that the Permatang Pauh by-election in August last year. The Permatang Pauh by-election represents a lot of what I always hated about politics, the most disgusting of which is the extreme racism and vicious character assignation tactics being used.

Yes, Pakatan Rakyat managed to deal a humiliating blow to Barisan Nasional. That was satisfying, but nevertheless the whole episode left a bad taste in my mouth. The endless parading of Altantuya and the Saifu Bukhari characters during the election period made one wonders what the election was about. It was like parading our backside for the whole world to see and made Malaysia a laughing stock to the international community. It was a shameful episode that should never be repeated again.

I wondered whatever happened to the Saifu character since. I have heard quite a few things. From the grapevine I heard that somebody did receive a ‘scholarship’ that is worth 3 million ringgit. But I wondered whether that is an enough compensation for the humiliation that he has to suffer for the rest of his life and the ordeal that he has to put his fiancé and family members through.

Maybe he was only a gullible young lad who wants to make it quick. He made it quick for sure – now he must be one of the most recognized face in Malaysia with a world famous backside to boast about. I am not convinced about his sodomy allegation against Anwar, but I am absolutely certain that he was being sodomized and exploited through and through by the heartless and merciless political machinery.

So much about the Permatang Pauh by-election. I am glad that the Kuala Terengganu was carried out on a completely different basis, at least for Pakatan Rakyat. As for Barisan Nasional, the election tactics were as dirty as ever save the highly seditious character assignations.

It was just as well that the KT by-election started in the backdrop of a raging controversy involving one of the most contentious issues – PAS Islamic ideology and general mistrust of Islam amongst the Chinese. It was just as well that KT is not a safe seat and every vote from every people counts, regardless of race. Pakatan Rakyat components parties really had to work extra hard to bridge their differences, and I have to congratulate them for doing a wonderful job at it.

To me that was the most significant happening since the 308 election. This is the turning point where Pakatan Rakyat stopped being united by common hatred for BN, and begun to be united by the realization that we need each other – every single individual regardless of race, to succeed.

Malaysia has been subjected to 50 years of the most insidious systematic indoctrination under the BN government. We don’t have a real racial problem as such, as in Malaysia the races do work and mingle in harmony and we do make good friends with each other. But the incessant propaganda of hatred has nevertheless taken a heavy toll in our collective psyche.

I remembered reading about a Chinese couple giving up one of their children to be adopted by a Malay family. It happened less than 50 years ago. That sort of things was complete OK then. But last night I intended to share some excess fruits with my neighbor, my wife stopped me and told me that it is a sensitive issue for Muslim to receive from non-Muslim, and we don’t want to put our good friend in a difficult position. I have been away overseas for 16 years and I took it that there are still things I have to catch up with. But it really alarmed me that our social fabric has degraded to such an extent.

Such is the insidiousness of the hatred propaganda of the BN government to keep the race divided so that a small gang of thugs and power mongers can reign supreme as being the maintainer of peace. A lot of the ‘sensitivities’ are completely absurd and unnecessary. The game plan was very simple – make some really stupid policies or statements that stir up the racial sentiments to the boiling point, and then declare the issue to be ‘sensitive’ and come down hard with shock and awe and ISA and whatnots. And the result was more consolidation of power and the population in even tighter control.

So much of terrible policies and bad governance were morphed into racial issues this way. The ‘outsider’ race cannot protest because it was racially sensitive, and the ‘protected’ race is not allowed to protest either because it pertains to the interest of the race. In the end everybody losses out while a small gang thugs reign supreme while robbing the country clean.

We saw such tactics used in the infamous Ops Lalang incident. The recent stirring up of the hudud issue was another example to create fear amongst the Chinese so as to weaken PAS. But Malaysian has finally grown up and won’t buy into such bullshit anymore.

The KT by-election is a major turning point for Malaysia indeed. This is the first time ever that I saw real efforts involving all parties high and low in bridging the racial and religious gap and succeed in overpowering the BN hate machine. The most moving moment for me was to see PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat joining for dinner with the Chinese voters, and declared that: “The Chinese are sons of Adam. The Malays, too, are sons of Adam”

We still have a long way to go. But at least we have set foot in the right direction. Unity has to be the operating presumption to move forward or else will only be repeating the same bullshit in different flavors. It is only in unity that we know how to cooperate and care for each other. I do not see how else we are going to get through the crisis of the century that the BN government is still insisting that Malaysia will not be affected.

Special thanks to the bloggers united for bringing us the up to the minute news and working tirelessly in the background to help to cement the KT victory.

And special tribute our greatest hero RPK – who has done more than anybody else in cracking down the racial barrier in Malaysia. He never let us down. We shall all stand by him and not let him down either.